#and they take comfort in each other and bond over their shared love of engineering

[the-terrible-theys]

(trans!)zach and aviva were bunkmates at science camp. i know because i was there

[mrsfancyferrari]

You Know Me Best

Summary: Charles has a bad day and you as his best friend always knows what he wants, but do you really?

Song: Friends by Chase Atlantic

Author’s note: This is similar to Just One Kiss but the ending is the different and spicy version. This is my first time writing an erotic scene so please just give constructive criticism. I just want to keep celebrating Charles' win T_T

Word count: 3.6k

Charles Leclerc experienced a challenging day on the track, and as his best friend, you noticed his need for comfort and reassurance. Charles has always been known for being incredibly intuitive, and you knew that he wanted to unwind and seek solace in his favorite activities.

Whenever Charles feels overwhelmed or stressed, he tends to crave comfort food. You know that he can always count on you to bring him his favorite treats, whether it's a bowl of warm homemade soup or a delicious sandwich.

You knew that providing him with one of his favorite foods would provide him with a sense of comfort and stability.

Throughout the day, you noticed a newfound attentiveness among the team members and fans alike. They knew that Charles was having a bad day, and they couldn't help but notice the changes in his behavior.

Whether it was his distracted demeanor or the way he constantly sought out your comfort, everyone realized that something was amiss.

However, what no one realized was that you were the one who understood Charles better than anyone else.

You knew exactly what he needed, and you were determined to bring him the comfort and reassurance he craved.

Throughout the years, you made sure that Charles had his favorite meals, whether it was sneaking him a few bites of dessert during team meetings or surprising him with a late-night snack.

You knew that these small gestures would make a difference, helping him regain his footing and regain his confidence.

"Are you sure you're not married or something?" Daniel joked to you as he watched you give Charles some snacks.

"No, just really good friends," you replied with a laugh. "But sometimes it feels like we're practically married with how well I know him."

Daniel chuckled and said, "Well, if you ever decide to tie the knot, I hope you'll remember to invite me to the wedding. I wouldn't want to miss out on witnessing such a perfect match!"

"Of course, Daniel! You'll be at the top of the guest list," you replied, grateful for the lighthearted moment amidst the tension.

What you didn't know was that Charles was listening to your conversation. As he overheard Daniel's comment about you two being a perfect match, a small smile formed on his face, and he couldn't help but wonder if there was more to your friendship than he had realized.

Your friendship with Charles runs deep, rooted in years of shared experiences and unwavering support. From late-night conversations to celebrating each other's successes, you have been there for each other through thick and thin.

Charles knows that your understanding of him goes beyond mere comfort food, and he cherishes the bond you share.

But as the smile lingered on his face, Charles couldn't help but wonder if there was a chance for something more than just friendship between the two of you.

The thought had crossed his mind before, but now, listening to your conversation with Daniel, it seemed like the universe was teasing him with the possibility of a deeper connection. . . .

The thought of a deeper connection with Charles had always lingered in your heart, but fear had held you back from taking any action. You were in love with him, and had been for as long as you could remember, but the risk of losing the friendship you cherished so much had always been too great.

As you watched Charles zoom around the Monaco track in his racing car, gripping onto your seat in the paddock, a surge of emotions washed over you. The adrenaline, the excitement, and the undeniable sense of pride in seeing him pursue his passion ignited a fire within you.

The roar of the engine filled the air as Charles sped past, his car a blur of color. A mix of excitement and anxiety washed over you, causing your heart to race in sync with the car.

As you held your breath, you couldn't help but notice the fierce competition from Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, who were hot on Charles' heels, ready to seize any opportunity to overtake him.

The race was far from over, and the tension only grew as the laps ticked by, making you wonder if Charles would be able to maintain his lead until the end.

The race intensified with each passing lap, as Charles skillfully navigated the twists and turns of the Monaco track. He expertly maneuvered his car, pushing it to its limits, while Max Verstappen and Lando Norris continued to apply relentless pressure. The crowd erupted with excitement, their cheers echoing through the air, as the three drivers engaged in a thrilling battle for the top spot.

Every move, every split-second decision, held the potential to determine the outcome of the race. The tension was palpable as the cars zoomed past, their engines roaring and tires screeching, creating a symphony of speed.

With each passing lap, the stakes grew higher, fueling the adrenaline coursing through your veins. As the race entered its final stages, every corner became a make-or-break moment, and you held your breath, praying for Charles to maintain his lead until the checkered flag.

As soon as he crossed the finish line, everyone jumped up from their seats, including you. The air was filled with a mix of cheers, applause, and jubilation as Charles secured the victory he had fought so hard for.

Emotions overwhelmed you, and you couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride and joy for him.

You rushed to the podium, eager to congratulate Charles on his well-deserved win. Your heart swelled with pride as you embraced him, knowing that your unwavering support had played a small part in his momentous victory.

Charles stepped out of his racing car, his face beaming with a mixture of exhaustion and triumph. The crowd erupted into a thunderous applause, recognizing his incredible skill and determination in securing the hard-fought victory.

When he finally found you, Charles quickly hugged you tightly, his grip filled with gratitude and genuine appreciation.

The bond between you and Charles had grown stronger through countless races, and this victory was a testament to the unwavering support and belief you had in each other.

As his head was tucked into your neck, you gently stroked his hair in response, feeling the weight of his exhaustion and the elation of his triumph. In that moment, you knew that all the sacrifices, the late nights, and the unwavering support were worth it, as you celebrated this unforgettable victory together.

"You did it," you whispered, your voice filled with pride and admiration. "All your hard work and determination paid off. I couldn't be happier for you."

Charles smiled against your neck and whispered back, "Thank you for always believing in me. I couldn't have done it without you."

Charles then let go of you and looked into your eyes before saying, "Can you meet me in my driver's room after? I have something important to discuss with you."

"Sure," you nodded as he was taken away by a staff member. As you watched Charles disappear into the crowd, your mind raced with anticipation, wondering what he could possibly have to discuss with you.

As you watched Charles make his way to the podium, you couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and admiration for his remarkable achievement. The sight of him standing tall, his face glowing with a mixture of exhaustion and triumph, filled you with immense pride.

It was a moment that would forever be etched in your memory, a testament to the years of hard work and determination that had brought him to this point.

"He likes you, you know,"

Startled by Arthur Leclerc's sudden appearance, you turned to face him with a surprised expression. "What do you mean?" you asked, curious about his comment.

Arthur smirked mischievously and replied, "Oh, come on. It's obvious. Charles talks about you all the time. I think he's finally ready to take your relationship to the next level."

You laughed nervously, shaking your head. "Oh, Arthur, you've got it all wrong. Charles and I are just friends."

Arthur's eyebrows raised at your comment. "Maman says otherwise, she's always talking about you," he said with a smirk.

You felt a mix of surprise and curiosity, wondering what Charles' mother could possibly be saying about you.

"Just know that the family will welcome you in with open arms if you two get together," Arthur added, his mischievous smirk widening. As he walked away, leaving you with a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, you couldn't help but wonder if there was something more between you and Charles than just friendship.

As Charles stood on the podium, he couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude and honor as the Prince of Monaco handed him the golden trophy. The gleaming trophy symbolized not only his extraordinary victory, but also the recognition and respect he had earned from the racing community and the world at large.

In that moment, as the national anthem played and Charles made a point to lock eyes with you, it felt like a silent affirmation of his feelings. The intensity of his gaze left you with no doubt that there was something more than friendship between you two, and you couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement and anticipation for what the future might hold.

In that moment, you couldn't deny the warmth that spread through your chest, matching the pride evident in his eyes. As the applause filled the air, you realized that your own feelings for Charles had grown deeper than you had allowed yourself to admit.

The future suddenly seemed full of possibilities, and you couldn't wait to explore them together. . . .

As the celebrations continued, you found yourself caught up in the whirlwind of joy and excitement surrounding Charles and Ferrari's victory. The atmosphere was electric, filled with cheers, laughter, and the clinking of champagne glasses.

In that moment, you couldn't help but feel a surge of happiness for Charles and a deep sense of pride for being a part of his journey.

A staff member approached you with a message, informing you that Charles was looking for you amidst the celebrations.

As your heart raced with anticipation, you couldn't help but wonder what he wanted to say and how this momentous victory would further solidify the bond between you.

"Charles wants to see you," they said, their voice filled with urgency. Intrigued and slightly nervous, you followed the staff member through the crowd and made your way to Charles' private suite.

As you knocked on the door, your heart raced with anticipation, wondering what Charles wanted to discuss with you in this intimate setting.

As you wait for Charles to open the door, a mix of excitement and nervousness floods your senses. Your heart pounds in your chest, and your mind races with possibilities of what he might say.

In this moment, every second feels like an eternity, and you can't help but wonder how this conversation will shape the future of your relationship.

You heard the sound of footsteps growing louder and closer to the door, causing your anticipation to heighten. Each step seemed to echo in your ears, building up the tension and making you even more eager to see Charles and hear what he had to say.

As you heard the footsteps come closer to the door, your anticipation grew. The sound of Charles' voice calling your name sent a thrill through your entire body, and you couldn't wait to see the expression on his face as he opened the door.

"Yes, it's me Charles," you responded, a smile spreading across your face.

The door swung open, revealing Charles with a mixture of excitement and nervousness mirrored in his eyes.

When you met Charles' gaze, there was something in his eyes that took your breath away: a blend of lust and desire that took you by surprise.

His eyes scanned your whole body slowly, taking in every detail with an intensity that made your heart skip a beat. It was as if he was seeing you for the first time, his gaze filled with a newfound appreciation and longing.

As his eyes scanned your whole body slowly, you felt a shiver run down your spine. It was as if he was undressing you with his gaze, his desire palpable in the air. You couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation, wondering what he had in mind for the two of you.

It was as if he was taking in every detail, every curve, every nuance, and savoring the moment.

"Charles?"

For a brief moment, Charles blinked and locked eyes with you, seemingly forgetting the intimate setting you were in. The intensity of his gaze broke the tension, and you could sense a deep connection forming between you.

It was as if the world around you faded away, leaving only the two of you in that moment.

"Come in," he said, widening the door for you, his voice filled with a mixture of anticipation and vulnerability. As you stepped inside, the outside world seemed to disappear, leaving only the possibility of what this conversation could bring.

"What is it that you wanted to talk about, Charles?" you asked, your voice filled with curiosity and a hint of nervousness.

Charles took a deep breath and looked into your eyes, his voice steady yet filled with a hint of vulnerability. "I wanted to talk about us," he whispered, his words hanging in the air

"There's something I've been meaning to tell you, something I've been holding back for far too long.

You nodded, encouraging him to say it, your heart pounding with anticipation. The words hung in the air, and you could feel the weight of his confession building.

Charles took a deep breath and looked into your eyes, his voice filled with sincerity. "I wanted to talk about us," he began, his words hanging in the air. "I've realized that I can't ignore my feelings for you any longer. I've fallen in love with you."

Your eyes widened at his statement, unable to believe what you were hearing. The room fell silent as you processed his words, your heart racing with a mix of excitement and uncertainty.

"Oh no, I knew it wasn't going to work," Charles muttered into his hands, taking your silence as an assumption that you rejected him. But little did he know, your silence was not a sign of rejection, but rather a moment of shock and disbelief.

You were quick to realize that Charles misunderstood your silence, so you walked over to him and gently took his hands off his face, meeting his eyes with a reassuring gaze.

As his scared eyes met your excited eyes, a moment of vulnerability passed between you. You could see the fear of rejection lingering in his gaze, while your eyes reflected a mixture of surprise and joy. In that instant, you knew that this confession meant as much to him as it did to you, and you couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth and affection for him.

"I love you too, Charles," you whispered as you cupped his cheeks gently. The weight of his confession lifted off both of you, replaced by an overwhelming sense of happiness and relief.

In that moment, Charles couldn't contain his joy and excitement. He quickly pulled you into a tight embrace, wrapping his hands around your waist, as if afraid that you might slip away.

The warmth of his embrace reassured you that his love was genuine, and you couldn't help but melt into his arms, feeling a sense of safety and belonging that you had longed for.

