#and bought a ticket right next to us hoping to make connections or something...
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charmikarma · 1 day ago
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this happened to me once. like i was part of the couple. and boy is it a story
so my girlfriend and i were going to see the colors within (aka kimi no iro, it's naoko yamada's most recent movie, really cute etc etc we liked it) and when we booked the tickets we were the only ones in the theater which was great. we grabbed seats in the middle of the very back row. fast forward to the day of the movie - we walk in while the previews are showing and it becomes clear almost immediately that... there's a guy sitting in the very middle of the back row. presumably he booked a ticket Right Next To Us. haha what a joker whatever. the theater is empty so it doesn't really matter. my girlfriend and i sit in the middle a few rows down from him. all is well.
about halfway through the movie, we hear the guy get up. and in my head i'm like, oh, this guy must think the movie is really boring so he's getting up to leave. cool! we get to have the theater to ourselves!
this was not the case. instead of walking down to the front by the door, the guy stops at the end of our row... and then walks toward us, and sits down right next to my girlfriend.
now, i'm not afraid to admit that my gf and i are kind of... insufferable? like we're cute. i think we're cute. but some people might think we're annoying. in other words there was lots of pda happening. this guy had to be pretending we didn't exist (which he wasn't) to not realize we were a couple on a date. we were that all over each other. hell, we were basically hugging when he sat down next to us. i really... have no clue what was going through this guy's head. like was he trying to make friends? i don't know.
but in the moment i wasn't thinking that. the first thing out of my mouth was, "can you not sit right next to us?" and my girlfriend, a little more diplomatic, says, "yknow what, our seats were actually supposed to be up there, so we're gonna go now." and as we're getting up to rush to the back row and away from this guy, he says, "funny story, my seat was originally up there too!" and i said very simply, "don't care, dude."
the rest of the movie was fine... during the credits he stood up and apologized, and claimed he moved because he wanted to see the movie better which... lol. lmao even. we left very quickly because we were kind of freaked out. i'd like to give this guy the benefit of the doubt but i am really not sure what his intentions were still. i hope he's doing ok. and i hope he doesn't interrupt any more couples' dates.
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me and this random couple are going to see sinners this friday
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laurafaritos · 1 month ago
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HDMS036. Funnel Vision: A Comedian’s Guide to Paid Media That Actually Works
There’s this mistake a lot of comedians (and creators in general) make when they finally decide to “do marketing.” We pick one thing—usually Instagram—and throw everything at it. Flyers, clips, podcast promos, ticket links, chaotic rants. We “boost” a post, cross our fingers, and hope it fills the venue.
But here’s the truth I’m now learning: not every stage of your audience’s journey needs the same mic!!!!
Sometimes, the goal is awareness. Sometimes, it’s connection. Sometimes, it’s conversion.
And each of those moments???? They need a different channel!!! A different tone!!! A different energy!!!.
Module 3.4.1. Channel Selection, Brand Objectives and the Marketing Funnel cracked open the idea of paid media channel selection—not just where you advertise, but why you choose each space depending on where your audience is in the funnel.
And for the first time, it clicked: Marketing isn’t just about getting louder. It’s about speaking clearly—to the right people, at the right moment, in the right way.
That’s what this post is about. Not just how big brands choose their marketing channels, but how comedians and creators can use that same logic—even on a DIY budget—to actually move people from “who are you?” to “I bought a ticket.”
Let’s get into what Harvard taught me (and why my next boosted post is gonna slap harder than my last 10!!!!)
I. Harvard’s Take – The Funnel Is Real (and You Need a Map)
One of the most important things this module drove home is that paid media isn't just about visibility—it's about purposeful visibility.
Let’s use OOFOS as the case study again. They didn’t just throw money at ads hoping for magic. Their marketing plan was mapped to their goals:
Their goal was to grow revenue and raise awareness.
Their audience was health-conscious, fitness-focused people—“Workout Warriors.”
Their value prop was all about function, recovery, and innovation.
And their metrics were both long-term (brand lift) and short-term (ROAS, revenue).
So instead of just saying, “Let’s advertise!”—they asked: 👉 Where is our audience in the funnel? 👉 What do we want them to do next? 👉 What’s the best channel to help them do that?
That’s how they built their strategy:
Linear TV for top-of-funnel awareness. Broad reach. Prestige. Mass exposure.
Paid social for middle-of-funnel engagement. Retargeting. Relevance. Interaction.
Branded search ads (SEM) for bottom-of-funnel conversions. Catching people ready to buy.
They also acknowledged that channels aren’t rigid. TV can drive search traffic. Paid social can convert when it’s done right. SEM can boost awareness with the right keywords.
The point is: They mapped their funnel, then picked tools based on what needed to happen at each stage.
And once I saw that? I realized most of us aren’t even thinking in stages. We’re throwing all our budget at one moment—usually right before a show—and wondering why nobody clicks.
That’s not marketing, baby!!! That’s straight-up PANIC!!!!
II. Digital Doesn’t Mean Lazy: Paid Media Channels That Actually Work
Let’s clear this up right now: just because something is digital doesn’t mean it’s low effort or low impact!!!!
In fact, the digital marketing channels available to us right now are some of the most targeted, trackable, and powerful tools a comedian or creator could ask for. But only if you actually use them with intention.
Here’s what Harvard (and my own trial and error) helped me understand:
1. Paid Social Isn’t Just “Boosting a Post”
You know that little blue “Boost” button? That’s not strategy. That’s Instagram offering you the illusion of effort. Real paid social means going into Ads Manager, building targeted audiences (based on interests, behavior, geography), and choosing content that speaks to where someone is in their journey with you.
For example:
Top of funnel: A relatable reel with no context needed
Middle: A clip from your podcast that deepens connection
Bottom: A post with a direct CTA like “Buy tickets now” or “Subscribe here”
2. Branded Search Ads = Comedy's Secret Weapon
If someone’s literally typing “comedy shows near me” or “Laura Faritos podcast”—that’s someone actively looking to engage. Search ads help you appear right when people are already in the mood to act. They’re bottom-of-funnel gold. But you have to fund them, monitor them, and refine your keywords constantly.
3. OTT + Linear TV = Long Game Energy
While this stuff feels out of reach for indie comedians right now, don’t write it off. TV ads are about brand building. Prestige. Reach. And OTT platforms like Hulu or YouTube pre-roll are slowly becoming more accessible with local targeting and lower ad spend minimums.
If you’re planning a special, a docu-series, or a full-on live tour, this is something to work toward. Not because it’ll instantly sell tickets—but because it changes the way people perceive you.
4. Newer Platforms ≠ Automatically Better
Sometimes people chase cheap clicks. “Let’s run ads on Threads!” “Let’s put money into Pinterest!” But if your audience isn’t there, or if the platform doesn’t align with your content style, it’s a waste of time and money.
Your paid media channels should reflect:
Where your audience hangs out
What type of content they engage with
What you want them to do after seeing your ad
This isn’t about jumping on every trend. It’s about showing up where it matters, when it matters, with content that matches the moment.
III. What Comedians Get Wrong About Paid Media (And How to Fix It)
Let’s call it out: most comedians treat paid media the same way they treat self-tapes or taxes—last minute, half-baked, and emotionally charged. We either avoid it altogether or throw money at it when we’re already panicking.
But if you’ve ever spent $20 boosting a post and got zero ticket sales, this is why:
❌ Mistake 1: We Overspend on the Wrong Things
We throw money at a “cool-looking” post or a flyer, assuming that more eyes = more tickets. But if that content isn’t scroll-stopping, relevant, or targeted to a specific funnel stage… you’re just paying to be ignored more widely.
❌ Mistake 2: We Don’t Test or Track
If you’re not measuring your click-through rates, conversions, or even basic engagement... Then how do you know if your paid media is working? Spoiler: “I feel like it did well” is not a metric.
❌ Mistake 3: We Pick the Cheapest Option, Not the Most Strategic One
Sure, boosting a post is cheaper than building an ad campaign from scratch—but cheap doesn’t mean effective. It’s better to run one well-targeted ad to a warm audience than five random ones into the algorithm void.
❌ Mistake 4: We Use One Ad to Do Everything
The same video can’t introduce you, build trust, and sell your tickets. That’s like expecting a first date to end in marriage. Instead, break your content (and budget) down like this:
Top of funnel → Make ‘em aware
Middle → Make ‘em curious
Bottom → Make ‘em act
I need you to understand that each stage needs a different message!!!!! A different edit!!!! A different vibe!!!!!
The fix???? Start thinking like a strategist, not a flyer-flinger. Every dollar you spend should have a goal. Every video should serve a purpose. Every platform should be a choice—not a default.
IV. How I’m Planning My Own Paid Media Funnel as a Comedian/Podcaster
Before this course, I approached marketing like most indie creators:
Make something cool.
Post it everywhere.
Hope it works.
Spiral when it doesn’t.
But after studying this module, I’m building something better. A funnel!!!!!! A system!!!!! A plan!!!!!!! Here’s what that looks like in real life—not theory, but what I’m actually doing to market myself across different stages:
1. Top of Funnel (Awareness)
This is where I get seen. Not necessarily booked. Not even followed. Just seen.
What I’m doing:
Reels with high entertainment value, even if they have nothing to do with shows
Clips that reflect my vibe, even without full context
YouTube Shorts with captions that provoke curiosity (“POV: You grew up Brazilian with Catholic guilt and no boundaries”)
I boost only the content that already performs organically—just to give it extra reach
Goal: Get strangers to stop scrolling and think “who’s this bitch?” in a good way.
2. Middle of Funnel (Consideration/Engagement)
Now they know me. I want them to trust me.
What I’m doing:
Podcast trailers that show off my interviewing style and themes
Behind-the-scenes content of me producing live shows or prepping episodes
Posts that reflect vulnerability, neurodivergence, or immigrant girl chaos—something real
Paid social retargeting toward people who watched my top-of-funnel content but didn’t follow or click
Goal: Get people to care. Or at least stick around long enough to ask “when’s the next show?”
3. Bottom of Funnel (Conversion)
Time to sell. Tickets. Subscriptions. Downloads. Whatever the CTA is.
What I’m doing:
Specific ads with ticket links for local audiences
Reels that say “Toronto! Come see this lineup!” with a quick cut to laughs
Newsletter prompts and “swipe up” ads for podcast subs
SEM/Google Ads on show week for local searches like “comedy Toronto Friday”
So the goal is to get that credit card out!!!! I’ve earned their attention—now I’m asking for their support!!!!
I no longer see my marketing budget as a Hail Mary. I see it as a ladder. And every dollar I spend is helping someone take one more step toward my stage, my show, or my story!!!!
TL;DR: Paid Media Isn’t About Throwing Money Around—It’s About Picking the Right Tool for the Right Job.
This Harvard module broke the myth that all paid ads are created equal. It taught me (and hopefully now you):
Different channels serve different purposes
Your audience isn’t always ready to buy—sometimes they just need to notice you
The marketing funnel isn’t just corporate jargon—it’s a map for real-world action
Whether you're trying to build your brand, sell out your next show, or grow your podcast—channel selection matters. Where you show up says just as much as what you say.
Action Steps for Comedians, Creators & Chaotic Queens
1. Map Your Funnel Ask: where are most people falling off?
Not enough people discovering you? → Focus on top-of-funnel (Reels, paid social reach)
People watching but not following? → Build middle-of-funnel trust (stories, podcast clips, BTS)
Got fans but no ticket buyers? → Focus on bottom-of-funnel CTAs (ads, search, email list)
2. Align Each Paid Channel with a Goal
Paid Social → Awareness, engagement, retargeting
Search Ads → Direct conversion
TV or OTT → Mass awareness, long-term brand building
Display Ads → Retargeting & visual reinforcement
Don’t just “advertise.” Know why you’re using each space.
3. Stop Boosting Random Posts Only put money behind content that’s already doing well. Then target it strategically to people who are likely to care.
4. Spend Like a Scientist, Not a Starving Artist Test. Track. Tweak. Your first campaign might flop—and that’s fine. Use the data to make your next one sharper.
5. Remember: Paid Media Is a Microphone, Not a Megaphone It’s not about being louder. It’s about being clearer AND MORE INTENTIONAL about who you’re talking to, and what you want them to do next!!!!
I hope this lesson was as life-changing for you as it was for me. See you in the next one. Tchau tchau <33
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bukojuiice · 4 years ago
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— genshin boys as your college roommates who are head over heels in love with you
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ೃ ft. childe, diluc, kaeya, zhongli, and xiao x gn! reader
ೃ 400-600 words per character!  ♡
ೃ warnings: mention of alcohol drinking ( but aside from that, just lots and lots of fluff!)
ೃ this is my very first writing contribution to the genshin fandom, so i hope everyone likes it!  after 5 months of playing genshin, i think it’s safe to say my brainrot for it has finally consumed me and i’m confident enough to brew something up! <3
ೃ genshin impact masterlist 
ೃ if you want to be a part of my taglist, answer this form! ♡
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CHILDE:
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– You and Childe are the perfect embodiment of the best friends to roommates trope. Whenever you wanna sleep in for 5 minutes more and you’re about to run late for your first class, Childe never fails to slowly drag you out of your bed, laughing as he does so. “Wake up sunshine!” is the first thing you always hear in the morning and you don’t complain if you get to hear his smexy voice anyway. He is a confident flirt and is not afraid to show you how much he cares or how much he pines over you. 
–  He’s always always there to save the day. There was a time when your classmates stood you up on the group project you were making, and guess who comes up to you with glitter, glue, and colored paper? Childe, of course! He stayed up until the wee hours of the night with you just so he can help you finish it. He even promises to set things in a “very civil way” with your absolute jerk groupmates the very next day. You practically hang out with him 24/7 as most of the time he just barges in your shared apartment with some amusement park tickets on hand or to some expensive yoga or judo class. There’s never a dull moment with him and with each passing day, the more you fall harder for him.
–  After a morning jog with him and seeing cute little dogs frolicking around with their married owners, Childe suddenly had the urge to adopt a dog with you.  But, due to a no pets rules established by the landlord, the two of you opt to owning hamsters instead! Childe named his hamster, narwhal (after his favorite animal of course!) whereas you named yours bunny, to match his irrelevant pet name picking. your hamsters both share the same house/cage and even they are pining over each other.
  –  His siblings visit a lot, especially Teucer. At this point, there was never a day the little boy didn’t ask when are you and Childe going to finally become “playground playmates” (a term for lovers that they use in second grade apparently) since the two of you are living with each other and seem so close. Childe is always able to successfully change the topic and shift away from talking about the shared feelings that the both of you have for each other. But, alas, the day had finally came to be and during your monthly trip to the amusement park, Childe confidently confesses to you on top of the ferris wheel.
“So... everyone in my life knows that you’re my best friend. Yea, that’s pretty cool and all but... Can we be more than just that (Y/N)? Is there hope if I think there could be something between us?”
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DILUC:
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– Diluc is your posh and rich roommate who sounds and looks too good to be true. The fact that you’re roomies with the literal heir to the country’s biggest wine and beverage company sounds like something straight out of a fanfic. But, it was of his volition to decide to live in a penthouse near Teyvat University. It was the doings of his step-brother Kaeya who tricked him into getting a roommate so that he won’t be alone for the rest of his college years... aaand that’s where you come in. practically barged into his life, but, you were a blessing. an angel sent from the skies.
–  He’s quite cold and unapproachable at first, only greeting you whenever he sees you but never bothered to engage in small talk with you. Even if the both of you go to the same university. It wasn’t until your second month as roommates, when you accidentally had too much to drink after a friends’ night out. You come home to see him in the living room, drinking grape juice from a wine glass, and watching a rerun of Hannah Montana. You practically collapse at the front door, he rushes to you and helps you up as you drunkenly confess to him in tears how you wanted to become much closer to him especially since the  two of you are going to spend the rest of your college years together. That was when Diluc realized how distant and aloof he’s been and vows to make it up to you.
– Diluc is very talented. Albeit in very discreet way, he makes sure to make use of his talents especially if it’s an opportunity to make memories with you. He is an amazing cook as much as he tries to deny it, He’s a secret virtuoso caught in 4k when you impulsively bought a guitar one time and you asked if he knows how to play, and he does so well. He practically serenades you in the most non-obvious way possible. Lastly, He’s very athletic. You invited him to play tennis one time, betting that if he won, you would do his bidding for the rest of the week. Before you could even blink, he wins. His “punishment” for you was that you accompany him in binge-watching TV Dramas. Grey’s Anatomy and Downtown Abby are just some of the shows the two of you would watch. It is absolutely adorable seeing him so invested in these dramas. and since the next on Diluc’s list were sit-coms, you were preparing yourself to answer his questions on the context of jokes that he didn’t get. In a poor attempt to flirt with you, he calls out your name and recites in the most Joey Tribbiani voice he could muster, “How you doin?” You were laughing so so hard that night because his pick up line actually worked on you and suddenly your realizations came full circle: you were very much in love with him too.
–  His naturally cool yet shy nature had always gotten the best of him.  He’s always wanted to ask if you wanted to carpool with him to school. Riding with him in his Tesla sportscar that goes 150 Mph? Heck yeah. However, it took quite a while before he could muster up the courage to ask you (4 months of being roommates until he finally popped the question) Since then, the two of you go home to and from University whenever you had similar schedules. Ever since then, Diluc had began to soften. His cold and hard facade slowly melted. Asking if you could help tie his floofy red hair then he’d let you play with it and let you style it in different ways. He takes you out on café dates during lunch breaks and take you out to watch a movie after both of your late night lectures. Everyone in campus thinks the two of you are practically together at this point. All that was left was to bare your feelings with one another through a fumbling and awkward confession.
“Words cannot not suffice these feelings I’ve been harboring for you since the very beginning. I L-like you a lot. Do you feel the same way too?”
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KAEYA:
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- Everyone loves Kaeya. Your friends and family, The School Faculty, The owner of the Convenience Store from down the street, The old lady who lives next door, The little kids from down the hall, and even the angry brown poodles from the farthest apartment to your right absolutely loved him. it was hard to keep up with having a roommate that not only were you crushing so hard on, but also had such a vibrant social life. Kaeya interacts and socializes with a lot of people and he admits that it does tend to get tiring at times. But, if these sacrifices lead to coming home to his cute roommate who has captivated his heart since Day 1, then it’s all worth it.
— Despite how warm and friendly he may seem, Kaeya is a very private person. He’s brought two or three friends like Jean, Lisa, Albedo, or Rosaria. But, only to discuss school affairs. He wasn’t the kind of person who trusts others easily, even if he was giving off the impression that he was a trustworthy and reliable person himself. He’d much rather spend time with you on days off from school. He may be a party guy on the outside (he insists he does it for future connections when he graduates) but he’s quite a homebody. Kaeya is the type to watch korean dramas and anime with you, go on late night convenience store cravings, and these always resulted in a perfect evening spent with him. When the both of you are fully immersed into the anime and things get a bit cozy, you rest your head on his shoulder, huddling for warmth.
— Kaeya would always come home with a little something for you. May it be take-out food, A trinket, a board game, an accessory, and even skincare products. The indigo-haired man is very particular about self-care and you bet that he’s bought different kinds of face masks, ointments, and even matching cute headbands just for the two of you! He’s very flamboyant and flirts with you a lot. Trying to impress you with pick up lines and suggestive jokes, but you always thought that he was just joking around because that was always a part of his personality. It was always a part of him. For Kaeya on the other hand, it seems to him that you don’t take him seriously and it's possible that you don’t return his feelings at all. He had to set things straight and it didn’t take long until Kaeya found the perfect opportunity to do so.
