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theitgirlnetwork · 1 year ago

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Earn it

Ch. 1: You Boys Really Like to Play Doubles

Note: Okayyy another one in the lineup. Now that I'm back in my account I think I am going to make an update schedule. I hope you all enjoy this new series along with the others and let me know what you think. This first chapter is mostly backstory building but this story is my chance to be messy lol. It will have spoilers for challengers, but also a lot of things are changed. Please feel free to interact and give feedback (constructively) it inspires me to hear from you all. This obsession came fast so I feel like I already have so many ideas for these characters. This one is short because I was dipping my toe in but they will get longer! The aesthetic board for this story will be on the masterlist in a couple hours! Thank you and enjoy!

Tashi Duncan is an athlete. Hell, she’s the athlete. Of their arena. Of their time. She’s good. Great. Passionate. Beautiful…in the words of Art.

Sexy as shit in the words of Patrick and just about every other man who managed to lay eyes on her. She’s something to marvel at. And they did. Marvel. Art and Patrick stand there, jaws slack, eyes locked on the girl as she moves about the dancefloor absently. It’s like the opposite of how she moves on the court. There she’s a predator. Moving quickly, calculated, with strength. Here she’s graceful, eyes closed and enjoying the motions.

It’s their chance. A chance to meet her. To flirt with her. Con her out of her number when she wanders away from the group of women she’s dancing with over to the couches to retrieve her drink. It’d be easier to talk to her alone. They do their best work in a double, and as far as they knew, she had no partner. As far as they knew.

And they’re basking in her attention. Taking turns in a whole new match. When one gets the gift of her gaze the other’s smile drops like a puppy waiting for its turn to be played with, her easy smirk resting comfortably on her face the whole time. Until she comes.

“Made some friends?”

The two of them can’t help but have the same thought. Art was admittedly more ashamed to have it but they both had it. There’s two of them.

“These guys are in the tournament. They play tomorrow.” Tashi smiles, holding her hand out to the girl and helping her step over the table so she can sit down next to her. Both men offer her their own hand to help her the rest of the way but she simply squeezes Tashi’s harder.

Patrick and Art don’t know where to look. Before the girl’s arrival Tashi was the only person worthy of admiration here. She’s stunning, abnormally beautiful. But so was her friend. She had a darker complexion, with full lips coupled with a pretty smile. She tosses her silky dark hair over her shoulder, exposing more shiny skin. Her pink, strapless dress compliments Tashi’s royal blue one so much that even two men with no knowledge of women’s fashion would guess the choice was purposeful. They exchange looks as the women cross their legs in sync, Tashi handing her half-drunk beverage to her friend who rolls her eyes with a small as the boys’ eyes drop to her mouth. “Are they any good?”

Tashi hums thoughtfully, tilting her head lightly as if she needed to observe them to determine that. “From what I hear? Sometimes.”

“Not good like you though.”

That takes them aback for a moment. I mean, Tashi just won a tournament, she’s proven herself enough to pass judgment, all this girl has proven to them is that she’s hot. Who’s she to decide that they weren’t in the same league as Tashi. They weren’t, but who was she?

“You, uh, know that just from looking at us?” Art asks, finding himself sitting straighter at the scrutiny, the unimpressed looks on the two girls' faces getting to him as he wonders what it would take to change them.

All the girl offers is a shrug and a small smile around the straw, earning her a giggle from Tashi.

“You know, we didn’t get a chance to see your match. What’s your name again?” Partick’s brows furrow as he glances between his friend and the two women.

The smile drops from her face and her lips curve into a frown, cheek dimpling in a way that almost has the men forgetting she’d insulted them. “Wow.” she scoffs.

“You’ve got balls. You came to my party to talk shit to my best friend?”

That has them scrambling, stuttered half apologies from Art and sarcastic denials from Patrick. Anything they could blurt out to convince Tashi and her mystery friend to stay. All of it interrupted by their burst of giggles.

“We’re just fucking with you.” The girl leans her head back against the cushion, puffing out laughter that makes Art’s head feel like it’s swimming. He blinks at the feeling and takes his own deep breath. “I’m Heaven, I’m nobody, I don’t play tennis.”

“Nobody? You don’t seem like nobody.” He doesn’t even recognize his own voice when he says it.

“Nobody is nobody.” Patrick cuts in.

Tashi gives the girl a disapproving look that would put ice in the mens’ veins, pursing her lips in agitation briefly before turning back to the guys in front of them. “She’s Heaven Whitlock, she’s my best friend, and the best fuckin’ ballerina in the world.”

Heaven lifts and drops her shoulder noncommittally, taking a deep sip of the drink. “Yeah. I’m the best fuckin’ ballerina in the world.”

The girls left soon after that so that Tashi could take pictures and once they were done, they were pleased to discover that the boys had waited to hang out with them more. The group made their way down to the beach and found themselves talking about all sorts of things. Life, Tashi’s earlier match, tennis as a spirituality. They were shocked to learn that Heaven knew a lot about the sport and could even play a little. But based on how they described it, she only knew enough to help Tashi train.

Patrick felt aggravated and outnumbered by the fact that all three of the others were going to college.

“Okay, so she doesn’t want her only skill to be hitting a ball with a racket. What the hell are you going to school for Miss Ballerina?”

“Train. I can get better.” Heaven shrugs. “Get my name out there too, before I join a company I mean.”

“Can we see something?” Art blurts from his seat, shaking out the ash from his cigarette. “Like your favorite trick or-”

Heaven’s face lights up slightly. Her back has been straight up all night, her shoulders rolled back with poise, but she perks up in excitement at the thought of the opportunity to dance. “I like doing Fouette turns-”

“Heaven, in sand?” Tashi whips her head to look at her friend. “You don’t even have your shoes. You have your first audition for your school’s fall show when we get back don’t you?”

Heaven rolls her glossed lips inward, nodding, eyes dropping to the sand briefly before they return to the men in front of her. “Maybe another time.”

“Another time. There’s gonna be another time?” Patrick leans back in his seat, looking between the two women smugly. “Does that mean I’m gonna hear from you two again?”

“I’ll see Art at Stanford. Heaven will visit.”

“He’s asking for your numbers.” Art offers. “So am I.”

Heaven’s brows furrow as she stands dusting sand off her hands before she helps pull Tashi to her feet. “Both of you?”

“Yep.”

“Want both of our numbers?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“Oh, you boys really like to play doubles, huh?” She’s met with cheeky smiles and a shrug from Tashi. “Well, I have a boyfriend, so…” she grins, gesturing to Tashi. “May the best one win boys.”

The boys crane their necks briefly to follow Heaven’s walk up the hill, her sandals in hand, watching as she turns expectantly, holding out her other hand for Tashi to come up and take. They barely get out their offer for Tashi to come to their room later before she’s making her way up the hill. Her long legs carry her to her friend, whose hand she takes before swinging their arms back and forth, singing along together to whatever song is playing in the distance together.

As soon as they’re out of sight Patrick whips his head to face Art, a wild smirk on his face.

“Which one do you want?”

“So…which one’s your favorite?”

“Patrick’s got more natural talent, that’s for sure, but he’s stubborn, doesn’t wanna learn anything new. Art- what?” Tashi tilts her head at her friend’s scoff, moving to sit next to her at the small desk chair, watching as her friend rubs lotion into her face. “What?”

“Nothing, T, tell me about Art.” Heaven laughs, shaking her head. Tennis. Always about tennis. Poor boys.

“Art wants it more right now. And he’s good. Could be great." She stands walking over to the closet and tugging on her jacket. “You set your alarm?”

“4:30, T. Gotta get our run in and practice for my audition before the tournaments start.”

“Mm, good girl.” she smiles, dropping a kiss onto the top of Heaven’s head. “I’ll have my key.”

“You’re really going? You’re gonna go to their room?” Heaven turns in the seat and watches Tashi put on her shoes. The brunette pauses to look at her friend, walking over and crouching in front of her. Her hands rest on Heaven’s legs as she looks up at her.

“You jealous?”

“Want me to be?” Heaven asks, leaning her forehead against Tashi’s with a defiant look on her face. “I know you’re not gonna fuck them.”

“Really?” Tashi hums absently. “We’ll see. I’ll be back later. Why don’t you call Trevor while you have the room to yourself.”

With that she pats Heaven’s legs, pushing off of the floor and leaving her alone in the hotel room.

Heaven takes her best friend’s advice. She calls her boyfriend. It was a mistake.

Trevor hates Tashi. He hates tennis. He hates dance. He hates everything.

He didn’t use to. He used to think the girl’s dedication was cool. He used to love to come to showcases, recitals, even some of Tashi’s tournaments. But then he realized his place in everything. His place in Heaven’s life. Dance and Tashi, those two things would always come before him.

That’s the hard lesson everyone always had to learn. Tashi was always gonna win when it came to tennis and Heaven. Tashi was Heaven’s first…period. First best friend, first kiss, they’d taken each other’s virginities. They met in middle school. Heaven had been at the community center gym with her mother, running and doing weight training while her mom took a zumba class. Out on the court was Tashi. Beautiful and focused as ever. Heaven chose a treadmill that she could watch Tashi practice out the window from. She’d been startled when the taller girl came into the building and stood next to her machine and asked her if she knew anything about tennis and if she wanted to play.

She wasn’t good. Tashi was determined to make her good enough to play with. Soon enough they were inseparable. Heaven would sit in the stands at Tashi’s games, yelling as loud as the girl playing when she won. Tashi would go to see Heaven dance, offering her applause when she won awards or starred in a show. Having Tashi was intense, but Heaven was intense too, in her own right. They were both passionate about their crafts, and loved the art of working hard. They liked making each other proud.

Tashi was Heaven’s first everything except her first love. That was dance. Her muscles stretching into beautiful motions. Using her body to tell all kinds of stories. Becoming someone else entirely over the course of a song. Heaven would die if she couldn’t dance.

She doesn’t feel like that about Trevor. He was a sweet guy, and she liked him. Despite Tashi’s constant digs that he wasn’t good enough or amounting to anything, Heaven liked him. Not everything has to be an intense feeling. Content can be good enough. I can be satisfied with content.

But Trevor wished she would be normal. He wished she wasn’t so close to Tashi. He wished she wasn’t constantly working at something. At least that’s what he said when he dumped her over the phone.

“Trev-Trevor. Trevor are you fucking serious?”

Dial tone.

Heaven’s lip curls up in frustration as she feels her eyes watering. She throws her phone against the wall, hearing the distinct crack of the screen. “Fuck. Fucking shit.” She…needs Tashi.

Pulling a baggy t-shirt over her sport’s bra and underwear she goes to the bathroom and rids herself of any evidence that she’d been crying before she heads to the room Tashi told her she’d be in. She creeps past her friend’s dad’s door so she doesn’t wake him and alert him that neither she nor Tashi were in bed. As she gets off the elevator on the boys’ floor she straightens as she goes to knock on the door, hearing the faint sounds of lips smacking and moaning.

That makes her feel worse then she did when Trevor told her she wasn’t worth the hassle.

Heaven turns on her heel and goes back to the elevator. Her bare feet pad on the rug of the hotel hallway as she wraps her arms around herself until she gets back to her door.

She ties her scarf around her hair before climbing into the bed the girls had been sharing, facing the window. The blinds rattle as the wind blows and the quiet tears on Heaven’s face are dry by the time Tashi slips into the room and into the bed behind Heaven.

The bed dips slightly under her weight and suddenly hands are planted onto Heaven’s side. “Hev, I’m back…I had fun. Come on, I know you’re awake.”

“Cool.”

“I hooked up with them.”

Heaven turns then, laying on her back as Tashi leans over her, her hair making a curtain around her. “Which one?”

“Hmm…both. We didn’t have sex or anything but…I made out with both of them…and then they made out with each other. S’fun.” Tashi grins, flopping on her back next to her friend.

“They…ever done that before?”

“Nope” she smiles, popping the ‘p’ loudly. Both girls burst out into laughter as they think about the difference between their friendship and the two boys they met, so similar yet so different.

“You’re evil. You fucking homewrecker.”

“Ahh, they’ll be alright. It’ll be a good fuckin’ match tomorrow…winner gets my number.”

Oh.

“Trevor dumped me today.”

Tashi turns on her side at that. Her ever-inspecting eyes scan Heaven’s face before narrowing a little. “No bullshit? Good fucking riddance. Should’ve dumped him when I told you to. Damn, would’ve been an even better match if I knew that earlier. Imagine how they’d play if the stakes were the winner gets both of us at the same time.” She laughs, putting her legs under the blankets. “It’d be fucking funny.”

“Yeah, T. Fucking hilarious.”

Tashi is at the courts by 5 am the next morning, and Heaven is running on the beach. She normally loves training with here friend, but right now, she needs a fucking break. Being drilled about the audition or talking about this deathmatch for Tashi’s phone number doesn’t feel like something she wants to do right now.

Still, her and Tashi’s workout playlist blasts in her ears as she fights the sand’s resistance, panting out breaths to Lose My Breath by Destiny’s Child. That is until she sees something moving out of the corner of her eye.

It’s the blond one. She wasn’t sure which one’s name was which, but to her, the blond one was the cuter one. She liked his smile and he looked like he had a nice body under his baggy shirt yesterday. His tight athletic tank today shows her she’s right. Popping an earbud out, Heaven slows to jogging in place, offering him a smile. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, you’re up early, aren’t you?”

“Might not play tennis, but I’m still an athlete. I get up at 4:30 everyday. Clearly you do too.”

“Uh,” he adjusts his cap on his unruly blond hair before covering it back up, matching pace with her in her jog. “Not really, but the match is in a couple hours and I gotta explain to my family how to watch it. There’s a lot of them. And Patrick snores.”

“I see. Well, you’re gonna have to get used to it if you’re gonna get with Tashi.” His mouth opens and closes at that, like he’s shocked she knows he’s interested in her friend. “She told me about the stakes for today…and the other stuff.”

He falters in his step at that, placing his hands on his hips as he laughs in disbelief, before pulling her shirt over his mouth for a second to hide his face, ears red. “You guys share everything, huh?”

“Apparently you do too.” Heaven laughs, pausing in her jog to stretch her leg when she feels tightness in it, bending over to work the muscles. If her eyes hadn’t slipped closed she would see Art’s eyes dart to her backside before looking away in an attempt to be respectful. He absently thinks that Patrick is right. Hot girls usually are friends with other hot girls. “But I’m rooting for you…uh…?”

“Oh, Art. I’m Art.” he breathes, willing his eyes not to slip again.

“Short for Arthur?”

“Um, yeah, but nobody calls me that. Except my grandma when I’m in trouble.” He blushes. Heaven straightens, and offers him a pretty smile.

“If one of you is gonna be seeing Tashi, I need to know your full name. I’m sure you can carry the speech to the other one too. If you hurt her, you die, I’ll kill you little white boy, you get it right?”

“Right.” he hums, rocking on his feet. “So, you guys are close huh? She talked about you a lot last night. Fucking hates your boyfriend.”

“Yeah, well, she won’t have to worry about him anymore. Done. As of last night actually. Tashi was saying she wishes would’ve known that before your little bargain. Then, it would be both her and my number on the line. What can you do?” Heaven shrugs absently. She was flirting a little. Sue her. She’d just been dumped and was finally free to start having fun. All summer she’d been traveling with Tashi, being a good little doting girlfriend, turning down every hot guy she met. Only ever having one slip up, with Tashi. She knew they both were into her friend, she didn’t expect anything-

“So raise the stakes.”

Heaven’s eyes widen as Art looks at her earnestly, looking embarrassed by his own words. “What?” she laughs.

“You can…definitely tell me to fuck off…but…we would be interested in having your number added to the…pot? Fuck, that sounds awful, Patrick and I want your number too. I want your number too. If that’s okay.”

“And you wanna play for it?”

“Those are the rules right?”

Heaven observes the man in front of her. Boyish. Cute. And nervous. He doesn’t know how hot he is. Not like his friend. Not like Tashi. He doesn’t know what he looks like. And he seems sweet enough, nervous to offend them, but determined enough to push past the embarrassment to get what he wants. “Tashi’s rules. Not mine. Do you guys want to play for my number?”

His jaw sets slightly as he looks her up and down. “I wanna earn it.”

“Okay, winner gets Tashi’s number. And mine.”

#oc #tashi duncan #art donaldson #patrick zweig #challengers 2024 #mike faist #challengers movie #challengers #art donaldson x you #art donaldson x reader #art donaldson x patrick zweig #art donaldson x tashi duncan #tashi duncan x reader #patrick zweig x reader #patrick zweig x tashi duncan #challengers spoilers #love #earn it

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n3ptoonz · 2 months ago

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'Political Animals' II

okayyy so i had zero intention of adding on but the people YEARNNNN for this affair, and i thank you guys so much for the overwhelming support 💋!!!

now bc of that, i changed small things in the first part and hey, y'all wanted plot so i'm GIVING u plot 🤫 shit bout to get wicked.

