#and no one. really has a good answer for that? the answer is always “everything”

[steddiealltheway]

One thing that sucks about fighting monsters from some weirdly dusty and gooey parallel universe to your own… is going back to school. Specifically going back after telling all your friends that they’re actually trust fund assholes and your girlfriend - ex-girlfriend - ends up with the one guy she swore up and down was just a friend.

Not that Steve really blames Nancy for that. Jonathan’s a good dude. Plus, it’s not like Steve was the perfect boyfriend or anything. He tried, but maybe it just wasn’t enough.

Maybe it’ll never be enough.

Steve takes a sudden right, making a detour from all the student rushing into the lunchroom in favor of being anywhere but there. He barely registers walking out of the school until he notices the woods in front of him. Why does everything always lead him back to here?

He doesn’t know why, maybe it’s what Dustin call his “mother hen” instinct, but Steve continues walking into the woods, wondering if maybe there are more monsters lurking about that he can spot early this time. God knows he would do anything for those kids - not that he would tell them that. Dustin especially does not need the ego boost.

So Steve wanders, listening closely for any unusual noise.

And then he hears one.

It’s just the thud of something metal sounding against maybe… a tree? Something solid. Then a crunch of leaves. And…

Singing?

Steve slowly peaks around a tree and finds the source of all the noise.

Eddie Munson.

Steve nearly rolls his eyes but finds himself fondly watching the boy as he drums on a wooden picnic table singing some song Steve has never heard. It’s when Eddie does some type of ridiculously uncoordinated twirl that Steve ends up snorting. It’s loud enough that Eddie ends up hearing it, startling mid turn and head bang that has him misstepping and landing right on his ass.

Steve tries to let some sheepishness bleed through the amusement in his expression. “You okay, man?” He asks, stepping forward to offer him a hand.

Eddie eyes it wearily. “Depends. What are you doing out here?”

“Just…” Steve stares at Eddie for a moment, trying to find a normal answer, but instead he shrugs and sighs, “I don’t know, man.” He takes another step closer and pointedly looks down at his offered hand.

Eddie narrows his eyes at him before taking it carefully. Steve is caught off guard by the cold metal rings but hauls Eddie up easily who wobbles when he gets to his feet. “Thanks,” Eddie breathes out, lingering in Steve’s space.

Steve just nods and wonders if Eddie Munson’s eyes have always been so big and brown.

“So, Steve Harrington,” Eddie starts, drawling out his name while taking a step back and brushing dirt off his pants, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Steve raises an eyebrow.

Eddie marches over to the picnic table and gestures dramatically at his lunch box. “I’m assuming you’re here for the goods?”

“The what?”

“Drugs, Harrington. Are you alright?” Eddie asks with a tilt of his head leaning forward as if assessing him.

Steve shrugs. “Fine. And no. I’m not here for your drugs which you evidently keep in your lunch box for any teacher to find.” Eddie’s brows furrow. Steve rolls his eyes. “I know you sell, but Tommy usually does this part.”

“I know,” Eddie replies as he hops up on the bench and crosses his arms. He faces Steve and bends at the waist - Steve ignores the urge to reach out and steady him so he doesn’t fall again. “So what are you doing out here? Are you here to… beat me up?” Eddie asks dramatically, hopping onto the table and pretending to brandish a sword.

Steve simply raises his eyebrows and crosses his arms.

Eddie’s arms drop. “Okay. Surprising but I guess you would’ve already taken a swing if you wanted a fight.” He squats down on the table until he’s eye level with Steve. “You’re not here because of the rumors, right?” Eddie asks, dropping his voice and appearing weirdly serious.

As for the rumors, Steve’s sure he’s heard more than he can count - including one about Munson being a vampire - so he’s not sure what he’s talking about. He’s also not sure if he wants to know which rumors he’s talking about. Steve runs a hand through his hair and settles his hands on his hips. “I just needed to clear my head. I didn’t know you were out here.”

Eddie squints at him. “You’re clearing your head by taking a walk in the woods?”

“Yes.”

They hold eye contacts for a few moments, and Steve can’t really tell what they’re silently sizing each other up about. Eddie reluctantly stands up and jumps off the table. “Fine. What are you clearing your head about?”

Steve stares at him.

“What?”

“Why do you want to know?”

Eddie steps closer to him and obnoxiously twirls a piece of hair around his finger. “Because you’re Steve Harrington, and I must be the luckiest guy in all of Hawkins since I’ve got you here alone with me.”

Steve laughs loudly and gently shoves Eddie away. “Shut up.”

Eddie’s cheeks flush pink, and Steve can almost see him biting back the words “make me.” Then he’s reminded of the rumor that Eddie bats for the other team, and Steve suddenly wonders if it’s true - not that he would mind.

Steve pushes the thought away as Eddie smiles sincerely and pushes some hair in front of his face. “Maybe I wouldn’t mind the company. Plus,” he turns and sprawls back on the picnic bench, “You can tell me anything. I’m great at keeping secrets, and even if I wasn’t, it would be your word against mine.”

Steve considers what he’s said before asking, “And how crazy of a secret would you not only keep but believe?”

Eddie smiles almost manically. “Try me.”

Steve looks around wondering if the government people or whoever they were can hear him out here. He’s not sure if it’s been long enough to guarantee there’s not someone keep track of each of them, waiting for them to slip up. He also wonders how cruel it would be to unload all of this onto Eddie. Steve knows life was much simpler before he knew that demogorgans existed.

“I’ve been fighting… some monsters recently,” Steve settles on, hoping Eddie doesn’t take it so literally.

“Yeah?”

Steve nods and takes a step closer to where Eddie is sitting, gesturing at nothing as he continues, “It started when I was an asshole to Nance and then she ran off with Jonathan and the rest is history there but… they really dragged me into some heavy shit.”

“I can imagine. It’s not every day that your girlfriend runs off with another guy. Which is a shitty thing to do by the way.”

Steve tries to steer the conversation away from his failed relationship without setting off Eddie’s alarm bells. “It’s not that I really blame them. I mean you’ve seen them, everyone has, they’re kind of made for each other. Who am I to get in the way of that? Especially since I was a shitty boyfriend. But that’s not the point. Before Nance left, I was pulled into helping some…” he pauses, trying to think of a way to talk about the kids out of context without sounding like a creep. “Well, there was this guy who needed help and so… I helped him and his friends out.”

Eddie fixes him with a carefully blank look. “Helped this guy out… how exactly?”

Steve shrugs and sits next to Eddie as he figures out how to phrase things. “He… well. His cat… di- escaped! It escaped. And I was helping him find it, and we actually grew pretty close.”

Eddie knocks his knee against Steve’s. “So… you and this guy grew… close.”

Steve nods and smiles. “Yeah, he’s this dumbass genius k-,” he cuts himself off before he can say kid. “Anyways, then his friends needed help, and I helped them fight… their monsters.”

Eddie raises his eyebrows at him. “So you helped… multiple guys… fight their… monsters?”

Steve nods. “Yeah. But that’s over and now I have to go back here and pretend that none of that ever happened. It just… sucks, man.”

Eddie nods. “Uh. Yeah. I can imagine pretending for so long is... exhausting.”

“Tell me about it,” Steve says with a laugh.

A silence falls between them and Eddie glances over at him. “You know… you don’t have to pretend with me.”

Steve smiles and wonders what not pretending means now, but it’s sounds good nonetheless. “Yeah, I think I’d like that.”

Eddie softly smiles and his eyes move down to Steve’s lips slowly. “Yeah?”

And oh. Oh. There was definitely a miscommunication somewhere along the way. And… okay. Fighting monsters and helping guys fight their monsters is maybe not the best phrasing. But Steve thinks he likes Eddie remaining so blissfully ignorant.

So, Steve kisses him.

And yeah. Maybe there are quite literally hundreds of different ways he could’ve let Eddie remain oblivious to the whole vague Upside Down retelling, but Steve can’t really complain when Eddie kisses him back, finding the scrape of stubble against his face surprisingly pleasant.

And Steve finds himself taking his time thoroughly allowing Eddie to believe this story that Steve wishes were true rather than the real thing. It’s only when Eddie’s watch beeps that they finally pull away for longer than a few seconds.

“Shit,” Eddie mumbles, resting his forehead against Steve’s, “Time to head back in.”

“Can’t skip?” Steve asks, wondering why he’s trying so hard to solidify his false story.

Eddie sighs and pulls away. “Unfortunately, if I skip anymore, they’re not going to let me graduate. Although right now I think spending more time with you might be more important than my diploma.”

Steve laughs and feels himself pleasantly flushing. He nudges Eddie’s shoulder with his own before standing up and offering his hand to him again. “Come on. We can’t have you not graduating again.”

“Again? Harrington, are you keeping tabs on me?”

Steve raises his eyebrows at him as Eddie takes his hand and pulls himself off the bench. “And what if I am?” He flirts easily.

Eddie smiles giddily and grabs his lunch box. “Then I really must be the luckiest boy in Hawkins.”

Steve doesn’t say anything when Eddie doesn’t let go of his hand as they walk out of the woods toward the school. It’s only as the school slowly comes into sight that Eddie drops Steve’s hand and shoves his hands into his pockets. He stops in his tracks and turns to Steve. “Hey, thanks for not pretending with me.”

Steve glances at the school before moving in to give Eddie one final kiss. He lingers in it before breaking away to say, “Thank you for listening.”

They wordlessly separate as the head back to the building, knowing that even with the few weeks of school left and both of their tarnished reputations that they can’t truly risk it all.

As Steve makes it to his class just before the final bell rings, he’s left to wonder if maybe he really does have some other type of monsters to fight. And he really hopes Eddie Munson can be there to help him with those ones again.

[magics-neptunes-things]

Bang, Bang.

Hi guys!

So this is from this request and it won't be an happy one. It might contain some medical things who aren't right, but I'm not a doctor even if I made some research to write something logical.

Please enjoy and thanks again dear anon for your perfect request ♥

Also no proofreading for now, sorry!

TW : Fight between lover, gun, shooting, bleeding, hospital, coma, sadness and a lot of angst.

Champion’s league finale. You are playing with your team against Barcelona and more specifically your girlfriend’s team. The Spanish are looking for another cup to continue to break all the records, but your team is very motivated to stop them. It would be the first Cup for your club and for you, too. It’s not ideal playing against your girlfriend honestly, but you knew when you start dating that it was a risk to take.

Alexia and you are together for more than two years now, your forever crush becoming reality at a point during the Euro and when Alexia did her ACL. It’s not easy being away from your girlfriend, even if you are playing in Manchester city with some of your national teammates and friends (Laia Aleixandri and Leila Ouahabi).

The game is tough, at the end of the ninety minutes, each team has scored two goals. At the 93 minutes, you manage to take the best on the defender who is marking you, using your full speed after having received a very good pass from Laia. You can hear the crowd screaming, City’s fans encouraging you while Barcelona’s fans are booing. But when you are facing the keeper, you shut everything and send a cannonball in the upper corner of the net. The keeper can’t do anything.

You don’t have time to register that you just scored 1 minute before the end of the adding time, your teammates tackling you on the ground. This is a mix of jersey, hair, hug and pat on the head for several seconds, before the referee ask you to go back to your position to start the game again.

She made you play two minutes more to catch up the time you lost while celebrating, but Barcelona don’t score. Then the whistle resonate in the stadium and you just won the UEFA Champions League. Not knowing how to react, you stay still for many seconds, before someone jump on your back to train you in a group hug.

You don’t stay a long time though, you want to check on Alexia. You easily find your girlfriend sitting on the ground, her jaw clenched. There is no one around her, so you chose to go to see her. You promised each other that you won’t be resentful to the other, whatever the ending of this game is.

So you think nothing more than being a recomfort to your girlfriend when you arrive next to her.

“Hi” you say softly.

You don’t know if Alexia realized your presence before you talk, but the eyes she lays on you aren’t really friendly. But you decide not to stress about it, kneeling next to her to put a comforting hand on her arm.

“You played very well. I’m so proud of you for the way you leaded your team. And this goal was something else.”

You smile, referring to the second goal, a real banger from Alexia. She doesn’t answer anything, so you just continue talking.

“You can be proud of yourself too, you know? You did everything you could and gave all you could. It’s –“

“Can you please shut the fuck up?”

Alexia doesn’t look at you when she cuts you, but you can tell how angry she is just with the tone of her voice. You are surprised enough to stay quiet and she continues.

“Don’t act like you have all the merits on this win. Your team is lucky that some girls are injured and that we don’t have our usual team playing tonight. If we had all the players, we would have crush you. Don’t take your win for what it’s not. You are just lucky, this has nothing to do with talent.”

Well, you didn’t expect that. Alexia has always been supportive of you, but more generally she always has been respectful and fair play to her opponents. You realize that there is Leila and Patri standing behind you when Alexia gets up to go somewhere else.

“Alexia.” Patri says in a tone of reproach.

But your girlfriend doesn’t answer anything, still walking to the Barcelona’s bench. You can only look at her leaving, stunned by her reaction. You take Leila’s hand who helps you to get up.

“Don’t listen to her” Patri says before hugging you. “You were amazing.”

“Thank you” you mumble.

Leila hugs you tightly too, not without looking at Alexia with reproach too. After that, the ceremony has a bitter taste for you, to be honest. It can’t be seen on picture, you are smiling between Alanna Kennedy and Laia, raising the cup or kissing it. Or being kissed on the head by Laia.

But in reality, you just want to talk to your girlfriend. She didn’t look at you when she passed between the two lines of your team when she goes to take her silver medals. And then she just went to the locker room, not even watching you raise the cup. It hurts, as much as her words did.

But you try to be understanding, you know how bad your girlfriend deal with the idea of losing anything, probably taking all the mistakes on herself. You manage to catch her, hair down and wet, before she leaves with her teammates to take the bus to go back to her hotel.

“Alexia!” you call her.

You don’t see her sigh and roll her eyes, which is good otherwise you probably will be hurt a little more. She was walking with Irene and Ona and turn around to look at you. You already talked with the two others after the game, so you smile back at them when they smile to you before leaving both of you.

“What do you want?” Alexia says harshly.

You are a little stunned, by the tone of her voice and the question. But you don’t say anything, trying to ignore the strange feeling in your stomach. Alexia never talked to you that way. You almost never fought since you are together.

“Talk to you? Can we at least have some minutes together?”

There is a moment of silence.

“No. I don’t want to talk or see you right now.”

********

The celebrations are strange after that. You make all the efforts you can to keep a smile on your face and not ruin your teammate’s joy. Alanna and Leila are looking at you with intensity and you’re pretty sure that Leila told to Alanna what happened between you and Alexia. But you manage to keep them away from you enough to be able to leave as soon as Kerstin.

You tried several times to call Ale when you go back to your hotel, but she doesn’t answer. You prefer to think that she’s asleep and not ignoring you. You send her a message after that, hopping to have an answer during the night or in the morning.

You didn’t.

The morning after, when you wake up, you realize that there is no message from Alexia. Your social media are full of notifications but nothing from your girlfriend. You haven’t post anything either, not wanting to upset your girlfriend even more.

You were supposed to stay in Paris, where the finale was played, together for two days before going back to Barcelona. But with Alexia not giving you any news, you are really scared that she chose to go back to Barcelona without you.

After reading the list of your friends in the Barcelona’s team, you chose to try to call Ona. You can’t help but smirk when you hear Lucy’s voice instead of the Spaniard. But your friend comes several seconds after, and you are finally able to ask if she has news from Alexia.

You are relieved to learn that she’s still in Paris, and even more when Ona accepts to make you sneak in the hotel. Your plan is to go buy some flowers and chocolate for your girlfriend; this is her guilty pleasure. You discovered that during the first weeks of dating her.

After some research, you chose the best chocolate shop around your hotel and go to it to buy some. You take some time to select them, being sure that Alexia will enjoy every single one of them. When you are happy with it, you pay the box but add a cute white teddy bear sitting next to the cashier. No one seems to recognize you, which you are glad for. Like this you can take all the time you want.

You decide to walk to go to the florist, situated between the chocolate shop and Alexia’s hotel. The weather is great, sunny but not too hot. It’s still hotter than Manchester though.

The florist is very nice, and you look around while she’s serving other people who were already here when you arrived, right now it’s a family with a small girl smiling at you. You love the smell in here. The roses are amazing, and you ask the florist something with red roses in it. You look at her ease to make a wonderful bouquet with amazement.

“Tout le monde les mains en l’air !“

You hear the shout before you see the man, but the sweet florist’s face is suddenly very white. You don’t understand what was told, so you turn around to look what is happening.

There is a man with his face hidden behind a mask who is pointing a gun in your direction. You are glad that the family with the cute toddler left.

“A genoux!”

You don’t understand and you have to look around to know what he’s asking. The other raised their arms and are now kneeling, while you are still standing without moving.

That seems to make the man very mad. When you turn your eyes to him once again, he says something that might be a swear word. Then there is a sound of gunfire and the pain you feel is worst than anything you felt in your life.

You hit your head hard on the ground and suddenly the people around are screaming, but you don’t understand why. They are talking in French, and you have trouble to understand anything. It seems to you that the man got the money he wanted before leaving. The rush in your ears is very unpleasant and when you look at your chest, you realize that there is a big, red spot on your white shirt.

Suddenly there is a woman kneeling next to you, grabbing your face to make you look at her. It’s the florist.

“Hey! We called the ambulance, they are coming, ok? Stay awake, please.”

“I need to call Alexia” you breath, while taking your phone from your pocket.

“OK. I’ll press something on your stomach to stop the bleeding, ok?”

You just nod. Your hands are shaking while you open your phone, and your vision is blur when you look for your girlfriend’s number. It’s not hard to find though, she’s on the top of your list. You let the phone ring for several longs minutes before accepting the fact that Alexia won’t answer.

“She’s maybe still asleep” the girl points.

“No” you whisper shakily. “She’s mad at me. Those were supposed to be gifts for her”

“I’m sure she’ll love it”

You start to have trouble to breath. You close your eyes and try to take a big breath. You start to feel anxious too. Are you going to die without having heard your girlfriend’s voice a last time? Without being able to tell her how much you love her, how much she means for you?

You suddenly feels very tired, you understand what it’s mean. Fighting to open your eyes, you look for the woman’s eyes before talking. It seems like you don’t speak very loud, because she leans on you to understand.

“Will you tell her that I love her? Please. She always meant the world to me and I’m sorry that she’s so upset. Will you tell her?”

The woman’s eyes are wet when she talks to you.

“You will tell her yourself, Sweetheart.”

You know you won’t be able to. So you need her to promise you.

“Please. There are no words strong enough, but I love her more than anything. Will you give her my presents too? I wrote a card with the bear”

Your words are hard to pronounce, but you manage to say every single one of them, being sure to be understand. The woman nods and you feel relieved.

“I’m sure she loves you too.”

The woman cup your face and you decide to believe her. You close your eyes again and let yourself being wrapped by the memories you have with Alexia. The best of your life.

