#notes from adi

[kadhal]

i like jjk so much that i hate it

[fallstaticexit]

This was fun 🤭 I also realize the way I view their height doesn’t always translate in game esp with poses so this was pretty cool to see for myself

LINK for anyone wanting to try this out!

[mycroftrh]

People do always love to be like “oh Anakin was so stupid, keeping secrets for no reason, he should’ve just told the Jedi about Padme and everything would’ve been fine, doesn't he know Ki-Adi-Mundi was given an exception for survival of the species to have wives in Legends”

And when rewatching RotS I was forcibly reminded: he wanted to. He wasn’t actually the problem there. It was Padme.

Padme: Wait, not here. Anakin: Yes, here. I’m tired of all this deception. I don’t care if they know we’re married. Padme: Anakin, don’t say things like that.

A few scenes later, it’s Padme, again, not Anakin, who says:

Padme: If the Council discovers you’re the father, you’ll be expelled.

And Anakin who’s like “don’t freak out about that now, just enjoy that we’re about to have a baby”.

Back in Attack of the Clones, it was technically Anakin who offered the idea of a secret relationship first, but it was in response to Padme being insistent that he would be expelled from the Order:

Padme: You listen. We live in the real world. You come back to it. You’re a Jedi Knight…. Jedi aren’t allowed to marry. You swore an oath, remember? You’d be expelled from the Order. I will not let you give up your responsibilities, your future, for me. … Anakin: It wouldn’t have to be that way. We could keep it a secret. Padme: …Could you live like that? Anakin: No.

And then it was Padme who first introduced the idea of lying to Obi-Wan:

Padme: Ani, I told you I wouldn’t let you give up your future for me… Anakin: What about Master Obi-Wan? Padme: I guess we won’t tell him, will we?

And also Anakin, rather importantly, as you may have noted in the conversation a bit above, actually believed that a secret relationship was a bad idea in the first place, to the point that he stopped making advances on Padme because of it, until suddenly she started making advances on him:

Anakin: You love me?! I thought we decided not to fall in love. That we would be forced to live a lie.

And the thing is. Like. Anakin’s number one source of stress in Revenge of the Sith is that he does not want to be keeping secrets, and everyone around him is trying to force him to. From Obi-Wan to Palpatine to Mace and Yoda to, yes, very much Padme, as we saw in the very first quote above.

The Jedi are trying to make him keep secrets from Palpatine, which he very openly hates; Palpatine’s trying to make him keep secrets from the Jedi, which he also expresses extensive upset about and eventually refuses to do any longer; Padme’s making him keep their relationship secret when he explicitly doesn’t want to.

And he actually takes every possible opportunity to tell someone the truth about something, for the first three quarters of the movie!

He’s considering keeping the dreams secret from Padme for about three seconds before she’s like “Be honest with me” and he immediately tells her, honestly, without minimization or deflection. And then the very next scene, probably less than five minutes of screentime after the vision itself, is him telling Yoda, in as much detail as Padme’s rules will let him.

He doesn’t tell Palpatine about the Jedi Council’s plans because he’s trying so hard to be good and obedient towards everyone at the same time, but he’s so visibly upset about it that Palpatine deduces. (I firmly believe Palpatine had him put on the Council specifically so they would tell him to spy on Palpatine and thus break his trust in them, but that’s a side point.) Anakin dutifully ferries all information he’s given back to the Jedi Council without, as far as I can see, filtering it at all.

And the big one, of course - he learns Palpatine’s the Sith and immediately runs to tell Mace Windu.

(And Mace proceeds to only half-believe him, which, frankly, doesn’t make sense? He says “If what you told me is true, you will have gained my trust” but like. Mace’s primary concern about Anakin’s loyalties seems to be that he thinks Anakin’s loyal to Palpatine over the Jedi, in which case… what kind of next-level Machiavellian reverse-psychology triple-agent plan did he think Anakin had, that involved lying to Mace about Palpatine being MORE of a threat than they had believed and suggesting Mace go arrest and/or execute him, advising maximum force? It turns out Anakin is, in some ways, playing into Palpatine’s plans by doing this, but like… that’s because Anakin is telling the truth, and the truth is the problem here, and if he had been lying, things would’ve been fine for the Jedi. But that’s somewhat beside the point.)

Like. It’s been established since Phantom Menace that Mace and Yoda both tend to not be… friendly, let alone understanding, towards Anakin, and that continues to be the case in Revenge of the Sith, and yet still his first response is to run to them with any big truth he has, because they’re the Proper Authorities, and he hates secrecy, and he’s reaching out for any life-raft he can find.

Anakin is, in the end, the one who killed the younglings, yeah. But the secrecy? That was never his problem.

In conclusion - behold, Anakin’s synthesis:

[ppyopulii]

send-off ⏳ (demo ver.) | ft. choi seungcheol

PREVIEW. “I have no words for them other than ‘take care.’ I have nothing to say that will comfort worries should they have any.”

FEATURING. choi seungcheol x reader GENRE(S). established relationship, hurt/comfort LENGTH | WC. <10min | 1k words EXPLICITS. one (1) curse word, descriptions of kissing

JAY’S MUSINGS. this… was supposed to be a 200 word drabble. my heart goes out to @etherealyoungk and @junplusone. thank u for watching me crash out about caratland. and of course, lots of love goes out to csc today and tomorrow and forevermore. u will always be their #1 role model, cheollie.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE. unlovable by glowie // honesty by pink sweat$ // lover by taylor swift // soldier, poet, king by the oh hellos // tahanan by adie // love. by wave to earth

“What’s in your heart?”

There’s a heaviness piling on Seungcheol’s character, one that knots his shoulder blades together and wears on the crease in between his eyebrows. Your whisper of a question to him has a breath stuttering out of his throat in response.

His grip on his phone loosens, and a quick glance at the screen confirms your worries. It’s a viral edit of various CARATLAND adventures; Wonwoo’s bright smile molds into Jeonghan’s smirk and makes your heart sink. You can only guess that the next member to appear is Soonyoung, and you’re proven right when the video automatically replays to showcase the energetic dancer.

You sigh.

“Cheol,” you press a kiss to his shoulder, taking note of the tense muscle and reminding yourself to make him a cup of his favorite tea in a bit. “Let’s go to bed, yeah? You’ve had a long day.”

He doesn’t answer you right away. Instead, your husband lets his phone clatter to the coffee table’s mahogany wood, running a hand through his hair. It’s kept a little longer than usual, freshly dyed with red streakings, something you suggested to him when he was looking for new inspiration on how to style it.

You’re about to call out to him again when Seungcheol squeezes his eyes shut.

“What kind of leader am I?”

His voice is quiet in volume, but the question echoes throughout your dimly lit living room, bouncing off the walls of framed photos and hanging plants.

“I–” Seungcheol starts, before running another hand through his hair, “I’m supposed to be the strong one. The one that they look up to in hard times. What kind of model do I serve as when I can’t be there for them through something as big as enlistment?”

“I have to sit back and watch them enlist, one by one, and all I can do is wish them well. Jeonghan-ah and Wonwoo–” his voice breaks on the last syllable of Wonwoo’s name, “They’re not on active duty. But what about Jihoon-ah? Or Hoshi? I have no words for them other than ‘take care.’ I have nothing to say that will comfort worries should they have any.”

He ends with burying his face in his worn, calloused hands. They’re rough to the touch, you know firsthand—but you take in the way Seungcheol’s right pinky is laced with a silver ring and a gold band is wrapped snugly around his left ring finger, eyes drawn to the polished metals with awe. The reason they fit so perfectly with nothing more than a speck of rust is his continuous, present care—damned be the experience his hands have been through.

“Seungcheol,” you murmur, resting your chin on his shoulder before snaking your arms around his hefty torso. “Seungcheol. Your presence is enough. It will always be enough.”

“How good can my presence be if I don’t even—”

“They are not asking you to live their life for them through an unknown chapter,” you cut him off sharply. “They are not asking you to teach them the ways of the world. They are asking you to be there. To stand with them and listen to them and be present.”

Seungcheol, oh, your Seungcheol—he’s crying, pulling his crewneck up to hide his red-rimmed eyes and turning into your body to shield himself from the world. You draw soothing, long circles across his back as he weeps, taking deep breaths to keep your own tears at bay.

“I know you burden yourself with the task of being their leader,” your voice is softer now, dulled with your love for him. “You have for the past decade now. But this? They are not asking you to lead them. They are asking you to simply be their friend.”

“And you are,” you gently push his sweater down and bring his face to yours, hands wiping away his salty tears. “And you will be. I know you will.”

He hiccups before leaning into you, rubbing his face along your fingers that so eagerly hold him. You pay no mind to the snot and saltwater; how could you, when you’re currently holding your whole universe in your hands?

His eyes are closed, eyelashes curling with every breath, and you softly press your lips to his right eyelid. Seungcheol barely stirs. You continue, kissing his left eyelid, then his temple, before murmuring sweet words of comfort to each of his blushing cheeks.

“You’ve done well, Cheollie.” Your lover is now gripping your face with those lovely toughened hands of his own, lips quivering while he kisses you with all the strength he has left in him. “There is no more to be asked of you from anyone. You have proven yourself, a thousand times over.”

“Thank you,” he sobs against your mouth; you welcome another open-mouthed kiss, his teeth clinking against yours. “Thank you. I love you. What did I do to deserve you? To deserve them?”

You giggle, the sound reverberating through your living room and whisking away all of his shadowing thoughts. He quietly laughs along with you, a chuckle that warms you to the bone, and you know your Seungcheol is back.

He clasps his hands over yours and smiles at you; you can feel the heat radiating off his fingers that meets the cool metal band of your own wedding ring, and Seungcheol thumbs over it like a promise. His eyes are shining despite his tears.

“Nothing, silly,” you finally answer. “You did nothing but be yourself. And isn’t that enough?”

Choi Seungcheol kisses you like it’s the last breath he’ll ever take.

“And isn’t that enough,” he echoes.

[itsgiovanna]

playing for love (chapter 10)

pairing: fem!character x mason mount

summary: injured and lost, mason mount begins his recovery with the help of adeline alderidge, a tough yet brilliant physiotherapist. but, some wounds don't heal easily, and the closer they get, the more mason realizes she might need saving just as much as he does.

notes: two chapters in last than 3 days? ok, i'm really spoiling you guys with almost 10k worth of words with this one, lmao. enjoyyyyy 🤍

word count: 9.2k

warnings: making out scene and that's it.

next: chapter 11

tag list: @avalentina @a1leexxa

They’d kissed.

After all the moments, the tension, the quiet glances — they’d finally kissed. Mason's chest was still tight with the remnants of it, the echo of her lips on his making it hard to focus on anything else. It had been exactly what he’d wanted, what he’d been craving — the kiss had been deep and real, a promise of something more between them. And yet, as they pulled apart, there was something else — something softer, like relief, as if they’d both been holding their breath for too long and finally exhaled.

Adeline looked at him, her eyes wide and searching, like she was still trying to process everything. She was beautiful, her cheeks flushed, her lips slightly swollen from their kiss. Mason wanted nothing more than to kiss her again, but he sensed she was uncertain. It started raining outside, the soft pitter-patter against the glass as soothing as it was ominous.

"That was..." she whispered, her voice still a little breathless. She didn’t move, but her gaze flickered between his lips and his eyes.

Mason smiled softly, his thumb gently brushing over her cheek, lingering just for a moment longer than necessary. "Yeah." he agreed, a light laugh in his voice. "I think we've both been waiting for that."

Adeline nodded, though her eyes stayed somewhere near his lips, a faint pink tint on her face.

It was quiet again, but it wasn’t awkward. There was a comfort in the space they shared now, a new intimacy. She looked like she was still processing everything — he could see the way her brows furrowed ever so slightly, like she was trying to figure out what to do next.

"Do you want to go back?" Mason asked gently, his voice sincere. He wasn’t sure if she did — with the rain pouring down harder now, and her thoughts still heavy from the kiss, he knew she might not want to face Stella and her date making out in the apartment. It wasn’t a situation that would make anyone feel great, especially not after everything that had happened between them tonight.

Adeline’s lips parted slightly as she seemed to consider it. "I’m not sure." she finally admitted, glancing back toward the window where the rain seemed to blur the world outside. "I don’t know if I want to go back there and deal with... that."

Mason hesitated, but then a thought hit him, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Well...” he said softly, stepping just a little closer to her. “I do have a suggestion.”

Her eyes lifted to meet his, curiosity mixed with hesitation. “What’s that?”

He grinned. “You could stay here tonight. It’s the weekend, and you’re already here. Besides.” he added, looking toward the flat. “You can get familiar with the place. See if it feels like somewhere you could settle into.”

Adeline looked at him, her lips parting, as though she was weighing the thought. He saw her glance toward the couch, where Lily had fallen asleep, her small frame curled up under the blankets.

“Lily’s out like a puppy.” he continued, his voice soft and inviting. “It’s the perfect time to get some rest. Plus, it’s pouring out there.”

Her gaze softened as she looked at the guest room, then back to him. He could tell she was torn — she was a little apprehensive, but the warmth in the room, the quiet atmosphere, and the fact that it was all starting to feel right probably made her reconsider.

“You sure you don’t mind?” she asked, a small, uncertain smile on her lips.

“I don’t mind at all, Ady.” Mason assured her, his voice steady. "Just think of it as... a sleepover. You and Lily are welcome to stay for as long as you need.”

Adeline sighed, her eyes meeting his again. After a beat, she nodded. “Okay. I’ll stay. Just for tonight.”

Mason’s chest swelled with relief and something more — something warm. “I’ll get you settled in.” he said, turning toward the guest room.

(...)

Mason walked into the guest room and smiled at how deeply Lily was sleeping. It was comforting in a way, how still and peaceful she was. Carefully, he pulled the blanket up over her and tucked it in around her. She didn’t stir, her face soft in sleep.

As he turned to leave, he paused for a second, looking back at her. It was hard not to get lost in thoughts about how quickly his life had changed, but in the best way. Lily’s small, quiet presence in his life, and now Adeline... He could feel that it was all shifting, evolving, into something he hadn’t expected.

When Mason stepped back into the living room, he found her there — curled up on the end of the couch, knees drawn up, arms wrapped loosely around them. Her eyes were on the rain tapping against the window, her expression unreadable in the low light.

He paused in the doorway for a beat, just watching.

The soft golden glow of a lamp behind her made her look like something out of a quiet dream — warm, serene, a little faraway.

“Rain’s getting worse.” he said gently, voice cutting through the hush.

Adeline turned slightly, her cheek resting on her knees. “It’s peaceful, though. I like it.”

He smiled and padded across the room, sinking down next to her on the couch, close enough that their knees touched. “Yeah. It makes the whole world feel… slower. Like we’re the only ones awake.”

Her lips twitched into a smile. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”

He tilted his head toward her. “Not bad at all.”

Her eyes met his, and Mason felt a flicker of something in the air. It was different from before — deeper, more intimate. There was still uncertainty there, but it was mingled with something he couldn’t quite place. His thumb brushed over her arm as he leaned in just slightly.

“Adeline.” he murmured, his voice barely a whisper.

“Yes?” she whispered back, her breath catching a little as she waited for him to say something more.

Before he could speak again, his lips found hers, gentle at first, slow. This kiss was different than the first — softer, but with the same undeniable pull. It deepened gradually, and Mason felt her relax against him, her lips moving with his in a perfect rhythm. He let his hands slide to her back, pulling her closer, feeling the warmth of her body pressing into his.

Mason’s lips moved against hers with a fire he hadn’t realized he’d been holding back. Her hands were in his hair now, tangled and desperate, while his arms wrapped around her like he never wanted to let her go. When she shifted, sliding onto his lap — legs gently bracketing his sides — something in him nearly snapped. His hands gripped her hips, grounding himself, as her body pressed even closer to his.

It was heat and longing and a thousand quiet thoughts neither of them had dared to say out loud — all of it pouring into a kiss that felt like it had been building since the moment they met.

And then she felt it.

Her breath hitched — just slightly — as the realization hit, right there beneath her. Her body tensed against his, just enough for Mason to pull back a fraction and look into her eyes. Her cheeks were flushed, lips slightly parted, breath uneven. But there was something else too — something startled and soft and almost shy.

“Are you…” she started, voice quiet, uncertain.

Mason blinked, still breathless. “Uh… yeah.” he said, a little sheepish, his lips quirking up into a crooked grin. “Can’t really help it when you’re literally on top of me looking like that, by the way.”

Adeline let out a half-laugh, burying her face in the crook of his neck, mortified and flustered all at once. “God, Mason…”

“I know, I know.” he murmured, chuckling as he gently stroked her back. “I ruined the moment. Or, well, you kind of ruined me, technically.”

She laughed again, the sound muffled against his skin, and then pulled back enough to meet his eyes. Her expression was gentler now — softer, more grounded, though her cheeks were still pink.

“I think we should stop.” she said, brushing her fingertips lightly over his jaw. “Not because I don’t want to keep going — because trust me, I do — but…”

“But... you want this to be more than just a moment.” Mason finished for her, his voice quieter now, sincere.

She nodded, eyes locked on his. “Exactly. I don’t want it to feel like a reaction.”

“It doesn’t.” he assured her, brushing his thumb over her cheek. “But I’m glad you said it. Because if we keep going…” He exhaled a shaky breath, smiling again. “I’m not sure I’d stop.”

“So much for a gentleman.” Adeline gave a teasing raise of her eyebrows.

“Oh, I’m still a gentleman.” he said with a smirk, sliding his hand to her waist. “Just… one who’s been very, very patient.”

That made her laugh, and she leaned in to kiss him again — this one slower, warmer, a kiss of gratitude and promise.

She rested her forehead against his afterward, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Thank you. For making me feel… safe. And wanted.”

Mason’s hands slid to the small of her back, keeping her close. “You have no idea how wanted you are.”

And they sat there for a while, hearts racing and lips still tingling, the sound of the rain wrapping around them like a lullaby. They didn’t have to rush. For the first time in a long time, everything felt like it was exactly where it was meant to be.

(...)

The first light of morning was pale and golden, stretching quietly through the curtains and warming the living room with a sleepy stillness.

Mason stirred slowly, his body stiff from the awkward angle he’d fallen asleep in — but he didn’t move. Not right away.

Because Adeline was still there. Tucked into his side, her legs curled beneath her, one hand resting gently on his chest. Her hair was a little messy, strands brushing his chin, and her breathing was soft — calm in a way he hadn’t seen very often.

His arm was wrapped around her waist, keeping her close. The blanket had fallen halfway off, but neither of them seemed to mind the cool air. It wasn’t cold, not with the warmth still humming between them.

