#but this year im staying home so i will be able to keep it quiet and low key and it'll be just me so i dont have to think about

[steampoweredskeleton]

.

Ignore

[bueckersgirl]

Intertwined*

Paige Bueckers x Fem reader

Summary: Y/n and Paige have been broken up for a month now, and when a party comes around where they both find themselves at, feelings are revealed and its clear that they both can't seem to forget about each other.

WC: 3.2K

Warnings: 18+, smut, minor angst

(sidenote; im so obsessed with this picture UGH.)

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God— Y/n could feel her stare from across the room as she tried to keep up a conversation with her friend, Micheal. It was getting harder and harder to avoid Paige and her intense stares all night but y/n refused to give in because she knew that’s exactly what she wanted- for her to acknowledge her. Y/n wasn’t in the mood to speak to Paige, there was no need to really and she truly only came here to celebrate her friend's birthday then leave. 

It has been a good month since the pair had last spoken to each other, and the image of Paige banging on her front door,  begging for another chance was something permanently scarred in her mind. Y/n didn’t let her in, she refused to, and told Paige to go home and forget about everything they ever had. 

Y/n cared for Paige a lot- she truly really did. A part of her still does whether she wants to or not. Paige just screwed up a lot and no amount of apologies she’d give would make a difference. 

If it wasn’t for Micheals birthday tonight, she’d be at home in her bed instead. But, Michael had been her childhood friend for years and she wasn’t just gonna not come just because Paige was friends with him too. 

“You look stunning tonight, Y/n.” Michael spoke, grabbing her hand and giving it a small peck, causing her to smile sheepishly and mumble a quiet, “Thank you.” 

Y/n took a peek down at her glass, noticing it being basically empty as she chewed on her bottom lip, “I’m gonna go get a refill.” 

She slowly moved away from Micheal, making her way to the kitchen, and she felt her expression drop as she did so. Y/n felt exhausted the entire night keeping up the image that she was happy and acting as though Paige being there didn’t bother her but she didn’t want her to know how badly things were affecting her.

Once she was in the kitchen the music from the living room died down a bit while she searched the fridge for a new bottle of champagne. 

“Ma.”

Her eyes shot open once she heard the voice she hadn't heard in weeks, causing her to suck in a deep breath before she continued to pour her drink into her glass. Y/n was positive there was no way she’d be able to handle a conversation with Paige, especially not tonight. This was not the right time or place to try and work things out. 

“Paige, no.” She told her softly as she took a sip from her glass. 

She kept her eyes down at the kitchen floor, noticing Paige’s figure making her way closer to hers. “We’re not doing this tonight, please.”

“I just wanted to see you.”

“You have been seeing me this entire night, Paige.” She was directly in front of her now. She felt as if she was trapped under her frame and was too tired to push herself off. 

Paige sighed, leaning against the kitchen counter. “Properly see you. Like this. Not just from across the room.”  

“It’s been hard though because of you trying to avoid me all night.” 

“Paige, I don’t want to avoid you. I just don’t want to cause anything on Michael's day.” She sighed, placing a hand onto Paige’s chest to move her out of her way. “Now, if you’ll please excuse me, I can’t stay in the kitchen forever.” 

“So that’s just it, huh? You can’t even look at me anymore?”

Y/n shut her eyes while sucking in a deep breath before turning back around as her eyes made her way up towards Paige’s body, scanning her body, seeing she was dressed in one of her red huskies jerseys with a pair of sweats. Once her eyes finally reached her face the urge to look away grew stronger as Paige’s stare felt more intense and intimate with each second that passed by.

“See? I’m looking right at you, now. Was this what you wanted?  Are you pleased?”

Y/n was quick to notice Paige's expression fall at her words and she watched as she put her hair in a messy ponytail. “No, Y/n I’m not pleased or happy. I haven’t been pleased with anything since that day.”

“Paige, don’t start this.” She shook her head as she indulged in the rest of the champagne left in her glass. “You know I did what was best for the both of us whether you like it or not. Our relationship wasn’t healthy, it was bound to end eventually.” 

Paige scoffed, while her eyes trailed over her. “Bound to end eventually, seriously? Look I know I fucked up a lot. Like a whole lot. I'm not proud of it, I know how badly I hurt you and it pains me everyday when I think about how we ended because I know things could’ve been different if I just stopped fucking up.” 

“I tried playing it cool and shit acting like this hadn’t affected me.” She sighed before walking over and looking down at her, “Seeing you tonight, so beautiful, so gorgeous and talking to Michael and the rest of our friends as if  you moved on so much, it’s been killing me horribly. Because I haven’t moved on, y/n. I haven’t at all.” 

Y/n felt her heart pounding at Paige's words. She wasn’t even sure if what she was saying was the truth but a part of her hoped it was. Y/n hadn’t moved on either even though she’d try convincing herself she did, she knew she hadn’t. 

She opened up her mouth to speak but was quickly interrupted by Michael coming into the kitchen. He stopped before looking at the pair and letting out an awkward laugh. 

“Is everything alright?” He asked, and y/n gave him a small smile in response. “Everything’s okay, Mikes. Just came to get a refill and ran into Paige so we catched up a bit. I was actually just leaving to go find you.”

“It was nice talking to you, Paige.” Y/n whispered as she slipped her way past her, feeling Paige’s fingers lightly brush against her shoulder.

She hated how badly her body got goosebumps just from feeling her touch again. 

————————————

It had been two weeks since the party and Paige still lived in y/n’s mind. It was hard enough trying to forget about her but not only seeing her but speaking to her as well made y/n’s mind wander more than usual. 

Y/n had been laying down on her couch the last few hours binging a few movies while eating some snacks. She was slowly beginning to fall asleep but a knock to her door woke her up. 

Rubbing her eyes she made her way towards the door and took a peek through her doorbell. 

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Sighing she undid all the locks before opening it. Her breath was quickly stolen from her seeing Paige standing there with a cupcake and a mini bouquet of white roses in her hand, and she could sense the desperation radiating off her.

“I got these for you—I remember how much you loved the cakes from Sweet Mary’s.” Paige mumbled, before handing them over to her. “I’m sorry for just randomly showing up over here. I just had to speak to you.” 

She took them from her and whispered a soft, “Thank you” before moving out of the doorway. “Please, come in.”

Y/n wasn't sure why she didn’t just tell Paige to go home again instead of letting her in. She’d never admit it, but a part of her missed her company. She just hoped that this didn’t end badly. 

Paige stepped inside, taking off her slides and leaving them by the door as Y/n made her way towards her vessel in the kitchen to place the flowers in. “Are you thirsty? I can make some coffee or tea if you’d like. I also have a bit of wine if you’d prefer that instead.”

“No–no, I’m okay. Thank you, y/n.” Paige spoke, before following y/n to her living room where they sat on opposite sides of the couch. “Thank you, also for uh–letting me in this late.” 

Y/n watched as Paige swallowed thickly and turned to her, “I’ve been missing you so badly, Y/n, you truly have no idea. I’m sure at the party it was obvious enough but  I don’t want to play the victim, and make excuses for what I did because that’s stupid. I’m so, so, so sorry, y/n, for everything. For hurting you, for not changing, for letting my career get in the way of us, and making you feel unseen. After I gave myself these two weeks to properly think, it was clear that I need you back in my life. I’m a mess without you, ma. I truly don’t want to keep handling everything without you by my side anymore.” 

Y/n sat quiet for a few seconds not sure how to properly express what she wanted to say. She could tell Paige was miserable and she didn’t want to say the wrong thing. 

“Look.” she began, noticing how Paige dropped her head into her hands, before giving her the chance to finish and letting out shaky breaths. “I know from the outside looking in on things you’ve assumed I’ve been handling things fine. I can tell based on what you said to me at Michaels birthday. But I actually haven’t been dealing with this that well either. I’ve missed you as well, you’re all my mind has been thinking about the past month. And no matter how hard I try to deny my feelings– I really miss you.” 

Paige slowly lifted her head back up as a large grin took over her face, “Can I scoot closer to you, please?” she asked, and y/n was quick to nod in response. 

“God– you have no idea how badly I’ve missed sharing the same space as you. Just getting the chance to be this close to you is so fucking rewarding.” she spoke as she ran her fingers through y/n’s hair while she laid on her lap. Paige’s hand came up to her cheek, it was clear at first she was hesitant but she eventually stroked y/n’s cheek gently and let out a relieving sigh. “I’ve missed touching you.” 

Y/n turned her head and kissed the palm of Paige’s hand. “I’ve missed touching you too.” she spoke, before lifting her head up and running her nose against Paige’s jaw. “Please don’t hurt me again.” 

Paige wrapped her arms around her waist tightly and whispered softly into her ear, “I promise, I’ll never hurt you again my sweet girl.” Before Paige got the chance to say any more, y/n was quick to lean in and press her lips against hers, molding them together as she held onto Paige’s shirt tightly. Paige took the opportunity to roam her hand down y/n’s body again just like she did before. Finally getting the chance to feel her bare skin against hers was something she’d been craving for what felt like years. Her hand slid under y/n’s shirt and cupped her bare breast with her hand, earning a light moan from her against her lips. Her other hand slipped into her shorts, but was quickly taken aback when her hand was met with y/n’s bare ass cheek–instead of the cloth of her panties. 

She pulled back from the kiss and looked at y/n with furrowed brows. “You aren’t wearing underwear?” 

Y/n’s cheeks flushed pink as she shook her head in response and licked on her bottom lip. “I uh–take them off before I go to sleep now. It’s something I’ve been doing recently.” 

She watched as Paige’s pupils dilated, and soon both of her hands were now cupping her ass as she lifted them up from the couch and walked towards her room. “I forget how strong you are sometimes.” y/n muttered, causing Paige to chuckle before dropping her gently onto her twin-sized bed. “That seems like something pretty hard to forget, ma.” 

Paige hovered on top of y/n’s spread out figure and ran her fingers against her bare thigh. “Take off your shirt for me, ma. Wanna see those pretty tits again, been too long.” she asked and y/n was quick to comply, taking off her blouse earning a light grunt from Paige’s lips.

She held them both in her hands as she lightly massaged them, “Fuck, I’ve missed touching these pretty lil’ things so bad, baby.” she whispered before bringing her mouth down and sucking on one of them, and pinching the other one using her thumb and index finger as y/n let out a loud moan. 

“Feels good, hm?” Paige mumbled, removing her mouth from her breast and attaching them to her neck, nibbling onto the skin, making sure to leave a visible mark right underneath her jaw. 

She slid down y/n’s shorts eagerly and moaned at the sight of her bare pussy on display for her. “Ima take care of you tonight, ma. Just like I used to, gonna help you feel real good.” she spoke, taking two of her fingers and shoving them into y/n’s mouth and muttering a low, “Suck.” 

Y/n was quick to suck on her fingers like her life depended on it. She remembered how much Paige loved when she’d take them down her throat–so she was quick to do so. “Fuck, yes. Just like that.” Paige praised, shoving a third finger into her mouth. “Suck my fingers real good, ma. Imagine it was my strap in your mouth again.” Y/n moaned at the thought of having the strap back in her mouth–missing the way Paige would fuck her face with it or the times she’d aggressively fuck her when she’d misbehave, leaving her pussy sore yet throbbing and begging for more. 

“Such a good girl. Sucking my fingers so well.” she said, slowly taking her fingers out of y/n’s mouth as a string of saliva followed, then bringing them down to her dripping pussy. “Always get so wet for me, didn’t even need the spit, could easily slide my fingers right in, just like this.” she spoke as she slid two of her digits nice and slow inside, watching them disappear inside her entrance, before taking them out, licking her wetness clean from her fingers and letting out a moan at the taste.

“God–sweetest pussy I’ve ever had. Could have this taste in my mouth everyday and be satisfied.” 

“Paige.” “Yes, ma?”

“Please lick me.” 

Paige leaned down and gave her a peck on the lips. “Anything you want.” she whispered, grabbing y/n’s thighs and putting them on top of her shoulders. Paige was a sucker for teasing, and on any other occasion she’d make y/n work and beg for it. That was the usual for them. It was rare for Paige to give in this easily and early but fuck–she hadn’t gotten a chance to properly taste her in a month.  

She was quick to attach her mouth to y/n’s needy clit and start licking. She gained so much pleasure just by eating her out, it was like a gift on Christmas day for her. “Been so long since I had this sweet lil’pussy in my mouth.” Paige lifts her mouth up a bit and licks, causing y/n’s mouth to fall open in disbelief at the soft, sucking sound and gently smacking-noise as her lips sucked onto her clit. “God–it’s so fucking good.” she groaned under her breath, and y/n swears she’s on cloud nine. The feeling of Paige’s hot breath combined with her wet tongue was sensational. 

“Come on, ma.” she squeezed her thighs with her long fingers before pleading, “Back and forth yeah? Rock a bit for me, want you to be riding my face a bit.” Y/n was quick to do so, feeling the warm tip of Paige’s tongue press against her. “Fuck, feels so good, I’ve missed your tongue on me so badly.” she moaned, before Paige gave her a warm, long lick, causing her to cry out softly.

“Yes–yes, that’s right baby.” Paige muffled, giving her clit a short, sloppy sounding lick, making y/n buckforward again. “Shit, good fucking girl. Ride my tongue, just like that.” she spoke, having her tongue still buried between her folds, as y/n let out louder moans from the pleasure. Paige began kneading her thighs firmly as she licked deeper and deeper with each sound of y/n’s breathless moans escaping her swollen lips.

Y/n felt her abdomen clench and release, causing her to let out a fluttery sigh. “I’m close, so-so close.” she whispered urgently, as Paige hauls her more tightly against her mouth and presses her tongue more firmly against her needy clit. Y/n inhales sharply and her mouth falls open when her center starts to splinter into pieces, “I’m cummin–fuck.” And before she knew it, she was making a mess on Paige’s face. She pants, caught in place, as Paige rubs her thighs and lifts her face up, revealing her mouth and chin, glistening in her pussy juices. 

Paige then leans down and kisses her, and y/n immediately tasted herself on her tongue. The two just stayed like this for a while before y/n pulled back from the kiss. “Now–my turn.” Y/n climbs her way off the bed and stands in front of Paige’s frame. “Let me make you feel good now.” she spoke, lightly shoving Paige back against the bed into the same position she was just in. Paige took off her sweats, leaving her in just her underwear and y/n was moaning already at the sight in front of her. 

“I’ve missed having you in my mouth.” she says, licking a stripe against her clothed clit, earning a moan from Paige’s lips. “Ima make you feel good too, promise.” Y/n quickly pulls her underwear to the side, revealing her wet and glistening folds, ready for her to dig in. 

Y/n’s quick to start licking as if she hadn’t eaten a proper meal in years. Paige kept a firm grip on her hair, yanking and pulling on it lightly with each feel of her tongue against her. Y/n loved looking up and watching the sight of Paige falling apart above her. Paige’s body grew more desperate with each deep, sloppy lick to her clit as y/n spit down onto her, earning another moan from her lips. Y/n could tell she was close by her pants and breaths, and she was determined to taste her cum on her tongue. After a few more licks and sucks to her clit, her legs shook and she was cumming. 

“Mmmmm” y/n dragged out, as she licked her lips clean and offered Paige a cute smile. “So tasty.” she mumbled as Paige grabbed her hips and dragged her body on top of hers and kissed her lazily.

 “I’ve missed this so badly, y/n.” 

“I’ve missed this too.” she muttered, gently kissing her jaw before pecking her nose. “At least now you don’t have to miss it anymore.”

“And why’s that hm?” she asked.

“Because I’m yours again.”

[badasbebi]

not my fault ➛ 1/2

part two

✦ pairing: bada lee x fem!reader

✦ summary: discovering that a cute girl you saw at your college orientation is your roommate, you become eager to get to know her. however, things quickly go awry when she turns out to be much more difficult to get along with than you could've imagined and abruptly leaves you in the dust. fueled by your terrible experiences with her and rumors about her dating habits, you swear to stay away from her at all costs. will you be able to keep your promise?

✦ genre/au: fluff, my poor attempt at a rom-com, college!au, enemies to lovers, eventual smut, (very slight) roommates to lovers

✦ word count: 11k (im so embarrassed)

✦ warnings: isn't proofread bc this is toooo long. unrealistic portrayal of room-switching in college bc it's never that easy or quick irl. smut in part 2

✦ a/n: part 2 is already finished & will be posted very very soon. so, this is my first time writing a fanfic in like...years. this feels very strange, but i had a lot of fun writing it and i hope someone out there has a lot of fun reading it! also, although this fic doesn't really have anything to do with the lyrics, this song was somewhat inspired by not my fault by renee rapp and megan thee stallion. <3.

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It was the first day of orientation at Seoul University, and you were utterly bored. 

You were sitting on a bench outside of the campus auditorium, people-watching as you waited for the opening ceremony to start. It was a hot day with the sun beating down on everyone, prompting an array of glistening foreheads and crinkling water bottles. There was a line of cars in front of you, people getting out with eager smiles and a mischievous glint in their eyes as they stepped onto the concrete, admiring what would be their home for the next four or more years. Your ears were filled with the excited chatter of hundreds of people, meeting new friends and catching up with old ones.

You sat there, the sun warming your skin, looking for something or someone interesting while you waited for orientation to begin. 

You watched as a pairing, presumably mother and daughter, pulled up in a sleek car. They got out, and the mother began taking pictures of the daughter. The daughter looked around the campus with a wide grin on her face.

You looked away, taking a sip from your hydroflask. A boy wearing a shirt with your school's mascot. Boring. A congregation of girls who were so obviously here for sorority life, you almost laughed. 

A tall, dark-haired woman, with blue highlights, bangs, and thick, black-rimmed glasses, surrounded by a group of people.

You raised an eyebrow. That was interesting.

There were people crowded around her. Guys. Girls. Some, you presumed, were family. They all seemed to have their eyes on her.

You wondered why. As she talked, you studied her.

Her lips were moving, her facial expressions soft and open. Her voice was quiet, though, and you couldn't hear her words. She was pretty, extremely pretty, with luscious lips and a full nose. You liked her eyes the best. They were dark brown, but when the light caught them, they shined. 

She had a smile on her face, her head tilted, her hair cascading over her shoulders. It looked like a scene from a movie, her standing there, the wind blowing through her hair, the sun shining on her features.

She was laughing now, at something one of the guys had said. It was nice to watch. It made you feel warm. You smiled.

And then the girl looked at you.

You looked away, trying to pretend like you were not staring. But after a few moments, you stole a glance back. Her eyes were on you, her brow furrowed, a look of confusion on her face.

You blushed, feeling embarrassed. You looked down, staring at your nails.

“Holy shit it’s hot out here. If I pass out, I’m suing the school for child endangerment, because it is absolutely insane that we're still out here. Take your stupid water”

You looked up. Your friend, Lusher, was standing there, her hair frizzy, her makeup done, outstretching her hand to offer you the water bottle you told her to fetch,  and dramatically holding her other hand to her forehead.

You laughed, grabbing the water bottle. “Thanks, but I don’t think you can sue them for child endangerment if you’re not a minor, Lush.”

“I may not be a minor, but there are definitely some here. I’m just advocating for them! We need to make sure that children have a voice.”

You laughed, uncapping the bottle and taking a drink.

Lusher plopped down next to you. She looked around, scanning the place as you did. The attractive girl you were previously admiring was still standing there, laughing and chatting with others, people flocking to her like a moth to a flame. So, you did the only logical thing that a woman would do in your position—gossip to your friend about it. You tapped your friend on your shoulder repeatedly. She looked at you, an eyebrow raised.

You nod your head in the direction of the girl, and her eyes follow. You could practically see her mind whirring.

"Well, hello there. Who is that?" Lusher said, wiggling her eyebrow, a smirk on her lips.

"I don't know!" you said, throwing your arms out. "That's what I was gonna ask you."

"Not you already having a crush. It's not even our first day, yet, y/n," Lusher teased. 

"Oh shut up," you groaned.

Lusher squinted. "She does actually look a little familiar."

You shifted toward her, excited. "Really? How?" 

"Like I've seen her around campus before or something. Or maybe Instagram? I'm not sure."

You nodded, watching as the girl said something, and the group around her laughed. Lusher glanced at you, observing your staring, and laughed.

"What are you even doing you stalker? Go talk to her!" she insisted, nudging your shoulder. 

"What!? No. No. Absolutely not. Not happening," you exclaimed, shaking your head and holding your hands up.

"Why not?" Lusher whines.

"Because there are 5,000 people surrounding her, Lush," you said, vaguely pointing at the group of people around her. "I'm not about to compete with that. No, thank you. I'll pass."

"Y/N," she groaned.

"Lusher," you replied, mocking her tone.

She huffed, rolling her eyes. You laughed.

"You're ridiculous," Lusher said.

"Thank you," you responded, a satisfied grin on your face.

You took a final sip of your water and then closed the cap. "Come on. It's almost time to go in."

You grabbed your friend's arm, pulling her up. She grumbled, and you chuckled, walking her toward the auditorium. As you walked away, you felt the gaze of a pair of shiny eyes following you. 

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Your mother groans, dropping the last box into the tiny bedroom. "That's the last one. My back is officially fucked."

"Mom, please stop swearing," you say, cringing.

"You swear all the time," she retorts.

"And where do I get that from?" you shoot back.

"You're my child. I can swear in front of you," she responds, ignoring your comment.

"Uh, no. You can't. You're old," you say, picking up one of the boxes and ripping the tape off.

"I prefer the term 'mature'," your mother corrects.

"What about 'ancient?'" you ask, faking seriousness. 