"Can I?" he muttered, pulling back from the hug enough to stare at your lips. The intense desire in his eyes matched the longing in his voice, as if he was seeking permission to seal his confession with a passionate kiss.

Without hesitation, you leaned in, closing the distance between your lips. The moment your mouths met, a surge of electricity coursed through your bodies, igniting a fire that had been simmering between you. The kiss was passionate and filled with all the pent-up emotions that had been building since the moment you met.

As your lips met, a wave of butterflies fluttered in your stomach, a tingling sensation spread through your chest, and your knees felt weak with anticipation.

The intensity of the kiss confirmed that the connection between you and Charles was not only emotional, but also physical, leaving you both breathless and craving for more. . . .

Their bodies moved as one, their hands exploring every inch of each other's skin. Their breaths intertwined in a symphony of desire as they surrendered to the heat of their passion.

Soft moans escaped their lips, mingling with whispered words of love and longing. In the midst of their ecstasy, their eyes locked, conveying a depth of connection that words could never capture.

"I've waited so long for this," Charles whispered, his voice filled with a mix of awe and adoration.

"Me too," you responded, your voice laced with pure bliss.

In that intimate moment, every touch felt like the caress of silk against skin. Your fingertips danced across each other's bare flesh, creating a symphony of pleasure that sent shivers down your spine.

Charles carried you onto the sofa, laying you down as he kneeled over you, his eyes filled with a hunger that matched your own.

You gasp as Charles's lips make contact with your neck, his touch sending electric currents through your body.

The sensation of his warm breath against your skin intensifies the desire pooling within you, as you arch your neck, granting him further access to explore the depths of your pleasure.

Charles' hands moved with purpose, skillfully undoing the buttons of your blouse one by one. As each article of clothing fell away, he whispered seductive words of praise and desire in your ear, igniting a deeper sense of arousal within you.

You surrendered to his words, intoxicated by the way he took control and unleashed a wave of passion that consumed you both.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice dripping with desire. "I want to explore every inch of you, to taste every part of your pleasure."

His words sent shivers down your spine, fueling your desire and leaving you yearning for more of his commanding touch.

You respond with a low, sultry moan, your body arching further into his touch, silently begging for more. The sound of your moans only adds to Charles's desire, fueling his determination to fulfill your every craving and ignite a passion that would consume you both. "I want you, Y/N," he said, his voice low and husky. "I want you so badly."

The intensity of your desire could be seen in your eyes when you looked up at him.

"I want you too, Charles," you said, biting your lower lip.

"You're so beautiful," he said, his voice filled with awe. "I can't believe you're mine."

You smiled up at him, your eyes filled with love.

"I'm all yours, Charles," you said, reaching up to pull him down on top of you.

Charles didn't waste any time. He kissed you deeply, your tongues dancing together in a passionate embrace. He ran his hands over your body, feeling every curve and contour.

"Fuck, Y/N, you feel amazing," he said, his breath hot against your ear.

You moaned, your body writhing beneath him.

"Charles, please," you begged, your voice barely above a whisper. "I need you inside me."

Charles didn't need any more encouragement. He positioned himself at your entrance, his dick throbbing with need.

"Are you ready for me, Y/N?" he asked, his voice low and seductive.

You nodded, your eyes wide with desire.

"Yes, Charles, I'm ready," you said, your voice trembling with anticipation.

Charles pushed inside you, feeling your tight warmth surround him. He groaned with pleasure, his hips moving in a slow, steady rhythm.

"Fuck, Y/N, you feel so good," he said, his voice filled with wonder.

You moaned, your fingers digging into his back, as Charles continued to move inside you, each thrust sending waves of pleasure coursing through your body.

"Charles, don't stop," you begged, your hips meeting his with every thrust.

Charles couldn't stop if he wanted to. He was lost in the pleasure of being inside you, of feeling your body respond to his touch.

"Come for me, Y/N," he said, his voice husky with desire. "I want to feel you come apart in my arms." "I'm so close, Charles," you gasped, your voice filled with desperation. "Please, don't stop."

Charles's movements became faster and more intense, his breathing ragged. "I won't stop, Y/N," he growled, his voice filled with determination. "I want you to come for me, to lose yourself in pleasure."

The room filled with the sounds of your moans and the rhythmic slapping of your bodies coming together. As the intensity built, you felt yourself teetering on the edge, ready to fall into ecstasy.

And then, with one final thrust, you shattered, your body convulsing with pleasure as waves of orgasm washed over you.

Charles kissed your forehead gently. "I promise, Y/N. I'll never let you go. You're my everything."

And in that moment, as you melted into each other's arms, you knew that this was a love that would withstand any obstacle. . . .

[inyujidraws]

1st | 2nd | 4th | 5th | 6th

More RadioMoon, yay. Impromptu marriage arc that happened after 4-5 years since Creon crash-landed in this timeline. They adopted.

Thanks everyone who came to my streams, watch me draw and talk cringe.

The rando in the first batch, he was a new comedian trying to break into the industry. While on the same way to work, Barry (placeholder name) introduced himself and started sharing some puns and jokes. Alastor didn’t find Barry impressive, and he refused to break his facade. Fun fact, Alastor would’ve murdered Barry later after that encounter, if not for Creon.

Barry got to live, because Alastor’s fecked-up face made Creon laugh so hard, it caused a chain reaction of laughter within the vicinity. So Barry became another reluctant friend in Alastor’s tiny circle. Occasionally Barry was a 3rd guest on Alastor’s radio program. Sadly the Great Depression wasn’t kind to Barry.

It took Alastor and Creon some time to figure out that their feelings for each other. They were quite comfortable staying a couple without the whole marriage ordeal. That changed when Creon stumbled on their soon-to-be son, Daniel. Creon was initially going to find another family who could take the kid in, but she grew attached. Alastor also warmed up to Daniel, especially when they bonded over their trauma of having garbage fathers.

I hadn’t thought about Alastor’s mother. Originally she would’ve passed away before Creon crashed. But where’s the fun in that? I wanted to add more chaos. Creon had returned from her international hobo trek, and accidentally bumped into Al’s mother Léonore. While staying as a paying tenant at her home, Creon saved Léonore from her canon death.

So Al’s mom got to be a grandmother later on. Didn’t really think about how she’d react to finding out Creon’s secret. I think Léonore would treasure Alastor’s happiness of finding love, even if the future daughter-in-law is a bio-engineered vampire.

Daniel grew to have an eccentric, but happy childhood after being adopted. Creon elected to stay home and raise and homeschool Daniel, instead of having Alastor split his time.

During the Great Depression, the “Marriage Bar” allowed employers to fire newly-wed women, or not hire married women. Creon still kept some side hustles, like doing tailoring. Also education wasn’t a huge priority for kids helping to bring money to the table. Some schools closed down, or were horribly underfunded.

[diazheartsbuckley]

Fuck It Friday

Tagged by my lovelies @daffi-990 and @jesuisici33 💗

Yet another continuation of my little mini series: When Hearts Collide (Can I Take Your Hand?)

Will be tagged by the series name from now on ✨

Find the prev eps here and here

Eddie’s mouth seemed to dry up on the spot and he blinked a few times, trying to grasp the question that Buck had just asked him.

The fact that he had asked for permission to kiss him instead of just doing it, sent shivers down Eddie’s spine and it wasn’t until Buck spoke again that he realized that he hadn’t answered yet.

“Eddie?” Buck chuckled softly, playing with Eddie’s fingertips.

“I’m sorry, what?” Eddie said as his eyes never left Buck’s plump lips.

Pink, plump lips that had been on his mind before. Maybe not always as innocently as this time, he couldn’t deny that.

Buck slowly retracted a hand from Eddie’s and lifted his head up, a finger placed beneath his chin, which allowed Eddie to somewhat focus again.

“I asked if it would be alright if I kissed you”

Buck’s voice sounded like a little bit impatient yet also playful, Eddie’s reaction amusing him. Yet it filled him with immense joy when he watched Eddie’s face light up in a warm, heartfelt smile.

“I always convinced myself that I would be the one who would make the first move”

The words out of Eddie’s mouth were barely a whisper, like only he and Buck existed in this moment.

“Is that so?”

Buck’s hand wandered from Eddie’s chin to the side of his face, cupping his strong jaw.

“Yes” Eddie mumbled, feeling himself grow weak at Buck’s touch.

Over the years, Buck had always made an effort to touch Eddie in any way that he could.

A firm hand on his shoulder, fingertips brushing across his lower back, thighs pressed together in the fire engine whenever they were going out on a call, a careful grab on his hips after ending a hug.

Not to mention the eye contact that always lingered. Eddie had caught Buck looking at him so many times with immense affection radiating through his entire being.

This touch was gentler than all the other times and the soft look on Buck’s face definitely didn’t make it easier for Eddie’s knees to stay steady.

“Well I hate to tell you this but you’re wrong”

Buck grinned before he leaned in, allowing his lips to lock with Eddie’s in a long expected kiss.

It took Eddie about half a second to return the kiss, his arms subconsciously wrapping around the back of Buck’s neck, his heart beating hard and fast against his ribs.

Buck’s lips were like an actual piece of heaven; warm, alluring, even slightly wet and they tasted sweet, a hint of his vanilla flavored chapstick lingering.

Eddie had always teased him about that stupid chapstick yet now, it was the perfect one for him.

He felt Buck’s hands on his hips, his grip tightening as the kiss went on, his body almost trembling as he got to touch and taste him like this.

“God, I’m so in love with you, Evan” Eddie softly breathed out against Buck’s lips, not wanting the moment to come to an end.

He didn’t even realize the words that came out of his mouth until he saw Buck’s face beaming in a wide and elated expression.

The two of them were almost completely entangled, not minding the world around them despite being the middle of a parking lot. It didn’t matter who saw them, all that mattered was this.

This kiss, the soft embrace and the love that was clearly between them, a love than was more than just friendly. A love that had been forged by leaning on each other for emotional support, safety and unconditional love through all of the traumatic experiences that they had shared. It felt unbreakable because they had built a bond up like this, worked through all of their struggles, both professionally and personally.

As he slowly unwrapped himself from Buck, Eddie felt a sense of peace and comfort in knowing that he hadn’t just been imagining things.

“How-… how long?” Buck was now the one to feel shy and Eddie let his hands find Buck’s again, his lips almost tingling from their kiss.

“Almost from the beginning of it all. So uh-… five years” Eddie explained and without hesitation, placed another warm kiss on Buck’s lips, knowing that he was allowed to do that now.

Tagging!! @eddiediaztho @bucksbirthmark @disasterbuckdiaz @wildlife4life @forthewolves @thewolvesof1998 @theotherbuckley @watchyourbuck @wikiangela @excuseme-greentea @giddyupbuck @callaplums 💗🦋

[friendlyengie]

some short fuse and swordvan takes?

Im not immune to two giggly bitches in love and short fuse is one of the few tf2 ships i can confidently give that characterization to. I just think they both make each other a little louder, let each other loosen up a little more. Bonding over a mutual respect for science and their work ethics, but also being more loose with their work around each other. Because, hey, if theyre safe to not 100% secure their shit around anyone, its gonna be this guy, because he knows how important this shit is. Late nights spent bouncing ideas off of each other, arguing about uses and misuses of theories, sharing folktales of varying tones, these guys will not shut up.

Balancing each other out… Demo values his sleep, Engineer does Not, so having demo around means Engineer occasionally learns to fall asleep before 4 am if for no other reason than because Demo’s sprawled out somewhere in his workshop and wont stop complaining about the noise. Engineer’s got a bit more of a head on his shoulders and is good at getting Demo to chill out if he’s about to lose his mind over a plan thats not working out as intended. Good at talking him through alternative routes.

They balance each other out. They enable the hell out of each other. Both at once, it’s powerful. They’re powerful. Also their flirting game? Obnoxious. Horrendous. Scottish sap vs southern sweet-talker and anyone forced to sit by and listen to them is losing.

