#maybe I'll just suffer through using the phone

[greenticklerdreams]

Why do I always get post ideas in the car... on the way to the office... and then IN the office... where I can't get to my own keyboard?

My creativity is as contrary as a cat at a front door.

[insolentgod]

reminder extremely tough and maybe a little harsh.

a lot of folks gotta work themselves to death just to have a halfway comfortable life, some don't even have the basics. many will have to do crazy stuff for money and others dream of giving their loved ones a good life but can't. some will only be able to see luxurious lifestyles on phone screens or in other people's TikTok accounts. and others don't even have the money to pay for internet to see that.

lots of people will spend years hating themselves, hating their appearance, personality, social life, social status, skills, everything about themselves. many live with insecurities, feeling like a supporting character in their own story, some have things that bother them but it's "impossible" to change them so they'll just have to live with it. others spend a fortune on surgeries or treatments to change something about themselves, and many die because of it.

many people will have to live trying to recover from traumas and bad things that hit them, without knowing how to simply erase them from their lives, and unfortunately, some prefer to end their own lives so they don't have to live with those burdens.

many people will have to face horrible diseases, some they simply can't get rid of and others that are incurable. suffering, waiting for a miracle to free them from this torture.

some folks may never achieve their personal goals and dreams, out of fear, lack of opportunity, lack of means, or because they think it's impossible for them. so consequently they will have to surrender to a mediocre life that they hate.

many people will have to spend years in shitty relationships without knowing how to get out, others will see the love of their life being happy with someone else, others will think that love only serves to deeply hurt them, and others will accept horrible things from their partners because they think they don't deserve anything better.

a lot of folks unfortunately live out there lonely, without love, without a good social circle, without friends, with an abusive family, with people who don't want the best for them, with people who only hurt them and make them think that's what they deserve.

you might think I'm a jerk for talking about such harsh examples and I'm sorry if I hurt anyone, but damn..

all these examples I mentioned are really sad and they leave us with a heavy heart thinking that a lot of people go through this. I think everyone deserves a dignified and happy life, you deserve a dignified and happy life. you don't deserve to be like those people in the examples I mentioned, and you're not. because you have a key in your hands. it's like life is a damn game and you have all the hacks and cheats to simply WIN and do whatever you want, while other people don't even dream of that or are too skeptical to try.

but you know what's funniest about this? it's that this shit ain't just any game, it's your life. it's literally your damn life and you're there playing with the law? saying "oh I can't" "oh persisting is too hard" "I think I'll never have my desires".

girl, I'll kill you if you keep thinking like that.

there are folks who just don't take the loa seriously, and that's why they never fulfill their desires!!!!!!!!!!!! and they won't have anyone to blame for their failure but themselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the LOA community is very small, discovering about it was extremely lucky. so tell me a good reason why you know about it and simply can't manifest? exactly. there isn't one! you can and you should.

I'm not here to judge your difficulties in manifesting (even if I judge everything and everyone), because having difficulties and keep trying is one thing and simply giving up and saying "I can't manifest" is another.

it was a blessing from the universe, God, higher power, whatever you believe in. you discovering LOA was the damn greatest blessing of your life, don't you see that? don't you really see how blessed you are? maybe in the past you've been through hell, but now, my love, the sun is shining for you, you just have to want to shine. unfortunately a lot of people will never have that luck, there are people who would kill to be blessed like this. so please, I beg you... use this tool and have the damn happiest life you can, enjoy it and stop playing with the law.

tell me what do you really want? a true and light love? have a look that would never make you feel insecure again? being the pride of mommy and daddy and having their love? having that beautiful house and a happy family? finally healing from depression or other mental disorders and finally being able to live to the fullest? friends who really care about you? want to meet that idol you've been a fan of for a long time and that everyone thinks your passion for him is silly? want to live in that country far away from everyone? want to stop feeling that guilt or any other bad feeling that has been tormenting you for a long time? want to be truly happy for the first time in your life? want to be rich, a millionaire, billionaire, trillionaire? or just have enough money to lead a comfortable life and never have to work again? go ahead, tell me what you want. you can have it.

stop suffering, you don't deserve to suffer. enough torture. take what's yours and move on. you're strong enough for that. the game ain't over for you, you can't just give up like that. the game is yours, it obeys you, and it ends when you decide. take freaking control.

i suffered a lot in life, i hope one day i have the courage to tell you about my success here. and I simply don't know what I would do without finding out about LOA, just thinking about it fills my heart with gratitude. I feel like a winner. you deserve to feel this peace of having won too.

God bless you. take care of yourselves and put your head to work.

i ain't that selfish. if you need some backup, im here for you, babe. I wanna see you win. 🌟

[neoplatinum]

we meet again | huh 'jennifer' yunjin

summary: yunjin and reader go on their non-refundable anniversary trip...as exes

pairing: ex gf!yunjin x ex!reader

themes: exes to lovers, miscommunication, discussions of needs, angst, fluff, suggestive-ish, paris!, sprinkles of humor here and there

wc: 4.5k

you stare into your cup of coffee as you wait for your plane to be ready to take off, the warm coffee is a nice contrast from the coldness you can feel from the woman next to you: your ex of four months yunjin.

she's been all frowny and defensive ever since you picked her up for the trip. her huffing and puffing and crossed arms and legs as she looks away from you.

you haven't spoken to her in months until you got an email that the trip you planned for your anniversary with yunjin sent a reminder email. you cursed your old self for setting up an auto-email service to notify her of the trip too.

then she texted you:

jennifer huh (ex): did you plan an anniversary trip for us?

you call her immediately, knowing you have to explain what happened.

"hi jen, and yes i did plan this as an anniversary trip." you begin rubbing your forehead as you try and weasel your way out of this awkward conversation.

"okay...it says here it's non-refundable." yunjin has always been quick at reading between the lines and you practically prayed for her to miss that portion.

"ah yes, well it is non-refundable." you fiddle around with a stress ball as she talks.

"so are we going?" yunjin cuts you off.

"what?" you sputter out, the stress ball that's been in your hand turning being smashed as small as possible. you begin pacing back and forth and even end up stubbing your toe. "fuck!"

"are you okay?" yunjin stops in the middle of her explanation when you curse through the phone. you mutter a quick yes and she continues, "well its my ticket, and i want to go. were you planning on going with anyone else?" yunjin goes silent.

"well no, maybe my sister but you would still have to transfer the ticket." you explain and sit back down, damn that pinky toe hurts so much.

"so it is my ticket." yunjin continues and you nod through the phone, "okay, i am going then." you groan out loud and yunjin begins calling you dramatic.

"whatever yunjin, i'll pick you up for the airport, i'll talk to you later."

--

leading to you both now sitting by the airport benches, both of your luggage separating you by a seat. all around you are families or couples headed for paris, when all you can think about is how soon this will be over.

yunjin is sporting her long leather jacket and her newly dyed red hair, which if you were being honest scared you when you first saw her. now all you can do is stare at how well it works for her, even near cursing her for still making your heartbeat after dumping you.

"stupid red." you mutter to yourself as you swirl your cup.

"what was that?" yunjin takes off one side of her headphones and leans into you.

"oh, just nice red hair." she nods at that and turns back to her music, plugging her headphones in. you scoff at the audacity of her. with that you turn back to watching planes, and hope that this three day trip ends quickly.

--

you're settling into your seat and ready to plug your earbuds in for this flight when you notice the couple next to you giggling loudly while cuddling each other, rolling your eyes at them two.

the girl looks at you and yunjin who has taken the window seat, "are you guys going to paris for your honeymoon?" she asks you while the guy nods excitedly at you.

"uhh, no we're not." you let out a nervous chuckle as the two begin going on a long conversation (very one-sided by the way) about how in love they are, and how they're going to paris for their honeymoon/anniversary. all you can do is sheepishly smile along and hope their monologue ends soon (it doesn't). yunjin chuckles next to you and you kick her subtly to get her to stop.

while you suffer through the long monologue of how they met, how many cats they raise and even drama about their friends, yunjin finds it hilarious yet sad, because honestly, you two could've been that couple, had you two not broken up.

-- day 1

"gosh! they talked my ear off, you know i downloaded like five different movies and a bunch of playlists for that flight, only to not watch a SINGLE movie." you begin venting about the couple to which yunjin finds amusing and pokes fun at you.

"that's on you for not knowing how to exit a conversation." she smiles as you both get a cab to the hotel.

once you've placed your luggage into the trunk and set off, you continue, "listen, i've always been horrible at exiting those situations, didn't help that they were both so enthusiastic."

"i know, it's how i got your number, remember?" yunjin says and you stop for a second, thinking about the first time you met. It was at a concert where she was next to you, talking your ear off about how much she loved the artist. she came alone because none of her friends listened to the artist. you, being the kind soul you were, let her talk to you through the whole concert, even letting her talk through your favorite song.

"yeah, i guess so." you turn away from yunjin in the cab, with the rest of the ride turning quiet.

--

"roses on the bed, and a single king bed?" yunjin questions as you enter the hotel suite. you begin to heat up, remembering how you specifically requested rose petals in the shape of a heart and champagne in an ice bath, along with towels folded into swans facing each other and kissing. god, the things you do when you're in love.

"ah! well, it was for our anniversary so i made a special request." you say really hoping she couldn't hear you.

"well, i'm glad i came, now that i can see this, i can make fun of you for being so cheesy," she says as she grabs the champagne from the metal bucket. "damn, champagne's expensive too. how much did you spend on this trip?"

she pops the champagne cork and starts pouring the golden liquid into two champagne flutes. passing one of the flutes to you.

"too much, had to dip into my savings," you say as you think about the credit card bill, a full body shiver running up your spine just at the thought.

she laughs and smiles at you, "well, consider me lucky."

you cough and try not to think about how different this trip would've been had you two not separated.

"i'm going to go wash up." yunjin puts her flute down and starts digging through her suitcase. you nod settle into one of the armchairs and turn on the hotel tv.

the shower turns on and with that you try to quiet your heart, constantly reassuring yourself that you will get through this trip and be able to be back at home away from an ex you're still in love with.

"what did i get myself into?" you groan and close your eyes, letting the sleep overtake you.

--

"hey...hey wake up." yunjin gently shakes your arm as you wake up from your nap. you groan and mumble incoherent thoughts.

"how long have i been asleep?" the grogginess is still settling into your bones, you open your eyes to the sight of yunjin wearing more casual clothes but still looking effortlessly beautiful with her wavy red hair and adorable glasses perched on her nose.

"long enough, i'm hungry, let's get dinner." she says and you nod, feeling the hunger from not eating on the plane and immediately falling asleep in the hotel.

outside, the sun has started to set, people are chatting and bright lights are adorning the streets. people are lively and there's even buskers playing violin and guitars, enticing the people to spare a few coins for their astounding performance.

you trail behind yunjin, watching the way she absorbs into the parisian night, with her film camera in hand and a smile adorning her face. it makes you yearn, yearn for another universe where you're hers once more. but to also yearn for answers of why she dumped you all those months ago.

"let's go in this one." she turns around and you're snapped out of your thoughts, she points at the restaurant and you follow her in. the smell of delicious food and the warm atmosphere is making you more hungry.

"right this way." your server brings you to your booth. and you seat yourself in front of yunjin, honestly something you haven't done in so long, that it's like you're falling in love all over again. the warm yellow lamp hanging over the booth makes her skin glow, and not to mention just her in general has your knees weak.

instead of staring at her like a fool, you try to focus on the menu in front of you. it works well because after a few glances at the mostly french menu, you're beyond confused with what to order. eyebrows furrowing and biting your nails at the french words.

"are you ready to order?" the waiter stands before you and before you can get out a word asking what these dishes are yunjin is quickly ordering her dinner in french and you sit there anxious.

"and for you?" the waiter turns to you.

"uh, this one?" you point at the menu and show him, he nods taking quick note of the orders before leaving.

you're back to the awkwardness of not having a menu in front of you to distract you from the beauty that is yunjin.

"so....how are you doing? dating anyone?" you start, trying to break the ice. you fiddle with your thumbs and avoid her gaze as she processes the questions you have thrown at her.

"are you kidding me? that's how you are going to start the conversation?" she scoffs at your lame attempt at having a serious conversation.

"what? i think those are reasonable questions." you mumble to yourself, feeling embarrassed you start drinking the water next to you.

"fine. i am doing fine and no, i am not dating anyone." she crosses her arms and glares at you from across the table.

"cool cool...." you trail off, trying to watch other people and feeling a little giddy when yunjin said she wasn't dating anyone.

the waiter returns with a basket of bread and butter, also refilling water cups and smiling at you both before leaving quickly. it doesn't go unnoticed that he keeps eyeing yunjin and smiling at her throughout the interaction.

"what about you?" yunjin starts with a slice of bread in her mouth.

"oh me, no not dating anymore, of course not." you let the words tumble out of your mouth, forgetting how you are trying to keep your walls up around yunjin.

"what do you mean by 'of course not'?" she questions as she spreads more butter onto her baguette.

you also grab a slice of bread and start smearing it with butter, thinking of ways to exit this topic as smoothly as possible, "just you know...not there."

she nods and you can see that she wants to prod more into why, but the waiter shows up with both your dishes in hand.

"for you madam," he places her beef bourguignon in front of her. meanwhile placing your seafood pasta in front of you. "and for you."

"shit..." you mumble as you stare at your dish, yunjin sighs but lets out an amused smile at the sight.

"of course you managed to order a seafood dish because you didn't understand french." she laughs at you, and all you can do is feel even more embarrassed from how this trip is going. "let's switch."

yunjin trades plates with you, your heart warms when she remembers your seafood allergy. you thank her sheepishly and begin digging into your dish. "jen! this is delicious!" you exclaim with a piece of beef in your mouth.

she smiles at you warmly and takes a quick photo of you, making your cheeks warm at the sentiment, remembering her habit of taking photos of you when she found you cute.

the waiter returns this time, but you look at him confused because you haven't ordered anything else.

"hello madam," he starts while leaning on the booth by yunjin's side, showing off his pearly white smile and trying to be suave, "how are you enjoying paris?"

"it's lovely here, thank you for asking." yunjin starts, you can only watch as the two engage in conversation, making you more and more quiet as time passes.

they speak about parisian culture and even share a few phrases in french that you definitely could not understand. you end up only focusing on your dish until he leaves much later. yunjin looks back at you and is confused by the switch in your demeanor.

yunjin goes quiet at the sight of you so down, so she also begins quietly eating her (your) seafood pasta, and as the time dwindles to the end. the waiter returns with the bill and a napkin that he slips to yunjin, it doesn't take a genius to understand what he gave her.

you huff angrily as you pay for the dinner. and yunjin follows you out of the restaurant and disposes of the napkin in front of you. she turns to you with her hand open and waiting for yours. you take it as you both stroll down the streets of paris with full bellies and a noticeably happier mood.

-- day 2

yunjin has managed to convince you (you really don't know how) to go and get caricatures of the both of you for "memories". you groaned at the idea, but there you sat in the small ratty chair in front of the french artist, and waited for this quick drawing. after a few quick minutes, the artist hands you the drawing, showcasing a funny imagery of yunjin stomping your head to the ground as your relationship.

"hey! you can't draw that!" you exclaim as you go over the painting, you can't lie though, the guy was talented.

yunjin just laughs and drops euros into his hand before dragging you away from the chairs. "don't take it too seriously, it's just a drawing." she takes the drawing from your hands before stuffing it into her purse and folding her arms with yours.

"so, what should we do today?" she says to steer you away from thinking about the drawing.

"well actually, i had an itinerary ready for this trip," fishing your phone out of your pocket, you begin listing places that you wanted to take yunjin to. "the louvre?"

she stops her feets and her jaw drops and you can see her happiness just overflowing.

"yes yes yes! you know me too well, lifelong dream to see the mona lisa." she says and you smile, remembering that's why you put it on your itinerary, and soon you're flagging down a cab to head to the louvre.

god, you're never getting over her at this point. you try not to dwell on that thought and instead let things come as they are.

--

she's busy capturing photos of the mona lisa and other pieces, while you are capturing memories of her in your mind. taking slow steps behind her as she reads through the description of each piece that intrigues her.

she's gorgeous in her dark green leather coat, red hair flowing down her back with her trusty film camera looped around her wrist. she looks like she belongs in an art museum and you're left wondering if you can ask the art curators to put a picture of her as a piece.

once you reach the end of the museum, you begin to realize there really hasn't been any piece that has intrigued you to look at, even when yunjin was admiring the mona lisa, all you could focus on were her gorgeous eyes.

that day, you hope that you can always make her happy, even if she no longer is yours.

