#so much happier than i ever could— but how tied down you were by your own fear and guilt.' (<- ENOUGH!!! ENOUGH!!!)

[kebiday]

okay i'm sorry i'm not done thinking about thoroughbreds kandrew. (hyping myself up) it's fine. it's fine. it's my blog with no followers & i can be as delusional as i want

[kenananamin]

Tie my tie, marry me

Summary: The moment Nanami knew he never wanted to tie his tie by himself ever again and wanted to spend the rest of his life by your side. fluffy, nanami x fem!reader, nanami already loves everything you do but something about tying his tie was so intimate and special to him

It had been a year since Nanami officially asked you to be his girlfriend, but you had just started staying over during the weekdays. If either of you would stay at each other's houses, it would only be during the weekends when you both knew the next day could be dedicated to each other. Only recently had that unspoken rule changed.

You had both gone to the mall to shop for your new professional wardrobe and Nanami asked if he could buy a few extra things for you to keep at his house. You both knew what that implied and told him he could buy it, only if you could buy some stuff for him to keep at your house. You had both never been happier to spend more time and money at a crowded mall.

Nanami woke up a bit later for work than usual because of a power outage that turned off his alarm clock and did not charge his phone. You went into work after he did so you make his coffee and pack his lunch while he took a quick shower. You run into the bathroom to let him know he had less than 15 more minutes.

He steps out of the shower and grabs his razor to shave. You reach for the hairdryer he bought for you to keep at his house and start to dry his hair as he quickly shaves. You run out and start to rummage through his closet to set his clothes on the bed. Nanami finishes shaving and follows you out to get dressed.

"Shirt first, hurry," you take the shirt off the hanger and throw it to him.

Nanami begins to button the shirt when you get in front of him and start pulling his collar up and putting his tie around his neck. He looks at you with a questioning look and you quickly explain, "My dad taught me how to tie a tie. Never thought it'd come in handy since I never knew anyone who regularly wore a tie before you." You laugh at the memory but continue what you were doing to avoid making your boyfriend late.

Nanami however... his fingers stop buttoning his shirt. He looks at you, concentration and rush covering your features, but your fingers gently grazed his skin as you looped his tie. She's the first person to ever tie it for me, Nanami thinks. He had to learn how to do it from a video and was later corrected by some older male coworkers who showed him with their own ties.

The events of that morning finally dawn on him. You jumped out of bed right after you felt him jump out and started rushing around the apartment with him. He hadn't even mentioned that he was late, but you opened your eyes and knew what to do. He could smell the coffee from the room and heard the clanking of the leftover containers being opened and slid across counters from the shower. You dried his hair knowing that his route to work was not long enough to let it dry itself, and you took out exactly what he would have worn that day while he shaved. And now... there you stood before him, helping him tie his tie so his hands could do other things.

It seemed so... small. It was so small, so truly insignificant in the scale of life, something that could not hold weight in the world or change anything in the universe. But it changed his life, it was his favorite view in the world, and it would become his universe.

You look up at him and see him staring... and his hands not moving?! You move his hands away from the buttons and rush to finish buttoning it down. He takes your face in his hands and leans down to kiss you slowly. So very slow and soft. It stops you completely and you wrap your arms around his waist, relishing in the smell of his aftershave and body wash. Nanami deepens the kiss and moves an arm around your waist to pull you in closer. As much as you love when he pulls you in, the movement pulls you out of the kiss trance.

"Oh my god, Kento, hurry!! You're late, you're late!"

You step back and shove his pants into his arms. You tell him to hurry and that you'd grab his shoes to put by the door. You start yelling across the apartment that it would rain the entire afternoon and he needed to take the umbrella.

Nanami listens as you rustle through the closet looking for the umbrella and the light thud of what might have been his lunch bag and coffee thermal on the entryway table. He walks out the room putting on his suit jacket and sees you lightly jumping while telling him to hurry with his shoes.

Nanami leans down to tie his shoes but pauses after he's done. He goes to touch your bare leg since you hadn't even gotten dressed after waking up. You only wore his large shirt and underwear. He kneels and carefully lifts one leg to kiss your knee. He looks up from his kneeling position and says, "Thank you for helping. You really didn't have to."

His loving eyes close slightly while you lean down to give him one kiss as your response. "You're late," you whisper against his lips.

Nanami stands and takes his things while waving bye to you and your bed head. He heads out the door and begins a light jog to catch his regular train.

Yeap, she's the one, Nanami thinks.

Nanami spent his lunch break at the jewelry shop looking at rings that would look beautiful on your finger. There were so many engagement rings that would look gorgeous on you, but one caught his eye as he imagined that ring slightly moving on your finger as you tied his tie.

"I like that one. Do you have a size (your ring size) in stock?"

Nanami buys the ring at that moment and texts you to ask if he could come over to your house after work. He does not plan to propose on a regular Tuesday evening with no special plans, but he wants to hug you, smell your lovely perfume, take you some flowers, and give you a special thanks for helping him. And maybe, maaaayybe (most likely), stay over at your house to help him with his tie again the next morning.

[ashwhowrites]

Alright! So, Steve and Reader was in that stage when they're about to become a couple but then Nancy showed that on/off interest again and Steve pushed reader away. Nancy turned out to just feel lonely due to Jonathan being in California and didn't mean anything.

Steve now nurses hopes that Reader will give him another chance. Until he finds out through the grapewine (walkies) that Reader got dosed at a party but she called Eddie for help and he took her to the hospital.

And when Steve arrives, all hurt because she called Eddie and not him, she and Eddie is hugging and them finally telling each other they are in love. Leaving Steve standing there, contemplating what he's lost

I hope this is what you wanted and you enjoy it! Thank you for requesting 🫶🏻

Runaway girl

Y/N and Steve were the hot new gossip around the town. People were shocked to hear that Steve was finally moving on from his past with Nancy. Many people didn't think it was possible, but Steve had his head turned and stuck on Y/N.

Y/N was happier than ever. She always had a soft spot for Steve, and with his pretty looks, it didn't take long to fall at his feet. She had been patient and waiting for the day they could be official. But she knew Steve needed time.

She wasn't sure how much time was too much time. After four months of dating, kissing, and being together, she thought he would ask by now. Doubt filled her the longer Steve didn't ask.

While Steve took his time, he was unaware of someone who didn't need time to figure out his feelings.

Eddie had his eyes set on Y/N for the last few months. Of course, to his luck, she was hooked on Steve's arm. Eddie knew there was no way he could beat out the pretty boy of Hawkins. So he settled for a friendship and kept his feelings to himself.

But he couldn't help but wonder what Steve's problem was, and why he dragged his feet. If Y/N was anywhere near into Eddie, he would have made the move before anyone else could. But it was Steve, and he probably knew no one would step on his toes.

~~~

Steve sat in his backyard, sharing a cigarette with Nancy. She popped over and Steve was never one to turn her down. He liked when she wanted to talk to him when she wanted to be in his presence. Truthfully, a part of him refused to give up on her, on them. He had this glimmer of hope that they were still tied together and that would help them find each other again.

"You and Y/N have been dating a while, gonna capitalize on that?" Nancy asked, exhaling the smoke as she passed the stick over.

Steve shrugged and inhaled the cigarette, wishing it would answer for him.

"Uh, I'm not sure."

Nancy nodded, a knowing look in her eyes

"How are you and Jonathan?" Steve asked, passing the stick back to her. He watched as her lips formed around the cigarette and her body intake the smoke.

She shrugged, "I don't know. I think we might break up."

Steve saw his glimmer of hope expanding right before his eyes

"How come?"

"The distance is so hard. I just think of when you and I were together. How easy it was to be in the same state and town." She sighed, her eyes looking into Steve's wanting ones.

Steve got lost in the familiar look in her eyes

"Too bad someone else has your attention now," she whispered before she looked away.

~~~

Y/N sighed as she dialed the familiar number

It rang once before he picked up

"Munson"

"Hey it's me, could you pick me up?" Y/N asked as she looked around the diner

"Deadbeat not show again?" Eddie said, he sounded annoyed and he deserved to be. He always had to pick her up when Steve decided to bail. "Where are you?" He asked, already grabbing his keys.

~

Eddie pulled up to see her sitting on the curb. She wore a simple shirt with jeans, but she was breathtaking.

She stood up once he parked. But he was already walking towards her. He opened his arms and she wrapped her arms around him. She held back her tears as she felt comfort in his warmth.

"Hungry?" He asked, his voice muffled in her hair

He felt her nod against his chest

"Well I know this great place and it's not too far away. Wanna join me?" He asked

She pulled back and smiled. Her heart skipped as he smiled back at her. Throughout all the pain Steve caused, Eddie was the one who healed her. She felt something towards him, something she wished she and Steve could have.

She accepted his hand and laughed when he walked them through the diner doors.

~

"Thanks for always helping me out," Y/N said, shyly looking up from her burger

"When are you going to push him to the curb? He's been toying with you for the past few weeks." Eddie sighed. It hurt him as much as it hurt her. But Steve would always be pulled in Nancy's direction.

"It's hard, Eddie. I put in so much work for him and me to work out, I struggle to just give up on it." Y/N sighed

"Listen, I'm saying this as a friend. I really care about you, and he doesn't. He doesn't love you and he's not going to. It'll forever be Nancy. And you deserve to be treasured for being you. You beat Nancy in my book any day." Eddie said as he reached forward and held her free hand.

"I'll never be her," Y/N said sadly

"And you don't need to be her to be loved."

Y/N looked up at Eddie and gave him a small smile. He was right, she could find someone who loved her for her

