#platform assignment information

[townpostin]

Tatanagar Station Enhances Passenger Information System

Extended coach indicator display and continuous announcements to improve traveler experience Tatanagar railway station implements new measures to provide better train information and reduce passenger confusion. JAMSHEDPUR – Tatanagar station has introduced new measures to enhance passenger convenience through improved train information systems. The coach indicator will now remain active for the…

[inlovewithpandora]

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ SECOND CHANCE

Synopsis — After losing Gabriella, starting a family of your own was no longer the topic of discussion. You never wanted to push the issue since Miguel is still grieving but when you find out you’re pregnant, you’re scared that he doesn’t want to be a father again.

Music Advisory — Miguel O’Hara x fem!preg!reader // fluff, angst & hurt/comfort, spider-woman!reader, mention of grieving + child loss, established relationship [married couple], mom!reader & dad!miguel, pregnancy [first trimester], pregnancy symptom [passing out], emotional [crying, anxiety, fear, etc.], use of Spanish [google translations included]

Duration — 2.6k words

Words from Artist — This story has been in the making for a long time (literally almost two years😭) so I’m really glad I was able to finish it and share it with you guys because I really love the plot and I love pairing Miguel with prego!reader. As always feel free to comment and reblog, I enjoy reading y’all reactions and would love to hear your thoughts <3

Current Platforms — Main M.list・Atsv Taglist・Navigation

As you look at your reflection in the mirror, stripped down to only your undergarments with your spider suit in hand to get ready for your newly assigned mission, your eyes are settled on your stomach, imagining the life that's currently growing inside your womb.

You’re currently in the first trimester of the pregnancy and it’s only been a couple months since you found out the news. You’re excited about the pregnancy, it makes your heart warm when you think about bringing a little spider baby into the world.

The only thing you’re worried about with the pregnancy is revealing the information to your husband.

It's been almost a year since Gabriella’s universe was destroyed and Miguel was still feeling all the raw emotions of grief. Some nights you would find him in his office watching old videos with a smile across his lips, reliving the joyous moments of him and his daughter spending time together, and others times you would be comforting him while he cried in your arms, wondering why God had to take away his precious morrita [little girl].

You understand that grief is a process and you’re willing to stand by your husband and help him through it, whenever he needs to talk or just needs you to be with him in his pain, you're there, being whatever he needs in that moment.

You and Miguel used to talk about officially a starting family, he’s the adoptive father of his variants child and he loves her to pieces but both of you wanted to create a new life, you wanted a child that had a mixture of the two of you so you’ve been trying for a baby but after Gabriella’s universe collapsed having children were no longer a topic of discussion. You didn’t want to push him into talking about it until he was ready but now that you have a baby growing in your belly it’s time to talk about it and you’re nervous.

What if Gabriella’s death scarred him so much that he doesn’t want other children? What if he doesn’t want to rebuild the life he lost? The thought of him not being happy about you being pregnant creates a lump in your throat and causes your heart to fall into the pit of your stomach. You’ve been wanting to disclose your pregnancy to him but you’re scared, scared of what his reaction would be, and scared he would regret the idea of having a baby so you decide to wait until you feel the time is right.

With everything going on in the Spider Society like multiverses collapsing and anomalies needing to be stopped, Miguel is working more than normal which has caused him to feel stressed and you don’t want to pile on his load so you’ve decided to wait until things die down.

As you begin to slip into your spider suit you realize how tight the material is, how it’s clinging to your stomach and showing the tiny baby bump you have. It’s thankfully not noticeable to the naked eye so once you're fully clothed you remind yourself to have Lyla take your measurements so you can have your suit updated.

You take a deep breath before placing your mask over your head, mentally preparing yourself for what’s going to happen once you use your Multiverse Watch and walk into the red and orange portal that’ll lead you to the dangers you have to fight. Once you whisper a small prayer of protection, you press a few buttons on your watch before hearing the whooshing sound of a multiverse portal opening and you step inside, allowing the invisible currents to take you to your assigned destination.

—

After hours of running through the city, swinging from buildings, saving civilians that are in the line of fire, and fighting alongside your teammates to capture the targeted anomaly, you’re more than exhausted. Lately it’s been more physically tiresome to do your duties as Spider-Woman since your body is continuously adjusting to growing a child.

While you’re walking away from the team of spider-people, trying to get some air and give yourself a chance to recuperate, you feel a presence come up behind you. “Those were some badass moves out there, y/n.” Hobie compliments your impeccable fighting skills while placing his hands on your shoulders and giving them a light squeeze before coming by your side.

“Thanks, Hobie. I was hoping someone would notice the new swinging trick I’ve been working on.” You give him a gentle nudge, a little way to show your appreciation of his comment yet throw in a little playfulness. While you and Hobie continue sharing some friendly banter you feel yourself becoming lightheaded, walking is now difficult and your vision is gradually growing blurry.

You could feel your palms becoming clammy while a fire starts rushing through your body, causing your skin to start burning up. The strength you once had in your legs are weakening, so much that you have to grab onto Hobie to keep yourself from falling over and crashing into the ground. When the Brit man feels your hands clinging to his leather sleeves he quickly turns his head and looks at you with concern, wondering what’s going on with you. “y/n, you alright love?”

“Mmm I don’t feel so great…” Your speech is slow and your voice turns from its normal range to almost faint the more you try to form words into sentences. Your body feels like someone just got finished shaking you around, your stomach is churning and causing you to feel nauseous while the sounds of ringing are flooding your ear canals.

From your lack of energy and feelings of confusion you can't really comprehend what’s going on with your body but the one thing that’s able to pass through the fogginess of your mind is your baby. “Hobie, y-you gotta go get help. Something could be wrong with—” Before you could express your concern about your unborn child your vision turns spotty and soon enough goes pitch black.

Your body goes limp and thankfully Hobie has excellent reflexes because he immediately catches you. “y/n? C’mon, wake up!” He slowly crouches down onto the ground and cradles your head as he lightly starts to tap your face, trying to bring you out of your state of syncope.

He keeps making attempts to awaken you but his efforts are unsuccessful, while he keeps trying he calls for your husband who’s talking to his co-leader and holographic assistant. “Boss man, you need to get over here, something’s wrong with your missus!”

When the leader of the Spider-Society hears the slight shakiness in Hobie’s voice he knew that something serious was going on. Miguel turns around and from a distance he can see your body being held by his subordinate, looking as if there isn’t an ounce of oxygen flowing through your lungs.

Miguel could feel his world slowing down around him, his heart was pounding and his blood was running cold at the sight of you. His first instinct is to run, to try and fix whatever is going on so he makes his way to you, scooping you out of Hobie’s arm and placing you in his arms and trying his own methods to bring you back consciousness.

“Mi vida, [my life]” his words comes out shaky, softly gliding his hands across your face before he starts to shake you, trying to make you wake up. “I need you to wake up. You have to wake up for me.” The more he tries to wake you up the more disappointed he becomes by not seeing your eyes flutter open or feeling your stiff body move in his arms.

Miguel feels like he’s in a state of deja vu, holding you like this reminds him of when Gabriella faded away in his arms. He doesn’t understand what cruel thing he did to the world to cause his daughter’s death and now he doesn’t understand what sick game the universe is playing to make him have to witness you passed out in some random universe. His expressions aren’t showing the true fear he feels spiraling inside but if you look deep into his red orbs you could see it clear as day. “What happened to her?”

“We were just talkin’ and then she leaned against me, tellin’ me that she didn’t feel good.”

Miguel knows that standing here asking you to wake up won't fix anything, it’s clear you need medical attention so he tells Lyla to open a portal that leads the medical center within the Spider Society so he can take you there and have you checked out.

The portal opens with a whoosh, and Miguel steps through in long, hurried strides, cradling your limp body close to his chest. His jaw is clenched tight, and his usually confident and calm demeanor is replaced with a frantic edge. His mind is racing with worse-case scenarios, wondering what attack your body could be facing for you to pass out all of a sudden.

The medics in the sterile, brightly lit room quickly took notice of Miguel rushing inside the medical center with you in his arms and concern and worry etched into his features. The team on staff swiftly started jumping into action and assessing the situation. “What happened?” one of them ask, gesturing for Miguel to place you on the nearest examination table.

“She collapsed during a mission.” Miguel explains, his voice low and filled with tension. “She said she wasn’t feeling well before she passed out.” He places you down as gently as possible, his hand lingering on yours because he doesn't want to let you go, afraid that if he does you’ll disintegrate into thin air right in front of him. Everyone in the Spider Society knows that Miguel doesn’t play when it comes down to his wife so when his bright-red eyes stare at the medics in a way that says: ‘You better fix this’, the team immediately went to work.

The medics begin their assessments, and Miguel hovers nearby but still giving them enough room to work, his arms crossed tightly as he watches every move they made, making sure they are doing everything they can to help you. In this moment he feels helpless, a feeling he deeply despises especially when it comes to anything that has to do with you. Lyla appears beside him, her holographic form flickering around his head as she gives him brief updates on your condition as details are being collected.

“She’s stable for now, but it looks like she fainted from low blood sugar and exhaustion. Pretty common for someone in her condition.” Lyla explains, her tone unusually soft and clear, free from her usual teasing or smart remarks.

Miguel’s brow furrows, wondering what ‘condition’ you could possibly have that could cause all of those things to happen. “What do you mean ‘in her condition’?”

“You’ll find out soon enough, big guy.” She winks before she vanishes into thin air, leaving Miguel feeling more worried and agitated than before.

“Boss, she’s waking up.”

Hearing that Miguel is by your side in an instant, feeling his anxiety slowly fade away now that you’re well. Your eyelids flutter open, and the first thing you see is Miguel’s face hovering over yours, his features etched with worry. His hand is already wrapped around yours, squeezing it tightly. “Mi vida,” he breathes, his voice cracking slightly as a sense of relief fills his heart. “You’re awake.”

“Miguel…” you murmur, your voice faint as you try to assess the world around you.

“Shh, don’t push yourself.” he says, his thumb brushing gently over your knuckles before lifting you hand to his lips and placing a soft kiss against your skin. “You scared me, I’m so glad you’re okay.”

You give a weak smile, but it quickly falters as you remember what happened and feel the weight of the secret you’ve been keeping to yourself. You don’t need to hear the medics reasoning to why you passed out because you already have a feeling it has something to do with your pregnancy.

While looking at your husband, tears start to well in your eyes, and Miguel notices immediately, his thumb gliding against your skin as the tears slowly fall. “Hey, hey. What’s wrong? Are you in pain? Do you need me to get the doctor?”

“No, I’m okay.” you whisper, shaking your head as the tears continue to spill over. “I need to tell you something. I’ve been meaning to, but I didn’t know how.”

Miguel’s heart skips a beat, he hates seeing you cry and wants to do anything he can to soothe whatever it is you are feeling. The tone in your voice does worry him a little, but he doesn’t let it show, he just wants to know what’s going on so he can best help you. “Tell me. Whatever it is, just tell me.”

You took a shaky breath, your hand trembling in his, praying that he doesn’t take the news badly because that would break you. “Miguel… I’m pregnant.”

The words hang in the air for a moment, and Miguel’s crimson eyes widen in shock at the news, not expecting you to say those words. His grip on your hand slightly loosens as he processes the idea of you carrying his child, making you worry about what could be going through his mind.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” you continue, your voice breaking as fresh tears streamed down your face. “I swear I wasn’t trying to keep it from you. I just… I didn’t know how you’d react. After Gabriella… I was so scared you wouldn’t want this,” you say, gesturing to your belly. “that it would be too much for you.”

Miguel’s chest tightens at the sight of your tears, and he immediately cups your face in his hands, his thumbs softly wiping them away. “Stop, there’s no need for an apology.” he says, his voice slightly beginning to tremble but still using the softest and sweetest tone.

“I thought maybe you’d be angry, or that it would hurt you to think about starting over.” you confess, your voice barely above a whisper.

Miguel shook his head, his forehead resting against yours as he closed his eyes, his own tears threatening to fall. “How could I ever be angry? You’re giving me something I thought I’d lost forever, a chance to be a father again. Now, I can build a family with the love of my life, raise another beautiful child in this world.”

His words broke something inside you, and you let out a soft sob, leaning into his touch even more. Miguel holds you close as if he never plans on letting you go, his arms wrapping around you tightly like a shield of protection.

“I know I’ve been distant.” he admits. “And I know I’ve been stuck in the past, but this… this is a gift. No matter how I feel about losing Gabbi, I want this. I want this family.”

You pull back slightly to look into his eyes, your heart swelling at the love and determination you saw into his glaring red orbs, the ones you so easily feel in love with. “You mean it?”

“With every bone in my body.” Miguel says firmly, wanting you to know he sincerely means every word. “I will protect you and our baby with my life. Nothing will happen to either of you, not while I’m still breathing.”

You nod, a small smile breaking through your tears as Miguel presses his lips to yours in a gentle but passionate kiss. When he pulls back, his hand rests on your stomach, his thumb brushing over the fabric of your suit where your tiny bump is hidden, wanting to feel his child forming in your womb while his mind begins to fill with images of what the future holds for you and him.

For the first time in weeks, you feel like a weight has been lifted from your shoulders and that you can finally breathe again. Knowing that Miguel is accepting and happy about your growing family eases the anxiety that’s been brewing inside since you found out you were pregnant. Now that you have Miguel’s support and know that he will be by your side through this whole journey makes you even more excited for welcoming baby O’Hara into the world.

Fanbase — @migueloharasoulmate @d0ubl-tr0ubl3 @tater-tot0423 @theitgurl2 @miguelsesposa @iwanttogohomeandtakeanap @maxlynn17 @kxllanxtdoor @ban-al3x @beargracecanbeanyone @miguellover6969 @3zae-zae3 @mellagzz @h3art-l3ss-blog1 @taylormarieee @popeheywardssecretgf @onlyloaksgf @solanawrld @baizzhu @savagemickey03 @soilmayo @lilmiss-stussy @pixiesrealm @lun3arbr33z3 @Sukunash0e @yukichan67

[carnalcrows]

CAGED DOG

pairing: aguni x bottom male reader

content warnings: 18+, stockholm syndrome, size difference, age gap, mild smut, aguni kills 2 people backstage.

word count: 1.8k

The Beach wasn’t dead—but it was close.

Since Hatter’s death, the poolside mirage of a utopia had collapsed into something leaner, hungrier. Games were harder. People were crueller. The air reeked of chlorine and dried blood, and the sound of laughter had been replaced by silence or screaming. Mostly screaming.

You stayed in the med bay.

Not because you were hurt, though that was often the case. But because it kept you out of sight and was useful. Bandages. Antibiotics. Stitching wounds without flinching. You weren’t the best, but you were gentle. And that made people talk.

Especially him.

Aguni.

The first time you’d really noticed him was after a brutal Hearts game. You’d helped carry a boy back to the Beach, blood soaking through the towel pressed to his gut. Aguni was waiting at the entrance, shirtless, blood spattered, jaw clenched like stone. His eyes had tracked you.

Not the boy.

You.

He’d come into the med bay the next day with a gash on his arm that he probably could’ve handled himself. You patched him up, hands careful, breath held. He didn’t say thank you. Didn’t move. Just watched you the entire time, like he was memorising something.

It started after that.

He came in more often, even when he wasn’t hurt. Sometimes with excuses—bruised knuckles, a scratch that didn’t need disinfectant. Sometimes with nothing at all. He’d lean in the doorway, watching you work on other people. Watching how close they got.

One guy touched your shoulder while laughing.

That guy got reassigned to an outside mission the next day.

He never came back.

“Drink.”

You flinched as a bottle was shoved into your hand. The water sloshed against the rim. You looked up, heart skipping. Aguni towered over you in the hallway, his expression unreadable under the hallway shadows.

“I’m not dehydrated.”

“You were shaking.”

Your throat tightened. He was right. You’d just come back from a Diamonds game—nothing violent, but mentally exhausting. You hadn’t spoken since returning. You hadn’t even realised he’d noticed.

You drank.

His eyes softened just barely.

“Good.”

It wasn’t the first time he’d done something like that. Quiet, simple things. Leaving food where you’d find it. Standing behind you when the groups got rowdy. Making sure your name never showed up on the player rotations for Hearts or Spades games.

It should’ve made you feel safe.

It didn’t.

You tried to leave once.

You’d found an opening—someone had smuggled information about a rumoured safe zone on the other side of the city. You packed light. Kept quiet. Made it as far as the train station.

He was waiting on the platform.

His shirt was soaked through with rain. He looked like something out of a nightmare—quiet, empty-eyed, holding your duffel bag in one hand.

“I took this before you could get too far.”

You swallowed hard. "Aguni—"

“I killed the guy who told you about that safe zone.”

The silence between you crackled with more threat than his words. Your voice broke when you finally spoke.

“You can’t keep me here. I’m not your prisoner.”

He stepped forward.

“You are.”

A beat.

“Because if you’re not, you’ll die.”

You stared at him, trembling.

“And I won’t let that happen.”

Life after that changed. Subtly. Sharply.

You weren’t assigned med duty anymore. He wouldn’t allow it. Too many people touched you. Too many whispered when you passed. Instead, you were relocated to a room two doors down from his. Guarded.

He started bringing you food himself.

“You’re not a prisoner,” he said once, placing a plate down gently. “You’re under protection.”

You didn’t argue. You just watched him as he sat across from you, arms crossed, eyes constantly scanning the hallway outside.

Like he expected a war.

Or wanted one.

The worst part wasn’t the confinement. Or the paranoia.

It was how he looked at you when he thought you weren’t watching.

Like you were the last beautiful thing in this world.

Like you were his.

You woke one night to find him sitting beside your bed, elbows on his knees, hands wringing together like he didn’t know what to do with them. He didn’t speak at first. Just watched you wake up.

“I killed someone again,” he said, voice low. “Tried to offer you a trade. For a game.”

You sat up slowly.

“He was just joking. I think.”

Aguni didn’t blink. “He laughed. I didn’t.”

His voice cracked faintly, a sliver of emotion under iron control.

“I don’t have anything left,” he murmured. “No friends. No plan. Just... you.”

The room felt colder. Smaller. You shifted, pulling the blanket higher, not knowing if it was to protect your body or your heart.

“I never asked for this.”

“I know.”

He stood up, jaw tight. Walked to the door. But before he left, he looked back over his shoulder.

“I don’t know how to be good. But I’ll try.”

You didn’t sleep after that.

The next game was Clubs—a team game. Aguni insisted on going with you. Said it was for balance. You didn’t argue. Not with the way he was clenching his fists like someone might take you again.

It was a simple challenge. Maze-like, psychological. A countdown. Solve together or die.

You made it to the final room with seconds left.

But the door locked behind you.

Just you and him. In the dark.

“Aguni—”

“We have time,” he muttered, pacing the floor. “I know how these end. There’s always a trick.”

You turned toward the corner, trying to stay calm. “We need to think—”

“You think I’m dangerous, don’t you?” he said suddenly.

You froze.

He moved closer. The emergency lights caught his face—blood smeared on his cheek, sweat down his neck. He looked wrecked. Starving.

“You think I’m a monster.”

“No,” you said, too fast.

“Don’t lie.”

A breath.

“I think you’re broken,” you whispered. “But I think you still care.”

That stopped him. His mouth parted like you’d stabbed him in the chest. He reached out, touched your face with his fingers, trembling against your jaw.

“I’d kill for you.”

“I know.”

“I’d die for you.”

You nodded.

His forehead pressed to yours.

“I’m scared,” you whispered.

“So am I.”

The door clicked open behind you.

He didn’t let go.

When you got back to the Beach, the guards were gone.

Your room was left unlocked.

But you still found food left at your door the next morning. Still felt his shadow behind you when someone new got too close. Still saw his eyes across the room, always watching.

Aguni never said what he was to you.

He didn’t have to.

In a world where everything was trying to kill you, he was the only one who wouldn’t let it.

Even if that meant being the most dangerous thing of all.

—

The next night, after the game, he came to your room without knocking.

You were still on edge, nerves thrumming under your skin. You didn’t speak. Neither did he.

He crossed the room like something barely leashed. One look at you—barefoot, shirt rumpled, throat exposed—and his restraint snapped.

