#romantic relationship

[letterstoear]

Beanfest letter of warning! Rook Hunt Ver.

Notes: Rook x reader, romantic relationship, fluff, letter, reader is on the monster team, letter is sent day before beanfest.

Purchase matching bears here: Beanfest Bears

Purchase matching bears here if you live outside of the U.S: Beanfest Bears

__,

It appears the beating of my own heart couldn’t conquer my own excitement as I’ve found myself writing to you. To fight against both Vil and you is truly something one can only feel during events such as Beanfest. Such thoughts have sent me flying in circles as I’ve made my way throughout the school to engage with everyone. Before we fight with all our might, it’s important to spread good cheer to those around you, is it not?

Perhaps, I was being too obvious with my true intentions. If only you could see your very face as I’m writing this letter to you. The look you just gave me sent a chill up my spine. Fret not, I won't wring out any information from you, unwillingly of course. Writing letters in front of you is splendid as always. I adore seeing your face twitch as you guess what I’m writing to you.

So, have your predictions come true my little snuggle duck?

Rook Hunt

[quotationsworld]

While I can’t have you, I long for you. I am the kind of person who would miss a train or a plane to meet you for coffee. I’d take a taxi across town to see you for ten minutes. I’d wait outside all night if I thought you would open the door in the morning. If you call me and say ‘Will you…’ my answer is ‘Yes’, before your sentence is out. I spin worlds where we could be together. I dream you. For me, imagination and desire are very close.

— Jeanette Winterson

[roo-bii]

ᴍᴀʏ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ɢᴇᴛ ɪɴꜰᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ

⋯

^᪲ ⁞ ᵖᵃʳⁱⁿᵍ﹕ ᵃˡᵃˢᵗᵒʳ ˣ ⁽ ⁿᵃᵐᵉ ⁾

ꔫ ⁞ ᵍᵉⁿʳᵉ﹕ ᶠˡᵘᶠᶠ + ˢˡⁱᵍʰᵗ ᵃⁿᵍˢᵗ

୨୧ ⁞ ᶜᵃᵘᵗⁱᵒⁿ ﹕ ᵍⁿ ﹗ ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ , ᵉˢᵗᵃᵇˡⁱˢʰᵉᵈ ʳᵉˡᵃᵗⁱᵒⁿˢʰⁱᵖ , ᵖᵒˢˢᵉˢˢⁱᵛᵉ ᵇᵉʰᵃᵛⁱᵒʳ ⁽ ˢʰᵒʷⁿ ᵇʸ ᵃˡᵃˢᵗᵒʳ ⁾ , ˢˡⁱᵍʰᵗ ᶜᵘʳˢⁱⁿᵍ , ᵇˡᵒᵒᵈ ᵇᵉⁱⁿᵍ ᵐᵉⁿᵗⁱᵒⁿᵉᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵈᵉᵖⁱᶜᵗᵉᵈ , ⁱᵐᵖˡⁱᵉᵈ ᵛⁱᵒˡᵉⁿᶜᵉ , ⁽ ⁿᵃᵐᵉ ⁾ ⁱˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵐᵉⁿᵗⁱᵒⁿᵉᵈ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰⁱˢ ᵒⁿᵉˢʰᵒᵗ.

❜୧ ⁞ ᵃⁿᵃˡʸˢⁱˢ ﹕ ᵈᵘʳⁱⁿᵍ ʸᵒᵘʳ ʷᵉᵉᵏˡʸ ᵉʳʳᵃⁿᵈˢ ʷʰⁱᶜʰ ᵐᵃⁱⁿˡʸ ᶜᵒⁿˢⁱˢᵗˢ ᵒᶠ ᵍᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍˢ ᶠᵒʳ ᵗʰᵉ ʰᵒᵗᵉˡ, ʸᵒᵘ ᵍᵉᵗ ⁱⁿᵗᵒ ᵃʳᵍᵘᵐᵉⁿᵗ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵃ ʳᵃⁿᵈᵒᵐ ˢⁱⁿⁿᵉʳ, ˡᵉᵃᵈⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᵗʷᵒ ᵒᶠ ʸᵒᵘ ᶠⁱᵍʰᵗⁱⁿᵍ ⁽ ʷʰⁱᶜʰ ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵃʸ ᵒʳ ᵐᵃʸ ⁿᵒᵗ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ˡᵒˢᵗ. ⁾ ᵗʰᵃⁿᵏˢ ᵗᵒ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᶠⁱᵃⁿᶜᵉ'ˢ ˢʰᵃᵈᵒʷ, ʰᵉ ᵇʳⁱⁿᵍˢ ʸᵒᵘ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ʰᵒᵗᵉˡ'ˢ ˡᵒᵇᵇʸ, ᶜᵒᵛᵉʳᵉᵈ ⁱⁿ ᵍᵃˢʰᵉˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢᶜʳᵃᵗᶜʰᵉˢ. ⁱᵗ'ˢ ᵘᵖ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱᵐ ᵗᵒ ᵗᵃᵏᵉ ᶜᵃʳᵉ ᵒᶠ ʸᵒᵘʳ ʷᵒᵘⁿᵈˢ ʷʰⁱˡᵉ ᵗʳʸⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ᶠⁱⁿᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ʳᵉᵃˢᵒⁿ ʷʰʸ ᵗʰᵉ ᵃʳᵍᵘᵐᵉⁿᵗ ᵉˢᶜᵃˡᵃᵗᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ᶠᵃʳ ᵃˢ ⁱᵗ ᵈⁱᵈ..

The soft hum of radio static echoed in the lobby of the hotel, leaving a calming sensation that made you feel a sense of comfort as you laid on the couch, getting your wounds tended to. Alastor, your significant other who also happened to be one of the other Overlords in Hell, was tending to your injuries, putting bandages and alcohol to your cuts.

All you could do as he scolded you while dabbing the alcohol-soaked rag over your cuts was whine at the painful stinging sensation. You had gotten yourself into a scuffle with some sinners while going out for your weekly run of getting groceries, earning you a few cuts and bruises.

Luckily, his shadow tasked with having to watch you, practically bound to you ! Just thinking about the argument you had with the sinners before being beaten up made you groan, which caught Alastors attention. He pulled the alcohol soaked rag away from the one of many gashes you had received.

You could tell by his expression that he was a bit irritated with you, from the way his smile sharpened and his eyes glowed brighter, a sign that he wasn't exactly happy with you right now.

" I thought I told you to be careful during your errands for Charlie. " He said, voice low as he began to put bandages over your cuts, the white cotton strips sticking to the dried blood around the wounds. Oh, what the Overlord would do to those sinners who laid their hands on you if he could. The need to keep you by his side as much as possible was too tempting to not take advantage of.

He'd even had his shadow bring the lowlifes to him, and he'd rip them apart, limb by limb, broadcasting their screams and desperate pleads all across Hell. A perfect show, one he wouldn't let his dear beloved partake in.

" I tried. It's not like I was the one who started it anyway.. "

You responded, watching as he put a bandage over the large cut on your shoulder, the cotton pressing against the wound as he wrapped it in a roll. Alastor's eyes widened before going back to their normal appearance, his constant smile remaining. He nearly found it humorous how his shadow told him otherwise.

" Oh really? "

His voice was a bit higher in pitch, as if he was teasing you. Alastor was finished tending to your wounds and took a step back, hands on his hips as he looked down at you. You gave him a nod, and he just chuckled, amused by the completely different story his lover was telling him.

