#i started rewatching and then that thing with the boys happened and i feel like it's somehow my fault. like i might have manifested it

[bluechanas]

angels are watching over you or something

[ineed-to-sleep]

I forgot about how killing eve's writing just starts getting progressively worse the more season 3 goes on. Like girl what happened to my show.......... my characters......... what did they DO to villanelle...................... and where is EVE

[therainscene]

I didn't start shipping Byler because I picked up on a few moments of chemistry and decided they'd make a cute couple -- I started off by absolutely refusing to entertain said moments as reciprocally queer until I ran into the ridiculous homophobia on the ST subreddit and decided to review Mike's character arc out of sheer gay spite.

Let me clarify: Spite isn't what made me change my mind about Mike. Spite just made me read a few Byler analyses and rewatch the show with an open mind because I didn't want to be like those pricks who would insult and censor queer fans for... [checks notes]... thinking something gay might happen in a TV show with gay people in it. I truly wasn't expecting a queer interpretation to fit Mike's arc anywhere near as well as the default interpretation -- but by the time I'd finished my rewatch, I was reeling from how much better it fit.

Cause that's the thing: Mike's queerness is pretty obvious once you look for it. The difficulty is in giving yourself permission to look.

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

A question Bylers are often asked is "why would the show spend four seasons building up Milevn just to tear it down at the last minute for some unrealistic woke ship? Mike literally said he loves El!" And yeah, Mike's grand love confession at the end of S4 certainly seems like a triumphant pay-off to all that build-up... but I have a few questions of my own.

Firstly: why establish in no uncertain terms that feeling loved is the key to unlocking El's fullest potential against Vecna--

--only to undermine the power of Mike's longed-for confession by having it only be good enough to delay Vecna instead of defeat him? Yes, it's the penultimate season -- so why did Milevn's pay-off happen here instead of S5 where it could properly shine?

Secondly: why couldn't Milevn fix their relationship by themselves? Even if you believe that El commissioned the painting (she didn't) and that the feelings Will describes are truly hers (they aren't), it was still Will who had to perform this romantic gesture on her behalf, and it broke his heart to do so. Why hand this important work off to a third party? Why weave queer tragedy into the build-up towards a heterosexual pay-off that's supposed to feel triumphantly romantic?

Speaking of which: why undermine the intimacy of this scene by having Will hover behind Mike's shoulder the whole time? Couldn't they have asked Noah to take a few steps to the left for the sake of a better shot? Couldn't they have waited until after Milevn's big romantic moment to remind us for the millionth fucking time how sad Will is about it?

In my opinion, this scene and its four seasons of build-up make much more sense if you read them as three entwined character arcs about the trials of growing up in a suffocatingly heteronormative era: the gay kid who doesn't think he's entitled to a happy ending; the abused girl who thinks shallow romance with the first boy who's nice to her will make her feel normal; and the confused hero who hasn't figured out the solution yet.

For all the insistence that this show has to stick to "realistic" depictions of 80s queerness... it's hardly a realistic depiction of 80s straightness for Mike to score an awesome magical girlfriend, either. That's just nerdy wish-fulfillment, and common only as a trope in fiction.

So it's not unreasonable to suppose that Mike's true role in the Subverting 80s Tropes Show might be to represent the actually very realistic 80s experience of getting swept up in compulsory heterosexuality.

Think about it: Will's vulnerability to the horrors functions as a metaphor for being visibly gay in a world that despises gay people--

--whereas Mike's girlfriend quite literally has the power to protect him from monsters and homophobic bullies alike.

This doesn't mean Mike is callously using El, though. He learned the hard way in S1 that treating an innocent girl like a means to an end would only end up destroying her, and the guilt and fear of hurting her again has been weighing heavy on him ever since.

Comphet isn't about taking advantage of other people's feelings so you can pretend to be straight -- it's about deluding yourself into believing you're straight because queerness isn't an option you're allowed to consider.

Mike genuinely does love El and he genuinely does want to be an important part of her life -- so surely that means he wants to be her boyfriend, right? Twelve is perhaps a little young to know that yet... but surely there's gotta be something here that sets his feelings apart from how a friend or brother would feel?

Surely the reason he later finds himself struggling to say to her face that he loves her is because he's just an immature loser who needs to try harder to grow up and be the man this girl he adores deserves to have...?

...and certainly not because the guilt and fear of losing her just keeps piling up as the romantic instincts he thinks he's been waiting to grow into turn out to be developing at exactly the pace they're supposed to -- in the wrong direction.

That would be ridiculous. Will's his best friend. Yes, he loves him and can't bear to be without him, but that doesn't mean anything. Why can't a guy display a little unhinged devotion to his special friend without it having to mean something romantic?

Why can't he, indeed.

At his core, Mike is someone who desperately wants to be as special as the straight heroes in the nerdy media he loves. But there isn't anything inherently heroic about being some lame middle-class white nerd who's bad with girls, so he believes that the best he can do is to be a dutiful sidekick who would sacrifice himself in a heartbeat for people he perceives as more special than himself.

For all the "build-up" Mike's romance with El has enjoyed across four seasons, it's done absolutely nothing to help him grow as a character and overcome this self-worth problem.

So is it really any surprise that even after realizing El would be fine and still want to be friends with him if he told her the truth, and even after realizing just how good Will is at understanding his insecurities and reassuring him of his inherent worth--

--Mike would still sacrifice his chance at happiness for the sake of the greater good?

El was literally dying in his arms. How could queer desire possibly be as important as this girl who needed him to be a man and do his damn job so she could do hers?

I'm interpreting Mike as gay here, but I think it's important to note that this principle applies even if he's bi or straight -- Mike can be attracted to girls and still be forcing himself to stay in a relationship with a girl he's not a good romantic match for because that's just what he thinks he's supposed to do.

His sister had a similar problem: Nancy was legitimately attracted to Steve, but her infatuation with him was more about doing what cool teen girls are supposed do than about authentic connection. And because this is a horror story as much a coming-of-age story, Wheeler's conformity had horrendous consequences -- her critical-of-comphet bestie was killed by the horrors.

Which sounds familiar, doesn't it?

(Sure, Max technically didn't die -- but she still died enough for Vecna's plan to come to fruition. Which just brings us back to my first question: why couldn't the Power of Heterosexual Love prevent this? In the same season that said "forced conforming is what's killing the kids", no less?)

Will describes Vecna as an inevitability that won't stop until he's taken everyone -- which in my opinion is the same defeatist attitude demanded by comphet.

It's not that Mr. Refuses-To-Participate-In-Society's-Silly-Play symbolizes comphet itself, per se; rather, he represents the despair of feeling like you can't truly escape it. But either way, this means that the solution to defeating Vecna is the same solution to defeating comphet:

Giving yourself permission to look and see that your true self is far more valuable than whatever you think you're supposed to be.

[mytherapyisreading14]

Profiling the Obvious

Summary: Kevin’s unexpected “man-to-man” talk with Rossi sets off more than just gossip — it gives the team exactly what they need to start teasing you and Spencer. A quiet moment turns into something more, and in a bullpen full of profilers, keeping feelings a secret? Not a chance.

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Reader

Category: Fluff

Warnings: None, this is just pure Fluff!! <3

Word Count: 3,8k

Author‘s Note: I got the idea when I rewatched S3 E14 (the whole Rossi caught Kevin and Penelope drama when he wanted more information about that one case that happened 20 years ago). I hope y‘all like it!! :)

“Pretty Boy, how was Connecticut?” Morgan asks as he drops his go bag on the floor. “Ultimately uneventful,” Spencer says before he turns around to Rossi. “Sir, there’s somebody waiting to speak to you in your office,” he continues and points to Rossis office. Kevin is there, sitting on a chair, standing up when he sees that the team finally arrived.

You turn around to JJ, both of you grinning. Penelope told you earlier that day what happened between her and Kevin - and that Rossi made an unexpected visit at her apartment when they were in the shower together. He wanted to get more information about the crime that haunted him for more than 20 years and it couldn’t wait anymore.

You all watch the situation unfold. “Agent Rossi, we need to talk. About Penelope. Man to man,” Kevin says nervously. Emily and Morgan exchange a confused look, they have no idea what’s going yet. “Man to man,” Rossi says with a smile before he goes up to talk to Kevin.

“What about Penelope?” Morgan asks curious. “I don’t know,” Spencer says, just as confused as Morgan. You and JJ exchange a look before both of you start to sing “Garcia and Kevin, sitting in a tree…” you laugh when you see their shocked expressions. “Get out of here, you’re serious?” Morgan asks.

“Just when I thought nothing scandalous was ever going to happen around here,” Emily says with a excited grin on her face. Spencer still looks confused, he seems to miss something here. “What? What does that mean?” he asks. “Didn’t you hear them sing?” Emily asks in disbelief. “The song meant something? No, no I missed it,” he says.

You can see that he’s trying really hard to figure out what exactly he’s missing here. “Yeah it…” Emily starts but then she hesitates and stops. “You know what, never mind,” she says and starts to pack up her things. Morgan playfully hits Spencer’s head. “Come on boy, you’re a genius. That’s easy to figure out,” he says and grabs his bag, getting ready to leave too.

Meanwhile you, JJ and Emily can’t stop laughing when you see how confused Spencer is, still trying to understand what’s going on. “We’re leaving now, see y’all tomorrow,” you say and wave them goodbye.

-

The sun has long dipped below the horizon when you, JJ, and Emily step out of the building. The air is comfortably cool, the kind that makes the end of a workday feel almost peaceful. For once, the world feels still. You are happy that you solved the old case today, especially because you know how much it means to Rossi.

“I mean, I love Spencer,” JJ interrupts your thoughts. She zips up her jacket, “but how can someone be that smart and still completely miss the most obvious social cues?” Emily laughs, rolling her eyes. “Seriously. The guy can solve complex ciphers in his sleep but can’t figure out a basic playground rhyme?” You laugh with them, trying to keep your grin in check - unsuccessfully, of course.

“Maybe he was distracted,” you say, trying to sound casual. JJ gives you a knowing look. “Distracted, huh? Would the distraction happen to have gorgeous hair and a laugh that makes him smile every single time?” she teases. “Ohhh, yes,” Emily chimes in. “The FBI should start offering classes: How To Talk To Your Crush When You're A Literal Genius But Still Adorably Clueless.”

You pull your coat tighter around yourself, trying to hide behind your coffee cup. “You two are ridiculous,” you murmur, your cheeks already red. JJ arches an eyebrow. “You are so in love with him,“ she says and grins. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,“ you say, but you know she’s right.

“Please,” she scoffs. “You know all his favorite authors. You binged Doctor Who last week and complained the entire time - but you still watched it. And when he walks into a room, you look like someone’s playing a secret love song in your head.” You open your mouth to argue, but stop. You know they’re not wrong.

Emily smiles, softer this time. “It’s cute. Honestly? I think he needs someone exactly like you.” You’re about to answer - maybe even admit it, just a little - when you suddenly freeze. “Crap. My keys,” you groan, patting your coat pockets. “I left them on my desk.” JJ smirks. “Sure. Is that all you left in there?” You shoot her a look and start heading back inside while Emily cackles behind you.

-

Most of the lights are off. The usual buzz of agents is gone, replaced by silence and the low hum of the lamps. That’s when you see him. Spencer sits alone, hunched slightly over his desk. One hand rests against his cheek, the other writes something down in the corner of his notebook. He’s completely lost in his own world.

He notices you when you get closer. “Oh, I thought you left,“ he says surprised. “I did, but I forgot my keys,“ you say and smile. “Ah,” he says, returning the smile - soft and shy - it makes your stomach flip and your heart beat faster. “I’m also still... trying to figure out that song,” he admits, rubbing the back of his neck. “The ‘sitting in a tree’ thing.”

