#set me free joshua bassett

[sapphosclown]

hello everyone i just watched Maid on netflix all the way through and it will not leave my brain and i just keep thinking about the difference between Paula telling Alex how much she loves her by saying “I would give you the skin off my bones” vs Hank telling her “I’d give you the shirt off my back”

Paula loves Alex so terribly wholly and to her core (despite how she behaves) that she would give her anything and everything she has, even if all there’s left to give is her own flesh. But Hank, he doesn’t know Alex, he doesn’t understand her. He may love her due to her being his daughter, but at the end of the day all he has left for her is superficial, it’s being polite. He’d give her the shirt off his back, but he can just go get another shirt and he’ll forget about that other one in no time.

I just loved that little detail, it tells so much and everything we need to know about the dynamics and ties together all the pieces that had built it up.

[bringbackdas]

Lyrics I wish I wrote:

- “you couldn’t have stuck your tongue down the throat of somebody who loved you more” Moon Song, Phoebe Bridgers

- “For the lovers who found a mirrored heart, they just remind me I’m without you” mirrored heart, FKA Twigs

- “From strangers to friends, friends into lovers, then strangers again” Strange, Celeste

- “It’s always on the tip of my toungue. I read an article on the internet told me that’s how you know you’re falling in love” hate to be lame, Lizzy McAlpine feat. FINNEAS

- “The funny thing is I would have married you if you’d have stuck around” doomsday, Lizzy McAlpine

- “I wanna make you fall in love as hard as my poor parents teenage daughter, she’ll be the best you’ve ever had if you let her” waiting room, Phoebe Bridgers

- “You said Scarlett I don’t need to be responsible for everything you’re feeling. You’re an emotional grim reaper I feel bad for you.” scarlett, Holly Humberstone

- “I can see it now the wedding of the year I can see it now he stands up there and wipes his tears. I can see it now when all my ghost disappear.” all my ghosts, Lizzy McAlpine

- “God rest my soul I miss who I used to be. The wound won’t close, stained glass windows in my mind…I regret you all the time.” would’ve could’ve should’ve, Taylor Swift

- “And honest I can tell you now I love you more than my future spouse” I’d have to think about it, Leith Ross

- “where you came and I laughed and you left and I cried. Where you told me even if we die tonight that I’d die yours” a house in Nebraska, Ethel Cain

- “I lie to her and say that I’m doing fine when really i would kill myself to hold you one more time” a house in Nebraska, Ethel Cain

- “Please don’t ever become a stranger who’s laugh I could recognize anywhere” New Year’s Day, Taylor Swift

- “Give me a lifetime of promises and a world of dreams. Speak the language of love like you know what it means” Simply the Best, Noah Reid

- “I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror” Anti-Hero, Taylor Swift

- “After everything would you let me in and love me now” would you love me now, Joshua Bassett

- “No one wanted to play with my as a little kid so I’ve been scheming like a criminal ever since to make them love me and make it feel effortless” Mastermind, Taylor Swift

- “You don’t get to take all of me, set me free” Set me free, Joshua Bassett

- “It’s been a fucking year” Set me free, Joshua Bassett

- “Who I am made it all worth the while and these scars will be stories I tell all in due time” all in due time, Joshua Bassett

- “I know my love should be celebrated but you tolerate it” tolerate it, Taylor Swift

- “You’re good at the giving too much then getting scared. You’re good at impersonating someone who cares” decode, Sabrina Carpenter

- “Do something babe say something. Lose something babe risk something. Chose something babe I got nothing to believe unless you’re choosing me” you’re losing me, Taylor Swift

- “I wouldn’t marry me either. A pathological people pleaser who only wanted you to see her.” you’re losing me, Taylor Swift

[fullstcp]

"Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free" by Joshua Bassett Sentence Starters

CRISIS

"Honestly, I didn't wanna write this."

"If you get to tell your truth, then so do I."

"It's cool if you want me to play the bad guy."

"Don't you dare act like I didn't love you."

"Don't go thinking that I didn't hurt, too."

"Don't you ever wonder if I'm okay after all you put me through?"

"Half the shit you're saying's only half-true."

"You would never dare to waste a crisis."

"I wish that I could open my eyes and the nightmare'd be over."

"Weren't you the one who left in the first place?"

"Weren't you the one who called things off?"

SECRET

"We kissed, but it felt different."

"I should've seen it coming then."

"You told me that you would cut him/her/them off."

"My friends all warned me I should run for the hills, but I defend you still."

"Your secret's safe with me."

"Don't worry, 'cause I'm keeping my mouth closed."

"How could you be so cold?"

"I really hope you had your fun."

"Good for you fooling everyone."

"Your smoke and mirrors had me hypnotized."

"The truth you can't deny changed everything."

"You can't hide behind what's clear as day."

SET ME FREE

"I don't know what I did to deserve all this."

"I don't wanna be rude or on the defensive."

"I know you feel used, I know you've been hurt."

"Anything I did to make you feel worse, I'd take it all back if I could."

"I don't need your apology."

"I don't recognize you, not anymore."

"You're not the love that I fell for."

"It's been a fucking year."

"Nothing I say will ease the pain."

