#and getting to spend time with my mom too!

[wolfertinger666]

update on me:

I don't want to be a burden but ever since i left my mom's cult 4 years ago, I've been feeling quite isolated and because of the cult I had a hard time keeping actual friends from school along with moving from home state.

I am quite isolated cuz there is nobody I know here, I am disabled mentally as well but I can feel my physical health getting worse each day too. I get random aches and flare ups a lot(it's a lil harder to draw). along with the fact we are basically poor so I only eat once a day, three meals if I'm lucky. I had to stop medication and I don't see my psychiatrist until next month.

and monthly benefits I receive almost all of it gets taken from me by my mom who neglects me as well.

I kinda don't see things getting better and will probably spend a lonely birthday in two months.

sorry if this is depressing, just wanted to update everyone.

[ggidolsmuts]

Good Girls in the Dark - Choi Yena

"Hello, I'm Choi Yena, nice to meet you!"

"Omo son why didn't you tell us your girlfriend is so pretty?! Come in come in!" Your mom quickly leads Yena into your home, who's already locking arms with her. "Finally you bring someone back for Chuseok!" she looks back at you and admonishes. You simply shake your head and follow them in.

"You look so young, I thought you were oppa's sister!"

"Oh stop it, you have such a sweet tongue!" 

Yena's a good girl.

At least, that was your initial impression when you met her for the first time—it was supposed to be a Yuehua flex, having Yena drop by to say hi, to congratulate everyone on the successful joint project between Yuehua and your company. Mindful and demure, she was considerate of everyone, smiling and greeting all of you like the energetic idol she is.

True to her energy, she insisted you all go to a club for the afterparty, but the group soon diffuses into the crowd—some people left almost immediately, others stayed for a few drinks, and yet more broke off into their cliques. You try to sneak out too, until Yena somehow gets a hold of you, pulling you into a dark corner of the club. She has a drink in hand, but by now it is empty save for a few drops of whatever she had.

"Why do you keep looking at me?" she demands to know.

"What? I haven't!"

"Don't lie, I saw you sneaking looks." You were, but you didn't think Yena would notice, that you would just blend in with your co-workers.

"How would you know?" you fire back.

"Because I've been looking at you too." It must be the alcohol in Yena talking, for she smashes her lips into yours, tongue immediately pushing into your mouth. She does have a sweet tongue. "Can I trust you?"

"You should have asked me that before you kissed me."

"Oops, oh well. Now answer the question."

"Yes."

"Good, I don't want to go home tonight," she breathes into your ear.

Yena's a good girl in the dark.

"So how did you two meet?" your dad asks during dinner.

"At work! I was at an event for our company, and he was there! He was very nice to me."

"That's all it took? My son is good!"

"Dad don't," you mutter, shaking your head and leaving the table carrying your dishes. At least Yena didn't say it started with a hookup, or your parents would have had an aneurysm. The one night stands became more frequent, and your apartment became a place for stress relief for Yena.

Over time the two of you ended up spending equal amounts of time talking and fucking, and both of you finally gathered the courage to give in to your feelings and agree to start dating—to be fair, neither of you were seeing anyone else anyways, so exclusivity wasn't a discussion that needed to be had. Ironically the dating aspect wasn't really a thing either—Yena was an idol, so any dates you two had were just at your place.

"What? Our son is so charming, he found a celebrity girlfriend! And she eats so much too, I thought you would be dieting or something, I was afraid I made too much!" you hear your mum say.

"No no, that's just a stereotype, I eat more than he does!"

"That's great, you eat so well!"

Yena's a good girl.

~~

"Fuck, you eat me so well," you moan as Yena slurps you, tongue running up the underside of your shaft. It's early in the morning, the sunlight just peeking through the curtains. You can barely make out the shape of Yena in your sleepy haze, but you can definitely identify her by her tongue and hands.

"Because your cum is so delicious!" she says as she strokes you, eager for her morning cum-ffee. "I can see some of it already!" She licks your tip, swiping up the dripping precum. Yena's hungry for more, and she goes deep on your cock, taking all of it in easily. The loud sloppy noises she makes are the lewdest alarm sounds you've ever heard, and your favorite by far.

"Oh fuck, Yena, I'm gonna cum!" There is no holding back your orgasm, and your hand finds itself in her hair, pushing her down like she was an alarm clock. You thrust up involuntarily, and Yena hums as you hit the roof of her mouth, feeling you surrender in the form of a thick morning load sliding down her throat. Yena's eyeing you as you come down from your peak, making sure you're fully drained before she let's you go with a pop.

"Thanks, I gotta go now."

"Wait, I need something for the morning too no?" You wiggle your eyebrows and Yena laughs.

"I suppose I can spare a few minutes," she sighs theatrically and slides up your body. You expect her to remove her pants and underwear, but she's already naked from the waist down.

"Tch, you were expecting it weren't you?"

"I knew you would repay the favor." She pushes herself onto your face.

Yena's a good girl in the dark.

~~

"Auntie, do you need help with the dishes?"

"Oh no no no you're the guest, you can't be helping with the dishes!"

"I don't mind, besides it makes the dishes go by faster!"

"You see son, why can't you be more like Yena?"

"I live by myself, I do the dishes back home already!"

"I don't care, come help us with the dishes or else!" your mom threatens.

"Fine."

"God it's like I have to beg you to do the dishes, at least Yena's so polite and well-mannered, offering to help!"

Yena's a good girl.

~~

"Please sir."

"What do you want me to do Yena?" you ask the naked idol bent over your lap.

"Spank me."

"What's the magic word?"

"Please spank me." You reward her with a hearty slap across her ass, watching it jiggle and turn red. Yena yelps before thanking you.

"Good." You rub her cheek to soothe her before slipping your hand between her legs—she's dripping. Carelessly you run a finger along her pussy, letting her wetness coat it before wiping it on her. Yena squirms, and you wrap an arm around her midriff, holding her flush against your body, trapping her. Yena takes a deep breath and relaxes, going limp briefly.

"T-Thank you." It made her feel taken care of—she can let her mind go blank, let the pleasure take over, leave everything to you. But you tease her, rubbing her slit as you stroke her head, petting her like you pet a cat, or a duck perhaps. All while she can feel your erection poking her from below. Yena's little gasps and moans get louder and more frequent, breathing heavily over your lap as you continue.

"Please put it in." You push two fingers in, and Yena clenches immediately around them. You push Yena forward on your lap, bending her over one thigh to give you better access to her pussy. Yena's almost folded in half over your leg, blood rushing to her head as she watches her own toes curl uncontrollably due to your fingering. You dig deep, bending and twisting your fingers, as if trying to find the last cookie crumb deep inside Yena's jar. You do find what you're looking for, and Yena's the cookie that crumbles.

"R-Right there!" Beneath you Yena's face is red, both from pleasure, and from the little droplets she sees appearing between her legs. "Wait oppa, I'm going to make a mess—"

"Oppa?"

"I mean, ah! Sir, sorry sir, wait, stop!" You dig a little harder, a little faster, and it becomes a stream of liquid pleasure, leaking down her leg and dripping off Yena's toes.

"Manners Yena."

"Puhlea—" Before she can get the second syllable fully out you press her sensitive clit with your thumb and Yena chokes out a desperate cry, drenching your hand in her slick as she cums hard. Yena claws at your leg, gripping it tightly while she splashes over you. You help Yena right herself, but her legs are weak, and she sits in a puddle of her own juices as she lays her head on your thigh, breathing shallow and labored. You lay a hand on her cheek, and she turns to kiss it, as if soothing herself on you. When she opens her eyes again she looks up at you, before looking to the tent you're pitching in your pants.

"I want you," she whispers, managing to push herself up and pull your shorts off. Her hands go to your boxers, but you stop her.

"Are you forgetting something?"

"Please." Yena says it like an afterthought, removing your boxers and getting in your lap—her slick covered legs are spreading it everywhere on your couch. She tries to sink herself on to you, but you shift your hips, making her miss. "Come on!"

"Say it like you mean it."

"Please, I need you in me." She grabs your cock, her hands wrapping around your length. "I need something thick in me, my pussy needs something to... grip!" She twists her hands, squeezing you tightly. You let her position you at her entrance, and your cock twitches a little as a few more drops of slick land on your shaft.

"Please give me your cock," Yena whispers before kissing you needily.

You slam her down on you.

"Oh fuck!"

Yena's a good girl in the dark.

~~

"Yena do you drink? Are you allowed to?"

"Oh yes of course we are allowed to, I'll have whatever oppa has."

"Okay I'll go get the beer."

"No dear, get the ginseng wine."

"Should I?" Your dad nods emphatically.

"We're all becoming one family here, we can break out the good stuff and celebrate!" You know exactly where this is going as your mum brings the wine.

"Dad no don't do that!" You grab Yena's hand in apology. "Sorry."

"No no, I'm sure Yena doesn't mind! All we're saying, your mum and I, is that we would approve of whatever you two want to do in the future. Get married, have kids, you know, whatever you want!"

"It's okay uncle, I understand, thank you for being so nice to me and making me feel so welcome! We haven't really talked about our future, but it's good to know we have your support!"

"Good, see, that's a sensible young woman! Cheers!"

Yena's a good girl.

The operative word there is "really", because you two have certainly talked about your future together.

In bed.

In the heat of the moment.

While you're deep in Yena.

~~

"How many kids should I put in you, how many do you want!" you grunt as you thrust down into her, feeling her clench around you in response. Yena's legs push uselessly against your arms, your elbows locking her knees down in a mating press.

"As many as you want, fuck! That's so deep!" Her arms have a stranglehold around your neck, keeping you close, her flexibility allowing you to kiss her even as you fuck her in the uncompromising position. Yena's tits jiggle as you pound into her, a lewd visual of just how hard you're thrusting.

