#and then imagine finding out that carrot is your KID now

[apollos-boyfriend]

the absolute JOY in the other streamers as they run to tell the french about the new egg…… the french must be so confused 😭 they have no idea what an egg means outside of the actual meaning of the word. imagine crash-landing in a new place and a mob of strangers excitedly run to tell you they found a carrot. that’s what it sounds like to them without context

[5sospenguinqueen]

Bedtime Stories | Daniel Ricciardo x Author! Reader

Summary: For the past six years, you've been dreaming of a future with Daniel. Until one silly little interview shatters every illusion.

Warnings: Swearing. Angst. Baby fever. End of a relationship. Daniel bashing.

Female reader with various faceclaims. Takes place in the 2022 season.

Main Masterlist

next.

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User 2 no, it's not an announcement. her best friend is currently pregnant and she was gushing about looking forward to aunty duties

User 3 omg her and daniel would make the cutest babies though

→ User 4 i bet she can't wait until they have their own mini-me

User 5 imagine our rom-com queen going from writing the cutest but filthiest fiction imaginable to writing about why you should eat your carrots

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22•05•22

User 6 i can't believe this man was talking about being in the height of his career when he's been nothing but a flop since leaving red bull

User 7 the way he's been stringing this poor woman along for 6 years, knowing how badly she wants children, to then decide in a random interview that he's never going to have kids because they would be a 'distraction'

User 8 fans spotted y/n running from the pits once she saw that daniel was safely done with racing

User 9 i fear we may be witnessing the downfall of something we once held sacred

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16•06•22

fallontonight just posted

liked by YourUserName, kellypiquet and others

fallontonight did you know @ YourUser Name was once chased by a kangaroo? find out how in tonight's episode of The Tonight Show 📚🦘

4,477 comments

YourUserName thanks for having me! ✨

User 11 excuse me, ma’am, reassess what

User 12 daniel has been absent from her last 3 posts

→ User 1 not even in the likes or comments

→ User 2 and he didn't even congratulate her on the recent book launch

→ User 3 ya’ll are reaching. he's busy racing. she's busy doing book promo. they still follow each other

User 4 anyone notice she didn't look as happy as she usually does

→ User 5 yes! and i swear she got teary when talking about her life plans 🥺

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YourUserName just posted

liked by maxverstappen1, mclaren and others

YourUserName my happy place 🌊🐚🦀 Aug '22

4,990 comments

User 6 does this mean a new book is coming soon

→ User 7 girl, we’ve just had one. let the woman rest

→ YourUserName sorry, my lovelies but i don’t think i'm in the right headspace to being right a romance novel at this time

→ User 6 confirmation??!?!

→ User 7 we’re children of divorce

→ User 8 honestly fuck those two because i couldn’t have cared less about vroom vroom boys until mother started dating one and now i'm crying in class ‘cause they’re over

landonorris get that bread, queen 🍞

→ YourUserName who let you out of daycare

→ User 9 not y/n and lando interacting like she didn’t break his teammates heart

→ User 10 more like his teammate broke y/n’s heart. let's not make daniel out to be the victim here

kellypiquet p said get writing those children’s books so she can brag about aunty y/n to her friends

→ YourUserName my sweet girl. i saw the cutest dress the other day for her so I’ll pop round soon x

→ User 11 i love their friendship

→ User 12 get this woman a child. She’s too sweet to be stuck in cool aunt mode forever

User 13 anyone notice she didn't do her annual birthday post for daniel?

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04•09•22

User 14 no because the interviewer was so real for that. checo has a few children and he’s currently 2nd best. max is nowhere to be seen on the grid he's that far ahead and he makes sure p is his priority when she’s there so???

→ User 15 and the way he stormed out. i bet PR are sooo happy with him

User 16 nah because mclaren recently announced that they’re not extending his contract so he currently doesn't have his seat and doesn't have his y/n, all because he thought he was better than that

YourUserName posted a new story

danielricciardo posted a new story

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danielricciardo just posted

liked by landonorris, estebanocon and others

danielricciardo yesterday was something. p17 wasn't the result we were expecting, and the media were a challenge but it's always a delight to be in Suzuka. Moving on to the Americas

5,509 comments

User 1 maybe if y/n was there, you wouldn't have done so badly

User 2 maybe if he had a baby waiting in the paddock he would’ve had more incentive to do better

mclaren we’ll get them next time 💪

User 3 letting mclaren and lando down

→ User 4 the real reason he and y/n broke up is because he has no wins. she should move onto lando or something

→ User 5 he’s way too young for her

→ User 4 they'd make a good looking couple tho

(comments have been disabled for this post)

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19•10•22

YourUserName just posted

liked by charles_leclerc, bloomsburypublishing and others

YourUserName thirty, flirty and thriving. please enjoy a small snippet of my 30th birthday, organised by my favourite girl. these are the nice moments before she plies me full of cocktails and i become the sloppiest person in monaco tagged: kellypiquet

kellypiquet any chance to celebrate you 🤍🤍

→ kellypiquet and an even better chance to drink the entire bar and force max to carry us home

→ maxverstappen1 i'm just glad i was able to pull you both out of the sea before you drowned

landonorris can't believe you tried (and failed) to stop us from gatecrashing

→ YourUserName it was an exclusive event, we don't let randos in

→ landonorris i know you're joking but it still hurts my feelings

maxverstappen1 happy birthday, sloppy. you don't look a day over 40

→ YourUserName i'm gonna let that slide but only because i love the bag that kelly told you to buy

User 7 happy birthday to the best author

User 8 happy birthday queen

carlossainz55 happy birthday, y/n 💐

liked by YourUserName

danielricciardo happy birthday x

User 5 kelly and y/n look like the funnest people to hang out with

→ User 6 literally need to know how to become part of their duo

lewishamilton happy birthday, y/n. have a lovely night 💕

liked by YourUserName

mclaren happy birthday to papaya's favourite author (we're still waiting for a racing rom-com that is quite clearly about your favourite f1 team and their super sexy admin) 🥳🥳

liked by YourUserName

This is going to be part of a Baby Fever Angst series with the other drivers. So, multiple drivers are going to have an smau like this.

Max’s Version | Lando’s Version | Lance’s Version

Charles’ Version | Oscar’s Version

I do have Part 2s planned if people want them but also happy to leave it like this :)

[alisonwritesimagines]

Wayne Family Garden ~Batmom Imagine~

Summary: Your plan on growing a garden. However, you don’t have a green thumb. Luckily, you know someone who does.

Author’s Note: I'm obessed with the Wayne Family Adventures on WebToons. Like you don't know how obsessed I am with them.

BatFamily Masterlist

Reader’s Pronouns: She/Her

Warnings: fluff, Poison Ivy and Harley know the Batfam's identies (its canon)

Side Note: This is a secondary blog. If you comment a question down below, I will not answer since this is not the main blog. Please send the question to my inbox if you want a response back!

Do not repost this anywhere!

"What do you think Alfred?"

"I think having a lemon tree could really benefit the garden and our groceries," Alfred tells you.

"Maybe we can have an apple tree too?" You said.

"Sounds delightful. And Master Bruce agreed to your garden?"

"Yup. Said we can have it on the side in the backyard. And we can grow whatever we want," you smiled.

"We should start off small then," Alfred said.

"Right. So then a lemon tree, an apple tree, and carrots?" You asked.

"Sounds good to me," Alfred smiled.

You had been growing more bored around your home now that most of your kids were adults and had moved out of the mansion. So after seeing a good amount of gardening TikToks, you wanted to start your own little garden. But there was one slight problem, you didn't know how to garden.

So there was one person you could think of who could help you start off. You didn't want to bother Alfred more than what he has to deal with so you used your husband's technology to find a certain someone.

The apartment complex looked a little run down but yet again, you knew this was where they would be laying low. You knocked on the front door, only to see Harley Quinn opening it up.

"Mrs. Wayne? Whatcha doin here?" Harley asked you.

"Hiya, Harley. I'm looking for Ivy. Is she around?" You asked.

"Yeah. What's going on?" Harley asked.

"Harley. Who is it?" You heard Ivy ask.

"It's Y/n Wayne! Batman's wife!" Harley said excitedly.

"Hi, Ivy. I came here to ask for a favor," you tell her.

"Uh sure. What's up?" Ivy asked.

"I am currently planting a garden at my home but the problem is, I don't know how to garden. I was wondering if you can help me out," you asked her.

"Don't you have a butler who also knows how to garden?" Ivy asked.

"Yes but I don't want to bother him more than my family already has. And besides, I need more females around the house," you mentioned.

"What are you trying to grow?" Harley asked.

"I would like to start off with a lemon tree, an orange tree, and an apple tree. But I know those take a couple years to grow but I would like to begin growing carrots, tomatoes, and green beans as well," you tell her.

"Those are good to start off with," Ivy mentioned.

"Thanks. So will you come by my house with me and help me get started? I have the tools and everything to start off," you asked her.

"Yeah. My schedule is clear for today," Ivy shrugged.

"Thank you! Harley! You can come over too," you invited.

"Oh sweet!"

Whenever it was a light night, meaning that there was barely crime for once in Gotham, the whole family would get together for dinner. However, they were surprised to see two new comers joining you all in dinner.

"I expect you all to behave yourselves for the night. Ivy and Harley are my guests as they helped me with my garden today," you tell your family.

"Yes mom."

"And no hero or villain talk in the table. I would like a dinner where we can just eat like normal people for once," you say as you prepped the table.

During dinner, everyone ate peacefully but kept a close eye on Harley and Ivy. It was mainly you talking about the garden and your plans for it.

"What are you planning on growing in the garden ummi?" Damien asked you.

"I would like a lemon, orange, and an apple tree but I know those take a while to grow. But I'm also planning on growing some carrots, green beans, and tomatoes to start off," you say excitedly.

"Just make sure to follow the instructions I gave you," Ivy said.

"Of course. And I'll call you in case anything happens," you smiled at her.

The next few weeks, you were proud of your work. The trees were starting to form slowly but surely. You kept notes to check your progress as well as making sure everything was going smoothly. So it wasn't a surprise for the batfamily to see Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy come to their house every week to help check on your garden.

"They're growing good," Ivy tells you,

"Thank you!"

"If you want, I can help you speed up the process for the trees."

"I know I should wait but I do want to try baking an apple pie and make my own orange juice."

"As long as you keep maintaining it you should be fine."

"Mmm. Okay. Let's do it!"

Cassandra and Stephanie quickly rushed over to Harley's and Ivy's place with the bag from their mom. It had been a couple weeks since Ivy and Harley last visited you and your garden. Cassandra knocked on the door, waiting for one of them to answer.

"What do you kids want?" Ivy asked as she opened the door.

"wanted us to drop this off to you," Stephanie said as she handed her the bag. Ivy looked into it before smiling. A fresh apple pie along with a pitcher of orange juice and lemonade were placed in the bag.

"Tell her we said thank you."

"We will!"

"Let her know that if she wants to start something new, have her call me," Ivy tells the girls.

"We will!"

[moonstruckme]

heya!! i was wondering if you could write a poly!marauders x reader where r stopped smoking..? i’m 6 months clean from smoking nicotine and i haven’t told anyone (you’re the first!! lmao) just incase i break from a stressful day and so i don’t disappoint!! could you maybe write that into the drabble or whatever you do..? tysm if you do, and if you don’t then no worries!!

i love you mae and make sure to take care of yourself and keep being you!!!!

thanks for requesting gorgeous, i really hope you're doing well!! proud of you <3

cw: smoking, reader deals with addiction

poly!marauders x fem!reader ♡ 936 words

Remus smells like cigarettes. He’s stopped smoking anywhere near you, but you’re sure if you look out the front door you’ll see the telltale smear of ash smashed into the sidewalk from where he’d stamped one out on the way in. The aroma brings longing and self-loathing, the former more potent than the latter, and you find yourself breathing in the fibers of his sweater for a whiff of it. 

Remus doesn’t catch onto the true motivation for your proximity. He takes it for cuddling, adjusting his hold on his book so he can read with one hand while the other wraps around your shoulders, encouraging you closer to his side. Underneath the heady smell of lingering smoke he smells like himself, like cinnamon and oranges, and you try to focus on that as your better sense fogs over and your fingers start itching for a cig. 

“Aha!” Sirius slaps his last card down on the table. 

James blows out a flabbergasted breath, leaning back on his hands on the floor. They’re playing some kids’ card game Remus learned in primary school and unwisely taught them. At first you’d all gotten into it, but after Sirius nearly took your head off for forgetting the rules and playing with two hands (“Sorry, gorgeous, you know I don’t mean anything I say when I’m trying to win…and I could have won, couldn’t I? No, I’m just saying, it’s about the principle—”) you and Remus had bowed out. James and Sirius have retained their obsession for days, each keeping a scoreboard in their own heads that seems to hold them in favor. 

“Angel?” 

You look up, meeting James’ knowing gaze. “Hm?” 

“He asked if you’re getting hungry for dinner,” Remus clues you in, toying with the ends of your hair. 

“Oh, sorry. Um…” You think hard. One of the more irritating things about quitting smoking is that now your appetite never seems to fully die down. You’re ready for your next meal all day long, and so you actually have to think about whether it makes sense for you to have it. “I had some carrots just after I got home, so I could eat whenever you want to.” 

“Alright…” 

You take another deep inhale, telling yourself it’s because Remus smells nice and losing your grasp on self-control all the while. 

“Are you tired?” Remus asks, and you don’t know how you didn’t notice it before, that extra bit of roughness that his voice takes on after he’s been smoking. You’re so envious you could die. “You seem distracted.” 

“I’m good,” you murmur. Though perhaps it’d be better if you did take a nap or something. You’re beginning to feel twitchy. You take in a breath through your nose like you’ve been practicing, letting it out through your mouth. 

“Ah.” Sirius scoots closer to you, laying his cheek on the couch cushion. “You want to have a piece of your gum, sweet thing?” 

You look at him guiltily. Remus makes a soft sound of realization. 

“You’re picking your nails,” Sirius explains, and you look down to see that you are. “I imagine that means you’re craving one.” 

It’s simultaneously sweet and irksome that none of your boyfriends will even say the word cigarette around you anymore. They’re trying to be considerate, you know, but it feels like they think your self-control is so tenuous that just one word could shatter it. You don’t have the heart to tell them. 

“Sorry,” you mumble, getting the pack of gum out of your pocket. Just the act of unwrapping a stick makes you feel instantly better. “I guess I was thinking I wouldn’t need it anymore.” 

“Don’t be sorry,” James says lightly. “I don’t imagine it’s easy, sweetheart, you shouldn’t feel bad about using something to cope. It’s not like having gum hurts anything.” 

You hum, then turn to Remus sheepishly. “I’m really sorry, do you think you might be able to change?” He looks confused. “Your sweater smells like cigarettes,” you explain. 

James gasps as though scandalized and Remus swears, grabbing the neckline of his sweater and tugging it off. He tosses it into the hall. 

“M’sorry, dove.” He takes your head between his hands, mushing a kiss into your hair. He’s now bare-chested, and you laugh at the dramatics, totally unexpected from him. “I didn’t realize. Is it better now?” 

“Yeah, thanks.” 

He drops another kiss on your head, remorseful. “Alright, I’ll go grab something else to wear,” he says, starting to stand. Both Sirius and James protest loudly. 

“I think what you’re wearing now looks great,” says James. 

“Yeah,” Sirius seconds, “stay in that.” 

Remus looks down at his shirtless torso, raising an eyebrow at the other boys. You can see the amusement dancing in his eyes. 

“Really?” he asks. 

“Come on, it’s not like the fucking Pope’s coming over,” Sirius says, looking well below your boyfriend’s eyes with unabashed enthusiasm. “Tell him, gorgeous.” 

Remus turns his gaze on you. You curl in on yourself slightly, shrugging your shoulders. “This is the best distraction I’ve had all day,” you say quietly, and James’ laughter booms off the walls. 

“Fair enough.” Remus rolls his eyes, grinning as he sits back down on the couch beside you. You get comfy like you were against his side, now smelling only him. He drapes his arm across your back, settling a hand on your hip. “The lows I stoop to for you, hm?” 

“If you’re not up to the task,” Sirius says, “just say the word. I’d be happy to take her off your hands.” 

“Fuck off,” Remus says, and tugs you closer.