"Why must I hurt for you to feel okay?"

"I hope you know that I still care about you."

"I won't ever let you hurt me how you hurt me again."

[elithelakes]

y’all need to stop making posts and edits shipping joshua bassett with olivia rodrigo. they were obviously not right for each other and olivia is responsible for a lot of public harassment and trauma josh went through. i don’t understand how someone could be a fan of either one of them and seriously ship them together. i love them both and it’s because of that i came to this conclusion.

[newyorkangelbaby]

my ranking of joshua bassett’s discography because i can

1. lifeline

2. only a matter of time

3. set me free

4. used to it

5. all in due time

6. she said he said she said

7. sad songs in a hotel room

8. finally free

9. feel something

10. we both know ft sabrina carpenter

11. smoke slow

12. different

13. la

14. would you love me now

15. i’m sorry

16. doppelgänger

17. sorry

18. telling myself

19. secret

20. lie lie lie

20. anyone else

21. crisis

22. heaven is you

23. do it all again

i just feel like you can learn a lot about who i am by the top five songs in general and honestly i’m not mad, but how do i seem to you ?

[valiantlrn]

You don't get to take all of me / Set me free And I don't need your apology / Let me be I don't recognize you, not anymore You're not the love that I fell for You don't get to take all of me

[rosenix]

I don’t know what I did to deserve all this

I don’t mean to be rude or on the defensive

I’ve been goin through it too

[riordanness]

enchanté — [n.sheff]

wordcount: 1.2K

warnings: none

requested: no

tags: @honey-ambrosia my wife <33 (send her love or else)

a/n: idk?? i just had a random idea while watching this movie for the first time so enjoy i guess. nic is defo ooc, doesn’t do drugs in this fic either, and i know basically none of the movie plot yet. feel free to request nic sheff fics tho! <3

“Nice to meet you.” I smile; and shake my new roommate's hand. He seems nice enough, with pretty green eyes and curly brown hair.

He smiles back, then heads into our dorm room. I turn back to my conversation with the other girls in our hallway. Turns out there wasn’t an even number of girls or boys this year, so I got shoved into a dorm room with a guy. Not that that’s the worst thing that could’ve happened to me; he’s kinda cute.

One of the other new girls, I think she said her name was Alexa, nudges me. “Damn, I wish I was the not-so-unlucky girl stuck with a boy. He is hot.”

I shrug. “He’s not bad. He’s probably got a girlfriend though. Or he’s gay.” I nudge her back. “Doesn’t matter that much; he’s probably the kind of guy who spends all his time not in his dorm room. More time alone for me.”

I say goodbye and turn towards my bedroom door. I stop just before it, though, when I hear voices.

“Yeah, she seems nice, she’s just in the hall,” I hear my roommate say. I’m not entirely sure who he’s talking to, but then another person speaks, a much older man, and I remember his father is here.

“I feel for you though…” His father laughs, and I hear the sound of cds clacking together, and I realise that they’re my cds.

I internally cringe. Why did I decide to set up my cds? My roommate definitely thinks I’m a total loser freak now. I visualise my collection. Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Chase Atlantic, Melanie Martinez, Joshua Bassett, and the Chainsmokers. Pretty much screams ‘basic white girl’ doesn’t it?

I knock on the doorframe, stepping into view. “Hey,” I say, waving a little at his father. “Nice to meet you.”

My roommate’s father hastily shoves my cds back onto my desk. “You too. I’m Nic’s father.” He stands and offers me his hand. I shake it, offering a smile.

“Well…” Nic’s father pats his pockets. “I’d best be going.” He gives his son a hug, who stands and grips his father tightly.

I feel awkward, like I’m interrupting something.

“Everything,” Nic whispers.

“Everything.”

Though I have no idea what that means, I think it’s adorable.

His father leaves, and the two of us stand for a moment. Then I drop my bag on the floor next to my bed and flop myself onto it.

“What’s your name?” Nic asks quietly. “I’m Nic.”

I prop myself up on one elbow. “I know. I’m y/n.”

He nods. “Cool.”

There’s silence for a couple more seconds, more than feels comfortable.

I blow out my breath. “My friend thinks you’re cute.”

He laughs in surprise. “Is that a pick-up line?”

“No.” I glance at him. “She literally does think that.”

“Okay.” Another pause. “My dad thinks your music taste sucks.”

I glance over at my cd collection, which is now in an unorganised pile on my desk, compliments to Nic’s father. “Mm.”

“It’s not bad, though,” he offers. “I love Chase Atlantic.”

I raise an eyebrow, and meet his eyes. “Oh yeah?”

“Mhmmm. Vibes, Into It, Friends, Meddle About, CALL ME BACK, Church, some of my favourite songs ever.”

I make an impressed face. “Okay, okay. I’ll accept that.”

“The other stuff though?” He makes a face. “Taylor Swift? Really?”

I sit up. “Yes. Taylor Swift really.” I grab my notebook out of my bag and relax onto my pillows. “Now shh while I write this idea down.”

He suddenly looks interested. “You write?”

“Duh.”

“No, no,” he tries to backtrack. “I mean, I write too. That’s why I’m here. To study writing.”

