#what if i went to sleep right now instead of listening to Home Video by Lucy Dacus and Feeling Emotions

[itslookingback]

what if i made triple dog dare art.

[headkiss]

not just on christmas

pairing: steve harrington x fem!reader

summary: steve’s parents are coming home for the holidays and he’s in need of a fake date. who better than you, his best friend?

word count: 8.2k

warnings: steve’s parents (derogatory), negative comments about his job, fake dating, friends to lovers, christmas themes, fluff, first kiss!

a/n: i had lots of fun with this one and i hope u guys like it!!! merry christmas and happy holidays i hope they treat u all well <33 consider this my gift to you :D

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The phone ringing forces Steve out of bed. Floors cool on his feet, the air a chill on his bare chest, he rubs his eyes lazily and picks it up.

“Hello?” He clears his throat to get rid of the sleep in his voice.

“Steve, why do you sound tired, it’s nearly noon!”

It’s no surprise that the first words aren’t asking him how he is. He’s shocked she cared enough to pick up on the tone of his voice at all. “Hi, mom.”

He doesn’t even know where she’s calling from, doesn’t know what business trip they're on. He can’t remember the last time he got a phone call that wasn’t you, or Robin, or Dustin, or anyone else other than his parents.

Steve’s not even excited to be hearing from them, because it’s a reminder that they’re not around, that they haven’t forgotten about him, they just don’t care.

He wishes you were the one that called.

“Listen, sweetie, your dad and I are coming home for Christmas this year, isn’t that great?”

He deflates, “yeah. Super.”

“There’s a business event he wants to take you to. And we’ll find you a date,” there’s the catch. There’s always a catch. “You can make some connections, maybe get out of your job at that video store soon.”

The thing is, he actually likes working at Family Video, but he knows that doesn’t matter. Then there’s the topic of the girlfriend, or lack thereof. His parents are always nagging him about when he’ll settle down, grow roots, or something.

Maybe that’s why he says, “I can get my own date. I have a girlfriend.”

“Oh! That’s fantastic! She’ll have dinner with us, won’t she? What’s her name?”

Like an idiot, he says your name. The first one that came to his mind.

You’re his best friend, and it’s easy to let his thoughts drift to you. The problem is, he has no idea how he’s going to explain this to you, how he can ask you to fake date him just to satisfy his parents for once.

If he wasn’t still on the phone, Steve would be groaning into a pillow right now.

“Okay, sweetie, your dad has a brunch we have to get to. We’ll see you soon!”

“Bye, mom. See you.”

He hangs up and sighs in relief. That feeling is quick to fade when he remembers that he had just named you his girlfriend in the midst of his phone call. He drops his face into his hands, runs them through his hair, and tries to figure out how the hell to bring up the subject with you.

To go along with that, he has to worry about his parents coming home. Though, can they really call it ‘home’ when they’ve been gone for so long? When they’ll leave again after a few days, a week at most?

Most people would be happy, excited, about their parents being around for the holidays. Steve’s not. He’d rather spend it how he has since the two of you became friends. Breakfast at your house with your family—who have become family for Steve, too—presents opened with scented candles burning and Christmas albums spun on the record player.

You went out of your way to include him, and he’s never felt so welcome in his life as he does when he’s with you.

At least, if you agree, you’ll be with him this year, too.

-

It’s the next day when Steve decides to bring it up. You’re at his house for movie night, which has become a weekly ritual for the two of you. He’s been trying to figure out what exactly to say since he hung up the damn phone. He’s given up and instead hopes it’ll come to him in the moment.

Today, Steve’s quiet, which is unlike him. You know something’s on his mind and you try to avoid asking him about it, trying to let him talk about it on his own time. It’s about halfway through the movie that you change your mind.

He didn’t complain when you showed up with your cheesy Christmas movie choice, he didn’t light-heartedly tease you about your outfit of choice (some festive patterned pajama pants and a sweater that’s so worn there are holes in the neckline), and the most unusual, he didn’t make a single joke or comment as the movie played.

He’s really, really quiet.

You pick up the remote and pause it, “what’s going on with you, Steve?”

He looks at you, catches your eye and sees nothing but genuine concern. Sometimes he hates the way you know him so well. He can never hide anything from you.

“What? Nothing.”

You blink at him, “come on.”

“Fine, okay. Just, don’t say anything until I’m done, please.”

“Okay,” you pretend to zip your mouth shut, ready to listen.

“My mom called yesterday and told me they’re coming home for Christmas, and that there’s this business thing they want me to go to, and that I need a date for it,” he scrubs a hand down his face, trying to hide his embarrassment. “And you know how they’re always on my ass about me being single and stuff so I kind of told her I already had a girlfriend, and maybe I told her that girlfriend is you.”

What?

There’s a lot to process there. Mostly the fact that out of all of the names he could have chosen, he said yours. You wait for him to explain some more, but he’s looking at you like he’s waiting for a reply, so, your mouth is now unzipped.

“So, what exactly does that mean?”

He mutters a curse under his breath. “Um, so, I need you to pretend to be my actual girlfriend while they’re here.”

His use of the word ‘need’ is telling. Steve’s not one to ask for help, not even when he needs it the most but here he is, nervous and a little pink-cheeked, asking for your help.

You let the thought sit in your head for a bit. It’s not hard for you to want to agree. Steve’s your best friend, and you’d do pretty much anything for him. Though, that might also have to do with the fact that you’ve been in love with him for years.

You know more about his relationship with his parents then most do, so if you can make their visit more bearable for him in any way, why wouldn’t you?

“Okay,” you say.

“Okay? Like, you’ll do it?”

“Yeah, sure. I’m happy to help.”

That was a lot easier than Steve thought it’d be. You barely even questioned him before agreeing, and that’s not lost on him.

“Thank you so much, seriously,” he throws his arm over your shoulders, squeezes you to him in a side hug. “It’s only a few days, then we can go back to normal.”

“Easy peasy,” you say, reaching for the remote and hitting play.

Aside from your wanting to help him, to be there for him like you know he would for you, you’re also curious to see what it’s like to be with Steve that way, even if it’s fake. It’s hopeless, the way you love him, like the moon orbiting the earth around and around. Constant.

Sure, those feelings will probably only swell because of the fake relationship, but you’ve been housing them for long enough anyway.

What could go wrong?

-

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Robin says from the other side of a clothing rack, sifting through the pieces.

She’s the first, and only, person you told about the fake dating thing. Naturally, she decided she’d help you shop for a dress to wear to this business thing and talk about it at the same time.

The mall is decorated, garlands and lights strung, a big Christmas tree lit up in the middle of it all.

“It’s only a couple of days. It’ll be fine.”

“I’m talking about you being in love with him,” she deadpans.

“Robin, not so loud.”

“I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

You know she’s being honest, and though the thought has been at the back of your mind, a whisper, you’d like to believe that you can handle a fake relationship without ruining things because of your big, big feelings.

“I spend time with him alone a bunch. It’s not that much different, okay?”

“Besides the fact that you’ll be calling him boyfriend and acting like it, too, you mean.”

Actually, you’ve been trying not to think about what exactly pretending to be his girlfriend entails. You don’t know if he’ll hold your hand, if he’ll hold you closer than he has before, if he’ll kiss you. You think it might be better to wait and see, to not let the possibilities eat at you.

“I know it sounds bad, but it’s Steve. Nothing major will happen. We’re friends and I’m helping him out.”

Robin’s in a tricky spot. She knows how you feel about Steve, obviously, and though he doesn’t see it yet himself, she knows that Steve feels the same, too. It’s taken a lot to hold herself back from speeding things along, and as much as she wishes this fake relationship plan might be a good push, things usually aren’t so easy.

She can also tell that there’s a lot you’re thinking but not saying, but instead of pushing it, she returns to looking at the dresses. It’s not long before she gasps, pulling one of the rack to show you.

“This one,” she says.

“I don’t know. That won’t look good on me.”

It’s pretty, though. You’ll give her that.

“Shut up, everything looks good on you. Will you at least try it on?” She wiggles the hanger in her hand, “for me?”

“Fine.”

You take it from her, walking back towards the fitting rooms with a grinning Robin in tow. She waits outside the door while you change into the dress.

Once it’s on, looking in the mirror, you don’t even know what to think. You’re not one to feel all that confident in what you wear, or in how you look, but this dress makes you feel pretty. Maybe you should make Robin pick out all of your clothes.

“Let me see!” Robin calls.

You step out of the changeroom, doing a shy little spin when she asks. She’s smiling proudly, like she knows she chose well (which she did). She can’t help but think of how Steve will react, because she knows he feels something for you, she can see it on his face everytime he talks about you. He’s just a dork and he doesn’t realize it. Not yet, at least.

“What do you think?” You ask.

“If Steve’s not already in love with you…”

“Don’t finish that sentence.”

If she does, your brain will conjure up way too many ideas of what could possibly happen. If Steve could really feel the same. If maybe he’ll feel those same butterflies in his stomach that you do, if his heart feels bigger when you’re around. In your dreams, he does.

“I’m trying to tell you you look hot!”