********

Alexia is sitting in a chair, her head in her hands. Everything seems unreal. Her eyes are red from crying, her throat is dry, and her head is pounding painfully. And she wonders if her breathing will be normal again at a moment.

She feels awful.

She was the worst girlfriend in the world for you and you never deserved it. You took the time to find her to talk to her even if you were probably drunk with the adrenaline of the win. You said sweet words to her, took the time to comfort her and she still had this behavior.

To be fair to her, she was really trying to find a way to come back to you to apologize. She was showering when you tried to call her after being shot, not knowing that you already made a plan with Ona to come to her.

Then, she received the worst call of her life. She’s the number one on your emergency calls so the hospital you were transferred to call her as soon as they could. It was three days ago, and she never left this room since.

You had a surgery and when she arrived in your room at first, you weren’t even here. Then they bring you in it and she learned that you probably won’t make it. But it’s been three days, and you are still here, your brain seems to still work correctly, and your heart is still beating.

You lost a lot of blood though and several of your organs got touched by the bullet. You are healing and it’s only because you are an athlete and in a very good shape that you are still alive.

Just when she thought that nothing could get worse, she received a visit that she didn’t except. She frowns at first when a cute girl entered your room with a teddy bear, a chocolate box and flowers. But then the florist explained to her what you ask her to do and that the precise moment where Alexia lost it.

You parents and Alexia’s mother join you in the hospital to be there for you, but for Alexia too. Ale’s mother never managed to get Alexia out of your room. Alexia sleep on the chair, Alexia eats the awful hospital’s food, Alexia takes shower in the bathroom of your room.

Sometimes she cries, sometimes she just looks at you. No one never heard her voice since she’s here. She’s so hurt that she feels like she can’t speak anymore. She only speaks to you when you both are alone. She’s so hurt, too, that she wants to rip her heart of her chest.

Alexia lost track of time, her mother and your parents left several hours ago now, and the sky is dark. The bips from the monitoring are still in the background, but Alexia doesn’t pay attention to them anymore. Unless they are making strange sounds, like yesterday. Your heart was suddenly in great difficulty.

The nurses explain to her after having stabilized you that it’s because your body need a lot to heal, and it could be hard for your heart.

The Spaniard keeps thinking that her behavior probably had hurt your heart so much that she’s responsible of your state. She is wrong of course, even if she was bad after the game, it’s not in any case of her fault.

When Alexia raises her head again to look at you, you are still with your eyes closed, your skin paler than ever. You are Spanish too, you have a natural tan skin, but now you look… ill. Alexia hates it.

“Mi Amor” she whispers while taking your hand in hers, her throat hurts when she talks. “I know you are doing everything you can to heal and come back. You don’t know what your life means to a lot of people here. Your parents, your family, your friends, your fans… Me, of course. But I don’t know if you steel want me after everything that happened. You got hurt because of me.”

If she wasn’t a little shit, you wouldn’t have been in this flower shop. That’s what she shouts to her sister when Alba tried to make her leave your room. Tears are rolling again on her cheeks, and you would probably kiss them if you were awake.

“I am so sorry. I’ll give everything to be at your place. I’m not able to ask it, but please come back. I need you so much. I don’t know how I am supposed to continue without you. You weren’t at Barcelona, but it’s seems like you are everywhere every time. Everything makes me think about you. I need you. Please. I’m so sorry.”

Alexia lost her father several years ago and it was heartbreaking, of course. Her father was her model when she was younger. Her guide. But you, you are the love of her life and she is convinced that she won’t survive your lost.

“Take the time you need to heal and then I’ll do everything for you to forgive me.”

Tears are rolling freely on her face, but she doesn’t care anymore since a very long time. She rather kisses your hand, relieved to feel the warm of your skin on her lips. Alexia frowns slightly while looking at your fingers though. They had to remove the ring you were usually wearing on your finger; the one Alexia offered you for your one year together. Alexia wears it around her neck on her chain, her fingers being too big to wear it on her finger.

“I love you. I’ll stay with you every second until you wake up.”

She means it and she did it. Even when they were other games played, she never left your side. They talked about transferring you in England, where you live, but Alexia refused, and your parents agreed with her. They never doubt about the love Alexia had for you; you never hide from them how good Alexia treated you during your time together.

You weren’t really aware of that to be honest. You were somewhere over the rainbow, far away from your girlfriend and the one you love. Even if it isn’t the case for Alexia, it’s better for you. Seeing Alexia’s distress would probably break you. You sometimes feel lighter, but you like to think that it’s the time when Alexia takes your hand or kiss it.

********

“We would like to make her try to breath without monitoring. We need to see if she’s able to breath alone.”

“No.”

Alexia’s answer is harsh and cold, but her mother puts a hand on her shoulder to calm her. Your mother is more diplomatic about her answer.

“Isn’t it risky?”

“Everything is risky” the doctor says, trying to ignore Alexia’s glare. “But her organs are better, and we need to revise her treatment. We will stop the monitoring for an hour, and we will check her oxygen constantly during the process.”

“What if she stops breathing?” Alexia asks.

“The chances are very rare. In fact,…”

“What. If. She. Stops. Breathing.”

Your father smirks when your girlfriend talks again, carefully articulating each of her words with cold anger. He always loved Alexia and he probably loves her even more right now.

“We will put her back on monitoring and try something else.”

Alexia snorts and crosses her arms on her chest. She hates that idea; she hates the idea that they are putting you in danger without any reason. She doesn’t say that it’s bullshit just because her mother is here and she is always careful about the words she chooses when Eli is around.

“I won’t leave her side a single second” she rather informs your medical team.

She doesn’t when they try, her eyes being on the screen with the indicator of your oxygen in your body or on your chest, watching it raise every single time. When one hour is passed and you are still breathing normally, she feels a little better. The medical team decided to let you like this for now, wanting to see if you can make the night.

The night pass and you are still breathing. Then a whole day.

“I’m so proud of you” Alexia whispered against your forehead before kissing it softly.

She explained to her mother how she treated you the next time you saw her, the guilt was eating her alive. Her mother didn’t try to tell her that she’s wrong to feel that way, Eli agreed with Alexia about how bad she was. She nevertheless comforts her daughter with words she knew were true. She remembers to Alexia how much you love her and that you still went to grab her presents before wanting to come to her.

Three days without monitoring and you are still breathing like you are peacefully sleeping. They are still feeding you with your catheter but other than that you don’t need anything to be alive.

Everything was fine and that’s why she panicked when you start to whine suddenly. Hands shaking, she jumps from her chair looking around before pressing the button to call the nurses. She doesn’t know what she managed to say, but the nurses start to talk way to fast in French, one of them taking her phone to call the doctor.

“What is happening?” Alexia asks, her breath almost impossible to take.

“We need you to leave the room for a little time” one of the nurses asks her.

“No way!”

“Alexia…”

Eli’s voice makes her daughter looks around, but the blond doesn’t move. She just shakes her head, informing every single person in the room that she won’t leave you. Bad or good news, she will be here. She needs to be here.

The three women don’t have the time to convince Alexia a little longer, because the doctor suddenly comes into your room, talking in French too and Alexia wonders if she will explode from frustration soon.

She sees several monitors coming into your room too and when your mother-in-law comes to your girlfriend to pass her arms around her shoulder, Alexia looks at her with lost eyes.

“Is that it? Is she dying?” she whispers.

Eli feels her heart break, but she doesn’t answer. She doesn’t know. She just cups her daughter’s face and keep her face on her chest. Eli doesn’t move when Alexia grip her arms pretty hard, tightening her daughter even closer to her, trying to protect your girlfriend from another lost.

The next minutes were agonizing for your girlfriend, and she can’t open her mouth when the doctor comes next to her. She doesn’t understand all the bip from the different monitors around you. She doesn’t know if you are still alive or not.

“She is ok” he says at first, having learn to understand Alexia through the days, and your girlfriend feels like she might faint from relieving. “I think she is trying to wake up. The next hours will be decisive.”

After that, Alexia sits even closer to your face to have a better look at you. Every night her mother goes back to the house Alexia rent for her and your family so they can be close to you.

She hasn’t sleep since more than twenty-seven hours when you move again. But this time you open your eyes and look around. You seem scared, your eyes looking around you.

“Sh Bébé, can you hear me?” Alexia whispers after having regained some composure.

Her hand is on your face, soft like a feather. She manages to calm you quickly and you nod very softly. Alexia sees it anyway.

“You are at the hospital. You are safe, ok? Just try to breath a little slowly.”

You keep looking at her, trying your best to calm yourself. You don’t know how many minutes have passed before you swallow your saliva and open your mouth.

“No. Don’t talk. Keep your energy, ok?” Alexia whispers again.

As your memories come back, you are relieved to see that Alexia is by your side. She looks like she hasn’t sleep or eat in the last two weeks, but you don’t leave her face with your eyes, even when she moves to let the doctor and nurses check several things on you.

You tiredly let them do what they want with you and Alexia never left you with her eyes either. She watches the medical team to be sure they are doing things right with you. When they talk to you in English, you are way to tired to understand what they are saying. Luckily, your girlfriend is here to translate in Spanish.

“They want to know if you are hurt somewhere. Don’t shake your head, just close your eyes two times if you are hurt and one if you are ok.”

You blink slowly one time. You are not hurt, you are tired. Your answer seems to relieve everyone around and you close your eyes to rest when they are talking in English again. Alexia answers something and you trust her to make things right. They are talking for several minutes before the silence is here again.

You open your eyes suddenly, scared that Alexia has left too. But she’s here, typing on her phone, informing your parents and family that you are awake. She seems surprised to see you watching her when she puts her phone down.

“I thought you fall back asleep” she says softly, turning her body to look at you. “Do you want to drink?”

You blink once and she almost run to get you a glass of water from the bathroom. If you were able, you probably have laugh at her. You hope to have a little of water in your mouth can help you to talk. Alexia uses the buttons of the bed to make you seat and is very careful in every of her move to help you drink.

“They said a little bit at time”

You oblige and the feeling is amazing honestly. You look at your girlfriend and you focus on your sentence before talking, not wanting to waste any energy.

“Did you get my presents?”

Your voice is awful, but it’s not a surprise. You don’t really know since when you are here, without talking. But you need to know.

Alexia turns in your direction and suddenly her eyes are wet with tears and her hands are shaking.

“I did. That sweet girl came in here to give them to me the first day. The flowers are here” she points them. “Thank you, even if you shouldn’t needed to get me any of this. We will talk about it later, but Y/N/N I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve the way I treated you. You are the sweetest and most perfect girl in the world. And I love you more than anything.”

“Alexia…”

She puts her finger on your lips, putting you in silence.

“Keep your energy for when your parents are coming.”

You roll briefly your eyes and for the first time in weeks, Alexia smiles. Not her sometimes awkward smile, who makes you think about that Friend’s episode where Chandler is supposed to smile for his engagement’s pictures. You always teased her about it.

“I love you more than anything too” you whisper when she takes her finger back. “Stay with me?”

“Of course I will”

You don’t know that she never left your side since you are here. Just like her mother several hours ago, she cups your face with extra care before stroking your hair. Right to her words, Alexia never left you for a second and wait for you to be able to go back to Barcelona for your recovery.

********

Several Months Later.

“What would you think about me coming to play in England?”

In shock, you spit out the pudding you were innocently eating. Like every morning since your hospitalization, Alexia and you are talking over FaceTime while you are eating your breakfast. Like always, Alexia just came back from her morning jogging and is eating her breakfast too.

“What the hell are you talking about?” you ask, the choc passed.

“Me playing in Manchester? I really want to be close to you. I hate being so far away from you and being able to have you in my arms only for two weeks every two months.”

You probably are dreaming or hallucinating. You look at your girlfriend on your screen like if you were waiting for her to tell it’s only a joke. That’s what you are waiting, to be honest.

“Alexia, you will die in the English weather” you point. “And they are eating pudding and beans on a toast for breakfast here, I don’t know how you would survive.”

Your girlfriend rolls her eyes – just like she hates you do – and seems suddenly to find her tortilla very interesting.

“Don’t you want me there with you?” she asks with insecurity.

Since you got shot, you sometimes have the impression that she’s just waiting for you to break up with her. Something you will never do, how in the world are you supposed to live without your reason to breath?

“That’s not the point Cariño” you assure her with a smile. “I would love to be able to wake up every morning next to you.”

“What is it then?”

She’s almost pouting and you want to squeeze her cheeks with your hands.

“There is something I haven’t talked to you about.”

She looks panicked when she raises her eyes on your, turning your head back on you so quickly that you wonder if she hurts herself.

“What?”

“Don’t be mad, ok?” you begin, starting to eat your porridge again. “But I might have received an offer from Barcelona. I haven’t talk to you about yet because I wanted to be sure that it’s a real offer and that they are serious about it. City seems ok with me coming back to Barcelona, but nothing is signed for now.”

“Do you want it? Coming back?”

You look at your girlfriend thoughtfully. You understand where this question comes from, Alexia just wants to be sure that you are not doing things for her, but for you and your career.

“I miss Barcelona. I miss the Spanish weather, I miss my family… Sure I’ll miss Laia and Leila and the RFEF is still shit, but I want to give it a try.”

“Ok” Alexia smiles.

You can see that she’s thinking about something, but you don’t pressure her to talk. You know that it will comes when she will be ready. You finish your breakfast, talking about everything and nothing while Alexia looks at you from the corner of her eyes. The thoughts haunting her mind come out loud several minutes later.

“Are you going to go back to your parent’s?”

“Like living with them?” you raise an eyebrow before continuing when Alexia nods. “No, of course not. I’m 24 years old, I’m way to old to leave with my parents again” you laugh softly. “Why?”

“I was thinking that there’s enough room in my closet for both of us. If you want it.”

“Are you asking me to move in with you?” you smile tenderly.

“Yes, if you want to?”

“I would love it, Ale.”

______________________________________________________________

To be honest with you I wanted to make R died but I can't stand a sad Alexia.

[clockwayswrites]

Part 2

Part 1

Danny & Cass, Cyan, Wind chime bells @wandixx

Cass placed the backpack down on the kitchen counter, unzipped it, and spread the opening purposefully.

Alfred looked from the bag to Cass, one pointed white brow raised. Keeping her eyes locked with Alfred, she took an apple from the fruit bowl and placed it inside the bag.

A moment later the brow lowered and a small smile pulled at the corner of his lips. “Ah, looking for a picnic, Miss Cassandra?”

Pleased he had gotten it, Cass nodded eagerly and held up two fingers.

“A picnic for two? Is one of your siblings joining you?” He asked.

Cass shook her head.

“Ah. Are you off to see a friend?”

Cass nodded and scooted the bag a little closer towards Alfred.

“Well then,” Alfred said after a beat, “any allergies your friend has?”

She took a moment to think about and then shook her head. She’d always seen Danny eat everything that either of them could get their hands on.

“And is your friend human?”

That was an odd question. Cass’s face scrunched up in confusion.

“You would not believe the things that both Master Richard and Master Jason got up to,” Alfred answered, looking like a man who had been long suffering.

Cass gave a little giggle, which softened Alfred’s expression.

“If you will give me a small time, I will put together a meal for you and your friend. Perhaps, while I do so, you would go and let Master Bruce know that you are going out.”

That seemed odd, but Cass figured it was part of being in a family now. They often liked to know where she was or tell each other when they were going somewhere not the manor or would be be back to the manor. It was still taking time for Cass to be used to all of these rules that weren’t rules.

Knocking she understood now, it was apparently polite and sneaking through the shadows was not. To that end, she knocked on the door to Bruce’s study and waited for the slightly distracted ‘come in’ to enter.

“Cass,” Bruce said with a smile when he looked up from his work. “How are you doing today, honey?”

Cass gave him a thumbs up as he turned on the tablet on his desk and spun it around for her. Her tongue stuck out just slightly as she looked for the right images.

🦢🫱🥪🎒 🏠🐦‍⬛➡️🌆

Bruce watched her put in the images. “Ah… Alfred is putting food in a bag for you and you’re going into the city?”

Cass nodded.

“Alright…,” Bruce said slowly. He tapped the edge of the tablet in a soft rhythm. “Thank you for letting me know. First off, do you have your phone with you?”

Cass pulled it out of her back pocket.

“Good. Do you remember what we talked about with the emergency button? How even if you don’t think you need the help, you should press it if there’s any trouble?”

Cass swiped over to the left screen and the large button on it before locking the phone again.

“Alright. Are you willing to wear an alert bracelet too?” Bruce asked and purposeful leaned back into his chair and forced himself to relax. “That way if your phone is taken or breaks you can still press the bracelet. It has a tracker in it, but we won’t use it unless we need to or you tell us too.”

It didn’t really mater to her, she wouldn’t be here if she didn’t trust them, so Cass gave a little shrug and help out her wrist.

Bruce gave an amused snort and opened up one of his drawers. “If you’re any example, daughters really are easier than sons.”

The bracelet, black of course, was a little snug, but it was low profile enough not to get in the way. Cass adjusted it just slightly before she was satisfied. She was confused though when Bruce stood.

He gave her a soft smile. “I’ll drive you into the city. I have some paperwork there I should get anyways.”

That was a little bit of a lie, but Cass decided not to call him on it and simple held out her hand for Bruce to take.

-

“You aren’t supposed to come out here anymore,” Danny said. He’s trying to look mad— arms crossed with a wide stance, but the way he looked at her from under his black bangs gave him away.

Cass patted the spot on the roof next to her. It’s one of their favorite spots to watch the sunset together. Not only was the view of the sunset over the waters amazing, but when there was a breeze they could hear all the bits of metal tied to the bridge next to them clink in the wind. It made Cass sad to think of Danny watching it up here alone now.

He gave an aggrieved sigh but took the indicated spot. Once he’s seated, Cass starts pulling out the food. There are bulging sandwiches, fresh fruit, salty chips, and best of all cookies.

“Wow,” Danny said. His hand twitched like he wanted to just reach out and start eating before the food disappeared.

Cass handed him a sandwich.

“You still shouldn’t be out here,” Danny protested, but the words were muffled by the large bite of food.

Cass just smiled and started on her own.

Part 3

[lifeandlies-of-regulusblack]

James "I love him, I can't let him go" Potter

Sirius "You can't have him, he's my brother" Black

James "He's not yours! He's his own person!" Potter

Sirius "You don't know anything! You've never had anyone! You grew up alone or did you forget?" Black

James "I thought I had you! I grew up with you! I've always had you! And I love Regulus, please" Potter

Sirius "Not him. You can't have him. He's my brother" Black.

James is fighting Sirius' adamant insistence to find someone else. And James finally snaps and asks if he hates his brother so damn much. The answer? Not really. Quite the contrary, in fact. Sirius has, in all aspects lost his brother the same way Regulus has lost him. But a primal fear awakens at the thought of James getting to have Regulus, when he cannot. That's his brother. James, who's always had so much everything, that giving becomes easy. James and his perfect family. James with all the love to give.