I look at him over the top of my notebook. “You? A writer?” i don’t mean to sound incredulous, but I probably do.

He nods sincerely. “I love to write. What kind of things do you write?”

“Umm…” I stare up at the ceiling. “All kinds. Poetry, fiction, lyrics, fanfiction, essays, critiques, anything really. I just love anything to do with words and writing.” I swing my legs over the side of my bed, facing him. “What about you?”

“Me too. Anything.”

I nod. “Can I read something of yours sometime?”

He shoots me a crooked smile. “Only if I can read yours.”

“Deal.”

We shake hands, and I’d be lying if I said my heart didn’t flutter a little.

It’s been six weeks of sharing a dorm with Nic Sheff, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love every second.

Turns out, he’s amazing. At like, everything. His writing is incredible, at least the little I’ve seen so far. He can skateboard like nobody’s business. He can sing, speak French, and apparently, braid hair. (I know from experience, trust me on this).

“Hey, tresses,” Nic says, throwing his backpack on the floor, and himself on my bed.

I was at my desk, trying to study. “Hey,” I reply absentmindedly.

“You got class this afternoon?” he asks.

“Mhm.”

“Same one as me?”

“Probably.”

“Y/n…” he whines, picking up my Spider-Man squishmallow and throwing it at me. “Pay attention to me.”

I glance up. “What?”

“Do you have the poetry class in twenty minutes? The one we both take?” He asks the question slowly.

I read my timetable quickly. “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”

“Okay. Let’s go then, it’s a bit of a walk and we do not want to be late.”

I shut my laptop. “Fine. Let’s go then.”

He jokingly offers me his arm, and instead of taking it like a lady, I hit him. “Ow, y/n!” he complains.

I giggle. “Come on, Nic. We don’t wanna be late.” I mimic his earlier words.

He rolls his eyes. “You’re awful, tresses.”

“You love me.”

He doesn’t reply to that.

“Alright, Mr Steff, would you like to read your poem aloud now?” Mr Day asks the boy.

Nic glances nervously at me, for some reason, then stands as he nods at our teacher. “Yes, sir.”

He unfolds a crumpled piece of paper, clears his throat, and licks his lips in the cute way he always does when he’s worried or nervous.

“Mon amour,

Oh, how I adore you.

The way you make me feel, my love,

it’s like I’d give anything for one of your smiles.

The fact that I can’t say ‘je vous aime’,

well, ça me tue à l’intérieur.

j’ai été enchanté de te rencontrer,

mon amour.

je pense que tu es á ma place.

Mon amour,

Oh, how I adore you.

Je vous aime.”

A brief silence follows Nic’s poem, then a round of applause, louder than any I’d heard here before.

He looks at me, and for a split second I don’t know why. Then it clicks.

“Me?” I ask weakly. “You wrote that… for me?”

He smiles shyly. “I love you.”

The whole class cheers, and we get another round of applause.

My mouth is open, and my heart is racing, but I know I want to say it too. But for some reason, when I open my mouth, the words won’t come out. So I do the only other thing I can think of.

I stand up, grab Nic by the collar, and pull him into a kiss.

The cheering gets a whole lot louder after that.

translation:

“My love,

Oh, how I adore you.

The way you make me feel, my love,

it’s like I’d give anything for one of your smiles.

The fact that I can’t say ‘I love you’,

Well, it kills me inside.

I was enchanted to meet you,

my love.

I think you belong with me.

My love,

Oh, how I adore you.

I love you.”

[bassettmemes]

THE GOLDEN YEARS (ALBUM) SENTENCE STARTERS ↳ lines from joshua bassett's debut album, the golden years ↳ ↳ the golden years (single) sentence starters can be found here

BITING MY TONGUE.

"silence speaks louder than I ever could"

"i can't breathe, i'm suffocating on my words"

"maybe the story that's been left unsaid is gasoline just waiting for the perfect match"

"i'm biting my tongue, avoiding the words i cant take back"

"i just wanna love and not look back"

"forget the promises we cant keep"

"i'm begging you to set me free"

"can you blame me for that?"

"you're running your mouth, it's wearing me down"

"i'm screaming out, but you won't hear a sound"

"cause tearing you down, oh, nobody wins"

"im trying to be better than i've ever been"

"hope you got all that you wanted"

"i don't want revenge"

"i won't hurt you how you hurt me; i want this to end"

DANCING WITH TEARS IN MY EYES.

"i lied when i said i'm fine"

"im at the disco dancing with tears in my eyes"

"dancin' with a cigarette, drunk on a Sunday morning

"standin' on the edge is somethin' we'll regret"

"makin' a mess of the bed we made"

"playin' with fire we already tamed"

"romeo and juliet, we shoulda known better"

"i caught your eyes under the lights and now I'm spinnin'"

"i cry every time our song comes on"

"it breaks my heart, dance in the dark, so you don't see me fall apart"

"everybody's askin' if i'm happy for ya"

"nothin' to regret, we went our separate ways"

"it's eatin' me alive to see you doin' better"

"maybe more wine will help me forget ya"

"seein' you tonight, i'm right back where we met"

DON'T LET ME DOWN.

"don't you remember early september? fooling around, didn't know any better."

