#okay. okay. sorry. it's out of my system now

[allpiesforourown]

thinking about bingyuan roommates first kiss again...

shen yuan gets his first girlfriend when they're younger and binghe is DEVASTATED. yes he's fooled around with a bunch of girls already, but shen yuan???? not only did his best friend not tell him he likes someone, they've already started going out before he told binghe about her?? binghe asks how far they've gone, and shen yuan shrugs and says they kissed

binghe wants to throw up (he doesn't understand why??) and asks shen yuan "that was your first kiss right? how was it?" and he breathes a sigh of relief when shen yuan says "it was okay. i don't really see what the fuss is all about"

and binghe of course swoops in and says "she must be bad at kissing. I'll show yuan ge what it's supposed to feel like and you'll see why people like it so much" and then binghe pushes him down and they french kiss while binghe squeezes his waist and when shen yuan starts whimpering, binghe moves down to shen yuan's neck and starts sucking and asks "did she do this?" when shen yuan whispers no, binghe tsks and moves to shen yuan's ear and starts biting and licking it and asking if his girlfriend did this with him either and shen yuans panting and whimpering by now as he moans out no, no ones ever touched him there. binghe is pissed off but secretly pleased no one else has gotten to do these things with shen yuan before him and he says "of course you didn't like kissing her, she's so selfish she barely touched you. yuan ge liked kissing me more, didn't he?" and shen yuan is red in the face as he nods and binghe is glowing for years knowing he's the best kiss shen yuan ever had sorry i just. i needed to get that out of my system .

[camerahaterlittle]

Our girl | A. Putellas I. Engen & M. Leon

Summary: You may be Alexia's daughter but your Mapi and Ingrid's girl

Warnings: bad writing grammar and Mapi is apart of this if you don't like that then leave mentions of pain and more from a car crash

Notes: apparently I wrote 2k words yet it doesn't feel or look like it anyways once again an incredibly short fic but enjoy

Previous part

You hadn't noticed the car that was driving at you while you crossed the street because of the heavy rainfall and the darkness of the night but the moment you had noticed the car and the person driving noticed you it was far too late.

You couldn't move out of the way you were frozen and the driver slammed on the brakes yet it still wasn't enough due to the slippery roads the car still rammed into you.

Your scream echoed throughout the street and you felt pain coming from everywhere possible. You heard a car door opening and then shutting. After a minute of you laying there you heard the person's rapid Spanish as they called the police trying to get them out here.

You laid there motionless, your heart racing as the woman you soon noticed was the person who hit you and tried to keep you awake like the dispatcher had told her to.

Eventually when the ambulance got there they immediately rushed to grab you and put you on the stretcher and into the back of their truck as they put an oxygen mask over your nose and mouth.

And in this moment, all that was running through your head before you lost consciousness was Mapi and Ingrid, the two people who really cared for you and loved you without any expectations.

At the hospital, you underwent multiple surgeries on your legs and shoulder from when you crumbled to the floor after being hit by the car.

Alexia rushed into the hospital running up to the front desk trying to catch her breath before speaking to the front desk associate. “My daughter Y/n Y/n Putellas where is she? Is she okay?.” Alexia asked, rushing through her words much like how she rushed inside the hospital.

The front desk associate looked up at Alexia quickly looking up your name in the system seeing that you were currently in surgery and couldn’t be seen by anyone at the moment. “Your daughter is currently in surgery Ms. Putellas you cannot see her, you'll have to wait until she’s out of surgery and possibly more after that her doctor will let you know when it’s safe.” 

The midfielder sighed, shaking her head at the man’s words, not pleased to hear that she wouldn’t be able to see her kid before walking away from the front desk starting to pace in the waiting room, her mind racing about what could possibly happen to you while you were in surgery.

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

Alexia sat in the uncomfortable hospital chair, her leg bouncing while she picked at her fingers her head lifted immediately when she heard a doctor clearing their throat to get the people’s attention. “Y/n Putellas.” The doctor glanced around the room watching as Alexia rushed up and out of the chair and towards her. 

“Yes, is she okay, I'm her mother.” The Spaniard said looking down at the doctor hoping she’d have some good news about how you were doing.

The doctor nodded looking down at her clipboard for a second trying to figure out how she’d break this to Alexia about how you fully were. “Yes, she's stable right now. She just had to have emergency surgery on her legs, shoulder, and her ribs are bruised. I’m surprised that’s all she needed really given the speed she was hit at.” Your doctor responded. 

Alexia stood there in shock at the doctor's words, unsure of what to say after that. “C… Can I see her?” Alexia asked after a moment of standing there, her voice surprisingly quiet and weak sounding for once. 

The woman sighed thinking about Alexia’s question before shaking her head. She knew it wouldn’t be the best for the taller women to see her daughter at the moment since you looked pretty banged up. “I’m sorry Ms. Putellas but you can’t see her right now. I think you should come back tomorrow if you really want to see her.” Your doctor responded slightly scared to hear Alexia’s response to this. 

The Spanish star rubbed her face trying to control her emotions. She finally moved, shaking her head as she left the hospital not trusting herself to drive when she was so upset over everything that has happened in the last couple of hours so she just waved down a cab getting inside giving the man her address.

By the time Alexia got home it was well into the night and she immediately fell onto the couch, her eyes shutting as she finally got some much needed rest yet her sleep wasn't the most peaceful in the world. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Alexia was rudely woken up by rapid knocks on her door while also hearing muffled curse words in both Norwegian and Spanish she got up off the couch after a moment yawning already knowing who to expect on the other side of the door she opened the door she went to run a hand through her hair yet was stopped by the slightly taller Norwegian shoving her backwards Mapi immediately moving past both of them to try and find you. 

Ingrid looked at Alexia with a coldest glare that the midfielder has ever seen come from her. Alexia was over surprised that it was Ingrid giving her the glare instead of Mapi yet didn’t voice what she thought. “Where the hell is she, Putellas.” Ingrid spoke her tone filled with venom the moment she said Putellas. 

Alexia was once again taken aback by Ingrid’s harshness yet she also expected it based on the way Ingrid reacted during your fight when she had unexpectedly showed up to admittedly to maybe start a fight with you for almost no reason. “It’s none of your business where Y/n is, it's not like you two are her mother's, she is my daughter.” Your mother responded with her tone matching ingrid’s. 

The slightly taller woman’s anger grew as she listened to her teammates words she wants to say that she’s not really your mother given the fact that Alexia was never there for you to give you the love and care a real mother would have (much like her and Mapi have done ever since you guys have met). 

“You're not her mother and you never have been, you just birthed her and didn’t care about what happened to her afterwards.

Me and Mapi have been taking care of her ever since we have met her. She is more of our daughter than yours. Sometimes blood doesn’t always make DNA now tell us where our kid is.” Ingrid said her expression grew colder the longer Alexia didn’t tell her where you were. 

Alexia’s gaze hardened for a moment knowing the Norwegian had a very good point but before she could respond Mapi came out of your room breathing heavily after searching Alexia’s entire apartment. “She’s not here, I've looked everywhere possible.” Mapi said moving to stand next to Ingrid slightly confused as to why her girlfriend was glaring at Alexia like she was. 

The Spanish star turned her attention towards her ex best friend knowing she’d now for sure have to tell the couple where you currently were. “Y-Y/n she’s in the hospital.” Alexia finally said, looking away from the both of them. 

Without another word the couple left Alexia’s place going to try and figure out what hospital you were in. They were incredibly worried about you and what could’ve possibly happened to you for you to be in the hospital. 

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

Ingrid and Mapi rushed inside the hospital and up to the front desk making the worker look up at them, stopping his keyboard typing. “Hi yes are you here to visit someone or do you need to be seen.” The front desk worker spoke looking from them to his screen. 

“We’re here to see Y/n Putellas.” Mapi said speaking before Ingrid even could and Ingrid was glad for that since she wasn’t even sure that words would even leave her mouth. 

The man at the desk nodded looking something up on his computer before looking back up at the couple in front of him. “Who are you to the patient?” The guy asked, clearly tired of working. 