"B-Breed me, breed me harder!" It was a kink that Yena let slip once, and since then you've indulged her, joining her in enjoying the thought, relishing the feel of fucking Yena raw each and every time.

"Fuck I'm going to cum, you better keep count!" you shout as you slam down into her with finality, letting loose multiple shots into her. Yena seems to go over the edge with you, clenching around your pulsing cock, lips mumbling incoherently. You collapse on top of her, burying yourself against her neck, kissing her lovingly and cuddling her. It is a little later before either of you are able to speak.

"Five, I counted five shots earlier," she murmurs into your ear, tickling you.

"That many?"

"Mmhmm, I must have drained a lot out of you, hm? Poor oppa." Yena jokes, pinching your cheek. But she pushes you on your back and gets on top of you. The sight of your load leaking out of her is enough to get you to half-mast, and her words get you the rest of the way there.

"Let me do the rest of the work. We have to contribute equally to get me knocked up." She slides her cream-filled warmth over you.

Yena's a good girl in the dark.

~~

"I'm done showering!" Yena announces to you as she joins you in the guest bedroom.

"Great, let's get some rest, it's been a long day." You pull the covers over the two of you and hold Yena close. "Thanks for coming here with me."

"Of course, your parents are so nice!"

"They got a little too excited about meeting you, sorry."

"No no it's okay, I like it, they're fans of me, because of you!"

"I guess." You kiss the top of her head, ready to sleep. Yena is not though, and she slips her hand under your t-shirt.

"Haven't I been a good girl today? Shouldn't you reward me?"

"Yena..." you start.

"I didn't tell them we started dating after multiple hookups together. I didn't tell them we do it raw all the time. I didn't—"

"You really want to have sex here, tonight?" Yena nods and throws a leg around you, and to your surprise she's already very wet.

"Just the thought, you know? Being part of your family, us being a family, starting a family. And I heard ginseng wine is good for you too, get the blood flowing." You know exactly why Yena's so wet now. "I-I even brought towels from the bathroom. I'm going to make such a mess." She says it like sex is a foregone conclusion.

"You're going to have be really quiet, I know how loud you get when you want me to breed you."

"That's what the other towel is for." She scrunches the towel up and bites down on it, looking at you pleadingly.

Yena's a good girl, but Yena's your good girl in the dark.

A/N: Just something quick and dirty, the whole "Good Girls in the Dark" song from her just gave me the idea lol. Right before her next comeback heh, maybe there's another "dirty" title there hopefully, or I'll just make it dirty as usual. Thanks for reading!

[quadrantadvisor]

DPxDC Danny/Jason Soulmates AU WIP

-

Jason's timer read 044389:21:08, when the display suddenly went dark. 44,389 hours. Five years, 24 days, 13 hours, 21 minutes, and 8 seconds until he was fated to meet his soulmate.

Or not. Because the time stopped.

It wasn’t supposed to happen. He did his research, and with the resources at his disposal (namely, a batcomputer,) he knew for a fact that there should be no way to defy the fate of a timer. People had tried. Avoidance, isolation, putting a hit out on your own suspected soulmate. Nothing worked. Trying to delay the inevitable put you on the path to meet it. Sure, there were people who lamented the unfairness of their own situation, who were devastated they never got time with their soulmate, famous deaths on opposite sides of a battle, etc. But soulmates always, always met eachother, face to face.

Not him, though. His soulmate was dead. Five years early.

Bruce didn’t get it. Dick wouldn’t talk about it. Alfred only looked at him with pity in his eyes.

Jason wasn’t sad that he was the only person on the planet who’d never meet his soulmate. He was fucking angry, because it wasn’t fucking fair. It was another person in his life who was supposed to care about him that he’d never get to have.

So when he found out he had a mom, somewhere out there, who he’d never had the chance to meet… he had to go. How could he not?

-

It was Sam who noticed, when it happened. Danny had just finished a stupid fight with Boxy, and he, Sam, and Tucker were finally ready to call it a night. Danny de-transformed and grinned, shaking the thermos proudly. “Gonna get these guys back into the Ghost Zone,” he said, when suddenly-

“Danny!” Sam yelped, and snatched at his arm.

Danny stumbled, nearly dropping his precious cargo. “Whoa, Sam, what-?’ he stopped, looking as she turned over his arm, baring his wrist.

His timer was dark, like people who’s soulmates were dead. The numbers still showed, faintly, but they were stationary. The countdown had stopped.

Ice spread through Danny’s veins, like the cold that rushed through him when he went ghost, but worse, so much worse.

Danny’s ghost form didn’t have a timer, which honestly freaked him out, but as a human it had always behaved completely normally. When he turned back, it would be there, the time having elapsed just the way it was supposed to. It had been so reassuring. He was alive. He’d make it at least five more years, and be able to meet his soulmate, who would hopefully be able to accept him the way he was. He wanted that so badly. He wanted someone beyond his friends to talk to, to know him as a person and a ghost. He wanted to not be afraid anymore.

He’d just passed the five year mark, not that long ago. He’d been so excited to be that much closer to someone so important.

And now something was horribly wrong.

“Dude, that’s jacked up,” Tucker said, noticing the problem with wide eyes.

“Did anything happen today?” Sam asked, her expression hardened with determination. “Did you notice anything weird while you were transformed?”

Danny shook his head. “No, no it- it was running while we were at school, and we’ve been fighting ghosts since then. I don’t know when it would’ve…” Danny could barely make himself speak. “Is it my fault?” he said, almost to himself. “Did I spend too much time as a ghost and it just-”

Sam gripped at his hand. “No, Danny, it isn’t your fault. Whatever the problem is, we’re going to figure it out, okay?”

“Yeah man,” Tucker added, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Hey, maybe your parents can actually help this time? Weird magic science is kinda their thing, right?”

Sam looked less sure, but nodded all the same. “You’re going to meet your soulmate. Okay?”

“Okay,” Danny said, quiet, looking down at the stopped numbers on his wrist.

-

Edit: Added a readmore

[thisbelongsto-nohbodys]

Calamity Kids: WOO-HOO! WEEKEND!

Lily: Time to vedge-out and recharge! Percy, grab the snacks! Maddi, fire up the video games!

Marcy: Not so fast! I have some chores that need to get done while I work on my commissions and your moms are at work.

Calamity Kids: AAAAAW!

Marcy: Don't pout! This is your house, too! You can't always spend your weekends lounging around.

Lily: This doesn't sound like you... did Anne put you up to this?

Marcy: Uuuuuuh... (rolls up her sleeve to read the writing on her arm) "Your Mæ̀ had nothing to do with this. I decided to do this all on my own. I take full responsibility for being the strict parent this time. Read this, or you sleep on the couch tonight."

Calamity Kids: ...

Marcy: I'm sorry, kids, but you know she can be a real dragon when she wants to be.

Anne: (from the kitchen) I HEARD THAT!

Admittedly Marcy would’ve joined the kids in vegging out and playing games all weekend but Anne and Sasha was having some friends over (briefly before heading out to a restaurant/bar) and wanted the house to look nice for a change instead of a wasteland of kids’ toys and anime figurines.

That and the kids didn’t take Sasha seriously when she tried that last time

[sparklingcid3r]

Do you have headcanons for the Curtis parents

HELL yeah i do‼️ a lot of these are inspired by my own childhood bc i got nostalgic😭

- I’m gonna call Mrs. Curtis Josephine because I saw it once and ran with it, also it’s not fair we don’t know her name :(

- But in my head, Josephine accidentally got pregnant in her senior year to Darrel Sr., who’d already dropped out of high school, and they decided to keep the baby, and Josephine ended up dropping out

- Josephine’s parents were furious over the situation, both her dropping out and getting pregnant to someone like Darrel. They kicked her out of the house

- Darrel worked like hell to provide for her and his own family put up money for them to try and help, but it wasn’t much. Despite that, they were happy

- Shotgun wedding! Not a big thing or anything, Josephine wore her patchy homecoming dress and Darrel’s mom sewed up one of her husband’s suits for him, and it was a quiet affair

- Darry lowkey tricked them into thinking parenting would be easy because he wasn’t a crier even when he was born. He was well-behaved and didn’t cause them that much stress. Like he still cried but not nearly as much as a normal baby would. It was a little nerve wracking as they wondered if something was wrong with him or if this whole parenting thing was easy asl

- Uh yeah so then Soda was born

- Josephine had bad post partem depression after Soda where she couldn’t spend a lot of time with Soda and kind of used Darry as a crutch, spending more time with him as a result was Darrel spent more time with Soda. I imagine this being the reason Soda took on more of his dad’s mannerisms while Darry took his mom’s

- Slowly Josephine started coming around, but it was still hard. She spent as much time as she could handle with Soda, but Darrel always told her not to pressure herself and that she just needed to give it time, but he was anxious about the situation too

- Darry was actually the one who coined Pony’s name. When Josephine was pregnant with him, she let Darry and Soda touch her stomach and feel for him, and Darry said he kicked like a pony and Darrel and Josephine looked at each other like 👁️👄👁️☝️

- Originally it was just going to be Pony, but Darrel started saying “How’s our Ponykid doing in there?” and so when he was born and they found out he was a he, Josephine switched it because she didn’t want him to be called a kid his whole life

- Josephine was the cook of the family, but some days Darrel would make pancakes for the family while Josephine would make faces out of syrup and fruit for the boys

- Same with the grill, Darrel would ask for everyone’s order: burger, cheeseburger, hotdog, and Josephine would help them making faces and (not very good) pictures with the ketchup