And he was sitting across from her

~~~

Y/N wasn't sure why she attended the party. She wasn't one to get trashed on the weekends but Eddie was busy and she didn't want to be alone.

Her life had picked up ever since she gave up on Steve. He wanted to push her away so she made it easier. Eddie was what she needed and boy did she want him. He was gorgeous, inside and out.

His humor always made her laugh, she never felt sad around him. His smile froze her in the spot but made her stomach flutter when he pressed it against her lips. It's been months and months of feeling wanted and loved. But she found herself in that same spot, wondering when they'd speak about their feelings and make it official.

With all that on her mind, she needed a way to let loose. She planned one drink or two. But somehow the first drink had her thrown off. She could feel her skin melting in sweat, her head pounded and she felt the need to throw up everything she ever ate.

She found the closest phone and dialed someone she knew would show up.

~~

Steve sat on his couch as he ate a slice of pizza. The gang was eating a quick dinner before the boys would leave for hellfire, Dustin was already with Eddie. Which bugged Steve, but whatever. Nancy wasn't around, she went to California to save her relationship. Leaving Steve an idiot once more.

"HELLFIRE CANCELED. Y/N IS IN THE HOSPITAL"

Steve's ears rang as the walkie traveled through the living room. Panic in everyone's eyes are they flew off the couch.

Steve felt like he was transported to the hospital, he barely remembered leaving his house. He knew he just had to get to her. He felt anxiety taking over as he raced through the halls. He never worried about losing her, but now it was all he feared.

He found her room but froze as Eddie sat on the chair next to her. He zoned in on their hands intertwined and how close his face was to hers.

When the fuck did that happen?

"I'm so glad you called me. Happy you are safe and with me." Eddie said, Steve felt the blow to his chest. She called Eddie? Since when did she have Eddie's number.

"I was so scared and all I wanted was for you to be there." Y/N cried, the events still creating tears in her eyes. Eddie pulled her into a hug. Squeezing her tight to remind her he was there now

"I love you so much, and I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here." She sobbed

Steve felt his heart tug

He was so lost in making sure Nancy wouldn't leave, he forgot that Y/N could too. He figured he'd win her back like he always did. A sorry smile and puppy eyes, saying he won't do it again. But they both knew he would.

"I love you too,"

Steve swallowed the lump in his throat as they shared a tearful kiss

"Oh good you're here!" Dustin said relieved as he ran into Steve, standing outside her door.

"I'm just leaving" Steve snapped as he walked out.

Tags!

@bmunson86 @mxcheese @ladymunson @michaelfuckinglangdon @z0mbie-blah @biittersweet @mirrorsstuff @somethingvicked @micheledawn1975 @ago-godance @magnificantmermaid @tlclick73 @hargrovesswifee @cityofidek @silky-luxe @lokiofasgard616 @loving-and-dreaming @eddiemunsonsbitch69 @thegemaqua @ashlynnkennedy @strangerthingsstories5255 @harringt8ns @pleasinghellfire @whoscamila @stusdollface93 @gretavankleep37 @bellaisswagger @arlxt @ineedmentalhelp123

[back2bluesidex]

Seven Minutes - KNJ (18+)

Pairing: Namjoon X Reader

Theme: Major Angst, implied smut, fluff if you squint, Time-traveler Namjoon (?)

Wordcount: 1.1k+

Summary: Namjoon goes around the world in a day in just seven minutes.

Warnings: Unprotected sex, cock riding, creampie (it's a no no), death, very angsty, time travelling but not really. NSFW!!

Minors are not allowed in this blog!!

A/N: I don't know what is this honestly. I managed to incorporate rpwp tracks in the story but I hope you guys don't cry. let me know how it is if you want <3

Masterlist | Patreon

The first trail of winter is evident under the soft glow of sun. 

Leaves are starting to turn brown, there is a chill in the early morning air, the last remnants of fog are still clinging to the dust. 

But Namjoon can’t feel a thing, neither the chill nor the foggy air. He is not from this world or timeline after all. 

Namjoon sees himself, the younger version, standing at the bus stop waiting for the vehicle to arrive so he can leave for his first class. 

He used to be so sorted out even in his early twenties but that faded with time. 

And then he sees you, the younger version of you. 

Rushing past him you reach where the younger Namjoon is standing currently. 

You look the same - just so beautiful. 

It is the moment that younger Namjoon fell for you. 

It is the moment everything started. 

When he peeks he sees his younger self stealing glances at you. He smiles at the dumbfoundedness of the younger boy, who is very clearly taken aback with your beauty. 

It was the very moment he fell for you. 

But right now he feels like he has been the wrong person in the right place. 

Only if it were someone else, you probably would have been happier than he had ever managed to make you. 

Everything surrounding Namjoon morphes into black and gradually the scene changes. 

Now he finds himself standing inside a wedding hall.

The wedding hall, where he got tied with you. 

There are familiar faces everywhere, some of the faces he missed seeing, some of the faces he hated seeing, and some he never saw properly in the first place. 

Then his eyes fell on your figure.

You look so divine, so gorgeous that he could start crying right away. 

Your gloved hands are held by another younger version of himself, the one that claimed to be your groom. 

He watches as you two take vows one by one, promising for a forever that he failed to keep.

And then the kiss. 

Namjoon recalls he felt like heaven at that moment. 

You felt like heaven to him.  

Just as before, everything starts morphing into a blackhole again. The scene changes and now he is standing inside your shared bedroom. 

The first thing he sees is the sunkissed smooth skin of your naked back, then his eyes drift down towards your hip. His younger self is clutching onto your waist as if his life depends on it. 

The grunts and moans are mixing with the already tensed air and making things even worse. 

He watches you ride the other him, your tits bouncing with every move you make. 

You have always rode him like a pro, making him go nuts. 

You release, triggering his own climax. He spills into you shamelessly.

“I- I love you so much” his younger self confesses to his freshly wedded wife, you. 

“I love you too, Joon.” you reply ardently. 

The scene changes with another rush of black. 

This time he travels to a much recent time, only two years prior to his own timeline. 

You two are now married for five years already. 

The promises of loving each other have started crumbling down under the weight of busy schedules, unspoken truths and the monotonous routine of everyday life. 

The love his younger self confessed of has turned into a habit. 

He sees you waiting. You are sitting on the couch, staring towards the condo door as if you haven't seen him for years. 

Namjoon wishes you could actually see the current version of himself, who is also desperate to reach out to you now. 

But he knows it’s impossible. He doesn’t belong to this timeline. 

The door opens. Another version of himself walks in, clearly tried and irritated. 

“You’re late again.” your voice comes out thinner than the night-time air. 

Younger Namjoon doesn’t give you a single nod and heads straight towards the bedroom. 

He stands there, watching you as tear drops fall from your eyes one by one, roll down on your cheeks and soon turn into a downpour of heavy emotions. 

Namjoon cries too, even when he can’t feel his own tears. He cries with you nonetheless. 

This is the moment, he realized, he became lost for the rest of his lifetime. 

This time the black is mixed with a little white, making things gray. 

When the next scene appears, he finds himself, younger only by a year, sitting at his desk with his head leaned back and eyes closed. 

You stand before him, crying, sobbing, almost begging. 

The scene breaks his heart. But his younger self had been impressively heartless at that time. 

“What do you mean you fell out of love?” you manage to speak in between the sobs. 

“I said what I feel, Y/N. I need a break.” His younger self adds matter-of-fact-ly. 

He hates it.

How could he be so blind? How could he not see what he was doing to you? How the hell did he manage to be such an asshole? 

You break down at his words. 

Namjoon turns his back at the scene. If he stays in this timeline for a second more, he will lose it. 

And as if granting his prayers, the scene changes. The black nothingness gets even lighter this time. 

Is this a sign of approaching the end of seven minutes? 

This time he finds himself alone, the same one as himself, just a few hours prior. 

He is sitting at an overpriced bar, clutching a whisky in his one hand, clutching his phone to his ear with another. 

He is calling you. 

“Come back to me, Y/N. come back to me.” he murmurs into the call. 

If he remembers correctly, you cut the call as soon as he completed his sentence. You were unwilling to let him break you more, which he understands - appreciates. 

Settings morph into a grayish black for one last time. And now he is back where he is supposed to be. 

Namjoon’s soul stands beside the hospital bed, where his dead body is lying cold. 

You are sitting right beside him, crying your eyes out. 

Crying as if your heart has been ripped off and your blood is flowing ceaselessly. 

Research says the human brain stays active for seven minutes after death to replay memories. 

Is it a coincidence that he started his seven minutes with you and ended it with you? 

Probably not because you have been his world, his most precious gain in life. 

Even though he had caused you so much pain, you never truly left. 

And see… you are here to mourn for his unfortunate, premature death. 

Spending his last seven minutes with you is equivalent to going around the world in a day to him. 

And this way Namjoon can bid you goodbye properly, even when you will never get to know about it. 

Taglist:

@phenomenalgirl9 @variety-is-the-joy-of-life @chimchimmarie @coffeedepressionsoup @meowstake @vonvi-blog @nochuel @chimmisbae @i-have-no-life-charlie

[cobaltperun]

Genius (6) - Genius

Cairo Sweet x female (G!P) Reader

Summary: It was such a cliché, a reunion she didn’t expect to ever happen, let alone six years after she last saw you. It was supposed to mean nothing, a bit of nostalgia, maybe a brief catching up while waiting for class, it was supposed to be a small wave of nostalgia, not a tsunami that disrupted her entire life. You were her opposite, and as hard as she tried she couldn’t resist your pull.

Story masterlist / First part / Previous Part / Next part

Word count: 2.2k

-Won't you tell me all your secrets about how you exploit their weakness, I think you're a fucking genius,-

Cairo sat in her garden, with her legs lifted onto the second chair. She had her eyes closed as the soft wind blew in her face. She was smiling, happier than she’s been in a long time.

She was seen. You were seeing her, the real her, and you were starting to see her trauma as well, all the things she wished she could get over, or tell you about, yet didn’t. She caressed the spine of Jules Verne’s book, she remembered how captivated the two of you were by it, by the simple idea of traveling the world. Of leaving this place and seeing everything, absolutely everything the world had to offer. Would she be able to do it? That was one of her dreams, fulfilling the trip around the world in eighty days, well, she doubted she could see everything in eighty days, but start from one trip around the world and then pick another route.

Would you be willing to go with her? Did you love her? You came after her, you went out to look for her, well so did Winnie. You went back into the forest and brought the roses to her backyard and she opened her eyes to look at them. It’s been one day since you brought the pots and planted them, hoping they would sprout roots.

If a wild rose could be moved, if it could be released from the roots that kept it tied to a place that wouldn’t let it grow and blossom, maybe she could do the same. Was it too late to stop whatever was going on with Miller? Did she already cross a line? Did he have expectations of her right now? She still desired the love he described, that madman’s love that she felt she’s been missing her whole life, but now that she thought about it she thought about your arms around her yesterday, when you finished working with the roses.

Was that her madman’s love? How did you feel about her? She wasn’t sure, but she hoped, and if she wanted to be fought for, she would fight for you as well. She got up, and went inside, heading right for her room where her laptop was. She got comfortable, opened a blank word document and began typing. She put all of her feelings, all of her desires on the page, releasing the feelings she otherwise wasn’t sure how to handle. How would you act if you knew how much she wanted you right now? How much she craved to feel your arms around her again? And in the midst of all of those thoughts she dared to let her mind wander to how your touch would feel on her bare skin. How mad could you drive her? How passionate were you? How about her? She’s never done it, she’s only read about it, how assertive would she be? She didn’t know, but she wanted to find out with you.

~X~

You sat in your bedroom, your guitar in your arms as you played the acoustic cover of ‘She is’ by The Fray, you didn’t know why that song came to your mind out of blue, but you knew who you wanted to play it for.

“She is everything I need, that I never knew I wanted,” you sang softly, closing your eyes and pulling the notes and lyrics from memory. How long has it even been since you’ve listened to that song? Yet you still remembered it down to the smallest details.

The shakiness of Cairo’s breath as the two of you hugged, the slightest tremor in her voice, the soft whisper, you couldn’t get it out of your head, any of it. She was intoxicating and it was maddening how much of an affect an innocent night of nothing but reading made you notice all the things you weren’t sure you were meant to notice.

She was your childhood friend. You were trying to rebuild that friendship.

“This is going to bring me to my knees, I just want to hold you close to me,” yet you still sang, still knew full well that your heart was beyond reason, that you could no longer see her as a friend. Your mind demanded control over your feelings, demanded that you stop and reconsider, that you take into consideration how fast this was all going. You haven’t been back home for a month and already you were having a turmoil over your feelings for your childhood best friend.

But your heart overpowered your mind and the thoughts of Cairo brought forth a melody you were hearing for the first time, one coming from your heart, filled with longing, desire, all the emotions you still weren’t sure you should share with Cairo.

Would she accept them? Or would she deny the pull she had on you and demand to stay friends?

“Break me down, shape me into something just for us,” you tried adding lyrics to the tune you were creating.

~X~

The next morning you arrived at school a bit earlier than you were supposed to, you just had a bit too much energy this morning and figured you might as well wait for the classes to start at the school instead of at home. You got off your motorcycle and began taking the protective gear off. The school was close, but, you knew better than to take unnecessary risks on the motorcycle. It doesn’t matter how short the ride is, but if you get into an accident or not, and you can always get into an accident, no matter how careful you are. Not all drivers were as careful and that made protective gear mandatory to you.

“Y/N! Hey,” you heard Winnie yelling and looked behind you to see her and Cairo walking across the parking lot. Knowing them they were going to grab a bite.

“Hey!” you took your helmet off and grinned at her before you turned to Cairo, your grin morphing into a softer smile. “Welcome back, Cairo,” you skipped school on Tuesday, but you went yesterday, unlike her.

“I’d say it’s good to be back, but I’d be lying,” she smiled back, shifting her weight so she was leaning more on her left foot and raising her right knee up a bit for a moment, all the while keeping a hand resting on her hip. She dressed a bit different than what you were used to, thigh highs, a shorter skirt and the sweater she had on hugged her body almost a bit too perfectly and you resorted to imagining rather unappealing things to keep your mind from wandering because no, you were not about to become a horny teenager now. No! You wanted none of those thoughts right now!

No matter how attractive Cairo was regardless of what she was wearing.

“You okay, Y/N?” Winnie almost sang, she knew exactly what was on your mind, or what you were trying to keep from being on your mind and she had no intentions of helping you.

“Yup! Perfectly okay, thanks for asking,” you coughed to cover up a slight crack in your voice. ‘Damn it, Cairo, have mercy,’ you thought when you noticed the smile on Cairo’s lips turning into a small smirk.

“If you say so. It’s totally okay if you aren’t fine, you know?” Winnie reassured you and closed the distance so she could pat you on the back. “Wanna go grab a bite with us?” she offered and there was no way you’d accept. You’d be in for a teasing of your life and you still weren’t entirely sure Cairo dressed up like that for anyone, let alone you.

“I’ll skip, I don’t have the first period off,” which was true as well. Going with Cairo and Winnie would mean skipping class, and you kinda needed to listen to this one, otherwise you’d fail it miserably.

“Aw, and I looked forward to teasing you,” Winnie pouted, as if she was actually that disappointed. Actually, she might be just that disappointed.

“Right, I was really looking forward to that,” you said blankly and then turned your attention back to Cairo. “So, wanna ditch the village with me on Saturday?” you asked, a bit too hopefully for your own taste.

“Of course,” Cairo nodded, she approached you and fixed the collar of your jacket a bit. “I’ve been meaning to ask you the same thing,” she admitted, lifting her chin up while you were looking down. Just a few inches separated her lips from yours and you swallowed hard.

“Really?” you managed to speak up, your throat suddenly felt really dry.

“Yeah, I wanted you to take me on a trip, just the two of us,” she admitted, and you nodded.

“I will, I promise you,” you whispered, for a moment forgetting Winnie was even there.

“Ooh, can I come and watch?” Winnie suddenly broke whatever bubble you and Cairo created and you took a step back as Cairo glared at Winnie. The shit-eating grin on Winnie’s face told both of you she deemed the interruption and the potential consequences of it worthy.

You cleared your throat and took a few more steps away from Cairo. “Right, I’ll see you two later,” you waved at them and headed toward the school, unaware of what was about to transpire.

~X~

Cairo watched you go, a small smile on her face gave her away, but then she heard Winnie chuckling and raised an eyebrow. She already had a bad feeling as Winnie approached her with a teasing smile on her face.

“Oh no,” she sighed, not sure what to expect from her best friend. Whatever it was, the mischievous look in her eyes made Cairo more than a little worried.

“Oh, Y/N, I can’t wait for you to take me,” Winnie moaned sensually and pushed her breasts up, her lips parted as she went down a bit only to slowly, with her hips swaying slightly straighten up.

Cairo blushed furiously. “I didn’t say that, and especially not like that,” she looked back toward the direction you went in and felt relief at you not being anywhere in sight. “And take me on a trip, not take me,” she muttered as Winnie smirked at her.

“Mhm,” Winnie didn’t believe her, that was clear and much to Cairo’s horror she got on your motorcycle. “Yes, Y/N, fuck me on your bike! Yes, Baby, get that engine purring!” she was leaning forward, jokingly raising her hips up and winking at Cairo.  

“You need to get off her motorcycle!” she pleaded, already embarrassed enough. “And I don’t want that!” even if she did, you were very protective of your motorcycle, there was no way you’d bend her over it and fuck her.

“Maybe, but you thought about it,” Winnie finally got off your motorcycle but the teasing certainly wasn’t over.

“I didn’t,” Cairo denied it a bit too quickly, and maybe the thought did cross her mind, but again, you wouldn’t agree to it, so it didn’t matter. “And weren’t you all for wagyu beef?” she tried to remind Winnie that you weren’t the one she was supposed to seduce, even though she remembered Winnie changed her mind, but she needed something to get Winnie’s mind off you and Cairo fucking on your motorcycle.

Winnie waved her off with a playful scoff. “That’s in the past. You, my Sweet darling, need someone young and owning a bike,” she teased, brushing her fingers over the handles of your motorcycle and then pretending to rev it up. “This bike in particular, just so we’re clear,” she smirked.

Cairo rolled her eyes at that. “Let’s just go and eat,” she hoped the promise of food would make Winnie stop already, seeing as nothing else was working.

“You’re paying this time,” Winnie nudged her.

“Only if you stop teasing me about Y/N,” Cairo felt hopeful, she should have known better.

Winnie looked through her bag and fished out her wallet. “Would you look at that, looks like you’re out of luck.”

This was hell. She had no doubt about that.

~X~

That day after the classes she dropped by the post office and looked around for the mailman assigned to her part of the village, meaning he also delivered to your place as well. “Hey, I was wondering if you’d be willing to do me a favor?” she said with a polite smile and two hundred dollars peaking right for him to see.

“Maybe,” he said slowly and she slid the money and an envelope across the table. “I need you to deliver this, not to the address written on the letter, but to another address instead,” she slipped another paper, this one with your address on it.

What would you do? Wait until Saturday and bring the letter to her at a convenient moment, or would you use the chance to come and see her? She wanted to see if you were as eager to spend time with her as she was to spend it with you. If you felt the madness she felt, or if you could resist it.

She hoped you wouldn’t be able to. She hoped you longed for her as much as she longed for you.

A/N: Well, a short one, but sometimes these happen as well. But, would you look at that, we're halfway done!

Taglist:@deimaisgail @bee-keeping @marvelous-disaster @jmwetterlund @tekanparadiae

@alexkolax @ioveyouyouloveme @aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh @autorasexy

[eth-edwards-73]

Te amo

Hector Fort x reader warnings: none (all pictures are from pinterest) (Spanish translations in end note)

liked by hctorforrt_, marcguiu9 and 192.374 others yourusername my boy <33 tagged: hctorforrt_

hctorforrt_ amore mio <33 > liked by creator

fan91 I don’t get how he got her

fan7 he’s so arrogant and she’s so sweet

fan78 she deserves so much better

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You could see Hector deflate beside you as the comments came in. You two had been dating for a year, public for 5 months now, both of you knew that there would be some hate but it hadn’t gone down even after 5 months. All the hate came from your fans and you hated how bad they made your boyfriend feel. Just seeing him sad like that made you furious but your manager wouldn’t let you post anything telling the fans off.

In your eyes and the eyes of all the people that really know Hector he is the sweetest person ever and yes he does have confidence but he’s definitely not arrogant. He was the best boyfriend you could ever wish for, taking in account every single thing you felt and you hated that some of your fans couldn’t see that. 

You truly were getting desperate to finally speak out about the matter so you angrily texted your manager, telling her that this couldn’t go on and that you didn’t care if you lost fans for defending your boyfriend, because he was hurting and you didn’t want that.

Finally, after months of begging your manager agreed so you selected some of your favorite photos with Hector and created a post, drafting a caption and sending it to your manager, she agreed and you copied it into insta. After that you perfected it a little, asked Hector if he was fine with you posting it and then posted it when you got the green light from your boyfriend.

liked by bbfusername, hctorforrt_ and 293.019 others

yourusername So since my relationship has gone public both Hector and me have been getting nasty comments on our insta posts and tbh i’m done with this

Hector is the sweetest person i’ve ever met and in the year and two months that we’ve been together i’ve never been happier. He manages to always put a smile on others and my face without problems. Yes he’s confident but he’s not arrogant, not even close to it and I hate that you’re all just assuming that he is when you don’t even know him. He’s the best boyfriend I could ever ask for and I don't want anyone other than him. He had done so much for me, from helping me find ideas for videos and music, to taking me out on the perfect dates and giving me everything I could ever want.

