#sorry if I missed you trust me when I say I am still popping the FATTEST bottle for u TONIGHT

[definitelynotafurinasimp]

Hii,do you mind if you make an scene where you and furina or any other characters fight and you ended up taking their cuddling privilege through the rest of the day? Thanks!!

Them taking away your cuddle privileges after a fight

characters: Furina / Nilou x gn!reader (separate)

warnings: none

a/n: ....you know... reading through the request one last time before posting this, it looks like I may have misunderstood smth *slightly*.

I hope this is still fine! If you want me to write reader taking away their cuddling priviledges after all just request it again and I'll try to write it someday!

Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Furina

“I’m nowhere clingy!”

You’d have to be either deaf, stupid or oblivious to an unhealthy degree to miss your cuddling privileges being revoked. Furina had not exactly been subtle when openly declaring it after all. And while she may not have mentioned cuddling specifically, not trusting herself to not blush like a little kid at just the mention of it, you felt confident in saying that she had delivered her message well enough for even the most tone-deaf idiot to understand.

And yet, the exact same accusation that you had half-jokingly thrown her way and that she had taken such great offense to, turned the next few days into some of the best entertainment you had experienced in recent memory. Seeing an former Archon act dignified while at the same time having to fight the obvious urge to hug you the moment you were behind closed doors, only to then turn around and act like her embargo on hugging and cuddling was punishing you, was funnier than any comedy a human could possibly ever pen.

“So… about our argument a few days ago.” Furina spoke up the moment you returned to the table with your cooking, forcing you to fight off the grin that was threatening to pop-up on your face.

“So, about our argument a few days ago”, you repeated her words, intentionally ending on a high note to leave her waiting for your next words, only to continue to set up the table in silence.

“Are you- I-” she eventually stuttered out, only to stop herself before she could embarrass herself further. Her cheeks glowing slightly red as she tried to regain her composure.

“Who knows, if you were to apologize for your groundless accusations a few days back right now, I might just forgive you”, Furina graciously offered with closed eyes, avoiding to look at you in the process.

All the better for you, or she might have noticed the wide grin that had finally broken out on your face. For a moment you considered her ‘offer’. Sure, you missed cuddling on the couch as well and weren’t exactly the biggest fan of keeping up these kind of games…. and yet seeing her continue to needlessly die on this hill that so obviously harmed her more than you was very amusing.

“Wow, really? That seems very nice of you”, you mused with a smile while filling her plate with a portion before doing the same for yours and sitting down opposite of her. “Bon Appetit!”

“Oh come on. Stop being so stubborn! I’ve even given you such a good opportunity to apologize!” Furina's dignified act crumbled right before your eyes as she started to sound more and more desperate. You could practically hear her begging you to be the bigger person, and yet being small felt surprisingly great.

And yet you eventually- FINALLY gave in, much to the relief of the person sitting in front of you. “I am so sorry for calling you clingy Furina. I now see that I was clearly in the wrong and the one actually fitting the description of ‘clingy’ was in fact me”, your apology came out with a… healthy amount of sarcasm, and yet it was more than enough for her.

“...I’ll forgive you. Since you were nice enough to cook for me today”, she declared.

“I know I might be overplaying my hand here, but would you be so kind as to indulge me in a bit of cuddling later on? I’ve simply had to go on without it for far too long.”

“YES- Sure”, Furina immediately jumped at your offer before quickly switching back to her usual act, a wide smile plastered on her face nonetheless as she looked down at the food in front of her.

“It looks delicious, bon appetit!”

Nilou 

While the two of you seemed to have quickly moved past your argument, spending time together as if nothing had happened and avoiding to even mention the subject again, it quickly dawned on you that while you had hoped this to be one of those arguments noone had to explicitly apologize for and that was simply forgotten the next day, the other party involved seemingly was of a different opinion.

Not that Nilou said anything, she greeted you with the same sweet smile before chatting and going on small walks through the bazaar with you in the same manner as on any day of the week. And yet, whenever you as much as tried to initiate any kind of physical contact, no matter if hand-holding or hugging and cuddling, she’d dodge as easily as she breathed. At first it seemed like nothing but a coincidence, but after the dozenth time even you realized something was wrong.

What followed was a days-long standoff. Both of you trying to make the other one crack before yourself, while retaining your sweet and unbothered facade, and while there were moments where you could have sworn to nearly see Nilou instinctively grab your hand, she always managed to stop herself before anything happened.

And while you certainly could have continued with the act for weeks to come, you eventually decided to be the bigger person. For the sake of putting this childish game of chicken behind, of course. And for no other reasons.

“Sure Nilou. You win”, you disrupted the silence that existed between the two of you while Nilou was in the process of adjusting her stage, her movement grinding to a halt as she began staring at you in confusion.

“I wasn’t aware we were playing something. Did you have fun?”

‘Not aware’ your a- 

“Mhm, I am sorry about the argument”, you cut off your thoughts, immediately earning yourself a tilt of her head. After all this time you knew her clueless act to be nothing but an act and yet, when she looked at you like this you nearly found yourself doubting it all over again.

“Oh that? That was a whole week ago, did it still bother you all this time?”, she asked before finally finishing putting down the pot of flowers, quickly making her way down from the stage to join you and shooting you a sweet smile. “Don’t worry, I forgive you. I also didn’t mean everything I’ve said.”

If Nilou hadn’t suddenly grabbed your hand and started pulling you along her daily routine, you might have almost rolled your eyes, instead you found yourself thanking Lesser Lord Kusanali that you were indeed correct about your theory.

Bye Bye childish standoff, welcome back cuddling privileges.

[gayforbagels]

Pouring one out for Afghanistan and Anguilla and Antigua and Aoteoroa and Barbuda and Australia and the Bahamas and Bahrain and Bangladesh and Barbados and Belize and Bermuda and Botswana and Brazil and Brunei and Canada and the Cayman Islands and Cornwall and Cyprus and Dominica and Egypt and the Islas Malvinas and Fiji and Gambia and Georgia (the country) and Ghana and Gibraltar and Grenada and Guyana and Hong Kong and India and Iraq and Ireland and Jamaica and Jordan and Kenya and Kiribati and Kuwait and Lesotho and Malawi and Malaysia and Maldives and Malta and Mauritius and Montserrat and Myanmar and Nauru and Nigeria and Pakistan and Palestine and the Pitcairn Islands and Qatar and St Lucia and Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Helena and Ascension and Tristan da Cunha and St Vincent and Grenadina and Scotland and Seychelles and Sierra Leone and Singapore and the Solomon islands and Somaliland and South Africa and Sri Lanka and Sudan and Swaziland and Tanzania and Tonga and Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos and Tuvalu and Uganda and United Arab Emirates and United States and Vanuatu and Wales and Yemen and Zambia and Zimbabwe tonight

[luveline]

If you're taking request for Spencer and Bombshell!reader I think it would be so incredibly adorable if they were both on the way to a case (or coming back) and their little baby Amanda was face timing them to say hi to them and the team 🥺🥺

“Video call for you, momma,” Penelope says, plonking a laptop down onto the desk in front of you, and then quickly being called away by Emily for help.

You ditch your pen immediately, nail scratching the laptop trackpad as you slide the cursor to ACCEPT. 

Amanda’s face fills the screen, a shy smile like her dad’s close to the camera, her eyes almost cut off by the top of the screen. 

“Amy, babe, you’re too close to the computer! I can’t see your lovely face.” 

Amy sits back in her chair. “Is this okay?” 

You take her in. You trust your babysitter to take good care of her, but nothing is as reassuring as seeing her unhurt and smiling. “Hi, baby.” 

“Hi mommy,” she greets. “Where’s daddy?” 

“He’s in the bathroom. Be back any minute. Are you being a good girl for Mrs. Gamorrah? How’s your tummy?” 

“I’m being good,” she says, ignoring the important question, “did you see my t-shirt?” She brings her shirt closer to the camera. She’s wearing her favourite pyjamas with the butterflies she had for her birthday, “Look, Mrs. Gamorrah got the soup stain gone.” 

You beam at her. You miss her like crazy when you’re not there. You and Spencer take turns staying home most of the time, and so being apart from her and knowing she doesn’t have Spencer to soften your absence makes it easier to worry about her, and harder to concentrate on the work. 

The door opens. You twist your head. 

Spencer’s drying his hands on a paper towel. “Is that Amy?” 

“Quick, she wants to see you.” 

Spencer hurries to the laptop, bending at the waist to see the screen and his impatient daughter. 

“Amy!” he says, like she’s the only person he’s ever wanted to see, voice enthused with his most dad-appropriate saccharine. “Hi, bunny, hi, hello. I miss you so much, are you okay? I miss you.” 

You tap his leg gently. Calm down. 

“Daddy, I am so happy, and I miss you too! We’re doing pictures.” She holds up a sheet of paper covered in crayon drawings. “Are you okay too?” 

“I’m great now I’m seeing you. I really miss you, sweetheart, I’m sorry we’re both away at work.” 

“It’s okay. Me and Mrs. Gamorrah are gonna have pizza and jiffy pop and soda tonight. It would be good with you, but it’s still fun.” 

“That’s good,” you say, putting your hand on the keys, wishing you could feel her soft arm in your hand, stroke her silken forehead. “We’re gonna be home soon. Maybe even tomorrow.” 

Spencer wraps his arm behind your shoulder. “Me and mom miss you so so much, and we’re so proud of you being a good girl at home. We’re gonna bring you a big present for being by yourself.” 

“I’m not by myself, dad, I have Mrs. Gamorrah. Plus, Uncle Morgan said he wants to take me and Hank swimming on Sunday.” 

“I’m sure we’ll be home before Sunday.” You smother your frown. Spencer kisses your cheek. 

“Give one for me, dad!” 

Spencer kisses you again. “That one good enough?” he asks. 

“Another one!” 

When you get home, you’re gonna spoil the death out of her. Like, worse than you’ve ever spoiled her before. Spencer presses another great kiss to your cheek and smushes your faces together, Amy on the screen reaching for you both for a ghost hug. “I wanted to say hi before we go to the store. Can I call you again before bed?” 

“Yeah, baby, call again!” You rush to answer. “Call daddy’s phone, okay? Mine’s not working right. I’ll answer you, we’ll talk all about your day. Okay? I miss you very much.” 

“I miss you too. Bye bye.” 

“Okay, bye bye,” you say, “I love you.” 

“Love you, Amanda,” Spencer says. 

She waves her little hand until it looks like it might fall off of her wrist. Spencer waves back just as hard.

[hbdttg]

“Hold the elevator!”

The elevator doors are mere inches from closing, but Steve dutifully shoots a hand out to stop them. They slide back open, revealing a flustered-looking man about Steve’s age on the other side.

He’s dressed head to toe in black, decked out in a simple black pullover with a modest V-neck, snug black jeans, and all-black leather Chucks with a messenger bag slung across his chest. The messenger bag is, unsurprisingly, also black, but covered in a collection of tough-looking patches and pins in varying shades of—well, it’s mostly red, dark red, white, and some yellows, but the pops of color still stand out against his otherwise monochrome ensemble.

His dark, curly hair reaches a little past his shoulders and he’s got this frankly outdated fringe that, despite its very 80’s vibe, frames his face perfectly. His eyes are large and expressive, and he’s got this frantic energy about him that reminds Steve of a live wire. He’s nothing like the buttoned-up suits Steve usually shares his elevator rides with each morning, and it’s a refreshing change of pace.

The man gives Steve a thankful look before stepping into the elevator and leaning against the side wall. “Thanks,” he says, a little distractedly. He’s got a pair big of headphones on and Steve realizes he’s in the middle of a phone call when he adds, “No, not you, Gare, I was thanking the guy who held the elevator for me. Yeah, this building’s crazy. There’s a whole-ass sixtieth floor—guess I’m kind of a big deal now.” He lets out a small, self-deprecating chuckle, reaching for the panel beside him.

As the doors close and the elevator starts to slowly ascend, Steve notices the man pressed the button for the floor above his. Both the fifty-second and fifty-third floor buttons are lit in a halo of green.

“You know I didn’t want to leave you guys,” the man continues, a bit more quietly now that he and Steve are sharing the same small space, “but shit, I couldn’t turn down the pay.” He scoffs. “Ugh, listen to me, just another cog in the capitalist machine. Man, if high school me could see me now. High school Eddie used to talk big about forced conformity and rising up against the man, and now here I am—”

Steve tries not to listen to the one-sided conversation going on beside him, but it’s difficult when a moment later, he hears his own name.

“—clocking in for my first day at fuckin’ Harrington Hargrove Hagan. The pretentious bastards can’t even shorten it to an acronym or something. God forbid they have to miss out on the sound of their own names.”

Steve manages to hold in the obnoxious snort that threatens to escape him. He’s starting to think he might like this guy—Eddie, his mind supplies helpfully—but Eddie’s next words have him freezing in place.

“And it’s nepo baby central. Yeah, pretty sure all the H kiddies are hotshot brokers with the company. All the biggest accounts—gee, I wonder why.”

Steve can feel the back of his neck burning hot with a mixture of annoyance and shame as Eddie cracks a caustic joke about silver spoons and trust funds.

“You’re kidding, one of them works at this branch? Damn, I guess I’ll just keep an eye out for the guy who most looks like he’s got a giant stick up his ass.”

This is quickly becoming the longest elevator ride of Steve’s life. He grits his teeth and stares fixedly at the floor display panel above the elevator doors, watching the numbers climb higher and higher. Thirty-seven. Thirty-eight.

“Listen, I should go, but let’s grab a drink at the Hideout later. Cool, see you then. Bye.”

Forty-one. Forty-two.

Eddie removes his headphones and shoves them into his bag, angling slightly toward Steve. “Sorry about that, man.”

“You’re good,” Steve says shortly, not looking away from the changing numbers. They reach the forty-seventh floor, and all the while, he feels Eddie’s gaze on him.