But Sirius was raised hungry and bereft. This is why he'd always been desperate for what James could give him and why he ate from his fingertips. Parents. A home. Reprieve. Safety. Why he soaked up Effie's mothering. Why his parents were the ones James had given him. Sirius who had nothing except for what James gives, because Sirius was a hungry child.

But Regulus was his. Regulus was the one true thing in his life that had been completely his. And he's terrified. He balks at the anger, the desperation, the ugly jealousy that rears its head at the prospect of James Potter (who he loves. Who he would die for. Who he admires. Who he can't help but idolize. James, who he has always envied.) becoming a home for Regulus, when Sirius still aches at their separation. Regulus is his brother. His.

James isn't the bad guy in this story but neither is Sirius. James has simply stumbled upon Sirius' pain. And Sirius isn't quite ready to be nice or good about any of it. Especially when it comes to James and Regulus. Respectively, his strength and weakness.

[two-white-butterflies]

★ — it was all yellow | carlos sainz

Description: After finding Carlos in bed with an internet starlet, you decided to break up with him. 5 years later, you meet him again.

Pairing: actress/singer!reader/carlos sainz

Trope: Secret Baby Trope

Disclaimer: Everything written in this fanfic holds no truth about anyone's personality or actions. It is made purely for entertainment.

A/N: I got so many requests for this typa trope and I only got the idea now. Super sorry for the 6 month delay WAHHAHA.

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yn.ln: the vibe that we bring to the function. btw 💚 HOTDS2 is out!

liked by danielricciardo and 71,923 others

>comments

danielricciardo: Helaena Targaryen >>> - edited: Helaena Targaryen <<<

echibano82: MAN!! 😭

ynforever: the rise and fall of a midwest princess is my fav album of urs

formula.unoworld: sainz fumbled a baddie

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because.official: Carlos and Pinon 😘❤️ #MyHeart

liked by carlossainz55 and 6,293 others

>comments

foreveryoung78: Wake up Carlos the fatherhood allegations are strong today

solonglondon: U ever heard of a boy named Pablo Sainz? 😳

bestfriendsfw: miss Because...go and tell ur mans - landofanbase: HER NAME ALWAYS TAKES ME OUT 😭 WHY IS HER STAGE NAME "BECAUSE"

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WHO IS CARLOS SAINZ'S NEW GIRLFRIEND? BECAUSE...

Brezziana Aziza, whose stage name is Because has gained fame because of her relationship with Formula One Driver Carlos Sainz Jr. Previously known on social media as an influencer who vlogs about her daily life, netizens began to call her "Because" well because of her excessive use of that word.

Although she has stopped using that word since, the name has stuck. She is currently under fire for visiting a Shein Factory in China. For more details please click this link: Shein sent American influencers to China.

>comments

becauseunitedfanbase: she's so funny n quirky i get it why carlos loves her

breatheinlouder: if pablo does belong to sainz, brezziana broke a family up - corduroy8chan: the family broke because sainz allowed it to be broken, she's homewrecker because...? - becauseunitedfanbase: more like home renovator

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Just an Inchident (Charles L., Max V., Lando N., Carlos S.)

Carlos Sainz holy shit guys did you see twitter

Charles Leclerc Yeah man Is it real?

Lando Norris i did some research and this kid's 6-4 yrs old there's a chance mates

Carlos Sainz how am i even supposed to ask her? it was so awkward when it ended i totally regret doing that to her but im so happy with because now

Charles Leclerc There's a fat chance that the kid is yours man

Lando Norris ask her like a civilized man dude i saw a reel where someone asked her if pablos yours

Max Verstappen Who uses reels mate? 🤣 2 reacted 🤣

Lando Norris well she avoided the question silence means yes if you aren't the father she'd answer it

Carlos Sainz maybe she wants to torture me

Charles Leclerc She's a good person man I don't think that she'll do that Plus she's above using her son for leverage

Carlos Sainz and how do you know that Charles? we haven't spoken to her in years

Max Verstappen She grabs coffee with Victoria on Tuesdays I've actually known about Pablo for a while now

Carlos Sainz 👍🏻 2 reacted 🤣

Max Verstappen 👍🏻 .

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yn.ln: i want a velaryon burial #HOTDS2

liked by 93,192 others

>comments

danielricciardo: the camera quality sucks just letting you know - yn.ln: thanks! i have eyes btw

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yn.ln: A lot of you wanted to comment and ask questions about my son, and I never really posted about him because I'm not like those parents who use their kids on social media for likes and clout.

Five years ago, I gave birth to my first baby, Pablo L/N (09/12/18) and every day has been filled with laughter and warmth 🦋 he was not a secret, but I tried to keep his life private. Now, a lot of people feel like they have the right to know everything about him. What he looks like. Who his father is. I'm telling you that it doesn't matter.

You don't have the right to his face. You don't have the right to know about his family life because it doesn't concern you and it never will.

Thank you so much to my friends!! @danielricciardo @rileykeough #DakotaJohnson and #ChrisMartin

liked by 1,239,901 others

>comments

danielricciardo: ❤️

rileykeough: 🥺 i love you and p

victoriaverstappen: We love you! - yn.ln: thank you vic, playdate with luka and lio soon? - victoriaverstappen: Absolutely!

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email to destinybumgarneroffice@gmail.com (Y/N L/N publicist) from danielkirkmanhq@gmail.com

Good morning Dessie.

This is Carlos Sainz Jr's publicist, Daniel Kirkman, in light of the rumors between my client and Miss Y/N L/N we humbly request the truth about Pablo L/N's paternity in order to legally and publicly clear things up. Speaking as your old friend, these past few months have been stressful both physically and mentally. Even if there's a sliver of hope that the kid is Carlos' please update me.

Warm regards, Daniel Kirkman.

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email to danielkirkmanhq@gmail.com (Y/N L/N publicist) from destinybumgarneroffice@gmail.com (Carlos Sainz Jr's publicist)

Good afternoon Mr. Kirkman.

I can see that the years have hardly changed you, you still have horrible email etiquette. Because we are old friends, I spoke to Y/N. Truth is, the things that I'm going to share today will ruin your client's reputation if our emails are ever leaked. Remember the fallout of 2018? We both celebrated New Years in Y/N's Santa Monica House.

Actually, New Years was the day we found out that she was pregnant. Not a doubt in our hearts that the baby was Carlos'. We were about to tell him but the moment we landed in Ibiza, she saw Carlos in bed with Brezziana. (I refuse to call her Because!! BECAUSE it is confusing and preposterous.)

I think that hiding Pablo from his father wasn't right, but I don't blame her for doing it. As for the paternity test, Y/N agreed but the team will come back to you with the legalities and such. As a 'friend' I want to tell you that the best Carlos is ever going to have is him paying child support and seeing the child once or twice a month.

Y/N has a lot of lawyers, more than we do friends. And judging by Carlos' personality, I don't think that he'll fight for his son.

Warm Regards, Destiny Bumgarner

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email to destinybumgarneroffice@gmail.com (Y/N L/N publicist) from danielkirkmanhq@gmail.com

Good evening Destiny! What makes you think that Y/N's going to win the legalities? + I never expected you to reveal all of this via chat. You sure that I won't betray you?

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email to danielkirkmanhq@gmail.com (Y/N L/N publicist) from destinybumgarneroffice@gmail.com (Carlos Sainz Jr's publicist)

I got dealt with the winning hand now Dan.

I know you're smart enough not to doubt me. :)

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email to destinybumgarneroffice@gmail.com (Y/N L/N publicist) from danielkirkmanhq@gmail.com

All is fair in connections and clientele?

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email to danielkirkmanhq@gmail.com (Y/N L/N publicist) from destinybumgarneroffice@gmail.com (Carlos Sainz Jr's publicist)

All is fair in life, Dan.

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oliviacooke: sorry for drinking your juice hun. 📸 pablo l/n

liked by 283,192 others

>comments

yn.ln: haha thanks for carrying his bags liv

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There are only two things. Truth and lies.

Truth is indivisible, hence it cannot recognize itself; anyone who wants to recognize it has to be a lie.

The past that you've tried to bury has slowly began to reveal itself. Maybe it was your fault, you aren't sure...

Carlos Sainz was a horrible man. He cheated on you. He didn't apologize. He admitted that another woman made him happier. Was there something special about her? A simple internet starlet with no proper claim to fame made him feel more alive.

"You've got to face him anyways." Dakota placed a glass of wine on the coffee table. "Pablo isn't his. He doesn't even look like him." you shook your head, unable to accept the inevitable truth.

"I've read all the posts on Twitter, they don't think that I have the right to push my son away from his father. Carlos is immature, I don't think that he's even capable of being a father." you scoff, taking a sip.

Haven't you given your son everything that he needed? An iPad, a big house, private education, and vacations in all the nice places.

"Two wrongs don't make a right." Destiny breathed.

"- from what Kirkman says, Carlos has changed. I don't encourage you to be romantic partners or even best friends, but please be civil for Pablo. Please let him have a civil relationship with his father." she added. "I hate it when you're right." you looked away.

You've seen his posts. You've seen his interviews.

There wasn't a bone in his body that screamed mischievousness anymore. He looked tame. Happier.

He achieved all of that without you, and maybe you could be that too.

You can be everything without him too.

"So you'll talk to him?" Dakota asked.

"I'll give it a try." I relented.

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Look at the stars.

Look how they shine for you.

The music played in the background as you sashayed your way into the VIP section of your friend's restaurant. Destiny was an angel enough to close shop and ensure that your privacy was protected especially in these vulnerable moments.

A sigh escapes your mouth, hearing that song in the background. As much as you adored Chris Martin, this song was getting in your feels.

You take a sharp turn, halting once you see his figure.

The very same man that shattered your world in Ibiza. The very same man that looked you in the eyes while he admitted that someone else made him much much happier than you, his fiancee.

And it was called Yellow.

"Thank you so much for being here, Y/N." your name sounded soft on his lips. Behind his brown eyes, there was sorrow - not to be confused with regret because he looked better than he ever was. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" you chuckled.

While nothing about you has changed.

Carlos has changed drastically.

"Destiny told me about the emails. Your team wanted a paternity test, right? You don't need it, Pablo is yours." you decided to be straightforward, not bothering to sugarcoat the truth.

You could feel that bitterness on your throat, like tears were threatening to spill out of your eyes, like you just swallowed a pill and forgot to drank water afterwards.

"Uhh - I found out on New Years day, and I wanted to tell you in Ibiza." you didn't bother to continue the story. He knows what you mean.

For you I'd bleed myself dry.

"I'm sorry, really sorry for not being a man. I know that we were about to get married, and I got scared. I was 24 years old, everyone was telling me that I had another life ahead of me. I was young. I wanted to ruin my life. I-I shouldn't have brought you with me." he apologized, trying to find the words that could articulate his feelings.

This was all that you needed from him.

An apology.

"When Destiny found out, she grabbed me by the ear. Told me that I could live a hundred lifetimes and never deserve you. I believe her, and I want to do everything to make it up to you and Pablo." he promised, but there were still words unsaid - the turn of his brows telling you that he wasn't willing to return back to normal.

That he still loves Because more than he's ever loved you.

"Do you love her?" you smiled bitterly. Your smile.

Look how they shine for you.

"I betrayed both of you that night. She didn't know that we were dating. She didn't know who I was. I apologized to her and she forgave me, but I realized a few years after that I should've apologized to you too." he admitted. "- I love her, really."

You knew that he wasn't lying.

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destinybumgarner: this is the PINK PONY CLUB

liked by 712 others

>comments

yn.ln: WAHAHAH IM JUST HAVING FUN

danielkirkman: crowns c / o pablo the prince

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A/N WILL DEFINITELY HAVE A PART TWO! What driver or actor should we pair reader with? 😭 comment to get tagged

[borathae]

Sext

↳ Full Art

"Because Taehyung is currently on a business trip, you and he haven't been able to be intimate in weeks. Plagued by unbearable desire, you ask him to send you something sexy. Luckily for you, your husband is an obedient good boy with an amazing artistic sense."

Pairing: CEO!Taehyung x CEO!Reader

Genre: Smut, married life!AU

Warnings: sub!Taehyung, Dom!Reader, sexting, sending of a dick pic, kinda public sex at first because he touches himself on a balcony, phone sex, guided masturbation, mutual masturbation, lots of dirty talk, praise, good boy!kink, she uses a vibrator on herself, he uses his hands, she tells him to cum on his own briefs, he is so whiney and needy for her, guided aftercare, they're lowkey so kinky with each other

Wordcount: 4.2k

a/n: i decided to write something for the ihyily!couple again hohoho enjoy besties, this is very horny 💚 i hope you guys are enjoying my stories lately, feedback's been kinda little for all of them so i can't really tell. also big shoutout to all the lovely people who do leave feedback, i see you and love you!!! either way, enjoy my besties hehe

You are on your back, stretching your limbs from you in the middle of your king sized bed and with your eyes glued to the sky light on your ceiling. On normal nights, you would already be fast asleep by now, but because you haven’t been with your husband in a week, you aren’t. 

The bed is too big without him. 

You miss him so much. You miss his cuddles and his kisses and his voice and his scent and his smiles and his jokes and his hugs and his everything. You huff out air in frustration. Yes, you miss his everything. 

You roll your head to the side, flipping your phone to check the time on your clock app. When one of you is on a business trip in another time zone, you always put in the zone on your apps to see what time the other is currently experiencing. 

Taehyung must currently experience early evening hours. The beginning of sundowns, the sound of people driving home from work, the scent of dinner in the air. You want to be with him. Listen to Paris get ready for sleep, eat dinner on the balcony, drink wine and play with him.

You falter for a moment. There it is again. That heavy lump in your stomach. That heavy, hot lump of build up frustration. It has been bothering you ever since the morning, making it difficult to work. If Taehyung was home, he would have already helped you take care of it. You miss him so much. In more ways than one.

Before Taehyung left for his business trip to Paris, you and he weren’t able to have goodbye sex because you were on your period and felt too shitty to be horny. You aren’t on your period anymore and you are paying the price. You keep thinking back to the last night with him where you cuddled instead of fucked. If you could turn back time, you would take him so many times in so many ways that he forgets his own name. 

Your eyes gaze at your home screen. A family pictures of you, Taehyung and your daughter. Nope. You need other pictures, now is Not the time for family pictures. You need to see him and only him. In the kind of ways only you get to see him. You open your pictures and the folder you titled “my stinker”. It contains pictures solely of Taehyung. Be it random candid pics, posed pictures or all the selcas he sends you. There are too many of them and you are currently getting lost in them. 

He is so handsome and cute and pretty and sexy and handsome and, and, and. 

You huff out air. You want to bite his cheek and feel him up, but you can’t. It’s fucking unfair. 

Missing him unbearably, you open your messages next. Your text is typed within seconds.

-          You: do you have time?

Taehyung’s answer comes moments later.

-          My handsome ♡: I do, but why are you still up? 

It is currently one in the morning where you are. You normally fall asleep at eleven, sometimes even ten because being a working CEO and mother is exhausting even with such a supportive and involved husband as Taehyung by your side.

-          You: i can’t sleep ㅠㅠ

-          My handsome ♡: NOOOO why?

-          You: I miss you ㅠㅠ and I’m lowkey horny

-          My handsome ♡: 😪😪 

-          My handsome ♡: I understand your pain

-          My handsome ♡: 😪😪

You wiggle your toes in excitement.

-          You: are you horny too?

-          My handsome ♡: 😂😂 No, I meant that I miss you too 😂😂😂

You huff out air, feeling slightly hot in embarrassment.

-          You: sorry, I misunderstood ✊🏻😔

-          My handsome ♡: 😂😂 It’s fine ♡♡♡ 

-          My handsome ♡: I’m getting horny now that you mentioned it ;)

You feel hot in excitement. He is willing to play into it. God, you are tingling like crazy between your legs.

-          You: are you?

-          My handsome ♡: ;) yes ;)

-          You: fuck baby…

You put the phone aside for a moment to get a toy and some lube. 

You prop yourself up on your backrest and work yourself up with just two fingers first. You get to play with him. The aspect is turning you on to the point where typing becomes difficult to do with one hand.

-          You: I got a toy…

-          My handsome ♡: omg 🥵 are you using it? 

-          You: soon…working myself up

-          My handsome ♡: You’re so hot 🥵😭🥵

-          You: fuck Tae 🥵 where are you?

-          My handsome ♡: Hotel balcony. I’ve got the sun setting and a glass of wine by my side. I’m wearing your favourite sweater ;)

-          You: the green one?

-          My handsome ♡: Yes ;););)

-          You: 🥵🥵 you are seducing me

-          My Handsome ♡: 😂 only you can get horny over a jumper

-          You: Don’t judge me, you look hot in it

You take a few deep breaths. Your touch feels good. Knowing that he is sharing this moment with you really excites you. You crave something again.

-          You: Fuck Tae, send me something sexy please 👉👈

-          My handsome ♡: Something sexy? Like this?

A selfie of him arrives next. He is looking into the camera with half-lidded eyes and his lower lip between his teeth. The golden light of the setting sun gives his hair and skin such a sexy glow to them. On the lower corner of the picture, glimpses of his green sweater are visible.

You bite your lower lip and let out a frustrated whimper. You want to crawl through your phone and eat his entire face. He is so fucking handsome.

You type your answer with shaky fingers.

-          You: I wanna tell you the nastiest things right now…

-          My handsome ♡: don’t hold back ;)

-          You: I wanna fucking sit on your face and ride it till I cream it…I’m touching myself right now, but all I want is your tongue on me…

- You: If you’d be here right now, I’d use your pretty nose as my toy and mark it as mine. Fuck Tae, you’re so sexy…

Taehyung types for a while. Knowing him, your answer surprised him despite your initial warning. He is a little shy cutie after all. You stay online until he finally answers you.

-          My handsome ♡: omg…

You smile, feeling your stomach tingle. All this time of typing and his flustered brain came up with “omg”. If you didn’t need him before, you need him like crazy starting now. Your fingers speed up between your legs. He is so sexy.

-          My handsome ♡: This just made me hard omg…

-          You: Show me fuckk I need to see

You are panting as you wait for the picture. Taehyung went offline, which means he is taking it with his phone camera. He will probably take a while because he is very particular about the kind of nudes he sends you. You have a folder of them on your phone, hidden behind a passcode only you know. He also never sends you nudes without getting asked or warning you, which makes them so much sexier. You can’t wait to see how he is going to show you his pretty cock.

The picture arrives with one singular emoji under it.

-          My handsome: 🥺

It taunts you. Of course he is acting like that when he literally just sent you his dick. You download the picture, opening it with bated breath. One you release in a moan once the view presents itself to your eyes.

He is pulling his beige pants down, exposing his shaft and pubes. His hand is in the picture, his green sweater is as well. The picture is clearly taken outside, judging by the warm, sunset-esque colours. He took it on his balcony.