- Darrel always woke the boys up saying “Time to make the donuts!” and while Darry and Soda knew what that meant, it took Pony a little longer to stop getting disappointed when there weren’t any donuts waiting for them in the kitchen

- Josephine was the one who tucked the boys in, but Darrel usually came in a few minutes later to say goodnight to them as well, and if he hadn’t shaved that morning he’d rub his face against theirs without them expecting it and hurt like a mf, Soda swore he’d always be clean-shaven

- Even though they didn’t call him Superman, Darrel was the one they all associated Superman with. Before closing their doors at night, he’d always do the motion of ripping his shirt across the middle as if to reveal the logo on his chest, so Pony calling Darry Superman meant more to Darry than he ever wants to admit

- Josephine was always singing or humming, just making music. When she was cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry, music was always going in the Curtis home. I’m pretty sure in the movie there’s a piano in the house, and it absolutely belonged to Josephine. She tried to teach all three of her kids how to play, but Darry was the only one who really took to it

- Josephine could have died from joy hearing Pony and Soda singing Andy Williams and Hal David off key while Darry stumbled through a song on the piano

totally feel like i could go on about this family, they mean so much to me🙏

[thatdammchickennugget]

Puppy Love

pairing - remus lupin x fem!reader

summary - taking your dog to the park seemed like a simple way to spend the afternoon—until your playful pup forms an unexpected bond with a shy stranger's dog

warnings - fluff

wordcount - 3.1k

a/n - i swear there is slytherin boy stuff coming soon but I'm in my remus era atm. this is inspired by a movie my mom was telling me about

It was a rare sunny afternoon in the city, the kind that demanded a visit to the dog park. Cooper trotted happily beside you, his leash slack in your hand. He had that familiar spring in his step, ears bouncing with each movement. It had been almost three years since you had found him tied to the side of that empty road, and it was hard to imagine life without him now. Your little miracle.

"Ready to meet some new friends?" you asked, though you knew Cooper was more interested in sniffing every inch of grass than socializing. You couldn't blame him—meeting new people wasn't exactly at the top of your list either. After the disaster that was your last relationship, you had been more than content with the peace of your own company. Or, well, yours and Cooper's company.

But you had friends who loved to remind you, constantly, that you couldn't spend all your time working, hanging out with your dog, and pretending everything was fine. According to them, you needed to “get back out there.” Whatever that meant.

As you stepped through the park gates and unhooked the leash from Cooper’s collar, you took a deep breath. It wasn’t as packed as usual—just a few other dog owners scattered across the green, their pets running around, kicking up dirt in happy sprints. Good. Less small talk.

Cooper, in his usual fashion, immediately began making his way toward a group of dogs already playing near the middle. But as you followed, something—or rather, someone—caught your eye. A man stood a little distance away, leaning awkwardly against a tree. He looked about as out of place as you felt some days, glancing nervously at the small terrier at his feet.

The dog was adorable—scruffy, with caramel-colored fur and a wiry little tail that twitched now and then. But she wasn’t doing much of anything. Unlike the other dogs, who were practically doing somersaults, this terrier just stood there, taking in the scene without much interest.

Her owner shifted uncomfortably. He had this sort of quiet, disheveled look about him—wavy hair that probably hadn’t seen a brush in a while, a soft cardigan that looked worn but cozy, and the most tired-yet-kind eyes you’d ever seen.

For a moment, you hesitated. You should probably keep your distance—he didn’t look like he was here for a conversation. But, just as you considered moving on, Cooper suddenly jerked to a stop, his nose twitching furiously.

And, much to your surprise, the little terrier, who had been so still and uninterested before, perked up. Her head snapped up, and without any warning, she darted straight toward him, tail wagging in a hesitant yet curious rhythm.

The man looked up, startled, watching helplessly as his dog made a beeline for Cooper.

“Oh,” you said, half-laughing as the terrier sniffed cautiously at Cooper, who responded by licking her nose in greeting. “Well, looks like someone’s finally found a friend.”

The man jogged over, his cheeks flushed slightly. “Maple,” he called softly, his voice deep but a little uncertain. “You actually want to say hello, huh?”

You smiled, crouching down to rub the terrier’s ears. “She’s Maple? That’s a cute name. This guy’s Cooper. He’s usually a little too friendly, but it looks like Maple’s got him charmed.”

He laughed, a low, almost sheepish sound. “Yeah, I’m... still figuring her out, to be honest. I just adopted her a few days ago.”

“That explains it. She seems a little shy, but Coop loves a challenge.”

He nodded, rubbing the back of his neck, still looking slightly out of his element. “I’m Remus, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you, Remus. I’m—” you paused as Cooper playfully nudged Maple with his nose, making her give the smallest little bark in return. “—apparently the owner of your dog’s new best friend.”

Remus chuckled softly, his shoulders relaxing a bit. “I wasn’t sure if the park would be good for her. She doesn’t seem very interested in other dogs. Guess I was wrong.”

“Well, she has great taste, clearly,” you teased, grinning as Cooper began to chase her in small circles. “I’m sure she’ll get the hang of it. New environments can be tricky for anyone, dogs included.”

“I hope so. My friends keep saying I spend too much time by myself, so... they kind of pushed me into this.”

“Same here,” you said, rolling your eyes. “Apparently, owning a dog isn’t enough, I’m supposed to find a boyfriend too.”

Remus blinked, clearly unsure how to respond to that. His shy smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and for a second, you could see a spark of amusement in his eyes.

You leaned back on you heels, giving him a playful grin. “Don’t worry, I’m not looking to adopt any humans right now.”

He laughed, a real one this time, though it was quickly interrupted by a sudden look of concern. He glanced around, his brow furrowing slightly. “Wait... where’s Maple?”

Slowly blinking, you realized with a jolt that Cooper was also nowhere to be seen. Your heart jumped into your throat. “Oh no... Cooper?”

You both both scanned the park, momentarily panicked, before hearing the familiar sound of paws rustling through the bushes a few feet away.

“Oh, you have got to be kidding me,” you muttered under your breath, walking toward the sound. Remus followed close behind, just as worried, though you caught the hint of a smile on his face.

Sure enough, there they were, hidden behind the bushes, playfully tussling in a patch of dirt, completely oblivious to the scare they’d given us.

You turned to Remus, who was shaking his head with a quiet laugh. “Guess they’re getting along even better than we thought. Already trying to make a break together.”

“Seems like it,” you said, lips curling into a smile.

As you coaxed our dogs back out, you couldn’t help but notice the way Remus’ awkwardness had softened, just a little. There was something endearing about it, about him. You'd never met someone so shy yet so genuine. It was... kind of cute.

As you walked side by side, the dogs trotting just ahead, you found yourself glancing over at Remus more than once. He seemed to relax a little now that Maple and Cooper were so content, but there was still an air of quiet uncertainty around him, like he was adjusting to the whole concept of this—dog parks, casual conversations with strangers, maybe even just getting out of the house.

"So," you asked, breaking the comfortable silence, "did you grow up with dogs?"

He smiled softly, shaking his head. "Not really. Maple’s actually my first dog."

you raised an eyebrow. "Really? You’re doing a good job for a first-timer, I’ll give you that."

Remus let out a chuckle, but there was a self-deprecating edge to it. "I don’t know about that. I’m still kind of figuring out what I’m doing. I’ve never really... taken care of something like this before. But I guess you could say there was always a dog around when I was growing up."

“Always?” you grinned. “That’s not what I’d call ‘not growing up with dogs.’”

He gave a sheepish shrug. “Well, it’s hard to explain.”

You tilted your head, curious. “Hard to explain?”

Remus’ smile faltered slightly, his eyes flicking down to Maple as if she might somehow offer him a way out of the conversation. His hand absently rubbed the back of his neck, and he gave a nervous little laugh.

“Well… it wasn’t exactly a normal situation,” he muttered, his voice suddenly quieter. “More like... a friend who was, uh, very... fond of dogs.” He trailed off, and you could tell he was fumbling for words now, the kind of fumbling that made you wonder if you’d hit a nerve.

You tried to offer an easy out, sensing his discomfort. “Ah, I get it—one of those friends who practically lives at the animal shelter?”

He glanced up at you, relief flashing briefly in his eyes, and nodded a little too quickly. “Yeah. Something like that.”

Something about the way he avoided your gaze made you bite back a smile. He was holding something back, that much was clear, but it wasn’t the sort of secret people shared in casual park conversations. It was oddly charming, the way he was suddenly so awkward.

“Well, whatever the case, you’ve got the dog-ownership thing down. Maple seems happy enough with you.”

Remus let out a soft breath, grateful for the change in topic. “I hope so. I think we’re both still adjusting, to be honest.”

As you continued walking, a brief silence fell between you, broken only by the rhythmic sound of Cooper and Maple’s paws on the gravel. You glanced over again, noting the subtle tension that still lingered in his shoulders. Whatever that half-hidden story was, it clearly wasn’t one he was comfortable sharing with someone he’d just met.

“Anyway,” you said lightly, “I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it. Dogs are pretty forgiving as long as you love them and feed them on time.”

Remus chuckled, this time more genuinely. “That, I can manage.”

You fell back into a companionable rhythm, walking a little further until you reached the park’s entrance. Cooper and Maple were still happily trotting along, occasionally bumping into each other as if they’d known each other forever. You watched them for a moment, then turned back to Remus with a smile.

“Well, I should probably head back before this one finds another mud puddle to roll in.” you gave Cooper’s leash a tug, but he stubbornly stayed put, his eyes fixed on Maple. You chuckled. “Looks like someone’s not ready to say goodbye yet.”

Remus smiled, though it was a little distant, like he was lost in thought. "Yeah. Guess they really hit it off."

