#anything else sounds better than that goodbye o-(-(

[ddejavvu]

What about spencer with a reader who is normally so independent and does everything for herself but she’s so soft for spencer and lets him dote on her and take care of her and the team is like :o bc they can’t believe she is letting someone do things for her

"I'm not a tyrant," Spencer's voice is inexhaustibly patient, and his fingers are slightly awkward as he holds them around his phone, angling it awkwardly so that you can see his upper half on face-time while he sits at his desk, "I just want you to take your medicine so that you can get better."

"I am better," You insist, your voice a far cry from its usual drawl. It's more ragged and weak, and you definitely have a stuffy nose, which indicates how untruthful your words are. Everyone knows it, most of the bullpen can hear your insistent griping, and they're beginning to feel bad for Spencer. They can't imagine how he'd gotten you to stay home today, but they're shooting each other knowing grins each time you push back against his gentle insistence.

"No, angel, you're not." Spencer croons, "You're on the mend, but you're not recovered yet. And you'll get worse if you don't take your meds. I put them on the nightstand for you, and some water. All you have to do is take them, and go back to sleep."

"I don't want to sleep!" You insist, and it's a whine- a whine! Emily's mouth splits in an incredulous grin, and a laugh threatens to tremble Derek's broad shoulders at how juvenile your attempts at protest have become. They're used to your biting words, your forceful demeanor, your inability to surrender any control, but Spencer's got you tucked into the covers begging for a kiss on the forehead.

"I've been sleeping all day, and I slept all day yesterday, and the day before that. I'm tired of sleeping. Just let me fill out some paperwork! Anything, Spence, please."

He chews on the inside of his cheek, ignoring the way that JJ giggles suspiciously with Penelope, who's leaning against the side of her desk, drawn out of her office for the spectacle.

"You can read," He relents, "And you can watch tv but only if you do it on your computer with the night light setting turned on," He narrows his eyes, taking on your rather rough persona to ensure that his orders are obeyed, "Promise?"

"Promise," You rasp, and the team can hear the smile in your voice, "Thanks, Spencer."

"Use the night light setting," He warns instead of accepting your thanks, "I'll check later to see if it's turned on!"

"Okay!" You laugh, and Spencer winces lightly as the sound morphs into a thick cough, "Okay, I'll- ah, I'll see you later, baby."

"See you later," He concedes with a fond smile, waving in addition to his verbal goodbyes, "Love you."

"Love you too," You promise, then end the call. Spencer feels the weight of everyone else's stares on him as he sets his seldom-used phone down and resumes working, refusing to acknowledge them unless they prod at him first.

"Good job, Spence," JJ congratulates, "I didn't think she'd ever take a sick day."

"I know," Emily gushes with bright eyes and a wild smile, "If I tried to tuck her in she'd probably bite me."

"Well, that's 'cause you don't have Pretty Boy's charm," Derek cracks, though the smile that he flashes Prentiss is reassurance that he's teasing Spencer more than he's teasing her, "Congrats on wearing the pants today, Reid. Enjoy it while it lasts, 'cause as soon as she's out of bed, she's taking the wheel again."

Spencer takes great pleasure in levelling Derek with a meaningful, "Shut up," because he's more than happy to be your passenger princess any day.

[edenesth]

The Mystery of Minho's Heart

Pairing: non-idol!Minho x fem!reader

AU: university au (exes to lovers)

Word Count: 10.7k

Summary: You and Minho have been dating for a while, but his stoic demeanour and inability to express emotions have left you doubting his love. It's not until you voice your doubts and ask to break up that he realises how deeply he loves you and that he must do better to make you understand just how much he cares.

MAIN MASTERLIST

"Let's break up, Minho."

Those were words you hurled mercilessly his way just an hour ago.

Your boyfriend, now ex-boyfriend, sat numbly on the couch in his dormitory, still reeling in shock as he attempted to process everything you had unpacked earlier.

"What, why?" He recalled asking, his voice barely a whisper.

A painful sound escaped your throat, resembling a sarcastic chuckle that, to him, sounded more like a frustrated cry.

"Please tell me you're joking; this isn't funny." Minho pleaded, desperately hoping it was just a silly prank. However, the hurt expression on your face communicated that it was anything but.

You were dead serious.

"I-I don't understand... Where is this coming from?" He questioned, trying to make sense of the situation.

It broke his heart to see the emotional exhaustion etched across your face. For the past year, he hadn't realised that anything was wrong; he genuinely believed everything was fine.

The wearied smirk on your lips only deepened the sense of foreboding in the pit of his stomach, "Why of course, you wouldn't understand. Perhaps it was my fault for expecting too much from you." You muttered, frustrating him with the lack of clarity about what exactly he had done wrong.

Before he could open his mouth to ask, you looked him dead in the eye, "Just answer me this: do you even love me?" He froze, his fists clenching, struggling to formulate a response.

With a sigh, he nodded gingerly, "Come on, you know I do," You shook your head, tears now welling in your eyes, "No, Minho, I don't. If you do, then say it to me right now. Tell me you love me." He blinked rapidly, avoiding your intense gaze.

For some inexplicable reason, those three words seemed unable to escape his lips. Throughout your relationship, he had never vocalised those sentiments to you. It wasn't because he lacked those feelings for you; Minho simply wasn't one to openly express affection in that manner.

And he thought you already knew that.

Releasing a haunting laugh, you wiped away the tears streaming down your face with the sleeve of your shirt, "See? We've been together for a whole year, Minho, and you can't even bring yourself to tell me that you love me. Maybe it was foolish of me to expect anything more from you."

Minho found himself at a loss for counterarguments because you were undeniably correct.

"At times, I questioned whether I was ever truly your girlfriend. You treat your friends better than you've ever treated me. Am I an idiot for hoping you'd show me even a fraction of the affection you readily give everyone else but me? What am I even to you?"

He wished he could find the right words to say at this moment, but his mind was blank as he finally grasped the impact of his actions, or lack thereof, on your feelings throughout your relationship.

"Don't beat yourself up too much, though. I guess I'm just not the right person for you. It took me a while, but I've come to realise that now. Despite how much I still love you, I just... God, I can't do this anymore. I'm tired, Minho."

Inhaling deeply, you expressed your frustration, "I'm sick of having to beg for your love, sick of feeling trapped in a one-sided relationship, sick of wishing that you'd someday fight for me too. I thought maybe you felt suffocated by me at some point, so I've decided to free us both from this misery."

Before he could figure out what to say, you grabbed your bag and left, uttering a final, "Goodbye, Minho. Take care of yourself."

The resounding slam of the door marked your exit, leaving him to collapse onto the couch where he remained, frozen in the same position until now.

It's really over... She's gone.

The days following your breakup had affected Minho more than he would like to admit.

As he navigated through the aftermath, a stark realisation hit him like a ton of bricks. Reflecting on his past behaviour, he couldn't deny that you were right. He had showered his friends with more affection than he ever extended to you.

Strolling around the university campus after class one day, the sight of couples embracing, laughing, and sharing tender moments struck him with a pang of regret. It became painfully evident that the connection you two shared was far from the warm, loving relationships he observed around him.

His lack of verbal expressions of love was only the tip of the iceberg; he now recognised he had also failed miserably in conveying any physical affection or caring gestures that would have indicated his feelings for you.

Who could blame her for leaving me, really?

The truth dawned on him – he had been a less-than-ideal boyfriend, failing to provide the emotional and physical reassurance that a relationship thrived upon. He realised that the change he needed to make went beyond mere words.

Minho felt especially bad when he thought about how you tried to get closer to him at the start of your relationship. You genuinely wanted to connect with him, but he kind of avoided it without realising. Remembering those times made him feel a lot of guilt because you were just looking for love and validation from the person you cared about.

As time passed, he noticed that your attempts to get closer became less and less. What started as you trying hard to feel loved turned into you slowly giving up. It might sound a bit harsh, but all you wanted was to feel loved by your partner.

Eventually, you stopped trying altogether.

The realisation that you had to stop trying to get close to your own boyfriend, not because you wanted to, but because you felt you had no other choice, made him feel horrible now. He understood that his actions had a big impact on the closeness you both should have had, and the regret weighed heavily on him every day.

"You miss her, don't you?"

A sudden nudge on his shoulder jolted him out of his thoughts. He turned to find Jisung looking at him expectantly. When Minho shifted uncomfortably and avoided eye contact, Jisung sensed he had struck a chord.

"Hyung, be honest with me. Why did you two break up?" Jisung asked, guiding Minho to a bench for a heart-to-heart talk.

Minho let out a heavy sigh, burying his face in his hands before confessing, "She said she felt... I— Look, I was the worst boyfriend on earth, okay? Jisung-ah, what kind of lover am I if I can't even tell her I love her, can't even hold her hand in public, or do anything to show her how much she means to me?"

Jisung smirked lightly, surprising Minho with his response, "About damn time you realised that," Minho's eyes widened at the unexpected insight, "W-what do you mean? Even you noticed?"

His friend rolled his eyes, "I think the whole world knew except you, hyung. The other guys and I have been wondering how noona could've stayed with you that long. We guessed she must've really loved you to be okay with that. I won't lie; she didn't even seem like your girlfriend at some point. Even we were starting to believe you'd lost interest in her. Or more like, have you ever been interested in her since the beginning? Your entire relationship... it looked pretty one-sided, like noona was the only one trying."

A shaky sigh escaped Minho's lips; he truly was the worst boyfriend anyone could ever ask for. If even his friends could see that, he couldn't imagine how much worse you must have been feeling all this while.

She must have been so lonely.

"That was... until we saw how much the breakup has affected you. We figured you must have loved her too." Jisung murmured, patting Minho on the shoulder.

"I do... She means so much to me. I wish she knew that," Your ex muttered, crestfallen. Jisung cleared his throat and crossed his arms over his chest, "Well, it's not too late to show her. Maybe... just maybe, you can win her back again."

Minho looked up at his friend with hopeful eyes, "You'd help me?" Jisung nodded, "I would but on one condition."

"What is it?"

"You must promise me to treat her right this time, hyung. There's no point in chasing her back just for you to do the same thing all over again."

Your ex nodded eagerly, "Of course, I will! I... we all know how bad I am at showing affection openly, but I realise now that it isn't an excuse for the way I've treated her. That doesn't excuse the way I've neglected my own girlfriend, the one I was supposed to love and care for the most."

At that, Jisung sprang out of his seat, hands propped on his hips, "Well, what are you waiting for then? Let's gather the boys and get to work! You don't want to make noona wait any longer than she already has now, do you?"

With newfound determination, Minho trailed after his friend, a small smile playing on his lips, "Of course not, let's do this."

It was disheartening that it took a whole breakup for your ex to realise just how much he loved you. But this time around, he vowed to make things right by showing you what he was willing to do to have you back by his side.

Since the breakup with Minho, you haven't been in the best emotional state. It frustrated you that you missed him, although you couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was that you missed. After all, it's not like he had given you much to long for.

The reality stung; there wasn't a significant difference in your life before and after the separation. The only change was the absence of contact, and you no longer visited his dorm to check on him or cook for him.

A bitter laugh escaped you at the realisation.

Perhaps that was the role you played in his life all along. A free caretaker, always ready to provide. Nothing more, nothing less.

Yep, sounds about right.

Dragging your feet back to your dorm, you were lost in your thoughts when your roommate Nayeon greeted you with a mischievous smile, "Hey, guess what? There's a bouquet of flowers for you on your desk."

You raised an eyebrow, puzzled, "For me? Who would send me flowers?" The idea seemed unlikely, considering your recent breakup with Minho.

Nayeon shrugged, feigning innocence, "I don't know, you tell me. Maybe you've got a secret admirer already. Moving on pretty fast, aren't we?"

Rolling your eyes, you dismissed her teasing with a casual wave, "Don't be ridiculous. It's probably some mix-up or a delivery for someone else."

But curiosity got the better of you, and you headed straight to your desk. There, amidst the textbooks and scattered notes, sat a beautiful bouquet of your favourite flowers. A small card peeked out from between the petals. You carefully retrieved it, unfolding the note that simply read, 'Thinking of you.'

Confused yet intrigued, you couldn't fathom who would send such a gesture, especially so soon after the breakup. Nayeon watched your reactions with interest, her teasing grin widening.

"Alright, spill the details. Who's the mystery person trying to sweep you off your feet already?" She teased, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

You sighed, still uncertain about the sender's identity, "I have no idea, Nayeon. It's probably just a friendly gesture or something. I'm definitely not jumping into anything new so soon."

Nayeon chuckled knowingly, "Sure, sure. Just enjoy the mystery flowers then. Who knows, maybe it's a sign that good things are on the horizon."

You shook your head, amused by her antics, but deep down, a small spark of intrigue and hope flickered within you.

Days turned into a charming series of unexpected surprises after the mysterious bouquet of flowers. Opening your locker after a gruelling day of classes, you found a bag of your favourite snacks tucked inside, a small note accompanying it with the words, 'Thought you might need a pick-me-up.'

Another time, as heavy rain unexpectedly poured down, you spotted a neatly folded umbrella outside your classroom door. The attached note read, 'Stay dry!'

On a day when you forgot your pencil case, you returned to find a spare pen waiting for you on your desk. The anonymous gestures were sweet, thoughtful, and seemed to brighten even the gloomiest days.

Nayeon, your ever-curious roommate, couldn't resist turning the mystery into a daily guessing game, "Come on, spill it! Who is this secret admirer of yours? A cute guy from your literature class? The barista at the coffee shop? Maybe even Minho trying to win you back?"

You chuckled at her playful interrogations, neither confirming nor denying anything. The truth was, as much as you wanted to believe it could be Minho, deep down, you knew better.

These were gestures he would never make.

Nonetheless, you allowed Nayeon's amusing speculations to continue, secretly enjoying the lighthearted distraction they provided. The mystery benefactor seemed to have an uncanny knack for brightening your days, leaving you both curious and grateful for the unexpected kindness.

One evening, after another surprise had made its way into your day, you gathered all the notes you had received so far. As you inspected them, your heart suddenly clenched in your chest. The handwriting on the notes felt strangely familiar, sending a shiver down your spine.

"No, it can't be." You whispered to yourself, disbelief colouring your voice. You studied the curves of the letters and the way each word was carefully penned.

It couldn't be possible.

It just couldn't.

A realisation struck you, and you felt tears welling up in your eyes. You couldn't bring yourself to believe it, but the resemblance was uncanny. You swiftly wiped away the tears before they could betray your emotions, refusing to succumb to the overwhelming surge of hope and despair.

You scolded yourself internally, reminding yourself of the reality you knew too well. Minho hadn't bothered to contact you even once after the breakup. The person behind these thoughtful gestures couldn't possibly be him. You deserved better than to cling to false hope.

With a deep breath, you put the notes aside, pushing away the fleeting wish that it could be him. You steeled yourself against the fragile optimism that tried to sneak in, telling yourself that you deserved someone who would openly show their love and appreciation, not someone who hid behind anonymous gestures.

Trying to move forward, you attempted to live your life without being too consumed by the mysterious gestures.

But the universe seemed determined to test your resolve. As you trudged towards your locker after class, you caught a glimpse of the person behind all these surprises in the act of leaving you a cup of your favourite beverage.

Your breath hitched as you recognised the familiar back – it looked just like your ex-boyfriend. Refusing to believe it was him without confirmation, you hesitated for a moment.

"Hey, you there." You called out, hoping your voice didn't betray the mix of emotions within.

The guy stilled at the sound of your voice, seemingly contemplating whether to leave or stay. Determined to get answers, you called out more firmly, "Has it been you this whole time? Are you the person leaving all these things for me?"

He clenched his fists for a moment, and you held your breath until he finally turned around. His eyes met yours, and your name escaped his lips in a whispered acknowledgement.

"Yes, it's me."

Seeing Minho again after so long left you conflicted.

The surprise of discovering he was behind the thoughtful gestures clashed with the unresolved feelings from your past relationship. Unsure of how to react, you found yourself caught in a moment of confusion, staring into the eyes of the person who had once meant so much to you.

"But why? What's the point of doing all this now, Minho? Isn't it a little too late?" The words croaked out of your throat, a mixture of frustration and the pain that lingered from the past.

Your ex felt the weight of your questions like a punch to the gut, a sharp reminder of the hurt he had caused. He knew he deserved every bit of your scepticism and hesitance. Stepping closer to you, he stopped at a safe distance, not wanting to overwhelm you. His eyes reflected regret, and he began to speak, the words measured and filled with sincerity.

"I know I messed up, and I'm truly sorry," Minho admitted, the weight of his own guilt evident in his voice, "You were wrong to think I didn't love you. I do. I always have," He took a deep breath, determined to convey the depth of his feelings, "I want to make things right, to earn back your trust. I'll do everything I can to show you how much you mean to me."

As he smiled softly, his expression held a mix of regret and hope, despite the doubtfulness etched on your face. He knew actions spoke louder than words, but at that moment, all he could offer were words of remorse and a promise to change. It was now up to you to decide whether to let him back into your life.

You chose to remain silent, resisting the urge to crumble under the weight of his touching words.

Your heart raced as he took another careful step closer, the tension between you palpable. You gasped lightly in surprise when he gently reached for your hand. Instead of placing the drink in your locker, he put it directly into your hand now.

"Here, it's your favourite. I know you think I never paid any attention to you, but I have, in my own way. I remember everything you liked. You probably don't trust anything I say now, but in time, you'll see. I'll show you how much I care." Minho spoke softly, his words filled with sincerity. With a final, heartfelt smile, he walked away, leaving you to digest his words.

As you gazed down at the beverage in your hand, a mix of emotions washed over you. The liquid warmth seeped through your fingers, mirroring the warmth that his words had unexpectedly brought. A part of you wished this wasn't a dream, that his promises were genuine and that time would indeed reveal a change in him.

With wet eyes, you stood there, processing the encounter, torn between the past and the possibility of a different future. The vulnerability and uncertainty lingered, but so did a flicker of hope.

This is your last chance, Lee Minho.

The following day, as you walked out of class, your heart skipped a beat when you spotted Minho standing there, waiting for you.

He looked ethereal, and you couldn't help but notice how easily your heart reacted to the mere sight of him. He remained your weakness, a fact you were trying hard to ignore as you attempted to keep the walls around you intact.

His face brightened upon seeing you, and he immediately came up to you, holding out your favourite sandwich and coffee in his hands, "Here, your favourite. Please don't skip breakfast again." He said with a genuine smile before sauntering away, leaving you standing there, heart fluttering.

In the cafeteria, Nayeon couldn't resist teasing you as you approached her with food already in your hands. She observed with a knowing look, fully aware that you couldn't have prepared the breakfast yourself.

She couldn't resist commenting, "Well, well, someone's got a secret admirer. Any idea who it might be?" Her teasing grin only fueled the internal battle of emotions you were trying so hard to navigate.

Timidly, you admitted to her that it had indeed been your ex behind all the thoughtful gestures, "It's... it's Minho."

Her playful demeanour dropped, replaced with a softness that conveyed understanding. Nayeon had been the one by your side during the tough days of your relationship with Minho, and she knew the emotional weight this revelation must carry for you.

With a comforting arm around your shoulders, she listened as you poured out the events of the previous day – how you caught him in the act, the words he spoke, and the fear that gripped you, "I'm scared, Nayeon. I'm afraid of allowing myself to hope, afraid of the possibility of another heartbreak."

Being the good friend that she is, she offered her perspective, "You said it yourself, these were things he would never do back then. If he's willing to do it all for you now, perhaps he really is trying his hardest to let you know how much you truly mean to him." Her words were a gentle encouragement, a reminder to consider the possibility of change.

As you rested against her, grateful for the support, you realised that perhaps, despite the uncertainties, Minho deserved a chance to prove that people could change. Your roommate's wisdom offered a glimmer of hope in navigating the complex emotions and decisions that lay ahead.

In the weeks that followed, you decided to take Nayeon's advice and give Minho a chance to prove himself. Slowly, you began accepting all of his gestures, allowing the walls around your heart to soften. Small smiles turned into genuine expressions of gratitude, and you found yourself opening up to him again.

Encouraged by your responses, he grew bolder in his actions.

One day, he decided it was time to move beyond just handing you lunch – he wanted to take you out for a meal. Recalling Changbin's advice that he needed to take the first step, Minho mustered the courage to invite you. His heart soared when you nodded shyly, accepting his invitation.

As you sat across from each other at the restaurant, he couldn't help marvelling at how beautiful you looked. Your eyes sparkled with joy as you enjoyed your favourite food, and he couldn't shake the feeling of regret for not appreciating you more before.

He had taken you for granted, assuming you would always be there for him despite his neglect.

Now, as he looked at you closely, he felt a deep desire to make amends. He longed to hold you close, to show you the love and appreciation you deserved. The realisation of what he had almost lost fueled his determination to cherish every moment with you moving forward.

As you both shared dessert after the meal, the atmosphere was light and comfortable. Minho chuckled fondly when he noticed how adorable you looked getting a bit of ice cream on the corner of your lips. Without giving it much thought, he reached over and gently wiped your lips with his thumb, a small, tender gesture.

The action caused you to freeze momentarily, your eyes meeting his. His own widened slightly as he realised what he had just done. There was a moment of unspoken tension, an acknowledgement that something had shifted.

At that moment, he couldn't deny the sudden, intense urge to kiss those lips of yours. He found himself wondering why he hadn't kissed you more often back then, recognising that he must have been blind to the simple yet profound joys of expressing affection.

Lingering in the aftermath of the sweet gesture, a new awareness settled between you. Minho couldn't help but contemplate the missed opportunities and the potential for a brighter future.

As more time passed, you found yourself growing closer to him in ways you hadn't experienced even when you were together before. Gradually, you allowed the remaining walls around your heart to fall, and he reciprocated by falling deeper in love with you. He often pondered why he had been so foolish to deprive himself of your warmth in the past.

Despite knowing you for quite a while, everything felt refreshingly new. It was as if you both were rediscovering each other, experiencing the joy of falling in love for the first time.

With the support of his friends, Minho actively worked on expressing himself and his feelings better. He had learned from his past mistakes and was determined to be more present and attentive to your needs. He willingly put in the effort, realising the profound impact of your absence would be far more miserable than any challenges faced in rebuilding your relationship.

Every day became an opportunity for growth and understanding, and he cherished the chance to create new memories with you, vowing not to repeat old mistakes. This journey felt like a second chance, and he was determined to make the most of it.

Walking you to your next class after the little date he had just taken you on, he resisted the urge to pull you close and settled on a small wave. He watched you enter the lecture hall and made sure you were comfortably seated before leaving.

"Welcome home, loverboy," Chan grinned, playfully whistling as Minho entered the dorm. Seungmin joined in, laughing, "Someone sure looks happy."

With a lovestruck look on his face, he sheepishly shrugged his shoulders, "Well, I do feel happier."

Jisung couldn't resist teasing, "Is someone nursing a little crush?" His smirk hinted at the knowing glances exchanged among the friends.