You try to text him, but then get too needy to do so. You send him a picture back. Two of your fingers buried deep inside you. You are all wet and puffy, presenting yourself for his viewing pleasure. He sees it and goes offline instantly.

A second later your phone rings. It’s him.

You pick up without hesitation.

“Hey there”, you try to sound nonchalant, but your voice is just slightly raspy from arousal.

Taehyung is panting. You know that he is struggling with his words because of you.

“Tae?”

“Can I touch myself, please?” he croaks, sending jolts of excitement through you. He is such a good boy asking for permission like that.

“You wanna touch yourself?”

“Yes. Oh god, you’re so sexy”, he groans.

“Mhm…you’re sexier”, you purr and turn on the toy. You hold it close to the phone so Taehyung can hear.

His breathing speeds up. His chair creaks in the background as he clearly shifts in it.

“Please”, he begs quietly.

“Soon. Listen to me push it inside, yeah?”

“Yes, Madam. Oh god, you’re so sexy, I’m going insane.”

You drag the toy through your folds twice then finally thrust it into you, moaning loudly as it fills you up. Taehyung moans with you, turning you on like crazy.

“Tae…baby…I’m so wet, fuck…it fills me up so good…”

“Can, can I touch myself now?”

“Not yet, be patient.”

Taehyung whines, motivating you to move the toy inside you. God, you love when he is needy for you.

“Mhm Tae… I’m fucking myself with it. Almost feels like you.”

“Oh god, I’m so hard”, he whines, “please can I at least take it out?”

“Are you outside?”

“I am”, he has his sexy voice on. God, you want him so bad. 

“And you still wanna take it out?”

“Yes please, hurts so bad.”

“Poor boy.”

Taehyung whines, breathing shakily afterwards. You take out the toy and thrust it back inside, giving him a delicious moan. You know for a fact that he can hear the vibrations and how wet you are around the silicon shaft.

“Please Madam…” he begs with an obvious pout on his lips.

“How much do you want it?”

“So much. I miss you, please I’m horny too.”

“I love it when you talk like this. Fine, take it out.”

Taehyung thanks you in a breathy moan, lifting his hips so he could pulls his pants over his butt. He lets it punch up under his balls, wrapping his long fingers around his cock. It glows prettily in the sunset light, begging to be touched.

“Now listen to me, okay?”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Are you holding it right now?”

“Yes.”

“Feel up your shaft for me, but leave out your tip.”

Taehyung follows your orders, guiding his fist around his length. It feels good, but leaves him desperate. His tip is his favourite spot, it’s so sensitive and reactive. Having to leave it out feels like torture. He breathes heavily into the phone, giving you little whimpers each time his fingers have to stop right under his frenulum.

“For how long do I have to do that?” he asks hopefully.

“Until I tell you otherwise”, you dismiss him and bury the toy deeper, “fuck Tae seriously, this toy feels fucking amazing. It’s hitting the right spots.”

“Oh god.” He ogles his own cock and his fingers right under his tip. Maybe if he controls his voice well enough, you won’t find out that he is touching his tip. His fingers itch in the desire to disobey. One little movement… just one….

“You feel better tough, fuck I’m thinking about you and how you fuck me. You’re always such a good boy for me, Tae sweetie.”

Taehyung moans, moving his hand away from his tip as quickly as possible. What was he thinking? He doesn’t misbehave, he is your good boy. He bites down on his lower lip and keeps his touch focused on nothing but his shaft despite how leaky his tip gets because of it.

“Are you my good boy, Tae sweetie?”

“Yes, Madam. I’m your good boy”, he keens, nodding his head vigorously.

“Of course you are…are you wet for me?”

Taehyung looks at his tip. It is flushed red with pearls of excitement leaking from his slit. If you were here right now, you’d play with it or lick it off of him. Taehyung rolls his head back slightly at the fantasy, whimpering his answer.

“I’m wet for you.”

“You are…” You increase the vibrations, opening your legs further. “Take some of it and taste it for me.”

Taehyung obeys your orders, letting you listen to him as he licks his finger. He moans softly as he does it, acting slobbier than he needs to just so you have something good to listen to. Your breathing speeds up, your heart races. It sounds as if he is between your legs sucking and licking your clit.

“Does it taste sweet, baby?” you ask him shakily.

“Yeah, sweet”, he purrs, flicking his tongue against his own thumb.

“Fuck Tae, do it again.”

Taehyung obeys, licking and sucking on his fingers as if he was feasting on your pussy. You talked about sitting on his face and creaming his tongue and he is hellbent on making the fantasy as real as possible.

“It tastes so good, Madam”, he lulls.

“I wanna fucking sit on you, fuck.”

The desperation in your voice makes him tingle. He is needy too, but you sound feral. If he wasn’t such a good boy for you, he’d tell you a bratty little comment about your state. But instead of teasing you, he begs again.

“Can I touch my tip now, please?”

“Yes, fuck, yes.”

Taehyung acts instantly, wrapping his fingers tightly around his cockhead to pump it. He moans loudly, rolling his head back and closing his eyes.

“Thank you, ah…feels so good…”

“Slow down.”

His obedience comes before his mind can even register what his hand was doing. He slows down, keeping the movements as minimal as possible. The whimper he lets out makes you speed up in return.

“It’s so slow…”

“I know baby, I know. Keep it like this until I tell you otherwise.”

“It’s hard, mhhmmm.”

“Be my good boy, baby. I know you wanna be my good boy.”

“Yeah..good boy…”

You smile in bliss. He is so perfect. Even now that he is so desperate, he still listens. You could probably tell him to stop and put his cock back into his pants and he would listen. Your stomach tingles. What a good idea actually.

“Tae sweetie?”

“Yes, Madam”, he gets out between his heavy breaths.

“Stop touching yourself and put your pants back on.”

“What?” he sounds devastated.

“Go on, you heard me.”

“Why? Please…”

“By my good boy, baby.”

You hear him whimper in frustration followed by agonized sounds of him having to stuff his raging boner back into his pants. You throb around the toy at the aspect. He is such an obedient boy for you. It’s difficult to hold back on your orgasm when he is acting like that.

“I did it. I don’t know why you made me do that, but I did it”, he tells you with the biggest pout ever.

“Send me a pic.”

“Wait”, he is still clearly pouting.

Moments later your phone vibrates. You put him on speaker and open the picture he sent. He actually put his pants back on. The light material stretches around his boner, barely wanting to keep it in. A dark spot has appeared on the fabric where his tip can’t stop leaking.

You laugh.

“Why are you laughing?” he sounds distressed.

“Oh it’s nothing, I’m just laughing ‘cause you actually did it.”

“You told me to”, he is almost sassy in the way he talks back. Sassy but also very frustrated.

“Mhm I did. I was just messing with you.”

“___”, he gasps, making you laugh and moan at the same time.

“Okay, okay fuck stop whining, it’s making me cum.”

“No, you’re so mean. It hurts to have it inside”, he continues whining.

“Fuck Tae, keep talking and I’m gonna cum.”

“I, I…really?” he whimpers.

“Yes, fuck”, you pull the toy out, groaning in agony, “fuck that was so close.”

He takes a deep breath, squeaking as he breathes out.

“Please can I touch myself again? Please?”

“Go inside first.”

“Why do you wanna tease me today?”

“Just feeling like it.”

“Oh god.”

Taehyung keeps the balcony door open, now standing in his hotel bedroom with a hard-on in his pants and his head dizzy in need.

“I’m inside. Please can I touch myself now?”

“Get naked first.”

He puts the phone on speaker and starts undressing. He is in the midst of sliding off his sweater when you stop him.

“Keep the sweater on. I’ll ask for a picture of proof.”

“I’m already naked then.”

“Yes? Good boy. Send me a picture of your cock, keep the sweater in the angle.”

Taehyung obeys your orders, using the sound of your heavy breathing and little moans as motivation. The picture he takes is definitely not his most artistic masterpiece. It is a little blurry because he can’t stop his hands from shaking. Your loud reaction is satisfactory enough however.

“Fuck, look at you. I wanna sit on it. God, wanna fucking choke on it and make it squirt.”

Taehyung feels weak in the knees. It aches not to touch himself.

“Does this mean I can touch myself again? Please? Maybe? Please, please?”

“Soon. Put your briefs on the bed and do it over them, okay?”

He obeys your orders even if he is confused. He lays out his briefs and begins pumping his cock above them.

“I’m doing it, Madam”, he moans, feeling blurry. His touch is electric, his cock so sensitive.

“Good boy. Keep touching yourself. I want you to cum on them and then mail them to me.”

His knees buckle. He has to use the mattress to catch himself and push his own faltering body back into a standing position. He leaks heavy droplets of pleasure, feeling his pulse throb in his cock.

“What?” he squeaks.

“You heard me. Repeat it to me.”

“You want me to.” He gasps and whimpers. “Want me to cum on them and.” He keens your name. “And mail them to you.”

“That’s right.”

“Madam, this is getting me close.”

“I know it is. Don’t stop. Focus your touch on your tip.”

“I am”, he whines.

“Good boy. Keep telling me how close this is getting you.”

“It won’t take long.”

“Good boy, keep going.”

The line fills with your shared moans. He is so loud and breathy while you answer him in purrs and drawn-out moans. You both have your eyes closed, minds racing with images of shared moments together. If you concentrate hard enough, it almost feels as if you were fucking each other right now. As if Taehyung was pumping his cock deep into you, hitting the best spots over and over again.

“Fuck Tae, keep going baby. So good”, you moan, arching your back.

“Can I move my hips please?”

“Whatever you need baby, just keep moaning for me.”

Taehyung chases the pleasure instantly, fucking his own fist as if he was fucking you. He moans louder for you, feeling his sense of reality blur.

“You’re so tight tonight”, he gets out.

“I am?”

“Yeah, so tight. Ah!”

“Just for you baby, my good boy”, you moan, meeting his movements with needy rolls of your hips. Not that he is actually with you, but it feels like it.

You and he are so far gone in the fanatsy, the distance is no longer there. It’s just you and him. 

“Love fucking you, baby. Love it so much…aahmmm….”

“Madam…ah…love it too…”

It is Taehyung who breaks the fantasy first. His instincts told him to open his eyes and look at you and so he did only to be met with an empty bed and his hand around his own cock.

“I miss you”, he whimpers.

You open your eyes to his flushed face only to be met with the ceiling instead. Your stomach tightens.

“I miss you too”, you get out, “Tae, it felt like you were there.”

“For me too”, he confesses, “I’m really close, just letting you know.”

You laugh breathily, “fuck, you’re so good. Such a good boy. Tell me three things you love about yourself and maybe I’ll let you cum.”

“My, my eyes and my hands and my…my nose.”

“Cause I can grind on it?”

“Yeah”, he whimpers, nodding his head vigorously.

“Shit, so hot. Where are you touching yourself right now?”

“My tip. It’s so wet, Madam.”

“So sexy, fuck. Keep talking to me.”

“My, my cock is so flushed. I’m so red at the tip.”

“Fuck, so hot. Ah Tae”, you moan, rolling your eyes back in delight as you bury the toy as deep as possible to draw circles with it. Your voice pitches, only coming out as gasps.

Taehyung speeds up his hand, furrowing his brows at the perfect sounds you let out.

“Are you feeling good, Madam?”

“Yeah…so good…hitting the right spot.”

He exhales shakily, moaning deeply.

“I’m leaking on my briefs, Madam.”

“Shit. Tae. Woah fu-fuck.”

“Close?”

“Really.”

“It’s all over my fingers too. They’re so wet and sticky, Madam.”

“Tae. Baby”, you whimper, tightening around the toy.

“I can’t stop leaking, Madam”, he mewls for you, jerking his cock loud enough that you can hear the wet mess he makes.

“I’m cumming”, you get out and feel the knot burst. All you can gasp is his name, body shaking out of control as your high takes over.

Taehyung moans with you, scrunching his face in agony from holding back. He wants to cum with you, but knows that you never gave him permission to do. So he is left moaning prettily for you and listening to you floating on absolute bliss.

You come down with curses and shaky gasps for air, ending it with a disbelieved “damn”.

“Fuck, can I cum? Please?” Taehyung begs, feeling delirious in frustration. He genuinely can’t do this for long anymore.

“Cum for me, baby.”

“Yes. oh god yes. Madam, yes. ___, yes, yes, yes”, he chants and breaks with one last squeak of your name, emptying his heavy balls all over his briefs. He twitches and shakes, throwing his head back as your name repeatedly leaves him.

“Good boy. Cum for me. Good boy”, you talk him through it, tingling in your afterglow. Listening to his orgasm is truly the best way to calm down after your own intense high.

“I’m done. Can, can I stop?” he soon begs, sounding stressed. You know that his sensitive cock is burning in overstimulation.

If he wasn’t such a good boy tonight, you would have told him to keep going.

“If you have to. You were such a good boy tonight, you can choose yourself.”

“I’m stopping. Sensitive”, he says and the wet squelching stops. He breathes out shakily, mumbling a ruined, “holy fuck.”

“Mhm, liked it?”

“Yeah, liked it.”

“Did you cum on your briefs?”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Good boy”, you praise and sigh in contentment, “lie down for me, sweetheart.”

He obeys, letting his head sink into the pillow. He takes one of them and hugs it to his chest. He purrs happily.

“Comfortable?”

“Yeah, just missing you.”

“I miss you too.” You sit up to discard the toy and clean yourself. “Do you have a tissue by hand?”

“Yeah, by the nightstand.”

“Clean yourself for me.”

He obeys, giggling quietly.

“I’m sensitive.”

“Be careful, yeah?” you chuckle fondly.

“Yes, Madam. Oh god, I’m so giddy. You fucked me so good.”

“I feel giddy too. You were such a good boy for me.”

Taehyung giggles, snuggling back into the pillows and kicking his feet giddily. He loves being your good boy.

“Do you actually want me to mail you my briefs?”

You laugh, “I think I was just being unhinged there. I feel like it would start to smell funny before it can get here.”

“Right”, he agrees, laughing with you, “oh god”, he exhales, “this was actually so sexy. I’m still dizzy.”

“I’m glad you liked it. I was kinda feeling myself.”

“I was feeling you too. You’re such a good talker.”

You wiggle your toes in giddiness, feeling really good inside. He always knows what the say to make you feel like the sexiest Dom ever.

“God, I love you.”

“I love you too.”

You and he smile, hugging the pillows you are holding closer. If you concentrate hard enough, it almost feels as if you are hugging each other.

“Mhm, I’m so comfy. This is exactly what I needed.”

“Me too. I was thinking about you before you texted me. It’s been a week since I left and I kept thinking about our last night together.”

Your heart flutters. You and he are so similar.

“You did?”

“Yeah.”

“Tae, I regret not fucking you that night.”

“God, don’t say that”, he says, having to giggle.

You smile, “you’re cute.” A yawn interrupts you.

“Are you tired?” he asks.

“Mhm, yeah.” Another yawn. “I know it’s not really night at your place yet, but can you stay with me as I fall asleep?” you ask him.

“Of course, my sweetheart. Can I tell you about my day?”

“Please tell me. I wanna know everything, my sweetheart. I might doze off in the midst of it though.”

Taehyung laughs, “that’s okay. I don’t mind.”

[suskz]

Hi pretty!! Can i request something about seungmin or lee know being a dilf luv u!!

pairing: dad!Minho x fem!Reader

t/w: fluff ; smut ; single dad Minho ; babysitter reader ; reader is an adult ; oral (m!rec) ; piv sex.

w/c: around 2.5k

a/n: please dilf Minho is so 😵‍💫 my brain said SEX SEX SEX but my heart wanted more. I hope you like it!

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT

Sometimes you think about how it could have happened, if it had to happen, and if all of this is wrong.

Don’t get me wrong, he’s a handsome man. He’s mature, responsible, and so, so sweet.

But you wonder if all of this is really necessary, as your phone rings inside your bag on the chair.

You both stop your movements, and your eyes meet again. It’s really embarrassing to be interrupted at this point.

His grip on your hair doesn’t change, “Do you want to answer?” He asks only out of politeness, because he doesn’t really want you to answer. He wants you to stay on your knees and let him continue without interruptions because damn, your mouth feels so good around him and he just can’t get enough of it.

You think about it for a few seconds, but the answer is already written in your eyes.

You shake your head without even taking his cock out of your mouth, and the sight is so hot that he moans just from that.

“You’re unreal.” His hand resumes guiding the movements of your head, “You look fucking gorgeous with your mouth full.”

You squeeze your legs together at the praise and don’t suppress the moan that his words elicit because you know it sends vibrations to his cock that drive him crazy.

That’s why his hips buck hard into your mouth, pushing his cock deeper and making you choke around it for a moment.

He stops, “Sorry, did I hurt you?”

You shake your head no and start moving it again on your own, back and forth, letting him know that you’re fine and want to continue.

“Such a good girl.” His hand holds your head still as his hips begin to move quickly, “Taking cock so well,” he’s no longer looking into your eyes; he’s watching the spot where his cock enters and exits your mouth now, “Like you were— made for it.”

His breathing has sped up again. Your phone has stopped ringing, and now the only sounds you can hear are his soft breaths and moans.

The tears forming in your eyes make them shiny. Your face is probably a mess, but what’s important is that he feels good inside your warm mouth.

And he does, because his hips start to stutter erratically.

It takes just one look at your face and he’s throwing his head back, urgently pulling his cock out of your mouth, stroking himself hard and fast through his climax.

You feel a bit disappointed, honestly, because you really wanted him to come inside your mouth, but you don’t complain when you feel the spurts of his hot cum land on your face. Some on your cheeks, some over your nose, even on your eyelashes and your still-outstretched tongue.

You didn’t even have time to close your mouth before he came, but it’s fine. At least you tasted it a little.

“Wait, don’t open your eyes.” You do as you’re told and feel him taking something. His hand delicately takes your chin to lift your face, and with a tissue, he wipes the com from your eyes so you can open them again without anything getting in.

You thank him as you sit on the bed next to him, taking the tissue he hands you to clean the rest of your face.

And you look at yourself in the mirror when you’re in front of the bathroom sink and feel something weighing on you. Your mind is empty, there are no thoughts bothering you, yet there’s something that makes you feel bad.

But everything gets better when you return to him and look at him. He’s so handsome, even as he does something as simple as gathering some papers into his work folder.

He glances up at you, “Do you need something?”

“Uh- no, just- I wanted to take Eunji to the park today, is that okay?” Yes, it is okay, it’s fine, it’s always fine if it’s with you, but you don’t know what else to come up with.

He chuckles, perhaps amused by the silliness of your question, “Of course, there’s no problem, you already know.”

And soon you part ways. He rushes to work, you rush to pick up the little girl from school.

His child. The daughter of the man you just gave a blowjob to. The daughter of the single man you’ve maybe gotten a little too close to in these past few months, and who might almost be your father’s age. But it’s okay like this.

