#can’t wait for him to get to that part in the stream this weekend and call us out

[pucksandpower]

Welcome to Miami

Lando Norris x Messi!Reader

Summary: a crazy weekend in Miami leaves Lando with his first Formula 1 win, one very pissed off football legend, and a baby-shaped surprise set to arrive in just about nine months

Warnings: 18+ content and unplanned pregnancy

Note: based on a request by @glitterquadricorn that I may have ended up going a little overboard with

You wake up with a pounding headache, squinting against the bright sunlight streaming through the hotel room window. As you blink your eyes into focus, you realize you’re not in your own bed. The sheets are unfamiliar, the decor is generic and impersonal.

Panic starts to set in as you try to reconstruct the previous night’s events.

The space next to you is still warm, indented from where someone else was recently lying. You glance down at your lack of clothes and tousled hair. Yep, definitely had a one-night stand.

Wracking your brain, you vaguely recall meeting a charming stranger at the club, letting him buy you drinks until everything became a blur of flirtatious banter and wandering hands.

Your phone is on the nightstand and you grab it, hoping for some clues. A new contact catches your eye: “Lando 🍆”. You snort at the stupid name and obvious (if cringey) innuendo. At least he has a sense of humor.

You wonder what kind of guy calls himself Lando these days.

As you get dressed and leave the hotel, already trying to put the awkward walk of shame behind you, fragments of the night come back in flashes. Lando’s warm blue-green eyes crinkling at the corners when he laughed. His skilled hands roaming over your body. The way he whispered filthy praises in your ear between searing kisses.

You shiver, feeling an unexpected pang of disappointment that you’ll never see him again. But a one-night stand is just that — one night. No need to dwell on the best sex you’ve had in … well, maybe ever.

When you arrive home in the early afternoon, your dad greets you at the door with a knowing smirk.

“Have a good night, mija?” Leo teases, taking in your mussed appearance.

You roll your eyes, not wanting to give him any details. “It was fine.”

He chuckles. “If you say so. I’m just glad you’re home safe.”

Over the next few weeks, you put Lando out of your mind completely. Your life goes on as normal — training with the University of Miami’s football team, doing promotional appearances, and spending time with family and friends.

But then one morning about a month later, you wake up feeling nauseous. You brush it off as a stomach bug at first.

When the queasiness persists for several days along with strange cravings and bouts of fatigue, a nagging suspicion forms in your mind. You dig through your bathroom cabinets until you find an old pregnancy test leftover from a scare last year.

Your hands are shaking as you wait for the result. This can’t be happening. You were so careful with Lando, you’re almost certain … but maybe not careful enough.

The little plastic wand displays two solid pink lines. Positive.

“Oh shit,” you whisper, feeling like the ground has dropped out from underneath you.

How could you have been so stupid? Getting knocked up from a drunken one-night stand with a guy you can’t even remember properly. What are you going to do? How will you tell your parents? What about your athletic career?

A million thoughts race through your panic-stricken mind as you try to process this massive, life-altering situation. You want to call your best friend and cry, but you’re almost too overwhelmed to formulate words.

Part of you wants to be furious at Lando, that reckless idiot who came inside you so carelessly. But you know you’re just as much to blame. You obviously consented, you just can’t recollect the exact circumstances.

God, why did you let yourself get so sloppy drunk and make such terrible decisions?

You take a deep, shuddering breath, trying to calm yourself. Okay, first things first — you need to confirm this with a visit to the doctor. And if it’s still positive, you’ll have to figure out your next steps. Tell your family, decide whether to keep the baby or not. That’s still your choice, at least.

Your mind keeps drifting back to Lando, wishing you knew more about him than just a stupid contact name. Was that even his real name? What did he do for a living? Where was he from? Was he ready for the responsibility of being a father? Not that it mattered — you barely knew him. For all you knew, he could be married or secretly twisted.

No, you reason with yourself, trying to shut down that line of thinking, he seemed like a good guy. At least in the moment. Even through your tequila-soaked haze, you got a feeling of genuine warmth and kindness from him. Maybe you’re both just a couple of random people who made a reckless mistake after having too much fun together.

You take another breath and stand up, your mind made up. First, you’ll go to the doctor and get an official test. Then you’ll deal with everything else from there. There’s no use panicking until you confirm this is actually happening.

But deep down, you know this cheap little test is accurate. You’re pregnant with a virtual stranger’s baby. And in that moment, feeling so lost and overwhelmed and terrified, you can’t help but wonder — who the hell is Lando?

***

You sit on the couch, hands trembling as you clutch the results of your blood test. Tears stream down your face as the weight of the situation crushes down on you.

How could you have been so reckless? So stupid? You’re supposed to be a role model, setting an example for young girls. And now you’re pregnant from a one-night stand with some random guy.

The shame and fear swirl inside you until you can barely breathe. You need to tell your dad. He’ll be so disappointed in you. But you can’t keep this a secret, it will only get harder as your belly grows.

You hear the front door open and your dad’s familiar footsteps. Bracing yourself, you call out in a shaky voice, “Papa? Can you come here please?”

Leo wanders into the living room, his expression turning to immediate concern when he sees your tear-stained face. “Mija, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

You shake your head, bottom lip trembling as you try to find the words. “I … I’m pregnant,” you finally choke out.

His eyes go wide with shock. “Pregnant? How …” Realization dawns on his face. “Was this from that night you came home ...” He doesn’t need to finish the question.

You nod miserably, a fresh wave of tears falling. “I’m so sorry, Papa. I was drunk and stupid and … and I don’t even know who the father is, not really.” The words tumble out in a rush. “Just some guy I met at a club, his name was Lando or something. I barely remember anything!”

To your surprise, your dad’s expression softens into something like sympathy instead of the anger or disappointment you expected. He moves to sit beside you, wrapping a comforting arm around your shoulders.

“Shh, it’s alright mija. I’m not happy about this situation, but I’m not angry at you either. We all make mistakes.” He pauses, seeming to think something over. “This Lando guy … was it around the time of the Miami Grand Prix in early May?”

You nod again, not understanding the connection. “I think so, why?”

A look of recognition crosses your dad’s face. “There’s a young driver in Formula 1. I’m a bit of a fan actually, been following his career when I have the chance. It’s not the most common name.”

Your breath catches in your throat as the pieces fall into place. The drunk recollections of warm color-changing eyes and a charming smile. The weird name followed by that stupid eggplant emoji in your contacts.

It all fits.

“Oh my god … you think the father is Lando Norris? Like, the Formula 1 driver?” Part of you wants to dismiss the idea as ridiculous, but another part feels an undeniable certainty that your dad has hit the nail on the head.

Leo nods firmly. “I think it’s highly likely. He was in Miami for the race that weekend. Reckless kid probably went out partying after finally managing to win.”

There’s a hard edge to your dad’s voice at that last part. You can’t really blame his protectiveness — finding out your daughter is pregnant from a one-night stand, especially with a relative celebrity, can’t be easy for any father.

“What am I going to do?” You whisper, scared all over again at the massive upheaval your life is facing.

But your dad just pulls you into a tighter hug, his touch reassuring and strong. “We’ll figure it out together, mija. Don’t worry. If this Lando character is the father, he’ll damn well take responsibility. I’ll make sure of it.”

You let out a shaky breath, letting your dad’s words soothe you. He’s right — you’re not in this alone. And if Lando Norris really is the father, well, he signed up for this whether he knew it or not.

“Thank you, Papa. I was so scared to tell you, but I shouldn’t have been. I’m lucky to have you.” You hug him fiercely, fresh tears spilling but this time born of reassurance instead of fear.

Leo just holds you close, his embrace full of fatherly love and protection. “Always, mija. I’ve got your back, no matter what. We’ll get through this together.”

After a few moments, he pulls back, his expression turning more stern. “And as for this Lando kid, he better step up and be a man about this situation. Because if he tries to abandon you or this baby ...” He lets the implied threat hang in the air.

You can’t help but give a watery laugh. “I have a feeling he won’t want to mess with you. Not if he knows what’s good for him.”

Your dad allows a small smile at that. “Smart boy. Now, do you have a way to contact him? I’m sure someone can get us his information if not.”

You think for a moment, then remember — your phone contacts. You grab your cell and pull up the fateful entry.

“Here, just this number with the stupid eggplant emoji.” Your cheeks flush a little as you say it.

Leo arches an eyebrow at that but doesn’t comment. Instead, he takes out his own phone and dials the number, his expression hardening with determination.

“Right, listen up, Lando Norris ...” he begins, leaving no room for argument.

You take a steadying breath as your dad starts laying down the law to the man who knocked up his precious daughter. For the first time since staring at those two pink lines, you feel a tiny kernel of hope taking root.

No matter what happens, you’re not alone in this. Your dad has your back, and Lando — well, Lando better prepare himself. Because when Leo Messi demands you take responsibility for your actions, you don’t dare say no.

***

Lando jolts awake to the harsh buzz of his phone vibrating against the nightstand. He blinks blearily at the harsh red numbers of the alarm clock — 2:51 am. Who the hell is calling at this ungodly hour?

He fumbles for the phone, squinting at the unknown number with a +1 country code. Probably a spam call from across the pond. He’s tempted to just silence it, but something makes him swipe to answer with a groggy “Hello?”

“Lando Norris?” The deep voice on the other end is vaguely familiar, but Lando can’t quite place it in his sleep-addled state.

“Yeah, this is him. Who’s this?” He tries and fails to smoother a huge yawn.

“This is Lionel Messi.”

Lando’s eyes shoot wide open, any lingering drowsiness evaporating like he’s been doused with ice water. Leo freaking Messi is on the phone with him? His brain scrambles to comprehend what’s happening.

“I … uh … Mr. Messi, sir. This is … I mean … wow. What an honor!” He cringes at his own stammering, feeling very much like a star-struck fanboy rather than a fellow professional athlete.

Messi’s voice remains calm but firm. “I’ll get right to the point. Do you remember a young woman you slept with recently? The night of the Miami Grand Prix a few months ago?”

Lando feels his stomach drop out. Suddenly this phone call is taking on a very different context than just a casual chat with a sports legend. He racks his brain, trying to recall the handful of women he’d casually hooked up with around that time.

There was that petite blonde from the club after sprint qualifying … no, she was just a make-out in the back alley behind the valet. The pair of Brazilian bombshell twins he’d brought back to his hotel room on Saturday … no, they made him get tested after that escapade just to be safe.

Then it clicks into place — the gorgeous young woman with a killer smile that he’d met at the LIV Nightclub afterparty. They had danced and drank together all night until everything descended into a sweaty, semi-public grope fest in one of the VIP booths before he convinced her to come back to his suite.

He remembers her gasping and whimpering his name as he pounded into her from behind. Remembers the way her nails raked down his back when he made her come apart with his tongue. Remembers being too drunk and worked up to put on a condom before sinking back into her tight, wet heat and ...

Oh shit.

“I … yes, sir. I think I know who you’re referring to,” Lando forces out, his mouth incredibly dry.

“Good. Then you’ll remember getting my daughter pregnant that night as well.”

Lando actually feels the blood drain from his face, a rushing sound filling his ears. He must have misheard, right? There’s no way Leo freaking Messi just said Lando got his daughter pregnant!

“I … I’m sorry … your what?” He sputters out dumbly.

Messi’s tone takes on a steely edge. “My daughter. The young woman you slept with, she’s my daughter. And now she’s pregnant with your child.”

The room starts to spin. Lando tries to force air into his lungs, feeling like he might actually pass out. “Oh my god, I … I had no idea! We were both so drunk, I never would have … oh fuck, I’m so sorry, sir!”

“Sorry doesn’t really fix this, does it?” Messi’s voice is like sharpened steel. “You got my little girl pregnant from some drunken fling and now she has to deal with all of this.”

“I … yes, you’re right. Completely right.” Lando presses trembling fingers to his throbbing temples. This can’t actually be happening, right? “What … what do you want me to do? I’ll do anything, whatever you need!”

There’s a weighted pause on the line before Messi speaks again, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“First, you’re going to meet with me and my daughter in person so we can discuss this situation. Then you’re going to take responsibility and be a part of this child’s life, understood? Step up and be a man about it.”

“Yes! Yes, absolutely, of course!” Lando is nearly shouting into the phone, desperation and panic clawing at his throat. “Whatever you want, sir. I’ll be there. Just tell me when and where.”

“Good. I’ll have my people set it up and send the details to your team.” There’s a hint of grudging approval in Messi’s voice now, like he’s satisfied Lando appears to be taking this seriously. “I suggest you get some sleep, you’re going to need it.”

The line goes dead before Lando can respond. He stares dumbly at the silent phone in his hand for several long moments, trying to process everything.

Leo Messi’s daughter.

Pregnant.

With his baby.

Holy shit, what has he done? What is he going to do? How did one reckless, drunken night blow up into such a massive catastrophe?

His head is spinning and he can feel his overtaxed body starting to shut down from the shock and stress of the harrowing phone call. He tries to take a deep breath, pushing away the panic and leaning back against the pillows.

Sleep. Right. He needs sleep if he has any hope of dealing with … with all of this. But how can he possibly rest now?

Lando’s eyes start to drift closed despite his whirling thoughts. His body has other plans, sucking him under into blessed unconsciousness as he slumps fully back onto the mattress.

The last thing he’s dimly aware of is his phone slipping from his hand and clattering to the floor, followed by his own body going entirely limp.

When Lando finally does manage to sleep, it’s to the terrifying vision of Leo Messi’s furious face snarling “you got my daughter pregnant” over and over again behind his closed eyelids.

***

The flight from Nice to Miami feels like it takes an eternity, but also happens in a terrifying blur. Lando can barely remember booking the first available ticket, throwing some clothes into an overnight bag, or making his way to the airport in a daze. He runs on autopilot, his mind spinning in frantic circles.

He got Leo Messi’s daughter pregnant. How is this his life?

A private chauffeur is waiting at the baggage claim when Lando deplanes in Miami, holding up a printed sign with his name. Of course Messi would have people to handle something like this.

Lando swallows hard and approaches the stern-faced driver. “I’m Lando Norris. Uh, Mr. Messi is expecting me?”

The chauffeur gives him an appraising look but doesn’t respond beyond a curt nod. He turns on his heel, expecting Lando to follow.

The drive to the Messis’ palatial Miami mansion is silent and tense. Lando fights the urge to fidget anxiously, his knee bouncing until he forces himself still.

Get it together, man. This is it.

All too soon, they’re pulling through an immaculate gate onto perfectly manicured grounds surrounding the huge home. Lando takes a steadying breath as the driver gets his bag from the trunk.

Then the front door is swinging open and there’s Leo Messi himself, looking as intimidating as Lando has ever seen the football icon. His expression is stony, jaw clenched tight as he measures Lando up.

Before Lando can even open his mouth, Messi beats him to it, tone leaving no room for argument.

“I don’t like you.”

The words are like a kick to the gut. Lando forces himself to hold the steely gaze, giving a small nod.

“I understand, sir. I’ve made a terrible mistake and you have every right to be angry with me. I’ll accept whatever consequences I have to.” His voice is strong, despite the way his heart is jack-hammering in his chest.

Messi holds the intense eye contact a moment more before giving a short nod of what might be begrudging respect. He turns and heads inside, clearly expecting Lando to follow.

The foyer opens into an elegant living room where a familiar woman is sitting on one of the plush couches.

You.

Lando’s breath catches in his throat as memories from that hazy night come rushing back. Your skin glowing with a thin sheen of sweat as you moved rhythmically to the music. Your throaty laugh and sparkling eyes as you flirted shamelessly over your fourth … no fifth … mojito. The velvet silk of your hair brushing his face as you ground down against his lap.

He swallows hard, trying not to stare. The situation is awkward enough without dwelling on the admittedly incredible sex that caused this whole mess. Though he can’t deny the sharp spike of pure physical want that hits his gut at the sight of you.

Your eyes are wide and nervous as you take him in. “Um … hi.”

“Hi,” he replies simply, feeling incredibly self-conscious under the weighty stare of your legendary father.

An agonizing beat of silence stretches between the three of you.

“Well?” Leo prompts impatiently, making you both jump. “You got my daughter pregnant. What do you plan to do about it?”

The blunt words make Lando’s face flush hot, but he forces himself to meet your father’s stern gaze head-on.

“Whatever I need to do, sir. I’ll take full responsibility. Financially, emotionally, being there for the child … anything you need from me.” He pauses, feeling heat creep up the back of his neck. “That is … if the mother wants me to be involved as well?”

He looks at you then, trying to convey his sincerity. Despite the casual nature of your hook-up, he meant what he said — he will step up and do the right thing for this kid.

His kid.

You seem to consider his words for a long moment before giving a small nod. “Yes … yes, I’d like you to be involved if you’re willing. This is as much my responsibility as yours. We … we can figure this out. Together?”

The uncertain note in your voice tugs at something in Lando’s chest. For all your father’s bluster, you just sound like a young woman in a scary, overwhelming situation. Just like him.

“Together,” he agrees firmly, returning your nod. “We’ll, ah, we’ll be good co-parents. For the baby.”

The words feel strange leaving his lips, but also fill him with a sense of resolve and determination.

Leo watches the exchange between you both like a hawk, his expression unreadable. When he speaks again, his words are measured but dismissive.

“Get it sorted out then. Find a way to make this work. I don’t care about the details as long as you two take care of my grandchild properly.”

With that, he gives a curt nod and turns to exit the room, leaving you and Lando to your own devices. The sudden lack of his intimidating presence seems to deflate the tension somewhat.

You let out a long, shaky breath, shooting Lando a wry look. “He’s … taking this about as well as could be expected, all things considered.”

Lando can’t help but huff out a surprised laugh at that, some of the nervous knot in his stomach loosening slightly. “Yeah, I’ll say. Your dad is legitimately terrifying, you know that?”

“Oh, I’m well aware,” you say with a small smile.

An odd sense of camaraderie falls over you both then — two young people bonding over how Lando quite literally knocked you up. It’s almost enough for him to relax a bit.

Then you glance down at your still-flat stomach and all humor drains away. “So … co-parents, huh? You really want to do this?”

Lando doesn’t even have to think about it. “Of course. It’s my kid too, yeah? My responsibility, like I said.” He pauses, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “It’s not exactly how I pictured becoming a father, but … I’m in this all the way. For the little one’s sake.”

Something in your expression softens at his words and a tiny smile tugs at the corner of your mouth. “Thank you, Lando. That … that really means a lot to hear.”

Before he can think better of it, Lando closes the distance between you and pulls you into an impulsive hug. You stiffen for just a moment before relaxing against him.

“Hey, we’re gonna be okay, you and me,” he murmurs as he holds you close. “We’ve got this, baby mama.”

You stiffen again and pull back sharply at the words, a look of mortification on your face. Lando frowns in confusion until a familiar gravelly voice cuts through the room.

“Lando Norris, I swear if you ever call my daughter that again, they’ll never find your body.”

Leo Messi is back, leveling Lando with a look that would liquefy steel. The driver nearly swallows his tongue, flushing scarlet.

“Y-yes, sir! Of course, sir! It, ah, it won’t happen again!” He stammers out, mentally making a note to permanently delete those words from his vocabulary.

Messi just grunts in response, apparently satisfied, before retreating from the room once more.

You’re staring at Lando with wide eyes and badly-suppressed laughter. He groans, dropping his face into his hands.

“Why did I say that? God, I’m an idiot.”

“It’s okay,” you assure him, that smile breaking free. “This is just … all a bit surreal, isn’t it?”

Lando peeks through his fingers to meet your gaze, unable to stop the rueful grin that spreads across his own face.

“Just a bit, yeah.” He drops his hands with a defeated chuckle. “But your dad’s right — we’ve got to take this seriously for the little one.”

You nod, smile fading into a look of grim determination. “We do. Which means you can’t call me baby mama if you actually want to stay alive to see your child.”

“Deal,” Lando agrees readily, feeling lighter than he has since your father first called to drop that bomb on him.

Maybe co-parenting won’t be easy, but somehow he gets the sense you two just might be able to figure it out. And with the entire weight of Leo freaking Messi’s protective rage motivating him, Lando is damn sure going to try his best.

***

Ten Months Later

The vibrant Miami sun beams down on you as you carefully lift Maia out of her stroller, cradling the bundle of joy in your arms. Your daughter’s wide, curious eyes dart around, taking in all the sights and sounds of the paddock for the first time.

“There they are! My two favorite girls,” Lando’s voice rings out as he jogs over, already wearing his team gear in preparation for the drivers parade. He leans down to press a kiss to your cheek before turning his attention to Maia. “And how’s my little princess doing today?”

Maia lets out a delighted squeal and you can’t help but smile at the pure adoration on Lando’s face as he gently brushes a finger over her chubby cheek. “She’s been an angel all morning. I think she knows this is a big day for her first race.”

“That’s my girl,” Lando grins. “Going to be a little racer before we know it.”

“Lando! There you are, mate.” The Aussie accent cuts through the paddock as Lando’s teammate bounds over. “I’ve been looking everywhere for … oh wow, is that her?”

Oscar’s eyes go wide as they land on Maia, taking in her tiny features with an almost comical look of awe. “She’s … she’s so small,” he says dumbly.

“What did you expect, she’s a baby,” Lando scoffs with a roll of his eyes, though his tone is good-natured. “Do you want to hold her?”

“Can I?” Oscar asks eagerly, bouncing on the balls of his feet like an overexcited puppy.

You laugh and carefully transfer Maia into Oscar’s waiting arms, guiding his hands to properly support her head. “Just watch the grabby hands. She’s got a pretty strong grip these days.”

Oscar nods rapidly, looking a bit intimidated as he gingerly cradles Maia against his chest. But the instant she lets out a little gurgling coo, his face splits into the biggest, most boyish grin you’ve ever seen.

“Hey there, little Norris,” he murmurs softly, instantly transfixed. “I’m your favorite Uncle Oscar.”

“Oi, who said you get to be the favorite uncle?” Another voice cuts in as Carlos saunters over, immediately zeroing in on the form in Oscar’s arms. “Is that her? Dios mio, she’s gorgeous!”

Without hesitation, Carlos plucks Maia right out of Oscar’s hold, completely ignoring the other driver’s sputtering. “Well hello there, princesa. Don’t worry, your Tío Carlos has got you.”

Maia blinks up at the new face peering down at her, tiny fists waving as if to grab at the Spaniard’s perfectly coiffed hair. Carlos simply grins and nuzzles his nose against her cheek, seemingly not caring one bit about any damage the squirming infant in his arms can do.

