#please reblog I’m so proud of these 🥹

[nateezfics]

fairy!ateez ✨🧚🏻‍♂️🦋🍄🌸🌞

moodboards made by me! follow me on my insta @ateezink if you wanna see more edits from me 😇

[23victoria]

“Who is she?!”

f1 grid x fem!hamilton!reader smau, charles leclerc x fem!hamilton!reader smau

faceclaim: tyla (i love her shes so gorgeous!!)

authors note: i honestly love doing smaus! any feedback is appreciated and please like, comment, and reblog!! hope you enjoy!! also thank you for all love! i appreciate it! and yes there are some typos i’m too tired to fix them😭 let me know if you want me to start a taglist!!

edit: this has been sitting in my drafts since may 26…i needed to post it

𝚏𝟷 𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝

instagram

liked by lewishamilton, yourbff, yoursibling and 56,357 others

life lately >>>>

view comments

yourbff you so pretty babe 🤭🥰

↳ y/n_ig i love youuu 😘

yoursibling photo credits?!

↳ y/n_ig you ofccc! 🫶🏾✨

username1 who is she and why did the lewis hamilton like her post?!?

stany/n ughhh your skinnn! your glowing girl 🤧✨

↳ y/n_ig thank u bby 🤭

username7 uhhh? lewis what are you doing here?!? 🤔

↳ username5 right?!? like who is she?!?

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twitter

messages (lewis)

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supriseeee!!! new single “water” out now!! 🤭✨

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yoursibling ahhhhh I’m so excited!! it’s finally out!!

lewishamilton congrats y/n the song is a banger!!! 🫶🏾

↳ y/n_ig thanks cuzzo 🥰

yourbff one my fav songs off the album

↳ livelaughlovey/n album?!? what?!?

↳ y/n_ig @yourbff shhhhhhh!!!

↳ y/n_ig @livelaughlovey/n hehe soon! 🤭

↳ livelaughlovey/n @y/n_ig OMGGGG!!?!

stany/n bout to blast this through my speakers rn!!

charlesleclerc the song is amazing y/n! you’re so talented!!

↳ y/n_ig aww thank youu!!☺️

↳ lewishamilton @charles_leclerc why are you here?!? 🤨

↳ username8 lol not lewis gagging charles 💀

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messages

instagram

liked by charlesleclerc, lewishamilton, landonorris, yoursibling and 3,963,857 others

holy fuck. i literally have no words. number 1 in three days is insane! i’m speechless honestly, thank you. thank you to everyone who has been here form the beginning and saw something in me. this is for all of us. i love you ❤️

in honor of this huge achievement I’m having a concert this friday in new york, at the barclays center!! tickets are free!! see you there! 😘

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livelaughlovey/n you deserve it!! i’m so proud of how far you’ve come!! 🥹

↳ y/n_ig thank you baby!!

zendaya congrats beautiful! it was so nice meeting you last night!

↳ y/n_ig thank you! we have to hang soon!!!

charles_leclerc congratulations gorgeous, you deserve it! ❤️

↳ y/n_ig thank you charles 🥰

↳ f1gossip101 oh 👀

cardib congrats honey!

↳ y/n_ig thank you 🥰

lewishamilton congrats cuzzo!! couldn’t be anymore prouder!! can’t wait to see what the future has for you 🫶🏾❤️

↳ y/n_ig i love you lew!!! ❤️

yoursibling beyond proud 🥹

↳ y/n_ig i love you 🥹

yourbff no words, the world is yours, i love you!!

↳ y/n_ig you’re going to make me cry, i love you!

username8 as you should!!! water is the song of the year!

username2 omg!! a free concert in ny!! i’m so there!!

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liked by charlesleclerc, sza, lewishamilton, landonorris, cardib, oscarpiastri and 4,568,897 others

last night, best night of my life✨! you guys came and showed tf out and I’m behind grateful🤧!! the energy was highhh and i had a fucking blast!! thank you for coming and showing love!! I can’t wait to do this again!! love you🥹!!

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charlesleclerc what an amazing show beautiful!! you were amazing!! 🥰

↳ y/n_ig thank youuu!! 🤭

lewishamilton you came and out did yourself!! the energy was ridiculous! 🤩 liked by y/n_ig

sza you were fucking amazing baby 🥹

↳ y/n_ig ahhh thank you!! 🥹

landonorris we have to do this again!! best fucking concert ever!!! 😝 liked by y/n_ig

cardib i had a motherfuckin blast girl 😫 liked by y/n_ig

megantheestallion real hot girl shit ahh 😝 liked by y/n_ig

oscarpiastri the most fun i had in a while!! 😊 liked by y/n_ig

livelaughlovey/n STILL FEELS SURREAL THAT I SAW YOU PERFORM!!! 😭🥰 liked by y/n_ig

georgerussel fuck this was one hell of a show! 👏🏻💕 liked by y/n_ig

username10 the outfits are the fuckk downn

↳ username2 her stylish never misses 🤭

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y/n_ig has just posted a story!

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part 2?!

© 23victoria 2024 I all rights reserved. do not republish, steal repost, modify, translate, or claim my work as your own.

[silenzahra]

Regarding that reblog about sending you asks…well…I just want to say that I am proud of how far you’ve come both as a person and as a writer (and artist). I’m so honoured to have you as a dear darling friend as you’re among the first to welcome me on Tumblr when I felt lost and wanting to broaden my horizons to seek a meaningful connection…

My dear darling, you are a stellar writer and you are such a gem in the SMB community. Those who have chosen to overlook you and your content are none the wiser and have missed out.

Thank you for enriching my life especially since we live in vastly different countries but I’m so glad that we found each other on Instagram as well. I wish nothing but fortune to come your way and my online presence to give you strength when you feel overwhelmed (I still can’t get over how you called me your Mario to your Luigi…I wasn’t joking when I said that I teared up at that, my dear darling. I honestly don’t see myself that way but if you say that it is, I believe you…)

To end this, please enjoy more brotherly love with Mario and Luigi…

And a bonus:

My dear @vulpixfairy1985, this ask was such a lovely surprise! AW I’m truly so moved and warm inside right now 🥹 Thank you so much for your kind and sweet words 🫂🫂🫂 You always make me feel so validated, and not only as a person but also as a writer AND an artist??? 🥺🥺🥺 You’re making me blush 😭🫂💖💖💖

I feel so elated and honored that you enjoy my content so much 🥹 I honestly don’t consider myself an artist as I don’t draw too often and I believe my style is so poor, but I deeply appreciate your support and you acknowledging me as one, as well as supporting the art I posted a while back of Luigi playing his guitar 💖💖💖

I truly am so happy and thankful that we met and that we’ve formed such a deep and strong connection, as I really feel that you are the Mario to my Luigi 🥰 Your presence is truly a source of strength and warmth and, just, good vibes! You sincerely enrich my life, dear friend, and I'm so moved that you consider that I do the same for you 🥹 I'm so glad I could make you feel welcome to this wonderful site! You've become one of the most important people in my life, and I'm truly so blessed to call you my friend 🫂🫂🫂💖💖💖

AWEEEE IT'S THE BOYS!!! 😄😄😄 Thank you so much for sending such wonderful gifs! Gosh, I can never have enough of how absolutely CUTE they look in the movie and how they protrayed their brotherly bond 🥹🥹🥹 Also, just as a curiosity: the moment at the beginning when Mario clears a path for Luigi was the very first thing that made me see that Nintendo had truly made an effort to show them as the loving and caring brothers we all know they are 🥹 So I'm truly so happy that you've included this gif here! As well as the reunion one of course, as I can never have enough of that moment 🥹❤️💚 (And the others too, I just, I love them all!)

And the last one with Luigi and Polty 😭😭😭 THEY'RE SO ADORABLE. I have a soft spot for Polty as he's truly the cutest doggy ever, and he always reminds me of my own dogs Baloo and Mauri as they're also so playful and affectionate 🥹 I truly LOVE Polterpup's bond with Luigi and how absolutely CUTE they look together 🥹 Thank you soooo much for such a lovely bonus gif! 🫂💚🤍

And of course, thank you for this wonderful ask that has filled my heart with so much joy and warmth 🥹 I love and adore you so so much, my dear friend! 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

[bossbeader]

Descendants Inspired Kandi bracelets🐉🍎🐍🐶

I have yet another listing up and available for orders! I’m honestly so stoked about how these turned out! In all honesty, I think if I had to pick a favorite it’d be either Evie’s or Red’s bracelet🥹! I’m so proud of these, and I hope you all like them too! Please reblog this post, and share my link around with others!

[deliciousangelfestival]

Kiss Me If You Can || Part 3

Character: Bucky Barnes x Thief!Reader

Words Count: 1,830

Part 1,- Part 2, Part 3,-

Main Masterlist || buy me Ko-fi 🥹💓

Thank you to anyone who gave a like, reblog, and left a comment. It motivated me to write more. 

Feeling awkward after Bucky's last words, Y/N returned the diamond necklace to the snobbish millionaire Richard a few days later.

Furious and humiliated, Richard, desperate to catch the phantom thief, opted to use the media instead of calling the police, tarnishing his name.

Enraged that now everyone knew of the phantom thief, Bucky sought out Steve, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. Since Steve became a judge and Bucky got promoted, it’s difficult for them to meet. 

Bucky cut to the chase at the coffee shop and told Steve, “Your sister is the phantom thief.”

Steve glanced at his friend but remained unresponsive.

