#i wish i never dated anyone and just focused on friendships. but if i did that i wouldn't have my beloved friends i have now

[jadeneppy]

Blwh

[f1byjessie]

HE LIKES MY AMERICAN SMILE ━━ OP81.

love is a wild ride, and logan sargeant's sister is about to find this out the hard way.

( oscar piastri x sargeant!reader )

━━ part three.

“Are you sure this is gonna work?” You look down at the post. The photos, carefully taken a few nights ago while getting ready for a dinner gala you’d been brought along to as Sophia’s plus one, are pretty. She and you had scrolled and sorted and scrolled and sorted some more trying to pick the perfect ones, and then you’d written and rewritten the caption more times than you could count before finally settling on something vague but faintly implicit.

You study it for a moment longer, then look back up to your friend.

She smirks. “Trust me. It'll work. I got an ex-boyfriend to come crawling back begging for another chance by making him think I was already moving on.”

“It just seems… mean,” you murmur, frowning. You want Oscar to like you— you want it a lot— but you're not sure if this is the way you want to go about it. “Isn’t this just manipulating him?”

Sophia sighs and falls back onto the bed beside you. She gives you a look, gestures down to your phone, and then curls around your shoulder so she can peer down at the screen. “It’s not a soft launch. There’s no guy. The caption doesn’t mention anyone. If he gets the impression that you’re with someone else, then that’s on him.”

You trust her, of course, but this is Oscar. You’ve known him for years. He’s your brother’s best friend, and for the longest time, he was the closest thing you had to a best friend too. As twins, anything Logan did you tended to do with him— soccer, swimming, biking. You even had shared birthday parties growing up. Karting was the first real thing he’d done on his own, but even then you’d always been close by, and that meant you’d always been close by to Oscar too.

Like she can sense your continued hesitation, Sophia speaks up again. “If you post that, and he doesn’t react, then that’s that. You don’t have to do it again.”

“I just— I don’t know.” You worry your lip between your teeth. “I just don’t think it’s the type of thing that he’d go for. He’s, you know, polite like that, I guess? If he thought I was taken, or moving on, or something, then he’d respect that and wouldn’t bother me.”

The silence hangs in the room. She’s still leaning against you, one hand rubbing your shoulder comfortingly and the other hugging you into her. When you stand, she lets you go easily, watching as you begin to pace the length of your bedroom, phone clenched tightly in your hands.

When you finally come to a halt in the corner farthest from the bed, you turn and meet her gaze shyly, “What if he stops ‘maybe’ having feelings for me because he thinks I'm taken? Or, what if he thinks I’m not interested and so he doesn’t ever bring it up?”

“Then you take one for the team and you tell him,” she shrugs. “Woman up and admit that the entire time you were out in that fancy dress of yours with those roses, you’d wished it was him who had gotten them for you and you’d wanted it to be him you were getting dressed up for.”

You look back down to your phone.

You’ve never done this before— boys, at least. The chase. Europe hadn’t been a very easy place to live— not with a schedule that made keeping friends virtually impossible, let alone a boyfriend. When you moved back to the United States, you were focused more on your career, prioritizing yourself over anything else.

You’d been single for so long that you hadn’t been in any hurry to change things, but now the lack of experience is making you nervous. Apart from movies and books and the borderline horror stories Sophia has told you about her own disastrous love life, you don’t know the first thing about dating.

“Y/N, is this about Oscar or something else?”

You look up, still biting at your lip. “What if we break up and I’ve ruined a friendship?”

Sophia raises an eyebrow, “Is he the kind of guy that would throw away a friendship because things didn’t work out?”

“I don’t know! That’s the problem! I wanna say no, that he’d be totally fine and we would be able to pretend like nothing happened and go back to how we were before it all, but I can’t,” you cross the room and lower yourself onto the bed again. “Context matters too. What if it’s a really messy breakup and we can never look at each other the same? What if he does something so unforgivable that it ruins his friendship with my brother? Logan worked hard to make friends and this first season was rough for him. He’s the only American driver on the grid, and they weren’t exactly welcoming. But Oscar was there for him and I would never forgive myself if I did something to ruin that.”

“What could Oscar do that would be so unforgivable it would ruin a friendship?”

You fall back onto the mattress. “I don’t know that either! Realistically he wouldn’t do anything because that’s just who he is— he’s like the nicest most genuinely sweet guy I’ve ever met. But I’m not a fortune teller! I can’t look into the future and know that he won’t get tired of me and go find some other girl, or, I don’t know.”

You can feel tears burning at the back of your eyes and wipe at them harshly.

Sophia notices and lays down beside you, pulling you into her side again. She runs her fingers through your hair and lets you compose yourself a bit more before she speaks up again. When she does, it’s— “You’re so afraid of the worst-case scenario that you aren’t even letting yourself take the chance. Sometimes you just gotta leap before you look and believe that you’ll land on solid ground.”

“I hate when you get philosophical on me,” you murmur, a soft laugh slipping past your lips.

She sits back up and rolls her eyes, but there’s a gentle smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Puh-lease. As if you’d ever get anything done without my wizened words of advice.”

You sniffle and wipe the last remnants of tears from your eyes, then sit up with her and look back down at your phone. The unfinished post still stares back up at you.

“What if I just—” you delete the caption for the umpteenth time and let your fingers dance across the screen, “—say this instead?”

Sophia leans over your shoulder, reads the new caption, pauses, and purses her lips. She reads it again, hums, and then breaks out into a grin. An incredulous laugh slips out and she turns to you with shining eyes. “You’re a damn genius! I knew you were worried over nothing. You just gotta stop getting into your head so much.”

INSTAGRAM.

liked by logansargeant, landonorris, and 12,827 others

yourusername honey, i’m still free. take a chance on me.

view all 7,631 comments

user WHAT???

user IS THIS A SOFT LAUNCH???

↳ user she’s literally saying she’s still free?? why would she say that if this is a soft launch?? 😭😭

logansargeant should’ve taken me with you 😒

↳ yourusername logie we both know you hate black tie events

user girl idk how you can do it i’d be spilling out of that dress with one wrong turn

user THE ROSES?? THE BABY’S BREATH?? I’M SO NORMAL ABOUT THIS

landonorris slay girl queen boss

↳ yourusername lando… what…

↳ landonorris i’m in my supportive era 😌💅 you should try it sometime

user i NEED to know where that dress is from omg

user oh to be a young rich and beautiful socialite

user not to be delulu but there’s a surprising lack of op81 in these comments 👀

INSTAGRAM.

liked by landonorris, mclaren, and 429,868 others

oscarpiastri it’s summer somewhere right?

view all 1,021 comments

landonorris hm this caption seems familiar 🤨 i wonder what it could be referencing 🤔

user GOOD LUCK IN 2024 OSCAR 🧡🧡🧡

user wishing this were me rn

user i’m too delulu for this rn 😭

↳ user i’m waiting for y/n to show up in these comments

↳ user did they have a fight or smth??? they haven’t commented on each other’s last few posts

user gosh that’s the dream rn

When you answer the unknown number, on your way back to your room with a tub of ice cream and a plan to eat away your disappointment at the failure of Sophia’s plan, the last thing you expect is to hear Lando Norris of all people on the other end. There’s no greeting, no introduction, just an immediate— “Yeah, so, I’m gonna need you to fill me in on the sitch.”

For a brief moment, all you can do is stand there in the hallway with your phone pressed to your ear, wondering if this is real. You’ve had maybe a few brief conversations with Lando throughout your various visits to the paddock across the season, and though he was very nice and polite, and all of your interactions were friendly, you wouldn’t exactly call yourself friends. Certainly not “swap numbers and call one another” type of friends, either. Your most recent socializing has been strictly confined to the comment sections of Instagram posts.

“Hello? Y/N?”

You clear your throat, “Sorry. What?”

“The sitch? Situation? That’s an American slang word, I thought you knew that.” He says it so matter-of-factly. As if that’s the only thing you could be even remotely confused about in this whole interaction.

“No,” you answer, shaking your head as if it’ll somehow straighten out the spinning of your mind. “I know what the word means, Lando. I’m just wondering why you of all people are calling me right now? How’d you even get my number?”

You can hear music and voices on the other end of the line, muffled and distant, and then a door opens and closes and the extra noise is gone. Lando takes a deep breath and sighs, “If you must know, I got it from Alex, who got it from Lily, who got it from you. So, you know, transitive property means technically I got it from you, too.”

“I’m gonna choose to ignore how wrong all of that is,” you mutter, pinching the bridge of your nose as you continue down the hall and eventually slip into your room, shutting the door quietly behind you.

You do recall giving your number to Lily, and the two of you have shared a few messages since the end of the season— mostly typical check-ins and catching up with the happenings of your individual lives. Occasionally she sends you recipes she thinks you’d like, and you do the same. You knew she’d given it to Alex because she’d asked you first if that was okay, and all Alex had sent was a brief well-wishes when Williams had confirmed Logan’s re-signing, accompanied by a short message that Lily was looking forward to seeing you in the paddock again.

Ignoring all of that, however, you focus on the matter at hand. “Why are you calling? Isn’t it crazy late in Monaco right now?”

He hums. “I’m the slightest bit tipsy, but I cannot take it anymore. If I see one more caption with underlying subtext like this is a forbidden romance in a period drama I am going to, quite frankly, lose my mind. I need you to explain to me what in the fuck is going on between you and Oscar.”

You pause, and then you groan. “Oh my God.”

“Yes, ‘oh my God’ indeed. Now please explain.”

You heave a sigh, because you know he isn’t going to drop this, but you also know that if anyone could help you more than Sophia, it’s probably Lando. He’s Oscar’s teammate, and at the very least, if you can’t talk to Logan, you can talk to the only other person who probably knows him just as well.

“It’s a long story,” you mumble, curling up in your bed.

He makes a sound, like a scoff. “Okay? I have plenty of time.”

So you start from the beginning. Between spoonfuls of chocolate ice cream, you detail how it all started because of a message of condolence, how that had led to a rendezvous for drinks, and how that had led even further to him kissing you in the car as he’d dropped you off at your hotel.

He’s silent up until you mention that Oscar hadn’t acknowledged the kiss at all afterward, and then he makes an affronted noise and mutters something under his breath about stupid guys and heads in asses.

You admit that part of it was your own fault, that you hadn’t attempted to communicate either because you’d been afraid of the reaction and potentially the rejection, but that you’d been kicking yourself ever since for missing out on being able to talk face to face about things when you’d had the chance.

It all culminates in you explaining your current situation, and you tell him about your talk with Sophia and then your friend’s self-proclaimed mastermind plan, which had failed spectacularly when Oscar hadn’t even seen the post.

When you’re finished, there’s a moment of silence before he bursts into laughter.

You flush red in embarrassment and hug the tub of ice cream closer to your chest, feeling miserable and ashamed, but also like you deserve it all anyway. The tub isn’t freezing cold anymore, but the chill still seeps in through your shirt faintly, and it’s comforting against the heated blush.

“Sorry,” he says when his cackling has died down to chuckles. “I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you. I actually do want to help. I genuinely can’t take one more post with a caption that’s all thinly veiled pining.”

You pause, fiddle with your spoon for a moment, and then hesitantly ask— “Do you know if he likes me?”

Lando goes quiet, and then he hums and admits that he doesn’t. “But,” he adds quickly, “just because I don’t have total confirmation doesn’t mean it isn’t basically obvious. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I know Oscar.”

You sigh, “But how are you going to help? You can’t just ask.”

“I don’t need to,” he answers, like you’re crazy for thinking he’d do something like that. “I’ve got a plan.”

Great. You run a hand down your face and try to stay optimistic. Another plan.

━━ tags: @f1-is-lovely-33 @chasing-liberosis @405rry

━━ a/n: a bit more writing heavy this part, and a bit longer because of it, but i'm proud of how it turned out! we're finally getting somewhere, and now we've got lando joining the team. genuinely had so much fun writing him, so i'm excited to feature him in future parts!

[poisonlove]

so I have a request! Jenna x fem.reader, these two are long time best friends, reader knows that she is in love with jenna and for a distraction she start to date e boy. jenna are really jealous and then I need angst, drama but a happy ending mit fluff!

FRIENDS

Pairing: Jenna Ortega X Fem!reader

Status: request

Warning: fluff

Jenna and I had been friends forever.

A friendship that seemed destined to last forever, full of laughter, adventures, and confidences. We knew everything about each other and complemented each other in ways that no one else could understand.

But lately, the way I looked at Jenna had changed.

I noticed that my heart raced faster when she laughed at my jokes, and my stomach filled with butterflies every time our eyes met. My feelings for her had become deeper, more complex, more romantic.

However, I had never found the courage to tell her.

The fear of ruining our friendship, of losing her, held me back every time I tried to speak.

My distraction began when I started dating Luca.

He was kind, caring, and made me feel special.

But he wasn't Jenna.

He could never be.

Despite Luca being a great guy, I often found myself thinking about how it would be if Jenna were holding my hand, smiling at me from across the table.

His laughter didn’t have the same effect, and his hugs didn’t bring the same comfort. Every date with Luca made me wish Jenna were in his place.

Jenna, on the other hand, seemed more and more distant, and it hurt.

And I especially didn't understand why.

At first, I thought it was just a period of stress or fatigue from work on the set, but over time, I noticed she avoided our meetings, found excuses not to go out with me, and, when she did, she was always distracted, lost in her thoughts.

I tried to talk to her, to understand what was happening, but she would smile and change the subject, reassuring me that everything was fine.

But I knew it wasn’t true.

I sighed and rubbed my eyes, trying to ease the fatigue. It was midnight and I had to finish a report I had neglected all week.

The papers scattered on the desk and the computer full of data reminded me that I had to get it done. As I tried to focus, my phone suddenly rang, interrupting the silence.I looked up from the screen, surprised by the late-night call.

With a distracted movement, I picked up the phone and saw that it was Emma calling me.

“Hey, Emma?” I answered, trying to hide my exhaustion. “Do you need something?”

The background music was so loud that I had difficulty hearing Emma’s voice.

“You need to come here,” she murmured, worried. “Jenna is beside herself. She’s drunk too much and I’m afraid she might go into alcohol poisoning.”

My heart began to race.

“Where are you?” I asked, searching for my car keys on the desk.

“At George’s house,” Emma replied, distressed.

“I’ll see you there in five minutes,” I said, ending the call.

I arrived at George's house and the party was in full swing.

The deafening music, pumped out by a DJ in the corner of the living room, made the walls and floor vibrate. The crowd was dense and animated, boys and girls dancing closely together, lost in the powerful bass and captivating melodies. The air was thick with the pungent smell of smoke and the sweet aroma of alcohol, with clouds of vapor mixing above the heads of the attendees.

In the middle of the room, a beer pong table was surrounded by excited spectators who cheered and encouraged the players, laughter and shouts filling the air. On a sofa, a group of friends was engaged in animated conversations, while some exchanged passionate kisses in various corners of the room.

My attention was focused on finding Emma.

I caught sight of her near the kitchen, with a look of frustration and worry on her face. I made my way through the crowd, gently pushing to clear a path, until I reached her.

"You're finally here!" Emma exclaimed over the noise, pulling me towards her.

"Jenna won't listen to anyone."

"Where is she?" I asked, scanning the direction Emma indicated.

"In the kitchen," Emma said, grabbing my wrist and leading me through the chaos.

The kitchen was somewhat quieter than the rest of the house, though the music was still audible in the background. I saw Jenna sitting on a table, with a half-empty bottle of vodka next to her. Her head was resting on her arm, and her face clearly showed the signs of a night of excess.

"Jenna," I said, kneeling beside her.

"What are you doing?"

Jenna slowly lifted her gaze, her eyes hazy and confused.

She looked at me with a silly smile before recognizing me. "Is it you?" she slurred, reaching out a hand towards me.I felt myself blush under her touch but tried to remain calm.

"Yes, I came to get you," I said in a steady voice, even though my heart was pounding.

Jenna's smile quickly faded, and she tried to get up from the table, swaying.

"Why aren't you with Luca? He's perfect, right?" she said with a hint of bitterness in her voice.

I bit my lower lip, trying to stay calm.

"Jenna, don't do this."

She grabbed the vodka bottle angrily. "I don't care," she muttered. "Leave me alone."

I grabbed the bottle, taking it from her hands.

"Enough, Jenna. You can't keep going like this."

She stared at me, her anger turning into pain. "Why do you care so much?" she asked, her voice trembling.