-

December twenty-third is the day that Steve’s parents come home as well as the night of the business event. You and Steve have tried to figure out how to act like a couple, quizzing each other on things you already know, setting loose boundaries, but you figure after knowing each other for so long, being so close, it won’t feel much different than now. Besides the extra touching, the possibility of kissing.

You’re already at his house when his parents get home, your makeup and outfit for tonight sitting in Steve’s room. The two of you linger near the front door waiting for their arrival, a nervous and jittery welcoming committee.

The sound of a car pulling into the driveway grabs your attention. It’s a clapperboard snapping shut, marking the scene. Action.

“You ready, babe?” He holds out his arm for you to grab, and you do.

“Time to be the best couple ever,” you reply.

Steve grins at you. He has no idea how to thank you for agreeing to do this, how to even explain to you the relief you’re sure to bring. It’s one less thing for his parents to pick and pry at.

The door opens, and you can already feel a change in Steve’s demeanor. He’s standing straighter, stiffer. You squeeze his arm, a reminder that you’re there.

“Steve, sweetie!” His mother barely greets him before moving onto you, “and this is your girlfriend?”

“Hi, Mrs. Harrington.”

If it were someone else’s mother, you’d be hit with the usual ‘oh please, call me (insert name here).’ However, where the Harringtons are concerned, formality is a must. Besides Steve, of course. From what you know, the apple had fallen very, very far from the tree and you mean that as a compliment.

Even after being friends for so many years, this is the first time you’re actually meeting Steve’s parents. It’s clear that he’s never jumped at the opportunity to have his friends around when they’re home. He’s told you about them, and that’s enough for you.

“Steve! Come help me with the bags, would you?” His dad calls from outside, though he says it as a demand rather than a question.

“Yep, coming,” he replies. He kisses the side of your head before going outside, quick and sure, like he’s done it hundreds of times.

“How was your trip, Mrs. Harrington?” You fill the silence.

“Oh, just lovely, thank you,” she moves to the kitchen, expecting you to follow. “The house looks clean. Do you have something to do with that?”

Despite her trying to sound like she’s joking, you know that she truly doesn’t believe that Steve could be the one keeping the place going. As if he hasn’t been doing just that for ages.

“No, no. It’s really Steve.”

Her eyebrows raise, surprised.

Steve and his father walk in before anything else is said—thank God. You shake hands with Mr. Harrington, saying hello and wearing a tight smile. Steve’s quick to come to your side, an arm over your shoulders like a shield. Your hand moves to hold the one resting on your shoulder.

He’s even more tense when his father’s in the room, you’ve noticed. You hold his hand a bit tighter. You wish you could do something to make him feel better, and you hope that this fake relationship will do that at least a little bit.

Meanwhile Steve’s wondering how your presence could make him feel much better than he usually does with his parents around. You’re a comfort beside him, and when he gets the chance, he kisses your head again, whispering a ‘thank you’ into your hair.

-

The first few hours with Steve’s parents go by dreadfully slow, even with his touch on you most of the time. You’re quickly learning that as a boyfriend—even fake—Steve’s love language is easily physical touch. He has an arm around you, a hand in yours, on your leg, anything.

You’re also learning just how strained his relationship with his parents is. He’d trusted you enough to tell you most of it, but seeing them interact in front of you was different. The backhanded comments, the faces whenever he mentions his job, it makes your heart ache for him.

It’s bad enough that his parents are hardly ever around, but having them act like this when they are? You’re amazed at how good Steve has remained through it all.

When it’s time to get ready for the business party, you’re thankful for the reprieve.

“Think we’re doing a good job?” You ask Steve as he shuts the door to his room.

“They seem to be buying it. Thanks again for doing this.”

“You’ve thanked me like a hundred times, Steve. It’s okay, really.”

You want to tell him that you’re sorry these are the people he has to call family. That he shouldn’t listen to any of the shit they give him about his job or his lack of post-secondary education. That he’s the best boy you’ve ever known.

The problem is, you don’t know how to say all of that without making your feelings for him painfully obvious.

“Just gotta keep it up ‘til Christmas. That’s when they leave.”

“They’re only here for two days?” You knew the trip was going to be short, but forty-eight hours?

“Yeah, something about getting a deal on a cruise. I don’t know.”

He says it so casually, like it’s normal. You guess that for him, it is, but it doesn’t make it any less upsetting.

“Does that mean you’ll come to mine for Christmas day? Like usual?” You ask, hopefully lightening the mood.

“If you’ll have me.”

“Shut up, you’re always welcome. Think my mom likes you more than me anyway,” you nudge his shoulder with yours, then move to bring your stuff into his bathroom to start getting ready.

He leans on the doorframe, watching you set your makeup out on the counter, “she does not.”

“Steve, you have your own stocking hanging on our fireplace. And it’s bigger than mine.”

He smiles genuinely then, the first one since his parents have arrived.

He leaves you to get ready, shutting the bathroom door for when you change. You can still hear him through the door. The opening and closing of his drawers, a curse when he stubs his toe.

So far, pretending to be with Steve has been easy. You’ve acted the same save for the touches or small pecks he’s decided to keep placing on your head or your cheeks. The story you settled on was simple: you met him picking up a movie at Family Video, he asked if you needed company to watch it, the rest is history, blah blah blah.

Steve knocks on the bathroom door when you’re pretty much ready, you glance at yourself one more time in the mirror before opening it.

He stands with his tie in hand, wearing a button up and dress pants. You assume there’s a suit jacket to go along with it, and you think it might kill you. He’s so pretty, and he looks it all of the time but seeing him dressed up is really something.

“You look good, Steve,” you say. Good doesn’t even begin to cover it.

“Thanks. You look- you too.”

Steve’s stunned. He realizes he’s never seen you in anything formal and it’s making him feel all fluttery in his stomach and he doesn’t know what to think of it. He’s always known you’re gorgeous, in an obvious way like how the sky is blue. Now, though, it’s like he can feel it.

He clears his throat quietly and remembers the reason he knocked in the first place, “you don’t happen to know how to tie a tie, do you?”

You’re thankful for the time you decided to learn how when you were bored one day. You take the fabric from his hands, “it’s your lucky day, Steve.”

“Thank you. Didn’t wanna have to go ask my dad.”

He’s almost shy about wanting your help over something so small, his cheeks a little pink, his head bent. You give him a reassuring smile—or what you hope is one—and place the tie around his neck.

His eyes are on you as your hands fiddle with the fabric, doing it up for him. Your eyebrows are slightly scrunched, and he wants to reach out and smooth it out with his thumb. He’s not used to having that urge.

You finish up successfully after having fumbled a little bit, adjusting the tie so it isn’t crooked.

“There you go,” you pat his chest and he hopes you can’t feel his heartbeat, the way it’s quicker than normal.

He has no idea what that’s about.

“Thanks.”

“‘Course.”

He’s still standing close to you, enough that he has to keep his head tilted downwards just a little to be able to look at your face. Your eyes lock onto his, and time seems to slow. You’re so gone for him and you know it, but it almost seems like maybe he’s feeling something too. Just for a moment.

His father calling out that it’s time to go snaps you out of it.

Steve grabs his jacket, shrugging it on then offering you his hand to hold, “let’s do this, girlfriend.”

-

The hall is oozing Christmas when you walk in, Steve’s hand in yours. Ornaments hang down from the ceiling, warm white string lights line the top of the walls, Christmas music hums through the speakers, and an extravagant Christmas tree sits in the middle of the room.

You’ve never been to an event like it, and you have a hard time keeping your nerves at bay.

Pretending in front of Steve’s parents alone was one thing. Now, the stakes are higher. You have to be convincing and though it’s not difficult for you to pretend to be in love with Steve (you don’t have to fake that at all), you worry that you’ll slip up somehow and give yourself away. Both in the sense that the relationship is fake, and that your feelings are anything but.

It’s not long before Steve’s father gets pulled into a conversation, and his mother goes along with him. You’re left standing near the doorway with Steve, biting at the inside of your cheek.

“Relax,” he leans his head close to yours and whispers.

“Sorry. I’m just nervous.”

“We’re fine. You’re fine,” he squeezes your hand, something that’s quickly become a wordless reassurance between you. “We’ve done good so far, right?”

“I guess so.”

“Okay, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

Except for the fact that I love you and that you being a really good fake boyfriend isn’t helping.

“Okay.”

He smiles and leads you further into the room. The smile he gives you is different from the one he gives the people that say hi to him, the people that stop him for a chat. For you, it’s honest. For them, it doesn’t reach his eyes, it doesn’t mean anything.

“About time you tied someone down, Steve,” a man says to him. A coworker of his father’s, just like most men in the room.

“Think she’s the one who got me, but yeah.”

“That’s sweet. Next step is to get you a stable job, huh?”

It seems like all anyone here is concerned about is what people do, who they know. It’s no fun for you and they aren’t even speaking to you directly most of the time.

“Sure. Good to see you,” Steve excuses the both of you from the conversation.

“These people suck,” you say to him, leading him to the bar set up in a corner.

“Tell me about it.”

You order water for the both of you, something to get rid of the dryness in your throat and occupy you for a bit. You drink quietly before Steve speaks up.