" So, it wasn't you who threw your bags at them? Or, maybe... it was the sinners who had attacked you that had thrown the items at themselves, dearest? "

The radio static in his voice became a bit distorted, making you swallow the nervous lump in your throat. You couldn't tell if he was irritated or just messing with you... Something was making you drift to the first option, though.

" They knocked over my entire basket ' by accident. ' How do you knock over a basket, full of groceries, not intentionally? " You began to rant about the encounter. Alastor's ears twitched as you explained what had happened, finding the entire ordeal rather comical.

" Then, they kept mocking me. One of them had the nerve to call me a ' whore ' of all things! The FUCK did I ever do to any of them?! "

The Radio Demon, as they call him, listened to your story, watching as your expression switched between different emotions. It was almost adorable, seeing you get so angry over something as simple as a verbal insult, one that could easily be thrown back at the sinner.

" Oh? Did they, now? " He questioned, watching as you nodded. You were sitting up on the couch now, legs crossed over each other and arms folded across your chest. The demon's gaze turned to the shadow he possessed, waiting to get a signal that you were actually telling the truth.

He could trust his beloved, but sometimes you didn't think to tell him everything, or sometimes you'd lie to him in order to avoid getting in trouble. His shadow confirmed your story, nodding towards him before slowly fading away into the shadows. Alastor looked back at you, tilting his head. He could feel his smile widen, eyes looking down at you as you complained about the sinners who attacked you.

" Darling. "

You were cut off, eyes widening. His voice was soft, gentle, yet had a hint of static in it. Alastor leaned over you, putting his arms underneath your form and picking you up in a way that made your arms instinctively wrap around his neck for support before stinging at the sharp movement due to your injuries.

He stood firmly, holding you up against him, the two of you making eye contact. The Radio Demon's eyes were narrowed, a glint of mischief and amusement in them. The sudden silence that engulfed the two of you made you realize how loud you were.

" It's always entertaining to see the shenanigans that you manage to get yourself into. You know, it makes me feel better about how protective I am of you, ma très chère. "

[storm-priestess]

▪°•○♡ DETAILS ON YOUR NEXT ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP ♡○•°▪

(all pictures taken from weheartit)

○ Pile 1 ○

this person challenges you career-wise, as well as regarding your self worth

they will make you question why you let others treat you like shit, most likely at work, school, or in friendships

I'm getting that they give you pep talks, hype you up and remind you that you deserve to be respected and loved

very power couple vibes, albeit not super romantic, there's a lot of affection here

they'll support you through all the late nights stuck at the library or working overtime, cheering you on

this is extremely sweet :')

they like sending you messages when you're apart, letting you know that they're thinking of you <3

I can't get over how powerful this is, they truly help you see your inner light. whether this relationship lasts or not, you'll carry their influence with you forever and will never regret the time you spent with them, if only bc they helped you climb out of a dark space

they really, really care about your well-being, almost forcefully

VERY mulan and li shang vibe, although I get the sense you're a bit more nervous and self critical than mulan was in the movie

they're just so invested in you knowing your worth, it's beautiful

○ Pile 2 ○

whirlwind romance vibe, but I feel like your intentions are a bit mismatched. one of you is more interested in the romance and intrigue of it all, the other just a fun time

this could be on-and-off again, with one of you clinging onto the relationship a bit more emotionally than the other

a tendency to cling onto the other, trying to coerce them into putting more of themselves into the connection

regardless, this is a really fun time you guys have

towards the end things may get a little messy, but alongside the bomb sex the spontaneity permeates the rest of the relationship and you guys genuinely enjoy one another's company

I feel like it starts rather abruptly, and hinges on physical attraction to get the ball rolling. then you start texting, meeting up for casual dates/sex, etc, and then one of you catches a bit more intense feelings… (the other is still invested, just maybe not as… obsessed might be too strong of a word, but you get what I mean)

it does seem a bit unbalanced, but if you're honest about what you want out of the relationship you have a stronger chance of getting it. I do see evidence of effort coming from both sides to keep the relationship going, so hopefully you guys can find a peaceful balance that satisfies both of your needs

○ Pile 3 ○

this feels very different from the first two piles… I think this is more for just one person, or a small group of you. it feels like a personal reading

you're the enigmatic one in your friend group. you do what you want to do and are so charismatic that others follow you (not in a cultish way lol, they just love the fun that you incite. it's very sweet)

you've recently moved on from an ex or a crush that you pursued and their rejection bruised your ego a bit. you've just about recollected the rest of your diminished spark and are setting out anew, possibly determined to focus on yourself from now on

but you're met with a bunch of options… you've gained a lot of romantic attention and people are starting to come forward, or at least flirt a lil bit, shoot their shot, slide into dms, whatever

you're just focusing on your friends for now tho, no intentions of jumping right into a romantic relationship….

but it finds you. you don't even have to try

some of you… may realize things about your sexuality. you're attracted to a wider variety of people. that, and/or one of your close friends starts to look mighty interesting…

this is a deep connection. not just a fling or a gateway into discovering the depth of your sexuality, but a really beautiful pairing that means a lot to both of you

you might be at a party and drunkenly kiss your friend, only to laugh about it and carry on

but it becomes less funny later on

you won't be able to stop thinking about it

either that, or you're just hanging out with your friends and have a realization

regardless, this catches you completely off guard

this is really, really special

there's a lot more under the surface here, but it's not for me to convey. things are meant to unfold naturally from here on out. you also probably won't be able to get anymore information on this from other sources (pacs, youtube vids, etc). it feels a bit like the universe is wiping the dirt off their hands and being like 'there. I told you. figure the rest out yourself.'

take it one day at a time guys <3 everything will work out fine

[bellarkeselection]

Revealing Arrangements

Request from @snoserin Chandler finds out the reader speaks another language or something

Rachel and I were talking about random gossip stuff when I had come to visit her at work. Sitting in her desk chair the phone rang on her desk and I held it up against my ear. “Hello.”

“Y/n, is Rachel there?” Chandler’s voice came her boss’s desk phone.

I answered him, sparing a glance at her when she had a scowl on her face hearing his voice. “No sorry. She had a business thing. What do you need?”

“I need some help. Can you come to her boss’s office please?” He asked before I hung up the phone getting up from her chair going to see whatever he needed. Walking up to her office I unlocked the door, dropping the keys on the ground.

“What - how did you get into this situation?” I covered my mouth with my hands, blushing at the fact that he wasn’t wearing any pants and part of his blue shirt was unbuttoned showing his bare chest.

Chandler sent me a cheeky smile. “This is a long story so here’s the situation. The keys to the cuffs are on the back of the door. Could you be a doll and grab them and scoot over here and unlock me.”

“This is how you break up with a girl?” I couldn’t help but not laugh at the situation he had gotten himself in.

He attempted to defend himself. “I did break up with her. She just took it really really well.”

“Chandler.” I throw my head back sighing heavily under my breath.

His eyes locked onto mine begging me to free him. “Y/n please unlock me. She could be gone for hours and I’m cold. So let me out of here before she gets back.”

“Fine but you owe me.” Reaching up on the door I snatched the keys. Removing the lock on his hands I stepped back. “Does it hurt?”

Chandler’s gaze met mine. “No, I just always see guys do this when they get handcuffs off. Hello sweet pants.” He went around me grabbing his pants off the door hook until the office door opened again.