There are no words for how much I love and care for him, being with him has been a dream come true. And to all my supposed fans that hate on him, i don’t consider you a fan because if you were you’d support Hector and me. All of the people that have left comments talking bad about Hector are just as bad as my haters and there is no excuse that can make me think differently. 

Y finalmente para Héctor, tú eres la luz de mi vida y no estaría donde estoy ahora mismo sin ti. No podía imaginar lo que haría si te perdiera. Te amo ahora y para siempre <33

tagged: hctorforrt_

bffusername istg you two are the cutest <3 > liked by creator and hctorforrt_

hctorforrt_ te amo <33 > liked by creator > yourusername yo también te quiero

marcguiu9 Nunca lo he visto tan feliz como cuando está contigo > liked by creator and hctorforrt_

ursistersusername i want someone that looks at me like that :( > liked by creator

comments are limited

liked by yourusername, bbfusername and 92.182 others hctorforrt_ Te quiero más que a nada ❤️ tagged: yourusername

comments are turned off

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

I'm really happy with how this one turned out but just to be sure imma put the translations from the Spanish here

Y finalmente para Héctor, tú eres la luz de mi vida y no estaría donde estoy ahora mismo sin ti. No podía imaginar lo que haría si te perdiera. Te amo ahora y para siempre: And finally for Hector, you are the light of my life and I wouldn’t be where I am right now without you. I couldn’t imagine what I would do if I lost you. I love you now and forever

Nunca lo he visto tan feliz como cuando está contigo: I’ve never seen him so happy as when he’s with you

Te quiero más que a nada: I love you more than anything

I hope you all enjoy it too and i love y'all <33

[redroomreflections]

Gentle Hands Chapter Five

Natasha Romanoff x fem!reader

Summary: Natasha suspects Reader is in an abusive relationship and tries to convince her to leave

5/10

W/c: 2.7k

Masterlist | General Masterlist

Warning: Domestic violence

In the quiet serenity of your shared sanctuary, you sat on the edge of the couch, your heart heavy with the weight of recent struggles. You pulled Kaia onto your lap, offering comfort, and a source of nutrition as you leaned into the plus-throw pillows behind you. The gentle rhythm of your breathing filled the room as the toddler’s small fingers curled around your thumb. Your heart swelled with a profound sense of joy and gratitude as you prepared to nurse your daughter. The room was awash with a peaceful ambiance, a sacred space where time seemed to stand still. You marveled at the miracle of your body, providing nourishment and sustenance to your growing baby. With each gentle suckle, your bond deepened, transcending words and touching the very core of your connection.

As Kaia latched onto your breast, your face softened with tenderness. You didn’t think about anything other than this act of love between the two of you. Before, with Keith, you never breastfed Kaia out in the open. At least where he was concerned. He always considered it an inappropriate thing that should be hidden. He would often openly express his distaste at the fact that Kaia was still breastfeeding due to her age. Which wasn’t big at all. She’s still a baby. Still needs you in more ways than one. He had taken that away from you and forced you to find other means of sustenance for her in the form of baby food. In the first few months, Kaia had not taken to the food. She only wanted to feed from her mother and you didn’t blame her. So, in secret, your only act of defiance, you would feed her and hold her close to you. Just like now.

The room was filled with the soft sounds of suckling and the occasional contented sigh that escaped Kaia's lips. You marveled at the way your daughter's face lit up with contentment, her tiny hand resting gently on your chest. You studied her features, engraining them into your head, and thinking about how this is the youngest she’ll ever be. You’ll never be able to get this time back with her. Kaia's features were a delicate fusion of your own, mirroring your smile, only hers could light up the darkest of rooms. Her button nose, sweet and petite, her warm glowing skin, her pudgy hands that grabbed at your face, caressing every piece of skin she could see.

“You know,” You begin to speak, startling her awake as her fluttering eyes look into yours. “Sometimes Mommy feels scared and unsure. But I promise, I will always protect you."

You traced the faded bruises on your arms, remnants of the abusive relationship you had recently escaped. It had taken you immense courage to sever the ties with Keith, but the aftermath left you grappling with doubt and regret. Your heart ached with a gnawing uncertainty, wondering if you had made the right decision for both yourself and Kai. In that tender moment, a surge of conflicting emotions flooded your being. Regret mingled with relief, as memories of Keith's controlling behavior clashed with memories of happier times, the illusion of love that had once enveloped you. Doubt gnawed at you, questioning whether you had done enough, whether you could have salvaged your relationship for the sake of their family.

Then you look down at Kaia, as she nurses, and you think better of it. That life wasn’t sustainable. It wouldn’t have worked. You probably wouldn’t have made it. The thought of leaving Kaia without a mother is terrifying. She needs you. Just as much as you need her. If she wasn’t there. If it was just you and him. You don’t think you would have had the strength to leave and that thought scares you the most. You longed for clarity, for the certainty that you had made the right choice, even amidst the pain of leaving behind the life you had once envisioned.

Suddenly, a persistent knocking on the door pierced the silence, jolting you from your nursing reverie. Kaia turned her wide, curious eyes towards the source of the disturbance, her lips releasing a brief protest at the interruption. Reluctantly, you disengaged Kaia from your breast, carefully maneuvering to free yourself from the embrace of your bonding moment. Gently placing Kaia onto her feet, you button up your shirt quickly, before walking towards the door.

As you approached the door, a flutter of anticipation mingled with trepidation in your chest. Uncertainty hung in the air as you wondered who could be seeking your attention at this particular moment. Opening the door, you revealed Natasha standing on the other side, a bag of food in her hands.

Natasha's presence was a mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity—a connection forged through shared experiences, yet still fraught with the lingering hesitations of a newfound relationship. Not relationship. Friendship. Your eyes met, each reflecting a longing for companionship, an unspoken desire for understanding and support.

"Hey," Natasha greeted softly, her voice carrying a hint of warmth that instantly put you at ease. "I brought some food. Thought you might be hungry.”

Your eyes softened, gratitude filling your heart at the thoughtful gesture. Accepting the bag, you allowed yourself to be enveloped in Natasha's concern, silently acknowledging the unspoken support that had drawn you together.

“Oh, thank you.” You stand before her awkwardly.

In that moment, the pitter-patter of Kaia’s little feet catches your attention, as she approaches the two of you. She uses one hand to grip the fabric of your sweatpants and the other to stick a finger into her mouth, a mixture of drool and milk dribbling from her chin as she smiles up at Natasha. Her eyes lit up with excitement at the new visitor.

“Good morning, little one,” Natasha greets. A wave of shyness washed over Kaia, her small frame retreating slightly. Yet, the glimmer of enchantment in her eyes remained, her curiosity too strong to resist. She tentatively extended a chubby hand towards Natasha, her fingers reaching out as if to bridge the gap between them.

“I think she wants you to come in,” You step back and allow Kaia to pull Natasha over to her brand-new building blocks in the middle of the floor. Natasha follows, settling onto her knees, as Kaia begins to pass her several. You sat on the couch before them, peeking into the bag, and inspecting the meal.

“I got something that would help with the morning sickness,” Natasha’s concern peeks through.

“That’s sweet of you, Natasha,” You say. You place the contents of the bag onto the coffee table. There’s a styrofoam bowl filled with oatmeal bananas and apples. Even a small coffee with decaf written the cup in permanent marker. “I haven’t been able to keep much down.”

“Was it this bad before? With Kaia?” Natasha refers to the toddler who’s insistent on Natasha building a tower for her. Her eyes watch in amazement and glee as Natasha stacks them on top of each other one by one.

“It was hit or miss,” You shake your head. You dig into your meal, not realizing how hungry you have been until you take your first spoonful. You watch in interest as Kaia plays with Natasha before knocking the tower down. She claps her hands for the older woman. “Do you have work today?” You ask. Natasha tears her gaze away from Kaia long enough to look over at you.

“No, I’ve taken the day off,” Natasha says. “It’s not like there’s much to do right now anyway.”

You nod. Secretly, you’re kind of happy she has nothing to do. You’re not sure you want to be alone right now.

“Yesterday,” You begin. You’re not too sure you want to know the answer but you need to ask. “When Keith left…what happened?”

“Tony and the guys threatened him a little,” Natasha answers solemnly. “He won’t be bothering you anymore.”

The oatmeal is thicker now. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth that has you setting down your bowl.

“They didn’t hurt him did they?” You ask. Suddenly you feel stupid for having such concerns.

“No,” Natasha says with a straight face. You hope she’s not lying to you. “I promise he’s okay,y/n.” Natasha doesn’t question why you want to know. She doesn’t judge your concern. She understands how all of this might feel for you and for this, she doesn’t place judgment.

Suddenly, as if she’s just discovering you have food, Kaia abandons her blocks to investigate. She plays coy, standing near the food with curiosity before she points to it.

“You’re not full, Missy?” You ask as you scoop some onto your spoon for her. Kaia opens her mouth wide, humming at the gooey thickness on her tongue, as she swallows it. For a moment neither of you speaks. Neither of you knows what to say just yet.

“So, besides the morning sickness do you feel okay?” Natasha comes to sit next to you on the couch.

“Everything’s fine,” You hand Kaia the spoon and allow her to feed herself. “Still a little soreness but I’m fine.”

“That’s good then,” Natasha nods. She licks her lips nervously. It’s not like she doesn't know what to say. In her head, a swirl of emotions and doubts plays into her actions, keeping her from asking what she really thinks. “Listen, you can stay here as long as you’d like. At the tower or my apartment. I’m not there much but you would have the space for you and Kaia. It’s secure and everything. Just until you know what you want to do. Or not.” Natasha finishes lamely.

“That’s incredibly kind of you, Natasha,” You thank her. “I haven’t really put too much thought into anything these past few days. I don’t want to burden you with everything. I’m sure I could call my parents and let them know I’m okay. I haven’t talked to them in so long. I don’t know if they even want to hear from me after I ignored them.”

“First,” Natasha turns to fully face you. “You’re not a burden. You and Kaia are lovely. Second, I’m sure your mother wants to speak with you. No matter how long it’s been.”

You look down at your hands. “My mom warned me about Keith. Before I got pregnant the first time, she told me I should come home. She didn’t like his possessiveness. I dismissed her. Told her she just didn’t want me to be happy. I guess it was my own fault for not listening.”

“No, it was not your fault,” Natasha says firmly. “Everything he decided to do was his.”

“I don’t know what to do with myself now,” You look at Kaia. “I want to be better for her.”

“And you will be,” Natasha assures you. Natasha's expression softened, her voice a comforting presence. "You're doing an amazing job, y/n. You've already created a safe space for Kaia by leaving Keith.”

“Yeah,” Your voice trails off. “Why are you helping me?” Your question throws her off. She furrows her brow before clearing her expression.

“I care about you,” Natasha admits. Somehow it’s an oversimplification of her feelings. “I care about the both of you.”

“Okay,” You don’t ask for much else. You believe her.

“All gone,” Kaia announces before passing you the empty bowl. You stand to collect the trash, as Kaia keeps Natasha company, though soon she follows you.

“You don’t think Stark will let me have my old job back do you?” You joke. Though Natasha can see the seriousness behind the question.

“It’s waiting for you whenever you want it,” Natasha offers. She would talk with Tony. She would make sure he knew how much you needed this. Any sense of purpose right now was a good thing.

“I have to make an appointment at the clinic,” You begin. Natasha’s expression is one of surprise. “I still haven’t decided yet. What about I’m going to do about the pregnancy.” You rest a hand over your belly. “I don’t have much time but… I don’t know. I need to make sure everything’s healthy first. That’s usually what they make you do anyway.”

“I’ll be there with you if you want me to,” Natasha knows how isolating this entire situation is. Adding a pregnancy on top of it was terrifying.

“I want you to,” You nod. Natasha would be there.

---> next part

[mswritingthings]

Big Prompt List

Instead of randomly putting out a few little lists here and there, I'll try to do a big one every 6 months or so. Yes, I did reuse a lot of my older prompts on this one, but the next one will be newer ones.

"It's always nights like this that I feel the loneliest."

"I can't be 'just friends' anymore!"

"This sort of thing was never meant to happen."

"Why don't you love me?"

"I have tried so hard for so long, and I'm just exhausted."

"There has got to be more to marriage than what we have."

"Please, just come back to me. I miss you."

"Don't cry, I hate it when you cry."

"I can't believe you'd do this to me."

"You were supposed to love and cherish me."

"I have nothing to say to you."

"Just come back, we can fix this."

"I feel lost without you."

"This isn't about you anymore. It's my turn."

"What do you want from me?"

"There it is. There's that smile I love so much."

"I've never been happier with anybody else."

"You've shown me what it's like to be loved."

"Let's go do something, just the two of us."

"It's hard not to love you, I know that now."

"Love me or leave me here."

"If you call me baby, I'll always be yours."

"I want to taste her lips cause they taste like you."

"You looked at me like I was someone else."

"You're drunk, go home."

"I never thought I'd fall for you as hard as I did."

"I'll be anything you want. You love me more than you love yourself."

"Relax, there's no reason for you to be so wound up."

"I'd be willing to lose everything to make them happy."

"You're like an angel, my angel."

"We're in love, and I am actually happy for once."

"Please don't ruin this for us."

"We aren't together anymore, but that doesn't mean I stopped loving you."

"Why is it so hard for you to accept that you're loveable?"

"I like the way your eyes crinkle when you smile, it's cute."

"Everything always works out in the end because it's you."

"Wow, you look absolutely breathtaking."

"I don't have to keep changing because they love me for me."

"Come on now, let's have some fun."

"You're going to be the death of me."

"Talk dirty to me."

"You're ridiculous."

"Charming, you know just how to make a girl blush."

"What kind of trouble are you going to get me into?"

"If you're gonna cuff me, you might as well throw the gag in too."

"Oh my god, what is wrong with you?"

"A little flirting never hurt anybody."

"Just get over here and kiss me."

"God, you are so fucking hot sometimes."

"Do you believe in love?"

"I'm going to fight for what I want to be."

"Do you really love me underneath it all?"

"There's not much left of me."

"I want to drag you down with me."

"I love myself, I want you to love me."

"Do you think of me when you're with her?"

"You are a brick tied to me that's dragging me down."

"Don't you remember how you told me you loved me baby?"

"I was supposed to be a doctor before all this started."

"Death wasn't supposed to feel like a mercy."

"The stars look different down here."

"Believe me, I didn't want it to come to this."

"Don't go, it's not safe out there for you."

"Your job isn't to make sure I make it out alive, not anymore."

"I don't want to live forever."

"Where do you go when you feel like there's nowhere to run?"

"And everything you ever said now tears me all apart."

"I've seen the things you put me through and I wish I could die."

"I love it so much it just turns to hate."

"When they get what they want, they never want it again."

"You want it all, but you can't have it."

"After all the lies you told, who will save your soul?"

"Life is perfect, never better."

"Fuck you."

"Isn't it much more fun fucking than fighting?"

I know I said to get laid, but I didn't mean them."

"I hope this lasts forever."

"Don't go, I need you."

"It's ben a long time."

"Sit and drink with me."

"The pain always subsides eventually."

"I got used to this."

"Tell me it'll be okay."

"I can't say sorry anymore."

"Please come back to bed."

"It wasn't worth losing you."

"There's too much at stake for me to let you be so selfish."

"Sometimes I wish that I never met you."

"You're insufferable, but I love you."

"It's a nasty business, that's what they don't tell you about loving someone."

"I have lost everything, but I keep going because I have to."

"There's a whole world of poeple out there who will love you."

"I know I'm now who you wanted to spend the night with, but I am here."

"I give up, being loved isn't worth all this humiliation."

"If you look away from me again, I swear I'll stop."

"You can have me any way you want, just ask nicely."

"You've taken good care of me, now let me take care of you."

"You have got to stop distracting me so much while I'm trying to work."

"Hey, all I'm looking for tonight is a good time."

"There's not a lot a good kiss can't solve."

[reasonsmandy]

Love Me Again

Warren Rojas x Fem!Reader

✧.* you're reading part two of — Love Alone

✧.* collab — @dj-ts

✧.* summary — They say nothing heals like time, but what do we do when that time is not enough to deal with your wounds? What do we do when we are not talking about a wound but a mark, a scar that was shaped by passion, desire and love? You thought that time would make you forget him, but there are things that are impossible to erase. And Warren Rojas, for sure, was one of those.

✧.* warnings — Nothing too drastic, read on and find out. (I believe that anything I put here will be a spoiler)

✧.* word count — 8.5k

✧.* 🥁 — Warren's masterlist

✧.* mandy's notes — I was so excited for you guys to read this, I really hope you like it. Special thanks to @dj-ts who wrote this masterpiece with me, thank you so much 🫶🏾. And as always, good reading.

The hours passed slowly, you were almost being devoured by the anxiety that was growing in your chest, you watched the clock on the wall anxiously waiting and waiting in frustration. Your foot couldn't stop tapping against the floor, your hands were sweating and your heart was beating so fast it could leap out of your chest at any moment.

You couldn't wait any longer, and gathering all the courage that was left in you, you got up. Without further ado, you put everything you needed in your bag and decide to walk to Camila's house, if you held that secret any longer you could explode for sure.

The way there, despite not being so long, seemed to take forever. You felt a huge tightness in your chest that wouldn't go away for nothing, you were scared... Very scared. You weren't expecting any of this, everything was going as smoothly as planned, the band had released a song that had blown up all over the country, the label had taken them back and Warren looked happier than ever, you loved seeing him like this and you had no idea what this news would do... How it would be received or how you yourself would deal with it.

You take a deep breath staring at your best friend's door, hoping she would be there to help you. You knock on the door, staring at your feet trying to regulate your breathing, you can hear someone's footsteps approaching and soon the doorknob turns opening the door. As soon as you see the brunette the tears you refused to let out, invade your face.

"Y/N darling, what are you doing here so early?" Camila had her hair tied up in a bun, Julia was sleeping peacefully in a crib behind her, she still hadn't looked at you and when she did and saw tears in your eyes, her eyes widened. "Baby what's going on? Come in."

The woman sits you down on the couch in the living room, crouching down in front of you, waiting for you to calm down. She caresses your knees trying to comfort you, trying to understand what had happened.

"Y/N I don't mean to rush you, but you're scaring me." She whispers after a few minutes.

"I'm pregnant Cami." You say and she sighs, in fact it wasn't something she expected.

Camila leaving the floor sits beside you, hugging you tightly, you stayed like that for a long time until you calmed down. She breaks the hug, looking deep into your eyes. She was scared but she knew her feelings didn't compare to yours, there was something different between her situation with Billy and yours with Warren.

Deep down she knew that she and Billy would make it work, she had confidence in their love and in what they had been building for so many years. But between you and Warren everything seemed so uncertain, at least from Camila's point of view, your relationship seemed to be sustained on the sands of a beach prone to strangely unpredictable tides.

And with that in mind, Camila feared what this child could mean, and not only for them on this journey of being parents, but also how this child would deal with this constant instability in their lives.

"And what do you want to do?" She takes your hands, trying to reassure you. "I'm here to help you with any decision."

"I want to keep it." You couldn't stop crying, tears fell down your face involuntarily. "But I'm so scared of what he would think… We never talked about this before."

You feel a lump forming in your throat as you realize the magnitude of the situation. What if Warren doesn't want the baby? What if he leaves you? You had always been so sure of your feelings towards him, but now everything feels uncertain.

You take a deep breath and try to shake off the thoughts that have been haunting you for so long. The gaps in your relationship with Warren seem to be widening with each passing day. It's as if you're standing on the edge of a precipice, staring down at the dark unknown below, and you can't help but wonder if you're about to lose the love of your life.

Those memories of unrequited love come flooding back, reminding you of all the moments that still haunt you to this day. You remember the way he never said he loved you back, or the way he always pushed you away when things got too close. You can't help but wonder if he'll react the same way to this unexpected news, and the thought alone sends shivers down your spine.

You asked Camila for some time to think, you said that you would stay there in the backyard smoking alone and obviously your friend did not invade your space, making it clear that if you needed it, just call.

As you watched the sky, the tightness in your chest increased, you were in front of something so unknown that it scared you, nothing in your moment brought you a firmament, quite the contrary. But at the same time that the tide of insecure thoughts was taking over you, a breach of warm and crystalline waters showed you a little bit of hope.

You would hear Julia's laughter at one time or another, and when you took your eyes to them you could see the little girl laughing and playing with her mother's hair, your heart racing at the thought of your future child, what would it be like to be a mother? What would the face of your great love's creation look like? You thought of the way your baby's hair could be curled like his father's, the thought of having a child like him filled your heart with joy.

You were afraid, but fear was not enough to quell your longing for this baby, the longing you had for a family by Warren's side. You imagined the way he could be a great father, how he would teach the child to play the drums with the greatest pride in the world, how he would be proud of every achievement of the baby. You knew Warren, he was the most eccentric person you knew and you had no other image of him as a father.

After spending a few hours with Camila, you feel a sense of calm wash over you. She tells you about her own experiences with motherhood and how it has changed her life for the better. As you prepare to leave, you feel ready to face Warren and share the news with him, even though the little voice inside your head told you that something was going to change and not in a good way.