“You look beautiful, by the way.”

He doesn’t know why it slips out now, but it does. The thought has been on his mind since he saw you standing there in his bathroom, and it’s getting harder and harder to ignore.

“You don’t have to say that, Steve. Nobody’s listening.”

“I mean it, seriously.”

“Oh,” you look down at your glass, at the condensation running down the side. The corners of your mouth lift, “thank you.”

“I know this isn’t the most fun, but I’m glad you’re here with me,” he admits. He’s always been sweet to you, but this feels different. You don’t know how or why, but it does.

“I am too.”

Steve’s dad interrupts your moment, pulling Steve off to meet some people. Already, there’s a guard being put up by him, a shield he saves for his father.

For those few minutes, where it was just you and Steve, you realized that he’s probably the best date you’ve ever had. He pays attention to you, he’s comforting without even trying, and he compliments you with so much honesty you could melt.

He’s the best date you’ve ever had and it’s fake. It’s becoming a mantra repeated in your head; it’s not real, it’s not real.

Lost in thought, you don’t notice the boy who’s sat next to you now.

“I’ve never seen you before,” he says.

“I’m not usually at these things. I came with my boyfriend,” you tell him, unsettled by his stare.

“And where is this boyfriend now?”

“He’s out there. I just needed some water but he’ll come back soon.”

You’re trying to get him to go away, to take the hint. He won’t.

“Why don’t I keep you company in the meantime?”

You’re about to reply when someone else does it for you, “not necessary. She’s my girl.”

My girl. Steve. He stands behind you, wraps his arms around your waist. It’s like he knew you needed him then, showing up as soon as you felt like you wanted to search for him. He runs his hands over your sides, a possessive touch that has your skin tingling.

“My bad, man. Thought she was lying about the boyfriend,” the guy says.

“She wasn’t. Even if she was, maybe you should learn to tell when someone isn’t interested, yeah?”

The stranger nods and walks off.

You spin in Steve’s hold, facing him. “My hero.”

“You know me,” he shrugs.

What he doesn’t say is that seeing another guy talk to you made his gut churn, bringing something that he didn’t want to admit was jealousy. He also saw the look on your face, the discomfort, and felt his feet carry him over before his mind could think it first.

His hands are still on your waist, even with the stranger gone.

-

It’s not until Steve’s parents are ready that you leave. They’ve taken advantage of the champagne that sat on trays, free for the taking, as well as the opportunity to talk up their son to many, many people. It seems they’re only proud of him when there’s other people around, and even then, the praise doesn’t hold much weight.

He’s trying his best. At least he’s working. He’s got a girlfriend now. No, he doesn’t host backyard parties while we’re gone anymore.

You wish you could speak up, but you know, with this many people around, it’d cause more harm than good. It’s hard to listen to the people that raised Steve talk about him the way they do. You want so badly to shout in their faces how brilliant he is, no thanks to them. How he has the kindest soul and a sort of midas touch that makes everything shine.

At least, you think he does. You promise yourself to love him better than they ever did, even if it’s in secret.

One memory from the night overpowers the rest, luckily. ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ played, a slower rendition, and a slow dance ensued. You watched couples split off, and when you looked at Steve, he was already looking at you, a question on his face and a hand outstretched.

You fell into step with him quickly. It wasn’t awkward for a second. One of your hands in his, the other on his shoulder, his on your waist. You swayed together, unknowingly moving closer until you were close enough to rest your head on his chest. And you did.

He rested his head atop of yours and hummed the song softly. You’ll dream about that dance, probably.

Now, you sit in the car with Steve, who’s become the driver. He drops his parents off at his house first, leaving the two of you alone for the drive to yours. He sneaks glances at you at stop signs and red lights, turning back to the road when he thinks he’s been caught.

His mind is full because he’s looking at you in a way he hasn’t before. He sees parts of you that he was blind to before. The shape of your lips, for example. The dip of your spine and the way it feels to hold you. It’s dizzying and warm, confusing and sparkling all at once.

Once he’s pulled up to your house, he offers to walk you to the door. Ever the gentleman. A romantic no matter how much he denies it, you think. He gets misty-eyed when you watch rom-coms, opens doors for you, has bought flowers for nearly all of his dates, as far as you know.

What must it be like to receive flowers from Steve Harrington?

He faces you on your front porch, hands in his pockets, “thank you again for doing this.”

“How many times do I have to tell you it’s okay. I’m happy to help you, Steve. You’re my best friend.” Who I love more than anyone.

“You’re mine, too, honey.”

It’s not the first time he’s called you that. Turns out, it was his default to use in your fake relationship. It is, however, the first time he’s said it when it’s just the two of you. It sounds sweet coming from his lips, sticky. Just like honey itself.

“What time should I be over for dinner tomorrow?” You ask. It’s the last hurdle of the fake dating.

“How ‘bout I come pick you up after I finish work?”

“Yeah, okay, that’d be great, thanks.”

You wrap your arms around yourself, the cold of December biting your skin.

“Here,” Steve notices, of course he does, and he reaches out with his hands, rubbing them up and down your arms to warm you.

“How’re your hands still warm?” You ask.

“I'm magic.”

You smile at that. He has no idea.

He reaches up with one hand to cup your cool cheek, and you nudge your face into his touch. For the warmth, you tell yourself. That’s it. His thumb runs over your skin, once, twice.

“Did I ever tell you that you have a pretty smile?” He says it so quietly you almost miss it. You don’t, though, and there’s a swarm of butterflies in your gut because of it.

“Shut up,” you try to mask your bashfulness.

Then, just like that, his face is close to yours. So close that it looks like he might kiss you. His eyes flick from your mouth up to yours, like he’s unsure of what’s happening while he’s doing it.

You can feel his breath tickling your lips, the ghost of his mouth on yours. Before that can happen, he’s swerving away quickly, planting a kiss on your cheek instead. The one he isn’t holding. His mouth lingers for a second.

“Goodnight,” he whispers against your skin.

“Night,” you say, dazed. And he’s walking away.

Steve’s not at all sure what’s come over him. He wanted to kiss you just then, to tangle his fingers in your hair and kiss you stupid. What the fuck was happening to him?

When you let your eyes flutter shut, your mouth parted slightly, like you’d let him kiss you, like you wanted it, too, he panicked. Couldn't do it.

No, he doesn’t know what just happened, why it did, or why he’s resisting the urge to go back and knock on your door and actually kiss you when you open it. What he does know is that his heart seems to be doing something funny when you’re around, and that your fake relationship has been better than any of his real ones.

He knows he needs to talk to Robin about this.

-

Steve had to work the next morning—Christmas Eve—which he was actually thankful for. Thankful to get away from his parents, though the comments about his job followed him out the door this morning. Especially thankful because he needs to talk to Robin and sort out the mess of his feelings that has occurred in the last twenty four hours.

He couldn’t stop thinking about how much he wanted to kiss you. About how his stomach was all twisty when you slow danced with him. There are so many moments playing over in his memory. Not just from yesterday, either.

He remembers the way his stomach would sink when you’d tell him about a date you had or how he’d often reach out a hand to tuck your hair behind your ear, or to wipe something away from the corner of your mouth.

So many things over your friendship that he never thought about are coming back to him and he’s realized he doesn’t act that way with any of his other friends. Only you.

He also realizes that he hasn’t really been pretending with you at all.

“I think I love her,” Steve blurts out while he and Robin are organizing returns, the store luckily empty.

Robin reaches into her pocket, barely fazed, and tosses a handful of confetti at Steve. Some pieces stick to his hair, some to his clothes, most of it at his feet.

“What the hell?” He shakes the flecks out of his hair, “we have to clean that now.”

“I’ve been carrying around confetti for like a year waiting for this to happen!”

“Wait, what?”

“Steve, you’ve been loving her for a long time, hate to break it to you.”

“And you didn’t tell me?” He’s no longer preoccupied with the confetti.

“I was letting you do it on your own time. You’re welcome.”

Steve had only just deduced that he’s in love with you and yet, when he thinks about you, he feels the same way he has for years. He finds it hard to believe that he’s been blind to it for that long, but he has been called an idiot enough in his lifetime for it to make sense.

Then, there’s the fact that you’re not done fake dating yet, that there’s still dinner today to get through and he doesn’t know if he’ll be able to keep himself together.

“What am I gonna do, Robin?”

“You’re gonna tell her how you feel and I will finally know peace.”

“What if she doesn’t feel the same? What if I freak her out?”

“Steve, she looks at you like sun shines from your pores,” she places a hand on his shoulder. “You’ll be fine.”

-

He picks you up after work as promised, his hands holding the wheel a little tighter, his greeting a little louder than normal. You figure he’s just nervous about dinner.

Nobody brings up the almost kiss, and you don’t plan to. Maybe you read things wrong. Maybe he was aiming for your cheek all along. Maybe he’s been thinking about it as much as you have.

It seems that your feelings for Steve are present now more than ever. Impossible to ignore. It might have something to do with the Christmas spirit floating around, the lightness of the holidays. It definitely has something to do with you being Steve’s fake girlfriend.

Because it turns out, he’s an excellent boyfriend, real or not.

