#fic: landscape after cruelty | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

maeum-your · 4 months ago

Text

pairing: park jongseong x fem!reader

synopsis: life with all its unexpected twists and turns decides it hates you big time. your best friend ends up taking you on a trip to italy to help you escape the cruelties of your existence for at least a couple of days.

when a handsome stranger saves you from some intimate time with the airport floor and you later happen to bump into him again at your hotel, you decide to spend more time together. is it wise to open up your heart to him?

starring: enhypen jay & sunghoon, ningning (aespa), soobin (txt)

genre: one-shot, fluff, angst, slightly humorous (to some) (perhaps)

warnings: no smut but there definitely is talk about the omegaverse (idk how that happened either), harmless making out, quite a bit of cursing, dysfunctional families, my restrained need to talk about my hero academia so mc mentions todoroki quite a bit lmaoo my bad

word count: 14.1k

a/n: happy comeback day 🎉🎉🎉

my first fic in two years woooo! i started writing this two summers ago but never ended up getting past the first draft. it took a lot of editing and revising to get it to where it is now and i hope you enjoy 🫶🏻

the location where this is taking place holds a very special place in my heart 💞

“and above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.” - roald dahl

you had your palms pressed against the cool glass, mouth hanging wide open in wonder as you gazed through the window. wings broke through the cotton candy field of clouds, your final destination becoming visible at long last.

stiff limbs from flying for so long were quickly forgotten as you took in the scenery from above. a breathtaking tapestry of vineyards and olive groves stretched across the landscape, the late afternoon sun illuminating the waters of the serpentine river slithering through the city below.

everything just looked so very different from what you were used to. the skyscrapers and gray monotony of your own life disappeared to the far back of your mind.

“i knew you’d love it, but you literally have heart eyes right now. you better close your mouth before you start catching flies.“

the redhead next to you nudged you in the ribs, giggling at the wonderstruck expression on your face. “mission accomplished. just what i was hoping for.“

you rolled your eyes at ningning’s teasing smirk but couldn‘t stop your mouth from stretching into a big smile, eyes gleaming with excitement.

“oh, shut it, you.“

soon, you‘d made your way through security and headed to pick up your luggage. you hadn‘t really brought much—a single suitcase sufficed for the short stay ningning had planned. yet, you already found yourself wishing for more time in this special little corner of the world.

completely exhausted after a full day of flying and five layovers, yet brimming with anticipation, you stood waiting at the baggage carousel. it seemed to take forever, though you didn‘t mind, not much, whistling a jolly tune while tapping your feet, watching bags and suitcases of all sizes, shapes and colors get picked up by people just as varied as their belongings.

as you finally laid eyes on your rosé gold suitcase and moved to retrieve it, a collision sent you staggering. if not for a stranger with superhuman reflexes who had reached out and pulled you back by the waist after someone’s shoulder had slammed into yours with unexpected force, you might have ended up greeting the grimy verona airport floor with your face.

a silver-haired young man at a distance waved apologetically. “my bad!“ he yelled and then, addressing the mysterious stranger who still had his arm wrapped snugly around your waist, “come on, dude. our cab‘s waitin‘.“

your savior was donning a pair of gray joggers and a zip hoodie, the hood drawn up, sunglasses hiding his eyes as he bent his head to look at you. concern lined the features that weren‘t being concealed, lending him a mysterious air amidst the casual attire.

“is your shoulder okay? sorry about my friend; we‘re in a little bit of a rush and he’s a little… well, let’s just call him a high energy individual.“ with a quick bow, he darted off after the silver-haired man, leaving before you could utter a word in response. the kind stranger had gone before you could get a proper look at his face.

lucky for you, ningning had maintained her composure amidst the chaos and had swiftly retrieved both your suitcases from the carousel in the meantime. it was exactly what you expected from the hyper-focused and detail-oriented woman. you wouldn‘t be surprised if she could read an academic paper and understand all its concepts without struggling even in the middle of attending a death metal concert or riding a rollercoaster. she had always been nothing short of amazing.

with her hand on her waist, the redhead sighed as she glanced after the two men responsible for the commotion.

“that was one hell of a main character moment, huh?“

you felt a blush creeping up your cheeks, still feeling the lingering touch of the stranger and the faint scent of his cologne in the air.

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

after picking up the keys for the rental car you had pre-booked through the company's website, you set off from verona airport. inside the shark blue volkswagen golf, the windows remained down to combat the stifling, humid air. normally, you would have minded—the hair sticking to your forehead and the beads of sweat forming—but here in verona, one of italy’s most historically and culturally significant cities, it felt liberating. it felt like freedom.

the breeze that flowed through the open windows swept away all the pent-up frustrations and stresses of the past weeks, carrying them far into the distance. in its wake, it left a sense of tranquility that you weren’t sure you had ever experienced.

ningning had a white scarf draped elegantly around her head and neck, its thin fabric fluttering in the wind. She wore stylish louis vuitton sunglasses perched on her nose and sported bright red lips that shimmered in the sunlight. ningning was the embodiment of the phrase "to go in fashion," effortlessly turning heads wherever she went.

you closed your eyes and let the crisp air tickle your skin.

passing through several charming villages, you eventually arrived at lago di garda. mesmerized by the lake of shining waters, you decided to take a leisurely drive around its perimeter.

a few windsurfers skillfully glided across the water, harnessing the wind's power, while most people were beginning to depart as the sun dipped low, casting an orange glow over everything. high-pitched calls echoed as seagulls swooped and scavenged. you couldn't help but burst into laughter as you watched one bold seagull snatch a sandwich right out of a tourist's hand, prompting a comical chase that ended in a flurry of french profanities.

by the time you completed your circuit around the lake, darkness had nearly enveloped the landscape. the sun had slipped behind the mountains, cooling the air. above, the moon shone brightly, casting a silvery glow that danced across the lake's surface.

the way up the winding road of the mountain might not have taken long but it sure wasn‘t relaxing either. your knuckles turned white from gripping the sides of your seat so hard as your best friend navigated the curves and twists of the road in the near dark. the hillside wasn’t secured at all and, if you were being completely honest, you didn‘t necessarily trust your best friend’s driving skills.

her reckless mode of driving stemmed less from any daredevil traits the redhead didn‘t possess and more from an earnest lack of skill. not that the overachiever didn‘t try to make up for it with rigorous practice.

a car came racing down the road at full speed, blinding you with its headlights. you squeezed your eyes shut. so this is how it would end? you were still so young and there was so much you still wanted to do… oh, no—would your mother throw away your psychologically large manga collection? you didn‘t want todoroki living inside a trash can.

through some miraculous maneuvering, ningning steered the car close enough to the edge that the speeding vehicle narrowly missed you. perhaps you needed to give her driving skills more credit after all. with a heavy sigh, you slumped back into your seat. todoroki was safe.

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

“soobin, my man. how nice to see you! how's the family?”

checking in at the hotel took a little longer than it might have usually. ningning was happily chatting away with the blue-haired receptionist, whom she‘d known ever since he‘d started working there five years ago. her family had been coming up there for the past ten summers or so, enjoying a few quiet weeks together in the mountains. it was quite strange, actually, that you‘d never come there with them, but then again, your own parents had always liked to keep you where they could see you. you'd spent your high school summers with your nose in a textbook, as they forced you to attend summer school and other extra study sessions because anything less than a perfect grade was unacceptable.

with heavy eyelids and throbbing heads, the two of you headed straight to bed without having dinner at the hotel restaurant. you had bought a sandwich each at the airport to snack on during the ride, so you weren‘t really all that hungry. besides, there were still a couple of days ahead of you to enjoy all the delicious mediterranean specialties italy had to offer.

the mattress of the king-size bed was soft and bouncy as you flopped down on it. you sprawled out your tired limbs, feeling as if you were lying on top of a cloud.

ningning had immediately refused the idea of getting separate rooms or even separate beds. she had always been the clingy one, hanging onto your arm or cuddling up to you while watching tv. you didn’t mind; you enjoyed the feeling of someone actually wanting to be in your presence.

being apart even for just the night would probably not have been the smartest idea anyway. attached at the hip since the ripe age of five, ningning knew you as well as the back of her hand. if left alone for even a moment too long, she feared you might fall apart. and girls who fly together, cry together! or at least that’s what she‘d said. no solitary weeping for you.

sharing beds had been as much a regular occurrence throughout your friendship as drunkenly reading juicy omegaverse stories out loud at 3 a.m.

from the time she befriended you on your first day of kindergarten, when she'd scared off a boy who‘d been chasing after you with a worm, until now, you‘d been having weekly sleepovers.

as teens, there had occasionally been the unscheduled visit too, whenever having to deal with your controlling parents had gotten too difficult.

it just so happened that skillfully climbing out of your window and sneaking over to cuddle close under her soft duvets was the only way to calm the anguish tearing you apart like a feral beast. ningning would let you cry in her arms while you told her, in between broken sobs, all about what you had apparently done this time to garner your parents‘ disapproval. the arguments usually revolved around you not wearing the right clothes, not reading the right books, not getting the right grades, not having the right friends—you get the gist. nothing you ever did was right.

even so, within the next hour, you’d usually end up giggling uncontrollably as ningning made you watch an episode of how i met your mother or funny cat videos she‘d saved just for occasions like that. she was like a witch who could spirit away your worries with a wave of her hand.

what had happened this time, however, could not be solved by some simple quality time and extensive skinship. it had forced you to escape together, to run off to another country, even if just temporarily, taking a holiday in the comune of tenno situated near the foothills of the italian alps.

it was as if the majestic peaks of the surrounding mountains had put their protective arms around you, and the soothing breeze, carrying the earthy scent of nearby forests, lulled you to sleep. for once, you slept soundly, with no nightmares coming to plague you at night, nothing to disturb your peaceful slumber.

soft rays of sunlight danced along your skin, gently rousing you from sleep the next morning. as consciousness returned, you fluttered your eyes open.

beside you, the redhead stirred, grumbling something unintelligible before burying her face in the gigantic pillow. she was sprawled out across her mattress, clinging to the covers more than they clung to her. her tousled hair, evidence of a night filled with tossing and turning, revealed her to be an unexpectedly messy sleeper.

you patted her head with a fond smile before slipping away to take a shower. the cold water jolted you awake, breathing new life into your senses. today promised to be a good day—you could feel it in your bones.

squeaky clean and feeling refreshed, you opened the bathroom door, expecting to breathe in the calm morning air drifting through the open window. instead, you were greeted with a horrendous stench that made your eyes water.

ningning was holding up a spray bottle and waved it frantically, filling the room with a cloud of mosquito repellant that made you cough violently. you buried your nose in your shirt, shooting daggers at her with your eyes. your friend pointed to the dozen bites covering her legs and arms with a grimace. holy cow.

how had you not noticed them earlier? but then again, you‘d felt a little groggy and disoriented right after waking up, vision still blurry and that lightbulb up there not fully functioning yet.

throats all irritated and scratchy, you both struggled to catch your breaths between bouts of coughing. it was clear ningning had used way too much.

you gestured urgently toward the door, but ningning was preoccupied battling a tiny mosquito buzzing around her head. insects always turned your usually rational friend into a bit of a hysterical mess.

without hesitation, you grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the room.

before you could breathe in the fresh, fume-free air, however, your body collided with something hard. the girl who had been just inches behind you crashed into you, knocking you over.

“oh, for fuck’s sake,” you muttered, frustration bubbling up. why did your intuition about the trajectory of today have to be so far off?

your fall was cushioned by something soft and very much alive. holding your spinning head, you tried to push ningning off your back while simultaneously struggling to get up from whoever you had just taken down with you.

the frantic apology you were preparing got stuck in your throat as you looked down at the gorgeous adonis underneath you.

silky black strands of hair framed his sunkissed face, and his eyes were sharp and narrow. in theory, their design should‘ve made him look angry and serious, especially after being tackled to the ground so forcefully.

instead, he stared at you in wide-eyed surprise. “wait, aren‘t you the girl from the airport? i remember you. yeah, you were wearing a blue babydoll top, weren‘t you? you almost got knocked over.“

your eyes fell to the heart-shaped birthmark on his neck. realization dawned on you. you remembered catching a glimpse of that peculiar spot on his neck under the gray hood he‘d been wearing just a day prior.

“you‘re the one who saved me from falling.“

“i guess you came to take revenge on us.“ much to your surprise, he appeared completely indifferent to finding himself intimately acquainted with the floor. his laugh was rich and infectious, his eyes twinkling merrily. god, he was cute.

he promptly got up off the floor and extended a chivalrous hand to you, helping you up in one swift motion, the muscles in his arms flexing deliciously.

the strong grip on your hand and the gentle pull willed your face to stop mere inches away from his. you could feel his warmth radiating and caught a faint scent of his cologne. your eyes locked for a moment, and it was hard to keep a neutral facade—to act like this hadn’t just completely derailed your train of thought.

his surprise at the sudden proximity faded into something softer, the twinkling of his eyes reminiscent of the glimmering water of lago di garda underneath the evening sun.

this man had you writing poetry about him, and you didn‘t even know his name.

a cough interrupted the moment, drawing your attention. "i hate to interrupt, but technically, i’m on the floor because of you. so, can someone lend a hand before you two carry on with the romancing?“

heat seared across your face. you hurried to assist ningning, who had just borne witness to you drooling over some handsome stranger after you'd pushed her so callously to the ground. this man was undeniably good-looking, though, so you hoped she’d understand.

forget bros before hoes. as far as ningning was concerned, the more hoes for y/n, the better. you really were that bitchless. it wasn’t like you hadn‘t had your fair share of what you affectionately referred to as your gentleman callers, but unfortunately the only men you were attracted to were either fictional and/or two dimensional (literally). so you ogling at a living, breathing specimen of the opposite sex truly called for celebration.

another hand beat you to helping ningning up, belonging to a man slightly taller than the stranger you’d collided with. he possessed slender limbs, an elegant face with a mole beneath his right eye, and a rosy blush tinting his cheeks against silver hair.

he pointed to himself with a cheeky grin. “and i‘m the culprit of the hit and run. glad my man jay here,“ he draped an arm around the other man, “took such good care of you.“

although his words were aimed at you, his gaze remained fixed on ningning as if she were a rare gem on display. the object of his attention couldn’t help but laugh incredulously at the absurdity of the situation.

his friend, jay, freed himself from his grasp. “that’s not really something to brag about,“ he chided his friend with an exasperated sigh. “well, this is sunghoon, my idiotic best friend but i swear he‘s alright?“ the last bit came out more like a question.

was he really alright, like mentally, jay wondered as he watched his friend unabashedly checking out ningning from head to toe, the grin on his face growing impossibly wider, giving off an air of mischief jay had grown accustomed to over the years.

“and who might you be?“ sunghoon incquired in a sultry tone, eyes lingering a tad too long on the pink pajama shorts your best friend was still wearing.

“if i tell you, will you promise to finally stop doing that,“ she gestured to his face with a frown, “weird eyebrow thing you have going on?“

sunghoon, who had indeed been wiggling his eyebrows while squinting and puckering his lips, attempted to defend himself. "i was aiming for 'man of your dreams' but i'll take the feedback," he grumbled, straightening up and relaxing his features. when he wasn‘t contorting his face, he didn‘t look half bad—he was almost as handsome as his companion, though you were clearly biased in that regard.

ningning breathed a sigh of relief, as if finally cured of a long period of intense suffering. “much, much better. and, as promised, i‘m ningning. and,“ shifting the attention to you as she nodded in your direction affectionately, “this is y/n.“

“sorry, for earlier,“ sunghoon apologized impishly, rubbing the back of his neck after receiving a warning glare from ningning.

“no harm done.“

“a lovely name for a lovely lady,“ jay remarked with a charming smile. if he was indeed flirting, you were relieved that his approach was far more refined compared to his friend’s antics. a true gentleman caller indeed.

wait—he was flirting with you? the tingling sensation that swept through your body embarrassed you enough to avert your eyes at record speed. who would’ve thought that not only would you one day find a man you actually found sorta attractive, but that he’d also be trying to woo you with his irresistible charms?

lovely, lovely ningning, the incarnation of cupid herself, someone who knew you inside out, backwards and forwards, immediately picked up on the vibes. a cunning smile tugged at her lips.