Minho chuckled, realising there was no point in trying to keep it a secret, "Okay, maybe more than a crush. Things are different now. I can't believe how stupid I was before."

Chan clapped him on the back, "Better late than never, mate."

Basking in the warmth of his friends' support and encouragement, Minho hesitated for a moment before gathering the courage to bring up a more serious question, "Guys, do you think it's too soon to... you know, ask her officially? Like, get back together?"

Changbin tilted his head, deep in contemplation, before shaking it slightly, "I feel like it might be a little soon, hyung. You did her one year's worth of damage, and I seriously doubt that a short period would be enough to completely earn her trust back. Perhaps you should take things slow and steady first."

The rest of the guys seemed to agree, each nodding in support of Changbin's insight. Jisung added, "Maybe you need to put her first in this case, hyung. Wait until she's ready before officially getting back together. Rushing things might not be the best move here."

Minho absorbed their advice, realising the importance of patience and understanding in rebuilding a relationship. The echoes of his past mistakes reminded him that rushing into things had been part of the problem before. With a nod, he acknowledged the wisdom in their words, grateful for friends who not only cheered him on but also guided him with sincerity and care.

They're right, it's my turn to wait for her now.

Returning to your dorm with a small smile, you rolled your eyes when you spotted Nayeon sitting on her bed opposite yours, wearing a patient expression paired with a teasing grin. It was evident she was ready to hear all the juicy details of your lunch date with Minho.

As you recounted the moments spent with him earlier, she squealed excitedly and bounced over to your side. With a sly smirk, she asked the inevitable question, "So, if he asks you to be his girlfriend again, what's your answer?"

Your smile slightly faltered at the question, and you decided to be honest with your roommate.

"I don't know, Nayeon. While I'm genuinely happy with the positive changes in him, I... I'm still scared. Wh-what if, as more time passes and all this initial excitement wanes, he reverts to his previous behaviour? I know I shouldn't be so pessimistic, but I can't help it."

Nayeon nodded in understanding, recognising the validity of your fears. Having been hurt once before, it was only fair that you harboured slight trust issues.

"Hey, it's alright. You have every right to still be afraid. I was just asking for fun anyway. Don't think too much about it and just... go with the flow. Whatever happens, I'll always be here for you."

She offered a comforting presence, understanding that navigating a renewed relationship with Minho required cautious steps and time for trust to be rebuilt. Your friend knew that, above all, your well-being and emotional safety mattered the most.

For your sake, Nayeon sincerely wishes your ex-boyfriend would pull himself together for good this time. If he dared hurt you again, she swears she wouldn't be standing aside just to watch again.

The campus cafeteria buzzed with activity as you and Minho shared a meal, the familiar ambience providing a comforting backdrop to your time together. Laughter filled the air as he recounted a silly story involving Jisung and Changbin, your eyes crinkling with happiness. His storytelling skills have always been a source of joy for you.

As you savoured the moment, his gaze lingered on you. He marvelled at how pretty you looked, your eyes sparkling with genuine happiness. It was a sight that warmed his heart and fueled his determination to make you smile every day.

Throughout the meal, his attentiveness spoke volumes. He helped you with your tray, wiped your lips after a messy bite, and rushed to get you some water when you accidentally choked on a bite. These gestures were new, a stark contrast to the Minho of the past.

Biting your lip shyly, you asked the question that lingered in your mind, "Minho, where did you suddenly learn to be so sweet?"

His eyes softened as he met your gaze, a warmth radiating from within, "I guess I realised that being sweet is just a small way of showing how much I care. I've missed out on these simple moments before, and I don't want to make that mistake again. You deserve all the sweetness in the world."

Minho's sincerity tugged at your heartstrings, and a gentle smile curved your lips. It was a moment of revelation, a tangible sign that he had indeed changed.

As you both finished up your meal, the afternoon sun bathed the campus in a warm glow, prompting you to take a leisurely stroll together. His company was enjoyable, and you found yourself stealing glances at him, catching him suppressing a smile. A silent giggle escaped you, a sign that maybe, just maybe, things were truly different this time.

Perhaps you could trust him again.

But the dream-like state shattered when another girl's voice echoed through the air, calling his name. You turned to see a beaming girl running excitedly toward him.

"It really is you, Lee Minho!" She squealed, throwing her arms around his shoulders. Your heart sank as you witnessed his automatic response, arms circling her back. Suddenly, you felt like a third wheel interrupting their unexpected reunion.

His wide eyes shifted to you in panic as he registered your sunken expression. Quickly pulling away from the girl, he stammered, "Oh gosh, um... let me introduce you both. This is Dahyun, my old high school classmate. Dahyun, I want you to meet—" She cut him off, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Why did you leave out the most important part? Did you forget I was also your first love, hm? You used to follow me around like a lost puppy." She laughed, and you lowered your head at the revelation. It felt like a blow, the realisation that perhaps Minho had always been sweet but not exclusively to you.

As you stood there, silently processing their reunion, the dynamics of your relationship with him seemed to shift once again.

Minho, realising the awkward tension in the air and sensing your discomfort, took a deep breath, "Dahyun, please, you never let me finish my sentences." He sighed, trying to steer the conversation back on track.

When he finally gave her your name and attempted to introduce you, he was interrupted by your abrupt interjection.

"She's my—" Minho started, but you cut him off with a forced smile, "Friend. I'm his friend. It seems like you two could use some time to catch up. Let me just excuse myself; I have somewhere else to be." You muttered, smiling politely at Dahyun before turning away. You didn't want to hear another word from him.

As you walked away, a mix of emotions swirled within you. The unexpected encounter had dredged up insecurities and memories you thought were buried. His past with Dahyun felt like a spectre haunting the progress you made. With each step, you hoped the distance would provide clarity, a moment to compose yourself away from the unsettling situation.

Minho watched you go with a pained expression, worried about what might be going through your mind. Dahyun, oblivious to the impact of her arrival, continued to chat animatedly, unaware of the emotional storm she had stirred.

In the aftermath of the encounter, the walls that Minho had painstakingly helped you tear down over the past few months seemed to rebuild themselves. It was disheartening to witness all that effort crumble, all thanks to Kim Dahyun's perfectly timed appearance.

He later discovered that she was only at your university for a limited time—a mere semester, partaking in a short exchange programme to explore modules unavailable at her own university a few states away. The revelation brought a mix of relief and frustration. Relief, as her stay was temporary, and frustration at the havoc she had unintentionally wreaked on your relationship.

Minho found himself struggling with the consequences of Dahyun's exaggerated claims, particularly her assertion that he had chased her during high school. In reality, he vividly recalled only harbouring a slight crush and being slightly shy around her—nothing as extreme as she made it out to be.

If only you knew the truth, if only you would allow me to explain the misunderstanding.

Each passing day felt like an uphill battle for him as he navigated the delicate balance between respecting your space and desperately wanting to clarify the situation.

Despite the challenges, he was determined to break through the walls that had reemerged. He hoped for a chance to convey the truth, to assure you that his past with his old classmate was far less dramatic than it had been painted. Grappling with these thoughts, he couldn't shake the sinking feeling that the connection you both had worked so hard to rebuild might be slipping away once again.

Even with the emotional turmoil and the growing chasm between you both, he found himself unable to turn Dahyun down whenever she invited him to lunch or sought his company. After all, she was a good friend, only unaware that her presence was unwittingly costing him his second chance with his dream girl.

While you maintained your distance, steadfastly refusing to talk, Minho spent his free time with Dahyun. He took her around campus, offering guided tours and helping her adapt to the surroundings. He introduced her to new friends, patiently navigating the delicate balance between his commitments to her and the desire to repair the rift between you and him.

In his mind, he told himself that he would only dedicate this time and effort until Dahyun had enough friends to navigate campus life on her own. Once she established her own support system, he would redirect all his time and efforts back toward bridging the gap with you.

Meanwhile, you scoffed in disbelief each time you spotted Minho accompanying Dahyun around campus.

It seemed like he was always by her side, leaving you with a growing sense of abandonment. The person who had once promised to dedicate himself to rebuilding what was broken between you now appeared to have forgotten your existence entirely.

You kept your frustration and hurt within, attempting to convince yourself that he was simply fulfilling his role as a friend to Dahyun. But the final straw came when you overheard some classmates gossiping about what seemed like a love triangle involving the three of you.

"I thought she and Minho were finally getting back together until that Dahyun girl showed up. Apparently, she was his first love? I guess first loves really are unforgettable, huh? Damn, imagine being nothing more than a rebound like that." One of your classmates remarked in a hushed tone in the library.

The words cut through you like a knife, confirming the fears and insecurities that had been festering within.

The assumption that you were nothing more than a rebound left a bitter taste in your mouth, and the realisation that others were witnessing the unravelling of your relationship added to the pain.

Huh, guess that explains it then.

Tears welled up in your eyes as you tried to maintain composure in the public space of the library. The weight of being perceived as a secondary option, especially after the effort you had put into rebuilding with Minho, felt like an unbearable burden.

Rushing back to your dorm, you unexpectedly ran right into your ex-boyfriend, of all people, on the way. Cursing under your breath, you tried to avoid his concerned gaze, but he stepped in your way, preventing you from escaping the confrontation.

"Why are you crying? What happened? Who hurt you? Just say the name, and I'll deal with that bastard." His initial concern turned into anger as he noticed the tears in your eyes. You pushed him away by the chest, frustration and hurt evident in your voice.

"It's you, Minho! You're the bastard! It all makes sense now..." He furrowed his brows, trying to make sense of your words, "What does?"

You let out a humourless laugh, bitterness lacing your tone, "That I'm nothing more than a rebound to you. First loves truly are unforgettable, aren't they? Ever since Dahyun's here, it seems I've become invisible again."

He felt a surge of hurt at the accusation, "What? That's not true! Well, what the hell was I supposed to do if you won't even talk to me?! Dahyun's new here, and she doesn't have any friends aside from me! Is it so wrong of me to look after her?"

Minho took deep breaths, attempting to calm himself despite his typically bad temper. He fought against the rising anger, not wanting to unleash it on you. Your accusations, however, struck a nerve, and the fury he had been holding back began to surface. He felt a deep sense of wronging, especially considering all the effort he put into trying to rebuild the connection with you.

"You know what?" He finally spoke, his voice cold and edged with frustration, "If you truly have that little trust in me, perhaps there's no point in trying to fix this at all. It seems like no matter how hard I work, you'll only doubt me in the end." With those words, he turned away and stalked off, leaving the unresolved tension lingering in the air between you.

The emotional storm had taken its toll, and both of you were left grappling with the aftermath of a confrontation that only seemed to widen the gap further.

Tears streamed down your cheeks as you stood there, the weight of his words sinking in. It felt like another breakup, and you couldn't shake off the overwhelming sense of defeat that washed over you. At that moment, it became painfully clear that the glimmer of hope for reconciliation had faded.

I knew it was too good to be true.

Walking away from the scene, Minho battled with his own internal turmoil. Guilt weighed heavily on him for uttering those harsh words, especially when he didn't mean them. The anger that fueled his outburst now turned into a deep regret, knowing he hurt you again.

As he replayed the heated exchange in his mind, he prayed desperately that you would somehow understand that those words were spoken in anger, not reflective of his true feelings.

He beat himself up for losing control, realising the immense challenge he now faced in earning back your trust. The question echoed in his mind: How was he ever going to make things right and rebuild what seemed irreparably broken?

The days that followed were absolute hell.

To you, it felt like the end, the finality of his words still echoing in your mind. For Minho, it was a desperate struggle to convey that it was just another mistake, a momentary lapse fueled by anger. The weight of the misunderstanding hung heavy on him, and he navigated each day with a sense of urgency to make things right.

Dahyun finally took notice of his distressed state and decided to inquire, "Dude, you good? What's with you lately, man?"

Heaving a deep sigh, he decided to open up and share the entire saga from the very beginning. As she processed the information, her jaws slowly dropped, realising the unintended trouble her words had caused, "Crap, I'm so sorry for my big mouth! If only I knew, I'd never say those things." She exclaimed, slapping a palm on her forehead.

Minho nodded in defeat, "Yeah, I know that. The problem is that she doesn't. She truly believes there's something going on between us and that she's only a rebound. I mean, how can she even think that? I... God, Dahyun, I love her so much, and I just wish she could see that."

He hid his face in his hands, feeling utterly hopeless. He just wanted you back, and the difficulty of the situation weighed heavily on him.

Feeling a sense of responsibility, Dahyun pulled him close and patted his back, "There, there. You should've told me sooner. I could've spoken to her and clarified everything then. You're an idiot."

He chuckled, squeezing her arm, "You're right, I am an idiot. You'll still help me though, right?"

She rolled her eyes, "Duh! I have to clean up the mess I made. There's no way I'd be able to return in peace if you don't get your girlfriend back by the end of this semester."

As if the universe conspired against Minho, you happened to catch sight of him and Dahyun in an embrace just as he bared his soul to her. Your heart clenched at the sight, the painful realisation of seeing him openly in another woman's arms, something he had never done with you, not even in private.

Nayeon approached you with narrowed eyes, seething at the sight of you being hurt again. Determined to help you get over him, she swung her arm over your shoulder, pulling you away, "Oh, forget him. I know a perfect way to move on. There's this party tonight, and you're coming with me."

You shook your head, "Not like that, Nayeon. I don't—" She sighed, "Look, I'm not asking you to hook up with some random stranger. Just let loose and have some fun, alright?"

As a self-proclaimed goody-two-shoes who had never been to a party, the idea was unfamiliar. But the prospect of trying something new appealed to you at that moment, "Oh, what the hell, let's do it." You said with a half-hearted cheer, and she immediately led you back to your dorm to get ready for the night ahead.

You momentarily forgot all about Minho as you stepped into the crowded frat house for the first time, pulling at the ends of the short and tight-fitting mini dress that Nayeon forced you into. You begged her to let you put a cardigan over it, and she only agreed after you threatened not to go.

So, here you were, clutching onto your roommate's hand as she led you inside.

Your eyes rounded at the sight of horny young adults grinding against one another, holding cups of assorted alcohol in their hands. The pulsating music thudded through your chest as you tried to navigate through the sea of bodies.

Nayeon, undeterred by the chaos, pulled you deeper into the party, determined to make you forget about the heartache waiting outside those doors.

Sensing your discomfort, she took you to the kitchen, where you each grabbed a cup of drink before leading you towards a quieter area by the pool in the backyard, where a few groups of friends and couples were lounging about.

She sat you down by the pool, "Hey, are you alright staying here by yourself for a bit? I'll be back real quick."

Following her line of sight, you see her classmates waving at her from inside. You nodded immediately, "Sure, go on."

Left alone, you took a deep breath, trying to take in the surreal atmosphere of the party. The cool breeze from the pool provided a welcome contrast to the heat inside, and the dim lights cast a gentle glow on the water. You sipped your drink nervously, wondering how you'd ended up at a party like this.

As you looked around, you spotted a group of people playing beer pong nearby, and your attention was drawn to a familiar face in the crowd. Minho was there, laughing and joking with a few guys, seemingly carefree.

The sight twisted a knife in your gut, but you quickly reminded yourself that you were here to have fun and move on.

You looked away from your ex and squeezed your eyes shut. Of course, he had to be here too. If you knew he'd be here, you wouldn't have come. At the thought, you chugged the drink and finished it in one go. Perhaps you shouldn't have done that; you rarely ever touched alcohol, and that brave but stupid action was quick to send you into a wave of dizziness.

The world seemed to spin around you as you steadied yourself by gripping the edge of the pool. You took a few deep breaths, attempting to regain your composure.

The night air felt colder than before, and the distant sound of music blended with the murmur of partygoers.

Just as you were contemplating whether to find Nayeon or head back to the dorm, someone approached you from behind, "Hey, you okay?" A gentle voice cut through the haze, and you turned to see a friendly face, a guy offering a concerned smile, "You looked like you needed a break."

Grateful for the distraction, you managed a nod and attempted a small smile, "Yeah, just needed some fresh air." The stranger chuckled, understanding, "It gets overwhelming in there sometimes. I'm Doyoung, by the way. Mind if I join you for a bit?"

You agreed, and as you sat by the pool chatting with Doyoung, you found that the night might not be as dreadful as you initially thought.

Thanks to your tipsy state, you were a much better conversationalist than you'd be sober. You jumped from topic to topic with him, suddenly discussing constellations as you both marvelled at the night sky, "So beautiful, isn't it?" While your eyes remained on the stars illuminating the sky, Doyoung's eyes went to you, "Not as beautiful as you are."

You blinked at the sudden pickup line, turning to him in surprise. It was then that he began to lean in for what seemed like a kiss. You gasped, and your hands shot up to his chest to stop him. It felt wrong, even when you and Minho weren't together.

No, I can't do this.

"Wait, wait. I can't." You stammered, pulling back.

Doyoung immediately straightened up, concern etching his features, "Did I misread the situation? I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

You shook your head, feeling a mix of embarrassment and gratitude, "It's not you, really. I just... I can't. Not right now."

He nodded understandingly, offering a reassuring smile, "No need to apologise. If you need some space, I totally get it. I'm here if you want to talk or anything."

Flustered, you pulled yourself up and stumbled into the party in search of Nayeon. After what happened, it was too awkward to continue sitting with Doyoung. Unbeknownst to you, Minho had witnessed the whole exchange. His heart nearly stopped when he saw the stranger lean in to kiss you, only to sigh in relief when you pushed him away.

That's my girl.

His worries didn't stop when he saw you stumbling into the house. He realised you must have been affected by the alcohol. You don't usually drink, so one cup here must be a lot for you. He pushed his way through people to reach you; he needed to know you were safe.

Panicking, Minho loses sight of you in the crowd, anxiously weaving through the party in search of you.

His heart races as he spots Nayeon, hope flickering in his eyes, but it fades when he sees you're not with her. Approaching your roommate, he urgently asks about your whereabouts.

Nayeon rolls her eyes in irritation at his presence, "She's at the pool, you doofus. Don't you dare disturb her, you've done more than enough."

Minho groans in frustration, "No, she's not! I saw her; she got drunk and came in here looking for you!"

Her eyes widen at that revelation, "She what?! Holy shit, we've gotta find her!" Realising the seriousness of the situation, Nayeon grabs Minho by the arm, leading him towards the pool area.

Minho's mind races with guilt and worry. He knew he had to find you and make sure you were safe, no matter what it took. Nayeon, despite her annoyance with your ex, couldn't ignore the urgency in his voice. The two hurriedly make their way through the crowd, desperately searching for any sign of you.

As you swayed around in your drunken state, desperately searching for your friend, you clumsily bumped into a guy dancing nearby. Slurring your words, you apologised and attempted to walk away. But the stranger, eyeing you up and down, licked his lips and tugged on your arm.

"Are you alright, sweetheart? You need any help?" He asked, glancing around to check if you were alone. In your intoxicated state, you nodded, "Yes... I'm looking for my friend..."

The guy smirked, wrapping an arm around you, "Come on, I'll help you find your friend." Trustingly, you let him lead you away. Fortunately for you, Minho's friends had caught sight of the situation and rushed to alert him.

Your ex's heart pounded as his friends informed him of your predicament. Panic and anger surged through him as he pushed through the crowd, desperately trying to reach you before anything bad could happen. The thought of you being led away by a stranger sent chills down his spine, and he couldn't forgive himself for losing sight of you in the first place.

Minho, Nayeon, Chan, and Jisung rushed up the stairs, frantically searching through the rooms while apologising to the occupants whenever they accidentally intruded on private moments. Your ex's anxiety reached its peak as he imagined the worst scenarios.

Finally, he burst into a room and saw you struggling weakly against a stranger who was trying to force himself on you.

Rage boiled inside him as he roared, "You bastard, take your hands off her!" With a surge of strength, he pulled the guy away before delivering a furious punch to the pervert's face. The assailant crumpled to the ground as Minho's friends rushed to restrain him and drag him downstairs for further action.

Nayeon, crying apologetically, quickly helped you put your cardigan back on and fix your dress which was thankfully still intact. It meant that the guy hadn't been able to go too far.

Minho's protective instincts flared, regretting every moment that led to this situation. He wished he could turn back time and prevent the chain of events that caused you harm. The realisation of how close he came to losing you again struck him like a lightning bolt, and he vowed silently to do whatever it took to protect you from now on.

His rage simmered beneath the surface as he approached you, "I swear I'll kill him for you if you want me to, just say the word." He offered with a fierce determination in his eyes.

Without hesitation, you wrapped your arms around his neck, seeking comfort and safety. He sighed and embraced you tightly, cradling the back of your head with a hand, his warmth a soothing balm against your distress.

"I just want you to stay with me, please," You whimpered, your vulnerability palpable. He nodded reassuringly, "Of course, I'll stay with you forever." His words were a promise, and as you sobbed against him, you found solace in the safety of his arms.

Nothing else mattered as you melted into his embrace, the reassurance of his presence was all you needed at that moment.

Nayeon stood aside, her eyes filled with tearful remorse. Regret weighed heavily on her heart as she realised the gravity of her misguided decision to bring you to the party.

Despite your roommate's endless apologies for the ill-fated party, you found it in your heart to forgive her. You understood that she didn't mean any harm and that her intentions were only to provide you with an opportunity to unwind.

The incident also served as a catalyst for Minho to open up and share the truth with you, dispelling the misunderstandings that had clouded your relationship. You appreciated his honesty and efforts to bridge the gaps of miscommunication. It was a relief to finally put the past behind you once and for all.

To your surprise, Dahyun took the initiative to approach you, expressing sincere apologies for all the trouble her actions may have caused. She acknowledged the unintended consequences of her presence and was genuinely remorseful. The air was finally cleared, and you felt a sense of closure as the people around you worked to mend the aftermath of the unfortunate events.

Now that all that drama was over, you, Minho, Dahyun, and Nayeon have begun to hang out a lot more. Amused by the newfound friendship between Dahyun and Nayeon, you were surprised at how well the two got along. It seemed that the universe had decided to align things in a peculiar but delightful manner.

As the four of you hung out at the student lounge one day, Dahyun and Nayeon exchanged mischievous glances. They seemed to share some secret plan that you were not privy to. Oblivious to their scheming, you were engrossed in working on an assignment, busily typing away on your laptop.

Noticing Minho's dreamy gaze fixed on you, Dahyun and Nayeon decided it was time to play matchmakers. With a feigned excuse, they both left the student lounge, giving you and him some unexpected alone time. You glanced up, your eyes rounding as you watched them saunter away with knowing looks.

Cheeks flushing, you turned your attention back to Minho, only to realise that his eyes had been glued to you the entire time. The atmosphere shifted as you caught each other's gaze.

He chuckled at the sight of your pink cheeks, "Don't mind me, get back to your work. I'll be here, no one will dare disturb you."

Feeling a mix of emotions, you bit your lip shyly as he patted your head reassuringly. His sweet words caught you off guard, creating a warmth that spread through you. You nodded, appreciating the comfort he provided, and tried to focus on your work despite the fluttering in your heart.