He opens doors for you, even if he has to jog ahead of you to do it. He’s always got at least one hand on you, warm and sure. He looks at you with so much care, his brown eyes stuck on you.

It’s all adding up and you feel like your love for him is overflowing, pouring out of you before you can reel it in. You just hope he doesn’t notice that you’re not acting, that you never were.

Walking into Steve’s kitchen, you pause in the doorway, him behind you, “this smells great, Mrs. Harrington.”

Though Steve knows she probably bought most of the stuff and then put it in pots and pans to make it look like she cooked, he agrees, “so great, mom.”

She turns to look at you both from her spot by the stove, “thank you. Oh!” She cuts herself off with a gasp, her gaze drifting above your heads.

Oh no.

“Mistletoe,” she says, pointing.

“Look at that,” you laugh, short and awkward.

“Steve, sweetie, kiss your girlfriend for tradition's sake, won’t you.”

He kisses you on the cheek.

“A real one, son,” his father pipes up from his seat at the table.

Steve finds your gaze, his eyes wide and questioning. Are you okay with this? He’s asking without saying it. You nod, barely there, but you nod and he sees it.

He cups your cheek in his hand, flashes of last night on your porch come to you. He leans in slowly, like he’s waiting for you to stop him. Instead of doing that, you hold his wrist in your hand, squeeze it. Your silent communication.

In a blink, his lips are on yours. Pillowy and almost shy, but he’s kissing you and you feel like you’re floating, your feet off the ground and everything. He pulls away before you can even register the fact that it happened.

Your heartbeat is loud in your ears, your lips still burning with the memory of his.

Steve can't believe he hasn’t kissed you before. You’re soft and you fit together so well, like the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle clicking into place. He’s kicking himself for not doing it last night, when you were alone, when it was real. Next time he kisses you, he thinks, it will be real.

He clears his throat, tearing his eyes away from you, “so, let’s eat.”

Just like that, he’s moving to the table, pulling out a chair for you and kissing the top of your head once you’ve sat down. Already, the extra affection he’s been giving you has been dizzying. Now, it’s dialed way up.

He helps his mom serve the food before he sits down, though all he gets as a thank you is a pat on the cheek. Next to you, you can see Steve’s leg bouncing up and down. You reach out and place a hand above his knee, stilling him and drawing his gaze to yours.

You smile, and you hope it’s enough to say it’s okay, it’s all gonna be fine. He rests his hand on top of yours, fingers laced together.

“So, Steve, have you been looking for jobs?” His father speaks up. The never-ending topic.

“No, dad. I have a job,” Steve doesn’t look up from his plate, pushing mashed potatoes around with his fork.

“Well, a real job, I mean.”

At Steve’s silence, his mom adds, “we just think, especially now that you have a girlfriend to support, you should look for something… better.”

You look up when she says it, eyes wide and hand tensing on Steve’s leg. You don’t understand how they care so much about what he does and so little about how he feels. He likes his job, you know that, and he’s tried to tell them multiple times over the past couple of days.

And still.

It’s impossible for you to sit by and listen to them talk to him the way they do, like he isn’t good enough. Like the only defining thing is his job, which isn’t even a bad one. What defines him is who he is as a person and he’s the best one in your life.

“Why does it matter so much?” You ask.

His parents look at you, surprised to be questioned, it seems. Steve looks at you, too, with something more like astonishment, appreciation.

“I’m sorry,” you continue, “it’s just, you haven’t seen your son in how long? And all you guys keep bringing up is his job, which he’s told you he actually enjoys. Shouldn’t that be enough for you?”

Steve’s world is tinting pink, heart-shaped lenses over his eyes hearing you defend him. Nobody’s ever tried to go against his parents for him, and here you are. Fuck, he loves you.

They’re quiet, and you’re not finished. “Steve is the greatest person I’ve ever met, and that’s no thanks to you. I’ve known him for a long time and not once have I seen you guys around. How can you judge him so much when you don’t even take the time to know him anymore?”

The room is dead quiet. Nothing but the clinking of forks against plates for the rest of the meal. You feel lighter, after saying what you did. Though you’re also terrified that you’ve overstepped, that Steve will be upset with you for causing a scene.

As if sensing your worry, he holds your hand just a bit tighter.

It’s not until after dinner, hidden away in his room, that you talk about what happened. Not the kiss; your outburst.

He shuts his door and you’re already apologizing, “listen, Steve. I'm so sorry if I made things worse, but I couldn’t just let them shit on your job anymore. I couldn’t. You’re my best friend, you know that, and-”

His arms are around you in a blink.

“Thank you,” he breathes into your hair. “Nobody’s ever done anything like that for me. Thank you, honey.”

“Oh,” you blink away your surprise and wrap your arms around his shoulders. “Anytime.”

“You’re really special.”

Your smile spreads, spilling before you can do anything about it. You hide your face in his neck and stay that way until he lets go, a flush in his cheeks and stars in his eyes.

Steve wanted to tell you he loves you right then, but the words seem stuck in his throat. They won’t come up. He wants to be with you for real, and though it happened in a rush, it also didn’t. His brain just needed to catch up to his heart.

He doesn’t say it, but he will. As soon as he can.

“Wanna go watch a movie?” You ask.

“Yeah, okay.”

Movie night. You and him. That’s real.

-

Steve’s parents seem to have gone out somewhere, the car missing from the driveway. They haven’t left, though. You and Steve checked for the suitcases (they’re sitting, already packed, in their room).

Playing the movie, yet another Christmas pick that Steve couldn’t say no to, you share a blanket. There’s plenty of room on the couch, you’re the only people there, and yet, Steve still tosses an arm over your shoulders and pulls you to lean against his side.

Maybe he’s just doing it in case his parents come home while you’re downstairs. That’s gotta be it.

“Is it bad that I’m sort of relieved they aren’t here right now?” Steve says to you, quiet.

“Not at all. You deserve better than what they give you, Steve.”

“You think so?”

“Are you kidding? I know so.”

He lets his head lean atop of yours, and that’s that.

You want to bring up the kiss, but then again, why would you? It’s not real. It’s not real no matter how much you wish it was, no matter how much it feels that way. You knew going into this that you might end up kissing Steve, you just didn’t know it’d fuck you up so much.

Part of you hopes that mistletoe will appear above your heads yet again, just to be able to feel the way you did when he kissed you. Heart fluttering, stomach twisting, warm all over.

Though Steve’s head feels relaxed, resting on yours, it’s overflowing with thoughts. You, his parents, the way you defended him, how it felt to kiss you, how much he wants to do it again. You. The entire length of the movie, he’s trying to think of a way to tell you he loves you. The best he comes up with is to wing it.

When the screen fades, and the film ends, you remember the gift you’d left in Steve’s room, buried at the bottom of your overnight bag (you decided to sleep over, something you’ve done too many times to count, and head to your place in the morning with Steve). You sit up, only to face him.

“I have something for you. C’mon,” you tug on his hand, leading him all the way to his own bedroom.

“What?”

“Just,” you make him sit down on his bed when you’re in the room, digging through your bag and finding the present you’d wrapped last night. “Here.”

He takes it from your hand slowly, like it’s the most precious thing in the world. He doesn’t open it right away, staring at the red and green patterned wrapping paper and the gold stick-on bow sitting in the middle of it.

“Open it,” you urge, shuffling nervously on your feet.

He shoots you a shy smile before tearing at the paper, revealing a scrapbook of sorts. Flipping through the pages, he finds memories upon memories. Pictures of you and him, of him and Robin, all three of you. Some with the kids or with Eddie. Most of them he doesn’t even remember taking.

And it’s more than just pictures. There’s movie tickets and receipts from random fast food dinners, confetti from a surprise party for Dustin and a piece of a plate Steve broke once.

It’s the most thoughtful thing anyone’s ever given him. It reminds him that he does have a family, no blood relation needed.

“Honey,” he says it quietly, his eyes watering ever so slightly. “This is- I don’t even know what to say.”

“I know it’s not much, but I thought you’d like it.”

“No. I love it. It’s perfect, seriously,” he runs his finger over a picture of the two of you, your faces squished together and your smiles absolutely ridiculous. “Best gift ever.”

He means it.

“I had some help with the pictures. Everyone in that book loves you, Steve.”

Everyone in that book. That means you love him, too. He knows that you could mean it platonically, but something about the way you look at him when you say it makes him think that he has to tell you. He has to try.

He’s suddenly very glad he bought you a locket for Christmas, and that he left it unwrapped because of his lack of skills in that department.

“Close your eyes,” he says.

“Steve-”

“Please,” he trades spots with you, sitting you on the edge of his bed, “close your eyes for a minute, ‘kay?”

“Okay,” you shut them tight, placing a hand over them as well, “double closed.”

He rushes to grab the locket from the bottom of one of his drawers, then grabs the tiniest bit of paper and manages to write as small as he can on it, placing the message in the necklace and closing it with a small click.

Steve reaches for the hand that isn’t covering your eyes, opening it up and placing the delicate piece of jewelry in it. “Okay, open.”

You do, glancing down to what rests in your palm. It’s gorgeous, dainty, and the corners of your mouth lift at the sight of it.