SWORDVAN i think i have less to say about. I think I enjoy what other people make of them more than i have any of my own thoughts. I love the idea of them being a “talks a lot” “loves to listen” type dynamic, with the added benefit of Demo being just as comfortable talking for hours about nothing as he is sitting in silence with Sniper. I just think demo’s a malleable guy, and sniper can appreciate that. He can indulge in a talkative partner that he cares for, but it feels good to have someone who can also indulge him in his quiet time.

Any swordvan thoughts i have could be interpreted in the direction of romantic or platonic i just think theyre a fun dynamic. Sillay with it and all that.

[art-of-manliness]

10 Ways to Be a Better Husband Today

To countenance the statistics on divorce is to recognize that happy, lasting marriages do not happen by default. In strong marriages, each spouse, rather than sinking into indifference and complacency, makes an effort to do things that leave their partner enamored and appreciative. To find out what kinds of things tend to have this effect when coming from the man in the marriage, I talked to Kate and some other married women about what husbands do on a day-to-day basis that make them swoon. Below, I’ll share what I learned from them and from the many relationship experts I’ve interviewed on the AoM podcast. If you’ve already got a good relationship with your wife, these suggestions can help strengthen that bond and further boost its happiness. If your marriage has been struggling, then engaging in these behaviors might help change the course of its trajectory. There can sometimes be a tendency in these situations for someone to think, “Why should I make an effort if she isn’t?” But often all it takes to get a relationship back on track is for one person to take the initiative in acting in a different way. Once one person starts sowing positive behavioral seeds, the other person becomes less defensive and instinctively starts acting in kind. A stalemate is broken and a virtuous cycle begins that turns the relationship around. If your wife doesn’t reciprocate by leveling up her own relational game, then, yes, that probably means your marriage needs a more serious/professional intervention. But why not try the simple behaviors below first? 10 Ways to Be Better Husband Today 1. Be an interesting conversationalist. Marriage is essentially one long conversation, and when the quality of the conversation between spouses sags, so does the quality of the relationship. When you come home from work and your wife asks how your day was, don’t just say, “Fine,” and leave it at that. Even if not much happened, dig up a detail or two to share. Intentionally collect conversational fodder during the day to share when you and your spouse catch up. Remember some interesting tidbit of office gossip you heard around the watercooler at work. Read interesting articles that catch your eye and file away some details you can talk about later. Be mulling over ideas you’ve heard so that if your wife asks, “What have you been thinking about lately?” you’ll have something to say. While one of the privileges of a close, long-standing relationship is the ability to comfortably sit in silence, in the healthiest relationships, you enjoy conversing so much that you rarely want to. 2. Leave love notes. Through years of watching marriages fall apart, divorce lawyer James Sexton has learned a thing or two about how to reverse engineer things and keep a relationship together. As he shared on the AoM podcast (his episode is such a good one; be sure to listen to it), his strongest suggestion for avoiding ever having to see him in his office is to simply “leave your wife a note every morning for a couple of weeks”: just leave her a note, just a little, ‘Hey, Babe, thanks for last night on the couch watching TV. It was so nice, like the smell of you just makes me so happy. I fell asleep with it on me.’ Or ‘you looked so pretty when I woke up this morning and I’m so glad to have such a wonderful woman in my life. I love you.’ And that takes you 30 seconds, and I’m telling you that little tiny investment of time and effort will pay dividends like you wouldn’t believe. If you want to really challenge yourself, leave your wife a love note every week for a year, like this guy did. 3. Be a man with a plan. One woman I spoke to said she really appreciates it when her husband comes up with a plan for a date night or family outing and then executes it without her having to worry about anything. “Plans really turn me on!” she declared. Don’t wait around for your wife to plan your next date or family microadventure. Come up with an idea for a good time and then carry it out. 4. Perform small acts of… http://dlvr.it/TBGnF6

[litrpgburrito]

**Aria's Prelude: The Ordinary World**

[A LitRPG based on Final Fantasy IX game mechanics]

Aria's life before the awakening was a tapestry of routine and small joys. She lived in a cozy apartment in Capitol Hill, surrounded by the hum of the city and the verdant calm of nearby parks. By day, she was a software engineer, her fingers dancing over the keyboard as she crafted lines of code that made the digital world a little more navigable for her clients.

Her evenings were spent in the company of books and video games, the latter being her true passion. She loved the worlds they conjured, the stories they told, and the characters that felt like old friends. Final Fantasy IX was among her favorites, with its blend of magic, adventure, and the thrill of leveling up.

Aria's social life was a quiet affair, often involving board game nights with her small circle of friends or visits to the local coffee shop where Eli worked. They would discuss the latest tech trends or debate the merits of various game strategies, their conversations always lively and filled with laughter.

Mia was a newer addition to her life, having met during a local art walk where Aria was captivated by the vividness of her murals. They bonded over their shared love for fantasy and the escapism it provided from the drudgery of the everyday.

Lucas, on the other hand, was an old college friend, a kindred spirit whose zest for life was infectious. They would often challenge each other to races across the city, though Aria could never match his acrobatic prowess.

Life was comfortable, if unremarkable, until the day everything changed. It was a morning like any other, with Aria sipping her coffee and scrolling through her phone when the first notification popped up on her new HUD:

```markdown

**System Alert**

- New Quest: Discover the Source of Your Power.

- Time Limit: Unknown.

- Reward: Unknown.

```

Confusion gave way to curiosity as Aria tapped on the message, only to find her stats page. It was a surreal moment, one that defied logic and yet felt strangely right. As she explored the various menus and options, she realized that her life had become the game she so loved.

The world around her hadn't changed; people went about their business, oblivious to the game unfolding in Aria's vision. But she knew something extraordinary had begun, a journey that would take her beyond the screen and into the heart of a mystery that spanned both the digital and the physical realms.

As Aria stepped out into the rain-soaked streets, her HUD guiding her towards her first challenge, she felt a surge of excitement. This was her story now, and she was the protagonist, ready to level up and discover the true extent of her newfound powers.

[hollowsart]

random thought: Beck not knowing about Otto at first for awhile, and he gets kinda jealous about Otto when he starts to learn about him. Like.. Acedia's kinda telling Beck about Otto, she's very happy to talk about Otto and the way she talks about him makes Beck feel a little inferior..

But that feeling is shared between Beck and Otto when Otto starts hearing about Beck from Acedia as well. She talks happily about them both.

I mean..

Otto is a very sweet and caring guy, renown for his work, was highly successful for a good 10 years or so. He has a really cool set of mechanical limbs that help him to perform a lot tasks. (perhaps Beck takes that into consideration when he has robot clones of himself made? ..except, he makes more than 2 to have more than 4 extra hands to help him). Otto also helps Acedia with so much and she talks about him in such a kind and loving way. (How could someone like Beck ever compare to someone like that?)

Beck makes Acedia laugh so easily, he's very entertaining and skilled in a variety of fields including science and engineering. very showy and bold with his actions (Otto is just a meek little man, hardly he's ever taken initiative or made bold choices.. surely Acedia would get tired him for taking so long to do anything.. yeah? (he definitely makes his own little attempts to impress Acedia and be a little more bold, taking her by surprise sometimes with what he may say or do.. although he does end up stumbling back on it out of embarrassment and regret, unless Acedia reacts positively... she usually does))

I mean, to one, the other seems so much cooler and better than them. (beck & otto: :( dang, their cake looks so much better than mine || Acedia: OH BOY! TWO CAKES! 🍽️ 💕 )

somehow it'll work out. Beck and Otto get along with each other.. well, they learn to get along. have their shared moments of bonding, becoming friendlier and more understanding. getting comfortable. they def bond over the fact they both like Acedia and bond over their shared interests, like science and engineering. they'd certainly learn a few things from one another, too, what with their differing fields of interest and research. (otto's fascination with marine life, and beck's fascination with films/theater)

[koolkat9]

👀

(Also, wanted to take the chance to say that I love ur GerEng AUs and fics. When I first got into Hetalia (a bit over 2 years ago) and started to know England and Germany, my brain totally went “oh yeah they make one great ship” only to be disappointed at how little is out there of these two. Like how come ppl not see how great they are together - there’s just so much goddamn potential! And now over 14 years later since the anime, it seems the fandom as a whole still didn’t catch up on this. Alas, I found u and I’m infinitely glad for tht. Thanks for being here and not making me feel like the only one cursed with liking a rare ship.)

Sorry this took forever. These things took way longer than I thought.

Oh my gosh! This is so sweet thank you🥰.

There really isn't a lot of content for them and that's a shame... Though I think it's gained a bit more popularity thanks to the adlib the creator of Dreamtalia did in her play through of it which created a whole GerEng subplot (that's how I got into the ship) and then creators like Teethhoarder (who runs the blog asking-gereng and has made many great fanart and fics of them) and myself who has made so many little fics and headcanons for them specifically. But still, it is underrated compared to other ships.

That's actually part of the reason I started making content for them. There was so little of it. And now I've been going 3 years strong writing fics.

And don't worry there is actually a handful of us who ship it. Teeth like I've mentioned and there is a whole GerEng discord server (ran by yours truly). But listen to me ramble. You want an au.

---

Here's probably one of my favourite aus. GerEng Roadtrip AU.

We've got character arcs, slow burn, finding yourself. It's so good, I love it. The GerEng server was great for sharing ideas and we built on it together.

Anyway, Ludwig is going to university for engineering, but after his first year and after doing very poorly on an exam, he's devastated because perfectionism, but also something else bubbling underneath that he's yet to realize/acknowledge.

With the school year ending, Ludwig decides to go stay with his brother for the summer. After all, despite owning it for a couple years now, Ludwig never got to visit the record shop his brother opened and Ludwig needs to get away for a little bit so why not spend the summer in a small quaint town near a river?

Arthur is on of Gil's employees. He and Ludwig don't exactly get off on the right foot. Arthur's grouchy, prickly, a smoker. But Arthur catches Ludwig sifting through some rock albums and the two start to bond over their shared music taste, only to find out they actually have a lot in common and enjoy spending time together.

A little over a month before Ludwig is set to return to school, Arthur proposes they go on a road trip together. One last hurrah before they go their separate ways. Ludwig, feeling more and more anxious as the date of school approaches, agrees for the distraction.

They travel all over, to all kinds of little towns, seeing all kinds of sights. And in the process, learn that they're both kind of broken and lost but find comfort in each other.

Like one time they stay at a campground and have a campfire. Arthur brought his guitar so he strums a bit as they sit. Ludwig asks if Arthur can sing. And Arthur makes a weird face, but gives in and they end up singing together.

One time they stay at a hotel but because it's summer and there is a big event going on, almost all the hotels are booked up, so they have to stay in a room where there is only one bedTM.

They stop in the middle of no where to watch the sunset. And they may or may not share their first kiss in this moment.

They go to some big mall and they end up having to help a lost kid together. Ludwig falls harder seeing how Arthur is with kids.

But it's not all fun and games. Over the course of their trip Ludwig learns Arthur used to be in a rock band. They were just about to hit it big, in talks with fairly big record company only for Arthur to get a case of vocal nodes that changed his voice forever. It changed his sound, his range, and though he still sounds decent he hates how he sounds now. And even if he was find with the sound of his voice, he didn't have the vocal fortitude to be a professional singer. Just when his dream was about to come true it was all snatched away.

Gilbert, a fan of Arthur's band who had become a dear friend offered Arthur a job at the record store to try to help him back on his feet.

Singing with Ludwig during their travels was the first time Arthur sang after the damage. Ludwig thinks he sounds beautiful.

Arthur mentions in passing once that he used to be a singer in a band. So when Ludwig hears Arthur sing, he asks why he doesn't anymore. This leads to an argument as some of Arthur's old wounds open up, making him more defensive and Ludwig doesn't know the full story so he doesn't get why Arthur is suddenly angry.

But eventually Arthur opens up, reminiscing about going on little tours with his band to nearby towns. Ludwig of course listens intently to all the stories Arthur starts to share about his band. Arthur ends up getting a little emotional by the end and Ludwig just hugs him. They stay like that longer than they probably should but Arthur can't deny it makes him feel warm and fuzzy.