New warnings/tags: Mentions of guilt, arguing, dom!reader, sub!bucky, riding, choking (m!receiving), floor sx, Bucky is a fucking freak, Bucky's kind of a dickhead but it's hot, husband mentioned/interaction, idk shit about the inner workings of the government so i'm bullshitting most of the plot, barely proofread so apologies in advance, it's about to be 5 am LOL

referenced this tweet at the end. foaming at the mouth.

Word count: 3.4k

Read first part/chapter here if you haven't already and feedback is MUCH appreciated <3

FINAL CHAP HERE

"Bucky-" your words caught in your throat as he shushed you, two of his fingers going at a relentless pace while buried inside you. The squelching sounds alone drowned out your heartbeat thumping in your ears. You clung onto him and balled up his blazer into your fist as you fought to stay quiet.

"You're so pretty like this," he whispered into your neck. Your ears started to buzz and ring quietly as you neared climax.

"If only he knew," he continued with a dry chuckle. When he curled his fingers, your vision went white and you gasped-

"Madam Secretary?"

The two words were like cold water being splashed on your face. You blinked a few times at the woman sitting in front of you at the table, your eyes trailing down to the recorder sitting there.

"I'm sorry, what did you ask me?" you said and subtly looked around to make sure you were back in reality. What happened? One second ago you were being interviewed by an "esteemed" journalist about the latest foreign affairs going on overseas, and the next you just...blanked.

"What do you think of Congressman Barnes?"

"What?" your eyes snapped to hers.

The woman's brows furrowed as she reiterated, "What part does congress have in this?" she asked slowly before pausing the recorder, placing her hand on the table and leaning forward, as if to scrutinize. "If I got you at a bad time-"

"No! No, it's fine. I just, didn't get much sleep last night. Paperwork, am I right?" you said as you waved off her concern. She nodded with a smile and grabbed her pen along with the notebook that you seemed to miss when you first walked in.

"Then, shall we start over?" she asked. There was something so slimy about her that you couldn't quite put your finger on. Journalists have always given you hell in one way shape or form. You nodded and watched her unpause the recorder, determined to stay focused this time.

It's been two whole months since you last even spoke to each other. Duty calls, and you were thinking of starting your campaigning today. Announce to the world that you will be running for president in the upcoming election.

You meant it when you said you had elections to think about, but what you didn't expect is for this long string of lack of interaction with Bucky to make you reflect. It was pure bliss that night, but you started to feel guilty. Especially because all it took was one good fuck and he ruined you for anybody else. Ruined you for your own husband. Which was his mission complete.

Bucky felt like the motherfucking man ever since. He practically spent his free time daydreaming about how you looked with his metal hand over your mouth. The desperation in your eyes. The sounds of your pretty voice ringing in his ears. The overwhelming urge to unmute the phone and show that prick what an authentic creampie sounded like-

"Congressman Barnes?"

He snapped out of thought and cleared his throat, that familiar frown appearing back on his face as he motioned for his assistant to come in. She handed him a stack of files with different labels on it.

"These have Information about what's going on overseas. There's going to be a hearing later at the White House, to which the Madam Secretary is going to lead. Likely to sway the votes towards sending resources over, but you didn't hear that from me."

Bucky nodded and skimmed over the print, rolling his eyes at the redacted documents. He was half listening and checked out when he heard you'd be there.

"Thank you," he said while holding it up. "When is it being held?" he asked, seeing her check her watch.

"In about an hour and a half, sir." she answered, "You'll have a vehicle sent for you in an hour."

"You aren't coming with?" he asked with furrowed brows.

"No, sir. I have to outline your schedule for the next two weeks just in case things go south at the hearing. Let me know how it goes. And don't forget your binder." she said with a thumbs up and then left. Bucky half waved goodbye and sighed. He was going to see you again after two months, front and center. Likely on strict business so he knew to watch his stares and remarks.

Stay professional, Buck.

The hearing went terribly. Almost a unanimous "no" across the board, and the questions being asked were atrocious. It wasn't new news that most of these old fucks never budged, but that didn't make the process any less frustrating. On top of it all, Bucky had been staring you down since you stepped onto that stage. The proud look in his eyes as you stood your ground, despite the situation made your heart flutter alone.

As if matters couldn't get worse, afterwards while you were shaking hands and well aware of the press lingering around, your husband pops up out of nowhere. To which he rarely does.

You turned and tried to maneuver through the crowd to avoid him, but, of course, like something from a cliche romcom, you walked into Bucky at the same time he turned. Just a face full of chest and tie. Probably the same tie he wore when...

"Oh- Madam Secretary," he said, catching your arm before you stumbled backwards. You cleared your throat and nodded with a half smile, removing his hand and taking it in your other hand to shake it.

"Congressman," you responded in a formal tone, like this was your first time meeting.

"Honey!" you heard from behind. Sighing and letting go of Bucky's hand, you turned and faced your husband with possibly the fakest smile you could conjure. You greeted him with a kiss on the cheek and backed up.

"What brings you by?" you asked. With your back to Bucky, you completely missed the deep grimace on his face at the whole interaction, but he stuck around.

"You weren't answering your phone, so I thought I'd swing by to ask if you could cook tonight? I have a meeting in an hour and I'm going to be out pretty late." he replied, either oblivious or unbothered by the way you froze with that same expression.

"What-"

"Oh, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" he interrupted with his hand extended to Bucky as he introduced himself. Bucky's hardened expression completely vanished as he shook hands with the very guy he'd dangle from a ledge, had this been a few years prior.

Your eye twitched as you snapped out of your thoughts. This is bad. Really bad.

"Congressman Barnes," Bucky said with a genuine grin. To anybody else, it was friendly, to him and you, it was "You have no clue I'm fucking your wife."

"Well, um, I will get back to you on that. We should go before the press-"

"Have we met before?" your husband asked Bucky. Your heart dropped and you swore you were manually breathing now. You turned to Bucky with pursed lips, your eyes saying 'Wrap it the fuck up.'

Bucky glanced at you before his eyes went back to your husband. He knew he should leave it alone. Just say no and let you go deal with whatever it is with your man. Respect the boundary.

"No, I don't think so," he said. Your shoulders slumped in relief as you went to take your husband's hand and get the hell out of dodge.

"Are you sure? I really feel like I've at least heard your voice before." he pressed, his hand moving out of the way of yours. You resisted the urge to shoot him a strong glare at his stubbornness.

"Hun, if he says he hasn't met you before, then perhaps he hasn't-"

He snapped his fingers and pointed to Bucky, a flash of recognition on his face. "We spoke on the phone a while ago. You answered her phone and were generous enough to pass on my message to her."

Your entire body felt itchy all over. Seeing that oblivious smile on his face sent you an upcoming headache later.

"Right, yes. He was very kind to do that." you said with a tight smile.

"Oh, that's right. That meeting was pretty intense, I didn't want to interrupt but I had to make sure your lovely, hardworking wife heard from her husband. She's quite the determined one. A natural leader, might I add-"

"Yeah, that's nice, uh, honey?" he said, gesturing toward the exit so you two could leave. Bucky's lips formed a thin line as he held back every fucked up thing he could fire off at this very moment. You nodded and walked off without another word. You could just strangle the both of them with your bare hands.

"I guess they just let anybody into Congress," your husband said while pouring a small drink of whiskey. The same complementary drink that's been sitting in your office for some time now.

You looked up from your desk, "What?" you asked, tone harsher than intended.

"Your friend," he said like it was obvious. "It just clicked to me that he has a metal arm." he added and downed the drink in one go.

"So?"

"'So?' Honey, that's the Winter Soldier." he said in a dramatically hushed tone.

"I know who he was." you replied, purposely changing the wording to Bucky's defense. He looked at you like you were crazy.

"And you're just...okay with that? No concern or worry that he might...you know-"

"You think the government would let him even run for Congress if he was still unstable? Don't be ridiculous. And you just met him. Thought you two seemed friendly." you grumbled and put your attention back on the files in front of you.

"Yeah, cause I thought he was just some guy." he said. "But is this really the kind of guy you wanna be around. I saw the way he looked at you."

A lump formed in your throat. It wasn't abnormal for him to be jealous and/or just accuse men of wanting to take you from him, but this time it wasn't necessarily wrong...and he very well could've been looking at you...

"Do not start with that- Don't you have a meeting?"

"I do in a bit but I'm just saying. I know it's like your job to see the good in people-"

"Go." you said and stood up, pointing to the door. He scoffed and stood upright to fix the sleeves on his suit.

"Alright," he said and shrugged. Walking over to the door, he turned halfway and added, "Just to be clear, you aren't cooking tonight-"

"Go!" you exclaimed and watched him dart out the door. You huffed and chuckled dryly as you sat back down. The files on your desk reminded you that you forgot to talk to your assistant about contacting your old campaign manager.

You heard a soft knock on the door while you were rubbing your eyes in frustration, assuming it was him.

"Hey, could you get in contact with-" you began, but when your eyes landed on a man that definitely wasn't your assistant, you couldn't look even more annoyed.

"Bucky," you said in a not so welcoming tone. "Why are you here?"

"I... came to apologize, actually," he said and rubbed his chin. "I do apologize...but I couldn't help myself. Guy's a dickhead."

"You think I don't know that?" you responded and stood again but didn't move from your desk. "And you call that an apology?"

"What was I supposed to do? He wouldn't stop pressing the issue so I just, acted accordingly."

"Barnes-"

He interrupted with a scoff. "So now it's back to Barnes."

"Yes! It is back to Barnes, and it should've stayed that way. You knew how pissed I was because of that shitty hearing and now the man that I cheated with is playing buddy-buddy with my husband."

"And now I'm just the guy you cheated with?" he asked and placed his binder down before stepping forward to lean on your desk with his hands. "If I recall correctly, you had full reign to tell me to fuck off and you didn't. Don't pin this on me."

"I'm not pinning anything on you. I'm more mad you idiots distracted me, so now I have to make a few calls tomorrow and start campaigning later than I intended."

Bucky stared at you for a few seconds before standing up slowly. He rounded the desk and stood a foot away to your right.

"What's this really about?" he asked softly. You didn't look at him, but instead looked down at the desk. You began rattling off about your stresses these last two months, including how the guilt was eating you alive. You didn't notice he stepped closer until you felt the heat radiating off him. You put a hand on his chest and physically pushed him away.

"You need to go." you said quietly. His metal hand came up and pressed it closer. If you paid attention, you could hear his heart fighting to stay inside. He said your name in a silent plea but you persisted. This connection, the electricity between you two was no stranger, but at the end of the day he was crossing a boundary. You're still a married woman who had an election to think about.

He didn't say anything else and just...left. You took a deep breath and rubbed your temples. But the bullshit wasn't over. Your gaze fell to the binder he forgot to pick up before leaving. Groaning loudly and actively resisting the urge to hurl something across the room, you decided you'll cool off by finishing your work for the night and bringing it over to him one you're finished.

You stood at the foot of his office door, staring at the name tag as you took a deep breath. Was this a bad idea? Was this stupid? Silly? Setting yourself up for failure? It's just a binder. And it's also just the man that had you shaking under him not too long ago. It's ridiculous. The whole thing seems childish.

Without second thought you knocked. A few seconds later you heard him tell you to come in, which kind of annoyed you because you hoped he'd come to the door and just retrieve his stuff.

You walked in and saw his gaze snap to you. Bucky had his blazer slung over the back of his chair. He stood and walked over to stand directly in front of you, his eyes never glancing at his binder in your hand.

"You left your binder." you tossed it to a nearby table and kept his gaze. He didn't look phased at all.

"I know." he said in a soft tone. He took a step closer and your back pressed against the door. Your chest tightened as the seconds went by. This had to end.

This has to end...right?

You just stood there. Like you did at the door. Whatever you were going to say, whatever speech you had prepared died on your lips.

"Barnes-"

He exhaled and rolled his eyes. He can't take it anymore.

Bucky gently grabbed your face and kissed you, just like he did two months ago. It was like no time passed since. He couldn't stop himself. You are a carnal desire and it needed to be satiated.

"I love you," he whispered.

"Bucky, don't- mph-"

And alas, it all clicked. He wrapped his arms around your torso and lifted you as he kissed you once more. You didn't care anymore. You needed him. He needed you. Badly. You even kicked off your heels once off the ground.

Bucky carefully spun you away from the door, so lost in you and how life just felt perfect in your presence. His taut muscles flexed against his shirt as he brought you both to the floor, lying in between your legs and hooking his knee under yours. He ground himself against you like a wild animal, grunting against your mouth like he hasn't eaten in so, so long.

You dragged your nails against his back, earning a snap from his hips while you straddled him harder. You figured the only way you'd be able to stay at the volume you wish so that nobody would overhear, you had to take control.

Somehow you managed to gain enough strength to flip him over so that you were on top. 99% of you is convinced he let you. You shed your blouse to reveal your bra, leaning over him and placing his hands on your ass.

"If I had known the day would end like this, I would've worn something nicer," you purred, seeing his pupils blown wide as she smiled.

"You're fuckin' perfect," he said breathlessly and squeezed. He pushed your skirt up and you reached down between your legs to undo his pants with fervor.

He managed to get them down enough for you to pull him out and waste no time sinking down onto him. You had to hold back a guttural moan from waking the city. Sure, you've experienced him before, but this angle was purely ungodly; sinful.

James Buchanan Barnes is an enigma. But if it's one thing that is no mystery, it's that he had a big dick. It was like getting used to another man.

"Take it." he whispered with his eyes closed, his hands resting on your hips. He wanted to save a mental image of your tits threatening to spill out while you were on top. "Take it all."

You started to move your hips slowly, purposely sinking your hips harshly against his. The sound of your whimpering while trying to concentrate was sending him to another dimension.

You cursed aloud and closed your legs around him tighter to get better leverage. Now at this point you were fucking yourself on him. He could die like this.

You grunted and bounced harder. Perhaps you were feeling yourself just enough to close your hand around his neck.

And that was the first time you heard Bucky whine.

You looked down at him with heavy breaths. Did you hear that correctly? Maybe it was the sticky substance forming under you that made you hear things.

"Harder." he said quietly as he eyes opened again and seeing your bra strap hanging off your shoulder. "Please." he barely uttered.

You squeezed a little harder and you could swear you felt him get harder inside you.

"Fuck." he groaned and gripped your hips hard enough to leave a mark. "You keep looking at me like that and I'm gonna give you a son."

You bit your lip to stifle your own moan while shooting him an attempt of an unamused expression, but he looked dead serious.

"Ugh- Wouldn't wanna- fuck up your image though-" he added and blew air through his cheeks to stay focused. He was definitely about to cum. "Madam President." he said under his breath and smirked.

"Shut the fuck up." you said in one breath, one word. He called out your name in a moan and sucked in his breath.

"You gotta get up," he strained, like he wasn't still assisting in you using him like a fuck toy. "Gonna be dripping for days if you don't."

You just needed a few more. Just a few more and you were there. This is possibly the biggest risk you've ever taken, and you've been in war zones.

He said your name again in a pleading tone and it took one, two, three more and you were gone. You pulled yourself off him and nearly collapsed if his chest wasn't there to hold you up. He bucked and twitched under you, some of his cum hitting under your thigh. You rolled off of him and laid on the ground to stare at the ceiling while catching your breath and feeling the aftershocks.

You shook your head in disbelief and grabbed your phone that luckily didn't crack when it hit the ground. You called your husband, and when it went straight to voicemail, you sat silent for a few seconds before glancing at Bucky, still dazed and fucked out.

"I want a divorce."

#n3ptoonz #smut #bucky barnes #bucky x reader #james bucky buchanan barnes #congressman bucky #bucky barnes imagine #bucky barnes x reader #james bucky barnes #marvel #marvel cinematic universe

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jungkoode · 4 months ago

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okayyy so i finally have some time today so i wanted to vent and worship you like i do😜 can i just say how much i appreciate the work you put into your writing, because the number of surface level fics out there? hundreds of thousands. fics like yours? not enough. somehow i find a way to find almost all of your characters extremely relatable, especially both fmu!y/n and jk, they’re me i’m them, in more ways than one.

really loved the interaction between tae and y/n. love how protective he is because again, me. and i have an inkling that they’re gonna be besties in the future and i really hope I’m right. now I already mentioned what i wanna do to that bitch mia, but i hope if she ever shows up y/n will get her hands on her for me. also, wanted to squish jk to death from how cute and considerate he was in this chapter. so many more thoughts and suspicions but i’m gonna shut up and wait for the next weekend peacefully, love youu.

Hello STASSIE my love from THE STARS. ✨ (K-drama reference anybody? No? Okay.)