It’s not like he’s openly staring, but there’s a certain weight to his furtive glances that completely counteracts his attempts at subtlety. It’s the type of gaze Steve’s familiar with, one that he’s been on the receiving end of since his sophomore year of high school when he hit a growth spurt and actually learned how to style his hair. Assessing. Appreciative. Interested.

And in any other situation, Steve would gladly engage. He’d turn on the charm, quirk the corner of his lip up in that way Robin always rolls her eyes at but reluctantly acknowledges as ‘passably effective’, and maybe even make up an excuse to sidle a bit closer.

But he’s not giving this guy his A-game.

Instead, Steve waits in stifling silence until the fifty-second floor is announced and the doors slide open. He steps forward to exit, but at the very last moment stops in the doorway.

He initially wasn’t going to say anything—though, a past version of himself would have definitely spat something biting and bitchy to Eddie about his snark, would have snootily told him to take his little assumptions and shove them where the sun don’t shine—but sooner or later Eddie’s going to realize he and Steve are colleagues, and he’s going to remember shit-talking him in an elevator on his first day of work, and it’s going to be awkward and uncomfortable.

Steve’s just speeding up the timeline, pushing for the sooner rather than the later, when he decides to spin around and fully face Eddie.

“I think you pressed the wrong button,” he says, all sweet and helpful like he’s talking to Dustin’s mom over a sink full of soapy dishes. “Couldn’t help but overhear that you work at Harrington Hargrove Hagan. It’s on the fifty-second floor, not the fifty-third.” Then he takes a small step backward, moving out into the carpeted hallway.

“Oh.” Eddie scrambles for his phone, unlocking it and scrolling quickly until he finds something that has him straightening up and smiling gratefully at Steve. “I guess I remembered it wrong. Thank you.” He pushes away from the wall, takes a step forward to follow Steve out, but then stops dead in his tracks.

Steve gleefully notes the line of Eddie’s gaze, how it lingers at the breast pocket of his shirt, where, clipped to a retractable badge reel, his building keycard hangs. Eddie evidently hadn’t noticed it during the elevator ride up, but he’s certainly fixated on it now.

Perhaps on the abstract yet easily recognizable Harrington Hargrove Hagan logo in the top right corner.

But more likely, based on the positively mortified look growing on Eddie’s face, on the name clearly printed underneath Steve’s photo in bold, black lettering: STEVE HARRINGTON.

Slowly, Eddie drags his eyes back up to Steve’s face. He stares in silence, eyes bugging nearly out of his head, face turning a concerning shade of pink, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water, and his reaction is extreme enough that a small part of Steve is almost inclined to take pity on the guy and laugh it all off.

Unfortunately for Eddie, a bigger part of Steve thinks Eddie looks kind of cute all red-faced and embarrassed like this. So he glances down at himself thoughtfully before turning his attention back on Eddie. “Wow,” he says with exaggerated astonishment, “now that you mention it, I guess I do look like I’ve got a giant stick up my ass.”

As if on cue, the elevator chimes in warning. The doors begin to close, but Eddie just remains rooted in place with that same wide-eyed, horrified expression.

When it becomes clear he has no intentions of actually exiting the elevator, Steve chuckles and wiggles his fingers in a cheeky little wave. “Welcome to the team,” he says airily, before Eddie’s still-blushing face disappears behind the elevator doors.

/ Now with a Part 2!

[oscpaistry]

Ft :: Trent Alexander Arnold

Summary:: Trent kept thinking about her.

He couldn't sleep, it was 3am. He was laying next to his girlfriend.

*For fuck's sake, cant fucking sleep. She keeps coming up in my mind.* He thought while trying to get comfortable in bed.

Yes he had a new girlfriend, after that he had broken up with Y/n his ex. They were the perfect couple on the outside. Always together, holding eachother, smiling and laughing with eachother, Y/N showing up to Trent's matches, posting pictures on Instagram and more...

But in private they were something else. Trent kept getting mad at Y/N for no apparent reason. After a bad match he would shout at her, blame her for the bad game he had. He wouldnt even touch here in private, Y/N always tried her best for Trent, but he couldnt seem to care.

He broke up only a few months ago, yes he had a new girlfriend, but Y/N kept coming back into Trent's life. He didnt know how or why but he couldnt let go of her. He got out of bed and took his phone with him.

While he was downstairs in the kitchen, he decided to call Jesse.

*Guess Jesse would be awake right now* Trent thought. He clicked the green button and put the phone up to his ear. He heard the ringing noise once and then he heard Jesse's voice.

"Trent, whats up? Why ya callin' so late, mate?" Jesse spoke, he was tired but Trent couldnt seem to care.

"She keeps coming into my life, not on purpose of course, but still its weird. Its weird how she manages to pop up where i am. In my dreams, matches, malls and more. I miss her to be honest." Trent answered, he sounded as if he wanted to cry.

"Calm down, lad. It's gonna be okay. Try to forget about her. That's how i forget about my girl's." Jesse responded, trying to calm the scouser down.

"It's hard man, i really loved her. I really did. She always cared about me and always said she was proud of me. She always told me that she loves me. And what did i say? Nothing, i just shouted at the poor girl. She didn't deserve that. Man i was a fucking asshole." He sounded so pure, he meant it. He really did feel sorry. When he broke up with Y/N he was devastated. She kept him on his feet, she told him nice words of affirmation. He really feels shit.

"Trent, it's going to be okay. Trust me. It may take some days, weeks, months or even years. But it's going to be worth it. I know it's hard, man. Just get over her." The english boy told Trent. Trent just sighed and took a deep breath.

"Just get over her? You make it seem so easy Jesse. But the problem is, i thought i was all over her." The scouser responded. He hung up and sat down in the living room, scrolling through Y/N's instagram. He slowly drifted to sleep.

[luna-redamancy]

Hey could I have a Kili x Reader where the reader is someone Gandalf recruited early on the adventure. She spends all her time in the woods and can even converse with animals as well as being an adept hunter and survivalist? Kili just becomes infatuated then and there

Hello!! I'm so sorry this took so long to complete, but I hope you enjoy:

“I thought you said you had another person attending, Gandalf, your apprentice?” Thorin’s words floated above the murmur of the company members as they feasted on poor Bilbo’s pantry. 

“I do, however, unfortunately, they were caught up in other matters. Do not fret, Thorin, they will meet us along the way.” 

“What matters were so important to have missed a vital meeting before we set off on this journey?” Thorin’s tone was criticizing as he imagined a young lad trying to drink himself into a stupor- 

“Medical ones,” Gandalf’s cheery disposition turned into a frown as he gazed upon the dwarf. 

“They are providing medical guidance for a town riddled with disease. I say a sobbing child with a fever needs their attention more than a group of rowdy, but otherwise healthy, dwarves.” 

“My apologies,” Thorin tilted his head to Gandalf who responded in kind. 

“I know you are anxious to meet the final member of your Company, Thorin, trust me when I say everything will fall together- in due time.” 

And that was the last they discussed the missing apprentice, your absence not being brought up again. 

The next morning, after a night of feasting and somber singing, the Company set out on their journey. 

The trees were lush and soon the rolling hills of the Shire had all but disappeared behind the horizon. Coin was shared upon the arrival of Bilbo, but the final member of the Company had still yet to arrive. 

“Gandalf,” Thorin addressed as he fell to the middle of the line where Gandalf was atop of his horse. 

“Do you know when your apprentice will be arriving?” 

“I would say–”

“Right now,” You called out, popping up next to Gandalf as you stared at the bird in your hand. It was a small old-world sparrow, happily chirping as you nodded. 

“You are-” Kili almost interrupted, the Company now halted as they stared at you awaiting introduction. 

“One moment,” You held up a finger, keeping your gaze trained on the bird, pausing in your steps. 

“Thank you,” You said after a moment, smiling at the small creature. You watched as the bird then took off, flying into the trees. 

“You’re Gandalf’s apprentice?” Balin tried this time, your gaze returning to the Company. 

“Yes, I am,” You bowed your head, “My name is (Y/n),” You greeted, your grin widening as each dwarf gave their name. 

“And you?” You stared at Kili who seemed to be starstruck, eyes wide and round as the wind shifted the leaves of the trees, making the sunlight highlight different areas of your face. Dipped in golden light. 

Fili chuckled, turning into a cough as Kili elbowed him harshly in the gut. “Kili, at your service,” he bowed his head. 

“It’s a pleasure to meet all of you,” You turned to Gandalf, “There may be trouble along the old road,” You explained, “The sparrows have seen trolls taking livestock from farmers, they recommend to stay away.”

“Sparrows?” Bilbo questioned and before you could explain, Gandalf was quick to boast. 

“(Y/n) holds many abilities, but one of them is animal conversing, birds are her favorite.”

“They know so much,” You shrugged, as the company resumed traveling. Walking alongside Gandalf, you failed to notice the eyes trained on your form and drinking in your appearance. 

“Also, they say the population of rabbits has increased, especially towards the winding trees further north, we’re likely to be able to catch a few for supper come time to set up camp,” You were already planning your hunt in your head.

Kili felt like he was going to swoon. He was most certainly in deep, and you’ve only said a few sentences. 

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Kili

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[dopelavender]

Farrah Fawcett Spray

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

Summary: Your boyfriend Steve gets mad at you after you reveal his secret

Warnings: Some pretty angsty angst but followed by fluffy fluff and a little bit of smutty smut ;) (more to follow)

A/N: Let's just pretend Nancy has a pool in her backyard for the sake of the fic. Also this is my first Steve x reader! Let me know if you enjoyed it and if you want some more!

FEEL FREE TO SEND REQUESTS!! <3

Word count: 2.9k

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“Take a left here! Here!” you yell, as your boyfriend misses yet another turn. You were on your way to Nancy’s party, which had stared about two hours ago. It was quite unusual for her to throw a party, but you guys (especially Steve)decided it would be a great opportunity seeing as her parents where out of town and you all needed to unwind a bit with all the crazy shit going on in your lives.

“Honestly Steve, my grandma has better reflexes than you” Robin jokes, leaning over from the back seat to make fun of him. Her laugh stops when she sees the look Steve is giving her and she falls back in her seat with a thud, picking at her chipped nail polish.  

“Would you stop yelling at me like that, Y/n?! I can’t concentrate when you yell…” Steve whines, looking as innocent as a newborn babe.

“I’m not yelling at you, I’m just yelling near you!” you try to defend yourself, waving your arms around, pointing out the space between you. He looks over with his eyebrows raised and scoffs.

You take a deep breath in, and let it out, feeling a bit guilty for raising your voice at him.  Leaning your head back on the car seat, you look over at Steve who’s watching the road with a grumpy face “Look, I’m sorry. It’s just that we’re already so late. I feel bad for keeping Nancy waiting”.

“Well, we’re not the only people she invited, so it’s fine. Besides, we would have already been there long ago if you hadn’t taken a century to get ready. Honestly, what do you do in that bathroom?”.

Your head snaps back up as you hear the words leaving his mouth. You couldn’t believe your ears. “Excuse me ?! You’re complaining about how long I take to get ready, Mr. Farrah Fawcett spray? ”.

He gasps dramatically “Hey! I told you that in confidentiality!” he points his finger at you accusingly, as if you had revealed his deepest darkest secret (which , according to him, you kind of did).

Robin pops her head between the two of you, looking as happy as a kid on Christmas day “Oh my god, you use Farrah Fawcett spray on your hair?” she laughs out loud, her cheeks hurting from the smile she couldn’t seem to lose after hearing such interesting information about Steve “The Hair” Harrington.

“I can’t believe you just did that” Steve mumbles, placing a hand on his heart as a sign of the betrayal he experienced “I can never trust you again….".

“Oh, pleeeaasee. Would you stop being such a drama queen?” you say, annoyed by his theatrical reactions that usually make you laugh.

“What? I am not a drama queen. No way” he defends, clearly offended by your remark.

“You so are” you stand by your point.

“Am not!” he barks back.

Robin takes her head in her hands “Okay you guys, this could go on for a while. Can’t you just like, call it even? I bet Steve has shared some unsavoury things about you ,Y/n. Right, Steve?” she nudges his shoulder with her hand.

“No way. You see, I would never do such a horrible thing” he states, looking over at you with a superior look in his eyes.

“Oh really?” you ask, leaning a bit closer to him.

“Yeah!” he says without hesitation.

“All right. Let’s recall, shall we? 7th grade, school playground, all our classmates present. Dear Steve here thought it would be a good idea to fill everybody in on the fact that I still sleep with my teddy!” you fall back in your seat and cross your hands over your chest.

“You really did that, Steve?” Robin asks, looking at him disapprovingly “Not cool, man, not cool at all” she shakes her head but a smile finds its way to her face “But you see? You both have big mouths. So how about you shake hands and we call it a day so we can go and get absolutely blasted at Nancy’s party?” Robin looks hopefully between the two of you with a smile that makes you appreciate her positivity.

She really cared for the both of you, you were her best friends. And all this bickering (you couldn’t call it a real fight, it was just a stupid argument)  surely made her uncomfortable . You suddenly feel really bad for the position you put Robin in. This was all so silly.  You turn around in your seat and take her hand, giving her a heartfelt smile. Looking back at Steve, you decide to put an end to this.

“I guess you’re right. Steve, I – “ just as you were about to apologise to your boyfriend for yelling at him and for sharing his super secret, extremely private hair routine, he interrupts you, raising a hand to get his point across.

“That is so not the same thing! What happened on the playground was an accident. Unlike what you just did, Y/n. That was personal!” He looks over at you, and you can actually see hurt in his brown puppy-dog eyes. Was he truly this affected by what you said?

“Steve” you reach for him, placing your hand over his on the gear stick but he avoids your touch, stopping the car. You had finally arrived at Nancy’s.  He gets out of the car and you and Robin follow. He’s a few steps ahead of you so you run a bit to catch up to him. You look up at him and he's staring ahead, unusually serious, as you walk up to the front door. The vibe between you is off and you hate it. You hate when you get in these stupid arguments over virtually nothing. It’s just such a shame. All you want is for him to hold your hand, brush your hair from your face and kiss your lips that were thirsty to be touched by his. But he doesn’t do any of this. Instead, when you get inside the house he leaves you and Robin in the living room, mumbling something about going to get a drink and finding you after.