“so,“ she clapped her hands together, “would you guys,“ stare lingering on jay specifically, “like to join us for breakfast? we,“ glancing at you, “would be glad for some company.“

you weren‘t quite sure whether to strangle ningning or kiss her. if she wanted to play matchmaker, right now wasn‘t really an appropriate time. a summer fling, or, god forbid, a summer romance wasn't really what you were looking for. you thought about the reason that had necessitated your escape in the first place and shuddered. 2d men would be a much safer option.

the redhead, noticing this, gave you an encouraging smile as she touched your arm. it‘s going to be alright, she seemed to say. the tension in your body relaxed slightly.

sunghoon, completely oblivious to the very obvious scheme ningning was planning, swung his arm around jay‘s shoulder, squeezing him way too tight. he stared him down with huge, unsettling orbs and an over-the-top smile. “we would love to. right, jay?“

not a single person in this hallway was being very subtle about their intentions. it all felt a little too bizarre to be real.

jay regarded you with an unreadable expression. his gaze lingered, unwavering and deep, as if trying to read you.

finally, his face relaxed into a pleasant smile. “right, sunghoon.“

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

“i like women with opinions. so hot.“

ningning glanced at you discreetly, her face a silent cry for help.

sunghoon had his head resting on his arms, looking dreamily at the redhead sitting in front of him. it wasn‘t that your best friend wasn‘t accustomed to attention from both boys and girls, but no one had ever been so weird about it. his excessive fluttering eyelashes and exaggerated sighs made it difficult to take him seriously, as if he were a man who'd just experienced the most mind-blowing orgasm of his life and was now asking for another round.

even jay seemed lost for words, shooting sunghoon some serious side-eyes, unable to flatten his facial expression into anything other than a mix of mortified amusement and concern for his friend‘s mental state.

“has anyone told you that you‘re a bit peculiar?“ ningning asked, taking a sip from her orange juice, her eyes narrowed as she scrutinized sunghoon.

“oh yeah, all the time, but it sounds so much sexier when you say it,“ sunghoon replied with a playful grin.

“okay, time to switch the subject.“ jay needed to cut off sunghoon before he‘d start spouting even more unhinged nonsense. “we‘ve established ningning is a pre-law student who can kick ass. so, y/n, how do you go about insulting stupid people?“

“oh, i might not say it to your face but i will use you for inspiration as a villain in one of my stories and make you suffer. like, a lot.“ you shrugged nonchalantly, as if that was a completely normal thing to say.

“creative, i like that,“ jay chuckled. “so i take it you‘re a writer then?“

wildly embarrassed all of a sudden, you played with the fresh strawberries on your plate. “not exactly. i‘m an english major and, well, i do enjoy writing in my spare time. but it‘s nothing to write home about, really.“

in truth, you had a few short stories published online and plenty of my hero academia fanfics on ao3, but revealing that would literally shatter your dignity into a million tiny, irreparable pieces.

“what about you?“ you quickly asked jay, shifting the spotlight away from yourself. you were accustomed to avoiding attention, fearing that someone (usually your parents) might uncover and critique your flaws. “let me guess. you’re obviously very knowledgeable when it comes to fashion, so… fashion design, perhaps!“

jay was impeccably dressed and styled. at the airport, he had sported a more relaxed and comfortable look, but today he was wearing a dark blue polo shirt, white shorts, and wristwatch that caught the sunlight. the golden earrings added a touch of chic to his ensemble.

what had really given you the notion in the first place, however, was the fact that he started meticulously analyzing the outfit of every single person in the room the moment you entered, providing a long-winded commentary about the latest fashion trends from all across the globe. you could only hope that the white shirt dress you had on was jay-approved.

“sooo close,“ he chuckled ironically. “it‘s actually business administration and management.“

this revelation made you tilt your head curiously. jay did exude a hint of businesslike demeanor at first glance, but his personality was far from aloof. you had expected something different, something more tailored to his personality, that‘s all.

it was nice to get to know what the two strangers at the table were like, and you listened fondly to the stories ningning was telling, even though you‘d already heard them hundreds of times. you starred in most of them anyway.

the only issue was that jay seemed very interested in you. why would this be an issue, a sane person might ask. a hot, fashionable man with good manners showing interest in you. boo hoo. go jump off a cliff.

you internally scolded yourself for being so tense, but it wasn‘t easy to just let go and relax. just how much of yourself could you give away without going from a hot mess to just straight-up professional problem collector? if only you had the superpower to come up with half-truths on the spot that could make you sound way cooler than you were, but you weren‘t ningning. you were creative, yes, as illustrated by your artistic pursuits, but that creativity needed to simmer and only came loose when it wanted to. you couldn‘t summon it in an instant. you probably came across like a proper snooze-fest with the way all of your answers were as specific as a fortune cookie.

if jay was deterred by this, it didn‘t show. he was like a gold digger searching for the treasure. in this case, something you could talk about without restraint. he sensed an active inner world and was convinced he just needed to show enough genuine interest to coax it out of you. if only he knew the right things to say—

“don‘t ignore me.“ sunghoon crossed his arms in front of his chest, pouting like a kicked puppy. “if i don‘t get attention, i‘ll die.“

“much better,“ he said solemnly, when everyone turned to him, swiftly ignoring the raised eyebrows.

“ningning. i need one of your sexy opinions. hotdogs? are they a sandwich?“

the redhead blinked blankly, momentarily forgetting to chew on her food. “excuse me, what?“

“is a hotdog a sandwich,“ he repeated as if it were the most normal question in the world.

“no? yes. no! what?“ you‘d never seen your best friend so lost for words. she opened and closed her mouth, spluttering in confusion.

“shouldn‘t it be though? there‘s bread on two opposite sides.“

“but a hotdog is just a hotdog, and a sandwich is just a sandwich,“ she contemplated, treating the question with more seriousness than the situation required.

“look,“ she said, pointing the fork at him, “one has two separate pieces of bread, and the other is a sliced bun.“

“yeah, they don‘t have the same shape either,“ you chimed in. “and a hot dog has the bread on the sides, but a sandwich has it on the top and bottom.“

“would you then agree that a hot dog is a taco?“

say what now?

he shrugged. “they‘re the same shape, so according to your logic, a hotdog would be a taco.“

ningning thought about this. “i guess it would be more of a taco than a sandwich.“

“that wasn‘t the point i was trying to make.“ sunghoon muttered displeased.

“actually,“ jay had pulled out his phone, “according to merriam-webster, a sandwich is defined as having two or more slices of bread or a split roll with a filling in between. this would mean that a hotdog is, in fact, a sandwich. however—“

“ha, i told you so. guess i know more than you after all, mon chéri,“ sunghoon taunted ningning, relishing in riling her up. did he know whom he was messing with? arguing with the redhead was as safe as juggling chainsaws.

ningning folded her arms. “that‘s literally complete bullshit. have they literally never seen a sandwich before?“

“if you would let me finish,“ jay raised his voice, lips pressed into a tight line, unamused by their bickering, “the washington post argues that classification can be done by applying the cube rule, which categorizes food by the placement of starch. and hot dogs are defined by starch on the bottom and on two opposing sides.“

“so basically, what you‘re trying to say is—actually, i have no idea what you just said. i guess we just have to agree to disagree, sweetheart.“ sunghoon winked at ningning. she looked like she was about to jump at him and stab him with her fork.

ningning didn‘t lose. that was a fact. as a middle schooler, she‘d had a reputation for obliterating even the most raunchy, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, everything-phobic boys into submission. then, during high school, she‘d been known as the undefeated wrecking ball at every debate tournament, serving up verbal beatdowns like they were free samples at costco.

winning pointless discussions was what she did best.

the back-and-forth continued, phones were pulled out, receipts shown.

“yeah, i don‘t think i‘m as invested in this as they are.“ you said to jay, accompanied by a wry sigh.

“me neither.“

he was secretly glad it gave him the chance to return to the earlier conversation. what should he focus on? what moved you? you‘d been so humble about your writing; he was sure there must be more.

“you said you liked to write? any plans on becoming a published author then?“

a bitter laugh escaped you before you could stop it. you scrambled to cover it up by putting on a totally-not-forced smile. definitely not the best choice of topic.

you were the only daughter of an affluent family and expected successor to a big hotel chain. your parents had nearly combusted when you‘d chosen to study english at a smallish public university instead of sticking to the meticulously mapped-out 200-step life plan for you.

step one: no room for defiance.

step two: exceed perfection.

the arts were only ever desirable when they were being consumed, not pursued. they didn‘t understand that someone had to create that art in the first place for others to appreciate it.

writing fiction was akin to attending a formal dinner party butt-nacked, as far as your parents were concerned anyway. they judged your devotion to made-up stories as disgraceful.

despite all of your attempts to escape your so-called destiny, your parents never gave up trying to mold you into someone you weren‘t—an impossible version of yourself they expected you to eventually accept. your true personality was dismissed as “just a phase.“

desperately clinging onto your dreams, you knew that what had transpired right before your escape had the power to alter the trajectory of your entire life.

the room was quieter than a mime convention as you contemplated your life choices, wondering why there couldn’t have been an instruction manual for when shit like this happens.

jay furrowed his eyebrows. “parental issues, i assume?“

good thing your jaw was securely attached to your skull because— “how on earth? are you some kind of psychic or what?”

he gave an unperturbed shrug. “isn‘t it always parental issues, though?“

“true.“ you sipped on your water, eyeing him suspiciously. you couldn‘t believe you were that easy to read, more transparent than a freshly cleaned windowpane. mastering the art of hiding your true thoughts and feelings was the one superpower you had to learn in order to avoid nuclear-level arguments with your parents.

jay regarded you with an unreadable expression before his lips curled into a gentle smile, making you almost forget that you were supposed to be in full-on panic mode.

“so i guess you‘re here to forget all about that? tenno really is a beautiful place. it‘s so easy to put aside all of your worries once you‘re up here.“

“i think so too,“ you nodded enthusiastically, relieved that he wasn‘t going to press on about the whole parental issues thing. “it was all ningning‘s idea to come. she said she knew just the right spot, so here we are. i gather you‘ve been here before?“

“hundreds of times,“ he said. you noticed he had a tendency to trail off into laughter the end of his sentences.

“actually, i’ve been wondering—have you made any plans yet? sunghoon and i were going to walk to the art colony not far from here. not only is the route is lovely, but i think it might speak to your artistic side. what do you say?“

hell yes, you thought, but then remembered it was probably embarrassing to be so excited about spending time with someone you literally didn‘t even know.

“ningning?“ you tapped your friend on the elbow, prompting her to abrubtly cease arguing with sunghoon, leaving the silver-haired man to sulk.

“do you want to go with them today? they‘re visiting an art colony. we haven‘t planned anything, right?“

you tried to keep the pleading puppy eyes in check, hoping she hadn‘t secretly arranged any plans yet. looking at art? sounds perfect. looking at art with a hot guy? fucking amazing.

“as long as he admits that i am right,“ ningning rolled her eyes at sunghoon who regarded her with a scoff.

“you wish, mon chér—ouch.“

you had enough tact to pretend not to have noticed jay kicking sunghoon under the table.

“fine. you win this round, sweetheart.“

ningning stuck out her tongue at him and did a little victory dance. seemed like you weren‘t the only one in a good mood.

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

the art colony was a medieval village named canale di tenno. as you strolled through its cobblestone streets, you immediately noticed the unusually tall stone houses, some four or even five stories high, every wall slanted and crooked. you admired their rustic facades and flower-adorned balconies.

you moved under archways and through narrow alleys, all leading to the piazzetta, the village square, where a few cozy restaurants were located. especially for someone from a big city, this small and rural village with its forty residents and handful of art galleries and shops felt like a 180 degree switch to the skyscrapers and anonymous crowds of seoul. vibrant artwork was displayed on most of the windowsills and you were welcomed with genuine enthusiasm everywhere you entered.

jay grew more and more attractive with each passing minute, acting as a tour guide and sharing his extensive knowledge about the village and its people with you.

he was now leading you through the historic house museum, known as the casa degli artisti, dedicated to the renowned italian artist giacomo vittone. the museum not only paid homage to his contribution to the arts, but the collection also featured works by other artists who‘d been inspired by the region.

the owner greeted jay like an old friend, patting him on his back as he gave him a hug followed by a kiss on each cheek. jay conversed in fluent italian, gushing over the new pieces of art that had been added since his last visit. your handsome stranger seemed to know a lot about many of the individual artworks and personally guided you through the exhibitions.

meanwhile, ningning and sunghoon seemed to be in their own little bubble, bickering for the majority of the time, but you could tell it was all in good fun. if you weren’t mistaken, and you rarely were when it came to your best friend, ningning had taken a liking to the silver-haired man. she did like being challenged, though not as much as she liked to win, and she was definitely more than capable of dealing with all the teasing and pestering he made use of to secure her attention.

you weren’t really focused on the pair, if you were being honest. you’d always been a fan of the arts, fascinated by the way literature and art intersected in many places.

you eagerly bombarded jay with question after question about the pieces, any traces of shyness had vanished, replaced by a thirst for knowledge. he smiled to himself and did his best to answer, happily delving into discussions about the color palettes and artistic forms with you, delighted to see you coming out of your shell.

after having gone through each piece in extensive length, you went into a tiny store selling art goods.

the moment you stepped in, your eyes darted from one corner to the other, heart swelling with joy, unsure where to look first. if you could have, you would have bought everything they were selling. each and every piece had been crafted by hand, none of that factory-produced stuff. all the goods were unique to the village, to that store. how you wished you could’ve properly supported the local community and all its artists.

fleeing home in a hurry meant you hadn‘t been able to exchange your korean wons to euros, and most places here didn’t have card readers.

besides, you were sick and tired of being reliant on mommy‘s and daddy‘s money. all you‘d ever wanted was to support yourself by writing novels. being dependent on your parents was one thing, but the thought of being dependent on… well, him. you shook your head to rid yourself of that painful feeling. real life could wait.

everyone ventured off on their own, taking their time to absorb the treasures inside the room for as long or as little as they liked.

at a table just behind the corner stood an army of little frog figurines made of clay, painted a muddy green. the whimsical creatures with their silly little faces warmed your heart. it was a bit strange; they were only frogs after all, yet you couldn’t help but feel an immediate attachment to them.

“they‘re beautiful, aren‘t they?“ jay appeared soundlessly by your side.

you nodded. he gently lifted one to his eyes and inspected it closely, focusing on a peculiar spot under its eye. “this one kinda looks a bit like sunghoon.“

“oh, i see it.“

you picked up another one. “and this one‘s you.“ the paint had chipped off a little at the neck in exactly the shape of a heart.

jay pointed to another one and said it looked like you.

you tilted your head to the side, staring at the frog with a puzzled expression. “how come?“

“it‘s cute.“

heat rushed to your cheeks. he looked straight at you, face completely serious.

you quickly averted your eyes. the intensity in which he studied you was too much. it made you feel a little self-conscious.

ignoring your erratic heartbeat, you continued going through the frogs, the perfect excuse not to look back up at jay. rather coincidentally, since you weren‘t really focusing on the task at hand, you found the remaining missing member of your little frog community. a tiny amphibian with lovely wide eyes bore a striking resemblance to your best friend. give her a wig and voilá—amphibian ningning.

not only did jay end up buying the four frogs, but he also insisted on getting lunch for all of you. ningning and you tried to protest, but sunghoon, already used to his friend‘s generous spending sprees, ordered an obscene amount of food as if it were the last time he would eat ever. ningning and you still felt bad about leeching off jay when both of your families were rolling in dough, but there was no point arguing with the man.

by the time everyone had finished, you felt like you were about to burst any minute. despite having to soothe your aching tummies, it was worth it. the polenta e funghi you‘d had… fucking hell.

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

the way back to the hotel felt much more tedious than when you‘d walked to canale di tenno. the blisters on your feet screamed for mercy, unwilling to continue trotting under the glistening sun. your full bellies dragged you down, inviting you to lie down on the grass and close your eyes for a moment.

“how come you knew the owner of the museum so well?“ you inquired, curious to learn more about jay. you walked side by side, with ningning and sunghoon a little ahead.

“oh, i thought i mentioned it. he’s actually a distant relative of mine. i‘m not quite sure. i think he is my great aunt‘s husband‘s sister‘s husband or something like that? yeah, sounds about right.“ he rubbed the back of his neck. “he and his wife rejected the luxury of our family name and she moved here to live with him, where they'd first met and fallen in love. we haven‘t been here since they got married; i'm barely even allowed to mention him to my parents. we‘re not known for being very tolerant.“

he clenched his teeth. he hated how his family had acted. was acting. he liked his great-great-uncle, admired him even.

“i wish i had the courage to be more like him, to bravely go against expectation.“

you nodded thoughtfully. “sometimes our hearts don‘t want what others have picked out for us.“

he gave you a meaningful look, but you couldn‘t decipher it.

you were walking uphill now, labored breaths escaping you with every step. ningning and sunghoon appeared to be immersed in some conversation that required a lot of gestures, judging by their constant arm movements, but they were too far ahead, fueled by their competitive energy, for you to hear.

you watched their backs as you listened to the birdsong accompanying your journey. you closed your eyes for just a second, enjoying the lovely melody, but that was all it took. you misstepped.

jay‘s reflexes kicked in just a tick too late, and there you were, crouching on the ground, face contorted in pain, clutching your ankle. you tried to stand, but the sharp pain that shot up your foot forced you back down with a yelp. the pair ahead of you quickly rushed back to you upon hearing your agonized howl.

“let me take a look,” jay said gently.

reluctantly, you allowed him to examine your ankle, wincing as the prodded it with a gentle touch. “it hurts like a bitch.”

