#anyways as I'm picking it up... i realize...

[bitteriekitten]

kisses for the mama.

synopsis — the l&ds finding out and meeting your baby for the first time.

content — fem!reader, singlemom!reader, fluff, angst, babies, you have a daughter (twin daughters in sylus's) in all fics and she has no set age (i have no concept of how old babies can begin speaking in full sentences and express themselves authentically. so.), mentions and implications of the ff: death, weapons, toxic relationships, toxic baby-daddies, emotional abuse, abandonment, illnesses, hospital visits, and probably so many more that i've overlooked. lmk if i missed anything !!!

featuring — xavier, zayne, rafayel, sylus, & caleb (separate fics)

notes — that poll i made was def interesting... everyone has baby fever huh.. yknow what me too 😔 but IMO writing this in jus one sitting is honestly better than going out and actually getting a baby. this was unproofread bcs i'm tired and in this house we rawdog everything. and yes, the baby names came from katseye members SUE ME their recent single slaps so good idgaf

Xavier didn't question it when you would be so eager to get home by 6 P.M. everyday. he felt that he was the same exact way, speeding through the work day like he was going to be late for his bed.

but he was surprised to find you waiting near a popular daycare center in linkon. he happened to be passing by the street to get to jeremiah's shop when he noticed you. still in full uniform, you kneeled by the door and waved to someone inside the building with a tired but excited smile.

xavier froze on his spot when a little girl speeds out of the door and into your arms. the girl looked like a smaller version of you, with the addition of small dimples and hair in short pig-tails. she squealed excitedly as you stood up with her in your embrace, her little arms wrapped around your neck, refusing to let go.

it was then the little girl's eyes spotted xavier that he realized he was blatantly staring. before he could move away from you undetected, you had already turned around and locked eyes with your co-worker. two similar-looking faces stared at him, one in shock and one in confusion.

"oh- xavier, hey-" you stammered as the hairs on the back of your neck began to stand.

"hi." xavier replied, unsure of what to say. the little girl's eyes, unblinking, turned to you. at such a young age, she already knew how to raise her eyebrow.

"mama, who that?" she whispered, loud enough for xavier to hear.

you kissed her temple, "a friend from work, my love." you replied simply. much to his surprise, you walked towards xavier, to which the little girl tightened her arms around you in caution.

"xavier, this is lara." you said, running your free hand over her head and back. "my... daughter."

xavier smiled and bent down to meet lara's eyes. "hi, lara," he said. "i'm xavier, i'm your mom's friend from work."

lara stuck out her little arm at him, and it took him a second to realize she wanted to shake his hand. xavier chuckled, but complied anyway, her hand barely wrapping around his finger as he shook it once.

"you fight wanderrrrs like mama?" she asked pointedly.

"yes, i do." xavier replied with a grin.

xavier abandoned all his plans with jeremiah that afternoon, sticking by your side - or really, lara's side. the train ride home was quiet, save for lara's hundreds of questions for xavier, who answered her with utmost sincerity.

xavier learned that lara liked to speak in incomplete sentences and disregarded syllables altogether, creating her own unique vocabulary just because she could. she also liked to cling to your uniform like a tiny koala, but smied at anybody who she thinks would smile back.

in just a matter of minutes, she somehow already had xavier wrapped around her stubby fingers.

"mr. shaver, i wanna hunter-rer like you and mama."

you giggled as lara finally managed to pick up xavier's name, albeit a bit wonkily with her current speaking skill. but xavier didn't mind - he likes it. he loves it.

"yeah? you wanna be big and strong like your mama and i?" he asked.

"mhm. but i don't want boom-boom." lara sighed dramatically. she covered her ears with her tiny palms and quickly took them off, "hurt ears."

xavier didn't miss the way your smile faltered, and how your arms cradled the back of her head. his lips pursed together, his chest tightening at the sight - at the thought of you struggling with a baby under your wing.

"it's okay, my love. you don't have to use boom-boom." you replied, trying to keep your voice leveled. lara, adorably unaware, leaned further into your affection.

"mama sleepy." she declared with a big yawn. you began patting her back comfortingly. "okay, just sleep, love. i'll wake you up when you get home." you said.

lara quickly dozed off with her head smushed against your chest, your heartbeat lulling her to sleep. xavier glanced up at you, eyes softening at your expression.

"are you alright?" he asked cautiously, scooting closer to you on the train seat.

"...yes." you replied after a moment, running a hand over your mouth. "it's just... i wasn't expecting her to say that."

it was clear that there was something underneath your tone, behind the eyes that held only love and protection over your daughter. xavier remained silent, because maybe that's what you needed from him.

"i caught her dad at our old house with my gun." you said quietly. xavier's jaw clenched and his heart skipped a beat, eyes looking over your daughter with alert and distraught. you sighed to yourself and pulled lara impossibly close.

"she was asleep inside her bed, and he just... i dunno, he came home from the bar that night completely drunk. he was right outside her door and i just- i lost it." you whimpered.

xavier did not hesitate to wrap an arm around your shoulder, pulling you and lara into his chest. "you're here now." he told you firmly, finality lacing his voice and spreading onto his hold over the both of you. "he's not here anymore, and i'll make sure of it."

the walk back to the apartment was easier, where lara's laughter resounded the halls of the building as she rode on xavier's shoulders up to your floor. xavier, with his iron grip over your daughter's legs, mimicked the sounds of a rocket ship flying over space as he took her on a galactic adventure.

they walked on before you, with you following behind them with a fond smile and a fond heart.

Zayne, like any other person, didn't prefer to work late. but it was getting impossible to finish his workload by the end of the work day, so he's been chained to his desk inside his office at ungodly hours.

it was 3 in the morning when he'd gone out of his office to get himself a cup of hot cocoa, when he spotted you by the vending machines. he rushed over to you, surprised to see you at akso hospital at this hour. hearing his hurried footsteps, you turned around just as you picked up your snacks.

your eyes widened as he quickly approached you. "y/n? what're you doing here? are you hurt?" he asked, his eyes poring over your figure, frantically searching for any injuries.

"dr. zayne! uh-" you gulped. zayne's heart pounded - he couldn't find what was wrong. you were in your pajamas, your eyes bleary and hair in disarray, but you didn't seem to be in any pain or discomfort.

"what're you here for? did something happen?"

"i-i'm fine, but..." you cleared your throat, scratching the back of your neck. "um, m-my daughter caught that stomach bug that's been plaguing over the schools this season."

zayne must've heard wrong, "daughter?"

"yes. my daughter, manon." you awkwardly replied, the snacks in your hands crumpling. "she's been vomiting non-stop at home and she just got that fever hours ago - i was just overwhelmed, i didn't know what else to do." you said, your voice becoming watery by the second.

"no, no - you did the right thing by bringing her here." zayne quickly reassured you, pulling you into his arms for a tight embrace. you took a moment to hug him back, your arms wrapping around his waist tightly. you let out a long shaky sigh against his chest as he patted your back gently.

you were the first to pull back from his embrace, wiping away the stray tears that clouded your vision. "w-would you like to meet her?" you asked, "i promised to get her some snacks - she was complaining about the fish you served here."

zayne chuckled, "of course. lead the way."

after a short trip down an empty hallway and into one of the private rooms, zayne watched as you gently woke manon up from her sleep. the little girl, with eyes and smile shaped the same way as her mother's, instantly spotted zayne standing by the doorway. she looked at him in confusion, then back at you, "mama, who's that?" she asked, voice weak.

you smiled at zayne and turned back to your daughter, "that's dr. zayne, love. he's my friend at the hospital."

zayne closed the door behind him and walked over to manon's bed with a small smile. "hello, manon. i'm dr. zayne. how are you feeling?"