Arms crossed, Bucky pressed, “So, you already knew?”

Steve sighed. “It's not something I should be proud of. Did you expect me to call you and announce that my sister became a thief?”

Bucky rested his arm on the table and leaned closer. “What's her reason?”

Steve didn't look directly at Bucky. He poured sugar into his coffee, “You know our grandmother was completely biased toward Y/N because of her acrobatic skills, right?”

Bucky nodded, familiar with Steve's family dynamics. “Your grandmother is a famous circus producer.”

Remembering their grandparents, adventurous on one side and a librarian on the other, Bucky couldn't help but draw parallels to his own relationship with Y/N.

Sipping his coffee, Steve explained, “When my grandmother died, she left a letter and a key for Y/N. After that, she joined my grandmother's circus and traveled worldwide.”

“Let me guess, that led her to become the phantom thief.”

Steve nodded, “Hmm.”

Bucky went silent for a while. He tapped the table with his fingers, “I don’t think you completely ignored Y/N, Steve. The reason you became a judge is to help her if she got into trouble.”

Steve didn't rebuke.

“You’re a good brother, Steve. But still, what she did is wrong. I need to get her before anyone else.”

Concerned for his sister's safety, Steve pleaded, “I don’t know where she is. If you catch her, and I hope you do, please don’t let her escape.”

Bucky nodded.

Steve asked concern etched on his face, "After learning the truth, do you still like my sister?" His eyes held a mixture of worry and hope, reflecting his complex emotions for his best friend and sister.

Without any hesitation, Bucky answered, “I don't want anyone else.”

Steve sipped his coffee, a hidden smile behind the cup. He was glad his best friend cared for Y/N even after learning the truth.

“She will come to the challenge. I’m sure both of you will meet again.”

The day arrived. Richard made the challenge at his house, surrounded by police and media. Arriving with his secretary, Richard proudly showed off the jewelry and set a trap to catch the phantom thief.

Bucky infuriated with Richard, “You're risking everyone's safety for your own amusement! You fool!”

Richard scoffed, leaving Bucky with some choice words before departing rudely.

The female secretary, standing beside Bucky, stayed silent. “Smile for the camera, Bucky.”

Bucky scowled, his eyes narrowing at the sight of Y/N in her phantom thief disguise. "You have the nerve to show up, Y/N." 

Y/N smirked, "Someone has to put the snobby man in his place." 

Bucky crossed his arms, maintaining a cold demeanor. "Breaking into houses and stealing jewels isn't the way to do it." 

"Ah, but it's so much more thrilling, don't you think? Keeps the wealthy on their toes." Y/N pulled and took off her button-shirt that almost showed her bra string. 

Bucky shook his head, a mix of exasperation and amusement. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Bucky turns his head away “What are you doing?”

“His own secretary gives this disguise. While I’m here, she’s taking a break.”

Y/N's gaze held a glint of mischief. "That's why you can't resist chasing after me, isn't it, Bucky?"

"Well, I prefer a bit more mystery," she replied, her tone teasing. 

Bucky leaned in, a sly grin playing on his lips. "If you're after something valuable, you don't need to break into places. I'm right here and come with my own set of perks."

Y/N, caught off guard by Bucky's bold remark, felt a heat rising to her cheeks. She stammered for a moment, momentarily speechless. Regaining her composure, she shot him a sly smile.

"But I'll keep that tempting offer in mind. Enjoy the show, Bucky." With that, she gracefully slipped away, leaving Bucky with a mixture of surprise and anticipation lingering in the air.

As the orchestration of the heist unfolded, Y/N seamlessly moved through the shadows, her every move a calculated dance—the target: Richard's prized family heirloom, a breathtaking diamond necklace.

The opulence of the mansion provided a stark contrast to the clandestine mission she embarked upon.

Silently disarming security systems and slipping through laser grids, Y/N reached the grand display room. The diamond necklace glittered within its ornate glass case, a captivating prize that promised wealth and a challenge that fueled her adrenaline.

With nimble fingers, she skillfully bypassed the intricate lock mechanism, and the coveted necklace was now in her possession. The thrill of the heist coursed through her, a heady mixture of triumph and exhilaration.

However, the mansion had secrets, and Y/N's escape triggered secondary security measures. Alarms blared, casting an ominous red hue across the room.

Unbeknownst to her, a concealed security detail sprang into action. The night echoed with the sharp report of a gunshot.

The bullet grazed her leg, leaving a searing pain in its wake. Despite the injury, Y/N pressed on. The wound, a mere scrape from the bullet, throbbed with each movement. 

As Y/N navigated the escape route, the pain from the leg injury slowed her down, bringing her dangerously close to capture. The distant sound of approaching footsteps heightened the tension.

Just when it seemed like the end, Bucky appeared from the shadows, a silent savior in the night.

His strong arm wrapped around Y/N, and he guided her through the labyrinthine alleys. Their hurried footsteps echoed the urgency of the moment.

Y/N, wincing from the pain, glanced at Bucky, her eyes revealing a mix of gratitude and surprise.

Maintaining his stoic demeanor, Bucky muttered, "You really know how to get yourself into trouble, don't you?"

Y/N smiled teasingly, "Well, where would the fun be if I didn't?"

Bucky rolled his eyes. It’s not the time to make a joke.

In the dimly lit room, Bucky brought Y/N to his place to tend to her injury, but she insisted that the wound was nothing to worry about. Gently placing her down, he uttered a stern "Be good," an order that caught Y/N off guard and made her blush. The Bucky she used to know seemed to have transformed into a grown man.

She recalled his earlier words, "Next time I catch you, you won't be leaving my bed."

The desire to leave crossed her mind. However, Bucky, sensing her hesitation, caught her arms and urged her to stay. His worry for her safety was evident; he knew Richard had hired an expert to catch the phantom thief, and he couldn't bear the thought of anyone harming Y/N.

Amid the tension, Bucky decided to lay the truth bare, "Y/N, you need to understand. Richard has hired someone to catch the phantom thief, and they're professionals. I can't let you go out there and get hurt."

Looking into his eyes, Y/N detected a mixture of concern and genuine care, "Bucky, I appreciate your concern, but I've handled worse situations before. I can take care of myself."

Bucky sighed, holding her arms firmly, "This is different, Y/N. They're not playing around. I can't stand by and let something happen to you."

Y/N, realizing the depth of his worry, softened her expression, "Bucky, I've been doing this for a while. I know how to handle situations.”

Bucky's expression shifted, torn between his duty and his feelings, "That doesn't mean I want you risking your life like this."

The air in the room crackled with unspoken tension after their banter. The adrenaline from the daring escape lingered between Bucky and Y/N, creating a charged atmosphere. Bucky couldn't help but notice how Y/N looked at him, a mixture of amusement and more.

Amidst the charged silence, Y/N couldn't resist a teasing comment, "You're so fucking adorable."

Her words hung in the air, adding to the palpable tension. Feeling the moment's weight, Bucky leaned in and pressed a lingering kiss against Y/N's lips. The sensation was electrifying, and it left both of them breathless.

Y/N, her cheeks flushed, broke the silence with a playful yet earnest remark, "Kiss me like that again, and I'm going to think you really love me."

Bucky, caught off guard by the admission, looked into her eyes with a newfound vulnerability, "I've been in love with you since I was a kid."

Y/N blushed, the realization sinking in, and the room became charged with a different kind of tension that had been lingering for years and was now impossible to ignore.

********

As the night deepened, Bucky and Y/N were enveloped in a quiet intimacy that transcended the day's events. In the softly lit room, there was a quiet understanding between them, a safe place where the burdens of their lives felt lighter for a while.

Y/N lay beside Bucky, her breathing soft and steady, the rhythmic melody of slumber weaving through the air. Bucky, captivated by the moment, couldn't help but be drawn to her. 

With a gentle touch, he brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his fingertips lingering on her cheek. Bucky couldn't resist the urge to lean in in the stillness, pressing a feather-light kiss to Y/N's forehead.

*********

The following day, Bucky slowly opened his eyes, expecting to see Y/N beside him. To his mild disappointment, the space next to him was empty. A flicker of worry crossed his face as he glanced around the room, hoping she hadn't left.

With a soft sigh, Bucky got up and headed to the living area. As he entered, he caught the aroma of a delicious breakfast that had been prepared, and his favorite dishes were neatly arranged on the table.

A smile touched his lips; it seemed Y/N remembered even the most minor details about him.

His eyes then fell upon a small letter on the table with a smiley face. Bucky picked it up, unfolding it to reveal the words, "Thank You, Bucky."

But it wasn't just the gratitude that caught his attention; Y/N had written something more behind the letter.

"You're not a bad kisser, Barnes. Keep that in mind for our next encounter. - Y/N"

As Bucky read the playful note, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He will keep chasing Y/N without any question since she's the thief who stole his heart. 

Join the taglist? 💙💙💙💙

@ordelixx

@kandis-mom

@unaxv

[worldsfromhoney]

Greetings, plebeians

This is your resident unknown and attention-depraved author/writer, BEE/bee/beE/🐝

Here’s some stuff about moi:

I like… tea. YES I LIKE TEA 🍵🍵🍵 it’s quite honestly the greatest invention of all time

I also like reading. That’s kinda like a hobby that all writers are mandated to say. Which is reasonable.

I’m a fan of miniatures and piano. Yeah, I did try them out. Yeah, I did fail spectacularly, thank you! ☺️

I also like painting but the therapy one and not just a blank canvas that sucks the soul out of artists lol

What do I write?