You sit lightly on the edge of your desk, playing with the keys in your hand. “You mean the one we sang about Garcia and Kevin?” He nods. “I know it’s a rhyme, but I don’t really get why you’d sing that when two people...” he starts “...have a thing?” you finish for him, grinning. His ears turn a little pink. “Yeah. That.”

You lean in just a bit, voice soft. “It’s kind of a playground way of saying two people are into each other. Like... they like each other. Even kissing.” He processes that for a beat, his eyes thoughtful behind his lashes. “So the song was a sign that Garcia and Kevin... are now together?” he asks. “Mmhmm,” you hum. “It’s a silly song. But also kind of cute.”

He nods again, more slowly this time. “I never learned how to... recognize that stuff.” There’s something so honest in the way he says it. Vulnerable, like a door he rarely opens is cracked just enough for you to peek inside. You smile gently. “You recognize a hundred patterns a day that no one else does. Maybe it’s just... a different kind of pattern.”

He looks up to you. His gaze lingers longer than usual. “Do you think...” he starts, then hesitates for a second. “Do you think I’d be able to recognize it if... if it involved me?” Your breath catches for a second. You want to say a thousand things. You want to tell him he already does. That he’s halfway there. That it’s been there, growing quietly between you both for months.

“I think if it involved you... I’d probably have to be the one to sing the song,“ you say boldly. His eyes widen just slightly, and then his smile returns. “Would you?” he asks, barely above a whisper. You nod and grin. “I might even start now. Spencer and I sitting in a tree…” He chuckles and for a second you both just sit there - quiet, smiling, the air between you softer than ever.

Then, without thinking too much, he shifts a little closer. “You know... I’ve never really done this. The flirting thing. Or the... song-worthy kind of thing.” You tilt your head, heart thudding just slightly louder. “Then maybe this is the part where we figure it out together.” His hand brushes lightly against yours on the desk. Not an accident. And this time, he doesn’t pull away.

Spencer’s hand lingers against yours, his fingers brushing gently over your skin. It’s tentative, like he’s still not sure if this is real - if he’s allowed to feel what he’s feeling. But then, slowly, he intertwines his fingers with yours. You look down for half a second, a soft smile forming before your eyes find his again. He’s watching you so carefully, like he’s waiting for any sign to tell him he’s not making a mistake.

You give the smallest nod, barely noticeable, but enough. And then - he leans in. It’s slow, almost hesitant. Like he’s giving you time to change your mind. Your heart races, the space between you shrinking. You tilt your head just slightly, your lips parting as the moment settles in but right before your lips touch -

The office door swings open. You both snap apart like teenagers caught by their parents. Rossi and Kevin step out, mid-conversation, but they stop when they see you. You’re still sitting on the edge of your desk. Spencer’s still leaning forward, clearly way too close for a casual chat. There’s a beat of silence. Then Rossi looks at Kevin. Kevin looks at Rossi. And they both grin.

Your face goes hot in an instant. You jump to your feet and grab your keys off the desk. “Right, um, that’s what I came for. My keys. I got them. So... I’m going now.” Spencer, very clearly blushing, fumbles to close his notebook and shove it into his bag. “Y-yeah, me too. I should, uh... I should probably—go.” Kevin tries to hide his smirk, not very successfully.

Rossi just raises an eyebrow at you both, his voice casual but far too amused. “Long day, huh?” he asks. “Yup!” you squeak, already halfway to the hallway. “Very long. Okay. Goodnight!” You hear Spencer mumble something that vaguely resembles goodnight as he rushes to catch up. Behind you, as the elevator doors close, you swear you hear Rossi chuckle.

-

The scent of fresh coffee fills the air as Penelope strolls into the break room, her signature bright and colourful outfit standing out against the muted tones of FBI suits. She’s carrying a huge mug and grinning like she knows something no one else does - which, of course, she does.

JJ is already sitting at the table with Emily, sipping her coffee. You’re at the counter, adding a splash of cream to yours, when Penelope speaks. “Ladies,” she says, in a tone far too mischievous for 8 a.m. “You will not believe what Kevin told me last night.” Emily perks up instantly. “If it’s drama, please continue.” JJ leans forward. “Oh no. Is this about the Penelope-Kevin-Rossi surprise saga?”

Penelope waves a hand. “No, no - that’s old news. This is better. Apparently... when Kevin and Rossi walked out of his office last night -” she pauses for dramatic effect, “- they saw a certain someone and a certain Dr. Reid looking very, very cozy at her desk.” Your hand freezes mid-pour. JJ whips her head toward you. “You were still there?”

You shrug, trying to play it cool. “Told you, I forgot my keys.” Emily raises a brow. “And somehow that led to almost kissing Spencer in the bullpen?” Penelope gasps, delighted. “Almost?! Oh, honey, he was definitely leaning in,“ she says. JJ’s mouth drops open in delighted shock. “So wait... you two were just - what? Holding hands and gazing longingly into each other’s eyes in the dark like it’s some kind of FBI rom-com?”

You open your mouth, close it again, then groan and hide your face behind your coffee cup. “It wasn’t like that.” Emily chuckles. “It bet it was exactly like that. Penelope grins. “Rossi and Kevin were smiling the entire time Kevin told me. Kevin literally said, ‘They jumped apart like teenagers getting caught on a porch swing.’”JJ bursts into laughter. “Oh my god.”

“Okay, okay,” you say, cheeks burning. “Can we not make this a thing please?” you ask. “Too late,” Emily says, sipping her coffee with a smirk. “I give it a week before the BAU has a new couple,“ she says. “I give it three days,” Penelope counters. JJ nods. “I give it until lunch.” You groan again but can’t help laughing. There’s genuine excitement behind their teasing. And despite the embarrassment, something in your chest flutters at the thought.

-

The rest of the morning you try to act like everything is normal. Like nothing happened last night. Like your entire team isn’t betting on your love life. Spencer is already at his desk. He looks up the moment you walk in. You expect awkwardness - nervous glances, maybe a quick hello and then heads buried in paperwork. But instead, he smiles.

You return it before you can stop yourself. You walk past his desk on the way to yours, and for a moment you both hesitate, hovering near each other like there’s something unsaid still hanging in the air. “Hey,” he says, standing up slightly. “Hi,” you reply. You’re proud that your voice doesn’t shake. There’s a pause. You both glance around.

The bullpen is unusually quiet. No JJ, no Emily, no Penelope hovering. It’s just the two of you. Again. “I, um...” Spencer rubs the back of his neck. “About last night. I didn’t mean to - make things weird.” You smile softly. “You didn’t. I mean... you kind of did. But in a nice way.” He lets out a small breath - half a laugh, half relief. “That’s... good. Because I keep thinking about it.” You blink. “Yeah?” He nods. “Yeah. I didn’t get to finish what I was about to do.” Your heart skips a beat.

“Maybe we just ran out of time,” you say quietly. He takes a small step forward, close enough now that his voice drops to just above a whisper. “Maybe we could try again. Sometime.” You smile, soft and full of something that’s been waiting a long time to be said. “I’d like that.” You’re both standing there, suspended in a moment that could easily tip into something more when - of course -

“Hey, loverbirds!” Penelope’s voice rings out from across the room. You jump slightly. Spencer flinches. Penelope waves from the stairs, JJ and Emily right behind her, absolutely smirking. You and Spencer look at each other, cheeks equally red. “Maybe not right now,” he mumbles, quickly sitting back down. You laugh and head to your desk, still smiling.

-

The morning is exhausting and not because of paperwork or a new case. It’s the teasing. Endless teasing. From the moment you walked in, it felt like there’s a spotlight following you and Spencer around the office. Every look is noticed. Every word is overanalyzed. Every accidental eye contact turns into a team-wide event.

JJ, Morgan, Emily, Penelope… even Rossi is in on it. And Spencer? He’s barely holding it together. You can practically see the internal panic whenever someone mentions “last night” or “bullpen romance” or, worse, your name followed by his in the same sentence. And yet, no one lets up.

It starts again, of course, with Morgan. “You sure you’re hydrated, Pretty Boy?” he calls out across the room. “You look a little flushed this morning.” Spencer doesn’t even respond this time. He just groans and ducks his head, pretending to read something extremely fascinating in a case report.

You glare at Morgan over your coffee cup. “You’re relentless,“ you tell him. “Can’t help it,” he says with a grin. “You two are my new favorite soap opera.” JJ strolls past your desk with a smirk. “Do you want me to start bringing popcorn? Because I will.” You shake your head, already trying to retreat into your work, but Penelope appears beside you like she’s been summoned.

“Can we just skip to the part where one of you makes a move before the tension physically breaks my screen?” Across the room, Spencer lifts his head to give you a helpless glance. Emily eyes him thoughtfully. “You know what’s funny?” she says. “Kevin said - and I quote - ‘There was something kind of unwritten about the way they looked at each other.’ Like a moment out of a movie where the soundtrack kicks in.” Spencer closes his eyes. “Oh my god.”

You sink in your chair. “This is fine. Everything’s fine.” Rossi walks by at that exact moment and offers, far too casually, “Should we clear the conference room for your inevitable confession scene?” You and Spencer both say no at the same time. The team bursts out laughing. You know it‘s going to be a long, chaotic, ridiculous morning. But maybe... exciting, too.

-

It’s early afternoon when you finally get a second to breathe. You step out into the hallway, heading toward the evidence room to drop off a few files, and find Spencer already there, leaning against the wall, looking like he’s doing the exact same thing - escaping.

He looks up when he hears your footsteps, and for the first time all day, he smiles without hesitation. “Hi,” he says again. “Hey,” you reply, stopping beside him. “You hiding too?” He nods. “JJ tried to slide a Hershey’s Kiss onto my desk and whispered, ‘Symbolism.’”

You laugh quietly. “Penelope asked me if I wanted her to make a love playlist for us.” Spencer shifts, a little nervous. “So… we’re not imagining it, then. Everyone really does know what almost happened.” You exhale a breath. “Yeah. They really know.” A beat passes. Then you both laugh.

It breaks the tension but there’s still something lingering between you, something that’s been quietly building for months and only just began to surface last night. Spencer’s voice softens. “I meant what I said earlier. About wanting to try again.” You look up at him, heart skipping. “I remember.”

There’s a long pause. He looks at you like he’s memorizing you. Like he’s choosing this moment, finally. “I don’t want to keep almost kissing you in the bullpen,” he says quietly. “I want to actually kiss you. Not because the team’s making jokes or because it’s expected. Just... because I want to.” You step a little closer. “Then do it.”

His eyes flicker to your lips for the briefest second and then you’re leaning in, and he’s meeting you halfway, and everything slows down. It’s not rushed. Not dramatic. It’s soft. Careful. Exactly the way Spencer always is - with his thoughts, with his hands, with you.

And when it happens, it feels like something clicks into place. Like this was always supposed to happen. You pull back slightly, eyes still closed, a small smile tugging at your lips. He’s smiling too. “So... was that our first official something?” You nod. “Yep. And you survived it.”

He laughs, brushing his fingers against yours. “Barely.” From down the hallway, the faint sound of Penelope’s voice echoes: “I knew it!” You groan. Spencer sighs. But neither of you moves away.

-

You and Spencer return to the bullpen pretending - trying - to act normal. It doesn't work. Not because you’re doing anything obvious. You’re both quiet. Focused. Professional, even. But apparently, your faces tell a different story.

You barely sit down at your desk before Penelope appears, narrowing her eyes like she’s analyzing security footage. She tilts her head slowly, eyes flicking between you and Spencer like she’s putting together the final pieces of a puzzle. JJ walks in behind her and freezes mid-step.

