#but yeah it’s just something to keep in mind to avoid panic later down the road

[starbylers]

That ring is a very small thing, but I feel like if that was a tiny Byler detail we wouldn’t think of it as meaningless. It could very well be that El just kept it on because she still loves him as a person and it’s sentimental to her, or that it’s not made important enough to symbolise anything storywise and was just a nice gift, but regardless I don’t think a post time skip break up is an impossibility. I understand why it might seem worrying or tedious but I think we have to remember that Mlvn has a track record of like…not ending things even when it’s demonstrated to them repeatedly why they don’t work together? I mean it starts with the lying & drama of s3 that they both forget about without addressing after El says ‘I love you’. It continues in s4 with El lying to Mike, their awful poorly communicated argument & Mike’s insecurities that he discussed with Will instead of El, which were again all unaddressed between Mlvn and painted over by Mike this time being the one to say ‘I love you’.

Mike ended s4 by basically regressing in his conformity arc. Maybe this is because I don’t think Mike consciously lied (at least not completely, I think he sensed something didn’t feel right) in the monologue, but where we left his arc in s4…the guy was fighting for his life to hold onto straightness and not lose El. El who also regressed in her independence arc when she relied on Mike to give her power (and ended up losing). Will also regressed, in deciding to lie to Mike instead of speak his truth. I know it might seem to us like ‘they are so clearly over what reason is there for them to stay together?’ but I think it’s possible we are further ahead in that realisation than the characters themselves. Them still being together is definitely tiring because we all know they are not going to work out, and we want to get to the part of the story we’ve been waiting for (aka Byler) as soon as possible. But that sense of inevitability/it being over to us doesn’t necessarily mean the characters themselves have reached their breaking point yet. We also know the painting plot is essentially the Benverly poem plot from IT, and Bev doesn’t find out that Ben wrote it until part 2 literally 27 years later lol.

There are so many paths they could take. Maybe they get into a Karen/Ted-esque dynamic where they’re just staying together and going through the motions. Maybe they fight, even more and worse than before. Maybe it has to get worse before they finally break it off and become friends, and then it gets better. Maybe they’re on-off during the skip. Maybe during that time Mike and Will get extremely close, closer than they’ve ever been. Maybe things between them start to feel like what Mike isn’t feeling with El, and that’s how he knows he has to end it. Maybe Will even dates someone else during the skip or temporarily ‘gets over’ Mike so it’s not like he’s spending years just pining. Maybe Mike and Will drift again, and then post skip they are brought back together and Mike gets hit with all the feelings he’s been missing and realises he needs to leave El. Or maybe he leaves her and the Will realisation comes after. Maybe it’s less clear cut than that. We have no clue. I think it has potential to be done well though.

For all we know they could literally break up as early as episode 2/3 right after the skip, which gives plenty of time for single Mike Byler build up. Remember we also don’t know the time span of the entire season.

I mean it could still be a pre-skip break up who knows, I just think it’s a possibility we should be somewhat prepared for and open to. I don’t think it should be written off entirely as either bad writing or it meaning Byler can’t/won’t happen. I’m personally going into s5 with no expectations except complete confidence in Byler being the endgame :)

[astonmartingf]

YOU'VE BEEN ON MY MIND—

— co-parenting with alonso has been smooth sailing, until he starts dropping hints that he wants to be with you again

P7 ★ WHEN IN DOUBT, BLAME ALPINE

amgf ahhh it's sad, but we're getting there, because all things must come to an end. honestly i had a hard time writing this because how do i end things and let go of them? it's a struggle really but we work with it. like always, enjoy this chapter 👍

previous ★ masterlist ★ next

You stand still, silence surrounding the kitchen. There were no more words left to say, as they all left your mouth in utter silence. You watch Ales' from the baby monitor set on the kitchen island, sleeping in peace— content, calm, without a worry of the world.

You'd do everything for your son, you'd do anything for this family, and what Alonso did— you couldn't let it pass by you.

The familiar squeak of the front door hinges swept you off your own thoughts. Staring at the tiled walls in the kitchen, you rely on your senses anticipating Fernando as his shadows inch closer to yours.

"Hey."

Jerking from the warm touch of his palms against your cold shoulder. You stand still, Fernando presses his weight on your back, pulling you in an embrace, leaving soft kisses from your neck trailing down to your shoulders. You sigh in content, hoping and praying to forget as you blissfully ignore the slowly building concerns looming over your head.

"Amor, how was your day?"

You look over the ceiling, biting your lip to alleviate the anger filling up your thoughts. Tongue in cheek, you gather up some form of courage to calmly get through the upcoming conversation without shouting or bursting into tears. You give him the benefit of the doubt though, maybe they were just run of the mill rumors to form clicks for views.

"Have you seen my messages?" You gulp down your sighs, surprised at the shaky tone of your own voice. You wanted more than to be out of this conversation, as the constant feeling bubbling inside you loomed heavier and heavier, waiting in anticipation at the culmination of your emotions, at your poor attempts at keeping them at bay.

"I haven't yet, why? Did you want me to buy something for Ales?" You turn around stopping him from reading your message, wanting to avoid the conversation for a later time, choosing to drown in the burden of your own thoughts.

Fernando was a beat earlier than you— you panic as the smile in his eyes fell at a glance of your message.

"You knew?" Your brows furrowed, fully taking in his words, "I knew? Is it true? Are you racing again?"

Fernando's eyes looked over yours, "Isn't this exciting? I never thought I would have a chance to race again, but they offered and I accepted it."

You stumble backwards, at a loss for words. And slowly, the thoughts clouding in your head were becoming a reality.

Fernando catches your silence and reluctance to the news, pulling away from you, his hands cup the apples of your cheeks leaving you no choice to look at him.

"Are you not happy? This is good isn't it?"

You stare at his eyes, shining in excitement at the thought of racing once more. The idea never even entered your head, you never thought that Fernando would want to get back to racing.

You gulp the bile forming to jump out your throat, nodding your head— not trusting your own words. "Yeah. It's good to be back Fer."

yourusername 11/21/2021

liked by nicorosberg and 21 others

yourusername beach day with uncle nico is a must in monaco

"YN talk to me, why can't we be together? You think I'll just accept this? Explain to me please, tell me where I did you wrong. What did I do? Is this about racing? Again?" Fernando runs to catch you in your shared bedroom, trying to keep up with the pace you set, sliding inside before you ought to close the door on him.

You turn around, mouth hanging wide, "Again? Is that all you think about? Racing? What about our family? You didn't even tell me about your choice, what was I supposed to say to you? You already made the decision for yourself!"

Fernando scoffs at your words, "You should've said you didn't like it! Why are you blaming me for your lack of communication?"

"You're one to talk about communication, you didn't bother telling me, I was blindsided Fer! One second I thought we'd live like a normal family and the next you're back racing every other week and you're leaving us behind!" You throw your hands in frustration and confusion as you try to get your point across to him.

Fernando put his palms up his face, at a loss for words. "Why are you getting ahead of yourself? Are you even listening to what you said? You're my wife for God's sake, we have a son together why would I leave you? It'll just be like before, I will come back to you two."

Fernando rubs your shoulders in an attempt to comfort you, in the hopes you'd understand his concerns.

"You say that, but we've been there already Fer. I single handedly witnessed everything that has happened to you while racing, and with Ales— I don't think I can... I don't think I want to constantly be on the edge of my seat worrying for tomorrow, and what will happen to you on the track."

With the tension up, words were spouted left and right, with no time to think before speaking, the arguments echoed back and forth to each other.

"Oh so you're giving up on us now?"

You scoff at Fernando's words, "Giving up? You did that first when you chose the racing contract over this family!"

Raising his hands, Fernando shouts in anger, "I just wanted to race, is it bad to pursue my passion? I support you in your career, can't I have that as well? It is my choice! At least we didn't get married yet if we're going to be like this then?"

You stand in silence, tears pooling at your eyes, feeling your world stop. In front of you, you watch Fernando shake his head at the realization of his words. "Amor—"

You step away from him, your shaky breaths fill the room clutching your chest, suffocating at your misery. Trying to drown out Fernando's pleas, erasing his words from your head, despite it being etched into every crevice in your head, taking home in your hollow heart.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that— no amount of words can ever make it better. Please say something? Tell me you hate me? Please amor, resent me. Whatever you want I will do."

You watch Fernando wince at your bloodshot eyes, as he reluctantly inches closer to you, afraid you'd leave him, like a glass slowly falling out of his hands. It was far too late now.

You let him in your embrace, knowing very well it would be the last time you'd see him, choosing yourself this time— choosing your son over the family you built together. You let yourself wallow in the last moments of comfort in his arms, because after this it'll just be you.

"Whatever? Then I guess I'm taking Alejandro with me. We're leaving so you can focus on your race. I hope you know that even then and now, I will be waiting. As much as it hurts— this needs to be done. I love you Alonso."

Pushing him away from your embrace, you savor in a last kiss before leaving him alone in the room.

yourusername 6/29/2022

liked by lancestroll and 33 others

yourusername happiest birthday to the light of my life ales. mama and papa love you always, i hope to fill your life with love and laughter.

★ YOU'VE BEEN ON MY MIND — @namgification @nebarious @minkyungseokie @viennakarma @lxclerc @booksandflowrs @c-losur3 @lichterfee @moonyzsworld @e-nonsense @vicurious28 @dannyriccsupremacy @thearchieves @welovediaaxx @vogueprincess @mael1pastry @khaylin27 @whydowesleepeachnight @iridescent-sol

[munsonsmixtapes]

Hello my favorite writer!!!

I have a story request.. if you don't want to do it that's okay.. it was a dream a few nights ago and I can't get it out of my head.. but I suck at writing..

Older Eddie.. and younger reader.. like early 40s/mid/late 20s(Again, if it's uncomfortable for you write however you would like..) But reader finds out she is pregnant she is terrified to tell Eddie.. but he's like F. Yeah I still got it or something.. Prompt 33 and 40

Would love NSFW even as like a flashback.. or him being obsessed that she's pregnant.. 😱😅

(Tbh I think I'm just ovulating.. and that man has me absolutely feral haha)

Hello, my lovely! Thank you so much for the request! Tbh I eat this kind of shit up so this was so fun to write!

older!Eddie x fem!reader

cw: reader is 25 and Eddie is 40, mention of pregnancy, hurt/comfort

Prompts used: 33. “Why have you been ignoring me?” and 40. “What’s on your mind?”

This is a continuation of my older!Eddie series!

You stared down at the pregnancy test in your hands, the two pink lines staring back at you. You couldn’t believe it. You were pregnant. You and Eddie hadn’t even been together for very long and you weren’t exactly sure what he was going to say when you told him. If you were going to tell him. You just couldn’t bear to lose him after only having him for a few months.

You figured that you had been pregnant when you missed your period since it always came right on schedule and had been avoiding Eddie ever since. You knew that it wasn’t very nice to do, but you were panicking and that seemed like the only logical option.

Your heart hammered in your chest as you heard your bedroom door open. You quickly hid the test behind your back in a panic, knowing that Eddie would have been able to see it if he looked hard enough.

Eddie entered your bathroom and you tried your best to put on a smile that he quickly saw through. He looked upset, angry even. You supposed it was what you deserved for ghosting him like that. In your head, he had every right to be upset with you.

“Why have you been ignoring me?” He reached for you, resting his hands on your shoulders, giving them a squeeze. God, got missed his touch.

“I haven’t.” Why you thought you could lie to him, you didn’t know. He was always able to find out the truth when you did.

“Lovebug, I live next door. It’s pretty hard to ignore me unless it’s on purpose.” You knew he was right. He always was even if he’d let you be sometimes just to make you feel better.

“I’ve just been busy, Eddie.” That wasn’t technically a lie. Things at your job had been picking up so you had been leaving home earlier and coming back later so Eddie and you had been on completely opposite schedules. But that didn’t stop him from trying to see you.

“Right, busy not wanting to talk to me, hm? What’s on your mind, bug?” His hands rubbed up and down your arms as way to bring you comfort and you felt the test getting heavier in your hands as he tried to get the truth out of you.

“It’s nothing.” You shook your head, but Eddie wasn’t buying it. You were a terrible liar.

“Clearly it’s something if you haven’t wanted to see me. You can tell me anything, you know that, right?” Of course you knew that. Eddie was the person you trusted most so you didn’t know why you were so afraid to tell him the truth.

Trying to keep your secret was weighing on you and the guilt was eating you alive. You let it get the best of you and slammed the pregnancy test down on the counter where Eddie could see it.

“That’s why I’ve been avoiding you. Happy?” You stepped away from him and crossed your arms over your chest.

Eddie pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and took the test, holding it close to his face to see the results. Once he could read it, he let out a gasp and accidentally dropped the thing, letting it clatter to the floor as he took you into his arms.

“Of course I’m happy!” He exclaimed. “You’re pregnant. And I want you to know that whatever you decide to do, I fully support you.”

“I want to keep it. And I want you to help me raise it, but not if you don’t want to.” You didn’t want him to feel obligated even though you really wanted him by your side throughout the child’s life.

You could just picture it; him putting together crib, reading stories to your stomach, holding your hand while you were giving birth, and tears welling up in his eyes as he held the baby for the first time. In your head, that sounded like the perfect life.

“Of course I want to. This is the happiest day of my life, bug.” His eyes were getting misty and you wiped his tears away before your own started rolling down your cheeks.

“It is?” Your face lit up. Your fantasy was actually going to come true.

“Of course it is!” He picked you up and spun you around as giggles escaped your lips. “The woman I love is having a baby.”

“You love me?” You figured as such, but hearing the words was much different than assuming. God, he loved you. You really couldn’t have asked for a more perfect boyfriend.

“Of course I love you, lovey.” He pressed a lingering kiss to your lips.

“I love you too,” you replied, pulling him in for another kiss.

“And I love you,” he rested a hand on your stomach before dropping to his knees. He lifted your shirt and pressed multiple kisses to his as you let out multiple giggles as the feeling of his soft lips tickling your skin.

“C’mon, hon,” he took you by the hand. “Let’s go call Wayne. He’s not going to believe it.” Eddie dragged you into your room and sat on the bed before taking the phone and calling Eddie’s uncle to give him the very good news.

[steddieas-shegoes]

sew you up

for @steddieholidaydrabbles prompt 'hurt/comfort' rated t wc: 993 cw: injury tags: post-vecna, someone finally takes care of steve's bat bite, getting together

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

He just had to get them all safe. Then he could take care of the bite.

He just had to keep an eye on Eddie, make sure no government officials tried to take him or let the police arrest him. Then he could take care of the bite.

He just had to help Wayne get them moved into their new trailer. Then he could take care of the bite.

Excuses kept piling up, one after another, and the pulsing, searing pain of the bite became easier to ignore. That meant it was healing, right?

But one month later, the bite was still as open and ugly as it had been when the bat latched on, and he had to face the facts.

“You okay over there?” Eddie asked from his bed.

He was mostly mobile, but moved much slower than he used to and had a lot of aches and pains from still-healing scar tissue. He rested in bed more than he did anything else, and Steve usually kept him company long after everyone else left.

“Yeah, think I’m just tired.”

He was tired. But he was also in pain, and could feel the sweat beading on his forehead as he clenched his jaw to avoid groaning.

He’d just moved wrong a little while ago and the pain wasn’t subsiding like it usually did. He’d be fine.

“You’re pretty pale, Stevie.”

“Might be coming down with something,” he shrugged it off. It could be true, after all. He was feeling feverish.

“Oh! Meant to ask you the other day. How’s that bite doing?” Eddie asked casually.

Too casually.

Steve stared back at him, eyes squinting in suspicion.

“It’s fine.”

“Yeah? Mine’s kinda hurting still. Can’t bend down all the way.”

Still so casual.

“Yours was worse than mine, man.”

Eddie nodded, seemingly accepting that as a response, almost looking like he was going to move on.

“I saw a doctor for mine. Many doctors. A few nurses. One government person who took an hour bandaging it up. Not sure what that was about,” Eddie shook himself out of a thought. “But you didn’t see anyone, did you?”

Steve bit his lip.

“No. But mine wasn’t that bad. It’s healing.”

Eddie put his notebook down and took in Steve’s posture. Steve tried to sit up straighter in the desk chair he was lounging in, but as soon as he tried, he let out a hiss and small whimper.

“Let me see it.”

Eddie’s tone was short, serious, something Steve had never heard from him before.

He stood up slowly, wincing as the area around the bite pulled painfully.

Eddie slowly moved to the edge of his bed and parted his legs, waving his hand to get Steve to come closer.

Steve moved closer, ignoring the way his stomach fluttered when Eddie’s hand gripped his uninjured hip to tug him even closer.

His other hand lifted Steve’s shirt up enough to see the wound.

“Steve,” he breathed out. “This needs to be stitched up. It’s too deep to heal on its own. You’ve just been walking around with this?”

“I mean, yeah. It’s gotten a little better.”

Eddie looked up at him with wide eyes.

“This is better?”

Steve nodded.

“This is. Steve, does Robin know it’s this bad?”

Steve shook his head.

“Does anyone?”

Steve shook his head again.

“Alright. I’m fixing this.” Eddie started to get up, gently pushing Steve away from him, but not removing his hand from his hip. “You lay down. I’m grabbing my sewing kit and alcohol.”

“Wait. What?” Steve felt himself panic. “You can’t- you’re not!”