He grabbed your face, rough palms cradling your cheeks, and kissed you like a man possessed.

It was desperate. Downright filthy. His mouth crashed into yours, all tongue and heat, like he was trying to drink from you. His beard scraped your skin, making you flinch—he groaned at the sound, deep in his throat, like it did something to him. His body pinned you against the wall before you could breathe, thigh wedging between your legs, pressing up.

You gasped, hands gripping his shoulders. He was solid. Unshakable. His hand slipped under your shirt, calloused fingers dragging over your ribs, slow and claiming. His other hand tangled in your hair, tugging just hard enough to tilt your chin and make you feel it— how much bigger he was. How easily he could keep you still.

You felt your knees tremble. He felt it too.

“Don’t run,” he growled against your mouth, breath hot, voice cracked. “Not now.”

“I’m not,” you breathed. “I’m—” You didn’t finish.

You didn’t have to.

He kissed you again, deeper this time, slower, like he owned your mouth and wanted to prove it. His knee pressed higher. You arched into it, a soft sound escaping your throat before you could swallow it.

He grinned against your lips. Dark. Satisfied.

His fingers slid lower. Teasing. Possessive.

You let him.

His hand slipped past your waistband like it had every right to be there—possessive, claiming, fingertips grazing heat that made your breath catch in your throat. His touch wasn’t shy. It was intentional, like he’d imagined this enough times to know exactly how to pull you apart.

“You’re shaking,” he murmured against your throat, lips dragging over your pulse. “You want it that bad?”

You tried to speak. Failed. Nodded instead.

That was all he needed.

He pushed you back onto the mattress with one hand flat on your chest, pressing you down like you were something feral that needed to be pinned. His weight followed—muscle and sweat and heat, smothering in the best way. You gasped when his hips ground against yours, when the friction made your spine arch and your voice break in the back of your throat.

He grinned—teeth flashing, feral—and shoved your pants down just enough to get what he wanted.

“You don’t even know what you do to me,” he said, his breath hot in your ear. “Every fucking day you walk around like you don’t belong to someone.”

His hand curled around your thigh, yanking it up around his waist.

“You do.”

The grind of his body against yours turned messy, desperate. Each thrust dragged low, hard, thick with the tension of a man starved for touch but bursting with control. You felt him against you—everywhere—bare skin scraping bare skin, his cock rutting into you, with slick running between your thighs, dragging filth and friction right where you needed it most.

It was obscene, the wet slap of it. The heat. The weight. The smell of him and you, tangled together in sweat and something rougher. His mouth was on yours the whole time—sloppy, unrelenting, teeth scraping your bottom lip like he wanted to mark even your kiss.

When your head fell back and your voice cracked into something broken, he swallowed it with a groan. "That's it," he rasped. "Take it. Take me."

You were undone beneath him—breathless, flushed, utterly his.

And he knew it.

He didn’t let you go.

Not that night.

The door stayed shut, the air thick with heat and breathless tension. Clothes shifted. Hands searched. And somewhere between the gasps and the murmured names, you stopped resisting what you’d both known for a long time.

You were his.

And he made sure you felt it—with every mark, every sound, every shuddering second.

By the time dawn painted the windows grey, your voice was hoarse, your body sore, and your soul irrevocably bound.

Aguni lay beside you, arm thrown possessively across your waist, breath warm against your shoulder.

“You’re mine,” he whispered again, quieter this time.

And now, finally, you whispered back.

“I know.”

© carnalcrows on tumblr. Please do not steal my works as I spend time, and I take genuine effort to do them.

[starrihan]

Higher Than Heaven (Yeonjun Fic)

→ Pairing: Yeonjun x afab! Reader

→ Plot: a group project is the last thing you want for your midterm, but working with the student who smokes makes it 10x worse

→ Genre: smut, tiny tiny bit of angst, protection (yes!!), kissing, hickeys, piv sex, reader is judgmental + hates smoking, swearing (Imk if i missed any!!)

→ Warnings: smoking, mentions of food, joke about dead grandparents

→ Word Count: 7,746

→ Notes: hey guys! This is the first fic of my Sanctuary Series! For more information about the series I would recommend going to this post here!I just want to clarify that I do not share the same views as the reader does in this fic, it was purely for plot purposes! Hope you enjoy pt 1 of the series 😚

-> Here's a link to all my other masterlists!

༄ ༄ ༄

You were always a goodie two-shoes. Perfect attendance, good grades, class president, the story writes itself. You grew up playing different instruments and were always enrolled in a sport or after-school club to keep yourself busy and your portfolio reflecting nothing less than perfection. So how did you go from valedictorian and class president of your high school to a college student who is on the verge or dropping out? 

The amount of work you’d allowed to accumulate over the past few weeks was enough to scare even the professors, making them question whether they actually assigned that much work. You could feel your grays coming in at the sight of all your work, exhaling as you decide to tackle the easy assignments first. 

It’s the middle of the day on a Thursday. You had a couple of assignments due tomorrow night that you absolutely could not afford to push off any longer. You had already asked for extensions on most of your assignments so far and you didn’t know how many more dead grandparents you could have before your professors questioned the validity of your failed punctuality when it came to turning in your assignments on time. You had class at 3 p.m, giving you a good two and half hours to get some work done. 

༄ ༄ ༄

You pack up your belongings as the clock strikes 2:30 p.m. You had gotten a couple of your easy assignments done, though it was very taxing to say the least. You make your way to your class, bundling up as the cold was brutal enough to warrant a cancelation, though, your university would never do that (speaking from experience because wdym its 2℉ out and i have to walk to class when theres black ice on the ground??).

You make it to your class about 15 minutes later, shivering from being cold yet sweating due to the many layers you had on. You take a seat next to your best friend, who had gotten there before you and saved your seat. 

“Can we go get food after class? I’ve had back to back classes and meetings all day and I’m starving.”

She drones on. You nod as you take out your laptop, waiting for the professor to start class. You’re prepared to mindlessly take notes for the next hour and half during lecture, but are pleasantly surprised when the professor doesn’t pull up the lecture slides. 

“Good afternoon class. I can all tell you guys are doing great so far.”

Her joke lands for some people, getting little chuckles and giggles from different corners of the lecture hall.

“Your midterms are a month away. I would normally give an exam for this class, but this year I have decided to switch it up. I have you all in pairs and you will be submitting a group assignment as your midterm. You will not be required to present but I will give you free reign on the design, layout and mode of presentation on the project meaning you can use any platform or software you would like to get the information across. I have sent you all emails with the name of the person you will be paired up with.”

You and friend look at each other and groan, knowing that the chance of you two being in a group is slim to none. Surely enough, you check your emails for your project partners.

“Who is Choi Yeonjun?” 

You ask, looking to your friend to see if she has any answers. She scans the room, presumably to see if he’s in class to point him out to you. 

“You see that kid in the middle row to the left? The one with the red hair? That’s him.

You look at the back of his head, sighing as you realize you don’t know this person and that this project is going to take a lot more time out of your busy schedule. 

“At least you’re not working with Choi Beomgyu. I heard he can be a handful.” 

Your friend rolls her eyes, burning holes in the back of the blonde boy's head, who happens to be sitting next to Yeonjun. You follow your eyes to see the boy, laughing at the irony of your partners sitting next to each other, just like their partners were. 

The rest of the class is drag, the growling of your stomach making it seem longer than it was as hunger consumes you. 

“Let’s go to the dining hall. I can’t afford to spend any more money on that overpriced cafe.”

Your friend says as you follow her out. It’s gotten pretty dark outside and there weren’t many students walking around in the cold. There were a couple of people here and there, probably walking back to their dorms after class. You two find yourself walking behind a person with their hood up, paying no mind to him until a cloud of smoke hits your face. Your audible groan at the smell of weed alerts his attention as he turns around and apologizes for smoking right in front of you. As he pulls his hood down, you recognize the tuft of bright red hair sitting on the top of his head. 

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t know you guys were behind me. I didn’t mean for the smoke to hit you.” 

‘Great,’ you thought. Not only did you have to work with a random stranger, but he also smokes publically on campus. You didn’t like smoking or people who smoked. You couldn’t understand why people do it or what joy butchering your throat and lungs could bring you. Your friend knew that about you and sensing your irritation, she speaks up for you, dismissing the incident on your behalf while you both walk ahead of him. 

As soon as you know that you’re far enough away from Yeonjun, you ask,

“Can we switch partners?”

Your friend snickers.

“If he smokes, I can almost assure you that his friend does too, so switching partners wouldn’t help.” 

You finally enter the dining hall, taking in the heated building before putting your stuff down in search of mediocre food. 

༄ ༄ ༄

You spend the next few days catching up on any missing work, putting the project aside since you still have a month left to do it. You decide to use Sunday as your rest day, drained from the assignments you were able to get done. You still had many assignments left to do, but you could only do so much work and you were already feeling burnt out. Doing more work wouldn’t be eventful in any way. 

You prepare for your day as normal, showering and throwing on a cute, weather appropriate, outfit as you make your way to the cafe on campus. You needed something better than the dining hall coffee for a change. You went there quite often, as you were high school friends with one of the baristas there. You smile as you spot him, walking up to the counter. 

“Taehyun! How’ve you been?”

The boy beams brightly at you, loving your cheerful spirit upon seeing him.

“Y/N! I haven’t seen you for a couple days! I’m good, how are you? And, do you want your usual?”

“I know, I’ve been busy and broke. But I’m doing alright, just catching up on all of my assignments. And yes please.”

“Oh, that’s good at least! Also we have a new employee that I’m training so it might take a minute to get your order. Is that okay?”

“Yeah of course! Take your time. Thank you!” 

You say, paying the balance of your meal and waiting at the end of the counter to get your food. You see a tall boy with red hair come out from the kitchen. You scoff to yourself as you recognize Yeonjun. ‘Of course he works here,’ you think. It takes him a couple of minutes to make your drink, still new to all the syrups and flavors that are available. As he finishes he calls out your name. 

“Y/N!” 

You walk up to him, remaining polite as you thank him for your order.

“Thank you.”

“Sorry if it took a while, it’s only my third day here.” 

“It’s okay, thank you for the food!” 

He stares at you and you’re about to grab your stuff and walk out, but he stops you.

“Wait, Y/N? Are you taking history 2204? With Professor X?” 

“Yeah?”

You feign ignorance, pretending not to know who he is. 

“Ah, I see. I’m Yeonjun. I think we’re partners for this project. It was nice to meet you.” 

He says as he smiles. You felt a little guilty about your prejudiced dislike towards him. He seemed nice enough, so what if he smokes? And you couldn’t lie to yourself, finding his smile and crinkled eyes cute.

“Oh yeah! It’s nice to meet you too!” 

“Can I give you my number? So we can discuss what days work for us to meet up and work on the project?” 

You nod as you hand him your phone. You watch as he types away his number, smiling as he hands it back to you.

“Thank you, Yeonjun. I’ll text you my schedule and we can figure out what works then.” 

He wished you a good day and you smile, finding his manners charming. 

༄ ༄ ༄

A week had passed since you met Yeonjun at the cafe. You were officially back on track as you submitted the last of your missing assignments the night before, finally being able to focus your time and energy on this project. You had yet to message Yeonjun and you didn’t know why you were nervous to text him. You didn’t want to start off the messages awkwardly so you went with a simple yet forward message to start the conversation.

“Hey! This is Y/N from history class. You gave me your number last week at the cafe.”

You release the breath you were subconsciously holding, hitting ‘send’ and waiting for a response. You didn’t want it to seem like you were glued to your phone, waiting for him to message you back so you bide your time by doing other things around your space. Cleaning up your desk, putting away your clothes, etc. 

You hear your phone go off, waiting a couple minutes to check who the message is from. You groan when it’s just one of your friends asking if you wanted to hang out later. You replied ‘sure,’ and went back to doing anything you could occupy yourself. 

It had been a couple of hours since you messaged him and still no response. Now pissed that he hadn’t yet gotten back to you, you decided to get ready to go out with your friends. There was a party at a bar on campus and you allowed yourself to go out as a reward for completing all your assignments. Putting on some light makeup, you chose a rather revealing outfit despite the winter weather, assuming that it was probably going to be hot in the bar. 

You met your friends there and all started with some drinks. You were talking about your days, just checking up on them. You had all been so busy with midterms coming up that you barely had time to hang out. After having about two more drinks, your friends dragged you onto the floor, dancing to whatever music the band was playing. 

“Y/N!!” 

You hear your name being called and turned around to find the source of the noise. You spot Taehyun and instantly your mood brightens up. 

“Taehyun! I didn’t know you’d be here!” 

“I wasn’t planning on coming but my friend asked me to come with him. I think you’ve met him before, Yeonjun? He’s the one that made your order a week ago.” 

You grimace upon hearing his name. At first, you cut him some slack because he seemed nice enough. You felt guilty about judging him because he smoked. But after not messaging you all day and then hearing that he was at this party, you went back on your word, the idea of disliking him appealing to you again. 

“Oh yeah, I know him. I remember meeting him last week.” 

You say, emotionless. 

“I want you to meet him again. And my other friends too, they’re all cool so I think you’ll like them.” 

You trusted Taehyun so maybe you had to hold off on your hatred a little longer. Though you were good at using your words, your expression and body language always failed you, never being able to hide your negative emotions. 

“These are my friends, Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu and Kai.” 

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you guys, I’m Y/N!” 

“Ah yes, we’ve heard a lot about you. Taehyun told us how you guys were best friends in high school.” 

Soobin said, his tall frame and black hair are easy on the eyes. 

“Yeah, me and Terry go way back! It feels like we met just a year ago but it’s already been 7 years”

You say, laughing. Yeonjun chuckles at your comment, sipping at his beer. 

“It’s nice to formally meet you Y/N. And I like your outfit, it suits you.” 

You stare towards him is cold but your cheeks betray you, heating up at his compliment towards your outfit. 

“Thank you…” 

Your night goes on, hopping between your friend group and Taehyun and his friends. One by one, they all start to leave as you’re left with one of your friends, Taehyun and Yeonjun. You introduce them all to each other and stay at the party for a little longer before deciding to leave. 

“I think I’m going to head back, Y/N. I’m tired and I have classes back to back tomorrow,” 

Your friend says, gathering her things.

“Alright but you can’t walk back by yourself? It’s too dark and you know how dangerous it can be.” 

You look around, trying to find a solution so that your friend doesn’t go back by herself. 

“Taehyun! You live on this side of campus right? Can you walk back with her?”

Taehyun looks to your friend, who’s blushing a little as you try to help her out. 

“Yeah sure but, what about you? You live on the opposite side so what are you gonna do?” 

“I can walk her back. I live around there anyways. It would be no trouble, really.” 

Yeonjun says, smiling as his eyes disappear. You mentally curse yourself for being left with Yeonjun, even though there was nothing else you can do about it. You all nod and go your separate ways, Taehyun with your friend and you with Yeonjun. 

On your walk back to your dorm, Yeonjun fishes a lighter out of his pocket, using it to light the joint that was in his other hand. Taking a drag, you immediately smell the inebriating plant and walk faster. He can sense something off between the two of you, the tension weighing down the atmosphere. 

“Did I do something to upset you? It just… seems like you don’t like me or don’t want me around?” 

You stop in your tracks, having been walking in front of him this entire time and turn around to face him. You exhale loudly before starting:

“First of all, I was not in the best state when the professor announced we were working in random pairs for this project. Not really your fault but then I’m walking behind you as we leave class and you’re smoking! Let alone, the smoke blows into my face and I hate smoking, let alone people who smoke. Then I met you at the cafe and you seemed really nice so I gave you the benefit of the doubt and thought that maybe I judged you too quickly and then I felt guilty. But then this morning, I text you and you left me on delivered all day and then I find you here, at this party and now you’re walking me back to my dorm. So yeah, you can say I’m not really fond of you.” 

You huff, the feeling of letting all of that off your chest almost euphoric. He puts his hand with the joint down next to him, taking his phone and checking his messages, and found that you did in fact text him and he didn’t read it. 

“I’m sorry for not reading your message, I was busy all day and I’m not allowed to use my phone during work. And I do apologize for smoking in front of you, even though it blowing in your face isn’t my fault. But that’s it? I didn’t actually do anything to you, so what’s the judgment for? Why do you hate people who smoke?” 

You didn’t want to stand in the cold any longer, and you didn’t want to have this conversation either. Really, you were avoiding his gaze because you really did have no valid reason to hate him. He never actually did anything to you. But you couldn’t back down now, otherwise you’d be embarrassed. You just huff as you turn on your heel, walking in the direction of your door, the rest of the walk back remaining silent. 

He walks you up to your building. You feel your phone ding, grabbing it from your pocket to check the notification. 

“I sent you my schedule. Let’s get this project done as quickly as we can so we don’t have to see each other again.” 

You hang your head low, guilt hitting you like a truck at the sight of an upset and hurt Yeonjun waiting for you to walk in. Even though you told him that you didn’t like him straight to his face, he still had the courtesy of waiting for you to enter your building so he can say he waited until you were safe to leave. You look back at him one last time, feeling worse than before as you run in and take the stairs up to your room. 

༄ ༄ ༄

You stare at Yeonjun’s schedule that sits in your messages, debating on whether or not you should ask your professor if you could work alone. You’re seriously contemplating it but ultimately decide that you should at least fix whatever you started, as it would be unfair to Yeonjun to leave him to do the project alone, though after your encounter last night, you’re sure he would appreciate not being your partner anymore. 

“Hey. I’m free this weekend if you are to work on the project.”

His reply is almost immediate, like he had been waiting for you to text him back. 

“Yeah, I’m free this weekend as well. Time and place?”

“Would you be comfortable coming over to my dorm at like 12 o’clock tomorrow? I want to apologize for the things I said and the way I acted…”

You bite your lip as you send the message, waiting for the rejection message to pop up.

“Sounds cool. I’ll see you at 12 tmr.”

No rejection? You were utterly surprised at this chance of redemption though, a little taken aback at how nonchalant he sounded. You lived in a single dorm so cleaning up wasn't that bad. You made sure to have plenty of snacks and drinks stocked in your mini fridge and made a little cozy corner for him to work in, while you would sit at your desk. You even made sure to text Taehyun and to ask what Yeonjun’s favorite drink was so you could have it ready for him when he arrived. 

༄ ༄ ༄

You woke up early in the morning, getting ready for the day as you make your way to the cafe to pick up the drinks you had ordered for both yourself and Yeonjun. 

“Hey Taehyun! Do you have those drinks ready for me?”

“Hey! Yeah I do. I have your usual and an iced americano for Yeonjun!”

The boy says, big eyes gleaming as he hands you the drinks. 

“Thank you! I’ll see you later!”

You didn’t tell him about the events that transpired after the party, and from the looks of it Yeonjun hadn't told him anything either. You say your goodbyes and make your way to a little pop-up event on your campus. They were selling cookies and cupcakes to support their club, so you thought it would be a nice gesture to buy you and Yeonjun both a cookie and a cupcake each. 

Struggling to open your door with all the treats in your hands, you manage to get inside of your room and put all your stuff down. You check the time to see that it’s only 11:30 a.m, relieved to see that you still had some time to yourself. 

You hear a knock on your door a little bit later. You had sent Yeonjun the details of your dorm room before he got there but were still startled by the knock. You compose yourself, nervously opening the door to see a blank-faced Yeonjun staring back at you, this time wearing a loose sweater that hangs off his shoulder on one side, gray sweats and black, thick framed glasses. 

“Hey Yeonjun. Come in, I have some things prepared.” 

He nods as he walks in, slipping off his shoes at the little welcome mat you have placed in front of the door. The dorm itself is pretty small, enough for one person but it could still comfortably afford a guest. 

“First of all, I want to start with a verbal apology. I’m sorry for being prejudiced against you based on your smoking habits. And I’m sorry for lashing out on you last night when you asked a valid question. I know it wasn’t your fault that the smoke blew into my face and I guess I was just anxious about this project and texting you that I didn’t even stop to think and consider the fact that you could’ve been busy and didn’t have time to check your phone. Secondly, I asked Taehyun what your favorite drink at the cafe was so I got you an iced americano, and a cookie and cupcake from the fundraiser one of the clubs on campus is having.” 