--

"of course we have to go to see the eiffel tower, i don't care that it's cheesy and cliche, we HAVE to go." she explains to you as she's touching up her makeup again. the two of you returned to the hotel after a long day of exploring local attractions, but now yunjin is explaining that you two definitely need to go despite how tired you are.

while she goes on and on about the importance of a paris trip including eiffel tower pictures, you try to keep your eyes open. the warmth of the jacket that you still have on, swallowing you.

"okay okay, we should go." you get up and start rubbing at your eyes, even letting out loud yawns as you put on your shoes. yunjin finally takes a look at you and starts to feel bad for pushing you to do so much today.

"you look tired, we can go another time?" she starts, feeling embarrassed.

you grab a hold of the wall as you tuck the back of the shoe over your sock, "not at all, let's go!"

you look tired, eyes lower than usual. with a stretch and a neck crack, you look more energized and ready to take on the night.

"let's go!" you exclaim, opening your palm for her to hold onto. she can only smile and think about how sweet it is that you are trying to do activities that she wants to do.

"okay, let's go." she responds, your hand wraps around hers tightly as you both get out of the car and walk through the crowd to get closer to the eiffel tower.

while yunjin stares at the little lights adorning the eiffel tower, sparkling like the stars in the sky, you try and take discreet photos of her. thinking about how you are basically in an alternate universe that exists only you and yunjin, and soon reality will return with you alone and single. these photos will remain to remind you that this trip wasn't a dream, what little you have to cling onto.

she's enjoying the night breeze and the liveliness of the people around her, but you're focused on her. she's also capturing photos of the eiffel tower but taking time to snap photos of the people around her. until her camera lands on you, snapping a photo of you, taking a photo of her.

then you both move away from your cameras and look at each other, and time feels like it stops when you both just admire each other. her eyes become glossy and tears are flowing down her cheek.

you make a quick dash to hug her, holding her tightly. you feel her lay her head on your shoulder and you can feel her body wrack into yours, with quiet sobs and she wraps around you like she'll lose you too.

it feels like the world is crashing around you two, with her grabbing onto your jacket and pinching it so hard. you start rubbing her hair in the motion that you know will bring her comfort, as it has done many times before.

you must've been there for a long time, because people are looking at you two in sympathy, a traveling florist even hands you a free rose to cheer you up. you immediately slip the rose into her pocket. and she stops hugging onto you to see the rose in her breast pocket. she smiles a little, and with a shaky voice, "let's go back to the hotel please."

you nod and hold her hand as you two take the long way back. her hand is still very much holding onto yours tightly. and by the time that you two are back in the room, she drops onto the bed and taps the be urging you to join.

you slip off your shoes and jacket and settle on the bed, facing yunjin. she twirls the rose between her fingers and finally looks at you.

"do you know why i broke up with you?" she whispers, and your body has frozen up, yunjin kept the break up very simple. a single 'let's break up.' over coffee and then she left.

"i don't." you whisper back.

"do you want to know?" she whispers back.

"yes, i really do." you sit up and watch her thinking for a while.

"i broke up with you because i didn't feel like you loved me anymore. whenever we hung out it never felt like you cared anymore, you were even inconsiderate at times and i think, no, i believed that you fell out of love with me."

you nod, but each word cracks your heart a little more, thinking about how wrong each word feels. it simply wasn't true, you never stopped loving her and the guilt of making her feel this way makes you want to vomit.

"this whole trip, i feel like i saw the old you again, the you that fell in love with me and showered me with attention." she continues her monologue and breathes harder at the emotions that were being kept at bay. "earlier, when you were taking photos of me and i caught you, it was exactly like our first date, it hurt so bad..." and by now she's sobbing and you're sobbing and it's all just a big mess.

"it hurts so bad that now i know you never fell out of love with me. that i made a mistake by breaking up with you and we've been months apart when we could've had this happy anniversary together." she continues with tears in her eyes and she's holding you close. alternating between crying and talking.

you take in the words openly, understanding the position that you've put her in and how hurt she was by your lack of attention. you can't even deny it either, those last weeks before the breakup felt like a rift between the two of you, neither knowing how to go forward. with yunjin making the final and unfortunate decision of dumping you.

"jen, you mean everything to me, and i'm so beyond sorry if it feels as if i never prioritized you." you are also trembling in her hold as she listens to you, nodding to your words every so often. "i never and mean never fell out of love with you. i'm sorry that it took a vacation to figure this out too."

she stops completely and holds your face in her hands as she completely dives herself into a passionate kiss. searing her lips against yours and pushing you into the bed more.

"you're mine." yunjin speaks in between kisses.

"yours." you move your hands into her hair and pull her close, bodies molding into one as the night goes on.

-- day 3

three quick knocks disturb you from your sleep, you rub your eyes and open them to the harsh rays of the windows.

"cleaning service!" you could hear outside the room, and you examine yourself. naked as ever and clothes all sprawled around, yunjin dead asleep on the other side of the bed.

"shit!" you run to the closet and grab a bathrobe and quickly tie it around yourself as you rush to the door. finally giving one glance at the bird's nest of hair, you pat down the hair as much as you can before opening the door slightly.

"hi! um, we don't need cleaning right now, maybe later?" you ask worriedly, the lady eyes your bathrobe and your hair and gives a smirk before walking away to the next room. you cringe at the idea that she knows exactly what you have been up to and close the door quickly.

"phew." you are relieved that they didn't walk into you and yunjin butt naked for cleaning service. meanwhile, yunjin has approached you from behind and wrapped her arms around you.

"hi, come back to bed." she pulls at your robe and pulls you towards her.

"oh okay..."you're confused but let her pull you back to bed. cuddling with her feels nice and reminds you of the days you spent lounging in each other's place.

--

"jen! i cannot believe you!" you stand on the far end away from her, backing yourself into a corner.

"what? i didn't do anything wrong." she stalks towards you with a devious smile as she watches you examine yourself in the mirror.

"you mauled my neck!" you exclaim as you claw at your neck looking left and right at the damage she's done. yunjin rather looks proud of her handiwork and instead pulls you onto her lap.

"okay no need to be a big baby about it, let me touch it up." she pulls out her concealer and starts going to town on the many hickeys she's left littered across your neck.

you huff and complain while yunjin lets you drone on while applying concealer until you're satisfied. she doesn't mention the new marks she's dug into your back, quite happy that only she can see them.

--

you both set out for a much chiller day outside, leisurely walking in parks and chatting while enjoying the parisian weather. you reach a quiet spot in the park, pulling out a blanket and your picnic basket.

yunjin doesn't comment on the humongous scarf that you have wrapped around your neck, but it does make her laugh a bit to see it.

you two are enjoying the nice breeze, when you hear smacking sounds nearby. looking around, you don't spot anything unusual until you notice a couple practically eating each other's mouths off. a closer look and you realize you recognize the two as the couple from the plane into paris.

you immediately turn your head to yunjin, "pss, the couple from the plane is at my six."

she quickly whips her head around and lo and behold the couple is still loudly eating each other's faces off. she laughs at the sight before capturing your lips with hers. "we should beat them."

"jen noooooo." you groan and turn away from her, uninterested at the idea of attracting their attention. she simply laughs and continues to enjoy the picnic. the rest of the trip goes well, often sharing little tidbits of your lives in the past couple months without each other.

after enjoying your "anniversary" trip in paris, you both get ready to go home. holding hands and kissing through the cab ride, plane ride and even through baggage claim.

you spot your sister out front of the pick-up terminal with a big sign "welcome back lovers!" you groan at the sign, of course she would show up with a poster plastering you and yunjin's photos to pick you up.

"she knows we're back together?" yunjin comments in confusion.

"i didn't even tell her, she just kept saying she knew we would get back together when the trip was over." you hold yunjin's luggage as your sister tackles yunjin into a hug, spilling about how much she missed her.

"i'm here too you know...your actual sister." your sister simply swats you away and enthusiastically asks about your trip to yunjin.

you drive off with yunjin's hand in yours and a warm smile as yunjin talks about the trip to your sister.

--

a/n: i apologize if there's any inaccuracies about paris, i've never been 😭 this post was inspired by a fic i read a longggg time ago. stay safe and stay healthy everyone!

[airbendertendou]

I'M IN RUINS! ♡ mitsuya takashi

synopsis : maybe he really is just that nice to everyone.

song inspo ; going dumb by stray kids, alesso, corsak

cw : baji!reader ; reader has their period, but no pronouns ; baji is referred to as your brother, but looks aren't stated ; more of a college-ish au ; kazutora favortism briefly got the best of me

if you have a blank blog [no bio, no user, no header or profile pic, nothing reblogged, etc] do not interact with my content. you will be blocked.

It's so unfair, you think. Being so close to him, yet not allowing to linger — it's disheartening. You ache ; suffer and beg and cry, thinking of your brother's friend.

Baji sighs as you frown at him. "Do you really need to go?"

"Why am I not allowed to?" You reply. You'd put on your cutest outfit and your favorite shoes. After hearing Mitsuya was tagging along to this little get together, how could you not? "I'm hungry and you're going to eat."

"You never want to go," your brother argues. You cross your arms and tilt your head, raising your eyebrows to look stern. It's the way your mom looks at him ; the way she gets him to listen. Keisuke clicks his tongue, "whatever. Come on, then."

——♡——

By the time Chifuyu pulls up to the meeting area, your stomach is aching. You shuffle where you stand, sending a meek smile to Draken when he looks your way. Kazutora is distracting your brother, giggling together as you wait for the last guest to arrive.

A rumble hits the wind, covering the chattering of the other guys and numerous shoppers. Lilac hair shines in the light and you hold your breath — he's here.

"Boys," Mitsuya grins as he parks his bike. His eyes slide to you, smile growing gentle, less teasing. “Hey, trouble. Make a last minute decision to come?"

You nod silently, holding your stomach and trying to hide your grimace. Mitsuya tilts his head curiously, but gets taken into a conversation with Draken. You tug on the end of Baji's hair, "I'm going to the bathroom really quick."

A chest is pressed to your back quicker than you can think. A hand — gentle and firm simultaneously — leads you to the left. Mitsuya clears his throat as you scowl at him. "I'll show you where the bathroom is."

You want to cry. You're absolutely mortified at what you discover. Your pee is red — the reason behind your stomach pain is clear. Your favorite bottoms are stained and you're unable to wear them now. Having your period is natural, nothing to be ashamed about.

But, Mitsuya noticed. He shielded your backside so that no one else would see the splash of blood.

Leaning against the stall's wall, you sniffle as tears drip down your nose. You'd texted Draken about your current problem — Keisuke had broken his phone just yesterday. The blond was your only hope at this point ; you hoped he'd read your text soon.

"[Name]," a knock to the bathroom door startles you. "Here. I'll wait for you, okay?"

Humiliation — Mitsuya had taken it upon himself to get you supplies. Taking in a stuttered breath, you fought to make your sobs unknown. You dab your face with toilet paper lightly before opening the door. Quickly, you snatch the bag you see and ignore the one standing in the doorway.

He'd gotten you a new outfit, too. The same color as your previous one, so that no one else would notice what happened. Your tears fell again as you situated yourself.

Once out of the bathroom, you sniff and avoid Mitsuya's gaze. Draken is leaning against the wall across from you, looking over you quickly as you walked to him. You brush your bottoms lightly, head to the floor as you stand in silence.

"No big deal," Draken reassures you. He pats the top of your head with a grin, "let me know if you want to go home, okay?"

Your nod is stopped by an arm wrapping aound your shoulders. Mitsuya squeezes you close to him, trapping you in the smell of his cologne. "S'all good, trouble. Tell us if you feel unwell."

The light catches through a window, shining on Mitsuya like a hidden halo. His eyes light up, his eyelashes curving against his cheek as he smiles. Mitsuya's nose scrunches as laughs at something Draken says. Peeking at you with his peripheral vision, he tilts his head.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You’re so nice to me.” It's said before you can even think. Because he is nice to you — kind, welcoming and warm. Mitsuya squeezes you a bit closer before letting go of you completely. Chifuyu waves your way excitedly. Your small, "thank you," is covered by the noise of the restaraunt.

——♡——

Mitsuya had left the table not long ago. Keisuke shoves your shoulder, causing you to bump into Kazutora. The dual-haired boy gasps dramatically before shoving into your right shoulder, bumping you back into your brother.

Your giggles are drowned out by the sight of Draken shaking his head. Chifuyu speaks through his own laughter, "where's Mitsuya?"

"Flirting," Draken says with a roll of his eyes. Your smile fades, falling from your face slowly at the words. Draken lets out a loud sigh, "can't take him anywhere."

Baji grumbles into your ear, "I'll say."

Kazutora snorts, covering his mischivious grin with his hand. He lays his head on your shoulder, "oh, whatever shall we do with such a pretty boy?"

Your grin inflates again at Kazutora's casual teasing. You ruffle his hair, scrunching your nose as he scowls playfully at you. "You're a pretty boy, too, you know."

Kazutora's eyes widen, his cheeks pinkening at your words as he sits up straight. Your eyes slide across the table. "So is Chifuyu, honestly." You look to your brother and grimace, "don't know what happened to you."

Baji clicks his tongue before shoving you again. Kazutora catches you in a backwards hug, his forearm settling across your collarbones. "Be nice to [name], Baji!"

"Jus' cause you were called pretty..." your brother grumbles to himself.

The chair across from you is pulled out, a loud screech hitting the area you're in. Mitsuya plops down with a stone-faced expression, his eyes focused solely on you. "Enjoying ourselves, are we?"

"Like you can talk," Draken teases. The tall blond flutters his eyelashes and clasps his hands together. "Oh, it's you! From class! The fashion designer!"

"Can't talk to my classmates now?"

Chifuyu snickers, kicking your foot under the table as he does. You shake your head, sinking your chin below Kazutora's arm to hide your grin. Mitsuya eyes your position idly before tilting his head, "you both look comfy."

Kazutora pulls you closer, "[Name] thinks I'm pretty."

"I said Chifuyu was, too!"

The dual-haired boy hums into your ear. "But, you thought of me first."

"As fun as this is," Draken looks up from his phone. He sighs before pocketing the device. "Mikey is calling for us. Want me to take you home, [name]?"

"I'll do it," Mitsuya interrupts. He lets out a sigh, gaze drifting from you and laying on the table. "I'm going to check on my sisters, anyways."

You're waving to your friends as Mitsuya leans against his bike. You can feel him watching you, but you ignore his eyes to grin gleefully at Kazutora.

"He your recent crush?"

"What?" You blink, turning to face the lilac-haired boy. Mitsuya shrugs, making no move to leave as he gazes at you. "Kazu? He's not my crush, why?"

"But, you do have one," he steps closer to you. "A crush."

Gulping, you move away from him and to the back of the bike. "Maybe."

Mitsuya hums, "your brother know?"

"Why would I tell Keisuke about a crush?" You lean beside him now, frowning to the ground. Kicking at the sidewalk with your foot, you scrunch your nose. "He's horrible at keeping secrets."

He nods and you're hyperaware of the way his arm brushes against yours. It's like he's doing it on purpose — moving closer to you. "I'm not. You can tell me who it is."

"No thanks!"

"Why not?"

You grow silent, even as Mitsuya gets closer. His arm is behind your back at this point, his hand sitting on the seat of his bike. "You don't need to know."

"I want to."

"Do you have a crush on anyone?" As he doesn't answer, you finally look his way. Soft, dreamy eyes are looking at you. His gaze feels heavy ; heated as he stares your way. "Mitsuya?"

He blinks and looks away, "maybe."

"Would you tell me who it is?"

"Well, that's not fair," he leans closer, his lips brush against your ear, "is it, [name]?"

You freeze, eyes widening as Mitsuya tilts his head at you curiously. Staring at the ground, you think about it for a second. You think maybe I should tell him ; maybe it's time. Then your mind flashes back to before — to when Draken said he was flirting.

"Oh, is it someone from your class? The one Ken was talking about?"

Mitsuya doesn't answer — that means yes, you think. Downhearted, you frown and scoot away from him, leaving room to breathe. He doesn't allow that, though, scooting until your arms are pressed together once again.

"It's a friend," Mitsuya speaks up. He leans more to the left, his chin almost resting on your right shoulder. "A close friend."

You gasp dramatically, hoping to interrupt the intense atmosphere. "It's Chifuyu, isn't it? Knew it — he's irresistible."

Mitsuya snorts, rolling his eyes. You smile at the sound, oblivious to the way he gazes at you. He bites his lip, hesitant, but nudges the tip of his shoe against yours anyways. You meet his gaze — his eyes flicker from yours briefly before he smiles tenderly. "I'll tell you who it is. Eventually."

You trust he'll keep his word.