I write… stuff. BEAUTIFUL, HEARTBREAKING STUFF, mind you. But it’s still stuff, so lemme elaborate.

Speculative fiction - if you idk this, it’s really just a mix of fantasy and sci-fi; the ‘what if’ genre

Urban fantasy - don’t get me wrong, I love high fantasy, but urban is waaay easier to worldbuild

Steampunk & other punks - PUUUUNK 🤘🤘🤘

Horror and thriller - mostly psychological and body horror, don’t worry! I don’t do jump scares or anything ☺️

Slice of life - mwah my heart and soul mwah

Others - yes, I am capable of doing other genres 😤 I’m a multi-faceted bee, you know?

DISCLAIMER: what I write might only reflect upon my psyche and state of mind but that is not a guarantee

My WiPs

I am proud to say that… I DO NOT HAVE ANY!!

*gasp* what ever do you mean bee? Are you quitting writing? *sobs*

No, my darlings.

i just have no big projects to boast about right now. I feel like big projects aint my thing at the moment and pushing myself only led me to disappear from the internet for a month 😞

What i do have are short works i randomly choose to write and post here on tumblr !!

✨ FICLET MASTERLIST IS HERE ✨

🐝 POETRY MASTERLIST IS HERE TOO 🐝

If you’re interested, please comment on this post or reblog or DM me if you want to be put in the taglist!!

Does that mean you accept… requests?

…………yes. Yes i do. Go and flood my askbox you plebs !

Am I anywhere else?

Please. It’s 2023. Of course I’m… everywhere *cue evil laugh*

Bluesky - if you haven’t heard it yet, tis the new Twitter… cuz it’s literally made by the old creators of that glorious blue bird *cue a moment of silence*

Tiktok or Twitter - do not look for me here

Tumblr - EYYYYYYYYYYY i post ALL my stuff here !! They’re really just bait to hook some writer friends 🥹

Ko-Fi - ehem ehem i know first drafts are considered shite but BUT i have decided to make them available for perusal yes you can burn your eyes to anyone who buys me a cup of tea ~

Patreon - i finally have one!! I’m still setting it up tho and prepping all the content 💛💛💛

I’ll be doing a patreon soon enough actually so look out for that

How I organise myself

Well i wish this is applicable to actual life because i’d very much like to know how 🫡

Jk, here be the tags:

#bee writes some stuff - my micros, my flash fics, my text posts

#bee plays some games - tag games !! which i have never played before till now !!

#bee does some prompts - this will definitely see the light of day… someday

#bee stalking some writers - what it says on the tin

#bee answers some asks - omg i only added this because someone actually sent me one *faints*

#bee saves some stuff - there are way too many resource posts that i’ve scrolled past cuz idk how to tag

[mlmxreader]

Doubt | Eddie Brock/Venom x gn!reader

 Anonymous asked: Hi hon 👋🏼 (does that sound cringe?? Like I said, I'm trying to mix up these greetings 😂).  I hope this ask finds you well!

May I please ask for a work using the following prompts for 🥹 my favorite loser Eddie Brock X non-binary, male, or gn!Reader:

"I came as soon as I heard the news"+"For what it's worth, I'm proud of you"

Maybe Eddie is going deep dive within his own thoughts (self doubt, etc.) and just can't seem to centre himself. Feels like he's majorly messed something up and reader is there to comfort and reassure him.

(As always, this is just spit balling, all creative liberties to you of course!!)

Thank you 🖤!

🐍anon

summary: Eddie is doing, well, shit and he needs a little bit of TLC - but luckily, Venom knows just the person.

tws: swearing

support your fanfic writers by reblogging what you read & enjoy

Eddie stared at his laptop, the time ticking by so slowly; he felt like everything that he had written was just complete shit. Like he was as bad at being a journalist as he was a superhero.

He felt like he wasn’t good enough, that the skills and time and energy he had put into everything was for nothing; it was all shit, it was all terrible. Venom was right, he was a loser and he would always be a loser; he swallowed thickly as he stared at his keyboard, scratching at the back of his neck before he sighed and frowned.

He couldn’t think of a damn thing, practically torturing himself as he got up to go get a cigarette and something to drink; he didn’t even see it when Venom reached for his phone and sent a text to their significant other. Venom knew Eddie the same way you did, and just as you would have known that Eddie needed help and a distraction, so did Venom.

Eddie didn’t even know, until the front door opened. 

“Eddie. We have a guest.”

“Yeah, I know,” Eddie huffed, rolling his eyes. “But everyone knows I’m working.”

He frowned, making his way to the door, but he stopped in his tracks, and sighed heavily with relief when he saw you there; you looked concerned, but he shook his head. 

“Baby, I’m sorry, but I’m working.”

You sat him down on the sofa with a shake of your head, and already his heart was pounding and he didn’t know what he was doing in the slightest as he chewed at the inside of his lip and started to worry. “Eddie, I came as soon as I heard the news - Venom texted me, and asked me to come over. He said you were struggling, doubting yourself.”

Eddie shrugged as he shook his head again, hands shaking as he gently pushed you away and tried his best to smile. “I’m, I’m fine - it’s just that everything I write is the same old churned out shit, and it’s never gonna be good enough. It’s not. I’m not fucking good enough, baby, and that’s… that’s okay! I just won’t ever get a decent job, I won’t ever fucking be able to afford more than this shit flat and-”

“Breathe,” you told him gently, patting his thigh gently as you raised your brows. “C’mon, Eddie, focus on me.”

He nodded shakily, swallowing thickly as he dared to get a little closer. 

“Do as they say,” Venom told him. “You need it.”

“Oh fuck off, you overgrown worm,” Eddie mumbled, shaking his head. He brought his gaze to you and smiled weakly. “Sorry.”

“It’s alright,” you told him gently. “You wanna tell me what’s going on?”

He ran a hand through his hair, shrugging as he looked at you with despair in his eyes. “Just feel like everything I do is fucking shit right now. My boss wants this article in by eight o’clock this morning, but… look at the time, baby, I’m not gonna get it done with how it’s turning out now.”

You gave him a moment to add anything further, and when he didn’t, you cleared your throat, and sat on his lap, pinning him to the sofa, your hands digging into the cushions either side of his head as he grabbed at your hips. “Now, you listen to me, Brock, and you listen fucking good - you are one of, if not the, most talented journalist I know. I’ve read shit from award winners that wasn’t even half as good as yours. So fucking listen when I tell you that you’re great. You’re great, Eddie.”

He nodded, a little too distracted at having you on his lap but it was doing the trick, and he could feel himself slowly start to let go of his worries and about whether or not he might have fucked up his job altogether. He grabbed your hips a little tighter, blunt fingernails digging into your skin through the thin fabric you were wearing.

“Thank you…”

“Keep listening,” you demanded, commanding most of his attention. “You are a great boyfriend, to me and to Venom. You are talented, you have great skills and any publication should be grateful to have you. You’re a hero, Eddie, to so many. You’re doing your best, and y’know what?”

“What?”

“For what it’s worth, I’m proud of you,” you whispered in his ear. “I am really, really fucking proud of you, Eddie.” 

Eddie had to admit, and he couldn’t have denied it anyway, but he was starting to feel a lot better about the whole situation, he needed the comfort and the reassurance, if he was honest. It worked wonders to know that his favourite human in the world was there for him, that you were proud of him and that you recognised his skills and his talents; not many people did, in fact, he couldn’t remember the last person who did.

But you did, and to him, that meant everything. To know that one of his significant others was standing behind him and cheering him on; to know that you were proud of him, not ashamed, not embarrassed.

You were proud.

It made his heart skip a beat as he moved his hands down, grabbing the backs of your thighs and pulling you up so that you had to look down to meet his gaze.

“Come to bed with me,” you told him. “Let’s get some rest, yeah?”

Eddie nodded eagerly, using Venom’s strength to pick you up and take you to the bedroom; he let you fall onto the bed before he crashed down next to you, his head hitting the pillow as he hummed and yawned.

You would have reached over and kissed him like you usually did, but when you took a look back at him, you couldn’t help but to smile; he was sound asleep already. 

“Thank you,” Venom grumbled, crawling out of his arm and staying still beside you. “He needed that.”

“I know he did,” you said softly, kissing Venom’s forehead gently. “Thank you for letting me know, V.” 

[equallyshaw]

Forever blue. - w q hughes

@brookeb: ann arbor you were good to me the past 5 years….imma miss u #foreverblue

Tags: quinnhughes, dylanduke,Mackie.s, claytonb

456 likes, 89 comments

||

Keep reading

@claytonnnnb: hunter is so not crying rn

↳ @brookeb: 🥹🥹 I’m gonna cry

↳ @hunter: nah

@hunter: kiddo

↳ @brookeb: I love u !

