#i am nor kidding the shadow us halfway up the wall | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

Visit Blog

Explore Tumblr blogs with no restrictions, modern design and the best experience.

Fun Fact

Tumblr Inc. has $15.1M in annual revenue.

#i am nor kidding the shadow us halfway up the wall

softshuji · 1 year

Text

My desk setup is a bit different but the Shadow makes it look like someone tall is sitting on the end of my bed in the dark 😭

#i nearly screamed #Hanma is dat on the wnd of my bed #i am nor kidding the shadow us halfway up the wall #ghost in my room that be funny

8 notes · View notes

murkycran · 4 years

Text

Rainboots

Summary: "First, there was never any proof that was even me, and secondly, I have a hatchback, Virgil, obviously any hypothetical opossums in cages would be stored in the back rather than on my leather seats."

"I was literally sitting beside you when Remus asked you to help and you said yes-" --- It's pouring when they leave the movies, Remus does his best to get them all banned from the theatre, Virgil's ride canceled on him, and only three of them are wearing rain boots.

Rating: Teen

Relationships: Gen

Tags: Friendship, Teenagers, Alternate Universe - Human, Fluff, Remus' brand of humor, Anxiety, Angst, very small angst where Virgil is having negative thoughts, But Nothing Too Bad

Words: 3410

Read on AO3!

---

As the end credits rolled and the lights of the theater brightened to allow guests to leave, the sudden lack of theatrical music revealed another sound.

"Is that rain?" Virgil asked, leaning forward in his seat to look at the others.

Remus was already out of his seat and hurriedly making his way...up? the theatre steps, rather than heading for the exit. Roman didn't appear to be paying attention at all, seemingly trying to reach down the back of his shirt for something while Logan checked his phone for missed notifications. Janus gave Virgil a dry look. "No, that's not rain at all. It totally sounded like that before the movie started."

As if punctuating his words, a rumble of thunder shook the building.

Patton hopped to his feet and dug around in his drawstring bag for a bit before emerging with a collapsible, lime-green umbrella clasped in his hand. "I hope everyone came prepared! I wouldn't want the weather to dampen the mood!"

Virgil completely missed the pun, because he, in fact, did not come prepared and was already dreading getting his clothes soaked. Janus at least remarked, "I'm not sharing my umbrella."

"Nor am I," Logan agreed, standing up as he put his phone away. "I told everyone in the group text earlier today to bring adequate rain gear, so no one is going to be able to use the excuse that they 'didn't know'."

Virgil sighed as he stood with the others and they began shimmying down the aisle towards the stairs. "Yeah, well, I kinda ducked out of the group text after Remus started threatening spoilers for the movie."

Speaking of. "HEY! Hey, guys, look!"

Virgil already felt a wave of mortification sweeping over him as not only their group but everyone else still in the theatre turned towards the projection booth at the top of the stairs. Remus was using his hands to make shadow puppets of dicks in front of the light coming from the projector.

"Oh my god," Virgil choked out, suddenly wishing the ground would swallow him up. Janus and Logan both wore unimpressed looks as Patton chuckled nervously and called back up to Remus. "Hey kiddo, maybe come back down? We don't want the movie theatre employees to ban you again."

"Patton, stop acting like we know him!" Virgil hissed. "Everyone's looking at us!"

"Normally I'd relish the attention," Roman spoke up as he finally stood, still shifting his shirt and jacket in an odd fashion, "but I have to agree with the Dark Knight on this one, padre. I'd rather we all not get banned because of my brother."

"Glad to see the everlasting, unbreakable bond of blood between brothers is still as strong as ever," Janus said.

Logan pushed his glasses up on his nose, raising an eyebrow at the tamer twin. "Roman, what are you doing?"

Roman's reply was cut off as Remus made a mad, cackling dash back down the stairs through the last of the people leaving the theatre as employees appeared from behind the projection booth door.

"We should leave quickly," Logan said. He was checking his phone again. "I'm getting flash flood warnings for our area."

Virgil groaned. "As if Remy's driving wasn't bad enough."

They all shared a wince. No one carpooled with Virgil twice after riding with Remy in the driver seat.

The remaining five - since Remus was no longer in sight - began making their way down the stairs. Roman lagged behind after every few steps, still tugging at his shirt behind his back. After reaching the bottom and glancing back to see the twin still struggling on the stairs halfway up, Patton finally asked, "Do you need help, bud?"

Roman huffed frustratedly. "Remus kept putting candy down the back of my shirt during the movie. I got the Twizzlers out, but I'm pretty sure he also dropped some Reese's Pieces down my collar. I think they're stuck to my back from sitting between me and the seat cushion."

"Oh, so that's what he was doing," Janus said. "I was wondering why he was moving around so much."

"Aw, what a waste of candy," Patton pouted.

"Dude, just go in the bathroom and take your shirt off to check," Virgil said.

"Yes, please do that," Janus agreed, eyeing Roman warily all of a sudden. "If you're going to be riding in my car there will be no melted candy left behind in the seats."

Roman sighed but finally stopped pulling at his shirt and jacket to follow them the rest of the way out. As they neared the bathrooms, Logan asked, "Why didn't you just stop him from doing it?"

The twin scoffed. "Uh, have you met my brother? It's Remus, you can't tell him to do anything, and it would've been exactly what he wanted: me making a scene in a dark theater. Besides, I got some revenge by shoving SourPatch Kids down his shirt, too." The last bit was said with a bit of pride.

Janus groaned dramatically as Roman left them outside the bathrooms. "Great, two people littering candy in my car." He sighed as he made his way to the benches against the wall opposite of the bathrooms and sat down, pulling his yellow, faux snake skin-patterned backpack into his lap and opening it.

Patton took a seat beside Janus and Virgil sat on Patton's other side, slouching down with his hands shoved in his pockets. Virgil said, "I know for a fact that you helped Remus smuggle possums into the guys gym at school two months ago using your car to back up to the back entrance. Yet you're worried about a few pieces of candy?"

Janus rolled his eyes as he pulled off his left shoe. "First, there was never any proof that was even me, and secondly, I have a hatchback, Virgil, obviously any hypothetical opossums in cages would be stored in the back rather than on my leather seats."

"I was literally sitting beside you when Remus asked you to help and you said yes-" Virgil started to argue, but Patton cut him off quickly, desperate to avoid the argument that was sure to start. "Janus, you brought rainboots, too?"

The teen in question had pulled two shiny yellow rainboots out of his backpack and already had one on. "Of course I did. My regular shoes are too nice to get wet. Plus, these keep water from getting on the cuff of my pants."

Logan was looking at the garishly yellow backpack somewhat dubiously. "How did you even fit those in there? You snuck in all the drinks in that bag."

"Please, I'm a very efficient packer. Carrying five bottles of soda in just because you all are too cheap to buy from the concession here was child's play, even with my boots."

"I wore my boots, too!" Patton excitedly stuck his feet out, proudly showing off his cat-patterned rainboots. "Why didn't you wear yours in? They're so cute!"

"What if it hadn't rained?" Janus asked as he packed away the shoes he'd originally been wearing, now sporting his yellow rainboots. "I would've looked like a fool."

Logan said, "There was a ninety percent chance of rain."

"Still didn't want to risk it."

"Risk what?" Roman interrupted, finally leaving the bathroom.

Virgil stood up, looking at his phone. "Janus ruining his hypothetical reputation."

The hoodie-clad teen missed the impressive glare Janus shot his way. "Excuse you-"

"Guys, where's Remus?" Roman once again interrupted (to the relief of Patton and Logan).

"I think he's outside," Logan said, pulling out his collapsible, navy blue umbrella. "He's probably waiting on us."