She rolls her eyes, grabbing one of your shirts and throwing it at you. You giggle, ducking to the side and letting it fall on the floor. She laughs, and you laugh too, and then you're both giggling uncontrollably. When you're laughing fit is over, you begin taking things out of another box.

The two of you spend the next few hours unpacking and organizing. You are not surprised when your mother decides that she likes her decorating ideas better, and rearranges everything.  Finally, the two of you finish, and you step back, admiring the room. Your mom puts her arm around your shoulder. 

"I think it looks good. What about you?"

You nod, smiling. "It does."

She sighs, leaning into you, and you wrap your arm around her waist.

"Are you hungry?" she asks, squeezing you tighter.

"Yeah. Starving."

"Good. Because I have some-"

The sound of your door opening cuts her off. You both turn around, and your heart leaps in your throat. Standing in the doorway is the pretty girl from the first day of orientation, wearing cargo pants and a hoodie. 

You're too stunned to speak. She's staring at you, and you're staring back. Neither of you says a word.

After what feels like a long time, your mother speaks, her voice filled with curiosity. "Hello? Can we help you?"

The girl's eyes snap to your mother, her eyebrows raising slightly.

"Oh. Uh...hi. I'm sorry. I'm Bada. Your new roommate," the girl, Bada, says, her voice soft and smooth.

"Oh, yes. You are," your mom responds, a wide grin on her face. She extends her arm. "Hi, Bada. I'm Y/N's mom. Nice to meet you."

Bada's eyes widen, and she gives you an almost nervous smile, her gaze flickering between you and your mom. She reaches her hand out and takes your mother's. "Nice to meet you, too, ma'am."

Your mother laughs. "No need to call me ma'am, dear. Please, call me by my name. And please, come in."

Bada hesitates, her gaze shifting to you, as if she's asking for permission. You smile softly, nodding your head, and she returns the gesture, entering the room.

"So, you're Y/N's new roommate. Tell me about yourself," your mother prompts, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall.

Bada's eyes flick back to you, her smile turning awkward. "Um, well, I'm from Incheon, and I'm a freshman. I'm majoring in dance," Bada says, her words sounding rehearsed.

Your mother nods. "Cool. Dance, huh? Do you perform?"

"Oh, um, yeah," Bada shuffles her feet a bit. "Sometimes. I was on the dance team back at my high school."

"Very cool. How's move-in day so far?"

"Good. Yours?"

"Great," your mother responds.

Bada's gaze turns back to you, and you shift, feeling slightly uncomfortable. Your mother seems not to notice, or she does not care.

"Are you here with your parents?" your mother asks.

"Uh, no. Just my mom and sister," Bada responds.

"I see. Where are they?"

"Getting dinner," Bada replies, her voice still soft.

"Ah," your mother says. She glances between the two of you, a knowing look in her eyes. "Well, I suppose I'll leave you two to get to know each other. It was nice meeting you, Bada."

"You too, Mrs. Y/L/N."

"Please, dear, call me by my first name," your mother responds, reaching out and touching Bada's shoulder.

Bada smiles, and then your mother exits the room, leaving the two of you alone.

"Nice meeting you," Bada says, her tone polite.

"Nice meeting you too, Bada," you reply.

A moment passes. The tension is palpable. You can tell she's unsure of what to do, or say.

"Do you, uh, need help bringing your stuff in?" you ask, breaking the silence.

"Oh, no. I'm fine," she responds.

"Okay," you reply.

More silence. Bada is still looking at you, her expression guarded. You clear your throat, rubbing the back of your neck awkwardly.

"Is, um, this okay? Am I, uh, being a nuisance or anything?" you ask, choosing to stare at the wall behind her.

"Huh?"

"I mean, I can leave if I'm making you uncomfortable or anything. I don't want to be a bother," you say, shuffling your feet.

"No. No. Not at all," she replies, shaking her head.

"Oh, okay. Good," you respond, smiling.

She does not return the gesture. Her eyes are still on you, and her body is tense. You wonder if she's afraid of you, or something.

"So," you begin, clasping your hands together. "I guess I'll show you to your side of the room, then."

"Oh, um, okay," she replies, her voice still quiet.

"Here. Let me help you with that," you offer, stepping forward and grabbing one of her suitcases.

"No thank you. I've got it," she says, pulling the bag back.

"Okay. Whatever makes you comfortable," you say, letting go.

She drags the suitcase across the floor and sets it on the empty bed.

"I hope you don't mind. I didn't really get much choice in the furniture department. You're lucky you got the bigger bed," you say, laughing nervously.

"No, it's okay. Thank you," she replies, a tight smile on her lips.

"No problem," you respond, rocking back and forth on your heels.

Another moment of awkward silence passes. Bada begins unzipping the suitcase, taking out folded clothes and laying them on her bed.

"Can I, uh, get you anything? Like, some water or snacks or something?"

"No thank you. That's very kind, though," she says, her back turned to you.

"Okay. Cool. If you need anything, let me know. I'm always here," you respond, smiling.

"I'll keep that in mind," she replies, not looking at you.

"Well, okay. I'll just...leave you to it, then," you say, and then turn around and go sit at your desk, deciding not to push her.

You pull your laptop out, placing it on the desk, and log onto the college's wifi. You lean back in your chair, alternating between reading your syllabi and watching as she unloads her belongings. She has a lot of things. Clothes, books, shoes, accessories, makeup. She even has a large speaker system, which is surprising, considering the small dorm.

After a while, Bada stops, having finally finished unpacking. She stretches her arms above her head, revealing a tiny sliver of her stomach and the waistband of her boxers. Your cheeks burn, and you quickly look away.

"Hey, y/n?"

"Hm?" you ask, spinning around.

"Do you know where the bathroom is?" she asks.

"Oh, yeah. It's just down the hall," you reply, pointing to the door.

"Okay. Thank you," she says, standing up and leaving the room.

You sigh, and then get up, going over and plopping down on your bed. You could not get a read on this woman. When you saw her at orientation, she seemed so open, so friendly, so charismatic. But, right now, it was like you were talking to a wall. You couldn't help but feel a bit peeved. You wanted her to at least like you a little bit, or even tolerate you, but she was barely willing to even talk to you.

You shake your head, clearing your thoughts. Maybe she was just tired, or had a bad day. That's probably it. That had to be it. Which, is fine. You were her roommate. You had a year to become friends. You'd be fine. 

You pull out your phone, deciding to scroll through social media. After a few minutes, Bada returns and sits on her bed.  

"Did you find it?" you ask, not looking up.

"Yep," she replies.

"That's good," you start, sitting up and scooting toward the edge of your bed. "Hey, I was thinking, since we're gonna be roommates and all, we should get to know each other, ya know?"

Bada turns, a blank expression on her face.

"So, dance," you continue. "What's that like?"

Bada's face changes, the guarded look falling away, replaced with an excited smile. "Dancing? Oh, it's wonderful. I've loved dancing for as long as I can remember," Bada gushes, her eyes lighting up. "I've been doing it my whole life. My mom and sister dance, too, actually."

You grin, her excitement contagious. "That's great. How many of you are dancers?"

"Just the three of us. Me, my mom, and my sister. Well, actually, my mom is retired now, and she's teaching classes at the studio," Bada continues, her smile growing wider.

"That's amazing," you respond, leaning forward. "Do you all perform together?"

"All the time. My mom owns a studio, and she teaches there. We teach classes and choreograph, and then, when we have enough students, we'll have shows," Bada answers, her voice becoming softer, and less animated.

"That sounds really cool. Do you, like, teach little kids and stuff?"

"Oh, no. Not really. I mean, we do, but only if a student's parents ask. Our main audience is teens, and adults," she explains.

"Wow," you say, nodding. "That's awesome. I can't imagine what that's like."

"It's a lot of fun," Bada replies, her eyes sparkling.

"What about your dad? Is he a dancer, too?"

"My father's not in the picture," Bada says, her eyes dimming a bit.

"Oh, uh, I'm sorry," you mumble, suddenly feeling awkward.

"It's alright," Bada responds, her tone flat.

"Well, anyway, that's cool," you say, changing the subject. "What's the studio like?"

"It's really nice. We have a small space,  but it's cozy," she says, her eyes regaining some of their previous luster. "We've got a lot of mirrors and equipment, and the lights are low."

"Really? God, what you do sounds so cool."

"You think so?" Bada asks, her eyebrows raised.

"Totally. I'm kinda jealous," you admit.

"Thanks. It's nice to hear someone say that," she replies, grinning.

"Anytime," you say, returning the gesture.

The two of you lapse into a comfortable silence, and you lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Suddenly, your phone pings, and you glance at the screen. It's a text message from Lusher.

Lush: hey u ready for ur first college party???

Y/N: no lol i'm exhausted from setting up.

Lush: oh come on. im trying to meet some cute guys here. dont make me go alone

Y/N: haha i'm gonna stay in tonight. maybe tomorrow or next weekend

Lush: boo. well, the invitation is always open. if u change ur mind, come find me.

Y/N: ok will do. ttyl

"Is that your mom?" Bada asks, interrupting your thoughts. 

"Huh?"

"Your phone," she clarifies, motioning to the device in your hand.

"Oh, no, just a friend from high school, Lusher. She goes here," you explain, sliding your phone onto your bedside table. "She was trying to invite me to a party to scout out the scene for boys."

"Ah," Bada replies, turning her attention back to her side of the room.

"But there's no way I'm going tonight. I'm way too tired after all of that packing," you continue, lying down.  

"Understandable," Bada replies, not looking at you.

"So, I'm pretty hungry? Wanna go to the dining hall and get some food, or something?" you ask. 

"No thank you. I think I'm just going to take a nap," she says, scooting under her covers and turning her body toward the wall. 

"Oh, okay. Alright," you say, feeling a bit disappointed.

It seems like you are back to square one. You sigh, and then turn around, facing the wall. This was going to be a long year. You reach for your headphones, plugging them into your phone, and put on a playlist, trying to ignore the slight ache in your chest. You were not sure why, but, for some reason, it hurt. You shake your head, pushing the feeling down. No, you were not upset. You were not going to be upset. Everything was going to be fine with time. You stand up, grabbing your backpack, and then exit the room, closing the door quietly behind you. The least you could do was give her some privacy. Maybe she needed some time to adjust to sharing a room with someone. 

You enter the elevator, pressing the button for the ground floor, and try to clear your head. No. Things would get better. She would warm up. You just needed to be patient. The elevator dings, and the doors open, and you step out, walking toward the cafeteria. You just needed to wait. She would come around. You were sure of it.

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Your alarm blares loudly. You groan, rolling over and snoozing it. The sun is barely up. You feel like a zombie.

You reach over and grab your phone. 7:30 am. Time for a run.

You slowly slide out of bed, wincing at the cold floor. Rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you glance around the room. It looks exactly the same, except for the fact that your roommate is gone.

You yawn, stretching, and then walk over to her bed. The sheets are perfectly tucked, the pillows arranged neatly, and the blanket is smoothed out. She must have made her bed before leaving. You frown.

"I wonder what time she wakes up," you murmur, running a hand over the blanket.

You throw on some clothes, put your earbuds in, and stretch, before leaving the room.

As you walk through the hallway, your thoughts are still hazy with sleep. You have never been a morning person. But, running helps.

You take the elevator down to the lobby, and then exit the building, jogging onto the sidewalk. A cool breeze whips your hair around. You shiver, pulling the drawstrings of your hoodie tight.  After a few minutes, you find a nice rhythm, your breathing steadying, the music calming your nerves.  You pass the same few people, most of them in a similar state as you. Groggy. Disheveled. Exhausted. After 30 minutes, you start feeling warm. Your heart is pounding, and your chest is heaving. You slow to a walk, and then stop, resting against a tree. 

You close your eyes and listen to the birds, the leaves, the wind. It's nice. Calming.

"Y/n?" a familiar voice asks. 

Your eyes snap open, and you turn. A woman is standing there, a shocked look on her face.

Oh no, you think, once you realize who it is."Aiki?" 

"Woah, I knew it was you," Aiki says, her eyes wide. 

"Yeah," you chuckle awkwardly, scratching the back of your neck.

"What are you doing here?" Aiki asks, her mouth hanging open.

"I go here now. I'm a student. I have clases here," you overexplain

"Wow, okay," Aiki says, taking a breath. "So, how have you been? What are you studying? What's been going on with you? God, y/n, it's been forever."

"Yeah, it has. Um, I've been good. Just, ya know, moving and stuff so far. Haven't declared a major yet, though," you respond, feeling taken aback by her excitement.

"I see. Well, I actually have to go, but we should totally hang out. Maybe have coffee sometime, or something. Catch up," Aiki suggests, her eyes sparkling.

"Sure, yeah, that sounds great," you say, nodding.

"Cool, well, I'll see you around," Aiki says, a smirk on her face.

"See ya," you reply, waving as she turns and jogs off.

You stare after her, a strange feeling in your stomach. You had not seen Aiki since junior year of high school, when the two of you were forced to go on a trip with the rest of your class. During that week, the two of you became close, and, by the end, you were basically inseparable. The two of you spent the entire week attached at the hip, going sightseeing, exploring, and, on the last night, you even kissed her. It was a perfect week. And then, after the trip was over, you never spoke again. She transferred schools, and the two of you lost contact. And now, here she is, back in your life.

You shake your head, chuckling softly. It is almost too much. First, your hot roommate, and now, Aiki. The universe is messing with you.

You start walking again, continuing your route. You run for another hour, the sun now fully risen. Your skin is glowing with sweat, and you can't help but smile. You are feeling great.

You stop by the showers, washing up, and then head to the cafeteria. The line is long, and, despite the early hour, it is packed. You grab a tray, loading it with eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, and a glass of orange juice.

"Oh my god, save some for the rest of us," a voice exclaims from behind you. 

You turn, startled, finding Lusher behind you, grinning.

"Jesus, Lush, you scared me," you say, shaking your head.

"Sorry, didn't mean to, but seriously, I'm starving. Move faster," she complains, her eyes falling to your full plate.

"What are you even doing here so early? It's Saturday. You're never up at this time," you question, raising an eyebrow.

"The beds here suck. Couldn't stay asleep."

"So, you just came here?"

"Duh. They have free breakfast," she responds, her eyes wide.

"Right," you reply, not convinced.

"I'm serious. Besides, it's not like there's anything else to do this early on a Saturday," she adds.  

"Okay, whatever," you say, rolling your eyes. 

"So, how was the rest of the move-in? Is your roomate cool?" Lusher questions.

"Actually," you begin. "You'd never guess who my roommate is."

"Who?" she prompts. 

"The hot girl I saw at orientation."

"No. Shut. Up," she responds, her eyes widening.

"I'm not kidding. Her name is Bada. She's a dance major."

"Holy shit, no wonder she looked familiar when I saw her. I think I've seen her around dance competitions and showcases."

"You have?"

"Yeah, a few times. She's really good. Damn," Lusher says, shaking her head.

"Well, I wish she'd open up more," you say, frowning.

"Why? Is she mean or something?"

"No, I mean, I'm not sure. She's kind of quiet. I'm not really sure how to describe it. She's not super friendly or anything, and we haven't talked a lot," you respond. 

"Hmm, that's weird. I have a few dance friends who've interacted with her before. From what I've been told she's super nice."

"I guess. Anyway, she's not really interested in being my friend, which is fine. But, it's weird, 'cause it seems like she's super popular. She knows a ton of people. I don't get why she's so weird around me."

"Maybe she's nervous or something. I mean, you're kinda cute, after all."

"Shut up, no, I'm not," you deny, rolling your eyes.

"Whatever you say, y/n," Lusher smirks.

"You're crazy," you mutter, grabbing a juice box. 

"Well, I hope you can change her mind. She's definitely cute."

"Thanks, Lush," you respond, not really meaning it.

The two of you grab seats near the windows. The food is mediocre, but your stomach is full and that's all that matters. You spend the next few hours chatting with Lusher about school, classes, and other things. Deciding you've had enough of the dining hall, you take Lusher to your dorm room, wanting to show her what your side of the room looks like. However, as soon as you open the door, you are met with the sight of Bada's side of the room-empty side of the room. Her bed is still perfectly made, and her closet is shut tight, and the desk is cleared off. Her things are gone, as if she was never there.

"What the hell?" you mutter, your eyes darting around the room.

"What's going on?" Lusher says, peering over your shoulder from the hallway.

"My roommate," you start.

"Bada, right?"

"Yeah. All her stuff is gone. Did she transfer or something?"

"Wait, what? Let me see," Lusher says, squeezing into the room and past you.

She scans the room, her eyebrows furrowed. "Are you sure you weren't hallucinating her? Or having a strange wet dream?"

"Shut up. I'm serious. Look. Her bed is still made, and her side of the closet is completely empty," you insist, pointing.

"Well, maybe she's at class or something. Are you sure she's not just hanging out somewhere?"

"Why would she be? Class doesn't start for a couple days. And why would all of her stuff be gone?"

"Maybe she's one of those crazy studious types who starts early. And she has a very meticulous study routine that requires her room to be completely rid of stuff." Lusher suggests, shrugging.

"Who in the world would do all of that?"

"Someone who's organized. Maybe a person with OCD? A really anal-retentive neat freak?"

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

"Hey, you asked," Lusher says, throwing her hands up in defense.

You're about to curse at her, when your phone vibrates. It's a text from the college housing office.

"What is it?" Lusher asks.

"It's from the housing office. They want to see me about a roommate complaint," you read aloud, frowning.

"Roomate complaint? That's weird. Why would they call you instead of her?"

"Maybe they're not able to get a hold of her. I don't know. I'm not sure," you say, scrolling through the message.

"Well, whatever, go find out. We can talk more later."

"You're not coming?"

"No, I'm tired. Gotta catch some Z's. Go figure this out."

"Fine. I'll talk to you later, then."

"Later, loser," she responds, before walking away.

You sigh and exit the building, beginning your walk to the housing office.

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"Hello? Anyone here?" you call, stepping inside.

"Ah, hello," a voice responds.

A man walks up, an overly friendly smile on his face. He extends his hand, initiating a handshake. 

"Hi. I'm y/n," you start, shaking his hand. "I received a message saying you wanted to talk to me about a roommate complaint?"

He nods. "Yes, yes, of course. Please, follow me."

He gestures to a door, and you follow him into a small office. He motions for you to sit down, and you do, the chair squeaking loudly.

"Now, let's see," he begins, studying a piece of paper. "You're living in the new dorms, correct?"

"Yup," you confirm. "The one with the fancy bathrooms."

"Right, yes. So, your roommate is a Ms. Bada Lee?"

"Yes, that's her."

He sighs, letting the paper fall onto his desk. Clasping his hands together, he asks, "And, is there a problem between the two of you?"

You shift in your seat, suddenly uncomfortable."I mean, not really. I haven't seen her since Friday morning. Why do you ask?"

The man clears his throat. "We received a notice from her this morning, stating that she no longer wanted to reside in her dorm with you. She requested a room transfer and had all her things moved out into another room."

Your heart sank. This had to be a joke

"I'm sorry, but...what? Why? Why would she do that? I barely know her," you protest, shaking your head.

"Unfortunately, the decision has already been made, and the paperwork has been processed," the man replies, a sympathetic look on his face.

"But, this doesn't make any sense," you insist, leaning forward in your seat. "I haven't done anything wrong."

"I'm afraid the reasons are confidential, as is standard practice. All I can tell you is that the decision was made by the student, and we must abide by it."

You fall back in your chair, scowling. "This isn't right."

"I apologize, Ms. y/n, but there's nothing we can do. I'll inform the RA's and staff to expect you for a new room assignment. You likely won't get a new roommate until next semester, though. Otherwise, we're done here. "

"Alright, thank you," you mutter, standing up and heading to the door.

"Thank you for your cooperation," he calls.

You slam the door and storm off, furious. This is complete bullshit. What could you have done yesterday that was so bad that Bada would request a room change and make a complaint? 

As you walk back to the dorm, a thousand thoughts race through your head. Were you too loud the first night? Too pushy? Did you say something offensive or insult her?

You rack your brain, trying to remember if you said or did anything wrong, but nothing comes to mind. There was the one moment when you asked about her father, and she seemed a bit upset, but was that really it? Surely she couldn't have built resentment for you after that one, small slip-up. You even apologized to her. 

Maybe she just thought you were annoying? You're as confused as ever, and, pissed off. Whatever the issue was, there was no way it was significant enough for her to go directly to the housing office. She could have spoken to you about it, and you could have worked something out but didn't give you the chance. From the moment you met her, she didn't give you a chance. And now you probably have some sort of criminal-esque record with the housing office because of it. Great.

When you arrive back at the dorm, you go straight to your bed, laying down and burying your face into the pillows.

"God damnit," you mumble, your frustration overwhelming.

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The rest of the day was relatively uneventful, with you alternating between fuming, moping, and ranting to Lusher about the incident with Bada. The more you thought about it, the more irritated you felt. Why did such a sexy person have to suck so bad?

Despite the annoyance, you decided not to focus on the issue, opting instead to hang out with Lusher and your other friends. By Sunday night, however, your emotions had shifted back to sadness, and you were once again moping about the incident.

Before you knew it, it was Monday morning, and time for classes. You were excited, yet anxious, about the beginning of the school year. Despite the rocky start, you were determined to make the most of it. 

Currently, you're in your last class of the day, bored out of your mind. You're supposed to be taking notes, but your professor lost your attention halfway through the lecture. You fix your gaze on the window, where raindrops are running down the glass. It was cloudy and grey outside, and you could see a flash of lightning in the distance.

"And that concludes our lesson. Don't forget to check your emails because I will be sending you a reading assignment. Class dismissed." 

The sound of people packing up their things and moving around causes you to snap out of your trance. You quickly gather your own materials and head out the door.