"our ship was sinking, we held on as long as we could"

"i cried on your shoulder, now i don't know you"

"i keep replaying it over and over"

"wanna go backward, don't know if I can this time"

"we made a mess, but we were just kids then"

"gave it our best, we fell off the deep end"

"i can't forget the way that you held me, dear"

"so, you say you want me again; don't you remember the hell wе were in?"

"i haven't been thе same since you left"

"half of my heart is still there in your hands"

"if you pick me back off the ground, don't let me down"

"how do I know that you actually need me?"

"you say it's different, i wanna believe you"

"holding our hope in, maybe this time is for real"

"might be naive, but maybe we need this"

"nobody looks like you do"

"don't you tell me that you want me just to walk away now"

"don't you tell me that you love me if you don't know how"

"don't you turn your back on me and we can figure it out"

CHERRY BLOSSOM.

"cherry blossoms on your sundress, summer skin on the emerald grass, you pick a flower and pray it lasts, seasons falling away too fast."

"yeah, we talk too much, we fell headfirst under the sun"

"we're growing up but we're still young enough to crush"

"oh my cherry blossom, say you're staying through the autumn"

"you pack a picnic, i'll pick you up"

"is it too early to call this love?"

"some kids kissing in the sun"

"i'll never ever get enough"

CIRCLES.

"merry-go-round, we've been here before"

"your carousel hell got me chained to the floor"

"i've been falling for your sweet seduction"

"can't believe you're fooling me again"

"i've been running for my life"

"i end up at the starting line"

"i've been wasting all my youth on you"

"lovesick spinning 'round and 'round"

"like a broken record wearin' out"

"all this time i wasted chasin' you"

"yeah, girl, you got me going in circles"

"sweet as a peach, you're soft to the touch"

"you're making me bleed but calling it love"

"you pull me close, but keep me at a distance"

"where do i go from here?"

WILDFIRE.

"burnin' pancakes while we're dancin' in the kitchen, singin' to our favorite song, now I'm standin' in the ash and broken dishes"

"wonderin' where it all went wrong, now there's nothing left of you and me"

"it was heartbreak to the third degree"

"we had a gold and it was good until it wasn't"

"now the sirens, they sound, all of the walls are falling down"

"here's nowhere to run, darling, we'll never make it out"

"we're too close to the sun, we let it burn then called it love"

"there's smoke filling our lungs"

"would you look what we've become?"

"you asked for a light, now we started a wildfire"

"we were reckless, we were young and we were stupid"

"got too high to see the warnings signs"

"playin' innocent, we knew what we were doin', and two wrongs don't ever make a right"

"don't look away, darling, there's nothing left to save"

"just kiss me goodbye"

"we're not gonna make it out alive"

"It's far too late to save us, this flame here is to dangerous"

"don't say it's all okay, love, it's too much"

"just face it, love, we're dying"

"no point in even trying, it's too much"

"now we started a wildfire, love"

LITTLE RITA.

"she's crying on the phone, she's not quite sure where to go"

"i know this life isn't easy, but you'd know that I will be right here"

"and you know those are your needs, dear, and someone who can dry your tears"

"'cause home is where the heart is and my heart is always near"

"i promise in no time that you'll bе fine, and everything will bе alright"

"love is all that matters anyway"

"i know it's scary, i know it's sad"

"kiss your mom and hug your dad, 'cause no one knows how long they really have"

WOULD YA TELL ME?

"i've been waitin', wondering where you are"

"i've been prayin', say you're not too far gone"

"cause I don't know where my love went when you left, dear"

"i don't know where my heart was when you were here"

"what if you're still in love with someone else?"

"what if you're still hung up on someone else?"

"what if you're still the one for someone else?"

"what if you're still in love with someone else? would you tell me?"

"sunlight don't shine now that you're not around"

"daydrunk, moonshine, can't drown the sorrow out"

"i don't know where my mind was when you were here"

"i don't wanna know who's taking you home"

MIRROR.

"where did it all go wrong?"

"innocence stolen way too young"

"there's blood on my hands"

"i don't understand, where did it all go wrong?"

"out on my own at seventeen, no one to tell me who to be

"i'm going insane, i'm wasting away, i found a new low at twenty-three"

"i don't recognize the face in the mirror"

"there's nowhere to hide from the face in the mirror"

"the light in my eyes, i can't seem to find, and i don't recognize the face in the mirror"

"the face in the mirror isn't mine"

"i don't know when I last called my mom, ican't let her know what i've become"

"it's better to lie, don't tell her you're high"

"i wish i could talk to my mom"

"won't somebody help me?"

LOOK HOW FAR YOU'VE COME.

"i know you can't see the light right now"

"they buried you alive with no way out"

"you're screamin' underwater but nobody hears a sound"

"you taught yourself to swim so you don't drown"

"just in case nobody told you this today, look how far you've come"

"you've been running far too long"

"what goes up comes back down, just a circle back around"

"i know you're not nearly done when you can't seem to get back up"

"i wish I could hold my younger self. i'd say, "cry a litle longer if it helps"."