“This is what you called her for.” Rachel shut the door quickly behind her.

I pointed to the fact that he wasn’t wearing pants. “She had him handcuffed with no pants. I don’t think he meant to be in this situation willingly.”

“I am going to get fired if she finds out you're gone.” Rachel began panicking and paced in her dress shoes in front of the two of us.

Chandler shakes his head no. “I’ll make something up.”

“No, there's nothing to make up. She’s gonna know that I have a key to her office and then she’ll know I let someone in to let you out.” Rahcel grabbed his wrist that still had a locked cuff on it.

Chandler winced when she tried dragging him back over to the chair to cuff him. The pair bickering and fought against the other till she locked the other cuff into the filing cabinet. “Well this is much better…Y/n, please let me out.”

“Rachel has the keys. Do you want a girl on girl fight?” I asked, putting one hand on my hip.

He tugged his body forward as much as he could given the fact that he was handcuffed. “That would be interesting to see. Especially if you won then you can unlock me and we can run away from the woman who's afraid of her own boss.”

“How dare you!” Rachel gasped accidentally dropping the keys from her hands.

Chandler cheered with his free wrist in the air watching me run around the office with the keys in my hands. “Go Y/n go!”

“Y/n, give me the keys back.”

I glared at Rachel. “No Rachel.”

“He has to be back in that chair otherwise I'll lose my job.” She throws her hands away from her sides.

Chandler cheered in the background of the two girls playing cat and mouse. “Y/n, I'll give you whatever you want if you let me go.”

“Chandler, stop talking.” Rachel warned him.

Chandler managed to reach the door handle opening the door calling out for one of Rachel's worker friends. “Sophie. Sophie, help me. Help me!”

“Sophie sit!” Rachel noticed her standing up, bolting over to the door and slamming it shut before locking it too.

Rachel suddenly came up behind me snatching the keys from my hand, causing me to gasp. “Chandler, just calm down before you hurt yourself - ah!”

“I'm gonna say this one more time. Would you please just-” Chandler yanked his wrist cuffed hand causing the drawer to come out and hit him harshly in the side of the head.

Rachel gasped sharply covering her mouth. I gasped too imagining that it must have hurt so bad. “Chandler I’ll let you out because - estoy muy enamorado de ti!” ( I have a massive crush on you )

“Did she just speak Spanish?” Rachel raised a brow in my direction.

Chandler nodded. “Yes, she did.”

“How does she know that?” Rachel stands still confused.

Chandler smiled nervously at me not caring if Rachel was in the room since she wouldn’t understand what he said anyway. “I was in her Spanish class. But I never thought you’d like me if I couldn't say uh…Yo también tengo sentimientos por ti.” ( I have feelings for you too )

“Awe Chandler.” I sucked in a breath feeling my face turning red with a huge grin crossing my face.

Chandler tilted his head to the side questioning. “Did I say I love you feet or something?”

“No, you said it right silly duck…because I have feelings for you too.” Striding past our friend Rachel I draped my arms around his neck kissing him without another word. Chandler smiled into the kiss deepening it as much as he could.

Raising one of my hands I undid the handcuff and he scrambled to get his pants back on. “See ya later, Rachel!” He bolted for the door and I followed him.

“Chandler! Y/n!”

Shutting the door in her face I laughed before suggesting to my former friend now a possible boyfriend. “So you wanna grab lunch?” He nodded in agreement and we left Rachel's work together.

Comments really appreciated ❤️ Tags @lover-of-books-and-tea @rosie-posie08

[ace-sher-bi-john]

Sherlock Holmes: Aro-Spec, A-Spec, Gay Icon

What is Sherlock Holmes' orientation?

Asexual? Aromantic? Homosexual/romantic? Why not all three?

Something I've noticed during my time in this fandom is that people can't always agree on what Sherlock's sexual/romantic orientation is. Most people say that he's gay, some people say that he's ace. These two headcanons are rarely paired together.

I've seen people who think he's asexual be called homophobic because it feels like it's taking away from the gay representation they get from Johnlock. What they don't appear to realize is that asexual people can still have romantic or even sexual relationships. It also seems that people confuse being asexual with being aromantic a lot. Asexuality and aromanticism are not the same thing.

(There are lots of people who don't ship Johnlock, and either ship Sherl with someone else or with no one and that's valid! I personally am a Johnlock shipper)

Asexuality is defined as a lack of sexual attraction and Aromanticism is defined as a lack of romantic attraction. Both of these have a spectrum as well.

Asexual people can experience sexual attraction, only experience it sometimes, or not experience it at all. If you are anywhere on the asexual spectrum, it simply means that you don't experience an urge to have sex with someone in some or all cases.

You might enjoy sex. You might be repulsed by it. You might be completely indifferent towards it. You might even have urges every now and then. That is still valid. On one end of the spectrum, you don't experience any sexual attraction, on the other, you do experience sexual attraction, and all throughout the middle are varying levels of attraction/urges or lack thereof. There are more identities out there under the ace umbrella. There's demisexual which means that you only experience sexual attraction towards people you've developed an emotional connection with first. Greysexual means that you rarely experience sexual attraction, but it does happen sometimes. Lithosexual means you experience sexual attraction, but don't want it reciprocated. There are many more, you can do your research if you want to know all of them. I don't want to make this post too long, as I fear I may already have done.

The same thing goes for the aromantic spectrum.

Being aromantic means that you don't experience romantic attraction. Depending on where you are on the spectrum, you may experience romantic attraction sometimes, or not at all. Some aromantic people love the idea of romance, romantic gestures, have no problem holding hands, kissing, etc. You can participate in romantic relationships, you can get married, and it will never mean you're less aromantic. All being aromantic means is that you don't feel romantic attraction. It being a spectrum means that on one end, you do experience romantic attraction and on the other end you don't. All in the middle, you experience varying levels of romantic attraction. The labels are basically the same as the ace labels and mean basically the same thing.

(Edit: I've just noticed that I forgot to mention queer platonic relationships. So here we go)

Aromantic people may experience feelings for friends that go beyond friendship, but aren't in anyway romantic or sexual. They may choose to form relationships with others that are more than friendship but not quite romantic. These are called Queer Platonic Relationships or QPRs. They are just as valid as romantic relationships and are not just friendships. People in QPRs love their partner just as deeply, if not more so than people in romantic relationships.

When someone is asexual, but not aromantic, you put a label for their romantic attraction. For example: Biromantic asexual, heteromantic asexual, homoromantic asexual, panromantic asexual, etc.

So basically, you can experience limited or no sexual/romantic attraction and still have relationships. You can be aroace and gay. So therefore my headcanon is that Sherlock is grey-homoromantic asexual.

It took me a little bit of deciding between demiromantic and greyromantic. But they both sound just as cliche as the other. In both cases, John is the one and only person that Sherlock ever falls in love with. If he's demi, it's because he's never gotten this emotionally close to someone before and that's why John is his only love. But I wanted to see Sherlock struggle with his new, unfamiliar romantic feelings from the beginning. From that very first day that John walked into the lab at Bart's.