@dylanduke: moms leaving :(

↳ @mackie.s: I’m so sad don’t remind me

↳ @brookeb: my kiddos!!! Imma miss my fav children

↳ @lhughes_6: say sike

↳ @brookeb: no

@lorynhansbrough: my cookie brookie is grown up :(

@casoncove: iKNOW not MYYOUNGEST GIRL

↳ @claytonbnnb: hey ma, youre on caps 😂

↳ @bushwhacked: you know mom will never understand 😂😂

@quinnhughes_: love of my life, I’m so proud of you 🥹

↳ @brookeb: I love u to the absolute moon and back bubs

@jackhughes: you did us so dirty on that last pic

↳ @trevorzegras: THE CRINGE

↳ @lhughes_6: you lookin ugly as always

↳ @jackhughes: take that back

↳ @lhughes_6: no

↳ @jackhughes: TAKE BACK

↳ @brookeb: omg take it to the group chat

↳ @bushwhacked: PLS I NEED SOME DRAMA

↳ @jackhughes: 🫡

↳ @brookeb: you cheeky bastard

@bestfriend: I’m not ready to say goodbye

↳ @brookeb: I know me too :(

@eliaspetersson: ah yes the one pic of huggy in school

↳ @brookeb: one of the few photos that he isn't sleeping in🤪

↳ @claytonnnb: blackmail for life

↳ @lhughes_6: 👀👀

↳ _quinnhughes: ah rude

@brockboeser: clay lookin like a stud muffin

↳ @claytonnnb: 🥹🥹 love u brock

↳ @eliaspeterson: 🤮🤮

@elblue6: so proud of you my love, can’t wait for the future. You raised a great one 🤍 @casoncove

↳ @casoncove: thankyoy Ellen! See you soon ☺️

↳ @brookeb: love you mama el!

@umichhockey: gonna miss you so much B! Congrats on everything 🤍🥳

↳@brookeb: gonna miss you cuties so much!!!

@_quinnhughes: so incredibly proud of you my love #welcomehome #foreverblue

Tag: brookeb

89k likes, 1.9k comments

||

@hunter: get ready for Christmas

↳ @jackhughes: oh no pls don’t shoot us with a nerf gun …. I’ve seen the videos

↳ @claytonnnb: be ready for so much more lol

↳ @jackhughes: to the groupchat we go @lhughes_6

↳ @trevorzegras: oh no

↳ @hunter: you’re not invited because you can’t play fair

↳ @colecaufield: calling you out t 😂😂

↳ @trevorzegras: RUDE

↳ @lorynshansbrough: y’all aren’t ready

↳ @lhughes_6: ouuu I’m scared

↳ @brookeb: 😂😂

@brookeb: I love you to the moon and back hun, can’t wait for our future🫶🏻🤍

↳@_quinnhughes: 🤍

@clayntonnnb: can’t wait to come visit!

@elblue: I knew freshman year was gonna be special for you Q but I didn’t realize how special until I met @brookeb love you too so much!

↳ @_quinnhughes: love you mom

↳ @brookeb: love you mama hughes! The best hughes !

↳ @jackhughes: oh

↳ @lhughes_6 so sad

↳ @_quinnhughes: I think you broke them hun

↳ @broomeb: lol

||

Pure chaos lol

Please like and reblog if you enjoyed!

Tags: @harpsmelody @bitchinbarzal @fallinallincurls @huggybug @jayda12 @pucksalotguys @hockeyboysarehot @llhughess @slafgoalskybaby @mack-samo @nolanmoylee

[23victoria]

Eros ✿

lewis hamilton x fem!reader smau

faceclaims: h.e.r and other girls from pinterest

album is yoncé by beyonce (a masterpiece imo)

warnings: cussing, sexual innuendos

authors note: this is my first smau! any feedback is appreciated and please like, comment, and reblog!! hope you enjoy!! also sorry for any blurriness, tumblr ruined the quality 🫤

𝚏𝟷 𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝

y/n_ig

liked by lewishamilton, charlesleclerc, oscarpiastri and 6,987,326 others

my album “Eros” is out now!!! I am so proud of this piece of art work and I hope you enjoy!! 🤭😉✨

view comments

standy/n4life omg!!! it’s here i’m so ready!!

↳ y/n_ig are you???

↳ livelaughlovey/n what do you mean by that?!?! hello?!?!

lewishamilton i’m so proud of you baby! they not ready! 🫶🏾

↳ y/n_ig thank you baby! 😘

bffusername literally my favorite album!!

↳ y/n_ig you say that for all my albums?! 💀

↳ bffusername girl shhhh! you’re ruining it 😔

charlesleclerc congrats y/n! i can’t wait to listen!

marrymey/n just dropped everything to go listen!!

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twitter

instagram

y/n_ig

liked by lewishamilton, beyoncé, charlesleclerc, oscarpiastri and 4,287,326 others

wow, #1 globally and in the states. i literally had a week to write something but i honestly can’t tell you how im feeling rn! i’m utterly speechless and forever grateful 🥹❤️ thank you guys for all the love, your amazing!!

view comments

username1 flawless and 7/11 have been on replay everyday!!

lewishamilton i expected nothing less from the most beautiful woman to ever exist. beyond proud of you my love ♥️

↳ y/n_ig i love you 🥹♥️

oscarpiastri_ congrats y/n! you deserve this!

↳ y/n_ig thank you osc!

marrymey/n the album is an absolute masterpiece!! rocket and pretty hurts?!?? it hit me right in the feels 🥲

beyoncé congrats honey ❤️

↳ y/n_ig thank you queen! ❤️

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twitter

messages

instagram

y/n_ig and lewishamilton

liked by charlesleclerc, landonorris, beyoncé, oscarpiastri and 9,997,826 others

“Hell yeah, you the shit, that's why you're my equivalent ”

5.24.23 💍

view comments

username6 holy fuck they’re married!! omg! 😵‍💫

standy/n4life lol she said stfu thats my man. congrats y/n!!

charlesleclerc finally! this was such a trouble to keep secret! congrats again guys, the wedding was beautiful! liked by y/n_ig

username1 not the lyrics from rocket 💀

username6 she’s letting us know what they did on they wedding day, wouldn’t be surprised if that song is based off that day 😭

↳ y/n_ig it is 😉

bffusername my girl is a wifeee 🤭

lewishamilton love you forever and always ♾️

↳ y/n_ig till my last breath my love ♾️

beyoncé truly such a beautiful ceremony ❤️ god bless you beautiful 🥰

↳ y/n_ig thank you 🤧

marrymey/n no it was supposed to be meee 🧎🏾‍♀️🥲

↳ lewishamilton i’m sorry?

↳ marrymey/n no your not 😔

↳ lewishamilton yea i’m not 🫶🏾

livelaughlovey/n um girly, is that a mistake in the date?!?

↳ y/n_ig no 🤭

↳ lewishamilton no 🫶🏾

↳ livelaughlovey/n replied to y/n_ig & lewishamilton ALMOST A YEAR?!?!

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© 23victoria 2024 I all rights reserved. do not republish, steal repost, modify, translate, or claim my work as your own.

[simpjaes]

hihi! <3 i love your works sm! you write the absolute best, but i honestly have a genuine question, why don’t you like silent readers? i hope it’s not a rude question to ask but i’m just genuinely curious because i understand that there comes to a limit of how people interact with posts, but i’d also like to hear your input as well :)

(you’re my fav smut writer hehe)

hi, first of all, thank you 🖤 am proud to be your favorite 🥹

secondly, in all honesty, its a little complicated. silent readers are only one of the issues on tumblr. If they’re truly silent, i won’t even know they’re reading for me to be upset in the first place, which sucks really fucking bad…

where i actually get pissed of is, well, it’s the people who spam like but don’t reblog, follow me, or leave me any feedback. additionally, it’s the people who beg and plead and demand i write more while never reblogging, or telling me why they like my work in the first place.

i write for free, and while i appreciate all feedback i get, reblogs are so important to writers here on tumblr and i urge you to peek at the ratios of my fics. likes vs reblogs, people asking for more without reblogging or liking etc.

i also have anon enabled specifically for those who don’t want to expose who they are in terms of feedback (silent readers). id like to think that after i spend days and weeks and months writing, people would at the very least either leave feedback or a reblog. yknow? but thats simply not rly the case.

i’m tired of begging for interaction basically, bc as shitty as it is, many writers only get likes and demands for more writing over anything else and it’s exhausting. i try to avoid that if at all possible because ill end up not writing at all. i am real a person. if you are consuming and enjoying my content, pllssss pls pls make it known to me in some way that isnt just an empty like or rude and entitled demand!!

this rly is why the writing community here is dying. arguably, silent readers do play a part in that as well, but they’re more neutral and don’t interact at all. half of the time they don’t even use their blogs ;-; which…if that’s the case why not give us a lil reblog then? like it’s not harmful and gives the author a lil warm and fuzzy feeling.

idk man. ppl basically just treat authors like machines, literal shit, and like we owe them more and more of our creativity so they can rub one out.

i will always stand by this: i do not owe anyone an orgasm. but if you’re going to make demands, or are simply hoping i write more without telling me, then please don’t be a silent reader, a serial liker, or a person who won’t even follow or reblog me.

[intheorangebedroom]

hi bby ✨ I’m hoping to spread a little love around today (it is someone’s birthday after all — so you might see others answering this)!

I am a big fan of people enjoying cake and celebrating, and sometimes cake can be just tooting your own horn 💁‍♀️ so with that in mind, I’d love to know what THREE pieces of work you’re super proud of that you’d recommend others reading, and why 🍰

Oh Jo 🥺 You absolute sunshine, you kind, generous, bright soul you 🥹🧡 Whatever I did to deserve your friendship, I don’t know, but I sure am not going to question it 🫂 Thank you 🧡

I am, I think, famously shit at tooting my own horn. The first thing I want to do is return you the question 🧡 Will you indulge me please? Will you tell me about your favourite works 🙏🏻

For lack of time, I’m not a very prolific author. So I don’t have much to offer, but I’m so thankful you thought of asking me, of all people (why me?!!), I want to play along.