FIRST OF ALL???? ThHANK??? YOU??? I am, like, sobbing right now. Because the level of appreciation you JUST unleashed upon me???? I AM TWEAKING.

AND YOU ARE SO SO SO SO RIGHT. Like I 100% know fanfics are usually just escapism for most people, and folks normally don’t want to break their brains trying to understand stories and plots (and NO judgement here like I totally do this too—sometimes you just want to laugh and vibe, not cry and get invested in stupid idiots).

But I CRAVED this level of depth, to be absolutely transparent. Like I think I’m just naturally a curious person, and I have always had this NEED to understand things and delve deeper—explore, discover, unravel. Which is why I ADORE layered stories, complex dynamics, intricate plots, and most of all? Trauma. Psychological depth.

Now I don’t want to go full nerd mode because you know I would never shut up. But it’s so fascinating to me how little we know about the human brain, so naturally, it’s something that infinitely intrigues me. I love exploring those themes, be it through reading, writing, researching… So honestly these stories are just my way of dissecting and sharing that specific passion of mine.

Regarding my characters being relatable… Oh I feel you. My main goal is to make them feel real and human, so they all have their shit going on, and everyone is so different, so truly, you’re bound to see yourself in some of them. It is 100% my intention. My stories are definitely complex, but I also want to portray real life, and give everyone space to feel and experience as well—even if it’s through secondary characters.

About Tae—yes yes yes! Thank you! I loved their interaction so much as well because he’s so protective of Jungkook and it links to his own experiences too. And trust if Mia ever shows up, Y/N is beating the shit out of her (because me, yes, projecting, shut up.) Jungkook being unawarely considerate also melted my heart, I love when people do things like that without even realizing, shows you so much about the type of person they are and their nature. :(

Hope the wait isn’t unbearable. Lots of love, S. ❤️

#jungkook x reader #bts fanfic #jungkook smut #jungkook fic #jungkook fanfic #ask/fmu #🧸

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thesymphonytrue · 11 months ago

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Hiiii! You know I love your longer fics—the Ghosts and Echoes series and your wing au fic! And I was wondering how you stay motivated to work on longer fics. And come up with manageable plots that are still interesting to read. (Sincerely someone working on a longer project while also experiencing writers block 😅)

HIIII!!! 🥰 thanks for the ask, @ascreamintothevoid-blog <3 <3 <3

Aw thank you so much!! I had fun writing them!! And your comments kept me going when I hit roadblocks, honestly!! 😅

MOTIVATION: oh man motivation for longer fics....well...I'd say with my first long fic, Ghosts, I kind of kept into it blindly and then had to finish it, it was my first fic I'd posted for the White Collar fandom and while I had about 50% of it finished, if I hadn't gotten such encouraging comments, I don't think I would have ever finished it. The comments gave me such motivation, because people were reading my story and liking it and I was just....thrilled 😭🥹 On that vein, maybe I crave human interaction or feedback on my stories too much, but with all of the long fics I have written, I have started posting them when I'm about 50-80% finished writing it....then the reader feedback helps me get to the final sprint to the end. so...THANK YOU to anyone who has commented on my longer fics, it really helps with motivation! 🥹

The other two, I definitely had to do more "scheduled writing" to finish them---I made a goal of writing a chapter per week while simultaneously editing a previous chapter. It was a reasonable goal at the time and helped me through the slumps of not being "inspired"---I just would sit down and word vomit into my draft and then clean it up later 😂 Long fics feel like a marathon. They are fun, but exhausting!

PLOT DEVELOPMENT: Okay, so plot. LOL. I struggled with this, because, ya know, fanfic is so often inspired by just ~vibes~ 😂 Let me take the wingfic AU as an example for how I developed the plot, so there will be spoilers for that below if you haven't read it:

Normally my fics start with a vibe-like inspiration and then I kind of weave the plot around that. With longer fics, I figure out my climax of the story, and then scatter the characters and make their individual trails to get there. If that makes sense?

So let's take Neal in the wingfic for example. His climax in this story is after having searched for belonging, he finally finds his "family." That was the basic goal. Then, I had certain moments I wanted in the plot: the wing sacrifices, for example, so I placed those moments in the plot. THEN, I connected those moments. The connecting of the moments is the hardest for me lol. ( I do outline in detail long fics in a journal and draft several outlines before settling on one. )

Then, after I have my main characters plots developed, I start weaving in the villains and side characters. In this fic, I had never planned on developing Peter's father, John, until I started writing----then all of a sudden his story just appeared in my head and had to be told. So I had to adjust my original plot, but his story made the plot much richer, so perhaps he was meant to be there all along. It's weird. But most of the time plots like that just...it's like the characters actually tell me their story in my mind and I'm just listening to them.

and hrmmm making them manageable and interesting? Well, to me they don't seem riveting because I know the whole story. LOL. I have to remember that the reader is only seeing what I have shown them so far, so they likely will find it more exciting than I will writing it. I keep it manageable by limiting the characters and character POVs...and...by not getting into macro plots (like social justice for Flyers like I wanted to, but it was just too much for me to handle).

OKAYYY long answer but I hope that helps!! Thank you so much for the ask!! I actually have been struggling with lack of motivation/writer's block lately (seriously, my mind is EMPTTTYYYY for fics rn 😭) and this helped me remember how fun it is to write and makes me want to get back to it.

Also good luck on your longer project!! you can do it. Just baby steps and small chunks at a time---that's how I stayed at it, a tiny bit of writing per day, and when you need a break, take a break! the inspiration will flood into your brain when it's ready 😎

#thanks for the ask!#writing #about me!

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justatypicalwizard · 2 years ago

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Wants Within | S. Shinazugawa | Chapter 22

✦ Sanemi Shinazugawa x femReader!, college au, reader is adult

✦ Synopsis: You're a college student taking classes with a very strict lecturer- professor Shinazugawa. Because of an unfortunate event you got on his bad side so now you're trying everything to regain in his eyes. Well, you most certainely didn't expect that kind of attention.

✦ Word count: 1k

18+, minors do not interact

Waking up, on a Saturday morning you felt happy and fresh. You didn’t quite know what but something was lingering in the air. It was valentines day, of course. Grabbing your phone, you hesitated to text Sanemi. You wanted to ask him whether he would be free today. After the drama with Inosuke and your phone call you started to feel even more at ease with the white haired man. Now, talking to him seemed so natural. You picked his number and called.

‘’Hello?’’ Once again you heard his voice.

‘’Hey, I just wanted to ask if you are doing anything today.’’ You told him quickly, wiggling your feet under the blanket.

‘’Actually I am.’’ His words sucked out air from your lungs, you thought he would have some time for you on a day like that. ‘’I have plans, with you.’’

Oh that slick bastard.

‘’What?’’ You squeaked into the phone.

‘’Surprise. I didn’t want to call too early not to wake you up but if you’re not sleeping then get ready and come to my place.’’ You nodded your head with every word he said. ‘’We’ll be walking a lot so don’t even think about wearing high heels. I don’t find sore foot and wincing sexy.’’

Hopping up and down you made your way to Shinazugawa’s apartment. You dressed nice but comfy, wrapped up in your winter clothes as well. When you got to his place he didn’t even let you undress because you were leaving.

It was the first time you saw him dressed more casually. He had some material, black and white chequered pants and a black hoodie on. Usually you saw him either in formal clothes or naked and only now did you really see how young he was. Also, he was so monochromatic, you wondered if it was his style or just a coincidence.

‘’What are you looking at?’’ He asked, spotting you staring.

‘’You babyface.’’

‘’Fuck you.’’

He grabbed some keys from a shelf near the entrance and both of you made your way out. You went a floor lower than usual and you found yourself in a parking lot under the apartment block. Oh my god, you were never in his car before. Of course it was classy and of course it was black. Now you started to wonder, just how much money does this man have because it looked like he did not have to worry whatsoever. Did you just hit not only a handsome but also rich man?

The leather upholstery in the car felt cold. Sanemi gunned the engine and you took off to god knows where.

‘’You can put something on if you want. The pin is XXXX.’’ He dropped his phone on your lap.

Wow, he must be really comfortable with you, giving you his phone. At least that’s what you thought. Hitting the music app you started to panic. That’s the most awkward part of getting to know someone, sharing your music tastes. What if you play something that he won’t like and he will be sitting there like ‘uhhh, okayyy’ but he won’t tell you to turn it down because he doesn’t want to be rude.

‘’Don’t stress over fucking music.’’ He tore you out of your overthinking. ‘’Just go through what I listen too, maybe you’ll find something that you like.’’

You did as told, scrolling through the genres and artists. Some rock, alternative, music from games, quite a lot of stuff but none of it out of the line. You could pretty much predict that he’ll listen to something like that.

‘’Oh I like Molchat Doma too!’’ You pointed out, happy that you found some resemblance of your own music taste.

Just then you spotted it. That one song that was out of order. A devilish grin blooming on your face as you hit the song and waited for the utter embarrassment.

When the first tunes sounded out you saw Sanemi grab the steering wheel harder.

‘’I feel so unsure…’’

He bit down on his bottom lip.

‘’As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor…’’

Something started to creep on his pale cheeks.

‘’As the music dies, something in your eyes…’’

He couldn’t even look to the side because he was driving and you took full advantage of that, looking straight at him.

‘’Calls to mind a silver screen’’

You could swear you saw a single droplet of sweat run down his temple.

‘’And all its sad good-byes…’’

There it was, a huge, rose blush on his face as he listened to the song and understood that now, now you know. You know that he likes this song.

‘’I'm never gonna dance again

Guilty feet have got no rhythm

Though it's easy to pretend

I know you're not a fool…’’

You started to giggle throughout the chorus, riding out on your victory.

‘’I should've known better than to cheat a friend

And waste the chance that I'd been given

So I'm never gonna dance again

The way I danced with you, oh’’

It was the first time you ever saw him flustered, maybe even embarrassed. Oh just admit it, he was embarrassed. This emotion just felt so much not like him. He always kept his cool and made others wiggle their fingers in his presence. This was just beyond funny.

‘’Why didn’t you ever said that you like George Michael.’’ You still giggled and snickered under your breath.

‘’You know that I won’t let this slide.’’ His voice was dark and serious.

‘’Yes yes, of course.’’ You didn’t take him seriously right now, still listening to the cheesy song.

Later on, you picked something normal and the joke died out naturally. The two of you started to talk about small things that happened the past few days, Shinazugawa asking you once more how you felt after the Inosuke drama. It felt so natural and easy, as if you were talking to a close friend, not a date. Before you knew you were grumbling, laughing and joking around as if you two knew each other forever. It was nothing like the awkwardness of your first days.

Soon you got to your destination, Shinazugawa pulling in an outside parking lot. You stepped out of the car and looked up at a gate that welcomed visitors.

‘’Wow.’’

SERIES MASTERLIST

Taglist:

@secretxchive @vesperazhier

#demon slayer #kimetsu no yaiba #kny #demon slayer sanemi #kimetsu no yaiba sanemi #sanemi shinazugawa #sanemi x reader #sanemi x you #college #university #college student #shinazugawa x reader #demon slayer shinazugawa #shinazugawasanemi #sanemi x y/n #sanemi smut

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kingkaisen · 1 year ago

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Okayyy let’s start this series! These are just the thoughts I had while reading 🤍

WAIT WHAT HAPPENED

‘Fire’, you think. <- ngl ik she’s gonna be traumatized but that’s adorable there I said it

“It’s 20 degrees outside, how are people still wanting frozen drinks.” he murmurs to himself, placing the blender back in its spot. <- this is such a Levi thing to say honestly SKSKSK

Once again you are EATING with the imagery! I can imagine his movements perfectly

OHHH I DIDNT KNOW MIKASA WOULD APPEAR! That’s so exciting! AND EREN TOO??? THE BBYS?? AWEEE

Mikasa and Levi aren’t one for many words huh?? Just wait until the reader shows up KSKSKS

I love the mention of the annoying uncle, details like that are so precious to the story

OOOOO THEY FINALLY MEET

I love how you can tell it’s Hange without a direct mention of their name simply because of how excellent you are at writing dialogue

WHY IS THE READER SO ADORABLE GOODBYE

The writing is truly magnificent but I’m not surprised of course

I also love how (at least so far) it’s written from Levi’s POV

WAIT WHAT WHAT’S GOING ON WHAT DO CARLY AND HANGE KNOW EACH OTHER WHAT HAPPENED FUCK CARLY WHOOP HER ASS HANGE

SHE’S HER WAHR????!! HER WAHT?? HER WHAT???

DID SHE SAY

OH MY GOD

But with an even closer look he realizes you weren’t just talking animatedly with your hands; you were talking with them. You were signing. <- wait because I love how he assumed she was just someone who used her hands a lot when talking but then realized she’s signing, idk why that’s so cute to me but it is

Strawberry is such a cute nickname AWE, do we find out why she is called that???

Erwin is so . He’s so . Carly doesn’t deserve him I DO. (I typed that before he started signing and now I love him EVEN MORE. My stomach just flipped honestly, he deserves the WORLD.)

Levi would totally judge the sugar usage KSKSKS wait but her smiling and not getting offended is super cute, and staring back?? Oh they’re made for each other

The reader is so fucking cute. No thought just smile and wave at Levi all the time

Them not being able to communicate is so cute I can’t breathe

I love Erwin and Hanges friendship so far they needed each other

AWEEEE LEVI REALIZES WHAT SHE ASKED HIM THATS SO CUTE

Tapping the pen against your chin, your eyes drift around the bar room. <- another addition of the reader being precious as HELL

He was holding his glass in a way you’d never seen before and honestly it was a little weird. <- I love this little detail to canon Levi along with the way you described The Scouts location! Little hints toward the canon universe has me kicking my feet

You bite your lip and start writing, but after a couple minutes Levi rips the pad from your hands out of impatience. <- GOODBYE WHY IS THIS SO FUNNY TNRJFJF

dark forest gre- <- MEKSKDKDK

The way I would bonk his head with the writing pad if he took it from me KSKS

Their little game is so interesting and fun to read! I can’t say I’ve read something like that in a fic, it’s very creative especially for their first real interaction!

‘Levi’ you sign to yourself with a free hand. A smile cemented to your face the whole way home. <- and with that we end part one WITH READER BEING PRECIOUS AS HELL AGAIN

—

This chapter was so interesting! What a lovely set up and the drama so far is not too heavy, but very engaging! It’s like I’m watching a sitcom and I LOVE ITTTT

I love how the reader has this unspoken goal of wanting to know more about Levi! Her and Levi also have a lot in common but are also complete opposites too, like she’s warm and friendly and he’s cold and distant, but they both aren’t very chatty (although the reader doesn’t have a choice) and they both obviously have some sort of troubled past! They’re like opposites that compliment each other well, it’s so cute.

You do an excellent job when it comes to descriptions and imagery, I know I tell you that all the time but you got me jotting down writing tips, I’m not even kidding! And you capture the characters so well through dialogue and movements, they have their own individual personalities that you bring over from the canonverse so well. I can tell who is speaking without any mention of their names and that’s such great writing talent! And I love the reader as you can see, I can’t wait to see what happens next 🤍🫠

Chapter 1: November

☾ Pairings ➼ Levi Ackerman x fem!mute!Reader (she/her pronouns), set in a modern semi-fictional world

☾ Summary ➼ Due to childhood trauma, you find yourself an adult without the ability to speak. After years of working on it, you have found ways to live without a voice. Now here in your late 20s, you are 5 months in getting used to a new town. On a fateful day in late November, you and your adopted sister visit a local bookstore-café, unaware of the friendships about to blossom. Throughout the months, one friendship in particular develops into something more.

☾ Content/Warnings ➼ fluff, slowburn, oblivious feelings, angst, mention of minor character deaths, trauma, illness, adoption, mentions of fire, disabilities, alcohol use, very light nsfw mentions, eventual smut (these update with every chapter)

☾ Author's note ➼ Hey guys! This is my first time writing fanfiction in a loooooong time, like the last time I wrote was probably in 2011. So with that said please be kind with any feedback or comments. I hope you enjoy! (also I made Hange's pronouns she/her/them/they)

Edit (11/27/2023): Hey guys, welcome to my little world of Unspoken Words. I have quite literally used this story as a way to better myself as a writer. As you read on, you may find that I've progressed (ofc I have a long way to go) but because of that, my first few chapters might be rough. With your patience, you may find a liking to this story as I know I've loved writing every word of it.

☾ word count ➼ ~7.1k

20-something years ago

You’re not sure how, but you find yourself sitting in the back of a big, white van. Red and blue lights danced in your eyes, and it felt like a thousand people surrounded you. Something plastic is placed on your face then you are instructed to breathe in deeply. You thought it was funny to be told to breathe, like you don’t just do it naturally, but you follow instructions regardless. It’s hard though, every part of your body hurts, chest included. Every breath you take feels like your insides are on fire.