He was right. Sort of. Outside the rain was pouring down hard enough that a mist was being swept under the overhang of the theatre by the wind. The parking lot was visibly flooded with only a few cars left in sight. They found Remus using a sharpie to draw on one of the encased movie posters placed outside the building. "You guys are slower than corpses. I've already drawn on Shia LaBeouf's movie poster over there and remade it into a masterpiece. Want to see?"

Everyone was thankfully saved from answering by Virgil's strangled noise of frustration. "Guys, I have a problem."

As Patton held a hand out for the sharpie (which Remus turned over with only a slight pout), he asked, "What's wrong, kiddo?"

"Remy just said he can't pick me up. He thinks the tread on his tires wouldn't stand up against this much rain and he's worried we'd hydroplane."

Well, what Remy actually said was this:

Sleepy bastard: hey V, sorry but I can't pick u up tonite. it's raining 2 hard *sad face emoji*

Virgil: seriously? how am I supposed to get home?

Sleepy bastard: gee, idk, ask ur friends? call an uber? hey, I'll even pay for it bc this is kinda my fault

Virgil: what

Sleepy bastard: I keep forgetting 2 go get new tires and I'm afraid the tread wouldn't get any good traction with it raining this bad. can you imagine getting out in this like that, with MY driving? *horrified face emoji* one of ur friends is some rich kid, right? i bet he can afford tires, probably the BEST tires *several dollar sign emojis*

Virgil: oh my god

Virgil: youre my cousin and youre literally leaving me out in the cold

Sleepy bastard: gee, babe, it's almost like that driver's test u refuse 2 take might actually be worth taking now, huh?

Sleepy bastard: ok srry that was a low blow. but rlly i think u should try 2 get a ride with ur friend. not kidding about my tires being shit. college is sucking my bank account dry and i don't want 2 add a car repair bill, or worse, a hospital bill

Virgil: ...fine

Sleepy bastard: cool cool, I'll leave the lights on for u. lmk if u decide to spend the night at a friends house instead

Virgil almost would've laughed at that if he wasn't currently wondering how he was going to get home, because spending the night at one of his friends' houses, unexpected and uninvited? Yeah, right, like he'd do that. He needed at least two days' notice in order to psych himself up into talking to anyone else's parents, let alone inviting himself to their house unexpectedly.

Thankfully, he didn't have any reservations about asking his friends for a ride. "I need a ride. Can I go with one of you guys?"

The rest of the group shared a glance. Janus spoke up. "Well, technically I was driving everyone home... Roman and Remus were dropped off and Logan rode with me here from school since we had a debate team meeting after school. Patton had a GSA club meeting after school so he rode with me, too. My car only holds five people."

Virgil felt the first stirrings of panic winding up in his chest - he's such an inconvenience, if only he could make himself take the stupid driving test without freezing up - only for the fear to die as Remus suddenly scoffed. "Of course you can fit more than five people in that fancy car of yours, Dee, you're just not trying hard enough."

"Remus, you're not riding on the roof of the car again. We saw what happened last time," Logan said in a somewhat exasperated tone.

Patton paled. "Again?"

Roman waved off the cat-loving teen, unfazed. "Trust me, you didn't miss much. They were going so fast I didn't even get a good video out of it."

Patton made a choking noise, looking increasingly more worried. "Guys-"

Remus giggled, slapping a hand down on Patton's shoulder. "Don't worry, Dad, I was so pumped full of adrenaline I didn't even feel anything when I landed."

"You're going to give him a stroke," Virgil muttered, eyeing the increasingly paler Patton warily.

"The point is..." Remus cut in, "if the back cargo space is good enough for my opossum friends, then it's good enough for me. Problem solved."

"Hypothetical opossum friends," Janus hurriedly corrected. "But sure, we can try it."

"Cool, great, quick question though-" Roman said, staring out at the flooding parking lot. "Why the hell did you park so far away?"

All eyes turned to squint out through the virtual monsoon that was coming down. At the farthest end of the darkened lot sat golden Chevy Bolt, illuminated by the weak beam of a parking lot light pole.

"So people wouldn't park near me and risk scratching my car, obviously," Janus said, completely unbothered by the fact that his car was at least a good fifty yards away. "Unlike some people, I brought an umbrella and appropriate footwear. I can just pull back around and pick you all up so you don't drip in my car."

Completely disregarding his words, Remus suddenly shouted, "First loser to the car gets shotgun!", before taking off headlong into the pouring rain. Not to be outdone by his brother, Roman cursed before running after him, yelling, "NOT FAIR!"

The remaining four watched with varying reactions of dismay, amusement, and confusion.

"...Wouldn't the loser be the last one to the car? And I thought Remus was going to ride in the back...?" Logan asked.

Janus hummed. "He is. I'm pretty sure he just wanted to get wet."

Virgil once again regretted his life choices, looking down at his worn-out converses and tattered jeans. "This is gonna suck so bad. I'm going to be soaked the second I step out there."

"I don't know," Patton said with a smile, still watching Remus and Roman chase each other in the rain. "It looks kinda fun to me."

"Oh, please," Janus started, shooting a wide-eyed look at Patton, "don't tell me you're actually thinking about-"

The glasses-wearing teen shot Janus a bright smile. "Pleeeeease?"

The blonde teen stared hard at Patton, trying to resist. After a few moments, Janus finally crumbled with a put-out sigh and roll of his mismatched eyes. "Fine, go for it. Seems like everyone is out to ruin my car's interior tonight, you might as well join in."

With a gasp of delight, Patton leaped forward and put his arms around the shorter teen, exclaiming, "Thanks, Janus!"

Looking a bit like an indignant cat that didn't want to be held, Janus awkwardly patted his back. "Sure. Whatever."

Virgil was snickering to himself at the look on Janus' face, only to be startled out of it by Patton shoving his collapsible umbrella into his hands. "Here, Virge, you can have my umbrella since I won't be using it now!"

Then the cat-loving teen was laughing as he dashed out into the rain, ignoring Logan's call of, "Be careful!"

The last three friends watched as the others gleefully ran about the parking lot. Roman reached the car before his brother, but Remus just jumped on his twins' back and held on, making Roman shriek indignantly and stagger as he tried to adjust to the new weight. Patton was finding the deepest puddles of the parking lot and jumping in each one with giant splashes, his laughter echoing across the parking lot even in the rain.

Janus sighed once again and pulled out his umbrella. "Well, I suppose it was about time I had my car detailed anyways."

As Logan opened his own navy umbrella, he said, "I suggest we walk at a slower pace than the others to the car. Not only could we slip if we ran, but running in the rain causes you to get even wetter than if you walk because more droplets are hitting you as you increase speed."

Virgil hummed, taking note for the next time he had to go between classes when it was raining and opened the bright green umbrella Patton had lent to him. It popped open to reveal two eyes and a mouth resembling a frog's face on the green fabric. Cute, he thought to himself (but didn't dare say out loud; he had an aesthetic to maintain). Mumbling, he shot a "thanksforlettingmeridewithyou" in Janus' direction.

The blonde teen's mismatched eyes lit up and he grinned. "What was that, Virgil? I don't think I heard you. Speak up a little bit."

The hoodie-clad teen huffed. "You heard me, I'm not saying it again."

"Hm, rude."

All three of them stepped out into the downpour and began making their way through the flooded areas of the parking lot. Virgil's shoes were soaked in virtually seconds, but at least his hair and eyeshadow was dry. Patton had nearly made it to the car at this point as Remus chased Roman around the vehicle, going in circles while shouting at each other.

Janus twirled the keys in his hand but made no move to unlock the doors until he was standing at the driver's side door. Patton moved to get in the door behind the driver's seat. He was soaked to the bone and grinning as Virgil came to stand next to him and shared the umbrella with him (even though it wouldn't do much good at that point). Roman, thinking Janus was about to unlock the door, stopped running to stand and wait at the passenger seat door. "HA! I call shotgun."