Sherlock doesn't even know what the weird emotions he's feeling are. They are subtle at first, because love at first sight is even more cliche. He doesn't really start to feel them as anything too distracting or difficult until the pool incident. Almost losing John, caused other unfamiliar feelings that Sherlock didn't want to deal with, along with the telltale signs of romantic love. But Sherlock chooses to ignore it for as long as possible, denying the fact that he could be in love with anyone. Let alone his very straight, not gay in the slightest, bi in denial roommate. It's too much of a risk with anyone. Platonic relationships are already a risk, but he's seen the strange things that romantic love can do to people. He doesn't allow himself to feel most emotions anyway, why would he allow himself to feel romantic love?

Once he allows himself to realize that the emotion he's feeling is romantic love, he struggles with his identity. He knows that he's aromantic, so how is it possible that he's feeling this way? Eventually he will come to discover greyromanticism and realize that he's not crazy, and he's not suddenly alloromantic. He is experiencing rare romantic feelings for John, which he's never experienced before and will likely never experience again.

He's still aromantic. He's not "fixed". Sherlock is valid in being aromantic and feeling romantic attraction.

Then add in some asexual tension once they finally get together and we should be good to go!

Thank you for reading. Hopefully that wasn't too long for you.

[questioning-aspec-culture-is]

Questioning aspec culture is really wanting a romantic relationship for a long time but only in vague terms (never having a crush on anyone specific) and as soon as someone shows interest you realize that all desire for romance has vanished

<2

[pretend-i-do-not-exist]

♡ It's the truth ♡

Rise!Leo x Fem!Reader

☆Reader feels quite self-conscious about herself often but luckily Leo knows what she needs to hear☆

She was always going to have this "issue" around what was considered normal. What was even more of an issue though was that her methods of dealing with the pressure caused was detrimental. It became a pattern, which is why the signs of her mind's failure, as it were, were easily recognisable to those who took note. The same applied to him. He knew. More importantly, he knew what to do to help. It wasn't always an easy fix but no matter what he did, how he helped- it always led back to one thing. The one thing that always seemed to make her heart flutter when her ears fell on his words.

"Don't worry about it princess, you're doing great"

He knew that she were far from believing him but it was the little steps he took along the way to enforce her confidence that he really focused on. Whereever he could, he'd make sure she knew what he thought of her. He'd kiss the back of her hand, whisper sweet nothings into her ear during cuddles, anything to see that smile creep up on to her face inch by inch. He just couldn't see her without it. When he took note of her more closed off behaviour from time to time, he'd gently lean closer to press butterfly kisses all over her face. He loved they way her face scrunched up as she tried to escape his merciless attack but to no avail. At the end of the day, he loved her with all his heart and he'd swell with pride knowing he made her feel precious. To him it wasn't just a feeling though, he knew you were precious. It's the truth after all.

Haha self indulgent thoughts go brr

I hope you people like it and I'm thinking about taking requests and stuff too so I get more writing practice. So, if any enjoyed reading this and would like to see more please lmk, thank you <3

[everyoneisalittlesadalittlehorny]

The sound of your name is like a pleasant wind chime from my childhood. It reminds me of soft, endless days, a sea of possibilities and no iota of fear.

[thebigsl33p]

Canary In A Coal Mine

Chapter Two: Black Air, and Black Black Lungs

Summary: Y/N fully becomes acquainted with the two strangers: the woman who doesn't say much and the man who broods.

Previous Chapter

Series Masterlist AO3

It hits her, as Marlene says the words, that she’s seen this man before. She’s not surprised by this, the Boston QZ is a small one (compared to some others) and just about everything is circular here. She wouldn’t call it tight-knit and she wouldn’t call it a community but there’s certainly a sense of familiarity despite how everyone is only out for themselves. 

With the remembrance that she knows Joel comes the smell of fire, thick black smoke which stings the eyes and blocks the airways. And then the smell of flesh, burning flesh. It’s mixed in with the smoke, and it hangs in the air. There are bodies in the fire. 

She knows Joel from “cleaning” duty. Trucks upon trucks of the dead infected, piles of bodies of all sizes and ages. And then workers with a cloth over their mouths in a weak attempt to block out the smell of fire and burning meat. 

Corpse Disposal was not a job Y/N liked to do but rather a job she had to. There was a brief period when she was running too low on ration cards and so she did what she had to do and took the job. It was disgusting work, most of the bodies being young children or old people. 

But he was there, across the fire pit, silently conversing with an old lady. There was one more body left in the truck, a young boy which the old woman seemed to struggle with. So Joel took it. And Y/N remembers watching him, from across the street, pick up the body and throw it in. and she remembers his eyes, the absolute lack of pity, guilt, or remorse.

But now he was standing in front of her, and Ellie, with the same stone-like expression, and with an answer to Marlene’s ideas, “The hell we are!” 

And at the same time, Ellie seemed to hold a strong protest too, “I’m not goin’ with them!” 

Kim, from Marlene’s side, turned to look at her, “Let me take her.” Marlene paid no mind to Kim, more focused on Joel and the woman next to him.

“Tess,” He grimaced, “We don’t have time for this.” He was alert, eyes flicking slightly from the windows to the doors.

Marlene laughed bitterly, “Oh, you don’t have time?” 

“Who is she?”

“To you… she’s cargo.” 

“We don’t smuggle people. Sorry.” 

And suddenly, interrupting the conversation between Marlene, Joel and Tess, Kim spoke up, repeating once again, “I can do it.” 

Sharply, Marlene turned on her, “Kim, you don’t have an ear on your fucking head! Could you please?!” She paused, looking down at herself now to examine the blood slowing now, congealing around her shirt and skin, “There’s a team of fireflies waiting for her at the old State House.” That alone earned a scoff from Joel, “I know what’s out there. We were going with an entire squadron for that very reason.,,”

“But now I don’t have a truck, I don’t have a squadron. F.E.D.R.A’s five minutes away, and what I do have is you. And I know what you’re both capable of.”

Y/N, slightly alarmed by the sudden proposition and still on the floor with Ellie, looked up at Marlene, “What are they capable of?” 

Marlene ignored her, and continued on with her proposition. She spoke promises of fuelled trucks, guns, food and medicine. And then finally she said, “I swear……I swear.”

They all watched as Joel turned to Tess and spoke in hushed voices, mulling the decision over. From the look on their faces, it was hard. Yes, they could risk their lives for a girl they didn’t even know, and some supplies or they could… or they could what? Rot away under an abusive government in a failing QZ. Okay, point taken. 

Finally, with a harsh reminder from Marlene that she was bleeding out, they came to a decision. “Okay,” Joel turned, “Here’s the deal. We’ll get her to your crew at the State House. But before we hand her over, they give us everything we want. If not, we kill her, there and then.” The man might’ve pointed a gun at Y/N, but she had to admire his ability to make the most out of a deal. 

“Deal.” Marlene didn’t hesitate, much to Ellie’s dismay which earned a “Really? That fast?” 

Marlene had to assure her that she was all the matters, that her life would not be jeopardised, and then to go and get her backpack. The girl complied, allowing Y/N to stand up as she ran to where she’d left it in the hall. That finally brought Joel’s attention to Y/N. 

“She wasn’t part of the deal.” He says, not even looking at her.

“She,” Marlene said, “Can handle herself. And she goes with you under demand of the girl. If she dies, it’s on us, on me. But if Ellie dies, it’s on you, Joel. So please, Joel…don’t fuck this up.”

-

Joel and Tess take them in the direction of their apartment when Y/N stops them and asks to pick up some supplies from hers. \she tells them she has knives stashed under her floorboard and a few medical supplies in her cupboard. With a brief glance towards each other, and a few questions on how far it is, they agree, and the slight detour begins. It really isn’t far and her home is only on the second floor so it doesn’t take long for her to dig the knives out from under the floorboard and the medical supplies from the cabinet. 