The house was crowded with people, your nerves spiking up as you scan the room looking for your friends. You spot Nancy and Jonathan in the backyard, both with a drink in their hand and laughing at a boy who was seductively dancing in front of some cheerleaders to Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing”. The cheerleaders where not impressed.

You walk over to them and Nancy greets you both very cheerily, albeit a bit annoyed at your late arrival “Y/n! Robin! What took you guys so long?” her big eyes were scolding you. Jonathan just gives you a shy wave and takes a sip from his red solo cup.

“Long story” says Robin with an awkward smile. “I’m sure he’ll come around. You know how sensitive Steve is” she gives you a sympathetic look and comforts you, hooking her arm around yours. You give her a gentle squeeze, thankful for the support she is providing.

“What? What happened? Where’s Steve?” Nancy looks at you concerned “Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine. We just had a stupid fight, that’s all” you reassure “Actually, I’m gonna go look for him, if you guys don’t mind. I can’t stand it when he’s mad at me, it gives me horrible anxiety” You put a hand over your belly, the agitation building a knot in the pit of your stomach.

“Of course not! Go ahead, I totally get it” Nancy says, looking over at Jonathan and interlacing their fingers. He watches her with a loving look in his eyes and brings their hands up to his mouth, kissing the back of Nancy's hand.

“We’ll be waiting for you in the pool” Robin adds with a grin as she starts taking her clothes off and demands for Nancy and Jonathan to do the same.

You laugh at Robin, glad to see her so comfortable in your friend group, seeing that she hasn't been hanging out with you for very long. But in the time she has, she managed to win everybody's hearts over with her authentic and fun nature. Now, it was hard to imagine what your life would be like without her presence in it.

Slowly making your way through the crowd, your eyes dart around the place hoping to spot that familiar face you knew so well. That sweet and handsome face. How could you be so stupid as to make that face sad? You supress a groan of frustration that threatens to leave your mouth as you think about your fight. Even though it didn’t seem like a big deal to you, it was a big deal to him. And you didn’t want to invalidate his feelings. That just isn’t something you do. You want to hold him and tell him how sorry you are for breaking his trust and hurting him.

Your anxiety starts to worsen as you search almost all of the downstairs area and Steve is nowhere to be found. All the sweaty and hot bodies swarming around you, the loud music pumping in your ears and the heavy smell of alcohol in the air didn’t help to ease your nerves one bit, it just made everything worse. “God, I fucking hate parties” you think to yourself. You usually come just because Steve likes them, and wherever Steve goes, you go. You loved the way people magnate towards him, the way he’s always the centre of attention and the way he thrives in it. But what you love most is that even in a room full of interesting and beautiful people, he’s always looking at you, always touching you in some small or big way, just to show you that his attention remains on you, that you are the most important thing to him. Your heart aches as you think of this and your breathing starts to get heavy when you still can’t see him anywhere.

When you get to kitchen you can finally breathe again. There he was, leaning on his hands against the kitchen counter, his back turned to you. You silently make your way through the empty kitchen to where he is standing. Putting your hands against his back, you slowly rub it and lean your head against him. He jumps a bit, scared by the unexpected feeling, but immediately relaxes against your touch when he realises it’s you.

“Hey” you say shyly, now drawing little patterns with the tip of your index finger against his shirt.

“Hey, big mouth” he jokes. You’re not sure if he’s still mad or not, but the joke relaxes you a little.

" 'm sorry” you mumble into his back, snaking your arms around his middle and hugging him from behind “I really didn’t think about what I was saying, I just said it. I didn’t mean to hurt you or embarrass you in front of Robin. It was stupid. I’m really sorry. I love you” you hug him tighter, standing on the tip of your toes to leave kisses along his neck. You were craving his warmth against you to help calm your anxiety.

He turns around, your palms now resting on his chest as his hands find their place comfortably around your waist.

"I love you too, baby. It's alright." He looked into your eyes, worried as he saw the anxiety written on your face.

“Hey, are you alright?” he cups your face, thumb gingerly stroking your cheek.

“I-I just could find you so I got scared and you know how I hate it when we fight, it just completely wrecks me” You ramble and grip his shirt tightly, pulling him to you, needing to feel him closer.

With his hands still cupping your face, he kisses your left cheek, then your right one, then your nose, finally just kissing every inch of your face, making you giggle “Let’s not fight anymore, then. I'm sorry too” he breathes against your mouth, his lips just brushing against yours.  

As needy as ever, you pull him by his shirt, locking your lips into a deep kiss. He grabs your hips, kneading the skin through the fabric of your shorts. Your hands travel up to his head, running your fingers through his hair. Oh, that hair. You gently pull at his roots and he bites your bottom lip in response, getting a moan to escape your lips. You pull away from him and he groans. He leans his forehead against yours and looks at your red and kiss swollen lips, dragging his thumb against your bottom lip. “God, you’re so beautiful” Steve whispers, just for you to hear.

You smile up at him "Thank you, pretty boy".

As much as you're enjoying being alone with him, you remember your friends, cooling off in the swimming pool “The others are waiting for us in the pool. You feel like taking a little night swim with me?” Your hands rub his toned biceps, make their way up to his neck, and then back down to his arms again.

“Umm, yeah” he laughs, instantly pulling you after him, darting through the house and making people jump out of his way to let you pass. All the agglomeration and the noise of the party seemd to fade away. The only thing that mattered right now was Steve's hand, firmly gripping yours, leading you after him, and his pretty face, turning around now and then to smile at you.

Out in the backyard, Nancy and Jonathan were in the pool, childishly playing with one another while Robin was laying on a rainbow coloured :), inflatable water mattress with a drink in her hand, humming to the chorus of “Bette Davis Eyes” which was blasting through the speaker.

You start stripping down, removing your shoes and then your shirt, fixing your swimsuit top, only to find Steve watching you intensely. “Oh my god, you perv!” you laugh and throw one of your Converse at him.

“Woah!” he shouts and ducks out of the way just as your shoe flies by his head “What’s the big deal? I’ve seen you naked before, y’know” he unbuttons his shirt and smirks at you. You can’t help but stare at his bear chest and toned abdomen. He’s just too damn hot, and he knows it. Unfortunately for you, he caught you checking him out “Now who’s the perv?” he teases as he takes off his pants.

Once you’re both just in your bathing suits, you grab his hand, leading him to the lit up pool.  Robin waves you over to her “C’mon you guys! This is sooo nice” she says and takes a big sip from her drink, smiling to herself.

“How’s the wat-“ you manage to get out before Steve pushes you into the swimming pool. The water is cold on impact and you swim back up, emerging to the top and wiping your face with your hands. “Steve! You are so dead” All that time spent in the bathroom getting ready for the party seems to have been in vain.

You look up at Steve who is grinning down at you and see him take a few steps back before yelling “Cannonball” and jumping in the pool just right next to you. Water splashes everywhere and the waves created by his jump make Robin almost fall off her water mattress.

He comes up from under the water and runs a hand through his hair, which manages to look perfect even when soaking wet.

"Jesus, Steve. What are you, 6 years old?" Jonathan laughs.

"We're all children at heart" Steve preaches.

“Watch out, you asshole!” Robin yells at him “It took me 15 minutes to make this Sex on the Beach!” she points to her tall glass with a swirly straw and a sugar rim topped off with a lemon slice and takes an aggressive sip from it, shooting daggers at your boyfriend.

You take advantage of the opportunity, and push Steve’s head under the water when he wasn’t looking. You pull him back up and he spits out some water, pretending to be pissed “Your ass is grass, L/n”

You squeal as he takes you by your waist and effortlessly pulls you out of the water and then throws you back in. He keeps doing it until you can’t breathe anymore from all the laughing.

“Alright, alright. You win” You say through giggles, putting your hands up in defeat. “You win” you say again, this time more silently, lowering your hands and placing them on his neck.

You were both breathing heavy as he leans down, teasing your lips with his “Give up so easily, baby?” he kisses you and smiles against your lips.

“Mm-hmm” you murmur between kisses “You’re just too good, Harrington. I don’t stand a chance”.

Wrapping your legs around him, you deepen the kiss, your hands running through his hair again. His intoxicating scent making you woozy. Steve grabs your ass and gives it a squeeze under the water. He pulls you closer to him, your crotch rubbing against his. Thankfully, your moans were stifled by the heated kiss. Right now, you start to wish you weren’t in a pool, surrounded by people, but alone in his bedroom, so he could to you what he knew you wanted him so badly to do.

You hear someone clearing their throat behind you and you stop the make out session, turning around to see Robin awkwardly paddling to you with one hand, Sex on the Beach still firmly positioned in her other hand.

“Heeey, sorry to interrupt. Just a quick question” She leans down to whisper, so that only you 3 could hear “So is it just, like, one puff of the Farrah Fawcett spray…or do you, like, drench your hair in it?" She leans her head to the side, gesturing around her head with her free hand.   

Steve is completely gob-smacked as he looks at Robin, who is sucking on her swirly straw, patiently awaiting her answer. He sighs, runs a hand over his face and whispers back “ I’m only going to say this once, so listen close. Fabergé Organics. Use the shampoo and conditioner, and when your hair is damp – it’s not wet, okay? – when it’s damp…you do four puffs of the Farrah Fawcett spray”.

“Wow that’s great man, thanks a lot! You can go back to your - what you were - you - okay bye” Robin paddles away in triumph, leaving you laughing at their exchange.

“What are you laughing at?” Steve says, looking down at you “This is all your fault, y’know” he says under his breath, leaning in to kiss you again and again and again...

[widow-maximov]

Strike

Pairing: Wanda x Reader

Warning: The usual tags plus death..

Summary: Trusting the wrong person can lead to real dangerous consequences.

Word count: 6.3k

My requests are always open so feel more than welcome to pop in a suggestion for the next story :3

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8 years ago

No one would expect you to be this close to a robot, well you didn't really see Vision as a one, you saw him as something that could potentially become better.

Teach humans better and you wanted to be there with him through his progress, it all started by Tony assigning you to keep an eye on Vision for the next couple days whilst the team was out.

You didn't mind at all, it was all pretty easy to do, you basically had a whole tower to yourself whilst Vision explored his new home. You wanted to know more about him but he seemed busy.

So you settled for something else, you managed to clean your room a little and by the time you were finished some time was gone, so you decided to check up on Vision.

You walked around but failed to locate him until you called out for him that's when he appeared out of the wall, scaring the shit out of it "Jesus!"

He tilted his head as he tried to read you "Did that scare you? I am sorry, I am still learning a lot of things"

You took a deep breath as you nodded "Yeah don't do that unless you want someone to accidently hit you"

"I don't think I would be able to feel that miss Y/l/n" He responded as he held his hands together.

"You can call me Y/n, there is no need for that" You smiled at him as you walked forwards to which he followed.

"Right, sorry, I am still trying to fit in" He answered as he tried to smile but that ended up looking terrible.

You laughed "Smile with your mouth not with your teeth, you look like you want to kill someone"

He nodded and proceeded to follow your instructions which allowed him to look less creepy "Like this?"

"Yeah, just like that, but make sure you use a smile whenever you're kind to someone or trying to light up their mood" You answered with a tip to make sure he acted more like the rest of the team.

He frowned "Right.. In what kind of scenario?"

You looked forward to think of how to explain it to him that's when you saw one of the doctors from the med wing "Okay watch this"

He nodded and his eyes were glued to you as you walked up to that lady with a welcoming smile "Hey.."

She looked at you with a questionable look as if to scan if you were injured "Hey?"

"I couldn't help but notice how beautiful you are and I just couldn't help myself but come up here and tell you that" You offered her a small smile just enough.

She blushed at your comment, not really sure how to answer that "Y/l/n that's really unprofessional of you to say.."

You shrugged "Maybe so, but we both can't deny how that blush really suits you"

She immediately had her hand up to her cheek, blushing even more, which you took as an opportunity to take into yours as you brought it up to your mouth and placed a light kiss on top of it whilst having your sight glued to hers.

"Now if you change your mind and want this to be unprofessional you know where to find me" You winked as you gently lowered her hand and walked off towards Vision.

"I think that was more than being kind but I think I get it now" He answered as you both walked into the living room.

"You have to be polite, especially if you see a very beautiful lady" You looked up at him with a wide smile.

You sat down on the couch and took your phone out to see what Natasha has sent you since you couldn't join her, that's when Vision sat next to you and turned his body towards you.

"Could you teach me more? I want to be more human and be seen as one rather than be some clueless robot?" He asked with a straight face.

You looked up from your phone at him, one brow raised "You see Vis, you gotta use facial expressions if you want someone to do something for you"

He looked like he was thinking for a moment, that's when a small smile appeared on his lips "Can you help me? Please?"

Your lips curled up into your own soft smile "Sure, no problem, just hang with me and I will teach you everything you need to know to become the best human alive"

And that's how it all started, ever since Vision became your right hand, he was willing to help you, cover for you and fight with you, always by your side and this was the same with you.

Tony doubted that Vision could have any emotions but according to you he was different and you were willing to help him out in anyway you could.

Which was what Wanda adored in you, the passion to always help others, she felt that you were fitting in here pretty fine always attending to anyone who was in need.

During city missions, you were the first to make sure the civilians were out of danger before proceeding to help out the team, the witch made sure she always had one eye on you in case they tried to attack you but you managed just fine which made her just love you more.

The thing was that you never told anyone expect Vision who you liked, you never made it known or even tried to flirt with anyone unless it was to get something.

Wanda wanted to know if she had a chance with you, but she was afraid to go up to you and ask you out so Pietro took it in his hands for his little sister.

As he casually slid the idea of a high school party for the Avengers towards Tony, knowing he would agree with it in the matter of seconds, everyone else agreed along with Tony and that included you.

Vision looked over at you "Party? I can't exactly consume alcohol"

You smiled "That's okay, you can drink your oils whilst I drink water, we don't have to drink anything"

Natasha frowned "That's a party pooper, you have to drink!"

