#me being dramatic about work tmr

[reztoru]

a/n : this was originally written with Geto in mind but it could be for whoever !!

Mornings begin with the song of the birds, dancing across the crisp aurora sky. Tangled up in your blankets where your lover lays pressed against you. He sleeps soundly, with soft snores escaping his lips.

These mornings seem to be the only ones that are tolerable. They're the days where you can sleep in and wake up to the man you've grown to love. Holding him close. Brushing stray strands of hair out of his face. And admiring the precious gem you find yourself clutching onto.

Once you manage to pull yourself from his grasps, you start the day by making a pot of coffee. The fancy kind that you bought for these exact moments. It's the kind that you sit down and thoroughly enjoy before doing daily errands. Having it whisk around your home, entangling itself in the lights dewy glow. And he always seems to wake up when he smells the nutty aroma of caffeine being brewed.

Hearing the heavy patter of footsteps make their way down the hall. You're already turned to greet him with a tired smile, and he returns the sentiment. Mumbling out, "good morning," as he slithers his arms around you. Engulfing you in his fresh warmth and dousing you in his morning musk. You lean yourself into him. Swaying softly as you wait for the coffee to be done. And pondering on if you should go to the grocery store today.

"What's the plans for today?" You ask.

"I was hoping nothing." He responds.

You only hum, agreeing with him. You suppose it'd be nice being able to spend the day lounging around. Deciding you have enough food to last the day; you plunge yourself further into home. Curling up into his side with a cup of coffee in hand.

He too enjoys these days. They're sparse and only come on a handful of occasions; so he makes sure to dwell especially deep in your presence when time allows it.

As such, you let the day ooze by as you simmer in each other's company. Right until the moon rises up to tell you that time has gone by — reminding you of the sour morning to come. But at least you had today, and at least you'll have another day. Even if just one more.

[book-place]

Bonfire Night

Warnings: slight cursing, alcohol, getting drunk, little bit of violence, let me know if I missed any :)

Pairings: Newt x reader platonic

Request: Hi, beautiful! I hope you’re having a WONDERFUL week! Can I request a Tmr! Newt x Reader Fic., whereas the reader is protective and looks out for him, since he’s too preoccupied with looking after everyone else? The man deserves the care he gives everyone else, unconditionally. 🥹🥹🥹 Thank you so much!

Request by: Anon

*not my gif*

Summary: Newt is always so busy taking care of everybody else, so you make sure that you’re always there to take care of him

A/N: Newt deserves the word 🥹🥹

Please don’t plagiarize my work, you may reblog if you like but I’m asking that you don’t steal my hard work

“Eat.” You said firmly, tossing the plate down in front of Newt, arms crossed and eyes narrowed.

He sighed before he even looked at you, but when he did turn he couldn’t find it in himself to glare at you, “Y/n-“

“No.” You cut him off, raising a hand as if to stop him, “I do not want to hear it. You are going to eat everything on that plate, and I am going to make sure you do.”

Newt had made the mistake of telling you earlier that he hadn’t eaten in two days because everything had been so busy since the new greenie arrived earlier that day and that he just hadn’t had time.

This had enraged you, and you took to stomping over to the kitchens- giving Frypan a pretty good scolding for not noticing that the second in command hadn’t been eating- and getting as much food as you could pile on one plate for the boy.

What the gladers hadn’t expected when you came up in the box as the only girl in the Glade, was that you were scarier then Alby when you had your mind set on something. And more often than not, that goal was to take care of the others trapped in this place.

With another reluctant sigh, Newt picked up the sandwich before him and took a generous bite, if only to make you happy.

Though he was technically supposed to be working, no one dared say anything when they caught a glimpse of you with your hands on your hips and a small glare upon your face. Not even Alby.

When the sandwich was finally halfway done, he looked over at you, “N/n, love, I’m fine. I promise.”

You shook your head stubbornly, “If I can't trust you to eat at least three meals a day on your own, then I don’t know if I can trust you with anything anymore.”

Obviously you were being over dramatic- you normally were- but Newt couldn’t help the appreciation that began bubbling up in his chest. You had gone out of your way to take care of him and make sure he was okay, and he couldn’t be more grateful.

“Thank you, love.” The words were genuine as he polished off the last of the sandwich.

You grinned at him, taking the plate back, “Anytime, Newtie.”

Turning back towards the kitchens, you wore a proud grin and continued on with the day, happy that you could help one of your best friends. Even if he hadn’t realized that he had needed help.

You worked in the kitchens with Frypan, and while it was technically your day off, you decided to drop by and help him because it would be really busy due to the bonfire going on that night.

The rest of the day passed without you really thinking much more about your encounter with Newt, you were too busy with everything else to even think of anything much.

Focused too much on the task at hand, you hadn’t even noticed someone standing behind you until you felt a tap on your shoulder.

A little yelp escaped you as you whirled around to face an amused looking Newt.

With a breath of relief, you placed a hand over your pounding heart and allowed your eyes to close for a minute, “Jeez, Newt. You scared the klunk out of me.”

He grinned, “You’re just too easy to scare sometimes, love.” He teased.

You rolled your eyes, waving a hand as if dismissing the statement, “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

“Come on,” He inclined his head towards the door, “The bonfire’s starting.”

You had been so focused on what you were doing that you hadn’t even realized that the entirety of the kitchen staff had already cleared out to go enjoy the festivities.

Everything was already in full swing by the time the two of you got there, jars of Gallys mystery drink being passed out, tables of food you had spent all day in the kitchen preparing, boys all around you letting out whoops in cheers as they ran around the brightly lit fire.

You and Newt went around, greeting people and enjoying yourselves- you keeping up to the pace of his limp- before each grabbing a jar of your own drink and making your way over to a log by the fire where Minho, one of the runners, was already sitting.

The three of you chatted and laughed, soaking up one another’s presence for a couple hours, not getting much time to hang out just you anymore.

“This place is insane!” A drunken yell came from within the crowd, mostly silencing it.

The new greenie stood a little ways away from the fire, stumbling slightly when he tried to stand still. The liquid from Gallys drink splashed over the edges of the glass, but the boy wasn’t paying attention.

“I mean, what the hell are you all doing to get us out?” He slurred, “Huh? Nothing! That’s what!”

Everybody around him had scrunched their noses up and looked the new kid up and down in disgust, shuffling away from him as he struggled to stay in one place.

Alby had long since retired for the night, exhausted from yet another tiring day, so the responsibility of taking care of the new drunk fell onto the blonde second in command.

The british boy sighed and put his hands on his knees as he stood up before limping his way over to the kid, who was frowning at his now empty cup.

“Come on, mate, you’re drunk. Let’s get you to bed.” He stated gently, placing a hand on his shoulder and began to try and lead him away from the group.

The frown on his face slowly disintegrated into anger and he harshly slapped Newt's hand away, “‘M not drunk! You are! So mind your own damn business, pal!”

He simply sighed in return, lifting up a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose as if warding off an oncoming headache, “Come on, let’s not make a scene.”

“No!” The unnecessary shout came from him as he took an angry step towards the blonde, sticking his hands out and roughly shoving him back, “Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?”

Everyone around them had their jaws dropped by then, all too stunned to fly to their friend's aid. All except you.

You marched right over to the pair, neither one of them noticing you until you reached a hand up and slapped the new boy right across the face. His head flew to the side and a red mark in the shape of your handprint immediately began to form. Small tears had welled up in his eyes instinctively at the sting.

Your eyebrows were furrowed in rage as you stepped in between the two boys, the deep glare on your face was almost enough to put him six feet deep, “Back. Off.” You practically growled sternly.

The boy's eyes widened, finally coming to his senses as he took a stumbling step backwards out of shock and fear. It was almost as if the sharp slap you had delivered to his face was enough to sober him up.

Without another word, he turned on his heel and ran away from the group, who parted to let him out, tripping over his own feet as he disappeared into the night.

You could feel the muscles in your shoulders relaxing as your gaze softened and you turned back to Newt, everyone else already murmuring to one another about what just happened and beginning to leave. Nobody was in the partying mood after what just happened.

Newt smiled at you grimly, “You didn’t need to do that, love.”

You shook your head stubbornly, crossing your arms over your chest, “He had no right to yell at or push you.”

He felt himself let out a breathy chuckle, shaking his head lightly as a small smile tugged on his lips, “Well regardless, we got that taken care of.”

A grin showed itself on your face in response, “Indeed we did.”

Bloody Shanks 🧪- @jvdethirlwall @ineedmorefanfics2

[camatchoum]

The third time is the right one

Thomas tmr x reader College AU

Summary : Thomas finally realises his feelings for you. But when he tries to do something about it, it doesn't really go well.

Words : 3.5k

Request : @maddie0101 Thomas x reader college AU? Best friends to lovers?

A/n : Here you go. I'm so sorry for the time it took me for writing this. And I promise I saw all the other requests and I'm so grateful for them but I'm in my exam session so I don't really have the time to write. I'll try to write as fast as I can, but I still have 10 days to go.

My masterlist

“So, still not in love with Y/n?”

Thomas turns his head to see Newt put his elbow on his shoulder.

“Why are you always asking me that?” Thomas says a little bit annoyed that he will again have this conversation.

“I’m only asking you that when you are staring at her like a creep.” Newt answers with a smile. He clearly enjoys bothering his best friend.

“I’m not.” Thomas mumbles.

“What are we talking about?” Minho asks when he approaches the pair.

“Thomas is staring at Y/n.” Newt answers him.

“Yeah like always.” He shrugs.

“Can you two shut your mouths. I am never staring, especially not at her.”

“Are we talking about Thomas staring at Y/n?” Frypan joins the group. Everybody laughs. Well, not Thomas.

“Ok, you know what? I’m leaving you all stupid people.” Thomas starts to turn around while he hears his mates laughing at him.

“Hey Y/n.” He stops when he hears Newt, and the others greet you. He slowly turns around, and a big smile spreads on his face at the sight of his best friend since childhood.

“Hey guys! Hey Tommy!” You greet them than you turn to greet Thomas with a hug, like you always do. Of course, he returns it. He wishes that the feeling of you in his arms never ends. Wait, did he really just think that? “I can’t talk right now I’m sorry, I really have to go to work, but I call you tonight, okay?” You say when you pull back.

“Ye-Yeah totally.” He stutters. Why does he stutter?! Fortunately, you only chuckle at his behaviour and don’t question anything before you walk away.

Thomas, watch you go, and it’s like everything hits him at once.

From the first day, he saw you with your two ponytails crying because you lost your teddy bear until right now. He saw all the time you spent together, becoming best friends with an unbreakable bond. He saw your pretty eyes and all the times he got lost in them, which was a lot. Same with your endearing laugh. He realises it is his favourite sound. He realises his only goal is to make you smile and that you are happy.

“I’m in love with her.” Thomas whispers.

“And that’s only now that you realise it? Congratulations, man.” Minho says, and they all laugh.

“What do I do now?”

“Easy, tell her.” Newt shrugs.

“What! Just like that! Do you hear yourselves?!” Thomas begins to panic.

“Woaw. Calm down, would you? It’s Y/n. She’s not going to eat you.”

“And what if she does?”

“Okay now you are being dramatic.”

“You are right. What do I have to do?”

“Well, you know her more than we do...” Minho says. “Maybe try to do things with her. I know you do a lot of things together, but there has to be something that you don’t do with her.”

“I don’t know. I think, maybe her job? I don’t go to the coffee shop unless I want one, and you know I’m not a coffee guy.”

“Okay, that’s a start.”

“Oh Sonya told me the other day that they were looking for someone.” Newt realises. “You could get the job, and I will ask my sister to put yours and Y/n’s shifts to coordinate.”

“That’s a great idea I will go now.”

“Don’t mess up!” Frypan screams.

“Me? Never!”

Thomas walks away from his mates, a new confidence and a happy feeling in him. He is in love with you. Just thinking about you being his girlfriend makes him all giddy inside. Everything makes sense now, but he has yet to accomplish this goal. He doesn’t know if you feel the same, but he hopes you do. Maybe you don’t know that you love him like he didn’t ten minutes ago. First things first : showing that he loves what you love to do. He goes to the coffee shop, you aren’t there yet. He knows it because he knows that you like to go to your dorm before your shifts to refresh a little after the long day of lectures. He enters the coffee shop and asks for the manager, and 20 minutes later, he is hired. He thinks they were really desperate to find someone.

Try n°1 : the coffee shop

The next day, he is standing in the coffee shop surrounded by coffee machines and so many syrups flavors that he can’t even remember 10% of them. He spent the morning listening to the manager, trying to understand why people couldn’t get a simple black coffee.

Now he is waiting for you to arrive. Thanks to Newt and his sister Sonya, you will both take your shifts at the same time today. He hopes with that that you can see how he takes interest in the things you like. Maybe he will also know if you feel the same. The new revelation that his head had caused him to spend the night thinking about the possibility of being a couple and what would it feels like. He couldn’t think anything else besides happiness.

“Tommy! What are you doing here?!” He lifts his head when he hears your happy voice and a smile.

“Guess who’s your new co-worker!” He teases with open arms. Of course, you run into them.

“Why are you here?” You ask when you pull away with a smile. You are so happy to see your best friend, but this isn’t really his cup of tea or coffee.

“Well, I told you I wanted to find a job.” No, he didn’t. “And I asked myself, why wouldn’t I work with my best friend?”

You are confused because he never told you that he was looking for a job. He even told you two weeks ago when you talked about it that he didn’t have the time for one. But regardless, you are just happy because now you can gossip with him even at work.

“Well, I’m not going to complain.” You say with a smile which cause him to smile back. He was so afraid you weren’t going to like it. “How was your formation? I hope the manager didn’t freak you out.” You ask while putting on your apron with your name tag on it.

“Well, I think he is praying with all his heart that I don’t burn this place before the end of my shift.” He chuckles while scratching the back of his neck. Now that you are in front of him for the first time since he realises his feelings for you, he is a little nervous to be around you. He thought he was going to faint when you hugged him.

“Well, try not to do that.” You both laugh.

And so your shifts begin. You are taking orders from the clients and passing them to Thomas and Sonya. You giggle each time you see your best friend ask Sonya what he’s supposed to put in the drinks because apparently nothing is making sense to him.

After a while, you stop laughing when you have to take care of the fourth customer who is complaining to you about his drink. All made by Thomas. Of course you love your best friend but he is starting to grow on your nerves because he can’t do this right and even though he is your best friend he still has to do well on the job in order to not ruin the reputation of the coffee shop. Customers are not supposed to be angry.

You decide to switch places with him. He is taking the orders, and you are making them. But even then it’s not going well. You keep catching him staring at you. Each time, it makes you flustered, but it stops when you see the angry customer trying to catch his attention. He jumps back to reality, and his cheeks flush red when he faces the customer behind the counter. First, because he is embarrassed by you catching him staring at you and second because the person in front of him isn’t too happy with his daydreaming. He is hurrying to take the order and give it to you without looking into your eyes. You chuckle a little before making the drink. One mocha latte with hazelnut syrup.

“One mocha latte for Linda.” You raise your voice for the customer to hear you. The girl comes and takes her drink for you, thanking you in the process. You begin to make the next drink when you hear Linda trying to catch her breath. You look up at her but think that she is maybe just coughing a little.

“Can someone help, please?!” You hear a male voice. You look up and see him trying to help Linda. Okay, now something is really wrong. You run to the boy.

“What’s wrong?” You ask.

“She is having an allergic reaction!” The boy screams back while trying to help the suffocating girl.

“Thomas the first aid kit! Now!” You scream at your best friend. “Don’t worry, we have an epipen in there.” You say to the boy, trying to ease him up a bit.

“Here Y/n.” Thomas says to you. He is glad he remembered where this red bag was because right now he is so in panic that he doesn’t know what to do and he tripped on his feet in his run.

You take the epipen and heal Linda. She immediately relaxed, thanking you for saving her. You are all smiling that she is okay, but the boy isn’t really happy about the situation. You can’t really blame him. He turns to you.

“What did you put in her drink?!” He asks you angrily. Thomas goes in front of you to protect you, and your heart flutters.

“I-I- I only put what she asked for : a mocha latte with hazelnut syrup.” You answer shakily.

“She is deadly allergic to nuts. Are you out of your mind?!”

“It’s not my fault, I put in her drink what was on the ticket.” You say with more composure. You know you did nothing wrong. You never do. You turn to Thomas. “What did she ask you?”

“A mocha with hazelnut syrup?” He says or asks himself.

“I asked with vanilla syrup, you shank. I know what I’m allergic to.” Linda says.

You sigh and turn to Thomas once again. He can see in your eyes that you are mad at him. His plan to impress you didn’t really work out for the best. You handle the situation from here, giving a new drink to the poor girl and excuse for the disagreement on behalf of all the coffee shops. The couple goes away, not wanting to be there anymore. And when you turn back, you go straight to your best friend.

“What is wrong with you? Why are you so distracted?”

“I-I-“ He doesn’t know what to say. He can’t just say that he was drooling over the sight of you. That’s what Newt says to him all the time. “I don’t know. I swear I thought she said hazelnut syrup. I won’t do it again, I promise.” Before you can respond, the voice of your manager rings in the shop.

“You are fired.” He screams in your faces.

“What?! You can’t fire her?!” Thomas defends you, but he didn’t even quite understand the situation.

“Not her. You are fired greenie.” Your manager walks away.

“I’m sorry.” You try to comfort him, but he just takes off his apron like he is glad about this turn of events. You can’t lie and say it isn’t a good idea. “You okay?”

“Yeah. You know I don’t like coffee anyway. And all of this adds a reason to hate this brown disgusting liquid.” He says with a smile, and you chuckle. At least you aren’t mad at him. “Guess I see you later?”

“Yeah, see you later.” You say and begin to turn around to go back behind the counter.

“I can’t even have a hug?” Thomas says. You roll your eyes playfully before going into his arms. After a while, you try to pull away, but he isn’t letting you go.

“Thomas I have to go. Unless you, I still have a job.” You grin while he feigns offence. You look into his eyes, and for the first time, you can see a spark in them. Of course, every time you watched them, you saw a spark like glitter. But this time, it is like the spark comes from the entire light of the galaxy.

“You bloody did what?!” Newt exclaims in his dorm room. “She was going to kiss you! And you pulled away!”

“She wasn’t going to kiss me!” Thomas screams back.

“You just told me that she was leaning in! How is that not a sign that she wanted to kiss you?!”

“I chickened out, okay! What if I just thought she was leaning in, and obviously she wasn’t and then it would have been a mess!” Thomas flops on his bed with his face in his pillow. Why can’t he do something right?!

“You are the bloody mess.” Newt mumbles, causing Thomas to throw his pillow at him. “Guess you have to try again.”

“How?” Thomas grumbles.