"you can't choose the place you're born, your hair, your name, your baby clothes, but getting here, you did that on your own"

"and in case that you forget, the last time you were here, you swore that it would never end"

"darling, catch your breath, the world's gonna need you love, so do the best you can"

"i promise someday that it'll make sense"

[detectiveruebennett]

set me free | sam wilson

summary: it is said that your skin will regenerate itself approximately every 27 days. although, that may be true... it's been two years. why doesn't it feel like it?

pairing(s): sam wilson x teen!black!reader [ minor natasha romanoff x teen!black!reader as well ]

warning(s): talks of sexual assault, panic attack

genre: angst, hurt/comfort words: 2,278

authors note: IF THE TOPIC OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IS TRIGGERING PLEASE DO NOT READ!!! the parts that are in italics are flashbacks to reader's nightmare. the flashback doesn't go into detail of the reader's SA, only Sam comforting them about the nightmare. this is a vent fic is based on my experience as a SA survivor. i use writing as a way of coping and stuff. it's free therapy. i've been sitting on this fic for over a year debating on if i wanted to post it and finally finished it. the ending is kinda rushed tho.

Two years ago, you died. Well, not physically. You were still breathing and everything. But that was when your innocence had retired. You never told anyone when it first happened. You were too scared of the consequences. And, by the time you hadn't, it seemed too late to speak up, in your opinion. There was nothing anyone could do now. He already ruined you. So, you just let it be.

Eventually, you learned from Sam and Natasha that your uncle was arrested for multiple charges of sexual assault. You were immediately overwhelmed with tears at the announcement, for you finally felt free. You began to laugh as well. The pair were quite confused as they watched you laugh and cry. A weight lifted off your shoulders that day as you finally could admit what he did to you. Sam suggested speaking up, but you were still very fearful of even being in the same room as him. It didn't matter that you'd be protected during the trials; the thought of it made you sick.

You still get nightmares from time to time. Sometimes, they were manageable. Other times, they were not. Last night, it seemed like luck was not on your side. You didn't get much sleep due to how bad this one was.

~~

It felt too real as if he was watching in the shadows of your room. FRIDAY alerted Sam due to the spike in your vitals. You'd awakened in a state of panic. You sat in a pool of sweat as your heart pounded in your head.

Sam busted through the door in a frenzy. He hadn't noticed his mistake until you frantically hurried out of bed toward the widow bites on the desk. You trembled in the corner of the room as you pointed the weapon toward him. Sam lifted his hands as he attempted to persuade you to put the weapon down. "It's okay. You aren't there anymore. You're safe," he assured. "You can drop it. It's okay." He stayed in that spot, repeating those phrases until you lowered the weapon.

Finally, the widow bites hit the ground. You drop down along with it. Slowly, Sam takes a couple of steps toward you. Knowing you were still startled, he squatted down to your level to make himself less of a threat. He kept some distance between you, instructing FRIDAY to turn on the lights. "You're safe. I'm here. It's okay." You quivered in fear. Although you saw Sam before you, you only heard your uncle's voice -- the monster who took advantage of you. Your mind was playing tricks on you. "Breathe with me, yeah? Ready? One, two, three, four…." You obeyed his instructions.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Soon enough, your breathing went back to normal. Your sobs shift to hiccups and periodic sniffling. Sam waited for you to settle more before questioning, "Is it okay if I move closer?" He didn't want to set you off again.

You nod.

"Are you sure?" 

You swallowed. "Yes," you whispered with a croaky voice. 

Carefully, Sam scoots to sit beside you. He makes a point of keeping some space between you. You sit in silence for a while. He wants you to take control of the situation. He doesn't want you to feel pressured to talk. You recognized the silent act and appreciated him dearly.

"I… I thought I saw him." You glanced up at Sam; your voice was low, shaky. You pointed to the corner adjacent to you. "H-He was right there." Sam doesn't speak. He held out his hand as a silent invitation of reassurance. His eyes and the expression on his face held sympathy. You clutch his hand like your lifeline.

"He can't reach you anymore." Those five words caused a loud sob to escape. Sam pulled you onto his lap and nestled you as you let it all out. He couldn't prevent the tears from falling. Sam hated that this happened to you. No one deserves to feel manipulated and violated.

"God, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." 

You sat there for who knows how long. Waves of grief and pain danced throughout the room as both of you cried. Sam grieved with you as you wept over the loss of who you once were. Truthfully, he felt responsible for what happened to you. The man wished that he was there to protect you that night.

He hadn't noticed that you'd fallen asleep until he heard the sound of soft snores. Guessing that you wouldn't want to sleep in your bedroom for the rest of the night, Sam slowly maneuvered himself to carry you to his room instead. Sam spotted your teddy bear in his peripheral vision as he approached the door and grabbed it before walking down the corridors. Thankfully, he didn't have to worry about waking anyone else in the Compound because only You, Sam, and Natasha lived on this floor. As far as Sam knew, Natasha was still visiting her sister, Yelena, in Ohio.

Once he settled you in his bed, Sam made himself a makeshift bed on the floor at the end of the bed. Sam knew you'd end up scolding him in the morning for doing so, but he didn't care. He checked his phone for the time and noticed a message.