You gave Cooper’s leash another gentle tug, but he remained rooted to the spot, clearly unwilling to part ways with his new friend. You couldn’t help but laugh, glancing over at Remus. "You’d think they’ve known each other for years."

He nodded but didn’t say much, his eyes still lingering on the dogs. There was a new kind of quietness in him now, a kind of withdrawal that made you wonder if you’d pushed a little too far with your earlier question. It was like he was trying to retreat back into that protective shell he seemed to carry with him, the one that kept people at arm’s length.

You hesitated, not wanting to make him feel uncomfortable, but there was something about Remus—his quiet awkwardness, the way he seemed a little out of place but still genuine—that made you want to offer another olive branch.

"Well," you said slowly, crouching down to give Cooper an affectionate scratch behind the ears, "if Maple ever wants to hang out with Cooper again, we could set up a park date."

Remus blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Oh... uh, yeah, that’d be nice. I think Maple would like that."

Reaching down into your bag, you pulled out a scrap of paper, quickly jotting down your number. "Here," you said, handing it to him with a smile. "Just in case."

He looked at the paper like he wasn’t sure what to do with it at first, then took it carefully, his fingers brushing yours for the briefest moment. "Thanks," he murmured, his voice soft.

You straightened up, giving Cooper one last tug on his leash. This time, he reluctantly budged, though he kept glancing back at Maple with what you could only describe as doggy longing.

"Guess we’ll see you around," you said, offering a small wave. "Don’t be a stranger, okay?"

Remus nodded, his lips twitching into a shy smile. "I won’t."

ੈ♡˳

It had been about a month since that afternoon at the dog park, but the memory still lingered in the back of Remus' mind. The crispness of the fall air, the sound of leaves crunching beneath feet and paws, the warmth in your voice when you handed him your number—“just in case.” He still had that scrap of paper tucked away on the kitchen counter, weighed down by an old coffee mug that he hadn’t moved in weeks.

He hadn’t called you.

Not because he didn’t want to—he’d thought about it more times than he could count—but every time his fingers hovered over his phone, a tightness settled in his chest, like something was holding him back. What if you’d just been being polite? People said things like that all the time without really meaning them. And what would he even say? Hey, remember me? The awkward guy from the park? The one who can barely hold a conversation?

He sighed, glancing over at Maple, who was curled up on the worn couch across the room, her head resting on the armrest. She’d been acting weird for the past few days—lethargic, not her usual perky self. Normally, she’d be up and about, wagging her tail or nudging him for attention. But lately, she’d been retreating into her little world, barely eating, barely moving. Today was the worst—it was like she didn’t want to get off the couch at all.

Remus furrowed his brow as he watched her, worry gnawing at his gut. He didn’t have much experience with dogs, but even he could tell something was off.

“Maple,” he said softly, his voice breaking the quiet stillness of his small apartment. “What’s going on with you, huh?”

She blinked lazily in his direction but didn’t move.

Remus stood up and crossed the room to her, crouching down to gently rub her ears. She let out a soft huff, closing her eyes as if the effort of acknowledging him was too much.

“This isn’t like you,” he murmured, stroking her fur absently. “I think… we should probably get you checked out.”

The thought of going to the vet made him anxious—not just because of what they might find, but because of the cost. He wasn’t exactly swimming in money, and an unexpected vet bill could really mess things up. But Maple was worth the extra shifts he would have to take. He’d do what he had to, even if it meant tightening his already snug budget.

“Alright, girl. Let’s go.”

It took a little coaxing to get her off the couch, but eventually, she slid to the floor and followed him out of the apartment. He loaded her into his old car, the engine sputtering to life as they headed to the vet. The drive was quiet, save for the hum of the road and the occasional rustle of Maple shifting in the backseat.

When they arrived at the clinic, Remus hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. The smell of antiseptic hit him immediately, mingling with the faint scent of animals, and he felt a knot form in his stomach. He checked them in at the front desk, then sat in the waiting room, trying not to let his mind spiral into worst-case scenarios. Maple rested her head on his lap, and he absently scratched behind her ears, hoping everything would be fine.

They didn’t have to wait long before the vet, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a calm demeanor, called them into the exam room. Remus explained Maple’s recent behavior, the strange lethargy, the lack of appetite. The vet nodded thoughtfully, examining Maple with careful hands before running a few tests. Remus paced the room, nerves building with each passing second.

After what felt like an eternity, the vet returned with the results, holding a clipboard in her hand.

“Well, Mr. Lupin,” she began, glancing down at the paper before looking back up at him with a small smile, “I don’t think you need to worry too much. Maple’s going to be just fine. She’s not sick—she’s pregnant.”

Remus blinked. For a second, he wasn’t sure if he’d heard her right. “She’s… what?”

“Pregnant,” the vet repeated, her smile widening slightly at his stunned expression. “She’s about four weeks along, by my estimate. That’s probably why she’s been acting a little off. It’s not unusual for pregnant dogs to be more lethargic, especially in the early stages.”

Remus stood there, trying to process the information. Maple… pregnant? It didn’t make sense—except it did. The only other dog she’d had any real interaction with was… Cooper.

His heart skipped a beat.

“Um,” he stammered, running a hand through his hair, “are you sure? I mean… she’s only been around one other dog that I know of. And they were only out of my sight for a few moments.”

The vet nodded. “I’m sure. These things happen. But don’t worry—Maple’s young and healthy. She should handle the pregnancy just fine. I’d recommend scheduling a follow-up visit in a few weeks to check on her progress.”

Remus nodded numbly, his mind racing. He thanked the vet, paid the bill with a slight wince, and led Maple back to the car, his thoughts a tangled mess.

As he drove home, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly, one question kept bouncing around in his head: Should I call her?

He hadn’t reached out in a month. Have you been waiting for him to? Or had you forgotten all about him after that day? He wasn’t exactly the most memorable person. And what would you even think of this? Of Maple and Cooper? Would you be mad? Embarrassed? He didn’t know you well enough to predict your reaction, and that made the idea of calling even more daunting.

But he couldn’t avoid it forever. Cooper was the only dog Maple had been around in the past few weeks. There was no doubt in his mind—Cooper was the father. And you had to know.

Remus pulled into his parking lot, turned off the engine, and sat there for a moment, before making his way back inside his apartment. He sat on the sofa, staring down at his phone. His heart was racing.

What if she doesn’t even want to hear from me? What if she was just being polite when she gave me her number?

But he couldn’t leave you in the dark about this. It wasn’t fair. Taking a deep breath, he picked up the phone and stared at the piece of paper with your number. He hadn’t even asked your name that day—what kind of idiot was he?

With a shaky hand, he tapped the call button and held the phone to his ear, his pulse pounding as it rang.

Each ring felt like a lifetime.

Then, finally, the click of the line connecting.

“Hello?” your voice came through, warm and familiar.

Remus swallowed hard before he spoke.

“Hey… it’s Remus. From the park.”

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[pdriesta]

a lifetime of us — 3

an —a series of blurbs from past or present, following the main couple from “a lapse of us". this chapter contains smut (minors dni)

with 24 hours left in his hometown, pedri couldn’t imagine a better way to spend it than in between your legs.

he listened to your sounds, the pleasure bouncing off the walls of your room, his face dampened not just from his own arousal but from the heat emanating from your skin. you gripped his hair tightly, trying to keep your legs apart — failing miserably each time you tightened your grip around his head.

pedri ate like you were his last meal, and to him, you were. he knew his schedule would be packed once he touched down in barcelona tomorrow, but right now, nothing mattered more than you.

you felt the usual flood of pleasure rake through your body, but that didn’t stop pedri. after coming down from your high, he kissed you passionately, prepared to hold you for as long as he could before your parents came and insisted on spending time with him.

“that was —,” you breathed out, slumping your sweaty body on top of his. “unreal. how do you get better every time?” you asked seriously.

pedri chuckled, “isn’t it obvious? you’re my favorite topic to study, all the ways i can take care of my girl.”

your face was already flushed after the 30 minutes pedri spent between your legs. however, you felt your body heat up even more at his words.

“pedri,” you groaned, feeling his lips and his body rock against yours, clothed in what he usually slept in when he stayed over.

“sí, mi vida,” (yes, my life) he replied absentmindedly, peppering kisses along your collarbone. unlike him, whose shirt had been discarded as soon as your lips met, yours remained on.

contrary to your mom’s constant nagging about pregnancies and birth control, you and pedri had never taken that step. after growing so much together over the years and entering adulthood side by side, you always assumed waiting was your best bet.

you never imagined the thoughts and worries that flooded your mind now that the boy you loved would be away for the majority of the year after moving to barcelona. he promised to come back during the summer and any international breaks, but knowing how amazing he was, you had a sneaking suspicion it would be hard to align schedules.

today, however, with pedri on top of you, tenderly kissing your body, you knew in your heart what you needed.

“pedri,” you said again, threading your hands in his hair and tugging the strands the way he liked to meet his brown eyes with yours.

“mi vida,” (my life) he said back, staring at your swollen lips, feeling proud of his handiwork before pecking your lips.

suddenly, you sat up, and he moved to sit on his feet on your bed. without saying anything, and keeping your eyes fixed on his, you removed your shirt.

watching as you tossed it over the bed, pedri was confused, to say the least.

“what’s wrong, baby? are you too hot? i can adjust the thermostat,” he offered.

“no!” you quickly replied, not wanting him to leave in his shirtless glory. your body shivered at the sight of the slick layer of sweat on his skin. he had changed and grown so much into the man in front of you, and you were in awe, feeling a bit embarrassed now that you sat in front of him in just a bra.

“no, it’s not the temperature,” you finally said, “i’m ready.”

pedri’s mind went blank. after being together for so long, he knew what those words entailed, but he just couldn’t believe it.