‘Fire’, you think.

Everything is on fire.

Present Day

Levi stood blank faced as he meticulously cleaned the blender station for what felt like the 100th time today. The late afternoon rush had just tapered down so he took advantage of the next to empty café to clean as much as he could before closing for the evening.

“It’s 20 degrees outside, how are people still wanting frozen drinks.” he murmurs to himself, placing the blender back in its spot. Levi turns to the front counter and slings the towel he was using to dry things onto his shoulder.

His best friend, roommate, and business partner could be seen restocking some books on tall shelves, a gentle smile lighting up his boyish features. It’s been about a year and a half since they started this business venture together and they had no idea at the time how successful their bookstore-café combo would be in this small town.

Erwin’s thirst for knowledge kept their shelves as variable as ever while Levi’s love for perfecting the art of tea kept the drinks flowing. The problem, however, was Levi’s lack of people skills. He was seldom seen at the register, nor would you ever see him smile or talk to the customers. He often would leave you with a grunt and a swift turn after handing off the drinks.

No, for that, they had hired a couple of local highschoolers to do the facing work.

“Mr. Smith, Levi?” a soft voice rang out to the left of him. Levi shifted his attention to a taller girl with shoulder length raven hair standing next to him. Being as Mikasa is his cousin, they found early on how weird it was to be called ‘Mr. Ackerman’ as they shared the same surname. It was this connection too that got them to where they are today.

“Would it be okay if Eren and I take off a little early tonight? We have some big tests coming up and we’d like to take some extra time to study.” Mikasa shifted her dark eyes to the darkening windows as the sun set just over the horizon. Pinks and oranges flooded the partially clouded skies.

”Tch.” Levi could not help but roll his eyes. He raised a brow at her and leaned back against the counter behind him for support. “Sure, I guess,” he continues. “But do you really need it or is it for that blockhead?”

As if summoned by his words, Eren comes up from behind Mikasa and wraps a red scarf around his girlfriend’s neck, both of their jackets hanging off one of his arms. Eren is a good kid, always on time and followed directions, but the amount of sass he held in his body was something else. Levi and Erwin did not mind though, as he added a certain energy in the café that the customers seemed to enjoy. The two men wouldn’t say it out loud, but they really appreciated having them both on the team.

“Hey, I heard that. And yes, I need to study desperately. Econ is so hard and for what?!” Eren’s teal eyes widened for emphasis. To add to it he even put on a fake pout.

“I-”

“Just take the trash with you on the way out and you’re good to go.” Erwin piped up from behind a bookshelf.

Mikasa nodded in acknowledgement towards the voice, a silent thank you. Like Levi, she was not one for many words. He once thought it was an Ackerman thing but then he thought back to his annoying uncle and changed his mind quickly.

With that, she and Eren both untangled the aprons from their bodies, grabbed their belongings, and picked up the trash bags that were already taken out of the cans. They opted to leave through the back since the dumpsters were located that way. Again, Levi wouldn’t say it to anyone out loud, but he really did like those kids.

Erwin could be heard stacking more books into the shelves which left Levi to polish the counters again. It was the last hour before they closed so it stayed quiet for the most part, only interrupted by the sounds of scuffling shoes and books being placed on hard surfaces. Light jazz filled the rest of the silence. Then the bell signifying new customers rang from the front.

“Levi, can you grab that?”

The raven-haired man just huffed in response then stepped over to the register. His eyes fell on two figures right in front of him. A frazzled brunette and... you.

Due to the season, you are bundled up in a thick parka and knitted beanie. A big scarf wraps around your neck and face so that all Levi could see is your flushed cheeks and thick lashed eyes. Truthfully, you reminded him of a marshmallow.

“What’ll it be?” he asks, deadpan. The brunette is the one to respond, the voice loud enough to make him wince.

“Hmmm... well one English breakfast tea latte with lots of room for sugar aaaaand I’ll take a peppermint hot chocolate. Oh, and extra whip! We’ll drink it here.” She fished out a card with a dramatic thwip and handed it to Levi’s outstretched hand. Their café is one of those where if you were to stay, they offered washable cup ware as to keep the prices down on disposable cups. Not to mention the lessened ‘environmental impact’ as Erwin would say.

Levi glances at you before turning to make both orders. You give a small wave and smile a little, but he was already working quickly on the drinks.

He went into autopilot as he steeped the tea and steamed the milk. He really appreciated customers that ordered anything outside of coffee, especially when it came to tea. It’s not that he hated coffee, though it’s not like he liked it either, but it just wasn’t his thing. Coffee offered a different kind of bitterness that he wasn’t very fond of. With extra whipped cream in one and extra space in the other, he whirled around to place the drinks on the counter.

The one with glasses is the one that picks them up and they promptly walk in the direction of where you currently sit, one of the tables in the back corner by the window. You were stripped of your big parka and scarf, though the beanie stayed. Your eyes were wandering around the café in wonder, and Levi was pretty sure this had to be your first time here. But truthfully, he wouldn’t know, he didn’t make it his business to know his customers. That was Erwin’s and the kids’ job.

“The shelves are full and I’m exhausted.” Erwin came around the counter with a couple of empty boxes in his arms, heading straight for the back to the dumpster. Levi stepped back and leaned against the counter once again, his own black tea that had steeped while making yours cradled in his fingertips. He kept looking at his only customers while he sipped the black liquid. The teacup almost slipped out of his grip as he saw you dumping a large amount of sugar into your cup.

There you sit, extremely focused on the cup in front of you and lips pressed together tightly, almost as if you were afraid you’d put in too much. The sight would have been funny if you hadn’t just ruined your entire tea, he thinks to himself. You smile to yourself in satisfaction and put the sugar jar back where it came from. While you stir the sweetener in gently, the brunette in front of you talks animatedly. Hands were flying everywhere, and Levi could practically feel the energy radiating from the corner of the room. You were doing the same, silently laughing.

Suddenly the front door flew open, the bell ringing loudly with it. Levi grits his teeth, steeling himself for yet another customer interaction. But his shoulders dropped in relief at the sight of only Carly, Erwin’s girlfriend. She saunters up to the counter with a big smile aimed towards Levi and without even asking she slid behind the bar. Erwin had already made it from the back and was in the process of putting away the leftover ingredients from the day. Carly wraps her arms around her boyfriend and plants a big kiss on his face, to which Levi quickly looks away. It wasn’t weird for her to come in right as they were about to close.

What was weird, he thought, was the shock that flooded your face as you eyed the very public display of affection. Levi knit his brows in confusion as the brunette pivoted in her seat to see what you were staring at. Their face fell, any evidence of a good time completely erased.

“Carly?”

The person in question whipped around so fast at the voice and the panic that exuded from her was palpable. She quickly unwrapped herself from Erwin’s embrace.

“Hange.”

If it wasn’t for the jazz in the background, the lengthy silence that followed would have been deathly.

Carly clears her throat and laughs awkwardly.

“Uh, why are you here?”

The person named Hange just lifts their hot chocolate cup awkwardly, not really saying anything. Their eyes shift between Carly and Erwin, clearly understanding what had happened.

“I-I’m sorry, you guys know each other?” Erwin sounds cautious, like he already knew the answer. Of course, he would, he isn’t dumb. His piercing blue eyes survey the situation, going back and forth between the two.

“Well, uh. I-” Carly stutters, clearly at a loss of what to say in the predicament she found herself in.

“She’s my girlfriend.” Hange claims calmly.

This admission makes Erwin sigh heavily, confirming what he had pieced together. Levi stared at him in bewilderment as the man just chuckled quietly.

“Well. I suppose that’s it then.” And with that he turns on his heel and stalks off to the back room.

“Wait, Erwin I can explain!” She follows right on his heels and disappears into the back room as well. A minute later you can hear hysterical crying and calm retorts reverberating from the back. If Levi could shrink into the cabinets to get out of this situation, he would. Instead, he focuses on the other party who were having a very quiet and rushed discussion. Well, a one-sided discussion, as he only heard one voice.

Levi, realizing it was almost time to close anyways, rushes to close the distance between him and the front door. He really did not want to have to deal with other customers while the drama unfurled. So, he flips the door sign to ‘Closed’ and unplugs the ‘Open’ neon sign hanging in the window. A couple walks by about to open the door, probably out for a café date from the looks of it. But they were only met with a dead stare from the sharpest eyes they’d ever seen. With that, they briskly turned around and left down the sidewalk.

Levi spins around and from here he gets a better look at the two trapped customers. You were moving your hands all over the place like you were earlier. But with an even closer look he realizes you weren’t just talking animatedly with your hands; you were talking with them. You were signing.

You reacted to your partner’s conversation just fine, so it was clear you had some sort of hearing. Your scarf now hung loose around your shoulders, and it looked like you had tears brimming in your eyes. Levi swiftly walks back to the counter; this is obviously not a conversation he needed to be a part of.

“Hey, don’t worry about me. It’s only been a couple of months. Really, it’s better to find out now than 3 years from now.” They laughed without humor. You know when Hange was saving face for your sake, she was never as sly as she thought she was.

‘You don’t need to be strong right now.’ You sign then reach your hand out to touch her cheek softly. Physical touch had become your second language early on, if only to emphasize. Fortunately, Hange was okay with that and often embraced it with open arms.

“I know, my little strawberry. I just need some time to process everything.” They pat you on the head lightly with a small grin. You swat their hands, blushing at the nickname you were so graciously given so many years ago. But you nod back, knowing they would not change their mind.

The tall blonde glides through the back door, alone. His face was grim as he tugged loose the tie around his neck.

“Hange, was it?” He started walking towards you and your very startled sister.

“U-uh yeah. That’s my name! Listen I had no idea, I’m so sorry. I would have said something obviously but-”, they take a deep breath. “I’m sorry. What’s your name again?”

“Erwin Smith. There is nothing to apologize for as I can only assume there’s only one blame to be given. I hate that we must meet under such a circumstance, but it is truly nice to meet you.” He raises a hand waiting for a handshake.

Hange takes it after a second of processing, shaking the hand vigorously with both hands.

“Well, unfortunately it is what it is. I’m sure Carly and I will be speaking soon. I’m assuming she’s not just hiding back there.” They flick their gaze to the back door he had just come through.

“Ah well, yes. Long gone... how long were you two...?”

“Only like, 3 months or so. You?”

He flinched at that and murmured, “3 Years.”

Thinking back to her comment not 10 minutes ago, Hange bit their cheek.

“Oh man I’m so sorry.”

“No, please. It’s alright. None of this is yours or my fault. We couldn’t have known, but now we do.” Erwin chuckled to himself. You wonder if he’s trying to save face the way your sister did. His gaze now shifts to you. He is a very handsome man. To your extreme surprise, he starts signing to you.

‘I'm sorry, who might you be? I noticed you signing earlier. I know a little from the books I have read.’ His crystal blue eyes sparkle at you as he signs. You can’t help but break out into a huge grin. You sign your name back and compliment him on his raw signing form.

‘I am of hearing, though. So please feel free to talk, and I will sign back.’ You clarify to Erwin, the smile not falling from your face.

“That sounds like a plan. Levi, stop hiding behind the counter and come say hi.” Erwin calls out, not bothering to look over his shoulder. You hear a grunt in response and not 10 seconds later, the barista stands cross armed next Erwin. He nods a hello to each of you.

You knew he was shorter than you, at least a couple inches, based off the interaction at the counter earlier. But seeing him side by side with his friend was almost comical. But as short stature as he was, it did not keep him from holding himself with such authority. It made you nervous.

‘Thank you for the tea, it was very good.’ You sign, your sister translating in real time for you.

“Tch, are you sure? I saw you dump enough sugar in it to make it syrup.” Levi retorts dryly.

That makes you smile sheepishly. His fixated stare unnerved you a little, but you stare back regardless. Now that he was closer, a glass case no longer between the both of you, your eyes traveled along his face in close inspection.

He’s beautiful, you think to yourself. His features are sharp and angled. Steely gray eyes pronounced a permanent exhausted look. It was a shade of gray you’ve never seen before, and they were mesmerizing. As if he could feel you staring holes in his face, he flicks his eyes to the side, clearly uncomfortable. But you can’t help it, because really the most intriguing thing about him was not his metallic eyes. It was the scars that marred his porcelain skin.

A couple of scars ran down the right side of his face. The prominent of the two trailed from the top right of his forehead all the way down to his chin, cutting into his right eye and both lips. You’re pretty sure his eye was quite damaged due to the slight muted discoloration of the eye color.

He’s beautiful, you repeat to yourself. You glance over to Hange, and they just look over at you with a knowing look. You know she was just begging to ask Levi too, but she just shakes her head. So, you fold your hands together and pinch your lips together.

“Well!” Hange yells out, breaking the silence. “This human really needs a drink. Let’s all go! Erwin, I demand you let me treat you to a couple drinks!” She wraps an arm around your shoulders and laughs.

“A drink sounds fantastic; I will gladly take you up on that offer. Let me just close up rea-” He’s cut off by Levi raising both of his hands up in protest. You notice the two missing fingers on his right hand. The pointer and middle were gone. Whatever this man went through, you just had to know. But you toss those questions onto an ever-growing pile and bite your cheek.

“Erwin, I can close up. You go ahead.” Your sister just smiles widely and practically jumped up and down. The blonde man just clapped his hand Levi’s shoulder and smiled at him.

“Thank you. You’ll join us after? The usual place?” Levi just shrugs his shoulders in response.

Part of you hoped he would. You couldn’t place a singular reason why though.

Fifteen minutes later, the three of you found yourselves in a well-lit and very crowded bar. Somehow Erwin had snagged a table near the back wall. Heavy rock blares loudly from a live band maybe 20 feet away. Overwhelming was an understatement, but you grit your teeth and sit down on one of the stools.

“Whatcha want, my darlings?!” Hange yells over the music, slapping both hands down on the table and staring at the both of you.

“Whiskey neat, whatever they offer is fine.”

You sign the words ‘apple’ and ‘juice’ followed by a ‘thank you’. You’ve never been one for a drink. While it was tolerable to be around, you’d rather not have to taste it if you could help it.

Looking around, you see all manners of people surrounding you. Something about it makes your stomach turn but you shift in your seat to quell it down. You’re sure it’s only so crowded because of the prospect of a Friday night and the promise of no plans the following day. The town of Jinae was not anything special, but it was quaint. You and your sister found out quickly it was a place where everyone knew mostly everyone. After only settling down here from your hometown 5 months ago, you were still learning of all the local spots.

From the looks of it, this bar was one of those. “The Scouts” was an inviting place, decorated with dark greens and wood tones. The walls were littered with many frames of a lot of different people. You imagine it might have been local residents in various locations of the town. All of the wood was worn down, so it was clear this place has been in business for a while. A neon sign hangs above the stage where the live band played, something that resembled blue and white wings. It makes you wonder what the significance is.

Your thoughts are disturbed as a glass is placed in front of you. Realizing the dryness in your throat, you pick up the glass and take a big swig of the amber liquid. You’re met with a burning sensation, and you gag. This alerts Hange of the unfortunate mistake.

“Ah I’m sorry my little strawberry!! They do look quite similar though, don’t they?” They switch the glasses quickly and laugh. You notice the very noticeable cup size differences between the two and you stare at her quizzically. “I may have taken a shot while at the bar, sorry.” she adds on. It makes you shake your head, but you grab her hand reassuringly and chuckle.

‘I’m sorry.’ You sign at Erwin, and he just smiles back.

“Not a problem. But I have to ask, how was it?” A bushy eyebrow raises at you in amusement.

You just stick your tongue out and make a gagging gesture at him. You laugh though, not really upset.

Two apple juices in, the live band ends. Hange and Erwin are very deep in conversation, which you suspect might be about Carly. You can’t really hear what’s being said though. With the absence of music, chatter quickly fills the air. Honestly it was really starting to get to you. So, after tapping on the pair’s shoulders and signing where you were going, you find yourself leaning over the guard rail just outside the bar’s door.

The sun was already far gone. A crescent moon sits high in the sky and a smatter of stars surrounds it. The cold air felt very welcome on your very flushed face. You exhale a big sigh, which garners a puff of steam. It makes you laugh so you do it again. Then you start to wonder how long you might be able to last out here before getting frostbite when suddenly a body starts leaning against the rail next to you.

With a start, you whip your head to face the newcomer. Instantly you relax at the sight of Erwin’s friend. He was adorned in a big peacoat and his casual slacks. A tan turtleneck sweater peaks out from the jacket’s collar. His face was flushed as well, no doubt from the cold.

Levi.

He wasn’t paying you any mind though, instead his gaze laid upon the sky above, at the stars. You wave at him anyways and offer a small smile. He glances at you with a side eye and returns a curt nod.