“it‘s swollen; i think you sprained it. you shouldn‘t walk on it, or it‘ll get worse.“

“oh, my sweet little darling! i’ll get you back safely, don’t worry. hop on.“ ningning stood with a slight forward lean, ready to receive the weight.

sunghoon affectionately tapped her head and chuckled. "it’s nice that you’re so concerned, but don’t you think it would be much easier if either jay or i carried her? not to brag or anything, but i'm pretty strong."

sunghoon‘s enthusiasm faded into mortification as he caught the warning in jay's eyes.

"or… jay can carry y/n since he is much, much stronger than i am. yes, big biceps and all that good stuff. loads of muscle. umm, if you know, you know.“

you probably had no choice but to continue the journey on jay’s back. putting pressure on your foot hurt so bad and bruises already started to form a purplish-red hue.

before you could even think about protesting, he effortlessly scooped you up and adjusted you onto his back. hands secured around his neck and shoulders, you could feel his strong muscles at work as he resumed walking.

despite the situation, you couldn‘t help but feel a little flustered being so close to him. ningning winking at you from the side probably didn‘t help much either.

jay didn't complain even once about the extra weight. on the contrary, he continued talking so effortlessly, as if he weren’t carrying an entire person on his back.

“you know, this reminds me of a hike i did in the rockies last year,“ he began, voice calm and steady. “except it was sunghoon who twisted his ankle, and i had to carry him.“

you laughed softly. “it‘s insane that you‘re not even breaking a sweat, especially, in this heat,“ you said, shaking your head in disbelief.

you felt him shrug. “years of hiking and a bit of gym time,“ he replied nonchalantly. “plus, i think carrying a beautiful girl might be giving me an extra burst of energy.“

it sure was a good thing that he couldn't see your face at that moment. your cheeks burned hot as he continued making light conversation.

jay‘s relaxed demeanor helped you forget the throbbing pain in your ankle for the most part, allowing you to genuinely enjoy the rest of the walk. with no need to focus on where you were stepping anymore, you could fully take in the view, catching glimpses of a lake glimmering through the trees.

when you reached the hotel, you experienced a confusing mix of relief and disappointment as jay gently set you down. “there you go, safe and sound.“

jay went to find some ice for your ankle, and ningning retrieved painkillers from her suitcase.

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

for dinner, you indulged in strangolapreti—spinach and ricotta dumplings served with a sage and butter sauce—and some pollo alla cacciatora, hunter‘s chicken cooked in a tomato and herb sauce. jay used his perfect italian to inquire about the restaurant’s finest wines, settling on a bottle of teroldego rotaliano, made from grapes native to the trentino region. because of your stupid ankle and reliance on painkillers, however, you didn't have more than just a sip or two.

after a second bottle, some gelato and more ibuprofen for your ankle, the group decided to spend the rest of the evening playing card games, which led to some rather… let‘s say interesting bets.

"i’ll let you bleach my eyebrows and dye them pink if i lose."

"if i win, i‘m going to draw dicks on your faces."

“you have to do a hundred push-ups wearing a maid costume.“

none of the bets— or so you thought— ended up being actualized since you were far too gone far too soon. the moment your head hit the pillow, you drifted off to dreamland, the sharpie shlong on your chin moving with every soft snore.

stupid, fucking ankle. why won’t you work the way you’re supposed to?!

you felt bad beyond measure. the last thing you wanted was to spoil your friends’ fun just because your ankle decided to act like a major bitch right now.

during lunch the day before, ningning had suggested a drive down to lago di garda to explore the towns there, and you wished they would just go do exactly that today.

ignoring your pleading looks, they insisted on staying at the hotel with you but what kind of shitty friend would you be if you were to allow that.

“please just go and don‘t worry about me. i‘ll be fine here on my own. there’s plenty to enjoy—good food and maybe i’ll go chill by the pool or whatever.“

ningning, whose cheeks were stuffed with strawberries, making her look like a cute little chipmunk, shook her head vehemently. “how could we just leave you here? girl, i didn’t drag you all across the globe just to abandon you. nope, i‘m staying.” she motioned vaguely toward the guys. “these two can go, but i’m not leaving you, especially not when you‘re in such a vulnerable position right now. i really don't—“

you shot her a sharp look, halting her mid-sentence. you didn’t want to be rude, but your current predicament really was none of their business.

“yo, we‘re not heartless (well, not completely)… if you‘re stayin’, we‘re stayin‘.“ what sunghoon meant by that was that he was going to follow wherever ningning would go. probably.

you nervously looked between the three of them. “but ningning, i know you‘ve been wanting to visit sirmione. you‘ve been talking about finding that restaurant your grandma used to take you to as a kid, right?“

ningning pouted. it was true. in recent years, her grandma’s illness had prevented her from making the trip with the rest of the family and her passing still weighed heavily on ningning, who had cherished her dearly. the old lady had been your best friend‘s favorite person in the whole world. next to you, goes without saying.

“and sunghoon,“ you turned to him, “you were so excited when we made these plans yesterday. it’s your first time here so you haven‘t had the chance to explore the region either.“

jay hummed thoughtfully. “what about this: ningning and sunghoon take the drive down to the lake. i’ll stay with you. i‘ve been here countless times and have seen everything there is to see.“

now, see, you wanted to protest, you really did, but he did have a valid point. you were less concerned about him missing out than you were with sunghoon and ningning, and let's face it, the selfish desire to have him all to yourself was enough to make you waver. not only was he the most handsome man you‘d ever laid eyes on, including your 2d crushes—okay, maybe not as good-looking as todoroki—, but there was also something else simmering beneath the surface that you just couldn‘t wrap your mind around. you wanted to know what it was.

ningning caught your eye and smirked knowingly. yes, this was perfect. now she could leave you in good conscience. there was no way she‘d let you refuse now.

“have fun, you two,“ she hollered over her shoulder as she practically dragged a bewildered sunghoon away.

“poor ningning. i kinda feel bad for leaving her alone with sunghoon. again.“

you waved off his concern. “you should be worried for sunghoon‘s sake. trust me when i say ningning can handle herself.“

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

“guess you‘re stuck here with me now.”

you were both lying on sun loungers by the pool, enjoying the gentle breeze that swirled around you. you had brought a book with you, anne of green gables to be exact (one of your favorites), expecting jay to swim a couple of laps, but instead, he stayed glued to your side.

“poor me,” he said with a teasing smile, placing his hand on his chest in fake agony. “spending my time with a beautiful girl. life really gives the toughest battles to its strongest soldiers.”

you bit the inside of your cheek to keep you from grinning. “whatever.”

“what about this? we have some lunch and then—do you remember the lake you saw through the trees yesterday?—we can walk down there. it only takes five to ten minutes, so carrying you won‘t be a problem.”

“please don‘t! if you want to go, don't mind me. i‘ll be fine here.”

he wouldn‘t hear of it. “ah, ah, ah, no way! i‘m the one who really wants to show you the lake, so don‘t feel bad. besides, i’m a hundred percent confident you‘ve never seen anything that beautiful.“

“not even lago di garda?”

“not even close.”

he spoke with such confidence and self-assurance you felt it would be an insult to refuse.

the path to lago di tenno was a winding descent, flanked by dense greenery and the distant murmur of water. despite the uneven terrain and the extra weight he was bearing, jay‘s pace was unhurried and smooth.

as you approached the lake, the path leveled out and the view opened up to the sparkling water, an almost surreal shade of turquoise glistening under the midday sun. the lake‘s surface was remarkably still, only disturbed by the occasional ripple from a fish darting below. surrounded by the unbelievably clear water was a small landmass featuring lush greenery, known as isola di tenno.

standing there and taking it all in, you felt peace settle within you. the fir and pine trees of the surrounding forests climbing the steep hillsides lent an earthy aroma to the crisp air.

it was as if time had slowed down, the distant chirping of birds and the gentle rustle of leaves adding to the harmonious symphony of nature.

jay‘s lips curved into a smile at the sight of your awestruck face. “i‘m glad i was right.“

you stayed at the shore and watched him wade into the lake. the cool water rose slowly up his legs, glistening as it clung to his sunkissed skin. you had to force yourself to look away, feeling like some kind of creepy stalker.

you let him enjoy the tranquility of the lake as you sat on the blanket you had brought with you. opening your trusty sketchbook, you scanned the landscape, wondering how you could capture its divine beauty on paper. your hand started moving on its own, inspiration from all around filling your heart and soul.

a sudden voice made you jump. “i didn‘t know you could draw so well. but i guess i shouldn’t be so surprised. you really did seem to be into all the art stuff yesterday.“

jay was bending down next to you, water dripping from his hair onto the blanket, looking at the page. “this is really good.“

“you think so?“ you asked. he hummed as he dried his hair with a towel.

“i‘ve always enjoyed drawing and painting. when i was younger, i used to write short stories about my childhood dog, a bearded collie named conan—yes, i named him after watching detective conan. such a good show, by the way. have you ever watched it? i don‘t know if i‘m allowed to say this as an english major, but it‘s sooo much better than the original sherlock holmes stories. i mean, there are very different, but i guess what i‘m trying to say is that they really don‘t hit the same, you know. they‘re kinda boring, actually. all the media inspired by the original sherlock holmes is so much better. bbc‘s sherlock—“

you only realized you were rambling big time when you ran out of breath. the amused smile on jay‘s face made you wish the ground would swallow you whole.

“anyways, what i was going to say was that as i tried to bring conan alive on the pages, i thought it would be much better if you could see this silly little furball at the same time. so i started incorporating little illustrations of him every now and then.“

“i’ve never read the sherlock holmes books so i can’t really say much about them, but i did use to watch detective conan a lot as a kid (though i used to be kind of scared). conan always looked so cool fighting crime. i think it‘s an awesome name for a dog! do you,“ the eagerness in his voice surprised you, ”do you have anything you can show me?“

your hands were shaking. this felt a little too intimate, if you were being honest. still, he‘d been showing genuine interest—and hadn’t minded your ramblings—and you were in the mood to rave about your adorable dog.

“those are so cute. aww, look at his little scarf.“ he was swiping through your phone‘s gallery (a precarious situation considering the many bakudeku fanarts you had saved in your gallery) giving enthusiastic oohs and aahs when appropriate. there were so many drawings of conan. conan with his dotted red scarf. conan wearing yellow boots. conan chasing his tail. a leaf landing on conan‘s broad snout.

“i really think these are awesome. they seem to capture this little rascal‘s personality very well, and, oh my god, he is just so damn adorable. i wanna squish his fluffy butt cheeks.“

seeing this grown man get so excited about your doodles made you happier than you could‘ve ever imagined. this was exactly the feeling you wanted to evoke with your work. sure, most of your stories were primarily aimed at kids, but you believed that good children‘s books should be just as valuable to an adult, and illustrations played a big underrated role in that.

the fond, childlike look on his face as he studied your drawings started to overwhelm you. you didn‘t know how to react to praise, especially coming from someone who didn‘t know you very well so they had no reason to lie to make you happy.

you had to change the topic or you were legit going to cry. how embarrassing would that be, just straight up bawling because someone liked your drawings.

“what about you?“ you asked to push the attention away from you. “you said you were studying business administration. how‘s that?“

the mood shifted so quickly, it was like someone had flipped a switch. jay didn‘t look up from your phone, now looking at conan in a superhero costume with a serious, almost dejected expression.

giving the phone back, he blinked a couple of times as if trying to blink away unwanted thoughts.

“i mean, there are interesting concepts to learn about.“ he ran a hand through his still damp strands of hair and paused for a moment. “it’s okay, but that’s it, really. but i think you guessed that already.“ he smiled, but it didn‘t quite reach his eyes.

his gaze fixed on something far off into the distance. “there are quite a few jobs i can think of that i‘d rather do. fashion design, professional chef, hip-hop dancer... but unlike you or my great-great-uncle, i‘m not brave. if i‘d really wanted to, i could‘ve defied my parents and chosen a different path. i‘m a coward, y/n.“

you put a hand on his arm. “i don‘t know your circumstances in detail, but i understand that standing up for yourself can be more difficult than it seems. i‘m not sure what gave you the impression that i'm brave because i'm really not. despite everything, i‘m still nothing more than my parents‘ marionette.“

his sigh betrayed an uncharacteristically sorrowful heaviness.

“yet you still decided to pursue writing and drawing even though i can tell that decision must’ve not been an easy one. i know they mean well, my parents. they certainly think their plans will make me happy. i don’t think they understand. i’m not sure if i‘ve tried hard enough to make them… after all, how could they—“ his voice rose as he looked up at you with a furious expression, but he cut himself off, a horrified look on his face. he quickly collected himself again. “you know what? it doesn‘t matter. i don‘t want to think about it.“

you didn‘t press on. while you did want to comfort the inner child hurting so obviously inside him, to hug him and tell him he wasn‘t a coward and that he could be strong too, you felt like it wasn‘t your place to do so. he had set boundaries and you, practically only a stranger, weren‘t going to cross them.

it was interesting to see that your seemingly perfect stranger was not leading such a perfect life after all. you felt a little guilty, but it was reassuring in a way.

the silence that followed wasn‘t particularly uncomfortable though, both of you lost in your own thoughts.

the natural beauty and quietude all around you elicited a dreamy sigh from you.

"oh, why didn‘t i think of bringing a canvas and some paint down here with me? i guess i wasn't expecting to fall in love with this place so much. i just want to capture this moment for eternity, you know?"

"you mean like a picture?" he teased. you playfully glared at him. he held up both his hands. "kidding, just kidding. let me go grab one for you!"

as he began to rise, you placed a hand on his arm to prevent him from standing. his skin was cold under your fingers and the unexpected contact sent shivers down your spine.

"oh no, stay! please, i don't want you to have to walk all the way up there. we can just bring it tomorrow."

jay quirked an eyebrow. it took you a few seconds to understand that you had just insinuated he would have to carry you down here again the next day.

"ah, no, i‘m sorry. i kind of already forgot about my little handicap. you should definitely go do something nice instead.“

"but this is nice,“ he insisted. “something about the water and watching you draw so peacefully makes me feel at ease. life is going to be stressful enough when i have to return home. and simply said, i like sitting here and looking at the view." he winked at you and you suddenly felt a little braver.

"what was that? are you flirting with me, park?" you held your head high as you said this.

"and what if i am?"

your cheeks felt uncomfortably hot. even though you‘d responded to his wooing, you now had your tail between your legs and pretended to immerse yourself in your drawing again, doing your best to ignore the foreign feeling bubbling up inside your chest.

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

late that evening, you lay in bed talking to ningning about your day.

she animatedly recounted the story of how they‘d found the restaurant she used to visit with her grandmother so many years ago. the owner had still recognized her, despite so much time having passed, and had prepared the most delicious lunch for them. sunghoon waited patiently—and surprisingly quietly—as the two ladies shared stories about ningning‘s grandmother. he even tried to cheer her up afterward by making a fool of himself in public (“he looked like he was doing a rendition of the ‘there‘s squirrels in my pants’ dance“) when she‘d started crying, suddenly overwhelmed by grief.

“he can be really nice when he wants to be. i think he‘s just a little,“ she drew out the last word, “bonkers, but our energies kind of match, if you know what i mean? he attacks, i strike back. he talks shit, i tell him why he's wrong. it’s like a game. there’s definitely never a boring moment when he’s around, i’ll give him that. oh, stop looking at me like that!“ she dismissed the smirk on your face. “it‘s really not like that. man, i saw him picking his nose, that shit turns you off. and when he came back from the bathroom, his fly was open. nothing romantic‘s going on here, i promise! but i do think we could be friends.“

she clapped her hands together, super excited all of a sudden. “enough about me. how‘s it going with your handsome stranger?“ she wiggled her eyebrows at you.

your handsome stranger. right. because that‘s what he was. no matter that your heart went into overdrive whenever he‘d look at you, and no matter how much he’d made you feel seen and appreciated, you had to remind yourself that you couldn‘t really know someone after only two days. sharing only carefully selected pieces of your stories with each other didn‘t make you close.

"i mean he is really cute," you admitted with a shrug, “but you know i can‘t. i am ‘promised‘ to someone after all.“ there. you finally said it. the issue you‘d been trying so hard to forget.

"so what? it’s not like you’re dating that dude. heck, you don’t even know him yet. i wouldn’t call it cheating if you were to have something going on with jay.“

"i know but it just seems… so pointless. you know i don't do flings but it's not like i can go on dates with him either."

when you‘d come back home, you‘d likely be getting married to someone you didn‘t know and there was not much you could do about it. you wanted to say no, heck you‘d said no plenty of times already, but it was more complicated than that.