Mason’s heart beat a little faster remembering the night before — the kiss, the way she looked at him, the way she’d sat on his lap like it was the most natural thing in the world. The way she stopped things before they went too far, her body trembling against his. The way she smiled after.

He glanced toward the window. The sky was grey, but the rain had stopped.

Adeline stirred against him, her lashes fluttering before her eyes opened slowly. She blinked, looking up at him, and for a moment they just stared at each other — no words, just a quiet acknowledgment that something had shifted between them.

“Morning.” he murmured, voice still rough from sleep.

“Hi.” she whispered, barely awake, lips curling slightly. Her cheeks flushed as she seemed to remember where she was — and with who.

She didn’t pull away.

Mason smiled, brushing her hair back gently. “You drooled on me.”

Adeline let out a soft laugh, hiding her face against his chest. “Liar.”

“I'm serious.” he said, grinning. “It’s okay. I’ll allow it — just this once.”

"You're so dramatic, Mase." She let out a muffled laugh against his chest.

“And, yet, you keep coming back.” He nudged her gently, his hand rubbing slow, affectionate circles on her lower back. “Kinda your fault, really.”

“Maybe I like drama.” Her voice was still hushed with sleep.

“Careful, Ady.” he warned playfully, leaning in to nuzzle her temple. “I’m dangerously close to taking that as permission to start chaos.”

Adeline shifted slightly, moving to look up at him more fully. Her eyes still carried sleep, but there was something warmer there now — something unguarded. “You already do. Just in very charming ways.”

“Charming, huh?” Mason’s thumb brushed along her cheekbone.

“Don’t let it go to your head.”

“Too late.”

Her smile faltered just a little as she studied him, fingers still resting over his chest. “I… I don’t usually wake up like this.”

Mason gave her a small, knowing smile, brushing a strand of her hair back gently. “Yeah.” he murmured. “I mean… I used to.”

Her brow arched, teasing already in her tone. “Shocker.”

He laughed under his breath, not denying it. “Okay. There were a few... mornings.” His fingers grazed her waist, his voice softer now. “But none that felt like this.”

Adeline’s teasing faltered just slightly, a spark of something warmer catching in her chest.

Mason held her gaze, his thumb tracing a light line over the side of her arm. “Waking up next to someone and not wanting to move… that’s new.”

She blinked, taken a bit off guard by his honesty, the weight in his voice.

“You’re trouble, Alderidge.” he added with a quiet grin. “Didn’t see you coming.”

She smiled, letting her fingers trail lightly down the fabric of his shirt. “Guess that makes two of us, Mount.”

And for a few heartbeats, they just lay there, quiet and warm in each other’s space — before that knock broke through the soft stillness.

His entire body tensed.

Adeline’s brows drew together slightly as she looked up at him. “Was that—?”

“Shit.” Mason muttered, eyes going wide. He sat up a little too fast, nearly knocking her off the couch. “Sorry. I— I completely forgot.”

She blinked, dazed and slightly amused. “What?”

This time the knock was followed by the very recognizable sound of Ben Chilwell’s voice.

“Oi, Mounty! Open up, mate, it’s freezing out here!”

Mason winced. “Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.”

“Who is that?” Adeline sat upright now, the blanket pooling around her waist.

“Ben. And probably Declan too.” He raked a hand through his hair. “They’re giving me a lift to training. I said I’d join a light session today, remember? I was supposed to meet some of the lads and the coach. They’re just here for moral support.”

“You forgot your own training session?” she asked, somewhere between amused and horrified.

“Well, yeah— I was distracted.”

“By what?” Her eyes narrowed playfully.

“You. Obviously.” Mason smirked, pressing a quick kiss to her shoulder.

She shoved his chest lightly, laughing, but the knock came again — followed by Declan’s voice this time.

“Mase, I swear to God if you made us come out in the cold for no reason—”

“Okay, okay!” Mason stood up, looking toward the hallway. “You.” he pointed at Adeline, voice low and teasing, “Stay out of sight. Or don’t. Actually, I’m kind of into the idea of watching Ben lose his mind.”

Adeline was already standing, smoothing down her shirt and glancing toward the hallway. “No way. I’m not ready for that kind of morning chaos.”

“Bedroom’s right down there.” he said, gesturing, voice gentler now. “Guest room. Lily’s still asleep. Just... stay there for now. Please?”

She nodded, hesitating for only a second before slipping down the hallway silently.

Mason let out a breath, ran a hand over his face, and made his way to the front door.

When he opened it, both Declan and Ben were there, coffees in hand, and identical expressions of smug suspicion.

“Well, someone’s glowing.” Ben looked him up and down.

“You told us to meet you at your old place and then didn’t answer for ten minutes. Thought you’d fallen back into a coma or something.” Declan gave Mason a look.

“I forgot what day it was.” Mason muttered, stepping aside as Ben followed Declan in, eyeing the living room suspiciously. “Also, it’s Sunday, who wears jeans to answer the door?”

Ben sniffed the air. “Is that... shampoo and rain?”

Mason rolled his eyes. “You're both exhausting.”

“Is someone here?” Declan asked, suddenly peeking into the kitchen like he expected to see a woman holding a pan. “You’re acting suspicious, mate.”

“Nope.” Mason said, too quickly. “Just me. I was—resting.”

“Resting on the couch with two mugs on the table and an extra blanket?” Ben cocked his head.

Mason groaned. “You know, I thought I missed this—your charming commentary. Turns out, I didn’t.”

Declan flopped onto the couch. “Mate, we’re just glad you’re coming back today. Three months without you giving us grief has been unbearable.”

“Yeah, yeah. Thanks for coming.” Mason grinned despite himself.

As the boys settled in, Adeline’s soft footsteps creaked down the hallway. She didn’t mean to be seen — probably just checking on Lily — but Ben caught the movement.

“Was that—?” He turned sharply toward the hallway.

Mason froze.

“No way.” Declan’s eyes went wide.

Adeline stepped into view, half-wrapped in the blanket she’d carried with her, trying to pretend she hadn’t just heard everything.

“Mounty.” Ben’s jaw dropped.

Mason sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Right, so this is happening.”

Adeline looked at Mason, cheeks pink, unsure whether to laugh or hide again. “Uh—morning.”

Ben practically jumped to his feet, looking between her and Mason like he’d just uncovered a government conspiracy. “Mount, you absolute rat! You said you were crashing here alone for the weekend!”

“I was.” Mason said flatly. “Then plans changed. And I forgot you two were showing up at the crack of dawn.”

Declan, far less surprised than Ben, just smirked from the armchair, giving Mason a pointed look. “I knew something was up when you told me not to come to your place.”

Ben turned toward Adeline, all grins now. “You could’ve warned us, you know. Dropped a hint. Sent up a flare.”

“Sorry. I left my flare gun at home.” Adeline tightened the blanket around her shoulders, eyes flicking to Mason with amusement.

“Tone it down before you scare her off.” Declan chuckled, shooting Ben a warning glance.

Ben held up his hands in mock surrender. “What? I’m thrilled! She’s lovely, I’ve said that for ages. I just didn’t know Mounty had the charm to actually get her to spend the night.”

“You’re gonna lose teeth today.” Mason muttered.

Declan rolled his eyes. “Ignore him, Adeline.” he said to her. “He’s like this with literally everyone.”

“Noted.” Adeline smiled faintly, her posture relaxing a bit.

Ben was already digging around Mason’s kitchen. “Anyone want tea? Coffee? Mimosas? No? Cool, I’ll help myself anyway.”

Mason walked over to Adeline, leaning in close enough that only she could hear. “You doing okay?”

She nodded, her smile a little shy. “Yeah. Just wasn’t planning on the audience.”

Mason grinned, brushing his fingers against hers briefly. “They’ll tire themselves out. Like puppies. Loud, chaotic puppies.”

Adeline laughed under her breath, and Mason looked at her like he was already memorizing the sound.

(...)

The smell of coffee and eggs filled the air not long after Ben raided Mason’s kitchen like a man on a mission. Somehow — against all odds — he’d managed to whip together scrambled eggs, toast, and even bacon without burning the place down. The four of them sat around the kitchen table, mugs in hand, plates full, and to Mason’s complete disbelief…

“This is actually good, mate.” Mason muttered, eyeing Ben suspiciously as he chewed another bite of toast.

“I contain multitudes, Mount. Maybe I’m secretly a domestic god.” Ben gave a smug shrug, sipping his coffee like a king.

Adeline laughed softly into her mug, and Ben grinned like he’d just won a trophy.

“Yeah, Dec. Laugh.” Ben said, pointing a fork at her. “But next time Mason burns toast, you’ll miss me.”

“You’re not coming back.” Mason snorted.

“Bold of you to assume I’m leaving, Mounty.”

Adeline was quiet at first — not distant, just a little unsure of how much space she could take up. But the warmth of the food, the way Ben and Declan bickered like an old married couple, and the way Mason kept brushing his knee gently against hers under the table slowly chipped away at her nerves.

She caught Declan watching her at one point — not judging, just observing. He offered her a kind smile. “All this a bit much?”

Adeline nodded, lips curling slightly. “Yeah. Just... not used to this many people in the morning.”

“You’re handling it well, though.” Declan said, before glaring at Ben. “Better than some.”

“I aim to disrupt, not disappoint.” Ben raised his toast in salute.

While the others chuckled, Mason quietly slid his hand beneath the table and rested it gently on Adeline’s thigh. She stiffened just for a second — then relaxed. His fingers traced soft, soothing circles above her knee, grounding her. She looked at him briefly, eyes meeting his with a soft smile she hadn’t even realized she was holding in.

Then, tiny footsteps padded across the floor.

Everyone turned as Lily shuffled in, hair wild with sleep, blanket bundled in her arms. She rubbed one eye with her fist and blinked at the scene like she wasn’t sure if she was dreaming or just very, very confused.

“Hey, sweetheart.” Adeline said softly, immediately opening her arms.

Lily walked over silently and climbed onto her mom’s lap, burying her face in her chest like she was trying to hide from the new faces.

“Oh no. Nope. You can’t just exist like that, it’s not fair.” Ben melted.

“Hi, Lily. I’m Declan. That idiot over there is Ben.” Declan leaned slightly forward, offering Lily a soft wave.

“Rude.” Ben put a hand on his chest, wounded.

Lily peeked up at them, her grip on Adeline’s shirt still tight.

“I’ve got a son.” Declan added, voice still soft. “His name’s Jude. He’s about your age. Bit obsessed with dinosaurs and peanut butter sandwiches. I think you two would get on.”

Lily didn’t answer, but she gave a tiny nod and ducked her head again.

“She’s not really a morning talker.” Adeline said with a small smile, smoothing her daughter’s hair.

“She’ll fit right in.” Mason said, leaning closer. “Neither’s Ben, but we still let him sit at the table.”

Ben threw a bit of toast at him.

Lily giggled.

It was the kind of moment Adeline hadn’t realized she missed. The kind of morning that felt like more than just breakfast — it felt like something building. Something solid. A maybe.

She looked down at Lily in her arms, and across at Mason — his hand still resting warmly on her leg — and for the first time in a long time, the ache in her chest didn’t feel heavy. It felt... like hope.

Ben was still gloating over how his scrambled eggs had gotten more praise than his footwork ever had, while Mason leaned back in his chair, one hand draped under the table, fingers resting lazily on Adeline’s leg. She hadn’t said anything about it, but she hadn’t moved either — and the quiet rhythm of his thumb brushing over her skin had become oddly comforting.

Lily sat curled in her lap, sleep still tugging at her eyes, blanket clutched in one small fist.

Declan took a sip of coffee and reached for another slice of toast. “Jude’s the same. Last week he tried to feed his fish chocolate cereal because he thought it ‘looked sad.’” His mouth twitched like he was trying not to smile too much.

“Is he your only one?” Adeline looked up from her coffee, her curiosity piqued.

“Yeah. Just Jude. Full-time hurricane, part-time genius.” Declan nodded.

“How old is he?” She smiled at that, brushing a crumb from Lily’s cheek.

“Four. Next month.” Declan replied. “Wants to be a footballer and a astronaut, depending on the day.”

“That’s a solid backup plan.” Adeline’s laugh came soft but real.

“He’s got it all figured out.” Declan said, warmth in his voice. “We split time between me and his mom. It’s a bit of a juggle, but… worth it.”

She watched him for a second — how casual but genuine he was. There was no discomfort, no awkwardness in the way he talked about co-parenting. It was just life.

“I didn’t grow up with much of that.” she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. “People making it work. I always thought if something fell apart, that was it. End of story.”

Mason’s hand gave a gentle squeeze to her leg under the table, a quiet grounding gesture that made her blink back to the moment.

Declan caught the shift in her tone, but didn’t pry. “Jude’s taught me more about being steady than I ever thought I needed. You don’t really get it until someone small’s watching you all the time, you know?”

“Yes. I know.” Adeline nodded slowly.

Lily stirred a little, lifting her head sleepily. Her curls were tangled, her eyes half-open as she looked around the table. She turned her head into her mom’s chest again, too shy to say anything.

Ben lowered his toast slightly. “Hey there, sleepyhead.”

Lily peeked at him but said nothing.

Declan, more gently, leaned forward a bit. "I bet you two would have fun drawing on walls together or something equally chaotic.”

That got the faintest smile from her — one of those shy, secretive little ones that made Mason’s chest feel full.

“She’s got a good poker face.” Ben muttered. “Kid’s gonna be terrifying when she’s fifteen.”

“You have no idea.” Adeline smirked as she kissed the top of Lily’s head.

Mason leaned in then, brushing a hand along her back, fingers slow and warm. “You’re doing great, you know.” he said quietly, only for her.

She glanced at him, cheeks tinged with pink — but her smile said she believed him.

(...)

Mason stood in front of the mirror, one hand smoothing down the hem of his Manchester United jersey — the number 7 bold against the red fabric. His fingers hesitated at the edge, brushing over the badge like it might anchor him somehow.

He was almost dressed, only his socks and trainers left to go. But his shoulders were tense, his jaw tight. His eyes kept flicking up to the mirror and then back down, like he was trying to will the nerves away.

A soft knock tapped against the doorframe.

“It's open.” he said, distracted.

“It’s just me.” Adeline’s voice came gently.

He turned as she stepped into the room, her hair still loose around her shoulders, one of his hoodies draped over her clothes. She looked sleepy and soft and entirely out of place next to his sharp kit and the weight of expectations he hadn’t felt in months — but also, somehow, exactly right.

She paused when she saw him standing there, half-dressed in full kit. Her eyes lingered just a little longer than necessary — on the jersey, yes, but also the way the fabric hugged his chest, the way the tattoos inked across his ribs and arm looked more like stories than designs.

“Sorry.” she said, blinking as if catching herself. “Didn’t mean to stare.”

“I don’t mind.” Mason gave her a lopsided grin, but it was strained.

Adeline took a few steps closer, noticing the silence stretching around him like static. She stopped beside him, looking at his reflection in the mirror.

“Nervous?” she asked, voice low, careful.

“A bit.” He didn’t lie.

“You’ve done this a hundred times.” She reached out, brushing her fingers along the hem of his sleeve.

“Not after something like this, though.” he muttered. “They’ll be watching. Wondering if I’ve still got it, or if I’m just… done.”

“So? Let them wonder. That’s not your job.” Her gaze found his in the mirror again, calm and steady.

“You always this good at motivational speeches?” He gave a quiet huff of air, almost a laugh.

She stepped in front of him now, her hands finding his waist — just resting there, grounding him. “I’m good at seeing through your crap.”

“Lucky me, then.” Mason tilted his head, letting his forehead drop against hers, the contact was soft, but intimate — something quieter than last night, but somehow just as important.

“You’re going to do fine, Mase.” she said softly, fingertips brushing the fabric of his jersey. “Better than fine. And even if you mess it up, I’m still gonna be here when you get back.”

Mason exhaled slowly, her words settling over the nerves curling in his chest. He looked down at her, searching her expression — not for reassurance, but for something steadier. Something that felt like home.

“You mean… here as in the flat?” he asked, his voice low. “Did you decide?”

Adeline blinked, caught for a second — not off guard, just... feeling the weight of what he was really asking.

“I think so, yes.” she said, a small smile playing on her lips. “It makes sense. Close to work, close to Lily’s daycare. And…”

“And?”

“You’re not far.” she said, not looking away. “Which is… nice.”

Mason’s hand found her hip again, warm and grounding. His thumb moved in slow circles, like he couldn’t help himself. “It’s more than nice.”

“You’re just saying that because I saw you shirtless five minutes ago.” Adeline tilted her head, her smile deepening.

He let out a breath of a laugh, brushing his nose lightly against hers. “You’d be surprised how often I’ve used that trick and it didn’t get me a real answer.”

“Bet it worked on most.”

“Yeah, maybe. But I wasn’t really asking anyone else to stay.” His grin turned softer.

Adeline’s heart fluttered at that. Not because it was grand or showy — but because it was real. Honest in a way that made her feel steady on the inside.

She leaned into him just a bit, pressing a quick kiss to his jaw. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I said yes.”

“You haven’t signed anything yet, Alderidge.” he teased, echoing her from the night before.

“No, but I’ve got good instincts, Mount.” she said, hand slipping down to lightly fix the hem of his jersey. “This one feels right.”

“So do you.” He took her hand, lacing their fingers.

For a moment, they just stood there, silent except for the low sounds of Lily and the boys in the living room — like a life quietly waiting outside the doorway.

“I should go.” Mason glanced at the clock.

Adeline nodded, even though her fingers didn’t loosen right away.

“You’ve got this, Mase.” she whispered. “Go remind them who you are.”

“I’ll be back after. You gonna be here?” Mason kissed her hand, lingering just a second longer than needed.

She smirked. “You just asked me that five minutes ago.”

“Yeah, well…” he leaned in close, brushing her temple with his lips. “Some answers I like hearing more than once.”

(...)

Adeline stood by the window of Mason’s flat, watching the gentle mist that blurred the skyline. She still couldn’t quite believe how things had shifted in just a few days. What started as an awkward stay during a storm had unraveled something much deeper — in her, in him, and in the quiet spaces they now shared. It was more than comfort. It was the first time in a long while she felt safe without being on edge. And for Lily, it already felt like home.

She turned from the window, crossing the room toward the living space where Lily was curled up on the floor, her coloring books spread out like tiny canvases. Adeline sat beside her, brushing back a lock of her daughter’s hair.

“Hi, bug.” she said softly. “Can I ask you something important?”

“What?” Lily glanced up, eyes bright.