Meanwhile, Minho's phone vibrated in his pocket, and he retrieved it to find a text from Dahyun. She playfully urged him to seize the opportunity to finally ask you the question, threatening to unfriend him if he continued to stall any longer. He chuckled at her straightforwardness, appreciating the push from his friend.

Don't worry, Dahyun. I will.

Later that night, the moon hung high in the night sky, casting a soft glow over the campus as Minho and you strolled back from a delightful dinner. The air was crisp, and the only sounds that accompanied your footsteps were the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.

As you reached the entrance of your dorm, you exchanged casual goodbyes, "Thanks for the meal, Minho. I'll see you tomorrow."

But his hand reached out to gently grasp your wrist, halting your steps. You turned to look at him, a question forming on your lips, but the sincerity in his eyes silenced any words you might have spoken.

It's now or never.

His voice carried a vulnerability that echoed in the quiet night, "Wait... before you go," Minho began, his grip on your wrist gentle yet firm. The dim light highlighted the earnestness in his expression, "There's something I must ask you. I... I can't hold it in any longer. I've wasted too much time, made you wait too long. I'm sorry it took me this long to pull myself together."

A hushed apology hung in the air, and his eyes bore into yours, seeking understanding and forgiveness. He took a deep breath, his fingers now intertwining with yours as he continued, "But I promise you'll never have to wait anymore. I want to give you all the love you deserve, if only you'll let me."

The weight of his words settled between you, and the atmosphere became charged with anticipation. His gaze held a mixture of hope and determination as he finally posed the question that lingered in the night air.

"Would you... be my girlfriend again?"

Your heart skipped a beat at that. His sincerity was palpable, and the emotion in his eyes reflected the depth of his feelings. As he reached for both of your hands, looking into your hopeful and waiting eyes. A mixture of emotions welled up within you, but in that moment, you decided to let go of the past and embrace the possibility of a new beginning.

A soft smile played on your lips as you nodded, "Yes, Minho. I'd love to be your girlfriend again."

The relief and happiness that washed over his face mirrored your own feelings. It was a fresh start, and you both hoped that this time around, your love story would be written with more understanding, appreciation, and commitment to make it last.

Minho's eyes glistened with tears of joy as your response echoed through the night, "Thank you for giving me a second chance." The weight that had burdened him for so long seemed to lift, and a sense of completeness washed over him.

You were his again, and this time, he vowed to cherish and protect what he once took for granted.

With a tender smile, he pulled you close, his hands cupping your face as if it were the most delicate thing in the world. His touch was gentle, a silent promise to treat your heart with the care and respect it deserved. Stroking your cheeks softly, his gaze traced every feature of your face, committing the moment to memory.

As he leaned in, the world around you seemed to fade away. The soft glow of the moon witnessed the rekindling of a love that had weathered storms. When your eyes fluttered closed, he knew he had your permission. With a heart full of love, he pressed his lips against yours in a tender, lingering kiss.

The sweet moment between you was abruptly interrupted by the sound of hyena-like laughter and cheers echoing from somewhere upstairs. You both pulled away from the kiss, exchanging a confused glance before shifting your attention upward. To your surprise, Dahyun and Nayeon were peeking out from your room window, their faces illuminated by mischievous grins and excitement.

"About damn time you losers got back together again!" Nayeon's voice carried down, a teasing and joyful proclamation.

You scoffed at her playful comment, but soon, laughter bubbled up within you. The infectious mirth spread and even Minho couldn't resist the grin that crept across his face.

Amused by the unexpected audience, you raised an eyebrow at your friends, but the two continued to wave excitedly. The embarrassment was quickly replaced by shared laughter, and Minho, unable to contain his joy, pulled you back into his arms. Nestling his face into your neck, he joined in the laughter, grateful for the unexpected cheerleaders celebrating your reunion.

The warmth of the night, the laughter, and the realisation that you were surrounded by friends who genuinely cared enveloped you. At that moment, it felt like the world was cheering for your love, and as you held Minho close, you marvelled at the twists and turns that had led you back into each other's arms.

The weeks that followed your reunion were filled with joy, laughter, and a renewed sense of love. As the two of you navigated the challenges and joys of being together again, Minho's friends noticed the significant change in their once aloof and distant friend.

In the cosy confines of their dorm, your boyfriend found himself smiling like a lovestruck fool at a text you sent him. His friends, keenly aware of the shift in his demeanour, couldn't resist teasing him.

"Hey, Minho, you're grinning at your phone like you just won the lottery." Chan remarked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Seungmin joined in, "I thought I'd never see the day when Minho hyung here turns into a cheesy romantic."

Minho, feigning annoyance and irritation, shot back, "Can't a guy be happy without getting interrogated by the peanut gallery?"

Changbin laughed, "Come on, hyung, spill it. What's got you all smiley?"

As the laughter died down, Jisung, always a bit more sentimental, chimed in, "You know, I've known Minho hyung for a long time. It's kinda nice to see him like this. He's genuinely happy, and I'm proud of him."

Your boyfriend's eyes flickered with a mixture of gratitude and bashfulness. Despite his attempts to maintain a cool exterior, the genuine happiness radiating from him betrayed his true emotions. His friends, understanding the significance of the moment, raised their cups in a subtle toast, acknowledging the positive change that love had brought to their friend's life.

Love had not only rekindled the romance between you both but also transformed him into a happier and more open version of himself.

You and Minho strolled through the lively streets of the town one evening, basking in the warm glow of streetlights and the subtle hum of life around you. The air was filled with a sense of contentment, an unspoken understanding that everything was right in the world.

As you explored different shops and enjoyed each other's company, he found it increasingly difficult to keep his hands to himself. In the beginning, his public displays of affection were modest – a handhold here, a gentle touch there. But as your relationship blossomed, so did his boldness.

While queuing to buy a famous dessert, he couldn't resist pulling you close, his arms enveloping you from behind. He pressed soft kisses to your head, cheeks, and neck, causing you to giggle at the ticklish sensation. Playfully, you turned around and pushed him lightly by the chest, "Enough, Minho, we're in public."

He held your waist, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and raised a brow, "And?" The audacity of his actions surprised you, and your eyes widened at the newfound boldness. But before you could react further, he let out a carefree laugh, enjoying the new dynamics of your relationship.

As you continued your evening stroll, he couldn't help worrying if his sudden boldness was pushing the boundaries of your comfort. Later on, with a genuine concern in his eyes, he asked, "Is it too much, baby? I can tone it down if it makes you uncomfortable."

Your heart warmed at his thoughtfulness.

You shook your head, a smile playing on your lips, and pecked him on the lips, "Never." His smile widened, reassured by your response, and he kissed you again, not caring about whoever might be watching. The world seemed to fade away as he pulled away slightly, his lips brushing against yours.

"I love you," He whispered, his eyes locked onto yours, seeking confirmation. Your heart swelled at the sincerity of his words, and finally, after everything you'd been through, you felt the weight lift off your shoulders, "I love you too, Minho." You replied, sealing the sentiment with a sweet, lingering kiss.

If someone told you months ago that Lee Minho would transform into a person so affectionate, you wouldn't have believed them.

Yet here he was, breaking free from his reserved shell and embracing love with open arms. You, for one, were just glad that his heart was no longer a mystery. Now more than ever, you were certain it belonged completely to you.

Damn, this ended up longer than I expected.

Ngl, I was this close to deleting this at some point. I drafted and scrapped my initial writings for about 3 times. I had this wonderful idea but struggled so much to put it into words.

I tried working on this again after a break and voila, finally managed to complete it. It's my first full-length fic in a while, hope it's decent! Thank you for reading and let me know your thoughts! <3

All Rights Reserved © edenesth // DO NOT REPOST, TRANSLATE, PLAGIARISE OR REPURPOSE.

[justmeinadaze]

My Little Man (Steddie X You) (Part of HFOD and SS Universe)

A/N: I guess you guys would call this season 3? Lol. My angst hella took over as well as some feelings I've been dealing with lately.

Enjoy please <3.

Part of this Universe

Warnings: Demon Steddie & Human Fem Reader, No SMUT in this one, FLUFF, they love each other and their son. Demon Steddie is navigating how to be human while taking care of a pregnant Y/N.

ANGST: More or less the normal level of angst that comes with this series. The theme is grief and PTSD (from a soldiers perspective). Y/N is still struggling with the notion of her parents not being there to see Ellis grow up and the guys (especially Steve) is struggling with being raised how they were and taught to fight. Eddie struggles with feelings of enabling because of everything they went through.

The dreams probably have the most feels. They talk to their loved ones and Ellis says goodbye. Steve has nightmares that involve his dad being a dick (of course) and something that happens within one angers Eddie (blood briefly mentioned).

Word Count: 6398

"Don't you know I love you more than life itself Don't you know that you're my pride And I would not have you walking through this world Without me by your side

Go to sleep my little man Don't you weep my little man"

3 Months Pregnant

Steve sits on the bench outside of the library he had just exited from, sighing heavily as he closed his eyes and threw his head back.

Ever since the three of you got home, he and Eddie had been doing research on which human job they would best be suited for in your realm but were struggling to find much of anything. For him, it was even more difficult since he was raised to be a solider. He genuinely didn’t know how to do anything else and it didn’t help that even though you explained a lot of human behavior, he still felt slightly ignorant with many things. 

“May I sit?” The demon jumped at the sound of a gravelly voice beside him. “Oh, shit. Sorry, son. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“No, it’s alright. Um, please.”, he gestures towards the area beside him causing the man to flash him a thankful grin as he takes a seat. 

“How long?”

“I’m sorry?”

“I asked how long. I know the look of a fellow veteran trying to figure out how to adapt to a civilian lifestyle. How long has it been since you saw combat?”

“Oh, uh, it’s…it’s been a few years. But I did it the bulk of my life.”

“I can imagine with you being so young. I bet one of your parents was a solider as well?”

“Wow. Yeah, that’s amazing. How did you…?”

“I told you, son. I know the look.”, the man chuckles as he extends his hand. “Truman Duvall; Ex Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army.”

“Steven Harrington. Um, Sergeant in the US Army. Well, Ex.”, Steve laughs nervously as he hopes his memory of things he’s learned about humans in the past is still up to date.

“Nice to meet you. If I may ask, what were you thinking so hard about specifically?”

“My girlfriend is pregnant and I’m trying to find a job so I can help support my family. I want my son to have a better life then I did but I have no idea where to start.”

“Congratulations on the little bundle! I have four myself, two of them grown and out of the house already. My wife pretends like she’s glad they’re out but she misses them.”, he laughs. “I don’t know if you would be willing but down the street here, we have a recreation center where veterans go to relax and let loose. They’ve been looking for a counselor to lead the group therapy. I think you’d be a good fit.”

“Yeah? Um, I guess I could…”

“Look, you don’t even have to make a decision right now. Why don’t meet me there tonight? We’re having a little party get together thing. Of course, you can bring the girlfriend and you both can meet the person in charge. See if you feel comfortable.”

“O-Ok. I, um…” Steve pauses as he debates on if he should tell the truth about Eddie. That was a fight they had when it came to going home. He had been afraid that they would have to hide their relationship and he never wanted to hide or be hidden when it came to the man he loved. But this is also where he wanted to raise his son and he didn’t want to cause a commotion before you four even had a chance to settle in. What would Eddie do?

“Can I bring my boyfriend as well? He’s a veteran to. We actually met during our tour.”

Truman’s mouth pouted out ever so slightly as his eyebrows lifted in surprise. 

“Oh, um, sure! The more the merrier.”

***

“Steven, oh my God, that’s amazing!”, you exclaim as you wrap your arms around his neck. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Hang on, now. I don’t have a job yet but…”

“Don’t sell yourself short, bud.”, Eddie grins from his place on the kitchen counter. 

“I hope it’s ok that I kind of…announced…our relationship. We actually didn’t talk about what we wanted to do but I know if we had stayed in our realm I’d want to be honest.”

The long-haired demon opened his arms and Steve promptly placed himself between his legs with his back against his chest while Eddie rested his chin on his shoulder. 

“I’m glad you did. I love you and I’m not hiding that.”

“Me either.”, you smiled as they beamed right back. 

Suddenly, the happiness drains from your face before you turn and bolt towards the bathroom. You three had been home for a couple of months and within the past week some of the normal symptoms of pregnancy began springing up such as the morning sickness you were currently experiencing. 

“It’s alright, baby. Get it all out.”, Eddie tries to sooth as he holds your hair into a makeshift ponytail. As soon as you were finished, you fell back into his arms and thanked Steve when he handed you a bottle of water. 

“This is normal, right? Humans get nauseas like this.”, he asked. 

“Yeah, honey. It’s normal. I’m alright. I think I’m going to take a nap so I can be 100% for tonight.”

“Y/N, you don’t have to go.”

“No, Steve, I want to go. I want to see where you’ll be and the people you’ll be around.”

################

“Steve! You made it.”, Truman shouts excitedly as he reaches out to shake the boy’s hand. “You must be the girlfriend.”

“Hi. I’m Y/N.”

“Y/N. What a beautiful name for a beautiful woman and this is your…boyfriend? Right, son?”

“Yes, sir. This is Edward.”

“It’s nice to meet you. Steve said you’re a veteran as well. Were you a sergeant like himself?”

“Oh, uh, no. I was more of a private I guess you’d say. But we spent a lot of time together especially on the battlefield.”

“Wow and for you two to still be so close and find a relationship through all that chaos! That’s amazing. I always tell my wife if she met me during my tour she would have hated me. A lot of civilians don’t understand the headspace you have to fall into to do what we have to do.”

Both demon’s nod in understanding and you can’t help but softly smile as you watch them interact with the other people around them. Steve was definitely in his element and you could tell in some way he felt more comfortable in this setting because he was around beings who seemed to understand what they both went through. As his new friend spoke, his eyes remained intense and focused as he absorbed everything he said. 

Eddie excused himself to grab some drinks but became distracted talking to another couple and began to laugh at something they were saying. The first time you met him he expressed a particular distain for humans but he seemed to open up more since they were freed, finding something interesting in each person he interacted with. 

“Hey, this is my girlfriend Y/N.”, he introduces when you walk over to check on him. “Y/N, this is Lisa and Shawn Bennett. Lisa did a tour in the Air Force flying jets and Shawn was a DJ overseas.”

“Oh wow. For the military or just on your own?”

“For the military. I’m kind of like that Cronauer guy they made the movie about. I read the reports and played music I thought would lift the troops spirits.”, the man explains. 

“Kind of like me.”, Eddie whispers in your ear making you smile. “What do you two do now if I may ask? Steve and I have been searching for employment but we have no idea what would fit us.”

“Well, I actually own a store of my own selling books and comics; things like that. I’m a bit of a nerd.”, Lisa laughs. 

“And I teach media and music courses at the local community college up here.”

“That sounds like a lot of fun actually. Are they looking for another music teacher because Eddie is an amazing musician.”

“Yeah? Unfortunately, they aren’t but you should consider maybe starting your own business as well. You can teach kids to play guitar or any other instruments you know and you can do it from your house or maybe the music store downtown is hiring.”

“Are you looking for a job to, Y/N? I’m trying to hire someone to help me with my shop.”, Lisa offers with a smile. 

“Oh, I’d love that. I’m, uh, I’m actually pregnant though and I wouldn’t want to leave you stranded after you just hired me.”

“That’s fantastic! Don’t even worry about it. You don’t seem very far along yet. I can teach you the ropes before you give birth and that way when you come back, you’ll already know what to do!”

As you glance at Eddie, his eyes widen with encouragement as he nods his head. 

“Ok, I’d love to work for you.”

Lisa claps and gives you a big hug as your demon beams behind you.

***

“Hello fellow veterans, spouses, and partners! Glad you could all join us tonight. I hope you are having some much needed fun! I do have just a quick announcement to make. I would like to introduce you to Steven Harrington who is new to Hawkins and after speaking with him I feel like he will be a great addition to our center here as the group counselor.” The man at the podium smiles as he gestures towards the demon and everyone around the room claps. “Steve, why don’t you introduce yourself?”

When he hesitates, you gently push him forward, urging him softly before he relents and nervously climbs up the makeshift stage. 

“Um, hi. Sorry, it’s been a while since I’ve been seen by so many people.” The people chuckle as you and Eddie grin knowingly. “Like Thomas said, I’m, uh, new to Hawkins but my girlfriend is from here and my partner and I thought it would be better for her to be back home where she felt safe with her family so we can start raising our own. I-I-I…shit I used to better at this.”, he chuckles before glancing your way, your gentle smile comforting him. 

“I was raised in a military household. My dad was a solider so that’s what I was expected to be. As soon as I was able, he handed me a weapon and commanded I train to be the best. There was no wiggle room there. It was all or nothing. When I saw war…I shut down and did what I had to. I took no pleasure in killing, contrary to popular belief.”

“The worst part about shutting down that way was how it flowed into my every day. I was as an asshole to everyone including women I dated and people I trained… except for some of the people closest to me…Robin, Chrissy, and Eddie. When Edward and I got out…I felt so out of control…so lost. I lost my identity and everything I knew. If I didn’t have him by my side… Then we met Y/N and without her we literally wouldn’t be here today.”

Steve paused, looking out into the crowd, and realizing he may be talking too much. 

“Sorry. I’m sorry. Thank you so much for this opportunity and I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

The people in the room clap as he steps off the stage and you immediately wrap your arms around his waist as Eddie lightly caresses his cheek. 

***

4 Months Pregnant

You beam at Eddie as he softly strums his instrument. That day after Shawn suggested it, he went down to the music store in town and applied for the job as a guitar instructor. After playing and showing off for them he got the job. He loved hearing the kids try and play reminding him of the children he watched over with Steve during their war. 

Today was everyone’s day off so they were being lazy in bed with you in your pajamas and both demons in nothing but their sweats. 

“Ok, this thing here says for humans you should be feeling him move around now.”, Steve announced as he gestured towards the book he was reading. 

“I haven’t felt him move yet unless the occasional nausea is him saying hello.”, you giggle. Leaning over him, you grab his hand and place it on the middle of your stomach. “Talk to him.”

“Uh, I…hey, Ellis. It’s, um, your daddy. I’m not scaring him with my voice, right?”

“No, baby.”, you grin as you pet his head. “This is how he’ll get used to it though. Hearing and seeing you both in your demon form.”

“Buddy, you have no reason to be afraid of us in any form. I’m sorry your dads aren’t as beautiful as you and your mom but—”

“Hey, speak for yourself.”, Eddie teases making you laugh. “I’m a sexy motherfucker.”

“Oh.”

“What?”, Steve’s eyes shift up excitedly. 

“You didn’t feel that?”

When he shakes his head, you place his hand closer to the side you felt movement, gesturing for the other demon to do the same.

“Say something else.”

“Hey Ellis. This is your other daddy and I assure you we are very handsome.”

“Holy shit.”, Steve exhales as he grins up towards his partner. “That’s amazing.”

“I’m glad you agree, kid.”, Eddie smiles.

***

6 Months Pregnant

Eddie growls at the crib he was trying to assemble as his glowing red eyes glare at the instructions again. Over these past couple of months, you three had made your dad’s old room your bedroom and begun shifting the room you used to sleep in into Ellis’s. 

Going off his personality from your dreams, you painted the room blue with images of guitars along the base boards and up along the ridges of the ceiling. Near where his crib would be, you put up pictures of everyone in his family that loved him including Robin, Wayne, Dustin, and everyone who had passed that he had been conversing with these past six months. 

The boys were able to get everything a baby would need from your realm but also from theirs including those books that Eddie had wrote and some toys demons normally played with at a young age. 

“Whoever invented these contraptions should be tortured for eternity.”, Eddie grunted as he tried again putting a few of the pieces together. 

“You guys don’t have cribs in your realm?” 

“Yeah but they were like boxes essentially. Or at least mine was. I’m sure Steven had gold porcelain or some shit.”

“No.”, Steve chuckled as he took the wrong part from his partner’s hand and handed him the correct one. “I had a regular little wooden thing with soft blankets.”

“I wish I could see what you two were like as kids.”

Since they left Maeve, they weren’t able to snap memories into your head like they were before. It hurt them more than you because you always seemed curious about them and they wished they could show you everything from their point of view, not Henry’s or Mirage’s. 

“How much did Mirage show you?”

“She showed me big events more than anything. Steve always looking for his parents especially your mom. She did play sword fight with you once and you looked so happy until your dad yelled at her for ‘ruining your training’.” You rolled your eyes as Steve pet your head and sighed. “Eddie, I did see what your uncle told me about with your mom singing to you.” The demon’s glow receded in his eyes as he glanced your way with a small smile. 

“Until my father told her to shut up?”

Tilting forward, you crawled over his work to kiss his lips making his smile widen as he caressed your face. 

“What about your parents, honey?”

“Both my parents were amazing. My dad always loved to make us laugh. He liked being a girl dad and my mom exploited that.”, you giggle. “She would make him wear tutus while I would do his makeup and they both would dance.”

A tear left your eyes and both demons promptly gave you their attention. 

“I’m sorry you guys don’t have your parents here. You both deserve better.”

“Baby, it’s ok—”

“Eddie it’s not okay.”

“Will you let me finish?”, he jokes. “It’s ok because I had my mom and I had Wayne. Then as I got older I got my other family. Steven, Robin, Chrissy, and even Dustin. Now, sweetheart, I have you two and Ellis. I couldn’t be happier.”

“I agree. I’m thankful for the memories I do have with my mom but the kids I trained and beings I fought with…that was my family. I’m so excited to see what’s in store for us, you know. See what Ellis is going to do with his life.”

You smiled as you kissed their lips before you wince and lean away. 

“Ow. Little butthead is kicking my side.”

“Hey, kid.”, Eddie teases as he tilts towards your tummy. “Why don’t you stop hurting your mother and come help me make your torture technic of a crib.”

###############

8 months Pregnant

You, Steve, and Eddie walked into the house you three had been in so many times these last few months except now it was completely empty. All the furniture and everything was completely absent as you entered the living room full of people.

“Ellis?”

Everyone in the room moved out of the way to where Eddie’s mom was hugging her grandson to her chest as he sobbed. 

“I don wanna go!”

“You have to, baby. Your mommy and daddies need you now. They’ve been waiting so long to see you.”

“Mom?”, Eddie asked as he stepped towards her. “What’s going on?”

She softly smiled as she handed him to your father who spun him around as he chuckled but your son just buried his face further in his neck. 

“Come on, little guy. Your parents have made you an awesome bedroom and knowing my daughter she’s going to show you so many amazing things.”

The little boy shook his head as your dad kissed his temple before handing him to your mom. 

“Steven, remember, you once told me that everything would be ok and you were right. I’ve watched you both take care of my baby and I assure you, you both are going to be more than ok. You are going to be amazing parents.”

He beamed at him as he wrapped his arms around the demon and pulled him in for a hug. 

Your mother grinned as she reached out to touch your face as you started to cry. 

“I’m scared to do this without you.”, you whisper. 