“y/n, you can always just refuse.“

“you know it‘s not that easy…“ you clenched your fists. if only you‘d been born into a different family. or maybe if you‘d actually adhered to their life plan, you wouldn‘t be in this mess right now at all.

ningning placed a gentle hand on your shoulder. "i’m sorry, i do know. i promise we’ll find a way for you to take advantage of his fucked-up situation but can‘t you still have a little fun before shit goes down? a kiss or two won't be the end of the world."

bearing that in mind, you came to sit by the lake the next day, trying to steal sneaky glances at jay while you worked on your canvas.

he was wearing a sleeveless shirt that clung to his toned frame, revealing muscular arms and broad shoulders. he had swept his hair back from his forehead, which highlighted his devilishly chiseled jawline and the intensity of his sharp eyes. every sane person would ogle at him, y/n, you told yourself. he was literally the dictionary definition of handsome and sexy, so of course you‘d stare. it was only natural. haha.

the majority of your afternoon was spent transferring your previous day‘s sketch onto the canvas and then painting over the delicate lines. jay kept you entertained, reading to you from his book, and discussing it with you.

while this might not have been a date it definitely felt like one. you read a lot of jane austen, for fuck‘s sake—you realized when something was romantic as hell. painting, reading, yapping, and all that with a hot guy. what a cruel joke. the universe seemed to have its fun taunting you, like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey.

do not be mistaken, you knew this wasn‘t love. something as silly as love at first sight did simply not exist, no matter what many of your favorite fanfics seemed to say. even suggesting you had a crush would be a crude exaggeration. but it was mutual attraction, that you were sure of, and it might have grown into something more, if not for the less-than-ideal circumstances.

what was strange was that after yesterday, jay seemed more restrained. after your little heart-to-heart, if you could even call it that, you‘d started noticing things. if you didn’t look away when his intense gaze fixed on you, you found something else there, lingering in the depths of his dark eyes. hesitancy. sadness. something that felt like… guilt?

you didn‘t know what it was, but this should‘ve been a relief. not that he was potentially struggling with something, of course, but if he‘d been flirting with you without restraint, you might have caved eventually, even though you knew it was wrong.

it was possible you might have just been misreading the signs. you had a more than vivid imagination, after all, which activated mostly in situations where more thinking wasn’t necessarily productive.

he might have just not liked the idea of getting too attached to someone he wasn‘t going to see again. with each stroke of your brush capturing the lake‘s incredible turquoise hue, you pondered whether to give him your phone number or not. the promise of a reunion might soften the unease in jay‘s eyes, you thought, but then again, would you even be able to keep it?

day four of your trip followed a similar pattern to the previous two. ningning and sunghoon ventured off on their own, though still lively “arguing“ with each other (they weren't fooling you), while you and jay walked down to the lake. talking and painting seemed to become your version of wining and dining.

that day, you had packed a second canvas, determined to teach jay the basics of painting.

“theory is important, but practice is where you bring it to life.“

you guided his shaky hands as he made his first stroke.

“start with broad strokes,“ you explained, demonstrating a sweeping motion. “don‘t worry about adding details yet.“

you kneeled behind him, arm draped around his shoulder for support as you leaned forward to place your hand over his.

he tried his best, but despite your brilliant guidance, his inexperience showed. years of looking into the theoretical aspects of art weren’t nearly enough to effectively apply all his knowledge in practice. he gained a newfound appreciation for painting after experiencing firsthand how challenging it could be. though he had to admit that you holding his hand so delicately was certainly distracting him as well.

if you hadn’t been so focused on keeping your racing heart under control, you might have picked up on the way he swallowed nervously.

on the fifth day, you managed to convince the group that your ankle was already much better.

you weren‘t exactly lying, but you weren’t being completely honest either. with rest, ice, and compression, the pain had improved significantly, but walking still wasn‘t as easy as you would‘ve liked.

the thing was, you just couldn‘t trust yourself around jay anymore. the urge to kiss him had completely spiraled out of control. it felt like what you imagined an omega would experience during their heat (not that you had any experience in that regard).

it was hard to keep up the facade of a calm, collected intellectual that was definitely not going insane over a man you’d met not even a week ago. to be fair, that facade had already started crumbling the moment you had outed yourself as a massive nerd, but still. this was worse.

showing him your drawings had been intimate enough, but then painting together—literally your own idea—the day before had been overwhelmingly, unbearably so. being so close to him, it had taken all your willpower not to seize him by his collar, pull him near, and passionately make out with him. but consent and having functioning brain cells were definitely more important, so you held yourself back—just barely.

his ridiculously charming smile, this sunkissed skin, his kind words—they had haunted you in your dreams that night. like okay, we get it. you want him. rein it in, cowboy.

so, for jay‘s own safety and also your sanity, you chose to endure the ache in your ankle as the group explored several towns surrounding lago di garda together.

for lunch, you grabbed fries from a booth and enjoyed them by the lakeside. that was until a seagull came swooping down with a squawk, startling you and causing you to drop your fries. ningning and you left the boys behind on the bench and hurried back to the stall for fresh, dirt-free fries.

"you still haven't kissed her?" sunghoon asked incredulously.

jay shook his head grimly. "i've already told you, i really shouldn't."

“but you want to?“ sunghoon pressed.

jay’s face contorted as if he were in pain. “yeah.“

"we‘re leaving in two days. if you want to kiss the girl, then kiss the girl, my dude. don‘t overthink it. it‘s not like you‘re pretending to be in love with her just to get your dick wet.“

"i didn‘t want to come here in the first place,“ jay said, choosing not to comment on sunghoon‘s blunt choice of words. “i wish i could take her out properly. buy her flowers. a kiss on the third date, if everything goes well and she likes me enough. not… whatever this is."

sunghoon seemed about to say more but quickly closed his mouth when he saw you and ningning approaching.

you stayed by ningning‘s side for most of the day, like a child hiding behind its mother, avoiding interacting with jay as much as possible. you could feel his eyes boring into your back as you walked ahead of him at a safe distance.

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

the sky that evening was a canvas painted with the most breathtaking array of colors, transitioning from deep oranges and fiery reds near the horizon to softer pinks and purples higher up. you had dinner back at the hotel and were now sitting outside on the patio, drinking wine.

“oh, just imagine what the lake must look like right now,“ you mused dreamily, resting your head on your hands.

"why don‘t you go and see for yourself?" asked ningning, busy playing sudoku on her phone.

"i don't want to walk back alone in the dark. unless," you draped an arm around her shoulder, "you want to come with me."

ningning chuckled as she removed your arm. "do you know how many blisters i have from all the walking i've been doing?“

"i could come with you," came the suggestion from jay. all heads turned to him. sunghoon smirked at his friend. had he finally grown some balls?

you hesitated. was this really a good idea? you‘d been avoiding him all day for a very good reason.

but the sunset was so exceptionally beautiful; it might not be like this again before you left! oh, you‘d be fine.

so the two of you began the descent down to the lake once more—though you maintained a respectful distance to your companion. the scene was more beautiful than you could’ve ever imagined. the tranquil water of the lake mirrored the spectacular explosion of color in the sky. each ripple on the surface created by the evening breeze seemed to capture a fragment of the sunset, turning the water into a shimmering expanse of gold, pink, and lavender.

you were so entranced by the magical sunset that you momentarily forgot you were supposed to go absolutely feral for the man by your side.

it wasn‘t until the first stars began to twinkle faintly in the night sky, that you stopped walking along the shore taking pictures. the pebbles were cold against your skin as you settled down. siting there, you scrolled through the pictures you‘d taken, fireflies dancing around your heads as you admired what had just been lost to the horizon.

"back home, there is nothing nearly as pretty as this," you said softly.

"back home there is no one as pretty as you either."

you turned your head in surprise. now way you‘d heard him correctly. jay wore a serious expression, his gaze unwavering as he reached to cup your face, brushing a loose strand of hair to the side with his thumb. his eyes dropped to your lips.

“i know this is soon, but i’ll go insane if i don’t ask. can i kiss you?“

you blinked at him, your mind momentarily blank. there were things to be considered here but your brain did not seem to want to produce any thoughts, distracted by the sight of his plump lips and his soft touch. his thumb gently grazed your cheek.

"i only want to do this if you do too. i was trying to resist, but whenever i look at you, my heart starts pounding like crazy, and i keep on wondering if you taste just as sweet as you are."

"okay," you whispered against his lips, almost touching but not quite.

"i need a definite yes," he insisted.

"yes," you breathed out. "kiss me. please,” the last word came out almost pleadingly.

with that, he closed the gap and pressed his lips to yours. his movements were gentle, almost shy at first. jay moved his other hand to your cheek, holding your face delicately.

he let his forehead rest against yours, noses brushing against each other.

"wow," he breathed. you hummed in response, eyes still closed, trying to savor the moment.

you kissed him again, this time tangling your hands in jay's soft black strands while he let his wander down to respectfully rest on your waist. he responded to your kiss almost immediately, deepening it with much enthusiasm. lips parted and met with more vigor than before. the sounds that escaped your lips were all sorts of desperate as he caressed the soft curves of your body.

“finally, my omega is getting what it wants.“

you hadn‘t even realized you‘d said it until he pulled away, confusion in his eyes.

“what?“ he asked, still dazed from the kiss.

“oh, uh… have you ever heard of the omegaverse? a/b/o fics? well, how do i put it? humans are divided into alphas, betas, and omegas. and like omegas have these heat cycles, and when they go into heat, they need a lot of… um, GDDing or they‘ll go insane. good deep dicking? no? so, when they go into heat, they release all those pheromones which the alphas can smell and like they‘ll lose their minds if they don‘t do the GDDing immediately. and then there‘s knotting. that‘s when the alpha‘s penis swells and becomes engorged and then—“

“y/n,“ jay interrupted gently, rubbing his nose against yours affectionately, “i love your ramblings, i really do, and i promise you can tell me all about it later if you’d like. but right now, there‘s something else we could be doing instead?“

you swallowed nervously. “right.“

your own inner omega in heat activated again as soon as he started nibbling on your lower lip. you clung to him desperately, afraid he might let go, eagerly chasing his lips the moment he pulled away even just a little. he tugged you closer, positioning you to straddle him, allowing for a more comfortable angle to kiss. your head was quiet for once, allowing you to simply enjoy the sensation of being touched.

with his mouth on yours and his hands clawing at your waist, you never wanted this moment to end. the heat between you intensified, the world fading into a distant background. every touch, every desperate caress fueled a fire within you, igniting a longing that was almost scary, so intense and foreign was it.

eventually, though, you had to part to catch your breaths. jay rubbed soothing circles on your back with one hand, holding your face in his other as he stared into your eyes, whispering sweet nothings.

there were so many things you wanted to say, but didn't. thoughts of your fiancé back home flooded your mind.

jay continued to whisper sweet nothings as he held you in his arms, but there was so much that was left unspoken between you.

you needed to tell him. maybe he‘d know what to do, how to make this work. not now though; it‘d only ruin this sweet moment. you‘d do it tomorrow.

when each other's bodies were no longer enough to keep you warm, you decided to return to the hotel. he held your hand as you walked up the winding path, each squeeze communicating unspoken words, a silent exchange of emotions.

he bid you goodnight, his lips grazing your forehead. you were left a blushing mess as you went to sleep. ningning's light snores accompanied you as you were gradually transported to dreamland.

"what do you mean they're gone? how can they just be gone? they weren‘t supposed to leave until tomorrow." ningning said, her voice tinged with disbelief. soobin gulped nervously.

“i’m sorry, i don’t know the details. it seemed like an emergency,“ he replied, conveying what little information he had.

gone. they had left without a word. you felt your chest tighten as the reality of their sudden disappearance set in. the abruptness of his departure felt like a slap, leaving a raw, aching void where his presence had been.

“jay did ask me to give you these, though.“ soobin handed you the little frog figurines jay had bought on the first day. a small note was stuck to the underside of the one that resembled you.

i am sorry, please do not hate me. thank you for everything. you truly are special.

ningning and you had no choice but to spend the remainder of your last day alone. sulking by the pool, you lamented the short time spent together. one more day wouldn‘t have been much, but they hadn‘t even left their numbers or any other way to contact them. it was like a punch to the gut, not only to you but to ningning as well.

you wondered if there really had been an emergency. maybe you‘d managed to scare him away with your omagaverse talk. “you truly are special,“ you muttered to yourself bitterly. he probably meant special as in a fucking lunatic. god, who talked about knotting in the middle of making out? at least you hadn‘t gotten to mpreg yet or he'd have bolted immediately.

the next day you boarded an early flight back to seoul. you held onto a faint hope that maybe, just maybe, your mother would at least be relieved you returned safely. any normal parent would be concerned when their child disappeared for a couple of days without a word. only you didn’t have normal parents.

instead of relief, you were greeted with cold fury as your mother watched you enter through the front door. she barely spoke a word, grinding her teeth as she commanded you to go to your room, treating you as if you weren‘t a grown adult.

your room was your sanctuary, your safe space amidst the chaos that was your family. four large shelves divided into regular novels and manga held your literary treasures alongside funko pops of your favorite fictional characters (lots of todoroki and sailor moon). there had been instances where your mother had tried to throw everything out, hell, she’d even torn up some of your books, but you refused to let that force you into submission.

in one last desperate attempt to escape your situation, you chopped off most of your hair. if your “fiancé“ was anything like your, and presumably his, parents then he might just straight up refuse to marry you the moment he‘d see you. you thought the short hair suited you, but people could be incredibly shallow in such matters. you hoped this was one of those times.

“what have you done?“ your mother‘s sharp tone was a mixture of disappointment and outrage. she paced back and forth, gesturing to the remnants of hair strewn across the bathroom floor. “you knew how important today was!“

your mother took a step forward, her face flushed with anger. “you never listen, do you?“ she barked, her voice trembling. “you never consider anyone but yourself.“

you squared your shoulders, meeting her gaze defiantly. “maybe i‘m tired of trying to please you, mother.“

"i‘m trying to protect our family‘s interests,” she retorted, “and sometimes that means making sacrifices for the greater good. this merger with their family‘s hotel chain is crucial for our future. can‘t you see that?“

no matter how you pleaded or reasoned, nothing could sway your mother. you understood how important this merger was to your family‘s business empire, and you weren‘t so ignorant that you couldn‘t acknowledge the potential benefits. yet, you didn‘t understand why you were the one who had to sacrifice their own happiness for the sake of the family. one that had never cared about you, at that.

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

the restaurant picked out for this pivotal first meeting with the chosen family exuded opulence and refinement, its interior bathed in the warm glow of chandeliers that reflected off polished wood and marble accents. as you arrived, the other family was already seated at a table near a large window overlooking a serene garden.

the mother of your fiancé greeted yours with a firm handshake, her slender figure clad in a tailored designer suit and exquisite diamonds dangling from her ears. she stood up gracefully upon your entrance, obscuring your view to the man seated behind her.

"park jiyoung, meet y/n, my daughter,” your mother introduced, her tone awfully chippy. “unfortunately, there was an accident at the hairdresser‘s, so please excuse the hair. i‘m sure it will grow out soon.“

under mrs. park’s scrutinizing gaze, which rivaled your own mother’s, discomfort pierced you like a dagger.

"welcome, y/n, to our family. it's nice to finally meet you.“ the fake smile on her lips suggested she hadn’t yet quite approved of you as the most suitable match for her son.

“and this is the pride of our family, park jongseong. i believe you‘ve met."

she stepped to the side, revealing the man sitting behind her. he stood up and reluctantly stepped forward.

he was wearing a dark blue suit that elegantly emphasized his broad shoulders, while his neatly styled black hair gleamed under the soft chandelier lights. his eyes, dark and narrow, were cast downward toward the natural stone flooring. there, discreetly nestled against the skin of his neck, you saw a detail that momentarily froze time for you.

a heart-shaped birthmark.

memories flooded your mind — turquoise waters, steep mountainsides, fireflies swirling around your head, fingers digging into the softness of your skin. standing before you now as park jongseong, the man chosen to be your husband, was unmistakably your jay. the one who had kissed you and told you you were special.

the same jay now seemed less surprised than you felt. he avoided meeting your eyes, looking like a guilty puppy caught in the act, and a suspicion stirred within you that made your stomach churn. you felt sick. impossible, you thought. but looking at the man, no, the stranger in front of you, you weren‘t so sure.

his gaze darted around the room, landing everywhere but on you, as if unable to face the weight of your shared history and the unspoken questions hanging between you. every instinct in you yearned to reach out, to demand answers, to plead with him to acknowledge the bond that had once felt so real. yet, his avoidance spoke louder than words, filling the air with a painful silence that echoed the betrayal you felt.

had it all been just an act?

a/n: omg i love you sm if you made it to the end! reblogs, likes & feedback are always highly appreciated 🫶🏻 🫶🏻🫶🏻

ngl i hope y'all don't hate me for not making this a cute simple love story LMAOO i'm already working on a part 2

here are pictures of lago di tenno btw! i didn’t lie about the color

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collisiondiscourse · 2 years ago

Note

Hello I just saw your art of the different Kacchans and now I desperately need a list of bkdk fanfic recs from you

IVE BEEN PSYCHICALLY BEGGING FOR SOMEONE TO ASK ME THIS THANK FUCK!!!!! ok SO. i have my own particular lists of fic recs. theyre all organized in diff ways depending on how im feeling, but for the sake of aligning with the fics i rec'd in that post, im gonna suggest long and plotty fics!

warning that some of these fics have triggering topics and/or are nsfw! so be sure to read the tags n protect yourself as needed ^^ all fics have a wordcount of 5+ digits

FIRST you got the fandom classics. the way you used to do, incinerate, zero: birth of the worlds best hero duo, and fire lily -- these are all EXTREMELY plot heavy n angsty, meaning you'd kinda need a break right?