Carol nodded to agree with the Russian "She is right, if you don't drink then you are boring"

You laughed which caused an unknown smile to just spread across Wanda's lips, Natasha noticed "Wait a second, I don't think our witch has drunk anything before. Not that I can remember"

You looked over at her, curious to see what she was going to say, her cheeks turned slightly pinkish but before she could say anything you narrowed your eyes playfully at Natasha "Leave Witchy alone, she might not wanna drink"

Her eyes sparkled at how you defended her, you might've not seen it but Natasha definitely did, so she simply put her hands up with a small smirk and leaned back in her chair.

You looked at Wanda with a smile and wink "You're welcome"

She looked down with a smile as she bit her lip, trying her hardest to just keep her happiness inside, Pietro smirked as he jumped up from his seat "We can do the party now, we have the alcohol and the space for it"

Tony smirked "I like you kid, you are just like me"

Pietro sped to Tony's side as the older man placed his arm around the slightly taller man "Well it's decided then, to the party room!"

Wanda sighed at her brothers childish thinking, but she couldn't back out now, she has to go through with it just for a little bit and then she can go back to watching her favourite sitcom.

As the team relocated, everyone was taking up turns to talk to you and Wanda knew she wouldn't get a chance to even thank you for defending her, but what else was she expecting? You always had people around you.

Pietro and Natasha noticed, they both looked at each other and the smirk that appeared on their lips wasn't anything innocent, Natasha downed her drink as she placed the empty bottle on the floor and let the younger blonde do the shouting.

"Spin the bottle everyone and 7 minutes in heaven in one go" His voice was loud enough to be heard by everyone.

Everyone jumped up at the chance to join which Wanda was hesitant at first but after Carol physically dragging her in the circle that was now formed.

She uncomfortable sat down next to the Russian, as she span the bottle and let it land on Carol, that went around for some time until it was your turn.

You didn't really care who it lands on, not like you were exactly planned on making out with anyone there, just friendly chat would be all you wanted.

But Pietro had different plans for you, as you span the bottle, he started to run with speed as he accidently fell over, causing you to turn your attention to him ready to help him.

That's when Natasha took the chance to make sure the bottle was pointed at Wanda, she pretended to be concerned with the younger Sokovian accident but they both somehow planned this out without needing to exchange words.

He quickly stood up "I am good, no problem here"

Thor chuckled "This guy and alcohol is not a good mix"

Half of the team nodded with a mumble as everyone looked back at the bottle that was now facing Wanda, who had a deep blush across her cheeks.

You had a reassuring smile plastered across your lips as you held Wanda's eye contact "Well then witchy, lets go"

Steve frowned "But we didn't even see it spin, that needs a redo"

Carol dismissed it "Nah, let them have their fun"

Yelena who sat on the couch as she watched everything unfold, laughed "Unless Steve wants to spend 7 minutes with both of the ladies"

You stood up as you reached over to Wanda "We don't do threesomes, no offence Rogers"

Wanda couldn't even say anything, she just took your hand that seemed to fit just perfectly and let you pull her up, dragging her away towards the bathroom that was the only thing to give you two privacy.

You and Wanda never really spoke, she was rather quiet around everyone and it just made you even more curious, to which used that opportunity to your advantage.

As she hopped on the bathroom counter, you leaned on the bath that wasn't too far from her, you kept your eyes on her side profile "We don't have to do anything you're uncomfortable with Witchy"

That made her look at you "We can do whatever"

You remember what Vision mentioned to you about the young witch, the blushes, the huge smiles at the sight of you, he noticed all of that which then made you notice it after.

He claimed it was to look out for you but you knew that he kinda liked Wanda, there was nothing you could've done because it's her feelings, even barely talking to her still made her like you just the same if not more.

He tried to understand that and in the end he knew that he couldn't just change her feelings like someone can change a code in a program, it was something out of his control and he just gave you the green light if you ever wanted to.

You never were sure about it, you never felt like you knew the witch enough even if you knew she was pretty attractive when she was angry.

And here you are with the ultimatum that you could kiss her right now, but was it really something she wanted or needed. You wanted to take it slow just for your own safety, protecting your heart was always a priority for you.

You stood up as you walked closer to her, practically placing yourself between her legs "I mean technically 7 minutes in heaven are spent kissing.."

You knew the reaction you would get out of it, she had a deep blush within seconds, she was going to say something but you smiled with a small laugh.

"Relax witchy, I was just messing with you, I prefer just talking for now" You backed away, watching as her shoulders relaxed for a moment.

You found a spot to sit down in as you fired the first question towards her "How come you're always so quiet?"

She inhaled as she thought of how to answer the question "I wouldn't know what to say really"

Maybe Wanda was different to what you thought she was, this just caused more curiosity in you "Anything that's on your mind"

"You really want to hear it?" She asked as her eyes were glued to yours.

You nodded "Sometimes the most valuable thing is what someone has in their heart"

She smiled slightly at your words as she looked away "The reason I don't really talk is because I feel like there is always this constant pressure on me, I am stuck with this big responsibility that sometimes I wonder if I would ever be normal without them"

You listened to her, letting her open up as she finally let someone in "It feels like the weight of the world is on my shoulder because I do anything that's close to wrong I will be the enemy in everyone's eyes"

A little red orb appeared in between her fingers as she stared at it "I remember how my life was before all of this, it was easy and not stressful and just enough to keep me happy"

Your eyes never left her face, when she went quiet and you didn't say anything she looked up at you again, hoping you could say anything, just anything to make her feel like she is not insane for thinking that.

"But Wanda, you have us to be there and help you out" You spoke up after couple more seconds of just processing everything.

A dry chuckle left her mouth "That's exactly what I thought with Ultron, and look where that left me, with my brother nearly dead just like my parents, leaving me here alone"

"Well, if the team turned against you, I would stand by you no matter what, you have my word Wanda. I wouldn't let anything bad happen to you" You stood up as you took couple steps towards her.

"How can you be so sure, we barely talk Y/n" She felt skeptic about it.

"That's why I am here, well I didn't make this happen but I am here, to change this, I want to know you better, I always did but I wasn't sure if you wanted that" You answered her rather quickly, not wanting her to doubt it.

There was a knock on the door as a voice followed it "Time's up love birds"

She smiled, this time fully "Okay, meet me in my room at 7 tomorrow, you'll learn something about me"

You smiled back as you watched her hop down and walking out together to continue the party, this was a lot more better than making out with someone.

For you it was always important to know this persons intentions before letting them in fully inside your heart, so you hoped that maybe Wanda was just the right person to let in, fully this time.

As time went on, you were getting pretty tired so you decided to go to your room earlier than the rest of the team, as you walked out Wanda followed you.

She jogged up to your side as you both walked towards the lift "You aren't going to stay?"

She shook her head "No, parties aren't my thing really"

"Why do you come then? I am sure you have a lot of other things to do" You looked over at her when yous stopped in front of the lift.

As the doors opened and yous walked in, she shrugged "I mean Pietro is there so I guess spending time with him is better than sitting alone in my room"

You nodded as you looked ahead "But he is still at that party though"

You smirked as she tried to find words to not seem like a stalker "I-I wanted to walk you to your room"

You looked at her as your smirk dropped, not expecting her to actually tell you "Am I that special?"

She met your gaze rather quickly at the question, not being sure if she should nod but doing it anyway, as the metal door opened yous still stood in the same place.

But at the sound of the door closing you quickly looked over and stopped it quickly, letting Wanda leave first before following her, as yous walked to your room in comfortable silence.

As yous stopped in front of your room, you gave her a small smile "I would invite you in for a movie or something but I have to be up at 6am tomorrow.."

She nodded in acknowledgment "No, it's okay, I need a long shower anyways"

"Well I guess I will see you tomorrow at 7pm" You were feeling something, it was just her and you in an empty hallway.

She smiled that met her eyes as she nodded, she took a step forward as she tipped toed, placing a gentle kiss on your cheek, letting a pinkish blush appear across your cheeks.

She moved away as she looked into your eyes "See you tomorrow Y/n/n"

She turned around and walked towards her room, that wasn't that far away from yours. You were dumbfounded by her spark of confidence, your hand reached to your cheek where she placed her lips and a newly feeling sparked inside your chest.

You took a deep breath and walked inside your room, you too were going to need a long shower too, you deserved it after draining your social battery.

As the new days rolled in pretty fast, it rolled out in the same way, it was getting late, everyone busy in their own worlds and you? You were preparing to go meet Wanda.

Having everything completed to have the rest of the evening free, but just to be sure you wanted to be sure so you asked Natasha to look over some of your reports, just to make sure it was all perfect.

She was happy to do so, it gave her something to do rather than overthink situations she had no control over, as you carried couple of the files to Natasha.

You knocked on her door gentle and she opened it within couple of seconds, as you walked in, you looked around, seeing how her bedroom matched the widow.

It wasn't colourful at all, it was the right use of colours to match her personality, but yet it was welcoming enough to feel comfortable, you placed the files on her desk and plopped yourself on her bed.

She gave you a small smile as she sat in her chair "Why are you in such rush?"

You looked over at her "What rush?"

"Well usually you don't have anyone check your reports since they are perfect" She flicked through pages as she spoke.

You smirked "Are you jealous that Fury called my reports perfect, Romanoff?"

She rolled her eyes when she looked over at you "Not the point here but no, you're getting them looked at by me so obviously no"

"I have plans so I kinda rushed them" You confessed looking out the window which had the blinds half way down.

Without missing a beat, her hand flicked another page "With Wanda?"

Your eyes snapped to the side of her face "How do you know?"

This time she turned her body after closing the first report "That girl has been way too happy all day long, I never seen her smile so much since Pietro have gotten better"

You frowned "Well she could be happy over anything"

Natasha chuckled "Y/n, please everyone knows she likes you, it's so obvious"

"I mean Vision mentioned some bits but I didn't think everyone else knew" You had your brows raised in shock.

"You see we have eyes, so we can see what is going around us. If anything the whole team thought you were dating Vision for sometime" She teased you at first.

"Dated Vision? Yeah you guys need glasses if your eyes see something there" You laughed at the thought of your best friend dating you.

"Plus I am gay, like so attracted to women that if you weren't my teammate I would definitely crush on you" You rambled on, digging a bigger hole underneath you.

Natasha smirked "Yet Wanda is your teammate and it seems to me you're crushing on her, so what's wrong with me?"

"N-nothing! Nothing's wrong with you, I was just saying that I am gay and I definitely not getting out of that hole that I dug under myself" You realised how awkward you can get as you shut your eyes to save yourself from more embarrassment.

The Russian laughed at you "So you do admit you are crushing on Wanda then?"

Your brow raised with a smile across your lips "I am not admitting anything redhead, all I said was I have plans, so please finish those reports before I am late"

She nodded "Okay, okay"

She turned back to her desk as the silence settled in, but her words never left your head "What do you mean she was happy? How did you even know it was to do with me?"

She smirked, she knew you wouldn't be able to resist asking "Well, if you were with us today then you would know she actually spoke about it"

That spark more curiosity in you "What did she say?"

The redhead closed another report "That's something she can only tell you"

You frowned with a small pout but that wouldn't work on the Russian, she looked over and shook her head "Oh no, that's not working on me, I am not getting in between you and the witch"

You sighed, you knew the redhead wouldn't say anything "Okay, fine, just finish up and leave them in my room, I need to go"

You stood up as you walked over to the door, the redhead teased you one more time "Enjoy your date"

You turned to look at her when your hand was on the door handle "Not a date"

"Sure, whatever you say" She answered back, you knew she had a big smirk across her lips but you just rolled your eyes and walked out.

You made sure to pop into your room quickly to take a look in the mirror, straighten some hairs out and just look presentable, you finally looked at your phone and you had barely 2 minutes to get over to her.

You sighed as you gave a smile to yourself in the mirror and finally made your way to her, you stood outside the door thinking of how to greet her, that's when the door swung open causing you to frown in confusion and walk in to see Wanda on the bed, leaning against the headboard.

"Your thoughts are so loud, just knock" She teased as she finally looked up at you.

It took you a moment to notice her room, it was a lot more brighter than the Russians, it felt like Wanda all the way, there were snacks on the side of her bed, some were her favourite and some were yours.

Her eyes read you just perfectly "I asked the team what you liked"

Your eyes snapped back to hers, she was inviting, patting the empty side of her bed for you, everything just looked perfect, your feet were glued the ground until she spoke up.

"Come sit" She offered a sincere smile.

She was comfortable around you, you could see it just by how her shoulder were completely relaxed rather than tensed, which happened often around the team.

As you closed the door behind you, you noticed the pictures of her and Pietro as kids, teenagers and adults, some with her parents some not.

You approached one, just curious to see that memory of hers captured perfectly in a still image, she appeared by your side as she looked at the picture.

"Just a little after joining the Avengers, we went out to a local restaurant after Pietro gotten his first pay check from Tony, he claimed he wanted to take me out for a treat, but really he was there to just chat up women" She explained with a gentle tone, cracking a small smile at the memory.

You listened, trying to imagine that happiest moment for her "Of course, women barely noticed him, he looked like he came out of a mental hospital with the way he approached them but it was one of the rarest happiest moments I had with him, the owner was taking pictures and snapped one of us, I had to get it printed and now it's here"

At the end, you looked at her, mastering a smile that made her weak in her knees "I think that's the best way to keep the positive memories alive"

She smiled at your approval, not that she needed it, but it felt a lot more easier to know that there was someone else in the world who agreed with her.

"I wouldn't take you for a picture type of person" You confessed as you both walked over to the bed.

She shrugged "I am not, but it was nice to fill those empty walls, at least now I can stare at them when I can't sleep at night"

You nodded to show that you understand her "I usually do something rather than just stare at things, like for example take a shower, help me concentrate on doing something"

"Maybe next time we should just hang out instead" You jokingly suggested to which the young witch agreed to.

"So what are we doing then?" You asked as you finally looked away from the redhead besides you.