“It’s beautiful, Steve. You didn’t have to.”

“It’s a locket,” he says. His head is bent, shy and visibly nervous. “Open it, too.”

Your heartbeat picks up, like you know, subconsciously, that something big is hiding inside despite the small size of the necklace itself. You wedge your fingernail into the gap, pushing the locket open. The note inside makes your stomach drop.

In his messy, rushed writing, the words ‘I love you.’

You look at him, mouth agape and hopes way up. “Steve?”

“I mean it.”

“How-”

“I mean I’m in love with you, and I think I have been for a really, really long time. I guess it took you being my fake girlfriend for me to realize it.”

“You’re not pranking me, are you?”

You’ve spent so long loving him, and convincing yourself that he could never love you the same, that it feels unreal. Hazy, like a dream.

He sits beside you, cupping your face in his hands softly to make you look at him, “I’m not pranking you. I love you.”

“Holy shit. I love you, too. For so long. I never thought I had a chance with you.”

“I think you’re the only person who’s had a real chance with me since I met you, honey.”

Right there, discarded wrapping paper on the floor, the glow of Christmas lights shining through the window, you doubt you’ll ever take that locket off once it’s on.

You can’t stop yourself from rushing forward and kissing him. A small press of your mouth against his at first, then, it’s more. It’s slow and every single thing you’ve ever wanted. His lips move with yours like they’re the only ones that know you.

This time, when you kiss, there’s no question. It’s real and it’s thawing every single worry you ever had about this. This is real, you get to think now.

Steve pulls away only when your breathing gets heavier, only when he absolutely has to. His thumb trails over your cheek, a lover’s touch. He takes the necklace from your hand, puts it on for you and kisses you again when he’s done.

“Do you think this was a Christmas miracle?” You say, teasing.

“I think this was just me being too stupid to notice how I feel about you. I know now, though.”

“Because you needed a fake girlfriend.”

“Because I needed a fake girlfriend,” he confirms. “But, I’d like a real one now.”

“I think I can manage that,” you nod, a lovesick smile on your face.

For once, Steve’s glad his parents came home. He never would have asked you to fake date him if they hadn’t, and he wouldn’t have realized his very real feelings for you, either. So, maybe it is a Christmas miracle, after all.

༄

hey you! if you enjoyed please consider leaving a reblog, it would mean a lot and helps a ton more than you’d think! help support creators like me <3

[scarvain]

✶ STARGIRL — hamzahthefantastic x reader

005 ✶ Falling For You

stargirl masterfile – next – previous

SUMMARY: hamzah has a crush on a youtuber who's always out and about and slushies see their relationship progress on social media! (smau)

DISCLAIMER: reader is a brown haired girl and for some pics that aren't faceless, i'll be using olivia rodrigo cause i love her and she’s filipino like me hehehe

hamzahthefantastic posted on their story !

vanna @slushyfan

hamzah in his new ig story… im tweaking

11 replies 25 retweets 59 likes

user673 he looks so good can y/n fight

user091 omg where is he going why’s he in a suit

↳ user524 oh mygooood do u think he’s going to the oscar’s with y/n

↳ user810 WAIT THEY DID MENTION THE OSCARS LAST VIDEO RIGHT

liked by rhode, wildflowercases, and others

ynln thank you so much @oscars for inviting me, best night everrr!!!

view comments

user570 YOURE SO BEAUTIFULLLL

user021 last pic is so real

user693 will there be a vlog for this omg

↳ ynln YES!!! i recorded my whole trip going to la and the oscars ++ many more :)))

user455 im so happy foruuuuu

ynlnupdates Such a beauty! ( liked by ynln )

thatmartinkid nice post can hamzah come home already

↳ ynln nooo let me have him for a few days plspls

↳ user017 WHATTTTTTT

↳ user526 OMFG SHES WITH HAMZAH

oscars + la vlog

66k views • 4 hrs ago

uploaded by ynln

the video started with you zooming into hamzah's back. he wasn't aware of your recording until he turned to face you.

"oh you're recording now," he lets out a chuckle, eyes looking up at you and not on the camera.

the next clip shows you and hamzah in the airplane, he was wearing his sony headphones while you had your wired earphones on. your head was on his shoulder and you had a hand wrapped around his bicep.

you smile at the camera then glance at him before squeezing his arm gently for him to look at the camera. he looks down at you and you were smiling at the camera, he smiles at you instead of the camera.

you proceeded to talk to the camera while hamzah listened to his music, your head still on his shoulder which he didn't mind.

during the flight, you ended up falling asleep on hamzah. he put the armrest up and slowly removed your hand from his bicep, letting you rest on his shoulder with his arm around you. he turned your camera on and showed you sleeping before he started making goofy faces at the camera.

the next clips were montages. it shows you and hamzah walking around lax then in the taxi you show the road before turning the camera to hamzah who was asleep.

“okay, so today, we’re going to the oscars!” you exclaimed.

you were already dressed up, seated in the car. hamzah was beside you but wasn’t completely seen in frame. “what movie do you think will win?” you showed hamzah and he was fiddling his fingers.

“i hope barbie wins,” he chuckles, looking between you and the camera.

as the night and recording went on, hamzah couldn’t remove his eyes off you. he was grateful he was the one filming you when you were posing for the carpet, it was even worse when they reached out for you to do the glambot. he was in awe. it was like seeing you in your element and he was able to capture it on camera for your vlog.

when you two entered the hall, you were now holding the camera and both your mouths formed into an o as you looked around the venue. you flip the camera while you continue talking about the celebrities you’ve just seen.

“oh my fucking god, we were able to talk to ariana greenblatt from barbie.” you said excitedly, almost tripping on the steps, hamzah immediately caught you, his hand wrapped around your waist.

you mutter a soft thank you before returning to the camera.

“she told us that she loves to watch us, said she loved my vlogs so much,” as you said this, the clip of you and ariana pops up on the screen. “and she also said the slushy virus got to her.” you giggle as you look up at hamzah, who was looking around for the seats assigned.

off camera—your hand was wrapped on hamzah’s arm almost the whole night, trying to get warm as it was a bit chilly inside the hall.

you start recording but your hands were shaking from how cold it is. hamzah takes both your hands in his and rubs them together, trying to make you warm but when you were still shivering, he takes off his blazer and wraps it around your shoulders.

“that better?” your faces were so close to each other, you could feel his breath fanning over your face.

you feel heat rising to your cheeks as you nod, looking away from him and returning your focus on the awarding—completely forgetting about how your camera was recording everything.

at the end of the video, you were still wearing hamzah’s blazer.

“that was sooo cool, i hope you guys enjoyed this video. some of the clips were filmed by the fantastic hamzah,” you said as you wiggled your eyebrows at the camera.

“i love you guys, see you next video!” you blow a kiss to the camera then it ends.

✶ taglist — @cdbabymp3 @noturbabe22 @dabuggh3 @kingvioleta @tumb1rgir1z @mfcherry @ldrvinyl LMK IF U WANNA BE ADDEDDD!!!

[songbirdseung]

PS5 / choi yeonjun

The air was heavy with a mix of frustration and disappointment as Choi Yeonjun's girlfriend, Y/N, watched him intently, her gaze fixed on the glowing screen of his PS5 console. She had given it to him as a surprise gift, hoping it would bring them closer together, but instead, it had become a wedge between them.

Yeonjun, once a social and attentive boyfriend, was now spending his free time engrossed in virtual worlds, his eyes glued to the screen, his fingers dancing across the controller. Y/N's invitations to go out or spend time together were often met with excuses of 'just one more game' or 'I'm almost done'.

You loved admiring your lover, seeing the different facial expressions they would make to daily life scenarios, or the sparkle in their eyes when they are invested in something they are so passionate about. But today was not one of those days.

You enjoyed filming (with consent of course) him and fill your gallery with silly videos of him and his reactions to certain things. Like that time, you gifted him a PS5 for just a random appreciation gift. That day he could not stop clinging onto you and thanking you. You have videos of him playing for the first few times and him whining frustratedly. Videos where he would be sweet and endearing to you. You enjoyed rewatching all those videos. But again, today was not one of those days.

Your boyfriend Yeonjun just got back from a world tour and spending his first week break with his family. Now that he's back home with you for the next and last week, you thought he'd spend his time with you. Nope, you were very wrong. When your boyfriend got home, he kissed and hugged you but right after washing up, he goes over to the living room and plays for hours on end, not paying you any attention.

This went on for a couple more days, you did not want to be that kind of girlfriend who nags her boyfriend about playing video games all day and taking away one of his hobbies, but since the week is almost coming to an end, and he'll have to start working again, you were not gonna let this slide no longer. As the days passed, you found yourself growing more frustrated with Yeonjun's constant immersion in his video games. You tried dropping hints, like casually suggesting activities you could do together or expressing how much you missed spending quality time with him. However, it seemed like your words were falling on deaf ears, and his focus remained glued to the virtual world on the screen.

One evening, after a particularly long gaming session, you decided it was time to address the issue directly. Taking a deep breath, you approached Yeonjun and gently said, "Hey, can we talk for a moment?"

He looked at you, slightly distracted but willing to listen. "Sure, what's up?" he replied, pausing his game.