“Well.” Newt starts to think. “She loves to read, right?”

“Yeah but I don’t like it.”

“Isn’t ithis the whole point? You doing things that she loves but you don’t so that she understands that you want to be with her?” Newt teases.

“Go be a crank somewhere else.” Thomas groans again before he stands up abruptly. “Actually, that’s the perfect idea.” He thinks about all the time you were too concentrated on a book that you weren’t paying attention to him. Even in classes you read. “I have to go!”

“Where?”

“To the library, I know she is there tonight.” He finishes making his bag before he runs for the door.

“Don’t be a shank!”

“Can’t promise!” Thomas screams before going away.

Try n°2 : The library

“Hey Y/n/n!” You look up from your book to see Thomas sitting in front of you at your table in the library.

“Hey Tommy! What are you doing here? I thought you didn’t like being trapped in all these books.” You ask using the expression he tells you every time you ask him if he wants to join you on your reading session. And what is strange is that he never, ever says yes.

“Nothing much. I wanted to try reading a little with you. I know you like to read so I wanted to join you.” He says, causing you to blush a little. He thinks it’s just because it is hot in there. Or maybe it is only him who thinks it is hot since he sat next to you.

“Well go ahead, choose your world of the day.” You smile. He smiles, too. He always likes the way you talk about books, even if he never understands how you can like a pile of paper so much.

And so you both start reading. You fall into a world you hope you never have to leave. You seem so at peace right now, while all Thomas can think about is how this bunch of papers is boring. No wonder why he doesn’t like reading. So he starts to fidget, again, and again.

“Can you try not to move too much? I’m sorry, but you keep distracting me.” You ask sweetly.

“Yeah yeah no worries.”

But he doesn’t stop. Now he starts to adjust his seat, and he fidgets again. You try to send him a soft glare to help him understand that he is getting on your nerves, but he doesn’t stop. When he starts to make noises with his mouth that’s when you lose it.

“Can you bloody stop? I really want to read in peace.” You say with a tone that shows clearly that you are starting to get really mad.

Thomas excuses himself again. He really doesn’t want you to be annoyed by him. You were already mad enough at the coffee shop last time, and

“Oh my god, Thomas!” You scream. When he looks at you he sees your book drenched in water, and he immediately understand that it is his fault when he sees his water bottle that he was playing with on the side, pouring all the water that was inside it on the table, on you.

“Oh my god Y/n I’m so sorry. Wait, let me try to help.” He takes a tissue and starts to dry the book, but it only results in him tearing pages apart. “Okay, that wasn’t a great idea.” He scratches the back of his neck.

“No are you kidding, Sherlock?!” You scream at him with sarcasm.

You try to dry everything, but the librarian just told you that you have to pay for the book and that you are banned from the library for a month for damage. You pay and run off. Thomas tries to excuse himself again, but you have enough.

“Y/n please, let me help.”

“No.” You stop and turn to him. “You did enough.” You say to him before turning back. Thomas watches you walk away. He sighs loudly before going back to his dorm. He knows he can do anything right now.

Try n°3 : the movies

It’s been a week since your encounter with Thomas at the library. You aren’t really mad at him anymore. But the fact that he ruined 2 of the things you like the most makes you think. A lot. Why would he do that to you? You know he doesn’t like these things, but he knows how you love them. Why would he sabotage you? Okay, he didn’t really ruin your job at the coffee shop, but this makes you realise that what you love, he hates. You know you don’t have to love the same things even when you are best friends, but at this point, it is starting to bother you. When you look up from your locker, you can see Thomas approaching with a big smile on his face.

“Y/n?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you like to go to see a movie with me?” He asks while fidgeting with his fingers. Newt and the others convinced him to just ask you out because all his attempts were a disaster. He knows that you love going to the movies.

“No.” You say and walk away. You didn’t quite catch that he was asking you out. You think it is another of his attempts to ruin something that you love.

“Why? Did I do something wrong?”

“It’s not that, but every time for the past weeks, you just destroyed the things I love to do. You don’t even like one of them. I just don’t want you to destroy the movies, too.”

“All of this was an accident, I swear.” He pleads with his eyes. His beautiful brow hazel eyes... focus!

“Why would you even do that in the beginning? You hate coffee, and you hate reading. And I know you don’t like to stay put during a whole movie.”

“I-I-“ Thomas searches for something to say, a lie maybe. But this has to stop. “I wanted to prove to you that I could do the things you love. I wanted to spend more time with you.” He says timidly.

“But we already spend a lot of time together. It’s not like we dont see each other.” You chuckle lightly.

“I know, and I love that. But I want to be constantly with you.” Here goes nothing. “I love you, Y/n.” He can’t look at your face now, afraid of losing his most precious friendship.

“Thomas...” You are in shock. Your best friend loves you back? You dreamed of this day for years. Is it real? “Are you telling the truth?” You ask shyly, causing him to finally look up at you.

“I’m in love with you Y/n. I think I always have.”

There are so many emotions in his eyes right now. You can see principally fear and love, tendress, desire. You just start to lean in. You are afraid he was going to reject you like at the coffee shop a few days ago, but there is a feeling inside you that tells you to just keep going. And you do so until you feel perfect lips on yours. You both kiss for a while. Thomas puts his hands on your face, not wanting to let you go. The kiss starts to get hungrier. Not in a sexual way but more in a way I can’t get enough. I want more.

You both pull appart when you hear whistles and cheers down the hall. Newt, Frypan, and Minho are all cheering at the two of you. You look at Thomas and laugh a little. Thomas just admires you. He can’t believe he finally got you. You are his now.

“Y/n, did I ever tell you the number of times Tomas was drooling while staring at you?”

“Oh shut your bloody mouth Newt!”

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

Hope you enjoyed guys!

[tickling-giggles]

hi! Can You pleaseeee Write a spy x family fic, ler loid and lee anya, Please I need more of this family 🥲♥️

I’ll always love you

A/N: I used a couple of prompts here and there. It was a very cute idea Thankyou anon I hope your doing well too, Very unneeded info but tmr will make it 10 days until my birthday 🥳🥳 (July 18th)

Warning: Nightmare, wholesome surprise at the end😼

———————————————————————-

It was currently 10:31 been a little over an hour since Yor and loid tucked anya to bed. Yor was sound asleep in her room. Loid was laying on the sofa doing some work on his laptop when he saw a small black figure.

“GAH!”loid tried standing up as quickly as possible hitting his big toe. “Ouch!” “Papa are you okay?!” The small figure spoke worried about him. ‘Wait that voice is that Anya?’ “Anya s’that you?” loid groaned.

“U-uh yes”

“What’s wrong what’s bugging you normally you’d be fast asleep around this time”.

“Well I had a bad dream we’re you and mama didn’t *sniff* didn’t love me anymore” anya slowly began to tear up she ran and grabbed onto Loid’s leg sobbing. ‘Did someone at the academy say something to her doesn’t matter right now my job is to cheer her up’

“Anya that’ll never happen me and Yor could never hate you” Loid comforted anya even though it really was true loid and Yor love anya besides all of f the spy stuff they would do anything for her.

“I’ll always love you” loid smiled before he picked up anya and spun her around as she started giggling. “Why are you giggling?” Loid asked confused.

“Hehehe pahahpaha you’re tihickling mehe” she giggled as she dropped her stuffed lion and grabbed onto his wrists. “Oho how about you tell me the password to the treasure chest” Loid Loidman asked. “ihihi princehehehss anyahahaha will neeehehehever lihihisten to ahaha Lohohoidmahaan” Anya squealed.

“Oho really now not even if I tickle you here”Loid smiled as he flip her upside down to tickle her feet. “NohohOHOHO PAAHHAPAHA YOHOHOU’REHEHE CHEAAHAHAHTING” anya shrieked.

“*Dramatic gasp* Anya!! I would never cheat that’s mean anya”Loid being oh so dramatic. “STAAHP IT PAHAPAHA”

“Not until you say that we’ll love you forever” loid wanted her to say so she doesn’t have a bad mindset.

“MAHAHAHMAHAHA AND PAHAHAHAPAHAHAHA WIHIHIHILL LOHOHOVE MEHEHEH FOREVERHEHEHE!!”Anya gave in as she fell asleep on Loid’s chest. ‘Ugh a little exhausting but fun’. “Hey anya?” Loid called but stopped because he had realized that she was fast asleep.

‘I mean who wouldn’t be when they’ve been tickled to death’.

Loid looked over at his laptop debating whether or not he should finish that essay. ‘Eh I’ll finish tomorrow I should probably to go to sleep aswell’ was Loid’s last before dozing off.

Yor came out of her room thinking it was Franky and loid goofing around again. But she seen loid and anya sleep together on the sofa she assumed loid was over working and anya just came out here and laid on his chest and fell asleep.

Yor went to a closet to grab a blanket for them. As she covered them up she seen his laptop open with an essay he had to write to the Desmond’s. ‘Maybe I should type that for him as a repayment for him helping me out.

After typing the essay she didn’t realize how late it was ‘ITS 1:53 jeez I didn’t expect it to be this late’ she got up as she instantly sat back down looking at a bright screen late at night in a dark room then trying to get up right after not the best thing.

Yor really wanted to go to sleep her two options were to drunkly walk back to her room and possibly end up sleeping on the floor or just sleep on the sofa with Loid and anya

‘ughhhhh whyyyyyy I’ll just- ugh’ Yor began to spaz out loid looked up at her “if your too tired to walk back to your room you can sleep out here” loid gently insisted as he pulled her head to his chest. “A-alright!” Yor deeply blushed. “Thank for typing that paper for me too”.

“Mama and papa are flirting~” Anya whispers.

“No we are not!”

[driaswrld]

oh dria🥺 i received your analysis of rhyme xxx and i ughghhgggh idk, your works (i wanna say escritos so bad cause it sounds more beautiful and romantic in spanish. it's such a simple word it literally means "writings" but. but) are so emotionally deep that i. malfunction. ghggghhgh english. they satisfy my sentimental artistic needs in ways i rarely come across with :( (me being dramatic for the nth time. i apologize i promise i'm not always like this)

i think i'll send you my answer/comments tomorrow? it's kinda late to turn on my computer (i work my best from there) plus at night my feelings get kinda messy (as you can prob tell. there are actually quite a few scientific studies explaining several reasons for why that happens!) and it'd be a. bad idea ,,,,

i had thought about stsg when i reread the rhyme after a looong time but i didn't want to mention it cause i thought hm🤨 let's make this a surprise hehe. and the way you connected it was ugh? (ykwim?)

kay that's it🥺 i love how you write and i love your escritos yup

-🫧

p.s: the cakes sound so yummy omg i hope you enjoy your cheesecake!! (we call that taste)

p.s 2: I KNOW I ALWAYS SAY THE SAME THING BUT. but. thanks for reading my exhaustively long ted talks several times a day (i should get a hobby) (you should get paid)

escritos does sound way prettier 🥹

i fear rhyme xxx did things to me. the moment i read the first two stanzas my mind went to stsg it was insane!! i am forever in your debt for reccing this beautiful poem to me (you have amazing taste btw!) it actually gave me some ideas for tsr

bcus omggg!!! its like you were in my brain!!!

plspls you're so adorable i might SOB (speaking of messy nighttime feelings! i had no idea there were scientific reasons behind that- honestly, my ex bf used to talk ab it alot though, he would get very hysteric on the phone at night as well as my sister too but really??? i just thought it was a thing for some people??) i'll definitely read up on that it sounds way too interesting to not

STOPSTOPP i love reading your asks you're so sweet ily AND ofc you can send your thoughts tmr, i'll be at the library working on my papers so i'll have time to read them tmr <33

[meltwonu]

|     𝖓𝖊𝖔𝖓 𝖉𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖒     |     CHAPTER 11

pairing; camboy!seokmin x female!reader

this chapter’s notes; camboy!au, university!au, drunk seokmin making a MESS, frat parties, alcohol/drinking, sending of sexual photos/videos, matchmaker soonyoung returns~  AAAAAAH sorry this went up a day late! 😭 I feel like I’ve been doing that so much that I should change my schedule to post on Saturdays but I also work most Saturdays as well so that wouldn’t be any better anyway  ☠️☠️ kjdfksj But thank you so much for your patience and understanding! 🥺💕✨ This is a bit of a shorter one but… y’know, just a build up~ 🥴 I alr wrote most of ch 12 and well... well, well... 😵‍💫😗ANYWAY Enjoy ch 11 and have a good rest of your weekend! I will be updating my masterlists tmr tho, I took the day off so I can sleep, haha 😩💕 I love u! 💕

chapters; 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - ?

*queued post.

b@d_dream: so

b@d_dream: what department are you in?

Dokyeom: can’t rly say, it’d be too obvious if I said it…

Dokyeom: sorry I feel like I’m going in circles since I can’t rly tell you… 😭 i’m really trying I swear

You chuckle to yourself - wiping the tiredness from your eyes before your fingertips are flying across the keyboard again. 

b@d_dream: no i totally get it

b@d_dream: if i said my dept, it’d be rly obvious too I think... 

b@d_dream: theres a lot of smaller niche depts at the uni so… yeah 😅 I get it. 

A cold chill runs down your spine as you take a break; eyes darting around your room as you start to wonder how you’d gotten yourself into this position.

You never actually had a meeting to attend to and part of you felt like Dokyeom knew that too – even if he never pushed you. Instead, he waited until you were comfortable and you had given it a few days before you approached him again. Finally ready to talk even just a little bit to try and get a little bit of info out of each other. Even though it was proving to be more difficult than you anticipated.

Dokyeom: yeah... I think we’re both in the same position 🥲 I mean...

Dokyeom: still i think it would’ve been really nice to meet you lol

Dokyeom: all those things I said about you and all the photos and videos were true ykno?

Dokyeom: maybe later on we can consider meeting? I’m not like a weirdo irl I promise 

Dokyeom: whenever you’re ready tho, sweetheart~

b@d_dream: :) i would very much like that

b@d_dream: at a good pace! 

“So, how’s the search?”

Soonyoung grins as he hands another beer to Seokmin in the dimmed living room of the frat house they were both currently in. The younger male grimaces knowing the truth. “I tried to figure out who it was, myself, y’know~ Being a matchmaker and all.”

Seokmin takes the bottle and takes a quick swig before he groans.

Would he tell Soonyoung?

“Y-yeah? What’d you find o-out?” He inquires.

The older male sighs and shakes his head dramatically before emptying his own bottle. “Nothing. Burner accounts and no way to message them either. Sorry bro, I tried. I really wanted to be a matchmaker for you and I failed. I can do more searching if you want though? How down bad are you?”

Seokmin laughs; eyes forming crescents as the buzz of the alcohol starts to get to him. He’d been a little sad that the two of you weren’t able to meet but he’d understood the circumstances and at the very least, you were actually a student at the university which meant that you, to some degree, were ‘close’ to him.

On the flipside of that, however, he knew that that meant someone on campus knew his ‘alter ego’ even if they didn’t know it was him and he was hoping that he would be able to keep it under wraps for as long as he could. Especially around the blabbermouth that he knew Soonyoung was.

“Yo, Seokmin, you okay? You’re just, like, zoned out.”

“H–huh? Yeah, nah, I’m good, I just think the beer is catching up to me, is all.”

His cheeks are warm and the way his body heats up with the buzz of alcohol and the memories of you and the photos and videos you’d send him make his cock throb uncomfortably in his jeans as he shifts from one foot to the other.

“Why don’t you just hook up with someone? There’s loads of people at this party, I’m sure someone would love to fuck you.” Soonyoung laughs as he pats the younger male on the shoulder – eating up the way he blushes harder at his crude suggestion. “It’s not like you’re dating someone, right?”

“Well, yeah, technically, but–”

“But what? You need to let loose, man! I keep tellin’ you! Your dick is gonna explode if you don’t!”

And Seokmin’s idea of letting loose means drinking five more beers until he’s stumbling into one of the bathrooms of the frat house – soft drunken giggles spilling from his lips when he barely remembers to lock the door behind himself.

“Jus’ a lil’...”

He moans; shaky hands palming himself over his jeans just before he pops the button and slides a hand into his boxer briefs.

The music blasting from the living room is muffled to him now and all he can do is focus on the immediate pleasure that washes over his body the second his hand wraps around his cock.

“Oh, fuh–fuck…”

Seokmin had been under a lot of stress lately and with the musical starting soon and all of the other events in his life – he was starting to wonder if Soonyoung was right, after all.

He sets the lid of the toilet down before taking a seat; getting comfortable before he fishes for his phone with his free hand and lets his fingers hover over the messages he had open before he sighs harshly.

Dokyeom: fcuk cant sotp thinking abiut you

Dokyeom: sorry drunk lol

Dokyeom: [attached image]

Dokyeom: [attached image]

Dokyeom: [attached image] 

Dokyeom: is ti fair if all I think about is u during my str ams 

Dokyeom: streams

Seokmin throws his head back, hips rhythmically canting up into his closed fist as various images float through his mind and aide him in reaching an orgasm as the sticky cum coats his fingers and boxer briefs not even five minutes later.

Your ears are ringing and your cheeks are hot at the images Dokyeom sends, but it’s the slip of a jawline and tousled brown hair in one of the blurry photos that has your eyes widening.

The first photo had been nothing out of the ordinary for the two of you; a photo of his hand wrapped around his cock. And the second one had been a closeup of his fingertips glistening with precum that made your mouth water.

But the third photo must’ve been taken on accident, you tell yourself; the upwards shot making you think he flipped his camera and hadn't realized it in his, obvious, drunken haze. 

It’d been a photo of his covered torso and side of his jaw which let you know his head was turned to the side and most likely unaware of it when he’d taken it. Also most likely sending it before he even realized it. 

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to tell who it was and the photo had been blurry enough to obscure any identifying features but the small slip of a face has you biting your bottom lip.

How many people on campus had brown hair?

[gallys-wife]

How would the tmr characters react if you like hugged them from behind or like straddled them👁👄👁?

I went with hugging them from behind

~

Alby

“Oh, hello there.”

Places his hands over your hands

“Is there something I could help you with, maybe?”

Aris

Jumps a little

“Oh, it’s you. Hello, Y/n”

Turns around in your arms so he can hug you back.

Ben

“I’m under attack!”

Pulls you to be in front of you and tickles you.

When you tell him to stop, “No, I must defend myself from your evil ambush!”

Brenda

“Ooo, let me guess! Is it… Thomas? No? Is it… Aris? No? Is it… Sonya? No?”

Looks over her shoulder and pretends to be stunned.

“Y/n? Hugging me? Must be my lucky day!”

Clint

Entire face turns bright red, and he goes completely stiff.

Cat’s got his tongue, for real.

Calms down after a few moments, probably puts his hands in his pockets.