As you walk back home to Laurel Canyon, your mind races with excitement and anticipation. You can't wait to tell Warren and start planning your future together as a family. You tried to ignore the butterflies in your stomach that showed your anxiety, but the more you ignored the more they flew and messed with your cognition.

Despite these doubts, you push them away, determined to believe that everything will work out. But little did you know that the night ahead would be one of the most challenging of your life, and that your hopes and dreams for the future would soon come crashing down.

And every time you visited the memories of that day you regretted not listening to that little voice.

…

One year later

Eddie Roundtree: After she left… Warren was different.

Karen Sirko: He was out of control, at least.

Camila Dunne: I still kept in touch with Y/N for sure! She was my best friend and it wasn't a stupid move by Warren that was going to keep me away from her. But if I'm honest with you he had become someone else when she was gone.

Interviewer: Did you tell him what she told you?

Camila Dunne: *sighs* She asked me not to, I was not in my place to say anything.

Warren Rojas: When she left I... I didn't know what to do, I thought that I would finally have my freedom and that now I could live without owing anyone anything. But her absence left me with more withdrawal than any addict.

Your absence was something nothing and no one could prepare Warren for, he didn't know that losing the woman who was always by his side was going to be so agonizing and torturous, he pretended not to miss you. He hid the frustration that built in his chest every day he woke up and didn't feel you next to him in bed, he tried to ignore the tears that formed every time he remembered the nights you spent hours talking so he could help you with your sleeping problems, he tried to fill the void that your absence left in his chest in all the simple moments of his day, but it was all in vain.

He had lost count of how many women he had been with trying to forget you, imagining that would be what would fill the infinite abyss in his chest. He imagined your lips in place of hers, your hands running through the curly strands of his hair, he imagined your hands providing him that pleasure, nothing compared to having you actually there. Nothing worked, he tried all kinds of things but everyday when he woke up the feeling was still there, like it was taking your place.

As Warren tried to move on from the pain of losing you, he found himself drawn to other women, hoping to fill the void that had been left in his heart. But with every date, every kiss, every attempt at starting something new, he couldn't help but feel like he was betraying the memory of the one person who truly understood him. The only person who made him feel that way, nothing else fit the void you left.

Even though you were no longer together, his heart still belonged to you, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he had made a terrible mistake in letting you go.

It wasn't until you were gone that he realized how much he truly loved you, and now he was left with the regret of his actions and the painful realization that he may never find someone who could fill the void you left behind.

He was laying in bed, the soft sheets crumpled beneath him as he stared up at the ceiling, willing the tears to stop flowing down his face. But the memories of you were too vivid, too overwhelming. He could almost feel the warmth of your body next to his, the way your hand would intertwine with his in the darkness.

He could hear the sound of your laughter echoing in the room, as fresh and joyous as the first time he heard it, he could picture perfectly the way you whimpered under his touch every night when he was making you his, that room held all the most intimate and cherished moments between you two and although he knew that being there was like poke his wound he couldn't leave it behind the only thing that held you - or the memories of you at least - with him.

He remembered the way you would always eat breakfast in the morning together, the smell of the brewing beans filling the room and chasing away the last remnants of sleep. And now, as he lay there alone, he realized that he would never experience those moments again. The pain was like a knife twisting in his chest, sharp and unrelenting, and he needed it to stop. He needed to feel you again, holding you close to him again.

He didn't sleep that night, the cool air from the open window seeping into his bones as he tossed and turned. Despite trying to quiet his thoughts, he couldn't get rid of the image of what he missed so much: a life by your side. A few months after you left, he began to notice that none of the things he achieved or wanted to enjoy were as fun without you there. Little by little, when all the adrenaline from the drugs and shows passed, he felt that tightness in his chest again. And as the months went by, he realized that you were indeed the woman he loved, that he wanted to be close to, that he wanted to call his own and that he wanted to be... And he had let you go.

As soon as he noticed the morning taking over the sky, he got up. The hardwood floors creaked under his feet as he made his way to the kitchen, where the smell of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon lingered in the air. Rojas didn't talk to anyone as he walked through the kitchen, his friends probably noticing the brooding look on his face. He didn't take long to grab the keys to his van and head to Billy and Camila's house. He couldn't do it anymore... He needed to have you back.

As he drove through the streets, he watched the city waking up, the stores opening, people leaving their homes to go to their jobs, families taking their children to school, seniors walking their pets. The world around him was alive and moving forward, but he felt stuck in the past, as if with your departure a pause had held him back in that moment where he was crying, sitting on your bed, staring at your empty closet. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon, casting a warm glow over everything it touched, but to Rojas, the world was gray and lifeless without you by his side.

Warren knocked desperately on the door without stopping, he didn't think that maybe he could wake up Julia or Billy and Camila, he just urgently needed that address, he needed to know where you were.

"Jeez, I'm going!" He heard Camila's weak voice on the other side of the wooden object.

She opens the door with Julia in her lap, she frowns, wondering why the drummer is at her door so early.

"Warren?" She was interrupted by the drummer entering the house, and as soon as he passed she closed the door. "Is everything okay?"

"No Cami." He answers her in spanish, turning to her with tears in his eyes. "I don't know what to do…"

Camila leaves Júlia in the crib she had in the living room, inviting Warren to sit with her on the couch.

"What's going on?" She asks, concerned in her eyes.

"I need to see her, Cami." Warren looked exhausted, as if all of his energy had drained out of his body. "I can't fucking sleep, I can't eat, I can't do anything without her! I can't stand being away from her anymore…"

"Warren…" She feels her heart ache, he looked really messed up. "You really fucked up."

"I know Cami, I know that I was a fucking asshole and you have no idea how much I regret it." He ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

"She's fine Warren, I don't want you to hurt her again." Camila says sincerely.

"Camila I don't know how to live without her." Warren had tears in his eyes. "Believe me I tried, but every time I tried to be with someone else... I don't know, it felt wrong, like I was cheating on her."

"And why did it take you so long to realize that?" Camila had a calm voice, as if trying to understand if what he said was true.

"Because I'm an idiot, I didn't realize how important she is to me until she left." He confesses, trying to organize the thoughts that have been plaguing him. "I miss her, every detail... The way she loved to talk me to sleep, the way I could tell her about anything she would make it sound interesting, the way she smiled every time I called her doll… I miss the way she would call my name while I-"

Camila stops him. "Okay okay, no need so many details."

"What I mean to say is that I'm empty without her, I can't keep going without her Cami." He played nervously with the rings on his hands.

"I can't Warren, I'm sorry." The brunette said, avoiding looking at him. "It is complicated…"

"I know it's complicated! I'm living this complicated moment since the love of my fucking life left me." Warren exploded in frustration. "Come on Cami, don't you love Billy?" Camila nods slowly, trying to understand what he means. "Then you know what I'm talking about, she's the air I breathe, and you're the only one who can help me."

"Look, she's not the same anymore… Do you understand that?" With every word she said, Warren grew more confused. "I mean that she isn't under the same circumstances as a year ago, she's not alone Warren. And you should know that entering her life again means risking a lot for her."

Warren feels his chest tighten, what he feared maybe was happening, you got over it and were happy without him. He loved seeing that beautiful smile on your face, but he knew he wasn't ready to not be the reason for that smile.

"You mean that…" He doesn't find the courage to say what he was thinking. "Look, I just need to talk to her, and for once be honest about everything. Please Cami."

"I swear to God Warren if you do anything to her, I'll fucking kill you!" She gives him the address. "Please, don't fuck this up"

…

20 minutes later

You struggled to keep your eyes open, your daughter hadn't let you sleep all night, she was a little sick and was demanding a lot from you. So, after spending a sleepless night next to her, you had just put the baby to sleep when a knock on the door filled the house with noise.

“Fuck, shut up, shut up, shut up,” you muttered to yourself hoping that your baby wouldn’t wake up because of the sound. Once you were down the stairs you said “Coming!” in hopes that whoever it was wouldn’t knock again.

Then you opened the door. Never expecting what your eyes would find, Warren was there looking as tired as you, but probably for different reasons. His hands were in his pockets and he was rocking back and forth nervously, you had imagined this moment many times before but experiencing it was a completely different thing.

For some reason you believed your eyes were deceiving you somehow, you stared at that face you've admired so many times before with curiosity and at the same time reluctance. He opens his mouth to say something but you cut him off.

“Warren?” you asked breathless.

He looked at you with his big puppy eyes, he was a little out of breath from the rush of it all, the nervousness of the whole situation, the rush of going to Camila's house to get here to see you without even processing the information taking over him, now that he finally stopped to breathe.

You hadn’t seen him in a year but he looked the same, the characteristic mustache on his face accentuated his beauty, the curls fell over his face in a relaxed way just as you remembered. He looked like the Warren you loved way back when, the man that made your heart beat faster, the love of your life.

“What are you doing here—” you started but were, characteristically, cut off by the ever impatient man standing in front of you.

“I love you,” he stated, his voice unwavering. His eyes were teary and hearing those words that you've waited so long for so many years was like finally breathing after a swim.

Your surprised look was evident, your racing heart was beating so hard that you felt it would jump out of your chest, the emotion was so strong that words would not come out. Should you believe him?

“Warren, I-” You start to say, your voice shaky evident. "I don't know if it's a great time for this conversation."

You try to ignore the tightness that grows in your chest, avoiding looking into his eyes as much as possible, you knew that if you looked a little longer at that paradise you would surrender. You tried to obey your instincts and close the door in his face, close any loophole that would leave an outlet for him to hurt you or hurt your daughter, but something inside you wouldn't allow it.

Warren slowly approaches you, noticing your hands gripping the door tightly, he brings his hand to yours, touching it gently as if he is gradually noticing how far he can go with you. Feeling his touch on you was like an electric shock, a surge of life in a dead body, it was like a guide to what you called and recognized as home.

Your eyes went to his hand over yours, the lump in your throat grew and the urge to cry came, why did everything have to be so intense with him? You wanted to let him in, that much was obvious, but there was so much at stake…you had gotten used to getting along without him.

"Warren, this is not a good time." You repeat, trying to sound more firm in your decision this time.

He smiles a little, averting his gaze downwards. “Y/N, listen to me, Please…"

Before you could say anything, the cry of your baby girl answered for you. She had woken from the commotion downstairs. The declarations of love, the tension… maybe she knew it was her father. Maybe she knew it was time.

You feel your entire body go cold, your legs weaken and your knees tremble threatening to give out. You close your eyes hoping that this is all a nightmare, obviously it wasn't your little one's fault, but it was surprising how she had chosen the worst moment to cry.

Warren glanced up the stairs where the cry came from and looked back at you in utter shock. People always thought him the airhead of the group but you knew just by looking at him that he caught on immediately what was going on. His face was pale, he seemed to be thinking a thousand things at the same time and he was actually thinking, trying to understand if he had heard correctly, but the continuation of the baby's cry leaves no room for any further doubt.

“Wh- Y/n… When Camila said you weren’t alone, I thought she meant… Well, I thought she meant you were dating someone or married or something, I didn’t think… You have a baby?” Warren thought out loud, it was hard to organize his jumbled thoughts.

You squint in frustration, sighing heavily, you feel trapped. “You have one too. We have one.. a baby, I mean” You responded, ripping off the bandaid once and for all.

For minutes his world changes, it was as if everything around him froze and your words constantly reverberated in his mind, a baby... He had a child. "It 's mine?” Warren asked, still choked with the information.

His eyes seemed to sparkle, and you can't help the smile that breaks out on your face, “She’s yours, yes."

He sighs, feeling and processing everything he had just heard, he had a daughter, and he had spent all this time away from her... His chest tightens at the thought of the lost moments, the consequences of his bad choices.

You observe his frustrated expression, trying to decipher what to do from then on, he already knew everything, nothing fairer than letting him meet his daughter, right? Your wounded heart had the tendency to protect your girl from him, not to let her suffer the same way you suffered through her father's attitudes, but she had to make that choice, not you for her.

“Would you like to meet her?” you ask, opening the door slightly.

“I don’t want to intrude, I mean obviously there’s a reason you didn’t tell me,” He whispered, still shocked by the revelation

“Warren, please. She’s your kid, of course you can meet her,” You answered, deliberately ignoring the fact that you didn’t tell him. You open the door wider and let him in. “Her room is just upstairs.”

Warren flashes a grateful smile, as if he knows he's being given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Stepping on eggshells, he approaches you, entering the house.

You guide him up the stairs, he observes your cozy home, the frames with pictures of you with family members he knew very well, others with friends he had in common with you, others with some people that he didn't know. He stops on a step, looking at a picture of you pregnant, he feels his chest tighten and you just notice him stop out of nowhere, and turns around to understand what happened.

"You look stunning." He says, almost in a whisper.

You look fondly at the image, you never thought to have him looking at it one day. "She didn't want to be born at all, I was about to explode." You say with a laugh, remembering the circumstances in which the photo was taken.

Your belly was huge, you were wearing a flowery dress lying on a sofa, a doll on top of your belly and a genuine smile on your face.

You don't continue the story, you just keep going up the stairs, he accompanies you.

Warren shakily made his way towards you. He was shaking so he grabbed the railing of the stairs, his knuckles going white. You pretended not to notice. Or maybe you just didn’t notice, you had your own nerves to worry about.

Your nerves were a live-wire but you knew it was only an opportunity. You didn’t let him in on the pregnancy, but that didn’t mean he shouldn’t get the choice of being a father to his child. That didn’t mean the baby should grow up without a father entirely. You were wary, of course you were wary, but you had to think for the both of you— rationally.

He had hurt you so much that night, the pain of a broken heart wasn't easy to deal with, and carrying his daughter was a constant reminder of the love that could work. But besides that, your girl had shown you that what you felt for Warren wasn't crazy, that from the beginning back in Pittsburgh things had a purpose because they would lead you here, where you would hold your little girl in your arms for the first time and feel complete.

Giving Warren access to something so protected by you was difficult, you were so afraid of what it would unleash. You stop at her bedroom door, gripping the doorknob with all the strength you have in you, before opening it, you turn to him.

"You know this is a once in a lifetime chance, don't you?" The fear in your eyes was evident, and he understood that. "Please Rojas, don't fuck this up."

He doesn't say anything, and you don't waste any more time, opening the door to the crying baby’s nursery. You didn’t even wait for him to walk in; you went straight to the kid and tried to calm her down. You wanted somewhere to put your arms so Warren couldn’t see you shaking. He wouldn’t have minded but you didn’t care.

You wouldn't let him see you vulnerable, not now.

You nap the little one on your lap and when she finally calms down you notice the man approaching you slowly, as if he didn't know how to deal with this situation. The little girl had her eyes closed, her curly black hair was disheveled, probably due to the nap she just had.

You kiss her forehead, still holding her close to your chest, reassuring the baby in your arms. You take your gaze to the man huddled in the room, indicating with your head for him to approach.

Rojas takes light steps towards you, watching the baby in your lap, feeling his heart racing in his chest. When he finally comes to you and looks at the baby's face he feels complete, she was sleeping peacefully the curls on her head were messy, black strands similar to her father's, her nose was identical to yours and Warren doesn't stop smiling when he notices such a detail, she was the perfect combination of the two of you, the result of what the universe always wanted for you.

“Holy shit,” Warren said, his voice shaky and eyes watery, “She’s so cute. Like little raviolis put together to make a little baby,” he chuckled.

You laughed at that and realized exactly how much you truly missed him. Your laughter fills his ears like a tune from a perfect symphony, he feels the butterflies in his stomach wake up and dance to the effect that someone special is nearby. He's been missing this so much, feeling complete with you by his side.

He takes his gaze to you, it was inevitable, your laughter brought him closer and closer to you. And seeing you laugh while rolling your eyes, he remembered what it was like to feel complete.

“Only you, Warren,” you said, wishing that you could have this with him all the time. You notice his eyes glazed over the baby, and after struggling a lot with the inner voice of wisdom within you, you question. “Do you want to hold her?”

“Is that ok?” he asked in response, his eyes never leaving the little girl.

“Of course it’s ok, silly, she’s your kid,” you reminded him. Carefully, you handed your baby over to her father and watched him melt at the feel of her in his arms. You felt like your knees might give out at the sight of your daughter with him like that— it was just such a tender moment.

“What’s her name?” he asked without looking away from her. You knew every detail of him, you knew he was trying hard not to cry.

The little girl finds the different contact strange, moving in her father's lap, she frowns and you smile with the expressions that this little being was capable of making.

“Liz,” you said. His eyes snapped up to you. "Actually, Elizabeth.” Watching him with her in his arms was an exciting and at the same time triggering scene, you had imagined this moment many times during pregnancy and after her birth, having your thoughts come alive was at least something.

For a while you remained in a soft silence, Warren didn't take his eyes off little Liz as if he memorized every detail of her. You waited for her to sleep, and when she finally did so, you led Rojas to the living room of your house, offering him something to eat.

You felt the silence consume you both, the questions, the anguish, the longing, the yearning all hovered between you as the water boiled for the coffee you made. Warren stared at your every move, your presence was something he wanted so badly he was afraid of doing something to lose it. But silence couldn't remain forever, he waits for you to sit on the couch next to him.

“Doll… Why didn’t you tell me?” He questioned as a tear fell down his cheek.

You sigh, as many times as you thought about this conversation, having it was something else entirely... Everything you thought to say, all the ways you thought to act, slipped from your mind as you looked straight into his eyes.

“The day that I saw you kiss that other girl." You clarify, he nods, embarrassed by the matter. "That was the day I found out, earlier. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you after all I saw."

You thought that after a year it was going to be easier, but the knot that rises in your throat is proof that it wasn't.

Your hands were shaking and when he noticed that he wanted very much to take them in his, to show comfort, but your withdrawal indicated that it was better not.

"We had never talked about kids before, I didn’t know how you’d react. I had just seen the love of my life kissing another woman, I didn't have the courage to tell you. I also didn't want you to think this was my way of keeping you close."

"I would never think that…" he cuts you off, not offended but trying to explain himself somehow.

"But, can you blame me for thinking that Warren?" You laugh wryly, rolling your eyes slightly. "Through all the years we dated you never said you loved me." You shrug, he feels your chest tighten and you continue.

"Of course I didn’t want to do it on my own but I knew I could manage, and I have,” you replied, “I wanted to tell you, I did, but… I don't know, I needed my time.”

“Were you going to tell me?,” he asked, afraid of the answer.

"I was going to, I just didn't know when." You sigh, feeling the surroundings weigh.

There was a beat then— a tension that hung in the air with words both of you wanted to say but only one of you had the courage.

"I know I hurt you a lot." He started to say, your chest tightening as you realized he was going to bring up the subject. "But I would like to redeem myself, I would like to be part of this child's life... Your life."

"She is your daughter, you can certainly be part of her life." You assure him, this certainty brings him comfort, but when he notices that you were not included in that speech, he feels afraid. "I just hope you know that I'm her mother, and that's all, I'm your daughter's mom."

He felt his chest tighten, he knew this was possible, the chances of rejection were high and he was dealing with them now, but it hurt not to have you. It hurts to have failed you so much. He tries to ignore the tears that are reluctant to come out of his eyes, he takes a deep breath, trying not to let his frustrations out on you.

"I love you doll." He says, looking deep into your eyes, the words echo like magic inside you. "And I understand, but I want you to know that I want you as my girlfriend, my wife, my forever."

"Warren, please." Your words came out in a whisper, too many emotions for one day. "Would you mind leaving me alone now? You can come back tomorrow."

He already expected this reaction, and always aiming to respect your space he gets up.

"Of course." You guide him to the door, and before he leaves, he turns around. "I'll be back tomorrow, and I promise you that every day I'll show you that you made a great choice in giving me another chance."

"Have a great night Rojas." You say, closing the door, and as soon as you hear the click of it the tears in your eyes fall. You still loved him, and a lot.