Your parent’s smiles widen as she kisses her grandson and places him in your arms. 

“We’re not going anywhere. We’re always right here.”, she soothes as she points to Ellis’s forehead. “Right behind that door, honey.”

“I love you.”, you son coos as each grandparent reciprocates his affection. 

As both your demons come to your side, you look down to no longer see a toddler but a newborn baby wiggling in your arms. Steve gently pets his head as Eddie reaches for his tiny hand that immediately clings to his finger. 

All of your eyes shoot open but yours is followed by a grunt as you place your hands on your stomach. 

“Fuck! I think…”

They don’t waste any time as they collect you and your things before rushing towards the hospital. 

***

“How long are they going to keep him back there?”, Eddie growled as he held your hand.

“Calm down. Y/N said this was normal. They need to clean him, check his vitals, and all that.”

“Yeah, but Steven, what if something comes up in those vitals that frightens a human.”

The other demon’s eyes flash red in warning in his direction as a low rumble leaves his chest. 

“Maybe we should have had him in your realm.”, you respond groggily as your heavy eyes shift their way. 

“Baby, don’t let Edward scare you, ok? He’s fine. He’s got more human in him right now than anything. Dustin said he would grow into his demon parts.”

“He also said we’re the first couple ever to do this so…”

“Edward Munson, I swear—“, Steve’s anger was cut short when the door to your hospital room opened and a nurse casually sauntered in.

“Hey Munson-Harrington family.”, she smiles. “We have little Ellis here fast asleep and everything looks good. Mommy, how are you feeling?”

“Like I gave birth.” The nurse laughs at your joke as your demons roll their eyes. “I’m alright. A bit exhausted.”

“Yeah, that’s normal, sweetheart. Good news is your baby is in perfect health. Would you like to meet him?” Your eyes fully open as you sit up, smiling softly when she places him in your arms.  “I’ll come check on you three in a bit.”

Tears start to fall as you fully take him in. Right now, he seemed like a completely normal child with soft skin and just a sliver of brown hair poking out of his blue beanie. 

“Hey, honey. You’re so handsome. I’m your mommy.”, you coo in a whisper as you kiss his forehead. “Oh my god, he smells so good.”, you laugh as you look their way. 

Eddie was the first to step forward, sitting beside you on the bed as he caressed his son’s chubby little cheek with his finger. 

“Holy shit. He’s so soft.”, he breathes. “You’re perfect, kid.”

Steve finally takes a seat as well and reaches out to feel his tiny hand. 

“He’s warm to. Is that normal?” When you nod, he almost breathes a sigh of relief. “Ellis, we’re your daddies. You ARE perfect, oh my god.”

The baby squirms a bit in your hold giving them pause before pulling away. 

“I think that was his way of saying thank you.”, you smile. 

###########

3 Weeks Old

“Fascinating.”, Dustin muses as he rocks Ellis in his arms while swaying around the living room. “He really does look just like a little human with the soft skin and everything. Nothing has stood out?”

“Can you stop analyzing our baby and just enjoy him?”, Eddie snaps as he sighs. 

“No, nothing.”, you giggle, answering his question. “And so far he seems to eat but not as much as normal babies.”

“How so?”

“Babies are supposed to eat every two hours; we’ve been feeding him every six. I was worried at first but we just took him the doctor and she said he was healthy. When I tried to give him a bottle every two he would cry and push at my hands.”

“Interesting. That has to be hard, Y/N. Him not being able to verbally tell you things like that. I hated when my kids cried in general but you…you still have that whole trial and error thing going.”

Glancing towards your demons, Eddie had fallen asleep with his head nestled in Steve’s lap on the couch who was already napping when Dustin arrived. 

“It is. I appreciate everything you’ve done for us though and I know they do to. I’ve been keeping a record like you suggested should this ever happen for anyone else.”

“Good.” When he notices your gaze shift again, he takes a seat on the floor beside you and lays Ellis on the blanket between you both. “Everything ok with you three?”

“Yeah, I’m just a little worried. They were both already so protective over me and now that he’s here… Steve’s been having nightmares. He pretends he doesn’t but I hear him groaning in his sleep and feel him wake up. I asked him the other night if he still has access to my dreams and he said he can’t find the door anymore.”

A tear fell down your check as Dustin reached out to comfort you. 

“As I’m sure you’ve noticed, Eddie’s attitude has been a lot shorter lately. He’s exhausted and worried about the three of us. He triple checks everything to the point that I find him asleep on the floor by Ellis’s crib because he’s too tired to make it back to our bed and would just rather be closer to his son just in case.”

“What about you? Besides the worry I mean.”

“I know I’m probably being paranoid but sometimes I feel like we’re being watched. It may just be because of our dynamic. I know not everyone is excepting like the new friends we’ve made but no one has said anything… I don’t know. Just…mom brain maybe.”

“Hm, maybe. Keep an eye on that. From what you’ve told me, you’re always pretty intuitive. Wouldn’t want to miss something you know?”

#########

5 Weeks Old

“Oh my god, Y/N, look at him.”, Lisa coos at Ellis as she holds him in her arms. 

“Are you alright, Steve? You look like you haven’t slept.”, Shawn chuckles. 

“Yeah, I’m doing alright. Just…little guy keeping me up.”, he forces a smile. 

Your friends were having a get together for veterans and their families and since Steve worked at the center you suggested you three should go and be seen. Truthfully, you thought it would be good for them both to get out of the house as well as having him specifically spend some time with his new veteran friends to talk about anything that may be weighing on his mind causing his nightmares.

As the night wore on you noticed their soft grins return to their faces as he and Eddie mingled with the people around them. They radiated warmth as they talked about their son and everything he had done with his short little life so far.

“Have you guys started baby proofing yet? I swear when my daughter started crawling it was like she knew which areas were the bad ones!”

“Oh no, not yet. He did smile at Y/N the other day. Ellis has a beautiful little grin.”, Steve boasts.

“At that age usually it’s just reflexive. They see you guys smiling so…”

“Isn’t that all babies though? Like that’s how they learn?”, Eddie genuinely asks as the dads around him laugh. 

“Yeah but who knows some babies are different! You may just have an extremely happy baby who couldn’t wait to show you guys how much he loves being here.”

Time passed and a few of the guests left, leaving the main few that you had really gotten to know. You all sat in the living room while Eddie patted his son’s back as Ellis slept soundly. Steve tenderly petted the baby’s head as you beamed at them from your place in the chair across from them. 

“So how has everything else been going?”, Thomas asks as he chugs back some of the beer in his bottle. 

“Everything has been good, man. Just focusing on them, ya know?”

“Yeah, I understand. When my son was born, that first night I checked on him every hour on the hour. Then for some reason I kept checking on my wife. I knew our son needed us both and I kept thinking ‘What if something happened to either of us?’”

“I can understand that. I, uh, before Y/N and Steve, I lost a lot of people I loved and there was nothing I could do. Now that Ellis is here…it would kill me if anything ever happened to him.”

“Do you have nightmares about it? About losing them?”

“I don’t but Stevie here does.”, Eddie answers causing Steve to toss a glare his way. 

“I do but it’s fine. It’s not a big deal.”

“I had them to. Sometimes I would dream they were on the battlefield I fought in. I would run to them but I could never quite reach them.”, Thomas sighs at the memory. “What do you dream about?”

“It’s fine really.”

You’re not sure if anyone else heard but you and Eddie did as the demon’s voice fluctuated to his real one for a split second.

“Steven…”

“It’s ok, Y/N. Like I said, I get it. If you talk about it, it gives it validity right? You’d hate to manifest something like that into existence. Someone killing Y/N and your son.”

Steve’s eyes closed as his head ticked to the side. 

“Ok, Tom, I appreciate what you’re trying to do but I’m putting my foot down. You’re going to push him too far and he’s already got enough on his mind.”, Eddie defended rising to his feet and handing you the baby. 

“Ah, you’re the enabler I imagine. You allow him to shelter his feelings so he doesn’t have to deal with them.”

“You’re damn right I do. You humans have no idea what we’ve been through!”

“Interesting word choice. Is that how you separate people from your experiences?”

“Come on, guys, let’s head home.” As the long-haired demon grabbed his boyfriend’s arm, he remained frozen in place. Kneeling in front of him, he cupped his face in his hands. “Steven, it’s ok alright. You don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to. Let’s go home and get some sleep, huh?”

When the demon finally opened his eyes, Eddie’s widen in fear; he knew this look all too well. As subtly as he could, he got to his feet and towards the front door with you trailing after him. 

“Steven—”

Once the wind of the outside hit your faces, he expanded his wings, cutting you off as he vanished into the air.

***

“Edward, baby, are you ok?”

Eddie nodded from his place on the floor next Ellis who was sleeping soundly beside him. After laying down as well, he softly smiles your way as he continues caressing the baby’s open hand. 

“DO I enable him, Y/N?”

“Eddie…”

“I just…we went through so much… Every day I had to watch the man I love breakdown. Even when we were out, summoners never treated us with any kind of respect. They knew we wouldn’t be there for long. In our realm, he was hero and with one choice, he was banished and imprisoned…because of me.”

“No, Eddie. Everything you two went through was because of Henry. He killed Chrissy and framed you. Jason didn’t give Steve much of a choice. He was going to disobey orders and hurt you.”

“I always tried to make it up to him… I tried not to show my feelings, pretending I didn’t care we were trapped. Pretending I wasn’t scared and just as angry as he was. I’ve done that my whole life, Y/N. When my mom got sick, I did everything I could to make her laugh so she wouldn’t see how devastated I was. Every time my father came home upset, I acted like I was tough but I was fucking terrified, baby. I was so scared.”

A tear fell from his eye and your immediately wiped it away with your thumb.

“When he fled, I was afraid for my uncle. I didn’t even think twice when I signed up but I was positive I wouldn’t last a month out there on the battlefield. Steven and Robin helped me become a better fighter. With Chris I pretended to be more together than I was. She had enough on her plate at the time and I wanted her to feel safe.”

“It seems like that’s why you pretend, Eddie, so the people you love feel safe.”

Sitting up, he started to cry harder and you immediately crawled to him, curling up in his lap as you held him in your arms. 

The sound you recognized as a portal opening grabbed both your attention as you called Steve’s name.

“Hey, no, sorry. It’s just me. I have him here though.”, Robin answered as she came around the corner with the demon leaning half-conscious around her shoulders. “My girlfriend sent me a message saying he was there at the bar. He had been babbling about how human drinks aren’t strong enough and something about you two and Ellis.”

After leading her to the bedroom, she gently placed Steve onto the mattress. When Eddie entered the room, she smiled when she saw your son’s wide eyes looking back at her.

“He woke up.”, the demon announced as Ellis yawned to emphasis his point. 

“You need to let your parents get some rest, booger.”, Robin coos as she pokes his nose making him smile. 

“Some of our friends said for human babies around this time smiles like that are a reflex.”

“Yeah but he’s not entirely human and that beautiful, drool filled grin didn’t seem reflexive.”, she responded. “It seems like he can handle the demon skin since he’s letting us touch him.”

“Yeah, I think that’s the potion.”, you nod as you reach out to tickle the baby’s chin. “Thank you for bringing Steve back, Robin.”

Softly smiling, she leans down to kiss your forehead.

“Seriously, you and Ellis are so soft—”

“Ay yi, ma’am. This human is ours.”, Eddie playfully scolds as he swats his hand in her direction. 

***

Loud banging and clinking echoes behind the door you’re looking at as smoke occasionally slips through the seams. Taking a long exhale, you reach for the handle but someone tapping your shoulder startles you as you turn and smack the person’s face. 

“Ow! Jesus woman. How many times are you going to pop me?!”, Eddie whines as he rubs his cheek. 

“Edward, how did you—”

“I don’t know. I’ve been looking for the door for months. Maybe you finally calmed me down enough to know what I’m looking for.” Nodding, you kiss his lips. “So what’s the plan?”

“I think…this is Steve’s door. I don’t know. I’ve been trying to access his dreams but I haven’t been able to.”

Holding your hand, he carefully turns the knob and you both step through. Glancing down at his attire, Eddie realizes he’s suddenly in his old battle armor and you both are on the battlefield they fought on all those centuries ago. 

“Why am I not in armor?”

“I mean, you weren’t there, baby.”

“What the fuck are you two doing here?!”, Steve’s father shrieks above you as he lands on his feet. “Leave. NOW. My son needs to learn his lesson.”

“YOU’VE been giving him his nightmares?”, you growl.

“Not exactly. He started having them on his own but I’ve been fueling them.”

Shifting your gaze behind him, you both watch as Steve slaughters enemy after enemy, panting as he slowly tires himself out.

“Steven! Do better! You think these fuckers are going to show mercy on your son?! You have to do what I taught you to get the truth!”

Eddie gripped Bill’s throat and angrily threw him to the ground. 

“You made your hell his hell, you fucking asshole. He told me all about you and everything you did to him. You ruined his life enough! Leave him be.”

“Please. He’s doing this to himself. He’s worried about you two peasants and that thing. I’m making him better. Stronger.”

Grabbing a sword from the ground, you lift the handle and point the other end towards his throat. 

“You heard him. Leave Steven alone or else I swear to God, Bill, I will find a way myself to keep you in hell.”

Growling under his breath, he tried to stand but you and Eddie forced him back down with your weapons. Huffing he suddenly disappeared as well as every other solider that had fallen around the other demon. 

“Ed-Edward?”, Steve panted heavily when you noticed you both there. “Y/N? What are you…? It doesn’t matter. We need to get to Ellis or else Henry’s going to kill him. We have to—”

“Baby, look at me.”, Eddie tried to soothe as he cupped his cheeks in his hands. “You’re dreaming ok? Henry is gone and Ellis is in his crib fast asleep.”

“N-No. No? I can hear him. I can hear him crying! Can’t you hear that?!”

“Steven—”

“NO!”, the demon growls loudly as he shoves the man he loves hard backwards. “Who are you?! You’re not Edward. Y-You’re…You’re trying to trick me. Are you Mirage? Did Henry and his dad hire you to stop me?!”

“Steven…”, Eddie cried with worry as he threw the sword he was holding to the ground and held up his hands. “Sweetheart, please, it’s me. I promise. I would never hurt you like that. I would never keep you from our son.”

As he tried to step forward, the other demon shoved him to the ground.

“I-I-I need to get to my son.”, Steve sobbed as his voice cracked. “I know you’re not Eddie. Tell me where he is.”

When he didn’t answer, he pulled back and pushed his weapon downward. 

The sound of your grunt filled their ears as your eyes met Steve’s wide glassy ones. When you both looked down, blood drenched his sword where it had pushed through your stomach and around your back. 

“Baby?”

Looking up at him again, you smiled through the pain as blood dripped from your lips. 

“Why…why does it hurt?”

The three of you opened your eyes at the same time as you sat up clutching your stomach. Lifting up your shirt, there was no wound but it felt so real. You could still feel the stinging pain lingering on your skin. 

Eddie’s head slowly turned meeting Steve’s still shocked expression as is mouth hung open in shock. 

“I—”

The long-haired demon’s growl cut him off as his eyes glowed bright red. 

“Take us to another realm that we can fucking damage NOW.” You didn’t say anything as Steve rose to his feet with his head hung preparing a portal for them to go through. “Stay here.”

Coming around the bed, he waited for the other demon to finish as you peeked into the world they’d be going to. It was completely baron with nothing but white as far as the eye can see. 

“Fitting.”, Eddie responded in anger as he and the other demon walked inside. 

As the portal began to close, you quickly got up and jumped through right as it disappeared. 

You knew Eddie may be mad but after what happened this wasn’t something you were going to let them handle alone. 

##############

@tlclick73 @tiannamortis @steeldaisies @goodhappyfriday @paleidiot @fireeyes-on-teller-dixon-grimes

@strangerthings64 @howlingco @eddiesguitarskills

@prettypeachsworld @nailbatanddungeon @notlempet

[thequietkid-moonie]

Finding S/O's suicide letter

[ SCENARIO ] [ Shuichi, Rantaro, Kaito ]

[ Danganronpa V3 Killing Harmony ]

⚠️ Depression, mention of suicide attempt

I remember that some time ago I had read an story like this and I immediatly loved the idea! It helped me a lot in that moment!

I already had thought about this and I reached the conclusion that if i ever do try to end my life I won't really leave a letter, there is just on person I will want to say goodbye (maybe say something here, but im not sure)

Sumary: You have been feeling down lately (worst than normally) so you decided to write your last letter, having it ready in case you can't handle it anymore or maybe just to vent, you hide it but your partner end up finding it by accident

Shuichi Saihara

Shuichi is really caring and observant, specially towards you, the person he loves the most, he can't help but being looking after your well-being so is probably that he already noticed hints that you weren't feeling good, that you are feeling down even if you try to hide it but he doesn't want to asume, he thought to himself about talking about it to you later

Shuichi respect your privacy a lot, it isn't common for him to just go and look between your belongings so if he is doing it is because he has a really good reason, maybe he need something that you have (and is probably that he already at least send you a text asking for your permission)

Finding the letter was a total accident, Shuichi find it by casuality while looking for what he needs or it slips from your things and he need to put it where it was, he didn't mean to read it but something about it made him have a bad feeling, maybe it was write in a messy way or it was for how long it was, or maybe just his worries for you for the past days, whatever the reason was he decided to open the letter and read it anxiously

It doesn't matter if the letter is long or short, by the first lines he will completely understand what is this about, Shuichi is completely heartbroken by this, he doesn't want for you to feel this bad, he doesn't want you to feel like death is a better option than continue trying, Shuichi is on the verge of tears and almost having an anxiety attack just by thinking in all of this, scared of what made you think this and more for what could happen to you

Shuichi force himself to calm down, at least enough to be able to call you for the phone, Shuichi tells himself that you are alright, that if you really were about to do it you would let the letter somewhere he or someone else could find it, not hide it between your belongings, still he needs to heard your voice, he need to make sure you are alright. When you finally pick up your phone and he is able to heard your voice Shuichi can finally calm down, like if a great weight would have been lifted from his shoulders, he tries to come up with a excuse and just tell you that he want to see you soon, not wanting to sound worried or anxious because he doesn't want to worry you

Shuichi will confront you almost immediatly but until you two see each other again, in the meantime he will going back and forth thinking in how he could approach this topic and trying to calm down, he can't let himself break down when he need to help you

When you finally meet again Shuichi has a serious expression, he can't help but be worried and he thinks it would be better if he is direct (at least a little), he makes sure that you two are in private, where you two can talk without problem and comfortable, and even before telling you about the letter he makes sure to tell you that he isn't mad at you or anything, he is just really worried

Shuichi start by telling you how it happened, how it actually was an accident that he found it before asking you why you wrote that letter and if you had really thought on ending with your life. Shuichi tries to stay calm because he wants to only focus on you, he wants for you to feel free to vent with him, he want for you to be able to express all what are you feeling but the more you talk about it the more he feels heartbroken and it reach a point where he can't hold back his tears anymore

Is okay if you start crying, Shuichi rather prefer this than you bottle it all, he can spend the rest of the day holding you and comforting you if that is what takes for you to feel a little better, Shuichi doesn't judge for what you feel but ask you to please go to him when you are feeling down, maybe he can't promise you a bright future but he swears to don't leave you alone

He won't suggest searching for profesional help until both of you are more calm, Shuichi is willing to beg you if you don't seem to want to search for help and promise to be by your side in every step, he will never leave you alone. As well he will ask for help to his friends not just about what to do but to show support to you too, he will be hesitant to tell them what happened if you don't want to, but at the end he will tell them (probably only to Kaito and Maki, since he knows he can trust them that they won't tell anyone else or judge you)

Shuichi will be keeping a close eye on you, paying a lot of attention to you behavior because he is afraid that you will do something to harm yourself, it isn't like he doesn't trust you is just that he is terrified of the idea of losing you. As well Shuichi will let aside his shyness just to show how much you mean to him by actions and words, either hugging you and kissing you more often or directly telling you that he love you and that you matter to him

Rantaro Amami

Rantaro is always caring and affectionate towards you, he has no problem with expressing his love for you and, if you let him, he will always have at least one of his hands on you, touching you softly and lovingly. Rantaro is mostly calm and carefree but he is constantly looking after your well-being and he shows his worried on indirect ways most of the time, when he notice that you feel down he notice it almost imediatly and remember you that you have him by your side, you aren't alone

Rantaro isn't the type to just go and see through your belongings for no reason, it has to be because he needs/want something that is between your things or maybe he is just curious or worried for something, he makes sure to send you a text to tell you what he is going to do (ultimately he will apologize later if is something you don't like)

Rantaro come across the letter because it falls from your things or he find it and gets curious over it, Rantaro doesn't want to invade your privacy so the only reason of why he end up reading the letter is because he gets a really bad feeling over it or that he can see the content of the letter (or even just part of it), he doesn't exactly feel the right of doing it so he mentally tell himself to apologize to you later before starting to read the letter

It doesn't take him long before understanding what is about that letter and yet he can't apart his eyes from the letter, he doesn't want to, he want to finish to read the letter like if that would be a reasurance that this is actually real, that you had wrote it. When he finish it Rantaro takes a moment before cover his face in frustration and don't let the letter, he feels like he lose the strength of his legs and is about to fall anytime soon, he is trying really hard to calm himself down and don't get into a panic state, repeating to himself that you are still alive, if you were about to do it he would notice more hints and the letter won't be hidden

Rantaro knew you were feeling bad but he didn't though that you feel so bad that you would prefer to die and he feel frustrated for it, he should have noticed before, did he could have help you more? for how long you have been feeling like this? what would happen to you if he doesn't act soon? The thoughts of you suffering this much are bothering him and make him feel more frustrated with himself

Rantaro loves you with all his heart and wants the best for you, he knows that he can't protect you from sadness but this is so much deep, he doesn't want you to try to harm you, let alone kill yourself, he had already lost all his sisters he doesn't want to lose you too. Rantaro plans to confront you about this as soon as posible

Rantaro tries to contact you by your phone, either by text or a call, and tries to sound as calm as posible while telling you that he wants to see you, there is something he wants to talk with you, promising is nothing bad, he keeps to himself the letter so he can show it when you two talk. Rantaro makes y sure to greet you calmly and with a smile before asking you to sit down with him for a moment and finally show you the letter, he explain that he had found it out for accident but he had read it

Rantaro main is to let you vent about what it has been troubling you, about all are you feeling, all those thoughts and feelings that lead you to think on death as a posibility, and he express you that with a calm and comforting voice, he is heartbroken for all of this but right now you are more important and he will focus all his attention on helping you at the best of his habilities

Rantaro wants to hold you as you vent, is calming for him keeping you close while quietly comforting you as you vent, petting your head or caressing you back comfortingly, Rantaro doesn't say more than little hums to leave clear that he is listening or answering what you ask him, he talks until you are done and then he express how scare he was when he found the letter, how important you are to him and how he doesn't want to lose you, how he will be totally heartbroken if you go that way and that he will miss you every day of the rest of his life, and is until then, when he is expressing himself that tears start to fall from his eyes

Rantaro promise that he isn't mad at you or anything, just worried, he also ask you to please search for profesional help because that person will be able to help you more than he can and promise to don't let you alone, he will never leave you alone, he will be by your side in every step of the way

Rantaro will make sure to remember you more often how much he loves you and how important you are to him from now on

He won't tell the others about what happened with details and just say that you had some troubles if you prefer to keep it as a secret, but from his side he will talk to your friends, asking for support for you (specially if you still have problems to ask others for help)

Kaito Momota

Kaito is pretty friendly and goofy, even a little idiotic sometimes, people can think that he doesn't usually take things seriously but he actually does, Kaito is more perseptive than he let see, whenever you are feeling more down he will notice it but doesn't say anything right away, he prefer to approach to you to try to cheer you up and remember you that you have Kaito Momota, luminary of the stars by your side, ready to support you and help you with everything before making clear that he had noticed your change in behavior (he probably already have an idea of why)

Kaito respect your personal space and time but he is kinda clingy and really affectionate so he doesn't have much problem with entering in you personal space. If Kaito looks through your belongings is because he needs something that he can't find yet, so it may be in your things (he isn't going to look on your things with malicious intentions, never, he trust you enough to even think that you share your secrets and important things with him)

Finding the letter was an accident, maybe it fall from the things he was searching on or he come across the letter, even if he were curious about the letter he won't dare to read it just because he wants to, so for him to read it is because the letter somehow seem suspicious or because he can see the content of it

He doesn't need to read complete the letter to fully understand what it is about, Kaito doesn't even finish to read it when he was already in his way to find you, he runs to search for you almost immediatly with your letter in hand, leaving your things thrown away, not having time to worry about that. Just by reading the letter he was worried but Kaito grows more and more desperate when he doesn't find you, he is frustrated to himself for not noticing that you were feeling THAT bad before and frustrated at you for not telling him nothing about this and thinking that death is the solution

When Kaito finally finds you he is immediatly storming towards you, for his expression he seems angry and he doesn't stop telling you things like how could you think on something so stupid like that! you can't just give up like that! and asking you why the hell you didn't tell him anything! For Kaito doesn't matter if there are people around or not you are more important, he doesn't stop until he finally reach you and when he does he just shut up and hug you, he hugs you as tight as he can, he doesn't say anything, not even if you ask him, he is shaking out of frustration and fear, right now he just need to feel you in his arms, he needs to make sure you are still here

It doesn't take him long for him to calm down, separating from the embrace he shows you the letter asking for an explanation, you to go somewhere you can talk calmly and before start explaining about the letter, Kaito apologize for how he acted moments ago, is just that he was so scare that you would actually do something to end your life

Kaito let you vent about how are you feeling but is constantly interrupting you by saying that you don't have to hide all of this from him, if you have problems you can go to him, he will never be bothered when you need help with something, even with the smallest and silliest things (you are his sidekick so you had to rely more in him too!), as well he insist that life is something very precious and you can just throw it away like that! If you feel like you can't continue anymore you can rely on him and in your friends!