— With the help of practically everyone in the apartment, Kaeya is about to surprise you with a candle-lit dinner up on the apartment rooftop. His sly smooth-talking quickly convinced you that the both of you were just going to go out on your nightly convenience store trips. Your curiosity grows when he takes you by the hand, covering you with a blindfold, and whispering to your ear, “Do you trust me?” Gripping onto his hand tightly, the both of you go up some stairs and you reply, “Yes Kaeya, I do.” He slowly uncovers the shield from your eyes and your eyes sparkle at the sight of the candle-lit dinner, complete with jazz music, and a romantic view of the city.
“(Y/N)... You are the most precious person to me. I hope you can take me seriously, especially my feelings. I am saying this with my heart in my hand and with nothing but genuine love in my soul.”
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ZHONGLI:
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— Zhongli is truly husband material. You’re saying this as his friend, as his roommate, and as someone who’s absolutely smitten over him. He’s a third year environmental archaeology student at Teyvat University. Gentle, kind, and has nothing but wise and intelligent things to say. your lovestruck self can’t help but just admire him from afar, not knowing that he too has been entranced by you ever since you moved in.
—He's always the first to wake up in the morning. The first thing he does is make you a cup of coffee. He's got your favorite memorized, (Coffee with cream. Not to sweet and not too bitter.) The both of you own matching mugs, (written in colored scribbled letters, “The Wise Roommate” for Zhongli and “The Cute Roommate” for you.) He always wants to spend his free mornings with you. Both of you have different schedules so you never see each other at Campus and this was the only blissful time of the day you can spend with one another. Once you get home for dinner, (Zhongli is always the first to get home if he doesn’t stay too long at the library or strolling around the city) If it’s your turn to cook or if it’s his, he never forgets to brew you oolong tea after dinner. A perfect chance for the two of you to just talk the night away and engage in deep and meaningful conversations.
—Zhongli fell in love with you because you just quietly listen to him. Sometimes, you would share your thoughts and insights, even sharing your own personal knowledge that Zhongli had not known prior. You were one of the very few people in his life whom he could talk about absolutely anything with. Well, who wouldn’t listen to a handsome man who has a voice as smooth as butter? He is very passionate about his studies. Taking a lot of extra courses and spending a lot of money on his research. and so, most of the time, he spends all of his Mora on his extra studies (excluding the money he needs to pay for rent) and other interesting antiques. You understood why though. So, instead, you ask him to accompany you to do mundane chores. Going grocery shopping, doing the laundry and cleaning the apartment. He always helps in any way he can. The prying eyes of people around you and the old lady fr next door boldly coming up to you to ask if you and Zhongli were a married couple. You blush profusely whereas Zhongli coolly denies the woman's claims. It hurt quite a little but who were you to complain?
— It was during one of your night strolls with Zhongli. He had invited you out after dinner under the guise of wanting to have some fresh air and find a clear spot for the fireworks from a nearby festival. Your heart was thumping loudly to a non-existent rhythm, blissfully unaware that Zhongli was feeling a burst in his chest too. He clears his throat and his shoulders straighten. Zhongli puts his hand on your shoulder and breathes deeply. His cool and gentlemanly aura still radiating off of him as always. A wonderful array of colors fill the sky as his lips began to form the words he's always wanted to say:
"Tonight is beautiful isn't it? I thought that this would be the perfect time to open my heart up to you... You are a diamond in the rough that few see the beauty of. My beloved– Will you accept my feelings?
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XIAO:
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—  Having a popular twitch streamer as your roommate was a one in a million chance. Especially if you’re not even an influencer or internet figure yourself. But, how did this come to be? Why have you developed a crush on Xiao aka VigilantYaksha without knowing who he was? A gamer with over 6 million followers on different social media platforms? Simple, a high-end apartment near Teyvat University had a special discount if you were willing to be roommates with someone. It’s an amazing deal, near your school, cost-efficient, and you believed the 10% chance of scoring a hot roommate as seen on reality TV and romantic comedies. It was like rolling through a Gacha Game and getting a 5 star character. As that “character” is soon to be revealed as Xiao.
— Things started off rocky at first. On your first day, he flatly welcomed you by the door, introduced himself, then quickly retreated back to his room. As soon as you locked eyes with him, he gave off a certain cold and unfriendly aura. You wanted to get to know him better. Maybe with a little love and care, he could open up to you and you could become friends! That same day, you had mistakenly thought of your room as his and you walked in on him streaming a horror game. He wasn’t spooked by the jumpscares. But instead, he was looking at you in horror because you’ve just exposed yourself to thousands of people. You wave at the camera, apologize, and left. Since then, his fans, (called the Anemo Tofus) have been shipping the two of you together. Creating fanfiction and fanart of Xiao and the mysterious roommate that accidentally walked in on him. They practically begged Xiao to at least talk a little bit about you, to which, he declined. When you surprised him with dinner (as a little treat since this was your first week with him) He sits across the table from you, his eyes gazing deep into yours, as he pops the question, in a very tsundere tone: “Would you like to appear in my streams? T-the Anemo Tofus wanna learn more about you. B-but, if you don’t want to, it’s alright! You don’t have to-” You cut him off before he could continue his doubts, “Xiao! What are you saying? I’d love to!”
  —  There was something blossoming between the two of you after that particular dinner with him. Starting with your first “roommate video” that you had thought of when you were brainstorming for video ideas. It was an Almond and Mapo Tofu mukbang whilst the two of you answered questions from fans! The viewers noticed how visibly comfortable he was around you despite his usual reserved attitude. He was cracking up a lot more sarcastic and self-deprecating jokes whilst Tofu filled both of your mouths. Outside of the confines of social media and inside the comfortable space that was your apartment, you and Xiao grew closer. Wearing matching hoodies, going on midnight snack runs, playing in arcades, and stargazing with him up on the rooftop as you contemplate about life and talk about the mysteries of the universe. There were times when you would stay up late doing school works and would accidentally fall asleep on the sofa. Xiao would come out of room because he periodically had cases of insomnia. When he sees you on the sofa, he can’t help but smile at your sleeping figure and admire your beauty. First. he brings all your clutter back to your room then slowly picks you up from the couch, into his arms, and brings you back to your room. He places a blanket on top of you and your stuffed plushies next to you so you can hug them any time. 
— On a particular night, you fell asleep on the sofa once again and begun to  have recurring nightmares. Xiao was there to witness you whimpering, muttering to yourself, and shivering to a mental image that he could not see. (He wishes he could erase all the pain that these nightmares were giving you) You subconsciously grab onto his hand, murmuring to yourself: “Xiao, please don’t go.” He whispers back, “I won’t.” Your nerves slowly relax when you feel the Yaksha squeezing himself to lie next to you on the couch. Holding onto your arm, he continues to reassure you that it was going to be okay. You grab onto him, hugging him from behind. He feels your heartbeat revert back to it’s normal pace and you return back to your peaceful slumber. “I’ll always be here for you, (Y/N). I’ll be here to protect you. Forever and always.”  Turning to you to plant a kiss on your forehead, you nestle your head on Xiao’s chest. He watches as you cling to him for love and warmth until he is slowly whisked away by his weariness, rewarded with a peaceful sleep he hasn’t felt in a while.
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“And they were roommates.”
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imagine-a-life-like-this · 4 years ago
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Definitely Not Dating (H.HJ)
Warnings : none i can think of?
Word Count : 1622
Synopsis : all their friends tease them about dating due to how close they were, but they were just friends. or were they?
“Your boyfriend’s here.” My roommate and best friend, Felix, teased after answering the door. Hyunjin was close behind him, chuckling at the joke all our friends made about us.
           “Still not dating.” I countered as I stood up from the couch, grabbing my purse. “Where to today?” My words were now directed at Hyunjin who was standing in the doorway, his hands shoved in his pockets.
           “I figured we’d go see that play you’re always talking about. There’s a showing downtown tonight.” My eyes lit up when he said that. “I already bought the tickets.” He added with a chuckle.
           “Have I ever told you I love you, Hwang Hyunjin?” I asked with a smile, linking my arm with his as we made our way outside and to his car.
           “Only everyday.” He countered with a smirk.
           “Never mind, I hate you. Ugly.” I unlinked our arms as he opened the door for me, as he always would. As I got in and buckled my seatbelt, I could see Felix in the window, watching us with a teasing grin on his face. I knew exactly what he was thinking, so I flipped him off just as Hyunjin got into the driver’s seat. He looked forward just in time to see Felix return the gesture while sticking his tongue out.
           “You two have an odd friendship.” He chuckled as he did up his seatbelt. My phone automatically connected to his car as he usually let me play whatever I wanted to listen to. Our friends would always mention how cute that fact was. Maybe if you had better taste in music, he’d let you play your playlists. I’d always retort, hoping the growing feelings weren’t as obvious as our friends insisted they were.
           The next day, I sat at a table in the library with a couple of friends, working on the homework given out that day. My phone, that sat on the table, seemed to vibrate with a text message every few seconds. “Should probably see what they want. It’s probably your boyfriend.” Jeongin teased, nudging me with his shoulder. I rolled my eyes, once again saying that Hyunjin and I weren’t dating.
           “It’s probably Felix asking me to pick up something on my way home. Hyunjin said he was going to the dance studio today.” Hyunjin always threw himself into his dances, barely looking at his phone unless it was to pick a song or pause the music. There was absolutely no way he would be texting me right now. But when I picked it up, I was shocked to see it was him.
 We should get dinner tonight.
That restaurant you like has an opening tonight. I’ll make the reservations.
We could go stargazing after.
Why aren’t you answering me?
Oh right, you’re studying with Jeongin and Seungmin. Tell them I said hi!
Let me know when you’re done, I’ll pick you up : )
           I couldn’t help but smile at the messages, my stomach doing flips as I thought about how this would be a cute date, if it was a date. Dinner and stargazing. “So, what does Felix want?” The teasing tone coming from Seungmin’s lips told me he knew it wasn’t Felix.
           “Hyunjin says hi.” I answered, watching as their faces contorted into teasing grins.
           “And?” Jeongin prodded, nudging me with his shoulder again.
           “And that he’s making reservations at a restaurant before taking me stargazing.” I mumbled under my breath, hoping they wouldn’t hear me. They did.
           Hyunjin stayed true to his word and was outside the library doors when Jeongin, Seungmin, and I exited. His long blond hair tied up in that half pony he always did, his bangs falling across his face. I never was one for long, dyed hair before, preferring men with shorter, dark hair. But Hyunjin pulled off the long blond look so well it was hard not to be drawn to him. “Have fun on your date!” Jeongin teased as the two of them took off in the opposite direction of Hyunjin and I.
           “Do you think our friends will ever believe we’re just friends?” Hyunjin joked as he slid his hand in mine, lacing our fingers together. I giggled to myself, knowing that if I was an outsider looking in, I would think exactly the way they do. But this is how our friendship has been since high school. We’ve always been touchy with each other, cuddling and holding hands.
           “Once we’re married to other people.” I joked, trying not to let the hurt I felt at the very thought of him falling in love with someone else evident in my voice.
           We sat across from each other at my favourite restaurant, browsing the menu in silence. Soft chatter from the other patrons, and the soft classical music they played filling the comfortable silence between us. If I’m honest, I’ve only been here one other time. My previous birthday, Hyunjin brought me here. It was the first time we’d been somewhere so fancy, and we were quite underdressed, not knowing the dress code for the restaurant. We laughed about how badly we stuck out among the other patrons, but neither one of us cared. That memory alone made it my favourite place.
           Hyunjin held my hand from across the table as we ate, catching each other up on our day as if we hadn’t seen each other in ages, even though I saw him yesterday. We rarely went a day without seeing each other, almost as if we had a need to be by each other’s side whenever possible.
           We laid beside each other on the blanket Hyunjin brought, staring up at the night sky sparkling with stars. Soft music played from his phone that was laying in between us. He quietly sung along to the songs, and my heart swelled with joy. I absolutely loved listening to him sing, even though he hates singing in front of people. I’m sure I’m the only person that’s ever heard him, and honestly that should be a crime. His voice was my favourite in the entire world, but maybe I’m biased because I love him.
           “We’re friends, right?” I asked, silencing his singing, and bringing his attention from the stars to me. I turned my head to face him, our eyes meeting.
           “Of course.” He replied almost immediately.
           “But are we just friends?” The question hung in the air longer than the first one, but neither one of us moved, our eyes still locked. The weight of his hand in mind suddenly clearer than it’s ever been before.
           “What do you mean?” It was as if the words he meant to say were caught in his throat. I could hear it in the way his voice cracked when he answered.
           “Our friends always tease us about dating.” I pointed out.
           “That’s what friends do.” He smiled, his thumb now running over my knuckles. My skin burned from his touch, but I loved the feeling.
           “We’re always holding hands and cuddling.”
           “We’re touchy people.” He shrugged. I didn’t bring up the many times he told our other friends that he didn’t like skin ship. He wasn’t much of a hugger unless it was me. But I didn’t bring that up.
           “What about all the fancy dinners? The plays? Movies? Stargazing?” I gestured to what we were doing right now with my free hand, refusing to pull my hand away from his, loving the feeling of his hand in mine. I always have.
           “I like spoiling you.” Silence fell upon us again as I tried to think of what else to say. So many more things to point out, but I’m sure he had an explanation for it all. The drawers of my stuff at his place, and the drawer of his stuff at my place. The loving captions on pictures we posted of each other. The heart-shaped necklace he gave me one day, our initials engraved on the back of it. He’d have an explanation for it all, that I’m sure of. But there’s one thing he couldn’t explain away.
           “I’m in love with you.” The words rolled off my tongue before I could stop them, as if they were meant to be said in that moment. He could explain all the cute moments and thoughtful gifts, saying it’s just the way our friendship is. That’s just how close we were. But the love I have for him isn’t platonic.
           My confession hung in the air like a neon sign, and the confidence I once had began to fade. But before I could take it back, his lips were on mine. The same lips I’ve been dreaming about kissing for years, were now pressed against mine in the sweetest kiss I’ve ever experienced. It was a kiss filled with love and passion. A kiss that couldn’t be explained in a platonic way. “We aren’t just friends.” He whispered after pulling away. “I don’t think we ever were.”
           He kissed me again when dropping me off at home that night, whispering a quick I love you before I walked into the house I shared with Felix. “How was your date?” Felix teased when he saw I was home.
           “Perfect.” I smiled, watching as his eyes widened at the fact I didn’t bant with him.
           “You’re not denying that this was a date?” He questioned, fully emerging from the kitchen, where he was most likely baking brownies.
           “Why would I?” I kicked my shoes off and placed my purse on the coffee table before sitting on the couch, still on cloud nine.
           “Because you always do? You and Hyunjin are just friends.” I smiled and shook my head.
           “Hyunjin and I are definitely dating.”
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ateezinmymind · 4 years ago
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holding their hand for the first time
requested by: @littleunicornia 💞tysm!! I hope this is okay!
Hongjoong:
he would get all soft and will probably squeal
walking along the sidewalk, pedestrians crossed the two of you, while the both of you invested in your plans for the day. “And then we can go grab some more of that fabric paint you bought me a bit ago!!” he would say with a smile and continue- “because..I may have used them all up” ending with a little giggle. All you really could do was chuckle yourself and then with that warm wave of love washing over you, it just happened. Taking ahold of hongjoongs hand, instantly he’d look down and then to your eyes. His eyes would be sparkling and he’d give out a little giddy snicker.
Seonghwa:
he would definitely melt from your affection
opening the doors to the theater, making your way to the concessions he buys the tickets and then turns to your ear, to softly whisper “any snacks or drinks baby?” smile bearing your face, you grab his hand softly, blooming a blush and whisper back. “wanna share popcorn and a soda?” Pulling back to see his pearly smile and his soft eyes luring into yours. Squeezing your hand back gently, Seonghwa would kisss your cheek and get the treats. Holding your hand throughout the movie
Yunho:
He would for sure blurt out his happiness
sitting on the couch by your lover who plays a game on his phone, you look over at his concentrating face. “Yuyu.” you would say trying to get him to focus, but only earning a grunt back. “Yunho, let’s get something to eat.” trying to make him focus with the bribing of food..it still didn’t work, seeing him viciously tap at his screen. Finally reaching over and taking his hand, immediately he erupts in giggles while his ears redden. “Y/n, you know.” Looking at you he’d pull you up off the couch and take you to the kitchen, “let’s make food, in celebration for the bestest baby out there-“ swaying your arms, you’d happily follow
Yeosang:
He would get flustered, and be surprised
“Sangie let’s go over here!” you’d shout, calling him over with a wave of your hand. Though he wouldn’t listen and just continue to look the other way, distracted by the quacking ducks. Playfully stomping back towards the boy, swiftly taking ahold of his hand and leading him towards your next destination. He stumbles a bit over his feet and shyly laughs out “Y/n—“ turning your head to see his flushed face and bright smile, taking in the sight of such a sweet thing, “You’re like a little baby,” you’d light-hearteningly say and continue on “I’m gonna have to keep you close”
San:
He would for sure kiss you happily and squirm
entering the company building, headed to their dance practice walking with him. Down the hall to the elevator, waiting the door opens and the full space floods out with people. Making you quickly latch to his hand to not be lost. San would zip down to your connected hands and squeal, “you are the cutest little thing” leaning in he’d leave a kiss on your cheek then pull you into the elevator with a soft smile lacing your fingers with his.
Mingi:
He would give you the softest eyes and giggle
“yeah, and I literally didn’t know what to do” he says to one of the members, while you try your best to wait patiently. Mingi has been talking about his past embarrassing incidents for the past ten minutes and you just wanted to spend time together. Lightly tugging on his sleeve, hoping for a reaction.. you weren’t satisfied. Slipping your hand in his and grabbing his fingers, lightly tugging you look up. His smile beams and he excuses himself, “it’s hilarious, okay well y/n and I gotta go—see ya!” turning towards you, he lets out a chuckle and kisses your forehead. Looking at you with his smiley eyes he’d take you into a hug.
Wooyoung:
He would get all smug and confident
leaving the restaurant you guys were at with the whole group, laughter ringing through your ears and smiles plastered on everyone’s face. “That was sooo YUMMY right y/n!!??” Wooyoung would nudge you with his elbow. Giggling out and quickly grabbing his hand “y-yes” he would smirk and scoff out looking at San. When you try letting go, he’d squeeze your hand back and look down at you, “you did it first-“
Jongho:
He would have a heart attack..from cuteness
“I remember that!!” squealing you would say, talking about your last day out together. Both of you laughing out loud, and passing the buildings, Jongho would point to an ice cream shop, “you wanna get a treat?” and after you nod Jongho would teasingly speed up ahead of you. Trying to walk as fast as him, you reach out and grab his hand to slow him down. “Wait!!” you giggle out, and he playfully does his “YAHH!” both of you start chuckling in love and then he would stop. Looking at you, giving a soft squeeze to your hand, boops your nose then runs again.