As the door closed, you leaned against it, tears streaming down your face. The weight of the day's emotions crashed over you like a tidal wave, leaving you feeling both relieved and overwhelmed. Part of you wanted to believe Warren's words, to trust that he could change and be the man you had always hoped he would be. But another part of you, the part that had been hurt and betrayed, was hesitant to let him back into your life so easily.

You wiped away your tears, determined to stay strong for your daughter, Liz. She was the most important person in your life now, and you couldn't let your own feelings cloud your judgment. You took a deep breath and walked back into the house upstairs, where Liz was sleeping peacefully in her crib. Gazing at her tiny, innocent face, you knew that everything you did from this point on would be for her.

Over the next few days, Warren kept his promise. He showed up at your doorstep every morning with a bouquet of flowers, a gift for your daughter and a sincere apology. He understood that it would take time to earn back your trust, and he was willing to do whatever it took. Warren didn't just want to be a part of Liz's life; he wanted to be there for you too. He wanted to make things right, to have his family with you.

Slowly, you allowed Warren to become more involved. He spent time with Liz, learning how to change diapers, feed her, and soothe her when she cried. You watched as he held her, his eyes filled with love and tenderness. It warmed your heart to see them together, and you couldn't deny the bond that was forming between them. Watching him become a father was beautiful, he was always willing to learn more and do everything for his daughter, you slowly didn't remember how you had managed all of this without him.

As the days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, Warren proved himself to be a changed man. He showed up more often at your house, spending the morning with Liz while you got some work done, in the afternoon he helped to organize the house while you took care of the little one, offering to help with chores and cooking. He listened to your concerns and fears, providing a listening ear and words of comfort. Slowly but surely, he was showing himself to be the man you had always wanted him to be.

You never stopped loving him, not even when he broke your heart, the way love works is ironic and funny, you didn't understand and probably never would. From the first time you saw him, you knew your heart was his, and despite your fears about letting him into your life again, it didn't undo the love you had for him. It only made you more cautious, you avoided too much intimacy, you avoided any kind of excessive physical contact, very intimate conversations, you tried to keep him just as the father of your daughter, and that's all.

Warren was your addiction, a potent drug coursing through your veins. Since the age of sixteen, he became your illicit substance, an intoxicating elixir that both exhilarated and devastated you.

Like a drug, he captivated your senses, igniting a fiery craving deep within your soul. His presence was a double-edged sword, a tumultuous blend of euphoria and despair. Just a glimpse of his smile sent waves of ecstasy through you, leaving you craving more, yearning for the high only he could provide.

But with every high came the inevitable crash. The pain of betrayal cut through your heart like a searing withdrawal, leaving you trembling and broken. Yet, even in your shattered state, you couldn't resist the allure of his presence. Like a desperate addict, you found solace in the numbness he brought, an escape from the reality you desperately wished to forget.

You knew you had to protect yourself, to guard your heart from the dangerous allure of his touch. You constructed walls, built barriers around your emotions, and numbed yourself to his effect. Yet, the more you tried to resist, the more his influence seeped into your veins, overpowering your defenses.

His constant presence became a merciless temptation, testing your resolve with every passing day. The longing within you grew stronger, pulling you back into the abyss of emotions you fought so hard to suppress. It was a dangerous dance, a relentless struggle between the desire to indulge and the need to break free.

Just as a drug addict battles against the chains of addiction, you battled against your own yearning for Warren. You knew the pull he had on you was both your downfall and your weakness. And yet, despite the turmoil he caused, you couldn't deny the undeniable truth: you were still madly, deeply in love with him.

…

Liz had already slept for a few hours, the clock said two in the morning and you and Warren shared a grapevine in the living room while talking about anything. Matters go, matters come and soon you're talking about your old relationship and the day he showed up at your door after a year.

"What did you come to do here, huh?" You question, your words scrambled by alcohol.

"Didn't I make it clear that day, doll?" He asks, a smile playing on his lips.

"You said you loved me." You said laughing, and killing the rest of the liquid in your glass. "Don't ever call me a doll again!" You exclaim awkwardly, now that you've processed the sentence he's just said.

He looks down, lying down better in the armchair in front of you, how the fuck could he be so handsome?

"You used to like the nickname." He says, shrugging, instantly regretting it when he sees your withering gaze on him. "I'm sorry, is that... I got used to it, but if it bothers you."

You interrupt him, your senses being stunned by the liquor. "It bothers me precisely because of that, because I fucking love it."

Rojas feels his body surrender, he wanted you so much. "Y/N listen…"

Still under the influence of the drink, or so you prefer to believe, you interrupted him again. “One thing has been on my mind since the day you knocked on that fucking door." You say pointing to the wooden object. The drummer watches you closely “Warren, you came here to tell me you loved me. I need to know that you mean it—”

Warren gets up from where he was sitting, he approaches you, kneeling in front of you to show himself more intimate with you in some way. “I do, of course I do!”

"You know Rojas, I've loved you since I was sixteen years old." You sigh, trying to hold back the tears in your eyes. "When I met you, I knew that I had no escape... My heart was already yours, and I never demanded that you love me the same way, I think I was always very innocent dreaming of the day that you'd finally tell me those words…"

He watched you intently, feeling his heart sink, he let you continue, so you do.

"I never expected you to love me the way I love you." Hearing the words in the present tense he held himself back from smiling, you still loved him. "I just think I hoped you had at least enough affection for me to respect me."

He knew you were talking about that night, he condemned himself so much for his wrong, childish and extremely rash actions. "I guess what I'm trying to say is, I know you've been a wonderful father to her over the last few months, and I know you love her." You settle down on the couch, staring into his eyes after so long, he feels exposed, vulnerable.

"But I've waited a long time to hear this." You say, looking down at your lap you see a drop of water fall and only then do you realize you've been crying. "If you love me, I need you to know how important these words are to me."

He observed you intently, his love for you palpable in his gaze. He had experienced the emptiness that came with your absence, realizing that living without you was an impossible feat. With a tender gesture, he gently brushed away the tears cascading down your cheeks. Helplessly, you found yourself surrendering to his touch, feeling an innate sense of belonging. Perhaps, deep down, that's where you truly belonged.

His eyes, like an infinite abyss, held a captivating allure that enticed you to delve into uncharted territory. Within that unknown realm lay your destiny, your purpose, your frustrations, and your deepest desires. He embodied your destiny, your missing piece, your soul mate. No matter how much you resisted, you always found yourself returning to this very place—where your hands intertwined, where each embrace felt like coming home.

In his eyes, you saw the reflection of a shared journey, a connection that defied logic and surpassed all obstacles. The bond between you two was unbreakable, as if it had been woven into the fabric of the universe itself. With every passing moment, the undeniable truth emerged: you were meant to be together, entwined in a love that transcended time and space.

"I have never loved and will never love anyone the way I love you." Warren slowly approaches you, as if testing limits. "I love you Y/N, and I'm so sorry it took me so long to acknowledge and say that."

His words wash over you like a tsunami, it's not like it made things any easier or took you back to the beginning but it was a relief, feeling like you weren't the only one feeling all of this. He leans closer, holding your face gently, feeling his touch again was relieving.

“Doll, when I came here to tell you I love you. I meant that." You knew this man like the back of your hand, you knew he was telling you the truth. "And Elizabeth is just an extension of both of us, so I love her by default. That sounds oversimplified, I know that," He was nervous, you could feel his cold hands against your cheeks. "My point is: you’re my family. Both of you. I’m ready for this, I promise,” He pleaded. He needed you to understand, and you did. You understood completely.

You smile, unable to contain it, you roll your eyes. "I'm really drunk right now, I'll probably forget about it all tomorrow, so you have a chance to change your mind huh."

Warren rolls his eyes this time, he sits down on the couch, holding your hands this time. "I won't change my mind, I know what I want, I've always wanted you. It 's you, my love."

You take a deep breath, it's all the drink's fault, you repeat a hundred times in your mind.

"I love you Warren Rojas." You confess, he smiles, a sincere smile that conveys relief and pure joy.

"Can I kiss you? Please…" His voice was barely a whisper, he yearned for you, and you for him.

You sit on his lap, wrapping your arms around his neck. He looks at you with longing, curiosity, and need. "You must."

As the weight of your confessions hung in the air, a charged energy enveloped the room. Time seemed to slow down, the world fading into the background as you locked eyes with Warren, your hearts beating in sync.

With a mutual understanding, you eased yourself onto his lap, your bodies aligning as if they were always meant to fit together. Your arms encircled his neck, pulling him closer, while his hands found their place, resting gently on your waist.

In that moment, everything around you ceased to exist. The soft glow of the room seemed to intensify, illuminating the space between you. Anticipation crackled in the air, the weight of unspoken desires making the atmosphere electric.

As your faces drew closer, the warmth of his breath mingled with yours, a tantalizing prelude to the intimacy that awaited. His gaze bore into your soul, his eyes filled with a mixture of longing, curiosity, and an overwhelming need that mirrored your own.

Closing your eyes, you surrendered to the inevitability of the moment, allowing your lips to meet in a delicate collision. It started with a tender brush, a hesitant exploration, testing the waters of this newfound yet known connection. But the sparks ignited, and the kiss deepened, fuelled by a shared hunger and the unspoken promises of a love rekindled.

His lips moved against yours with a fervor that mirrored the intensity of your emotions. It was a dance of passion and tenderness, a symphony of rediscovery and forgiveness. Each touch, each caress, conveyed a multitude of emotions that words could never capture.

Time lost all meaning as the kiss deepened, the world outside fading away. In that singular moment, it was just the two of you, locked in a timeless embrace. The weight of past mistakes dissolved, replaced by the sheer bliss of being in each other's arms once again.

You are interrupted by your little girl crying in the room upstairs, you break away staring at each other for a moment, you can't hold back and start laughing at the situation, hiding your face in his neck. He holds you tenderly, not wanting to let you go.

"Alright tiger, go get your kid." You say patting his shoulder, getting off his lap.

Warren goes upstairs to his daughter's room, he finds the little girl crying propped up in her crib.

"Hello there kitten." He whispers, the little one seems to calm down with the figure of her father, opening her chubby arms towards him. "Wanna get downstairs to mommy?"

The baby hides her face in the crook of her father's neck, which makes him smile as he remembers her mother's act a few seconds ago. He goes with her to the breastfeeding chair with the little one in his lap, and stays there making her sleep.

You notice the man's delay, and decide to go after him, going up the stairs slowly so as not to make too much noise and wake up Liz, who had probably already gone back to sleep. You arrive at the foot of her bedroom door, finding Warren asleep with the little one in his lap, her head resting on her father's chest, he hugged her gently like a treasure.

Your heart melts through the scene, these two were your everything, you never thought you would love someone as much as you loved them. You enter the room, taking the little one in your arm gently, she makes a face threatening to wake up but you calm her down before that, you put her in her crib then turn to Warren.

"Hey pretty boy." You call him out, gently stroking his knee. "Come on, let's go to bed and sleep."

He yawns, opening his eyes slowly, he is startled to not feel Liz in his lap, but you reassure him by pointing to the crib.

You leave the room, letting the door ajar after you leave. You start to head towards your room, but stop when you notice Warren going down the stairs.

"Where are you going?" You question yawning, leaning your body on the stair railing.

"To the couch." He clarifies, You roll your eyes, taking him by the hand and leading him to your room.

"You will sleep in our bed." He smiles and kisses you tenderly, you lie on the bed and talk until you fall asleep.

You took a chance on him then, just as you did when you moved to California. And you never looked back.

...

Hi, I hope you enjoyed it... Just so you guys know my requests are temporarily closed, so I can work on what you guys already asked me and also write the Warren's mini series I'm working on :) xoxo

Want to be tagged when new stories come out? REASONSMANDY'S TAG LIST

Taglist: @lantsovcolors, @quezadaas @boredshit-shadow @jaidaschampagneproblems @warrenrojaswife @94namkooksworld (I couldn't tag you for some reason, send me a dm so we can try to resolve what might have been)

[endverse-cas-my-beloved]

I personally don't think that whenever there's the "they get with a curse and suddenly they're in the body of another gender" should really ever change the person's attraction, because I think that implies that sexuality is connected to your biology, and that's a load of crap.

That being said, I think that if you put Dean Winchester in the body of a female Dean would absolutely believe this means he's allowed to be attracted to guys now. Like in his mind, he's still straight, because he's female now, and that means he's supposed to be attracted to guys.

Anyways I just think it would be incredibly funny if he were to turn into a girl and suddenly be on Cas and you could not pull him away. Like he wants that dick so bad (he's always wanted his dick) and he's gotta have it before he turns back because when he turns back he won't want it anymore (he's literally just in denial).

Like Cas is over here rushing to fix Dean back the way he should be because he's so worried Dean is gonna go through one of his impending freak-outs because Cas is aware of how strongly Dean feels about his gender and Dean is just nodding along in the way he usually does when he's absolutely not listening to Cas going, "uh huh, yep, so what I'm hearing is your dick, my mouth now".

He genuinely doesn't freak out about being in this body until Cas eventually (he was stopped at least 7 times by Dean's need to have Cas's dick somewhere in him) finds the cure, and then freaks out because he doesn't want to lose Cas and he's genuinely convinced his sexuality is gonna change back with his body.

Cue Cas actually finally realizing what's going on in Dean's head (he was just so happy Dean finally kissed him and he already doesn't understand anything that goes through that man's head so he just assumed he finally did something right) and he just stops Dean's overthinking and catapults him through the seven stages of bi denial with, "Dean if you switch back I promise you I will have your dick down my throat in five minutes".

Dean has that flash through his eyes and can see Cas on his knees already so clearly that he just goes stupid and is all, "yeah, yep, absolutely let's do that."

They're dating from that point on.

It isn't until 3 months in that Dean actually figured out he's bi though, and he only does because Sam remarks on how much happier he is with Cas now and Dean's all, "Yep, I can't even be upset that curse changed my sexuality. If I'd never been hit by it I wouldn't have ever been able to get with Cas." and Sam goes through the seven stages of "my brother is an idiot" and informs Dean that your sexuality isn't tied to your body.

Dean laughs Sam off because he clearly doesn't know how these things work and it's only after he tells his story to Cas later that day laughing as he's getting changed for bed and Cas doesn't laugh and instead tells Dean that Sam is right that Dean accepts it, but instead of having a normal reaction it's just, "You mean I was allowed to suck your dick this entire time?!"

Cas stares at him going through the seven stages of grief because of his boyfriend keeping them from being together because of stupid, heteronormative thinking finally just sighs, grabs Dean behind the neck as he's just about to put his shirt on, pulls him forward and in the most tired voice he has, that somehow is still totally working for Dean, just goes, "Get on your knees right now."

And Dean shuts up in more than one way immediately.

[themessedupsonata]

Reality

Loki Laufeyson x Fem!Reader

Summary: You know Loki, your Husband, since you were kids and you both are extremely happy together. Then why do you still feel that something is wrong?

word count: 9.2 k (I'm sorry)

warnings: ANGST, Fluff, slight mentions of sex, a tiny bit of cursing, a couple of arguments between Loki and the reader and a slight mention of misogyny (not by Loki)

You were on cloud nine.

You and Loki had just got married. He was driving a brand new Hudson Hornet with one hand on the steering wheel and the other on your knee, making you feel all warm inside.

God, you loved him so much.

When the car pulled up, you finally saw your new home, and it was perfect. Loki knew you wanted a big house with a big yard, so the dog and (you were still trying to convince Loki that this was a great idea) your future kids could have a place to play.

He opened the car door for you and held out your hand. You grabbed it and the second your feet hit the ground, Loki carried you bridal style, making you giggle. He used his magic to open the door and you two entered the house. He got you back on your feet again, and you both started exploring the living room, which had an open concept to the kitchen and the decor was cosy and luxurious at the same time. You were so happy that you jumped into your loving husband's arms and kissed him, and he immediately kissed you back.

"I love you, Y/n/n" He called you by your childhood nickname, which made you blush, and he pulled you in for another kiss just because he could. You were finally his wife, and he's never been happier.   ***

Frigga was teaching Loki magic in the study hall. The young Asgardian prince always had a spectacular gift for magic, and he was also very intelligent. Loki was decent at fighting but not as good as the heir to the throne, Thor. His older brother was extremely powerful, but he lacked Loki's brilliant mind or even any interest in the Asgardian arts of magic. Thus, from a very young age, everyone saw Thor as the future king of Asgard and the Nine Realms, a born fighter and 'The Golden Child', as Loki liked to call him. Loki was just the weird, introverted prince that a lot of people liked to pretend didn't exist.

Loki and his mother heard a knock on the door and Frigga answered with a simple 'Come in' and you appeared.

You were wearing a simple pink dress with purple accents, and your hair was tied up in typical Asgard braids.

Your mother, Halldis, was Frigga's best friend. Halldis and her husband were given the title of Lady and Lord of the royal court when Frigga became queen. They've lived in the palace ever since Lady Halldis got pregnant with you.

"Hello, sweetie. How may I help you?" the queen asked gently.

You gave her a sweet smile.

"Hi, Aunt Frigga. Thor and I were playing in the royal garden, and we wanted to know when Loki was going to finish his classes so he could play with us."

Loki immediately frowned.

He would rather die than admit it, but he always thought you were beautiful and sweet and Loki would love to be friends with you, especially when you always seemed so excited about interacting with him.

But you liked Thor better; just like everyone else. You were just feeling sorry for him, that's all. You probably didn't even like him. Nobody liked him, why would you? "I don't want to play your pathetic childish games, Y/n. Go away!" he exclaimed.

Loki saw your smile slide quickly into an expression of hurt disappointment and your eyes glistened with tears, even though you refused to let them fall.

The dark-haired prince had a bit of a mess of memories from then on. He could never be sure if you actually looked down at your feet while whispering something about how sorry you were for upsetting him or whether or not Frigga had given him a long speech about how extremely rude his behaviour was and that he was grounded for the next 20 years. The one thing he was sure would haunt him forever was that you, sunshine in person, were crying at that very moment because of him.

***

"Do we really need to do this, darling?" Loki whimpered as you applied lipstick to your lips.

You chuckled as you looked in the mirror to see the reflection of your husband who was with a grumpy face.

"Yes, my love, we do. Wanda and Vision are lovely people and they invited us to dinner tonight, so we will." You answered.

"But I hate people. Except you, everyone else just... pisses me off and bores me the hell out."

You rolled your eyes and stood up, walking over and stopping in front of him to tie his tie.

"Stop being so dramatic, Lo. We're going to have fun, I promise. But if you feel uncomfortable, just 'If'," You gave him a death stare. "We will come back home right away, okay?" He nodded, and you stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek.

***

Loki knocked on the door and instead of being greeted by Wanda or Vision, you were both greeted by Agnes.

"Oh! Y/n, Loki! You both are right on time! Come in, come in!"

The two of you looked at each other before you simply walked into the house, following the raven-haired woman and Loki, in turn, followed you like a lost puppy.

Apparently, today Vision's boss - and Loki's too - and his wife came to visit your friend and her husband. You were about to comment to Loki that you two had better go home when Agnes discreetly commented (So Mr and Mrs Heart would not notice anything wrong) that Wanda needed as much help as possible in the kitchen. Loki swore under his breath but you chose to ignore him and followed Agnes into the kitchen. 

Upon entering the kitchen, Wanda immediately tried to disguise the floating plates and bowls while you and Agnes politely pretended to didn't see anything.

"Oh, Y/n! I'm so glad you came!" The redhead exclaimed, pulling you into a tight hug. She pulled away from you to explain her situation. "I completely forgot about dinner with the Heart's today. Please help me; I have absolutely nothing prepared!"

Meanwhile, Loki was sitting next to Vision and facing Mrs Heart. He didn't like his boss very much (Loki complained about Mister Heart every Wednesday night to you while you two did skincare together and he painted your toenails) But even though he didn't like the man, he was still his boss; and people were very easy to fall for Loki Laufeyson's charm and smooth talk. He knew exactly what to say and when to say it to get people in his good graces. He was irresistible. That's how he won you over.

Well… At least that was the story he told you.

***

"LOKI!"

The young prince was at Bifrost hall belonged to Heimdall, planning a massacre of the Midgardian city that Thor was sheltering in when he heard your voice calling his name, more furious than he had ever heard in his life.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!?! Thor was banished from Asgard and you should be doing your best to help him and bring him back, but no! You're planning a coup d'état and I don't doubt that you're trying to kill my best friend!" you both were face to face now. Your breath was heavy and hot on his face. Even in low heels, you had to stand on tiptoe to face him in the eye. Loki's hands were clasped behind his back, his posture was straight, oozing confidence and superiority, and his facial expression was neutral. It was his way of disguising how much his heart was racing and how much his mind was screaming at him to just end the distance between the two of you. He wanted nothing more than to taste you on his tong-.