This time it was Ingrid who answered rushing through her words “We’re her mother’s.” Her Norwegian accent more apparent than normal. 

He pulled out two stickers for them while telling them your room number before letting them pass, not bothering to check them for ID just deciding to let them go, figuring that they were too worried to sit here and wait any longer.

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

Mapi pushed open the door immediately once they got there they both entered the room seeing you laying on the bed hooked up to multiple machines that were filling the room with a somewhat quiet beeping noise. 

They both ahd to hold back their tears seeing you laying there pretty much life less affected them more than anything possible Ingrid made her way over to you sitting down on the edge of the bed gently grabbing your hand wondering how this could’ve happened to their kid. 

Mapi stood in the doorway for a moment watching her girlfriend before closing the door sitting down in the chair near the midfielder placing her hand on the Norwegian’s thigh trying to comfort her in this difficult moment. 

They didn’t say anything for a while yet along with the beeping filling the room so did their sniffles from crying while they stayed by your side wishing they would’ve never let you leave their place just to talk to Alexia. 

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

Mapi was woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of your voice as you got adjusted to the noise around you once more she sat up opening her eyes seeing you looking between her and Mapi. 

“Maps, it hurts really bad.” You said once you noticed that she was awake your voice sounded like you smoked 10 packs a day.

Mapi was up in an instant making her way over to your hospital bed nodding as she grabbed your hand making sure to inflict anymore pain on you. “I know sol I know,” She reached over grabbing the remote looking thing calling a nurse so they could check you out and give you some pain meds.

You glanced around your hospital room trying to see if you could spot Ingrid in the almost pitch black room. “Where’s Ingrid, is she not here?” You asked looking back at the fellow Spaniard hoping the woman’s partner was also here. 

The defender nodded leaving your side for a moment walking over to where Ingrid was sleeping, gently shaking her girlfriend. Once Ingrid fully woke up she sat up listening to Mapi’s words before getting up her and Mapi going to sit on the sides of your bed just like you had wanted.

You were surprised the couple had actually shown up for you since Alexia or anyone in your family besides Jenni showed up when you were hurt in any way that caused you to be in the hospital. They always told you to walk it off or I didn’t know it was thst bad. 

Your thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door and shortly afterwards it opened a doctor and a nurse came in to check on you and make sure everything was still okay with you and to tell Mapi and Ingrid what happened and the surgeries you had.

You were zoned out the whole time they were checking everything out and giving you some more pain meds thinking about everything under the sun as the doctor’s did their thing. 

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

The couple had been distracted by talking to you and making jokes trying to keep your mind off of Alexia, what had just happened, and how you wouldn’t be able to box for quite some time, something that annoyed you since it was your escape from everything. 

But your guy’s conversation was interrupted by your birth giver entering your hospital room, her eyes immediately landing on Mapi and Ingrid who were still by your side. 

Ingrid got up the moment she saw Alexia standing in the doorway of your room she made her way over her teammate the Norwegian’s energy shifting as she glared at the Spaniard your’s and Mapi’s attention shifted the both of you ready to step in (though Mapi would be the only one getting up) if you absolutely needed to. 

“What are you doing here, Putellas?” The slightly taller woman asked her tone unwelcoming to the woman’s presence. 

Alexia’s expression hardened at the fellow midfielder’s glare yet still tried to stand her ground “I could ask you the same Engen she’s not your daughter no matter what you two may think.”

Ingrid tensed up trying her damned hardest to not do anything to the woman in front of her the unsaid anger she felt for what Alexia had done to you waiting to be taken out on her yet before she could say anything your voice stopped her.

“I am their daughter. You may feel guilty for what you’ve done to me but that doesn’t fix any of the cracks you’ve caused. They are my mother’s not you, you've chosen to take the title, just not the responsibility.” You took a moment to breathe and get your emotions under control. 

“They took on the responsibility for me, not you. They showed up from me when I needed them most. You were never too focused on your precious football for me even with them playing. They still made time for me; they never made me feel worse for having mental issues knowing I was only moments away from death.” 

“You made things worse, they made things better, they got me the help I needed, they did everything that you my so called mother was supposed to do and I could never thank them enough for that they actually love me unlike you.” Mapi gently squeezed your hand knowing that you needed this more than anyone in this room.”

“Y/n I-.” Alexia started going to speak now that she thought you were done.

“No, don't even know why you showed up here. I have Mapi and Ingrid. They have me. I'm fine I don't want you here, I don't even want to see you right now.” 

Your actual mom’s were secretly proud of you for stepping up to Alexia not once but twice they were more than happy that you were no longer holding back against your more than childish mother.

Alexia stood there in shock yet she felt the pain since she knew you were right she was never there only taking the title as your mother yet never doing anything a mother should be doing for their child she felt more than guilty for what she had done to you and she didn’t know how to fix it and help the bond between you two yet something deep inside her was telling her there was no way of fixing the bond and everything she put you through.

Alexia stood there for a while longer feeling slightly uncomfortable under all three of you's gazes trying to figure out if she should respect what you want for once in your life or protest on things and attempt to fix things. 

Yet before she could decide Ingrid stepped in much like she has been in the last few days clearing her throat before she spoke. “You heard it live from her yourself she doesn’t want you here so just leave she’ll come to you when she’s ready.” The Norwegian spoke leaving no room for argument. 

The Spanish star nodded after a moment leaving without a fight, her head hung low with her shoulders slumped forward as she left trying to get her head on straight after everything that had just happened. 

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

Alexia pulled into the driveway parking her car as she sat in the seat staring ahead of her, her expression blank not a single emotion showing as she sat there.

She got out the car unlocking the door with her spare key immediately making her way towards the familiar bedroom, opening it seeing the one person that she needed most lying there reading whatever book that Alexia bought her.

Olga looked up watching as her girlfriend climbed into the bed looking quite defeated over things the woman put her book to the side welcoming the football player into her arms not mentioning the tears that started to soak through her shirt. 

Only holding the girl close whispering the softest of things to the woman laying on her chest. 

“Y/n she… she hates me my own daughter hates me.” Alexia whimpered against Olga’s chest, her heart breaking more than it ever could much like Olga’s did when she heard Alexia’s words.

[johnnysuhbmarine]

Too Good to be True

Pairing: Jaemin x reader Description: Description? You want me to give you a description and ruin the fun? No way. It’s best if you just go into this one with no hints. Content warnings: None :)  Word count: 3,515 A/n: This is the epilogue to Too Good to be Fake, which you can read here if you haven’t already - thank you all for showing so much love to that fic, I swear my heart has never been so full. So, this is my gift to you in return. Please enjoy :))

“No, you know what? I can’t do this anymore, I’m done.” Your broken voice rings throughout the unoccupied space of the apartment’s living room, but you know it reached where you needed it to. 

“After everything we’ve been through?” Jaemin yells back from his bedroom. “You’re giving up on this? Just like that?” 

You shake your head as tears provide a healthy glaze over your eyes, frustrated that he wasn’t out here to actually have this conversation with you because now you felt stupid. “I’m tired, Jaemin,” you reply in defeat, trying your best not to let the tears roll down your cheeks. You hated that this was the state you were in, but you were so drained and you had to do something about it, even if each embarrassed word you spoke brought every tear closer. 

“Oh, and now I have a name-?” Jaemin shoots back in great offense as he finally leaves his bedroom and rounds the corner to continue talking, but the second he sees your figure, his face drops into worry. “Hey…angel,” he says softly, rushing to wrap you in a hug and place a kiss on the top of your head. “You are tired, huh?” He echoes in understanding, leaving you to just nod into his chest as the tears finally fall down your cheeks.

“We’ve been working all day- and I get why, and I get that we’re supposed to finish this all up soon, but I can’t,” you reply miserably. “Not today.” 

The thing was, you and the guys were throwing Haechan a surprise party, his birthday now just days away. The rest of your friend group promised to keep Haechan busy and out of his shared apartment with Jaemin for the day, and under the guise of a date between the two of you, you and your boyfriend were using the time to roughly set up decorations and start putting things together, where everything would then be kept in Jaemin’s room until the actual party. 