Emily follows and immediately raises an eyebrow. “Okay. What happened?” You look up. “What?” Spencer doesn’t even lift his head. “Nothing happened.” JJ folds her arms, smirking. “You’re blushing,“ she says. “I’m not,” you lie. “Yes, you are,” Penelope singsongs. “And so is he.” Morgan, now very interested, leans over from his desk. “Did you guys...?” He stops. Eyes widen. “Oh my god, you did.”

Emily drops into a chair dramatically. “It happened! Didn’t I say Friday? I was so close!” JJ points at her. “Nope. I said lunch. It is literally 1:03.” Rossi enters just in time to see Morgan fist-pump in victory and Penelope doing some sort of quiet celebration dance in the background. “What did I miss?” he asks.

“They finally kissed,” Morgan says proudly. You groan and drop your head to your desk. Spencer looks like he wants to evaporate into the floor. “We didn’t tell them,” Spencer mumbles. “How did they even -” Penelope raises a finger like she’s giving a TED Talk. “Sweetie, you came back in here looking like a man who had just been kissed into another dimension. It’s not rocket science.”

Rossi chuckles and heads toward his office. “About time,” he mutters, more to himself than anyone else. Emily smirks. “So... when’s the next kiss? Or are we waiting for the sequel?” You sit up finally, cheeks still warm. “You are all insane.” JJ winks. “And so proud of you.” Morgan points at Spencer. “You too, man. Took you long enough.” Spencer just gives a small, shy smile. And even though he’s clearly embarrassed, he doesn’t deny anything this time.

He glances at you across the bullpen, a question in his eyes. You smile back. No words needed. Penelope glances at Rossi’s office and then back at Spencer. “Oh, and by the way, you do still owe Rossi that ‘man-to-man’ talk. Just saying.” Morgan grins. “Yeah, don’t keep him waiting, Pretty Boy. Kevin's story’s still floating around.”

Spencer groans quietly. “Great. Just what I needed.” The team laughs, clearly delighted to have both gossip and an excuse to tease him some more.

-

From this moment on, it’s like the whole team is on a mission: Get You and Spencer Alone. JJ nudges you both together whenever possible. “Hey, you two, why don’t you double-check those files in the conference room? Privacy guaranteed.”

Penelope suddenly ‘needs help’ carrying a stack of papers - right past where you and Spencer are standing. “Oops, so clumsy! Could you two hold these for me? Thanks!” Morgan “forgets” his phone in your shared workspace and asks Spencer to grab it for him, then lingers nearby “by accident.”

Emily even volunteers to send you on a ‘quick errand’ to the evidence room... but conveniently ‘forgets’ to mention Spencer is already there. Every time you and Spencer find yourselves alone - even for just a few minutes - there’s this quiet, electric energy that fills the space.

And every time the moment almost blooms into something more, someone - usually Penelope or Morgan - interrupts with a perfectly timed comment or a sudden loud laugh. At one point, Spencer leans over and whispers, “They’re relentless.” You grin. “At least they want us to be happy.”

Spencer’s eyes soften. “Yeah. Feels like we’re... part of the family now.” You squeeze his hand gently, just for a second. “Definitely.” And somewhere in the bullpen, Penelope mutters, “Operation success is imminent.”

[hugheswho]

Have You No Idea That You’re In Deep?

Summary: You come across an edit of young Luke while he’s asleep next to you in bed. You can’t hide your emotions and wake him up from crying so violently. 

Paring: Luke Hughes x fem!reader

Warnings: all fluff and crying <3

Author’s Note: Inspired by this tiktok i saw a few months ago that made me gasp out loud. Haven’t stopped thinking about it since

Word Count: 1.7k

It’s late. Really late. Too late to be on your phone. You’re too engrossed in TikTok, convincing yourself it’s okay to endlessly scroll as a way to shut your brain off after a busy day. Luke has been snoozing away next to you for hours at this point.

There really is no rhyme or reason to your For You Page. Some are recipe videos, some are stand-up comedy bits, and others are part 16 of a full-length feature film. You tell yourself you’ll stop scrolling once you find the best video of the night. The right TikTok that satisfies you enough to say ‘Okay, yeah, I should stop now.”

You think you’ve found it when you scroll once more and your boyfriend appears on your screen. You’ve never actively searched Luke’s name on TikTok, but it doesn’t surprise you that he shows up quite a bit. From the number of times you like the Devils' posts, send things to Luke, and, quite frankly, just say his name out loud, you know your phone is listening to you. The algorithm knows all. Can you blame a girl for indulging in some thirst traps of her boyfriend?

A soft smile forms on your face as the video starts, Hozier’s cover of Do I Wanna Know? playing over clips of Luke. Nothing too crazy, just some clips of him in interviews. You’ve seen this trend before and wait with bated breath, expecting the song to flip to the original Arctic Monkeys version with clips of Luke looking rather…. scrumptious. 

But that doesn’t happen. The song doesn’t change; instead, the shots of Luke do. It’s no longer the current-day man that sleeps a foot away from you. Rather, it’s young Luke. The boy who became your best friend at birth. The boy you grew up with. The boy you fell in love with. 

The switch to adolescent Luke feels like a gut punch. You can’t stop thinking about your lives together. How you’ve always had one another. Even in those clips of baby Luke, you knew him when he first learned to skate. You knew him during his time in the program. You know him now, fulfilling his dream of being in the NHL.

It suddenly became all too much. You don’t even realize you’re crying until a tear drops onto your phone screen. The more you rewatch the video, the more you cry. You think you have it under control, but every time the plot twist happens, your body betrays you, shuddering and gasping. You cover your mouth with your hand when you start to feel something shifting next to you. 

“Babe? What’s going on?” You hear a very tired and confused Luke rasp out. 

Still actively crying in the dark, you respond, “Nothing Lu, go back to sleep.” You hope he’s too drowsy that he can’t properly comprehend your mental state. There’s no way you can explain this to him right now. 

“Are you laughing or crying?” Luke asks, having definitely picked up on your unsteady voice. 

“I think both?” you answer truthfully. This is seriously ridiculous, you think to yourself. The absurdity of the moment makes you cry more. 

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” Luke softly questions while leaning over to turn the bedside lamp on.

When the bulb illuminates the room, you get your first good look at his face since before you both retired to bed hours ago. And that just breaks the dam. The sight of his matured face, merely inches away from you, combined with the young, baby-faced Luke you were just watching on repeat, causes you to wail out a full-on sob. 

Luke’s eyes go wide, sleep fully gone from his body. He quickly caresses your arm up and down to soothe you.

“Am I that ugly?” He jokes, trying to lighten the mood. 

“No, no, not at all. I just…” you trail off. 

“What? What’s wrong?”

This can’t be happening. What are you even supposed to reply? Tell the truth and look like a fool? He’s never going to let you live it down. 

“Nothing, it’s stupid.” You settle on, hoping he’ll just let it go.

“It’s not stupid if it has you this upset.” God, why is he so good to you? Your tears still fall, this time at his tender care for you. 

“You’re going to laugh at me.”

“I promise I won’t,” Luke says seriously, staring into your eyes. You frown to yourself, not budging. “Baby, please tell me why you’re crying. I’m not going back to sleep until we figure this out.”

Looking back at him, you sigh, “It’s silly,” your last futile attempt to get out of this hole you’ve dug yourself into. If only you were a quieter crier. 

Luke just fixes you a look, his eyes boring into yours, as to say ‘I’m not dropping this.’ You finally cave and turn your phone towards him. Luke’s brows furrow as the video starts, confused about where this is headed. 

“A TikTok made you cry?”

You weakly roll your eyes at your chronically offline boyfriend. 

“When don’t TikToks make me cry?” you ask rhetorically, earning a laugh from Luke. 

As the video shifts to clips of young Luke, and your breathing gets a bit more staggered rewatching, Luke softly smiles to himself. His eyes look in your direction and see the look on your face. One full of love. 

Luke knows he’s still young, but those moments seem like a lifetime ago. He can’t believe how far he’s come in such a short amount of time. He’d say he can’t believe you’ve been there alongside him the whole time, except he can believe it. Because that’s who you are. That’s who you’ve always been to him. The person he could turn to for anything. When he wasn’t sure if being drafted to the Devils would be a good or bad thing for him. When he felt his whole life turn upside down in a second as he left Tampa after losing the Frozen Four. When he felt like he wasn’t the player he knew he could be during his rookie year. All those moments where Luke felt like the walls were crashing in on him, you single-handedly pushed them off of him. 

Then the video ends, and you both turn to look at each other. Your lips are pulled into the cutest little frown, eyes glassy and red, with a stray tear rolling down to your neck. Luke takes in the sight before him and bites his lip to make sure he doesn’t crack, but you see right through him. 

“YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T LAUGH!”

“I'M NOT LAUGHING! I’m just… smiling because you’re so cute.” Luke reacts, clearly laughing. 

You just pout, letting out a whine as you roll your head onto Luke’s shoulder. Instinctively, he wraps his arm around your waist to get you as close as possible. 

“Baby, why did that make you cry?” Luke inquires while softly brushing the hair on the back of your head with his free hand. His head rests atop yours. 

“Because you were so young and that was the boy I fell in love with but waited so long to tell when we could've been loving each other since then instead of both suffering in silence!” You blurt out in one whole sentence, no time for pauses, as your tears start back up at how much time you feel you’ve lost with Luke. 

“You’re acting like we weren’t in each other's lives then,” Luke replied amused at your dramatics but still soft enough to let you know he’s not dismissing you. 

“But we weren’t in the way we are now. And you were so precious then! But I didn’t get to kiss your face the way I do now when I think you’re being cute!” 

Luke fondly smiles before saying “we happened when we were meant to happen.” 

“You didn’t even know I loved you then,” you mumble as you wipe your tears, not happy your boyfriend isn’t indulging in your pity party. 

Silence washes over the two of you. Luke continues to stroke your arm as a means of comfort. He turns his head to place a kiss on your temple. 

“I did. I knew.” 

You pivot your head to look at your boyfriend. Faces only a few inches away from each other. There’s something about Luke’s eyes that act as a magnetic force. Once you catch a glance, you can’t look away. 

“Yeah?” you ask above a whisper, not wanting to seem too hopeful, as if he’d care about that. 

“Yeah.” 

You suddenly feel vulnerable. You and Luke have been in each others lives since birth. You started dating after his playoffs debut. Obviously both of you loved each other before then. However, you never really went into when you both fell in love. You feel exposed having told Luke you loved him since your early teens. 

Needing his reassurance, you quietly ask, “and you loved me then too?”

Luke’s stoic face lights up, a smile slowly stretching across it. 

“Completely adored.”

You swallow your nerves down with the revelation of Luke loving you back at the same time. With the new found confidence, you say “so why not then? Why didn’t we get together years ago instead of waiting?”

“We were young,” Luke shrugs before continuing, “I don’t think we would’ve been able to give each other what we wanted if we started then. We both had to figure out who we were before we committed to this.”

“But it’s us,” you defend, like it’s the easiest thing in the world. Because it is. 

Luke laughs at your persuasiveness. 

“Look, we both wanted each other then, right? But we both had so much maturing to do. And once we did that, we both still wanted each other. That’s how we were able to find our way to where we are now. Neither of us were in the way of the other, we were just…on the sideline. Cheering each other into the right path.” 

The tears start again. You look down at your phone, picturing all the memories of you and Luke as toddlers, kids, teenagers, and now young adults. 

“I miss us being young together,” you confess. 

“You’re going to say that about us now in thirty years. We have the rest of our lives to spend together. And prove how much we love each other,” Luke reassures you, and you know he means it. 

“Now can you please put your phone away and cuddle with me?” 