One thing I wrote that I like and find myself rereading often is Road Trippin’. It’s based on one of @wildemaven’s gorgeous moodboard prompts. Her talent is so inspiring. It was the first time ever I worked with visual inspiration (and not audio) and it came to me very fast and easy. I wish it were always like this!

Then I guess I should mention something from PTMY. I recently reblogged my two favourite chapters, for my March birthday puppies, but there’s another scene I like, from the chapter called The Deal. I like to imagine her standing on Will’s threshold, with her Master and Margarita t-shirt, blinded by the April sun, and Frankie seeing her. What goes through his mind, then, when he realises it was not a dream. Everything was real. And she never chose her silence 🧡

And I gotta admit I’m quite happy with the last Tybtm chapter! I’ve seldom experienced that feeling, so there ☺️

Thank you, Jo, this was difficult but entirely worth it!! Thank you for your kindness and generosity! Please do share your favourite works of yours 🧡🙏🏻🧡

[chrisevansdaughter]

you want drabbles? I GOT YOU

luna bringing over a partner for the first time and Chris meeting them?

This is a good one, I can imagine it going like this..

It isn’t so bad after all..

Chris meets Luna’s boyfriend who was her bestfriend for the first time and it goes so well.. like fluff comforting well.

Just a fluffy proud dad moment 🥹✨

So it’s the first time I was bringing over my “boy who is a friend” 👁️👄👁️ yes dad I have boys who are FRIENDS but this was a little bit more than that he’s been my best friend though everything and all the lows, highs and inbetweens.

Dad already knows him he’s called Olly and he’s been apart of my friendship group since middle school so he’s been my rock, I know how cute. But this is the first time dads meeting him in the “boyfriend capacity” and thanks to uncle Scott he’s not as shocked as he should be when I said I had a boyfriend.

“You have a what now?” He said laughing to hide the fact he was nervous because he knows I don’t let myself open up very often to the point of a potential relationship. But here we are.

“Yeah, Olly he’s my boyfriend, you remember Olly right?” I questioned him, it took him a moment, the puzzled look on his face soon faded into something of love and excitement because he knows Olly is a good friend who cares and loves me for me.

“Oh yeah! Olly’s a good guy, well bubs I’m happy for you, so happy - he says coming over to engulf me in a hug. - when do I get to meet him?” He questions.

“Today in about 3 hours, Uncle Scott helped me set it up” I told him laughing at his once Shiah shocked expression. I know I shouldn’t spring things on him like this because we’re the same but it’s only Olly and he’s met him before.

Time skip to a couple hours later

“It’s really nice to meet you again Chris. Scott and Luna have told me about all the jokes you pull in eachother.” Olly laughed at dads face after he heard what Olly just said.

“What an iconic moment, I told you there was nothing to worry about dad, Olly is a good person.” I said getting up to get a drink. Dad followed me to the kitchen whilst Scott and Olly set up mario kart.

“I know sunshine, I know I’m just glad that you found someone like him okay.” Dad whispers as he engulfs me in another hug. “I love him he’s good for you, now let’s go beat him at mario kart hmm?” He added on running back into the living room laughing.

“Fine let’s show him how it’s done” i shouted though to the living room making sure to get my drink.

I’m glad he really likes him and he doesn’t have to worry even though he still will, it makes me so happy - I thought whilst getting comfy next to dad and Olly. I breathe a sigh of what feels like fresh air knowing that I really had nothing to worry about.

Dad quietly whispers into my side, “I’m really happy for you bubs, I love you. I’m proud of you.”

“I love you dad”

So getting Olly to meet dad wasn’t that bad after all.

taglist!

@mcuamerica @scarlettproof @limxrxncx @angelbaby-fics @angelbabydoll28 @ace-of-gay @chrisevansonly @lu-morningstar @sarahrogersevans @buckybarnesandmarvel @cevansgoatee @writersblog20 @youre-amazing-say-it @ellerosie2332 @dumb-fawkin-bitch @imyourbratzdoll @anotherfuckingmarvelfanaccount @mrvlxgrl @stuckysgirl27 @nana1000night @marvelstarker-mha98 @f10werfae @full-timephoebefanatic @steverogersluvbot @hulkstacos @jessybarnes @thatsamericasass24 @haleyhunwritess @haleybr

if you guys would like to be added to my tag list please do comment or iust send in an ask :)

Reblogs, feedback and asks are appreciated <3

[ladyblackbirdart]

saw your tags on the reblog of that chappell drawing. please post your chappell art 🙏🏻🙏🏻 knowing you i know its beautiful

Awwwwwh baby you’re the sweetest 🥹🥹🥹🥹 I just feel like it’s not whimsical enough 😩 but I am proud of the sequins…never done those before. I’m going out of state this week coming up so I’ll probably post it to prevent a dry spell on here lol

Also, anyone happen to live in North Carolina? Tell me your favorite things to do there! I think we’ll be close to Raleigh, NC

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

omg ari this is my response to that post you reblogged some time ago about 'tell me why you followed me' and 🥺 it was honestly bec of the fic that led me to you!! call my name and i'll come running, i believe. i still remember my thoughts after reading it 🥺 how it felt a little bit like a kdrama to me!!! and your response to my rambling was just so lovely too 🥺 it was hard not to follow back!! 🥺

to this day, you have the same big heart and exude the same warmth, just with an even greater body of work that makes me so proud to see every time i realise just how much you've written since then 🥹 you have such a gift with storytelling but i believe that fate led me right to that follow button because of the lovely person you are 🥹

🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 I LOVE YOUUUUUUUU I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU !!!!!!!!!! might have said this before but you were my first mutual on this site sel <333 and i’m so happy we still talk and go insane together !!!!!!! having you here to watch over me and my growth makes me feel so very happy 🥹🥹

i still remember your rb on that gojo fic and how happy it made me T_T it feels so old now but i always think abt it positively bc i met you through it!!!! and then the kitchen table fic is where we followed each other i think <3333 i think back on all of our gojo rambles sooooo so fondly…… our silly man………

wahh you’re just always suchhhh an angel 🥺🥺 i hope you know i’m always cheering you on!!!! if sel has no fans it means i am dead …. yep yep …………

(ALSO I SAW YOUR OTHER ASK 😭😭😭 PLEASE DW ABOUT FORGETTING ANON i feel like the 🥺 emoji is such a big sellie trademark so i would’ve known it was you either way hehe >:3c)

[shesbackagain]

Hi!! Omg hi!💖 It’s me! You answered a few of my asks like weeks ago! I sent two about what you do to get ones peach to look like yours and also about your protein intake 😄😄.

I wanted to message you sooner! But congratulations on using the smith machine!💖 I remember you mentioned you wanted to try it out for a while now!! Congratulations you did it!!😄🫶🏾. Definitely a goal achieved! Now you’ll be able to use the smith machine with more confidence and ease! I’m literally so happy for you!!

The day after the last message you answered, I went to the gym the next day (gym was empty, thank god😫) and I got the courage to use the hyper extension machine! 🤭! Girl when I tell you i probably looked like a clown 💖😌🤡. But hey that’s alright because I’ve gotten so comfortable using it now! And I’ll be able to do them from now onward! And oh my goodness was my 🍑 sore all the way to my hamstrings! 😮‍💨

And I really want to thank you so much for your encouraging words! They were very motivating and you are absolutely the sweetest🫶🏾💖😊. I honestly wouldn’t have given it a try if it wasn’t for you 🥹. You even make me even want to posts pictures of my 🍑 too🤭🫣!! I also got to order my whey protein too!!😃

I followed you too! Like perhaps more than a week ago 😊. I’m a bit shy going off anon🥹 Hopefully that will change! 💖😊 I’ve reblogged some of your posts too😊🫶🏾! You are so so pretty and your tummy is the cutest too💖! But im super excited for you and your gym progress!( also wasn’t aware you probably took a break from the gym?😯, but I’m glad to hear you returned. Please take it easy and take care🫶🏾) I hope you were able to get a good workout on the smith machine! Once again thank you for being so kind and taking time to answer my long messages 🥹💖✨. I would have loved to be your gym partner 💪🏽! And please, I would definitely love to hear more of your gym progress! 😄

Hi 🤗 I hoped you would reach out again!

Thank you! Yes, I finally did it and I felt super empowered 🏋️ it took me a while but like you said goal achieved!!! I'll be using it from now on to do squats instead of using dumbbells 💪

Oh I'm so proud of you for being brave enough to start doing hypertensions 👏🎉 I know the position makes you feel a little exposed but it's worth it 🍑

You don't have to thank me at all, I'm glad you sent me that first ask because now we're on the same journey and I love to be able to share it with you 🤗

Thank you, I'm feeling better and I've been able to train but anyways I'll see my physiotherapist next week so I can recover faster because now I don't like to miss any day off the gym haha I didn't think I would see that day come 😂

And if you feel confident to go off anon anytime just so you know you're so welcome to dm me

You have a friend and gym buddy here 😁💖

[dlea203]

5 years - Hannix AU

A/N: Alright, we’re at chapter ten, everybody 🥳! And with that, we’ve reached the temporary end of this story (emphasis on temporary!). Wow, what a journey it’s been, for both the characters in this story, and for me… this last year has been wonderful/magical/extraordinary/*name any positive English adjective that exists* and difficult/challenging all at once. From physical discomfort to many feelings, to emotional turmoils, to ups and downs… Luckily, I’ve been blessed to meet some of the nicest/kindest/purest souls that grace this earth with their presence. And I’m so immensely proud that I get to call these people my friends 🥹. They’ve brightened up my life and continue to do so every single day. You guys know who you are, and I cannot thank you enough for what you’ve done for me so far and what you keep doing!