“What would you think about staying here for a little while? Just until the apartment’s fixed.”

“Really?” Lily gasped.

Adeline nodded. “Really. Mason said it’s okay.”

“Do I get to sleep in the big cozy bed again?”

“Sure.” Adeline laughed. “And he said we can bring your toys and books. Make it feel like it’s ours for now.”

Lily’s smile stretched so wide it made Adeline’s chest ache. “Then yes! Yes, please! Do I get to see Mase more?”

“Probably.” Adeline’s cheeks warmed, but she nodded.

“Cool.” Lily grinned.

Later that morning, after Lily was happily settled in front of the TV, Adeline grabbed her phone and texted Mason.

Adeline: Hey, just talked to Lily about the flat. Heading to Stella’s to grab some stuff.

He responded almost immediately.

Mason: Hey, you. Just arrived at Carrington. Let me know if I can help with anything.

Adelie smiled, she wouldn't get used to this type of feeling easily.

(...)

When Adeline stepped into Stella’s apartment, she was instantly met with the familiar scent of vanilla and sandalwood — one of Stella’s favorite candles still burning faintly on the entryway shelf. The place was quiet, warm, a little cluttered. A couple of empty plates sat on the kitchen counter next to an open bottle of wine and two mismatched glasses, one with lipstick on the rim.

Lily wandered ahead with her tote of toys slung over her shoulder, immediately making her way toward the small rug in the living room. Adeline smiled softly, then turned at the sound of footsteps.

Stella appeared from the hallway, barefoot and still in a robe, her hair wild and cheeks flushed with sleep — or maybe something else.

“Well, well, look who finally decided to show her face.” she said with a grin. “You didn’t even text me last night, Ady. I thought you were coming back after dinner!”

“I was going to…” Adeline started, slipping off her shoes. “But things kind of… escalated.”

“Oh?” Stella’s eyebrows shot up.

“Lily’s occupied. You wanna sit?” Adeline dropped her bag by the door and leaned against the kitchen counter.

“Absolutely.” Stella grabbed the bottle of wine off the counter, still half-full, and poured a little more into her glass. “You’ve got the look of someone who needs to spill.”

Adeline exhaled, then followed her into the living room. They sat across from each other, Stella curling up like she always did, her expression equal parts amusement and curiosity.

“So?” she prompted. “What happened? I want everything.”

Adeline hesitated for half a second. Then the words just came.

“We kissed.”

“You what?” Stella blinked.

“It started slow. Then… not so slow.” She let out a laugh.

“How not-slow?” Her friend leaned in, wide-eyed.

Adeline covered her face with one hand, laughing softly. “Rough hands. On my waist. My thighs. His lap. My shirt was… halfway off.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“And then?”

Adeline dropped her hand. “I stopped it. It was too much. Lily on the room right next to us. But, then he was — he didn’t get mad, he didn’t push, he just… held me.”

“Okay. That’s hot. And sweet. And kind of perfect.” Stella’s face softened.

“It kind of was.” Adeline paused, watching Lily babble to herself, stacking tiny toy horses in a neat row. “He made me feel — safe. Not just in the moment. The whole night.”

“And?” Stella gave her a moment, then nudged.

“I’m borrowing his flat. Lily and I are gonna stay there for a bit until mine’s fixed.” Adeline met her eyes.

“Wow.” Stella let out a low whistle.

“I talked to Lily about it. She’s happy. She actually asked if it meant she gets to see Mason more often.”

“Well, she’s not wrong.” Stella’s grin grew.

“I just…” Adeline looked down, fingers twisting in her lap. “I’m not confused anymore. I want this. I’m just scared. Because it’s not just me. It’s Lily. And if she gets attached, if this goes wrong...”

Stella reached over and took her hand. “It’s okay to be scared, babes. But this doesn’t sound wrong. It sounds like something good. Something new. You deserve that. And so does she.”

Her chest still carried the flutter of nerves — but maybe, finally, she was ready to let something beautiful happen.

“Anyway.” Adeline said, finally exhaling, smiling despite herself. “That’s enough about me. Tell me about your date last night.”

“Oh God, Ady, the man was six-foot-four, had the jawline of a Greek statue, and wore cologne like he was in a bloody perfume commercial.” Stella lit up instantly, waving a dismissive hand.

Adeline laughed, relaxing into the chair as she sipped her wine.

“But...” Stella went on, grinning. “He used the word ‘synergy’. Twice. In bed. While trying to dirty talk.”

“No.” Adeline nearly choked.

“Oh, yes.” Stella nodded solemnly. “He looked me dead in the eye and said—and I quote—‘I think our bodies are syncing in perfect synergy.’”

“You’re lying.” Adeline’s laughter spilled out, real and effortless.

“I wish I was.” Stella leaned forward conspiratorially. “And then he asked if I’d ever considered investing in crypto. While he was—well, you get the picture.”

They both collapsed into laughter, even as Adeline shook her head. “You deserve a medal for surviving that.”

Stella grinned. “Well, the sex was decent, but the conversation? Brutal. He left at 3 a.m. and I ate leftover tiramisu in bed with a face mask on. Honestly, might’ve been the best part of the night.”

Adeline leaned her head on her hand, smiling warmly. “You’re the most unapologetically chaotic person I know.”

“And proud of it.” Stella gave her a wink.

Just then, Adeline’s phone buzzed against the table.

She barely glanced at it at first — distracted, still riding the lightness of the conversation — but then her eyes landed on the screen.

She froze.

Stella didn’t notice right away, still reaching for another biscuit, chatting on. “Oh, and I forgot to tell you, I spilled wine on his—”

Adeline’s fingers slowly curled around the phone, face paling just a bit.

“Hey…” Stella paused. “What's wrong, babes?”

Adeline swallowed. Her voice was soft when she spoke. “It’s a number from Surrey.”

That was all she had to say.

Stella sat straighter, her expression shifting.

Adeline didn’t answer the call. The screen dimmed. Then it buzzed again — a second call, same number.

She let it go.

Her wine glass sat untouched.

“I haven’t heard from anyone there in four years.” Adeline murmured, eyes still fixed on the now-dark phone screen.

“Maybe it’s nothing, Ady.” Stella reached across the table, placing her hand over Adeline’s gently.

The soft, lingering tension between laughter and unease settled like mist in the room. Neither of them spoke. Not yet. But they both knew:

The past had just knocked on her door.

And it didn’t matter how far she’d run — it had found her anyway.

(...)

The moment his boots hit the grass, something in his chest tightened.

It was the familiar scent — turf and sweat, mixed with crisp morning air — but it felt foreign now. Distant. Like he was trying to remember an old version of himself.

Carrington hadn’t changed. The fields were still pristine, marked with clean white lines. The echo of shouts and laughter in the distance. The distant sound of photographers already pointed in his direction — unmistakable. Mason didn’t look. He didn’t need to. He’d played enough to know when the lens was aimed at him.

He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a breath that fogged in the cold.

“You made it.” Bruno Fernandes jogged up beside him, a half-grin on his face, clapping a hand against his back. “Thought you’d be hiding until summer.”

Mason smirked. “Still might. If my knee gives out again, I’m blaming you.”

“You’ll be fine.” Bruno laughed, motioning for him to follow toward the warmup cones.

“Cheers, mate.” Mason said, glancing around. He caught sight of Garnacho doing tricks with a ball like it was glued to his foot, and Maguire stretching with a grimace nearby.

“Oi, Mount.” Maguire called. “Back from the dead?”

“Barely.” Mason called back, rolling his eyes. “Don’t make me chase you. I’ll tear something again.”

They laughed, but Mason’s heart was still beating too fast. Not from nerves exactly — though that too — but from the pressure. The unspoken weight.

He could hear the cameras again.

They’d post the pictures. The fans would talk. Comment. Speculate.

Was he back too soon? Was he worth the money? Was he done?

He bent down, laced his boots tighter, and stood up again.

But something inside him didn’t crack like it usually did.

He felt… steadier.

Images of the morning flickered through his mind.

Adeline’s voice. Her hand on his chest.

Her saying she’d be there when he got back. That damn blanket wrapped around Adeline’s shoulders as she laughed at something Ben said.

He wasn’t just walking back onto the pitch for himself anymore.

“Mount, everything alright?” Garnacho called.

“Yeah.” Mason jogged over, joining them in a light passing drill. The ball came to him fast — he trapped it, sent it on, footwork sharp despite the months away.

“Still got it.” Bruno gave him a look.

“Don’t sound so surprised.” Mason muttered, but he couldn’t stop the smile tugging at his mouth.

He moved through the drills, sweat starting to bead at the base of his neck, joints groaning but holding steady. The pitch started to feel more familiar again, like it remembered him too. Like he belonged.

And through it all — under the tension, under the noise — that calm from earlier remained.

Adeline.

He wasn’t foolish enough to call it love. Not, yet.

And even with the pressure, the photographers, the aching muscles and the question marks hanging over his future... For the first time in months, he's okay.

(...)

The whistle blew, signaling a water break. Mason jogged toward the benches, his breath steady but his heart racing a little more than he liked. It wasn’t the physical strain — it was the pressure. The eyes. The clicking of lenses. Always watching.

He grabbed a water bottle, unscrewing the cap with slightly shaky fingers. But, he wasn’t alone for long.

“Mason.” A female voice, crisp and practiced, cut through the murmur of the pitch.

He glanced sideways. A woman in her mid-thirties stood just off the touchline. Sharp blazer, notebook in hand, her media pass flashing in the sunlight. He recognized her vaguely — not tabloids, but not exactly subtle either.

“Yeah?” He gave a curt nod.

“First day back, and already half the fanbase’s got your name trending.” She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Mind a quick word for The Daily Mail?”

“If it’s quick.” Mason took a sip of water.

“Sure.” She flipped open her notebook. “So — how’s the knee? Any lingering pain? You moved well out there, but is it more show than truth?”

“It’s solid. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t.” He blinked.

She hummed, jotting something. “And mentally? You’ve been off for months. Not everyone bounces back from that. Some say it messes with your head more than your legs.”

“I’m not here to prove anything, I’m here to play.” Mason’s jaw flexed slightly.

She tilted her head. “Funny. Because some people also noticed you’ve been looking... different lately. Happier. Settled. New distractions, maybe?”

That struck a nerve. He didn’t show it — not exactly — but his eyes cooled, and his posture stiffened just enough.

“If you’re done.” he said calmly. “I’ve got training to finish.”

“Just doing my job.” She smiled again, thin and unreadable.

“And I’m doing mine.” Mason replied simply, and turned without waiting for another word.

The clicks of lenses followed him back toward the center of the pitch — but his thoughts were far from them now.

He turned back toward the group before the journalist could find out something deeper.

Bruno caught up beside him again, tossing him a knowing glance.

“What was that about?”

“Headline Hunters. Standard.” Mason said, though he still felt the weight of the question.

“Thought you handled it well, mate.” Bruno replied, tapping his fist against Mason’s shoulder.

Mason gave a low laugh, more to himself than anyone else.

He wasn’t sure what the headlines would say tomorrow.

But he knew what mattered — and right now, it wasn’t printed in black and white.

It was warm hands, sleepy voices, the scent of coffee in a kitchen that didn’t used to be his, and the feeling of walking out the door with someone waiting behind.

(...)

The moment Adeline stepped into the lobby, Lily hopping beside her with her backpack bouncing, the doorman gave a polite nod.

“Good afternoon, Miss Alderidge. There’s a package for your unit.”

Adeline blinked. “A package?”

He motioned behind the desk and handed her a sleek white box, neatly tied with a black satin ribbon. It was heavier than she expected. There was no label, no logo — just her name, handwritten in firm, neat script.

“Thank you...” she murmured, cradling the box as they rode the elevator up.

Lily was too busy recounting the story of a glitter-related disaster at school to pay attention, but Adeline couldn’t stop eyeing the box.

Mason hadn’t mentioned anything.

She opened the flat door, let Lily dash inside, and gently set the package on the kitchen counter. She hesitated — then pulled the ribbon loose and flipped the lid.

Her breath caught.

The pink dress. The one she’d tried on the night before at the boutique. The one she couldn’t afford, even if she stretched her budget for three months straight. It shimmered even in the soft kitchen light.

Tucked between the folds of the fabric was a small envelope, cream-colored and sealed with a little smudge of black ink.

She opened it — and inside was a card with Mason’s handwriting.

"You couldn't get it. So I did. Alderidge, you deserve to feel exactly like what you are: unforgettable." — M

Adeline stood in the middle of Mason’s flat, the soft light from the windows washing over the pink silk fabric nestled inside the box.

She blinked. Once. Twice.

Then looked again — as if the dress might suddenly vanish and reveal itself as part of her imagination. But no, it was still there. The same dusty pink gown she’d tried on the night before, the one she’d twirled in, laughed in, loved in... and left behind because the price was absolutely ridiculous.

Her fingers trembled as she lifted the card tied to the black ribbon. She read the note again, out loud this time, because maybe hearing it would help her believe it.

“Mason.” she whispered, as if he might appear out of thin air and explain himself. “I'm going to kill him.” she muttered, then paused. “But like... hug him first. And then kill him.”

The dress was beautiful. Extremely beautiful. And expensive. He bought it.

For her.

She set the card down carefully on the counter, still holding the edge of the fabric between her fingers. The silk pooled like liquid in her palm, soft and lush and more elegant than anything she’d ever owned in her entire life.

(...)

Mason pushed open the door to the flat, balancing his bag on one shoulder as he stepped inside. The familiar scent of Adeline’s shampoo lingered faintly in the air, mixing with something warm and a little floral. It was quiet, softer than usual, and for a second he thought no one was home.

But then he noticed a few new things.

A cozy pink throw folded neatly over the back of the couch. A small basket of Lily’s books tucked beside the TV stand. A mug — definitely not his — left by the sink, with little crescent moons on it. Adeline’s handwriting on a sticky note near the fridge.

She’d brought things.

Not just things — hers. Little bits of her and Lily, settling in, without needing to ask.

His chest tightened.

He set his bag down gently and made his way through the flat, glancing down the hall toward the bedroom. The door was slightly ajar, and a soft light spilled out onto the hardwood floor.

Pushing it open, Mason stepped inside.

Lily was curled up under the duvet, her thumb loosely tucked near her mouth, blanket half-draped over her shoulder. The television played quietly in the background, muted cartoons flickering on the screen. And Adeline — Adeline wasn’t asleep.

She was sitting on the edge of the bed, knees tucked up, wearing a grey t-shirt. Her eyes met his the moment he stepped in, something unreadable but warm flickering behind them.

“Hey.” he whispered.

She didn’t answer at first. Just walked slowly, padding across the room without a word, her gaze locked on his.

And then — in one smooth, impulsive move — she was in his arms, legs wrapped tightly around his waist as she hugged him with a kind of quiet urgency. Mason caught her instinctively, hands resting under her thighs to hold her steady, breath caught somewhere in his throat.

“Well, hello.” he murmured, chuckling softly into her hair.

“You bought me the dress, Mase.” she said against his neck, voice muffled, almost accusing — but not really.

“I did.” he replied, kissing the top of her head. “You were too busy talking yourself out of it.”

“You absolute sneak.” She pulled back just enough to look at him, eyes shining. “You went behind my back and bought me a dress that costs more than my rent.”

“I wouldn’t say behind your back, exactly.” he teased. “More like… tactically over your shoulder.”

Her lips quirked. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And, you’re welcome.”

She laughed then — quietly, breathlessly — resting her forehead against his. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” Mason said softly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Just wear it. Look like the vision you are, and let me sit here knowing you’ll be the most unforgettable person in the room.”

Adeline’s heart flipped, her fingers curling into the collar of his hoodie.

She wanted to say something clever. Tease him, maybe. But all that came out was a soft, quiet: “Thank you.”

He nodded once, serious now. “Anytime.”

And for a while, they didn’t move, wrapped up in that quiet moment between them, held in place by soft light and slower breaths.

(...)

Monday mornings weren’t usually gentle, but this one carried a different kind of weight.

Adeline woke up slowly to the soft sound of the city beyond the window, sunlight filtering through the curtains. The flat still didn’t feel entirely hers — not with the way his scent lingered in the air, with his trophies and books quietly claiming corners of the space. But after a week of living there, she’d grown comfortable in a way that scared her. Everything felt too easy. Too safe.

Lily was already awake, sitting cross-legged on the rug in the living room with her cereal, watching cartoons while the morning news played in the background on mute. They got ready together — Adeline brushing Lily’s curls, tying the laces of her tiny shoes, pressing a kiss to her forehead before dropping her off at daycare with a tight hug.

By the time Adeline stepped into the hospital, the day was already in full swing. Her shift was packed, as always — a steady rhythm of patients, notes, questions, and quiet moments of recovery. Mason’s physiotherapy sessions were once a week now, which meant she hadn’t seen him since the weekend. A week since that kiss. Since that moment in the living room when it felt like the world briefly stopped spinning.

They hadn’t defined anything — no labels, no promises — but there was an undercurrent now. A softness between them. A safety she wasn’t used to feeling.

She liked it. But, she didn’t know what it meant.

Mid-morning, she was walking through one of the quieter corridors of the hospital, chart tucked under her arm, when she turned a corner and nearly collided with a tall figure.

“God. Sorry, Adeline.” Elliot said, steadying her with a hand. “Didn’t mean to ambush you.”

She laughed lightly, stepping back. “No ambush. I’m just moving too fast, as usual.”

“You’re always moving fast.” He smiled, boyish and kind as ever. “I was actually hoping I’d bump into you.”

“Oh. Really?”

“The fundraising event this weekend. You’re going, right?”

“Sure, I was planning on it.” Adeline hesitated.

“Great. I figured we could go together — I mean, not together together. Just, you know, a familiar face. If you wanted.”

It was harmless. Elliot had always been warm and respectful, if a little awkward. She didn’t see any issue in going with him. Just a ride, a colleague. A way to avoid showing up alone.

But before she could answer, her phone buzzed in the pocket of her scrubs.

She gave Elliot a quick apologetic glance. “Sorry, just one second.”

She pulled it out, her eyes locking onto the screen.

Stella: Okay don’t freak out but a friend of mine just sent me this. Apparently it’s making the rounds on some pages. Don’t hate me for saying it, but you actually look kinda cute.

There's a link attached and a lot of... photos.

Adeline’s brows pulled together as she tapped it. The screen brightened with a low-resolution photo: her, reusable tote bags over her arms, Lily skipping beside her in her pink sneakers. They were mid-laugh, clearly caught off-guard by the lense. The entrance to Mason’s building stood in the background, too familiar now to ignore.

She scrolled down. Another photo.