Ludwig has his own struggles. He is dealing with his first major failure and with a bad case of anxiety and perfectionism it isn't easy. But there is even more to it. Ludwig has long had the doubt that engineering and university in general is the right path. He knows he's smart enough to be there (even though his anxiety sometimes tries to tell him differently), but his just isn't passionate about what he's studying and if he was to change paths he doesn't know to what. Some of his shitty feelings from failing the exam are connected to this doubt though he's not fully aware of it yet.

Anyway. The car breaks down some time during their trip and Ludwig fixes it. Arthur notices how focused and in the zone Ludwig is working on the car. It reminds Arthur of how he would get playing music. He knows Ludwig is going to university and is struggling a bit, but there is much of story he's still missing. He doesn't even know what Ludwig is studying. So he finally asks about it. Since at this point Arthur has opened up to Ludwig, Ludwig figures it's only fair to open up to Arthur and perhaps finally confiding in someone will might make him feel better.

Ludwig finally admits he's not happy in his program, but he doesn't know what else to do and he doesn't want to disappoint anyone who had high expectations of them (everyone around him just assumed he'd go to university because he was so academically gifted).

"Fuck them all," Arthur replies, "Do what you want first. That's what I always did."

"It's not that easy for me," Ludwig fires back, "Plus...I don't even know what I want."

"I wonder why..."

"What?"

"Nothing. Look Ludwig. I couldn't pursue my dream job, now look at me. Wasting away in that old record shop. I don't want that with you. You have a chance to do something you love, take it. Pursue it until you can't."

"Arthur I-I don't..."

"If you won't do it for yourself, do it for me. If you need an idea, I think you'd make a really good mechanic

Ludwig thinks about it. Reflects a bit and takes Arthur's words to heart and decides perhaps a mechanic apprenticeship would be his best path. He always liked tinkering with cars and machinery and being hands on with it. Wouldn't hurt to at least look into the idea.

Ludwig, thankful for Arthur helping him onto the right path, wants to help Arthur find a new passion or a way he can embrace music in a different way. Ludwig recalls how Arthur taught him a few cords on guitar and how good of a teacher Arthur is. So maybe Arthur could give lessons or even go to school to be a music teacher. Arthur shoots him down, but Ludwig catches Arthur researching what it takes to be a music teacher.

Anyway. The road trip comes to an end and Ludwig has to make his choice. Return to university, to a program he dislikes, or take a chance and stay and get an apprenticeship in town. So just as Gilbert is about to take him back to the city Ludwig comes clean. How he doesn't like his program, that he wants to try an apprenticeship as a mechanic. Ludwig is terrified of Gilbert's reaction, that he'll be disappointed, but Arthur's words echo in his head, keeping him grounded.

Instead, Gilbert is happy for him. "You always did love working on cars," he notes, "Remember our old neighbour who let you tinker on an old, broken down car they had? If only we could have gotten a new engine, perhaps it could have been saved from being scrapped.

Ludwig is shocked, having almost forgotten that summer.

"I bet someone would love to hear that news," Gilbert says with a smirk.

Ludwig runs back to the record shop, but Arthur is missing from his post. Lud hears a faint noise coming from the back room and finds Arthur, next to the old record player, singing along to the song they sung together around the fire. He sits and listens, only revealing he's there when Arthur finishes and Ludwig applauds.

Ludwig tells him how he's going to stay in town and try to get an apprenticeship with a mechanic Gil knows. Arthur is elated, jumping to his feet and kissing Ludwig hard. Their first kiss since that one time on the road during the sunset that they had thought they'd never talk about again.

"But on one condition," Ludwig says, pulling away breathlessly, "You look into school for next year and become a music teacher."

"Ludwig..."

"If you can't do it for yourself, then do it for me," Ludwig smirks.

Arthur can't help but laugh and kiss him again. "Okay. For you then."

And in the end, Arthur does become a music teacher and Ludwig gets to take over the shop he did his mechanic apprenticeship at. They also date and eventually get married 🥰

[insane4fandoms]

What are your headcannons for the matpat egos in a relationship with Y/N / captain?

Of course, dear Anon!

Matpat Egos Towards Reader/Captain

꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂

Matpat

- He sees you.

- That’s all I’m going to say. He sees Captain, and goes straight through the eyes, pin pointing to where you are exactly while reading this. He sees what you’re doing.

- He knows exactly what you’re here for. He is aware that you are on this platform, reading this post.

- And all he’s going to say is that… is that he’s flattered. He should get used to people being big fans of him , but never his alter egos before. Makes him feel like he’s apart of the big league YouTubers. ( ˘ ³˘)♥︎

- Matt sees absolute chaos in Captain, with their impulsive behavior and does their own reckless things. It reminds him of Mirror Matt and Ash.

- He’s fond of them, finds them a great person to have long length, deep conversations with. Captain is a great listener, and doesn’t mind when people give monologues, backstories, or rants. They find it comforting.

Madpat

- He is amused at Captain, seeing them go from wormhole to another, getting more stressed and scared. The anguish fuels him.

- However, he is fascinated by how strong and dependent they can be. Captain picks him up and he immediately went feral. Not in a bad way, but in a “join me and we can dance under the bloody rain” way.

- It would take a while for Captain to gain trust from Madpat, maybe help him with cleaning up one of his crime scenes, and maybe… JUST MAYBE, he’ll be cool with Captain.

- However, Captain’s head engineer looks a little familiar… So keep them away from each other, don’t want more fire at the main controls.

- If he truly trusts them, he’ll give Captain his iconic flame throwing chainsaw. But even if he trusts them, he’ll try to stab them out of love. He does the same with Hermit, despite the protests of the other alter egos. They just don’t get it.

Detective

- He is fascinated about the Captain. A possible dimension jumping leader who has unthinkable strength and has also been through a lot of shit.

- He is a little nervous around them however, seeing how strong Captain is, it just reminds him of Strong Man… so he’s a few feet away from them.

- But that doesn’t mean he’s full on afraid. He admires Captain’s leadership and letting their intrusive thoughts take over. It reminds him of a few of his friends back at etn.

- The two will probably bond about how many times they “died”, and how they care about their team, their friends, and how they consider them as family. Truly a heartfelt moment if I do say so myself.

- When it comes down to whether or not he sees Captain as an ally or foe, Detective absolutely sees them as a friend. He might even share Blanche with Captain! That’s basically god giving you eternal life.

Hermit

- Hermit knew he recognized Captain! They’re his old friendo he met not long ago!

- Oh how he’s glad they’re okay! He was afraid that he’ll never see his friendo ever again, but now they’re here! It may be a mistake on the Captain’s fault, since now he doesn’t want to leave Captain’s side, but that’s a different story.

- Like Mad, Hermit sees familiarity in the head engineer, but that is also alright! More friendos to have, and the less lonely he gets.

- All he wants to do now is to feed everyone the meals he cooked, the meat, the pastries, a whole feast for a king! He still won’t tell where he gets the meat, but the less you know, the better… trust me.

- He’ll also give Captain random things as a sign of affection, such as coins, buttons, bones (separated by the meat of course, don’t want chaos), shiny glitter, ect. All in all, I would say he likes Captain.

Mack

- You know how Captain’s and Mack’s first interaction played out.

- But let’s put this in three categories; Crewmember, Head Engineer, and Dictator.

Crewmate

- He is just like Mark. He ADORES the Captain very much.

- He works hard and shows them what he did like those kids making macaroni art. When Captain says he did a great job, he’s happy for a whole week.

- He trusts Captain with his life, but is very observant when something happens with the ship and with Captain, so he does tend to get wary.

- Still, he’ll do his best to make Captain proud, and when he does, it proved his worth on the Invincible II.

Head Engineer

- He wanted their position, and is condescending when he tells them their flaws.

- When that failed, he still suggest it time to time, and was still smug about how much he knows more than the Captain.

- Captain simply rolls their eyes, but keeps him around, since besides Celci, he’s a somewhat reasonable guy. That’s when Mack realized they see so much potential in him, he’s in awe on how Captain gives him respect, unlike the others.

- He tones down the patronizing, but still tries to flex on how he could do things better, but Captain simply smiled and pats his head. Whenever they do that, he internally melts.

Dictator

- Oh how he loves Cappy~

- He keeps them around out of amusement

- He has a god damn dog bed next to his throne that is labeled “Lil’ Cappy” for crying out loud! Don’t know if that’s what he’s into, but we don’t kink shame here. (Within reason)

- It’s a complicated relationship, Captain just wants to rest and take a break from being leader, Mack at first wanted power and to get rid of them, but wanted them around because he grew to be obsessed with them.

- He pampers Captain, if they’re good. If not, their neck be in pain by Mack pulling them harshly by the leash. He only does it because he cares for Captain! It’s them who needs to understand that.

Warfpat

- As Matt, he sees you, and he loves you!

- He wasn’t aware that people acknowledged him for more than 5 minutes from his one and only appearance.

- But that doesn’t matter, all he cares about what’s going on in Captain’s mind. Do they truly know what is going on? Do they have any theories? Are they aware that they are merely a fictional character where the viewer sees through their eyes and are doomed to be victims of the viewer’s decisions, be framed as the villain and be plunged into an endless loop, where each ending is only for entertainment?

- Uhhh… ignore that last question. Not because Warf is holding be at scissor point-! But because of something else! Heh… anyways-

- His relationship with Captain is simply a interviewer and interviewee, at least that’s what Warf says. In reality, he loves the fact there are people who adores him. Sure, just a handful of fans, but he’ll take it!

- He could only interact with his fans through Captain, which grew into him seeing Captain as one of his only friends.

[bakubub]

In which Racer!Kuroo is your roommate and you finally learn more about him...

Warnings: Mentions of loss of loved one, disregard for own life, swearing, innuendos and implied nsfw (but sfw overall), fem!reader with she/her pronouns.

A/N: Idek what this is. Its literally a 4.6 k mixture of fluff, angst and comfort... I rewrote this like 4 times :,) being a perfectionist is so,,, tiring.

This takes part shortly after this, you can definitely read this without reading the 'part 1' if you will, since they don't depend on one another.

Art belongs to @aikk00 ,, and yes I am still in love with it :D

I stumble out of the lecture hall, my eyes so heavy I bump into about 3 other students and mumble my apologies until I fully wake up and snap out of my daze.

Walking down the stairs and making my way to the bus stop, I watch in horror as the bus I was supposed to be in drives off, going fast for once in its damn life as if mocking me.

Inhaling sharply through my nose, I manage to keep my composure and sit down at the bus stop, telling myself the next bus will be here in a bit.

It's fine. It's fine. I slept through the lecture, and I still have to catch up on 4 subjects and make dinner, but at least the house is clean and I'm caught up in that one subject I picked up for this exact reason.

It's fine. It's going to be just fi-

The rumble of a loud engine breaks my shitty but somewhat effective self-reassurance motto and I open my eyes to see a black and red sports car going 60 km/h in a 30 zone, effectively getting mine and everyone else's attention.

I watched in horror for the second time today as this time it stopped right in front of the bus stop. No, no, no, no.

No.

Please no.

He rolls down the passenger window with that ridiculous hair and a shit-eating grin, as he nods towards the seat, revving his engine.

I look away, pretending he's not looking directly at me and that I don't live with the guy, which I immediately regretted when he beeped the fucking horn.

What did I do to deserve this humiliation?

I hastily put my head down as he beeped it again, giving up and rushing towards his insufferable car, getting into the passenger seat and slumping in my seat to keep my head down low.

"What is wrong with you? What are you even doing here?" I hiss, my glaring up at him from my awkward, folded position.

He laughs, and when I hear the sound of a photo being taken in the split second I looked away to readjust my bag, I sit up straight, watching him continue speeding as he stuffs his phone into his pocket.

"Are. You. Trying. To. Kill. Me?!" I ask, my voice little less than a screech as I slap his arm with each word.

"Ow, ow, I just came to pick my roomie up! I sensed you needed a ride, and this is the thanks I get?" he asks, that smirk I have come to hate returning to grace his features.

I glare at him, but a small, sleep-deprived part of my brain is distracted by his appearance. A tight black tee adorning his built figure, his biceps are on display as he drives with one hand, the other resting on the gear shift. The air from his rolled down window is ruffling his hair this way and that, and I find myself wanting to run my hands through the raven strands, just as I had when I washed his hair that one time...