Frypan

“Oh, wow, would you looky there!”

Grabs your hands and pulls you tighter against his back.

“So, what do you want? No, cause I know you want something, what do you want?”

Gally

Depends on if he’s working or not.

If he’s working he would give you a lecture about workplace safety and how it’s unsafe to surprise him like that when he’s handling tools.

If he’s not working he would check to make sure it’s you, though he knows there’s no one else who would dare to do that, and then smile when he sees you.

Harriet

Pretends to be disgusted and squirms around in your arms.

“Not in public, Y/n, you’ll ruin my street cred.”

Stops after a few moments, and then pulls you into her arms to hug her right. Probably kisses your nose.

Jeff

“Oh, a hug!”

Turns around in your arms to hug you back.

Squeezes you really tight and makes the dramatic squeezing noise.

Minho

“Hey, who are you? Who do you think you are?”

Squirms in your arms to try and get out of them, pushing on your shoulder and your face to detach you.

“Do not touch me, peasant.” Laughs at his own joke and then pulls you in to tuck you under his arm and kiss you on the top of your head.

Newt

Glances over his shoulder like it would possibly be anyone else.

“Why hello there, Y/n, can I help you with something? No? Alright then.”

Leans back into you a little bit, not so much as you’re supporting his entire weight but enough for you to feel it.

Teresa

Smiles to herself cause she knows who it is just from your arms/where you placed them.

“Hello, Y/n.”

Picks up your hand and brings it up to kiss the back of it. Asks you how your day was/starts a conversation with you.

Thomas

Jumps only the slightest bit.

Turns around to look at you sideways, placing an arm around your shoulders.

“Hey there, Y/n, how's it going?”

Sonya

“Y/n? What’s this for?”

Laces her fingers through yours/plays with your fingers.

“Well, I appreciate it either way. I always appreciate your hugs.”

Winston

“A huuuug? For meeeee? Thaaaaanks!”

Puts his arms over your arms so it’s like he’s hugging your arms but also himself?

Cranes his head back to lean it on your shoulder, and if you’re too short he will complain about not being able to rest his head on you in that position.

[iwillbeinmynest]

Safer Behind It - Newt x Reader(f)

Authors Notes: Well here it is my first Maze Runner fic! Hopefully y'all like it, or at least don’t hate it. This is based on moments from The Scorch Trials (book). Bold words are direct quotes from the book. I do not take any credit for Dashner’s work.

Word Count: 1.7k

Notes/Warnings: mentions of injuries, mentions of violence, mentions of trauma (from the maze), some fluff and angst if you look hard enough.

Masterlist

 Jorge found them after the lightning storm. Eleven new faces in the building on the outskirts of town. You listened as Jorge gave them the rundown of how things were going to go. When he called for the rest of you, you followed Brenda close.

You and Brenda hadn’t known each other too long but she was good and you trusted Jorge more than anything.

One of the new kids- a boy with dark hair- asked for a few minutes with Jorge.

“Me and you,” The kid begged. He stood over another boy who looked like he had been fried by lightning. Maybe he had, that storm was brutal.

“Ten minutes. Alone. That’s all I ask.” He went on.

You were surprised when Jorge agreed. He must have seen something in the kid you didn’t.

He told you and the others to watch this new group and to kill them if they made any moves. You knew he was being dramatic, adding the threat of death to remind the other Cranks behind you that he was in charge.

One of the boys you were supposed to be watching caught your eye. He was blonde and thin. He had a limp - you’d noticed it as he walked over and checked on the others in his group.

Brenda caught you staring at him. “Careful, Y/N.” She said quietly so the Cranks couldn’t hear her.

You rolled your eyes. “I can handle myself.”

“He’s not gonna like it if you don’t keep up the facade.”

“What’s he gonna do, have you run me through?” You tested.

You saw the twitch of a smirk at the corner of her mouth. “Just don’t be stupid.”

 You tugged up on the thin, tan, scarf that covered your nose and mouth. You didn’t like it to be down.

You walked over to the limping boy. You say boy, but really he was near your age if not a bit older. “You need to sit down,” you told him.

He looked at you carefully. “I’m just making sure these guys are alright.”

His voice sounded funny but you kinda liked it.

“I’m not going to ask again.” you drew the makeshift dagger you had from where it usually was sheathed at your lower back.

 He sighed but sat on the hard concrete next to the fried boy. He pulled a knee to his chest and mumbled, “Bloody shank girl.”

You smirked at that.

“What’s your name?” You asked him.

He looked up at you and there was no hiding the annoyance in his eyes. “Newt.”

“Newt?” You almost laughed. “Like the lizard?”

The boy next to him chuckled.

“No.” Newt huffed. “Like Issac Newton.”

 “I think I like my reason better, lizard boy.”

“Hey!” One of the Cranks behind you caught your attention. It was an older man, you didn’t know his name but you knew you didn’t like him. “What are you talkin’ so much about?”

“None of your business, old man.” You turned to him and left no room for him to think you might be afraid of him, which you weren’t.

“Back off, Murph.” Brenda said calmly as she whacked the flat side of her machete on his chest. “Let her have some fun before we rip them to shreds.”

It seemed to tide him over and he walked away but not before he stared you down again.

You rolled your eyes when his back was turned and exhaled a silent groan. You looked to Brenda.

She had her eyebrows raised and was clearly waiting for you to say,

“Thank you.” You muttered.

“Mhm.” She grinned. You knew she’d never say it out loud but she was starting you like having you around.

You turned back to Newt and crouched down, your sharpened letter opener gripped tightly in your hand. “So, tell me, Newt, What brings you out into the Scorch?”

“Don’t tell her klunk, dude.” The burnt boy said with spunk.

“I bet you’re the fun one.” You teased him, “You look like garbage. What happened to you?”

“He got struck by lightning,” Newt answered, “Or close to it anyways.”

“Yikes.” You responded. You’d been right.

“Didn’t even hurt.” He lied.

“Shuck off, Minho. You’re not fooling anyone.” Newt rolled his eyes.

“Screw you, man.” Minho all but pouted.

 “Why do you cover your face?” Newt asked, ignoring his friend. “No sun in here.”

You paused but tried to cover it and said, “So you don’t get distracted by how pretty I am.”

He smirked at that.

He had a nice smile. It lit up his eyes.

You stood up quickly and walked back to Brenda. Why did you care what his smile was like?

“You good?” She asked low again.

“Fine.” You lied. Actually you were scared by how much you were starting to like Newt. No sense in hurting yourself by getting attached.

Jorge and the dark haired boy reappeared from down the back hall.

Jorge told everyone that he, Brenda and yourself were going to take these few to get some food and that you’d all meet back up at the tower.

You didn’t know what he was planning but it had to be something, because he was putting on quite a show. He mentioned cutting off Minho’s fingers for punching him earlier and you honestly thought he might be serious about that part.

The other Cranks left and you walked behind Brenda as she led the way to the tunnels where you had hid the stash of food.

You helped pass out cans of food and watched as Brenda sat by Thomas - you’d recently learned his name.

You looked around, wondering where to settle amongst these new boys and found Newt looking at you.

“Here goes nothin’” you muttered to yourself beneath your mask.

You made your way over and sat against the wall beside him.

“Enjoying the meal?” You asked. He sure looked like he was.

He nodded, mouth full of cold beans.

“When was the last time you ate?” You realized that he, and everyone else that he’d come with, were eating like they’d been starved.

“Not but a few days ago,” He said when he’d finally swallowed. “But we were out in that bloody heat for so long.” His eyes stared into nothing for a moment and you could tell he was reliving something awful.

“How long were you actually out there?”

“Three, four, five days,” he asked himself. “I’m not sure.”

“Where did you come from?”

“You ask a lot of questions.” He returned to the present and out of the bad memories he’d been replaying. You watched him plaster on a smirk.

There was that smile again. You were glad your cheeks were covered because you were pretty sure you were blushing.

“Do I get to ask you any?”

You nodded, “Sure.”

“Why do you wear that over your face?” He repeated.

“Why do you care?”

His head ticked to the side. You’d asked another question.

You relented. “I already told you.”

“But we both know that wasn’t the truth.” He said before taking another bite.

You sombered and sighed. You were trying to find the words.

“I only partly lied.” You finally said.

 Newt stopped eating and shocked you with what he said next. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business if you don’t want to talk about it.”

It was so...considerate of him to say that. It had been a long time since anyone other that Jorge was considerate to you. Even Brenda was harsh when you’d met her and she still makes comments about it.

The look in your eyes must have revealed something to him.

“You really don’t have to tell me.”

For some reason you did, though. Maybe it was his soft voice, maybe it was the random kindness he’d displayed, but suddenly, you wanted to show him. Almost like a test to see if he was genuinely kind at heart.

You slipped your index finger under the cloth near your nose but before you pulled it down you said, “Just...brace yourself.”

You pulled the mask down below your chin, revealing the angry red scar that ran from your upper lip, just below your nose, all the way to your ear, which had a notch missing from it.

Newt barely flinched. He just looked at you.

Your scar had healed thick which made it distort your lip slightly.

“When I was first sent here, after finding out I had the Flare, a crank attacked me with a shard of glass. He got me pretty good but Jorge was there and he saved me. He couldn’t do much to make me look better, though.” You pulled your mask back up. “Most people just stare at it, instead of me. So, I cover it up.”

“You shouldn’t.” He offered a hint of a smile as he switched to his second can of food. “Nothing wrong with the way you look.”

You sat stunned.

“I broke my leg in three places. That’s why I have a limp. Do you only see the limp when you look at me?” He asked.

You shook your head, unable to think of anything to say.

He shrugged his shoulders. “See?”

 You bit down a smile that threatened to spread across your mouth. Good thing your mask was on.

“I’m sorry I called you lizard boy.” You felt bad for teasing him, now.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve been called worse.”

The two of you sat in silence for a short while. Then, you wondered something.

“What’s a shank?”

He chuckled, “Just something we say. Why?”

“Back in the building you called me a ‘bloody shank girl’.”

His cheeks flushed and he stared down at the can he was eating from. “Sorry.”

“So, shank isn’t nice then?”

“Depends…” He smirked, almost embarrassed he’d said that about you.

“And here I thought you were soft.”

He looked at you. “Nope, just wrong on occasion.”

“I’m Y/N, by the way.” You suddenly realized you’d never told him your name and now you wanted him to know it. To say it.

“Nice to meet you, Y/N.” He paused a moment before adding, “ I have a feeling I won’t regret it.” He glanced over at you again.

“You won’t.” You promised.

 *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

TMR Tags: 

@mo320 

[ashesonthefloor]

oh, captain, let's make a deal (where we both say the things that we both really feel)

summary: Ashton strikes a bet with Michael to get him to ask Calum out. It doesn't go according to plan. ao3 found here

prompt: "Person A bets that they can get Person B to go out on a date with them via Person C or a group of people etc, but what the 3rd party doesn't know is that persons A and B are already dating" from @thenervousduckwrites except, as expected, I didn't stick to that

content rating: PG-13 (cursing, probably, one allusion to sex, alcohol)

word count: 1422 words (short baby <3)

A/N: look at me! this is the first time I've posted something I've written since November! look at me go! but anyway, yes. if anyone has any other cute short prompts, I will happily take them. I make no promises about whether I'll get to them or how quickly, though. and as always, I happily take validation <3

--

“Alright, Christ, that’s the fourth time you’ve brought Calum up in the last thirty minutes,” Ashton interrupted Michael mid-rant. Michael frowned and sipped his soda, leaning back (harder than necessary, to prove a point) into Ashton’s stupidly comfortable couch.

“And?” Michael asked, raising an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with me talking about Calum so much? Who else am I supposed to be talking about him to?”

Ashton shrugged one shoulder. “My point is maybe you should be talking about him less and talking to him more. Why don’t you just ask him out already?”

Michael hummed, nice and noncommittal, and just sipped his drink. “Dunno.” He slumped down a little against the couch, messing up the back of his hair. “I just haven’t.”

Ashton sighed and Michael had to hold in his pleased smile at frustrating him so easily. And all it had taken was several weeks of talking nonstop about Calum almost every time they hung out to wear him down. Ha. Take that, Ashton. “I’m sure he likes you. Didn’t he compliment your eyes last week?” Michael nodded his affirmative. “And didn’t he literally spend the night with you the week before that?” Michael nodded again. “So he obviously likes you, Mike. What’s it gonna take you to actually ask him out?”

Now it was Michael’s turn to sigh, and he made it as loud and dramatic as possible. Just to make sure Ashton was fully and properly annoyed. That was mostly how their friendship worked. Michael loved him, so he annoyed him as much as humanly possible. And Ashton put up with it because he loved him back. It was absolutely perfect.

“Look, I bet you your next pizza he’ll say yes.” Ashton wasn’t the smartest person if he thought that would get Michael to stop talking about Calum. If they went out, Michael would only start talking about him more. The bet really only benefited Michael. But, being the opportunistic person he was, he decided against pointing it out. Ashton wasn’t an idiot - not usually, at least - so it was better to avoid patronizing him by letting him know, anyway. Or that was what Michael told himself, trying to pretend his reasons for accepting the bet were because he didn’t want to insult Ashton by turning it down and thus sullying his integrity. Or something like that.

Michael tilted his head, pretending to consider it. “What if he says no?”

Ashton huffed slightly. He didn’t need to say anything; Michael spoke Ashton (a side effect of being friends with him for so long), and that was as good as him saying it wasn’t going to happen. “Then you apologize to me for talking so much about a guy that doesn’t care about you.”

“And you apologize for being wrong. And I get bragging rights about it,” Michael added, quick to sweeten the bargain. Would Calum say no? Probably not, but he was going to make sure he was covered just in case. He didn’t want to have to deal with a broken heart and not get to blame Ashton at least slightly.

“Yeah, sure.” Ashton shook his head and sipped his soda again. That meant that he didn’t believe he’d say no, but he’d given up on arguing with Michael. Michael almost missed not having Ashton in his head.

“You’re on, then. It’s a bet.” Michael held a hand out expectantly, waiting for Ashton to shake it.

Ashton held his gaze for a moment, not reaching for his hand. “Ah ah ah. You’ve got two weeks to ask him out.”

“Fine,” Michael agreed. Only then did Ashton reach out and shake his hand. God, he drove a hard bargain. “Now you’re on.”

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

Michael’s phone vibrated on the table exactly two weeks later, while he was busy getting his hair played with, head on Calum’s thigh. He let out a dramatic huff and gave Calum his best puppy dog eyes. Like with Ashton, he and Calum had made their own silent language, communicating with nothing but subtle head tilts and eye contact. It was just better with Calum because, well, it was Calum. So he didn’t have to ask for anything before Calum let out a soft laugh and wordlessly passed him his phone, scratching at Michael’s scalp a little, before turning his attention back to whatever shitty movie was playing on the TV.

Ashton: It’s been two weeks. You ask him yet?

Michael: yea, got a date 4 tmr

Ashton: Nice! I knew he’d say yes

Ashton: I’m out with Luke tomorrow

Fucker probably knew Michael would want to gossip about the date after it happened and was preemptively saying no.

Ashton: You and Calum could grab drinks or something with us afterward? If you don’t think it’s too soon

Michael: nah tht sounds pretty good. c u then?

Ashton: 👍

Michael tipped his head back slightly to look at Calum properly. He was gorgeous from this angle, too. Which was honestly just more proof that he was some sort of otherworldly deity or something, because no one at all should look so good from below like this. “Hey, do you wanna grab drinks with my friends tomorrow?”

Calum pulled his attention away from the movie to look down at Michael with that stupidly fond smile Michael was starting to get used to. “Yeah, sure, that sounds fun.” He scratched at his scalp again. “Like a double date thing or like a me meeting your friends thing?”

Michael paused. “Uh, both? It’s Ashton and Luke, so...maybe a bit of both.”

Calum hummed, gaze shifting back to the TV. It didn’t stop Michael from feeling exposed, still, suddenly vulnerable under the weight of his feelings. “That sounds fun.”

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

The evening had gone splendidly. Michael hadn’t really expected any less; Calum was such a sweet, caring person, and spending time with him was so easy and effortless. Dating him was just the same, only better, because now he got to hold his hand, and Calum didn’t hold back his fond or adoring looks anymore. Suffice to say, it was pretty perfect.

Calum got along just as well with Ashton and Luke, Michael was pleased to learn. He bantered back and forth with Ashton just as well as Michael did - maybe better, but Michael wasn’t about to admit that - and he was sweet with Luke.

Everything went well until Calum was coming back from the bathroom and heard Ashton make some stupid joke about Michael asking him out properly.

“What’ll it take you to ask him to be your boyfriend?” Ashton teased. “Will I have to bet you a week’s worth of pizza for you to get your courage?”

“What do you mean ask me?” Calum asked, confused. “I asked Michael to be my boyfriend earlier this week.”

Ashton’s eyebrows raised immediately. Uh oh. “You’re boyfriends?”

Michael flushed and gave Ashton a sheepish smile. “Uh...yeah?”

“Since when?”

“Since Tuesday…?”

“It’s Saturday. How did you not tell me-”

“I’ve been distracted,” Michael said helplessly, looking at Calum and doing his best pleading look to get some backup. Luke had gone to get their next round of drinks, and Calum liked him, so surely he wouldn’t mind.

Calum nodded. “It’s true, he’s been distracted. He’s spent every night since then at my place.” Michael nodded along with him before flushing darker at the implications and tipping his head back against the sticky back of the booth immediately, prepared to die right then and there of embarrassment.

Ashton shook his head slightly. “He’s been talking about you for weeks, I’m surprised he didn’t mention that you asked him out when it happened.”

Calum grinned. “For weeks, huh?”

Ashton gave him a returning grin. The same grin that meant nothing but trouble, that he was about to stir up shit in Michael’s life. “Yep. For weeks. I’ve heard about how pretty your eyes are at least thirty-seven times now.”

Ashton continued, and Michael resigned himself to being mortified for the rest of the evening, if not the rest of his life. Maybe introducing the two of them had been a horrible idea. Deep down, though, he was sort of giddy at the fact that they were getting along so well, even if they were teaming up to make Michael’s life a living hell. Finding Calum had been like the last puzzle piece slotting into place, rounding out his life into something whole and balanced and perfect. And he wouldn’t change it for the world, even if he had to endure a little mortification.

[oureuphoria]

Worst of You - JJK 04

You meet him under horrible circumstances but that doesn’t stop you from developing a very abnormal and completely unsolicited crush on your local hot police officer™. Too bad you have a bitch of a best friend, anxiety and an inability to learn from your mistakes which cripples your chances to be with the man of your literal dreams. Oh, and he has a lifetime’s worth of emotional baggage at 23.

Or

“I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s wrong.” “Cool, I’ll let everyone know that you’re moving in then.”