Mason, stepping out of his car a few hours later. He hadn’t even looked at the photographer, but someone had definitely spotted him.

And now, it was out there.

Adeline stared at the images, her brain skipping over the usual panic in favor of stunned quiet. It wasn’t like they were doing anything scandalous. Just walking. Existing. But there was something strange about being seen like that. Out of context. No control.

She let out a slow breath, rubbing her thumb across the screen before slipping the phone back into her pocket.

“Adeline. It's nothing.” she told herself under her breath, as if her body needed convincing. This wasn’t the end of the world. It wasn’t even shocking, not really.

She knew who Mason was. She knew his life came with attention — fans, photographers, gossips. She just hadn’t expected to be part of it so soon.

Or at all.

And, yet, here she was.

She texted Stella back almost immediately.

Adeline: Not freaking out. Just… weird seeing it, you know?”

Then, she tucked her phone away again, saying a quick goodbye to Elliot and headed toward her next consult.

It wasn’t a scandal. It wasn’t even a headline.

But, it was enough to remind her: she wasn’t invisible anymore.

And... neither was Lily.

(...)

[lee-laurent]

Finding A Way - Luke Hughes

Summary: Luke is smitten with the new media girl for the Devils, the only issue... she has a boyfriend already (and he's a Flyers fan)

Content: angst, fluff, cheating, unhealthy relationship, emotional abuse, mentions of sex but no smut

wc: 6.5k

notes: this fic deals with some serious issues, so if you're not comfortable reading PLEASE do not continue. your mental health is wayyyyy more important than a fic, i promise :) however if you do decide to read, enjoy! i've had this written in my notes app for a while and just decided to finish it and put it on here!

Adelaide giggled as Luke stopped suddenly, letting the ice spray over the girl and her camera. Jack watched from the other side of the ice with Nico, rolling his eyes at the sight. Luke had been flirting with the new media girl since the season started but was still adamant that he didn't like her in a romantic way.

"When is he gonna ask her out?" Nico asked, knocking his should with Jack's.

"He still claims that he doesn't like her," Jack shrugged, narrowing his eyes as Adelaide giggled again.

"Well, he's clearly lying. Because they're definitely flirting."

"I keep telling him to bring her over, but he refuses."

"What's going on?" Dawson asked, joining his teammates.

"My brother is trying to get with the media girl."

"Adelaide? I don't blame him; she's hot."

"We all know she's hot, Mercer. It's just that he's too chicken to actually ask her out."

"Luke, you're supposed to be practicing," Adelaide teased, wiping the ice from her camera lens.

"I was just coming closer so you can get some good shots of me," Luke cheesed.

"I have enough photos of you. Tell your brother to start moving so I can get some of him.

"Oh, I see how it is. You want pictures of Jack, but not me. Should've known. He always gets the girls," he smirked.

Adelaid blushed at Luke's teasing, hiding her face in her hands. She'd be lying if she said she didn't find the rookie cute. He had made her feel welcome since day one, which the media girl thought was strange seeing as Luke was the shyer of the two Hughes boys.

"I didn't say that at all, Luke. Now go practice before you get us both in trouble."

Luke offered her one last smile, before joining the boys in their next drill. He caught Adelaide's eye few more times during practice, but she was busy taking pictures and speaking with her coworkers to pay him much attention. However, he was able to catch her as he was leaving the locker-room.

"Ady! Wait! Do you need a ride home?" he panted.

"Oh, um, I have a ride. Thanks though, Luke."

"Oh, who's your-"

"Babe! Come on!" a man standing near the entrance shouted. Luke felt his heart drop at the other man's words. He had just called the woman that Luke liked "babe." He could have sworn she was flirting back... guess not.

"One second, Matt! I'm just saying goodbye to Luke."

Luke watch the other man, Matt, roll his eyes and cross his arms over his chest. Tapping his foot impatiently as Adelaide turned to the rookie one last time.

"Maybe I'll bum a ride off you and Jack another time. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon for the game," she smiled, patting him on the shoulder. Luke watched from afar as Matt interlaced his fingers with Adelaide's, talking to her quickly and quietly.

"Come on, Rusty. Where's Ady? I thought you were offering her a ride?" Jack asked, snapping his brother out his stupor.

"She just left with her... boyfriend?"

"She has a boyfriend? Damn. Could've sworn she was into you. Sorry, bro."

Jack's words just pissed Luke off further. He turned on his heel, storming off to the boys' car.

"Luke, you can't mope around for the rest of the day just because the media girl has a boyfriend. I mean, the whole team thinks she's hot, so I'm not surprised she's taken," Jack tried to cheer up his younger brother.

"You're not helping, Jack."

"Sorry, I'm trying," Jack rolled his eyes.

"Just leave me alone. I'm not in the mood to deal with your dumbass."

"Whatever."

"Matt, it's not like that. He was just being nice."

"Sure, he was, Ady. Because all those horny hockey boys you work with are always just 'being nice.'"

"You're being unreasonable. Luke is new like me. He's just helping me fit in."

"I don't want you talking to him unless it's work related."

"Okay. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Ady sighed, looking down at the floor.

"It's ok, princess. I'm not mad," Matt cooed, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I love you."

"I love you too, Matt," she cracked a small smile, pressing a kiss to his lips.

Adelaide loved Matt. And Matt loved Adelaide. They'd been together for almost a year. He protected her from the guys she worked with, at least that's what he told her. Without Matt she wouldn't be safe. She needed him.

"Alright, have a good game. I'm out tonight with the boys, so make sure you get a ride with... what's her name? Sandra?"

"Sarah, Matt. Her name is Sarah. I've told you that like ten times today," Ady sighed, opening the car door.

"Whatever. Doesn't matter. I'll be out late, so don't wait up." And with that, Matt had driven off. Addy sighed, brushing her hair out of her face. She just needed to get through the game and ask Sarah for a ride home. Easy enough; she'd be fine. And everything would go as planned and-

"Adelaide!"

Her eyes shot up, locking with no other than Jack Hughes'. She looked around as if he'd be calling on someone else, but she was the only person in the room.

"Um, hi, Jack."

"Can I speak with you for a moment?" he begged.

"Yeah, sure. What's up?"

"So, you know my brother Luke?"

"Yeah? We work together?"

"Right, so... he has a HUGE crush on you and I was wondering if-"

"I have a boyfriend."

"Oh. Okay, but-"

"I love my boyfriend."

"But-"

"No 'buts.' This conversation is done. I love Matt."

"Yeah, you said that," Jack furrowed his brow, watching as she sped away to her office. Who was she trying to convince about loving Matt? Jack or herself?

Jack stood there, his mind racing. He watched Adelaide disappear into her office, a part of him still hopeful that maybe there was more to the situation than met the eye. But her words her clear, and it wasn't his place to push any further.

As he walked back to the locker room, he saw Luke waiting by the team's gear. The younger Hughes brother looked like he was trying to shake off a bad mood, but his face was still set in a scowl.

"Hey bro, you alright?" Jack asked, trying his best to sound natural.

Luke shrugged, not meeting his brother's gaze, "Yeah, just... not feeling great."

Jack hesitated before replying, "Look, I know you're bummed about Adelaide. But if she's with Matt and she says she loves him, then... well there's not much you can do."

Luke nodded, but his mind was clearly elsewhere. The team gathered for their pre-game talk, but the tension between the brothers was palpable. Jack glanced over at Luke frequently, wishing he could say something to make things better, but he knew some things were just out of his control.

Meanwhile, Adelaide was back in her office, trying to focus on the game. But the encounter with Jack kept replaying in her mind. She knew Matt could be overprotective, but his jealousy was like a thorn in her side.

As she was preparing to leave for the rink, her phone buzzed. It was a text from Sarah, confirming her ride home. She felt a small sense of relief. At least she wouldn't have to worry about getting home alone.

~~

The game was intense. Adelaide took photos from the sidelines, trying to stay fully focused on her job. But her thoughts just kept drifting back to Luke and her conversation with Jack. She saw Luke on the ice, giving it his all, and she felt a pang of regret.

After the game as the players were filing out, Adelaide was about to leave when Jack approached her again.

"Hey, Ady. Can I talk to you for a second?" he asked, his tone softer than before.

"Sure, what's up?" she replied, trying to hide her exhaustion.

"I just wanted to apologize if I pushed too hard earlier. I just thought maybe-"

"I appreciate it, Jack. But it really is just how things are. Matt and I... are committed to each other."

"Yeah, I get that. I just hate seeing my brother like this."

"I understand. It's complicated, and I wish it were easier. But thanks for understanding."

Jack nodded and gave her a small, sympathetic smile, "Alright, well, see you around, Adelaide."

"Bye, Jack."

As she walked out to meet Sarah, she felt a mix of relief and uncertainty. She loved Matt, but the situation with Luke had stirred up emotions she wasn't ready to confront. For now, she needed to get through the night and take things one step at a time.

~~

The days that followed were a blur for Adelaide. Her interactions with Luke were limited to work-related conversations and occasional small talk. She did her best to remain professional, but the chemistry between the two still lingered in her mind.

One evening, after a win against the Rangers, the team was out for drinks to celebrate. Adelaide was there with Sarah, trying to enjoy the night and push away the nagging thoughts of Luke.

Luke, for his part, was trying to keep his distance, but it was clear he was still hung up on Ady. When the group decided to hit up the nearby bar after the game, Adelaide and Sarah were among the last to arrive. And once he saw her in the bar, the alcohol in his system was not going to keep him from talking to her.

"Hey, Ady," he smiled, approaching her and Sarah. "Glad you made it."

"Hi, Luke," she replied, her voice tinged with a mixture of relief and hesitation.

They chatted casually at first, but as the night went on, Adelaide found herself increasingly drawn to Luke. They laughed together, shared stories, and for a brief moment, the complications of her life seemed to melt away. The alcohol added a sense of liberation, and she noticed Luke looking at her with an intensity that made her heart race.

Eventually, the group's conversation grew more rowdy, and Sarah got caught up in chatting with some friends of the team. Adelaide, feeling a bit detached, slipped outside for some fresh air. Luke, quickly noting her absence, followed her.

"Ady, you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Yeah, just needed a breather," she said, looking up at the stars. "It's been a long week."

Luke stepped closer, his gaze locking with hers. "You don't have to put on a brave face all the time, you know. It's okay to feel tired and burnt out."

She smiled faintly, "Thanks, Luke. It's just... everything's been a bit overwhelming lately."

Before she could react, Luke reached out and gently touched her arm. The warmth of his hand sent a shiver down her spine. Adelaide looked up, her heart pounding. Luke's gaze was intense, and she could see the vulnerability in his eyes.

In a moment of impulsive recklessness, Adelaide leaned in, and their lips met. The kiss was electric, filled with a mix of desperation and longing. For a moment, all the complications, the guilt, and the responsibilities faded away.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless. Adelaide's mind was racing, torn between her love for Matt and the undeniable connection she felt with Luke.

"I shouldn't have-" Adelaide started, but Luke gently placed a finger on her lips.

"It's okay," he said softly. "We don't have to figure anything out right now."

She nodded, feeling a rush of confusion and regret. "I need to get back inside."

Luke watched her walk back into the bar, a mix of hope and apprehension in his eyes. He knew that this was just the beginning of a much more complicated situation.

Back inside, Adelaide's heart was heavy as she rejoined Sarah and the group. The guilt of what had just happened weighed on her, but she couldn't ignore the thrill and the intensity of the moment with Luke. As the night went on, she tried her best to act normal, but her mind was consumer by the memory of kissing Luke.

~~

The argument had started over something small- Matt's habit of not cleaning up after himself- but it quickly escalated. Adelaide and Matt were in the kitchen of their apartment, voices raised.

"Seriously, Matt? I've asked you a million times to clean up your dishes!" Ady's frustration was evident, as she slammed a dish into the sink.

"I'm tired of this, Ady!" Mat retorted, his face flushed with anger. "It's not like I'm trying to ignore you. I've been busy with work and-"

"Busy? You're always busy with work, but you can't even make a little effort here?!" she shouted, her hands on her hips. "It's not just about the dishes; it's about the respect!"

Matt threw his hands up in exasperation. "Respect? You think I don't respect you? I work hard so we can have a good life. I'm tired of you always nitpicking!"

"It's not nitpicking, Matthew! It's about being partners in a relationship. I feel like I'm doing everything on my own," her voice trembled.

Matt's face hardened. "Maybe if you were a little more understanding, you'd see how much I'm trying. But no, you're just focused on what I'm not doing."

Her eyes filled with tears, "I'm not asking for perfection. I'm asking for some consideration. I'm tired of feeling like I'm always the bad guy here."

Matt's anger seemed to shift into frustration. "You know what? Maybe we need some space. I can't keep doing this every day."

The harshness in his voice stung, and Adelaide felt her heart sink. "So what? You want to just walk away?"

"No, I'm just saying maybe we need to take a break from fighting all the time. I need to cool off," Matt said, grabbing his jacket. "I'm going out with the guys tonight. Maybe that'll help."

Adelaide watched as he stormed out, the door slamming behind him. She was left standing in the kitchen, feeling a mix of anger, sadness, and frustration. The apartment felt cold and empty without him.

With no one else to turn to, Ady grabbed her phone and, in a moment of desperation, texted Luke, asking if she coud come over. Her unresolved emotions driving her to seek comfort elsewhere.

When she arrived at Luke and Jack's apartment, her mind was clouded with the aftermath of the fight. Luke opened the door, his concern clear as day as he saw her tear-stained face.

"Ady, what happened?" Luke asked, pulling her into the apartment.

"I just... needed to get away," she replied, her voice breaking as she sunk into the couch.

Luke sat next to her, "Do you wanna talk about it?"

"I don't even know where to start," she laughed bitterly. "Matt and I had this huge fight. It's like we can't even get along anymore."

As Adelaide opened up about her frustrations, the conversation slowly shifted from comforting to more personal. The tension between the two grew palpable, and before they knew it, their emotions overwhelmed them. The lines between comfort and intimacy were blurred, leading them to kiss passionately.

~~

The next morning, Adelaide woke up with a jolt, her head pounding. She turned to find Luke beside her, a mixture of confusion and guilt washing over her.

"Luke, I... we shouldn't have," Adelaide began, her voice trembling. "This was a mistake."

Luke's face hardened. "A mistake? You think this was just a mistake?"

"Yes," she said, her eyes welling up with tears. "I love Matt. I shouldn't have let this happen."

Luke sat up, frustration evident in his voice. "So, what are you saying? That I'm just some rebound? That this meant nothing?"

"No, it's not like that," she said, reaching for his hand. "It's just-"

"Just what?" Luke snapped, pulling away. "Just that you're confused? Or that you don't know what you want?"

"It's not about you, Luke!" she exclaimed, her voice rising. "It's about me and my choices. I'm committed to Matt. I need to figure out what I want."

Luke was seething. "Well, maybe you should've figured it out before coming here. This is exactly what I was afraid of- being used and then thrown away when it's convenient."

Adelaide recoiled, hurt by his words. "I never meant to hurt you."

Luke looked away, frustration and pain written on his face. "I thought we had something real, but now I see I was just a distraction."

"I didn't mean for this to happen," Adelaide said, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry."

Luke's expression softened slightly, but it was clear he was still hurt. "I get it. But I need time to process this. I can't just pretend it didn't happen."

"I understand," she replied, her voice just above a whisper. "I need to go."

As she gathered her things, the awkwardness and emotional distance between them was almost tangible. She glanced back at Luke, who stood silently by the door, a mix of anger and sadness in his gaze.

"I'll give you some space. I'm really sorry, Luke."

With that, she left his apartment, the weight of her actions heavy on her shoulders. As she drove away, the gravity of what had happened began to settle in, and she knew that repairing the damage she had caused would be an arduous journey.

~~

Adelaide's hands shook as she gripped the steering wheel, her mind racing with the burden of what had just happened. Her thoughts were a chaotic swirl of guilt and confusion. She took a deep breath as she pulled into the parking garage, trying to steady herself before heading inside.

When she entered the apartment, the living room was dark, the only light coming from the sun filtering through the blinds. Matt was sitting on the couch, his posture tense and his face partially hidden in the shadows.

Her heart sank at the sight of him. "Matt, you didn't stay with the guys," she said, her voice shaky as she closed the door behind her.

Matt's gaze met hers, his eyes sharp and questioning. "Yeah. I decided to come home after all. I've been thinking."

"Oh, um, okay," she replied, trying to keep her composure as she walked further into the room.

Matt stood up and approached her, his expression a mix of concern and irritation. "So where were you? I tried calling, but you didn't answer."

Adelaide's heart raced. "I was out for a bit... I needed some fresh air. It was a rough day, ya know?"

Matt's eyes narrowed. "A bit? You were gone for hours. Did something happen?"

She hesitated, scrambling to come up with a believable excuse. "I just went for a drive to clear my head. Fell asleep in a parking lot. It's been stressful with everything going on."

Matt studied her for a moment, clearly unconvinced but unsure of what to say. "You didn't go see Luke, did you?"

The question hit her like a ton of bricks. She forced a nonchalant laugh, trying to mask her nervousness. "No, of course not. I haven't seen him. Why would you think that?"

His expression softened, but he still looked troubled. "I don't know, I guess I just... I felt like something was off. I didn't want to jump to conclusions."

Ady stepped closer to him, putting a hand on his arm. "Matt, I promise you, nothing happened. I was just out trying to process everything. I needed some space, and I didn't think to tell you because I thought you were also out."

Matt weighed her words, the tension in his shoulder easing. "Okay. I just- I don't want us to keep fighting. I care about you, Ady. I don't want there to be any secrets between us."

"I don't want that either," she said, her voice filled with sincerity she hoped would convince him. "I'm sorry for not being more communicative. I'll do better."

Matt nodded slowly, "Alright. Let's just try to move forward and work on things. I don't want to lose you."

Her heart ached, but she forced a smile. "I don't want to lose you either. We'll figure this out. I love you."

"I love you too."

They embraced, and Adelaide held him tightly, feeling both relief and guilt. As Matt settled back onto the couch, Ady joined him, trying to push away the lingering feelings from the night with Luke.

The weight of her deception was heavy, and as she sat beside Matt, the realization that she was living a lie began to settle in. She knew that maintaining the facade would be difficult, and the consequences of her actions were far from over. For now, though, she focused on keeping up the appearance of normalcy, hoping that time would help heal the rift she had created.

~~

Luke felt like he was in a fog. The events of the previous night and that morning replayed in his mind. He knew he needed to talk to someone, but he wasn't ready to fully disclose what had happened. He decided to seek comfort in his brother, hoping for a little bit of guidance in his situation.