“Are you seeing this?” Lando mock-whispers to you, looping an arm around your waist and leaning in conspiratorially. “How are we supposed to get her back now?”

You stifle a giggle behind your hand, watching in amusement as Carlos and Oscar descend into bickering over who Maia’s favorite uncle will be — only to be interrupted as another figure appears beside them.

“What do we have here?” Daniel Ricciardo pipes up with a wide grin, hands shoved casually in his pockets. “Don’t tell me you two are fighting over babysitting duties already?”

“Something like that, mate,” Lando chuckles, reaching out to clap Daniel on the shoulder in greeting. “Up for putting your name in the hat too?”

“You know it!” Daniel agrees easily, quickly sidestepping Carlos to peer down at Maia with a wide smile. “Hey there, little monkey. Look at you all bright-eyed and curious.”

Amazingly, Maia seems entirely unperturbed by all the fussing going on around her. She simply blinks placidly up at each new face, soaking it all in like a tiny sponge. At one point, she even lets out a delighted squeal and flails her arms — prompting a fresh round of cooing from the three drivers clustered around her.

“Aw, I think she likes me best already,” Daniel declares with a wink, gently booping Maia’s button nose and making her giggle.

You shake your head in fond exasperation even as Lando tugs you tighter against his side, completely content to bask in the scene. That is, until Daniel’s next words nearly make you choke.

“So just how old is this little angel?” He asks idly, eyes still trained on Maia’s sweet face. “Four months now?”

“Three months and one week,” Lando answers automatically — only to tense a split second later, mouth falling open in realization. “Oh. Oh.”

The smug grin that slowly spreads across Daniel’s face is borderline devlish as it clicks into place for everyone exactly when Maia would have been … well, conceived. A heavy silence falls over the group, disturbed only by Maia’s happy gurgling as she remains oblivious to the sudden shift.

“Well, well, well,” Daniel drawls, dark eyes dancing with mirth as he bounces Maia playfully in his arms. “I think someone got a little overexcited celebrating his win last year, didn’t he?”

The only response is a strangled squawk from Lando as his face flushes bright red — no doubt remembering exactly how the two of you celebrated his first time on top of the Formula 1 podium. Meanwhile, Carlos and Oscar openly gape at the revelation, eyes nearly bugging out of their skulls.

“Don’t you dare,” Lando manages to choke out, stabbing an accusatory finger in Daniel’s direction. “We are not having this conversation here.”

“Why not?” Daniel shrugs blithely, gently jostling Maia to the crook of his elbow in a way that has her giggling. “It’s a perfectly natural thing, nothing to be ashamed about. That must’ve been one hell of a victory lap!”

The innuendo hangs heavily in the air, made all the more mortifying by the lecherous waggle of Daniel’s eyebrows. Lando, meanwhile, looks like he’s two seconds away from spontaneously combusting on the spot.

“I’m going to kill you,” he mutters through gritted teeth, dragging a hand over his rapidly reddening face.

Before Daniel can respond with another quip, however, you quickly step in — scooping Maia out of his arms with a stern glare. “That’s enough of that, I think.”

Daniel wisely snaps his mouth shut at the warning in your tone, offering a cheeky salute instead. “I’ll lay off … for now.”

With a wink and a last jaunty grin towards a still-sputtering Lando, he bids the group farewell and heads off to prepare for the race. Oscar, seemingly remembering you’re all congregating in a very public place, manages to pick his jaw up off the ground long enough to clear his throat awkwardly.

“Right, well … I need to go, you know, do driver things,” he mumbles before beating a hasty retreat, stumbling over his own feet in his haste.

Carlos, for his part, has the audacity to start outright cackling the second Oscar is out of earshot.

“You never fail to entertain,” he manages between wheezing gasps, wiping away mirthful tears from the corners of his eyes.

Lando flushes even deeper, if possible, and shoots you a helpless look. You simply raise an eyebrow, letting him squirm for a moment before taking pity.

“Alright, that’s enough out of you,” you chide Carlos lightly, shifting Maia higher on your hip. “Unless you want to be the one explaining the birds and the bees to her when the time comes?”

That seems to sober Carlos up somewhat, his laughter trailing off into a few more chuckles as he waves a hand dismissively. “You wound me, amiga. As if I would corrupt the ears of such an innocent little one.”

You give him a pointed look and he holds up his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. I’m done.”

With a roguish wink, Carlos reaches out to gently pinch Maia’s cheek — earning a bright smile from the bubbly infant.

“You’ll learn soon enough that your papá can be un poco loco sometimes, princesa.”

“She really doesn’t need to learn that at all, thanks,” Lando grumbles, shooting his friend an exasperated glare.

You can’t help but shake your head fondly at the pair of them, even as Lando tucks you snugly against his side. For all their bickering, it’s abundantly clear just how enamored all the drivers are with Maia already.

The tender moment is interrupted, however, by a voice calling out for your boyfriend from across the paddock.

“Lando, we need you over in the garage. The parade will be starting any minute now,” a press officer arrives to herd him away.

Lando exhales a put-upon sigh, dropping a kiss to the top of Maia’s head before meeting your gaze apologetically. “Duty calls, I suppose. You’ll be okay here with my littlest fan club?”

You wave him off with a warm smile. “We’ll be fine. Just focus on having a good race, yeah? Maia and I will be cheering you on.”

The brilliant grin Lando flashes you is enough to make your heart flutter. “How could I do anything else with my two favorite cheerleaders?”

With one last lingering kiss, he tears himself away — offering a half-hearted wave to Carlos before disappearing through the paddock. An oddly serene quiet falls in his absence, the crowd breaking up to get settled before the race.

Carlos seems to sense your pensive mood, stepping up beside you to gently bump his shoulder against yours.

“You know, he really has changed since becoming a papá,” the older driver muses, casting a fond look down at Maia. “Far as I can tell, it’s done wonders for him.”

You smile softly, bouncing Maia gently as you watch Lando’s retreating back weave through the controlled chaos of the paddock. “He’s been … amazing. And he loves Maia more than life itself. My father complains that he has run out of things to threaten Lando over, which is the biggest compliment coming from him.”

Your daughter simply blinks at the two of you for a long moment before that sunny smile you’ve grown to adore stretches across her face, little fists waving happily in the air. You can’t help but chuckle at her antics, brushing a knuckle over her soft cheek.

As the bright Miami sun shines down and anticipation slowly builds in the background, you feel a surge of nearly overwhelming contentment. No matter what twists and turns life throws your way from here, you decide, you’ll always be able to find your way back to moments like this.

So much has changed in the course of a year, but you truly wouldn’t have it any other way.

Even if Lando still can’t quite look your father in the eye.

[fxrmuladaydreams]

drunken bets (cs55)

carlos x mclaren social media!reader

summary: carlos makes a bet with a few other drivers, claiming that he can get you, a new (introverted) mclaren employee, to fall for him

notes: what can i say? i love writing driver x mclaren worker apparently 😂 i think it’s because she can be bffs with lando and oscar and that makes me soft. someone had to be the villian/bad influence so i’m sorry drunk pierre/lance. i hope you guys like the “she fell first, he fell harder” trope

next part

The music in the club blasts through the speakers. Drinks are thrown back as warm bodies dance, or more so grind, against each other to the beat.

Carlos feels the buzz from the alcohol coursing through him. He takes drink after drink. He deserves to relax after this race weekend, hangover be damned. He’s approached countless times by girls looking to spend some time with him, all to which he brushes off, choosing to go home alone at the end of the night.

“C’mon man, what’s up?” Lance asks as Carlos sends another breathtaking girl away. “You’re just not in the mood?”

“I don’t think he can do it. I think he needs his “smooth operator” title revoked.” Pierre drunkenly laughs.

Carlos scoffs, pushing Pierre away by his shoulder. “I could get any girl I wanted. Try me.”

Pierre grins and nods. “Alright,” he looks around the club and nods to a blonde at the bar. “How about her?”

Lance shakes his head. “No, that’s too easy. She’s been staring at him all night.”

Pierre points out a few more girls, all of whom have already expressed some kind of interest in the Spanish driver, until an idea pops into his head.

“What about that new McLaren girl?”

Carlos knew who he was talking about almost instantly. You were a newer part of McLaren’s marketing team. While most others from the team could be found creating content with the boys, you tended to keep yourself behind a computer. Lando said you were hired to do things like edit videos or photos, more behind the scenes stuff.

Others had taken an interest in you when you had shown up. A few engineers or pit crew from other teams attempted to get closer with you, all while you turned them down with a quick no. Hell, even Pierre tried to shoot his shot, but you very quickly shut him down.

You tended to stick closer to Lando and Oscar, both boys somehow able to get you to open up to them.

“You mean Y/n? She won’t date anyone.” Lance shrugs.

“Yeah, so I don’t think Mr. Smooth Operator could get her to date him.” Pierre smirks.

“I could.” Carlos is quick to defend. “Easy.”

“Alright then, let’s make this interesting. You get Y/n to have actual romantic feelings for you, and I’ll give you one hundred euros.”

Carlos reaches his hand out for Pierre to shake. “Deal.”

Carlos wakes up with a pounding headache the next morning, the sun streaming in way too bright through his hotel window. He drags himself out of bed and into the shower, attempting to feel a little more like a human before he actually has to go outside and face the world.

He eats a simple breakfast, something that doesn’t make him feel like he’s about to puke his guts all over his plate. Then he finally starts to pack his suitcase for his trip back home.

He checks his phone before pushing it into his pocket. He sees a few message notifications from Pierre and Lance.

From Lance

Insane night last night. I never want to drink again.

From Pierre

I honestly don’t remember much from last night, but I do remember a bet, and I can’t wait to be 100 euros richer

Carlos groans as he remembers the bet he made the previous night. There’s no way they’re going to let this go, they’ll make sure it hangs over his head until the end of time.

A selfish part of him wants to go on with the bet, to prove that even though he’s had some time being single for a while, he’s still a hot ticket item in the dating world. It wouldn’t hurt his image either, he thinks. If he’s seen pursuing and dating someone who isn’t a model it could make him look like he’s matured, like he’s ready to settle down instead of spending his nights in different beds wherever they travel.

From Carlos

I think you mean 100 euros poorer

The next race weekend he makes it a point to hang around the McLaren garage. No one’s surprised to see him there, given his close friendship with Lando, so the striking Ferrari red practically goes unnoticed in the sea of papaya.

He keeps an eye out for you as he sits with Lando, excusing himself when he spots you making your way towards them. You’ve got a set of headphones on over your ears, clearly enthralled by whatever you’ve got playing on the tablet you’re holding.

He pulls his phone out of his pocket and starts walking in your direction, scrolling through whatever social media app he happened to quickly open. He walks until his shoulder bumps into yours, a little too rough, nearly knocking the tablet out of your hands.

Carlos wraps an arm around your waist, keeping you upright, and manages to catch the tablet with his other hand.

“Are you alright?” He asks, flashing you a smile.

You nod and take a step back from him. “I’m okay, are you?”

He swipes a hand through his hair, then holds your tablet out for you to take. “I’m good. It’s Y/n, right?”

“Yeah, I’m at McLaren.” You tilt your head towards the McLaren garage.

“Yeah, I can see that.” He laughs, glancing down at your papaya team kit.

“Right, sorry.” You laugh. “I should probably go, filming and editing to do and what not.”

Carlos gives you a smile and a nod followed by a quick goodbye. He brushes his arm against yours as he walks away. He has to keep himself from looking back at you to see your reaction, but gets a text from Lando later in the day that gives him the satisfaction he was looking for.

From Lando

What did you do to my editor?

The next time Carlos sees you, he recreates your first meeting, bumping into you just so he can wrap his arms around you again.

“We have to stop meeting like this.” He laughs, holding you.

You laugh with him and shake your head. Your hands rest against his chest from attempting to catch yourself. “We really do.”

He smiles as he lets go of you, but keeps himself planted where he’s standing, giving you his undivided attention.

“I saw the recent McLaren video, it was really good. It kind of makes me wish you worked here when I was with McLaren.” He says tilting his head up teasingly.

“It’s mostly my coworkers, I pretty much just make it look good after it’s filmed.” You tell him, you duck your head down to avoid his gaze.

“Still.” He shrugs.

He’s pulled away by Charles after that, who gives you a quick hello before dragging Carlos back to Ferrari’s garage.

You see Carlos a lot more now around McLaren. You chalk it up to his friendship with Lando, but you begin to notice his seeking you out. He shares meals with you now, even if he ends up sitting with you while you’re focus is locked on your laptop.

Carlos is surprised to find that he’s started to genuinely enjoy your company, that he actually looks forward to seeing you every race weekend. He shakes away the feeling that blossoms in his chest whenever he sees you, afraid of becoming too attached.

That all flies out the window when he’s headed back to his hotel one day though. Dark clouds covered the sky, turning it almost black as rain poured down. You could hear thunder rumbling in the distance, likely headed towards the track.

Carlos sees you standing under the awning of McLaren hospitality, looking up at the sky. You’ve got your phone in your hand and a disgruntled look on your face.

He lifts his bright red umbrella up over his head and dashes over to the McLaren building. He puts his umbrella back down once he’s standing next to you, shaking the drops of water off.

“Did you forget an umbrella?” He asks.

You turn away from your phone to look up at him. He’s got a teasing smile on his face. The humidity in the air has made his hair impossibly fluffier, but somehow still picture perfect. He’s bundled up in a Ferrari windbreaker, his backpack slung over his shoulder.

“Yeah. And I walked here from the hotel today, so I can either try to get a taxi or I can wait until the weather clears up.” Just as you finish explaining your problem thunder booms above you.

Carlos shakes his head. “Yeah, no. I’m not letting you walk out in this.” He gestures to the sky.

“Well the other option is find a taxi.”

“I’ll drive you.” He says it as if it’s an obvious solution. Before you can respond he wraps an arm around your waist, pulling you close to him so that you’re both under his umbrella, then starts walking towards the parking lot.

You try to keep up with his pace, occasionally bumping into him, but he makes sure to hold the umbrella over the both of you. He leads you to his car, and holds the umbrella over you as you climb into the passenger side.

You notice how water clings to his hair, drops falling down his coat on his right side, evidence of him prioritizing keeping you dry over himself.

“Carlos, you could get sick, and it’d be my fault.” You scold him.

He shrugs and gives you a smile. “Then you’ll just have to nurse me back to health.”

He parks at the entrance to the hotel McLaren had booked, and walks you into the building. When you expect him to leave, he places a hand on your lower back guiding you to the elevator. He walks you all the way to your door, and leaves you with a “goodnight” and a soft squeeze of your hand.

You get a text from him later that night.

From Carlos

Lando gave me your number. What time should I pick you up tomorrow?

From Y/n

You don’t have to, that’s okay

From Carlos

That’s not an answer cariño

You feel yourself start to smile at the message on your screen and text him what time you usually leave.

He picks you up the next morning, driving you to the track with him. You make conversation about little things like how you slept and what you had for breakfast. He’s quick to run over to your side of the car to open the door for you, and keeps himself close to you as you enter the paddock.

He meets you at the end of the day as well to drive you back to the hotel. He keeps up this new routine each race weekend following. He enjoys your company, and you seem to enjoy his. After a few weekends you could say you have a new chauffeur in the form of a Ferrari driver.

With this new closeness to Carlos comes a wave of media attention you should have expected. Photos are posted over social media of the two of you walking together, you looking up at Carlos with bright eyes, or him looking down at you with his doe eyes.

It’s easy to tell that all of the new attention makes you uncomfortable, but you don’t want to lose your friendship with Carlos so you stick it out. You’re grateful when you see a clip of an interview with Carlos where he’s asked about you, and he sets the record straight.

“There’s nothing going on, we just like to hang out together. We’re just friends.” He smiles.

Although you’re glad he’s put an end to the speculation, you can’t help but feel like your recent hangouts have been only barely platonic. After the nights you’ve claimed are “movie nights” that have turned into falling asleep in each other’s arms, it’s hard to put a platonic label on your relationship.

The first time it happens, it’s you who wakes up first. His chest is warm beneath your head, and his arms lock you against his body. You tilt your head up to look at him. His hair is unkempt, yet still looks effortlessly good. You reach up and brush a few strands away from his face. You watch him for a few minutes, wondering how you were so lucky to be spending your time with someone so beautiful. You rest your head back on his chest and let sleep wash over you again, listening to the soft beats of his heart.

Carlos wakes up not long after you’ve gone back to sleep, lifting an arm to run a hand through his hair. He can feel the little puffs of air from your breathing against his chest, his heart melts when you subconsciously nuzzle your face deeper into him to get more comfortable. You look so sweet, so soft, and a part of him hates himself for it. He let himself accept that stupid bet, and he let himself fall for you. He wishes he’d never let his friends talk him into making that bet, but he also decides he’d never trade the time he’s spent with you for anything.

He’s pulled out of his thoughts when you slowly lift yourself up off of him. He misses your warmth as soon as he can’t feel it anymore.

The two of you continue spending your evenings together, wanting nothing more than to keep falling asleep wrapped up in one another.

He finds himself searching for you in the crowd at parties and events, even those he knows you won’t be at, just so he can spend more time with you. He texts you everyday you’re apart to make sure that you’ve eaten and gotten enough sleep.

Carlos can’t bear the thought of being away from you for more than a week between races. He casually mentions that he’s going back to Spain for the small break, and asks if you want to join him.

You laugh and scoff shaking your head. “Yeah, right.”

“I’m serious, it could be fun. You could relax a little bit. I could take you on my boat. C’mon.” He persuades you.

“I wouldn’t want to intrude on your time off.”

“You’re not. I want you there, I promise. Please?” He takes your hands in his, swinging them back and forth. He gives you his best puppy dog eyes and bats his eyelashes at you.

“Alright, I’ll go with you.” You sigh, but can’t stop the smile from spreading over your face.

It’s different, sharing a space with Carlos outside of the four-walled hotel rooms you’ve stayed in for work. It feels intimate being with him in his home country. He books a private villa to stay in on the beach.

The trip quickly feels more romantic than friendly, what with him cooking your dinner for you, and your evenings in either the hot tub or curled up together on the couch.

You spend your days with Carlos on his boat. You reading a book you brought with you, and Carlos laying out in the sun to tan.

It’s hard not to stare at him, his tanned toned chest on display, while his swim trunks hang low on his hips. He has just as much trouble keeping his eyes away from you as well, he can’t help but watch you as you scamper around the boat in a different little bikini everyday.

Occasionally he convinces you to hop in the water with him, to which you reluctantly agree. You keep your arms locked around him when you feel something brush against your leg in the water. Carlos keeps a firm hold on your waist as he can’t stop laughing at your distress.

Eventually you get back on his boat and sit side by side on the edge, with your feet dangling in the water. You stare down at the crystal blue sea, looking for any creatures swimming around.

Carlos looks back out to the shore. The smile that’s been plastered on his face for the last few days falls when he sees a figure on the beach. They’re far enough away that he can’t really tell who it is, but close enough that he can see the camera in their hands.

He leans back and grabs a towel, laying it over your shoulders, covering up the skin you had on display. He wraps a protective arm around you and pulls you closer to his chest, in hopes that the photos he knows will be everywhere in a few days won’t be clear enough to reveal you in them.

That night he decides to cook on the boat, which turns out to be a little more chaotic than he’d originally planned. He struggles to keep everything straight, but finds it all worth it in the end when he gets to see you surrounded by the sunset. You look breathtaking, looking out into the sea. The soft breezes wisps your hair away from your face. The sinking sun casts a gold light to wash over you.

He wants to tell you how he feels, but he knows he needs to come clean. Maybe you’ll forgive him, he hopes you will. He needs to put this in the past so that he can love you publicly and wholeheartedly.

You quietly share your meal, then break the silence simultaneously.

“I have something I need to tell you.”

“Carlos-”

“You first.” He nods.

You take a deep breath. “Carlos, I want to thank you for bringing me here, and really for spending all this time with me. I’m glad you bumped into me at the paddock because I’ve gained a new friend from it. You’re one of the best men I know, and I really appreciate you taking care of me.”

“Thank you.” He feels his chest tighten at your words.

“The truth is, I’ve come to care about you a lot more than I thought I would. A few of the other drivers tried to ask me out when I was first hired, but I told them no. I was happy when you didn’t try to make a move on me, and instead wanted to pursue a friendship with me.” You look down at your hands, and fiddle with your fingers. “But if you did try to make a move on me now… I don’t think I’d mind it…” Your last sentence comes out quieter than the others.

“Really?” Carlos asks, a soft smile growing on his face.

You clear your throat. “What were you going to say?”

He can’t tell you now. He can’t poison this perfect moment, after you’ve confessed your feelings to him.

“I was going to say that I feel the same way.”

[f1goat]

the race winner x lando norris + part 2

in which you see your ex best friend again after he cut of contact between you two.

not proof read - PART ONE

sunday evening

“It’s insane how much I’ve missed you,” Lando tells you for the millionth time. Since he has ben cleared from the medical center, he has been by your side. He skipped all the media duties, just to be with you. You told him multiple times that you could wait, but he didn’t let you wait. It took him only a few minutes to get you inside of his rental car to get to his hotel together. 

“I’ve missed you too,” you tell Lando again. 

Lando smiles at you. You know he still needs to explain everything, but you are just glad that he’s back at your side. Together you’re sitting in his hotel room. Lando pulls you a bit closer to himself, draping his arm around your shoulders. You enjoy his movement but you know that you still need to talk to him before you can fully close this weird chapter. 

After Lando told you he needed space from you, you were heartbroken. The first days you didn’t come out of bed. You were a complete mess. You tried contacting him for an explanation, but you were quick to find out that Lando blocked you on everything. Max helped you a lot, he kept telling you that there was probably a logical reason behind it. But you didn’t knew. You doubted yourself. It didn’t help that you are also in love with Lando. You have been forever. You even thought that he maybe found out and that that was the reason. But Max made sure you dropped that thought. 

Now while finally sitting next to Lando again, you can’t help yourself and feel a few tears roll over your cheeks. It’s insane. You thought things would always be unsolved. Now you know where it came from. It wasn’t your fault. 

“Come here,” Lando tells you softly. He pulls you even closer to himself. You let your body fall against Lando. You lean on his chest while he swipes away a couple of your tears. It’s no use, new ones are forming quickly. 

“I’m so sorry,” Lando says, “so so so sorry.” You hear his voice crack a bit. When you look up at him, you notice that Lando is crying as well. The sight of him this sad, makes you cry even harder. You can’t stop yourself from sobbing loudly. Tears are streaming down your cheeks. Lando pulls you even closer towards him. He hugs you tightly. You barely hear him, but you swear that he’s still apologizing. “So sorry,” you hear him muttering. 