Stopping turned out to be a mistake. Remus, still thoroughly engrossed in the chase, tackled his brother right into the wet asphalt with a triumphant cry. Logan deftly stepped in to take Roman's former spot and it was only then that Janus unlocked the car.

Everyone sans Roman and Remus quickly piled into the luxury hatchback that no high schooler had any right to be driving. As Janus cranked up the heat to full blast, a soaking wet Roman swung open the door to the backseat and dove into the last open spot behind Logan, grumbling. "Seriously, Remus, why? You just succeeded in getting us both completely wet. This jacket is probably ruined now, thanks to you."

Remus, who was already crawling into the cargo space behind the back seats via the back hatch, blew a raspberry. "Just get it dry-cleaned, you baby. Besides, some of us like getting wet, if you know what I mean." The comment was collectively ignored.

"I can already tell there's going to be scuff marks from the pavement," Roman said as he examined the fabric. "I hope those Sour Patch Kids I put down your shirt melted to your clothes when you got us both wet."

"Oh, I already ate those."

There were more than a few disgusted faces in the car at that particular statement. Roman looked horrified. "That's so disgusting- How are we even related?"

A question everyone had heard numerous times...

"The car isn't moving till everyone is wearing their seatbelt," Janus stated, sternly eyeing the backseat passengers in the rearview mirror. He and Logan were both already buckled.

Virgil scooted over a bit for Patton, who had taken the middle seat between Virgil and Roman, to reach his buckle. "But Remus doesn't have a seatbelt."

"Remus doesn't count," Janus said.

"Yeah, emo," Remus leaned forward to poke Virgil in the neck. "God herself couldn't kill me."

Virgil gave a full-body shudder at the poke - Remus' fingers were freezing - and leaned forward to get away from the offending hand. "I swear to god, Rem, if you keep that up-"

Patton paused in trying to wipe away at the water obscuring his glasses and turned in his seat, squinting. "Now kiddos, play nice-"

Roman snorted. "I don't think my brother even knows how to 'play nice'."

Remus jabbed freezing fingers into Roman's unprotected neck in gleeful retaliation.

Tuning out the less mature back seat passengers and setting the windshield wipers at full blast, Janus shifted into drive and began to slowly pull out of the nearly empty parking lot. Logan studied him out of the corner of his eye for a few moments before saying, "I would think you'd be more upset at the amount of water we tracked into your car, Remus and Roman especially."

Janus shot Logan a mischievous grin as he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. "Oh, I'm sure I'll find a way to collect on this favor with each of you at a later date."

"Of course you would," Logan sighed, already dreading the implications.

The blonde teen simply snickered, finally pulling out onto the road to begin the ordeal of dropping everyone off at their respective homes.

#sanders sides #ts virgil #ts roman #ts logan #ts patton #ts remus #ts janus #roman sanders #logan sanders #virgil sanders #patton sanders #janus sanders #remus sanders #my writing #my first attempt writing in the sanders sides fandom yay

6 notes · View notes

the--sad--hatter · 5 years

Text

My Big Fat Fake Wedding (Steve x Reader)

WARNINGS - IMPLIED, REFERENCED SMUT, STALKING.

PAIRING - STEVE ROGERS X READER

I combined several requests to make this because my brain is sleep deprived and hopped up on energy juice and it seemed like a good idea.

8: “Oh no… there’s only one bed… whatever shall we do?” “You do realize we are dating right?” – With Steve

9: “I know you like to make an entrance but that was ridiculous.” – With Steve, Bucky and Sam

7: “Are you masturbating in there?” “It’s my electric toothbrush!” – With Bucky and/or Steve

My Big Fat Fake Wedding (1/2)

It all started with a simple, run of the mill mission. A group of bank robbers, clad in ridiculous rubber masks. It was hardly an Avengers level threat until one of the robbers shot green flames from his hands and suddenly the police decided that it was above their payroll and frankly, you didn’t blame them. So a small group of Avengers went in, rescued the hostages and took down the robbers. It went smoothly and was over in seconds.

But it changed everything.

One lucky paparazzi managed to sneak a picture of Captain America, chastely kissing the lips of the Woman who’d punched the flaming robber in the face. Steve had been proud of you, and a little turned on. He’d slipped up, kissing you in public. Suddenly the word was out and the whole world knew about the First Avenger and his Bad-Guy punching, Avenging lady love.

That was when the letters started.

Everyone thinks he’s the Golden Boy, but he’s not good enough for you. Nobody is.

You’re mine. Not anyone else’s.

I know you play the hero but I see the darkness in you. It matches the darkness in me.

Will he ever know you the way I know you?

Will he accept you the way I do?

They somehow made it into your fanmail and even Tony and Natasha were drawing a blank when trying to trace the sender. Whoever he was, he wasn’t ready to step out of the shadows, choosing instead to remain unseen but not unheard.

“I can’t believe I have a stalker!” You said.

“You’re not really famous until you have a stalker.” Clint agreed.

“I know! It’s so cool!” You crowed.

Steve stopped his pacing to shoot you a look of disbelief.

“I mean creepy. It’s so creepy.” You amended quickly.

“Please take this seriously. Please.” Steve begged and you made a zipping motion across your lips.

“Cap relax, she’s not the first Avenger to have a stalker and I doubt she’ll be the last. Even if this weirdo crawls out of his basement to try and get to her, he has to get past all of us and you to do so. Even then, if he pulls all that off, he has to face her.” Natasha pointed out calmly.

“She’s right, he’s just some creep with a crush. Chances are he’ll never act on this and if he does, he won’t get near her.” Sam agreed.

“Why am I the only one worried about this?” Steve snapped.

“You aren’t.” Bucky said, crossing his arms and glaring at you.

“Down boy.” You said, smirking at the brunette super soldier and while his face remained impassive you saw the amusement in his eyes.

“How about this. We’ll up security on her for a while, she can wear a tracker, take one of us with her when she leaves and we’ll have all her fanmail sorted through before it gets here.” Tony offered.

“Do I get a say in this?” You asked, raising your hand.

“No.” Steve said straight away and when everyone winced and backed away from you he realised his mistake.

“Uh, I have an urgent… thing. Away from here.” Clint said and bolted, mostly everyone following him until it was only you, Bucky and Steve left.

“Sorry pal, you’re on your own here.” Bucky said apologetically, slipping out of the room.

Steve shot him a look of betrayal before he looked at you warily.

“So you wanna tag me, keep me under lock and key?” You snarled.

“That’s not what I meant.” Steve said.

“Really? Because that’s what it sounded like Captain. You think I’m so helpless and fragile that I’m in terrible danger from a fanboy.”

“No.”

“I’ve been looking after myself a long time, I can handle Hydra, Aliens, Inhumans, and Super Soldiers if I need to. I’m not now nor have I ever been helpless and you don’t get to ride in on your white horse and play Prince Charming to my damsel in distress!” You raged.

“IT’S MY FAULT!” He shouted, breaking through your anger.

“What?”

“I kissed you. You were so fierce, so irresistible in that moment and I slipped up, I kissed you. I outed us and now there’s someone sending you these horrible letter because of what I did. I know you can take care of yourself, it’s why I lo… admire you so much but if something did happen, if he so much as left a tiny bruise on you then I would never forgive myself.” Steve said.

His eyes were bright and shining, pleading with you to understand. He had all but fallen to his knees in desperation for you to hear what he was saying and you did, you heard it. You uncrossed your arms and flung yourself at him, his arms catching you automatically and his head lowering so his lips met yours. You melted into the kiss, into the feel of his warmth.

As much as the apple pie comparison was a cliché when it came to Steve, it was accurate. He was comforting, familiar and delicious with just a touch of spice and heat. Enclosed in his arms, pressed against his chest and his lips moving in perfect tandem with yours always gave you that deeply content feeling in your soul and lit a fire in your blood.

“Do whatever you have to do to keep me safe Steve.” You whispered against his lips.