The remote flew into her hand as the snacks followed into yours and hers lap "You wanted to get to know me so I wanted to show you what I do when I am here alone"

She pressed the on button and went through her selections, to have a sitcom appear on the screen "You watch sitcoms?"

She nodded as she let the intro play "I always did, it reminds me of the times when my mom would turn them on after dinner to just enjoy some family time"

Her tone turned slightly more quieter "It was the last thing we watched together before they-" She paused, even if so many years passed, the grief was still lingering around, she needed even more time to get over the fact that she would never see them.

You looked over as you reached for her hand, making her eyes find yours, giving her a gentle smile that only reassured her even more that being vulnerable with you was a good choice for her.

"Besides, I think they are quite entertaining but if you don't want to watch it, then we can watch some movie" She was quick to give you an option, only proving to you that she was willing to set aside the joy those brought her.

You shook your head with a delicate smile "No, it's okay, I want to see what's so special that they captured your attention Wands"

She beamed at your words, pressing forward to let it finally start, if you were being honest, they definitely made you crack a few laughs, it warmed Wanda's heart at the sound of your laugh.

She was getting sleepy but she didn't want to move, she didn't want you to go and being hesitant to place her head on your shoulder but just like that.

You turned your head to look at her, the tv light brought out all of her good features, you could see her eyes a lot more smaller than usual, you knew she was tired.

"Lay your head on my shoulder" You whispered and without even a second to waste, her head was comfortably laying against your shoulder.

She hooked her arm with yours as she snuggled a little, it was a reflex that she done with Pietro, he always offered for her to just hug his arm as way to make her more comfortable to fall asleep as he watched the rest of the film.

You didn't complain at all, the warmth from her on your arm made you just as sleepy, you managed to lean on her as well and within couple of minutes both of you passed out.

It was as if the tv scented something as it showed the count down and turned off automatically, letting the peaceful silence fall into the night, allowing yous to hold each other like if it was the end of the world.

The morning rolled over and you found yourself alone in Wanda's bed, in a way you were kinda grateful to not deal with the awkward morning but also sad she didn't stay.

You gotten up and went to your room, freshened up and headed to the kitchen to smell something delicious, as you walked in you could see the redhead with a huge smile across her face.

"Did those eggs say something funny?" You teased as you walked in.

She turned her face to met the sight of you looking a lot more rested "They said they are egg-cellent to eat"

You rolled your eyes playfully at her pun "Worst pun I have ever heard"

She chuckled "Whatever you say Y/l/n"

You leaned against the counter as you took the cup with the tea that you managed to prepare rather quickly "Wands.."

She hummed in response as she moved the done eggs of the heat and onto a plate for you, you cleared your throat and gripped the cup a little tighter "Was last night a date?"

The witch stopped in her tracks as her cheeks turned red, that was not what she was expecting, there was slight fear in her posture to see if your question was a correction or a genuine interest in her.

From the silence you took a hint "I am only asking because I just want a cleared picture"

She took a silent deep breath and placed the empty pan down, turning around, still afraid to meet your eyes but she knew she had to so she did "Would you like it to be?"

It was hard to bite back a smile for you, you could see that she was nervous with her question, you weren't exactly sure if a date was something that was a good timing but then in the end was anything a good timing.

"I mean, it kinda felt like a date so yeah I wanted it to be a date" You answered with a slight shrug of your shoulders.

A relief smile appeared almost instantly across her soft lips "I wanted it to be a date too"

A wide smile spread across your lips "Let me plan a date for tonight then"

She nodded, not being against it at all, she wanted to spend nearly all of her time with you, it was comfortable and easy to enjoy her time around everyone when you were there.

And here are yous, 6 years in, the relationship stronger than ever than before, the team was supportive, helping you plan out the most perfect proposal but in the end you settled for something simple.

For something that started all of those feelings for the redhead, as yous gotten comfortable to watch another sitcom, you had a ring hidden in the other hand, as she turned her attention to look at her phone to quickly slipped the little box inside the snacks, pretending to take some to eat.

As she reached in, and with a confused frowned pulled out the dark blue box, you turned on the light, letting your attention be fully consumed by her.

She opened it and looked over at you, that's when with ease you choke out those 4 words that were invading your mind ever since you could remember.

Planning a future with Wanda was a dream come true, having her say yes to your nerve wracking question made it more believable that you were with the love of your life.

The picture was captured by the set up camera, wanting to frame that one in a lifetime moment, to stare at how happy you both felt in that moment.

Planning the wedding was chaotic but knowing that having a date set for it to happen was less stressful, being by each other side was less stressful, even if Wanda was slightly obsessed with it being perfect.

You knew that no matter what happens, that day was going to be magical, something that no one could take away from both of yous, you felt like for once your life with Wanda was meant to be.

But that was far from it..

Weeks before the wedding, a war exploded, Thanos and his army threatening to destroy everything in his way to gain what he wants, the control over everything with just some stones.

Compound had the most stressful and tensed air in the whole world, it all laid on their shoulders, reaching out to anyone they knew to help out.

It was hands on and you knew you could help, even if Wanda didn't want you to be fighting, she had a lot to lose and that was you and it was the same with you, but you had to keep the world safe.

It all happened too soon, he appeared way too early than predicted, with no preparation, the team parted, trying their best to keep everyone and themselves alive.

Alerting those who wanted to help to come down as fast as possible, it was real hell, you knew you had your back covered by your wife to be and your best friend Vision.

Yet in the this horrible havoc, Thanos seemed to be one step head of yous, as you stood in the battle, fighting beside Vision, Wanda and the rest of the team.

The least worry was one of the team members turning against yous but it happened, as something in Vision stirred up, his eyes turned white.

Not noticing, he grabbed one of the blades that was laying around from Thanos dead army, he turned towards you, letting it scan the best possibility to make you suffer.

You killed the weird looking alien as you turned to see if anyone else needed help, that's when you noticed the alien running towards Vision.

You acted fast "Look out!"

That pulled Wanda's attention but she was a little late to act on it, as she watched her worst nightmare come true, it was like it all happened in slowmotion.

As you run towards him, with your weapon ready to attack the threat, you jumped up as it came from above his head, he moved towards you as he pierced the sharp blade right through your chest.

Wanda's eyes widen with a loud scream coming out from her mouth, running towards you as fast as she could, the team turned to see the scene that no one wanted to believe.

Your eyes widen from shock as you stared into his pupil-less eyes, letting a tear slide down your face soon letting the blood follow from your mouth.

Wanda used her magic to immobilise Vision, as Thor sent one of the swords flying towards Visions back, sliding easily into him as his eyes turned back, staring at you in disbelief at his action.

His eyes never left your eyes for a moment as he whispered "I am so sorry.." His apology couldn't fix this and that definitely didn't help with Wanda's heart break as she easily destroyed him.

His body rolled off with a grey colour appearing on him, leaving you on the floor, to bleed out to death but that was not going to happen, not with Wanda.

"No! Please Y/n/n please, you can't die, you won't die you hear me?!" She was panicking, the amount of blood that was escape from the wound and your mouth.

Tony along with Thor and Steve tried to help out, allow Bruce to try to do something with whatever he had but they all knew you weren’t going to make it.

The wound was too deep, too big, no magic and no miracle could heal that, Wanda looked at them helplessly "Do something! Save her!"

They all shared a sad look, she knew that sad look but she didn't want to believe it, she held your hand as your grip on hers weakened within seconds.

"Y/n please, I am pregnant, you can't leave now, you have to stay" She confessed, it was suppose to be a surprise.

You gave her a weak smile at the news, your eyes met Natasha's for a split second and she already knew what you were asking of her, she was going to do everything in her power to help Wanda out, in whatever way she could.

More tears left your eyes as you blinked, taking a shakey breath, barely getting into your lungs as you managed to choke out something "I- I- lo-ve yo-u wit-tchy"

She sobbed, as she leaned her head against your hand, she moved over to your lips, placing a final last kiss, that you could barely meet but you felt it.

"Y/n.." Wanda muttered your name with streams of tears leaving, the team gathered around, letting that scene embed into their memories, scarring them all for life.

The life left your eyes slowly, your grip loosening around Wanda's hand, letting her know that this was never meant to be the way you both wanted it to be...

⸻⸻⋙₪⋘⸻⸻

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[autisticbokutoenthusiast]

pit babe ep 9 stray thoughts

- charlie’s “you’re the person i’ve spent my whole life trying to stand beside” 🥺

- northsonic my beloved. love in the influencer era “if i leave you who will start the youtube channel” i love my clowns

- charlie looking at alanjeff like ok 😏 i see you is so funny to me

- oh what’s pete doing at the child trafficking ring?? he better be exposing them

- what is babes plan in these situations get into fights he can’t win with no backup when he’s supposed to be sneaking around like makes my guts rumble

- PETE IS THE ENIGMA WKEJRJDEIEKK?!?!,!?! SCREAM I FIFNT SEE THIS COMING

- babe why are you spilling everything while still in enemy territory like be serious right now this is why you’d make a terrible spy

- HUH IS IT OETE IR WAY WHAT WHAT AHHH BITH ITS BOTH WHAT

- babe you fucking fool why are standing in some evil hallway discussing this go back home

- THE LOOK OF BETRAYAL SCREAM

- oh it’s the mind control…

- oh this is why yall hate way…

- CHARLIE POPPING OUT OF NO WHERE TO START WHALING ON HIM DISKDKKDF sorry but i laughed a lil

- none of these bitches ever bring back up like why don’t you work together

- babe and ways actors work well off of eachother i must say

- scream this is devastating “if you still have humanity left” like damn…..

- way you done fucked up boo

- not the flashback montage you can’t keep doing this to me 😞

- oh babe…..

- “why do all the people i love betray me” im going to jump into the sea i cant do this

- how do they find out who an enigma is

- i need tony gone like ripped to shreds im so serious. fuck that man

- the music choice here it’s making me feel like something bad is about to happen…….. WHY ARE YOU SORRY CHERLIE

- oh babe

- if alan’s losing it the teams fucked. ok now he’s gettin naked

- wait is jeff back??? when did this happen???

- ok alanjeff…. are they gonna kiss. psjjsdjdj jeff “at least they’d just kidnap me” … “internships here pay well” ….

- my one complaint about jeff’s visions is i wish he had a that’s so raven animation moment beforehand

- cowardly tragedy enjoyers when the characters are trapped in a tragedy…. unless

- i straight forgot dean existed…idk if i trust him…..

- northsonic being scene stealers again i love my clowns

- deans awkward little thumbs up sjejjdjdj

- charlie’s so real if i ever go missing it’s because i too am in the bathroom getting over stimulated.

- charlie looking at babe like damn bitch you lived like this

- screaming over this charliebabe scene

- OH IS THIS THE FAMED MIRROR MOMENT COMING ABHHHHHH

- winner winning for the first time in his entire life: damn yall suck fr

- tbh for his like first race i think second place is pretty good but idk about all this

this episode was wild i thought THE THING was gonna happen here but i guess it’s next race… im already nervous

[hangesslut]

Tea Parties and Truths

Reiner Braun x Reader

Reiner Braun. Humanity’s biggest asshole. Or at least that’s what I thought when I met him, so to be sitting here with him now, having a tea party with some local kids…it’s almost funny. Reiner and I have gotten incredibly close over the past year, I’d even say we’re best friends. Although, lately I’ve been yearning for something a little more from him…

“Hey! Put that down, you’re going to break it, kid!” I snap out of my daydream, looking up to see Reiner chasing some kid who has run off with the teapot. I laugh loudly causing Reiner to look over at me.

“You gonna help or just piss yourself laughing, Y/N?!” All he succeeds in is making me laugh harder.

“I-oh! I-I’m sorry, Reiner. It’s just, how are you getting bested by a kid?!” I choke out through laughter and deep breaths. He huffs and rolls his eyes.

“Just come help me.” He grunts out.

I stand up and look at the little girl running around with the teapot. I walk up to her and put my hand out. “Excuse me miss, but I think that teapot belongs on the table. Wanna go help me put it back?” She smiles up at me with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.

“Okay! Let’s go!” She takes off running back to the table and I look at Reiner who’s eyes are wide in disbelief.

“How on earth did you do that?!” I chuckle and shrug, “Maybe kids just like me more than they like you.” I sit back down at the table to finish the tea party. Once the sun starts setting, we help the kids back home and head home ourselves. The sun has fully set with the moon and stars making their appearance. I stop walking for a moment and look up.

“Y/N, what are you doing?” Reiner pauses too and looks up with me.

I sigh, “What else do you think is out there? Like do you think there’s more people? What kind of stuff do they have? Are they more advanced than us?” Reiner cuts me off with a laugh.

“Y/N, you trust me… right?“ I look up at him and scrunch my eyebrows.

“Of course I trust you! What kind of question is that?” He looks down at the ground, with a troubled look on his face. I walk over to him and put my hand on his cheek. I rub my thumb up and down.

“Hey… look at me, Reiner. You know you can talk to me about anything. You’re one of my closest friends. I’d never judge you or be angry with you…” He finally looks up and our eyes meet. His golden eyes look dark and confused, like he’s debating something big.

“I-y/n… I need to tell you something, but I’m worried how you’ll react and how you’ll feel about me after I tell you.” My frown gets deeper at his words. An idea pops into my head.

“How about this, you tell me whatever it is and no matter how shocked or angry or whatever I get, I’ll give you ten minutes of silence so that we can try to sort it out. Sound good?” He thinks for a moment and then nods slowly.

We’re sitting on the ground, my back against a tree and him in front of me. He takes a deep breath.

“Here goes nothing… I am the Armored Titan.” He proceeds to tell me, well everything.

My eyes go wide as I sit there in disbelief and shock.

“I-Reiner…” he cuts me off.

“You told me silence!” I shut my mouth and nod. I sit there, thinking about him and everyone else. How everyone’s lives have been turned upside down due to him and what he is. Then I think about my life, how if I hadn’t met Reiner, I would never have had the kind of friendship I have with him. The kind of feelings I have. How no matter what he is or has done I’ll always forgive him. Reiner might just be my favorite person. I look away from the ground and into his eyes, with a smile I reach out to grab his hand. He looks confused, but visibly relaxes.