[lolita-lollipop]

Red

You, a mere farm girl, has found herself living a nightmare after hearing countless town rumors of a barbarian society moving west. A quiet girl in a quiet town is faced with many shocking discoveries in a matter of two days.

the day was hot, miserably so. the sun beating down on your bare back with an unrelenting warmth, making your work twenty times harder. The sun even warmed up the dirt and stone lying underneath your bare feet, working the fields barefoot was already hard enough, the burning sensation under your feet made it no easier.

You couldn't remember the last time you had water, or any form of nutrition. They didn't bother feeding the "low class" likes of you anymore, field and cattle workers, endlessly working for the sake of producing cash crops and cattle for the village. It wasn't slavery, they couldn't call it slavery as it had been outlawed for years now in this kingdom. Even so, you were paid dirt and were treated as slaves always had been.

you worked and worked and worked night and day, in every season of the year for the "sake of the village" they would say, you among a small group of farm workers lived in a small barn out back, with no insulation or form of bathroom. you shared one room between sixteen workers a small space not fit for even two.

Every day, all day, you would find yourself in a similar situation to this one, in a small sack of a dress covered in dirt, knees on the ground with your hands enveloped completely in dirt either pulling weeds from the ground or planting small seeds for potatoes or carrots or the occasional beet, with the hot sun beating down on your back, heaving and panting. just like you always did, you dug through the soil, pulling out weeds, your bare feet digging into the dirt behind you, burning with the heat of the sun. you were humming an old lullaby your mother used to sing before she died, peacefully doing your work no matter how hot and miserable you should be.

your humming came to a halt when you heard a burst of girly young giggles echo through the field off in the distance, the village girls. They would sometimes come out here for fun, either to make fun of the workers or to run around the fields, the owners didn't care so neither did you, if the rich kids liked the farm than so did their parents, meaning more money for everybody but you. You found yourself envious of their freedom in life. They didn't have to work, not like you did. You were about the same age, yet they were dressed in pretty sundresses with bows in their hair, while you were reduced to something akin to a potato sack, hair tied back in plain looking ponytail, they were plump and round and beautiful while you stayed frail and skinny and sickly looking.

You found yourself staring at them, hidden among the plants and crops, unseen by their unfocused eyes, it was easy to just drift off, to imagine yourself giggling with them, being part of their group, gossiping about the town rumors. It was a nice thought. unachievable, but nice.

"Did you hear about that foreighn kingdom conquering west?" they giggled to each other, clearly not noticing you tucked behind the corn rows. You had yet to hear anything about any foreign kingdom, then again you were fairly uninformed, your only news coming from your colleagues or your boss, who spoke to you once or twice a month. The two other girls let out false-sounding gasps, intrigued.

"I know right? My father speaks about the towns they've conquered. Apparently, it's brutal, they leave no survivors and burn the fields and town. " The girl's giggles became hushed and quiet as she went on, listening intently with wide eyes, you sat behind the plants. They were smiling as she said all of this, wasn't this supposed to be sad, be awful? how could they laugh at the destruction of so many towns? So many lives?

"My mother has been talking about the same things! Apparently, a couple survivors tried to come into town, and the guards sent them packing though. Good thing too, they looked dirty. dirt belongs in the field, not in a home." she brought her hand to her lips and let out a giggle, the rest followed suit while you stared. You couldn't tell if they were being serious, they lived ina different world, that much was obvious.

"Ive heard stories! How they kill the women and children in front of their families, burn down homes and villages, apparently their leader is the worst of them. The biggest and strongest and meanest" she snickered in a disgusting, prissy rich way.

"We dont have to worry of course, they would spare us, father would pay them all the money in the world. Its the low levels who should be worried." They all erupted in giggles at that one, and all looked towards your fellow workers, pointing at their clothes and matted hair and dirty hands. You were apart of the "low levels" as they had said, you hated that. And you hated these girls for making you feel less than them just for not being born with a roof over your head.

You scowled at them, now hating them with all of your energy. Maybe it was best that you stayed away from them, it makes sense why you aren't part of their clique, why you never would be part of their clique. Fuck them, and their high-class prissy fathers. You let out a sigh and tried to back up, wanting to disappear among the plants, accidentally cracking a stick with your bare foot and letting a hiss. All of their heads snapped towards your hidden spot.

"Who's there?" The snooty one with the high pitched nasally voice screeched out. You slapped your hand over your mouth, inching back as fast as you could without making noise, the owners of the farm would beat you if they knew you were eavesdropping on the high class girls.

"Its probably one of those workers" the other hissed, poison laced in her tone.

"Come out freak! you like listening on our conversation?" You ran as they yelled for you, abandoning your seeds and work. Their taunts followed you, however eventually their voices quieted and you were left with the shocking information that a foreign barbarian kingdom was migrating west. You were west, and so was your village. They were moving towards you, especially if the survivors from a raid were close enough to walk on foot to your village, they had to be close.

By the time the sun went down and all the workers were in the servants quarters you were able to ask your questions, the younger workers knew nothing, but the elderly and middle aged were willing to tell the stories from their younger times of the war. You had never taken a history class, or any class at all for that matter so you had no clue about anything they would say, you hadn't even known that there was a war.

They were foreigners who lived among the trees and the mountains, known for brutal manslaughter, they weren't human, that much a clear. They were giant apparently, after and stronger and larger,ith predatory instincts and habits, they were like animals. . They even lived longer. The eldest of the women here had been in one of the village raids all those years ago, they killed her entire family while she was hiding in the closet, then burned her house down, leaving her with burn scars all over her body. They told stories of torture and theft and assault, and the worst part about it was that they had no motive other than bloodlust, they looted homes, but they never demanded money or women or crops. Nobody knew what they wanted, they never told the towns their demands, they would just come and go, leaving fire and death in their dust.

The fact that they were approaching closer and closer as the days ticked by, left you shaking.

Mentions of their brutal leader left you even more fearful, as he preyed on the weak. Tearing out the throats of innocents and ignoring pleas or cries for help. You were weak. Like all those he has killed.

You went to sleep that night hoping that it was all just rumors, silly townsfolk gossip that the girls made up to fill the boredom and free time.

needless to say, you didn't sleep much that night.

---

When you woke up,the quarters were empty, you shared a bed with four other people, so waking up without the company of another was quite jarring. At first, you jolted out of bed, terrified of missing the morning work, knowing it would surely receive you a beating. However the others would wake you up if you had not arisen with the rest, and it was still quite dark outside, so that simply hadn't made any sense. looking around, the room was in a state of disarray, the beds oddly moved around, the thin blankets strewn about, and the little belongings that all of you had were either gone or thrown around the room. What had happened while you were asleep, and more importantly, how had you slept through it?

then, the smell of smoke hit you.

Thick and heavy it brought bile to your throat, this wasn't a forest fire or campfire, this wasn't something where empty air was burning, this smelled like meat, like flesh and bone being burned. you gagged, covering your mouth and nose with the thin fabric of the blanket. you stumbled out the creaky door of your quarters, coughing and trying to block the smell out, but were halted in your tracks.

Fire. Fire everywhere. The farm, the house, even the forest around. The only thing left untouched was the animal barn, thank god. Your eyes widened as you took in the sight of acres of land ablaze, weeks and weeks of work lit with slivers of red and yellow light. The warmth radiating off of it burned your face. were you dreaming? this must be some form of a dream.

dream or not, you were in danger.

Once you were able to get over the initial shock of your home being literally lit on fire, you tried to tune into any other noises than the crackling sound of flames. Anything to hint where you should go, where you should run. You had never left this farm, your mother was a slave here before it was outlawed, and you were born into the work, forbidden to leave. Not once had you stepped foot into town, and you certainly have never left the town. You didn't know where to go.

Then you heard it, the screams. people, so many people screaming, you didn't know where to go, but it would be in the opposite direction of wherever that was, whatever was making that noise. So, with a very impulsive decision you ran away from the screams, into the direction of an empty winding dirt road, you tried to think logically, if you could find someone then you could follow them and figure out where to go.

The quiet running was harsh on your bare feet, sprinting down the empty dirt road as quietly as you could was not easy for somebody medically unwell and malnourished. However, there would be much time later to sulk over achy bones and pained feet. Was there anybody even here? you could still smell the stench, although it was getting softer. However, you still clutched the cotton blanket in your hand. Your pace slowed as exhaustion kicked in, and to your luck, you heard voices. Not quiet and soft like the ones you were used to, loud and boisterous. men.

you found yourself frozen on the trail, listening in on the conversation as best as you could you inched to the side of the road, trying to hide among the trees. They looked strange, not dressed all properly like the owner of the farm or the village girls you had seen. Their clothes were woven in a precise ay you had never seen before, jewels and beads hung from their hair and necks, chests bare and blood splattered.The more you stared, the weirder and weirder they looked, too large, too muscular, their voices too harsh. inhuman sounding.

"The towns already a fucking gonor, chief said to wait to set the forest on fire till he was done in the homes" One of the Men laughed out with a menacing cackle, his shoulders shaking, the others seemed too happy, too excited to be starting fires. They were up to this.

"Those guards were a riot though. All tough until they realized we weren't going down "Please spare me!" and "We'll let you in we swear!"" the other mocked in a high-pitched voice. They laughed along as they mocked the guards of your town. As they walked down the road, getting closer and closer to you by the second, you were now able to see blood all over them, splattered on their strange clothing. Your breath hitched as they passed you, still hiding in the bushes by the side of the road.

Thank god they hadn't seen you, whoever they were, they clearly would not do you well. Two giant men conversing about arson and the death of the town guards were not anybody you wanted to mess with.

wait.

The realization hit you like a brick. These were the foreign raiders from the east. How were you so stupid, how had you let yourself forget in the span of a couple hours? They were tearing your town apart just like the others before. That's why your farm was ablaze. Thats why your Coworkers were gone. Thats why you heard screaming.

Your breath hitched as a couple tears left your eyes, you clutched the blanket in your hand, oh god, your town was going to be one of many trampled and raided beyond repair. your knees began to quiver along with your hands, you were a gonor. you had to run. now.

Stumbling back from the shock of the realization, you turned to quietly make your way further down the road, away from the town, away from those men. They were far enough that they wouldn't hear your quiet footsteps, you were sure of it. So you held your breath and pulled away from the tree, staying in the dark.

However, while your footsteps were quiet as a mouse, the same white blanket that had brought you comfort just moments ago had doomed you, when you had maneuvered away so focused on the quietness of your footsteps, you had failed to notice that delicate cotton blanket had gotten snagged on a tree branch. pulling away from you and causing a loud snap in the branches. Your breath hitched as you stared at the tree with wide eyes, stumbling back and letting the blanket free from your hand. You sent a glance at the two men who had been meters away, praying for their hearing to be weaker than their muscles.

They were instead, standing feet away from you, staring directly at you.

A whimper escaped your lips as you backed away in fear, turning on your heel and making a move to run directly backwards. Not before the taller of the two could reach out and grab the collar of the sack you called a dress, yanking you back and knocking the wind out of you. before you knew it you were lifted off the ground with one arm by the collar of your dress, staring in terror as the eight foot tall man in front of you looked down with excited eyes. He flashed a smile with all too sharp teeth, sending you sprialing into endless fear.

The other said something in what sounded like a foreign language, not something you would ever understand. Before you could move, the larger of the two bendy down and smelled the air right next to you, with that his smile dropped and the two locked eyes. Some kind of realization hit them as well, while you remained unknowing and absolutely terrified.

"well, looks like we missed one, didnt we?" he questioned with a deep voice, the fear alone sent your heart into a free fall, beating out of control. you couldn't breathe, your lungs pulsing in and out against your will as panic flooded them. spots clouded yourision as the man continued to say something, and with one breath you felt your consciousness slip out from under your feet.

---

you woke up lying on the hard feeling of cement stones, the stench from the fire before worse than you had ever smelled it, sending you into a fit of coughs. Squinting your eyes open, you were able to see small cottage-like buildings, you were in the village, weren't you? You were in the square judging by the large open space of square stones. with heavy eyelids you tried to unblur your vision, and as you did, you found that cold sense of panic enveloping your bloodstream yet again. red, red everywhere. you were sitting in a puddle of it.

Silently freaking out, you pushed yourself up with weak limbs, trying your best to stand, you couldn't remember what had happened, but you were still alive, that's what was important. looking around none of those men were near, but the fires were. should you even bother running? would they come back and catch you. there was blood soaked through your dress, your head ached, and you found your bare feet wet with the blood of the townsfolk.

you found yourself dry heaving due to the stench, tears escaping your eyes, all while stumbling around the square in the meantime. your attention was immediately drawn to the high pitched screaming of what sounded to be a girl. finding the sound with your eyes, it was one of the girls from the farm, white bow still tied in her hair. She was lying on the ground, a pool of blood lying at where her head had met the stone just moments ago, her hands were up above her head in a shield-like motion.

"Please! Please! I can pay you anything you want! Money and jewels or crops I swear I am no commoner! I just need my father! Please!" she screamed up, your eyes panned up from the girl lying on the ground to a man. not just a man, a giant. at least ten feet tall with arms a width larger than your head, he had icy hair that seemed to stick out in every direction like an explosion, and eyes. oh god. his eyes were red as the blood surrounding him, piercing and raging more so than anything you had ever seen. He was looking down at her like she was a bug ready to be squashed, with such hatred that you could swear he had a personal vendetta.

This was him, this was the infamous leader that was ever-so talked about. and he exceeded expectations, this man was a walking nightmare, fear itself packed into ten feet of muscle and blonde hair. You hadn't even realized his plans until his foot came down on her head, and with a crunch, the screaming came to an abrupt halt.

For the third time in two days, you found yourself frozen, staring at somebody you would never dare to talk to. And for the third time,they were staring right back at you.

The giant man flicked his boot as red splattered on the ground next to him, all while still staring at you, he let the girl's wrist go, and dropped her body to the ground with a thump. he made slow strides to a frozen little you, each step sending shivers down your spine, as you stumbled back, finally able to move, he was already inches in front of you, leaning over to be face to face.

You didn't bother running, learning from your mistakes that running results in nothing and you still get caught. Instead, you met his eyes for a moment, finding something else deep down. He was leaned over, bent down on one knee, inches away from your face. this was it, you give up. you're dead.

you squinted your eyes closed, deciding it would be best not to look as you met your inevitable death, face to face with the grim reaper himself, you chose not to stare him in the eye. peacefully accepting your fate. You waited for impact, waited to feel something hit you over the head or knock your kneecaps out. You waited for something, anything to end your miserable existence.

but it never came.

your hands quivering, your heart pittering in your chest at five hundred beats per minute. tears running freely down your cheeks, catching dirt and blood on the way down. A hand gently met your face, cupping your cheek, You peeled your eyes open to meet his own piercing crimson globes.

And to your surprise, the man smiled. not like the smile the others gave you, not like a predator bearing its teeth, but a genuine smile, one that you had only ever seen worn by your mother.

"Pretty" he grumbled out, an accent hanging over his voice. it was deep and gravelly and powerful. his giant hand came up to touch your cheek and wipe your tears away, wiping dirt and blood off with his fingertips. This hands could crush your neck with ease if he wanted to, but he wont. Why wont he?

"Why are you doing this?" you sobbed out, finding every last ounce of fight left in you to pull back from his touch and defiantly meeting his crimson gaze once more. your breathing shallow, you felt at risk of feinting once more. He tilted his head with a questioning grunt, and you decided to play your luck once more.

"Why do you raid my village, what have you to gain? You sobbed in his face and his smile shifted and morphed slowly into a frown, he cocked his head even further, his face twisting up into confusion.

"This is not a raid, we do not raid. were not cruel. " His gruff voice continued to send shivers down your spine, yet his words let rage flow through your bones. hundreds dead, maybe thousands, all of your friends, and family even, probably also dead. and this "wasn't a raid" according to him. you couldn't find it in yourself to care that he was twice your height, and quadruple your strength, you wanted to hit him so hard that he would feel it for days, even if it meant breaking your wrist.

"Theyre all dead, why? We have done nothing." You couldn't believe you were talking to one of them right now, you could barely believe that you had the courage to even muster a word, let alone a whole conversation. His hand found your waist, the other touching your face once more. What the hell was happening? surrounded by blood and death and this man, no, this thing was touching youso lovingly. the shivering of your hands threatened to come back again as you held his gaze.

"We look for our mates, and we prove that we are strong enough to be worth your time." The second the words left his mouth youwere once again reminded that he was anything but a human, they were creatures of nature, you'd seen squirells and horses and cows find mates, never humans. but you were stupid to think he was even remotely close to a human. the words had your face twisting in distress, and you stumbling back, your consciousness threatening to slip from under you once more.