On the way back to the dorm, the sky opens up, and it starts pouring. You pick up the pace, wanting to avoid getting soaked. As you approach the entrance to your building, you slow down, spotting Bada walking toward you. She looks just as unhappy to be out in the rain as you are, her arms wrapped tightly around her torso, her hood hanging over her face.  

Uh oh, you think, not expecting to see her.

"Um, hi," you stammer, attempting to appear friendly.

She stops in her tracks, eyeing you cautiously. "Uh, hey," she says, her tone cold.

You cross your arms. "So, um, how's your day been?"

"Fine," she replies curtly.

"Cool," you reply. "Enjoying your new room?"

"It's okay," she says, shrugging.

"That's nice," you respond, not sounding sincere. 

An uncomfortable, but at this point, familiar, silence follows. You couldn't believe she wasn't taking this as an opportunity to apologize or explain what happened. If she weren't so tall and admittedly intimidating, you'd do something petty, like snatch the hood off of her head. Or pin her down until she fesses up. Or throw something at her pretty face to remind her that—yes, you are hot, but that doesn't mean you can escape consequences! But you're too gracious and realistic to do any of that, so you take the peaceful (though painful) route. 

"Well, I should get inside, I don't want to get too wet," you state.

"Okay, yeah," she replies, giving you a curt nod.

"Uh, have a good day," you say, turning around and heading toward the door.

"Thanks, you too," she calls out.

She walks past you, and you can't help but turn around, watching her retreating figure. "What a weirdo," you mutter under your breath, heading up the stairs. 

You hurry into the building, letting out a breath you didn't realize you were holding.

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Three months into the semester, you begin to hear Bada's name everywhere. Apparently, within the short time period, she's taken your school's dance team far and has gained quite a bit of attention for it. You're not surprised, given her athletic build and seemingly graceful demeanor. However, this has come with a price, and now, wherever you go, she seems to be there, her presence almost a constant. Similarly to when you first saw her at orientation, many people flock to her, and you hear a number of girls gossiping about how cool and attractive she is. With that, you begin to hear the rumors.

You've heard a lot of things about Bada, some good and some not-so-good. For example, you've heard that she's an excellent dancer and extremely talented. She's also very outgoing, sweet, and has a large group of friends. On the other hand, it seems as if she's built up a reputation for herself. You've heard people calling her a player and a flirt. Others have claimed that she sleeps with women just for fun, never sticking with anyone for too long.

You aren't sure what to believe, but you do know that your opinion of her is low. You still have no idea why she changed rooms and never gave you a straight answer, despite the numerous attempts you've made. In the beginning, you'd attempt to strike up conversations and casually ask her about it, but she would either ignore you or give you a short, vague response. You eventually stopped asking, knowing it was futile. Even when the two of you pass each other in the hallway, her eyes never meet yours, and you swear you can feel the disdain radiating from her.

But it's impossible to completely ignore her because, again, she is loved by many. To make matters worse, Lusher joined the dance team. Meaning, every time you visit Lusher during practice, Bada's there. Lusher tells you that she's a great teammate, but you aren't so sure. After all, you've only spoken a handful of words to her, and they haven't been particularly welcoming.

It's one of those days when you find yourself sitting on the bleachers, observing the dance team. You've come to watch Lusher, and you have to admit, the other dancers are amazing. However, your eyes always drift back to Bada. As much as you try to stop it, you can't help it. She's just so...stunning. She's wearing a tank top, showing off her arms, and baggy pants. Her hair is tied back in a bun, accentuating her features, and she has a serious, focused expression on her face.

You bite your lip, watching as she moves across the floor, her body flowing with the music. It's like she's gliding, and it's mesmerizing. You've never seen someone dance with such strength and power. You've been a fan of dance for a while, and you've never seen anything like it.

As the song comes to an end, everyone strikes a final pose. You watch Bada, her chest heaving, a thin layer of sweat on her forehead.

You grab your water bottle, suddenly thirsty, and take a drink. You're still staring at her, and she glances in your direction. Shit.

You look away, hoping she didn't notice you watching her.

Lusher unfreezes herself from her ending pose and immediately comes running up to you.

"So, what did you think? Wasn't that awesome?" she asks, excitement evident on her face.

"Yeah, it was great. You guys were incredible," you compliment.

"Aw, thanks," Lusher beams. "You should come to more of our practices. They're a lot of fun."

"Yeah, maybe," you agree, noncommittally.

"Actually, do you mind coming to the locker room with me? I need to change, and we can grab something to eat afterward."

"Yeah, sure," you agree.

Lusher gives you a big hug, causing you to laugh. "Thanks, y/n," she smiles.

You follow her into the locker room, and she changes out of her sweaty clothes. You lean against the wall, tapping away on your phone.

"You can look, y/n, I'm not shy," Lusher teases, her shirt pulled up and bra strap undone.

"I know, but, I don't want to be a pervert," you giggle.

Lusher laughs. "You already are one, and I've accepted that fact a long time ago."

You pick up one of her spare pants, throwing at her.

"Hey!" she cries, feigning annoyance.

You smirk. "Sorry."

She rolls her eyes. "I forgive you."

You glance around the room, taking in your surroundings. You've never been in here before, and it's kind of fascinating. 

"Where's the bathroom in here?" you ask.

"Down the hall, to the left," she informs.

"Alright, I'm gonna go pee," you announce.

"Okay," she says, not looking away from her locker. 

"Be right back," you call, exiting the room.

You walk down the hall and open the bathroom door, making your way inside. You go to the first stall, shutting the door behind you. You take care of business, and as you're finishing up, you hear the sound of footsteps, and voices, entering the room. 

Not paying them much mind, you flush the toilet, standing up and zipping your pants. Until you here something that freezes you in your spot.

"Lusher's friend is pretty cute. Your type," a voice says.

"I guess," another, deeper, voice responds.

"Don't be so indifferent, Bada, she is pretty hot," the first voice chides.

"She's alright," Bada says, nonchalantly.

"Why not? It's not like she'd say no," the first voice presses.

"I'm not really interested, Tatter. She's good-looking but, I'm not attracted to her. At all. Not worth my time." Bada says.

You're stunned. 

"Really?" Tatter asks.

"Yes. Really." Bada says, firmly. 

You feel a rush of anger. She has every right to not find you attractive, but you can't help feeling insulted. Did she have to be so adamant about it?

"Well, damn," Tatter chuckles.

"Sorry to burst your bubble," Bada shrugs.

"No, it's cool," Tatter assures.

"Let's head out, the others are waiting for us," Bada suggests.

"Yeah, sure," Tatter agrees.

Their voices fade away, and their footsteps become more distant. You step out of the stall, making your way toward the sink. You glance at your reflection in the mirror. You look tired and upset because, well you are.

The more you think about it, the more things start to make sense. No wonder why Bada has been so aloof and unfriendly with you. She didn't find you attractive, and henceforth decided that you weren't 'worth her time.' But what kind of shallow thinking was that? You had plenty of things to offer. Your personality, wit, intelligence, humor, and a bunch of other things. So, what did it matter if she found you physically attractive?

You splash some water on your face, trying to wash away your frustration.

It's settled. You didn't want anything to do with her. She had no right to dismiss you, and, as a result, you didn't have to treat her nicely, either. Two can play that game.

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You managed to go the rest of the school year without interacting with Bada. You saw her in passing and heard her name plenty of times, but you largely succeeded in your efforts to avoid her. For the most part, you didn't even think about her. Except, of course, when you got your new roommate after winter break, who was much friendlier, but ridiculously messy and, to be quite frank, annoying. Although this turn-out was not directly Bada's fault, throughout your 2nd semester you laid awake at night, cursing the tall sexy mean woman, as your roommate blasted Bhad Bhabie songs into the early hours of the morning. 

It's a new year now, though. And luckily, you do not have to worry about roommate troubles, because you you've gotten an apartment with Lusher. It's tiny and run-down, but incredibly close to campus, and after the issues you had your first year, you're just grateful that you're rooming with someone you actually get along with. 

Knowing that, you're excited to see what your second year will bring you. You walk to your first class of the day, which is, unfortunately, an 8 a.m. English class. 

You make it to the classroom, finding an open seat near the middle. You sit down, pulling out a notebook and pen.

As the seats fill, the professor begins his lecture, and the class starts.

However, about ten minutes into class, the door opens, and someone walks in. You look up, and your heart drops.

Bada is standing in the doorway, her expression unreadable.

"So sorry to interrupt. I'm late," she says.

"It's okay, take a seat. We're just starting," the professor replies.

Bada's eyes scan the room, and when she spots you, she frowns. You look away, pretending like you didn't notice.

She continues to stand there, looking uncomfortable, before she decides to walk further into the classroom. The professor stops talking and looks at her.

"Do you have a seat yet?" he asks.

"Uh, not yet," Bada stutters.

"Take a seat anywhere, we're getting started," the professor responds, continuing his lecture.

You hear the sound of footsteps approaching, and when you look back, Bada is walking towards the empty seat next to you. She sits down, dropping her backpack, and your heart races.

"Can I borrow a pen?" she asks, her voice soft.

"Sure," you mumble, handing her a pen.

"Thanks," she mutters, writing something down.

Your heart is beating out of your chest. She's sitting next to you. Why is she sitting next to you? Is she doing this on purpose? Maybe she has some sort of vendetta against you. You're not sure.

You try your best to focus on the professor, but it's difficult. You can't help but stare at Bada, your eyes drifting down her body. You take in her attire. She's wearing a white t-shirt, a pair of baggy jeans, and a cap. Despite the simplicity of it, she looks phenomenal. It makes you want to scream.

As the professor goes on, Bada takes notes, seeming completely invested in the lecture, and you almost scoff. Who was she trying to fool? 

Once the lecture ends, you quickly pack up your stuff and rush out of the room, eager to put some distance between the two of you.

"Okay," your professor begins, clapping his hands. "If you look at the syllabus, you'll see that a big portion of your grade in this class is determined by your final project. This is a research-based assignment, and will require extensive library work. I've randomly assigned you partners to help you out, so, if you'd like, feel free to move around and meet your partners once I call out your names."

A group project? Great. Those always went well. Who was the sorry excuse for a partner you were going to—

"Y/n y/l/n and Bada Lee."

Fuck.

You feel sick. What the hell is this?

You look around the room, frantically, hoping to see someone who shares the same name. Alas, no such luck.

You see Bada shift in her seat, turning toward you, and you try your best to conceal your irritation.

"Hi," she says, quietly.

"Hey," you reply, coolly.

"I guess we're partners, huh?" she asks, a small smile on her face.

"Yep, looks like it," you respond.

"I'm, um, sorry for being late today. I had a meeting with a counselor," she explains.

"I'm not the professor, Bada. I don't care."

Bada seems taken aback by your harsh response.

"Right, um, okay."

"So, uh, do you have any ideas for the final project? I've thought of a few things," she continues.

"I haven't given it much thought," you lie, knowing that you'd spent the majority of last night planning and organizing your entire project.

"Oh," she says, disappointed. "That's okay, we can talk about it some more."

"Sure," you shrug, standing up and grabbing your stuff. "I've got to get to my next class, so, I'll see you later."

You quickly pack up your items and rush out of the room, eager to put some distance between the two of you.

"Y/n, wait!"

You freeze.  

"Your phone number," Bada says, jogging up behind you. 

You turn around, eyeing her cautiously. "What?" 

"Your phone number, so we can communicate," she clarifies, her tone a little more stern than it was a few seconds ago.

"Right," you mutter, fishing your phone out of your pocket and giving her your number.

"Awesome, thanks. I'll text you," she smiles, and then, to your surprise, she turns around and walks away.

You watch her leave, still confused. What just happened?

The next few days pass uneventfully, and you've been avoiding Bada like the plague. It's not difficult, given that the two of you only share one class together and remain silent the entire time. Truthfully, you weren't expecting to get anything out of Bada for this project. As soon as the professor called her name, you were resigned to the fact that you'd probably have to carry out this project yourself. Between dance and the apparent trail of girls that Bada has to deal with on a daily basis, there was no way she'd make time for it.

As a result, you were shocked when, after a week had passed you received a text message from an unknown number.

Unknown: hi! it's Bada. do you have a chance to meet up sometime? i have a few ideas for the project and wanted to talk to you about it.

You're not sure how to respond. This is the last thing you expected from her.

"Who are you texting?" Lusher asks, suddenly appearing beside you.

"What?" you ask, locking your phone.

"I was asking if you'd be home later, but you're clearly too busy texting someone to listen," Lusher laughs.

"No, I'm listening," you insist.

"Then, who are you texting?" she presses, curiously.

"No one. Just a girl," you reply.

Lusher wiggles her eyebrows. "I knew it," she giggles.

"Shut up," you laugh, smacking her arm. "It's not like that."

"Whatever you say," she teases, grabbing her jacket and slipping on her shoes.

"Are you leaving?" you ask.

"Yeah, I'm gonna go study with a few people. You coming?"

You shake your head. "No, I think I'm just gonna stay here."

"Alright, I'll see you later then," she says, waving and exiting the apartment.

You sigh, flopping down on the couch and staring up at the ceiling. You're not sure how long you lay there, but the sound of your phone vibrating snaps you out of your daze.

You grab your phone, checking your messages.

Unknown: this is y/n, right?

"Shit," you mutter, realizing that you forgot to respond.

You: Hi, sorry, it is. I got busy. Um, yeah, I have time tomorrow if you're free.

Bada: i'm available after 5 tomorrow. meet me at the library? 3rd floor?

You: Okay, sounds good.

Bada: great! see you then.

"Fuck," you whisper, tossing your phone onto the couch.

This is going to be a horrible year.

The next day, you find yourself walking into the library, coffee in hand. You check your phone, noticing that it's already 5:30 p.m.

"Crap," you whisper, picking up your pace.

You finally make it to the third floor, scanning the room for Bada. To your surprise, you spot her immediately, sitting alone at a table in the corner.

"Sorry, I'm late," you apologize, speed-walking over to her.

"It's okay," she smiles.

You pull out a chair and sit down, feeling awkward.

"So," you begin. "How are you?"

"Good," she says, quietly. She glances at your coffee cup, a frown on her face, before looking down at the items scattered across the table. 

You furrow your eyebrows, looking at the array of items in front of you. Bada's textbooks, her backpack, her phone. Two coffee cups.

"Wait," you say, realization hitting you.

"Yeah?" she asks, looking up.

"You bought me a coffee?" you state, the words sounding dumb as they come out of your mouth.

She blinks. "No."

"But, there are two coffee cups," you point out, feeling more and more confused.

"It's fine, you already bought one," she rushes out, sliding one of the coffee cups farther away from you.

"Wait, no! It's okay. I'll take it."

She stops. "Really?"

"Yeah," you nod, reaching out and grabbing the cup. "Thank you."

"Of course," she shrugs, looking embarrassed.

You pick up the cup, analyzing it, wondering if she put any poison in it. Unfortunately, you are not a chemist, and cannot decipher the contents of the beverage, so, you opt for the safer route and place the cup back down on the table.

"Did you have an idea for the project?" she asks.

"I did," you nod.

"What is it?"

"I was thinking that we could write an article. One of the prompts that was on the syllabus is an exposé, and I figured that it'd be easy to do a deep dive into the school's athletic program."

"Huh, that's interesting," she replies, a thoughtful look on her face.

"Interesting, good or interesting, bad?"

"Interesting, good. I like the idea. How far did you want to go into detail with it?"

"Well, I was hoping we could focus on the women's athletic department. Have you heard anything about them?" you ask.

"A lot. I hear my friends complain a lot," she says.

"About what?"

"So much. The coaches are demanding and strict and don't give the players don't get enough breaks. They don't get as much funding as the men's athletic program, either."

Disappointing but not surprising. "Is there a particular sport or athlete that stands out to you?"

"Um," she starts, a slight blush covering her cheeks.

"Yes?"

"I know a couple of basketball players. The captain, Doyeon, is really good, and I talk to her a lot. She'd probably be willing to help us out. They have a big game coming up, and their coach is going crazy because the school isn't giving them as much access to facilities as they did for the men's team. The basketball players were forced to practice outside, and the coaches are furious."

You can't hide your shock at this. Although you knew the women's team had it rough, you didn't realize there was so much drama happening behind the scenes. "Wow, that's...a mess. Did you want to talk to her about it? I'd love to meet her and get her perspective."

"Yes, definitely," she nods. "They should be practicing tomorrow. We can go watch them and interview her after. Would that work?"

"Sounds good," you agree, mentally making a note to cancel your plans tomorrow. You raise your coffee cup to your lips, momentarily forgetting about the possible dangers, and take a sip.  The moment the liquid touches your tongue, you are hit with a profusion of tastiness. It's sweet and delicious and everything you could have ever dreamed of. It's exactly the type of drink you'd order yourself. You glance over at Bada, seeing her watching you nervously, and decide to speak up.

"This is really good," you praise, taking another sip.

She smiles. "You like caramel lattes, right?" she asks. 

"Um, yes," you respond, confused. "How'd you know that?"

"Just, um, a lucky guess," she replies awkwardly, avoiding eye contact. 

You raise an eyebrow at this. Crap, you think. She must've put some sort of poison in here that mimics the taste of your favorite coffee flavor. You're screwed, but it's too late. You might as well enjoy the coffee. You take one last sip, savoring the flavor, then set it down. 

"Alright, well, I have some notes I want to go over, if that's alright," you say, pulling out your laptop.

"Okay," she replies, also taking out her laptop.

The two of you spend the next hour discussing the project, both of you getting lost in your own thoughts. By the time you're done, it's nearly eight o'clock, and the sun is setting.

"We should probably head back now," you state, packing up your items.

"Yeah, we should," she agrees, standing up.

The two of you walk out of the library, the campus quiet and dark.

"I'll see you tomorrow," she says, walking toward her car.

"Yep," you reply, waving and heading towards yours.

Once inside, you turn on the car, blasting the air conditioning. You turn on the radio, trying to distract yourself from the heat outside. 

"And in other news, the women's basketball team is still having trouble securing proper facilities. According to sources close to the team, the coach is frustrated and the players are exhausted.

"In other sports news, the football team is preparing for its season-opener against their rivals, the..."

You groan, turning off the radio and focusing on the road. Your stomach growls, and you realize that you haven't eaten anything since lunch. You consider stopping somewhere, but decide against it. You'll just eat when you get back to the apartment.

As you drive home, you think about the last few hours you spent with Bada. She was...interesting, to say the least. Today, she seemed more responsive to you than she had previously. In the past, she had mostly ignored you, rarely speaking to you unless necessary. Today, though, she'd been engaging and helpful. Perhaps, it was just because she cared about getting a good grade on this project. Once it's over, she'll probably return to her normal, snide self. That was okay with you, though. As long as she was cooperative while you worked on the project, you couldn't care less what she thinks of you or how she treats you afterward.

You park your car, heading up the stairs to the apartment, your mind wandering. Despite your best efforts, Bada is starting to worm her way into your head. It's stupid. You're being ridiculous.

This was going to be a long semester.

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"I think I'm going to fall asleep."

Bada turns to you, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, please. You've never seen the game before. This is just the warm-up."

You glare at her. "It's been two hours," you point out.

"Yes, and the game hasn't even started yet," she says, matter-of-factly.

"I hate you," you grumble, crossing your arms. 

"You know you're the one who suggested we research a sports team, right?" 

"Shut up," you mutter, glaring at her.

The two of you have been sitting in uncomfortable plastic chairs for the past two hours, observing the team's practice as they ran around an outdoor basketball court under the sweltering heat. Bada was not lying about the terrible working conditions these women were put under. You didn't understand how they had the ability to exercise in these circumstances. You were dying. 

"I need a break," you declare, standing up and stretching.

"No, no, no, no. Sit," she demands, pulling on your wrist and dragging you back into your seat.

"Let me go!" you yell, struggling against her grip. Why the hell was this woman so strong? For christ's sake, she was a dancer, not a wrestler. 

"Not until the end of the game," she states, gripping tighter.

"This isn't fair!"

"Life isn't fair," she retorts.

"You're such a bitch," you seethe, finally ripping your arm from her grasp.

"So, I've been told."

"Why are we here again?" you ask, slumping in your seat. 

"Look, just try to pay attention. I'll buy you a smoothie if you stay focused," she offers.

"Deal," you say, straightening your posture and turning to watch the practice.

"And now, the final play," the coach yells, blowing a whistle.

The team scatters, moving to their positions. Doyeon, the captain, dribbles the ball down the court, passing it to another girl, who moves closer to the net. Just as she's about to shoot, the girl trips, sending the ball spiraling out of her hands and in your direction. You gasp, scrambling out of the way, but you're not fast enough. The ball hits you square in the face, causing you to yelp as you fall backward in your chair. 

"Fuck," you whine, holding your hand to your face.

"Oh, shit, are you okay?" Bada asks, kneeling down next to you.

"Do I look okay you goofball?!" you shout, removing your hand to reveal a bloodied nose.

"Ooh, ouch," she cringes.

"Are you okay?" a different voice asks, and you look up to see the woman who had tripped approaching the two of you.

"I'm fine," you mumble, feeling embarrassed.

"I'm really sorry," she apologizes, bowing her head.

"It's fine," you shrug, standing up.

"You should come see the nurse," Bada says.

"No, I'll be fine. It's not that bad," you insist, wiping away the blood.

"Are you sure?" the basketball player asks.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. It's not the first time this has happened," you explain, trying to alleviate her concern.

"What?" Bada chokes.

"Please don't ask," you sigh.

"Okay, well, I should get back," the girl says, gesturing toward the court.

"Of course. Go kick ass," you cheer, smiling.