That being said, you both had been running from party store to party store all day today, trying to get decorations to match the vibe you had in your heads. You had spent the past two hours unpacking everything, trying to set up the space in a way that looked good so that you could take a reference picture before tearing it all down again to keep hidden for the next few days. Less of a decorator than you were, Jaemin took on the job of continuously blowing up balloons in his room to make a balloon tower. Altogether, the entire concept of the surprise party was something you were really pumped to do for Haechan…until about two minutes ago when you hit your breaking point, leaving you to cry in your boyfriend’s arms.

Jaemin gives your figure a fond look, lightly rubbing a hand up and down your back as he tries his best to comfort you, any element of playfulness now completely gone from his being. “You’re okay. We can rest,” he assures gently. Slowly, he removes one arm from around you to instead place it lightly on your cheek, guiding your face up so he could make eye contact with you. “Do you wanna go back to your place so we can be away from all this party stuff?” He suggests, and the idea of it sends more relief through your system than you could’ve imagined.

“Sure, thank you,” you say with a light nod of your head, bringing your own hand up to wipe the remaining tears from your cheeks. Jaemin does his part in swiping a thumb under your eye on the side where his hand was already placed, and then he leans in to press a soft kiss to your forehead.

“Anything for you, sweet girl,” he responds, pulling back to look you over again. “I’m sorry today took a lot out of you.” He grimaces as he continues, looking genuinely regretful knowing that all of this was his idea in the first place. 

You shake your head to dismiss his guilt, as if wanting to throw a surprise party wasn’t already a huge indicator of how big his heart was - your inability to decorate for hours on end was not for him to feel bad about. “No big deal,” you assure, and then a smile finally paints itself across your lips again as you stare back at him. “At least I’ve been by your side for the entirety of it.”

Jaemin shakes his head in disbelief, a breathy laugh escaping him as he smiles brightly back down at you. “I love you so much,” he states, unable to help himself from leaning down to catch your own lips in an actual kiss. Then, he fully lets you go from the hug, switching his grip to instead grab your hand in his own and lead you around to gather his things before heading out of the door with a soft, “come on.”

As soon as Jaemin started his car, he whipped his head towards you in the passenger seat. “Oh, hey, you have your key, right?” He asks seriously, but you look back at him as though he were crazy.

“Yes…? Don’t you also have your spare key, though?” You ask in return, and watch as Jaemin shakes his head.

“No, it’s in my room right now, which is why I was asking before we got on the road so that I could go get it if need be; so you can either wipe that look off your face, angel, or I’ll kiss it off you, cause I’m not as crazy as your stare would lead anyone to assume,” he answers with a playful taunt. You roll your eyes at him to combat the heat that went to your cheeks at his tease. Still, you lean over the center console and press a firm kiss to the side of his face, though Jaemin catches you before you’re all the way settled in your seat again, and instead pulls you back so he could actually kiss you, too - somehow, he never got enough of you…you thanked your lucky stars for that one every single day.

As he finally lets you go and shifts to actually start driving, you occupy yourself by playing with his hand that found its home on your thigh. Quickly, though, another thought crosses your mind and you furrow your brows. “Hey, wait-” you start, focusing your gaze back on his face and watching as he chances a quick glance back over at you to urge you to continue. “Do you not carry my spare key with your own house keys?” You ask skeptically, knowing that if it were you, having one key automatically meant you had the other.

Jaemin shakes his head in response but cuts it off promptly as he chooses to just explain himself instead. “No, well- yes. Normally I keep both keys in the same place, but my keychain broke the other day, so I only have my car keys and stuff while everything else that used to be on my keychain sits on my desk until I can get a new one.” 

Your mouth forms an ‘O’ at his explanation as you pull out your phone and add ‘keychain’ to the list of gift ideas for him that you had in your notes. Then your attention turns back to his fingers tapping rhythmically against your thigh as you bring one hand to cover overtop his own, and Jaemin risks one more fond glance at your figure before pinning all his focus on not missing the turn into your block of housing. 

As Jaemin grabs your hand and helps you out of his car, you’re instantly confused by the sight that greets you. Tons of rose petals were scattered on the pavement and seemed to lead up to your front door. You give a small shake of your head and laugh. “Was it super windy earlier today?” You question, eyeing the rose petals which you assumed had definitely made their way over to the wrong walkway. “Someone’s gonna be disappointed when they find out all their roses ended up on my doorstep,” you continue with a laugh. Jaemin lets out his own soft exhale of laughter, squeezing your hand slightly tighter in his as the two of you walk up and you begin unlocking the door.

However, as you swing the door open, all of your awkward laughter abruptly stops and you take in the state of your living area. None of your actual lights were on, but the room was filled with the golden glow of numerous candles, illuminating the rose petals that continued from your front door to eventually circle your dinner table, soft music playing from a source you couldn’t yet lay eyes on. You finally remember to breathe, and a heavy exhale leaves your gaping mouth as you turn to your boyfriend in question. “Jaem…what-” you cut off your words as you look up to meet his eyes and catch the brightest of smiles playing against his features.

“Happy five months, angel,” he says fondly, squeezing your hand in his for a moment before bringing it up to his lips so he could kiss the back of it. Realization dawns across your face all at once.

“Oh my god, today’s the 2nd,” you breathe out, your eyes wide in horror at the fact that you weren’t conscious of the date until now. You knew Haechcan’s birthday was getting close, but the last thing on your mind as you got things ready for his party was that today was June 2nd.

Jaemin throws a smirk in your direction. “That it is,” he began assuredly. “Thankfully, somehow, I was able to distract you from that fact for the entire day,” he continues, his tone as though it was the biggest accomplishment in the world. He breaks into more explanation with a small laugh. “I was terrified it’d be the only thing on your mind and then I’d be an asshole for pretending to not know what day it is.” As he continues, he squeezes your hand in his once more, turning your attention fully back to him rather than where your gaze had been wandering around the room again. A shy smile paints his lips as he continues softly. “I know it’s a weird one to celebrate so grandly, but I really wanted to surprise you, and no other birthdays lined up well enough for my plan to work.”

Of course, surprises had to be planned, but the addressing of the word sent your head spinning. This was the plan. A thousand thoughts run through your head as you look up at him in confusion. “So Haechan’s surprise party-” You begin, but Jaemin’s eyes go wide in an instant and he rushes to cut you off.

“Wait-!” His attempt is overshadowed by his own words getting interrupted.

“I’m getting a surprise party?!” Haechan questioned from the kitchen, excitement coating his voice and making Jaemin sigh. You whip your head towards where his voice came from, but still can’t lay eyes on him in just the candle light.

“You’re here?!” You question in shock, and Haechan finally steps out to where you can see him, clad in a suit and his head ducked in embarrassment immediately after making eye contact with an unimpressed Jaemin.

“Sorry,” he begins lowly as he seems to resume a role of sorts. “Don’t think of me as Haechan. I’m just supposed to be a server tonight.” His words and sure tone only serve to confuse you even more.

“Are you all here?” You ask, and at once, the rest of the guys pop up from behind the kitchen counter, all in matching suits and with idiotic grins on their faces.

“Chenle and Jeno are cooking, Renjun’s on dessert, Jisung and I are your trusty wait staff, and Mark brought his guitar over so he can play live music tonight,” Haechan explains calmly. You take in their presence, along with all the information that Haechan just recounted to you, and your head drops to the floor, sucking on your bottom lip as more starts clicking into place.

“This is why you don’t have your spare key,” you say underneath a sigh of disbelief. 

Jaemin lets out a small chuckle as he tracks your train of thought. “Well, my keychain did break but- yeah,” he cedes, continuing softly. “It’s currently in Mark’s pocket…figured he was the most trustworthy. And-” he breaks off with another exhale of laughter before looking down at you with a fond grin. “To answer your previous question, Haechan’s party is definitely a thing, but there’s no way we could’ve blown up balloons already, half of them would be deflated by the 6th. I just needed a reason for you to be out of the house…and to not question why Haechan was also out all day, so I figured setting up for his surprise party would do the trick.” He drops his head after his explanation and begins to fumble for more words, his thumb gently rubbing against the back of your hand. “Again, I’m sorry it wore you out,” he says sincerely, then popping his head back up to give you a weak smile. “I just needed to make sure they had time to get everything ready over here.”