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sevlgi · 4 years ago
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wish you back
requested: yes
group: stray kids
pairing: hyunjin x gn!reader
genre: fluff
contents: established relationship, hyunjin’s on hiatus, lowkey hurt and comfort
warnings: none
synopsis: You haven’t seen your boyfriend in a while, but you’ll only love him more with how much you missed him.
a/n: why does the fluff I write always end up this short???
word count: 0.7k
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Hyunjin stares at his reflection in the window of the bakery he stands in front of until he feels arms snake around his waist. “Hi,” you whisper in his ear as a form of a greeting.
“Hello,” he smiles, even though he knows that you can’t see it under his mask. His hands rest on top of yours, and he feels a slight jolt at the first human contact he’s had in a while.
“Are you feeling okay, Jinnie? I know you said you wanted to come on this date, but I don’t want to push you if you’re tired,” you hum. You pull away, though your hands stay connected, and you walk so that you’re standing between your boyfriend and the storefront.
He nods. “I’m fine. What have you planned, anyway?”
“Just something small, something fun. A picnic first, and then a movie. You can pick what to watch,” you offer, “I haven’t bought the tickets yet.”
“Sounds perfect, Y/N-ah.” Hyunjin feels a bit guilty for not sounding all that upbeat, but he doesn’t think that it fazes you. 
It’s been a few months since he moved (temporarily) out of the dorm. He would’ve moved in with his parents or you, but you all live in Seoul, which is far too in-the-open for his company’s taste. Instead, he’s staying in Busan alone, which has kept him too far away from the people he cares about.
You’ve called him, of course, especially in the hardest first week, but it really isn’t the same as being next to you. Swinging your clasped hands between you, you start to lead him away from the store.
“You know, the black hair looks good,” you say, interrupting his trance. Hyunjin does look different than you remembered, with slightly shorter hair that almost makes him look normal. Even without makeup, his eyes still sparkle beautifully, though you wish you could make him smile.
“It’s less noticeable than the blonde,” your boyfriend explains. “I wanted to keep it long, so I had to dye it back.”
You agree, “The bright blonde would’ve tipped everyone in the neighborhood off, yeah. It isn’t quite that odd to see in Seoul, but way out here is different. Do you like it?”
“What, Busan?” When you nod, Hyunjin shrugs, “Yeah, I guess I do. It reminds me of Jeongin, somehow. It’s not as busy as I’m used to.”
Instead of answering, you lead him off the path of the street and onto the strip of sand, leading into the harbor. “I can imagine. Your schedules were really tough,” you smile. 
“I’d still rather be doing them than waiting for nothing here,” Hyunjin says quietly. You don’t reply to that either, simply handing him a blanket to place on the sand where he likes it.
There’s an array of little sandwiches and desserts in the plastic bag you carry, all the flavors that Hyunjin likes most arranged out on the gingham fabric. He checks behind him before taking his mask off, but he hopes that the bucket hat he keeps on is enough to protect his identity. “This is a lot,” he laughs, picking up one of the plastic-wrapped breads.
“I thought I’d spoil you for once,” you grin.
The green and tan colors behind him blur together prettily, letting his darker hair shine. He barely manages to finish one of the sandwiches before he asks, “Can I tell you something?”
“Always.”
Hyunjin fiddles with the package in his hands. “It’s so... different right now. I haven’t been alone for more than a week before, you know? I’ve always had you, or one of my members with me, and I feel... just bad. I know that everyone’s overworked and would kill for a break like this, but I hate it.”
You reach over to place your hands on his cheeks, squishing them together gently. It would be a bit of a comical sight, if not for the pout on Hyunjin’s lips and the slight glimmer in his eyes. “Hey, I get you. And you can’t think of this as a normal break,” you shake your head. “You’re getting no rest. We all miss you so  much, you know? Never mind the fans.”
“How are the fans?” he asks softly.
“Missing you,” you say. It seems to be the right answer, as a small smile comes over his face. “Now eat, okay? And think about the movie you want to see, we have plenty of time for me to tell you about how much Stays love you.”
“I love you, Y/N. And I missed you,” your boyfriend sighs as he reaches for another sandwich.
“I missed you too.”
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donaidk · 4 years ago
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Looking at me - Arthur Leclerc
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Thank you so much for requesting! I already had an idea in my head for something like this and you just gave that last push! It was my first time writing in third person, and I really-really need the practice. Still I hope you will enjoy this 😀🧡 Have a great weekend everyone!
Inspiration song
Masterlist | Taglist/Queue | Request
Getting a chance to walk a well known fashion show at the age of 19 was a huge step in her career. She had jobs and photoshoots all the time, but everyone knew that you’re becoming a name in the industry when well known brands ask you to model for them. She already had a photoshoot with one of them a year ago, but having that break since then and now made her think she probably wouldn’t make it into the real fashion world. However, after Alpha Tauri gave her a chance thanks to Pierre, she was contacted by a well known brand just days after the release of the pictures and they asked her to attend their show at the end of the year. Having the promise of such a big show got her through every harder moment throughout the year and she felt like December couldn’t turn up quick enough.
Luckily as it was well after the end of the season for Pierre he could attend with their parents and siblings. She couldn’t even imagine going through something like this without them. Y/N used her last two guest seats to invite both Charles and Arthur. They were friends of their family and she knew Charles was into fashion and would always take the opportunity to attend shows. He probably could have bought tickets to it himself, but it wasn’t the same as being invited by someone who worked for the company that time. It was also probably the only way to make it seem less strange that Y/N would have liked Arthur to attend. No one asked questions why he was there if he came with his brother. There’s no easier way to do it.
The two of them were quite good friends, as they spent most of their childhood together and later could connect over being younger siblings to well known athletes. It was probably easier for her as she at least went her own way while Arthur was following in Charles’ footsteps, exactly. He was a talented driver, but people and the media always loved to compare the brothers, always bringing down at least one of them even though they were never really in the same championship or position at the same time. They usually talked at least weekly, but after harder races or attacks from the media either Y/N reached out to him or the other way around. It was just easy to support each other as they understood each other’s challenges and hardships. They couldn’t complain though, as both had family and other friends who supported them in their careers and personal lives also.
“ They’re outside. ” Pierre’s voice got her to jump in her chair a little before Y/N took in what he said. “ I’ll get them to the seats and we will meet after the show, yeah? ” He asked, taking the passes from the table next to her. She knew they wouldn’t have time for her to greet their friends and get back here in time.
“ Yeah, thank you. Enjoy. ” Y/N nodded with a grin before getting a kiss on her cheek from him. “ I’m gonna try not to trip. ” She added with a chuckle before he left, watching as he closed the door after himself while she could still hear him laugh. She leaned back in her seat as everything was already done for the show, and it was now just minutes until the start of the show.
She finally chose a photo from the morning when we arrived at the avenue, to share it on her story. Making sure it uploaded fine she could see Arthur’s profile picture in the bottom left, telling her that he already saw it, making her smile immediately. Y/N sent him a quick selfie with her eyes closed and holding up a peace sign as the grin still didn’t leave her face. She was just about to put her phone down when he sent one back, mimicking her pose and making her laugh out loud. He did look silly and seeing Pierre so confused in the background of it just made it even better. She wanted to respond but then had to leave when they were calling her name from the hallway. With one last deep breath she fixed her hair in the mirror before leaving the dressing room and following all the girls to the backstage.
She felt like an anxious mess right until it was her turn and had to step out onto the stage as they counted down for her from the sideline. She made sure her dress wasn’t in the way of her steps, although knew they practiced for any possible outcome and knew she would manage even in a dodgy situation. Her heart was beating so loud Y/N wouldn’t have been surprised if the people watching the show could hear it over all the music and talking. She still tried to look cool on the outside, her grin not faltering for one bit as she walked down the length of the stage stopping at the end and turning for the cameras. Her way back was a bit more relaxed already, knowing she did her job and just had to get back from where they started. She had one more dress at the end of the show but that seemed a lot easier after such a smooth sailing first appearance. The second one felt like a treat for a job well done and she was ecstatic as she changed into her outfit for the after party. Her body felt sore from all the excitement and then adrenaline that already left. However, her mind was still running and looking forward to the night as she went to the lobby where she knew the others would be waiting for her.
“ You looked stunning out there, Y/N! ” Charles greeted her with a tight hug, making her chuckle quietly. Stepping back from his embrace the next ones were Pierre and her family before Y/N could finally turn to Arthur, not forgetting about him in any way.
“ Thank you for coming. ” Y/N said before hugging him, although it was something that was for his brother too, not just him. “ Hope you’re not too tired yet. We have a long night ahead of us. ” She let out another laugh after letting go of him but she didn’t even get to step away too much before he held up a bouquet of blooming flowers.
“ Just a little congratulatory present. Wanted to give it to you prior to the show, but that didn’t really work out. ” He said with a little blush creeping up onto his cheeks, as she took the flowers from his hands, immediately smelling them.
“ Thank you, they’re beautiful. ” Her eyes were still fixed on the bunch of them, taking in how sweet it was of Arthur. It was made from all of her favourite types of flowers, not missing any from the short list she could make up in her head. “ I’ll make sure they get home safe. Wouldn’t want to kill them at the club. ” Y/N let out a little laugh, turning to her mum while they exited the building together.
Luckily her family offered to take her things back home while they went straight to the venue of the after party. Her other siblings went home too after some last minute hugs, leaving the four of them to be the only ones to attend. There were cars that took the guests to the rooftop bar that was decorated perfectly for the occasion. The moon was shining onto the balcony, but there were also lights running over them, making sure everything was visible and people wouldn’t trip over each other or the few steps around the bar and dancefloor. It was the perfect setting for a party that was relaxed but at the same time a true after party, where everyone could let out their pent up energy and adrenaline from the show.
Minutes after they left the elevator, that took them to the floor of the balcony, they were already standing next to a table with their drinks on it. They were watching the crowd dancing just inches away from them while discussing the day. Pierre and Charles were deep into  one of their usual disagreements about their past season, making Y/N shake her head. It wouldn’t have been them if they got through a day spent together without a silly argument. That would have been too easy. She has been watching the crowd blocking out the bickering coming from next to her, gathering courage to join the dancing even though she never backed off being the center of attention it wasn’t the same with strangers. She knew just a few people from here, almost half of it being the ones she invited herself.
“ A dance? ” She turned to Arthur in the end when she could see that his glass was empty. He froze for a second, looking around them. “ You don’t have to, but I would rather turn deaf from the loud music than them roasting each other. ” She chuckled, cocking her head towards her brother and Charles standing across them. She took the last sip of her drink and was about to get into the crowd when Arthur nodded and putting down the glass from his hand was ready to follow her.
“ I’m not a big dancer, I’m warning you. ” Arthur sighed, but wouldn’t have denied himself the chance to spend some time with her in a more private setting. They never mentioned anything about stepping up their friendship, but that didn’t mean they never thought about separately, in their own heads. 
Y/N took his hand with a grin, pulling him towards the dance floor, weaving through the people standing close, leaving them a sliver of space to navigate their way. They had to stop a few times people stumbling in their way or bumping into them while they were getting closer to their destination. Y/N saw two of the girls she knew a bit better, and decided it will be better to be with friends than alone. Arthur greeted them, quickly introducing himself and even though they were already safe, standing in a less crowded space, in the moment Y/N didn’t let go of his hand while they enjoyed the music and the company. Arthur did take part in the dancing, although several of his moves ended up making them laugh and him blush a little although it never made him stop. He was happy to be the source of their joy for the night.
A few songs later Arthur excused himself from the group to get a drink for himself, while the girls stayed in the same position. Y/N spotted a few guys just seconds after he left, watching them, and approaching their group as soon as Arthur was out of the view. They were quite rude, not caring about how the girls tried to ignore them and get them to leave finally. Y/N was about to just leave and not even look back when she felt a hand come around her waist. Without looking up at the owner of the hand she got to know who was standing behind her by just the voice.
“ I think you should search for another company. The ladies aren’t interested. ” Arthur informed the intruders and by knowing him for years, Y/N could tell he was really focusing on the pronunciation. He seemed serious, like never before and it did the trick, getting the guys to turn around and leave mumbling some swears in his way.
“ Thank you! For both. ” Y/N smiled up at their saviour, taking the half full glass from his hand as he held it out for her. Arthur just shrugged his shoulders, relaxing his shoulders and taking a sip from his drink.
What they didn’t see was Pierre and Charles paying close attention to their group from afar. Her brother still had his fists clenched but he was slowly letting up as the situation got resolved and the younger ones could continue enjoying the party and drinks. Looking at each other they agreed with a sigh at being glad Arthur was there with them and helped them get out of a sticky situation. From the outside they did see how the younger Leclerc and Y/N were around each other, although neither of them wanted to push them towards a goal. It seemed simple, inevitable, but they wanted them to find their own way. It wasn’t rare that the only possible way wasn’t the best way in the end. Meaning, even if they looked compatible for an outsider, it was possible that a relationship between them wouldn’t be long-lived.
They stayed until their legs felt sore from dancing and standing around, and their minds were in a comfortable fuzzy state from the few drinks they got. The night wasn’t young anymore when they got into a taxi, heading for Pierre’s apartment that had enough space for all four of them. They all took turns in the shower and decided on who will sleep and where. There was only one guest bedroom and in the end Charles gladly gave it up to Y/N saying she was the one who worked today, taking the couch with a duvet and a pillow. She was about to just go and finally get a chance to fall asleep, when Arthur stepped out of the bathroom now in his pajamas. For a second she debated if she should just let him sleep on the other couch or maybe act on her idea.
“ We can share the bed if you would like. It's big enough for two people. ” She offered in the end, with a shy smile, pointing towards the bedroom down the hallway. “ I promise I won’t snore. Unlike Charl. ” Y/N let out a quiet laugh, making sure the mentioned brother didn’t hear it and wouldn’t try to get back at her for it.
Arthur had to agree with a sigh that sleeping in the same room as her brother, would have been on the same level as some late torture methods. He couldn’t really deny the offer, taking his things as they wished goodnight to the others and walked down to the bedroom. Within seconds they were both under the duvet, managing to share it and not pull it off the other one. They did start out quite far away from each other, but Y/N couldn’t be fed up when she woke up in the middle of the night to an arm draping over her waist. It grounded her while she had to get used to her surroundings and helped her get back to her dream right until the delicious smell of lunch got them back to reality around midday. They shared a moment, gazes locking, before getting out of bed with grins on their faces, both deciding to push the conversation to another time. At least until lunch, as Y/N’s stomach grumbled as soon as she was standing next to the bed.
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themonotonysyndrome · 4 years ago
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REDACTED verse - Sadism & Trolling (Vega Headcanons)
NGL, I’m gonna be straight with y’all...
I miss Vega! And uh, since I've been listening to his videos lately, I wanted to write a oneshot for him until I decided on some headcanons at the last minute. 
I'm not sure what role the Inchoate Daemon Listener in his more recent videos would play in the future, so I tried my hands on writing his 'lover'. I always wanted to write a morally dubious Listener anyway! 
So this is entirely separate from the Inchoate Daemon Listener. 
Vega calls his Listener 'Hamster' for their snacking habits. He would only calls you 'Dear heart' when he's feeling vulnerable or in intimate situations. 
He meets them before Ivan's story. He was actually walking around humans for a change of pace, feeding on the faint lingering negative emotions hovering around the park. It's the human equivalent of getting a cup of coffee in the morning to kickstart their day.
Suddenly, Vega felt intense and strange emotions coming from somewhere in the area. It's a combination of righteous fury, hurt and glee. 
He tracks the owner of the maelstrom to find you. A lone human sitting on a bench underneath a tall, shady tree. Your expression is a total contrast to what you're feeling. It's calm and almost bored. 
After using magic to do some digging and breaching personal privacy, Vega found out that you plan an act of horrible revenge on a cheating partner. He sticks around to watch it all play out. 
He loved the show. So much so he claims you as his charge. 
However, jokes on him; you're a passive and lazy person. Your default setting is living life operating on the least amount of brain cells and effort. So after feeding on your heartbreak from the breakup, Vega has no idea what the fuck to do with you. 
So he subtly pulls the strings around you in hopes to get you to feel upset or at least annoyed; coffee spilt on your work laptop, someone bought that last slice of your favourite cake, bad internet connection at home, anything! 
But the most you'd (unknowingly) give him is a sigh before you look for something else to occupy your time. To Vega, he feels like a first-time owner to a pet that isn't behaving as it should be. You're like a hamster running in its ball, utterly oblivious of the world outside.  
When you do react emotionally, it's like a wildfire - a roaring and unapologetic blaze that will burn for days. Especially when it comes to negative emotions. However, it takes such a long time to build up and rarely does it even spark. Honestly, to you, working up to such a passionate response is a hassle. 
Unfortunately for Vega, he realises this a little too late. 
The two of you officially meet when you begin to notice that certain objects around the house aren't exactly where they should be. Like how the coffee cup that you instinctively put away from the laptop is now right next to it when you came out of the bathroom. How you can never find your favourite red mug or t-shirt despite you just wash them. 
Slowly but surely, you feel like you suddenly gain an invisible annoying and unwanted roommate. 
Vega detects your annoyance and plans to 'farm' it, only for it to hilariously backfire when you begin to hit up the local priests to discuss about an exorcism and thus, raise a potential covert risk. 
When he first appeared in front of you, your immediate action was to grab a baseball bat, shock and indignation flare within you. 
"So you're the fucking bastard that has been eating my fucking Pringles!" 
"What!? No! And I swear to any God you believe in, I’ll make you regret it if you swing that thing at me."
“Hah! Is that a challenge!? Buy back my snacks. Now. Before I break your bones and sell them to the black market!”
"News flash, Hamster: you're the one who's been eating all of them. Those after midnight snacks? What? Did you think you were sleep-eating?" 
"Who are you calling hamster!?"
"Of course, that's the one you have a problem with..." 
Do you know that one Tv Trope? The 'savvy guy, energetic girl' and 'monster and the maiden'? You and Vega are something in-between, where Vega is determined to feed on you, his charge, while you make it your life mission to be his biggest inconvenience ever. 
That being said, there's a lot of things you share in common with him. For one thing, you live by the 'not my circus, not my monkey' rule, so you don't particularly care what Vega does outside of your life as long as it doesn't cause you any problems. 
You both can be petty AF, and if one is petty, the other will automatically prepare for the other's revenge. 
Vega likes to give you shit for being an Unempowered Human, and in return, you would do everything in your power to piss him off. EX: You’ll make a joke about his shoe size. You know what they say, small shoes mean small... package. And besides, he's a Daemon, right? Doesn't that mean he has hooves? 
Both of you toed the line between violence and resignation, which is impressive that you're still alive. You made it clear to him that if he wants to take you down, you'll take him down with you, and Vega can respect that. 
Vega starts to catch feelings for you after you blackmail him into going to the cinema with you because there's a discount on the tickets for a pair of friends/couple. He's shocked to find that he enjoyed himself that night. 
As for you, you start to feel fond of him when he orchestrated a string of misfortune on your asshole of a colleague. He never once admit it, but at that point, you could read his body language and behaviours rather well. How could you not when your colleague’s series of unfortunate events result in a whole week of nothing but good vibes for you.
Neither you nor Vega confesses your feelings, but you ended up in a romantic relationship nonetheless.
Vega has never fallen in love before, so this emotion is very strange and new for him. From his annoying charge, you've become his most cherished person in the world. 