“Steve. Do what I tell you to do before I call Robin and tell her you’ve been ignoring a fucking demobat bite for a month.”

So Steve got as comfortable as he could on the bed, lifted his shirt up to his chest, and waited.

Eddie took his time, but Steve didn’t mind, would much rather wait than Eddie hurt himself worse.

Eventually, Eddie came back and pulled the chair to the side of the bed.

He worked slowly, but confidently. He gave Steve a pillow to hold so he wouldn’t flinch too much while he worked, closing up the main part of the bite so it could actually heal.

When he was done, he bandaged it up tight, and then traced the edges of the bandage.

“Why didn’t you say something?” He whispered.

“Didn’t think it was that bad,” Steve whispered back.

“You didn’t think an open wound like that was bad? Jesus.” Eddie shook his head. “I knew you were self-sacrificial, but this is insane. You can’t hide this shit, Stevie. You could get an infection, you could die.”

Steve gulped.

He’d considered it a few times, but figured he would have already ended up in the hospital if it was going to happen.

“Yeah. But you fixed it, so I’ll be fine.”

“You better let me change your bandages every day for the next week so I can make sure it’s healing right.”

“Won’t that get annoying?” Steve asked.

Eddie didn’t answer for a moment, just watched as Steve pulled his shirt back down.

And then his lips were gently pressing against Steve’s forehead, lingering heat making Steve close his eyes.

“You could never annoy me. The only thing annoying to me is that you thought that being taken care of was annoying,” Eddie said, lips still resting against Steve’s skin, his breath almost tickling.

“So you’re my nurse, now?” Steve asked with a smirk.

Eddie pulled back and cupped his cheek.

“Yep. You better be a good patient.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll steal your hairspray.”

Steve gasped.

“You wouldn’t!”

“I would. So you better do as I say and make sure you take care of this.”

“Fine. Do I get a real kiss for being on my best behavior?”

Eddie bit his bottom lip, his cheeks going red.

“Maybe if you make room for me in bed.”

“Deal.”

[peacefulpianist]

The Green Dress

Loki x Fem. Reader (no y/n)

Wow hi everyone, I can't say I ever thought I would be doing this, but I've written something! I've been an avid reader for a few years now and have finally convinced myself to give it a shot. Any constructive criticism is more than welcome, but please do bear in mind this is the first thing I've written since year 8 English that isn't an academic paper of sorts. Anyway I hope you enjoy!

I'm tagging a few members of the SAS who I think may like this? But if you want to be removed please do let me know - no hard feelings at all : @lokisgoodgirl @lokischambermaid @acidcasualties @muddyorbsblr @wheredafandomat @liminalpebble

Description: When Stark invites you last minute to one of his infamous parties, you've not got many options on hand to wear until Nat suggests you wear the green dress you had bought months ago. Perhaps it will be enough to inspire a certain god to finally make his move.

w/c: 4.2k whoops I didn't intend for it to be nearly this long

My Masterlist

“How many times do I need to tell you that you absolutely can not do that Stark!” You exclaimed in exasperation over the cluttered lab table once more.

“But if I just ignored that little thing-” the glare you sent from over the top of your glasses quickly shut his remark down before it could continue any further. Looking contrite, but rather worryingly still determined, Stark pushed back from the table, going slightly further than expected in his chair and trying to style it out as intentional as he almost collided into several rather important projects. 

“Well since you’ve thoroughly pooped on that party Brainiac, I’m declaring we call it a day here, and hey speaking of parties, you are coming later aren’t you?” He asked whilst trying not to fall of his chair and catching a rather dangerous looking item falling off one of the nearby tables he had knocked into. 

A wave of panic washed through you at the mention of the event later; you had been hoping that as no one had specifically invited you to it, only mentioned it in passing, that you would be able to give it a miss unnoticed. It wasn’t that you disliked Starks events or even parties in general, you just happened to be aware of who else would be there and definitely couldn’t trust yourself to keep up a front with the copious alcohol that would no doubt find its way into your system. Not that you were totally innocent in how it found its way there. You had been hoping to avoid a direct invitation like this, purely because you had a real issue saying no to people, especially those you liked and admired. It was because of this, and only this - not the fact you would get to see Loki in one of his impeccably tailored suits again as a helpful voice in your head supplied, that you found yourself blurting out the following. 

“Uh yeah sure, of course, wouldn’t miss it for the world boss!” 

You had hoped that it had come out in a convincing tone, but the slight frown emerging on Starks face said otherwise. However, as quick as it had appeared on his face it was gone, replaced by a trademark smile as he slapped his thighs and stood.

“Well then, you better be off to prepare and polish your elbows, or whatever it is you ladies manage to do to fill so much time getting ready before these events,” his face quickly faltered after realising what he had actually just said and quickly followed up with “not saying of course that it isn’t absolutely worth it, especially if Pepper asks”. 

In an effort to allow Tony to leave the interaction without digging himself an even deeper hole, you stood too, gathering your bag as you went, giving a slightly awkward wave over your shoulder as you walked out the door. 

It was only when you made it back to your room upstairs that you fully understood what you had actually agreed to. Not only were you going to have to be in the same room as Loki, desperately trying to hide your feelings towards him, whilst watching him flirt with practically everyone in attendance, but also work out what the hell you were going to wear to a party at such short notice. Unlike many of the other inhabitants of the tower, your wardrobe wasn’t exactly equipped for these kinds of events. You had always preferred to skip out on anything that required this level of formal wear, the comfort of your staple jeans and a hoody was something you had always chosen over the tighter fitting, more formal attire required at Stark’s parties. 

In a somewhat unhelpful move, you decided that putting off the outfit dilemma was the best course of action, as a frantic full-body shower was needed, and of course there was no point choosing an outfit before you’d done your hair and makeup after the shower as well. You had told yourself that the outfit choices could be mulled over during this time as well, but realistically knew that you were just lying to yourself and would inevitably put it off until the last moment. 

A frantic search of your wardrobe, which involved many an outfit being taken out, only to be thrown into the rejection pile on the floor moments later, left you coming up short and in the middle of a ring of discarded outfits whilst still in just your towel. You sank to the floor, just staring despondently at the chaos around you, contemplating whether Tony would actually notice if you didn’t go after all. 

It was in that state exactly that Nat found you minutes later after she had knocked, not waited for an answer and entered anyway, only to stop in her tracks and abandon whatever purpose she had come with upon seeing you in such a state. 

“Well that outfit is sure to grab everyone’s attention, not what I would choose personally but good for you girl!” Nat said with a smirk, leaning on your doorframe.

“Don’t even start with that right now, I wasn’t planning on going to this until and hour ago, and I appear to have greatly underestimated my wardrobe deficiencies. Some actual help right now would be greatly appreciated.” Your reply came from the floor, all hope of being able to avoid Stark’s shindig fading with the sound of the door closing behind Natasha. 

“I’m sure your so called deficiency isn’t nearly as bad as you’re making it out to be,” her voice somewhat muffled as she rooted through what was left of your clothes in you’re wardrobe. 

“I mean look right here, what was wrong with this option, it’s even green, perfect to catch you-know-who’s attention!” The smile on her face dropped when she turned to face you, brandishing the green dress you had bought months ago on a whim when out with some friends, only to realise you would never be comfortable enough to wear it out in public when you had tried it on at home later that evening. 

“Woah, what’s so wrong with this one that it makes you pull that face? It’s a stunning dress I can’t see what you could possibly have against this one, its perfect for tonight.” Nat questioned with a confused frown, after seeing the vehement refusal on your face at the suggestion. 

“It is a beautiful dress, just not on me, I don’t-” before you could even finish the thought, Nat had pulled you up, and was pushing you quite forcefully back towards the bathroom, throwing you in there along with the dress and your raciest, laciest underwear that you hadn’t even seen her grab.

“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response, you should know better than to speak like that about one of my closest friends by now, by the time I’m back after getting changed myself, I want you wearing that dress so I can prove to you how wrong you are when you see everyone’s faces when we walk in later” Nate reply was somewhat muffled behind the bathroom door, but the fierceness, and her love for you, was still conveyed perfectly through the wood. 

“Besides if it truly makes you feel that bad after wearing it tonight, we’ll burn it together tomorrow, I’m not having you keeping it if its going to make you feel this way whenever you see it.” The finality in her tone and promise of being able to get rid of the thing tomorrow was enough to get you to follow her orders, that alongside the fact that you were still rather scared of her, even after having been friends with her for a few years now. 

With Natasha momentarily gone, it gave you the chance to ruminate in your thoughts, the dress was truly stunning, a deep emerald green that displayed your decolletage beautifully, with a daring slit from ankle to high up on your thigh. While you could see that the dress itself was objectively great, when it was you wearing it, it didn’t seem that way anymore. Instead of being able to focus on all of the ways it could highlight your beauty, all you could see was the way the closer fit of the dress clung to your stomach slightly, and how the slit showed off your thighs, and just seemed to emphasise how big they were. 

It was in this downward spiral that Nat found you in upon her return, a frown once again set on her face as when she saw the malice behind your eyes, directed solely at yourself. 

The way you could only ever focus on the parts of yourself that you saw as problems had always hurt Natasha, and how it impacted the way you behaved as well. It wasn’t just a matter of wearing baggier clothes that covered your insecurities, but the way you let it decide where you belonged socially. She was intimately familiar with your growing feelings towards a certain god of mischief who had taken up residence in the tower little over a year earlier, but also with your pessimistic view towards your chances of the feelings being reciprocated. Ever since you had realised that your feelings were more than that of just friendship you had immediately resigned yourself to remaining in the friend zone, refusing to believe that he would ever see you as something more because “he’s a god and I’m, well, I mean just look at me.” Nat had tried countless times to reassure you that the way you saw yourself, was not in fact the way others saw you, but had also at this point come to the understanding that your self perception wasn’t based in logic, and reasoning as such wasn’t going to make enough of an impact to change how you saw yourself. 

It was with this in mind that she approached you, an arm reaching round you and pulling you into her side for a hug, while smiling at you in the mirror, before grabbing your hand and pulling you out of your room and to the party on the floor above. 

Your outfit dilemma had delayed the two of you a little, so when you arrived upstairs, the party was already in full swing; with music blaring and alcohol clearly flowing freely if the state that some of the guests were in already was any indication. As such you were easily able to slip in behind Natasha unnoticed, before heading straight over to the bar, feeling the need to indulge a little more than normal tonight. 

From your vantage point at the bar up on the mezzanine, you could see almost all of the goings on down below you, from Lang absolutely busting it up on the dance floor to Tony trailing around after Pepper, seemingly trying to make up for something that was undoubtedly his fault, but wasn’t actually remorseful for. Unfortunately it also meant that you had the perfect view of Loki and his apparent flavour of the night. Despite knowing how unproductive it was, you found yourself comparing yourself to her, noting all the ways she was traditionally attractive, only to seemingly find yourself lacking in the same places in comparison. Even though you had accepted months ago that Loki was never going to reciprocate your feelings, and having desperately tried to allocate him into the friend box in your head unsuccessfully, it still hurt deeply to see him so close with other women, knowing what he would be doing with them that night, only to move on to the next when it suited him. 

This knowledge had one advantage for you though, it had made it much easier for you to become friends with the god. As you knew nothing romantic was ever going to happen between the two of you, you had found it that much easier to relax and joke around him, even going as far to return his flirty remarks, as there was no pressure behind it for you, and the potential embarrassment behind behaving more boldly was removed. Since he flirted with everyone that way, it obviously didn’t mean anything to him, so it made it much easier for you to jokingly flirt back. It was because of this new found confidence, that you had struck up a strong friendship with the god and had come to call him one of your closest friends. It had only added to your mental torture.

After a few more self indulgent moments, agonising a little more over what could have been you turned to the bartender, and took another drink with a polite thanks and a smile before deciding that even if you did still regret coming, and especially wearing the dress, you were going to make the most of the evening. Besides how many people could say they got to drink and dance with the avengers, who they were friends with. 

It was with this new found resilience that you stood from your place and made your way down to the dance floor, having caught Nat and Wanda’s eyes before and been summoned. 

The next few hours passes in a slight blur of laughter and dancing for you, after a few, chaotic but incredibly fun dances with Nat and Wanda some of the other men began to join in, requesting a dance with you. Between the fun of teaching Steve how people actually danced in clubs now alongside Nat, and Bucky whirling you round the floor like an absolute professional - after complementing your outfit for the evening with an all too knowing look, you had almost forgotten about your preconceptions for the evening, but whenever you danced with one of the men, however gracious and smooth they were, you couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like if it were Loki instead of them; comparing the feel of their hand on your back to what you had imagined Loki’s would be like if he were there instead. 

Just when you were about to take a break from dancing, a slightly cooler hand came to rest on your back, as its owner leant down to speak into your ear over the music.

“Darling, I think its about time we show them how its really done don’t you?”

The feeling of his breath over your neck as he leant in closer sent a jolt down your spine, that you were almost certain he must have felt in his hand, still placed firmly in the middle of your back, exactly where you had imagined it being all night. 

Quickly composing yourself, you managed a somewhat natural reply, rather impressed with your own neurones for still being able to function at least somewhat normally whilst Loki was so close to you, having not moved away under the pretence of needing to be closer to be able to hear you over the music.

“Ah of course your majesty, I’m sure us mere mortals couldn’t possibly live up to the prowess of a god”

His low reply was barely heard over the thumping of the bass, in a way that made you question whether he had actually intended for your to hear it, if it wasn’t for the sly wink he sent towards you after.

“Yes I find that is the case in many areas darling, especially when it comes to moving their bodies”

The raised eyebrow you gave in reply expressed all you needed him to know, and covered for the fact that your mind had been sent in a downward spiral imagining his trademark snake hips dance move, in areas other than the dance floor. 

Whilst you were somewhat distracted in your thoughts, he moved the hand from your back to loop his arm round your waist and bring you back into the middle of the dance floor, beginning to sensually move his hips and draw you into to him to do the same. 

What you didn’t know was that Loki and been subtly watching you all evening, ever since you had walked in the door, many may not have noticed your entrance behind the Black Widow, but at this point Loki’s body was finely attuned to your presence and he hadn’t been able to draw his sight away from you for more than a few seconds at a time. You were wearing his colours. His green. But it wasn’t just your choice in attire tonight that had drawn his attention, as delightful as that dress was, you’d had it for many months before this point. Initially you had been a curiosity to Loki, kind to him when many others weren’t immediately following his return to Midgard, but after talking to you the first few times it was your intelligence that had captured Loki’s heart. He had found you to be one of the few midgardians to match his voracious appetite for knowledge, both in reading and in your chosen profession as a biologist working alongside Stark and Banner, but much less insufferable than the other two. 

When Loki had first come to terms with his interest in you, he had thought his subtle flirtations would be enough to alert you to his intentions, but when these failed to elicit any kind of response from you he had slowly become more and more bold with his innuendoes and flirtatious comments when in your presence. At first he had thought he was finally getting somewhere with you when you had began to match him in conversations, but when you made no sign of anything more, he had found himself stumped. At one point he had even stooped so low as to flirt with others in your presence in the hope that it would inspire enough jealously within you to reveal your feelings towards him, alas it did not work. No one had ever taken this long to fall victim to his seduction. He had admitted to himself that this time was different to his previous experiences as truly desired more with you than just a roll in the bed, not to say that did not also desire that with you, he had thought about that extensively, but he was not sure how to progress from here. 

When you had walked in tonight though, looking exquisite in his colours he had decided that enough was enough, tonight he was going to finally bite the bullet and just ask you outright if you would be with him. It was not a decision that he had come to lightly, but he had finally come to the realisation that if he wanted something to happen he was going to have to do something about it for himself. 

You didn’t know whether Loki had bribed the DJ before approaching you, or it was a shear unfortunate coincidence but as you continued dancing, each song seemed to get progressively dirtier and more sensual. This combined with finally dancing with him after having imagined it all night, the enticing smell of him from being in such close proximity, and the one or two drinks you’d had early were practically sending you into an early death.

Simultaneously Loki was experiencing a similar issue, when she wasn’t looking, Loki found his eyes being drawn from her face down to her chest, which with his height he had a fabulous view down, and combined with the lyrics and music he hands had seemingly began to move of his own accord and were veering dangerously further south. He decided he needed to do something soon, or he was going to have a very hard time of it.

As he leant down once again to speak into your ear, your breath hitched ever so slightly, and a faint flush bloomed across your cheeks- a fact that didn’t go entirely unnoticed by the god, and one that made his own pulse race. All hope that you felt the same way as him was not lost.

“Are you alright there darling? You’re looking awfully flushed. You’re not too warm in here are you?”

You had barely managed to stutter out what you could only imagine would have been a terrible excuse before he continued;

“Unless of course it is for the same reason as I.”

The hope that formed in your chest from the one sentence alone caused you to whip your head up, needing to search his gaze to see if he was really implying what you thought he was, surely he couldn’t be, there was no way that he could have felt the same way towards you as you did to him. Before you could continue with your self deprecation, he interrupted your thoughts once again;

“Now now darling stop that immediately, I can tell you are already overthinking this before I have even truly started. I do not know what it is that makes you doubt yourself so, but you must know that whatever it is I do not share that same belief.”