You take in the living room again alongside his words, and being completely filled in now, you can’t help it when tears make their reappearance in your eyes. “Baby…” you manage to whimper out, and Jaemin lets out a fond laugh as he pulls you into him again so he can fully hug you.

“Hey, angel, it’s okay,” he reassures for the second time that day, placing another kiss to the top of your head. 

“I love you so much,” you mumble into his chest in return.

Jaemin places a hand on your cheek and guides your face back up towards his slightly until he can rest his forehead against your own. “I love you,” he replies seriously, a smile straining at his lips before he just leans in to kiss you softly. 

“I can’t believe I’m getting a birthday party!” Haechan exclaims from the kitchen, with nothing but joy in his tone and a complete neglect for what was happening in front of him.

“Haechan, not the time!” The rest of the group groans in chorus, Jeno swatting at him with the back of his hand.

“Right, right,” Haechan relents, now rubbing away at the sting in his bicep. You and Jaemin break from the kiss with a laugh, but Haechan’s input did a good job at reminding you both that you weren’t exactly alone tonight, and dinner was just getting started. So, Jaemin took your hand and led you to the table, where Jisung greeted you both with water and Haechan took actual drink orders which, surprisingly, wasn’t just whatever you already had stocked in your fridge. 

As far as an actual dinner meal went, Jisung informed you both that there were two options on the menu; and when you and Jaemin ordered different meals from each other, Chenle and Jeno popped their heads up over the kitchen counter and informed you that they actually could only make two servings of one meal rather than one serving of two meals, and then when you and Jaemin decided on which dish truly sounded best, Chenle and Jeno informed you that you picked the wrong one, and it was the other which was going to be served. Jaemin dropped his head into his hand, but you just let out a fond laugh and nod of your head. Then, Chenle and Jeno got to work on finishing cooking what they had already prepped for before the two of you ever got there.

Renjun rolled his eyes at the boys, but it wasn’t as though your dessert was in a much different boat, it’s just that he wasn’t going to even pretend there were other options than tiramisu. 

As your dinner conversation started winding down and you moved onto dessert, Mark stopped terrorizing his friends in the kitchen and instead moved over to an armchair in your living area to actually start playing his guitar. 

With the last bite of tiramisu and Mark still humming a melody, Jaemin looked your way intently, rolling his lips inwards before spitting out a question.

“Do you want to dance?” He asks, a little more awkward than normal for Jaemin. You look back at him as some shock runs through you at his question, but before you even think about responding, your gaze subconsciously darts over to where the rest of the guys were anxiously awaiting your answer from the other side of the kitchen island. Jaemin follows your gaze and then drops his head with an embarrassed laugh. “Just pretend they aren’t here- except for Mark, who’s, you know…playing the music.”

You let out a small laugh of your own before shifting your gaze back to Jaemin, eyebrows raised as you give the question back to him. “Do you want to dance?”

A wide grin tugs at Jaemin’s lips as he gives a solemn nod of his head. “I’d love any excuse to hold you,” he replies softly, and you just let out a heavy exhale.

“You’re too good to be true,” you say in return, shaking your head in disbelief as you look at Jaemin across the table from you.

His smile grows to reveal his teeth, but he drops his head as a blush takes hold of his features. “Funny,” he begins thoughtfully, guiding his gaze up to eventually meet yours again. “I think the same thing every time I look at you,” he admits sincerely, and now it’s your turn to blush. “Come on,” he begs softly, standing up from the table and leaving a hand out to take your own. “Come dance.”

As you place your hand in his, the boys scurry out from behind the counter to quickly push all the furniture back in the living room and give the two of you more space; then immediately darting back into the kitchen again and leaving Mark to be the one to smile up at you guys from where he was situated on the chair before aiming his focus back on his guitar.

The two of you held each other in the living room and swayed back and forth to whatever love song Mark remembered he could play on guitar, Jaemin sometimes grabbing your hand to spin you around as an excuse to look you up and down in your entirety, your diamond necklace catching in the candlelight as you turn and he’d lose all his words trying to understand how he ever got so lucky as to have you love him. You were an absolute dream, from your smile and your laugh, to the way you looked in his clothes and the things he’s bought for you, to the way you retaught him what love looked like (the answer was simple now, love looked like you). Jaemin was sure there’d never be enough softness in his eyes to convey how fond of you he was. That didn’t stop him from trying, though. His eyes glazed over with love as he stared after you tonight, the most tender smile on his lips each time he pulled you back into him from your spin so that he could hold you some more.

A few songs in and the boys decided you both had enough time to settle into the mood that their presence would no longer affect things, and as such, they stopped hiding behind the counter and instead leaned over the island in admiration as they watched the two of you dance, their own whispered conversations being the only thing to keep them even a bit distracted. Though, for some, those side conversations weren’t enough to keep their evening light. Renjun shot his head over to his right the second he heard a sniffle. “Are you crying?” He whisper yells in shock.

“No. Shut up,” Chenle dismisses with a firm shake of his head, but then he turns his head back to you and Jaemin and throws his hands up in defeat. “They’re just so in love.”

Renjun does his best to stop his laugh from shattering the atmosphere, and instead he just raises his eyebrows at Chenle. “You used to cringe at that, you know?” He teases, nudging Chenle in the side with his elbow. Chenle can’t buy into the banter, and instead is trying his best to stifle his sob. It doesn’t get past the rest of the guys though, who make wild eye contact with Renjun before they all bear hug Chenle, able to finally turn his tears into embarrassed laughter. As for you and Jaemin, you were in your own world, completely unaware of what was going down in your kitchen. The obliviousness wasn’t your fault, Chenle was right, after all - the two of you were just so in love.

Taglist: @fullsunstrawberry @neocitytime127 @dowoonwoodealer

[hellfirebarnes]

Slow-Burns - Part 3

PART 1 PART 2 PART 4

I split this up in several, shorter parts because I know the feeling when you want to read a fic but don't have the time or energy to get through a 10k+ words one. Also if you hate my writing you can just read part 1 and then leave it. Win-win I guess?

Anyway, this is set after Thunderbolts so if you haven't seen it - spoilers I guess? It absolutely does not follow canon, but yeah better to be safe than sorry.

Summary: Bucky has fallen. Hopelessly. And the only thing more hopeless is his team trying to help him get to the end of this slow-burn.

Bucky x fem!SHIELD!reader

1.7K words

Fluff, ''normal'' violence and descriptions of injuries. For sure out of character stuff, but I am who I am. Your appearence is barely desribed what I can remember, I think your hair and a couple types what clothes you're wearing?

You're referred to as ''Agent'' and ''Sunshine'' in a desperate attempt from me to not use Y/N.

Let me know if there's anything else I should warn about.

Otherwise, enjoy :)

Bucky scanned the briefing file. Intel breach. Corporate sabotage. Medium risk, low collateral. High-tech infiltration. One scientist needed extraction. Half the mission screamed you - cyber-forensic work, silent infiltration, backdoor escape route.

He frowned. “She’s not coming?”

Yelena leaned back in her chair, sipping bad coffee from a novelty mug that read ‘Crime, But Make It Cute.’

“She’s not coming.”

Bucky’s heart skipped. “Why?”

“She has the day off,” Ava answered, scrolling through her own tablet.

“But we need someone who can spoof an encrypted relay system on the move,” he said, voice flat but tight. “That’s her.”

“Relax, grandpa,” John muttered. “We’ve got it covered. Ava rewrote a protocol last night, and Bob is flying overwatch.”

Bucky looked back down at the tablet, annoyed. Not at the team. Not at the mission. At the fact that it felt wrong without you. And he hated how that felt.

“She asked for the day off two weeks ago,” Yelena added, tapping through something on her screen. “She deserves it.”

Alexei, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, suddenly grinned like he’d been waiting for someone to ask.

“Is big day,” he said, voice full of pride. “I set her up with very nice man. Name is Luka. Banker. Hair like lion. Very symmetrical face.”

Bucky looked up, slowly. “…You what?”