I looked into her eyes, trying to convey all my sincerity.

"Because I can't stand to see you like this."

Jenna stared at me for a long moment, then she let herself lean against me. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Her arms wrapped around my waist.

I turned to Emma, seeking a solution. "Can we go upstairs?" I asked, hoping for a bit more privacy and calm.

Emma nodded quickly. "Sure, let's use the guest room. Follow me."

With difficulty, I supported Jenna as Emma led us up the stairs.

Each step was hard, Jenna swaying and struggling to maintain her balance. The noise of the party seemed to fade as we moved away from the chaos of the ground floor.

Finally, we reached the guest room.

It was a small, quiet room with soft lighting and a neatly made bed.

I gently laid Jenna down on the bed, trying to be as gentle as possible while she complained about her discomfort.

"Sss, it's going to be okay," I whispered, gently stroking her hair.

Jenna looked at me with glassy eyes, her iris almost completely obscured by her dilated pupils. Even though her gaze was clouded by alcohol, there was a depth of emotion that I couldn't ignore. I realized I was studying her features, captivated by a beauty that, even in that state, shone brightly. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her disheveled hair falling in disarray over her delicate features, and her full, plump lips seemed almost inviting.

Without meaning to, my gaze fell on her lips. I felt a sudden wave of warmth that made my cheeks flush and my heartbeat quicken. I tried to look away, the embarrassment growing inside me, but every time I attempted to shift my focus, I inevitably found myself drawn back to her.

"I'll get you an aspirin," I said awkwardly, trying to move away to regain control of my emotions.

But before I could get up from the bed, Jenna grabbed my hand, holding it tightly.

"No, don't go," she murmured, her eyes filled with an intensity I had never seen before."Jenna, you need to rest," I said softly, but she shook her head, gripping my hand even more tightly.

"I have to tell you something," she insisted, her voice slurred by alcohol but full of determination. "I... I love you, Y/N. I've always loved you. It hurts to see you with someone else."

My heart ached at her words, but the fact that she was so drunk made me doubt her sincerity.

"Jenna, you're drunk. You don’t know what you're saying."

Anger flashed in her eyes, and in an instant, Jenna grabbed the collar of my shirt, pulling me towards her.

"Don’t you dare tell me I don’t know what I’m saying," she hissed, her gaze burning with emotion. "I love you, Y/N/N. And I hate seeing you with Luca."

I was taken aback by the sudden clarity in her voice and the sharpness of her gaze, which starkly contrasted with her drunken state. There was no slurring or confusion; her words were firm and incisive, and the way she looked at me seemed laden with a truth I couldn't ignore.

My heart raced, and the intensity of her words caught me off guard.

I tried to respond, but the words seemed stuck in my throat, unable to find an appropriate answer to her confession. The atmosphere between us grew charged, while Jenna continued to look at me with unwavering, determined eyes.

She looked at me with fury and then, without warning, kissed me forcefully.

The kiss tasted of alcohol, a mix of vodka and desperation, and for a moment, I let myself be overwhelmed by the intensity of her emotions.

Her lips were warm and insistently pressed against mine.

Jenna started to increase the intensity, her hands trying to remove my shirt. I looked at her with wide eyes, my heart racing.

"Jenna, wait..." I tried to say, but her hands, feverish and impatient, didn’t stop.

Her determination and the heat of her touch made me uneasy.

I could feel my heart pounding, and my body wasn’t sure whether to reject her advance.

"I don’t know if I should..." I said, my voice trembling. "This isn’t the right time."

Jenna looked at me with intensity, the pain and passion in her eyes palpable.

"Don’t you understand how much I’ve thought about you?" she whispered, her voice laden with desperation. "I can’t bear to see you with someone else. You’re everything to me, Y/N."

Her glassy and penetrating gaze fixed on me with an unexpected clarity, as if every word was a fragment of raw truth that I couldn’t ignore. Her words intertwined with the depth of her look, creating a palpable tension that filled the air around us.

Despite the intensity of the moment, I still felt unsure.

"Jenna, I don’t know if I can do this..." I said, my voice trembling.

Confusion and uncertainty overwhelmed me, and the fear of making a mistake held me back.Sensing my conflict, Jenna moved closer slowly, her expression growing softer and more pleading.

"Please," she whispered, her hands still trembling as they caressed my face. "I don’t want to lose you. I only want you, Y/N."

The warmth of her hand on my skin and the sincerity in her voice began to melt my reservations. Her eyes, though clouded by alcohol, were filled with a truth I couldn’t ignore. I felt my heart quicken, my mind wrestling between reason and desire.

After a moment of hesitation, I moved closer to Jenna, my breath shortening as I tried to navigate between the confusion and the attraction I felt. The decision to give in to the moment became inevitable, and with my heart pounding, I moved towards her, preparing to confront the truth of my feelings.

Our lips touched initially with tenderness, as if it were a timid and uncertain exploration. But soon, the contact grew more intense, her lips pressing against mine with a gentle yet determined pressure, as if trying to convey everything she couldn’t express in words.

My hands move quickly, grabbing the edges of her dress and pulling it off with a decisive gesture. Jenna giggles, surprised and amused by my sudden gesture.

“So desperate,” she says, with a mischievous tone and a playful look, as I reach for her neck, kissing it fervently.

"But listen, five minutes ago you were begging me and now you're acting innocent?" I murmur shyly against her skin, Jenna's laughter soon replaced by moans of pleasure.

Jenna's hand moves closer to my neck, pulling me further towards her, increasing the intensity of the contact.

I stop kissing her neck and pull away slightly, looking at Jenna with sudden apprehension.

“You're sure, right?” I ask, my embarrassment evident.

Jenna smiles at me with an expression full of confidence and desire. “I've never been more confident,” she replies, her smile bright.

[jadeylovesmarvelxo]

Part one here

Eddie Munson x Reader

Steve Harrington x reader (not for long)

I hope you all enjoy part two 💞💞

❤️

Get over it. Those three words were permanently etched in your mind the last few days. Eddie's furious gaze and the venom behind his words.

The words sink in slowly but when you do it's like you can't think of anything else. You had to get over your feelings for Eddie and make them disappear so you didn't ruin your friendship with him over this.

Even with him being mean it was obviously something that you needed to hear. There was no use being a bitch to Emery, she liked Eddie and you could never fault anyone for that, could never fault Eddie for having a modicum of happiness in a town that was such a bitch to him.

You needed to hear Eddie say what he said, it had shocked you into realising that you couldn't spend the rest of your life mooning over him.

Get over it. Get over your feelings. That's what you would need to do. How you would do it was another question. One that played on your mind all week.

Mostly you avoided Eddie. Didn't want to see that annoyed look in his eyes aimed at you or hear the harshness of his voice. It was on Friday that you were offered a solution to your worries at Hellfire club.

Since you missed last week there was no way that you could miss another session, so with slight trepidation, you head into the drama room. Eddie's eyes snap up as you approach the table and he clears his throat.

"Where were you last week? We were a player down. Had to ask Sinclair's sister to step in" You smile and wish you could have seen that. Erica would be a great addition to Hellfire, she was as focused and brutal as you were at the game.

"Sorry, headache" his gaze is still on you and you do your best to avoid his curiosity. For the first time, you're grateful when Emery comes bounding up to him and chatting excitedly about some movie and wanted to see.

Then she's gone again and it's just you and Eddie alone, "I haven't seen you much this week?" He points out and you shrug and say you've been busy.

The rest of Hellfire joins you and Eddie to your relief and also shock, between Dustin and Mike was a very nervous-looking Steve Harrington. What was he doing here?

Dustin wastes no time in telling Eddie that Steve is here to join in for a session. He sounds so excited which is sweet and Steve to his credit musters up enough enthusiasm. This can't be his idea of fun so the fact that he's doing this for Dustin is pretty adorable.

Eddie seems fine with letting Steve join as a guest, though he does mutter that he never thought he'd see a king grace the freaks liar.

You make sure Steve is comfortable throughout and joke with him when he seems anxious. He's good at missions, loyal and a hero as a character.

He's also a huge flirt. It takes you a little bit to notice but when you do it leaves you flustered, Steve was handsome and he wanted to flirt with you? That was something you never expected.

Dustin noticed and eventually so did Eddie, you could see his patience thinning towards the end when Steve was flirting with your character pretty heavily. "This is a campaign, not a dating session" Eddie snaps and Steve winks at you.

You don't notice the way Eddie's eyes darken at the sight but even if you did it's not like it meant anything.

💞

Eddie has never been a fan of Steve Harrington. King Steve. Sure the guy seemed to have come a long way since graduating high school but Eddie still didn't like him. He couldn't believe that Harrington of all people was a great guy, no matter how much Dustin insisted that Steve was a badass.

It was the little butthead that got you and Steve talking, Dustin had begged him to join a Hellfire session and Steve agreed albeit reluctantly. He showed up looking nervous and actually anxious to impress Henderson.

That was fine, Eddie could deal with Steve in his orbit if it made Dustin happy. Maybe Steve was a decent guy after all?

It took Eddie an hour into the session to shake off those good natured feelings because for the last ten minutes Steve has flirted with you, in and out of character.

He's only bothered because it distracts from the game. That's why he's so snippy with you and Steve. It has nothing to do with the dreamy look that you give Harrington. Nothing.

Then Hellfire ends and Monday arrives and you're giddy, almost bouncing off the walls and for the first time in over a week you aren't avoiding him.

"Someone's in a good mood" Gareth grins and Mike makes a face. "Ugh don't. She was on the phone with Nancy all of Sunday swooning about Steve while Nancy was crowing about Jonathan, gross" Eddie feels something sour inside of him but puts it down to the after-effects of still being annoyed that Harrington was distracting you from the game on Friday.

"Oh yeah dude, Steve told me about the date" Dustin smiles and begins teasing you. Date. One word that rings in Eddie's ear. You had a date with Steve Harrington?

"We're going to a movie tonight. He's sweet. I like him" Mike and Jeff pretend to fake gag while Lucas rolls his eyes and Dustin looks annoyed at their reactions.

"Steve, you're going on dates with Steve Harrington?" Eddie repeats himself and you beam at him.

"Yes, like I said. He's sweet"

Eddie does not spend the entire day stunned and maybe a tiny bit annoyed that you've fallen for Harrington's charms.

He does not spend all of Thursday bemoaning to Emery when Steve picks you up every day after school and he does not feel like he's been punched in the gut when he sees a hickey on your neck.

No he doesn't. Nope.

Except he does and he doesn't know why the thought of you and Steve keeps him up at night.

💞

Eddie was being weird. It had been that way since last Friday when Steve joined Hellfire but it has kicked up a notch since then.

It escalated even more when Eddie walked in on you and Steve making out on your bed, Steve's arms wrapped around your waist as you sat on his knee. He was shirtless and moaning softly in your ear.

There was a yelp, startled you look up then lock eyes with Eddie who had a faint blush on his cheeks and the strangest expression.

"Sorry, shit. Didn't know you were here Harrington" he practically flies out of the door and you follow him.

"Eds you okay?" He's at the bottom of the stairs and his face is pale, eyes blank and there's a tenseness to the way he stands. He swallows and nods.

"Fine princess. Just didn't realise Steve was here" you shrug and hold a finger to your lips in a shushing motion.

"Shh, the parents don't know that. He snuck in through my window" you expect Eddie to laugh but he's still so quiet and lets out a strangled huff.

"Scandalous" he smirks but his big brown eyes give away his mood. You pause as you take in his expression but he moves away before you can say anything or maybe it's because Steve comes down the stairs while tugging on his shirt.

"I should go, honey, I'll see you tomorrow yeah?" you nod and Eddie is still quiet. He's watching after Steve as he goes with a frown on his face.

"I brought over a movie we could watch. If you want" he holds up the video and you nod eagerly, you're anxious to put this tension behind you and Eddie before it strains your friendship (more than it had been strained already)

So you watch the movie and things are still awkward but it's fine. It will all be fine right?

💞

Steve and Eddie do not get on. In fact, you're pretty sure the dislike is mutual on both sides. There's a party that Chrissy has thrown and you're there with Steve. Eddie is skulking around while doing deals and you can feel his eyes on you several times.

Emery isn't with him which you find strange as usually they are attached at the hip. Steve stiffens and you notice Eddie is walking over to you.

"Hey, sweetheart. Need me to drive you home after the party?" on the few rare times that you attend parties Eddie always drives you home.

"I'm driving her home. We're going to watch a movie after" Steve tells him and Eddie scowls, you can sense an argument brewing and it makes you nervous.

"Easy Harrington. I was just asking, I always drive her home after parties" Eddie snaps and a few people around you stop to watch the growing tension between the two of them.

"Yeah and I'm her boyfriend now Munson so she doesn't need you to" you intervene before things can get really heated.

"Steve, can you get me a drink please?" He nods tightly and heads over to the drinks table, once he's gone, you round on Eddie.

"What the hell is your problem?" you demand and Eddie shrugs, still glaring at Steve.

"My problem is your boyfriend. What do you see in him? His stupid hair and shit. I didn't think you'd ever fall for his shit. I mean what the hell do you even talk about?" you look away flustered and when you catch Eddie's eye his eyes flash with something you can't place.

"Oh I get it you don't talk much" he grits out and you roll your eyes. Your love life was none of Eddie's business.

"We do, he's a really lovely guy. Dustin adores him as does Lucas and even Mike and Gareth. It's you who has some stupid grudge. I get that his friends made your life hell Eddie, they did it to me too but Steve isn't like Carol or Tommy, he hasn't spoken to them in two years"

"You told me to get over whatever was annoying me about Emery, that's what I did," you tell him and he looks confused.

"What does that have to do with Steve? Why do you have to date him" he demands and you glare at him, body vibrating with fury.

"He's a nice guy, he's kind and he's handsome and sweet and if you have a problem with that then maybe you should get over it" You storm off and leave him standing there absolutely stunned as you go and find Steve.

💞

There was a frantic pounding at the trailer door later on that week and Wayne was the first to answer it. He had witnessed Eddie in a slump for almost two weeks now and he would bet it was about you dating the Harrington boy.

If it made his nephew get off his ass and see that you were perfect for him then Wayne was all for it. Emery was a sweet girl and all but Wayne knew his nephew, knew that deep down you held his heart. Even if he was too stubborn to admit it.

So he's not surprised to find you at the other side of the door. He learned from Eddie that he and Emery split up and now you were at the door with a furious expression on your face and the drama continued.

Wayne sighs, "Hey honey. Eddie's sulking in his room" your expression flickers a little.

"Right because he and Emery split up" Oh lord give him strength as he was pretty sure he might have to knock you and Eddie's heads together.

"Nah, that ain't why honey. He's been an idiot and I'm all for you chewing his ass out but maybe not too much yeah? He's realising some things, about time if you ask me" You nod politely and don't dare talk back to Wayne, it wasn't his fault his nephew was a butthead

When you head through to see Eddie he's sprawled in his bed and listening to music but clambers out of bed when he sees you.

"Princess, what are you doing here?" your concern overrides your anger at him as you wonder how he's doing, he and Emery broke up so suddenly. Even if he's been a dumbass he's still your friend, your best friend.

"I heard about you and Emery. I'm sorry" he settles back on the bed.

"It was coming anyway, I shouldn't have dated her in the first place. She's nice but she's not... Anyway, how's Steve?" The question makes the anger inside you spike again and your eyes fill with tears.

"Steve broke up with me because of you, said we obviously had things to discuss and he didn't want to get in the middle of it" you snap and Eddie's face falls as he reaches for you but you step away from him and wipe the tears that fall down your cheeks.

"No don't. What was your problem with Steve and me dating? You told me. You said whatever it is that's causing you to act like a bitch then get over it...so I did, or I was trying to with Steve and I would have if you hadn't acted like such an ass" You're fuming and raise your eyebrow at Eddie in confusion, beg him to tell you what he's thinking.

He swallows and his big brown eyes meet yours, "I was wrong. I don't want you to get over it, get over me" You gape at him and he's hiding his expression while looking away, playing with a lock of his hair as he does, a habit that you've forever found endearing, even now when you're filled with annoyance at your best friend.

"Eddie Munson. Why did you have to go and realise this at the most idiotic time, I don't believe it either. You were so...you were so mean when you told me to get over it, you like Emery...not me" Tears pool in your eyes and he rushes to you and wipes them away.