Genre: fluff, angst, comedy

Pairing: officer!jungkook X collegestudent!reader

Word count: 2,067

Note: Admit it, we’ve all panicked over grades.

| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 

You were never this anxious over a grade before but that essay had to have been some of your worst work yet. You were distracted - so much so that you forgot to fill out a misadventure form - by not only the traumatic events of that solemn Saturday night but also a specific officer that rudely invaded your thoughts and a best friend who wanted nothing to do with them. So yes, you were completely and undeniably panicking.

Unfortunately, there were still 7 hours before you’d get your grade back and you had no idea how you were going to kill the time. You dwelled for a bit, which was a pretty great distraction for the 8 blissful minutes that it lasted, but to no avail. You had nothing to do. Your morning class was cancelled, you had no students to tutor and you’d just finished the only Netflix series that you’d actually enjoyed and with it left your hope.

Sure, you were a little dramatic but there was absolutely no way you were going to get through the day without crying if you didn’t find a distraction and fast. Your mind went to a lot of weird places like taking a walk, or cooking, all very normal everyday activities that you would frankly rather die than do voluntarily.

However, the worst place your mind went to was when it hovered over Jungkook’s contact for a moment too long. Your finger slipped. No, it literally slipped and you didn’t even realise you were calling until you heard his distant voice from your phone. “Shit! Shit! Shit!” “Hello, who’s this?” You panicked and your hands began to fumble with your phone like it was some foreign object. Eventually you grew the courage to just greet the poor confused man on the phone.

“Hi.” The line went silent and you looked to check if he’d just hung up but he was still there, you could hear his breathing. “Who’s this?” Right. He didn’t save your number, and therefore gave you a chance to hang up and pretend this entire ordeal never happened but you didn’t think that far and before you knew it you were telling him your name. “It’s Y/N…” You heard a sigh of relief and then a sound of realisation before Jungkook started using coherent words. “So, Y/N, what’s up?"

“Did you try your best?” You groaned in frustration at his very general and unhelpful comment. “Of course I tried my best but this isn’t kindergarten. I’m not being graded on effort.” You angrily poked at your burrito and Jungkook just blinked in astonishment. Comforting you was a challenge and now he was fighting it first hand. “When I invited you to lunch, I’d assumed you’d be eating it.” You stopped poking the poor burrito and looked at him with a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry, I’m just stressed.” He waved you off, mouth full with his now devoured burrito.

After he finished his mouthful, he was staring at your food obviously. “Are you gonna e-” “Just take it.” He smiled before taking a giant bite of your rather untouched burrito. “Chief has us working double shifts, spring break is approaching, kid’s are getting reckless, you know the drill.” You nervously laughed though in your current state everything you did was nervous.

“Jeon!” A man dressed in a similar uniform approached the desk you were both seated at. You gave him a small smile once you noticed the badge that read ‘CHIEF’. “I’m sorry to cut your break short but that stolen car you’ve been looking for has been traced. You should go check it out before it’s moved again.” Jungkook nodded and gave you an apologetic smile that you immediately waved off. “Go save a life or something.” Although your comment was entirely sarcastic, Jungkook gave you a playful salute in response with a smile that made your heart swell. “I’m sorry, let me know how that grade goes.” You nodded absentmindedly, you’d momentarily forgotten about the grade and the fleeting feeling made you sad in its absence.

You walked slowly back to your dormitory from the police station and allowed yourself to be distracted by anything and everything. You even followed a pigeon for hell of it but just like you, the pigeon was going in elongated circles. You needed to return to your dormitory eventually and face the sad truth that was your grade.

Eventually, the time for the results to be uploaded had come and you were patiently waiting for your grade. You needed a 90 to maintain your GPA but you braced yourself for the outcome. All you needed was to pass and yet even that seemed so out of reach.

89.9%. You tried to laugh but it lacked emotion. Your professor had to be kidding. He seriously couldn’t just round that 0.1% to the 90% that you were sure he knew you needed. “Asshole.” You muttered under your breath but you smiled nonetheless. You did a lot better than you expected and this incredibly frustrating score was still a miracle.

Before you could get a chance to scream into the void, your phone lit up and the quiet buzz caught your attention. You were just expecting a message from your classmates wondering what your grade was so you certainly didn’t approach your phone with enough preparation for what you were going to face.

Jungkook 👮‍♂️ Hey, how are your results? Read 7:28pm

You stared at the phone for far longer than normal trying to formulate a reply but it was like all the brain cells in your head had collectively decided to combust without prior notice.

You Not my best but way better than I expected!!! Delivered 7:31pm

There was no time to dwell over your excessive use of explanation marks because within 2 minutes he was already reading your message. When the typing bubble began to show up you nervously gnawed at your lips to distract yourself from the anxiety. You were just talking about a grade and yet your fear was almost tangible.

Jungkook 👮‍♂️ That’s great! We should celebrate. Cafe at 3 tmr? Read 7:36pm

You were definitely not expecting that. In fact you were so unsuspecting that you almost replied with a thumbs up emoji. You typed and deleted at least 10 times before you replied with, ‘yeah sure :)’. Unfortunately, you couldn’t throw your phone into the depths of the pacific ocean from shame so instead you turned it off and prayed the horrible, tacky smiley face would erase itself.

Spoiler alert: it didn’t.

[milky-mochi]

late night texts | csb

genre: fluff, crush! soobin, close friend! soobin, friends to lovers, soobin is a fluffy baby okay he’s a cute blundering mess

pairing: choi soobin x reader

word count: 1.7k

summary: soobin is helplessly head over heels for the girl he cares so much for, but he keeps his feelings to himself, until things suddenly change for the better, over late night texts and blooming roses.

song: 🎶 blueming by iu 🎶

soobin's fingers hung over his messenger app in anticipation.

It was half past ten, and yet his phone delivered him no message from you. you had promised him that you would text him at quarter past, after your shift at your internship had ended, but fifteen minutes had passed and there was still no green dot beside your icon.

soobin just assumed you had fallen asleep after a tiring day, which he totally understood. he didn't blame you one bit, knowing how tired you must have been after non-stop activities for twenty hours. sighing in defeat, he placed his phone face down and cracked his knuckles.

he missed you so much his heart ached, but he could never text you first. he didn't know if he meant enough to you for it to not be annoying, and soobin was a big coward.

just as he got up to get a drink as a distraction, his phone chimed. soobin nosedived into his table so hard to grab his phone that he probably could've broken it.

at the top of his notifications, a light blue notification from you awaited him, labelled clearly with your contact name. soobin had been too afraid to put a heart beside your name (for fear of the boys finding out, or even worse, you). but you were too special to him for it to just be your name. so he copied a cute little flower emoticon from this layout site and placed it lovingly beside your first name, even though he knew that his contact in your phone was probably saved as every one else was.

clicking on the notification, soobin's furrowed eyebrows smoothened and his bunny smile revealed itself. the thought of you never failed to make his day a whole lot better.

y/n ❁: hey soobin! :D

y/n ❁: sorry im so late :(( i missed the bus and didn't get home until like 2 minutes ago

soobin sighed as he let out a knowing smile. you had busted your data watching videos of your favourite drama a week ago, so you couldn't text him on the bus.

binbread: omg it's okay y/n

binbread: don't you wanna take a shower first? i can wait!

y/n ❁: i'm alright, soobin. thank you tho 🥺

y/n ❁: and besides,

y/n ❁ is typing…

y/n ❁: i'd much rather talk to you

soobin felt his heart pounding in his chest, felt the blood circulating through his fingertips, his face, his entire body. he was flushed red and felt warmth consume him, leaving him with the jittery, skittery feeling that your sweet words always bestow him with.

binbread: y/n omg aaaaaaaa

binbread: 🥺🥺🥺

binbread: i love talking to you too

binbread: how was your day?

whenever soobin asked you this at the end of every day, it was never just a conversation starter, let alone a formality. he genuinely always wanted to know how your day went, worried at how much you exerted yourself to serve others. soobin knew how reckless you were when it came to your own needs, and he sealed a secret promise to always look after you, especially when you didn’t look after yourself.

y/n ❁: omg it was amazing

y/n ❁: there’s this guy named hangyul who just started interning with me

y/n ❁: he’s so funny omg i actually had to tell him to shut up so i could get work done

guiltily, soobin felt his heart drop. of course there was another guy, someone much better, someone of the quality you deserved-

y/n ❁: ok lowkey

y/n ❁: think im gonna set him up with seungyoun

binbread: seungyoun? the guy from your dance studio?

y/n ❁: yeah!!! they’d go so well together

y/n ❁: oh yeah

y/n ❁: hangyul is gay

y/n ❁: lmao

soobin felt embarrassed at how relieved he was. soobin was definitely the jealous type, and he hated it. he hated the way his mind would jump to conclusions, hated the way he always felt on the verge of being replaced, and he really hated the way his jealousy was always amplified when it came to you.

you didn’t have any mutual friends, so he’d rarely ever have to see you interact with any other guy. he was so grateful for that. who knows what his jealous heart would do if he saw you with someone else. at least, with this, he had that false sense of security that maybe, maybe, your feelings echoed his own.

binbread: omg do it y/n

binbread: don’t you need to sleep though

binbread: as much as i love talking to you

binbread: you literally pulled like 8 all nighters in a row

y/n ❁: it was only 3 :(

y/n ❁: and i missed you :(

y/n ❁: stay soobin :(

y/n ❁: soobinnie :(

you frowned at soobin’s inactivity. little did you know, soobin’s neighbour had knocked on his door, asking if he could borrow scissors because his kid needed it for a project and he couldn’t find a pair in his home. you could have waited, but you had missed him the entire day. and you were feeling really, really, annoying.

y/n ❁: soobiiiiiiiiiiin :(

y/n ❁: soobin come back :(

y/n ❁: i miss u :(

y/n ❁: love :(

y/n ❁: baby :(

y/n ❁: you’re my

y/n ❁: honey bunch

y/n ❁: sugar plum

y/n ❁: pumpy-umpy-umpkin

y/n ❁: you’re my sweetie pie

after soobin had kindly handed his neighbour his scissors with the baby blue handles, he immediately picked up his phone and read your messages. instantly, his face burned up and he dramatically put his hand to his heart (because he was alone, and you made him do things like that just by calling him two pet names and quoting a children’s song). but as the ‘seen’ appeared at the bottom of your messages, panic began to jolt your bones.

y/n ❁: soobiiiiiiiiiiin :(

y/n ❁: the user has deleted this message

y/n ❁: the user has deleted this message

y/n ❁: the user has deleted this message

y/n ❁: the user has deleted this message

y/n ❁: the user has deleted this message

y/n ❁: the user has deleted this message

y/n ❁: the user has deleted this message

y/n ❁: the user has deleted this message

y/n ❁: the user has deleted this message

binbread: y/n

binbread: i saw everything you sent lmao

binbread: dont do this to me :(

y/n ❁ is typing…

y/n ❁: do what binnie? :)

binbread: that

binbread: [insert crying cat meme]

binbread: [which i don't have on me now because i cleared my storage]

y/n ❁: ok i literally cant take this

your thumbs twiddled around your screen as you inhaled sharply.

y/n ❁ is typing…

oh no, thought soobin. this is the end. this is where she gets irritated with me because i can’t take a joke. she blocks me and we never talk or hang out again. she find another guy and she’s happy without me and i’m sad and lonely and miserable, shovelling bread into my mouth as a replacement for my soul-

ding!

y/n ❁: you’re too cute for this world soobin

y/n ❁: and u make it so much better for everyone

y/n ❁: especially for me

y/n ❁: and i know this seems weird, and may very well ruin our friendship

y/n ❁: but i really really like you

y/n ❁: and im tired of hiding it

damn, soobin thought. damn i was not expecting that.

soobin’s heart was beating wildly out of his chest for the third time that day, only because of you. his fingers were shaking as he typed his reply as fast as he could. the moment he had dreamed of for months had finally come tapping on his screen.

binbread: oh my god

binbread: i like you too

binbread: i’ve liked you for like

binbread: so long

binbread: is this real

y/n ❁: or is this the fantasy

binbread: those aren’t the lyrics y/n

y/n ❁: i tried okay

binbread: and im so proud of you for doing so

binbread: truly a pop culture queen

y/n ❁: :(

binbread: okay okay

binbread: jokes aside

binbread: i've liked you for like,, 10 months now

binbread: this is a dream come true

binbread: you're a dream come true

binbread: so y/n

binbread: will you go out with me?

y/n ❁: i literally just confessed to you like 3 minutes ago

y/n ❁: like yea of course choi soobin

binbread: you could’ve just said yes :(

binbread: but okay meet me at the 5th station tmr?

binbread: i wanna take you to my favourite bakery! :D

y/n ❁: totally :D

and so here, at fifth station, act ii of your relationship with soobin had revealed itself. soobin looked like a prince, stepping out of the subway in a creme button up and black jeans, approaching you with a red rose in one hand and his phone dialling your number in the other. he smiled brightly as he approached you, seeing your face and your screen, popping up with his contact name.

incoming call…

soobin ❁

and so to his favourite bakery he brought you. it was rose themed, from rose gold metal vases to wooden countertops, and rose infused drinks and pastries, you felt like a princess. his princess. especially when he brought you for a walk in the cafe’s rose garden and you ran your hands gingerly over their velvet petals, thinking about the rose in your hand, how lucky you were to have it, and how many more of them you would get to enjoy. soobin gazed at you with soft eyes and gently took your hand in his.

“we’ll be as beautiful as this, together. a hundred roses,” soobin said, as if he were reading your mind, “wanna make them bloom with me?” 

---

a/n: ayo! hoped u liked my first soobin fic 🥺 i love choi soobin and he’s very cute,, anyway if u have any requests feel free to send em in!! i’d love to write em <3  

[j0hnj4ej3n]

7dream walking you home

inspired by: walk you home - nct dream ♡

MARK 

after your study date, mark insists on walking you home because it’s late and dangerous 

yea sure mark lee, it’s 5pm and still bright outside but ok sure

he carries your bag for you (even though you told him a hundred times that it wasn’t even heavy) and holds your hand while the two of you walk slowly towards your house hoping to drag out the short 10 minute walk 

you two talk about anything and everything because it’s never boring with mark 

when your house is in sight, mark noticeably takes smaller steps, not ready to leave you just yet but of course you two eventually end up in front of your house 

“Guess we’re here” he mumbles loud enough for you to hear as he reluctantly hands you your bag and lets go of your hand 

he ruffles your hair as he tells you to go in and that he’ll see you tomorrow 

he continues to wave at you cutely as you walk to your door, not leaving until you’re in your house because (“i need to make sure you’re safe”) 

he sighs as you close the door behind you because wow he misses you already 

after settling down, you text him to thank him for studying with you 

“thank you for today, get home safely alright? <3” 

“thank you too!! and yes i will, see you tmr love~”  

RENJUN

this boy lives at the other side of town but insist on taking the bus home with you 

“because you need to be safe”

he really make it seem like he is just doing his job as your date to walk you home but deep down inside he wishes to stay with you just a little longer 

the walk to your house was relaxing, as you two discuss about aliens and the universe, topics that never seem to have a proper conclusion and yet the two of you never get bored of discussing it 

you love listening to his view of the world, sometimes he stops mid-sentence thinking that he’s getting too serious 

but you assure him that you like listening to what he thinks, because you do, you admire this side of him and you can go on for days and you’ll still be listening to every word 

“we’re here, go in quick so you can get some rest.”

would wave goodbye and waits till you’re in your house before he leaves 

you make sure to remind him to text you when he gets home since he lives so far away 

“please text me when you get home”

“i will~”

JENO

he holds your hand as the two of you walk towards your house 

jeno usually walks pretty fast but right now, he walks slowly on purpose but you’re not complaining 

you two just started seeing each other and the both of you are surprisingly shy so you two really just enjoy the comfortable silence 

but he always makes sure that you’re walking on the inside of the road 

“thanks for walking me home” you said literally in tiny font when you two reach your place 

he lets go of your hand and scratches the back of his head, “don’t worry about it”

… 

you two just stand there kinda just looking everywhere else but at each other 

“you should go in, your dad said to get you home by 9”

he raises both his arms slightly, not knowing whether or not he should hug you 

and while he was hesitating, you took the chance to give him a peck on the cheek 

jeno literally froze 

and because you’re shy, you left him in that state as you rush to your door 

“y/n!” 

you turned back to face him, his face about as red as yours 

“s-see you tomorrow” and he smiles 

he waves at you one last time before going home really happily because wow is this real life? did you really kiss him on the cheek? congrats, lee jeno probably won’t be able to sleep tonight 

HAECHAN

you two had been together since morning, just spending time together and having fun 

but it’s getting late and it’s time to go home :(

you two were walking towards your apartment and as you walk pass the park nearby he starts his usual routine of trying to get you to stay out longer 

“look at that, its a bench, where we can sit on. so i don’t have to leave you just yet.”

but obviously you just chuckle and drag him along while he sulks (because your parents are strict and you’re not going to risk getting grounded because it means you can’t hang out with haechan as much as you’d like) 

whines when you two reach your apartment 

he refuses to let you of your hand even after you gave him a goodbye hug 

“are you really going to go in? if you go now i’ll be upset!” 

but he eventually does let you go because he doesn’t want you to get into trouble 

after less than a minute of leaving you, you receive a text from him 

“i miss you already” 

“ew you’re so cheesy, i’m going to puke”

“really? ok fine, go date someone else”

“i’m kidding, i love you”

“of course, no one is going to love you like i do! but i love you too, rest well tonight <3”

JAEMIN

it’s never quiet with jaemin 

even when walking you home, he’s joking around and you two just enjoy being in each other’s presence 

but because of how much fun you two have, time seems to pass by a lot faster 

“ahh here it is again, the time where we part”

“why do you say it like that? i’ll be seeing you tomorrow” as you laugh at jaemin being all dramatic and sulky 

“12 hours is a long time y/n” 

he hugs you and sniffs your hair out of habit (a weirdo)

after he lets you go, you walk backwards just to look at him a little longer 

and he stares at you lovingly as you get closer to your door 

he does a heart shape with his arms right before you close your door 

CHENLE

walks you home from school and would carry your bag for you 

you two play mario kart on your phones while walking, you sulking after he beats you 

so he buys you ice cream from the convenience store on the way and you two just enjoy your ice cream while talking and laughing 

“we’re here, you must be tired, you worked hard today so go get some rest”

he pushes you lightly to your door after handing you your bag

you wave goodbye and he does the same as you slowly walk towards your door   

“i’ll see you tomorrow” he semi-shouts and you nod your head while waving “see you!”

within 5 minutes of parting chenle sends you a text 

“it’s the weekend tmr so sleep in, we’ll meet at 2pm”

because he knows you’ll be up studying all night and he needs to remind you to sleep because he cares for your well-being 

to make sure you get enough rest, meeting you a little later than usual wouldn’t hurt

JISUNG IS BABY

walks you home from the bus stop even though he lives at the other street and is afraid of the dark 

the walk back to your apartment was pretty silent but because you two keep bumping shoulders, he keeps apologising softly 

“um we’re here”

“yea we are”

“t-thanks for today”

“thank you too”

it’s so awkward sometimes because jisung is so shy but it’s really cute to see him like that too 

“it’s late, you should head in”

“get home safely”

“you too” then he kind of just face palms because… you are literally outside your apartment already and you just laugh at him because wow he is so cute 

you start walking towards your door after muttering a soft “goodbye” and he suddenly grabs your wrist ever so lightly 

you turn to face him and he looks so nervous 

“um y-you… you look really pretty today… yea t-that’s all, goodnight” he mumbled and started to jog off because he is sHY 

you just chuckled and looks at him running away because he is too cute 

he turns around while jogging away and waves at you one last time 

you text him once you got into your apartment 

“you didn’t look too bad yourself park jisung heh… get home safely”

he replies you with a shy face emoji after telling you he got home

i was listening to the song and all these ideas came to me so i had to write it heh i hope its not too bad!! have a good day/night ahead (｡･ω･｡)ﾉ♡

[horizonmoonfics]

Pairing: Namjoon x Y/n Genre: Flansgt (it wasn’t fluffy enough to be fluff, but it’s not really angst so just. Flangst?) Word count: 2k Warnings: you are very unproductive. Tags: @cypherwritersnet​ 

“Melanie, for the last time, I can’t make it today. It’s my cousin’s birthday. I’ll catch up with you some other time.” “Okay fine, but we’re bringing Ainsley next time, alright? Magic Shop at 7 PM on Tuesday.” Melanie sounds stern, but you know she’s not entirely serious. No one’s gotten Ainsley out of her room since she broke up with Chad. “Alright fine, but if we manage to get Ainsley to see actual sunlight, you’re paying.” “Deal.”