"Thanks," she grins, running back onto the court.

You and Bada watch the girl's retreating figure. Bada then turns to you, a look of concern on her face.

"Okay, come on. Let's get you cleaned up," Bada instructs, pulling on your wrist and leading you towards to one of the entrances into the building.

"Where are we going?"

"The locker rooms," she states.

"What? No, no, no, no," you protest, planting your feet and resisting her.

"I'm not letting you sit here while your nose bleeds. Besides, the girls have to go in there eventually. We'll interview Doyeon once she comes in." she explains.

"But—"

"Who cares? Come on, let's go," she urges, tugging on your arm.

"Fine," you concede, allowing her to drag you through the building.

Once inside the locker room, Bada leads you to a sink and forces you to stand still. 

"Hold still," she commands, grabbing a paper towel and wetting it.

"What are you doing?" you ask.

"Cleaning up the blood," she responds, bringing the towel to your nose.

"Don't!" you hiss, swatting her hand away.

"You have to," she argues.

"No, I don't. I can do it myself," you retort.

"Just let me do it," she whines. "I've had to do stuff like this more times that I can count. I'm basically a professional."

"What? You having to clean up your own bloody noses? Why? Because of the amount of times you've gotten slapped in the face?"

"Hey!" she pouts.

"Well, are you going to answer the question or not?"

"Dance injuries. Now, will you let me help you?"

"Ugh, fine," you groan, rolling your eyes.

She brings the towel to your nose, gently dabbing the blood away. Her hand brushes against your cheek, sending a tingle down your spine. She's standing so close to you, her chest nearly presses into yours. You can smell her perfume, a subtle vanilla scent that seems to surround her. It's intoxicating.

When you glance up, her eyes lock with yours, and for a moment, you forget how to breathe. They're a deep brown. Warm and inviting. You've never noticed how beautiful they are. Or maybe, you just haven't had the opportunity to study them this closely.

Her fingers linger on your skin, the tips grazing over the sensitive flesh.

"There. All better," she says, throwing away the paper towel.

"Thanks," you say, clearing your throat.

"No problem," she grins.

The two of you stand in silence, neither of you wanting to move.

"So," you start, breaking the tension. "Should we, uh, wait for Doyeon here?"

"Sure," she shrugs.

"Okay, um, I'm going to, uh, sit over there," you stutter, pointing to the bench behind her.

"Okay," she says.

You awkwardly make your way to the bench and sit down, keeping a safe distance between the two of you.

"How are you feeling?" she asks.

"A little lightheaded," you admit.

"Hmm, do you want some water?" she suggests.

You think of the possibly poisoned coffee. "No, I think I'm alright," you say.

"Okay," she nods.

Another awkward silence.

"So, you, uh, have a lot of dance injuries?" you ask.

"Yeah, a few," she laughs.

"Like, what kind?"

"Oh, nothing serious. Mostly bruises and sprains. Once, I twisted my ankle, but that was ages ago," she says, waving her hand dismissively.

"Really?"

"Mm-hmm," she nods.

"How many times have you had a bloody nose?" you inquire.

"That's a secret," she grins.

"C'mon," you press.

"Nope, not telling," she shakes her head.

"You're no fun," you huff.

"I'm lots of fun. You're just not asking the right questions," she smirks.

"Like what?"

"Like.."

The locker room door opens, and a group of women walk in, all chattering excitedly. Bada looks over, her smile growing wider.

"Doyeon!" she calls, waving her hand.

You turn, spotting the captain running over to you. Her hair is tied up in a messy bun and sweat drips down her face. As worn out as she seemed, she still looked incredible. In a flash, you became hyperaware of your probably still disheveled looks as a result of your recent injury. Way to embarrass yourself in front of a pretty girl. 

"Hey, Doyeon," Bada greets, standing up and smiling at her. Doyeon outstretches her arms, enveloping Bada in a lingering, tight, hug.

"Bada! I missed you," Doyeon sighs.

"Missed you too," Bada replies.

"And who's this?" she asks, pulling away from the hug and nodding in your direction. 

"Oh, um, this is y/n, she's working with me on the project. I told you about."  

"Nice to meet you," you smile, extending a hand.

"Likewise," she replies, shaking it.

"So, are you ready to do this interview?" Bada asks, eagerness dripping in her voice.

"Yeah, let me get changed first," she replies, walking towards the lockers.

"Sure," Bada nods, watching as Doyeon disappears into the showers.

You glance over at her, her eyes still trained on where Doyeon had just disappeared. Something in your stomach sinks. 

"Oh my god," you scoff.

"What?" she asks, turning to face you.

"Don't tell me we're interviewing one of your little girlfriends," you grimace.

"She's not my girlfriend," she frowns.

"Whatever," you say, rolling your eyes.

"Seriously, y/n, we're just friends."

"With benefits?" you inquire, raising an eyebrow.

"Why does this matter so much to you, anyway?" she asks, crossing her arms.

"Because, it's my project, and I don't want it ruined because you can't keep your hormones in check," you reply, glaring at her.

"I'm not going to 'ruin' anything, alright? I'm perfectly capable of keeping my personal life separate from my school work."

"Yeah, sure, whatever," you mutter.

"God, you're so frustrating," she huffs.

"So are you," you snap.

"Well, it's a good thing this is just for a project, and you don't have to deal with me outside of class, then."

"But it's a shame I can't get rid of you sooner."

"Believe me, the feeling's mutual," she growls.

You open your mouth, ready to unleash a verbal assault, but you're cut off by the sound of footsteps. Doyeon walks up, her hair still wet, and her bag slung over her shoulder.

"You two ready?" she asks, grinning at the both of you.

"As we'll ever be," Bada sighs.

The three of you sit on the locker room bench, a small space in between each of you. Bada is scribbling something down on a piece of paper while Doyeon waits patiently.

"Alright, um, first question. How have the recent changes affected the team's practices and games?"

"Honestly, it's been pretty tough. We're used to practicing indoors, so the outdoor heat has been brutal. On top of that, we've had less access to facilities, which has made things even more difficult. All of this has taken a toll on our performance, both on and off the court."

"That's unfortunate," Bada frowns. "How have the coaches and other staff members been handling the situation?"

"Not well, honestly. They've been pretty angry and stressed. They haven't taken it out on us, but it's been noticeable. And, honestly, they have every right to be upset. This is a big change for everyone, and it's not something that was anticipated."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Bada sighs.

"Thanks," Doyeon says with a smile, placing her hand on top of Bada's.

The sight of it makes your stomach twist, and a scowl forms on your face.

"Uh, next question," you start. "Do you have any idea when the situation might improve?"

Doyeon tears her eyes away from Bada. "Hopefully soon. We can't keep playing like this. Something needs to change."

"And if nothing does?" you ask.

"Then we'll have to keep fighting. Like always," she shrugs.

"I'm proud of you guys. You've all been handling this whole situation with a lot of grace," Bada compliments.

"Well, I have a great team. Everyone has really stepped up and supported each other. We've got a lot of good people," Doyeon smiles.

"That's wonderful to hear," Bada grins.

You fight the urge to roll your eyes. 

"Anyways, let's wrap this up," you say, clapping her hands together. "Last question. Is there anything else you think is worth knowing for our project?"

"Hm, let me think," she hums, placing her finger to her chin. "I don't think there's anything..."

"Well then, I think we're done!" you announce, swiftly standing up.

"Already?" Bada asks, glancing at her watch.

"Yeah, time flies, huh?"

"I guess," she mutters. "Alright, thanks for your time, Doyeon," Bada smiles, reaching across the space and squeezing Doyeon's knee.

"Of course," she beams.

You roll your eyes again.

"Well, I'll see you later, okay?" Bada says, standing up.

"Absolutely," Doyeon agrees.

"Great," she grins.

Bada turns to face you, a forced smile plastered on her face.

"We done?"

"Yep, let's go."

You and Bada make your way out of the locker room, leaving Doyeon behind.

"That went well," Bada sighs, once the door closes.

"Sure did," you mumble, barely able to contain the sarcasm.

"I can't wait to write up the report," she exclaims, her eyes lighting up.

"It'll be nice, yeah," you say.

"Maybe after, we could—"

"I need to go," you blurt out, cutting her off.

"What?" she asks, frowning.

"I'm, uh, late. For class. Sorry."

"Oh. Okay, um, I'll see you around, I guess," she says.

"Bye," you say, rushing past her.

You're not lying. You are late for class. But not nearly as late as you're making out. You speed-walk across campus, a million thoughts racing through your mind. No wonder Bada was so eager to do this project. It was just an excuse to spend time with Doyeon. And, judging by the way the two of them interacted, it wasn't the first time they'd spent time together.

You're not exactly sure why this is bothering you so much. You knew Bada got around. Maybe it's because you're annoyed that Bada didn't tell you the truth. Or maybe it's because you feel stupid for not seeing this coming. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that you're upset, and you have no one to blame but yourself.

You make it to your lecture hall, and as quietly as possible, slip into an empty seat near the back. Your professor drones on and on about the importance of deadlines and punctuality, and you find yourself completely unable to pay attention. Instead, you replay the day's events over and over again. Each time, you cringe at the memory of how oblivious and naive you'd been.

read part two

[heavenlyhischier]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥 | 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬

word count: 5.9k

warnings: idk some angst, misunderstanding, swearing, drinking, kissing

note: im not like super happy with this but oh well! this is my first time writing for the nhl so dont judge toooooo harshly lol. request more if you'd like!

The sun filtered through the cracks in the curtains, gently stirring you from your peaceful dream, eliciting a quiet groan as you were quite enjoying said dream. You dragged the blanket over your head in an attempt to go back to sleep, but that proved worthless as you heard Jack shout your name from down the hall. You could hear his footsteps nearing your room, and you tightened the grip you had on the blanket so that he wasn’t able to rip it off as easily. You just wanted to stay in bed a little longer and then maybe you would get up.

“C’mon, sunshine. Time to get up,” He laughed as he managed to pull the blanket off your body. The way you were curled up in a ball as you tried to shield yourself from the sunlight made his heart swell, but it was a sensation he was used to when it came to you.

For the last six years of his life, you had been present for anything major in his life. Sometimes it was over facetime, but you had still always made time for him and he made time for you. When you had finished college a year early and worked yourself into multiple panic attacks a day because you were scared about what you were going to do from there, it was Jack who suggested you move to Jersey with him. It was Jack who helped you get on your feet and start your career.

In turn, he got to have you there with him. You were there at every home game, smile wide and eyes bright as you cheered him and his team on. You were there to comfort him when he felt like he had let everyone down because had an off game. Nails scratching his scalp as you let him rant about how he felt like he was under too much pressure. He was there for you, too. He was there when you felt like a failure and nothing was going in the right direction. More importantly, you were both there for each other when everything did go right, and that was when Jack felt himself start to fall in love with his best friend.

“Go away,” You whined, “It’s too early to be awake.”

Jack gently grabbed your arms that were covering your face and pulled them down so he could see you. Your eyes were squeezed shut and your nose was scrunched, refusing to welcome the daylight without a fight. “It’s nearly 11:30. Luke and I are already back from morning skate,” He teased, thumbs softly tracing circles on your arms.

You peeked at him through your barely open eyes, meeting his own as he waited for you to get out of bed. You were never able to resist his pleading eyes and childlike pout, and it was quite pathetic just how easy you caved when it came to the boy in front of you. All he needed to do was breathe around you and you would do whatever he asked, but of course he didn’t know that. That was a secret you intended to keep in order to maintain the best friendship you’ve ever had. 

“I hate you,” You grumbled, ignoring the way his touch lit your skin on fire. The action wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but it made you silently yearn for more all the same.

“No you don’t. Now let’s go or I’ll go get Trevor and we’ll drag you out of bed.”

You let Jack pull you out of your very comfortable bed, and followed him down the hall to the kitchen where Trevor and Luke were bickering over Lord knows what. You sleepily sulked behind your best friend, wanting nothing more than to turn around and go back to bed. The boys had kept you up until nearly four in the morning catching up, and arguing about whose hockey team was the better of the two.

“Y/N,” Trevor’s smile beamed once he took notice of your presence. He left his dispute with Luke and wrapped his arms around you in a hug that nearly crushed you. 

“Trevor, you literally saw me last night,” You feigned annoyance as you wrapped your arms around his neck to return his affection.

Luke watched as his brother’s body tensed; jaw clenching, fists briefly balling into fists, and eyes narrowing in on his two best friends. The nineteen year old rolled his eyes at his brother's obvious, and unearned, jealousy. He lightly slapped Jack on the shoulder, breaking his attention away from the two of you, and raised his eyebrows as he silently asked what was up. Jack rolled his eyes at his younger brother before turning to find something to eat for you.

Trevor knew what he was doing, but he wasn’t doing it because he was trying to be mean. He was trying to motivate Jack to get his head out of his ass and finally admit that he had feelings for you. Making him jealous probably wasn’t the best idea, but none of his other ideas had worked. His encouraging talks had only frustrated Jack, so he was taking a different approach for his short visit in New Jersey. 

“Thank you, J,” You smiled up at Jack as he placed the bowl of cereal on the dining room table you had to beg the boys to get. Jack knew that, even though it was nearing lunch time, you had just woken up and you were going to want breakfast.

“You guys are too cute,” Trevor couldn’t help but tease, falling into the chair on the opposite side of the table, “You need to put us all out of your misery and just date each other.”

“Seriously, Trev? How many times do I need to tell you that we’re just friends and that’s all we will be,” Jack clipped, giving his friend a warning glare as he walked back into the kitchen.

Despite knowing that Jack only ever thought of you as his best friend, the way he said that made your face fall and your chest tighten. You kept your eyes trained on the table in front of you as you blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over. Trevor glanced between Jack and you, eyes filled with worry and guilt once he noticed the way you refused to look up and how red your cheeks were.

“So,” Luke started, trying to diffuse the obvious tension, “You coming to the game, Trev? I know Y/N is because she wants to see Barzal.” Luke also knew what he was doing, and he was doing it to be mean.

Trevor let out a laugh as you defended, “Excuse me, I go to all of your home games! Being able to see Mat Barzal is just a bonus.”

The sound of a cabinet aggressively slamming shut made all three of your heads turn to the kitchen where Jack stood with his back turned to everyone. He mumbled an irritated apology before he finally decided to take the seat next to you. Luckily, Luke’s change in topic was enough to stop yourself from crying, but Jack mistook your reddened cheeks for a blush that was elicited by the mention of the Isles center.

“As long as you’re wearing a Devil’s jersey, look at whoever you want.”

“Why wouldn’t she wear a Devils jersey,” Jack spoke, voice laced with a hint of panic at the thought of you wearing the other team's jersey.

“Because she’s in love with Barzal. C’mon Jack, keep up.”

“Okay, first of all, she is right here and she is not in love with Mat Barzal, he’s just very nice to look at,” You gave the two boys across from you a pointed look before passing a soft glance at Jack, “And I’m wearing a Devils jersey like I do every game.”

The conversation fell back to a less awkward strained topic and the uneasiness between you and Jack faded until it was normal again. The boys still have a few hours left before they have to head back to The Rock for the game, so you all opted to hang out and watch TV before then so they could relax. You were pressed into Jack’s side, his arm slung around the back of the couch as they talked.

It was the small moments like this that made you feel like Jack liking you back was possible. The way that he would pull you back close to him if you scooted even an inch away from him. The way that he would subconsciously trace patterns on your skin because he had to keep himself occupied in some sort of way. It made you feel hopeful, but you were quick to bring yourself back to the heart shattering reality that it meant nothing to him.

To Jack, though, these moments were everything.

-

“Y/N,” Jack’s voice was soft as he knocked on your door, “Can I come in?”

“Of course,” You called out, filtering through your clothes to find something to wear tonight.

Jack was anxious; his heart beating out of his chest and hands slightly shaking as he walked into your room with a piece of fabric in his grasp. He had a jersey with his own name and number on the back , and he was going to ask you if you would wear it tonight. He wanted something that labeled you as his even if you weren’t. Yet.

“What’s up,” You turned to face him, eyes briefly darting down to the jersey in his hand.

“I know you wear just a plain jersey to the games because you don’t want me or Luke to feel left out, but do you maybe want to wear my jersey tonight? It’s totally okay if you don’t want to! Actually, you know what- forget I asked. It was stupid,” Jack rushed out, panic clearly written everywhere on his body as he started to rush away.

“Jack,” You grabbed his hand before he could run away, “I would love to wear your jersey.” You’re not quite sure what exactly possessed Jack to give you one of his jerseys, but you were absolutely not going to say no. To you, the gesture meant everything. A step in the right direction.

Jack searched your face for any sort of doubt, but all he saw was the same small smile and sparkling eyes he saw every time he looked at you. Every part of him wanted nothing more than to kiss you and tell you that he was yours and you were his. Not Mat Barzal’s.

Painfully aware of how close the two of you were, butterflies swarmed your stomach. The way he was looking at you made your heart soar into the clouds and hope filled your veins as you let yourself drift to the possibility that maybe he did feel the same way you had for the last few years. 

“You better get going. Don’t want you to be late,” You whispered, suddenly feeling sheepish because you swear you saw his eyes glance at your lips for a few seconds.

“Yeah, you’re probably right. I’ll see you at the game.” With a chaste kiss on the cheek, he was out the door, leaving you there to overthink the entire interaction.

-

You and Trevor had found your seats, and it was just the two of you since Ellen and Jim were at Quinn’s game. You watch as the team warms up, and, no matter how hard you tried not to, you found yourself mainly focusing on Jack. The way he glides across the ice never fails to amaze you. He belongs out there.

“Nice jersey,” Trevor commented, eyes staying trained on the ice with a sly smirk on his face.

“Shut up,” You rolled your eyes, “He asked me if I wanted to wear it so I said yes, but I’m not sure why- Oh my god, look! It’s Mat!” You gripped Trevor’s bicep as you squealed and subtly pointed at the man who just stepped out onto the ice. 

“That’s why,” He shook his head, “Your comment about how sexy Barzy is made him all jealous and moody.”

“Oh, whatever. He doesn’t care about that,” You dismissed as you broke away from the teams to look at Trevor.

“Is that why he’s looking at him like he wants to slam him into the boards before the game even starts,” He nodded his head towards Jack.

Jack had looked in your direction as soon as he heard the Isles come out, and he wished that he hadn’t. The way your face lit up as you pointed at Barzal made his skin crawl and his chest burn with jealousy. He was standing off to the side with Nico as he tried to go over some of their game plans, but his eyes were now focused on number 13 on the opposing team. He tried to not let his personal life interfere with what he did on the ice, but he’s not so sure that was possible tonight.

The first period was aggressive, to say the least. The Devils were down by one and Jack spent his fair share of time in the sin bin for boarding a certain Isles player. Luckily, all of his penalties were minors so he was still able to play in the game, but you’re not so sure the refs would keep letting him off if he continued the stunts he was pulling.

“Trevor,” Your voice was laced with anxiety as Luke pulled Jack away before he initiated an actual fight and got another penalty. You know hockey is an aggressive sport, but you’ve never seen Jack play like this.

“It’s okay. It’s not all his fault,” He tried to comfort you as your grip on his hand tightened, “They’re starting to play just as dirty. Hopefully intermission will calm everyone down.”

You nervously bit at your nails and lip throughout the rest of the game. Both teams were still being unnecessarily hostile, but it wasn’t as bad as the first period. In the end, Jack managed to get the winning shot, and the cheers that erupted shook The Rock. You threw your arms around Trevor's neck as you let out a breath of relief; thankful that the agonizingly long game ended in their favor.

You and Trevor waited for both Hughes boys, talking about what exactly the plan was going to be tonight. He, of course, wanted to go out and celebrate their win, but you weren’t entirely sure if the boys would still be up for it after the game that they had. Players startled to slowly trickle out of the locker room; most of them stopping to talk to Trevor before they went on their way.

You were engrossed in a conversation with Dawson and Trevor when Luke finally came out of the locker room. He makes a playful glance at your jersey, wiggling his eyebrows as you ignore him and ask him about how he feels like the game went. He goes on about how he wasn’t super proud of their performance due to the obvious, but he was happy that they came out on top despite that. You beamed about how proud you are of him, and then you saw Jack coming out of the locker room.

His damp hair stuck to his forehead and you could see the faint start of a nasty bruise on his left cheek. He looked defeated and annoyed, and that was enough to tell you that he got an earful from Lindy and the media asked the wrong questions. He hated talking to them in general, and he especially hated it when he played like he did. You wanted nothing more than to pull him in and comfort him like you used to often, before Luke moved in.

With an encouraging shove from Luke, you met Jack in the middle and immediately pulled him into your chest. He was quick to wrap his arms around your waist, drawing you in closer than you already were. He buried his head in the crook of your neck, wanting the moment to last forever if it was possible. You didn’t mind the wetness on your skin, but the way Jack was hugging you was not making anything easy for you. He held you like you were the only thing grounding him to Earth.

“You played like shit,” You quietly teased as you forced yourself to pull away from him before you read too much into it.

“Maybe, but we still beat ‘em. Guess Barzal isn’t that great after all,” He slightly puffed his chest out before wrapping an arm around your shoulder and walking to the others.

You furrowed your eyebrows at his last comment, and it made you wonder if you saying that you found Mat Barzal attractive really did upset him. After the way he played towards him, it would make perfect sense. Still, you can’t piece together just why that would bother him enough to make him let it out on the ice like that. You weren’t naive enough to believe that it meant that Jack was jealous because he had feelings for you. You’re positive that it was something else. It had to be.