[madlori]

On Tommy Kinard

"It's not that I don't like Buck and Tommy, it's just happening so fast, he's underdeveloped!"

*clears throat*

Here is a recap of what we know about Tommy. And this is just off the top of my head, I didn't rewatch anything.

He was closeted at the 118 before and found the atmosphere repressive. He (probably) acted like a dick to fit in. When presented with the chance to make things better, he took it, and developed positive relationships with Hen, Chim and Bobby.

He was in the army and trained there as a pilot.

He knows Muay Thai and has a set up in his house.

He likes to work on cars and has a lift at his house (where TF does he live is my question - he has some nerve being agog at Buck's loft if he has a muay thai gym and a car lift)

He is down for violating departmental policy at the drop of a hat (has done so on at least two occasions) to help a friend and has no problems fucking with the fire chief.

He is a nerd. He likes pub trivia and has incorrect Star Wars opinions, and can keep up with Chim in the movie-quoting department.

His favorite movie is "Love, Actually" and he likes craft beer and monster trucks.

He came out when he transferred to Harbor and felt comfortable enough to stop lying about who he was.

He follows MMA and has friends in Vegas who like him well enough to hook him up to a frankly insane degree.

He'll risk his own life and engage in helicopter skulduggery to save people he doesn't know...I mean, apart from doing that for a living.

He'll take time out of his day to give a tour to the cute boy who called him up and offer to give that boy flying lessons (a significant time investment) which was probably maybe about more one on one time with said boy.

He yearns for the belonging and found family that the 118 became after his departure and probably befriended Eddie hoping to earn a plate at the cookout, aside from just clicking with him.

He likes Eddie and Chris a lot and they like him. Chimney also likes him.

He was attracted to Buck right away and was emotionally aware enough to pick up on Buck's jealous feelings over Eddie and his friendship, even if he was surprised that it was him Buck wanted to get to know.

He respects and values Buck and Eddie's friendship and wanted to make sure Buck knew that.

He's brave enough to shoot his shot by planting one on a dude.

He's a lil bitchy but also generous and ready to throw in with this insane guy who's inviting him to a family wedding after 0.5 dates.

He showed up to a bachelor party when he was on call because Buck asked him to, then showed up in turnouts after fighting a fire for like 12 hours yadda yadda we all know this part.

He has got it BAD for one Evan Buckley, who he only calls "Evan" which according to LFJR is a conscious decision by the writers, which fascinates me.

He was willing to take a chance with a man just discovering his sexuality BUT wasn't willing to put himself through that if the man in question wasn't ready for it. When Buck showed him that he was, he was all in.

He does NOT take his coffee like that.

Oh and

He's a beast.

This is VASTLY more information than we knew about ANY of Buck's previous girlfriends with the possible exception of Abby. Even Taylor did not get this much development over 20 episodes (things we knew about her: she was an ambitious and ethically flexible reporter, did not eat fudge, had a dad in jail, and sometimes jogged for exercise, she was capable of being nice and did love Buck, I believe). And as for it being fast? Sometimes it just be like that? A relationship doesn't have to have year(s) of buildup. Sometimes people do just meet, like each other, and start dating, in fact in the real world that's usually what happens. It's in TV Land that you have to have eighteen seasons of UST before pulling the trigger. Most of the time in reality people just vibe off each other and decide to go out and THEN they learn about each other.

And they've got a great start. You'd think they'd barely spoken by how a few naysayers are talking about it - the loft scene was like a solid five minutes of very open conversation, the Cringe Date seemed to have gone well and again, open and honest (if cringey) conversation before Cockblocker Eddie showed up, and the coffee meetup was again....open and honest conversation. They're not gonna show us long scenes of them exchanging firefighting stories and workout preferences (I mean, I'd watch that, but it's not what the show is about).

In conclusion, anyone saying he's poorly developed or the relationship is "out of nowhere" either is being willfully obtuse or has ridiculously unrealistic expectations for relationships and/or what constitutes character development.

As for whether they have chemistry, that's a matter of subjective opinion. Given that a TON of people watched that harbor tour scene (even when it was posted as a sneak peek) and started going "wait...what's going on here...are they flirting??" might be a clue. People were talking about Bi!Buck maybe happening with Tommy based solely off that clip of the harbor tour and what they were seeing between them. And imho that loft scene was crackling. But we all see things through the lenses of our biases, myself included.

Got that off my chest, whew.

[baigepueckers]

Caitlin Clark X Reader

Pulled for a Chat

It started as a joke.

You were chronically online, a Love Island girly, always reporting to Caitlin on every red flag, sneaky kiss, and insane bombshell entrance before she even had a chance to sit down. She used to mock it…said it was trashy, toxic, peak TikTok brain rot.

And then somewhere between “can I pull you for a chat?” and the third dramatic recoupling, she was hooked.

Now, it was your thing. No distractions. No skipping ahead. Watching it out of sync was a sin on level with cheating. Maybe worse.

So when she left for a four day away stretch with the Fever, she kissed you, dropped her duffel bag by the door and said, “Don’t you dare watch without me.”

You smiled. “I would never.”

You lied.

It started innocently. You were folding laundry, just having it on in the background, telling yourself you weren’t really watching if your eyes weren’t on the screen.

Then disaster. You watched the whole thing. Three episodes. Back to back. No pauses. No remorse. Well…some remorse. You even texted your group chat about the drama like Caitlin wouldn’t immediately sense betrayal the moment she walked in the door.

By the time her road trip was over and she returned, you had deleted browser history like you were hiding something criminal.

Caitlin walks in wearing joggers and that messy travel hair she somehow makes look hot. She dumps her keys on the counter and gives you that little smirk like she’s about to say something she knows will ruin your life in a cute way.

You play it cool. “Good trip?”

She shrugs. “Tired. Hungry. Missed you, baby”

You feel a ping of guilt when she kisses your cheek and curls into the couch like it’s a ritual. She grabs the remote without hesitation.

“Okay,” she says, all excitement. “Let’s catch up. I’ve been dying.”

You freeze. “Totally. Me too.”

She presses play.

You try. Really, you do. You widen your eyes at the dramatic music. You force little gasps and mutter, “Nooo, she didn’t…” like you’re discovering it live. But ten minutes in, you crack.

When the new girl pulls the ultimate betrayal and Caitlin throws her hands up, yelling, “WHAT?! Oh my god, I didn’t see that coming!”…you let out a guilty little snort.

She pauses the episode mid scream. Slowly turns to you. Eyes narrowed.

“You saw this already.”

“No,” you say, way too fast.

“You saw this already.” She’s staring at you like you just told her her dog died. “Y/N…”

You bury your face in your hands. “Okay, but I swore I wasn’t gonna! And then the recap was so long and I was folding shirts and I just…I got pulled for a chat!”

Caitlin looks betrayed. Like, actually hurt. “You watched THREE episodes without me?”

You wince. “I didn’t mean to! It just…happened. One minute I was doing chores, the next someone was kissing in the hideaway and I blacked out.”

She stands dramatically, arms crossed. “This is worse than when you watched The Summer I Turned Pretty finale without me. And that was treason.”

You try to grab her hand, pouting. “I’ll rewatch. I’ll pretend it’s all new. I’ll act shocked. Like, Emmy level shocked.”

Caitlin glares at you for a long moment… and then smirks. “Fine. But you’re sleeping on the couch.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Oh I would.”

That night, you curl up next to her anyway, a bowl of popcorn between you. Caitlin insists on restarting the episodes. You gasp on cue. She throws popcorn at you when you oversell it. She’s still pretending to be mad…until the new boy walks in and she nudges your foot.

“Okay, wait. He’s kind of your type.”

You scoff. “Please. My type is tall, hilarious, devastatingly good at basketball and addicted to reality shows.”

Caitlin flushes pink. She nudges you again, softer this time.

“Fine,” she mumbles, “but next time I’m gone… you wait.”

You grin. “I’ll just rewatch old seasons.”

“…Without me?”

“I have a problem.”

Caitlin just laughs, pulling you closer, fingers lacing with yours. “Yeah, yeah, yeah” she says, kissing your temple

And that night, you swear again.

This time you mean it.

Probably.

[mcrdvcks]

i loved your peter parker writing aaaa could you share every of your ideas or headcannons about peter dating stark’s daughter because that’s soooo cool

i had to physically stop myself from writing a 10 page essay on peter parker x stark!reader because i am the leader of that fanclub.

send an ask for my 2,000 followers celebration!

warnings/tags: stark!reader, peter is adorable and awkward, flufffff

For this, I’m going to say that the Avengers are a big happy family and Tony and Natasha aren’t dead because Endgame didn’t happen.

Okay, now that we have that out of the way…

The first time Peter meets you, he almost dies. Not in a mission. Not from a villain. From embarrassment. Because you walked into the common room wearing an Empire Strikes Back shirt and he short-circuited. He almost said “I love you” before you even introduced yourself. Almost. He thinks about it every day.

You’re Tony’s daughter. That alone terrifies him. But you’re also smart, snarky, ridiculously pretty, and somehow nice to him? He panics. A lot. Sam teases him about it constantly. Natasha doesn’t say a word—but she watches him with a very intense “hurt her and vanish” kind of stare.

You bond instantly over nerdy things. Star Wars marathons. Building Lego sets. Competitive Mario Kart nights (he wins, you throw a pillow at him, he thinks about it for the rest of the week).

Peter is so, so obvious. He blushes when you laugh at his jokes. He tries to impress you with science facts. He once nearly walked into a wall because you smiled at him in the hallway. Tony notices. Tony absolutely notices.

Tony is deeply skeptical at first. “Spider-Boy? Really?” “It’s Spider-Man, actually—sir. Mr. Stark. Uh—Tony. No, I mean yes, sir—”

You immediately started teasing Peter the second you realized he was crushing on you. “Hey, Spider-Boy. You always blush this hard when someone compliments your webbing?” He short-circuited. Nat cackled in the background.

When Peter finally confesses, it’s clumsy and fast and heartfelt. “I—I like you. A lot. Like, a lot a lot. You’re smart and kind and you make fun of me in ways that make me feel loved and—and you’re you and—” You kiss him. He forgets his own name.

You two get caught sneaking around the Compound constantly. Tony installed ten extra cameras. Natasha disabled all ten. “She’s got taste, Stark,” Nat told him, sipping her coffee. “Could’ve picked some idiot in LA. Instead she went for the one with a conscience.”

But eventually, Tony softens. Because he sees the way Peter looks at you—like you hung the damn stars. And he sees the way you look back. So Tony gives Peter the Talk. It lasts exactly 41 minutes and includes the phrases:

“If you hurt her, I will build a satellite laser and name it after you—then fire it at you.”

“Do you know what emotional damage looks like under a microscope? I do.”

“Say ‘yes sir’ one more time and I’m revoking your suit.” Peter sits through all of it nodding like a scared golden retriever.

You love teasing him. “What’s the matter, Parker? Web-fluid low or just distracted by greatness?”

You go full nerd together.

Rewatch Rogue One and cry every time.

Stay up late building a Millennium Falcon Lego set while sipping juice boxes like 5th graders.

Battle each other in Smash Bros. and nearly break the couch when you tackle him after a win. It’s the kind of love that makes your cheeks hurt from smiling.

Tony sees it all. The way Peter looks at you like you're the last miracle in the world. The way you rest your head on his shoulder like you trust him. And yeah, Tony's terrified. But he's also… proud. Because Peter’s exactly the kind of person he hoped you'd love one day.

Peter is constantly trying to impress you. You offhandedly mention you like galaxies? He makes you a custom mini star projector. You say you’re hungry? He learns to make your favorite snack from scratch. One time he almost passed out from dehydration during a mission because he gave you his water bottle.