You shyly hand over the cup with his drink and the snacks that were packed into a little plastic box. He takes the snacks out of your hand and for the first time all week, you relax your shoulders as Yeonjun smiles, accepting your apology and finding it cute in the process. 

“Thank you Y/N. I know you don’t know me and I don’t know what your deal with hating smoking is, but I accept and appreciate the apology nonetheless. Shall we get started?” 

You nod as you instruct him to put his stuff down in the little workspace you created for him, a small throw pillow and fox blanket resting on the inflatable chair you had blown up for him to make use of. He chuckles at the cute setup, settling his stuff down and getting comfy to start working.

༄ ༄ ༄

Throughout your working session, you had some conversation here and there when things got boring or you ran into a particularly difficult part of the project. A couple hours into working you both decide to tap out, noticing the time and finding that you had been working for 6 hours straight. 

“Oh my god, it’s been 6 hours!” 

You say, surprised that you were able to focus on the same assignment for so long though, to your credit, it felt like many different assignments bundled into one. 

“Damn, I didn’t even notice how late it was. That wasn’t so bad actually.” 

Yeonjun says, getting up to stretch his legs, americano and snack box empty as you both refused to leave the room to eat lunch. He picked up his trash, throwing it in the garbage before returning to his corner, looking at you before asking you a question you didn’t think he’d ask:

“Would you ever try it? Smoking I mean?

You stare at him blankly. Your immediate answer was no. Smoking is bad for you, it can cause illness or death. But when you opened your mouth to answer, you didn’t expect this to come out: 

“Maybe one day?” 

You’re speechless yourself at your answer. You were so adamant on hating smoking and never wanting to try it. What about Yeonjun asking you made you change your answer? Was it the way he so confidently stood up to you last night? Or the way he walked you to your dorm despite learning about your true feelings for him at the time? Or the way you wanted him to find you different from the character you first gave off, the one that judged him for smoking in the first place? As if he could see the inner struggle etched onto your face he remarks,

“I thought you hated smoking? What makes you want to try it?” 

Your face heats up at your own silence, but you respond anyway.

“I do hate it. And I actually don’t want to try it. I don't know why I said that. But why do you smoke in the first place?” 

You ask, trying to change the subject to be towards him. Catching onto your little trick, he humors you. 

“It’s a relaxing way to unwind after a stressful day. Sit back, throw on a movie and take a couple hits and you’re there. Relaxed as can be with no other care in the world. You should try it, maybe then you won’t be as tightly wound.” 

You scoff at his little jab at you towards the end of his explanation. You couldn’t lie, with the way he was explaining it to you, the idea of smoking did sound very enticing. But nonetheless, you were willing to stand your ground on this topic, after all, this whole situation you were in with Yeonjun stemmed from your hatred towards smoking and you weren’t going to back down now. 

“As if. And I am not tightly wound, thank you very much. Maybe you can’t tell because you’re brain fried from all the weed you smoke.” 

Thinking your remark has granted you victory in this argument, Yeonjun smirks, offering you a challenge. 

“Try it. Prove me wrong that you won’t feel relaxed. That it won’t make you feel like a weight has been temporarily lifted off of you.” 

He reached down into his bag, pulling out a metal box and setting it on your desk. Upon clicking it open, the smell of weed immediately wafts through the room, filling your nose and causing you to cough slightly. 

“Do you mind not opening that up in my room? We’re not supposed to smoke in the dorms anyways!” 

You said, grabbing air freshener to dilute the smell of the weed. 

“Relax, it's fine. Plus the hall directors on this floor all do it too, so they won’t care.” 

You scoff as he takes a seat, carefully grinding the bud so as not to get any on your desk. He then fiddles with the contraption used to pack the weed into the paper, sealing it off after having packed it fully. 

“I’ll demonstrate how to do it and then you take a hit, okay?” 

You gulp nervously, teetering between the idea of kicking him out or waiting to see how this all plays out. Were you really going to get high because a cute boy challenged you? You’re quickly broken out of your thoughts as you see him flick open the lighter, the smell of burning paper replacing the smell of weed in your nose. He lets it burn for a while, opening your window in the process. 

“When you take a hit, blow out of the window otherwise you’ll set off the fire alarm.” 

You mock a smile as he laughs, bringing the joint up to his lips as he takes a small inhale. You watch as the fibers of the paper burn, the weed contents turning gray. You analyze the way he takes the hit and hold it in his throat for a second before slowly blowing the cloud of smoke out of the window. 

“Your turn.” 

He passes you the joint, as your clammy hands impatiently reach for it. You look at him one more time nervously, bringing the joint up to your mouth and inhaling. You don’t know how fast you ripped it, throat burning and violently coughing as Yeonjun scrambles in your fridge to bring you a bottle of water. You chug the water to stop your coughs, handing the joint back to him as you catch your breath. 

“Nothing about that was relaxing in any way.” 

“That’s because you did it too fast. Look, watch me. You slowly inhale, don’t let the feeling of it in your throat bother you otherwise you’ll start to cough.” 

You hold a little grudge in your stare, cursing at the fact that you were so easily convinced to try the one thing you spited and how your resolve crumbles so easily before your very eyes. You watch him bring the joint up to his lips again, Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat before taking another hit. This time you watch how he holds it in his mouth, counting the seconds before he blows it out. 

“Think you got it this time?”

You take the joint from his hand, silently reassuring him that you’d be fine. You try again, this time slowly inhaling. Remember his words from just a few moments ago, you let the particles settle in your throat for a moment, slightly inhaling before releasing the breath, successfully blowing the smoke out of the window. You look up at Yeonjun with big eyes and a proud smile. 

“I still don’t feel relaxed.” 

“You will in about 3 more hits and 15 minutes.” 

You continue to pass the joint to each other, careful not to rip it too fast or inhale too much. You can feel your eyes start to get a little droopy, a constant smile appearing on your face as you feel your body loosen. You feel slower but not heavy as you turn to Yeonjun and start giggling. 

“I can tell that you’re starting to feel it now. Gonna tell me you don’t feel relaxed?” 

You nod, giggling at his smile. The longer you stare at him, the cuter you think he is. Even in your high state, you couldn’t blame the weed for the attraction you felt for the red-haired man. Maybe you were starting to form a little crush. You think about the sweater he’s wearing, how his neck and collarbone are so perfectly on display, longing to be nipped at. Or the way the glasses make him look more sophisticated and smart, you did like nerdy looking boys. And the way his thick lips wrapped around the joint, eyes following his every move as he takes another drag. You couldn’t help the way you were rubbing your thighs together, the idea of his lips on yours creating a need to form within you. He looks at you, dumbfounded as he himself is now high as well. 

“How are you feeling Y/N? Do you feel good? Do you feel relaxed?” 

This time, you could blame the weed for what you say next:

“I feel great. I would feel even better if you kissed me.”

You laugh at your own comment, finding Yeonjun’s shocked expression priceless and thus further causing you to laugh. You allowed yourself to be bold, not knowing when again you’d have this opportunity. 

“Don’t say things you don’t mean, Y/N. You’re high right now and so am I. Neither of our judgments can be trusted right now.” 

He tries to play the mature, responsible role. He was the one that got you high so he felt responsible for any and all actions made by you or towards you by himself. But the slight, ever-growing tent in his pants was giving him away, revealing that he was not as grounded in his resolve as he wanted to be.

“What? You don’t believe me? Should I prove it to you?”

You take his previous words of challenge and use it against him, playing him at his own game. You walk up to him slowly, eyes red and droopy as you stare into his. You place your hand on his chest, tippy toeing to try to reach up to his lips. 

“Help me out a little?” 

As if all rhyme and reason was thrown out the window, Yeonjun doesn’t hesitate to lean down, capturing your lips with his own. He throws one arm around your waist, the other carefully holding the joint so as not to get any ash over your floor. Your hands remain on his chest as your lips move slowly in sync, breaths heavy from the temporarily shortened capacity of your lungs. You still feel a burn every time you inhale, but it’s worth it for the way Yeonjun has you feeling right now; completely relaxed and carefree. 

He pulls away for a second, grabbing your hand with his free one and placing the joint in between your lips, guiding you to take a hit before he puts it in the metal box with his other weed essentials. His eyes watch you in awe as you close your eyes to take the hit. He pulls you onto his lap as he takes a seat on your desk chair and you happily follow, hands around the nape of his neck as you play with the hairs there. You take your time holding the smoke in and he kisses you again, running his hands along your sides, squeezing as you gasp, letting the smoke out from your mouth into his. He takes the opportunity to gently slip his tongue into your mouth, causing you to moan at the contact, grinding down a bit into his thigh. Your mouth is dry, partly due to the cotton mouth you're experiencing, and partly due to the nerves that had worked their way into your body when you decided to be bold and admit to wanting to kiss him. 

He licks the inside of your mouth before pulling away a little to suck on your tongue, teeth grazing it as he pulls away to trails kisses down your jaw and neck. You’re panting out of breath at his actions, the wetness between your legs only growing as you feel his hard-on press against the side of your thigh. You giggle as he nips a particularly ticklish spot on your neck, the effects of the weed present and causing him to giggle as well. 

“Can I kiss your neck?” 

“Well when you ask so nicely…”

He laughs, pulling away from your neck and tilting his head to the side, granting you permission to mark him up. You lean down, lightly nipping at his milky skin, biting around the area of his collarbones and he rests his hands on your hips, rocking you back and forth on his thigh. Your little whimpers at the contact only turn him on more, hard cock throbbing against his sweats as you eye the clear outline of them. Pulling back to look at your little marks, you’re satisfied as you pull him into your lips once again, this time more hungry. His hands that were settled on your hips move to grab your ass, squeezing as he presses you down harder on his thigh. Your moans are drowned out by his lips as the makeout becomes heavier and messier, saliva escaping from the corner of your lips and dripping down your chin. He pulls away first, admiring your red and puffy lips with a dazed smile. He stands you up, grabbing the joint and taking a big hit, holding it as his hands sweetly caress your face and he gives you another kiss, letting the smoke cascade into your mouth as you try your best to inhale and not choke. He smirks watching the excess smoke slip between your mouths, putting down the remainder of the joint and feeling you up underneath your shirt. 

“No bra?”

“I was in here all day. There was no need for it.”

You respond simply, taking a step back to fully take your shirt off, giggling as you watch his eyes open dramatically at the sight of your bare tits, nipples hardened as a result of the cold air. He pushes you against your desk, leaning you back over it as he takes one of your nipples into his mouth, not even bothering to get you both on the bed. He swirls his tongue around the sensitive bud. You moan at the contact, harshly gripping his hair as he grazed his teeth against them. He takes the chance to slide his hands down the waistband of your pants, settling just above your pussy. 

“Yeonjun…” 

Your whimpers turn him on further as he begins rubbing circles on your clit through your panties and you throw your head back at the sheer amount of pleasure you’re feeling at the moment. He switches his attention from one nipple to the other, trading his fingers up and down your slit, feeling the wetness collect on the fabric separating his fingers from your heat. You don’t realize your grip has gotten impossibly tighter, accidentally pushing his head further into your chest, not that he minded. 

“You’re rough, I like it.” 

He pulls his head away from your chest and you whine at the loss of contact, the warmth his hold brought you being replaced by the cooling of his saliva all over your boobs. He pulls you close enough to him to help you take off your pants and underwear, sitting you back down on your desk as he admires your glistening lips, sliding down both his sweats and his boxers. 

He goes over to his bag and pulls out a condom before rolling it on to his painfully hard erection. 

“You just carry condoms on you at all times?”

“It came in handy, didn’t it?” 

He smirks at your failed attempt at being snarky, grabbing your waist as he slides the head between your folds. Your arms rest on his shoulders, one hand playing with his hair as the other twiddles with the necklace he has on.  

“You tease too much…” 

Yeonjun guides you back and forth on his dick, relishing in the little yet satisfying pleasure he’s giving himself right now. One hand rests on your pelvis, thumb reaching down to circle your clit as you hiss, biting your lip to suppress the moan you desperately want to let out. 

“Please Yeonjun…” 

Your begging only made it harder for him to resist you, slowly bringing the head down to your sopping entrance, groaning as he pushes it past your walls.

“Fuck you’re so tight. Gotta stretch you out on my cock.”

You wince as he pushes himself in deeper, releasing a sigh of content as he fully sheathes himself inside you. He keeps his thumb on your clit, the speed of his actions constant. 

“Y-you can move now…” 

He moves slowly, still letting you adjust before moving at a more constant pace. You’re mindful of the moans pushing past your open lips, finding it hard to contain them as he sets a firm rhythm. You look down beside you and pick up what’s left of the joint. Yeonjun takes note of your actions, holding you steady with both of his hands as you grab the lighter to reignite the substance. You bring it to your lips once again, letting the effect of the weed wash over you, reveling in the heightened effect of the drug. 

You hold the joint up to Yeonjun’s mouth, smiling lazily as he takes a hit, his hips never stopping their relentless pounding into your pussy. He attaches his lips to your neck once again allowing the smoke to escape and you to stabilize yourself while his thumb goes back to circling your clit, this time much faster than before. He also speeds up thrusts, the volume of your moans increasing as his harsh thrusts knock the desk back into the wall over and over again. You’re afraid of the amount of noise you’re making, worried about whether or not your neighbors can hear the scandalous sounds coming from your room, but all worry flies out the window when Yeonjun leans you back, bringing your hips up to a whole new angle for him. 

“Yeonjun!!” 

You scream as his tip hits your spot so deliciously, legs wrapping around him, pulling him that much closer. He chuckles as your face scrunches up, indicative of your close release. He can’t help but to move faster, pistoning his hips at an incredible speed, one that has your eyes rolling to the back of your head as a gush of liquid comes rushing out of you. 

“Yeah that’s it, squirt all over my cock for me. Let it all out…” 

You’re so high that you barely even register the fact that you just squirted all over him, creating a mess on your floor. Your feelings only seem to intensify as the overstimulation kicks in, sensitive walls clenching down on him as your second orgasm approaches you quickly, his fingers still working your clit. 

“I’m… I’m gonna cum again… Y-yeonjun please…” 

Your whines come out broken and sporadic, not sure how much more you can take. 

“Hold on for me a little longer baby, I’m almost there.” 

You nod as you pull his head back down to you, kissing him one last time as he nails his final thrust, hips stilling in you as he feels himself fill the condom. Your pants and sighs fill the now smokey room. 

“I didn’t know you could squirt like that baby girl. You’re so fucking hot”

He carefully pulls out of you, making sure not to let any cum seep out of the condom. You wince as he pulls out, legs feeling like jelly as you release him from your hold. After discarding the condom, he quickly reaches for the napkins you have sitting on top of the fridge, cleaning you up before kneeling on the cold floor to wipe up any remnants of your release. 

“You look good when you’re on your knees,”

You say playfully, biting your lip as you watch him clean your floor. 

“I was right.” 

Your head feels empty and you’re slightly tingly. The high you were having definitely intensified the feeling you were having during sex but it did nothing to help jog your memory. 

“What are you talking about” 

“Have you already forgotten”

You shrug as you jump off the desk, using his shoulder to help ground yourself as your legs recover from their jelly-like state and proceed to put your clothes back on. 

“I told you that smoking would help you feel more relaxed. I guess in your case it also helped you be more bold.” 

Your usual eye roll was replaced by a giggle. 

“Did I really say that? I guess I had no idea what I was talking about?” 

He laughs with you as he finishes cleaning the floor, pulling his pants back on before putting his weed materials away, shirtless. 

You keep staring at him, realizing that you were too high and too needy to notice his toned abs before. 

“I can send you a picture of them if you want? You don’t have to keep staring at me like that.” 

He pulls his sweater over his head to which you pout, upset that your view was now covered. 

“Relax, you’ll see them again the next time we do this.” 

“Next time?” 

You couldn’t say that you hated the feeling of being high, but maybe you weren’t in the right mind to be making decisions like that. 

“Yeah? Next time we work on the project we can get high and do this again. It was fun.” 

He puts his stuff away in his bag, leaving it on your inflatable chair. He wasn’t just gonna leave you after fucking you whilst you were still high. 

“We got a pretty good portion of the project done today. We don’t even have to meet up to finish out individual parts.” 

You say, reminding him about your 6 hour grind to finish as much of the project as you could. 

“What are you trying to say?” 

He says while fixing his glasses and hair in your mirror.

“I’m saying the next time we meet we don’t have to do work.”

He makes eye contact with you through the mirror, his smirk hard to hide at your insinuation.

“You dirty girl. So bold when you’re high, only want me over to have sex.” 

“Well… to have sex and get high! I do enjoy your presence but I’ve never felt so good before. That was like heaven.” 

Even though he didn’t know you that well, he could tell the effects of the weed were still strong on you, watching you yap away, knowing you probably won’t remember this conversation in the morning. He just laughs at your comment as you put your stuff away. 

You watch as he goes back to his seat, moving his bag back to the floor. You walk up to him, sitting down on his lap. You tangle your fingers in his hair, staring at his lips again, which are also swollen. His eyes follow your gaze and he throws his head back in laughter, scaring you a little as you flinch at unexpected sound. 

“You’re still horny?” 

“What makes you say that?”

You play dumb as if you weren’t just drooling over his lips. 

“But we just put our clothes back on!” 

He whines, fixing your position so that you’re properly straddling him. 

“Yeah but, you aren’t gonna reject me right? Not when I’m high and needy because of you?” 

You feign your best soft voice and puppy eyes, trying your best to hold back from laughing in his face at your own antics. Yeonjun takes your face in his hand, giving you a sweet smile.

“No of course not, that would make me a monster.”

He says, pulling you back in for another kiss as you settle in. Maybe smoking a little bit of weed wasn’t so bad after all. 

༄ ༄ ༄

-> Here's a link to all my other masterlists!

[caprisun89bakerstreet]

How can I be guilty as sin?

Ch.1 - What if he’s written mine on my upper thigh only in my mind?

୨⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯. ༊*·˚‧ੈ₊˚ ೃ࿐ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯୧

Series summary: the 5 times you almost told Obi-Wan about your feelings for him and the 1 time it slipped out

୨⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯. ༊*·˚‧ੈ₊˚ ೃ࿐ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯୧

“You never kiss anyone.”

“You’ve never seen me kiss anyone.” He corrects you and you want to crash his speeder for saying that.

୨⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯. ༊*·˚‧ੈ₊˚ ೃ࿐ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯୧

Pairing: obi-wan kenobi x jedi f!reader

Wordcount: 5.0k (got out of hand oops)

Chapter summary: the council got a tip that Cad Bane will be at a bar on Coruscant tonight. You and Obi-wan are send to capture him but a few drinks in your feelings for him are distracting as you start to get jealous

Tags/trigger warnings: alcohol, being pulled closer by stranger but is quickly resolved, reader gets jealous, protective obi-wan, forbidden love, yearning

Notes: this is not exactly finished but i’m too lazy to go through this and edit it again. And i spend too much time searching up in-canon alcoholic beverages—the things one does for writing a fic. Nowhere near perfect but anyways enjoy~

You were sitting in the Archives, looking through all the information available about a certain bounty hunter. One you disliked. A lot. Because you’ve already met him one or twice, and Cad Bane wasn’t the type you were ecstatic about to meet again. The Jedi Council got a tip from their contacts that Cad Bane, someone they’ve been trying to capture for months now, would be at a bar here on Coruscant tonight. The Durasteel Den. And you were assigned to capture him. Spitting through his information you don’t learn much else to your credit. He’s a bounty hunter. What did surprise you however is that he had recently kidnapped children. But there weren’t any clues as to why. The thought made your stumach twist. But there was someone else coming with you on this mission.

“Did you find anything?” You suddenly hear a familiar voice and turn to Obi-Wan standing behind you. If you could’ve bottled the sound of the warmth in it, his accent and the way it spread tingles through you, you would’ve gotten drunk on it every night. It would be stronger than the finest corellian whiskey that’s for sure.

“He’s bad with children.” You wildly understated as you look back at the screen with a frown. “But not much we don’t know already. I doubt we’ll need to know about his ‘babysitting skills’ if we’re leaving tonight.” You said, and felt Obi-Wan lean over your shoulder to look at the screen. Blast, why did you always feel as if there was an overwhelming force trying to escape the carefully locked insides of your heart whenever he’s near? You try to not turn your head to the side. Though part of you wanted to, just because he’s so close and maybe if you were living in a different time you could feel his lips brush over—-

“Ah. He enjoys making things difficult.”