His fingers threaded through your hair, cradling the back of your head while his other hand pressed into the small of you back and he kissed you again, pouring all the unspoken love between you into it.

~~~~~~~~~~

The letters kept coming. At first they were every couple of weeks, the weekly, then every few days until there was a new letter every day. They always carried the same message, that Steve Rogers was unworthy and you didn’t belong with him. They grew more detailed, more frenzied and dangerous in tone until the day they went too far and it wasn’t Steve that snapped, it was you.

“I don’t care how difficult he is to find, I want everyone on this. I want this sociopath found.” You demanded, slamming the latest letter down on the table.

Bucky stood behind you on your right side, like a dark shadow. He was the first person you had gone to when the letter arrived and his anger, while quieter and more sinister than yours, was just as potent.

Your stalker had crossed a line, and a big one. He was no longer satisfied with just insulting Steve, leaving thinly veiled threats. He had written a manifesto, a detailed plan on the grisly ways he wanted to kill Captain America while you watched, as a punishment for your ‘bad judgment’. It was so sickening, so horrific that while Bucky had been reading it, you had been in the bathroom, throwing up.

“We’ve tried everything, looed into every avenue and lead. Whoever he is, he’s really good at hiding. There’s nothing we can do to track him down.” Natasha said apologetically.

“Then lets stop looking for him and bring him to us.” Tony suggested.

“Yes!” You said snapping your fingers and pointing at Tony.

“You and Cap have been dating for a while now, don’t you think it’s time you two kids tied the knot?” Tony suggested, smirking at you.

“No!” You said, your eyes going comically wide.

“Wait, no. That could work. We plan a public wedding, make a big deal out of it. It might just push this guy over the edge and bring him into the open.” Bucky said from behind you.

You glanced at Steve who had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the meeting and was now refusing to meet your eye.

“Do it.” He decided, standing up.

“What?” You yelped.

“You told me to do whatever I had to do, so I’m doing it.” Steve said, still refusing to look at you.

“Steve…”

“It’s a fake wedding, we just need to put on a show to lure him out. Stark will take care of it, put on a big affair. He won’t be able to stand by and let it happen and then we’ll have him.” Natasha reasoned with you.

“You really want to do this?” You asked Steve.

He clenched his jaw tightly and nodded once.

“Fine. Fine, I guess we’re getting married.” You snapped, storming out of the room.

“Wait up.” Bucky called after you when you were halfway down the corridor.

You looked over your shoulder and saw that he was alone. You scoffed loudly and carried on walking.

“I know you’re not happy about this but neither is he. Steve doesn’t want a big fake wedding. It’s got to be killing him to do this but he’s doing it anyway, not because he was threatened but because you were.” Bucky snapped and you slowed down and turned back to face him.

“He hasn’t even told me if he loves me, I don’t know if he does. And now I’ve got to marry him? To trap the physco who is threatening him? I’m allowed to be upset about it Buck and it shouldn’t be you chasing after me, it should be Steve.” You said, leaning against the wall and sighing heavily.

“Want my advice?”

“No.”

“Don’t wait for him to say it. Wait for him to show it because Steve Rogers has always been better with actions than words.” Bucky suggested.

“I know but…”

“But?” Bucky asked.

“He’s Steve. How can I believe he loves me when I’m so clearly not worthy?” You asked honestly.

“You’re not Thor and he’s not Mjolnir. It’s not a case of being worthy and even if it was, you’re far too good for that punk.” Bucky said, smiling at you.

“AW Buck, that was clever and sweet. Two characteristics nobody expects from you. You wanna sit down? Need a nap? Your brain must be hurting.” You quipped.

“See if I’m ever nice to you again, sassy little shit.” He grumbled, stomping away.

“Hey, old man?” You called after him.

“What?” He snapped.

“Wanna give me away?”

He stopped dead and looked back at you, shocked. There was a flicker of joy in his eyes before he masked it with a scowl.

“Fine, but I don’t do returns.” He said harshly, thought there was a flicker of a smirk on his face.

~~~~~~

Over the next three weeks, Tony and Pepper went all out and put together the most over the top wedding that had ever been planned. Notices and invitations were sent, announcements were put in the newspaper, Pepper cornered you and dragged you to a dress fitting.

“It’s a fake wedding!” You insisted.

“But it has to look real. So you need a dress.” She told you.

“As long as I can move in it and it has pockets, I’m good.”

“You want a wedding dress with pockets?” Tony asked in confusion.

“Yes…”

“Why?”

“For knives, chewing gum, my phone.” You listed.

“Fair enough.” He said with a shrug.

Throughout the whole three weeks, Steve used any excuse he could to avoid you. Somehow, you were never in the same room as him alone. He was perfectly polite and caring when he saw you, kissing you on the cheek and smiling at you adoringly. Yet as soon as it was just the two of you, he would suddenly have something urgent to take care of. It was breaking your heart and you were sure he was pulling away.

If it wasn’t for the flowers, the chocolate’s, the muffin basket and the little texts you would have been convinced you were over.

Finally it was the night before the big ‘fake’ day. The whole team was whisked away the large estate in The Hamptons where the sting operation was going down.

And Steve could avoid you anymore.

“The Master bedroom, for the happy couple!” Tony announced, all but shoving you both through the door and slamming it closed behind you.

You and Steve looked at each other awkwardly before you broke first and looked away first, checking out the bedroom.

“Oh no… there’s only one bed… whatever shall we do?” You said dramatically and jumped onto the bed, striking a ridiculous pose.

“You do realize we are dating right?” Steve asked you, looking befuddled before nervous.

“Do you not want to share a bed with me? I can sleep on the floor.” He offered quickly, turning red.

“Are we dating Steve? Because I haven’t seen you in weeks.” You said bitterly, fluffing a pillow up and settling back on it.

He tentatively came and sat on the edge of the bed next to you, his back to you.

“When I was young, I believed I would meet a girl and marry her. Then I always got sick and I thought no girl was gonna marry a guy who probably wouldn’t even survive the first year of marriage. When I met Peggy, I thought about it again but then I went into the ice and when I came out the world was different, I was different. So I put those notions behind me again. Then there was you and all those thoughts, they started popping up again and I didn’t know how to deal with them. I’m actually finally getting married, to the girl of my dreams. But it’s a sham.” He said softly.

“Just because the wedding is fake, it doesn’t mean we are.” You told him, blinking back tears.

“Is it something you want? I know not everyone does these days.” He asked, his shoulder tensed.

You sat forwards and leaned on into his arm, pressing your lips to his bicep and lacing your fingers with his.

“I want you Steve. We’ve barely begun and I don’t know where we’re going yet, but I do want you.” You said.

He turned his head to look at you.

“Do you mean that?” he asked.

“Wholeheartedly.”