Jack met Luke at the rink, finding his brother sitting alone in the locker room. He approached him, a concerned look on his face.

"Hey, Rusty. You've been awfully quiet this morning. Everything okay?" Jack asked, sitting down beside him.

Luke sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Not really, man. I'm feelin' pretty messed up."

Jack cocked an eyebrow, sensing the seriousness of the situation. "You wanna talk about it or..."

"Sort of. It's... complicated," Luke said, avoiding eye contact. "I had a rough night, and I'm trying to make sense of things, I guess."

Jack frowned, "You sure you don't wanna spill the beans? Sometimes talking helps, ya know?"

Luke hesitated, searching for the right words. "It's not really something I can just talk about. I made some... choices that I'm regretting, and I feel like I've fucked things up, royally."

The older Hughes studied him carefully. "I get it. But you know, if you're feeling like you screwed up, you should at least be able to talk to someone you know won't judge you. I'm your brother, it's what I'm here for."

"Not that simple. I just don't wanna drag you into this. I just need to figure out what to do next."

"Are you like in serious trouble?"

"No, Jack... not serious trouble."

"I don't need to call the cops?"

"No, Jack," he laughed bitterly.

"Alright, well, don't bottle it up. You've got people who care about you, and we're all in this together."

Luke nodded, grateful for Jack’s support but still feeling the weight of his decisions. As they got ready for practice, Luke tried to focus on the task at hand, though his mind was still troubled by the consequences of the previous night.

~~

Adelaide avoided Luke like he was the plague the next few days. She poured herself into work, using the camera as a shield to hide behind her. She kept her interactions with the team strictly professional, but her heart began to ache the first time her eyes met Luke's.

Jack noticed the change in his brother and the photographer. Their friendship had vanished, replaced by a strained silence. One day after pratice, Jack cornered Adelaide in the hallway outside the media room.

"Hey, Ady, got a minute?" he asked, casually leaning against the wall.

"Sure, Jack. What's going on?"

"I noticed that you and Luke have been... off lately. Did something happen?"

Her heart raced, but she forced a large smile. "No, nothing happened. We've just been busy with work and all!"

"Come on, Ady. I know you better than that. You two were inseperable when he started here, and now I don't think I've seen you talk to him in days. Did you guys have an argument or something?"

She sighed, the guilt weighing down her shoulders. "It's complicated. I don't want to get into it."

"Oh. Look, I get it if you don't wanna share. But just know that I'm here if you wanna talk. I care about you, so seeing you both like this is kinda hard."

"Thanks, Jack," her voice barely above a whisper. "Appreciate it."

"See you on the ice!"

"Yup."

God, what had she gotten herself into?

~~

The rink was filled with sounds- the sharp scrape of skates on ice, the hollow thud of the puck hitting the boards, the shouted command of coaches, and the occasional shutter of Adelaide's camera lense. Luke Hughes moved with a ferocity that caught the attention of everyone on the ice. His usual smooth, calculated movements had been replaced by agressiveness. Every stride was powerful, every check delivered with a force that echoed through the arena.

"What's up with Rusty?" Jack muttered to Nico, who was stretching nearby.

Nico followed Jack's gaze. "Not sure, but he's been playing like he's possessed. Did something happen?"

Jack shrugged, keeping his eyes on Luke. "Don't know. He's been... off lately. Keeps to himself a lot more."

As practice continued, Luke's focus remained unbroken. He intercepted passes, delivered bone-rattling checks, and fired shots with pinpoint accuracy. His teammates began to whisper among themselves in the locker room, buzz building about the youngest Hughes.

"Hey, Lukey, what's going on with you?" Nico approached him.

Luke shrugged, "Focusing on my game. What's the big deal?"

"The big deal is that you're playing like you're trying to prove something. Or like you're trying to forget something."

Luke clenched his jaws, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his towel. "Drop it, Nico. I'm just trying to play better."

"Alright, man. But if you need me, I'm here. Don't shut out the team."

Luke didn't respond, instead shoving his gear into his bag with a force that spoke for itself. Whatever was eating at him was serious, and the team feared it would affect more than just his game.

~~

Adelaide was at her desk, her fingers flying against her keyboard as she edited photos from their last game. She was immersing herself in her work, hoping it would distract her from her inner turmoil. She was focusing on her job and spending as much time with Matt as possible.

The door to her office swung open, and Luke stepped inside, his presence immediately filling the small space. Her heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening at the determined look on his face.

"We need to talk," his voice barely concealing his anger.

She swallowed hard, her throat dry. "Luke, I'm busy right now. Can it wait?"

"No," he said firmly, closing the door behind him. "We're not leaving this room until we sort this out."

"What is there to sort out? We made a mistake, and we need to move on."

"A mistake?" his voice rose. "Is that all it was to you?"

Adelaide flinched at his tone, "It's not that simple, Luke. You know it's not."

"Then make it simple for me," he demanded, stepping closer. "Do you have feelings for me or not?"

She looked away, unable to meet his intense gaze. "It doesn't matter what I feel. I'm with Matt. I've made a commitment to him."

Luke's hands clenched into fists at his sides. "So, you're just going to ignore what's between us? Pretend it doesn't exist?"

"What choice do I have?" she voice shook. "I love Matt. I can't just throw that away because I slept with you one time."

"Is that all you think this is? A fling?" his voice was filled with heart.

Adelaide felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. "No, but it can't be more than that. It's too complicated."

Luke took a step back, "You're scared. You're scared to admit that you want something different. That you might actually care about me. That you aren't happy with Matt."

"That's not true," she whispered, her resolve crumbling. "I do care about you, but it's not fair to anyone if I act on it."

"Fair?" Luke scoffed. "Life isn't fair, Adelaide. You can't just ignore your feelings because it's inconvenient."

She shook her head, the tears spilling over. "I'm trying to do the right thing. I can't hurt Matt like this."

"And what about me?" his voice cracked. "Do I not matter?"

"Of course you matter," she cried, reaching out to him. "But I can't do this. I can't be with you."

Luke stared at her a moment, his breathing heavy. Then, without warning, he crossed the distance between them in two quick strides and cupped her face in his hands. Before she could react, his lips were on hers, kissing her with a desperation that took her breath away.

She was stunned at first, but then melted into it, her hands gripping his shirt to ground herself. For a moment, all her feelings of guilt and doubt vanished, replaced by the overwhelming feeling of being with him. Of being with Luke.

But reality crashed back in and she pulled away, panting. "Luke, we can't."

"Don't tell me you didn't feel that. Don't tell me you don't want this."

"I do want it. But I can't. I have to think about Matt. I have to think about everyone else."

Luke's shoulders fell, the fight leaving his body. "Fine. If that's how you feel, I'll back off. But don't expect me to just forget out this. About... us."

Adelaide sat back down, staring blankly at her computer screen. The photos she was supposed to be editing blurred together, her mind far too preoccupied. She sighed, rubbing her temples in a futile attempt to clear her mind. They kiss that they had just shared haunted her, the memory replaying over and over again, making it impossible to do any work.

Her phone buzzed with a text from Matt: "Dinner tonight? Been missing you lately <3"

Guilt twisted her stomach as she typed back her response. "Sure, sounds great. I miss you too."

She hit send and put her phone down. She felt like a fraud. Everything felt tainted by her feelings for Luke. She decided to take a break from working, grabbing her coat and leaving the office. She was craving some fresh air. As she walked, she called Sarah. The one person she knew she could talk to about anything, and right now, she really needed her advice.

"Hey, Ady! What's up?"

"Hey, Sarah. Can you meet up? I really need to talk."

"Of course. How about the coffee shop near the area in fifteen?"

"Perfect. See you soon."

Adelaide arrived quickly and ordered herself a latte. When Sarah walked in, she felt a wave of relief. Sarah took one good look at her and knew something was wrong.

"What's going on, Ads?"

"I've messed up, Sarah. Big time."

Sarah reached across the table and held her hand. "Tell me everything."

Over the next hour, Adelaide spilled her guts to her confidante. Telling Sarah all about her feelings for Luke, the kiss, the night they spent together, and the guilt that was tearing her apart.

"Ady, it sounds like you're in a really tough spot. But you have to honest with yourself and with Matt. This isn't fair to anyone, especially not to you."

"I know. But I don't know how to choose. I care about them both so much."

"Maybe you need some time to figure things out. Take a step back, give yourself some space to think about what you really want."

"You're right I just need to clear my head. Thanks, Sar."

"No worries, Ads. That's what I'm here for."

~~

"Luke, we need to talk."

"Not now, Jack," Luke muttered, not even looking away from the TV.

"Yeah, now," Jack insisted. "You've been acting insane. What's going on?"

"I can't, Jack. Just... drop it."

"Nope. Not happening," Jack sat next to him, turning off the TV. "Whatever this is, it's eating you alive. Talk to me."

Luke's frustration boiled over. "It's Adelaide, alright? We... we kissed. We... slept together. And then things got out of hand."

"You and Adelaide? Seriously?" Jack's eyes widened in shock.

"She said it was a mistake, that she loves Matt. But... I can't get her out of my head."

"Holy shit, Luke. That's... a lot. But you can't keep it bottled up. It's tearing you apart."

"I know... but I don't know what to do."

"Look, you need to talk to her. Clear the air. This tension is gonna kill ya both. And if she really loves Matt, you need to try to respect that and move on."

"Yeah. I know. But it's so damn hard."

"I get it, bro. But just take it one step at a time. And remember I'm here for you. Even when you royally fuck up like this."

~~

That evening when Adelaide walked in the door, she could already feel Matt's anger. He was pacing back and forth in the living room.

"Adelaide. We need to talk," his voice was taut with anger.

"What about, Matt?"

"About us! About how distant you've been. It's like you're here, but you're not really here," he snapped, his eyes searching hers for an explanation.

"I've been under a lot of pressure with work. You know that."

"This isn't just about work, Ady! You've been avoiding me. We barely talk anymore, and when we do, it's about the team or the game. When was the last time we slept together? When was the last time you were focused on us? What happened to us?"

She felt a pang of guilt, but also a rush of anger. "Maybe if you weren't so obsessed with your career, we wouldn't be having this problem! You're never around, Matt. And when you are, you don't speak to me!"

"That's not fair. You knew how important work was to me when we got together. I thought you supported me."

"I do support you, but I can't be the only one making sacrifices. This is a partnership, not a one-way street."

"A partnership? That's rich coming from you! You used to be my biggest cheerleader, and now I don't even recognize you!"

"Maybe I changed because you never made me feel like I mattered!" she spat back. "It's always been about you and your career, your dreams. What about mine, Matt? What about mine?"

"I never stopped you from chasing your dreams! You can't just blame all our problems on me! You made choices too."

Ady tried her best to think of a response, but Matt continued before she could.

"I can't do this anymore, Ady. I don't even know who you are anymore," his voice breaking with resignation.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe we both need to figure out what we really want," she looked down at her feet.

"I thought we wanted the same thing. But I guess not. Maybe we've grown too far apart."

"I wish things were different, Matthew. I really do."

"Yeah, me too."

For a moment, it seemed like they were about to part ways without another word. But then Adelaide made a gut-wrenching decision. "Matt, there's something I need to tell you. I.... I cheated on you. With Luke."

The confession hit Matt like a punch to the gut. His eyes widened with shock, then narrowed with rage. "What did you just say?"

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen. It was a mistake-"

"A mistake?" Matt exploded. "You think that's just a mistake? You've been lying to me, hiding things from me while I thought we were trying to fix things!"

Adelaide tried to reach out to him, but he stepped back, his anger turning into something darker. "I didn't want to hurt you. I was confused, and I made a terrible choice."

His face turned red with fury, "You've betrayed me, Adelaide. You've crossed a line. I can't just let this go. You've been living a lie while I've been trying to make thing work."

"I'm so sorry, Matt. Just let me explain."

"No!" his voice echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls. "I don't want to hear it. You've shattered everything we had. I'm done. I can't even look at you right now."

~~

Adelaide sat in her dimly lit apartment, feeling the weight of the last few days pressing down on her. The space felt unusually empty, and the silence was almost deafening. She had spent the entire day reflecting on everything that had transpired and was now preparing for an important conversation.

Her phone buzzed, signaling Luke's arrival. She took a deep breath and went to open the door.

Luke stood there, his expression a mixture of resolve and concern. "Hey," he said softly as he stepped inside.

"Hey," Adelaide replied, trying to muster a reassuring smile. "Thanks for coming over."

They moved to the living room, sitting across from each other. The atmosphere was heavy with unspoken words. Adelaide broke the silence first.

"I wanted to talk about everything that's happened. I know I've hurt you. And I've hurt Matt. And I need to take responsibility for that."

Luke nodded, his gaze was steady but pained. "I appreciate you saying that. I was hurt, and it's been hard trying to understand like... why everything went down the way it did."

"I never meant to hurt you. I was confused. Stuck in a relationship that had been loveless for a while. I was avoiding issues instead of talking about them."

"I get that. I was confused too. We both made mistakes, but we can acknowledge that."

"I think... no, I know that I want to be with you, Luke. I just... can we take things slow? Like super slow? I think I need to process everything that just happened," she giggled lowly.

"Yeah, of course. I'd like that a lot, Ady. Let's take this one day at a time.

"Sounds perfect."

Luke smiled, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "Now, why don't you tell me why I'm your favourite Hughes brother," he smirked.

She rolled her eyes, "If I must..."

[blackened-angel]

Adi Shankar lied about how he got the rights for Devil May Cry?

I want to present what I believe is considered evidence that contradicts the statement from Adi Shankar, the "visionary mind" , who only makes fanfics based on the IPs from other people....I want to hear your opinions about it and if some of you might have more evidence, please share with me. I've added another two screenshots at the end about other lies he said but I want to hear what some you might have to say.

So, I came across an interview that has been made recently and you can find it on the Forbes website.

I looked through it and there was one statement that I thought sounded weird because it different from what he said on his Twitter some time ago.

He stated that his mission was to acquire the rights for DINO CRISIS but Capcom gave him DMC instead.

Take note that it was Capcom's decision, thus it contradicts what Shankar posted on his Twitter:

In the recent interview on the Forbes website, he says:

“I fought for this one. I spent a year in the trenches negotiating with Capcom to acquire the rights, finally locking it down in 2018.

Then, it became 2.5 years of literary obsession, me and my writing partner, Alex Larsen, forging the blueprint for this “Adi Shankar’s Devil May Cry” Universe.

OBJECTION!

According to what he posted on Twitter, he went to Capcom for Dino Crisis and I haven't found other statements that say that he had trouble getting the rights for DMC. It sounds like they were given easily by Capcom and I hate that in that recent interview he wanted to sound like he was some fucking warrior who fought to obtain them, most likely expecting for us to regard him as a hero.

Also, how stupid was Capcom to agree to give him the rights when that happened before DMC5 was even released? The game was revealed in 2018, and that's when the adaptation was mentioned, like even now Shankar still has that picture of him in Dante cosplay pinned on his Twitter page and it was from 2018. DMC5 released a year later. Like WTF, why ruin the release of the game by mentioning that Capcom would collaborate with that guy?

So yeah what do you think about what I presented?

Oh and look at some of his other lies.

Sure you didn't...Ugh, I hate how he was boasting that he was the only person that Capcom allowed to see materials that would have been used for the 3rd volume of the manga that would have been about Lady.

The last part...Fucking liar!

[love-belle]

lo mein kayamat tak hua tera !!!

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ in which everyone knows that they want each other, except for them and it's time that they change it.

or

for when you find out forever waala love. ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚

social media au // f1 x platonic!reader // aditya roy kapur x fem!reader

warnings - language

author's note - this is for my desi f1 fans and desi f1 fans only ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

≡;- ꒰ °instagram ꒱

liked by adityaroykapur, lilymhe, maxverstappen1 and 2,681,561 others

yourusername where is my munda kukkad kamaal da

11,986 comments

username the caption is so real like where u @

username SHE'S BACK IN INDIA LET'S GOOO

username Y'ALL PLEASE TELL ME U SAW HER IG STORY 😭😭

-> username NOT Y/N SOFT LAUNCHING

-> username not to mention aditya ALSO posted a girl on his story and she suspiciously looked like y/n ☝️☝️☝️☝️

-> username i'm going feral over this someone call the twitter detectives

username her being back in india means we shamelessly get adityay/n crumbs and im STARVING

username in love with u hello ma'am how r u real

username tere saath saath aisa koi noor aaya hai

-> yourusername don't test me i will cry and marry u on SPOT

username oh i am SO ready for the amount of content we're gonna get from her like winter break!y/n is actually my roman empire

username waiting for aditya and her to just be fucking oblivious in the comments 🙄☝️

landonorris giggling

-> yourusername i will giggle ur ass CHUP ( shut )

-> username 😭😭😭 please free my boy he has done nothing wrong

username 4ever giggling at the fact that aditya was the first person y/n hugged after her podium and they ALMOST kissed like 😭😭

-> username my roman empire fr like i genuinely felt like i was intruding on something

username no one understands her like i do we're the same people and i will make friendship bracelets by braiding our intestines together

-> username i am sorry was that extreme

-> yourusername a bit but i like your commitment

username daniel i expect u to give us updates EVERY HOUR i need to know if these bitches are hopeful or hopeless

danielricciardo i hope you know that adi is currently contemplating what to write and giggling

-> yourusername OH !