“r-ready?” he repeated your words, not wanting to assume. you shyly nodded in response, dropping your eyes to your duvet-covered lap.

“sí, mi corazón. quiero tener sexo. quiero que nos quitemos la virginidad mutuamente,” (yes, my heart. I want to have sex. I want us to lose our virginity to each other) you finally spoke up. you didn’t want to lose your nerve; this was your best friend. he knew you like the back of his hand. you were the love of his life, and the only future he was certain of was the one with you.

however, in this moment, he wasn’t so sure. sure, there had been times where you both almost took the next step, but something always got in the way — whether it meant annoying siblings or demanding schedules, the stars never aligned until now.

“are you sure, mi amor?” (my love) he reached for your trembling hands in your lap. you wordlessly nodded but didn’t meet his eyes, and that’s how he knew you weren’t okay.

“y/n, baby, talk to me. what is this really about?” he moved from his spot in front of you to beside you, his arm around your shoulder, bringing you into his arms. he used his free hand to grasp your chin between his fingers, making you meet his eyes.

“nothing. i just want you,” you said barely above a whisper. “i want to be close to you. i want all of you, even if this is the last time,” your voice broke at the last words.

pedri felt like he was doused with a bucket of ice water at the realization. she thinks i’ll leave her behind.

“hey, hey,” he soothed, pulling you completely onto his lap. “mi niña bonita,” (my pretty girl) he cupped the side of your face, swiping your tears away. he looked at you with so much love in his eyes that you felt even more choked up.

“do you know why i call you mi vida? it’s the perfect term for you to understand that you’re my entire world. everything i do is for you. even when it isn’t about you, it’s for you. i’ve loved you since the very first day i saw you fall onto our football pitch. i’ve loved you through everything, and i will love you through this. this is your dream as much as it’s mine.”

“te amo también, mi corazón,” (I love you too, my heart) you sniffed while wrapping your arms around his waist and burying your face in his neck. “i can’t help but think, though, you’ll find someone better, more experienced, and toss me away. you know how many women will flock to you. i don’t want you to leave and me not give you what was always yours,” you confessed.

“that’s what this is about?” he realized. “y/n, there is no one else on this planet meant for me but you. it’s never about experience because guess what? you’re my first everything. there’s no one else in the world i would ever want to be with intimately,” he ran his hands over your back.

even though pedri was shy himself, it being his first time too, he wanted to reassure you.

“are you sure? we don’t have to rush this. i’ll be back sooner than you know it,” he asked you once again.

you wrapped your arms around his neck, anchoring his body to yours. he braced himself on his elbows beside your head, making sure he didn’t crush you.

“i am sure, pedri. i want everything with you,” you said back.

this was enough for pedri to crash his lips onto yours like a madman. you moaned at the taste of yourself on his lips, and he took this as an opportunity to slip his tongue into your mouth.

finally, amidst the haze and the fog of arousal, pedri pulled back. “espera, amor,” (wait, love) he breathed out, feeling his heart beating out of his chest.

“i don’t have anything, you know?” he gestured to where you ground on him through his briefs. you smiled at how shy your boyfriend was, even after all the dirty things he’d done to you.

“we don’t need any,” you replied, before registering your boyfriend’s shock.

“y/n, we can’t! i don’t want to get you pregnant. your family will kill me. hell, my family will kill me,” he quickly pulled back.

“no, no, baby,” you quickly sat up, following his movements, holding back a laugh. “you know how my mom is. she’s all about contraception and preventing accidental pregnancies. she took me to get birth control months ago. i’m safe. we’re safe,” you blushed, still feeling shy at the idea of your mom’s face while she encouraged contraception with your boyfriend.

pedri was beyond shocked now. he knew you weren’t a spontaneous person. you always thought about a million and one possible outcomes before making decisions. knowing you endured your mom’s goading to prepare for this moment was enough reassurance he needed.

“eres perfecta,” (you’re perfect) pedri murmured, meeting your lips once again, falling into you once more.

“mi vida,” (my life) he said while lining up. “esto va a doler.” (this is going to hurt.) he remembered how much you had to adjust to his mere fingers. he was shaking with fear at what might happen and all the ways he might hurt you.

“lo sé,” (I know) you nodded. “confío en ti con todo,” (I trust you with everything) you caressed his head before guiding him forward.

finally buried in you, he felt the tightness and restriction and shuddered. he looked at you, seeing the crease between your eyebrows and the pain on your face.

“mi vida,” (my life) pedri managed to let out.

“me duele,” (it hurts) you choked out, tears spilling from your eyes. if the enveloping warmth didn’t feel as good as it did, pedri would’ve pulled out right then and there, not wanting to hurt you. but after feeling you like this, there was no going back.

“lo sé, mi vida, lo sé,” (I know, my life, I know) he said, kissing your tear-streaked face. “¿qué puedo hacer para mejorar esto?” (What can I do to make this better?) he asked, desperate to ease your discomfort.

you shook your head, gripping his shoulders tightly. “solo quédate conmigo,” (just stay with me) you whispered, your voice trembling. the pain was intense, but you knew it would pass, and the idea of stopping now, of not sharing this moment with him, was unbearable.

“estoy aquí,” (I’m here) pedri murmured, brushing his lips over your forehead. he held still, giving you time to adjust, his heart aching at the sight of your tears. he wanted to take the pain away, to make this perfect for you, but all he could do was be there, holding you through it.

slowly, the pain began to subside, replaced by a dull ache that was easier to bear. you shifted slightly, and pedri took it as a sign to move, beginning to rock gently into you.

“está mejor ahora?” (Is it better now?) he asked, his voice full of concern as he watched your expression.

“sí, mejor,” yYes, better) you breathed out, a small smile tugging at your lips. the discomfort was still there, but so was something else—something deeper, more intimate, a connection that went beyond the physical.

pedri kissed you softly, his movements tender and unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world. he murmured sweet nothings against your lips, his love for you evident in every word, every touch.

“te amo,” (I love you) he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

“te amo, pedri,” (I love you, Pedri) you replied, your heart swelling with love for the boy who was now your first in every way.

the pain continued to fade, replaced by a warmth that spread through your body, making your toes curl and your breath hitch. pedri noticed, his movements becoming slightly more confident, though he was still careful, still gentle.

“you’re so beautiful, mi vida,” he said, his voice strained as he tried to hold himself back, not wanting to rush this moment, not wanting to lose control.

you reached up, cupping his face in your hands, pulling him down for a kiss. it was messy, full of heat and desperation, and pedri groaned into your mouth, finally giving in, his hips moving more urgently now.

the discomfort was almost entirely gone, replaced by pleasure that built steadily, making you gasp and cling to him, your nails digging into his back.

“pedri,” you whimpered, overwhelmed by the intensity of it all.

pedri’s breath came in ragged gasps, his heart pounding in his chest as he moved inside you with slow, deliberate strokes. every thrust was measured, as if he was trying to commit every moment to memory. it wasn’t just about the pleasure; it was about the love he poured into each motion, the way his hands roamed your body like he was trying to memorize the feel of you beneath him.

“y/n,” he whispered, his voice filled with raw emotion. “i love you more than anything, más que todo, mi vida. you’re everything to me. please, don’t ever forget that.”

your heart clenched at the intensity in his voice, and tears welled up in your eyes again, but this time they weren’t from pain—they were from the overwhelming love you felt for him. “i won’t, pedri,” you whispered back, your voice trembling with emotion. “i love you too. so much. i don’t want you to go.”

he paused, his forehead resting against yours as he struggled to catch his breath. “i don’t want to go either,” he admitted, his voice breaking. “but i promise you, y/n, i’ll come back to you. siempre voy a volver, okay? nothing will keep me away from you.”

you nodded, swallowing hard to keep from crying. “i know, pedri. i know you will. just… don’t forget about me, okay?”

his eyes softened as he looked at you, brushing a stray tear from your cheek with his thumb. “never, mi amor,” he vowed, his voice thick with emotion. “you’re the only thing on my mind. siempre estás en mi mente y en mi corazón. you’re my world, y/n. no one could ever take your place.”

as he spoke, he began to move again, slow and gentle, his hands gripping your waist as if he was afraid you’d slip away. each thrust was filled with love, with a desperation that mirrored your own. you wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer, needing to feel every inch of him, to hold him as close as possible.

“pedri,” you breathed out, your voice hitching with emotion. “te necesito. i need you, now more than ever. i want you to remember this moment, every single detail, so you know that i’m always yours.”

“i’m yours too, y/n,” he whispered back, his voice trembling as he kissed you deeply, his lips moving against yours with a fervor that made your heart ache. “completamente tuyo, siempre. nothing will ever change that.”

you moaned softly against his lips, the sound muffled as he kissed you harder, pouring every ounce of love he had into it. the rhythm of his movements quickened, but he was still careful, still trying to ensure your comfort above all else. the pleasure built between you, a slow burn that intensified with each passing second, until you felt like you were on the edge of something beautiful, something that would forever bind you to him.

“mi vida, i can’t—” he gasped, his voice raw with emotion. “i’m close, so close. i need to feel you with me. por favor, mi amor, come with me.”

his words sent a shiver down your spine, and you nodded, unable to speak as the pleasure reached its peak. your hands tightened in his hair, your nails digging into his scalp as you felt yourself unraveling beneath him.

“pedri,” you whispered, your voice breaking as you teetered on the edge. “te amo. te amo tanto.”

that was all it took. with a low groan, pedri buried his face in your neck, his body trembling as he came, his release triggering yours. you clung to him, your body arching into his as the pleasure washed over you, leaving you breathless and spent.

for a long moment, neither of you moved, both too overwhelmed by the intensity of what you had just shared. pedri’s breathing was ragged against your skin, his arms wrapped tightly around you as if he was afraid to let go.