Vega protects you the only way he knows how. By making the people who upset you miserable or just straight up terminate their trial period of existence. As a Sadism Daemon, Vega is very well aware of the stigma that comes with his kind, and it really doesn't help that he loves what he does, so you have to rein him in from time to time. 
On that note, expect this Daemon to be possessive as hell. No matter what you do around the house, Vega would attach himself to you. Oh, you're working on the couch with the laptop on your lap? He'll move you so you'll sit on his lap while he watches TV. You're relaxing in the bathtub? Scoot forward, he wants to sit behind you. If you're talking to a friend on the phone, he'll peppered kisses and leave hickies on your neck in an attempt for you to end the call. If he could, he would hide you from the world itself so only he could have you. So please stomp on his feet when he starts to sweetly suggest you disappear with him. 
If it's raining at night, both of you would silently lie on the bed together, just basking in one the other's presence. If you fall asleep first, Vega will turn you into his little spoon.
In terms of dating and due to his possessive and protective nature, most of your dates would be in your home. Movie marathons, him playing as your audience for your video game matches, monopoly sessions ending up in a messy divorce sitcom or just napping together. Good for you if you're a homebody. If you're the outgoing type? Good luck; you'll need to be as persuasive as him to budge Vega. The most Vega is willing to go are breakfast/lunch/dinner dates. The fewer eyes on you, the better. 
It's not long before Vega stops feeding on you entirely. He only takes a few destructive emotions that overwhelm you and help you work the rest out in a healthy manner. 
That's when he starts to think about spending his forever with you. 
Don't be mistaken, though; Vega is still a sadism Daemon that doesn’t take kindly to those getting in his way but to you? His one happiness in life? He's your loyal lover. 
-
OK. I might have gone a bit crazy with Vega but in my defence, I had like 3 mugs of tea and a tub of Belgian chocolate ice-cream and ramen last night after midnight plus a weird longing for him. 
It’s weird. 
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just-dreaming-marvel · 4 years ago
Text
Out Of Time ~ 118
MASTERLIST
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< previous chapter
Word Count: 2,010ish
Summary: Y/N goes on the run.
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Y/N appeared in the Zephyr. Immediately on the look out for Coulson. She turned the corner, running into another agent.
“I’m so sorry,” the agents apologized, stepping back. “Are you— you’re Agent Rogers. You’re awake.”
“Um… yeah. Have you seen Coulson?”
“Him and Mack are on the ground, doing some work.”
“Oh, okay. I just wanted to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye? Why would you—“
“Come in, Zephyr One. Come in,” Director Mace called over the comms in the front control panel.
The agent rushed over. “This is Zephyr One.”
“Agent Y/N Rogers is missing. If you find her, take her into immediate custody.” The agent looked Y/N’s way.
“Please,” she whispered, “don’t… I don’t want to force you to not. Just… don’t.”
“We haven’t seen her, sir,” the agent replied to the Director. “We’ll let you know if there’s a sighting.” The agent hung up and walked towards Y/N. “I know that you don’t deserve to be in custody.”
“Thank you, Agent…”
“Johnson.” He held out his hand. “Agent Johnson.”
“Thank you Agent Johnson. Tell Coulson that I tried to say goodbye, will ya? And that I’ll reach out if I need anything.”
“Of course. Stay safe, Agent Rogers.”
Y/N nodded before stepping through a portal. Looking around, she took in her surroundings. It was a cold December evening in London, where she had placed herself. It was time for her to work on gathering her strength for the inevitable fight and for her to figure out how to tap into the Soul Stone. Y/N also knew she needed to stay on the run, the government was going to be non-stop after her, world wide. She couldn’t afford to stay in one place too long.
Y/N found a small shop where she bought a backpack and some essentials she would need for the run. She bought a train ticket to Amsterdam and immediately headed there. In her private room on the train, the news was on. She was ignoring it, simply taking in everything going past the window, until something caught her attention.
“It has been almost two months since Tony Stark announced that he was selling Avengers Tower in New York,” the news reporter stated. “So far, he’s had many bids, but has not officially closed on anything. Rumors have it is that he’s hiding rouge Avengers, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, and Wanda Maximoff in the Tower. Officials have denied it, but who can blame us for asking?”
“In other news about Tony Stark, his former girlfriend has officially been announced as a wanted fugitive of the United States government. Nothing has been heard about Avenger Y/N Rogers since the Sokovia Accords were put in place, until now. That has people wondering if Stark had been hiding her until she couldn’t take being cooped up anymore and decided to join her brother and former lover, Bucky Barnes aka the Winter Soldier, on the run.”
“Again, most of this has not been confirmed. But one can only assume that—“
Y/N turned off the tv, unable to hear anymore. No one truly understood what had happened, nor did they really try to. With a sigh, she laid down and fell asleep.
She lived like this for the past two and a half months, constantly on the move, barely making time to even sight see. She had made her way across a majority of the Europe and Asia continents. It was lonely, but she knew it needed to be done. As much as she tried, Y/N was never able to connect with the Soul Stone. That didn’t mean she stopped trying though.
Currently, she had found her way to South Africa. She had been there longer than she had been anywhere else. Y/N was enjoying it there. She was walking the streets of a market, enjoying the smells and the food when she could sense someone following her. Turning around, trying to make it normal, she couldn’t see anyone obviously following her. Pursing her lips she turned around and headed for an alley way outside of the market. Y/N wasn’t afraid to take on whoever was following her. She was honestly a little curious as to who had tracked her down.
Turning into the alley way, she was thankful that it was empty. She didn’t need any civilians in the way. Facing away from the entry, she heard someone jump down from the building onto the ground. Using her powers, she jumped into the person’s mind, forcing them to freeze. Y/N turned around to see a person in a black suit, more specifically, a blank panther suit.
“T’Challa?” Y/N questioned. They had never really formally met, but she knew who the new King was.
“Y/N,” he greeted through the mask. “Mind letting me go?”
“Not until you tell me why you’re here? Why are you following me?”
“I made a promise.”
“To the Accords you signed?”
“To your brother.”
Y/N let her hold go. She took a step forward as T’Challa let his mask down.
“Steve. Do you know where he is?”
“I do not. But I promised that I would look for you and keep you safe. You haven’t been all that sneaky since you arrived in Africa.”
“I knew I was over staying my welcome. Thank you, T’Challa, for looking out for me. But I think I’m doing okay.”
“And I think you need to rest. Wakanda is a safe place, no one will turn you in. You can stay as long as you want.”
“I don’t know.” Y/N shook her head. “I don’t think I want to risk it.”
“I understand but, Y/N, have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? You don’t look like you’ve been taking very good care of yourself.”
“Well, not every place I find to stay at is a five star hotel.”
“You do not need to stay very long. Just get some rest and then you can be on your way.”
“T’Challa… I don’t—“
“Don’t make it seem like I’m breaking the promise I made to your brother.”
“You’re good.” She smirked, waving her finger at him. “Fine. Let’s go.”
~~~
Wakanda was more amazing than Y/N had ever imagined. She had heard that T’Challa had opened it up to the world saying that they had the technology and resources to help many. But she had struggled to believe that until Y/N saw it with her own eyes. T’Challa introduced her to the Dora Milaje, the King’s guard, and their head Okoye. Y/N was extremely impressed that the King’s guard were all women. 
Next, she was given a tour of the labs, where she met Princess Shuri and the Queen Mother Ramonda. They were both so kind and welcoming, offering to get Y/N anything she needed. T’Challa then showed her to a room.
“This room will be yours for how ever long you need,” T’Challa stated as Y/N walked around. “I will have your meals for today brought to you, so that you can get some rest. Feel free to safely explore the kingdom. You are safe here.”
That last sentence made Y/N tear up. She hadn’t felt safe is so long. “Thank you, T’Challa, for all of this.”
“Of course. Please let me know if you need anything.”
He gave a kind smile before shutting the door and heading down the hallway. Shuri was at the end to meet him.
“So…” she started, “does she know?”
“I do not believe so,” T’Challa replied, keeping his pace.
“Are you planning on telling her?”
“Not unless it comes up. She needs to be able to rest, not worry about anything else.”
“Well, do you plan on telling him that she’s here? Or the Captain?”
“For now, I do not. The Captain has enough on his plate and you continue must to work with the White Wolf and try to get him better. Do not say anything just yet. We do not know how long she plans on staying.”
“She may stay longer if she knew about him.”
“We do not know that and I do not want to test that.”
~~~
Y/N let herself enjoy a delicious meal before falling asleep. When she woke, it was night and she was now wide awake. Taking T’Challa up on his offer to explore the kingdom, Y/N changed into something warm at set out to find a way out of the palace. She was honestly grateful that it was dark and that hardly anyone was out, it let her wander without the fear of prying eyes. 
As she wandered through the fields, Y/N tried to connect with the Soul Stone. It was frustrated her to no end that she couldn’t find away to tap into those powers. She wanted to feel and interact with the souls she had lost, hoping that it might calm her guilty heart. Y/N had tried to get in contact with the Ancient One, but to avail. It was becoming clearer and clearer that the Ancient One had been right, it was up to Y/N and Y/N alone to figure out the Soul Stone.
Too deep in her mind, Y/N hadn’t realized how far away from the palace and main city she had wandered. But someone else had. He kept his distance and kept quiet, fearing that what he was seeing was an illusion. It wasn’t the first time it had happened, but this was a little too real. He was too busy staring at her to notice the branch his was about to step on.
SNAP!
Both he and Y/N froze. Their hearts started beating faster. His because he was scared that she would disappear and hers because she had just come to the realization that she was being followed. Completely on guard now, Y/N slowly turned around.
“Who’s there?” She called out. 
When she was fully turned around, she saw no one. But that was because he had laid down in the tall grass, trying to stay out of sight. Y/N could sense the person’s presence. She took a few, careful steps forward towards the person.
“I know you’re there,” she said. “No point in hiding. Just show your face and I can promise you I won’t hurt you.”
He sighed, which Y/N heard. Y/N waited with bated breath for the person following her to show their face. The grass several feet away rustled as the person pushed themselves up from the ground to stood. Y/N inhaled sharply at the silhouette in front of her. The man was bulky, clearly long hair and was missing one arm.
“Bucky?” Y/N breathed out.
“Hello, Y/N.” He responded, clearly nervous. “How are you?”
“I—I—I didn’t know… they didn’t tell me…”
“T’Challa probably didn’t tell you on purpose. How long have you been in Wakanda?”
“Not even a day.”
The two couldn’t move. Too scared to get closer to each other.
“How long have you been here?” Y/N asked.
“Since Siberia,” he answered. “T’Challa was there as well, he brought Steve and I here for safety.”
“Is… Is Steve here then?”
“No. He left after I was put back in cryo.”
“They put you back in cryo?”
“Until Shuri could find away to take HYDRA out of my head.”
“Did they…? Did they help you?”
“For the most part… we’re still working on it.”
They stared at each other, quietly, for a few long minutes.
“I’m sorry,” Y/N said, shaking her head. “I’ve got to go.”
“Please don’t.” Bucky reached out, taking a brave step forward. “At least, don’t leave Wakanda just yet. I want to… I want to see you again.”
“I… I won’t… I just… I just need to think.”
“Of course.”
Y/N opened a portal beside her, unable to take her eyes off Bucky. “Goodnight… Bucky.” She stepped through the portal, disappearing into her room.
“Goodnight, doll.”
next chapter >
NOTES: from now on the taglist when be added by a reblog. I will reblog it using my second account, @just-dreaming-marvel-2​​. Just so that my main page doesn’t get too cluttered.
If you want to be added to the tag list, please dm me or send in an ask.
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pocketfulofrogers · 4 years ago
Text
Planes, Trains, and Firetrucks
Pairing: Kelly Severide x Reader
Summary: What’s a polar vortex to a desperate sister trying to get home? With a little determination and the luck of a stranger, you might just be able to pull off a Christmas miracle. 
Notes: So I got drunk with my aunt and uncle on Thanksgiving and watched the only Thanksgiving movie to both exist and be quoted in it’s entirety by my whole family. I woke up with a google note that said ‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles but make it a love story.’ Kinda wished I had payed more attention to the movie now. 
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Pinching the bridge of your nose, you try to reign in your frustration. You had been all over this airport for the last six hours desperately searching for any way to get home. So far, you had only been strung along.
“Is there anything to Chicago at all? I’m just trying to be back for even a portion of Christmas. Seriously, at this point I’d saddle up a horse.”
The woman scrunches her nose as she scrolls through her computer, a sense of defeat looming over you until she smiles quickly. “I found a 5am to Detroit that connects…” She trails off and begins to frown again. “Just canceled.”
“Seriously?!” The word explodes from your mouth unwarranted and much louder than intended and your hand flies to your mouth in embarrassment.
Before you can begin to apologize profusely, you hear the man behind you mumble under his breath. “Probably because of the giant winter storm and white out conditions covering the entire North East.”
You whip your head behind to glare at him, but he’s too focused on his phone to even notice that you had overhead him. Defeated, you turn back around and quietly apologize before grabbing your phone and sulking away, the guy behind you chuckling slightly.
Mom: Your sister just got here, she’s so excited to see you!
Barely managing to suppress your groan, you lean against a nearby pillar to type a response that hopefully won’t break anyone’s hearts.
The man pockets his phone and approaches the counter. “Hi, can I get a hotel voucher?”
“We’re prioritizing vouchers for flying families and couples first.” She smiles.
“Really?” He groans, loud enough to grab your attention and hears your chuckle from what he assumes you think is karmic justice. But when he locks eyes with you, he gets an idea. “That is so kind of you guys!” He exclaims with a smile. “My wife will love that.”
In the middle of trying to explain to your mom that you couldn’t have left any early, chuckles steps up in front of you with a grin, holding up a pamphlet and you narrow your eyes. “Be my wife for a night, cow girl?”
You roll your eyes and walk away from his laughter and fake apologies, not stopping until he calls your name. “This?” You gesture between the two of you. “This is creepy.”
He holds up his hands before sliding the voucher in his dark jean jacket pocket. “They wouldn’t give me the voucher unless I put another name down so I just said you were my wife.” He shrugs his shoulder as if he can’t see the problem. “Now I can’t check in unless you’re there.”
You grab your bag and start walking again. “Not my problem.”
To your dismay, he keeps up with you. “We’ve been running around this place all day, so you have got to be at least a little tired.” You really were. “I let you use my charger.” He did do that, but it doesn’t seem to him that his small act of airport kindness has swayed you. “How about we get some sleep and then I promise I will help get you to Chicago?”
This causes you to pause again and look him up and down, almost hating yourself for even considering it. Those piercing blue eyes didn’t seem to hold any malice, nor did his small smile. He was charming, that much was obvious, but so was Ted Bundy.
You cock a hip to the side. “You could be a serial killer.”
The smirk he flashes makes you a little weak. “So could you.”
“Fine, but we’re stopping for pepper spray.”
**
Each time Kelly closes his eyes and feels his exhaustion begin to pull him under, he hears you curse under your breath. You had been obsessively scouring the internet looking for a hail mary, but each time you hit a wall.
He had given up somewhere between the last car dealership left in a 100-mile radius to endure your guilt trip and the proposition of hitch hiking. Honestly, he was more concerned than surprised when you seemed disappointed at him shooting down the idea.
Despite this budding friendship, you had offered no details of yourself, even when asked. You made another serial killer joke when he asked you why it was so important you get home, but he didn’t miss how guarded you became.
The next time you groan is when he also gives up the idea of any form of rest. Kelly sits up quick enough to see you throw yourself back into the creaky swivel chair.
“Is there a battery pack on you or something?” His voice is gravely, thick with exhaustion and just a hint of frustration.
You wince. “I know, I’m sorry. I just can’t believe that there’s not a single taxi or rental car available.”
“You could just buy a car.” He suggests it as an outlandish joke, but then your eyes light up.
“You’re a genius!”
**
Standing out in the middle of an alleyway, snow coating your hair, you can’t say your not a little nervous. Kelly is stood beside you despite very loudly voicing his opinion on how this was a terrible idea. Actually, that it was maybe the worst idea you’ve ever had.
“If anyone is going to be a serial killer, it’s going to be this guy.” He mumbles another remark, shifting his eyes to check your surroundings again.
You shoot a glare at him, but have to admit he’s probably right.
There wasn’t much in your bank account to spare, especially when you consider the price of a decent car. Craigslist offered one result in your price range within reasonable walking distance and you didn’t really stop to think it out.
Now you were in a barely lit backstreet leaking a smell you’d rather not name.
“You didn’t have to come.” You state, again.
He scoffs. “With your lack of self-preservation and this piece of shit that won’t make it out of the state? I won’t be responsible for you ending up on a milk carton.”
You want to comment that that’s not a thing anymore, but he had stuck by you for the last few hours and that’s more than you can usually expect from a stranger. “Aw, you care.” You reply instead.
**
It smells, terribly, but if you roll the windows down enough, you can hardly even notice. Wearing enough layers to not fell the cold is another story. You had expected Kelly to bail on you, insisting you wouldn’t blame him for running back to the warm comfort of clean sheets that weren’t his own, but again he shook his head.
He slept for the first six hours, grateful that you seemed to be a decent driver, but you tossed and turned in the back for about four before you climb back up front and ask to take over. There was only a little bit of gloating each time you passed through a city and grinned an ‘I told you so’ at him.
He doesn’t tell you, but he finds your giddiness contagious.
You don’t notice, but he keeps watching you whenever you’re not paying attention- intrigued by the woman who is actively going to hell and back just to get home. Matt told him he was insane, but there was something about you that he just couldn’t let go of.
He had watched you give up one of the only plane tickets left to a younger woman. Feeling touched as she cried in your arms. When you bought lunch for an unaccompanied minor and let her use up the entire battery life of your phone to watch a few movies, he knew he had to at least talk to you.
The only opener he had was a charger and it seemed to have been enough to get your trust.
“You know,” He starts, pulling his jacket tighter around him, hoping the rising sun would bring some form of warmth soon. He wasn’t hopeful. “I think I’ve earned a few questions.”
You glance at him and raise a brow. “Fine.”
“Are you always like this?”
“I’m sorry, what?” Your surprise makes you laugh.
“Prickly.” He clarifies.
“I’m not prickly, I’m stressed.” You defend yourself. “How are you not? Aren’t you trying to get home too, to see your family?”
He shrugs. “It’s out of my control, and the only family I have are people I get to see pretty regularly.” He smiles at you. “Guess I’m pretty lucky.”
“Well, it seems I’m definitely not.”
As if on cue, there’s a loud pop from the front of the car and it begins to sputter and smoke. Kelly is quick to calm you down and ease you into pulling off the road in the most soothing voice you think you may have ever heard.
**
Sitting on the side of the road, you only pick up your head from your knees when you hear a loud sigh and the hood slam shut. Kelly wipes the dark grease on his pants and gives you a solemn look.
“It’s toast.”
You let your head fall back onto your knees, not paying much attention to the encouraging words he tries to use to raise your spirits or the almost comforting hand on your shoulder, not even when they both disappear.
It isn’t until he’s grabbing the bags from the worst impulse buy of your life that you decide to check back in. “What are you doing?”
He points back to a semi-truck stopped not far behind with a smirk. “I told you I’m lucky.”
**
Your elbow bumps the trucker again and you pull you arms in closer to your body, try to scoot further away while being mindful of Kelly pressed close to you on your other side. Why you agreed to sit in the middle, you’ll only understand once you figured out why you agreed to this in the first place.