——♡—— idk abt a part two for this one... tbh i like how it ends. if youd like to b tagged / untagged in any tokyo revengers content, let me know! ♡

🍓FOREVER TAGS : @straysugzhpe ♥︎ @star2fishmeg ♥︎

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airbendertendou © do not copy, plagiarize, repost, or translate my content on any platform. if you see my content under any other name than my own, let me know. i only have this tumblr and an ao3 account under the same name.

[kykyonthemoon]

hii can i please request a scenario of xavier x reader secretly dating (office dating kinda) but got found out by someone because of something they did out of habit? love your writings btw🤩

Dear jeondyy,

Thank you for the request <3 I hope you like this little fluffy story <3

Your Little Secret

He never wants to be just your little secret.

ಇ. Xavier x Female Reader

ಇ. Tags: fluff, office dating, secret dating

ಇ. Word count: ~1k8

ಇ. Masterlist ♡ Request a fic ♡

Recently, Tara "sensed" something was going on at headquarters, and she was determined to uncover the mystery.

At first, things were not clear to Tara; she just had a faint impression that her peers were changing in ways she was unaware of. After many days of observation, she reached a stunning conclusion:

“Xavier is definitely dating!”

You coughed out the mouthful of water you had just drunk, prompting the computer screen in front of you to get wet. Tara looked at you with suspicious eyes:

“What's wrong with you?”

You quickly grabbed a piece of tissue from the table to wipe your face, avoiding Tara's inquisitive gaze.

"Ah… no… Nothing…" You murmured in answer. "I was just… a little surprised why you thought Xavier was dating…"

Your attention swiftly turned to the opposite side of the office, where Xavier was seated with his chin resting on the desk, his eyes half-closed as if having a nap.

"I have proof!" Tara continued, then moved her foot to push her chair closer to you. Raising one hand as a covert gesture, Tara whispered into your ear. “Xavier hadn't been to headquarters too frequently before. Every mission was sent particularly to him. However, he is now arriving at work on a regular basis and leaving late. Isn't that suspicious?”

You nodded in accord to please Tara. She spoke more: “There are also a few other miscellaneous things... Like phone charms! That adorable rabbit charm was definitely given to him by a girl!”

Your face turned pale. You glanced at the phone on your desk before swiftly grabbed and stuffed it into the pocket of your jacket. However, Tara caught the act. She lifted her eyebrows in curiosity.

"Xavier is undoubtedly dating. I just need to find out who his girlfriend is!”

A shiver ran through your body. Tara was concerned by the look and asked:

“Are you sure you're okay? You look pale!”

“Maybe… it's because the air conditioning here is a bit low… Um… I'll adjust it!”

After saying that, you rose up and went away. When you reached the vacant balcony and looked down at the city of Linkon beneath your feet, you breathed a sigh of relief. Your hand went into the jacket and took out the phone and held it up high. A phone charm shaped like a white cotton bunny swung in front of you.

It was a pair, with one dangling from Xavier's phone.

Simply put; Xavier's mysterious girlfriend whom Tara was looking for was you. It all started a month ago, when he and you formally began dating…

"You want to keep us a secret?" Xavier inquired, his tone somewhat disappointed.

"Yes… I believe we should focus on work for the time being. Captain Jenna also stated that office dating should be limited..."

Xavier was quiet for a long time. You felt like you'd let him down so much. He took a brief peek outside the window before returning his attention to you.

“If you want it that way, so be it.”

"Thank you!" You shouted, along with that a feeling of relief in your heart.

“But,” Xavier said abruptly, and you began to faintly sense the constraints tied to his agreement to do what you desired. “Outside of working hours or at places where there are no colleagues, I can touch you, I can hold your hand or embrace you as much as I want!”

You blushed. Your body was still adjusting to Xavier's unexpected touches, but you had to confess that you were anticipating them a lot.

"Okay. Just outside the workplace environment..."

Before you could finish speaking, Xavier came closer and placed a somewhat fierce kiss on your lips. Knowing that he had to suffer a disadvantage by playing the role of your secret lover in this manner, you accepted his sulking and promised yourself that you would find an appropriate occasion to inform everyone about the relationship between the two of you.

Tara, however, was one step ahead. You had no clue when she first noticed Xavier's alterations; all you knew was that once she started, she would not stop until his secret was out into the light.

Afraid that Tara would notice your phone charm was paired with Xavier's, you removed it and kept it at home. The following days, when he noticed you weren't using it, he inquired:

“Where is the bunny hanging on your phone?”

“Ah… I put it away… Everyone at headquarters will notice we have matching stuff.”

Xavier said nothing more after hearing your explanation. You just noticed him softly clutching his bunny charm. That pair of phone charms was a present you got from the claw machines at the arcade on a date. Looking around the home, you realized you had kept a lot of lovely ornaments from your dates.

Among them were two pairs of house slippers with bunny plushies on top that Xavier must have intentionally brought his own to work.

“See those slippers? This means he's definitely dating!” Tara mumbled to herself next to you. “Why do they look like some of the slippers given away at the arcade nearby?”

Tara turned to look at you for support, but all she saw was your bloodless face and your fingers squeezing the pen as if you wanted to shatter it in half.

When you got home that day, you interrogated Xavier.

“Why did you wear those slippers to work?”

He calmly replied: “I don't like wearing Hunter's boots forever. My legs need to rest as well. So I brought it to headquarters for more comfort.”

“You… You could have chosen another pair!”

You sighed. Xavier gave a triumphant half-smile: "You're worrying too much. As long as you don't bring your pair to headquarters, Tara won't find out. Just let her run around assuming things.”

“You don't cooperate at all!” You said with a bit of frustration. As soon as you turned to leave, Xavier grabbed your wrist and drew you into his arms, holding you tightly.

“I merely agreed to keep our relationship a secret, therefore I won't tell anyone that my girlfriend is you. It's not my fault if someone figures it out on their own, right?"

He was right, to the point where your argument would be invalid. You stood still as he held and kissed you. To be honest, keeping this love story a secret proved to be challenging for you, especially since all you wanted to do was shout for the entire world to know, Xavier was yours.

Tara and you used to go out to dinner or have boba tea together after work before dating Xavier. But since having Xavier in your life, you had to continuously refuse Tara's offers, which made her suspicious.

“Where are you going after work?”

"Huh? Where am I going? I just go straight home? I've been a bit tired lately..."

Tara cast you a distrustful glance. "You're not hiding yourself on a date with some guy, are you?!"

You tensed up in your office chair, startled. You feigned to concentrate on the report in front of you, without responding to Tara. She refused to let this go, staring at you with the attitude of a tiger seeking its prey.

You thought that this ought to end.

That evening, as scheduled, you met Xavier at the arcade. You decided to cease meeting after work and go home with him for a while, at least until you completed the upcoming mission. Captain Jenna entrusted you with immense responsibility and did not forget to emphasize that any distractions, especially dating, should be terminated. But you understood that this also meant breaking his heart.

Xavier gripped your hand strongly as you strolled through the arcade. You hadn't said anything to him since you were still trying to find the right words. But he appeared to already know what you were thinking.

“If you're worried about the next mission, we can take a break from dating for now…”

Your eyes widened, and you couldn't believe Xavier had just proposed it out of concern for you. But before you could react, a very familiar voice echoed from the enormous white teddy bear on one side of the path.

“Ha! I caught you both red-handed!”

Tara's face emerged behind the bear's arm. She went out, stood in front of you and Xavier, even pointed at you.

"You two just admitted it yourself!"

"Tara…" You called out, but she was furious.

"And you?! For so long you knew what I was suspecting, but you never said a word! You didn't bother to tell me YOU. ARE. DATING. XA-VI-ER!”

"Oh Tara, please keep your voice down a bit…" You clasped her hand, hoping to soothe her rage. “I was going to tell you… But it's not the right time yet…”

“So how long are you going to hide this from me? Am I your best friend? I'm so disappointed! Extremely disappointed!”

Tara backed away from you and folded her arms across her chest. You turned to Xavier for aid, but he feigned to know nothing, while it was all thanks to his "accidental" clues that she easily discovered this secret.

“I'm really sorry, Tara… Honestly, I'm worried how everyone at headquarters will react when they find out that Xavier and I are… dating…” When the words came out of your lips, telling others about you and Xaiver, you felt both fluttering and thrilled. Looking to the side, the corner of his mouth twisted up into a smile.

“Now you know my reaction!” Tara was still pouting. “You two will have to bribe me if you want my help keeping this a secret!”

"Of course." You smiled conciliatory while embracing Tara's arm. “Shall I buy you some boba tea?”

"For one month." Tara raised her finger and replied. “You will pay for all the boba tea I'll have for a whole month. The revelation that two of Linkon's top Hunters are dating will be surprising, you know! Who could guess what Captain Jenna would say about this.”

"Alright. One month it is." On the outside you were smiling, but on the inside, you were grieving for this month's earnings. “Will you help us keep it a secret until I finish my next mission?”

Tara nodded cheerfully. You sighed with relief and looked at Xavier. He smiled at you. His fingers intertwined with yours. t felt lovely to be able to freely hold his hand in public. Perhaps now you could see why Xavier never intended to keep this relationship a secret from the start.

Pictures are from X

[oneforthemunny]

youre killing me. hit me with an angsty rockstar ee

i love pain and also suffering :))) tw: mentions of drug abuse, rehab.

"Vonderdell Residence," A bored posh tone droned through the other line.

"Hey, uh, is- I was wanting to speak to Farrah. She there?" Eddie's knee bounced furiously, matching the beat of his hammering heart.

"Whom is calling?" The butler's tone dropped into one of disgust, annoyance maybe. Any other time, Eddie would have snapped, told him he should have known. This time, he knew better, he knew he had to play by his rules to get to Farrah- to get to you.

"It's Eddie, again." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Eddie Munson."

The pause fell between the space, made Eddie's heart plummet. "One second, Mr. Munson." The click of the receiver had Eddie jumping, eyes squeezing shut to still his rapidly beating heart. He was sure it was going to give out at any moment, he just hoped he'd get to hear your voice if it did. He didn't want the last thing you ever said to him to be that you were leaving.

Leaving.

Eddie felt sick, swallowing down the spit that filled his mouth. The hurt in your voice, anger, packing up the car, taking the girls, leaving your ring behind. Eddie could still see it sitting there, on your nightstand, next to a family portrait taken only a few weeks before- you with Sicily, he hold Sienna, while Kensington clung to your leg and Persephone stood in the middle giving a wide, dimpled smile that mirrored his. A haunting reminder that he'd fucked this up, fucked his family up.

The rattling of the other line had Eddie perking, a staticy shuffle that had his head reeling. "Hello?" Farrah's clear voice rang over the line, a hint of hesitancy lingering.

"Farrah," Eddie breathed, chest squeezing uncomfortably. "Hey, Far, i-it's Eddie-"

"-I know." Farrah clipped. "Eddie, I really don't have a lot of time. Can you stop calling so much?"

"Is she there?" Eddie ignored Farrah's remarks, thumb twisting the band on his ring finger. "Please, Farrah, please? Let me talk to her."

"She doesn't want to talk to you, Eddie." Farrah snarled. "And I can't blame her, neither can you."

Eddie pulled the phone away, taking a slow inhale to keep his tears at bay. "I know." He whispered, hand running over his eyes. "I know, I just- Please? Let me talk to her, o-or the girls, please?"

Silence filled the other end. "Farrah, please?" Eddie's voice was soft, begging nearly. "If she doesn't want to talk to me, f-fine, but don't keep my girls away from me."

Farrah's eyes met yours from across the room, rounded and unsure. Your fists clenched under your crossed arms. Gone were the tears, in their wake, a fury. He'd lied, broken a promise- broken your family.

"Just let me talk to them, Farrah. You can't tell me they don't want to." Eddie paused, stomach flipping again. "Don't tell me that-"

"-What the fuck is the matter with you?"

Eddie stilled, gripping the phone- he was sure he was going to break it in his grasp. He hadn't expected to hear your voice, but he was glad he did. Even at your furious tone, his heart still swelled.

"Baby," Eddie's voice hitched.

"Don't." You sneered. "Don't you fucking dare."

Eddie swallowed around the lump in his throat. "I-I'm sorry." He whispered. "I'm so fucking sorry. Please, I-I'll never-"

"-No." You shook your head. "You don't get to be sorry. You did this. You did this to us, to the girls, to me." Your voice shook, teeth gritted in rage.

Eddie's eyes brimmed with tears. "I know." His voice was quiet, shook with emotion he was trying to swallow. "I know. I... Just tell me what to do. What do I need to do? I-I'll do anything, I swear. Don't..."

Your own heart tore at the muffled cry he tried to conceal. It took everything in you not to console him, to soothe him the way he'd always done you. You loved him, of course you did, even now. It was why it hurt so much.

"I'm at the facility." Eddie continued. "Gareth took me the day you-you-"

"-I know." You clipped. "He told us."

Eddie's knee still shook, head spinning and swarming. "Please, can I talk to the girls?" Eddie whispered. "I don't- I know you have every right to keep them away from me, but please. I would never hurt them or you-"

"-You would never hurt them?" You scoffed. "Eddie, you hurt them when you had to be fucking high to be around them."

"That's not what happened-"

"-Oh? It's not?" You challenged, voice raising. "So you weren't on coke while you were playing with Sephy and Kensie? You didn't bring drugs into our fucking house? Left them in your wallet, and thank fucking God I found them and not one of the girls. Did you even think about that, Eddie?" You paused, your silence the most deafening sound he'd ever heard.

"You didn't want to hurt us? Hurt me? If something would have happened to them? If they would've-"

"-Don't." Eddie's cry was watery, desperate, a broken sob that tore from his chest. "Please, don't- I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry."

You could hear it in his voice, lips pressing in a tight line, stilling yourself from sobbing. Tears you thought you were out of made their way back to your still puffy eyes.

Eddie's continued babbling of apologies, mixed with breathy gasps and sobs. "The girls are down for a nap." You said softly, taking a slow, drag of a breath in.

There was a pause, Eddie's breath hitched, shaky hiccups. "You can call again before bed. Seven o'clock."

"Thank you." Eddie croaked. "Thank you."

You didn't reply, nails digging into your palms. "I hope you're getting help."

"I am." Eddie whispered. "I- I'm going to do whatever I have to. To make it up to you, to the girls." His throat tightened, strangling the words. "I swear, I will."

Your lip shook, pulling the phone away, head tilting back to stop the tears. "I'll talk to you at seven." You said, a harsh click ringing through Eddie's ears, the dial tone buzzing behind.

[steddieas-shegoes]

uh. what?

for @steddielovemonth prompt 'love is healing wounds'

rated m | 1,782 words | cw: injury recovery, mild blood, recreational drug use | tags: post s4, hurt/comfort, getting together, fade to black

💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

The stitches pulled and he couldn't get comfortable. He almost wished Robin hadn't made him get checked over, but anything that required this many stitches probably would've killed him if he hadn't. At least that's what Nancy said when he complained to her about it.

But now, Steve couldn't sleep, and sleep was apparently very important for healing.

The alarm clock next to his bed said 2:07 am, so calling someone was out. Going somewhere was also out, unless he wanted to go to the 24 hour diner alone.

Fresh air sounded good until he realized he'd have to either go for a walk in the middle of the night alone or sit by the pool alone.

He didn't want to be alone.

His phone started to ring just when he was considering taking a shower out of boredom.

"Harrington residence, this is Steve."

"So formal for two in the morning, Stevie," Eddie's laugh rang through the line and Steve couldn't help smiling. Something about Eddie's energy was contagious, a beacon of light when all he had was the darkness of his room.

"Didn't know if it was an international business partner for my parents. Happens sometimes when they forget time zones." Steve moved to the edge of his bed so the cord didn't have to stretch as far. "What are you doing up?"

"Had a dream about being eaten alive again. This time they managed to eat both of my nipples." Eddie scoffed. "Isn't one enough?"

Steve chuckled. "And you can't go back to sleep because you're scared they'll come take your other nipple?"

"It's a genuine concern, Steve! I have big dreams of piercing this thing and if they take it from me, what do I have left?"

"I think you'd probably just find something else to pierce," Steve shook thoughts of what that might be out of his head before they could take over. "So you can't sleep. You thought you'd call and wake me up to suffer with you?"

Eddie was silent for a moment before responding. "Did I wake you up?"

"No," Steve said quickly, not wanting Eddie to feel bad. "I was awake."

"Nightmare?"

"No, stitches are bothering me."

"You wanna come over? I found my hidden stash. Might help with the stitches," Eddie offered.

Steve probably shouldn't. He was on some pain meds already and if he got too fucked up, he'd probably cry. That's what happened last time he had some of whatever Eddie was selling.

"I'll come over, but probably shouldn't have anything. Robin would kill me if I end up in the hospital," Steve gave a half-truth.

"Yeah, she's terrifying. I'll leave the door unlocked."

Before Steve could tell him that was a bad idea, he hung up.