“And he doesn’t know when to quit apparantly”

The chuckle that came from Obi-Wan then was the light of your darkest days. He moves away from you and places a hand on your shoulder as he looks down to you.

“I have to attend a meeting in a few minutes. But I’ll meet you at the landing platform tonight.”

“Right, see you later. And good luck.” You add casually and Obi-Wan gives you a look.

“You’re unbelievable.” He tells you with an amused smirk and walks away. And you can’t stop the grin that’s spreading on your face.

It was finally getting dark outside. The Coruscant skyline was illuminated by all the speeder lights for the famous nightlife the city has to offer. Sometimes you wonder how there even was a Jedi Temple on the planet being covered by infrastructure of a giant city. The only living Force being that of the millions of beings rummaging through the streets. From high class dealers, senators and officials to the lowest class scum, villainy and those living of scraps. The unfairness of this Galaxy always made you feel a very strong sense of injustice. Grabbing your lightsaber from your desk, and clipping it to your belt, you make your way to the landing platform. You already see Obi-Wan waiting for you. He greets you with a smile.

“Look who finally decided to show up.” He teases, and you can’t help but roll your eyes.

“Hey I’m arriving at a perfectly reasonable time! But I also know how much you love to see me coming.” You tease back defensively and pat his arm gently as you walk past him to the speeder. You can’t see his grin as he shakes his head and follows you.

On your way to the Durasteel Den, you can’t get rid of the bad feeling in your stomach. Or maybe it was just because you were flying down the lower levels of Coruscant.

“Obi, Bane is smart, how do we know he’ll actually be there?” you ask then and glance at him.

Obi-Wan stays silent for a moment thinking about your words as he flies through the city. His brow furrow just slightly the way it always did when he was deep in thought.

“He’s smart, yes. But everyone let’s something slip sometimes. We can’t always be flawless.” He responds.

You give him a look. Because you were all too aware of Obi-Wan’s perfectionistic tendencies and how he beats himself up over every tiny single mistake.

“You know, that’s very ironic coming from you.” You tease him and can see the corner of his lips turn up. He glances at you.

“Oh so you think I am flawless?” He couldn’t help but tease back.

“No that’s not—“ you start but then shake your head and look away. “You know what i meant you kriffing nerfherder.”

He chuckles softly at your words and contiues to fly to the Durasteel Den. “Ofcours.” He awnsers then.

You try to ignore the fact you feel a little flustered. But you’re able to hide it. Like many feelings over the years. Because you weren’t supposed to feel like this as a Jedi. But maybe you did think he was flawless, was it that bad? You couldn’t help yourself and glanced at him again. With a look you only reserved for him, unknowingly. Though Anakin told you about it once. He could see the way you glanced at his former master whenever you thought he wasn’t looking.

Obi-Wan’s own faint blush was hidden by the darkness of the night- or rather covered by the different colored lights of the speeder-traffic.

Obi-Wan parked the speeder a block or two away as you continued to walk to the bar. Both of you putting the hoods of your robes up, you may not have been actually famous but you were both known around those who weren’t fond of Jedi. And unforutnately for you, that was almost a custom in the lower levels.

“Stay sharp, we don’t know if Bane has arrived yet but if he is, we can’t let him escape again.” Obi-Wan tells you as you approach the entrance.

“Hey, you know me, I’m observant.” You say smiling as you push through the door.

“Very.” He mumbles sarcastically rolling his eyes. You were observant, yes, but he also knew how easily distracted you’d get. But he wouldn’t admit to himself that the real reason he was sarcastic was because you somehow hadn’t noticed how his feelings for you were different from any other Jedi. Or friend. Or anyone for that matter. He forced the thought away as he walked in after you and saw you sit down at the bar. You had both agreed to split up, but to remain in sight. Since Bane would definetly recognize the both of you. He sat down a few chairs away from you as he glanced around the place. No sign of Bane. Yet. But there were many beings already. From all kinds of places in the galaxy, he presumed. Not knowing how long this night will be, Obi-Wan decided to order a drink.

You keep your hood over your head. You hated bars. They were crowded, loud and smelled awful. And too many different types of people were here, often with bad intentions. And the zabrak next to you was very clearly drunk as he swayed in his seat a little mumbling to himself. You couldn’t quite make out his words. But you also hadn’t noticed Cad Bane yet. He should be easy to spot if he was here. That damn blue alien, you think to yourself. You glance at Obi a few seats away from yours. The bar was curved which made it easy to glance to your right without obviously eyeing someone. But you shake your head when you watch a bartender give Obi-Wan a drink. Really? Already? Ofcours he would order himself a drink when we’ve been here for a minute. It wasn’t like he was alcoholic or anything, but the man did enjoy a drink every now and then. In your opinion, his choices of beverages were awful. He always enjoyed the strong stuff, like Avedame for example, though you shouldn’t be that surprised about that. The man drank black caff as if that’s how it’s supposed to be served. It worried you sometimes. Was it because of everything he’s gone through? Or was it just his terrible taste? Maybe both. You didn’t know. After a few minutes though you do order yourself a drink, Alderaanian ale. Mainly because it would’ve attracted too much attention if you didn’t. But you weren’t that opposed to one anyway.

After a while there was still no sign of Bane. And you grew incredibly bored. So bored you had ordered 3 drinks already, one of the 3 being Cortyg Brandy. After the first sip you decided you hated the taste of it and sticked to the Alderaanian stuff instead.

The bar had gotten more crowded, and you started to feel slightly hot after your second drink, so you pulled your hood down. You had noticed some dirty looks towards you, but managed to ignore them, you weren’t interested. Not that that mattered- you were on a mission. You did however have to tell some sleemo to piss off when he sat down next to you and placed a hand on your arm, and luckily he seemed drunk enough to oblige. Turning the glass on the counter of the bar trying to pass time, you glanced at Obi-Wan again. You weren’t sure how much drinks Obi-Wan had ordered. It was more than two. But you had lost count. Not that you were paying attention to him though, you had just noticed the bartender giving him his drinks. Is what you told yourself. No other reason. Though your glances became more frequent from the moment he had removed his own hood earlier. He was one of the nicer things to look at in this bar after all, you think as you take another sip of your drink and gaze at him. That moment you notice Obi-Wan looking directly at you. And you cringe at the thought of him knowing what you just thought of and look down at your practically empty drink. You’re a Jedi you can’t think about Obi-Wan like that. You know that. And have known that for a long time. Over the years your feelings for Obi-Wan hadn’t disappeared like you hoped they would. No. They only became stronger, more intens. Sometimes you wonder how you managed to even get knighted at all.

There was still no sign of that blast bounty hunter. Obi-Wan was starting to wonder if the information was even real as he tried to reach out to the Force and try to locate his presence. He didn’t. He did however, among all these different beings, with agendas he didn’t even want to know about, feel you. Your warmth. Your light and uplifting Force signature. Though it was a little off because of the drinks you’d had. Less obvious, but still impactful. Your tolerance was quite high, he knew that. But not as high as his. He supposed he’d build himself quite a tolerance for it over the years. Obi-Wan had spoken a few words with others, who looked approachable enough. But mainly open enough to give any information about Cad Bane if they had it. But he had no luck yet. And neither did you, he thinks as he watches you fumble with your 4th drink. He noticed you glancing his way quite a few times, but he didn’t think much of it. You were probably just bored and wanted to argue with him about something. He debated on just walking over to you, but decided against it when he had seen numerous shady beings walking around. They couldn’t risk exposing their cover. It would be too risky. So he ordered himself another Avedame.

After a while you almost wanted to just walk out and go home. It was no use, Bane was nowhere and he was never gonna show up anyway. But when you glanced at Obi-Wan again you noticed something. And it made your stumach twist in a way you hadn’t thought it could. There was a twilek woman suddenly sitting next to Obi-Wan. He didn’t seem too bothered by it. Obiwan was always the polite type, and rather good with words. Too good. And he was smart. And he always had those too witty comebacks of his that would drive you crazy. But the twilek was talking to him with a smile that screamed ‘I know you want me’. It makes your insides twist as you tighten your fingers around your drink. Obi-Wan smiled at her as they spoke. Though you told yourself he only smile because he was polite. But then the twilek’s hand was resting on his leg, as she moves closer to him too casually. She looks from his eyes to his lips and you quickly realize you want to vomit. So you glance back to Obi-Wan. And when you thought this couldn’t get any worse you see him lean in as he says something in her ear. You want to look away because you can’t physically sit here and watch Obi-Wan flirting with this twilek. It made you feel sick. But you couldn’t tear your eyes off of them as if afraid you’d miss something if you did. And you would have. You would’ve missed the way the girl wrapped her arms around his neck and oh so casually leaned into him when he placed his hand on her back. You weren’t the jealous type. You were never jealous. But oh how you could feel the Force around you start to change into enviousness. Grabbing your drink you finish it in one go. Why is Obi-Wan smiling at her? And why didn’t he hold you like that? Why was he so easily entranced by this twilek he didn’t even know, he’s never seen before, when you’ve been right there next to him for years? You thought that he cared about you, you know he did, you just thought that maybe he’d feel just a little more for you than this. You don’t even bother trying to hide your feelings in the force. You doubt he’d notice anyway since he’s so distracted by the woman. And before you knew it, her hands moved to hold his face and she pressed her lips against his. And you watch as Obi-Wan moves his hand to cradle her face as he kisses her back. Obi-Wan is kissing her. Obi-Wan is kissing someone that isn’t you. Disgust paints your features and you’re sure you’re about to be sick. And they’re not stopping. And besides disgust, jealousy and an enormous amount of envy, you feel something else. Your heart sinks to your stumach as you clench your jaw. Because you wish he’d kiss you like that… After a moment you stop the bartender and ask for an Avedame. Because you didn’t care about the taste right now, if anything it would be a good distraction. Obi-Wan had seemed to have found one…

After a minute or two you can’t take it anymore. They’ve been making out for two minutes at least and you’ve been forced to sit here and watch as Obi-Wan kisses someone he doesn’t even know when you’ve been dreaming of him kissing you for years. You hate him for it. Sometimes you hate being a Jedi. But you knew that if you weren’t, you never would’ve been brave to tell him anyway.. you finish your fifth drink of the night and it was one too many. Avedame really tasted awful. And you regret drinking it so quickly. But you notice the two nerfherder’s are finally done making out. The twilek caresses his face for a moment and you clench your jaw again. You watch as Obi-Wan says something to her and she pulls back and walks away. Obi-Wan turns back to the bar and looks at his drink before glancing at you. The force surrounding you feels like a haze of mixed feelings. Jealously, resentment, anger, hurt, remorse, insecurity, guilt all mixed up like a bottle of Corellian whiskey. You try not to drown in it. And it takes a moment for you to look away from him. Obi-Wan noticed. And for a few moments you look around the bar again, trying to get rid of your conflicted feelings. Until your eyes return to Obi’s seat. Which is empty. Why is it empty—where did he go? Oh. He must’ve followed that twilek somewhere else so they can—

“You seem distracted..” you hear a familiar voice beside you disrupt your thoughts and see obiwan sitting down next to you. You look down at your drink feeling a pit in your stomach.

“I’m not.” You say unable to hide the resentment in your voice. “You seem to be though.” You add bitterly.

He says silent for a moment, watching you swirl around your drink. “It’s that Avedame?” He asks then, slightly surprised.

“Possibly.” You mumble as you finish the last bit in one go. And cant help but wince. “I still don’t know why you like this—“ you start as you lean against the bar and look at the empty glass.

“Well i never-“

“Not that i have any idea of what you do like.” You hear yourself say before he could finish, your words slumbering together slightly because of the alcohol in your system.

But Obi-Wan is taken aback slightly. You were upset. He knew that. But why? Was this about the twilek girl he just kissed? Why would that interest you? He stays silent for a moment trying to pick a right way to respond because he suddenly felt bad. He decides that the truth would probably be best.

“You know me better than anyone.” You hear him say after a moment. He stated it rather simply. But you scoff and rueful smile crossed your lips. “I thought that too.”

Because you thought he’d never willingly kiss someone. You were foolish enough to hope that he’d one day kiss you of all people. But you always had wild fantasies. And apparently— unfortunatly this was one of them. The realization made you feel awfully heavy, even though you’ve known that dreaming of Obi-Wan being in love with you was foolish. He was the most devoted Jedi you’ve ever met. It couldn’t happen. But emotions were a fragile thing and hard to control.

Obi-Wan felt his stumach sink when he saw that rueful smile on your face. He’d upset you. He wasn’t sure why or how but he hated it. And he wished he could just turn you around to make you look at him, hold your face in his hands and let his thumbs trace every feature of yours. The thought made him realize he wanted to kiss you. Desperatly. Like so many times before. He needed to show you how he felt- but it goes against everything he believes in. And yet it was there. That feeling was always there somewhere, hidden away in his heart. A door which could only be opened by you. It was as if you’d stolen the key from him on one of those days where you were running away from him as a padawan because you’d stolen his lightsaber. Along with the key to his heart. And he hasn’t gotten rid of the yearning to know what it’d be like to remove the lock forever. He only felt more and more conflicted every time you’d greet him in the morning with that beautiful smile of yours, your uplifting presence and those eyes which would sweep him off his feet and he could drown him if he wasn’t being careful. Stars— he must’ve been a little more affected by his earlier drinks than he thought. Or simply by you.

“We should probably go—“ he said placing a hand gently on your upper arm because he couldn’t help himself.

“Can’t- have to wait for Bane.“ You say your head feeling slightly fuzzy as you move from your chair and start walking away. Away from Obi-Wan because you were too upset. You thought he would’ve chosen you. Like you would choose him if he asked.

“Hey wait—“ he said when you started walking- or rather stumbling away through the bar and he reached for your wrist.

“Let go Obi— Wan-“ your words slurred and you were getting annoyed as you look back at him.

“Listen we have to talk.” He said placing his hand on your arm again.

“Don’t wanna- talk.” You mumble as you turn around and away from him because the last person you wanted to talk to right now was Obi-Wan.

You hear him sigh as you move through a group of people. And faintly heard him call your name multiple times. You just needed to find Cad Bane and then you’d be able to go home. And sleep. And get rid of this headache you were suddenly getting.

“Sir have you seen a really ugly blue alien?” You ask a random person and the man turns around to look at you. “With an outstandingly big hat.” You add and and see a grin spreading on his face.

“Can’t say i have. What’s his name gorgeous? Maybe I’m able to help. But I’m more curious about your name.” The man said as he stepped closer and looked down at you. If you weren’t drunk, you would’ve spotted this red flag way earlier.

But when Obi-Wan finally spotted you he saw the man wrap his arm around your waist and pull you closer. And he felt his protective instincts rise in his chest. He hurried through the last group infront of him.

“Can you not— touch me-“ you say, clearly getting annoyed by this man but he seems to enjoy it.

“Don’t worry gorgeous, I’ll make sure you won’t want to think about anything else” he said pulling you closer.

“Let her go.” Obi-Wan said with a warning tone, standing behind you.

“Oh i see you have more admirers” The man said and you realized how drunk he was by the awful smell of his breath.

“You heard her she doesn’t want you to touch her. Now let her go.” Obi-Wan said again, and he’s refraining himself from grabbing his lightsaber.

“Will you both just shut up and leave me alone?” You say annoyed, tired of this entire night while you actually have an important mission. Cad Bane. Capturing Cad Bane. That’s what this night was about. You push away from the man as much as you can, but stumble back against Obi. Who was surprised but immediatly steadied you and place a hand on your waist. Normally you would’ve felt butterflies at the action. Now you just felt more irritated.

“I don’t think she likes you, sleemo.” The man said when he noticed your irritated look. And obi’s brow furrowed.

“She’s with me. Go buy another drink.” He told him and he realized you were walking away again.

“I can handle my own problems-“ you mumble towards Obi and see the two men glaring at eachother.

“For force’sake just leave us alone, I’m not interested-“ you say, your words still slurring slightly as you try to get away from Obi-Wan. And he lets you.

“Oh I don’t think so gorgeous-“ the man said when he reached for you again. And before Obi-Wan stepped towards you, you use the Force to throw someone else’s drink towards his head and it shatters, hitting his temple. Which is now bleeding. Obi-Wan pauses in his step. You apparantly were able to handle this without stepping in.

“Kriff—“ the man whined as he looked at you.

“Not interested.” You tell him again and then walk away. Not wanting to be distracted or held up by having to deal with idiotic men.

Obi-Wan had warned the guy again to not follow and he seemed to have taken the hint when he noticed his lightsaber around his belt. Then he turns to catch up with you. But you’re walking through the entire bar it seems like. He barely managed to catch up with you almost tripping over multiple people.

“Would you please just stand still and wait—“ Obi-Wan said as he reached for your arm again.

“No I’m looking for Bane while you’re busy with many other irrelevant things-“ you say until Obi turns you around and manages to grasp your wrist.

“We’re not going to find Bane tonight, now if you would please just listen—“

“I am.” You say are you turn away again because you were determined to find him tonight and end his crimes.

Obi-Wan grew slightly annoyed with your stubborness and sighed deeply. He whirled you around again and placed both of his hands on your shoulders. Forcing you to look at him.

“Listen to me, Bane isn’t here. He’s not going to be. He managed to find out his location would be compromised to the Order by one of his newer contacts. So he isn’t here.” He told you. And you managed to digest half of the information he told you, but it was clear Bane wasn’t here. And you grow more annoyed for some reason.

“Great so all of this was for nothing.” You mumble crossing your arms.

“No it wasn’t, we now know he wouldn’t be here in the first place, otherwise we could’ve only guessed.” He replied.

You stay silent for a moment as Obi-Wan looks at you. He’s a bit worried about your state. But didn’t mention it yet.

“How do you know?” You ask him then as you look back at his eyes. Those damn eyes of his were clearer than the oceans of Kamino.

“The twilek woman told me. She’s been in contact with someone who works for Bane and knew he wouldn’t be here. But she wasn’t any more helpful.” He told you, and if you weren’t feeling so drunk you would’ve noticed the way his expression changed for a moment.

“I bet you’d beg to differ.” You say bluntly as i glare at him. And he sighs.

“It was necessary. I do not understand why you seem upset about me kissing her.” He said and you wish you could punch him for his stupidity.

“It was stupid.” You state annoyed.

“Stupid?” He questioned.

“You never kiss anyone.”

“You’ve never seen me kiss anyone.” He corrects you and you want to crash his speeder for saying that.

“Did it actually upset you?” He asked when you stayed silent for a moment, and you hate the way his voice sounded genuinely concerned.

“I don’t care who you kiss. I just want you to be careful.” You say then and look away from him. “There’s many way to get drugged.” You add. it was definitely not an excuse.

“Ofcours..” Obi-Wan replied as he still looked at you. “So there’s truly nothing else bothering you?”

You look back at him then. And you wanted to scream at him how you felt. For him to feel the way you do when you see him smiling at you, holding your hand so neither of you get lost in crowds or when you saw him kiss that twilek. But you manage to stay silent. He’s a Jedi. You are too. It could never happen. It would never happen, because he didn’t feel the same. And he never will, not after so many years.

“I hate Avedame.” You say with a straight face. Obi-Wan can’t help his soft sigh.

“You’re drunk.” He states simply.

“A little.” You admit. And he shakes his head.

“We should go. There’s no reason for us to stay here.” He said then. You stay silent for a moment.

“Fine.” You mumble softly and start walking out the bar. Trying to get rid of the thought of what would happen if you did stay here. If you made a move. If you leaned closer to him and caressed his face. If you’d just lean in and kiss him. But he didn’t feel the same. He never had. You hoped he did. That maybe one day he’d confess how he felt all these years, just like the way he had in your dreams. Sometimes you let yourself foolishly believe that they were visions. But after years of being close it led to nothing other than friendship. You are grateful for it, but you desperately wished it could be more. But even though you were sure he was the only one you were ever going to fall for, the only one to ever love as deeply as this, you knew he only saw you as his friend. It could never be more.