"Wait- how the fuck did you know I didn't have a ride?" I ask incredulously, my reaction time clearly delayed but here nonetheless.

I narrow my eyes as he hesitates before he answers, "I just knew, ok? It's not like it’s astrodynamics, not that I can't figure that out too."

"Kuroo, what the hell is astrodynamics? Are you like, spying on me or something?" I ask, pretending to look out the window so as to not get distracted by his appearance once more.

"What do you common folk call it? Rocket science?" He says, once again exceeding the speed limit.

"If I'm a commoner, does that make you a peasant? Also, stop going so fast, I feel sick and I do not feel like dying today."

He rolls his eyes in response as he slows down by a smidgen, the speed meter barely even moving. "Seriously, you may have no consideration for yourself, but I still have a lot of things to achieve with my damn life so slow the fuck down." My words finally reach the rational part in him and he slows down considerably, now going within the speed limit.

Taking a deep breath, I rest my elbow on my door and look out the window, my mind flooding with thoughts about Kuroo's reckless driving and how it can all go sour with one delayed reaction.

Before I know it, we're rolling up to our apartment building, driving into his private garage only the penthouse owners get to use.

"I'm sorry," he mutters, filling the silence in the car.

"It's ok. I just... I want you to be safe. I know its hard, but... just try," I say quietly, unable to look at him.

"That's what he said," he says hastily before rushing out of the car before I can hit him.

Getting out of the vehicle myself, I send a murderous look his way and run after his retreating form.

A small part of me is grateful that he's acting like his usual unbearable self again, but the rest of me is just mad at his relentless sex jokes.

He hits the elevator button before I can get there and I watch the doors close, his smirk practically shining through the crack of the closing doors. I jam my foot in the middle at the last possible second, and smile victoriously as I get into the metal box and slap his arm once again.

"Ooh, do it harder," he practically moans, and my eyes just about pop out of their sockets in embarrassment as my face flushes a deep red.

"Oh shut up," I mutter, turning around and waiting patiently for the doors to open on the top floor. I hear him snicker and then the sound of a photo being taken, turning around sharply. I yell in defiance and throw my bag on the floor as I jump onto him in an attempt to grab his phone out of his hand and delete the probably unflattering photo.

I straddle his back and reach for the phone he easily holds out of my reach. Leaning across his shoulder in a feeble attempt to reach it, my feet are hooked around his chest and my other hand is using his shoulder as a brace. He's laughing hard at this point, and I'm screaming at him to give me the damn phone. Neither of us notice the elevator doors opening nor the small woman standing at the threshold staring at us in shock and amusement.

"Kuroo Tetsuro! You let that poor girl down this instant, young man!"

We both froze at the authoritative voice, slowly turning to look at a small dark haired woman with a straight shoulder length cut and narrow gold eyes that were glaring at the man under me.

"MUM!" He exclaims, setting me down and running to hug and kiss the woman, his mum apparently. "What are you doing here?" I hear him ask as I straighten myself out, fixing my jumper and tucking my hair behind my ears, picking up my bag off the floor and quickly following them out of the elevator.

"What, a mother needs an excuse to come visit her boys? Where's Kenma?" She asks, looking in the elevator again as if to check if she missed him.

"Oh, he's at his own place. Apparently he has a booked in session with this famous gamer today. Did he say he'd be here?" Kuroo asks, letting go of the woman and leaning on the wall.

"No, I didn't tell anyone I was coming to visit. Never mind that, who's this pretty young lady here, hmm?" She asks, raising a perfectly shaped brow as she walks towards me, the click of her heels echoing in the lobby of the penthouse.

I smiled down at her, since she was considerably shorter than even me, and introduced myself. "It's very nice to meet you, Mrs. Kuroo." I say, bowing.

"Oh no, no, none of that. You can call me mum too, hmm?" She says, gesturing me up from my bow and pulling me down for a tight hug.

"Oh, um, actually, me and Kuroo aren't-"

"We’ll talk more comfortably inside, no? Tetsuro, is your plan to let me stand here all day?” She asks, letting me go and turning around to look at Kuroo.

Kuroo leaps into action, taking his mum's bag and unlocking the door, helping her out of her heels and leading her into the spotless penthouse.

It was all I could do to nod in response, closing the door behind us and walking down into the kitchen to prepare a meal.

It’s crazy how much I don’t know about this guy. He’d never mentioned his mother before, and briefly mentioned that he has a sister, whether older or younger I have no idea. Kenma, however, I know well. The guy was here all the time when I first started living here, but recently I've seen him less and less. Which is a shame, considering we actually got along quite well, with sharing eye rolls and bonding over our mutual love of Minecraft.

I don't notice silent footsteps following me until Kuroo's Mother says "now, why's a beautiful girl like yourself slaving away in the kitchen? Does that boy make u do all the cooking and cleaning like some mid-century housewife?"

I poke my head out of the fridge, smiling at her fair assumptions, "no, no, it's not like that at all. I actually-"

"Uh, mum! You know I'm incompetent with this stuff. This place would be a mess if she wasn't here to run things! Plus, she loves to cook and finds cleaning therapeutic. Hey, her words not mine," Kuroo quickly jumps in, putting his hands up defensively when she looks at him with a raised brow.

Looks like he doesn't want his mother to know of our little arrangement.

"Right. He's just so hopeless, I can't trust him to do anything," I add on, sending her a smile as I prepare the fish he likes.

"You're making grilled mackerel for dinner?! Oh that's gonna hit the fu- the fun spot," he says, saving himself at the last second.

I hold back a snort as I take out a pan, "open the window, fish boy. It's about to stink here and I can't be bothered with Mrs. Suzuki coming all the way upstairs just to complain about the fish smell, and then complaining that she had to come up here in the first place. God, I hope she isn't sitting on the balcony today," I ramble, trying to see her balcony from outside the window, but fail because of the private location.

Damn these amazing architects.

I hear his mum chuckle at my rambling as she begins to take out ingredients for a salad. "Oh, you don't have to help, please sit and make yourself comfortable," I say, moving towards her to take the lettuce out of her hands.

"No, no, I'd like to pitch in. Now what kind of mother-in-law would I be to let you do everything yourself?" She asks, holding the lettuce away from me and walking over to the sink.

I stare at the back of her head, a flush creeping up my neck, "m-mother-in-law?!" I ask incredulously, glancing over at Kuroo who looked suspiciously... Smug. I look away quickly when he meets my eyes, and I hastily hyper-focus on the fish in front of me, placing it on the heated pan, causing sizzling and popping to fill the awkward silence.

"I'm sorry darling, I don't mean to be overbearing. Tetsuro introduced you as his girlfriend, so I thought things were getting serious since he actually allowed us to meet one another. You see, he’s never introduced me to a girl before, so you can imagine my excitement. I can stop if you're uncomfortable-"

I cut her off, feeling even more embarrassed as I realise the role I am to play in Kuroo's life when his mother is around. I mean, it makes sense, he can't exactly just admit he took a random girl into his house.

"I, um, no really it's fine, I understand" I say, my voice small as I flip the fish.

She lets out a delighted laugh and pulls me down into a hug once more. The smile on my face is genuine as my embarrassment melts away, the bright smile of this woman comforting me.

"So, how did you guys meet?" She asks, chopping up the ingredients for her salad on the bench while I'm at the stove, Kuroo leaning on his elbows on the bench.

"At uni," I answer at the same time as Kuroo states, "at a party."

We both look at each other with wide eyes, and I clear my throat to clarify, "at a uni party. A classmate of ours hosted one and we met each other there."

"I see, so the old boozed up one night stand turned into quite a domestic relationship hmm?" she suggests, wiggling her eyebrows at Kuroo.

"What? No, no, I would never! A one night stand? Booze? Please, what kind of man do you take me for?" Kuroo complains, looking offended.

I turn around towards the stove and roll my eyes. I've heard the rumours around campus, practically every girl in my lecture hall can testify to at least making out with the man. He really puts up a façade for his mum.

I hear the doorbell ring, and quickly take the fish off the stove to go answer it as Kuroo bickers with his mother about how innocent he really is.

"Hello? Who is it?" I ask, pressing the buzzer.

"Uh, hello? Is this Tetsu's place?" A deep voice answers. I look at the camera, seeing Kenma and a bunch of men about Kuroo's age looking confused. The one who answered is a guy with a blond mohawk and piercings adorning both ears.

"Yes, just give me a second," I reply. "Kuroo, I think Kenma and the rest of your friends are here? Should I let 'em up?" I shout out.

"Yeah let 'em in," he calls back. I press another button, letting them into the lobby.

I need to make more food.

Quickly taking out my frozen dumplings I stocked up for emergency dinners for days I couldn't be bothered to make anything better, I whip up a quick sauce, thinking I could split the fish and put it in the middle of the table so everyone can take their share.

"I do apologise darling, I let my Kenma know that I came to visit and he must have told the boys. I think they've all come to see me," Kuroo's mum confesses.

"You must be a very loved woman if they came all this way to see you. And it's no worries really, I'm always prepared for guests," I say, putting her at ease.

She beams at me as the door is banged loudly.

Kuroo mutters something about “rude assholes'' as he goes to open the door, a group of tall men making their way through the threshold.

"Hiya cap'ain," the mohawk guy says, patting Kuroo on the back. A tall, light brown haired man was next to greet him, then proceeded to exclaim "MUMMA KOZUME!!" and practically jumped onto the poor woman.

Wait, did he just say Kozume? Isn't Kenma's surname Kozume?

"Hey mum," Kenma greets, kneeling down to hug Kuroo's mum.

Who's mum is this lady?! I swear to god I'm going to go crazy.

"Hello hello everyone," A massive grey haired guy says, kissing Kuroo's mum on the cheek and hugging Kuroo.

The last guy to greet them is a tan guy with a buzz cut, and he does the same as his friend before.

"So Kuroo, when di'ja get yourself a girl, huh?" The grey haired guy asks, looking offended that he didn't know before now.

I raise my eyebrows as Kuroo just smiles guiltily. He introduces me to his friends and I wave hello, as they all begin to introduce themselves.

The grey haired guy says his name is Lev and that he's half Russian. A weird detail to include but interesting I guess.

The light brown haired man introduces himself as Yaku, and says that he was Kuroo's senpai back in high school.

"Yeah a demon senpai," Kuroo mutters in reply. My smile quickly turns into a grimace as Yaku jumps on him and they both start brawling on the floor, making a loud ruckus. A loud thumping can be heard from downstairs as Mrs. Suzuki starts to lose her mind and continues to bang the handle of her broom to her ceiling.

"Ugh, you morons upset Mrs. Suzuki! She's going to talk my ear off next time I see her..." I complain, grabbing a cushion and throwing it at the boys.

They flinch at my anger and quickly get up, muttering a quick apology. My glare softens as mohawk introduces himself as Yamamoto, and the tan guy says his name is Kai whilst vigorously shaking my hand.

"It's very nice meeting all of you. Dinner will be ready in a bit so please just make yourselves comfortable," I announce, making my way back into the kitchen.

The boys, all sporting grins, make their way to the living room and sit on the couches, man-spreading and slouching all over the place, one person taking up the usual spot for two.

I sigh, focusing on the dumplings in front of me.

I stiffen as I feel large hands on my waist, and a presence behind me. Visibly relaxing once I realise it's Kuroo, I turn around, his hands still resting on my hips, and his face nestled in the crook of my neck.

"Please just go along with it. We have to act like a couple if they're going to believe us," he mutters, his hot breath causing shivers to run up my spine.

I simply nod, instinctively placing my arms around his neck and running my fingers through his hair, something I've wanted to do since that day.

He groans into my neck, and I find myself holding my breath as I continue my hand movements.

"OI LOVEBIRDS! MUM SAYS THE DUMPLINGS ARE GONNA FUCKIN' STICK! Ow! Oh, sorry," I snatched my hands back from Kuroo, pushing his chest, my cheeks flushing in embarrassment.

What the fuck am I doing?!

I turn around back to the stove, mixing the dumplings in the boiling water as my thoughts race.

That felt too real, too much like a real relationship.

And way too addicting, apparently, since I already miss his close proximity.