"She kinda helped me see sense, that no best friend should feel so jealous and feel like they wanted to punch Steve is his perfect teeth just for making you giggle and for kissing you, the thought of you and him tore me up inside and yeah I deserved it".

"I was the one who pushed you into his arms and I hate myself because I'm in love with you"

Frustration fills you and you groan while fighting back tears but there's a part of you that feels elation that he loves you too but you're still pissed. "This isn't fair. I've been trying to get over you, why did you have to realise this now?" Oh shit Eddie's eyes meet yours and he looks stunned.

"You like me?" God, he wasn't dense so why was he being so blind to how you feel.

"I'm in love with you Eddie, that's why I was so weird with Emery" he gapes and closes his mouth then after a minute he speaks again.

"So when I told you to get over what was making you act weird around Emery... Well you did" he finishes quietly.

He swallows back his emotions and desperately wants to hold you but fights down the urge to soothe your fears away. You would only push him away right now.

"Yeah I realised now because I'm an idiot who didn't realise what they had until it was gone but I want to be with you if you still want me" It's the truth, he means it with every fibre of his being.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I was an asshole and I get that you have a hard time accepting that I feel the same way, I'm sorry it took all the time to realise how I feel but I promise you that I'm not going anywhere, if you just want to be friends then okay but if you want more then I'll wait for however long it takes"

You wipe your tears away and nod. Then murmur that you need time to think for a bit. Eddie watches you go with a renewed feeling in his heart. He will do anything to help you see that he really does want to be with you.

Before you leave he calls you back and presses a gentle kiss on your hand. "I mean it, princess, I adore you and I'll spend every day proving that to you" You're silent for a few seconds and Eddie bites his lips feeling nervous.

"I mean I get it if you don't feel the same way now, I messed up. Do... do you still love me?" You soften and he waits anxiously for your answer.

"of course, I still love you, Eddie. Fuck, you are so annoying" he beams at this, all dimples and there's a small smile on your face as Eddie walks you out of the trailer. Wayne is watching the scene with a smirk on his face and Eddie blushes at Wayne's knowing look.

"About damn time boy" he proceeds to ruffle Eddie's hair and he hears Wayne laughing all the way as he rushes to his bedroom still blushing.

❤️

[xtra7s]

Could you write a Leighton Murray x fem!reader, preferably in season two where Leighton is out of the closet and she meets R who she falls for but R is in the closet? would love to see how Leighton deals with previously being SO closeted and now dating a closeted girl. thanks! xoxo

𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 ──── 𝘓𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘹 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

Synopsis: Leighton meets a girl in her math class, and gets into more than she was expecting.

Content: Leighton Murray x Fem!Reader, really uncomfortable man interaction, fluff, closeted!reader, some angst, jealous!leighton.

Word Count: 1.8k

a/n: REMASTERED BABY, decided to fix it up because I realized (with the help of @lovequinnins comment which i cant find anymore), that I should try a different approach with it. Really like how it turned out, let me know(:

masterlist | next part

Leighton Murray found herself in the new top-level math class at Essex College. Little did she know, this class would not only challenge her love of equations but also introduce her to someone who would change her for the better.

Y/N, a reserved and quiet girl, sat quietly in the back row, focusing on the formulas written on the whiteboard. As the days passed, Leighton noticed the mysterious girl with an air of intrigue. Leighton, never one to shy away from new connections, decided to make her move.

One day after class, Leighton approached Y/N with a warm smile. "Hey there, Y/N, isn't it? Mind if I borrow your notes? I think I was a bit distracted today."

Y/N looked up, surprised by the friendly approach. "Oh, sure. Here you go," she replied, handing over her notebook.

As Leighton flipped through the pages, she couldn't help but notice the meticulous organization of Y/N's notes. "Wow, you're really thorough. I wish I had your dedication."

Y/N blushed slightly at the compliment. "Thanks, I just like to stay organized."

Leighton chuckled, "I'm Leighton, by the way. Leighton Murray."

"Pretty name, Leighton," she replied, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

Leighton continued to engage in friendly conversations with Y/N after classes, discovering common interests and shared passions. As the weeks passed, their connection deepened, and Leighton found herself captivated by Y/N's intelligence, kindness, and, unknowingly to her, the subtle signs of a shared attraction.

One evening, after a particularly challenging math assignment, Leighton invited Y/N to grab a coffee with her. They found a cozy spot in a nearby cafe, Sips. The atmosphere was filled with the warmth of brewing espresso and soft conversation.

As they sipped their drinks, Leighton leaned in, breaking the barrier of friendship. "You know, Y/N, I feel like we've become really good friends. But there's something I've been meaning to ask you."

Y/N looked at her curiously, her heart pounding.

Leighton smiled warmly, "Are you seeing anyone? Because I can't help but feel this connection between us, and I don't want to assume anything, but..."

Y/N looked around quickly, her eyes narrowing at Leighton. "What?" she spoke quickly, noticing a few eyes on her. She chuckles awkwardly, leaning back from Leighton.

Y/N's eyes widened, and she hesitated for a moment. The fear of exposing her true self and the potential consequences rushed through her mind. In a moment of panic, she stammered, "I am not gay, Leighton. I'm gonna go" She spoke with a forced laugh, standing up quickly and packing up her stuff, heading out of the cafe without glancing behind her.

Leighton looked around embarrassed, wanting to chase after Y/N but not wanting to seem desperate. 

Leighton sat there with a frown on her face, Kimberly walked over and sat down after seeing the interaction. "Are you okay?" She asked softly, her eyebrows furrowed at seeing Leighton upset.

___

The thumping bass of the music echoed through the crowded frat party, creating an energetic atmosphere. Leighton, enjoying the night with friends, spotted Y/N across the room. Excitement flickered in her eyes as she made her way through the sea of people, eager to talk about what happened with Y/N.

However, as Leighton approached, she couldn't help but notice Y/N actively avoiding her. Confusion clouded Leighton's expression as she tried to understand why Y/N seemed to be purposefully keeping her distance. Determined to address the situation, Leighton maneuvered through the crowd, attempting to catch up with Y/N.

"Hey, Y/N! Wait up!" Leighton called out, her voice barely audible over the music.

Y/N turned, a brief flash of panic in her eyes, before she quickly changed direction, disappearing into the throng of dancing bodies. Perplexed, Leighton picked up her pace, determined to get to the bottom of the sudden avoidance.

Several attempts later, Leighton managed to corner Y/N in a quieter corner of the frat house. "Y/N, what's going on? Did I do something?"

Y/N, visibly flustered, avoided eye contact. "No, Leighton, it's not you. I just... I need some space, okay? I'll catch up with you later."

Leighton left her alone after that, finding herself soon surrounded by her roommates, – Whitney, Kimberly, and Bela. As they navigated the lively atmosphere, Leighton noticed Y/N at the makeshift bar, downing a few shots.

Curiosity flickered in Leighton's eyes as she observed Y/N from a distance. However, her intrigue turned to hurt when a guy approached Y/N, his intentions written all over his face. Leighton exchanged glances with her friends, and they collectively decided to keep an eye on the situation.

Leighton's brow furrowed as she watched the guy engage Y/N in conversation, leaning in with a flirty smile. The atmosphere around them became tense as the guy tried to make his move. Leighton couldn't help but feel a knot forming in her stomach.

The guy's attempts escalated, and, to Leighton's dismay, Y/N seemed to be going along with it, albeit reluctantly. The situation took an unexpected turn when the guy leaned in and kissed Y/N. Leighton's heart sank as she saw Y/N reciprocate, a look of happiness evident on her face.

Y/N abruptly pulled back, a brief expression of disgust crossing her features before she masked it with a forced smile. Leighton exchanged glances with her friends, the concern etched on their faces mirroring her own.

Y/N, feeling weird about the situation and needing an escape from the persistent guy at the party, decided to create an excuse. She gently extricated herself from his hold and said, "Hey, I actually need to head home. It's getting late."

The guy, with a cocky grin, tightened his grip on her, clearly not taking no for an answer. "Come on, don't be like that. The night's still young."

Y/N, feeling increasingly annoyed, insisted, "No, really. I have to go." She attempted to pull away, but the guy complained, trying to persuade her to stay.

"We'll catch up later, okay?"

The guy, displeased with the situation, reluctantly released Y/N. However, before she could fully distance herself from him, he pulled her back in for another kiss. Y/N, feeling pressured, went along with it briefly. As they kissed, the guy's actions became more intrusive, as he groped Y/N's ass.

Y/N pulled back with a short smile, holding her arms around his neck. "I really gotta go now, I'll see you later." She smiles at him, silently celebrating when he lets her go. 

She heads out of the party quickly, walking home a little too sober for her liking. Leighton wants to follow her but decides to give her space for a bit.

Later that evening, Leighton found herself standing outside Y/N's dorm room, contemplating whether to knock or not. After taking a deep breath, she gently tapped on the door. Y/N opened it, surprised to see Leighton standing there.

"Hey," Leighton began, a hint of concern in her eyes. "I hope I'm not intruding, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something might be wrong. Can we talk?"

Y/N hesitated but eventually nodded, inviting Leighton into her room. The air in the room was tense, and Y/N couldn't bring herself to make eye contact.

Leighton sat down, choosing her words carefully. "I noticed something changed after I asked you out earlier. I didn't mean to put you on the spot like that, I guess I just read the vibes wrong. I genuinely care about you, Y/N, I'm sorry."

Y/N took a deep breath, mustering the courage to speak her truth. "It isn't that, Leighton. My family is pretty uptight. I've been struggling with the fear of coming out to them, and it's making me hesitant about being open about me, even liking you. Especially around my cousin who came here with me" Y/N expresses quickly, getting worked up over the conversation.

Leighton hums quietly, "I understand, Y/N. Coming out can be really challenging, especially when you're uncertain about how your family will react. And with your cousin around, it adds an extra layer of shit I don't even know how to get into. I never wanted it to change my life, but Y/N it has never felt better. I'm still me, I never changed, I just get to freely love who I wanna love and not worry about it. It's gotta be hard with family around, but I wanna support you however I can. Some people suck, but those people don't matter, they come and go, your friends, me, I stay."

Y/N places her hands on her thighs, squeezing them for comfort.

"It's just that my cousin is pretty.. intense, and the thought of her finding out about us, me, it terrifies me. I'm scared of any public affection or behavior that might give it away. I feel like I'm hiding all the time and it's suffocating."

Leighton places one of her hands on top of one of Y/N's, smiling sadly at her.

"I'm so sorry you have to deal with this shit, Y/N. It must be really fucking tough for you. Just know that I'm here for you, we can figure this out together, if that's what you want?"

Y/N looked up, meeting Leighton's gaze, and for the first time, she felt a tinge of hope and acceptance. In that shared moment, the unspoken understanding between them deepened, setting the foundation for a connection that went beyond the surface and resonated with the complexities of being true to oneself.

In a sudden surge of courage, Y/N leaned in and pressed a quick, soft kiss on Leighton's lips.

Leighton blinked in surprise as Y/N quickly backed up, her eyes widening, panic flashing in Y/N's eyes. "I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that without asking. I am so sorry"

Leighton caught off guard but pleasantly surprised, couldn't help but smile. "Hey, it's okay. No need to apologize. I'm more than okay with it."

Y/N's eyes flickered up to Leightons, seeking reassurance. "Really?"

Leighton nodded, her smile growing wider. "Absolutely. If it feels right for you, then that's all that matters. I want this, Y/N."

Encouraged by Leighton's positive response, Y/N smiles shyly at her. "So, is it okay if we... you know, try that again?"

Leighton chuckled, "Definitely," and Y/N leaned in once more. This time, the kiss lingered, a sweet and tender connection forming between them. 

Leighton's smile grew during the kiss, leaning back to give her a quick kiss again. Y/N looked at Leighton with a newfound confidence in her eyes. "Thank you for being so understanding and supportive. I appreciate it more than you know."

Leighton reached out, squeezing Y/N's hand. "We're in this together, Y/N. No need to rush anything. Whenever you're ready, I'll be right here."

[waldau-archived]

hi!! i really love the way you write for wonwoo♡♡♡ could i request wonwoo+friends to lovers(something like she fell first but he fell harder kinda trope?)

thank you so much anon! also you're my first ever request! i hope i did this trope justice, because as much as i love established relationships i don't think i've ever really done much for friends to lovers.

crush — jeon wonwoo | 2,193 words | fluff

gender neutral reader. warnings: none.

it hits wonwoo like a sledgehammer.

he's glad he's already sitting in his usual seat at the table, because there probably couldn't be a worse time to realize he's in love with you. when you're out on a date with someone else, and when these dates look like they're going to become a steady fixture in your life; something that he's going to have to learn how to make peace with.

wonwoo doesn't just love you. he's in love with you, and he's grappling with the realization of how many months he's missed without knowing the extent of his own feelings for you.

he wishes there was some manual that told him what to do when you had feelings for your roommate. when said roommate happened to be your best friend you'd try to ask out if you weren't so afraid of ruining the friendship.

since the end of high school and the beginning of college, wonwoo's always had you by his side — whether it be in the same classes, or the same friend group — hell, he's lost count of the number of nights you spent together, watching movies instead of trying to get some sleep for the next day.

(maybe there was a reason why he chose horror movies sometimes, even though you were scared of them.)

he thinks back to all the times your friends joked you were practically dating — that never annoyed him. he was merely surprised at the idea of dating you. you had always been his best friend; nothing more. you were a constant fixture in his life that he didn't see in any other way.

but now? wonwoo wishes he could turn back time and see what could have happened. would you have had the same inside jokes you do now, the same ease that comes with learning to co-exist by carving each other's shapes into your lives?

he looks up from his laptop at the sound of the wind rattling the windows. but he's the only one home.

you're out on your second date in the past two weeks with this guy named seungcheol. for the past two weeks, wonwoo hasn't been able to put a finger on why he hasn't been so keen on this guy you're seeing, despite the fact that seungcheol sounds like nothing but a gentleman.

and now he knows why.

he's heard a lot about how funny and smart and nice seungcheol is, from taking you to your favourite restaurant for a date to leaving you at your doorstep at the end of your night out.

wonwoo wants to argue that he, too, does the same thing for you. he holds doors open for you and gives you his beanie when you're cold and lets you have his popcorn when yours is done, but you just don't see him that way. and he doesn't know what to do to make you see him that way.

he focuses on his laptop again. the words all seem jumbled, and he's pretty sure he's been on the same page for the past half hour. so he takes his glasses off and lets his eyes rest. only to remember the time you took his glasses off when he was almost about to fall asleep on the sofa.

you're loving. it's something he's learned from you. you're always looking out for others, always concerned, wanting them to know you're there in the subtlest ways possible.

wonwoo always wants you around, and now has an irrational worry that he won't have you for much longer. his heart starts hurting — really, physically hurting, like a deep pain in his chest that can't be satiated by anything. he didn't know it was possible, but it's all he can feel right now.

he tries to think about anything else. those few people he'd dated back in college, whose names he can't even remember now. he hasn't dated anyone in the past two years since you graduated, got a job and moved into this flat together.

wonwoo hadn't known what to expect when it came to living with you, because as much as you were best friends, you'd never shared a living space together beyond a night's time. now over the course of the last twenty five months, he's become accustomed to you, and he's afraid he's ruined it all by realizing he's fallen in love with you far too late.

part of that is definitely your fault, he reasons. he wouldn't blame seungcheol for falling in love, either.

the thought of you on your date hurts him enough that he picks up his pen and scratches something on the notepad lying next to his laptop. his strokes are harsh and drawn without care, but when he stops, it's a rough sketch of your favourite flowers.

he lets out a bitter laugh. everything always circles back to you, in the end.

you don't ask for anything on your birthday, but wonwoo always gets you a bouquet of your favourite flowers alongside your gifts, because he knows how much you love them.

he wonders if seungcheol knows they're your favourite.

he's shaken out of his thoughts when you open the door to your shared house and step inside, almost tiptoeing, like you're afraid of making noise. you freeze when you see him looking at you. he wonders how long he's been sitting there, mind blank but also filled with thoughts of you. it's eating him up like a slow poison from the inside, but he forces himself to hold your gaze.

you look amazing. more than that, you look happy.

he's not jealous. he's never jealous when you're happy. but he just wants you to be happy with him, and he doesn't know if he's enough.

he wants to know what it'd be like to take you out. he wants to know everything that makes you smile, because he still learns something new about you almost every day. he wants to know what it's like to hold hands with you, kiss you goodnight, and wake up every morning knowing you're there by his side and his side only.

he wants more than he can possibly have.