You steal Peter’s hoodies. All of them. He never complains, but every time you wear one, he short-circuits a little. “You know, that was my favorite—wait, never mind. You look really cute. Carry on.”

You and Peter share one of those dumb secret handshakes. No one else understands it. Sam tries to mimic it once. Breaks a lamp.

Peter’s phone background is a photo of you asleep on his shoulder during a movie. He stares at it at least once a day. When he’s stressed. When he misses you. When Ned catches him zoning out and yells, “Dude, that’s the tenth time today.”

Tony absolutely spies on your dates at first. Security footage. Audio logs. Probably a drone or two. You find the feed. Change it so it plays Shrek 2 on loop. Tony doesn’t speak to you for 48 hours. Peter buys you flowers out of sheer awe.

When he’s overwhelmed, he goes straight to you. Doesn’t even have to say anything. Just puts his head in your lap, mumbles, “Too much.” You run your fingers through his curls and hum Star Wars music softly until he settles.

You and Peter prank the other Avengers constantly. Replaced Sam’s Redwing with a drone shaped like a duck. Programmed FRIDAY to refer to Bucky as “Captain Eyeliner.” Once convinced Clint that the Compound was haunted using Bluetooth speakers and spooky whispers.

Peter memorized your laugh. He knows exactly what kind of jokes earn the snort. Which shows get the wheeze. He collects them like rare treasure. Stores them behind his ribs where it’s safe.

[xoxolaw]

aaaa first time sending an ask but a random thought came to me after rewatching whc..

maybe something like reader ends up in the hospital and that's where she meets suho in a coma so she ends up visiting him everyday to talk to him even though they've never met thinking he couldn't hear her, but it turns out that he could hear her the whole time he was in a coma hehahwhwh

love the way you write!!! all your works are so well-written ><

+ 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗟𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚

in which she starts talking to a coma patient just to feel less lonely - and doesn't realise he heard every word

+ 𝗔𝗛𝗡 𝗦𝗨𝗛𝗢 𝗫 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥

fluff

The first time she stepped into Room 201, it wasn’t on purpose.

She was supposed to be getting her discharge papers. A sprained wrist and a mild concussion — not bad, considering the crash. But the halls were quiet, and the vending machine had eaten her last coin. She wandered down the wrong corridor looking for a nurse and paused at the open door.

There he was.

Still. Silent. A boy maybe her age, maybe older. Maybe younger. Skin pale beneath tangled hair. Tubes trailed from his arms like spiderwebs, and machines blinked softly around him.

She wasn’t sure why she stepped in.

Maybe it was the way his room felt too quiet. Or maybe it was the nameplate on the wall: Ahn Suho.

Someone who had a name shouldn’t be so alone.

“Hey,” she said quietly, voice unsure. “Um. I’m not supposed to be here.”

He didn’t move, of course. But that was the thing about talking to someone who couldn’t answer — it didn’t matter.

“So,” she said, pulling the chair closer. “I guess I’ll sit here until I get my discharge, if that’s cool.”

She looked at the heart monitor. Steady.

“You don’t mind, right?”

✮⋆˙

Visit #2

“Okay, hear me out,” she whispered, tugging her hoodie over her hospital bracelet. “Today’s theory: hospital food is a government plot.”

She set a wrapped chocolate bar beside his untouched apple juice. “I stole this from the nurse’s station. You’re welcome.”

She leaned back in the chair and glanced over. “I should probably introduce myself. I’m Y/N. I was in a crash. Umm. That's it.”

Silence.

Except for the hum of machines.

“I used to think comas were like… complete darkness. Like being unplugged,” she continued. “But then someone told me that maybe people can hear things. Even when they can’t respond.”

She looked at him. “I’m gonna pretend you can. Just in case.”

✮⋆˙

Visit #5

She came in mid-rant, sneakers squeaking against the floor.

“I bombed my stats midterm,” she huffed, throwing herself into the chair. “I studied for weeks. Literal weeks. And for what? A 53. A tragedy.”

She turned her head and eyed him.

“Honestly? You’re probably lucky. No classes. No midterms. No group projects from hell. Just… naps. That’s the dream.”

She tilted her head. “...Too dark?”

The corners of her mouth twitched. “You’d tell me if I was annoying, right?”

Stillness.

“Yeah, I didn’t think so.”

✮⋆˙

Visit #9

“Do you believe in soulmates?” she asked one day, legs folded under her in the chair.

He didn’t answer. Couldn’t. But she stared at him anyway.

“Like, not in a romantic way, even. Just… someone whose energy feels like home.”

She leaned her head back against the chair, eyes closing.

“My grandma used to say the people meant for you find you. Even if it’s by accident.”

A pause.

“I don’t know why I keep coming back here. But I think it’s helping.”

✮⋆˙

Visit #14

She brought a juice box and a book of crossword puzzles. Not for him — for her. But she left both unopened.

Instead, she spoke softer that day. Slower.

“I had a nightmare last night. The kind that makes you wake up choking on your own breath.”

Her fingers twisted in her sleeve.

“I keep thinking about what would’ve happened if I hadn’t swerved at the last second. I keep seeing the headlights. I keep hearing the metal twist.”

She exhaled.

“I know you’re the one in a coma, but sometimes I feel like I haven’t really woken up either.”

She looked at him then, eyes wet but steady.

“You know what’s weird? I feel safer here. Sitting with you. I don’t even know you.”

She smiled, a little broken.

“But I talk to you like I do.”

✮⋆˙

Visit #17

She came in late this time — hoodie damp from rain, socks mismatched.

“I brought gummy bears,” she announced, holding up the bag like it was treasure. “But I already ate most of them. So now I’m just here to confess my crimes.”

She plopped into the chair and leaned forward, unwrapping the plastic around his IV line just a little so it wouldn’t tug against his skin.

“I think if we were friends, you’d be the kind who judges my snack habits silently,” she mused. “Like, you’d sit there with your stupid perfect posture and side-eye me every time I pulled out something processed.”

She smiled faintly. “But I bet you’d still take one. Even if you pretended you didn’t want to.”

She was quiet for a long while after that.

Then—

“I don’t know why I keep talking like you’ll wake up.”

A breath.

“I think I just… hope you do.”

✮⋆˙

Visit #20

She pushed the door open with one elbow, a juice pouch hanging from her teeth and a hoodie several sizes too big draped over her shoulders. It was the third time that week she’d come by unannounced. The nurses stopped asking questions.

“You wouldn’t believe the kind of day I had,” she said around the straw, dropping her bag onto the chair. “There was this guy on the train, right? Full-on tried to hit on me while I was literally in the middle of chewing a protein bar.”

She took the straw out of her mouth and pointed it at him like an accusation.

“Who flirts with someone mid-bite?”

Silence answered her. Of course.

“I told him I was seeing someone,” she continued, shrugging off the hoodie. “And he asked if it was serious. And I didn’t know what to say.”

She froze for a second, then laughed softly.

“I mean. How do you explain… this?”

Her eyes flicked over to him. Peaceful. Still. Like always.

“‘Yeah, I’m in a one-sided talking situation with a boy in a coma.’ That wouldn’t go over well.”

She sat down and leaned forward, elbows on her knees.

“I didn’t say anything. Just told him I wasn’t interested.”

There was something heavy in the way she said it. Like she meant more than she let on.

She stared at him.

“You know what’s funny?” she murmured. “I don’t even know where you go to school. I don’t know your favorite color. Or what kind of music you like. I don’t know if you snore, or if you’re the kind of person who organizes their apps by color.”

Her voice cracked just a little.

“But I keep coming back.”

She looked down at her hands. Fidgeted.

“Is it weird that I feel like I know you better than people I’ve known for years?”

She glanced back up. Her voice dropped to a whisper.

“Is it crazy that I… miss you? Even though you’re right here?”

The heart monitor beeped steady. Soothing.

She reached out and touched his hand, just barely.

“You don’t know me. But if you ever wake up… I’d really like to change that.”

And for a moment — just a moment — she imagined him smiling back.

✮⋆˙

Visit #23

She was quieter this time. Sleepy.

She curled her knees into the chair and whispered like it was a secret.

“I used to talk to the moon when I was little. Thought maybe someone out there was listening.”

She reached out and gently brushed his bangs back from his forehead.

“I talk to you like that now.”

She hesitated.

“Is that selfish?”

No answer, but her gaze lingered.

“If I were you, I’d be annoyed by now. Some girl spilling her whole life in your room every day. No warning.”

But her voice cracked a little.

“Still… it makes the world feel less heavy. Talking to you. Like… there’s a version of me that only exists in this room.”

Her thumb brushed the back of his hand.

“I like you."

✮⋆˙

Visit #27

She was crying before she even sat down.

“I failed a class,” she whispered, words trembling. “I worked so hard and I still failed. And my mom said it’s because I get distracted. That I’m wasting time.”

She sniffled, voice breaking.

“I think she meant you.”

Silence wrapped around her.

“I wanted to scream at her. But I didn’t. I just walked out and came here.”

She curled her fingers around his.

“Tell me I’m not wasting time.”

And for a second — just for a second — she thought his hand squeezed back.

She gasped and looked up.

But nothing had changed.

✮⋆˙

Visit #33

She showed up late. She almost didn’t come.

But she walked in, shut the door softly, and slid her fingers between his.

“I think I’m falling for you,” she whispered. “And that’s probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever said out loud.”

She looked at him like he could hear her heart beating.

“But if there’s even a 1% chance that you remember any of this — I just want you to know.”

She pressed a kiss to his knuckles. Just once.

Then stood.

And left.

✮⋆˙

She didn't plan to come today. Finals were around the corner. Her mom was breathing down her neck. And honestly? She was tired.

Tired of hoping. Tired of talking to someone who’d never talk back. Tired of Room 201 and its terrible fluoresce nt lights and the smell of antiseptic and the sound of a steady heart monitor that somehow felt louder when everything else was silent.

But she came anyway.

Because habits are hard to break. And so are hearts.

She stepped into the room like she always did.

Only this time.

It was empty.

She stopped cold in the doorway.

Room 201 was still Room 201 — white walls, faded curtain, the too-bright glare of sterile ceiling lights. But the bed was stripped clean. The machines were gone.

And he wasn’t there.

The chair she always sat in was tucked neatly under the window. Like she’d never been there at all.

“No,” she whispered, heart stuttering. “No, no, no—”

She backed into the hallway, scanning for someone—anyone. Her throat was tight, like every breath scraped against the inside of her ribs.

Where was he?

She grabbed the nearest nurse she could find.

“Where is he?” she asked, not bothering to mask the panic in her voice. “Room 201. Suho. Ahn Suho. He—he was here yesterday.”

The nurse blinked, caught off guard.

“Oh—uh—” She glanced at her tablet. “Ahn Suho was moved this morning. He regained consciousness late last night.”

Y/N froze.

“What?”

“He’s stable,” the nurse added quickly. “They moved him to Recovery Ward B. Down the south wing, third door to the right.”

Y/N stood there like she hadn’t heard anything after ‘he regained consciousness.’

Because her brain had simply stopped there.

He was awake.

He was awake.

She turned and ran.

✮⋆˙

She found the room by sheer instinct.

The door was cracked open, and sunlight poured through the windows, warm and golden in a way Room 201 never was.

She stepped inside.

And there he was.

A little thinner. Propped up against pillows. Eyes half-lidded but open. Really open.

Ahn Suho.

He looked… human. Fragile, even.

But real. Alive.

She didn’t know what she expected — some cinematic moment where he saw her and smiled like he’d been waiting. But he didn’t. He just looked up slowly, tiredly, like his whole body was still relearning how to exist.