You took a moment to gather your thoughts before expressing your feelings. "I've really missed you, Yeonjun. I understand that you enjoy playing video games, and I've always supported that. But since you've been back, it feels like we haven't had much time together. I was hoping we could make the most of this last week before you go back to work."

Yeonjun sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, I know. I've just been really into this game lately, and I guess I lost track of time. I didn't mean to neglect you."

You nodded, appreciating his honesty. "I get it, and I don't want to take away something you enjoy. But I miss us, you know? I miss our conversations, our laughter, and just being close to you."

He looked at you with a hint of remorse in his eyes. "I'm sorry, babe. I didn't realize it was bothering you this much. Let's do something together now. What do you want to do?"

A smile tugged at the corners of your lips. "Anything, as long as it's with you."

He promised you to get of gaming for the rest of the week and hang out with you. You got to finally sleep well after his words, but the next morning you woke up to another nightmare, him on that dang couch with a controller in his hand, playing the games you began to envy and grow a hatred for.

Not wanting to be in the house anymore, you grab the necessities and go out to meet a friend.

You meet her at a random museum that you always wanted to go to, once you meet up, you dont open up on the topic too much and pay attention in viewing the attractions of the art museum. But your friend knows you too well and ask what's wrong.

Eventually, you tell her everything and when you begin to tear up, she offers you both to sit down and hugs your side. "Maybe he just needs time to himself? time to adjust?" She proposes. But you shake your head and sigh "I don't know man, He's just not the same guy I started dating".

Your friend, sensing the depth of your emotions, tightens her hug and nods sympathetically. "I understand it's tough. Relationships go through ups and downs, and people change. Maybe he's just going through a phase, or maybe there's something on his mind that he hasn't shared with you."

You wipe away a stray tear and look at your friend, appreciating her support. "I just feel like I've tried talking to him, you know? I want to understand, but it seems like he's not willing to open up about what's going on with him."

She nods, offering a comforting smile. "Communication is key, but sometimes it takes time for people to open up. Maybe you could give him a little space but let him know you're there when he's ready to talk."

The two of you continue exploring the museum, momentarily shifting your focus from your relationship woes to the captivating art around you. As you move from one exhibit to another, you find solace in the beauty of the paintings and sculptures. However, in the back of your mind, the unease about your relationship lingers.

After spending some time immersed in the art, you and your friend find a quiet bench to sit on. She turns to you, her eyes filled with concern. "Look, I know it's hard, but relationships are a journey. People change, and sometimes they rediscover themselves. Maybe he's just going through a phase, and things will get better. But you also have to prioritize your own happiness and well-being. If this continues to make you unhappy, it might be worth having a serious conversation with him about the future of your relationship."

You sigh, feeling a mix of emotions. "I love him, you know? I just want things to go back to how they were."

She nods, understanding the complexity of emotions involved. "Love is important, but so is your own happiness. It's okay to want things to improve, and it's okay to express your needs in the relationship. Just take it one step at a time, and remember, you deserve to be with someone who makes you happy and values your time together."

As you leave the museum, you carry these words with you, knowing that the path ahead may not be easy, but you're determined to navigate it with honesty and compassion for both yourself and your relationship.

Upon returning home, you find Yeonjun still engrossed in his gaming world. The familiar sound of the controller buttons and the glow of the screen greet you as you enter the living room. A mix of frustration and resignation settles in your chest.

Taking a deep breath, you decide it's time to have that conversation again. This time, you need to express your feelings and concerns more firmly, making it clear that the current state of your relationship is taking a toll on you.

"Yeonjun," you start, your voice steady but determined, "we need to talk."

He looks up from the game, pausing for a moment to give you his attention. "What's up?"

You take a moment, collecting your thoughts before speaking. "I love you, and I want us to be happy together. But the way things have been lately, it's not working for me. I miss the connection we used to have, and I miss feeling like a priority in your life."

Yeonjun sighs, setting the controller aside. "I'm sorry if I've been distant. I didn't mean to make you feel that way."

You continue, "I need to know what's going on. I need to understand if there's something bothering you or if this is a pattern that's going to continue. Because I can't keep feeling like I'm coming second to a video game."

He looks at you, realizing the gravity of the situation. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I guess I got carried away with the games. But you're right; we need to talk about this."

You both sit down, and a sincere conversation unfolds. You express your concerns, and Yeonjun opens up about the pressures he's been feeling, the need for an escape, and how he didn't realize the impact it was having on your relationship.

In the end, you both decide to work on finding a balance. Yeonjun agrees to be more present, and you agree to give him the space he needs, understanding that everyone needs moments of solitude. It's a compromise, a step towards rebuilding what seemed to be slipping away.

As the days pass, you notice positive changes. Yeonjun makes an effort to spend quality time with you, and you both work on rediscovering the aspects of your relationship that brought you together in the first place.

Love, communication, and compromise become the pillars that help you rebuild and strengthen your connection, turning a challenging chapter into an opportunity for growth and understanding.

[canonicallyobserving911]

Several Sentences Sunday

Fanonwriter2023 on AO3

Where CANON and FANON collide!

This is an EPIC LOVE STORY!

Season 7 FANON Speculation: Buddie Multi-Chapter Fanfic - Hiatus Reading: “I’m still in love with you but... I needed to learn how to love myself too!”

Chapters 24 will be posted soon.

Buck and Eddie got married and Buck's officially Chris' second dad!

Currently 23 chapters completed: 893.1K Words; Rated: Mature

One chapter will be posted at a time.

{Previous snippet linked here}

____________

I'm excited to finish writing Chapter 24 because Buck and Eddie are married and the Diaz family is starting the second half of their two-week long European family adventure. For anyone who hasn't read Chapters 22 and 23, here's a brief overview. In Chapter 22, Buck and Eddie got married, Chris was their best man and Eddie successfully surprised Buck with all the things he had planned for him including a three-tier wedding cake. Their honeymoon started that night and they had an important conversation before they consummated their marriage. In Chapter 23, they left Rome the day after their wedding and proceeded to visit 5 other cities for the remainder of their time in Italy. By the end of it, they agreed to continue speaking Italian even after they return to the U.S. because while they were in San Gimignano, they made a decision that could affect the course of their family's lives forever. What was the decision? 👀

They departed Rome at the end of the chapter and they landed in London on Christmas Eve to start the second half of their family adventure. What else are they going to do while they're still in Europe? Will Buck meet his biological father? 🤷🏽‍♀️

___________

Here's a snippet from Chapter 24 of Buck and Eddie being romantically fluffy Christmas night.

_________

It’s after 10 o’clock, Chris is in his room sleeping while Buck and Eddie are lying on the sofa quietly resting.  Eddie’s on his back and Buck’s whole body is draped on top of his.  His legs are in between Eddie’s and his head is lying on top of Eddie’s chest.  Eddie’s rubbing circles onto Buck’s back and Buck’s listening to Eddie’s heartbeat. It's a familiar position and it's one they've been in hundreds of times when they're at home but they're in London, England right now and they've adjusted to the time zone change and everything else very well.

The TV is on but neither of them are paying it any attention and the Christmas music is still playing too but the volume on the Bluetooth speakers is so low they can barely hear which song is playing.

They’ve had a relatively relaxing Christmas Day with three awesome meals and they spent the entire day doing family activities like singing Christmas songs and watching Christmas movies together.  It’s their first Diaz Family Christmas for just the three of them and everything went perfectly.

Chris was happy with all the gifts they got him and they were overjoyed with their gifts from him too.  The video of them cutting their wedding cake was a huge surprise and now that they have it on their phones and iPads, they’re going to add it to the video of their marriage ceremony from Leonardo so it will be a continuous video instead of two separate ones.

While he lightly runs his fingers up and down Eddie’s arm, Buck lifts his head, sits his chin on top of Eddie’s chest and says, “Babe?”

“Hmm?”  He hums as he meets his husband’s eyes.

“I know we didn’t talk about getting each other Christmas presents but uh… I got you something.”

Eddie raises his eyebrows.  “You did?”

“Yes.  I did but since I um… just got the confirmation for it last night, I didn’t have time to get it ready for today so… there’s no wrapping paper or anything but when I get the official one, I’ll make sure to wrap it in a box so you can open it.”  He replies as he reaches over to the table to grab his phone.

“What did you get me?”

“It’s something special just for you.”  He responds as he looks at his phone and Face ID unlocks.  Once it does, he accesses his email, finds the one he’s looking for, expands the screen with two of his fingers then he turns his phone around so Eddie can read it.

He watches as his husband reads the email and he sees his eyes widen when he gets to the part that explains what it is.

Eddie bites his bottom lip, looks at his husband and whispers, “Buck?” but his voice is so low, he almost misses it.  If he wasn’t looking right at him, he believes he would have.

After a few seconds, Eddie continues, “You did this for me?”

“I did because you deserve it.”  He moves so he can sit up and after he does, he waits for Eddie to sit up too.  Once they’re both sitting up, they move closer so they’re pressed together from their shoulders to their knees.