The man seemed nice enough, but it was two hours to the next city and you hadn’t slept in 36 hours.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do when we get there. Maybe find some wifi and look for our next ride?”
Kelly purses his lips. “How about we take an hour?”
“What are we supposed to in Dyersville on Christmas day?”
There’s a sparkle in his eyes when he smiles and shrugs his shoulders.
**
“Alright. This was a good idea.” You mumble around a mouthful of the burger you were trying to not inhale.
Somehow, Kelly had managed to convince a food truck to kick out one more order before packing up to get home. The smell hit you just as your hunger did and it didn’t take long for you to start stuffing your face.
He picks up his drink beside him on the bench and nods. “We needed this.”
“So bad.” You gush. You look around and finally feel like you can breathe again. “Maybe my luck’s turning. It’s a beautiful day, we’re so close, and this just might be the best burger I’ve ever had.”
He starts to laugh, but stops suddenly when he looks past your head. Before he can even react, the man he had been eying grabs your purse and takes off, Kelly quick on his heels. You yell after him, almost taking off too, but then his feet catch a patch of ice.
He goes down, hard and you rush to his side.
“Kelly? Kelly are you okay?” He’s touched by your concern, but he doesn’t have the breath in his lungs to convey it.
“Fine.” He grunts out.
“You folks alright?” A man with peppered hair and a thick grey mustache approaches behind you in a white button up. “We were just fixing our lights outside when we saw what happened. We’ve got two EMTs grabbing their bags if you’ll just stay where you are, son.”
Kelly waves him off, calling him chief, and tries to sit up. “Guy got her bag.”
You shush him and quickly help him up. “There’s nothing in there that can’t be replaced.” You assure him.
“Holy shit, is that Kelly Severide?” A woman calls out from across the street before jogging over. “Can’t wait to let the boys know that the great Lieutenant got played by a kid.”
Kelly chuckles at your confusion as he wipes his dirt covered hands on his jeans. “Gomez, nice to see you again.”
“You know each other?” You ask.
Gomez nods. “Lieutenant Severide here held a rope rescue training, whipped us all into shape. What brings you back here?”
Kelly sighs, adding a voice to the very rough time the last 20 hours had been. “Got snowed in just outside of Seattle. This one,” He points over to you and raises a brow. “Just had to get home and dragged me on and insane trip.”
Your jaw drops. “Dragged? You definitely refused to leave.”
“Only because I whole heartedly believed you’d get yourself killed.” He winks at you and you can’t suppress your smile.    
The chief contemplates for a moment before offering up an old battalion car to get you through the final stretch. Kelly looks to you, smile beaming and makes another comment about his impeccable luck.
**
“So, you’re a firefighter.” You begin when the silence becomes a little too thick. “Is that why you were in Washington?”
Kelly nods. “Small city fire departments don’t have the resources we do. I try to go to a few a year to teach them how to use the stuff they have for difficult rescues.”
“Wow…” You trail off.
“You can’t ask me that question and not answer it for yourself.”
Rolling your eyes, you have to agree. “I was there for an interview. Some doctors there created a revolutionary treatment, and I was able to witness one of the surgeries.”
“Must be important for you to give up your Christmas Eve.”
You shrug. “My sister got really sick a few years ago. She’s okay now, but we weren’t able to see her for a really long time. Doctors saved her life and this could save someone else’s. It’s important information.”
“That’s why you wanted to get back?”
The moment becomes a little too heavy, but you manage a sad smile before you feel compelled to look out the window. “It’s her first Christmas since, it’ll be the first time I’ve seen her.”
He grabs your hand and your attention after a moment of silence and his stare is intense. “We’ll be there soon.” He assures you.
**
12 hours into shift and Matt Casey is as bored as he’s ever been on a Christmas. No calls, no Christmas spirit, and most importantly Christmas dinner was a bust. So, when Severide open his office door, covered in dirt and oil and grime, he was intrigued at least.
“You look like hell.”
Kelly rolls his eyes. “I need to borrow your truck to take Y/N home.”
Casey’s eyes widen. “She’s here?”
Kelly isn’t sure why he seems so excited until he hears him grab almost the entire firehouse to lead them to the floor. To you. Despite his protests, Gabby is positively thrilled. You however, surprisingly, are not overwhelmed by all the greetings and hugs. The environment is so warm and welcoming that you can’t help but slide right into conversations.
“She is gorgeous.” Gabby tries to keep it to a whisper. “Your texts do not do her justice.”
Kelly nods, well aware that just a few words typed while you were focused on the road could never be enough to describe how incredible he believed you to be.
“This isn’t it, right? You’ve got to see her again.” Joe butts his head between Kelly and Gabby. “We already like her.”
**
The drive to your house is quiet, somber. Not a single sound besides tires crunching through packed snow. There’re so many questions you have unanswered based solely on the fact that you don’t know how to ask them. Staring out into the night sky to watch the snow fall is no longer enough to comfort you.
It isn’t until he pulls up and puts the truck in park that you start to feel the pit in your stomach become overwhelming. You’re worried you’ll never see him again. Worried that the past day will be the final one and that thought is terrifying.
“Stay.” You blurt out.
He’s caught off guard by your request, but still smiles. “My family is back at the station and this is too important for you to be worrying about your parents meeting me.”
Your nod acknowledges that he’s right, but your eyes convey your sadness. “Merry Christmas, Kelly.”
“Merry Christmas, Y/N.”
**
“I cannot believe you just let her go!” Matt walks in on Gabby yelling. “You liked that girl, she invited you in, and you left?!” She’s pacing back and forth in front of a freshly showered Kelly. He looks like a puppy in trouble and Matt’s smart enough to know not to butt in.
“That was not a first impression I wanted to make.” He tries to defend himself.
Gabby turns to Matt, exasperated, and he raises his hands.
As if someone were listening to his silent prayers, Capp comes in to tell Kelly that he had a visitor on the floor. His heart began to race, filling with hope that maybe, just maybe…
He rounds the corner and there you are, dressed up with a delicate smile. For a moment he’s breathless, the only thing he wanted to see. He wants to open with something witty, but you beat him to it when you hand him a tupperware container, stepping close enough that he can smell the light layer of perfume you’re wearing.
“This is to thank you for letting me drag you and your luck all over the northern states.”
He laughs. “I believe it was me that refused to leave.”
“And I probably would’ve made the national news for being missing if you hadn’t.” Your smirk makes his heart skip a beat. “You know milk cartons aren’t a thing anymore, right?”
He laughs. “Well, how am I supposed to thank you for pretending to be my wife?” You laugh until you realize he’s being serious. “How about dinner tomorrow night?”
“I would love that.”
When he leans down slowly and presses his lips to yours, you have to laugh at the cheers that erupt from the background.
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mypoisonedvine · 5 years ago
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Love, Theoretically | Sebastian Stan x reader (Chapter 1)
for @evnscvll​​‘s 3k celebration challenge, I immediately broke the rules and took only one prompt: Love, Actually.  then I made it into a series.  oops.  but she made me that lovely moodboard anyways!
summary: having lost your husband, sister, and best friend all to the same extramarital affair, you ran away to a secluded villa in the Hungarian countryside to write and get a little time away from the life you’d left behind.  you were only looking for peace and perhaps some inspiration for your novel, but instead you found an unlikely connection with the immigrant repairman-- even though the two of you don’t speak the same language.
word count: 2.3k
warnings: mention/description of infidelity, awkwardness, me teasing y’all by making this a slow burn
(quick note: I’m not fluent in romanian but I did my best to translate the dialogue as accurately as possible, rather than as literally as possible.  if you don’t speak it I would recommend not translating seb’s lines so you get the full experience of having no idea what he’s saying just like the reader in the story but I won’t tell you how to live your life)
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You usually trusted your intuition, but up until now you'd convinced yourself that you were being paranoid by worrying about your husband.  Trusting him was more important than anything, and definitely more important than a strange feeling in your gut that something was wrong. 
The sad thing is, you would've never guessed that he was having an affair with your sister.  Not in a million years.  All the sneaking around, the strange stories that didn't add up… you would've put your money on a secret gambling addiction (pun unintended but welcome), or maybe that he'd secretly lost his job.
But even with all your suspicion, all your low self-esteem, all your fear that he was too good for you… nothing could've prepared you to walk in and see him with his face between your sister's legs.
He didn't even do that to you; he said he didn't like the taste.  You realized now, as you stared out the window of the train at the trees flying by, that that should've been a red flag from the start.  For a man who had claimed to be a feminist, things were never really equal in your house.  You both worked full time but you were saddled with more chores; you made more money than he did, but for some reason, you found yourself asking for his approval on large purchases; and of course, whenever you'd talked about children, he'd always just assumed you would stay at home forever and do most of the child-rearing.  He told you that you'd need to handle them when he was too tired from work-- but what about when you were tired from watching them all damn day while he was working?
God, you needed to stop thinking about this.  If you cried on this train people would probably look at you funny and you did not need that right now.  You couldn’t take any more reasons to believe people dislike you.  Even as much as you wanted to say that you didn't want or need your husband’s approval anymore, you still felt so shitty, so fundamentally worthless that he'd chosen your sister over you.  He hadn't wanted to touch you in months.  You wondered if it had been going on longer than that: when you'd blown him after that company party half a year ago, were you putting your mouth on something that had been in your sister's--?
"Something to drink, madam?" the attendant asked as she rolled by with her cart, pulling you from a very dangerous cycle of thought.
You jumped a little and looked over to her as she smiled at you-- no hint of judgment or confusion as you wiped a tear away.  In her shoes, you would be nosy and want to know more about the woman crying on the train.  Then again, maybe it was obvious to her: a woman, alone, who bought the last ticket just before the train left, carrying only a small briefcase and a few hastily-packed suitcases… a woman with nothing to lose, going nowhere as fast as possible.  Could it be anything but her having been done wrong by a man?
"Tea, please," you nodded with a smile of your own-- weaker than hers, more awkward.  You'd make a bad stewardess.
"Black or green?"
You didn't trust them to steep the green tea at the proper temperature, so you asked for black and nodded in thanks when she handed you the warm paper cup and rolled on by to the next passenger.
What really made your head spin, you considered as you sipped at your drink, was not your husband’s actions but your sister’s.  You remembered when you were both teenagers and her boyfriend had cheated on her, she’d gotten so upset with the girl he’d done it with rather than him.  You had thought that was ridiculous because the girl didn’t owe her anything.  You understood better now, and of course, your sister did owe you something.  You two had had your rough patches but overall, she’d been your best friend for most of your life.  So much so that she was the one you went to when you were worried about your husband.  She told you to give him space.  You would’ve never imagined that was her way to get you to back off, to cover her own sins and give her more freedom to shag your husband in your goddamn bed.
Yes, that was the real betrayal.  Lots of people have ex-husbands, but you couldn’t exactly turn her into an ex-sister.  You were stuck with her, but you had no plan as of yet to face her again.
The night in the sleeper car was restless, literally.  It was so dark out that you couldn’t see the trees or mountains anymore, but if you focused really hard and made sure to turn off every light in your room, you could just barely see the stars in the sky.  You hoped that you would have plenty of time to spend looking at the stars once you reached your destination.  As much as you’d loved the city lights of London for the past several years, you really needed to be somewhere that was actually dark at night.  And where the air was clean.  And, best of all, where nobody knew who the fuck you were.
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You stepped out of the train and onto the platform, feeling very much like you were surrounded by people ending their stories-- reuniting with loved ones, finishing vacations-- while yours was just beginning.  Well, you supposed it made sense that most of the people travelling from London to Nyíregyháza, Hungary were probably from Nyíregyháza, Hungary.  Unlike you, who had only been here once while backpacking through the area in college and fallen in love with it.  You were lucky that the owner of the secluded cottage you’d crashed at back then had picked up the phone when you called from the train; you were especially lucky that she was willing to pick you up from the station, you not being quite dressed or prepared for backpacking.
Exiting the station and finding the cobblestone street, you were nearly tackled by a portly old woman as she tried to get your attention.
“Mrs. Alberti?!” you asked with wide eyes.
“You should at least pretend I haven’t aged a day,” she frowned, her words coated with her thick Hungarian accent.  
“I was just surprised that you’re still running the cottage!  I figured you and Mr. Alberti retired ages ago,” you explained, following her back to her car and putting your luggage in the boot.
She seemed a little crestfallen, wistfully considering your assumption.  “Well, it’s not quite what it used to be but yes, I am still the owner.  Sadly, Mr. Alberti passed away several years back.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that,” you replied, hoping to be as comforting as reasonably possible, “he was such a sweet man.”
“Yes, but he had a long illness-- and before that, lived a very full life,” she smiled confidently, walking to the driver’s seat as you followed along the other side and got in the passenger.
“It’s too bad he won’t get to see you again, though,” she continued as she started the vehicle.  Considering how old it looked, you were impressed that it worked on the first try.  “He would’ve been amazed to have a repeat customer from somewhere so far away.  I certainly am!”
“Yes, well, I have great memories from staying in the villa, and decided to go in search of some of the lust for life that I had back then-- chasing after youth never backfires, right?” you joked.
“I wouldn’t know,” she replied with a smirk.
You knew you were getting close to the old house when the roads turned from asphalt, to cobblestone, to gravel, and finally to dirt.  As much as you figured trees and grass looked basically the same everywhere, you appreciated that it somehow managed to look totally different than England.  Maybe it was the scattering of blue wildflowers, or the way the wilderness was dominating the few signs of human existence rather than the other way around.  Driving it was different than hiking it, certainly, and you wondered if you would find the time or energy to climb the foothills on the other side of the lake like you had before.  Maybe you didn’t want to find out how much athletic ability you’d lost since college…
“Here we are!” she announced as she made one last turn and yep, there it was: a lonely stone cottage, with flowers all along the walls and pink wooden shutters.  
You could tell it had aged since it had looked how you remembered, but if anything it had gained a quaint charm, with its moss and ivy and old trees which sagged under their own weight.  Figuring you would have more time to take in the scenery in the indefinite time you planned to spend here, you decided to make good time and gather your things first.
As you opened the boot and reached in to grab your luggage, someone appeared beside you and pushed your hands aside, saying something that you couldn’t parse at all.  You stepped aside and realized that it was a young man-- not horrifically young or anything, but certainly… strapping.  He shot you a smile, and you couldn’t think of the last time somebody had looked at you with so much joy on their face.
“Oh, thank you,” you nodded, letting him lift your suitcases (which he did with ease, just to make it all extra cruel).
“This is Sebastian-- he lives here and does odd jobs for me,” Mrs. Alberti informed you, "Don't waste your time talking to him; he doesn't speak a word of English."
"Oh, he only speaks Hungarian?"  You turned to him again; "Szia, hogy vagy?"
He shook his head and smiled awkwardly.
"No dear, he only speaks Romanian," Mrs. Alberti explained with a laugh.  "Can't you tell I can only afford to run this place by using cheap immigrant labour?"
"Salut," he greeted.  At least you could figure what that meant.  You chuckled uncomfortably and looked to the ground.  
You followed Sebastian and Mrs. Alberti into the house, admiring how little the interior decorations had changed-- it was all macrame and flowers in old-fashioned ceramic vases, with lots of oddball Hungarian trinkets to round it all out.  Perhaps the only thing you could notice that was different was new floorboards.
“You like the new floor?” Mrs. Alberti asked, as if she were reading your mind.  “Sebastian put that in for me.”
Sebastian seemed to perk up as he set your bags down briefly, clearly aware he was being talked about.  
“Remember?” Mrs. Alberti addressed him, motioning to the floor.  “You put in the new floor, huh?  Új emelet?”
You wondered why she’d seemed to laugh at you for trying to speak Hungarian to him, when she was doing the same thing.
“Da,” he smiled, pressing his shoe down onto the floor to apparently demonstrate the lack of creaking.  “Ți-am făcut un etaj nou.”
“Alright, go ahead and take her bags upstairs,” Mrs. Alberti instructed him, motioning to the luggage and then to the staircase.  He nodded and picked them up again, starting to walk across the room.  “He knows where your room is, just follow him,” she told you.  
The stairs, unlike the new floor, did creak, and you weren’t sure how far behind you were supposed to be on the staircase to avoid having his ass right at eye level.  You didn’t want to stare at it… but either the jeans were doing him a lot of favours, or Mrs. Alberti’s ‘odd jobs’ do a body good.  Maybe a little bit of both.
He used his back to push open the door to your room, setting your bags just inside before turning to leave again, like he thought it would be rude to step inside.
“Wait,” you requested, but he kept going-- probably the whole ‘not understanding English’ thing.  God, you were going to look so stupid at least a few more times trying to get through to this guy, you could sense it.  Forced to get his attention another way, you reached out and grabbed his arm; not hard, but it was definitely a slightly aggressive thing to do anyways.  It worked, though, and he turned around with an expectant look.  “Could you help me unload?” you asked, gesturing towards the bags.  
His brow knitted with confusion as he tilted his head.  You sighed, not sure exactly how to pantomime this.
“One of my bags,” you began, pointing to one of them, “is heavy--” a lifting motion-- “could you--” you pointed to him-- “unpack it?” 
That seemed to make more sense to him, and he stepped back into the room with you.  “Voi încerca,” he said, somewhat to himself, as you opened the suitcase.  Inside was your typewriter; he nodded with understanding and scooped it up.
“Unde?” he asked, and regardless of what it meant, you were going to show him where to put the typewriter anyways.  
“Just over there, the table by the window,” you pointed to it.  He nodded again and walked past you, setting it down, and even adjusting it a little to make sure it was centered.
“Thank you!” you piped up when he turned back to you.  And just like that, you were plunged back into awkward silence.  You pointed to him, and then the typewriter as you pantomimed typing.  “Can you type?”  He seemed to understand what you meant.
“Nu,” he shook his head, “când eram mic, trebuiau înregistrați anual.”
“...huh,” you mumbled, not sure what to do with that.   
“Plec acum,” he announced as he started to step past you again.
You cleared your throat and let him walk out the doorway.  “Right, um, have a good afternoon…”
He gave a little wave as he walked down the hall, and you sighed once he was out of sight and making his way down the creaking stairs.  You impressed yourself with your ability to embarrass yourself constantly, even with total strangers.  But, all that aside, you were finally ready to settle in and properly enjoy your change of scenery.
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eternalstann · 5 years ago
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Crushes & Co-Stars
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You and Tom are in an interview together when you have an unexpected guest. Tom finally realizes what he needs to do. So he does that...and more.
Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader
Warnings: Smut!!!! + jealous!Tom ;)
You’re trying your hardest to concentrate on the woman interviewing you and Tom for your upcoming movie, it just felt like every person you talked to was leading you closer to something you couldn’t put your finger on.
“Tom who’s been your favorite person to work with so far?”
Tom doesn’t even hesitate, “Jake Gyllenhaal”
You gasp, “I’m telling Jacob and Zendaya!”
“What, you know that’s my husband! And I told you we could listen to ONE One Direction song on the way here, NOT the whole album. That’s a strike for you” he jokes.
“So Y/N, you’ve always been a big fan of One Direction! Are you excited for their possible reunion?” the interviewer asks and you feel the entirety of your teenage years flash before your eyes.
“Oh absolutely! I just hope they wait until after the movie is out, cause if they do get back together I won’t be able to focus on anything else!” You joke, nudging Tom.