—

"Can I taste yours?" Eunji looks at you with those puppy eyes that you can't say no to. She knows it and takes advantage of it, little brat.

Her eyes light up as she tastes your ice cream. She lowers her eyes to hers with a sad expression, "Yours is so good."

You roll your eyes at her unspoken but obvious request, "Want to swap?"

She looks at you with sparkling eyes and nods eagerly.

You smile sweetly at her, and it's at this moment that your phone vibrates in your pocket.

It's Minho.

You're confused by his message until you hear Eunji's voice and see her getting up, "There's daddy!" You turn your head in the direction she started running, and you see him, waiting for her with open arms.

He has such an affectionate, serene, and sincere smile as he picks her up and spins her a couple of times in his arms —gently, mindful of the ice cream she holds— that you can't take your eyes off them. And you can't help the way your heart melts at the sight and a smile forms on your lips.

You see him lick her ice cream and see them talking, but you don't understand what they're saying.

Then it's like he remembers your presence and turns to look at you. You watch as he approaches you, and you stand up.

“Come join us too, Y/n! Group hug!” Eunji’s words freeze you in place amidst the white flowers of the field, and even Minho’s shoulders seem to stiffen.

It all happens so quickly though. It has to happen quickly. Because there’s nothing wrong with hugging after everything you’ve done together. It should be normal, right? It should be natural for the two of you.

Yet you feel hesitant, and Minho seems slightly embarrassed. It’s just new. It’s strange to say, but it is. Many things have happened between the two of you, but never this.

You try not to think about it as you accept his invitation and position yourself between his arms, wrapping your arms around him and the little girl.

You try not to think about how this is the first time you’re hugging him and might be the last, as you unconsciously melt into his embrace and savor the moment for as long as it lasts.

And of course, sooner or later you have to let go.

“Why are you here at this hour?” You try to sound as normal as possible despite the slight —not so slight— discomfort.

“I didn’t quite understand it myself, but they let me go earlier.” He, on the other hand, shrugs and seems to be fine.

“Then Y/n can come home with us, and we can all be together!” The little girl, still in her father’s arms, cheers happily.

Minho chuckles, “She’ll have things to do too, don’t you think?” Then he turns to you, “You can leave early today.”

Actually, you would have preferred Eunji’s proposal, but you’re forced to go along with Minho’s.

The girl rests her head on her father’s shoulder and sighs sadly.

You and Minho look at each other, then he looks at her, “What’s wrong?” He asks her sweetly.

“I wanted Y/n to stay with us,” she says, her voice trembling as if on the verge of tears, which she isn’t.

“I think Y/n would prefer to go home now, she must be tired.”

She sniffs, “Can she come for dinner at least?”

Minho seems to consider it. Oh, how he would enthusiastically say yes if he could, if only it didn’t seem weird.

Instead, he looks at you, the question already written in his eyes, “Would you like to? No pressure.”

Yet you feel the pressure anyway, from the weight of both their gazes, waiting for your response.

And so, a few hours later, you find yourself in front of Minho’s apartment door, dressed in your black shorts, chosen because of the heat.

When the door opens, you are greeted by a warm smile from Minho, holding a wooden spoon, and a hug from Eunji. Moments later, you’re in the kitchen, standing behind him as he moves around the stove expertly, and you feel so useless.

“I’d like to help, but I’d probably burn everything.”

There’s something good in this, because it makes him chuckle. “No problem,” he replies calmly, “I’m almost done anyway.”

“I want to be useful though.”

He turns towards you and raises an eyebrow, “Is it really you who’s saying that?”

Your cheeks tinge with a slight blush. You try to be helpful and he teases you like this.

“Sorry for trying to be useful once in a while.” you say sarcastically, rolling your eyes.

He grins and turns back, “You can set the table while I finish.”

“It’ll be done!” you say, “By the way, that apron suits you really well.”

“Really?” he asks, surprised, then wrinkles his nose, “It makes me look like a cleaning lady or something; at least that’s what Eunji says.”

You laugh at his words, “Eunji is just a kid,” you reassure him. “I think it makes you look hot.” you add in a slightly lower voice.

Your eyes linger on him for just a second, but you swear you see his ears start to darken.

—

Dinner goes well, with a warm atmosphere and calm conversation.

Afterward, it’s Eunji who decides the plans. After all, you are there specifically for her. Or rather, at her request.

Time passes without you even noticing. Between board games and stories told by the little girl, you and Minho manage to find time to talk just between yourselves.

He holds back laughter while telling you about that time Jeongin, whoever he is, fell into a manhole, and his eyes sparkle as you talk about the saga you just finished watching.

When you finally glance at the clock, you regret not paying more attention.

You quickly get up, but Minho stops you, “Wait,” you freeze in your tracks, “It’s really too late, it would be dangerous to go out at this hour.”

He doesn’t want you to leave. He doesn’t want you to leave because he’s worried about you. And he doesn’t want you to leave because it’s a chance for him, a chance to spend precious time with you that he can’t let slip away now that it’s presented to him. 

“I don’t want to be a burden-”

He doesn’t let you finish the sentence, “You won’t be a burden, I’m the one offering you to stay.” His voice is firm, and faced with his eyes so serious and determined, you agree to spend the night there.

After putting Eunji to bed, Minho quietly exits her room and finds himself facing you. You look into each other’s eyes, irises like chained together, and you smile at each other, amidst sentences and words kept hidden.

He prepares a space for you to sleep on the couch, and eventually, you both sit there, side by side.

“Eunji is really fond of you,” Minho says, looking down at his hands, “I think she sees in you something that I can’t be.” He lifts his eyes, meeting yours, understanding.

“You’re already enough for her; I’m just an addition.”

“You’re not an addition; you’re important to her.” He insists. And to me, he wants to add, but knows he can’t say that.

And then the unexpected happens. You don’t know who makes the first move, who leans in first, but it doesn’t matter when his lips are on yours, in a sweet kiss. A loving kiss ruined by wandering hands that force it to deepen.

But, fuck, you’d ruin it a thousand times over if it meant finding yourself beneath him every time, with his cock thrusting in and out of you in a needy, perhaps somewhat desperate way.

And you’re so wet that you know the bed sheets will need a good wash in the morning.

His voice is like a caress when he leans over you with his lips at your ear, “Shhh,” he whispers softly, “We don’t want to wake Eunji, do we?”

You are forced to bite your lower lip to stifle the sounds that want —need— to escape your lips.

But his thrusts are so well-aimed and deep, his hips so precise, and his moans released right into your ear so fucking arousing that you have to reach out and grab a pillow to place over your mouth.

He looks back at you, and a louder, needier moan leaves his parted lips, as his expression shifts from one of concentration to pure pleasure.

It’s only when you feel close that you move the pillow. “Minho, I’m close…” you warn him.

“Me too,” he groans, “Come with me.”

“Yes, yes, yes! J-just a little more, please.”

He does his best to hold back a little longer, and it only takes a few circles on your clit to make you come, tightening around his cock that finishes inside the condom.

He doesn’t realise it immediately, too caught up in the pleasure, but as he tries to catch his breath, he thinks about it and realizes.

“I love you- Minho, I-” You said it just before coming; it might have been something of the moment.

He lifts his head from where it’s resting in the crook of your neck and looks at you.

You are motionless, embarrassed, regretful. Because, fuck, you didn’t really need to say it. You could have realised the gravity of your words before saying them.

And Minho could pretend nothing happened. He could act like he didn’t hear it, and you could go on as usual. But, fuck, he can’t.

The words escape his lips before he can stop them, “Did you really mean it?” He’s so direct, a request so desperate.

And you could say, “No, it was just the heat of the moment.” but apparently, that’s not really an option for you, because you speak without thinking twice, and you couldn’t feel freer when he smiles and kisses you. His soft lips on yours, in a moment you both have been waiting for so long.

And when the next morning he wakes up first and observes your sleeping face and relaxed body, he couldn’t feel happier.

Because he doesn’t have to hide anything from you anymore.

Because you love him too.

[neon-lights-and-glitter]

Fight The Feeling 18 Exposed

Summary- You and Jack find out that someone told TMZ about Jack cheating on you.

Warnings- hints at eating disorders and talk about weight

You and Jack had told your teams that you wanted a minimum of three months where you didn’t focus on work. So when Neelam and Claire showed up at your apartment six weeks in, you knew it was serious. Jack answered the door, letting them in, Maple at Jack’s feet, barking at them. 

Neelam walked in first, looking at the dog then looking at Jack confused.

“Since when did either of you have a dog?” Neelan asked.

“This is Maple, I got her about three weeks ago,” Jack said, picking up the dog to calm her so she wouldn’t wake up Madelyn from her nap that you just put her down for. Even though your managers said it was urgent, you both made them wait until Madelyn was down for a nap, which you were all still getting onto a schedule, but you were able to get her to fall asleep in time.

“I have so many questions, but that’s not what we’re here for. Where’s Y/N?”

“She’s checking on Madi, she’ll be out in a second.” Jack said as the three of them sat in the living room. You walked out of the hallway a few minutes later.

“Hey, what’s going on?” You asked as you sat down next to Jack.

“Someone is contacting TMZ about the cheating story. They are trying to make money off of the situation and all the attention you two are getting right now. We don’t know who it is, luckily I have a good relationship with them, so they brought it to me first, but they are running the story. Who knows about the cheating?” Claire asked.

“Us,” Jack said, referencing to the room, “Urban, Alexa, not many people know, I can’t see Alexa telling, Urban for sure wouldn’t, we’ve kept it very secretive so it doesn’t get out.” You saw Claire’s face go a couple shades paler than she usually was.

“Well, we wanted to warn you two, Claire said the article is coming out tonight, so we wanted to also see if you were willing to do an appearance in a few days. It doesn’t have to be anything big, but some fans are picking up on your relationship being fake, so now with this article coming out, I don’t even know what kind of backlash we’re going to face.” Neelam said.

“Can’t we just drop all this fake relationship shit now? Our relationship isn’t fake anymore, I don’t know why we need to keep this shit up. Why can’t we just live our lives?” Jack asked.

“Because if it was up to the two of you, you would never show your faces in public again?” Neelam teased and Jack opened his mouth to say something but you cut him off.

“She’s not wrong.” 

“Anyway’s, I have to leave, but we just wanted to give you guys a heads-up,” Claire said before saying her goodbyes. 

“I’m staying because I want Madelyn cuddles, but I also wanted to talk to you about Claire. I feel like something’s weird about this.”

“You felt that way too?” You asked and Neelam nodded.

“What do you mean?” Jack asked.

“I mean, for one, she says TMZ told her about the article, but I didn’t get told, no one on our side did. She kept mentioning to me that other people must have known. I really feel like Alexa wouldn’t have told anyone either, she’s not going to get anything but backlash from this. She’s the one who wants to keep this going, I’ve been trying to find ways to get you out of this, but she always shuts everything down. Is it that wild of a thought that the reason she has such a good relationship with TMZ is because she gives them information?” Neelam explained. Even though you hadn’t known Neelam for a full year, you felt more comfortable with her than you did Claire, even though Claire signed you at 16.

“But why would she do this now?” Jack asked. 

“I tried to get out of my contract early? Maybe it’s retaliation?”

“But why would she retaliate against her own client?” Jack asked you.

“Claire and I have never had a good relationship. She’s always acted like my friend, but I know that she doesn’t care. Like, when I found out I was pregnant for example, she didn’t care that I was pregnant, she just cared that I was delaying the meeting. Even after the meeting all she cared about was making sure I didn’t gain too much weight before my upcoming shoots.” Jack reached over and grabbed your hand. “I know she doesn’t have to care about me, and that it’s her job to be focused on my career, but it’s hard to not let that impact me sometimes. I mean, she even has a diet and work-out plan she wants me to start once I’m cleared by my doctor.”

“Don’t you have lawyers to help get you out of your contract?” Neelam asked, you shook your head.

“No, all my lawyers go through her, they are technically my lawyers, but they cover her too,” You explained. “My contract's almost up anyway, it’s okay. I don’t want to quit, I just wanted to take a break, but I’ll just work for a couple of months and then take a break.”

“Get her my lawyers,” Jack told Neelam. “If you want out of your contract, my lawyers can get you out of your contract.”

“Well, they can try,” Neelam cut in, not wanting to promise you anything.

“If they can’t, we’ll figure another way to get you out of it. Why have you not told me any of this?” Jack asked.

“I didn’t think it was worth mentioning if there wasn’t anything I could do about it,” You sighed. “And I’ve been dealing with her since I was 16, it’s not like it was like this at the beginning, and I thought it was normal for a while. It wasn’t until I was around the two of you that I really noticed it. You care about Jack as a person, not just as someone who makes you money.”

“The fact that someone can spend so much time with another person and not care about them, is so shocking to me.” You heard the sounds of Madelyn waking up coming through the baby monitor you had placed on the end table. “Can I go get her?” Neelam asked excitedly, she hadn’t seen Madelyn in a couple of days, and she missed her already.

“If you want to change her diaper, sure,” Jack said, before Neelam shook her head.

“I’m okay, I’ll see her in a few minutes,” She said and Jack laughed before standing up and walking to Madelyn’s room, leaving you and Neelam alone.

“I don’t want you to feel like you have to help me just because Jack wants to-” You stared talking, but she cut you off.

“I’m helping you because I want to. I know how bad some managers can be at controlling the people they represent, and I’m sure you’re downplaying the situation to Jack because you don’t want him to flip out, but I’ve hated every interaction I’ve had with her, and I can see the way she treats you, and I hate that as well. I think Jack noticed it too, he’s made comments to me about it, but he didn’t want to seem like he was controlling you. I mean, he even only took three months off because that’s all you could get, and he didn’t want it to rub it in.”

“Yeah, but our jobs are different, he has songs that can be released any day, modeling isn’t like that.” You don’t know why you were defending Claire. You had forgiven her hundreds of times for the way she treated you over the years, and you wanted to stop forgiving her. 

As cliché as it sounded, having Madelyn changed you. You knew if someone had treated her like Claire treated you, you would never forgive them, so why did you let her treat you badly and forgive her. Forgiving Jack was a bit different. Your relationship was doing really well over the last few months, and you didn’t want to backtrack on any of the progress you made, but you knew if he ever messed up again, you weren’t forgiving him.

“Stop justifying it. You want a break, that’s a perk of the job. I think time off would do you and Jack good, focus on your relationship, your family. Some things are more important than work,” Neelam said as Jack walked in carrying Madelyn. Jack handed Madelyn to Neelam who instantly cuddled her.

Neelam hung out for about an hour, before she left, you walked her to the door.

“I know Jack likes to fix things, and you like to be independent, but let us try to fix this, okay?” Neelam asked and you nodded.

“Okay.”

“I’m going to do my absolute best to get you out of your contract and you out of your relationship contract. If I can’t, I know Jack will find someone who can. He would do anything for you.”

“I know,” You smiled softly.

"I'm going to figure out who sold the cheating story too."

Tag list @jackharloww @harlowcomehome @nattinatalia @hoodharlow @itsyagirljaz @heavyhitterheaux @harlowsbby @awhore4moree @harlowslefttoe @twerkforambrose @jackmans-poison @ilovenudy @taniapri @killatravtramp @easternparkway @macey234 @toocriticalharlow @lightsoutstyles @rachxc13 @iknowdatsrightbih @idktbh101 @blossomluvv @middlechild404 @hufflewhore128 @christinabae @lafavoritaangel

[the5thcellar]

Hi, I recently stumbled upon your blog and I am so glad I did! While I’m very sorry for all the troll hate you’ve received, I like the sassy way you’re handling them. I’m trying to find the humor in why so many people are pressed and feel like they need to defend something that you haven’t even denied is real. And just because you have a different opinion, they cannot handle it. Reading your responses, and reading the responses of other people with whom I share similar sentiments, has made me laugh and feel better over the last week. I’ve been desperately trying to find other posts/people that have similar vibes because this whole… situation-ship has been a bit much. I also appreciate your reminder that “no matter how good a man seems, trying to justify anything they do is still a sure path to disappointment!” 

I was wondering if you had any thoughts about Luke’s social media lately? I’ve read some points about how messy his social media presence has been handled (or mishandled) over the past year+ and how it did not help with the way everything played out. Also, I feel like he’s either turned on notifs for Nic because he’s been very diligent about liking all her posts, or maybe, he’s finally gotten a team to handle it. I just feel like everyone is in crisis comms mode, trying to wrangle back control. Just genuinely curious because it’s what I’ve been pondering over for the last day or two. Thank you in advance for your time if you answer my ask!

I'm so sorry this took me awhile - I started replying it in the morning on the way to work but decided I needed to gather my thoughts more.

To the first part: I completely empathise with how the entire situation has just been so "much" - it really has. It seems so silly, but somehow, whether or not two people I DON'T KNOW are in love or not in love, are best friends or are not best friends - can affect so much of my mental and emotional wellbeing.

I know I'm being parasocial (it seems to be the internet buzzword of the moment). But let's be clear: almost EVERYONE online - everyone who has written in to my ask box, who has commented, who has liked - everyone on twitter and tiktok who has talked about this - they're all just as parasocial. Because we're all assuming and casting aspersions on people we do not personally know. No one online who engages in discourse has the moral or ethical high ground. We are ALL in the gutter together (that said - I believe the gutter has many levels 😂).

IN ANY CASE - I just want to assure you that what you're feeling is not some atypical affliction. It is normal to feel awful that something you believed in and something you felt happy about is untrue. It is normal to look for other people who feel the same because misery is always better with company. It is normal to feel disappointed even as you remind yourself that men have been useless since the dawn of time.

The best counter to all these sad, awful feelings is to remember that life is a cycle. That life is complex. And although I'm saying this for the millionth time - that life has many, many grey areas.

As a kid I thought Zanessa was everything. Then they broke up, and she got together with Austin whom I hated. For years I seethed at the very mention of them. And after almost a decade... they also broke up. And not even 2 years after that, she's married and with child.

For a long time I also thought Brangelina was everything - you can't imagine my devastation when they divorced and I found out Brad is a complete dirtbag. But at the same time that I felt this horrible upset - I'm sure TONS of other people were feeling vindicated because they were fans of Jen A.

There are just SO MANY other stories like that. I mean come on - JLo and Ben Affleck. On again, off again, finally made it to the altar ... and now they're headed for divorce.

Chris and Mariska - both married to other people for 27 bloody years (or maybe longer) - and still making it very clear they are each others soulmates - and NOT platonic ones btw.

Tony and Kerry - WHAT EVEN ARE THEY? Perhaps the only pair on the internet that has people rooting for cheating and affairs 😂

Lessons: don't let a long term boyfriend stop you from finding a husband. Don't let a husband stop you from finding your soulmate. Don't let your soulmate stop you from engaging in a late, great love affair.

All crazy, contradicting statements distilled from all the above real life stories.

It makes one thing very clear to me: I can believe what I want to believe about Luke and Nicola. Because no one fucking knows what is in the future. They could get together next month. Next year. When they're in their 70s. No one can tell me SHIT about what I believe - not when life is clearly full of incredible twists and turns.