“Why me?” You doubt if Lando hears you correctly. When you want to repeat your question, Lando is already looking up at you. You conclude that he did hear you, but he needs some time for his answer. You know you’ve asked Lando the same question before, but this time you won’t walk away without an answer. 

Lando sobs a bit as well. He tries to make something clear, but the words are coming out as nothings. You wait for him to relax. Slowly you caress his back. 

“It was Zak,” Lando then tells you. “But I shouldn’t have listened to him. I never listened, but that day.. It was so fucking bad.” 

You wait for Lando to continue. 

“Zak always tells me I’m not focused enough,” Lando explains. He talks a bit slower to help himself with the control over his own voice. “He thought it was you,” Lando continues. “He always talked about you being a distraction, but I didn’t do anything about it.” 

You don’t understand Zak. Why would you be more of a distraction then his other friends? 

“I always told him you were not,” Lando tells you, “but he didn’t really believe me. I guess he has his reasons, since he had some valid points sometimes. But still. He told me to cut ties with you for a while, so I could regain my focus on racing.” 

“Valid points?” You ask surprised.

“Every weekend you weren’t around..” Lando starts doubtingly, he wants to explain himself as good as he can but he isn’t sure if he wants to confess his feelings to you. Yet. He just got you back, what if he will lose you again when he tells you? “Uh, I was in a really bad mood,” he continues, “and I was always busy with planning time with you. Texting you, thinking about when I saw you again or FaceTiming.” 

“Oh.. I didn’t realize that,” you respond, “I never noticed..” 

“It’s not your fault. I did all that,” Lando quickly speaks up. 

“Maybe we can work on it?” You suggest. 

“Yeah, we will see,” Lando shrugs, “I want as much contact with you as possible.” 

“But why did you cut all contact?” You ask further, “What happened that day?”

Lando stays quiet for a bit. He thinks about all the possible answers. Can he tell you everything? He thinks about his own feelings that day. He was busy with the disappointing result, but he was also thinking about you all the time. Zak told him before the race and after the race that he should regain his focus or he would never win a race. The only way to regain his focus according to Zak was cutting of the contact with you. 

“It was bad,” Lando sighs. “Zak visited me before the race. He told me I could never be a race winner if I didn’t regain my focus. According to him it was all you. It wasn’t new that he said things like that, but he kept repeating himself.” Lando takes a deep breath. “Then you came to my drivers room. Zak his words were still in my head and that race was so awful. I just lost my ability to think straight. I could only think about winning a race someday.” 

He takes another short break again. 

“If I think back at it, I don’t even know what I told you anymore and how I said it. I know this isn’t a solid reason, I shouldn’t have taken Zak his words this serious, but I was so hurt after the race. I didn’t think straight.”

“Relax Lan,” you tell him, “I forgive you.” 

You don’t know when you made the decision to forgive Lando this fast, but you don’t feel any regret when you tell him those words. Lando is quick to look up at you, focusing his gaze on you. You feel the well known fluttering in your stomach when he looks at you like that. Fuck. Maybe you should talk to him about that as well? 

“Are you serious?” Lando asks you. 

You nod. You open up your arms again to hug him. 

“As if I can life without you any longer,” you tell him. It’s a bit jokingly, but you’re also honest. Last months were a mess, you can’t function properly without Lando. 

“Let’s go to bed,” Lando tells you after a while.

“To bed?” You ask him surprised, “My bed is in a different hotel.”

“Aren’t you staying?” Lando asks, “We always sleep together at race weekends.” 

You smile, “Let’s go to bed then.”

thursday - silverstone 

“So you weren’t kidding,” Zak remarks, “She’s back.” 

“And she stays,” Lando comments harshly.

“I can take her paddock pass away,” Zak goes on. 

“I can stop racing for McLaren,” Lando responds without even thinking about it.

“You can’t, you have a contract till 2025,” Zak throws back. 

“Say one more bad thing about her and you’ll find out how quick I can leave.”

“As if you would. That could mean the end of your career.”

“Zak, I swear to god don’t push me. She’s here. She will be here every race that she wants to be here and you won’t do shit about that.”

After saying those words Lando walks away from his team boss. He is quick to find you in the paddock. Before he shows you that he’s here, he takes a bit of time to look at you. It’s unfair how beautiful you look. He can’t help himself. Every time he sees you, he’s reminded of the fact he still needs to tell you about his feelings. Maybe he dares this weekend. 

“Hey baby,” he greets you while sliding an arm around your shoulders. Together you walk in the paddock. Lando is on his way to the media pannel, after missing it last week, and he will take you with him gladly. 

Everything between Lando and you is back at how it was. Sometimes when you think about it, it already feels like you’re in a relationship with each other. You share beds. He’s always giving you cute pet names, like baby or babygirl. The two of you spend all your free time together. it’s not your end goal, but you’re glad with everything you already have. 

Together the two of you walk towards the media pannel. You always enjoy watching the interviews. 

+++

“So Lando, after your crash from last week we didn’t saw you in the media pannel? Did you have to stay the night after crashing?” 

You already expected a lot of questions for Lando since he missed them last week. You’re curious about his reasons. What will he tell them? 

“No, I was cleared pretty quick,” Lando tells the interviewer, “but I had some things to do after which were more important.” 

“What things?” 

You can’t say you’re surprised by the question. 

“I just crashed, I had some realizations after. Those things I needed to do, I won’t tell you more about it.” 

“What caused your crash?” 

“I wasn’t focused,” Lando tells honestly, “So I made a mistake.” 

“We saw Y/N in the paddock this morning again after missing her for some months, what happened between you two?” 

You gasp. Since when are reporters asking questions like this? This is way too personal. You notice that Lando doesn’t even flinch because of the rude question. 

“That’s the more important thing I needed to do. I think you can ask Zak more questions about that later. Maybe we should get back to talking about the upcoming race?” Lando responds. 

“One more question for you Lando,” the same reporter speaks up, “Are you dating with Y/N? Do we have a new wag?” 

“I don’t think that’s a question about racing,” Lando jokes, “but we’re still really close, just like before.” 

You notice the way Lando doesn’t answer the question. Just like he did before. He never says that he is single or taken. He always says that he’s close with you, nothing more or less. 

saturday - silverstone

“Oh my god Lan!” You can’t help yourself and scream those words out. “That was amazing!” 

Lando pulls you close to himself. He hugs you tightly. He has never gotten quicker out of his car to run towards you. He’s more then happy with himself. Tomorrow he can start from the front row. He almost got the pole position as well. That would have been amazing as well, but still p2 is already amazing. 

Lando almost kisses you. When he looks in your eyes and sees the proud look you’re carrying he can barely stop himself from kissing you. Fuck. This is getting out of hand. He needs to tell you soon. He hides his face in your neck. 

“You did so well,” you continue, “fucking second place. That’s amazing.” 

Lando smiles at your words. He missed this. He missed you. The best part of getting out of the car is always having you there for him. If the race went bad, you always try to comfort him and if it went well you’re here to celebrate with him. 

“I’m so proud of you.”

+++

“Congratulations Lando!” The presentator greets him enthusiastic, “That’s an amazing result. How did you experience it?” 

“The car was flying,” Lando exclaims happily, “Everything went well. I hope we can keep this up tomorrow and finish somewhere on the podium.” 

“So you found back your focus after last week?”

“Yeah,” Lando confesses with a small smile, “I’m fully focused on getting the best results.” 

“What changed with last week? Are it the upgrades on the car?”

“Of course we did some major upgrades which really pays off,” Lando says, “but it’s also my own mentality.”

“And what upgrades did that get?” 

“My good luck charm got back.” 

sunday - silverstone

“So when are you telling her?” 

“Telling her what?”

“Don’t act stupid Lando,” Max says, “We both know I’m asking you when you’re going to confess your feelings.” 

Lando sighs. “I don’t know,” he says, “I don’t want to cause other drama between us. I just got her back.”

“I don’t think it will end that badly,” Max reacts, “Just tell her mate, I think you’ll be relieved by the end of it.” 

+++

The race is getting close to ending. Your heart is beating faster then ever before in your chest. Lando is trying to hold back Lewis Hamilton. Lando his tires are worser. You can only hope for the best. Every move they make you’re gasping. You’re watching from the McLaren garage, you keep on hoping that you will move to the podium in a few laps. You can’t wait to see Lando on the podium again. 

“I think we need to talk.”

You almost jump up when you hear those words. You don’t have to look up to know who’s talking to you, but you still do. Of course it’s Zak himself. 

“I think so too.”

You decide to keep yourself together. You don’t have to scream at Zak for everything he ruined. You just need to stay calm. 

“You’re a distraction for him,” Zak tells you. 

You watch how Lewis almost passes Lando. It’s a close one. Lando barely stays in front of him. 

“I don’t want you holding him back. I can’t imagine that you’ll want that yourself? Lando is world champion material, but he can’t have distractions around him. He needs to focus on racing,” Zak continues. 

You don’t look away from the screen. Lewis is making himself ready to try again. Fuck. You’re praying for Lando to stay in front of him. 

“So, what do we need to do to make sure you won’t distract him anymore?” Zak asks you.

“Are you asking me how much money you need to give me for leaving Lando alone?” You ask back. You don’t know if you understood, but according to you it seemed like that was what the man asked you. 

“Yes. Or do you want anything else?” 

“I want you to fuck off.” 

“Oh come on, everyone can be bought.”

You let out an annoyed sigh. Who does this man think he is? 

“Listen Zak, I’m not leaving. This trick isn’t working. I’m here for Lando and when he will chose a team that will build him an actual car from day one, I’ll be there for him. If he choses to keep driving for you for the rest of his life, I’ll be here too. I love him.”

“You distract him.”

“Please stop whining in my ear,” Lando’s radio message is coming in quite loudly. “Can’t you get y/n in here?”

“You want y/n?” His engineer asks. 

“Yeah. I need to focus. Let her talk to me.” 

You laugh right in front of Zak his face while walking towards to board radio. “Such a distraction,” you tell Zak, “but who does he need to focus? Oh me, the distraction.” 

“Y/n,” Lando his voice is even harder now you’re wearing the headphones. 

“Hi Lan,” you react, “What do you want me to say?” 

“I don’t care. Please just talk to me.” 

“I think you can hold him off,” you tell Lando. 

“You think I can hold off a seven time world champion with these tires? Did you notice he’s on softs?” Lando asks you sarcastic. 

“Yeah, that’s what I said. Didn’t I?”

You hear Lando laugh in your ear. 

“Come on Lan, just keep fighting. You’re doing great! He can’t push all the way to the finish like this. Just focus.” 

“You think I can do this?”

“I know you can.”

You fall silent for a bit while watching Lando block Lewis again. You don’t want to distract him, but you don’t know what to do. What does he want? Do you need to keep talking? 

“Keep talking,” Lando begs you. 

“Okay,” you say softly. “I can gossip for a bit. You know this girl from my work, yeah? She and that terrible boyfriend finally broke up!” 

You keep on talking about silly things that happened to you and your surroundings for a bit. Lando keeps fighting Lewis and he is still driving in front of him. 

“I think he’s given up Lan, he doesn’t have DRS anymore.”

“Let’s go out for dinner after the race,” Lando says after a while. He’s almost done. Two more laps to go. 

“I think you’ll be busy with celebrating your podium,” you react grinning. 

“We’re going out for dinner.”

“Okay,” you reply this time.

“It’s a date.”

A date? What did just happen?

+++

Lando can’t describe everything he’s feeling at the moment. He notices Max standing close to him while he’s still sitting in the McLaren. He can’t believe it actually happened. He finally got a podium this season. It feels insane. First he got you back and now a podium. Finally everything feels right again. He gets out of his car. His only thoughts are going to you. The way you helped him with talking about nonsense over his radio. He never felt this focused before. He fought off Hamilton. That’s amazing. And it’s even more amazing because of the tire disadvantage he had. He walks - or better say runs - towards his team, but he searches for you. Are you also here? Different team members pat his back, his helmet and everything else. 

Then he spots you. 

Lando walks away from his team members after telling him multiple thanks again. He smiles. Quickly he pulls off his helmet. In the mean time he walks closer to you. 

You. The one who’s wearing a piece of his newest merchandise, even though you find the color hideous. He feels proud. He can’t stop thinking about the way you helped him and the way you’re looking at him right now. It feels amazing. 

Before Lando knows it, he’s standing in front of you. 

“I’m so proud of you!” 

The words mean everything to him. He wants to say thanks, but somehow his words get twisted up inside his brain and on his tongue. 

“I love you.”

Fuck. Did he really just say that? 

Before he can progress what he just did and how he ruined everything again, you’re talking to him. 

“Then kiss me.”

Lando has never put his lips faster on someone then now. He pulls you as close as himself as he can manage. Stupid fences in between. Your soft lips are bringing him in some sort of trance. How can everything feel so right with you? He has kissed people before, but it was never like this. This is something else. Something completely new. This is how it must feel when you kiss someone you actually love. 

When you pull back Lando his trance ends slowly. He’s still processing everything that just happened. Did you actually tell him to kiss you? What if he heard wrong. He’s almost about to apologize, but you’re speaking again. 

“I love you too by the way,” you tell him with a small smile plastered on your face.

Lando lets out a relieved sigh. 

This is the best day ever.

“But I think you need to get your trophy now,” you tell him with the same cute smile. 

Lando doesn’t know what to say. He turns around to go on with everything that comes with a podium. He turns back one more time and looks at you. 

“I love you,” he says again. 

You show him another smile and blow him a kiss. 

Best day ever, he thinks again.

[cozage]

The Daughter's Return Part 3

Chapter 18: Ace's Perspective - Prison

Start From Beginning | Next Chapter | Table of Contents | Read on AO3

Characters: female reader x Portgas D. Ace Word Count: 1.6k

“You’ve got a visitor.”

The gruff voice from the Marine stirred Ace back to consciousness, but he didn’t raise his head to see who it was. It wasn’t worth the effort anymore.

 He had given up long ago. He had made peace with dying. His execution was in a few days…or was it hours? Time had a funny way of moving when you couldn’t tell what day it was. 

He had fought early on, when they had first captured him. He yanked at his chains and screamed in frustration, waking the entire floor with his rage. Even weakened by the sea prism, he had put up a good fight. 

But slowly, he grew tired. And in the time he took to recuperate his energy, he thought of you. He thought of the baby. The two things that mattered most in this world. And you were safe. He didn’t know where you were or what you were doing, but Ace knew that you were anywhere but in the hands of the Marines. Impel Down would’ve exploded with guards if you were behind its gates. And there were heightened security measures because of him and Jinbe, but not near as heightened as if you were there. 

Plus, he knew if you had been captured, someone would’ve been down to rub his failure in his face. No news meant good news. And that’s how he knew you were safe. 

He was thankful he had abandoned you, as cruel as that sounded. He had left you in Alabasta because he was confident he could kill Blackbeard on his own. But after seeing the traitor’s power, Ace knew that even with you by his side, you would not have won. And then you would be here with him, trapped in a prison cell. He wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if you were here next to him, awaiting execution. But you were safe and sound somewhere miles away, all because of that choice he had made.  

So nothing else really mattered. Ace had been waiting to die since he was five years old. This felt like a fitting and dramatic end. Public Execution. He should’ve been reflecting on his life, but he only thought about you. 

He spent most of his time imagining what it would’ve been like for the two of you to settle down and raise a child. A small house, nothing fancy. Maybe near the beach, so your child could play in the ocean. A little island where the two of you could actually be normal people with normal lives. You could have a garden, and the two of you would sing and dance in the kitchen as you cooked dinner. Your kid could grow up in a normal house, and have friends that could sleep over on the weekends. 

That’s what he was dreaming about when the voice jarred him from his thoughts, bringing him back to the cold reality of his actual future. There would be no slow dances in the kitchen, no garden to tend to every morning. All that awaited him was-

“Still breathing in there?” 

Garp’s voice almost made Ace look up. But he kept his head lowered. 

“You’ve caused quite a lot of trouble.” Garp sat down right outside of the jail cell. “Navy Headquarters…no, all of the world government is a mess. All of Whitebeard’s commanders are planning to move on Marineford to save you.”

Ace stiffened at that news. To save him? No. So many people would die if that happened. He wasn’t worth those lives. And if you were there…if something happened to you…Ace couldn’t breathe.

“Kill me, then.” He still refused to look up. “Just kill me.”

“Can’t do that either,” Garp sighed, chuckling lightly. “I’m afraid there’s nothing Whitebeard wouldn’t do to get you back, even if you were to die right now. It appears we’ve finally angered the King of the Sea.”

If there was going to be a war, Ace knew you would be there. And he couldn’t allow you to die. You had to survive; nothing else mattered except your life. 

“Look, old man…” Ace whispered, tears streaming down his face. “I need a fav-”

“I wanted you and Luffy to grow up and be good Marines,” Garp said, not hearing Ace’s words. “But hopes be damned, you both turned out to be hoodlums.”

Hoodlums. Pirates. Ace had never lived up to his grandfather’s expectations. Roger had asked Garp to watch over Ace, and look how that had turned out. If Garp knew about the baby, you would never be safe. Garp had always been a Marine first. If Garp knew, then the Navy would know, and you would be the first to die on that battlefield. 

He couldn’t-he wouldn’t-tell Garp about you.

“Notorious, dangerous pirates at that,” Garp continued, staring at Ace intensely. 

Garp went on to talk about Luffy and his accomplishments at Water 7 and Enies Lobby, but he didn’t mention your name at all. Which meant you must’ve left Luffy’s group before they made it to Water 7. 

He couldn’t blame you. If the roles had been reversed, he would’ve left Luffy the moment the snail call ended. 

“I told Luffy about his father,” Garp said.

“To hell with our fathers,” Ace snarled. “To hell with you if you ever thought we could be marines. We have cursed blood running through us. This was the only path for us. But let me make one thing clear…”

Ace finally looked up, locking eyes with his grandfather. “The only man I will ever call my father is Whitebeard. Got it, old man?”

Garp smirked and shook his head. “Whatever you say, boy.” He stood to his feet and began to walk away, but paused. 

“What was that favor you needed?” He asked. 

No, Ace couldn’t tell him now. It would be a death sentence for you. 

“It’s nothing,” Ace said. 

Garp hummed and looked back one last time at Ace, but walked away without another word.

It was just Ace and Jinbe again, silence filling the air between the two men. 

“Jinbe,” Ace started. “I need a favor. My little brother, Luffy…will you look after him?”

Jinbe chuckled deeply. “I doubt that’s what you were going to ask Monkey D. Garp, boy.”

“It wasn’t,” Ace admitted. “But this is still important.”

“Humor me,” Jinbe said. “What were you going to ask him?”

Jinbe was avoiding the question. Ace knew that. He knew how big of a request it was to ask Jinbe to watch over Luffy. It wasn’t a very fair request either. But it was a better question than what he was going to tell Garp. 

Ace knew it was a risk to tell Jinbe about you. It was a big risk to tell anyone about your status, especially in a prison where he was probably being watched. But he didn’t see any snail cameras around, and if he spoke in code, perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad idea for someone else to know. Someone who was outside of the Whitebeard Pirates who could help protect you. 

“It was about Y/N.” He finally looked at Jinbe, trying his best to show there was more to his words. “We were close. I just want to make sure she’s okay.”

“Whitebeard’s daughter?” Jinbe almost looked impressed, and Ace was reminded once again of just how lucky he was to have you. 

“She’s been pretty sick lately. Throwing up and such. Has a terrible stomach bug. Just wanted to make sure she gets looked after until she’s better. But I realized I can’t ask a Marine to help with that, you know?”

Jinbe’s eyes widened, and Ace knew he had understood. He trusted Jinbe with his life, and now he trusted Jinbe with yours too. 

“I see..” Jinbe said cautiously, nodding in agreement. “I hope she feels better.”

Ace could see there were a thousand things running through the fishman’s mind, but it was too dangerous to ask it here. 

All Ace could do was wait and hope. Wait for his end, and hope that his trust in Jinbe would somehow pay off. 

And he would dream too. Of you by his side and a baby in his arms.

--

Note: Going to be a little break for me to get everything in order for the final few chapters! We'll resume with Marineford on Thursday, November 9th :)

Tag list! @taeyoge @teiza @tojislawyer @trafalgardnami @bloopbopsblog @dancingnewcat @dxestyi @flooofity @nyxthedragon01 @deadsnothere @h-rhodes1598  @morgyyyyyyy @trafalgardvivi  @fiestynatureweeb @frogpogjoghurt @beepboopcowboy @ms-portgas @luvyallbabes @appalost @zuchkaa @saybeyonce @stray-npc @kitsunechan707 @theyluvmesblog @heartysworld @aira-needs-sleep  @mothmomjay @ophelias-flowerss @aqualein @sehyojae @fanficwriter5 @forgotten-blues @amberash05 @firefistnoct @depressed-but-make-it-cute @stuckinthewrongworld@lizpoir

[babydollmarauders]

MEDIA MANAGEMENT — JACK HUGHES (23-24 SZN PART 12)

au masterlist

notes: short, but i’m tired and have a migraine so i apologize

y/ndevils00

liked by dawson1417, ehaula, and 273,528 others

y/ndevils00 HAPPY 1989 (TAYLOR’S VERSION) DAY!!! I HOPE YOU’RE ALL STREAMING IT AND LOVING THE VAULT TRACKS AS MUCH AS I AM!!!