For the first time in weeks he kissed you again and you felt complete. You felt at home. When he undressed you and kissed every part of you, you fell deeper into a state of bliss and when he took you into his arms and made love to you, your soul soared.

~~~~~~

Even fake weddings were stressful and your wedding dress seemed to be glaring angrily at you from where it was hanging on the back of the bathroom door. You dabbed the concealer that you had begged off of Wanda onto the faint lovebites on your throat and sighed, gripping the edge of the sink tightly, trying to calm down. You felt like you were on the verge of a panic attack and all the noise and people had been getting under your skin so you had kicked everyone out, choosing to get ready alone.

You pinned your hair up in a sort of messy but looks messy on purpose, tousled kind of look. Your make up was done, hickeies were covered, hair was styled… all that was left was the dress. You fidgeted and meandered, checking your reflection in the mirror again, looking for something to fix. You convinced yourself there was a stain on your teeth and pulled your toothbrush and toothpaste out of your toiletries bag. Just as you were starting to wonder if you even had any enamel left on your pearly whites, you heard the bedroom door open and let out a frustrated moan at the thought of interaction.

“Are you masturbating in there?” Bucky asked bluntly through the door.

“It’s my electric toothbrush!” You called, switching it off.

He pushed the door open and glared at your fluffy bathrobe while you glared at his whole person.

“Shouldn’t you be wearing something a little more bridal and less slumber party?” He asked.

“Go to many slumber parties do you?” You asked, immediately giggling at the mental image of Bucky having his hair braided and watching Clueless while eating Ben and Jerry’s, face mask on and pink nail polish included.

He rolled his eyes at you and plucked the dress off of the back of the door, tossing it at you.

“Get dressed.” He instructed.

“Make me.” You said childishly.

He raised an eyebrow at you and took a menacing step towards you.

“Ok, Ok, I’ll do it!” You yelped.

“Good girl.” He said, patting you on the head and leaving the bathroom while you scowled after him.

You pulled your robe off, muttering insults under your breath while you stepped into the dress. You yanked the door open and Bucky immediately snorted.

“What?” You asked in a panic.

“Steve’s going to have an asthma attack when he see’s you.” Bucky sniggered.

“He doesn’t have asthma anymore…”

“You’re about to bring it back.” Bucky said.

“You know what, I’m taking that as a compliment.” You decided, turning around and gesturing to the zipper on the back of the dress.

Bucky got the hint and stepped forwards to zip you up.

“Really though, how do I look?” You asked seriously.

He turned you around and put his hands on your shoulders to make sure you were looking at him when he answered.

“Worthy.”

~~~~~~

“I’m going to kill Stark!” You announced.

You were waiting outside the hall where the ceremony was about to be held. Steve, your guests, The Avengers, they were all waiting just beyond the doors for the ‘wedding’. It was really happening, and then you had happened to glance up to the ceiling.

“You might want to save it until you’ve killed Thor.” Bucky warned, watching the side door intently with his head cocked to the side as he listened to something that you couldn’t hear.

You traced the elaborate set up along the ceiling with your eyes until you found the release mechanism. You glared at one of the staff.

“You there, stand next to that rope and no matter what, do not, under any circumstances, let anyone pull it!” You ordered.

You were so stressed and adamant that the poor girl immediately scurried over to it and stood in front of it trembling. At the same moment, Bucky suddenly released your arm and dived to the left.

That was when all hell broke loose.

A goat, an actual goat came bounding around the corner, bleating loudly. The girl guarding the rope jumped in fright and suddenly everything happened in slow motion.

The doors swung open as the first notes of ‘Here Comes The Bride’ Were played by the string quartet Tony had hired, the girl lost her balance and instinctively grabbed the rope to break her fall and yanked it down. One thousand red, white and blue balloons fell down from the ceiling, showering you and floating through the open doors. The terrified goat wriggled out of Bucky’s arms and bounded away, skipping past you and straight down the aisle.

You stood there, in shock as the whole ceremony stared at you.

Clint was the first one to laugh, followed by Tony.

“I know you like to make an entrance but that was ridiculous.” Sam shouted at you, from his spot next to a very awestruck Steve.

A/N This was getting stupidly long so I had to split it into two parts!

#hattersmarvelverse #Steve Rogers #steve x reader #captain america #Captain America X Reader

361 notes · View notes

caffeinatedtimdrake · 5 years

Note

Just saw your latest prompt list :) how about no 11 “Hold on, you died.” “Yeah, well it didn’t stick” for Jason? Maybe he and the reader used to be a vigilante team when he was still Robin and now they’re reunited when he’s back as Red Hood? :)

ahhh ilysm I hope you like it!! about 1.5k of Jason x Reader fluff. sorry for the wait! (p.s. the reader’s vigilante name is going to be Claw and i’m sorry if that sounds silly and i agonized over it for a while but i only had so many options for a former Catwoman trainee)

11. “Hold on, you died.” “Yeah, well it didn’t stick.”

“Red Hood is Jason?! What?! That’s who I’m working with tonight?” You nearly shriek, tumbling into the alley in the same way that you’re tumbling into disbelief.

A sharp stab of pain grazes your bicep, a blade whipping past your face and landing firmly on the wall across from you.

“Claw, move!” Oracle’s voice crackles forcefully in your ear and you’re jolted back into reality.

A rush of adrenaline cascades down your spine, propelling you down the alley and over a chain-link fence.

“W-where do you want me?” You warble breathlessly, hoisting yourself onto the fire escape and charging up the stairs to the rooftop of the dilapidated apartment building.

“Perpendicular, on the grocery store. Red Hood is getting there.”

You hear his voice and it makes you a little dizzy as you wind up a grappling hook. “Headed over now.”

The name is burned into your mind as you stealthily launch yourself over the edge of the building because it echoes with the ghost of a boy who was a young hero, a bright flame, and a victim to a cruel fate. You can maneuver past the bewilderment enough to feel the first inkling of agitation because everyone on your team failed to mention that you’d be dismantling a drug ring with a young man you’d formerly believed to be dead. You didn’t need all the grisly details of his reincarnation, but a warning might have been nice.

You land on the roof of the grocery store with a thud – who would have thought diapers could hide copious quantities of illegal drugs? – and you roll to soften the impact, gravel piercing the gash across your arm.

Red Hood pops up near the edge, agile yet rugged in the way he flips onto the rough and approaches you. He’s stepping lightly on the roof, but you feel as though he’s applying pressure to your chest, sharp and aching. He stops in front of you and you dig your nails into your palm, eyes wide beneath your mask.

Rather than a warm welcome to the living world, like melting ice, you whisper-yell, “Hold on, you died.”

His face is hidden beneath a heavily armored red, but you can hear the bitter smile in his voice. “Yeah, well, it didn’t stick.”

“Focus, kids.” Nightwing lands on the roof gracefully.

You swallow hard and turn away from Red Hood. “What’s the plan?”

“Claw, enter through the vent on the east side. Artemis is waiting for you in there. Red, you and I are taking a stroll down the stairs.”

“Where’s Robin?” The title is strange on your tongue. Now it means Tim, but for a long time, it translated to Jason Todd.

Dick flashes a charming smile. “Keeping our friends who tailed you occupied.”

You squint, ambling towards the edge of the building. “Is that supposed to be a pun?”

“You used to be Catgirl. I don’t think it’s unreasonable.”

Your tone is flat. “I think we should focus on the present moment, not the past.”

“Agreed.” Red Hood.

You almost want to tell Red Hood, except for you, but prodding into his recent past would have to wait. There were lives at stake then and there are lives at stake now.

The mission goes off without a hitch. The team receives bountiful intel on the gang’s connections, you help them kick butt, and Tim safely destroys the drugs. Nightwing congratulates the team with a beam as you stand around the Batcave, thrilled with the success of the mission.

“Same time next week?”

“You’re funny, Grayson.” Artemis grumbles.

“I’m just kidding. Crime doesn’t have a schedule.”

She groans and shifts the bow on her shoulder, bidding everyone a good night.

“I should head out too.” You say quietly. You haven’t taken your mask off yet and you can feel the Kevlar chaffing the skin on your cheek a little.

“Thanks for all your help, Y/N.” Barbara tells you earnestly.

“Yeah, Y/N.” Nightwing pipes up, shuffling some papers. “You’re the best,”

“Anytime.” You shrug, bashful because Jason is looking over at you and you’re still unaccustomed to all the handsome, rugged angles of his face across the five-o-clock shadow and calculating, celestial eyes.

You’re halfway outside when you hear his voice, like a warm, gentle hand against your cheek. “Let me give you a ride.”

You freeze. “Do you even have a driver’s license?”

He laughs low in his throat, a sound that makes your skin flush. You turn around slowly and pinch the inside of your wrist because he’s arching an eyebrow and smiling at you crookedly, startlingly alluring in a way you hadn’t know before.

“Do you always follow the rules?”