But every good thing comes to an end eventually, and it’s not different with this story. 5 years has proven to be a very educational project with all its ups and downs. I’ve had days/weeks/even months where the writer’s block has hit me harder than I wanted. I’ve looked at these pages several times and wondered: How the fuck am I ever gonna bring this to an end?!             Well, I managed, and that is due to my wonderful readers who’ve encouraged me to go on. To try again and again and again. Your comments, reblogs and likes have made me continue and somehow believe in myself and that I can finish this, so that we all get a little closure (and the characters too, obviously 😉). 

As you’ve probably noticed, this chapter will be posted in two posts (first the flashback scene and then the “present time”). Why? Because otherwise the post would be too long😅.

ANYWAY, I should stop rambling so much. This chapter has its usual warnings like lots of fluff and angst, but it also comes with a HEAVY TRIGGER WARNING about graphic depiction of violence and injuries, attempted sexual assault (not too graphic), brutality, captivation and imprisoning of a main character, etc. (I can’t name them all off the top of my head, so I’m sorry if I missed something)! So please, all minors and everyone who gets triggered by any of these themes, please DO NOT READ the flashback scene (aka the first post!) and the first part of the present time! You can start the story where the POV changes into the second scene of present time (It’s marked with a reader-safe section separator). 

I’m not taking any responsibility for psychological damage that can be caused by reading the flashback scene/first part of the present time if you’re not 18+ or if you get triggered by the themes mentioned.

I’m also not intending to offend anyone by the way I portray the “enemy” in this story. Everything regarding the topic Afghanistan/its inhabitants/its government up to now, in this chapter and in the future (if there is one for this story) are to be filed under the creative-liberty-section! I’m not intending to make any political statements or to judge in a moral sense. I’m sorry nonetheless if someone feels offended. I can assure you it wasn’t my intention.

Now, enjoy (although it’s probably a bit outrageous to phrase it like that 😅😬) the (temporary) last chapter of 5 years and THANK YOU to everyone who’s been on this ride with me! It was a blast, and I hope to continue writing for Hannix in the future. 

Take care everyone and lots of love, your Daria 🥰

Taglist: @callsignstingray @sweetwhispersofchaos

Previous chapter

Chapter Ten - part one

August 19th, one year ago…

Jake hadn’t known that brutality like this existed on this planet. He’d never seen people with this few humanity in them like the men he was sitting across from right now as the truck sped through the desert. They laughed devilishly, enjoying their victory, and counting the loot they had snatched today. They were neither mourning the men they’d lost nor regretting their actions just a little bit. Jake was disgusted, and that is the understatement of the century. He kept his head down, fighting the tears that were trying to make their way out of his eyes to deal with what he’d seen today.

He'd never get these images out of his mind. Jake wished that he was part of a horror show, that someone would call “Cut!” any moment and he’d get to see the cameras to be reminded that this wasn’t real. Except that it was. This wasn’t a film. It was reality. And it was irreversible…

*-*

The day started normal. The men and boys went to the fields, the women stayed in the village, doing laundry and looking after the kids who weren’t in school. It was a day like any other in the Afghan desert. Except that Jake stayed in the village too, today. He made a few repairs to the houses of the village, especially on the roofs. A quite nasty earthquake had shaken the villagers out of their sleep last night and made some damages to the houses. Jake and the women tried their best to fix the damages, so that no one would get hurt.

But about two hours after the day had started, nothing was normal anymore. As if the earthquake was supposed to be a bad sign, the village got raided that day, but not by the protection money collectors. No, this was a different group of Taliban men. Much more brutal and heartless. 

They sped along the gravel road but stopped at the fields. Because the villagers had heard them too late, they weren’t able to get back to the village in time, so they looked up from their work, confused. The Taliban climbed out of their trucks, pointed their loaded guns at the men and started shooting them down. Bodies dropped left and right, the fields getting soaked with innocent blood. Among the victims: Jahan and Lianh.

In the village, the women and kids heard the gun shots coming from the fields. Everyone looked at one another, confused and with panic rising within them. 

“Are those gunshots?”, Zahra asked in Afghan, grabbing her mother’s hand. 

“Those are coming from the fields”, Jake stated dryly, already knowing that it was too late for the men and boys on the fields and fearing the worst for the village.

He’d recognize these sounds from miles away. Years of being in the military did that to you. He dropped the tools and ran out in front of the Sayyid house, yelling through the village that there were gunshots coming from the fields and that everyone should get into their house immediately. Amira’s face turned snow white, and everyone started screaming. The women hurried the kids into the houses, trying in vain to lock the doors. But it was all for nothing. Minutes after the gunshots stopped on the fields, various trucks came to a stop in the middle of the village, the Taliban men jumping out and shooting around, not caring who they caught with their bullets. They hollered things Jake didn’t understand and broke into the houses, shooting everyone inside.

Jake hid in the wall closet, as he always did, because muscle memory took over at this point. Amira wanted to run into one of the rooms at the back to protect Aarian, but she didn’t get there in time. Three men broke down the door, pointing their guns at her and Zahra, shouting that they wanted money and valuables. One man walked straight into the back rooms, collecting everything valuable he found. Then, they heard a scream and shot, before something heavy dropped to the floor. Aarian. The other two grabbed Zahra and pressed her face down onto the kitchen table, laughing devilishly and tried to push her skirts up, reaching underneath. She screamed, doing her best to defend herself, but she didn’t stand a chance. Amira wanted to help her, but the second man rammed her head onto the stove and pushed her onto the ground in the corner. Jake balled his fists. Zahra’s screams burned themselves into the depth of his mind. He rammed his shoulder into the door of the closet to open it and immediately threw his whole weight into the man who held Zahra’s arms and had pushed Amira into the corner of the kitchen. The man stumbled and hit his head on the stove as well, going down at least for the moment. Jake tore the other one off Zahra, closed his arms around his neck and tried to strangle him. Zahra pushed her skirts back down, a look of naked panic and shock on her face.

“Zahra, get out of here! Run!”, Jake screamed at her, while he fought with the offender.

Zahra stumbled backwards towards the door and wanted to run out, but the third man who’d killed Aarian darted after her, raised his gun and shot her straight in the head. Zahra dropped down on the threshold.

“No!”

Jake had never before screamed this loudly in his life. He closed his arms even tighter around the bastard’s throat and twisted them, snapping his neck. Then, he jumped onto Zahra’s and Aarian’s murderer. They fought for the gun, crashing into walls and the table in the process. Jake almost had him, but the third man stood up from the ground and then it was two on one. They overpowered him and almost beat him unconscious. When they pressed him down onto the ground, one of the two found Jake’s Dog tags.

“He’s American!”, the man shouted in Afghan, showing the Dog tags to his friend, “Let’s take him with us!”

They tied Jake’s hands up behind his back with a rope and pushed him towards the door. He stumbled over Zahra’s body as his captor nudged him forward. From the corner of his eye, Jake saw that the other one stayed behind and shot Amira in her head, before walking after his friend who pushed Jake towards the trucks. Jake’s heart clenched so tightly that he felt the pain in his ribs.

As they walked up to the vehicles, Jake saw the massacre they had perpetrated. The gravel road and village square were lined with bodies, grown-ups and children. Before he was loaded into one of the trucks, Jake spotted the bodies of Edris and Ava, a few feet away from the school building. Edris’ body lay over Ava’s. He’d wanted to protect his little sister. Jake’s heart dropped into his stomach, and he vomited into the sand next to the truck. His captor slapped him across the face and yelled something in Afghan, probably an insult, but Jake neither cared nor understood. He gave up fighting against his captors. Jake was pushed into the back of the truck, along with various bags full of money and valuables. From there, everything blurred together…

*-*

They’re dead.

It was the only thought Jake was capable of coming up with. He thought about it for hours on end, saw the scenes he’d witnessed in front of his mind’s eye. Zahra, dead on the threshold. She was on the verge of breaking free, but it was snatched from her in the cruelest way. Amira, a loving mother, died while trying to save her children. Edris and Ava, two kids with bright futures ahead, died while trying to protect each other. Aarian, five years old, had his life taken from him before it even started. Jahan and Lianh, hard workers with hearts of gold, murdered for no reason. He didn’t even want to get started on the rest of the villagers. From Babies to children, to women to old men and everything in between, murdered out of pure joy. They were innocent, hadn’t done anything forbidden, except protecting Jake. Their only sin was being good souls. To avoid breaking down in tears in front of the monsters that were his captors, Jake turned his head away to look out at the massive amount of sand they passed. The longer he did, the more tired he got. He didn’t know when exactly, but at one point, his eyes closed, and he dozed off.

He didn’t come back to himself until the truck finally came to a stop. They dragged him out and pushed him forward to an iron gate where two men stood with machine guns. Jake saw a big sign next to the gate: State Prison of Herat.

Zahra had not only taught him how to speak but also how to read Afghan, that’s why he was able to make out what the letters on the sign meant. Zahra… To make the memories vanish, Jake sighed audibly.

Great, now I’ll surely never see my family again, he thought bitterly while the two armed men took him from his captors.