After this incident Kaito will make you train with him, Shuichi and Maki with the excuse of become stronger, and he isn't going to take a no as response, also he will ask you to please search profesional help, he help you at the best of his habilities but a profesional will be able to help you more than him. Kaito won't force you to tell your friends about what you planned to do or the letter but ask you to please rely more on them, he is sure that all of them are willing to help you

[thelukesalvez]

Luke Alvez x Reader: An Accident

Request: “i cannot stop thinking about luke (could just leave it at that! but i will continue) being almost obnoxiously overbearing if his S/O got hurt in the field. ESPECIALLY if he saw the incident go down. i’m talking not leaving their hospital room for DAYS, or not letting them off the couch to get a glass of water. i’m such a sucker for angst with fluffy undertones (😔✌️) so id owe u my first born if u could write something like this!!! also 100% get it if u aren’t interested! ty SO much either way”

Word count: 2.4k 

Warnings: car accident, injury tw

A/N: repost

When Luke finally has a chance to check his phone, his heart sinks as soon as he sees the eleven missed calls. Eight are from his own mother, accompanied by a couple of voicemails. Two are from your mother and one is from a number Luke doesn’t even have saved in his contacts. 

An instant feeling of dread settles within the depths of his stomach. His finger lingers over the play button of the voicemail his mom had left him, but he hesitates. Luke’s family knows he often couldn’t answer his phone when he’s away on a case. For them to call this many times meant something was wrong– horribly wrong.  

He turns the corner, slipping into an empty room in the police precinct. As soon as he closes the door behind him, he’s pressing his phone to his ear. 

Luke’s heart sinks even further when he hears his mother’s panicked voice over the phone. But it completely stops when he hears her say that there’s been a car accident.

Luke hangs up before the voicemail ends, rushing out of the room towards where he heard the voices of the rest of his team. 

He barges into the conference room, clinging onto the door frame as he speaks hurriedly.  

“Emily–” he stammers “I ha-have- I have to go–”

The rest of the team turns in their chairs to face Luke, but his desperate gaze is focused only on Emily and the permission he needs from her to leave the case.

“Luke,” she’s trying to remain calm for him. “What’s wrong?”

He runs his fingers through his tight curls frantically. “Y/N was in a car accident.” He doesn’t even recognize the sound of his own voice.

“What?” 

“Oh my god!”

“Is she okay?”

JJ, Spencer, and Emily’s voices all overlap as they react to the news.  

“My mom just said she’s in the hospital. She hadn’t heard anything yet.” Luke feels like he’s on autopilot while he speaks. He doesn’t even really know what he’s saying- he just knows he needs to go. Fast. 

Of course Emily excuses him. She even insists that he takes the jet with promises that he’ll keep the team updated. 

On the plane ride back home, Luke can’t stop thinking about that morning. Normally, Luke always kisses you goodbye and tells you he loves you. He’d almost call it a routine if he didn’t mean it so much. But that morning he’d been in a rush. All he could think about was where his stupid phone charger was. He remembers how frantically he had to search, barely acknowledging your attempts to say your affectionate goodbye. And he’d hurried out of the house without so much as a wave. 

What if that was the last time he saw you? What if the last thing he ever did was disappoint you?

He remembers the sad look in your eyes as he left you alone in the kitchen, messy hair and tank top strap sliding slightly off your shoulder, he can’t get it out of his head.

And now it’s going to haunt him forever.

None of this was supposed to happen. He’s supposed to protect you– that’s his job. He’s supposed to protect you better than anyone else. He’s supposed to be able to keep you safe, always. 

But he didn’t.

He feels sick.

…

It’s chaos when Luke finally arrives at the hospital and finds both his and your family in the waiting room on the floor he barely remembers his mom telling him to go to. He vaguely registers the presence of your parents in the hallway. He doesn’t even say hello.

Instead he asks, “Where is she? What’s going on?”

“We haven’t heard anything yet,” your mom says. 

“What the hell happened?” 

“Someone t-boned her at an intersection, right on the driver’s side. She’s in surgery now, doctor’s haven’t been able to update us much.” Your dad pulls your mother into his embrace, kissing the top of her head. 

Luke shakes his head, like he couldn’t quite process what was happening. 

You must have been so scared and he wasn’t there.

All he can picture is you, amidst the rubble of a car accident. How much pain you must have been in. The fear and panic you must have experienced.

And he wasn’t there.

He needs to see you.

Luke marches over to the nurses station without uttering another word to your parents or his mother. He puts his hands on the counter before speaking. “I need an update on a patient.” He tells the nurse your name. 

“I’m sorry sir, she’s still in surgery. The doctor will come out and give you an update on her condition as soon as possible.” 

Luke bites his lip. He wants to scream and yell and pound his fists. But instead he nods and uses what little energy he had left to let go of his anger. “Thanks,” he sighs in defeat. 

He’s unaware of how much time passes, he’s too engulfed in his own thoughts, too preoccupied with punishing himself for not paying more attention to you this morning to keep track. The waiting room was eerily empty and quiet enough so that Luke could hear the faint humming coming from the fluorescent lights above. He chews on his nail roughly, trying not to focus on the silence. 

When a woman in a pair of dark blue scrubs walks down the hallway peeling off a pair of latex gloves, Luke instantly snaps out of his trance and stands up. 

The doctor holds her hand out to shake and introduces herself to Luke and your parents. 

“I’m so sorry to keep you waiting,” she says. She turns to face Luke. “I want you to know that your wife, Y/N, is alive. She’s alive.”

There’s a moment where everyone lets out a sigh of relief before continuing to listen to what the doctor has to say.

“Y/N came into the ER bleeding and with a broken collar bone, a fractured arm, and a couple of broken ribs. But my biggest concern was the swelling in her brain.”

Luke is barely processing what the doctor is saying. Imagining you in such a state is almost unbearable, but he keeps quiet and continues listening. 

“We were able to relieve some of the swelling in her skull, which should take the pressure off of her brain. It was touch and go for a while there- the damage was,” she pauses for a moment before finishing her thought, “extensive.”

“Is she going to be alright?” Your mom asks the question everyone is wondering. 

“We’ll need to monitor her levels overnight. But I would say the worst part is behind us. She’s a fighter.”

“Can we see her?” Luke asks. 

The doctor nods.   

It takes a minute to realize that it’s even you lying in that bed. You’re hooked up to all these machines that are beeping so loudly, and there’s IV’s and cords hanging over you. A wave of nausea hits Luke again, the realization of how hurt you are. His girl. His beautiful, perfect, broken girl. 

He sinks into the chair at your bedside, hands shaking when he sees the bandage wrapped around your head. You look so pale and so weak.

He can’t stop staring at your face, willing you to open your eyes and just look at him.

He should have protected his girl.

He scoots the chair forward, reaching out a trembling hand to clasp yours. His fingertips graze your knuckle. Skin that was once smooth is now littered with cuts and bruises.  

Gently cradling your fingers in his, it’s only when the tears hit his arm that he even realizes he’s crying. He kisses your knuckles softly, resting his forehead against your hand.

The thought of you needing him made his insides ache with guilt. You needed him and he wasn’t there. He clutches your hand tightly and prays to whatever God might be out there. Let her wake up, he pleads. Please, let her wake up and I promise I’ll never not be there again.  

…

It’s been less than a week since you were released from the hospital and you’re ready to murder Luke. 

At first all his doting attention was kind of sweet. You loved that he had taken some time off to care for you. He was being a loving, attentive boyfriend, taking care of his poor, injured girlfriend. 

You know that deep down it’s because he feels guilty. You had already assured Luke over and over again that you in no way blamed him for what happened. How the hell was he supposed to protect you from a car accident when he was eight hundred miles away?

But that did little to amuse Luke.  

You really are doing much better. Sure it was a long road of recovery in the hospital. You’d seen physical therapists and occupational therapists and nurses and doctors and everything in between every day for weeks. And yes, your arm is still in a cast, and it still hurts your ribs when you laugh. But every day you’re gaining more and more independence. Or at least you’re trying to. But Luke won’t let you. 

You try to be patient with him, but the patience is wearing thin. No matter how many times you tell him nicely; he just doesn’t seem to get it. 

This morning he had waited on the lid of the toilet seat while you showered, asking if you needed help or if you were okay approximately one thousand times. 

When you were done, he handed you your towel. By the time you’d wiped your body dry, you noticed that your hair dryer and products were all laid out on top of the counter, as opposed to its usual spot underneath the sink. 

“Let me get that for you,” he says at breakfast, and with a quick reach, the box of cereal you had been reaching for is pulled down by Luke. He hands it over to you with a smile.

Muttering a soft, “Thanks,” you turn to reach for your empty bowl, which has been supplied by, drumroll and you guessed it… Luke. 

After pouring in the dry cereal, you turn to go to the fridge, only to be met by his smiling face again. Only this time, he’s holding the milk.

Wordlessly taking the milk, you make your way back to the cereal, pouring a little in. You don’t fail to notice his arm shoot out and grab the milk to put it away. Maybe once you have your breakfast, you can try and talk to him about hovering. You’re always a little crankier when you’re hungry. And the last thing you want to do is start a fight, Luke is just trying to help after all. Closing your eyes, you take a steadying breath.

Clink. A cup of coffee hits the countertop next to you.

Thud. The creamer is placed directly beside it. 

Clatter. And there’s the spoon.

Damn it, you think. 

“Luke, I can’t take this!!” you cry out, turning to face him, he freezes in the middle of opening the creamer for you. “I can’t breathe with you hovering over me like this. You do everything for me! You get my clothes and my shoes, you fetch the remote, you make my food. How the hell am I ever supposed to get better if you just make me feel so helpless? I just can’t do it Luke. I can’t.”

You exhale a sharp breath.

Luke’s lack of a response makes you even more angry, so you keep going. “I know I may appear like this helpless damsel in distress. But despite what you may believe, I can actually take care of myself! I can survive without you hovering over me!”

“But you almost didn’t,” Luke whispers. He hangs his head, his gaze fixating on the floor. 

All the anger you felt immediately exits your body. In fact, you wonder why the hell you were even mad in the first place. You take a cautious step towards him, and sigh. 

“Luke,” you whisper. 

He refuses to look at you. It makes your heart ache. You hadn’t realized how much he was hurting over this. You just thought he was being overprotective and overbearing. But of course the guilt has still been consuming him. 

“I need you to hear this, okay? I need you to look at me when I say this to you,” you take his hand in yours. 

“Luke, look at me,” you urge. 

He turns, his eyes glistening with tears. “I’m here. I’m right here.”

Luke isn’t the one who breaks. He is usually the one comforting you. And yet here you are– roles reversed for the first time.. His hand squeezes yours gently while he takes a deep breath. 

It takes him a moment, but he nods.

“Baby,” you mumble, “I’m okay. I’m here and I’m okay,”

“You don’t understand,” he says, shaking his head. “You didn’t see– you weren’t there– you didn’t see what I saw. Fuck, Y/N. I’ve never been so scared in my life. I thought- I mean- you were hooked up to all those machines- and you had all these cuts and bruises. You were all bandaged up. Christ, they had to drill a hole into your head! It’s my job to protect you, to take care of you, and I didn’t. I wasn’t there-.”

You launch yourself into him then, your good arm wrapping around his torso and clinging to him tightly. He’s quick to hug you back, anchoring you to him. 

“I thought I’d lost you,” he says, his head resting on top of yours. 

“You didn’t,” you reassure him, shaking your head against his chest. 

“I know,” he finally whispers. “And I am so, so thankful for that.”

You pull back from your hug, holding Luke out in front of you. “Baby, I love you.” You tell him.  “I love you so much and I am so grateful that you’ve been so supportive and helpful during all of this.  But if you don’t stop, I might have to kill you,” your face breaks out into a grin. 

Luke laughs at that. “I don’t like it, but… okay,” he nods in affirmation. 

“Okay?” you ask skeptically. “That means no more having every single meal, snack, and drink waiting for me. No more sitting outside when I’m in the shower. And no more hands on my back when I go down the stairs.” 

Luke huffs. 

“Oh, and no more having my clothes picked out for me either.”

Luke raises an eyebrow. “No more feet or backrubs?” he asks cheekily.

Your eyes widen and you instantly begin to regret your little tantrum. “Baby steps, Alvez. I’m not completely healed yet.”

[moodymisty]

Not the same anon but you remember that Death with cold and cynical s/o after the Well of Souls thing? I'm kinda intrigued about how that works, so can I request a oneshot for that?

Btw, after reading that entire thing, it sounds a bit like "Just Look My Way" from Helluva Boss.

Author's Note: Hello! I had a bit of trouble with this one, but I hope you still enjoy it :3 I'm trying to get the last few of the SFW requests done since the NSFW ones are becoming so long XD I'm proud of them, but they tend to take longer and get drawn out.

Relationships: Death/Gn!Reader

Warnings: None

Word Count: 1374

Death wouldn't consider himself unfamiliar with the feeling of death, as joking as it might sound to himself.

However the Well of Souls however had felt, different. It feels like no time has passed at all, like a blink of an eye; Though he can tell by the leaves on the trees and the structures around the Tri-Forge than more than a fair bit of time has passed.

A part of him had considered not even making this stop. His 'death' at the Well of Souls could serve as a perfect severing point between him and the Makers realm. He could just add it to the list of places he's traveled through and throw it behind him.

But he just couldn't do it. Against his better judgement, he just needs to make sure.

He'd never said goodbye to you, never told you where he was going; He'd just left you at the Tri-Forge, and had trusted in the Makers to keep you safe. He's sure they've done a fine job of that, in his absence. As much as he might've complained, he can't think of many at all that he trusts as much.

Death dismisses Despair and walks into the Tri-Forge, and within moments he can feel as if something is off.

He's quite familiar with feeling unwelcome in any place unfortunate enough to have him present, but even this is a bit... intense.

The Makers on first glance can't contain their surprise at seeing the Reaper again, before it quickly sours. Death wonders how long he's really been gone; He imagines not much longer than a season, if the weather is anything to go by. It had been quite warm the last time he'd been here, and now the Makers realm is quite a bit colder.

He continues forward, and it's not longer after he passes the outer forges that he crosses the old warrior he remembers from the beginning of that long journey that led him to the Well of Souls.

Valus gives him one cold look; For once the reaper might've preferred seeing Alya.

"You have quite the pair to come back around here again after what you did."

Death lets out a quiet scoff. He knows what the Maker is referring to, but decides to beat around it. Why he can't hazard a guess, it slips from his lips behind the mask before he has a chance to really stop it.

"After what? Attempting to save War? I believe you all helped me in that endeavor, last I remember."

Valus crosses his arms across the expanse of his chest, and nods in the direction deeper into the forge.

"You have a lot to work on, Reaper. You might be able to talk like that to me, but you ain't gonna do that with them."

So you're still here. That fills him with more relief than he'd ever dare utter out loud. He doesn't know why he even thought you would be gone- the Human realm is still off limits, as well as a crumbling wreckage.

Valus, as much as it seems to physically hurt the Maker, directs him in your direction before not giving the reaper much more than a scornful parting glare. Death takes it in stride- it isn't the first time- and keeps moving until he finds you.

But he can't contain the raising of his posture when he sees you, your back turned to him. You don't seem to know he's here as of yet, occupied with something else.

He notices in your lap is Dust; He'd put the bird in charge of keeping an eye on you shortly before he had 'died'. He'll give the bird a piece of carrion for sticking though with it. Though he isn't very much surprised, as the bird had taken a liking to you quite quickly. It helps that you were more than eager to snuggle and give the bird scritches, unlike himself.

You tenderly scratch the bird on the back of the neck and earn an appreciative warble, before the crow notices him and abruptly begins to squawk, jumping on your thigh and flapping his wings. You look down at him and pinch his beak for a moment, trying to distract the bird.

"Quiet Dust, geez." The bird fluffs up and continues to caterwaul, until his old master finally speaks up.

"I don't appreciate you yelling at me, bird."

He notices your body tense up and raise suddenly, and you look over your left and see him, eyes wide and lips slightly parted. The crow lowers his tone and still warbles deep in his throat, but stops the flapping and alarm bells.

And then your face drops back to neutral, and you turn away.

Dust hops gently on your thigh and looks up at you, taking a chunk of your clothing in his beak and attempting to pull at it. He gets gently brushed to stop doing it, and settles back into a fluffy black loaf.

Death takes the hit to his pride a bit harder than perhaps he should have, considering his attempts to feign nonchalance for anything other than your fragile mortality. He had expecting you to have that brightness to your eyes and jump up and run to him, like you'd had the myriad of times he'd left you for even the shortest while. He'd thought it was annoying, but now he finds himself almost craving it as your back faces him. He misses the happiness, the energy. It's like it's all evaporated from you now.

This is what Valus was referring to, it seems.

"Quite the greeting," He says, gesturing with his hand for his crow to finally return to his master. His duty is done after all, he did what Death asked of him.

Dust distinctly hesitates for a moment, before eventually giving in and flying back to rest on the top of Harvester. Meanwhile you turn around and give him a venomous look, crossing your arms.

"You gave so little of a shit about me you couldn't even say goodbye, Death." You just shrug your shoulders and turn away, like you can even tolerate the look of his mask. "Now that you picked up your bird, you can leave. I'm sure you have somewhere much more important to be. I'll be fine with the Makers." "Though I doubt that was ever a concern for you."

He supposes that you aren't wrong to think that. He never did tell you more than what he absolutely had to. In that moment, and the many times he'd neglected to tell you things beforehand, he thought he was doing the best thing. And keeping his feelings at arms length.

Keeping yours at arms length too; He could tell you were getting more and more attached to him, and that he needed to keep it from happening before you ended up too entrenched in something that would only end up getting you killed.

But he hates the way that your admittance to thinking he doesn't care about you hurts.

He does care; Far too much, if Death had any say in it.

He gives far too much of a care for someone as old and dejected as him. One of the first things that came to his mind when he left the Well of Souls was you.

He supposes this was bound to happen. Everyone eventually comes to hate him, in the end. It's his lot in life.

Though this one hurts far worse, and he finds himself wishing to fix it far more than any of the others. To make matters worse, his crow hefts himself off of his scythe and returns to you, as you get up and move to walk away.

As you pass he raises his hand ever so slightly to grab your arm and stop you- he doesn't even know what he'd say to you if he did- but drops it. You don't notice, and keep walking away right past him.

Death supposes he deserves this.

But while he finds himself unsure on what to do, he knows he has to do something. He isn't going to let you go like all of the others that have wandered through his life. He just doesn't know where to start.

[wh0refornikolailantsov]

Prompt: “You can’t die. Please don’t die.”

Song: Ursine Vulpine & Annaca – Without You

For Tolya x Reader please!!

Even In Death - Tolya Yul Bataar

Content Warnings: Canon Compliant Threat, Violence And Injury. Not Beta/Proof Read.

Working my way through the 40 requests that are currently in my drafts xx

“Your heartbeat is really loud," Tolya says, hand against his chest. You are trying to stay calm but you understand that your heart is going to give you away, it always gives you away.

"No," you tell him, "yours is worryingly quiet."

In all the time you've known Tolya, his abilities he has always focused on using them on himself, in battle he favors the sword, and her would rather let someone else do the healing than overstep that boundary without being asked. And he always asks. So his heart rending is something he more often than not just uses on himself, keeping himself calm when his fear is rocketing, keeping himself in check.

But right now you can feel the weight being lifted off your shoulders, the dullness of the pain. You don't have to let him admit it for you to know he is protecting you over himself right now. "Stop," you whisper.

"You're scared," he says, and barely registers how hard it is for him to breathe. You wonder if that's because of the definitely broken ribs or if it might be something worse... like a punctured lung. "Because you think I'm going to die."

“You can’t die. Please don’t die.” The plea makes your voice break, but you repeat it over and over. You're waiting for him to tell you he won't die, you're waiting for him to tell you itll get better, you're waiting for his reassurance, for him to tell you not to worry. But before this you promised eachother you wouldn't lie to each other about this, not even for comfort. So he won't say any of those things. Which only confirms your fear that he also thinks he is dying. "Tolya..."