"mates?" you questioned, voice wavering with uncertainty. this could not be happening, you could not be talking about love surrounded by bodies on top of bodies in a burning town with a man who wasn't really a man and instead a foreign alien like giant creature.

"mates,

you."

and with those words your eyes rolled back into your skull and your consciousness slipped through the cracks of the stone, you fell forward and the man was glad to catch you. standing up with you in his arms was a triumphant moment for him, finding his mate as a real, as a king was a monumentous occasion. you were his, undeniably his. he had finally found you.

katsuki bakugou had finally found his mate.

[lightseoul]

cw. fem!reader, worker!reader, prohero!katsuki, aged-up (~28 yrs old)

word count. 0.9k words

“I’m home,” you call out, haphazardly putting your keys back into your bag with one hand, the other cradling near your chest the mid-sized box you got from Sato’s shop earlier that day.

You’re careful not to mess up the pastry that sits inside it.

“Welcome home,” Bakugou’s gruff voice echoes from the direction of the kitchen, the sound of which immediately soothes the tension you didn’t know you held in your shoulders.

It’s been a long day, you think to yourself.

Excited to meet him after almost 24 hours of not seeing each other, you hurriedly toe off your shoes, noting to yourself to properly return them on the shoe rack later—lest your Katsuki nags your ear off again (affectionately).

“Hey,” you greet once more as you enter the room, cautiously placing the box on the table before striding towards him to wrap your arms around his middle.

He grunts in acknowledgment.

With your chin on his firm shoulder, you examine the impressive array of ingredients and some of your favorite dishes on the kitchen counter, as well as on the island behind you.

You decide to tease him.

“What’s all this for, babe?”

You can somehow feel more than see him side-eyeing you. “The fuck?”

As innocently as you can, you pipe up: “What?”

At your query, he shrugs himself from your hold and places the knife he was just using to expertly chop vegetables on the table before turning to face you, incredulous.

“Whaddya mean, ‘what’?” he huffs, before continuing. “Are you saying you forgot what day it is?”

You debate with yourself for a second whether or not to continue this ruse, ultimately deciding against it when you see the flash of hurt on Bakugou’s face.

Smiling, you reach out to hold his hands in yours.

He doesn’t shrug you off.

A frown still decorates his face, though.

“Of course I didn’t, babe,” you squeeze his hand for emphasis. “How could I?”

“You very much could, you know,” he says as a matter of factly, turning back to continue hacking on the green onions on the off-white chopping board. “You’ve barely been getting enough sleep with how hard you’ve been working. I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t know what month it is.”

You only grumble in response. He wasn’t wrong.

After a few seconds of staring at his backside, you sigh in defeat, spinning to step toward the kitchen island.

“Well, I got us something.”

“What,” he says more than asks, focus still directed towards slicing carrots now. You smile to yourself; you could practically hear the pout in his tone.

You tap on his shoulder, and at that, he finally turns to look at you, an eyebrow raised in question.

Immediately, his gaze lowers to the box that you’re currently holding, and a whirlwind of emotions dances across his face.

“...‘Happy 4th anniversary to us, champ’?”

Despite yourself, you snort. He shoots you a glare, though it has no bite to it.

You gesture to the cake you’re holding. “I didn’t include ‘I love you’ because I knew that would embarrass you around Sato the next time the class gets together.”

“Yet you decided to use this weird as fuck pet name?” he shakes his head, exasperated. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think his cheeks are turning pink. “Your dumbass making me sound like your kid.”

At that, you cackle, and a smirk manages to crack through the annoyed facade he’s trying to maintain.

You place the box back on the counter and step towards him again, coaxing the knife from his grip. You place it on the board before moving to circle your arms around his neck.

His hands automatically find their place on your hips.

You grin up at him.

“Well, you do call me mommy, sometimes.”

Now, you’re definitely not imagining the redness that’s creeping up on his face.

“Shut up,” he pokes at your side, and you can’t help the squeal that erupts from you.

After a moment of him tickling you and you frantically begging him to stop all the while gasping for air, he finally relents.

He’s still red in the neck when the air between you falls into a quiet lull.

You reach up to comb his hair back with your fingers, tiptoeing to press a kiss on his forehead. When you pull back, you see that his gaze has visibly softened, and he’s now looking at you with what you’ve long identified as adoration.

Longing, too.

Four years of being married, and it still knocks the wind out of your lungs.

“Happy anniversary, Kats,” you whisper, before looking around your shared kitchen that’s filled with testaments of the effort Bakugou puts into your relationship. “Thank you for doing this.”

“‘s no big deal,” he mumbles, dipping his head to rest on the crook of your neck. He says this despite everything else in the room telling you otherwise.

When he lifts his head back up, you shoot him a knowing look and he shoots you another right back.

One you know all too well.

One that says ‘You know what I mean. Don’t make me say it’.

Four years of being married, and the giddiness and pride of knowing Bakugou Katsuki this intimately still hit you like a truck.

“I love you,” you whisper again.

“Yeah, yeah,” he says dismissively, before dipping in to place a kiss on your forehead. “I love you, too, dumbass.”

[steviewashere]

To Be So Mundane

Rating: General CW: Brief mention of Covid-19 (as this is set in 2021) Tags: Post-Canon, Post Vecna, Future Fic, Set in 2021, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Older Steddie, Domestic Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Teacher Steve Harrington, The Intimacy in a Bowl of Soup, Emotional Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson is a Sweetheart, Steve Harrington is a Sweetheart, Soft Eddie Munson, Soft Steve Harrington

Thought about finishing up the fourth chapter of my merman Steve fic. And then I got sidetracked, so here's this. Also, I don't know where they live or what Eddie does for work (maybe mechanic, if you feel so inclined to imagine him that way). Pick your flavor <3

🥣—————🥣 At the end of the day, Steve realizes it’s not the horror he’s experienced that will linger. Sure, they persist and he is frightened and he shakes sweating from it all. But when he comes home, exhausted to his core and sluggish to the soles of his feet, it’ll never be the agony he finds in his kitchen. It’s the warmth.

The sweet musk of vanilla bourbon candles bought from the home aisle of the neighborhood Walmart. A singular orange bulb in a second-hand floor lamp, tucked cozy by the couch, in the corner between the back door and the right armrest. Bookshelves of knick knacks and framed photos from 2003—when he finally tried the college route and graduated. The sprawl of mini-figure painting equipment on the coffee table: half-open paint jars that he closes up tight, still drying clean paint brushes, paper towels and yellowed newspaper, and magnifying goggles.

It’s to music. Soft crooning through the—now considered ancient—record player from 1988. Sometimes Jim Croce. Sometimes John Prine. Sometimes the goddess, Dolly Parton. Something familiar and nearly worn out from playing the records over and over and over. Tonight, it’s Jim. It’s coming back to the floating husking rasp of Eddie Munson’s fifty-five year old voice, not all that great but always sweet from by the stovetop.

To where Steve migrates, shoeless and briefcase free and his teacher’s badge hung up. Where soup simmers on the low heat—smelling of paprika and roasted carrots and chicken bouillon. The oven heating up a loaf of French bread, basted in garlic butter, sprinkled with shredded mozzarella cheese. Where Eddie stands, stirring and singing—his now silver hair pulled up into a bun, dressed down in a plain white t-shirt and black sweatpants, and his scruff not shaved—he must’ve had a lazy day. Steve wraps his arms around Eddie’s waist, his body warm and his tummy a little pudgier. Eddie hums, reaching down with a free hand to cover the back of Steve’s, squeezing. And Steve’ll never be used to their wedding rings clinking together.

“Long day?” Eddie murmurs low.

Steve grunts. Digs his chin into Eddie’s left shoulder. His glasses going crooked from the angle. Peers down at the bubbling pot of dinner. “Kids kept threatening to take their masks off. Nearly started a coughing fight,” he answers at the same volume. He sighs, long and genuine. “They’ve officially turned Covid-19 into classroom warfare. Whatever happened to spitballs and globs of food?”

Eddie chuckles deep in his chest. “Don’t give ‘em ideas, Stevie.” He smiles softly down at his cooking, dimples deep and smile lines deeper. Steve kisses under his left ear just because. Because he can. Because this is what the world is when it doesn’t end, thank god. The soup is stirred slowly for a few more beats. He scoops up a spoonful in their beat up ladle. It’s got a few char scars from when they first learned to cook meals for one another—Steve believes it’s from the time he forgot to turn off the stovetop when making macaroni and cheese. Lesson learned.

“Here, taste this for me, baby?” Eddie gently requests, holding the ladle to Steve’s face over his shoulder. Hand cupping the underside. Face turned slightly to try and make eye contact, he’ll give himself a knot if he does it too long. Steve knows, having given many massages over the last decade.

He leans forward slightly, accepting the soup as Eddie tilts the ladle. Makes an obnoxious slurp that Eddie snorts at. Smacks his lips and hums. “Ooo, that’s good,” Steve mutters close to Eddie’s ear. “Got a little kick to it. You put a little bit of that new chili oil?”

“Mm and chili flakes,” Eddie hums. “Thought it would pair nicely. Remember that chicken I began marinating last night?”

“The chicken you told me I couldn’t make for my lunch today?”

Eddie rolls his eyes, turning back to the soup pot, shutting the burner off. “I told you not to take it all,” he points out with pleasant tease. “Because you’ll do that if I don’t stop you. And then you come home and complain that your stomach hurts because you ate too much. And then I have to put you on bed rest for the night.”

“I’m not that bad—“

“Anyway,” Eddie cuts in. “I marinated it in this ginger, coconut sauce that I saw a few nights ago on uh…What’s that app that Robin’s always sending videos from?”

“The…The TickTick app?” Steve guesses.

Eddie snaps his fingers together. “Yeah! That app!” He exclaims softly. (They’ll learn later it’s definitely not that, but it doesn’t matter.) He shrugs Steve off to grab the bread from the oven. Steve just moves around to their bar countertop, not a complaint on his tongue. Eddie continues, “I also added a little bit of coconut milk to the base broth. So, hopefully, this’ll be good. With the leftovers, I was thinking you could make your cauliflower rice for lunch and put the soup on top? Only if it’s good, though. If this sucks, I’ll pay for pizza tonight.”

Steve laughs from his belly. “If you do, make sure to get the gluten free crust. Stupid stomach has been acting up again,” he says softly.

Standing up, Eddie hisses. “You’re lucky that the bakery section at the grocery store only had gluten free baguettes then,” he teases gently once more. He sets the finished bread on the countertop, grabs the bottle of chili oil from by the pot of soup, and drizzles it lightly overtop the cheesy, garlic goodness. When he finally dishes up their dinner, he settles next to Steve at the counter. Bowls and small plates of bread in front of them. Glasses of crappy Barefoot red wine, because this is what they can afford—and it doesn't really suck, not when it's served thoughtfully like it is tonight.

“Thank you, baby,” Steve murmurs. He leans in close to Eddie’s side, presses a chaste kiss to his cheek, and then promptly digs in.

And it’s good. Everything’s so good. Jim Croce is singing about time in a bottle. The soup is warm and fresh and homemade. Every light is a careful amber. He’s tired and happy and…complete.

Eddie’s got soup in the scruff under his lip. But Steve doesn’t say anything. Just admires the fine wrinkles and lines to his face, where they’ve begun to really deepen. Admires how his eyes are just as big and soft and expressive as they were thirty-five years ago after Vecna. Where his body is soft. His endearingly white hair.

How he’s alive.

“Hey, Eds?”

Immediately, Eddie looks onto him. Eyes wide with trepidation. The corners of his mouth pinched downward. “Is it not good? I can go get my wallet if it’s—“

Steve lays his hand on the back of Eddie’s forearm. The right one, closest to him, where scars swamp the bats. And that says something, too, he’s sure. About how Eddie fought the bats and came out victorious anyway. His thumb runs soothingly over Eddie’s malleable, aged, warm skin. And his eyes prickle with tears—it would’ve been embarrassing if he were nineteen still, but what a wonderful thing to be alive and cry at all.

“I’m so fucking happy you’re here with me,” Steve breathes out all at once. He sighs through his mouth, a gentle sob escaping.

Eddie drops his spoon into his bowl of slowly cooling soup. And he reaches up, dislodging Steve’s hand on his arm completely, cupping his face between his hands instead. “Oh, baby,” he coos. “Baby, are you alright? Where’s this coming from?”

Steve shrugs because he doesn’t know. Not really. But it’s here. And he’s got a therapist in the aftermath of everything, and feelings deserved to be felt—so they’ve said. “I just—“ He wetly exhales, leaning into Eddie’s soft hands. “—I don’t know. It’s so fucking…I’m so happy to just be boring. To do the same mundane things every single day. To just come home.”

“Oh,” Eddie coos again. He tugs Steve closer, burying his face into his shoulder. Pets a hand through Steve’s own white hair. A hand between his shoulders. Letting him dissolve safely. “I am, too, Steve,” he states like a promise. “You have no idea how my heart just soars in the morning when I look over and you’re…God, you’re drooling all over your own forearm and snuffling deep into the pillow and your hair is all spiky and you’ve got creases all over your face from going to war with the top sheet.” Steve chuckles just as Eddie pulls him back. Hands back on his cheeks, thumbs soothing tear tracks. “You have no idea how relieved I am to look over and see you at peace, sweetheart. Every day—I don’t know how you do it—but every day you let me discover a new part of you to love.”

They smile at one another, softly, eyes shiny with tears. Their soup is going cold, but it doesn’t matter. They’ve got all the time in the world to reheat it.

“I love you,” Steve breathes, states. Just because he can.

“I love you, too,” Eddie says immediately. Because it’s that easy.

It’s easy when life is nothing more than this.

🥣—————🥣

[leviackermanscleaningbuddy]

SKZ DRABBLE-OT8

Valentine's Day is a whole other ball game when you have eight mates and the power of surprise (and god and anime) on your side.

or a fluffy, smutty Valentine's Day with the pack.

A/N: HAPPY (late) VALENTINE'S DAY LOVES <3 <3 <3

Tags: Skz, Stray Kids, Stay, OT8, Skz!Pack, SKZ!abo, Poly!skz, omegaverse, skz x you, skz x reader, bang chan, lee minho, seo changbin, hwang hyunjin, lee felix, han jisung, kim seungmin, yang jeongin, y/n, fluff, smut, valentines, skz imagines, skz reactions, skz scenarios

Genre: Fluff, Non-Explicit Smut

Warning: Spit kink (remember how Jisung said he wasn't into spit in the prequel? Well, now he is. 😅)

Title: Lonely Hearts Club

“Ow, fuck!” 

You hear Chan swear under his breath, jerking his hand away from the boiling water he’s currently straining, at the same time you hear Minho’s knife come to a stop on his chopping block, a long, irritated sigh leaving his lips. 

“Christopher, I swear to god, if you injure yourself one more time while in my kitchen, I’ll send you to the hospital myself.” 

Chan looks instantly chagrined, grimacing slightly as he picks up the pot once more with an apologetic look in Minho’s direction. “Sorry, hyung.” 

You glance back to the carrot you’re currently peeling, trying to hold your smile, and Changbin grins at you from across the table, his own potato held between thick fingers. 

You arch your brow at him and mouth warningly across the space, ‘don’t.’ 

If he makes you laugh right now, Minho will have all your heads. 

He cocks his head mischievously in return, as if testing the line, but thankfully returns to his potatoes, a smirk hidden behind his teeth. 

You finish your last carrot and stand from the table, taking the bowl to Minho, who is now sliding his chopped scallions into the waiting stir fry, and he accepts the offered carrots with a slight smirk, his warm fingers brushing your own. 

“Nicely done, sweetheart.” He glances down at the peeled carrots and arches a brow at you appreciatively, before adding them to the pan and stealing a smug glance in the general direction of Chan’s struggle. “At least someone here is helpful.” 

“Hey.” Changbin protests, appearing at your side and holding out his completed potatoes for Minho’s inspection with a slightly offended glare. “I helped.” 

Minho takes the offered potatoes with an air of indifference, dumping them on top of your steaming carrots as he waves Changbin off casually.

“Yeah, yeah, princess. We get it. At least those meaty fingers of yours are good for two things.” 

“What’s the other thing?” You ask with amused interest, leaning your hip against the counter beside Minho, watching him stir the contents of the pan methodically. 