She stashes them all into a backpack, Tess and Joel standing over her as Ellie fishes around for other potentially useful objects. She can see Joel getting a bit anxious and makes to finish up fast, finally zipping up the bag and standing up. “Okay,” she says, nodding at Ellie to stop, “let’s go.”

She’s the last one out of the apartment. She turns off all the lights, and locks all of the locks on her door, knowing that there’s a very large chance she won’t ever see that room again.

_

“Woah, this is your home?!” Ellie laughed in the doorway, Y/N behind her.

“Yeah, Punk, go on in. Make yourself at home,” She watched as Ellie haphazardly stepped in, and then grinned before throwing herself on the sofa, head first and feet in the air, “Woah!” 

Y/n grinned stepping behind her kitchen counter, “You want a drink?”

Ellie sat up sharply, “Yes please.” 

She watched as Y/N took out two cups and poured water into them, something that would become a ritual. She walked around, handed one to Ellie and then said, “Scooch up,” before sitting in the space the girl had made for her.

“You have a really good home.” Elie lopsidedly grinned.

“It ain’t much, but, well… you’re welcome whenever you want, Punk.” 

-

The moment they arrived at Tess and Joel’s place, Ellie began to look around. The girl was curious… perhaps nosey… what could she say? But at that moment she was sifting through a thick magazine before a slip of paper fell out. She pushed it in Y/N’s direction, quietly whispering about what it could mean and the numbers… 60s, 70s and 80s. The second Joel and Tess’ conversation was over Ellie whipped her head around as Tess left to grab some stuff, telling Joel to watch over the two of them and leaving him alone.

The room that they’d been placed in was like any other home in the QZ, minimal, grey and cold. There was a weak attempt at a bookshelf in the corner with barely anything on it, a cracked brown leather sofa and a tiny coffee table. The room was connected to a kitchen, which was dirty and faded, and had barely anything in it except dirty coffee. There were two windows at the end of the living room, with curtains that merely blocked the view but didn’t stop the light from coming in. And between those windows was a table with a radio, one that Ellie took great interest in. 

“The radio’s a smuggling code, right?” Y/N grinned as Ellie began to read out the numbers and the words next to them.

“60s song, they don’t have anything new. 70s, they got new stuff…what’s 80s?” 

Joel paid no mind to either of them and instead lay down on the sofa, to which Ellie asked, “What are you doing?”

“Killin’ time.” He responded, shutting his eyes and letting his wrist hang off the sofa.

“Well, what are we supposed to do?” Y/N asked, settling by the window with Ellie.

“I dunno, you’ll figure it out.” Joel groaned.

A moment passed but Ellie just couldn’t let it go, “Your watch is broken.” There was no reaction, no sound from Joel. So Y/N turned to Ellie and began to tell her of the time before, as she often asked her to do. 

-

When Joel woke up, Ellie was too preoccupied with the rain falling out the window and so Y/N turned to him and smiled, lightly and barely, “You mumble in your sleep.” to which Ellie hummed in agreement. She said it as if all people of a certain age didn’t. Everyone from before had lost someone and everyone from before had killed and it was very rare that a single person over the age of twenty-five actually got a good night’s sleep. Joel couldn’t remember the last time he had actually slept through the night without waking up in a cold sweat, calling out names and remembering faces.

“I’ve never been on the other side of the wall.” Ellie was speaking to no one in particular, just the room, “Look how dark it is… you guys go out there a lot?” 

“I’ve been a few times.” Y/N shrugged.

And Joel simply said, “I guess.” 

“When was the last time?” 

“Maybe a year… what’s it matter?”

The questions continued on and on, Ellie wondering about the world outside and Joel, Y/N and Tess’ ability to navigate the outside world. It all comes to a halt, however, when she sends Y/N a look, a slight head nod, and a sly smile.

And she says, “Oh, the radio came on while you were sleeping.” 

Joel sits up instantly, “What? What was the song?” 

Y/N shrugs, “Wake me up before go-go, don’t leave me hanging on like a yo-yo…” 

“Shit,” He says, and the two women grin at each other, discreetly high-fiving as the younger announces, “Gotcha’. 80s means trouble…Code. Broken.” 

Joel huffed, “The two of you get up and get your jackets on. Tess should be back soon.” 

-

The trip through the QZ is perhaps the most terrifying thing Y/N has done in the past year. Of course, nothing quite compares to running from a group of infected, but this will have to suffice. 

There are F.E.D.R.A everywhere, lights, trucks and guards. The entire place is surrounded and it’s a long journey but they make it to the outskirts, just about. Joel is dead quiet, Tess following behind, then Ellie and Y/N. Both Tess and Joel have guns in the waistbands of their jeans and Y/N has knives in pockets, socks and a small one folded up into her bra. 

Boston is sort of strange at night, she realises. Due to the curfew, it’s been a while since she’s been out. Of course, she’s seen outside from her windows. Heard the slight hum of the trucks and the rattle of her window panes as they pass her house, the gentle buzz that comes from the part of the city that never sleeps. Just because the zombie apocalypse started doesn’t mean the crime stopped, and there is always a slight glow and buzz from the parts of the city with markets, that F.E.D.R.A turns an unlawful blind eye to. 

But actually being on the streets, among the houses, is so…strange. The comforting buzz of trucks and people isn’t there, you can’t feel it through the pavement and it throws Y/N off slightly. But they continue forward nonetheless. 

Until they turn a corner. They’re right by the fence, ready to go, but there’s a guard there, taking a piss against the wall and Tess freezes. She thinks for a second they’re gonna be able to get away with it but then his head turns and he’s saying, “Hey, what the hell!”  Before hurriedly zipping his trousers up. 

“Don’t move!” He says, pulling out a flashlight and a gun. He points the flashlight in their direction, it meets Joel's face and he practically deflates and sags, “You’ve gotta be shittin’ me…”

Joel raises his hands, “Okay let’s talk this out.” but it’s too late and the man is telling him to turn around and get on his knees. 

Y/N suspects the guard and Joel made know each other, and if they do it wouldn’t take her by surprise. Joel tries. He tries to compromise and he tries to debate the man who is commanding him to get on his fucking knees.

“I said stay the fuck home!” The guard says, only confirming Y/N’s suspicions.

It all moves so fast and then she’s on her knees next to Ellie, 

Joel’s still trying to bribe him with pills and drugs, but then he’s got something in her neck and he’s working very steadily down the line towards Ellie. There’s a zap at the back of Y/N’s neck, a slight sharp pinch and then a little beep. Y/N’s eyes are trained on Ellie, making sure she’s safe as the man raises the scanner to her neck and then- 

Jesus fucking christ. There’s a knife sticking out the guard’s knee before any of them can even realise it. Ellie had done it with a sharp scream, turning around and just plunging it in as the device touched her. The man stumbles back. Screams and before anything else Joel’s on top of him, fists pummeling his face, chest heaving, back moving left right, left right, as he demolishes this guy until there’s no life left in him.

Ellie and Y/N simply stand and watch, Y/N stood right behind the teenage girl, watching the man as blood splattered across his face. So that’s what Marlene meant by “capable of.”. 

 But they’re torn out of it by Tess, who had stumbled her way to where the device the guard held had fallen at the fence, “Jooeell,” She calls, “Joel!” She picks it up and red light flares across the scene, causing alarm to run through every adult there.