“So, you’re a titan… as far as I’m concerned you’re still Reiner, my Reiner. My best friend and quite frankly my favorite person…” I trail off, watching for a reaction. He relaxes a bit more.

“I don’t care about who you are or what you’ve done. If we’re getting things off our chests I might as well too. Reiner, I’ve had a crush on you for a little while now and honestly I don’t think you could tell me anything that would change that.” A huge smile breaks out onto his face. The next things I know I’m being pulled into his arms and he’s burying his face into my neck. He sniffs and I can tell he’s crying. I wrap my arms around him and rub his back.

“Are you okay, Reiner?” He nods, but doesn’t say anything. I gently pull him back, our faces only a few inches apart. He slowly inches closer, our noses touch. His eyes trained on my lips.

“Can I kiss you?” My cheeks go red, but I nod quickly.

“Please do!” His lips brush up against mine as my eyes flutter closed. He’s so warm and soft. I pull myself closer to him, now sitting on his lap and deepening the kiss. His hands go up and wrap themself in my hair. Just as the kiss starts to get a little hot and heavy, he pulls back. Both out of breath, we lean our foreheads against each other’s.

“I like you too, Y/N… I have for a while now. I was just too scared to tell you.” I blush at his words and smile.

“Well I’m glad the feelings mutual!” I laugh out. I climb off of him and lean back against the tree, looking up at the sky.

“Tell me about where you’re from.” And he does. We sit with him resting against the tree and my head in his lap. We talk for hours about the kind of things his homeland has. His friends back home and what he misses. We both slowly doze off after wearing ourselves out. Under the stars we sleep against the tree, cuddled up and warm. The one thing I know for sure is, his secret is safe with me. I just hope that if he goes home, he takes me with him.

[thefreakydeaky]

You're No Good (Part 5)

Negan Smith x Reader

Various TWD Characters x Reader

Modern AU

Summary: Your husband came up with a way to keep you away from trouble but trouble just won't stay away from you.

Warnings: Angst

Negan texted you to meet him at a bar he'd been told about across town. Eager to get out of the house, you freshened your make up a bit, changed into a somewhat nicer outfit and left home.

You pasted the address Negan had given you into google maps and without really looking, selected the first option to pop up. Twenty minutes later when you arrived at your destination, you regretted not paying closer attention. You knew The Tap, knew it so well you had made friends with the bartender. Lots of cops liked to hang out there, Shane among them. You texted Negan about going somewhere, anywhere, else, but he didn't read your message.

You found a place to park as soon as you could and prepared to go in. Surely it had been long enough that your face had been forgotten.All you could think to do was go in and drag Negan out.

The Tap was an old place. It hadn't been updated one bit you noticed, your eyes going over the familiar honey wood bar and red vinyl bar stools. You could almost swear the Christmas lights they had up were the same ones from over ten years ago. You shook your head and focused on getting to the tables in the back, where Negan said he'd be. You made it almost to the end of the bar when someone called your name.

"Hey! We've missed you around these parts." The bartender told you. "How've you been?"

"Hey, Gavin. I'm good. I'm doing good. How are you?" You replied.

"The kids are good. The wife is happy. I can't complain." He reached for a glass and went to work making you what used to be your go to drink order, an amarretto sour.

You thanked him and picked up the glass.

"You here with someone?" He asked as he refilled someone's pint.

"I'm meeting my husband here actually." Your eyes scanned over the nearest two tables.

"What's he look like?"

"Tall, kind of on the thin side, dark greying hair..." You took a sip of your drink. "Wearing a suit."

Gavin nodded.

"Last table on the right."

"Thanks, Gavin." You smiled at him and went to meet your husband.

Negan stood up when he saw you.

"Hello, Baby." He greeted you. You went into his arms and gave him a kiss.

"Hello, Handsome." You couldn't help the warm grin that spread across your lips. "How was work?"

"It was a good day and you know, this is a pretty great place." Negan commented. Pulling the chair next to him out for you.

You didn't sit.

"I'm glad you've been enjoying yourself, but we've got to go." You tried not to make it sound too urgent, but still to convey the importance that you leave.

He raised one almost perfectly shaped dark eyebrow.

"Come on, Baby. You just got your drink and I haven't finished this one just yet." He patted the chair beside his.

You frowned.

"I'm serious, Negan. We have to go."

He released a puzzled chuckle.

"You came all the way here just to tell me we have to leave? I've only had two, Babe. How drunk did you think I'd be?"

"No, it's not that. It's-it's..."

"I'm not ready to go yet. Let's sit here and relax a while, hmm?" He tried to reason with you.

"Negan, please. Can you trust me on this? It's important that we leave be-"

"Well don't go on my account." Shane retorted over your shoulder. "Cause I am perfectly comfortable with you being here."

You cringed at the sound of his voice.

"We were just leaving." You told Shane. "Come on, Negan."

Shane stuck out his hand.

"Hey, Negan is it? I'm Shane."

Negan shook his hand looking between the two of you as if trying to work out who he was to you.

"You another one of her affairs or are you the husband?" Shane shot off.

You winced. You couldn't bring yourself to look at Negan.

"Look, I said I was sorry. I am. I'm sorry, but as I was saying-"

"Do you know, she didn't tell me she was married till after?" Shane spoke directly to Negan, ignoring you. "During she was telling me she missed me and she loved me, but after," He laughed a hollow humorless sound. "After, she tells me she's married. Do you think that's right? Cause I don't think that's right."

You glared at Shane.

"I never said that," You grit your teeth. "All I said was that you were a good lay."

Negan stood then. You watched him, worried. The expression on his face gave nothing away, but you knew how he felt. You had felt the same way when you received a phone call from the woman he slept with. He went around you, straight to the bar to pay his tab.

"What? You don't have anything to say?" Shane prodded, following behind him.

Negan signed the receipt, took up his card and put it back in his wallet.

"What she does while I'm at work is her business."

Shane turned to look at you, disbelief and anger in his eyes.

"You're an adult and yet here you are trying to what? Tell on her? Get her in trouble? Grow up." Negan responded in a tired voice and left the bar.

•••••••••••••

"Negan?" You came into your house through the garage. The whole drive back home you had been worrying yourself about what Negan was thinking. How shitty he must be feeling. You didn't know what you would do if he left you.

"Negan?" You called again walking down the long hallway to the back of the house.

He didn't respond. You checked his office and finding it empty went to your bedroom.

Negan was in a pair of sweats and a white undershirt, sitting in bed watching basketball.

You let out a breath of relief. You had thought up a scenario where he would be packing up and leaving.

You sat at the edge of the bed by his legs.Your gaze was on the hardwood floor.

"I'm so sorry." You took a deep breath. "I never said I loved him. He was just trying to-"

"I don't really wanna talk about this right now." He told you.

"But-"

He said your name in a stern tone. "I said, no."

You faced him.

The way his jaw was set, his eyes filled with emotion, you knew he was hurt and so you left it alone for the time being.

[qweerhet]

i just wanted to share my experience. i dont wanna go into too much identifying detail but like. one of my best friends used to be my abuser. we were in an unhealthy codependent relationship for years, both abusing alcohol to cope with our traumas, and unfortunately abusing me as well. eventually we broke up and moved into different places, and both decided to stop drinking for our own sakes. after space and time we came back together to talk and have some closure. we both missed each other as friends. we set very clear boundaries with each other, and started hanging out more in slow and small increments. we both went to therapy, and not only did i process trauma there, i also got to speak to my abuser about it. and actually be heard. its shockingly healing to hear your ex abuser say "that was so fucked up what i did, and im sorry." sometimes these memories pop up still and we kinda have an understanding that me bringing it up is to talk through it with them, not out of anger. for some reason it really helped my healing to understand what my abuser had been thinking and going through themselves during the abuse.

people really don't understand when i try to explain it to them, they look at me like am an idiot, still being abused without realizing it. im not saying it was Easy, or without road bumps. we had fights a couple of times. but now, i feel so much more healed over that trauma than any other in my life. i feel actual closure, and i trust my friend completely now. i just want people to respect that, but oftentimes they don't :(

i don't really have much to say to this--just that i appreciate you sharing this, and that i personally resonate with a lot of it. i've had a similar experience--i don't refer to it as abuse for myself, because i don't think they had hierarchical power over me and i was genuinely just as toxic and violent towards them as they were to me during the period of time that was most harmful. but it was harm, it was emotional toxicity and power games, it was a lot of mutual toxic drug abuse, and it was sexual violence towards me specifically.

and... yeah, we broke up, and moved out, and both did a lot of trauma work and processing and community building and both giving and receiving emotional aid. and eventually, we got to a place where we started being friends again and are able to talk very openly about what we did to each other and why. and hearing "that was fucked up, i'm sorry i did that, and here's why it was wrong and how i act differently now" about the sexual violence i experienced... was the only thing that got me past the sexual trauma i carried with me from that time, in the end.

that's a personal statement. it's not going to apply to everyone, or even most people. but i really appreciated your willingness to share your experience publicly, and i'd like to reciprocate in turn for once. (probably not going to do more personal life experience sharing on this blog, or at least not in more detail than i have already, but i felt like this was an important one to share in this context.)

but yeah. it's really hard when people don't respect that or treat you like you're a naive idiot.

[tryingmyhand-atwriting]

BEGIN AGAIN

Chapter Two: All In A Day’s Work

Notes: HELLO EVERYONE! I finally found the time to post this second part and I am sorry for the fib I told three weeks ago that the update would only take a week. Classes got my ass. A million thank you’s and hugs and kisses to any single person that bothered to read part one and will read part two. Bare with me as I continue to experience writing dialogue between characters and actions. One of my favorite fic writers said on here “If I continuously say my writing is not good, why would people read it?” So I am trying to channel her confidence. Any like, any reblog, any comment means so much to little old me. ❤️

Warnings: mention of domestic abuse. done by a new writer also (yes my writing is still a warning.) Slow burn BUT WE ARE ALMOST THERE.

Isabela leans back against her chair, soaking up the warm sun lighting her skin. Her sunglasses and hat block the harsh glare, but she sighs, sinking into relaxation. Her skin is still a deep bronze after her work trip, the slightest sunburn blushing her shoulders and cheeks. At this moment, she can’t bring herself to worry.

“I told you you’ve been working too much.” Victoria grouches, disrupting the peace. Isabela pops an eye open to spot her dropping into the seat across from her, sandwiches and tea sat atop a tray. She perks up at the sight of food, choosing to ignore her cousin and instead taking a huge bite of the offered sandwich. “The food isn’t going anywhere, Is. You don’t have to be gross,” Victoria says, thrusting napkins in her direction.

Isabela hums in acknowledgement. “I missed you too, V. ” She teases.

Victoria deflates, losing the tension in her shoulders. “I haven’t slept in a week, Leo’s been sick,” she explains by way of an apology. “And with mom going to Guadalajara to visit there’s been no one to help me watch him so Luis has covered all my shifts.”

“Why didn’t you take him to my mom?”

“I don’t want Tia Angie running around after the little monster with her bad hip. He’s a menace.”

Isabela coos, thinking of her nephew; his slobbery kisses and stream of babytalk, the way his tiny arms barely reach around her neck when they hug. “I’ve got him today. I’m done with work after five if you’ve got a night shift.”

“Perfect,” Victoria moans out around a bite of her food. “My shift starts at seven.”

“You could have just asked me to watch him!” Isabela rolls her eyes, realizing she fell right into her cousin’s trap. “Is David helping you at all?”

“Yeah, yeah, big help,” Victoria answers flippantly, waving her off. Isabela knows better than to push the topic any further. The subject of Leo’s dad a sore subject. “How was it at Ashley’s?”

It takes longer for Isabela to swallow as she thinks over her answer. She isn’t keen on lying to her cousin but she doesn’t want to hear an ‘I told you so’ either.

“I ran into Austin,” she decides to admit.

“I told you—”

“It was when I was getting there! I didn’t tell Ashley what time I was showing up so she couldn’t have set it up.” It’s a lie, and she knows it.. Her hunger disappears as anxiety and guilt set in. “He offered me a job as his assistant since Lydia’s pregnant.” And even though she lies on behalf of Ashley in an attempt to make Victoria’s dislike shrink, she can't extend the same courtesy towards Austin. The hurt seeps back in, insecurity over the fact that someone she considered a close friend only saw her as an employee.The man she had respected–and possibly even loved–turned out to be entirely disappointing.

Austin wasn’t who she made him out to be, and the eighteen year old girl who thought he hung the sun and moon whispers through the cracks in her heart–maybe, maybe, maybe. She pushes those thoughts down, to the deepest part of her being, they’re what caused her hurt in the first place.

“What a dick,” Victoria seethes. Isabela knows she’s thinking of the trust she put in him, the trust they all put him in, treating him as one of the family. “Did you tell him to go fuck himself?”

Isabela feels her face get hot as she remembers the way she accepted his hug and allowed him to type his number in her phone. She thanked him for the offer. She feels stupid and weak and she doesn’t need anyone else looking at her like she is; she already knows.

“I said no and left.” Her lies keep coming and she hasn’t felt so childish in years. She was an adult woman, unable to stand up for herself and lying to her cousin because she was both embarrassed and scared of Victoria’s reaction. What was wrong with her? Shame burns her as shesquirms in her chair.

Victoria’s stare doesn’t help the guilt gnawing at her chest and she tries her best to look elsewhere even while knowing it’s futile. Her cousin had not only raised her, but she was so deeply enmeshed into Isabela’s being that she knew Isabela better than Isabela knew herself. It was a fine balance their relationship had to continuously toe. Victoria was her best friend and fiercest protector, acting as a pseudo-parent.

Victoria was the one who intimidated the few boys brought home.

Victoria killed the spiders and chased away the monsters under her bed.

Their gap of five years sometimes felt like thirty.