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, AN INSANELY HAPPY 22ND BIRTHDAY TO MY VERY BESTEST FRIEND IN THE ENTIRE WORLD, MY PUPPY, MY SWEETHEART, MY BESTIE NUMBER 1, DAWSON! YOU’RE TAYLOR SWIFT AGE NOW!!

oh yeah, and happy Devils game day too, i guess.

lucifer’s favorite children won 5-4 against the water buffalo’s tonight!

we got 2 great goals in the first period from Holtzy (not pictured because he’s being punished for his comments on tuesday) and my sweet swedish fish, Jesper! they served tonight!

and in second period we got the first out of two goals from Haula hoop! his second goal coming in the third period! my favorite uncle also almost got a hatty, but his stick broke :( criminal! it’s okay, he got the hatty in my eyes AND in my heart, and that’s the only hatty that matters! 🫶

and finally, before we got to holla for Haula-back girl’s second, we got a goal from my amazing, one-of-a-kind, brilliantly spectacular, so babygirl, the guy who stayed up until 2am on a game night and spun me around the house while we listened to 1989 (TV), everyone’s favorite, JACKY!!! this goal brought him up to 18 points in 7 games, which is 9 less games than it took him last season! i’m so proud of you, babygirl! you’re a star and you’re shining your light!

p.s. connor clifton, i am under your bed. seriously, i know where you live.

tagged dawson1417, jackhughes, john.marino97, jesperbratt, and ehaula

Load more comments

jackhughes i love you, my beautiful girl ♥️ thank you for your praise and for being my biggest fan

y/ndevils00 oh? i love you too, sweet boy

jackhughes okay, good, now that that’s done, STOP THREATENING PEOPLE

y/ndevils00 YOU TRICKED ME INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY!

jackhughes i had to! you don’t listen to me!

y/ndevils00 :(

jackhughes yeah, i’m not nico, that doesn’t work on me

y/ndevils00 RATS!

ehaula i would like to get a real hatty

y/ndevils00 no! you get the hatty in my heart and you appreciate it!

ehaula i don’t wanna

y/ndevils00 you’re an ungrateful uncle

ehaula and you’re a bossy niece

y/ndevils00 I AM NOT! @/kristen.haula AUNT KRISTEN, TELL HIM I’M NOT!

kristen.haula she’s not!

ehaula i rest my case

user19 the last jack picture 🥹

y/ndevils00 that was the product of me yelling “SMILE FOR THE PICTURE, BABYGIRL!”

jackhughes i thought the picture would come out better

y/ndevils00 @/jackhughes i can’t help it, your smile makes me shaky

jesperbratt i got a goal and i served!

y/ndevils00 you got a GREAT goal! i wanna carry you around with me everywhere, do you think nicole would allow it?

jesperbratt i’ll ask!

jesperbratt she says split custody, you can only have weekends

y/ndevils00 hmm i’ll agree to those terms

dawson1417 ITS MY DAY OF BIRTH! THANK YOU, BESTIE NUMBER 3!!

y/ndevils00 DID YOU LIKE YOUR CAKE OF YOUR FACE?!

dawson1417 I LOVED IT!! IT LOOKED JUST LIKE ME!

y/ndevils00 I KNEW IT! I KNEW I DID GOOD!

john.marino97 that cake looked nothing like you?

dawson1417 @/john.marino97 shhh be nice!

john.marino97 i mean, that cake looked just like you! y/n should go into art!

john.marino97 okay, say it, i’m mentally prepared, i can take it

y/ndevils00 you did so well! i’m proud of you and your assist!

john.marino97 wait what?

john.marino97 that’s not what i was expecting

y/ndevils00 i’m feeling nice, don’t push it!

john.marino97 if you’ll excuse me, i have a quick call to make

y/ndevils00 to who?

y/ndevils00 MARINARA, WHY AM I GETTING A CALL FROM *HIM*

john.marino97 i may have pre-tattled

nicohischier i’ll be fine, y/n. no need to threaten!

y/ndevils00 THAT WAS A DIRTY HIT?? ALL THE NEED TO THREATEN!

nicohischier i appreciate that you care for me and my wellbeing, but i’ll be okay

y/ndevils00 but he hurt my slut :( you’re being targeted

nicohischier i’m tough, i can take it

y/ndevils00 no, you aren’t! you cried at finding nemo! i need to wrap you in bubble wrap!

nicohischier HE COULDN’T FIND HIS DAD

user84 so what were john and dawson talking about?

y/ndevils00 HOW MUCH FUN WE’RE GONNA HAVE AT OUR ‘BEST FRIEND NUMBER 1 BIRTHDAY SLUMBER PARTY’!

john.marino97 game plays

dawson1417 candy!

user27 the world may never know

lhughes_06 i can’t believe you laid on the floor for the first picture

y/ndevils00 i think i have gum on my dress

y/ndevils00 at least i hope it’s gum

lhughes_06 burn that dress. just burn it.

y/ndevils00 but i love this dress :(

lhughes_06 jack will get you a new one

y/ndevils00 okay!

jackhughes wait what?

[orphicdreamers-wp]

Scared Of My Guitar — Luke Hughes

Summary; In which you and Luke both come to terms that your situation is wrong but neither of you can let go.

Content Warning; pure sadness(not really angst) , situation-ship, use of the names Jules, Parker, Katya and Bailee. Readers pov is with the pink lyrics, Luke is with the red.

Pairing; Music Major Reader & UMich Luke

Perfect, easy, so good to me. So why’s there a pit in my gut in the shape of you?

Part of you growing up believed you were unlovable. You were an only child to two busy parents. Your mother was a criminal defense attorney and your father was a renowned neurosurgeon. So a lot of your childhood was being raised by your babysitters over the years. Throughout high school you never had relationships, not because you didn’t want to but because it seemed that no one wanted to have a relationship with you.

So meeting Luke your freshman year at University of Michigan and being oddly pulled to him terrified you. By then you had ultimately decided that you had little to no interest in being someone’s girlfriend. And contrary to your sorority sisters Jules and Parker, that never changed when you started whatever you and Luke were doing. Part of you yearned for a relationship especially watching your best friend Kayta and her boyfriend JJ and Bailee and Ethan have perfect relationships.

But whenever you thought of being someone’s girlfriend it made you nauseous. You just had no interest of being anyone’s girlfriend. And everything someone called you Luke’s girlfriend a doomed feeling arose in your chest.

Barely sleep when you’re sleeping next to me.

Early into whatever you and Luke had started after hooking up in the bathroom at one of the many parties that Rutger and Luca had thrown, you guys began to frequent each other’s beds. You loved your room it was your safe place. You absolutely loved being in your bed. But oddly enough whenever Luke slept over you found it impossible to get to sleep.

You felt like you were being a horrible person, you felt like you were giving to less to Luke than he was giving to you. You were worried that your inability to desire a relationship would somehow hurt Luke so you just kept your mouth shut. Even when it caused you to lose sleep over.

But I’m so scared of my guitar cause it cuts right through to the heart.

You had been cleaning your room up before Luke was coming over for the weekend and you ran your fingers across your guitar, pulling away with dust covered fingers. You had been avoiding using your guitar because your music came from the heart and you were unsure you wanted to voice how you truly were feeling about your situation with Luke.

I can’t lie to it the same way I lie to you

You and Luke had been lying in your bed later that night watching Suits on your tv when Luke spoke, “You should come to the lake house with me this summer. My brothers can’t wait to meet you.” Your eyes darted to your guitar absentmindedly before you smiled softly as Luke looked up at you and you lied straight through your teeth, “Of course I will. That sounds so fun.” Luke hummed as you massaged his scalp lightly, “I’m glad you think so.”

I’m so scared of my guitar if I play it, then I’ll think too hard

Luke had gone to Vancouver with his parents and Jack for Quinn’s birthday so you had a little bit of free time to yourself to be in your head. You sat cross legged on your bedroom floor with your acoustic guitar resting on your lap. You had been brainstorming a song for your spring showcase and it was not going well when Luke was around. He sort of fogged up your musical thought process.

You picked up the guitar and began to strum the cords at random until you felt your cheeks dampen with tears. You set it on the floor beside you and pressed your back against your bed and let the tears stream down your face, not having the energy to fight them back. You barely lifted your head when your bedroom door creaked open. Katya popped her head in and her facial features softened when she noticed you were crying, “Oh baby, are you okay?” You shook your head and sniffled, “I don’t think so. I just don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Katya sat on the floor beside you and pulled you into a heartfelt embrace, “Nothing is wrong with you sweet girl. Do you want me to call Luke?” You shook your head, “No he’s on his way back from his brothers. I don’t wanna bother him”

So I lay in your arms and pretend that it’s love.

Luke had come straight to your place after he left the airport. He had brought you one of your favorite snacks that you’d mentioned liking when you had met early on. You should have melted inside when he did but you didn’t. Luke had sworn up and down that all he wanted to do for the night was just hold you because he missed his girl. So you let him, you laid in his arms in your bed as Tangled played from your laptop. That had been the only time you had ever in any way convinced yourself that you could love being Luke Hughes’ girlfriend one day

If I was brave and noble like you I’d have the nerve to just stop stringing you along.

Luke wasn’t a bad person by any means, but the relationship or lack of made him feel like he was. It wasn’t that he intentionally started the situation with you with the intention of it not working. He just wanted his brothers to stop bothering him about not being over his ex. And then he met you. You were simple to know and easy to love. Luke would admit he had grown to love you over the year and half you two had been involved.

But he was never in love with you. He loved you because you were funny, he loved you because you watched the same tv shows as him, he loved you because he could beat you in a video game and the next round you’d beat him, he loved you because you were a good friend. Loving you as his friend was easy, he would truthfully call you his best friend. But he never saw you and him being together romantically in a serious relationship.

I’d rather be tied to someone, even if they’re wrong.

But you and Luke fell into the groove of being slightly more than friends but way less than a relationship. You guys would hold hands, go on dates, sleep together and everything in between. But you two were never going to be in a relationship. And Luke was okay with that until his mother invited the both of you to the lake house for the entire summer. And when he asked you about it you agreed a little too quickly. So Luke was sure to make it known to you that you were not his girlfriend.

But when that summer came and you joined him at the lake house and meshed perfectly with everyone in his life, he knew he had made a mistake bringing you. You and his mother had shopped for linens and you had won her over by purchasing what she had picked out instead of letting her. You had won his father over by offering to man the grill and when the steaks turned out better than when his father made them, Jim had asked you to come back every summer. You’d win Jack and Trevor over by beating both of them in beer pong multiple times. You had won Quinn over by your infatuation with working out, none of the other inhabitants of the lake house were up at 4 am going to the gym besides you and Quinn. So two ended up going together every morning for the remainder of the summer.

But despite his entire family adoring you, Luke still wasn’t seeing you in a romantic way. But he wasn’t going to give up what he had to try and find something else.

Say that I’m fine, I tell them all the time as they watch all the light fade away.

Luke’s teammates had begun to notice something was off with Luke following that summer. He had grown irritable and easy to piss off. He had always been spending less time with you. His friends had asked him if he was okay and they always received the same answer, a grumbled out ‘I’m fine.’ They were in no way believing it but they knew better than to push any further.

Cause what if I never find anything better?

Following summer Luke had been conflicted. You were everything a guy could ever dream of. So why wasn’t Luke in love with you? You were smart, kind, funny, good with kids, parents loved you, and you were easily jaw dropping stunning. Luke felt bad keeping you to himself when he wasn’t in love but how would he find anyone better than you?

So we’ll stay together cause how could I ever trade something that’s good for what’s right

So he kept his mouth shut and kept whatever you had going on. He didn’t want to trade a perfectly good friendship with things you’d have in a relationship, for what could have been. He didn’t want to take that chance.

I let the thought in, it’s already done.

Summer had changed everything for you. You fell in love with Luke’s family and Luke himself. He had such a welcoming family who made you truly feel like you were a part of something. You and Luke were laying in his bed, you were sure Luke was asleep. It was 3:02 in the morning. He had to be, he was laying in your arms. You whispered through the darkness secretly hoping Luke heard you, “I’m in love with you Luke Hughes.” You had closed your eyes after and were met with silence like you always were. “Yeah me too.” Oh..

Yeah I lay in your arms and pretend it’s enough.

Luke closed his eyes as he could feel the vibe in his bedroom shift. He was pretending to be asleep to avoid any confrontation with you. Your soft voice filled his ears, “I’m in love with you Luke Hughes.” He should have felt something right?

[mrghostrat]

The only thing on my mind lately has been your absolutely amazing streamer au and how I just know damn well that The Them (now being older and getting into streaming as well) are little chaos gremlins and occasionally Crowley does streams w them. (Anathema also definitely hops on with them occasionally bc she misses them and just sits in calls on discord or even just plays silently in games while typing her response to them on discord off stream) They definitely all play jackbox together on weekends and fortnite and valorant or like some lawless minecraft server like 2b2t almost. (Crowley doesn’t really know how to play mc but The Them are trying to teach him lol) They do the most heinous crimes on any server they play on in any game they can get their grubby hands on (they love sea of thieves) but also have like chill days where they have like a really nice Raft server and their own modded mc server but none of them are very good at keeping things totally calm so streams on chill days always end in chaos anyways. Silly little rambles sorry abt that! But I just know the Them being young adults now would definitely be streamers too. Crowley probably wouldn’t stream with them too often but in my head that’s what The Them are up to as well in this au:)

im always kicking my feet and absolutely squealing every time I remember the streamer au. Your art, writing, and ideas are absolutely fantastic and a seriously great part of my day when i read ur posts. I can’t wait to spend my entire holiday break from college just reading ur current fic and getting even more hype for streamer and fandom au.

thank you for your services to this deranged and truly feral fandom. As a twitch enjoyer, i am feeling so seen and heard w the streamer au bc i know I’d definitely be in their chats going neurotic!!!!! I simply cannot get enough of ur work!!! ehehehehehhagahage ur so cool keep at it:))

YES YES YES!! and did i mention YES!!! this is a perfect Them and i'm LOSTTTTT thinkin about old man crowley, as modern and up to date as he is, needing a bunch of kids to tell him you don't attack zombies with your pickaxe

thank you for being so sweet and sharing this with me omg 😭 i'm having the best time talkin about my silly fixations and collaborating with so many enthusiastic askers. i hope you like my fics!! (and best of luck getting through classes!!!)

[1986harrington]

hi! can i request steve with, “It’s pouring rain why are you here?” + “I love you.” “Tell me that when you’re sober.” from the prompt list? (maybe reader randomly shows up to steves drunk?) <3.

Hey anon! I'm so sorry I'm such an awful human being and this took so long, but here it is! It's over 3k so hopefully worth the wait ahssnndks

::readmore::

“What d’you mean you don’t know where she is?” Steve demanded, incredulous. 

It had been no more than twenty minutes since you’d called him, words slurred down the phone and practically incoherent over the sound of music blaring from a stereo in the background. He managed to determine that you were at yet another of Chelsea Carlton’s parties, which shouldn’t have been hard to guess since all you seemed to do these days was hang around with people you never used to be able to stand, and get drunk in the process. 

He wasn’t sure if you’d been asking him to come get you, the call cutting off before he could really make sense of why you were calling. But if there was even the smallest chance that you needed him there, he couldn’t risk not showing up.

It had been almost a month since you’d broken up, and it definitely hadn’t been a mutual thing. Steve had walked around in a perpetual daze for at least 48 hours, trying to make sense of everything you’d said.

“I love you so much, more than anything. But it’s not enough if you don’t feel the same.”

“You know everything there is to know about me. There’s nothing I wouldn’t tell you, but you’re holding something back from me, and I need to know what it is.”

“I can’t do this anymore if you’re not gonna be honest with me.”

“If you really loved me, you would tell me. If there’s someone else, please just put me out of my misery. Please.”

“I'm done. We're over, okay? I can’t do it anymore.”

Those words lived inside his head on a constant, tortuous loop. Three, four, five times a day since, he’s considered telling you the truth. 

About the Upside Down; about what really happened to Will Byers; how Barb and Chrissy really died; how he got those scars he could never explain to you; why he slept with the hallway light on and woke up in the night, sweating and panting and scrambling for his baseball bat he kept under the bed. 

But he couldn’t be that selfish. 

He couldn’t turn your whole world upside down, drag you into the danger that came with knowing about all that stuff, the fear that would plague you once you knew the truth.

He’d have done anything to keep you.

Anything, except the one thing you needed him too.

He wouldn’t ruin your life. 

So he didn’t deny it when you said he was keeping something from you. He didn’t object when you implied he didn’t love you enough, and fuck, he didn’t correct you when you asked him straight to his face if there was someone else. 

He just stood and watched you fall apart, let you sob and hit at this chest with frustration when he couldn’t even do you the courtesy of answering out loud. He hoped the look in his eyes would be enough; a silent, unspoken apology for everything he was putting you through. But you still left his house that night in tears, car tearing off down his driveway only to pull in a couple hundred yards down the street, head falling back against the headrest - eyes closed and streaming with tears as your hands beat at the steering wheel.

Steve smashed up his house that night - his fist through the bathroom mirror, the desk by his window flipped over and contents scattered across the floor, beside lamp smashed with a swing of his bat, until he was sitting amongst broken glass and splintered wood wondering how the hell he had fucked this all up so badly.

***

He’d been a little surprised that first weekend when he heard you were at a party. Sure, you’d always been up for a good time with your friends - but Chelsea Carlton and her minions? Those people weren’t your friends. 

Curiosity had gotten the better of him that night and he’d shown up at Chelsea’s house, loitering in the doorway trying to catch a glimpse of you. 

And he did. And you looked beautiful. And he felt his chest crack open at the sight of you. 

Then he watched on as half the basketball team circled you like sharks, all bright smiles and dark eyes that raked over you and Steve felt his keys dig into the palm of his hand as his grip around them tightened. 

You may have been drinking, but you still had your wits about you and he’d be lying if he said his heart didn’t swell a little with pride as he watched you shut them all down, a sweet but stern smile on your face as each of them cut their losses and moved along. 

By the next week, word had reached him that you were going on a date, and he was almost sick then and there over the counter at Family Video. Robin being Robin made an excuse for him to dip, and he made his way to the bathroom, hands on his knees and back against the door as he caught his breath.

The following Sunday, he was at work again when he overheard that the date hadn’t gone well at all. Two girls, who didn’t even know you, were giggling over the fact they saw you storming out of Drew Kellerman’s truck at the drive-in, door slammed behind you and tears in your eyes. 

His first instinct had been to reach for the phone, to call you and make sure you were okay. To ask if that asshole had hurt you or touched you or so much as looked at you in a way you didn’t like. But Robin had caught his wrist, told him she’d already checked and you were fine - just embarrassed by your own public outburst but totally okay. His shoulders sagged in relief, but he still set the receiver back down with a bang, cursing under his breath as he headed outside for some air.

What Robin didn't tell him was that you also told her the only thing wrong with her date with Drew Kellerman was that he wasn't Steve.

The next weekend, by some miracle, both Steve and Robin had the Saturday off and Nancy and Jonathon were both back visiting from college. 

They were heading out for a day on the lake when Steve realized they needed to stop for gas. He was so preoccupied trying to fish his wallet out of the glove box that he didn’t realize the car in front was yours. 

You had just set the pump back into place and turned around to head inside to pay when you spotted him, only a few feet away. Your chest felt tight, like suddenly there was no air and all you could smell was gas and all you could see was Steve and you were sure you were on the verge of passing out. He cleared his throat then, shifting awkwardly on his feet and you darted around him, legs moving on their own accord and taking you inside.

The cashier was serving painfully slowly, so you were still in line to pay by the time Steve joined the queue behind you. He kept a safe distance, but it was still too close. He could smell the faint strawberry scent of your shampoo that used to cling to his pillows and the coconut body lotion he used to help you smooth over your shoulders. Your breath hitched, and you swore you could feel the heat radiating from his chest onto your back. Your knees felt shaky, like any second now they’d just give out. You thought about what would happen then - how you had no doubt Steve would catch you, strong arms wrapped around your waist, mouth against your ear asking if you were okay, and suddenly you wanted to run out of the gas station and risk the repercussions of skipping out without paying.

That was the last time he’d seen or heard about you, until the phone call.

***

“What d’you mean you don’t know where she is?” Steve demanded, incredulous. 

His eyes scanned the crowd of bodies surrounding them in the kitchen of Chelsea’s mansion, the air cloudy with cigarette smoke making it hard to see and the music thumping from the stereo system one room over making it even harder to hear and he couldn't think straight.

“Like I said, one second she was here, the next? Poof!” Robin explained, a typically exaggerated hand gesture accompanying the ‘poof’.

“And you didn’t think to call me?!” Steve worried, one hand running anxiously through his hair, the front pieces falling into his eyes.

“I didn’t exactly know you two were on speaking terms now!” Robin yelled back, defensive and kind of offended at being so out of the loop.

“We’re-” Steve started, exasperated at not being able to finish the sentence because quite frankly, he didn’t know what you were to each other now. 

“We’re not.” He finally settled on. “But she called me. And if she called me, of all people, then something must be wrong.”

Robin sighed, a sympathetic but frustrated expression on her face. “Look, Steve, I get it. You’re in love with the girl, and you’re miserable without her, and she’s miserable without you - but you're both my friends, so until you get your heads out of your asses, do me a favor and leave me out of it?”

Steve knew it was unfair to put Robin in the middle like this, so he didn’t argue when she turned her attention back to an unusually tense game of flip cup that had drawn in quite the crowd, mumbling something about how you probably just caught a ride home with someone and she’d call you in the morning.

***

By the time Steve had searched every room, closet and outbuilding on the Carlton property and confirmed you were nowhere to be found, the weather had taken a turn. The already dark sky was thunderous, raining falling harsh against the sidewalk as he made his way back to his car. He hadn’t been driving more than five minutes when the first flash of lightning forked across the sky, cursing under his breath at the thought of you wandering around on your own drunk on a night like this.

He went to your house first and parked two houses up, like always, to avoid waking your dad. The single-story layout made it easy for him to look in through your window, your bed still made and room in darkness.

“Shit,” He muttered, wiping rain from his face and heading back to the car.

He spent the next hour driving around the streets of Hawkins, stopping off at any place he thought you might be until he decided to go home and try to call you again.

As his car rolled up the driveway, the headlights illuminated his front porch, and all the air left his lungs when he saw you sitting on the bottom step.

The rain was still falling, hard and fast, but you were already soaked and so was Steve. He yanked the keys from the ignition and climbed out the car, leaning his forearms on the top of the door and dropping his head down on to them.

He stood like that for a second, letting the relief settle in that you were okay - that all the worst-case scenarios of you being hurt or in trouble that had been running through his head for the last hour and a half hadn’t amounted to anything.

You stood up before he moved, taking a few tentative steps towards him, the car door he was still leaning on separating you both.

When he finally lifted his head to look at you, he could tell you'd been drinking, and he was instantly angry that you’d walked all the way across town so out of it and in this weather. Your dress was clinging to you, the once floaty skirt of it stuck to your mid-thighs, tendrils of hair plastered to your face and droplets of rain dripped from your lashes. He could tell you’d been crying, eyes rimmed red and make-up smeared around them from where you had rubbed at it.

You pulled at the collar of the jacket you were wearing, it having slipped off your shoulder with the weight of the rain, and when you pulled it tight across your front, Steve realized it was one of his that he thought he’d lost a few months back.

It swallowed your frame, but the look of comfort that swept over your face as you clung to it made his chest hurt and all he could think about was how you were still the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. 

“‘You alright?” He asked, pushing off of the door and stepping around it to close it.