You held his breath as he said this, still not truly believing that this could be going where you wished it was, but not daring to do anything to break the spell just yet

“I was almost sure you would have known by now, but apparently I have not been clear enough in my appreciation or my advances towards you. I very much like you min elskling, you have well and truly captivated me heart and mind, body and soul. I would be honoured if you wished to court me, or as I believe you mortals say, go on a date with me” Loki finished with a release of breath, like saying all that had released a burden from upon his chest and he could finally breath deeply again now it was done.

You just stood there frozen in the middle of the dance floor, unsure if what you had heard was really happening, surely this was all some wonderful fever induced dream, and you were going to wake up face down on one of the desks in the lab any moment. 

However Loki was reading your silence as rejection, and the insecurities that he had previously pushed aside were starting to flood back.

“Of course darling, if you do not feel the same then, I would be more than happy to just remain as friends,” it was of course a lie, but one that he would guard closely if that were the case, as he would never want for you to feel guilty for making an honest decision, and would much rather keep your friendship than not have you in his life at all.

“And I can completely understand why of course if you do not return my feelings, after all with my heritage I know-” before he could finish his sentence though you had reached up and pulled his face down to your height, before promptly pushing your mouth onto his in a scorching kiss. In the time Loki had began to panic and ramble, it had finally registered what Loki had been saying, and that it was in fact real, so before he could spiral any further you had to display your feelings towards him, and this had seemed like the most direct course of action.

After a brief moment in which Loki’s brain had to catch up to what was actually going on right now, he swiftly took charge of the kiss, both of you melting into it, especially as Loki opened his mouth to let he tongue dance along your lips before slowly meeting your own. At the same time, Lokis hands began to wander more actively, finally sliding that last little distance down to your behind, which he grasped firmly before sliding one hand down to bring your leg up and round his hip, letting you feel exactly what you were doing to him. Your own hands had found their way into his silky hair, finally fulfilling the desire you had held for many months to feel what it was like between your fingers, and when you gave it a gentle tug in the passion of the moment, a low growl made its way up Lokis throat, only enticing you in further. 

It was only as a few wolf whistles broke through your bubble that you remembered exactly where you both were and that it was perhaps not the best place for what was clearly on its way to happening. It was with the same thought that Loki took your hand and began leading you out of the room, stopping only briefly first to growl lowly into your ear “we need to leave now darling, don’t you agree?” Before nipping your earlobe and pulling back to grin at you. 

With absolutely no objections, and no subtlety either, you nodded before taking the lead taking you both in the direction your room, before stopping to remember the state you had left it in before the party in your distress to find an outfit. You blushed at the memory and changed direction slightly to lead you both to his rooms instead. Loki however took no notice, or simply did not care for the slight moment of hesitation, as at this point he didn’t particularly care where you were headed as long as it was close by, you were finally his and now it was time for him to claim you as such. 

Part Two here:

Thank you so much for reading if you made it this far! Please do let me know what you think x

[desertfangs]

if you keep them, share a deleted sentence or paragraph from a published fic

I do keep outtakes but usually only longer ones and I just checked for the most recent fics I've posted and I don't think I have any, which is not typical for me. Either that means I just removed some sentences or reworded things, or somehow lost the outtakes.

BUT I was especially looking for Look Right Through since it's a longer fic and while there aren't any outtakes I can find, I do have a false start. When I started this fic, I wanted to do something plotty that would force Armand, Marius, and Daniel to work together to solve a problem. And my first inclination was to have someone show up and ask Daniel for help. It wasn't working so I ended up going in a different direction, where Daniel finds a body in the house instead, but I don't know, I may eventually write use that premise.

Beneath the cut is the first beginning I wrote for what became Look Right Through, complete with Daniel wearing his shabbiest clothes for funsies:

Daniel jolted at the knock on the door. It wasn’t typical for people to come knocking on Trinity Gate’s front door. It wasn’t unheard of—god knew between Armand and Benji, Amazon packages were a regular occurrence—but at eleven o’clock at night, it was a little strange. It got stranger when he reached out with his sense and realized the unexpected visitor was a vampire.He set down his iPad and walked to foyer. The pounding on the door continued, so hard Daniel was worried they’d break the door. He was tempted to tell them to hold their damn horses but instead, crept up to the peephole and looked out. He frowned. The immortal was a woman who appeared to be in her thirties or so—near Daniel’s mortal age—with her messy brown hair in a bob. She was frenzied, looking behind her as if scared she was being pursued. She turned back and pounded on the door again. Daniel hesitated. Trinity Gate was, technically, the official New York Coven House, but he felt strange inviting an unknown immortal inside. Armand was out at some art fundraiser Daniel had managed to avoid going to, purely because Armand knew those people and they knew him to be with his “husband” Louis, who was in Paris. Daniel felt ill-equipped for this and suddenly wished Marius had made good on his promise to come to New York for the summer. He ran his fingers through his short ashen hair and then, after taking a breath, opened the door. The woman looked surprised to see him. Then again, Daniel was probably not what she expected, and it didn’t help that he was currently wearing sweatpants and a David Bowie t-shirt. “I seek protection from the Court,” she said, voice high and full of fear. “Can you help me?” “Yeah, of course,” Daniel said, moving back and gesturing for her to come inside. He poked out his head and looked down the street and out across the street into Central Park. He didn’t see or sense another immortal or anything threatening, but he wasn’t always convinced of the accuracy of his Mind Gift. He shut the door and then, for good measure, locked it, not that the deadbolt would do much against another immortal. Armand had other security measures for that. “What exactly are you seeking protection from?” Daniel asked. The woman was shaking, he realized, and deathly pale. She had marks on her wrists, dark bruises that were fading, but slowly. She hadn’t fed tonight, he gathered, and from what he could tell, she was fairly new in the blood. She looked Daniel over and frowned slightly. “You’re a vampire, so I assume this is the right place.” “Yeah, it is. Sorry. I should have… I’m Daniel. The official Coven Representative is out right now.” Daniel pulled out his phone. “I’ll text him.” Daniel texted “Court Emergency.” And then a second later, realized that could mean anything and Armand was sure to panic if he thought any of those he loved were in danger. “Stranger showed up here, wants our help.” The woman was looking around the foyer, still hugging herself. “What’s your name?” Daniel asked her. He should have asked that first, but he wanted to know what sort of situation he’d just let through the door. “Hadley,” she said, smiling faintly. It didn’t reach her eyes. Daniel’s phone buzzed. “On my way,” was Armand’s only reply. Good. Relief washed over him. He didn’t want to be handling this alone. “And what’s got you so scared?” Daniel asked her. She swallowed and shook her head. “He’s trying to kill me.” Daniel frowned. “Who?” “My maker.” Daniel winced involuntarily. “Why?” Hadley stared at him and did not answer. He figured the sweatpants weren’t exactly giving him an air of authority, but then, his plans for the evening had been to finish the Sunday Crossword on his iPad and maybe boot up the Playstation until Armand got home, at which point he’d hoped to ditch clothes entirely.

[ladykailitha]

Oh For a Muse of Fire! Part 7

I love writing this story so much I am constantly going back and rereading my favorite parts. And when I write really, really good bits I want to put it up immediately so you all can squee with me. But I also know that it’s better to give each part some time between each one so the chapter can get the love it deserves. It’s ongoing battle I tell you.

This is the start of what I’ve been calling in my head the dark chapters. This is where we get to the tragic backstories that drove these two boys apart. TW: for panic attack in this and brief mention violence.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

*

Chrissy came over to where the boys had sat down with Wayne after they had put their equipment away. She slid the beers over to each of them with practiced ease.

“So...” she began. “You’ve got history with my boy, Garnet.”

“Who the fuck is Garnet?” Jeff asked.

Chrissy giggled. “My boss is weird hipster who has all off of us go by gem names to keep up the mystic of the place. Jewels of the Queen’s Crown as it were.”

Gareth laughed. “And what do they call you?”

“I’m Opal for now,” she explained after taking a swig of her beer. “But Garnet says that before he leaves, I’ll probably be Sapphire or Emerald.” She thought for a moment. “Considering Diamond’s sense of humor? Probably Sapphire.”

“Why Sapphire?” Eddie asked, frowning in confusion.

Chrissy laughed. “Because I’m a lesbian?” The boys just stared at her with blank faces. “Sappho is the first lesbian? Another word for lesbian is sapphic? Sapphire, sapphic?”

Suddenly they got it and started nodded.

She turned to Eddie. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you avoiding the question. You and I are going to have nice long talk about it later.”

Eddie straightened up and looked guiltily at his beer. “We just aren’t in the same universe is all.”

Chrissy looked over at Garnet and sighed. “I think you guys are closer than you think.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Eddie growled. “In what multi-verse are me and that man even in the same hemisphere?”

Chrissy sighed. “I’m not one for spreading rumors around but from what I’ve heard, Garnet’s dad threw him out when he came out as gay.”

All four boys turned to look at Steve slinging cocktails like he was born to it in shock.

“He’s gay?” Jeff asked. “There’s no way. He was a known ladies’ man in high school. Him and his girlfriend were like the king and queen of Hawkins.”

Chrissy just hummed. “Trust me when I say that I’ve been working with him for almost two months now, and the dude ain’t straight. He never flirts with the girls. Like ever. And yeah, sure some of it can be marked down to Garnet being a consummate professional. But when guys flirt with him, he gets all flustered and turns pink.”

Eddie sat back. “Huh.” He shrugged off the gnawing feeling in the back of his mind of what it would have been like if Eddie had known that sooner. “Still, I wouldn’t have thought that pretty, rich boy Garnet would deign to work at a bar, even one as upscale as this one.”

“What the fuck you talking about, boy?” Wayne growled, speaking up for the first time. “I didn’t teach you that classist bullshit.”

Eddie ducked his head. “Sorry, Uncle Wayne.”

Wayne jutted his chin Steve’s direction. “I know you’ve been calling him something different because of the rules of the club or whatever, but if you lot are talking about that boy at the bar, then you need to check your bias. He worked at the plant for a year on the weekends trying to save money for college.”

Everyone turned to Wayne in shock.

“He worked at the plant?” Gareth said. “But I thought he was earning money babysitting. He used to babysit my sister Clara after school when I had to work or had band practice.”

Jeff shook his head. “Nah, man. He was working at Family Video that year. My mom would gush about how sweet and helpful he was when she was trying to find a good family movie.”

Wayne took a sip of his beer. “That boy did all three at the same time. He told me he’d work the video store during the time the kids would be at school and then babysit after. Then he’d work weekends at night at the plant.” He glared at Eddie. “Did such a good job, Ken wanted him to take over as foreman of the night shift when he retired.”

Eddie looked over at Steve and furrowed his brow. “Sorry, Uncle Wayne,” he repeated with more conviction.

Wayne nodded and the topic changed to what songs they should preform next time and in what order.

Sometimes Eddie would catch himself looking over at Steve in a new light.

*

Steve was having a bad week. There was no getting around it. He was trying to get to class, but the beemer wouldn’t start.

It ground and ground, but wouldn’t start.

“Fuck!”

He pounded on the steering wheel. He was going to have to take the bus, which meant he was going to be late.

He threw open his door and popped the hood. Maybe he figure it out. He checked the oil and the other fluids, but they were all at least decent levels. He check for any loose cables but everything seemed to be connected.

Steve was about to slam the hood back down when someone stopped him.

“What seems to be the trouble, Harrington?” Eddie asked, hand on the hood preventing its closure.

Steve sighed. “No fucking clue. And I’m going to be late for class. And since the midterm is due today, if I’m late, I’m fucked.”

Eddie hummed. “I’ll call someone to come get the car and I’ll drive you in.”

Steve stared at him wide-eyed and slack-jawed. “Why? You don’t like me.”

Eddie cocked his head to the side. “No, I don’t. However, I’m not going to let someone like you mess things up for Joyce.”

Steve wanted to protest and scream but he knew that’s what Eddie expected him to do. So he just shrugged. “Whatever, man. Just get me the number for this auto shop of yours and we’ll consider the transaction complete.”

Eddie slammed the hood down and Steve went to pull the keys out of the ignition. He kept the windows rolled up, but the door unlocked. He placed the keys under the visor and then grabbed his bag.

“The tow truck will be here in five minutes,” Eddie said, putting his phone back into his pocket, “so it shouldn’t be too long.”

Steve sighed heavily and followed Eddie to his van.

Once they were on their way Steve turned to him. “What did you mean that I might mess things up for Joyce?”

Eddie looked at him briefly before turning back to the road. “I thought you knew her.”

Steve sighed again. “Yeah, four years ago. Which is what I tried to tell Dean Ortega. Yes, I used to babysit her youngest son. Yes, I did that for a year. No, I haven’t spoken to her in the last four. Been kinda busy, you know, going to school.”

Eddie hummed. “There’s been so much trouble with the course the college is thinking of dropping it. And if that happens...”

Steve threw his head back against the headrest. “Then she’s out a job. Great. I was there for those two major fuck ups. I don’t know what happened with the last teacher, but the first professor was a real piece of work.”

Eddie licked his lips thoughtfully. “According to Joyce, Professor Martin was found sleeping with the live model.”

Steve blinked. “The basketball captain?” he asked, his voice squeaking in shock and outrage. “Holy fuck!”

“Yeah,” Eddie agreed. “Joyce said that she was surprised that they even gave the class one more chance.”

Steve nodded. “Yeah, I guess. Jesus Christ.”

They got to class and Joyce looked at them with a big grin on her face. “Oh, I didn’t know you guys were friends!”

Eddie and Steve shared a glance.

“Oh we’re not,” Eddie said and Steve winced.

“We just live in the same apartment complex and Eddie came to my rescue when my car wouldn’t start this morning,” Steve explained.

Joyce smiled fondly. “That was sweet of you, Eddie dear.”

Eddie blushed and turned his head. “I was just being a good Samaritan.”

“Well, thank you,” she murmured.

Steve nodded. “Yeah, thanks Eds.”

Eddie bit his lip at the new nickname. “You’re welcome.”

Steve grinned and went to sit down.

Eddie blushed and got into position, striping down to his underwear. He kept his eye on Steve like he always did. But today, instead of the count of one, two, three and look away, Steve’s gaze lingered, drawing in shorter spurts and longer looks at his body.

He didn’t know how he felt about that, or rather his brain didn’t. His heart and libido were one hundred percent onboard with the heated regard. His brain told them to shut up.

*

It was an unseasonably warm day for March. The sun was finally starting to do more then hang in the sky and look pretty. Robin and Steve were on their way back to their apartment after a rare Sunday meeting at the bar. They were dressed for work. Robin all in black and Steve in his white button up.

They were a block and half from their place, having had to take the bus with Steve’s car still in the shop, when suddenly a storm rolled in and opened up above them.

Instantly they were drenched to the skin. Robin broke into a run to try to get to their apartment faster, but soon realized that Steve wasn’t with her. She looked back to see that Steve had sunk to his knees, his arms wrapped around his shoulders. As if he was trying to cover his back.

“Shit!” Robin hissed and ran back to his side. “Steve? Come on, Steve. We’re almost home.”

He shook his head and began to rock back and forth. “They’ll see! They’ll see.”

“Steve, there’s no one around,” she reasoned. “I’ll even walk behind you if that will make you feel better. But we can’t just sit out here in the rain, dingus.”

But try as she might, she knew it was futile. Steve was firmly locked inside his head and she didn’t know how to get him out. Even after years of seeing him like this, she hadn’t found a tried and true way to make him come out, except to wait them out and hope it didn’t take too long.

She sat on the cold wet pavement and settled down to wait out this nightmare.

Just then a van slowed down beside them and Eddie called out, “Hey, Buckley, everything okay?”

She looked down at Steve and then back at Eddie. She had a choice to make and it wasn’t an easy one.

“No,” she said, forcing out the best response for Steve in that moment. They needed help and if Eddie was willing, she’d be a fool to turn him away.

The van came to screeching halt and Eddie was out onto the pavement in an instant.

“What happened?” he asked, not sure if he should get close in case it was seizure again.

“It started to rain and his scars started to show through the white fabric,” Robin explained.

Eddie walked around to Steve’s back and cursed. “What the fuck?!”

Robin frowned. “How the hell do you not know about Steve’s scars? Like literally everyone in the whole god damn country knows how he got them.”

Eddie’s head reared back. “Um...not me. When did it happen?”

Robin stared at him aghast. “What do you mean when did it happen? It was literally a nine day wonder on all news outlets.” When Eddie just continued to stare at her as if she was mad, she said. “His senior year of high school? He was gone for like a week, how did you not notice?”

Eddie pursed his lips. “Probably the same reason you never noticed I was gone for that same fucking time period.”

She looked down at Steve who was still rocking back and forth. “Steve, hey can you hear me?”

Steve just continued to be lost in his own world.

Eddie took a step closer to see if he could help but Robin held her hand up. “Stay back! When he gets like this his fight or flight response is heightened and he’s been known to pack one hell of a punch.”

Eddie blinked rapidly. “Come again?” His hand came up to his jaw instinctively.

Robin rubbed circles along Steve’s back trying to get his to calm down. “There was once he had a panic attack in public and this guy came up and tried to help him, thinking he’d fallen or something,” she explained. “Steve lashed out not knowing what was happening. He said he woke up with a vague memory of the hit and bruised knuckles. Of course by then, the guy had booked it.”

Eddie took a step back. “That...that was me.”

Robin’s head shot up. “Oh fuck.” She looked back down at Steve. “You thought he hit you because you tried to help him.”