“Date!” Alexei beamed. “They go to brunch. Then art museum. Maybe share pretzel. Classic courtship!”

The silence that followed was deafening. Bucky didn’t move.

“Wait,” John said, looking up from his file. “She’s on a date?”

“Yes!” Alexei slammed a celebratory hand on the table. “I make things happen!”

Yelena blinked. “With Luka? From your bowling team?”

“He does not just bowl! He reads books. Big hands. Gentle eyes.”

Ava smirked. “You sound like you’re in love with him yourself.”

“He is very huggable!”

Bucky barely heard any of it. He was still stuck on date.

Something cold settled under his ribs. He hadn’t known you were seeing someone. He hadn’t even thought to ask. You’d always been here, orbiting close. And now, without warning, you were… elsewhere. With someone. Laughing, maybe. Wearing something soft and light. Smiling the way you always did when you were teasing him - except it wasn’t him.

Alexei’s words filtered back in. “—and if it goes well, they go to second location. Maybe fondue. Is very romantic.”

Bucky pushed back from the table. “I’ll be on the jet,” he muttered.

Yelena watched him go, eyes narrowing. When the door slid shut behind him, she turned to the others. “Okay,” she said. “That man is not okay.”

Bob tilted his head. “Is this the part where he acknowledges his feelings and makes a healthy emotional decision?”

John scoffed. “More like he’ll sit alone in the cargo bay and think about how her laugh sounds.”

Alexei frowned. “But she deserves strong man with good face symmetry. Why is Barnes sad?”

Ava deadpanned, “Because he’s been in denial for months.”

Two hours later Bucky sat strapped in, arms crossed, staring out the window like it had offended him personally. Every passing city below looked like a blur of decisions he hadn’t made. He thought about the last time you had touched his shoulder. How you’d laughed at one of Bob’s ridiculous stories. How you always leaned in just slightly when you talked to him, like what he said mattered more than anyone else’s words.

And now you were giving that attention to someone else. Some Luka.

He didn’t even know what the guy looked like, but his brain was helpfully painting the worst: tall, perfect teeth, probably called you beautiful without tripping over the word like Bucky always did in his head.

He wasn’t mad at you. Not even close. But he was angry with himself.

He’d wasted time. So much time, thinking if he just stayed close, you’d know. That he wouldn’t need to say anything. That maybe feelings could transfer telepathically through awkward silences and missed glances.

You were out there living. And he was up here… sulking.

He hadn’t wanted to make a move. He’d told himself he wasn’t ready. And now it might be too late.

Meanwhile, at a café in Brooklyn, you stirred your coffee absently as Luka droned on about crypto trends and some vacation he’d taken in the Alps with his “boys.” His shirt was tailored, his teeth were indeed perfect, and he had zero opinions on whether or not one should put glitter in combat boots.

You smiled politely. But your mind wandered.

To the Tower.

To the mission briefing you could have been part of.

To a certain grumpy super soldier with eyes like storm clouds and the emotional range of a wounded wolf.

God, you missed him already.

The Tower was quieter than usual that night. Post-mission debriefs were filed. John had gone out. Yelena and Ava were holed up somewhere with wine and a true crime doc. Alexei was in the sauna, probably giving unsolicited dating advice to someone over speakerphone.

And you? You were back.

Bucky noticed the moment you walked in. Not because you announced it - you never did - but because the air shifted.

He was in the common room, nursing a drink and reading the same paragraph of a book for the fourth time when he heard the elevator ding and your familiar footsteps cross the floor.

Then your voice. “Hey.”

He looked up.

You were dressed casually - simple, comfortable, but still carried yourself like you had a secret no one else was allowed to know. Except this time, you looked… tired. Not physically. Just disappointed in a way that sat deep in the shoulders.

Bucky sat up a little straighter. “You’re back.”

You sank onto the opposite end of the couch, kicking your shoes off with a sigh. “Yeah. Just got in.”

He hesitated. Then, carefully: “How was the date?”

You groaned and dropped your head back dramatically. “So bad. So impressively bad.”

Bucky’s heart did something traitorous - thrilled a little too much at the words. He worked hard not to show it.

“He was… polite. I’ll give him that. But every time I tried to steer the conversation toward something fun or personal, he’d redirect it back to himself. Or his investments. Or this stupid vacation he took with a group of guys who all wore matching swim trunks and called themselves the Wolfpack.”

Bucky blinked. “The what?”

“Right?” You said, eyes wide. “It felt like a sitcom where the punchline never came.”

A beat passed. He couldn’t help it—he smiled. Just a little.

You caught it. Your expression softened. “What?”

“Nothing. Just… sounds like hell.”

“It was. But the pretzel was good.”

You shared a quiet moment. Bucky’s chest felt warm and strange. He didn’t speak much, but he listened, and for once, he didn’t feel like he was drowning in his own silence. Maybe it was the soft tone in your voice. Maybe it was the way you’d looked at him when you walked in, like you’d missed him too.

He almost leaned in, just a little, like he was going to say something real for once.

And then Bob practically exploded into the room, arms wide, face beaming like a golden retriever who’d just spotted his favorite human.

Bucky immediately sat back, shoulders going tense.

You blinked, then smiled, bright and open. “Hey, Bob.”

Bob crossed the room in three giant steps and flopped onto the couch between you with a whoomp, knocking Bucky’s knee in the process. “You’re back! I missed you! Did you see the picture of Waffles I texted you?”

“I did,” you said, laughing. “The little hat was a nice touch.”

“He wore it willingly!” Bob looked at you with stars in his eyes. “Did you have a fun day off?”

You paused. “It had its moments.”

Bob turned to Bucky, clueless and radiant. “Didn’t we miss her, Buck? I kept saying we needed her on the mission. She would’ve handled that alarm system in two minutes.”

Bucky blinked slowly. “Yeah. We missed her.”

Your eyes flicked to Bucky, and something quiet passed between you again. But Bob, entirely unaware, continued cheerfully.

“I was thinking maybe we could all go get pancakes tomorrow. Celebrate a mission well done and your return. I know a place. They have whipped cream. And seasonal syrups. And they let you mix them. Which is chaos, but good chaos.”

You laughed again, and Bucky felt the familiar ache settle back into his chest. Because Bob wasn’t competition. He was just kind. Bright and open and honest in a way Bucky hadn’t been in years. Maybe ever. And you looked so comfortable around him. So light.

Bucky couldn’t even be mad. Not at Bob. Not at you. Just at himself, for still sitting there, wanting something and saying nothing.

He stood up quietly, draining the rest of his drink.

“Where you going?” You asked, noticing.

“Gonna turn in,” he said, avoiding your eyes. “Long day.”

“Goodnight,” you said softly.

He paused. Then looked at you - really looked at you. And for just a second, he let something show.

“Glad you’re back.”

And then he walked away.

Behind him, you watched him go. And for the first time since the date, you weren’t thinking about Luka at all.

Valentina slid a sleek folder across her desk. Inside was a badge, a keycard, a stack of onboarding documents, and a post-it with “Val we need a hot tub in the tower—seriously” scribbled in Yelena’s handwriting.

“I want you full-time, Agent. No more coming and going. A room and an official seat at the table. The team already treats you like you’re one of them. Might as well make it real.”

You bit the inside of your cheek. Your heart said yes immediately. But your brain, ever cautious, flipped through the mental index of what-ifs and escape routes.

“You sure you want to say no?” Val asked, arms folded, one brow arched.

You blinked. “Did I say no?”

“You hesitated.”

“I blinked.”

“Same thing in spy-speak.”

Then you thought about last night’s mission.

How Yelena had linked arms with you when you walked back into the jet, chattering about snack options. How Alexei had announced proudly that he’d protected “the two best sharpshooters in the world.” How Bob had quietly tucked your coat over your shoulders when you’d dozed off.

And how Bucky had looked at you before you parted ways. Like maybe he didn’t want to see you go.

You smiled softly.

“I’m in.”