The warmth on my waist disappears as I hear Kuroo running back into the living room.

"SHUT UP YOU MORON, THE DUMPLINGS ARE FINE!" I hear him scream, and then a loud thud as he presumably tackles whoever yelled at us to the ground.

I sigh as I hear Mrs. Suzuki's muffled thuds from downstairs in record time.

"You know I'm going to have to make Mrs. Suzuki some kind of apology cake because you boys can't sit down and act like adults," I complained, my arms crossed and an unimpressed expression on my face.

Lev and Yamamoto are on the floor playing some kind of Connect 4 game I've never seen before, while Kai looks to be having a deep conversation with Kuroo's mum, who is perched on the single arm chair like the queen she is.

Kenma is hogging the tv playing some kind of video game on Kuroo's ps5 (which I've hogged on more than one occasion), and Kuroo on the other hand has Yaku in a headlock.

He immediately lets go and apologises, and so does Yaku, who even bows in his regret.

I roll my eyes and shake my head at his mum, who just laughs, and I make my way back into the kitchen, setting food on the table and calling them in to eat.

After dinner, I find myself showered in compliments and not a bite of dinner leftover for tomorrow's lunch. Damn I'm good.

I served up cake I had already prepared from earlier along with fruits I washed and set on plates, and watched as that was eaten and finished before I even sat down. Kuroo's mum scolded the boys for poor manners, and they all apologised. Well, all except Kuroo, who just wiggled his pierced brows and winked at me.

I sit down on the floor next to the couch, since it was all occupied, and hear a dissatisfied sound coming from Kuroo's mum.

"Now, now, sweetheart. You don't have to be shy around me, just go on and take your usual seat next to Tetsuro," she says, nudging her head in Kuroo's direction, where the only vacant spot was literally his lap.

I look at her with wide eyes, even Kuroo seems taken aback by her suggestion, and all the boys are immaturely ‘oohing’ loudly as they laugh and make fun of us.

Kuroo makes a gesture for me to come next to him, so I hold back my heavy sigh, try my best to hide the flush on my face, and walk towards him, awkwardly perching on his knee.

He chuckles as he grabs my waist and pulls me flush towards his chest, my butt in the corner of the couch and my legs resting diagonally over his, so that my head is directly in the crook of his neck.

I hate to say it, but this is actually really damn comfortable.

Conversation has started up again, but it becomes secondary to the beat of his heart right under my ear, and my eyes start to get heavy as his scent and warmth lull me to a comfort that is beyond being awake and alert.

---

Kuroo's POV

"What a cute girl she is, Tetsu. I'm so glad you've found her. And now that you've got her, you better. Not. Let. Go." She says, slapping me on the arm with each word of her last sentence.

What is it with women and slapping me?

"Ok, ok, I know mum, I won't stuff this up. I promise," I respond, smiling at her.

"Ok, well, I'm staying over at Kenma's house. Ah, no objections. You've already got your hands full, and I don't want to be in the way of young love. Plus, I'd rather listen to Kenma's midnight streams than you two in the middle of the night," she says, not accepting my objections and giving me a knowing look. My face warms to what she's insinuating, and I mutter a quick, "it's not like that," as I duck my head into Y/n's shoulder.

By this time the boys have all left, Kenma's downstairs waiting in his car for his mum to come, but she insisted on staying back for a few minutes to talk to me.

Y/n fell asleep a while ago now, still nestled on my lap, her head on my shoulder and her figure keeping me warm.

"I know exactly how it is, my darling. I've seen how you two act, pretending to be in a relationship just so we don't ask any uncomfortable questions. I won't meddle in your life, I never did, Tetsuro. But I will give you advice I expect you to consider. Don't let her go. Neither of you were pretending about your feelings towards each other, let me tell you that much." She says, knowingly looking at me.

I look up in alarm, which quickly morphs into a nervous laugh. She's good, I'll give her that much.

But, can Y/n really mirror my feelings?

"Ok darling, better not leave Kenma waiting any longer. I'll visit again tomorrow, or you can come over to Kenma's, whichever you prefer as long as she comes along too. I want to get to know my future daughter-in-law better!!"

With that, the woman who took me in and treated me like her own left my home.

I look down at my roommate, taking in the way her lashes are long enough to brush against her face, the way her brows are just a tad bit asymmetrical, the stroke of her nose and the bend of her cupid's bow.

I can't help but bring my hand up to caress the side of her face, content to stay here forever.

Mum would've loved her.

This thought broke the dam that held back my tears since middle school, and as they fell down my face I couldn't help but think of my own mother, coming in and hugging her, making her famous pie that I can't remember the taste of anymore. A sob racks my figure and I all of a sudden find a pair of e/c eyes staring up at me, my tears having dampened some parts of her face.

Wordlessly, she straightens herself and wraps her arms around my neck, running her fingers through the back of my head, stroking down towards my nape and up again. I cry into her shoulder, tears that I've bottled up, emotions I've ignored because I've had my dad, my grandparents and the Kozume's. Later, I even had the team, and they all followed me to the racing gig, a place where I can express my emotions through the reckless driving that could claim my life any second. I should have been grateful. Instead, the pain of her absence never ceased.

I clutch the back of her sweatshirt as I cry and cry and cry, eventually tiring myself out and running out of tears.

With dry sobs still racking my body every few minutes, she finally leans back, cupping my face in her gentle hands.

"What's the matter, Kuroo?" She whispers, looking up at me with tears shining in her own eyes. "You can tell me anything, or you can say nothing at all. Either way, I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you," she says, touching her forehead to mine and closing her eyes. She stays here for a moment before moving to get up and drag me up too.

"Come on, let's get you into your pjs and into bed. It's getting late."

---

Your POV

Now in his usual shorts and singlet, I drag him to his massive bed, opening the neatly made bed and gently sit him down.

His hazel eyes follow me as I go to close the curtains, his lashes still wet from the countless tears he shed, his body still hiccupping with dry sobs.

Once I've put his blankets around him, I go to leave, muttering a goodnight as I leave.

"Y/n," I hear before I close the door. I peek my head in, "please stay."

Without a pause to think about his request, and already in my own pyjamas, I go next to him and crawl into his open arm as if I've been doing it every night, snuggling into his shoulder once more and wrapping my arm around his chest.

After a few moments of silence, he begins to speak in a raspy tone, "she's not my real mum. She's Kenma's mum, and I've... I've called her mum since I was around 7," he takes a deep breath before continuing. "I moved in with my dad and grandparents next door to the Kozumes when I was 6. I was nervous and shy back then. You wouldn't even recognise me because of the 180 turn my personality's taken. Kenma was even more social than I was. He was my first friend, and when I got him into volleyball and we met Coach Nekomata. That man inspired me to be the man I am today, and was the main reason why I joined the volleyball team in high school, and made friends with the guys. He did what my mum should've, supported me and gave me the confidence to live my life," he says, his voice cracking with the last word. I hug him tighter, knowing not to say anything as of yet.

"I just wish... I wish she didn't go. I wish she could've met you, Y/n. She would've loved you even more than Kenma's mum does," he confesses with a chuckle, sniffling and turning towards me to look me in the eyes.

"She would've seen the way I was around you. The different man I become. You make me a better person, Y/n. I find myself wanting to be better for you. I could never thank you enough for that. Please, never leave. Just stay with me, and I'll always be here for you," he says, repeating the same words I said to him earlier.

I can't help the smile from taking over my features and I lean in to kiss his nose, his eyes, his cheeks and finally I press my lips against his, something I have been wanting to do for a very long time.

"I will, Kuroo Tetsuro. I'll always stay with you."

A/n: So, I don't actually know if his mum passed away or if she left them, so I kind of just,, did both ?

Taglist: @3daa & @itsgiorgiaz

Notes, interactions and reblogs are highly appreciated <3

[tricksters-captain]

Helmut Zemo imagines - Hostage Part 1

AN: I came up with this idea for a series in the shower and I hope you guys are as intrigued by it as I am. Also I’m aware it’s posted later than I said but I’m a perfectionist and couldn’t post it until I was happy with it!! To make up for it, I have some Laszlo Kreizler smut coming up soon for you Alienist fans. 

Summary: You were chosen as one of Karli’s elite. You became a super soldier to help your cause, make the world a better place but taking the serum came with a price. After being cornered one day, you’re taken by the famous Helmut Zemo to give him answers or face the consequences. 

In This Chapter: Introductions. You are sent on a mission for Karli, only for it to turn bad. 

Pairing(s): Zemo x Fem!Reader, Karli Morganthau x Platonic!Reader

Word Count: 2,703

Warnings: Spoilers for TFATWS, violence, strong language 

You stared back at the burning building as the truck pulled away. 

Despite the rumbling of the thick tires on the tarmac beneath you, you could hear the screaming. 

“Hey.” DeeDee placed a hand on your shoulder and tugged you round. “Don’t look.” 

You could see in her eyes that she was just as shocked as you were but was trying to hide it.

The task had been to remove as many supplies as possible from the GRC depot to take back to the camps in Riga. There had been no mention of bombing the place. 

Lennox’s eyes met yours in the rear-view mirror. You were all thinking the same thing. 

Why would Karli go through with something that hadn’t even been discussed?

“Turn here. It’s faster.” DeeDee leant forward pointing towards a more narrow alley as fire engine sirens echoed up ahead. 

Lennox did as suggested and the others followed close behind. 

It wasn’t a long drive from Vilnius to Riga but you all stopped when daylight broke to take some time to eat something. 

You sat down beside Diego, your eyes flickering to Karli every few minutes as she dished out supplies for you all. 

She noticed. 

“(Y/n).” Karli remained standing as she handed out the last can to Dovich. 

You took the hint and rose to your feet. 

You followed her to the side of the abandoned structure as the others tried to tune the radio. 

“What’s the problem?” Karli asked you, a hard expression across her features.

“What’s the problem?” You couldn’t help but scoff at the question. “Karli, you blew up a building with people still tied up inside.” 

“I did what I had to do. It’s the only language these people understand. You saw just how much food, water and medicine they were sitting on. If we had a fraction of that just a few months ago Mama Donya might still be alive.” You could see the tears Karli was trying to suppress as she spoke of Mama Donya.

“You still should’ve consulted us before you went ahead with it. We’re better than an eye for an eye and you know that.” You cautiously took her hand into yours to try and comfort her. “We’re trying to make a difference here.”

“And that is how we do it.” She dropped your hand as she defended her actions. You shook your head but didn’t retaliate. You knew there was no use in arguing with her in that moment. 

“There’s something I need you to do after Mama Donya’s funeral today.” Karli was quick to change the topic. “A mission for you and DeeDee.” 

“What is it?” You asked, folding your arms across your chest. 

“I need you to go to these coordinates immediately after the funeral. One of our allies will be expecting you both. He has information and something I need. It’ll be a parcel, small enough to conceal so you can make your way back to us without any suspicion.” Karli texted over the coordinates and the information on the contact. 

“How can you be sure it’s safe?” You asked as you studied his profile. 

“I wouldn’t send you if it wasn’t.” Karli paused before she wrapped her hand around the back of your neck and brought your forehead to hers. “We have to stick together now more than ever.” 

You closed your eyes and exhaled a shaky breath. 

“One world.” You muttered. 

“One people.”Karli pulled away just as Dovich called over to you both. 

They had managed to get the radio to work. 

You sat down and opened a can of fruit slices to try and quench your hunger. 

“The depot that was bombed was funded and run by the GRC, the Global Repatriation Council. One of the workers killed was the father of two and had only been on the job for one week. After condemning this latest action by the radical group known as the Flag Smashers, the GRC formally began drafting legislation known as The Patch Act, which would seek to restore traditional border regulations and fast-track the return to normalcy. The act of violence has also brought attention and followers to the Flag Smasher cause. No one can deny the world-wide reach of this group is growing, as is the danger.”

You shared a look with Gigi and Dovich as you listened to the broadcast. Your stomach churned at the mention of the father. You swallowed hard as you placed your food down. 

Karli parted from the group again, feeling the pressure of the eyes on her, but you chose not to follow. 