Your costar nods in exaggerated agreement, “Trust me, I’ve seen the pictures of her childhood bedroom. I know”
You giggle and shrug, “What can I say? They just had that one thing”
Tom groans, “That was so corny”
He pretends to be unimpressed but you can see the ghost of a smile on his lips. Talking about a movie for weeks - day in and day out got boring. But doing it with you made it all worth it for him.
“Well then Y/N, we have a little surprise for you” the interviewer goes on and your eyebrows furrow. A surprise?
You watch as the door to the small interview room opens and you nearly faint when Niall Horan himself walks in.
You fumble your way out your chair, walking behind it and putting a hand over your mouth; eyes practically bugged out. Everyone laughs at your reaction, but you’re literally on the verge of a heart attack.
“No fucking way..” you breathe out, and Niall smiles big at you.
“Aren’t you gonna hug me darling?” He asks with that Irish accent you’d obsessed over for years.
You don’t even say anything, it’s like you aren’t in control of your own body and you run to him; jumping into his open arms. Your legs wrap around his waist and he holds you up.
“What a greeting!” Niall Jokes. “How’re you?” He asks and you can barely answer.
“I’m perfect now” you fawn and you definitely hear one of the videographers whisper- ‘this is totally going viral’
Niall sets you down, and you stare at him. Still unable to believe he was standing in front of you. You then realize how unprofessional you acted and apologize.
“I am so sorry for...pouncing on you like that” you smile sheepishly and you swear his blue eyes literally twinkle. “Don’t be sorry, I love when beautiful girls jump into my arms” he flirts and you think your heart might jump out of your chest.
You try to play it off with a laugh, and so does Tom. He watches this little love connection play out with the girl he’d had feelings for for months and all he could do was laugh.
“Good to know, it’s just I’ve literally had a crush on your since I was like fourteen” you gush, and Niall pushes a strand of hair from your face.
“Yeah well I think I’ve got a bit of a crush on you now...” he replies easily and you’re certain you’re dreaming now.
Toms had enough now, standing to make himself known.
“Niall, mate! How’re ya?” Tom asks stepping between the two of you, and you watch them hug. He knows everyone you think to yourself.
“Aye, Tommy! I’m great man, we have to go golfing soon!” Niall chirps and Tom nods. You roll your eyes as the two of them chit chat.
Two white boys of the month together. The power that they hold
Niall slaps Tom on the arms, something about texting him later before turning to you again. “Y/N, I was hoping that I could bother you for your phone number. Maybe we could get together some time?” He asks, holding out his phone to you.
“That’d be really nice” you hum, punching in your number.
Niall hugs you and says goodbye, and now it’s Toms turn to roll his eyes.
He doesn’t know why he’s so jealous, he’d never even made a move. He guessed he thought he had more time. And then it dawns on him. The two of you were done shooting, and this press tour wasn’t gonna last forever. You’d both go home and that would be that. Sure you’d stay in contact but it wouldn’t be the same as seeing your everyday. He had to move fast.
The interview wraps up and your both say thank you’s to interviewer and crew, walking out to the hallway.
“I cannot believe I met Niall Horan!” You exclaim, and Tom chuckles a little.
“You really gonna go on that date?” He asks, already dreading your answer.
You pause for a moment, “Yeah, if he actually texts me!”
“He’s definitely gonna text you...” Tom trails off and he can already see it playing out in his head. He doesn’t think he can take watching you and Niall galavant through town... or trend on Twitter if you ever did get together.
“He’s literally got a million other girls he could text, what makes you think so?” You nudge him, smiling softly at how your arms brushed against each other when you walked. You and Tom had become so close during the last few months, you felt like you’d known him forever. And knowing Tom you were expecting him to say some sarcastic answer, about he’d text you for premiere tickets just to really see him.
“Because you’re beautiful for one thing. Because you’re smart, and funny and talented. Because you’re kind and loving. I can think of a million reasons why I’d text you...why I’d do so much more than text you” he smiles, rubbing the back of his neck and you’re frozen in shock.
“Tom...”
“You don’t have to say anything back, I’ve gained a best friend in working with you and I don’t want to mess that up. I just wanted you to know”
You grab his hand and pull him into his dressing room.
“What’re you doing?” He asks confusedly.
“I didn’t want to cry in the hallway” you say, finally letting the tears fall.
“Tom I’ve been so anxious about all of this ending because I love being around you. I’ve never had a friend like you and I was so sad thinking about not seeing you all the time” you gush and Tom pulls you into a hug.
“Then we just won’t let each other go” he mumbles, face buried in your neck.
You pull back and wipe your tears, smirking at your friend “Did you tell me all this because you were jealous of Niall?”
“I mean, you literally jumped into his arms...” he teases.
You laugh, biting your lip before jumping up and Tom gets the memo to catch you.
“Now you’re even” you whisper looking down at Tom, wrapping your arms around his neck.
“Hmm, I could get used to this”
You take a deep breath, staring into his eyes. It wasn’t weird or awkward, it was like the two of you understood each other without speaking. You could feel his thumb rubbing against your back, tracing gentle circles.
“Are we about to kiss right now?”
Tom throws his head back in a laugh, “Only if you want to”
“I really want to”
You press your lips to his, eyes fluttering shut. His lips were soft and they tasted like the cherry chapstick you’d bought him as a gag gift for finishing filming on Cherry. The fact that he’s kept a silly thing like that from you made you weak.
You tilt your head, letting your tongue run against the seam of his lips and he parts them for you. Your tongues touch, mouths moving together effortlessly.
You don’t even realize Tom walking towards the couch in the center of the room until he’s laying you down on it. You pull your lips apart for a moment to catch your breath and Tom is hooking your leg over his side.
You can feel his hardness pressed to your center and you feel dizzy at how fast things escalated. But you loved it, and you wanted more.
You lift your hips to grind against him and Tom groans, shoving your dress up around your waist. You gasp, the cold air on your thighs creating goosebumps and Toms hands run over your skin, the warmth in from his fingertips almost felt like it burned.
He left a trail of fire from your bellybutton to the waist band of your panties, slowing pulling them down.
“I want to taste you” he hums, and your toes curl in your heels at his words. You’d be lying if you said you’d never thought of Tom like this, and god it was better than you imagined.
He kisses the insides of your thighs, one if his hands pushing you leg back to your chest. He looks up at your, brown hair falling just about his eyes as he takes his first lick up the length of your pussy.
“Oh god Tom...” you moan out, letting your head fall against the cushions.
He absolutely devours you, taking his time to explore every part of your wet heat. Your legs shake next to his head, and Tom puts his mouth over your clit, sucking gently and pushes two fingers into you.
You grab a pillow off the couch, placing it over your face to muffle your screams and Tom doesn’t let up. He curls his fingers upwards, working you closer and closer to the edge and you feel bad when the heel of your shoe digs into his back as you orgasm.
Tom licks you through it, a big smile on his face and all you can do is stare at him. Oh, he was definitely a problem. You glance down at the bulge in his pants, biting your lip.
He catches your stare, “You sure you want to?”
“Tom I’m positive” you assure him, repositioning yourself on the couch to make for a better angle.
Tom is kicking his way out his slacks in seconds, and you laugh at his antics. Your laughing stops when he pulls out his dick though.
“Jeez, Tom, where do hide that thing?” You ask and he rolls his eyes.
“You’re hilarious Y/N” he answers, climbing back on top of you.
Tom rubs himself through your folds and your pussy clenches in anticipation, you brace yourself waiting and ready for him but Tom pauses.
“This isn’t going to be a one time thing is it?” He asks, voice sounding small.
“You think you can eat my pussy like that and then we just go about our lives?” You joke but Tom wants a serious answer.
You tangle your hand in the hair at the back of his neck, “Tom, I want this. Us. Whatever we may become” you say softly, pulling him down for a kiss.
That’s all Tom needed, and he pushes into you. You moan against his lips, back arching. He filled you up perfectly, and when you thrust into you the first time you knew you wouldn’t last long.
“Y/N you feel amazing” he whispers next to your ear and you just hold on onto him, taking all the pleasure he was giving you. Everything just felt so right. The way he felt on top of you, and inside of you.
“Tom please don’t stop, don’t ever fucking stop” you beg and he groans again, lifting so he can look at your face.
“Fuck I won’t baby” he promises, hips moving faster now. He pounds into you, pushing against the way your legs wrapped around your waist. You just wanted him closer and closer.
“Tom...I’m gonna cum” you pant, hand moving town to his shoulder and digging your nails in.
“Cum for me Y/N” he encourages you, pushing all the way in and grinding.
You scream and shake, Toms hand shooting up to cover your mouth as you cum again.
You clench around him as he thrusts a few more times before cumming inside of you. He collapses on top of you, burying his face in your chest.
“So you’re gonna block Niall when he texts you right?”
———————————————-
skfjsksjdn hey guyssss❤️ i literally live for jealous Tom :))) I hope u all enjoy this, drunk part 4 will be up Saturday!!
Photo Creds to @spiderszman 📸
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sturchling · 5 years ago
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An Accident on the High Road
This is a one-shot based off of another prompt from @silvia7272
It is a bit different from the prompt, but I hope you guys still like it. 
After Oni-Chan, Lila tells the class that she and Adrien are dating. What she doesn’t expect is Adrien calling Nino to see if he wants hang out when she said they would be on a date. Will Lila’s lies be exposed completely because of an accident?
Lila didn’t know it, but she was about to lie herself into a corner. It was the day after the Oni-Chan incident. Lila thought yesterday had been a success. Sure, Oni-Chan had chased her around for a while, and Ladybug had won the day, but Lila had gotten that picture with Adrien. Lila thought Adrien is so naive, he actually thinks that if he takes the high road, I would see the error of my ways and stop lying or the class will realize what is happening. Lila knew that no matter what she said Adrien wouldn’t say a word against her. Not even to protect Marinette from Lila’s schemes. Adrien doesn’t want to hurt anybody, and that includes Lila. So, he is willing to let Lila have whatever she wants, just to keep her from being akumatized again. Well, Lila wants Adrien. Adrien would be her ticket to true fame, to meeting all the celebrities she already brags about knowing. Lila had the picture and had already sent it to everyone they knew. Their classmates were already buzzing, just waiting for Lila to tell them that her and Adrien are dating. The class would believe anything that Lila said. She had slowly been moving them over to her side, so that soon she could make good on her threat against Marinette. But that is a different plan for a different day. Today’s plan is to make Adrien hers, even if it isn’t entirely true. The class will think it is true, and Adrien will act like it is true just to keep the peace.
 The next day, at school, Lila tells the class the “news”. Alya and the rest of the sheep are so happy that Adrien and Lila are together. Alya spends the whole morning saying what cute couple they make. Adrien wasn’t there that morning, so that made this whole thing easier. By the time Adrien found out what she had been saying, the whole class would believe it and Adrien wouldn’t be able to say a thing against her without ‘hurting someone’. Alya was so excited and turned to her saying, “Girl, you two are so adorable in that picture! Good to know Adrien ended up with such a nice girl, like you. Just stinks Adrien isn’t here this morning, bet you guys are even cuter in person” She asked Lila for all the details of how they got together. Lila put on her best faux blushing face and shyly responded, “Well, Adrien has been so sweet helping me catch up on everything I missed while in Achu. While I was at his place yesterday, he told me he admired all of my work with Prince Ali. He asked me out right before I left, and of course I said yes. We took that picture to mark the occasion. We are even going on our first date tonight. He is taking me to get Andre’s ice cream. It is going to be so romantic.” Lila was loving all the attention she was getting from this. While the sheep gushed about how romantic their plans were, Lila noticed Marinette in the back looking miserable. Whether it was because of the news of Adrien, the class fawning over Lila, or Marinette just being in a bad mood, Lila didn’t care. Seeing Marinette miserable was just the icing on the cake for this already great day. Lila had no idea, that her good day would become one of the worst days ever.
 Adrien had been having a very long day. Adrien had been exhausted after yesterday’s battle. Almost as soon as he returned home, he had to deal with the consequences of Lila’s visit. Both Nathalie and his bodyguard were in trouble because of it. But Adrien justified it that they had just gotten a warning. They weren’t fired, just talked to. So, Lila still hadn’t hurt someone in his eyes. Getting a stern talking to was pretty normal, and never caused any harm. Adrien had never found out what exactly caused the akumatization of Kagami, but he could guess it had something to do with that picture. But it was just a picture, and if Adrien had gone against Lila and said no to the picture, then Lila could have been akumatized. Lila was clearly a very sensitive girl, so Adrien was determined to not hurt her. If that meant he had to put up with some pictures and her holding on to him, then Adrien could accept that. Kagami was strong, Adrien was sure that she would be alright. That it was just the shock of the picture, and she wasn’t truly hurt by it. Adrien wasn’t dating Kagami, so he didn’t see how it could have hurt her. After all that was settled, Adrien went to bed, but he was woken up really early for an all-day photo-shoot. Adrien hated that he was missing school, but he got ready and went to the photo-shoot. Adrien got through the shoot pretty quickly. The shoot even ended earlier than expected and since the shoot was supposed to last all day all of Adrien’s evening lessons had been cancelled, so Adrien had the evening to himself for once. Adrien decided to call Nino to see if he wanted to hang out, since it was so rare to have the free time to hang out with his friend. Adrien had no idea that he was about to accidentally leave the high road and set in motion the exposure of Lila’s lies.
 Nino and Alya were just relaxing at Alya’s place. They were playing that dancing game that they love when Nino got a phone call from Adrien. Nino hadn’t heard from his best bud all day. Adrien probably had a photo shoot that day and then his date with Lila. Alya turned and saw who was calling and said, “Oh, its Adrien! His date with Lila must be done! Put it on speaker phone! I want to hear everything.” Nino nods and answers the phone, putting the call on speaker. When the call connects, Nino says, “Hey dude, what’s up?” Adrien responds quickly, sounding excited, “Hey Nino. I just got done with the shoot early. I actually have the evening to myself for once. Do you want to hang out? Maybe go catch a movie?” That made both Nino and Alya pause. Adrien had just finished with work? What about Lila? Lila had said they were going for ice cream at 5 o’clock. It was 6:30 now, and if Adrien just finished, he couldn’t have been with Lila for ice cream at 5:00. Alya looked just as confused as Nino was. Nino asked, “You just got done with work dude? You finished early, how long was this thing supposed to go?” Adrien replied, “Yeah, we just finished up a few minutes ago. The shoot was supposed to go all day, probably to at least 8:00.” Nino kept asking questions subtly, trying to figure this out. Maybe Adrien had a break around 5:00 so he could get that ice cream with Lila. “Did you get any breaks today dude? Sounds like a really long day. They must have given you a break.” Adrien responded sounding tired, “No, I didn’t get a break besides lunch at about noon. Wish I could have come to school for lunch to see you guys, but Nathalie wouldn’t let me.” Nino decided to really try and figure this out. Surely the photo-shoot was a surprise to Adrien and he hadn’t been able to tell Lila before school. “That stinks dude. Stinks when these shoots of yours ruin your plans.” Adrien paused for a second but replied, “Well, yeah. These shoots can be annoying keeping me from school. But at least all it kept me from today was school. So, do you want to hang out?” Nino was completely confused now. Nino told Adrien that a movie sounded good and they agreed to meet at the theater in an hour. Nino hung up the phone and turned to Alya. Alya spoke up first, “Wait. So, Adrien didn’t have any other plans today? What about Lila?” Nino looked up at her, “Alya, Adrien wouldn’t lie about that, I don’t think he had plans with Lila. At least none that he knew about.” Alya started to look annoyed, “So what? Lila lied about the whole thing? What about the picture? Lila wouldn’t lie to us, would she?” They thought for a second and came up with a plan. Nino would ask about the photo when he met up with Adrien. Adrien would either confirm Lila’s story or not. Then if he didn’t that would mean Lila had been lying to them. Nino was starting to wonder if Marinette was right, if Lila had just been a liar from the start. He mentioned this to Alya, “If Lila lied about this, what else could she have lied about?” Alya didn’t like that suggestion at all. Partly because she considered Lila a friend and partly because she didn’t want to think about what posting Lila’s stories could mean for her blog if they turned out to be lies. Nino tried calming her down saying, “Alya lets do this. If Adrien confirms the picture was because they were dating, we leave it at that, since Lila hadn’t lied. If he doesn’t confirm it and Lila has lied, we check out her other stories. We at least owe it to Marinette to check it out if we think Lila has been lying.” Alya reluctantly agreed and they went forward with the plan.
 When Nino arrived at the theater and saw Adrien, Nino got nervous. He called out Adrien, “Hey dude!” Adrien turned and waved at Nino as he approached. As they bought their tickets Nino decided now was the time to bring it up. He wanted to be subtle about it, so Adrien didn’t feel pressured to cover for Lila if she was lying. Nino decided to just ask what the picture was about, not bring up the dating thing. “So, Adrien. I saw that picture of you and Lila. What was that about? Didn’t get a chance to ask Lila.” Adrien looked confused for a second and then said, “Oh, that. Lila said it was just a souvenir photo for the study session. Nothing major.” Nino had a growing sense of dread and asked, “But she kissed you in the picture? I would have thought that would be a big deal.” Adrien now looked really confused, “It was just a friendly kiss on the cheek. No big deal.” Nino decided to end the conversation of that topic and said, “Ok dude. By the way, I have the homework you missed for you.” With that, the conversation continued about school, all the while Nino realizing that Lila had lied about that picture and dating Adrien. Which brought up the question, what else had she lied about?
 After the movie was done and Adrien and Nino went their separate ways, Nino went back to Alya’s place to tell her what Adrien had told him. Alya was shocked to find out Lila lied. Like they had agreed, Alya and him spent the rest of the night online, trying to find any proof of Lila’s previous stories. Even after what Nino had found out, Alya was still confident that Lila had been telling the truth about everything else. “Maybe, she was just confused on what the kiss meant. Maybe it meant more to her than it did to Adrien” Alya said. But that excuse didn’t make sense. Maybe it would have if Lila had only said they were dating, or that Adrien liked her. But a misunderstood kiss does not explain why Lila had said they had planned a date. As Nino’s and Alya’s research continued they still couldn’t find anything to prove any of Lila’s stories. There were no go-green charities associated with Prince Ali. They couldn’t find any proof that any celebrities knew her. There were no news stories about Lila saving Jagged Stone’s cat. They couldn’t even find anything about Jagged having a cat. All they found was an interview saying that he had a crocodile as a pet because they are more ‘rock and roll’ than normal pets. Alya even went to the official website for the Italian Embassy, to try and confirm that Lila really had been in Achu recently. But according to the website, Lila’s mom had only ever been an ambassador to France. As far as the embassy was concerned, Lila and her mom had never been to Achu. Alya was crushed to realize that Lila had really been lying to them all this time. Marinette was right. Alya immediately set up a group chat with everyone except for Lila, Adrien, and Marinette. She didn’t want Marinette to be subjected to the chaos that this group chat was going to be. She broke the news to the group chat, telling the class what she and Nino had found out. The class was outraged that their ‘friend’ Lila had been lying to them all this time. Alya sent Marinette a text, apologizing for everything, and saying that she knew Lila was lying. Marinette responded quickly, saying that she was glad Alya and the class knew now. Marinette explained the reason she was so concerned about the whole Lila thing wasn’t because of jealousy, but because she was worried the lies would hurt them. Like if Alya posted more of Lila’s stories to her blog which could hurt her credibility. Alya apologized again for saying Marinette was just jealous and they resolved to meet up after school tomorrow to try and patch things up. Alya figured Marinette would get a lot more texts tonight about everything. After all of that was handled, Alya immediately went on her blog and deleted all the posts involving Lila and her lies. She also filmed and posted an apology video, saying she was sorry for not checking her source more carefully. Alya also promised to check any sources more thoroughly next time and to include all sources in her posts so her followers can see where the information came from. Alya and the rest of the class made a plan to confront the liar at school the next day, and tell Adrien what Lila had been saying. Alya also planned to get back at the liar, so she sat down and started writing an email.