[daphwritesworld]

Alexia and Alessia, yes fucking please 🥵

Alessia being all shy and not having been with a girl before (going with this since we know next to nothing about her love life lol) and thinking she's as straight as a ruler until England play Spain and she's looking at Alexia like she's just discovered a new religion and realising she's as straight as one of those bendy rulers

Alexia's head tilting because England's star girl is looking like she's ready to beg right there and then and she's not bejnf subtle about it. Half of the England girls are glancing at Alessia like 'yeah...she ain't straight guys, she's looking like she wants to bite into Putellas' bicep.'

Leah, Keira and Lucy specifically being encouraging for this. They know Alexia a bit more than others because two of them played with her and Leah is captain so her and Alexia are practically unspoken bros in my head 😂

Like nahhh let her loose, go on Less. Get your little gay life started, she'll rock your world 😂

-🧠

OMG YASSSS !!

I love the whole "sees one sexy women than realizes their gay" trope. like yeah that was me LMAOO. stuck in denial until I saw a sexy woman playing volleyball on the living room tv at 10….aaaannnd now I write gay porn so 🤷🏽‍♀️ anyways—

and no the way Leah, Lucy, and Keira would be pushing Less over towards after the match. She's blushing like crazy, cheeks redder than a ripe tomato, and trying to push back against the forced steps from her 3 teammates….until she bumps straight into someone's back. She freezes at first— doesn't even notice the fellow England players fleeing the scene as their hands retreat from her body. Oh no, she's in a trance. Because she feels the electricity crackling beneath her skin, knows exactly who it is before she even finishes turning her head.

"I'm so s-sorry," Alessia stutters over her words as their eyes finally meet. A higher pitch cracking out of her mouth from the sight of Alexia up close. Her words trail off, lost in the sea of the Spaniards features. Captivated doesn't even begin to describe it. Alessia's never felt this before. This all consuming wave crashing over her, like she's been floating out at sea until Alexia walked in, and then the tides started pulling her down. And now? Oh, she's surely drowning. But that's okay, because Alexia is there to pull her back up.

There's a warmth behind her eyes, a comforting blanket that wraps around anyone lucky enough to fall under her gaze. She smiles at the loss of words, taking a few seconds to study the face of the woman in front of her. Her eyes are striking, just like her football skills. They both hit you fast when you notice them— like running full speed and then falling face first. Which Alexia has done many times in her youth. Always one to chase after what she wants, pushing herself to always come out on top.

"Want to swap jerseys?" The accent flows off her tongue like magic, putting a trance on Alessia.

Her heads nodding before she regains her ability to speak— and breathe, properly again. "Y-Yeah!"

Right as Alexia's about to pull the sweaty kit off her body she sees them— Keira, Lucy, and Leah all peaking over like a group of gossiping school girls. She holds in her giggle at the antics of the women, returning her attention back to the girl and task at hand. When they're both left in their sports bras and shorts there's a moment of pause as their hands brush. For a few seconds all the noise surrounding them disappears, all the eyes, cameras, and people fade into the background. It's just them. It's like fireworks going off, Alessia nervous system on the frits from all the new emotions being rushed into her brain. Oh god and is that her heart beat in her ears?? The Englishwoman doesn't even hear the next words out of the pretty blonde across from her, just sees her lips moving— and oh god did her lips always look that soft? "I-I'm sorry, w-what did you say?" She shakes her head a little, trying to come out go this fog that's seemed to of swallowed her whole.

Alexia can't help but let the laugh fall from her lips, tongue coming out to wet them as she leans closer, a hand coming out to shake Alessia's. "You can call me Ale, all my friends do."

"Oh," Alessia breaths out with a smile, "I didn't know we were friends."

The Spanish woman has a look on her face Alessia can't quite decipher, but she quickly finds out. Cause while they're still clad in minimal clothing, Alexia leans fully in— sweaty bodies colliding as her lips brush against the skin of Alessia's ear, goosebumps arising in her wake.

"I'd like to be more than that, but we can see where the night goes," and she doesn't pull away at first. Oh no. She waits till she feels and hears Alessia's breath gasp, her body tense up as her heart rate picks back up. She smiles against her skin, and that's when she pulls away. Slipping on the Lionesses Jersey as she proudly sports 'RUSSO' on her back.

Alessia doesn't even hesitate when the next words out of Alexia's mouth are, "Do you want to get a drink?"

She's saying yes before Alexia can finish the sentence, an even deeper shade of red left to dust along her nose and ears as the heat travels back up towards her cheeks. They agree on a place and time. And then she's gone, jogging back over towards her team as Alessia stands still in the aftershock.

She stays like that until Leah's there to cone running up and smacking her on the shoulder, "You're still half naked by the way, love bug. Might want to slide that jersey on before we get group pictures."

okay ill stop now, but no seriously love this duo hehe !!!

[psychologicalwhorefare]

AND. AND. these people do NOT know what a genre is. like rap, country, jazz, yes these of course are genres. but lots of real geniuses in the notes on that post are like ummm my least favorite genre is nepo baby top 40 pop music 😏 well MY least favorite genre is weezer 🙄 STOP TALKING AT ONCE. regardless of the quality one could try to ascribe to the music listed here it's all without a point!! because those!!!! are not genres!!!!!!! top 40 is not a genre!!!!!! do you dislike all the genres that currently have a presence on the top 40? i'll bet the fuck you don't!!!! especially bc then we're back to the previously resolved conversations about rap and country and how they are in fact, not deserving of the title of "worst genre." i don't care if you like weezer or not, but weezer is a rock band - do you dislike all rock?? or even all alternative rock??? do you think that somehow fits the mold of "worst genre," a style of music that... what, doesn't deserve to exist?? guess what!!!! that would be a dumbass thing to say too!!!!!!!!

and so on and so forth until we arrive at the obvious, easy-as-breathing-air solution, posited by my own dear mutual in the tags of the original post: there IS no worst genre!!!!!!! mystery fucking solved!!!!!!! all styles of music have equal potential for value because they are all vessels of human creation and expression!!!!!! all genres have some good material and some bad material and a whoooole lot of just okay material!!!!! and even those are clearly subjective it's just a matter of personal preference at a small scale and critical consensus at a larger scale!!!!! you fuckers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[casscainmainly]

No because you see Duke was FORGED by his parents everything he does is in service of THEM to HONOUR their legacies. But Cass was forged IN SPITE of David Cain everything she does is not about HIM but to TAKE CONTROL of her destiny. And Batgirl was her, it was Cass it was all of her, it was the first thing she ever owned; and Robin was his but also theirs, it was Duke and his friends and Damian and the people Duke loves, it was something they shared. But now Cass shares Batgirl with Steph like a hoodie because she loves her, because she can now forge a community around her she never had as a kid. And now Duke becomes the Signal because he's forging his own path, because he's directly honouring his mother rather than using another mother's legacy, maintaining his focus on community but also celebrating what makes him special. They're SO DIFFERENT but they LOVE EACH OTHER and family is so so important to both of them do you even understand what it means for Duke to call Cass his sister??? And for Cass to let him??? These two people for whom family means very different things but is so fundamental to who they are, for them to meet and choose each other means THE WORLD. DUKE & CASS FOREVER

[autumnwoodsdreamer]

I wish whoever was in the kitchen for Skeleton Crew had been there for Mando S3

[unfinishedslurs]

every robin gets a freebie

reverse robins in the aftermath of the death of filipe garzonas

A CD was in the mail within the next week, blank but for a note that slipped out when the envelope was opened. You should really trust in your birds more often, B. Learn from your mistakes for once. 

Jason felt bile in his throat. It was body cam footage, blurry and half obscured, of Robin and Garzonas on the roof. Footage that still clearly showed Garzonas taking a too-far step back, Robin lunging to reach him, and then…

But that’s not what happened, Jason doesn’t say. His tongue feels swollen and thick in his mouth. 

Batman takes off the cowl solemnly. “Jaylad,” he says. “Jason. I’m so sorry for doubting you. I never should have…”

He can’t be here anymore. He can’t be in this cave, can’t stand Bruce looking at him like that, can’t stand to even be in the vicinity of the Robin uniform he no longer deserves. 

He bolts for the exit.