You think about the toaster and the coffeemaker you had in your dorm room and how you used to steal bananas from the cafeteria and all the evenings you spent with Jason after curfew, out on patrol or eating sandwiches on rooftops.

You purse your lips. “I will not get on that motorcycle.”

“I WILL NOT GET ON THIS MOTORCYCLE EVER AGAIN.” You shriek as Jason pivots left, night air heavy and adrenaline heavy in your bones.

Jason laughs, simply accelerating.

You cling tighter to his waist and bury your face in that weathered jacket, mint and Cherrywood.

It doesn’t make much sense that you’re scared by a motorcycle ride considering your expertise in jumping off of buildings and into life-threatening ordeals, but you’re hurtling towards your apartment complex – towards home with a boy turned man who once felt like home and that leaves you feeling unsettled.

It might be three years or three minutes until the motorcycle crawls to a stop in front of the bricked building. Regardless, your eyes are still squeezed shut and your limbs are still squeezed tightly around his body several moments after the roaring motor quiets to steady rumble.

“Next time, I’m driving.” You say breathily, cracking open your eyes and slowly relaxing your limbs.

“Oh? There’s going to be a next time? In that case, let me tote you around in a kiddie wagon.”

Your giggle is a wheezy sound and Jason has to help you off the seat because your body feels like one giant, overcooked noodle. You kind of despise the way your skin tingles when he places a hand on the small of your back, but you can’t help the sentiment of serenity his steady touch brings you.

A lump forms in your throat when he drops his hand, trailing for maybe a second too long against your waist.

“May I?” He then raises his fingers to the same level as your cheekbones and you nod slowly, flushing deeply as he hooks his thumb beneath the edge of your mask. His rough fingers drag against the soft curve of your face and you can’t quite breathe as he lifts the taut Kevlar above your forehead because he touches you with an intimacy you’ve never known, like earth and ocean and stardust.

You can’t stop gazing at him and Jason can’t seem to tear his eyes from the haunted look in yours. Swimming in sharp cognizance, he sees a world of unanswered questions and unrelieved longing. His hands cup your face now, holding you like you’re the most delicate of flowers, and he looks at you so intensely, he doesn’t think he could ever forget the slope of your nose or the curl of your mouth, lifetime after lifetime.

“I’m sorry I didn’t find you sooner. I was…looking for myself. I still kind of am.” Jason tells you, mouth pulling into a tiny frown.

You shrug. “It’s okay, Jason. Coming back from the dead is probably a little overwhelming.”

He snorts. “You have no idea.” He pauses for a moment, glancing at you hesitantly through his lashes.

“What is it?”

“Is it silly if I ask for a hug?”

This wrenches a peal of borderline hysterical laughter from your chest and he blushes.

“I’ve heard sillier things.” You open your arms and he nearly falls into your embrace, engulfing you in the scent of a spring morning and an autumn evening. He feels like home.

It’s funny that you two still fit together so well, after all these years of life and death, but it makes Jason wonder if you and he were always meant to be like this.

“Whelmed?” You chirp.

“Dick isn’t even here, don’t let him mess up this moment.”

“It’s a fair question.”

“The answer is no. I will always be overwhelmed unless I can get at least one Y/N hug per day.”

You tighten your arms around him and sigh happily. “That can be arranged.”

(What neither you nor Jason know is that Dick slapped a bug to Jason’s jacket to keep tabs on you two. He and Barbara were currently cheering from the Batcave, already planning double dates.)

257 notes · View notes

lilcutieana · 6 years

Text

SAFE HAVEN 5 ( Hybrid Baby Bangtan/ ot7 )

Words: 4.3K Genre: Hybrid! BTS AU Rating: PG-13 Summary: Birthdays and Celebrations. The september babies deserve the world <3

Safe Haven ~ || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six || Seven

═══════ ⋆★⋆ ════════

I’d spent most of life in silence. Neither pleasant nor comfortable. I used to be pretty sure they never existed until a few months back when I decided to adopt the seven hybrid kids who’d changed my life for the better. I used to think the world was a dark place and I just had to survive somehow until the inevitable happened— my death. Yes, I used to be pretty morbid and cynical. Sue me.

But now? I tried my best not to be. Because I knew how tiring it was to be and how it affected my life negatively. I’d lost contact with my parents, and honestly? I didn’t bother contacting them. Were they worth it? Yes. They were. But I wasn’t. Not until I got my shit together—somewhat.

Silence used to choke me up at night, or day, or during storms—when the silence became too loud to bear. It terrified me, but also comforted me at times. I liked being alone, I liked to not be bothered with. It gave me a sense of freedom.

But now? With a house full of kids?

Silence meant something was horribly suspicious or horribly wrong. The house was always lively, someone or the other talking, playing, reading or just even the sound of their tails whipping against something. But complete silence? Meant they had got into some kind of trouble.

Closing my eyes, I counted to ten, trying not to react in a bad way if something did happen. I’d had enough to deal with all day, anyway. From getting the felines vaccinated to dealing with a whole new wardrobe for Jungkook—the boy was growing too fast out of his own clothes—which was a good thing, but not so good for my bank balance and then I had to face the music when the legal agents called explaining how—I, wasn’t an appropriate guardian—me.

So what?

I was trying my best to be here. Sure, the kids couldn’t have the appropriate environment to live—the ideal utopia—but was it ever possible except maybe in theories? Every household has problems, and, I was quite sure—the alternative wouldn’t be as fun for them either.

Wish I could say all that to their face when they called, but unfortunately, all I could do was mutter—I’m sorry, I’ll try to do better—and hung up. And right now—I was seething inside, trying not to throw things against the wall.

I was hurt.

How could someone just assume my home isn’t a place to have kids when I try my best to stay with them, accommodate to their needs and teach them how to stay together and solve things together instead of making differences and learning prejudices? They chose me. I never forced them. Then why?

I was confused.

And I didn’t like feeling this way. The way my throat clogged up every time I tried to find ways to explain how I was the best choice. But was I really? To seven children? I didn’t even earn enough. School, college, medicine, grooming—raising one child takes a toll on people, and I had taken up seven. All on my own—without any help.

I wasn’t regretting anything. I knew we could make everything work out. But, wouldn’t that be unfair to them? The more I thought about it—the more rational they sounded. And I hated it. I hated feeling this way.

I was startled out of my cleaning spree when a pair of arms wrapped around my shoulders as I was sitting on the floor. Everything I’d been trying to hold back, rushed in all at once. The anger, the hurt, the frustration, and the helplessness. Choking back a sob, I turned around and held onto his shirt and he held me tighter.

I could tell just from his height and scent, he was Jin. The eldest and the most sensitive of all. He must have sensed my distress and came to check up on me. I failed even in trying not to show that I was weak and incapable. I truly am not worth enough.

Clutching on tighter to him, I tried so hard not to cry out loud, but the tears just wouldn’t stop flowing. I let my tears be soaked onto his shirt, and -- bless his soul, he never once complained-- all the while holding onto me and patting my back –albeit awkwardly.

“Y/N, we love you. You know that right?” He whispered by my ear and I laughed out loud. Never had I imagined him to say those words first thing while trying to comfort me.

Not his usual— ‘don’t cry’, ‘don’t be sad’. No.

Instead, he chose to tell me he loved me. Remind me again why we were together.

And of course, not because it was the one thing I needed to hear, no. I was right to assume something must have happened, and this was his way to apologize. I wonder how he became the scapegoat this time. Not much to wonder, he was bad at the rock, paper, scissors. The young ones knew just how to get their eldest to lose.

And yet, while I knew why he said that, my heart did a little dance inside. That’s right. Why was doubting myself in the first place? We loved each other. We cared for each other. We’d rather be miserable together than to prosper alone.