********

When Steve got to Eddie's, he let out the breath he'd been holding the entire drive. Eddie was sitting on the porch, alone, his guitar by his side.

Maybe he'd been playing already, or maybe he planned to play to help distract Steve from the way his skin felt like it was too much.

He got out of the car and waved when Eddie looked over at him with a smile.

"Didn't think you'd get here so quick," Eddie didn't bother standing up, Steve just knew to go sit by him.

But the steps on the Munson's porch were rickety at best, "temporary" according to the government officials who had stuck them here because they didn't think it was worth putting them in a home across town, and Steve's eyes hadn't quite adjusted to the dull glow of the light by the front door. He missed the top step and immediately fell, barely catching himself on the wood of the porch.

Eddie was helping him up immediately, doing his best not to make his own injuries worse.

"Shit, you okay? Wayne tried fixing it, but it just keeps getting loose."

Steve felt a stinging pain on his side, and when his hand grazed over the worst of his bites, he felt something warm and wet on his fingers.

"Shit," without looking, he knew he'd torn his stitches. "Eddie, I need a towel or something."

"Shit, that's a lot of blood. That's a lot of blood. It shouldn't be that much, right? Like even tearing your stitches, it shouldn't be-"

"Eddie." Steve poked his arm, stayed as calm as he could. He bled easy, so sometimes even small things looked worse than they were. "Towel."

"Right, yeah. Should you come with me?" Eddie shook his head. "I mean can you move? Should you stay here?"

"I'll sit here until I have a towel. Don't wanna get blood on the carpet."

"Got it."

Eddie still seemed unsure about leaving him, but must have noticed how much blood was soaking through Steve's shirt and rushed inside. He was back in less than a minute, a black towel in his hand.

"It's clean. It's the one I usually use for my hair, but I didn't get to fold it from the dryer yet. Um, just put pressure on it."

Steve knew what to do, was used to putting pressure on wounds, but appreciated Eddie trying to triage it anyway.

"You got a needle and thread, right?" Steve asked once he took his shirt off and put pressure on the bite. It was already bleeding much less, a positive sign that maybe it wouldn't be too bad.

"I mean, I do. I don't have medical tools that have been sanitized properly."

"You have water to boil and vodka?"

"Steve. I'm not fucking performing a medical procedure on your stomach," Eddie shook his head. "Do you have a death wish or something?"

"I trust you."

The words hung heavy between them, despite the fact it wasn't exactly news to either of them. They'd been through it all together, why wouldn't he trust him?

"Okay, let's get inside and I'll get everything ready."

Getting inside was easier said than done. The bleeding had mostly stopped, but the pain had really started to set in and every breath felt like knives stabbing into him.

"Deep breath, Stevie," Eddie said as he sat him down on the couch and helped him lay back. "I'll get you something for the pain."

"Something" was an edible, and Eddie seemed hesitant to give it to him, but all reservations Steve previously had went out the window as he felt his hands shaking from the pain.

Eddie prepared everything while the edible kicked in, checking in with Steve every few minutes to make sure he hadn't passed out or started bleeding again.

When the room started to feel blurry and his head felt light, Steve smiled over at Eddie, who looked nervous.

"Ready for your magic hands," Steve wiggled his brows.

Eddie made a strangled sound before leaning over the wound and wiping some of the blood away gently so he could see where to stitch him back up.

He worked as quickly as possible, humming softly to distract himself and Steve from what was happening.

Steve was high.

He was high and he was feeling good despite the needle in his skin.

He drifted for a bit, couldn't be sure how long, but eventually, Eddie was touching his cheek and making him open his eyes.

"Think you should stand up so I can wrap a bandage on it. Then you can try to shower off some of the blood if you want. Wayne got one of those removable showerheads. Feels fancy," Eddie said as he moved the hair off of Steve's face.

"Help?" Steve managed to ask.

"Yeah, I can help you with the wrap and start the shower for you," Eddie nodded.

"In the shower?" Steve asked.

Eddie paused. "I can keep us dressed?"

"But." Steve huffed. "Blood."

Eddie couldn't help but laugh at his confusion, Steve's lips pouting out and his eyes squinting. "Okay, okay. If you're okay with it, I'm okay with it. You're high as shit, man."

"I'm standing right on the ground," Steve waved his arms around him. "Or is the ground standing on me but the other way?"

"God, this is the best. Okay, let's go."

"Wait!" Steve grabbed Eddie's arms. "You should know something."

Eddie raised his brows in question. "Go on."

"I'm very in love with you. And also kinda hard."

Eddie blinked, not processing. Now he felt high.

"Uh. What?"

"I have an erection." Steve made a disgusted face. "Hate that word. Sounds so middle school sex ed."

"It is." Eddie shook his head. "I guess I meant more like, how and why and what the hell do you mean by it."

Steve giggled. "I said you had magic hands and I was right."

"Dude, I was literally giving you stitches. I am failing to see why that would make you hard."

"It's cuz you're so gentle and your tongue sticks out when you're trying to focus. And also I started thinking about what you'd do if I couldn't move," Steve sighed dreamily. "You have handcuffs."

"Okay. Let's pause." Eddie let out a small hysterical laugh. "You want me to help you in the shower because you love me? Do you even need help?"

"Probably. But I also want help. And also you're a helper for me."

"What does that even mean? Where's Robin when you need her to decode what the hell you're talking about?"

"You're a helper for me! Because you help me be better about asking for help! And then you help!"

"Okay, that's. Good. I'm still not sure what's happening."

"You're gonna help me shower. I'm gonna try very hard not to come. We sleep?" Steve looked around Eddie out the window, like he was checking if it was still night time. "And then in the morning I wake up and get yelled at by Robin."

"Why would she-"

"The stitches. And the telling you I love you thing. She's gonna be real mad about that."

"Why?" Eddie felt like he was losing it. What was even happening anymore? How had he completely lost control of the night?

"She wanted to help me do a speech thing."

This was just getting more wild.

Steve needed a shower, and he needed sleep. Eddie needed a minute to gather his own thoughts.

"Shower. Sleep. Talk in the morning." Eddie raised his hand to cup Steve's neck. "Robin murders you after we talk."

"Deal." Steve's face sank, but he quickly perked back up. "But shower?"

"Yes, shower. Go, horndog."

Steve laughed as he half-limped to the bathroom, clearly feeling some pain even with the drugs in his system. Eddie followed and resisted touching Steve as much as possible.

Which ended up being about two minutes.

[gingiesworld]

Call Me When You're Sober

Natasha Romanoff x GN! Maximoff Reader

Warnings: Angst. Nothing but angst.

Thank you @ginnsbaker for helping me re-live my emo stage that I haven't really left behind. <3

18+ MINORS DNI

Ever since the accident, Nat has done nothing but drown her sorrows. Even ignoring the help of her partner Y/N Maximoff. Every night was the same for Nat, she would be sat on the sofa, a bottle in her hand as she drowned her sorrows. Every morning was Y/N picking up the empty bottles and throwing them in the recycle.

As the weeks went on and nothing changed, Y/N then went to their sister. Hoping to find some comfort they never had in their apartment.

"She's still drunk?" Wanda questioned as she made two coffees. The twins were out in the yard playing with Vision.

"Yeah. I understand the accident was hard on all of us." Y/N started as Wanda placed the cups in front of them.

"It was hardest on you Y/N. You're the one who has to live with a prosthetic." Wanda stated as Y/N shook their head.

"I feel like I am drowning Wanda." They whispered with sadness in their eyes. "I wish I had died in that accident."

"Don't say that." Wanda told them sternly. "If you want, I can talk to Vis and maybe you can stay here?" Wanda told them as they gave her a small smile.

"I'll be fine Wanda. Thank you." They supped their coffee before they hugged her goodbye, walking to their apartment only to find Nat sat there with yet another bottle in her hand. Y/N sighed before they snatched the bottle from her hand.

"Hey!" Nat slurred as Y/N poured it down the drain. "I was drinking that."

"And now you're not." Y/N stated plainly as they turned to face her. "I am getting sick of this Natasha. I wake up every damn day to the same thing! You passed out and a bottle in your hand. Empty beer bottles littering the counter. Hell, even my own sister who has a family of her own had to help me with my recovery while you drowned your sorrows in a bottle."

"Y/N." She tried as she suddenly remembered the accident.

The two were just coming home from Tony's party, Nat was drunk in the passenger seat as Y/N remained the designated driver.

"Come on Y/N. Let me drive." Nat slurred as Y/N shook their head no. "I promise I'm sober enub."

"If you said enough properly then I may have half believed you." Y/N chuckled at their girlfriend. Not really expecting Nat to try and take the wheel, causing the two to drive off down into the bank and into a tree. Her eyes widened as she noticed that Y/N was out cold as she reached for her phone in her pocket, dialing 911. Not anticipating the consequences of her actions. The life changing injuries that Y/N will have to live with.

"I almost killed you!" Nat yelled as Y/N sighed. "I almost killed you. I was the reason you lost your leg."

"Nat." Y/N started. "You were drunk that night and I was tired. Too fucking tired but right now, I'm exhausted or carrying us, our relationship on my shoulders." Nat shook her head as Y/N couldn't hold in their anger anymore. "YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ME!! I NEEDED YOU!! I lost my leg and had to learn how to walk again while you were here. Getting drunk and feeling guilty while Wanda helped me through it all."

Y/N looked around and grabbed a bag, ready to leave as Nat followed them unsteadily on her feet.

"Where are you going?" She slurred as she watched Y/N pack some clothes.

"Away from here." Y/N stated as they zipped the bag up. "I can't be here while you don't want to help yourself. I understand you're suffering but so am I and I can't focus on me while you are here getting drunk." Nat watched as Y/N walked passed her. Only stopping them when she grabbed the back of their jacket and knocking them down.

"Please don't leave me." She pleaded as Y/N groaned, looking at their prosthetic which lay on the floor.

"Fuck Natasha!" Y/N yelled as they noticed the the crack in the ankle. "You've fucked it."

"I'm so sorry Y/N. Please." She whispered as she watched them reach their crutches. Putting their bag over their shoulder.

"Call me when your sober Natasha." With those words, they left the apartment, leaving Nat with her tears and self hatred.

[meowmeowmeowmeow4x]

Dark Blue Moon and the Suffering Sun Chapter 5

I hope ya'll enjoy :D please comment and reblog, it really helps out (i just want that juicy feedback babyyy)

Two pristine white suits stood in the doorway. The laboratory's glaring white light bared down from behind the two men, framing them in an uneasy, uncertain shadow. Despite being indoors, the agents wore cold sunglasses, and one would be forgiven for assuming they were permanent fixtures on their heads.

"Our deepest condolences, Mr Wayne." The so-called Agent K said. Bruce Wayne noted not the slightest hint of condolence or sympathy.

He considered himself an effortlessly logical person. Someone who got what needed to be done, done. Someone who push away fear and stress in order to chip through the walls and find a path to victory in any situation.

But now, as he stared at the pile of bloody and torn clothes laid on the examination table, a DNA test on the side showing MATCH in bold letters, Bruce found himself blanking for the first time in years.

The first time since Jason...

Damian's tracker had blinked its last only hours before, and Bruce hopped on the first boat he could procure and organised a search part, recruiting the help of the local and governmental siren hunters, not that he was not still suspicious, but man power was man power, and his son was on borrowed time.

Time that had to be paid back.

"We could not find a body, sir. Your son has likely been consumed by the sirens."

No body. None. And that was not for a lack of trying. Divers had scoured the ocean floor underneath vigilant patrols. Sonars echoed across the bay and surrounding reefs. Nothing, not hide or hair or even a bone.

Bruce needed to stay calm, to stay effortlessly logical. There was no way to confirm a death just by some bloody clothes and a lack of a body. He needed to find a way, the only way.

"Thank, gentlemen. I'm gonna need a moment alone. I'll be returning to my room." The crack in "Brucie's" voice was not fake.

When Bruce got back to his hotel room, its emptiness like poison to his eyes, he beelined to his laptop. There he opened the staticky and blurry video showing the moment of disaster.

Damian was on the boardwalk, taking a moment for himself to get away from the hustle and bustle of yet another vapid party. All he wanted out of this trip was to see the fish...

An explosion rocked the boardwalk, sending splinters flying. The camera blurred into static. All that could be made out was a hand grabbing onto Damian's foot and pulling him under. The feed cut out.

Bruce played the recording again, and again, and again. Just like he had been doing all day. It was so blurry he couldn't even identify the colour of the hand.

Each time, his heart broke a little more. A tear came closer and closer to tearing its way out behind the barrier he'd put around his heart. The barrier these damn kids have wormed through over time.

Bruce dialed the phone. It answered on the first ring. "Dick, gather the family. I have some bad news..."

Danny buckled the last belt in his collection around his tail. Funny thing about belts, is that they're still useful even if you aren't wearing pants. The Fenton waterproof torch, the Fenton Stinger, Fenton Lipstick Laser among several other greatest hits slotted neatly into the loops of his belts along his tail. All he needed was a jacket and he might have a biker aesthetic to rival Johnny's.

Damian had spent the past hour or so pacing back and forth, trying to get a hang of his fins and occasionally bumping into a wall. Kid was itching to go out, and had taken to waving the Fenton Anti-Creep Stick around at imaginary enemies, despite having complained about the "inelegance of such a crude weapon."

"You will know suffering." He muttered. "I will make you beg for deliverance." He scowled.

Maybe Danny should introduce him to Sam. He feels like they'd get on like a house on fire.

Damian clung to his shoulder again, little arms wrapped around his neck for purchase as he swam out the cave. The Anti-Creep stick sat comfortably in a holster wrapped round the kid's waist with a knot Danny had to retie six times because he was so small. It was mid afternoon and the sun bathed the reef in bright colours like a warm blanket.

"We should keep an eye out for any other weapons. Our current stock is not enough."

Danny snorted. "You sound like a serial killer talking like that, you know?"

"I am more dangerous than a serial killer." Damian huffed. Danny could feel the offence radiating off him. To think that a himbo like Bruce Wayne could spawn someone with this many sticks up his ass. "And more intimidating."

"Please threaten me more. I'm shaking in my non-existent boots."

Damian growled. A deep guttural sound that rumbled his chest and tickled Danny's scales. Well, it would've been deep if Damian weren't half Danny's size.

"Where is your map and compass? How are we to get to Panama without navigation equipment?"

"Relaaax! We don't need a map because I've got a little something called celestial navigation." See Sam and Tuck? His space obsession was useful in his siren life!

The smaller siren head sank and banged on Danny's. "It is broad daylight."

Danny grinned over his shoulder. "Yeah that was a joke."

Damian screeched.

Danny laughed as he surfaced and got himself some fresh air. Calm waters for miles around them. Slowly he kicked off the swim, building up speed. "Relaaaax. It doesn't take a genius to figure out we need to go south."

"The only reason I have allowed you to live is because you are my only way home."

"As if I couldn't literally sit on you and you'd be helpless."

"I should invite you to try!"

Thousands of miles of blue ocean stretched on in every direction Damian looked. Below the two of them, the ocean floor lay deep enough that all Damian could see was a blur. Just above, the surface of the water rippling from slow winds blazes past. Phantom's strength lets them cut through the water at breakneck pace. The water rushing past his ears and fins reminds him of flying with Jon, if only much thicker than air in the upper-atmosphere.

Light from above, and unending darkness below. It was the darkness that Damian focused on. Occasionally, a tingle spread down his back and through his tail, like a warning, only for nothing to be visible underneath. The first few times, he shivered from surprise. Then it just unnerved him.

He'd read about lateral lines on sharks and other fish before, as a curiosity. Never had he imagined he would come to possess one himself, and never that it would feel so natural that it was difficult to parse it out from all his other sensations. The idea of not feeling this new sensation felt foreign, and unnerving, even though this form was the foreign one.

He would never admit this to anyone, but he didn't know much longer he could deny the creeping feeling on his neck. For all Phantom appeared friendly, Damian knew nothing of his motivations, or even his true character. If Phantom decided he didn't want anything to do with Damian, then what? With no weapons save a measly baseball bat, no contact with the outside world, no armour, no legs, no support and no knowledge of how to survive, he would be good as shark meat.

Damian tightened his grip on Phantom's neck. He was supposed to be above fear, and yet why was his heart pounding so hard?

A series of fast clicking echoed from the distance. Damian jerked his head to the left. Through squinted eyes hie made out long slender forms swimming parallel, their tails undulating up and down.

"Are those dolphins?" Damian muttered.

Phantom turned to the same sight, and raised his eyebrows. "Huh, I guess they are-" Damian jerked Phantom to their direction.

"We must approach them immediately!"

Phantom's body almost tumbled out of his normal swimming rhythm from the shock. "What? What for?"