"I know you've never seen me this way, Loki, but I consider you my friend. You may never have confided in me, but I know you feel left out by Thor and I know you wanted to be king and I'm genuinely sorry, okay? You never deserved to be second. You're worth so much and I'm sorry you were never recognized as you deserve. Please, Loki. Thor has his flaws, but he loves you and he doesn't deserve it. Please…"

Before you could continue speaking, Loki subtly nodded and Heimdall sighed in frustration before drawing his sword to open the Bifrost Bridge and send you to join Thor in Midgard. Loki only had a few milliseconds to stare at the panic in your eyes as you realized what he was doing before you disappeared right before his eyes.

It was better this way, he tried to convince himself. You preferred Thor; always preferred. It was only right that you should be sent to him. Not to mention he didn't deserve all that empty flattery from you. You just wanted to save Thor and you were using your smooth talk to try to convince him to help his brother. But he couldn't deny that, deep down, he fervently wanted your words to be true.

***

Dinner went well. It had its unforeseen, but nothing too extreme. At some point, you felt your head spinning and you could have sworn that, suddenly, dinner had turned into a bizarre déjà vu, but your husband just kissed your knuckles and said you were just tired when you told him about it as you lay in your shared bed. He kissed you good night and you rested your head on his chest, quickly falling asleep.

***

You woke up with the feeling of several kisses being deposited on your neck. It tickled and you started to laugh. Your laugh was contagious and before you knew it, Loki was laughing with you. When you both calmed down, he buried his nose in the crook of your neck, inhaling your scent.

"Good morning my queen." Your husband murmured against your skin. Your hands began to caress his scalp and he sighed contentedly.

"You remember today is the talent show, right?" You asked.

"Of course, I remember, sweetheart. Would you like to practice one last time so you feel more confident?" Loki wasn't happy about participating in the show at all, but he knew it was pointless to argue with you. Not to mention that he knew it was important to you and that you got upset when he refused to do something with you or when he did things grudgingly. He needed to be the best husband in the world for you.

"I don't see the need. We're doing this for charity and fun. We don't have to be the best." You explained to him.

Normally, Loki was extremely competitive. However, he didn't even want to go to that show in the first place. If you were happy, so was he.

You both got out of bed. He always insisted on getting up after you and not in a thousand years would you have guessed he did that just so he could admire your ass. After putting a robe over your nightgown, you went downstairs to prepare breakfast.

Loki hated cooking. But even so, he always made a point of helping you in the kitchen. He always insisted that just because you were a housewife didn't mean he didn't have to help you too. You melted every time he said it because he meant every single word. You had so many neighbours who were mothers and housewives who spent the whole day doing their best for the family without any help and didn't receive a single affection or gratitude from the husband who spent the whole day 'Working too hard' as if those women work meant less. You loved to take care of your home, but you still loved it when your husband insisted on doing all the dishes because "Your cooking was great, my queen. It's the least I can do" or when he made the bed, set the table and did the laundry without you asking. Every time you thanked him, he would tell you to stop being ridiculous, as he was doing the bare minimum as a husband. You really couldn't have wished for a better partner.

Loki always said you made the best pancakes in the world. You thought they were good, but not the best in the world. You were grateful anyway.

"Darling, it's already 10:00 am! I need to go to the planning committee and you need to attend the neighbourhood watch meeting" You commented after checking the time on the kitchen clock.

You didn't let Loki join you in the shower (which he thought was absurd) and within 15 minutes you were both ready. He kissed you on the forehead and you both went your separate ways.

Wanda and Agnes arrived a few seconds before you. Wanda hugged you and Agnes followed suit. You didn't quite know what to feel about the brunette woman. But if your friend liked her, Agnes was probably an amazing person. Deep down.

Dottie was every bit as perfectionist and arrogant as Agnes had described, but there wasn't much you could do about it. You were sitting between Wanda and Agnes, so you can hear the conversation between Wanda and a girl named Geraldine. She seemed to be very kind, and it's always nice to make new friends, right?

"Hi! Sorry to interrupt you, but my name is Y/n, Wanda's friend. Nice to meet you!" You said, extending your hand friendly for her to shake.

Apparently, Geraldine hadn't noticed you before, because as soon as she did, she looked like she'd seen a ghost. Her jaw dropped and she was frozen for a few seconds before she pulled herself together and answered you.

"H-hi! I'm Geraldine. N-nice to meet you!" She finally shook your hand after getting completely lost in her own words.

You couldn't follow anything else for the rest of the meeting. Maybe you made a bad impression on Geraldine and you couldn't understand why. But you decided to put that aside. Not everyone was required to like you and there was nothing wrong with that.

***

The meeting had already started 20 minutes before Vision showed up. Loki rolled his eyes. The two of them interacted frequently because their wives were friends and Loki had no problem with their friendship. But Loki was as new in town as Vision and yet Vision always seemed so… out of place. It was always obvious that he was desperately trying to fit in while anyone would swear Loki has lived in Westview all his life. So much so that he was a member and Vision was unaware that it was a members-only meeting.

To be fair, Vision wouldn't have been interested in being a member if he knew that the "Meetings" were a great front for a kind of men's club where everyone ate and "talked about" the most talked about topics in town concerning the lives of others. Gossip, basically. But people said that "Gentlemen don't gossip". Midgardians were very strange.

Loki had to restrain himself from laughing as he watched Vision's dilemma over having food offered to him. Nobody in that town had noticed that Vision was a robot. But who was Loki to judge? It's not like he and his wife don't have their own secrets buried in their backyards.

There was nothing Loki could do to stop Vision from chewing the gum Herb had offered him, even though he knew the chance of something bad happening was extremely high. Everything related to Wanda Maximoff was chaos.

He was obviously right.

The gum got stuck between the inner gears of Vision and now he looked as drunk as a skunk. Fortunately, no one but Loki seemed to notice Vision's sudden strange behaviour. Loki looked at that ugly Strucker watch (which he only wore because it was a gift from you) and realized he was late for the damn talent show. He let the group of men know about the show and they all left the library. When there were exactly three blocks left for the place of the show, Loki realized that Vision wasn't walking with them, but the Asgardian kept walking, after all, that wasn't his problem.

***

Vision was acting very strangely (Correction: More than usual). In several moments he almost revealed who he and his wife really were, but Wanda managed to be creative enough to convince everyone that all the wonders of the show were just cheap tricks (And she still managed to amuse the audience and got a standing ovation). As soon as they finished their presentation, it was your turn to perform alongside Loki.

It's not that you sang badly, but Loki had a beautiful voice that he always refused to show the world. After spending three weeks begging him daily to sing, he eventually relented.

Geraldine positioned the two of you on the stage (She still wasn't looking you in the eye) and you sat down at the piano to play the song while Loki sang. Loki's only condition for singing in front of all of Westview was that he would be the one choosing the song. To your relief, he chose L-O-V-E, one of your favourite songs. Everyone was shocked when they realized that Loki Laufeyson was going to sing. Little did they know that unfortunately for Loki, he would hang the stars in the sky if you asked him to. You smiled encouragingly at him before starting to play on the piano that Wanda had discreetly created because she had destroyed the original. As you'd expect, everyone was enthralled by Loki's voice and you both got a standing ovation. You jumped into Loki's arms and hugged him. He returned the hug immediately, not caring who was watching.

***

''I'm so proud of you, Lo! you were fantastic up there on stage! – You said excitedly. Loki kissed your temple and dragged you to sit on his lap on the couch.

''You were amazing too, my queen. But I still can't believe I submitted to that.''

You rolled your eyes before leaning in to kiss him, but he stopped you.

''Y/n/n, wait. Are you…feeling it too?'' He asked, frowning slightly.

It was only then that you noticed a delicious tingle that spread over every inch of your skin, tickling. You immediately took to noticing your living room, your clothes, and your husband. Everything was… taking on colour.

That was undoubtedly one of the most wonderful moments of your life. Seeing something you were so familiar with turn into something so beautiful and surreal was just magical. Your husband got even more handsome (Something you didn't even know was possible) and his beautiful eyes, which you now knew were green, were looking at you as if you were the most perfect thing to ever walk the planet earth. You could already feel your cheeks starting to heat up when suddenly you felt… A kick?

Loki was still holding you, so he felt it too. You both glanced at your belly at the same time only to realize that you now had a baby bump.

You were pregnant.

*** Those damned Chitauris spread out like worms through a Midgardian city that you would have found divine in other circumstances. After stabbing three Chitauris at once with your sword, you watched Loki get blown up by one of Agent Barton's arrows with a satisfied smile. He landed on the roof of Stark Tower and you and Agent Romanoff made your ways to the roof intending to get to the God of Mischief, but the Hulk attacked him before either of you had the chance. The scene of that huge green creature slamming Loki to the ground several times as if he weighed nothing would forever be one of his favourite moments.

Dr. Selvig was still dazed on the ground beside the portal. He explained that Loki's sceptre would be able to close the portal and he and Agent Romanoff agreed that it would be best if you held it since you were an Asgardian. You were almost able to close the portal using the golden sceptre when Stark's voice protested through the listening devices, stating that it was necessary to get rid of one more bomb. To your horror, he entered the portal passage with the large explosive object.

You didn't know Tony Stark very well, but you knew he was a well-meaning and intelligent man, and you felt saddened by his death, even though you knew that thanks to his sacrifice the Chitauris were dead. Rogers asked you to close the portal. You hesitated for a second, but Agent Romanoff put her hand on your shoulder and gave you a sad smile in an attempt to comfort you. From what you observed in the redheaded woman, she was very closed off and extremely cold and rational, so seeing her trying to make things easier and more comfortable for you meant a lot. You closed your eyes to gain courage and the portal was finally closed. By some miracle, huge red and gold armour appeared falling from the skies and you felt strangely glad that a man you barely knew was all right.

Later that day, the other Avengers said goodbye to you and Thor, who needed to get Loki and the Tesseract back to Asgard. And at the same time that you missed home, you had a bad feeling that very soon everything you knew and loved would undergo drastic changes. Despite all the nightmares Loki caused and the optimism of all Midgardians that everything would be all right now, you couldn't silence the little voice in your head that warned you that this was just the beginning of something much worse to come.

***

Loki was dead.

Again.

For real this time.

In his first supposed death, you weren't there in his ''Final Moments'' and you were still blinded by rage at his betrayal, but now that he had sacrificed himself to save Thor and you were beside him when Loki breathed his last, you could feel your heart (which was already broken by the tragic death of the woman you saw as a second mother) shattering into a million pieces. You'd been stabbed before and you were sure the blade piercing your skin had hurt less than watching your childhood friend die.

When you were sure that you had already reached the apex of pain, Thor Odinson, the great God of thunder, heir to Asgard and the nine Realms threw his arms around your waist, buried his face in the crook of your neck and cried like a little kid. You would have given up anything to take away all the sadness and pain that big man who was actually a cinnamon roll was feeling. Your best friend had lost his brother and you would have gladly switched places with Loki if that made Thor happy.

But the only thing you could do at the moment was hug him tight and pray that his blond hair would dry your own tears of pain.

***

Doctor Nielson said you and the baby were healthy.

Of course, that information wasn't enough and the poor middle-aged gentleman was bombarded with dozens of questions from your husband who was more overprotective than ever now that you were carrying his child.

You and Loki had already decorated the baby's room, and right now Loki was reading the third parenting book for the month. Wanda had told you that Vision was acting the same way and that they were even exchanging and indicating books to each other.

Being pregnant at the same time as your best friend is just magical.

You were about to go shower when Loki came running up to you with his phone in his hand and a face that was full of animation. You've never grabbed a phone so fast in your life and a few seconds later, you're sure you'd be bouncing if you didn't have a baby inside you.

Wanda had twins. Billy and Tommy.

Loki took the two of you to Wanda's house and the first thing he saw was your friends looking exhausted because the twins wouldn't stop crying. They thanked you both immensely for your and Loki's help (Loki was slightly compelled to do this, but the important thing is that he helped).

A few hours later, Agnes knocked on the door and the four of you started chatting. When the five of you went to check on the twins, they had aged a good five years, but you chose not to question it.

The next day, your water broke.

After that, it all went so fast. You and Loki opted for hospital delivery, so he quickly grabbed the maternity bag and put you both in the car. The nurses were extremely kind and careful with you, and even though Loki called Wanda and Vision as soon as you two arrived at the hospital, your baby was already in your arms.

It was a girl.

She was the most beautiful thing you'd ever seen, even though she looked just like any other baby a few minutes old. Her little face was puffy and red, she was screaming and crying like crazy and she was so tiny, but you already loved her more than anything in this world.

When you looked at your husband, he was completely transfixed looking at your daughter. You'd seen him give that look of pure adoration just for you, but now he looked at that little pink package like all of a sudden the world made sense because she was in it.

Loki was too scared to hold her because he was afraid of letting the baby girl fall, but you helped him and he immediately started crying.

He sat next to you on the gurney and kissed your temple tenderly and looked into your eyes with so much emotion that you felt dizzy.

"I love you so much, Y/n Laufeyson. Every day I think about how you are the strongest, most wonderful woman I've ever known and I can never express how grateful I am to be able to be with you and... Now you've given me my little girl and I never thought it was humanly possible that my love for you could triple.'' He kissed you passionately before looking down at his daughter.

''Welcome to the world, my Astrid.''

*** ''So what you're saying is that my brother and Wanda Maximoff are in a world where Vision and Y/n are alive?'' Thor questioned Darcy.

The two hadn't spoken for a long time and technically he shouldn't be in a confidential area where SWORD was working, but the scientist thought Thor deserved to know what was happening.

''Jimmy described it as 'A sitcom starring two Avengers.' But apparently, Loki and Y/n are supporting characters. Not only that, apparently all the other 'Characters' are real people who seem to be under some mind control to act as if the fact that Vision and Y/n are alive and living married lives in the suburbs is something perfectly normal.'' Thor didn't have the heart to voice it, but he felt that Loki was definitely not under mind control. Thor wasn't blind, he knew his brother was in love with Y/n since they were kids and he knew Loki was suffering a lot from her death, but he would never expect anything like... this.

''As Wanda seems to be the 'Protagonist', we're trying to contact her to understand what's going on, but she hasn't responded to the radio, Agent Franklin has disappeared and our drone has been turned into a toy helicopter. They even censored the broadcast! It's like whoever is controlling this will do anything to keep these people captive.''

Thor had seen young Wanda's powers in action and knew she was very powerful. He also knew grief all too well. By then he has already greeted it like an old friend, so he knew what the pain of losing someone loved could do to a person's mind. He was sure that those responsible for this mess and Westview's captivity were Wanda or his brother. Maybe it was even both. But he knew that neither Wanda nor Loki wanted to be 'saved'.

***

Thor knew you were strong and powerful. You were an Avenger and a member of the Asgard army who had saved Thor's ass many times before and he knew you were an amazing team on the battlefield. Unfortunately, before he was a warrior, he was your childhood best friend, who always took advantage of the fact that you don't have siblings to claim the big brother role. He said it was a family matter, but you know he was just scared because Hela had destroyed the Mjölnir and since he didn't know how powerful she was, he sent you to help Heimdall protect the people of Asgard to make sure you wouldn't get hurt. Thor said that he and Loki (yes, the bastard was alive) would take care of Hela. You had your doubts.

You and Heimdall taking care of everything well. You two had already annihilated several of Hela's 'Soldiers' and were now protecting the Asgardians in a secret fortress hidden in the forest. You were helping an elderly lady relax when Heimdall made everyone's blood (including yours) run cold.

"She's here.''

Quickly you and the guardian worked hard to get the people of Asgard to evacuate through the back of the fortress towards Bifrost. You were almost there when you came across Hela's huge beast. Immediately, everyone retreated, but on the other side of the bridge was an enemy army. Even with a giant spaceship providing cover when shooting the beast, you, Heimdall and other Asgardians were forced to fight back. Suddenly, something fell out of the ship and… Wait a minute, was that Bruce Banner?!?! Someone tugged at your shirt sleeve. You looked down only to find a toddler pointing at something that, despite being partially covered in fog, was definitely huge.

"Your saviour is here!''

You were never so happy to see that stupid man in your entire life.

***

When the three of you got back home, you begged Loki to let you buy a puppy. It would be great for Astrid's development, you argued, of course, Loki was reluctant because he knew your own selfish motives, although you were right about dogs having a positive impact on babies' lives, so a few days later he showed up at the house with the cutest Corgi puppy you've ever seen. You two named him Argos and he and Astrid immediately fell in love with each other.

It didn't take long for Astrid to grow up. She was a very sweet little girl who looked exactly like you. The only thing she had inherited from her father was his mesmerizing green eyes. She was also best friends with Billy and Tommy, the three children spent hours just playing in the backyard with Argos every day.

Today, when Astrid went to play at the boys' house, they had adopted a puppy named Sparky. Loki preferred to stay at home to build a playground for Astrid, and the kids were already making thousands of plans to play in the backyard of your house with Argos and Sparky who would definitely be friends. When you asked Wanda where Vision was, she said he was at work. Today was Saturday, but you preferred not to comment on anything.

The twins freaked out, and Wanda had to explain how couples sometimes fall out before her kids thought Vision was tired of them.

You didn't know that Wanda and Vision were fighting, but you chose not to get involved. Instead, you asked Wanda if she'd like you to take the kids to the community pool. She quickly accepted and ten minutes later you and the kids were leaving Wanda home alone so she could put the gourd back in place. That was all the help you could offer her for now.

***

It was Halloween. Astrid wanted to dress up as Wednesday Addams, which you thought was weird, as the two of them couldn't have more opposite personalities, but you agreed. To match, you had Loki dress up as Gomez and you dressed up as Morticia. Your husband pretended he thought you all looked ridiculous, but you knew he loved it. Loki didn't want to go on patrol today, he preferred to 'Enjoy his girls'. All you can do is roll your eyes, leave more kibble in the pot for Argos, and take your little family to meet Wanda and the twins.

When you finally found them, you were introduced to Pietro, Wanda's brother. He tried to flirt with you, but a single deadly stare from Loki directed at him made the silver-haired man immediately shut up.

Billy, Tommy, Astrid and Pietro were causing real chaos around the neighbourhood, which drove you and Wanda crazy, but Loki said that mischief was always welcome on Halloween and had no problem letting his daughter terrorize the neighbours next door with her friends.

You and Wanda forced the children (Pietro included) to return all the stolen sweets. That took a few hours, but once they were done, Tommy used his super speed to take Astrid and Billy to get more candy (The right way this time), leaving You, Loki, Wanda and Pietro alone.

The four of you ate and talked as you made your way to the area where a Halloween pumpkin display was being held. Everything was going well until Pietro started commenting about how 'Thanks to Wanda' people were happier and that despite everything, they were having a good and peaceful life. You didn't notice when Loki and Wanda exchanged side-eye glances for a full three milliseconds before Loki got up so fast you were sure he got dizzy and dragged you away from the Maximoff twins claiming he wanted to buy toffee apples for you both.

You were so confused by his (and Pietro's) sudden bizarre behaviour that it took you approximately 30 seconds to react. When you finally snapped out of your befuddled state, you dug your feet into the ground and faced your husband.

"Loki, what the hell was that? What do you mean by buying toffee apples? You hate toffee apples. And I know Pietro is kind of weird but he seemed very sane at the tim-" You were interrupted.

"That was nothing Y/n, you're imagining things. Pietro Maximoff is a lunatic, we both know that.

"Something tells me you don't believe a single word you're saying yourself. I don't know what he means but I feel like you do." You confronted him.

Honestly, you never noticed anything strange around you. Your life and that of your neighbours appeared to be completely normal. But Pietro said something that bothered you. Of course, you had problems, but they were many... Simple. Just minor inconveniences that more seemed to be happening to give some sense of normalcy. People always said that some things were too good to be true.

Maybe Pietro wasn't a lunatic after all.

But you knew Loki long enough to know you weren't going to win that argument. So you let him lead you by the hand to the toffee apples stand and pretended not to notice how hard he was trying to look like he was genuinely enjoying the candy and that he was not wanting to throw up.