"my tummy doesn't hurt anymore." she deadpanned, pointing to her stomach hidden underneath the bedsheets. zayne nodded, "that's impressive. you should eat right now, though - you must be starving."

manon nodded and you moved to give her the snacks you got from the vending machines.

your daughter was dozing off again in a few minutes, thankfully without any other complications. you took the granola bar from her grip and carefully adjusted her head onto her pillow, cleaning off the crumbs from the corner of her lip. you moved to stand by the window with a heavy sigh, zayne following beside you.

for a while, it was silent between the both of you, watching manon sleep without fussing or being in pain for once. zayne awkwardly cleared his throat, "if you don't mind me asking, where is manon's father?"

you smiled, albeit bitterly, "probably high in some casino right now." you replied. zayne's frown deepened as he crossed his arms, "i know - it was stupid. he was an old classmate that i happened to catch at a bar, and one thing led to another..."

you rubbed a hand over your face, "i tried to make it work with that bastard, i really did. but he just left and -" you cut yourself off with a deep sigh. you breathed out slowly, to which zayne stepped closer to you with his arms wrapping around your figure once again.

"it's alright. i'm here now." he whispered into your ear. surrounded by his endless warmth, you crumpled into tears, digging your face into his shoulder as you cried. zayne hummed, looking up onto the white ceiling, willing to do whatever it takes to take away your pain. to take away the suffering you endured to keep manon happy.

Rafayel was astonished to find out that, even after months of you working for him as his bodyguard, he still had a lot of things to learn about you.

save for instance, the tiny girl standing in front of him in his studio that looks a little too much like you. she had on a bright pink beret on her head and her hands tightly gripped an octopus plushie, the one that he remembered winning for you at the arcade. she shyly smiled up at rafayel, a smile that had him second-guessing himself. was he dreaming, and has finally met his daughter that looked exactly like you?

you stood beside her, your smile mimicking hers. you nudged the girl gently, "say hi, baby." you told her.

"hello, mr. rafayel! i'm megan. i really like your paintings." the girl greeted cheerily and outstretched her arm to rafayel for him to shake. despite how stunned he was, he managed to pull himself together and shook megan's hand.

"hello megan, i appreciate it. why do you look like miss bodyguard?" he deadpanned.

megan's smile dropped and turned into a pout that looked exactly like yours, which ran a bolt of electricity down his spine. she turned to you with confusion, and you chuckled as you bent down to pick her up in your arms.

"rafayel, this is my daughter, megan. i wanted you to meet your biggest fan." you replied. megan smiled once again, "mama is right - i am your biggest fan! i really like your paintings." she said sweetly.

rafayel was frozen solid to the ground, barely able to process what you just told him.

"i'm sorry - daughter? you have a daughter?" he asked incredulously.

"yes, raf - she's right here in front of you." you replied exasperatedly, laughing at his disbelief. "can i show her around the studio? she can't shut up about you at all."

in just a few minutes, rafayel shooed you away from your own daughter, instead making a grand tour of his art studio just for megan. "you stay right there on the couch, and watch TV or something. that's an order." rafayel demanded.

you snorted; it was hard to take him seriously when he just basically snatched megan from your arms into his. but it seemed like you really had no choice in the matter. after making sure your daughter was okay with being left alone with your boss, you complied to his wishes.

it was a sight unlike any other. it was a good thing thomas never shows up at the studio unannounced.

rafayel, for once, was doing what he was supposed to be doing at his art exhibitions - showing off his artistry, explaining his techniques, and poring over the decisions he made in every brushstroke. all while megan, even as she was struggling to comprehend everything, took it all in, absorbing the memory into her brain like a sponge.

"now this, ah..." rafayel grinned widely at the unfinished painting situated on his easel. he bent down to place megan back on the ground and picked up the canvas from the easel. it was a painting of a sunset by a beach where he had spent several nights with you after another one of his spontaneous inspiration trips.

he paused. that trip lasted over three days, and you had traveled over seven hours just to sit and chat with him while he sketched. and to think you did all that while your daughter was probably at home, barely able to check up on her because of the terrible cellphone service at that resort.

looking down at megan, he forced himself to smile, "megan, when your mama's away on a trip - where do you stay?"

the little girl hummed as she hugged the octo-plushie to her chest. "i stay at my dad and step-mama's house, but i don't like it there. it's so messy and loud all the time - and i miss my mama too much." she replied simply, honesty dripping out of her voice.

rafayel bit his lip, indescribable guilt building up in his chest and up to his neck. he reluctantly set the painting back down on his easel and turned to megan with a half-smile. "megan, how about you and your mama come with me to an inspiration trip right now?" he asked.

megan tilted her head. "insporasho- what?"

rafayel chuckled and kneeled down to her height. "we're gonna go to a beach, or an island, or somewhere - and you'll help me pick the colors for my next painting." he told her matter-of-factly, "isn't that great?" he grinned widely when megan's entire face lit up in excitement.

"oh my gosh, really?! i gotta tell mama!" megan shrieked and ran back to where they left you in the living room. rafayel laughed as he followed behind her, hands in his pockets as megan rushed to tell you.

climbing up your lap with great effort, megan repeats rafayel's words through her limited vocabulary. "mr. rafayel wants to go on a beach trip with us, mama! i wanna go! let's go, mama!" she exclaimed.

you grinned at her as you held her in your arms, "of course we can go, baby. as long as it's alright with rafayel." you said.

you glanced up at rafayel, who was smiling fondly at the both of you. he nodded at you and sat down on the couch next to you. "you both deserve it." he muttered, grabbing your hand and kissing your knuckles gently.

Sylus had noticed from the beginning just how close you were with the twins, but he never really knew why. the two seemed to hang onto every word you were saying, and they also somehow knew the right thing to do to have you instantly give into their whims. you seemed to be able to communicate with the two in a way that he couldn't.

but sylus just chalked it all up to you being a kid at heart, and the twins were still young and wanted something to do other than be his henchmen 24/7. maybe the twins just liked having somebody else to be with at the base other than their boss or some random business partner.

it was at a linkon mall event that it finally clicked for sylus. you asked him a few days before that you were holding a little dinner party at your place, just because. sylus, though confused, obliged with the invitation, speeding down the streets with luke and kieran in the backseat to get to your apartment building on time.

luke knocked on your door and adjusted his jacket like it was a suit. kieran nudged him and they both burst into giggles. sylus, even more confused, raised an eyebrow at their antics - it was probably a twin thing.

"i'll get it!" two little voices sounded from behind the door. sylus held his breath as the door opened, where two twin girls stood behind it. his heart launched up his throat, staring down at the girls whose faces look a little to familiar.

luke and kieran bore the same shock as their boss, "wh- what?" kieran trailed off.

you emerged from the kitchen in a simple sundress and an apron around your waist. you grinned at your visitors. "oh good, you're here." you said, walking over to the entryway. resting each of your hands on the twin girls, you moved them out of the way for the three men to enter into your apartment. "come on in, you guys."

sylus's brain short-circuited - it finally dawned on him why the twin girls looked familiar. as he and the twins entered your apartment, he took a good look at the girls; they looked exactly like you.