You nodded, eyes fixed on his and fingers tugging anxiously at the sleeves of the jacket. 

“It’s pouring rain." He stated, as if it wasn't obvious. "What're you doing here?”

You swallow hard, taking another step forward.

“I found it in Chelsea’s guest room closet.” You finally speak up, gesturing to the jacket as if he didn’t know what you were talking about. “You must have left it behind the last time we were there-”

Your voice caught in your throat when you realized the other reason it could be there.

“I mean, unless…” You trail off, head swimming with the idea of Steve with Chelsea, or Steve with any girl that wasn’t you, and suddenly you feel that familiar sensation of being about to pass out wash over you again.

You begin to pull it off, and Steve knows you well enough to know exactly where your head is at, so he reaches forward and takes a gentle but firm hold of your wrists, stopping your hands in their tracks. 

“Look at me,” He says, and it's halfway between a command and a plea.

Your eyes lift slowly from where they’d fixed themselves on his hands around yours until you're staring up at him.

“I know I’ve made it hard for you to trust me,” His voice is barely above a whisper, and if you weren’t so focused on clinging to his every word after not hearing his voice for so long, you’d probably struggle to make it out over the sound of the rain. 

“But I need you to believe me when I tell you there’s no one else. Never has been.” He says with a shake of his head as if the very idea was ridiculous, because to him it was. “And I never should have let you think for even one second that it was ever a possibility.”

You release a painful, jagged breath you didn’t even know you’d been holding, and suddenly his grip on you is the only thing keeping you upright.

His eyes feel like they're burning into yours and you want desperately to look away because it's too intense with his fingers still pressing into your skin, but you know instantly he’s telling you the truth. 

You swallow and nod, and you're almost relieved when he finally drops your hands back down by your sides and you can think half-clearly again.

“You never answered the question,” Steve presses, filling the silence that’s swallowed you both whole.

“What question?” You ask, head still cloudy from the alcohol and just being near him again, although you’re mostly sober now from the long walk you took in the rain.

“What’re you doing here? At my house. Why’d you call me at all?”

He seems genuinely confused, as if there’s no possible reason why you’d still give him the time of day, and you know it’s because he doesn’t feel like he deserves it.

And then you take him by surprise, and you laugh.

It’s short at first, one huff of air from your chest that shakes your shoulders, and then another until your hands are running through your hair before falling down at your sides with a shrug.

“I love you.”

You say it as if it’s so obvious, so simple. And it is.

“Don’t say that.”

“I love you.” You repeat, walking towards him. “I was at Chelsea’s, and I was sad. Even sadder than usual, and so I drank more than usual. But that didn’t help. It just made me miss you more. And all these people were talking to me and crowding me and I couldn’t breathe because none of them were you, and that’s all I wanted. You're all I ever want. When I’m sad, or happy, or lonely, or scared… and I just had to get away from them all, y’know? So I went upstairs to the guest room, and I found your jacket and it smelled just like you and when I put it on it was like I forgot every bad thing that’s ever happened. All the reasons we don’t work just didn’t matter anymore and I needed to hear your voice. So I broke. And I did the one thing I swore I wouldn’t do and I called you. But it was so loud and I couldn’t hear you, and I needed to hear you, Steve. So bad. And I didn’t know if you were coming, so I came here-”

“Can you do me a favour?” He asked, cutting you off mid-ramble and you just nod, taken aback.

“Can you tell me all this when you’re sober tomorrow?”

“Steve, I walked 30 minutes in the rain. I’m sober.”

“Good.”

And just like that he’s on you, all around you, and you feel the horrible, suffocating weight that’s been holding you down for the last month just disappear.

His hands are cupping your face, thumbs grazing your jaw, fingers tangled in the wet knots of your hair and his mouth is warm and familiar against yours. You’re clinging to his wet t-shirt, pulling at it in an attempt to get him closer to you, but his chest is already flat against yours. He drops one hand from your face to tug at your waist and you gasp into his mouth, his tongue slipping in and pulling a moan from you that he can hear even over the rain that’s still falling around you both. 

His hand slams down on the roof of the car as your back collides with driver’s side door, arms tangling around his neck and fingers pulling at his hair. 

When you’re forced to tilt your face to side, away from his lips to catch your breath, he plants a trail of open-mouthed kisses the length of your throat until he’s met with the wet material of his jacket still hanging off of your shoulders.

“I can drive you home,” He mutters against the warm skin of your neck, face buried in the crook. 

“Or?” You ask, breathless as you use both hands to pull his face up to meet yours.

“Or you can stay here.” He offers, and your face lights up, bottom lip pulled between your teeth to try and contain the smile at the thought of spending the night in his bed again.

“With me. If you want. We don’t have to do anything.” He clarifies, hand pushing wet strands of hair out of your face before you lean up and kiss him again.

“I wanna stay. With you.” Your arms loosen from around his neck, hands sliding down his chest until you reach his wrists and pull him towards his front porch.

He lets you lead the way, only dropping your hand to fish his keys out of his back pocket and he laughs so contentedly when your arms wrap around him from behind, your cheek pressed between his shoulder blades as he fumbles with the wet keys in the lock.

You both stumble into the door as it opens, immediately pulling your wet clothing off and letting it drop to the floor. You're back on him instantly, pulling and kissing him towards the stairs to his room and it takes all his strength to take hold of your shoulders and push back lightly.

“Baby, baby, wait,” He breathes, chest heaving as he stares down at you. “There’s a reason this - we didn’t work. There’s so many things I want to tell you, but I can’t. And I don’t wanna go backwards and do anything that’s gonna hurt you or confuse you or-”

“Steve, please,” You cut him off with a shake of your head. “I know all of that but- Can we talk about it tomorrow? I just, I need to be with you. Please?”

“You’re sure?”

You nod, hands bringing his lips back down to yours again, and you feel him give in against your mouth before he pulls away from you, taking your hand guiding you in front of him and up the stairs.

PART II

[beebotea]

hey, are you listening? — part 09

pairing : college au!xiao x f!reader . summary : in which uni students decipher vague tweets and emotions... + ie: second-year students y/n and xiao are forced to work through their term project (and feelings) as their friends attempt to meddle with their love lives ‘for the greater good’ . cw : swearing, slut-shaming, suggestive, reader she/her pronouns .

[prev] [masterlist] [next]

09. accidental sleep over party

act 1, scene 1

“Y/N, did u like the food?” Scaramouche looked up from his phone over to the couch where his friends all sat. “Was it your first time eating authentic Inazuman food?”

“Authentic my ass… Inazuma doesn’t use any of the Sumeru-based spices that you put in!”

“Shut the fuck up, Heizou, just admit you’re a little bitch boy who can’t eat spices.”

“Hmm? Yeah~ yummy yummy, mmm… ramen.” Y/N slurred amidst their bickering.

To her left, Kazuha chuckled as he took another sip of his drink. “And here I thought Xiao was the lightweight. If anything, she’s significantly worse... I didn’t even think that was possible.”

“Man alive, give her a break. It was her first time trying saké.”

“I should probably get her home…” Xiao’s eyes never left the view of her hands playing with his fingers. “Come on, Y/N. I have to get you home before it’s too late or Hu Tao would kill me…”

The teal haired boy tried to wiggle his way up to tug the tipsy girl away from the sofa.

“Noooo… wanna stay ‘lil longer…” She looked up at him pleadingly. “At least… lemme be sober when I get home.”

Xiao ruffled his hair, a little stressed, but unable to deny the puppy eyes peering up at him with a pout.

“Fine.” He managed to mumble before prying his eyes away from her.

“Well, then I guess I’ll get going,” Scaramouche spoke up from behind them, “it’s the weekend so I’ll be visiting my mom and aunt. See ya. No funny business in our room when I’m gone.” He grabbed his keys off the counter before starting towards the door.

“And one more thing,” he paused. “Don’t break anything.”

“Pfft, yeah yeah, we’re not kids, Scara.” Heizou rolled his eyes.

“I’m not talking about you guys. I’m talking about that one.” Scaramouche pointed at Y/N, who promptly stuck her tongue out at him in response. “And give her water or something. Anyways, bye.” He closed the door behind him.

“Can we play Pokémon again?” Y/N called to Xiao, who was grabbing her a drink of water from the fridge.

“Sure. Do you guys want to join us?” He looked over at his two other roommates.

“No it’s alright, you two go ahead. I wanted to finish this show before I go to bed.” Kazuha smiled at them.

“Yeah, same here! Plus I have to work on a case study due on Sunday so I don’t want to procrastinate too much.” Heizou added.

“Alright then. We’ll be in my room. Come on, Y/N.”

—

act 2, scene 1

“Feeling better now?” Xiao asked as he continued hunting for shinies with Y/N on the Switch.

“Yeah… at least I think I’m pretty sober…”

“Alright. Tell me when you want to go home then, okay?”

“It’s only nine. Can we leave around 11? I’m sure my roommates won’t mind.”

He chuckled. “Of course, whenever you’d like.”

As they continued to travel around the map together in their virtual world, Y/N got a notification from Twitch.

-

ModernBard is live: Escaping with Cyno!

Streaming Escape the Backrooms

-

“Oh, Venti is streaming!” She showed Xiao her phone screen.

“Did you want to watch?”

“Can we?”

“Of course.” He said as he got off the of the bed before powering on his PC and wirelessly connecting it to his mini projector for them to watch.

She observed as the wall adjacent to Scaramouche’s bed lit up with Venti’s signature waiting screen. She shuffled around to lay on her stomach, facing the screen as Xiao got back onto the bed after turning off the lights and mimicked her. He pulled the blanket over her legs before settling back down.

“Cozy?”

“Yupp! Thank you.”

-

Hey guys! Oh, damn there’s a lot of you… how have you all been? My friend Cyno will be joining me to play Escape the Backrooms. I think I put his twitch somewhere in the title… if not then the mods can drop his stuff in the chat.

Yeah, we’ve been meaning to play it but Venti said he was worried about pissing himself on camera if he played alone.

I did not!

Did too.

Tch… So anyways! We’re going to try to get through as many levels as we can in one sitting. Some of our friends will be joining us as well if we have to restart!

Okay. I am ready.

Same. Hi Childe, thanks for the sub. I look cute? You too, buddy.

Oh! Hi Y/N, hi Xiao! How’s studying? Ooooh nice. Thanks for tuning in! Yeah, haha OHMYGODWHATTHEFUCK AAAAA—

Venti shut the fuck up it’s just the loading screen.

Oh.

I think I tinkled myself.

-

The two continued watching their friends run through the thrilling game, as Venti continued to occasionally scream to let out his anxiety or to piss off Cyno while the latter would make panicked jokes to calm himself.

The stream in its entirety was entertaining as the two natural born “comedians” (more so Venti than Cyno) ventured through the creepy levels. However, Y/N couldn’t help but feel tired from the day’s events.

Studying was mentally taxing… Eating, drinking, and conversing with Xiao and his roommates also took a lot of energy. To end it all off, gaming—although relaxing—also took a certain amount of brain power and concentration.

The warmth radiating beneath Xiao’s blanket shared between the two project mates called to them, calming their senses. Despite the jump scare at the end of the stream, Y/N and Xiao laid there unbothered and sound asleep.

—

act 3, scene 1

—

a/n: act 3, scene 1 is a teaser for the next day :)

—

taglist  —

@ashhh-14 @sanghyuksgasolinestationscream @yuminako @bananasquash​ @scaramoo​  @lovely028​ ​@apinu @yukii-1 @ttalgi @yelleloww​ @bobaducky​ @sukunasrealgf

—

[mignonricciardo]

formula one drivers as romance tropes pt. 2

she's finally here... the long awaited part 2 to formula one drivers as romance tropes!! also, i included fernando alonso because he was my first ever f1 love from when i was a kid <3 I have a french parent so him winning with renault shaped my childhood

warnings: mentions of smut, mentions of throwing up, mentions of alcohol, fernando alonso, dogs, lots and lots of fluff, nerdy!max makes an appearance, mention of zhou guanyu crash

enemies to lovers: max verstappen

Ok hear me out on this…

You’re also a sim racer, but you’re on a different team than max

Somehow, you always end up in the same races, jockeying for position

He’s super competitive in everything, not just on the actual race track, but you are just as competitive as him

It was a healthy rivalry, but after a crash that left both of you falling way out of the points, it turned into all out enemies

You played the blame game around each other which led to bad blood - in all reality, neither of you would yield and leave each other the space, it was just a game of chicken essentially

It was starting to get a little nasty with you directing comments at him here and there, and sometimes he’d address them on his streams by firing back (albeit your’s are a touch meaner)

Somehow your rivalry takes on a life of its own as fans and people on social media start to run with it and build an entirely false (ok, only somewhat false) narrative around it

For one of the race weekends, F1 marketing plans a showcase for a Saturday and you’re just THRILLED because this means you’re going to have to actually interact with him when he finishes qualifying

You spend all day hyping yourself up to face him, but when he finally shows up after qualifying (of course taking pole position), your jaw literally drops

Your first thought is “he’s hot ????” then you freak out because when did you start finding him HOT

(all those tweets you saw about post-race max are hitting home now)

He’s oblivious at first even though you are bright red, but your friends and team immediately notice

At this event, there’s an obvious tension between the two of you - you’re even snappier than usual because you’re annoyed that you’re nervous around him and actually ~noticing~ him

Max is pissed because “god, you’re so annoying” but that’s because he can’t not pay attention to you

The way you nervously bounce your leg before a race in the sim? You're picking at your nails before the Q&A session with fans? You don’t smile when you overtake someone because you’re so focused? How red you turn when your team celebrates your win? Once he notices the dimples when you smile, he’s a goner

At another session, they pair you both together for a head-to-head race to show your different driving styles

It’s absolutely brutal

At one point you probably threaten his F1 career, and he throws something back about how his feet at least reach the pedals (OUCH)

The loser has to buy the other a fancy dinner of the winner’s choice as punishment

You of course beat him, and for dinner, you decide on some fancy Mediterranean place (and order at least two bottles of fancy wine on his tab)

Years later, you’d both consider that your first date all thanks to a silly little rivalry in sim racing <3

"sorry, my dog likes you more than they like me": mick schumacher

You just lived down the street from Mick, so you’d see him around all the time

Passing by each other on the sidewalk, running into each other in the market, holding the door for you as he left the cafe, but your favorite moments were when he was walking his dog and she stopped by you to lick your hand or wait for you to scratch behind her ears (you never realized you knew her name but not his)

After a string of run-ins nearly every day, his dog Angie decided to finally break the ice

You’re sat in the park on the phone with your friend, but you’re suddenly interrupted as a dog comes barreling toward you with her tanging hanging out and mischief in her eyes

Angie practically launched herself at you, immediately licking your face and getting her muddy paws all over your jeans

Mick is absolutely mortified - face bright red in anger and embarrassment as he runs toward where he believes his dog has just mauled an innocent bystander (he definitely thinks worst case scenario)

He was relieved somewhat when he gets close enough to hear you laughing wildly as you pet Angie, but he still called for usually well-behaved dog 

When she finally listened, he apologized profusely and next you thing you know, he’s introduced himself and sat next to you while Angie stands between your legs so you’ll scratch her head

What used to be run-ins turn into frequent conversations when you’re out, and one day you end up sharing lunch in the park where Angie had started all of this… she runs around the entire time and you or Mick end up having to throw her ball in between bites of lunch

Somehow, you end up dogsitting for him in a pinch when he needs to go out of town, and when he tried to go back to his old dogsitter, Angie makes it clear she likes her new one much more

Now you’re really seeing each other a lot, and Mick finally hypes himself up into asking you to dinner (the first time you’ve hung out without his dog) and it ends up being amazing

Angie is a little jealous that you’re both together and she’s not there, but you both make it up to her when he brings you back to his place to see her

The first time he kisses you, she jumps up after him to lick your face, and you’re not sure you’ve ever seen him laugh so hard

She’s super happy when you start to come over more frequently, and eventually, just become a permanent fixture at his house

no strings attached: pierre gasly

Pierre is in his fuckboy era

Pierre slagly if you will 

Both you and pierre agree no strings attached sex is a perfect thing - your friends from a mutual friend group so you already know each other, but there’s no serious history that could get in the way or make it complicated

Tbh it’s great because there’s no learning curve, you know what the other likes, it’s familiar but still exciting… in all honesty, it’s a win-win

You notice things starting to change a little bit when your meetups go from strictly sex to a takeout meal here and there, maybe a movie, maybe its a vent session where he airs his frustrations with his car and his season, maybe you cuddle here and there just to decompress and relax

There’s always still sex, but it’s not the only thing bringing you together now

You know you’re in trouble when he hugs you bye one time because 1) who hugs their booty call when they’re leaving and 2) why did you kind of like it?? It almost gave you the warm and fuzzies

You’re a little concerned now, so you tell your friends, and they’re all like “it’s natural!!! You spend so much time together!!!” and Pierre tells some of his friends too because he started feeling a little more caring than he thought was right (no strings attached, remember?)

When summer break hits, the whole friend decides to spend some time in Lake Como, and they’re definitely playing Cupid since they know about the two of you

It’d start to get messy real quick as the group purposely chooses their daily schedules based on whatever will leave you and pierre together

Trips down to the beach, walks to the market, staying at the bar, anything in the water - you two always end up together 

Also there is so much sex happening all the time because of this its getting a little insane

You end up with food poisoning from one of the restaurants, and you make everyone else continue with their plans for the day and night because you can take care of yourself

Pierre stays behind the entire time, and at first he’s just sitting in the living room of the villa just in case your stubborn ass finally admits you need something, but he comes up to check on you when he thinks he hears crying

You’re on the phone with your mom because everyone wants their mom when they’re sick, and when you hang up, you’re mortified to see him standing in the doorway while you sniffle

He feels like his heart is breaking when he sees you, and before either of you realize it, he’s wrapping you up in his arms to cuddle on the bed

It’s sweet honestly

He even holds your hair back when you’re throwing up again, and when you wake up the next morning with him still in your bed, you realize how utterly screwed you are

After a long conversation where both of you admit that maybe strings attached wouldn’t be so bad, you never look back 

childhood friends to lovers: esteban ocon

You and esteban met in grade school

It was your first day at a new school and you couldn’t reach the cubby for your backpack, so little esteban (who was taller than everyone else already) helped you put it away <3

Esteban ocon has been a gentleman his entire life, and five-year-old estie is no exception

The first time your parents meet, you introduce him as the boy who carries your backpack for you, and immediately your dad is like “i already like this kid”

The two of you are pretty much joined at the hip for the next few years, and you remain best friends while he’s traveling for karting and stuff

You write letters to each other because its more fun than trying to use your parent’s phones or laptops to try to talk

also, he remembered how much you loved reading letters in history or reading class, so he sometimes tried to write letters like they did in the 1700s

He also called you ma cherie at beginning of every letter because that’s what the man always called his lady in history class letters

Even when he called you that, he made fun of you for your teeth and you made fun of him for how lanky he was - I mean, what are best friends for??

Obviously you start to see each other less and less with racing getting more serious, but every time you reunite it's like you’re your six-year-old selves again

You try to go to a few GPs a year to see him, and he tries to visit when he can, but you never miss his home GP

Your parents who love him as much as you (maybe even more) always make the trip south with you to see him at the French GP, and he of course gets passes for everyone to make it an entire weekend

Walking through the paddock, he refuses to let you carry your own bag “for old times sake” and while the two of you lead the pack, your parents are elbowing each other and literally begging for either of you to realize you’re in L-O-V-E

[while each of you are very much aware how much you like the other, you both think it's entirely unreciprocated and risking your friendship] 

Your parents were totally scheming now, and they both made up some excuse as to why they had to leave dinner after the race early, leaving just the two of you there… in a romantic french restaurant… with some wine… some ambient music

Of course there’s only one slice of clafoutis left so you have to share…

On the walk back to the hotel, your hands keep brushing and you’re suddenly noticing he’s like really close

He accidentally admits his feelings because he’s talking about bringing you to more GPs so he can have you around because “everyone deserves their best friend with them all the time”

And you’re like “esteban that’s literally a romantic partner” and he’s like “yeah exactly!”

Honestly it ends up being so cute, and he’s a little confused as to why you’re laughing, but when you FINALLY kiss him he gets it

secret lover: fernando alonso

Fernando had been your secret - it felt so much safer to keep your affections between the two of you than involve the outside world

Both of you were private people to begin with, so keeping things secret was honestly easier and more enjoyable for both of you than some grand announcement or worrying about invasive cameras

Fernando was especially concerned about your privacy because you were a single parent - even without meeting your kids yet (we’ll get into that) he worried about their privacy and life as much as you did 

It was starting to get tiring though, sneaking around between race weekends and the babysitter’s availability - feeling like you were lying to your kids every time you spent time with Fernando

The kids were too young to remember the divorce, but you were still worried to ever introduce them to Fernando with the fear that it wouldn’t be permanent

You were supposed to spend a long weekend together in between races (telling your kids it was a work trip felt awful), but a call on your way to the airport that your youngest son was sick had you turning around

You apologized to Fernando relentlessly as he drove you back, but he reassured you that it was the right decision

When Fernando dropped by later that night, bag in hand from the pharmacy full of medicine and treats, your heart swelled

Alarms started ringing in your head as you invited him in, but with the boys asleep upstairs for hours at this point (the oldest was starting to catch whatever the youngest had), you figured it couldn’t hurt

WRONG

At some point in watching a movie, you both fall asleep on the couch only to be woken up by your oldest son coming downstairs to ask for some water

Imagine his confusion when 1) there’s a strange man he doesn’t know asleep on the couch next to his mom and 2) that strange man is racer FERNANDO ALONSO 

He immediately puts together why you took them to a few races with those fancy passes now - totally not “someone from work”

You’re absolutely mortified now, but there’s no going back, so you introduce Fernando as your friend and let him ask all the questions he wants until you’re leading him back upstairs with his water

Fernando ends up staying because shit now you have to let your other son meet him in the morning

PLS he would make a giant breakfast for everyone and your boys would be so confused because why is world champion fernando alonso cooking them breakfast?? Also mom how do you know fernando?? 