"I can’t imagine being anywhere but here with you," he says pulling your hand into his.

"Tolya, this is starting to sound like a goodbye," you say.

"I'm not going to say goodbye to you, I wouldn't do that to you," Tolya's voice is uncomfortably faint, you've only ever heard him this quite and distant between the throes of sleep. "I know you don't believe in goodbyes, and you know I don't believe in endings."

"Tolya," you choke out, eyes already blurring, throat already sore from the salt of your own sadness.

"All my choices lead me to you," he is drifting in and out and you're trying to focus on here, trying to focus on this moment. Not on the what ifs, not on the lasts. The lasts are haunting you, they're plain and clear in the air around you. This could be the last time you hear his voice, which means you'll never hear him talk about poetry again, never bicker about snacks with Tamar, never bite back at Zoya. He will never wish you another goodnight or good morning, you will not hear the way he says your name, like it's the first and the last time all at once, like he has never known a better word than the sound of your name.

You're not aware of anything as Nikolai pulls you away from Tolya, but your seconds from tearing the princes throat out for increasing the distance between you when you see why. Tamar needs space, Nina needs space, and more importantly Tolya needs the space.

Your pain is rushing through you now but the pain in your heart is worst than any physical pain you've ever known. Your hurt and your physical wounds feel like nothing, your soul crushing pain is that of fear and desperation. You cannot lose him, you won't, not like this.

Not like this.

You don't even realise you're blacking out until you hit the ground.

"Look who is rising," Nadia says, pushing some of your hair from your face. You sit up too quick, heart leaping into your throat.

"Tolya," you say. Nadia gives your arm a squeeze.

"I'm fine," he says, pushing himself up on the bed opposite, he looks tired, but he is alive and recovering and right now that's the only thing that matters.

"You scared me," you say finally catching your breath.

"I'm sorry," he says. "I promise."

"You promise?" You ask, knowing what he promised you, knowing what he can and cannot promise.

"I promise the worst is over," he says. "And I'm not leaving your side until we are better."

"We?" You check.

"Even I have to rest sometimes," he admits, giving you a gentle smile. "Thank you for not giving up on me."

"I could never."

[ghostfilecabinet]

November’s is Ryan’s birthday month, so our theme is: BOTTOM BERGARA! Because loving someone in fandom means wanting to see them fucked silly. Without further ado -

Onwards.

let us touch so much of ourselves together by uneventfulhouses | E, 4K | He’s soft, but Ryan knows a huge dick when he sees one. “Jesus.” Ryan blinks and. Well, he blinks again, because what else can he do. He realizes he’s staring at it, but—

Once Upon a Porno by GomorrahHillsides (Within_N_Without) | E, 15K | How one awkward moment can change your future. Or, the story of how two grown men end up forging a deeper, more intimate relationship by way of dubbing a period piece porno together.

The Thermostat by GomorrahHillsides (Within_N_Without) | ft. D/s | E, 12K | When arguing over the thermostat blatantly means 'I love you'.

The Wall Between Us by buzzfeedunwritten (loudmouthraccoon) | E, 29K | In order to get over his hopeless crush on Shane, Ryan finds himself at an establishment specifically designed for the purpose of safe anonymous sex. It goes about as well as you would imagine.

A Grand Unified Theory for Dummies by Siria | E, 5K | Shane had something of a grand unified theory of dating one Ryan Bergara brewing which—and bear with him here—used Pokemon as its central metaphor.

kiss today goodbye (point me towards tomorrow) by idkspookystuff | E, 4k | Suddenly, there’s a loud crack from behind them. Shane and Ryan go still, and from this close, Ryan can see the hair stand up on Shane's arms. “Do you think there’s any chance that’s Taylor Lautner?” Ryan jokes feebly. He’s gonna be really mad if those are his last words.

leave me high and dry by bodhirookes | E, 11k | He can’t believe he’s hearing this come out of Shane’s mouth. He says as much out loud. “I can’t believe this. You think I’m a wimp? Even throughout all of the demon encounters and my rippling muscles?”

this rainstorm (it smells like home) by popkin16 | ft. a/b/o | E, 28k | Ryan’s heats were always regular, like clockwork. [...]  His next heat wasn’t due for another two months, but it was hard to deny how empty his nest looked and how much it bothered him.

Baby, Be Mine by petitfangs | ft. D/s | E, 7K | “Hey,” Ryan greeted him, eyes big and warm like the curl of his lips, the bright shine of his teeth, white and perfect. Something tightens, low and hot, in Shane’s stomach. He tampers down the sudden urge to kiss him. 

Want You In My Court by Ourladyofresurrection | ft. D/s | E, 51k | How do you gracefully say: ‘Hey, I know we’re in a group project now, but I think I came to the sound of your voice the other night and I can’t stop thinking about it and frankly, it’s driving me a little crazy‘

Can't We Just Roll for the Moment by punk_rock_yuppie | E, 2.8k | “This doesn’t count as proof,” Shane says.

Wind Me Tighter Than a Wire by sequence_fairy, uneventfulhouses | E, 5k | Ryan’s like, “I’m just aesthetically attracted to some men in particular,” and “I don’t want to do anything about it,” and “alright, maybe, sometimes, I think about getting lovingly railed by Henry Cavill while I jerk off but who doesn’t?” and Shane is maybe losing his mind about it.

be so sweet by sarcasticfishes | ft. D/s | E, 3k | “I feel like you’ve been thinking about this for a while,” Shane says, keeps stroking through Ryan’s hair, again and again, soothing, “I think you already know what you want from me.”

Teacher's Pet by chapscher | E, 24k | “You aren’t describing a teacher’s pet! You’re describing… I don't know the name for it. Someone who tries to seduce their teacher so they can get a better grade.” “Isn’t that a teacher’s pet?”

Oh, Ho, The Mistletoe by Bottomryanbitch | E, 7k | Mistletoe made them do it: sex pollen edition.

Lovesick fool by petitfangs | E, 7k | “If I make you come, will you get off my lap and stop trying to kiss me?” Shane asks gruffly. 

stay the night with the sinners by bodhirookes | E, 85k | Steven Lim and Andrew Ilnyckyj flee Heaven and Hell to be together, and Ryan Bergara is forced to serve on the jury for their trial. Shane Madej is constantly there to remind him why Heaven and Hell should never be allowed to fraternize.

Shut Me Up by Fraudgara | ft. D/s | E, 6k | "You never seem to shut up when I'm touching you." Shane and Ryan play a very very terribly executed rendition of the quiet game.

Read To Me by ouijaboy (nbfutureboy) | E, 18k | When acclaimed children’s author Shane Madej meets a long-suffering parent at one of his signings, he decides on a whim that he’d like to torture this man some more. As it turns out, both Ryan Bergara and his son are two infinitely entertaining human beings.

Something Old, Something New by ChimChimCherrie | E, 8k | Thrifting wasn't Ryan's favorite way to spend an afternoon, but he had to admit the boutique that Mari found was pretty cool.

[eddiemunsonsimpp]

Love at first Reconnect | Eddie Munson x Fem!Henderson Reader | part two

Part one

Masterlist

Warnings: drug use(🌿) slight spice if u consider making out spice??

Tags: banter, fluff

Wc: 2.6k

____________________________

As you finished your final tasks of your shift, you felt a growing anxiety in your stomach. Hanging out with Eddie for the first time since Sophomore year? And he called it a date? You sighed deeply, running your fingers through your hair.

“Dude, you’ve gotta stop being nervous. You two were attached at the hip as kids, well into high school. What’s so different now?” Steve crossed his arms. You groaned and pressed the palms of your hands into your eyes.

“I don’t know! It’s just… weird. We haven’t hung out in practically five years. And he called it a date, Steve!” You hissed.

Steve rolled his eyes.

“So? Maybe it’s not a date-date, maybe-“

You cut him off,

“But what if it is a date-date! I’m not looking for a relationship, and I’ve never thought of Eddie like that before!”

Robin groaned at you and Steve’s incessant arguing.

“Can you two shut up, please? You’re giving me a headache, seriously!” She walked over to you and placed her hands on your shoulders.

“Look. Just go, watch the movie, catch up, smoke some weed. I know it might be weird, or awkward, but you’ll be okay. And maybe Steve’s right! Maybe it’s not a date-date, and maybe he just said that. Like-.. like put the date in your calendar type of thing! O-or, maybe he meant it as li-“ You grabbed Robin’s hands that were still on your shoulders as she began to delve into one of her infamous ramblings.

“Okay, okay. I’ll just go.” You nodded. “What’s the worst that can happen?”

“Exactly!” Robin enthused.

“I dunno, I mean he is rumored to be a cult leader, so who knows-“ Steve started joking before Robin reached over and smacked his arm. “Shut up, Steve!” You and Robin sounded in unison.

You sighed deeply and walked towards the back to clock out and grab your things, with a quick goodbye to Steve and Robin, you saw Eddie’s van pull up right on time as you walked out the door. You waved and smiled brightly, a giddy feeling washing over you as you hopped into the van.

“Sweet Leaf?” You queried. Eddie raised his eyebrows at you. “God, Munson, you’re like.. the least subtle stoner ever.” You giggled at yourself. He grinned. “Says the one that listens to Grateful Dead and Hendrix.” He retorted. You feigned offense, clutching your chest.

“Excuse me? They’re classics, thank you very much! And how did you know what I listen to anyway?!”

“You blast music in your car every single time you pick Dustin up from Hellfire, do you really think nobody else can hear it?” He spoke sarcastically, but smoothly.

A slightly awkward silence filled the car as you crossed town. You twiddled your thumbs before deciding to break the silence.

“So, repeat senior, huh?” You grinned. He returned your grin and chuckled.

“Ah, yeah. But, so long as I pass Mrs. O’Donnell’s I’ll be good.” You nodded.

“God, her class was the fucking worst.”

“Right?!”

“What grade do you need to pass?”

“A ‘D’.”

“Ahh, you’ve got it then! Easy.” You reassured. “Hell, if you wanted, I could always help you study!” You smiled.

“You don’t have to do that, really-“

“It’s no problem, Eddie, really! I mean, shit, I don’t have anything to do on my off days anyway. I wouldn’t mind helping you out, so long as you paid me somehow.” You shrugged.

“Would weed payments do?” He chuckled.

“Of course, perfectly acceptable form of payment.” You grinned.

“Who do you buy from nowadays?”

You giggled.

“Who do you think? There’s only one other dealer than you in Hawkins.” He laughed.

“Oh, please, I could give you way better deals than Rick.”

“Like what? He already gives me a quarter for $20!” Eddie scoffed.

“Make it half for $20, family and friends discount?” He grinned, and your eyes went wide.

“Shit, you’ve got yourself a deal, Munson.” You giggled.

Finally, after the two of you continued to chat and joke with each other the rest of the ride over to his trailer, successfully soothing all of the nerves you previously had, Eddie parked in the small driveway.

“Is Wayne still working at the plant?” You asked as you grabbed your bag, going to open your door yourself before Eddie quickly jumped out of the driver’s seat, running over to your side and opening it for you, making you laugh.

“Yeah, he is. He won’t be back until the morning.” You nodded as you bounded up the all too familiar steps, swinging the door open. The familiar scent of tobacco, coffee and weed filled your nose and you felt yourself relax again.

“Sorry about the mess…” Eddie mumbled, scrambling to pick up leftover beer cans and various trash and dishes that littered the coffee table, causing you to giggle. “Oh, please, you should see my room. I don’t care.” You promptly set yourself on the couch, fumbling around in your bag. Eddie returned from the kitchen with two beers and various snacks of chips and candy, setting all of them down on the table and flinging the tape into the VCR.

He flopped onto the couch next to you as you finally pulled out what you were looking for, of course, a decently hefty blunt you had rolled that morning before work, and your favorite lighter. You held them up to Eddie with your eyebrows raised. He grinned and you set the objects in his hand. He raised the wrap to his eye-level, inspecting it.

You scoffed. “Okay, I know it’s not the best handiwork, but it’s smokable!” You crossed your arms.

He chuckled. “Am I gonna have to roll an entire half ounce for you?”

“I mean I wouldn’t complain if you did-“ you started, before breaking off in a giggle as he side eyed you.

He brought the blunt to his lips, lighting it up and taking a deep draw, exhaling a large cloud of smoke before passing it to you.

You sat like that for a while as the movie played, passing the blunt back and forth and making stupid comments about the film playing in front of you. Zaney, unrealistically gorey, but deeply enjoyable, especially as your highs settled in. It wasn’t until now you had noticed you had slinked closer on the couch to Eddie. A shiver ran down your spine and it clicked in your hazy brain, you were cold, and that’s why you were leaning towards him.

You grabbed the blanket that was laying across the back of the couch and spread it over yourself, nuzzling in the comfort and warmth it brought you.

Once the movie had ended, you remained planted on the couch, curled up with a blanket, surrounded by empty snack wrappers.

Eddie glanced at the clock on the wall. “You don’t have a curfew, do you?”

You shook your head. “Please, I’m 20.” He chuckled. “Fair enough.”

You looked up at him with red, glassy eyes.

“What do we do now?” You asked before falling into a fit of giggles, of which he returned.

“We could always smoke more, or just go hang out and listen to some music?”

“Both?”

He smiled.

“Both it is.”

And that slowly became your Friday routine, getting off of work and going to Eddie’s trailer to get high and watch horror movies. It was nice, the two of you being able to reconnect so seamlessly, as if nothing had changed for you both in the past five years.

After all, that’s what you two had been since you were kids. Friends. Best friends, even.

Though, that didn’t stop Steve and Robin teasing you incessantly about him over the past 3 weeks.

You rolled your eyes with a long, exasperated sigh.

“For the last time, Robin, I don’t like him like that! Never have!”

“Please! I’ve seen the way you look at him and the way he looks at you. You both clearly like each other.”

“No, we don’t! I get it, you want to live romantic escapades vicariously through your friends, Robin, but this isn’t that! I don’t look at him any sort of way.”

“Bullshit!” Steve chimed in from somewhere towards the back of the store.

You huffed again.

“Seriously, Robin. It’s not like that. I don’t have a crush on him. Don’t you think I would know if I did?”

“Not necessarily,” Steve butted-in again, popping up from behind the counter.

“You could be into him. I mean, he is kind of your type, isn’t he?”

“For fucks sa-“

“You know, he kind of does look like Kirk Hammett.”

“I hate you both. And - no he doesn’t? It’s just the hair.” You rolled your eyes.

“Alright, fine. I bet you $10 that by this time next month, you two aren’t dating.” Steve asks, giving you a cocky grin.

“Absolutely.” You agreed.

Robin turned to Steve. “I bet $10 she’s gonna be the one to ask him out first.”

“Oh, please. You know she would never ask out a guy on her own volition.”

Robin flashed a $10 bill in his face.

“Fine! Fine, then I bet you $20 Eddie’s the first one to ask her out.”

“Deal!”

You rubbed your temples as you stared at the clock. “Can it please be 6 already.” You grumbled.

“Yeah, yeah, it’s almost time for you to go smoke and hang out with your boyfriend.” Steve drawled, resulting in a quick smack upside his head.

“Watch the hair!” He whined.

You planted your face promptly against the counter.

“I’m gonna kill you both one of these days.”

They both giggled to themselves.

You watched as the clock finally struck 6, allowing your freedom from capitalistic hell, and, as much as you loved them, your two best friends that were driving you insane.

You clocked out, grabbed your bag and waved them a short goodbye. You practically flung yourself into Eddie’s van, causing him to laugh.

“Long day?”

“You have no idea.”

“What’s on our watchlist this week, Munson?” You grinned as he sped down the road. You would think for a drug dealer, he would be a bit more of a safe driver.

“How about Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead?” He grinned brightly as you gasped.

“George Romero? Oh, fuck yes!” You tapped excitedly on your thighs.

And there you two were, as every Friday night, curled up on the couch, well into the second movie of the night.

You went to reach for your cup, only for Eddie to also, at the same second, reach for one of the snacks on the table, promptly bumping into your hand and leading you to spill the majority of the contents of the cup all over your shirt.

“Shit, sorry-“ Eddie started as you quickly set the cup back down and cursed under your breath.

“No-no, it’s fine-“

“No, that was totally my fault.”

“No, Eds, it’s fine, really-“ You stood up and carried yourself to the bathroom, taking a towel to your shirt in a poor attempt to dry it. You huffed and cursed under your breath again. You poked your head out of the door.

“Hey, is it okay if I grab a shirt?” He perked up hearing your voice. He looked at you in the hallway and nodded, rising to his feet. You continued to try and clean off your shirt to no avail. You rounded the corner to walk into his bedroom, only to come face to face with Eddie. You flinched and murmured another sorry, to which he chuckled at.

Eddie rummaged through his drawers and closet, eventually pulling out an Iron Maiden shirt. He tossed it onto the bed. Whether Robin and Steve were really right, or you were just very stoned, you couldn’t help but stare at him. Especially his big brown eyes. They were almost entrancing. He really was just pretty.

He turned on his heel and went to walk out the door but you stayed in the doorway.

He looked at you quizzically as you stared up at him, wide eyed and lips apart. He sheepishly brushed your hair behind your ear and you shivered against his touch.

And again, whether they were right or it was the weed,

You said fuck it.

You quickly connected your lips, earning a surprised murmur from him. You pulled away just as fast as you had started, glancing at your feet.

“I’m sorry, I’m just high-“ You started before getting cut off as he reconnected your lips, much more passionately this time. His hands dropped from your face to your waist, squeezing your sides gently. His tongue ran along your bottom lip, awaiting entry which you quickly granted. The kiss became messy, a clashing of tongue and lips and teeth as he pressed you against the wall, his hands gripping at your hips. Your fingers tangled themselves in his hair, pulling slightly. You tugged at his bottom lip, causing a short whimper to escape his throat, which sent electricity through your body. You both pulled away after what felt like centuries, both of you breathing heavily, hands not leaving each others bodies.

“Shit.” You murmured, your cheeks flushing bright red.

“Well, uh… we’re both… pretty high so-“

You nodded.

“Act like it never happened?”

“Act like it never happened.” You confirmed, glancing up at him with a sheepish smile.

“I’ll go, so you can-“ He gestured to the shirt on the bed.

“Right, yeah.” You sank into yourself and moved out of the doorway, letting him slip back by to the living room.

You left the door open a creak and silently cursed yourself and shook your head as you pressed your lips together, feeling how puffy they were, and how you could still taste him. Cigarettes, weed, and candy.

You slipped out of your still soaked shirt and into the one Eddie had laid out for you. With a shaky hand you opened the door and returned to the living room, promptly shoving your old shirt into your bag to wash when you got home.

“Still want me to take you home after this?” Eddie asked casually as the movie continued. He really was acting like it never happened. You nodded a quick, ‘mhm’ and continued to watch the movie, sharing your various commentary to make each other laugh and making stupid jokes. Just like normal.

Once the movie was finished, you glanced at the clock.

“Damn, it’s almost 10:30?”

Eddie chuckled as he grabbed his keys off the table.

“Dawn of the Dead’s runtime is about 2 hours.”

You grabbed your bag and followed him out the door, immediately being blasted with the cold winter air, forgetting you were now only wearing a T-shirt and jeans.

You wrapped your arms tightly around yourself as you shivered, hopping into the passenger seat.

“Shit, I didn’t even think to grab you something warm!” Eddie chuckled an apology as he reached behind the seat, rummaging around until he pulled out a black sweater, handing it to you. You slipped it on over your shirt, nuzzling in the warmth the sweater gave you. You sighed out a ‘thank you’.

Upon keying the ignition, your ears filled with the sounds of Robert Plant.

“Zeppelin?” You queried. “Good to know you’re not a complete pretentious metalhead.”

Eddie’s jaw-dropped and he feigned offense, clutching his chest. “Pretentious?!” He echoed.

“Yeah! Some metalheads completely denounce rock, especially Zeppelin.”

“I mean, if they can’t appreciate Robert Plant for all he is, that’s not my problem.” He shrugged, pulling a giggle out of you.

The two of you comfortably sat on the ride home, jamming out to the likes of Led Zeppelin, making each other giggle by progressively getting more and more dramatic, until you were cackling, holding your stomach as you pulled into the driveway.

“See you tomorrow, sweetheart?”

You couldn’t help it as your cheeks flushed. You smiled at him as you hopped out of the van and nodded.

“See you tomorrow, Munson.”

[sinkat-arts]

Daisuga WIP Wednesday

Context: It's the day after their Interhigh loss against Seijoh, and Daichi's still recovering from a pretty bad night, which included an argument with his mother. Daichi's just bumped into a guidance counselor who was looking for Suga. This leads up to the stairwell conversation that happens in canon. Also, it's pre-relationship.

--

The spiral descended again. If the counselor wanted to talk about the rest of the schoolyear, Daichi reasoned, that could really only mean one thing. The timing worked out for it to be a discussion around Suga’s plans to keep playing, anyway. They’d said they’d keep playing - all three of them promised, but… 

Does going to nationals get you into college?

His mother’s words, aggravating as it was to have them in his head right now, did merit consideration. Even more so for Suga than him, he figured. In his estimation, he wasn't much to write home about, but Suga was smart. It was easy to forget, and Daichi doubted that the rest of the team understood just how smart he was, but it was clear every time test scores were posted. He was always in the top 5-10, which meant Suga was in a completely different league. 

He’d be first… no one could touch him if he didn’t spend so much time practicing… maybe it would be better for him to focus more on his future… maybe our time really is done… 

Daichi shook his head, gripping his phone in his hand. “Done” was a word like “last” and “final.” It was a reminder that change was catching up with them - that they were very close to saying goodbye. A low panic started to burrow into his chest - his heart was beating just a little too fast and his lungs were just a little too empty for comfort. He had to… he needed to… do something. Anything. Whatever kept his hands busy and his mind distracted.

And he had to do it away from his best friends, else risk letting them see how shaken he really was today. He decided on a destination and shot off a message to Suga.   

Daichi: Sorry. Looks like I’m missing lunch today.

Pocketing his phone, he turned and headed straight for the gym. He felt the inevitable notifications - probably Suga asking why he was missing lunch - and made a note to make up a believable excuse later. It wasn’t unheard of to get waylaid by a teacher or underclassman over the lunch break, after all. Daichi was a terrible liar, but if he really was doing something productive, it wouldn’t be a total lie. He was sure there was something he could do in the gym… make sure all their gear was in order for tomorrow’s practice, for one. As far as excuses go, it would be flimsy, but…

“So you’re standing me up. Today?” A familiar voice interrupted him as he made his way down the stairwell. Suga stood there, looking more than a little aggravated and out of breath. He must have run straight there from the courtyard. 

“No?” Daichi answered, reaching the landing where Suga stood, “I was just going to go… check our equipment. Fresh start tomorrow, right?” He struggled to keep his face and tone within the bounds of his usual attitude. Judging by the unimpressed look on Suga’s face, however, he knew he was failing. 