Eddie snarled, “He dislocated my jaw. I couldn’t sing for six months.”

Robin was on her feet in an instant. “Shit, shit, shit. He doesn’t know what he’s doing when he’s like this. That incident haunts him.”

Eddie took another step back. “It haunts me too.” He yanked off his jacket and threw it at her. “For his modesty. He can return it at the next class.”

He turned on his heel and ran to his van. He peeled away from the curb, like the hounds of hell were on his tail.

Robin stood there watching Eddie go, her tears blending with the rain. She didn’t even bother to wipe her face. She walked back to Steve and put the jacket around his shoulders.

The combination of the warmth of the jacket and the covering of Steve’s scars, he slowly came out of his panic attack.

She helped him to his feet and the made it the rest of the way to their apartment. She let him have the first shower and put him to bed.

They were going to have to have a long talk when he was sane enough to handle it.

Part 8 Part 9  Part 10  Part 11  Part 12 Part 13  Part 14  Part 15  Part 16  Part 17  Epilogue

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[whereianonymouslypostfics]

Road Kill

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x reader

Word count: ~2.1k

Summary: You learn something new about Wanda

A/N: Hello. I'm back. Wtf happened to the desktop layout while I was gone?? Anyways, here's a random thing that came to mind as I got my car washed the other day. Enjoy.

Warnings: brief depiction of road kill, blood, anxiety, and claustrophobia

It was an unfortunate series of events that landed you and Wanda at the car wash. You left work a little later than usual, and at this time of year that meant it was already dark. You didn’t like driving at night because it made the last ten minutes or so of your trip up the mountain treacherous and a little anxiety-inducing. You’ve had many animals run in front of your car, and tonight is one of those unfortunate times where you hit one of them.

Well to be fair, you hadn’t hit the poor deer, but the car that had, threw him in front of you, and you weren’t able to avoid running him over. You cursed and then cursed again when you stopped but the other driver didn’t, and you tried to look at the damage. It was difficult in the dark, and you didn’t want to really see it all. The smell was overwhelming as you stepped out of the car. When you look around and see that you truly are in the dark alone, you realize you’ll be even later getting home.

“Shit. “

Wanda’s finishing up dinner when she hears her phone ring from the living room. She sets her spoon down before hurrying past Boone and Fletcher to see who was calling her. She figured it was you since you’d told her that you were going to leave late tonight, and maybe you were letting her know that you would be home soon. She hates that you were still working late despite having such a difficult week, but she is glad that your weekend was starting now. She sees that it’s you calling, and she smiles widely before sliding her finger across the screen with a sigh.

“Hey, detka. Are you on your way?”

You can’t help but smile widely as you glance down toward your headlights that are a little splattered and look like a scene out of a horror movie. You still can’t force yourself to look down at the remainder of the deer that was under your fender, and you grimace at the starry sky with a loud sigh.

“Yeah, I was almost home, but someone hit a deer and it’s hit me, so I’m just going to be a little bit later.”

Wanda’s somehow never hit anything on the way home since they lived in the house. She’d gotten into plenty of accidents that were work-related, but otherwise she was pretty lucky. You had gotten a couple of speeding tickets that you hid from Wanda, and maybe three fender benders, but you’d somehow avoided hitting a deer, until now. You hear Wanda curse and she’s already looking for her keys when she responds. You hear her slight panic, and you’re already shaking your head as she asks the predictable question.

“Really? Are you okay? Do you need me to come and get you?”

Despite insisting that it was fine, Wanda’s already told you that she’s calling Bucky to come pick you up. You mention hosing off the car, and Wanda cringes but agrees as she goes outside to stand and wait for Bucky to arrive. She keeps you on the phone since it’s dark and you’re literally stranded in the mountains. You back your car up and try to get most of the deer off of it. You have already warned both your wife and friend to not look too closely unless they didn’t want to eat dinner tonight.

“We’re almost there, Y/n.”

You just make an affirmative noise before you continue to stare up at the few stars you can see through the trees. Tonight would be a good night to sit on the top deck of your house and stargaze with your wife and dog. You could do it later if you wanted to, but first you had to get your car cleaned. A couple of minutes later you hear a car come around the corner, and you stand up from where you’d been sitting at the sight of a familiar face. You smile when Bucky turns on his hazards before parking in front of you with a grimace. Wanda studiously ignores the grizzly scene as she rushes out of the car to meet you.

“Hey Wands. Hey Bucky.”

Wanda’s a little surprised when you mention how you wanted to take the car to the wash now instead of just going home to rinse it off. You mention how you don’t want to bring the smells back to the house, and Wanda kind of understands this, and she lets you thank and hug Bucky before she gets into the passenger seat to go with you. You sigh as you get buckled and quickly turn the car around and head back down the road.

“Hopefully this won’t take very long. We’ll be home eating dinner before you know it.”

Wanda smiles but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes as she considers what she’s gotten herself into. She decides to focus on you and she reaches out for one of your hands as you continue to drive back toward town.

“How was your day, detka?”

You spend the next ten minutes telling Wanda about your day, and her telling you about hers. She had made sure that tomorrow would be free for her since you both have been so busy and you haven’t had a lot of time together. You are glad to hear this and by the time you arrive at the carwash, you’re ready to blow through it and get home quickly.

“Okay, let’s see.”

You pull up to the pay station and look at the vaguely familiar wash options. You are mumbling to yourself so you don’t realize that Wanda’s a little distracted as she looks to the dark tunnel that you’re going to drive through in less than a minute. She takes a deep breath and reminds herself that it’s going to be fine as you pay and roll the window back up.

“Alright, ready Wands?”

You’re pulling the car forward on the track as you ask this, not really expecting an answer, but when Wanda’s grip on the door and her seat tighten as she nods stiffly, you realize you should have paid more attention. The lights in the tunnel are a bright, dark blue and they come on as a loud beep signals you should put the car in neutral. You do and you only get to focus on the lights and how they look through the water that’s rushing down and from the side sprayers in front of you for a moment before your wife steals your attention.

Wanda’s focusing on her breathing as she keeps her eyes closed and tries not to think about being enclosed in such a small space with all of the noise around her. You reach out for her hand quickly as the car rolls into the first jets of water and the sound of it hitting the hood is almost deafening.

“Wands? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Wanda squeezes your hand before she shakes her head and turns to you with a slightly panicked expression. She’s only been in a car wash like this one time before, and she’d had a full-blown panic attack. She didn’t realize she was claustrophobic until she was inside surrounded by water without any way to get out. At least without getting drenched and covered in soap. She didn’t like feeling trapped, and as the water gets louder and the entire car is bathed in an eerie blue light, Wanda feels her breathing get shallow.

“No, I-I don’t like this. I need to get out.”

Wanda’s hand goes to the door, but she doesn’t open it as you slowly begin to realize what’s wrong. You honestly enjoyed car washes. Your car got clean, and you got 30 to 40 seconds of sitting in your car surrounded by the sound of rain and pretty lights. You love it, but apparently, it’s not everyone’s thing. You’re not sure how you didn’t know this before, but you’re quick to try and distract your wife since you can’t exactly get out right now.

“Hey, it’s alright. We’ll be out in a minute, and then we can go home and see the kids.”

Wanda offers you a small smile that you can tell is only a gesture, and not really sincere. You turn toward her and try to figure out how to best approach this. You didn’t know that Wanda was claustrophobic, but this is not the ideal time to figure it out. You unbuckle yourself before you reach over and lean Wanda’s seat back so she’s lying down. You unbuckle her too so she doesn’t feel so trapped, and you sit up and lean over the console with a small smile.

“Can you close your eyes for me, really quick?”

This is easy for Wanda to do, and she squeezes them shut as she takes your hands and holds them to her chest. She takes a deep breath and you start talking as you glance to the windows that are still being doused in suds. You admire the lights for a second before turning your attention back to Wanda.

“Do you remember our first date? Well rather our first time? It was maybe our tenth date, and you went all out and it was amazing. Do you remember what I’m talking about?”

Wanda struggles to focus on you at first as she tries to block out the sound of water thundering against the roof. When she realizes what you’re talking about, she can’t help but smile at the memory of it. She nods and she keeps her eyes closed as she breathes out barely loud enough for you to hear.

“Yeah, I do.”

You smile in response as you kiss your wife’s forehead and think back on one of the most romantic nights of your life. This was probably the date that convinced you that there was no leaving Wanda. She was going to be it for you, and you’d hoped that she would feel the same way.

“It was probably one of my favorite dates, Wands. You were so sweet, and you spent what I’m sure was an obscene amount of money to make me happy.”

You realize that you’re getting close to the end of the tunnel because the car’s getting hit by air now to dry it off, and you try to speak louder so Wanda doesn’t hear it. She almost looks peaceful as she lies back with her eyes shut, and you just hope she’s thinking about your time together as fondly as you are.

“I was so nervous. I’d put a lot of effort…or at least money into it, and I was very worried you’d find it too cheesy.”

You shake your head as you shift slightly so you can pull the car up and out of the tunnel and back into the parking lot. You carefully park near the vacuums before humming in contemplation as you recall that Wanda was right. She had sat in the car for nearly ten minutes after she’d driven you to the club, and you’d been confused and a little worried.

“It wasn’t cheesy, my love. It was perfect. Really beautiful.”

Wanda was thinking of the decorations that she’d paid tens of thousands for, but you were mostly thinking about how the rest of the night had gone after leaving the club. It had been beautifully decorated, and it was the memory of the lights that made you think of it now, The lights have since gone out, and you and Wanda really are in the dark with just your cleaner headlights and a couple of lamp posts illuminating the parking lot.

“I’m glad you liked it.”

Wanda’s eyes open to see you smiling at her, and she sits up a little so she can kiss you. You smile against her lips and only pull away a few seconds later when Wanda seems to realize where you are. She looks around briefly before she opens the window and watches as the last remaining drops of water disappear. She puts her seat back up and sticks her arm out the window and sighs heavily. She’s still looking outside as you put your seatbelt back on and start to pull out of the parking lot.

“Ready to go eat?”

Wanda turns to you with a smile before she nods in agreement. She’s starving and she’d almost forgotten as her anxiety seemed to overrule everything else. Now that she was calm, she was hungry again and she reaches over for your arm. She squeezes it gently and you turn to her when you come to a red light.

“Thank you, detka.”

You smile and kiss her cheek before continuing down the road. It’s time to get home and enjoy the rest of the night, and then tomorrow you and Wanda will have the entire day together. She keeps her hand on your arm for the rest of the ride home, and she’s already feeling the urge to go to sleep after this stress. Maybe she can convince you to eat on the couch in front of the television tonight.

“Of course, Wands.”

Masterlist

[zuffer-weird-girl]

Good afternoon, I hope your having a good day

I was wondering if you would be ok with writing a bout how overhaul would be after he got broken out of prison and found someone willing to help him and built new arms for him and he realised he had feelings for them and dicided he didn't want to be such a germaphobe enymore and wants a real relationship with this person after seeing how mean he was to people before he lost everything. I would really appreciate it but no problem if you dont want to 😁

I think I already did one of those, but I wouldn't mind doing again since it has been some time

Listen. This man right there? Won't neve, ever be the same as he was again.

His arrogance and ego are no longer existent. His will to live is gone. And he literally has no one. Really. No one he trusts nor family or friends by his side anymore.

His only connections to what he once was are arrested or in a coma that himself put them on.

Although there is some traces here and there of the old overhaul.

So what stuck with him was his distrust of people, still thinking that everyone is sick and against him and his mysophobia.. despite no longer having any arms to help him.

Jails aren't extremely clean nor non crowded places and I bet tartarus isn't any different. So tartarus was hell for him.

But there is one thing that separates the old Chisaki from this new one... a heavy trauma from the loss of his both arms and quirk. Chisaki had and will still have nightmares with shigaraki for a long time.... he is surely traumatized and mentally wounded. So his distrust of people gets worst? Surely, but one thing that he will now have is panic and a tinge of fear of someone new.

He is literally defenseless. The lady from tartarus literally manipulated his body like a broken puppet and he couldn't really do something about it since he just can't.

So yeah... it will be hella complicated to get his trust... it was already before but on this state of mind he is now? It sounds impossible.

The first time you appeared after everything that happened you volunteered to help. Apparently you were a close friend of Hawks and the winged hero trusted you to keep an eye on him after his and midoriya battle against Lady nagant.

He was silent the whole ride. No matter what you tried to say to create some talk to break the silence he just wouldn't dare to open his mouth.

Really you just got to hear his voice when you heard the man almost breaking down at that elders hospital bed begging fro forgiveness.

So now you had him under your care until taratarus was repaired... and you didn't exactly knew how to feel about him on those 2 weeks he was with you.

But you did notice how he flinched at every sound that was slightly more loud or just sudden. How his jaw clenched when he couldn't do something and only depended on your care to even grab something to eat or drink... not even speaking about going to the bathroom.

You understood that pretty quickly he was a mysophobic. How he avoided any surface that he wasn't sure it was cleaned well enough like a plague, how he almost ran away from your cat when it went smelling his feet.... and list still goes.

You had a fear you might regret this later... but you were just so.... sorry for him.

You just couldn't help.

"Uh... hey." You murmured while opening the door softly. Careful with the volume of your voice. He was just laid-back on the bed. Staring with a lifeless gaze at the ceiling. The only way you knew he acknowledged your presence was by a twitch of his eyebrow. "Sorry I took so long... but I have something for you."

Amber's eyes trailed from the ceiling to your own as you approached the bed and pulled a stool, which you always used to place his things and all, to sit on close to the bed.

"I know it doesn't matter anymore but considers as a late Christmas gift?" You forced a smile and showed him a huge box.

He blinked... well it was a start.

"Did you celebrated Christmas? In the yakuza?" You asked hopefully but soon sighed when he only trailed his gaze down at the box with a apprehensive look. "Relax, is not something dangerous... well I hope."

You regretted joking about that the moment you saw his body went rigid as he shot himself up the best he could to get away from you with a feral yet terrified glare.

"I-I'm sorry I'm sorry." You showed both of your hands up "I swear. Ir was just a dumb joke.... please just... let me show it to you? I think you will like it."

He arched an eyebrow at you as a response as you started to unlock the items and his eyes went wide open.

"Being part of that comission was worth it at least for a lil bit." You chuckled humorless while in your hold was two prosthetic arms. The most advanced ones he had seen to be honest. "Hate them for inumerous reasons...." You shook your head at that, noticing you were rambling at this point.

"Do you wanna try it on?" You asked with a gentle smile as he eyed you warily "I need to help with the first the one but you can do it yourself later yeah? I know depending on someone all the time sucks." You managed a giggle as he relaxed his body a bit and wordless allowed you to step closer.

You had noticed that the inumerous hives that would pop occasionally on his skin were slowly decreasing every time you had to touch him. You didn't knew if it was because he was growing used to it or just that he trusted you to be clean enough.

"There... can you move the fingers?" You asked as he glanced at the arm and soon enough the metallic fingers wiggled robotically as you opened one of the biggest smiles he ever saw "That's great! You will be doing some things now on your own! I still need to be close though... you will have to atture me for a lil more."

He slowly started to put on the other one and soon he was staring at the now new pair of robotic arms with wide eyes... his shoulders started to tremble a bit.. why was he feeling like crying? He didn't know.

"Do you need some time alone? I can leave if you want." You were staring at his whole body for any sign he might give to you until you widened your eyes at the weak and hoarse finally manifesting itself after the two weeks you've been with him.

"I...... ple... g-get... out." He finally managed to croak out as you nodded and left the room.

First sentence he spoke to you wasn't exactly the nicest but you wouldn't judge... at least you tried not to.

Although this happened you started to see some changes on your small apartment.

Everything was perfectly placed in order. Cleaned to perfection almost. Sometimes you had the privilege to see the criminal grumbling while washing in a very grumpy mood the sink.

It was... a interesting sign to say at least.

Soon you got that this was his way of not only providing himself on some comfort but a way to express his gratitude... you felt a bit flustered even.

It has been over almost one year since you had been sharing the place with the man. Things were as good as they can get with you sharing a place with a cat and a ex yakuza.

But to him? It wasn't like that.

It was strange. How you vould spur those things on him.

You just were so... diferent. You had almost the same emphaty pops had with him when he was a kid but it seemed like you understood him better than anyone he had crossed his path with.

It was also bizarre how much you affected him as well. At first he despised that feline but now as he lived with the creature he just flew used to its presence and he almost had a heart attack when you were out once and he couldn't find the damn cat.... only to curse the animal when he found them on the top of the kitchen cabinet.

And to top it off? You had gotten home early that day and saw the interactik and just burst out on a laughing fit as he felt his whole face burning because since when he got flustered around someone?

... since when he almost had a panick attack when someone didn't got home at the same time they usually did anyway...?

He just couldn't help it. The thought of Shigaraki just somehow discovering where he was and attacking you was circling like a damn carousel on his head... and when you got home he was just so angry ...

"Where the hell were you?" He remembered to hiss it when you closed the door

"Uh.. got stuff to do? Why? Were you worried?" You had joked but soon the air got heavy when he glared at your way and stormed out of the living room. Slaming the door of his room shut.

He breathed in and out as he gripped on his hair... trying to just calm down... he didn't know why he was in such a state but soon his heart started to beat faster at the knock on the door... a apology slipping from your lips and asking if he was okay.