"y/n... what is the meaning of this?" sylus spoke carefully.

you chuckled and crouched down to the girls' height. "these are my daughters, sophia and daniela." you replied simply, as if you were just simply replying to a text on the phone. "sophia, daniela, these are our friends - that's sylus, luke, and kieran."

sophia, the twin who's dressed in pink, smiled widely up at luke and raised her arms, "wook!" she exclaimed happily, to which luke immediately scooped her up in his arms, his face crumpling.

daniela, the shier twin who's dressed in white, hid behind your leg when kieran kneeled down to her height and tried to do the same. kieran, though dejected, clutched at his chest dramatically, muttering about how cute this whole thing was.

"it was about time you got to meet the most important people of my life, you know?" you said with a chuckle.

sylus scoffed again - all the times you and the twins wreaked havoc at the base finally made sense. he walked over to you and pulled you in for a hug, his head dipping down to kiss the top of your head.

"you're the bravest woman i know." he whispered, his voice wavering slightly. you returned his hug gratefully, sighing into his chest.

the dinner went by quite eventfully. sophia laughed at everything luke and kieran did at the dinner table. even sylus joined in on the fun by trying to balance his spoon on his nose, to which it clattered onto the table that sent sophia into a fit of giggles. meanwhile, daniela observed the whole table quietly, cautious at the amount of new people that had entered the little world you built for the three of you.

but the twins made sure to give her just as much attention as they did with sophia, albeit through a reasonable distance. the whole table cheered when daniela finally managed to bring out a little laugh when kieran pretended to be defeated by a spoonful of mashed potato straight into the face.

after dinner, both sets of twins sat in the middle of your living room, your tv playing an old kids movie. luke held daniela in his arms both already half-asleep, while kieran fully laid down on the couch bleary-eyed with sophia already dozing off on his stomach.

you smiled fondly at the sight just as sylus walked up behind you after doing the dishes. he wiped his hands on his pants and snaked a hand around your waist, pulling you close to him.

"when i said you're full of surprises, i didn't think it was this, kitten." he whispered into your ear. you giggled and moved to face him just as he was about to land a kiss onto your ear. "there's a lot you still don't know about me, then." you teased.

"what, that you have other children with dumbasses who don't know what they had?" sylus joked. you threw your head back with a laugh and sylus took this to kiss down your neck and collarbones.

"no - you'll be more surprised that they talk a big game but leave anyway." you replied, and sylus doesn't miss the way you still sound bitter, still angry that you had to do it all alone. he hummed as he nuzzled into your skin.

"surprises or not, i'm here now." he told you firmly. "i'll keep all three of you safe. luke, kieran and i will make sure of it." he promised, hoping the sincerity was present in his eyes and voice.

you landed a kiss onto his shoulder, breathing in his scent, his warmth, his security.

"thank you."

Caleb was on high alert by the time you sent him an can you help me out with something through the phone. he immediately dialed your number, listening to the other line ring twice before you finally picked up the call.

"what's wrong?" he asked.

"woah, hey - not even a hello, caleb?" you joked.

"you sounded pretty serious over text. is something bothering you?" he asked. you hummed, and caleb briefly wondered if someone was bothering you. it had been a month since he returned after faking his own death, and he swore that he'd make it up to you in any way you allow him to. if it meant getting rid of something that made you uneasy, or someone, he'll do it. no questions asked.

"well, kind of - but not in a way you think." you said.

caleb's eyebrow raised. "explain."

you were silent again, and worry gnawed at caleb's system - "how about you just come over? it's better if i show you than to talk about it." you said instead. before caleb could ask more questions, you cut him off with a "bring snacks!" before hanging up the phone.

in an hour or so, caleb had arrived outside your apartment, carrying an armload of snacks he stopped to get along the way. he knocked on your door, anxiously biting his bottom lip as he waited for you to answer.

when you opened the door, you quickly gestured for him to be quiet just as he was about to nag you. he clamped his mouth shut and gave you one of the bags he had when you gestured for him to give it to you, entering your apartment after you.

"why are we being quiet?" he whispered.

you gestured to your kitchen, where a brightly colored bassinet stood near the sink. "yoonchae's sleeping, and unless you want to go deaf from her crying her eyes out, you don't wanna wake her up." you replied just as quietly.

nothing was registering into caleb's brain - who was yoonchae? why was there a baby in your apartment? "whose baby is that?"

you set down the bag onto your coffee table, hesitating for a moment. you turned to caleb with a sad smile, "mine." you said. "yoonchae's my daughter."

caleb's knees wobbled, as if the news was suddenly weighing him down by his shoulders. he dropped the bags he was holding and sped over to your side, gripping your arms tightly. "y/n, say it isn't true..." he gasped.

you grinned at him, "i'm being serious, caleb."

"oh my god." caleb rubbed his face. he cautiously walked over to the bassinet, his entire heart in his throat. inside the bassinet was indeed a baby, your baby in fact - she looked exactly like you, her mouth pouting in her sleep the same way you do. yoonchae's baby mitten graze against her puffy cheek, and she shifts in her spot for a moment before going back to motionless again.

"pipsqueak..." caleb gasped again.

"i know," you sighed, walking up behind him and wrapping an arm around his waist. "i was supposed to introduce you to her a while back, but you were always busy at the fleet." you muttered.

"h-how? when?" he asked.

moments later, caleb, with his evol, successfully managed to move the bassinet to the living room without waking yoonchae up. he also figured out how to turn on the bassinet's feature where it rocks side to side to keep her soothed while she slept. he sat on the floor facing yoonchae, with you situated between his legs.

"it happened a month after you and grandma passed." you admitted quietly. "i ran into one of my classmates at university, and we ended up talking for more than just 3 hours at a bar. then... well - one thing led to another." you chuckled humorlessly, then sighed, leaning back to caleb's sturdy chest. "people make decisions on a whim when life seems to fall apart around you." you mumbled.

caleb's arms tightened around you, pressing a kiss to your temple, his heart aching. the thought of you barely able to keep yourself alive after he had passed, and then finding out that you were pregnant and about to become a parent on top of that - it punches something in his chest.

"he was helpful when i told him about the pregnancy." you said with a bittersweet smile. "he referred me to the best pediatricians he knew, helped me baby-proof the entire apartment, ordered a bunch of things for my overnight bag for when i go into labor, all that stuff. he made sure he was going to be there for us, for me, up until when yoonchae was the size of a blueberry."

"he left?" caleb asked, struggling to keep his voice leveled. he'd hate to cause a scene and run the risk of waking yoonchae up. and that's not what you needed right now.

"no, no. he-" you cut yourself off with a sharp breath. caleb turned you around in his hold and quickly wiped away the tears brimming in your eyes. "he p-passed away just after we found out the gender."

"oh pips, i'm so sorry." caleb sighed, cradling your head into the crook of his neck.

"we... we got into separate cars because he still had to work after the appointment. and- and a truck basically just bulldozed over him on the highway-" you sobbed into his skin. caleb shushed you gently, stroking your hair out of your face as he wiped away your tears with his thumb. his heart ached further with each soft sniffle you made; things should've been different.