"hey, wonwoo," you say, shutting the door behind you before you take off your shoes. "couldn't sleep?"

"no. i wanted to wait till you came back."

you frown at him. "i told you not to."

as if he could ever do that. whether you go out on dates, or to parties with your friends, wonwoo can't relax till he knows you're back home, safe. he just shrugs. this is one thing he'll always be stubborn about.

"did you have dinner?" you ask, ruffling his hair and moving past him to presumably fix yourself a snack before you go to bed.

"yeah," he says, looking back at the laptop. the letters are still jumbled, so he cleans his glasses before putting them back on. "unless last night's pizza doesn't count."

"that's a lot of words for no," you say. "are instant noodles okay?"

"of course."

wonwoo watches as you move around, putting back today afternoon's dried dishes into their respective places and filling a glass of water for yourself.

"did you have fun tonight?"

"yeah," you say, a smile on your face. "cheol picked out this movie i've been wanting to watch for a while. then we went to this hole-in-the-wall cafe that was surprisingly nice. and then he dropped me home."

wonwoo tries not to react at the nickname you already have for him. he's not jealous, but it's getting harder to convince himself of that. he looks at your jacket. it looks...not quite your style.

"is that new?" he asks, pointing at it.

"what? oh, this? seungcheol asked me to return it to him the next time. it was pretty cold today."

wonwoo's hand crumples the note before he realizes. next time? why couldn't he have realized how much he loved you before all of this had to happen?

"you okay?" you ask, turning around to look at him. "come here and tell me if it tastes fine."

"it's just instant noodles," he pretends to grumble, but waits for you to feed him some. he can see you're a bit tired. he wishes you'd fall asleep on him, the way you do when you're stubborn enough to want to keep him company with whatever he's doing.

"tastes good," he hums, licking his lips.

did he just imagine your eyes looking at them before they moved back to his face?

"great. hand me those bowls from there?"

you using him for his height is a running joke he hopes never gets old. wonwoo takes out the cutlery too, but stops when he sees an angry red line on your hand.

"what happened to you?" he asks, holding your hand so he can see it clearly. he tries not to think about how much bigger his hand is. the cut isn't bleeding, but it's still there, starkly visible against your skin.

you hesitate. "i'm not sure. i remember my hand hit something in the cafe, but i didn't see it till now."

"and you didn't bother checking it once you got home?"

you look at him. "i didn't even feel it that much, woo."

"you could have tetanus for all you know!"

"it's just a cut! it's hardly that ser—"

you stop talking when wonwoo switches on the tap and turns off the stove. "take this off," he says, pointing to the jacket. it shouldn't even be in your home. he shouldn't be feeling like this in the first place.

you comply wordlessly, hand limp in his as he washes it thoroughly, before patting it dry with the towel near the sink and finding a bandaid in the cabinet above. you have a propensity for getting hurt randomly and wonwoo's glad to be prepared.

"done," he says, letting go of your hand. you're still looking at him.

"kiss it better?" you ask. there's a mischievous look in your eyes.

and who is he to refuse? he takes your hand back, gently pressing a kiss to it, making sure it's not too forceful. when your eyes meet again, he gets the feeling there's something in the air. even you seem to be aware of it. it's like the tipping point before the scales lose their balance, like the calm before the storm; it's now or never.

"one more time?" you ask, moving a bit closer. wonwoo swears he forgets how to breathe. and he definitely isn't imagining your eyes on his lips this time.

"always," he says, before he leans down to press his lips to yours.

it's magic. there's no other word for it. wonwoo feels like he's transcending worlds when he feels your lips against his, trying to press yourself into him when you wrap your hands around his waist.

when you pull apart, wonwoo swears you're the most beautiful thing he's ever seen in his life. this is what he wants, and he'll be damned if he doesn't try to find out what could have been.

"please don't go out with him again?"

"...what?"

wonwoo swallows, letting go of your hand. his bravery now comes and goes like waves on the seashore, tides threatening to spill out everything he feels about you in one careless motion.

"i don't want you to go out with him again."

"because...we kissed?"

"because i'd never let you get hurt if you were with me."

"you...what?"

"i like you," he says, taking a step closer. "i don't know what that meant to you, but i like you so much, and i hate that it took me this long to realize it. i want...i want you to give me a chance."

"you like me?" you ask, voice smaller than before.

he nods. "i want to...take you out on a date. wherever you want. i want to make you laugh. it's been killing me, thinking about you with him."

"oh, my god," you say, burying your face in your hands. wonwoo's heart drops. "why would you— i've been trying to get over you all this while, going out on dates with him so i can stop thinking about you that way, and now you're just...giving me what i've always wanted?

wonwoo feels like he's been drenched in ice-cold water. "you like me?" he parrots. he doesn't know what to do with his hands, so he pulls you in for a hug. even this simple gesture suddenly feels like a brand new thing in the light of your recent confessions.

your hands find their place around his waist again, your chin on his chest, looking up at him. "of course i do. i'm surprised you didn't realize earlier. it's been...a while."

this is news to him. "how long, exactly?"

you bow your head, not meeting his eyes, "i'm not telling you now."

"you can't hide anything from me, you know."

he can feel your smile against his chest. "i know. let me just have this for now?"

"forever."

you tighten your grip around his waist and just stand with him.

wonwoo makes a mental note to get you a bunch of real flowers.

[yukkisagi]

"i didn't know going blind was something to find cute"

in which you're going blind but you wish you could just straight up not see alhaitham at all anymore -no warnings, just fluff and mutual pining, not proofread, in honor of my vision just getting worse and worse and i snapped my glasses in half ha ha

reading papers had become increasingly difficult, menus suddenly don't list out your favorite foods, and the boundaries between friendship and romance were starting to blur.

obviously the last statement wasn't the reason for your new glasses but after your fellow classmates tell you it isn't normal to mistake a cat for a rabbit, even if you were almost a mile away, you figured it was time to invest in some spectacles aids.

it was unfortunate that were no such things as alhaitham aids. alhaitham was always complicated to read, from his expressions, opinions to his literal hand writing and especially his actions.

he often walked you back to your office after lunch, claiming that it was on the way anyways. last week in the early morning, he brought you a cup of coffee, saying that the barista made him an extra because he looked tired and refused to drink it just to prove her wrong. one time he even walked over to your office, on his own accord, just to hand you back a measily pen you accidentally left behind.

but of course, these events could easily be read in the other direction. you just happened to be on his path. he didn't want to waste a perfectly drinkable coffee despite his stubbornness. maybe he was in a cleaning mood and needed fresh air and time away from his extremely suffocating office anyways so he just dropped the pen on the way.

alhaitham and you were not dating by any means and that was definite. so you don't understand why you're so hesitant to enter his office. you were just here to pass off some of your students research for the grand sage's approval and nothing else.

it's the repeated scene you see weekly as you enter his office, eyes still stuck on his desk, not wavering at all from your presence, chin rested on his folded fingers supported by his elbow on the table and his nose bridge slightly scrunched in annoyance because of the massive workload constantly covering his table.

"i have more reports that need your approval." you start, trying to shift his attention.

"sure, how many? if there isn't a lot i can sign them off right now for you." he only nods at words.

you mind can't help but hang on the last two words. was he implying only for you? just you? you needed to snap out of it, alhaitham doesn't see people as individuals or even cared enough to try, you know that.

but deep down you can't help it. even this simple favor felt special, only because it was coming from alhaitham. this could easily just be him trying to get you out of his hair as fast as possible, or it could be a special favor he'd only do for you. you really couldn't tell from him.

"four." you count through the stacks as you try to avoid glancing at him in fear of staring too long. he was almost too easy on the eyes, especially when he's focused.

"i'll just do them right now then," he then looks up at you, just briefly as he stretches out hand ready to take the papers from you. "i just brewed some tea, help yourself to a cup while you wait."

did he often offer his tea to others? did he instantly prioritize anyone's work as long at they just enter his office? are these actions normal? for him? you pour yourself a cup of tea as you rest on his couch and ponder these thoughts.

"you got new glasses." he interrupts flatly, as if he's just noting an observation in the reports he's reviewing.

you can't help even noting the way he says you. it's very rare for the sentences that alhaitham says "you" in to be not followed by a critique or insult.

"well they're on my face and have never been before right?" you say back, reflecting his tone. "but i guess i'm surprised you even noticed."

"they're cute."

you almost spit out your drink. you didn't expect "cute" to be within his vocabulary bank or if he even had the neurotransmitter to help him translate what things were actually cute to him in his brain.

"what?" you scoff, almost stuttering as you try to hide your aghast. "i didn't know going blind was something to find cute, only you would think that."

"your interpretations of my statements are incorrect," he still does not face you, shifting through the papers much too casually. "i find that the frame of your new glasses gives you a new enhancement to your overall attractiveness."

leave it to him to make sure his point is always made, completely bulldozing over your efforts at avoiding his blatant compliment.

"thanks?" you offer, unable to form a more educated response you normally give him.

"is that a question?" he asks, seemingly puzzled by your reaction. "you don't have to thank me if you prefer not to though i do appreciate your opinions as much as you do mine."

"no i just," you attempt to start as he clears his throat.

he finally looks at you, eyebrow raised. he puffs his bangs out of his face so that both his eyes are directly looking at you, analyzing your flushed face, eyes widened only by a smidge and mouth agape. for some odd reasons, he feels a sort of satisfaction eliciting a reaction like this from you, but has yet been able to pinpoint why.

"i just wasn't expecting the word cute to be within your dictionary," you clear your throat and push your glasses back up on your nose bridge in order to compose yourself again. "you surprised me, that is all."

"is this a case of when women refuse compliments from the man they like?" he chuckles, still repeating your moment of daze in his mind, as if he was trying to ingrain it in his brain instead of reading the reports like he promised you.

"woah woah," you start, completely blindsided from this almost exposure of your feelings you were not ready to admit. "slow your horses, who said i liked you?"

"y/n, i am no idiot but i didn't think you were though."

"what is that suppose to mean?"

"it's simple really," he noted as he finally sets the papers down. "i like you, you like me."

"i did not take you for a man to assume conclusions like this," you say with as much poise you have left in you, completely ignoring his candid confession. "what makes you think i like you?"

"actions, reactions, your words," he simply states, not going into any detail at all. "are you going to keep denying it?

"you know what, i'll just come back for the reports later." you start getting up, refusing to look him the eyes. you knew your dignity was starting to fall and you were not ready for alhaitham to pick it up and hand it back to you along with the small pieces of your heart you've scattered in this room.

with a huff you turn to the door. dusting yourself off, you reach for the doorknob, trying to get out of this suddenly stuffy and warm room.

"no need," you can hear him shifting in his chair as signaled by the screech it made. "i'll swing by after your evening lecture. speaking of, you should really change the time of that lectu-"

"you will not, i do not want to see you."

"but i do." he continued. "you can't really refuse the acting grand sage's attendance for a lecture check in, can you now?"

completely frazzled now, you just dash out the door before he can say anything else, leaving him completely proud and satisfied with your interaction.

he couldn't wait to see your reaction when he enters the lecture, excited by the idea of seeing you flustered for him again.

as your racing back to your office, you take off your glasses, hoping that somehow the vision of alhaitham just shamelessly flirting with you would just completely disappear.

[kairiscorner]

he can't make up his mind.

inspired by @smokeywhalee's lovely prompt !!

part 1. part 2.

he was never the type to want to be bothered by anyone–never the type to let himself be distracted by other people's affairs, and was never the type to commit to that whole 'friendship' business. you tried your luck at being acquaintances with him on the first day at the spider society, and of course, that blew over pretty... poorly.

all he gave you were side glances and awkward silences as responses to all your greetings and questions. it was always a good talk with him, oh, definitely–he did a brick wall's job better at being silent and indifferent. the months passed, and you hadn't noticed a single change in his behavior; he was the same as always, cold and distant, and was quick to leave or shut you down when you had any bold ideas to capturing villains or anomalies.

'too bold', or 'too ambitious' he'd claim your proposals would be. "you're supposed to be a defender of the multiverse, not act as fodder for the bad guys–start wising up and just... stay with me." he'd always say in all kinds of ways. it pissed you off how he kept shouldering all the responsibilities and tasks for himself, it didn't relax you one bit knowing that you weren't doing anything but just staying as 'miguel o'hara's partner' instead of doing the usual spider people duties you'd do on your own back in your home dimension. peter b and jess always pointed out that miguel had a secret liking to you, but you never believed them; if he liked you so much, he'd trust you to do all the stuff he could, right?

of course not, because tonight, when you were just minding your own business and readying yourself up, about to go on a date, miguel was... acting strangely that evening.

"where are you off to? don't you know you... have more patrol hours today? ...a date? with whom? i don't know that guy, do i? what's he like? how'd you meet him? is he decent? is he tall? is he smart at biology? a geneticist? a... guy who genuinely cares about you?"

"what's with all the questions?"

he turned away from you, his broad, toned back facing you as always, making you roll your eyes and thinking just how typical this scene was–save for his incessant questions and generally nosy behavior tonight. he shrugged and focused on his monitors again, clearing his throat before he answered you. "you... shouldn't just trust anybody, it doesn't matter how long you've known them–when... you start opening up, to people you... feel vulnerable around–you can't ever tell when they'll change. when their feelings for you might take a whole 180 and you'll realize too late that... this guy might actually be an asshole and hurt you."

"...and i would never want you to go through that kind of hurt." "what was that?" you asked him as you fixed your hair in front of your compact mirror, focusing on your reflection while he gave you that mini speech. you hadn't listened to him, unfortunately, and miguel sighed in response; hanging his head and pinching the bridge of his nose. "nevermind, just... make sure you'll be safe." "it's not like i'm going off to fight a venom variant or anything, i'll be fine, miggy." "...i wouldn't know what i'd do if you weren't." he muttered to himself as you stepped out of the portal you opened to go on your date, secretly wishing as he stayed behind and alone in his vast, dark office that he was the one out there with you tonight, making you feel special and loved–not just some other guy who wouldn't even come close to him in loving you.

but if he's too hesitant to make the first move... is he really any better at loving you and treating you right than this guy you're going out with tonight?

he sighed as lyla appeared over his shoulder. "you could begin by being more open with them, y'know?" "did my mini speech mean nothing at all to them?" "oh, no, it's just... you had a point, yeah, though, how could you prove yourself to them if you're too scared of moving forward and actually, y'know, making stuff happen?" "...we'll deal with it after their date, can we check on their dimension to make sure they're...?" lyla sighed and pulled up the monitor with you walking to your date spot in your dimension, and miguel watched closely as he anxiously tried to analyze the guy you were with, muttering under his breath how basic they looked.

"i mean, seriously, out of all the people they could have picked–why not the only person who takes all the effort to take up all their burdens and work for them?" "oh, you mean the overbearing, overprotective vampire boss man who doesn't let them fo anything and snoops in on their business 24/7, gee, i wonder why..." she mumbled sarcastically as miguel glared at her. "not helping." "why, glad to know that, mr. brooding and jelly."

tags !! @miguelswifey04 @hearts4gabri @hisachuu @wreakingmarveloushavok @simsrandomstuff @luvstarrstruck @popeheywardssecretgf @meeom @arachnoia @melovetitties @fable-library @ophanimgold @smokeywhalee @capnshtfce

[strawberryfairi]

Synopsis✨: The story of how you catch heavy feelings for the hot photography student, Shuji Hanma…even though you already have the perfect (fake) boyfriend.

Pairings: Photography Student! Shuji Hanma X Dance Major! Black Fem 🤎 Reader (ANYONE CAN READ🧚🏾‍♀️) Content: Drama, lots of denial, angst, sneaky link, lots of cheating, mutual pining, unserious Shuji, controlling parents, forced relationships, romance, fighting, porn with a good plot vibes, intense sexual tension, etc (just find out the rest lol)

(A/N🧚🏾‍♀️: First chapter might be a lil boring, but the tea begins in chapter 2)

w.c: 4.4k💠 Released: Jan 5, 2024

Next Chapter Chapters Masterlist

1; HOMECOMING 返校

It's homecoming today. One of the most stressful but most exciting days in the entire school year. It serves as a debut of both the cheerleading and dance teams, and of course the football team. In your case, today will be your first homecoming as dance team captain and choreographer.