You had known Karli for 3 years. You met in Riga and became close quickly. You both had lost everything and then you had each other. When she took off to Madripoor, you followed. She always knew how to get people to see things her way, she had a spark inside of her that drew in those who wanted to fight for something; she was powerful for 19. She only grew more powerful with the serums. 

You had backed her and supported her from the start but something was twisting. Something was going sour. You had never killed innocents before but in Karli’s eyes; was anyone on the side of the GRC innocent?

“Finish up. We need to get to the border in time to meet our contact.” Karli strode past the group and didn’t stop until she climbed into one of the cars. 

You cleaned up after yourselves, leaving no trace that you were there, before you got back on the road. 

You were back in Riga soon enough, your contact at the border let you through without any issues and you made it to the checkpoint with all the supplies safely. 

Fortunately, you still had time to spare before Donya’s funeral. 

You remained hidden, on the low, whilst Karli went with Nico to pick up the leftover serums. 

You had previously spoken about creating more super soldiers. You had been against it. There were more than enough of you for the moment and the process of turning into one was beyond any pain you’d ever felt. You didn’t think more people needed to go through that. However, the vote passed and more were to be created. 

“You ready?” Karli asked you as she returned. You nodded. 

You headed to the secret location of Mama Donya’s funeral and fell into the crowd as the body came into sight. Mama Donya had been important to Karli and therefore important to you. She had been a kind woman. Kind to you. But Karli had a bond with her that you didn’t. This was Karli’s time to heal, to grieve, to help those who also relied on Donya. 

You watched Karli step up to say a few words. 

“I don’t remember my mother or my father. Same goes for siblings, grandparents, cousins. What I do remember is being alone. Worse than being hungry or cold or scared. I was alone. Until Mama Donya. Like a lot of you here, Mama Donya saved me. She clothed me, fed me, loved me.” You followed Karli’s eye line when she gasped softly. 

It was Sam Wilson. Avenger. 

You felt your blood go cold. Usually where there was one avenger, there were sure to be more. 

“She taught me that we have to do for each other because they won’t. And we know who they are. They imposed struggle and hardship on us, then labeled us as criminals for pushing back. But the struggle is what brings us all together. People who have nothin’ in common. For we are, after all, simply one world and one people. So live accordingly.”

As you stepped forward and placed your bouquet of flowers down beside Donya, Karli clasped hold on your wrist. 

“Go now.” She whispered under her breath. 

“What about you?” You asked. 

“I’ll be fine. Get to the contact.” Karli tried to assure you but you weren’t certain on leaving her. Dovich guided you away to stop you from arguing with Karli about it. He told you that he was going to stay behind to help Karli and that you had a more important job to do right now. 

You had to give in and leave. 

As you made your exit, you grabbed DeeDee and the keys to the motorbike outside. 

“We gotta make a detour. Make sure we aren’t being followed.” You announced as you climbed onto the motorbike. 

“Karli said our guy would wait for us so it’s better to be safe than sorry. We can’t mess this up.” DeeDee agreed with you as she placed herself behind you. 

You took off down the street and did your best to lose any tails. 

You ended up ditching the bike and moving underground once you were sure you were alone. 

You were either really lucky or they had only brought enough backup to deal with Karli. 

“We should be close.” You checked your phone to read the GPS before placing on your mask. 

DeeDee held the flashlight up as you worked your way through the empty tunnel. 

“You’d think Karli could organise a rendezvous point somewhere a little less musty.” DeeDee grimaced as a trio of rats scattered past you both. 

“This is the safest way. We may have gained a lot of supporters above ground but we have a lot of enemies too.” You tried to defend Karli’s choice but even you had to admit that the sewers were a low point for you all. 

“You think she got away okay?” DeeDee asked, the concern obvious in her voice despite her blank expression. 

“I think Karli’s smart and she wouldn’t stick around if she knew she couldn’t win.” You may have been anxious for her but you rarely had doubts with Karli. Even without the serum she always managed to slip through the cracks. 

As you continued to make your way through the tunnels, you spotted a silhouette up ahead. 

You narrowed your eyes as DeeDee shone her light on him. 

Fortautely, it was your contact.

“Greetings.” The man smiled widely at you both. He wore a bright head torch that stopped you from looking him in the eye and a large forest green coat. 

“We’re here to collect the parcel and information for Karli.” DeeDee informed him, shading her eyes from his light as she tried to lift her gaze. 

“Yes. Yes. I know.” The short man pulled out a small object wrapped in brown paper from under his coat. “Karli said you would be coming.” 

As the man spoke, you heard something splash in the water behind you. 

“What was that?” You asked, looking back to see if you could spot anything. 

“It was probably just one of the rats.” DeeDee tried to assure you but the hairs on the back of your neck began to stand up. 

You had a bad feeling about it. 

“I’m going to check it out.” You whispered to her. “Better safe than sorry.” You repeated what she had said earlier. 

“Be careful.” DeeDee handed you her flashlight before letting you go. 

You crept back round the corner from whence you had came. You remained close to the wall to avoid any oncoming intruders head on. Peering down into the water, you saw that it had been in fact just a rat that was now paddling through the sewage. 

“It's okay.” You relaxed, shouting ahead so they could hear you. “It was just a ra–––” You were cut short by a gloved hand covering your mouth. 

You sent your elbow backwards instinctively which threw your attacker into the wall. 

You spun around to see a figure dressed in a lavish coat with a purple mask covering his face. You furrowed your eyebrows at his appearance. You didn’t recognise him as an Avenger. 

He came towards you, sending a fist to the side of your head. You managed to block his attack, kicking him in the chest. 

You thought he’d be no match for you with your enhanced powers but he managed to put up a good fight. 

He wrestled with you against the wall as he gained the advantage. You resorted in head butting him to get him off you. 

You sent your leg up into his side but he wrapped his arm around your calf and yanked you forward. You lost your balance as he grip moved, hooking under your knee. He squeezed your thigh against him as he pulled out a rather large syringe. 

“DEE! RUN!” You managed to howl before the needle sunk into your thigh. 

You tried to fight again as he dropped your leg but your vision became patchy and your balance began to sway. 

Not to your knowledge, he had injected as much tranquilliser into you as one would a tiger. Your enhanced abilities wouldn’t help you with that, you were soon out cold. 

--

The stars shone above you as you and Karli laid back on the bonnet of the car. 

“I genuinely believe that you could be the one to change things, Karl.” You said as you munched down on the chocolate bar she had gifted you. 

“What are you on about?” Karli furrowed her eyebrows through her smile as she turned her head to face you. 

“I mean look what you did for my birthday, just using your powers of persuasion.” You smirked.

“Persuasion isn’t enough to change things.” Karli disagreed. 

“You’re right but right now, people need someone to look up to. Half the world is gone and hope isn’t something that's easy to come by anymore.” You stated. 

“And you think that person could be me?” Karli scoffed at the idea. 

“I think you could do anything you wanted if you put your mind to it.” You broke off a piece of chocolate and handed it to her. 

“I think you’re spending too much time around Mama Donya.” Karli took the chocolate and popped it in her mouth. 

“We’ll see who’s right one day.” You mused with a small smile. Karli rolled her eyes before trying to steal another piece. “Hey! It’s my birthday present!” 

--

When your eyes finally opened, you realised you were no longer in the sewers. 

You were standing but your hands were up above your head, chained to the wall behind you and a large metal strip was around your neck also. You desperately tried to search your surroundings through your mask but the restraints stopped you from moving much. 

The room was dark, no windows, a few dim lights dotted around caused the room to seem almost a brown colour and there was little furniture. 

You would’ve been a fool if you didn’t noticed the gun on a small table off to the side as well as the medical equipment glistening on a tall metal cart. 

Your head throbbed and your mouth held the metallic taste of blood. You tugged at your wrist restraints to test their strength and to your luck they were holding. 

“You’re awake.” You heard a thick accented voice when you stopped rattling your chains. “Good.” 

The possessor of the voice, your kidnapper, stepped into light and you clocked who it was immediately. 

It was Baron Helmut Zemo. 

Zemo could not see your face as he had left the mask on you but he could tell from your eyes that you knew who he was. 

“I bet you are wondering why you are here. Tied up in this basement.” Zemo started. “Let’s start with introductions, shall we?” 

You remained silent.

“My name is Helmut Zemo––”

“––I know who you are.” You retorted. 

“Then you know what I am capable of.” Zemo glared at you for the interruption. His hands finding his pockets as his eyes settled on your own. 

“I know you’re going to kill me.” You knew of what happened with the Avengers. You knew of Siberia and the destroyed soldiers. You knew of his hate. 

“I’m not going to kill you.” Zemo wagged his finger at you. “Not yet at least. No. We have a few things I’d like to discuss first.”

“Like what?” You scowled at the man. 

“Like the whereabouts of Karli Morgenthau.” 

(PART 2 HERE)

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[tornrose24]

How would the characters of the village au react to their resident evil 8 counterparts?

Ethan-Peter Parker: They’d probably get along, though I don’t think Peter would be comfortable with Ethan killing, even if it was necessary for him. (Also, I think Peter would love hearing about little Rose).

Chris-Eddie Brock (and Venom) : Both of them need to go out for a drink given all that they go through. Though Chris wouldn’t be trustworthy of Venom since Venom is basically a BOW in the AU and we know Christ has had experiences with BOWS.... Maybe they’d tolerate each other and share stories of all the crazy shit they’ve gone through.

Mia Winters- Ned Leeds and Michelle ‘MJ’ Jones Watson: They’d bond over having to suffer some crazy ordeals, but the friends wouldn’t trust Mia too much given how shady she can be, not to mention how she kept some secrets from her husband.

Mother Miranda-Norman Osborn: A match made in Hell for sure. They’d both get along and share crazy science stories, and they’d both admire just how far they’d go for their goals.

Alcina Dimitrescu-Max Dillon: They might tolerate each other a little. Max might be a man, but he’s not like Heisenberg and the fact that he has powers gives him some equal footing with Alcina. He also might not be into her which she’d appreciate, though she might not like his way of talking half the time. Also the daughters can’t get his blood since he’s a living bug zapper LOL.

Donna Beneviento-Flint Marko: He’d adopt her in five seconds flat (and he’s immune to her powers). Plus she’d make a good playmate for Penny and probably let her play with her dolls, which is a win so long as they don’t harm her. Donna would appreciate the positive attention and the fact that Flint isn’t freaked out by her appearance under the veil.

Salvatore Moreau-Curt Connors: They’d be fascinated by each other’s scientific achievements, though I don’t think Curt would like Moreau’s obsession with Miranda. Still he’d show more appreciation towards Moreau than any of the other lords, which Moreau would like.

Karl Heisenberg-Otto Octavius: Oh boy–they would NOT get along. I mean they’d appreciate each other’s engineering accomplishments, but since Otto is still a nice person a heart in this AU, he’d be disgusted with Heisenberg’s unethical ‘creations’ and would be pissed if he heard that Heisenberg wanted to use Rose against Miranda. Karl would think Otto is too soft and SHOULD go ahead and just kill Norman. He would wonder how the hell Otto managed to win Peter over (when he himself failed to do that with Ethan) or why he wouldn’t take Peter’s for himself like how he wanted to take Rose’s powers.

[meettheprivate]

Shower or Bath? Alone or Together? - Wholesome Edition [TF2 x SO]

Might do a lewd version over on Wattpad if enough people want. <3

Would wanna shower as a couple: Soldier, Demoman, Engineer, (Eventually) Sniper

Shower alone: Scout, Heavy, Sniper, Spy

Bath together: Pyro, Medic

Scout: Baby is gonna be self-conscious at first, he does however enjoy watching you shower. ;) If you get him comfortable enough, he’ll cave in to showering together eventually. Till then, be patient with your lil’ rabbit.

Soldier: Did I say as a couple? I meant as a family. That’s right - the raccoon’s are gonna shower with y’all. But hey, it’s kinda cute when the only one biting is Soldier.

Pyro: Bath time is best time, in Pyrovision or otherwise. Baby will want you to snuggle with them under the warm bubbles as they get all squeaky clean with you! Though, they will continue wearing their suit and mask...So how clean they’re actually getting is up for debate. Still cute though!