“Jason!” he hears Bruce call, but he doesn’t stop. He can’t. Not even when he nearly runs into Alfred, not when Damian tries to grasp his arm, not when Duke asks him what’s wrong or when Tim yelps in surprise and drops his cane jumping out of the way. He just runs, out the manor door and into the night. 

For a split second the figure on the roof is overlaid with Gloria. Beautiful, resigned Gloria, who was so scared of what Felipe would do to her that she would do anything to stop it. 

Then he blinks, and he’s on the rooftop with the Spoiler. 

“Relax,” Spoiler says, “I’m not gonna jump. I'm only three steps into my five-step plan for world dominance. Can’t leave that unfinished. Imagine the paperwork.”

“I dunno.” Jason’s hands are shaking. “You seem like the kinda freak who would enjoy that.”

Spoiler lowers her mask, and Stephanie Brown smiles at him. 

“How did you do it?”

“Do what?”

“You know.” His voice wavers. “You know. You know what I did. How did you…why did you…what was the reason?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes!”

“Call it tradition then, I guess.” Steph sounds almost amused. “Robin’s flock together.”

“But you don’t like me.”

“Who told you that?”

No one, but she doesn’t exactly go out of her way to talk to Jason. He just kind of assumed. 

Tim’s awkward around him. Sometimes they’re fine, like when he wandered into the library where Jason was and asked if he wanted to get ice cream together. Other times he wouldn’t see him for three weeks. Jason tries not to think about the nights Tim has had dreams that left him cackling loud enough to wake Jason up the couple times he’s stayed the night at the Nest, or the things he heard Tim shout about little birds and broken nests when he was fear gassed. 

It kind of sucks, being your brother's biggest trigger. 

(Those three weeks may be a case of mutual avoidance, but Jason will never admit it.)

When he doesn’t say anything, Steph sighs. “How much do you know about when I was Robin?”

“Uh,” he says, caught off guard, “not much, I guess?” He knows that it was because something was going on with Tim. That’s about it, really. He asked once, when he was still new to Robin and the Manor. He didn’t ask again after he saw the look on Tim’s face. 

“Bruce didn’t really want me. Damian didn’t think I was worthy of the mantle, and took every chance he could to remind me. Tim was pissed at me for it. None of them wanted me there, and I tried so hard to prove them wrong. To be the Robin I knew I could be.”

That…can’t be right. The few times he had asked about Stephanie Brown, Tim had nothing but good words to say. Bruce and Damian spent so much time wallowing in their regrets it was insane. For her to say nobody wanted her there, when her absence was a shadow that followed them constantly around Wayne Manor, was baffling. 

Steph looks down at the helmet in her hands. “All I wanted was their approval, and it made me stupid. I overestimated myself. That’s how you get killed in this game, kid. Don’t get too cocky for your britches, and all that.”

Jason is shaking again by the time they get to the Nest. He hesitates at the window, sending a pleading look to Spoiler that she completely ignores ushering him in. 

Tim spins around in his tricked out gaming chair, frown pulling oddly against the wide scars on his cheeks. He flicks his comm off. “Steph?” Then his eyes found Jason. “Jason! Thank God, we were starting to get worried about you. Duke told everyone to give you space, but…”

His mouth is too dry to say anything in response, so he just shrugs. Tim tilts his head, examining him, before looking at Spoiler questioningly. 

She takes off her mask again, lowering her hood and shaking out her hair. “We need some help,” she explains, and nudges Jason forward. 

He stays stubbornly in his place, head tilted towards the floor. Steph sighs. “If you don’t tell him,” she says, “I will.”

He whips his head around. “You promised!”

“My name is literally The Spoiler.” She bares her teeth at him. “I get that you’re nervous, kid, but I do not have time for this.”

“For what?” Tim says. God, Tim’s going to be like a dog with a bone with this. He’s never met a mystery he didn’t want to solve. “Just tell me what’s going on.”

“I killed Filipe!” He blurts out and freezes, moving immediately to hide behind Spoiler. She doesn’t let him, grabbing his shoulder and holding him firmly to the spot. 

Tim gapes at him. “You…” he trails off, slowly turning to Steph, who holds his gaze steadily. “The footage?”  

“I have connections.”

“Of course you do.” He rubs a hand over his face. “How are we playing this?

What?

“We keep going along with what’s been presented to him,” Spoiler responds without hesitation. “B’s paranoid, but he’s also the king of denial. There’s no doctoring on the tape itself, he won’t look any deeper.”

“And Damian?”

“Like he gives a shit.”

“True,” he admits. “Duke wouldn’t care enough to check either way, so that just leaves Cass.”

Steph swears. “Fuck, Cass. Do you think she’ll say something?”

“Yes. Ugh, yes she will. Fuck.”

“Think you can talk some sense into her?”

“Maybe.” He squints at Jason. “I’ll probably play up the ‘ridden by guilt’ and ‘will never happen again’ angle. He definitely reads it.”

“What the hell are you two talking about?” Jason finally says, lungs fighting for air. “I—I killed someone!”

“Not according to Bruce, you didn’t.” Tim tells him. 

“You want me to lie?”

“Yes.”

He looks at Steph imploringly, begging her to explain, but she doesn’t even look at him. “Chill out, kid,” she says, “We all get a freebie.”

“Damian got more than a freebie,” Tim points out. 

“He’d tell you it was his right as the blood son.”

“Stop joking!” He shouts, chest heaving for air. “Just—stop it! Why aren’t you telling Bruce? Why are you making plans to lie to him? What’s wrong with you?”

Tim exchanges a heavy look at Steph, before reaching his hand out to Jason. Jason takes it, trembling. 

“Plenty of vigilantes have to make hard choices when it comes to stopping people the law can’t touch,” he tells Jason gently. “I work with people who all choose different things. When it comes to people like Garzonas, who will keep doing it over and over with no remorse…it’s not a method I recommend, but sometimes there’s only one way to stop them. If Robin made that choice, I wouldn’t blame him.”

He can’t stop the tears from welling in his eyes, because this is Tim Drake saying it. Damian was the first Robin, yeah, and Steph left her undeniable mark with her cheer and wit, but Tim wore the mantle twice. He made it into something new, something a bit brighter in the dark nights. Then, after Steph, he made it into a memory. Bright yellow for her hair. Red for Superboy. Even after they both came back Jason wore their colors, because Robin was persistence, and spirit, and clever words followed by hard punches, and bravery and a million other things, but it was also hope and love and remembrance for the lost. 

He wouldn’t forget that. “Why are you so okay with this?”

“You know I’ve had to make that choice too.”

Jason almost laughs, but refrains. He’s heard the stories. “Never sounded like much of a choice.”

“It was.” His eyes snap to Tim’s at the sudden edge to his voice, and Tim meets his eyes carefully. “I was fully aware of what I was doing. It’s not something I’ll ever do again, but it was my choice, and I won’t have that taken from me.” 

“I don’t think I can be Robin anymore.”

“Well, we all have to give it up sometimes.”

“Are we really doing this?” Tim asks, after he thinks Jason has fallen asleep. 

Jokes on him, Jason doesn’t think he’s gonna sleep ever again. 

“Are you seriously getting cold feet now? I thought you loved lying to Bruce.”

“I don’t love lying to Bruce, it’s just—“

“‘—necessary sometimes,’” she finishes. “Whatever. Like you don’t love the thrill of it.”

Tim doesn’t bother denying it. “This isn’t just lying to B, Steph. This is—are we really going to cover up a murder?”

The room drops ten degrees. 

“If you’re not going to back me on this, we can go somewhere else. Don’t want you getting your hands dirty or anything,” she sneers. 

“You know I’ve always got your back,” Tim says. Jason thinks back to what Spoiler told him earlier about her time as Robin, and wonders if that might not be as irrefutable a truth as he’d always thought it was. “I’m worried about Jason.”

“You wouldn’t need to be if you would just help him out—“

“You saw him. The kid looks like a ghost. He looks like I did. Don’t—no, Steph, I’m serious. I’m worried about him. At least I didn’t have to hide that I killed the Joker. You think keeping this bottled up will be good for him? It’s going to kill him.”