Your freshman year was grueling, but you dedicated almost all of your time and energy into forming a proper dance team with high respect and credibility with the help of your good friend from senior year in high school, Emma Sano. Now, in your sophomore year, the grind absolutely did not stop. You have a team full of twenty girls (including yourself and Emma) to lead, and today will prove to be the hardest list of tasks you've ever checked through so far in your life.

"Mornin' baby." Your boyfriend Ken murmurs groggily, leaning over you to gently kiss your warm cheek. You're both snuggled up together in his dorm suite bed, as you had stayed the night in his room per his request. You smile tiredly, turning over to face him. "Morning."

The two of you have been together for quite some time now, a good two years and eight months. Though those years may seem significant or like a milestone, the relationship has always been stagnant. A boring, straight line. You're boyfriend is sweet, kind, mostly all of the above, yet he's just...never really been right for you. Why not break up?

Well, your parents are the ones keeping you both from leaving each other. Your mom, a part of the administration of the university, and Ken's father, the football coach, famous for cultivating champion players that later move on to the NFL in the states by senior year came together with the plan for you two to date.

Why not just do your own thing and date who you want? Your mom had made it clear that if you don't keep up the charade of the perfect college girl with great grades and a boyfriend with a great future, you'd be out of the school in a heartbeat, and out of dance for good. She says you need to be perfect in every way in order to gain success, especially as a dancer, and being already in a relationship will keep you from getting distracted by other guys during your four years.

Same goes with Ken and what his dad told him. In their pursuit of star students they went and 'hooked you two up', completely ruining what could have been a good friendship and maybe even relationship had they not rushed it. But honestly, it's not the utter worst being with Ken, though you wish you had a say in the kind of guy you wanted for yourself. It's hard having to force out a genuine sounding 'I love you' every day, and especially, have sex with someone you don't even feel anything for. Nevertheless, the two of you equally sucked it up and learned to 'love' each other.

"Big day today. You ready?" Ken grins, looking down at you with an excited smile.

"Nooooo." You groan, pulling the blankets over your head and snuggling up close to Ken's chest.

"Nah, don't say that! This is our big moment; been workin' hard for this." He shakes his head, tugging the sheets off of your head.

"I'm so nervous, and it's gonna be so hard trynna get the girls focused. You know all people think about is sex and the afterparties on homecoming." You frown.

"You're a leader, babe, they'll listen to you. It's just as important for them as it is for you. They'll tighten up when it's game time." Ken assures, stroking your bare shoulders comfortingly. You sigh, trying to bask in this moment of peace before the chaos inevitably ensues.

"Did you know I was approach by those school newspaper folks you always rant about yesterday? Allegedly, I'll be interviewed today since this is such a 'pivotal moment for the university, as the first ever dance team will be involved in the homecoming night experience'." You chuckle, doing a faux reporter voice.

"Oohh shit, they got you too, huh?" He lets out a breathy chuckle, flipping over onto his back, taking you along with him to rest on his chest.

"They sure did. At least I know what I'm getting into thanks to you, Mr. Quarterback. Maybe I'll see you at the interview room?"

"Maybe, depending on what time they want us there. We got interviews at ten a.m." He shrugs.

You pout with a light huff. "Awww, ours isn't till one."

"We'll see each other tonight, baby. We'll have the whole night actually." He purrs suggestively, sliding both hands down your back and giving your ass a firm squeeze.

"Hey hey hey! None of that till later!" You giggle, pushing away form him to try and get out of his tight grip.

"Can't wait..." He grins.

💎

Interviewer: "Can you discuss your vision for the team's performance at homecoming? What elements or themes do you plan to incorporate?"

"Considering it's the first year, how do you plan to make the performance memorable and reflective of the team's identity?"

"As a new dance team captain, how will you inspire and motivate your teammates, especially considering the excitement and nerves associated with a debut performance?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"They threw out all kinds of questions I wasn't ready to answer!" You rant into the phone, plopping down onto the chair outside of the interview room.

"I told you. It's intense ain't it?" Ken chuckles on the other side.

"Yeah! I feel like they should've at least done like a pre-interview or a practice run. It was so hard trynna answer those questions right on the spot like that!" You whine, facepalming. You take a deep breath then exhale, calming yourself down so you wouldn't annoy Ken with a bunch of ranting.

"Ugh, sorry, I don't mean to throw you off. I know you're getting ready too. How's everything going?"

"I'm all good, babe. I just wanna get on the field already." He murmurs.

"Facts. That's exactly how I'm feeling. It's gonna feel amazing once it's all over." You nod, fiddling with your top unconsciously. You hear the coach yell out to Ken from in the background, urging him back.

"Hang on, I gotta go. I'll talk to you later, alright? Love you." He says abruptly.

"Oh ok. Love you!" You hang up with a little sigh, getting ready to go over into the next section of the day. Just a few more hours now until the game starts.

4 Hours Later

"GUYS!" One of your freshman girls, Himari hollered, bursting through the doors to the dance team dressing room. You and all the others who heard her paused your conversations, looking at her with the same confused expression.

"What's going on now, Himari?" You huffed with an exasperated sigh. You loved her, you really did, but damn she's always got something going on.

"My body glitter just broke and spilled all over the bathroom floor! I hate my life!" She wailed, slumping against the door behind her, sliding down dramatically.

"Oh shit..." You murmur with a heavy facepalm. The girls all gasp, rambling about how they'd be so pissed if that happened to them. You'd be pissed too not gonna lie, if your expensive ass Fenty Glow broke like that...oof, you'd be seething.

"Just like..lay some paper towels down over it or something until we can find someone to clean it." Emma tells her, putting her focus back on the final touches of her makeup. You didn't have time to solve not another issue, thankfully that was easily solved as one of the girls Reina just let her use some of her body glitter.

You're only half dressed right now and still need to do your makeup and hair with only forty five minutes left. Nude tights with your elastic ankle braces was all you had on, you're not eve sure if that could really count as half dressed. Hurriedly you strip out of your school hoodie, chest completely bare as you grab your costume tagged with your name from the long clothing rack.

The costume this year was ten thousand times better than last years, as this time you were able to utilize design student Takashi Mitsuya from the university across the way from yours. He absolutely slayed the outfits, bringing out exactly what you were imagining. Your school colors are black, white, and silver, so the main color of the costume is a shiny black with accents of silver. It's a bodysuit, long sleeved with the silver as sequins on the cuffs of the arms, neck, and around the legs. A large cut out on the left side of the stomach area is also outlined with the silver sequins. Simple, yet such an effective, sexy design.

When you finished changing you quickly got to work doing your makeup, sprawling your products out on the table next to Emma and plopping down into a seat, whipping out your beauty blender and brushes.

"Easy girl. We still have some time. You know you move fast." She says softly, checking out her makeup in the vanity. "I know, I know. I'll just feel better once I'm ready." You huff, priming your face before pumping some drops of foundation on your beauty blender.

For makeup everyone has a silver lid eyeshadow look with black winged eyeliner and small jewels lined across the liner, topped off with a nude pink lip. Your hair was simple, an afro that you picked out nice and big, your bangs slicked down like a headband so you could see while you dance.

After a bit over half an hour you along with all the girls were finally ready.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Alright y'all, when we get out there, it's complete focus. Lock the fuck in." You warn, tone dead serious. You and your team are huddled in a large circle near the entrance to the wide football field. It was almost time for your performance.

"Freshmen, bring your absolute A-game, y'all hear me?"

"Yes ma'am!" The answer back instantly.

"Now, it's time to stunt on those cheerleaders, okaaaay!" You beam, smiling wide enough to show off your single dimple on your left cheek. The girls cheered, laughing and making their little jokes and jabs at the cheerleaders.

The dance team vs. cheerleader rivalry had been going on ever since you started this program. Of course, the cheerleaders were always the number one attraction during homecoming and all other sports games, but now that you all came along, it's actually some competition for them. It boosts you up every time seeing them get flustered and annoyed when your girls and you steal the show. It's especially bad when the boys get involved.

"Let's line up!" You command, beginning the line while watching all the girls get into position behind you.

The announcer finally acknowledges the dance team, giving the queue for the lights to turn off throughout the stadium. The crowd hoots and hollers as the field goes black, save for the phone lights and moon shining down brightly.

You take a deep breath, steeling yourself and rapid heartbeat, strutting out onto the field already in 'character'. The girls follow behind you, all getting into your practiced formation, waiting for the music and lights to come on.

After the thirty second time frame is up, the music begins, starting with the newest hit by Nicki Minaj: Everybody. Lights come on right when you all strike the first pose, making the crowd go wild.

~Aint' gang if you let shit slide Ain't bad if you gotta dick-ride Big guns and a lotta zip ties Said she look like me, quit lyin'~

You begin dancing, a little solo moment during the intro as the girls hold their pose. When the beat drops the girls join in, all of you going full out. The energy is so high all throughout the stadium, just how you want it. Some folks in the stands along with the football players on your side were dancing along excitedly. So far it's a hit.

3rd Person POV

Shuji's canon camera snapped shot after shot, taking skillful, clear pictures of the dancers in front of him. This was a pretty big opportunity, seeing as only the top students are allowed to photograph for events like homecoming and school newspaper posts, important things like that.

He didn't necessarily consider himself a 'good student', he honestly wasn't, yet the faculty couldn't help but acknowledge his talent as a photographer, so they gave him this chance.

He'd deliver though, and turn up with better pictures than the three other students out here snapping away half-assed, hoping for a couple nice shots out of nearly a hundred. They don't know how to wait, but Shuji does. He has a natural talent for patience when it comes to finding the right moment. It's like he can see it coming, then he freezes time, capturing it in perfect quality and light.

Looking through the viewfinder, he adjusts the lens, preparing for a shot right on the soloist. Waiting a few seconds he watches her dance, capturing the exact moment he was waiting for. She spins then stops in the perfect pose, one hand on her hip while the other arm is extended outward, her hand in an elegant gesture. Her leg is extended a bit with her arm, the ball of her foot on the ground giving her leg a slight bend.

His brows raise slightly as he looks up from the camera.

Her solo continues for just a bit longer before the other girls join, but for some reason, Shuji's eyes are still stuck on that one girl. He takes a moment trying to figure out what exactly about her made him react like that. She's a great dancer for sure, her movements fluid, exact, and graceful; sexy. But that's to be expected of an aspiring professional. Maybe it's her overall look, deep brown skin, big hair, and a gorgeous toned body. She's a sight, something interesting enough to catch his attention.

He goes back and forth, watching then snapping, watching then snapping. Then the girl spins once again, this time bringing her left leg into the air. It felt like slow motion what happened to him. Her anklet, looking as if it practically slid off her small ankle, flies right towards him just a few feet away from her. Instinctively he catches it with one hand, the other steadily holding the camera.

It's a gold anklet, real gold it seems. A chain with little designs carved into it. A light smirk makes it's way onto his lips as he places the piece of jewelry into his pocket.

Reader's POV

The dance routine lasted a grand total of twenty minutes, full halftime, and by the end you all were rushing with adrenaline. There wasn't a single mistake, and the stands were hyped. You couldn't help but smile as you all gracefully walked off the field and onto your designated spot on the bleachers, the section to the left of the cheerleaders.

The main event for the dance team was over, and it felt like a huge weight had come off your shoulders. You inwardly thank God that everything went better than you'd imagined from morning to now. All that's left is your short routines throughout the game, similar to what cheerleaders do, just without all the pep and bows.

Now you could officially pay attention to the game, and your boyfriend as the night went on. Apparently, your school the Jaguars had started out losing to the Kings, at a four point deficit until they started catching up. They'd officially surpassed the Kings just minutes before your performance.

There's a clean cut negativity that wafts over to your side of the bleachers whenever you and the girls do your routine coming right from the cheerleader side.

They have a captain as well, an upperclassman named Cho. She's a junior, and a bitch. You remember spending your first semester trying to become her friend for a while, but for some reason that you no longer care to worry about, she just never liked you. Her attitude whenever you spoke to her was ridiculous, so after a while you just stopped.

It was childish to you, the whole dance team vs. cheerleader rivalry, but it's how it just has to be apparently. There's no option of peace and being friends, so if they want to start shit you and your girls will be the ones to shut it down with poise. You knew why Cho was so mad right now, giving you her best side eye as you danced.

The cheerleaders didn't get as big of a spotlight this year seeing as the halftime show was dedicated to your choreography. Cameras and eyes were all pointed to the dancers, only occasionally turning to snap some pictures of the girls routines.

Did you feel bad? Hell no. You worked way too hard to be pressed about some hatin' ass girls in the back.

The game lasted another hour and about a half until it was finally over, a win for the Jaguars! The crowd was going insane, all the players huddled on top of each other in a pile, smiles everywhere. You felt like you were in a movie. The day was finally over, for both you and Ken. When the huddle broke up you hopped over the bleachers and past folks cheering, Ken unsuspecting as his back was towards you.

"Aaaaahhh!" You squeal excitedly, jumping up and wrapping your arms around him from behind. Ken makes a noise of shock before he realizes it's you, turning around and hoisting you up in his arms. Without a word the two of you kiss, completely blocking out the rest of the world.

Your hands cup his sweaty face as you continue, putting all your energy into it to show how proud you were. It's moments like these where your relationship actually feels real. Sharing a large accomplishment together, kissing publicly as a means of showing each other just how happy you both were.

Ken pulls away, setting you back down on the ground with a wide, beaming smile. "We did it babe!"

One of Kenny's teammates rather obnoxiously breaks your little moment up before you could even speak. "We gotta celebrate, man! Let's get to that party!"

Ohhh yes, the party...

Honestly, you weren't really in the mood for any parties, not after all the work you had to do today. If you could have it your way, you'd be chilling out in either yours or Ken's dorm room, having a special, intimate night with just each other. But he really wasn't that kind of guy. When the people need him, he shows up, and after something a huge as homecoming, he'd for sure be getting wasted tonight.

"Imma go and get changed and stuff now, K? I'll meet you out here unless you're gonna head to the party with the boys?" You tilt your head to the side.

"Nah, I'll wait for you." He shakes his head, giving you a peck on the forehead before you run off into the changing room.

As you make your way down the hall towards the dressing rooms for cheerleaders and dancers, it's nothing but hollering and cheers same as outside. You shake your head with a grin, pushing open the doors to the dressing room.

"WOOOOOOOO!"

A good seven of your girls cheer as you walk inside. You all do a little celebratory dance together, posting on each of your instagram stories as well as the dance teams insta page that you run.

"I just wanted to say on behalf of all of us that we're so proud of you and all the work you've been putting in since last year. We wouldn't have been able to pull off such an amazing performance without you and your creativity." Emma says with a proud smile. Your heartstrings pull and tighten at her sweet, heartfelt words.

"Ugh, stooop!" You whine, pouting your bottom lip out.

"No it's true! We love you so much, and we're so glad to have you as captain. You're so hardworking and always want the best for us; you're the best." Himari chimes in, placing a hand on her chest as she starts to tear up.

"Y'all...I don't even know what to say. That is just so sweet. I love y'all so much. I wouldn't even have my dance team dream come true without y'all joining and supporting me in the first place. So really I should be thankin' y'all." You sniffle, vision blurring from the tears pooling in your eyes.

"Wait! We absolute cannot cry this makeup off!" Emma outbursts, making you all laugh in response. She was right though, not only was our makeup bomb, but it also took forever and a lot of work to do. No crying tonight!

You all break up the sappy moment, going and getting semi changed for the afterparty. It was a frat party, so it was gonna be huge. Not only would the football players be there, but the basketball and soccer boys would pull up too. As you grab your sweatpants, you freeze just before you could step in with your left leg.

Something was wrong, your gold anklet was missing.

You distinctly remember putting it on before the show. This anklet was special to you, it being  something that your mom gave you as a fourteenth birthday gift. It's real gold with intricate designs in the chain, simple but elegant, and beautiful. You wear it for every performance, almost like a good luck charm even though jewelry isn't advised.

You gasp, searching all over your little area, the clothing rack, and even Emma's stuff which is sat next to yours.

"Guys!" You call out. Everyone turns to you, confusion on their faces.

"Have you seen a gold anklet around? It's just a simple gold chain." You add, your tone worried as you frantically start searching through everyone's things.

"An anklet? I haven't seen anything." Is all that goes around as the girls help you search in confusion.

"No no no." You repeat to yourself, feeling tears start to prickle in your eyes all over again. It couldn't be gone, it just couldn't.

"Don't worry, just try to backtrack, ok? When did you last see it?" Emma asks, coming over to your side and helping you look.