You hang up the call, wondering how you got yourself into this situation. You put on your jacket and head out of the dorm, on the way to your aunt’s house. A few hours of chattering with your relatives and gossiping about your older cousins while the younger ones run around and eat cake will be enough to distract you from the fact that you’ve been behind on your work for three weeks. You head on over to your cousin’s house, parking your car next to the sidewalk. You step out and walk up to the door, and before you can knock, it opens, and your cousin runs out and hugs you. “Y/N I’VE MISSED YOU SO SO MUCH OMG! How have you been? How’s school? Are you seeing anyone? We have so much to catch up on!” your cousin Laurel squeals. “Laurel, calm down. It’s only been a month!” “STILL. Now. How’s school? Are you seeing anyone?” Laurel continues, eyes burning into your skin. This interrogation lasts for another ten minutes before she remembers that you two are standing outside, and then invites you in. A few hours of chattering with your relatives? More like six hours from 1 PM to 7 PM being bored to death while Laurel flirts with her boyfriend.

                                                   ~The Next Day~ It was Tuesday. At 6:59 PM. In the Magic Shop cafe. Waiting for Ainsley. Melanie, Skylar, and you were already there. It was raining, and it was raining pretty hard. The bell at the entrance to the cafe jingled, and you looked up, seeing Ainsley walk through the door. “So we finally got Ainsley out in public? I’m impressed,” you say, with a small chuckle. You are actually impressed, but also dreading having to pay for everyone’s coffee. “Don’t count on it happening again, I’m tired and I have homework.” Ainsley sighs. “Well, we might have to let your grades slip a bit. When was the last time you met someone?” Skylar says, adjusting the sleeves of her blazer. “It hasn’t been that long…” Ainsley drifts off, as you and your friends look at her. None of you believe anything she’s saying. “Okay maybe it’s been a while. So what? I can take time to focus on my studies! That’s not a bad thing to want.” “No it isn’t, however you were miserable after you broke up with that last guy. I can’t remember his name and no don’t you dare say it he is taboo. You spent three months sulking. And now you’re drowning yourself in essays. Take a freaking break girly,” Melanie says in her dramatic it’s-the-end-of-the-world voice, her hands on her hips. “Melanie I am not drowning myself in essays! I only have three due this week-” “And you had seven due in the past two days we are not taking any bullshit about not having much work.” You say, placing your phone down on the table and sighing. “We want you to go out more, to socialize. Maybe meet someone. At least revive your social life a little bit. Seeing someone who you can casually hook up with will be better than hiding in your room and only emerging for classes.” “There is merit to y/n’s words, Ainsley. Meet someone. Get dick. Don’t attach yourself if you don’t want to. Whatever. Just get out of the house.” Melanie said, then added, “but we should get coffee first. I mean, we’re here, aren’t we? It’s a coffee shop.” Everyone laughed, then sent you to grab a few drinks and some cookies. You shook your head, chuckling as you walked to the counter. You thought about Melanie’s words a little bit. Hooking up? It wasn’t really your type of thing to do, but maybe Melanie’s advice could apply to your worries as well. Though, you had enough on your plate already, so maybe not. When you returned to the table, you gave everyone their drinks and they began to talk about what they’d been up to the past week. “Oh also, you know that new club that opened up on First Street? I went there with some classmates the other day. I may have met someone…” Melanie says with a wink. “Who? Who? Why haven’t we met him?” said Skylar, pouting about being left out of the loop. There wasn’t a loop though. “Calm your tits Skylar, I’m about to tell you. His name is Kim Taehyung, he’s chill, and he’s pretty cute. He had three friends with him, I don’t remember their names though. And I’ve only known him three days, he hasn’t met anyone.” Melanie laughs, patting Skylar’s shoulder. “I think we should pay that club a visit. What’s it called again?” you say, genuinely interested. You think you know what place she’s talking about, the House of Cards club. It was kind of like a coffee shop that sold booze, and it was a great place to meet just about anyone. “House of Cards. Do you have any reason in mind to go?” Melanie asks, but all four of you already knew there was one reason to go. “No. No no no. I am not meeting your Kim Taehyung and his friends.” Ainsley says, wincing. “I do not go clubbing.” “It’ll be fun! Let’s go.” Skylar gets up, grabbing Ainsley’s wrist. You all head out the door, about to set foot in what will be the starting point of the most interesting night of your lives. About twenty minutes later, you’ve walked into the House of Cards and not only found Taehyung, but met six of his friends. They all seem nice, but you’re pretty sure you’re not going to talk to all of them today, especially with the way Ainsley is eyeing Seokjin. You sit down next to Namjoon, who seems to be the quietest. He’s wearing black glasses, jeans, and a pink shirt that says “Don’t Waste Your Time.” He doesn’t seem to be the type to waste his time, and you hope that rubs off on you. You need to get a leg up on studying. “Hi, I’m y/n.” You say, reaching to shake his hand. “Hi y/n, I’d introduce myself but you already know my name. How’s life?” He asks, shaking your hand. You smile, and say, “It’s pretty good, other than overwhelming schoolwork, you know?” You mentally slap yourself when you remember that you actually do have overwhelming schoolwork, and that you weren’t just making a joke. “Ah yes. Schoolwork. Honestly I think this is probably the most stressful time of the year, especially with exams coming up.” Namjoon agrees, and you take a mental note to check which exams you have next. “Yeah. Do you have Professor Sejin? I hear he’s going to have a really long essay portion.” You ask, curious to find out how he’s going to cope with exams. You really do need some study tips… “Oh jeez… Yeah, I have him. You?” “Yep. I’m in his second period class.” “Dang. Early. He hasn’t said anything to our class, how did you find out about the essay length?” He pushes up his glasses, all attention focused on you. “Some of my friends had him last year, they say his essay requirements never change. Figures that he’d be a teacher that doesn’t let up, you know?” “Yeah. None of the older ones do.” You both laugh, and Namjoon asks if he can get you a drink. You say yes, and ask for a coffee because you know you’re going to be driving tonight. You two talk for a few hours, only interrupted a few times by Melanie and Taehyung leaving (to do who knows what), Ainsley laughing at Jin’s jokes (and telling you that Jin was off limits… maybe she will be getting over Chad tonight), and by Jimin’s insistence on buying everyone another round of drinks. You and Namjoon both declined, preferring coffee to alcohol. Eventually, you check the time and realize you have a lot of studying to do. “Damn, it’s nearly midnight.” You say, looking at your watch. “Wow. Yeah, it is. Do you want a ride home?” Namjoon asks, getting up with you. “Ah, no thanks, my car’s at Magic Shop. I’m going to walk over there and then drive home.” “Okay. Can I walk with you? My car’s a few blocks away, so I’ll probably be heading in the same direction.” “Sure,” you say, smiling. He’s nice. When you get to his car, you turn to him and see that he’s taking a pen out of his jeans pocket. Upon seeing your look of confusion, he smiles shyly. “I was going to ask for your number,” he says, “but you don’t have to give it to me if you don’t want to.” You smile, and take out your phone. “I think there’s an easier way to do that than writing on my arm.” He laughs, and pulls out his phone. After the exchange, he bids you good night, and you do the same before he drives off, in the direction of campus. You get home about twenty minutes later, and get a text almost immediately after walking through the door.

Kim Namjoon: Hey 12:03 You: Hi 12:05 Kim Namjoon: Do u want to study together tmr? 12:05 You: Sure! If it doesn’t bother you, of course. 12:05 Kim Namjoon: Lol 12:05 Kim Namjoon: I wouldn’t mind, + it’s a good chance to get studying in 12:06 You: Alright lol 12:06

You finish making plans, and you sigh happily to yourself. Finally, something to get you to actually do your homework.

                                                     ~The Next Day~ You wake up to the sound of your phone alarm, playing the song “Rain” by BTS. Fitting, considering that it is raining pretty heavily outside. You have three new texts from Namjoon, as well as like fifty from your group chat with Melanie, Skylar, and Ainsley (Skylar was the only one who didn’t hook up with anyone, apparently).

Kim Namjoon: So it’s raining 8:20 Kim Namjoon: maybe we should study at the library instead? 8:20 Kim Namjoon: ur call lol 8:21 You: sure 8:46 You: i dont feel like dealing with soggy notes today lmao 8:46

After a laughing emoji from Namjoon, you get ready to go meet him.

You spot him almost immediately in the library. He’s the one person not wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt, and he waves at you when you walk in.

“Hello stranger,” you say, winking. He smiles, his eyes crinkling behind his glasses as he smiled. “Nice meeting you too, y/n,” Namjoon says, patting the seat next to him, “have a seat.”

You sit down and pull out two of your textbooks and your computer, while Namjoon clears a space on the desk for you.

“So, what exam are you studying for? I’m finishing up with my Civ Pro studying.” “I’m working on my Modern Literature essay prep,” you say, pulling up the essay document on your computer. “Ooh, I could help with that, I took Modern Literature last year.” Namjoon says, adjusting his glasses. “Okay, thank you!” You say, warmly. And so your study session begins.

The next few hours are spent not only studying, but also joking around and giggling. Studying with Namjoon was fun, but also very productive. The most productive you’ve been in months. You schedule more sessions for the next few days, and leave the library feeling very satisfied. You’re definitely cool with having a study partner.

[sapphyrelily]

Five - You Are In Love

It only took me 6 months to write a new chapter orz

“Do you want to go see that movie tomorrow?”

“The action one?”

“You don’t even know its name.”

He laughs at the accusatory tone in his friend’s voice. “I’m not very caught up on what’s showing.”

“Fine. So, wanna go?”

“Sure.” Shirabu rolls over onto his stomach, fingering the edge of his blanket. “Let me know the time, I’ll be there.”

“I’ll check the timing and let you know.”

“Sure. See you then.”

The line clicks off after Iwaizumi says his goodbyes, and even after Shirabu sets his phone down, he can’t stop grinning.

He grabs his pillow to hide his smile in it, but it doesn’t work very well, and he ends up grabbing his phone again. He crosses and uncrosses his ankles as he composes a new text, making too many errors in his hurry.

[Kenjirou]: GUESS WHOS GOING TO A MOVIE WITH IWA-SAN TMR

His phone buzzes with a reply almost immediately, and he grins.

[Taichi]: oh, i coulfnt possibly guess

The sarcastic reply doesn’t deter him.

[Kenjirou]: Yeah, yeah, you’re salty I get it

[Taichi]: i m so much closer 2 getting a bf than u r

[Kenjirou]: lies

[Taichi]: only truths

[Kenjirou]: Forgive me if I don’t trust you

[Taichi]: u trusted me? when?

[Kenjirou]: asshat

[Taichi]: douchenugget

[Kenjirou]: I hate you and your tall ass

[Taichi]: my ass isnt tall, the rest of me is

[Kenjirou]: Spectacular. Like I needed to know that

[Taichi]: o I kno im spectacular.

[Kenjirou]: goodbye

[Taichi]: guees who else thinks im spectacular

[Kenjirou]: Not interested in ur love life

[Taichi]: but u want deets on my sex life n im happy 2 oblige

[Kenjirou]: NO THANKS

Shirabu is about to throw his phone across the room when it starts vibrating, and he curses the name on his screen.

“Taichi, no.”

“Taichi, yes.” His best friend snickers, and Shirabu collapses onto his pillow, groaning.

“So as I was saying, I am this much closer to getting a boyfriend than you are.”

“No one said I’m not making progress.” Shirabu mumbles to his pillow.

“That pretty much confirms that you’re not.”

“Look here, I’m trying–”

“Try harder.”

“Oi, not all of us are like you.”

“Hmm, I suppose I could share some of my charm with you.”

“Ew. Go back to the bin you came from.”

“Rude.”

“Only the best for you,” he croons, and laughs at the dry retching from the other end of the line.

The door creaks open, and he tosses a careless Welcome back over his shoulder, half-listening to Kawanishi’s semi-serious cursing.

“Is that Taichi?” An amused voice asks, and Shirabu doesn’t bother to glance up before putting his friend on speaker.

“–you are absolutely hopeless and I hope you never get together with someone, for the sake of their sanity–”

Semi bursts into laughter, and the voice on the other end comes to an abrupt halt.

“Kenjirou, I’m going to kill you. Stop putting me on speaker.”

“Come to Tokyo and fight me, I dare you.”

“I’ll book a ticket right now, see if I don’t–”

“Mmhmm. I’ll let you know if the part of me that cares comes back from war.”

“You suck.”

“No more than you do.”

“On the contrary, I probably get a lot more sucking action than you do–”

Shirabu chokes and promptly turns the speaker off while Semi howls with laughter.

-----

Semi has entered and left the room three different times, two hours have passed, and Shirabu is still on the phone.

He never thought Kawanishi had it in him to talk for that long.

He’s settling down with a book when he hears “–yeah, of course I’ll tell you all about it. And send you spoilers.”

A pause, and a burst of laughter, possibly at Kawanishi's indignation. “You do it to me all the time, asshole. It’s about time I got payback.

“Mmhmm. Right. I do no such thing, stop spreading lies about me.”

Semi begins to think that he should just listen in instead of reading. Shirabu and Kawanishi’s conversations are more amusing than a soap opera, and infinitely more interesting than his book.

“Whatever. I’m going to shower, my phone’s burning my ear off. Mm. Right. Bye.”

Shirabu tosses the phone aside and collapses on his pillow, and Semi tries very hard to immerse himself in his book.

(He gets called out anyway.)

“How long were you actually listening to us talk?”

Semi glances up, but Shirabu isn’t looking at him. It looks like he’s trying to suffocate himself with the pillow, and Semi wonders what brought that on. “Is that really a question? I walked in and out thrice and you were on the phone for two hours.”

“Hnn.” His roommate rolls over, removing himself from the possibility of suffocation, and regards him with his head on his hand. “So how much did you hear?”

“Do I look like I would really remember everything that you two were talking about–”

“Badly phrased question.” Shirabu cuts him off with a wave of his free hand. “How nosy do you want to be, before I forget whatever Taichi said?”

“Why, thank you for thinking of me and including me in the sharing of your deep, dark secrets.”

“Bye.” Shirabu rolls off the bed and heads for his dresser, while Semi snickers behind him.

“Okay, okay, I was kidding. I was curious about one thing.”

Shirabu looks up from a half-closed drawer, raising an eyebrow at him to continue.

“You’re watching a movie sometime?”

“Oh, yeah.” A hint of a smile tilts Shirabu’s lips up, right before he schools his face back into neutrality. “Tomorrow. Not sure what time yet.”

“Oh, nice. Have fun.” He smiles.

“Why do you want to know?”

“You said I could be nosy.”

“You’re never nosy without reason,” Shirabu counters, walking back to perch on the edge of his bed, his toiletries balanced on his knees. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” Semi protests. “Can I not be curious about what 'spoilers' might mean without a reason?”

“No.”

“Suck it up then. There’s no other reason.”

“You’re such a pain.”

“Look who’s talking.”

“Ugh.” Shirabu heads towards the room door. “Bye.”

“I’ll still be here when you get back, you know.”

“Ew. Don’t remind me.”

Semi laughs a little as the door clicks shut behind him, putting their conversation out of mind as he finally starts reading.

-----

Semi's phone buzzes, and he grins at the message.

It’s been a while since he heard from this friend.

He opens up the text, composing a reply, ignoring the creak as the door opens.

“What are you smiling at?”

“A friend is in Tokyo.” He continues replying to the person, snickering at their responses.

“Ooh, exciting. I didn’t know you had friends.”

Semi throws a spare pillow in his direction, uncaring if it hits its target or not.

Shirabu catches the pillow with a huff, hugging it to himself as he rubs his towel over his hair with his other hand. “Am I allowed to know who this mysterious friend is?”

“Since you were so rude, no.” Semi puts his phone down and picks his book back up, smirking at him. “Besides, you have mysterious friends too.”

“Touché.” Shirabu doesn’t comment further. He’s not ready to share the identity of his 'mysterious friend’ just yet.

He can hear the little vibrations as Semi gets new messages, but opts to tune him out as he turns their hair dryer on. It feels good to dry his hair even though they are in the heat of summer, and he shakes his dried hair out to rid it of the excess heat.

“I’m never going to get over how fluffy your hair is,” he hears. Shirabu rolls his eyes, though he knows his roommate can’t see it.

“Semi-san, you can’t really be talking to me about fluffy hair.”

“I believe I just did.”

“Have you looked in a mirror lately?”

“Does the reflection on my phone screen count?”

Semi laughs as Shirabu throws his pillow back at him with another roll of his eyes. “Okay, okay, geez. I have a serious question now.”

“Oooh, scary.”

“Shut up, Semi-san.”

“Come over here and make me.”

“Oh, gladly.”