 The next day, Lila walked in to the classroom having no idea of the storm that had been brewing all night. She hadn’t seen that all of the posts on the Ladyblog about her had been taken down and she hadn’t seen the apology video. Adrien still wasn’t going to be at school until after lunch, he texted Nino last night saying that his dad wants him to re-do a few photos from yesterday, but he will be in school after lunch. Lila walked in, and immediately tried to jump into a story about how amazing her date with Adrien was, thinking that Alya would want to know all the details. But Alya stopped her before she got two words out and started yelling at her. “How could you lie to me Lila!? I thought we were friends!” Lila put on her best confused face and said, “What do you mean Alya? I didn’t lie about any-” Nino interrupted, “Cut it out Lila. We all know you have been lying. And not just about you and Adrien dating. You have lied about everything. You don’t know Prince Ali. You never helped him with any go-green charities. You don’t know all of these celebrities you claim to know. You never saved Jagged Stone’s cat. Jagged Stone doesn’t even have a cat. He has only had a crocodile for the last several years. You and your mother have never even been to Achu. She has only been an ambassador to France.” Lila seemed to morph right there. Her confused face dropped and was replaced by a scowl. She sneered at the class and said, “So you guys finally decided to do some research? I was starting to wonder if you guys would never figure it out.” The transformation from the Lila they knew to this girl was dramatic. It shocked many members of the class. It was at that moment that an older woman that looked a lot like Lila walked in looking furious. That email that Alya had sent last night? It was to Lila’s mom. Alya had found her email on the embassy’s website last night and decided to tell her exactly what her daughter had been up to, including the truancy when Lila said she had been in Achu. Alya wasn’t sure what Lila had told her mother so she could miss school, but Alya made sure to tell Mrs. Rossi everything she knew. She even included the original videos that Alya had posted to the Ladyblog that talked about a lot of Lila’s lies. Alya had gotten a response right before Lila walked into the classroom, telling Alya thank you for bringing this to her attention and that she will handle it. Alya guessed this was Mrs. Rossi handling it. Mrs. Rossi started yelling in Italian at Lila. She eventually grabbed Lila by the arm and taking her out of the room. Mrs. Bustier starts to come in and Mrs. Rossi tells her to meet them in Mr. Damocles office to discuss her daughter. Mrs. Bustier told them to read while she was gone and then left to go to the office.
 Later that day, Adrien walked into the school. He was tired from this morning, but was ready to see his friends. When he arrived, everything was weirdly quiet. He walked into the classroom and Mrs. Bustier wasn’t there. Nino saw him and immediately told him what had happened. That Lila had been exposed and that she was in the office now and was in a lot of trouble. Adrien asked Nino, “How did you guys figure this out?” Nino replied, “Because of you dude. Yesterday Lila was saying that the picture she took of you guys was actually to celebrate you guys starting to date. She said you had planned to get Andre’s ice cream with her at 5:00 yesterday. But then you called me wanting to hang out and then told me about the picture. If she lied to us about that she could have lied about anything, so Alya and I checked out her stories and couldn’t find any proof.” Adrien paused. So that was why Nino asked all those questions yesterday. Adrien knew Lila was going to be really upset. She would probably be akumatized later.  Adrien had accidently exposed Lila without even trying. Later that day, the class got the news. Lila was being expelled for the truancy. Lila was akumatized, but only for a few minutes before Ladybug was on the scene. Lila had hardly done any damage at all before Ladybug had defeated her and fixed everything. After seeing that, and Ladybug telling her just how many times her daughter had been akumatized, Mrs. Rossi decided to send Lila back to Italy to stay with family. And that was how Lila’s reign over the class was ended by accident.
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inseongsfoxybae · 4 years ago
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Fireworks
Pairing: Hwiyoung + Female Reader; friends to lovers
Genre: Fluff
Warnings: None
Words: +1,6k
Requested by @geminirules​: This is the first I ask for a request from you Blue!🥰 I was wondering if I can have a request with Hwiyoung where him and the reader are on their first date together in the amusement park, please? 🥺 Thank you so much love you lots! x
Author’s message: Hey, baby! Your request made me so soft and in love and I really had a great time working on it. Now, it’ here and I hope you like it and feel free to send in more requests later 🥰 Love you too, Luna ❤️ Foxy kisses 😘
P.S: As english is not my mother language, it may contain misspelled. Also, sorry for any other mistakes :)
Synopsis: After keeping your feeling just to yourselves, you and Hwiyoung finally had the chance to take one step further in a lovely and funny way to enjoy each other. 
so precious 🥺
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You were close friends with Hwiyoung. Best friends. More than friends, maybe. But not valentines.
None of you went out on dates or flirted around. You knew he liked you, he knew you liked him and everyone knew you liked each other. But the two of you were too shy to take the first step to turn this into something more. 
Although you used to be together all the time, it was always working or studying or just doing nothings in a bookstore, each one minding your own business. 
In an afternoon, when the two of you were working together, heads very close to each other and hands touching, Hwiyoung looked at you and got the courage to go further.
“Do you have plans for saturday?”, he asked in a low tone, his eyes meeting yours for a moment. 
“No, I’m free. Why?”, you answered not really understanding his intentions. 
“Wanna go on a date with me?”, he spat his words so fast you almost didn’t get it. 
But you did. You clearly understood every single letter he just said to you. For a moment, you couldn’t believe what your ears just heard, your confused mind running  hysterically, unable to form a decent sentence as response. 
“Earth calling Y/N”, Hwiyoung waved one hand right in front of your frozen wide eyes. He looked a little nervous, maybe embarrassed, as if he regretted what he said.
“Yes”, you said a little too excited, your hands shaking and voice cracking. Oh, my god. Kim Hwiyoung asked me out finally, a voice screamed into your head. You locked your eyes with Hwiyoung’s and repeated. “Yes… I want to go on a date with you”, you tried to answer calmly, but you were sure he could hear your heart pounding hard into your chest. 
Hwiyoung smiled, that sweet gummy smile that always made you melt, and you couldn’t help grinning too, soft giggles following, as you felt your cheeks burn at an unknown happiness. 
~
Sunlight broke into your room through your thin curtains, signaling that a new day was beginning. But it wouldn’t be like any other day, because today, specially and unexpectedly, you and Hwiyoung were going on a date. After more than a year keeping your feelings just for yourselves, this moment was really happening. 
You jumped out your bed and walked into your closet to carefully choose the perfect outfit. Hwiyoung hadn’t told you where you would spend the day, but you wanted to give him a good impression and show all your beauty and cuteness. You picked some shorts and a shirt that matched with your favourite sneakers - cute and simple clothes that made you pretty and comfortable. 
Hwiyoung picked you up at 10a.m and you had breakfast together in a cozy café, but he still didn’t tell you where you were going after that. “It's a surprise and I’m sure you’ll love it”, he winked and you laughed, getting more excited at every minute. 
Hwiyoung drove you to a place a little far from the city. The road side was beautiful, with flowers and trees all around, matching perfectly with the bright sun up there. 
You were so amazed with nature, that you didn't realize where he was taking you till he parked at a place you didn’t know it. You two got out of the car and your heart raced faster when you found out you were spending your day in an amusement park.
Your parents used to take you to this amusement park when you were a child and you loved playing around and ate junk foods. It was a long time since the last time you were here and it brought up great memories from you. 
“I bought the tickets online. Let’s go”, Hwiyoung grabbed your hand and led you to the entrance. You felt like exploding, but you didn’t know if it was because of your excitement of being here or because of the warmth of his hands on yours. 
Both of you were like children in an amusement park for the first time, grinning and laughing non-stop. “Where do you want to go first?”, Hwiyoung asked and you said you wanted to start it slow and decided to go on the bumper car. “Is this slow for you?”, he wondered, but went with you and of course he enjoyed it as well.
And it was like that throughout the day: Hwiyoung always asked you to choose the next attraction to play. Also, he paid for all the junk food you had and won a stuffed unicorn for you. 
When the sunset was approaching and the park was getting more alive with its beautiful lights, Hwiyoung said he wanted to go on more two attractions - the carousel and the beautiful ferris wheel on the center of the park. 
His eyes met yours and got stuck on them, his gaze was deep as you felt your legs getting weak. You could get lost in his look, could give yourself to him effortlessly. Right there in that moment, you wanted to be his.
Hwiyoung took your hand and his thumb caressed your palm before leading you to the carousel, where you sat on horses right next to each other. When it started to spin, you glanced at him and caught him looking at you, but it was not any look, it was like he was in trance, it was like he was in love. 
You felt your cheeks burn but didn’t look away and both of you kept staring at each other, light smiles gracing your faces as you got lost in the words your eyes spoke. 
When the carousel stopped, Hwiyoung helped you to get off your horse, his hands lingering longer on your waist as you held out on his broad shoulders, eyes locked. “Let’s go to the last one”, he mumbled as you stared at his mouth, falling deeper and deeper for him. You nodded and he guided you to the ferris wheel. 
It was the main attraction of the amusement park, so you had to wait a little on the line while sharing a cotton candy. “Do you know what they say about this ferris wheel?”, you heard a girl talking behind you. As the other person said no, she continued. “If a couple kissed at the uppermost, their fate is to be together forever”. 
Hwiyoung choked at her words, but tried to play cool when you looked at him. Suddenly, he seemed nervous, his hand was sweaty when he took yours to enter the cabin. You sat next to each other, knees touching, but looking forward. You heard Hwiyoung taking deep breaths to calm down as you stared at your lap. 
“Y/N,”, he called you, his voice only above a whisper, “can I hold your hand?”. You nodded and Hwiyoung carefully took your little palm in his, squeezing it a bit. “I like the way our hands fit together”, he softly murmured, analyzing your sweet connection. “And I like how soft your hands are”, his index finger drawing slow patterns on your palm.
You lifted your head and your eyes met, a loving warmth feeling the cool air inside the cabin. “You’re beautiful”, he confessed without breaking your gaze. You smiled, melting by his side, as the two of you got closer and closer, faces just inches apart. 
But you took too long staring at each other and you were about to seal your lips, it was time to leave the cabin. You were visibly disappointed and Hwiyoung chuckled when he saw your little pout. “Don’t worry. There’s one more place for us to go”, he reassured you, placing a hand on your low back and guiding you to the little lake of the park, where a crowd waited for something. 
“What-”, your question was interrupted by an explosion and you looked up at the sky, the black frame being colored by hundreds of colors as fireworks lightened up the night. “WOW… THAT’S SO BEAUTIFUL”, you exclaimed with a wide grin. Hwiyoung was right by your side, but his eyes were fixed on you, his lips curling up in a loving smile and, in that moment, he was sure he wanted you. 
The next thing you felt was Hwiyoung’s strong arms wrapping around your waist, pulling you closer to him, embracing you tight as you instinctively hugged him back. He inhaled deeply the sweet scent of your hair, his nose running through your soft strands. He broke the hug and looked at your illuminated face, pressing your foreheads together. 
“I like your scent”, he said loud enough for only you to hear. “I like the warmth of your body close to mine”, he leaned back a little to meet your eyes. “And I like you”, he completed and you could feel yourself turning into a puddle between his arms. 
He kept looking at you, his gaze loving and cloudy as he waited for a movement yours. You moved your arms to his shoulders and neck, trying to take more of his warmth, getting your faces closer and noses touching slightly. 
“I like you too”, you mumbled against his lips and closed the little distance between both of you, kissing him softly but passionately. Hwiyoung immediately kissed you back, his hands roaming through your back as he deepened the kiss. 
When you were like this - together, very close to each other, lips moving in sync -, it was like there was only you and Hwiyoung and that little moment in the world. There were no words, no songs, no pics able to beat your feelings right now. 
You felt like about to explode in thousands of pieces of love and devotion. Hwiyoung, of course, felt the same way. Your hearts were beating fast as one into your chests, your breaths were being shared to one another. 
The fireworks were exploding up there, but you knew your heart was shooting tons and tons of love pounder into your veins that make you feel just like the sky in this moment. And none of you wanted this beautiful show to stop. 
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schrijverr · 4 years ago
Text
And finally see what it means to be living
Eliot’s life, from his teen years to the disillusionment of the military through the soulless wetwork all the way to his team, seen through his connection to the song Fast Carby Tracy Chapman.
On AO3.
Ships: none
Warnings: none, but tell me if I missed any
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eliot remembered being a teen, lying on the grass in the middle of the night, having snuck out with a radio with as excuse to his father that he was with a lady friend. That was if he even cared to ask, which was never the case, but just to be safe.
He remembered one night in particular, the one that made him come back out there with the radio each night, hoping they would play the song he wished to hear most as he lay under the galaxy, wishing he was far away, among the stars.
It had been a bright night with clear skies, a full moon and a million stars in the sky. He was lying on his blanket, some radio station played that he tuned out most of the time. Then the radio announcer had said: “Next up is Fast Carby Tracy Chapman, gotta warn y’all it’s one for the heart.” And somehow it had gotten his attention and he’d listened.
He’d listened, yet somehow he’d felt heard.
Right there on the radio had been someone, who was stuck in a town as well, with a shit father, who wanted nothing more than to live and get out.
While he had nobody but himself to get him out of there, the song gave him hope. He hadn’t heard the full lyrics, but enough to hit home. The radio announcer had been right when he’d said it was one for the heart.
You got a fast car And I got a plan to get us out of here I been working at the convenience store Managed to save just a little bit of money We won't have to drive too far Just 'cross the border and into the city You and I can both get jobs And finally see what it means to be living
He found himself humming the song, singing the second verse under his breath the next day, letting the feeling of the song build up in his chest and carry him through the day as plans of getting away swirled in his mind.
Even now he knew that his best out was either a sports scholarship or the military and he wasn’t a college man. He also knew that his father would never let him join, so he’d have to wait until he was eighteen before flying away.
While he might not have a fast car, he and a few of his buddies had boosted one often enough that he could find one when the time came, he just had to get there first. Just until he was eighteen, then he was out of there and far away, for now he would just work at the hardware store and save the money to get out of here.
Anxiously, he had waited until he could sneak out again after that night, tuning into the same radio station, hoping it would be played again.
They didn’t play the song the first night, nor the one after that, but the third night they did. He was sitting next to the radio, armed with a tape recorder that he smashed on the moment the announcer introduced the song.
Afterwards, he played the song so often on his Walkman that the tape wore down until he had to record it onto a new one.
The late nights under the stars, alone with his dreams, stayed. He still played the radio on the same station that had first played Fast Car, but he often found himself listening to the tape, repeating it until he had enough peace to rest.
His mind got stuck on the first part of the song after a while:
You got a fast car I want a ticket to anywhere Maybe we make a deal Maybe together we can get somewhere Any place is better Starting from zero got nothing to lose Maybe we'll make something But me myself I got nothing to prove
He repeated the words to himself, alone in his room or in the safety in his mind whenever the world got too much. Well, his dad got too much.
Then he would just grit his teeth and tell himself that he had nothing to prove and that any place would be better, he just had to go somewhere. Didn’t matter that he started at zero, just like her, he would live.
Just a year more then he’d be eighteen.
Eliot had never belonged in that small stuffy town, no matter how well he played his part. He was never that into football or the girls at the school. He went through the motions, but wasn’t built for settling down, for taking over the store and staying there forever.
For a while he thought that Aimee got that, that she got him and that they would achieve the dream together and get away from the town where everyone knew everyone and the only good thing were the horses.
She was also done with some of the people at school, though she went to church and she loved the horses and maybe he should have thought more about it when he mentioned leaving and she stayed quiet, but he wanted to get out so bad that he couldn't imagine anyone wanting to stay.
So, slowly he started to picture them, in a car – maybe even one he’d bought – driving on the highway, the town disappearing the rear view mirror as they went off to see what it meant to be living.
It was a dream that got crushed.
Aimee wanted him to stay, tried to talk of the horses and what they could built and he’d just listened dumbly and nodded.
Faintly he heard himself making her a promise about coming back then and giving her the ring he’d bought for her birthday, hoping to make it real in a church that was not run by the same Father he’d been forced to confess his sins to since he was a boy.
And he wondered how he had ended up there when he had always told her about his dream of being far away.
But then again, maybe he hadn’t told her. Maybe to her, he was complaining about the town just like she did, like everyone did. Maybe in her mind she had built a future like he had, just on a different set, cast in different rolls. Maybe neither had said enough.
He snuck out again that night and laid in the field, his field. He lay on the wet grass and stared at the constellations he knew so well, wondering why the endless sky suddenly seemed less a place of escape and just another facet of his stupid town where everyone but him seemed to want to stay.
His mind was just not comprehending how anyone couldn't see there was so much more than what was around them. That there was more than church on Sunday, the footballs games, the potlucks or the gossip that had been recycled a thousand times.
On the tape Tracy Chapman sang:
You got a fast car But is it fast enough so we can fly away We gotta make a decision We leave tonight or live and die this way
He’d heard the lyrics a million times, but that night it was those lyrics that hit him in the heart, more than it usually did.
Aimee was a fool. He had a fast car, he could get out, fly away, just a few more days and he’d be gone. If she didn’t want to come that was her decision and that was fine, but it didn’t have to be Eliot’s. He wouldn’t remain here.
He would not.
‘Weleave tonight or live and die this way’ that’s what Tracy sung and he’d already known on that night when he’d first heard the song that he would be driving off alone. He had tricked himself into thinking Aimee would come, but there had never been a we. Not for Eliot.
So on the night of his eighteenth birthday, he told his dad he was enlisting and fought with him, trying not to think of the lyrics ‘somebody’s got to take care of him,’ because even Tracy had seen she’d deserved better.
Still, even after he packed the last of his stuff, he swung by Aimee, asking her again, more urgent, more permanent, before promising he’d back for her. In case she needed him or if she’d changed her mind.
Then he was gone, off into the sunset. And as he tore down the highway, a tune blasted out of the radio.
I remember we were driving driving in your car The speed so fast I felt like I was drunk City lights lay out before us And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder And I had a feeling that I belonged And I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
And his foot on the gas peddle was intoxicating. He was going so fast that it was dangerous, but he didn’t care. He was riding to his future, to far off places and adventures. He was going to be someone.
That idea lasted approximately the ten weeks it took to train them, before shipping them out to an active war zone.
Though it had been chipped at relentlessly before already. Quite hard to be a someone in a cohesive unit. Not that it mattered to Eliot, he had a place to belong now, while his dream hadn’t matched Tracy’s, he was glad she had gotten him to this, with his brother’s in arms, even through all the horrors.
Yet, despite all she’d done for him, he forgot her and Fast Car.
There was not much room to listen to your own music and he was already a country hick, so he didn’t really need to amplify that more with a country music station.