"i did what i could for yoonchae, even if it meant that he wasn't with us anymore." you whispered.

"and i'm proud of you, pipsqueak." caleb said firmly, holding your face in both of his hands, your cheeks smushing together. "i may have not been here for when you were growing yoonchae in your belly, but i'm going to be here for you from now on."

you gave him a watery smile and wrapped your arms around his neck for a tight hug. caleb hugged you back just as fiercely, tears of his own springing up in his eyes. that was a promise, made from deep inside the tendrils of his heart.

after a while caleb pulled back from you and tucked your hair behind your ear with a smile, "did you call me here just so you could have a babysitter?" he teased.

despite the tears and the snot dripping down your face, you laughed. "you caught me..." you mumbled, still giggling.

caleb couldn't even be angry, he couldn't be as he kissed the palm that rested against his cheek.

"i'll be here for the both of you, pipsqueak. no matter what." he whispered.

taglist 𓂃۶ৎ jus tagging random users <3 hope u enjoy!!!

@zuhaeri @almondtofuus @syxlx @berrryparfait @usertala @c9tnoos @sylusslittlekitten @sylusbigapples @dollyswishingwell @museuranae @multisstuff @atlasbreaks @daddyslittlecrow @dysphxriaii @vesearlee @zephilyr @kunipoka @serendididy @thearynn @qiyukiss @celestialforce @sixeyedgodswife

[twd-bee3]

"Say Thank You, Baby."

Summary: While having sex, Daryl keeps brushing off your compliments. You pick up on it and go out of your way to convince him of just how perfect you think he is.

Warnings/Tags: purely smut, 18+ mdni, insecurity, praise kink, blowjob, slightly submissive Daryl, self-doubt, established relationship, female reader (she/her), season five, no use of y/n

Word count: 879 words

A/N: This was inspired by a scene in Elsie Silver's book Heartless, where the FMC struggles with accepting compliments and the MMC works to change that. My brain immediately thought of Daryl and the glimpses of his insecurity that we see in the show. This is purely self-indulgent, and I'm obsessed with reading the way my favorite mutual @b1eedthefreak writes submissive Daryl, so I gave it a go. This was also partly written for @darylsdelts. Anyway, this is my first time writing smut, so I apologize if it is dogshit.

Inside your bedroom, the two of you were lying in your bed, and your fingers were idly grazing Daryl's arm. He was always quiet after sex, but you never minded. You had always assumed that it was because he was tired. Tonight felt different, though.

“You okay, baby? Ain't done too much or nothin'?”

Slightly surprised that you had picked up on his tension, Daryl felt a bit embarrassed, and he shrugged off your concern. His voice was a little strained, which was a dead giveaway that he was overthinking.

“Just thinkin'.”

“Well, don't be thinkin' too hard. Ain't want you to hurt your pretty little head.”

Your tone may have been teasing, but your compliments always got to him. A slight flush dusted his cheeks, and he avoided your gaze.

“Guess I'm just wonderin' when you're gonna realize that you deserve better.”

You realized that he wasn't messing around, and he was genuinely feeling insecure. He got like this sometimes, and you remedied it the only way that you knew how. You were both still worked up from moments earlier, so you had no qualms about pleasuring him.

Your hand slipped into his boxers again, and you made sure that his eyes were on you. You stroked him gently, but didn't give him exactly what he wanted. He needed to work for that.

“You're fuckin' perfect. Don't let yourself think otherwise.”

Immediately reacting to your touch, his body tensed slightly and his cock twitched against your hand. A small whimper slipped from Daryl's lips, and he leaned his head back.

“Please, baby. Don't- don't tease me.”

“Eyes on me. Let me show you how perfect I think you are.”

You kept slowly working him with your palm and made sure that you weren't helping him reach his peak just yet. You wanted him to understand that you meant every word that came from your mouth.

Daryl gritted his teeth and squirmed beneath your touch. He couldn't stop himself from bucking his hips against your hand in a desperate attempt to find some relief. He knew you wanted an answer from him, so he gave you a shaky response.

“Tell me what you want me to say and I'll do it. I'll do anythin'. Please, baby. Please give me some relief.”

“When I compliment you, you say thank you, baby. No more of this self-deprecatin' bullshit. You're so fuckin' beautiful and I need you to understand that.”

Eager to release some of his tension, he nodded quickly and did what you asked. “Thank you, baby.”

“That's a good boy. You earned this.”

With a pleased grin on your face, you slipped off his boxers and prepared to give him what he needed. You slid down the covers and settled yourself between his legs. You gently moved his hard length and pressed it against his lower abdomen. Focusing on the head, you flattened your tongue and rhythmically licked the underside of his shaft. You repeated this motion a few times before pulling back.

“Fuck, Daryl. You feel so good on my tongue. You want me to go further, ain't you? Use your words.”

“Please- please keep goin', sweetheart. Please.”

Daryl looked down at you with a pleading expression and let out another soft whine. You were going slow on purpose, and he felt like he was going to explode. He needed you.

Satisfied with his begging, you nodded and used a hand to guide him deeper into your mouth. You had taken about three-quarters of his length and left some out, so you could wrap your fingers around the remaining bit. Once you were at a comfortable depth, you started to move your head up and down. Your movements were steady, and you maintained the pace that always drove him crazy.

At this point, Daryl was a mess, and he couldn't hold back the noises escaping from his throat. He kept mewling and his eyes were screwed shut. He would absolutely lose it if he looked down at you, and he wanted this to last longer.

“Please, sweetheart. Don't- don't stop. Feels so fuckin' good.”

You wanted him to fall apart for you, and you weren't above playing dirty. You switched up the pace and pushed him further into your mouth. Your soft moans reverberated against his cock and the sounds that Daryl was making told you that you were about to get exactly what you wanted.

Daryl couldn't take it anymore, and he was on the verge of tears. He knew that he was seconds away from blowing, and there was no stopping it.

“Baby, I'm- I'm gonna come.”

“Go ahead. You've been so good for me.”

You had slipped him out just enough so that you could speak before returning to your ministrations. Within seconds, a familiar warmth spilled into your mouth, and you continued working him through his orgasm. You swallowed and released him from your grip.

Daryl's head was laid back against the pillow, and his chest was heaving. He looked completely spent, and the sight alone was nearly enough to get you off. You wanted this to be about him, though. It took a lot of fucking willpower to keep it together.

Daryl finally caught his breath and gave you a lazy smile. “Thank you, baby.”

[lush-escape]

This is Me Trying

Part 2

pairing: Jason Todd x Reader

a/n: I'm realizing just how long this is going to be :') anywhoooo thank you to my sister for her help with this chapter bc I was stuck. you the best @clawdee

prev: part 1

next: part 3

Okay, hearing Damian and Dick talk about Jason feeling a rush while racing was starting to make sense. You watched Dick’s race alongside your friend. Hearing the roar of the engines, reverberating deep in your chest, was a thrill you hadn't experienced before. Watching the cars take off was a whole other experience. The wind rushing passed you, the intensity that hung thick in the air - it was all starting to make sense. You, your friend, and Tim rushed down that quarter mile stretch to meet Dick at the unofficial finish mine. Damian had stayed back with Jason in preparation for his own race.