"We must! The only reason I agreed to come to Amity Island was to see the sea creatures."

"Dude, you know dolphins can be total assho-" But Damian was having none of it. To solidify his point, he clamped his teeth into Phantom's shoulder, focusing them on the part where bone jutted out. Even if they couldn't penetrate, the blunt force against bone would be very painful.

"YOUCH Alright alright alright alright can you please stop biting me!"

Phantom rerouted their course, and Damian chittered in satisfaction. "Excellent."

The dolphins were as beautiful and majestic as he could have ever imagined. It was a small pod, comprising of about five adults, all swimming together in stunning synchrony. Phantom swam at a cautious distance, close enough to admire but too far to touch. How he longed to pet a dolphin... Even Damian slapping him with his tail could only move him an inch closer.

"Dude, I've dealt with dolphins before, and they're literally the most evil beings on the planet, right next to toast and Vlad."

Damian huffed. If only he had a camera on him. To swim alongside dolphins at top speed, out in the wild... He was pretty sure he was drooling, or would have been.

He'd just have to commit the scene to memory, and paint it when he got home.

The thought of home made his fins droop a little.

He felt a finger poking at his cheek. "Hey Damian, you ok? Fine, I'll give like two inches, but that's it."

Damian snappes teeth at him. "I am perfectly fine. Just thinking."

Before Phantom could get closer, Damian saw one member of the pod swerve right for them. Instinctively, he ducked, only for the dolphin to somersault overhead, twirling three times before 'landing' right of them. Two more of its podmates followed suit as they danced in circles around them. One of them came so close he could even catch its scent. It smelled tangy, like freedom and excitement.

Seeing dolphins performing manoeuvres at aquariums was one thing, sitting in dries seats what felt like half a world away from the water, but here? Damian felt the water stolen from right out of his gills.

And the best part was rubbing it in to Phantom. "What was that you said while disparaging these beautiful creatures?"

"Dude, don't these guys smell weird to you?" Even now he was suspicious? The dolphins smelled perfectly fine.

"Not in the slightest. I believe you are just trying to save face."

"Dude, I've seen dolphins before. Plenty of them, but none of them smelled this.. familiar."

Then again, now that Phantom mentions it, those moves seemed just a bit too disciplined for a wild animal. Just a bit too measured...

Damian's hackles spiked up. They were surrounded.

"Phantom, get us out of-"

Deafening squeals blasted from every direction. The noise was so horrible Damian could barely see. His ear fins felt like cracked glass. His field of view was getting darker. They were sinking.

Phantom moved Damian so he was flat against his chest and curled up. The boys crash landed into the barren sea floor. Pain erupted from every surface as debris and particles tore scales and broke fins. Phantom's screaming mixed into the water with teal blood. He held onto Damian like a vice the entire time.

They finally came to a stop. Damian's head spun and spun and his ears rang. He dimly noted the criss-crossing ropes of a fishing net entrapping them. Above him, the blasted dolphins loomed over them in circles like they were sharks, and in the centre floated a man in a large metal suit, a metal suit sporting a malicious, leopardlike grin, a grin that for a moment he could not place, until his mind cleared.

That was the last thing he ever had ever seen as a human.

[iblameashley]

The Gift of Giving

Civilian | Male | Gay

1,448 words Content: Face-reveal (text only). No major cw warnings. Ghost is bad at accepting things.

Follow up to Shattered.

Simon ’Ghost’ Riley | Male/GN Reader

!!!SFW!!!

Simon gaslights you, its a good thing he's just an idiot. You meet up at his flat again, this time with food and gifts. (wrote this on the plane to and from vacation, so a little shorter than 'Shattered.')

(Thanks to @loneghostwolf for permission to use this image)

You were content to be the 'active' one in your relationship with Si. You would text him often with memes or stupid jokes, and he would reply now and then with a 'Haha' or 'Fucking hell'. You had been doing this for weeks now, stopping by when he booked an appointment with you. And then your phone vibrated in your pocket on your way home one day. 

Friental: Si has terminated your Friental Contract.

“What the fuck?!” you shouted, nearly dropping your coffee. “What the fuck!?”

Your mind swirled with confusion and your heart sank deep into your stomach. There was a twisting, nauseating in your chest. What had you done? Things seemed to have been going so well. Maybe you over stepped when you showed up at his door with new plates and glasses? Or maybe one of the jokes you sent was too crass – admittedly, you had been more bold with what you sent him – but he didn't seem the type to pussyfoot around telling you what he thought. Well... if you pissed him off.

Your phone vibrated again. Then again.

Si: I cancelled our friental contract

Si: You said you'd be my friend for free.

You: You absolute fucking git. You send the text FIRST, THEN cancel.

You gripped your phone so tightly you thought you were about to crush it. You then wanted to throw it across the street, or dunk it in water. 

“You stupid fuck...” You seethed.

Buzz buzz, another message.

Si: Will I see you at 7 like planned?

You: I will see you in hell, Si.

You: But also at 7, yes.

You were pretty sure in a fight he'd pummel you into the ground, considering your part time martial arts training couldn't possibly compare to his military training, but right now you wanted to give it a try. The rage was still washing over you in hot waves. The man was bad at communication, but this was pure stupidity. 

You took a long swig of your coffee and tossed the empty cup in a nearby rubbish bin. You ran a hand through your hair and took some deep breaths. Assuming the rules were still in place, you thought there was room for expansion. 

Si: You can call me Simon, BTW. That's my name.

You cocked an eyebrow in amusement. “No shit.” You huffed and rolled your eyes. You had figured that out pretty much day one. But in its own way, you knew it was a big deal to him, and incredibly sweet. Maybe he wasn't as stupid as he seemed only moments ago. “Fucker is playing games with me.” you said with a crooked smile.

No matter, you had things to do and places to be, so you let the irritation of this man wash away and went about your day.

*** + *** ++ *** + *** ++ *** + *** ++ *** + *** ++ *** + *** ++ *** + ***

You: I will need your help when I arrive.

Si: Something the matter, mate?

You: Hands will be full. I'll need you to open the doors.

Si: Full of what?

You: Things.

Si: Such as?

Si: What things?

Si: ...?

'Suffer' you think to yourself with a light chuckle.

When you arrive at his flat, you set down one arm-full of bags and ring his number.

“Be down in a moment, mate.” He says through the speaker before hanging up.

He arrives at the door rather quickly, mask on and wearing a simple tee and jeans. He forgot – or maybe didn't care to – put his shoes on.

He opens the door and lets you in, offering to carry some of the bags. You begin to shake your head 'no' but he's already grabbed a handful from you.

“Whats all this, then?” He says gruffly.

“Things,” you repeat. “Things you can look at when we get in your flat.” You pause. “And food.”

He lets out a guttural “Mmm.”

Simon opens the the door to his flat and sets the bags down on his table. You follow suit and gently kick the door closed behind you.

Simon is already rummaging through the bags.

“I had half a mind to tell you to fuck off.” You say as you place your bags on the table. Simon looks up at you and furrows his brow.

“Still mad about that?” He asks. His voice seems sincere.

“A bit.” You nod.

“Didn't mean to piss ya off, mate.” He replies flatly.

“A Simon apology.” You smile.

He grunts.

The bags are emptied onto the table and discarded to the floor. There is an assortment of boxes, plants and food.

Simon examines the plants and gives you a look.

“I cant keep these alive.” He grumbles.

“They're plastic, you git.” You laugh.

Simon's focus changes to the other boxes on the table. Some new plates and glasses. “They're nice.” He says as he begins to unbox them. He examines each piece one by one before stacking them and moving them to the cupboard.

While he does that, you begin to place the plants around his flat. A few in his living room window, a couple on his book shelf, and one on his coffee table. His place seems to feel more like a home, instead of just the place he lives.

You locate the bag you hid away from him and grab it from under the table. You pull a large black and white throw from it. “Made this for you.” You say, getting Simon's attention.

His eyes widen as you unfurl the oversized throw, exposing the skull pattern that runs its length. It matches the mask he always wears on his face, and though he wears it now, you can see a glimmer of gratitude in his eyes.

“You made it?” He asks, his voice softer than usual. “Like a gift?”

You stare at him queerly. “Yes... like a gift.” You confirm. “I got some fabric paint and an iron. After a good wash, it was ready. Do you like it?”

Ghost retreats back into himself and scoffs. “Its acceptable.”

“Thank you,” You say with a mocking tone, “I put in an adequate effort into it just for you.”

You toss the throw over his couch lazily and then make your way back into his kitchen and unpack the take away. You brought curries and beer, and lay the assortment out for him.

“I can eat later,” you say. “Or on the couch. If you don't want me to.”

Simon holds up a hand, silencing you.

“No need.” He sighs. “If you're going to by my friend, I suppose its only fair.”

He reaches up and pulls the mask away from his face. He stares down at the table as he does this. His lips betray his attempt at a stern look. You take in the scars that map his face, the slight crook in his nose and a small burn on his jaw. His brown eyes flicker up at you waiting for judgment.

“Ready to eat, then?” I say.

“Ready to eat?! That's it?” Simon is shocked and offended.

“What do you want me to say?!” You fire back. “You have a scarred face, big deal. Doesn't make you any less handsome, or any less my friend!”

Ghost stands there seething, you stand there confused beyond belief. It dawns on you that he likely isn't used to people just accepting him as-is. He had built up this scenario of being rejected in his head and now he had no where to go except forward.

You smile. “Sit the fuck down and eat.” You say sternly.

He is taken aback by your words but slides down into his chair, never letting his gaze leave you. You sit down across from him and start dishing out portions. You crack open a couple of beers and slide one over to him.

“Cheers, mate.” You smile. You take a swig and then dig into your food.

Simon follows suit not too long after. The wheels in his mind turning as he processes what just happened. Eventually – albeit slowly – his look softens as he shovels bite after bite of food into his mouth. 'Handsome'? He thinks. His stomach twists and he feels dizzy as the word bounces around his brain.

“Good curry.” Simon huffs between bites. 'Good company too.' He thinks, though can't bring himself to say it.

You smile and accept his compliment. It seems rules one, two, and five were now out the window. Only three, four and six still remained in place. You dynamic was changing, and it piqued your curiosity.

“Really good.” You agree.

[poisonlove]

a

yes yes yes please a part 2 is what i need it doesn't even have to be happy it can be harrowing again I just need to know how Y/n is going to get over this, if Vada regretted it, I want to know EVERYTHING I'm not going to lie I want vada to suffer :)

Tears… of happiness?| v.c

part. 2

Three months later

I was at my house, preparing dinner with Sofia, a girl I was getting to know better, when suddenly I received a call from Amelia, Vada's sister. —I'm sorry, Sofia— I say with an embarrassed smile as my phone starts ringing. —I need to take this call.— Sofia smiles understandingly.

—No problem, go ahead. I'll be here when you get back.— I get up from the table and make my way to a quieter corner.

—Hello?— I answer the call with a gentle smile, trying to hide the agitation that's already starting to creep in.

—Hi, t/n. I'm sorry for calling you so late. I needed you to know something.— Amelia's voice is filled with a mix of emotions.

I listen attentively as Amelia tells me about Vada's situation and how she's recently come out of a detox center. As her words fill the air, I feel a weight lifting from my chest.

Finally, Vada's total disappearance makes sense.

—I really appreciate you calling me to let me know—I tell her sincerely. —I had no idea about any of this, but I'm glad to hear that she's trying to improve.— Amelia sounds relieved.

—I'm glad you're taking the news well. I know you two were close, and... I just wanted you to know.— After hanging up the call, I feel as though a knot has been untied. I return to the table with Sofia, who smiles kindly at me.

—Everything okay?— she asks.

—Now it is— I reply, feeling a sense of release. —Thank you for understanding—I say with a shy smile.

Deep inside my heart, a small flame of hope ignites. The news that Vada has come out of a detox center has shaken the foundations of my emotions. In an instant, my mind is torn between the hurricane of conflicting feelings: concern for her, fear for what she's been through, and that small but powerful hope that maybe, just maybe, all of this could be a step toward the change that we both needed. I find myself reflecting on every word spoken and unspoken, on shared moments and ones left hanging. The possibility that Vada took this step for herself, and perhaps even for us, starts to take shape in my mind. Maybe our bond wasn't completely severed. Maybe, somehow, there's still an invisible thread keeping us connected.

—Who was that?—Sofia asks curiously. Sofia's sudden question pulls my attention away from my thoughts.

—It was just a friend— I reply with a light smile, trying to keep my tone casual. —Anyway, where were we?— Sofia seems to accept my answer without further questions, and we return to our previous conversation. We continue discussing various topics, but my mind is still occupied by the news I've just received.

—It really was a nice evening— Sofia says with a smile, looking into my eyes. —Do you... want me to stay?— She adds a hint of playfulness.

I nervously chuckle and shake my head slightly. —Thank you, but I think it's better if you don't stay— I reply, walking her to the door.

Before I can realize it, Sofia kisses me. It's an unexpected moment that catches me off guard. My heart races as I try to process what just happened. After the kiss, we lock eyes for a moment, emotions swirling within me between surprise and confusion.

—So... see you at school tomorrow...—Sofia mumbles shyly, her cheeks flushed as she looks down at the floor and fiddles with her fingers. —Yeah... see you tomorrow— I respond, still feeling the lingering sensation of Sofia's lips on mine.

The girl gives me a timid smile before turning and walking out of the building. Closing the door behind her, I find myself thinking about how strange, yet oddly pleasant, this evening has been.

*** During the lunch break the next day, I feel even more nervous than usual. I engage in small talk with my friends, trying to maintain a normal conversation, but my mind is completely elsewhere. I feel the curious gazes of my friends on me, and I realize they're noticing my odd behavior.

—Hey, t/n, you seem a bit distracted today. Everything okay?— Alex, one of my closest friends, asks me. I try to smile and nod, even though I know my smile comes across as forced.

—Yeah, everything's fine. Just a bit tired, I guess—I reply. Sarah, another friend, laughs. —Maybe it's because of the math class this morning. That professor always manages to give us a headache!—

I chuckle too, trying to join in the conversation. But the truth is, my head is filled with thoughts about Vada and what I've discovered. I wish I could share everything with them, but it's such a delicate situation that I don't even know where to start.

While lost in my thoughts, I notice a figure in the distance. It's Vada. Suddenly, my heart races, and it feels as though the world has come to a standstill. Vada looks pale, but different. Different in the way she holds her head high and walks with more confidence. Beyond that, she looks healthier. Her brown eyes meet mine, and unconsciously, I smile.

It's an instinctive, unconscious smile. Everything I've felt in the past months seems to surface in that moment. All the doubts, hopes, and disappointments. As our gazes lock, I feel there's still a connection between us.

My emotions are in turmoil as I try to conceal how shaken I am by her presence. The past and the future blend in an instant, and I know I must find the courage to confront all of this.

(...)

Vada Pov's

I come to a halt, seeing t/n in the distance. I nervously fiddle with my backpack strap, trying to conceal my unease. I can't take my eyes off her, and I realize she looks more beautiful than ever.

It's as if time has turned every feature of hers into a work of art.

But as I look at her, my thoughts travel back in time. I remember why I entered that detox center after our breakup. I wanted to change, to become a better person. The days spent there were dreadful. The days dragged on unbearably slowly, and there was a darkness within me that seemed unwilling to leave. I battled against withdrawal, faced the ghosts of my past actions, and tried to understand what had happened.

Now, facing t/n, I feel a mix of emotions. Surprise, fear, and hope blend as her eyes meet mine. That moment seems to last a lifetime, and I wonder if t/n can see the changes I've made. I hope she can glimpse the determination I put into trying to improve.

Looking at her, I feel the weight of unsaid words, choices we've made, and wounds we've inflicted. I don't know what t/n thinks of me now, I don't know if there's room for forgiveness or something more. The decision is hers, and I feel a lump in my throat as I wait to see what she'll do. My mind is in turmoil, but I try to hold onto my desire to redeem the past.

I feel the eyes of many curious students on me, and I hear whispered comments like "shame on you." The tension in the air is palpable, and I realize how suddenly I've become the center of attention. Everything seems to happen in a blur, but then someone passes by me, heading toward t/n. Suddenly, everyone's attention is captivated by this figure.

—No... look at me...— I murmur sadly, trying to convey how important it is.

Tears well up at the corners of my eyes, and the pain I've felt all these months rushes back. I watch as this girl kisses t/n, and the sound of whistles and applause from her friends fills the air. It's as if the world is spinning too fast, and all I can do is stare at that scene before me.

My heart shatters even more as reality hits me full force. All the mistakes, gaps, and missed moments seem encapsulated in that kiss. All my hopes and desires dissolve into the air, as I try to contain the pain welling up within me. It's an overwhelming feeling, and I feel vulnerable and betrayed, even though I know I have no right to feel that way.