Ellie’s infected. Marlene had you transporting an infected. 

But Y/N doesn’t think before she sees Tess advancing towards them, And then wraps her arms around Ellie and pulls a knife, “Stay the fuck away from her!” She doesn’t consider the infection as she holds Ellie close and a knife to Tess.

Then Ellie’s yelling and rolling up her sleeve, still in Y/N’s tight grip, “I’m not infected! Please, please, I’m not infected! Look, this is three months old! Completely healed over, anyone infected would’ve died by now, please, please!” 

She has one hand clinging to Y/N, the arm the woman has wrapped around her chest. 

The sirens start, the lights flashing off the building walls, guards yelling and Joel hisses, “Shit. Tess, we’re gonna have to trust her- them.” His words allow Y/N to drop the knife and the vice-like grip she has on Ellie. 

“Fine,” Tess says, tucking her gun away, the answer short and alarmed. She doesn’t say more before she turns to the fence and suddenly Y/N sees the hole in the wire. Tess slips through, no problem, and then Joel, who had cleared himself up. Y/N gives Ellie a look,a reassuring nod, a “We’re gonna be okay, Punk. No go.” and then they’re off, into the world beyond the wall, just as the rain begins.

Y/n flicks up her hood as she slips through the wire, looks up and sees the corporate buildings, tipped over and covered from head to toe in greenery. It’s nearly beautiful.

God, it’s been a long, long time…

A/N: This fic has an official playlist and pinterest board which you can find on the masterlist.

[classic-and-gold]

[sheilamurrey]

January 9th leaving a relationship

It’s January 9th, 2024; I’m glad we had fun yesterday as today’s song is all about a woman choosing to leave her relationship and then questioning it, perhaps with regret and guilt–at least it sounds that way to me. What do you think? Leaving someone you love What happens when we leave someone we love? Do we tend to look back and ask why? Do we wonder what we did that for? That’s the timeless…

[quotationsworld]

Sometimes when we’re alone, he looks at me in a way that makes me feel empty when he looks away.

— Colleen Hoover, Regretting You

[whumpacabra]

Day 28: “No…not like this.”

Angst, comfort, alcohol use, referenced memory issues, bed sharing, consensual kissing, implied romantic/sexual relationship, implied dehumanization, implied past dubcon and noncon [not between the presented characters]

[Follows the Freelancers: Changing Tides Arc]

“Why not?” East whined, his weight still pinning Jackson to the bed, legs straddled across his waist. Jackson’s arms snaked around his bare chest to drag East down on top of him, wine sweet on his breath.

“Because we are both so drunk.”

East scoffed, but tucked his head into the crook of Jackson’s shoulder, drinking in the gentleness of his fingers where they wandered up and down his scarred back. So what if they were drunk? He felt good. Jackson felt good. He liked Jackson. Jackson liked him.

(He couldn’t remember the last time he did this and liked it, wanted it. But he was pretty sure he liked Jackson being this close to him, and he wanted to be closer still.)

“It’s not like I’ll remember it anyway.” He muttered, trailing kisses along Jackson’s neck to his collarbone. The roaming hands on his back stopped, holding him more firmly as Jackson leaned away to meet East’s eyes.

“That’s why. That’s why we shouldn’t do this…like this.”

“‘Cause you want me to remember?”

“Because I want you to care. To care about what you want.” Jackson inched away, and East openly pouted at the loss of contact. (Even if their legs were still tangled, their faces only inches apart, air shared and sweet with drink.) “Do you want this because I want it or because you do?”

“Does it matter?” East flopped his head on the pillow with a sigh, the act of keeping his eyes open more challenging than it should have been. (Maybe he was too drunk for this.)

“Of course it matters. I want you to want this - ”

“I do.”

“For yourself. For your pleasure.” Jackson’s silvery eyes were highlighted by the golden glow of the lamplight behind his head. Haloed like and angel. He was too good for a devil like the Wolf.

“Shouldn’t I…I want you to be happy. You want this. This will make you happy, right?” East felt a thread of panic under the fuzzy warmth of drunkenness. “I make you happy, right?” He barely noticed how Jackson stilled and quieted, a thin veil of grief and pity shadowing his eyes.

“It doesn’t make me happy to see you treating yourself like this. Like - like a means to an end.”

“You make me happy. I love you.” East hummed, pressing his forehead to Jackson’s shoulder. He didn’t really process what his partner had said. (He wouldn't remember this conversation come morning.) “You’re right. I’m tired. Can we sleep?” Jackson instantly melted, tension easing from his shoulders as a smile pulled at his face.

“God, yes. We’re both going to be so miserable tomorrow.”

The lamp switch off, electricity humming to quiet as the seconds passed. East held Jackson as close as he could, stealing every scrap of warmth and gentle touch and wine sweet breath he could get. He felt good right now; he felt safe and happy right now. He wished it could last forever, and in his haze, he didn’t remember it wouldn’t.

(The hangover the next day was legendary, and the pair spent most of it with the blinds drawn, sipping water to stave off the headaches.)

[Before Made to Break]

(Part of my Freelancers: Boy Meets World series)

Taglist: @stargeode

[spacebunniesmha]

I hate when people say “Best friends/Siblings!!” on a post that's CLEARLY romantic😭 There's definitely videos about the characters that are meant to be platonic, go comment on those.

[frostandflamesfanfic]

The Simple Things (Strange x Ace!Reader)

The Simple Things (Rated T)

Request?: YES (For Anon)

Pairing: Stephen Strange x Asexual!Fem!Reader (Romantic)

Warnings: Quite a few here; anxiety, fear of coming out, self-deprecation, acephobia, slight homophobia (if you squint). ASEXUALITY IS A REAL ORIENTATION, FOLKS. Don't think you're less than beautiful people just because you don’t feel the same as others do, because you are amazing -- Happy Pride!

Summary: For you, relationships were about having a serious connection. After years of being with others fixated on "fixing" you, you had all but given up hope of finding happiness and love. Enter Stephen Strange. When Stephen convinces you to go to your high school class reunion, you happen to overhear a comment that makes you uncomfortable. Can you still have your happily ever after?

Baby blue green eyes. They were the first sight that greeted you in the morning and the last thing you saw before you allowed yourself to drift into the endless void of sleep. It was those same eyes that you were currently scanning for throughout the room. 

There were so many people around. It was almost like you were suffocating, which was odd. You’ve never been claustrophobic before in your life. It wasn’t that you hadn’t been around this many people, either – you lived in Greenwich Village, for God’s sake. Maybe there was just something about being around people who tormented you for four years and made your life a living hell.

Yeah, that would most definitely do the trick. 

It was the fifteen year reunion for your graduating class. You honestly weren’t even sure why you had made the decision to even go to the event. In high school, you never were the most popular. You were a bit of a wallflower, forced to go into hiding after endless teasing and harassment. While everyone else was out sneaking beer and hooking up in their parents’ pool- which was beyond unsanitary and would cause more problems down the line- you were content with coffee and a book in the library. 

Unlike your classmates, sex was never a priority for you. You understood its purpose and how it could be fulfilling for some. You weren’t afraid of it. It just didn’t appeal to you. There were far better things out there that could give your relationship purpose. It was the simple things; small acts of kindness to show you truly cared for the other person. None of your past relationships could grasp the concept. It turned out sex was an important part of a romantic connection. The minute you flinched from their advances, they would always try to “fix” you. 