Dick had come in second in his trans am but you would think he'd came in first place, winning that massive pot of money, with the way he picked your friend up and swung her around. There was an automatic smile on your face, unable to control yourself around Dick’s own excitement.

“What'd ya think?” Tim asks with a nudge of his elbow.

“It was… exciting.” You answer with a light laugh. “I'm starting to see the appeal.”

“Knew you'd come around. It's hard not to.” Dick laughs a bit breathlessly. His pupils are blown wide with adrenaline.

“Hey,” Tim gets the attention of the group, “Bikers are starting their race. Wanna stay down here and watch Jay win?” There's a confident smile on his face. “Or watch from the start?”

“Let's wait down here. It'll be easier for Damian to find us. And you know Jason gets all nervous when we watch him start.” Dick jokes with his brother.

Even from over a thousand feet away the loud cacophony of motorcycles was easy to hear. The sound sent a small chill down your arms causing goosebumps to raise. If watching cars race was exciting, you were sure bikes would be even better.

And you were right.

Watching Jason cross that imaginary finish line was other worldly. Despite his face being covered by his matte black helmet you could feel how focused he was as he sped by. His aura was intimidating, fierce.

Your small group huddled around him as he parked his bike and accepted his winnings - a nice stack of cash. Dick clapped his shoulder as Jason tore his helmet off and shook out his hair. You never in your life wanted to run your fingers through someone's sweaty hair as badly as you did in this moment. You barely catch the way he sizes you up again before his attention is back on his brothers.

“See,” your friend sidles up next to you with a knowing grin on her face. “I told you that you'd have fun. The after parties are even better.”

Right. The after party. Not typically your thing but you've already been surprised once tonight.

The “after party”, you find out, is being held at a random person's house. Dick tells you who the person is on the ride over but the information doesn't stick. Not that it matters much anyway. The house is massive, daunting, with a beautiful lush front yard that's currently being puked on by a random that had too much to drink.

The inside is almost as nice as the outside. At least you're pretty sure it is but it's hard to tell when every square inch is filled with drunk bodies. Already you've walked by at least three different couples making out. Yeah, you're definitely going to need a drink.

“Wow, so this is like.. a really stereotypical house party.” You joke, entering the kitchen with your friend and Dick. Every counter top is full of drinks ranging from Hawaiian Punch to tequila. Red solo cups fill every empty space.

“Oh yeah, it makes it more fun that way.” Dick jokes back as he helps your friend pour her drink. She orders him around in the sweetest of ways and he listens with hearts in his eyes.

You're almost jealous of the both of them.

You're helping yourself to a drink when you hear an almost familiar deep voice.

“Took ‘im home.”

“Thanks, Jay.” Tim sounds relieved. Right, Damian is definitely too young for a house party. “B would've had my head.”

The two pass by the kitchen in a blur. Looking over your shoulder you make eye contact with Jason. It lasts a split second, probably half of a split second. But it feels like it lasts an eternity. Something sharp shoots through you, like an electric current. You almost think Jason's eyes soften the moment he catches sight of you but then you tell yourself you're imagining things with the way he narrows his eyes and walks off with Tim. You can hear his heavy boots against the hardwood.

There's a brief moment of silence before your friend and Dick start snickering together.

“You totally have a thing for him.” Your friend calls you out. You gasp. Sputter. How dare she?

“I do not!” You defend yourself with warm cheeks. You look away and busy yourself trying to chug your drink. Not at all suspicious.

“You totally do.” Dick snorts. “Just a fair warning - Jason is only someone you go after if you're serious. He's not a one and done kinda guy.”

“I don't even know him! I'm not gonna ‘go after him’.” You roll your eyes at the two. ‘Not a one and done kinda guy…’ At least he's pretty to look at. And at least the alcohol in your system helps you relax.

And so the night continues. You get to know Dick and Tim better and they're easily becoming fast friends. You've already given Dick your “best friend seal of approval” and you make a mental note to ask your friend where she found someone like him. You excuse yourself to the restroom and when you come back your friend and Dick are gone.

“They said something about going upstairs really quick…” Tim offers you a sympathetic smile. And you can't fault your friend so you shake your head with a smile of your own.

“No worries, I'm gonna get another drink. Want anything?” You offer.

Tim shakes his head, “No, I'm good. Thanks though.”

The kitchen is empty, as are half the bottles that litter the counters. You make a small noise of disappointment before you concoct some sort of drink. Sprite, fruit punch, vodka, and what might be pink lemonade but you aren't entirely sure.

“Looks good,” you hear a voice from behind you. It's low, raspy, and unfamiliar. “This is way better though.”

You turn to see a strange guy behind you at the entrance of the kitchen. Plain in every way, someone you haven't seen all night. He's holding out a cup to you, offering whatever was inside of it.

“Oh, thanks. But I've got my own.” You hold up your own cup with a smile.

He shakes his head and his smile oozes condescending douchebag. “C'mon, this is way better. It's not even that strong. Promise.”

Ugh.

“No, seriously. I'm fine. I have my own.” Your voice is a little sharper, much less friendly. Your smile drops into a flat expression. He's standing next to you now and he reeks of cigarettes and alcohol.

“No, no, no. You're not listening. Try it. Come on.” Now his tone is sounding more serious.

‘This place was packed twenty minutes ago, where the fuck did everyone go?’ You look around for anyone you might know but your friend is upstairs with Dick and Tim is no longer sitting on the couch you left him on. Fuck.

“I said try it.” He's trying to lift the cup to your mouth now. His tone and expression are serious, he's no longer trying to be friendly. You were starting to think this type of situation only happened in movies and yet here it is, happening to you.

��Dude. Seriously, fucking back off.” Your voice leaves no room for argument but he doesn't get the hint.

His hand is on your wrist one second and the next he's on the ground.

‘What the fuck?’

You stare wide eyed at Jason who's towering over the creep with his hand curled into a tight fist. There's a mean scowl on his face as he flexed his fingers and you realize… He just punched that guy in the head.

taglist: @theendofthematerialgworl

[lilacprincess7]

Fluff/angst: 4

Hi! This is my first request so I hope I'm doing it right (I'm too old for this and English isn’t my mother tongue).

I'd really like to read a Pedri/reader story where they're just friends who secretly have a crush on each other. Pedri gets jealous and he becomes rude at times, which causes them to drift apart.

Eventually he decides to talk to the reader and says something like: "Please, don't let this be the end"

And then the feelings come to the surface.

Thank you for your earlier works and have a good day!

Jealousy Jealousy

summary: what the req said

prompt: 'Please don't let this be the end'

a/n: thank u for your support and nobody is ever too old for fanfics💕

The plan for the night was to have a fun dinner with your friends in a nice restaurant to celebrate your birthday and the go to a quite bar, have a couple of drinks and go home.

That plan fell through like it was the Titanic. Count your friend Pedri as the iceberg. He was being such an asshole out of the blue. Like right now, with Joao's hand on the back of your seat while the latter whispered in your ear about a prank he wanted to pull on Gavi with Fermin's help.

Both of you could feel Pedri staring. Scratch that. This wasn't just a stare. If looks could kill Joao would be long dead by now, six feet under in a casket. You really didn't understand where this behaviour of his came from. Pedri was such a sweetheart 90% of the time that you forgot there still was a 10% where he was a bitch.