SO then you have your fluff monsters. surprise reunions and childhood rekindling and you left a sour aftertaste by my wife, @lady-of-snails, sugar stardust, and dance with me

then you move on to the canon divergents! not too much of an AU to leave heroes, but enough to alter the plot. before midnight, second chance, landscape after cruelty, and while you were sleeping,

and then then THEN you get to the REAL AUs. the shit thats out of scope. fluff monsters were kind of these, but i had to separate it cause these next ones are ANGST BEASTS.... someone borrowed, mechanical bull, and beyond sea and storm

but at the end of the day, we all gotta return to the basics at some point right? so here i end it with the naturally fluffy (relatively shorter) canon compliants and future aus. grief counseling, play it cool, do not disturb, and sneku

#asks #god-with-a-capital-g #bkdk #bakudeku #katsudeku #mha #bnha #bkdk fic recs #bakudeku fic recs #midoriya izuku #bakugou katsuki #TBH if you ask me for like specific tropes #or my rec list for authors #i can also give you a list #this is just a more general list!!#i have a reclist for stuff i tend to reread #and a reclist for fluff one shots #and i can also rec authors depending on the style ur looking for!!

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setyourfireonme · 2 months ago

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fic recs that feature sex worker dean for free space @spnficrecfest

✨💖✨

trade by chinablue (John/Dean, Dean/OMCs, 771, E) (part 1 of tradeverse)

You'll hide from mirrors until the marks fade away.

quiet room by chinablue (John/Dean, Dean/OMCs, 1.9k, E) (part 2 of tradeverse)

This is what love looks like.

love is by chinablue (Sam/Dean, John/Dean, Dean/OMCs, 2.3k, E, Rape/Non-Con)

Love is all you are.

halo (in reverse) by poisontaster (Dean/OMCs, Dean/OFCs, 4.9k, E, Underage)

Adulthood has a taste.

the black line below me by smilla (Dean/OMC, 4.1k, M, Underage)

It's not about money

march madness in carson city by egipci (John/Dean, 1.5k, Not Rated)

Dad just saw him, he’s pretty sure.

pragmatics by deadlybride (Sam/Dean, Dean/Others, 4.3k, E, Underage)

Dean tells Sam about the work he used to do; he hopes Sam understands why he did it.

it's a mile from here to glory by ivyfic (Dean/Others, 7.6k, M, Underage) (part 1 of after school special)

John found it when he was doing laundry. When John dug into the bottom of Dean's duffel to get the last of the dirty socks that had been sitting in there, probably, since the last time John had caved and done the laundry, he found a roll of bills. Tens and twenties, mostly, held together with a black binder clip. It was close to five hundred dollars.

dear lovey hart by ivyfic (Sam/Dean, 5k, M, Underage) (part 2 of after school special)

"People I've fucked," Sam said nonchalantly. Dean almost did a spit-take. "I have had sex with eight people. Lifetime total." He waved his hand in the air over his head, probably trying to show the number eight on his fingers, then gave up and let his arm drop like a rock back to his side. He scrunched up his face like he was thinking hard. "Make that nine…no…eight and a half." Dean rolled his eyes. "Your turn," Sam said.

hitchhikers by glorious_spoon (795, T, Underage)

Some ugly facts about life on the road.

monsters are out there by connivingophelia (Dean/OMCs, 4.6k, E, Rape/Non-Con, Underage)

When Dean is ten-and-a-half, he learns men will fall for his pretty mouth, his fuck-me eyes. When Dean is twelve-and-a-half, he discovers how to use this information. Dean longs to be a hunter like Dad, to bring monsters to their knees. This isn't what he had in mind.

feel like i should have said something by karaokeburial (John/Dean, 1.3k, E)

John's come home exhausted from a long hunt, and they're broke. Dean, thankfully, is always good for making a little bit of money down at the hunter dive.

so goes the song by aeli_kindara (Dean/Lee, 21.7k, E) (+ jackalopes)

The first time Lee meets Dean Winchester, it’s courtesy of a chokehold.

the landscape after cruelty by hearthouses (Sam/Dean, Dean/Others, 16k, Rape/Non-Con, Underage)

Dean leans into Sam's touch, instinctive, too exhausted to fight the part of him that enjoys the attention Sam gives him, a shameful dirty secret, how much he loves letting Sam do this, when it should be the other way around. No one else would ever take care of him like this. OR Five Times Sam Took Care Of Dean In The Aftermath + 1 Time He Got Revenge On Those Who Hurt Dean.

there are worse things i could do by amiwritesthings (John/Deanna, 5.2k, E)

It’s cold and windy, the bite of first snow in the air, a strange yellow glow in the sky that tells Deanna winter is coming and it’s coming soon. Her breath billows in a cloud of white, and she pulls the thin leather jacket tighter around herself, rocks on her heels to keep the blood flowing. It’s a little past midnight, and the streets are quiet—too quiet—for all of them to get to the other end of the night with some cash in their pockets. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last, but she needs the money tonight, for a hot meal and a fix and maybe a new jacket that isn’t more holes than fabric.

discovery by reapertownusa (John/Dean, 1.1k, E)

After a hunt John is looking for a release and finds it an unlikely place.

+ the rest of the past is a foreign country verse (John/Dean, Dean/OMCs, 13.1k in total, E, Rape/Non-Con)

as if we'd never met by thatotherperv (John/Dean, Dean/OMCs, 6.7k, E, Underage)

AU. Dean Winchester was kicked into the foster system when he was 4 years old…when he was 14, he kicked himself out of it. Bottom line is, men enjoy fucking little boys all across this great nation. Dean figures if he's gonna spend the rest of his life with sick fuckers staring at his mouth, he'd better be making some cash.

sharp teeth of the one you love by vintagedean (John/Dean, Dean/Others, 2.3k, E)

The ogre at the corner table right by the door has been eyeing Dean all night. John watches the way the beast’s eyes track Dean as he works different patrons at the bar with no luck. Dean tries for a shifter and a vampire before he starts flirting with a human man playing pool by himself, but John knows there’s no way his boy is unaware of the behemoth of a creature tucked into the shadows behind him. He’s been moving slowly in his direction, never engaging or tossing a smile, but angling his body with every interaction with someone else so that his ass faces the monster. Dean’s a professional, and he’s good at what he does. John keeps to himself and lets his son work as he nurses his beer and thinks through what he’ll need to have ready for after Dean’s done his job. Ogres have relatively small dicks for their size, but they’re usually barbed at the tip. It means Dean’s going to have some internal damage when he’s through, but not too much if they use enough of the right kind of lube. It also means they can charge a small fortune. Dean knows this, so John’s not worried about needing to intervene. His kid can handle it. He is, after all, a professional.

first night as the prince of hearts by karaokeburial (John/Dean, Dean/Jean Renault, 1.9k, E)

John's made the drive all the way across the border from Twin Peaks into Canada, coming to visit his eldest on his first night at his new job.

#spnficrecfest #rt #fic recs #once again not a conclusive list but way longer than i thought it'd be <3 #fics that are straight up AU are at the end but otherwise they're in a random order

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exvelovly · 4 months ago

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bkdk fic post meoww

this list is kinda messy just bc i’m trying not to directly screenshot from my notes app but typing is hard :( @mappleiix @demonholdingalillie

from the sidelines by suffocatingspring

my all time bkdk fic it is so good trust it’s abt 400k and a low chap count so the chapters are longfgg there are many shenanigans and its just so freeing to read. i read the entire thing during finals week 2 years ago and i keep coming back to it

landscape after cruelty by ohwickedsoul

support course deku yayy i think this was cute but i read it so long ago lmaoa

weekend at bakugou’s by cat5gale

this idiot (deku) gets reverted into a 4 year old and i don’t remember reading his at all but it’s probably good

this is not an advertisement for gorilla glue by bi_focal

shananigans

some mysterious one shots i didn’t label but feel free to try typing in those links????

scattered anemones by gaytodoroki and lilacs by morphinefangs and bloom by masterofbread

all hanahaki aus what was i going through

the chosen of the dragonborn by s_the_queen

silly fantasy au i think this author is generally good but i can’t remember sorry gang

trending: #letdekusmash also by s_the_queen

this one is so funny and there’s a part 2 which is also good

searching for you in the background by s_the_queen

which is labeled “i’m crying what the fuck” in my notes

more unlabeleds !!

hidden messages by hashbrownpotatoes

makes me giggle they’re so silly idk

tidal hearts by macksmilesback and samisnotlegend

cute as hell mermaid au i think one of u is my mutual hey picasso love ur fic i think i made fanart but i lost it sorry

comfort and control by daniartonline

so i have this labeled as “the boys are traumatized :( nightmare comfort”

nothing’s gonna hurt you, baby. by supercrunch

my label is “silly little yandere detector”

like the moon by osakakitty

i think this one is sexual but there’s also pining

but i’m tired of lying with liars (you’re the truth i’m scared to tell) by youreanovelidea

in which bakugo finds his one tru lov by erina

bakugo’s agency are on the hunt to find his secret bf

are u dating?? by ladyofsnails

which involves streamer deku/omg they’re roommates/and twitter shipping

face reveal! which is also by ladyofsnails

and probably involves a face reveal

sticky note crushes by ladyofsnails

this one’s cute lmao art student deku and his poor roommate bakugo (jk)

down the red line by minervahope

soulmate string au

slow down (it’s a science) by scribespirare

i labeled this “secyyyy smoker bk” so there’s that

torn fur, blunt teeth by scribespirare

in which deku is a shifter on the run and there’s magical shit going on

oh my god they were roommates by maginot

deku’s already fucking taken by asdfjkl129

thank u outsider pov i love u

in which kacchan has a ruff time by oneshotprincess

lol dog bk

room 1217 by possiblynya

college soulmate au yippee

daisies bunches and heather branches by halcyonwhispers

“SO CUTE FLOWER SHOP TATTOO SHOP”

hopeless ramen-tic by lalazee

daddy cool by lalazee

teacher deku thinks dad bakugo is sexy as hel

placeholder by surveycorpsjean

ok listen this one is shinbkdk but jsut hear me out it’s good and the characterization is yeahhh also i’m pretty sure this is like half smut????? maybe????

deuteranopia / by dollcewrites

min perfect rhythm by chalk

band au that i enjoyed very much (bk is the one in the band and deku is his neighbor)

#that’s it i refuse to type anymore #bkdk #ao3 #fic rec #fic list #umm i probably have an even longer dabihawks list #this isn’t even all the bkdk ones i’m just done typing sorry

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x-0ophelia0-x · 11 months ago

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what we fight for.

pairing: Force sensitive!Reader x Ezra Bridger

warnings: none, it’s fluff

word count: 937

summary: Lothal was beautiful. You were fighting each day to see the sunset and the sunrise was your reward.

authors note: this is my shortest fic but I just live for sunset ff‘s soo I hope you like these scenarios too 😭

and with that the 5th ff of the december special is online!

enjoyyy <33

There was a longing in every single one of us.

A voice deep down, encouraging us to fight for what we think is right.

Fighting for what our lungs breath for

Fighting for what our hearts beat for to keep us alive.

To keep us alive for a single reason.

Not many were able to fight against the empire, let alone survive long enough.

But here you were, two lost souls, victims of the empires cruelty, victims of their ideal way to conquer the galaxy, to control everything.

The Republic failed and the Empire rose.

They were the rulers now, using fear and cruelty to keep everyone under control.

Using their killing machines to while of every trace of the Jedi.

They wanted them to go extinct, erase every single one of them or turn them into their marionettes.

Yes, the galaxy was a dangerous place, especially in times like these.

And what hurt the most was that not everybody was able to fight against these monsters.

You however were found by Kanan when inquisitors chased you down.

You didn’t know yourself that you were force sensitive, hence why you where so surprised when they appeared at your front door.

You declined their offer and made yourself a target for the empire.

Kanan happened to pass by on that day, seeing how they chased you, instantly realizing what was going on.

He decided to take you under his wing, knowing that you’d be safer with him and Hera then alone and defenseless.

And the same happened with Ezra.

Well he wasn’t defenseless considering how he managed to get in here, but he was alone and Kanan couldn’t let go of him after he found out that he was force sensitive too.

With Lothal being his home planet, it held a very special place in his heart and it saddened him to see how much his home was suffering.

So yes.

No matter how peaceful the scenery may seem.

He‘ll always see the brutality of this instead.

And no matter how hard he tried to reject the possibility of a peaceful moment, you were always there to remind him of what he stood for and what he‘s fighting for.

Lothal.

Lothals sun was sinking, declaring the upcoming nighttime.

Ezra and you where sitting on top of some mountain with a perfect view to the landscape.

There was also a loth cat sitting right next to you, it attacked you at first but Ezra used his Jedi tricks to calm him down.

„How’s the lil guy doing?“

„Seems to be fine“

A slight breeze caught your attention as you moved your gaze to the moving grass fields.

„Moments like this.. they’re priceless“

„But rare“

You looked at him as he slowly turned to look at you.

„No matter how peaceful this may seem, Lothal‘s not free, it’s just a matter of time until the empire decides to also destroy this ackre of land“

„Let’s enjoy the view then, even if it’s just for now“

Ezra took a deep breath and the Loth Cat seemed to notice this as it ran to his side.

It made itself comfortable between you two and decided to take a nap.

„It trusts you“

„Mere minutes ago it tried to kill me“

„Yeah.. tried“

„Well, it’s trusting enough to fall asleep between us two, I don’t think that it’ll try anything funny later on“

He moved his gaze from the cat to the sunset.

„You were right“

„Hm?“

Ezra didn’t talk nor did he show you a direction, he just closed his eyes and let the wind play the rest of the game.

The breeze made you realize what he meant.

„You see it too then?“

„I always did“

„How’s that so?“

Didn’t he always tell you to not give in into this delusional moments?

„Lothal was always beautiful, the empire was the one to destroy it.. however“

He opened his eyes and looked directly at the sinking sun.

„I forgot how nice it was to just sit here and watch the grass fields dance as the sun dips down“

„With all the golden hues“

„And the wildlife continuing it‘s life, as carefree as it could be“

„This.. this right here is worthy every battle we went in“

„And every battle we’ll take“

Your hands found one another, holding them as you continued to enjoy the moment.

„This is the place where I feel alive“

„Let’s continue to defend it then“

„Of corse“

„And..“

„And?“

You pointed at the sky which was full of warm colours as the sun went deeper into the horizon.

„See this?“

You then pointed at the sun.

„And this?“

Ezra nodded waiting for you to continue.

„That’s the light.. the fire we‘re fighting for.

We live on to see another day, to experience another sunset and the upcoming sunrise is our award“

„Since when did you become a poet?“

„Ha ha“

You shared a laugh but tried to not disturb the cat.

„Our next mission is tomorrow“

„Let’s give it our best then“

„Okay Master“

„Hey, at least I‘m trying to bring in some athmosphere in here“

„I know and I appreciate it“

„Glad to know jabba“

„Alright then, let’s raise a nonexistent glas to see another sunrise“

„Yes“

You acted as if you were actually raising your glasses and noticed how the time passed, the sun now completely gone and the night ready to settle in.

„This is what we fight for.“

#ezra bridger x reader #ezra bridger x y/n #ezra bridger fanfic #ezra bridger #star wars #star wars rebels

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alinefrank · 8 months ago

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DRAGON EMBRACE || PETER PEVENSIE FIC.

Chapter 1

Masterlist

The place I come from wasn't always like that.

In ancient days, Narnia was known for its magical charms and its palpable joy that floated in the air like stardust. The creatures met around the fire to dance, and the murmur of spells and laughter filled every corner. Everyone lived peacefully with each other, however, in this paradise, where magic and happiness intertwined, an unexpected darkness came just like a relentless storm.

Jadis, an evil and cruel witch transformed this place and extinguished its splendour. The fire lost its brillance, and the spells that previously danced elegantly were extinguished in muffled whispers. The laughter and music vanished and were replaced by a heavy silence that hung in the air.

Today, the beautiful landscapes that our home offered us, are hidden among all the snow that covers them and carry the scars of a broken magic, the shadows that extend through the ancient valleys seem to tell stories of a past that lies buried in oblivion. Narnia, the magical town that once shone with the light of wonder, is now wrapped in deep sadness and an endless winter.

In the golden age of Narnia, there was a kingdom called Drakarionth, the land where dragons danced in the heavens and the blood of the rulers flowed with the nobility of the Targentia. The majestic winged beasts sailed the heavens, their scales reflected the colours of the twilight, and their roars resounded like echoes of ancestral power.

The rulers of Drakarionth were distinguished by their snow-white hair and deep eyes of an intense purple. His lineage was intertwined with the ancient magic of dragons, and his reign was marked by grace and authority that only the connection with these mythical creatures could grant.