He gives you a sidelong glance, a smirk curving his lips, before he replies easily, “Finding the prostate.” 

At Minho’s nonchalant words, you laugh gleefully, while Changbin squawks out a hoarse protest from beside you and Chan chokes on his own spit across the room. 

“Now.” Minho waves his spatula between the two of you, back to all business immediately. “Set the table, and grab the stuff from the fridge. Christopher-” He turns to Chan, who is still locked in a battle with the dumplings and the strainer over the sink.

 The other alpha meets his gaze with wide, harried eyes, and the man beside you pinches his nose between his fingers and closes his eyes for a brief moment, letting out a long, low breath between his lips as if he’s trying to find his patience. “-just try not to die before dinner is served.” 

You grin, and Changbin coughs to cover a laugh, but you both scurry to do as you’re told as Minho turns his glare to the two of you next. 

Minho with a spatula is deadly, and you all know it. 

“Where are those hooligans anyway?” Changbin asks, as he sets the table, and you lean over to place the freshly made hotteok and kimchi in the center of the surface. He glances at the clock on the wall, brow furrowed. “We told them to be back by six right?”

“They’ll be here.” Chan says confidently, finally setting the dumplings down on the table, a look of relief pronounced on his features. “Seungmin won’t let them be late.” 

There is the sound of the front door opening, and loud stomping steps, followed by laughter and chatter, and Chan grins cheekily at Changbin as Minho slides between the three of you to place the steaming pot of stir fry down in the center of everything with an air of finality. 

“Told you.” 

Changbin rolls his eyes, but the retort on his lips is unheard, as your five mates enter the kitchen, bags and coats slung over their arms, their cheeks and noses rosy from the cold outside air. 

Jisung comes to a stop in the doorway, eyes going wide and cheeks puffing adorably at the sight of the table full of food, the four of you standing behind. 

“You guys made us dinner?” 

Chan steps forward, shrugging slightly, his ears going red. “Happy Valentine’s Day?” 

Jisung’s eyes scan the spread in open wonder as Seungmin steps around the awe struck beta, depositing his phone and keys on the counter with a superior look in the other beta’s direction. 

“Told you we needed to be on time for once, Sungie. Aren’t you glad you listened to me?” 

“Oh my god, I’m starving.” Jisung moans, sliding around the still motionless Jisung, eyeing the table hungrily, as Minho steps up beside Chan, arms crossed over his chest, but expression fondly soft. 

“Sit down then, pup. Food’s ready.” Jeongin doesn’t hesitate, moving to his spot at the table so fast he’s almost a blur. 

Jisung and Seungmin follow him, tucking into the table, Jisung’s eyes still adorably wide, Seungmin giving Minho a hidden little grin as he settles his napkin into his lap. 

Hyunjin’s gaze skates over the contents of the table from the doorway, his arm loosely around Felix’s shoulders, and there’s an open sort of different hunger in his eyes as he lets his gaze flicker to the four of you, his tongue slowly lathing across his full bottom lip. 

“I was hoping there’d be a different kind of meal served.” 

Changbin smirks dangerously, sharp teeth flashing. “Later, baby.” 

You arch a brow in the omega’s direction, stepping around the table to pull he and Felix’s chairs out for them as they finally step forward. 

“What do you think’s for dessert?” 

********

“Sit.” Hyunjin commands, dragging the last chair to its spot against the wall, his voice and expression stern, as he turns to you and motions to the empty seat. 

You sit with a sigh. “Is this really necessary?” 

“Yes.” Hyunjin replies firmly, leaving no room for argument, as he points to the four of you, now sitting in a silent line along the far kitchen wall. “It’s only fair.” 

He takes a step in the direction of the doorway, where the rest of your packmates had disappeared only minutes earlier, his eyes sharp as he waves a hand between you once more. 

“Now stay.” 

You roll your eyes and Changbin growls from beside you, but none of you move, and Hyunjin’s expression turns smug as he backs out the doorway. 

“Good alphas.” 

He disappears from view, and Chan slumps in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest and sighing in a sort of petulant child motion that would make you want to laugh if you weren’t currently on high alert. 

“What do you think they have planned for us?” 

“Who knows?” Changbin groans from beside you, leaning his head back until it hits the wall with a heavy thunk, expression irritated and impatient. “All I know is that I hate waiting.” 

Minho scoffs from his position at the other end of the line. “Maybe they’ll do us all a favor, princess, and make you wear the gag so we don’t have to listen to you complain.” 

Changbin leans around Chan and shoots the other smirking alpha a deadly glare. 

“Fuck you.” 

“And you can, too. But only if I’m feeling uncharacteristically generous and you ask nicely, princess.” 

A low growl builds in Changbin’s throat at the challenge, and between them, Chan sighs. 

You hide a grin. 

Luckily, the tension is interrupted by the reappearance of your mates, and suddenly, at the sight of them, there’s a whole new tension in the air, thick and hot and instant, because every single one of them is wearing nothing but their designated collars and lace lingerie. 

Even Seungmin, who usually isn’t into things like that, is wearing sheer, black panties, peeking teasingly from beneath the hem of the shirt he wears, long and thigh length, one you vaguely recognize as belonging to Changbin. 

Beside you, the alpha in question swallows thickly, the sound loud in the sudden, tense silence of the room. 

Somewhere down the line, you hear Chan let out a quiet, strangled, “Fuck.” 

Your thoughts exactly. 

Hyunjin arches a brow, looking smug, watching the four of you openly panting over them, before he tosses an arm around Jeongin’s shoulders, his eyes never leaving you and the other alphas, as he asks casually, “So? How do we look?” 

Changbin swallows again, and when he speaks, his voice is unusually hoarse. 

“You look-” He fumbles for a moment, as Hyunjin leans toward him, the red little number he wears shifting at the movement with a whisper along his tan, flawless skin. Smoke burns your throat as the alpha beside you shifts in his seat and finally manages to say, “-good.” 

If you had more brain cells at the moment, you would scoff at his sadly pathetic word choice, but since you don’t, you just stare as Felix takes a step toward you all. 

The movement makes the bright yellow lace around his upper thighs bunch temptingly, and you try not to openly drool at the sight, your teeth suddenly aching, saliva pooling beneath your tongue. 

His eyebrows furrow, his lips pulling down with disappointment, but when he speaks, his voice is teasing, “Just good?” 

Chan chokes, and you hear Minho’s resulting growl as amber spices the air, teasing your nose, making you feel like you need to sneeze. 

“Good enough to eat, little one.” 

You don’t miss the way Felix shivers at the sudden alpha in Minho’s voice, and it makes you feel slightly more grounded, on even footing almost, knowing beneath the show of confidence and unflappability, they’re just as affected as you are. 

Jisung takes a halting step in your direction, cocking his head, his large doe eyes on your own, uncertainty suddenly washing across his features. 

“Noona?” His voice is soft, meek, questioning.

You realize with a jolt, that you haven’t said anything since they appeared, too caught up in your own head, in the stupid daze that’s seemed to come over you, your alpha clawing impatiently at the pit of your stomach. 

You swallow the excess saliva in your mouth and let your gaze drop from Jisung’s face, taking your time as you slide your focus down his chest, across the ridges of his abdomen, along the scalloped edge of the blue lace that hugs his thighs, the waist chain that hangs delicately around his hips, accentuating the curve of his impossibly tiny waist. 

Your eyes drag reluctantly back up to the beta’s face, his dark eyes still watching you expectantly, and unwittingly, your gaze gets stuck at the hollow of his throat, the silver o-ring of his collar snug in the divot of his beautiful bronze skin. 

Fuck. 

Your fingers itch to tug. 

“God, you’re pretty.” You breathe out hoarsely instead, voice strained, warmth already pooling between your thighs just from looking at him, at them. 

The hesitation washes away, and he takes another step toward you, confident this time. 

“Yeah?” He asks quietly, cocking his head curiously, pulling you into the dark depths of his eyes, until you feel like you’re drowning, but in a good way. “How pretty?” 

Another step, your heart thundering in your chest. 

“So fucking pretty.” 

Jisung smiles then, wicked, and closes the distance between you, slinging his leg over your hip, settling into your lap as he straddles you. 

As soon as his skin touches your own, the urge to absolutely destroy the beta now in your lap is almost insatiable. 

His tongue darts out to wet his lips-slow and sensual-his gaze holding your own, and without your own urging, your fingers find purchase at his hips, tangling with the dainty golden chain that rests there. 

You bite back the moan that wants to leave your lips at the feel of him finally beneath your touch. 

“I like being pretty for you.” Jisung comments with a tilt of his head, running his fingers carefully up the lines of your chest, before he lets them rest at the base of your throat, leaning into you, the smell of linen taking over your senses. 

You’re vaguely aware of the others moving in on the remaining alphas beside you, but you can’t focus on anything beside the way Jisung feels in your lap, the way his hot, pink tongue darts out to wet his lips, the way he takes in each quivering breath, the rustle of lace going straight to your core. 

He’s watching you, one brow arched, lips tilted into the hint of a smile, waiting, but before you can rouse enough of your faculties to say anything, he puts his hands on the back of the chair, leaning into the weight, and rolls his hips against your own. 

“Fuck.” Your hand flies up to his hip, stopping his movement, and you let your head drop back against the wall as a wave of heat ripples down your center. 

You catch your breath and level him with a weak glare, mouth suddenly more than a little dry. 

“Fuck.” You finally repeat again, as his cheek ticks with bitten back amusement, though his eyes express nothing but innocence. “You can’t do that without warning, baby boy.” 

Something washes across his expression-defiance-and then he asks a little too innocently, “Oh, am I in trouble?” 

You growl and tug him toward you, stopping your lips from crashing into his at the last second, holding him in limbo, and you don’t miss the way his body tenses in response, breaths quickening and pupils blowing, pulse pounding beneath the skin of his throat. 

Your wolf snarls triumphantly. 

Got him. 

“I don’t know.” You muse in a low voice in the space between the two of you, letting one of your hands trail up his chest, fingers playing with the collar at his throat as you mock thoughtfulness. “Do you want to be in trouble, little beta?” 

You don’t give him time to answer, sliding your fingers beneath the slick leather of his collar and tugging him to you roughly, and he whines in response, the need suddenly rolling off of him in waves as he squirms in your grip, his breaths morphing into harsh pants now as they leave his lips. 

“Do you-” You draw out, long and slow, holding him by the throat, your eyes flicking up to his, the blackness of his pupils swallowing his irises. “-want me to punish you?”

His throat bobs with a swallow, and you shake him gently, fingers digging into the skin beneath his collar. 

“Answer me when I’m talking to you, pet.” 

“Yes.” He stutters out, breath shuddering, and you slide your fingers from beneath their current hold to take control of his jaw instead, pinching until he parts his lips. 

“Good boy.” You purr, before you tap his jaw commandingly. “Open your mouth.” 

He does as he’s told, baring his soft, pink tongue for you, the sharp points of his teeth, and you lean forward, hand slipping down to grasp his throat once more, pulling him flush against you, before you spit directly into his waiting mouth. 

A shudder goes down Jisung’s body, and your wolf growls, satisfied, in response. 

“Oh, he likes that.” 

A hand slides around the front of your throat, long fingers cool as they splay across your skin, and Minho appears in the periphery of your vision, chin brushing your shoulder, gaze predatory, as he appreciatively drinks in the sight of Jisung straddling your lap covered in only thin bands of shimmering gold and baby blue lace. 

“Mmm.” You hum in thoughtful agreement under your breath, low in your throat, and run a finger down the column of the beta’s throat, watching as his needy body arches into your touch like a cat seeking attention. “That he does.” 

Minho’s fingers flex minutely against your own throat, and then his lips are at your ear, breath warm as it washes across your cheek, his voice a deep growling purr. 

“But so do you.” 

Without warning, his fingers lace into your hair and yank your head back roughly so you’re staring up at him, and he rises to his full height behind you, looking down at you with a smirk, as something dangerous flashes across his dark gaze. 

The sting of your scalp keeps you alert, your heart pounding and your breath catching deliciously as you stare up at the other alpha. 

Your fingers dig into Jisung’s hips on reflex, and he whimpers and squirms on your lap beneath your tightened grip, and the feel of his clear arousal has wet heat gushing between your thighs. 

Minho slides his free hand around the front of your throat once more, fingers slipping into the divots of your jaw, prying open your lips, and when he speaks, his voice is dark and commanding, sending a shiver down your spine. 

“Be a good girl, sweetheart, and keep your mouth open for me.” 

He keeps the hand in your hair as he leans over, increasing the pressure, so slowly that you think you’re going to go mad from waiting, and then, when both you and Jisung are practically squirming with need, he parts his lips and lets slick, hot saliva drip from the gap of his mouth into your own. 

Everything inside of you clenches with the taste of Minho.

You need more, you need him, all of him right this second, but the wriggling beta on your lap needs attention first, and so when Minho finally releases his stinging hold on your hair, you let your head fall and slowly sweep your hungry gaze over Jisung. 

He whines, grinding against your thigh, and you reach out and catch his chin between your fingers in a firm grip. 

“If you need something, baby, you have to ask. Use your words.” 

His lips gap, skin flushed and pink, and it takes everything in you not to lean forward and devour him whole, big doe eyes fixed on your own. 

You wait, even though there’s electricity zipping across your skin and your wolf is growing antsy, and finally, Jisung’s tongue darts out to snake across his lips, his eyes darting between you and Minho, before he manages to get out, “Can I please, alpha?” 

“‘Please’ what?” You chide, cocking your head and not letting him waver beneath your heated gaze. 

Jisung whines again, his breath stuttering as he grazes an overly sensitive spot across one of your thighs, and you pinch his chin to get him to look at you again. 

“‘Please’ what? I thought you had better manners than this, pet.” You tsk, and Jisung’s throat bobs with a hard swallow. 

You let your fingers trail along the line of the underwear he wears, playing with the golden waist chain, and just when you can see the hope on his face, that maybe you’ll let your fingers dip lower, lower where he so desperately needs you, you stop. 

It’s enough to push him over the edge. 

“Come!” He blurts out desperately, writhing beneath your hold, trying to buck his hips to get your fingers where he wants them. His wild dark eyes sweep your face and he groans in frustration. “Can I please come?” 

“Good boy.” Minho murmurs from his spot behind you, but you don’t look at him, keeping your eyes on Jisung. 

Your voice is proud when you speak next, brushing your fingers along the skin of Jisung’s red, heated cheekbone. 

“A very good boy.” You affirm, nodding slightly, as you finally, finally, let your fingers find Jisung through his lingerie. He gasps and is immediately putty in your hands. “Good boys deserve a reward, don’t you think?” 

Jisung nods, panting now, as he slides his own hands beneath the band of the underwear, ready to fling them off. 

You stop him with a stern look, and a clench of your fist around him. 

“No, pet.” You shake your head slightly, brow arched. “Those stay on.” 

Jisung opens his mouth, as if to protest, but another well timed stroke of your hand has him sinking into you, words forgotten, lips parted on a moan. 

You use your free hand to tip his chin back, meeting his already hazy gaze. 

“Now. You’re going to come in my hand for me, like a good boy-”

Jisung nods frantically, eager to please, even through the daze of the pleasure, and you lean forward, pressing a soft, gentle kiss to his lips, at odds with the way you pump him at the same time, making him break off the affection as he groans into your mouth. 

“-And Minho-” You lean your head back now, glancing up at the other alpha, who watches the two of you with a smirk and an unreadable expression, hands resting on the back of your chair. 

You part your lips and let your mouth fall open, holding his stare. “-is going to come in my mouth for me, also like a good boy.” 

You can’t resist the little jab, so you don’t wince when Minho once again threads his fingers through your hair and yanks, something dangerous flashing across his dark eyes as he leans down to you, lips brushing your own when he murmurs warningly, “And you’re going to be a good girl and take me without a sound, hm, sweetheart?” 

You nod, not shying from his gaze, and he smirks, reaching to undo his pants. 

Everything is heightened-Jisung’s pants, the sting of Minho’s fingers on your scalp, the sounds from your other mates in the room. 

You swallow, and let your gaze fall to the beta on your lap, your own smirk curving up your lips as you take in his beautiful, flushed, wrecked demeanor, on display for you, all for you.

Minho reaches beneath your chin and tilts your head back. 

Warmth starts to soak between your thighs, and Jisung’s breathing increases. 

You meet Minho’s heated, dark gaze. 

“And then, after all that, you’re both going to make me come until I physically can’t anymore.” 