Not one for words.

So, you both stand there in silence, staring up at the twinkling lights above. It wasn’t uncomfortable in the slightest. Something about his presence radiated a sort of calm, and you were happy to bask in it.

After a few minutes, he shifts his weight in your direction, so you face him. He’s staring up at you and it makes you swallow hard. His eyes glowed silver from the moonlight. Truly you have never been this fascinated with a person until now.

“You like the stars.” It wasn’t a question, more like a statement.

You nod in agreement, smiling to emphasize your love for them. He purses his lips at that. It seemed as if he wanted to say something else to that, but nothing came out. It just makes you frown a bit. You just have more questions that keep piling up. Everything about him just emanated mystery and it made you want to know all about him.

‘Are you okay?’ You sign to him, exaggerating your frown to show your concern. You’re only met with a look of confusion. You forget that he does not know much if any sign. And you kick yourself for leaving your communication tools at home. To be fair though, this is not where you expected to be tonight.

You then get an idea to use your phone to type to him but before you even reach into your pocket, you’re interrupted by a sudden blast of warm air as a couple stumbles out of the bar, both in a giggling fit as they cling to each other. They take off down the road, laughing even harder. The brief warm air makes you shiver, reminding you of the cold outside.

As if thinking the same thing, Levi catches the door before it closes and holds it open for the both of you. You’re suddenly well aware of the very loud singing happening from within and your eyes widen at the familiarity of one of the voices. You and Levi make your way to the voices and are greeted with the sight of Erwin and Hange duetting a Backstreet Boys song.

What a sight it was. The tall brunette, face flushed and glasses askew, had their arm around Erwin. He his blonde hair was quite tousled, and he looked like he was having the time of his life. They both swayed together as they belted out the lyrics. As if their smiles were contagious, you felt yourself grin. It was kind of cute. So, you pull out your phone and snap a quick picture, sure to show Hange in the morning. It was a good thing too, because the song ends right as you put your phone away in your bag. Levi clicks his tongue and huffs. You glance over at the noise and notice a small upturn to the corner of his scarred mouth. Noticing your gaze, his face vacates itself from any emotion as he stares back ahead.

“Oi! Eyebrows!” He calls out to his friend. Levi starts making his way to the stage, walking with a slight limp. Yet another question to add onto the pile. “I’m gone for 45 minutes and you’re already singing.”

“I’m fine! Just a couple drinks in.”

You all make your way to the table you had laid claim to earlier. You survey the table and count at least 6 more glasses, not counting your two. It was hard to see who drank what.

‘Are you okay?’ You sign to your sister, concern etched on your face. They just nod lazily and give a thumbs up with both hands. Levi is regarding you with a look of understanding, and it seems he realized that you had asked him outside. Music starts playing over the speakers again, and people start making their way to the dance floor. Hange squeals and downs the rest of her drink quickly.

“Erwin let’s go!” She grabs his arm, not waiting for a response. He gives a mock salute to the two of you and follows without question. Levi just clicks his tongue again and heads to the bar to get himself something. So, you plop yourself down on the stool and stare out into the room. Out of nervous habit you start fidgeting with the napkins in front of you. A moment later, Levi’s hobbling over with a tray of drinks.

“I got the idiots some water, they look like they need it.” He places the glasses down with a thud, including one of his own housing some sort of caramel liquid. Then he’s sliding something over to you and you’re about to protest that you don’t drink but you realize it’s not a glass. It’s a notepad and pen.

“If you need something, this might come in handy.” is all he says.

You’re quick to show your appreciation with a bright smile. You also note to yourself that you could have very well have used your phone to communicate but you were not one to disregard someone’s thoughtfulness. It makes something bloom in your chest, warm and comforting.

Your many years of not having a phone of course meant writing – a lot. Your handwriting evolved plenty with time so that meant it was extremely neat. It had to have been so that the reader would be able to read it without an issue.

First you write your name, as you realize no one had really said it out loud while at the teashop. Following that you add ‘I think your shop is wonderful, and I really did enjoy the tea you made.’ You also want to jot down the questions from earlier that were still swimming in your mind, but you hold yourself back. You tell yourself maybe later, granted if there would even be a later.

When angling the paper so he could see it, his eyes flit across the words quickly and you’re given a grunt in acknowledgement. Pulling back the notepad, you bite the inside of your cheek. While it wasn’t awkward being next to him, he sure made it hard to talk to. His cold demeanor gave you the feeling he wasn’t the type to talk about himself, especially with someone he just met. So, asking questions about him or his life was out the window. Likewise, he did not really seem interested in hearing your life story, not like you were planning to spill it anyways for fear of being met with disdain. You had plenty of experiences with that growing up.

Tapping the pen against your chin, your eyes drift around the bar room. There a multitude of people lingering about, shouting over each other to be heard. A couple sits in a corner, whispering who knows what to each other. Both of their cheeks are flushed and eyes heavy with lust. A handful of people are on the dance floor grinding away, your sister and new friend sticking out like a sore thumb as they dance with reckless abandon. All of this gave you an idea, remembering something you’ve read before many moons ago. You start scrawling on the paper again.

‘Are you a gambling man, Levi?’

You shift the pad back over to him and he glances down again after taking another sip of his spirit. He was holding his glass in a way you’d never seen before and honestly it was a little weird.

“Tch, hardly. Why do you ask?” He looks hard at you as you scratch something else down.

‘I propose a game to pass the time. Let’s make some bets about the random people in this room.’

He looks at you incredulously. You stand your ground, not averting your gaze even a little. When you don’t back down, he just scoffs and shakes his head at you.

“I literally could not care less about these people,” he clicks his tongue. “But I suppose there’s not much else to do so I’ll bite.” Knocking back the rest of his drink, he moves around you to lean back against the wall so that he is facing the rest of the crowd. You shift so that you are doing the same. You don’t overlook the proximity to the shorter man, nor the fact that your arms are almost touching. You start to scribble once more.

‘Winner gets to ask the loser one question.’ As his eyes fall on your words, he seems a little taken aback. Levi seems to think for a moment, like he’s weighing his pros and cons.

“One non-personal question.” He amends. You both nod in agreement. So, your eyes travel around the room, looking for your first target. It falls on a group not so far away.

‘I bet that gaggle of young girls over there are here for a bridal party.’

You point in the direction of the said group. Currently they were taking tequila shots, lime and all. All of them sparkled and were dressed up to the nines, save for the silly little hats adorning their heads. And they were having so much fun.

“No way,” Levi scoffs, “That has to be a 21st birthday. They all look like babies.”

Suddenly someone comes through a parting in the crowd with a tray of assorted colorful drinks garnished with cute little accessories. They all yell in excitement at the sight. One of the girls raises her glass and starts shouting.

“To Estelle! May your married life be full of infinite love, happiness, and orgasms!” They all cheer and take big gulps of their drinks, followed by more giggling.

Levi glances art you, his gray eyes dull in the dim bar light. An eyebrow lifts at you as well.

“How did you know?”

You do a sweeping gesture starting from one shoulder down to the opposite hip. He looks back over to the women and conveniently the soon-to-be-bride had faced your direction. She was indeed wearing a white sash sporting the word ‘BRIDE’ in bright pink letters. He huffs as he rolls his eyes, and you smirk at him in return. You press the pad over to him, already equipped with your question.

Levi scoffs at your question. As promised, it wasn’t very personal. You figured ice breaker like questions were a good start. But his pause made you question if this was a good idea, you didn’t want to run him off or make him uncomfortable. Then he clicks his tongue, and his face softens ever so slightly.

“My favorite hobby, huh? It would have to be cleaning.” He simply states.

Cleaning?

‘Like mopping, dusting, all that jazz?’

“Yeah, it brings me peace. I like the control. Plus, I can't stand filthy things, people, or places. It’s repugnant.” He scrunches his nose at the last statement. A laugh bubbles up and you can’t help but let it loose. You’re shot with a glare and a sharp tone.

“Funny?”

You shake your head no and smile lightly while your hands move adeptly on the pad.

‘Not funny, just amusing because it’s not something I would have expected. It’s different. If it makes you happy then it is an admirable hobby.’

Levi’s looking away from you now. If it wasn’t so dim, you would have seen there was a light dusting of pink color his cheeks and ears. He clears his throat and scans the room for his victim. His eyes land on the couple in the back corner whispering to each other. He notices their not-so-subtle hand movements as they felt each other up. Nodding in their direction, he looks back over to you, leaning close so you can hear.

“I bet that couple will get up in the next 3 minutes and excuse themselves to somewhere private.” Your eyes travel in that direction, only to look away hastily at such an intimate scene. You’re not able to think of a counter-bet because honestly, you’re thinking the same thing. Your eyes settle back to his face, but he’s already looking back at the couple. If he noticed you staring, he didn’t say. Suddenly his face is filled with a satisfied look, only to be replaced quickly with a look of horror. You follow his gaze again, afraid of what you might see.

Fortunately, it’s nothing risqué, as you catch the tail end of the couple slipping into one of the public, unmarked restrooms. But the thought of their future actions was enough to gross you out. Looking back at Levi, you scrunch your face up in disgust. He nods in understanding.

“This is why we don’t use public restrooms, especially in a bar.” He pinches the bridge of his nose with his good hand. “When I said somewhere private, I meant like a residence or something. Filthy animals, unbelievable. They better scrub that bathroom down. Maybe I should tell the bartender when they’re done. Maybe I should help clean.”

His retorts crack you up, your shoulders bouncing from silent laughter. He just stares at you impassively as he runs his fingers through his hair to get it out of his face.

“Well, it’s not like we should ruin their fun. Anyways I suppose I won. Let’s see... what’s your favorite color?”

You part your lips, dumbfounded. This was never an easy question, as you found joy in a lot of different colors. You bite your lip and start writing, but after a couple minutes Levi rips the pad from your hands out of impatience.

salmon

turquoise?

canary yellow!

orange

dark forest gre-

He just looks at you in alarm.

“Just pick one.” he scolds.

You snatch the pad back and scribble down, ‘It’s not that simple!’

“It is to me. White, easy.” You just stare right back at him, not believing what you just heard. Out of all the many shades and hues out there, this man decides the color white.

‘Why?’

“It’s clean.” is the only response you get.

It makes sense, you think. But seriously, this man was so weird. But like you said earlier, it was different and that made it refreshing to you. You start searching for your next bet.

As if in a scene from a movie you’ve seen a dozen times came to life, your eyes snap to a lone woman sitting at the bar, nursing a drink and playing on her phone. A couple seats down, you spot a few men chatting. One of the men is staring hard at the very oblivious woman. You nudge Levi with your elbow, not unnoticing the slight flinch from your touch. You point to the scene, and he is quick to understand.

“I bet when he walks over to her, she’ll get up and leave.” He says confidently.

Trusting your instincts, you scrawl back quickly as you notice the man started making his way towards the woman. Sticking your tongue out at him, you angle the pad to him so he could see.

‘Absolutely not. She’ll tell him off right away.’

To both yours and his surprise, not one moment later she throws the rest of her drink contents onto the man’s head. She gathers her belongings, throws a wad of bills on to the bar, then stomps out of the establishment. The rejected man staggers back to his friends, and they applaud him for his supposed gall. This event left you both stunned. There’s a moment of pause where you and Levi just stare at each other before all hell breaks loose as he starts talking and you start scribbling furiously.

“She walked away, I win.”

‘She threw that drink on him, that’s practically telling him off. And that happened before any walking off.’

“That hardly counts, no words were used.” He scoffs and folds his arms across his chest as he stares hard at you. You weren’t sure if the indignation was real or not, but it was evident in his face.

‘Words are not always needed to convey intent.’ You shoot back at him, shifting your weight to tap your foot defiantly. You would know this of course.

This makes Levi pause. He opens his mouth to say something but then Erwin and Hange came crashing into the little bubble you two had made. Suddenly the sounds of clinking glasses and mindless chatter came rushing in and you took a step back.

“Um, I think Hange might have had a little too much tonight.” Erwin says, to which your attention is drawn to a very drunk Hange. They were a blubbering, sobbing mess. Whining about things that ranged from Carly to her work stress and everything in between. Your sister rarely got this drunk, but you imagine the events from earlier might have been her breaking point. This was a sign to get her home.

You hastily round the table to wrap her arm around you and prop her up. Then after whipping a $20 out of your purse and throwing it on the table in front of the boys, you give them a grateful smile and sign to Erwin.

‘Thank you both for tonight. She and I had a lot of fun. But I need to get her home before she gets worse.’ As if on cue, they let out a loud wail and start sobbing into your shoulder. You shift your body to hold them closer so that you don’t drop them. Erwin grabs your $20 and shoves it back in your purse before zipping it up. He had left you no time to protest as he places a large hand on your shoulder and stares intensely at you.

“Please, let me take care of this. Tell them this was an exceptional time. And to please stop by the café again, we owe each a good, sober talk.” His bright blue eyes crinkled in the corners as he smiled at you warmly. “It was a pleasure meeting you too. I hope you join Hange on the café visits as well. I think Levi has warmed up to you just nicely.” He wiggles an eyebrow at his friend. Levi just shoves him back and rolls his eyes.

“Tch, fuck off. She’s alright, I guess.” He’s staring at you now, not as cold as before. “You owe me an answer next time we meet.”

You purse your lips at him and shake your head in disagreement.

‘I totally won that, don’t even think otherwise.’ You jot down lazily on the notepad still on the table. It wasn’t as neat, but you were propping up a whole human, you couldn’t help it.

“Are you sure you’re safe to get home okay? We can he-” You cut Erwin off with a wave of the hand. Their spot of choice was actually very lucky, as you only live a few minutes away. And to be honest, you needed the cold air. So, you sign a quick goodbye to your new friends and make your way out.

Walking down the snowy sidewalk, you pat Hange’s head as she grumbles about random things. She opted to walk herself, but you kept your hand in theirs to lead them in the right direction. She only stumbled a few times but overall, you were able to keep a steady pace. You note that before you left, her glass of water had been untouched, so you make a mental reminder to hydrate her before throwing her in bed.

‘Alcohol was not kind to those in their 30s’ you heard their voice say in the back of your mind.

As your steps left crunching noises in their wake, you peer up at the moon and glittering stars. A certain raven-haired and silver-eyed man etched in your brain. You wonder how soon it will be before seeing him again.

‘Levi’ you sign to yourself with a free hand. A smile cemented to your face the whole way home.

☾ Next Chapter: December

#˗ ˏˋ♛ 𝐓𝐀𝐘'𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐘 ♛ˎˊ ˗

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limetimo · 3 years ago

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RAB fics I read this week(ish) (20-27 June)

The Missing Link by Keysie Just call Regulus "Regulus Lupin" lol. In the aftermath of war, everyone's trying to navigate the new terrain of relationships. Lily and James break up and Regulus asks James to help him become an animagus to cheer him up ♥

Good Old-Fashioned Loverboy by TakeSwimingLessons Regulus ran off to Uncle Alphard, him and Sirius are slowly making up, and James is all about pushing boundaries.

sneaking roses in your bed by wotcherremus ohohoohohOHOHOHOH I AM INTRIGUED. Regulus is a ghost. He lived and died in the fifties, doesn't remember much of his life but it's slowly coming back, and he likes hanging out with James. And ofc there's the unfinished business thing.

first footings by wheresmejumper I'm. It's cute, and then the last two chapters are !!!!*wild gestures*!!!! Screaming. Good screaming. Or: Regulus is hiding at the Potters' and they become friends and Vernon thinks they're poly :D

when you were mine by battlehamster a gem that needs no introduction

In The Shadows of Flashing Lights by ifyouwvntto BAND AU! Regulus is a little bitch! Pandora is etheral! James is fame hungry! Sirius would like to not interact with any of his family baby brother included thank you very much! And much more.

From Fire to Fire by greyeyedmonster18 Okay so this one is Sirius-centric but Regulus Is A Good Sibling and makes many appearances and they learn how to not be codependent, also all my love to James Potter and Harry and Lily; and like, Remus is good, great even as a character but if you have parents with high expectations you might get a little upset with him sometimes.

Oaths Kept & Oaths Broken by Trex_patronus Healer!Sirius my beloveds, and the realities of war as in, certain Healers might refuse to treat Death Eaters. Or how Sirius broke Regulus' brain by caring

Art Heist, Baby! by otrtbs ♥♥♥♥♥♥ be gay do crime rewrite my heart (let the future in) by secretpersona Regulus and PAndora my beloveds. And Soup!!!