He leans in and places a soft kiss onto his lips then he takes Eddie’s free hand in his, laces their fingers together and continues.  “Babe… you do so much for our family, you sacrifice a lot and you work so hard and you deserve something that’s just for you.”

Eddie slowly nods and he’s about to respond but Buck keeps talking.

“Before we left L.A., when I asked you what you wanted to do while we were in London, you said all you wanted was for me and Chris to be happy but babe… me and Chris want you to be happy too.  Us seeing you happy and doing things you want to do make us happy too.”

He nods again because it’s true, all he wants is for his family to be happy so he gently squeezes Buck’s hand as he tries to blink away the tears that have welled behind his eyes.  He allows his husband’s words to settle in his mind and he never would have thought in a million years someone would do anything like this for him but Buck not only knows him and sees him; he listens to him too.  He understands everything about him and the email he just finished reading further proves how much Buck loves, knows and cares about him.

While holding Buck’s gaze he says, “But… this is a...”

What did Buck get Eddie for Christmas? 👀

Also, did Eddie get Buck something for Christmas too? 🙃

___________

This is an EPIC LOVE STORY!

Fic Summary: Months after Buck and Eddie were hit by the same lightning strike; they’re still struggling with the aftermath of it.  But before they make their love confessions, they’ll spend time getting to know themselves as individuals first. Eddie learns to enjoy the simple things in life as he participates in activities on his own and with new friends while Buck learns the rest of the 31-year-old deep dark family secret about his conception and birth. Their journey to forever is still a work in progress but once they finally admit they’re in love with each other, everything that follows their love confessions will be cataclysmic.

__________

Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1 - Eddie makes a new friend while Buck receives devastating news regarding the sperm donation he made for Connor and Kameron.

Chapter 2 - Buck does a lot of research to learn more about the abnormalities found in his red blood cells and Eddie starts a new therapy journey that’s all about him and not the traumas he’s experienced.

Chapter 3 - After more than a month, Buck and Eddie finally spend time together outside of work but it doesn’t end well and they part with a lot of uncertainty regarding their places in each other’s lives.

Chapter 4 - Eddie has a few realizations about his life which causes him to consider moving back to El Paso, TX while Buck continues to be reminded of his past which causes him to take an impromptu road trip across America.

Chapter 5 - Both Buck and Eddie have difficult conversations with their parents and Buck finally learns the truth behind the reason why his mother despised him while Eddie finally tells his mother about the way she tries to control him.

Chapter 6 - More than two weeks after Buck pushed Eddie away after suggesting they needed a break; Eddie decides to try again. Eddie’s there for Buck when he’s at his worst just like Buck was there for him when he was at his worst and he won’t let Buck give up.

Chapter 7 - After Buck’s mental breakdown, Eddie has his back the same way Buck had his when he had his own breakdown more than a year ago.  They share several vulnerable and emotionally intimate moments with one another and they begin to realize their small, sweet and caring gestures matter just as much if not more than any grand gesture ever could because these are the foundations of a long-lasting love relationship.

Chapter 8 - Buck, Eddie and Chris all have their own therapists and during their sessions, they reflect on their pasts while they’re in the present so they can prepare for their future together as a family.

Chapter 9 - Buck and Eddie are there for each other when Buck has to testify as a witness during the trial.  But by the end of it, they’ll both realize their individual and shared traumas are going to keep resurfacing until they talk about them, deal with the fact that they’re in love with one another and face the fact that they can’t live without each other.

Chapter 10 - As Buck and Eddie finally begin to confront their past traumas, they realize how much they need each other to fill in the gaps of their memories.  Additionally, the universe screams at them for what appears to be the one hundredth time so Buck can realize he doesn’t have to ‘find it’ because he already ‘made it’ and Eddie’s reminded tomorrow isn’t promised and he doesn’t have to die alone if he doesn’t want to.

Chapter 11 - A “virga” or dry thunderstorm is in the forecast but once the rain starts, the thunderstorm happening outside won’t be able to match the storm brewing inside between Buck and Eddie.  It’s the universe’s final scream and when the tumultuous winds begin to blow, they’ll have one last chance to hold onto everything they’ve built over the last six years or they’ll lose it all forever.

Chapter 12 - Buck and Eddie have always shared a deep physical attraction and an emotional intimacy that’s unmatched but now that they’re in a relationship, they’re learning how to navigate the romantic intimacy they’ve been waiting for six years to explore. The love they have for each other is a once in a lifetime, soulmate, love of their lives type of love that transcends space and time.

Chapter 13 - While navigating the newness of their romantic relationship, Buck and Eddie take advantage of every moment they spend together. As their individual lives, people from their pasts, time constraints and the possibility of losing each other again make attempts to interrupt and interfere with their journey to forever, they love, care for, support and hold onto each other even tighter to withstand it all.

Chapter 14 - Buck and Eddie can see the lights at the end of the tunnels regarding the results of Buck’s Cancer Screening along with everything else they’re dealing with. But are the lights they see exits to the tunnels or are they headlights on different runaway trains that are speeding towards them in an effort to interrupt their forever?

Chapter 15 - Buck and Eddie have known they were exactly who the other one wanted in a partner since they met six years ago when they agreed to have each other’s backs. They’re in a romantic relationship, they’re both preparing to ask the other one to spend forever with them and by the end of the seventh week into their relationship, together they will plan their most important and greatest adventure for their future.

Chapter 16 - As Buck and Eddie begin to prepare for their marriage ceremony that will take place in Rome, Italy in December 2023, they start planning their first international adventure as a romantic couple. Even though Chris is still the only person they’ve told about their relationship, several people who know them have already witnessed the love they share and as the days continue, others will witness it too.

Chapter 17 - As Buck and Eddie get closer to departing Los Angeles for their international adventure, a moment in time will remind them; life is fragile, tomorrow isn’t promised and every second of everyday should be cherished because everything can change in an instant. The result of that realization will cause them to hold onto each other even more.

Chapter 18 - As Buck, Eddie and Chris prepare for family gatherings before and during the Thanksgiving holiday, the “Santa Ana Winds” start to blow and all sorts of expected and unexpected familial drama ensues.

Chapter 19 - As Buck and Eddie get closer to their wedding day, the universe begins to align everything so that some of their parent and children's relationships are strengthened while others come to an abrupt end.

Chapter 20 - With only 14 days remaining until Buck, Eddie and Chris depart Los Angeles, CA traveling to Rome, Italy, for their first family adventure, an early morning conversation about “tying up loose ends” helps Buck and Eddie realize there are still several things left unfinished on their ‘To Do’ lists. The question is will there be enough time to complete all of them?

Chapter 21 - Buck, Eddie and Chris are finalizing their ‘To Do’ Lists, double checking their itineraries and packing their suitcases in preparation for their trip to Europe so they can board their flight that departs Los Angeles, CA on Friday, December 15, 2023 at 3:25PM.

Chapter 22 - While Buck, Eddie and Chris spend the first 8 days of their European family adventure in Italy, their primary reason for going will be fulfilled as well as several others they hadn’t considered or anticipated.

Chapter 23 - As the Diaz Family continues their Italian family adventure, they’ll say, “Ciao” or hello and goodbye to a lot of things almost immediately after they become an official and legal family.

Chapter 24 - Will be posted soon.

__________

Read chapters 1-23 are available on AO3.

Continue reading on AO3

Chapter 24 will be posted soon.

[short-black-diamond]

The other woman.

Warnings: Angst, cheating, pregnancy, smut-briefly, reader is sad and depressed, Izuku is a cheater, but doesn’t want to be, long fic!

I also didn’t proofread it. so. uh, sorry if I made some mistakes that pissed you off...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwbHIZ4pbOA

-> listen to this while you read!

WHAT IF...What if you and Izuku were barely communicating with each other and he ended up cheating on you?

Another restless night with you trying to stay up for your husband, the number one pro hero. You know that he is saving the world, but you can’t help that nagging feeling of him staying away from you for...other reasons. 

But, you don’t say anything. Instead, you go to bed-if something would’ve happedened to him, you’d get contacted first by Bakugo, or some other friend or pro hero, or the hospital.

Right after you’ve lay down, you heard the door open. “Honey, I’m home!”, he called in his tired voice, fatigue covering his mind and body. But, instead of standing up right away to greet Izuku, you stayed were you were. You didn’t want to see him at the moment. 

Meanwhile, Izuku was confused. Weren’t you always waiting for him, napping on the couch? Did he do something? “Sweetie?”

No answer.

That gave him panic. Frantically, he stepped out of his boots and into each room to find you. He found you in your guys’ shared bedroom. “Hey...you awake?”, he whispered, softly shaking you. He knew that he came late, and that you’d wait for him, but you’d at least try to stay up for him. What he was met was barely a grunt and a soft “you stink”. He chuckled quietly and went to the bathroom. 

Still, he felt like something was wrong. 

Now, fresh out of the shower and into a new set of clothes, he went under the blankets and pulled you towards him. This time, you were sound asleep. He sighed, embracing you with his arms. 

...

“I-I’m getting a promotion!“, you cheered, alone in your shared apartment. As always, you were not talking to Izuku, but one of your bunnies. Mika, a hazelnut coloured one, gave you his attention and sniffed curiously on the paper you’ve read the news from.