He couldn't help but sigh at the memory. You didn't had to say sorry for that. You had this habit of always saying this word and he hated it since you did nothing wrong ever since he got to know you.

"Hey." He almost flinched at the sudden noise of your voice "You want to learn how to make oyakodon? You seemed to enjoy it last week at least." You smiled sweetly at him as he pondered on your words.

He wasn't a fan of cooking. It was always messy. But it gave him some sense of security since he knew what went in the dish and he knew how clean you or him had gotten before putting your hands to work.

"Tsk. You sound pleased to teach dishes. What? Already worn out of doing the basics things so you want to push those to me?" He tsked his tongue and spoke in the same nonchantly tone of voice as always.

"Woah. Sorry to try to help you on not being so spoiled as before." You snorted at the angry offended look he threw you "besides you always complain about the seasoning I put, so I was hoping if you did it instead you would quit on acting like a poiled 5 years old kid and be like... the man you are at 28." You giggled as he deadpanned before huffing and crossing his bionic arms over his chest as he threw one of his legs over the other as he decided to drive his attention back to the TV.

It was talking about all the problems of outside... especially the battle against heroes and villains. You kept him updated sometimes but he viuld notice the way you avoided any topic involving Shigaraki or the league of villains... or now as called the Paranormal Liberation Front....

He scoffed once again... the thought of you treating him like something fragile sickened him sometimes... but deep now, it offered him a bit of comfort.

His eyes went back to you... now you were petting while feeding your cat before standing up, patting your hands and going to the bathroom to wash them... he noticed how you didn't do that some months ago but started to do it for his sake.

"What are you stating at?" He widened his eyes at noticing he had been staring at you for too long.

"Nothing. Nothing in particular." He stood up as soon as you got closer and you arched an eyebrow at seeing his face a bit pinkish.

"Okay? Listen, I need to get going so so if you want to learn that dish you just sucked the entire plate last week you better tell me." You giggled while he only furrowed his eyebrows, finally looking at you once again.

"To where? I don't think you work on this time of the day."

"No but Hawks called me this morning. Told me he needed to talk about some things."

His body went rigid once again...

Jealousy? No. No he couldn't be jealous. You were just a.. a ... friend. Yeah. A colleague. He couldn't be jealous. No no.

He wasn't like that. Overhaul never would feel jealous...

... but what about Chisaki? Chisaki kai? Was he a man to feel jealousy over a colleague?

.... were you even a colleague to him now?

The entire time if the lunch hour he was tormented with these thoughts.... until he grew impossibly more antsy at seeing you getting ready. Perfume and all out.

Why? Were you trying to impress that hero or something.

"Can you feed my baby if I take too long? I know you hate it but I really don't know how this will turn out." You murmured while adjusting your clothes as his knees bounced.

"That feline will leave." Don't go.

"Overhaul please. Don't start now with the grumpy attitude." You mocked him as he scoffed.

Call me by my name... my given name.

He flinched violent at the thought, it was enough to make the cat jump in fright and for you to notice.

Shit. You had noticed.

"Are you okay?" You asked, slowly approaching him as he tried to regulate his breathing "Was the news wasn't it? He is far away, he can't get to you and surely he won't know who am I to hunt me down." You spoke softly as he blinked... the urge to groan was strong but he just nodded and mentioned vaguely with his metal hand for you to just go.

Sighing, you grabbed your coat and before closing the door you spoke over your shoulder.

"You know my number. If anything happens, and I mean anything, just call me alright?"

No response.

He heard you sighing again before closing the door allowing himself to shakily exhale and just burry his face carefully on the metal hands he had as his mind processed what happened for to think that so suddenly... why was his emotions so turbulent whenever you were around but when you were away he felt numb?

...

...

"No." He murmured as he realization hit him like a truck. "Fuck... please everything but this."

What the hell was he supposed to do? Yes, you had been helping him and being a total angel. Yes, you helped him open his eyed and notice how horrible he had been the last decade of his life. Yes, he couldn't deny it, you were so beautiful and so attractive. Yes, he felt a sense of peace whenever you were around and when you weren't his heart seemed like it would drop to his stomach....

But what was he suppose to do now knowing that he actually liked you?

He never had a relationship for Christ's sake. He wouldn't know where to begin. He wouldn't know how to act around you. He wouldn't know shit.

And what he had to offer to you? Nothing. Nada. If maybe you had met him before all this bullshit.... he would have something to give you. Heck despite his shifty morals he still considered that his mental state was better at that time than now.

Fuck... maybe you were better off with that winged hero. He would just fuck up your life more than he had.

How long had he been thinking about this? Since when it got dark?

... shit hour cat was meowing like crazy. He forget to fed the damn pest.

"Dammit." He murmured shakily as he stood up.... the least he could do to express his gratitude was to at least feed the damn cat.

He flinched at the sudden sounds of the door opening right when he poured a bowl to the starving animal.

"tadaima..." You moaned as he stared at you for a while before pretending to have his attention of the kitty now devouring his meal as he muttered a low 'okaeri.'

You widened your eyes in shock at that... he never did that before but you couldn't help bit to let out a laugh.

"Aw warming up to me enough to welcome me home now?" You teased but frowned at not listening any scoffs or salty remarks of his.

Iit deepened when you notice this man had not touch his food.

"What did I told you about not eating?" You sighed as you went to to make him a plate until he beat you to it and just sat down wordless. "Did I... do something to piss you off?"

He stopped midway, his eating utensils in the air as he glared holes at the food before him.

"Jesus Overhaul, if you dontwant to eat I'm not going to force you, don't need to throw a tantrum." You scoffed but he only tasked in response.

"I'm not throwing a tantrum."

"Yes. You are." You sighed, trying to gather patience enough to deal with the problem "did something happen?"

Silence.

Scoffing at his attitude once again you went to check on your cat until his voice finally manifested again.

"You seem to enjoy that hero's company."

"Well yeah, I know him since we were like... 8?" You said suspiciously while noticing his jaw clenching and unclenching at your response. "What? Jealous or something?" You said without thinking until you saw his eyes widened for a second before going back to normal.

"Wait..."

"No. Do not even dare to comment." He growled.

"Are you-"

"I am not. End of discussion." He stood up abruptly and started to walk away... but this time you opted to follow him instead of just letting it be.

"For crying out loud talking with me won't kill you!" You groaned as he tried to close the door but you stopped him just in time.

"Get out." He growled, not able to look at your eyes.

"Chisaki just listen!" You exclaimed making the room go quiet as his eyes shot up to look at your own widened ones.

"Wh.. what did you-?"

"I'm so sorry." You murmured horrified, hands on your mouth as he stared down at you in pure shock "oh God I'm so sorry."

"How did... how do you know my...?" He couldn't even finish his sentence as you started to ramble.

"I'm so sorry. I know only your surname due to Deku giving me information like a year ago about you. Rules and all for you being a ex criminal and yakuza. God I'm sorry Overhaul... it just slipped." You brushed your hair away in distress

"Why didn't you called me by that if you knew?" He snarled, why? He didn't know.

His head was such a mess of emotions now...

"Well, deku told me about how you weren't him anymore. About how you abandoned that name long ago and all... so I thought if I called you that you might have grow uncomfortable or it just something that you don't like to remember about .." You mumbled, hand on your face covering your ashamed expression.

"... I don't see a problem." You let out a confused sound before looking up at him and noticing once again the tip of his ears starting to grow pink "I.. I am not what I used to be anyway. So I dont mind... you calling me that."

You arched an eyebrow before letting out a relieved sigh, crossing your arms before looking up at him once again.

"Fine. If I can call you Chisaki-"

"No. You can call me ... by my first name. It's Kai." You widened your eyes as he averted his own aways from your gaze.

"That's... are you sure? That's way too intimate..." he cursed himself at your reminder.

He just nodded and closed the door on you. Leaving you in a state of confusion and shock.

.

.

"Sounds rough." Your friend muttered as you groaned in your hands.

"Right? What else can I do to understand that guy?" You moaned, dropping your head on the table as your friend blinked.

"You know..." they sighed "... I think I know why he is acting like that. Freaking out when you take longer to get home, starting to act strange when you go out with others guys.... allowing you to call him by his first name despite his distaste of it...."

You poked a eyes at them and offered them a "go on" look.

".... you freacking idiot." They groaned "He likes you! Like, REALLY REALLYYYYY likes you!" They almost shouted while shaking your shoulders.

"Eh?" You muttered in shock.

"Yeah!" They wanted to slap you so bad.

"EH?!?!?!?!?" You shouted in embarrassment

.

.

"Why do I have a sudden feeling I will have a headache today?" He muttered as the kitty meowned at him as he hummed "Maybe I'm overreacting."

The cat blinked at him

"Oh for crying out loud now I'm talking to a freacking cat like (Y/n) does." He groaned, dropping his head back on the couch and face palming hard

[airplanned]

Terrible AU of the day:  Zeff and Bellemere get married. Nami, Nojiko, and Sanji are step siblings on the Baratie.

With extra details, because I spent 11 hours in the car today:

He's buying supplies for the Baratie at Coco Village, and gets tangerines from her and asks if she wants to get dinner.  She thinks this is a business dinner and he's going to buy tangerines exclusively from her.  Heck yeah money!  Once she gets there, she realizes pretty quick that he meant it to be a date.  She panics and talks about tangerines the whole time.  He realizes she doesn't know it's a date, gets embarrassed, signs a contract to buy way too many tangerines on a regular basis.

She's embarrassed and keeps sending the girls to the dock to deliver the tangerines in her stead.  Zeff is like, "These girls are too damn skinny," so he'll buy the tangerines, feed them lunch, and hand them a couple casseroles to take home.  Zeff's approval rating with the girls are off the charts.

Bellemere comes down to give him a piece of her mind about how they don't need charity, and he's like, "It's not charity.  My dumbass brat of a kid said he was too good to make casseroles, so I made him make 20, and now I have too many damn casseroles."  She's like, "...IDK what to make of any of that.  You have a kid?"  And he's like, "Yeah.  He's a shit.  I love him...Want to get dinner?"

Even though all three kids are in weird pseudo-adoption situations, they still have big step-sibling energy.  Mostly because Sanji is wary of siblings and has a meltdown any time Bellemere is nice to him.  Eventually they get to a place where the kids are friends who live on the same houseboat, but no one's ready to use the "sister" word or the "brother" word.  That would have to happen later at an emotionally climactic moment.

Nojiko and Sanji are both exceedingly well dressed.  Everyone else rolls their eyes at them, but they're bonding and look amazing.

Nami teaches Sanji to steal things.  They do a tag-team kind of thing where one of them distracts.  No one can prove they've done anything, but everyone knows and is exasperated.

Zeff is the worst girl dad.  But the girls and Bellemere are consistent with calling him on his shit, especially when Nojiko starts hanging out in the kitchen.  Sanji starts teaching her to cook.  Then Patty starts teaching her to cook.  She's a really good, solid cook, and is less of an asshole about it than everyone else, so after a couple months Zeff gives up and throws chef whites at her.

Bellemere takes over the administration stuff and organizing the vendor purchases, because Zeff would rather be cooking and is shit at it.  I mean, look at how much he's spending on tangerines!

Nami is great at charting courses that will get them the best business and avoid storms and minimize time for supply trips.

As the kids get older, they all keep banging the customers.  One of them will do it, and the adults will yell at them, and that kid will calm down for a bit, but as soon as they do, another kid is at it.  It just doesn't stop.

Nami stands up to Zeff for something he said to Sanji, and Sanji has a meltdown.

Okay, I think Bellemere has to die?  Something with Arlong.  Because then Nami leaves to get vengeance or whathaveyou.  Zeff throws himself into his work, Sanji shuts down for a while and starts smoking Bellemere's cigarettes.  Nojiko has to keep the restaurant running.  She's pretty pissed at Nami.

When the Going Merry rolls up to the Baratie, Nami's like, "Aww shit.  I'm not here," and hides on the boat until Zoro has his show down with Mihawk.  When Luffy and the rest of the crew go in to eat, Luffy's like, "Hey, do you know Nami?" and Sanji stares at him and says, "Yeah, we're not gonna tell Nojiko she's here." Immediately goes to the Merry to be like, "Sooooooo..." in the most asshat brother kind of way.

She and Zeff end up having an all-out screaming match on deck.  Luffy's standing off to the side like 😶 horrified and trying not to be noticed but unable to look away from this car crash.   Sanji's 😶 too.  And Usopp 😶.  And the chefs 😶😶😶😶.  And maybe Mihawk 😶.

When they finally calm down and come to the end of their fight, Zeff's like, "Alright, fine.  But nobody tell Nojiko."

[whumpy-bi]

“I need you to take a deep breath, I know you feel like you can’t, but I promise, you can.”

Prompt from @i-write-whump

Warnings: kidnapping, restraints, implied panic attack

Caretaker stalked through their enemy’s house, flashlight in hand. They did their best to avoid any creaky floorboards, checking around every corner. They suspected Whumper had fled the scene hours ago, but it was best to prepare for anything.

They’d scoured Whumper’s study and bedroom, quickly and carefully shoving any files of use into their bag. Caretaker was now moving down the hall, hoping to find something else noteworthy—some evidence, a storage room, or—

What was that?

Caretaker stopped short, gripping their flashlight tightly as they listened. Their mind wasn’t playing tricks on them, they could definitely hear clothes rustling in the closet. Something was moving in there.

They hesitantly, slowly opened the door with their free hand, eyebrows raised with confusion. Then, it all seemed to happen in a matter of seconds.

A stranger— definitely too small to be Whumper — tumbled out of the closet, immediately collapsing and thrashing on the floor. Caretaker jumped back, recognizing that the stranger was tied up, thick ropes keeping their wrists and ankles secure. As they tried to process this, the stranger seemed to panic, desperately trying to scramble away from the stranger towering over them.

Caretaker finally came to their senses, crouching down and attempting to reach out to them.

“Hey, hey, no, don’t worry, it’s—“ They stammered, setting the flashlight down to hold their hands up. “I’m not gonna hurt you, I swear.”

The restrained stranger stared up at them with apprehension, their breathing coming out in short, high gasps.

Caretaker kept their voice quiet, but steady. “My name is Caretaker, okay? I’m…I’m not with Whumper. Did Whumper leave you in there?”

The victim nodded, their chest still heaving.

“I need you to take a deep breath, I know you feel like you can’t, but I promise, you can.”

The stranger fought to get their breathing back down, their inhales still shaky even as they managed to slow them.

“Okay…that’s good, you’re good. I can—I’m gonna come closer, okay? I need to untie you.”

They held perfectly still, which Caretaker had to take as permission as they began working at the bonds. They finally spoke, nearly startling Caretaker in the near silence of the empty house.

“Whumpee.”

“Is that your name?” They kept their voice calm, smiling encouragingly as they moved to untie Whumpee’s ankles.

“Y—Yeah…”

“Just try to stay calm, Whumpee, okay? You’re going to be safe, now.”

Caretaker led Whumpee out a few minutes later, their search for dirt on Whumper forgotten. They had a surviving victim, who could prove to be more valuable than anything.

[kasienda]

Aftermath - Ch 5: Reason to Live

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

Read on Ao3

Chapter 5: Reason to Live

After their unplanned disaster sleepover, Marinette and Adrien fell strictly back into their routine. She came over six days a week, and stayed home for one. She didn’t risk any more late night visits, and he didn't ask her to stay. And he hadn’t mentioned her slowing down or stopping her visits again even though he could take care of the place and himself almost on his own now. 

He really didn’t need her. 

But as long as he didn’t send her away, she was going to keep coming. The guilt for taking advantage of his kindness, for making him put up with her usually only haunted her as she was falling asleep or while she wallowed pitifully during her seventh day of “rest”.

But every time the guilt became almost unbearable he would ask her to teach him something new.

First, it was laundry. She taught him all the basics of washing, folding, and ironing in an afternoon, though she insisted most people their age didn’t bother with ironing. Modern fabrics and detergents didn’t need it nearly as much, especially if you put things away right out of the dryer. Nino still came over to take care of the chores, but now, the three of them tended to do it together, which made the folding and stowing parts way faster, and more fun because neither one of them would stop cracking stupid jokes.

Adrien’s sense of humor was far too reminiscent of a certain cat.

She quashed that thought before it could sour her mood, instead trying to savor every bout of unrestrained laughter shared between them.

Then, Adrien suggested out of the blue that they go for a walk. 

“Like outside?” she asked.

He visibly swallowed and then nodded. “Yeah, outside.”

He held her hand so tightly when they stepped over the threshold into the complex’s hallway that Marinette almost asked if he wanted to change his mind. 

The hallway was deserted. Marinette had made sure beforehand as she knew it was the fear of running into a person who recognized him that triggered his panic, not the being outside itself. 

They didn’t stay out long. They just walked a single loop around the building. Adrien kept his gaze on their feet, and nearly strangled her hand when they passed by a woman walking two dogs. 

“Can we go back home?” he asked after she passed in the smallest voice Marinette had ever heard from him. And when the front door had closed behind them, Adrien collapsed to the floor immediately like his legs were made of jello. 

She sat beside him, and rubbed what she hoped were soothing patterns into his shoulders and neck. 

She wasn’t sure if the outing had been a success or not, but then four days later he wanted to try again. 