So fuck it. Fuck the haters and the antis and the naysayers. I can ship them till the day I die and no one can tell me any different. Because how could they? They literally canNOT !

To the second part: this is an easy answer and there's no need to think too much into it. Luke's social media has simply undergone an extensive renovation by his agents and team in anticipation of him becoming a big star (whether or not that will actually happen remains to be seen). All highly personal, "non-aesthetic" posts of his have been archived - his posts are all related to work and his coworkers. He has many posts with Nicola because he / his team knows those get the most engagement - and the more engagement he gets, the better the IG algorithm works in his favour to push his OTHER, non-Nicola or Bridgerton related posts to people's feeds. I don't think anyone is in crisis comms mode tbh. Maybe Nicola panicked a bit after she posted that tiktok that everyone took wildly out of context. But beyond that I don't think the wider audience gives af who he's dating - it seems like his personal life is very big news only because we keep searching about it and talking about it and so it feels like EVERYONE is. But if you step outside the online bridgerton fandom bubble ..... no one cares. There is a HEFTY portion of netflix viewers who watch bridgerton without EVER going online to read about the actors.

Long story short I think Nicola and Luke will become even MORE conscious about what they post - but I don't believe there was a crisis in the true sense of the word. And although Luke's team clearly handles his socials he obviously has access to it as well. Btw - all celebs have someone who handles their socials I'm sure Nic does too, just that she's also on her own account a lot. I don't know if Luke has his notifs on for Nicola's posts but even if he does I don't believe his consistent likes mean anything much. I mean...he also diligently likes all of Antonia's posts 😂

Social media isn't much of an indicator of honesty to me ... as someone whose work heavily involves it, everything is curated to a disgusting degree.

What I put more stock in is what we can see - and what we can see of them when they DON'T think about being seen - which is to say, all the unconscious, natural moments between Nicola and Luke - the vibe around them both, and the easy way they breathe and exist together.

That's what makes me such a big believer in their bond.

[butmakeitgayblog]

In Starlet AU, you mentioned they break up and get back together a few times before finally deciding to be together. What is that moment that finally clicks for them to decide this is it, through hell or high water we’re in this together? Do they see other people in between?

Yeah they break up several times during the beginning part of their relationship for one reason or another, though mostly it's out of fear. Fear of being found out, fear of committing to this thing that feels so fucking big in the universe, when just last year they'd both been telling themselves they'd never jeopardize their careers for anything.

Fear of ruining the most deeply intimate and profound friendship either had ever had.

There were so many moving parts to their lives and always felt like one wrong breath out of place would ruin everything. So inevitably, one or the other would get skittish and bolt because that was what they were used to doing.

In that time tho, they never stopped talking. Even at their worst, they never went a day without reaching out. Even when all they could manage was nothing more than a "good morning" and and answered "good night". Even when it hurt, even when they were so fucking mad they just wanted to punch something, even when they were heartbroken to the point they'd just sit in silence on the phone and cry. They still were each other's person who they reached out to.

But even during that mutual pining mess of a situation, they both tried to move on, yes. Clarke does go so far as to casually date someone for a few weeks - and does sleep with them, but regrets it (and continues to for the rest of her life despite knowing that, technically, at that time she didn't owe Lexa anything) because she did it for all the wrong reasons. Lexa being a lesbian and closeted doesn't afford her the same luxury of being so bold in her attempts to unattach, but she does somewhat drift back toward an old fling that she knows won't mean anything, nor will it raise any questions publicly.

But... she knows Clarke knows what it means when they're seen together. She knows Clarke remembers their confessions of how they used to handle the loneliness.

Is it petty?

Maybe.

Is it genuinely Lexa searching for solace in her pain?

Absolutely.

Is it also what inevitably leads Clarke to calling Lexa at 3 o'clock in the morning and confessing that she can't do this? That she can't do this weird fucking thing where they're pretending to be just friends again. Because they're not just friends and they never have been, because she's been at least half in love with Lexa since that afternoon in the casting office's waiting room. Because she's been completely in love with her for well over a year now, pretty much since the second Lexa let her stand barefoot on her feet just to dance to some stupid song from her childhood while she clung to her and cried.

And to admit that she fucked up. She'd fucked up because she'd tried to move on like they'd agreed. That she'd kissed him, and she'd slept with him, and now she just feels sick all of the time. Every second. And she knows that Lexa already knows it, already saw them, but she just needed to say it herself, because it's not cheating but goddamnit it still feels like it. And that she understands whatever Lexa's done to console herself through this too because she knows, she knows, she knows how hard this has been. But honestly, no matter what Lexa and that fucking waste of a girl have done, she doesn't want Lexa to ever tell her about it. Because she'll get angry. And she'll want to be mean. And she'll be so jealous she knows she couldn't breath. So she'd rather just skip that part if they please possibly could, because she'd really really really rather just be in love with Lexa instead.

That call lasts until sunrise while Clarke bags up the majority of her clothes and important possessions, because it's the last sunrise they have ever share where Clarke doesn't own a designated side of Lexa's bed 👀

[mxtantrights]

this has been in my mind for DAYS

dick grayson falling head over heels for a detective that HATES him as dick but likes him as nightwing

and idk maybe the reveal would be funny asf that theyre the same guy 😭😭😭

a/n: this is a bit bigger than a blurb and honestly this could be like a whole thing but I've had fun with blurbs to this point so let's keep it going. if you want a second part / resolution defo come into my inbox and I'll bang one out because this was really fun thank you so much anon!! <333 (hope your pillow is cold on both sides for this<333)

Dick Grayson thinks certain things in life are just coincidental. His lucky number happened to be part of the winning lotto numbers last night. The older woman he let cut in front of him on the expressway ended up giving up her parking to him at the grocery store. And the love of his life hates him.

Yup.

You started working at the precinct six months ago? Yeah, six months ago. Dick was a normal guy working at his job six months ago. Then you walked in and suddenly he's falling head over heels for you and everything has meaning.

Six months ago he started acting like an idiot.

He knows you hate him. You avoid him when you don't have to see him. You don't even politely wave or smile at him anymore. You used to, in the beginning. But something changed, he doesn't know what.

At first he thought someone said something to you about him. Tried to put you off him. But he asked around and no one admitted to doing anything like that. They even admitted that they don't talk to you about him. Which hurt, ow.

So it's strikes him as odd when he sees you while in costume, and you actually smile at him. He's just finished up taking down a robbery gang targeting small business. And you're there, with you're badge and your smile. A smile!

He doesn't have time to talk. Or- he realizes he shouldn't talk because his voice would sound the familiar to you. Maybe. Maybe if you even remember what his voice sounds like.

He doesn't have time to talk because you start talking. Gushing, raving actually. About him. Well not him, per say, about nightwing. Which is him, but you don't know that. You can never know that.

You tell him how you happy you are to have someone like him protecting Bludhaven. About how people here aren't always looking out for the interests of others. And how he's been doing such a good job recently.

And then you're off. You wave to him goodbye, like actually wave to him with you hand. Something you've never done to him, him being Dick, and you wish him a goodnight.

He obviously goes home from patrol that night and tries to compute what just happened.

-

It's about week seventeen. Dick is standing with you on a rooftop. He has only talked to you five times. Bruce gave him a voice modulator but he still didn't want you to find out who he really was.

He should. His heart is telling him to tell you. You like this version of him. And maybe if you know the nightwing and Dick are the same person then you won't hate Dick as much.

But his brain is telling him he's an idiot. And that you'd probably hate him even more for keeping a secret like this, and letting you gush about him knowing full well that in 'real life' you don't like Dick.

You're ranting about something that happened today. A perp or something that got away from you. He can't really focus when his heart is telling him to end this facade tonight.

So he takes off his domino mask. And as you pace back and forth you don't notice. You don't notice as you keep talking, and talking. And then you turn to get his input, and find him maskless.

"What the fuck." you say.

"You totally hate me don't you?" he asks.

"Dick?" you ask

"Yeah, it's me." he answers you.

But you don't answer him, he realizes. Yeah you probably hate him more than you did before. Bad idea. Great thinking Grayson. He beats himself up internally.

"That's not-It can't be you! You're a detective!" you almost shout.

"This is my night hobby." he jokes a bit.

"Not the time for jokes, Detective Grayson." you answer him.

He sighs, "Do we really have to go back to the way we are at work?"

Your head tilts to the side a bit, "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you hating me. I mean, we don't talk. You try not to get partnered with me. You barely say hello." he explains.

Your eyes go wide.

"You noticed that?" you ask.

"Yes! How could I not notice that the love of my-" he cuts himself off.

You walk over to him slowly, crossing your arms over your chest. Your eyes squint as you get in his face. Seeing you like this, he can see why you were a bit menacing to the perps. They didn't play around with you.

"Did you just accidentally confess your love for me?" you ask, in a judgmental tone.

"I'm stressed out!" he answers back with his hands in the air.

You take a step back and place your hands in your back pockets, "You don't have to be. I don't hate you."

"You don't?" Dick asks.

"No. I don't. You just, pester me."

"So you think of me as a gnat? Or a fly to swat?" Dick questions you.

His hands falls to his sides.

"You're better at your job than you let yourself believe. I've seen your desk and the pile of cold cases you keep on top of it. Why do you do that?" you speak.

Dick looks taken back by that. He crosses his arms over his chest. He sees your eyes dart to his arms and then back up to his face. Struggle. You're struggling to not see Dick as nightwing. Maybe he did make the right decision...

"I don't get lost in the wins. It's easy to do that and get lax. The people of this city deserve someone who's gonna fight for them." Dick confesses to you.

You nod your head.

"What do you say we do the friend thing?" Dick asks.

He holds out his hand for you. You look down at it and then back at him. He smiles. And he swears he can feel the static in the air grow. He survived being 'hated' by you, he could survive being your friend.

You take his hand into yours. It feels warm, and like a shared understanding. Even though you never really explained why you hated him (he doesn't need to know what it really was, not yet) and he never explained why that bothered him so much (he'll tell you the first chance you ask about it)

"Consider the friend thing started." You say.

[nilboxes]

Anon who asked about Ratio getting seriously hurt. Thank you for the very detailed answer! Was very pleasantly surprised by the sweet treat :) If it's okay, can I ask how deep you think Aventurine's greed for Ratio could go?

Fathomless.

Aventurine himself cannot quantify just how deep this greed and desire for Veritas goes. It permeates his very being, so much that it's such a part of him. He knows it's always there like his own bodily organs, the back of his palm, the breath in his lungs, the feeling is very much at home, it's so familiar sometimes he doesn't quite notices it. He can still desire other things, but the hunger he has for Veritas runs far and deep.

A gambler wants a lot of things after all. I wrote in the drabble collection fic Nemo Saltat Sobrius how he found inspiration from the Scholar King. This greed and desire definitely built over time. I imagine in his early days in the IPC, prior to becoming the Stoneheart Aventurine, he finally has enough personal freedom to go try all sorts of things. He eats all kinds of cuisines, shops, goes around Pier Point, does little side trips when his assignments take him off Pier Point, sleeps around with flings. It fast becomes empty, but he finds comfort in the Scholar King lectures he puts on when he feels particularly in need of some company for encouragement.

An image of Dr Veritas Ratio forms in his mind, the Scholar King. He still has goals here at this time, he still thinks he has a chance to make a difference for his people and those who've helped him. He strives, he perseveres, not quite alone because he's got the Scholar King on his side.

He collects images of the Scholar King, at first it is because he believed it brought him luck, but then for lack of friends (his Sigonian eyes and his commodity code spell trouble for a lot of people) he finds some companionship in the little Scholar King figurines he collects. (He buys them online and even then they aren't plenty) He also starts to learn more about the Scholar King, Dr Veritas Ratio, he reads the articles, watches the biographies, the documentaries about him, sees the rare pictures of him without that alabaster head. He thinks, how beautiful.

It is when he becomes Aventurine that things take a downturn. His fondness for the Scholar King becomes obsession. Since learning his people are gone and those who helped him cannot be reached, the deep and sudden meaninglessness must have hit him hard. I imagine he would have held on to his inspiration and found some strength to go on because of the Scholar King's teachings about finding one's own purpose in life.

Still, the reality is crushing. He clings harder, he buys an actual life-sized statue of Dr Veritas Ratio, his Scholar King, it keeps him going. He fantasizes about this beautiful man and starts to imagine all sorts of scenarios with this Scholar King. It's a defense mechanism, to imagine, to be taken away to another reality, to hope. The Scholar King in his head is not enough, he needs the real one, the Dr Veritas Ratio.

So he does what he's good at, he schemes, he makes little nudges in the Technology Department and in extension the Intelligentsia Guild, just introducing them to this very talented person in this corner of the cosmos, it is the tiniest nudges, here and there. He cannot really wait but he doesn't want to nudge too hard, and eventually that invitation letter gets sent, and it's thanks to Aventurine's luck it finds Ratio at the most opportune time.

When he sees Ratio he can't help himself, every sense of propriety is melted away by the yearning, the hunger. Ratio is every bit as beautiful in the candid photos taken without his headgear. The real Scholar King is now accessible to him, the one built in his mind is was just a projection, Aventurine knows this well, and it's easier for him to separate that version with this living breathing one he has a chance to come to know now, and he wants to know everything about Ratio. He does this in the manner only a worldly, materialistic man knows how, to touch, to feel, to consume and consume. He doesn't have to have expectations about what Ratio would be like, the Scholar King was nothing but a construct in his mind, he just wanted the man in his entirety to be in front of him.

Aventurine's greed-filled desire is marked with intense looks, harsh nips of teeth, torrid hands that itches to grasp tight and never let go. He never really thinks too hard about why he's come to harbor these feelings for a man he doesn't really know, he hasn't even truly met, but the greed persists. There's no logic behind simply wanting, one can desire things simply because, and that's true here for him. He rides these feelings, unsure where it will take them, and surprisingly Veritas reciprocates in some manner. The greediness persists, even when it is being fed, he always just wants more and more of Ratio, he cannot get enough, he will never get enough, because he's obsessed.

The entire train of thoughts only appear to be healthy and sane because Aventurine wants so, so many things, most of them contradictory, like wanting Veritas all to himself but also wanting the world to see how brilliant he is, that it cancels back to balance. There is a strong desire to fully possess Veritas but he also doesn't want it, because that would mean taking away what makes Veritas who he is. So Aventurine is at a standstill with his own endless insatiable greed and lets it be, feeds it with what he can get, what is best for the person who matters the most to him, and it's not enough but it needs to be, but it's still never enough. The thoughts could make him dizzy if he traces it too much, so he makes it simple, so long as his darling Veritas is within his reach, it is enough.

[baekgufiles]

loading . . .

pairing: p.sunghoon x fem!reader genre: high school!au | fluff w. count: 1.06k warnings: mentions of past bullying, mentions of food sypnosis: sunghoon has a crush on you and tries to pick up your interests to approach you.

book lovers !

— Are you… reading?

It was a new sight, for sure.

— Like actually reading that whole thing?— Jake carried the previous question.

— You know, I’m not that stupid. I can read a damn book once in a while— Sunghoon answered, putting down the novel.

— Don’t wanna let you down, but it’s the first time I’ve seen you reading by your own will in the last three years— Jay commented.

— Well, there’s a first time for everything, don’t you think?— he burried his face into the pages.

The truth is, Park Sunghoon didn’t enjoy reading. He was much more of an active person; his hobbies always had something to do with sports. Even on his laziest days, he would go out for a coffee or, worst case scenario, watch an action movie.

And the truth also is that Park Sunghoon always thought he would never be caught dead with a book on him. That was until he met you.

There hadn’t been a day on the whole year where you hadn’t brought a novel with you. Getting immersed in some passionate story and forgetting about the world around you was an everyday activity. A fire could be burning the whole school to the bedrock unbeknownst to you.

On the other hand, you could never go unnoticed. At least not by him. Sunghoon loved to watch your little unintentional reactions, your eyes quickly skipping words through the pages. He loved how your slightly too long hair got in the way, falling in front of your vision. And he loved how every time you’d blowed it, annoyed; yet the next day you would never had cut it.

Sunghoon didn’t like reading, but he couldn’t go a day without reading you. So, when he eavesdropped you recommending some book to one of your classmates with the tagline of ‘your favorite’ he knew that was his one chance.

— Hey, y/n!— his grip on the book cover became heavier at Jake’s voice—. You’ve got yourself a bookworm friend now!

— Yeah, Sunghoon suddenly has decided to pick up reading— Jay added, palming his seatmate’s back, as he added with sarcastic tone—, I wonder why.

— Guys, I’m tired of explaining that I’m not becoming besties with anyone just because they’re reading a b- Wait, you’re reading Little Women?— she interrupted herself.

Sunghoon slowly lowered the volume, finally facing you— Y-yes. It’s a nice book— his voice trembled a bit, but he managed to make himself understandable. Jay looked away, hiding a teasing smile; whereas Jake straight up caughed to hide his laughter.

— Yeah, it really is. Just… quite unexpected choice coming from you, I think— she talked, picking her words carefully.

— Well, it’s not my usual choice, but I truly like it. Also, Jo is such a good written character— his eyes caught the shimmer growing into your gaze.

— I know, right? She knew what she wanted all along, I kinda envy her. I’ve always related the most to Amy— a smile out of excitement crawled into her face.

Sunghoon was about to carry the conversation, but the teacher walked through the classroom door, announcing the end of the recess. He had never hated school more. You walked to your seat and he was left alone with Jay, Jake and their mockery.

Just when he was about to ignore everything and just sleep through the lecture, a neatly folded paper reached his desk. Kind of confused, he opened it, facing a hurried handwriting which readed “we can continue our chat after classes if you want to :)”

He raised his head in a rush, meeting your eyes in an instant before nodding enthusiastically.

— I can’t believed you really just got a date. By picking up a book? How did you do that?— Jake protested on your way out of high school.

— He has been whipped for long enough— Jay stated—. You just straight up flirt with the first girl that crossed your way.

— I’m sorry mister “I have a girlfriend”, not everyone’s got your luck— Jake bickered back.

— Can you guys calm down? I’m already plenty of nervous— Sunghoon interfered.

— You got this, don’t panic— Jay tranquilized him—. It’s just a girl, what could possibly happened?

Flash forward, Sunghoon and you just ordered coffee and two pieces of tiramisu at a little and quiet cafe near by.

The silence wasn’t totally uncomfortable, but you truly wanted to know more about your classmate, so you broke it— I didn’t know you were into reading?— you showed how you weren’t totally sure about the statement.

— Yeah, well… This was more of a first time for me— he instantly panicked, realizing what he just announced—. I mean, obviously this isn’t the first book I’ve ever read. I’ve read plenty of books before, you know? At least, plenty in my opinion; surely for you it wouldn’t be that much since you are always reading something but-

— Sunghoon— you giggled at his lowkey scared face— it’s okay, I get it. Not everyone has a book under their nose 24/7, in any case I’m the one who’d be the odd one.