The Marauders and the Chamber of Secrets by SilverShadow1 MArauders + Regulus + Lily reading CoS

Ogni Parte È Viva (Every Part Is Alive) by euphorial_docx Regulus and James, in Italy, great vibes

Upon Returning by alpha_leonis Sirius does some remembering

Black flies Beautifully written. Regulus and Sirius are very much push and push

Drugs and surgical scrubs by anauro addicts maaruders doctor regulus slowburn jegulus ♥♥♥

Twisting Fate by Anonymous Sirius is thrown to his fifth years' body

My Own Private Blackpool by LadyVisenya Regulus lives a PTSD ridden recluse until Voldy comes back, then he goes playing detectives with his girl friend / future girlfriend

Auror Academy - the class of 1979 by Regulus_Potter I'm feral about this one okayyy

Evan is dying. Regulus comes to visit him to St. Mungo's. Get your tissues ready

#regulus black #fic rec

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azaablue · 4 years ago

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2021 Year End Fic Review

thank you thank you thank you @flameohotwife !! Sorry this took me years!

Okay so I’m azablue on ao3, and while I didn’t do a bunch this year it was super duper gratifying and I’m honored !!

How many stories did you complete?

none that I published ! (yeesh), but I’ve “completed” some I still wanna kinda iron out this year haha but it’s all a process

What is your total word count for the year?

my word count published last year was 68,792 !

What fandoms did you write in this year?

Allllll atla and lok - what can I say they HAVE me

Did you write more, less, or roughly about what you expected?

more and less honestly. I started my very first multichapter fic and while it’s kicking my butt it’s also so so rewarding!!! Did I think it’d be done by now ? Yes yes I did. Is it ok it’s not? Yeah.

What’s your own favorite story of this year?

okayyy so beautiful boy (my bumi fic) is my absolute fav, but one thing that’s been a wip for a while that I think I’m gonna take the next step with in 2022 is a kai & air bender kids fic about family/generational issues/etc

What is your most underappreciated story of the year?

idk if I would use the word under appreciated, cause I just adore any and all “traction” my fics get, but jumping back to the year of from hell 2020 I would say my Sokka and Lin fic “someone who waits and listens” has “less” attention than others, but that’s also fine with me

What’s your most appreciated story of 2021?

beautiful boy. Holy shit. I still kinda can’t believe. :)

Biggest fanfic related disappointment of 2021?

i didn’t finish my multi-chapter fic ! I will ! But I did not :/

Biggest fanfic related surprise of 2021?

people interacting with and reading my work. The first time someone found me on tumblr I actually couldn’t believe it !!! Like people ??? Read??? What I wrote ?? And people enjoying it and my ideas I just - thank you.

Something you are looking forward to working on in 2022?

Writing more !!!!

#2021 fic year in review #2021 fic ask game #ask game #2021 #atla fanfiction #atla fanfic #lok fanfic #korra fanfic #atla #tlok #avatar the last airbender #by azablue

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mikotyzini · 7 years ago

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Red Carpet Romance - Ch. 34

Here at last, the next chapter! And it's a long one (~10k)...

I actually set this up as a goal for my p/atreon page and they met it, so I finished this up as soon as possible! This story still holds a really special place in my heart, and I totally started working on the next chapters before getting caught up in Bumblebee and White Rose weeks (check those out soon! @bmblbweek and @white-rose-week).

I appreciate everyone's patience with this story, and I hope it continues to make you smile/laugh/get those nice, warm fuzzies. I know it still does that for me :)

Morning routines were easy to develop. Wake up, follow a second mini routine in the bathroom, pick out an outfit, and head out for whatever the day might bring. There might be several twists and turns along the way, but that morning routine almost always stayed the same.

Which was why waking up and knowing that the routine had already been thrown off course was discombobulating - and not in a pleasant way.

Normally the bed beside her was warm, but today it was as cold as if she’d spent the night alone. Blinking her eyes open, Blake confirmed that the bed was empty - the sheets throw aside when someone left them far too early. Stifling a yawn, she covered her mouth with one hand and sat up right as Yang walked out of the bathroom.

“God.” Stopping in her tracks, Yang playfully rubbed her eyes before shooting Blake a wide grin. “I should get up early every day if it means seeing the most beautiful girl in the world wake up. Like - wow. You’re a dream come true.”

Blake’s response to the exceptionally early compliment was a blush deepening on her cheeks - which only grew deeper when Yang walked over to the bed and kissed her good morning.

“How long have you been up?” Blake asked only after Yang’s lips left hers, leaving behind a warm, tingling sensation.

“Like half an hour. I wanted to get ready for breakfast!”

Glancing at the clock on the nightstand, Blake laughed.

“Don’t pancakes take about fifteen minutes to make?”

“Yeah, but I need to run to the store first. We don’t have everything.”

“Flour, eggs, milk, butter,” Blake said out loud while mentally confirming that those items were currently in their kitchen. “What else could you possibly need?”

“Clearly you’ve never seen Ruby eat pancakes,” Yang responded with a light laugh. “We need about a gazillion toppings. Plus, I wanna get a whole bunch of different juices that she can choose from! I don’t know which one’s her favorite right now - it switches every couple months or so.”

When Yang spoke about Ruby’s juice preferences, her expression filled with good cheer and an ever-present smile that was different from any Blake had seen before. This entire side of Yang was different from anything Blake had seen before - and she was greedy to learn more.

Watching Yang and Ruby interact was like watching two baby pandas roll around playing together - and Blake could probably never get tired of it….which was why she’d suggested that Ruby come over for breakfast. Little had she known that the invitation would mean that their regular routine would be completely broken and they’d be trekking out to the grocery store first thing in the morning.

“I’ll come with you?” Blake offered, swinging her legs out of bed and resting them on the soft carpet. Yawning again, she raised both arms above her head and stretched her back until feeling that slight tension that felt oh so good. Dropping her arms to her sides, she blushed when she caught the way Yang’s eyes were lingering on her stomach - where her shirt must have just ridden up.

Tugging at the bottom of her shirt, she stood and pressed a quick kiss to Yang’s cheek.

“You’ll wait for me, right?” she asked before heading to the bathroom, already knowing what the answer would be.

“Absolutely!” Following Blake to the bathroom, Yang leaned against the doorframe while watching her get ready for the day. “I mean, you know how long it takes me to get ready - but you get ready super fast! So I just figured, ya know, I’d get a head start on things so we can leave soon.”

Glancing at Yang in the mirror before closing her eyes to wash her face, Blake wasn’t convinced that Yang was being entirely honest. For one thing, the way she was shifting back and forth between her feet suggested that she was more impatient than she was currently letting on. But she must also realize that it was still several hours before Ruby would arrive, so there was no need to rush.

“Oh! I know what’ll help. I’ll go incognito.”

Curious, but mostly amused, Blake carried on with her routine while Yang disappeared from the doorway and rummaged around in the bedroom.

They tried to stick to a routine when at all possible, but - between both of their somewhat chaotic lives - the day was normally thrown into disarray at some point. Today, the unexpectedness had merely begun a little earlier than usual. By now, Blake had learned to adapt and be pleasantly surprised when the unexpected developments turned into a moment they never would’ve shared if not for the disruption.

“Ok, ok - how do I look?”

Putting her toothbrush back in the drawer and closing it, Blake grinned into the mirror and spun around to take a good look at Yang. Dressing ‘incognito’ apparently meant wearing a hat and pair of dark sunglasses.

“You look like Yang Xiao Long in sunglasses,” Blake answered with a laugh, reaching up to remove the sunglasses so she could see the lilac eyes she adored so much. “Honestly Yang, you’re way too beautiful to hide behind some glasses. You’ll need to wear a full Halloween costume or something.”

Yang’s only response to the comment was to give Blake that dopey smile that made her blush and turn away. Yang must be called beautiful a hundred times every day, but it was only when Blake said it that Yang smiled like that - and that smile always released a kaleidoscope of butterflies in Blake’s chest.

“If you’re worried about people recognizing you, how about I run out and pick up everything we need?” Blake offered, meeting Yang’s gaze once again.

“Are you kidding me??” Smile gone, Yang waved both hands in front of her while simultaneously shaking her head. “You’ll have all the boys swarming you in a heartbeat. I’m not letting you go out there without me being around to beat them back!”

Blake smiled while stepping past Yang to find an outfit to wear. Yang followed, of course - just like Blake wanted her to.

“You’re still upset about that boy from last night?” she asked, picking out a warm-purple, long-sleeved shirt and dark, dark pair of jeans that she knew Yang loved.

“Pfft…yeah right. What guy from last night? I don’t remember anyone other than you. And you were amazing, as usual. Oh, and there was this really annoying mosquito or something at one point, but I swatted him away and he didn’t come back.”

“You only remember me from last night?” Blake teased while quickly getting dressed - making sure to avoid Yang’s greedy eyes so they could sidestep any delays. “What about Weiss? It was her birthday. Or Pyrrha. Or, I don’t know, maybe your sister finally came back after being away for what sounds like was forever.”

“Okayyy so there were other people there, but definitely not any guys worth mentioning!”

“Admit it -” Blake finally said, turning around and giving Yang a small pout. “You were jealous.”

“I was so jealous, Blake,” Yang admitted with a far more serious expression than Blake had intended to illicit. “I don’t like the idea that anyone else could...could be with you - other than me.”

Touched by the honest sentiment, Blake stood on her tiptoes and kissed Yang on the lips.

“I don’t like that idea either,” Blake said, meeting Yang’s eyes and tucking several loose strands of blonde hair behind her ear. “So let’s not even think about it. Because it doesn’t matter who might be interested in me - I’m the one who gets to decide who I love. And I’ve already chosen you.”

Blake watched the smile grow - first in Yang’s eyes before landing on her lips - and smiled in return.

“Yeah?” Yang asked, sneaking her hands onto Blake’s hips and tugging them closer together. “So you don’t even care if it’s a bizarro male version of me?”

Laughing, Blake leaned into Yang’s embrace before playfully pulling away. “I thought there weren’t any boys at the party last night - especially not bizarro male versions of you.”

“Right. You’re right,” Yang replied with a pleased nod before swooping in and stealing another kiss. “But we should get going! Ruby’s gonna be here in like...three hours and we’re not ready!”

By now used to the rapid changes in subject, Blake accepted Yang’s hand and was pulled willingly out of their room and into the living room. While Yang hurriedly slipped on the first pair of shoes her hands fell upon, Blake decided to have a little fun of her own.

Yang was normally a pretty patient person. In fact, she was normally the one who was late or causing them to be late by dragging her feet. Now that the tables were turned, wasn’t it only fair that Blake take her own sweet time? There was no way of knowing whether or not a moment like this would ever present itself again, after all...

Walking over to the closet, Blake held the door with one hand and stared thoughtfully at the shoes paired up inside. Being that she had little interest in fashion, she already knew exactly which pair she was going to wear...but Yang didn’t know that.

“Hmm…” Blake breathed out while studying her options. Feeling Yang’s intent stare, she tried not to smile - that would only give away what she was doing.

Reaching into the closet, she picked up one pair and stood up...only to put them back and pick up another potential candidate. Yang shifted her feet, but managed to remain quiet. Impressive! Maybe she was even more patient than Blake was giving her credit for.

Putting the second pair back in place and retrieving the shoes she actually intended on wearing, Blake calmly sat down on the sofa and slowly slipped them on. All the while, Yang watched and fidgeted nearly nonstop. And, as soon as Blake stood up, she bolted for the front door.

“Ok, let’s go!” she said, practically out in the hall already.

“Oh, hold on!” Blake called out, turning around and walking towards the kitchen table. “I forgot my bag.”

“Blakeeee!” Yang finally whined, having reached her limit of patience. Blake couldn’t help laughing at the adorable sound while quickly grabbing her bag and meeting Yang by the door - with Yang slowly figuring out what was going on by the way Blake playfully shook her head.

“You’re just messing with me?” Yang asked, grinning when Blake nodded. “Well could you mess with me on the way to the store instead??”

“I suppose that'll do…” Blake joked, accepting Yang’s hand and heading towards the elevator that would take them down to the lobby. “Although it’ll be harder to do when you’re getting what you want…”

“Oh?”

Blake didn’t need to look at Yang to know exactly what expression went with that single word question. And she probably shouldn’t look at Yang right now, because the elevator ride down to the lobby was short and other people were often waiting right outside the doors when they got there. That wasn’t enough time to do anything that Yang might want to do…

“You know what I mean,” Blake replied, blushing regardless as her own mind considered the possibilities. Hearing Yang laugh as they stepped out into the lobby, Blake smiled as they made their way out into the early morning sunshine.

“I wanted to thank you, by the way.”

Blake glanced over at Yang, surprised by the unexpected gratitude.

“For what?”

“For being absolutely incredible!” Yang answered with a big grin. “But also for how much you helped with Weiss’ party. And by helped, I mean basically set the entire thing up yourself.”

“No need to thank me. I was happy to help.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t have to and did anyway.” Yang squeezed Blake’s hand to express even more appreciation before carrying on. “Do you think she had a good time?”

For the answer to that question, Blake thought back on the second half of the party - the part after Ruby arrived and Weiss came down from her tower.

“I think she did.”

“Good,” Yang answered with a nod. “I hope she did. I just get the feeling that she’s used to people...using her.”

“But that’s not you.”

“No way! I just want to be her friend! And use her to get all the free concert tickets I want!”

Laughing at the joke, Blake lightly squeezed Yang’s hand as they continued their early morning stroll. For the day having started off the way it did, it was actually a nice surprise to take a walk with Yang when there were fewer people than usual around. Sure, the store wasn’t far, but that didn’t mean Blake wouldn’t enjoy their temporary privacy while it lasted.

“It’s nice out,” she said - commenting more on the company than on the weather.

“It is. Although I’d walk out into a blizzard as long as I got to walk with you.”

Chuckling at the line, Blake squeezed Yang’s hand and pulled them towards the small, neighborhood store that would surely have everything they needed. Fortunately, the store opened even earlier than either of them normally woke up. Walking through the sliding glass doors into the fully air conditioned space beyond, Blake paused and looked to Yang for direction.

“What are we getting exactly?”

“Ok, uh...well we have flour and stuff, so we need strawberries, raspberries, vanilla and chocolate ice cream, whipped cream - the extra creamy kind, not that regular stuff - rainbow sprinkles, fudge sauce, and about five different bags of candy.”

For a few seconds, Blake merely stared at Yang in surprise at the list that had been rattled off.

“I thought we were making pancakes?” she eventually asked.

“We are!”

“But...that sounds more like an ice cream bar.” Seeing Blake’s consternation, Yang laughed and picked up one of the hand baskets to be filled with...sugar, apparently.

“Just wait, Blake. Just wait.”

“Don’t keep me waiting long,” she teased, sending Yang a wink and immediately blushing when Yang subconsciously licked her lips. Clearing her throat, Blake turned back towards the aisles in front of them and tried to wipe that thought from her mind. “What do you think - divide and conquer?”

When Yang scoffed at the suggestion, Blake looked over in surprise.

“Yeah, right!” Yang said. “We stick together. That guy over there is already making eyes at you.”

Finding the guy Yang was referring to, Blake laughed.

“Yang, he’s looking at you.”

“No, he’s totally staring at you! Oh, and now he’s coming over. Ok, try not to make him fall in love with you.”

Shaking her head while Yang tried to act nonchalant, Blake watched the young man approach them. He was around their age, decently handsome, and most definitely far more interested in Yang than in her.

“You’re Yang Xiao Long, right?” he asked, stopping a polite distance away and lifting one hand in question.

“You know, some mornings I think I am, but others I’m not so sure,” Yang answered with an easy smile that made him laugh. As usual, she found a simple response that put people at ease - breaking a bit of the ‘unapproachable celebrity’ vibe some of her coworkers had all but perfected.

That aloof persona was so far from who Yang was though - and it was just another trait that Blake adored. Yang had a smile ready for anyone and everyone, but...there were certain smiles that were only for Blake. That little caveat worked wonders in keeping the feelings of jealousy at bay.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Yang’s newest ‘favorite’ fan said, taking a step forward. “But could I get a picture with you? I’m a huge fan of your movies.”

“Sure, no problem!”

Grinning at his good fortune, the guy scrambled to pull out his phone - very nearly dropping it when it fumbled out of his pocket.

“Want me to take it?” Blake offered, slightly worried he would hurt himself trying to take the photo while being so close to Yang.

“Yeah, sure! Thanks!”

When he handed the phone over, Blake stood in front while Yang gave her a bright smile before turning to their newest acquaintance.

“That’s my girlfriend, by the way,” Yang said in a loud whisper. “Isn’t she beautiful?”

It was a trick question - with neither answer likely to make Yang happy. Thankfully, the young man was too absorbed in Yang’s presence to fully formulate a response.

“U-uh, I mean, yeah, I guess,” he sputtered, his eyes never leaving Yang as she laughed. Apparently he’d just passed the test.

Turning to Blake, they both smiled and she took a couple of photos in a row so he could choose the best one.