***

How?

You had been decorated as the best warrior in Asgard countless times. You had protected Gods. You were a heroine adored by billions of people and had already survived so many adventures that you could have easily written a bestselling book about yourself (That's what the most epic books of all time were called according to Stark). And yet, how could you be so… useless?

You had lost your beloved home and on the same day you had to watch the brutal extermination of almost half of your people and you could barely defend them. You barely made it out alive, for Odin's sake!

All Thanos' fault. That titan son of a bitch you would have sold your soul just for the chance to execute and watch his scaphism. You knew he had an army of titans. You knew all the stories about how Thanos was considered practically invincible. But even so, you couldn't help hating yourself for not being enough and for letting your people down.

But by the time Thanos demanded Loki hand over the Tesseract or he'd kill Thor, you knew Loki well enough to know he'd try one last thing. But you no longer thought your life was worth much. All your instinct for self-preservation has long since disappeared.

If you had to die to protect the princes of your kingdom, that's exactly what you would do.

When the Titan pinned Thor and killed Heimdall right after defeating the Hulk, you did the first thing that popped into your head. You snatched the hypercube from Loki's hand at lightning speed and ran towards Thanos

''Here. Take the Tesseract and do whatever you want with it, just go away and leave us alone. I beg you.'' You looked pathetic like that. One of the most powerful elements in the galaxy was in your hands, and yet you were on your knees, weeping and begging for a monster to spare the rest of your people. Thanos looked at you like for a few seconds before taking the Tesseract.

''I have heard much about you, daughter of Halldis. You are known as a hero. You were wise to accept the fate of this galaxy and collaborate with the greater good.'' He said before taking his army with him and leaving you surrounded by corpses and wounded people. Thor and Loki were alive. You were useful for something.

But why did you feel so… selfish? Of course, you weren't a sociopath, but still, for a few seconds, Thanos saw you as an equal.

Hero, they called you.

But at that moment you knew you were a fraud. You felt a genuine disgust with yourself and stopped believing in the mercy of the gods. If they really were merciful, they would have let you die in that carnage.

The life of any Asgardian seemed worth a thousand times more than yours. You just didn't deserve to live.

***

Loki had left Astrid at Wanda's house to play with the twins. Astrid was always playing with the twins, so you wouldn't suspect a thing. Of course, it wasn't morally right of Loki to dilute sleeping pills in the milk on the cereal he gave you this morning. But in his defence, he was going through something he never thought he would.

He was freaking out.

Loki Laufeyson had never felt that in all his thousands of years of life.

He always had things planned out and always made sure everything went exactly as he had so meticulously envisioned. Of course, not even the most detailed man in the world could control every situation every time. But even when things didn't go as Loki had planned, he always managed to stay calm and most of the time he had a plan b. When he didn't have a plan b, he quickly found a way to save his ass. Cunning as a fox, you once remarked.

The problem is that Loki was always a completely rational person who never got into a situation without weighing all the pros and cons before giving a second thought to make sure it was worth it.

You were the first impulsive decision he made. He was crying hysterically as he felt his heart being torn apart and the next minute he was driving in a car with you holding his hand. He didn't think about what could go wrong, he was so distracted in his bubble of happiness with you that he completely forgot that something could go off the rails at any second.

And that's exactly what happened.

All the decorations in the house were changing every five seconds. Loki's magic and yours were out of control and the Asgardian God was beginning to sense that everything was about to fall apart. But he couldn't bear it, he just couldn't.

Not again.

So he had to do something that he always tried to avoid as much as possible, but unfortunately, it was his only alternative. He needed to talk to Wanda.

*** How the hell did he end up here?

He was at Wanda's house when one of those nosy agents Wanda had kicked out showed up. Wanda was starting to lose control, so Agnes took the redhead to her house. Loki still needed to speak with Wanda, so he followed the two women. The hostess made him and Wanda sit down on the sofa and then Loki slowly came to his senses. Why the hell did Agnes have so many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in her living room while a children's cartoon was playing on TV?

Now that Loki had stopped to notice things, he really felt something was missing when he walked into Wan's house...

"Maximoff, where is my daughter?" he asked, staring at the woman with daggers in his eyes.

She was still a little flustered, so it took her a few seconds before she processed his words and shook her head.

''Oh… I-I…''

Loki immediately made a dagger materialize in his hand and placed the blade against Wanda's throat.

''I'll just repeat it one more time, Maximoff. Where…" He didn't have time to finish his threat because Agnes came back into the room.

''Mr. Laufeyson, there's no need for violence, for God's sake! Astrid and the boys are probably just playing in the basement.'' Agnes butted in before Loki committed murder. The man immediately grabbed Wanda by the collar (he wouldn't let her go until he was sure his little girl was okay) and dragged her down the basement stairs in search of the children.

Loki didn't know what he expected to find in that basement; but finding multiple vines-covered columns, elaborately macabre-looking stained-glass windows, and dozens of dark magic elements were definitely not on his list.

And then suddenly, the brunette woman Loki had never liked had locked the door with her… Magic.

''The name is Agatha Harkness. Lovely to finally meet you.''

Shit.

***

''I still can't believe you of all people learned to cook. A voice behind you commented.

You rolled your eyes but couldn't help but smile.

As ironic as it seems, Loki was the one who helped you out of your self-hatred state after Thanos' victory and since then the two of you have put your differences aside and decided to try to help what's left of the world as much as possible. Thor named Valkyrie king of new Asgard and you became the Goddess of Fidelity.

You never felt you deserved the title.

Loki was the royal advisor and was doing an excellent job restoring Asgard alongside the new king. You and he spent all the Sundays with Thor to cheer him up and take care of his mental health. You helped Steve through every therapy session because you knew how difficult it was for him to try to maintain Sam's legacy like that. You and Loki also babysat Morgan one night a month so Pepper and Tony could go on dates, and even though he pretended to hate babysitting, you knew Loki was crazy about the little girl.

You two lived in the Avengers tower with Natasha to monitor the state of the galaxy in monthly meetings with Denvers, the raccoon, Rhodes and Okoye. Since the three of you lived alone and the last time Nat or Loki entered a kitchen they set the place on fire while trying to cook an egg, you were practically forced to learn how to cook. After five years of practice, you've become quite the cook.

At the moment you were making lasagna because Nat had been tired lately and that was her favourite dish.

''If I hadn't learned, the three of us would have starved to death years ago.'' You joked. So-so.

''Despite all the difficulties living in this nightmare causes, I feel strangely happy,'' Loki commented.

You both knew it was wrong. Billions of people had lost their families and friends, including you and Loki. But the two of you couldn't help but enjoy the chaotic routine you had built up together. He was far better company than you could ever dream of.

''After you're done with dinner, we could binge-watch Modern Family,'' he suggested.

''Loki we binge-watched Modern Family six times!'' You complained.

After putting the lasagna in the oven, you turned to face your friend, only to realize he was closer than you thought.

In the last few years that he's been by your side, you can get to know the real Loki. Not the man you've spent the last few years seeing as someone deserving only hatred or pity. He had changed a lot after the Snap, and you finally got to see what a caring, smart, funny, gentlemanly and occasionally kind man he was. And well, up close, you couldn't deny how handsome he was. His eyes looked at you adoringly and suddenly the air was very hot and the atmosphere had changed. He lowered his eyes to your lips and…

God, he was going to kiss you.

The man who has spent his entire life avoiding and infuriating you would kiss you and your stomach couldn't be more full of butterflies. Your heart was beating wildly in anticipation and you'd never wanted anything as badly as you wanted to feel his lips against yours.

But just as he was about to finally close the tortuous distance between you both, Natasha called you into the room to see to some business urgently. You and Loki reluctantly obey the redhead only to find her and Steve looking at the security camera footage. The shock was written on both of their faces and as you and Loki looked at the footage, you too were shocked as well.

Scott Lang was alive?!?!

***

Apparently, Wanda was wrong about the state of Westview's population. They were definitely not doing well in suburban life designed to be perfect. He hated to admit it, but Wanda needed to set them free, there was nothing Loki could do.

You wouldn't want any of this if you were alive.

He was also right about everything ending in chaos. You had woken up and gone to the square looking for him and despite wanting desperately to take you in his arms and assure you that everything was going to be okay, he was tired of lying to you. Agatha Harkness fought against the Scarlet Witch (Apparently the legend was very real and he felt stupid for not realizing the truth about Wanda Maximoff before) and Agatha was defeated.

Wanda took Loki's hand and pulled him away from his and Wanda's family so they could have some privacy.

''I-I'm sorry.'' The most powerful woman in the universe looked so small and vulnerable in front of him. Loki would never know what came over him, but he let her cry into his chest as he stroked her back.

''I'm also... sorry, Maximoff.''

Wanda and Loki weren't friends and probably never would be. But they carried the pain of a difficult past and having lost their lovers and with it their prospects for happiness in the future. He hated to admit it, but he would always feel a deep connection with Wanda and he knew she felt the same.

Wanda went to her house to enjoy her last moments with her family and Loki did the same. Astrid was sitting on his shoulders and you were holding his hand the whole way home. When he looked at you, you gave him a sad and reassuring smile at the same time and every time you did he could feel his eyes burning, his body desperate to curl up in the fetal position and cry.

You arrived home and while you sang an Asgardian lullaby to Astrid, who was hugging Argos, the little girl was falling asleep with her face buried in her father's chest. She might be young, but she could feel that this would be the end, but she needed to enjoy the last moments with her family the same way every other moment was spent: With a smile on her face.

You four deserved this.

When she and Argos were finally asleep, Loki settled her on the bed and kissed her on the cheek. He pretended not to notice the tear left on his daughter's face right after you kissed her.

You two went to your room and lay down on the bed so you could cuddle and simply feel the warmth of each other's bodies. So that the hearts of two lovers would beat in the same rhythm. You stayed that way for three minutes, three hours or three years; Loki could never tell. But then you cupped his face and kissed him. You kissed him with all the pure love you felt for him. It was a kiss so painfully sweet he wanted to cry for the twentieth time that day. You rested your head on his chest so his heartbeat lulled you to sleep. When Loki realized you were unconscious, he wanted to sleep too. All he wanted was to spend the rest of his life in your arms, in that bed. But he did not allow himself to fall asleep.

Loki knew you wouldn't be there when he woke up.

***

You thought you were used to the pain of losing people you loved. That your heart was already so broken that if someone else important to you died, it wouldn't hurt so much anymore.

When Barton came back alone and with that look in his eyes like he'd just seen his whole world destroyed, you knew Natasha was gone.

You cried for hours, shedding so many tears you could almost feel your body drying out. Natasha had suffered so much in her life and yet she knew how to be kind and give her all to help others. She always supported you and managed to comfort you when no one noticed you were not okay in the first place. One of the strongest and most wonderful women in the world had died as she had lived: Doing the impossible and beyond to save people who didn't even care about her.

And that's why all of you were here. On the battlefield in the most epic fight you've ever been on a mission to destroy Thanos and his army. Natasha had sacrificed her own life so that you all could save the world and none of you could let her die in vain.

That's how you ended up the same way you did five years ago. Kneeling at Thanos' feet as he won, as it was always meant to be.

''I am Inevitable'' He smiled sickly as he felt total victory as he snapped his fingers to finally get rid of humanity forever. Some things were just… Meant to be. Like Thanos' success in his mission. The universe was always in his favour for him to be succeeded.

But not today.

Excruciating physical pain shot through your body as you felt your right arm burn from the overwhelming amount of power coursing through your veins from the stones in your hand. You definitely wouldn't survive this.

But you had decided a long time ago that you didn't deserve to live.

''And I… Am…,'' You were making a superhuman effort to speak, but you ignored the pain and finished uttering your last words. It was time to finally find your way to Valhalla and find your parents. Aunt Frigga. Heimdall. Your Asgardian people.

Nat.

''... The Goddess of Fidelity''. You snapped your fingers and then everything went dark.

***

Thor knew he had no right to interfere, but he couldn't help but rage as he saw the looks of scorn and disgust directed at his brother and Wanda Maximoff that the residents of Westview and the S.W.O.R.D agents were sending their way. Of course, the two were wrong to enslave an entire city, but they had just lost everything. Why couldn't people understand that by willingly destroying the barrier, Loki and Wanda had given up their last chance to be happy? Why couldn't they stop feeling sorry for themselves for a second to try and reflect that those two were grieving and desperately trying to deal with this horrible feeling that no one deserved to go through?

They were all so arrogant. As if they wouldn't use Wanda's powers to bring loved ones back if they had the opportunity.

But the God of Thunder swallowed his anger and went after Loki.

He was so busy with his own grief over losing his dearest friend that he completely forgot that he wasn't the only one grieving. Now Loki was even more broken than before and there was nothing Thor could do but try to comfort him.

While you were alive, you fought tirelessly for him and Loki to have a true brotherly relationship by loving each other unconditionally. And damn him if he let anything you've fought for in your life go to waste.

Thor found Loki sitting on a bench in a small square near Westview. He was admiring the setting sun with an unreadable expression on his face.

''There's nothing I can do, brother. Nothing in this world can bring her back. I… I just want you to know that I understand your pain and that I will be here with you for as long as it takes if it helps you feel better.'' Thor finally spoke after sitting down beside his brother and staying in silence for several minutes. He never needed to comfort people who were grieving before. Despite knowing it wasn't enough, the blond God was trying his best.

And Loki knew it.

He knew that Thor meant every word and that he would indeed be sitting beside him in silence, watching the sunset for the rest of eternity if that would make Loki feel any better. When he looked away from the west into Thor's baby blue eyes, Loki began to cry.

The Loki of a few decades ago would rather die than allow himself to be in such a vulnerable position in front of Thor. But this Loki could only feel gratitude for having a brother who loved him till the moon and back and would help him deal with his pain and his hysterical crying without the slightest bit of judgment. That he would let Loki stay in his embrace forever while trying to ease his pain, even if Thor himself was miserable.

He still hadn't made up his mind if he regretted going after Wanda the instant he heard about Westview. If he regretted asking for a happy life with Y/n to the redhead who accepted the proposal immediately because she understood Loki's pain and because you had been very sweet to her when you rescued her in Sokovia and she never had a chance to thank you or become your friend.

The only thing Loki was sure of was that his heart would never heal and that his biggest regret was spending more than a millennium being hopelessly in love with you and never telling you.

[v3nusxsky]

Can you do a fan fic of Lesso x Reader and Lesso gets mad and because of the hole magic follows emotion she accidentally hurts the reader, you can choose how it ends. Also, sorry to hear about your cat.

Accidents happen

*Authors note~ I love this idea very much believe that magic is tied to emotion which makes accidents when someone is overwhelmed with emotion a very possible outcome*

Trigger warnings~ ?????

Prompt~ see ask^^^^^^

Temper is always a scary emotion. It's the one that you feared the most, it terrified you. So knowing that magic ran through all those that attended the school which made you instantly on high alert. After all you knew first hand the damage magic could do, the pain it could cause. That's why you learned very early on how to control your emotions, to make sure you'd never become like them. Magic can be beautiful and you knew that, but you knew the dangers of it too. It's not a toy to be wielded irrationally. And really should only be used when directly needed.

You surprised yourself you found yourself draw to the Dean of Evil, normally you'd avoid her type due to fear of magic and you knew just how much of a temper the dean had. Yet you felt drawn to her, unable to avoid seeking her out in a crowded room. And oddly enough, she seemed to be struggling with the same feelings. That's what led you to being in a relationship with her. The fear of magic going. You knew she'd never intentionally hurt you.

Months went by and you were happier than ever. Leo doted on you, treated you like royalty and made sure you knew how loved you were by her. Life was good and there wasn't a single thing you'd change, thankful that you ignored your fear of magic and followed your heart that would only ever belong to Leonora.

You knew your girlfriend was stressed out, you'd heard from the amount of students saying they'd been taken to the doom room. Even the staff members were mumbling about her bad mood. You instantly knew you wanted to hold her, truly she didn't deserve to feel that way. Leonora was a really sensitive woman but she always put on a front to others, a well rehearsed routine to protect her heart. You were lucky enough to be let in to it, and you would do absolutely anything to protect it.

You knocked on her office door, before opening it quietly, "I told you to get out!" She yelled her magic hurtling toward you, immobilising you in mid air. A protective measure you knew all to well. But when it began to squeeze your throat and slam you back against the wall you felt the panic rise. Leonora hadn't even turned around she was still ranting about how she wanted everything to go perfectly and some idiot ever teacher wasn't about to go and take what's hers! And that he even had the nerve to ask of Leonora would share, just one night. No way in hell would that ever happen. You were hers. Why couldn't he leave you both alone.

As soon as she turned around to see you struggling for air with pain lingering in your eyes she immediately softened, the magic letting you go as the magic depleted. "Oh my god! Dove! I'm so sorry I'm sorry I didn't mean to. I thought, I god I'm a horrid girlfriend" she mumbled over and over as she came to you, you lay crumpled on the ground, tears flowing down your now red cheeks as you struggled for air. "It's. Okay. Leo." You gasped out, "I'm. Alright."

She knew that was a lie, she knew your fears and now she'd only gone and done the same your mother would do to you as a child. Truly she felt horrible and now hurting you was the final straw. You moved to curl in her lap in an attempt to show her you're not mad at her, she instantly responded but stroking your hair and murmuring apology after apology.

You both stayed like that for some time, before you felt well enough to move to the bedroom where you and Leo just cuddled and she explained everything, she feared you'd leave her and you made sure to remind her you wouldn't ever leave her. She owned your heart just as you owned hers.

Word count~ 744

[sweet-sammy-kisses]

For @bucktommyweek day 2: Day Two: A figure from their past. Title: When the Sun Goes Down Pairings: Eddie/Buck/Tommy, past Buck/Abby Rating: Teen and Up Notes: Eddie doesn't like Abby but this isn't an Abby bashing fic, at least I don't think it is. Summary:

Buck was happy. Happier than he ever thought to be. He was free and finally felt comfortable in his skin. Chimney liked to tease that Buck was even more like his golden retriever side with all his bouncing and smile that never left his face when they weren't on a call. Bobby and Hen were so happy for him. And he knows that Athena gave both Tommy and Eddie the shovel talk, it was the scariest moment of their lives according to them.

Tommy meets Abby, the woman who broke Buck's heart.

Teaser: Tilting her head Abby studied Buck, he had gotten even more handsome if that was possible and while she loves Sam and the life she made with him and their girls there is a part of her that wondered what would have happened if she stayed and tried to make a life with Buck. He was amazing in bed and treated her like a Goddess. “How are you, Buck? We should get together while I am in town. Catch up, you could finally meet Sam.”

‘Hell no.’ Was the response that flashed into Buck's head there was no way that he would put Eddie in the same area as Abby, the man hated her with a passion. There would be no way of holding his boyfriend back as he let Abby know just what he thought about her treatment towards him.

‘Then there is Tommy.’ Buck wasn't sure what his other partner would think of his ex.

As if summoning a strong arm wrapped around Buck’s waist as a kiss was placed on his cheek, “Evan, sorry I am late Lucy decided she wanted to tell me in great detail about her date last night.” Tommy blinked as he took in the woman staring in confusion at him. “Oh, who is your friend?”

Clearing his throat Buck leaned into Tommy's embrace. “Tommy, this is Abby Clark, an old friend of mine. Abby, this is Tommy, my boyfriend.”

Tommy has heard all about Evan's ex-girlfriends Eddie has been very vocal in his dislike of those who used and then tossed aside their adorable boyfriend. Taylor Kelly and Abby Clark were tied for first place in Eddie’s bad books, those names were banned in their house for how they treated Evan and the last time Taylor's face showed up on the news Eddie had gone on an hour-long rant.

“Oh, it is nice to meet you, Tommy.” There was something in Abby's eyes that said it was anything but nice.

Tommy was instantly on guard. He could see why Evan was drawn to her, she is pretty but she had shattered Evan's heart and that was not something he could forgive. “It's nice to meet you as well. I have heard so much about you.”

Buck wanted to run away and hide. Tommy had heard about her from the presidents of the ‘We hate Abby’ club, Eddie and Maddie. Even Christopher didn't like her and they had never met!

‘She hurt you Buck that is all I need to know.’ Christopher looked so much like his dad with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.'

[arachnidspanteonera]

A Story in Five Arcs 

Nicolette could have pinpointed everything about the wedding occurring before her very eyes.

Every single moment, felt like a whisper of the air, like it would never end, and like it was going too quickly, all simultaneously. 

It was too much.

It had been too much since the beginning.  