“Because nets and balls have a tendency to escape in the night?” Suga asked, one eyebrow raised. 

“You can’t be too safe,” Daichi replied, and even he had to admit how lame he sounded. Very unconvincing in front of yet another person who could, more often than not, read him like a book. 

“Daichi, come on. What's going o…” Suga started in a softer tone, taking a step towards him.

“Suga?” came a voice from below, accompanied by heavy footsteps, “Did you… did you find him?” Asahi had been following, then. Daichi’s mission to avoid them while he was feeling like shit had failed spectacularly.

“There you are,” Asahi said, smiling, but it faded when he sensed the tension between his two friends. “What’s... what's up?” 

“Daichi was just making up a reason for skipping out on lunch,” Suga answered, looking intently into Daichi’s eyes. It was a clear challenge… he was definitely angry, and maybe he had a right to be a little mad, but… coming at Daichi this directly was… it didn’t make sense. 

Daichi found that he couldn’t meet that gaze for too long, not when Suga was absolutely correct about his failed lie. Sighing, he turned to look out the window. 

“Sorry, you got me,” he relented, “I’ve just been… thinking.” 

“About?” Asahi asked, lifting the boxed drink in his hand to his mouth to take a sip. “Is everything ok?”

No, everything is not ok. 

Daichi was officially backed into a corner. How could he tell them what was really on his mind? How could he frame it in a way that would make sense… but wouldn’t let them know just how much of a mess he was? Indecision clogged up the works, making it hard for his mind to find the angle, the right way to approach this.    

“I think it’s best that we back out here,” he finally said, opting for something close to the truth. He still wasn’t sure, but thinking about his mother last night and then the guidance counselor today… maybe pulling out now really was the best course of action. For all of them.

[groovesnjams]

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..................number2 ....................of50

“Go Find Yourself or Whatever” by Carly Rae Jepsen

DV:

If there’s one thing Carly Rae Jepsen will do when she’s heartbroken, it’s destroy a ton of roses. “Go Find Yourself or Whatever” is a major sonic and structural evolution for her - a twangy ballad with a detailed, delicate production from Rostam - but it’s also a piece of an ever-growing world she’s building, of repeated images and complicated emotions and personal quirks. We know that Carly’s “no good at goodbyes” because of “Store”. We know she’s “no good tellin' lies“ because her there’s a decade of songs about how she can’t hide what she’s feeling. It’s a decade since “Call Me Maybe” and somehow we’ve got Carly Jepsen continuity, less a source of easter eggs than a rich trove of thematic concerns. Ambivalence being one: “Go Find Yourself or Whatever” has Carly caught between saying she’ll wait for the guy who’s leaving, and doubting she could ever forgive him - or treat him any better. Maybe he’s better off not coming back; maybe anyone you can sing “You feel safe in sorrow/ You feel safe on an open road“ about needs to find themselves before they’re enough of a person to be around anyone else for more than a few minutes at a time. Carly leaves the conclusions to us: the song is packed with complication, with hope and sorrow and resignation and maybe all of them are valid, even if maybe all of them are contradictory. In the sentence, “She was attempting to control her emotions,” attempting is the key word, after all.

MG:

Quite contrary to the big saxophone and pounding heartbeats of “Run Away With Me,” quite contrary, as well, to the speed and abbreviation of a TikTok hit, “Go Find Yourself or Whatever” sounds both like a relic of Adult Contemporary’s heyday and too impossibly specific to be anything other than modern pop. Rostam’s production is slow, patient, and gorgeous. He layers gentle, strummed acoustic guitars with subtle string swells and soft, brushed percussion with plucky keys. There are handclaps and a guitar solo that recalls “Champagne Supernova.” The effect is like a fancy campfire on the beach or yearning your way up the Pacific Coast Highway -- so much bleached white and distant crackle, warmth and closeness. But ultimately, this is Carly Rae Jepsen’s song and her tender flourishes from “you made me vulnerable” to “every time the red moon rises/ I’ll stay up and keep some hope inside” make the song so overwhelmingly, so piercingly sad. Whether she’s turning a moment into eternity or she’s searching for the upper bounds of emotion, we never hear the corners of her eyes fall, we never hear her pause to consider. “Go Find Yourself or Whatever” is full of those touches, the echoes of loss and defeat.

[i-love-you-all]

Whumptober 15: Emotional Damage

Continuation of the previous day :)) mostly comfort I think, but some emotional doubts there too lol

~1.6k words. Tremorbolt, scars, comfort.

Sova still had nightmares of KAY/O’s rough grip around his wrist. It wasn’t hostile though. In fact, it was helpful. KAY/O was trying to take him away from a dangerous situation, to force him to get into the Vulture. But by taking him to safety, they were leaving Breach stranded.

Sova didn’t even remember how long he had been standing in front of that door for. For hours, maybe, but he didn’t make a sound. He was just waiting and hoping that the next sounds he heard would give him relief and not any pain. There was nothing though, and soon enough he was fighting against metal arms – not Breach’s – that were trying to pull him away.

“Let me go!” He yelled and snarled at KAY/O. Perhaps it was better he was encased in a metal frame because he was certain that anyone else would’ve come away from that with bruises. Because just regular people couldn’t pull him away from Breach. No, it would take a divine intervention for that.

Divine intervention or manmade contraptions.

KAY/O pulled him onto the Vulture, but it wasn’t until the doors closed that he stopped. In silence, he just let his forehead rest on the cool metal, still thinking about the look on Breach face when they both realized what had happened. There was a desperation in the pit of his stomach, that only built with the incoming howls and snarls, that made the goodbye so much worse than any other.

So, when he heard from Jett as she bounced through the halls that the mission was successful on every front, he found that he had to step away. Find a place where people couldn’t see him collapse and just let out a sigh of relief from the days of stress built up in his every fibre. All at once, he was relaxed, and he could breathe easy.

The door cracked open, and he immediately sat up straight. Most people wouldn’t come find him in his room. They would knock at the very least so—

Maybe it was how the light shone behind him, or maybe the sudden realization that this bed was not his own, nor anything else in the room, even if he came here so often it might as well have been his. But the tears he hadn’t realized were welling up in his one real eye were falling now, and he didn’t even try to stop it from happening.

“Wasn’t I the one stuck there? Why are you crying?”

Sova stood up without any prompting and just walked straight forward into Breach’s arms.

“You’re such a crybaby,” he teased, pressing his lips against Sova’s hair. “Remind me why I put up with you?”

It did what Breach had hoped. Sova smiled, and he couldn’t help the soft chuckle from within. The sudden peace inside where before was a tumult of emotions that wrecked his nerves for days on end. He wrapped his arms around Breach’s waist and held them so tightly that he could feel Breach’s heartbeat through both their clothes, right where it was in his chest. From his body straight to Sova’s. Like this though, he could even smell all the traces of medical disinfectant and bandages. If he closed his eyes and squeezed them shut just a little more, he could even swear that he smelled the sharp, cold scent of the ice that marked Sage’s signature abilities.

“You were gone.” It wasn’t just his absence that Sova was referring to. And it wasn’t a question to be answered. Sova was sure of it.

“Nah, your ice sniffer’s just off. Who do you think I am? Can’t be killed by some dogs.” Breach squeezed him for just a second then leaned back, asking to be let go.

Sova did as he asked for. He kept his hands on Breach’s arms for just a second longer, and then he took a step back to give him space. A shower would also easily get rid of the medical smell, so he just waited for Breach to invite him in. It was the reason why he backed off from Breach so easily when he asked for it. But the invite never came. He was in bed when Breach walked into the bathroom alone. He listened to the sounds of water, and he fought against the general peace he felt so that he would be awake when Breach got into bed.

Even if he tried to stay awake, his eyes must’ve closed at some point because the next time he woke up, he was on his side, staring at Breach’s sleeping face with their fingers laced together. He took this quiet moment to study Breach’s face. He saw a new cut on the bridge of his nose that hadn’t fully healed. Maybe when Sage did her work it didn’t bother with something as unimportant as this. Anyways, it was just one of many scars he saw on Breach.

He gently trailed his finger over Breach’s nose, over the healing cut. Breach’s eyelashes fluttered as he woke up. Carefully, so he didn’t pinch Sova’s fingers, Breach brough the hand down from his nose to his lips.

“I missed this,” he said. Sova blinked once. Breach rarely said anything so soft without Sova starting it.

The words should’ve reassured him, but all he could think about was what had happened to prompt this. Even the Breach from the previous night sounded like himself.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Breach smiled and in a sleepily clumsy motion, he knocked their foreheads together. “I was so glad you got out. As long as you were safe, I knew what I was fighting for.”

Then, as Breach closed his eyes again, he whispered something in Swedish. Sova’s brain tried to grasp on to certain words that sounded familiar but found that he was also too sleepy to properly focus on what he was saying.

And despite that morning, Sova couldn’t help but worry. Breach’s habits had changed, and he wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or not. They used to run their hands over each other’s bodies like it was their own. In fact, Sova was so familiar with Breach’s body that he swore that he could’ve mapped out every scar, wrinkle and birthmark with his eyes closed. He was certain that Breach was the same for him. Since he had come back though, Breach had been more distant. They held hands, and they kissed, but they were together like how Sova remembered them being. The question poked at the back of his mind every time they climbed into bed together at the end of the day. He wanted to know that Breach was still ok, and he wasn’t sure if he still had his answer.

He found it one day as he was lying in bed, waiting for Breach to come join him. Out of the shower, he saw Breach walk out, towel around his waist and shirt in his hands, not yet covering his chest. And, he knew Breach had tattoos, but he didn’t remember a mark like that. It was a long mark, disrupting the tattoo that he did remember. Even in the light behind Breach from the bathroom, he saw how ugly it looked. It was a jagged line with no clean edges and red splotches around it. Even though it was healed, it looked like it still bothered Breach. He winced when he bent over, and he muttered swears to the empty room even as he just lifted his arm over his head to pull the shirt over him.

“Is that…” Was that what killed you?

Sova wouldn’t ask – he didn’t want to bring it up, but it didn’t matter because Breach already knew what he was asking about.

“Yeah… Yeah… Ruined my tattoo, that sucked.” The shirt was still just around his neck, he hadn’t pulled his arms through the sleeves yet. “Maybe you should’ve been there. Then you could’ve reminded Sage to heal the scar as well.”

The bed shifted with his weight as he sat down right at the edge. Sova got up, sleep the last thing on his mind, and he ran his fingers over the new scar.

“Why does it still hurt you?”

Breach shrugged. “I don’t know. It’ll go away soon. I just… I didn’t want you to worry.”

He leaned back, and after a moment of just staring at Breach through the darkness, he settled beside him.

“You should’ve told me. I worried more like this.”

“Well, you know what they say about hindsight, you can be so arrogant with it.” Breach rolled over so that they were facing each other. “If I just acted like everything was fine, I thought it would be and we could move on without you worrying at all.”

“You’re a terrible actor then.” He heard a chuckle and it brought out his smile.

“I… if our roles were switched, I would’ve broken down. I… I would not have lasted as long as you have waiting on me.” Breach stroked his hair. “I didn’t want to do more to you. I was already dead, remember?”

Sova sighed and he moved closer to Breach, now entangling their legs together too.

“I would rather you cry in my arms than lie about being fine.”

“You know, I would prefer that too.”

Sova wrapped his arms around Breach’s neck and shoulders and just held him against his chest.

“There is nothing to separate us anymore.”

Breach nodded, and eventually, they both closed their eyes to keep the rest of the world away, just for a few hours.

[newmusickarl]

5-9’s Album of the Month Podcast – Episode 8 Out Now, Episode 9 coming soon!

The September review episode of the 5-9 Album of the Month Podcast is fast approaching and as ever I will take a seat alongside 5-9 Editor Andrew Belt and Check This Out’s Kiley Larsen to review five high profile album releases from the past month in music, and ultimately name one as our Album of the Month at the end of the discussion.

For the next blockbuster episode, the five albums we will be discussing are:

Eat The Worm by Jonathan Wilson

The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We by Mitski

Strange Disciple by Nation of Language (poll winner, thanks for voting!)

This New Noise (Live) by Public Service Broadcasting

Everything Is Alive by Slowdive

If you want to listen to the August episode or any previous episodes on Spotify simply click the link below, but also be sure to follow 5-9 Blog on Instagram and Twitter for more news and polls relating to the podcast, along with other great content like film reviews, sports articles and more.

Listen to the August 2023 episode here

Album & EP Recommendations

Laugh Track by The National

Anticipation can be a funny thing. When asked on the January episode of our podcast earlier this year what were some of my most anticipated records for the upcoming 12 months, a new album from The National was one of my picks. As one of my favourite bands, I couldn’t wait for the next instalment in their catalogue and by the time April and The First Two Pages of Frankenstein came around, my hype-o-meter had hit fever pitch. Sadly what I found, left me massively disappointed.

Whilst some fans took to the record immediately, for me Frankenstein was (and still is after numerous plays) the sound of a band seemingly out of ideas and just going through the motions. What’s more, frontman Matt Berninger’s lyrics sound forced, clunky and even clichéd at times. The rich, multi-layered instrumentation we’ve come to know and love with The National seems non-existent too, as the Dessner brothers fail to deliver much of note. Bryan Devendorf is also given a backseat in place of an uninspired drum machine, whilst Phoebe Bridgers’ advertised guest spots are nothing more than backing vocals. Of course, there are still moments like Once Upon A Poolside, Eucalyptus and Alien that show glimmers of The National at their best, but overall these moments are too few and far between.

So when it was announced last week that The National were releasing their second album of 2023 titled Laugh Track, my expectations were hopeful but a bit more modest. The good news was the singles from this tenth studio album were a bit more promising, with Bon Iver collaboration Weird Goodbyes (one of my favourite songs of 2022) and the mini-epic Space Invader clear of anything we had been given on Frankenstein. It turned out to be a good indicator for the rest of the record as Laugh Track has turned out to be The National album I was hoping for at the start of 2023.

For me the contrasting contents is evident from the front covers of the two albums alone. Where Frankenstein is dull pink and monochromatic, Laugh Track is vivid and full of colour - which for me represents the huge difference in sound between the two. Bryan Devendorf has more of a presence whilst the Dessner brothers are stringing together interesting musical arrangements again. Matt’s lyrics suit the flow of the tracks better too, with some lines punching you in the gut like we know he can. But above everything else, a few of the songs here can stand shoulder to shoulder with The National’s very best.

Weird Goodbyes and Space Invader I already mentioned but outside of those two this album is littered with stellar moments. Alphabet City I wasn’t sure about initially, but it seems at home here as the album’s opener. Recent single Deep End (Paul’s In Pieces) has a great driving riff whilst Turn Off the House wouldn’t sound out of place on Trouble Will Find Me. Phoebe Bridgers also has more to do on the brilliant title track, with the line “So turn on the laugh track, everyone knows you’re a wreck” showcasing Matt Berninger at his self-deprecating best. The piano-led Hornets is another stand-out in the back half before Crumble, the country-inspired collaboration with American singer-songwriter Roseanne Cash, also hits home.

The album is fantastic up until that point, but it is the colossal closing track Smoke Detector that sends the record into another stratosphere for me. Clocking in at just shy of eight minutes, it is like Sleep Well Beast cut The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness cranked up to 11. It sees Matt Berninger poetically rant over the top of an ominous riff as it begins to surge, the volume of his vocals steadily escalating along with it. Anchored around a heartfelt refrain of “You don’t know how much I love you, do you?”, it eventually explodes into a thrilling final couple of minutes led by the Dessner brothers’ climatic duelling guitars.

Whilst I appreciate some will still prefer Frankenstein and others may even be left lukewarm by this album as well, for me this is The National I know and love. Several songs here I immediately put alongside my favourites in their catalogue and overall it is just a beautifully arranged record from beginning to end. Whilst it certainly won’t trouble the likes of Boxer, High Violet or Trouble Will Find Me in any album ranking, it is great to know that The National haven’t lost their touch just yet.

Listen here

Lost In Love by Zivi

Another highlight of the last few weeks, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Zivi recently released his hypnotically hazy and guitar-driven debut album - Lost In Love. Released on the seemingly infallible Mama Mañana Records, Zivi’s debut transports you to the desert-dusted sights and sounds of Southwestern America, where mesmerising laidback grooves meet tales of romance and life on the road.

Working with an exceptional array of talented musicians, Zivi brings together an eclectic mix of guitar textures that evoke different feelings and memories at every turn, jumping from the upbeat, timeless rhythms of Move Along to the bluesier riffs of Disappear and Midnight Train. The album then reaches it’s peak around the midway point, with the melancholic strums and enchanting electric koto chimes of Come On bringing the wow factor, before the strutting chords of single Faded take over. On masterful centrepiece Need U Tonight, Zivi then sings of “letting down our guards”, with his passionate vocals taking centre stage amidst a spellbinding arrangement of toe-tapping drums, melodic guitars and some beautiful harmonies with female vocalist, Phoebe Wilson.

That song feels like the emotional heart of the record and after that Zivi steers the listener into the realms of 70s-inspired soft rock for the final stretch. Way Out vividly captures the feeling of breaking free being described in the lyrics, with those words resonating through a sonic eruption of whirring organs and spiralling guitars. The riffs are similarly bold on Solidarity and Passenger, before White Ocean offers up an enthrallingly soulful finale, with the wave crashes wonderfully painted through sounds of church organs and echoey saxophones.

With an excellent team of musicians by his side, an unshakeable trust in his own songwriting and the time, care and effort taken to perfect these songs, Zivi has crafted a truly memorable debut that ranks amongst the year’s best first-time outings. So, if you need some warm, comforting sounds to counteract the incoming colder weather - look no further.

Listen here

Watch Zivi's brilliant live performance at Meow Wolf here

Black Rainbows by Corinne Bailey Rae

I’ll admit, beyond her overplayed and overly twee breakout hit Put Your Records On, before this month I couldn’t name you another Corinne Bailey Rae track. With that being the case, I went into this fourth album from the British singer-songwriter with little expectation, other than a recommendation and some extremely positive reviews. As a result, I was blown away by the absolute tour de force with which I was presented.

Across the album’s ten tracks, Corinne effortlessly jumps from genre to genre whilst sharing her thoughts on subjects such as slavery, spirituality, freedom, hope and survival. Whilst these radical style switches can be jarring at times, it also makes for an absolute thrill ride with not a single dull moment to be found. In just the opening three songs alone, Corinne flies between the rip-roaring A Spell, A Prayer, the experimental jazz of the title track before landing at the stomping rock riffs of Erasure.

It’s then in the middle section where the best songs can be found, with Corinne’s soulful cries of “I wanted to know you” gracefully gliding across the stirring arrangement on album highlight, Red Horse. She then immediately does a complete 180, firing into the full throttle garage rock of New York Transit Queen, a song that wouldn’t sound out of place on the recent Hives record. Near 9-minute epic Put It Down is then the entire album in a nutshell, starting out as a magical slice of smooth R&B before transitioning into a pulsating buzz of electronica.

Black Rainbows is an album that on the surface sounds like it should be a hot mess, an “everything including the kitchen sink” collection of sounds and styles that would’ve quickly misfired in anyone else’s hands. Full credit to Corinne Bailey Rae though, as she keeps the project anchored and makes the dramatic transitions seem like the most natural thing in the world. An incredible record that you simply must hear.

Listen here

Softscars by yeule

If after Corinne you want more genre-hopping brilliance, then look no further than the third studio album from Singaporean musician, Yeule. A concept album which sees each track represent an old wound from Yeule’s past, it’s an exhilarating, near flawless ride through the cross-section where dream-pop, shoegaze and alt-rock all collide. Brilliant from start to finish, it’s particularly worth your time for the likes of x w x, sulky baby, ghosts, inferno and aphex twin flame.

Listen here

Lost In A Rush Of Emptiness by Bleach Lab

If you’re after something a bit more traditional in sound however, then I recommend the utterly stunning debut from London-based quartet Bleach Lab. Bringing together elements of shoegaze and melodic indie rock, gorgeous flourishes of strings and the softly spoken vocals of frontwoman Jenna Kyle, it’s an album that will leave you completely entranced from the get-go. Particularly worth diving into the majestic opening trio of All Night, Indigo and Counting Empties, along with the astonishing 7-minute closer, Life Gets Better.

Listen here

With All Due Disrespect EP by Bellah Mae

And then on the EPs front, rising popstar Bellah Mae landed on my radar earlier this year through her charismatic performance at Nottingham’s Splendour festival. An absolute pro at post-breakup takedowns, her debut pulls together all her catchy, often hilarious singles to date into one fun blast of a shortplayer. Whether it’s the sarcastic brush-off of Boyfriend of the Year, the sweeping balladry of On Purpose (For My Future Daughter) or the meme-tastic roast of her ex found on Date Your Dad, Bellah’s charm and unique way with words will have you smiling in no time.

Listen here

Also worth checking out: Magic 3 by Nas, End by Explosions In The Sky, STONE by Baroness, Cellophane by Holy Holy, Heaven and Gold by Cleo Sol

Tracks of the Week

ONE MORE TIME by Blink-182

Get the tissues ready, pop-punk legends Blink-182 are back.

Whilst it may not be a big deal to everyone, for 90s kids like me who grew up with Blink-182’s music, seeing the original line-up of Tom, Mark and Travis reconcile and get back together for a new album brings nothing but joy. Well, maybe not nothing but joy - I’d be lying if I said this song didn’t leave me deeply moved. As memories and callbacks to their heyday are made during the song’s music video, the comeback single itself is an honest love letter from the trio to one another and a touching ode to their brotherly bond.

Watch the music video here

Another Life by Spector

Continuing the build to the release of their fourth album in late November, titled Here Come The Early Nights, indie heroes Spector have served up the second taste of their forthcoming project. Sonically it is the type of upbeat anthem we have come to expect from Spector but lyrically it is slightly different to the norm, as typically witty and guarded frontman Fred Macpherson shows a rare glimpse of vulnerability as he ponders on a lost love.

Listen here

Looking For Loving by Nimmo & Satellite

Summer may sadly be coming to an end, but there’s always time for one last dance banger – especially from the ever-brilliant Nimmo. Still yet to deliver a bad song throughout their career, this energetic collaboration with Satellite features plenty of heart and an instantly catchy chorus.

Listen here

Gemini by Bathe Alone

A shoutout to Twitter friend Joe for putting this new single from Atlanta-based multi-instrumentalist Bailey Crone, AKA Bathe Alone, onto my radar. Filled with lush, dreamy sonics and Crone’s own whispery vocals, it’s an intoxicating song in which to fully lose yourself.

Listen here

Love My Way by Share

And finally this week, New Music Weekly favourite Nile Marr has recently teamed up with musician Kaylen Alan Krebsbach to form new band - Share. It’s an instantly intriguing combination of talents and their first single, a blissful cover of the Psychedelic Furs’ classic Love My Way, is now out in the world. An excellent, faithful cover that leaves me waiting to hear more from the duo.