Wiping my eyes, I sniffed. “I love you too. So much.” Kissing his crown, I smiled when he cringed and scrunched up his nose. His tail spiked and ears pulled back. He never liked being treated like a kid. Though, along with Jimin, he most certainly loved being praised.

“Um… you see.” He started, scratching his neck, “We found your albums, and Jimin now wants one for all of us. To make new memories.”

“That’s a good idea! We have been taking so many pictures, I’ll print them out soon.” I smiled back at him. It really was a good idea to have some printed. Maybe I’ll decorate the living room with a huge poster of all of us together too.

“That’s not everything.” Jin frowned, biting his lips and swaying on the balls of his feet. “We tried looking for more albums, and Hobi found our medical reports.”

“Oh? What about them?” I asked tentatively. This wasn’t going to be good, was it? He screwed his eyes shut and opened them again, this time with a smile.

“All of them said--we were growing healthy. Thank you.” Heaving a sigh, I picked up the duster from the floor and got up on my feet again. Wobbling a bit, I held onto his shoulders to stand straight, my legs dead from sitting on them too long.

“Just that?” I asked then, suspicious. He wouldn’t have looked so nervous earlier just to mention a good news. Shaking his head, shoulders slumped in defeat, he looked back up at me with doe eyes.

“Jungkook and Namjoon’s birthdays are close. We were hoping to do something special. But you’re sad and angry and I don’t want you to feel bad for forgetting.”

Oh. It had really slipped my mind.

“Actually, you’re amazing, Jin!” I ruffled his hair and he averted his eyes, his human ears flushing a bright pink. “It’s Jungkook’s birthday tomorrow and Namjoon’s should be two weeks later.” Musing aloud, I leaned against the couch. “Do they know?”

Jin nodded, biting his lips. “Do I get a cake then? A strawberry one?” Jungkook whisper shouted from the door and immediately got shushed by the others. Jin sighed with his eyes closed, slapping his forehead.

“I forgot they followed me,” He looked up at me, his eyes wide-set and watery.

Oh.

They all saw me break down a few minutes before. I just hope they didn’t think they were the reason behind it. It was just me being weak. “It’s okay. We don’t keep secrets.”

“Yes, Jungkook!” I spoke a little louder, looking at their shadows hunched behind the door, “We will bake cakes and go for camping.”

And the silence was gone.

The whole house erupted in loud cheers, lively and happy once again. My heart was at ease, for now.

“Noona! Guess what?” Yoongi came bounding towards me, his ears perked up and eyes glowing. He must have found something really cute. Being very observant and quiet, he almost never spoke louder than any of us, and for him to scream like this, only meant two things— either he found something cute or something he wants to do.

“You found a cute squirrel by the window?” I asked, with both my hands balled under my chin, while I sat beside Jin. The other boys following close behind.

Shaking his head, he walked towards me and I looked at him confused. Usually, he never cuddled me unless it was bedtime. Guess it was too exciting to share from far away. Holding your wrists in his tiny hands, he gently removes them from under my chin and places them beside my lap, his very next target being my knees as they’re pulled apart making space for him on my lap.

Plopping down, he gets up again as he sat on his tail and maneuvers it around me, wrapping it halfway around my waist, he hums in approval. Leaning back, he smiles at me mischievously—two of his lower canines missing—he is the epitome of adorable. But I won’t admit to that—because then it will become a competition.

“I was napping before they woke me.” Glaring at Hoseok, he turned back to me, again with a bright smile. Weird. Yoongi loved his sleep. If any of them woke him—he shouldn’t be happy. Instead—he’d be grumpy and pouty.

“You want to sleep some more?” I asked tentatively, hoping it doesn’t offend him.

“No, Y/N. I had a beautiful dream! I was a rapper, you know?” He asked, shaking my forearm.

“Really? Was I there?”

“Yes! And everyone was there! Jin hyung sang so beautifully too. We all sang and danced and performed in this…” Opening his hands as far as they could reach, he looked at everyone in the eye, “Huge stadium, the crowds were screaming our names and dancing, and noona was on stage too. Cheering us from behind. And it was so… beautiful.” He finished, his eyes on the ceiling as if he was still reeling from the performance and the crowd.

I would be too. If I had a dream like that. Where I’m doing what I love. He liked singing, he liked the piano, and he also liked rapping along to artists on TV. I didn’t know he dreamt of performing live. If that was what he wanted… then that was what I’ll try to make happen.

“Really? What did I do?” Namjoon asked intrigued. “I’m good at memorizing. Must be related.”

“I think you were our team leader. You rapped so well…” Yoongi’s ears perked over his head just thinking about it. I was proud of them, all of them. Even if they didn’t know what they wanted to be—they weren’t afraid to try out new things.

“Me? Rap?” Namjoon asked confused, his head tilted sideways. “I do write poems though…” Just as he spoke aloud, his eyes widened and his ears went flat on top of his head. Immediately he covered his lips with both hands and looked at everyone looking back at him equally shocked. Well, he was always reading and writing things. It was fairly possible for him to actually write some creative things.

“That’s wonderful! Let me know if you need me to help with something.” I told him confidently, scratching along Yoongi’s ears. They were just so soft, and silky.

“So…. Anything else you remember from the dream?” I asked Yoongi, only to see him sound asleep once again on my lap—purring softly. Smiling to myself, I leaned back a bit, my back supported by the living room couch, making it more comfortable for him to sleep, resting his head on my chest. I had noticed, the boys liked to either listen to my heartbeat or sniff around my neck and wrists. It made them feel secure and happy. And, who was I to stop them, it made me double as happy knowing I was a source of comfort for them.

“About the birthdays— “I started, looking at everyone.” Come closer, I don’t want to speak too loud.” Patting the space beside me, I waited for them to form a circle around me.

“Did you have any plans besides the cake?” I whispered, knowing all too well they could hear me loud and clear. Yoongi’s ears twitched under my chin and I immediately pulled my face away from him.

“Games!” Jungkook and Taehyung said at the same time, “Jinx!” Taehyung said next, making Jungkook scrunch his nose in confusion as the tiger pinched his shoulder right after.

“Racing games” Hoseok whisper-shouted, his eyes large and excited. “I saw people play outside this shop. It goes vroom, vroom…” He started making engine noises with his lips and I busted out laughing. He was just too adorable.

Yoongi jumped in my arms groaning. “What happened, again?” His voice somehow sounded deeper, and scratchy, his pupils blown wide and eyes swollen.

“I’m sorry, Seokie, TaeTae, Gukkie want to go to the arcade. Go sleep, I’ll wake you later for dinner, okay?” Nodding, he stood up, rubbing his left eye with his tiny fist. Bending down, he kissed my nose and with a little smile on his lips, walked to the stairs—leaving us all shocked.

“Well, seems hyung is growing up.” Jin mused from beside me, and I glared right back at him.

“He’s just happy today.” Biting my lips, I looked back at Jungkook, “Probably.”

“I want to go arcade too!” Jimin exclaimed, looking at Namjoon for confirmation.

“Sure” Both Joon and Jin replied, chuckling.

“What about you, Joonie? Your birthday is on Wednesday.” I asked, mentally counting the days. It was….right?

“I don’t like sour things or seafood.” He scrunched his nose up, his tail thumping behind him like a drum. “I want to go back to the woods. Roam around, feel the fresh air—I miss living in nature.” He lamented looking at his fingers on his lap.

He then realized where he was speaking, and looked up suddenly, his mouth half open, tail completely still, “I don’t mean we…”

“It’s okay Joonie, I need you all, to be honest with me, and each-other” I cut him off, smiling warmly and he nodded, his tail regaining its regular thumping—just faster. “So, how do you all feel about camping out in the woods? There should be a meteor shower around then too.”

“Oh my God!” Namjoon exclaimed and stood up, holding onto his head with his jaw unhinged and eyes bulging out. “Really? Can we? Is it okay?”