Their eyes met.

Her breath caught.

And for a second — just a second — she forgot how to speak.

Then:

“You’re awake,” she said softly.

He blinked. Then nodded. Barely.

She stepped forward. One hesitant step. Then another.

“You probably don’t—remember me,” she said. “I just… I used to visit.”

His lips parted. It took effort. But he spoke.

“…Y/N.”

She stopped.

“You remember?”

He gave the faintest, smallest smile.

“Gummy bears,” he rasped.

She laughed. Sharp and sudden, wet with tears she didn’t know she was holding back.

“You idiot,” she whispered. “You remember the gummy bears.”

“You… talk a lot,” he said, like it was a compliment. “I didn’t want to miss anything.”

She let out a broken sound. Somewhere between a sob and a laugh.

She stepped closer until she was at his side. Until their hands were inches apart.

“I thought you forgot. I thought—”

She shook her head, smile shaking.

“I never forgot,” he said. “Not a single thing.”

Their hands brushed.

His fingers curled weakly around hers.

“You stayed,” he murmured.

She nodded, eyes shining.

“And now,” she whispered, “so will you.”

✮⋆˙

She sat by his side that evening, telling him about everything he missed. The vending machine conspiracy. The guy on the train. Her failed stats midterm. Her nightmares. Her heart.

And this time—he listened.

Really listened.

He smiled.

He asked questions, slow and soft, voice still gravel.

And when she leaned in to press her forehead to his?

This time, he tilted his to meet hers halfway.

And everything — every visit, every word, every aching silence — had led here.

+ 𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗥'𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘 + 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧

Hope you enjoyed this <3

+ 𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧

@l5byrinth @m3sty @inom17 @dna-black-and-blue @mizxuqii @d4ily-s-nsh1ne @mwsrphm @maxinehufflepuffprincess @intoanothermind @cayrelyra @coolasiangal123 @mariii-0001 @susuheartsyou @ineed-myspace @ruhaniii @ohtobelovedbyanartist @choihyunwookie @itzcandy

[joyswonderland1108]

Jikook aren't just dating, they're in their honeymoon phase for the 10th year in a row and i've HAD ENOUGH

No because you do not understand. I made the mistake, no, the lifestyle choice, of rewatching everything Jikook from the very beginning and now i'm spiraling at the speed of light and my heart is doing parkour. Ain't no way in the multiverse someone watches Jikook and goes "Yep, just bros being bros". What do you MEAN "Just friends"??? Like ??? Be so serious right now. Be biblical-level serious. Look me dead in the eyes and tell me Jikook is just platonic when :

They have almost kissed multiple times, in 4K, in front of live audiences, and cameras. You don't accidentally almost kiss someone that many times unless you're in a K-drama. Or in Love. Like are we supposed to believe they were just practicing for a drama they weren't even in?

JK out here showing up with a whole hickey and them casually telling us "Yeah, we were drinking (alone) and he picked me up spun me like we just said 'I do' he wouldn't put me down so i bit his neck" Like.. Sir?? That's no friendship, that's foreplay. Also, let's not pretend that was a one-time thing. We've seen random hickeys, the mystery marks, Sherlock who? We been solved that mystery.

The inside jokes, whole conversations happening telepathically while the rest of the group looks at them like "Here they go again" Like, sorry, but when you start a sentence and your man finishes it, that's not friendship. That's spousal telepathy. "I am you you are me" you know..

The ear bite. THE EAR BITE. And the glistening saliva trail. Broadcasted to the world like we weren't sitting there eating cereal. Do you know how intimate that is? They weren't even trying to be subtle. At this point, i feel like they want to get caught. I had to pause, breathe, reevaluate life, and then hit replay 10 more times like a masochist.

The GCF in Tokyo. A soft, romantic video edited by Jungkook, starring only Jimin, set to a love song. Boy didn't make a vlog, ihe made a wedding montage. If my boyfriend made that for me, i would cry and then marry him immediately. Oh wait.

Their solo eras? JK's lives were practically sponsored by "Jiminie-hyung" , the "Can you handle it?" Sir, this is a Wendy's. Who gave you the right? Reading each other's comments during their lives like a giddy crush. The flirtation, the teasing, the INTENSE GAZES. That wasn't fanservice, that was a whole relationship slipping through the cracks of BigHit's NDA.

Matching clothes, matching earrings, matching bracelets, matching rings, matching tattoos, matching souls. I'm not saying they're soulmates but i am saying if they lived in ancient Greece there would already be statues of them carved out of marble with captions like "Eros incarnate". No one matches this much unless they're married or playing twins on Disney Channel.

And remember, they made a whole show about the two of them going on a trip. Swimming together, cooking for each other, bickering like an old married couple, sharing hotel rooms (read: one bed), and giggling like they're the only people alive on Earth. JK said "let me film my husband being adorable for several days straight". WHAT IS THIS? "Married Life: The Prequel". Honestly? Cinematic masterpiece.

The stares that last 10 seconds too long. The little touches. The way they gravitate toward each other in every group setting like magnets with one thought that says "stand next to Jimin" (Standing next to Jimin *Ba Dum Tss*)

That one time when JK sniffed Jimin like he was inhaling the very concept of Jimin, like a man trying to bottle the essence of love..

Them showing up on each other's lives (Physically or via comments). Jimin lurking in the comments like a clingy husband. JK not even trying to hide his grin when Jimin's name shows up. "Oh, is Jimin watching?" Giggle. Okay.

And let's talk about the Jungkook Reaction Lives, this man really sat down multiple times, on his own accord, just to watch Jimin. Reacting to "Vibe". Reacting to "Set me Free pt2" like a proud husband watching his husband dominate the stage. Watching "Like Crazy" and smiling like he choreographed it himself. Then he really said "Let me react to Jimin content", pulled up Jimin's episode on Suchwita, and pulled up a whole compilation of their moments together during "Best of Me" and just sat there giggling, vibing, and whispering "cute" like we weren't watching him fall deeper in love in 1080p. He's not subtle. He's never been subtle. He's a Jimin fan account with privileges.

Let's not even get started on JK's long-term, unsupervised obsession with Jimin's ass. The playful slaps turned into casual grabs, and we all remember when he straight up squeezed Jimin's butt cheek on stage during PTD in Vegas like it was his birthright. Jikook pt3 : The ass chronicles.

And THEN they enlisted together. Not like "Oh what a coincidence" or "Same week, same day, how sweet", no. These two signed up for the BUDDY PROGRAM. Like, the official military bestie package where you apply as a pair and get placed together. That's not "we happened to align schedules". That's "we legally want to be stuck with each other for the next 18 months or we're not going". Besties don't do that. Husbands do that. They're out here planning government service like it's a honeymoon lol

And let's not ignore the energy lately. The way "certain things" keep popping up that scream "married and living together".

So no, i don't care what anyone says. Jikook aren't "Just friends". They're not even just dating. They've been cosmically handfasted since 2015 and i'm just a civilian living in their universe. The only thing missing is the wedding livestream.

[teambyler]

Rewatching my own video (yeah I like it too lol), and I'm glad I started it by saying:

""If it’s 'delusional' to think that two close childhood friends of the same gender will eventually get together romantically, who have a number of scenes that, had they been between a boy and girl who were long-time friends, everyone would be assuming that they would become a couple, then I prefer to be delusional. Because same-sex relationships having equal value and respect is the way the world should be.''

Because that's exactly it:

It's homophobic to tell someone they're "delusional'' for thinking Byler will happen, because it would not be said if it were a hetero couple.

Calling us ''delusional"' defends a world where LGBT+ people are sidelined and ignored.

Calling us ''delusional'' has a hateful power. It doesn't feel that different from being told my feelings for the same sex aren't valid. And many of us even internalize this to the extent that, when we first watched Stranger Things 1-4, we denied ourselves the possibility of seeing it also. We curb our expectations for ourselves and the world around us.

Anyway, I wanted to share a recent comment on the video that's gained some traction. I thought people would enjoy it as much as I did!

"They mistake their blindness for the nonexistence of what they cannot see, as if the blind man doubted the existence of the sky.''

Byler means so much to us because we choose to see the sky.

-teambyler

[lovelettersfrommai]

JOAQUÍN TORRES X AVENGER! READER HEADCANONS

A/N: Here are my headcanons based off of @davinashifts333 requests! I am currently rewatching TFATWS to write an actual imagine, but if y'all have ideas do leave a message in my inbox! I'm nice, I promise.

You were naturally born with mimicry powers. It pretty much gave you a leg up in all things growing up. 

The two specific ones being memory mimicry, and skill replication. You could watch someone do something once and instantly pick up how to do it. With the touch of a shoulder, or a brush of fingertips you can see their memories. 

It was pretty cool being able to do all these things…up until when you got older.

As a young person, you couldn’t control when or what memories you would see when you touched other people. Sometimes all of them would blow through your brain, and leave you with information overload. Just mentally and sometimes physically exhausted.

Enter: SHIELD.

Originally, you were contacted for your proven academic excellence at 18, having just graduated high school. Everyone at your school knew you were a wiz kid. 

Scouted by the government to work for various organizations until you finally decided to try being a SHIELD agent

Straight into training you went. Working right under Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff. Nick Fury knew it would be easy to gain intel if you were the person undercover. The attack on New York happened not too long after you joined

Took about two years until you were on the front lines working with Steve and Natasha closely. 

Then everything went to shit when SHIELD (Hydra) fell. That’s when you met Sam.

Ever loyal to Steve, you too were on the run with the both of them. When you took temporary refuge at Sam’s house, you kind of got to know him.

He immediately noted the intense set of your eyes despite your young face. The way you almost always look far away, like you’re in another place. He reached out to shake your hand and you literally dodged it. 

Sam is like the first person you open up to. It takes a while, but you feel comfortable with him (Probably because of his past as a councilor. He’s just got a reassuring and kind vibe.)

Very older brother and little sister type beat. That’s why when it came time to choose a side during Civil War, you followed Sam. 

Of course it led to you both being imprisoned in the raft for a little, but hey, Steve got you out!

When you came back after the blip, you made sure to stay in touch with Sam. You weren’t sure if the hero life was for you after…all that, so for about a year, you did your own thing, got an apartment in DC and lived your life, even starting an organization to help people who were displaced by the blip

Until Sam gave up the shield

You weren’t mad per say, but confused and weirdly hurt by him wanting to put the Shield in the Smithsonian

However, you were mad when they gave John Walker the shield, not even a week later. (I waited for three and a half years…white man did it in one week.)

This agitated you enough to put your suit back on.

This also led you to meet pretty boy for the first time LOL (you STAY winning)

You guys got along pretty quickly, Joaquín is just so golden retriever like that you naturally felt yourself folding for his every request

He was a big fan of your work, both on and off the field.

Only started dating after a year of being friends, because you were very hesitant initially. Not because you didn’t like Joaquín or vice versa, but because you were scared. I mean come on, you spend your years in highschool being top of your class, immediately going into being a SHIELD agent, got blipped for five years, not to mention you have a power that people generally don’t trust…no prospects. 

Unfortunately for you, Joaquín does not subscribe to that train of thought WHATSOEVER. He worships the ground you walk on, almost literally.

Y’all are such a power couple. 

Sometimes you’ll be flirting over the comms on a mission and Sam has to tell you to “Shut the hell up” before he barfs mid flight. 

For a while, you kind of fear giving him any sort of physical affection/touch, just because you’re afraid of unintentionally invading his privacy from your powers (You may be better at controlling them now rather than before, but this man makes all sense of control leave your mind)

Once again though, Joaquín does not give a fuck

He’s touchy. It’s in his nature. Obviously he doesn’t push you, and is very understanding of why you’re hesitant, but if you’re only holding back because you’re scared of hurting him, despite actually craving his affection? He’ll take matters into his own hands (Literally!) 