Minho grins, sharp teeth flashing, and there is a promise in the depth of his eyes that makes you shiver in anticipation as he steps toward you menacingly. 

“Of course we are, sweetheart. But first, give me that pretty fucking mouth.” 

His fingers splay across your throat once more, and there is no more talking. 

*******

“Best. Valentines. Ever.” Jeongin sighs out happily from the middle of the cuddle pile currently taking place on the omegas’ shared bed, after everyone has been cleaned up and taken care of following said previous kitchen activities. 

You grin, fingers carding through Hyunjin’s dark hair, and Felix hums in agreement beneath his breath, the sound rumbling through his chest as he cuddles deeper into your side. 

“Agreed.” 

“Double agreed.” Changbin raises his hand from where he lies on the bed, barely seen beneath the puddle that is Seungmin and Jisung curled on top of him. 

“Fuck, I’m tired.” Chan sighs, the exhale jostling your head where it rests on his abdomen, not even bothering to open his eyes. 

“Coming more than once will do that to you.” Hyunjin remarks dryly, his voice slightly muffled, face buried in your side, arms thrown haphazardly around your waist. 

You silently agree, because your legs are still jelly after what Minho and Jisung had put you through only hours earlier. 

The memory sends heat coursing through you, and like he knows what you’re thinking, Minho suddenly smirks at you from the other side of the bed, his head propped up on an elbow, Jeongin curled up as the little spoon against his waist. 

‘Shut up’ You mouth across the distance at him, and you’d flip him off, if you weren’t worried about jostling the two omegas currently falling asleep on you. 

Minho arches a brow at you, expression feigning innocence, and lets his head fall back down onto the pillow beside the youngest omega. 

Your eyes are heavy, surrounded by warmth and familiar scents and those you love most, but you fight it, because honestly, you don’t want it all to end. 

“So, who won Valentine’s Day then?” Jisung asks sleepily from atop Changbin, shuffling around until his nose is buried in the alpha’s throat. 

“It’s not a competition.” Seungmin quips back with dry amusement. 

“But if it were-” Hyunjin’s muffled voice speaks up. “-We’d have won. Hands fucking down.” 

You honestly can’t argue with him there. 

“Hey!” Chan moves beneath you, and you tilt your neck back to see him pushing himself up on his elbows, raising his head to glare down at the omega beside you. “I nearly killed myself making that dinner for you, you know.” 

“He did.” You nod in agreement, laughing slightly, and the head alpha turns his glare on you. 

“Fucking idiot doesn’t know how to strain dumplings.” Changbin mutters beneath his breath, and Chan whips his head around to glower at the other alpha. 

“Well, I do now!” 

“Too bad you’re banned from Minho’s kitchen for life now and you’ll never get a second chance to prove that.” You offer with open amusement, and Hyunjin snickers into your side. 

Chan makes a halfhearted effort to cuff you upside the head for your comment, which you dodge easily. 

“Actually, you’re all banned from my kitchen for the foreseeable future.” Minho finally speaks up, not even bothering to raise his head to look at you all. “Sex in cooking spaces is unsanitary, and rule breakers have to be punished.” 

There is a chorus of weak protests, mostly from the omegas, but Minho remains resolute. 

That is, until Hyunjin sniggers out smugly, “If the punishment is anything like Jisung received earlier, then count me in.” 

“Yah!” Jisung rouses from his exhaustion to protest loudly and glare at the omega currently buried in your side. “Hwang Hyunjin!” 

“That wasn’t punishment.” You clarify lightly, flicking the side of Hyunjin’s head affectionately. “That was funishment.” 

“She’s right.” Minho agrees with an arched brow in Hyunjin’s direction. “The type of punishment I’m talking about involves a whole lot less orgasms and a whole lot more watching Christopher fuck up dumplings right in front of your nose.” 

“Hey.” Chan protests again, but weaker this time, as if he knows he’s fighting a losing battle. 

Minho fixes him with a stare. 

“Your punishment, Christopher, however, is the opposite. You’re not going to leave my kitchen until you know how to properly cook without injuring yourself or others.” 

Chan groans, and Changbin chuckles. 

“Hey, what’s your punishment, hyung?” Jeongin suddenly blurts out, turning to Minho and fixing him with a stern glare. “You were in on the kitchen sex too y’know!” 

The omegas readily agree, the betas joining in. 

Minho doesn’t even flinch. 

“If you don’t think being forced to teach Christopher how to cook safely and correctly is a punishment for me of the worst kind in and of its own, Yang Jeongin-” 

He doesn’t even need to finish the sentence before everyone is agreeing with him, and Chan is looking more than a little offended. 

“Oh. Yep.” 

“Sorry, hyung.” 

“Point taken.” “Forget we asked.” 

“Hey.” Chan protests once more, expression irritated. “Spending time with me is not a punishment.” 

“Cooking with you is.” Changbin remarks dryly from across the bed, and promptly gets a pillow chucked forcefully at his face by the head alpha. 

“Happy fucking Valentines, everyone.” Minho says with a sigh and a roll of his eyes, before he disappears back behind the form of the youngest omega. 

Felix sighs against your throat, content and warm and sleepy. 

“Happy Valentines.” 

********************************************************************************

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[willowser]

Hi willow!!! Hope you’re having (or have had) a great holiday :) you definitely deserve the break!!

Omg was reading the thread of what fun things bakugo would do with his kids and you’re so right about him just being there, as much as he loves his kids when he thinks about what kids actually like, he’s stumped, BUT!! I have a few things on soke of the fun things he would do with them.

His kid(s) would probably have such a great interest in all the work he does, seeing him on billboards and all sorts of convenience store products because of his fame as a hero, so I imagine his lil kids climbing onto his lap when he’s a bit tired, begging for stories about “bad guys” he’s defeated. And he’d be a little awkward at the start, trying to kid-ify all the swearing and graphic violence in the story. But he gets better at it as the story progresses and looves to see their excited little face practically bouncing to hear what happens next.

OH AND!! I imagine there are sone nights where bed-time duty is a little difficult, or theres a few other things on your plate that you have to do, on those days where Katsuki has come home early from work or was already home its now his job, And I find it soooo cute for him to be pulling over a kiddy stool or chair next to his kids bed as they confidently hand him their favourite story book. It takes every ounce in him to not criticise the story with sarcasm, like what do you mean the dog went to the amusement park? Dogs can’t do that‼️‼️ but the story ends sweetly and it’s worth keeping his tongue when he sees his little bugger sound asleep.

Woshwkshwksh sorry i’ve got soo many ideas of the little moments that mean a lot for his kids. I’ll drop jusst one last one. Yk those kids with those mini wooden kitchen toy sets? With pots pans and all sorts of fake food, I imagine his kid trying to role-play as a little chef and giving bakugo all sorts of silly wooden vegetables on plastic plates asking him to “taste test” everything they “cooked” . And it would be sooo funny because they expect a proper reply, so he makes sounds while pretending to take a bite out of the supposed carrot cake it was just a wooden carrot, pretending to like it like “wow you made this?? Ya sure??” While his kid pridefully nods. Qlajalajksha can you tell I enjoy domestic fluff

omg these are all so cute and CORRECT HOW SWEET !!! 🥺✨️ i literally love each and every one of them for him, tysm for sharing these with us fjsjajaja they're so interested in hearing about all the bad guy butts he's kicked 😏😏😏 him doing story time 🥺 getting better at it as the kids grow 🥺 AND THE KIDDOS BEING PROUD 🥺 OF THEIR LITTLE WOODEN FOOD 🥺 omg so cute. how adorable. these are so so cute i'm obsessed with them !!!!

[wonwoonlight]

everything and more; chapter 1 / choi seungcheol

➝ Seungcheol x single mom!Reader (feat. original characters, Jisoo, Jinyoung, Jeonghan, etc.)

➝ best friends to lovers // single mom!Reader // slowburn // fluff // angst // slice of life-ish

➝ wc: 5.2~k

➝ chapter warning: character death (its literally the plot sjhdfhsjbf), curses, cliche probably lol, not entirely proofread, nothing more that i can think of

➝ everything and more masterlist

[✾✾✾]

You used to say you wanted at least three children growing up.

But then your sister gave birth to one beautiful son, a nephew you love with everything your heart can offer and more, and, after seeing the hardship she went through, you decided motherhood isn't for you. You had never thought motherhood was easy, but seeing someone so close to you going through it was another experience altogether.

The thought of being the aunt that spoils their nephew to no end definitely seems like the better choice. Given, your sister's journey is probably harder than most because the father isn't in the picture and God knows how cruel the world can be to single mothers, especially those out of wedlock.

Still, you had lived with her for the first three months after she gave birth to help her around, and you’re 99% sure (the 1% you keep around just in case your words will bite you back in the ass) you would never be able to care for a child 24/7. Even babysitting during the day was hard, but she had to care for Seungyoon during day and night and you don’t even dare to imagine the amount of patience it took her to do that.

“Seungyoon is… how old now?” Jisoo asks as she bounces your nephew on her lap. You’re on babysitting duty today, as Yuri has a business trip to Suwon and you’ve convinced her to let you babysit Seungyoon. That sister of yours can be too hard headed for her own good when it comes to her son, which you understand to a certain point, but you don’t see why she should bring her toddler son to a business trip when you don’t even have work today and you’re her sister for a reason.

It’s always been you two; three now, with Seungyoon. You don’t have any other family and it’s okay as long as you have each other. You’ve found a lot of family along the way in other people: like Jisoo, your best friend since high school, and Seungcheol, another best friend of yours from university. Not to forget Jinyoung, Yuri’s only and closest friend who’s basically your big brother. You’re happy with this family and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

"He's three next month." You grin as your nephew giggles uncontrollably on Jisoo's lap, the way Seungcheol is poking his belly making his giggle louder by the seconds.

"Already?" Seungcheol exclaims, his mouth turning into a small 'o'. "Wow. Felt like it was just yesterday we visited Yuri after her labor."

"Right?" Jisoo sighs as she hugs the kid closer to her. She has always had a soft spot for him, to the point where she was probably more excited about Seungyoon's birth than you were almost three years ago. "Now this brat can already talk back if we try to make him eat his carrot."

Seungyoon scrunches in distaste at the mention of the vegetable, frowning at Jisoo like she has personally offended him. "Auntie. No carrot."

"Why do you not like carrots though?" Seungcheol intercepts, indulging him.

"Yuck." His frown deepens, followed by a yawn that makes its way out of his small lips. 

"They're good for your eyes, you know." You poke his cheek to gain his attention and, just like that, the little kid turns to you and extends his arms so you'd take him to your lap instead. It's something he often does when his mom isn't around; seeks for your warmth when he's sleepy or uncomfortable. Because you're you and you're always there together with his mom that his mind already registers you as another safe place for him. It's something that Yuri has taught him too, to find you or Uncle Jinyoung if she's not there.

"Sleepy?" You take him into your arms and whisper with a soft kiss on top of his head, the way you endlessly caress his hair lulling him to sleep. "We'll go home in a bit, okay?"

Seungyoon doesn't answer, simply buries his face in your chest as sleep overcomes him bit by bit.

Almost an hour goes by just like that, with the three of you quietly continuing the discussion in the cafe, talking about work and whatnot as your fingers absentmindedly comb through Seungyoon's hair even if he's already asleep at this point.

"Hey, didn't you go on a date or something last week?"

Seungcheol looks at you, nods, then shrugs, not giving any details until Jisoo prods, prods, and prods. You're thankful she does it for you, because you're actually also curious but don't really have the heart to force it out of him.

Seungcheol is a romantic. Has always been particular with the girls he wants to date. If he's not interested, then he wouldn't spare them a glance. If he's only remotely interested, he'd still be skeptical and find a hundred reasons not to agree on a date. There's just something bothersome about going out with someone he doesn't know without anyone else present.

You and Jisoo have been encouraging him to go on dates though, if only because it's been too long and you recognize the longing in his eyes everytime he sees his friends with their partners. He claims he's not currently looking for a relationship, but it's also been quite some time since he even goes out with anyone other than you two, and that's why you've been telling him to be more open at least for the first meetings. If he doesn't want to continue from then, then it's up to him. But how would he find someone–anyone if he doesn't even want to go on the first date?

"It was okay… but, nothing special. She's nice and we have some common interests but…" His gaze falls on Seungyoon on your lap, then caresses his head as if seeking some sort of comfort from the little boy. "Not interested in a second date."

Jisoo is about to argue, probably meaning to convince him to tell more, but her phone rings and she immediately picks up when she sees her fiance's name. Jeonghan rarely calls when she's out with you both, that's a rule they've decided together: to respect the time they spend with their friends. So she knows it must be important if he calls her instead of leaving a text.

You see her panic the longer the call goes, hand already busy packing up her stuff as you barely hear Jeonghan's faint voice calmly speak through the phone. 

"Jeonghan’s sister got into an accident." Jisoo relays the information once he hangs up, voice shaking, and worry floods over you despite not knowing the girl personally. "I… I need to go. She's being taken to the hospital now."

"Want me to drive you?" Seungcheol offers, but Jisoo shakes her head and says she's going home first, that she'll go with Jeonghan because the accident isn't in Seoul and, even if he didn't mention it, she knows he needs her with him.

"Update us?" You try to be calm for her, your palm caresses her arm in comfort.

"I will." She bites her lip in worry, looking at the map on her phone that indicates the location of the taxi she's just ordered. "She's… she's on a trip with her friend and she's supposed to come home today. But there's an accident on Seocho and it's quite a big one because a loading truck caused it."

You blink at the location, the transition between your heart dropping then speeding up as the worst case scenario goes through your mind is a matter of seconds. Yuri would need to go through Seocho too on her way back from Suwon. 

It's only 3PM now. If she's on a business trip, surely she would go home later in the evening, right? Fuck, your phone is in your bag and you can’t take it without waking your nephew. You just had to put it on ‘do not disturb’ too, though you’ve made sure to let it ring if a call goes through.

Your tendency to spiral into worst case scenarios makes it hard to convince yourself everything’s fine because it hasn’t rung. You’re dying to just call Yuri and listen to her calling you dumb for worrying; because she’s okay and she’ll be home in a few hours. That you need to calm down because she promises she’s okay.

Jisoo doesn’t seem to notice the shift in your mood due to her own stress, but Seungcheol does and he doesn’t address it until Jisoo bids you two goodbye along with a soft kiss on Seungyoon’s head. He shifts closer to you, his palm reaching your shoulder before he asks if you’re okay.

“Can you get my phone, please?” You say instead, the tremble in your voice worries him. He goes through your bag like you ask him to, then hands you the device as he notices the way your arm tightens around Seungyoon.

You’re so tense that he almost reminds you to breathe, he sees you scroll but it seems like you find nothing by the way you’re biting your lip. Then he sees you type, another sigh escapes your lips as you anxiously stare at your screen. Before he can ask if something’s wrong, you bring your phone to your ear, an endless ring greeting your ear because whoever you’re calling isn’t picking up.

“Okay, talk to me.” Seungcheol finally says, his voice soft but firm. The way you’re looking at him isn’t helping at all, and he sees you gripping your phone like it has personally wronged you. “What’s wrong?”

“Yuri is in Suwon.”

“Okay?”

“She–she’d need to go through Seocho to go back to Seoul, right?” He nods, finally grasping your worry. “She’s not replying to my texts nor my calls and I’m–I don’t know, I’m freaking out.”

He doesn’t want to brush off your worries, because he knows how much Yuri means to you and he understands how your train of thoughts might’ve gone in the short span of time between Jisoo’s news and your current condition. But he’s not sure how to calm you down without sounding like he’s downplaying your worries; so he takes the one route that he knows would at least remind you that you need to get it together.

“Hey. Breathe, okay? You’ll wake Seungyoon up.” He whispers like it’s a secret, and you take a long, deep breath as you nod. Seungcheol has always had that effect on you; to make you calm down and be your pillar when you need someone to be. Jisoo is a little blunt and harsh at times, another type of friend you’re glad you have in life because you definitely need someone like her to knock senses into your head. But that means you don’t always go to her when you’re looking for comfort and validation. That role is Seungcheol’s and, while he can be strict at times, he’s better at sympathizing with your feelings (or everyone else’s, really) than anyone. “Maybe Yuri’s in a meeting and she’s not with her phone?”