“Thank you so much!” he said, taking his phone from Blake before giving them both a huge smile and rushing off - most likely dying to tell all of his friends about his good fortune.

“You just made his day,” Blake said, walking back to Yang as she picked up the basket again.

“Now let’s make mine!” Yang replied, taking Blake’s hand and pulling her towards the nearest aisle. “We have pancakes to make!”

“And ice cream sundaes,” Blake added, smiling at the sound of Yang’s laughter as they whizzed through the store together.

They ended up with six different kinds of candy to go along with the fruit, ice cream, whipped cream, and three types of juices - orange, apple, and grape. Blake carried two of the bottles of juice up to the counter - one in each hand - since Yang had vastly underestimated how much food a small hand basket could carry.

“Ruby’s probably still sleeping,” Yang commented while the clerk rang up their items. “She said she’ll text me when she’s up - and she gets hungry like minutes after waking up so she’ll probably come over right away.”

“Ok.” Paying for the groceries and giving the clerk a quick ‘thank you,’ Blake grabbed one of the bags and followed Yang towards the exit. “So what you’re saying is that once she texts you, we don’t have much time to prepare.”

“That’s why we need to get ready early.”

“Well let’s get home then, slowpoke,” Blake teased, playfully bumping her bag into Yang’s side to get her moving faster.

“I’m the slowpoke?? Who’s the one that takes forever to find their shoes?”

Catching Yang’s grin, Blake shook her head. “If you didn’t have so many pairs in the closet, it’d be easier for me to find what I want to wear.”

“Ok, ok. I know better than to try to fight that battle -”

“Because you’ll lose,” Blake joked, smiling when Yang laughed and nodded.

“I’ll absolutely lose. But I always lose to you - hard to win when you’re so freaking gorgeous!”

The two things seemed uncorrelated in Blake’s mind, but the compliment warmed her heart anyway. And, as Yang held the door to their building open, Blake stopped and gave her a grateful kiss on the lips before heading inside.

“You realize someone probably got a picture of that.”

“I don’t care,” Blake replied, stepping into the elevator and trying not to smile at the huge grin Yang was wearing while practically skipping inside. “If they did, hopefully I can get a copy and keep it forever.”

“If you want more pictures of us kissing, all you need to do is say the word. And if you want more than that -”

“We’ve already had that conversation, Yang,” Blake interrupted, her cheeks heating up regardless of them being alone in the elevator as it took them back to their home.

“I just love seeing you blush,” Yang replied, far too happy with how successful she’d been yet again.

“I’m curious,” Blake added, a change of topic thankfully appearing in her mind as Yang used the keys to unlock the door to their shared home. “Where does Ruby stay when she’s in Vale?”

“She has a little apartment nearby - nothing fancy.”

“She does?” Surprised by the answer, Blake sent Yang a glance as they set their bags down on the island in the kitchen. “She keeps paying for it even though she’s not here?”

“Oh, no. Wait, I haven’t told you this before?”

“Told me what?”

“Well, uh, I pay for it,” Yang answered, giving Blake an almost apologetic smile for the reply.

“You do?”

“Yeah. I mean, it’s not expensive. She wasn’t going to keep it, but I wanted her to always have a place to come home to. I hope that’s ok?”

Blake’s surprise in this moment had everything to do with the revelation that there was still more to learn about Yang, even after all this time. Living together, she’d expected most of the mysteries and unexpected discoveries to fall by the wayside but...well, Yang found a way to keep things interesting.

“Why wouldn’t that be ok?” Blake asked, pulling the ice cream containers out of a bag and putting them in the freezer. “That’s your decision.”

“Yeah, but…” Pausing that thought, Yang shook her head and turned away, but not before Blake caught the soft blush that was growing.

“But what?” she pressed, leaving the groceries in favor of walking over to Yang. It wasn’t like Yang to be bashful - at least, not since they’d first started dating. Seeing this side of her return was a treat indeed. The shy, slightly lowered gaze, the ever-fidgeting hands, the shuffling feet...Blake loved every bit of it.

“It just...kinda feels like it should be our decision,” Yang finally answered. The implication nearly made Blake take a step backwards in surprise, but instead she stepped forward - into Yang’s space in order to take her hands and squeeze them reassuringly.

“If you’re asking me,” Blake said, her heart swelling in affection from that single statement alone. “Then yes - I’m completely ok with paying for a place for your sister to stay.”

When Yang grinned, Blake leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her lips.

“Glad you agree,” Yang said only after Blake moved away. “Maybe...maybe we can make more of those decisions together? Or like, all of them?”

Up until this moment, they’d kept their finances separately - neither of them hurting for money, but neither of them feeling the need to have a major discussion about it either. Blake felt that maybe Yang wanted to wait and see how things turned out, but...maybe Yang had been waiting for Blake instead.

“I’d love that,” Blake answered, giving Yang’s hands a little shake of happiness. “You’re very sweet, you know that?”

“I hope you still feel that way after you see how much I spend on shoes…”

Laughing at the joke, Blake looped both arms around Yang’s neck and pulled her down for a kiss. Blake loved kissing Yang in the morning. Or the afternoon. Anytime, really, but morning kisses seemed more satisfying for some reason. Maybe it was because they weren’t able to kiss for the entire night while they were sleeping, and this was what it felt like to make up for lost time.

Either way, she enjoyed morning kisses immensely. With nowhere to be and nothing to do for several hours, they were free to savor it in full - which Blake could feel Yang doing as their lips locked together and she slid her hands down Blake’s sides. Gently, Yang pressed Blake up against the island, and those wandering hands started fiddling with the hem of Blake’s shirt.

Feeling a surge of passion course through her, Blake dropped one arm from Yang’s neck, but felt her elbow knock into something on the way down.

The sound of metal hitting granite shocked them both apart, before Yang stretched to one side and caught the bottle of whipped cream before it rolled off the counter.

When Yang held up the whipped cream, Blake fought a furious blush that she’d been the one to ruin that moment so handily. Clearing her throat, she tried to find a set of words that might save her from her current embarrassment.

“So, uh…” she said, before shaking her head and giving up.

“If you wanted to get a little more frisky, you could’ve just said so.” When Yang grinned like a fool and shook the can, Blake playfully shoved her shoulder.

“Don’t we have breakfast to make?”

“Yeah, yeah - but after!” Yang gave Blake a questioning look, but Blake pretended not to see it in favor of taking their myriad of fruits to the sink to be washed.

“I’m totally taking that as a ‘yes,’” Yang said, laughing while putting the can back on the island - this time further from the edge. “Ok, how about I start the pancakes, and you wash the fruits and cut them into pancake-friendly pieces?”

“You mean what I was already going to do?” Blake asked, raising one brow and gesturing towards the fruit in front of her.

“Ok, it’s really hard to think of things before you do! Take it easy on the poor dumb blonde, won’t you?”

“Never.” Turning on the faucet, Blake shot Yang a teasing smirk. “That’s not why you’re dating me.”

“That’s the truth. I’m dating you because you’re unbelievably smart, incredibly sexy, super fine -”

Chuckling at the list, Blake washed the strawberries and raspberries - and Yang was cut off by a buzzing sound. Looking over her shoulder, Blake watched curiously as Yang picked up her phone and smiled at whatever she read on the screen.

“Listen to this,” Yang said before reading aloud, “‘Thank you for the wonderful party last night. I really appreciate the effort both you and Blake put into celebrating my birthday. I enjoyed spending time with you and your friends, plus having the chance to meet your sister.’”

Reaching the end of the message, Yang grinned.

“That was sweet of her,” Blake replied, feeling her own heart warm at the thought that Weiss had enjoyed her birthday.

“She had a good time!” Yang cheered, raising both hands in success before dropping them just as quickly. “Oh dang, we should’ve invited her for breakfast!”

“She has plans this morning with her family, remember?”

“Oh. That’s right.”

“But we could always invite her over another time,” Blake added, pulling out a cutting board and knife so she could cut the strawberries into smaller pieces.

“You’re right, we should do that...oh! We should invite Pyrrha though!!” As the idea occurred to her, Yang typed out a message and sent it off with a grin. “Pyrrha loves Ruby. I’m sure she’ll stop by if she’s free.”

“If she’s even awake this morning,” Blake replied with a shake of her head. “I bet she’s still sleeping.”

“Me too. But she can get here late! No pancakes for her.”

“No pancakes for anyone if you don’t start making them soon,” Blake teased.

“Relax, Blake. Pancakes take like...fifteen minutes to make,” Yang replied, flashing a grin and ducking the strawberry Blake flung her way. “Ok, ok! I’ll make ‘em,” Yang added, grabbing the stray fruit off the far counter and popping it in her mouth.

While Yang was pulling supplies out of the cabinets, her phone buzzed a second time. Leaning over, Blake checked who the message was from.

“It’s your sister.”

“What??” Walking over with a bowl in one hand, Yang tapped the screen. “She woke up early? Oh crap. I forget she’d still be on Vacuo time…”

“Well I’m almost done with my tasks…”

“Oh shush,” Yang said, laughing while quickly finding the ingredients she needed. While Yang mixed up a batter and started frying up three pancakes at a time, Blake piled all the fruits into bowls before doing the same with the candy they’d gotten. Those went onto the dining table before being joined by plates, silverware, and napkins - then glasses and the three bottles of juice. Last, but certainly not least, she pulled out both cartons of ice cream and set them down with the canister of whipped cream.

Honestly, it looked far more like an ice cream bar than a breakfast table...

“Oh, syrup!” Blake exclaimed, suddenly realizing they’d forgotten the most quintessential pancake topping during their quest to get everything else. “We don’t have any syrup, do we?”

“Naw, don’t worry about it. She uses the ice cream instead.”

“What are we supposed to use then?” Blake asked. Turning away from the pan for a few seconds, Yang shrugged her shoulders and laughed.

“Whipped cream, maybe? Or do what Ruby does and put candy in between pancakes so it melts into a gooey, chocolatey mess.”

Seeing Blake’s expression of disbelief, Yang nodded and flipped a few more pancakes out of the pan.

“You’ll see…”

A fast, double knock hit the door - making Yang spin around with a huge smile in place.

“That’s gotta be her!”

“I’ll get it,” Blake replied while walking over to the door, unwittingly smiling at how happy Yang looked.

Admittedly, Blake was moderately nervous about seeing Ruby again. When they’d met last night, there were plenty of other people around - many of whom knew Ruby and were excited for the chance to speak with her. There hadn’t been much opportunity for Blake and Ruby to spend time getting to know one another. And...Ruby was very important to Yang, so it was important that Blake earn Ruby’s blessing.

Unlocking the door and pulling it open, Blake was immediately greeted by a wave of energy.

“You need to see -!” Ruby immediately said before her eyes widened upon seeing Blake. “Oh, hi Blake! You’re already here!”

The word choice made Blake tilt her head in confusion.

“Ruby!” Yang called out from the kitchen. “Get over here, shortstack!”

Sending Blake a blinding grin, Ruby skipped inside to say ‘hello’ to her sister with a huge hug.

“Already here?” Blake repeated while following Ruby to the kitchen, trying to figure out why the comment didn’t make sense to her.

“Yeah! I mean, I thought I’d get here first, but I guess I woke up kinda late so…” Words trailing off, Ruby shrugged and chuckled at wherever that thought had ended up. Glancing around the apartment, she grinned at Yang. “Did you redecorate? Looks awesome! When’d you get so many books?”

When Ruby waved towards the bookcase in the living room (which was filled with Blake’s books), Yang glanced that way before her eyes widened in shock.

“Ohhh my god,” she said, shooting Blake a look before turning back to Ruby. “I never told you that Blake moved in!”

Ah - that’s why the phrase seemed off kilter.

“You moved in together??” Ruby asked, the shock quickly wearing off as she hit her sister in the shoulder. “How could you forget to tell me that??”

“I don’t know, how could you forget to tell me you’d be back in Vale last night?” Yang responded, playfully smacking Ruby’s hand away from the plate of finished pancakes.

“Guess we both have terrible memories.” Shrugging, Ruby waited until Yang’s gaze returned to the stove before snatching a pancake and shoving the whole thing in her mouth. “Tha-sh aw-shom tho-”

Yang shot her sister a suspicious glare before nodding towards something Ruby was holding in her hands.

“Whatcha got there?” Yang asked, flipping another set of finished pancakes onto the platter filling with them.

“This? Oh, uh, it’s nothing.”

“‘Nothing?’ Since when do you carry around ‘nothing?’”

“Since forever!” Ruby said, holding what appeared to be a magazine behind her back and sending Blake a worried glance. “It’s no big deal, Yang. I can show you later -”

“Come on, hand it over.”

Watching in curiosity, Blake could read the emotions flitting through Ruby’s eyes - an openness of emotion similar to Yang’s own expressive eyes.

“Fine,” Ruby finally agreed, handing the magazine over to Yang. Taking it and giving Ruby a teasing slap on the shoulder, Yang flipped it around to read the front page - and let her jaw fall slightly in surprise.

“Oh.”

“Yeah,” Ruby replied. “I saw it on my way over and wanted to warn you!”

Now fully curious, Blake looked between Ruby and Yang before walking over to see what was causing such a stir.

“What is it?” she asked, reading the cover over Yang’s shoulder.

As it turned out, it was one of the tabloid magazines Blake religiously stayed away from. On the cover was a huge photo of Yang and Pyrrha - the two of them were eating lunch together, but the picture caught them at a moment when Yang was leaning across the table. From the camera angle, it almost looked like Yang was leaning in for a kiss...and the headline certainly didn’t help.

‘Writing’s on the Wall? Yang Xiao Long spotted being more than friendly with Pyrrha Nikos.’

To add insult to injury, they’d included a photo of Blake - only to add a graphic that made it appear as if she was being torn off of the page.

Taking the magazine from Yang’s hands, Blake shook her head while looking at it.

“You’re cheating on me again, Yang?” she said, adding a few ‘tsks’ before holding the magazine up so Yang would look at it. “And with Pyrrha this time? What am I going to do with you?”

First Yang read Blake’s eyes, searching for any hint that Blake was truly bothered by the photo. Finding none, Yang laughed and shook her head.

“You know me - can’t keep me caged for too long. Sooner or later, you’ve gotta let me fly! Or, you know, go out to lunch with other people.”

Chuckling, Blake shared a smile with Yang before noticing the way Ruby was looking back and forth between them, completely floored by the interaction.

“You aren’t mad?” she asked.

“Of course not,” Blake replied. “It’s not true.”

“Well yeah, I figured that. But like...I was worried you’d be nervous or something.”

Shaking her head, Blake casually tossed the magazine facedown on the countertop.

“I’ll only be nervous when someone can make her blush like I can,” she answered. To prove her point, she leaned over and gave Yang a quick peck on the cheek - causing her to turn bright red in the process.

Ruby stared at them, but with this goofy smile on her face. And then she started laughing - this infectious giggle that made Yang chuckle while turning off the stove.

“You’re really cool!” Ruby added, nodding enthusiastically. “Cinder flipped out about that stuff, remember?”

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” Yang replied. Picking up the plate of pancakes, she gave Blake a warm smile while nodding towards the table. “Now come on, let’s eat!”

Following Yang and Ruby to the table, Blake took the seat across from Ruby and waited for Ruby and Yang to serve themselves first.

If someone was looking for a reason to be upset, that photograph would certainly do it. But if Blake looked for reasons to be upset, there’d be no feasible way for the two of them to stay together. With Yang’s visibility and popularity, photos like this were bound to happen - catching her in just the wrong position at just the wrong time.

It wouldn’t be fair to punish Yang for something she had little-to-no control over. Plus, Blake knew - in the way Yang looked at her, spoke to her, touched her, kissed her - she knew in every ‘I love you’ that Yang would be careful with her heart.

And she knew that, if she ever felt the tiniest bit insecure, she could talk to Yang about it - and that she’d be reassured in droves.

That was one of the most wonderful parts of their relationship...that it took no effort at all to trust one another, regardless of what the world threw their way.

Reaching over, Blake gave Yang’s hand a loving squeeze before watching in fascination as Ruby spread a handful of candy between each layer of the pancake tower she’d built before piling ice cream on top and using the whipped cream to cover the sides. Basically...Ruby added sugar until the actual food was no longer visible.

Deciding to try out a little bit of the ice cream with fruit on top, Blake created a far more subdued breakfast while Ruby began demolishing hers.

“Mmm these are so good!” Cutting off another forkful, Ruby sent her sister a grin. “I’ve missed your cooking so much!”

“I’ve missed you so much,” Yang replied, not at all embarrassed to admit such a thing. “You’re sticking around for a while, right?”

“Yeah! I mean, I don’t have any plans to leave right now.”

The response was noncommittal, but Yang still looked thrilled while she finished a bite of her own breakfast. “Cool!” she said after. “Want me to get you some parts?”