In the halls of the palace, the symbols of the dragons were intertwined with the architecture, and the perpetual flames danced on the torches as a bow to the strength and majesty of the dragons. Every corner of the earth breathed the essence of a kingdom governed by the indissoluble bond between men and winged creatures.

However, the dark evil that hovered over Narnia brought with it shadows that eclipsed even the greatness of Drakarionth. The flame of the dragons burned fiercely, hundreds of Narnians went out to fight against the usurper, the knights of Drakarionth, with resplendent armour and banners waving with the dragon's emblem, bravely launched into battle, one of them was my father. However, the darkness that enveloped the malevolent force was deeper than anyone would have imagined.

Despite the fierce resistance of all those warriors, the evil of that witch proved to be implacable. The lands that were previously prosperous were consumed by the shadow, and the echos of the battle resounded like a lament throughout Narnia. The brave knights fell one after the other, and the hope of the kingdom slowly faded.

Finally, in the decisive battle, the king of Drakarionth, Valeryon Targentia, was defeated in front of his brother's eyes, the king had died and the whole town fell into despair. The kingdom, which once shone with splendour, was plunged into deep sadness while the ice took over everything, leaving behind a melancholy echo of what was once a prosperous kingdom.

The Drakarians fled to the Skoveragon valley guided by the only member of the royal family who was still alive, the prince named Aldric Targentia, he guided them to a place where they could live without fear of the witch discovering them, the remaining Narnians took refuge in the forest, away from the witch's castle.

The sound of war left an indelible mark on the collective memory of the people. The echos of weapons and screams still resonate, leaving the community with emotional scars that are difficult to heal. The normality they knew had vanished and had been replaced by a reality transformed by the cruelty of war.

"Rheira!" my father yelled at me, taking me out of the dream in which I had immersed myself, I sell through the window of our home. "Stop looking at nothing and hurry up or we will be late for the meeting with the Blackthorns.

I let out a sigh full of discomfort and rolled my eyes when I heard the tone my father used, I put on my thick cape to protect myself from the cold and walked towards the door.

My father left a beautiful red envelope on the table where he was sitting that he didn't care about and went to my mother to arrange her cape.

"Are you ready?" my mom asked me and I just nodded and settled my hair a little.

We left the house and started walking towards the beautiful cabin of the family that had invited us to dinner.

"Today, Rheira, is a crucial day for your future. It is imperative that you behave at the height of our responsibilities—I clenched my jaw when listening as once again, I was about to receive a sermon about my behaviour.

My face furrowed in a grimace, without fully understanding my father's insistence, I looked at him with confusion because this attitude had been present for a few days—Father, I have always treated Eamon and his family with respect. Why is this insistence on my behaviour?

My father sighed and rubbed his forehead, my mother squeezed his hand as a sign of support and my confusion grew to one more.

"It's not just respect, Rheira. What your father wants to tell you is that you must be kind and show a conciliatory attitude. Every gesture of yours counts—my mother's voice interrupted my father and tried to explain his way of acting to me.

I frowned until we reached the house, as soon as Mrs. Blackthorn opened the door for us, I smiled as sincerely as possible and tried to forget the growing discomfort that was forming in my stomach.

Upon entering the beautiful home of the Blackthorn family, the torches illuminated a huge table richly decorated with a velvet tablecloth and silver plates. The dinner smelled delicious and the fire was crisp in the fireplace making the interior of the house very warm.

The adults gathered in the kitchen and I stood in front of the fire warming my hands, Eamon sat next to me and didn't say a single word, I didn't know what to say so I just turned a little and watched him amicably.

We heard some steps coming hurriedly towards us and when we saw you want them, we saw the other 4 brothers of Eamon who played with wooden swords.

We heard a scream announcing that we were going to the dining room and I quickly went to the table where the places had already been assigned and again I sat next to Eamon which managed to increase my discomfort.

It's not that I dislike him, he's just too shy, his jet black hair and his red cheeks make him look pretty cute, he's tall and very good with the sword, but the poor man can't formulate a sentence when I'm present, in addition to being quite clumsy to ride on horseback.

I sat next to him and at the other end of the table, I saw my father send me a look that seemed to shout "be kind", I smiled at him and turned to the boy who was sitting next to me and with a friendly smile I looked for his gaze.

"Do you want some bread?" I offered him a slice.

He accepted and that made the conversation between the two a little easier.

Finally, when the empty plates were removed and the glasses were filled with wine, my father and Mr. Blackthorn stood up, attracting everyone's attention.

"Today we meet to celebrate more than just a hearty meal. We are here to witness the union of two houses, two lineages that are intertwined in an alliance that will strengthen our people. - My mother took my hand when Mr. Blackthorn began to speak and I felt as if the blood was freezing.

My eyes and Eamon's met in a moment of mutual understanding.

"It is an honour to announce that in three days, Rheira, my beloved daughter, and Eamon, the brave heir of the Blackthorns, will unite their destinies in marriage," my father announced and collided his cup with my mother's and everyone present while applauding and celebrating.

When my father finished speaking everything seemed to become silent and a modest beep appeared in my ears. I felt that my hands began to tremble and I dropped the cup by mistake. The noise made everyone remain silent and look at me.

"I..." I tried to talk but I felt that my dress was crushing me because of how tight it was, the dark colour of the wine had stained it, I tried to clean it with my hands but I couldn't, I placed my right hand on my stomach, I was dizzy and I wanted to vomit - I need to get some air.

I walked away from the table leaving everyone stunned, Eamon tried to hold my hands but I got out and went to the door.

"Rheira!" My mother yelled at me but I just ignored her and ran home.

I ran as fast as I could on the snow until I reached my home, I opened the door and I felt that everything was spinning around, I leaned on the table where we ate and noticed the envelope my father was reading before leaving home.

Tears had begun to run through my cheeks, but my curiosity was greater and I opened the strange envelope, it was a letter, addressed to my father:

“Honourable Aldric Targentia,

I trust that this letter will reach you in good condition and health. We face again the dark threat that requires the dexterity and courage that only Drakarian warriors possess. The end of Jadis is near. At this critical moment, I implore you to gather the most skilful warriors and blacksmiths, those whose swords have resonated with victory and whose anvils have forged the weapons that have defended our lands in the past. The time to raise the swords and hammers again in Defence of our kingdom has come. I trust in his wisdom and the iron determination that has always guided his people. May the banner of justice and the flame of hope burn strong in their hearts as they march towards battle. We are waiting for you at the stone table, to plan our strategies and light the fire of the resistance. That his spirit does not know fear and that his swords are as sharp as the will of his ancestors.

With respect and gratitude, Oreius.

Commander-in-Chief of the Narnian troops"

Anger invaded me and I felt that my teeth would break because of how hard I was squeezing them. The door of my home opened violently and my mother and father appeared, the latter took me by the arm aggressively and made me face it.

"The only thing I asked you was to behave!" his voice resounded throughout our home, my father's purple eyes reflected pure anger.

I let go of his grip and yelled at him with all my strength—I won't get married out of duty, father! I can't accept this—my voice was full of frustration while my hands trembled with rage.

"It's your duty, Rheira. This alliance is vital for the survival of the people. You can't ignore your responsibility—my father's screams would usually have made me tremble, but I was too angry to remain silent.

The room vibrated with the echo of our fight, the words resonating like swords colliding in the heat of the battle.

"And what about my happiness, father?" And what about my choice in this life? I protested, with my eyes calling for determination and with hundreds of tears sliding down my face.

My father, angry, answered with a harsher tone—You will learn to be happy, you will learn to love Eamond.

The tension reached its peak, and I was unable to contain my anger, I shouted with everything I had—I will not allow you to decide my destiny in this way! I won't marry someone I don't love.

My father's face hardened, and his voice resounded with severity—It's your duty, Rheira! You can't disobey!

"My duty," I spit with sarcasm. "My duty is to get married and yours is to die in a war. Is that your duty, father?

My mother, who had stayed away from our hair, approached my father with a face of fear. What is the Aldric girl talking about?

It seemed that from one moment to the next the words had vanished.

"So you not only hide things from me, but also from my mother, very well," I said giving the letter to my mother to read it.

My father tried to explain the situation to my mother before everything got out of control, but she finished reading it and threw the paper on her face.

"You won't leave," she said resolutely.

"It's my duty," my father's eyes avoided my mother's furious gaze.

"I'm not interested in what your duty is," he said, holding his tears. "Your brother died in front of you at the hands of that witch, I won't give him the opportunity to kill you too.

The three of us were silent for a few seconds.

"I'll go," my parents' eyes landed on me.

"You're crazy if you think I'll let you do it," the tone my mother used made me angry again.

"You prefer that I live unhappy in a marriage with someone I don't love, instead of letting me do what I want," I approached and faced her. "You're really hypocritical.

My cheek burned and the dry blow of my mother's hand against my face resounded throughout the home.

"It's very different," he tried to justify himself.

"You will do what we tell you you will do and in 3 days you will be in Dragonlithos marrying Eamond, whether you like it or not," my father spoke again.

The despair I felt inside me I had never experienced, my heart hurt and my head was spinning.

"Why should I get married?" My tears filled my eyes again. "Do I have to be unhappy for the people to stay together?"

But at that precise moment something clicked inside my head.

"You want to marry Eamond so that he is the future leader of the village," I whispered when everything made sense. "When you die, the one who will govern the town will be him and not me who am your daughter, that's why it must be before you go to war!"

In a chilling moment of despair, my father released the most hurtful words of the whole discussion—If you had only been born a man, you wouldn't have to do this. If you had only been a man I would have named you as my successor from the day you were born, but it was not like that and now I cannot make a woman the guide of our people. That's why you will marry Eamond whether you like it or not and you will lead as your mother does, from your home without getting involved in things that do not correspond to you!

My mother covered her mouth and let out a scream that reflected her surprise.

Completely wounded by the cruelty of words, I responded with bitterness and hatred—I'm very sorry not to be what you expected, father. Maybe if you had died in that skin none of this would have happened and you would not be ruining the lives of everyone you know. But I'm never going to be the heir you wanted and I won't side just because I'm a woman!

My father took me by the arm and dragged me to my room. He threw me against my bed and closed the door without saying a single word.

I don't know how many hours passed, the anger I felt in me didn't diminish, I knew what I had to do and it didn't matter what my father or mother thought.

I took a small bag that I used when I went on expeditions with my father and filled it with some dresses, I put on my armour and the sword I had received at 5 as a birthday gift. Once ready, I opened the door with the help of a small knife and went to the front door, Aslan's letter was still on the ground, I picked it up and kept it to get out of there and go for a horse.

I rode my mare and started riding leaving my home and my family behind. I didn't know if I would come back and that caused my already broken heart to break a little more. I would ride north in search of Aslan's camp. I don't know how many days it would take, but if I kept the pace I was carrying maybe I would be there in 3 days.

With the wind caressing my hair and the sun as a witness to my rebellion, advance into the unknown. Leaving behind my father's impositions and the weight of expectations.

The darkness was not terrifying, but it was a mantle that enveloped me in freedom. I closed my eyes for a moment, savouring the sweet feeling of emancipation.

I felt alive, as if every step marked the release of a past version of myself. The first rays of the sun illuminated my path and guided me to a future that would be sculpted by my own decisions.

The snow I stepped on became a map of possibilities, and each breath was a reminder that I was now the owner of my own destiny.

COMMENT, LIKE AND REBLOG IF YOU LIKE. LET ME READ YOUR OPINIONS.

#peter pevensie #narnia #susan pevensie #lucy pevensie #rhaenyra targaryen #original character #aslan #the lion the witch and the wardrobe #original content #peter Pevensie x reader #alinefrank

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montanamp3 · 5 months ago

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babe wake up new px11 fic dropped

@perfecttimeseleven

my dragonfly / my black-eyed fire, the knives in the kitchen are singing / for blood, but we are the crossroads, my little outlaw / and this is the map of my heart, the landscape / after cruelty which is, of course, a garden, which is / a tenderness, which is a room, a lover saying hold me / tight, it’s getting cold.

Snow and Dirty Rain, Richard Siken

this one’s for the quincy martin girls. the graceland too girls. the girls who will never be able to return to the people they were at fifteen. which is to say that this one’s for me sorry but i hope it can be a little bit for You too!

this is pretty dependent on having read the previous fic in this series verse chorus verse but it’s not totally necessary? i hope? pls read vcv though :<

content warnings: depictions of domestic violence, grief, surprisingly little arson, unsurprising amounts of religion

#px11 #the remy renaissance #everything on fire #i am like 90 percent sure those pictures are broken but i can't get to a computer to checm

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hearthouses · 10 months ago

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top 4 works of 2023

I was tagged by @nameslikeguns and also @preseriesdean was an inspiration, but I modified it to four because I'm not super proud of any of my edits this year and I wasn't able to squeeze out another fic before the end of the year, so we're going with top four! I am also not going to rank them, but list them in chronological order from their posting date.

This year was a better year than the last two in terms of writing output, I had a rough 2021 and posted nothing, and only posted one fic in 2022, so four is a massive improvement, even if it feels miniscule compared of other people's outputs. The Fall was when I was most productive and I am very proud of what I wrote then, exploring concepts I was particularly interested in, even if it's not the most popular and putting myslf out there regardless.

I think I would have continued that streak had I not gotten covid, then 2+ months of complications from covid, but I am trying to drag myself out of that funk. I am hoping to write more in 2024 as I have so many WIPs I want to get to and finish.

Anyway, here's the list:

1. when you're smiling and astride me

This was the first work I posted this year. It felt good to write it, but it also came with some challenges because I wrote it for an exchange and I was very nervous with some of the concepts and how they would go over. But the exchange itself was based on the idea of freeing your id and going wild, so I eventually just went with it and this was the result. I really love exploring Dean's feelings about his body and gender expression, and how Sam helps with it, and my only regret is I wish it was longer.

2. you say, go fast (i say, hold on tight)

This was written in a haze of early Fall because of another exchange that created a level of freedom that unlocked something in my brain that kept me from second guessing myself. It sprang from a concept fanvid and I came up with the idea wholesale from some mental images and let the story happen. I'm very fond of the result, even if it feels saccharine and too sweet and romantic for some. I really love the vibes and the imagery, plus how in love Sam and Dean are.

3. the landscape after cruelty

The process for this fic was grueling. No idea was working the way I wanted, so I needed to come up with a new idea altogether and at times, I almost didn't finish this fic. I have no playlist because I needed quiet to work on this. None of my usual preparations for writing fic worked for this one. The subject matter was daunting and I'm still unsure if I accomplished what I set out to, but I am proud of it. It's not very popular and I wonder if I hit the wrong notes often, but I'm also very protective of it. It's a weird fic that I'm not sure how I feel about the end result 100%, but I had to at least try and explore my feelings around the subject matter.

4. we could live forever in each other’s faces

This fic was written during the height of my illness. It wasn't supposed to be the fic I wrote because I had bigger plans (longer, more complicated fics), so I needed to scale them down to something more managable. How I did that was I chose to write the scenes in a series of drabbles, double drabbles, and triple drabbles, so I could focus on the preciseness of the word count. While this style of writing might feels limiting, it helps me to focus. I really love the dreamy, fairytale-like result of this. I still want to write a longer fic about these themes, but I am glad I wrote this all the same.

#end of the year works list #wincest #sam x dean #masterlist #of sorts?#idk what to tag this as

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laireshi · 4 months ago

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Fic: the landscape after cruelty

Final Fantasy XIV, Aymeric/Estinien

Summary:

Estinien was not going to return to Ishgard any time soon, but an assassination attempt on Aymeric changed that.

read on ao3

#ffxiv #estimeric #aymeric #estinien #aymeric de borel #estinien varlineau #my fic #this took Way Too Long to write omg

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riddler-green · 2 years ago

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-Milagro Navideño-

Summary: The one where you want to celebrate Christmas with Edward no matter what, even if you have to get him out of Arkham.

a/n: Hello!! I hope you have a very good Christmas and get everything you asked for! I hope you have a great time with your loved ones, anyway, enjoy! And an apology for the spelling mistakes.

Warnings: This fic is darker than what I usually write, with toxic attitudes, graphic violence, and kisses but nothing obscene, fluff!

Words: 3,370.

The darkness of the night seeps into your apartment or rather Edward's apartment, which right now is your happy place as you've tried to survive every day. After all, your boyfriend is no longer with you, he is locked up in that asylum with such dangerous people that it is a miracle that he is still alive.

Does he deserve it? Maybe yes, but still you can't stop looking at him with the same affection, adore him as he always did with you, you didn't care if he deserved it, you just want him back with you, that he be next to you saying his funny riddles to improve your spirit, that he will be with you for lunch in the afternoon and tell you a curious fact that you did not know.

“He was unhinged!” a friend of yours yelled at you with great hate in his words that you cried, of course, he is, he is unhinged but apparently, you absorbed a bit of his madness because whatever happens, it is impossible for you to get over it.