"I remember puttin' it on before the game. I know for a fact I was wearing it." You shake your head, still rummaging around.

"It might've come off at some point during the game..." She says.

"No, not on that big ass field, it could be anywhere! What if someone stepped on it?!" You ramble, getting all worked up and upset all over again. Emma gives you an apologetic look, unsure herself really of what to say or do to make you feel better about this. You both knew it was highly likely lost in the sauce, trying to find that thing out there is like searching for a needle in a haystack.

"I'm sorry girl." She says softly, placing a hand on your arm comfortingly. You let out a frustrated sigh, going back to putting your sweatpants on. Now you really weren't in the mood for this stupid afterparty.

You finish changing, packing all of your things into your Nike duffel bag lazily. "I'm heading out to the party with Ken, I'll see y'all." You call out to the girls still in the changing room. You all share quick goodbyes as you head out.

Standing in the hallway you take a second, looking out at the opening to the field one more time. You really loved that anklet, and hoped maybe it just came off while you were at the bleachers. If it fell off there, it may be a good chance it's still in the same spot..?

You purse your lips, brows furrowed as you decide to go and search. Deep down you had a feeling it wasn't going to be there, but you were hopeful that maybe that feeling was wrong. You run out passed the people still left chatting on the field and some of the bleachers. It had quieted down faster than you'd thought it would, everyone probably already heading home or to the afterparty. You make it over to the bleachers you'd been sitting at, placing your duffel bag down as you search the entire row along with the ones above and below it.

Nothing. No sign of your anklet at all.

With a defeated sigh you plop down on the bleachers, facepalming as you take in the loss of your special piece of jewelry. Now that you were still, you finally noticed your phone buzzing over and over in your sweatpants pocket.

It was like every app was screaming at you for attention at the same time. Instagram, Imessage, Snapchat, Twitter, the list went on. Opting for Imessage first, you look at all the texts you have.

Best Friend #1👩🏾‍🤝‍👨🏻 GET UR AZZ TO THIS PARTY LIL GIRL😤!! I need somebody to get sturdy wit

Y/N💜 I AIN'T NO LIL GIRL LIL BOY😤 Imma be there soon

Best Friend #1👩🏾‍🤝‍👨🏻 U trynna pick me up some fireballs👀🫦🙏🏼??

Y/N💜 🙄Bye Kei...

You loved Keisuke, he's like an annoying older brother to you, and always finds a way to make you smile, though you two don't talk too often.

Emmy's🩵 Hey so my brothers are actually taking me out to dinner tonight so I won't be at the party🥺. Have fun with Ryugujiiiiii😈

Aw damn, Emma won't even be at the party?! You frown a bit but understand. Her brothers love her like crazy so it made sense they'd wanna take her out to celebrate. You send a quick "Awww that's so sweet! I'll see you later girl" and exit out of the chat with her, finally looking at everything Ken sent.

Big K💖 Wya? Been waitin for a while

Big K💖 U comin?

Big K💖 The guys are pressing me

Big K💖 We're leavin now

Your jaw drops as you reread the last text. He just left without you?! Is he serious?! He was supposed to be your ride! Emma and the other girls had already left, and Emma's not even going to the party anymore. Immediately you open up your chat with Keisuke again.

Y/N💜 Bro... Why Kenny leave me😐

You didn't expect him to respond since he's at the party but you went and sent the texts anyways. Now you'd have to go and put your duffel bag back in your dorm then Uber all the way to the frat part. Ridiculous...

A/N 🧚🏾‍♀️: Y'all don't understand how excited I am about this story! Also, having Keisuke Baji as your best friend is just chef's kiss in my opinion, like, I did my big one with that! But yes anyways, so excited about this, definitely put my whole coochie in this story y'all so like eat it up! Like, comment, reblog for sure. See you in the next chapter💖✨

P.S.: I'll have the next chapter soon (I don't really have a schedule yet for updates but if you guys really like it then I'll prioritize)

[bookaddict24-7]

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

Every week I will post various reviews I've written so far in 2024. You can check out my Goodreads for more up-to-date reviews HERE.

___

196. My Love Mix-Up! Vol. 7 by Wataru Hinekure (writer) , Aruko (Illustrator) , Jan Mitsuko Cash (Translator)--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'm happy I'm slowly devouring this series because I can make it last as long as possible. Watching these characters grow and fall further in love, or challenge their ideas of what love should look like is quickly becoming something I'm looking forward to reading every month.

This volume focused a lot on meeting parents and how each dynamic looks. I definitely giggled and thoroughly enjoyed the side couple's adventure in meeting the one set of parents. I never expected the dad to be the way he was, but he was hilarious and it makes a lot of sense why that character is the way she is.

The main couple also had some cute moments and some great discussions about the communication between the two of them and what they wanted in their futures. It was overall adorable, but also heartfelt.

Onto the next volume!

___

197. Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed FRIENDS WITH BOYS, I just wish that it was either longer, or part of a series.

The relationship between the MC and her brothers was full of complexity that made them realistic. I think the author did a good job of showing the relationship between the twins and how some connections change with growing up. One of the great mysteries I'd have liked to see explored more is the kids' relationship with their mother and how she isn't a part of their lives anymore.

I also would have loved to see more of these budding feelings the MC and one of her new friends hinted at during the story itself. And I really, really liked the new friendships that the MC finds when she feels at her loneliest. Which brought us to the history of one of the new friends and how anyone is capable of change, but even change can't alter the behaviour of someone in the past.

FRIENDS WITH BOYS explores the complexities of bullying, family, history, friendships, growing up, abandonment, grief, and overcoming judgments. I liked how Hicks tackled all of these topics, while still including a creepy undertone with the haunting.

With all of that being said, the ending felt rushed and feels super incomplete. I know that maybe this is intentional because it's supposed to just capture a moment in time for these kids, but I do wish I had more.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I think it'd be a great one for those readers on the cusp of high school. I hope the author re-explores this world in the future!

___

198. My Summer of You Vol. 1 by Nagisa Furuya--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was very surprised by MY SUMMER OF YOU. It was cute, but so heartfelt. It also dealt with such a great friendship that turned to more and I loved seeing that journey for both of the characters. I could feel the angst and the slow burn in this, even as that heavy feeling of heartbreak lingered over the pages.

I know there are more in books in this series, but I loved how this story was captured in one volume. I thought that this story felt like one of those nostalgic summer experiences one might recall from their high school years, when they knew they were on the cusp of change.

If you want a pretty sweet story of two friends who move into potential love in the span of a summer, then this is the manga for you!

___

199. Punch Drunk Love Vol. 2 by Moscareto,Okdong(Illustrator)--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Where volume one of PUNCH DRUNK LOVE was endearingly odd and over the top, this one was starting to verge on cringey territory. I still enjoyed the hell out of it and devoured it, but even I had to pause at times to just shake my head at this MC.

I did feel bad for him at times, though--especially because his interest is so definite and pure that seeing the other guy treat him badly had my empathy going wild. I wanted him to have one of those moments where he just stepped back and let the love interest miss him, but then I realized it would completely go against his character.

We got some more background for the love interest and some good reasoning for why he is the way he is. I'm so curious to see how he's going to be when he finally gives into the MC fully (which may or may not have been hinted at here). I'm definitely looking forward to volume three, because I need to know how chaotic these goblins will get in the future.

___

200. Mind Games by Nora Roberts--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One of the things I really enjoy about Nora Roberts is how wary I always am of reading one of her books but then when I'm midway through the book I always come to the realization that I'm really, really enjoying myself.

There is a kind of comfort in the somewhat predictable nature of her novels.

MIND GAMES had a paranormal twist to it that made it slightly different from so many of her other romantic suspense books. I do find it entertaining how coincidental some of the character connections are. Like, what are the chances that THAT would be the love interest?

I think books like this one, even though they have jarring violent language sometimes from the antagonist (I don't mean swearing, I mean dark, murderous shit and misogynistic language to get a reaction out of the reader), are perfect for summer because they're so dependable. That's probably why I'm so hooked on Roberts' books.

I loved the relationship between the FMC and her grandmother and felt my heart break for her after the tragedy the family experiences. I would have wished a bit more of the one side of the family--in a weird way, that felt a little like a plot hole. Although, I AM grateful that it took some drama out of the whole thing.

The ability was cool and made me think a bit of INCEPTION, which I was not expecting. These FMCs always have such interesting jobs, I wonder what the next character will be!

Overall, this was enjoyable. It wasn't mind-blowing, but it was fun and had its darker moments. Another successful Roberts read!

___

201. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The way that THE GOOSE GIRL is told may be simplistic to some, but I enjoyed it particularly for this reason. I think I would have enjoyed the heck out of this when I was younger, especially because of how the story begins and then proceeds to prove that the princess is indeed a badass.

I know this is an older title, but I feel like THE GOOSE GIRL is a hidden gem--kind of like THE WINTER KING (but of course, more age appropriate for younger readers). There was such a great sense of adventure and survival in this, plus I loved the fact that the princess had to hide who she was in order to survive. (I love a great underdog story).

This had a very low level romance, but I enjoyed that because this isn't really a story about the Princess and her future love interest--this was more about the MC herself and how she can come to accept and learn who she really is. She is also, quite literally, the epitome of the theme that "being different" can be a thing of beauty, despite what society tells you.

Anyway, I really, really liked this book and I want to read the second one soon. I can't wait to dive back into this world!

___

202. Kick at the Darkness by Keira Andrews--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love Keira Andrews and she honestly has yet to let me down. KICK AT THE DARKNESS is one of her older titles and it was so much more than I was anticipating.

First of all, can we get a round of applause for the surprising third character in this book? That motorcycle is a pure hero and the fact that it was so protected during the whole book scratched at an itch I didn't know I had when it comes to apocalyptic novels (I always wonder what happens to the things characters leave behind in their attempts to survive). I love that it was to the point where near the end I was asking "What about the motorcycle?"

I kind of wish we had gotten a dual POV story, BUT I also understand why we didn't after a certain reveal. I like thinking back on all the hints I missed and how it all added up nicely when everything was revealed. I wasn't expecting it and it added a whole different layer to the story.

I liked how the two characters navigated their tense relationship. That enemies-to-lovers trope worked hard in this book. It was one of the major draws to the story for me and I loved seeing how much of a cinnamon roll one of the characters was, while the other one just started to melt for him.

I loved the road trip aspect and the connection between the two characters. The survival and misadventures as they travelled through the country was one of my favourite themes in this genre of fiction. It was spicy and had some surprising bits. Anyway, I loved this and I DO want to read the sequel one day.

I continue to love this author.

___

203. Heat Stroke by Tessa Bailey--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Okay, first of all, I didn't know Tessa Bailey had an MM romance. I will say that, despite how much I DID actually enjoy these two characters together, it was interesting to read a MM book from an author who I didn't even know wrote one or two MM books. There were a few scenes that...could have used some more research.

Anyway, the story itself was incredibly enjoyable. The one character being the biggest golden retriever was adorable af. But I liked that despite he wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, he had goals and he strived to achieve them, even if the people around him didn't believe he could succeed. I also felt for his internal battle with his sexuality and how those he loved would perceive him if the truth was revealed. Even though this will always be a heartbreaking trope in certain MM romances.

The other MC was fun because he was so determined to be one way, that it was definitely enjoyable watching his facade just completely fall. I love characters who are so set in their ways that they don't realize when the love interest has gotten under their skin. He also had a horrible event happen to him in the past, so I can understand his hesitancy and guilt.

I picked this up because they're both lifeguards and I was craving more lifeguard MM stories. While the characters were cute together and I loved the angst, I do wish there was more lifeguarding bits. I know it sounds silly, but sometimes a very specific craving for a certain theme in a book hits and it's a little disappointing when I don't get a lot of what I thought I was going to when I first picked up the book.

Anyway, despite the lack of true lifeguarding (lmao), I enjoyed this and recommend to lovers of MM. Just keep in mind that the sex scenes are hella unrealistic and could have used a lot more research. Yes, they were spicy, but it felt very hetero but with an LGBTQ+ label on them (certain situations were incredibly unrealistic).

___

Have you read any of these books? What were your thoughts?

___

Happy reading!

[lunar-years]

non crack ship: sam/rebecca crack ship: sharon/rebecca

Sam/Rebecca:

I don’t dislike them necessarily but it just sort of seemed (to me) like they didn’t know what to do with Rebecca after s1 so they threw a dart in the writer’s room and it landed on Sam. mostly I think there were much better plot options for both Rebecca and Sam in s2 than a temporary romance plot. Rebecca’s arc should have been more focused on her learning to navigate owning a team she now cares about after spending her first year trying to actively destroy them. It would have been nice to see more of her working with Ted to better the club’s culture, and, in her personal life, processing the damage Rupert did to her, coming to terms with who she is alone and what she wants from her future, and then pursuing romance in s3. On Sam’s end I hate that they elevated Toheeb to the main cast largely to be rebecca’s romantic partner. I wish they’d instead given Sam and Jamie a co-plot about repairing their relationship and building a friendship, and done more with playing up them & their relationships with their dads as foils (this would have given Jamie more to do in s2 as well, which I think was desperately needed). There should have also been much more fallout from the Dubai Air thing and Sam dealing with it with the help of the team. Anyway…they are sexy tho! They just don’t really go anywhere in the relationship, imo. Like, I don’t see them lasting longterm. Honestly I enjoyed the small moments between them in s3 more than I liked the relationship when it was actually happening.

Sharon/Rebecca:

Look I mostly see Rebecca as very hetero but I do think the idea of her (a woman who actively rejects therapy in favor of ranting to friends and self diagnosing) dating a therapist has hilarious and wonderful potential. And Sharon is wlw to me so maybe she could open Rebecca’s eyes in more ways than one <3 however, Rebecca is nosy and a gossip (affectionate) though so it would be hard for her to accept Sharon never wanting to talk about anyone at the club with her because “those are my patients and i have to honor their confidentiality” 🙄

[jaylikesrainbowtigers]

Tag game, Stranger things edition

@hargrove-mayfields tagged me so you know I have to do this. Thank you so much!!

Ride or die ship: Hollogrove. Heather and Billy are my bread and butter. Like so much of my stranger things content is them. I just love them healing and growing together.

Most annoying ship: St*ncy. I just hate it. What Nancy did to Steve was kind of something you can’t return from. I have seen the effects of a similar relationship on one of my irl besties and I would never wish it on anyone. I would cry if that ship happened in S5.

3. Second favourite ship: Either Elumax (platonic Elucas) or Eddie x Chrissy x Steve x Jonathan (with Jonathan, Eddie and Steve dating Argyle and Chrissy dating Robin. If someone has a ship name please suggest in the comments). I adore these ships as the developed relationships there are just *chef’s kiss* but the people who haven’t met? Just so much cute potential for love!

4. Favourite platonic dynamic: Stobin is my platonic tea. I adore Steve and Robin and believe whole heartedly that they are disabled besties. Platonic soulmates.

5. Underrated ship: Hollogrove obviously but Cunningway, Cheerscoops, Photocheer, Stargyle, and Murrlexi. Those ships are also so top tier but underrated. There are so many more.

6. Overrated ship: M*leven. Again I hate it. It is so teenage abuse romanticized. And too many people think that it is healthy or OTP. To be honest, Mike is a bit of an ick for me anyway.

7. One thing to change in canon: Destroy any hints or hopes of St*ncy or M*leven or any abusive relationship. Stop the characters putting up with it, to the extent that it is romanticized. Abuse is not good or something to be idealized. And actually include canon disabilities please.

8. One thing canon did right: Making Robin a lesbian and allowing Max and Eleven to have a strong friendship which is not focused on the boys. That trope is so overused so I am glad it was not used.

9. A thing I am proud of creating for the fandom: I am really proud of my Hollogrove stuff because there is so little content for my babies. But some of my work for @disabledbillyandsteveweek is also something I am super proud of and I can’t wait to show people.

10. A character who is perfect to me: Heather Holloway is my queen. Like she is so sweet and caring but obviously has so much depth potential. The Duffers really made a mistake not giving her more screen time. They could have done so much.

11. Most relatable character and why: Robin is the most relatable character for me. Her social awkwardness and passion for certain topics is really relatable to me. We are both band kids, lesbians and we even look fairly alike!

12. Character I hate most and why: Karen. Moral trash who willing flirted and tried to seduce a child her daughters age. She also put down other teenagers simply because she was being petty??? Like she is the adult in this situation. Even though she backed out of meeting Billy, the fact that she ever flirted with him is creepy. If you reversed the genders, the fandom would be freaking out and be like it’s so creepy!! It’s still the same situation?? Of course, it is creepy. Neil Hargrove is a close second.