That little part came out to play mostly on the pitch and that's why you didn't experience it often first-hand. Lately though, your friend had been constantly like that. Especially around you. And you had no clue why.

The 'calm' of the moment was interrupted by your phone. Saved by the 'bell' you could say. Your mom was calling you. You excused yourself from the table to pick it up in a more quiet space.

"Guys, gimme a sec, I have to answer this real quick.." you said as you stood from your chair, Pedri's eyes made you feel a burn in the back of your neck as you walked towards the exit to take the call.

The talk with your mom went as usual. Even though she had also called in the morning for happy birthday, she wanted to make sure the celebrations so far had gone alright and that you were having fun.

While you talked to your mom, you failed to notice your crush/friend watching over you like a hawk. You only saw him when you ended the call and for a split second you thought a dark expression crossed his beautiful face.

"Your boyfriend called?" he asked, his voice not all that teasing. It had an edge to it you weren't used to.

"I don't have a boyfriend and you know it Pedri." you told him in earnest.

"Hm, that's why you flirt with Joao?" his jealousy shining through. Why was he jealous though was beyond you.

"It wasn't flirting. We were just talking. Not that it's any of your business but whatever." you replied bitterly in an idgaf tone, wanting to see his reaction.

"It's all of my fucking business. Especially when you flirt with Joao and then pick up a call from another guy. Like choose one already!" his frustration obvious.

You felt so judged in that moment. How could he think something like this about you? You weren't some kind of whore that needed the constant attention or generally a person that was seeking it, so what was he on about anyway?

"For the last time I wasn't flirting with Joao! And if you really have to know, it wasn't a guy I was talking with on the phone. If you had paid closer attention you would have realized I was talking with my mom cabron. But no, you decided that you need to snoop and investigate and then come up with invalid conclussions." you replied, getting more pissed of and sad by the minute.

You returned to the table where the rest of your friends were sat at quietly.

"Hm guys... is it okay if we don't hit the bar today? I feel kinda exhausted.." you trailed off

"Nah, it's fine. Besides better if we don't have a morning training the day after." Hector responded calmly

"We can rearrange it when we are all a bit less stressed with work and schedule problems." Gavi suggested.

"Okay, bet. I'm gonna go pay so we can leave in a bit." you informed them and did just that.

A moment later, your friend group, minus Pedri who didn't come back after your little chat, was exchanging hugs at the entrance. Everyone headed home after wishing you happy birthday one last time and you too went home.

You just got home from a get together with your friends. And guess who messed everything up. Again. None other than Pedro Gonzalez Lopez. Who decided that the only male you could talk to was him. Like literally.

The two of you fought because you were speaking with Frenkie. He thought you were flirting with Frenkie of all people. Like he wasn't just a good friend and also A MARRIED MAN. You wanted to skin Pedri alive for saying such shit. Instead, somehow, you managed to say goodbye to the rest of your friends through gritted teeth and return home, where you felt peace and quiet, without HIM suggesting you are some kind of slut.

The rage you felt was something else. And you had every right to not want to talk to him again. So you did just that. You ignored him. His calls were left unanswered. His texts were left unread. You found yourself on the edge of blocking him on multiple social media but something told you not to do it just yet. To wait in case he pulled his head out of his ass and apollogized for his mistakes.

Even if he did though, you wouldn't forgive him that easily. He had to understand that you weren't some kind of toy he could pick apart and put back together whenever he felt like it. He also needed to realize that he didn't hold any kind of claim on you, you weren't in any kind of romantic relationship for him to even feel jealous. He had no such rights!

That's how Pedri found himself outside your front door, ready to knock. You had ignored him for nearly a week and he was feeling like shit for everything he had said, as he should really.

Not long after he knocked you opened the door and saw him. He looked tired. Not physically, but emotionally. Like his heart had been ripped out of his chest, ran over by a truck, shattered like glass and put back in his chest somehow still working. Barely working.

His hair was a mess compared to his well-maintained and put together past looks with the use of gel. It was fluffy and untamed. When you lowered your gaze you saw his eyes. He didn't look at you but you could see the dark circles, the puffyness and redness on them, like he had been crying for hours just before he came here.

His outfit was random too. Gone was the thought out outfits you were used to seeing. In front of you stood a boy and not a man, barely holding on. And you were left confused. Why was he liked this? What even had happened for him to be like this?

"Can-can I come in please? I-I need to talk to you..." his voice hoarse

"Sure..." you replied as you opened the door wider for him to come inside.

The two of you sat down in the living room and he began to talk in a rushed, almost paniced tone.

"Look, I-I know I've been an asshole. I'm so sorry for all the shit I said to you throughout the past month. I really am. And I know an apology is never going to be enough to show you just how much I regret everything I said but I hope someday, you will forgive me. I understand if you don't want to even see my face right now. or ever again" he said ashe made a move towards the door, but your hand stopped him.

"You are right. An apology doesn't fix things. It barely makes them dull. Can you explain to me though what happened? Why did you act like this? What did I even do?" you asked, actually waiting for an answer

"Since I'm such a shit friend and have lost any kind of relationship with you, as it seems, I might as well just tell you the reason. I like you, that's why. That's why I was so jealous whenever you talked with another guy. That's why I got so pissed that night at the restaurant and that's why I called you out about talking with Frenkie..." he admitted

His little speech made you lose your tongue. He liked you. The friend you had had a crush on since forever acted like a bitch towards you because he had feelings for you. What kind of rom-com was this?

"So let me get this straight. Instead of talking to me about liking me, straight up like an adult, you decided to act like a teen and say shit because you couldn't deal with yourself liking me."

"Pretty-y much, yea-ah" he replied, shrinking into himself.

"What am I gonna do with you?" you asked affectionately, moving towards him calmly and hugging him. He got surprised by your reaction, your arms around him sent a shiver down his spine and you felt him sob a bit.

"Just please, don't let this be the end.." he sobbed with his head in the crook of your neck.

"There is not going to be somekind of end here love, just a beggining..." you trailed of as you run your fingers through his hair.

"Wha-at do-o you mea-an?" he asked, his breathing irregural as he raised his head to look into your eyes with his own teary ones.

"I like you too Pedri, and even though you hurt me with this whole charade I can see that it hurt you too and that you care. I want to try being with you..." you trailed off as you held his cheek with your hand, caressing his soft skin and looked into his big brown eyes.

"Rea-ally?" he asked, looking like a puppy

"Really"

He didn't reply, he just buried his head on the crook of your neck again and breathed softly while hugging you tighter. Both of you knew that you had a long way to go before you finally healed from this whole ordeal. You both vowed to help each other heal though, so everything was going to be alright. You were sure you would have a happy ending with him, and you were right..

[khys-treasure-box]

AN: Needed this one out of my system for a while to be honest. I love Kaeya to bits and so I really needed to yap about him anyways, but I've needed this off my chest because of the literal years worth of watching certain parts of the fanbase misinterpret him to absolute death. I see far too much that boils him down to being toxic and a manwhore or otherwise flattens him down to being flirtatious and fails to acknowledge the flaws he would actually have. Getting this out makes me feel like maybe I'm clearing the air a bit. :')

By no means does that mean this post is meant to be an insult to anyone or how they write him though! Just my own addition to the pile of who knows how many stories and thoughts about him that are out there! <3

CW: I fear I don't know how to put it in any way other than Kaeya-typical angst. In this case, specifically how said angst affects his love life. (I swear guys, I will write something happier about him later. This is just what came to me first. ;-;) Reader is only ever referred to as you, so therefore they're gender neutral!