The scene unfolds before me like a blurry dream. Laughter, applause, and the kiss merge into a whirlwind of emotions. Then, as I try to confront it all, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn and see Nick, an old friend, looking at me with a concerned expression.

—Vada, are you okay?— he asks gently, trying to understand what's happening.

Tears start to fall uncontrollably, without me being able to stop them. My heart crumbles as I try to contain the sobs rising from my chest. —Nick... everything... it's just so hard...— I stammer, unable to put my pain into words.

He wraps me in a protective hug, trying to comfort me. —Shh, it's okay. It'll be okay, alright? You're strong.—

But the words of comfort don't seem to be enough. The pain I've kept hidden for so long is now out of control. The wounds of the past, the struggle in the detox center, and now this scene before my eyes merge into a flood of emotions I can't contain. Tears flow incessantly, making even breathing difficult.

Nick tries to support me, but I feel like I'm in freefall. Everything I've tried to overcome seems to resurface at this moment. I feel vulnerable and shattered, as if all my defenses have crumbled. I keep crying, trying to release the weight I've carried with me.

—Let's go somewhere else, okay?— Nick suggests gently, trying to lead me away from the tumultuous scene.

I wipe my eyes and nod, allowing him to guide me as we move away slowly. Every step seems to require an immense effort, but I cling to the help Nick is offering me.

As we walk, someone approaches us. A boy with red eyes and a strange smile on his face. His gaze seems to wander to some undefined point as he approaches. Then, with a distracted gesture, he pulls something out of his pocket and offers it to me.

—Hey, you don't look too happy... want some?—he says, his voice sounding distant and muffled.

My eyes fixate on that offer, and for a moment, I feel the urge to take it. All the emotions I've felt, the pain, the confusion, seem to converge in that moment. But deep within me, I feel a small flame of willpower still burning.

I look into the distance, trying to find that determination that led me to take a step forward. I think of t/n, of the shared tears and smiles. I think of how difficult it has been, but also how meaningful. And I think of myself, the person I'm striving to become.

Taking a deep breath, I look the boy in the eyes and firmly say, —No, thank you.—

The boy seems surprised for a moment, then nods with a strange smile and walks away. Uttering those words gives me a sense of triumph, as if I've overcome an important challenge.

Nick looks at me with an encouraging smile. —Well done, Vada. I'm proud of you.—

I don't know what the future holds, but I know I still have a lot to face. I hold onto that small flame within me and to those who are close to me, ready to confront whatever comes.

***

That evening, Nick organizes a private party with his closest friends to celebrate my return. I find myself at Nick's house ahead of time as the final preparations are being completed. I'm a bit nervous, but also grateful for the opportunity to spend time with loved ones.

Nick approaches me with a smile, and I greet him with a nod. —You've done a great job with this party—I say, admiring the cheerful atmosphere he has created.

—Thanks! I'm glad you're here—Nick responds, glancing at the crowd of friends around us. —I was wondering, could you help me bring the beers to the kitchen and set up some snacks?—

—Of course— I reply with a smile. We grab some beers from the table and head to the kitchen, joking that it looks like they've got enough for an entire month. As we arrange the trays of snacks, we exchange knowing smiles. —I hope there's enough food for everyone—Nick says, laughing.

—Well, considering how many friends you've invited, we might need to make a second trip to the supermarket— I respond, laughing along.

The doorbell rings, and Nick turns to me kindly. —Vada, could you please go answer the door?—

I accept with a nod and make my way to the entrance. As I open the door, my heart beats faster. But when t/n's eyes meet mine, my smile fades, replaced by a mixture of conflicting emotions.

I timidly glance at t/n, trying to control my unease. T/n looks so stunning, wearing an outfit that makes her shine. She's wearing a simple sweatshirt paired with a light jacket of the same color. Her hair is neatly styled and seems to capture the light in a magical way.

For a moment, I feel a bit intimidated and insecure. Yet, there's something about her that makes me feel like anything is possible. I sense t/n's gaze on me and try to smile, even though it's a mix of nervousness and uncertainty.

—T/n... hi— I say with a slightly trembling voice, trying to hide how flustered I am.

—Hi, Vada— t/n responds with a gentle smile, and the sound of her voice resonates within me.

I realize there's still a lot to face and clarify between us, but in this moment, as we look at each other, I feel that there's still a bond that connects us. A bond that has never fully faded, despite everything.

T/n coughs softly, and I sense her discomfort as my gaze lingers. Suddenly aware of the situation, I realize the tension is palpable.

—Um... can I come in?— t/n asks timidly.

I react immediately, fully opening the door to let her in.

As t/n passes by me, I instinctively close my eyes. A shiver runs through me, and I catch a familiar scent that I've missed so much. Her presence is enveloping, bringing back memories of shared moments, sweet gestures, and heartfelt words.

I make an effort to contain the emotions welling up, striving to stay calm and composed. I don't want t/n to sense how unsettled her return has made me. I open my eyes as t/n enters, trying to offer a gentle smile. —Make yourself at home— I say, attempting to lighten the mood.

¤¤¤

As the evening goes on, I try to maintain a relaxed and friendly demeanor. It's strange and surreal to be here, in the same room as t/n after so much time. But at the same time, I feel that there's a new beginning in the air, an opportunity to confront the past and perhaps build something different for the future.

Gradually, the other friends start to arrive, filling the room with energy and joy. But when Edward asks about Mia, I notice t/n tensing slightly.

The atmosphere suddenly becomes tense, and I sense that there's something I'm not quite understanding.

—Hey, guys, where's Mia?—Edward asks, looking around.

Nick grimaces. —Oh, Mia is out of town right now.—

However, I notice that t/n's smile seems forced, and a sense of unease continues to linger in the air. I keep chatting with friends, trying to maintain the party's lightheartedness, but at the same time, I can't help but feel that tension that doesn't seem to dissipate. While friends laugh and joke, my gaze occasionally meets t/n's, trying to read her expressions and understand what she's feeling in this delicate moment.

—How about playing 7 minutes in heaven?— Nick suggests, trying to change the subject.

As friends enthusiastically embrace the idea, Nick hands me the bottle, saying that since I'm the guest of honor, I should start. I take the bottle with a nervous smile, trying to hide my unease. I spin it, and my heart races as the bottle continues to spin, again and again. All eyes are on me, and I feel every moment growing more intense.

My heart seems to stop when the bottle finally comes to a halt. I look, and for a moment, the world seems to slow down as I see that t/n is the person the bottle points to.

I feel as if everything has come to a halt, and my stomach tightens as I wait to see t/n's reaction. T/n takes a sip of whiskey, and the tension in the air seems to grow even stronger. Then, without saying a word, she abruptly stands up from the floor. —Come on, let's go— she mutters before walking determinedly toward a closet.

Her voice is filled with emotions, and I can sense her uncertainty and her willingness to leave that situation behind. I suddenly feel a bit out of place as t/n walks away, but hesitantly, I decide to follow her. I try to understand what she's thinking, but her words are cryptic, and I don't know what to expect.

—Have fun— Nick murmurs, and amid the laughter of friends, he closes the closet door after both t/n and I enter.

I feel my heart pounding, and the tension in the air seems palpable. As the door closes, I find myself suddenly alone with t/n, and I don't know what to say or do. I look around in the darkness of the closet, trying to keep calm despite the agitation I feel. My breathing quickens as I wait to see what will happen after this unexpected moment. I don't know what to expect, but one thing is certain: fate has put us in an unexpected position, and now we have to face it together.

🍾🚪

T/n sighs —How are you, Vada?— Her voice reaches me, and I sense genuine concern in her words. With a bit of nervousness, I reply: —I'm fine, thank you.— A brief silence falls between us, and then, suddenly, I find the courage to ask: —And your girlfriend? How is she?— The question comes out of my mouth almost instinctively, but now that I've said it, I feel my heart racing. I don't know what to expect from her answer, but I feel it's important to confront the reality of what has happened during our time apart. I wait, trying to meet t/n's gaze in the darkness, as the words that have been spoken hang in the air between us. I don't know what will happen after this conversation, but I know we need to face it if we truly want to understand what has changed and if there's room for a new beginning.

T/n sighs in the darkness —We're just getting to know each other; we're not together.— Her words reach me, and a strange feeling of relief starts to creep in. But that feeling is soon overshadowed by jealousy when I hear her bitter reply. —From the way she kissed you, it doesn't seem like that.— I retort with a hint of venom. The silence inside the closet seems to become even heavier, and I feel that tensions are soaring. What had started as an attempt to clarify things seems to have taken a different turn, and now we find ourselves in the midst of a confrontation charged with emotions. —It's not what it looks like,— t/n shoots back, her voice revealing a mix of irritation and frustration. —I don't want you jumping to the wrong conclusions.—

Yet, I can't help but sense a shadow of doubt in her tones. My jealousy seems to have caught her off guard, and now we're clashing in the dark, trying to figure out what's happening between us. —Vada, I don't think it's fair for you to...— But before she can finish speaking, I feel anger and frustration welling up within me, and I abruptly cut her off. —I don't even want to hear about your conquests,— I say firmly, trying to hold back the emotion that threatens to overflow into my words.

The words escape my mouth almost involuntarily, but once spoken, I don't retract anything I've said. I don't want to hear about t/n's escapades with other people, especially when there's so much to resolve between us. I feel vulnerable and hurt, and the idea that there might be someone else who could take my place hurts. T/n seems surprised by my words, but I don't take back any of it. I look around in the darkness of the closet, seeking some sign of understanding in her eyes. I don't know what will happen now, but I know it's important to set boundaries and expectations between us.

—Vada, I understand that you might feel that way,— t/n says, perhaps trying to calm me down. —But you have to understand that it's not what it seems. I don't want you...— Her response only fuels my anger, and I can't help but interrupt her again. —I don't care about what you want or don't want. I don't want to hear it,— I grit my teeth.

—What the hell has gotten into you, Vada?— she demands angrily. —First, you leave me... I try to be kind to you, and yet you treat me like this?— Her words hit me like a punch to the stomach, yet I can't hide my anger. I feel that the emotions within me are exploding, and I can't hold back the scream of pain that's about to escape my lips.

—When I needed you, you weren't there!— I mutter with a broken voice, as tears start to fill my eyes. Her words make me relive those dark moments when I was alone and desperately seeking a way out of my addiction. And the truth is, all I wanted back then was her. To hear her now, accusing me of not being there when she needed me, makes me feel even more vulnerable and shattered. T/n moves suddenly closer to me, and our breaths mix. I instinctively close my eyes due to the proximity, feeling her presence draw even nearer. Then I feel the palm of her hand slam against the wall behind me, the sound echoing in my ears like a wake-up call. Silence becomes heavy between us, and I feel almost lost in a storm of emotions. Her voice lowers even further.

—I was... I tried... but I was a terrible girlfriend after all, right?— Her words hit me straight in the heart, and I feel the weight of the truth behind them. I know there has been pain on both sides, and now I realize that maybe I haven't considered her side of the story enough. I'm lost for words, not knowing what to say to ease the situation. I feel like I'm at the center of an emotional storm, and the truth is emerging between us, raw and painful.

—I... I... I'm trying to be a better person...— I murmur weakly, trying to convey the sense of pain and regret I feel inside. My words seem to hang in the air like an appeal for understanding. I want t/n to know that I'm trying to face my demons and change, to become the person she deserved me to be. But my voice is barely a whisper, almost drowned out by the weight of the emotions I carry.

Our gazes meet, and I notice t/n seems taken aback by my words. Then, instinctively, my hand moves and lands on her chest. I'm not sure if I want to push her away or feel her even closer, but I sense her breath mingling with mine, and the contact seems to convey all the emotions I can't put into words. I try to find the right words, but my mind seems jammed, overwhelmed by the complexity of what I'm feeling. T/n looks at me, and our eyes communicate silently, conveying everything we can't express in words.

—If I went to that center, it was for you!— I mutter loudly, the words broken by the emotion and anger I feel inside me.

The scream in my words seems to fill the entire space, carrying with it all the emotions I've tried to contain for so long. I want t/n to know how hard it was for me, how willing I was to change and fight for us. But my voice gets caught in my throat, and I feel tears beginning to flow down my cheeks.

T/n leans even closer to me, and our noses barely touch. I feel her warm breath mixing with mine, and the close contact quickens the beating of my heart. I feel like I'm on the edge of an emotional precipice, teetering between anger, sadness, and hope. As t/n gets closer, I sense time slowing down around us. I realize that the 7 minutes of the game seem endless, and I'm nervous about what might happen between us during this time.

—Don't you think... it's too late, Vada?— she whispers just inches from my lips.

Before t/n can pull away, I feel the impulse to act. Without thinking too much, I wrap my arms around her neck, pulling her towards me with a needy intensity, and our lips meet. I want her close, as close as she hasn't been in so long, and the need to feel her against me seems to overpower everything else.

Our bodies draw near, and I feel the warmth of her breath against my skin. My mind seems to be overshadowed by everything except the sensation of t/n being so close. I feel like I've been waiting for this moment forever, as if all the accumulated emotions are converging into this kiss.

T/n emits a surprised sound, a muffled moan from the unexpectedness. But the kiss isn't immediately reciprocated, and I feel my heart pounding strongly in my chest. I don't know what to expect, but I know I don't want to pull away. I want t/n to feel the need I'm feeling, the passion and urgency of what we're sharing right now.

I cling to her with a mixture of desire and fear. I don't know what will happen after this kiss, whether t/n will respond to my desire or if we'll grow further apart. But in this moment, all that matters is our closeness and the possibility of reconnecting, even if only for an instant.

T/n timidly returns my kiss, and I feel my heart beating even stronger in my chest. It was a kiss laden with complex emotions, an attempt to grasp what we used to be and what we could still become. But before I can intensify the kiss, the door suddenly swings open.

We break apart suddenly, as if we've just received an electric shock. T/n leans in close to my ear, and I feel shivers running down my skin at the touch of her words. —We need to talk,— she whispers, her voice so thin and cold that I almost fear I imagined it.

The feeling of anguish grows within me, and I know there's something we must confront, something that's been waiting for us for far too long.

comments, please?

Sorry for this shit :)

[wondermilka]

We're Fading

Pairing : Kaveh x gn!reader

Sypnosis : Your relationship suffered because of the long-distance.

TW : angst, implied break up

Your heart pounded with anticipation as you sat by your laptop, waiting for a message from Kaveh to appear on the screen. It had been days since you last spoke, and the once vibrant connection between you now felt like a fading echo.

The long-distance relationship had taken its toll, leaving you with a never ending sense of doubt and insecurity.

One evening, your friends gathered around you in the living room, trying to cheer you up. But their smiles masked the unease they felt about the situation.

It was then that one of your friends, Sara, hesitated for a moment before showing you her phone.

On the screen was a picture of Kaveh, laughing and having fun with a group of people, including a girl who seemed to be getting a bit too close for your comfort.

Your heart sank as you stared at the photo. Your mind raced with questions and doubts. Why hadn't Kaveh mentioned this outing to you? Was he hiding something from you?

The photo seemed to confirm your worst fears – that Kaveh was growing distant and maybe even interested in someone else.

Trying to fight back tears, you excused yourself and retreated to your room. You didn't know how to confront Kaveh about the photo without sounding accusatory, but you couldn't keep the turmoil inside any longer.

Late at night, when you couldn't suppress your emotions any further, you finally mustered the courage to call Kaveh. As the phone rang, your heart trembled with fear of what you might discover.

"Hey, Y/N," Kaveh's voice greeted you warmly, oblivious to the turmoil in your heart.

"Hey," You replied, trying to sound calm despite your trembling voice. "I saw a photo today... with you and some girl."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and your heart sank even further.

"Oh, that," Kaveh finally spoke, his tone unsure. "She's just a friend. We were hanging out with a group, and someone took a picture."

You felt a mix of relief and lingering doubt. You didn't want to jump to conclusions, but the lack of communication between you had fueled your fears.

"Kaveh, I miss you," You admitted, tears streaming down your cheeks. "But it feels like we're drifting apart, and I don't know what to do."

Kaveh's voice softened, "I miss you too, Y/N. The distance has been tough on both of us, but it doesn't mean I don't love you. I promise I'll make an effort to communicate more, and we can work through this together."

But as the days turned into weeks, the communication between you and Kaveh didn't improve as you had hoped.

The insecurities and doubts weighed heavily on both of you, and your once passionate love began to fade.

You mustered the courage to bring up your concerns again, only to be met with silence from Kaveh. The message went unreplied, and the silence stretched on for days.

Your heart shattered, realizing that Kaveh had grown tired and had given up on the relationship.

Unable to bear the pain any longer, you made the difficult decision to let go.