He came around more often, and eventually the boys understood why

You’d probably be dancing around the topic still and one day at dinner with just the three of you one of them would ask something totally out of pocket about why your boyfriend isn’t here

Safe to say Fernando comes around a lot more now (and he would honestly treat them so well too)

Pls imagine him walking them through the paddock (and one of them would 100% be wearing Ferrari stuff so he’d begrudgingly take him to the garage)

friend of a friend of a friend: zhou guanyu

Zhou is an absolute fashion icon and he seems like such an intelligent guy (I would love to have a conversation with him he seems so cool)

You first met at a party celebrating your friend’s clothing launch - he was a friend of a friend of a friend

You’d actually thought he was a model she had worked with based on his clothes, but he laughed when you asked him, turning red and swearing he wasn’t a model

You weren’t a massive F1 fan, so when he told you he drove in the series, you answered with what you did for a living and carried on the conversation

He secretly loved that you didn’t make a fuss over it and kept the conversation going

Neither of you knew a ton of people at the party, and with your mutual friends busy as they make their rounds through the crowd, the two of you are pretty much left to do your own thing

You’re practically attached at the hip all night

Bathroom? He guards the door so no one tries to come in

Getting another drink? He makes sure no one even looks at your drink in a funny way, yet alone get close to it

Acquaintances sharing a chat? He’s introducing you to them before he even realizes it

You would 100% become besties after this party

Your mutual friends would realize at the end of the night that they failed to introduce you, but when they see the two of together, laughing like you’ve known each other for years, they realize it's probably best they let you do it on your own

You’d spend time as besties for a couple months, and you were starting to realize the growing feelings you thought were just love for your new bestie was maybe a bit more

Things rapidly changed following his crash at Silverstone

After his crash and release from the medical center (and making him promise a million times that he was really okay) you realized… yeah this is a little more than caring for him as just a friend

You hung out after his accident, and even though he swore he was fine and he was medically cleared, you forced him to not move off the couch and did literally everything for him

Cuddles while watching a movie? A necessity 

You try to justify it in some way to totally deflect your feelings, but Zhou would see right through it

He’d tease you about it at first, and when you finally broke and admitted that yes, you like him, he’d just smile and be like “lol me too”

It’d be the most nonchalant admission of liking someone but it felt so natural

He’d be the softest boyfriend :((

secretly famous: yuki tsunoda

100% this man would fail to ever mention that he drives in F1 you’d be on like your second or third date and someone would recognize him and ask for a picture

Ok ok before the dates let’s talk about meeting

You’d be a uni student and just a barista on the side, and of course Yuki would stop at the cafe you work at all the time

At first it's for the really good latte you make, but soon, yukino develops a little crush on the really nice barista at his favorite cafe

The cafe is usually empty when you’re both there because of the weird hours - your work the odd shifts due to your uni schedule, and yuki stops in in between training, sim sessions and marketing visits with the team

After literal weeks of shameless flirting, you’d have to make the first move in asking him out because (even after you literally told him to ask you to dinner !) he was still nervous you’d say no

He’d let you plan the first date since you know the area much better than he does

100% a walk in the park and he’d buy you both little gelatos or something (he has such a sweet tooth he’d end up trying yours too)

You’d quickly learn all about his life in Japan, his interests, and most importantly his love of good food

When you asked him about his job, he just said he was a race car driver and traveled a lot for work… he left it at that because he’d much rather talk about you

So imagine your surprise on your third date (fancy restaurant this time since he loves good food) when a man walks up to the table asking for a picture and making small talk about the upcoming F1 race

And you’re like “F1 race?? Like Formula 1?? Like only 20 drivers in the world??”

Yuki would play it off like it was no big deal, and you’d be shaking his shoulders like “oh my goodness, it’s such a big deal!! Be proud of yourself!! You’re one of 20 drivers!! You’re so talented!!!”

He’d blush so HARD you guys and he’d be extra soft because he never wanted to use that he was an f1 driver to wow you, and it didn’t wow you how he was scared of

You were wanting him to tell people he was a driver because he was proud of himself, not as a brag

You had no idea what was really happening at the first race you went to, but no one in the paddock could miss the girl decked out in Driver 22 gear and a Japanese flag

[magicshopaholic]

Movie Night (Hoseok x OC)

Summary: Hoseok hosts movie night, but finds he can’t concentrate with all the flirting.

Pairing: Hoseok x OC

Genre: Humour, unreolved issues, hints of angst

Word count: 5.8 K

Rating: 18+

Warnings: Alcohol, spoilers for the movie Get Out!

A/N: Took me a while but my favourite children are back :') Contains one of the first scenes of theirs I ever envisioned. This fic takes place approximately four months after Double Take, about a week after Stranger Things. Can't wait to hear what you guys think <3

Tagging: @bbl32 @quarter-life-crisis2 @meirkive @dreaming-with-happiness @xjoonchildx @tarahardcore, @kflixnet (drop a message if you want to be added)

Listen to: “should i stay or should i go” by the clash

hoseok masterlist | main masterlist

A phone call wakes Chanyeol up before his alarm does.

Clearing his throat as his eyes stay shut, he fumbles for his phone on the hotel bedside table and answers it. “Hello?”

“Hey, what’s up? Listen, you’re coming over today, right?” Hoseok asks, without waiting for a response to his first question.

It takes Chanyeol a couple of seconds to process these many words. “What?”

“Today,” repeats his best friend patiently. “You’re coming over?”

“Uh - yeah.” He frowns, rubbing at his eyes. “Why?” 

“Just checking.”

“No, why as in, why are you calling and not texting?”

“I did text you, but I didn’t hear back.”

“Yeah, because it’s -“ Chanyeol moves the phone away from his ear to squint at the screen “- eight in the morning on a Saturday. Dude, what are you even doing up?”

“Dance practice,” supplies Hoseok. “Anyway, I wanted to check with you…” There’s a pause while his voice trails away, sounding uncertain.

Chanyeol frowns, brain still fuzzy. “I know your address. You texted it to me.”

“No, I know…” Hoseok clears his throat. “I was wondering if I should invite your sister.”

No part of that sentence makes sense to Chanyeol in this context. “My sister?”

“Yeah… wait, you know she’s in Seoul, right?”

He scoffs, sitting up slightly now and wincing as he straightens his back. “She let me in on it, yeah. I was going to have lunch with her today. How do you know she’s in Seoul?” Something occurs to him then. “Wait, did she call you or something?”

“No, I ran into her a couple months ago.”

“Where?”

“The - the grocery store. Anyway, my point is,” he continues quickly, “now that I know she’s here - and you’re here - should I invite her?”

“Um, I dunno. It’s your house, man.”

“Right.”

When Hoseok says nothing else, Chanyeol frowns. “Since when do you hang out with my sister, anyway?”

“Since never. It’s just, you know, polite. Since I ran into her and everything,” he explains. “And because you’re her brother. I mean, you have lunch with her and then leave to come over to my place when she knows I’m here - and she knows that I know she’s here -“ Hoseok exhales, and Chanyeol can practically see him pinching the bridge of his nose and shaking his head.

“You know, she’s not going to care,” says Chanyeol slowly. “She probably has plans already.”

“Oh. How - how do you know?”

“Because she’s had plans every single weekend since she turned sixteen.” He has no idea where this conversation is going. “But like I said: it’s your house. You do whatever you want.”

“Yeah.” Hoseok is quiet for a moment, and Chanyeol can tell he hasn’t heard a single word. “Alright, cool,” he says after a few seconds. “I’ll see you later today. Bring beer. And about Chaeyoung - you’re probably right.”

“Sure I am,” yawns Chanyeol, already sinking back into bed.

“Yeah, like, it would be polite to call her but if she’s got plans - I mean, I wouldn’t want to put her out -“

“Exactly,” he mumbles against his pillow.

“Maybe if you were moving to Seoul or something - but let’s not overthink this too much…”

The next thing Chanyeol knows, he wakes up to the sun streaming brightly into his room and his phone still in his hand. He vaguely remembers speaking to Hoseok; just to check that he hasn’t missed something important, he brings the phone up and checks his notifications to see one message from his best friend.

You know what? Just text me her number.

—

Hoseok ends up giving Chanyeol a lift to his house, when it turns out that the latter’s hotel is less than ten minutes away from the studio. 

“- heard that I couldn’t sleep so they gave me - and get this - specialty foam pillows, because apparently that’s a thing now -“

Hoseok guffaws as he pulls into his building. “Did they help? Like, should I get a bunch for my house?”

“I mean, they were soft,” allows Chanyeol.

“That’s what made them special?”

“No, they had some weird vibrator thing inside.” When Hoseok raises his eyebrows, Chanyeol rolls his eyes. “It wasn’t like that, dumbass.”

“Hey, I believe you. No wonder you didn’t get my texts.”

“That and the jet lag,” allows Chanyeol, unstrapping himself as the car switches off. “But I’m all well-rested now.”

“Good. I invited a couple of my friends over, too. That’s cool, right?”

“Sure. Like I said: I got my sleep and I’m ready to, like -” He makes a vague gesture with his hands and moves his neck around “- party.” When Hoseok snorts, Chanyeol rolls his eyes. “Knock it off, not all of us are professional idols.”

“There’s an unprofessional kind?” Hoseok chortles at his own joke while his best friend clicks his tongue, punching his shoulder as they enter the apartment. “Beer’s in the fridge. I have soju and vodka, too, if you want it.”

“Vodka? It’s four pm.”

“Yeah, but you’re ready to party.”

“Not if it’s a party of one,” disagrees Chanyeol, making his way over to the fridge and emerging with a can of Budweiser. “I’ll wait for your friends before I start getting shitfaced. Or I’ll wait until it gets dark,” he adds, shrugging.

“Uh, yeah, about that,” says Hoseok slowly, leaning sideways against the TV cabinet as Chanyeol settles on the couch, “I invited your sister.”

To his surprise, Chanyeol chuckles. “Yeah, she told me. She was even more surprised than I was.”

“She - oh.” He frowns. “Okay. Why?” When his best friend simply raises his eyebrows. “Yeah, okay, I know why, but… do you think it’s that weird that I did? I mean, I ran into someone from my childhood and then her brother comes over to my house a couple months later - wouldn’t it be rude not to call her?”

Chanyeol seems to think it over before sighing. “You know, you’re right? And if it were anyone else, I’m sure none of us would give it a second thought.”

“But she was the annoying kid that lived next door,” finishes Hoseok, rolling his eyes. “That was, like, a hundred years ago. I’m over it.”

“Yeah, I’m sure she is, too. I mean, she is coming, after all.”

“Huh.” It hadn’t occurred to Hoseok until this moment that he was worried at all that she wouldn’t. But there’s a strange sort of relief at the confirmation from Chanyeol himself, that somewhere out there, his best friend’s sister isn’t mad at him anymore.

Hoseok hadn’t given Chaeyoung much thought since he’d run into her at the liquor store; not because he didn’t care, but because the majority of his mind space in those few months had been at the studio, and the rest on rehearsals. Still, it had been nice to see her - a blast from his past that, he’d realised only later, was a pleasant reminder of the families he missed so much.

It hadn’t even occurred to him to mention the chance meeting to Chanyeol. An insane part of him felt like he was helping her hide something; the fact that she was in Seoul, and in a liquor store no less, was far too incongruous for him to wrap his mind around. Chanyeol, he felt, would probably burst a blood vessel if he knew. 

Besides, Chanyeol had been in Tokyo for the last two years, working for an investment bank that sucked the very life and soul out of him; the last thing he needed was to worry about his sister. Hoseok hadn’t considered reaching out to her again, though, not until Chanyeol mentioned he was visiting Seoul and Hoseok had remembered with a jolt that he’d been a horrible friend for not looking out for little Chaeyoung while her brother was overseas. 

So, it seemed only natural that he should invite Chaeyoung as well. Just the image of both siblings at lunch, the younger one mentioning how she’d run into Hoseok months ago, Chanyeol’s confusion at why they’d never spoken again, him coming over and demanding an explanation, Hoseok stuttering about his busy schedule, Chanyeol shouting tearfully that he’d betrayed him on every level, a vase smashing somewhere -

No, it was better that he invited her before things escalated. After all, she’d been perfectly pleasant at the liquor store and there was nothing to say that, given time, they might not become good acquaintances themselves. He’d called Jimin and Jungkook over for this exact reason; he figured Chaeyoung might be more comfortable with people closer to her own age. Taehyung had been invited as well but he’d declined, and given recent events, Hoseok hadn’t pushed. 

Jimin and Jungkook arrive soon. There’s some initial whispering in the hall, where Jimin mutters with exasperation that he hadn’t quite tried to bring Taehyung along, and Jungkook anxiously asks Hoseok if Chanyeol is “nice”.

“Just - get in there,” instructs Hoseok, steering them into the living room where Chanyeol is sitting on the edge of the couch, talking into his phone. He raises a hand in greeting and apologetically mouths “sorry”, leaving Hoseok to watch as his band members dive for his alcohol stash.

Introductions take place after that; there’s a bit of small talk that follows it, about work, about Tokyo, about what Hoseok hyung was like before Bangtan. Hoseok doesn’t know if he’s imagining it, but there’s a definite awkwardness in the air that seems to be stemming from nothing in particular. He tries his best to intervene and bring the topic to something as neutral as possible, but eventually he’s forced to admit that idols and investment bankers may not have much in common at all.

Chanyeol, for all his talent, has always been a bit of an introvert, enough that he looks for others to usually lead a conversation - indeed, Hoseok had always been his consummate extroverted friend. Jimin he can tell is trying to be as normal and welcoming as possible, but something seems to be troubling him. Hoseok makes a mental note to ask him about it. On the other corner of the couch, Jungkook sits quietly, eyes wide and curious as he takes in the awkward conversation and chuckles appropriately.

This goes on for nearly twenty minutes. Now under pressure to turn this evening around, Hoseok is just about to propose selecting the movie when the doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it,” he says, standing up with a flourish and striding halfway across the living room while the others are still turning their heads. Hurrying into the hall, he turns automatically to glance into the ornate mirror by the door and runs a hand through his hair to flatten it, when he stops. It occurs to him all of a sudden who might be on the other side of that door and before he can think about it, he ruffles his hair and turns to open the lock.

“Hey,” says Kang Chaeyoung, a handbag hanging from one forearm and a wine bottle in the other hand. On her head is a beret, a navy blue one that matches perfectly with the blouse under her white jacket. She frowns and cocks her head to the side, apparently at the low voices from inside. “Sorry… am I late?”

“No, not at all,” he replies, stepping aside to let her in. A faint scent of perfume wafts up as she enters, unzipping her boots in the corner. 

“Oh, uh - this is for you.” She hands him the bottle. “It’s a Chardonnay,” she explains, “but a nice, fruity one.”

Hoseok waits for her to continue but when she doesn’t, he nods once. “Wow. Um, you - you didn’t have to bring this,” he says, recalling how Jimin and Jungkook had strolled in, comfortably empty-handed, and Chanyeol had been punching him in the shoulder when he’d arrived.

Chaeyoung frowns. “Isn’t that what people do? Bring wine when they go to someone else’s house?”

Yeah, adults do. But he doesn’t say it, still reeling from the fact that every interaction he’s now had with her in Seoul has been in the midst of alcohol. He can’t help but wonder if she’s too young to be frequenting this much booze, but Chaeyoung snaps him out of that train of thought.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Hoseok looks up at her, now with her hands folded across her chest. He shakes his head immediately. “No, of course you didn’t. This was very nice of you,” he says sincerely, holding up the bottle. “Thanks.”

She returns his smile tentatively and follows him as they head inside. In the living room, the scene seems to be just as bleak as it had been two minutes ago, until Chanyeol and Jungkook spot the new guest. 

“Everyone, this is -”

“Hi, I’m Chaeyoung,” she says brightly, making Hoseok’s attempt at an introduction moot. Jungkook, who’s already stood up, bows and stutters his name as well. Behind him, Jimin stands up and flashes her a sparkling smile. 

“Hi, I’m Jimin. Hyung, you didn’t say someone else would be joining us as well,” he says, turning to Hoseok.

He narrows his eyes. “Didn’t I? My mistake,” he says, shrugging, for the truth is that he had no way of knowing if Chaeyoung would actually turn up. “Chae - I mean, Chaeyoung is Chan’s sister.”

“Really?” Jungkook’s head whips between both siblings as Chaeyoung takes a seat on the armchair next to him. “How much - I mean, what’s your age gap?”

“Four years,” supplies Chanyeol. “It’s started to seem like less, though, lately. No?”

She chuckles, taking off her jacket. “Only to you, oppa.”

“You two actually look quite similar,” remarks Jimin. “Except you’re…” He trails off as he looks at Chaeyoung and scrunches his face, clearly embarrassed. “You have longer hair,” he finishes.

“I’m going to keep this inside,” pipes up Hoseok then, holding up the wine. “Anyone want anything? Chae?”

Chaeyoung considers this, therefore missing the interested looks that Jimin and Jungkook give Hoseok. “I’ll have wine,” she decides. Jungkook asks if he can have another beer, and Hoseok silently nods and heads into the kitchen.

As he begins gathering the drinks, uncorking the wine and bustling around with the cans of beer in the fridge, he hears a burst of laughter from the living room that makes him freeze. He frowns, terribly confused, for until five minutes ago it looked like it would take something groundbreaking to liven the evening.

Hoseok tiptoes across the kitchen and slowly peers into the living room, afraid to breathe lest he ruin the mood. It occurs to him that he might be being rather dramatic, but it’s only because out of all the things that could have livened up the evening, Chaeyoung hadn’t been his bet.

“Here’s your drink.” He hands it to her a minute later, feeling his face flush unexpectedly when she smiles and takes the glass from him.

“So all three of you were friends when you were younger?” Jimin asks, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his thighs.

“These two were,” answers Chaeyoung, pointing at Chanyeol and Hoseok.

“So were you,” says her brother, being, in Hoseok’s opinion, quite generous.

She gives him a look. “Was I? Really think about it, oppa.”

Chanyeol simply smiles bashfully while Jungkook nods beside her. “My brother never used to let me hang out with his friends either,” he says knowingly. 

“We let you hang out with us,” disagrees Hoseok, somewhat uncertain. “I mean, not all the time,” he allows, “but once in a while. Right?”

Chaeyoung shrugs easily. “Eh, it’s not important,” she says dismissively, waving a hand. “We got a life eventually,” she chuckles, glancing at Jungkook who grins.

“Should we pick the movie?” Hoseok asks abruptly, clapping his hands and grabbing the remote from the coffee table. He opens Netflix and hands the remote to Chanyeol, who begins flipping through the menu.

“We’re watching horror, yes?” He asks, not taking his eyes off the screen.

“Ah, I love horror,” agrees Jungkook, snorting at Jimin’s doubtful expression.

“I don’t mind horror,” says Chaeyoung, positioning herself comfortably and facing the television. She leans over to pick up a handful of chips from the bowl on the coffee table as she looks at the screen. “Oh, not Train To Busan, though. Seen it too many times.”

“Yeah, no, we’ll look for something else…”

“We can watch Godzilla,” suggests Jimin hopefully.

“It’s supposed to be scary, hyung…”

“It is scary! Jin hyung got scared watching it, too.”

“Everything scares Jin hyung,” says Jungkook dismissively. “Oh, we can watch Get Out! I haven’t seen it since it came out.”

“Me neither,” says Chaeyoung, nodding. “A classic. Has everyone here seen it, though?”

“Yup,” says Chanyeol.

“I haven’t,” mutters Jimin. He turns to Hoseok beside him on the couch. “You haven’t seen it either, have you?”

“Er… no.” Hoseok frowns, scrolling through his phone. Nothing about a horror movie sounds like fun to him, but he’s ready to give it a shot if everyone else wants to. “It’s just… are we sure we want to watch it? I mean, Chaeyoung,” he says, watching her as she turns to look at him curiously. “Don’t you… not like horror movies? I was just reading about it and -”

“You what?” Her jaws drops open and she huffs. “You read about it? Oppa, you just ruined it for yourself!”

“No! I didn’t - I didn’t read the movie. I just read, like, the synopsis,” he explains hurriedly, ignoring how she rolls her eyes. “And it seems really scary.”

“Oh, don’t worry, hyung,” chimes Jungkook, shaking his head reassuringly. “It’s not any blood and gore or anything. It’s just… you know. Slow and…” He frowns deeply, trying to think of the right words to express the exact type of horror in this film.

“Slow, unsettling and debilitating fear throughout,” supplies Chaeyoung, her amusement clear.

Hoseok nods, not trusting himself to speak. “Oh. That’s - that’s… just fantastic. But, um… I thought you didn’t like horror movies.”

She frowns. “Why would you think that?”

“Because the last time we all watched a scary movie together, you ran out of the theater crying and locked yourself in the women’s bathroom,” he points out. “You didn’t come out until your dad threatened to take away your toy jewellery box.”

Chaeyoung gasps, her eyes unfocused as she apparently tries to remember. “Wait, you mean when we watched The Host? Oppa, I was nine.”

“Yes, and that kind of experience can traumatise a child,” he says wisely.

“Maybe, but I’m not one of them.” She gives him a look. “Are you sure you want to watch this movie?”

The answer is a resounding no, and it’s a testament to how much he hates horror movies that even a girl who’s only ever been in the peripheries of his life, knows this. 

Still, his response is to give her a look. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because even though I cried and ran away and what have you,” she begins, resting her elbow on the arm of her chair to lean towards him, “I also remember you jumping so hard you spilled your popcorn all over the ground.”

Hoseok feels himself flush again as Jimin lets out a tinkling laugh. “That’s pretty on-brand for Hoseok hyung.”

“Really?”

“I just meant -”

“Dude, we watched that Japanese horror movie and made it,” points out Chanyeol. “Get Out really isn’t that bad.”

“Exactly; even Jimin hyung won’t get that scared in this one -”

“I’m not the one who -”

“Okay, fine,” interrupts Hoseok loudly. “I wasn’t actually complaining about the movie. I was just… being mindful pf my guests.” He gives Chaeyoung a sideways glance.

She raises her eyebrows. “Who, me? I’m good.”

“Fine.”

“Yep.”

There’s a pause before Chanyeol speaks. “So are we watching the movie or what?”

“I’m good with whatever the host wants.”

“And I’m good with whatever my guests want.”

“How does that answer my question?”

“Just press play,” Hoseok sits back on the sofa and hopes he isn’t coming off as too disgruntled. Next to him, Chanyeol chuckles and obliges, looking terribly amused. “Shut up,” he mutters, leading his friend to let out a laugh that he immediately disguises as a cough.

The movie begins and the group descends into a state of cautious concentration. Despite the lights not being dimmed out, Hoseok can start to feel the stress of having to make it through a scary movie. He really doesn’t like them; he hoped his point of contention had been hint enough to Chaeyoung, but apparently he wasn’t clear enough - or, true to form, she did what she wanted to get what she wanted, and everyone else followed suit.