Sometimes you get really overstimulated. Sometimes you can’t quite tell what memories are your own, or all the skills that you replicate get overwhelming and give you bad headaches. 

Joaquín always helps you through them. He’ll get you medicine and massage your temples, scratch at your scalp gently until all the thoughts go away. 

Joaquín’s touch becomes one of the only ones that you don’t fear. 

He’s the best ever :(

[caprisunr]

I hold my stance on the fact that Maddie and Chim know about Buck's feelings for Eddie. You only have to rewatch 7x04 to realise how they know more than they let out. We all know how Maddie probably has an idea about how Buck feels from the "Boy Crush" comment back in season two. Well, the comment goes hand in hand with Chimney's : "I am your basketball beard. I feel so bonded" Specially when we take into account how he didn't know about how Tommy and Buck would end up being a thing. The comment is directed at Eddie's persona in relation to Buck's actions. And in both situations Buck doesn't deny it.

Not to mention, Buck can't help but overshare, and he is so transparent with Maddie that he straight up confessed to want Eddie's attention this whole time. Only to misdirect his feelings later on in the episode because it just made sense that he harbored those feeling for Tommy the gay guy, than Eddie the 'straight guy' who also happens to be his best friend. —Tommy also was the one who showed up at his doorsteps and kissed Buck. So at that time it only made sense for him that 'Oh, yeah. Maybe I do like this guy.' If you guys are wondering what moment I'm referring to (Buck confessing to wanting Eddie's attention) this happens after Buck tragically sprains Eddie's anckle. He visits Maddie at dispatch to say the following: "I was pissed, you know. seeing him and Tommy become such good friends after only two weeks. I felt left out, and I guess I was trying to get his attention." Referring to Eddie's, in no moment of their conversation do they insinuate Tommy being the one that Buck has his attention set on.

"But you don't like basketball."

"I know. But now he's going with Tommy, and he's got it circled."

Buck goes out of his way to include himself back in Eddie's life in places where he wasn't before because he feels that Tommy is taking all that empty spaces he's left. All his actions are directed towards Eddie, which he is conscious of at the beggining that it is about Eddie. But at some point in the episode his feelings get mismatched and the lines blurr between the two guys who are very similar to the other. Buck becomes an unreliable narrator of his own emotions, which happens somewhere between Maddie's and his conversation at her house and spraining Eddie's ankle.

"Acdording to Christopher he's already been over three times. Eddie just met the guy like two weeks ago. Christopher thinks he's 'so cool'." I would like for everyone to notice the emotional distance between Tommy and Buck from his point of view, seeing in his monologue as he refers to Tommy as 'this guy' or 'he'. Doesn't bother to clarify who he's talking about, and the impersonal reference alludes to how little Buck actually thinks of the guy up to that point (his real thoughts slipping through). The only time he refers to Tommy by name is when he's mentioning Eddie's basketball game to show where his distress falls.

"My point is he's made an impression in a very short time." Buck is so afraid of being replaced by some guy who happens to do something cool, he doesn't even realise how hypocrital it is for him to say certain things such as this one. Considering, as we all know, how quickly acquaintance Eddie and Buck became and how quick Christopher took a liking on him. It got me thinking about how Buck must've felt like he had to work for it (introducing Carla) to be let in, and how easy Tommy's got it. And that's when the thought of how easy he is to remplace starts to kick in, where the feelings start getting misplaced.

"Get this. He said he agreed Revenge of the Sith is superior to Return of the Jedi. I mean maybe it's just me butt I don't think you lie to a child just to ingratiate yourself." Once again he shows how worried he is about being replaced, specially in Christopher's life. Buck speaks like a protective mother. And once again we've got the indirect despectiva speech; Tommy isn't just Tommy he is some guy who is trying to make himself look cool to be liked and take his place.

I have to mention again the " But now he's going with Tommy, and he's got it circled." Because not only does Buck say it once, but twice during : " Eddie on his fridge has a day calendar. Under take-out menu Thursday,"B-B-P-U-W Backlash Tommy. And it's circled". "

It's always been about Eddie and how Buck feels that Tommy is taking his place. And then later when Tommy kisses him after he says he was trying to get his attention because yeah that makes sense because he can't possibly like Eddie romantically and so intensely. That is his best friend, his straight best friend at that. So he throws it at the nearest guy who is going to actually reciprocate–most likely. Its easier to convince himself to like Tommy, than it is to like Eddie and potentially ruin his friendship. (Let's not forget how even him being with Tommy later on was about Eddie and how he would react to Buck liking men.)

Back to Chim, there's also the scene when with Maddie they were discussing children right at the beggining of their relationships. They ask each other if they're the only people without kids that they know. It takes a second until they think of Buck. Because Buck is so integrated into the Diaz family, that it's impossible to think of him without Christopher tailing behind also.

Maddie and Chim absolutely know, or at least suspect about it.

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - Thailand Stuck the Landing! Thailand!

Organized, in each category, with ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

March 2025 Week 1

Ongoing Series - Thai

ThamePo (Fri YT) ep 13 end - A truly great final episode. The best that Thailand could do. Good rapping too. (I do enjoy a tonal language rapping) Could have done without the goddamn auto tune on the singing tho.

Still that Notting Hill moment with Po and his friends, “this is Thame, my boyfriend” will likely go down in history as one of my favorite claimings in all BL. And it’s one of my favorite BL tropes. I have already rewatched it multiple times. Genius.

Review 

The boyband idol romance I've been waiting for from Korea, only Thailand did it instead. Quintessentially Thai and very GMMTV with good production values, great chemistry, and a solid support cast. It also was a hung romance mostly driven by external conflict and a found family reunion trope so I didn’t mind (too much) that the romance thread felt secondary. I loved it (except, of course, the singing). 9/10 

Perfect 10 Liners (Sun YT) ep 19 of 24 - I love that GMMTV prop masters are just putting random American 80s bodice rippers lying around Thai men's dorm rooms. I don’t know why I find it so amusing but I do. I’m not happy about the friend snooping in his friend's box (kinky), but I’m pleased with the friendship itself after all is said and done.

“Heaven was fast” made me hoot. So damn funny. And now we have a Cyrano de Bergerac plot? Faifa = the eternal self sacrificer. And that was definitely the best kiss of the series so far. It has gone into consideration for best kiss of the year.

The Boy Next World (Sun IQIYI) ep 9 of 10 - Oh dear, I’m having one of those “please don’t make them actually act” moments. But I'm still enjoying this show. Miracles may never cease. I’ll just skip this front bit of ep 9 in the future. I’m not really feeling the side couple either. But the damn premise is so strong and the leads are good (when they’re not overacting). Mame sure loves her tired old BL tropes like faen fatalle but she has (so far) managed to avoid her worst inclinations with this one. Will she stick the landing?

Meanwhile, the single most unrealistic thing in this whole show is that there are actual physical photos in that yearbook.

Flirt Milk (Sat YT) ep 7 or 10 - Well at least stuff is actually happening in all the relationships. The question is, do we care? Also, I have a terrible case of second lead syndrome, and I have from the very start. I just love that actor. (Oppa!) 

Ossan‘s Love Thailand (Mon YouTube) ep 9 of 12 - I see it’s the Thai tourist board mandated “get them out of Bangkok occasionally” episode.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Secret Relationships (Korea iQIYI) ep 2 of 8 - Ooo, the bloody nose trope! Haven’t seen that in ages. Ooo x2, toxic exes! But Korea flavored toxic rather than Thai toxic. Interesting. It’s more reserved and mean-spirited and stylishly cruel. I’m certainly intrigued. I quite like the main couple too, they’re awkwardly adorable. I love the way they keep swapping the care trope back and forth. The workplace gossip and family abuse was really hard to watch though. This show is packed full of stuff, all the relationships are complicated and slightly dysfunctional and codependent.

I like it a lot. 

Eternal Butler (Taiwan Fri Gaga) ep 12 end - This was basically a wrap-up ep, it didn’t advance the plot much. Still it was nice to see a show tackle the eternal youth situation head on. The voice over at the end from our robot who will not age talking about the way the world will perceive them as his lover does age, THAT made me tear up.

Last Downlaod

The story of a boy and his bodyguard/butler/robot falling in love. The robot is very queer and kind of kinky and mostly in charge. This dynamic feels a little healthier and less like indentured servitude than the previous installment in this series, but it’s still somewhat troubling in base concept. Nevertheless, casting a pro bodybuilder as the robot certainly help me to rise above my scruples. BL made me do it. I'm a terribly shallow human. Ultimately, I pronounce this show oddly charming - if you can overlook the implications of "just a robot who can't say no." 8/10 

FC Soldout (Korea Thurs iQIYI) ep 8 end - cute scaredy-cat kiss. Cute soft proper kisses too. I love these boys. Adorable confession. I cackled over the resulting dynamic. But the football captain and the idol are still my favorites. Gutted we got no smooches from them. This time, when our captain uses the word "exercise" baby boy, I don’t think he means the football form of exercise.

Final Score 

An oddly cute sports reunion romance, about an actor and a football player who meet again for convoluted reasons. Essentially one of them is an obsessed fan, and the other one has been pining since high school. So they're kinda stalking each other. They get together after some shenanigans. With a solid side couple it was only the parasocial relationship thing that wigged me out, but it really bothers me. Especially since, had it not been there, this might’ve been the sports BL of my dreams. 8/10

Fight for Love (Vietnam YT) ep 5 - Full of exes and faen fatales. 

Impression of Youth (Taiwan Weds Viki) ep 9 end - Frankly, if you date a kid you shouldn’t be surprised when he behaves like a kid.

PAUSE.

Is that?! OMG yes. That is Marcus Chang playing the role of the professor! I wonder if this means we might get him in a BL? I might just lose my tiny mind.

Summary  

An artist seeking inspiration goes to a beach town to teach where he falls in love with one of his students. An odd disjointed little show that managed to somehow overcomplicate a simple premise. What could’ve been elegant was instead fussy. Despite some expectedly good sex scenes, there wasn’t much chemistry between either pair. Chemistry might have carried this show but without those naked shoulders to ride on, there was no structure and less hope. 7/10

Checkered Shirt (Korea YT) ep 5 of 8 - Ouch. Denial is apparently a river in Korea. This is a bit realistic for my BL. OH WAIT. The story about a man in the closet is called The Checkered Shirt?! I see what you're doing there. Clever, little KBL. Clever.

Exclusive Love (Taiwan Fri Gaga) ep 5 of 12 - What tf is going on with this show? It’s wild but not in an appealing way, in a weird wet dish towel away. I get why @heretherebedork finds the crazy pining side couple appealing, but they’re too frustrating for me. I now mostly just love the sweetly unhinged little assistant.

It's airing but......

Gelboys (Thai Weds iQIYI) ep 1 of 7 - I’m giving this show a pass. It’s just too far out of my wheelhouse. I don’t have patience right now.

Sashes and Hearts (Pinoy YT) - Philippines is doing Drop Dead Gorgeous only all gay boys queening their asses off. Doesn't interst me, not sure if it's BL.

The Last Time (Thai WeTV) 8 eps - Looks dark so I'm giving it a pass until I know about the ending.

Last Meal Universe (Thailand Sun ????) 10 eps - An alien who has come to destroy earth instead falls in love with Thai food and then the Thai boy who cooks it - realistic, actually. I got a link to watch but it still wouldn't work for me, so I guess I'm waiting to see what happens.

In case you missed it...

Wattpad author talks about trying to make a Thai BL out of her KP fanfic (Allure of the Siren). Trailer here.