Let's just go ahead and rip the band-aid off; loving Kaeya isn't always easy.

it isn't because he's a bad lover though. For the most part, he's absolutely lovely, actually. Attentive, charming, endlessly affectionate; the list goes on. There's not so much as a single doubt that he's absolutely smitten with you and would move mountains to make you happy if he could. It's rather likely that quite a handful of people are jealous of your relationship. He is yours, and you are his. Neither of you could imagine life without each other at this point.

But that unfortunately doesn't mean that being with him comes without problems.

For as much as he loves you, it's hard not to notice after a while that he seems a bit cagey with you at times. He always finds a way out of talking about his life before being taken in by the Ragnvindrs, and even when speaking about his life with them he seems to gloss over anything that he feels sounds unpleasant. He seems to do the same when speaking about work too. Of course, to a degree that's understandable. Surely there's some of his work that's confidential seeing as he's currently second-in-command to the Acting Grand Master. He would inevitably have to leave some things out or change details around. It's just strange because you know how much he loves to tell stories, yet he doesn't tell many grand tales about his work-related adventures. Even on the rare occasions he does, the stories he chooses to tell seem almost suspiciously mundane. It all adds up at a certain point.

Despite being his lover, the one who should arguably be the closest to him, it's as if you know both everything and nothing about him at the same time. You've slept at his side dozens of times, you know what his favorite meals are down to the exact way he prefers them made, you've picked up on who knows how many little habits of his that he may not even realize he has. You share such a deep, intimate bond with him and yet you know so little about who he was before the two of you met. Gods above, he won't even speak fully openly about his life here and now. It's a struggle. A true, honest struggle. You love him, so it's natural that you want to know everything and more about him, but he just won't budge. He's like a frozen wall sometimes and it hurts.

Truth is, he's actually deeply afraid. Terrified of saying too much. Terrified of saying the wrong thing. Terrified of losing you, his everything. He skips over so many important things about himself because he fears that you would leave, and that is a thought he just can't stomach. He hates to do it, truly. He knows you're smart enough to know something is amiss and he knows that it hurts you. The guilt of having to lie to and hide so much from his beloved is enough to consume him at times, but it's a necessary evil, isn't it? It's selfish of him, of course, but he's convinced himself that this is for the best for you both.

He does try to make up for it in his own ways. For every lie he tells or truth he hides, he finds an excuse to dote on you even more than he already does. An unprompted kiss, an offer to help you with something, or, so long as he can make time for it, he'll gladly arrange an almost needlessly wonderful date. The man will go the absolute distance to make up for the mountain of words left unspoken. Anything to ease the pain in your heart; to soothe the aches he's causing you. To anyone else, these things appear like nothing more than simple, casual acts of romance, but they mean that and so much more. They are acts of both love and apology.

Don't take any of this to mean that he never considers just telling the truth though; he most certainly does. There have been so many instances where he's truly considered sitting you down on a day that he has free and telling you everything. Of course, it would likely take hours worth of spilling his guts and trying his best not to let his emotions get out of hand, but... maybe it would be worth it? Perhaps it would, even if only slightly, ease the burden he carries and bring peace to your poor heart. However, that's where the fear comes back and makes him recoil. What if you were disgusted by what you'd hear? What if you'd turn out fearful of him knowing what he was capable of? What if you'd think less of him knowing why he was even here to begin with? The doubts never fail to be almost sickening. He loves you and trusts you more than he could ever put into words. He knows you deserve the truth, but no matter how many times he tries to convince himself to tell it, he just can't bring himself to disturb the peace he has with you... but maybe one day he'll find it in himself to take that risk. Who knows? Maybe it'll be sooner than later.

In many less words, to love Kaeya is to be patient with him, to give him grace, and most importantly, understanding. Give him that, and he may just be able to find it within himself to truly bare himself to you; to let you see all the things hidden beneath the veil.

[shallowseeker]

Jack's Kelly-coded sarcasm is so funny to me. Woof! (SEE: Kelly's flat statement of her life being over after having a kid: "Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's how this is gonna go.")

The irony, of course, is that Jack and Dean ARE simpatico here. That's the whole point. It's Sam who's actually odd man out! If only you look a BIT more closely.

Dean and Jack drowning openly in their respective griefs and confusion, while Sam has barely begun to face his own dread.

That's why Dean and Jack are so vulnerable and get picked off by the monster of the week lickety split...

(SEE:

)

///

Jack worries about Mia, immediately wondering after she tells them about Buddy if he hurt her too. It's very emotionally intuitive... especially for a guy who worries he *checks notes* "Doesn't really FEEL anything."

The truth is this: Jack feels PLENTY of things. But much in the mode of Cas, he doesn't always know how to recognize, parse, or name those things. Like Cas, Jack undersells his own emotional capability.

Anyway, Mia slowly nods, opening up and in a really cool reversal, relying on Jack emotionally, at least in this moment.

///

Jack wants to come with Dean to prove himself. Sure, that's a given.

But it ALSO might be that that secret simpatico is 1000% real, that it's more comfortable to be with someone who is openly hurting the same way he is.

(What Jack really maybe wants deep down is someone to SIT with his feelings with in the dark in mutual misery, not TURN those feelings into heroic action.)

ANYHOO

Sam is allergic to grief for very good reasons. *cough* Thanks Azazel and Brady and Lucifer and everyone. It's such a lovely pattern we see as far back as season 6 when he's confronted by a parent figure grieving loved ones. x (John's grief was terrifying, so... that makes sense too. It's like Sam's emotional competence completely flatlines in the shadow of it.)

But I'd wager that I ALWAYS found it interested even as far back as the Special Kids, when Sam didn't bring up Jess even in a coded way when faced with the specter of Ava Wilson "losing her fiancé." Sam is a very closed book on this topic of personal loss.

Later, I THINK Mia pings on this in Sam, too, especially this:

which we will see repeated when he's talking to John in Lebanon. It's a HUUUUUGE Same hang-up, as it turns out.

(SEE:

)

ANYHOO: SIMPATICO.

Sam has a hug freakout between this episode in the next, and I'm here for it.

SEE also Sam vs grief with it comes to Dean-losing-Cas specifically. (It triggers his fear of John's enormous, never-ending, destructive grief.)

x - x - x -x - x

Despite the turbulence,

it's VERY interesting that as soon as he's done hanging out with Dean, Jack is very ready to talk, though, isn't it?

Sam is struggling with not getting to say goodbye, but Jack is struggling with not getting to say hello. :(

Neither Sam nor Jack know HOW to grieve, and I think in the end, Jack starts clinging to Dean because he starts to realize it's okay to not pretend everything's fine.

Emotional shock and numbing HAS till this point resulted in some pretty volatile powers, after all, and he's scared of that, with good reason.

It's SUCH a ball of misery OMG.

//

Oh crap. Sam. Yes, I love how by the end of this little case, Dean and Jack seem more at peace with what they're feeling.