After everyone had agreed on a bar to meet up at, they all went separate ways to go back home and quickly change. You and the boys knew you were going to go out already, so you were all dressed and ready to go. Once you were in the car, you peeled the Devil’s jersey off you to reveal the red tank top underneath.

“Damn girl,” Trevor whistled, eyes shamelessly darting down to your exposed cleavage.

You playfully smacked him in the chest and rolled your eyes, neatly folding the jersey and placing it in the middle seat of the car. Jack cast a stormy glare back at Trevor, who shrugged and gave his best friend an innocent smile.

“Bye, Lukey,” You leaned over the center console to kiss his cheek, “Next year you can join us and not have to be the driver.”

“Yeah, yeah,” He rolled his eyes, “Give’s me time to sleep without you all bothering me. Have fun and call me if you need me to come get you.”

The three of you pushed your way into the loud and crowded bar. Jack quickly announced that he was going to hit the bathroom and he would meet the two of you at the bar. You gently held the back of Trevor’s shirt as he led you through the horde of people. You got the bartender's attention and ordered a round of shots for the three of you, but when you had turned back to Trevor, he was already engaged in a flirty conversation with a pretty blonde girl. 

Letting out a quiet chuckle, you moved your attention back to the bar. You waited a few more minutes for Jack to come back, but he had yet to make his reappearance. Deciding you were going to see if you could spot him, you placed your hands on the sticky counter, feet planting themselves on the footrest of the barstool to stand and look around the bar. Your eyes bounced across the sea of people in search of Jack, but when your eyes landed on him you felt the entire floor come out from underneath you.

There he was; leaning against a wall with his stupid bright, perfect smile plastered on his face as a girl animatedly talked to him. Every breath you took as you watched them felt like razor blades slicing into every inch of your body and your heart ached like it never had before. Blinking back a wave of tears, you downed the three shots in front of you. They were slightly warm, but the burning sensation they brought to you was a feeling you welcomed with open arms.

“Woah there, Y/N,” Nico’s deep, slightly accented voice cut through the loud music.

“Nico,” You cheered, pulling him into your side for a hug, “You did so good tonight.”

“Thank you,” He lightly laughed, hand staying on your back to steady you as you teetered on the stool, “Your boy was playing a little dirty tonight.”

Nico didn’t miss the way you stiffened at the mention of Jack, and he pulled his brows together in confusion. He had seen the two of you in an intimate hug right before he had left, so he assumed that things had developed between the two of you. While you ordered another two shots, the captain looked around for his teammate. He let out an understanding breath once he found him, still in deep conversation with the girl you had seen.

“Y/N,” Nico tried, “Are you o-”

“I’m going to dance,” You interrupted before he could ask the one question that was certainly going to bring you to tears.

Nico sighed, but he had been around you enough to know that you were not the type of person to push. That was a recipe for disaster. Instead, he opted to keep a close eye on you in case something were to happen. 

You lost count of how many drinks you had at about five drinks, but you’re certain that you were past your limit. Sweat covered bodies bumped into your own as you danced to the loud music, ignoring the bleeding pain in your chest. You refused to look in Jack’s direction for the rest of the night, fearful that what you saw was going to further break you. 

Eventually, you got tired of everyone bumping into you as you danced, so you climbed up onto a table that was littered with half full glasses and empty beer cans. You closed your eyes and let the music guide your body, hips swaying and hands salaciously running the curves of your body.

“Y/N,” A familiar voice yelled over the music, their hand coming to grasp your calf, “Get your drunk ass down!”

You looked down and met Trevor’s worried gaze, though he was quite a bit blurry courtesy of the copious amounts of alcohol you had consumed. Shaking your head at him, you continued dancing and ignored his continuous calls for you to come down from the table. It wasn’t until you heard the one person you were trying to forget that you stopped your movements.

The way Jack was looking up at you with anxiety swirling in his eyes made you want to scream. He had no right to be concerned about when he was the cause of it. Though, he had no idea that he was.

“Y/N,” Jack repeated, taking note of the drunken glare you gave him, “Please come down.”

You tore your glossy eyes away from him, and held your hand out to Trevor so he could help you down from the table. Jack felt his heart crack at your blatant dismissal of him, but he tried to not let it get to him because he knew you were drunk. Still, he hated how you latched onto Trevors side, leaning your head on his chest as he steadied you. He was always the one you clung too, and he doesn’t like the way it feels to be on the outside of that.

“We should call Luke, yeah,” Trevor suggested as he soothingly rubbed your arm, “You need to get home.”

“I can call him and we can go back together,” Jack was quick to offer himself up. 

“No,” You moaned out, shaking your head against Trevor’s chest, “I don’t wanna be around you.”

Jack’s already cracked heart completely shattered inside his chest, the sting from it bleeding into his veins. The despondent look that was slapped on his face would have been enough to send you to your knees had you been looking at him, but you knew better than that. You knew that you would cave in to Jack like you always did, but that’s not what you needed. It was clear that you were never going to have him the way you wanted, and you needed to forget him. Even if it was just for a night. 

“Jack,” Trevor sighed, his own chest burning for his best friend, “I texted Luke before I came to get her and he should be here soon. I’ll make sure she gets to him, okay?”

Swallowing the lump in his throat, all Jack could manage was a nod and move out of the way so Trevor could guide you out of the bar. His entire heart left with you, and he was left staring at the floor wondering what had happened for you to not want to be around him. In order to keep himself from crying in front of his teammates, he made a beeline for the bar to get drinks of his own.

The first thing you felt the following morning was the deadly pounding in your head, and you prayed to any God that would listen that you could just go back to sleep for the rest of your life. Your head was shoved underneath your pillow as you attempted to push back the consistent waves of nausea, but the feeling grew. Before you could truly comprehend what was going on, you were on your feet and darting to the bathroom.

“Y/N,” Trevor called from the other side of the bathroom door, “I’m coming in.”

You tossed him a bleary look as he walked in with a cup of water in hand. The pitiful smile he gave you in return surely would have made you vomit again had you not already emptied all the contents of your stomach. You could see the apprehension clearly arranged on his face.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” You mumbled against your arm that was acting as a barrier between your face and the toilet.

“I didn’t even say anything,” He let out an airy laugh as he searched through the cabinets for some Advil, “Since you brought it up, though...”

“Trevor,” You warned, trying to give him a mean glare, but it hurt your head too much to strain that hard.

Despite how much you drank last night, you were still excruciatingly aware of what had caused you to get that way. The feeling that consumed your entire being when you saw Jack with that girl was still something that was eating away at your heart. You knew that your emotions were going to get the better of you one day, but nothing could have prepared you for when it did.

“Take these,” He ordered, “What happened last night? I’ve never seen you like that, especially not towards Jack. I don’t care that you don’t want to talk about it. If you don’t, you’ll let it take over and you’ll fall into the same hole you did when Trent broke up with you.”

You knew that he was right, but it still annoyed you that Trevor Zegras, of all people, was right. You also knew that he was going to see through any lie you told him. In spite of his reputation, he was a very observant and caring person, especially when it cameto the ones he loved.

 “I saw Jack with some girl last night. That’s all there is to say, really. You know how I feel about him, so it just really sucked. And I guess I let myself read too much into certain situations,” You admitted, taking the pills in hopes that they would help the headache subside.

He sharply sucked in a breath, understanding washing over his body like a wave. He knew the girl you were talking about; Jack had mentioned something about him being ambushed by the bathrooms. She was going on about how her girlfriend was one of his biggest fans, and then Jack had somehow, yet unsurprisingly, managed to bring you up in the conversation. He had told Trevor that the girl made fun of Jack for being a little bitch and not telling you how he feels, which Trevor happily agreed with.

“Y/N,” He sighed, squatting so he was eye level with you, “You need to go talk to him, and don’t say no. It will be better, for both of you, if you talk to each other. Watching the both of you pine over each other is really grinding my gears.”

After a not so lengthy argument with Trevor, partly because he just kept repeating himself and partly because you were too tired to argue, your feet were gently padding down the hall to Jack’s room. Your breathing was quick and uneven as you anxiously squeezed your hands together, moreso the closer you got to him. Taking a deep breath, you gently rapped your knuckles on his door.

“Go away, Trevor,” His voice was muffled, quiet, and defeated.

“Jack,” You softly called as you opened your door and peeked your head in.

“Y/N,” You watched as he jumped up in his bed, pillow falling off the bed and blanket pooling around his waist, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. I just- Can I come in?”

He eagerly nodded his head, scooting back so he was leaning against the headboard. Trying to keep your eyes from wandering his naked chest was proving difficult the closer you got to him. It felt highly inappropriate given the circumstances. The air was awkward and sticky as you took a seat on the edge of his bed, and you hated that. Things should never be like this with Jack.

Jack knew you so well and he had spent so much time memorizing everything about you that it wasn’t hard to tell that you were nervous, and exhausted. Your lip was red from chewing on it and the skin below your hand was irritated from you pinching yourself, both nervous habits you’ve had as long as he’s known you. However, you also had dark, stormy clouds of exhaustion hanging over you. He wanted nothing more than to pull you into his bed and hold you until you fell asleep. 

“How are you feeling,” He asked, eyes flitting from your face to his lap.

“Honestly, I feel like I got hit by a bus,” You laughed, feeling some of the nerves dissipate, “But, I wanted to talk about something. Well, Trevor’s forcing me to do it, but I also think we should talk about it.”

Jack’s already high anxiety skyrocketed. He has no idea what you were going to say, and that terrified him. His mind wandered to the worst possibilities, all of which involved you telling him that you were leaving and never wanted to see him again. He’s not sure he would be able to survive that blow.

“What’s up,” He played it cool as if his heart wasn’t beating so hard and fast that he thought it was going to burst out of his chest.

“I want you to listen to me entirely before you say anything okay,” You started, tucking a leg underneath your thigh as you turned to fully face him. You continued after he gave you a shy nod, “I’m really sorry about last night. About telling you I didn’t want to be around you. I was upset, and hurt. I was waiting for you at the bar and you were taking a while, so I tried to look for you.

“And I saw you talking to a girl by the bathrooms, and I guess I got a little jealous. I got jealous because I- I don’t know, it’s kind of obvious why, Jack. I let my emotions get to me and I reacted terribly, I’m sorry. And it’s okay that you don’t feel the same way that I feel. Just promise me it won’t change our friendship?”

His heart, still beating erratically, was doing flips inside his chest as he let your words fully soak in. Jack knew he wasn’t a Harvard scholar, but it didn’t take much to figure out you were saying you had feelings for him without actually saying it. All those hours of Trevor trying to convince Jack that you liked him back flooded his memory, and he felt stupid for not believing him. Now Trevor was kind of an airhead, but if something was that obvious to him, Jack should have known it was true. 

The silence that hung in the air was daunting, but you were giving him time to think about what you had said to him. Springing a half-assed love confession on someone who looked just as hungover as you were probably wasn’t the best idea, but it was Trevor’s so it made sense. You refused to make eye contact with Jack as he, presumably, found a way to gently let you down. You decided to focus on picking at your fingers while you waited, a habit you thought you had broken

“I was jealous too, you know,” He started, moving his body so he was sitting in the same position as you. He delicately took your hands in his own before you picked so hard you drew blood.

“Of what,” You frowned.

“The whole Barzal thing. You said you thought he was hot, and I guess I got a little insecure because he is an attractive guy,” He explained, his voice laced with apprehension, “Trevor and Luke kept talking about how you’re in love with him or whatever, and then I saw how excited you got when he got on the ice and I don’t know. It really bothered me.

“And the girl at the bar? We were only talking because she said her girlfriend was a big fan, and then I started talking about you, like I always do. She basically told me I was a pussy for not telling you how I felt, and she’s right.”

You snapped your gaze to meet his own, and you knew you were royally screwed. He was looking at you like you hung the stars and the moon, and it was in that moment you realize that he’s looked at you like that for a while. You were just too naive, and scared, to let yourself believe it was anything other than friendship.

“I love you, Y/N, and not in just a friend way but an “I-want-you-to-be-my-girlfriend” way. And I really want to kiss you.”

“So do it.”

In an instant, he was pulling you into him, his soft lips meeting your own in a messy kiss. You moved your hands to the nape of his neck, fingers carding into his hair as he pulled you onto his lap. His hands found place on your lower back, scared to wander any further out of fear of making you uncomfortable, but you had waited far too long for this moment for him to not explore whatever he wanted. However, the sound of Jack’s door opening caused the two of you to separate your mouths.

“Are you two going to come ea- Oh my god! They’re having sex,” Trevor screamed, quickly turning around and slamming the door shut, “Luke! Don’t go in there!”

Jack’s forehead fell to your shoulder as he let out an amused, “Fucking Trevor.” (iykyk lmao)

“You know, I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but we actually owe him,” You let out a breathy laugh.

“Yes you do!”

“Go away!”

[vanishingcherry]

Hey Leah, hope you’re doing good. If you’re taking requests, please could I get either Charles or Lando x fem reader. I had a really shitty day and my friends seem really distant and I feel super sad. Thank you x

PIANO LESSONS

pairing: charles leclerc x reader

author's note: heyy! im so sorry about your day... i hope you're feeling better now 🥰. im sorry its a bit late, ive just been in a writing slump and didn't have anything finished. ive had this in my drafts for a while tho so here you go!

masterlist

๑ ⋆˚₊⋆────ʚ˚ɞ────⋆˚₊⋆ ๑

It was summer break, which meant Charles was home for over 2 weeks and you had him all to yourself. Granted, you did have days in which you would go out with family and friends, but it was a manner of speaking. It meant that you would be together almost 24/7 for days at a time, something rare in his career.

That was why the two of you had pre-decided to make the most of it. Charles felt guilty sometimes, about not being, in his words, the boyfriend you deserved. Although you had told him multiple times that he was perfect, he held on to that insecurity, which is why you went along with everything he planned, knowing that all he wanted to do was spend time with you.

You could honestly say you had been on more dates in the last week than you had so far in the year. There were the simple dinner dates, movie dates, hiking dates and also the more unique ones, such as the one that ended with, for some reason, throwing paint on each other.

But with all that, there were also the more quiet days. The days in which the two of you would stay in your apartment all day long. Those were your favourite days. There was something special about being able to wake up late, not having to worry about work or some sort of event.

"Have you been awake a while?" you whisper, shifting so that you would be closer to him, tucking your head under his own as he continues to run his fingers through your hair.

"Ouais." he murmurs. Yeah. "Mais c'est bien. I like looking at you."

It was another one of these days, and you were coming back from the kitchen with a snack when you heard the soft notes of the piano. Smiling, you switched off your phone and walked into the makeshift studio you and Charles had converted a guest bedroom into.

He had taken piano lessons during quarantine, and you had never been happier with his decision. There would be times in which you would come home from work, the sound of music immediately putting you in a state of relaxation.

You stand in the doorway, watching as his fingers dance across the keys. A few minutes later, when he stops playing, you walk over and sit next to him.

"What piece was that?" you ask softly, not wanting to speak too loud. You rest your head on his shoulder, offering him a chip from your bowl.

"Did you like it?" he replies, answering with a question of his own.

"Yeah, it was beautiful. I loved it."

"It's mine. I made it." he admits sheepishly. "I was just trying something out."

"REALLY? Oh my god, amour!" Your eyes widen at his words, head turning towards him in disbelief.

"Yeah. You actually like it?"

"Yes, of course! Oh my god, bebe. How did you- I'm so proud."

He shyly smiles at your praise, before piping up. "Do you want me to teach you?"

"Your song?" you ask, clearly excited.

"Well" he starts. "Maybe not my song right now, but I can teach you an easier song... and then we can work up to my song?"

"Ouais! I can't believe I never thought of that before."

He smiles at your enthusiasm before wrapping an arm around your waist to pull you closer to him. He then gently takes your hands, placing them on the keys, keeping his fingers over your own. He looks at your expressing for a few seconds, unable to stop the smile from creeping on his face as he realises just how special you are.

"You press this finger and this finger at the same time, and hold it for a second" he directs, after shaking his head to focus, pressing down on the right keys.

You follow his directions, going over ever note a few times before moving on. He was patient, overly so, helping you with the biggest grin as you ask him to repeat the last few steps.

Before you knew it, it had been over an hour, and you had learnt quite a bit of what Charles was teaching you. At this point, both of your attention spans were low, and there wasn't a lot of playing going on. Rather, it was you trying to get through the last few notes before a break while Charles lightly tickled your sides, proving to be an annoyingly cute distraction.

"I think I'm done for today" you sigh, shifting slightly to rest your back against Charles.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I'm tired." you say.

He nods sympathetically before standing up and pulling on your hands to make you do the same.

"You go to bed and put something on the TV, okay? I'll make dinner and be there soon."

"Are you sure? Do you want me to help?"

"It's just pasta" he replies, shrugging and lightly pushing you in the direction of the bedroom.

"Okay... but I want mine al dente", you emphasize. "Not croccante"

liked by arthurleclerc, scuderiaferrari and 309,857 others

yourusername thanks for the piano lesson @.charlesleclerc

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charlesfan oh to have charles as a piano teacher

scuderiaferrari couple goals

ynfan AUS23 yn's pov when

charlesleclerc of course ❤️... same time tomorrow?

↳ yourusername i'd love to

[diceqi]

My analysis on lostshipping in "Land of Lost Things"! (DR EP16)

Hi, don't mind me yapping about Cole x Geo. I've been REALLY obsessed with them lately. I'm going to be analyzing the episode they were introduced in and providing a few theories about how cole and geo's relationship could (realistically) turn out. (I don't want to be too hopeful😭😭🙏)

This is gonna be a long one, so be prepared. (sorry if it's too long and if there's any grammar or spelling mistakes. I'm writing this at 1 AM😭)

ANALYSIS:

The first thing you see when Cole is introduced in DR is him being a rock monster. This raises a few questions:

1. Why was he in his rock monster form?

2. How did get get that ability?

And my response/theory is:

1. The hoarder was out there while the kids were exploring, so Cole and Geo got worried and Cole and (not) Geo activated his rock monster ability to find and protect the kids. (I'm saying this bcs Cole and Geo basically held hands right before Nya n Sora arrived there 😭😭)

2. Maybe Cole and Geo were in a dire/life-threatening situation with the hoarder and Cole felt lost. Perhaps Geo held Cole's hand to comfort him during the situation which did something to cole.... Maybe deep down, Cole wanted to find balance in the situation and Geo was his "balance" because of how comforting he felt. So he felt like he needed Geo at that moment. Then, it led to Cole activating his ability :p

After Cole was introduced they established the concepts on how the LoLT(land of lost things) work (people and things who end up there were forgotten and stuff like that) and Cole says something along the lines of "You don't get a ton of news in the land of lost things" which makes me think that Cole had stayed in the LoLT for quite some time and that he hasn't been able to get information outside the LoLT.

It got me thinking that maybe Cole was so occupied with his newfound family (Geo, Bonzle, Fritz and Spitz) that he decided to live several years protecting his "family" and didn't think much about finding the ninjas... so he was just stuck there and couldn't do much about it, even if he could leave :( So maybe he decided to make the most out of it, like bonding with his family.

Later in the episode we see Geo being worried about the kids (basically acting like their dad) and smiling at Cole when he enters the noodle cup. JUST LOOK AT THE WAY HE LOOKS AT HIM IM CRYINNNF THEYRE SO CUTE!!! T_T

And the way they exchange dialogue is sweet. They sound like they care about each other, like the first thing Geo says to Cole is "Are you alright?" and Cole warmly reassures Geo that he's ok to calm him down. This suggests that Geo worries abt the people he cares about a lot! ^_^

Another thing is that Geo says that he'd distract the hoarder and tells Cole and the others to leave. Cole doesn't even retaliate or express his worries, which shows that he trusts Geo. Then shortly after, everyone is on a cliff and Nya asks "What about Geo?" In response, Cole proudly crosses his arms says, "Just watch."

This scene alone already shows how close and familiar he is with Geo. Cole is confident about Geo's abilities and knows that he can take care of himself. However, Geo expresses his worries when Cole is potentially in danger. (we'll talk more about this later)

After the Hoarder loses its hand, the gang looks at Geo's artworks and Cole proudly talks about Geo's abilities (with geo smiling at him in the bg).

When they reach home they find the dragon core, but just as Nya was about to take it, Cole refuses to let her take it because he knew it would but everyone (including his family) in danger since it was the thing keeping them safe from the hoarder.

What I found really interesting about this scene is that Cole went quiet when Nya suggested that they could all leave right after taking the dragon core. Geo had to speak up and tell Nya that Cole could leave but the finders couldn't. Maybe Cole didn't want to admit that he willingly stayed with the finders even though he had the option to leave, and Geo stepped in since Cole seemed uncomfortable? But that could be a stretch, lol.

Then Sora makes a plan, blah blah blah, but then we find out that Geo is a mix of Geckle and Munce and that nobody accepted him, which led him to being forgotten.

Then everyone gets attacked yadda yadda yadda, but then the dragon core gets stolen and Geo doesn't hesitate to attack and get the dragon core back. But Geo ends up falling off a drone but then he falls on a dragon Cole was riding. Then Cole's like "Fancy meeting you here!" which could be read as suble flirting (but then again, this could be a stretch)

Then there's a scene where Cole asks Geo to power him up, and Geo tries to tell Cole the truth about his ability but Cole was in a rush so they did the holding hands thingy (yay!) and the glow makes a heart shape :3

Ok so after Sora captures the imperium sewage cleaner thing Geo confesses to hiding the fact that his powers doesn't work on living things and that he wasn't actually powering Cole up.

This scene is my favorite because it shows Geo's vulnerable side :D It also shows that Geo can be unintentionally distrusful at times. I mean, given his past experience with people not accepting him + Geo being literally forgotten i think we could get why he would be scared of losing Cole. He was scared that the only person who accepted him for who he was and made him feel loved—unlike the geckle and munce—would leave.