“Baby girl,” they would say as they ran a hand against your side. You would grimace at the feeling of their invasive fingers under your shirt, tracing circles on the skin it found. To you, it was crossing a personal boundary. “You’re so beautiful. You just haven’t found the right person yet. Let me show you.”

As the years went on, you continued to go through the motions with lovers…if you’d even call them that. Every time you would establish a connection- a meaningful one- with someone, they would disappear the minute they found out you didn’t want to sleep with them. There were instances where you would curl up in your room wondering why you felt like this. Was there something wrong with you? Was what you wanted really so wrong? 

It was around that time you had decided you had enough. You were tired of constantly feeling there was something wrong with you, where people would belittle you for your comforts every chance they had. If there wasn’t a person that could accept how you felt, then maybe you would just be better off alone. Sure, it hurt knowing you wouldn’t be able to have a connection with someone in the way you would like. There was nothing you wanted more than someone to watch Netflix and eat pizza until midnight, hold you while you cried over bad days, place kisses against your forehead when your anxiety got the best of you. Yet, you could never find that. 

That all changed when you met Doctor Stephen Strange. 

The two of you had met at the deli across town from the Sanctum. You were struggling to place your order, social anxiety not pairing well with your overwhelming hunger. While you were waiting for your name to be called, your brain was already distracted by picking apart everything you said to the cashier. You internally cringed at the way you greeted them and how many times you stumbled over your words. By the time your order was ready, you didn’t even realize you grabbed the wrong sandwich bag.

Stephen had needed to catch up with you, gently reaching for your arm in order to garner your attention. There was a sparking sensation the second he touched you. From the moment the two of you locked eyes, there was no going back. Life with Stephen was easy. Not wanting to risk falling too hard too fast, you somehow found the courage to explain your hesitancy to be intimate. To your surprise, he actually understood. 

Stephen never pushed you into doing things you hated or made you uncomfortable. There would be nights the two of you would stay in the Sanctum’s library reading, just enjoying each other’s company. Sometimes you would cook together in the kitchen- easy meals, though, as neither of you were Michelin star chefs. It was beautiful and wonderful all at once. At the same time, you found yourself becoming afraid of messing it up. Surely there would come a time where Stephen would have enough of waiting for any intimacy. What if he changed his mind about your boundaries? Would he think he could fix you, too? 

You had tried to fight the fear, truly you did. Yet they persisted and you began to find it more difficult to not give in. You ultimately decided that in order to prevent any future heartbreak, you needed to distance yourself from the sorcerer bit by bit. It led you to becoming nervous and tongue-tied around him – more than usual, anyway. When he noticed your anxieties, he encouraged you to try and see a therapist. He helped you to find someone you’d feel comfortable speaking with and was always willing to talk to you about anything, granted you brought it up to him.  

That was the thing with Stephen: he never pressured you into doing something you didn’t want. It was because of him you discovered you were asexual. Even though it didn’t change anything, by having a title, a label, just something to explain how you felt. . .it was almost a relief. There wasn’t anything wrong with you. You were normal. You nearly broke down at the thought of knowing everything you had criticized yourself about was a lie. 

It had taken you a bit of time to feel comfortable enough to come out to Stephen, who was officially your boyfriend by then. Your therapist had suggested you set boundaries, being prepared to end the relationship if any new pressures were added. If he can’t appreciate what you are willing to give, Doctor Morrison’s words echoed in your mind, then he isn’t worth having. 

When you finished explaining what it meant for the two of you, you were surprised to see a smile on his face. “What’s wrong?” you had asked. 

“Nothing,” the tall dark-haired sorcerer spoke as he stood up. “I’m just really proud of you.” He held you at arms length, blue-green eyes locked onto yours. There was an emotion hidden behind them, one you couldn’t really place. Was this really what pride looked like? Stephen leaned down to hesitantly capture your lips with his own, touch gentle and slow. “You can always tell me no. Always.” 

You had never felt happier than you ever had that day. If it wasn’t for Stephen, it may have been years before you finally realized what you needed. You may have let your fear get the better of you and lost your chance at happiness with him in the process. 

In fact, Stephen was the reason you were here tonight. When he saw the invite in the mail pile, he immediately asked if you were planning on attending. You told him no; what was the point in going when you haven't done much in your life? Reunions were times to brag about how superficially perfect your life was. It was a place for people to fight for the spotlight – something you never were particularly fond of. You didn’t want to jinx any progress you were making at that point, nor go through the humiliating process of being ripped to shreds for the first time since high school.

“I think you should go,” Stephen countered. It was a bit of a shock to you, given how you’ve told him about your hellish high school experience. Why would he want you to go back to relive the trauma after you just started to break away from it? “Show them the person you’ve become.” He paused to give you a bit of a wink. “Besides, I can get a closer look at where my beautiful girlfriend grew up. If things go south, I think Wong would be able to overlook a few transformed humans in the basement.”

When you still hesitated, Stephen sighed. “Look,” he tried again, pressing a kiss to your forehead. The sweet gesture sent a shiver down your spine and you felt your face begin to heat up with the promise of a blush. Only he had the ability to make you feel like this. “You’re making progress and you should be proud of yourself, just like I am of you. You don’t have to say anything about it – you just deserve a day where you get to get dressed up and kick some ass. Preferably not mine.”

You weaved your way through the crowd of people schmoozing over thin stemmed glass champagne flutes. Eyes tore through the room, pleading with the universe to allow them to find your boyfriend. Things hadn’t changed much since the days you were roaming the halls as a teenager. Drinks were plentiful and flirting was considered a social courtesy. 

Unfortunately for you, Marsha Collins, the former class president, had made it her mission to stop you in your tracks. She clearly wanted to be sure you knew how much she had forgotten you. “Oh my god!” she exclaimed. “I almost missed you! You look so good, so much different!” She tossed a handful of her platinum blonde hair behind her. “I heard you’re dating someone? I remember you were going through that whole celibacy thing in high school!! Everyone thought you were going to be a nun!”

You cleared your throat as she continued laughing. They used that joke they had in high school and they were still using it now. As you tried to defend yourself, you cringed at the fact that your voice cracked and stuttered. “I-I am dating someone. An Ave-avenger, actually.”

“Whoa, good for you.” You couldn’t help the microsmirk that tugged at your lips. “How good was the score?”

“...pardon?”

“You know, how good was he?”

You could feel your face burst into flames as your anxiety began to kick in. It was just like high school all over again. All you wanted to do was run into the bathroom to hide. In an attempt to get out of the conversation, you abruptly excused yourself from the conversation and raced into the school hallways. You pulled your phone out of your clutch and dialed Stephen’s number, only to reach voicemail on the fifth ring. 

You ran a hand down against your face as you sighed in frustration. No one understood it. They only wanted to make you feel insignificant. You had just started to welcome the idea of your newfound identity and here they were trying to tear it down. While you wandered through the hall, you heard a series of laughter and a familiar richly deep voice.

“Oh god,” the voice you recognized to be Patrick Marduso, “there goes Elizabeth and Maxine. I think I’d jump off a bridge if I were in a sexless marriage like theirs. I mean, it’s bad enough that they’re married, but could you imagine the bedroom between them…” He let out a low groan. “Hot.”

That’s when you heard a familiar laugh in the crowd. A sound you had grown to love within your home. Stephen was laughing at something as humiliating as that. Not only that, but you could barely contain yourself with the next question.