You sent Kaveh one final message, pouring your heart out, but it was left unanswered like so many before.

[michelle-is-writing]

Sick, Ben Hardy

Word Count: 1.2k~

Saturday nights are always date nights for me and Ben. No matter what, we always go out and do something fun together. We'll go to dinner, watch a movie, see a game, anything that sounds like a good time. We always make an effort, and nothing ever stops us from spending time together.

However, as I lay in my bed with nonstop nausea filling my throat and stomach, I feel the need to cancel for tonight. During the seven months that we've been dating, neither of us have ever canceled a Friday night, and that's always something I love about us. Once again, we always make time for each other, so when I think about calling Ben and saying I can't go tonight, I feel even worse.

Reluctantly pressing the green button on Ben's contact, I hold my phone up to my ear and listen to the ringing tone as I wait for him to pick up. As more seconds pass, I find myself trying to hug my blankets as close to me as I can while my body begins to shiver. This stomach pain is starting to cause me to feel cold as well, and it sucks.

"Hello, darling," I hear Ben's voice pick up after the second ring, making me smile. I always love hearing his voice. It carries this tone of protection in it that gives off a feeling of happiness at the same time. "Are you ready for our date?"

At his question, I close my eyes and swallow down the guilt that rises to my throat as my smile lowers into a frown. He sounds so happy - excited, almost. Do I really have to take that away from him? All because of something that could probably be treated with medicine?

As soon as the thought of maybe suffering through the pain and going on a date, another stomach cramp pushes into me, making me almost hunch over in my bed to get through the pain. "Actually, Ben," I start, my free arm wrapping around my stomach as the stinging sensation passes. "I was calling to tell you that I can't come," I explain, my ears almost catching the sound of his heart breaking through the phone speaker. "I think I caught food poisoning from my friend's food at dinner we went to the other night."

"I ate it, and I seem fine," He tells me, his words making me shake my head with an amused smile.

"That's because you have an iron stomach, Ben," I joke, hearing him chuckle on the other end. "And, besides, if you can eat your own cooking, then you can eat practically anything."

"Oi!" Ben dramatically exclaims as if my words hit him with a punch. I laugh at his silliness. "Such harsh and hurtful words from the woman I love!" He further chides as I clench my already hurting stomach from laughing. He soon joins in on the laughing before speaking once more. "But that's alright love. I understand you're not feeling well. I love you! And I'll be over in ten minutes."

Just as quick as he said his last words, he hangs up, leaving me to stare across the room with wide eyes as my phone remains resting in my hand, Ben's picture flashing once before the screen goes dark. Did he really just pull a fast one on me? Just like that?

While thinking about Ben, yet another wave of nausea rolls over me, causing me to turn onto my side with my knees close to my chest, a pained groan escaping my lips at the same time. What if this isn't food poisoning, and it's something contagious, and I accidentally give it to Ben? It's not that I don't want him coming over (I'm glad that he is), but the last thing I want to do is make him sick as well.

For what feels like an eternity, I lay on my sides, switching between the two when another cramp comes along. It isn't long before I hear keys being inserted into my front door, twisting and turning before the piece of wood opens and closes a few short seconds later. Footsteps sound throughout my tiny apartment until my bedroom door gently opens, a head full of blond hair and shining blue eyes staring back at me as I smile from my current predicament on the bed.

"There she is," Ben says with a sweet smile. Wearing a plain grey t-shirt and black sweats, he takes one step into my room before happily sighing. "And just as beautiful as ever."

Blushing, I roll my eyes and flop onto my other side to dramatically turn my back to him, only receiving a laugh back before I feel his warm body settle behind my cold one. As soon as he touches me, it's as if all of my nausea and cramping dissipate, the warmth from his body acting as a heating pad for my achey body.

Ben wraps his arms around me and pulls me close to his body as he kisses my temple, his lips soft and warm like fresh pastries. At his sweet affection, I smile even more and raise my hands to rest on top of his, only for him to interlock our fingers together. Even when I'm sick and not able to do the things we usually do, he's still the best boyfriend I could ever ask for.

"Would you like me to make you some soup?" Ben asks, leaning down to nuzzle his face in my neck. Underneath the covers, his legs intertwine with mine, bringing me just enough warmth to stop shivering so bad.

"No, just lay here with me, please," I tell him, snuggling my body further in his hold as a soft sigh escapes my lips. There's nothing better than lying in the arms of the person you love - especially if they're a natural heater.

"Oh, and like I said earlier," I begin, remembering our earlier conversation. "Your cooking is something special," I remind Ben with a smirk, listening as he snickers behind me. Okay, maybe there's nothing better lying in the arms of your boyfriend and teasing him for his helpless qualities.

"I can put on a video or something, go off of that," Ben suggests, leaning his head over mine to cuddle closer to the front of my neck. "Or, I could be safe and just order something," he offers, making me smile.

"That would be nice," I tell Ben, nodding my head. Just as he goes to get up to grab his phone presumably, I tug him back down and snuggle even further into him. "In five minutes, of course," I clarify, hearing him snicker behind me again.

With a simple "okay," Ben gets himself comfortable once more before resuming holding me close. I guess no matter what, Saturday nights will always be our night and not even a stupid stomach bug can stop that.

[this-loser]

Silent Prayer

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Author's Notes: So, I actually haven't written in a while and for those who liked my previous stories I apologize. I deleted them from the account and forgot that I didn't have them saved so they are gone forever. Recently I have been hard on myself about that plus my writing. I ended up going inactive and recently going into the DC fandom, especially because of my love for Jason Todd, I got back into writing again. This is the first time I've written for Jason, bunch of scrapped ideas before this, so if it feels out of character I must apologize. Anyway, enough of my talking. Please enjoy!

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「WC: 863」

「Summary: He's unable to sleep but maybe a little music will coax him into sleeping」

「Warnings: I don't use Y/N, This might be a little sad tbh, Nothing explicit just wholesome fluff, This is shorter than I originally thought it would be but I'm okay with this」

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「Song name: "In Dreams" by Roy Orbison. In case you'd like to listen to it while reading look it up on either YouTube or Spotify.」

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It was never silent. Not in Gotham City. From the police sirens to the neighbors or the people outside the apartment building going on about their lives. No one pays any mind, depending on where you're looking, to the fact that this place was one of the biggest shitholes. No one could tell Jason otherwise.

He'd lived on the streets. Did things that he shouldn't have done, but he needed to survive and witnessed firsthand how god-awful the people in the city can be. All of that had been seen through the eyes of a child.

Was he proud of his past? Depends, but for the most part, no.

Reflecting doesn't help.

He knew that. It only made things come back, and the emotions left him sour. Especially when the original point was to sleep, something he was having trouble doing. Again.

Jason sat up, the blanket pooling at his hips as he ran a hand through his hair. The sound of a vehicle honking caused him to lift his head, looking at the window blinds. A few seconds pass by before he relaxes.

"Hmm..." The softness of your voice drew his attention, along with the blanket moving as you turned over onto your left side. "Jason," "Go back to sleep, baby." He crooned, stopping you from continuing your sentence and then leaning down to you, his hand pushing some of your hair out of your face as your eyes fluttered open. "Shh, just go back to bed. Everything is alright."

He was bullshitting, but not to worry you. Jason knew that you'd be up without another second if you knew his insomnia was bothering him again. "Just sleep." His hand gently cupped your cheek as he kept whispering coaxing words to ease you back into sleep, blissfully unaware of his suffering.

"Jay," Through tired eyes, you look at him. The darkness hides his face; however, you can make out the look he gave you. A soft reassurance that would have fooled anyone if they didn't know him well enough. That is, if they ever broke past that permanent scowl he always had. The look alone drew a huff from you. "Liar." He froze, the look quickly morphing into a disappointed frown. "Please, sleep. Don't worry about me. I'll be okay." He brought forth a weak smile, his hand caressing your cheek. "Trust me, you need more sleep than I do, I'll be alright." "Jason..." He shook his head, stubbornness kicking in as he leaned closer, pressed his lips against your temple, then pulled away. "You're gonna go back to bed. No arguing about it." You whined at his stubbornness, and although that made him chuckle, he didn't let up.

You pulled a hand from under the blanket, lifting it and grabbing his arm. "No. I'm not giving up that easily, Jason." He bit back a groan at your stubbornness, internally kicking himself for hoping that you'd actually give in to his demand. You sat up slowly and let go of his arm as you reached over the end table on your side, grabbing your phone.

It was still early morning, and Jason clearly wasn't having a good night. "Jay, it's 4:37 A.M." He groans at the observation and leans back against the headboard. "I know, Genius..." He grumbles, looking away from you. "You're welcome." You mumble, now going through your phone. A few seconds of silence go by before the room is filled with soft music from your phone.

"I softly say, a silent prayer like dreamers do,"

He glances at you, the song playing as you set your phone back onto the end table. "Music?" You nod, looking at Jason. "Why not? Might help you sleep." "Not really my type of music." "Too bad. You've got to deal with it since it's my choice." You lay back down, moving over to him and throwing an arm over his hips, burying your face into the side of his thigh. "Who's the artist?" "Roy Orbison." He nods his head slowly, the name not sounding familiar to him. "Melancholy as hell, though." He added, looking down at you and resting his hand on your head. "Mm." Your eyes flutter closed, the soft tempo of the song starting to lull you back to sleep.

"In dreams, you're mine all of the time,"

He leans his head back. Taking in the lyrics and how melancholy they are. "Actually, they are kinda peaceful." He whispers, his fingers running through your hair. "Except for the "Candy-colored clown" bit... That part doesn't sound all peaceful to me." A light scoff comes from Jason as he stares at the bedroom door and feels his eyelids become heavier as the song continues to play.

"In beautiful dreams"

He blinks a few times as a wave of sleepiness crashes over him, but he pulls himself back and gently pulls your arm from his hips. You make a noise of protest as he lays down, pulling you into his arms once he's lying on his right side. You sigh in contentment, relaxing again and peacefully resting as Jason's eyelids close. The melody of the song coaxes him into a dreamless sleep.

[itsawhumpsideblog]

The Safehouse, pt. 17

CW: for institutionalized slavery, mentions of abuse, treatment of people as things, medical procedures (x-rays, IV placement), hospital setting, brainwashing

Advice from the Box Boy Liberation Movement:

The type of conditioning rescuees undergo is impossible to shake off lightly. Do not worry, and above all do not take it personally, when they are unable to believe your reassurances. While you should attempt to defer to rescuees' choices, if they are able to make them known, there will be times that it is in their best interest to continue a course of action against their preference. [2] Use your best judgement in deciding whether to proceed in such an event.

[2] One common form of this is the decision to pursue necessary medical treatment for a frightened or reluctant rescuee.

Mikey's breath hitched as Angie eased the car over a speed bump and she couldn't help sneaking a look at him to make sure he was alright. She was trying to be careful, but it was hard on some of these older roads. Angie reminded herself that the ordeal was almost over and next time Mikey got in a car, his injuries would be repaired and braced and he wouldn't be so vulnerable to the condition of the roads. She reminded herself how it had been with Nathan, how badly he had suffered during the ride to the hospital but how much easier the drive home had been, once his leg was set and wrapped and the painkillers had kicked in.

It was hard to tell if Mikey noticed when the ride was rough, although he had obviously reacted; he was staring, wide-eyed, out the window as the neighborhood passed them by. Angie smiled at him and reached over to pat his knee. He looked at her with that owlish gaze, as if he was seeing everything for the first time. Maybe, in a sense, he was.

"We'll be there in about ten minutes," she said, just to fill the silence. "We'll park and then I'll text our contact and she'll come get us. Should be easy." Mikey nodded and went back to staring out the window. Angie debated turning on some music, but she looked over again, taking in the rigid set of his back, his clenched teeth, the nervous movement of his eyes, and decided against it.

When they finally arrived, Angie parked and texted the number she had been given. Here, spot 27 in front of door 2. She hit send and reached over to help Mikey remove his seatbelt.

"Okay," she said, "there you go. Watch your arm- you always do, but still- and the other one- and there you go!" She was trying to sound cheerful, in hopes that he would relax, but it didn't seem to be helping much.

"It really is going to be okay," she went on, in what she hoped was a reassuring voice. "And I promise I'll be there the whole time. I won't let anything bad happen to you. Okay?" He looked in her direction, almost meeting her eyes, and nodded. It was hard to tell whether he believed her or believed that this was the reaction she wanted. Angie tried not to sigh.

They hadn't been waiting more than a few minutes when Angie's phone buzzed with a text and then a woman in scrubs pushing a wheelchair appeared behind the car.

"Here we go," Angie said, still with that determinedly cheerful tone. She hopped out and waved to the woman. "Ready for us?"

"I sure am. I'm Wanda, I work with Dr. Silva- and we have a number of other colleagues in common, obviously." She winked at Angie, who couldn't help but smile.

"This is Mikey," Angie added, bending down to help Mikey out. It wasn't easy, but by holding him around the waist and supporting his right elbow, they managed.

"Nice to meet you, Mikey," Wanda said. She patted the back of the wheelchair. "Have a seat and we'll get you right in there. The story we're telling is that you were in a car accident- I don't think that'll be too hard to believe and it'll give us an excuse to get you right through the doors and into somewhere with a little more privacy. Okay?"

Mikey nodded. He shuffled around and lowered himself into the chair, placing his right hand carefully in his lap. Angie wondered if she should bring the pillow and then decided to leave it.

"Here we go," Wanda said, and pushed Mikey across the parking lot.

The closer they got to the door, the more obvious it was that Mikey was struggling. Angie could see it first in the way he hunched his right shoulder, as if he was trying to curl up and make himself smaller. He began to tremble and when she saw his face, his lips were pressed tightly together and his eyes were closed. Angie reached over and ruffled his hair, just to remind him that she hadn't left, but he didn't respond.

"Poor kid," Wanda said sympathetically. "Been with you long?" With another glance down at her patient, she added, "For his sake, I hope not." Then she seemed to hear herself. "Not because of you, of course- just that if he's been with you and waiting for an appointment- Oh, sugar, you know what I meant!"

"I know exactly what you meant," Angie replied, laughing. "And he's been with us for a couple of weeks already. It was tough to get him scheduled."

"It can be. I'm glad they found time, though."

"Me too. And he will be, too- or at least he will once it's over, anyway."

Angie had been in emergency rooms a handful of times in her life, but never had she gone back to a private room so quickly. There wasn't a wait at all; Wanda paused only long enough to tell the nurse at the desk that she would take the patient's vitals herself and they kept walking. At a big pair of double doors, Wanda pushed a button and steered Mikey quickly around a corner, down another long hall, and through a second set of doors. Angie hoped she wouldn't have to find her way back alone.

At last they came to a room with the door shut and Wanda nodded to it. "Will you get that for us?" Angie did, and pulled it shut once they were inside.

"Here's home, sweet home for today," Wanda told Mikey. He finally opened his eyes and looked around at the white walls, the curtain, the bright light above, and Angie watched his face go pale- or perhaps, more pale.

"It's okay," she said. "I'm going to be right here, remember?" Mikey looked up at her with big eyes and nodded as if he didn't quite believe her.

"Let's get you into a gown and we'll head out for x-rays," Wanda went on. "The sooner we get this done, the sooner you go home and start to feel better, hmm? Angie, will you help him get undressed while I find him a hospital gown?"

She bustled out and Angie helped Mikey out of his clothes, just as she did at home when it was time to sleep, and then folded his things and set them neatly aside where he could see them and be reminded that they were not being taken away.

"Here," Angie said, "Let's close the curtain so you can have some privacy." She started to pull it shut and then realized that Mikey's eyes had gone very wide and he was shaking his head vehemently.

"No?" Angie asked. "You want the curtain open?" He nodded hesitantly. "Okay, we'll leave it. It's up to you." He nodded again, shaky but clearly grateful.

Mikey sat on the edge of the bed in his undershorts, shivering from nerves and cold. He had understood when Mistress explained to him about the surgery, and he knew he ought to believe her but... something in his brain, more deeply rooted than her promises, could not shake the certain knowledge that he was back at a WRU facility.

It looked too much like one, for one thing, although the crowd of people in the first room had been comforting, for a moment. But maybe this was the wing where they housed the bad pets, the ones who needed so much work done that they couldn't be kept. The walls were the same shade of blank white, easy to clean because stains showed up so well. The light was bright and made to be shined in his eyes while they did whatever it was they intended to do. And the curtain would keep anyone passing by from seeing what happened to him. That was why he hadn't wanted Mistress to close it.

But when the nurse came back and she and Mistress helped him into a thin gown that barely covered all of him, Mikey tried to take heart. The presence of the two women was comforting and up until now, Mistress hadn't hurt him even once. Mostly, she helped him. She made sure he got enough to eat and talked to him and let him follow her around the house when he felt restless. He hoped she really would stay, like she had promised.