The second attempt went better. When he made it all the way around the building without panicking, Marinette led him to a nearby park and watched a group of children playing. They managed to stay for about twenty minutes. They might have lasted longer except when the two adults clearly responsible for the children glanced their way Adrien had bolted as skittish as a squirrel.  

She brought him oversized sunglasses and a bright orange sun hat to hide his most recognizable features, which helped a ton. Before she knew it, a half hour walk became a part of their daily routine. Every day, no matter the weather, after lunch they’d go for a walk, always in a different direction.

They were getting to know the neighborhood pretty well.

Adrien avoided the most crowded areas and he never wanted to stop for tea or ice cream, but he didn’t visibly flinch when someone crossed their path anymore either.

He was clawing his life back bit by bit. She was so proud of him for that, and a little jealous as well. With every bit of independence he regained, she felt left behind even as she walked at his side, holding his hand. How long would it be before he could go for a walk independently without her?

She hated herself for wishing he would continue to struggle. He shouldn’t have to keep hurting just so she didn’t feel alone. 

She was supposed to be helping him, not weighing him down or holding him back. She was supposed to be happy for him. She wanted to be happy for him. He deserved to get his life back.

She forced herself to be his biggest cheerleader whenever they were together and she tried to save all her other feelings for her days of “rest”.

Though that wasn’t ideal either, as she often ended up snapping unfairly at her parents or Alya. 

“Would you stop? I don’t need you to do my hair!”

Alya’s hands fell from her neck. Marinette missed her soothing ministrations immediately, but she didn’t deserve Alya’s care and attention anyway. Not after snapping at her day after day. 

“It’s not like I’m going anywhere today anyway,” Marinette offered more meekly. 

“There’s nothing wrong with getting dolled up purely for yourself,” Alya countered, completely unperturbed by Marinette’s waspishness. But she didn’t pick up the hairbrush again. 

Marinette didn’t know how to ask for Alya to come back or how to apologize. Instead, she flopped back to the bed and just lay there, feeling as limp and useless as a severely overcooked noodle. 

It didn’t matter, she tried to tell herself. Marinette didn’t feel very pretty these days anyway. And Alya probably wouldn’t have to put up with her for much longer at the rate that Adrien was healing. 

“Looks like it’s time for lunch anyway. I’ll be right back.” 

The hatch door closed behind Alya. Marinette’s shoulders immediately sagged. She was so tired of pretending. But with Alya’s absence the silence stretched until it became unbearable and she flopped onto her side. Every limb felt like lead. She might just sink into the mattress and never arise again. She was tired of pretending, but she didn’t want to be alone. She was terrified of being alone.  

A single tear leaked from her eye, but her hand was too heavy to do anything to wipe it away. 

She didn’t understand why it was so much easier with Adrien, and nearly impossible with Alya and her parents. It shouldn’t be such a chore to hang out with the people she loved. What was wrong with her? 

Why did she keep hurting the people she loved the most?

The creak of the door hatch rising from the floor sounded through her room just moments after Alya had left. And she huffed a sigh. 

“I’m not hungry,” she called down petulantly.

“Well, it’s good I didn’t bring any food then.”

Marinette scrambled to an upright sitting position, suddenly hyper aware of her unfinished hair, the fact that she wasn’t dressed, and the dirty laundry that cluttered the floor in haphazard clumps.

“Adrien! What are you doing here?” She winced the moment the accusatory words were out.

He frowned. “I was trying to surprise you. Your maman said I could come right up. I don’t mean to intrude. I thought… I thought you’d be impressed that I managed to make it here on my own.”

She tucked a tangled loop of hair behind her ear and tried for a smile. It felt forced.

“I am super impressed. I just… wasn’t expecting you.” She couldn’t meet his eyes, not when every part of her burned with shame. 

“Are you sick?” 

She wanted to take the out he offered and run. But she couldn’t do it. She didn’t want to lie to him. 

But she couldn’t admit the truth to him either.

Her chin trembled.

He climbed up to her loft and took a seat beside her on her bed. “You’re not okay, are you?”

She hung her head, tears burning at the edges of her eyes. “I didn’t want you to know.”

He slipped an arm around her waist, and pulled her into his chest. “I understand. Before you visited me that first time in the hotel, I didn’t want you to know about me either,” he admitted. 

She sobbed and laughed at the same time. “We make quite the pair don’t we?” 

He didn’t say anything, just held her tighter with his head resting on hers. She felt so warm in his hold. 

She didn’t deserve it though.

“You don’t have to stay,” she told him. She didn’t want to become a burden for him the way she already was on her parents and Alya. 

“Marinette, you’ve held my hand through every part of the disaster that is my life since my father was taken down. May I support you in the same way?” 

She wanted to argue.

She didn’t deserve him. He was only struggling because of her - because she had single-handedly shattered his whole life and never had the courage to tell him even when his circumstances were so much worse than her own. Every time he wanted to get up, to do anything for himself, he had to break away from the gravitational black hole left behind by his father, a hole that she had torn open unknowingly.

But his eyes sparkled with so much hope - more hope than she had seen from him in a long time, so she couldn’t fight him on this. 

When he pushed her back into bed, she let him. He climbed down her ladder and returned a moment later with a book. A book of poetry her mother had given her a few weeks prior that Marinette hadn’t so much as cracked open. He settled in next to her, their sides pressing against one another, and started reading out loud. 

She didn’t hear the words, but there was a rhythm to his voice as he read. She found herself crying into his shoulder as his free hand stroked her hair.

“What is it?” he asked. 

She shook her head. These tears were the good kind of tears. The kind of tears she thought she had forgotten how to shed. “Nothing. I’m just really glad you’re here.” 

His answering smile was blinding. “I’m glad, too.”

The hatch door flipped open. 

“Hey kids!” Alya greeted brightly. “I brought lunch!” 

Normally, Alya would have stayed and ate with her, but this time she just smiled at the two of them curled up, laid the tray over their laps, and disappeared back the way she had come. 

It was like she knew that with Adrien there, Marinette wouldn’t refuse food.

And she wasn’t wrong. 

…

Marinette couldn’t get out of bed the next morning. 

Her maman came in, surprised to find her still buried in blankets, but when she immediately moved to haul Marinette out of bed as she had so many times before in weeks past Marinette didn’t take her mother’s offered hand.

“Marinette, Xīngān Băobèi, what’s wrong?” 

“I can’t!” Angry tears fell down her cheeks. 

Her maman frowned. “Why not?” 

“He knows now.” 

“Knows what?” 

Marinette clutched her knees to her chest. “That I’m in just as bad of shape as he is. He knows that I can’t help him now.”

“Why does your struggling mean you can’t help him anymore?”

Marinette turned away, fighting tears. Her maman didn’t understand. 

“Alya and you have both told me that Adrien’s been struggling really hard with his own inner demons. That didn’t stop him from helping you yesterday, did it?” 

Marinette furiously wiped her tears away even though it was pointless because they just kept falling. Her maman didn’t understand. Adrien had been the only one in her life who had still viewed her as whole, that still seemed to have faith that she could do anything. The only person in her life where she was adding some benefit instead of weighing him down.

Surely, that illusion had been shattered.

Now he would hesitate to ask her for help, feel guilty for putting things on her plate, or just not trust that she could be what he needed. 

And he would be right.

Her phone buzzed. 

Adrien: 

If you’re up for it, I have something big I need your help with. If you’re not up for it, tell me, and I’ll try to arrange it for another day. Excited to see you in any case. 🙂

Her eyes blurred reading the message. 

He still thought she could help him. That idiot boy.

Now, she had to go. Now matter how big the task, she needed to help him to make up for the energy that he spent on her the day before. 

She took her mother’s offered hand, pushed herself through her morning routine, and followed the familiar route to Adrien’s apartment with her stomach writhing the whole way there. 

His concerned gaze at her arrival made her want to bolt immediately. As it was, her gaze remained locked on the floor, and her heart felt stuck up in her throat somewhere.

He cleared his throat. “I umm…”

Goodness, she had made things so awkward. Had she ruined everything between them in one afternoon? 

“I’m sorry that I didn’t notice… that you were hurting.” 

She shook her head rapidly, looking up at him. “No, Adrien, no. It wasn’t your fault. You had your own things, and I… I didn’t tell you.” 

He rubbed the back of his neck as she came in. “It just seems obvious, looking back. I should have seen it.” 

“It’s fine!” she insisted, pasting on a smile. She didn’t want to talk about it - it was all too close to things she couldn’t tell him. “You said you needed my help with something?”

He hesitated a moment and then allowed the subject change. “Yes, I was hoping you could help me run an errand today?” It sounded like a question. 

“You mean out and about?” 

He nodded.

“Yes, of course. I thought Nino was running all your errands.”

“He is. Or Alya sometimes, but this is more personal. I can’t ask him for this.” 

“Okay. Where are we going?”

He gave her an address. 

“This is a busier part of town,” she observed. “Is that going to be okay?” 

He laughed nervously. “Well, we’ll find out, won’t we?” 

She reached for his hand, and he took it gratefully. “I’ll be there with you every step of the way.” 

He squeezed her hand. “Thank you. I figure it makes the most sense to go after lunch,” he said.

The ensuing morning felt almost normal. He played video games, they made lunch, and ate it together. They chatted throughout all of it. The only difference was he was more affectionate. 

He leaned into her while playing, squeezed her shoulder when she was setting the table, and he just seemed to smile at her more across the table. Or at least he would smile whenever she looked at him. A few times, she had caught him looking at her with a more searching or contemplative look. 

She couldn’t decide if she loved or hated the development. Their time together was supposed to be about him , and she despised that he was worrying about her now, but she had always wanted to be close to him. 

That had never changed. 

But it was exhausting bouncing back and forth between delight to have his care and attention and overwhelming guilt that he was putting any energy into her at all. It was almost a relief when it was time for them to go. She didn’t even ask what they were doing. 

Adrien drove for the twenty minute commute and parked his car in an underground garage. It was only when they reached the ground floor, after he led her two blocks north, when they were standing in front of a familiar building that Marinette realized she had been tricked.

The Center for Occupational and Lifestyle Redesign. 

Marinette glared at the blue lettering. “Alya put you up to this?” she demanded harshly. 

“Sabine actually,” he whispered. 

She froze. “You’ve been talking to my parents?” 

“For a few weeks now. Since our accidental sleepover.”

No no no! This was all wrong. He hadn’t just figured her out yesterday after all. He had known the whole time?! 

But then, why was he being so worried all morning?! That was definitely new!

Maybe her maman hadn’t told him everything.

She searched his face, and he was clearly as anxious as she was.

“Mari, I’m sorry if I’ve overstepped. I think Nino gave them my number, but it was only because you were spending so much time here with me. And apparently they were really worried about you. I don’t know why I didn’t realize that something deeper was going on.”

Her chin trembled. He felt so guilty. He wasn’t supposed to feel bad - not on her account. 

“Yesterday was my test run, to see if I could go out by myself. I didn’t realize you were hurting. They didn’t tell me that though I wish they had. They only told me that you stopped going to your appointments. That you insisted I was more important.” 

His gaze turned down, and his eyes glassy.

No no no! He wasn’t supposed to cry. Not for her. She didn’t matter. 

He held his hand out. “I made an appointment for you. Will you come inside with me?” 

And his eyes were shining. They were so bright. She couldn’t say no. She could go to therapy if it was helping him . 

She took his hand. 

… 

“Hello Marinette. My name is Juliette. It is very nice to meet you.” 

Marinette made herself smile. “No Camille?” she asked. She wouldn’t be surprised if her old therapist had given up on her. She would have, in the same position. 

Juliette smiled and gestured for Marinette and Adrien to follow her. “She’s out on maternity leave, but I have her notes here. Shall we get started?”

“Sure,” she agreed, following Juliette to a table set up with putty, a pegboard, clothespins, stacks of folded white towels, and various contraptions that Marinette remembered using at her last appointment months prior to stretch and strengthen her hand. She didn’t remember what most of it was called. 

“How often are you doing your stretches?” Juliette asked as she took Marinette’s hand, gently urging her locked fist open with firm, yet gentle ministrations. 

“Umm… not very often,” she admitted, feeling small and like a failure. Camille had only wanted her to work on it for ten minutes a day, and Marinette hadn’t been able to keep up with even that much. 

She would’ve lied, but Adrien was right there listening to them talk. And she still didn’t want to lie to him .

Juliette smiled. “I appreciate your honesty. When patients lie, it makes it difficult to know if something is not working or if it’s just not being done.” 

Marinette’s shoulders relaxed, relieved that Juliette wasn’t going to lecture her. Camille would have. 

Juliette pressed on different points on her palm and wrist. “What do you want to be able to do with your hand?” 

Marinette bit her lower lip. She didn’t have any desires or goals. “What do you mean?”

“Like, what are the activities that you want to be able to participate in your everyday life?” 

Marinette shrugged. 

“Cooking?” Juliette suggested. 

Adrien shook his head. “She manages quite well in the kitchen already. What about sewing?” 

Juliette looked at her for confirmation. 

Marinette hesitated. She didn’t really care about sewing anymore. Fashion design wasn’t going to happen. She glanced at him, and he smiled brightly. He had been thrilled when she gave him her old quilt. She might not ever be a designer, but she would like to be able to make something else for him again. 

She nodded. 

Juliette smiled and moved her attention to assessing each of Marinette’s fingers. 

“The tendons that move your fingers are very stiff and too short from your injury, but you still have a good range of motion in your thumb and ring finger. I’d like to show you some new stretches that target the other fingers to see if they can catch up.” 

“Can you show me as well?” Adrien asked. 

The therapist smiled. “Of course! I want to ask, what do you think you’ll actually do at home?” 

“How much does she need to do?” Adrien asked. 

“Ideally, you’d spend ten minutes stretching, and ten minutes on another exercise I’m going to show you, but if giving you that much homework means it feels impossible to start, it’s counterproductive. Any stretching will be beneficial, even if it’s just two or three minutes a day, so I recommend starting small until you’ve successfully established it as part of your routine.” 

Juliette looked to her. “Which is why I asked what you think you can do? I won’t give you more than that.”

Marinette didn’t know what to say. She had never been able to get herself to do the stretches before, and she didn’t think that was likely to change. 

Except Adrien was there. She wasn’t willing to admit to him that she didn’t think she could pull off even the shortest of routines.

“Can we start with five minutes?” Marinette asked.

Juliette nodded, and then gestured for Marinette to follow her. She opened a closet that was overflowing with cutlery, paintbrushes and paint, pin cushions and spools of thread, and so many different kinds of scissors. And was that a fishing rod? 

Juliette hands her a piece of cardboard with holes punched out and an oversized plastic needle. 

“We’ll start with this,” Juliette explained, “and work our way down to the scale you need. Next time, you can tell me more about the type of sewing projects you tend to work on, and I can create some individualized activities to help you work towards that. It looks like you might benefit from some adaptive scissors as well.” 

Marinette glanced at Adrien who gave her an encouraging smile, and took the offered tools. She felt like a child with the needle fisted in her right hand. 

Juliette opened her fingers firmly. “Place the needle here,” she directed, slipping the needle between her pointer and middle fingers. “And approach the hole with the back of your hand. It will feel awkward at first, but the key is just to practice with it here.” 

The holes were large enough and the needle long enough that Marinette could string the yarn through as long as she went slowly. It wasn’t even close to what Marinette needed to be able to do to be able to sew by hand again, but it was already more than she thought she could do. 

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She blinked them back. Adrien’s hand was on her shoulder an instant later and she leaned into his support. Maybe it wasn’t so bad to let him help her, too. 

“You can make your own lacing card. Just punch holes in some laminated paper or cereal box cardboard. Then you can thread yarn through it. This will develop the right muscles you need. Precision will come in time.” 

“Thank you,” Marinette said. It didn’t seem like enough to say.

But Juliette smiled brightly. “Of course! Happy to help! Does this time work well for you? Adrien said he wasn’t sure what worked best for your schedule.” 

Marinette glanced at Adrien. “You’ll come back with me?” 

He smiled, nodding. “As many times as you want.” 

Her assigned exercises became a part of their routine. Right before they made lunch together, Adrien would walk her through each stretch. With him holding her accountable, she probably could have committed to the twenty minute routine, but it was just as well because her hand often felt tender and sore. 

He made her three different kinds of lacing cards in the first week, and any time he played video games, she would sit next to him working on threading a skein of neon green yarn through the overly large holes. 

He took her to her next therapy appointment where she experimented with several different types of adaptive scissors. Adrien absorbed all of Juliette’s advice and directions when Marinette herself was feeling overwhelmed. 

She had gone to the bathroom once, and she came back to Adrien geeking out over various pieces of adaptive equipment. 

“That is so clever! I had no idea any of this existed!” 

Another week went by, and specialized cooking utensils that could be used in a closed grip and cutting boards that suctioned onto the countertop started popping up in his apartment. Every week, he kept adding little things that made the space more accessible for her. 

She suddenly loved cooking when she was in his kitchen. She rarely needed his help to cut things up anymore, though he was always standing right beside her anyway. 

She blew her hair out of her face for the third time with a sigh. Her mother hadn’t had time to put it up for her that morning due to an early morning appointment. He slipped in behind her and tied her hair into two pigtails. They’re not perfectly even, but this time the hair style didn’t bother her. In a weird way she feels like herself again.

She smiled at him. “Thank you.” 

“Anytime.” 