He confessed everything to you a few hours before he was caught, how he softly whispered to you to escape to Blüdhaven so you wouldn't drown, at first you didn't believe him, you just laughed, but when he gave you a backpack packed with what you needed you knew he was talking more than seriously.

You begged him to stay with you, you didn't want him to be alone "Let them lock us both up! But I can't leave you!" you hugged him tightly so he wouldn't escape from your arms.

But he's so smart, isn't he? he convinced you to run away without him, you don't deserve this outcome, even if you told him to run away together, but he shook his head and replied "I've been preparing this so much that it must turn out perfect, I'm a decoy, I'm the bait so they don't solve the riddle in time."

You saw the whole festival of cruelty orchestrated by your Riddler from afar, you didn't know it would be so destructive, when he said it would drown the whole city it wasn't a metaphor.

Things got worse for you, but for Gotham, it's like the Riddler never existed, Batman leading the cleanup of the city happened so fast that in just under a month, the city was as good as new, while you can barely eat or sleep.

Even Batman himself visited you several times, he wanted to meet the partner of the cause of all this disaster, only he and a select group of police know who you are, but there is no proof that you were an accomplice so they left you alone.

But Batman, he had the time to judge you, to get to know you a bit, he interrogated you several times and when he found nothing suspicious, he left without coming back.

They let you see him after so long that you no longer remembered how his voice was heard, you ran at full speed when they called you since he wanted to see you.

Your face was so swollen with tears that they wouldn't stop coming out, it was so unfair to see him, but not touch him, you admired him from the glass and he spoke to you in a corny tone that you almost fainted.

Going back to the present, they only let you see him once a week and it seems torture to see him for an hour, but you're already getting impatient, an hour was no longer enough.

This is why you turned to your boyfriend's entourage, who to your surprise still exists, albeit with less exposure than they had when Edward was still free, you talked to them enough for everyone to start planning their escape of the year.

Edward looked at the landscape of the city from his small window, there was not much he could do locked up in his cell, but he managed to see the decorative pine trees throughout the city and that makes him sadder, today on December 24th and he is still locked up, excluded and forgotten by others. He thinks of you, in a different reality in which he would have escaped with you, all these weeks that he spent without you took their toll, he definitely should have left that day, he stopped looking at the window and sat on his bed, once again taking refuge in his mind, his memories are gold in the moments when he can't even breathe, why does he remember you, come back and remember everything they did together, how he was so happy.

“Nashton! You have visitors!” one of the guards takes him out of his cell carelessly putting handcuffs on his wrists and one around his neck, he dragged him towards the small meeting room, it doesn't matter that the guard's abruptness leaves him bruises, today you visit him making it worth it the treatment they give him every time he goes out.

He enters and sits in the metal chair like every time you come to see him, the metal partition goes up, and the first thing he sees is you with a Christmas hat on “Darling!” he tells you putting his hands on the glass to imagine that he is touching your skin. “Eddie” you greet him by placing your hands in the same part where his hands are, so close and so far from actually touching “Merry Christmas!”.

“Merry Christmas” he smiles but you notice that it doesn't reach his eyes and his tone is not as lively as yours and you understand, he thinks he will spend tonight alone. “How have you been?” He quickly changes the subject with an innocent question “Did you sleep well? Have you eaten yet?”.

You nodded your head very happily “yep! I've slept well” you answer “Actually, lately I've been in a better mood” Edward sees an improvement in you, as you don't look as unkempt as the previous times you visit him, and even though he doesn't spend this day with you as he would like to bite his tongue and ask “really?” he is interested in what you have to say “What makes you so happy, my love?”.

“You” you answer with a playful tone, Edward smiles amused “Me?” he points to himself following up on the tender moment between the two of you.

You don't say anything, instead, you just look at him with great affection, it wasn't too long before the real party started. “Eddie, I brought you something,” you say, putting a not-so-large gift box, with green and red decorations and wrapped with a black ribbon. your boyfriend is instantly impressed by the gift, even when he was free, never someone gave him something, not even when he was little, he could easily burst into tears but he stays strong for you, he doesn't want to worry you.

“You shouldn't have done it,” he comments modestly, still looking at the box. “Well, it's our first Christmas together so I want to give you a detail” you press a small red button placed next to the window that separates them, emitting a noise after a few seconds, a small hatch on the window opens and you pass the gift to Edward but not before touching his hand and shaking it tightly, you sighed with love for the contact and Edward giggles just as happy for the little contact, they didn't last long holding hands, since the gate closed again causing that You frown, they won't even let me hold his hand? you think with disgust.

Edward adjusts his glasses, getting used to doing it in handcuffs. "What is it?" his curiosity consumes him, anything you give him, he would love without a doubt, a puzzle? a book? other glasses? there are millions of possibilities “A bomb?” he jokes, shaking the box a little, you laugh, already used to his strange sense of humor. “You'll have to open it to find out what it is.”

The brown-haired man does not wait a second and rips the decorated paper, removes the tape and opens the box with such excitement, removes the excess confetti placed to fill, and takes out his gift “A Rubik's cube?” he asks in amazement, in his hands, he has a 4x4 Rubik's cube, such an ordinary cube of all the infinity that there is to solve, but that does not stop him being amazed by the gift, the object was fascinated that he did not realize that it began to cry “do you like it?” you looked at his tears coming out of his eyes “It's beautiful, thank you very much” he thanks placing the cube on his chest “It's the best gift in the world”.

“And I'm still missing more presents!” you confess matter-of-factly “What are you talking about? this is enough for me!” Edward assures but you shake your head “You told me you never got presents for Christmas, I can't help but spoil you.”

Your partner dries his tears turning red because of what you said, he turns to the camera placed on one of the walls and is more embarrassed, he always liked how expressive you are when it comes to showing off the relationship, but now it is different, he does not want that others are present in your most intimate moments, it is like stalking his privacy.

"Besides, that cube is special" you speak but with a certain insightful tone of voice "it is unique because it has a meaning that only you can know".

Edward turns to see you with wide eyes, he knows that look you give him, it's the same when you gave him riddles to solve, he opens his mouth but doesn't say anything, he puts his attention on the cube and the light bulb in his head goes on.

“I understand, my love” he answers trying to sound calm “I'll try to solve it as quickly as possible” he takes a closer look at the cube but doesn't find any anomalies.

“Don't worry Eddie” at the nickname Edward smiles looking away from the cube “It's easy to solve, you could easily solve it today” you wink and Edward swallowed, he has no idea what you're planning but he likes it.

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You looked at the man in front of you, with his face painted white and with blue and red details, a full clown makeup, the others next to him had the same pigments put on their faces, the Joker's clowns, you joke in your Mind, at first glance they seemed ridiculous, but you know that you should not underestimate them in the slightest.

He didn't say a word, instead, he made several signals and you nodded, the positions are ready, and everyone is prepared, it was just a matter of the clock striking twelve.

You just hope that everything goes well.

You look at your company next to you, preparing their arsenal, putting more ammunition in backpacks and you look away at the situation, it is clear that what they were going to do was anything but legal, but at this point, you are not interested in the lengths you have reached for Eddie to finally enjoy a Christmas.

You remember the plan again, everything has to be perfect at every step, this day is a great opportunity to make the escape that you have worked so hard to plan, you look up to see the signal in the dark sky as if it were a divine sign projected for criminals to run, honestly, you are not afraid of Arkham guards, or insane prisoners, or even Gotham police. It's that man in the bat suit who put Eddie away from you, is the one that scares you the most.

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When your visit ended, Edward dedicated himself to solving his gift, it took him less than two minutes to see that the cube's mechanisms were broken, and when he disassembled the object he looked at a very small note hidden in the core of the cube, he laughed softly, he solved your riddle and that makes him happier than ever.

He removed the folded sheet from the core and spread it out to read its contents.

/ … . . / -.-- --- ..- / .- - / - .-- . .-.. …- . -….- / --. . - / .-. . .- -.. -.-- /

Oh, how funny you can be, it's like you know him too well to trust him to know that code, it's like he falls in love with you all over again.

He exhales lovingly, it looks like he's in for a fucking Christmas miracle.

Since his discovery he waited patiently in his cell, he didn't know what time it was since he didn't have a watch but based on the sun, it will be dark soon.

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Edward jumped in fright when he heard a loud noise, that of an explosion, he got up to stick to the door, looking through the window at what was happening. It was you, right?

He heard something start to play through the amplifiers in the rooms, a classic Christmas song but he doesn't know its name, he saw the guard on duty running towards the entrance door to the cell section but before he could go any further he collapsed on the floor. A pool of blood formed across his stomach and he screamed in pain, Edward stared at the lying man, he didn't look at him compassionately, this hospital treated him so horribly that he doesn't care about the injured man, forgetting him and going back to Focusing on you, he thought it was going to be a silent escape, not a complete riot to the entire compound, he kept looking at the entrance hoping you would get to him.

“Hahaha!” his cell neighbor laughs, Edward notices it and he can't help but not laugh either, this situation is chaotic, wandering, as unreal as an action movie and that makes him start laughing with the criminal clown he has considered his friend.

“Did you help?” he asks between laughs, he has the intuition that he already knew about this. What else can be done in this situation? The joker in this prison didn't respond for several minutes until he got tired of laughing. “Your darling couldn't do it alone” the joker commented with a raspy voice, Edward tenses up when the clown mentions you, when did you make an alliance with the joker? You impress him more and more.

“Please, please” plead with a murmur sticking his face to the window, when will you arrive?

He heard a noise at the entrance again, someone entered, he look at the person who entered the section, and instead of seeing you he meets himself, a Riddler.

But he knows who's behind that suit, it's you.

Why does Edward know? If you were one of his followers the outfit would be different, but what you're wearing is his outfit, the original outfit he wore when he did all his misdeeds, you're even wearing plastic covering your head, Edward winces at the fact, this is definitely his best Christmas.

“Darling!” yells at you “I am here!” knock on the window calling your attention “Eddie!” you yell back, before approaching his door you grab the body of the wounded guard and drag him towards Edward's cell, you abruptly place his hand on the fingerprint reader and the door opens, the first thing Edward does is jump towards you hugging you.

“God, I missed this,” he said feeling the fabric of his old uniform, you loved every second of the hug but it wasn't the time for that “I missed seeing you too, but we have to go” you remind him already taking him out of his cell section.

He and you ran all over the hospital, everything was completely out of control, there was a fire in various sectors, and the patients were running with happiness fleeing everywhere, Edward could compare it to hell, a memorable hell in which he is winning and escaping.

You led him to some exit stairs, and as he ran he saw other people dressed in unique green uniforms causing havoc, he didn't have a moment to greet them as you rushed him out, he left through a service door and kept running by your side.

Edward could vomit at any moment, he's never had the physical frame to run so fast, and he breathed heavily against a scratchy brick wall.

He only repeats himself happily in his mind <I made it, I made it, I made it> he is free, his escape happened so quickly that he still processes that he is no longer in Arkham, but out in the open.

“That was…” he breathed and exhaled "awesome..." he finished his sentence wiping the sweat with a sleeve of his shirt "Yes, it was agitated," you say, recovering air, you take off your mask, revealing your face and Edward approaches you to kiss you. The two share the kiss with such euphoria, there is no longer something that separates them, unfortunately, the escape is not over yet.

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You drive leisurely on the exit road to Gotham City, a place you probably won't be back from for a long time, the plan worked perfectly, Edddie fell asleep in the passenger seat in a new change, throwing off his striped uniform orange.

You look in one of the rearview mirrors looking for policemen or Batman, but you couldn't find anyone, maybe because they must be so busy taking care of the clown.

But in the meantime, you enjoy the quiet moment, relax with the landscape of the route and listen to classic Christmas carols.

Edward wakes up from his dream, opens his eyes, and watches you driving “Where are we going?” he asks sleepily, wrapping himself up in a soft sheet against the cold “To a place where they won't find us” you answer without taking your eyes off the highway “Go back to sleep Eddie, we haven't reached our destination yet” Edward yawns “Did he follow us?” he asks fearfully.

“No, I took care of that,” you say, “I took all the precautions to cover our tracks.” Edward smiles sleepily to settle back into his sleeping position in his seat, he fully trusts you, so for now he will rest again.

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It's very cold, it's a fact, it's so cold that when you got out of the car you used to escape, the cold air hit you, while Edward's glasses fogged up. “It's pretty,” says your boyfriend, looking at the cabin, already stuck in one of your arms. “It'll be our home for now,” you comment walking towards the entrance, Edward following behind you.

Inside you take off the layers of clothes you were wearing to leave only a thin sweater, Edward sits on one of the sofas and looks around the cabin, he smiles unconsciously when you named this place 'Our home' he never thought he would have someone who would love him it so much to include it in a home.

“I still can't believe it,” Edward starts talking, still sitting up, “Believe what, Eddie?” you question him putting pieces of wood in the fireplace. “That you rescue me” notes the little one a small Christmas pine in the corner of the room, under the pine there were unopened gift bags.

“And let you spend Christmas alone?” a small flame starts to emerge from one of the wooden logs “I don't want you to be alone again” you confess making sure the logs were burning.

You leave the fireplace to sit next to Eddie, already opening your arms to hug him “It won't be easy Eddie” you whisper putting your head on his shoulder “But every second I spend with you I know I did the right thing.”

Edward doesn't know what to say, but he understands that the love you have for him has no limits as much as he loves you, just like that, curled up in your arms, he comes to the conclusion that the best Christmas present he could have been given is staying with you again

“Merry Christmas…” he murmurs with deep affection, contrary to the time he told you in Arkham. “Merry Christmas” you smile closing your eyes, you could die of happiness.

✧˖°. Thank you very much for reading. And again, an apologies for any errors! ✧˖°.

#the riddler x reader #paul dano x reader #riddler x reader #edward nashton x reader #dano riddler x reader #feliznavidaddd

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beangirl73047 · 2 months ago

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BNHA/MHA Fic Recs

Lessons Learned

Rather than the police station, Katsuki's friends bring him to a hospital after rescuing him from the villains. His wounds were minor, but it didn't make having them treated any less important. As it would so happen, Best Jeanist was also brought to this hospital after the attack. Sometimes, small choices have a big impact on how a story plays out. --------------- Aka: Best Jeanist Acquires A Son. Featuring: Serious talks regarding abuse and emotional scars, one adult finally stepping the hell up and trying to help Katsuki, me going off about the sports festival because I'm still not over it, pro-heros having a group chat, and Katsuki finally getting a chance to learn how to be good.

throw me a goddamn rope - just enough to hang myself with

Shouta’s plan had been ill-defined and desperate from the start, but he figures the important shit boiled down to, “Change as little as possible, make sure Midoriya doesn’t get himself killed, and stock up on lychee jelly pouches because that flavor got discontinued three years from now.” Keeping it simple’s always better, and he’s normally good at improvising.

Somewhere along the way, he must’ve fucked up since now he has:

A quirkless problem child hanging off of his every word

His best friend going through a sexuality crisis thanks to said problem child’s mom

His other best friend clinging to him like a security blanket

Some two-bit mob boss threatening him with bouquets of daffodils

To wring the number one hero’s fucking neck for not telling him anything useful before sending him decades into the past

All he did was walk Izuku Midoriya home. It wasn’t meant to turn into whatever mess this is.

landscape after cruelty

“Bakugo, you need to update your costume.” Kirishima said, “There’s this one dude in the support class- he’s got a literal waiting list, that’s how good he is- but he did my new upgrade."

“Yeah,” Bakugo sighs and leans back on his hands, staring at the bracer. “I know. I’ll go,” his mouth twists a little. “I’ll go tomorrow. This is just- this is my design you know?” he’s not explaining himself very well, and refuses to look at Kirishima.

“It can be hard to give up your first hero design, and you did a great job,” Kirishima said. “You definitely had the best one out of all of us when we first got our costumes."

Bakugo hunched his shoulders. “I didn’t design it,” he grumbled.

Let's Reach the Horizon

After defeating All for One, all Izumi Midoriya wants are some holidays.

Then she gets kidnapped by aliens right after.

Well, at least her alien cat cellmate is nice.

It Takes a Child to Teach a Village

Life doesn't always go the way you want it to. Sometimes it just throws you in a garbage can and lights the garbage can on fire and laughs as you scream in agony. And all you can do is tell yourself that it'll be okay. That you'll be okay. And sometimes you're right and you wake up the next morning to a wonderful day full of sunshine and rainbows and singing birds and you start living life in a damn Disney movie.

Other times you're wrong. The cycle just continues. Maybe Life adds lighter fluid next time. Or fills the bottom of the can with dead fish. And it's up to you to get up off your sorry ass and do something to fix your life because it is clear that you're basically alone. When there's no hero coming to save you, you're forced to save yourself. Be your own hero.

Izuku decides the best way to be a hero is to be a teacher.

Packbonding with a Predator | MHA alien AU

[NO MHA KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED]

Humans- The primitive, savage beasts that poachers across the universe were dying (quite literally) to get their claws on. The no contact order placed on their deathworld, Earth, was supposed to ensure that none would ever pass the fringes of their solar system. They hadn't reached deep-space travel (and probably never would), so the Hyperspace Public Safety Commission was fairly certain that their unimaginable strength and bloodthirsty ways were no threat to the universe at large.