13. Something I have learned from the fandom: To be more confident in sharing my opinions and work. Before I met a lovely group of people in the fandom I was so scared of being attacked for my preferences in the fandom but they showed me that despite us all not shipping or producing the same thing, we can all still support and respect each other. It really helped my social anxiety around sharing stuff, particularly for this fandom, online.

14. Three tags I seek out on ao3: I don’t actually read much stranger things on ao3 but Hollogrove, Hellcheer, and fantasy au’s are probably my top three for the fandom. I really want to see more fantasy au’s that aren’t just werewolves or vampires. I might actually write one now.

15: A song I strongly associate with otp and/or my favourite character: Pretty Brown Eyes by Cody Simpson for Hollogrove for a YouTube edit I saw. Love that song for them. Love Story by Taylor Swift is a close second.

I’m tagging @stranger-themes-blog, @carito-dorito , @mrsblackruby , @iloveyoubillyhargrove. Please don’t feel obligated to do this but I thought that I would share this with other stranger things fans.

[justscreamingnothing]

what ultimately grinds my gears is feeling like i’m putting in so much effort and others aren’t. like why not call me, check up on me? why’s it feel like my efforts worth nothing? i think of my friendship, how much i try to check up on them and hang out with them and hold space and make sure they’re comfortable, all to feel like i’ve been left behind for their relationships. and i think of this guy and how he won’t check up and how i can’t bear the emotional brunt of myself all the time. i know i need therapy too but damn, i want someone near me to truly share everything with, this year has shown me that.

i know my friends don’t mean to abandon me, but i guess that’s just what happens when you’re in a relationship. you’re very focused on the other person and things like friendships just become less of a priority. maybe i’ll get it someday. but it doesn’t make me feel any better. i can’t handle being alone all the time anymore if im gonna be honest with myself. it’s just a lot. i don’t feel that thrill of independent freedom anymore. i mean yes- i love being independent! but i need someone to share life with. someone to help me out at the end of the day and help me feel like i’m not carrying it all by myself.

i just got stuck in charlotte overnight which fucking sucked cause i wasted a whole day traveling and am still going to be late to my friends birthday celebration. they put me up in a hotel and all i could do was cry and wish i had someone there with me to vent to and be stressed with and ultimately decide to make a little adventure out of it. i’ve never underestimated how lucky i am sometimes to even have the opportunity to be alone, especially growing up the way i did with my parents. i’ll never undervalue that. i also value connections outside of relationships, i mean i have to considering i’ve never been in a relationship, but still it’s like none of that feels relevant when im so alone and so in need of support.

i’m beyond sick and tired of people telling me to wait or to not try too hard to be in a relationship. i’ve waited fucking long enough, i’ve waited longer than most people will ever have to! and if i were trying too hard i would already be in a relationship. there were years where i didn’t date at all, and guess what? i wasn’t getting any suitors at my door either. why is it ok for everyone else to date and look for love and want to be in a relationship but when i do it im “forcing it”?? why don’t i get to be like everyone else? why haven’t i gotten that love and affection from anyone? am i too nice, too much of. a pushover? should i be meaner so people have to vie for my love?

i just want to be myself and find someone who likes me the exact way i am, and for me to like them back the same. for us to really have a chance to fall deeply in love. for them to check up on me to see if im doing well! i don’t think that’s a big ask everyone else has done it!!

ugh now i’m crying and sad on the way to this cabin. hopefully i can salvage the rest of this long (cut short) weekend.

[letsflynow]

Part 4/20 - Scorch your lips on my eyes

Z was another of my overthink misadventures. He existed in the background of my high school, he was there, and then one night, we meet. He was surrounded by a group of friends, and I nonchalantly began a little chat, evolving everyone, not leaving anyone behind, just like I always rehearsed it back home. 

The only thing I didn’t rehearse was the look I was giving; I could not stop looking. Even when he wasn’t talking I was looking, I just wanted to look at him, tell me what you’re thinking Z, speak to me unbound, any subject at all and I will just concentrate on your lips. Doesn’t matter what it is, just let me map them, so that I can look it up when I daydream. Make sure I only remember your lips when I close my eyes, scorched as if I looked a little too long at the sun, so that I am forced to think of you whenever I dream. 

At the end he told me “Why did we never talk?” he wanted to meet again! Me and him talked online for weeks, deep and superficial talks, he made my arms tingle when we talked. He was listening to me, he cared, he gave advice, my thumbs were shaking as we talked, will he respond? Should I reply slower? Lets meet, lets hang, just set up a place and a date and I’m yours for the taking. We cancelled plans two times and that was enough for me to give up. Z doesn’t want me that bad right? If he did want, he would make plans again. Oh he did make plans? Well, now I’m the one not wanting… why does he want it that bad anyways? Silly me thinking he desires me whatsoever.

I’ll just forget all abou- ohh he’s pushing for it! Maybe I can give Z a chance. All I have to lose is myself, a friendship and hours of overthinking anxiety before, during and after, were the only thing I will concentrate is how I can make him kiss me. I should have laughed more? Just save yourself the trouble and don’t go, let the mystery remain in his head and let the overthinking remain in my head.

I imagine it would be with you, how much fun would life be... Can I give you a chance now? Are you talking with someone else? I want to laugh as much as her. Make her feel that silly love, that giggle nobody can take away from her. Let her run her hands thru your hair, those curls you never cared, perfectly round to hug my fingers, let us lay in your bed, the dusty light from your attic window warming my stomach, match my breath, match my feelings, say you’ll rescue me, sweep me away to where you are thinking, will I be there in a white dress? Or with a round belly? Am I part of what you can’t stop thinking about? Take me to your friends, I will love them all, I will tell silly stories of our love and they will roll their eyes, wishing they were me. I wish I was you. Let me crawl In your bed, let me be your shadow, I want to eat from your spoon. Let me touch that door handle after.

When I die I want to become a ghost so that I can lie down next you in stillness, looking at your hair, focusing on nothing else, a lifetime on your lifetime. 

Reminds me of S…

[xsadcorebenji]

i forgot how much i really loved lee friedlander’s body of work

i’m taking a break and staring at this tiny dot on the ceiling

how did this dot even get there?

is it the bloodstain of a bug devoured by a spider

i feel a vague sadness

but when i am playing that zelda game

i don’t feel anything

just immersed in an experience that seems to feel like another life entirely

one filled with adventure, exploring and discovery

my car is breaking down

and honestly i really should invest in a “new” used car

there’s a tiny dot on the ceiling

without my glasses on

it blurs into nothingness

and a tiny sense of hunger

but an overwhelming sense of sadness or dread

do i feel lonely?

all of the experiences i don’t feel

when i am in that game

i should actually probably eat something

but i terribly don’t want to

i just want to sleep

i want it to be the weekend already

there’s just so many tasks to do in the game

all of them more exciting than whatever i have to do here

i keep having fantasies

of going on dates

and the frustrating part is it’s really difficult for me to maintain interest in anyone new

it’s difficult to want to talk to anyone i don’t know (regarding that)

feelings only happen when i feel a “connection”

but i couldn’t imagine the flimsy premises people seem to ask others with

have this thought of

something activating my grief down the line, i’ll cry seriously over Fox,

the first time it’s cute,

the fourth or fifth time it begins to get agitating and you don’t want to be with someone who cries so much

and it’ll plant a seed of resent in me

but i don’t lash out

i just wish i could date someone who “knew” me already like someone who’s already a close friend,

just have that layer of unconditional love you get in friendship (that you should also have in companionship)

but i can’t imagine a setting outside school where friendships develop, foster and grow (not a filmsy shallow friendship)

but i suppose everything would be much easier once i move,

been having such a hard time seeing anyone who reflects any sort of anything

thought about a dating trend that existed in Korea so long ago (does it still exist? i don’t know)

but it’s called twinning and it’s just people wearing the same shirt or dressing up to match and

i only thought of it because i’m wearing a band shirt i got at this show with a close friend

he’s very excruciatingly heteronormative so we basically made a conscious call to just never wear this shirt ever whenever we’re hanging out with each other

vaguely remember a promise to go to the aquarium with my former partner that never happened

i’ve been thinking about that

i genuinely got too wrapped up in the anxiety of constant job searches, odd jobs, etc.

and in Chicago was so fucking wrapped up in organizing shows, grad school, traveling for shows

never had a moment to fucking breathe

i wish we went to the aquarium together

remember this life vlogger in Korea just vlog their date, they rode around in a tandem bike and went to fancy cafes or places with cute pastries

wouldn’t it be nice to have things be so simple?

feels like here it’s this thing where everyone’s competing with each other

how is any of this not just a mess of power struggles?

when everyone is so gotdang focused on “getting theirs” we have no real room for another ever

former partner used to watch a lot of life vlogging couples, used to watch some with her

(more or less she watched ones where one was Asian, the couple with one person being Korean and then going through Korean culture was cute)

when covid lockdown happened

thought of a performance art project

but looking back i realized how difficult it would have been because people are GENUINELY scared of being present in themselves (as i learned over the years)

but the idea was i would go on a date entirely through FaceTime, we would do the date remotely and in different time zones

it involves us doing the “date activity” and the whole day recorded over the phone as if we were dating in real life

it would involve natural conversation but a lot of random shit like narrating what efforts you made for the occasion like describing your outfit in detail and explaining how nervous you felt or just any raw emotion

but the point of it being virtual is like

you two go to a similar restaurant but obviously not the same, “treat each other” through Venmo, just all the tools that exist that make the proximity needs of real life not all that necessary

date ends with each other wishing goodnight before hanging up

realized

it wouldn’t translate well with others

most people developed their connections in real life

i developed most of mine entirely online

(college connections were real life but often met with tragic ends)

thought about my first major former partner

entirely online but becomes “real life” for a few moments

still she reached out, added me on FB (actually right after a night where i got more involved with her closest friend who i was friends with on FB but met through tumblr and we were connecting really hard,

i was freaked out because even though we were tumblr mutuals we didn’t talk as much as i talked to her friend at the time,

so it felt like she was going to reprimand me because admittedly that connection was taboo to say the least

either way one night i reached out to her shortly after she added me because she didn’t talk or interact with me much on tumblr or FB at the time

and just reached out with something jokey, we ended up talking the rest of the night

just planting seeds unintentionally in me

after a few nights (because we ended up talking nightly mostly because i used to work exhaustive hours at my uncle’s restaurant)

i joked that she liked me, based on how often she reached out or asked some prying questions she said she didn’t

and i believed that

either way my taboo connection with her friend was more or less continuing

so invested it led to them sending me a song they sang from a mutually favorite band that was more or less a sad love song

fucking 3 Libras from A Perfect Circle

difficult not to feel a little bit

disappointed and passed over.

when i look right through

to see you naked and oblivious

and you don’t see me

(only covered because i showed them my old livejournal and that was the song lyrics i used for my bio)

with my former partner however whenever anything regarding romance came out

used to have a default response where i said some variation of people don’t generally like me in that way

each time she responded with “>_>”

thought it meant i was annoying her

one night we group skyped and

the mutual friend i connected so closely with revealed her feelings towards me

because they knew both of us carried feelings and probably hated being in the middle of it

it was a shock for sure (because only until recently i felt so unaware for people’s possible emotions towards me)

still led to a cute romance for awhile

long distance

but the “unconditional” love amongst friends being there for the relationship always made it feel more secure

mutual friend dated someone else, but whenever got into emotional struggles with bpd would make claims like “no one loves me”

i would, honest to a fault describe my emotions for them which probably wasn’t helpful,

and i never hid anything i did or said to my former partner (i never did, just openly candid, and maybe i don’t know,

sometimes i wonder if i was just looking for them to hate me somehow

but with the patience of a friendship love

never seemed to make things worse)

but it’s difficult for me because until only recently i realized carrying multiple emotions for a lot of people all at once is a very polyamory thing

(which shouldn’t surprise me because i spent most of the childhood watching harems,

and before the word “polyamory” existed in my vocabulary, i knew “polygamy”

i remember when gay marriage passed, i immediately went polygamy is going to be past next right?

and then found out how actively against polygamy people were,

never realized

even with my actual first former partner

made it clear to her close friend who i connected to a lot during that time on a night they said “no one likes me” i confessed “i would’ve loved dating you, but this and that”

forgot what i exactly said

but probably awful being told “you were my second choice”

no one wants to be a second choice

and maybe they really weren’t a second choice

i just seemed to carry multiple crushes quite frequently all the time

more or less try to drown those emotions whenever i’m connecting closely with someone

still even when i’m with someone

do those feelings ever go away?

how do you explain to anyone you just always kind of carry feelings depending on how you connect with people?

how do you explain to people that in islam polygamy was allowed if and only if you were able to treat everyone the same?

(not that i was islamic, but recognized that as something good)

“i can give my love to multiple people and they can all return it back to me”

but still it’s impossible to treat everyone the same

emotions occur in varying degrees

still

i always did a good job drowning them out whenever i had a primary partner

no clue why i went on this tangent

because lately it’s difficult for me to retain interest in anyone

especially whenever i’m in the position where i’m the one consistently reaching out

i think in generally i’m just feeling lonely lately

and i miss that energy of talking everyday actively crushing on them sensing a “mutual love”

either way,

nowadays

it feels rather difficult

when everyone feels so self-focused

myself included

makes sense because everyone has had some negative experiences

in some sick self-righteous sense i want to always share a love with you in all the areas you feel the deficit

even for a moment

i just to take language classes once i move

forced conversation

meaning a chance to connect again

just night time college courses

anything in a frequent setting where feelings can even develop

[gladerwolfstarkimagines]

Imagine being Lin Beifong’s daughter and Korra having a crush on you

You entered President Raiko’s party late and hurried inside hoping to avoid your mother’s wrath by appearing as soon as possible. Being Lin Beifong’s daughter and employee meant she was twice as hard on you as anyone on the force, so she would not take your tardiness well. You were waved into the building by guards who recognised you on sight and rushed into the ballroom. You saw the party was already in full swing and braced yourself for all the fake smiling you’d have to endure when a young woman appeared across from you. “Avatar Korra” you nodded in recognition of the girl who grinned at you. “Miss Beifong” she smiled in greeting “you look as beautiful as ever...you legs alone seem to go on for years in those trousers” she commented glancing at them and you blushed. “Funny I just had a similar thought about your biceps”. Korra beamed “ow you can’t really see them in this thing but I’d be happy to give you a closer look”.

You couldn’t resist a smile and your blush grew to have such a beautiful woman flirt so blatantly with you. Korra was always like this around you and you enjoyed it greatly even if it wasn’t professional. Korra was a breath of fresh air in Republic City and you enjoyed her confidence and humour. You liked the avatar a lot but you had no intentions of pursuing anything beyond flirting with her. For one thing she was young, cocky, beautiful and THE avatar. You supposed she had hundreds of boys and girls queueing up for her and didn’t want to just be another name on her list. You’d heard about how the previous water tribe avatar had been a hit with women and apparently that was a trait Korra shared. She was the avatar, who wouldn’t be weak to her charm? Still you tried to behave so aimed to change the topic of conversation.

“I think we should join the party seeing as we’re both very late” you smiled slyly and Korra smirked “I didn’t think Beifongs were ever late. Are you really trying to tell me you’re not perfect?”. The girl was insatiable. “We all have our secrets” you replied and Korra’s grin only grew. “Mysterious, intelligent and beautiful...you have to let me lead you into the party. As the Avatar it’s my duty to serve the people”. “Well who I am to get in the way of that” you smirked rolling your eyes as you took her outstretched arm. Korra led you into the party proudly and you enjoyed being on her arm. Still you were in work mode, so you only stayed by Korra’s side for an appropriate amount of time before excusing yourself so nobody would get the wrong idea. Korra never failed to make you smile or blush but you wouldn’t let it progress no matter how much fun it would be. So you allowed the flirting and lingering glances but stopped it from going any further.