“don’t let me go, pedri,” you whispered, your voice barely audible. “please, don’t let me go.”

he pressed a soft kiss to your temple, his heart aching at the vulnerability in your voice. “never, mi vida. i’m never letting you go,” he promised, his voice thick with emotion. “no matter where i am, you’ll always be with me. en mi corazón, siempre.”

you buried your face in his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath your cheek, and for the first time, you truly believed him. you knew that no matter the distance, no matter the time apart, he would always come back to you.

“i’ll wait for you,” you whispered, your voice barely above a breath, but you knew he heard you. “i’ll always wait for you, pedri.”

he held you tighter, his lips brushing against your hair as he whispered, “and i’ll always come back to you, y/n. always. you’re my home.”

and as the two of you lay there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the world outside ceased to exist. it was just you and pedri, in a moment of pure love and connection, a bond that no amount of time or distance could ever break.

you knew that tomorrow would come, and with it, the challenges of a long-distance relationship. but for now, in this quiet, stolen moment, you had everything you needed. you had pedri, and that was more than enough.

the airport was filled with the usual chaos—announcements echoing, people rushing by with luggage, and the occasional laughter from a distant group. but for you, the world had narrowed down to just one thing: saying goodbye to pedri. he was moving to barcelona to pursue his dreams, and while you were beyond proud of him, the thought of being apart was like a dull ache in your chest.

your families were there, gathered around in a small, tight-knit circle. pedri’s mom hugged him first, her eyes glistening with tears that she tried to blink away. “cuídate, mi niño,” she whispered, holding him close for a few seconds longer than usual. his dad gave him a firm, reassuring pat on the back, followed by fer, who pulled him into a brotherly embrace.

your mom was next, wrapping her arms around pedri like he was one of her own. “we’re all so proud of you,” she said, her voice warm but edged with the same sadness you felt. your dad followed, giving pedri a quick hug and a nod that conveyed more than words ever could.

caro was last, and as usual, she couldn’t resist teasing him, even in a moment like this. “now, you better watch out for those girls in barcelona,” she said, trying to keep it light but her tone carried a hint of protectiveness. “don’t let them distract you from your girl at home and your goals, okay?”

pedri chuckled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “i promise, caro,” he replied, squeezing her hand before letting go.

rafael, still young enough to not fully grasp the gravity of the situation, gave pedri a quick hug and an innocent smile. “you’ll be back soon, right?”

“sooner than you think,” pedri assured him, ruffling his hair.

finally, it was your turn. but instead of stepping forward, you found yourself rooted to the spot, your eyes fixed on the floor. your heart was pounding, each beat echoing with the reality that this was it—he was leaving.

pedri noticed your hesitation, his gaze softening as he looked at you. “mi amor,” he called softly, his voice filled with an understanding that made your heart ache even more. “mírame, por favor.”

slowly, you lifted your eyes to meet his, finding the strength in his gaze that you desperately needed. he took a step closer, closing the distance between you two. “ven aquí,” (come here)he murmured, holding out his hand to you.

you hesitated for a moment, the lump in your throat making it hard to breathe, let alone move. but the sincerity in his voice, the way he looked at you like you were the only person in the world that mattered, made it impossible to resist. you stepped forward, slipping your hand into his, the warmth of his touch grounding you in a way that nothing else could.

“it’s going to be okay,” pedri whispered, pulling you closer until your forehead rested against his. “we’ll make this work, no matter what. i promise.”

“i know,” you managed to say, though your voice was shaky. “i just… i’m going to miss you so much.”

he tilted your chin up, his thumb brushing away the tear that slipped down your cheek. “i’m going to miss you too, more than you know,” he replied, his voice thick with emotion. “but this isn’t goodbye, okay? it’s just ‘see you later.’”

you nodded, trying to hold onto his words like a lifeline. but the reality of him leaving, of not having him by your side every day, was overwhelming. “pedri… what if—”

“shh,” he interrupted gently, pressing his lips to your forehead in a lingering kiss. “don’t think about the ‘what ifs.’ we’ve got this. i’ll call you every day, text you all the time—you’ll probably get sick of me.”

a small, shaky laugh escaped you, and you finally allowed yourself to wrap your arms around him, holding on as tightly as you could. “never,” you whispered, burying your face in the crook of his neck. “i could never get sick of you.”

he held you just as tightly, his hands stroking your back in soothing circles. for a moment, the noise of the airport faded away, leaving just the two of you in a quiet, bittersweet embrace.

finally, after what felt like both an eternity and a single heartbeat, pedri pulled back just enough to look at you. “i love you,” he said, his voice steady but filled with all the emotion he was holding back. “and nothing is going to change that. distance doesn’t matter when it comes to us.”

“i love you too,” you replied, your voice barely above a whisper. “so much.”

he smiled, the kind of smile that was meant just for you, the kind that made everything else fade away. “then that’s all that matters,” he said softly. “we’ll figure out the rest.”

before you could say anything else, his parents gently intervened, suggesting that they give you two a moment alone. with a few soft words and understanding looks, your families quietly walked away, giving you the privacy you needed for this final, heartfelt goodbye.

with the terminal now feeling strangely empty, you turned back to pedri, taking in every detail of his face as if trying to memorize it. “promise me you’ll take care of yourself,” you said, your voice thick with emotion. “and don’t forget to eat properly, and—”

“i promise,” he cut you off, a tender smile playing on his lips. “and you promise me you’ll keep smiling, okay? don’t let yourself get too sad, because i’ll be back before you know it.”

you nodded, though your heart felt heavy with the weight of the impending separation. “i’ll try,” you whispered, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall.

pedri leaned in, pressing one last, lingering kiss to your lips, his hand cupping your cheek as if to hold you there a little longer. when he finally pulled away, his eyes were filled with the same mix of sadness and determination that mirrored your own.

as you stood there, your hands lingering on his chest, pedri couldn’t resist teasing you, hoping to bring a smile back to your face. “you know,” he began, a playful glint in his eyes, “it’s funny how you’re still so shy around me, even after everything we’ve done.” he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, and the memory of your last night together flooded back, making your cheeks flush a deep red.

“pedri,” you whined, half-embarrassed, half-amused, as you playfully swatted his chest. but the light teasing worked—your heart felt a little less heavy, and you couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at the corners of your lips.

“there it is,” he murmured, leaning in to press a quick kiss to your forehead. “that’s the smile i love. just remember that, okay? we’re going to be okay.”

with one last, fleeting touch—his fingers brushing against yours—he turned and walked toward the gate, his figure growing smaller with each step. you stood there, watching until he disappeared from sight, your heart aching with the emptiness he left behind.

but even as the tears finally fell, you clung to the hope in his words, the love in his eyes. this wasn’t the end—it was just the beginning of a new chapter. and no matter the distance, you knew your love was strong enough to bridge it.

© 2024 PDRIESTA

[luke-hughes43]

surprise pt 2 | luke and stella

hehe this is a part to this fic!

~

stella's pov

i wake up to my alarming blaring and luke gone. i'm not happy for two reasons: i got woken up, and luke isn't here. i knew he'd be gone when i woke up but that doesn't mean that i'm happy about it.

i push the covers off and go to put my contacts in when my knee is screaming at me when i put weight on it. i limp into the bathroom and get ready for my games.

i have plenty of time because i woke up at 7 but i don't have to leave until 7:45. i text luke to see if he's awake: morning lukey, hope you got home safe last night. sorry i fell asleep.

i put my headphones in and start icing my knee again. at like 7:30 i get dressed because i always get dressed before doing my hair. i'm braiding my hair when the music gets interrupted from a facetime call from lukey. i answer with a small smile, "hey you."

"hey beautiful. what time do you play?" he asks.

"10 and 12. have to be there at 8:15. why are you up so early?"

"i don't know. just am. i am coming to your games again by the way. mom is coming too." luke tells me. i smile and nod. i discover that i am too far away from the mirror to do what i want with my hair and see properly. i climb onto the counter and move closer to the mirror, it also takes the pressure off my knee.

i hear luke chuckle and he asks, "why are sitting on the counter like that? that can't be good for your knee."

"it's better for my knee then what i was doing before. i'm short and can't get as close as i wanted to do this right." i explain and i can feel him shaking his head.

once i finish with my hair i say to luke, "i'll see you at my games i guess. but i gotta go luke."

"sounds good baby." he says and i hang up.

i get my bag and me and mom head off to the fields. we get there ridiculously early and i spend the whole time with ice on my knee. mom drops me off and goes to a drug store to get me a knee brace. this is hurting more than i thought it would.

mom isn't back in time for the start of the game so i'm playing the first inning without the brace. i'll be fine. i am the leadoff to start the first game and after two pitches, i'm drilled right in the knee. the same knee that i hurt yesterday. i drop the bat and grab my knee.

i'm pissed. it's the same team we played in new york a few weeks ago that we crushed 7-0 and it feels personal.

coach comes running over, "jesus christ kid, that knee is a magnet for trouble this weekend."

"must the michigan water."

"in all seriousness, are you ok?" he doubles down. i nod and get on my hands and knees. i take some deep breaths and say, "i think i'm ok. it just hurts. because i turned to avoid it, it caught me in the back of the knee. i'm not having good luck this weekend."

"you're telling me. so what's the move? do you want a runner or try to tough it out?" he asks. i take a second to think about it. i ask him, "what do you think i should do?"

"is your mom here with the brace yet?" he asks. i take a quick look and shake my head. i say, "not yet. i figured that she'd be a few minutes late."