So imagine H'zashi's surprise when he and his bondmate, Shouta, were placed in a cell with one after being captured by intergalactically wanted poachers. He just hoped his flock would get a funeral.

And yet how, even though everyone knew humans were unintelligent and vicious, could the purple furred human speak Common? Even more surprising were its first words.

"No fight?"

same faces.

Midoriya is accidentally sent back in time to the entrance exam by a villain attack. He decides to take advantage of the situation and fix the things that went horribly wrong himself.

(this is a standalone teaser for now; I'll probably come back to it at some point but I wrote this with the intention of showing off a snippet, not the first part of a series)

Things aren't as bad as they seem (they are usually worse)

Giyuu can feel the tugging of his heartstrings and realises, with the briefest flash of horror, that he got attached to Class 1-A.

#Fic recs #BNHA fic recs #MHA fic recs #MHA #BNHA

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davnittbraes · 1 year ago

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The Fifth Step - Chapter Thirty-Six

Part of The World Is Light, Embodied.

Pairing: Din Djarin x F!Reader

Rating: Explicit (not this chapter but series as a whole)

Word Count: 3100

Warnings, etc.: introspection, dangerous situations, a little bit of discrimination, strong emotions I guess?, hints at animal cruelty but NONE GET HURT I PROMISE, some new OCs make an appearance

Notes: Okay I actually split this chapter up into two, because a) there’s there’s only a sort of epilogue left and then this fic is finished 😭😭😭 and b) I only have one more opportunity to torture you guys with a cliffhanger 🤣😉

PS thank you for your patience with me, I needed that extra week to come to terms with this fic being almost complete. The messages and comments I received when I posted I was struggling honestly gave me the boost I needed. Love you babes 🥰

Mando’a translations at the end of the chapter.

Please check out the Series Masterlist page for more info.

The clearing on the dwarf planet is much the same, the only difference being the air is a little cooler, the pale blue foliage lightened to an almost-white, the climate in this part of the world obviously shifting to a cooler season.

It’s just after midday, the sun beaming down into the trees, dappling the forest floor. You take a deep breath, let your lungs fill with the fresh, unfiltered air, a sense of contentment swirling gently under your ribs.

You’d missed this place.

Which is… weird. You don’t miss a lot of places, generally putting them behind you as soon as you take the next step.

But there’s something about this little planet, this forest.

Like there’s something about Savareen, despite your attempt to leave it behind. Like Nevarro.

Those are places where you discovered a part of yourself - no, more like allowed a part of yourself to show.

A part of you that lets other people in.

Lets yourself to be happy.

The kid babbles as he floats to a stop next to you in his pod, big ears perked in interest, those deep, amber eyes watching the breeze flicker through the pale leaves of the trees at the edge of the clearing.

He’s obviously itching to get out and play, roam through the grass and explore the forest floor. You get it, that same itch is tingling in your own fingertips, so rarely do you get to spend time on a planet with a climate this comfortable and a landscape this beautiful.

Reaching out, you gently stroke the curve of one ear in apology, smiling as those big eyes turn to look up at you. “Maybe later, ok, kiddo?”

The kid mumbles softly, a hint of disappointment dragging down the tips of his ears.

Din taps a command on his vambrace, helmet turning as he surveys the tree line with some kind of filter on his visor. “Couple of your friends are here.”

A branch in the nearest tree suddenly dips as if dragged down by a weight, but you can’t see anything at the end of it, the creature camouflaged against the leaves. “Well, hopefully they remember that we are friends.”

The helmet tilts. “Guess we’ll find out.”

The tree branch dips again before springing back into place, and a curl of uncertainty takes hold in the pit of your stomach. “If you’re trying to be reassuring, try harder.”

A pause. “I have faith that if those tree-dwellers decide to murder us, you’ll convince them otherwise.”

You throw him a narrow look as you start toward the trees. “And you call me ‘mir’sheb.’”

His soft huff of laughter makes you smile, remembering the way his eyes - those beautiful eyes - crinkle at the corners when he laughs.

Kriff.

You know that.

You know what his face looks like when he smiles.

You’d never thought… never dared to think you would ever hold that knowledge. Something so sacred.

Well. You never thought you’d get married, either.

Everything is different with you.

Dank farrik, is it ever.

Din walks beside you, strides steady and sure, his aura of quiet confidence emanating from his tall, broad frame. The sunlight plays over his beskar as he passes beneath the trees, flashes of bright and shadow, and a memory surfaces -

A mountain in the Bakuran countryside. A different planet, different trees.

Different you, in a lot of ways.

The same glance of light on armour, same sharp slice of black through silver hiding a gaze so focused you can always feel it, even when it’s hidden.

A gaze you were afraid of, then. But one you now cherish.

One you now love.

So much has changed since that moment. You were afraid - of him, of everything - and alone, so alone you couldn’t even see it, couldn’t know what it was like to not feel solitary, single. Detached.

Everything is different with you.

Now you’re walking beside him, a gentle pulsing thread of connection woven tight around your heart, tying you to him and the little green child beside him.

No longer alone.

Part of them. A family.

An aliit.

The tree-dwellers keep their distance, though the scurrying of tiny clawed feet in the branches above tells you they’re sticking close. You follow your instinct more than anything, picking a path through the trees that feels right more than it does familiar. Din seems to trust you to find the way, so you trust yourself.

Based on what you’d figured out back at Greef’s, the canyon you’d stumbled upon last time you were here is a potential location for Mandalorians trying to stay off the grid. But it doesn’t mean it’s the only one - they could be anywhere on this planet, or not here at all.

A twinge of uncertainty twists your stomach.

What if they are here?

You want to find Din’s people. That, you’re sure of - his loyalty to his people is an important part of who he is, and you know it pains him, not knowing where they are, if they’re safe.

It’s made worse by the guilt he holds over how he left them. He blames himself for their decision to come out of hiding to rescue him and the kid.

Unfounded blame, as far as you’re concerned. They made the choice, he shouldn’t have to carry the weight of the consequences.

But what if they feel differently?

You don’t understand the nuances of his culture - you’re learning, slowly, but still, you’re not Mandalorian.

Maybe… they do blame him.

And if they do, then how will they greet him once he finds them again?

The trees begin to thin out just ahead, and you stop, pointing toward the glimpse of white stone cliffs in the distance peeking through the branches. “That’s the canyon, there.”

Din keys a command on his vambrace, untethering the kid’s pod. “Stay here.”

He starts toward the edge of the forest, long legs eating up the distance, and you have to forcibly pull your focus from admiring the way his cowl flares out from those ridiculously broad shoulders, hem catching in the breeze, giving you glimpses of those strong thighs -

Not the time.

You sweep your gaze through the trees around you, watching his back while he carefully moves into the open area above the canyon, sticking close to trees to avoid the sunlight.

Cautious of giving away his position.

So he’s not sure what to expect if he finds his people, either.

The kid coos softly, a note of concern in his tiny voice, and you give him a reassuring smile. “It’s ok, kiddo. He’ll be safe.”

A sudden skittering above your head yanks your heart into your throat.

Branches tremble as the tree-dwellers who had been following you take off at a sprint, flashes of grey fur showing through the leaves.

Your blaster is in your hand before you can even think about it, instincts flaring out, searching for the source of whatever spooked them -

“Drop the blaster.”

The unfamiliar modulated voice behind you sends a cold rush of fear down your spine.

A flash of light -

Din, at the edge of the trees, standing out in the open.

With another Mandalorian, wearing blue armour.

And holding a blaster, pointed at Din.

Dank farrik.

They’re too far away for you to hear if they’re speaking, but the other Mandalorian gestures in your direction with his blaster, and Din shifts, as if he wants to take a step toward you.

“Drop the blaster.”

The voice behind you speaks again, firmer this time, words clipped with impatience.

A tiny whine drifts up from the pod beside you.

The kid.

Goosebumps ripple over your entire body. Your heart pounds against your ribs so hard it hurts.

Calm. Focus. Control.

Deep breath. Reduce the danger. Keep the kid safe.

Slowly, you flick on your blaster’s safety and let it fall to the ground.

Din does take a step toward you then, and the Mandalorian holding him at blasterpoint shouts something loud enough for you to hear but not quite make out.

It’s not friendly, you can tell that much.

Quiet steps move around from behind you, barely making a sound.

Must be a Mandalorian thing.

He steps into your line of sight, and your gaze flits over the end of his blaster, noting the second blaster at his hip, the two knives in his boots, the row of charges and flashbangs along his belt.

Armed to the teeth. Another Mandalorian thing, apparently.

For a moment your mind blanks, confusion twisting, seeing the familiar shapes of the Mandalorian armour but not familiar at the same time. His armour isn’t bare like Din’s, it’s painted a dark grey, some kind of geometric symbol outlined in gold on his pauldrons.

A clan sigil, like the mudhorn.

The Mandalorian levels his blaster at your head, his voice level and sure. “Don’t move.”

You fight the urge to raise an eyebrow at him. “Wasn’t planning on it.”

He stills, as if surprised by your response, but then a movement at the edge of the forest grabs your focus - Din coming toward you, the other Mandalorian close behind him, blaster back in his holster.

Relief floods your chest, quickly dissipating before it can take hold.

There’s still a blaster pointed at you.

The other Mandalorian calls out as they approach, something in Mando’a. The one holding you at blasterpoint responds, but doesn’t move.

Din’s familiar rasp cuts through the shrinking distance, Mando’a words sharp and biting and heavy with threat.

Every muscle in your body tenses, ready to fight or run or whatever it needs to do next.

Protect the kid. Keep him safe.

The moment draws out.

You wait.

Something shifts and the Mandalorian in grey armour moves.

Lowers the blaster to point at the ground.

You release your breath, one you didn’t realize you were holding.

Then Din is there, stepping between you and the other Mandalorians, every line of his frame drawn tight. He doesn’t turn away from them, speaking to you over his shoulder. “Are you alright?”

You pick up your blaster and pitch your voice low, even though the other Mandalorians are still close enough to hear. The tension in the air is so thick it’s feels like even a loud sound would make it snap. “Yes, we’re fine. What’s going on?”

His shoulders shift uncomfortably. “They’re from my covert.”

A little thrill of success runs through you, but something is still off. Why are they acting so defensively, if they know Din?

“They’re demanding that we leave this planet immediately.”

There’s an undertone of hurt in his voice that makes your fists clench at your sides.

After he’s been searching for them for so long, holding so much guilt about how he left them, he finally finds them and they want to send him away?

Anger bubbles up, replacing panic. “Even though you’re one of them?”

The Mandalorian in grey speaks up suddenly. “But you’re not.”

Realization drops in the pit of your stomach.

A million emotions hit you all at once.

You knew it.

You knew this would happen. That his people wouldn’t accept you.

This is what you feared most.

That they would make him choose between his people and you.

Anger shifts to rage, guilt claws at the inside of your chest, helplessness trembles down your back -

The edges of your vision dim, too much -

Calm. Focus. Control.

Ok.

They don’t trust you.

That’s fine, you can understand why. They’re protecting their people, a people broken and scattered across the galaxy.

But Din is one of them. It’s not fair that they’re willing to turn their backs on him just because of you.

You’re not going to let them, if you can help it.

You look at the Mandalorian in grey, forcing your voice to stay steady despite the torrent of emotion still boiling in your veins. “If I returned to the ship, would you at least speak with him?”

Din shifts and you sense what he’s about to say - he’ll reject the idea, you know it - so you reach out, grasp his arm just below his pauldron, the one with his sigil emblazoned on it. A silent plea to let you do this for him.

He stays silent, but you can feel the tension running through him under your hand.

The Mandalorian in blue replies. “This is acceptable.”

You barely have time to process what he said before the one in grey cuts in.

“And the child.”

The chaos of emotion shifts, anger slips out. “Really? He’s a kid, not a threat.”

“Every outsider is a threat.”

Point that blaster at me again and I’ll show you who’s the real threat.

You have to physically bite your tongue from saying that out loud, giving yourself a moment to calm your anger before speaking. “Fine. We’ll both go back to the ship.”

“Not alone. I go with you.”

Dank farrik, you really don’t like this guy. “Fine.”

Din looks back at you. “Tionas -“

“It’s ok.” You squeeze his arm reassuringly. “We’ll be waiting for you whenever you’re done.”

He pauses, and you can feel him warring with himself, the pull of speaking with his people and learning how they fare, reconnecting with those who know that part of him, against wanting to trust you, respect your decision, but worrying for your safety.

You smile at him, a small curve of your lips. “This is what we’ve been searching for, all this time. Go. Me and the kid will be fine. We can handle being stuck with Cranky Pants for a while.”

A sigh vibrates through his modulator, and he turns to face you fully, cupping your face in his hands to hold you steady as he tilts his helmet to rest his forehead against yours. “Be safe. Stay out of trouble.”

Your smile grows, hearing the gentle warning tease. Yeah, it’ll be tough, holding your tongue around the other Mandalorian. “It’s what I do best.”

His huff of laughter isn’t as light as it usually is, but you’ll take it anyway.

He pulls away, looking down at the kid. “You, too.”

The kid babbles back at him, a picture of pure innocence.

Din playfully tweaks the tip of his ear, then turns to face the Mandalorian in grey, that aura of quiet confidence seeping into the air around him. There’s a moment, a pause heavy with meaning, then he speaks, voice low but clear.

“She is my wife, and he is like a son to me. If you hurt them in any way, I will kill you.”

Crikking hells.

Something hot and fiery surges through your body, amplified by the anger still simmering under the surface.

His voice so factual, stating the unshakeable truth.

Staking his claim over you and the kid with a threat to harm should harm come to you.

Pfassk, you would fight the entire galaxy for this man.

The Mandalorian in grey nods once, a stiff motion that tells you he didn’t really want to.

Wrangling your emotions back into line, you grab the rim of the kid’s pod. “Let’s go wait at the ship, buddy.”

A final silent exchange with Din, then you’re turning back the way you came, striding quickly through the trees, guiding the kid’s pod along behind you.

A second set of steps follows you, but you refuse to acknowledge the Mandalorian. If he wants to keep an eye on you, fine, but you’re too furious with how they treated Din to play nice right now.

Thankfully, the Mandalorian doesn’t seem interested in acknowledging you either.

The walk is good for you, tension bleeding out of your muscles with the push and pull of the movement. Still, you’re almost back to the ship by the time you can breathe normally again.

Anger still boils hot through your veins but it’s quiet for now, calmed by the beauty of the forest around you, focused on keeping the kid safe.

You’ll be fine. Just get to the Razor Crest, lock yourself inside and ignore the dark grey wall of infuriating armour.

A familiar skittering above your head makes you glance up, and the kid coos happily as one of the tree-dwellers pops into view, big blue eyes bright against the pale leaves.

There’s a rustle of motion beside you, a flash of metal in a small beam of sunlight coming through the trees -

A blaster -

You shove the kid behind you, whirling to face the Mandalorian.

He’s holding his blaster, but not pointed at you or the kid, up at the -

“Stop!” Your hand flies out but he’s too far away, you can’t -

The tree-dweller scurries away to safety, the blaster lowers.

Points at you.

But you don’t care, anger hot and suffocating in your chest. “What is wrong with you? It’s just an animal, it didn’t do anything.”

The Mandalorian stiffens. “They’re pests. They ruined our supplies when we landed here.”

You scoff. “Then you should have protected them better.”

He takes a step toward you, blaster lowering but still directed at you. “It was all the food we could bring with us. The covert nearly starved.”

“Then you really should have protected them better.”

“You know nothing.” His voice drops to a hiss, cracking through the modulator. “Nothing of what we went through. The lives we lost. Our home, gone. All thanks to your riduur.”

You don’t know what the last word means but you can guess.

Your rage cracks open.

There’s a blur of grey in front of your eyes - you’ve stepped right up to him, in his space, your hand gripping the wrist that’s holding his blaster and pointing it away while your words fly sharp through the air.

“He lost everything, too. His home. His people. Because he did the right thing, rescuing the kid.”

“He took the bounty in the first place. He chose to work for Imperials -“

“For his people. For you.” Throwing his arm away in disgust, you find the gaze behind the black visor. “He went against everything he is to get back beskar that the Empire stole from your people. And he did it again, broke his oath to the Guild to save the kid’s life. So don’t you dare try to say he hasn’t suffered as much as you.”

The kid cries out in distress, a sound that stops your heart, rips your focus away from the Mandalorian.

What -

He’s standing in his pod, looking into the distance, ears drooping.

Your gaze follows his, searching -

There, through the trees -

The sun glancing off durasteel, the Razor Crest -

But why -

A flash of white. Another.

Movement all throughout the clearing, dozens of people.

Your stomach drops. Anger dissolves in a cold rush of fear.

Not just any people.

Stormtroopers.

*****

Mando’a translations

Tionas - question

Riduur - spouse

*****

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