Two months into weekly therapy, Adrien started coming over to the bakery on her seventh day of “rest”. Then he started coming over to the bakery on her seventh day of rest. And he started adding the same modified tools to her family kitchen the same way he had already modified his own. 

She felt guilty that he was spending so much money on her. The specialized utensils weren’t exactly cheap, and he just brought it and installed it without any fuss or fanfare, especially when she was only home one day a week.

“Have you tried using this knife, Marinette?” her father asked.

“Yes, papa! Adrien has a similar one in his apartment. It’s really easy to use.” 

“I’ll say! My wrist hasn’t felt this good in years!” 

Her eyes watered again. Maybe it wasn’t a waste afterall. “I’m glad!”  

She and Adrien made dinner for her parents once together. It wasn’t anything fancy - just a ratatouille stew. Her parents ate with enthusiasm and didn’t remark on the lack of sides. They never said anything to her, but she caught her mother clutching Adrien to her chest that evening in tears. 

The next time he came over, Tom had invited Adrien into the back of the bakery. He taught Adrien to make bread. Just ordinary white bread. 

He brought her the first slice. 

“What do you think?” 

It was soft and airy. A bit inconsistent in texture, but she probably wouldn’t have even noticed had she not grown up in a bakery. 

“It’s really good, Adrien. Thank you!” 

“Do you think we could come back tomorrow?” he asked her. 

“Why are you asking me? You can go wherever you want on your days.” 

“Your dad said he would show me croissants next, and I honestly don’t want to wait a whole week.” 

His excitement was infectious. Soon they established a new pattern - where they spent every other day at Adrien’s apartment hanging out just the two of them, and then the other days at the bakery where Marinette watched her father teach Adrien the finer points of baking.

Soon Adrien was making baguettes, sourdough bread, cookies, and tarts, though he still struggled with pie crusts and macarons. 

“Do you like it?” she asked him over dinner. 

“Like what?” 

“Baking?” 

He grinned. “I love it! It feels good to create something for a change. And maybe to feel a teensy bit useful if only a few hours a week.”

She smiled. “I’m glad.”

“Do you think I could ever be as good as your dad?” 

She grinned. “Maybe. He insists it’s all about practice, patience, and love. Those are all things that you are very good at. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.” 

She realized with a start that she wanted to be there to see it. To see him. 

“You okay?” 

“I think I’m better than I’ve been in a long time.” She smiled. “Thanks to you.”

…

[sharksa-shivers]

TW: Blood, murder, organs, yeahhhhhhh...Demons sure are fun.......

So here's a scene where The Trio derps get called to this hotel to see if there's a demon issue there/if a demon murdered a resident and with this kinda mission in mind, all of em are like "……….Uhhhhhhhhhhh………" But they end up doing it cuz nobody else is going to as well as if there is a demon, it could hurt more people.

They get to the room and Sharky and Max are immediately smelling blood and a fuckton of it…Kristy pushes them though to try and go into the room anyway cuz the person could need help so Max just knocks on the door and when there's no answer, Max finds the door unlocked, he opens the door and The Trio are greeted with a brutal murder scene. Blood everywhere, organs strewn and thrown about and the victim laying on the floor next to the bed, facing the wall.

Kristy's fucking terrified but she's trying to calm down and keep her cool and she's in denial about the guy being dead. Sharky's freaked out and getting sick from the blood smell/disturbing scene so he's like "Nope, i'm out. This is demon crap, yeah, i've seen enough, bye." And Max is just looking at both of them and then the scene and Max is like "……Yeah, so i guess i'll deal with this investigation shiz then cuz…Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh………..Fuck." like out of everyone, Max is the most chill because he's used to this kind of stuff but uhhhhh, he's very upset about it later whenever they all leave to decompress after that… There's a reason Max hates shadowdemons so much and uhhh, this shits why... ------------- Kristy:(freaking out, in denial)…..I mean, maybe he's still alive? Maybe???

Max:(forcing himself to stay calm and deal with the situation since nobody else is, crouched down looking at the body then around the hotel room)…Kris, his livers behind the door, his lungs in the lampshade, i see a kidney under the bed and i see his small intestine drapped over the shower rod in the bathroom. He's dead, we can't help him.

Kristy:(freaking out, hyperventilating)Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god…

Max:(trying to look for clues of shadowdemons being responsible, looks over to the shut door, projecting his voice)HEY SHARKY, PLEASE GET KRISTY, SHE'S GONNA HAVE A PANIC ATTACK.

Sharky:(quickly, hearing that, looking down at his feet to avoid looking at the gruesome scene, grabbing Kristy by the arm with a hand, using his other hand to cup his shirt over his nose, trying to be gentle and nice)Cmon, Max can handle this, let's sit this one out.

Kristy:(freaking out, in denial still)But Sharky-

Max:(quickly, standing up, chill)I got this Kris, sit it out.

Sharky:(sick, trying to avoid throwing up)Kristy, i'm literally gonna hurl from the blood smell, please…

Kristy:(crying, upset)……..Ok……

Sharky:(pulling her out and closing the door, sick)Thank you, god… -------------- (more shiz like right after Sharky pulls her out of the room, Sharky's trying to wind himself back some and Kristy's very upset and anxietyridden.)

Kristy:(looks over at Sharky who's leaning against the wall, upset but seemingly accepting the reality now that they both are a bit calmer-ish)………Do you think there was anything we could have done to help him or?

Sharky:(awkward, upset also, stressed and sick still)…….Um………….I……………….(sighs)……….I…….I don't know………..But i don't………Really want to think about that either in a sense, i don't really………(trying to word himself)……..I might sound rude or harsh or something but i'm gonna be honest, i do not want some strangers death on my conscious honestly!!

Kristy:(upset, crying quitely still)……….I just………I feel like we could have done something maybe, i…I don't know, i like to think we could have, like-!!!(crying, anxiety filling her voice)Maybe???

Sharky:(sick, awkward, slides down the wall and sits down, trying to relax some, holding his body)Again, i just…I'm not in a mental state to think about that kinda stuff right now…Especially when i'm still feeling sick like this, goddamnit, i feel like i'm gonna throw up still. That iron blood smell just slapped the hell out of me and now i just feel like all my guts are in a dryer or something, just swirling around…

Kristy:(sad, upset)I feel like a failure…Like we failed that guy, we didn't do our job, we-

Sharky:(seeing Kristy's obviously not in a good mindset either, he looks over and then proceeds to move over to where she's sitting, hugging her, letting Kristy get her emotions out but also trying to comfort her)Shhhh, look, you're obviously really really wound up, let's just….both try and calm down for right now okay? That's all we can really do right now…Let's not think about the big life questions right now, let's just…relax and wait for Max ok?

Kristy:(sad, upset)…Ok… ------------------------- Welp, here's that one i wanted to post the other day lol...So uhhhhhh, yeah!!! This is part of the reality of being a demon fighter, this is...What you're signing yourself up for at points... Kristy is the most freaked out cuz yeah, Sharky's freaked out but mostly the blood smell just makes him feel sick and Max is...Not fine but he's very desensitized to death and whatnot having been around it so much in his life...He's more pissed off then freaked out if i had to assign an emotion there and he'd show that more after leaving the situation...Again, there's a reason why Max seems to have such a vendetta against shadowdemons and the cult and uhhhhhh...This sorta stuff is definetly part of why...

[toadeyes-miqote]

Duty complete

There will be no song, no claiming of trophies, no glorious tales of battle to tell by the campfire’s light for G’raha, Sadu and her Bard Boys.

He will never be her rival, there is nothing glorious in this fight.

She remained calm as he taunted and postured before her. For one who styles himself a hunter, he was no different from the rogue trophy hunters she stopped in Tailfeathers. No one had the right to turn her into something she is not.

T'kebbe and her late parents’ quest for the elite marks sprang to mind as she avoided his strikes to wear him down. Already she was going through the manoeuvres learned in life for such a situation. he was no different from a rabid beast who had developed a taste for man’s blood.

Ignoring the pain as she returned strike for strike, thoughts of Thancred and his girls sprang to mind. What the young ones had achieved in The Empty. There was so much to look forward to. The pride on his face whenever he read their letters. Thancred can lecture her on her foolhardiness all he wants later.

A certain calmness in knowing that Alisaie will not have to pick up the fight where she left off is good enough for her. Her good kiddo will have a full life of great potential before her.

She thought of her mate and that wherever he might be, Zenos will not be a threat anymore and the rest was easy. It was no different from the one hunt in which she was separated from her Huntsmates and was cornered by a maddened beast that she had to take down.

It would be most heartening to introduce her mate to her brothers and sisters-in-arms and let them feast upon the simple pleasures of forest Miqo’te hospitality.

But for this hunt, there will be no song, no claiming of trophies, no glorious tales of battle to tell by the campfire’s light. Only the duty of a hunter taking down a rabid beast and keeping the forest safe for all. For her it was only a duty to complete, to survive, to go home, to complete …..

-----

The feeling of being back in Camp Dragonhead swept over her. Crackling fire within the warm stone walls of Haurchefant’s office even as a blizzard assaults the fortress from outside, the feeling of his ever watchful eyes on her.

Vaguely she thought she heard his excited sing-song voice calling her name before a twinge of panic took over his voice, pleading her to wake. There were others with him.. familiar to her …. Pleading with someone?...

"...My green huntress.....then live for.... instead... .. The one you seek, isn't here..." she heard Haurchefant whispered in her ear. Why does he sound like he was crying?

“....If indeed you deem her the soul of your late friend reincarnated.... then help her…. Please.... She has done so much and yet ask for so little.” Was he just behind her?

“Oh come now. Surely you did not tease her with all those locations only to let her to shuffle off in this mortal coil? It would be an irresponsible way to hand your duties over to her. Your descendent was responsible for the state she’s in now.”

An annoyed hiss coming from a little distance away was what she vaguely heard, a clear authoritative snap of the fingers followed...

-----

…Vaguely she caught Thancred’s scent and a sense of controlled calm in his voice.

“..Nyan…cred?...” her voice slurred.

“..keep talking….. voice draws…. back…” There was a twinge of panic in G’raha’s scent before a sense of control that took over when he uses his exarch’s voice. Was he summoning her again?

“You can’t leave us….” Why was Alisaie crying?

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

One run! Right hook of Ishgard!! Or is that the Miqo'te uppercut!!. The lady herself as bard. I’m satisfied that I don’t have to gunbreak for this like I did Venat. I don’t have to rewrite! Monk was lvl 50 so yeah. Thank you Sabin Prince of Punch.

I get the general feeling that my Miqo’te has no idea what the hells he’s getting on about. Her values are just different and all he presented was essentially a threat to the ones that surround her.

Satisfy him once and more he would demand. He’s already making threats and doing whatever he doing to make Krile divulge WoL’s location. If Krile dosen’t divulge, who else would he harm to get information? Tataru? What odds that he realise that killing those close to her would allow her to fight him in her full fury?

How many people will die in a futile attempt to to stop him from storming the Mother Crystal. How many are strong enough to take him on and still more or less survive?

That whole hunter-prey thing got turned around in this. He’s naught but a rabid beast that had develop a taste for her blood. It bookends things for me due to the background I gave her.

Oh and cleaning up Emet’s mess, the lady understands this as being a ranger/warden (Added bonus that being Gridanian starter sits well enough for her). Meteor and Ardbert are the fighters, this shard is a hunter who understands balance and a need to cull. 

I can’t even compare him to Gouki who can fight other people when he’s not fighting Ryu. Iori Yagami maybe?

I made my Miqo’te shadowbox him in gpose…. It looks like an uppercut to the nut, since she’s only waist height to him. Not giving him the satisfaction of screenshotting it. Unlike Snake vs Ocelot, didn't get to press buttons.

Had something for the Aetherial sea. but didn't work out so retained fragments. Also didn't get comatose carry ala Shadowbringer breakdown so meh it.

The whole thing was one side with Haurchefant cradling her exhuasted soul and the others surrounding her in the Aetherial sea(don't ask). Pleading with Hades to help her somehow. On the life side Thancred was carrying her off somewhere for G'raha to do the healing, with Estinien lugging Y'sthola and Urianger like luggage to whereever it was they were to do the healing. The quartet are stupidly close to her, it could be a physical fighters kind of thing.

I like the artworks that some folks done but I accept things as is for mine own. she ended up sleeping for a spell when back on old Sharlayan. The return unfortunately wasn't as gloriously as folks hope it to be. She was barely awake and riding piggy back on Thancred(Thancred mount!), G'raha was keeping one hand on her to ease her pain. Not sure why not princess carry though.

And the quartet took turns to watch over her so that she won't wake alone. Thancred would likely be sitting by her bed since he has no duties to report that Alphinaud and the others can't handle. Estinien would be quietly sitting by the door barring entry from unnecessary visitors(anyone not a Scion or a healer unless Thancred says otherwise). G'raha won't leave her side, constantly pumping aether for healing and easing her pain. Alisaie would be staying until Alphinaud has to drag her home and she made the three guys swear not to let her wake alone.

"Lecture me all you want. Papa."

Its likely the tone of his voice being at a very comforting frequency to her Miqo'te ears. that and he's probably the only veteran Scion who acknowledge her as a person and a hero at the same time.

Possibly treating her in the way he hopes Ryne be treated. Having close friends and stuff. Estinien comes close. Alisaie would need a few more life experience. G'raha needs to know her as a person and not the hero he read from the books, else she keeps him at arm's length.

[mxdnightlvers]

𝐖𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐇𝐜𝐬 *𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏* °˖✧✿✧˖°

➸ 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: How they wake you up or how you wake up next to the Genshin men. It’s mainly fluff

➸ 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: Im so busy irl this that this took ages 😭. Anyways here's the rest of the genshin boys to my Zhongli hc ♡ I also plan to do thoma and ayato for part 2 (hopefully)

➸ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: Childe, Diluc, Xiao

➸ Zhongli version here

➸ Part 2 Here

➸ 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: Suggestive for Childe’s part

➸ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬: Gn! Reader

⋆┈┈｡ﾟ❃ུ۪ ❀ུ۪ ❁ུ۪ 𝐗𝐢𝐚𝐨 ❁ུ۪ ❃ུ۪ ❀ུ۪ ﾟ｡┈┈⋆

"Sleep? Hmph. An adeptus has no such need for that."

Something he would say early on in your relationship but in reality, he would love to get into bed with you and wake up next to you.

But instead of acknowledging his needs, he just avoids ever mentioning them or asking for them.

Even if you bring it up again he would panic and repeat the same excuse.

So....getting him to sleep next to you will be difficult.

However, he still finds a way to spend your mornings together.

When it's time for you to wake, he'd be nearby, silently watching over you, or as he likes to call it, "protecting you from potential danger."

He would be near enough to you, silently appreciating how peaceful you look but would be far enough to make up an excuse that he wasn't watching you in your sleep.

You see right through him the first time he did it.

He still denies it to this day

Don't expect this man to cook you breakfast.

He would definitely order food but actually cooking it? Never.

He bitches about making a sandwich what did you honestly expect

However as time passes in your relationship and he gets more comfortable, he would always have a meal ready for you. It was ordered but you still appreciate the gesture.

So now he waits by your side every morning, till you wake up with your breakfast on the nearby table.

Also, he keeps all the curtains closed so that you don't wake up too early because of the sun.

When you do wake, he greets you with the sweetest good morning ever.

He would walk over to your bed and sit down at the edge, patiently waiting for you to be fully awake.

Once you almost hit him with your hand when stretching.

After, he will give you your breakfast, making small talk with you as you eat.

He dodged ofc but he made a mental note to avoid potential attacks from you when you wake up.

Idle chatter isn't something he usually partakes in but he can't help but be comforted by your sleepy voice <3

The mornings are peaceful, waking up to a delicious breakfast and Xiao's comforting voice.

It becomes something he looks forward to a lot although, he would never admit it yet.

Later on in your relationship, you do manage to finally convince him to join you, and boy does he love it more than he thought he would.

By this time he would be comfortable enough around you and would express his feelings more but it's still extremely easy to make him flustered.

Whether he actually slept? Well, you'll never know <3

You'd wake up to find his arms wrapped tightly around you.

He's very protective of you and he shows it even when you're sleeping.

He would still get you breakfast but you'd still wake up in his arms.

You didn't feel or hear anything the entire night, seriously how does he do it

His face would also be buried in your hair or neck.

He's touch starved and you honestly never mind when he's close like this to you.

Sometimes you'd rest your hands over his, and as if on cue, he would mumble his good morning to you.

Seriously it does make you wonder if he actually sleeps.

He won't let you leave immediately though.

You're finally awake and he just wants to spend some time with you like this :(

"Mm..don't go...just yet."

Yeah how can you possibly say no

He'd be silent, quietly enjoying your presence and the warmth of your body close to him.

However, turn around to face him and start giving him kisses and he'd be a blushing mess.

One kiss would do it for him.

He'd bend his head further down, causing his hair to hinder you from giving him more kisses >:(

He actually doesn't intend for you to stop but his body automatically shies away.

It's frustrating for the both of you but, in a good sense of frustration <3

He's simply the cutest and I love him so much plz feed him all the almond tofu in the world.

━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━

Your eyes hadn't opened yet, but you were awake, simply relishing in Xiao's embrace. His hands held you by your waist, keeping you close to him. It was his way of protecting you in your dreams. He needed to feel you in his arms, to know that you were close to him, to know that you're not going anywhere, he needed to know that you were safe. You hummed in delight, slightly tilting your head to see the boy who hid his face in your hair. He stirred as you stirred, pulling away from your hair. 