-> adityaroykapur this is why i said no to you being in a bollywood film

-> username PLEASE OMG 😭

username i love the fact that so many drivers accompany y/n to india simply bc 1) they want to annoy her 2) they want to annoy aditya 3) they want to star in a bollywood movie so BAD

-> username they're pure of dumbasses your honour

username f1 grid in india where the FUCK is my indian gp ☝️☝️☝️☝️

username howling bc girlie would have her munda kukkad kamaal da if she just became more social

-> yourusername i do not appreciate being called out like this excuse u

username cannot wait for y/n to bully the entire grid into wearing traditionals 🤞🤞🤞

adityaroykapur i love taking pictures of you 💗

adityaroykapur wdym someone prettier than yourusername exists

adityaroykapur wdym i can't keep staring at her posts forever

-> username DUDE GET UP 😭😭😭

adityaroykapur you look leng in a lehenga

-> yourusername thank u :))

-> sidmalhotra actually there's no "leng" in "lehenga"

-> adityaroykapur 😐😐

-> username someone lock away sid PLEASE

-> username my biggest concern is who the fuck taught aditya what leng means 😭😭😭

-> username my bet's on lando ☝️☝️☝️

adityaroykapur glad you liked the jhumkas ❤️

-> yourusername wore them the entire day ❤️

-> username and i'm gone

adityaroykapur chand theri roshni ka halka sa ek saya hai ( the moon is just a slivery shadow of your light )

-> yourusername hayeeee

-> charles_leclerc DATE DATE DATE DATE DATE DATE DATE DATE DATE DATE

-> username omg

≡;- ꒰ °instagram ꒱

liked by yourusername, vickykaushal09, lewishamilton and 2,416,899 others

adityaroykapur black and white

10,729 comments

username i know who he did this for

username oh

username screaming sir why are u so

username OH MY GOD

username he posted this for y/n and y/n only y'all go home

username one chance ☝️☝️☝️

lewishamilton target audience reached 👍

-> adityaroykapur i owe you one 👍

-> username howling at this interaction

username i know that he got this idea off someone from the grid and i know exactly who he exactly got this from

-> username your case here 🎤🎤🎤 georgerussell63

-> username LMAO 😭😭

username giggling oh my god

username PLEASE I LOVE THIS MAN SO MUCH

georgerussell63 plagiarism

-> adityaroykapur you told me to post this ???

username screeching no one's doing it like him

username i love how his acc is just promos and stuff and then this thirst trap for y/n and y/n only likee

-> username my man's dedicated idgaf

username cannot wait to witness y/n have a mental breakdown in the comments over this 😭😭😭😭

sidmalhotra as y/n says "what's the square root of 64"

-> adityaroykapur 8

-> kiaraaliaadvani ATE !!!!!!!

-> username i love stupid men and their chronically offline selves

sidmalhotra this why you had to go to the beach itni subha ( early morning )

-> adityaroykapur i brought you breakfast chup ( shut )

-> username soulmates 🤞🤞🤞

usernsme live love laugh aditya roy kapur

yourusername woah

-> adityaroykapur thank you ???

yourusername you're sooooooo

-> adityaroykapur ???

-> yourusername hey bhagwan ( oh god )

yourusername be my munda kukkad kamaal da ???

-> adityaroykapur is this your way of asking me out

-> yourusername idk is it working

-> adityaroykapur absolutely, i'll see you at 7 meri jaan ❤️ ( my life )

-> maxverstappen1 what just happened

-> landonorris did they just

-> pierregasly oh my god

-> charles_leclerc it was that easy ?

-> georgerussell63 we just had to get him to post shirtless pictures. wow.

≡;- ꒰ °instagram stories ꒱

yourusername added to their instagram stories

≡;- ꒰ °instagram stories ꒱

adityaroykapur added to their instagram stories

≡;- ꒰ °instagram ꒱

liked by adityaroykapur, landonorris, kiaraaliaadvani and 2,528,915 others

yourusername he's my sataaye manaaye rulaaye hassaye all in one ( i don't know how to explain it, these are lyrics from a song "maahi ve" and basically it says that he troubles her, makes it up to her, makes her cry and makes her laugh, so like all in one )

tagged adityaroykapur

13,628 comments

username SCREECHING OH MY GOD

username im cryint i love tjem os mucj

username OHFJJSAJSJHHSS THIS IS INSANE I TELL U

username i prayed for this

username no bc i KNEW it the stories gave you AWAY y'all are not SLICK

username i saw them ask each other out that's crazy to think about actually

landonorris still mad i wasn't notified in advance

-> yourusername stay mad

-> landonorris you don't GET it i had to find out through COMMENTS

username in love with them oh my god

username they're my roman empire ur honour

username oh my god 😭😭😭😭😭😭

username the maahi ve reference imma SCREAM

username the way they're literally the it couple oh my god

sidmalhotra finally ‼️‼️‼️

-> yourusername no thanks to u

-> sidmalhotra badtameez ( disrespectful )

kiaraaliaadvani don't listen to sid, I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU I LOVE YOU BOTH I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR AGES FOR YOU BOTH TO GET TOGETHER OMGGGGG

-> yourusername KI I LOVE U SO MUCH WE CAN FINALLY GO ON DOUBLE DATES LIKE WE PLANNED ☝️☝️☝️☝️

username sid and aditya on a double date obviously with kiara and y/n

-> username need to see this happen immediately for mental health purposes

username everyday i wake up and see some shit like this. why does the universe hate me

username i wish y'all blocked me before posting this (IM SO HAPPY FOR U OH MY GOD)

username me preparing to spot aditya at EVERY gp this year bc i know my boy is not strong enough to leave y/n for more than 27 mins

maxverstappen1 he breaks your heart, i'll nail gun his.

-> yourusername alright edge lord no more wednesday for u

-> username CRYING 😭😭😭

username im so HAPPY y'all don't GET it i've been waiting for this for YEARS

username i screeched and my baby cousin woke up y'all im NOT playing around

username since no one's gonna ask the important question here I WILL

-> username what the story behind aditya and the jhadu photo ( broom )

-> yourusername he was trying to make a point and said that if acting doesn't work out he can start a cleaning service

-> adityaroykapur gaadi waala aaya ghar se kachara nikaal

-> yourusername no we cannot get rid of lando and charles

-> landonorris fuck you

-> username NO BC WHY ARE THEY CATCHING STRAYS AT EVERY POINT

adityaroykapur PRETTY word is real and it belongs to her and her only

adityaroykapur a living angel

adityaroykapur making my pupils dilate

adityaroykapur prettiest 💗💗💗

adityaroykapur my phone just did a backflip

-> username lord when will it be me

adityaroykapur i have NEVER made you cry

-> yourusername false u called me a daayan yesterday when i had my hair down ( witch )

-> adityaroykapur BECAUSE YOU LOOKED LIKE ONE

-> yourusername WOOOOOOOW.

adityaroykapur we're cute together or whatever 🥰

-> yourusername whatever 🤨

-> adityaroykapur we're cute together 🥰 ****

-> yourusername perfect 🤞

adityaroykapur all i'm saying is, it would be a GOOD cleaning service

-> yourusername never quit your day job we'd go broke so FAST 😞

-> adityaroykapur what happened to "sheesh mahal na mujhko suhaye tujh sang sooki roti bhaaye" ( basically the hindi version of "i like shiny things but i'd marry you with paper rings" )

-> yourusername that's very rich coming from u considering ur roti looks like a different country every time

-> adityaroykapur wow.

username in love u don't get me

≡;- ꒰ °instagram ꒱

liked by yourusername, sidmalhotra, lewishamilton and 2,368,257 others

adityaroykapur i promise to take photos of you forever if it means i get to be by your side. lo mein kayamat tak hua tera ( i'm yours till the end of the world )

tagged yourusername

13,178 others

username im crying btw

username GOING FERAL OVER THE CAPTION WHAT THEBFUCK KK

username i audibly gasped i want what they have ‼️‼️‼️‼️

username THEY'RE MY PARENTS EVERYONE SHUT UP

username taylor swift writes songs about them btw

-> username ARIJIT SINGH writes songs about them more like 😭😭

username forever cackling bc sis really asked him out in the comments section

-> landonorris she got no game 😞❌

-> yourusername still pulled a bitch before u

-> landonorris she called you a BITCH adityaroykapur

-> yourusername WATCH UR BACK AT TURN 1 IN BAHRAIN I WILL ANNIHILATE U

-> adityaroykapur ...

username crying bc we're gonna get aditya at EVERY gp like im not even wrong bc that man's down BAD for her

-> username simply existing gf 🤝 obsessed bf

username god i see how kind u have to others

username alright y'all time to hug a tree 362 kmph

username O MAAHI LYRICS I AM DEAD I AM GONE I AM DECEASED I AM DECOMPOSING I AM SIX FEET UNDER

sidmalhotra happy for you both 🙄🙄🙄

-> sidmalhotra 🥰🥰🥰*****

-> yourusername stay mad bc i stole ur bf ☝️🙄

-> adityaroykapur did i unintentionally start another fight ⁉️

sidmalhotra finally no more talks about how much you want her 🥳🥳🥳

-> adityaroykapur that was CONFIDENTIAL

-> yourusername tell me more ☺️ sidmalhotra

username AND WE ALL CHEERED FINALLLLY

username the it couple of bollywood AND f1 i said what i said

username need me a guy who will post me like this or wtv 🙄🙄🙄🙄

yourusername bold of u to assume i'm leaving after the world ends 😕

-> adityaroykapur we'll haunt sid together 🤝

-> yourusername OMGGGGG YES

-> sidmalhotra MEINE KYA KIYA ( what did i do )

yourusername why do u always catch me off guard i look so bad 😭

-> adityaroykapur jhoothi you look perfect ❤️ ( liar )

yourusername i love u

-> adityaroykapur i love you so much more

-> oscarpiastri we get it MOVE ON

-> yourusername 😐😐😐

-> username LMAOOOOO

username i'm in awe WE'RE FINALLY HERE PEOPLE ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

[revxwrites]

HELLO PEOPLE, GUESS WHO'S BACK! I took all week to finish this because i realized 9 of 12 of these characters didn't have a proper design for my rewrite :sob:

BUT ANYWAYS, design notes under the cut, plus explanations for certain design/ name choices and some silly headcanons n notes!

∘•···············•∘ʚ ♡ ɞ∘•················•∘

Anaphiel "Aphmau" Phoenixlance

> Anaphiel; Herbrew: branch of God. A reference to how she's a reincarnation/ descendant of Irene.

>Phoenixlance is the last name she adopts once arriving to Phoenix Drop, making it appear as if Garroth and her were married (they in fact aren't).

>Anaphiel loves collecting small things, like feathers, rocks and flowers.

>Might not be the strongest, but she's a really good builder.

Garroth Phoenixlance (Ro'meave)

>He panicked when asked his last name, saying the first thing that came to mind, hence the origin Phoenixlance (begrudgingly he had to pick up lance training to make it believable).

> Garroth looks eerily similar to his father, causing him to have facial dysmorphia.

>His body is extremely stocky, making someone short like Anaphiel very small.

>Despite no longer living in his childhood home, he greatly misses his younger brother.

Laurence Kilgore-Zvhal

>Kilgore; Irish: son of the short lad. He might not be the tallest guy, but his handsomeness makes up for it.

>He got his ears pierced by Cadenza. His hair is also dyed to match her own.

>The locket he has is from his birth mother, while he doesn't remember her, he keeps it close to his being.

>Laurence's favorite flowers are carnations.

Dante Adalhard

>Adalhard; German: Noble Strength. He's a new guard, yet he's extremely noble to Phoenix Drop once he's brought to.

>His hair grew out ever since he left Boboros, he ties it with a piece of his deceased brother's cape.

>Dante keeps a communication amulet close to his heart, he isn't allowed to guard Anaphiel inside of meetings due to it.

>Dante's favorite flowers are Forget me Nots. He mentioned they used to grow around his home village.

Katelyn "The Fire Fist" Harlow

>Harlow; English: Army Hill.

>Member of the Jury of Nine. She has passive magicks which allow her to punch so fast her fist turns into flames.

>Her ears give away her status as a magicks user, which she hides with her side bangs.

>Katelyn loves cookies, her favorites being Shortbread cookies Nana makes.

Zane Ro'meave

>Wears a faceveil due to an accident he had.

>The people of O'khasis say he's like a phantom of sorts, some don't believe the High Priest is real, yet he very much is.

>Zane has very shaky arms and hands, many don't know the reason.

>He keeps his hair long to hide his face.

>Has poliosis, which makes some spots of his hair white, his lashes are white too.

>Zane loves his mother's Lemon Cake.

Aaron Lycan

>Ultima Werewolf.

>He hides his eyes with a red piece of fabric (it used to be from his son's cape).

>His necklaces hold meaning, he has one of his son's milk fangs, and a Crescent Moon Charm, which he uses to transform into werewolf form at will (reference to ep. 70 S1 where Aphmau uses one with Lucinda's guidance).

>Due to repressing his werewolf side for years, he is unable to turn without the assistance of his Moon Charm.

>Not much is known about the Ultima in this universe.

Lucinda Adie

>Adie; Latin: from Hadria. Hadria is a disctrict name in Pikoro, more specifically where the Lord and most nobles reside.

>Probably one of very few witches that wears makeup, she has a full routine each morning.

>Reincarnation of Menphia the Fury.

>Her hair is orange, but when she began practicing witchcraft her magicks became imbued with her hair, making it appear different.

Naname Ashida

>Naname; Japanese:  七 means "seven." 愛 means "love, affection, fondness."

>Short for her name is Nana, she prefers it over her full name.

>Mei'fwa, her fur color is black. Her whiskers are sensitive.

>Practices Animation Magicks, unbeknownst to her she can extend her magicks to more than reanimating dolls.

Nicole Von Ronsenburg

>Von Rosenburg; from Rosenburg. Rosenburg is a district of Scaleswind, more speficially the more religious sector which worships Irene.

>Despite being the Lord's daughter, she had no interest truly in ruling, loving to fight.

>Her fist is said to be as strong as Iron.

>Her pet fox Roxy, is quite rare, since artic foxes aren't meant to live in areas like Scaleswind.

Vylad Pineglade (Ro'meave)

>Shadow Knight. Has a stab scar on his back.

>People don't know of his existence, so he adopted a new last name to distance himself from his previous life.

>Has the choppiest hair in all of Ru'aun. He cuts it himself with a dagger.

>Conceals his face from everyone, not many know why.

>Sometimes he still tastes lemon from the cake he ate before his death.

Travis Valkrum

>Half demon, half human hybrid.

>The markings on his face are thanks to his father, first time he tapped into his demonic power his markings emerged.

>Emerald earring from his mother, Palacia. He still misses her dearly.

>Has fangs, pointy ears and a tail (which he stuffs inside his clothes), but doesn't possess horns.

>His magic color is green, but when in demon form it turns purple (wink wink nudge nudge).

∘•···············•∘ʚ ♡ ɞ∘•················•∘

[brazenautomaton]

The issue, as I see it, with the DMC ‘anime’ is it really does not “get” the characters or setting. My refusing to engage with the nature and differences of humanity and demons it loses the series philosophical underpinnings.

yeah

with the revelation of the peaceful Makaian refugees (that is Darkstalkers you are thinking of Darkstalkers) this has become another case of someone who doesn't get that allegories can be about something other than race

there are good demons and evil humans in DMC! the good demons are all rejecting their demonic nature to become closer to humanity, and the evil humans are always specifically rejecting their humanity to become and/or use demons. Arius was a demon-worshipper, Arkham turned himself into a demon for power, the Order of the Sword turned themselves into demons for power, Urizen was literally created by cutting everything that was human out of Vergil and leaving only demon.

Trish was evil but had a change of heart after seeing Dante care about her even though they were enemies. Lucia was a defective Secretary Demon who was raised with love by Matier as if she were his own daughter. And Credo was the only good Order member because he didn't Ascend for power, he did it to protect others. And the Legendary Dark Knight Sparda turned against demonkind out of love for humanity. Dante embraces Sparda's love for humanity by helping people and being a lovable goofball, and Vergil rejects his human side by caring only for power.

In DMC, "human" and "demon" are not allegories for two ethnic groups. They are allegories for outlooks, parts of the human experience. Demons are selfishness, desire for power, callousness, rejecting things that make you weak. Humanity is emotion, empathy, kindness, vulnerability, trusting others and embracing the things that demonicity regards with contempt. DMC says that those who reject kindness and empathy and vulnerability in order to be strong don't understand what strength is; attaining "power" is a huge recurring theme and the answer is always "act less like a demon and have emotions." Agnus and Dante's boss fight in 4 lays this out, Agnus unable to understand why the guy with more human in him is kicking his ass. And if you thought oh, that's just because Sparda's DNA is so good, then DMC5 comes to correct you: mission 20, literally entitled "True Power," has Nero, the guy with half as much Sparda blood in him, fucking bitch-slap the twin Sons of Sparda because he is fighting to save their lives and prevent his family from killing each other.

Adi Shankar probably loves DMC. And he definitely loves the Playstation 2 era, the early 2000s nu-metal soundtrack is great. And honestly, Dante himself? 10/10, no notes, that's Dante even expressed in a different way. But he didn't get DMC, why the story is so resonant despite being thin and cheesy as a Kraft Single.

And I suppose the shitty Bush-era social commentary is accurate to the PS2 era, but it doesn't justify its inclusion, shut the fuck up about your opinions on America. Like even America invading Hell isn't necessarily bad because it'd humans being bad by seeking more demonic power, it's everything leading up to that that's insufferable. Why is Kevin Conroy the Vice-President instead of just... the leader of DARKCOM? Why did we have that White House briefing room scene? It made things more confusing because nobody believes in demons except everyone believes in demons why the fuck does President Hick not know about the elite anti-demon force that is run by his own fucking vice-president? Everything would have been so much cleaner and smoother if you just cut the White House part and just had Kevin Conroy as leader of DARKCOM, a shadowy elite task force with murky government ties. Also why the fuck were their guys robbing Vatican City?

[kadhal]

nobaracore -> kadhal

adi | ஆதி 18 she/they/he

twitter / mutuals ask for discord & instagram!!

LIKES jjk trc dcu link click love poetry kpop 911 (tv)

DNI racist/homophobic/etc aot fans ill block if ur weird

[master-of-unlocking-things]

Loooooong rant post essay about dmc netflix incoming.

Netflix dmc was not made for dmc fans in the slightest. Netflix dmc was made for fans of max0r’s dmc5 video at the absolute most, and vivziepop fans. The tone, writing, setting, characters, everything about it is all very very off. This just straight up isn’t devil may cry.

I hate the argument of “well it’s a different universe” because at it’s core it’s missing everything that makes devil may cry what it is. The whole point of fanfiction and ESPECIALLY an adaptation is to use your understanding of the source material as the foundation and BUILD OFF OF IT. You don’t have to follow the canon beat for beat, nobody’s saying that, but the foundation should still be there. You should still be able to say “yes these are those characters” when reading/watching/playing even if they try something completely new or outlandish. Otherwise you’re just writing a random story but slapping pre-existing labels onto your ocs. That’s what separates good fics from amateur fics. That’s also why DmC garnered so much hate (on top of outright disrespecting the source material). And given that this is a professional grade adaptation and not a tween’s first attempt at a story, it’s going to be held to the former’s standards. And “different universe” or not, it’s not above critique or comparisons to the original. It’s not a standalone story, it’s an adaptation and will be treated as such. Nobody gave this much leeway to the DmC 2013 reboot despite it being pretty fun to play, so why does Netflix, so notorious for pumping out widely hated adaptations that it’s become a meme, get more leeway? Hell, Lucia is fucking WHITE. That alone should attest to the carelessness of this show. Or does “it’s a different universe” also excuse whitewashing? I get that dmc2 was ass but you can’t just do that???