"then i think you should come out. at least until you can get that brace. i don't want you to do permanent damage z." he says. i nod and let a few tears out form the pain and i limp off. he says, "sarah (not the sarah that dates jack) get your helmet."

i get to the bench and lean back against the wall letting out a sigh. i stand to get ice and the pain is so much that i have the urge to throw up. i hobble to the trash can behind the dugout and puke.

avery comes over and holds my hair back. i look up and see luke standing at the other end of the dugout keeping a close eye on me. he says, "hey, are you ok?"

"yea i'm fine." i force out.

i take some deep breaths and go back to the dugout to drink water and ice. mom finally comes with the brace and i put it on. it felt so much better. i start to walk around the dugout to test it out and i feel fine. i run down to the foul pole and back and it feels really good.

i say to coach, "i'm good to go back in."

he nods and subs me back in to my spot. i have a great game after that and feel so much better moving around. we won like 9-1 so it was a great showing for us. i spend all of the 20 minutes game break sitting on the ground with luke, between his legs as he holds me against his chest.

he asks softly, "are you sure that you're ok baby?"

i nod and just cuddle into him. he says, "talk to me stel, what's going on? you don't have to keep playing so why are you?"

"i'm just worried about letting everyone down. trev is doing so well and i'm afraid that i'll never live up to what he's doing. everyone already looks at me and treats me like i need to be this superstar because of him. and i just don't wanna let anyone down luke." i explain softly.

he sighs and hugs me tighter. he kisses the side of my head and says, "you don't have to be anyone but yourself. i get what your going through baby, i really really do, but you don't need to be anything other than you, on and off the field. if stella isn't good enough for them then they can kick rocks. but stel, you can't be playing through injuries like this just to try to live up to trev. you don't even play the same sport. just be you, and please be careful."

i nod and say quietly, "ok." there's a calm silence before i say, "i'm glad your here."

"anything for you." he says softly.

bella walks over with avery and says, "i hate to break this up but time to go stel." i nod and both her and luke help me stand up. i give luke one last hug and he leans down, cups my cheeks, and kisses me softly. he pulls away and says, "good luck baby. I know you'll play great. just be careful."

i smile, "i will."

we go back to the dugout to get loose for the game. bella asks me, "so, you and lover boy?"

"yea. bells, i think i love him."

"you think? you totally do! girl, he looks at you like you hung the freaking stars. and you look at him like he's the air you breathe." bella exclaims. i blush and nod a little bit. but then i say, "no more. i'm not ready to tell him yet so shut up."

bella and avery both say, "lips are sealed."

the game starts and we win. by a lot. like 12-2. the game ended early because of the slaughter rule. we clean up and head over to get the debrief. after coach finished talking, he calls me over, "zegras, come here." i nod and hobble my way over.

"how are you feeling?" he asks.

i shrug, "it hurts but i'll be fine. nothing i can't handle. the brace helped a lot so i'll play with that again tomorrow." he nods and we talk about options if it's too bad tomorrow. i head over to mom and luke.

mom asks, "honey, are you ok?"

"yea. i'm tired and in pain but i'll be ok. just wanna take a nap." i say. luke wraps an arm around me and i lean against him. i hug him and say, "i'm gonna head back to the hotel and shower and get some rest. depending on how my knee feels, i might come to your game tonight. we'll see luke."

he nods and smiles, "ok. don't worry if you can't make it. just get some rest sweet girl." he softly kisses my forehead and heads off to his car. once mom and i get in our car, the tears start flowing from how much it hurts. mom asks, "stella, are you ok? do i need to take you to the doctor?"

"no. i just need some rest. it just hurts a lot mom. it's the most pain i've ever been in." i explain. she nods and we drive back to the hotel quietly. after all 3 of us shower, bella and avery come into our room and the 3 of us end up sleeping in my bed.

i wake up to go to the bathroom and my knee is feeling fine. thank god. because i really wanna go to luke's game tonight. i climb back into bed with the girls and they both wake up. avery waks up as i climb back into bed. she says, "what time is it?"

"4. so we have a few hours before luke's game if you guys wanna come with me?" i offer. avery nods, "i'll probably come. gives us something to do."

i nod and after bella gets up, we get changed to go to the rink. mom comes in as we're all finishing getting dressed. she asks, "are we going to the rink? how do you feel stella?"

"i'm fine. i was just overworking myself to close to getting hurt. but i'm ok. i just wanna see luke play." i say from the bathroom.

she says, “ok. i’ll let ellen and jim know that we are coming. are you sure that you’re ok?”

“yes mom.” i say rolling my eyes. bella and avery come with us to the game too. and halfway to the rink, bella says, "you know that we don't know anything about hockey right?"

"it's fine. i'll explain it while the game is going on." i say to them.

avery asks, "have you ever seen luke play?" i shake my head. i turn around and say, "not in person. i stream his games all the time but i'm excited to see him play in person."

we finally get to the rink and head inside. it's not as packed as i expected it to be. we find ellen and jim sitting in an area big enough for all of us and go over there. i see ellen and smile, "hi mrs hughes."

"oh stop it, just call me ellen. here, i grabbed this from luke's closet for you. i figured you needed one of his hoodies. i wasn't sure how you packed so..." ellen says handing me a hoodie of luke's. it's one of his usa hockey hoodies.

i smile and accept it. i say, "thank you." i put the hoodie on and it smells just like him. i say to ellen, "oh! this is bella and avery. they play softball with me and are my best friends. girls, this is ellen and then jim, luke's parents."

avery waves with a small smile and bella says, "it's nice to meet you." ellen smiles and says, "you too. now stella sit, tell me everything." ellen drags me down between her and jim. bella and avery sit in the row in front of us and i'll join them once i catch up with ellen. ellen asks, "now, is luke treating you right? i know it can be hard with long distance but he's being a good boyfriend?"

"yes. the best. he's everything i could imagine in a boyfriend ellen. he's perfect." i say with a smile. ellen smiles and pulls me in for a side hug. she says, "good. i'd kill if he wasn't. i raised him better than that. how's school and softball?"

"good. the same i guess. classes are kinda hard, softball is going. i'm still playing really well so everything is good." i say. we both look up just in time to see luke get an assist! we both cheer, "yea luke!"

i smile at ellen and then join the girls. i ask, "have you guys caught on to anything yet?"

they both shake their heads. bella says, "not really. i know that they shoot the puck into the net for a goal, and the penalty box is where you go when you break the rules but that's all i got."

"you got all you need then." i say and focus more on the game. late into the third period, the game is tied. luke gets the puck and takes a slap shot and scores! i jump up and down cheering for him. i turn and high five ellen and jim! he just won the game for them.

i'm cheering for him so loud, "yea lukey!"

he must've heard because he looked over and smiled. i smile back with a wave.he goes through the handshake line and he waves me down by the locker room. i look at the girls who practically push me over to the locker room.

when i come into luke's view, he smiles and picks me up in a bone crushing hug. he says, "you made it! i wasn't sure if you were coming."

i smile and grip him tighter, "of course. you came to my games and i had to come. knee pain and all."

he pulls away from the hug and kisses me. i smile and pull him as close to me as i can. when we pull away, he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and says, "hey beautiful."

"hi handsome." i whisper back.

he presses a kiss to my lips before saying, "i love you stella."

i gasp with a smile, "you love me?" he nods and then adds, "more than hockey."

"i love you too luke." i say with a smile. i go back up to my tip toes and kiss him again. he smiles and kisses me back while pulling me close. eventually he pulls away, "i gotta change, but stay right here. i'm not done with you."

i nod and wait for him to change. he comes back out and pulls me close. he kisses me again and says, "what do you think about coming out with us tonight? it's about time i show my girl off to the guys. bella and avery can come too."

I shake my head and then explain, "we can't. we don't go out during tournament weekends. if it wasn't a tournament we'd be going out but we can't."

he nods, "i get it. could we at least spend time together tonight? i don't have a lot of time with you this weekend and i wanna spend as much time with you as i can."

"let me get back to the hotel with the girls, and i'll figure something out." i say. he nods and kisses me softly before we head out to our parents and the girls.

mom takes us back to the hotel and after bella and avery go to their rooms, i beg my mom, "mom can luke please please please come and sleep over? please?"

"if it's ok with ellen, then fine." mom caves. i squeal and text luke. about 10 minutes later, luke texts me, mom said yes! i'll over in 15 baby❤️

i smile and get ready for bed. luke comes over right when he said he would. i let him in and we just end up cuddling in bed all night. me wrapped up tightly in his arms, head on his chest, both of us smiling. just before i fall asleep, i hear him mumble quietly, "i love you stella. sweet dreams baby."

"i love you too lukey." and then i'm out. feeling so safe in his arms.

[agentnatesewell]

happy mother’s day mar!

thank you darling friend 🥰🥰 !! hope you’re having a great day!

[bunnieswithknives]

I feel bad for neglecting Hazel so much, I do have many thoughts about her.. and also a mermaid au that im probably not going to do anything with

[viridian-house]

I want so desperately to finish this one, but life has other plans for me this month. I learned a ton while working on it, so fingers crossed I can pick the momentum back up in the future

sakura, from my fic series the slug & the stars

[buccellato]

Going a little insane thinking about how from Knives' perspective, his olive branch for Rem was rejected by his childhood perception of her loyalty to humanity, but Rem was assessing the situation as both a ship official and a parent and definitely making the choice she thought would maximize his and Vash's survival chances...like, if she was following duty as a crew member first and foremost, she'd head immediately to the bridge and tell the boys to head to the escape pods via comms or something. But instead she spent valuable minutes ensuring that Vash and Knives were safely strapped in and ready to escape, and then turned around to minimize the ship damage. Plus she had no actual way of knowing whether the plant ships were on a crash course, either—and while tristamp Nai can survive completely without food and water, no version of Vash has been shown to be able to do so completely (plus all other versions of Knives are shown at least drinking lol). So from her perspective she didn't just need to save both her kids and the humans on board, she also would've needed to save as many dependents as possible just so the boys had a way to stay alive.