They seemed to negotiate something, but Jake didn’t pay attention. He just let everything happen. They brought him into the main building, checking him over for weapons and throwing him prison clothes. Then he was handcuffed, and they walked him to a different area of the building, past some common rooms where the local prisoners eagerly made fun of him and shouted death threats at him. Jake didn’t care. He stared ahead, expressionless. His will to live had shrunk with every bullet that had been fired in the village. 

Eventually, they reached the part of the building where he would be imprisoned for the foreseeable future. After sweeping a glance through the corridor that was lined with cells, which were only separated by bars, he came to a stop in front of an empty cell.

“Get in there!”, one guard yelled and pushed him inside.

Jake fell to his knees and was made to stay like that until they had removed his cuffs. The guards exited the cell and slammed the door shut behind them. Jake dropped his head forward and checked his tunic for the picture of her. He was allowed to keep the tunic with him, although not to wear it. For a moment he’d been afraid they would take it from him when they checked him over. They hadn’t found the picture, luckily. Same for his wedding band, that he immediately added to the chain of his dog tags. He stuffed them back beneath the clothes he had on now and threw the tunic into a corner of his cell.

“Hey there, you okay?”

Jake’s head whipped around to his left where the voice had come from. A man about his age looked through the bars, a curious expression on his face. His English was accent free, which strangely made Jake feel a little more comfortable immediately.

“Yeah, sure. Best day of my life”, Jake deadpanned.

“I figured”, the man laughed, “I mean, who doesn’t want to get imprisoned in here? It’s pure luxury!”

Jake had to smile at that. The man seemed to not have lost his humor, which somehow brought even more comfort.

“I’m Ryan Hessington, by the way”, he introduced himself, trying to squeeze his hand through the bars before giving up and just offering a fist bump through them.

Jake walked over to him and bumped his fist.

“I’m Jake Seresin. Nice to meet you, Ryan.”

“The pleasure’s all mine, Jake. Where are you from?”

“Originally from Texas, but I’ve been living in San Diego before I came here. You?”

“From Phoenix in Arizona, baby. Best freakin’ city on this planet!”, Ryan chuckled and pounded onto his heart twice.

Jake’s heart fluttered at Phoenix, but he pushed the thoughts of his wife aside for the moment.

“I dare to doubt that”, Jake countered, smiling sincerely for the first time since this morning.

“Agreed!”, a voice with a British accent sounded over from a few cells down.

“Oh, shut up, Stronski!”, Ryan yelled back, before he looked at Jake again.

“May I present? Marc Stronski from a small town near Everton, that he keeps claiming to be the best city in the world”, Ryan said and rolled his eyes.

“It’s true!”, Marc grinned, offering a salute to Jake.

“It’s not even a city! It’s a small town!”

“Doesn’t matter!”

“Yes, it does! Whatever, moving on.”

Jake chuckled. Ryan grinned and pointed at the cell across from Jake next.

“There we have Kilian Hartmann and next to him is Theo Becker, both from Germany.”

They waved at Jake.

“On the right of Theo, we have Stronski’s british ally, the name’s Daniel White. Next to me is my friend and only remaining pal of my squad, Jared Shaw. But that’s a story for the second date. And next to him, our only remaining French buddy named François Déforel.”

“Salut”, François greeted, as Jared moved out of the way so Jake could nod back at him.

“And that’s it, that’s gonna be your company from now on.”

“Hey! What about me?!”, a Spanish-accented voice spoke up from all the way down the corridor.

“Oh my god, forgive me”, Ryan exclaimed with faux-desperation, which almost made Jake burst into laughter, “I forgot about our Spanish-german double agent! Last but not least, Circo Alcarraz.”

“I will kick your ass as soon as I get a chance, Ryan!”, Circo yelled over, but there was no harm behind his words.

Jake managed to smile genuinely at the men he was imprisoned with. They seemed like pretty cool guys. Maybe that would make this situation a bit more endurable.

“Any questions so far?”, Ryan pulled him out of his thoughts.

“You said François is your only remaining French buddy. What does that mean?”

Ryan’s face got a solemn expression, his eyes turning a shade darker.

“Your cell was the one of Sébastien Maillard. He was taken for interrogation yesterday, but they didn’t bring him back. That means he didn’t get through it…”

“Didn’t get through it?”

Ryan looked at him, his smile a sad one.

“They’re not exactly following the human rights convention when they do their interrogations, to put it lightly.”

Jake nodded, definitely not needing further details. He’d witnessed enough brutality for the day (technically for a lifetime, but it would surely not be over anytime soon).

“God bless him”, Ryan muttered, before shaking his head as if to get rid of the thoughts that ran through his head at the moment.

“Beside the habits of our guards, any other questions?”

“Not for the moment, no. Thank you”, Jake thanked him earnestly.

“Well, you know where to find me if that changes. It’s not like we have much privacy… but I promise we’re not stepping on each other’s toes here. If someone wants to be left in peace, we respect that. Is that okay?”

“Sure, absolutely. Thank you.”

Ryan nodded, before lying down onto his shady mattress. Jake did the same, lying down and staring at the ceiling. His hand brushed over the chain with the dog tags and his wedding band.

Baby, I miss you, he thought, longing for her in his arms.

He wished she would suddenly appear here, for just a minute, so he could take her into his arms and trust, even if only for a moment, that everything would turn out fine.

*-*

The first few days at the prison passed by surprisingly quickly. Jake had to adjust to this new situation, which meant staying in his cell for half of the day and working within the prison for the rest of it. Ryan and the others were kind enough to assist and instruct him though, so that the guards didn’t have too many reasons to punish him. They did punish him anyway, because they liked to demonstrate their power and superiority, but they treated all the prisoners equally. Not making a difference between foreign soldiers and local criminals. The foreign soldiers were kept apart from the locals though because the risk of a bloody fight with fatality was too high. And they couldn’t take that risk, the infrastructure was too old to withstand a riot. 

After work, the soldiers were brought back to their cells immediately where lunch or dinner was served.

“They just don’t have any class here”, Ryan joked, “they’re not even letting us eat together!”

Jake laughed. He was glad that the men he was imprisoned with haven’t lost their true personalities due to being here. He remembered one of his instructors at the academy warning them about exactly that…

“If you ever get into the situation where you’re imprisoned by the enemy, you have to do two things… First, adjust to the situation as quickly as possible. Figure out how you can get as comfortable there as possible, whatever measures that includes. Everything is allowed, just do it. Second, lock your personality, and everything that is connected to it, deep within yourself and keep it there. You have to become a shell, hollow and worthless on the inside. Because the enemy will try to figure out how they can break you. And if they find something – no, I rephrase – if you give them something they can break you with, if you give them the weapon to break you with, they sure as hell are gonna use it! Is that understood?”

“Yes, Sir!”

Jake had never imagined that he would be in a situation described in that lesson but here he was. He would do exactly what they were asked to in that lesson. Lock his personality - everything that made him Jake - deep into his soul. He’d lock away his girls, where he came from, his friends and family, his passions and interests; everything that separated him from being a robot would disappear into the depth of his soul and would not reappear until he was free again. Or at least, until he was alone in his cell, and the guards weren’t anywhere near. Which proved to be helpful indeed but didn’t get easier the longer he had to keep it up. At least it disappeared into the back of his mind the more time passed but it didn’t get easier. He just kinda got used to it. It became a mandatory habit. Just like turning off his feelings and his mind completely when he was dragged to the interrogation room. Or torture cell, as his new friends told him.

“Whatever happens, whatever they promise you if you cooperate, do not believe them, okay?!”, Ryan had whisper-shouted at him when they’d heard the guards walk down the corridor towards Jake’s cell to get him for his first interrogation.

“Okay.”

“They’re liars! Same goes for the threats they utter! Don’t listen and don’t worry about them! They’re not gonna make them true, how could they? Your family and friends live far away in safety! Remember, Jake, okay?! Always remember that!”

Jake nodded, then he was dragged out of his cell by his arms, and punched in the back when he didn’t get onto his knees immediately. Ryan held onto the bars and looked him deep in the eyes.

“You got this, Jake. Just hold on. For them”, he insisted, watching the guards drag Jake away.

*-*

At first, Jake had thought that working in the burning sun was the worst part of being imprisoned here. He’d assumed that the interrogations wouldn’t be much fun, but he’d thought that the film-cliché of them being the worst wouldn’t be true. Oh boy, was he wrong about that… 

The interrogations were hell on earth. The physical as well as the mental part of them. The bastards insulted him as much as they beat him up with their leather belts and fists. His back was covered in red streaks within minutes into the interrogation. But it wasn’t really an interrogation, to be honest. It was rather a monologue by one of the three guards in the room while the other two switched the roles to beat and hit him bloody. The monologue consisted of insults, predictions on what they would do to him, (death) threats for his loved ones at home, and so on…

“You have family?”, he was asked.

Jake didn’t answer and received a punch to the ribs.

“We’ll find them. We will find them and murder them. They will suffer, oh yes… We will make a video and show it to you. How we slit their throats and hang them on a tree!”

The guards laughed, basking in their brutal fantasies. Jake just stared ahead, mind blank and ears as closed off as possible. But the images were created in his head, nonetheless. 