[llumetrii]

missed you

Miguel O'Hara x reader. Just a fluffy blurb inspired by this post

Miguel's personal lab held a noticeably different energy compared to the rest of the Spider-Society. Soft blue light cascaded from the high ceiling where forgotten engineering projects were tucked away in the shadows. It was quiet as you entered, save for the muted hum of the electrical wiring that snaked around the room. The large lab was a reliable place to find stillness after the intense missions you were assigned to, and an even more reliable place to find one of your favorite people.

Miguel stood on his platform in the middle of the room, his rigid back and shoulders facing you. The ever-present, golden holo-screens floated around his tall figure, his attention solely focused on the information displayed on each one.

You smiled at the sight of him, your chest feeling just as warm as the fresh coffee in your hand. It seemed he hadn't sensed your presence yet, since he continued working quietly as you approached.

"Hey, Migs." You called in a gentle greeting.

He turned at the sound of your voice, surprise flickering over his face before a familiar weariness settled over. "Hey, cariño..." He murmured, the words leaving his lips in a relieved breath. His features softened as he fully faced you.

You stepped onto the platform, holding up the coffee cup as you smiled wider. "I brought you coffee."

His gaze drifted down to the cup and he reached out to gently take it from your fingers. An appreciative smile ghosted over his lips. "Thank you, amor."

He set the coffee on his desk and reached out to pull you against his muscled chest, his strong arms wrapping around your figure. You melted in his grasp, inhaling his familiar scent and leaning into his warmth. His head tucked down against your hair and he drew a slow, calming breath, then expelled it out in a way that seemed to loosen the weight on his shoulders.

You gave him a squeeze. "You doing alright?" Your head angled from his chest to look up toward his face.

"Mhm."

His muted and robotic response caused your eyebrows to rise in doubt. You moved your head slightly, attempting to nudge him out of your hair and coax out a real answer. "Really?"

He adjusted his head instead, turning his face to press his cheek against your ruffled hair with a noncommittal hum. His hands snaked tighter around you, keeping you pressed against him. "I missed you." He finally mumbled, so softly you barely caught the words.

A little smile grew on your face, and a fuzzy feeling budded in your chest. "Yeah? I missed you, too." Your arms gave him another affectionate squeeze. "Sorry, I couldn't come in earlier. That mission with the new recruit went a bit longer." You added.

He hummed again, and his voice muffled in your hair. "It's fine."

His body curled over yours, his head dipping lower to your shoulder as your hands caressed his broad back. Little by little, he was relaxing against you, like icy snow melting away under the soft morning sun of spring.

"You wanna sit down?" You suggested gently.

Without a word, he shuffled backward, finding his chair with one hand and sinking into it with a sigh. He wasted no time tugging you onto his lap to cling to you once more, his face properly buried in the curve of your neck now.

The two of you relaxed in each other's arms, content to settle in the silence. You slid a hand up to gently scratch Miguel's scalp, and he sighed, tilting his head just enough to press his lips against your shoulder.

A quiet hum of satisfaction rose from your chest. You turned your face and kissed his cheek, brushing your fingertips along his cheekbone and relishing in the way your bodies rested so naturally against one another.

"So sweet." You murmured as you gazed at him. "And pretty."

One of his crimson eyes cracked open, his fingers clutching you a little tighter. "Pretty? You're the pretty one." He mumbled.

You pulled back and smiled at the sight of his warm, tired gaze, his relaxed features, and the softness of his lips. You brushed your fingers through his hair affectionately. "Doesn't mean you can't be pretty, too." You leaned in, your voice dipping in a teasing manner. "Pretty boy."

He huffed an amused breath from his nose and shook his head, wrapping you in against his chest again. "Come here." He muttered, pressing his face back into your neck to hide the red tint on his cheeks. Your resulting laughter left him feeling light and fluttery inside, which was all he needed after a stressful day.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

John Russell at LGBTQ Nation:

As public awareness of Project 2025 has increased in recent weeks, Donald Trump has tried to distance himself from the troubling set of policy plans for a potential second term crafted by the far-right, anti-LGBTQ+ Heritage Foundation. In a July 6 post on his social media platform, Truth Social, the former president claimed to “know nothing about” Project 2025, writing that he disagrees with “some of” the plan’s proposals while he considers others “absolutely ridiculous and abysmal.” Of course, by now we’re all well aware of Trump’s propensity for telling lies and spreading misinformation, so it’s hard to imagine anyone seriously believing his claims about Project 2025, which, among its many proposed regulations and executive orders aimed at radically reshaping the federal government in its far-right, Christian nationalist authors’ image, also aims to dismantle federal protections for LGBTQ+ people. [...]

The Trump campaign has posted many of its own anti-LGBTQ+ plans and proposals on its website, in a section called “Agenda 47,” featuring videos of the former president outlining his plans and pledges. On one page, Trump promises to pass a federal law banning what he characterizes as “child sexual mutilation” — despite the fact that gender-affirming surgeries are almost never performed on minors — and to “ask Congress to permanently stop federal taxpayer dollars from being used to promote or pay for these procedures.” He also pledges to “ask Congress to pass a bill establishing that the only genders recognized by the United States government are male and female — and they are assigned at birth,” and says he will direct the Department of Education “to inform states and school districts that if any teacher or school official suggests to a child that they could be trapped in the wrong body, they will be faced with severe consequences, including, potential Civil Rights violations for sex discrimination, and the elimination of federal funding.”

Donald Trump’s Agenda 47 is just as fascistic and harmful to LGBTQ+ Americans as The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025.

[phandomgiftexchange]

Hello everyone! The sign-ups for the Holiday 2024 Phandom Gift Exchange are now open!

This event is a gift exchange where people create a phanwork for who they are assigned; you don’t know who will be creating your gift, but you can be assured that their talents will match up to your requests!

How to Sign Up

The grand majority of people participating will be gifting a phandom work to another, therefore, you all will be gifters. The person you will be gifting for will (probably) not also be the person gifting for you. On the form, you’ll choose what kind of gifts you’d like and genres/tropes/themes/etc. you enjoy. You’re also encouraged to provide some more specific prompts. Sign-ups to be a gifter will close Friday, November 29th at 11:59 PM.

The gifter sign-up form is here!

If creating something might not be your thing, but you’d still like to participate in some capacity, you might be interested in being a beta! Betas assist gifters (especially fic writers) with their gifts. If you’re interested, send an ask or contact @husbants! We’ll put you on our email list and invite you to the Discord server so that you can chat and find beta work there.

Timeline

Saturday, November 16th: Sign-ups go out

Friday, November 29th: Sign-ups close

Sunday, December 1st - Monday, December 2nd: Pairings go out

December 16th: Check-in goes out

Friday, December 20th: Check-in closes

Saturday, December 28th: Posting day!

More Details

The gifting assignments will not be random. The admins (@husbants and @ttlmt) will be matching up each gifter with a partner based on the gifter’s self-identified skills and the partner’s likes and prompts.

There will be separate under-18 and 18-and-older groups (if we have anyone under 18, that is; it hasn’t happened the past several rounds). A gifter will only be considered to gift for people within their age group.

In the past few rounds, we had a Twitter-user group. There will be no Twitter group this round. You are free to cross-upload your gift to whatever platform you like, but you will need a Tumblr account to participate.

We will be communicating through Tumblr DMs and email. There will also be a Discord (the link will be sent through email when assignments go out) and we’ll post updates and announcements there, too. Make sure your DMs are open so that we can contact you, you’re checking this blog, and you’re checking your email during the event!

When the gifters post their gifts on December 28th, they should tag both this account and their partner on the post. This blog will reblog everyone's gift posts. Our Twitter will retweet anyone who cross-posts there. There will be an email sent out with more information about posting closer to December 28th.

We’re really hoping this doesn’t happen, but if you are assigned to someone you have blocked or have any sort of issue with, contact one of the admins and we can switch around our own assignments or talk to someone signed up as a pinch-hitter and deal with it. If you know you definitely couldn’t gift for someone, you can also specify this on your sign-up form.

In Conclusion

We hope this event will spread some joy throughout the phandom! Thank you so much for your interest and it would be great if you could reblog and spread the word. If you have any questions, feel free to DM @husbants or send an ask!

[alexandraisyes]

Online Harassment

Online harassment has become an increasingly pervasive issue, affecting individuals across all platforms. From subtle microaggressions to outright threats, harassment takes many forms, each with its own set of consequences. In this post, we'll break down the different types of online harassment, their impact, and what can be done to address them.

Important vocabulary: Misinformation is false or inaccurate information—getting the facts wrong. Disinformation is false information that deliberately intends to mislead—intentionally misstating the facts.

Let's start with what does not count as harassment:

What Doesn't Count as Harassment

Constructive Criticism: Offering feedback aimed at improving someone's work or behavior. For example, a manager providing an employee with feedback on how to improve their performance.

Disagreement or Debate: Engaging in a civil disagreement or discussion on a topic. For example, two colleagues having a heated but respectful debate about a work-related issue.

Enforcing Rules or Policies: Applying rules or policies in a consistent and fair manner. For example, a teacher enforcing classroom rules or a supervisor addressing attendance issues according to company policy.

Isolated Incidents: A single, non-repetitive instance of a comment or action that might be offensive but is not part of a pattern of behavior. For example, a colleague making an offhand remark that could be seen as rude but immediately apologizes.

Perceived Slights or Misunderstandings: Situations where an action or comment is misinterpreted or taken out of context. For example, someone feeling slighted because of a misunderstood joke that wasn’t meant to offend.

Friendly Banter or Jokes (If Mutual): Light-hearted exchanges that both parties understand and accept as non-offensive. For example, friends or close colleagues teasing each other in a way that both find funny and acceptable.

Normal Management Actions: Legitimate management actions taken in the course of business, like performance reviews, promotions, or disciplinary actions. For example, a supervisor assigning tasks based on job performance and business needs.

Cultural Differences: Actions or behaviors rooted in cultural norms that may be misunderstood but are not intended to be offensive. For example, a greeting or gesture that is customary in one culture but may seem strange or awkward in another.

Refusal of Unreasonable Requests: Declining a request that is not reasonable or within someone’s rights to refuse. For example, an employee refusing to work overtime that was not agreed upon in their contract.

Addressing Harassment: Communicating to someone that their behavior is harassing you, when it is true. This can help make the individual aware of the impact of their behavior, seek resolution, validate your experience, set boundaries, and follow legal or organizational procedures. For example, telling a coworker that their repeated comments about your appearance are making you uncomfortable and asking them to stop.

Now let's break down what does count as harassment:

Disinformation and Defamation of Character

Definition:

Disinformation: This refers to false information that is deliberately created and spread to deceive or mislead others. It’s often used to manipulate public opinion, discredit individuals, or cause confusion.

Slander: This involves making false spoken statements that damage someone’s reputation.

Libel: Libel is similar to slander but involves false statements made in a fixed medium, typically written or published online.

Defamation of Character: This is a broader term encompassing both slander and libel, referring to any false statement, whether spoken or written, that harms a person's reputation.

As Harassment:

Disinformation becomes harassment when it is used maliciously to harm an individual's reputation or cause them distress. This might involve spreading false rumors about someone’s actions or beliefs, or fabricating stories to discredit them.

Slander/Libel/Defamation become harassment when false statements are made with the intent to damage someone's character or standing in the community, leading to social, professional, or personal harm. This is particularly damaging when spread online, where false information can quickly reach a wide audience.

Examples:

Disinformation: A group creates and spreads a false narrative that a well-known activist has engaged in illegal activities, with the aim of discrediting their work and damaging their public image. The false information is shared widely across social media platforms, leading others to believe the activist is untrustworthy.

Slander: During a live podcast, a speaker falsely accuses a colleague of being involved in unethical business practices. Even though the accusation is baseless, listeners begin to question the colleague's integrity.

Libel: An online blog publishes an article falsely claiming that a local politician has been accepting bribes. The article spreads rapidly, causing the politician to face public scrutiny and potentially affecting their career.

Impact on the Victim:

Emotional Distress: The victim may experience anxiety, stress, and a sense of powerlessness as their reputation is attacked. This can lead to mental health issues such as depression or anxiety disorders.

Social Isolation: As the false information spreads, the victim may find themselves ostracized by their community, friends, or professional network. They may be unfairly judged or treated differently by others who believe the falsehoods.

Professional Consequences: Defamation can result in job loss, damage to professional relationships, or loss of business opportunities, especially if the victim’s reputation is central to their work.

Financial Damage: The victim might incur legal costs in attempting to clear their name or experience a loss of income due to damaged reputation.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: In many jurisdictions, victims of defamation of character can pursue legal action against the perpetrator. They may sue for damages to compensate for the harm done to their reputation. However, these cases can be complex, requiring proof that the statements were false, made with malicious intent, and caused harm.

Platform Policies: Many social media platforms have guidelines against spreading false information and may take action by removing content or banning users who engage in such activities. However, enforcement can be inconsistent.

Ethical Implications: Even if legal action isn’t taken, spreading false information or engaging in defamation is ethically wrong and can have serious consequences for both the victim and society as a whole. It undermines trust in information sources and can contribute to a culture of misinformation and cynicism.

Disinformation and slander/libel can be deeply damaging, both personally and professionally, and are forms of harassment that are taken seriously both legally and ethically.

Amplifying Disinformation and Slander

Definition:

Amplifying Disinformation: This refers to the act of spreading or sharing deliberately false or misleading information created by someone else. It involves reblogging, retweeting, sharing posts, or forwarding messages that contain disinformation, even if the person amplifying it isn’t the original creator.

Amplifying Slander: This involves spreading spoken false statements about someone that are damaging to their reputation. It often occurs in social interactions, such as sharing gossip or rumors.

Amplifying Libel: This is similar to amplifying slander but involves sharing written or published false information that harms someone’s reputation. It typically occurs on social media, blogs, or other written formats.

As Harassment:

Amplifying Disinformation becomes harassment when it is done with malicious intent or reckless disregard for the truth. By spreading false information, individuals contribute to the harm caused to the victim, including damage to their reputation, emotional distress, and social or professional consequences.

Amplifying Slander/Libel becomes harassment when the person sharing the information knows it is false or harmful but continues to spread it, thereby further damaging the victim’s reputation and standing. Even if the person amplifying the content isn't the original source, they are still participating in and perpetuating the harm.

Examples:

Amplifying Disinformation: After seeing a tweet that deliberately spreads a false narrative about a political figure being involved in a criminal activity, a user retweets it with a comment that suggests they believe it, spreading the disinformation to their followers. The false claim quickly gains traction, causing the political figure significant public backlash.

Amplifying Slander: During a group chat, one person repeats a false rumor they heard about a coworker being unfaithful. Even though the rumor is baseless and was created with malicious intent, it quickly spreads through the workplace, damaging the coworker’s reputation and personal relationships.

Amplifying Libel: A person shares an article on their Facebook page that falsely accuses a local business owner of engaging in fraudulent activities. Although they didn’t write the article, their act of sharing it contributes to the spread of the disinformation, leading to a decline in the business owner’s customer base.

Impact on the Victim:

Increased Harm: The more widely disinformation or slander is shared, the more damage it can cause. As the false information reaches a larger audience, the victim may face increased social ostracization, professional setbacks, or emotional distress.

Difficulty in Correcting the Record: Once disinformation or slander is amplified, it can be challenging for the victim to correct the falsehoods. The spread of false information can take on a life of its own, making it hard for the truth to prevail.

Reputational Damage: The victim may suffer long-term harm to their personal and professional reputation, which can affect their relationships, career, and social standing.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: Amplifying disinformation, slander, or libel can expose the person spreading the false information to legal liability, particularly if they knowingly shared it with the intent to cause harm. In some cases, they may be sued for defamation or held responsible for damages caused by the spread of false information.

Ethical Responsibility: Even if there is no legal liability, those who amplify false information have an ethical responsibility to verify the accuracy of what they share. Spreading disinformation or slander without regard for the truth is unethical and can contribute to a culture of harassment and mistrust.

Platform Policies: Social media platforms often have policies against the spread of disinformation and may take action against users who repeatedly amplify harmful content. This could include warnings, suspensions, or permanent bans.

Amplifying disinformation and slander is a serious issue that can cause significant harm to individuals and communities. Those who engage in this behavior, even if they aren’t the original creators of the content, play a crucial role in perpetuating the damage and may face legal and ethical consequences.

Cyberbullying

Definition:

Cyberbullying involves the use of digital platforms, such as social media, messaging apps, or online forums, to repeatedly target, intimidate, or belittle an individual. It is a form of bullying that occurs online and can include various forms of aggressive behavior.

As Harassment:

Cyberbullying becomes harassment when the behavior is intentional, repeated, and causes significant emotional distress or harm to the victim. It can involve sending threatening or abusive messages, spreading rumors, or using online platforms to isolate or degrade someone.

Examples:

Personal Attacks: A student repeatedly sends mean-spirited and threatening messages to a classmate through a messaging app. These messages include insults, threats of violence, and derogatory comments about the victim’s appearance and personal life.

Public Shaming: A group of people creates a social media page specifically to post embarrassing photos and make derogatory comments about an individual. The posts are shared widely, leading to public humiliation.

Spreading Rumors: An individual creates fake profiles to spread false and harmful rumors about someone, such as accusing them of dishonest or immoral behavior. This false information is shared across multiple platforms, damaging the victim’s reputation.

Impact on the Victim:

Emotional Distress: Victims of cyberbullying may experience feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. The constant online attacks can lead to severe emotional distress and a sense of helplessness.

Social Isolation: The victim may withdraw from online and offline social interactions due to fear of further harassment. This isolation can lead to a decline in social support and relationships.

Academic and Professional Impact: For students, cyberbullying can lead to decreased academic performance and school avoidance. For adults, it can affect job performance and professional relationships.

Physical Effects: The stress and anxiety caused by cyberbullying can result in physical symptoms such as headaches, sleep disturbances, and a weakened immune system.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: Many jurisdictions have laws specifically targeting cyberbullying. Legal actions can include restraining orders, criminal charges for harassment or threats, and civil lawsuits for damages. Laws vary by location, so the availability and extent of legal recourse depend on local regulations.

Platform Policies: Social media platforms and online services often have policies against cyberbullying. Users who engage in such behavior may face account suspension, bans, or content removal. Reporting mechanisms are available for victims to report abusive behavior.

Ethical Implications: Cyberbullying is ethically unacceptable as it inflicts unnecessary harm and distress on individuals. It contributes to a toxic online environment and can have severe consequences for victims. Promoting respectful and positive online interactions is crucial for fostering a supportive digital community.

Cyberbullying is a serious issue with far-reaching effects on individuals’ mental health and well-being. Addressing it requires both legal action and ethical responsibility, with efforts focused on prevention, support for victims, and creating a safer online environment.

Doxxing

Definition:

Doxxing (or "doxing") is the act of publicly revealing or publishing private, sensitive, or personal information about an individual without their consent. This information might include details like home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and workplace locations. The term "doxx" originates from the word "documents," reflecting the sharing of documents or personal details.

As Harassment:

Doxxing becomes harassment when the intention is to harm, intimidate, or distress the individual whose information is being exposed. It can be used to provoke harassment from others, incite physical threats, or damage the victim's privacy and security.

Examples:

Public Exposure: An individual’s personal details, such as their home address and phone number, are posted on a public forum or social media site after a heated online argument. This leads to unwanted contact and harassment from strangers.

Threatening Behavior: An online user publishes sensitive information about a journalist who has been critical of certain groups. The journalist starts receiving threatening messages and is forced to take security precautions.

Intimidation Tactics: After a disagreement in a gaming community, a player’s real-life address and contact information are shared with the community, leading to in-person threats and harassment.

Impact on the Victim:

Safety and Security Risks: The victim may face threats of physical harm or stalking due to the exposure of their personal information. This can lead to a heightened sense of vulnerability and fear.

Emotional Distress: Victims often experience significant emotional stress, including anxiety, fear, and a sense of invasion of privacy. The knowledge that their personal information is publicly accessible can be deeply unsettling.

Social and Professional Consequences: The victim’s reputation can be damaged, leading to unwanted attention and negative interactions in their personal and professional life. They might experience social ostracism or job-related issues as a result of the doxxing.