Demo: Get in there with yer man lad/lassie! Demo appreciates spending as much quality time with you as possible, and bathing is some sort of special ritual in the wild right (he swore he read that in a bottle cap once). He won’t hesitate to rub your back with the soap, and you can lavish your Tavish. (I will see myself out now)

Heavy: He’s spent his whole life having to bathe with his sisters, he does not want this privacy - he needs it. There may come the rare occasion where he wants to shower with you, but you must be patient and let him tell you when he’s ready for that. Till then, he doesn’t mind you watching him or visa versa, more so you two can enjoy each others company and not be far apart.

Engie: Welp, it’s practical! Saves water, is a good bonding activity, ya’know, practical. Also he 100% will take any chance he can get to spend time with you since he’s always busy. Like, always. A shared shower becomes a highlight of the day after spending hours hunched over a work bench.

Medic: You’d think the man wouldn’t be one for bathes, but you are so wrong mien friend. This German loves his relaxing bath with some bath salts, candles, a good book, and you. He will give you back massages, whisper sweet German nothings in your ear, and you both may end up falling asleep. Wholesome.

Sniper: Like Scout, he’s kinda self-conscious at first, but he’s also stubborn. He sees no need in sharing a shower, not at first. He utilizes the shower for a lot of other things, such as shaving, pissing, brushing his teeth, etc. But, as time passes, he grows to appreciate having the occasional shower with you, and they always end in cuddles.

Spy: Simply put, he does not want anyone to see under his mask, and sadly that includes you for a long time. He will likely ask to sit and watch you shower, but you’re denied the privilege of seeing him with his mask off until he’s completely comfortable with you. With enough encouragement you may change his mind. 

[capricxs]

𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐗𝐒 𝟏𝐗𝟏 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒  :  Vigilant

It’s not about the fear, it’s about what you do with it. The city has been changing for year, crawling with different types of evil, some familiar and some unknown. But in the presence of evil, heroes have stepped forward to help bring safety to the streets again. But who decides who is right, and who is wrong? Who are the peacekeepers of the streets? And if that’s you, or so you think, what is the line you d raw for yourself? When do you lose yourself to the evil you fight?

PLEASE DO NOT REBLOG.

LIKE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, BUT ONLY AFTER READING WHAT IS UNDER THE CUT.

OOC INFO: Vigilant is a verse inspired by grunge comic book media such at The Batman (2022), Marvel Netflix’s television media, Watchmen, & many comic books. Vigilant is meant to be a collabroative, and original verse, but highly influenced from other comic book media. As partners we’ll write together to build lore and world in addition to the characters around them. Here are some plot ideas to get us started, but i also do not mind taking other plots inspired by comic book materials

One: A classic story of a vigilante and the criminal they are trying to stop. While the vigilante has their own goals to try and clean up the city, the criminal just likes having their fun, and gets a big kick out of toying with the hero. And little do they know, their paths might cross more in their personal lives than they previously thought.

Two: A team of vigilante heroes that are really just trying their best. They all have their different opinions of what it means to be a hero that is constantly being put into question. But what’s for certain is they having one another, and they can’t afford to push each other away.

Three: A rich vigilante has hired someone as their eyes, ears, and engineer, in their vigilante work. The only problem is, they have to pose as their personal assistant publicly. Considering they’re far smarter than the hero, but just so happen to not have a penny to their name, they have to grumble and sulk behind them to every gala in between their stints fighting crime.

Four: The rugged vigilante who will stop at nothing to get what they want accomplished, and the journalist who seems to always be caught in the fire. With a closeness and tenderness for one another, the question always comes up; when is it enough? When can you stop?

Five: One of the few aliens on earth, crash landed and is now using their abilities to fight crime. While they’ve been on the planet for some time, they’ve gotten themselves a close friend who they visit regularly. While they’re not involved in crime fighting in the same way, they frequently bond together over their shared views of the city, and their different backgrounds of different planets.

1X1 RULES:  You can read the full thing here. The big ones are:

I only write on discord.

I really love to hc and hope my partner does too. If you are not one to give back on hcs, I will lose muse.

I sometimes enjoy writing smut, and prefer partners be at least comfortable with nsfw elements in plotting if not in threads.

I play characters of all genders and expect my partners to as well in the case of a mumu.

I love writing queer characters, but for personal reasons I am hesitant writing queer ships with folks I have not written with before.

I enjoy writing body diverse and plus sized characters. If you do not want to write against or ship with body diverse or plus sized characters, do not like this post. Not all of my character are, but I like getting this out of the way now so things don’t get weird later.

I will likely pick up this plot with multiple people, but will try to only use the same characters once or twice. I am typically single-ship with my characters.

Check out the Verses Tag here.

[brockadoodles]

mirrorball - b. boeser

AN: Since @slapshot-to-the-heart​ asked, you shall all receive. Here’s the repost of mirrorball. Which is just pure soft fluff from the folklore series. Hope you enjoy it! 

Word Count: 1693 (honestly I didn’t know I could ever write anything so short) 

Warnings: Babies. 

I can change everything about me to fit in You are not like the regulars The masquerade revelers Drunk as they watch my shattered edges glisten

Brock was a lot of things to the people who thought that they knew him well. There was a degree of truth to the infamous nickname, Mr. Sensitive. Brock was the type of person to put everyone before himself, his family, friends, teammates, and you. So much so, that he often felt he had to be the beacon of strength for those around him, confronting every situation with a facade of bravery, not allowing his own feelings to preface those around him. He simply cared about people in the way that always admired you on the surface, not realizing how many facets of his own sensitivities that he never shared. 

But what most of the people around him didn’t know was how complex Brock really was. It was subtleties that you picked up on, slight hints of mirrored edges of his personality. The things he desperately tried to conceal, even for you. 

It was the way that he would take every loss gravely, spending late nights reviewing tape, wondering if he was good enough to be where he was. 

It was the way he would smile and nod at interviewers, even when they weren’t being subtle about their criticisms of him. 

It was in his voice, everytime he called home, concern evident in his eyes as he spoke with his father, not knowing what the future held. 

 It was just how scared he was about being a dad, hands shaking as you told him you thought you were pregnant. No one else saw the reflection of his watery eyes when the test was positive, thoughts swirling in his head of if he could be a parent, doubting himself immediately. They didn’t see the panic in his eyes when the doctor told you it would be a boy, his hand squeezing yours gently, wondering how he would live up to the pressures of raising a little boy. 

“Brock, you can do this.” You breathed out, words hanging in the air between you as he grabbed the hospital bag, recounting each item on the list you’d need. 

“I should be telling you that.” He whispered, eyes casting downward to his hands, attempting to hide his own anxieties. He was prepared for this, he spent weeks reading the books, memorizing the words as she turned each page. He went to every appointment, carefully pulling out his list of questions for that day, wondering how the baby was developing each time. He spent time with his nephew, asking every question he could think of about having a newborn. But most importantly, he was there, alongside you, doing everything he could to support you the last nine months. 

You walked over, pushing past the pain of your last contraction, knowing that you needed to take this moment to take in Brock. You reached up, running your hand along his cheek, pulling his forehead to yours. 

“You’re going to be amazing, he doesn’t know how lucky he is. No one is the perfect parent, we’re going to make mistakes, but he is going to be surrounded by so much love. You don’t have anything to worry about.” You smiled softly, looking intently in his eyes, making sure he heard what you were saying. You loved Brock in every way that a person could love someone else, you never doubted him about anything. If you had to tell him everyday until he believed it, you would, because you knew he was going to be the best father this baby could have. 

Brock kissed you softly, pulling you close as he ran a hand over your stomach. Taking in the last few moments of what his life was like before your son was born. Your words echoing in his mind. He knew you were right, you were as prepared for this as any new parent could be expected to be. The nursery was finished, light grey paint adorning the walls, forest green accents complimenting the dark chestnut crib. The walls were adorned with photos of the lake back in Minnesota, stuffed bears sitting in a basket by the crib, dresser drawers fully stocked with every item a newborn could possibly need. 

He thought about it for a moment, smiling softly as he realized the next time he would be in the nursery, his son would be there. Despite his insecurities and fears, Brock loved him more than he ever thought he would love someone, which was saying a lot considering just how much he loved you. He often wondered how he got so lucky finding you, falling in love while you were a grad student in Vancouver, taking you home to Minnesota to get married in a small lakeside wedding, and now you were giving him a child that would hopefully have all of the best features of you. 

You winced in pain, hand pulling back to grip your stomach, another contraction evident on your features, the sound instantly returning his attention back to you. The emotions hit him all at once, this was happening, you were in labor, soon he would be holding a little boy. 

Brock quickly picked up the duffle bag, throwing the strap carelessly over his shoulder as he focussed on helping you out the door. He carefully wrapped his arm around you, trying to alleviate any pain of yours that he could as he walked you to the car. 

“Brock!” You called out, looking at him quickly with wide eyes. He froze, unsure of the concern present on your features.  

“What? Did you forget something? What’s wrong?” He panicked, words tumbling out of his mouth as he quickly ran through the lists in his head, mentally checking off each item. 

“You might want shoes?” You laughed, looking down to his feet. He quickly grabbed his sneakers from by the door, shoving them on before picking up the duffel again, cheeks flushed as he helped you into the car.

Brock carefully got you into the front seat, leaning over to pull the seat belt over you. He meticulously checked the infant car seat in the back, making sure it was level and perfect. You were growing impatient, ready to get to the hospital, but you let Brock take his time, understanding that he was nervous and had to handle this in the only way he knew how, by making sure that everything was perfect for the baby. 

He sighed softly as he sat in the front seat, turning on the car. He took one last glance in the rearview mirror, checking that the car seat was still there before he turned on the engine. 

“Ready to have a baby?” Butterflies were floating in your stomach, nerves present in your shaky voice. You felt scared yet calm at the same time, knowing that you could do this, Brock would be there every step of the way. 

“Yeah, I am.” He whispered, reaching over the console to wrap your hand in his, fingers remaining laced together the entire drive.  

----------------

Brock watched carefully as the doctors placed the baby on your chest. He felt like he was out of his own body, fixated on nothing but you and the baby as the moment went on. You were crying, stray hairs falling in your eyes, wet with sweat.

You had done amazing, spending 20 hours in labor, never complaining once. Brock watched in awe as the baby boy cried, adjusting to the world around him. He felt his own eyes water, leaning down to press a kiss to your head. A simple gesture, holding so much weight. He was comforting you, a reassuring presence held in his kiss.  

The doctors and nurses were circling around the room, carefully cleaning everything up, helping guide you and Brock through everything. You felt like the room was spinning, no one around but you, Brock, and the small baby boy on your chest. 

You glanced up at Brock, noticing the tears in his eyes as he looked at his son, noticing just how similar the two of them looked. Brock had a subtle smile on his face, eyes focussed on the baby. You saw something change in him, a new piece of glass added to his complex shape. Brock spent so much time changing himself, hiding how deeply he cared for other people, and watching him look at the baby, you saw all of that flutter away, revealing the Brock that you wished other people were lucky enough to know. 

“Alright dad, you ready to hold your son?” The nurse asked. She motioned for him to sit down in the chair beside your hospital bed. You watched as the insecurities slowly regained their presence on his face, his lower lip slightly tucked between his teeth, eyes wide. You carefully balanced your son in your arm, reaching your other hand out toward Brock, offering him a subtle gesture, knowing he felt comfort under your touch. 

Brock was so sure he was going to fail, that everything he built up in his head about being a dad was going to crumble underneath him as soon as he held the baby. His hands shaking softly as he lifted his shirt, remembering that skin to skin is important for bonding with a newborn. 

Every doubt Brock ever had evaporated as soon as he held his son to his chest, cradling his tiny body in his arms, instantly feeling the need to protect him from the world.  He looked over every feature, noting the curve of his nose and lips, features he thought looked like you. He was fragile, his tiny hands curled into his chest, body needing the security of you and Brock to guide him. Brock felt him settle into his chest, and he closed his eyes, focussing on the baby’s breathing.

Brock was a lot of things, but watching him sit with eyes closed, softly holding your baby, you felt like you finally saw every piece of him. Every shiny piece of broken mirror coming together in the moment, shining clearly.