You looked away, fearing about his reaction a little. He frowned— It’s not weird at all?— your attention was brought to him again, a curious expression stamped on your face—. You know, no one calls weird the football guys, and they always have a ball on them. Also for lots of them, that’s like their one and only interest and again, no one’s ever weirded out about it.

— I guess you are right— you hummed, quickly agreeing with him. You never before had the chance to chat alone with Sunghoon, but for some reason he just emanate comfort. You stirred your drink, absently—. I guess this doesn’t come as a surprise, but I used to get laughed out for just read all the time instead of actually speaking with other kids.

He lightly smiled— Believe it or not, I went through a similar phase too. Just omitting the reading thingy— he clarified, making you chuckled—. What I mean is, now I have really good friends, but it wasn’t always like that.

— We might have more in common that what I expected— you spoke, sipping your coffee—. Turns out you didn’t have to fake your interests for us to get along.

He felt the blood rushing up to his ears, face reddening on the way, as you happily chuckled.

[schrijverr]

Do They Know They Have Shared Custody?

Chimney and Hen can’t help but observe Buck be parental towards Chris, acting as his second dad. The question, however, becomes; does he know? And does Eddie know? A thrilling case that get concluded when Chris gets in trouble at school.

On AO3.

Ships: Buck/Eddie

Warnings: none

~~~

Buck and Eddie have become BuckandEddie almost immediately at the end of their first shift, speedrunning their way to becoming friends and solidifying themselves as a team during the earthquake.

The 118 is happy to see the two get along so well. They’re all family, but having a partner in the field that you are that close with is a good way to stay alive, something both can use, since they’re prone to running into danger. At least now they’re doing it with backup.

They also know that their friendship extends out the firehouse. All of them see each other off the clock with family dinners and big hangs out being organized regularly, but much like Hen hangs out with Chimney and Athena separately, Buck and Eddie hang out alone too. It’s impossible not to know that, despite Eddie’s reserved nature, because Buck will tell everyone what he’s been doing at any given point in time, no matter how embarrassing or unasked for.

Not that the 118 will ever ask him to stop, Buck oversharing is one of the foundational pieces of them as a team. Everyone knows that. Even Eddie, who always looks over fondly when Buck recounts movie night or what he and Chris did that weekend. It keeps them all sane, fills the silence and ensures they keep going.

So, yeah, all of them know how close Buck and Eddie are, how close Buck is with Christopher. The three of them are a little unit, despite of what else might be happening in their lives.

However, because Buck shares everything and Eddie lets him, even when whatever story Buck is telling embarrasses or implicates him as well, it comes as a shock when it seems that there is more to the Buckley-Diaz connection than they’ve been privy too.

It starts with Buck bringing a bunch of cookies to the firehouse. That in itself is a little unusual, but no one is going to question baked treats.

Well, no one was going to question baked treats, until Buck starts grilling them about them, asking them which they liked best and which one looked the best and, hey, these are the same but a day old, do they still taste good, or bad, or better?

“Okay, what is happening?” Hen asks when Buck is practically taking notes on her answers.

Surprisingly – or unsurprisingly really now that they think about it – it’s Eddie who answers. “Chris has a bake sale next week, this idiot made us sign up to provide cookies to sell. He and Chris have turned it into a whole mission.”

“You can’t show up at a bake sale with store bought cookies, Eddie. Everybody knows that,” Buck huffs in a way that indicates this is not the first time they’ve had this argument.

“No one is going to care, they know we’re busy as firefighters and don’t always have time,” Eddie argues.

“Yes, which is why it’s extra important to do this right,” Buck points out. “With our schedules we can’t promise being available for anything else, but this can be done in advance. Your parent participation standing is very low with the PTA, you can use the boost this gives you.”

“Okay, if it is for Eddie’s social standing with the other parents, why are you baking cookies?” Chimney asks, taking another bite from his cookie.

“Have you seen this man in a kitchen?” Buck scoffs. “He can’t cook or bake to save his life.”

“Hey, I can cook,” Eddie protests, though it’s more a token protest that dies out pretty soon after Buck gives him a disbelieving look.

“I think it’s sweet that you’re helping,” Hen says. “God know how difficult parent participation can be, I don’t know where I’d be without Karen.”

None of them catch the implication of comparing Buck to Karen, the partnership of BuckandEddie too normal for them to do so. Instead, Buck just crows: “See, I told you.”

“I know, I just think you’re doing a lot and it’s sweet, but don’t feel obligated,” Eddie humpfs, partially giving away what he really feels; guilt.

Naturally, Buck catches on immediately, sending him a big smile as he says: “Hey, I’m not doing anything I don’t want to. Baking is fun. I’m actually teaching Chris so he might survive on his own when he ever moves out.”

“Oh god, don’t talk about Chris moving out,” Eddie replies, sounding horrified at the thought of his son being old enough to fly the nest.

Everyone laughs at him and continues to rib him for becoming old. The whole incident partially forgotten until the next one occurs a few weeks later.

Both Buck and Eddie are requesting the same night off, leaving it a hassle to get the right shifts switched around to make it happen. Chimney complains: “The A shift without you two is going to be so boring and the whole dynamic is going to be thrown off. What are you guys even doing that’s so important anyway?”

“It’s parent-teacher night at Chris’s school,” Buck explains easily.

“And you need time off for that because…?” Chimney asks.

“Well, tía Pepa is watching Chris and last time Carla went with him, but she already has a thing then, so I’m going as backup instead. Two remember more than one,” Buck answers, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “I already know some of the teachers from pick-up. Plus, we helped at the bake sale. It’s not like I’m a new face.”

“You can do that?” Chimney sounds surprised. “Just bring whoever?”

“I mean, they’re going to ask who you are and judge you about it, yeah, but it’s not illegal to bring someone if they have a connection to the child,” Buck shrugs.

It says a lot about who they are that Chimney doesn’t even think to question whether or not Buck has a connection to the child and whether or not Buck will get a negative judgment when introduced or that it’ll be a weird introduction. He’s Buck, of course it’s normal for him to go to parent-teacher night.

In fact, Chimney doesn’t even question it until the shift is there and the people from the B shift that are filling in ask where the two usuals are, giving Chim a weird look when he relays the information.

Still, they don’t actively start questioning it, until the third time it happens. Eddie is working out, while Chimney and Hen are restocking the ambulance, when Buck, who is helping Bobby with dinner, suddenly appears at the banister and calls down: “Hey, Eddie! It’s gonna be just us today, Chris is hanging out with his friends, he’s eating dinner with the Walters tonight.”

Eddie just nods and calls back: “We should get burgers then.”

Buck throws his head back as he laughs, before grinning down: “At some point he’s gonna figure out we eat unhealthy when he’s not there, you know.”

“But until then…?” Eddie asks with a mischievous look.

“Until then we’re definitely getting burgers,” Buck replies matching his look.

“Okay, what’s happening?” Hen asks, poking her head out from the ambulance, sharing a confused look with Chimney that seemingly flies over both Buck’s and Eddie’s head.

“Oh, Eddie is a dumbass,” “Oi!” “who leaves his phone upstairs when he works out. I saw it was Chris calling, so I picked up and told him he could go.”

“And you’re okay with that?” Hen asks Eddie, eyebrows raised. She knows very well that no one other than Karen could ever give Denny permission to go anywhere and there’d be hell to pay for anyone who tried. Even if it were Chim.

However, Eddie doesn’t seem to share that apprehension, giving her a weird look as he says: “Of course. He’s Buck. He knows what Chris is and isn’t allowed.”

He’s Buck.

He’s Buck.

The phrasing of that sticks to Hen’s brain as she nods as if she gets it and in a way, she does. He’s Buck, he’s Eddie’s Buck. The Buck of BuckandEddie. They’ve always been close, Buck has always been close to Christopher too. The three are a unit. Hen almost feels silly for questioning it, then she starts questioning why that is.

With Hen questioning it, Chimney also starts questioning it. The two gossip like it’s their job and theorizing about it is half the fun. So, when they’re in the ambulance together, checking everything, she asks: “Do you think anything is up with Buck and Eddie?”

“Yes!” Chimney bursts out, relieved that she brought it up first so he can talk about it. “I mean, Chris is a good kid and I’ll babysit him if Eddie asks, but Buck… Buck seems…”

Chimney trails off and Hen finishes for him: “Overly involved?”

“So, it’s not just me,” Chimney sighs relieved. “I know I don’t have a kid, so I couldn’t tell if that is a normal thing to do, but you never asked me to any of that with Denny, but you had Karen and then that got me thinking.”

“Because Buck is kind of Eddie’s Karen,” Hen nods, summarizing what Chim said, because they’re on the same page as always.

“Exactly,” Chimney nods back.

“Think they’re secretly dating?” Hen asks.

“I don’t know. If it were anyone but them I would’ve said yes, but I don’t think Buck could keep that a secret to save his life.”

“No, but Eddie could and Buck would probably do anything for him.”

“True.”

They both fall silent for a second, thinking. Chimney is the one that breaks it, asking: “Do you think they’re in love?”

“Probably, but if they are, they don’t know it,” Hen responds. “Hell, I don’t think they even know they’re co-parenting Christopher.”

Chimney’s eyes light up and he says: “30 dollars Eddie knows.” Hen gives him a look and he says: “Oh come on, he’s Chris’s parent, he has parented with someone else before. There is no way he doesn’t know what’s happening.”

“I don’t know, he has a lot of people that help with Christopher, he might not realize,” Hen says. “Plus, it’s not as if Buck has shared custody of Christopher. All we’ve seen are weirdly close, but nothing too big. I say, neither of them realize.”

“Willing to put money on that, Henrietta?” Chim asks mischievously, quirking his brows.

“Don’t call me Henrietta and, yes, I’ll match your 30,” Hen says, before pushing him away.

Now that they have a bet going on, the right to interfere has been revoked, but their need to observe has grown tenfold. And boy, do they observe.

Not even three days later Buck comes into work, casually bumping his hip against Eddie’s, who is pouring him a coffee, as he says: “I got the supplies for Chris’s science fair project, so we can start after we get off shift.”

“Chris is really excited, hasn’t been able to shut up about it all week,” Eddie snorts. “I’m glad you’re willing to do it with him.”

“Course, I’ll never pass a chance to hang out with my little man, especially when he’s doing something fun,” Buck grins, eyes crinkling. Neither notice the possessive claim he stakes on Chris, both of them allowing it as normal.

Eddie laughs again: “I should’ve known, you’re just as excited as he is, aren’t you?”

“What can I say, volcanoes are cool,” Buck enthuses. “Did you know there are 10 tot 20 volcanic eruptions per day on earth. Most of them are under the sea. That’s pretty cool!”

“Yeah, Buck, that is pretty cool,” Eddie agrees fondly, before the conversation drifts to other topics, while Chimney and Hen share a look in the background.

Then later, they’re on a call. No one is seriously hurt, but people are trapped and Eddie drew the short stick, so he’s in the sewer wading through god knows what, while Buck mans the wench, calling out encouragements with a shit-eating grin, as Eddie grumbles and Chimney waits so he can check over the people that are brought up.

However, Buck is distracted by his phone ringing. He takes a quick glance at the screen, frowning when he sees, who it is, he quickly calls Chim to take over and swiftly picking up: “Hi, Evan Buckley speaking. Is Chris okay?”

This catches all their attention, not just because Buck never picks up with his full name, but also because he mentions Chris. How did he know the call was about him before he even picked up?

They watch as Buck listens to whatever is being said on the other side of the line, shoulders relaxing slightly as the person on the other side of the line talks. He nods along, then says: “Yeah, of course Chris can go. His permission slip is supposed to be in the yellow folder.”

A beat, then an amused huff as Buck’s voice raises a pitch: “Oh, really?” Then he continues normally: “Well, of course he’s allowed to go. Eddie probably forgot to pack it, I probably should’ve told Chris where I put it instead of him,” he laughs, then says his goodbyes.

Soon after Eddie returns with one of the victims, attaching her to the rope Chimney lowers, before turning to take off again.

However, before he can, Buck calls out: “Hey, Eddie, think you forgot something this morning?”

Eddie looks confused as he frowns up at Buck. “No, I didn’t forget anything,” he answers, full confidence. A beat passes and the a little less secure in that answer, he asks: “Did I?”

“Chris’s yellow folder,” Buck reminds him. “With the permission slip?”

Understanding dawns on Eddie’s face and he curses. “Fuck, that’s today, isn’t it. Shit, Chris is gonna be pissed.”

“Nah,” Buck assures him before he can spiral. “School just called, I told them he can go. He’ll probably bully you for it when you get home, though.”

“Better than getting the cold shoulder,” Eddie grins back. “I am not looking forward to those teen years, let me tell you.”

And with that, he takes off again, pretending he isn’t laughing when Buck yells after: “Can’t be more shitty than this.”

As Eddie disappears from view, Chimney fails at a conversational tone as he asks: “I take it that was Chris’s school?”

Buck doesn’t appear to notice as he answers: “Yeah, Eddie forgot to pack Chris’s permission slip for the field trip today, so they called to check it’s okay. Eddie clearly can’t answer right now, so they called me.”

“And that is normal?” Chimney calls.

“Well, yeah, it’s nice to have a backup in case a parent doesn’t pick up,” Buck says.

Chimney sends Hen a look for confirmation, who is just finishing checking over the woman Eddie rescued earlier. Hen points out: “I mean, yeah, they always call Karen first, because with my job I can’t always pick up, but you and Eddie are almost always busy at the same times. You work the same shifts.”

“Yeah, course, but seven times out of ten if Eddie doesn’t pick up it’s because he forgot his phone, like a dumbass, but if we’re truly busy they’ll call Carla,” Buck shrugs, switching back in with Chim so two paramedics are available for the next people.

“Oh, so Carla is number 3 on the list,” Hen repeats in a tone that signals to Chimney that that is interesting. Because it is. Carla has literally been hired to take care of Chris when Eddie can’t due to work. It’s her job. But she isn’t number 2, no that is Buck. It somehow does and doesn’t make any sense.

Oblivious to it all, Buck nods enthusiastically: “Yeah. Works out best this way. I hope Chris has fun, they’re going to the aquarium. I really wanted to chaperon, but I guess we’re gonna have to go to the aquarium together some other day. Maybe Chris learns some things that aren’t on the signs from a tour guide and he’ll tell me.”

He looks so excited about it that they don’t even have the heart to tease him about being a big kid himself. Hen sometimes thinks he is living a second, better childhood through caring for Christopher and trying to imagine why he’d need to do so makes her heart ache. So, she lets him be excited and focuses on checking the next patient Eddie brings her way.

When they have a call a few weeks later that involves a squid and Buck has a bunch of fish and cephalopod facts ready to go, everyone knows it’s because he took Chris to the aquarium. Eddie even informs them off it when Buck starts.

After that, they watch as Buck and Eddie coordinate pick ups when their schedules are thrown out of whack for a few weeks due to a big emergency, as well as them dividing getting supplies for projects and arguing how best to help Chris with his homework.

Hen and Chim keep trying to figure out if they know what they’re doing, but Buck just keeps calling Chris his best friend, nothing else, and Eddie is no help in the opening up department.

It’s all so domestic and they want to tear their hair out, because while the bet is about the parenting, neither can forget about how they thought they were maybe dating and definitely in love.

All their interactions are so fond, so familiar. They’re a family – part of the bigger 118 family of course, but a unit in their own right – and both deserve having that so much. However, it doesn’t seem like they know that and they want to push, to meddle, but Hen knows how scary it can be, especially if you aren’t out (and neither Buck nor Eddie ever mentioned being into men) and she doesn’t want that fear for them, knows you can’t rush that. So, they just have to watch it happen.

They have to watch as Buck picks up his phone with a big smile, grinning: “Hey, Superman. What’s this all about? Miss me already?”

Chris – because there is only one person Buck can be talking to after that greeting – must say something particular, because Buck’s eyebrows are creeping towards his hairline. In a voice that mixes surprise and amusement, he asks: “Oh, and are you going to tell me what you did, or are you just informing me of that?”

“And by some you mean all, don’t you?” Buck says fondly when Chris explains further.

“Of course,” he snorts at whatever Chris replied to that, before adding: “So, can I ask why you’re calling me to tell me about it?”

“Oh, I see how it is, Mister,” Buck laughs, eyes twinkling with amusement. “You’re trying to get yourself out of trouble, is that it?”

They can’t make out what Christopher says, but they can hear traces of his giggles coming out of the speaker.

It’s just Hen and Chimney who are there with Buck. Bobby is working on dinner and Eddie is catching up on some sleep downstairs, while they’re all hanging around on the couch. As they watch Buck talk with Chris, they keep sending each other looks, both trying to piece together what the conversation is about.

At Chris’s reply, Buck puffs up, even when the other can’t see him. Playing at magnanimous Buck answers: “Well, luckily for you, I am in a helping mood. So, if you promise to do all your homework before your dad gets home, I’ll try and work out a deal for you. How does that sound?”

Hen and Chimney can tell him how that sounds, it sounds parental. However, they can’t discern if Buck also knows it. Neither of them have bet on Buck knowing, but they can’t help but squint their eyes at him, wondering if he does know and isn’t as oblivious as he seems.

That wondering is exacerbated when Buck hangs up with a happy: “I’m glad you think so, Superman. Now be good and expect a call from dad, yeah?”

Once he has hung up, Chimney jumps on it first, asking: “So, what was that about?”

“Chris is trying to get out of trouble and has apparently learned the skill calling in a favor,” Buck explains.

“I hope you know you’re the one who taught him that with all your negotiating,” Eddie suddenly speaks up behind them, having only caught the tail end of the conversation. He looks sleep rumpled, but awake. Likely set an alarm for lunch.

Hen raises her eyebrows at Eddie’s comment, unable to help herself. Mentally, she grudgingly gives a point to Chimney, that does sound like Eddie knows.

She is now also truly lost about whether Buck realizes when he guffaws offendedly: “Excuse you, I don’t hear you complaining when he actually gets in bed on time during movie night.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. It’s only because you’re the good cop,” Eddie complains.

“That’s the benefit of being Buck instead of being dad,” Buck grins and Eddie doesn’t protest the statement. Okay, so neither of them know. Probably. Right?

“I guess,” Eddie pouts, shrouding the situation in doubt again. “Just tell me why he was calling in a favor with you. Or is it a secret?”

“Nah, our little man decided to eat a bunch of ice cream while Carla was taking a call,” Buck says, neither of them noting the ‘our’ there, while Chimney and Hen definitely do.

“What?” Eddie exclaims with a frown. “Oh, he’s in trouble.”

“And he knows that,” Buck says. “Hence the call. I’m here to negotiate on Chris’s behalf. He has promised to do all his homework before you get home and he has acknowledged that what he did was against the rules and fessed up. So, he deserves some credit there.”

Eddie frowns more, crossing his arms now too. He doesn’t look pleased at all.

When he doesn’t say anything, Buck continues: “Come on, Eddie. I know it’s not healthy and Carla is probably regretting taking her eyes of him with that sugar high, but it’s normal for kids to do naughty things sometimes, to break the rules.”