It had already been too much, since the second she saw Dove walking down the stairs. 

If that had happened earlier today, yesterday, or a lifetime away, she couldn't remember to save her life.

Everything she could remember was the delicate steps, in which Dove came down the stairs, the way her feet trembled insecurely, leaned on her pretty, shiny red heels.

The way her legs seemed to elongate and exaggerate underneath her red dress. 

How her hands moved and swayed, pale, and paler yet than the moonlight.

The golden trim didn't stand a chance against her and her long blonde hair. But yet again, nothing ever did, not against the Dove Monroe.

The Dove Monroe, the one who had swayed the tides of battle, the one who had saved her life far more times than she could even count. 

Her and all that shiny red fabric, and that intense golden embroidery engulfing her.

The Dove and the veil covering her face.

And the gray flowers bouquet covering her hands.

And the silly red fabric, surely covering her red eyes.

Even if she couldn't see it, Nicolette already knew it was there, just like she knew Dove was coming from a mile away.

“Watcha laughing at, Hope?”

“Are you still wearing your stupid little bandana underneath all that, Dove?”

“Augh, Nico!” Dove moved her head, in no doubt, that practiced manner of hers. She looked like every popular mean girl in a movie, and from time to time, she made Nicolette feel so incredibly blinded. 

Nicolette felt like she had swallowed down her own role. 

“Damn right, I got it on!”

Dove pushed her veil up, and there was the red fabric covering her eyes. 

Nicolette had seen it so many times. 

She even knew the exact way in which Dove tied it up, the small ribbon it left behind itself, Just like her mother had taught her, Dove whispered to her one night, and how her mother’s mother had taught her. 

Beneath the ribbon was a pop, surely another golden piercing, going through her left eyebrow, and underneath it, was a golden moon, piercing through her skin, connecting with a golden bracelet on her left wrist.

Nicolette had never seen her with this many jewels and pretty clothes on.

The ribbon, just like the jewelry, was, as everything else Dove did, heartbreakingly beautiful. 

Nicolette spoke between her giggles “Why isn't it rugged to heck and back?” Nico felt something intense and red gnawing at her, right between her eyebrows.

“...Oh, well” Dove seemed a little caught off-guard, like the very question embarrassed her. She looked down, Nico knew it from the way her face angled, barely feeling alive, like a sculpture “It is my wedding after all, isn't it? Gotta try to look decent for poor Sasha and that all. ” 

The laughter died down. 

Dove repositioned the flowers on her hands, and now there it was, in full display, the silver ring around her index finger, hugging it so snuggly.

Nicolette thought, to grab it from her finger, might as well rip off Dove’s whole flesh and bone.

“Wouldn't he like to see you without it then?” And the unspoken follow-up, Because you know I would love to see you without it.

Dove almost sighed, instead, she pursed her lips, into that stoic almost sardonic grin.

Standing before her, existed all of them, Nico reminded herself, the Dove who was her best friend since age 11, and the Dove responsible from delivering the final blow to their last enemy in battle, and also the Dove who had sworn to spend the rest of her life defending the sanctity of the timeline. 

And all three of them were about to marry Sasha Merkel

All three of them, past, present, and future, had promised themselves to Sasha. 

And really, Nicolette thought, all four people in the room should look far happier about that.

Dove reflected her thoughts back to her, as Dove often liked to do. 

“Sasha is a good friend, he understands why I don’t like that.”

“Yeah, he really is. He’s your best friend, isn't he?”

Dove’s lips lifted every so slightly, like they were all in on some ridiculous insider joke. 

“Yes, he’s a very special friend.”

And now, here was her Dove.

She was sitting on one of the wooden white chairs, looking forward, her Dove, holding hands with her Sasha. 

Sasha was a good match for her, Nicolette had decided forever ago. 

She had decided that one night, when she had woken up in one of their headquarters, in the middle of the bare night.

A ruthless black and white place they called house for a few weeks.

Something  about the stiffness of the air, and how the rooms seemed to contract in on themselves, hadn't allowed her to sleep.

And something about not having Dove by her side, after having her there for so long, felt too alien to bear.

So she went out looking for her, like a dog following a trial.

When she found her, Dove was holding hands with Sasha, a movie softly playing in front of them, some old black and white flick, that she was sure Dove would secretly adore.

She was all about that artsy old-school stuff, but she could never get herself to admit it out loud.

Nicolette was sure this film would be Dove’s whole thing, but instead, Dove was looking at Sasha, intensely enough to get caught off-guard, and like a vandal, holding his dark hand, when Nicolette pushed the door open on them.

In retrospective, she shouldn't have done that.

Dove took her hand back, landing against her chest, but Sasha didn't let go, and that was that.

Thinking about it, Dove didn't seem happy back then, but she looked satisfied, if Sasha could keep her satisfied, Nicolette was nobody to complain.

She stole a plushy next night, and decided to stop bothering them.

Every night Dove was further and further away.

And now, here they were, Dove was looking forward too, and Nicolette couldn't tell if she was looking at her, or looking at her mother. 

The woman was tall and scary, that was the best way Nicolette had to describe her.

A two meters tall mountain of metal and secrets, however this woman had raised her daughter, neither of them liked to speak about it, not aloud at least, not where anybody else could see, that is.  

The woman was clapping, and maybe she would have been crying, if the Monroes were allowed to cry.

Dove’s mother screamed, loud and proud.

“From your mothers! Who is always going to be by your side!” Nicolette couldn't decide if it was the music, or her ears, but she sounded so far away, like her voice was becoming the gusts of the wind “I wish you will always be satisfied!”

Dove was definitely looking at her mother now, and there was definitely something wet and black pooling behind her red lace.

Leaving a ghost of a void, making the silhouette of her eyes.

And this moment was well-rehearsed, all their friends held-in their breath.

And Nicolette could have never missed it, because she had never been able to look away from Dove, and from her pale rose lips.

She mouthed those words, like she had done so a million times before, and knowing Dove, and all of her witchy ways, she probably had.

Nicolette hated the fact that she couldn't remember it.

But she felt it, like her bones knew it, and she thought, maybe they had been here before, in a past timeline, a million years ago, in another universe, wearing another face.

Dove looked at her, and Nicolette could only picture the lava hot red staring from the other side of the cloth.

Her lips moved, opening and showing pearly white teeth, and sharp fangs. 

Dove had been a fighter, a military leader, an enforcer of punitive and ruthless wanna-be justice, far before she had ever been a girl, and Nicolette knew she had far more practice tearing with her fangs, than kissing with her lips.

Nicolette’s hands reached for her own lips, as Dove mimicked an O with hers.

A breathy I 

Then the way Dove’s tongue touched against the roof of her mouth, before closing in again, like a duo of scared lovers in the midst of the night.

Love 

A final stab, that soft U, full of wind and fake freedoms.

You 

Then she closed her eyes, the shadow beneath her red lace, shifting to adapt, she leaned down, and kissed Sasha.

From there onwards, her best friend in the whole world, was officially married.

Nicolette choked on her own tears, the things icy cold against her skin, just like that lonely place she had been born in.

Dove had confessed to her one morning-night, how they called those devious times of the day, where it’s not quite one thing or the other just yet, their precious grey hours.

Their special time, before anybody else was awake to look at either of them.

Dove had ran her slender fingers through Nicolette's black sea of hair, just like the pale and bright moon through the night, her skin so white it shined in the dark.

With her mouth barely moving, Dove said she was raised to be as a sword was.

Nicolette hadn't believed her back then, she couldn't reconcile the image of her sweet Dove with that of a deadly blade.

But now, as she doubled over in pain, still sitting on her white cathedral spot, feeling like the tears coming out her eyes were burning her skin, her palm pressed tight and strong against her mouth, like she had just been stabbed, desperate to keep the dam of her blood inside.

Nicolette realized Dove’s mother had done an amazing job at raising a weapon in the shape of a girl.

She mouthed the words back, and later that night, she realized she would probably never see her best friend’s eyes again.

Dove Monroe blade that never stops cutting.  

[missnaughtyerica]

Windows to the soul

Amber was the hottest and most popular girl at school and she knew it, which made her a total bitch she had an entire clique of girls of a similar stripe, vain spoilt and bitchy and if you didnt measure up to her standards then your life would be made a living hell.

One such girl was Amy she was everything Amber wasnt she was kind and worked hard at school she was also unpopular and scored rather low on the Amber attractivness scale which made her a victim to Amber and her cliques bullying.

Home wasnt much better for poor Amy her mother had died while she was a little girl and her father had recently remarried.

Amy hated her new stepmother Morganna and the feeling was mutual Morganna had no time for her step daughter who she looked down on for being ugly and weak Morganna desired a daughter more like Amber someone who used her looks and manipulative ways to get what she wanted which was exactly how Morganna ended up marrying Amy's dad.

There was no way Morganna was going to put up with a pathetic step daughter like Amy, no she wanted a bratty bitch as a daughter one who was a bully and would get exactlyl what she wanted. Luckily Morganna was a woman with a few useful tricks she could employ to cultivate a better daughter than Amy, besides Amy would be a lot happier as one of the popular girls, as she was now she was never going to lose her virginity or live her life to its full potential.

As Amy hurried home from school eager to make a start on her homework like the dutiful erd she was little knowing what Morganna had in store for her if she had known what was about to happen she may well have run for the hills but Morganna had plans that were going to shape her destiny and life would never be the same for Amy.

"Hi Dad im home" Amy shouted as she entered the house

Thats funny she thought there was no answer she was sure dad would be home thankfully there was no sign of Morganna then sh heard the familiar voice of Morganna

"Hi Amy Sweetie would you be a dear and come help me with something im down here in the basement?" came a voice from the basement

Amy didnt really want to help Morganna but then she was the kind of girl that would help anyone even a bitch like Morganna so she headed down to the basement to get this over with as soon as possible so she could knuckle down with her homework.

Entering the basment Amy was immediatly suprised by what she saw Morganna was there along with Amber, Amber was sitting there tied to a chair with an empty chair sitting opporsite Amber.

"Whats going on why is Amber here and why is she tied to a chair just what are you up to Morganna?" asked Amy

"Im doing this for you dear believe me its for the best once this is over you will thank me no take a seat and we can get started" Said Morganna

"I dont know what sick game your playing but i want no part of it Now untie Amber and let her go" Amy said as confidently as possible which for Amy wasnt muhc truth be told

"I said sit now Sit" hissed Morganna

Amy found her self unable to resit the command and immediatly sat down opporsite Amber who was staring directyl at her she could see a mixture of fear and hatred in the bitch's eyes.

"Look at her Amy, Amber is everyting you should be and soon you will be a daughter I can be proud of and you Amber will be a withered husk of a girl im sorry but sacrifices must be made if Amy is to become the daughter I deserve" Morganna said as she stroked Ambers blonde hair

"Now Amy look at Amber look into her eyes look deep and see the truth of her soul a dark soul tainted by bitchiness pure and evil and yours for the taking"

Amy looked into Ambers deep blue eyes she tired not to but she was transfixed she tried to muster ever ounce of strength but she just couldnt look away.

"Perfect now Amber surrender your soul to Amy make her the bitch she deserves to be" Intoned Morganna

Amber groaned but was poweless to resist as she felt everyting she was and everything she was ever going to be slowly flow from her eyes and into Amy's eyes.

Amy moaned in pure pleasure as wave after wave of pure bitchess folowed into her young body

"Fight it resist you dont want to be a bitch" said a voice in Amys mind but that was soon drowned out by a new voice one far more powerful

"Dont listen give in surrender yourself to bitchiness become the new Amber"

"Yess i want it make me a bitch stepmother make me a new Amber" Moaned Amy as she orgasmed at the thought fo turning into a bitch

Amys brunette hair began to lighten as it turned blonde and lost its split ends and became perfect just like Ambers, Amy's tiny A cup tits slowly began to inflate Amy laughed as she saw all of Ambers beauty begin to fade away she was becommng flat cheasted and ugly a real loser.

"Fuck yes I feel so good I love being a bitch" purred Amy as he transformation completed

Standing up and streching her newly minted bitchy body Amy told Amber to get the fuck out of her house, she had no time for losers anymore she had plans and they involved fucking Ambers boyfriend and taking her place as Queen Bee at school Morganna could only laugh at her victory she loved her new bitchy step daughter.

[bevswashere]

Koi No Yokan

Chapter 17: Beginning of the End

There's a fork in the road that everyone reaches before they die. A right path that offers you everything you've ever wanted, luring you in with sweet scents and the voices of everyone you've ever loved. This road is said to guarantee happiness and peace.

Three types of people approach these paths: the majority, who don't bother looking at the left path, those who see the left path, consider it, but ultimately choose the rightward, happier, easier, way, then those who see both paths, and, for some reason go left.

March 2006 Two hours later.

A knife could cut through the tension in this classroom right now.

Mariko and I sat at the furthest opposite desks, letting the boys fill the space as they pleased. The only one who dared to make a noise was Haibara when he awkwardly cleared his throat, gaining the courage to ask "Did something happy while we were gone?"

I sink further into my seat, arms folded in protest.

"You don't understand being the strongest—having your life sold to Jujutsu. You could leave it all behind and no one would even care!"

Mariko doesn't move, only scoffs largely.

"You know, you and Gojo-san really are perfect for each other. You're both full of shit."

Neither of us bother to answer, though. To admit our faults.

"Okay..."

"Let them be," Nanami says. "They can figure out their petty feuds by themselves—"

"It's not petty!" Mariko and I exclaim at the same time. Our eyes lock momentarily, only for us to force our gazes back towards the front of the room. Then we fall into silence again.

Another five, maybe ten, minutes of this passes, until an assistant supervisor rips the door open, "Uematsu-san, Yaga Sensei is requesting you in room 6."

"What for?"

"Tengen-sama has specially requested you for a mission," she says. "As well as Gojo and Geto-san."

"Of course," Mariko scoffs once more. "Leave all of us weak people behi—"

There's a teacher's desk at the front of the room. One that breaks in half against my fist as I pass by. Mariko—all of them—cannot help but stare in shock at my dramatic gesture. Their expressions are similar to Nanami's from the night of our mission together. I ask myself, "Why have I become so hostile?"

Even the assistant supervisor's hand trembles slightly as she passes the cream folder. "You will be escorting Amanai Riko for her assimilation with Tengen-sama in two days."

"Assimilation?"

"Yaga Sensei called it an," she hesitates, "Erasure."

The folder is filled with an endless amount of documents regarding Amanai Riko. Everything from her upbringing—dead parents and no family left to claim her, her role as the "Star Plasma Vessel" being the only thing keeping her out of an orphanage—to invasive details about her daily routine, along with a long list of organizations that will be interested in her bounty.

There's a picture of her clipped to the top of the stack. Mussy black hair and wide eyes. I frown. "She's only 14."

"Tengen-sama has personally chosen her—"

"A child."

"She is most compatible—"

"She's a child."

The assistant supervisor stutters helplessly. "Sh-she's only a couple years younger than yourself, Uematsu-san."

"And I'm not a child?" I think. "Isn't that why I'm still in school?"

To this, she cannot answer at all.

I shut the folder and put it back in her arms, letting my misplaced anger subside. "Room 6, you said?"

Turning to head down the hallway, the supervisor finds her voice again, "I'm just doing my job."

I look back, noticing her gaze is drawn to the floor. "I know."

"I don't want a child to be sacrificed, even if it is for Tengen-sama."

Stepping closer, I see how small and young she actually is. She couldn't be more than twenty, neat brown hair cleanly tied back into a plait, barely tall enough to reach my shoulders, sharp and beautiful hazel eyes. Imprisoned by this world as much as I am—as we all are. "I know that too."

"We don't have a choice, though. Do we?"

"No, we don't." It nearly makes me laugh. To think the strongest, shackled in chains such as these.

"If you were me," I suggest, "Would you do the same?"

She thinks for a moment. "I suppose I would do whatever I was told. Then again, I've never been the strongest before. Maybe I would do whatever I want."

The sentiment is wild, irrational, going against everything I've ever worked and dedicated my life to, but not impossible.

"What's your name?"

She seems taken aback. "Chihiro. Tanabe Chihiro."

"I like the way you think, Chihiro," I say, half in jest. "If I don't decide to do whatever I want, I might start requesting for you to escort me on missions."

"If?" Her face reddens with a blush. "I don't want to be credited if you go berserk, Uematsu-san."

"Relax," I nudge her arm a little too forcefully. "I don't plan on going berserk yet."

From within classroom 6, I can already hear them discussing. Suguru's gentle voice is explaining a large amount of what Chihiro had shown me in the file. "...All the Jujutsu schools, the barriers that form the foundation of Jujutsu society, the many barrier techniques of the assistant supervisors. They're all being strengthened by Tengen-sama. Without the aid of his power, we could hardly maintain security or clean up after missions. In the worst-case scenario, Tengen-sama could even become a threat to mankind...."

I wait behind the screen door, and listen closely. Everything Suguru says is true; these are worst case scenarios that could occur if we do not carry out this mission. Sacrificing Amanai is a necessary evil.

"That's why, every 500 years, he finds the Star Plasma Vessel—someone who is compatible with him—and assimilates them, overwriting the information of their body. By renewing his body, he resets his cursed technique back to the start and avoids Evolution."

Yes, a necessary evil. One that, in effect, could save so many others. But she's just a kid. Kids dying, is that ever truly necessary?

A second voice silences all these swarming thoughts in my mind. It's gruff, but comforting, warm. Possibly my newfound favorite voice in the world. "I get it. It would be fine if he turned into MetalGreymon, but we can't have him becoming SkullGreyman. So we have him start over from Koromon."

I find myself smiling at the frame of the door.

"What? Yeah, sure, that works."

Finally, I slide the door open and the wood shifts with a loud snap. "Sending in all three of us is a bit much," I say. "All to transport one kid."

"This mission is of the utmost importance," Yaga Sensei grumbles, arms folded tightly above his chest. The vein in his forehead seems to be bulging a little larger this afternoon. "I have doubts that even the three of you combined are up for it."

Satoru pulls a stool from the desktop, and sets it on the ground for me. Another small gesture that resonates with far more meaning than intended.

"The Star Plasma Vessel's location has already been leaked. Right now, there are two major groups after the young girl's life." He spins his laptop around for us. "One is the Curse User Group Q, which seeks to upend jujutsu society with Tengen-sama's rampage. The other is the Star Religious Group, also known as the 'Time Vessel Association,' which worships Tengen-sama as a god." The dire look on Yaga's face truly sets in now. "Tengen-sama will assimilate the Star Plasma Vessel two days from now. You are to protect the girl until then and ensure that she reaches Tengen-Sama. If you fail, the effects will ripple throughout even normal society. Don't forget that."

∞

"Buy me a soda."

Satoru's finger prods into the flesh of my cheek. I slap it away, pulling the coins out for him regardless.

"What happened with Mei-san?" I try to ask casually, digging my hands so deep into my pockets that I fear they might burst through the fabric.

"Nothing." He tosses the coins repeatedly, letting them fall back into his palm. "They were trapped in one of those barriers that alter time—didn't even know they'd been gone for two days."

"It would have been pretty efficient if they sent you in," Suguru adds. "You would have sniffed the barrier out in a few seconds."

"She doesn't care about that part," Satoru laughs, "She's all sour over Mei-san."

"I am not!"

From the look on his face, Suguru knows exactly what kind of answer to expect, but enjoys fanning the flames, "What's wrong with Mei-san?"

"Nothing! Give me my coins back!"

Satoru refuses happily, pushing me away with a single arm.

"You do seem tense, Kaede-chan?" Suguru takes a concerned tone. "Did something happen while we were gone?"

He seems to catch on to a stiffness that I myself had yet to notice. My shoulders finally lower, and I let out an overdue breath. I wonder if it might be good for my peace of mind to talk about my argument with Mariko, the hateful words we exchanged. But I know Satoru won't take well to being called "full of shit." Besides, the context of the conversation is far more alarming, the crude things I wondered about the boy standing just to my left, still playing with the coins I'd given him. "No."

"She said she doesn't like Mei-san because she flirts with me."

I grit my teeth, "I did not say that."

"Really?" Suguru hums. "Well, she did ask you if you would comfort her if she cried."

I do my best to keep my expression neutral, to not frown or accusingly look up at Satoru, who, in reality, owes me nothing.

His smirk is more prominent than ever, though. "Your face is starting to match your hair, Kaede-chan."

"I don't care about Mei-san or whether she flirts with you or not," I defend. "We have bigger things to think about."

"The mission?" Satoru asks. "You said it yourself, the three of us are more than enough."

"And if I don't want to succeed?"

Each of us pause beneath the shade of a tree, staring at one another quietly.

Suguru frowns, "What do you mean?"

"Transport and erase some kid we don't even know," I sigh. "I have my reservations."

"What if the Star Plasma Vessel wants to be assimilated?" Suguru suggests.

"And if she refuses?" I counter.

"Then... the assimilation's off!" Satoru declares suddenly.

Suguru laughs before I can think to respond, "Are you sure about that?"

He's almost offended by our hesitance. "Huh?"

"It might mean fighting Tengen-sama, you know."

"You scared?" Satoru merely scoffs. "It's fine. It'll all work out somehow."

"Fighting off Tengen-sama and anyone else who stands in our way will most likely result in us being kicked out of the school, and shunned away from Jujutsu society," I continue, eyes narrowing at Satoru who I'm not sure has thought through all of the consequences, "Even set for execution if it comes to that."

He shrugs. "Fine with me. You two are all that I need."

My mouth parts in disbelief. I turn to Suguru, expecting to find our voice of reason, some sensible hesitance, but even he smiles, "We give our all, and at the end of it, we follow through with whatever the Star Plasma Vessel decides, agreed?"

To give up the only world I've known on a whim, for the sake of following these two into the utter dark. "Agreed," Satoru and I answer at once. Because a life like that sounded okay to me.