He’s probably right, but the feeling inside your gut is starting to root deeper and deeper within you the more time passes by, it’s ugly and it’s unpleasant. Like you can feel something is going entirely wrong though you can’t tell if you’re making things up or not at this point. You try to find comfort in Seungyoon’s sleeping form, his cheek pressed against your shoulder and his arms limp on his sides. 

It works along with the deep breath Seungcheol reminds you once again to take, and when your phone does ring thirty minutes later, it’s Seungcheol who takes it because Seungyoon squirms in your arms at the sudden noise.

It’s an unknown number, but the way his jaw tenses at whatever he’s hearing is making your heart twist with worry. You can’t even try to understand what they’re saying, because Seungcheol doesn’t say anything but ‘yes’, but it must be important if he’s still listening, and the last thing you heard before he hangs up is not a sentence you wish to hear in midst of your worry. We’ll be there as soon as possible. Thank you for informing us.

The way he looks at you makes your throat tightens, you can probably feel dread at the tip of your tongue. You hold Seungyoon tighter for the sake of your sanity, the toddler has fallen back to sleep. When Seungcheol speaks, your eyes blur with tears and you hate the way you already know what he’s saying before he even finishes his sentence.

The one time you wish you were wrong, you just have to be right.

“Yuri’s in the hospital. She’s in the ICU and we need to get there immediately.”

You’re trying your best not to bawl on your way there, thankful for Seungcheol as he drives as fast as he’s allowed to, Seungyoon no longer asleep but cluelessly plays with your hair as he obediently stays on your lap. It’s like he knows you’re not okay, knows not to throw a tantrum and not to ask to sit by himself at the back like he usually would. 

Like he knows you need him with you to keep you sane.

Seungcheol looks calm, but the way his palm grips yours obviously indicates otherwise and you try to distract yourself from all the worst possibilities in your mind by thinking of how lucky you are to have him with you of all people. You know he’s worried out of his mind too, but he still takes your hand because he knows you need it, knows that it helps to keep you grounded even if you have your nephew on your lap.

It doesn’t last for long though, and you don’t know what to think of Seungcheol’s lack of explanation. Yes, he confirmed that Yuri is also involved in the same accident as Jeonghan’s sister, but he didn’t say anything else. But does he really need to when he’s already said Yuri is in the ICU? If she had been okay, she would be in the ER at most; but they felt the need to take her to the ICU and that must be saying something.

Did the speaker not say anything to him? Or does he simply not want to give you empty hopes?

“Hey.” His voice brings you out of your trance and you squeeze his hand out of reflex. “I’ll be here, okay?”

You tear up again and nod, your arm that’s around your nephew tightens.

Seungyoon shifts at this, buries himself in your neck and wraps his arms around your neck like he knows you need it more than you do.

[✾✾✾]

Jinyoung is already there when you arrive, and he hugs you tight like he’s preparing you for bad news, like he needs to calm you down because whatever follows after isn’t going to be pleasant.

Seungyoon is in Seungcheol’s arms, breaking the older man’s heart by asking why they’re in the doctor’s place over and over again. Seungcheol assures him he’s not going to get shot when the toddler almost cries saying he doesn’t want to see the doctor today, promises to buy him ice cream later on if he doesn’t cry and stays in his arms.

“Is… is it bad?” You manage to choke between your tears. Jinyoung is rarely unkept, but he’s disheveled and if he’s like this then you don’t know if you want to hear what he has to say. You’re sure the doctor has filled him in on something, Jinyoung is registered as both your and Yuri’s emergency contact and if he’s here before you do, they must have told him something.

He takes a few moments to compose himself and arranges his words, his hands holding yours like it’s his lifeline.

“They aren’t sure she’s going to make it.”

More tears spill out of your eyes, though you try to contain your sob because Seungyoon is right behind you with Seungcheol, though when Jinyoung gives your friend a look, he’s quick to take Seungyoon somewhere out of sight so you can finally cry, cry, and cry until your tears dry out.

Yuri might not make it. You swallow the words like needles between your throat, your lips trembling as you stubbornly try to contain your despair. But when Jinyoung pulls you once again into his chest and whispers words of comfort you wish you could tell Yuri who’s by herself in the operating room, the dam breaks and you grip the front of his shirt like it’s the only thing you know how to do.

You don’t want to think of the worst case scenario. Don’t want to think of a life without your sister. But how can you not when you’ve been there in front of the OR for two hours? How can you not when your consciousness is going in and out of your head and the only thing that reminds you you’re awake is Seungcheol’s soft breath and the steady pattern of his heartbeat?

“Drink something?” He asks, his voice hesitant. You haven’t talked at all since Jinyoung told you Yuri might not make it, and you’re thankful Seungcheol doesn’t force you to either when he comes back with your nephew in tow. Jinyoung fills him in quickly between whispers before taking the kid with him and Seungcheol doesn’t waste a second to hold you because you look like you’re seconds away from fainting.

You shake your head even though your throat is dry and you honestly feel like you’re about to pass out any moment now. The only thing that’s keeping you here right now is Seungcheol: he’s basically plastered to you and he refuses to let go of you since earlier, which you appreciate so much because you don’t know if you even have it in you to sit straight without him by your side. You’ve just been spacing out in his embrace for two hours straight, his arm around you and your forehead on the juncture of his neck.

“Mommy?” Seungyoon’s voice brings you out of your trace, and you find him with Jinyoung, though the boy immediately lets go of his hand once he sees the state you’re in. Seungyoon only calls you that when he thinks you’re sad, a nickname that Yuri has always encouraged him for because even if he doesn’t have a father, she makes sure to let him know that he has two mothers who would do everything for him and you’re one of them.

He calls Yuri Mama, and he usually calls you ‘Mi’ because it’s easier than ‘Mommy’. He very rarely calls you by the latter because no one refers to you as such and he’s not used to it most of the time. But he knows you usually smile when he does it, which is why he only calls you that way when he thinks you’re upset. 

“Mommy okay?” He climbs into your lap, making your eyes water once again. God, this precious child might lose his own mother and he doesn’t know. He doesn’t know a thing and you pray once again to every deity in existence that you wouldn’t need to tell Seungyoon he wouldn’t be able to see his mom again.

He frowns when you don’t giggle like you usually would, though you do force a smile as you pull him into a hug.

“I’m sorry I left you with Uncle Jinyoung.” You say instead, not wanting to lie to the kid when you’re obviously not okay. “He’s boring, isn’t he?”

His small giggle warms you a little, but then he shakes his head and tells you Uncle Jinyoung is fun today and he buys him food earlier. You hum as he continues to blabber, mouthing a ‘thank you’ to Jinyoung when he catches your eyes.

“Yoon, will you tell Mi to drink water?” Seungcheol hands the bottle to your nephew, knowing full well you can’t resist him. You pretend to glare at him, aware that Seungcheol knows how grateful you are with him by your side. Seungcheol has just texted Jisoo that you’re both in the hospital for Yuri, and she promises she’ll drop by as soon as possible after informing him that thankfully Jeonghan’s sister is okay even though she has a minor concussion.

“Mi, water.” He repeats after the older man, his hands can barely hold the water bottle straight.

You thank him as you take a gulp, only now realizing how thirsty you actually are. Seungyoon shifts to play with your hair, still blissfully unaware why you’re all in the hospital, though he’s just happy in his bubble to be surrounded by you and his uncles.

For a second, you let a little bit of hope pass through you. You hope it can stay peaceful like this, with Seungyoon in your arms as you pretend you’re waiting for Yuri to come home.

Yeah, you’re waiting for her to come out, aren’t you?

Right–you’re so going to give her hell for all the worry and tears she made you shed. For making you lose it in front of Seungyoon and making you cry in front of Jinyoung, of all people. Yuri is in for a lot of nagging once she wakes up. Sick or not, you’re still going to scream at her and you’re going to hug her tight because it doesn’t make sense how deep the dread she makes you feel right now.

Yeah, that’s what you’re going to do.

She’s going to make it. She might not wake up immediately after the surgery, but you’re going to do all that when she wakes up and–

Min Yuri’s family?

And you’re going to lock her in a headlock like you usually would when she’s being annoying–

We’re sorry…

And you’re going to bawl into her chest like you used to when you were six–

…tried out best… 

And she’s going to laugh at you because she never knows what to do when you cry–

…too weak and…

But she’ll still hug you back because that’s what sisters are for–

…we’re sorry.

Because you only have each other.

Only have each other.

Had each other.

Your eyes get more and more blurry by the seconds, everything came crashing all over your body from head to toe, it’s getting harder to breathe, someone is holding you and—

You don’t know what happened after.

[✾✾✾]

On your eighteenth birthday, Yuri gave you a silver band and said you’re not allowed to take it off unless someone she approved of proposed. That you’re only allowed to take it off on your wedding day where she’d definitely be your maid of honor because who else would?

It’s a promise that I’ll be with you until I’m sure someone else will take care of you as well as I do.

You have never taken off your ring since then, never had any intention to, either. But now that you stare at it as you pack her belongings in her place, you want nothing but to rip it off your finger like it burns.

Didn’t she promise to be with you until then?

Didn’t she promise to make sure that whoever’s going to marry you is worthy of taking her ring off for?

Didn’t she fucking promise you she wouldn’t leave you behind like your parents did?

“Hey. Maybe it’s time to rest?” You look up at Seungcheol who’s hovering on the door. He looks only a little better than you are, but who can blame him when he hasn’t gone home at all since that day in the hospital? He’s been with you since then; Jisoo and Jinyoung take turns going back and forth, even Jeonghan stays for a bit when he has the time. 

Seungcheol was with you when you spent that night in the hospital, when you cried next to Yuri’s body before they closed the coffin, when you went home with Seungyoon to your place because you couldn’t bear to go to Yuri’s place just yet, and now, when you finally gathered the courage to go to her place and pack her stuff because who else will?

“Don’t you have work?” You ask instead, feeling bad that he’s been with you basically 24/7 the past week.

“You know my work allows me to work from anywhere.” He smiles a little before taking the seat next to you on the floor. “Let’s get lunch? Seungyoon says he wants jjajangmyeon.”

Seungyoon. Your poor child. You don’t think he really understands what’s happening. Jinyoung had kindly taken over your role to relay the information to the kid, but he had simply asked if his mom was going somewhere when Jinyoung said he wouldn’t be able to see her anymore.

You’re sure he would’ve cried seeing you bawl if not for Seungcheol quickly pulling you with him and holding you in his arms as you tried your best to block your sob, barely making out the conversation between the two.

Mama is in heaven now.

“Is it nice?”

Hmm. The best. But you won’t be able to see her anymore.

“Even if I miss her?”

Yes. It’s too far and if she has to come here, she’ll get very tired and might even get sick. We don’t want that, right?

“But what if I want see Mama?”

Then you’ll have to wait until the sky turns dark and the stars are visible. Mama is one of the stars now. Is that okay?

“But… there are so many…”

Seungyoon is smart, though. Aren’t you?

“Hmm..”

Then I’m sure you’ll know which one is Mama?

“Mmm… Want Mommy… Where’s Mommy?”

“Mommy?” Seungyoon has been calling you that often now. You’re not sure if he’s simply too confused or if it’s because you’ve been looking too upset these days, but his small voice always makes your heart clenches in the most painful way possible because it sounds like he knows he can’t call his own mom anymore. It’s getting harder and harder to hear him call you anything of the sort because it reminds you that his Mama is no longer around. “Hungry.”

Jisoo looks at you in apology from the door. She’s been with Seungyoon earlier, telling him they have to pack his toys because he’ll be moving with you and no longer live there. The boy has been more quiet these days, and you feel bad because you think he’s quiet because he’s tired and he doesn’t know what’s happening; why you barely talk and why his mom is not here.

“Uncle Cheol said you want jjajangmyeon?” You say as you take him in your arms, the boy suddenly shy as he nods and buries himself in your neck. “Do you want to eat outside or here?”

“Out okay?” he asks, almost hesitant. Then continues to make your heart hurt when he says his next words. “Mommy always inside these days…”

“Oh, baby.” You bite your lip and murmur an apology against his forehead. The way you hug him is more for you then it is for Seungyoon, but he tightens his arms around you also and asks once again if it’s okay to eat outside. “We can. Let’s go with Uncle Cheol and Auntie Choo, yeah?”

Seungcheol opts to go to the jjajangmyeon place you used to go to during university instead of the one nearby. It takes almost an hour to get there, but he thinks you need it and he’s sure the owner of the jjajangmyeon place near Yuri’s apartment would definitely be asking about her–which you definitely don’t need.

It’s been quite some time since Seungyoon went anywhere too, so he figures he could at least give that to the kid.

“Been some time since we went here, huh?” It really has. The last time was probably a year ago or something, because life gets in the way and even though you’ve been saying you wanted to come here again, the both of you are always too lazy and the university seems too far away even if it’s not really.

Still, the owner recognizes you two and happily takes your order which hasn't changed since the time you were in university.

Apparently, the old lady hasn’t changed either, because her eyes sparkle with interest as she sees Seungyoon in your arms. You dread her question already, knowing what she’d ask before she even does.

But as much as you expected her words, nothing prepared you for her whole sentences.

“Oh my. Is this your kid? He looks so much like you. I knew you two would get married one day.” She says as she addresses you and Seungcheol, way too excited to notice the horrified look you share with your best friend, nor Jisoo who’s trying her best not to laugh at the sudden turn of events.

You don’t even get the chance to deny her statement, because she already turns back to the kitchen then returns just as quick, giving Seungyoon a pack of jelly that’s supposedly her grandson’s.

“What a nice kid.” She smiles at Seungyoon who thanks her with a cheeky smile, the boy clutches the jelly like you’d take it any moment now. “My grandson used to cry all the time at his age. What a nice mom you have, hmm? She’s brought you up really well.”

“Mommy the best.” Seungyoon replies cheekily, which concludes the conversation because that seems to be enough for the owner to leave your table.

Once again, you’re thankful Seungcheol is beside you as you exhale a deep breath and try to swallow your tears on his shoulder. This is just a taste of what you’d need to deal with more in the future; people mistaking you as Seungyoon’s mom and you’ll somehow get the credit for everything Yuri did to make sure Seungyoon grew up well.

It’s not fair.

Nothing is and you hate that there’s nothing you can do about it.

“Mommy?” Seungyoon tugs softly on your hair to catch your attention. “Feed me?”

You tear up again at this, because Seungyoon has actually been insisting on eating by himself the past few months, saying he’s a big boy and that he can manage eating by himself. Does he know? That you need him to depend on you? That you need something to distract you?

“Want Mommy to feed me.” He repeats, his voice faltering at your lack of response. How long have you been neglecting him? How selfish can you be, drowning in your own sorrow like Seungyoon hasn’t lost his own mother? He’s probably even more lost than you are, with Yuri gone and you disassociating for a whole week.

You’re lucky Seungyoon has always been a nice kid, that he simply accepts that his aunt and uncles were to take care of him for the week. 

How fucking selfish can you be? 

“Yeah.” You square your shoulder and drop a kiss on his head. It’s not only you that needs him, you remind yourself. Seungyoon also needs you and you’re going to give everything you have and more if it means he’s happy and healthy. “Mommy will feed you, okay?”

[✾✾✾]

A/N: i hope you enjoyed this aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa pls do send me your thoughts and feedbacks through ask or anything bc i'm still a writer that needs ur words to continue writing lol<3

series taglist: @cheolctrl @nap-of-a-starr @shiningstar-byulxx @itsveronicaxxx @shuahoshiscoups

➝ taglist is open, pls send me an ask instead of replying to the post so it's easier to keep track of the taglist!

[I don’t allow any reposting or translation, so please do tell me if you find anyone reposting my works. You can only find me on tumblr or my Ao3. –wonwoonlight.]