Financial Impact: In extreme cases, victims may incur costs related to increased security measures, legal fees, or changes in their contact information.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: Many jurisdictions consider doxxing a criminal offense, particularly if it involves threats, harassment, or incitement to violence. Laws related to privacy, harassment, and cybercrime can be applied to address doxxing. Victims can often seek legal protection or file complaints with law enforcement.

Platform Policies: Social media platforms and online services typically have policies against doxxing. They may take action such as removing the offending content, suspending accounts, or providing support to affected users. However, enforcement can vary.

Ethical Implications: Doxxing is ethically problematic as it involves a deliberate invasion of privacy and can lead to severe consequences for the victim. It violates principles of respect and confidentiality and contributes to a hostile online environment.

Doxxing represents a serious breach of privacy and security, with the potential for significant harm to individuals. Addressing doxxing requires both legal measures and a strong ethical commitment to protecting personal information and respecting others’ privacy.

Stalking

Definition:

Stalking involves persistent and unwanted attention or surveillance of an individual that causes them to feel fear or distress. It can occur through various means, including physical following, digital monitoring, or repeated harassment through communication channels. The intent is often to intimidate or control the victim.

As Harassment:

Stalking becomes harassment when it is done with the intent to cause emotional or psychological harm, invade the victim’s privacy, or exert control over their actions. The behavior is characterized by its repetitive nature and the fear it instills in the victim.

Examples:

Physical Stalking: An individual repeatedly shows up at the victim’s home or workplace, waits for them outside, or follows them in public places despite being asked to stop.

Digital Stalking: A person continually monitors the victim’s online activities, sends frequent and unwanted messages or emails, tracks their location through social media check-ins, and creates fake profiles to gain more access.

Harassing Communication: The stalker sends numerous threatening or intrusive messages, calls, or letters, making the victim feel unsafe and overwhelmed. This can include persistent contact despite clear requests to cease communication.

Impact on the Victim:

Emotional Distress: Victims often experience high levels of anxiety, fear, and paranoia. The constant sense of being watched or followed can lead to severe emotional trauma and mental health issues, such as depression or panic attacks.

Social Isolation: Victims may withdraw from social activities or change their routines to avoid the stalker. They might also feel compelled to move or alter their personal lives significantly to ensure their safety.

Professional Disruption: Stalking can interfere with the victim’s work life, leading to decreased productivity, job dissatisfaction, or even job loss if the stalking occurs at their workplace or affects their professional reputation.

Physical Safety: In severe cases, stalking can lead to physical threats or attacks, putting the victim's safety and well-being at risk. This may necessitate physical security measures or legal protections.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: Many jurisdictions have specific laws against stalking, which can include criminal charges and restraining orders. These laws address both physical and digital stalking behaviors, providing legal avenues for victims to seek protection and hold perpetrators accountable.

Platform Policies: Social media platforms and online services often have policies against stalking and harassment. Victims can report stalking behavior to these platforms, which may take action such as banning the perpetrator or removing harmful content.

Ethical Implications: Stalking is ethically unacceptable as it infringes on an individual’s right to privacy and security. It represents a severe violation of personal boundaries and can cause lasting harm. Ethical behavior involves respecting others' personal space and ensuring that interactions remain consensual and respectful.

Stalking is a grave form of harassment that involves a persistent invasion of privacy and control over the victim’s life. Addressing it requires both legal intervention and ethical commitment to safeguarding individuals' personal safety and well-being.

Hate Speech

Definition:

Hate speech refers to any communication—whether verbal, written, or visual—that disparages or incites violence or hostility against an individual or group based on attributes such as race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. It involves expressions that promote hatred or violence towards people based on these characteristics.

As Harassment:

Hate speech becomes harassment when it is used to target individuals or groups with the intent to demean, intimidate, or incite violence against them. It often creates a hostile environment and contributes to systemic discrimination and exclusion. The impact of hate speech can extend beyond the immediate target to affect entire communities.

Examples:

Social Media Posts: A user posts derogatory comments and slurs about a specific racial or religious group, encouraging others to join in and spread similar messages. These posts can lead to a climate of hostility and exclusion for members of the targeted group.

Online Forums: On a discussion board, members share and amplify content that advocates violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, including graphic threats and dehumanizing rhetoric. This can make LGBTQ+ users feel unsafe and unwelcome on the platform.

Hate Groups: Organized hate groups use websites and social media to recruit and spread propaganda that targets specific ethnic or religious groups. Their messages include misinformation, inflammatory statements, and calls for discriminatory actions.

Impact on the Victim:

Emotional Harm: Victims of hate speech often experience emotional and psychological distress, including feelings of fear, anxiety, and depression. They may feel dehumanized or marginalized.

Social Exclusion: Hate speech can lead to social ostracization and reduced participation in community or public activities. Victims may withdraw from online communities or public spaces to avoid hostility.

Physical Safety: In severe cases, hate speech can incite real-world violence or harassment against individuals or groups, leading to physical harm or threats. It can also contribute to a climate of fear and insecurity.

Community Impact: Hate speech can contribute to broader societal divisions and tensions, fostering environments where prejudice and discrimination are normalized.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: The legality of hate speech varies by jurisdiction. Some countries have specific laws that criminalize hate speech, while others protect freedom of speech more broadly, making legal action challenging. In regions with laws against hate speech, victims may have the option to report incidents to law enforcement or seek legal remedies.

Platform Policies: Many social media platforms have policies prohibiting hate speech and may take action by removing content, suspending accounts, or banning users who engage in such behavior. However, enforcement can be inconsistent, and some platforms may struggle to balance moderation with free speech considerations.

Ethical Implications: Hate speech is widely regarded as unethical because it promotes discrimination and intolerance. It undermines the principles of respect and equality, contributing to societal harm. Addressing hate speech requires a commitment to fostering inclusive and respectful communities, both online and offline.

Hate speech is a serious form of harassment with far-reaching effects on individuals and communities. Recognizing its impact and taking action to prevent and address it is crucial for promoting a more respectful and inclusive digital environment.

Trolling

Definition:

Trolling is the act of making deliberately provocative, offensive, or off-topic comments with the intention of eliciting strong emotional responses from others. It often involves disrupting conversations, creating conflicts, or stirring up controversy for amusement or to upset others.

As Harassment:

Trolling becomes harassment when the intent is to target specific individuals or groups with the purpose of causing emotional distress, confusion, or frustration. This involves consistently targeting someone with offensive or inflammatory comments, aiming to disrupt their online experience or provoke a reaction.

Examples:

Social Media Comments: A user repeatedly posts inflammatory or offensive comments on posts related to sensitive topics like mental health or personal identity. Their goal is to provoke arguments, upset the original poster, and attract attention to their own posts.

Forum Disruption: On an online forum focused on a specific hobby or interest, a troll deliberately posts off-topic or derogatory comments to derail discussions, causing frustration and confusion among regular members.

Live Stream Interference: During a live stream, a troll bombards the chat with spam, offensive messages, and provocative statements to distract the streamer and viewers, disrupting the content and conversation.

Impact on the Victim:

Emotional Distress: Victims may experience frustration, anger, and stress as a result of trolling. The constant need to address or ignore disruptive comments can be mentally exhausting.

Disruption of Conversations: Trolling can derail meaningful discussions and create a hostile environment, making it difficult for others to engage in productive or enjoyable conversations.

Reduced Participation: The presence of trolls can lead to decreased participation in online communities, as users may avoid engaging with platforms or topics where they have previously been targeted.

Psychological Impact: Persistent trolling can contribute to anxiety, depression, or feelings of helplessness, particularly if the troll’s comments are deeply personal or offensive.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: The legal response to trolling varies by jurisdiction and the nature of the trolling. While many forms of trolling do not constitute a criminal offense, behaviors that involve threats, harassment, or incitement to violence may be actionable under cybercrime or harassment laws.

Platform Policies: Most social media and online platforms have community guidelines that address trolling. They may take action such as removing offending content, suspending accounts, or banning users who engage in trolling behavior. Enforcement can vary, and some platforms struggle to effectively manage trolling.

Ethical Implications: Trolling is generally considered unethical because it aims to disrupt, harm, or manipulate others for personal amusement. It undermines respectful and constructive communication and can contribute to a negative online culture. Addressing trolling involves fostering a more respectful online environment and encouraging positive interactions.

Trolling is a form of online harassment that can have significant emotional and social impacts on individuals and communities. Recognizing and addressing trolling behavior is important for maintaining healthy and respectful online interactions.

Impersonation

Definition:

Impersonation involves creating or using a fake identity to deceive others into believing that you are someone else. This can include pretending to be a public figure, a private individual, or a professional entity. The goal is often to mislead or manipulate others for various purposes, including personal gain, harassment, or deception.

As Harassment:

Impersonation becomes harassment when it is used to target individuals with the intention of causing harm, spreading false information, or engaging in malicious activities. This might involve creating fake profiles or accounts to misrepresent someone or to exploit their identity for harmful purposes.

Examples:

Social Media Accounts: A user creates a fake social media profile pretending to be a well-known celebrity or public figure, using it to post misleading or harmful content that could damage the real person’s reputation.

Email Scams: An individual sends emails from an address that looks like it belongs to a trusted authority or organization (e.g., a company executive or a government official) to deceive recipients into providing sensitive information or making financial transactions.

Online Fraud: Someone impersonates a person in an online dating profile, using fake photos and personal details to manipulate or exploit other users emotionally or financially.

Impact on the Victim:

Reputation Damage: The victim may suffer from reputational harm if false or misleading information is spread using their identity, leading to confusion, mistrust, or negative perceptions among their audience or associates.

Emotional Distress: Being impersonated can lead to significant emotional distress, including anxiety, embarrassment, and frustration. The victim may feel violated and powerless, particularly if the impersonation is done in a malicious or humiliating way.

Professional Consequences: For public figures, professionals, or businesses, impersonation can lead to professional repercussions, including loss of business opportunities, legal issues, or damage to professional relationships.

Financial Impact: If impersonation involves fraud, the victim may suffer financial losses or be involved in lengthy and costly legal battles to address the situation.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: Many jurisdictions have laws against impersonation, including identity theft, fraud, and misrepresentation. Victims may have legal avenues to pursue, such as filing complaints with law enforcement or taking civil action to seek damages. The specifics of legal recourse vary depending on local laws and the nature of the impersonation.

Platform Policies: Social media and online platforms often have policies against impersonation. They may take actions such as verifying identities, removing fake accounts, or suspending users who engage in impersonation. Effective enforcement of these policies can be challenging, especially given the scale of online interactions.

Ethical Implications: Impersonation is generally considered unethical because it involves deception and manipulation. It undermines trust and can have serious consequences for individuals and organizations. Ethical behavior online includes respecting others' identities and avoiding deceptive practices.

Impersonation can be a serious form of online harassment with far-reaching effects on both individuals and organizations. Addressing and preventing impersonation involves understanding its impacts, pursuing legal remedies when necessary, and fostering ethical online behavior.

Spamming

Definition:

Spamming refers to the repeated, unsolicited sending of messages or content, often with the intent to overwhelm, disrupt communication, or promote something, usually in a commercial context. It can occur through email, social media, messaging platforms, or other digital channels.

As Harassment:

Spamming becomes harassment when it is used to intentionally annoy, intimidate, or overwhelm an individual or organization. This might involve flooding someone's inbox with unwanted messages, bombarding a social media profile with repetitive or abusive comments, or inundating forums with irrelevant or harmful content. The goal is often to disrupt normal communication or to cause distress.

Examples:

Email Spamming: A user receives hundreds of unsolicited promotional emails, some of which contain malicious links or phishing attempts. The volume of spam clutters their inbox and makes it difficult to manage legitimate communications.

Social Media Spamming: An individual’s social media account is flooded with repetitive comments or messages from the same user or group. These comments might be abusive, irrelevant, or aimed at disrupting the user’s ability to engage with others on the platform.

Forum Spamming: A user continuously posts irrelevant or disruptive messages in online forums or discussion boards, often to derail conversations, promote products, or harass other users.

Impact on the Victim:

Overwhelm and Stress: The victim may feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of messages or content, leading to stress and frustration. Managing or filtering through spam can be time-consuming and mentally taxing.

Disruption of Communication: Spam can disrupt normal communication, making it difficult for the victim to focus on important messages or tasks. It can also crowd out legitimate content or conversations, reducing the effectiveness of communication platforms.

Privacy and Security Risks: Some spam messages may contain malicious links or attachments that can compromise the victim’s privacy or security, leading to potential data breaches or identity theft.

Financial Impact: For businesses, spamming can lead to loss of productivity, increased costs related to managing or mitigating spam, and potential damage to their reputation if customers are affected.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: Many jurisdictions have laws against spamming, especially when it involves malicious intent or financial fraud. For instance, the CAN-SPAM Act in the U.S. regulates commercial email and provides guidelines for managing spam. Victims of spam may also seek legal remedies for damages or file complaints with relevant authorities.

Platform Policies: Most digital platforms and services have policies against spamming. Violations can result in penalties such as account suspension, banning, or removal of the offending content.

Ethical Implications: Spamming is considered unethical as it disregards the recipient’s consent and aims to exploit or harass individuals. It disrupts normal communication practices and can contribute to a negative online experience for users.

Spamming, when used maliciously, can have significant negative impacts on individuals and organizations, and is addressed by legal frameworks and platform policies to protect users and maintain the integrity of digital communication.

Making Threats

Definition:

Threats to Harm Others: These are statements or actions that express an intention to cause physical harm or violence to another person. These threats can be explicit (directly stating the intention to harm) or implicit (suggesting harm or intimidation).

Threats to Harm Oneself: These are statements or actions that express a desire or intention to self-harm or commit suicide. Such threats may be made in distressing contexts and can indicate serious emotional or psychological issues.

As Harassment:

Threats to Harm Others: When threats are made to harm others, they can be a form of harassment if the intent is to intimidate, control, or manipulate the target. This can involve direct threats or veiled warnings intended to cause fear or distress. The impact can be significant, causing emotional and psychological trauma, and creating a sense of insecurity or danger for the victim.

Threats to Harm Oneself: Threats of self-harm can also be a form of harassment if they are used manipulatively or to provoke a response from others. In some cases, individuals may use threats of self-harm to exert control or to gain attention, which can create distress and concern among those who are aware of the threats.

Examples:

Threats to Harm Others:

Direct Threat: A user posts a message on social media stating, "I will come to your house and hurt you if you don’t stop talking about me." This explicit threat aims to intimidate the recipient.

Implicit Threat: An individual leaves a comment on a public forum suggesting, "People like you should be careful about what they say," followed by a vague reference to "consequences." This implies potential harm without explicit details.

Threats to Harm Oneself:

Direct Threat: A user posts on a social media platform saying, "I’m going to end my life tonight. I don’t see any way out." This expresses a clear intention to self-harm.

Implicit Threat: An individual frequently posts messages or updates about feeling hopeless and discusses self-destructive thoughts without explicitly stating their intent to self-harm, but hinting at severe distress.

Impact on the Victim:

Emotional and Psychological Trauma: For threats to harm others, victims may experience fear, anxiety, and a sense of vulnerability. The threat of violence can lead to psychological stress and trauma.

Behavioral Changes: Victims of threats may change their behavior to avoid potential harm, such as avoiding certain places or people, or taking additional precautions for their safety.

Distress and Concern: For threats of self-harm, friends, family, and others may experience significant emotional distress and concern, feeling helpless or anxious about the individual’s well-being.

Intervention and Support: Threats of self-harm often prompt intervention from mental health professionals or emergency services, which can be disruptive and may lead to involuntary treatment or hospitalization for the individual making the threats.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse:

Threats to Harm Others: Making threats of violence can be illegal in many jurisdictions. Victims can report these threats to law enforcement, who may investigate and take legal action if necessary. Criminal charges can be brought against individuals making credible threats of harm.

Threats to Harm Oneself: While threats of self-harm are not typically illegal, they often prompt intervention by mental health professionals and emergency services to ensure the individual’s safety. In some cases, these threats may lead to involuntary hospitalization or treatment if the person is deemed a danger to themselves.

Platform Policies: Many online platforms have policies against threats of violence and self-harm. Content that violates these policies may be removed, and users making such threats may be banned or suspended. Platforms often have mechanisms for reporting and addressing these issues.

Ethical Implications: Both types of threats raise serious ethical concerns. Making threats to harm others is fundamentally unethical and can have legal consequences. Threats of self-harm require sensitive handling, as they indicate significant distress and necessitate a compassionate response to address the underlying issues and provide appropriate support.

Threats, whether directed towards others or oneself, are serious and can have profound impacts on all involved. They are addressed through legal channels, platform policies, and ethical guidelines to protect individuals and provide necessary support.

Sexual Harassment

Definition:

Sexual Harassment: This is unwanted and unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that creates a hostile or intimidating environment. It can occur in various forms, including physical, verbal, or non-verbal conduct. Sexual harassment is often characterized by a power imbalance and can occur in both professional and personal contexts.

As Harassment:

Sexual Harassment becomes harassment when it involves making someone feel uncomfortable, threatened, or demeaned through sexual advances, comments, or behavior. This includes behavior that interferes with the victim’s ability to participate in work or social environments and can create an atmosphere of intimidation or hostility.

Examples:

Verbal Harassment: Making inappropriate or suggestive comments, jokes, or propositions about someone's body or sexual activities. For instance, repeatedly commenting on a colleague’s appearance or making unwelcome advances.

Physical Harassment: Unwanted physical contact, such as touching, groping, or brushing up against someone in a manner that makes them uncomfortable. This can also include gestures or displays of sexually explicit material.

Non-Verbal Harassment: Sending sexually suggestive messages, images, or using body language that implies sexual interest or intent. This includes persistent staring or creating an atmosphere with sexually explicit material.

Online Harassment: Sending unsolicited explicit messages or images through social media, email, or messaging platforms. This can also involve tagging someone in inappropriate content or making unwanted advances through digital communication.

Impact on the Victim:

Emotional Distress: Victims may experience a range of emotional responses, including anxiety, depression, and fear. The harassment can lead to a diminished sense of safety and self-worth.

Professional Consequences: In a workplace setting, sexual harassment can affect job performance, career progression, and workplace relationships. Victims may face challenges in their professional environment, such as being passed over for promotions or experiencing isolation from colleagues.

Social and Personal Impact: Harassment can lead to a loss of confidence, social withdrawal, and strained personal relationships. Victims might avoid certain places or situations to escape harassment or its reminders.

Physical Health: The stress and emotional impact of harassment can manifest physically, leading to issues such as sleep disturbances, headaches, or other stress-related health problems.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal Recourse: Many jurisdictions have laws and regulations against sexual harassment. Victims may have legal avenues to pursue claims, such as filing complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in the U.S. or similar bodies in other countries. Legal action can result in compensation for damages, changes in workplace policies, or other remedies.

Platform Policies: Online platforms and workplaces typically have policies prohibiting sexual harassment. Violations can lead to account suspension, removal of content, or disciplinary actions against offenders. Reporting mechanisms are often available to address harassment claims.

Ethical Implications: Sexual harassment is a severe violation of ethical standards and personal boundaries. It undermines the dignity and rights of individuals and perpetuates a culture of inequality and fear. Ethical responses involve creating safe and respectful environments, actively addressing and preventing harassment, and supporting victims.

Sexual harassment is a serious issue with significant legal, ethical, and personal implications. Addressing it effectively requires a combination of legal action, supportive policies, and a commitment to creating respectful and safe environments for all individuals.

Understanding and addressing online harassment is crucial for fostering a safer and more respectful digital environment. From the deliberate spread of disinformation and defamation to the invasive impact of spamming and threats, each form of harassment has its own set of consequences that can deeply affect individuals and communities. Sexual harassment, in particular, represents a severe violation of personal dignity and can lead to significant emotional and professional harm.

By recognizing the different manifestations of harassment, from slander and libel to online threats and unwanted sexual advances, we can better equip ourselves to combat these issues effectively. Legal frameworks, platform policies, and ethical practices all play essential roles in addressing and mitigating harassment.

It is our collective responsibility to create and maintain environments—both online and offline—where individuals feel safe, respected, and heard. By staying informed, supporting victims, and holding perpetrators accountable, we can contribute to a more just and compassionate society. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and it is up to all of us to uphold these values in every interaction.