"Goodmorning Y/N," he whispered sweetly, hesitating for a split second before continuing, "I hope you slept well." 

You smiled, turning your body to fully face him, "Morning xiao, don't worry I did." 

His lips curved into a smile, golden eyes softening as he tightened his grip and pulled you closer. You rested your head in his chest, relaxing to its slow rise and fall. Your hands slowly ran up and down his back, lightly lifting the end of his turtleneck. He wore only his shirt and his pants, his mask, and all his extra accessories laid out on the nearby table. He allowed one of his hands to reach into your hair, softly playing with it before pulling you a bit closer to plant a small kiss on your forehead. He pulled away, the touch still lingering before returning his hand to its previous position. 

The time was unknown, your breakfast was getting cold and the world slowly awoke but it was peaceful. There was no need to rush, so you stayed tightly snuggled into your boyfriend's chest, allowing yourself to fall into his touch and forget about everything else.

━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━

⋆┈┈｡ﾟ❃ུ۪ ❀ུ۪ ❁ུ۪ 𝐃𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐜 ❁ུ۪ ❃ུ۪ ❀ུ۪ ﾟ｡┈┈⋆

You'd be a melting mess when you're awake.

THIS MAN IS HOT

Both literally and figuratively

Anyways, you'd wake up in his arms and it's sweet for a moment before you realize how hot it is.

Is it because of his pyro vision or is it just him??? You never found out the answer.

However, after kicking off the blanket, you feel way more comfortable.

He's holding you tightly, his breathing paced calmly, his messy hair resting on his face.

It's one of the moments where you get to see diluc so peaceful like this.

Honestly, it's 50/50 with your mornings.

Either he wakes up early for work or you wake up first and have to drag him out of bed.

If you're awake first, you'd turn to face him if you weren't already, brushing his hair out his face to plant a kiss on his forehead.

If that doesn't wake him you will simply shake him awake.

Gently tho, unless you're feeling to be mean >:(

"Dilucccc time to wake up..."

"Mm...nnoo..."

He awakes for a split second, just to whine and he immediately falls back asleep.

He's surprisingly difficult to get out of bed omg

If you two don't have important things to do that day, you'd allow him to rest a little more and sometimes you'd even fall asleep again.

He then ends up having to wake you up later

If you do manage to wake him, he'd groan, his voice hoarse as he weakly mumbles his good morning.

Why does he so sound hot tho

Makes you want to wake him up again just to hear his sleepy voice <333

If he's awake first but doesn't have to rush to work, he'd stay in bed with you.

He'd press kisses all over your face, trying to get you awake.

He wants to have you by your side as he gets ready for the day and especially since he's not busy that morning, he would literally kiss you awake.

Gives you the sweetest most genuine smile when your eyes do flutter open.

He's showing his vulnerability around you when he's doing this but it's fine because he trusts you <3

Yeah you'd still be melting tho but it's worth it

You guys would then proceed to spend your morning together, making breakfast, reading, whatever it may be, you would be doing it together.

When he has work, he can't quite spend his morning with you.

Feels guilty about waking you, so on most days, he would give you a quick kiss in your sleep before getting out of bed.

Would make breakfast if time permits but if not, his maids are always there for him.

Would leave your portion aside with a small note telling you about his location and activities for the day.

It's a bit sad to wake up to a cold bed

His heat may be overwhelming at times but it tells you that he's next to you.

Waking up without his warmth would never become a feeling you'd get used to.

You make up for this by cuddling that night so all is well :>

However, on some days he just needs you next to him so he gently shakes you awake.

You never really mind but sometimes it is a pain to wake up before the sun has risen.

You'd be way sleepier getting ready that morning.

The beginning of your relationship and later on isn't much different.

He would be hesitant about showing too much affection at first but he eventually opens up to you.

10/10 he deserves the world

━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━

Warm hands held your waist and you moved closer to your boyfriend’s torso. Relaxing your body, you kept your eyes closed, listening to the calming sound of Diluc’s heartbeat. You tried falling back asleep but alas, you couldn’t. Exhaling, you pulled away slightly, peering up at the redhead. Eyes closed, breathing paced, lips ever so slightly parted. As for someone who rarely ever shows any expression in his daily life, for some reason, his current state was more peaceful. You peered over his shoulder, looking at the time on the nightstand. It was already 9 am. Later than both of you usually awake but seeing that it was the weekend, you didn’t mind. However, you knew that even if it was the weekend, Diluc was not fond of waking up super late. So, you parted his hair out of his face and placed a kiss on his forehead. You paused, looking at his still body before deciding to plant another kiss on his forehead. You whispered to him, but even that wasn’t enough to wake him. You paused again, contemplating if you should wake him when he look so peaceful but, you also didn’t want to see him trying to rush his work later today.

Frowning, you shook his figure more, “Diluc…time to wake up..” He finally stirred, grumbling as his hands reached for your waist, pulling you back down and closer to him.

“Not yet love, sleep a little longer…” His voice was hoarse and his eyes hadn’t opened yet, still in his half-awake, half-asleep state.

 “But it's already 9 am…” You were simply worried about him but, he had other plans for that morning. 

Sighing, he pressed his lips against your forehead, “Stay with me a little longer…,” he pulled away, looking at you, “Please?” 

With soft eyes like those, how could you possibly refuse? So, you gave into him for the morning, allowing yourself to get comfortable in his arms, simply indulging in each other's presence for the morning.

━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━

⋆┈┈｡ﾟ❃ུ۪ ❀ུ۪ ❁ུ۪ 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞 ❁ུ۪ ❃ུ۪ ❀ུ۪ ﾟ｡┈┈⋆

Horrible

Firstly, he’d wake you up in the most annoying or sweetest way ever.

Gentle pokes that turn into kisses or being violently shaken awake.

Pick your poison

“Wakey wakey time to get up”

“What do you mean it’s 6am? I see nothing wrong with waking up at 6am”

“Me? Tired? No no you’re the tired one here.”

Yeah okay Childe, tell that to the eye bags you have.

You try to convince him to just come back and rest a bit more but he’s persistent.

He already knows that he’s gonna agree but he just likes pestering you.

After he finally had enough fun, he lays next to you, allowing you to get comfortable in his arms.

Contemplates if he wants to continue annoying you.

If he does,, you’re definitely not falling back asleep.

His hand around your waist slowly finds itself lifting the hem of your shirt.

His touch is featherlight, only tracing up your waist before raising your shirt a little higher.

This pattern continues until his hands are all over you.

Rip to sleeping in

But don’t worry because he’ll let you rest for as long as you want once you guys are done :)

He’d stay with you while you’re asleep, softly playing with your hair until he also falls asleep and you’d wake up with his hands still in your hair <3

The times he does let you fall back to sleep,, you’d wake up finally feeling rested.

Most of the time, if not always, he’s facing you so the sunlight is usually shielded by him.

You’d slowly open ur eyes to see him beside you, hand lazily placed in your hair and his eyes closed.

You can’t tell if he’s actually asleep or just silently resting but either way you’d wake him up by moving his hands out the way.

He’s a light sleeper so whether or not he was awake, he’d be wrapping his arms around you again and pulling you close to him.

Smiling, he’d tell you good morning while teasing you about sleeping in late.

“Well look who’s finally awake”

He says in such a confident manner as if he wasn’t just sleeping.

Some days you won’t be so fortunate to wake up late as he has fatui things to be doing.

He still never fails to make the mornings special.

You’d wake up while he’s getting ready in the morning and that’s either because he switched on the lights or he just makes too much noise getting ready.

It’s annoying but when he realizes he woke you up,, he’d sit down on the bed beside you and softly apologize :>

Softly petting your hair whispering soft words to reassure you while you fall back asleep

Before he leaves or before you fall asleep again he’d quickly tell you that he’s leaving and would not leave until you nod or give him some kind of reassurance.

Always leaves a letter anyways because one time you told him you thought you dreamt him leaving

So now he has to make sure that you know why he isn’t home.

You sorta get used to knowing where he is if you wake up to an empty bed but the letters just became a nice habit of his.

Sometimes surprises you with breakfast <33

This man can cook so you bet he’s gonna be utilizing those skills often.

Generally, waking up with him is amazing and fun I love him <3

━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━

You feel small pokes against your side but ultimately decide to ignore them as you were still somewhat asleep. Unfortunately, the pokes only got more annoying as they seem to get faster. You frowned, turning over and covering your face in the blankets. You should've opened your eyes to see it was Childe poking you because now he's aggressively grabbing your shoulders and shaking you. Your eyes are forced open, light blinding you and you hear your boyfriend softly giggling behind you. You don't even have time to say anything before you're pulled onto your other side to face Childe. He's grinning with the cheekiest, "Good morning love" you've ever heard. You go to scold him but the way he's smiling so genuinely, the way his ginger locks glow in the sunlight, you can't help but let it go. When he's satisfied that you're finally awake, he leans down to press a kiss on your forehead. He continues down to your cheek, nose, then finally your lips, the both of you melting in each other's touch. He finally pulls away and he pulls you into his arms. He just wants to spend his morning with you. He enjoys your presence so can you really blame him for waking you up? However, he knows you must get your rest so when be pulls you into his arms you know you can safely fall back asleep.

“You can go back to sleep now, I’ll be right here beside you the entire time.”

━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━

[sukunasweetheart]

A better way to enjoy chocolate.

Pretty much just reader trying to give Sukuna some chocolates on Valentines. Highschool AU, gender-neutral reader, SFW content

Sukuna looks at the pile of boxed chocolates, seemingly unphased. Everyone peers to look. “Uwah! You got so much this year!” Yuuji exclaims. “Ridiculous.” He sighs, shoving all of them into a disposable plastic bag. “It’s actually pretty amazing how you went out of your way to bring your own plastic bag for this. You were expecting this, weren’t you? Pretentious bastard,” Nobara adds. “Well, it does happen every year,” Megumi says as he casually scrolls through his phone.

Megumi's the first one to leave for class and Nobara and Yuuji follow after him. You look at the daunting bag of chocolates Sukuna holds in his hand and gulps. “Do you like chocolate, Sukuna?” You ask him carefully. “...Not particularly. I don’t like sweet things. But if I throw these out, that idiot’ll never stop yapping about it. Something about going to hell if you waste food. So annoying,” he clicks his tongue. You offer a laugh at his brutal honesty, quietly regretting your own chocolates that you had made to give him today.

The two of you were dating anyway, so it wasn’t exactly necessary, right? Sukuna discreetly gives you a side glance, but you don’t notice it.

Morning classes passed by without much happening, and it soon became lunch. You watch as a classmate approaches Sukuna at his desk and holds her own homemade chocolate out towards him. “Hey. I just wanted to give you this. No feelings involved though, so don’t worry about it,” she tells him. This was obviously said for you to hear, since there was almost nobody in this school who didn’t know of his relationship with you (Sukuna is notorious for just as many reasons as Yuuji is...maybe a little more towards the sinister side of things). This apparently didn’t stop people from trying though, unfortunately. It would be a lie if you said you didn’t feel the least bothered by this. Sukuna looks at her lazily, and just gestures towards the bulging plastic bag that lay beside his desk. The class atmosphere freezes up a little as everyone looks over. S-So cold…! They all thought in unison.

However, the girl just gives a small chuckle as if she had been expecting such a reaction and just added hers onto the pile before going back to her own group of friends. “What a cruel guy,” Nobara gives Sukuna a look of distaste. He shrugs in response and proceeds to yawn. “Now, now…” You naturally take the role of the peacemaker, simultaneously thinking about what you should do with your chocolates. You had actually made four small bags, one for each of your friends. They were wrapped in clear plastic sleeves, tied up with a ribbon on top. Except, Sukuna’s one is...

Yuuji and Megumi both stroll in through the classroom door. “Yo~! We came to visit. Let’s eat lunch here today!” He says cheerfully. The two of them take the empty seats of the students who went to the cafeteria to eat. You couldn’t give the chocolates to Sukuna in front of them. Then you’d have to give him his as well - or else it'd feel like you were excluding him. Guess I'll just give it to them later on, privately.

“And? Where’s our choco, Y/N?” Nobara cheekily grins at you. You freeze up, mind giving you a throwback to the memories of last night when you had told her of your plans in advance. Silent panic echoes in your mind. “I-It’s,” You feel Sukuna’s gaze shift onto you, “...In my bag!” You hurriedly rummage your bag and pull out the three bags, making sure to avoid eye contact. “I made one for all three of you…” You say, avoiding eye contact with him. “Eh? You made one for us too?” Yuuji asks, wide-eyed. “Yeah. I thought I’d give it a try this year.” You hand them all over. “Thanks, Y/N!” Yuuji immediately opens it and plops one into his mouth. “It’s good!” Megumi also gives you a thanks but puts it to the side for now, wanting to finish his lunch first. Nobara gives you a questioning look. “What about Sukuna?” “Eh? Ah, I... kind of figured he didn’t like sweets so,” you turn to face him. “Sorry, Sukuna. Should I have made you some as well? I wasn’t sure if couples who were already dating gave chocolates on Valentines.” It’s a painful lie, but you manage to say it. “...No. I don't really care.” He looks entirely unaffected. It kind of hurt in its own way, but you ignore it and sigh out of relief for now. It was way too embarrassing to give it to him in front of the group. But now that you've said such a lie, you don't think you’ll be able to give it to him at all anymore. There was a bit of an awkward silence momentarily, but Yuuji being Yuuji - naturally carried the group's conversation elsewhere.

A few minutes later, Sukuna stands up to go to the toilet. Whilst Yuuji and Megumi are talking about something that you admittedly zoned out on, Nobara snatches up your bag and takes a peek inside. “H-Hey!” You shout-whispered. “...I knew it. You did make them! Why are you-” She stops and notices their shape. “That’s so...cute?” She gives out an amused laugh and quietly puts it back down. You fan at your face, cheeks aching with embarrassment. “Make sure you give them to him. Trust me. I’ll beat him up if he doesn’t appreciate it,” she tells you. “I’ll try…” you say meekly. Unbeknownst to you, Yuuji grins at Megumi upon hearing this and Megumi responds with his own subtle smile. 

- The bell rings for the end of school. Sukuna stands and leaves first, telling you that he had something he needed to do after school and that you should go home first. Before you can stop him, he's already left the classroom. “Go after him,” Nobara pushes you, so you hurriedly pack your things up before running out.

More than ten minutes have passed, and you can’t find him. You want to call or text him, but you’re worried that he was in the midst of doing something important. It’s rare of him to stay back at school, after all. You sigh, and tell yourself that you’ll just give up with this year’s one.

Walking out of the school’s entrance, you see Sukuna standing nearby with his usual bored expression, hands in his pockets. He catches sight of you and immediately approaches. “I thought you had something to do at school?” You start to say. “Obviously a lie. What took you so damn long?” He scratches the back of his head in annoyance. “I was looking for you inside! Also why did you lie?” You question him. “Nevermind that. You could have just called...No, that’s not the issue right now. Give.” He suddenly stretches his palm out in front of you. “Eh? Give what?” The thought of the chocolates go right over your head.

“You...the thing that you gave to everyone else except me. I know you have mine. Don’t keep me waiting,” He says, frowning. The realisation hits you like a truck and you give him a helpless smile. “How’d you know…?” You ask, quick to reach into your bag. “How long do you think I’ve known you for? The others probably knew too,” he says nonchalantly. “But I thought you wouldn’t want them...you've gotten so much. And you don’t even like sweets.” You place the bag gently on his palm. “Idiot. We’re dating. There’s no reason to not accept them if you've made some for me.” He gives them a look and grins.  “Oh…? Now I understand why you couldn’t give it to me in front of the others.”

Only Sukuna’s chocolates were heart-shaped, when the others' had been circular ones. He’d rather die than admit it, but he thrives on getting this kind of special attention from you. You get flustered and look at your feet. “It’s true that I don’t really like sweets.” He tells you suddenly. “You don’t have to force yourself to eat them-” “But there’s a way of eating them that would make it taste a bit better,” he cuts you off. You were confused as to what he was talking about, and you watched as he opened the bag and popped one of them into his mouth before pulling you in for a kiss.

Your eyes were widened in shock as you barely had the time to register all of this - he was already slipping his tongue into your mouth. One hand on your hip, and the other on the back of your neck, you're so close to his body, getting pulled into his warmth that threatens to melt you, the taste of the chocolate starting to spreading across your taste buds as he's making out with you passionately. Before you know it, you're reciprocating the gesture and kissing him back, your hands rising up, gripping tightly onto his uniform. Chocolate has never tasted any sweeter. You can feel your own body beginning to heat up and you're gradually running out of breath. As your tongue is intertwining with his, the chocolate is getting pushed back and forth, and your desire to get even closer to him is growing, growing, growing.

The last of the chocolate had melted away from the exhilarating temperature the two of you had built up and he finally breaks the kiss, leaving you breathless and gasping for air. You can't tell if this remaining aftertaste that lingered on your tongue was the taste of the chocolate, or the taste of him. Nonetheless, you adore it.

“Much better.” He licks his lips and smirks at you. Still in shock, you lack a response except for your flustered face and your eyes that are now reflecting a glint of lust within. Sukuna hums in satisfaction at this expression of yours and he gently drags his thumb across your lower lip.

“We should do this more often.”