Message from Nat:

Hey. Friday alerted me that [Name] had a nightmare again. My flight isn't for another hour, but I'll be there before she wakes up. I know you've got them, so I'm not too worried. Update me tomorrow :)

Delivered at 2:35 a.m.

I finally got her back to bed. This one seemed much worse. I'll tell you more in the morning. Have a safe flight, Nat

Delivered at 3:56 a.m.

Sam checked up on you again before allowing himself to fall back asleep. "Sweet dreams, [Name]."

~~

As you wake up, the scent of lavender and pine trees greets you. From beneath you, you can hear Sam snoring. Usually, you'd scold him for the potential back pain he'd experience later. But you were too exhausted today to do so. Despite your body's protests, your brain determines you are better off continuing your education. Some of you believe that connecting with friends will lift your mood. So you try not to wake up Sam and sneak back to your room to prepare for the day.

You were better off staying at home. 

The school hours are a blur. You lack self-control. You are not present mentally. You've detached yourself from everything. You were tired of your peers and those who didn't know you well. You wrote your exhaustion off as pulling an all nighter, which wasn’t too much of a lie in your eyes. That was your explanation when confronted with your unusual behavior. Most people bought it. It took more sway from Peter, Ned, and Michelle. They stopped bothering you after you assured them you were okay, though you still occasionally felt some concern. When the day is done, you are overwhelmed by the amount of skin you would brush up against while walking through the hallways to your next destination. You're quick to pack your belongings and rush out of the building. You don't bother to say goodbye to your friends.

A black Corvette Stingray awaits you just outside the school's main entrance. "Hey, Solnishko," Natasha says as you enter the car. When you questioned Natasha one day during your training session, she explained that it meant "little sun." She described you as having a bright and fiery essence, similar to the sun. And you became her little sun from then on. However, her little sun isn't shining as bright as usual today.  

The term endearment makes you smile but doesn't reach your eyes. Natasha doesn't comment on your gloomy disposition.

"Hi," you reply. "How was your trip?" The upbeat tone you desire does not come through. As Natasha drives away, you concentrate on the blurry scenery outside the window. You cringe internally at your lack of enthusiasm. Even though small talk is the last thing you want to do right now, you last saw Natasha a while ago. You were missing her presence.

"It was great. Later, I'll fill you in on everything." Only a murmur is returned, so the redhead ends the conversation there. The only sound on the return trip home is the radio playing at a low volume.

Natasha knows that you're not yourself. Your body language reeks of detachment. She doesn't take offense to the lack of expression you offer her. Sam gave her the run-down of last night's events once you left for school. She sees herself in you, and it pains her. The same drained look in her eyes after the memory of the past that Natasha pleaded to any god who would listen to escape. She knows how it feels to have her body controlled in such a terrible way - Innocence that was snatched away without any consent. It upset her terribly, but the most she can do is comfort you in any way she can. 

Once you enter the Compound, she guides you to her room, knowing that you usually find solace in her bed compared to your own. "Do you want to talk about it?" You still stand at the edge of her bed, arms crossed against your chest as comfort. She sits with her back against the headboard, waiting for you to make a move yourself. She waits patiently for you as you ponder whether you want to relive the nightmare again. You crawl over to the opposite side of the bed and lie so your head rests in her lap. "You know, I was talking with Bruce the other day, and he told me our skin regenerates itself every 27 days," you say as she caresses your cheek. "It's been two years, Tasha; why can I still feel him?" Your voice cracks as the tears you've been fighting away resurface.

Natasha's throat runs dry at your words. She wants nothing more than to harm the man that hurt you. Of course, there isn't a time limit when it comes to healing from trauma, but she hates that this still affects you so profoundly to this day. "I don't know, Solnishko," she whispers. She's at a loss for words. She knows nothing she says will immediately take away the pain you experience. "I'm sorry I can't take the grief away, sweetheart. If I could, I'd do it in a heartbeat." 

"I know. But your presence is enough for me." You bask in each other's comfort for a while. "Is Sam still home?" 

"Yeah, did you want to see him?" she asks, and you nod in response. 

"Okay. Hey Friday?" she calls to the Artificial Intelligence. "Can you tell Sam to come to my room, please?"

"Of course, Ms. Romanoff," the AI replies after a beat.

After a few minutes, a knock sounds at her door. Granting the man entrance, Natasha gestures to the teen in her lap, who has their eyes closed. "Hi, honey," Sam greets them as he nears the edge of the bed. Slightly opening your eyes at the sound of his voice, you grin. "Hi, Sammy," you whisper. 

"How are you feeling now?" He asks you. Observing your face, he can see signs of exhaustion in your eyes. 

"Very drained," you admit. "But a little better now that both of you are here." As much as you love everyone on the team and have a strong connection with them, you've always been more connected to Sam and Natasha for some reason. And the two of them love you like their own. They both smile softly at that. 

"How about we all take a nap, yeah? And then we can go out for dinner later?" Natasha suggests, looking at Sam for his thoughts on the suggestion. 

He nods. "Sounds good to me. Is that okay with you?" He asks you for confirmation.

You nod in agreement. With a yawn from you, you all situate yourselves on Natasha's bed. Sam and Natasha lay on opposite ends, with you in the middle. They wait until your breath evens out before speaking quietly. "I might call the school tomorrow to excuse her. She needs a day for herself." Sam tells the redhead. 