[cc--2224]

Late Night Caf

Pairing: Tech x Jedi!Reader

Summary: From the ask found here; You were recently made a jedi knight and as your first assignment, you were placed with Clone Force 99. A sleepless night on the Marauder turns into late nights watching Tech work.

Warnings: A ton of fluff!!! Brief mentions of insomnia?

Notes: Thank you for the request and I'm sorry it took so long!! As a reminder, requests are open if you'd like to make one!

Word Count: ~2.1k

Tags: @lady-violet @booksandtitts-blog

Let me know if you'd like to be tagged in future fics!

It hadn't been long since you had gone through the trials to become a Jedi Knight. With the war in full swing, there was a need for knights more than ever, so while you didn't feel ready, you were able to pass.

You were given your first assignment almost immediately following your appointment. You were to accompany a squad of clones on their missions.

It was easier than being assigned to an entire battalion, but when you heard some of the other clones' comments about the squad you were assigned to, you began to feel anxious.

Clone Force 99 had a reputation of not following the rules and doing things their own way. They weren't like the clones you had gotten to know during your time as a padawan, and that intimidated you – not that you'd let anyone know.

On the day you were meant to meet them, you stood in wait on the landing platform in front of the Jedi temple. They were late. You sighed to yourself and did everything you could to avoid pacing. In fact, you could almost hear your former master's voice echoing in your head, telling you to be patient.

Finally, you saw their ship approach. It landed on the platform rather harshly but by now you were just ready to meet them, rather than criticize their flying ability.

When the four of them disembarked their ship, you had to do a double take. Not only did their reputation define them as unlike most clones, but so did their appearance.

You looked at each of them from right to left, starting at the tallest one.

"You must be the new general!" He said, his voice echoing across the platform.

"Oh no, I'm no general, just a jedi," you corrected. "What can I call you?"

He grinned, "Wrecker."

"Nice to meet you, Wrecker." You told him, then looked at the next one, the one with a tattoo covering half of his face.

"Hunter." He informed you before you could ask. "What should we call you? If you're not a general."

"You can call me by my name." You told him before providing them your name.

The next clone looked down at you with a sour expression on his face. A crosshair tattoo adorned his right eye, and a toothpick was slotted between his lips.

"And you are?" You asked.

"Crosshair."

He said nothing else, instead just stared at you before your attention shifted to the final clone.

"I'm Tech." He said before you could ask, adjusting the goggles he wore.

Your gaze lingered on him longer than you had intended, before you looked away, growing embarrassed.

It wasn't like you to be bashful, and yet looking at Tech seemed to erase any confidence you had. You didn't speak; all you could do was give him a small smile and a nod before Hunter spoke up again.

"Now that we've been introduced, I'm sure that you have questions."

"I've heard reports about your squad, how much of it is true?"

"Hah! All of it, I bet!" Wrecker said, a bit too enthusiastically.

"Depends on what you've heard." Hunter added.

"I have read the reports that come through regarding our squad. Most of them are accurate," Tech began, then held up his datapad to gesture to the reports he had available. "However, some disciplinary reports come through with slight embellishments. We do not start every fight."

"Usually finish them, though." Crosshair adds in with a shrug.

"Despite the reports, you will face no difficulty to fulfill your duties, and we will ensure your safety remains a priority."

You smiled at Tech's reassuring tone, and soon the others started boarding the ship once again.

"If that was your only question, c'mon up, we'll give you the tour." Hunter offered as he walked up the ramp. You followed after him with Tech following behind you.

– – –

Your first night in the Marauder was strange, and unfortunately, sleepless.

You could never fall asleep comfortably in a new place. You had this problem as long as you could remember. It was a hindrance on all the planets you visited with your master as a padawan, he had tried to teach you meditation techniques to help with insomnia, and you used them, but the unknown always kept you awake.

You used to joke about how it was residual anxiety from when you were first brought to the temple as a toddler, but the council was not very pleased when they heard that joke.

After giving up on your meditation, you decided to roam the ship silently. You exited your bunk and walked through the empty corridor, now much more quiet than it had been when you were first shown around. The only sound that could be heard was the hum of the engine and the muffled snores of one of the clones.

You walked toward the cockpit and the door wooshed open, revealing that you were not the only one still awake.

Tech turned around in the pilot's chair to see who was there, and he raised an eyebrow when he noticed it was you.

"It is late, you should be asleep." He chided.

"What about you?" You countered.

"I am often awake much later than the others, this is the best time to focus on any tasks I need to complete."

It sounded like he was hinting that he'd prefer to be alone right now, so you turned back toward the door.

"You do not have to leave, if you do not wish to."

You looked over your shoulder. "I thought you wanted silence?"

"Yes, however you are much more quiet than my brothers. You are welcome to stay."

A smile tugged at your lips, and you crossed the cockpit, sitting down in the co-pilot seat next to him. He was typing into his datapad, and there were open crates next to him.

"Inventory." He explained, noticing you raising your eyebrow. "I am just about finished."

After a few moments, he turned and closed the crate before standing up to put it back where it belonged.

When he sat back down in the chair, he swivelled the chair to face you.

"So, why are you still awake?"

You shrugged, "I've always had a hard time sleeping in new locations."

"Is that not difficult considering you are a jedi?"

"Only when I go to new planets. It's not like I never sleep, I'm just most comfortable with places I know."

"I suppose that makes sense. Eventually, you will get accustomed to the ship."

He turned back toward the console and began to tinker with some of the panels, unscrewing the plates and fixing the wiring beneath them.

You watched him as he worked. Your eyes trailing from his hands delicately holding the tools he needed, toward his arms; his armor had been discarded so you could see the way that his undersuit wrapped around his muscles– he looked much stronger without his armor, and eventually up to his face; his look of concentration behind the goggles he wore, his lips pressed in a firm line.

You were mesmerized watching him work. There was something about him that was so inviting and comforting. You wanted to get to know him better, but you weren't sure how that would be possible.

As you continued to watch him, you didn't notice yourself beginning to drift off to sleep in the co-pilot chair. The engine humming and the quiet whir of the hydrospanner must have lulled you into a place of comfort. Tech glanced over at you once, noticing your arm perched on the armrest, holding your face in your hand, your eyes closed, and your breathing steady.

He quietly said your name, checking if you had really fallen asleep, and when you didn't answer, he smiled slightly to himself before standing up. He gently scooped you into his arms and brought you back to your bunk.

– – –

Late nights spent with Tech had slowly become the norm during your time with Clone Force 99.

Even after you had gotten used to life on the Marauder, it had just become a habit to sit with Tech as he worked long after his brothers had gone to sleep.

Tech didn't question it, he seemed to enjoy being able to ramble on about his latest projects, even if he had to take a break from them on several occasions to bring you to your bed after you had fallen asleep in the chair next to him.

One evening, you had left your bunk and stopped at the caf machine before making your way to the cockpit.

You left a mug in front of Tech before sitting down next to him with yours in hand.

"Oh, thank you." He said, reaching out and eagerly sipping the hot beverage. He glanced over to you, noticing the mug in your hand. "You do not wish to be carried back to your bunk this evening?"

You felt your face heat up slightly. You were mortified when he told you about that, and the fact that it had happened multiple times, and it had never become less embarrassing. His teasing tone did not do well to ease your embarrassment.

"Really, I do not mind," He said, a smirk tugging at his lips.

You shook your head and took a drink from your cup without answering him.

Silence soon overtook the room. You looked out the viewport, watching the stars as they passed, and Tech continued drilling into a panel, fixing something that likely wasn't even malfunctioning to begin with.

He said your name, pulling you from your thoughts, and when you looked over at him, his focus remained with what he was working on.

"I have been wondering. Are you still uncomfortable being here?"

"What do you mean?"

"You had told me that you had trouble sleeping until you were comfortable, and you still spend most nights out here despite the time in which you have spent with us." He looked over at you now. His expression was new to you. His normal confident demeanor had seemed almost sad. There was something in his eyes that you couldn't quite place. "If you are not comfortable, you can request a transfer. None of us would be offended."

You offered him a reassuring smile. "I don't want to transfer, Tech. I'm comfortable here."

His eyebrows furrowed slightly. "You are?"

"Of course. Why do you think I fall asleep so easily out here? You make me feel comfortable and safe."

His head snapped back to what he was tinkering with, trying to hide his flushed face from you.

After a moment, he spoke again. "I see. I am glad for that, then. It would have been... regrettable if you had chose to leave."

You raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"

His jaw clenched slightly. You could feel the tension as soon as you asked, but eventually, he sighed.

"I just meant that I would feel responsible if, after all this time, we did not make you feel welcome." His tone was resigned, and you knew there was something hiding behind it.

Part of you had hoped that what he was hiding was in line with what you had felt since the first time you had met him, and you figured now was as good a time as any to finally talk about it.

"Tech." You began. You could feel your heart pounding in your chest, but you did all you could yo avoid focusing on your anxieties. "I don't think either of us are very good at this, if I had to take a guess. But I... Enjoy spending time with you, I have ever since the first night I spent here. I would not choose to leave the squad, I wouldn't choose to leave you."

He stared at you wide-eyed. This may be the only time that you'd see Tech completely speechless.

In his silence, you stood from your chair, setting your mug down on the console and quietly stepping toward him.

You reached out a hand, gently resting it on his cheek and tilting his head up to look at you before you moved in and kissed him softly.

His hands hesitated before one of them held your free hand, squeezing it gently as he deepened the kiss.

You smirked at him. "Maybe it's a good thing that I was placed with your squad then. You don't follow rules either."

Before long, he broke the kiss but stared up at you, finally speaking, "I did not know you felt as such. I thought that the jedi had... rules to follow, that they could not..."

[cynautica]

Cynautica's Secret Santa 2024

Hello everyone! Interested in spreading a little cheer this season? Challenge your creative muscles by entering our Secret Santa this year!

This is a small scale event hosted on Tumblr & Discord as a way to give back to the Subnautica community. Don't let that fool you though. Anyone and everyone is welcome to join, no gaming required!

Absolutely no skill minimum to join, you decide what you're comfortable with drawing and/or writing.

Never joined a Secret Santa before? Check out our Guide! Please be mindful of the deadlines and sharing rules before registering.

>>> Sign up here!!!!! <<<

More details below the cut:

Event Organizers: @cyliph / @cynautica, @p-wrryyy-mordial-soup

Backup artists: To be added after registration!

Timeline:

(more detail found in Guide!)

Nov 23: Final day to register for Secret Santa.

Nov 24 - Nov 25: Wish assignment. If you do not receive your drawing prompt or have issues with it please contact an organizer as soon as possible.

Nov 25th - Dec 15th: Work on completing gift! Once the gift is complete please send it to an organizer. If you need an extension, please make it known during this time window.

Dec 12th: Organizer nudge. If you have not completed your piece and sent it to an organizer please confirm your progress or request an extension ASAP. You can likewise post public teasers of your Secret Santa gift, though please refrain from including details that will 100% confirm a recipient.

Dec 16th (8:00PM EST): Final call to send completed gift to organizer! You will be informed after it is sent to the recipient, making it safe to post on any platform of your choosing. Until this please abide by the Secret Santa courtesy! 

Dec 23: Extension deadline! Everyone who participated should have a gift

-----

Participation Rules:

Refrain from posting art / writing with content that may identify the recipient across Discord or Tumblr. This includes discussions that might allude to who your gift is for. Remember: Just because playing Clue might be fun to you, the receiver of your gift may really value the surprise. Do not send your completed gift to your recipient. Send it to an organizer instead. This is to ensure that all gifts and gifters are accounted for and will streamline the process for us organizers. Once you get the okay Dec 16th, you can post it anywhere you like! Do not include NSFW content, hatespeech, political content, or gore in your gift. Everyone is invited to this event! Treat your gift as if it might go to your grandmother. Please keep in contact with organizers if something goes awry. Life happens. We overestimate our capabilities. Mental health is fickle. Whatever it may be, just let us know as soon as possible if you may need an extension or cannot complete your gift.  Be respectful of the wish you grant. It should go without saying, but Secret Santas are a labor of love. If you do not believe you can be respectful enough to grant a stranger's wish please do not register for this event.

[milkoomi]

₊˚⊹ ᰔ a guide to preparing for a new semester ᝰ.ᐟ

a lot of us have either started the spring semester or preparing for the spring semester! i actually start my new semester next week, AH! with that, i wanted to share a few helpful tips that help me prepare for a new semester!

let’s begin !!

ᝰ.ᐟ read the syllabus

this is especially important for college/university students! i know there are some college professors that do go over the syllabus on the first day, but most times you’re kind of on your own when it comes to the syllabus, so make sure you go over it at least one week before classes start!

this is also especially important if you’re taking online classes! i’ve taken a few online classes that didn’t have some sort of video chat call with the professor and the rest of my classmates, so if you have any classes like that then be sure to go over the syllabus!

make note of important dates! usually that last page is an entire semester overview of the class and it includes assignment deadlines, exam dates, and days that we’re off from school! so be sure to highlight those important dates or write them in your calendar/planner!

highlight contact information! professors do a great job of listing their contact info, so highlight that information or write it down somewhere where you won’t forget! or even add their info in your contact list!

ᝰ.ᐟ go over course modules

again, this is super important for college/university students! (but i do believe high school students work with something similar!) most times a school will use some sort of online platform that organizes all of your classes and each class will have an organized module created by your professor/instructor/teacher, so it’s important to click through each module before the semester begins so that you can get a clear idea and vision of what your semester will look like! it’ll also help too to get yourself familiarized with navigating the modules!

ᝰ.ᐟ gather all of your basic school supplies

having, at the very least, the basic supplies will help kickstart your semester feeling prepared! anything that you feel that might be essential for the semester should be added to your little list of things you need!

essential supply list:

planner, notebook(s), pens/pencils, folders/binders

digital supply list:

fresh screen protector, tablet pen tips (especially if you have an apple pencil or something similar, which is what i have! i found it on amazon & it works great!), & new tablet casing (optional of course)

ᝰ.ᐟ clean up

i mean this in every sense! clean up your study space, clean out your folders of old papers/worksheets/etc., reorganize your binders/folders, and clean out your mind of any stress that might be weighing you down!

study space:

whether it’s your room or an office, tidy up in there! make your space feel brand new and fresh as you start a new semester! you can even reorganize or redecorate your area to give it a new and clean look!

school supplies:

if you’re like me, you probably haven’t touched your school stuff since winter break started, so be sure to go through your folders and reorganize or just simply clean out any papers that still might be in your folders! some papers you might want to keep, but some can be completely tossed away!

your mind:

as with any aspect of your life, it’s important to practice self care! take time to journal and write down any thoughts that might be lingering in your mind, release all your stress onto paper! or even just making sure you’re getting yourself back on a good sleep schedule and getting an ample amount of rest before the semester starts. self care is vital!

ᝰ.ᐟ final notes

a new semester can be really daunting, but preparing yourself can help to relieve any stress! a new semester can be so exciting when you think of it as a completely fresh start! if you didn’t do so well last semester, then you can prepare yourself for this next one to be even better! but, i’ll reiterate this, be sure to take care of yourself. you can’t do your best when you aren’t at your best! so remember to treat yourself with kindness and remind yourself that you are capable of making it through another semester! you can do it!

with lots of love, juno 🌷

[itpemod]

SIGN UP POST

It's late September and that means #ITPE sign-ups are OPEN 🎉🎉🎉 Links will be at the end, so please read through the post as we have a lot of new information/procedures this year!

This is the FOURTEENTH year of the exchange, but the FIRST year we will be hosting it on Tumblr, which was far and away the winner in our platform move survey. Happily, this means we get to keep our acronym and branding!

What is #ITPE?

#ITPE is a low-pressure, no-minimums podfic exchange that originated on Twitter. We are now on Tumblr because of Twitter’s…everything, since it was bought by the Muskrat. Everything–sign-ups, communication, assignment/gift distribution–used to be run entirely on Twitter, but as the exchange has grown, we’ve incorporated other platforms to help make our lives as mods easier. Consequently, sign-ups will be on AO3 and submissions of your finished gifts (when it comes time for them) will be via Google form. Otherwise all communication, including announcements, questions, assignment and gift delivery, will be conducted over Tumblr and instant messaging. 

Who are the mods?

Our mod line-up is @blackestglass (blackglass) & @knight-tracer, with flowersforgraves assisting on the backend with data management. 

What is the schedule?

The dates for #ITPE 2024 are:

Sign-ups: SEPTEMBER 21 - SEPTEMBER 29

Assignments go out: No later than OCTOBER 8

Projects due: DECEMBER 17

Distribution: DECEMBER 24

So long as it's still September 29 somewhere in the world, you can still sign-up.

How do I sign up?

We are continuing to run sign-ups through AO3 (without a nominations process, so just write in your fandoms). We are asking for a minimum of 3 unique fandoms and if you want to sign-up to give or receive more than 20 fandoms, pick your TOP 20 for the AO3 and put the rest in your Dear Podficcer Letter. If you have less than 20 fandoms, we encourage you to list all of your primary and secondary fandoms in the sign up form so we have options for matching!

Note: We consider certain RPF fandoms as “umbrella” fandoms. We know we have K-Pop podficcers and sports RPF podficcers who often sign up for our exchange. Individual K-Pop bands and individual sports/sports teams do not count as “unique” fandoms (so for instance, only listing SHINee, BTS, and A-Teez would not count as having 3 unique fandoms for sign-up purposes; for our purposes, they would all fall under the K-Pop umbrella). In addition to listing your favorite bands/sports/teams in the fandom field, we do ask you to help us out for matching by thinking of at least 2 other fandoms which you might be happy to give and receive in. The RPF podficcing pool is small and we try not to repeat matches within a 5-year period, so giving us more fandom options will help us find you a match. 

What is a Dear Podficcer letter?

Your Dear Podficcer letter should include stuff like squicks, triggers, ship and trope preferences, and anything else you think we & your gift giver should know regarding your fandom tastes. Letters are mandatory. They don't have to be long! But if you have extremely specific tastes, it’s better that you let us know upfront in your letter so that we can ensure that you receive a gift you’re happy with. Please don’t worry about seeming “difficult”! We want you to love the gift you receive! Also, do feel free to request your small, obscure fandoms! Just help us out by also including some more popular or “mainstream” fandoms among your options. 

If you’re still uncertain what a letter should look like, here are some examples from 2020: blackglass’s 2020 letter & knight_tracer’s 2020 letter. You can also check out linked letters in the “Requests Summary” on AO3 to see what other people’s letters look like!  

Letters should be hosted on a publicly viewable platform, such as on Dreamwidth, tumblr, carrd, GDrive, Dropbox, etc. 

Please put your Tumblr and AO3 handles (if they don’t already match) in your Dear Podficcer letter. For our sake, ideally somewhere in the title field. Toss a coin to your mod team. 

Also please be kind to your mods & avoid using smushnames or cute fandom ship names in your letter. We're not always in your fandom & sometimes people will use different names to refer to the same pairing & we mistakenly believe you're requesting different pairings (see: the Zimbits/JackBitty/etc. debacle of 2020). Using Char A/Char B(/Char C) would help us out a lot! You don't have to use AO3 levels of disambiguation – just provide us with enough information to figure out who the characters involved in the ship are. 

If you have specific tastes in what you want to RECEIVE in a fandom, but you’re willing to CREATE outside of those preferences (for instance, wanting to receive podfic about a specific pairing, but willing to podfic for other pairings in a fandom), please indicate that in your letter! If you want to offer or receive fandoms that aren’t currently on the AO3, or you’re one of those gutsy people that is willing to offer and create in “any fandom”, message this account and we’ll make sure it’s all recorded. 

In addition, if you’re an adventurous listener who is open to RECEIVING podfic for “any fandom” please ALSO message us so that we’re aware! We still need a minimum of 3 fandoms for your sign up so that it can go through.

If you have any DNWs (“do not wants”)  that you don’t want to post publicly in a letter, concerns about matching, or anything else you’d like to privately let the mods know, there’s a section in the sign up this year that you can fill out. Or you can send us a message!