“Sure, this was a harmless one, overall,” Eddie agrees. “But what if next time it’s a more dangerous thing he does. A rule that’s there to keep him safe, instead of just preventing a sugar rush and cavities? He needs to know it’s not okay, that the rules are there for a reason.”

Buck looks thoughtful at that, trying to come up with a reply. Hen is about to offer her advice as a parent – having gone unacknowledged thus far – when Buck does it first. “Then tell him that.”

“What?”

“Just tell him,” Buck shrugs. “Chris is a smart kid. You can explain that this rule is to keep him healthy, but other rules are there to keep him safe and it is important that he follows those rules, because they’re not there to be annoying, but to protect him. I’m sure he’ll get it. Then maybe no ice cream for a week or something as punishment, I don’t know.”

Eddie pauses for a second, then grins: “That’s actually good advice. When did you get so wise, man?”

Buck blushes and doesn’t meet their eyes, muttering: “It might have been what Bobby did to me after I was being a dumbass during my probie time,” causing everyone to laugh a little at his expense, which he takes graciously.

The conversation as a whole sticks with Chimney and Hen, who argue about it relentlessly, trying to figure out what it means and who is right. Chimney is perfectly ready to accept his winnings, but Hen refuses to give him the satisfaction of being right and has enough arguments to back herself up to not feel too petty about it.

Before they can settle it, they get their answers.

Eddie gets a call from school saying that Chris got in trouble and gets permission to go from Bobby so he can settle this. While he’s gone, Buck paces a little, wondering how Chris got in trouble, because he’s usually such a good student and he loves school and he knows all of the teachers like him. Well, all of them except Mrs. Smith, who sucks.

Soon Eddie returns to the station alongside Chris, because they have to wait until Carla can come pick him up. Eddie looks a little dazed, but Chris looks angry, a little storm cloud above his head.

Buck has been waiting anxiously for them the entire time, so he’s there in no time. “Hey, Superman, what got you all upset?”

Chris’s face is puffed up in indignant upset and anger, it’s kind of cute, but no one is going to tell him that when he exclaims: “Mrs. Smith told me off for lying even though I totally wasn’t and for calling Mike an asshole even though he totally was. And dad didn’t back me up for any of it.”

That gives all of them a pause. Eddie might not back Chris calling anyone an asshole, no matter how deserved, but he would always back Chris if he is falsely accused of lying.

They look over to Eddie, who is standing there, looking a bit helpless and out of his depth, as if he has no clue what he is supposed to do now. When he meets Buck’s questioning gaze, he flushes and looks away, making Buck frown. Hen and Chimney decide to stay in the background, see how this plays out and if they can finally settle that bet.

Buck seems uncertain, especially with Eddie avoids his gaze, so he is cautious when he asks: “And what makes you say that? Your dad wouldn’t just leave you hanging, you know that, Chris.”

“I know, but we had to give a presentation about our families and I told them I have two dads and Mrs. Smith told me off in front of everyone and then Mike call you a bad word, so I called him an asshole and then she send me to the principle’s office and it’s not fair,” Chris says loudly.

All the adults there become very still at those words. After so long the unspoken has become spoken.

Chris is oblivious to it, continuing his rant: “And then dad came in and he backed them. They told him to explain to me to avoid confusion, like I’m stupid. I’m not stupid! I know you and dad don’t do the gross stuff like kissing or holding hands, but you’re still my dad. You cook for us, you help me with the homework and you went to parent-teacher night. I wasn’t lying and Mike had no right to call you that word. He should be suspended for a day too.”

Buck looks as if he’s been slapped, yet as if it’s the best day in his life at the same time. He is clearly at a loss for words and equally overwhelmed as Eddie. He just gapes at Chris, before his eyes flick between Eddie and Chris, searching for something that Eddie doesn’t appear capable of giving him right now.

When both stay silent, Chris draws back slightly from where he’d been orbiting in Buck’s space, voice hurt as he asks: “I mean, you’re also my dad, right, Buck?”

Jolted into action by Chris’s tone, Buck goes down on a knee to be at his level, pulling him into a hug as he says: “I’ll always be your Buck. I’m here for you and I won’t go.” Then he pulls away slightly, cupping Chris’s cheek in a manner similar to how Eddie does. “But you already have a dad, I don’t want to push into that space, yeah. It’s not up to me.”

“But Denny has two moms and Harry has three dads, why do they get to have more parents and I don’t?” Chris cries, his upset growing more.

Eddie is also moving, crouching down on Chris’s other side and carding a hand through his hair and pulling him close: “Oh, mijo, I’m sorry. I- I didn’t mean to pick their side.” He looks over Chris’s head at Buck, eyes wide as if to try and silently communicate about what to do.

Buck returns his gaze with equally wide eyes, before swallowing thickly. He nods at Chris, then looks down at himself, before giving Eddie an apologetic grimace.

Eddie glares at him, frowning as he shakes his head, before nodding sharply at Buck, then at Chris.

Now Buck’s eyes grow wide again, this time in joyous disbelief, which turns into an ‘are you sure?’-expression.

At that Eddie gives him a flat look. However, before the silent conversation can continue, Chris sadly says: “But you did pick their side.”

Immediately Eddie’s attention is on his son entirely, taking over from Buck, so he can cup his face and have Chris look in his eyes, so he knows he means it: “And I’m very sorry for that, Chris. You were right to stand up for your friend and you do have a dad in Buck.” He sends over an insecure look to Buck at the last part, voice a little softer, as if he hopes Buck won’t hear him.

Fortunately, he doesn’t have to worry, because at the confirmation Buck’s face lights up in the brightest smile they’ve seen from him yet.

Chris also smiles at that, before he frowns: “Why didn’t you tell Mrs. Smith or the Principal that? Now they think they’re right.”

The others might not know this, but Buck is the one that talks to Chris, so when Eddie flounders again, he starts up easily. “Well, Superman, your dad was probably a little confused, because often having two parents, means those two parents do all the gross stuff like kissing and holding hands and that’s what Mrs. Smith and the Principal thought you meant, so your dad agreed with them that that isn’t true.”

Right now Chris is standing between the two, looking at Buck while Buck looks at him. Neither notice Eddie, who is looking at both with an incredibly fond yet heartbroken look on his face.

If Hen dared to do more than breathe in that moment, she would’ve bet a lot of money that he only now realized what he could have, right as Buck is apparently ripping it up in front of his face. By the lord, both of them are a little stupid.

Buck continues on: “It was just a misunderstanding between everyone, because usually when a kid has an extra parent they’re not related to, it’s because that person is dating a parent the kid is related to. Now I’m bi so I like more genders, so also men, but you dad doesn’t, so-”

“Who said I don’t,” Eddie interrupts, looking as if he did not intent to blurt that out.

“You do?” Buck asks, surprised, gaze turning to Eddie.

Eddie is flushed bright red and he looks away, muttering: “Uhm, yeah, I’m- I’m gay.” By the way he says it, nervous and voice small, Hen guesses he hasn’t come out often. Not surprising, since he is ex-military.

Buck seems dumbstruck by the revelation and Hen can quickly see this go south. So, she steps in, giving Eddie a quick side hug, pulling him into her stomach, since he’s still on the ground. She says: “I’m so proud of you, Eddie.”

Then she holds out a hand for Chris to take as she says: “I think your dads need to figure this all out for a moment, get on the same page. Why don’t we go and ask Cap if he can make you some more of those grilled cheese sandwiches you liked so much last time.”

“Okay,” Chris agrees, easily swayed by the promise of grilled cheese sandwiches and a nod from one of his dads.

As she leads him away, she sends Chim a look that clearly says ‘you better stay here and report back on all developments’. Going off the look he returns, the message gets across.

Bobby can indeed be convinced to make Chris some grilled cheese sandwiches, though he demands that Hen softly fills him in on what’s happening. He claims to be above gossip, but Hen knows better, she sees right through him.

When Chris is happily munching on his grilled cheese, Chimney comes up the stairs. There is no Buck or Eddie behind him and both Bobby and Hen give him a questioning look, but it is Chris, who asks: “Where are dad and Buck?”

“They’re, uhm,” Chimney clears his throat, “continuing their conversation for a bit more. Enthusiastically.” He ruffles Chris’s hair and says: “I think your dads are gonna do gross stuff like kissing and holding hands from now on, kiddo.”

“Iew,” Chris complains, before he perks up and asks: “Does that mean Buck will have more sleep overs now?” which makes everyone laugh.

Hen smiles: ‘It probably does, Chris, it probably does,” before holding out her hand to Chimney, who begrudgingly hands her her 30 dollars.

~~

A/N:

The full Chris-Buck convo:

“Hey, Superman. What’s this all about? Miss me already?”

“I did something naughty.”

“Oh, and are you going to tell me what you did or are you just informing me of that?”

“I ate some of the ice cream while Carla was taking a call.”

“And by some you mean all of it, don’t you.”

“Maybe.”

“Of course. So, can I ask why you’re calling me to tell me about it?”

“Because if you tell dad, then he won’t just find out and then he’ll have time to know about it, before he comes home and then I’ll be in less trouble.”

“Oh, I see how it is, Mister. You’re trying to get yourself out of trouble, is that it.”

“Maybe.”

“Well, luckily for you, I am in a helping mood. So, if you promise to do all your homework before your dad gets home, I’ll try and work out a deal for you. How does that sound?”

“Good! You’re the best, Buck.”

“I’m glad you think so, Superman. Now be good and expect a call from dad, yeah?”

[valhelos]

My personal Julius Root headcanon timeline.

1400s- Julius is born 1st of April 1400. At this point Turnball Root would already be a captain in Recon and starting his criminal career. Turnball would've done well in school and been well liked so I think Julius' parents would've had high expectations for him. I don't think he ever really measured up to those expectations. 1.

Julius, Briar Cudgeon, Opal Koboi, Raine Vinyáya and Foaly attend the same college. Julius' interview in Artemis Fowl Files gave me the headcanon that he's kind of a history nerd, so he might have a history degree and/or criminal justice degree.

1460s- Graduating college, Julius, Vinyáya and Briar attend police academy, graduate and join LEP. Julius and Briar join Recon in 1465.

1476- Julius is promoted to Captain. He is a good officer but still overshadowed by Turnball who is one of the LEPs golden fairies at this point. Turnball is smart, well-educated, well respected by his peers and liked by his superiors. He has been given his own task force to tackle the criminal underworld of Haven, which he himself runs.

1499- In trying to get rid of a competitor, Turnball plans to flood part of Haven City. Julius finds out about his brother's plans and goes to stop him. After the ensuing firefight and chase, Turnball manages to escape as Julius refuses to kill him.

These events cause extensive investigations on everyone involved. After his failure to catch Turnball, Julius and his family get investigated for possible ties to Turnball's criminal activities and after those investigations yield nothing Julius eventually gets an assignment as far away from the public eye as possible monitoring old abandoned tunnels. But his family's life is still torn apart by the public. His family moves away from Haven City.

The officers involved in the task force get investigated as well as the higher-ups in LEP as to how Turnball was able to get away with this. The old commander gets replaced with Lope, the Internal Affairs commander. And as the public wants answers and the Council wants this all to go away as soon as possible, there is a large scale reform of the system; the Internal Affairs department is allowed more agency and most procedures are made more transparent. Officers are more accountable and more closely monitored.

New guidelines and regulations are quickly put into place but attitudes inside LEP are slow to change. Most of the old guard resent the new commander and these new rules.

As Julius is already on thin ice, he makes an effort to do everything by the book. He keeps his head down and keeps from making waves in any way. He has to make sure any investigation or review into him comes out spotless, so he knows the rulebook by heart. 2.

1522- Julius eventually returns to his normal duties as captain. This decision is mostly made by Lope as there is still tension within LEP and Lope needs competent officers in the ranks who don't resent the new rules. And Julius at this point would be one of the best in the field.

1500s- Julius arrests Mulch multiple times. Koboi puts her father out of business and builds Koboi Labs. Foaly is hired by LEP. 3.

1600- Julius is promoted to major. As Lope was always going to be a band-aid solution, he needs someone to take over as commander and starts training Julius for the job. (The other possible candidate being Vinyaya but she would become Wing Commander in 1655). 4.

1600s- During a Recon mission to locate a troll things go bad and Julius sees five of his squad lose their lives.

1676- Julius becomes youngest-ever full Commander of LEP. As commander he would continue enforcing and expanding on the changes made, only more measured. This would be supported by Vinyaya as Wing Commander and Lope now in the Council. Some of the older officers would object to him and insist he's not qualified enough and too young to be commander. 5.

1700s- Julius' parents die. During an arrest Mulch nearly decapitates Julius. Julius settles into his role as Commander.

1780- Trouble Kelp join LEPrecon. He would immediately try and arrest a troll and a gang of B'wa Kell goblins. In 1795 he would get promoted to Captain.

1800s- During this time Foaly would either be brought in or climb the ranks in the tech department until he's in charge of it, and is given the task of building the LEP's security system. He would also help in rewriting the rulebook. Julius and Foaly become reluctant friends. Most of the old guard would retire and be replaced with new officers. Briar Cudgeon is promoted to Lieutenant.

1900s- Julius would start to involve Trouble more and more, seeing as he could be a good commander one day. He starts accompanying Julius on Recon initiations. They become friends.

1923- Julius sets the air speed record. He probably had a good reason (in his mind) and he absolutely got reprimanded and fined.

1986- Holly Short joins LEPrecon. (The events of LEPrecon take place.) Turnball Root is arrested.

1987-1997- Spelltropy Pandemic kills 25% of fairy population. The city is in quarantine during this time. During this crisis Holly Short is promoted to Captain. Turnball Roots starts planning his escape.

1999-2000- The Hamburg Incident takes place.

2001- Siege of Fowl Manor on 24th of December. Briar Cudgeon is promoted to Acting Commander. After these events Holly and Julius become friends.

2002- Events of The Arctic incident take place in December. Briar Cudgeon is killed.

2003- The Events of The Opal Deception take place. Julius Root is killed.

!!Shoutout to The Artemis Fowl Timeline made by @little-mouse-adventures I did reference the timeline you made when writing this!!

Notes: Yes, I headcanon his birthday is on April Fool's day because he would hate it. It also makes him an Aries.

1. The interactions in Atlantis Complex between Turnball and others show that Turnball is good at manipulating people and hiding his true feelings. I don't think it's a stretch to say he's been doing this for most of his life and was probably very liked and respected as a captain. Turnball would've been Julius' hero. He would have adored his big brother and Turnball definitely was their parents favourite. Also Julius and Turnball are half Silver Fox Elves from their mother's side.

2. Julius would feel trapped during this time. LEP is what he wants to be but he's stuck for years just monitoring tunnels, overseeing prison transports and traffic duty. Just stewing thinking of how Turnball betrayed him, how he ruined the family name and how he's never getting his brother back. And he has absolutely no room to make mistakes. This is also why he hates journalists.

3. Koboi and Mulch timelines are so confusing.

4. The new commander could really be anyone, I'm picking Lope because in book 1 Julius mentions him by name as someone who would back him.

5. At least one person has implied Julius got his job as commander on his knees.

Misc. Yes Julius has been commander for a really long time and he's bloody good at it, he's not the smartest but even Artemis has admitted twice that he's smarter than he looks and wily. He knows the rulebook cover to cover and has a good memory for Council rulings just so he can bend the rules but never breaks them. He has a special interest in alchemy.

[ladyazurith]

So I have a fic that I've never been able to write because every time I've tried, I can't get it started in a satisfactory fashion. It's pretty much inspired by the music from Tangled: The Series because that series has music that has no right to be that good.

The premise heavily depends on the backstory HC I have for Cater. A short synopsis is that Cater finds out from Jamil, that Kalim only joined the Light Music Club, and befriended him because his father told him to.

For the record, Kalim did nothing Malicious here. He took his father's recommendation and found out that Cater and Lilia were cool people and he liked hanging out with them. So while he *met* him because of his father's suggestion, he didn't actually befriend him for this reason. Other than like one AU I've written and when he got possessed at Halloween I don't think Kalim would ever actually do something to hurt someone like that.

He also finds out that the reason Lilia joined the Light Music Club and why Malleus avoids him is because they figured out his family ancestry (something Cater doesn't even know) and thought he was a threat to Malleus at first. Again like Kalim, Liliia found out that Cater wasn't a threat, didn't realize that he was anything but human, and actually a pretty chill guy and fun to hang out with. But Malleus still avoided him to be safe.

There is a lot of explanation of what exactly my HC background for Cater is, and I should probably make a post about that, but not here! The basics are Cater's father is super rich, and his mother is descended from Fae royalty that everyone thinks is wiped out. And he has a really bad relationship with his family and feels like an outcast/not really part of them. Anyway back on track!

Specifically the songs I have in mind are: (All the songs ignore the actual romantic interest, I've given them to who I feel fits the role properly)

Everything I Thought I Knew: Cater discovering everything and finding out about his ancestral family and everything else that's happened.

Cater: Eugene

Ready as I'll Ever Be: (Of course, this song is overused but still good) Cater breaking down, feeling hurt, I know the idea that Cater could kidnap MALLEUS is a stretch but I'm going to say Iron was involved somehow -_- (things I'm still working through/reasons it's not written yet XD)

Cater: Varian

Malleus: The Queen

Silver: Cassandra

Lilia: Cassandra's adoptive father

Sebek: Eugene

Yuu: Rapunzel (I don't have a really good counterpart for her Father, I'd say Crowley, but he's useless and I don't like making him competent and caring)

Waiting In the Wings: (Because I feel like this song was practically written for Vil) Not sure how well it would work overall in the fic, but I'm going over Tangled music so I have to include it

Vil: Cassandra

Crossing the Line: I've always seen Riddle and Cater's relationship as something that Riddle cherishes, he takes Cater at face value, and really respects him. Cater on the other hand having always hidden his real self still views the friendship as one of the shallow ones he'd see fade away. See's himself *below* Riddle. Riddle has no idea how much Cater's hurting. I think it would be very hard on him.

Riddle: Rapunzel

Cater: Cassandra

Nothing Left to Loose: This is a big one for me. I've had this one in my head so much. I really want to do something with this scene even if I don't write the rest of the fic.

I've always envisioned it with Vil and Cater, Cater on the verge of Overblot, and Vil who's been through it before trying to talk him down.

Especially with the "Cass trust me becoming the villain isn't the answer." "That's what you think I am?" and the exchange with "Not like you, you lost your nerve, you lost the game, but you and I we're not the same, I'm not lost this fate was mine to choose"

There just seems to be power there and emotional potential.

Maybe I can polish it up and finally get it written when I finish one of my other long form fics, because I can almost guarantee this would be a very long one.