"Yeah, she needs it. Maybe we could plan an outing with the team for her." She kisses your forehead, brushing your braids out of your face. "Or just with us, depending on how she's feeling in the morning." 

Sam nods at the idea and closes his eyes; Natasha follows suit. And for a while, it's quiet until he says, "You know, you'd make an incredible mother, Nat." The statement causes Natasha to open her eyes again and look at Sam. He knows the subject of motherhood is a touchy one, given her background, but he can't help but admit it. He honestly does believe his friend would be the best parent. "Thank you. You know, you wouldn't make too bad of a father yourself, Wilson. You already have the terrible dad jokes downpacked," she says with a light chuckle. 

He sucks his teeth. "They not that bad."

She smirked lazily as the jet lag from the mission caught up to her. "Everyone else begs to differ." 

"You think they'll be okay?" Sam asks as he stares at the sleeping teen between them. 

"They always do. They have us in their corner to guide them," she reminds him, and he nods in agreement. If you were anything like either of them, you wouldn't let this throw you off track forever. You always bounce back from whatever obstacles life throws at you. With that, they fall asleep with a heaviness in their hearts for you, but they know you'll be alright. 

[swans-chirping-in-the-distance]

for the song ask thing. Set me free by Joshua Bassett for KOTLC

IM SO SORRY THIS TOOK ME SO LONG I FORGOT YOU COULD GOOGLE LYRICS

As SOON as I read those lyrics. Fitz to Keefe ahhhhh

"I don't know what I did to deserve all this/ I don't wanna be rude or on the defensive/ But I've been goin' through it too" Fitz is struggling too and no one else seems to understand that.

"And I know you feel used, I know you've been hurt" He knows. he cares about Keefe

"I'd take it all back if I could" Him saying hurtful rash things to his best friend

"But why must I hurt for you to feel okay?" Sokeefitz/ Keefe being rude

"I don't recognize you, not anymore/ You're not the love that I fell for" HOLY SHIT?? THIS IS THEM HE DOESNT KNOW KEEFE ANYMORE DID HE EVER REALLY??

"It's been a fuckin' year/ And I've been doin' my time, I've been workin' on me/ Wasn't sure I'd survive, never felt so weak" THIS. BECAUSE FITZ HAS HAD PEOPLE CALL HIM OUT ON HIS BS SM AND HES T R Y I N G

"I don't recognize him, not anymore/ You're not the love that I fell for" OH THE PARELELL GODSSS

"I hope you know that I still care about you dearly/ But I've gotta lock the door and throw away the key/ And I hope you know that I still care about you, darlin'/ I won't never let you hurt me how you hurt me/ Again, ever again" HOLY SHIT IM SOBBING

[kidovna]

joshua bassett???? whats ur fav song by him :0

Set me free :’) I cried for hours once playing that song on loop

[fullstcp]

"The Golden Years" by Joshua Bassett Sentence Starters

BITING MY TONGUE

"Silence speaks louder than I ever could."

"I can't breathe, I'm suffocating on my words."

"Maybe the story that's been left unsaid is gasoline just waiting for the perfect match."

"I just wanna love and not look back."

"Forget the promises we can't keep."

"I'm begging you to set me free."

"Can you blame me for that?"

"You're running your mouth, it's wearing me down."

"I'm tryna be better than I've ever been."

"Hope you got all that you wanted."

"I don't want revenge."

"I won't hurt you how you hurt me."

"I want this to end."

THE GOLDEN YEARS

"Time stopped moving the minute I saw you."

"I'd rather be fighting with you than alone in the city we knew."

"It was fun 'til it hurt."

"Now I'm terrified that I'll never find love like yours."

"I woulda held you longer that night when you kissed me goodbye through your tears."

"I woulda never left you alone when you needed me most."

"Those were the golden years."

"Dance with me under the cherry tree, darling."

"I'm still in love with the story of us."

"We were young, but our love, it was real."

DANCING WITH TEARS IN MY EYES

"I lied when I said I'm fine."

"Standing on the edge is something we'll regret."

"We're making a mess of the bed we made."

"We're playing with fire we already tamed."

"We shoulda known better."

"I cry every time our song comes on."

"Everybody's asking if I'm happy for ya."

"Nothing to regret, we went our separate ways."

"It's eating me alive to see you doing better."

"Maybe more wine will help me forget ya."

"Seeing you tonight, I'm right back where we met."

DON'T LET ME DOWN

"Don't you remember early September?"

"Our ship was sinking, we held on as long as we could."

"I cried on your shoulder, now I don't know you."

"I keep replaying it over and over."

"We made a mess, but we were just kids then."

"We fell off the deep end."

"I can't forget the way that you held me."

"You say you want me again."

"Don't you remember the hell we were in?"

"I haven't been the same since you left."

"Half of my heart is still there in your hands."

"If you pick me back up off the ground, don't let me down."

"How do I know that you actually need me?"

"You say it's different, I wanna believe you."

"Maybe this time is for real."

"Nobody loves like you did."

"Don't you tell me that you want me just to walk away now."

"Don't you tell me that you love me if you don't know how."