When the first jump scare occurs, he squeezes his eyes shut, wishing more than anything that Seokjin were here…

Think about something else, anything else. He tries to recall dance practice this morning. Everyone had picked up the steps by now and their choreography was finally coming together. Namjoon still needed to work on the counts in the first chorus, though, and Taehyung was missing the same beat in the bridge every time. Jungkook was excellent as usual, but even he needed to regulate his energy to save it for the dance break… 

A sound pulls him out of this focused train of thought. It’s persistent, and sounds a lot like whispering. Turning slightly, he glances past Jimin to see Jungkook on the other corner of the sofa, his head tilted towards Chaeyoung’s as they point at the screen and murmur. Hoseok can’t make out what they’re saying, but spots Jungkook smiling slightly and nodding.

It gives Hoseok a bad feeling. The two of them whispering to each other about the movie only reminds him that he hasn’t seen it, meaning he has no idea how much more terrifying it’s going to get. Besides, now that he’s noticed the whispering, all he can hear is the whispering. It’s vaguely distracting, and he wonders why Chanyeol isn’t telling her to cut it out.

It doesn’t seem as though he’s noticed, though. Neither, for that matter, has Jimin.

“Hyung?”

Hoseok jumps a little. “What?” he mutters, turning to Jimin and trying to ignore how his heart feels like it’s about to detach from his chest. 

“Can I get another drink?”

“You know where the beer is,” whispers Hoseok. “Help yourself.”

“Okay. You want anything?” 

“Get me a seltzer.”

Jimin nods, then turns to Jungkook on his other side. “Oi. Do you want another drink?”

Jungkook seems to consider it, then nods. “Another beer? Thanks, hyung. Oh, wait!” He leans over conspiratorially to Chaeyoung. “Do you want another drink?”

From her spot on the armchair, she nods immediately. “I can have another glass.” She picks up a piece of popcorn and throws it at her brother, seated across the room in the other armchair. “Oppa,” she whispers loudly, “you want a drink?”

“Beer,” he answers instantly, before tapping Hoseok’s shoulder. “Oi, Hoseok. Do you want -”

“Good Lord,” groans Hoseok, rolling his eyes. “You know what? Why don’t we have an intermission? We can all refresh our drinks, too.”

“Good idea,” says Chanyeol to his immense relief, pausing the movie. “Washroom is…”

“Inside, to the left.”

As his friend disappears inside, the whispering transforms into full blown chatter, this time about the movie.

“I don’t trust the dad,” says Jimin instantly, looking rather troubled.

“Just the dad?” Chaeyoung asks, tilting her head.

Jimin gives her mock-annoyed look, making her laugh, while Jungkook shrugs. “I love movies where you can’t trust anyone.” He turns to Hoseok. “Hyung, are you liking the movie?”

“Oh, yeah, you haven’t seen it before,” remembers Chaeyoung. “So who’s creeping you out more? The dad or the mom? Or the gardener?”

Hoseok resists the urge to say everyone when it occurs to him that he has no idea what’s transpired in the last twenty minutes of the movie entirely. But before three expectant faces, he bites his lip. “The, uh… the maid. Definitely.”

“Oh, good one. Yeah, she’s suspicious as hell…”

“Who, the mom?” Chanyeol asks as he returns and takes his original seat, a brand new beer can in his hands already. “She’s the best.”

“The best?” Jimin asks, a little incredulous.

“You know what I mean. She’s the most exciting one.”

“But, hyung, she’s also the most dangerous…”

Chaeyoung stands up and goes to the kitchen with her empty glass as the conversation continues. Hoseok listens quietly, feeling lighter than before at the sight of his friends conversing more freely with each other. Even Jungkook seems to be coming out of his shell, a reasonably unusual occurrence when he meets new people.

Which reminds him.

Hoseok excuses himself and heads to the kitchen as well, where he sees Chaeyoung peering at his bottles of soju, her refilled wine glass balancing between her fingers. She turns when he enters, giving him a brief smile before going back to examining the label she was reading.

“Hey - so, I just wanted to check in,” he says after a moment, leaning awkwardly against the doorframe. For some reason, he’s suddenly very aware of how lanky he is, feeling as though he’s all joints and bones. “Hope, uh, hope my friends are being nice to you?”

“Oh, yeah, they’re great,” she replies easily, turning momentarily again and tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

“Right, right. And… you’re not uncomfortable or anything?”

“Um, no. Not at all.” She frowns. “Why?”

“No, just -” He shakes his head and winces. “You’re the only girl here and… I dunno. You sure they aren’t being, like… fresh with you?”

Chaeyoung turns and stares. “Not really, dad.”

Hoseok ignores this. “Okay. I only ask because I saw you and Jungkook talking through most of the movie. I just wanted to make sure he wasn’t being weird.”

Her forehead clears somewhat. “Oh, no. He was just being nice. He’s quite sweet, really.”

“He’s - okay. Thought I sensed, like. A vibe.”

“Don’t worry about it. Jimin’s more my type, anyway,” she adds casually after a moment, her gaze still on the soju.

“Huh. What?” 

Chaeyoung turns around and blinks. “What?”

“He’s your type?” The words are out of Hoseok’s mouth before he can stop them. “What, uh, what do you mean by that?”

She frowns. “Um… nothing, really. He just seems more outgoing, that’s all.”

“Okay. Because when people say someone’s their type, they usually mean it in the context of…” But the word doesn’t come to him. “Well, in a different context.”

“Well, I meant it in the context that in terms of personality, I tend to get along with Jimins more than Jungkooks.” She looks confused. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No, not at all.” A moment passes. “It just looked like you were getting along well with Jungkook, too.”

“I was…” If it’s possible, Chaeyoung looks even more confused than Hoseok feels. “Seriously, what - what did I do?” She asks this, not defensively, but with a bit of a sigh, as though this was to be expected.

“Nothing. Really.” He shakes his head. “Sorry, I’m just… I don’t host very often,” he explains lamely. “But I’m glad you’re getting along with them, I guess.”

She watches him for a moment before replying, as though waiting to see if he’ll say anything else. “Okay, then. They’re being very nice. So… you can chill.”

“I - hey. I’m chill. Alright?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I’m chill. Cool. Whatever. I’m totally - I’m frigid.”

Chaeyoung stares at him, lips pursed, while Hoseok finds himself wishing he was still watching that terrifying horror movie over having this conversation. Before either of them can say anything, though, Chanyeol enters the kitchen. 

“Hey, I was looking for a bottle opener…?” He looks up to see both occupants of the kitchen, as though just realising who they are. “What’s up?”

Hoseok takes a beat as Chaeyoung simply shakes her head and turns back to the soju. He shrugs. “Nothing. Just catching up.”

Chanyeol raises his eyebrows. “You two?” he asks incredulously, being far too obvious in Hoseok’s opinion. 

He deliberately doesn’t look in his sister’s direction as he responds. “Yeah. I was making sure she found a drink and… and she was telling me how she’d like to date Jimin.”

Chaeyoung’s head whips around. “What?” Her eyes dart to Chanyeol. “I wasn���t -” She breaks off and exhales through her nose, glaring at Hoseok. “Dude, what the hell?”

“Me? You’re the one who said he was your type,” he counters. “I didn’t even ask; you volunteered that information all by yourself.”

“Yes, and by saying he’s my type, I’m virtually humping him,” she snaps, making both men groan instantly.

“Don’t say hump!”

“Jeez, Chae, what is the matter with you?”

She glares at them, jaw dropping. “Okay, you’re both really weird right now. And you -” She rounds on Hoseok. “You are raining on my parade.”

“What parade is that exactly?”

“My - like, my social life. I was just being nice to your friends -”

“Okay, you know what? As your - your older brother’s friend, I’m going to give you some advice about -”

“I don’t need your advice! And - don’t you point your beer at me!”

“I’ll point -”

“Okay, whoa! Time out!” Chanyeol exclaims, taking a step forward and holding up his hands. “Come on, guys.”

Both Hoseok and Chaeyoung fall silent. While she simply folds her arms across her chest and conspicuously shifts her gaze to Chanyeol, Hoseok glares at her for a moment before rolling his eyes and glancing at his best friend.

Chanyeol waits for a moment. “Okay,” he says slowly. “Now which one’s Jimin again?”

Chaeyoung huffs. “Alright, I’m going to go back to the living room before I scream,” she says in a low voice, manoeuvring around both men and stalking out of the kitchen.

Hoseok sighs and shakes his head. “God, I forgot how much of a nightmare this can be,” he mutters, as they follow her at a slower pace.

“Yeah, don’t you just love it when ten years pass and nothing changes?” Chanyeol responds sarcastically, falling into his arm chair as the movie resumes. For the rest of the movie, no one says a word. Hoseok can’t be sure, but he thinks Jimin and Jungkook may have caught on to at least something, but he can’t worry about that now.

Part of him knows he needs to clear the air with Chaeyoung, if for no other reason than the fact that he doesn’t want to continue behaving like a sniping teenager. It’s not her fault that she finds a way each time to wheedle her way into his life, be it on the school bus with his classmates or in his apartment with his group members. He, Hoseok, had invited her here and if Chaeyoung can’t help but be so… so Chaeyoung, he at least can rise to the occasion and be a little more patient. 

“Whoa,” says Jimin in wonder as the credits begin rolling. “I did not see that coming. What a movie.”

“You didn’t get as scared as I expected you to,” remarks Jungkook thoughtfully. “Neither did Hoseok hyung, actually,” he adds, sounding almost disappointed.

Hoseok hyung didn’t, it’s true, but it’s only because he spent the last hour of the movie thinking of the various ways in which he can clear the air with a certain acquaintance from his past. “Show me something scarier next time, kid,” he suggests instead.

To his horror, Jungkook grins, while Chanyeol chuckles. “That is not a challenge he needed, mate. Anyway, I think I should head.”

“Already?” Jungkook checks his phone for the time. “It’s barely nine.”

“I have an early flight tomorrow,” he replies apologetically, standing up and stretching. “But text me the link to that YouTube video when you find it.”

“Yeah, for sure.”

“Cool. Chae, come on, I’ll drop you on the way.”

As Jimin and Jungkook begin debating whether they should head back, Hoseok notices Chaeyoung nodding and putting on her jacket, eyes on the floor. There’s a bit of bustling as everyone gets ready to leave and moves collectively towards the hall to put on their shoes. Chanyeol gets a call and steps into the corridor to take it, and Hoseok takes the opportunity to get his sister alone for a moment.

“Hey.”

Startled, Chaeyoung gasps a little when she hears his voice. “Uh - hey.”

“Listen, I…” This is harder than he anticipated. “Sorry about… before.”

She nods slowly, pausing before speaking. “Did I do something wrong, though?”

“No,” he says immediately. “I just got a little…” Again, he can’t think of the word. He tries it differently. “You’re the kid I grew up with. I didn’t realise it, but I guess I still see you as the eleven year old who insisted she was old enough to go-kart with us. I mean,” he adds with a little chuckle, “don’t you kind of still see me as the fifteen year old kid who used to hang out with your brother?”

She seems to consider it before shaking her head. “Not really.”

It’s not the answer he was expecting, but he nods. “Fair enough. That’s on me, I guess.”

“You know,” she says after a moment, shoving her hands into the pockets of her jacket, “I hope you don’t feel an obligation to keep in touch just because we ran into each other accidentally. I mean, Seoul is a big city. I can understand if you don’t want…” She trails off, and he senses the air shift slightly.

He frowns, not understanding it. “I wouldn’t have invited you if I didn’t want you to come.”

She narrows her eyes at him, but more knowingly than snidely. “You invited me because I’m Chan’s sister.”

A part of Hoseok, an old, fading part fueled by only memories and habit and nothing else, is glad she knows this. It feels shameful to admit it, though, and he wonders for a moment if she’s waiting for him to confirm it. Before he can respond, however, Jimin and Jungkook arrive behind him and step in between them to head out.

“We have to go, hyung,” says Jimin while Jungkook waves to Chaeyoung. “Yoongi hyung asked us to pick up coffee on the way and the place will close soon.”

“Yeah, and there’s some international package with the guards at the dorm,” adds Jungkook, shrugging. “There’s no one at home so we need to sign for it.”

“We’ll be on time for practice tomorrow, though!”

Hoseok waves them away as they hop into the elevator. At the other end of the corridor, Chanyeol looks like he’s wrapping up his call. Chaeyoung seems to notice this, too, and turns to leave when Hoseok stops her.

“Chae, look,” he begins nervously. “Whatever may have been my reason to invite you… I’m glad you came,” he says honestly. “It was good to see you again.”

She looks for a moment as though she doesn’t believe him. But then her mouth curves into a small, playful smile. “Even though I still think Jimin is my type?”

Hoseok nods, the smile frozen on his face. “Yeah, this was a nice moment. Let’s not ruin it.”

Chaeyoung’s shoulders deflate slightly but she still looks more upbeat than before. “Alright,” she says, taking a step backwards. “Goodnight, oppa.”

“Goodnight, Chaeyoung.”

—

Thank you for reading. Don't forget to drop a review :)

[ditzybea]

Anyone? Really?

Really?!

Why did no one tell me that watching KinnPorsche was like a gateway drug? I never watched a BL series before and now I have subscribed to three streaming services exclusively showing Asian dramas. Not to mention the two dozen or so new accounts I'm following on Instagram!

I've watched KinnPorsche, all of TharnType, I'm caught up on Unforgotten Night, and I just started CutiePie. And my watchlist just keeps getting longer!

A little warning would have been nice, it's all I'm sayin', because I have no chill.

UPDATE! Cutie Pie was better than I thought it would be. Don’t Say No was a hot mess....that I watched in one day. And the angst in Love Mechanics is killing me. Like I said...NO CHILL!

UPDATE UPDATE! Bad Buddy was so good. Not enough kissing...but that says more about me than the show 😁. Old Fashioned Cupcake was so sweet and realistic. Loved it.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE! On my God...Love Mechanics. Oh my GOD! Loved it on so many different levels. YinWar...such a great couple. I love them both...equally...and completely.  And JimmySea in Vice Versa are gonna break my heart, I just know it. Sea Tawinan is A-Dor-Able!

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE! Watched Why R U and phew...ZeeSaint. I need a drink after that. Jumped right into Love by Chance season 1, because Saint is adorable, and some parts were pretty cringy, but I am in LOVE with Perth. I want to watch everything he's done. I am also full-on obsessed with Love in the Air! I get upset when the episode is over. Hopefully this feeling lasts.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE! I had to stop and restart Love by Chance 2. I hated that they essentially retconned TinCan and started over. I thought they left it a great place at the end of Season 1. Probably didn’t have enough material to start from there for the second season and tried to stretch it out. Oh well, I really only watched it for Perth anyway. Love him so much! Tum and Tar’s relationship still makes me feel icky. They did it better in TharnType a little, but here it was worse. I’m just gonna float in AePete for a little while before I find another ship to ruin me. Hoping for a third season, I need Ae and Pete back together on screen.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE! Well, I was introduced to OffGun with Not Me. The story was really good, I watched almost the whole thing just today, and I liked the development of the relationships. I only have one gripe to make. The only full-on declaration of love (i.e I love you) came from a couple that had like four scenes and never fully were together on screen. REALLY?! Don’t get me wrong, there were a lot of pretty words that meant love, but an actual “I Love You” came from a guy with a crush.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE! Ok, this week I watched Theory of Love with OffGun. I loved it! I love really angsty stories anyway and this checked all the boxes. Story was well done, none of the characters were super annoying; all round good one. Unforgotten Night....ugh! I just can’t. After the tenth time Kamol called Kim his lover, I was tapped out. The story was mess and acting was not good. I love trashy as much as the next person, but I couldn't do it. I will say that KhomBaiboon was adorable and I was hoping for more of them. It seemed like everyone was just uncomfortable in their roles. And I am the only one who is loving ViceVersa? It’s a slow burn, but I love everything about it. Plus it brought Perth back! My heart flipped when he came on screen. I ADORE HIM! And Love in the Air is NOT disappointing. It kills me to wait a week for an episode. Boss and Noeul are killing it and I have a feeling that Peat and Fort are going to as well. I can’t wait until they are all interacting!!! And I may have watched "the scene" a few times by now. I can't help myself.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE! I wasn’t going to update until the weekend, but I just watched all of Semantic Error and y’all! To all the people that recommended this one...THANK YOU!!!! It was so so so good! I loved it from start to finish! I need more of them! I was talking to the TV it was that good. I think I haven’t done that since first season of Ted Lasso. It gave me the same feelings of Lasso, like a warm hug! I’m going to bed now with a light heart.

WEEKLY UPDATE!!!  This week I watched Star in My Mind and Star in Your Heart. I had been seeing clips KluenDao popping up my YouTube suggestions and I looked right up my alley. I have always been a sucker for mutual pining and jealous bouts. Not to mention the main protagonist being lusted after by at least four different people at one point. What? It’s a guilty pleasure. JoongDunk were good and they have great chemistry. Some of the dialogue was little cringy, but I am poor barometer for that. I think The Notebook is terrible, mainly because of the dialogue. And honestly the only reason I watched the sequel was to see how it ended. It was a little boring, sorry. Also, I knew the twist in Vice Versa was gonna happen. I knew they were gonna be separated, but that does not mean I was not heartbroken when it happened.

UPDATE! It has been a while since I last updated, so here we go. Vice Versa ended and I loved it. It was completely different and beautiful to watch. I agree with a lot of others, I wanted some of Tess and Tun living in other world, but JimmySea were so lovely. And I can not wait to see what else Sea does.

I watched SOTUS and SOTUS S as recommended by a commenter. I really liked it and SingtoKrist were a great couple, I have crushes on both now in varying degrees. Not a fan of bullies so it was hard to sit through the first few episodes. The push and pull between Kongpob and Arthit was a great enemies to lovers. I mostly watched the second season because there was angst coming and I am an angst whore. It was bit boring, but they were good.

Love in the Air ended and I loved the whole thing. FortPeat were amazing in their half of the season. Sky’s love letter was realistic and not over the top lovey, which is a huge pet peeve for me. Peat played his PTSD so well. It was played really well into the story and was believable. I may have also bought the presale on the special episode and preordered the box set. Never done either before, hopefully everything works out. 😬 

I am LOVING Between Us and WinTeam/BounPrem are amazing. I had seen them on in passing for awhile but I hadn’t really watched them, but DAMN! I also watched Until We Meet Again to see the other half of Between Us and I have some feelings. It was a great story, angsty and bittersweet and uplifting...but Dean is a dick! I know it is an unpopular opinion, but I can’t help it. Ohm is great actor and very beautiful, but....he was always pushing Pharm to do things when he wasn’t ready for, whether it be meeting In’s sister or learning about their shared past. I don’t know. He was really selfish in my opinion. Also what was up with Sin’s wig? How can they make someone as gorgeous as Ja creepy looking with that wig. And poor Fluke! That poor kid probably used buckets of Visine and the reason he was so small was because he was very dehydrated. Also their family trees were really hard to keep track of. I’m still not sure who is and isn’t related to who. The world is not that small. How did I not know that all of my favorite BL actors were in one show? But it was a fun surprise each time another favorite popped up.

UPDATE!! Not sure if anyone still reading this to this point, but I’m gonna keep adding to it. I watched Cherry Blossoms After Winter and I liked it. It was a little on light on the intimacy, but it was sweet. I just really wanted more kisses, I can’t help it. I really liked Taesung and Haebom’s relationship. Sucker for protective boyfriends. It did feel a little rushed at the end, but worth the watch.

Finally watched We Best Love 1 & 2 after seeing people raving about it. It checked all my boxes; hidden/secret crush, bickering, really sweet relationship, little bit of jealousy, break up then make up, and great kisses. Definitely worth the time. The secondary couples were kind of glossed over, but SamYu make up for it. Loved it. EDIT! A quick addition to my We Best Love watch. If you can watch the Special Edition version, DO IT! Shots linger a little longer, some scenes are longer, and some things are explained a little better. If you thought Sam broke your heart before, ohhh just wait.

UPDATE! Been a few weeks, so here we go. I've ventured into non-BL dramas for a little bit. I finished Vincenzo on Netflix and OH MY GOD!! It was amazing. Highly recommend! I also watched True Beauty on Viki. Super cute and angsty! And everyone was right, both men were swoonworthy. I even read through the entire webtoon to see how it would have ended if there was a second season.

Ok, back to BL. I watched My Tooth Your Love and it was adorable. The couple, Andy and Yujin, were so good together. Fully enjoyed, but I could not stop seeing Sam Lin whenever I looked at Yujin. I just couldn't help it and I'm ok with it.

Between Us came to an end and well....it was a bit underwhelming, but not why you'd think. The story didn't really fall into the normal tropes in BL, in my opinion. It was a straight up love story. There it a normal drama. People complain when queer stories are not told like "straight" ones and then people are complaining when this one was. You can't please everyone. I was underwhelmed because there were too many couples. There were 5 couples. FIVE! And with only 12 episodes, there was not enough time. As cute of couple as BeePrince were, it just didn't seem to fit. They could have been cut out and their time could have been given to the others. At least with DeanPharm and PruekManow they had time UWMA, but WanTul didn't get enough time. You have to grumpy and sassy would have been so fun to watch.

I watched Lovely Writer and man! I was so much. It was too much. I understand that it was supposed to be a commentary on the BL industry, much like War of Y was last year, but they crammed too many tropes into one show, into one storyline. You name the trope it was in there. Grumpy/sunshine, fan culture, lying/deception, hidden agenda, childhood friends, only one bed, hidden relationship, love triangle, soul mates, closeted parent etc. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but it was so much. I kept waiting for another one to pop up. I will say one thing, KaoUp have got kissing down! Damn! I was impressed!

UPDATE!!! Ok, its been a while since I've posted and I have not stopped watching. Bed Friends was not what I was expecting. I thought it was gonna be sexy, which it was, and fluffy, which it was. What I was not expecting was the trauma that they wrote into it. Uffda! I loved the chemistry between Net and James, they really are adorable. I wasn't big fan of Yim's character, his voice grated a bit, but I love Tutor and him together, so I'm excited to see their show next.

I watched Roommates of Poongduck 304 and fell in love with Ji Woong and Seo Bin. Their chemistry was really sweet and Ji Woong was so good. The angst was just the right amount and I wish they had left in the finale kiss as is, but what can you do.

I watched a few Japan BL's; Jack O' Frost, The End of the World With You, and Beautiful Man 1 and 2. No lightness is these, aside from a few comedic moments. These are your more grown-up BL's. I do like that episodes were short so I can watch them in one day. The relationships were a bit more uneven, not toxic per se, but one was definitely subservient to the other. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed them, but.....