[hugheses]

these are just some thoughts after seeing ur post on the hockey thigh thing btw, and i hope you hear me out. you being a lesbian (im bi and i have a gf currently), which is something you emphasise a lot, and not being attracted to these dudes doesnt make this whole parasocial archive any less weird or creepy. i'm not here to shit on or invalidate your passion, because obv its something you care about deeply from how much your scour the web for all these old things, even of their mother when she was young. and genuinely, thats pretty cool, i work in archival and i have a lot of respect for that with the effort you've put into it.

but i think you are encouraging others to imitate this blog and culture, when it comes to other players who aren't as in the media as the hughes family. like i agree that its part and parcel of the job as athletes who represent a multitude of things like ur franchise ur family etc, but i feel like we just shouldn't proliferate this. i know people on twitter are unjustly harsh and oftentimes critical to the point of meanness, but i think some points they share are valid. just bc its on the internet, doesnt give us the permission to do stuff ykwim? like imagine just going up to the hughes and giving them a scrapbook of every media moment from their mothers childhood, to her college, their dad, and them as kids and now as adults. thats just straight up weird. and don't even get me on the sexualisation, i get they are adults but isn't that just basic respect?

i know having an internet community is rlly important to some, and im sure ur followers would still give you that support u need even if you dont constantly supply them with these media things, or dangle ur secret archive like a carrot over them.

hoping you have a great day

you clearly put a lot of time and thought into this, so i will give you that same level of consideration back. i think you have some misunderstandings about me, hockey fandom, and fandom culture as a whole.

first, the lesbian thing. admittedly tumblr search is very broken but according to it i’ve mentioned the word lesbian twice on here, as a disclaimer for why i might not be the best person to understand what male attracted people find hot. it's possible it's come up a few other times but it’s definitely not something i "emphasize a lot". it's somewhat ironic that you bring up you being bi and having a gf in what reads to me like a deflection on your critique that i say i'm gay too much, when you seem to think me saying i'm a lesbian is bc i'm trying to deflect on sexualizing these guys. which admittedly is the most confusing part of your entire ask. is this solely about the thigh ask? if you’re worried about "basic respect", hockey fandom is probably not the place for you. i know i don't like seeing 500 reader insert posts every time i open anyone's tag, which is why i have related terms muted and block people who don't use them. however this is very much a part of hockey fandom and i’m aware of that. on the flip side, the unfortunate reality is that hockey players are some of the nastiest misogynistic men on the planet who generally do not see women as actual human beings beyond mommies, maids, and holes. if i WAS sexualizing these men 24/7 i would feel well within my rights to do so, and could make an only slightly ironic argument for it being feminist praxis. if jack hughes can ask girls to flash him, i can have a little sexualization, as a treat. 

calling me weird and creepy isn’t actually negated by following up with saying you're not trying to shit on or invalidate my passion and you respect the effort i put into it. if you think i’m weird and creepy, you’re allowed to feel that way, but actually own it if that’s what your opinion is.

you imagined this scrapbook scenario and then say that it’s weird. i agree, that hypothetical thing would be weird. good thing i’m not doing that, will never do that, and take many efforts to have a strong fourth wall and keep this blog separate from the people it's about. i am a firm believer in keeping fandom private and secluded! that's why im not tweeting all of this and tagging them. 

it’s a big leap for you to assume that i do this because i "need support". not that it matters, but i do all of this because i find it fun and i’m being generous with people who do not have the time/resources/know-how to find this stuff on their own. there's nothing wrong with finding a community online, but i had one before doing all this. in fact, all of this has been really more trouble than it's worth in terms of harassment vs kindness lmao. some people on here have been lovely to me, but i’m beyond the age where i need virtual validation from strangers. you’re right about one thing, i do dangle my secret archive like a carrot, largely for petty reasons because of a few specific assholes. 

you seem to think i’m the only person who does stuff like this. update/archival accounts are very common for musicians, actors, even like... tiktok influencers. were you not online when people hacked an airport security cam feed to watch one direction sit and do nothing? everything ive ever posted on here has been available to the public. i’m just good at finding stuff. even within this smaller sports fandom on tumblr, i have been inspired by OTHER BLOGS who were doing this before me and go way harder than i do. i didn’t invent the concept of collecting information and images about public figures like you seem to think i did, but thanks.

if you want to critique fandom culture as a whole, go right ahead, but i ask that you keep the sanctimonious lectures out of my inbox, especially when they're based in assumptions. any one of these things could have been questions i would be willing to chat about if you were actually curious about me and what i do. i in fact have lots of opinions that might surprise you on many of these things you mentioned. but i will have those conversations with other people, who talk to me with the respect and dignity that i deserve.

[nattinatalia]

Urban Wyatt x Reader : YOU LOST MOMMY AND DADDY

A/N : I don’t know where I was going with this. I had a plan but it went all over the place like every fic I have lol so enjoy.

The moment you and Urban decided to take some time apart you had made a quick and judgmental decision and packed yours and your daughters stuff and moved back to Los Angeles.

You thought it would’ve been easier on you, but once you realized it was the complete opposite you decided to move back to Louisville KY.

Plus, Urban and Cassie didn’t deserve to be far apart from each other. You and Urban had one important rule, and that was to always do right for Cassie when it comes to coparenting, never let the problems between the both of you affect her.

So here you were settling into your new house with your best friend's help, while Urban and Jack took Cassie, Mia and Ezequiel out for some frozen yogurt.

“Are you sure you’re totally fine moving back here? I know those three months back in your hometown were hard, but I can’t imagine this being any easier.” Jess says.

“It’s not easy but it’s not hard either.” You shrug, “Him and I are in a good place and we’ll forever be tied down to each other. Plus, you and Jack have been a huge help and also Maggie, you don’t understand she checks up on me all the time and offers to watch Cassandra if I ever need alone time.”

Jess smiles, “We will always be here for you three, no matter what.”

“Thank you.”

◦•●◉✿✿◉●•◦ ◦•●◉✿✿◉●•◦

Two hours later Jack was walking in with the kids, but Cassie was having a full on crying session and yelling her little lungs out.

“Cassie, babygirl please relax.” Jack tells her.

"YOU LOST MY MOMMY AND DADDY." Cassie yells, tears running down her face, pouting at her Tio Jack.

“I know and I’m sorry.”

“No, no sorry, get my parents.”

“What is going on?”

Jack turns to face his wife “Babe, please help me, I don’t know what to do.”

“Cassie, what’s wrong little mama?” Jess kneels down in front of her.

“Ti-tio Jack lost my mommy and daddy.” Cassie whimpers out.

Jess furrows her eyebrows. “Your mommy is in the other room, baby.” Jess sees Urban walking in, “And look, there’s your daddy.”

“NO MY OTHER MOMMY AND DADDY.”

“I looked everywhere, I can’t find them.” Urban announces, scratching at his head.

Cassie glares at Jack “You big mean guy.”

“Cassie, please forgive me.”

She shakes her head “NO”

“It’s what you get daddy, you don’t lose something important.” Mia sasses Jack.

Ezequiel is watching the exchange while chewing on some baby carrots.

“It was an accident.” He turns to look at Cassie, “I promise to get you more.”

She glares at that “Noo, I want my daddy and mommy back.”

“Okay I’m confused now.” Jessica says, standing up. She’s looking at the kids, then at Jack and Urban, waiting for an explanation.

You finally walk into the living room and notice your daughter's face is red from crying. “Oh baby, what's the matter?”

Cassie runs up to you, so you carry her. “Tio Jack perdió my other mommy and daddy.”

You glare at Urban and Jack.

You rub at Cassie’s back, “It’s okay, I’m sure they’re hiding somewhere.”

“I’m still confused.” Jess says.

“Her Care Bears, she got them when we moved and she’s been attached to them, she calls them mommy and daddy as a play thing.” Urban explains.

“So recall your steps, where did you last see them?” You ask.

“Yeah daddy.” Mia says, “When was the last time you saw them?”

“I don’t remember.” Jack says.

“Where did you guys go? Maybe call the place and ask if they’ve seen them?” Jess suggests.

“I gave them to Tio to take care of them mami.” Cassie whispers out.

“I know but Ez was running around so I had to go after him and I don’t remember where they went after that.”

“Dad, it not my fault.” Ez says, looking at his dad while taking a bite from a carrot.

“I know little man, I’m not saying it is.”

“Let’s go see your new bed yeah baby? Meanwhile tio can look for them.” Urban says.

You, Cassie and Urban walk out the living room leaving Jack and his family there.

“Babe, what did you do? I can’t believe you lost her peluches.” Jess says.

“It wasn’t on purpose, I honestly thought I had left them in the backpack.” Jack is scrolling through his phone, texting Neelam and asking her for a huge favor.

“Y/N will probably have a tough time putting her to sleep if Cassie is used to sleeping with them.”

Jack sighs, “I’m working on it.”

◦•●◉✿✿◉●•◦ ◦•●◉✿✿◉●•◦

“P-papi, I want my plushies.” Cassie sobs out.

Urban brushes her hair to the back of her ears, “I know mamas, take a nap and when you wake up, I’m sure they’ll be back.”

“But I can’t, I need them next to me now.”

“Hey.” You sit at the edge of her bed. “Estoy segura que tu papá y nino van a encontrar tus peluches.” You smile at her. “I’ll lay with you while they look?”

Cassie nods, “okay.” She faces Urban “Sorry I’m being baby, I just sad.”

Urban smiles at her, “You are a baby, and you’re allowed to cry over it.”

“I no baby, I'm three.” She puts up three fingers.

“Okay, you’re my big baby, how does that sound?”

“Good.” She nods.

Urban kisses her forehead and walks out the bedroom, leaving you and Cassie to sleep.

“Did you find them?” He asks Jack.

“No, but I found some nearby and Neelam is about to pick them up and bring them here.”

“Don’t you think Cassie will notice that they are new and not her actual bears?” Jess asks.

“Babe, what do you want me to do? I don’t know where I left them and I’m not about to have my goddaughter hate me.”

Jess shakes her head, “Relax with your dramatics.”

“I just can’t believe we lost them, hopefully Y/N was able to get her down for her nap. She was crying for them.” Urban says, taking in a deep breath.

“Way to make me feel more bad.” Jack mumbles out. He looks at his phone, “Neelam is here with backup.”

They both head to the front door.

“I can’t believe you dragged me out of bed on my day off, for all of these.” Neelam is glaring at Jack.

“That’s why you get paid extra.” Jack shrugs. “Thank you though.”

“Dude, why all of these?” Urban asks, looking at all the boxes in disbelief.

“Backup, now she has some extra and I can’t be blamed for losing them.”

“What’s all this?” You ask, walking into the living room with Cassie in your arms.

“Daddy bought Cassie more plushies.” Mia answers her, smiling.

Cassie asks to be put down and she runs towards the boxes of Care Bears. “You buy me new ones Nino?”

Jack nods, “Yeah, I’m sorry I lost your original ones.”

Cassie hugs him. “It okay Nino” she pulls back and points her index finger at him. “Don’t dos it again.”

“I promise.”

“Que se dice Cassandra?” You remind her.

“Ohhh, thank yous Nino Jack Jack.” She smiles.

“Want me to help you open them up mama?”

“Yes please, daddy.” She jumps excitedly.

Urban and Jack are helping Cassie open up all the boxes to free the bears.

“So.” Mia says smugly.

Everyone is staring at her now.

“We won’t need these then?” She opens up Jack’s carry-on backpack and pulls out Cassie’s original plushies.

“WHAT THE?!”

“MIA.”

“You had one job daddy, it’s a lesson.” Mia hands Cassie her bears. “I told you they were nearby.” she rolls her eyes.

“That’s not nice Mia.” Ez says, glaring at her. “You made Cashie cry.”

“It was a prank.”

“Mia, your brother is right, you know how important those were to Cassie. She was crying for them.” Jess tries to scold her.

“It okay, don’t be mad at her.” Cassie says. “I have all these now.” She points at the bears on the floor.

“Still not okay that you did that bug.”

“I’m sorry.” She groans. “Nino, Nina, I’m sorry I made Cassie cry.”

“Like you said, it was a prank. Your Nino and dad should’ve kept a good eye on all the items.” You reassure your goddaughter.

“See? All happy.” Mia smiles. “Cassie has her mommy and daddy back.”

“I’m confused?” Neelam says from her spot on the couch. She had stayed after she dropped off the boxes. “Y/N and Urban are done with their little petty break?”

“No.” You answer her. “She means her Care Bears.”

“And it’s not a petty break.” Urban says, staring at Neelam.

“Mommy, daddy, can you help me take all my daddy’s and mommy’s to bed?” Cassie asks, trying to carry all the bears.

You and Urban do just that, and help her get into bed so she can finally take her nap.

“So did you like my prank?” Mia asks.

“No young lady. You’ll be on time out.” Jack tells her.

“B-but why? Not my fault you lost them.” She shrugs. “I pick them up when you and nino were getting yogurt for us.”

“I blame Druski somehow.” Urban announces when he’s passing by to get a sippy cup with milk.

“I blame him too.” You yell out from Cassie’s bedroom.

•

Liked by jackharlow, yourusername, jessicaharlow, neelamthadhani, druski, and 6,986,345 others

urbanwyatt When Tio Jack looses your daughters favorite plushies, he stocks you up with bunch of them, only to find out his daughter had them all along 😅 it was a stressful day to say the least.

View all 1,800 comments

jackharlow Broke my heart seeing he cry 😢 Mia was definitely put on timeout for this.

yourusername Noo my baby, she confessed and said it was a prank. Let her be.

jessicaharlow I’m not excusing my daughters behavior, but also, let this be a lesson. Never take your eyes away from the kids or their favorite toys.

neelamthadhani Yeah thank you to me because I’m the one who picked them up and dropped them off.

jackharlow You got paid, thank you though.

druski Mia is learning, I love it.

urbanwyatt I FUCKING KNEW IT!!!!!!!!

jackharlow Count your days.

cozane I’m just saying, if I was there I wouldn’t have lost her mommy and daddy plushies.

jackharlow AVATAR SHUT THE HELL UP!

yourusername 😭😭😭😭

•

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[mxtantrights]

famous dc! au (dick's version)

TRACK FOURTEEN (DELUXE VERSION): I'M YOUR MAN / GIVE A LITTLE BIT

It's Winter holiday time in Hollywood and nothing feels like the holidays. Maybe its the building feeling of homesickness inside of you, or the feeling of change in the air. The sun is out and its way hotter than you're used to this time of year.

You really miss the snow. You miss the snow angles you would pass by on the street. And the snowmen that were falling apart but made with love with scarves and carrot noses.

You've been dating Dick Grayson for six months now, and he's taken you by surprise at each turn. When you needed to take new head shots for another project you wanted to apply to he helped you out-meaning he offered to take you to a professional studio and drop twelve hundred dollars on you. You of course made sure that didn't happen and made him take the pictures himself.

Another time, he offered to shut down the aquarium to take you just because you were having a bad day. It was a really kind and generous offer but you couldn't imagine inconveniencing anyone because your boyfriend is Hollywood's heartthrob.

Today just felt different. It felt like you really didn't want to be in the state of California at all. And if you saw another palm tree you might throw up. That's why you've stayed inside your apartment all week. Dick has been over all week too but you can't keep coming up with excuses about why your skin hasn't seen the sun.

A knock on your bedroom door raps and you know it's him. You tell him to come in. The door opens and in walks your boyfriend. But it's strange. He's dressed in a coat and a scarf.

He has Haley in his arms. You sit up in bed with a confused look on your face.

"Dickie?" you ask.

"Yes darling?" he asks, teasingly.

"It's eighty nine degrees outside." you say.

Dick hums, "no I don't think it is."

"You're gonna faint from the heat." you counter.

Dick shakes his head, "It's actually snowing outside, so I don't know what you're talking about."

You look at him then. Maybe he's trying method acting? You get up from the bed and pull back the curtains, back facing the window ready to prove him wrong.

"I need you to look outside Dickie." you say.

"Oh I am." he says with all the confidence in the world.

You turn around to point outside to the green gras but your eyes are met with nothing but white. White? You pull open your window and stick your head out. It's still hot. But there's snow on the ground.

There's snow on the ground?

"What going on? Why is there snow on the ground? It's hot." you speak.

"I know you were missing home so I thought I'd bring a piece of it here." he explains.

Your whirl around all at once. Then you're running over to Dick. You wrap your arms around his neck and embrace him fully. Your legs wrap around him barely and he holds onto you.

"Thank you so much, you are the best person I've ever met and I can't believe you did this for me. You're the best, Dick Grayson." you gleefully say.

He hugs you even tighter.

"I know, I know. But I also promised the kids that they could come out in about twenty minutes so if you wanna make the first snow angel we have to go right now." Dick says.

You let go of him and run to your closet. Your hands push and pull the hangers and the clothing inside. That's when you realize you don't have any coats. It's California!

"I don't have a coat!" you shout.

"Oh you don't need it. It's artificial anyways." Dick says.

Then he's grabbing your arm and pulling you out of your apartment, down the steps and out into the backyard. You happily fall into the snow on your back and swipe your arms and legs.

Dick watches from above as the smile that he had missed this past week finally forms on your lips.