The worst ones always came at night, when he was supposed to rest and get new strength to get through the next day. He saw Natasha and Lynn, peacefully dining at the kitchen table, when the door is broken down and the guards enter the house. Natasha jumps up from the table, picking Lynn up into her arms, fleeing behind the kitchen island to grab a knife. She hides Lynn between her legs and the counter, shouting at the men to leave them alone. But the men just laugh at her. She tries to stab one of them, but they’re three and she’s alone with a child to protect. They knock the knife right out of her hands and grab for her and Lynn. She holds onto their daughter, screaming for help. Jake sees the naked panic in her eyes, the same he saw in Zahra’s face right after he’d stopped the bastard from raping her. They’re torn apart. Their cries are like a thousand knives that pierce straight into his soul. Jake is helpless, watching with utter desperation and shock how his wife and daughter are slaughtered right there in their home. In their safe place…

He jolted upright, shaking himself as if that would make those horrible images go away.

Don’t let them get into your head, he reminded himself.

Making sure that no guard was near, he fished the picture of her out of the slit in the wall above his mattress. Her peaceful and happy smile on said picture always grounded him.

“You’re okay”, he whispered to her, gently touching her belly with his index finger.

Oh, how he wished she would reply. Or send him a sign, just one small sign that she was, in fact, okay. That they were both okay. But he was left to trust. No guarantee until he’d be home again to see for himself. If that happened, in the first place. Which was not guaranteed either. And if the same happened to him as to Sébastien before, he’d never find out…

*-*

Days, weeks, eventually months passed. Filled with countless hours of hard work and brutal interrogations. In between, he got to know the stories of his comrades in the cells next to him.

Kilian narrated the story of how him and Theo ended up in the prison of Herat. They were part of a reconnaissance troop from the German military that got hijacked during a tour two years ago about 300 km west from Kabul. Because the Taliban barely had control over said region back then, they drove them all the way through the desert to Herat. Kilian and Theo were separated from the rest of their colleagues, who were partly transported further west to the Iranian border and partly died from their injuries during the journey from Kabul to Herat.

“My childhood friend, Jannis, was amongst the victims”, Kilian mentioned, his voice casual but at the same time laced with suppressed feelings.

Jake pressed his lips together into a tight smile, silently offering his condolences. He knew how much effort it took for Kilian to open up to him. These men were already so used to lock away their personalities that it was more difficult for them than for Jake to find back to themselves in quiet moments like this.

“We grew up together, in a small town between Friedrichshafen and Lindau. That’s in the very southern part of Germany. Almost on board of the Bodensee.”

Jake nodded, although he didn’t have a clue where Kilian’s hometown was supposed to be. He hadn’t been to Germany a lot before. Only twice in his career, and maybe once or twice as a little kid, when his parents were on a business trip and couldn’t leave Caroline and him at home. But on all those occasions he’d never been to the very southern part of Germany. The most southern city he’d been to, is Munich.

“Jannis convinced me to join the military on a professional level. I wasn’t sure if I want that, but he was so excited and fascinated by the Bundeswehr, that he talked non-stop about it in school. Right after we finished our Abitur, we signed up for the training camp and then I finally understood why he loved it so much. It took us a few years, but when we got called up for this tour in Afghanistan, we couldn’t wait to prove to our superiors why we deserved to be where we were… but yeah, now there are some days where I wish I had stayed in Germany and had pursued a normal job.”

Kilian sighed, shrugging his shoulders.

“At least I got to meet some of the most amazing people. The boys were a lot of fun to be around and made this sand-hell a lot more bearable!”

They shared a laugh, with Theo joining in.

“I hope I can go home one day and tell Jannis’ family what a hero he’s been. He fought against his injuries for days… he died about four days before we reached Herat. But I bet he’s better, there where he is now. God bless him”, Kilian murmured, staring into space.

Jake tapped against the bars of his cell twice, signaling his support. 

“Amen”, Theo muttered.

*-*

Jake never really talked about what had happened to him. He was grateful and felt honored that the others trusted him and shared their stories with him, but he didn’t feel like talking about that day in the village. The others weren’t offended, luckily. He simply shared some minor information about his time in the village, like that he’d stayed with a nice family and that he’d felt like he was really part of the village by the end. He told them about their hard work on the fields, that they’d shown him how they built their houses, that he’d taught the kids English. 

Those memories proved to be helpful during the long days in prison, and especially during the interrogations. Jake was able to shut his mind off and get lost in those memories to get through the agonizing hours.

At one point in time, Ryan reminded him that it was Christmas day. Jake acknowledged this with a nod of his head. A few days later, it was New Year’s Eve. They toasted to each other with their empty cups, everyone wishing for the same thing: going home soon.

That wish was heard, although with a delay of about six months. But it was heard and granted. A united army of American and Afghan forces was able to liberate Herat from the Taliban. They stormed the city at night, including the prison. When the guards heard them coming, they tried to escape through the backdoor, but not without trying to eliminate the inmates before. The imprisoned soldiers were fast asleep, when suddenly a group of guards ran through the corridor and shot into each cell as the dashed past them. Jake was hit by at least two bullets, screaming in pain and trying to press himself against the corner of his cell. He used his mattress as a shield and pressed down onto the wound in his lower left abdomen. But he lost too much blood. Within minutes, he started to fall out of consciousness, the mattress burying him. The last thing he heard was Ryan coughing and calling his name. Then, it was pitch black.

*-*

Jake woke up again in a hospital like room. He was hooked up to a monitor that beeped in a steady tune, indicating a stable heartbeat. On his left he saw an infusion pole with various bags hanging from it. His head pounded and he felt like he’d been run over by a truck. When he tried to sit up, a warm hand gently pushed down on his right shoulder, making him turn his head in that direction. Two sympathetic green-brown eyes met him.

“Maverick?”

Maverick smiled and nodded, gently patting his shoulder.

“It’s good to see you, Hangman”, Maverick greeted.

A wave of comfort and relief surged through Jake’s body, and he sunk back into his pillow.

“Where am I? What happened? And what are you doing here?”

“Calm down, Hangman, take it easy”, Maverick ordered softly, “We’re in Germany, on base in Landstuhl. They brought you here a week ago from Afghanistan. You had surgery and were put into an induced coma until now, to give your body time to rest and heal.”

Jake just looked at him.

“And what are you doing here?”

“Captain Mercer called me as soon as you were rescued from that prison in Herat. He told me they would fly you out here to get that surgery done.”

“And then you just came here?”

“Of course.”

“But you’re not my family… Why would they let you see me?”

“Because I told them that I’d sit in front of your door and wait until they get tired of me and let me see you eventually. Luckily, they got sick of me pretty quickly”, Maverick joked, and Jake laughed, immediately wincing at the pain that shot through his body.

“Ah shit, laughing is a bad idea”, he huffed, holding his side.

“Easy, Hangman. Those were two pretty nasty gunshot wounds.”

“It’s good to see you too, Maverick.”

“I’m glad you’re well, according to the circumstances.”

“When can I go home?”

Maverick sighed.

“I’m not your doctor, so I don’t know. But I’ll call him in here, if you want…”

Jake nodded. Maverick got up and walked out of the room for a moment. A few minutes later, he got back inside, Jake’s doctor tagging along with him. They had a good chat; the doctor taking notes of his vitals and reporting how the surgery went. The topic of going home was a bit a tough one, but the doctor made clear that Jake wasn’t allowed to board a plane until the doctor himself allowed it. Which would not be until another week at least.

*-*

Luckily, Jake recovered fast, and that allowed him to board the plane in Frankfurt two and a half weeks after his surgery. When he sat in his seat at the window, staring at the taxiway of Frankfurt’s airport, he couldn’t quite believe that he would really get to go home now. He felt his hands shake a little bit and buried them in his sweater to hide them. In the pocket of his sweater, his fingers touched the picture of her, which made his heart race even more.

“I’m coming home, girls”, he whispered, and felt tears cloud his vision as that statement wasn’t just a wish or a dream anymore.

It was the truth. After five years full of agony and suffering, he was the luckiest man alive.

The flights were neither long nor short enough. When he changed to his connecting flight in Atlanta, he swept his gaze over the people at the airport. He didn’t quite feel at home yet, but these first few minutes on American ground felt even better than he’d expected. When he landed in San Diego and stepped through the sliding doors into the arrival hall, he breathed in deeply and felt his heart calm down a lot.

“Jake!”

A familiar voice reached his ears and he turned into its direction. Maverick waved at him. When Jake stepped up to him, he hugged him tight. Maverick gently patted his back, aware of his scars there. Jake smiled gratefully at him.

“Is she here too?”

“No, but I’ll get you straight home, if that’s alright”, Maverick answered.

Jake nodded, falling into step with his old instructor. They jumped in the car and Maverick let its engine roar to life. They drove in silence for five minutes, before Maverick spoke up, his deep voice almost making him sound like he was grumbling.

“I have to warn you… She doesn’t know. No one does, so don’t be surprised if they react strangely or push you away. I begged Cyclone not to call her, and that the office in Landstuhl shouldn’t call her either. It wouldn’t have been right, after so many years. I hope that’s okay for you… I figured she would rather believe it if she saw it with her own eyes than when someone on the phone told her that you’re still alive and–“

“Mav, it’s fine”, Jake interjected.

“Good. Just, go easy on her. And give her time and space if she needs it.”

“I will.”

Maverick watched him get out of the car hesitantly, kneading his fingers. 

“Hey Jake”, Maverick called after him, making Jake turn around and look at him, “good luck. And welcome home.”

“Thank you, Mav. For everything.”

Maverick winked at him, before he turned the car around and left Jake alone in the driveway. The latter clenched his trembling hands together, before taking the final steps up to the door that separated him from his whole world.