The Korean's BL's this year are gonna get their own post because reasons!

Keep the recommendations coming! :)

[hannahssimblr]

Chapter Five (Part 4)

When we finally get back, Kelly and Claire are still gone. I wonder how long it’s been. It feels like Jen and I were gone forever, and there’s a big part of me driven by habit that wants to go into the house and find them, but I don’t. I know it’s not what Jen would want me to do. 

I sit back down next to Liam and he squeezes my knee reassuringly. “Are you okay?” He whispers, and I nod. “Yeah, I’m fine now.”

“So you’re just finished fifth year?” Joe asks me then. I appreciate that he’s making an effort to be normal and make me feel comfortable after my ordeal. 

“Yes” I say. “Leaving cert next year! So scary.”

“Don’t be scared, sure we all survived it.” The gang laughs apprehensively. “Well, we think we did. We’ll find out when the results come back.”

“I imagine waiting is hard” I say. 

“It’s better not to think about it too much. We all just want to enjoy our last summer here.”

“It’s strange, isn’t it?” says Jen. “All the times we came down here as kids and now… it’s like we don’t know if we’ll ever come back after this year.” Everyone looks a little sad then, and Shane nudges me suddenly and tries to lighten the mood. “Tell everyone what you want to do in college.” He says. 

“Oh. Well, art I think.”

“You make art?” Jude looks at me with interest, and I immediately want to downplay my abilities for fear that he’ll think I’m full of myself. “Yeah, I suppose, I’m okay at it.”

“Everyone says she’s great at it.” Liam tells him. “I haven’t seen her drawings yet, but the girls were raving about her. She draws in her sketchbook every day.”

“That’s cool – what do you draw?” Jude asks me.

“Just whatever I see. Landscapes, people, sometimes still life, like stuff that’s lying around in the mobile home. I really like doing it, because when I’m drawing I don’t have to think about anything else.”

“Oh, mad. Jude is an artist too.” Jen says. “Ye have something in common.” Oh no. I think. He’s going to be able to somehow tell that I’m an imposter. 

“Yeah, I’m studying art in college next year,” He says. “I already have my place in the Berlin Academy of Fine Arts to do a degree. In sculpture.”

“Oh, so you’re studying abroad?”

“Yeah, it’s going to be good. Four years in Germany, I can’t wait. I’m actually leaving at the end of the summer.” I think about how that’s the coolest thing I ever heard. I imagine what it’d be like to live somewhere other than Ireland, surrounded by like minded artists sharing ideas and painting together in beautiful parks. I can picture myself somewhere like that, with my own studio in a big white room overlooking a cultured European city, huge windows wide open with warm light streaming in and  birds singing outside.

Claire finally comes out of the house looking worried. She’s alone, and there’s a line etched between her brows. She crouches down beside me as everyone else continues to talk. “Kelly is really sick.” She says in a low voice. “She drank too much of something and now she’s throwing up everywhere. I think we should bring her home.” I consider this. I don’t feel sympathetic to Kelly at all, because she put herself in this situation, but at the same time I know that it would be terrible for Claire if I let her deal with her on her own. I sigh and start to stand up. “Where is she?”

“She’s in the bathroom. We’ll have to go and get her.” Liam, ever the gentleman, gets up to help too. “I can get my dad to come and collect us.” He says. “We’d just need to get her out onto the road.”

“I think that’d actually be good.” Says Claire. “I really don’t think she’s going to be able to walk all the way home.”

“Is everything okay?” Jen asks us, and when I tell her what’s happened with Kelly she sighs with exasperation. “You don’t have to go, Evie, you can stay here with us if you want to.”

“No, I do.” I say. “I want to go with them.”

She shrugs, and then when I turn to leave she pulls me back suddenly. “Hey, you should come to Dublin with us at the weekend.” 

“Huh?”

“Jude and I are going to an exhibition and you might really like it.”

“I’m forcing her to come.” Jude tells me, leaning over to us. “Jen hates contemporary art but I’m making her come so I don’t have to go on my own.”

She rolls her eyes and pulls a face. “Contemporary art.”

“No pressure at all.” He tells me. “But yeah, if you want to, you’re welcome. We’ll mostly be hanging out in the city for the day anyway so whatever you feel like doing.”

“I’m just saying, it might be nice to get away for an afternoon.” Jen pats my hand. 

“I’d love to.” I say, feeling my chest fill with happiness at the invitation. “Yes, definitely. I’ll come along. What day?”

“Saturday.”

“Okay, see you Saturday.” I turn away and rush inside, smiling from ear to ear as I go to help peel Kelly off the bathroom floor.

Prev // Next

[moonwritewastaken]

Tales of Christmas Day 15 - cc!Awesamdude x gn!reader

Genre - friends to lovers, Christmas, fake relationship

Warnings - one mention of drinking alcohol

Word count - 1407

Because it’s close to the holidays, you were staying with your parents. You’d been there almost a week now and it was nice to spend time with them after moving out. However, it wasn’t the holidays with the family if there was nothing that went awry. 

After finishing a Christmas themed stream with Tina, you went to grab a drink from the kitchen and ran into your mother. She doesn’t notice you until you open the fridge and grab a can of coke. 

“Guess what, honey?” you turn to face her with a look on your face urging her to continue. While waiting for her to say whatever she was so excited for, you take a swig of your drink. 

“One of my friends is bringing their kid to the party so you’ll have a date” you almost spit out the mouthful of drink you had in your surprise. 

This honestly wasn’t at all what you were expecting her to say, so you didn’t have much time to think of something to get out of it. 

“Mum, I have a boyfriend, I can’t have another date” that definitely wasn’t the right thing to say, nor was it the truth so you had to hope she wouldn’t pry. Of course you wouldn’t be so lucky. 

“Why didn’t you tell me? What’s his name? What does he do? How long have you-” you cut her off before she starts a full on investigation into your made up boyfriend. You didn’t want to have to think of lies you’d have to try and remember. 

“We haven’t been dating long so I didn’t want to rush things” perfect, now she wouldn’t tell you to invite him because it was early on in your ‘relationship’. 

“Honey, you have to invite him! I’m sure we’d love to meet him and we’ll be on our best behaviour” you were screwed. 

You couldn’t say no because she’d just push until you were exposed so you had to try and convince one of your friends to do you a huge favour. Quickly finishing the conversation with your mother with a promise to ‘see what you could do’, you head back to the room you were staying in. After spending a few minutes thinking of who you could possibly ask, you find the solution. You dial his number and wait just a few seconds before he picks up. 

“Hey, y/n!” his voice fills your ears and you find solace for a brief moment. 

“Sam! I need a massive favour” your panicked voice seems to worry him based on his response. 

“Anything you need. What’s up?” he’d soon regret the first part of that sentence you think. Taking a few seconds, you think of the best way to ask. 

“Well, my mum said that she was trying to set me up with one of her friend’s kids so I told her I already have a boyfriend. Obviously I don’t and she told me to invite him so can you pretend to be my boyfriend for a night?” you quickly realised there wasn't a good way to say it so you just ended up blurting it out. He mulls it over for a little before speaking again. 

“Okay. When is it?” you release the breath you didn’t even know you were holding and thank him profusely. The two of you spend the next hour planning out the basics and telling him the details of the party. 

*that weekend*

The party was tonight and you were extremely nervous. Nervous because your lie could exposed, nervous because there was so many things to remember about your ‘relationship’ and nervous because you had to pretend to date your best friend who also happens to be your crush. 

Fast forward several hours and you were doing final touches to your outfit. Taking one last look in the mirror, you take a deep breath and text Sam to make sure he’s almost here because he was meant to help your family set up before everyone else arrived. He confirmed he had just pulled up so you went to meet him outside. 

As soon as you brought him inside, you were swarmed by your parents who were excited to meet your ‘boyfriend’. 

“Oh, y/n didn’t tell us you were so handsome!” your mother was clearly impressed by his appearance (and I mean she wasn’t wrong but it was still awkward). 

“Nice to meet both of you” Sam was as polite as possible as he greeted your parent’s and shook their hands. 

Just as you expected, Sam was bombarded with questions as the 4 of you set up for the holiday party. He answered all of them with ease and it was clear to you that your parents loved him. Thankfully the first few guests were starting to arrive so you were saved for now. 

Most of the party went by with little to no trouble. Once people started feeling the effects of the alcohol and holiday spirit, things went downhill. People had taken it upon themselves to bring mistletoe and hold it above unsuspecting couples who would then kiss just like the age-old tradition. This was fine (albeit it cringe) until you and Sam became the victims of it. 

“It’s the newest couple’s turn!” you and Sam exchange subtle looks of panic before trying to politely decline citing it was embarrassing in front of so many people. 

“No one will mind, you guys make such a great couple!” 

This was literally the worst thing to ever happen to you and you wanted to crawl in a hole. Sam exchanges another look in which you seemed to reach a consensus. It might be better to do it and deal with it later, after all you both knew it didn’t mean anything. Right? So you do it. You hated how much you wanted to do it again but it got them to leave you alone. 

The night ends soon after that and you thank Sam while walking him out to his car once you had helped return the house to it’s preparty state. Once he had left, the overthinking started. You quickly came to the decision that your feelings were wrong and you shouldn’t talk to Sam ever again because he hates you now. Of course this wasn’t true but your brain convinced you so regardless. 

A day goes by and then 4 and you hadn’t responded to any of Sam’s messages and he had given up by day 3. or so you thought. You get a text at about 10pm telling you to meet him outside and as much as you wanted to continue playing your game of one sided hide and seek, you knew if you didn’t then he’d knock on the door and alert your parents. 

As you close the door, your eyes find Sam quite quickly with a bouquet of flowers and a cute polar bear wearing a Santa hat soft toy. He waits for you to get a bit closer, not wanting to raise his voice any louder than he needed to.

“Thank you for coming out” you don’t say anything, wanting to play the unaffected angle. 

“Are you okay? You haven’t been answering any texts or calls” trust him to worry about you first rather than the lack of response. 

“I’m fine” this was when he truly knew something was up because who ever means it when they say they’re fine?

“I wanted to talk to you about the night of the party” the way your stance adjusted told him that was the reason you’d been acting this way by the way he made a face of understanding. 

“I liked kissing you, a lot. I’ve had feelings for you for ages now and so I jumped at the chance to be your boyfriend even if it was only fake” one half of your brain was cursing itself out and the other was spamming question marks at the surprising confession. 

“I- this wasn’t how I pictured this conversation going. I’ve also had feelings for you for ages, too” he smiles at your words while you try and wrap your head around what was going on. 

“Can I kiss you for real this time?” you nod enthusiastically and the kiss was somehow even better the second time. 

That night, you both made a pact to never tell your parents that you weren’t always a couple because you knew you’d never live it down. 

[windwheeler-aster]

Hi!! Can I get a black tea with milk art in a sky blue teacup (gentle touches) with marshmallows on the side? Could it also be reverse hurt/comfort?

deadlines and devotions 

summary: kaeya knew that putting aside all of that paper work would eventually catch up to him. but now he sat in his office, helpless and hopeless, staying there over the weekend to try and keep up with work. however, he did not expect you, his dearest friend and crush, to come help him just when he needs it most. 

masterlist | event

customer’s order: a black tea (kaeya) with milk art (one shot) in a sky blue teacup (gentle touches) with marshmallows (friends to lovers) on the side. extra: customer would like some reverse hurt/comfort.

pairing: kaeya x reader

reader info: uses gender neutral pronouns (they/them), works at the knights of favonius, is close/good friends with kaeya, and reader is not traveler

word count: 1,979 words

genre: romance, friends to lovers, reverse hurt/comfort

format: one shot

warnings: deadlines for paperwork, kaeya feeling overwhelmed/wanting to breakdown, friends calling each other petnames, kaeya laying his head on your lap, playing with hair, exaggerated forms of expression love/how it feels (suffocating, pulsating) random/not planned out confession, and slight suggestive language/themes used (can still be read without suggestive interpenetration)

a/n: man, this one was tough to write!!! but i got it done, and now i hope i fulfilled your request💖 oh, and that you have a good read ofc💖

The sun’s light streamed in through Kaeya’s grand windows, highlighting the small dust molecules that floated through the air. When it landed on the books decorating his shelves, it revealed the thin layer of dust on each one. Truth be told, Kaeya hadn’t touched a single one of them since he had moved into this office. Although his copy of the Adventurer’s Handbook, which was incredibly outdated, had a thicker layer than the others. It had been an unexpected gift from the previous person who worked at his desk, seemingly left behind in forgetfulness.

Jean’s words echoed in his head. “I need these papers all filled out by Monday. I can’t keep waiting on you forever, Kaeya. It’s draining.” 

Kaeya shook his head slightly. “Alright, focus Alberich, you’ve got a job to do.”

He knew her words weren’t meant to be mean, but still Kaeya felt a small part of his heart break. Jean had always been direct, even blunt at times, when she needed things to be done. And Kaeya knew that she was just as stressed, and having all this spare paperwork lying around his office did no one any good.

So, why did he feel like breaking down after only filling out ten lengthy patrol reports?

“Archons above, Jean’ll eat me alive if I don’t hurry up,” he said under his breath, sorting out the papers into three piles. “Okay, this pile will be for the monthly reports…” 

He murmured instructions under his breath, only so he could remember them later. Kaeya’s eye skimmed over each paper’s title and date, determining what pile and order to put them in. 

Although it wasn’t the best use of his time, Kaeya felt less overwhelmed to do this. Technically, it is helping me later, he reasoned.  

A knock on his door pulled Kaeya from his thoughts. He froze, letting the paper in his hands go. For a moment, Kaeya’s exposed eye followed the paper as it flew to the floor. Then two gentle knocks moved his attention to his door.

He swallowed thickly, standing to retrieve the paper. “Come in,”

To his surprise, you carefully creeped into his office. He watched with great curiosity as you closed the door quietly behind you, shifting the papers in your hands.

“Hey Kaeya, I heard Jean asked you to fill out those papers. So, I wanted to help you out,” you looked up from the papers and smiled at him. “I hope that’s okay.”

He couldn’t help the faint smile that crept onto his lips. “Of course, any help is welcomed. Especially if it coming from the—”

You chuckled. “Oh, there’s no need for that now. It’s just us here, no need for titles and formalities when it’s just two friends working.”

“Well then, if you insist,” Kaeya smirked. 

You grab the paper that had fallen on the ground. Wordlessly, you hand it over to him as you place some of your weight onto one foot. Kaeya’s breath hitches when his fingertips brush against yours as you hand off the paper, but he’s sure you didn’t hear it. 

“Alright, if you just pull up a chair next to me,” he murmured, “we can get to work.”

You follow his suggestion, careful not to scrap the chair’s legs on his nice wooden floors. “How would you like me to help you, exactly?”

Just sit there and be there for me, please. “If you could read over some of the papers I’ve already written, that would be incredible. Just give it a look over, make sure everything that needs to be there is and that it makes sense,” Kaeya rests his face onto his palm, eyeing you with an emotion you could not recognize. “You think you got that darlin’?”

You giggled. “Are we still doing this?”

“Oh? I have no idea what you mean,” he playfully rolled his eye, letting it land on the stack of papers in front of him. 

“The pet names,” you clarified. "And, if that’s the case, you better get used to being called sweetheart, sweetheart.”

“Me, a sweetheart? I’m afraid that you’re mistaken, my dear—”

You elbow him in the ribs, enough to hurt but not for long. “Oh, quit being so hard on yourself. You can be incredibly sweet when you want to, therefore proving that you are indeed a sweetheart.”

You lean over to look Kaeya in the eye, intent to make him a little flustered with direct eye contact. But your friend only looked at the papers in front of him, quietly scribbling down something. Behind his eye was little to no emotion, and under it was a heavy bag. 

“Sweetheart, when was the last time you slept?”

He blinked multiple times, his cheeks growing warm and his eye widening. “O-oh, I think I took a quick nap last night. There’s no need to worry about me, though.”

“How long were you asleep?”

“Something like three or four hours, I don’t know,” Kaeya dismissed, stifling a yawn. “Really, it’s not a big deal.”

You raised your brow. “Kaeya—”

“Listen, let’s just get to w-,” he interrupted himself with a large yawn, closing his eye as he did so. “Let’s just get to… to work, ‘k?”

“Or, hear me out,” you suggest, pushing your chair away from the desk. “You take a break and I’ll fill in some paperwork for you.”

“I couldn’t ask you to do that—”

You smiled menacingly. “Well, good thing I’m not asking you. Now, Mr. Alberich, get on the couch and get comfortable.”

His cheeks were set ablaze at your words and commanding tone. Kaeya tried to appear nonchalant, shrugging his shoulders and pretended to follow your suggestion. Yet as he got up from his chair, he stumbled over to the nearest couch. Kaeya practically buried his face into his hands once he sat down, trying his best to hide his flustered face.

After grabbing your things, you let yourself fall back onto the couch. A gentle smirk spread across Kaeya’s face as he watched you bounce. However, his covert glance was still enough to garner your attention. 

He was shocked when you patted the space right beside so nonchalantly. But he still moved closer to you, albeit slowly and hesitantly.  

You offered Kaeya a gentle smile. “Would you like to rest your head on my lap? I hear it’s easier to sleep when in the close company of a loved one.”

His mouth opened in shock, but then Kaeya quickly snapped it shut. Did you already know of his feelings for you? But- but he did everything to make sure that—

“I-if you’re not comfortable with that, I completely understand,” you mumble. “I just want to help you get some rest, that’s all.”

Oh. 

“Of course I don’t mind,” he slid down the couch, slowly moving his head onto your lap. 

You hummed, gently guiding his head down. A peaceful look graces all of Kaeya’s face as his head lands on your thighs. Kaeya gently turns over so he faces your stomach, letting a gentle sigh leave him. You refrain from giggling at the sensation and instead choose to focus on the paperwork in your hands.

At one point while you were reading, your hands found their way to the base of Kaeya’s head. You gently scratched at his scalp, missing the quiet whimpers and gasps he let out as you did so. Your fingers pulled at stray bunches of his hair, careful not to pull them harshly, and twirled them around your index finger idly. But when you looked down at him, Kaeya stilled beneath your touch once again.

“Is this okay?” you whispered, knowing full well your friend was still awake.

He blinked slowly, now pretending he had just woken from his deep slumber. Kaeya tilted his head to look up at you, a sight you were realizing you could never be tired of seeing. Then he smiled softly.

“Yeah,” he murmured, “it’s more than okay.”

“You must be pretty tired if you’re just accepting all of this so quickly.”

“Mm, I’m pretty, that’s for sure,” he practically nuzzled his face into your hand, “and you are too, of course. I think you’re probably the prettiest person in all of Monds— no, in all of Teyvat.”

“Probably?” 

“Okay, fine, you are the prettiest person in all of Teyvat.”

You giggle, patting his head in thanks. “Well, that’s very kind of you to say, Kaeya.”

Silence filled the office as you continued to pamper Kaeya. However, no matter what you did, it didn’t lull him back to sleep. 

Which was no fault of yours, technically. Yes, you were the reason why the blood pounded in his ears. Yes, Yyu were why his heart picked up the speed, pulsating against his ribcage over and over again. His thoughts raced as he looked to your stomach as some of the ideas made his cheeks warmer and warmer. Even imagining the simplest of actions, like holding your hand or hugging you from behind, made the butterflies in his stomach soar as he imagined it. 

“Kaeya? Are you alright?” you asked, moving your hand away from his cheek and to his forehead. You let out a gentle gasp, pulling at Kaeya’s heartstrings simultaneously. “Oh no, have you come down with something?”

Kaeya felt bad that this would be how he would confess. But it felt like another moment without speaking his mind would be another moment wasted. He didn’t even care if you rejected him, Kaeya needed to get these suffocating feelings off his chest already.

“No, I just love you,” he blurted out.

“Oh archons, you really have come down with something haven’t you?” you frowned. “I knew all this stress wouldn’t be good for you. Now you’re just being delirious.”

“No, I— I love you,” he explained. Kaeya sat up, moving your hands off of him and into his own. “I love you so much it hurts, and I can’t let another day pass without letting you know.”

You blink slowly at him, reminding Kaeya of the owls that perch in the trees on his patrol route. “You… you love me?”

“Yes,” he chuckled, “what? Is it really that hard to imagine? I must have done so well at hiding my feelings from you if you can’t even believe it.”

“No, it’s not that,” you shook your head. “It’s just that… never, in my wildest dreams, would I ever think you’d like me back.”

You leaned forward, startling both you and Kaeya. You both chuckled nervously, taking note of the small space between you two. Then chuckling faded away quickly as your eyes trailed down to his lips. 

Kaeya’s eyes drifted down to your lips and his grip on your hands loosened. And he physically gulped, as his nerves got the best of him. Because despite his vast experience, you still made him feel like he was about to have his very first kiss. You still made him feel so young and in love, two things Kaeya believed he would never feel again. 

“May I?” you asked for him, grabbing his cheek tenderly.

He smirked. “Of course.”

You and Kaeya leaned in at once, gasping then giggling as your noses bumped against each other’s. But then Kaeya grabbed your chin, tilting you gently to the right. For a moment, all was still in his office as he looked up from your lips and to your eyes. Your cheeks grew impossibly warm as Kaeya finally leaned in, connecting both of your lips together.

“This is much better than I ever imagined,” you murmured against his lips, kissing him over and over again. You felt more desperate now, craving the taste of his lips when you were only an inch apart. “You’re much better than I ever imagined, Kaeya.”

He smirked. “I better be. Now, c’mere. I’m not done with you just yet.”

thank you for reading 💖 all forms of interaction to my posts are appreciated 💖

[f0point5]

I HATE Mick in the new chapter!!! And I kinda don’t like you at the moment for leaving this part so open!!! Will Mick replay? Will Max be hurt, cause she’s ignoring him?

Feels like things are just going to get worst over the weekend? With all this drama, emotions are gonna be flying high and the pressure from racing… ohhhhh can’t wait to read more

I can’t stand not knowing

Also, can we get a bit more of Jos in here? I love their dynamic

Mick is…out there doing this thing.

Max is definitely hurt, and he’s about to get kicked while he’s down.

I have been working on the second part of the Jos/YN thing for DAYS but I just can’t find a way to stream the first two episodes of Anatomy of a Champion, which I really need before finishing that part. If anyone could let me know where I can do that that would be AMAZING. Apart from that, Jos will make an appearance in the main plot soon. Y/N and him are a lot of fun to craft.