Once the gown was on, it was back into the wheelchair for x-rays, a concept with which Mikey was not familiar. Maybe he had been, once. He wondered vaguely, as he sometimes did when he let his mind go off wherever it wanted, if he had ever been in a real, for-people hospital before. Mistress tucked a blanket around his bare legs and off they went, all three of them. He wished he could have brought his clothes. He hoped they would still be in the room if he got to go back there.

The x-ray room was terrifying. There was a big table in the middle with some kind of machine over it and a booth in the corner. Mikey did not want to get on the table, did not want the machine to do whatever it was going to do, did not want to know what was in the booth.

"I promise it'll be quick," Mistress said. "Just climb up on the table and we'll help you lay down and we can get it over with. We're just taking pictures, it won't hurt."

He did not believe her, but an order was an order and Mikey climbed, shaking, out of his safe wheelchair with the warm blanket and got up on the table. Mistress helped him lie down and then the difficult part began.

It turned out that they wanted pictures of his arms and shoulders and to get them, they had to pose him just so. They began with his right arm, laying his hand flat on the bed and then turning it over for another angle. It hurt, but no worse than his hands usually hurt.

But then, the nurse took his left arm and moved it, something nobody had done to him since he was last in a facility for unwanted Pets. Mikey knew better than to twist away from her, but his stomach turned over at the movement and he could feel the blood drain from his face. Mistress had promised this wouldn't hurt, he thought.

"I know, honey," said the nurse, although he was sure she did not. "We'll hurry. Poor kid." She went back into the booth in the corner.

"I'm right here," Mistress added. She was holding his right elbow, very gently. "Almost done."

There was a pause during which none of them moved, and Mikey felt, as much as saw, darkness closing in around the edges of his vision. He was afraid he was going to throw up.

And then it was all over and they were sitting him up and he could curl up around his left arm and rock himself, the way he did when he needed to calm down. When they tried to set him on his feet, it turned out that his legs would not hold him. Mikey felt himself begin to panic at the idea of falling again, but Mistress grabbed the wheelchair and shoved it behind him, and when he fell, it was a controlled fall onto the seat with the nurse's arm around his back to help him down. They had to pick his feet up for him and put them on the foot rests, but at last they were leaving that horrible place.

"That was the worst part," the nurse was saying when Mikey's hearing came back properly. "I'm so sorry, honey. Nothing worse than an IV left, though."

Mikey was pleased to find that they went back to the room where his clothes were, where Mistress was kind enough not to shut the curtain. They put him back on the bed and this time the nurse went to his right arm.

"We're going to get an IV started," she told him, but she was looking at Mistress, too, as she spoke. Maybe she needed permission for each step. "Get you some fluids and painkillers, too."

He didn't know what that meant until she came over with a bag of something and a needle. Mikey stared at it and felt like he couldn't breathe. Every time he thought he knew what was going on here, they came and did- something like that to him. He knew where that needle went and he knew what happened when they put it in a Pet's arm.

But he couldn't get away. The nurse inserted the needle and clicked open a little piece of plastic and Mikey began to cry. He shook his head, wishing desperately that he could talk, plead, beg them not to take his mind away again. He would promise to be good, do whatever they wanted, even with his arms bad. If only they would just...

As he had known it would, the world went soft around the edges. Somehow, impossibly, he could feel the pain in his arms melting away. The world was quieter now and slower. He closed his eyes and sniffled and waited for his life at the Safehouse to disappear. It would have been nice to say goodbye to Nathan and Francis, even if he would forget them soon.

Mikey couldn't feel time passing, but when he opened his eyes, there was less liquid in the bag hanging next to him, so he knew it had. The soft feeling was still there and the pain in his arms was... not gone, but so much less that he sighed with pleasure. Mistress was stroking his hair and he wondered if it was all over and he would be allowed to go home, to see Nathan and Francis and sleep in his own bed.

Then his eyes flew open. He remembered them. Whatever was in the bag, even though it made him feel sleepy and light, he still had his memories. He looked down at himself and found that his hands and arms looked no different. He went to lift his left arm, which hurt but somehow not as much as it usually did, and Mistress gently pressed his arm back down to the bed.

"Not quite yet," she said and smiled at him. "They'll come get you soon, though."

Mikey slept again and woke when the door opened and a tall woman with dark skin and dark hair in a bun and wearing a long, white coat came in. She was holding a clipboard and she shook Mistress's hand and she smiled at Mikey. He heard her say, "His shoulder is badly dislocated. The dislocation wasn't reduced properly, if at all, so we'll take care of that while he's under. His left arm is broken in several places and his right hand is completely smashed- that's the technical term." She and Mistress laughed, but they didn't sound like it was really funny.

"Hi Mikey," she said to him, and he tried to look attentive. "I'm Dr. Silva. I'm going to perform your surgery. Okay?"

He tried to nod, but nothing happened. "Sorry," Mistress said, grinning. "He's a little loopy."

"Perfectly okay. We'll just get you asleep, Mikey, and then head to the OR. It'd usually be the other way around, but I think this will be less upsetting for you." She looked over at Mistress, who nodded.

Then they did something with the needle in his arm and the doctor said, "Can you count to ten?" He couldn't, but it made no difference, because he was asleep before he knew what was happening.

At home, Francis and Nathan were in their usual positions on the sofa while Tim bustled about the kitchen getting lunch ready.

"You doing okay?" Nathan asked. Francis clearly was not. His face was still sweaty and he kept sighing and shifting uncomfortably.

"Francis is in working order," was all he said, however.

"I don't think he is." Nathan's voice was teasing, but sympathetic. "You feel pretty bad?"

"Francis is anxious. Perhaps it is the fever."

"Perhaps it's worrying about Mikey."

Finally Francis pushed himself up on shaky arms and turned to look at Nathan. "Francis is worried that Mikey will not be himself when he comes back," he said quietly.

"Like- what do you mean?"

"Francis is worried they will erase him again."

Nathan nodded understanding. "I know, man. But they went to the same place they took me and I promise you, it's just a normal hospital. For people. They don't erase anyone there, not even pets. I'm sure of it."

"Are you really sure?"

"Really sure."

"Then Francis will try to believe it."

Next time: Mikey wakes up after surgery.

Master List

Tag list: @pigeonwhumps, @cepheusgalaxy, @i-eat-worlds, @honeycollectswhump @taterswhump, @starfields08000 @whumpsday, @fruitypinapple00, @currentlyinth

[jennay]

Come Back Home

Jolly x reader

An: Random idea I had that I got stuck on and required way too much help from @a-villain-vying-for-attention then decided to make her a character since she basically came up with the ideas and I wrote it. Lol thanks for being my shadow writer for times when my brain decides it's done thinking.

Words 2200

Jolly Master List

This is chunked into four sections bear with me. I hate transitional writing 😂

"Please don't tell them. They'll just worry, and next thing you know, they'll be at my door, and it's just not the right timing for me to come back. I need to finish my work here, and it's not completely horrible. I think I just miss everyone, and I feel isolated." You admit over Facetime to your best friend, Kayla. "It just wasn't supposed to be like this. “Moving away from you guys was literally one of the worst decisions I've made."

Kayla sighs, "I don't mean to say I told you so, but I did." She laughs, "But the worst part is, Noah told you, Jolly told you, and you still just said bye bitches. Do you know how sad it is not to have you here? I have to deal with them all the time, by MYSELF."

You peel yourself off the couch, dragging your feet through the dining room and to the back door.

You brace yourself for the inevitable assault of the sun, but it still hurts like hell when you open the door and get blasted by its rays. "Fuck." You groan. "It's bright." You squint your eyes and cover them with your hand as you stumble to the camping chair you set up on your porch for such occasions. You hated the daylight. You wished you could be a nocturnal creature, but sadly, you had to pretend to be a responsible adult, even if you sucked at it.

"Wow, look at you, Dracula." She mocks you from the other side of the video call. "You look like you're about to die over there, paler than a ghost and skinnier than a twig. Do I need to come over and feed you some blood? I know it's only been six months, but I will literally come over and mother you to death. I'll bring Noah too, and we'll play house. God knows we need some practice." She flashes a big smile. "You know, for the future and all that jazz."

You laugh, shaking your head, "This is new for you!"

"Yeah, well, now I'm just working on convincing Noah that it's a good idea." She tucks her hair behind her ears. "So I need you to come back because I'm not raising these imaginary kids without their badass aunt."

You roll your eyes at her, "These kids don't even exist yet, so I think we have some time, and besides, I don't know if I'll feel any better moving back. If I have to watch HIM date other people and it not be me…well, I'd rather stay here and suffer in silence."

"Well, he's miserable without you, and why are we not using his name?" She laughs again. "Mopping and shit, constantly.”

You shrug, "I think he's probably fine. I basically threw myself at him and got no reaction. I literally slept in his bed the night before I left." You pause, growing frustrated. "Maybe we're just supposed to be friends; maybe he only sees me as a friend. That's OK. I can't be mad about that, but it always felt like there was something more, you know?"

Kayla groans loudly, "You both suck. If you would've just let me meddle, I could've set you two up."

"I don't want you to set me up! I wanted something natural." You say with all seriousness. "I wanted him to say it."

From behind Kayla, Noah pokes his head into the view, "He's dumb...guys are dumb." He gives you a face that says, duh.

"Well, now I'm here, and I can just say fuck it. I'll find someone here."

Noah's laughter rings through the speaker, "And then break up because all you're gonna do is fucking compare the two and be a whiny baby about how he's not Jolly, so you had to break up? Fuck off, y/n." He chuckles again. "Just come home."

You shake your head, "No. You will have to come to drag my dead body home before I willingly come back."

Noah grabs the phone from Kayla's hand, and you meet with wide eyes. And in a serious tone, Noah says, "Dead or not, at least you'll be home where you belong."

Kayla, Noah, and Jolly were lounging on the couch, munching on some greasy take-out that Noah had ordered from the nearest pizza place. While Jolly was engrossed in the latest episode of Bob's Burgers, Kayla was shooting daggers at him with her eyes.

She couldn't stand the sight of him, acting like nothing was wrong, like he wasn't the reason her best friend wasn't living with them anymore.

Noah noticed his girlfriend's glare and chuckled softly, nudging her elbow with his. "Chill," he whispered in her ear.

"NO!" Kayla shouted, startling both Noah and Jolly. She slammed her food on the coffee table and turned to face Jolly with a furious expression. "I'm sick and tired of pretending like everything is fine. I want my friend back, and if this is what it takes to make you use your brain, then so be it!" She pointed an accusing finger at Jolly, who looked confused and scared. "You need to go get y/n back right now or get on the next flight to Sweden because I can't stand having you around. You make me so mad, both of you, pretending you don't care about each other. She's depressed as shit living there with her fuckin awful family, but she'd rather stay there than come home because of you!" She roughly gets off the couch and storms out of the room, heading for the stairs. "You're such an idiot," she yelled over her shoulder at Jolly.

Noah raised his eyebrows and bit his lip to stop laughing as he saw Jolly's dumbfounded face. Jolly put down his food and looked at Noah with a puzzled expression. "What did I do?" he asked innocently.

Noah shrugs and says, "I think it's more of what you didn't do…"

Kayla comes back down the stairs, holding her food in her hands. She glared at Jolly one more time and flipped him off, then walked out of the room. "Buy the damn ticket!" she screamed from the hallway.

Noah heard the door slam and shook his head. "Well," he said, standing up and grabbing his food. "There's your answer. Bring y/n home."

"How am I supposed to do that?" He loudly asks.

"I don't know but you need to figure it out, Kayla might actually kill you in your sleep."

You grab your coat and head for the door, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation for the day ahead. You were going hiking with your sister and her husband, and you couldn't wait to explore the great outdoors with them. As you glance at the clock, you groan in annoyance, realizing you're running late again. You can't help but wonder why you're always so disorganized and frazzled.

You pull the door open, taking a deep breath of fresh air as you step outside. Suddenly, you're nearly choking on air as you see a familiar face staring back at you. Jolly stands there with a backpack over his shoulder, his long hair draped over his shoulders, and a black backward hat covering the top of his head. He's dressed in black skin jeans and a deep red plaided flannel, looking effortlessly stylish and cool.

Your shock disappears as quickly as it came, replaced by annoyance at the sight of Jolly. You can't help but feel irritated that he's here, disrupting your plans for the day. You'd be lying if you said you didn't feel a little bitter still.

"Hi." He quietly says, looking from you to the ground, feeling awkward. He hadn't planned what he was going to tell you.

"Can I come in?" he quietly asks.

You nod your head, stepping aside. "I was leaving, but I guess this kind of changes my plans," you say, rolling your eyes. "What are you even doing here?" You say as you follow him to the living room. "I've tried so hard not to think about you; I moved states, Jolly, and now you're at my house. Are you trying to make my life hard?" You don't sit down knowing you're too heated to stay in one place.

Jolly doesn't sit on the couch either. Instead, he sits on the armrest, staring at you with confusion and annoyance; he folds his hands in his lap and allows you to continue. Why was everyone so irritated with him? He didn't know what he did in the first place. "What did I do?" He questions.

You're eyes dart back to him. "You treated me like I was special, OK? I thought I was special to you…then, you go and date other people." You say, running out of breath. "Then I dated other people because I thought you didn't want me and I was right, you didn't care at all, but then I dumped them because all I could think about was you!" You dramatically cover your face with your hands, pacing back and forth. You enter your kitchen and stare out the sliding glass door. Your back facing Jolly as he observes you. "I stayed in your bed the night before I left, and you still let me go."

"I thought you were leaving for a job! I didn't want to be the reason you didn't go!" He whines. "You told me you were leaving for a job."

You still don't turn around to look at him, knowing he was right, "I just thought you'd ask me to stay if you really wanted me."

He stands straight, walking toward you; you feel his hands on your shoulders, spinning you around to face him. His dark eyes scan your face, wishing he wasn't the reason you were upset.

He leans in close, his breath warm on your face. "You were always special to me," he whispers, his voice low and sincere. "I never meant to hurt you. I was just confused and scared. I didn't know how to handle my feelings for you. I was afraid of losing you, so I pushed you away. I never stopped thinking about you. I came here to tell you that. To tell you that I'm sorry. To tell you I need you."

Jolly pulls back slightly, his eyes searching yours for a sign of forgiveness. He gently cups your face in his hands, his thumbs stroking your cheeks. He smiles softly, his eyes shining with hope. "Can you give me another chance?" he asks, his voice pleading.

You feel a surge of emotion, a mix of anger, pain, and love. You want to scream at him, to push him away. But you also want to hug him, to kiss him, to hold him close. You're torn between your head and your heart. You look into his eyes, and you see the sincerity and the regret.

You see the man you fell in love with, the man who made you laugh, the man who made you feel alive. You feel your resolve weakening, your walls crumbling. You lean in and press your lips to his, answering his question with a kiss.

"So I'm bringing you home." He smiles against your lips. Pulling back, his brown eyes search yours, "This long distance thing isn't how I want to start this." he gently kisses your forehead.

You nod knowingly, "I guess we should start packing."

Jolly smiles, running his hand through your hair, "I'm pretty sure Kayla has a timer set."

You giggle. "She is absolutely crazy." You lean up, kissing Jolly again. "But it's why we love her."

He nods in agreement, "Plus she's Noah's problem."

With a cautious glance, you gently push the front door open, hoping no one will notice your arrival and ambush you as soon as you enter the house.

You sneak into the living room on your tiptoes, holding Jolly's hand.

Noah and Kayla are so engrossed in the TV show that they don't even look at you.

You pretend to be nonchalant and sit down on the recliner next to them, giving them a hard stare.

Her eyes widen as she realizes who you are, and she jumps off the couch and runs toward you. You're home! This is fucking amazing!" She screams in your ear. "I was expecting you guys to take more time, to be honest…you both suck at directions. I don't know how you managed to drive all the way back here." She laughs as she releases you from her hug and embraces Jolly instead, "Look at you. I can finally be in the same room as you without being pissed off. I'm so proud of you." She jokes with him. "Wow," She scans the room and sees the three of you together. "So, is it official now? Can we all just admit how stupid the two of you were? I mean, come on, you could have just moved down the street instead of moving two states away." She snuggles up to Noah on the couch. "I'm not going through this again. You guys have to sort things out by yourselves from now on." She says and acts like she's dismissing you.

Jolly chuckles, sitting in the recliner; he grabs you and makes you sit on his lap, catching you off guard.

You shake your head light laughter falling from your lips, "Well, I missed you too, dick."

You lean into Jolly's chest and wrap your arms around him, feeling his warmth and heartbeat. You sigh in contentment and happiness, glad to be home with the people who loved you the most.