Shirabu stalks the two strides across their room and grabs the pillow, but Semi keeps a hold on it, already guessing what he’s about to do.

They grapple back and forth for some time before Semi’s grip suddenly slackens, and Shirabu tumbles atop him. But then the pillow is up in his face, smothering him instead, and a push on his shoulder unbalances him enough that he gets rolled over, a muffled laugh above him.

“Yield,” he hears Semi say, but with his mouth full of pillow, Shirabu can only shove against it in hope of a gulp of air.

The grip on the pillow slackens as he knew it would, Semi pulling it back to allow him to breathe. Shirabu shoves weakly against his roommate, trying to dislodge him from where he and the pillow are crushing his chest. “Can’t breathe.”

“Yes, you can,” Semi says, but the pressure eases up anyway. It’s just enough for Shirabu to push the ash blond off and sit up, blocking the pillow when it comes for him again.

They push against each other, the pillow squashed between them, neither gaining an inch.

“Give up.”

“Never.”

“Then I guess you won’t be sleeping with this pillow tonight.”

“I have a spare, don’t worry.”

“I’ll pummel you with this.”

“No, you won’t.”

“Maybe you’re right. Too much mess to clean up.”

“I knew it. You're too lazy to clean up your normal mess, how are you going to clean up if you murder me?”

“I’ll just get someone else to murder you for me,” Shirabu says simply. “And I don’t have a ‘normal mess’, you do!”

“I don’t have that many enemies,” Semi counters, choosing to ignore the latter half of what Shirabu said.

“You’d never know.”

“Now you’re just being dramatic.”

“Did you expect anything less?”

“No,” Semi admits. “But then again, I never take puffballs seriously.”

“Puffball–!”

“Look in a mirror, Shirabu.” Semi gives him a huge shove, his grin half-hidden by the pillow. The action pushes his roommate to the edge of the bed, and his hand shoots out to muss up Shirabu’s hair such that it sticks up even more. “Come back when you look more serious.”

“I’m always serious,” the brunet complains, smacking away the hand and trying to smooth the strands down. But he does get off Semi's bed to return to his own, flopping down and pulling the blanket over himself. “I refuse to talk to you any more.”

“Good riddance.”

Shirabu lifts his head to glare at him. “I will murder you myself, one day.”

“But that day is not today,” Semi guesses. The stony glare Shirabu gives him confirms this, and he snickers as he moves to turn off the light. “Well, whatever. I’ve got stuff to do tomorrow, I can’t stay up and argue with you.”

“Thank god,” Shirabu mutters. “Goodnight.”

“Night.”

Semi pulls his blanket over his shoulders, smiling into the darkness as he relives their tussle.

Living with Shirabu can be fun, sometimes.

-----

Semi doesn’t notice him until he’s nearly on top of him, chocolate eyes boring into cocoa, staring, staring, waiting for a reaction.

Semi takes a step back and exhales deeply. “Koushi, could you maybe not do that?”

“Sorry, sorry,” Suga laughs. They fall into step together, heading towards the shops. “Can’t resist, you know? There’s not many people I can sneak up on.”

“I suppose Sawamura isn’t affected by it?”

“Daichi is so placid,” Suga complains. “He never reacts to anything I do.”

“Anything?”

“Well…”

“Nope,” Semi says, putting his palm up in Suga's face. “I know that look. I don’t need any dirty details, thanks.”

Suga shrugs and grins. “Your loss. But you started it.”

“What can I say? You’re a bad influence.”

Suga gasps in mock-affront, putting a hand over his heart. “Eita, how dare you. I have the purest heart–”

“And the dirtiest mind.”

“You got me.” Suga drops his hand and the pretence, his grin wide. “Glad to know you haven’t changed.”

“And you.” Semi laughs.

“Anyway, how've you been?”

“Eh.” He shrugs. “Ups and downs. School life, you know?”

Suga nods. “As it is with all of us. But you know, other than school, what’s up?”

“…we met two minutes ago and you’re already asking for details on my love life?”

“You’re right, I should have asked immediately.”

Semi rolls his eyes. “You really haven’t changed.”

“Nor do you want me to.”

“Touché.”

“So, so? Give me the details.” Suga nudges him as he steers them towards a bookshop, and Semi laughs.

“Nothing's happened. I’m too busy for a love life. My roommate is irritating, but other than that, every other part of my life is fine.”

“Ah, right. Everyone’s younger than you in your year, aren’t they?”

“Most people, yes. Would you believe that I ended up becoming friends with a few of the volleyball players we used to meet at tournaments?”

“Wow. Some luck. Who?”

“Nekoma’s second year setter and Datekou's second year captain. I think he was a middle blocker?”

“You mean when we were third years and they were second years?” Suga asks.

“Yes, yes. I keep forgetting that they became the third years after us.”

“You’re old,” his silver-haired friend teases. “Datekou’s captain, huh? I think he was a wing spiker.” Suga hums as he thinks, tapping his chin. “Yeah. Wing spiker.”

His gaze lifts, and he gives Semi an amused smile. “Kozume-kun and Futakuchi-kun, huh? What unlikely friends.”

“I know right? Wait, you know them too?”

“Kozume-kun is from Nekoma,” Suga reminds him. “Nekoma and Karasuno are ‘fated rivals’. And Datekou is a Miyagi school, same as ours. We used to have practice matches with them.”

“Come to think of it, Kenma might have told me the same thing about your schools a long time ago.”

“Oooh, first name basis. How scandalous.” Suga wiggles his eyebrows, and Semi punches his shoulder lightly. “I’ll tell Hinata, he’ll be so sad that he wasn’t told about this development.”

The ash blond rolls his eyes. “We’re not that kind of friends.”

“Bah. You’re no fun, Eita.”

“You just like gossip.”

“Now, now, let’s not go making false accusations.” Suga shakes a finger at him, a mischievous look on his face. “Tell me more about your uni life instead!”

Semi rolls his eyes and grins. He’s missed Suga’s antics. “Fine. I’ll indulge you. Where was I?”

“I don’t know. Something about your roommate?”

“Right!” Semi snaps his fingers, the words coming back to him. “So, fate decided that I'm not tormented enough and now I’m stuck with Shirabu as a roommate.”

“Shirabu… Isn’t he that underclassman of yours?”

“The one and only.” Semi rolls his eyes. “I must have offended too many people in my past life.”

“Tough luck.” Suga pats him on the arm. “Is he as awful as he was?”

“He has his good and bad days.” Semi pauses, before a smirk creeps across his face, a thought coming to mind. “Although recently, he's been very secretive about some friends of his.”

“Oh?” Suga leans in, eyes glinting.

“And apparently, he has a partner, whom none of our mutual friends know about.”

“Oh.” His friend nods knowingly. “Very curious.”

“And apparently, they’re catching a movie some time today.”

“What? Why didn’t you say so earlier? Let’s go find out who this mysterious partner is!” Suga is suddenly ten times more energetic and tries to drag him out of the bookstore, but Semi pulls him back.

“We don’t know where they went,” he points out, to which Suga rolls his eyes.

“Give me a few minutes and I’ll find out.”

“Aren’t we kind of violating his privacy by doing this?”

“You wouldn’t have told me if you didn’t want to violate his privacy at least a little,” Suga points out, phone already to his ear. He holds up a finger, turning his attention to the person he called. “Hi Tooru-chan. We need a favour.”

Tooru-chan?

“Did I say 'we'? My bad, you don’t need to know who my partner in crime is today.” Suga pauses, brow furrowing at something the other person said. “Can’t help me? Just what sort of important mission are you up to that you would deny me, your best friend– Wow, you’ve got nerve. Iwaizumi’s gonna kill you if he finds out.”

Semi follows in amusement as Suga weaves between bookshelves, talking to someone whom he assumes is Oikawa. “A date? Are you certain? Well then, who’s this mysterious figure? You don’t know? Wow, the great Oikawa Tooru, stumped at last!”

Suga suddenly stops, a hand over his mouth. “No. No way. Oh man, this is too good. Text me your address, we’ll be right there. Why? I’m coming with you, you dense coconut! Plus, this is the perfect scenario for all of us. What? Then go buy tickets! Get three, we’ll be right over. Hurry up, Tooru, don’t lose him now. Bye.”

Suga turns around, then takes a step back, eyes wide at Semi’s close proximity. “Gee, you scared me. But anyway, come on! We’ve got a movie to catch.”

“What? A movie? Koushi, tell me what happened!”

“I’ll tell you on the way.” Suga grabs his wrist and drags him along. “So my informant–”

“Oikawa.”

“Yes, dear old Tooru-chan. He was stalking Iwaizumi to find out who he was going out with and refused to help me, but what do you know?” Suga levels a sly grin at Semi. “The person we’re stalking just so happens to be the one Iwaizumi’s meeting up with.”

Semi stares at him blankly, and Suga uses a finger to close his hanging jaw. “You’ll catch flies. Lots of them, because it’s summer.”

“We’re in a shopping mall, there are no flies here,” Semi replies. “Are you serious, though?”

“About what Tooru-chan said? Yeah, he sounded dumbstruck. I’m pretty sure it is real.”

Semi shakes his head. He doesn’t know if he’s more confused or stunned to finally have the last piece of the puzzle. “Shirabu’s going out with Iwaizumi?”

“Only one way to find out, don’t you think?” Suga grins. “Come on, I just got the text, it’s the next mall over.”

-----

Oikawa is on his phone and tapping his foot impatiently when they spot him. He’s poorly disguised with a white hoodie over a neon pink shirt, coupled with teal bermudas. The sunglasses on his head seem to be slipping, and he pushes them back just as Semi and Suga approach him.

“Tooru-chan. What the hell are you wearing?”

“Clothes, Koushi-chan, clothes.” Oikawa glances up from his device, then does a double-take. “Semi-chan?”

“Nice to see you too, Oikawa,” he replies drily.

Oikawa shakes his head, causing the sunglasses to fall onto his nose. “Nope. Nuh-uh. You said nothing about your partner in crime being him.”

“He is standing right here. And he’s coming with us.”

“No.”

“Yes. No one’s interested in Iwaizumi’s chastity here except you, Tooru-chan. I’ll pay you back later, let’s go catch up with the lovebirds first.” Suga puts his hands on Oikawa’s shoulders and spins him around, pushing him towards the cinema.

Oikawa’s hands flail, making several pointless gestures before they stop dead, falling to his sides. “Wait, you’re here to stalk Shirabu-chan?”

“I have a vested interest in what my roommate does,” Semi tells him. “What Iwaizumi does is none of my business.”

“If the two of them are really on a date, then it’s Iwa-chan's business as well, no?”

“And that’s why, friends, we are here to stalk them and find out, yes?” Suga slings an arm around both of them, easily dragging them along though both are taller than him. “Now come on. This is prime blackmail material. Tooru-chan, which hall is it?”

“Seven. Wait, wrong direction, that’s the other way.”

With a lot more hustling and bustling and whispered arguments about their extremely pure intentions for following their friends, they make it to the movie theatre, only to find that their seats are at the bottom.

“Tooru-chan, how the heck are we supposed to spy on anyone from the bottom?” Suga whispers ferociously.

“Those were the only seats left!” Oikawa whisper-shouts back.

Semi sighs and pushes on their backs. “Just go. Keep an eye out for them as we walk, we don’t want to be spotted.”

Suga twists to wiggle his eyebrows at him. “Eita, you’re learning.”

“I don’t want Shirabu to spot us and start yelling. Not that that’s likely, but you’d never know.”

“Iwa-chan might lob something at me,” Oikawa says thoughtfully. “Best to just go.”

The theatre is already dark, the advertisements rolling. It’s hard to pick out individuals, but Semi thinks that he might have seen someone with Iwaizumi’s spiky haircut on the left upper side of the hall. He points this out to the others only when they’re seated, and the way the duo immediately spin back to check makes him groan. “You two are so not subtle.”

“Shut up, Semi-chan,” Oikawa mutters distractedly. “I don’t see anything.”

“It’s dark, my eyes may be playing tricks on me.”

“So helpful.” Oikawa turns back around, folding his arms and levelling a haughty stare at him. “Why are you here, again?”

“Not for the furthering of your agenda, that’s for sure.”

“Shh,” Suga hisses. “Even if we can’t find them, we can watch the movie. Sometimes the best part happens after movies.”

“He’s right,” Oikawa says. “Iwa-chan’s not the sort to do anything during a movie, he likes watching them too much. He won’t even let me comment during the showing!”

“I can see why,” Semi mutters. Oikawa makes no comment, and the ash blond hopes that it’s just because he didn’t hear him.

The movie is not bad, though it would have been a lot better without Oikawa’s excited murmuring. Semi can hardly focus on the dialogue with the running commentary beside him, and resolves to find the movie online at another time to rewatch.

Then the credits roll, Suga reaches over to tap his hand, and he suddenly remembers why they were all there.

The glow of the theatre screen is enough for him to make out Suga's gestured message: stay until the lights go up, and wait for Iwaizumi and Shirabu to leave before following them.

It sounds easy enough, and Semi leans back, eyes tracking the people streaming out, trying to pick out any silhouettes that look familiar.

He sees nothing of interest – there are individuals and families and the occasional couple, but he does not spot the two young men they are looking for leaving the movie theatre.

“Maybe they’re waiting for the after-credits,” Suga murmurs. “Everyone knows to wait for those.”

Oikawa snorts, motioning to those already leaving. “Not everyone, apparently.”

“Amateurs.”

“Precisely. Now, brilliant as I am, I have never missed an after-credit scene.”

“And yet, you can babble loud enough for the entire cinema to pinpoint your location.”

The trio spin round at the voice, eyes landing on a nonplussed Iwaizumi, Shirabu sitting impassively beside him. Iwaizumi raises his eyebrows at his best friend’s companions. “Oh, Sugawara, Semi. Nice to see you.”

Semi manages to croak out a Hello, and Suga greets them sunnily. Iwaizumi nods to each of them in greeting before his gaze returns to Oikawa. “Oikawa, how did you manage to get them mixed up in your nefarious deeds?”

“I didn’t,” the brunet protests. “It was all– Mmprgh!”

Suga’s smile never wavers though one of his hands is clamped firmly over Oikawa’s mouth. “We were in the area, and a movie sounded like a great idea. We had no idea Tooru-chan was doing something evil.”

A snort draws their eyes to Shirabu. “Pardon me, Sugawara-san, but you’ll have to try harder than that to convince me.”

“Oh?”

Shirabu nods in Semi’s direction. “You brought Semi-san. That’s plenty suspicious.”

“I’m not a terrorist, brat. There’s nothing suspicious about this.”

“Anything you do is suspicious.”

“Excuse me,” Semi protests. He can hear Oikawa cackling beside him, and vaguely wonders when he removed the gag that was Suga’s hand. “I was just watching a movie with friends.”

“We're hardly friends, Semi-chan.” Oikawa reminds.

“Right. A friend and an annoying acquaintance.” Oikawa lets out a squawk at the description, and Suga laughs. Iwaizumi seems to be smiling.

“I don’t believe you.” Shirabu folds his arms, and Semi can hardly suppress his eye roll.

“Believe whatever you like. I have no cause to follow you.”

Shirabu pauses, head cocked as he turns over Semi’s words in his head. “Really…? Hmm. But no one said anything about being followed, Semi-san.”

Semi presses his lips together tightly, refusing to say anything more. His guilty conscience doesn’t know what else he could say that wouldn’t sound incriminating.

“Hold the thought,” Oikawa interrupts, twisting back to face the screen. “After-credit scene.”

All five of them watch the scene in agreed-upon silence, Oikawa grabbing Suga to gush after it ends. Suga nods along but pushes him away. Oikawa is unperturbed, turning around to talk to Iwaizumi instead.

“Iwa-chan! Did you see that? Do you know what it means? I can’t wait for the next part of the series!”

“That’s another half-year to wait.”

“I know!” Oikawa wilts, slumping on Suga's shoulder. “The tragedy.”

Shirabu rolls his eyes, and Semi privately agrees. Oikawa is entirely too dramatic.

“Were you guys sitting behind us this entire time?”

The words come completely out of the blue, and Oikawa and Semi turn to stare at an unapologetic Suga, who doesn’t seem to care that they are facing down a dragon.

Iwaizumi snorts. “No, we came down during the credits. We had way better seats than you guys.” He jerks a thumb backwards, in the direction of the higher seats, but his raised eyebrows hold a question.

“It’s not my fault that all the good seats were taken!” Oikawa complains.

“Yet now all of us have sore necks thanks to you,” Semi says drily.

“You wanted to come along, you dug your own grave.” Oikawa’s smile is saccharine, and Semi has to wonder what it is that Suga sees in him. Aoba Jousai's ex-captain is even more aggravating than Shirabu.

“Yes, about that. Why did you guys follow us?” The Aggravating Underclassman’s expression is carefully blank.

“Now, now, Shirabu-kun, let’s not go making false accusations, shall we?” Suga is still cheerfully optimistic. “Maybe we just wanted to watch this movie.”

“Maybe?”

“Whatever it is, it’s done now.” Iwaizumi raises his arms in a stretch, then slumps against the seat. “Do you guys want to get dinner?”

Everyone turns to stare at him, and he shrugs. “There wasn’t any real damage done, as far as I’m concerned. Just Oikawa being his usual, nosy self.”

“Iwa-chan!” The brunet sounds scandalised. “I have only the purest of intentions for your well-being!”

“I’m twenty, I don’t need your false worrying.”

“False–!”

“So,” Iwaizumi claps his hands together over Oikawa’s complaints and looks around at the others. “Dinner?”

-----

“A bit ironic to be eating fast food, don’t you think?”

“Not really. We’re poor college students, and there are always seats in a fast food joint.”

“Hmm.”

Through some unfortunate luck in drawing lots, Semi has been elected to purchase their food alongside Iwaizumi. It shouldn’t have been awkward, but given his newfound knowledge, plus the tension that had never really dissolved from their high school days… Well, maybe he was mistaken. It was definitely awkward.

Semi turns around at the sound of Suga’s laugh, and Oikawa’s complaints that follow. Shirabu is sitting stonily between them, looking as though he wants to be anywhere but there.

“Semi.”

“Yes?” He turns back to Iwaizumi, who is wearing a curious look on his face.

“I know you’re the most honest of the three of you–” He jerks a thumb towards their friends, “So I’d like to ask: Was Oikawa up to no good?”

Semi pretends to study the menu, dragging out the moment. He sighs after a second, the words bubbling out. “Truthfully, I’m not sure. I only heard Koushi’s side of the conversation, and all I can guess is that Oikawa was curious about who you were meeting up with, so he followed you.”

“I see.” Iwaizumi looks thoughtful. “You say you only heard Sugawara’s side of the conversation?”