A Perfect Match (Taiwan iQIYI) - A not very well regarded Taiwanese sports BL from earlier this year picked up for rerelease. Reports from spies (hi twig!) are that this is a "sports BL that did everything it could to show no sport at all" and NOT good. So it's getting a pass from me.

Next Week Looks Like This:

3/12 My Golden Blood (Thailand Weds YouTube) 12 eps - Trailer. GMMTV taking on Weds nights and midweek discourse (they hope) with this hotly anticipated vampire series. I happen to find Joss watchable but this looks very bad and also very Kissable Lips. But at least Thailand is finally giving us the trashy gay vampires we richly deserve? Just realize we don't deserve much.

3/12 Lost in the Woods (Thailand Weds Gaga) 7 eps - Announced for 2023, adapted from a novel of the same name. Fifa just graduated high school and travels to a remote province to take care of his grandma, before starting uni. There he meets Chief Hem, a forest ranger.

Bah, how annoying. We don't usually have a slump this bad in the spring. What am I gonna do with myself?

Upcoming March 2025

3/20 Top Form (Thailand Thurs WeTV) 10 eps - Trailer. Adaptation of a Japanese manga starring Boom (Chains of Heart) opposite Smart (Don't Say No). Actor recognized as the "The Sexiest Man of the Year" has his first-place position usurped by newcomer. But while he sees them as rivals, turns out the new kid has other ideas. I'm super excited for this but hate watching on WeTV so gonna be a challenge.

3/28 Heesu in Class 2 (Korea Fri ????) 10 eps - Trailer. Adaption of the comic by Lily, about a shy unpopular boy with a secret crush on best friend who somehow also ends up his school's relationship counselor. Supposed to have completed filming in 2022, the fact this has been in dev hell since then somewhat mitigates this being my most anticipated BL of it's original year.

2025 Line Up

BL Announced for 2025 - PART 1

BL Announced for 2025 - PART 2

20 BLs Announced for 2025 That I'm Really Excited About

GMMTV 2025 Line Up - My Totally Biased and Wildly Flawed Feels

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

Aside from that idol boyfriend claiming?!

Yeah ThamePo ate this week. No room in brain or heart for others.

Not that it matter right now. Things are lackluster and dire.

(last week)

The tag BLigade: @doorajar @solitaryandwandering @my-rose-tinted-glasses @babymbbatinygirl @babymbbatinygirl @isisanna-blog @mmastertheone @pickletrip @aliceisathome @urikawa-miyuki @tokillamonger @sunflower-positiiivity @rocketturtle4 @blglplus @anythinggoesintheshire @everlightly @renafire @mestizashinrin @bl-bam-beyond @small-dark-and-delicious @saezurumurmurs

[idrawweirdstuffnominors]

So I've decided to reread the comics for the upteeth time and it got me thinking, how do you think the tec would react to having a s/o that's just as toxic and degenerate as them >:3c

(Lol them meeting their match is gonna be- Oh boy)

Bill Dickey x equally toxic/degenerate S/O:

Bill wouldn’t just like a partner who’s as rotten as him—he’d worship the ground they stomped on, at least at first. He’s the kind of guy who wants a partner who can match his rage rant for rage rant, quote obscure media just as obnoxiously, and humiliate others in the name of "fandom superiority." If you're verbally destroying some poor soul online while yelling about canon continuity errors, he'd probably say, “That’s my girl/guy/them!” with tears in his eyes.

But here’s the thing—Bill is a control freak. He sees himself as the alpha nerd in any room. So when his partner starts out-toxic-ing him, stealing his thunder during a nerd tirade, or calling him out on his hypocritical gatekeeping? Oh boy. That’s when the fireworks start.

He’d be:

Enraged, but also weirdly flustered.

Petty as hell. Like purposely misquoting your favorite sci-fi monologue just to piss you off.

Constantly trying to one-up you, even in mutual destruction.

Arguments would be legendary. You’d both yell until someone’s voice cracks and someone else’s collectibles get flung across the room. Then you’d probably hate-makeout or angrily binge-watch Babylon 5 like nothing happened.

And yet, despite (or because of) the toxicity, he'd brag about you to others like:

> “You wouldn’t get it, Jerry. My s/o’s real. They threw a slur at a Funko Pop collector once. I almost proposed.”

Bill wouldn’t admit it out loud but you have his ass whipped and you are his worst enemy, but he'd need someone just as messed up as him to feel less like a loser. Someone who validates his degeneracy and still somehow sticks around. It'd be co-dependent, angry, and probably end in broken furniture—but he'd secretly consider it the most meaningful connection he's ever had.

Josh x equally toxic/degenerate S/O:

Josh is the kind of guy who thinks he wants a sweet, understanding partner who “gets” him—but when he actually ends up with someone who’s just as bitter, neurotic, and fandom-addicted as he is? He spirals.

You two would be that couple who get kicked out of comic book shops for arguing about canon loud enough to scare the employees. You’d both spew venom online under different usernames, then gas each other up like:

> “That takedown post you made about that guy who likes the Abrams Trek movies? That was beautiful. I left a comment with a .GIF.”

He’d act all defensive and cranky when you’re around others—bragging about how your relationship is based on “mutual intellectual superiority”—but deep down, he’s addicted to the chaos. You'd enable each other’s worst habits. Obsessive collecting. Screaming fights over which anime arc sucked more. Using fandom as a weapon in your actual relationship fights.

But Josh is insecure. Big time.

If you ever criticize him the way you do the rest of the world, it’d cut him deep. He'd lash out with one of his self-righteous, borderline-incoherent rants, calling you a “fake nerd elitist dilettante traitor” (yes, he’d say all that in one breath). Then sulk for three days while obsessively rewatching DS9 and quoting Garak at you passive-aggressively.

Still, he'd be helplessly attached. Even when things get toxic, he’d need you around like a comfort blanket he can also scream at.

You’d probably:

Get in fights at conventions and high-five about it later.

Argue about ethics in game journalism during making out

Make each other mixtapes full of spiteful punk songs and anime OSTs. And classical star wars sound tracks.

At the end of the day, he'd rather fight with someone who gets him than be with someone who doesn’t care about the real stuff. You’re poison in the same flavor. And he’s never letting go.

Pete x equally toxic/degenerate S/O:

At first? Pete is in heaven.

He meets someone who rants about “casuals” and punches holes in Funko Pop boxes with the same fire he has? Someone who lights up like a Molotov cocktail when someone says “I liked the live-action adaptation”? He’s into it.

> “Yo, my s/o threatened to spit in a guy’s eye for calling Alien 3 underrated. That’s f***in’ hot.”

He’d act like the mature one in public, rolling his eyes when you go on a tirade—but the moment you’re alone? He’s telling you how cool it was, laughing with you while you both trash on someone’s fandom take like a roast session from hell.

But here’s the catch: Pete wants to think he’s better than everyone, including you, sometimes. If you get too toxic, outshine him, or drag him into your messes?

He’ll get defensive. Like:

> “Why the hell would you post that? Now they’re gonna think I agree with you! Jesus, babe, tone it down—”

Which is rich coming from the guy who once threw a Slurpee at someone for misquoting Army of Darkness.

Still, he’d never fully stop you. You’re his chaos twin. The Tiffany to his angry Chucky. He respects that you don’t take sh*t and that you’ll always take his side—even when he’s objectively wrong. (Which is, let’s be real, often.)

You two would:

Chain-smoke after vicious internet fights like war buddies.

Laugh meanly at cosplayers you hate together.

Have intense, hormonal-charged arguments about whether practical effects are superior (you agree—but still fight anyway).

There’d be some real loyalty under all that aggression. Pete’s the type to stand behind his s/o in a bar fight, even if it was your fault. Especially if it was your fault.

And if someone else insults you?

> “Hey, I can call them a self-righteous poser. You can’t. Say that again and I’ll staple your tongue to a box set of The Thing.”

In short? It’s loud, it’s petty, it’s defensive—but somehow, it works. Against all odds, Pete finds love in a mirror made of nerd rage and bad coping mechanisms.

Jerry x equally toxic/degenerate S/O:

At first, Jerry would act like he’s above it.

> “I mean… yeah, my partner gets a little heated online, but it’s just because they care about integrity in fandom, you know? They’re really passionate.”

Meanwhile, you’re live-tweeting death threats to someone who said Evangelion was “mid.”

Secretly? He’s obsessed with you.

You're the only person who makes him feel seen. You watch hentai and don’t flinch. You roast bad animation and toxic fan communities with surgical precision. You quote Berserk at him during foreplay. He’s sweating. He’s trembling. He’s yours.

But he’s also deeply insecure.

When you start getting more attention than him in fandom spaces? Or when you make jokes about his creepy little figure collection he’s pretending isn’t creepy? He’ll get all sulky and weird about it.

> “It’s not, like, weird to have a full resin cast of Ryoko from Tenchi Muyo. It’s art. And the panties came like that.”

He’s the type to spiral emotionally if you call him out, then try to guilt-trip you with his “sensitive guy” schtick. But you, being just as rotten, clap back harder. Suddenly he’s flustered and crying.

Still, your relationship would thrive in the shadows. You’d spend nights:

Watching trashy OVA VHS tapes from the ‘90s while you both pretend it’s for “aesthetic.”

Arguing about which magical girl transformation was more badass.

Co-writing long, disturbing fanfiction under anonymous handles—then reading it to each other in bed.

You both would Build each other OP Magic the gathering decks.

Jerry is pathetic, but with an equally degenerate s/o? He’s emboldened. Enabled. You let him be a little freak without judgment, and that’s more love than he’s ever gotten.

He’d never leave. He’s too scared he’ll never find someone who can both match his depravity and bully him just enough to feel alive.

[princessbrunette]

after rewatching s1 and seeing rafe manhandle sarah and kie it makes me think about how differently the obx boys would do it with reader in a high pressure situation like the one at the outdoor theatre or say the girls and reader get into a petty argument.

rafe’s making it a point to his girl the he’s not above making a scene in a place that considers him king - and naturally doesn’t want to be seen as a pushover with his gf in public - so he’s a little rougher with her and a lot more dominant in his body language by towering over her

jj’s a little more blazé, but is making a point to stand his ground in the more casual dominance sense by defusing his girlfriend. like “yeah, okay mama, time to wrap this shit up.” then hoisting her up over his shoulder. giving cheeky ass pinches if she continues to try wrestle free.

john b feels like a rambler, gently holding his girl by the wrist or waist, slowly but surely walking them back from the situation. continuing to reassure her that “it’s fine, we’re gonna go home now - i know what happened but we move on, c’mon the twinkie’s parked over there.”

this is so real. i think rafe’s patience is a lot more thin than anyone else’s which doesn’t exclude you, so if you’re making a scene and it’s not about something he particularly cares about he’s gonna just get irritated by the whole thing and drag you away. i can see him lifting you with his arm around your waist, just walking away whilst you continue cussing and yelling. will chuck you down once you’re at a safe distance and spit out a lazy “‘fucks gotten into you, huh?”

jj’s is sooo correct too. but i feel like he’d be just as pissed off as you are so he’s making an active decision to try and be the reasonable one. he’s probably glaring at who you’re fighting with, tongue in his cheek, but as soon as he hears your voice crack like you’re getting upset he starts to nudge you away cos he knows it’s not worth it. “c’mon, walk away. walk away mama. not worth it, trust me.” i think he’d give your back a little rub as you storm away at his side though to try and subtly calm you down.

i can definitely see john b being a wrist grabber. maybe you even try and take a swipe at this girl but he quickly yanks your wrist back and gives you that stern wide eyed- raised brows combo and a gentle voice. “hey, we’re not doing that today. remember? laying low. think it’s time we leave, don’t you?” hmm