And our favorite line from Cole spoken here is "But I do need you." which FEELS SO SPECIAL TO ME CUZ Geo, someone who was never accepted by either races, was an outcast and was unloved, ended up being told that he was NEEDED by the person who made him feel loved and cared for. It's the sweetest thing ever bro I honestly got emotional at that scene

And that's the end of my analysis!!! But wait, there's more!!!

Here is how I think their relationship will end up like:

1. I think they'd be pretty close, like "kissin the homes goodnight" kinda close.

2. They'll DEFINITELY KISS 567 TIMES

3. THEY WILL CONFESS THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER AND MARRY EACH OTHER!!!!1! THEY WILL BE WEARING WEDDING DRESSES ARRRRRRRGHHHH

4. But fr tho if they do actually have romantic feelings for each other, I think the show would try to keep it low-key and not too obvious. Like they'd make Cole and Geo interact with each other in a caring way and the writers would throw suble hints or something :p Sorta like Cole x Vania but gay and more obvious idk HSJSBSH

5. Y'all I cant even continue this bcs I'm crying about how cute they are I think I'm gonna puke rainbows😭😭😭😭😭 anyways thanks for your time and have a wonderfully epic day. (also make sure to manifest cole x geo to be canon PLEASEEEE))

[unloneliest]

im so fucking good at making sexy little leverage aus and then never writing them. this is my ma spencer au, which has been lifted directly from my twitter with minimal editing, & which i am haunted by always.

ok so the au. this is going to be very long. every time i listen to spent gladiator 2 by tmg i think abt the leverage team/eliot specifically.

lyrics for context:

so i was thinking abt an au where eliot was never on the team, bc like. eliot fully got Out of the game, but interacts w them on an early case and ends up falling in with them anyways? BUT i also think a lot about how hard it'd be for any of them to retire bc there's people who hate them who know their faces, yknow? so how WOULD eliot be able to have retired &what has to change for eliot to be that comfortable getting out?

so i figure he maybe got out of the moreau situation earlier. maybe he broke up with the horse girl but they stayed on good terms, and maybe he never did the worst things he ever did for moreau because he had his Getting Out Of There chef connection moment sooner.

but that doesn't undo how recognizable eliot would be to various parties and i was like. well then. what if the chef who was that pivotal person for eliot was a trans woman and was as pivotal with eliot being gendery as she was with eliot retiring?

so like. early 2000s nonbinary/transfeminine he/she eliot spencer finding a few small towns to live in pretty at random but having a home in each one and cycling through them with no discernable pattern?? and being a loved part of the local queer community in all of them?

it's similar to my "eliot never left home and is luke gilmore girls but also co-created a queer bar in his town" au (aside: thank you @lycanqueer for pointing out that connection ages ago, i have been unwell about it ever since).

like . eliot!!!!! eliot probably first connecting with the team bc of the two horse job and slowly begrudgingly helping, joining in on the tap out job, etc.

eliot being like a parent figure to various queer kids in the different towns and they call him "ma spencer" and she wears his practical boots with flannels still but maybe they're with a more feminine tank top and maybe you're as likely to see ma spencer in a no nonsense knee length skirt as a sturdy pair of jeans. and maybe sometimes he braids her hair . and she's mr. spencer too and well respected by the folks of whatever town he's staying in, too stubborn and helpful and intimidating not to be!

eliot being openly down for a casual relationship both with parker and hardison from when she first gets to know them onward—and him keeping his past quiet still, but it getting harder to keep the parts of her life seperate as he finds herself getting closer with the team & with more serious feelings for parker and hardison.

maybe the team's hitter is Tara? i feel like she's capable of that? but she has to be the grifter when sophie goes on her break and eliot joins in "Just Once" but it ends up being more than that.

eliot would have a lot of complicated feelings abt joining in—like, both being happy with the peace she found & not wanting to risk that but still feeling like he needs to pay penance and that this is a way to do that.

and then season 3 hits completely different. i think this eliot would talk about his past once she found out they were targeting moreau, but i think team dynamics would overall be super different in general. the team would be way less of a unit with nate than when you see things from his perspective—espeicially without eliot always there to insulate the team from the worst of him.

anyways im gonna be thinking about this for the next 800 years. will i ever write this fic? probably no. but ma spencer is so real to me

[ballcrusher74]

hello. are you. perhaps 👉👈 willing to talk about the inspector/faux. ive only seen cool arts and no context so im rather curious.

OK!!! I actually love rambling about my ocs so small questions like this make me day. I just get nervous LOL But! I will say, there's gonna probably be a bit I'm leaving out because it does involve my friends' characters and it's still an on-going thing atm (we tend to roleplay on lethal company as our guys. btw the oc group is called Cleanup Crew ! it explains the recent reblogs and new tags I've added on posts with this guy) AND this does also involve my own little interpretations of in-game mechanics and other things, but otherwise, I'll get the rest of him down!

Inspector, also originally known by the name of Terrance Conroy (or Terry), was a typical scavenger working under 'The Company' after a couple rough times on his home planet. (This information isn't necessarily set in stone, but the idea of him being a washed-up rock star before quitting his passion to get a job that pays his rent has been bouncing around in my brain.) He used to be a normal guy, trying to find a little hope in his desperate situation, and was a social butterfly. He tend to bounce from crew to crew, sometimes staying in some for only a couple days, and some for months. He was a very careful man, and looked out for his fellow crew members.

And then, one day, his first death on the job happens.

But instead of being greeted by a bright white light at the end of a tunnel, or complete pitch darkness, he appears on the ship again- completely physically fine.

This.. confuses him at first, yet he continues on.

And then he dies again. And again, and again. Over and over, the more deaths he's endured, the more he comes to a morbid realization that he can't truly die, nor can those around him. He tries to keep this truth hidden away from the others, as they seem to not have mentioned it at all before. He remembers everything. Every time he was ripped to shreds by an eyeless dog, every time he blew up into pieces from a landmine, every time he was shot multiple times, every time he was left behind or ejected as part of the disciplinary process- He felt it all and remembered it all. This goes on for the course of years (around 8-10 roughly) and over that course of time, he begins to grow very careless. What's the point of saving someone if they'll just come back? What's the use of tears when you're only a couple dollars off quota with a shovel in hand?

What's the point of it all? And with that carelessness comes selfishness into the picture. With how long he's been stuck in the cycle, he has become a very manipulative person, putting up a playful and nice persona on the outside- almost sickeningly sweet- in order to help other's do his bidding. He believes that if he were to cause so much chaos, disorder, and disruption within a crew, to where it's like animals mauling each other apart, he'd be able to break free from it himself. He doesn't care anymore about leaving others behind. He's desperate at this point to find a way out. Faux, who is an alter ego / disguise for Inspector, ties more into the on-going events right now, but I can give a basic rundown on his personality. He's a klutzy and quiet man, typically only talking to others when it's just him and them, and nobody else around, playing himself off as a selective mute. Since this is just Inspector in a jazzy little jester outfit, he still possesses all the traits of that man, just hidden away as to not blow his cover. He's still tugging on the strings in some way, people just don't realize. Sure, he's off putting and just a tad bit strange, but how can a goofy man like that be terrifying?

WOOOW ok that's a lot more typing than expected, but here's also a couple fun facts about the guy !

He stands at 6 feet and 1 inch, and is a very lanky guy compared to others, but this wasn't always the case. He used to just stand at 5 feet and 6 inches, and had more normal human proportions. With how many times he has died and how long it's been of the cycle, it has fucked up his appearance a LOT. Other things include : his 'skin' being grey, his voice constantly sounding like it's coming from a walkie talkie, no visible neck, his face becoming the helmet itself (it still bleeds, but there's nothing in there), and inhumanly flexible.

The only thing left of him that represents his last strand of humanity, is a singular, dim eye behind the tape on his visor.

He is very much not a rational man anymore. He is quick to jump to things, and won't hesitant with his actions.

When waiting to return from death, he is able to manifest in someone's head as a disembodied voice, and will typically mock them, or try and manipulate them further. In this state, he can see everything through the eyes of the person he's haunting. ^ Fun fact about this! This was originally based off a stupid bit where my friend was streaming LC to me with other buddies on the game and I kept telling them to step on landmines and then kill someone for a promotion, and then Inspector was born!

and UH I think that's about it I have for the guy atm! If the rest of the cleanup crew gets dropped than I'll update this accordingly perhaps. As of right now, enjoy my oc slop 👍

[spiderlandry]

OMG can you please do overprotective jealous Misty there's never any fics on here for her 😔

im sorry anon this is def not what you asked for 😭 i just suddenly got an idea for a yellowjacket!reader who became an actor after they get out of the wilderness, and i thought i could use it here. if you’d like another drabble with a more specific scenario/plot, i could whip something up so lmk!!

if anyone wants me to expand on this actor!reader x yellowjackets, also lmk bc i actually kinda like it LMAO

last note i promise: i used present day misty for this because it wasn’t specified and i also love christina ricci <3

pact — misty quigley

Eyes. You can feel eyes on you at all times. A looming presence, yet a familiar shadow watching your movements. It’s similar to something you’d felt in the wilderness, however that was the part of your life you promised to leave forever except there was one thing that stopped you from completely doing so: Misty Quigley.

Despite what the tabloids say, you have not kept in contact with any of the yellowjackets. You had taken a path the others deemed unwise—you became an actor. Your work was good enough that most interviewers respected the rule of not asking about your time lost in the woods. But, even though you resisted the urge to reach out to whom you’d bonded with for life, there is always a feeling you can’t shake that Misty has been watching you closely.

It’s not like a papparazzi camera. It’s different. You try to catch the familiar head of blonde hair around the corners in streets where you feel her presence, and get disappointed that she’s not there. You miss her.

The feeling grows when you get a postcard sent to your personal home, an address nobody knows except for your family, drawn with a symbol you know all too well. The second you’d gotten it, you called your manager, telling her that you won’t be able for any projects indefinitely and packed a bag.

Either she sensed it or she was watching your house cameras, because a few hours before you leave for the flight, a disheveled Misty Quigley shows up at your door.

“Misty?” You shove aside your luggage, unbelieving the woman at your door.

“You can’t leave,” She says, out of breath. She’s in scrubs, shoes untied, and you can see her car parked on your lawn haphazardly. “Don’t leave.”

Unexpectedly, to both you and Misty, you lunge at her, arms around her neck and taking in the comfort of being in her arms again.

“You’re actually here,” You whisper, so quiet as if you’re scared she’ll disappear. You tighten the hold as she returns the hug. “I won’t leave. Now that you’re here.” And just like that, it’s the easiest decision you’ve ever made.

When you pull away slightly, you can see the bewildered look on her face.

“Wait—you’re not…gonna ask? Why I’m here?”

You shake your head, a different question on your tongue. “Did you send the card?”

“No,” she mirrors your gesture. “I just—I don’t want you to leave.”

You can’t stop the smile from creeping up on your face. Suddenly remembering where you are, you pulled her into your home and closed the door immediately away from prying eyes.

You sit her down on a bar stool in your kitchen, getting her favourite drink from the fridge.

“You remembered?” She lights up as you hand the cold can to her.

“Why would I not?” You shrug, bashful. “Tell me why you want me to stay.”

You have a feeling she knows that you know why. You just need the confirmation.

“I need you here,” Misty replies. “So I can protect you.”

Stepping closer and taking her hand in yours, you say, “You want to keep our pact?”

“You remember our pact?” She parrots.

Long ago, in the wilderness, of a past life, you and Misty had promised each other protection no matter the circumstances. Over the years as you separated, losing courage to reach out to Misty the way you wanted, the guilt has burrowed itself in your heart and made its home.

You’ve been eager to continue the pact, but it seemed that things were never quite right—until now. The world has pushed you two together even if its through Misty’s sheer will.

You promise, this time, not to let her go.

[pastanest]

if you’re wondering why I’m having to repost this, or why you were perhaps previously following me but no longer are, please refer to this post. I was able to retrieve this thanks to @iamburdened - thanks so much!! ♡

Daryl Dixon x she/her!reader

spoilers: set in season 6

Unsaid

It’s so strange, staring out of a proper window, into a real neighbourhood. Gives a new perspective to how your group has been living since the start. Even at the farm, it was rare that most of you felt comfortable to enter the Greene house, and at the prison the windows werent exactly homely. That word seemed alien to you now. Alexandria is like a dream, a fantasy, one that you’re so afraid you’re going to wake up from. But at the same time, you cant help hoping that this could be a real home, a safe place. Turning around, you lean on the kitchen counter, your eyes glancing over your makeshift family, until they reach the lonely angel sitting on the living room windowsill.

Daryl Dixon. A man you’ve spent years getting to know, while he has gained the courage to do the same for you. The two of you could talk for hours on end, there was never a moment of discomfort between you. But there was always something that you both skipped over; the time was never right, or there was never enough time. It wasnt safe enough to admit the darkest secret you shared with him, it wasnt safe enough to realise it, to acknowledge it even existed. So, it stayed quiet.

But that isnt to say that you and Daryl resisted the magnetic connection that pulled you to each other. Somehow, he senses that you’re approaching him, and searches the room until his eyes land on you, walking towards him.

“Uh, Daryl? I was wondering if you could...keep watch, while Im in the shower.” You ask him shyly.

Daryl takes in everything about you, the way your fingers are fiddling with the hem of your dirty shirt, the blush on your cheeks, the way your eyes are avoiding his.

You and him have always had a thing, an understanding and a softness towards each other that never developed into anything else, it just exists on its own; dormant, waiting. The world was too chaotic and dangerous for the two of you to ever have a moment to explore it, so it remained an uncharted, lingering presence.

Daryl always understands what you‘re saying, and the parts that you didnt want to say - he hears loud and clear just by looking at you. So he knows that you are coming to him because you‘re still scared, and he wants to help.

“Yeah, no prob’m.” He answers, standing up from his place at the windowsill and following you to the bathroom upstairs.

You dont speak to him anymore, you simply offer a grateful smile before entering the bathroom, closing the door behind you. Daryl idles there, hearing the water turn on and then you sighing with relief as you step under it.

Somehow, you get so lost in the clean bliss of showering that you forget Daryl is standing right outside, and you start humming. Before you know it, you’re singing away to yourself, and Daryl cant help smiling from the other side of the door, keeping his head down as he leans against the wall with his arms crossed, so that if anybody walks by they wont see the smile on his face.

A couple of times, people in the house do walk by, and although they’re all people in the house and therefore in the group, Daryl still stands up straighter and makes it clear he’s guarding the door so that nobody tries to go in there. He’s always been protective of you like that.

When Daryl hears the shower turn off, he kicks himself off the wall lightly and shifts his weight from foot to foot awkwardly, not knowing how to stand and wait for you, not knowing which standing position would appear the most relaxed to you. His hands feel empty without his crossbow, he’d find it much easier to stand “naturally” if he had that with him.

The door opens and a cloud of steam guides you out of the misty bathroom, you have a peach coloured towel wrapped around your body and you’re using a white one to scrub at your wet hair. You jump at the sight of Daryl, and then laugh to yourself, blushing again.

“I forgot that I’d made you stand here, oh gosh.” You cover your face with your hands as you realise he must’ve heard you singing.

Daryl shakes his head “Didn’ make me, I wan’ed to.”

You meet Daryl’s eyes then, confusion written on your features, and his eyes widen.

“Shit, not like that! Didn’ wanna be here just ‘cause you were showerin’, I jus’ mean’-“

You smile up at him, making no effort to cease his ramble, but your smile stops him anyway. “I trust you Daryl, dont worry.”

Heading to one of the bedrooms to get dressed, you stop suddenly and turn to him. “Do you wanna shower next?”

“Naw.”

“Daryl.”

“What?”

“Shower.”

“Naw.”

“What if I keep watch for you just like you did for me?” You smile at him again, and Daryl’s heart melts.

It is utterly adorable that you think he’s scared to shower because of being vulnerable to attack, and that you are offering to protect him in the same way he did for you. By no means does he want to shower, it brings about vulnerability of an entirely different sort. But, you standing outside the bathroom means that you’ll be waiting for him after his shower, and he’ll get more of a chance to talk to you, which gives him something to look forward to. That, and he couldnt deny that your presence at the door would reassure him, he knows you can be fierce when you want to be, and nothing would get past you, it’d sooner kill you than get to him. Wow, really Daryl? Thinking about her dying while you’re in the shower? That’s reassuring.

Daryl nods at you after a few seconds of silence. “Alright, but you go get dressed first. You’ll catch a cold standin’ there in damp towels.”

You squeal excitedly and run off to the bedroom you were previously heading towards, shutting the door behind you. Daryl shakes his head and laughs, unable to believe that you just got even cuter. Seconds later, you arrive at his side, clad in pyjamas far too big for you, the pants are so long they act as socks as well, and the sleeves are so long that you‘re balling them in your firsts to act as hands.

“I am ready to kick ass if anything tries to get your ass!” You throw some dramatic, pyjama-shirt-fisted punches, and Daryl does his usual scoff laugh.

“Never felt safer.” He teases as he messes up your hair, and you scrunch your face up in the most adorable frustration. For a precious moment, Daryl lets himself admire you while you’ve got your face scrunched up and therefore your eyes closed, but then he’s closing the door behind him as he enters the bathroom.

While he’s stripping free of his clothes, Daryl imagines you on the other side of the door, kicking out the long pant legs of your pyjamas, swinging around the long sleeves. Little things like that entertained you somehow, the presence of that childlike wonder and amusement that this world manages to kill even in children themselves, but it had never succeeded in taking that from you. By no means are you unaware of the way the world is now, and that’s what amazes Daryl so much: even after witnessing the horrors of the world around you, you still manage to keep yours - and everyone around you’s - spirits up.

When he steps in the shower, Daryl doesnt see the smile on your face, the sound of the water changing because it has someone standing under it telling you that Daryl is actually showering. You know there‘s something else that keeps him from showering, from walking around shirtless like the other guys do during hot weather. You didnt ask him, and you never will. If he wants to tell you at any point, then he can do that in his own time and in his own way. It means a lot to you that despite you not knowing what it is, you offering to protect him in this way and him accepting it shows that he trusts you, too.

As the shower stops, you hear wet footsteps out of it, and then Daryl curses under his breath.

“Everything alright in there?” You ask him, knocking on the door quietly.

“I aint got no damn clothes.” Daryl mutters.

Your eyes widen. “Okay, right, wait here, I’ll be approximately one minute!”

Sprinting back into the bedroom you got dressed in, you start searching through the piles of clothes given to you from the people of Alexandria. In record time, you manage to find some boxers, a pair of grey sweats and a baggy black vest that look like they’ll fit Daryl, while also not risking making him overheat. You skid your way back, panting when you get back to the bathroom door because you’d been so frantic.

“Got you some stuff! If you dont like it, I can go find you something else.” You tell him through the door, and Daryl opens it slightly.

Another cloud of mist greets you, and then Daryl’s clean face, wet hair, and just the tiniest glimpse of his naked chest. You pass him the clothes, and he nods at you before closing the door again, leaving you swooning against the wall. That was a lot, wow.

A minute or so later Daryl steps out wearing the clothes you’d given him. Daryl Dixon in grey sweats? You had unintentionally plotted your own demise. His hair is wet and messy, definitely knotted from how roughly he’s tried to dry it with a towel.

You smile at him, eyeing him up and down. “Lookin’ good, Dixon!”

The way you‘re looking at him makes Daryl feel a little insecure until you say that, and he realises you‘re in fact checking him out.

“Stop.”

You stick your tongue out at him. “Make me!”

Daryl rolls his eyes at that.

You take a step closer to him and reach up to part his hair. “This just wont do, though. C’mon, I can fix it!”

And then you’re grabbing his hand and leading him to an empty bedroom. Not the one with clothes in, because other people could go in there looking for said clothes. You make sure to go into an empty one, and bring Daryl over to a bed. Pushing his shoulders gently, you sit him down on the edge of it, and then you dart out of the room. When you return, there’s a hairbrush in your hands, and Daryl scoffs.

“You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me.”

You beam at him. “Not even a little bit! Your hair is lovely, it deserves to be properly taken care of.”

The compliment sounds sincere, and Daryl struggles to meet your eyes after that. You climb onto the bed and kneel behind him, parting the rest of his hair before you start to brush it. He expects it to hurt at least a little, but you’re so gentle with him that he wonders how you’re even getting the knots out.

“Y’know, I’ve always liked seeing you in a vest.” You bring up casually.

“Why?” Daryl asks.

“You genuinely have the best arms I have ever seen on a man, and every time you cover them up it hurts my feelings.” You tell him, and Daryl scoffs, causing you to chuckle. “You wish I was joking!”

He shakes his head. “Keep my arms out for the sake of yer feelin’s, got it.”

You smile from behind him. “Thank you for your consideration!”

The rest of the time brushing Daryl’s hair is spent in comfortable silence. For a little while, Daryl even closes his eyes, just enjoying the feeling of you taking care of him, even through such a simple action. You dont point out that you notice, not wanting to embarrass him or disturb the peace he was feeling. You even re-brush sections that are already brushed through so that his peace lasts a little longer. Eventually though, you’ve spent a suspiciously long time brushing Daryl’s hair, and you sit back on the bed.

“There! All done!” You cheer, before running your fingers through his hair and sighing. “Wow, not to toot my own horn but I did a damn good job.”

Something about you saying the word ‘toot’ amuses Daryl. He runs his own hand through his hair. “Yeah, ya did, thanks.”

“No prob’m!” You somewhat impersonate his accent from his response earlier, and Daryl turns around to playfully raise an eyebrow at you.