"Let's turn around."

"I won't let you down."

"We'll figure it out."

CHERRY BLOSSOM

"We talk too much."

"We're growing up but we're still young enough to crush."

"Say you're staying through the autumn."

"You bag the picnic, I'll pick you up."

"Is it too early to call this love?"

"I'll never ever get enough."

CIRCLES

"We've been here before."

"Your carousel hell got me chained to the floor."

"I've been falling for your sweet seduction."

"Can't believe you're fooling me again."

"I've been running for my life."

"I've been wasting all my youth on you."

"You got me goin' in circles."

"You're making me bleed but calling it love."

"You pull me close, but keep me at a distance."

"Where do I go from here?"

WILDFIRE

"Now I'm standing in the ash and broken dishes wondering where it all went wrong."

"Now there's nothing left of you and me."

"It was heartbreak to the third degree."

"We had it good and it was good until it wasn't."

"There's no, nowhere to run."

"We'll never make it out."

"We're too close to the sun."

"We let it burn and called it love."

"Would you look what we've become?"

"You asked for a light now we started a wildfire."

"We were reckless, we were young and we were stupid."

"We knew what we were doing."

"Two wrongs don't ever make a right."

"Don't look away."

"There's nothing left to save."

"Just kiss me goodbye."

"We're not gonna make it out alive."

"It's far too late to save us."

"Don't say it's all okay."

"It's too much."

"Just face it, we're dying."

"No point in even trying."

LITTLE RITA

"20 years going up in smoke standing in the ash of all you knew."

"I know this life isn't easy."

"You'd know that I will be right here."

"Home is where the heart is, and my heart is always near."

"I promise in no time that you'll be fine, and everything will be alright."

"Sometimes life just isn't fair."

"We're just glad to see you rise."

"Love is all that matters, anyway."

"I know it's scary, I know it's sad."

"No one knows how long they really have."

WOULD YA TELL ME

"I've been waiting."

"I've been wondering where you are."

"Say you're not too far gone."

"I don't know where my love went when you left."

"I don't know where my heart was when you were here."

"What if you're still in love with someone else?"

"What if you're still the one for someone else?"

"Would you tell me?"

"Sunlight don't shine now that you're not around."

"I don't wanna know who's taking you home."

MIRROR

"Where did it all go wrong?"

"There's blood on my hands."

"I don't understand."

"I don't recognize the face in the mirror."

"The face in the mirror isn't mine."

"Won't somebody help me?"

LOOK HOW FAR YOU'VE COME

"I know you can't see the light right now."

"You taught yourself to swim so you don't drown."

"Look how far you've come."

"You've been running far too long."

"Cry a little longer if it helps."

"You can't choose the place you're born. Your hair, your name, your baby clothes."

"Getting here, you did that on your own."

"I promise someday that it'll make sense."

[myfuriouscollectorchaos-blog]

i also happen to be a fan of Joshua Bassett! I went to see his concert at Toronto this week! The 21 of August ! It was the most magical night ever ! I paid really bad seat we qhere supposed to be on the third floor in the 310 section at the massey hall! But the manager regroup a bunch of people with bad seat to let them be on the floor since it wasnt a sold out show ! :o i never gonna forget this night ! The manager of the massey hall was an awesome dude ! Always gonna remember him! Bless him! It was hard to take good photo of him because he always moving !🤣 my favorite song from him are Set me free and Lifeline ! I followed him on his high school musical journey and so proud to see how far he came ! Wink wink!

[stargazing-enby]

Thanks @hazbin-helluva-itch for the tag! 🤩

put 5 songs you listen to, post it, then send this ask to tag 10 of your favorite followers ⭐

Casual - Chappell Roan

Alley Rose - Conan Gray

Labour - Paris Paloma

Set Me Free - Joshua Bassett

Anywhere for You - BANNERS

Here are Spotify links in case anyone is bored and wants to listen 😌

Tagging @gnarf @gregorsamsapost-trans-formation @kayos-incarnate @autumnsnuggling @otpcutie @cassiaratheslytherpuff @mxstyassasxin @queerofthedagger @dusiashipsthings @stavromulabetaaa and anyone else who feels like doing this!

[dwtspotify]

Everything I am — Kanye West (11:08 am EST)

Part Of The Band — 1975 (11:10 am EST)

Powerglide ft Juicy J From SR3MM — Rae Sremmurd (11:16 am EST)

Satellite — Khalid (11:18 am EST)

Black Hole Sun — Patrick Cc (11:22 am EST)

Mood ft iann dior — 24kGoldn (11:24 am EST)

Nonsense — Sabrina Carpenter (11:26 am EST)

•OUTSIDE• — Tom The Mail Man (11:28 am EST)

War! — Quadeca (11:30 am EST)

I'm In Love With You — 1975 (11:36 am EST)

Scooby Doo — Jiubel (11:37 am EST)

Stay With Me — Kevin George (11:40 am EST)

RIDING — Aries (11:43 am EST)

Working Bitch — Ashnikko (11:45 am EST)

Over — KAIRO (11:48 am EST)

Goodbye — Echosmith (11:52 am EST)

Set Me Free — Joshua Bassett (11:56 am EST)