“The alternative is telling Batman that his precious Robin killed someone. You remember how that went last time?”

There’s a long pause, and then he hears Tim hiss an exhalation behind clenched teeth. “Don’t bring that into this. Jason’s not me.”

“That’s the fucking problem. You were his golden boy—“

“Seriously? You think I was the golden boy?”

“I’m hardly his favorite,” Tim scoffs. “Jason is.”

There’s a shocked silence. Then Stephanie scoffs. “You can’t seriously be jealous.“

“I’m trying to tell you it’ll be different from me. Have you seen him with Jason?” He waits, but Steph doesn’t answer. “He laughs. He laughs, he smiles, he’s fucking…happy. Jason makes him happy. I never did that. None of us ever—“

“Jesus, Tim,” Steph says roughly. “You made him plenty happy. Damian, Cass, Duke, you all make him laugh—“

“Not like Jason does.”

“You willing to risk the kid on that?”

A beat, and Tim sighs. “No. But it’s different now. Jason has us. All of us. It wouldn’t be like last time.”

“Jason’s not me.” He pauses, almost like he’s debating what he’ll say next, before he says, “He’s not you, either.”

Steph stays silent for so long Jason wonders if she climbed out the window and left. 

Finally, she exhales. “He’s not you, and he’s not me,” she agrees, “but Bruce is always going to be Bruce.”

They sit in silence for a long moment. Finally Steph speaks up. “Are you really jealous of him?”

“No, Steph. Jesus.”

“You’re such a liar.” It’s affectionate this time, though, clearly poking fun. 

Tim sighs, heavier than the teasing warrants. “It’s not him. It’s not him, and it’s not you, I just…I was never able to give up Robin on my own terms. I never…I never got to feel like I was putting it down. It never stopped feeling like—“

Stephanie doesn’t say anything. Eventually, one of the chairs slides back, and Jason hears a cane clacking on the ground. A cabinet opens. “Did you want coffee?”

“What happened to those awful sodas you were addicted to?”

“I assumed you wouldn’t want one,” Tim responds, voice dry. There’s no indication of their discussion in either of their tones. “Considering the first thing you ever did in this apartment was go through all my stuff and make fun of my taste.”

“Fuck it. I’m feeling abominable tonight, I should have something to fit the mood.”

“Shut up.” The fridge opens and shuts, and there’s a quiet thunk like a hand catching something out of midair. Then two drinks crack open. 

“God, I forgot how awful these were.”

(some undetermined amount of time later)

Bruce: Dick you can’t kill Tony Zucco. Batman and Robin do not kill.

Dick: Steph said Robin gets a freebie >:(

Bruce: 

Bruce:

Bruce: STEPHANIE-

[musicalmoritz]

Just saw a TikTok post of Yellowjackets hot takes and the very first one was that Shauna is not a complex character, she’s just insane. It’s lovely how people stop caring about “media literacy” as soon as the character is a woman

[hrokkall]

A solution has been found

The solution is portable

Technical implementation is possible and generally applicable

[revvethasmythh]

absolutely no one:

me:

[dragaylia-unfound]

hot take: not that it matters, but I truly don’t think lazy people actually exist. even if we DO run with the truly heartless idea that everyone has to be “useful” for the right to live, everyone wants to be “useful”. Everyone wants to do something. Nobody wants to completely waste away doing nothing, that’s just not the nature of living. They just don’t have the drive to go with the options the government has decided are worth having the right to live for. And they shouldn’t have to.

[stuck-in-the-ghost-zone]

HIII THABK U FOR THE TRIVIA AND ASHE SONG before i take forever 2 answer those or forget here is a blank ticket to please please talk about prime defenders and their AWFUL emotional literacy and processing skills i would literally love to read that essay so much ive also been thinking about it incessantly. big eyes staring up at u.png. ok ok peace out GOODNIGHT !!!! <33

i lied actually im not going to bed im judt thinking about this ans listening to St. John on a loop now. hello catkiss.gif i forgot how youve filled me with so much joy. that cat is so fuckign cute

anyway. hi :) prime defenders huh. this is gonna be less of an essay and more of a sleepy ramble but ohhh i have so many thoughts. they all process things so differently and none of them are good at it they all need therapy so bad. ms.g where is the hero therapy why didnt you build that into w.a.t.c.h ma'am

vyncent is probably the best at actually processing things out of all of them, he just internalizes everything to the point where he wont talk about it unless hes pushed past the breaking point. vyncent is actually very.. emotionally intelligent? i want to say mature but that feels like im singling him out because hes the oldest. i just feel like because he grew up on Fauna and had to be in basically survival mode in a world full of monsters trying to kill you.. that makes a person grow up quicker than they should. i think vyncent had a good childhood and for the most part his parents took good care of him but just.. living in that world doesnt seem like it leaves room for a whole lot of expressing emotions. vyncent is good at quick analysis of a situation, but unless a problem directly interferes with the current goal he doesnt externalize it to everyone else. but bottling up his feelings and emotions just builds up pressure over time until something like the lich makes him blow up and let it all out at once, usually in a dramatic monologue format bc condi is really good at those god damn it. also they played off the fact that vyncent said all of that to the lich and then missed his attack as a funny thing but i like to think of it as. he got too overwhelmed w his emotions and lashed out too soon it made his fighting messy. vyncent is so angry and honestly after what hes been through he deserves to be !!!!

william wisp. my boy. god hes just like me fr so much so that it physically hurts sometimes. anyway. i always think back to the scene where theyre all in the cabin talking about themselves/sharing backstories and william keeps desperately trying not to talk about himself. the fact that hes so ashamed of his powers he hides wisp form every time. two of his powers are LITERALLY a) turning invisible and b) turning intangible, usually as an excuse to leave whatever situation hes in ("accidentally" falling through the floor at opportune moments in season 1) . theres. a thing that happens at the end of episode 13/beginning of epidode 14 that youre really close to and i wont spoil yet but god it has to do with this so extremely much please come back to my inbox when you get there. youll know what it is trust me. um. yeah. so anyway. i think a lot of this comes from a place of. he doesnt want anyone to be scared of him. williams not stupid hes incredibly smart and insightful he knows his powers are objectively SCARY. hes scared of himself constantly, he doesnt want anyone else to feel that way about him, so he shifts focus whenever those aspects of himself are brought up because if someone were to think about it for any amount of time theyd realize the truth that hes scary and dangerous to be around (<< william logic. hey remember how one of the reasons he originally left deadwood was because the monsters there were attracted to the wisps and therefore Him so he left to keep his friends/family out of danger)

i think a lot about williams death and the immediate aftermath, i dont know how much you actually know and how much of this comes later but . how does he go home after waking up from that. his parents know about his powers, so they MUST know what happened. what do you think he told them when he god home muddy and dirty and broken and probably bloody after being missing for. god knows how long. how does he look his mother in the eyes and tell her her little boy is dead. but hes also not because hes standing right in front of her. how the fuck do you think he felt the first time he went into wisp form and saw his body laying there !!! of course he wouldnt want to talk about that!!!! youre gonna have to pry william wisps emotions from his cold dead hands !!!!!!!

dakota's response to the ashe situation was to run away in the woods and do nothing but train for 10 months. he didnt think about it for 10 months. i dont even have a whole lot to say about dakota other than like. stunned silence whenever his inability to process trauma is brought up because grizzly does such an incredible job at being like "you ask dakota how hes doing and his face is just blank" << paraphrased actual quote from an episode i cannot remember which one. either 11 or 12 ?

also because im thinking about him im including ashe in this. we didnt get to see a whole lot of his canon reactions to extreme emotional situations so a lot of this is just coming from My Mind but ashe seems like hed be the type to repress a lot of his emotions too. being alone in your house/in your room for extended periods of time will do that to a guy. i think he feels a lot of things and will probably very openly cry/scream/get angry when hes alone but as soon as he knows another person is there he can immediately flip the switch to turn it all off like nothing happened. very much a deadpan "im fine." if someone asks how hes doing, even if hes got like. the remainder of tear tracks down his face. cannot physically express his emotions in the presence of someone else

[evilducks]

god. i miss my old classmates

[runawaymun]

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