“I'm sure she keeps you satisfied," Patrick mentioned in what you assumed was regards to you. 

“Pardon?” the shuffling of feet came to a halt as Stephen contemplated the other male’s question.”

“I’m talking about your girlfriend, dude!” Patrick was smug now. “You know, I always thought she was hot. But then she went and did that whole celibacy thing and got us all screwed over. Nobody could get her to do anything. It became a bit of a bet to see who could get to her first.”

Stephen nodded. “Well, I can assure you I'm plenty satisfied.” What? 

There was a smack sound as Patrick clapped a palm against your boyfriend’s shoulder. “My guy!” he exclaimed, speech slightly slurred from too many trips to the champagne refill table. “Glad to see someone could get her to open up! You got it good, man. I mean, damn, did you see her in that dress tonight? You’re in for something tonight.”

When the next laugh escaped from your boyfriend, you felt your heart shatter into pieces. “I think it’s the other way around,” Stephen replied with a chuckle. “She’s going to have a night that she’ll never forget.”

That did it. The wolf whistle from Patrick, along with a shouting of, “my man!” was enough to send you over the edge. Without another thought, you sent a text to Stephen telling him you needed to leave. You also told him you needed to talk after he returned home from his new friends. 

You didn’t waste any time after returning to the Sanctum to peel the dress off of your form and snuggle into a baggy sweatsuit. Before you left, you were actually proud of your appearance. Everything had hugged the best curves of your body in the best way possible. You looked good and most importantly you felt good. Now you couldn’t get away from the mirror fast enough. 

The fears you had worked so hard to prevent came back like a phoenix from the ashes. You had been so proud of the progress you were making, not to mention the connection you had with Stephen. You knew you should have just laughed everything off. It wasn’t your previous classmates’ business to know what happened behind closed doors. Yet the minute they started to peel at your layers, you felt exposed and you hated that feeling. Suddenly, you were back in high school, hiding in the girl’s bathroom just waiting for everything to just stop.

“Darling?” Stephen’s voice called the minute you curled up on your side of your shared bed. You could hear his quick pace as he checked through the Sanctum. He swore loudly when he tripped over a rug and collided with an object in the hallway. “Damn it, where are you?”

You didn’t want to alert him of your presence in the bedroom, but a small part of you felt bad about letting him panic for your safety. “In here,” you called quietly. 

A sigh of relief sounded from the sorcerer and he shuffled his way through the door frame. Even though you were frustrated with him, you still couldn’t help but to admire how nice he looked in his suit. You rarely had an opportunity to see him in anything else than his robes and Cloak of Levitation. A small smile threatened to slip out when you noticed how the black jacket made his blue-green eyes just pop in the dim light of your bedroom. 

“Hey,” he spoke softly and moved to kneel next to the bed. “What’s going on? Are you feeling alright? Is that why you left?”

After a shaky intake of breath, you closed your eyes to prepare your question. You had never been a confrontational person, but this was Stephen. This was the love of your life. You wanted things to work out between the two of you – they just had to. In order to move past this, though, you just needed to know. “Why would you tell them that, Stephen?” 

“Tell who what?” The dark haired man in front of you frowned in confusion. 

“You told Patrick that you were satisfied!”

“So I can’t tell them that I’m comfortable with our relationship?!” he retorted, voice raised ever-so-slightly. “Because I am. What we have-”

“They probably thought you were talking about sex.”

Your boyfriend shrugged. “So what if they did? How is it their business?” he countered. “I wasn’t going to say anything about you that would make you uncomfortable-”

“Because, Stephen!! They’re going to think the worst of me!” You were fuming now as you tugged at the roots of your hair, beyond frustrated at this point. “God, did you even think about how this could have affected me?” You could feel your chest heaving as breathing became increasingly difficult to take air into your lungs. “Did you not hear the things they said to me?!” 

This flustered the tall man in front of you. He hadn’t seen you like this in a long time. “What did they say?” His voice was firm and his jaw set in a hard line. His shaking hands gathered into fists. “What did they say to you that got you so upset? Tell. Me.” 

“It wasn’t so much what they said,” you admitted. “More like how they…made me feel…” 

Stephen’s facial expression softened. His eyebrows lifted and he reached over to gently cradle the side of your face. “Sweetheart,” he tried again. “What happened?”

You couldn’t stop the tears from welling up in your eyes. “How can you put up with me?” your voice was barely a whisper between sobs that unexpectedly ripped from your throat. “Why haven’t you pushed me away yet? How could you want to stay with someone that was so broken for so long?”

“Why?” Stephen was surprised yet again. “Because I love you with all of my heart,” he started. “You should know that…that isn’t easy for me to admit. The last time I let myself fall in love, I lost her for so many reasons; most of those being because I was a huge jerk. I put myself and my job first in everything. It put so much pressure on me to compensate for the time I was away. When I met you, I made a vow I would never make the same mistake again.

“What we have, darling, is special. You…you’ve made me a better person. The time we share together is special to me. You’ve shown me how it’s the simplest of things that can make life worth living. Sitting down to a home cooked dinner with you every night, holding you in my arms while you sleep… That’s all that matters. And I want to hold onto that feeling for as long as I can,” Stephen shifted in his position to reach into his jacket pocket. “That’s why I wanted to ask you…if you’d be willing to marry me?”

A small gasp escaped your lips as he flipped open a red velvet box to reveal the most beautiful ring you’ve ever seen. It was a simple gold band, but it held a teardrop diamond in the center that sparkled in the moonlight streaming in from the window. 

“Stephen,” his name hardly left your lips before you were nodding excessively. You realized in that moment there was nothing else you wanted more than to know he would be yours forever. He was the one person in the world you knew would always understand and support you. He made you feel like the most important person in his life, just like he was in yours. “Yes, yes, a million times yes.”

A wide grin stretched across your boyfriend’s, now fiance’s, face. While he slipped the ring onto your finger, you could hear a quiet chanting of three words you’ll remember for as long as you live. “I love you,” he whispered as he pressed a few kisses against your face and cheeks, causing you to giggle uncontrollably. “I love you so much.”

“So when you said, ‘she’s going to have a night that she’ll never forget’…” you realized with a small smile.

“I was going to bring us back home, make us hot chocolate, and give you this big speech about how proud I was of you and how I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, yes,” Stephen rambled with a short nod. 

You couldn’t help but press a kiss to his lips. “I love you,” you whispered and you genuinely meant it. With Stephen, you knew you could be yourself. The two of you could care less what you were doing. It could be the simplest of things, but it would still be perfect. 

All that mattered was that you were together. 

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Author's Note: Well, here we are. Happy June 1st, everyone! To say I was nervous about writing this fic is an understatement. I'm always a bit anxious when it comes to writing for LGBTQ+ characters mainly because I'm always concerned about getting the representation right. As someone who identifies as part of the community, it can always be frustrating to see something done halfway or just skimmed over for whatever reason. Either way, anon, I hope I did it justice!! <3

As usual, leave a like, a comment, and even a cheeky reblog to help me out with the algorithm here. I plan on opening requests up again sometime soon (hopefully before the summer ends, while I still have some time between uni work). Until next time, little sparks!

PS: Also as a side comment, when I looked up gifs for "asexual doctor strange," it came up with BBC Sherlock. I just about died laughing at how accurate that was. Hopefully there are a few people out there that actually get this joke lol