“I’m glad you said no,” Victoria says. There’s a a purposeful intent of hurtful remembrance in her eyes and choice of words. “He didn’t bother apologizing. He didn’t bother coming to the house himself. He didn’t call, didn’t message, fuck , he didn’t even send you a fucking friend request or something. Austin doesn’t care about you, Is–you did the right thing. Don’t be stupid.”

A lump lodges itself in her throat and she blinks back the tears, tossing her head to the side. Victoria reaches over to place her hand over hers on the table, knowing she shattered pieces of her heart but not regretting it.

You aren’t eighteen anymore, Isabela thinks, get the fuck over it.

There’s a shift suddenly, a dislodging of hands and a clearing of her throat as she sniffs the emotions away. She forces a smile onto her face. “So—what do you got goin’ on?”

-

“I don’t get how they got my order wrong. I come here every time I’m in town. They should know by now!”

Isabela nods along, still raw from her earlier lunch date and not giving her client’s current dilemma the attention it seems to demand. She and Victoria had sat together for another hour or so–Victoria detailing her situationship with Luis having made the sixty minutes feel close to sixty seconds–but the subject change had done little to improve Isabela’s mood.

Maybe if she hadn’t been so distracted she would have realized sooner the lunch order she had picked up was wrong. She had made it all the way back to the office, delivered the food, and had only just sat down when a disgruntled shriek had her rising again. Now, she found herself riding as a passenger back to All Time in Los Feliz, another thirty minutes on the road from Malibu.

“I’m gonna need to talk to the manager,” Kendall decides. Isabela snaps her head to look at her.

“No, no. It was probably my fault Ken, I was distracted. Probably messed up and ordered it wrong.” For a brief second Isabela catches herself judging Kendall for not realizing how privileged it was to have a sandwich with anchovies be your biggest problem but she stops herself. Not only had they been raised in two completely different worlds but Isabela was worrying about a boy who broke her heart seven years ago - a boy who never even knew or gave a second thought to her feelings. The stupid award had her name all over it. Pulling up to the curb of the entrance she unbuckles her belt before Kendall has the chance to stop the car. “Let me handle it. Five minutes tops and no one will go tweeting about you being a Karen after their shift.”

After a brief second of contemplating her options, Kendall agrees. “Fine. But only because I don’t want to be a trending topic later.”

“God forbid,” she dryly returns with a smile.

Isabela takes a look at her phone as she makes the trek to the entrance, noting she has only an hour left before she has to pick up Leo. A night in with her favorite boy is exactly what she needs, she decides while debating film choices - Coco or Encanto? Figuring the movie would simply prove to be background noise about halfway in it didn’t really matter. Leo was at that age where he wanted to destroy stuff and Isabela had bought him a 250 building block set that she could put together and have him destroy for his enjoyment. It fights a giggle out of her to think of all the chaos and ruckus.

Caroline, the mid day shift waitress Isabela had become friendly with during her daily lunch visits, is unoccupied at the counter and shoots her a dazzling smile as she saunters up to the counter. “Honey, you’re back,” Caroline greets, the Southern twang in her voice still prominent despite her many years in LA. She’s got the whole sweet Southern belle thing going on for her — drop dead gorgeous with sugar in her tone. Caroline eyes the to-go container still being held by Isabella. “Heck, did we mess up on your order? Give it here.”

Not wanting to feel like a burden, Isabela clutches the box back to her chest. “No! Silly me, I just forgot to order this exact same sandwich only without anchovies.” The little white lie isn’t fooling either of them but Isabela’s cheeky smile works in disarming Caroline from arguing against her.

“Now you wait right here then. I’ll have them cook it right up for you.”

With another bright smile Isabela calls out a thank you as Caroline makes her way back into the kitchen. The restaurant has its windows open, letting the fresh breeze and bustling from the porch make its way inside. She catches sight of a homeless man being ushered away from the tables and hurriedly moves to catch him before he’s taken off the property.

She manages to reach him as he’s left on the sidewalk. “Here ya go, sir,” she holds the container box out in offering. “It’s a sandwich, it’s got cheese, turkey, lettuce, mustard, mayo, anchovies,” she goes through the ingredient list in her head making sure she’s not missing anything. “You aren’t allergic to any of that are you? It’s clean, no one touched it but I can order you something else too.”

“God bless you miss,” the man eagerly accepts the box from her hand and Isabela notices the way he’s careful to not brush against her skin. “Good hearts like yours don't come around often.”

The compliment makes her cheeks burn but she also feels an ache in her chest that this human in need is turned down more times than not. “I’m gonna head in there and have a sandwich and drink paid for you for the next two weeks. If they refuse you just ask for Caroline and tell her Isabela has got you covered.”

“Isabela, that’s a beautiful name,” the man says. “Thank you.”

She’s going to ask him his name when she hears a shout of her own from the tables behind her on the patio. She turns, thinking it is Kendall having gotten annoyed of waiting in the car when she catches sight of Austin and Ashley — waving their hands in the air to grab her attention and a distracted little Miss Jupiter sitting in her high chair beside them. It’s like a heavy rock dropping to the pit of her stomach, dread and anxiety weighing a ton as they work to bring her down. The last thing she wanted to deal with was a run in with them, especially following Victoria’s words from that afternoon. It was too soon and she was too sensitive, too raw having been exposed to the feelings from years ago again.

“It was nice meeting you…” she turns back to the man she was conversing with. She leaves her sentence open-ended for him to fill in with his name, extending a hand of hers for him to shake.

“Jack.” He accepts her outstretched palm in his. There’s something akin to respect as his eyes glaze over with emotion. “I haven’t seen my little girls in a few years but I - I hope they grew up to be good people like you.” There’s a painful remembrance that has her heart aching for the second time that day and she’s consumed with an onslaught of memories that never occurred — an unidentified man, his face blurred pushing her on a swing. Tucking her into bed. Dropping her off at school. Wherever her father was, was he coming across kind or successful young women and wondering if they were like her? If he was in need of help, was someone helping him?

The ‘what if’ game was never smart nor healthy to go through, whether in regards to shit friendships or shit parents so she tries to ease the thoughts out her mind.

She steels herself with the strength of his heartfelt words, blowing air through her cheeks after leaving him with a last farewell smile. She makes a mental note of going back up to Caroline and having a meal paid for Jack for the next two weeks once she gets done greeting Austin and Ashley. Kendall’s car still has the emergency lights flashing on the side of the road but Isabela can’t make out if she’s watching through the tinted windows. Quick greeting, pay for the food, and pick up the new sandwich; five more minutes tops.

“Heyyy,” she greets them as she waltzes up to their table. “I missed these chubby cheeks.” Using a baby as both a distraction and barrier from physical contact is the oldest trick in the book but she can’t help herself regardless.

“Hey, have you had anything to eat?” Austin stands from his seat and pulls out an unoccupied chair for her to sit on, “I can head inside to order you something.”

Isabela declines as she stands from the half hug she gave Ashley. She steals another glance at the car waiting for her but she makes out the same image. “My order should almost be out, thank you.” She looks to the revolving door where customers are filing in and out but there’s no sight of Caroline yet. There is an awkwardness infecting the space between them, a handful of jokes running through her mind, or small talk questions about the weather or how their day had been but she can’t find it in her to get the words out.

The anger of her chat with Victoria and the hurt brought on by her interaction with Jack didn’t leave her much energy to care about accommodating others. After the day she’s had she wants to hide in her bed but she knows Leo has been told Tia Issy is picking him up and he’s going to have a list of expectations regarding her moods and what they get up to.

“I’ve never known you to have nothing to say,” Austin’s tone is teasing, a smirk on his lips as he looks up to her standing after having refused the offer to sit. Isabela has a reply on the tip of her tongue, one that would lead to further awkwardness because how could he still presume to know her as she is now as she was at eighteen, and recognition seems to register on Ashley’s face as well but like always, Isabela is too much of a coward to say what she really thinks.

“I’ve had a not so great day,” she excuses with a tiny smile. She bites back the applogy that is at the tip of her tongue.

“How was Hawaii?” Ashley asks, granting Isabela a reprieve from thinking of any small talk.

Isabela’s smile is instant and it’s blinding from the happiness of the memories of dancing on beaches, visiting a volcano, and meeting so many kind locals. More times than not, Isabela could admit to Kendall being entitled but she was always willing to learn more and explore and as her assistant Isabela got to tag along for free. “Oh my God, Ash. So amazing and so gorgeous. We were only busy the first three and the last two days so in between we got to visit Kilauea volcano. Look, it’s one of the most active volcanoes in the world and you know me I had to be dragged there, but it was just gorgeous and you could literally see the lava flowing through. Here, hold up, I think I got some pictures.”

“How’d they convince you to go? Did they knock you out and tie you up?” Ashley accepts the phone and begins scrolling through the beautiful pictures.

“My boss threatened to fire me,” Isabela admits and they begin laughing.

Austin doesn’t reach for the phone to take a look at the pictures or bother making a comment on how Isabela never replied to his text, he’s content to sit there and watch her share stories with Ashley. He finds it endearing that she doesn’t bother downplaying her fascination or awe despite knowing Hawaii is a place Austin and Ashley have managed to visit a couple of times. Her patterned dresses are a stark difference to the all black attires she used to sport when they first met and her hair is brushed back up in an updo bun unlike the way he remembers it always used to fall out and frame her face. She grew up just like he did and like all people tend to do, it’s a way of life he knows, but there’s still a change within her persona he can’t put his finger on.

“Kendall Jenner? She’s sittin’ at the same table with the Elvis cast for Met Gala.” Austin interrupts the conversation between the girls, Isabela was informing Ashley upcoming events she was attending. Isabela looks over at him in confusion because this was something she had not been made aware of. Not that she had any expectations to be notified but as a PA it did fall under her job requirements. “We’re all dressed by Prada, it’s the cast, Priscilla, and her.” He further clarifies for her as she continues staring.

“He’s such a big shot now isn’t he?” Ashley teases him, “My life is still more fabulous than yours Butler - me and Chris and this little angel will get to be at home stuffing our faces and watching from the comfort of our couches.”

“Haha,” Austin rolls his eyes at her but there’s a grin tugging at his lips. “Is has got to have formed a friendship with Anna Wintour by now, she’s been so many times.”

“The most interaction I’ve had with Anna is having to pick up drunk Ken from the dance floor in front of her.”

“So she’s prone to having a few drinks,” there’s a mischievous glint in Austin’s eye as he leans back on his chair, looking Isabela over he says, “might convince her to let you go and you come work with me then.”

“Why would I want to work with you again? Does your new girlfriend want her chance at humiliating me?”

Dead silence.

Even Jupiter seems to pick up on the bomb that has gone off at their table, stopping her babbling to look between the adults. Isabela feels horrified and childish and stupid — she doesn’t recall the words in her head or making the choice to say them. It was like word vomit, a quickfire response. Her face burns with embarrassment and she’s frozen staring at the table, refusing to look up and see the pity or judgment that will be staring back at her. Isabela knows she is going to have to eventually look up, knows she needs (and wants) to escape from the table. Get the damn sandwich and make her way back to the car. The events since the time she left the car seem to be everlasting and at this point she wishes she would have let Kendall talk to the manager.

Isabela chances a look at Ashley first. Her eyes aren’t on her like she assumed they would be, they’re on Austin with both disappointment and disapproval aimed at him and not her. It’s not what she was expecting and it gives her the courage to turn and face him.

His eyes are on her; shame and shock and an apology she doesn’t want to leave his lips lingering in the reflections of his eyes. She senses it coming and in a desperate attempt to avoid any further interaction she stands from her chair, her knees hitting the table top and rattling the food and drinks placed on top, preparing to bid them a goodbye when Caroline (finally) calling her name catches her attention.

Austin stands as well with an arm outstretched. Isabela wonders if he was going to try to stop her leaving.

“Here ya go, honey! Sorry ‘bout that, took longer than expected!” Caroline hands over the take out bag, the food inside warming Isabela’s hands. Her body must have run cold when her blood swam to her heated face. Caroline stands with both hands on her hips, taking in Austin and Ashley, “at least you found some friends to keep you company.”

Isabela is eager to flee the scene, pushing away from the table. “Let’s head inside, Care. I want to pay for Jack, uh - ” she swivels her head around back to the steps, searching for Jack so she could point him out and finding him eating his sandwich where she left him, “him! Just so he could have some food and then I’ve got to run.”

“Add it to my tab,” Austin says, speaking to Caroline but keeping his eyes on Isabela. Their eyes lock for two seconds and she wants to argue and demand she can pay for Jack’s food but figures she could come back another day to avoid any further discussion with him.

With a quick glance to make sure her phone and bag are secured she whispers a last goodbye and rushes away from them to Kendall’s car. She feels slightly ashamed for dashing away rudely and makes a mental reminder to send Caroline and Ashley apologies later.

“Were you just talking to the guy who played Elvis?” Are the first words to leave Kendall’s lips before Isabela is even situated back into the car, “I’m sitting with them at the Met.”

Before answering, Isabela takes a couple breaths. It’s repeated information and she has to look through her emails since it seems she’s the last to know.

“So I’ve heard,” is what she settles with. As Kendall begins driving away, she swears Austin’s still looking over at the car.

-

Chucky’s Bar is exactly as Austin remembers it. He’s glad to see nothing has changed as the years have gone by as the place brings back feelings of home and fun memories at a time where he didn’t have all he has now.

The lights are dimmed and casting shadows against wood paneled walls, it being a weekday means there is an opening for talent showcasing and an older gentleman finds himself on stage tuning his guitar to a Morgan Wallace song. Austin could distinctly make out certain chords but he was more preoccupied scoping out the bar for any signs of Victoria.

“That’s gotta be Victoria in her head,” He recalls telling Ashley as they watched Isabela rush away from them. He knew Isabela, or used to know her is more appropriate, but his old friend wouldn’t have – couldn’t have – become someone angry and bitter. “Gotta be stirrin’ up some bullshit inside her.” Their first interaction had been fine. Isabela had been a little timid he could admit, but nothing was amiss to alert him of hidden hatred or resentment.