It’s also disheartening to see people defending the new show with “well dmc’s story is dogshit anyways so it doesn’t matter what they do in this show.” If you don’t like the original story then that’s alright, you’re allowed to have that opinion, but that’s not a defense at all for the show nor is it an actual rebuttal towards fans of the series. (And I will state outright that if you don’t like devil may cry’s story, you’re not a fan of it. At most you’re a fan of hack and slash games and that’s okay to admit.) But people do love devil may cry, and as fans we love it’s story in spite of it’s flaws and cheesiness. You may not care because it’s meaningless to you, but there is a passionate and dedicated fanbase who adores these characters and their arcs and we are allowed to dislike new, disrespectful depictions of said characters especially when the writers don’t have a fundamental understanding of them. If Netflix au “Dante” and “Mary’s” names were changed you honestly couldn’t see any resemblance to Dante and Lady and that is a very big issue with the writing. They’re just one note imitations at best.

The whole show honestly feels like “devil may cry through the lens of someone who’s only vaguely heard of it” and not an honest to god adaptation made by someone who genuinely cares about the franchise. I’m not gonna be like “heh fans could do so much better” (disregarding the fact that there are way better fanfictions out there lol) but Adi just straight up does not care about dmc. If you took away any dmc branding you would still have the exact same show with no differences. That is not a good adaptation. (And I could write a whole post about Lady’s depiction alone, christ).

Another point- as a die-hard dante x lady shipper, even I think the vague romance was dogshit. This alone can prove any point I have about Adi misunderstanding the characters because how does someone take 20 years of built up chemistry and somehow fuck it up?? Like somehow some way he managed to make dante x lady feel forced, lacking, and annoyingly fanservicy. My brother in christ the exam was open note and you still failed.

And I know I’ll get these comments so covering this too: “Fans don’t like ANYTHING different.” Yeah no, that isn’t happening here. Now I have been involved in fandoms long enough to know that there are a lot of annoying purists out there who just don’t like anything, but that isn’t the majority of where the criticism comes from. I sure as hell am not one of those purists and have a lot of opinions that would have them putting my head on a pike lmao. (I value Dmc2 and don’t just ignore it. I love dmc4 and especially Nero. I loved the original dmc anime as a character study for dante. So on and so forth.) I can’t speak for every single critic or fan, but I know I and a lot of other fans are perfectly fine with taking Dante’s character in new directions and opening up new stories with him or the rest of the dmc world. Without new material, the old stuff gets stale and I can accept that. A lot of people went into this show open minded. But you can read my earlier points to see why I (and more) ended up hating this show. I should also add that I watched this with friends. Friends who are not huge fans of dmc like I am, but just casual observers who enjoyed some of the games and characters. They also hated this. So it’s not just die hard fans saying this shit lol.

Also the people crying out “gatekeeping.” No we ENCOURAGE everyone to play these games. We encourage everyone to actually get into the story and we want to share the things we love with others. The “gatekeepy” aspect is “if you only like the show, you’re not a dmc fan” which… yeah? That shouldn’t be a controversial take. If you aren’t a fan of the games then you aren’t a fan of the games. The show is so far completely removed from anything devil may cry that it’s basically a separate fandom. Of course you can enjoy both at the same time, you’re not fake for being a fan of both. I understand that some people are saying this and those people are lame asf lol. It’s perfectly okay to like the show even if a lot of fans don’t. You can be a dmc fan and a dmc netflix fan, but while they can coexist they are still ultimately 2 separate things. If you ONLY like the show and don’t go explore the games then you’re a dmc netflix fan.

With all that said, I encourage you to form your own opinions on the show (pirate it please for the love of god, do not give that fascist a single cent). Understand where other people are coming from but don’t let people’s thoughts dictate your opinions.

I would also like to thank Castlevania fans for being supportive in these trying times <333

Ok that’s it rant over.

[brother-ki-dulhan]

Brother Ki Dulhan

Hello mere tumblr vaasio aasha hai aap sab apne gharo mein khush hai aur sardi ki aanand le rhe hain.

hum geet(@celesteablack) aur roop(@chal-jeete-hai), jab we met wali nhi tumblr wali, aaj aapko ek khush khabri dene aaye hai. Jaisa ki aap jaante hain humare ek bade hi pyaare bhaiya hain Adi bhaiya (@raindropsofloev), haan thoda bully zaroor karte hain hume but abb humari bak bak itne dhyan aur patience ke saath sunte hain to itna to chalta hi hai. Wese yeh dil ke bade saaf hain, par vo dil thoda khali khali sa rehta hai aur abb itni pyaari si behne hokar aisa kaise hone de sakte hain to hum nikle hain apne brother ki dulhan dhundhne

abb aap puchenge ki aisa kya hai humare bhai mein ki aap unhe apna dulha banae?

ekdum valid question! to main batadu jo insaan hum do behno ki bakwaas seh sakta hai vo iss duniya mein kuch bhi kar sakta hai...aakhir aaj ki duniya mein itna patient aur understanding insaan milna maano saaf milna hogya hai, nearly impossible! And loyalty aur trust ki to baat hi mat pucho, kabhi kisi shikayat ka mauqa nhi denge pinky promise!!

iss swayamvadhu mein hissa kaise lein??

easy peasy lemon sqeezy, (just one condition your age should be between 19-21) ...just send us an ask with your name, your blog name, your favourite song and maybe something about yourself.

We feel like this moodboard and his fav songs are enough to describe his vibes.

[cryingatwindermerepeaks]

just started reading your work recently and I am in love with your writing it has such soft vibes and I can’t even explain how warm and happy it makes me feel ✨ (also I would love to hear more of your thoughts on autistic little lottie if you’re willing to share!)

Autistic Little!Lottie Hcs

Thank you so very much for your kind words, they truly mean so much to me!! Hope you enjoy these Hcs!

Notes -> mentions of harmful stimming, also autistic little Lottie is very much just autistic little adi, so. Yeah. If this feels wildly self indulgent, it is.

- Lottie looses all ability to mask when she regresses. She’s just so tiny and it’s too hard to remember how she’s supposed to act and what she’s supposed to say.

- She often struggles with understanding what her body is trying to tell her and listening to it. Because of this, she can’t really figure out when she’s tired, hungry or needs the bathroom. Because of this she really just lets her cg take complete care of her, though sometimes she feels a little guilty for it.

- She has a schedule for changes, feeds and naps which she sticks to rigidly.

- She’s padded when she’s regressed, regardless of how little she is (though usually she regresses into babyspace). She struggles to tell anyone when she needs a change because she has a hard time talking, so it’s on her cg to check in with her.

- She’s non speaking when she’s regressed. Not masking, means she doesn’t really feel the need to force herself to speak and usually she’s regressed so small anyway words are just too hard. A lot of the other little Yellowjackets who struggle with words have established a form of sign language loosely based of asl. Lottie usually feels too small even for that, though sometimes she can do signs like mama or change if she really needs to.

- She’s very attached to her pacifiers. She almost always has one in her mouth. She can be a little spacey when she’s little (and let’s be honest, when she’s big too) and will often just drop it out of her mouth if she gets distracted. So it’s important that she has it on a clip attached to her shirt so it doesn’t go missing.

- Her special interest is in flowers!! She loves flowers. They have a big flower garden in their backyard and Lottie finds so much peace just sitting amongst them. In particularly good days Lottie will babble facts about flowers very quietly to herself.

- She really struggles with hyper empathy. Sometimes one of the cgs will find her sitting in the playroom just crying and it takes a lot of investigating to find out she’s crying because Jackie snatched a toy from Melissa and Mel looked sad about it. They have to be really particular about what Lottie is allowed to watch, because sometimes shows that include lots of fighting will just cause her to sob uncontrollably.

- She struggles to understand physical boundaries. She always wants to be held and cuddled and curled up in someone’s lap. If she can’t get that, she’ll push her body into someone or shove them or if she’s really overwhelmed by her need for contact she’ll hit. She never means to hurt them, she just needs touch so badly. She has a weighted blanket which soothes this craving pretty well.

- After a meltdown Nat will always settle Lottie on the couch in her arms with her weighted blanket and a flower documentary on the tv.

- Even though she’s taller than most of the others, she can be very insistent on being carried. She clings on like a monkey.

- She’s so big on rocking, it’s her favourite stim ever. Humming and whistling too, which sometimes cause Jackie to snap because the sound is overwhelming to her. Lottie always feels bad when this happens. Sometimes her stims can be a bit harmful, she’ll hit her head or scratch at her arms if she’s super spooked by something.

- She is big on hiding in small spaces. She can always find new spots to hide that are small and safe because the pressure is calming

- She’s super particular about food. That’s not to say her tastebuds are bland though. She’ll put any two safe foods together and call it a meal. Olives and raspberries? That’s probably great and she will be eating it. But not safe foods can’t touch.

- Bambi is her favourite movie and she will recite the whole thing. Lottie hasn’t spoken in days? Put on Bambi and she won’t stop talking.

- Sometimes her brain really scares her and she’ll lash out with violent and messy meltdowns.

- She always wants to help her friends, but sometimes when she’s really small she doesn’t know how! She’ll usually just dump all her stuffies on their lap.

- She has a blankie she’s had since childhood that she carries around with her everywhere. It has a silky rim and she rubs the corner against her cheek when she’s overwhelmed.

- She’s the only one of the yjs who needs a baby monitor. She has to have it turned on at bed time when she’s little and the other end usually stays in Tai and Van or Nat’s room, depending on who’s feeling big at the time. She needs it because she can be a bit of a handful at night. She hates sleeping alone and almost always ends up in someone else’s bed, if she’s alone she’ll just lay and cry which can be hard to hear from some sorts of the house. She also has bars on her bed like a crib so she can’t just go get someone if somethings wrong.

- She has bars on her bed because she’s a bit of a wanderer. She’ll wake up in the middle of the night and just walk about the house. She’s often found sleeping in the kitchen, or curled up at someone’s door. A few times she was too small and sleepy and fell down the stairs which is why she’s got the bars.

- She loves her bottles!! It’s very calming for her and will always soothe her if she’s overstimulated and upset.

- She exclusively wears dresses (for twirling in) or pajamas (for sleeping in)

- She gets really scared sometimes that she can’t control herself. She’s small, she’s unmasked and sometimes she has really scary thoughts!! She feels like she has no control over any of this which always leads to a meltdown and she needs a lot of comfort after.

[rainbow-nerdss]

💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃

lesbian may!!!! yes!!!!

i love herrrrrrrrrrr 🥰🥰🥰here's a bunch of sentences for 💃, not sure if it's the exact number haha

She stepped closer, wrapping her arms tighter around Adriana's waist. She could see each individual freckle on her face, see the wisps of hair that had broken free of the ornate up-do, and she wanted to kiss her. She could kiss her. She was so close, barely a few inches apart, and if May just leaned forward another little bit, then… “Tia Adi!” A voice interrupted their moment, and May looked down to see a little kid, no older than three, tugging on Adriana's skirt. Adriana broke away from May and crouched down to pick the kid up. “Elena! May, this is my niece—Sophia’s baby.” “I'm not a baby!” Elena protested. May bit back a laugh. It was adorable, really. “Lovely to meet you, Elena,” she said. Elena blinked at her, assessing her. “You're pretty.” And then she turned back to Adriana. “I wanna dance!” “I was dancing with May, princesa. Can't you dance with—” “Mommy said to dance with you,” Elena pouted. Adriana looked over her shoulder, and May followed her gaze. She'd been introduced to Sophia briefly, earlier in the day, and she'd seen her at the head table, so she recognised her. She was visibly exhausted, and May figured she must have been running after Elena all day. “Looks like your mom needs a rest, huh?” May said. “Good thing you have an aunt like Adriana to dance with.” Adriana shot her an apologetic look, but May dismissed it. She rested a hand on Adriana's arm and squeezed once.  Later, Adriana mouthed, and May nodded. She left them to dance, and went in search of a drink. The bar was surprisingly quiet when she found it, so she took some time to look over the list of cocktails on offer and ordered herself a paloma. She leaned against the bar while the bartender made it, and soon enough someone else came over to lean next to her. She glanced over and smiled at him. “How's it feel to be a married man?” She asked.

(also, I haven't decided whether she should talk to Buck or Eddie here! MayBuck siblingism "looks like we both have a thing for Diazes, huh?" vs call center besties "did i just see you making eyes at my sister?" - sound off in the notes!)

Make me Write!

[itsgiovanna]

playing for love (chapter 15)

pairing: fem!character x mason mount

summary: injured and lost, mason mount begins his recovery with the help of adeline alderidge, a tough yet brilliant physiotherapist. but, some wounds don't heal easily, and the closer they get, the more mason realizes she might need saving just as much as he does.

notes: hope this chapter can make us forget about last night's game :( anyway, enjoy!!!

word count: 4.3k

warnings: none! just fluff.

next: chapter 16

tag list: @avalentina @coffeevacation @destinyg237 @obi-wansgirl

She was twenty-one again. Cold tile under her bare feet. Her father’s voice, sharp and thunderous, cracked through the air like a whip.

“You’ve got to be joking.”

Adeline stood still in the kitchen, clutching the folded ultrasound image in her coat pocket. Her hand trembled, and her voice — when it finally broke through the fear — was barely a whisper. “I’m keeping the baby, dad.”

Her mother said nothing, her eyes glossed with something close to shame. Her father’s face twisted, red creeping up his neck.

“You are not keeping it, Adeline.”

Adeline’s breath hitched. She opened her mouth to speak again, but the words tangled behind her teeth. Then, his hand moved — too fast, too sudden. Her instinct pulled her back, heart racing, flinch sharp as a slap.

“No!” she cried out.

Breathless. Eyes wide. The room was dark, save for the silver glow of rain slipping through the curtains. Her chest like she’d just run miles in her sleep. For a moment, she couldn’t remember where she was — until, the scent of his skin, the soft warmth of the duvet and the subtle creak of the mattress anchored her.

“Hey. Hey.” Mason said softly beside her, instantly awake.

He sat up, concern etched deep in his face. One hand came up to her back, the other found her hand under the covers. “You’re okay.”

Adeline couldn’t speak at first. Her lips were parted, but, no sound came. She rubbed a palm over her face, trying to quiet the tremor in her hands.

Mason’s brow furrowed, voice still low, gentle. “Bad dream?”

She gave a small nod, swallowing hard.

“You were screaming in your sleep.” he said carefully. “Like… shouting it.” He squeezed her hand lightly. “Do you wanna talk about it?”

Her throat tightened again. For a second, she wanted to say yes. To tell him everything. But, the words were buried under years of silence, of building walls no one had tried to climb before him.

“I’m fine.” she finally whispered.

“Sure?”

Adeline turned to look at him then, finally. His hair was a mess from sleeping and his eyes — still heavy, with concern — searched hers like he could find the truth hiding behind them.

“I don’t want to ruin your morning, Mase.” she said with a tight smile.

“You already did.” he deadpanned. Then, added softer. “You scared the hell out of me.”

Adeline’s smile flickered. Her shoulders sagged a little.

Mason hesitated, then brushed her hair behind her ear, letting his fingers linger on her cheek. “I’ve never seen you like that, Ady.”

“I don’t really talk about… that part of my life.” Her voice was quiet. She looked down at their intertwined hands. “It was a long time ago.”

“But, it still gets to you.” He didn’t say it like a judgment. Just… a fact.

She nodded slowly.

Mason leaned in, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Alright.” he said simply. “I won’t push. But, I’m here, yeah? If it ever gets too heavy to carry on your own.”

Adeline blinked fast, trying not to tear up again. She leaned into him, her head resting on his shoulder as his arms wrapped around her.

“I know, Mase.” she murmured. “Thank you.”

The rain kept tapping against the windows, soft and steady, as they sat there together in the early morning dark — her nightmares still lurking in the edges, but his heartbeat a steady rhythm that kept her grounded.

(...)

Mason walked into the kitchen barefoot, hoodie over his t-shirt, hair a mess and eyes still carrying the weight of sleep. He looked around and smiled — his mom was at the stove, her back to him, flipping something on a pan. His dad was settled at the table, reading the back of a cereal box like it was the morning paper and Stacey was leaning against the counter, sipping tea.

“Morning.” Mason said, voice still gravelly.

“Morning, dear.” Debbie called over her shoulder with a smile. “You’re up early.”

“Smelled toast.” he said, grabbing a mug from the shelf.

“Sleep alright?” Tony gave Mason a nod from behind his cup of coffee.

Mason poured himself some tea. “Took a bit, but, yes.” He paused, then added, “Adeline didn't sleep well.”

Debbie glanced over her shoulder again, her brow gently pinched. “Oh, no. Is she okay?”

“She didn’t say much. Just woke up startled.” Mason leaned on the counter, wrapping his hands around the warm mug. “Seemed shaken, but she settled down after a while.”

“She seems put together.” Stacey murmured.

“She is.” Mason said softly, nodding.

Debbie placed eggs on a plate, while Stacey, reached for the butter.

“Where’s she from again?” Stacey asked casually.

“London.” Mason said. “Moved when Lily was a baby, a few years ago.”

“That’s a big move with a little one.” Tony said thoughtfully. “Must’ve taken guts.”

“Yes.” Mason replied. “She’s tough like that.”

Debbie smiled warmly. “She’s lovely. Lily too. You can tell Adeline’s doing a beautiful job with her.”

Mason's mouth curved slightly. “I know.” There was no prying. Just, quiet admiration.

“Has she got family still down there?” Stacey asked gently, spreading jam on a piece of toast.

“I don’t know. She’s never really said.” Mason shrugged lightly.

Debbie, now seated with her tea, offered a soft, thoughtful smile. “Well, if she ever feels like talking about it, she will. No rush. Sometimes people just need to feel settled first.”

Mason nodded slowly, the comfort of his family’s tone grounding him. “Sure.”

They fell into light conversation again — about Stacey’s little ones staying over at Jaz’s and the plans for the day.

(...)

The sunlight was filtering gently through the blinds when Adeline stirred awake, tangled in soft sheets that still smelled faintly of Mason’s cologne. For a moment, she stayed there — quiet, still — letting the warmth of the room and the memory of the night before settle over her skin like silk.

She remembered the way she had crept into the shower, barefoot and half-blushing. And, how his eyes had darkened the second he saw her. There were no questions, no hesitations — just hands, mouths, water, heat. She hadn’t expected it to feel that… intimate. There was something different about the way he touched her. The way he looked at her, like she wasn’t a fling or a momentary distraction.