Listen here

Also worth checking out: Black Heaven by Creeper, Into Your Room by Holly Humberstone, Big Pharma by Sleaford Mods, When The Rain Comes by Sugababes, All the Time In The World by Sunship Balloon

REMINDER: If you use Apple Music, you can also keep up-to-date with all my favourite 2023 tracks through my Best of 2023 playlist. Constantly updated throughout the year with songs I enjoy, it is then finalised into a Top 100 Songs of the Year in December.

Add the playlist to your library here

[luxshine]

“Yo  a ti, Cas” Or how mexican dubbing gripped us tight and raised us from Despair.

Ok. So I promised a big meta about the dubbing thing and so while I don’t have all the answers YET, here’s a bit of perspective on the differences between Despair and The Truth.

  First, a little background. I am a former professional dubbing translator. While I worked on anime series from Japanese to Spanish, rather than in live action ones from English to Spanish, the process is not that different. Also, I worked in Mexico, where Supernatural is dubbed, so that’s why I can make the assumptions I make. Finally, my specialization in college was translation from English to Spanish, so I guess I know what the hell I’m talking about.

  So let’s start on HOW you translate something for a dub. Back in the day, you got a ton of VHS tapes with the episodes on them with time codes, and, if you were lucky, a shooting script. This is to say, it was not a transcript of the actual words said in the episode, but the script BEFORE the actors, directors, and everyone else had a hand on what was said and changed. And thus, anything adlibbed? Is not going to be in that script which, at least for the anime side of things? Was a nightmare as the script was usually “And here X actor can say whatever they want” and I had to go and listen to the scene ten thousand times. Now a days, you get either a video file or a streaming link, and sometimes, the shooting script. If you get a script, btw, you can also not get a script in the original language. I know that the person who had to translate Sprited Away to Spanish was working off a German script, not the Japanese one. So yeah, some things can be lost in translation there.

  THEN you get to translate. BUT you can’t just translate word by word. You have to adapt it so that it will sound like something a person will say, and sometimes, literally is not the way to do it. And in particular, Mexican dubbing has a reputation to uphold as the “Neutral” dub that is send to most Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, so we can’t use certain words (I don’t have the list at hand, but I remember that I couldn’t use “Llanta” for Tire, and so I had to use “Neumatico”. And no “sweaters” or “hotcakes” or stuff like that), AND we have to match the lips of the original video. Which is like, the worst nightmare ever because of what we call “labiales”, that is to say, the letters where lips close.

  I can’t tell you how much we all loved when a character gave a long winded speech with their back to the camera due to those damned closed lip letters.

  All this is to say that sometimes, the line could be “We are all in this together for good or bad”, and the translation become something more like “Estamos en esto, por las buenas o las malas” (We’re on this, the good way or the bad way) or “Estamos juntos en las buenas y en las malas” (We’re together in the good and the bad), depending on the translator, dub director, and voice actor.

  Depending on the client, that is, the original owner of the series, sometimes they will review the translation once it’s all dubbed and edited. I know that in the Avengers movie, a Disney rep was present on the cabin and forbade any changes from the script, which resulted on a couple of awkward lines in the end result. I don’t know if that’s the case for Supernatural, but I honestly doubt it. Still, translators can’t make huge changes for the dialogue. One couldn’t just ADD a relationship that wasn’t there, no matter what.

  (As an aside, due to the very conservative mindset of some tv stations, it’s more common that gay relationships become more ambiguous, by changing “I love you” to “Te quiero” which can be more of a filial love than a romantic one. And well, that one case in Sailor Moon where a gay character was changed into a woman because the dub director honestly thought the character was a woman. But that was in the nineties)

  Now, let’s go to how Castiel’s speech was translated.

  The original, according to Superwiki, went like this:

  Castiel:  You're the most caring man on Earth. You are the most selfless, loving human being I will ever know. You know, ever since we met, ever since I pulled you out of Hell, knowing you has changed me. Because you cared, I cared. I cared about you. I cared about Sam. I cared about Jack. I cared about the whole world because of you. You changed me, Dean.

Dean: Why does this sound like a goodbye? Castiel: Because it is. I love you. Dean: Don't do this, Cas. Cas.

  And the translation, as it was aired, went like this (And people, you have no idea the war flashbacks transcribing this gave me, so I hope you appreciate it):

  Castiel: Eres el hombre mas amoroso sobre la Tierra. Un hombre sin egoismo; el hombre mas generoso que haya visto, y que jamas vere. Sabes que desde que nos conocimos y desde que te saque del infierno, el conocerte me ha cambiado. Porque a ti te importa. Y a mi me importa. Me importas tu. Y me importa Sam, me importa Jack, me importa todo el mundo. Y fue por ti. Tu me cambiaste, Dean.

  Dean: Porque suena esto a despedida?

  Castiel: Porque asi fue. Te amo.

  Dean: Yo a ti, Cas. (The empty appears and Billie opens the door) Cas…

  Castiel: Adios Dean

  Dean: No!

  Ok. So… At first glance, they’re pretty much the same until we get to the I love you. BUT let’s dissect it a little bit.

  Cas begins with a “Eres el hombre mas amoroso sobre la Tierra” which is not how I would’ve translated “The most caring man on Earth” since “caring” is more like “Cariñoso” rather than “amoroso” which would be “loving”, and yes, there’s a difference. Plus, “el hombre mas amoroso” sounds a bit clunky, so Personally, I’d have gone with “Eres el hombre mas cariñoso en la Tierra”, that would’ve given us more time for the rest of the speech, but I wonder if the translator choice for Amoroso instead was more due to the fact that “amor” (love) is more clearly romantic than “care” (cariño, in a sense, more on this later) and so it foreshadows the end.

  Again, with the literal clunkyness we have “Un hombre sin egoismo” (A man without egoism) which sounds weird no matter what language you speak, and it should’ve been “Un hombre dadivoso” (A giving man) or “un hombre desinteresado” (a selfless man) although the second could be mis-construed as “a man without interests” so “dadivoso” would’ve better. But the more puzzling is that the Spanish separates the selfless man from the next, which is REALLY confusing as the English is “the most loving man”, which would be “el hombre mas amoroso” making it quite redundant, so the Spanish changes it to “the most generous man”, “el hombre mas generoso”. To add to this, Cas continues with “that I have seen and I will ever see” instead of “That I know”, because it’s far more poetic. And loving.

  So yeah, Mexican Cas is basically saying that Dean Winchester is made of love and puppies.

  Ahem.

  The next part “You know, ever since I pulled you out of hell, you’ve changed me” is more or less word for word, and the only thing that changes is that the English sounds more like a question and the Spanish one is an affirmation. YOU KNOW that ever since I pulled you out of hell, you changed me.” Little verb tense play, that doesn't change much except Cas’s resolution to say what he has to say.

  And then we get to the part that made me squeal out loud. Because we go from

  “Because you cared, I cared. I cared about you. I cared about Sam. I cared about Jack. I cared about the whole world because of you”

  To

  “Porque a ti te importa. Y a mi me importa. Me importas tu. Y me importa Sam, me importa Jack, me importa todo el mundo.” Which at first glance is the same, but NOPE.

  First change: The original is in past tense “I cared”. Spanish version is in present tense: “I care”.

Which is a little non important thing except when you remember that simple present means “immutable absolute truth that won’t change with time”

  Second, the choice of word for care.

  I mentioned before that Care can be Cariño, as in filial, non romantic love (Or romantic love pet name, as it can also be Darling. It’s one of THOSE words). Other translations for care include “cuidado” (as in attention, concern, keeping, and worry), and of course “interesarse” (Which also can be care), “preocuparse” (care, bother, trouble, mind, fuss), and yes, “importar” but “importar” ONLY translates to English as a verb as “import”, “matter” “amount to” and notice how none of those words include “love”.

  Mexican Cas is not saying “you love the world, and so I do”. Mexican Cas is saying “The world matters to you, and thus it matters to me, but my feelings for the World (and Sam, and Jack) are not in the same league as my feelings for you.”

  And then Dean asks “Why does this sound like a Goodbye”, just like in English, in present tense…

  And Mexican Cas replies in PAST tense. “Porque asi fue”. And THIS is important because it means that everything he said before WAS the goodbye, and not what comes next. All the rest? Is in the past. “Because it was”. Not “Because it IS”. And the next part? Is their future.

  I love you.

  Te amo.

  Simple present. No ambiguity like “te quiero”. Spanish Te amo is for romantic love. Not brotherly, not family, not bro-mantic. ROMANTIC.

  It’s like “I’m IN love with you” (Although that’d be “Estoy enamorado de ti” and I doubt that would’ve fit in the time Misha spoke)

  And of course, the answer. “Yo a ti, Cas”. Not “And I, you” as I’ve seen it before (And I also thought it was, until transcribing the scene) but a simple “I, you, Cas.” Which ok, pretty cave-speak, but the meaning is pretty clear. Dean Winchester loves his gay angel.

  It is also telling that the empty doesn’t appear until AFTER Dean confessed, so no, Mexican Cas is not “happy with the saying”, he had to get to the “happy with the having”.

  And when Billy appears, it does seem as if he wants to say something more, but Cas is a love-sick selfsacrificing dumbass and so we all get our hearts broken.

I did get in contact with Dean Winchester’s mexican voice actor, and am waiting for answers to a small interview I did with him which includes the question “did that And I you, Cas” was in the script, and am trying to contact Castiel’s mexican voice actor. So I will be updating you on that. But I hope this clears up some of the questions about how Mexican dubbing made Destiel Canon :D

[shotorozu]

encountering a ‘pick me’ girl

character(s) : kirishima eijirou, todoroki shouto, bakugou katsuki (bnha)

warning : PICK ME GIRL, misogyny (?) pick me girl makes an off handed comment about your body but it’s not detailed at all

PART TWO — PART THREE

legend : [Y/N = your name] afab! reader, but they/them pronouns used, quirk not mentioned

headcanon type : fluff, angst if you squint

note(s) : i made 2 versions of this post so,, if you’re reading this— then i probably decided that i liked this one more than the other one i made,, anyways, i used real life examples 💀

»»————-　♡　————-««

kirishima eijirou

i’d imagine that eijirou would have an idea of what a pick me girl is— i mean, there were probably 2 of those girls in middle school

but has he experienced it first hand? nahh.

though, eijirou didn’t think he’d encounter one when he was already in a healthy and committed relationship!

eijirou is practically friends with everyone— and yeah, even the most unexpected. so, he’s bound to accidentally befriend a pick me girl

him, being the nicest one out of all of the characters in this list, will still be nice to said pick me girl, despite wanting to snob them to the core

because really— you can’t really fight fire with fire in some cases

but, he can be everything but lenient when the pick me girl starts insulting you for doing certain things, and for absurd reasons too

like,, how you laugh, and how you take care of yourself (for example— if you wear makeup, or how you style your hair)

which is odd! everything about you is everything but the things the pick me girl has stated so.. he cannot stand by.

SCENARIO

the girl giggles to herself after that snide comment leaves her lip gloss coated lips. eijirou shifts uncomfortably— honestly taken aback by the anything but subtle insult that was thrown at you

“like.. seriously! it’s honestly quite superficial if you look at it like that. who the hell would put that much effort infront of your boyfriend? i’d assume they’d see everything AND everything but.. i guess not.”

you blink. superficial? now that’s a new one. the girl infront of you has been babbling insults sugarcoated in boasts the entire time, and you’re just wondering if it’s about time you guys leave but—

“well that’s unfair,” your boyfriend laughs, “i put the same amount of effort as this cutie right here,” eijirou pokes at your cheek, earning a quick laugh from you— which he can only thank the heavens for that

“but that’s different. it actually looks put together when you’re doing it, eiji.” the certain glint in her smile makes you want to wipe it right off with a dirty mop, “it’s impossible to look put together with expensive clothes, but being built like a—”

the sound of the sliding of a chair is quicker than your actions, and it easily cuts her off.

“i’m sorry, but we gotta go, it’s totally not cool of you to say those things about Y/N!”

“what? but i mean.. it’s true, right? i’m looking out for them! they’re literally out here l—”

“bye!” eijirou waves her goodbye with your hand, dismissing the sour expression on her face— as he dashes off with you

you’d question how he’s just so nice to people like that, but when he turns around, you could see the distaste in his eyes

“so that’s what a pick me girl’s like,” shaking his head, his expression lights up with such a quick manner “i’ll never make friends that are like that again!”

safe to say, eijirou’s friend list has been a a person shorter ever since that incident

bakugou katsuki

oh, so that girl’s bold bold.

if she thinks she could get away with being a not so subtle pick me girl infront of bakugou katsuki, then she couldn’t be more wrong.

it’s absolutely revolting— i mean, he hasn’t displayed any romantic feelings towards ANYONE that isn’t you.

also, they’re quite gutsy if you ask me. so congrats for having guts??

i don’t think he’d be friends with a pick me girl. he’s very selective of who he’s befriending, so it’s probably your friend that’s the pick me girl in this case

he wouldn’t know what a pick me girl would be, but he’d probably know the description of one.

over some time, he’d grow some resistance to insults directed at him, but when someone insults his s/o

oh boy. that’s not good. remember when i said that katsuki was almost like your scary and intimidating dog

this is what i mean

knows he can’t make a scene, so his first option is to be dismissive asf— but if said pick me girl literally can’t get it, he won’t be afraid of shoving some explosions into her face

because his hands are rated e for everyone

SCENARIO

“so you wanna be picked or something, is that it?” he hates how you literally have the resistance of a rock— which is something he always liked, but in this case hated. if it weren’t for you— he would’ve blasted explosions into her sorry excuse of a face until it’s beyond recognition (that wouldn’t be hero like, is what you’ve said in the past, but he disagrees.)

but seriously? ugh. he just wants to leave this horrid place, and make some dinner with you in the comfort of his home. why are you even friends with her anyway? she’s not even trying to be slick at this point.

“p-picked? i’m not understanding, katsu.”

“it’s bakugou.”

“right,” her laughter is like nails on chalkboard, “i’m just watching out for Y/N, y’know? there’s no point in wearing all of that.. on their face.” and she’s obviously referring to your obviously very well done makeup

“it’ll make your skin terrible in the long run! and really— i couldn’t really understand on why someone would wear that much, when you could survive with i dunno.. lip gloss at most?”

you would’ve actually said something as a rebuttal, but your boyfriend is quicker, and a lot more direct than anyone else in the area.

“just say you can’t do makeup and fucking scram,” katsuki’s ice cold glare finally breaks out of the act he’s been trying to hold together for you

“their makeup is fucking bomb as hell, compared to your ridiculous spider lashes, lady. come back when you’ve watched james charles’ entire fucking channel.” he harshly states in similar bakugou fashion, despite the lack of screaming.

and if you squinted hard enough, you could see tears welling up in her eyes. but katsuki tugs your hand before anything else could be said

“let’s fucking go, you need better friends.”

he makes you cut ties with all of them, and he practically scolds your terrible choice of friends— but he goes quiet when you tell him that you’ve been friends with her since middle school

“good fucking riddance. next time, i’ll punch them as soon as they say something outta line, got that?” and next time (hopefully, there won’t be a next time) you’ll actually lash out— or maybe,, you’ll let him loose for once.

todoroki shouto

now shouto might be,, socially unaware sometimes. but he can tell whenever someone’s trying to insult his s/o

like,, right away.

now— you both run into this person after a pleasant date, and she eagerly presented herself as your friend

so, her attitude catches him off guard because who’d have anything rude to say about you and towards shouto’s face? especially when it’s about something normal.

like,, wasn’t she your friend?? why is she even like this?

his hostility is very well known, so they should be scared.

he gets detached from the conversation, and he’ll immediately go cold— and shouto would probably go as far as walking away with your hand in his

doesn’t matter if he properly says goodbye or not— if a girl’s being rude to his s/o, they obviously don’t deserve his usually polite attitude. nope, that’s a luxury.

oh— and what more when they’re seeking for his validation. newsflash! said pick me girl won’t be get any from him.

SCENARIO

shouto couldn’t stop the bitterness bleeding into his mouth, when the girl in front of him continued to babble and take up the valuable time he had left with his s/o

initially, she presented herself as your friend from middle school— but as of now? she seems to be more interested in him more than you, despite knowing you first.

she’d ask him a string of obvious questions with very obvious answers, like ‘is she treating you well?’ ‘is she acting correctly?’ and questions of the sort

“oh, sorry! i’d hate to cut this conversation short, but—” you finally decide that it was about time to leave, while shouto looks pretty,, deadpanned right now, you could tell that he was gradually starting to get irritated by your friend’s words.

“wait. thats.. kind of controlling, don’t you think? do you ever let shou make decisions?”

“uh.. controlling? since when??” you question at the accusation. this girl knows nothing about your relationship dynamic, and she’s already jumping the gun and making conclusions.

your gaze snaps back to shouto, who looks just as surprised as he could possibly be.

“yeah! it clearly looks like he still wants to talk” which is an obvious lie, shouto just wants it out of here “i wonder how you managed to snag such a guy like him,” she comments with a smile that looked anything above suspicion (yet, it makes your stomach churn)

you could see the way her hand gets gradually closer to him— and frankly, you’re not sure about what she was planning to do next, “you wouldn’t need to dress all expensive and fancy, if you’re with a girl with an already classy appear—”

“i think this conversation is over,” shouto grip is firm on the wrist that was attempting to grab his shoulder, shouto makes no attempt to even look at the girl infront of him “i don’t know what you’re trying to do, but it’s not humorous. at all.”

“what?” she stammers, drawing her hand back “i-it’s obvious they don’t know how to take a joke! this is why there are barely any good w—”

shouto’s next actions knocks her speechless, his hand rests at the small of your back, before gently guiding you forward— “love, what movie are we watching later?” he says, making an effort to press a quick, yet intense kiss on your lips

“oh,” you breathe out, surprised by this action. “don’t be so tense, love.” shouto comments on how tense your shoulders have looked, ever since she started running her mouth, “now.. what movie do you want to watch tonight? comedy? thriller?”

“you pick,” you laugh at the quick shift of topic. and when you look behind you, you could see shame and defeat welling up on her face. shouto finally feels like he could smile again, the bitterness dissipating from his mouth

after shouto questions you if that was what a pick me girl was, he makes sure that you guys won’t ever encounter such thing again

“you.. don’t have more friends like that, right? if you do— we could always do another friend list cleansing.” this statement makes you laugh but shouto is anything but joking

but being reminded of his reaction to that ‘pick me’ girl does puts a smile on your face.

»»————-　♡　————-««

likes and reblogs are appreciated, thanks for reading!

i do not own bnha/mha and it’s characters. boku no hero academia/my hero academia belongs to horikoshi kohei, i only own the writing and i do not profit off of my hobby

do not plagiarize, reupload, translate, or use my works for audio readings without permission

[im-not-a-simp-i-swear]

heyyy, this has been living in my head rent free lately, so can i get headcannons of how the brothers ( + undateables if ur up to it) react to a mc who's dating a lower level demon, (they all have romantic feelings towards mc), and only find out they're dating a lower level demon when they confess their feelings

...WHAT?

Whatever you do dont present this mysterious individual to any of the brothers, they will not get along with them so easily, not after this...

💙LUCIFER

"Well WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE ALREADY DATING SOMEONE WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN!?!?!?"

The embarrasment behind this man is outstanding, love, such a delicate thing, confession, an even more fragile item, being rejected cause one's crush is already taken?? Dont even let me describe his pain right now

He will just stare in shock at you, heartbroken by this information, feeling like an idiot for not acting sooner, you'll watch as he walks away in silence, no goodbye or anything

He will avoid you by either hiding in his room and drinking his sorrows away with demonus or just not being anywhere he believes you'd be at, the avatar of pride could never look at your face after what went wrong

Pwrhaps you should keep your lover away from him... cause he will NOT be happy to see them

💛MAMMON

"WHAT!?"

The pain in his voice... he was your first man, your partner in crime, this moment, even after so much bullshit from him you could tell his confession was sincer, of course it hurts to him this reality

No, you must be lying, show him your partner, NOW. He needs to know why you would date a lower demon, why you wouldnt pick him, why you didnt fall for the great Mammon

Even if you agree to present your partner to him he'll still spoil you, his feelings arent fajed anyways so its only fair that he stays sincere to you... who knows... maybe he could make you fall for him and leave the other fool...

But one can always dream right MC?

🧡LEVIATHAN

"O-oh... of course you already have a lover... i mean why wouldnt such a lovely person like you already be dating someone?" "Even more its not like he could be any better than some lower demon... they qon your heart anyways..."

Acting aside, he is the avatar of envy for a reason, and boy oh boy can one tell

If you really love your partner maybe dont present them to ANY of the boys??? EVER???? specially dont do so with the levi, the envy is insane

When levi is alone however he wont call for you to hang out, he cant look at you without remembering the embarrasment and your partner who he wishes to be dead

💚SATAN

"........what?"

Have you seen that once scene in guardians in the galaxy 2 where starlord's dad is all like "it broke my heart to put that tumor in her head" and starlord is all like "what?" In this deep spookish voice? Yeah that id exactly how satan pronounced it.

Like father like son, he'll just walk away from you after he gets the answer, the last thing he wants you to see is his wrath

He has been planning for so long, he's read so many romance stories hopeing he could recreate the scenes with you... why must you pick someone else? This is fair... they must be putting up a facade right? R-right?

💖ASMODEUS

"...im sorry... WHAT?!"

he is in shock... when did you start dating someone? When did you meet a lower demon and fall in love with them? WHAT MAKES THEM BETTER THAN HIM????

He is the avatar of lust everyone should want him, but then why dont you want him?? He is supposed to be beautiful, charming, perfect, what does this stranger have that he doesnt??

We all know this guy has got some issues with his looks and himself, but this? This is what breaks him, there is no point in being him if you wont love him back

Idk what he'll do afterwards but just know it wont be any fun

❤BEELZEBUB

"Oh... my bad then.."

He sounds calm but in reality he is very upset about this, he got beaten by a lower demon, but as long as you are happy then he will be happy

This romance doesnt ruin your friendship with him right? You guys can still hang out and have fun together anyways right? This is fine, it really is just... fine

Beel isnt like his brothers, he wont get upset so easily for you being taken, sure the vines between eachother may be off but as long as you two stay friends then everything will be fine, some lower demon wont ruin your fun with him, nor will they ruin his fun with you

💜BELPHEGOR

"Oh..."

There are no questions, no comments, just silence, all the time he lost being in the attic could explain why he never knew about this demon lover of yours, but that doesnt make the pain and embarrasment go away

Perhaps avoiding you is best for the following days, the last thing he'd want to do is look at your face without feeling embarrassed or see you being all lovey dovey for your beloved

Never present him to them, he killed you, what makes you think he wont kill them, he just doesnt find it fair that some lowever demon gets your heart but not him, he'll be fine however, if he sleeps long enough and plays dumb for long enough maybe he'll grow out of it