“Not all friendships need to be, or should be, reconciled, Austin.” Ashley’s words rang true in his head but he had cast them aside, shifting his focus on Jupiter.

He finds Victoria wiping down the countertop, collecting half empty glasses left behind. There’s only a flutter in her movements when she spots Austin approaching, so miniscule he could have imagined it.

“I thought I’d be more shocked to see you,” she shrugs, “guess I was subconsciously expecting you. With the way you seem to be coincidentally appearing back in Isabela’s life anyway.”

Austin nods his head as he takes a seat on a stool. Her greeting the answer he had come searching for — she was the one behind Isabela’s lunch antic. “I coincidentally ran into her again today.” That seems to gain her attention quick enough. “She sounded more like you than the Issy I remember. Since her words were yours I figured I’d stop by and settle things between us.”

Victoria lets out a mocking laugh, throwing her head back, “The Issy you remember? The 18 year old from six years ago who thought the sun shone out of your ass?”

“Fuck — I didn’t come here to argue with you, Vic. I wanna talk this out.”

“She was eighteen. You were her best friend. She was in love with you. You were pussy whipped and your girlfriend was a bitch and her heart got broken.” Their eye contact doesn’t waiver as she lays out how it was. There’s a nerve jumping in his jaw and while Austin was many things, Victoria doesn’t remember him being a pushover. He must be biting his tongue to hold back his comments. “End of story. Everyone, including you, should move on.” She shakes her head, not understanding. “Why are you even bothering to come around now, Austin?”

“I …” there’s more he wants to say, he wants to be honest and tell her the shit show that fame is turning out to be despite how grateful he is but Victoria won’t dish out any sympathy. Of that he’s sure. “What’s the big deal with what happened six years ago? You talk about movin’ on but you’re stuck there too.”

“Having her humiliated and promptly fired not traumatizing enough for you?” She asks in a huff.

“Fired?”

Victoria continues on, “The worst part of it all is I honestly don’t know what hurt her more. You abandoning her or when that piece of shit laid hands on her.”

His mind was still confused, reeling over the world fired and trying to keep up with Victoria’s tirade but the last comment knocked the wind out his sails. His stomach drops and if he wasn’t already seated he would have fallen flat on his ass. It took everything in him to remain seated, taking deep breaths in an attempt to regain control of the anger coursing his body. Not find the guy and tear him limb from limb.

Isabela? Someone had hit Isabela?

She stops now, seeming to finally realize what she had admitted. He thinks she may be worried about his reaction but when their eyes meet he sees no worry. Only fear.

“Someone hurt her?”

Hatred shines through her tone and stare. “You hurt Isabela. Someone else — he, I —” and she has never been one to lose her words or soften their blow. A part of him feels like he isn’t strong enough to get an official response. “Isabela caught someone cheating on her. He got mad at her for trying to leave and he just — Austin, he hit her so hard I heard it through the phone.”

His hands shake from restrained anger and he runs them over his eyes to rub away frustrated tears. His body runs cold, numbness setting in from his head to his toes, but he knows it isn’t the time or place. “What the fuck, Victoria?” He’s questioning why she would drop it on him like this. Why it would happen to the sweetest fucking person he knows. Why neither of them had been there to stop it. “I need to see her.” He can’t stop imagining her bloody and bruised despite having seen her looking fine, he remembers her looking pretty in her spotted sundress. The memory isn’t enough. He needs to check on her.

Victoria stops his exit. Grabbing a hold of his arm to pull him back to his seat. “She can’t know I told you.” She drops her hold on him.

“Then why did you tell me?” He feels sick.

“So you can see she doesn’t need anyone from the past trynna waltz their way back in.”

Austin shakes his head, “She doesn’t need you making decisions for her, Vic. She can make her own choices.”

“Come off it,” Victoria guffaws at his audacity, “all you care about is hiring a new assistant. Who better than someone you know will let you walk all over her, right?”

“I don’t think about her like that but you sure seem to,” he returns coolly. When shown a weakness Victoria would latch on to it and he doesn’t need to explain himself to her. Offering Isabela the job may have been a tone deaf action, but it had been his best idea right above sending her an Instagram follow request.

Austin knows Isabela deserves better than a direct message like he sent to all those other models during filming for Masters of Air. He needed an opening and he needed time.

He rises from the stool, “I won’t tell her you told me but I’m not going anywhere ‘til she says so.”

[bookworm-center]

Dirtyhands and the Bloodbender: Chapter V- Creeps At The Club

Author's Note: This is the last one of my published chapters, so I won't update right after each other, I just wanted to get them all here. This is also the last chapter before the SoC storyline (even though this technically takes place during chapter two) so buckle up!

Previous part below:

Dirtyhands and the Bloodbender

Y/n L/n: Creeps At The Club

Kaz has closed himself off from me, more than usual at least. He barely talks to me, and when he does it's always about a job or information I should know. I don't know what happened with Rollins', but it was evidently something major enough for him to build up the walls I had worked to climb over.

I know that Kaz is going to meet with Geels and expose Big Bolliger as a traitor. I'd never liked the guy, he was always a bit too lazy, a bit too dumb, and far too risky, but I still felt only a little sorry that he would be caught on the receiving end of Kaz Brekker's fury. At least Kaz trusted me with this information, even though I was left behind yet again.

I am stuck at the Crow Club, watching the dealers and pigeons. I almost had easy work, chatting with the bartenders as the sun steals away the last moments of day. A woman rushes over to me. She can't be much older than me, maybe early twenties at most. Her dress is plain and pressed and it takes a second for me to recognize her as one of Kaz's Dregs. One of her hands clench my wrist, a muttered "miss" under her breath. Her shaky fingers close over her thumb as our eyes meet in a moment of realization.

"Who?" My voice barely surpasses a whisper. She points at a group of five men, all dressed in mercher black, in the corner of the Club. I walk over, making a good show of loudly talking to the dealers and all the Dregs scattered amongst the tables. It's a form of warning, as I make eye contact with them every few seconds, yet they still don't leave. I plant myself right in front of them. I'm shorter by at least a head's height, but by the look in their eyes, they're scared of me, and rightfully so. "Leave our customers alone or leave the Club. This is your only warning."

"I would never take orders from a girl like you." says a man standing in the back of the group. The way he says girl is nearly a snarl.

"I said you would only have one warning, but you're evidently daft in the head, so I'll say it once more: leave. Now." I'm glaring at the group of them, and four of them are smart enough to slink out back into the streets, but the other one who spoke back to me still stands firm.

He leans down, like it's supposed to make me feel lesser. "No."

The whole Club seems to go silent. It's funny how everyone, even the pigeons, know I should be feared, except for this foolish ass. I punch him across the face and grab his arm before he reacts. His shoulder pops out of its socket as the man howls, falling to the ground. My foot lands on his chest. "If you don't fear me, you at least should fear my boss. You've likely heard of him. Kaz Brekker?" I speak conversationally, all though the man can't answer. "If you show you're face here again, or anywhere in the Dregs territory, you will have both Dirtyhands and the Bloodbender hunting you down. We will pick you limb from limb before tossing you into Fifth Harbor and leaving you to drown. You don't want that, do you?" The man shakes his head rapidly and that's when I finally lift my foot up. "Then leave now."

The man runs out and that's when I am faced with the gazes of all the people in the Club, so I say the first thing that comes to mind. "Drinks on the boss!" I raise the cup that I still had in my hand, cheering ringing through the Club.

That's when Jesper and Inej walk through the door, followed by Anika and Rotty. Kaz's isn't there and I want to ask but if he wants to ignore me, I'll let him. There's no point seeking out someone who is avoiding me. Jesper sees me through the crowd first, raising his hand in a wave, before sweeping me into a hug. "Hey Y/n/n."

"Hi Jes." I grin, following Inej's gaze as she looks around the Club.

"Have you seen Kaz?" She asked. I shake my head, brows creasing.

"He wasn't with you?"

"He wanted to walk alone." I nod, wondering where he is, but at this point I am too tired of Kaz cutting me out of the inner circle to care. I drag myself to the Slat, to sleep, to a night of nightmares that await me.

[weabooweedwitch]

Yo Ive barely touched my feed so I missed all this shit that went down but I just want you to know that I am 100% behind you; I've been in a very similar situation with family and what you said is a brutal truth but truth nonetheless. TikTok teens can choke

What um, is so incredibly painful, is that we rented a car and went to see my sister after being in correspondence with her. I trusted my mom when she said she had talked to my sister after getting out of the hospital, I thought it was so soon, and we went there and. She hadn't understood we were moving her. She for some reason thought we were just renting a car to bring her for a visit for like two days and then taking her back?

She told us she's living in a studio but what she's really doing is renting a room in an old house with shared communal areas. Her "studio apartment" is literally like the size of a fucking closet. We are talking enough room for a full bed and little furniture on each side. We got there, after telling us we were on the way, and she made us wait outside for over TWO HOURS IN 30 DEGREE WEATHER. Saying she was hungry and hungover and cuddling with her boyfriend. Sorry, she kept saying "favorite person" instead of boyfriend which strikes me as weird

And my mom finally nuts up and says "and how long have you even known him?" and she says, quote, "longer than I've known you guys" GIRL WHAT YOURE THE ONE THAT DEMANDS TO BE TEXTED EXCLUSIVELY

Just. Gosh I'm not going to keep dumping her business but it hurts, like everything she said was so spiteful and hateful and saying she could run away or kill herself if ahe came with us. I went outside and just started crying and screaming so hard my ears started popping and. Yeah I was really gross by the end of it and we're home now and. Even now I'm like.should I have endured the abuse and stayed and let her come, because she was saying she would but in such a way that made it obvious she was angry and would be miserable and treat us poorly and we eventually essentially veckme a safety issue for everyone

Idk I'm trying not to say too much but I'm also incredibly upset and still worried about her. It's hard for everyone involved and incredibly stressful and also I had previously picked up an extra shift tonight so 😩😩😩 but I guess to put a positive spin on that it gives me more money for my trip on the 27th which I really need more lthan ever at this point haha 🙃.

since she doesn't want to come I hope she can at least be happy. I still have a Christmas present to mail and I'm considering either keeping it for myself or sending it to her as like. A parting gift. "I love you and hope you do well but I don't think I can be present in your life anymore"

It's just painful for everyone involved. She makes it very hard to be helped. And I also, am really worried about my guy friend actually 🥺 I won't get into specifics because i dunno why i can never keep a fucking secret when it comes to being upset but he's actually becoming really underweight so when we're hanging out I want to try and comfort him and spoil him with yummy foods and you know, maybe I should try giving my love and support and mental energy to someone who doesn't meet it with absolute hatred and bitterness for once? And I'm also still trying to take care of myself

[hybbart]

May I request you draw some empires s1 flower husbands I Miss them so much( ps your jimmy design is adorable)

First of all thank you very much! Now, I have actually drawn a little sketch for you. But I'm gonna put it in another post cause I just wanted to use this ask to say a couple things so it doesn’t get bogged down by this, cause this happens to touch close to some topics I wanted to mention for a while now but my brain has a hard time letting me just make permanent text posts on this blog specifically since it's supposed to be for my art.

Long post so I'm putting it below the read more. Sorry if this seems like an inappropriate reply, I really just don’t know how or where else to say these things.

TL;DR: I've given myself strict rules on what I'll personally depict in my mcyt art, I'm not actually fond of flower husbands or Jimmy and Scott's dynamic in general (adore both of them individually though), and I still don't really know much about e1 outside of Lizzie so have 3rd life instead.

First thing is something I probably shoulda said a long time ago cause I've gotten a few asks about drawing explicitly romantic or sexual stuff, but I don't intend to draw either of those things. I have a big difference between what I'm comfortable consuming and what I'm comfortable making myself. I gave myself a lot of personal boundaries when decided to draw mcyt stuff based on my own comfort.

Rule 1 is no sexualization or gore, basically keep things in the realm of the same rating as the hermits.

Rule 2 is that my designs would only be based on skins, lore, and fanon, and never anything around their irl selves.

Rule 3 is not to draw anything that was more than interpretive in relation to romantic vs platonic.

Rule 0.5, the only exceptions to be made would be for references to gags they themselves have made in videos.

I know some of my stuff pushes against the line on these rules, especially for jokes or replying to asks that use shipping terms, but they're ones I don't intend to ever fully cross with my own art. There's a lot of other amazing artists on here who are more comfortable with drawing that stuff.

So if you ever send in a request for art just know that ones that push against or cross these rules to me, I'm going to skip over them. Not anything against the request it's just my own rules. Sometimes I also just don't get to them, but I'd appreciate those rules being kept in mind when requesting.

Second topic starts with a bit of a story. So, I got introduced to the life series through a Grian animation that popped up when I was in my more standard annual hermitcraft phase. The first thing I watched of the life series was thus Grian's videos of 3rd life and double life very out of order and jumping all over the place.

Cause of that the very first thing I ever saw in relation to flower husbands was after Jimmy was already dead, and it was Scott talking about how his husband is dead after the desert war, telling Grian "see this is why I don't trust Jimmy with anything, because he's incompetent. I did warn you all." and it never really recovered from that first impression for me. It actually took me a long time to figure out it was more than a one off joke to call him his husband, cause it felt like every time I saw a scene with Scott he was just insulting Jimmy or begrudgingly putting up with him in a not very funny way. I really do not vibe with them as the flower husbands cause of that.

(That said I do adore both of them separately, and they are very entertaining as exes. Scott's just a lot more enjoyable as part of GGG and the divorcees, and I am very susceptible to the 'Jimmy bullying joke didn't quite land and I'm now just uncomfortable' low tolerance problem.)

Third is, I have actually watched an empires 1 pov now! Yay! But it was Lizzie's and there honestly isn't all that much related to them in her pov. There was actually not nearly as much related to others as I expected in general. Still loved it but didn't provide much is far as context for the season as a whole. Plus I'm unhappy with Scott's design for it and wanna redesign it. So basically I drew them from 3rd life instead.