Semi figures that nothing worse can happen even if he tells him. “Koushi called Oikawa to ask something, but one thing led to another and suddenly we were going to watch a movie. I’m not too sure how that happened.”

Iwaizumi shakes his head. “Oikawa and Sugawara are masterminds together. I’m not surprised you got dragged into it, or that you’re not sure how it happened. It’s happened to me before.”

“Really?” Semi’s surprised. Iwaizumi doesn’t seem like the sort to be taken in by anyone’s deceit.

“It was the first time I met Sugawara outside of the court. Not an incident I’m particularly happy to recall.” Iwaizumi frowns at their friends, and as if sensing they are talking about him, Oikawa turns around and flashes his signature grin. In response, Iwaizumi turns away without acknowledging him, and Oikawa looks so affronted that Semi laughs.

“I’ve never seen Oikawa look so offended.”

Iwaizumi snorts. “Spend more time with him and Sugawara together. Every other thing Sugawara says offends him.”

“Maybe his words hit a little too close to home.”

“Maybe. Their conversations sound mostly like shit talk to me.”

“Birds of a feather flock together, isn’t that what they say?”

“Oh yes. That’s probably it. No wonder they get along so well.”

It is their turn, and their conversation halts while they place their order and move aside to wait as it is prepared. Iwaizumi drums his fingers on the countertop, and Semi waits, feeling as though he knows what question he’s going to be asked. “Why did you follow Sugawara, once you realised what he was up to?”

Semi glances back at their friends, who are now throwing verbal insults at each other. Iwaizumi follows his eyes, and snorts a little. “Oh. Were you following Shirabu-kun?”

Semi’s a bit surprised at the suffix, but doesn’t comment, storing away that information for later. “I guess so. I have no reason to follow you, but I admit I was a bit curious about Shirabu being your companion.”

“Curious?”

“He never told anyone in our circle of friends that he knew you, so everyone jumped to conclusions about who he’s been going out with.”

“Going ou–? Oh.” A baffled look takes over Iwaizumi’s face, but he doesn’t get to comment, as their food arrives. They take a tray each and walk back to the table, steps slow to ensure nothing gets spilled.

“Semi.” Iwaizumi doesn’t look up from his path, though his words keep flowing. “You and your friends can rest assured that nothing is going on between us. We’re just friends.”

Semi snorts. “Even if you weren’t just friends, you would tell me that. But it’s your private business. There’s no need for you to tell anyone about it unless you want to.”

“Thank you. That is something that Oikawa and Sugawara wouldn’t understand.”

“We can agree on that.”

Their arrival at the table is accompanied by loud rejoicing from Oikawa, with a slightly more subdued reaction from Suga. Shirabu nods his thanks as Semi passes his meal to him though he wrinkles his nose a little, and the ash blond responds by giving him a deadpan stare.

“You two remind me of someone,” Oikawa announces suddenly, pointing at them. “What’s with this silent communication, huh?”

“You just said it, pretty boy. Silent communication. You and Iwaizumi do that too.” Suga throws a fry at him, and Oikawa pops it into his mouth with a grin.

“Aha, but Iwa-chan and I grew up together. These two haven’t. I wonder why they do that.” Oikawa wiggles his eyebrows at them, and Shirabu pins him with an unimpressed look.

“I live with Semi-san. At this point, he’s like the irritating older sibling I never wanted. Seeing him even more, in my own free time no less, is a horrific experience.”

“Watch your tongue,” Semi warns, mimicking Suga’s action and launching a fry at his roommate. “I’ll put bleach in your shampoo.”

“Save it for yourself, Semi-san. Your roots are showing.”

Suga and Oikawa burst into laughter while Semi throws more fries at Shirabu, and even Iwaizumi cracks a smile behind his burger.

Dinner passes by almost too quickly – insinuating comments and jibes thrown by Oikawa and Suga are countered either by Semi and Iwaizumi’s remarks or by Shirabu’s sharp quips. It’s almost fun, and Semi can feel himself relaxing as the evening wears on.

It’s been a while since he had this sort of easy camaraderie, especially with people his age. It’s nice.

They stay on mostly neutral topics – classes and friend groups and of course, volleyball. Semi finally learns that Oikawa and Iwaizumi go to a university pretty close to his and Shirabu’s, and they agree to ask for a practice match between campuses at some point. Their high school rivalry never did resolve, and it would be fun to settle scores now that they are in university.

“It wouldn’t be very fair to the other players, since they don’t know about the never ending feud between Seijou and Shiratorizawa.” Suga comments. “Everyone would wonder what the fuss is about.”

“It also wouldn’t be fair because we don’t have Ushijima-san any more,” Shirabu grumbles. “Semi-san is a setter, not a spiker.”

“Who said you’re going to be the setter?” Semi counters. “You can spike for once.”

“My spiking sucks!”

“Then work on it. Futakuchi can help you.”

“Ew, Futakuchi.” Shirabu wrinkles his nose, and everyone laughs.

“We still have Makki and Mattsun, so we have the advantage,” Oikawa crows. “See if your ragtag team can beat us now!”

“Do you think we can borrow Kuroo and Bokuto for this?” Semi mutters to Shirabu.

“Maybe, if they have free time.”

“I'll ask Kenma to ask.”

“You guys are cheating,” Suga quips, delighted. “Those two aren’t even from your university.”

“Koushi, shh.”

“Iwa-chan, stop them!”

“Hey, I can’t control this, don’t drag me into it.”

Their conversation derails from there. Semi and Shirabu spend so much time arguing between topics that Oikawa and Iwaizumi finally find out that not only do they attend the same university, they share a room. Oikawa pokes fun at Semi for needing to share a room – with his least favourite underclassman no less – and is promptly put in his place by both Iwaizumi and Suga when they reveal that he is sharing an apartment with three other people.

“An apartment is nothing compared to a room,” Semi argues. “You still have the advantage of more space. And privacy.”

“But Makki hogs the toilet all the time. Mattsun is always cooking and the whole apartment never stops smelling like baked goods. I swear, I never feel like eating cookies anymore!”

The brunet turns to Iwaizumi, who sips at his drink, never breaking eye contact. “And Iwa-chan thinks he’s my mum, as usual.”

“Someone has to make sure we get our deposit back.” Iwaizumi shrugs, then glances at the rest of them. “Do you know how much hair he leaves in the bathroom drain every day? It’s like living with a girl, I had no idea he had so much hair.”

“Iwa-chan!” Oikawa squawks. “I am perfect! I do no such thing!”

“Oh, I know,” Suga nods, completely ignoring Oikawa. “The one time he stayed over at my house, my sister got scolded for the hair that he left in our bathroom drain.”

“How irresponsible of you, Oikawa-san. How could you let someone else take the fault for your bad manners?” Shirabu deadpans.

Oikawa launches into a tirade, cursing them and their false accusations, but everyone sees the half-smile on his face, and no one thinks he means it. Semi thinks his face is going to split from so much laughing, but he doesn’t mind. He can’t remember the last time he felt so carefree.

It’s not until later, when they’ve split into groups as they walk to the train station, that the conversation dies down. Where it was a raging river before, the straits have calmed, the rapids settling, trickling into smaller streams with gentler currents. Their pace is leisurely, comfortable, and it feels like the excitement of the day has finally caught up to them, lethargy weighing them down alongside the heaviness of their meal.

Oikawa’s not surging ahead for once, having chosen to hang back with Shirabu. The other three walk ahead, discussing something or the other.

Shirabu eyes the older boy a little suspiciously. It is not like him to be this quiet and contemplative, despite the excitement of their evening. Even during the days that their schools were rivals, he only remembers the other as this contemplative right before he launched an unexpected attack–

Oh, no.

“Shirabu-chan,” Oikawa quietly begins, eyes fixed on the distant figures of their friends, “What are your intentions with Iwa-chan?”

Shirabu refuses to let his emotions show. The change of topic is abrupt, but he can’t say it was completely unexpected. He had been expecting someone to ask, at some point. “With all due respect, Oikawa-san, that’s none of your business.”

“It isn’t,” Oikawa agrees. “But as someone who had been in love with Iwa-chan before, I want to give you a bit of advice.”

Shirabu is too stunned to say anything, too taken aback by his candour and the easiness with which he speaks of such a topic. The lack of a response encourages Oikawa to continue. “Don’t get your hopes up, is what I want to say. Iwa-chan’s a great guy, but he sees most people as nothing more than friends. You’re going to be waiting a long time if you want him to consider you at all, and I think your affections are better spent elsewhere.”

“Oikawa-san,” Shirabu says slowly, “Thank you for your words, but what makes you think that I fancy Iwaizumi-san?”

Oikawa rolls his eyes, not unkindly. “Like I said, I was there once. That face you have around him is the same one that Makki and Mattsun told me I used to make whenever I spoke to Iwa-chan, and he’s my childhood friend. Lovestruck.” He shakes his head, chuckling. “Maybe I’m wrong – I don’t think I am – but if you want to pursue him in that manner and you get rejected, just remember it’s not the end of the world.”

“Oikawa-san, I have had crushes before. I know what life after rejection feels like.”

The older grins slyly at him. “So you admit you like him?”

“I never said that. I just said I know what rejection feels like.”

“Mmhmm.” Oikawa smirks knowingly. “Of course you do. But again, a crush is a crush, and love is something more, don’t you think?”

“I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about.”

“Love is a lot easier than a crush,” Oikawa tells him. “No jittery feelings, just a blossoming warmth. It took me a long time to realise that, myself. But you know what? You’ll get there when you get there.”

“Yes.” Shirabu deadpans. “Thank you for your sagely advice.”

“You’re very welcome.” Oikawa winks and skips ahead. “Come on. I think they’ve found dessert!”

Their friends have indeed found an uncrowded ice cream shop, and they file inside, swarming the display. Shirabu's on the edge of their group, trying to peer at the flavours. He’s not short, but it’s difficult to see with the others blocking his view.

“What are you getting?”

He glances up at Iwaizumi, then turns back to frown at the glass. “I don’t know. Lychee looks interesting, but vanilla is always a safer choice.”

“Why don’t you ask for a sample, then? No point getting something that you wouldn’t like.”

“Good point.” He tries to catch the attention of the server, but Iwaizumi beats him to it. He takes the two spoons from the server with thanks, handing a spoon to Shirabu. “Here.”

“Thank you.” He bites off half the ice cream, artificial flavour exploding across his tongue. He wrinkles his nose, and Iwaizumi laughs around his own spoon.

“Not good?”

“Too sweet.” He eats the rest of the sample anyway, chewing sullenly on the plastic. “What was yours?”

“Blueberry. It’s good.”

“Hmm. Maybe I’ll try that.”

“I’ll ask for you.” Iwaizumi turns back to the server, while Shirabu reaches up to put the spoon in the bin provided.

There’s a nudge on his shoulder, and he turns, only to startle at the sight of a spoon in front of his face. Semi smirks, but shoves the spoon towards him. “You’ll like this one.”

Shirabu stares at the spoon and the teeth marks in the ice cream. “Did you already eat half of it?”

“Yeah, but I don’t like it and I think you would, so you eat it.”

“I am not your dustbin,” Shirabu complains, but closes his lips around the spoon. Semi lets it go, and Shirabu frowns at him around the burst of flavour. “Hey, this is nice.”

“It’s sea salt with something or the other. Told you you’d like it.”

Shirabu grumbles at him and puts the spoon in the bin, accepting the new sample spoon from Iwaizumi. He thinks he hears Semi go back over to where Suga is calling him as he mulls over the new flavour.

“How is it?” Iwaizumi asks.

“Not bad. Maybe I’ll get this one and the other sea salt thing.”

“You must like ice cream a lot.”

“I don’t get to have it often, Iwaizumi-san. Stop judging my diet.” Shirabu huffs.

(The other doesn’t need to know how much he loves the sweet treat.)

Iwaizumi laughs. “No judgement. I watch Oikawa eat too much milk bread daily, it’s just second nature to watch out for others’ sugar intake.”

“Once in a while is fine,” Shirabu insists.

“Yes, that’s true. But how do I know that this is your first time in a while?”

Shirabu’s about to protest when he sees Iwaizumi’s lips twitch. “You’re teasing me.”

“Absolutely not,” the older says, but he’s grinning. Shirabu holds back his initial response, rolling his eyes instead.

After sampling almost all the flavours, everyone decides on what they want. Suga and Shirabu are elected to buy the ice cream while the others go get a seat.

The wait isn’t long, but as they watch the girl prepare their dessert, Suga asks, “Was Tooru-chan lecturing you about Iwaizumi?”

Shirabu stares at him. He had just pushed that conversation to the back of his mind, and here it was being brought up again.

(He should have expected it, but at the same time, he had been hoping that it wouldn’t be brought back up.)

Suga laughs at his expression. “No, we didn’t plan this, if that’s what you’re thinking. I just happen to know how he works, and what he would have spoken to you about. He probably told you not to get your hopes up, right?”

“If you know,” Shirabu starts, “Then why would you ask about it?”

“Because I’m curious,” Suga says simply. “And because I’m as nosy as he is. Now, I haven’t faced rejection the way Tooru-chan has, so my advice is to not listen to him. Take your own feelings into account. He worries for others because he’s a little more fragile and he took that rejection badly. You, I think, are more resilient.” The silver-haired man hands him some of the ice cream cups and picks up the remainder, tilting his head towards their table with a small smile. “Think on it. But for now, shall we?”

Shirabu follows him silently, turning over the words of both young men in his mind. It’s too much for an evening, especially when he had been expecting a quiet afternoon out. He’s getting tired of all the people lecturing him on things he does not want their advice on. He’s quiet as he picks at his ice cream, and only looks up when he feels something nudge his foot.

Semi raises his eyebrows at him, his eyes holding a question, but Shirabu shakes his head. It’s nothing.

The ash blond raises an eyebrow to convey his disbelief, to which Shirabu rolls his eyes. Don’t worry about me.

Semi shrugs and turns back to the conversation that the others are having, allowing Shirabu to push those thoughts aside and focus on the present.

He has plenty of time later to worry about their advice. For now, he is going to enjoy the company of those he is with.

-----

They say their goodbyes at the station, parting to return to their respective accommodations. Shirabu is still rather quiet, but Semi chooses to say nothing. He had seen Oikawa and Suga speaking to him earlier, and figures he doesn’t need any more 'advice'.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?”

He turns to look at Shirabu, whose eyes are closed as he rests his head against the back of the seat. Semi sighs. “No. Should I be saying anything?”

“I figured you might want to add your two cents' worth, since Oikawa-san and Sugawara-san have already done so.”

Semi snorts. “Who am I to give you advice on your love life? Do what you like.”

One eye opens to regard him. “Hmm.”

“What?”

“Nothing. I don’t trust you on that, but I never trust you.” His eye closes, but Semi does not sense any ill intent coming from him.

“What do you mean, you don’t trust me?” Semi protests, half-jokingly.

“I mean, maybe you let something like that slip again…” Shirabu opens his eyes, staring at him unapologetically. “I can’t think of any other reason why Oikawa-san and Sugawara-san would be so open about giving me 'advice’ like that.”

Semi blinks at him, first in confusion, then in anger. “Is that what you’re worried about? Why they decided to give you advice?”

“It is a cause for concern–”

“And you really think that I would do that again? I said I wouldn’t, and I haven’t. Have you stopped to consider that they don’t mind talking about it because they don’t care about the gender of your partner? I get why you’d suspect I told them, but I swear I didn’t.”

“Why wouldn’t they care? It’s not a normal thing, is it?”

“I’m– What– No– Ugh.” Semi presses the heels of his hands to his eyes, groaning. “Why are you saying that?”

“Because it’s true.”

“Are you saying that whatever you or I feel for others is unnatural, then? That anyone else who is like us – who doesn’t fit society's norm – is not normal?”

“To them it is. To us, it’s perfectly fine.”

“Exactly.” Semi points at Shirabu accusingly. “So why are you so hung up on why Oikawa and Koushi decided to talk to you about it?”

“Well, I’m sorry that I don’t know if they are like us or not.” Shirabu snaps. “Is it a crime now to be on my guard?”

“No, but–”

“Let me deal with my life my own way,” Shirabu says viciously. “I was shocked that they could discuss something so openly, considering how most everyone isn’t so accepting. You can’t exactly look at someone and tell if they’re going to accept or condemn you, now, can you?”

Semi bites his words back, knowing he’s right. “No, but I can tell you that Koushi and Oikawa aren’t the sort to condemn you for that.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes.” Semi chooses to ignore the sarcastic bite in Shirabu’s tone. “They – Koushi, at least – is very accepting and open. He wouldn’t judge you for your preferences. I don’t think Oikawa is the sort either. He’s an asshole but not a hypocrite.”

“Hypocrite?” Shirabu looks like he’s beginning to understand, but Semi decides to spell it out for him, just in case.

“Neither of them can judge you when they’re both dating men.”

The silence stretches as Shirabu stares at him. Finally, he says, “Are you sure you are allowed to tell me that?”

“They’re not subtle about it, they wouldn’t mind.” Semi says. “Iwaizumi and Koushi were the ones who told me who Oikawa is dating, so I can guess that he doesn’t care that others know who his partner is. Koushi enjoys flaunting his relationship, so he definitely won’t care that I told you.”

“Okay.” Shirabu’s expression is back to neutral. “And what am I supposed to do with this information?”

“Accept that they didn’t mean any harm by giving you advice.” Semi grits out. “Of course, whether or not it’s useful advice remains to be seen, considering both their natures.”

Shirabu snorts, rolling his eyes. “I know. It was sort of useful, I think.”

“…if you think so.”

They sit in awkward silence for some minutes, neither knowing what to say.

“You're really not going to bother me about it, then?”

Semi glances over, but Shirabu’s not looking at him, his gaze trained on the wall opposite them. He sighs. “No. You don’t need advice on what to do with your life. If you want to date Iwaizumi, go ahead. There is literally no reason that you need to tell me about your love life.”

“I never said I wanted to date Iwaizumi-san.”

“I said if,” Semi points out. “You’re practically admitting it, now.”

“I am not.”

“Are too. But like I said, it’s not my business. Whether you do or don’t date him, you don’t have to tell me.”

“…you don’t care?”

“Shirabu, exactly what don’t you understand about 'It's your life, do what you want’?”

“I didn’t think you’d be that approving of my dating someone. If I was hypothetically dating someone.”

“I’m not your keeper!” Semi throws his hands up in exasperation. “Or your parent! Do whatever the heck you want! As long as you let me know when not to come back to the room and interrupt you or something, I don’t particularly care–”

“Don’t insinuate things, oh my god–”

“You want to date him, it’s bound to happen at some point–”

“Shut up, I never said that, and I’m nowhere near even confessing–”

“You just admitted you wanted to confess, so you like him, at least–”

“Shut up, shut up, I don’t know how to do this, okay–”

“You’re not stupid, just try harder, damnit–”

“You sound like Taichi, shut up–”

“Make me–”

The announcer’s voice comes on, interrupting their argument, and the train slows. Semi claps a hand over Shirabu’s mouth, cutting him off. “Argue later, it’s our stop.”