“You makin’ fun o’ me?”

You gasp dramatically. “Never! Your accent is incredibly sexy!” And then you’re smiling at him again, and Daryl’s avoiding your eyes.

“Ya drive me crazy girl, y’know that?” He shakes his head.

Your smile widens into an all-out beaming grin. “I know, it’s my absolute favourite pastime!”

“Anytime I try to drive ya crazy back, ya always one-up me.” Daryl says, sounding only mildly annoyed.

“It’s a gift!” You almost sing.

Daryl sighs, looking down at the bed, and you place your hand over his, being unable to cover it because his hands are so much bigger than yours.

“Hey, what’s on your mind?” You ask him, the teasing tone vanished from your voice and replaced by a caring one, a soft one, that is mostly reserved for Daryl.

“You, like ya always are.” He tells you, boldly meeting your eyes, his gaze flickering from them to your lips, and when you smile at him again, he cant hold back.

Daryl leans in, placing the lightest kiss you’ve ever felt on your lips before he pulls away to read your reaction. The corners of your smile crease into your rosy cheeks in the most beautiful way, and you wrap your arms around his neck to kiss him yourself. Daryl fully turns himself around, kneeling up with you so that he can wrap his arms around you. The kiss is more passionate than the two of you had anticipated; the connection between you having been ignored and put aside for so long that now you’re finally acting on it, it’s all either of you can think about. You start leaning back, and without breaking the kiss Daryl helps lie you down comfortably beneath him, using his forearms to hold himself above you. Your hands explore him, tugging gently at his hair as you wrap your legs around his waist and bring him closer to you, then running over his tensed biceps and making yourself sigh ever so quietly just at being able to touch him like this. Daryl growls against your lips, unable to put into words his emotional response to you appreciating his body in the way you are, in a way nobody ever has. His lips leave yours to place kisses on both of your rosy cheeks, then he creates a trail down your neck.

“Daryl.” You breathe blissfully, and he knows without a shadow of a doubt that he could’ve lost himself to that alone.

“Mm?” Daryl hums.

“I’d love to, but we shouldnt, not yet.”

He lifts his head to meet your eyes, and he nods. “I know.”

You hold his face in your hands. “We’ve got the rest of forever, there’s no rush.”

Daryl’s eyes stare into yours, searching for the answer to his question before he’s even asked it. “Ya wanna spend yer forever with me?”

You roll your eyes at him playfully. “Of course I do! I adore you, Daryl Dixon.”

His heart skips a beat. I love you, that’s the cliché, that’s the weighty, scary norm of a relationship milestone. But adore? You adore him?

Daryl rests his forehead against yours, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. Expressing his feelings through words is still a new concept to him, he cant quite muster up the courage to repeat your words to him, but he knows that whatever’s left unsaid, you’ll hear loud and clear.

“I’ll make it worth yer while.”

[crookednachogalaxy]

HI so im just gonna throw out a random idea and see if it sticks, cause i have Thoughts once again and i refuse to keep them to myself.

(also, this is long as hell, you have been warned.)

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

give me Mario and Luigi as a broken family. from the outside in they look almost perfect, the wacky brother duo who could do it all from princess saving to ghost hunting to plumbing.

Mario is the older brother, by 8 or so years, the extraverted and energetic hero who is always ready to go save the princess or lend a helping hand. he's the one who's got every situation under control, his confidence and happy demeanor bringing smiles to every toad around.

his younger brother Luigi, on the other hand, seems much more like an introverted homebody than anything else. he's the one staying behind when Mario goes on his big missions, helping to rebuild the Mushroom Kingdom after each kidnapping. he's the one doing most of the actual plumbing, his anxious and quiet personality keeping him distant from everyone. despite that, he's successfully faced off King Boo three separate times.

behind the outside facade, however, things aren't as shiny between the brothers as they may seem.

their upbringing in Brooklyn was rough. they spent most of their younger years homeless, and given their age gap, it was Mario who had to provide for Luigi in any way he could. that meant stealing food to eat, but also fighting those that wanted to harm them - and Luigi's trusting nature made it a common occurrence. it's due to this that Mario was forced to control both his and Luigi's life to the fullest, and this behaviour, born out of fear for their very lives, became so engrained in him that he never let it go even when they were finally safe after being transported to the mushroom kingdom.

for Luigi, this complete control from Mario meant that he was never really able to develop his own personality. he never went anywhere without Mario, never did anything without Mario; and while his brother liked to believe that he was keeping his baby brother safe in their little bubble, unknowing of the hardships they were facing, Luigi knew.

he only really noticed it when he started to attend school (after his brother learned a trade and managed to find a stable job). he saw it in the way the other children sneered at his worn clothes, heard it in the way they would whisper about him when they thought he couldn't hear. Luigi was never outright bullied, but he was definitely Othered by his peers, and coupling that with his brother's iron grip on everything he did, being unable to explore any part of himself, and the deep-seated paranoia that Mario let slip in any of their conversation messed with his head. it's how he became so anxious, so deeply afraid of everything around him, and how he ultimately ended up tying his worth as a person to his brother's existence. he was absolutely dependent on Mario.

when Luigi graduated, he learned the same trade his brother had, and worked at the same company as well. they continued this co-dependency for a few years; during one job they did together they were transported to the mushroom kingdom - Luigi in his early 20s and Mario approaching 30 - and they were taken in by Princess Peach.

they were offered a nice little house to live in, just outside the capital. their plumbing skills were helpful, as they quickly started to earn their keep. Mario especially became a well-liked figure among toads, being a master at hiding any negative emotion inside him to keep a calm and happy front. he made sure to be the one to gain every toad's favour, so that they wouldn't be forced out of the home they were given, and so that Luigi would, by pure association, never face any trouble here.

when the kidnappings started, Mario quickly became the mushroom kingdom's hero. his survival and fighting skills led to a quick rescue, and it paved the way for friendship between the Princess and the brothers (Peach being the first friend that Mario truly allowed Luigi to have, eventually extending that grace to Peach's cousin, Daisy).

Peach and Luigi's friendship had a slow beginning, with Luigi having close to no social skills or hobbies that they could talk about. but as she gained Mario's trust over time, he started allowing Luigi to be alone with her for short periods of time; and those were just what she needed to help him get to know himself.

it started with baking, and then later on cooking. sewing, piano, singing, painting - bit by bit she introduced the younger brother to various hobbies to help him find out what he liked to do. aside from these activities, the longer they spent together the deeper their friendship ran. Peach was a healing presence to be around, and Luigi proved himself to be a caring and immensely loyal friend to her.

their friendship also meant, however, that Luigi started insisting on joining Mario in his rescue missions, something Mario absolutely hated the thought of. it's too dangerous for you to go, he would say. she's my best friend, Mario, i can't take being left alone to worry.

Mario would always put his foot down in the end.

this power struggle between the two would only grow bigger and bigger. Luigi wanted more independence, to make his own decisions, and Mario always denied him, telling him that it was to keep him safe. arguments became more and more frequent, and they both became angrier at the other for their behaviour. it all came to a head when Luigi, furious at having been left behind again, left the house in the middle if the night following after his brother in an attempt to help with the rescue.

it took him much longer to traverse the plains towards the koopa kingdom than it did Mario; after all, he had never left Toad Town before, nor travelled this far on foot on only survival equipment. he did reach Bowser's castle eventually, finding a way to sneak in unseen. in the chaos that ensued within the castle, Luigi found a way to help his brother out but paid the price of being caught by him, too. it infuriated the older brother to no end.

the walk back to the mushroom kingdom was tense, and largely silent. Mario was refusing to look at anyone or even say a single word, only keeping a tight grip on Luigi's wrist as they walked. Luigi was deeply afraid of Mario's wrath in that moment, knowing he was in for it when they got back home. Peach tried to fill the silence somehow, keep both brothers distracted, but the older one stayed unreactive whereas any light conversation from the younger was short.

the two dropped the Princess off at the castle, and she watched pale and afraid as Mario dragged Luigi back to their home without so much as a goodbye.

the fight that started when the front door closed was the worst one yet. Mario was yelling, gesturing wildly as he reiterated the thongs he's told Luigi a million times over. his brother was trying to defend himself, for the first time truly trying to air out his grievances and get him to see his perspective. but Mario would barely let him get a word in, not even looking at him as he continued. it culminated in Mario telling Luigi in anger the very thing he had been afraid of his whole life: that he was to blame for what happened to them, that their hardships were his fault, that he was a burden to his brother.

it broke something inside of Luigi.

Mario continued screaming out every thought that came to his head, not noticing the way his brother had gone quiet, the way tears were rapidly streaming down his face. in fact, the older brother wouldn't notice it at all for the rest of the conversation, instead banishing his brother to his room to reflect on what he's done before leaving the house to cool off.

Luigi felt numb, and out of place. his brother had just told him he hated him (using different words) and then left him. it almost seemed like the walls were closing on him the longer he stayed in this room, suffocating him with every memory that existed here. it took him a few hours before he could move his stiff and tired body - but when he did it was dead of night, and Mario was still gone. the words he had said echoed through his head relentlessy. and as if he were on auto-pilot, he packed up a few sets of clothes, some non-perishables from the pantry, and whatever other thing his fried brain could think of. with only a short note, he left behind the life he knew.

Luigi ran away.

he didn't care to notice which way he went as he ran, all he wanted at that moment is to run as far away as possible and for as long as he could. he had to get away, no matter where the road took him. the road he had taken, however, was the one leading straight to the koopa kingdom; his brain having defaulted to the only familiar route it knew in the darkness.

and so the plumber found himself disheveled and dirty as he faced the koopa capital, having spent a night or two on unfamiliar roads with nightmares to boot. his eyes were bloodshot, dark circles under his eyes, and his body all kinds of exhausted.

he spent a few more nights camping just outside the town, during the day trying to get any odd job that would pay. he needed the money to afford a temporary stay and food, as his rations were depleting at a quicker rate than expected. it was hard to find those odd jobs, however, as no one seemed willing to trust a disheveled, dirty, unknown human who only appeared days ago. fair, he thought, not being able to really bring himself to care.

soldiers patrolling the border of the capital caught sight of him, and, after realizing he posed no threat, took pity on him. they brought him to the castle for an audience with the king, hoping that he may give this human a second chance at life that he so clearly needed.

when Luigi saw Bowser, he felt that familiar fear creep in. it lasted only for a single moment, as his brain decided to harshly remind him that Bowser was Mario's enemy, not his. and he couldn't take the Peach justification as he had left her behind without a second thought as well. so why should he care? it made no difference after all.

the plumber spoke to the king with utmost politeness, yet the numbness was easily recognizable by anyone who saw him. when Bowser, who evidently didn't see or remember him from the last rescue, questioned him, Luigi said he had nowhere to return to, no home to call his; that he was a plumber by trade looking for work anywhere it was available. Bowser offered him a deal: become the official castle plumber (and pick up some other skills along the way to be useful), and in exchange he would be given a staff bedroom and be fed 3 meals a day. Luigi accepted.

the first few weeks passed with no issue. the plumber did his work quietly and efficiently, staying respectful to any other caste staff and nodding to the King when they passed each other. one night, however, King Bowser found the plumber staring out at the rivers of lava in the dead of night, tears rolling down his cheeks and sniffling. when the koopa approached him, Luigi went back to that neutrality/apathy that Bowser was used to seeing from him; but their conversation, brief and guarded, brought out a tiny shred of understanding for the other. there was more to the man in green than the koopa had thought, and now he felt interest in getting to know him. Luigi, in turn, realized that Bowser may not be as monstrous or power hungry as he had heard before. the smallest of olive branches had been extended.

over the coming time, Bowser would be the one to make an effort for friendship/companionship. he would slowly start breaking down the walls that Luigi had built to protect himself from the world and his own thoughts. the process required a lot of patience, something Bowser struggles with, but seeing how Luigi treats him so normally, as if he were any other person and not a monster made it worth it.

meanwhile, Mario was going crazy in the mushroom kingdom. the first 2 days after their fight he had refused to enter Luigi's room, believing that he was in one of his moods and thats why he didn't respond to Mario's calls for food. by the third morning his anger had faded and worry set in. he knocked on his brother's door, gently calling to him that he wants to talk and apologize, and to come out and eat. when he received no reply, he opened the door himself to see the room empty, no sign of Luigi, his essentials packed and bed made. his blood ran cold as the realization swept in that his brother had run away.

in a panic, he ran to Peach's castle. when he found her, he barely got the words out of Luigi's disappearance before he had a panic attack, his head filling with self-loathing thoughts. he's not aware as he's taken to the infirmary and seen by the castle's doctor, and it takes him a while to come back down again. Peach is by his side the entire time, teary-eyed, as she watched over Mario and prayed for Luigi's safety.

for the first time in their lives, the brothers have been completely separated from one another. Mario spent his days in grief, staying in the castle, trying to break out every night to go find Luigi himself. Peach increased security around the castle, holding him back, saying that Mario would make no progress in the state he was in. she sent out several scout groups to search the entire kingdom for her friend, but the results stayed fruitless.

Luigi and Bowser's friendship deepens in the meantime. slowly but sure his walls start to come down, he showed more emotions, smiling and laughing just the smallest bit as he gets to know Bowser. he also met the King's son, Junior, whom he got along great with. things seemed to be looking up for him; he had found a new home, he was making new friends apart from the King as well, and the townspeople started welcoming him.

then, for the first time in a while, Bowser kidnapped Peach once more.

if truth be told, the day started like any other for Luigi. he was told by Kamek that Bowser was busy with his kingly duties, so he spent the morning helping the kitchen staff prep for lunch and then read a book in the library. by early afternoon, Junior had come looking for him to play a while, and after that Luigi went into the city for a small job or two, exchanging pleasantries with the citizens of the capital. by the time he was back in the castle, the day was over and the prince was asleep. he came across the King by complete accident, greeting him as he usually did when both he and Bowser froze at the heartbreaking cry of Luigi's name.

hesitantly looking up at the cage he hadn't seen before, he saw a person he thought he'd never see again. in that cage stood Peach, holding on tightly to the bars as she cried. Luigi's small whisper of Peachie...? told Bowser all he needed to know in that moment. when the plumber started walking towards the cage, picking up speed with every step and reaching for it, Bowser quietly opened and lowered the cage. he watched in shock and surprise as the Princess threw herself at the plumber, sobbing, and told him how worried she was about him, how glad she was that he was safe. it took him a moment to react, but when he did, Luigi broke down completely in her arms, both sinking to the ground in their embrace.

Kamek ended up leading them all to the study to talk it out. Luigi had clammed up again, refusing to talk to Bowser or Peach. Bowser put a gentle hand to Luigi's back; when he hesitantly looked up at the koopa, he saw no sign of betrayal, or hurt. just gentle concern, and a quiet promise of i'm here. he explained to them both the fight he had with Mario, how he had come to the koopa kingdom and how he found his place here. all Peach cared to know was if he was safe and happy. Luigi's affirmation of that had Bowser happier than he wanted to admit. out of that conversation also came the reason Bowser was kidnapping the princess in the first place; that being resources. the vulnerability of that conversation and Luigi's question of helping the koopa kingdom has Peach and Bowser agreeing to start peace negotiations.

as always, Mario came to rescue Peach. upon Luigi's insistence, she didn't tell Mario that his brother was there, and she did her best to try and get Luigi's perspective through his head - hoping that eventually the brothers could meet again and work out their issues. for now, she could only see her dear friend when negotiations were happening.

on the koopa end of things, that vulnerability from the conversation with peach paved the way for a deeper relationship between Bowser and Luigi. things developed slowly between them, as the plumber would need time before he can truly trust again, but the affection and the intentions were there. they were both happy to explore this new dynamic at a slow pace, both wanting to do right by the other. very fluffy.

when Luigi felt ready for it, he asked Daisy to tell his brother that he was well. he didn't want to reveal his location, or say anything else; but he was starting to heal, and a part of him missed his brother dearly, and so he figured letting him know hey, i'm okay, and when i'm ready for it i'll see you again was alright. when Daisy delivered the message per phone call, Mario was frantic to know more, but Peach and Daisy both talked him down. Mario was slowly starting to accept that he had to go at Luigi's pace, let him make his own decisions. it pained him, but he agreed. he told Daisy to tell Luigi that he was glad he was well, and that he would wait.

the response from his brother had Luigi in shambles for a day, one part happy that his brother was finally coming around and the other furious that it took him running away for it to happen. Bowser stayed beside him throughout that day, offering his comfort to his sweetheart.

and so, the years started passing. peace was signed between the two kingdoms, and small steps were taken every once in a while by the brothers to slowly repair their relationship. it started with the passing of messages through Daisy, and it would turn into letters updating the other on their lives. Mario told Luigi that he was with Peach, and in turn Luigi was honest about his relationship with Bowser (that one took Mario a while to process, but he was learning to let go of that need for control; Luigi told him he was happy and that's all that mattered).

the first time they meet in person again is a few years after their fight and the peace treaty. Peach and Mario made their way to the koopa kingdom on Luigi's invitation, and the reunion in the throne room was tense at first. Peach and Bowser both kept watch over the brothers, ready to step in at any moment.

the brothers themselves were frozen in place, staring at one another. it felt so foreign to stand in front of each other, after years apart and limited communication. Mario took the first steps, placing a hesitant hand to Luigi's cheek. when he responded to the soft call of his name, both brothers hugged each other tightly, crying openly and loudly. over the two days that he and Peach were in the koopa kingdom, that is all Mario and Luigi did - no words were exchanged between them, but they did not let go of the other, catching up on the lost affection.

it would take many more years for their relationship to become "normal" again. many arguments, periods of no contact, and apologies. they were both healing from a lifetime of hurt at their own paces, but ultimately they both made the effort to repair their relationship. when Mario and Peach married, Luigi was there as best man, and the same was said for Luigi and Bowser's wedding. Junior would eventually come to adore his uncle Mario, and his children would enjoy many vacations in the koopa kingdom with uncle Luigi. they both chose different paths for themselves, but what mattered most was that they both chose a path of love and healing, one that they could walk together in time.

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

so that's it i guess. now that i've written it out, this turned into a whole ass fic idea when that wasn't the case originally, CLEARLY i don't know how to be concise. oh well.

if anyone wants to pick this up, feel free! just let me know if you do something with it because i wanna see the results of it :D

[love13tter]

AVATAR TWOW RECS

⭑ i am no longer updating this anymore !

⭑ im keeping this pinned until i make a new recs post

⭑ i read sfw & nsfw works . . . mdni with nsfw works

⭑ dont forget to send much love to all these authors :P

please note that some of these works have heavy topics: read the warnings b4 u read plspls

[❕] nsfw / smut ,, [🩹] suggestive ,, [🗯] angst ,, [☃️] fluff ,, [🐰] personal faves

➷ loverboy #1 neteyam te suli tsyeyk'itan

all for you , part two ✶ 30.2k, e2l, grumpy x sunshine ⊹ 🗯☃️

When Quaritch attacks the Ta’unui water clan looking for Jake Sully, the clan’s Tsahik forces her younger sister, Y/N, to escape and seek refuge from the Metkayina clan. As Y/N deals with the trauma of losing her home, she discovers that she isn’t the only outlander in the village. She develops conflicted feelings for Neteyam but the tensions grow when Y/N finds out that Neteyam is the son of Jake Sully - the man she hates. 

worthy pt 2 ✶ 4.3k, aged up ⊹ 🗯☃️ [❕]

You and Neteyam argued before he left for his 3-day hunt. After he arrived back to the reef, he discovered you were never waiting for him. He finds you unbraiding your hair near a tide pool and decides to offer his help.

🐰 soft as clouds ✶ 6.3k, non wellknown!reader, wingwoman baby tukie ! ⊹ ☃️

You weren't well known in the clan, and when you become friends with Tuk, no one believes her.

hide and peak ✶ 3.5k, aged up, mates, sub teyam, exhibition ⊹ 🗯☃️ [❕]

Neteyam is oblivious to flirting from other females. so, reader decides to make it a point to show everyone neteyam's is theirs.

quiet love ✶ 6.3k, insecure!reader ⊹ 🗯☃️

You didn’t see the way Neteyam was longing for you, too caught up in why it was impossible anyway. But he was insistent that you were the one he wanted. 

how they would react to you dressing up for them (hcs) ✶ 1.7k, aged up ⊹ ☃️🩹

NETEYAM - already compliments you everyday, like smothers you in them to the point where it’s more common than hearing your name. he can’t get enough of you. the biggest smile comes onto his face when he sees you, immediately forgetting how tired he had been from his responsibilities earlier. you’re like a breath of fresh air to him and he can’t believe how lucky he got with you.

uncomfortable ✶ 1.7k, aged up, lil bit of jealousy ⊹ 🗯☃️

Being a hunter provided you with so much purpose. You provided food, safety, pelts, strength and everything in-between to your clan. And in turn they provided you with love and support. You had felt this way since you were eighteen and finished the rites of the hunter, since you technically became an Omaticayan woman. Being a spoter in the war party provided you so much more. You felt adrenaline, you felt responsible for all your brothers and sisters in the fight. You felt like you were personally making a difference against the enemy. And besides, by taking this life path you were able to meet your best friend. 