Dean entered the kitchen when he knew Jack was already in there TO try to talk to him:

Dean apologizes to Sam AND verbalizes the Cas of it all.

And Sam is having a mini-crisis because what if his hope is hopeless after all?

But that's not what KO's him emotionally. What KOs him is when Dean verbalizes the magnitude of his grief:

SO.

Sam shuts the fuck down.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which stretches so hilariously into the next episode of classic Sam freakouts.

he's the stupidest smart person i know siiiigh

My favorite thing about Mia Vallens is how, by the end of the episode, the dude trying so hard NOT to connect and the kid who is afraid he has no "real" feelings of humanity and warmth are the ones that genuinely connect with her.

This is the face of "I was trying to help them, and they wound up helping ME instead." (Beautifully done acting BTW.)

[lynxgirlpaws]

[shepscapades]

to the anon that sent me an ask a couple of hours ago about mumbo: what a wonderful question ily. taps my forehead and points at you. very cool. very good Eye

[stevenquartzcutiepieuniverse]

this wasn't supposed to happen

[ID / Pink Diamond is cradling a young adult Steven Universe. Steven is extremely pale and visibly exhausted with his face contorted in pain, tears welling in his eyes. Pink Diamond has her lips pressed to Steven's forehead in a kiss. She is also crying and visibly upset, devastated by her being back due to Steven's gem being separated from him. / End ID]

[bloggingboutburgers]

Tbh I feel like going to the US while the Nazis are in power is suicidal. So of course I don't understand your choice of going instead of your SO coming to Europe. But while I don't understand, I wish and pray for you to be safe. Whatever you choose, I hope you guys will be okay

You might be right. I have no idea what the future has in store or if I'll come to regret it. But I've already stated my reasons. As it stands, with the year-long process we've already started and that we can't just flip on a dime overnight, my partner can't come and stay in Europe legally just like that. Legal immigration is not that easy in one way or the other. Also... Yeah, I've stated that before, but one shouldn't underestimate how shitty things have been getting in Europe for the past few years as well, and how the influence of the US (which is huge) is likely to make things worse. So again I'm not 100% sure whether that'd have been better anyway.

Also also... Ima be real, I've shared that before, but the time where I was separated from my partner due to the travel ban was the only time in my life where I had actual suicidal ideation. I don't want this to happen again. That's why I'm making moves so it doesn't, first and foremost.

[egginfroggin]

*Nervously tosses this at you* had a reverse portal au brain bnuuy. Fic should be up tomorrow or Wednesday, hopefully.

Here's some snippets.

“You know him?” “He teaches high school biology, yeah.” Wendy shrugs. “Keeps to himself, though; lives alone, never talks about family, really didn’t appreciate that one time a bunch of teens tried ding-dong-ditch at his place. Half the kids are convinced he’s some kind of mad scientist.” Dipper mumbles something an awful lot like, “Yeah, I can see that,” and Mabel frankly has to agree. Grunkle Ford does not give off the most sane impression all the time. Awful lot of muttering and scribbling and not sleeping. Maybe that’s what he’s hiding – a secret lab in some secret basement, or something! Mabel hums and flops her sleeves to her face, shooting a grin at Dipper.

“I just need ta’ explain something to her!” Gideon protests, eyelashes fluttering a mile a minute. Dipper could punch him. Almost does, actually, but Mabel gripping his arm and Grunkle Ford shifting slightly in front of him holds him back. “Honest! What happened was an accidenHEY!” And now Ford plucks Gideon up by the back of his little powder-blue jacket and drops him over the porch railing to the ground. “Off my property,” he snaps. “Now. And don’t let me catch you skulking around here again. I will throw you.” There’s an awful lot of lil’ rage coming from the nuisance child, at least three accusations of being “old” and “decrepit” and “an unspeakable miser who drops children” and Ford doesn’t bother to deign any of it with a response. The door shuts on the squeaky complaints, which then filter in through the windows, and the three of them collectively grimace when the volume increases to account for the door. “How long has he been a problem for?” Grunkle Ford asks the twins, and they shrug. “About a week,” Mabel says, the same moment Dipper says, “Two weeks.” They swear they hear him mutter, “perhaps I should set some traps,” under his breath, but he shakes his head. “Tell me if he bothers you again. If anyone bothers you, for that matter.”

Mabel is the one who finds a door that sticks, softly glowing as if hiding a flickering light, tattered and dinged and belonging to the shack. She grabs the knob and turns it, expecting either some kitchen disaster – they’ve happened before – or maybe something with her and Dipper, or maybe that disastrous first day with Waddles – and finds Blood. Normally, seeing that this isn't Ford's office in the house, she’d duck back out, but blood is a new one. She hears shallow breaths, sees the stairs up to the attic shrouded in gloom and cobwebs, and a crumpled heap of limbs at the bottom. A hand twitches, nails worn down to the quick and oozing streaks of red, and she counts – one, two, three, four, five, six fingers in the shadows before she wrenches herself back from the memory and slams the door shut. It echoes. Loudly. “Mabel?” Dipper asks behind her, and she shakes her head. “Not this one,” she quips, pale. “Nope.”

[vulpinesaint]

kind of unfortunate that so many fantasy epics are also war novels because i will be honest i just do not like war novels that much... the grand clashing of forces is compelling obviously but it requires characters to talk about so much practical battle strategy and while i can get my brain to comprehend all these fantasy maps and kingdoms and borders and battalions and front lines and army movements it takes up. so much space in the book. feels like i'm fighting a war of my own trying to get through it sometimes

[bewitchingbloom]

Finished season one of the Apothecary Diaries! I think it's safe to say I loved it. I really love Maomao's character and how her perception of things actually colors almost the entire story. She did such a good job demonizing Lakan that when we shifted to his POV, I was genuinely stunned by the twist (and I cried a little I'll admit.) And when we shift back to her POV, her views on her parents haven't changed, something I really appreciate. It really made the series stand out for me, I like that she is allowed to exist in her story, very flawed but also extremely loveable (to me at least lol)

Anyways...I'll probably watch Season 2 sooner rather than later, which is saying something since I tend to treat TV shows like some people do books and just never continue after a certain point lol

[thelaurenshippen]

next up in our phantom pulse intro round:

the "elusive" Bremmer, as Ash wrote he/him born July 17th, 1973 Music: Lead guitar, songwriting. Actual job: Works at the bar with Monty. Power: Sensing spirits and being sensed in return-a few strums of the right chords will have spirits rising and coming toward him.

[marshmellowtea]

been entertaining the idea of transfem noah again AND i've been thinking about the chris mclean says trans rights tweet and i think it'd be really funny if noah started subtly transitioning while she was working for chris hoping that he'll be too self absorbed to notice but ofc he does notice and he keeps waiting for her to bring it up but she keeps Not Mentioning It. and at some point chris starts complaining to chef about her not telling him and chef's like "well you did yell at her for five minutes yesterday over your coffee being lukewarm she probably doesn't think she can trust you" and chris is like "but that doesn't mean i would be tranSPHOBIC TOWARD HER THAT'S DIFFERENT"

[sunshineneedsaplacetokeephernsfw]

Attire mission: Purchase premium attire to get an extended romantic story!

Me: *on Liam's route* Romantic my ass! This is a tragedy