-

Dick thinks it can't get any better than this. He's got the warm sun on his skin, the water at his feet and the love of his life right by his side. He looks over at you, only to find you not there. He looks around frantically thinking he lost you.

But his eyes catch you at the bar talking to an older woman. Of course. You are so charismatic and charming. She's laughing at something you said and you're smiling at her.

You look over at him and his heart melts. You tell him that you're coming, he tells you not to rush. You turn back to your new friend.

Dick lets out a sigh of relief. He doesn't care what position he's in on the charts right now. Or if enough of his merchandise is selling. Or if the latest roll out is going as projected.

All there is to think about is you and the island sun.

"I made a friend!" you shout as you run over to Dick.

He laughs, "I can see that."

"That was fun. She wanted to paint us." you explain to him.

Dick looks at you with a funny look, "Naked?"

"No! She just liked how we looked against the sunset. She wanted to know if you'd be okay with it, so I came over to ask you." you wrap your arm around his waist.

He places a few kisses on your hairline, "I'd like it. Tell her yes."

He watches as you turn around and give a thumbs up. He can't help but smile at you as you do. For the first time, being in love isn't something he wants to shy away from or feels the need to be embarrassed about.

Love.

Huh.

"She also said she knew your dad." you speak up.

Dick is pulled out of his trance right then and there. He looks down at you with his full attention now. You look mildly confused why he seems to attentive.

"The woman back there? The woman you were just talking to?" he asks.

You nod your head, "Yeah but I mean, don't people say that all the time? How can you believe it's true?"

Dick looks back to see the woman again, but she's gone. Bruce has never told him anything about his first love and yet Dick feels like the universe doesn't leave room for coincidences.

He turns back to you, "I could always ask him when we get back. He's due to tell me some stories from the past anyways."

"Aw, that's sweet. Maybe we can find your dad someone!" you smile.

"Maybe..."

-

Dick sets the tea down on the table in front of him. His father, Bruce, comes walking around the table and sits next to him on the couch. He sets down his own mug on the table-coaster provided via Alfred.

"So, I think I ran into your first love while I was on vacation."

Bruce almost chokes on his drink. He looks over at his son slowly. Dick notices that Bruce has gone somewhat still. And not his usual still where he's still processing details and making observations and what not.

This was new.

He was unfocused. Fazed.

"What do you mean by that?" Bruce asks.

"I mean when I was on the beach, there was a woman there. She said she knew you." Dick explains.

Bruce sits up, his back straight like a board. He tries to look unfazed, like he's just passing the time with this conversation but Dick can tell this is probably one of the most important conversations he's had in a while. Or at least one that he's firmly committed to.

"Describe her." Bruce commands.

Dick can't help to wonder what the hell happened between the two of them. He's never seen Bruce so on edge before. Dick goes on to describe the woman he saw. With each detail that flies out of his mouth Bruce shuts his eyes, turns away, and shifts his body.

"Bruce what's going on? I thought you said that you didn't fail." Dick asks.

Bruce scoffs, "I said that to give you confidence. I failed, miserably and hard."

Dick slinks back into the couch. He lets out a breath of air and crosses his arms across his chest.

"Well, what are we gonna do?" Dick asks.

Bruce looks over at him, "What do you mean?"

"How are you gonna get the love of your life back?"

[artiststarme]

The Long-Lost Wheeler

This fic is based on this post from @kcsplace! I'm sorry it was such a long wait but thanks for letting me use your idea! There was no way I could compress all of my ideas into a one-shot so this will be a series. I hope you like it!

~*~*~*~

Eddie had never known who his mom was. He didn’t know her name or what she looked like. All he knew was that she left him with his dad when he was barely two months old and never turned around to look back. He would dream of meeting her as a child. His childish mind would dream up faceless women hugging him, making him lunch, playing games with him, and anything else moms were supposed to do with their sons. He would imagine being part of a happy family when he saw the other kids at school getting picked up by their moms and dads. 

After so many disappointments though and so many years gone by, he gave up hope on ever meeting her. She didn’t want anything to do with her own kid? He didn’t want anything to do with her. The nameless, faceless woman that gave birth to him was nothing but a surrogate in his mind. Just a stranger that brought him into this hard world to abandon him when the going got rough. From then on, he viewed her with little more than mild disinterest. 

Whenever he had asked his dad about her, he never had anything good to say. Old Richie Munson said she was a manipulative bitch that was always too good for everyone around her, always looking to find something better. His old man would get upset whenever Eddie brought her up and on one fateful occasion, shaved his entire head because ‘he looked too much like her’. After that, Eddie never asked his dad about her again. 

A few months after he moved in with Uncle Wayne, he felt safe enough to ask him if he knew who his mother was. Wayne was a lot more tactful and nice with his description of her. He told Eddie that she was just a scared lady, unsure of what she wanted and too skittish to take care of little Eddie with his dad. He made her sound like leaving Eddie was a byproduct of escaping his dad and Eddie lost some of his anger towards her after that. He’d been trying to get away from his dad for eleven years, he couldn’t fault her for fleeing when she had the chance. 

He thought about her even less after the Upside Down once he had a group of friends close enough to call family. They filled the void that his dysfunctional and fractured family had left behind. He also found an unexpected best friend in Nancy Wheeler. They had a lot more in common than he thought they would and they got on like a house on fire. Things were finally going well for Eddie which was ironic since it was a near death experience and week in hell that led to it. 

Hellfire was back in action after being banned from the school due to its “Satanic connotations” and was now being hosted in the Wheeler’s basement. Eddie didn’t have his throne anymore or his chalice of Mountain Dew and it smelled a bit like a sweaty armpit. However, he was surrounded by his friends and the happiness he felt more than made up for the downsides. 

They were on their fourth day of the campaign when everything blew up. The entirety of Hellfire club was situated around the Wheeler’s kitchen on the singular snack break that Eddie allowed over the course of the day. All of the boys were talking amongst each other while Eddie relaxed against the counter happily watching his friends being happy and munching on baby carrots. Everything was fine until Karen Wheeler walked in carrying several grocery bags that Eddie immediately went to help her with. 

“Here, I can help you with that,” he said, leaning down to her height to take some of the heavier bags out of her arms. 

“Oh, thank you. Mike never helps with the groceries, you would think one would want to help their mother-” Karen abruptly stopped talking once she made eye contact with Eddie. He stalled a bit in response before setting the bags down on the counter next to where he was previously situated. 

She nodded at him jerkily before moving over to Mike and dragging him by the ear just out of sight, not out of hearing though. Eddie could hear what she said loud and clear. 

“Michael, what is he doing here? You didn’t tell me that you were going to have that… that boy over to my house!” She sounded pissed and Eddie narrowed his eyes as he listened. 

“Who, Eddie? He’s my friend, I told you he was coming over. You said it was okay for me to have my friends over to play Dungeons and Dragons today!”

“I want him out of my house, Michael. Don’t invite him over again, he’s not welcome here.”

“What the hell, mom? Why? He didn’t do anything wrong!”

“Now, Michael!”

Eddie didn’t know what the fuck was going on but he knew when he wasn’t wanted. Prior to the Spring Break from Hell, he would have rebelled and relished in the unease his presence caused. However, with the majority of the town still gunning for his arrest even after he was proven innocent, he knew not to make waves. 

When Mike turned the corner into the kitchen, still glowering and angry, Eddie clapped his hands to gather the rest of Hellfire’s attention. “Alright my fellow gremlins, let’s call it a day. We’ll resume our merciless quest next Friday. Expect a call with the updated Hellfire destination sometime next week. Godspeed.” 

Understandably this caused an uproar with the Hellfire members protesting and even Mike tried to convince Eddie to stay. “No, no, no, we’re all done for the day. We don’t want to overstay our welcome. We’ll wrap up the campaign next week. End of discussion!”

He gave everyone one last look and made this way back downstairs to pack up his things. He didn’t really blame her, he thought as he grabbed his things hastily. He wouldn’t want an alleged murderer in his house either. When he made his way past Karen on his way out of the house, he paused in front of her. 

“Thanks for letting us play here a few times. I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable, Mrs. Wheeler. I didn’t mean to. We’ll meet somewhere else next time,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

And with that he walked out of the Wheeler’s house with the dulcet sounds of Mike screaming at his mother following behind him. 

When he brought it up to Nancy just a few days later, she was perplexed. She had no idea on why her mother would be so vocally against having Eddie in the house. Karen Wheeler was known to be the perfect doting mother. To have her kick Eddie out of her home and to hate him so blatantly was almost unfathomable. She told Eddie that she would get to the bottom of it and she did. She didn’t expect to discover that Eddie was her long-lost brother that her mother abandoned. Now how was she supposed to tell Eddie?

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[dragontamer05]

Darren Shan does a good job at playing with your expectations- I hesitate to call it a plot twists exactly since often the outcome isn't too surprising but at the same time can write things in just away where it believably could go differently and makes you wish that it wasn't this way.

Two examples off the top of my head are Crepsley's death and just the whole reunion with Steve.

For Crepsley I mean as it is by that point in the story I'd hope most if not everyone reading even if he's not a favourite character I just find it hard to imagine anyone sitting and waiting and wanting him to die- and at the very least us readers know that Darren sure as hell doesn't want that to happen.

But as the scene plays out you know how it's happening but even so right at the start of the next chapter, he dangles that carrot in the readers face. A whole scene written and played out of what could happen, what Darren wished had happened but then reality hits because it doesn't happen (even having Darren the character make comments of how 'if it was a story X would happen but it's not it's reality and stuff like that doesn't happen' more or less anyway)

And honestly it makes it hurt all the more as you are straight up given an image of a dramatic play out of what could be but isn't, whether you actually allow yourself to believe for a moment that he did survive or now the whole time that what's being said isn't true and he won't be surviving this

The other is Darren's reunion with his best friend Steve, this story at it's core is a very much Friend's to Enemies but once again for a moment you get led to believe maybe just maybe they can be friends again.

Sure Steve was a twisted messed up kid, but that's the thing at the start of it he was a kid but now it's like 20 or so years later and is all grown up. So you want to believe Darren, you want Darren to be right that his friend has changed, that he's matured, gotten the help he clearly needed as a child and is really on his side. Or at least is willing to put aside differences to go after the common enemy of Vampaneze

Of course one can't rule out deception, and manipulation which even as a kid would easily be in this twisted man's wheel house, even the other characters being understandably cautious around him given their knowledge.

And for the keen eyed there are as always plenty of bread crumbs trailing to the truth / make one suspicious but once again he writes their interactions so well and just seeing Darren happy even when I read it, knowing full well what's to come oof it hurts and every time there's that part that just wishes it could go different- not in a I want to actually change the story and how it's written way but because this is something the Darren has always wanted.

Darren just wants his friend back and for a brief time it really seemed like he might get his wish, but alas that's not what was meant to be.

It wasn't Destiny as would likely be said in the book.

[bunbeeplays]

The Lemon Legacy: Generation 1, Chapter 112 - The Little Redhead

Let's start the day off with a milestone for Lulu! She can sit up all by herself now.

Gemma's like "big whoop, I've been doing that for ages" and struts off with her knock-off Crocs in sport mode.

It's lunch time and Gemma is getting… better about eating her meals.

Xander: Are you going to fill up that hunger bar for Daddy? We can't go to the park on an empty stomach!

Gemma: Park!

She'll be too grouchy to play if she's not full. That's not a bribe, just a fact!

Gemma actually eats without complaining.

Ophelia: That's my girl!

Xander needs a shower and Lulu needs a bath, so Ophelia plays with her eldest daughter while they wait.

Ophelia: Hey, where'd she go?

Ophelia's mock confusion makes Gemma burst into giggles. Mommy's so silly!

Before we go, now that Lulu can sit, we need to do the traditional first smashed lemon taste test! Don't let the smile fool you, Lulu hated it!

Gemma: I wanna play with my food too!

Xander: No, muffin, we don't play with food.

Gemma: Lulu does!

Xander: She's a baby, Gem.

Ophelia: You're a big girl, you know better than Lulu.

Xander: Last time I checked, you're a big girl too and yet you still think feeding our kids food you know they'll hate is funny.

Ophelia: Aw, come on, I HAVE to!

Lulu's not amused but Gemma just wants to go to the park!

It's Lulu's first trip to the park, and Gemma's first trip as a toddler. Now she can actually do stuff! Exciting!

Obligatory shot of Xander being dad goals. It feels like just yesterday he was playing with toddler Violet Sistem at this park and now he's playing with his own little princess 😭🥹

The princess of the Lemon Legacy looks out at her royal subjects, the townies of this save file. A lot of them sure do dress goofy! Maybe if they give Gemma candy, she'll convince the Watcher to give them makeovers!

As she sets Lulu down for a nap, Ophelia tries to ignore the townies fangirling over her in the background. They're not bothering her family, or taking photos, so she considers them harmless. Then again, one of them is wearing a bag over his head. Who knows what his deal is.

Gemma jets off to play in the sandbox when she bumps into a little boy around her age. She's never spoken to another toddler before!

Gemma: Sorry. M-My name's Gemma. I like your hair. It looks like a carrot. I don't like carrots though.

Toddlers are the masters of word vomit.

Luckily toddlers don't really understand the concept of awkwardness.

Jaden: I'm Jaden! I like your piggytails!

Gemma: Thanks! My mommy braided my hair.

Jaden: My mommy and daddy don't let me do piggytails.

Gemma can't even imagine a hellish life like that!

Xander sees Gemma talking to a little red-headed boy and strikes a conversation with who he presumes is his dad.

Xander: That your little guy?

Calvin: Did the hair give it away? Calvin Huff, COO of Espo Enterprises.

Xander: Xander Lemon, guy who doesn't know what a COO is.

As Gemma and Jaden babble to each other about their favorite princesses, Ophelia starts a conversation with who she finds out is Jaden's mom, Anna.

Ophelia: Oh, I'm so glad Gemma's making a little friend. It's so hard to get out of the house with the paparazzi-

Anna: Huh?

Ophelia isn't offended or anything, but it's been rare to find someone who at least hasn't seen her on Simstagram or FlipFlop.

Ophelia: Oh, I'm the lead singer of a band, The Main Squeeze.

Anna: Ah. We don't really engage with mainstream media. It's a little too woke for us.

Ophelia: Woke? What does that mean?

Anna: Oh, you know, we try not to stray too far from The Watcher's light.

Ophelia: That does not answer my question at all but okay.

Ophelia doesn't want to ruin things with what could be Gemma's first friend, so she doesn't push further.

Gemma: My baby sister is sleepin' over there. She's stinky sometimes but she's funny. Do you got a baby sister?

Jaden: No… Daddy says I'm 'nough for him to deal with.

Gemma: Oh.

Jaden: Wanna make a sand turtle?

Jaden and Gemma get to work while their moms converse.

Anna: Look at them! So precious.

Ophelia: Yeah. That sweater vest doesn't look very comfy, though. Did you come from an event and not have any play clothes on hand?

Anna: What do you mean? Those are his play clothes.

Calvin and Xander get to the subject of Xander's new nectar-making hobby.

Calvin: You can make good money with that.

Xander: I just kind of do it to blow off steam.

Calvin: Anything to get away from your wife and kids, huh? I get you, brother.

Xander: …I don't think you do.

Ophelia: Okay, I've got your number. We can set up a playdate later. Xander and I would be more than happy to host.

Anna: Oh, that'd be wonderful. Calvin doesn't like having too many toys around the house so that works great. I'll bring funeral potatoes!

Ophelia: …Okay.

Calvin: You know, my boss is always looking for new business ventures and he's been interested in nectar. You mentioned your bar, so you've got an established name in the mixology biz.

Xander: I don't know, man, I'm just one guy.

Calvin: So was my boss and now he's a CEO!

I don't know how two toddlers managed to make something this intricate. Gemma's built different.

Gemma: We did it!

Anna coos as they hug.

Anna: Look at those two. Jaden's first girlfriend!

Ophelia: Uh, let's wait until they're not in diapers anymore before we start all that.

Anna: I must say, I'm so relieved Jaden has finally taken interest in a girl that isn't a princess. I was starting to worry he'd grow up to BE a princess, if you know what I mean!

Ophelia can't even fake a smile anymore. If Anna notices the awkward silence, she doesn't show it.

Before Ophelia can pop off on Anna for her bigoted comment, Gemma runs up to her.

Gemma: Mommy, did you see our turtle?

Ophelia: I did! Good thing it wasn't a shark, Aunt Marcie would have freaked out.

The things she and Xander do for these kids…