🐰 me and you pt 2 ✶ 3k, aged up, teyam is so attractive here ⊹ ☃️ [❕]

no summary provided — but trust me when i say this is the hottest thing i've read all year. reader & teyam's banter is unmatched and they're so cute.

do you still love me? ✶ 2k, aged up, argument, misunderstanding-ish ⊹ 🗯☃️

You and Neteyam’s family has stayed the same for many years, only one daughter who was now 4. But you fear that Neteyam doesn’t want more, scared he had fallen out of love with you after the birth.

fix me ✶ 4.1k, mentions of blood, made by one of my fav people on here ⊹ ☃️

no summary provided — trusttttttt me, she never disappoints !!!!!! this fulfilled everything i have ever wished for and man i love reading charas in love.

different ✶ 4.9k, TUKIE !!!! my babie taking my heart again, a bit of rude remarks towards reader :(, loved the idea of half omatikaya & half metkayina ⊹ 🗯☃️

Request — Hiii Do you write for Avatar? Could you do something where reader is both omatikayan and metkayina (mixed) and she’s living with the metkayina when the Sully family comes? Maybe do a slow burn between reader and Neteyam? The rest is up to you!

(new!) 🐰 human stuff ✶ 2.3k, human!reader, revolves around readers' period, HE GETS FED CHIPS. hope that says enough thank yew ⊹ ☃️

the one where a confused na’vi teenager tries to comfort his human friend while she’s on her period.

➷ loverboy #2 lo'ak te suli tsyeyk'itan

the moon, the stars and his life ✶ 2.4k, aged up, possesive/jealous lo'ak ⊹ [❕]

Lo‘ak didn’t know what he did to deserve such a blessing in the shape of you. Did he even deserve it? He doubts it. You were just so perfect, from the top of your head to your cute little toes and the tip of your tail. Perfect. Which is why it hurts even more, to hear those Metkayina boys talk about him like this to you...

brat ✶ 2.7k, aged up, mean dom!lo'ak ⊹ [❕]

Lo'ak is a brat tamer, what can I say?

(new!) 🐰 reckless (but helpful) ✶ 2.4k, OLDER SISTER READER OHMYGOODDODFDF, shes so badass ugh im in love, loak is so enthusiastic its so cute seeing him not being scolded by his parents (smh i hate that he does) ⊹ ☃️

three avatars dead, one injured big sister, and two angry parents waiting at home. what could go wrong?

➷ lovers #3 sully family

the sully's stick together ✶ 3.2k, hurt/comfort, i need to be a sully NOW ⊹ 🗯☃️

becoming one with the metkayina’s has not been an easy task. as everyone continues to settle in their own ways, your family begins to grow more worried about your well-being. this isn’t the sully they know. you’re withdrawn, and quiet. what better way to fix that than to seek you out when you least expect it?

too late ✶ 3.6k, reader is 6 feet under , suicidal thoughts + actual suicide ⊹ 🗯

they loved you when it was too late. 

parts of my heart ✶ 2.3k, mama neytiri T_T, ofcourse my tukie is here ⊹ ☃️

A look at the Sully children through the loving eyes of Neytiri, and how you as the oldest daughter fit into this puzzle piece. Also a slight rediscovery of Neytiri and Jake’s relationship after the war cause it’s not talked about enough.

by the time you're hearing this i'll already be gone ✶ 4.9k, bittersweet ending ⊹ 🗯☃️

all you wanted was to not be the family disappointment.

(new!) 🐰 when the time comes , part two ✶ 6 / 7.5k, theres war and violence, YN HAS A LOVE INTEREST ANDHES SOOO CUTE OMD !! he has a lil dickhead slip up tho but it gets fixed <3 ⊹ 🗯☃️

1: IN WHICH the future Tsahik of the Omaticaya and oldest daughter of Jake and Neytiri, Y/N has always carried the heavy weight of future duties. Her trouble making antics can only aggravate her relationship her family...and somehow drive her to meet a certain grumpy Omaticayan.

2: IN WHICH the humans come for your father’s neck again, as you and your family fight alongside him. When the sky people come back to destroy Pandora again, will you be able to save your family and potential lover?

[momentaryescape]

The Cut That Always Bleeds

Dean Winchester x Reader Warnings: Swearing Word Count: 1224

“Hey, Dean! I missed you! How was the hunt?” You were so happy for Dean to be home. For the past week Dean and Sam had been on a hunt a few states away, and while it was normal for them to be gone you still never got used to him being away all the time.

“It was normal. We got there, figured out the problem, and handled it.” Dean seemed annoyed. He always told you about the case when he got back.  

“Dean, are you okay?” Your cheerful tone is now soft.

“Im fine” His voice was stern.

“Are you sure? Dean, can you talk to me.”

“I SAID IM FINE Y/N DROP IT!” He stood up and turned towards you.

“WHAT THE FUCK DEAN? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU I WAS JUST TRYING TO BE A GOOD GIRLFRIEND WHY THE HELL ARE YOU YELLING AT ME?” You were holding back tears. 

“BECAUSE YOU ARE NAGGING AT ME. I SAID IT WENT FINE! JUST DROP IT. GOD YOU ALWAYS DO THIS” 

“DO WHAT? CARE ABOUT YOU? ABOUT HOW YOU ARE AFTER A HUNT? DEAN YOU TOLD ME HOW DRAINING THEY CAN BE. SO FORGIVE ME FOR WANTING TO BE THERE FOR YOU.”

“WHAT IF I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE THERE FOR ME? WHAT IF I DON’T WANT YOU TO CARE!”

“WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN DEAN? HUH? LAY IT UR FOR ME. TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT?”

“I want you to leave y/n.” 

“W-What”

“I want you to leave. I want you to walk away. Because I don’t want this anymore. I dont love you anymore.”

You feel quiet. You didn't know how to feel. In a matter of minutes your world shattered. You loved him, but he didnt love you. Tears pooled in your eyes. You walked past him and out of your once shared room. He didn't get to see you cry. 

~~~~~~~~~~

You had left without grabbing anything. You cried until I couldn't cry anymore. After walking for a while you realized how late it was getting. Finding a phonebooth you called Sam. Honestly you didn't want to go back to the hotel, but you knew that you needed to grab your things.

“Hello?”

“Hey Sam.”

“Y/n? Where have you been? We haven't been able to find you” Panic was clear in his voice.

“I left. I couldn't be around Dean. Well, more like he didn't want me around.” Your voice was more like a whisper.

“What? Y/n Dean loves you, why would you say that?”

“Because he said it to me. He said “I don't love you anymore” then told me he didn't want me.``

“He What?”

“Sam, can we do this later? Please just come get me”

“Yeah, just tell me where you are.” 

You knew that as soon as you got back to the hotel you would have to face Dean. Sam offered to get your stuff for you, but you knew you might have to face him no matter what. So you bit the bullet and went in yourself.

Dean wasn’t in the room when you got back. You said a silent prayer to be alone. When you had everything packed you sat down for a minute. Your head hung low, and your shoulders slumped. Tears pricked in your eyes again. 

It was really over. Your dean was no longer yours. All those years you followed him on the hunt. When he would hold you and whisper that everything would be okay “A pretty line that I adore” you thought to yourself. Maybe it has all really been a lie. Maybe Dean had only ever wanted you for nights when he needed a distraction. But that wasn’t who Dean was. Yes he had his years where he never wanted consistency. He would have a different girl every night. 

The door opened and your breath hitched. Dean. You felt his presence in the room. A feeling you used to love, now felt like a shot in the heart. You wanted to keep your head down, knowing that if you looked at him that you wouldn’t be able to hold back the tears. But you knew you would need to leave, and as much as you wanted to stay you knew you couldn't. Standing up you do your best to keep your eyes from looking into his.

“I didn't think you would be back yet. Sorry.” Your voice was low, barely above a whisper.

“Y/n can I talk to you?” His voice matched yours. Low, as if something bad would happen if he spoke any louder.

“What is there to talk about Dean? You said what you needed to say already.” You felt tears pricking your eyes again.

“No I didn’t” His voice was no longer a whisper. 

“What do you mean? You told me you didn't want me anymore. That you didn't love me. What more do you have to say?” Your cheeks were getting heated, tears staining your cheeks.

“Please just hear me out” He walked towards you, now standing right infront of you leaving a small gap. “First and foremost, I do love you, and I don't ever want you to leave. You are my everything. And I'm scared that I will lose you. Everytime I go on a hunt I risk not returning. And that doesn't scare me. But the thought of something happening to you does. I saw what happened to Sam when Jess died. And I am terrified that something will come after you. Because of me you will end up hurt.” You looked up to see Dean looking back at you. You had never really seen him cry. But tears were staining his cheeks like they had yours.

“I know it's not an excuse. I never should have said those things to you. But I thought that pushing you away would make it easier. But knowing I caused you to hurt was worse than whatever I will ever face. I went out and killed monsters but turned around and became one. Y/n I love you. Please believe me. I know I don't deserve a second chance but please baby girl. I will do anything to prove that I love you, and that I will never leave you again.” His voice cracked as he begged you to forgive him.

Taking a step forward you wrap your arms around his waist. He froze for a second before his arms found their way around you too. You stood there for god knows how long before you looked up at him. He brings his hand to your face and softly wipes the tears away. You leaned into his touch. He presses a kiss to your forehead before pulling you close again

Your hands make their way to his hair, lacing your fingers in it. Pulling his face close to yours your lips meet with his. You pull on his hair slightly making him moan into the kiss. When you finally pull apart you look into his eyes, seeing the love and guilt that are deep behind them.

“ I take it you're willing to give me that second chance?” Hope fills his voice.

“Yes, but I swear to god Dean Winchester if you ever pull anything like that again I will send Bobby after your ass.” Your voice was stern but you couldn't help but smile at him.

"Understood. I love you y/n" His smile makes you to smile back

"I love you too." Your hunter who was a dumbass but that you loved more than life itself was in your arms. A feeling you never wanted to be without. No matter what happened you knew that no matter what, all you needed was Dean and you would be okay.

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

Dadplier having his kid y/n read to him when they hear him have a nightmare, cause they know stories can help distract you from scary things, at least that's what he taught them when they were younger. He'd probably hold them close after they finish reading cause he just wants the company and cuddles of his baby, I mean they're his little star and the only person he has left.

Okay this is so cute im crying and im gonna make this a fic bc AUGH you got me soft for the one (1) ego we see at the beginning. [Y/n] will be a teenager in this case

.......

Usually, you weren't one to sneak out in the middle of the night, but you just had to this one time.

Your friends got tickets for a horror movie about space that was playing late, starting just an hour after your dad goes to bed. You loved all things space-related so obviously you couldn't miss it. You'd feel bad if you did.

So you did what most teenagers would do: join their friends.

You saw the movie and managed to get back home in one piece around 2AM. 

Now your final task was getting into pajamas and hoping your dad wouldn't notice.

Not that you were afraid he'd get mad. Oh no. He never got upset with you, even when things in the family got...difficult, and it ended with only you two left in the house. 

You’d just feel really guilty if you accidentally woke him up.

As you quietly snuck past his room, you tensed as you heard him mumbling something, pausing as you realized it was your name

‘Damn it....maybe he’s just dreaming-?’

“No..[y/n]..I-I’m sorry. I can be better! I promise! I can be...!! No..don’t leave me..please...[Y/N]!!!”

You jumped a bit as you heard him scream, before it all went silent. ‘Or having a nightmare..’ You concluded, keeping your ear to the door for a brief moment. 

That’s when you heard..a sob?

Part of you wanted to quickly go change and come back, yet you wanted to immediately comfort your dad--just like he’s done all those years ago for you when you had nightmares. No matter how late into the night, he was always there for you when you needed him most.

Why shouldn’t you return the favor? You’ll risk getting caught, but eh..you’ll take your chances.

“Dad?” Gently knocking on the door, you pushed it open and saw him sitting up in bed, a hand over his mouth as he took shaky breaths, trying to calm himself down. “You had a nightmare?”

Stan looked up, relieved to see you--his child, his star--in the doorway, perfectly okay. He sniffled and nodded, barely able to form words as anything he attempted to say would get him so choked up.

“You need anything? Maybe uh..a story to distract you?”

Seeing him nod a second time, you went over to the bookshelf in his room, turning on the lamplight. You sifted through the various novels, finding a scary one about an old pizzeria with haunted robots, and another lighthearted one about an animatronic bear befriending a lonely boy.

You chose the latter, climbing onto the bed and joining your father’s side as you showed him the cover. “I think this one about an unlikely friendship will help.”

He smiled in agreement, putting an arm around you. You opened the book and started reading, doing your best impressions of the robot bear and the kid.

“...and as they sat atop the hill and watched the sunrise, they smiled. They didn’t know what would come next, but they knew one thing: They both survived the night at Freddy’s.” You closed the book, looking to Stan and seeing the tears in his eyes. “Did..I do okay?”

“Y-You did..amazing, kiddo. Thank you.” He hugged you closely. “I..hardly remember what I even dreamed about. You sure are taking after your old man.”

“Yeah.” You lightly chuckled. “I mean, you always taught me that stories were the best distractions. Will you..be okay going back to sleep now?”

For a moment he was quiet, still keeping you in his hold. You put the book on the nightstand and sighed. Oh, how the roles have reversed. “You want me to stay?”

Again, he nodded. “S-Sorry, I know you’re not used to seeing me like this, but...y-you’re a good kid, [y/n]. You’ve always been so good and...I want you to remember that.” A few tears slipped from his eyes, but he was quick to wipe them away. “Look at me, being so weepy over a silly dream..”

“It’s okay, dad.” You hugged him. “I promise I’ll always be here for you. I won’t leave.”

He was touched by your words, his heart melting as all fears regarding his nightmare had left.  Of course he knew they weren’t real, but it’s good hearing you reassure him you didn’t hate him.

You’re all he has left, and he wants to treasure you as long as he can.

“Thank you, my little star.”

[vinnie2757]

12 for cidshera and 5 for vincrecia!

12: Things you said when you thought I was asleep I'm here im here ive done it finally

‘Hey, you awake?’

Shera had been about to drift, in that in-between where there are no steady thoughts occupying her brain, but awareness lingers around the edges, keeps her tethered. She’s aware of the burble in the pipes, the sound of water, the soft wheeze of breath. He’s overdone it this week, desperate to prove himself, desperate to help. Too many people need help, and she can’t help but ache at their involvement. A city has been destroyed, people’s lives, literal and figurative, consumed by a single moment. Barret had talked of the plate dropping, of the devastation then, but to see the state of Midgar now, it’s a whole new ball game. There is empty space where there should be laughter, silence where there should be homes. He had not wanted her to come, had wanted her to stay in Rocket Town and manage things there, but she was never going to stay, not when there were jobs to do.

She didn’t spend years of her life losing her fingerprints to electric shocks to not help get lights back on. And she certainly didn’t spend years of her life listening to his gripes to not pull her weight when it was needed most. He’s been intolerable about it, for the most part, cursing and moaning about the way Reeve’s men go about the rebuild, about how they get in his way, about how they don’t just let her get in the gaps in the wall and yank the cables, about the way everything is so metallic. Understandable; every window of every building in Rocket Town opens to a green view, but Midgar, and now this new city springing up in its ashes, they’re stone and steel and grim. Midgar had always been grim, but this is something else.

So, no, she’s awake still. She could open her eyes, could ask him what he wants, but something steadies her, a hand on her arm, gentle pressure on her nape. Stay. Wait.

‘Huh,’ he breathes, the wheeze of an oncoming cough. Too much dust in the air, too many metal filings. ‘You know. I never did say thank you.’

For what, she wants to ask, but stays there, still, breathing in, and out. Trying to keep it steady, regular. He’s observant, too observant, but he doesn’t see a single thing half the time.

Warmth hovers about her arm for a moment; had he gone to reach for her? He’s getting better about touching her now, about being able to brush her hair back, stroke her arm, hold her hand, pull her in for a kiss that makes her toes curl.

‘I ain’t in for all that planet shit, ‘cept that she needed us. She was a sick child, and we had to cut the sickness out, and we did that. We did what we did, and I think she’s grateful for that. You’re here, that has to mean something.’

The back of his fingers settle on her arm then, just a moment, brush against a mostly-healed scrape, the blue of the bruise faint and mostly yellow.

‘I don’t believe in fate or none of that shite. There ain’t nothing controlling us ‘cept us. But. Sometimes, I look at you and think you were put in my way on purpose.’

She almost laughs, but manages to force it into a sigh, curls her spine so she sinks deeper into the cushions, hopes it looks like she’s settling into a deeper sleep. The air lingers, the silence hanging.

‘I should have told you I loved you sooner,’ he admits, quiet. ‘When I saw you that first time. I should have said. You deserved that. To know. Instead, I made you wait, and I treated you poorly for it. I was – I was – I was scared, I guess. You obviously knew who I was, and I – I know what I was then. I wasn’t that poster, I hadn’t ever been that poster. I guess – I disappointed Dad until the day he died, and I guess I didn’t want to disappoint you, too.’

Her tongue is heavy in her mouth, carrying the weight of words she wants to tell him, to blurt out at a volume indecent for the silence of the room. He’d dragged the couch their hotel room had provided, inexplicably, given that there was no table except the dresser, over to the balcony doors, so that they could look out over the stars without being in the rain that had threatened to break throughout the evening. It’s where they’d sat most of the evening after eating. She’d read a manual, he’d posted nonsense in the group chat on his PHS and then thrown it aside and ignored its repeated beeping, because Yuffie had broken her foot and the potion had made her violently sick, so she had nothing better to do. She’d been curled into one end, her feet in the middle, and he’d sat there staring at the sky, his hand warm on her ankle. Somewhere in the middle, he’d gotten up to smoke, and she’d begun to drift.

And it’s here he professes these things to her, this murmured desire to do right by her, by the planet, by the man he could never be.

‘Ah, whatever, it’s what it is. You’re still here, even though I’ve been a complete jackass, and I’m grateful for that. Looking at those poor fuckers out there, I guess I should be more grateful. We’ve got more than most people.’ He clucks his tongue. ‘I love you, you know. Even though I’m not the man I should have been then, I love you.’

He falls silent then, never has been good at the emotional stuff. For a minute, two, he just breathes, and she can feel the weight of his gaze. She fights the urge to yawn.

‘Fuck, guess I should put you to bed. You’ll only whinge about a sore neck in the morning, and I ain’t taking the blame.’

This is a lie; Shera does not, as a rule, complain, and he knows it.

A hand touches her knee, her shoulder, and then she’s weightless, cradled close in the tea-and-smoke smell of his t-shirt. There is no way to pretend to be asleep now, his grip too tight and too loose, and the movement too jerky, his own neck sore from lifting the sheet metal.

‘Love you,’ she murmurs, soft, to his pulse, hand against his collar, the brush of cotton and warmth of skin.

‘Go the fuck to sleep,’ he murmurs back, pressing a kiss to her crown.

[wolfswitcheryanimations]

I apologize for the fact that I’m probably going to flood your inbox with these questions, but as a fellow autistic obsessed with the Captain Laserhawk show, I am eating this like the sushi on the cow hybrid. (No sexual implications intended. I am aro ace.)

Could you give some dialogue examples for Bullfrog?

Does he pray a lot, due to the cult-raised mindset?

Is the god of the cult Cursa? (From Mario Rabbids Sparks of Hope.)

And what are the other characters like?

Listen pal, don't stop, you're just inspiring me to make more of this au!

As for your questions...

This AU's bullfrog is very stoic, complementing his closed-off nature, and whenever he is in a conversation, he's blunt, straightforward, and even a bit sassy at times. Think the Spy from TF2, but with less 'your mom' jokes.

(And yes, he does pray a lot.)

As for examples:

"Dear Polokus, give me strength" (Polokus used here as a placeholder)

"I do not see why zhis would be necessary for our mission.."

"Please, stay quiet, unless you WANT to get captured."

"...What have I done wrong?"

I... haven't played SoH yet (or the assassin creed games. Or BGAE. im barely getting past rayman 1, so keep that in mind), so IDK what Cursa is like. Will look her up tho!

As for the others, do you mean Dolph and Ramon? Or Sarah, Jade, Pey'r and Sam? I'll put some little descriptions of them down, just in case.

Dolph: Swave and sweet-talking newscaster, ex-soldier, and main face of Eden. Was chosen to be that face after getting his shit wrecked in the Wasteland War. Tries to act more extroverted and welcoming than he actually is. Has PTSD.

Ramon: Friendly albiet Trigger-Happy Vigilante that is well know through the lower castes of Eden as a Hero. Unlike Canon, he realised Eden's lies almost immediately and remembers a lot about Dimension X, and is deeply troubled about not being able to save his home.

Sarah: Former Eden soldier highly praised for her strategies and fighting prowess until she leaked hundreds upon hundreds of documents and pictures of Eden's... less palpatable actions. Still is trying her best to expose Eden for what it is. Quiet and uptight, but loyal to a fault and always willing to save people (unlike canon)

Sam: A former US military soldier and spy, like in canon, but he never got betrayed by Sarah and has worked with the resistance for many many years. Straightforward and militaristic in thinking, he has dedicated his life fighting against Eden, just like when he was working for America. He and Sarah were recently captured after trying to expose a major hybrid trafficking ring managed by Cody Rhodes.

The Monitor (Jade): Previously a Eden News journalist, Sarah has become a large part of Eden's survelliance system, monitoring every nook and cranny for any possible crime against Eden and protect his daughter. Luckily, this has granted her the ability to effectively "hide" people from Eden's panopticon, a power that she uses to set up a certain team..

Pey'r: A fighter for Hybrid Rights, an important soldier in the Wasteland War and a very well trained soldier to boot, Pey'r had adopted Jade when she was extremely young, after seeing her parents, two close friends of his, die in the middle of a crossfire. Even after Jade recorded him hiding outlaws from Eden when she was young, he still partly hoped, that one day, his daughter would help him with his work, even after he died.

(This is all subject to change, yadda yadda, at least Pey'r's not in love with his daughter now)

(Also sorry for the late reply! Had to think a lot about these questions.)