Throwing back the covers, she padded quietly to the bathroom, brushing out the sleep-mussed waves of her hair. She found Mason’s hoodie folded over the edge of the bed, tugged it on and let it swallow her. It smelled like him — safe, clean and something maddeningly boyish.

By the time she stepped into the living room, Mason was already there. Shirtless, sitting cross-legged on the rug in front of the couch, his phone in one hand and a mug of tea on the table.

He looked up the second he noticed her — and smiled.

“Morning, love.” he said, voice still thick with sleep and warmth.

Adeline felt it everywhere, that one word. Like heat rising under her skin.

“Morning.” she murmured, stepping over to him. He leaned up instinctively to kiss her, short, but deep, fingers grazing the side of her thigh as she knelt beside him.

“Where's everyone?” she asked against his mouth, eyes flicking around the quiet house.

“Out.” he said, thumb brushing gently at the edge of her hoodie. “Mom, Dad, Stacey and Harry left after breakfast. They’ve gone to Jaz’s with the kids for the day.” He leaned back slightly, eyes warm. “Mom said something about giving us some space.”

Adeline chuckled softly, letting herself fall sideways, curling into his chest, his arm already sliding around her waist.

“Stella messaged me.” she said after a beat, fingers tracing lazy circles on his chest. “Said Lily’s like a little hurricane. Jumping on the couch, probably hyped on too much candy.”

“She’s never been here, has she?” Mason asked, glancing at her gently.

Adeline shook her head. “No. I never really… I don’t know. This place feels like yours. Mine’s more crayons and crushed biscuits.”

Mason smirked. “Guess we’ll have to let her take over this place someday too.”

Her heart skipped a little, but, she kept her tone breezy. “You say that now. Wait until she draws a princess on your wall.”

“I’ll frame it.” he said easily and she rolled her eyes.

There was a short lull, the kind that felt full, not empty.

Then, Mason shifted slightly, they were eye to eye. “You know… they really liked you.” he said. “Mom, Dad. Stacey and Lewis too. Said you were lovely.”

Adeline blinked slowly, trying not to show how much that meant. “They’re sweet. It wasn’t too overwhelming, was it?”

“No.” he said, eyes never leaving hers. “You fit right in.”

She swallowed the knot forming in her throat, covering it with a quiet smile.

And, then he added, casually. “I was actually gonna bring this up yesterday, but, everything was a bit mad.”

“What?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Every year, me and the boys — Ben, Dec, Kai — we go on this trip.” he began, brushing a strand of her hair back. “Just a week, somewhere warm. Beach, sun, no press, no noise. Just football, beers and bad tan lines.”

She smiled. “Okay...”

“Well...” he went on, tilting his head. “This year… I want you to come with me.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “Me?”

“Yes, you.” he said, grin tugging at his lips. “You need a break. A proper one. Just… relax. Be by the sea. No work, no stress. Let me spoil you a bit.”

Adeline shifted, a little overwhelmed. “Mason… that’s — it's really sweet. But, I don’t know. That’s… that’s a lot. It’s your thing with your mates. And—” she hesitated, “I don’t really do the whole being-dependent-on-someone thing. Especially, for a insanely expensive beach vacation.”

Mason didn’t push. Instead, he leaned in, eyes soft but playful. “It wouldn’t be a trip without you, love.”

There it was again. That word.

She froze slightly, blinking at him. “Say that again.”

“What?”

“That last bit.” she said, narrowing her eyes with a teasing smile. “Slowly.”

He leaned in closer, dropping his voice deliberately. “Wouldn’t be a trip without you… love.”

Adeline let out a small, involuntary laugh, cheeks flushed and eyes dancing. "God. You’re lucky that accent works."

Mason smirked, kissing the corner of her mouth. “Does it, now?”

“Very.” she murmured, pulling him back in.

His hands slid up under the hoodie, and for a moment, the conversation faded into something else entirely — heat, chemistry, that magnetic pull they were both too helpless to resist.

But, somewhere in her mind, even while her lips moved against his, she thought: maybe, she’d say yes to that trip after all.

(...)

The moment Adeline turned the key and stepped inside her flat, she was ambushed by the sound of little footsteps and screaming voice.

“Mommy!” Lily barreled toward her, arms wide, cheeks flushed with excitement and Adeline barely had time to drop her bag, before her daughter was wrapped, tightly, around her legs.

“Oh, my heart.” Adeline whispered, crouching down to gather her into her arms. “Did you miss me?”

Lily nodded, her curls bouncing wildly. “But, only a little, because Auntie Stella let me eat marshmallows in my cereal and we made a tent out of towels!”

“Is that so?” Adeline asked, tickling her ribs. “That sounds like rule-breaking.”

“Only the fun kind, mommy.” Lily grinned.

Adeline laughed as she stood, hugging her daughter once more before setting her down. Lily skipped off into her room, no doubt to retrieve one of the million stuffed animals she needed to introduce to her mom, again.

Stella emerged from the kitchen, a mug in hand. Her hair was a mess of soft waves and she wore one of Adeline’s oversized cardigans.

“You.” she said, pointing over the mug. “Look like you got struck by lightning. In the best way.”

Adeline arched a brow, toeing off her shoes. “Good morning to you, too.”

Stella flopped onto the couch, tucking her legs underneath her. “I’m just saying… you’ve got that afterglow. It’s like your skin is blushing. I need to start dating athletes, clearly.”

Adeline chuckled, sinking beside her. “I missed this. Just… waking up to chaos and coffee.”

Stella took a long sip. “Yeah, about that. You also missed Lily doing a Beyoncé concert at 7 o'clock in the morning. She dedicated ‘Single Ladies’ to her breakfast.”

They both burst out laughing, and Adeline shook her head fondly. “That child…”

“She’s iconic, I won’t lie. But!” Stella leaned forward, eyes glinting like she’d been holding it in for hours. “Now that we got Beyoncé out of the way — talk. Spill. Everything. I’ve been dying over here. You left the flat looking like a snack and came back practically glowing. Don’t try to downplay it.”

Adeline rolled her eyes playfully, but, a bashful smile tugged at her lips.

“Let’s start with the match.” Stella pressed. “I've watched the interview. He mentioned you. Like, not subtly. Man was practically blushing.”

“I nearly sunk into the floor, Stells.” Adeline groaned.

“No, babe, he looked smitten. I thought he was about to propose mid-interview.”

Adeline covered her face, laughing. “It was surreal. Watching him play like that, being in the private box with his family...”

“Oh, right!” Stella snapped her fingers. “How was the VIP experience? Did they hand you champagne and diamonds?”

“They handed me nerves, actually.” Adeline admitted. “But, his family is lovely. His mom's gentle, his sister’s funny, his dad’s chill... I mean, it was, surprisingly, easy. I didn’t feel like I was intruding.”

Stella gave her a knowing look. “Because, you weren’t. You belong there, Ady.”

Adeline tilted her head, softening. “Sure.”

“Alright. But, what about after the match?” Stella grinned, wiggling her brows. “You stayed the night… like, officially.”

Adeline bit her lip, cheeks heating. “I did. We had dinner with his family and I—uh—I may... have snuck into his shower.”

Stella let out a gasp so dramatic it echoed. “Adeline!”

Adeline held up her hands, grinning. “Hey! It was a very nice shower.”

“I’ll bet it was. With very nice results.”

“Let’s just say...” Adeline chuckled. “Things changed last night.”

“How?” Stella leaned back, arms crossed.

Adeline sighed, the smile lingering. “He wants to be with me, Stells. Like... really be with me. And, I want that too.”

“Girl, you’re gonna make me cry into my cereal.”

They shared a quiet moment, full of understanding and years of friendship compressed into a few heartbeats.

Then, Adeline continued. “This morning was calm, sweet. His mom left a note. They all went to Jaz’s to give us space. And then... he mentioned the trip.”

“Trip?” Stella blinked.

Adeline fidgeted slightly. “Apparently, he and the boys go away every year. Somewhere warm. Sunny. By the beach.”

Stella’s eyes widened. “Okay!”

“He wants me to come, Stells.” Adeline said, barely above a whisper. “Spend the week with him. Relax. Just us.”

“And... what’d you say?” Stella grinned.

Adeline hesitated. “That’s the thing... I told him I’d only say yes if you came too.”

“Wait. What?” Stella blinked.

Adeline grinned. “I mean, Jaz offered to stay with Lily for the week, she’s got it all planned and honestly — Stella, you’ve done so much. You deserve a break too. And it felt weird going without you.”

Stella’s mouth hung open. “You — you’re asking me to join you on a beach vacation with hot footballers?!”

“Absolutely.”

“Ben better bring his sunglasses, because I’m packing bikinis and intentions.”

“You’re impossible.” Adeline threw her head back, laughing.

“But, lovable.” Stella winked. “You’re doing the right thing, babe. You both deserve this.”

Adeline looked down at her tea again, that warm smile still playing on her lips.

(...)

The sun was high, golden and unexpected for Manchester, blanketing the terrace and casting light across the pool’s surface. The breeze was soft, the kind that carried laughter and the smell of freshly cut grass, not one grey cloud in sight — rare enough that everyone had gravitated outdoors to soak it in.

Mason sat by the edge of the pool, legs dangling in the cool water, grinning, as one of his nieces paddled by with her little floaters. She splashed at him, giggling madly when he retaliated with a small wave that hit her back.

“I’m telling mom!” she squealed.

Mason chuckled, shaking his head, water droplets sliding from his hair. “I’m innocent.”

Nearby, his parents and siblings were gathered around the outdoor table, deep in conversation. His mom’s laughter rang out now and then — something about a neighbor’s dog — while his dad sipped, a cold drink, sunglasses perched like a crown of leisure.

Declan dropped down beside Mason with a grunt, a beer in hand, while Ben pulled up a lounge chair and kicked his feet up dramatically.

“Alright, king.” Declan teased, eyeing Mason with a smug smile. “You gonna tell us why you’re walking around like you’ve just won the Champions League and adopted five puppies?”

“You’re not far off.” Mason snorted.

Ben leaned forward, curiosity already brewing behind his sunglasses. “Does this have something to do with why Adeline isn’t here today?”

“She had some work stuff to sort.” Mason said, glancing down at his phone instinctively. “But, yes… she texted me earlier.”

“And?” Declan raised a brow.

“She's coming with us, to the trip.” Mason tried to keep the grin from breaking across his face but failed.

“Seriously?” Ben’s eyebrows flew up.

Mason nodded. “Said she’s in — with one condition.”

Declan tilted his head. “Which is?”

“She wants to bring Stella.”

There was a beat — then Ben blinked, sitting up straighter. “Wait, that Stella?”

“Who’s Stella?” Declan looked between them.

“You’ve met her, haven’t you?” Mason shot Ben a look.

Ben scratched the back of his head, lips twitching. “Once. At the park, remember? That afternoon I met you for a quick coffee and I was with—what’s-her-name…”

“The yoga instructor?” Declan smirked

“That’s the one.” Ben pointed.

“Pretty sure you stood there like you’d never talked to a woman before.” Mason grinned.

Ben held up both hands. “Listen, I panicked. Stella gave me a look that could kill and I just—acted.”

“What happened to yoga girl?” Declan laughed.

Ben shrugged, playful and breezy. “Didn’t work out. Turns out flexible doesn’t always mean emotionally available.”

“You’re a walking headline, mate.” Mason chuckled, shaking his head.

Ben leaned back on his elbows. “Hey, Stella was cool. Sarcastic. Kinda terrifying. I wouldn’t mind seeing her again — under less third-wheel circumstances.”

“You trying to flirt with your mate’s girl’s best friend now?” Declan raised a brow.

“I’m just open to possibilities.” Ben grinned, unapologetic.

Mason laughed again, his eyes drifting to his phone where Adeline’s message still glowed on the screen — her saying yes, her trusting him enough to go.

(...)

“Mommy, can we get this?” Lily’s tiny hands struggled to hold up a giant, floppy neon-pink hat as she waddled over, the thing almost covering her whole face. Her curls bounced, and her eyes sparkled with the kind of confidence only toddlers possess.

Adeline tilted her head, suppressing a laugh. “Sure about that one, bug?”

“It’s so pink.” Lily beamed. “It’s like a flamingo!”

“She’s not wrong.” Stella snorted.

“Please!” Lily crossed her arms.

Adeline gave up with a sigh. “Fine. But, only this one, deal?”

Lily nodded enthusiastically. “Deal!”

Adeline smiled, crouching to her level. “You’ll be the cutest flamingo in Jaz’s pool.”

“I’m gonna jump so high!” Lily spread her arms dramatically, nearly knocking over a rack of floaters.

“And this, is why we don’t feed toddlers espresso.” Stella caught one midair.

“I don’t drink espresso, Auntie Stella. That’s for grown-ups.”

Adeline laughed, tossing the swimsuit into their basket along with arm floaters, sunscreen and a watermelon-shaped pool toy. “She’s going to be living her best life next week.”

Stella smirked. “While her mom lives her best life with a, shirtless, footballer in tight shorts.”

They moved through the mall, laughing, making mental checklists of what they still needed.

Then, came Stella’s moment.

“Oh my God.” she whispered. “Lingerie. We’re going in.”

“No, we’re not.” Adeline replied instantly.

“Oh yes, we are. You’ve got a footballer boyfriend now. That’s basically lingerie law.”

“I’m not—he’s not—” Adeline sighed. “Fine. But, we’re not staying long.”

Inside the store, the lighting was dimmer, softer. Racks of delicate lace and silk lined the walls like pastel temptations. Stella wasted no time, holding up a lacy red set to her chest.

“I'll make Ben Chilwell have a heart attack.”

“Stella!” Adeline nearly dropped her basket.

“What? A girl’s gotta manifest.”

Lily, meanwhile, was trying to wrap a silky robe around her like a cape. “I’m a queen!” she announced proudly.

“Yes you are, love.” Stella agreed, blowing her a kiss.

“Oh… Adeline?”

Stella’s head snapped around fast, almost cartoonish.

Standing awkwardly near a rack of socks was a woman Adeline never expected to see again. Older. Paler. But, unmistakably her — Lily’s paternal grandmother.

Her gaze dropped to Lily, who was now, intently, inspecting a heart-shaped cushion.

“Hi.” Adeline stiffened.

“She’s… beautiful.” The woman’s eyes flicked back up.

“Mommy, who’s that lady?” Lily looked up, curious.

Before Adeline could answer, Stella stepped forward with that sharp, charming smile.

“Hi, I’m Stella — Adeline’s friend, Lily’s aunt and the person who’s going to kindly ask you to take your drama elsewhere.”

The woman tried to speak, but, Stella cut her off.

“Look, I’m not here to be mean, but this isn’t the time or place for this little scene. If you want to talk to Adeline, send a message. Meanwhile, leave her alone — she’s busy shopping for awesome stuff to feel amazing.”

She winked at Adeline, who gave a nervous chuckle.

The woman took a deep breath, tears threatening to fall. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry…”

“Well, you know what? Sorry doesn’t pay bills, change diapers, or raise a kid. If there’s nothing else, the exit’s right over there — and it’s automatic, just so you know.”

Stella turned on her heel and returned to Adeline, pulling the basket with a sly grin. “Ghosts handled, mission accomplished. You good?”

“Thank you, Stells. I simply couldn’t speak.” Adeline let out a slow breath of relief and gratitude just as Lily came bounding back with a fluffy robe that almost swallowed her whole.

“Look! It’s like a cloud! You’re gonna be a cloud, Auntie Stella!”

Stella grabbed the robe, bowing dramatically.

“Saved by a fluffy cloud and a little fire in the eyes. That’s how we survive.”

(...)

The flat was quiet, the usual late afternoon calm broken only by the muffled sound of Lily kicking off her sandals by the door and announcing. “I’m tired and my feet are grumpy!”

Adeline laughed, her own legs sore from chasing after her mini tornado through the mall for hours. They’d dropped off Stella and now, back home, everything felt slower — like the day was finally letting them exhale.

“Alright, little fish.” Adeline said, walking toward the bathroom. “What do you say to a bubble bath?”

Lily’s face lit up. “Yes! But, I need to get my friends! They wanna go swimming too!” And with that, she darted off to her room.

Adeline turned on the taps, letting warm water pour into the tub. She tested the temperature with her hand, added a generous splash of lavender bubble bath and watched as foamy clouds began to rise.

Lily returned moments later, her arms overflowing with toys — a rubber duck, a mermaid with pink hair, a velociraptor with a little bow on it and what looked, suspiciously, like a unicorn wearing a tiny cropped.

“They said it’s a pool party!” she declared, tossing them one by one into the tub like a very determined cruise director.

Adeline chuckled. “Very exclusive guest list, I see.”

She helped Lily out of her little overalls and into the tub, rolling up her own sleeves, sitting on the floor beside it, arms on the edge as Lily splashed and narrated a story involving the mermaid rescuing the rubber duck.

For a while, it was just warm water, bubbles and soft laughter.

Then, out of nowhere, Lily stilled. She looked at her mom with those impossibly big eyes and asked. “Are you happy, mommy?”

Adeline blinked. The question was gentle, simple — but, it cracked something open inside her.

She smiled softly, brushing a damp curl from Lily’s forehead. “I am, sweetheart.”

And, it was true. She thought about Mason, about his hand brushing hers while they walked, the way he looked at her. She thought of how Lily had sung to a stuffed flamingo that morning and how, even with all the chaos, her life felt lighter and warmer.

“It’s not perfect all the time.” Adeline added, after a breath. “But, I’m really happy when I’m with you. You make every day better.”

“Even when I drop spaghetti on the carpet?” Lily gave a bubbly grin.

“Yes, bug.” Adeline laughed.

There was a little pause while Lily made her mermaid kiss the dinosaur, then, just as Adeline reached for the sponge, Lily tilted her head.

“Is Mason gonna be in our family now?”

Adeline froze for a second, then tilted her head too. “What makes you ask that?”

Lily shrugged. “He makes you smile a lot. And, he said I’m his favorite little teammate.”

Adeline’s chest squeezed so tight it almost hurt — in the best way.

She smiled, tracing a hand over Lily’s tiny fingers beneath the bubbles. “Well… I don’t know what the future will look like exactly, but I think Mason is someone really special. And... people like that?” She gently tapped Lily’s nose. “They’re always welcome in our family.”

Lily grinned. “Can I show him how the mermaid saved the unicorn?”

“Definitely.” Adeline said, scooping bubbles onto Lily’s shoulders like little cloud capes. “He needs to be caught up on all the important things.”

And as Lily launched back into her elaborate, nonsensical storytelling, Adeline leaned her head back against the cool tile, smiling quietly to herself.

(...)