You saw Korra pretty regularly as she was always in trouble with the law in some way or another and not a month after the party President Raiko banned her from Republic City. It was something he’d likely take back pretty soon but still she had to leave so you and your mother went to help her however you could. The avatar didn’t seem too bothered by the President’s command and still had that cocky smile on her face. She let you into Tenzin’s home and explained how she was leaving tomorrow to go look for air benders anyway. She read out the names of some known airbenders in the earth kingdom and you paused as one was familiar.  “Wait did you say Opal? Is she from Zafou by any chance?” you asked and Korra nodded “yeah why?”. Your mother tried to silence you but you didn’t notice, too excited. “She’s my cousin!” you burst “This is so great, i’m so proud of her”. “Wait so Suyin is your sister?” Korra asked Lin and your mother nodded “yes. Which is something I wished to remain a secret but clearly that is not an option anymore” she said shooting you a look. “Well this is great news” Korra smiled “you have to come with me!”. “What!” your mother cried and Korra sighed “if she’s your niece then you can help us recruit her! We need all the help we can get”. “No way!” Lin cried “I am not seeing my sister ever again if I can help it, y/n can go if you want a Beifong so badly”. Korra looked at you and smiled “that does sound appealing, what do you say y/n? Want to come on a field trip with me?”. Korra held out her hand to you and you blushed, hoping your mother didn’t notice. You knew you probably shouldn’t go. Being in close quarters with Korra would certainly challenge your restraint but you hadn’t seen your extended family in so long and this was the perfect opportunity to go visit. Plus Korra looked so good when she smiled at you like that. “Sure” you said taking her hand “someone has to keep you out of trouble”.

You met Korra and her friends at Future Industries the next day and were soon flying to Zafou. Korra came to stand beside you on the deck and leant forwards flexing her arms right in front of you. “I’m glad you agreed to come” Korra smiled and you nodded “me too, it’s been forever since I’ve got out of Republic City”. Korra’s eye glinted “does this mean I’m going to witness holiday y/n? It’d be fun to see you let your hair down and go wild”. “If you’re lucky maybe you will” you smirked and Korra nodded “i’m looking forward to it” and winked before leaving you alone once more. You stared after her as she walked away and Korra must’ve felt your eye on her because before she disappeared back into the ship she turned and caught you red-handed watching her. She smiled widely a chuckle slipping from her lips and you turned around sharply, blushing vividly. Agreeing to this trip may not have been a smart decision at all.

When you touched down in Zafou Korra had you right beside her in pride of place. You recognised your aunt immediately and she addressed Korra first before she spotted you beside her and she did a double-take. “Y/n?” she asked and you grinned “Aunt Suyin!” and rushed forwards to hug her. Your aunt wrapped you in a hug and then quickly tugged you to go find your cousins, momentarily forgetting the avatar was here. She summoned all your cousins and they rushed to greet you...well some did. Bataar junior didn’t look impressed and Huan just glanced at you not particularly bothered but the twins and Opal were very welcoming. “It’s so good to see you again!” Opal cried and you nodded taking her hand “it is! It’s been far too long and I can’t believe you’re an airbender now!”. Opal nodded “trust me it was a shock to us all but i’m so excited to learn airbending”. “Well Korra can definitely help you with that” you said gesturing to the avatar who nodded confidently “of course, anything for y/n’s cousin” and you blushed slightly but managed to hide it.

You enjoyed your time with your family greatly and got along well with all your cousins. You participated in Wei and Wing’s power disk game and being a good metal bender yourself almost won the match. You noticed Korra watching you and briefly tried showing off before getting wiped out. The twins noticed Korra watching and invited her to join but she declined explaining she couldn’t metal bend. Your cousins rushed to assure her she could learn and volunteered to teach her. Korra seemed very excited at the idea and agreed before she turned to you “wait a minute y/n why did you never offer to teach me?”. You could tell she was only feigning annoyance so you shrugged “what can you blame me for wanting something over the almighty avatar?”. That stroked Korra’s ego and she smiled lazily “no but I’ll certainly get my own back in some way”. “Ow really? How”? you challenged her and the girl just shrugged. “I’m not sure yet, but be on your best behaviour Beifong” she smirked before rushing away.

Korra went off to train with your cousins and you were relieved hoping this would be a time for you to cool down and recover but no. Opal caught you and invited you to catch up with her in the gardens. You of course obliged your cousin but found yourself seated directly in view of Korra’s training with your cousins. You tried focusing on Opal but your eyes kept getting pulled to the avatar as she picked up metal bending remarkedly quickly. You noticed Korra had spotted you and she appeared to be putting on a show, trying valiantly to challenge your cousin entirely for your benefit. It was a clever strategy and soon Opal trailed off just letting you admire Korra. Your cousins were experiencing first-hand just how skilled the avatar could be and you saw them breaking out in a sweat with how hard Korra was pushing them.  

After a while they began trying to score past one another and Korra got an idea. She *accidentally* bent a disk near you and your cousin Wei teased her for being sloppy. She just shot them a lopsided grin and jogged over to you. “Ladies” she smiled looking straight at you “i’m sorry I didn’t see you there”. “Ow really?” you asked and Korra grinned “yeah I had no idea you were here whatsoever...which is odd considering how every eye is drawn to you whenever you’re nearby”. You blushed going red and Korra’s smile grew “I’ll leave you to your chat. Opal, Y/n” she nodded at you both in turn but winked when she met your gaze. You watched her run back to your cousins and found Opal staring at you. She immediately pushed you squealing “you didn’t tell me you were dating the avatar!”. “I’m not and keep your voice down please” you begged seeing the smug look on Korra’s face which told you she’d noticed Opal’s reaction. “But she was very openly flirting with you” Opal retorted and you nodded “I know we do that a lot but it’s just our friendship. I’d never let it go further because she’s the avatar! She’s not after a relationship she just wants a fun fling and I can’t give her that. Trust me the avatar will get bored of me and move on soon enough”. “Ow yeah?” Opal asked looking to where Korra was still putting on a show for you. Korra scored a point and shot you a smile. You blushed vividly and Opal laughed “I don’t think she’s not going cold on you any time soon”.

At the end of the week your Aunt Suyin threw a party to celebrate Opal’s progress and avatar’s arrival. It was magnificent and you hadn’t seen this much earth kingdom food in...well forever! You made sure Korra and the others were all okay and socialised with your cousins greatly enjoying being with your family. Bataar jnr told you about his machines, his girlfriend Kuvira traded military expertise with you, Wei and Wing quizzed you about all the pro-bending in Republic City, you teased Opal about her crush on Bolin and even Huan showed you some of his paintings. You were absolutely thrilled your family still felt like a family after all this time and hadn’t been this happy in a long time. However all that excitement can be draining. Towards the end of the night you began to grow tired so went outside for some fresh air and quiet. You were relaxing in the picturesque moonlight when you were disturbed. “Well your aunt certainly knows how to put on a spread” someone called and you jumped to find Avatar Korra making her way over to you on the abandoned balcony. She was wearing a beautiful blue dress and her eyes shone in the dark light. “She does” you smiled “never let it be said Beifong’s don’t know how to put on an event”. “That’s for sure” Korra agreed coming to sit right beside you. “The city is so beautiful” she commented before she turned “as are you”. “Thanks” you blushed “you look very beautiful too”. “There’s no way I can compete with you in that outfit” Korra smiled “Beifong’s apparently always look stunning as well as being great hostesses”. “Have you been checking out my aunt then?” you replied and Korra laughed “of course not, I only have eyes for you”. “Sureeee” you laughed but Korra nodded “I do I promise! You’re all I think about and why wouldn’t I? You’re the most interesting girl I’ve ever met. I’m crazy about you”. You blushed under Korra’s intense gaze but didn’t look away. “I....I don’t know what to say” you finally spoke up and Korra shrugged “well then how about we don’t bother talking anymore?”. Time seemed to freeze and you viewed the present in slow motion as Korra cupped your cheek gently and leant forwards. You liked the way her hands felt on you and instinctively leant into her before your brain caught up with the situation. “Wait! Korra I can’t” you said your heart hammering in your chest and the avatar frowned inches away from you. “You can’t? why? Do you not find me attractive?” Korra asked. “No of course I find you very attractive, i’ve never seen a human being I find more attractive than you” you admitted very flustered. “Then what’s the problem?” Korra asked and you sighed “the problem is I don’t just want to hook up with you a few times and be done with it. I know some people like that kind of thing and i’m sure as the avatar it is the perfect option but I’m not like that. Casual one night stands just aren’t my thing so I’m sorry I have to decline. Please don’t ask me again” and you rushed away. Korra called after you but you clearly wanted to be left alone so she didn’t follow you. She hung her head in her hands at how messed up things had gotten.

When Korra had allowed herself to wallow for a bit she came back inside to find the party over. She made her way to her shared room and found Asami waiting. “Korra where have you been we were all worried sick and...” Asami started when she caught sight of Korra’s expression and stopped abruptly.  “What’s wrong?” Asami asked and Korra sighed “you gave me terrible advice that’s what!”. Korra explained the situation more and Asami felt awful. Being more experienced with relationships Korra had come to Asami for advice on how to approach her feelings for you and it hadn’t worked well. Given Korra’s past approach of blurting out her love for people without a second thought, Asami advised Korra to try a different approach with you but she hadn’t meant it so literally. Instead of being serious or passionate Korra had been entirely flirty and forward with you. No substance just fun. So you’d wrongly gotten the idea all Korra wanted was a fun fling when she actually was madly infatuated with you and wanted far more long term things with you. Asami wasn’t sure what she could do but seeing Korra so distraught she knew she had to try and help her friend.

So Asami made her way to your room hoping you wouldn’t mind such a late-night visit. Asami knocked on your door and heard movement inside. There was a pause before she heard you call “who is it?” nervously. “It’s Asami” she called back “I need to speak to you”. The door opened slowly and Asami saw you looked upset. “Did Korra send you”? you asked quietly “because she didn’t do anything wrong I just need some space”. “No she didn’t send me but I am here because of her, I need to confess something”. Your eyes widened in confusion but you nodded and let Asami into your room. The minute you turned to face her Asami burst “It’s my fault! Korra came to me when she realised she liked you and asked me for advice. She was terrified of messing this up and doing what she did with Mako...with him she’d blurted out a lot of intense things right away and so I told her to do the opposite. I suggested she just toned down the seriousness and had fun with you. Flirt a little and try and gauge how you were feeling before she confessed her whole heart to you. But it seems she took my advice too much and now you don’t think her intentions are good at all which is not the case! Korra very much likes you for more than just your appearance and she has for a while”. You stared at Asami at an apparent loss for words “so Korra was...what acting?”. Asami shrugged “kind of, she was putting on this cocky flirty front when she’s actually a lot more emotional and sweet...she didn’t mean to come across so forward she was just following my advice which backfired horribly. I’m so sorry it upset you I promise that was not her intention at all. If you want to blame anyone blame me”. You assured Asami you weren’t upset with her and spent the next half hour understanding how the situation had gone so wrong. You were very excited by the end of it and couldn’t wait till morning to speak with Korra. Asami told you she was in their room and wouldn’t mind you disturbing her so late.

So you rushed to Korra’s shared room and knocked on the door lightly. Your stomach was bubbling with butterflies and you weren’t sure what you were going to say when you saw her. The door didn’t open so you knocked louder hoping Korra wasn’t asleep. Still there was no sound from inside so you frowned and decided she must be asleep. You didn’t want to wake her so started to retreat from the room when you heard a loud thud from inside. “Korra?” you called through the door “are you okay?”. You got no reply and were growing more and more concerned when you heard something smash inside followed by a grunt of pain. “Korra?” you yelled through the door and began bending the metal of the lock. The door swung open and you saw the room was an utter mess. Naga was unconscious on the floor and by the window...four people had a struggling Korra in their arms. She looked very weak and wasn’t putting up much of a fight so you figured she must’ve been drugged. “Korra!” you cried rushing into the room. You had no idea who these people were but you weren’t letting them take Korra. You launched into a flurry of attacks and managed to land a few hits on the earth and water bender. The air bender sent a gust which knocked you back but you were quick on your feet and pursued them leaping out of the window. You yelled as you chased them quickly attracting the attention of the guards who sounded the alarm. Suyin appeared as did her guard Kuvira and they helped cut the quartet off. “You have nowhere left to go, let her go” you glared and the leader just smiled “never”. You looked at Korra lying limp at their feet and felt rage take you. “Then i’ll drag her from you myself” and ran at him.

3 hours later

You were sat in the infirmary beside an unconscious Korra waiting for the effect of the drug to wear off. Everyone else had gradually retreated to bed but you couldn’t sleep. The adrenaline from the fight was still pulsing through your veins and was only overshadowed by your worry for Korra. You’d won the fight with the help of Suyin, her guards and Korra’s friends but still the drug they’d used hadn’t worn off. Your eyes fell to her for what felt like the hundredth time and you sighed “please wake up”. Finally Korra listened. With a loud gasp Korra jolted awake and you scrambled to your feet. “Korra breath! You’re okay, you’re safe just breathe!” you commanded and Korra slowly began to calm down. “Y/n? What happened?”. “The White Lotus, I didn’t realise it was them at first but i’ve been briefed on them. They tried to kidnap you when you were a kid and they tried again tonight”. You saw Korra shiver at that and frowned. “But never mind them” you sighed wrapping an extra blanket around her shoulders “how are you feeling?”. Korra frowned “okay...a bit groggy like i’ve come out of a really heavy sleep but it’s not too bad. It’s getting better. How are you?” she asked and you froze “me?”. “Yeah” Korra said offering you a small smile “you don’t look like you’ve slept a wink”. You chuckled softly “I haven’t. I wanted to see you wake up first and make sure you were okay. I haven’t been able to rest since it happened...I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw them with you I was so angry but you’re okay now and that’s all that matters". Korra smiled at you "yeah I'm okay now...thanks to you". It wasn’t the usual cocky smirks she sent you. Instead it was a sweet tired smile but it made your heart hammer in your chest just as much. "Do you remember much?" you asked and she shook her head. "No I remember something hitting Naga. I went to look at it when one hit me too. I backed away from the window as the world began to spin and then everything went blurry...the next thing I remember was seeing you in my doorway. You attacked whoever had me and I fell. I remember being unable to move and seeing you send rocks flying through the air. You were terrifying" she laughed "a woman possessed". "Of course I was they were going to take you! I know I might have sent mixed messages last night but I like you Korra. I was coming to tell you that. Asami explained to me what happened and why you behave as you do around me". Korra blushed at that "what were you coming to say to me?". "Well I was coming to ask if it was true, did you really put on a mask around me, acting all confident and promiscuous?". Korra nodded "yeah...I meant everything I said to you I wasn’t lying about my attraction but I was doing the opposite of what I'd usually do because my last relationship didn’t work out well. I came on too intense too quick so I tried to take a more fun carefree approach but that didn’t work. I'm sorry I offended you or made you think I was only interested in you for one thing. I do think you’re gorgeous but that's just one of many things I like about you and by no means the most important". Korra blushed looking down and you found her adorable. How had she hidden this side of her so well? "So is this, you know, the real you?" you asked double-checking. Korra nodded "yep, this is me. I'm emotional, reckless and I always say the wrong thing. I have no tact and just say what I'm thinking. Now you can probably see why I was trying to act so put together and impressive before. They're much more attractive qualities". "Maybe" you shrugged "but I think this side of you is just as attractive, more so actually because it's real and it's beautiful. You're wonderful Korra exactly as you are". Korra stared at you in shock and you just smiled at her. "I...I..." she babbled and you smirked "how about I kiss you to save you having to speak?". "Yes please" the avatar breathed and you gently placed a hand on her cheek and kissed her. The kiss was sweet and Korra seemed uncharacteristically shy. She pulled back blushing vividly and you smiled at her reaction "how was it?". "Good...amazing" she replied and you smiled "great". Korra looked up at you but blushed as soon as she met your eye and you smiled taking her hand softly "I like you Korra and that kiss was good for me too, if you’d like to make it a more frequent thing we could go out on a date sometime?". "I'd love that!" Korra agreed before wincing "too eager?". "No it was adorable like you" you smiled kissing her forehead "now it really is late. You should try and get some rest, something tells me the next few days are going to be very long and strenuous". Korra nodded "I agree, goodnight y/n". "Goodnight Korra" you smiled and closed her door softly. The avatar wasn’t a womaniser but a shy bashful passionate woman. You were pleasantly surprised and couldn’t wait to see all the different layers of her left to discover.

____

Korra is 100% one of those people that’s all talk but is actually a huge softie romantically. Asami is one lucky lady (althought she’s also amazing so Korra is lucky too).

Also why is there so little Korra content out there? Her and Huan Beifong are very under-represented in the fanfiction game and I am personally offended by that 😂