As I nodded back, he screamed and ran towards me, tackling me onto the ground. “Y/N I don’t…” chocking up, he buried his face into my neck, breathing in and sniffled. “How can I ever repay you?”

Brushing his hair, I patted his head as he kept clinging onto me. “It’s okay, as long as you’re all happy, you’ve repaid me a thousand times over than what I can ever do for you.”

“Metor showah?” Jungkook asked right after, making everyone laugh at his innocence,“Do we wash the car?” making everyone laugh at his innocence.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Standing right outside the mart, hands full of bags of different sizes and shapes, I stared at the list we all compiled in a hurry. A total hundred and fifty items—that wasn’t the goal, but it just turned out that way.

Jungkook had wanted to invite his tutor and so did Namjoon. Somehow, they’d bonded over the summer and with school starting soon—they’d wanted to spend their first birthday with the people the really admired. Along with a few kids they’d made friends with while living by themselves.

I’d invited a few of them—hoping they’d all get along in the little birthday party I’d set up.

“Noona, we forgot candles!” The tiger screeches, mentally counting important things. And, I realized, indeed—we had forgotten the little candles. All eleven of them—four for Jungkook and seven for Namjoon. How could I forget the most basic of things?

“Wait here. All of you. I’ll go get them real quick” Dropping the bags on the ground, I picked my handbag out of the mess and sprinted across the parking lot back into the mart entrance.

All packed, and buckled, I started driving back home. “Boys, do you think we forgot something?” I asked again—there was this nagging feeling in my heart that something was missing. Well, we can do without a few things in life. Not everything had to be perfect. Some things—were better heartfelt.

“Nope!” Yoongi exclaimed from the back, counting the white cars on the road.

“Aren’t we getting them presents?” Jin asked, his head resting on his palm supported at the window. And there it was—the thing I’d overlooked.

“We’d win them at the arcade tomorrow. How about it?” I asked, without looking back at them. Even though the traffic was the bare minimum, I didn’t want to take the risk.

“Sure. I’m good at winning.” Hoseok declared, his voice sounding proud and happy.

“About the cake. I think we have a lot of cake mix. Should we make more than one—since we have guests now too.”

“Yeah!” They all chorused together in perfect sync. When it came to food and games—the boys always had full energy. But when it came to cleaning—they looked at everyone else for help.

“Okay. How about I bake seven cupcakes and a big cake. And decorate the cake for cutting it in the evening and we all decorate a cupcake each? That could also be our little present to the boys. And handmade greeting cards?” I asked, the ideas streaming into my mind one after another.

I did buy them plenty of art supplies last month—surely they could make as much. Of course, I’d help in the process too. Not to mention it would keep them busy as I decorated the house.

I’d also reconciled with Somin last week, and she was invited. She did want to help the boys—her intentions were good – just her approach wasn’t. I knew that, and yet, seeing the boys—I just couldn’t help my protective instinct and immediately took offense.

But I was really happy that she accepted my apology and now even though we weren’t the best of friends—we somehow were working towards building our bond back up again. And that was okay. As long as we both tried our best.

As long as she respected my family—the boys—who were the most precious to me.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Waking up at four in the morning, wasn’t a good feeling. At all. I felt groggy and wanted to just go back to sleep and cuddle and the boys. Instead, I gave up the magnetic pull and made it to the shower, another pair of feet following me.

Whoever it was, needed to wait to pee—cause I needed to wake up and fast. The day was going to be a busy one. First off—breakfast in bed, a trip to the arcade, stopping by at their favorite coffee shop and coming back home to prepare for the party in the evening.

Oh…and bills. So many bills. It was the first of the month—and I liked them paid early—before I forgot and things got taken away. It did happen once before and surviving without water and electricity wasn’t a good experience. I swore I’d never go through it, ever again.

As I got out of the shower half an hour later—with just the robe and a towel wrapped around my head like a sheep, I looked around the hallway suspiciously.

I was pretty sure someone followed behind me. Then why did nobody knock?

The cakes….

We baked cakes and cupcakes last night and I didn’t allow them to taste the frosting or sprinkles one bit. A sugar high was not something I was looking forward to right before bed. It made the boys too energetic and a giggly mess.

Tiptoeing to the kitchen, I saw the lights on and internally rolled my eyes. If it was anyone other than Jungkook, they were really in for a major punishment.

“Oh! Noona.” Taehyung exclaimed loudly from the entrance, where he was keeping an eye on. “You showered so late—we got hungry and came here.”

“Who are you hiding?” I asked glaring at his sheepish figure, blushing a bright pink and chubby cheeks smiling bashfully. His eyes bulged out, tail swishing behind him slowly as he tried escaping from the situation.

“Oh! We weren’t hiding, Noona.” Jimin came from behind, a clear patch of icing on his left cheek and plump lips red with strawberry juice, holding onto Jungkook’s hand who was busy licking his fingers clean from frosting and rainbow sprinkles.

Sighing, I gave up on their punishment. They were just too cute together. I’ll just have them do more chores instead.

“Fine, fine. I’ll take your word for it.” I nodded, with my arms crossed over my chest. “Come to help me make breakfast then.”

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

“Seokie, bring two more sprite bottles for the lemonade here, please.” I called out to Hoseok as I stirred the half empty lemonade bowl.

“Right away, Y/N” He called out and ran, zig-zagging between his other friends he knew from before.

“Quick! Take it… it’s cold” Jin whisper shouted right behind me, making me drop the ladle onto the bowl in surprise. Turning around, I took the ice trays from his hands and watched amused as he shook them to warm them up. Dropping the ice into the bowl, I set aside the trays.

“Here,” Holding onto his palms, I brought them to my cheeks, effectively waking myself up and warming his hands at the same time. Wow… it felt so good.

Giggling, he leaned down and pecked my eye lids, smiling down on me. “You’re looking so pretty today, Y/N”

“Thank you.” Letting go of his hands, I brushed my fringe back and looked around the room at Jungkook and Jimin who were chasing each other wearing their party hats.

“They’re all so happy.” Jin whispered, looking at the kids fondly.

“They really are, and so am I.” Getting up, I looked back at him. “Don’t drink too much, you’ll have to pee frequently then.”

Laughing out loud, he pointed at Taehyung who was already skipping near the closed bathroom door, clutching at his groin. Poor boy.

Shrugging, I went to the kitchen to bring out the cakes. It was time. Everyone was here, playing games, having the time of their lives—but the boys were tired. And they needed to sleep early as school would start for Yoongi, Jin, Hoseok and Namjoon. The rest would start next year.

The morning was absolutely chaotic. We were being so loud and competitive—won so many things at the arcade, that we were finally kicked out. Though, admittedly, I don’t regret it one bit. It was so much fun. Then I got us nerf guns and chased the boys all around the park until the Sun was high up in the sky.

While hiding, Yoongi made friends with some stray cats and Jungkook was mesmerized by the many butterflies that hovered over the flowers.

Namjoon was curious about bubbles and I got us those huge hoops and a tub. We spent most of the afternoon making huge bubbles and popping them. It was a fun day.

Taehyung and Jimin took so many photos—that I’d lost count by now. They’d always sneak in pictures of me while taking pictures of the boys or their surroundings. I’d have to get them all printed and set neatly in an album. Jungkook’s Fourth Birthday.

And now, here we were—a full day eating and playing outside later. All exhausted, yet happiest we’ve ever been. Decorating the whole house and entertaining the guests.

“Let me help you carry the large cake.” Namjoon came in, looking all cute and handsome with the black and red jacket over white shirt and black jeans, hair slicked back and dimples out.

“Sure. Thanks, Joonie.” Holding onto one side and him supporting the other, we walked back sideways to the living room. Everyone was so quiet with the lights dimmed as they waited for the carrot cake in the shape of a heart. Don’t ask. It was Jungkook’s request last evening.