How should we be communicating with you over Tumblr? We will primarily be using the instant messaging function. Therefore you will need a Tumblr account to sign up, because that’s where all communication and assignment/gift delivery will take place. It’s totally fine to use a placeholder account you only use for this exchange. (We do recommend adding a userpic, filling out your bio, and maybe reblogging a few posts so that you don’t seem like a bot.) All participants should be following the mod account, especially if you have restricted settings so that only people you follow can message you. The instant messaging system, unlike the ask system, allows us to maintain a record of our communications, and is the best way to share information you want to keep private between us or have extended conversations. You may use asks if you have a one-off question or questions you don’t mind getting public answers to. 

(Notifications for new Tumblr messages can be finicky so try to check out the messaging tab semi-regularly throughout the duration of the exchange instead of relying on the blue dot to let you know there’s a new message.) 

In an attempt to avoid tripping spam filters and hitting the Tumblr limit on sending messages to new people, we are asking you to help us out by sending us an instant message to let us know you’ve signed up, rather than us trying to reach out to dozens upon dozens of people (prime spambot behavior)! 

What happens if you get marked as spam?

If we get shadowbanned/tossed in potential spambot purgatory, the mods will reach out to you from our personal accounts/mod sideblogs or via email. During the sign up period, we will reach out to you via messaging to ask you for a reliable email address to reach you at in case all of our attempts to not get flagged as spam fail.

If we are marked as spam, we’ll still be able to post on our own blog and we should still appear on your dash, but we won’t be appearing in the tags most likely, which is another reason why it’s important for you to be following us!

How does matching work? How will I get my assignment?

The mods do hand-matching, meaning rather than just letting the AO3 algorithm run and make arbitrary matches based on fandom, we read all your letters and try to match you with someone with similar tastes and interests. We’ll only be relying on the AO3 algorithm to help us spot tricky matches. 

Another of the ways Tumblr combats spam is to shadowban anyone sending multiple similarly worded messages. We’re going to make an attempt to deliver extremely pared down assignment messages so that we’re mostly sending unique information. If we do get marked as spam, as mentioned earlier, we may reach out to you on sideblogs or via email. 

What kind and how many gifts should I make? Do you really mean “no minimums”? 

Yes, ITPE gifts have NO LENGTH MINIMUMS. Make something as big or as small as you want to commit to! We truly do mean it. This is meant to be a low pressure exchange! Accordingly, please set your expectations that you may receive a short gift. In the past, we have had participants who’ve been extremely generous and made a prolific amount of gifts for their giftee, but they are outliers and there is certainly no expectation that anyone else should strive to those heights. 

I have more questions about making gifts!

We’re sure you do, but we’re not there yet! We will update this FAQ with more information about submitting gifts and treats once assignments go out, so check back!

I’m ready to sign up! What are the next steps? 1. Fill out the sign up form on AO3 here.

2. Follow us @itpemod if you haven’t yet!

3. Send us a message over the chat letting us know you’ve signed up!

4. Optional (but encouraged if you want to talk to people!): join the Tumblr Podfic Community to participate in the friending/following meme!

5. Optional: Track/follow the #itpe or #informal tumblr podfic exchange tags! 

[nekoannie-chan]

The Soldier and the Secretary

Title: The Soldier and the Secretary.

Fandom: Marvel, Captain America.

Ship: Bucky Barnes X Secretary!Reader.

Word count: 758 words.

Square: 1 “107th Infantry Regiment”.

Rating: Teen.

Summary: Bucky flirts with you.

Major Tags: Fluff, denial of feelings.

Additional tags: This is my entry for the @avengers-assemble-bingo Bucky Barnes Birthday Bingo. Card 4B015.

Links: Wattpad, Ao3, Spanish version.

@saiyanprincessswanie

My native language is Spanish, so I wanna improve my writing skills in English. Please let me know if you notice any mistakes, and I will correct them.

I don’t give any permission for my fics to be posted on other platforms or in other languages (I translate my work myself) or for the use of my graphics (my dividers are included in this). I did them exclusively for my fics; please respect my work and don't steal it. Some people here make dividers that anyone can use; mine is not this type, so please look for the other people's dividers. The only exceptions are those I gifted 'cuz now belong to someone else. Please let me know if you find any of my works on a different platform and are not one of my accounts. Reblogs and comments are always welcome.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Marvel's characters (unfortunately), except for the original characters and the story.

Add yourself to my taglist here.

My other media where I publish:  Ao3, Wattpad, ffnet, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter. 

If you like it, please vote, comment, and give me feedback to improve my skills and reblog.

Tags: @sinceimetyou @unnuevosoltransformalarealidad @navybrat817 @angrythingstarlight @shield-agent78 @charmed-asylum @pandaxnienke @real-fbi @Smokeandnailz @white-wolf1940 @tenaciousperfectionunknown @xoxonotme @bluemusickid @leyannrae @Harrysthiccthighss @Marvelatthisone @caplanbuckybarnes @sapphire-rogers @lizzieolseniskinda @notyourtypicalrose @hallecarey1 @nana1000night @talia-rumlow @writingshae @alexxavicry @azulatodoryuga @daemonslittlebitch @chaoticcollectivenightmare @endlesstwanted @chemtrails-club  @marigoldreamer @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @Here4thefanfics @theestorm @patzammit @kmc1989 @somegirlfromasgard @rogersbarber

Camp Lehigh, 1943

Piles of papers were piled on desks, typewriters clattered restlessly, and soldiers rushed in and out, some with papers in hand, others simply looking for directions or waiting for their official assignment.

You were one of the secretaries in charge of handling the paperwork for new recruits.

That day, the typewriter ink was still fresh on your fingers when you heard firm footsteps approaching your desk.

“Good morning, doll,” said a playful voice.

You looked up, and there he was: James Buchanan Barnes.

“Doll,” you replied with an arched eyebrow.

“Too soon? “He asked with a mischievous grin. What would you prefer me to call you? Lovely lady? Office queen?

“Miss Y/L/N is fine, thank you.”

Bucky let out a soft laugh and leaned nonchalantly on the edge of your desk, crossing his arms over his chest.

“What if I prefer something more affectionate?”

“What if I'd rather not waste my time with soldiers who think they can charm anyone with a couple of nice words?”

He feigned a gesture of surprise, holding a hand to his chest as if you had hurt his feelings and ego.

“Ouch. Here I come, a humble soldier seeking his destiny, and I'm greeted with a dagger in my heart.”

“Name? “You asked as you ignored the comment, preparing to take down his information.

“James Buchanan Barnes. But for you, Bucky.”

“For me, Barnes,” you corrected.

He let out a soft laugh and watched as you wrote his name in the records.

“Tell me you have good news for me,” he said, leaning over your desk a little.

“Let's see...” You ran your fingers across the pages until you found his assignment. Then, you gave him the information. “107th Infantry Regiment.”

“Oh, yes, the 107th,” he murmured with satisfaction. They say it's a good group. Although... If I don't like it, can I come back and ask for a reassignment with you?”

“Only if you come with an order signed by General Phillips himself.”

Bucky clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“You're giving me a hard time, doll.”

“That's life, soldier.”

With an exaggerated sigh, Bucky took the sheet with his assignment and walked away, but not before giving you one last look.

“We'll see each other soon, won't we?”

“Only if you survive the training,” you replied with feigned indifference.

“Is that a challenge?”

“Call it a warning.”

Bucky smiled sideways and gave you a wink before leaving.

Damn.

As much as you wanted to ignore it, you felt a small spark run through your body.

It wasn't the last time you saw Bucky Barnes.

Every chance he got, he'd stop by the store that doubled as his office with any ridiculous excuse.

“You know how hard it is to find a pencil in camp? I thought you could save me.”

“I lost my training schedule. Could you give me another one?”

“I hear you're the person to know what's for lunch today.”

Always with a flirtatious smile and a witty comment.

At first, you treated him with the same firm, professional attitude, but gradually you found yourself responding to his flirtations with equally witty retorts.

“Here again, Barnes? Don't you have anything better to do?”

“Oh, believe me, there are many things I could be doing, but none so interesting as talking to you.”

“Interesting or irritating?”

“Depends on the day.”

And that's when you realized you were starting to notice him, and it was a little scary.

One day, while you were organizing some papers, you felt someone approaching you.

“Barnes? “you asked without looking up.

“How did you know?”

“Because no one else in this camp smells of cheap aftershave and arrogance.”

Bucky let out a laugh and leaned over the desk.

“Tomorrow, we're going on a training mission out of camp.”

For the first time, you noticed that his tone was not playful but serious; you even seemed to notice that there was some fear. You looked up and found his eyes fixed on yours.

“Be careful,” you said before you could stop yourself.

“Is that concern for me?”

You rolled your eyes but didn't deny anything.

“Maybe a little.”

“Then I promise to come back in one piece. I can't leave you here with all these guys who don't have a shred of my charm.”

You couldn't help laughing.

“You're impossible, Barnes.”

He took your hand briefly and squeezed it gently before releasing it.

“See you soon, doll.”

And with that, he left.

“You better keep your promise,” you whispered.

[bridenore]

HD Being on the run fic recs

Here are a few Harry/Draco recs where Harry and Draco are on the run. Listed in alphabetical order, as always.

9 ½ Days by @magpiefngrl [69k]

After the events at the Manor, Harry and Draco find themselves stranded in the countryside with a broken wand and Death Eaters on their tail. This is the story of an uneasy truce, featuring faerie forests, seaside caves, Romani camps, kind old ladies, and a shared bed in an attic. Or how two boys fell in love in the midst of a bloody coup.

Crown Witness by @slytherco [70k]

After the war, wizarding society is oppressed by a new kind of plague—an organised crime group calling itself the Family. When Harry Potter goes to interrogate a potential witness, he doesn’t expect to end up on the run again, trying to keep Draco Malfoy alive, while a manhunt follows in their footsteps, adamant on eliminating the one witness that could ruin everything. In which Harry and Draco learn that the way to each other might just have to go through the dingiest hotels in Britain.

A Design For Life by @maesterchill [76k]

Harry Potter doesn’t want to become an Auror. And Draco Malfoy would quite like to stay alive and out of harm’s way. Neither have any desire whatsoever to time-travel into the future, especially not with each other. But fate? Well, she has other plans.

Eclipse by Mijan [287k]

"You're dead, Potter... I'm going to make you pay..." Draco swore his revenge on Harry for Lucius's imprisonment, and Harry all but laughed at him. But Draco is planning more than schoolyard pranks this time. The old rivalry turns deadly when Draco abducts Harry for Voldemort. It's the perfect plan, guaranteeing revenge, power, and prestige, all in one blow. But when Draco's world turns upside down, the fight to save himself and Harry begins, and the battle will take them both through hell and back. If they come back.

Hermione Granger's Hogwarts Crammer for Delinquents on the Run by @waspabi [93k]

'You're a wizard, Harry' is easier to hear from a half-giant when you're eleven, rather than from some kids on a tube platform when you're seventeen and late for work.

Oh, Sinnerman by @lou-isfake and @babooshkart [40k]

“I’m serious, Potter,” Malfoy said quietly. “That was some real bad luck you had, being there last night. They will come after you, and they will kill you—after torturing you for information on my whereabouts.” He pocketed Harry’s wand, but held on to his knife, twirling it between his fingers. Harry was distracted by its movement, the reflections of the bright, dawning sun on polished silver. “I’m not happy about it, either, but you’re stuck with me for the foreseeable future.”   He watched Malfoy’s face for a long time, in a staring contest he wasn’t sure he’d signed up for. Stuck with Malfoy, for the foreseeable future, on the run from a massive crime syndicate that had infiltrated the Ministry and was out for their blood. It was all very familiar, except for the Malfoy part.

REVOLVEVLOVER by @firethesound and @lol-zeitgeistic [88k]

The work Harry does is justifiable. It’s justice. He works for his country, and his country is a republic—the magical side, anyway. It’s not laudable work, it’s not work he’s proud of, but it’s necessary work. Harry has always taken the necessary jobs that no one else has the stomach for. It’s just that he’s never deciphered a kill sheet and seen Draco Malfoy’s name on it.

A Sword Laid Aside by @korlaena [128k]

When Draco’s cover is blown during a deep undercover operation and the Ministry is compromised, Ron takes Draco to the only safe place he can think of—Harry. Hiding out with Harry Potter, who has been missing from the Wizarding World for almost two decades after a shocking fall from grace, is nothing like Draco thought it would be.

Time and Again by @lauren3210 [28k]

Draco has an important research assignment, and he needs Auror   protection. Harry’s a little concerned, not only because he can’t even   pronounce the places Draco’s dragging him off to, but because there’s   the slightest chance he might do something stupid, like tell Draco all about that little crush he’s been harbouring for a while now…

I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did!

[dawnbreaker-mylove]

The loml Series

Warning Swearing Disclaimer: This is an original fan work for “Love and Deepspace”. Do not repost on other platforms or plagiarize. All characters shown in this fic is 18+.

Masterlist

It's eleven in the evening. You're sweating buckets from the humid summer air. Even with the fan on, it was barely helping. Outside, the hum of the cars drifts through your quaint town, even at this hour. It's been four months since you broke up with your long-term ex‐boyfriend who can never keep it in his pants, Fredrick, a name so fugly it matches his face. Since then, you've been sleeping around eight o'clock, but this morning, you made yourself an iced coffee with four shots of espresso. Seriously, how bored are you?

“Ugh, I can feel the heartburn,” you groaned aloud. Sighing in frustration, you pick up your phone to check the class group chat. The screen’s glow was blinding in the dark and silent room. As you scrolled through the conversations, there was nothing new. Just a group asking for help with their research assignment—typical. You checked the clock again: 11:11. Huh, you thought. This is the latest you've stayed up in forever. The stillness of the night was interrupted when your phone pinged a message.

Zayne?

“Hey,” the message read with the “typing” indicator flickering beneath.

You raised an eyebrow. Zayne is the typical quiet, smart kid at the back. But his looks were not so typical. His black hair was combed neatly, and his cool hazel green eyes didn't scream, ‘Haha, nerd.’ You figured he was the type to never meddle in class drama but knew everything if you asked nicely. He was the teachers’ favorite—no surprise there. The two of you never interacted unless it was for a group project. He isn't at all bad, you think. Awkward, maybe? But that didn't stop you from catching feelings for the guy. What would he need at this hour?

The little dots flicker rhythmically, indicating he’s still typing. Holy shit, dude, what does he need from you to be drafting a fucking novel? Impatient, you reply, “I don’t have money, boo.”

Now, your problem wasn't only sleep; Pookie just sent you a cryptic one-liner. What are you going to do with that? Your phone ping again and you think, finally, he's said something! But it wasn't what you expected.

“I like you.”

Your eyes widened, your brain struggling to process the message before you. Your fingers trembled as you typed, “Hahahahaha… Funny, bro. Seriously, what is it?”

You were surprised at how fast he replied this time: “You think… I'm joking?” The way he said it sounded serious in your head. Was he… angry? Or maybe annoyed that you thought it was a joke?

“Or you're a spy trying to pry information from me by winning my heart,” you replied. “Who knows? Could you be working for the government?!”

Well fuck, you thought. The guy you had been pining for was confessing to you? What kind of voodoo have you been unknowingly fucking with? But when you think about it, it makes your heart race and you doubted it was from the caffeine.

Your thoughts were cut off when your phone notified you once again. Zayne's message read, “I know this is all… out of character for me. You were probably asleep when I messaged.”

You couldn't help but chuckle at that, finding his awkwardness quite endearing, but you continued reading.

���I had planned this differently,” the next message read. “Forget it. I'm sorry to bother you.”

Your chest tightened when you read the last line. You recognized the feeling of being a bother all too well. But this—whatever Zayne has going on—is unexpectedly comforting. “Don't say that,” you typed. “I was just surprised, that's all.”

You scrolled back to his previous messages, rereading his confession and the mention of a plan. Ah, it made sense now. A few days ago, you had been sitting on one of the bleachers in the school gym. The rhythmic dribble of the basketball and the squeaks of the shoes echoed around you. It's the third day of the intramurals, and you were unimpressed. The players weren't exactly worth watching, and you wish you didn't have to waste your time just for attendance for a paper you were assigned to write.

Out of boredom, you looked around and behind you, flinching slightly. It was Zayne, walking by. Your eyes met briefly, his eyes widening slightly in what seemed to be surprise before he quickly tore his gaze away from you and hurried off. That was… odd, you thought. Was there something wrong?

“Holy shit!” You realized, going back to your phone. “So that's why you avoided me a few days ago!”

He had the audacity to react to your message with a “haha”. You couldn't help but find it amusing while also feeling a little betrayed at the same time. You should've seen it coming. “Son of a bitch,” you typed and added laughing emojis for good measure. “So you really did have a plan?”

You felt skittish as you watched the chat bubbles flicker on the screen, your mind racing with so many scenarios. “I did,” Zayne replied. “I was going to tell you then. I was just too much of a coward to approach you.” Cute, you thought, your heart fluttering. Your smile faded and your eyebrows rose when you read his next message. “You just looked too beautiful.”

“Fuck!” You threw your phone across the bed and hid your flushed face into a pillow, your body trembling with giddy elation. After settling down, you retrieved your phone. “Thanks. Also, good timing. I don't think I can sleep tonight lol.”

“I don't mind keeping you company,” he replied instantly. “But may I ask why?” You blinked at the message, his eagerness had you both amused and flustered

You snorted, shaking your head as you recalled grabbing a tumbler, ice, and brewing yourself multiple espressos. After you had explained what happened, Zayne texted, “You know that's very unhealthy if you take that much caffeine every day.”

“Okay, first off, you cannot judge my life choices—I do that already. Second, think of it as a sign from the universe. Maybe we were meant to talk around this time.”

Zayne took a while to reply this time, making you wonder if you said the wrong thing. Relief washed over you when his message finally. “You're probably right, it read. So… Do you believe me now?”

You couldn't help but smile. When he said he was acting out of character earlier, he wasn't joking. “Yeah, I believe you,” you replied though a flicker of doubt lingered. You couldn't help it; deep down, a small part of you refused to believe it. Of course, you didn't say that. Instead, you change the topic. “What are you doing right now?”

“I'm on a walk,” he replied.

“Huh?” You typed out, followed by the emoji with the open-mouth smile and blank stare. “At midnight?!” you added, incredulous.

Zayne reacted to your message with another laugh, leaving you a little confused. It was as if he was telling you he does this every night. “Don't worry. I do this almost every night,” he types and it confirms your suspicion. “I also got so nervous, I had to leave the house. I'm still trembling, mind you.”

“Why are you nervous?!” You typed, shocked. To you, Zayne always seemed calm and composed, like nothing fazed him. “I'm sorryyyy…” you added, guilt creeping in.

This time, instead of a laughing emoji, Zayne reacted with a green heart. “Don't worry,” he typed. “I should be the one asking for an apology. I caught you off guard.”

“Aren't most confessions like that??” you replied, smirking slightly at your screen.

“Right,” Zayne said and you could almost feel him smile on the other end. He went quiet for a moment, leaving you to wonder if he was still there mustering the courage to say something. Finally, his message appeared, your name followed by, “Would you like to go out with me tomorrow evening?”

“Yes!” you shouted, sitting up abruptly. The sudden motion made you lightheaded, forcing you to lie back down until you didn't see black.

Without hesitation, you typed, “Of course. I'd love to go anywhere with you.”

That last message was risky, yes. But he did say he liked you, so you couldn't help but wonder what he was feeling. Was he kicking his feet like you? Squealing with excitement? Or was he just his usual calm, aloof self?

A notification ping snapped you back to reality and your cheeks heated up when you read his message: “Perfect. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

“Me too,” you replied with a stupid grin plastered on your face. Afterward, Zayne mentioned he'd arrived back home. When you insisted he get some sleep—it was nearly three in the morning—he finally gave in. “Good night,” he sent, adding a pensive emoji. “Get some sleep too.”

“I will,” you replied. “Goodnight, Zayne.”

After sending the message and confirming he wasn't typing anymore, you turn your phone off and place it on your chest, right over your heart. Your smile stretched wide, cheeks still hot from the whole exchange. That's when it hit you—you wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.

“Fuck,” you said aloud.

A/N: Izz finally hereee... Please tell me if you ever experienced something similar because I doubt this is an original experience. I hope Zayne is still in character to you guys. It feels rushed, I know. Lemme know what you think :D