She did the best she could do as a parent in that scenario, and Knives forever locked himself into a traumatized child's reasoning for her actions and blamed her to cope with it and then never reassessed from the perspective of an adult due to his, well, issues with everything. That's rough buddy.

[lunarriviera]

cannot get over this description of wu xie from the fandom wiki, like npss truly out here putting the bare minimum effort into his female characters (translation: no effort. absolutely none). wu xie's mother literally still alive, he visits her and his dad for new year's, but no one can be bothered to give her a name. couldn't even let bai ma wake up for five minutes. a-ning, su nan, don't get me started. huo xiuxiu barely squeaking past his indifference. tomb raiding gonna die out in another generation bc there are no women*, go king give us nothing

*except for liang wan who is, as someone recently pointed out, a total himbo; and bai haotian, who miraculously escapes notice maybe bc of the bowl haircut and overalls. they are both adorable and non-negotiable and if npss ever does anything to them i will kword everyone in this room and then myself him

[softquietsteadylove]

HI!!!

it’s been a long time since the last doctor au. Can we get something new, please?

Thena eyes the woman chatting up her Gilgamesh. He's making friendly conversation, she knows. But the woman is obviously aiming for more than just friendly, the way she keeps laughing and smiling and putting her hand on his arm.

She has no one to blame but herself, Thena knows. The hospital fundraiser has been scheduled for months, and she's the one insisting their relationship remain secret from their coworkers. And of course Gil agreed, because it's Gil.

But watching women be all over him all night has been one hell of a just desserts. She takes a sip of her drink. Gil catches her eye and makes a bit of a face. He shrugs, which fits into the woman's story enough that she doesn't notice. But he's apologising to her - Thena - for it.

But she has no one to blame but herself.

Maybe the secrecy is overrated. She looks over to the dance floor, where Sersi is happily tucked into her husband's embrace as they sway to the music. They seem to make it work. Thena doesn't know how someone as sweet as Sersi is with someone as bullheaded as the orthopaedic specialist himself. But maybe the same could be said of her and Gil.

Thena tosses back the last of her champagne and walks straight towards Gil's table. This is why people don't like her socially--she's overly direct, chilly, has no bedside manner when it comes to her colleagues. She stares at them, "mind if I cut in?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"Not at all," Gil smiles though, and it's all the assurance she needs. He even pulls out the chair next to him for her.

His visitor visibly and audibly scoffs and rolls her eyes. Thena thinks she recognises her from HR or accounting or some other level of administration. She gets up in a huff anyway. Thena seats herself, tugging her dress around without a thought to the delicacy of the material.

But Gil sorts out the skirt of it more nicely. He even lets his hand brush the side of her leg where the slit allows him to. He sneaks his eyes up to hers, "you look beautiful."

She's glad that woman got up in a huff as she feels her face warm up several degrees. "Nothing you haven't seen before."

Because he helped her get ready, after they'd had a few good rounds in her bed, and before arriving in separate cars. Still, he compliments her, because of course he does. He swirls his own champagne, looking quite smart in his dark green suit.

All the doctors are in tuxes, but she likes how this colour brings out his eyes.

"Are you making any good connections?" he asks, like any of their colleagues would. It's as much a night for them to have off as it is for them to schmooze wealthy benefactors into donating to the hospital.

"None," she deadpans, and he laughs from his belly in response. She loves his laugh. "You?"

He snorts and throws back the last of his flute. "No one even knows us."

"That's not true," she nudges his arm as she leans back in her chair in a very unladylike way. She gestures, "Kingo knows how to work a crowd."

True, the man of the hour is in the centre of a circle of people listening to his stories. She's quite sure he's trying to convince someone to write a medical drama about his stories as an EMT.

"Well, I'm no Kingo," Gil shakes his head at his partner, not that they would have him any other way.

Thena spares a furtive glance around them, although most have moved on from the tables to search for more finger food or hit the dance floor. She risks brushing her hand over his casually, "you're better."

Gil matches her energy, though, letting his hand cup hers for just as brief a moment, "you're in a good mood tonight."

She can say it's the booze, but she's only had the one glass. It's not to her taste, but it's part of the atmosphere. "When was the last time we got a night off to do this?"

He gives her a grin that's a little mischievous on the tail end. "Our first date?"

She looks away again, because sometimes these little moments still make her feel like she's liking him from afar again. "That was a good night."

"Our only date, in some ways," he corrects, although there's no malice or ill will behind it. Even though he would love to have more proper dates to their name as a couple.

Thena sighs, though, because he deserves that. He deserves to go wild to his romantic heart's desire, no matter how overwhelmed it makes her feel. She leans forward against the table, "Gil-"

"Oh, Gil!" a shrill voice singsongs over the music.

Thena scowls as her whole body knots up. His friend is back, and she's brought company. "Eros."

"Thena, darling, looking ravishing as always," the self-proclaimed 'god of love' himself grins at her. He is one of the doctors in a full blown tuxedo. "Gotten any donations?"

"No, no one donates to an emergency room unless it guarantees benefits to them personally." The two newcomers look at her uncomfortably but it's true; no one ever donates to the emergency room because it's for the public, not for the highest insured patients.

"Well, what if I make a donation?" Eros grandstands, putting on his most winsome smile and even reaching into his suit jacket pocket. Does he really have his checkbook just...in there?

Thena points, "admin will take it."

The woman gets tired of playing this game. She sidesteps Eros to put her hands on Gil's shoulders. "Oh, enough business! It's time for you two to take to the floor."

Gil just stares. Just because he's big doesn't mean he likes getting climbed on like a children's jungle gym. He shakes his head faintly at her; he's asking what to do.

Thena sighs. That's why she brought Eros with her; he's a distraction to keep her from stealing Gil's attention again. Stealing attention from her own partner is an amusing thought. But she hasn't had enough to drink for it to be thoroughly entertaining.

The woman backs up as she stands. She and Eros watch as Thena grasps Gil's tie, pulling it out from his suit jacket and using it to turn his head and drag his lips to hers. She even makes a dramatic little moan just for them.

Gil is happy to oblige. He responds, sliding his hands up her body in the way that's familiar to them. They were doing exactly this a few short hours ago. When they part he doesn't even look to see if their audience has stuck around. "Thought you'd never ask, honey."

Thena keeps her hold on Gil's tie as she moves towards the dance floor, abandoning her clutch on the table. There's nothing in it but her phone and, well, a few contraceptives (in case Gil got ahead of himself on the way home).

"Y'know, sweetie, I have no complaints," Gil voices as he closes the distance and fixes his tie again. "But you could just ask."

She sighs as they turn towards each other to dance properly. He pulls her against him as her temper simmers itself dry. "I got the feeling she wasn't going to take no for an answer."

"Well, she would have had to," he assures her, even as they begin swaying to the music. She doesn't really know how to dance, but he takes the lead, holding her hip and her hand out in his. "Although watching my girlfriend grab me like that will probably haunt her for a while."

"Good," Thena mutters darkly, still off-put by the memory of her latching onto Gil's shoulders (like she has any right).

"Are you sure?" he whispers, still holding his head up if she wants more discretion. "If she doesn't have everyone knowing before we leave for the night then Eros certainly will. I wouldn't be surprised if he's crying to HR right now."

She does laugh faintly at the mental image of Eros snotting and whining like the little boy he is. "We're technically in different departments."

Gil chuckles, "guess you're right. But I'm asking you."

He's asking if she really wants to go public, or if she wants to deny their claims to the very end. Because he'll be with her, if she does, because of course he will.

Gil is receptive as she leans up to kiss him again. Maybe she can - somewhat! - understand what people see in the romance of it all. Swaying to music, Gil's arms around her, kissing him without a care in the world. There is something that makes the pleasure centres in her brain explode with euphoria.

"I'll take that as a yes," he smiles at her, even swaying a little more in his elation.

She tries to keep her head held high instead of shrinking away from the people observing them during their own dances. She clears her throat, pretending she can't feel how hot the tips of her ears are. "If it keeps her off of you, then yes."

He bends his head down, kissing the side of her neck. But it's not any invitation to mischief or show of dominance. He emerges again and kisses her on the forehead. "Can I tell those orderlies that check you out all the time that you're my girlfriend, now?"

She smiles, because it's Gil, and their relationship is no different now than it's been for the past several months. "You don't tell them I'm your wife?"

"Oh, I do," he answers instantly, and now she laughs. And sometimes when she laughs, she catches him looking at her in a way that makes all of her insides feel like jello. "But everyone knows you're my wife. Not everyone knows you're my girlfriend."

That is true. They were long ago anointed work husband and work wife. People are used to it, and it somewhat muddies the waters on what their relationship to each other actually is. And Thena will not be un-muddying them any time soon.

She moves Gil's arm more around her for herself, tucking herself into his chest in a way that makes moving more awkward instead of easier. But he folds around her comfortingly, happy to shift from foot to foot rather than really dance. "Then all the world can know I'm your partner."

She sighs as he presses a kiss to the top of her head, "I like the sound of that."

There's no going back from this. She always says that their personal lives have no place in the hospital. But she can't think about any of that, drowning in the endorphins this one man overtakes her brain with every time he smiles. And she has no one to blame but herself.

[megumi-fm]

.

[florenceisfalling]

the woes are upon me and i know there are bigger priorities in the world atm but if anybody wants to just toss a coin to their little loser and add a character name with it i'll make you some of my geometric ms paint art like this 👍 no pressure