Shirabu slaps his hand away and follows him sullenly, hands in his pockets. The train station is quiet, though the streets back to the university are generously lit, the lights welcoming as they lead the way. There aren’t many people about because of the hour, and their pace is slow, unhurried.

There’s a sort of peace that surrounds them, tranquillity seeping through their skin, permeating their bones. It’s as if the serenity of the late hour is replacing the tension and weight of any other emotion, allowing them a space, a clear pool untouched by wandering thoughts. Shirabu basks in the rare bubble of tranquillity, feeling the last of the agitation from earlier slip off his shoulders.

His head tilts back, eyes lazily tracing the skyline, searching for stars that are unseen. It makes him smile a little, at the futility of his action. It’s been so long, and of course he knows that the stars are obscured, but he still can’t help looking. It reminds him of another time, almost too long ago – almost a year ago now.

(How time flies.)

“Semi-san.”

“Yeah?”

“Remember when we first met in Tokyo?”

“You mean how we first found out we had to live together?”

“Oh, yes. The horror.” Shirabu sounds so sarcastic that Semi has to crack a smile. “But I was thinking of the time after that, when we went out to find ice cream and yet never did.”

“We– Oh. Yeah, we did, didn’t we?” Semi tilts his head back; his turn now, at searching for lights in the starless sky. “We’ve had ice cream lots of times after that, though.”

“Yeah.” Shirabu is quiet as he thinks. “A lot of times.”

“Enough times that I know you never try any new flavours,” Semi teases. “I was actually surprised that you got flavoured ice cream today.”

“I like trying new things once in a while, geez.” Shirabu kicks at his heel, trying to trip him.

(He doesn’t succeed.)

“No, you don’t.”

“Shut up and let me do what I want.” Shirabu grumbles, and Semi laughs.

“You’ll always do whatever you want, regardless of what I say.”

“You’ve got a point.”

They shuffle along in companionable silence, growing closer and closer to the school, passing by familiar neighbourhoods to reach their destination. There’s a tug on his sleeve and Semi looks down, but Shirabu isn’t looking back at him.

“What is it?”

“Are you going to tell Kenma and Futakuchi?”

“About what?” He thinks he knows what.

Shirabu makes an annoyed sound. “What you saw today.”

“No?” Semi’s puzzled. “Why would I?”

“Because they’re dying to know who my 'mysterious friend' is? Don’t deny it, I know they’ve asked you about it.”

“Again: why would I do that?” Semi is perplexed. “Just because they’re being nosy doesn’t mean I have to indulge them.”

“But you were curious too.”

“So sue me for wondering if you were in bad company all the times that you went out and came home so late.” Semi throws his hands up in exasperation. He seems to be doing that a lot, lately. “It’s your life. I just want to know that I won’t have to wake up to an empty room and the cops at the door because you went missing!”

Shirabu stares at him for a second, then lets out a snort. “You are so dramatic.”

“I’m worried!”

“Yeah, yeah.” His steps slow as he turns to face Semi. “Were you following us on purpose?”

“You never give up, do you?”  Semi groans, raising a hand instinctively to block the punch Shirabu throws. “No, not at first.”

“Not at first?”

“Stop being so dramatic, geez. I was just telling Koushi the usual gossip he wanted to hear and the next thing I know, he’s called Oikawa and all the pieces have fallen into place like some miracle and we’re in the movie theatre.” Semi rolls his eyes. “I had no intention of following you, but Koushi dragged me into it.”

“Oh.” That shuts him up for a bit. “Sugawara-san is a lot sneakier than I gave him credit for.”

Semi laughs. “Oh, you have no idea. You should have heard the story of how he tricked Sawamura into confessing first. That was hilarious.”

“Sugawara-san did– What?”

Semi laughs harder at Shirabu’s stunned expression. “Koushi never lets Sawamura live it down. The story goes that Sawamura was stuttering and delaying it, and Koushi egged him on until he was half-dead with embarrassment.”

“…remind me never to get on Sugawara-san's bad side. Poor Sawamura-san.”

“Well, they’re very happy together, so I wouldn’t say that,” Semi hums. “I think Sawamura came to Tokyo with Koushi, so you can go witness their lovey-dovey stuff for yourself.”

“You want me to be a third wheel? No thanks.”

“Ask Iwaizumi to go with you.”

Shirabu makes a sound like a dying duck. “Then it’s going to look like a double date. No. No, no, no, I am not doing this–”

“For goodness’ sake, you like the guy, just ask him out!”

“It’s complicated!”

“Then uncomplicate it!”

“How!”

“I don’t know!”

They’re standing in the middle of the sidewalk, yelling at each other, and it suddenly occurs to Semi that they are too close to the residential areas to be making a racket, especially this late at night. His gaze darts about, and seeing no one, shushes Shirabu every time he tries to speak, dragging him along.

“We are trying not to be more of a public nuisance,” he hisses to the struggling brunet. “We probably woke up half the blocks with our yelling.”

“You started it,” Shirabu mumbles.

“No, you did.”

“No, it was you. Stop coming up with embarrassing ideas and I won’t have to yell!”

Semi shushes him again. “And if I don’t give you ideas, you’re never going to confess to him!”

“You’re not exactly the poster child for successful relationships, you don’t get to tell me what to do.”

Semi winces, the memory of a certain redhead and another, broader figure coming to mind. “I know what not to do, which is why I’m telling you what you should do.”

“I will muddle my way through my own relationship mess, thank you very much. You and Taichi can keep your noses out of it.”

“I’m helping you here,” Semi says, exasperated. At this point, exasperation is going to be the only emotion he associates with Shirabu. “Ask Iwaizumi to show Koushi and Sawamura around Tokyo on my behalf because I’m busy or something. Only Koushi and you will ever know it’s a double date.”

“…you are more evil than I gave you credit for, Semi-san.”

“Blame Koushi. He’s rubbing off on me.”

They walk the rest of the way back to the dorms in silence. The quiet surrounding them is broken only by the sound of traffic, the scuffle of their shoes on the pavement, the slight whisper of the wind as it passes them by. Each is lost in his own thoughts, but soon they unite in action – pulling at the fabric that clings to their skin, shifting uncomfortably under the straps of their bags.

It is summer, and it is too hot to be in a city, where the lights add to the heat and the buildings never release their stored thermal energy fast enough. But somewhere in the midst of the cloying heat that melts brains, the duo seem to have come to a silent consensus, a remembrance of their truce – the shadow of a memory from times long past.

They trek back to their room, movements almost in sync, and it feels like they’ve found their own little glade of serenity – individualistic yet slightly interdependent. Slightly compromising, that they may coexist.

The night is warm, but they don’t want to turn on the air conditioning. They make do with the fan in their room, shuffling around until they sit comfortably before it, the wind rustling their shower-damp hair.

“Is it warm enough that we can sleep on the floor?” Shirabu asks, eyes closed in the face of the fan.

“We’re gonna catch colds.” Semi counters, but he is considering it.

“Just for one night. We can use the blankets to prevent a chill. Unless it gets too hot, then all bets are off.”

“Well…”

Shirabu leans over and stretches up to his bed, pulling his pillow and blanket down. The pillow is tossed near the fan, and he uses the blanket to cover the floor, much to Semi’s horror.

“The floor is dirty. You’re going to get sick.”

“I’ll do the laundry tomorrow. Do you want to sleep here or not?”

Semi groans quietly, but does not answer. He leans over to his bed and pulls his blanket off as well, making up his own nest on the floor.

It’s way too cramped on the floor for two young men, and they are almost elbow to elbow when they lie down, the fan oscillating, stirring currents above their heads. The lights from outside peek through the gaps in their blinds, playing out across the ceiling. Below the lights, wandering across the short expanse of flattened blankets, fingers shove against each other, pushing back and forth in a lazy war for dominance over the seam where their blankets meet.

One hand draws away first – there’s the sound of rustling fabric, and Semi turns his head to see that Shirabu has rolled over, resting now with his head on his folded hands.

“Semi-san?”

“Hm?”

“Maybe… Maybe we could go on that outing with Sawamura-san and Sugawara-san?”

“‘We’?”

Shirabu makes the dying duck sound. “I can’t ask Iwaizumi-san. Not yet. But I’d like to see Sawamura-san and Sugawara-san's relationship for myself, and since you’re friends with them…”

“I’m mostly friends with Koushi.”

“Still.” Shirabu makes a disgruntled sound. “Please?”

“Only if you do something for me.”

“What?”

“If Koushi tries to insinuate it’s a double date, you’ll help me push him into a fountain or something.”

Shirabu makes another dying duck sound. “Yes. Yes, yes, yes, I’ll help you with that, no problem. Heaven forbid someone assumes that I’m dating you.”

Semi laughs. “Likewise. I’ll message Koushi tomorrow.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Then there’s nothing but the sound of their breathing, but the sound of the fan and its whirring. It’s still warm, but not uncomfortably so, and Semi can feel himself drifting.

He doesn’t really register it when Shirabu calls him next, too lost in the realm of half-sleep. He doesn’t really register the soft touch on his arm, thinking it to be part of a dream. He doesn’t really register the extra warmth at his side nor the shuffling that comes with it, because he is almost completely asleep.

He sleeps on. It’s only later – in the middle of the night, when he’s suddenly a tad too warm – does he realise that the burning warmth in his arms, draped across his side – it smells hauntingly familiar; and the puffs of air on his neck – they may not be the fan, after all.

And maybe he’s a little confused, because even in the space between dreams and reality, he knows, he remembers their conversation, and he knows where the affections of his roommate lie.

But he doesn’t let go, though he scoots away a little so that they might cool down. He doesn’t let go, not though he has one arm draped over the shoulders of this figure that he knows well, not though the fingers connected to that hand and arm are cupping a head, the strands of hair soft and pleasing under his fingertips. He doesn’t let go, but leans in – though he’s still half-asleep, still tangled in the tendrils of a dream – pressing his lips to the curve of skin covered by strands of wayward fringe. He thinks, at least, that this might be Shirabu’s forehead.

And as he inhales the scent of camellia and lye, his lips curve up into a smile. A guilty smile, a secret smile; a smile no one but himself and the night know about.

He drifts, and falls back to sleep.

[hetmusic]

TMR TALKS TO... JOSIN | The Most Radicalist

In this interview feature, we get to know the most radicalist up and coming stars on the planet.       This time we speak with German composer and producer JOSIN. We were first introduced readers to JOSIN last year with her spell-binding single ‘Burning (For A New Start)’, a powerful, haunting and at times gritty portrayal of post-apocalyptic sarcasm and precise production. The song can also be found on the artist’s debut album In The Blank Space, which was released on January 25th this year. We can also count a fan of JOSIN’s as none other than worldwide neo-classical sensation Ólafur Arnalds who praised the multi-instrumentalist in a recent ‘Shout Out’ article. Arnalds said that “her voice sometimes reminds me of a female Thom Yorke - completely unique and emotive”. Naturally, we wanted to know more about JOSIN, the record, and the journey into making her enthralling electronic compositions.

TMR: Here at TMR, we recently reviewed your single ‘Burning (For A New Start)’, a song which seems to stand on the brink of a conclusion and an introduction. What does this song mean for you? I guess both: Endings and beginnings. I often have those moments where I question the way of our modern lives and the impact we have on this planet. In this song I wanted to draw a sarcastic picture of this conscious self-destruction. We know we are part of the bad, but (sometimes) too comfortable or not worried enough to make a change, just asking to make it "better in a next life”. Of course, not all is bad and even though the song seems to be pulling towards an ending of everything, I’m hoping that there will be a new start with and not without us. TMR: You worked with Marc Neckermann on the video, filmed amongst the dramatic Norwegian landscape. How do these visuals relate to the song? Showing how small we are and how majestic the rest is! How beautiful this wonder we are allowed to inhabit is. But also, how connected we are to it. In the last seconds of the video, lying at the edge of that amazing cliff we found randomly by just driving by, it could be an ending or a beginning. Either way it would be ok, because everything is connected. TMR: ‘Burning (For A New Start)’ features on your debut album, In The Blank Space, which is an alluring, haunting and beautiful adventure into your sound. You must be pleased to have your first record out there? Yes. Finally sharing it and having been able to do it with no compromises is a gift. It was a tough journey of many years also but nothing I would want to miss for my first full-length record. And also, just the fact of releasing it made me appreciate it in a new way. It's alive now because it's shared with others and that gives me lots of positive energy back. TMR: The album’s title-track is a particular favourite of Ólafur Arnalds, who we interviewed for a ‘Shout Out’ piece, but for you why was this important to be the opening song? Yes, that ‘Shout Out’ is such an honour as I’m loving Ólafur Arnalds' music so much. ‘In The Blank Space’ was the last track I wrote for the album and it just hit the right emotions for me to not only make it the opening track but also name the record after it. Like the album started as a blank space for me, the listener is invited into that space and to create an own one. The key message of this track is that the nothingness is full of everything. Everything you long for is out there, if you trust it. And the story behind the track was exactly such an experience: It was written at a time where I thought I couldn’t create anymore - kind of stuck, trying to push things and just nothing happened. Until I let go. Beside all that you’re also always most excited about your latest song - could be a reason for the opening too :) TMR: Your journey to becoming a musician wasn’t a usual one as you pursued a potential career in medicine before making the switch to an artistic path. Was there a distinct moment when you made that dedication to music? Not really a distinct moment but more a process. Realising that I couldn’t do both and trying to find out what I'll regret more took some time. Even though the path of music is very challenging, it's the thing that makes me feel alive the most. That's when I knew I made the right choice. TMR: Both of your parents are opera singers, did their musical leanings into a more classical realm have an influence on your style? I’m sure it has. But more in a subtle way, just by being exposed to so much classical music. I never learned music theory and my parents didn’t expect me to follow their path. It was more the opposite! I think I didn’t realize my unconscious musical formation until I started to work with classical instruments in my productions, somehow knowing what strings or horns do. TMR: Of course, your music is primarily electronic, what drew you to electronic music? I like that it's so rational. But in the right combination it's also what touches me most musically. I wanted to be way more electronic on the album, but somehow I stayed in between the two worlds. TMR: You’re a self-taught producer as well, so when did you start learning? And what were your first tools? It started with my first computer when I was 20. And Garageband. Oh there’s a hard drive with all those old, first projects! Later and still today Logic. And still learning - sometimes I wished somebody would’ve taught me how to do things “the right way”. I think I'm doing a lot of detours in my productions to get where I want to. But I guess everyone has their own style and in all those years I have found ways to translate what’s in my head into sounds. TMR: Who are the producers your most admire? Recently it's Jon Hopkins. I love the way he textures the percussive parts and uses sounds to lead you through that maze. TMR: Now that In The Blank Space has been released, what are your plans for this year? Perhaps some live performances? There’s a tour coming up in October, also in the UK, and my plan for it is to develop my live set further. Finding (new) ways to perform my songs, maybe collaborate with other people and writing new songs. Yes, working on new music and finding the time for inspiration is something I’m looking forward to a lot.

http://www.themostradicalist.com/features/tmr-talks-to-josin/

[asking-mystic-messenger]

Hi! Do you mind if I request a HC with MC who can't focus on their paper and wanna give up, and comfort by the rfa( + v and Saeran if that's ok for u) . My deadline is tmr and I am totally lost now... Thank you:)

Well in the way that I tend to write papers…um I started this request way too late…sorry about that…hope your paper went okay!

But honestly…yeah this happens every time i have to write a paper so I get this on a personal level, but I’m so sorry that this literally took me 4 months to write….

But really I love getting requests for Saeran. He’s precious. 

Yoosung:

If anyone understands not being able to focus on school work it’s him

Also the urge to give up on schoolwork is familiar

He’s really been in that situation far too often for comfort, but he’s figured out some things that help him work through the desire to just avoid the work and would definitely try and help them out

Even if it’s late at night and they haven’t started, he’s ready to help. 

He’ll make coffee and is prepared to stay awake the whole night just to help them edit and to help keep them motivated

He’ll even put away LOLOL for the night. It’s just the two of them and the weight of the school work they’ve been putting of 

Jaehee:

She’s a master at being stressed and at getting more work done in a short period of time than should even be physically possible. 

Really it’s impressive 

Again she has coffee or tea or really any nice warm caffeinated drink theylike to help keep them both awake while they work

She’s a fantastic editor, so even if she can’t help very much with the writing of the actual paper, she can make sure that there are no mistakes with grammar or spelling

But honestly, she’d probably be pretty good at helping with the actual paper too, considering what a good student she was and how hard working she is 

Even so…she’s probably going to be disappointed that you didn’t start earlier. She’s one of the best people to help out, but also there’s a chance you may have disappointed Jaehee 

Zen:

He dropped out of school pretty early, but even so, writing papers was never his academic strength 

Still, he’d be right by their side while they worked and he’d help them in any way he could

He’d love just listening to them talk about what they were writing about 

He’s a great person to bounce ideas off of and he can tell them what sounds like a good idea to use and stuff like that, just don’t ask him for help with the actual writing and construction of the paper

He definitely reads it aloud dramatically, just to make them laugh and to take their mind off of the stress involved with actually writing the paper 

He will read it at the end too, but again, he isn’t going to be much help with the technical writing aspect of it. 

Jumin:

They need help?

He’ll literally take off of work to help them. 

He’ll hire someone

He’ll do anything and everything to help them get that paper done and he won’t leave their side until it’s finished. 

He was pretty good in school too, so he’s more than willing to read it and edit and make suggestions if you guys think that would help at all. 

Seven:

He’s both smart and a procrastinator which are honestly two of the worst things to be as a student. He knows how it feels to be the student who has a paper due the next day that they haven’t even started and he’s willing to help out in any way he can

He’s probably the best person to go to for this sort of thing. 

Seriously though. He’s a genius. He can write a better paper in two hours than most people can write in a month. 

Going to him for help will likely result in feeling like an idiot, but he’s super nice about helping out and explaining too 

Also the only food and drink around while working is going to  be PhD Pepper and Honey Buddha Chips so that’s fun too 

Saeran: 

He never went to school

He’s still a genius and I’m almost positive he can read and write at least pretty well, but he doesn’t have any actual schooling 

He’s good at helping compose ideas and organize a paper and can even help with writing it, but he’s not especially helpful when it comes to the grammatical aspect of writing. 

something that’s probably a good thing is the fact that he has a truly awful sleep schedule so he won’t mind staying up all night to help.

Once they’re done writing he’s probably going to make them cuddle with him as payment for his help which neither of them really mind.