“Oh yeah! Can you? That’d be fun!” Before Blake could even ask what they were talking about, Ruby turned towards her. “Yang gets me parts as an extra at the studio! It’s really awesome.”

“Ruby’s actually been in way more movies than me,” Yang added, giving her sister a proud grin for that accomplishment.

“I have!”

“That sounds like fun,” Blake said, watching Ruby devour another pancake in between breaths. “What have they asked you to do - as an extra, I mean?”

“Lots of stuff! I’ve gotten to run from zombies, and run from explosions, and run across a bridge that was about to fall…”

“So, you run from things, basically?”

Ruby beamed and nodded. “Yup! Although they didn’t actually have zombies chasing us. That was a bummer…”

Sensing the genuine disappointment behind those words, Blake couldn’t help but to chuckle. Ruby really was a unique, endearing soul...

“What was your favorite part?” Blake asked, both curious and seeking to keep the conversation going.

“Oh! Well, this one time there was an explosion in a building and everyone had to run down the street away from it. But Yang was standing outside saying, ‘That way, that way - keep going!’ and waving people in the right direction. When I ran past her, she rustled my hair!”

When Yang laughed at the cute memory, Blake decided that Ruby might just be the most adorable person she’d ever met.

“They kept that shot in the final cut too,” Yang said, her eyes positively sparkling as she looked at Blake. “You can just barely see it with how the camera angles worked out. I can show you later.”

“Please do.”

“I wanna watch too!”

“Ruby, you’ve seen that movie like a hundred times.”

“So? It’s awesome!” Reaching for another pancake, Ruby grinned across the table at Blake. “Yang’s movies are my favorites. I love watching her be the hero! Except I always cry when she gets stabbed…”

“One time I got stabbed - and I’m completely fine!”

“Now you are!” Shaking her head, Ruby pulled the ice cream container over to her. “I skip that part.”

“I remember that scene,” Blake said, sending a glance Yang’s way. “You sold it too well.”

“You guys are simultaneously complimenting me and making me feel horrible for doing my job!” Yang whined. “At least choose one or the other!”

Smiling, Blake reached over and patted Yang’s hand.

“You’re fantastic at what you do,” she said, watching Yang’s eyes light up in delight at the compliment. “Sometimes it’s just a little painful for the people who love you.”

“Aww...you guys are so cute!”

Yang smiled while Blake felt the hint of a blush dust her cheeks. Ruby seemed to say whatever popped in her mind, or was unafraid to say things others might normally hold at bay. It was a refreshing, if not mildly embarrassing, trait.

“Yang said you’re the best writer in the whole world!” Ruby said between bites.

“Did she?” Blake sent Yang an appreciative smile for the exaggeration. Even if it wasn’t true, it was nice that Yang believed in her so fully.

“Yeah! ‘The most talented writer ever,’ was what she said. I think.” Ruby paused for a second and tried to remember before shaking her head. “But I’m excited! Have you written anything I might’ve read? I totally wanna read your stuff!”

“You hardly read, Ruby,” Yang teased.

“I read sometimes! Like billboards or, I dunno, menus? Texts from Yang when I have a phone or service?”

Chuckling at the answer, Yang popped a raspberry in her mouth.

“What’s the last book you read?” Blake asked.

“Uhhh…I think it was like...something about how the number seven kills people.”

“Unlucky Seven?”

“Yeah! That was it. Oh man, I remember being super paranoid about the number for the longest time.”

“It was a good read,” Blake agreed. “But if that’s the type of book you’re looking for, I don’t know that I’ve written anything remotely close.”

“Oh, I don’t mind - I’ll read anything! Besides, you’re practically family now, so I should read all your books. Just like I watch all of Yang’s movies!”

The kind words were far more than Blake expected at this point in time, but Ruby sent a genuine smile across the table to go with her acceptance.

If Blake had been worried about winning Ruby’s approval...well, she was a little less worried now.

“I’ll get you copies of everything,” she said, smiling back to Ruby. “But please don’t feel like you have to read any of them.”

When Ruby made a happy noise and finished off her plate of pancakes, Blake turned to find Yang looking between the two of them with a huge smile in place.

“Has Yang read all of them?” Ruby asked after her breakfast was done.

“You bet I have!” Yang answered with a proud smile. “Just a warning though - there are a lot.” Pausing for a second, Yang laughed when a thought occurred to her. “When we first started dating, I stayed up basically all night for a week straight reading them. I didn’t want to look dumb, but instead I think I came off like an exhausted, crazy stalker.”

Blake laughed at the memory.

“Just a bit,” she joked. “I wasn’t expecting you to have read any of them, so when you started quoting passages I was...well, shocked, to say the least.”

“Shocked enough that you fell in love with me!”

“Absolutely. I knew you were a keeper if you were willing to do that.”

The two of them shared a smile, fondly remembering that period of their relationship before Yang turned back to Ruby.

“You’re gonna love ‘em though. They’re so freaking good. Love, betrayal, action, adventure, basically all the good stuff. And did I mention love? Because man there’s some great romance.”

A small blush heated Blake’s cheeks from the endless compliments, which Yang never seemed to run out of. To make matters even more humbling, Ruby was nodding enthusiastically at her sister’s words.

“I can’t wait to read them - I could use some more love in my life!”

“Good thing you’re back then!” Yang replied, reaching over and lovingly tussling Ruby’s short hair.

“Yangggg!”

“What? I haven’t gotten to do that in forever!”

“That doesn’t mean you need to do it now!”

While they playfully bickered, Blake sat back and watched.

Pandas. Adorable, adorable baby pandas.

When Yang finished giving her sister a hard time, she let out a happy sigh and gestured at Ruby’s empty plate.

“Are you done eating?”

“Yup! I’m stuffed!” Immediately after the reply, Ruby hopped to her feet and grabbed her plate. “I’ll clean up.”

“Naw, leave it for now - I want to hear about your trip!”

While Yang swiveled in her seat, Ruby walked into the kitchen and set her plate in the sink.

“At least let me clear off the table first!” she said, coming back to the table and grabbing the cartons of ice cream while Yang stared in surprise.

“Since when do you volunteer to clean up??”

“Since the time I didn’t and some crazy old guy told me I’d die a horrible death!” When Yang’s jaw dropped in surprise, Ruby solemnly nodded and said, “True story,” before heading to the freezer.

Catching Yang’s stunned expression, Blake smiled and stood to help clear the rest of the table. While dumping the bowls of candy back into their respective bags, she watched with interest as Ruby put the bottles of juice into the fridge before finding a small container to put the leftover fruit in.

It was strange to realize that Ruby had been in this apartment far before Blake was ever in the picture. It showed in the way Ruby knew her way around the kitchen, and in how comfortable she was opening and closing cupboards that weren’t her own. Of course, why wouldn’t she be? This was her sister’s home - she was probably over here all the time whenever she was in Vale.

Which meant that she’d be over all the time for the foreseeable future. Surprisingly, the idea didn’t bother Blake in the slightest. They’d known each other for only a little while, but Ruby was a joy to spend time with. Her general aura was...uplifting.

“So how’d you like the party last night?” Yang asked, gently bumping Ruby’s elbow as they put some of the dishes in the sink. “Have fun?”

“It was awesome! So fun!”

“Yeah? And you got to meet Weiss! Did you like her?”

“Oh - yeah! I mean, she was...really, really cool. I didn’t expect her to be so pretty.”

Blake’s attention perked up at the word, but when Yang chuckled she decided that Ruby didn’t mean anything by it.

“She is pretty, huh,” Yang replied before looking around to see if they were done. Finding everything off the table, she clapped her hands and said, “Ok, story time!”

Ushering everyone into the living room, she motioned for Blake to sit on the sofa while Ruby paced the room.

“I really like all the changes!” Ruby remarked, her eyes scanning the shelves full of Blake’s books before moving on to the lavender window curtains Blake had picked out. “It feels a lot more...cozy.”

While Ruby stood by the coffee table, Yang sat down next to Blake and gently squeezed her knee.

“I think so too,” Yang said, leaning over and pressing a kiss to Blake’s cheek. “But tell us - what’ve you been up to?”

“Right! Oh man, I saw so much cool stuff - you wouldn’t believe it!”

Beaming at Ruby’s enthusiastic introduction to her trip, Yang bumped Blake’s shoulder.

“This is one of my favorite parts of Ruby coming home,” she explained. “Well, besides having Ruby at home again.”

“And it’s one of my favorite parts of coming back!” Ruby replied. “Well, besides getting to see Yang again.”

“You two are so cute,” Blake finally said out loud, shaking her head in utter disbelief at their adorableness. After they shared a smile, Ruby did a little hop for joy.

“Ok, story time! So I went to Mistral first because...why not?” she explained, her voice speeding up in excitement. “And I think I was only there for a couple days when I met this guy -”

“Hold the phone.” Yang raised her hand and paused Ruby’s story. “This guy isn’t a romantic interest, is he?”

Ruby giggled at the question - pretty much all the answer anyone needed before she said, “No, Yang - he was in his forties or something.”

After giving Blake a relieved smile, Yang leaned back and waved her hand. “Ok, then continue.”

“Alright, so I met this guy - the non-romantic guy - and he tells me about this treasure chest buried in the middle of the city!”

“Like beneath the streets or something?” Yang asked. “How would they do that??”

“Or maybe it was in a park?” Blake suggested, and Ruby nodded vigorously.

“In the middle of a park - he had a map and everything! But there were a bunch of rules, like you had to dig at exactly the right spot at exactly the right time otherwise you wouldn’t find it. He asked me to help him because he needed someone to hold the watch and make sure he started digging at the right second.”

“And I’m guessing you agreed to help him?” Yang asked.

“Of course! It was a lot of fun, too. We had to walk around the park, backwards as some parts, and then tap a few special trees. When we finally got to the right spot, he dug a deep hole. I wasn’t expecting to find anything, but we totally did!”

“Really?” Yang asked in surprise that Blake silently felt. “What was it??”

“An old watch. It was broken, too.” Chuckling to herself, Ruby shook her head. “He was kinda disappointed, but it was a fun treasure hunt while it lasted! Anyway, while I was leaving the park, I realized I still had his map stuck in my pocket. When I pulled it out, my phone went flying and landed in the middle of the street! Then it got run over by a couple cars before I could get it...and that’s how my first phone died.”

Blake stared in shock at the tragic turn of events, but Yang laughed in delight. And, before Ruby could continue her tale, there was a soft knock at the door.

“Oh, that’s probably Pyrrha,” Yang whispered, standing up to answer it. “You stay there,” she directed Ruby. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

Ruby watched intently as Yang walked over to the door and pulled it open. When she stepped out of the way, Pyrrha walked inside and found Ruby with an affectionate smile.

“Ruby,” Pyrrha barely managed to get out before Ruby let out a small squeal of excitement.

“Pyrrha!” she said before running over and launching herself into Pyrrha’s arms. Pyrrha managed to catch her - letting out an “oomph” while taking a step backward to cushion the unexpected force.

“At least you caught her this time,” Yang teased Pyrrha as she and Ruby separated.

“Oh, I’m really sorry I knocked you over last night!” Ruby quickly apologized.

“That’s ok,” Pyrrha replied, setting one hand reassuringly on Ruby’s shoulder. “I just wasn’t prepared then.”

“Had nothing to do with the gallon of champagne you drank,” Yang whispered loudly before yelping in surprise when Pyrrha landed an elbow in her side.

“Good morning, Blake,” Pyrrha said, nodding politely Blake’s way while Ruby looked between the two of them.

“Did you know they moved in together??”

The question made Pyrrha laugh and shake her head.

“That’s a good question seeing as how your sister hardly tells me anything. But yes, I did know they moved in together - mostly because Yang made me help clean the day before.”

When Blake shot her a curious look, Yang chuckled and ran a hand through her hair.

“I would’ve gladly helped, you know,” Blake said.

“Yeah, I know. But I wanted it to be perfect when you got here without you having to lift a finger.”

Flashing a modest grin, Yang only succeeded in making Blake’s heart melt a bit more.

“That’s very sweet of you,” she said, smiling and reaching over to squeeze Yang’s hand in appreciation.

“Yes, so I had to help instead,” Pyrrha added.

“But I’m sure you did a great job!” Ruby cut in. “Cuz you’re the best at everything!”

“Hey!” Yang shouted while Pyrrha smiled widely. “I thought I was the best at everything!”

“Oh I have missed you, Ruby,” Pyrrha said, giving Ruby a loving hug. When she pulled away, she sent Yang a triumphant smile before turning her attention back to Ruby. “Let’s get lunch sometime. Just the two of us - we don’t need her anyway.”

“That sounds like fun!”

When Pyrrha sat down in an oversized chair, Yang all but collapsed onto the sofa beside Blake, grumbling under her breath all the while. Meanwhile Ruby stood in front of them, and Blake could see why - Ruby really liked to walk and gesture while talking.

“You haven’t moved in with anyone while I was away, have you?” Ruby asked, narrowing her eyes at Pyrrha as if trying to read her mind. Opening her mouth, Pyrrha thought about the question for a second before smiling and shaking her head.

“No, I haven’t.”

“Wait -”

Blake grinned as soon as the word left Yang’s mouth. People might have many assumptions about Yang based upon her appearance and profession, but she was one of the most emotionally observant people Blake had ever met...especially when it related to opportunities to tease a friend.

“Did you catch that, Blake?” Yang asked, giving Blake a look that begged confirmation.

“I did.”

“What?? What did you see?” Ruby asked excitedly.

“Pyrrha! Is there something you’d like to tell me?” Yang asked. For her part, Pyrrha looked down at the arm of the chair before meeting Yang’s gaze with an innocent expression.

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh nonono, you’re not getting off that easy.”

“You paused, Pyrrha,” Blake added, earning Yang’s vigorous nod of approval.

“You paused!” Yang repeated. “You have something you’re hiding from us!”

“Ok, fine.” Caving, Pyrrha leaned forward and motioned calmly with her hands. “Jaune and I might have talked about potentially moving in together, but it’s no big -”

“It’s a huge deal!” Yang interrupted. “I’m so happy for you two!”

“Nothing has been decided yet -”

“But the fact that you’re even thinking about it is awesome.”

When Pyrrha looked around the room and found nothing but cheerful smiles, she finally smiled - a bright, genuine smile that expressed a bit of her own inner happiness.

“Then you’ll help me clean if he decides to move in?” she teased.

“Woah, woah. Dunno if I’d go that far -”

“I’ll help!” Ruby offered. “I’ll help move furniture or paint or whatever you need me to do!”

“I’ll help too,” Blake added, giving Yang a sweet smile in response to her look of dismay.

“Ok, now you’re both just making me look bad.”

Laughing, Pyrrha leaned away and waved one hand to dismiss the topic. “We haven’t decided anything yet, but I appreciate your offers. But enough about me...I’m sorry that I’m a bit late. I didn’t miss much of the story, did I?”

“Nope! Not much!”

“We just heard the demise of phone number one,” Yang added, one of her hands now playing with Blake’s hair.

“Run over by a car after a treasure hunt,” Blake explained as Ruby bounced back to her spot standing in front of them.

“That’s a common one - the car part, at least. It’s actually surprising that you’ve never been hit by a car, Ruby,” Pyrrha commented with a light laugh. Her laugh slowly trickled off when Ruby scrapped one toe across the floor, scratching her head and laughing nervously.

“Uh...heh heh...that brings me to my next story…”

“What?!” Yang sat straight forward and gestured with her hands. “Who was it? I need their name and address.”

Blake laughed at the reply and patted Yang’s back.

“And what are you going to do with that information?”

“I’m gonna pay this guy a visit, that’s what I’m gonna do!”

When Blake and Pyrrha both laughed at the response, Ruby waved her hands to get everyone’s attention once more.

“One, it wasn’t even a guy!” she said. “Two, it was kind of completely my fault.”

Sitting back and leaning into Blake’s shoulder, Yang let out a loud sigh.

“Were you running across the street again?”

“No! Well, maybe. But it wasn’t my fault! I mean, running into the street wasn’t.”

As Ruby launched into another story, Blake alternately listened while shooting glances at Yang and Pyrrha. Each time she did so, she was greeted by a smile or a laugh bubbling to existence from Ruby’s antics. Pyrrha’s eyes sparkled in happiness watching Ruby gesture widely while going through her stories. And Yang...Yang’s eyes followed Ruby with such adoration that Blake felt her own heart glow with love.

It felt like her family had grown again - first to include Yang, then Pyrrha, then Weiss, and now Ruby. Sure, Ruby seemed like the type of person who would perpetually break routines, but Blake would willingly sacrifice any routine she had if only to see Yang this happy.

#RWBY #Bumblebee #Blake Belladonna #Yang Xiao Long #Red Carpet Romance

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