He was fine fitting in the way he did. He wrote to Aimee, even if it was less and less, letters filled with empty promises made out of a sense of obligation to her and home. He didn’t speak to his father, nor his siblings. He stayed far away from everyone as his hands colored a dark red on foreign soil.
His bright and promising military career soon turned into a promotion to black ops where he didn’t exist to the government unless he came back.
The color of his hands didn’t change, it just got more pigmented as it dripped until wetwork was just a step to a better future. He had already killed so many people, getting paid almost nothing for a government that didn’t care. Why not do it for more money?
So, he had emptied his soul, filled it with money he didn’t truly need and more enemies around him, hoping it would be enough.
He had disappeared completely.
Eliot Spencer was no more, not really.
The man might still walk the earth, but anyone who met him didn’t live to tell the tale, so friendship was hard to come by. Maybe that’s why Moreau was such a welcome change in his life. There was a man, who might be powerful, but who would never have enough security against Eliot, smiling at him and offering him friendship – with money and a bit of violence thrown in – like Eliot was just another being he could own.
And by god did Eliot want to be owned. He once more longed to belong like he had done in the army, but he no longer was innocent enough for the army, which was an ironic sentiment that was true enough to hurt.
He had walked through pools of blood he had made, hoping no one would follow the bloody footsteps he left behind, but here there were others, who had walked through the same red sea as he had and who found each other under Moreau.
It was brutal work, soulless too. It was nothing more than destruction in exchange for power that was a fire with no ash left behind, just bare rock where nothing grew.
And Eliot was home.
Later, in a future he didn’t know he could have, when feeling returned to his limbs and he saw how his pools of blood had turned into seas had turned into floods and it was too late to turn back. Only then would he look back and hate himself, but not now.
Now Eliot was on top of the world. Sitting at the side of the most feared and most powerful of the underbelly of the underbelly, while remaining in an bright spotlight was the best place to be. He was untouchable and unfeeling.
He had always been weak for belonging, for seeing the world and making someone of himself and Moreau was the best salesman there was. He sold Eliot a unfulfilled dream with labor for Moreau as payment without the hitter every realizing.
So he went through the motions. He got more skills, he learned new things. He stopped enjoying life, though he would only later come to know that.
Eliot Spencer had disappeared under Moreau and not just from the records. He was no longer the boythat had driven out of a small town in Oklahoma to sign up for the army in the hope of being more than his neighbor.
Though, he supposed he had his dream. In a way. Here he was, more traveled than he could have ever hoped for with experiences so far from the norm that no one from his class could have ever matched his tales.
He had become what he had always dreamed to be, so why did he feel so hollow?
The answer came to him in the most horrific way he could imagine. He’d just pulled the trigger, he kept on doing it like he was supposed to but oh god- he’d done that. He killed them and he hadn’t even given them the time to beg, to spark humanity in his heart, because his heart had died long ago.
He needed to get out.
He needed to get far away from there.
From Moreau.
Why it had to be so extreme before he could finally see, he didn’t know. But it had. It had to get terrible, unforgivable. He had to see that the man he had been and wanted to be, was dead and that he was a devil with no chance at salvation.
As a hollow shell he’d ran. For a long time he had wondered if it was worth it to keep running, but slowly the people who chased him dwindled as less and less returned, until he knew he had been given a second chance. A chance to make it right.
It was Toby, who hammered in that lesson. The man might not have knownEliot’s complete tale, but he was familiar with the haunted look in his eyes, so he took Eliot under his wing and showed him how his hands were made for more than violence.
Eliot laid his guns down there and took up a knife, vowing to only fight where he could get hit in return, level the playing field. He’d never liked the power that came with a gun and now he wouldn't pick one up again to be tempted by that voice.
He wouldn't be that man anymore. He refused. He would stay in Toby’s kitchen for now, figure out a plan that would carry him forwards as a better person. Not good, just better.
So it came to be that, one night, when he was alone in the kitchen, slicing up some onions for the prep for the next day, while tune played on the radio.
At first he hadn’t even recognized it, but still he listenedclosely, now scoffing at some of the lyrics, until one of the last verses played.
You got a fast car And I got a job that pays all our bills You stay out drinking late at the bar See more of your friends than you do of your kids I'd always hoped for better Thought maybe together you and me would find it I got no plans I ain't going nowhere So take your fast car and keep on driving
How ironic, he thought. He had always been so focused on the start of the song, on the getting out and leaving everything behind that he had never fully listened to the ending. To the fact that Tracy never got the ending she’d wanted.
He’d been stupid to think he’d ever get a happy ending. He’d been far less deserving off it and fate was never kind. He always prided himself on knowing better, but he’d been more foolish than anyone in his class.
‘I’d always hoped for better.’
And by god, he had. He had wanted so much, dreamed so big and set goals so unobtainable that he would always have keep on climbing.
So maybe he had never been Tracy, maybe he’d been the dick that had promised her the world and then never delivered. He thought of Aimee and how he had never been a settler, but someone that kept on disappointing and leaving.
The far car had not always been a car in his life, but he had always been on the road, always had been going somewhere, or maybe he’d just been running away.
Maybe now he had stopped running? Though, if he hadn’t been running, he’d been hiding. Here in Toby’s kitchen he had made a little haven away from everyone that had hurt him and that he had hurt. And he didn’t deserve that. Not after what he did.
Eliot made a vow to himself that night, listening to Fast Carin the back of a restaurant, both reminiscent and nothing like when he had first heard it. He would leave there and face the world, never kill again, just survive and try to do better.
He could at least try to do better.
So, he said goodbye to Toby and went off into the world. Toby wouldn’t go anywhere, but Eliot had to. He would remember Toby, however, carry him with him whenever he ate a new dish or went on a grift as a cook. It was a good time, one of the best he’d had since the army, maybe even since Aimee.
Still, he didn’t look back, not to her or Toby. He had things to do, people to help, as well as himself a bit. All of his funds from working from Moreau had disappeared and he needed to survive if he wanted to repent.
Somehow that road led him to a prick named Nate Ford and a job to get the plans of a plane back. It led him to Hardison, a nerd he liked more than he wanted to admit, and Parker, who made him smile with her antics as well as give him heart problems. It led him to Sophie, who had so many masks that he could relate to her and feel safe in his nobody-ness.
It led him to a team, more than a team really. After a while it reminded him of the army with all his brothers, family was closer, but he had no reference for family, except them.
Even Aimee told him they were, because he’d come back to help her when she needed him and part of him felt lighter on that promise fulfilled. It felt like a start. Not a new start, because it would never be fair to everyone he’d hurt to erase those sins like that, but it felt like he had a bucket and soap and the color of his hands might fade to a light pink one day.
And Eliot worked.
He pushed himself into more grifting, learned a bit of hacking, scaled building hanging from a tiny rope and learned to think of more than just strategic exits and weaknesses in physique. He completed the jobs they were hired to do and he helped people.
What he had dreamed off when he had first joined the army, he found at Leverage. He found family, a home, a sense of duty and belonging. He was changing the world for the better.
It was amazing and more than he had ever hoped for himself, even on those nights alone with the radio, he couldn't have hoped it would end like this. He was someone. He practically had his own brewpub and a recent memory he could be proud off.
And he was proud as he reminisced alone in the kitchen of their office/apartment, where he was preparing some stuff for dinner for the next day. It was late and once this was done and in the fridge, he was done for today, but it would take a few more minutes.
Impulsively he put on the song on the speakers like Hardison had showed him. He hadn’t listen again since Toby, when he blamed himself and found himself on the other end of the song, but maybe now it would be different.
You got a fast car And we go cruising to entertain ourselves You still ain't got a job And I work in a market as a checkout girl I know things will get better You'll find work and I'll get promoted We'll move out of the shelter Buy a big house and live in the suburbs
Before he had never related to her dreams, just her drive to get away and make something of herself, but he could understand now. If he ever got too old for his job, then he wouldn't mind living the way he was now, with Hardison and Parker in the brewpub, making his own menu’s, serving people food.
He knew that for Tracy, she had to tell someone to leave, before she could make a move to get there. Still, he liked the verse now more than before. It spoke of a hope, of a view of the future and a certainty about the destination.
The lyrics he had scoffed at when he had just left Moreau, were dear to him now. ‘I know things will get better,’ it was stupid, but maybe- maybe Eliot could believe in that too now.
Without thinking, he put the song on repeat, before gathering the supplies for his marinade as he danced a bit around in the kitchen. It wasn’t as if there was anyone to catch him.
So, he remembered the stupid boy he had been, the heartless man who had forgotten and guy he was becoming now. Until the end of the song:
You got a fast car But is it fast enough so you can fly away You gotta make a decision You leave tonight or live and die this way
And it wasn’t the way the lyric was intended to land and Eliot’s life had went down a way different road than Tracy’s, but those lyrics where him.
He had a thousand ways to leave and had left a thousand more. He could fly away if he wanted, but it was in the fact that he had run that he had found strength. He was no longer a faceless soldier in the army or Moreau’s attack dog. He was Eliot Spencer and he was alive.
There had been a million moments when he could have made a different decision, but he hadn’t and even when it seemed he had been running away all his life, maybe he’d just been running towards this instead.
‘Leave tonight or live and die this way.’
Huh, he wouldn't mind dying for these people, he wouldn't mind living for these people. He was content to be and never leave. All those times he’d snuck out and dreamed, he had never dreamed here, but he was someone and he had found a place to belong.
So he made the decision and stayed. Till his dying day and all that.
~~
A/N:
I love Christian Kane’s cover of Fast Car so much and I played in on repeat while writing this. The original version of the song also still has a soft place in my heart though.
((the song is not in order and some parts are missing, but you know, you don’t always learn a song in the right order and other parts speak to you at different times))
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tomtenadia · 4 years ago
Text
Island dreams
Ok, I had a moment of inspiration and i started planning a long fic... a Rowaelin Modern AU... set in Scotland. I am from Scotland so I am biased and also i love, adore the Outer Hebrides which is the location of the fic. They are amazing, incredible islands on the west of Scotland that stole my heart a few years ago.
Also, in my head in Modern AU Rowan is Scottish. There is nothing that will change my mind to do that.
Anyway... I haven’t written a long in a very long time and it’s a terrifying idea. but it just popped in my head and I had a feeling that I had to write it.
On the islands Gaelic is stilll spoken and I will use it from time to time in the fic. I hope it’s grammatically correct. It’s been year since I studied it and I am rusty. I will add a translation.
So here’s the story
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Aelin is a successful doctor in London but her life in the last year has started to take an unhappy turn and she feels overwhelmed. So one day she decides to take a break from her life, book a plane to Scotland and head off to the islands in search of peace and herself as well.
Rowan has a bookstore in Stornoway, the main town in the Isle of Lewis.
Aelin is a bookworm and her first mission once in Stornoway is to find a bookstore.
Have fun reading it....
Chapter 1
Aelin was on the deck of the ferry. The frigid wind was savage against her cheeks. She tugged closer her jacket and a shiver ran down her spine. She was freezing but she had no intentions to get back inside the ferry. She had left Ullapool early that morning on her way to Stornoway on the isle of Lewis.
She needed a getaway. An escape from the busy life in London and from the bad turn her life had taken. 
Without thinking, she went to grab the ring that was at her fourth finger on her left hand to then quickly realise it was not there anymore. And then remembered the reason why the band was missing. The nasty divorce she just had to go through was another reason, if not the main one, for the fact the she had now been on a ferry for almost two hours and a half.
The landscape had been breathtaking, other reason for why she was braving the cold. Once departed Ullapool, all around her there were mountains and the raw wilderness of the landscape tugged at something hidden in her. She was born and bred in London and skyscrapers, traffic and noise was all she knew. She realised she craved this: the stillness, the peace, the silence, nature.
In front of her the sea stretched peacefully and she was glad the sailing had been smooth that day. It seemed like the west of Scotland was welcoming her with a beautiful sunny day, apparently something quite unusual according to some of the people she heard speaking. The Minch, that was the name of the stretch of sea that separated mainland Scotland from the Outer Hebrides.
At the horizon she noticed land appear timidly and a big smile spread on her face. She was almost there. Her new adventure was about to start. She had taken a sabbatical from work and from her life and decided to go away. She had always been fascinated by Scotland but never had the chance to visit, albeit from London it was only an hour away by plane. So, one day she booked a one way plane ticket to Glasgow, rented a car at the airport and slowly and leisurely started to make her way north.
She had taken her time and the journey took her a week and she was already in love with the West coast of Scotland.
While in London she had bought a guide to Scotland and started doing some research and she had been fascinated by the chapter about the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides. Now she was dying to get off the boat and start exploring and living the island life. 
Over the tannoy she heard the crew announcing they were approaching land. She grabbed her rucksack and made her way down below and waited in queue near the stairs to get to the car deck. She felt giddy. She hasn’t been this giddy in… she couldn’t even remember last time she had felt like this, or if she ever that way at all.
The boat was finally berthed and all tucked in at the pier and a crew member advised the car drivers that they could now access the car deck.
She went to her car and looking ahead she noticed the bow slowly opening to let the cars out. It was her first time on a ferry and even the mere disembarkation process was fascinating. 
One by one all the cars in front of her were directed by the car deck crew to exit and once she was out she took her phone and set up her GPS. She had rented a place for a while and according to the landlord’s directions, once out of the terminal she had to turn right and at the junction turn right again. Her place was one of the many small detached houses along the bay. She fell in love with the house almost immediately when she saw the pictures on the ad online. It had an amazing view of the marina from the bedroom window according to the images and the description. She drove for 5 minutes and the voice told her she had arrived. She parked in the driveway and got off the car and stared at her new place for the time being. The house was painted a very light blue, a small garden at the front and a lovely blue door as a final touch. She grabbed the keys from the secret place she was told and made her way inside the building.
The house was modern and cozy. The owner clearly looked after the property and it actually felt like home. The living room had a big sofa and against the walls a couple of bookcases filled with books. She made a mental note to browse the titles later on. She wanted to explore the house first.
She moved to the next room and found the kitchen. A wonderful wooden and rustic kitchen with a big window that made the light filter in the room. In the middle a wooden table and a couple of chairs. The whole placed smelled like a forest. Her tour took her upstairs to the bedroom and the connected bathroom. The room was quite huge and had a nice king size bed again all made of wood. Childishly she let herself fall on the bed and it was amazing. The bathroom had a big shower room and again was quite modern with wood finish everywhere. The owner definitely loved the rustic style and she was not complaining. It was perfection and she already felt at home.
Her telephone rang breaking the peace and she smiled when she noticed it was her best friend Lysandra. She had been giving her a day to day account of her adventure with a massive amount of photos as well.
“I love it.” She exclaimed excited, sitting on the comfy chair at the opposite side of the bed.
“What?” Asked the woman on the other side of the line. 
“This place. I just got into the house I rented and Lys, this place is marvellous. And the town… I have only seen the marina but I can so, see myself staying here.”
“And abandon London forever?” The woman sounded quite sad.
“You are the only person I would really miss, you know that.”
“Gee, I am touched.”
“Lys… the last year… well you know.” Aelin took a deep breath and lounged deeper on the chair.
“I know darling, I know. I didn’t mean that. I miss you. But I know that you needed this. You haven’t been yourself in a while.” Lysandra replied with a loving tone.
She and Lysandra had been best friends since uni. They went through med school and did their internship together and after they finished they were lucky enough to get to work in the same hospital. They both had raised the ranks pretty quickly and Lysandra had become a kickass orthopaedic surgeon and Aelin had ventured into cardio thoracic surgery. She was good at her job and loved it deeply but the last year had been literally hell for her.
She had been robbed of the chance of becoming head of the department because they gave the position to the son of the current head of the department. And that’s when she started to loose the will to do her job. She kept going on for the patients.
Then Chaol happened and their nasty divorce. Married five years and then months spent battling for divorce and papers and courts and lawyers. He told her she loved her job more than him. They fought. He told her she had changed and she was not anymore the person he married. Then he left her for another woman. As a present she had served him with divorce papers.
She heard Lysandra’s voice and realised she was woolgathering.
“What?”
“I was saying that your ex was in the A&E yesterday, with his new woman.”
“What did he do?”
“Looks like he was horse riding with her and he took a bad fall. His right leg was a big mess and I need to fix it now.” Lysandra paused for a moment “I hope it’s ok.”
“Of course Lys. He is a patient.” Aelin admitted quickly. She hated him but not to the point that she wished him to be denied care.
“He…” Lysandra was hesitant “He asked me about you.” Then she heard her friend laugh “I told her that you were off, taking a break gallivanting around Scotland and making legions of scotsmen fall in love and at you feet professing their undying love to you.”
Aelin laughed out loud at the joke.
“Leave some for me by the way…”
“What about Aedion? I thought you had the hots for him.” Aelin stood and walked to the window and opened it to let the sea breeze come in.
“I do, but I can’t be always the one to make the first move. I gave him a few very clear hints. Now it’s his turn.”
“Poor man.”
“Poor me.”
Aelin heard in the background the sound of a pager.
“Is that yours?”
“Damn yes, Ae, I gotta go. Send me loads of pictures. Love you.”
Lysandra hung up and Aelin stared at the window. The bay was peaceful, with sounds of seagulls and people going about their lives. She smiled and decided it was time to explore and most of all grab some food. She was starving. On the map she spotted a big Tesco nearby perfect for grocery shopping.
She took her backpack and left on foot. No car needed for now, she wanted to see the centre of the town.
She followed the same road she came from the terminal and saw on the corner an interesting building with huge windows and she walked toward it. She arrived and noticed it was called An Lanntair, apparently a community and arts centre with a cinema as well. She entered the place and straight in front of her she noticed a corner selling books and souvenirs. She rushed to the books. Some of them were in the other language spoken on the islands which she had learned was called Gaelic and that still quite a few people spoke. The books were interesting but not enough. She moved to one of the ladies at the counter.
“Hi, I am new here. I arrived this morning and I am out exploring. Do you happen to have a bookshop around here?”
The lady smiled warmly at her “Aye, lass…  just go out here and then right on Cromwell st. and then right again. Rowan has a lovely bookshop. He is quite good and always has interesting titles. Down the road we also have a public library if you are moving here. Not as good as Rowan’s place but still worth visiting.”
“Thank you.” Aelin greeted the woman and left, curious to visit this bookstore.
She followed the directions and there it was. In front of her stood the bookstore. It had three windows, she moved closer and noticed that the main window and it had a very lovely display of children’s books with all the stories from Roald Dahl. She smiled. She loved Roald Dahl. She looked up and noticed the name of the shop “Aislingean pàipeir”. It must have been in Gaelic because she had no idea what it meant. A good excuse to chat with the owner.
She entered the shop and the doorbell rang alerting the owner of her presence. She reached the counter but no one was there. “Hello?” She called out looking around for a sign of life.
“Hi, anyone here? The door was open.”
“Tha mi a ’tighinn a-nis” said a deep voice from a corner of the shop.
The man, Rowan she assumed appeared and she almost forgot how to breathe.
He was tall. A good 1.80m, silver hair and short and eyes of the deepest green. His skin looked tanned and he had a nice healthy build. He was one of the most gorgeous man she had ever seen.
“You must be Rowan.”
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Gaelic:
Tha mi a ’tighinn a-nis - I am coming now
Aislingean pàipeir - paper dreams. ( I know the name of the shop is probably lousy...sorry...)
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