You clapped your hands a few times-a habit of yours when you were too happy and didn’t want to be loud. You sighed dreamily and looked at the paper again, holding it higher up so Mika couldn’t get a bite. 

Dear Mrs. Midoriya, 

We are happy to announce that you will get a higher position as a detective and you will be able to lead your own cases. Your paycheck will raise too. ;)

best wishes, 

Headquarters, Japan

you squealed with joy and made Izuku’s favourite dish. Also, you didn’t sleep at all that night, your adrenaline being on 24/7, which meant you could work on your first own case. You were thrilled, to say the least. That also meant that you and Izuku could be working together. 

You quickly got to work and found out about your new case. While you were hot on the trail of a cheeky and mysterious burglar, you received a notification from one of your female friends. A photo with her and her wide stomach. You were happy for her. “AWWWW, so cute! Congratulations! I hope that your child will be healthy!”, end of your voicemail. 

Then, you closed your laptop, put the papers involving your case into a folder-organised, of course-and stared at your phone. then, you looked at the other female friends who sent you similar photos, even videos. A child, twins, pregnant, shortly before childbirth, after childbirth. 

You were...jealous. You also wanted to have a child. I’m going to ask him tonight. But, right after you’ve finished your thought, another notification popped up on your mobile. This time, it was from another, an unknown number. 

Somebody sent you a video. What could it be? A friend of yours who got a new phone? a villain holding somebody hostage? You were anxious with anticipation. Nonetheless, you started the record. 

You weren’t prepared to see your husband fuck another woman though. He was drilling into that bitch with a vigor you wish he’d use on you. he was always gentle with you. but right now, you were just...angry. 

and sad...and frustrated...

what did that woman have that you didn’t? what did you do to deserve to make Izuku cheat on you? Especially after he’d promised you thousands of times that he wouldn’t cheat on you? In the end of the recording, you noticed the woman having short brown hair, a deep blush, a high pitched voice, and she was chubby. 

Right before you pressed the call button with the speaking partner being your cheating husband, you stopped before your finger touched the green button. 

You had a much better idea. 

...

“Hey sweetie!“, your husband called, taking off his boots. he halted on his way to you, smelling Katsudon. He smiled to himself. “Hey.“, you heard behind you. 

you were just washing up the last dishes, when you felt his hot breath on your neck. Sending nice shivers down your neck. 

I bet you did the same to her. 

“Hey, back. You know...I...got promoted...!“, you whispered, smirking at him lighting up. “Really?! I’m so happy! You deserved this!“

How good he acted like he didn’t just cheat on you a few hours ago. and apropos ‘you deserved this!’, you don’t deserve me, slut.

“I’m glad myself! I hope that I’ll be able to save future victims, protect the civilians and make much more money with that!“ 

“I’m sure you will.“, he exclaimed softly, pulling you closer to him. he nuzzled into your neck, with you caressing his hair. “Take a shower, Izuku. Okay?“, you asked, fighting your tears. How could he act to...intimate with you? after he cheated on you?!

“I’ll be right back...“, he murmured, reluctangly letting go of you and stepping into the shower. I shouldn’t have done that with Uraraka...I cheated! I will tell her, first thing when I see her!

Ten minutes, Midoriya stepped out of the shower, not finding you in the kitchen. Now, he smelled roses-he saw them- growing along the walls and ceiling. 

A doing of your quirk, you were able to make flowers and plants, roots, even trees!-emmit from any ground.  and you were able to save many people with your flowers, you were even able to create new plants! You actually met like that-you savinf people by making big roots and them sliding to the ground like riding down the slide. He was too late to save anybody, but luckily, you were there. after a shy interaction he asked for your number and you set the first date.

your flowers all had meaning, and roses meant romance...or erotic.

He opened the bedroom door and found you, only covered in your lingerie, with nice heels, handcuffs and a choker, on the bed. He grew hard instantly. 

“Some here, baby.“, you said, curling your right pointy finger and giving him your seductive gaze. In a matter of seconds, you had Izuku pounce on you, but before he could lather your face and body in bruises and hickeys, you held a hand up. “I’ll let you fuck me. But under one condition. You have to make me...

a mother.“

It took him a few moments to register your words, with your glorious body underneath him and your and the flowers’ scent filling his senses, and when he understood, his dick grew painfully hard. “Y-you want me to make you pregnant? B-but what about-” “My career can wait. don’t...don’t you want me to give you a son or daughter? Twins? Triplets? Quad-”

“GOD YES, I’ve been waiting for you give me the OK since forever!”, he cried, tears streaming down his face. All of his plans of telling you that he cheated flew out of the window when you kissed his neck and he went fucking you like rabbits.

In the next morning, you woke up with no Izuku. Still, you got up and went to the bathroom. You went back to last night’s event in your head: Izuku made you cum many times, so did he-no, he came more. He fucked you orgasm after orgasm and you were sure to get pregnant. 

Step one, finished. Now on to step two. 

Right after the day after intercourse ended, you got another notif. From the same number. It was a photo this time, of him kissing the same person. He smiled into the kiss. 

You felt like bawling your eyes out, or kill him. But, since your plan was a long and big one, you didn’t act up on it. No, right now, you focused on doing your job. But, you contacted a model firm and a music company, for future purposes.

...

This time, you went home later than him because he could finish earlier and you were all ready for step two. 

You let one of your friends to a test and the test was negative, which you then took home with you.

“Heyyy, how is my beautiful wife doing?”, Izuku asked, embracing you in a comforting hug. Time to start the act. 

“Oh,...well..“, you trailed off, putting on fake sadness. Of course, the pro hero noticed your concern and pulled you closer. “What is it?“, he whispered. 

“You remember our night together?” “How could I forget?” You forgot to be true to your words, you stupid bitch- “Well...it...didn’t work...“, you mumbled, your voice ‘cracking‘, as you took out the negative test. 

He stared at it for a long time. “(Y/n) I’m so...so sorry...!”, he whispered, hugging you closer. You could smell his scent, mixed with a different one. That cheating bastard!

You gently pushed him away from you, his heart breaking at you avoiding body contact with him. you looked at him with a sad and dissapointed expression and looked away, going to sleep in the guest room. Now that the young man was alone, he thought about your behavior. 

You and him didn’t really spend time together, the last time being him and you fucking last night. Before that, you were busy looking for evidences of a new case you could work on alone since you got your promotion.

...

Guys sorry for stopping mid story. I don’t really have any motivation right now. I hope you guys are okay. :)

I hope I’ll get to post the second part soon.

[kimbap-r0ll]

Hi! I congrats on 1600 followers! I wish you more followers and inspiration~ Can I request 👀 for Malleus, Idia, Lilia, Azul and Cater? I'm sorry if it's too much. And maybe little sweet angst for boys? 👀

Hi, thank you for the ask!

Follower Event: Malleus, Idia, Lilia, Azul, Cater with "I've had more of those bad dreams, you were ten feet in front of me. I went running but I couldn't catch"

Malleus

A fae's life is long but a human's is short. It's a reality Malleus had to face when he met you for the first time when you dropped into the ceremony in the first part of the school year. He grew to like you, he wanted to spend time with you forever. But that wouldn't last for eternity, he knew that

One night, he had a dream. It was the first time he had a dream in a long time, and it wasn't pleasant. You were going back home, going back to the place you had originally fell from to come to Twisted Wonderland. While you seemed to be sad, you didn't turn around to look at him while he ran to hug you. But in a flash, you stepped into the mirror and disappeared.

Waking up with cold sweat, he looked outside of his window. Did Malleus really want you that badly? Sure you two were close, but you two weren't dating quite yet. He wasn't sure how to tell you his feelings since he knew he could be scary, but there might not be a lot of time left for him to truly express how he felt about you. He was determined to tell you the next thing in the morning

It was a calm day, he went first thing to Ramshackle to knock on your door. Malleus waited patiently, but no one was coming to answer. Finally, after twenty minutes, Grim came running from the main school direction. "W-what is it?" Malleus asked, a bit surprised that the magic beast wasn't in the dorm. "Y-Y/n *huff* they just found out they're going back!"

For a moment, it felt like there was an earthquake. Malleus looked at Grim with a surprised but disconnected look. "Is that so? Without even a proper goodbye?" He said and started walking towards the school. He couldn't let you leave like that, no, maybe he didn't want you to leave at all. Grim called out to him and said to not do anything bad but Malleus couldn't hear him. Maybe the magic was overflowing in the fae, he wasn't sure. But he wasn't going to let you go

Idia

He had a lot of nightmares, all the time. That was the main reason he didn't like sleeping and instead preferred to spend his nights downing energy drinks and playing video games. But it all changed when you came into his life, for once it seemed like he was at peace

Ortho was the one that had introduced Idia to you. He was reluctant at first since his younger brother said to Idia that you were super cool, and yeah you were! Idia didn't think he was worthy of getting much attention from you, but you opened up to him and let him be vulnerable around you. It was more than he could ask, and he soon found himself head over heels for you

But that would also start the bad dreams about you. It was just Ortho at first, but now it was also you. Monsters dragging you away, him hurting you somehow, or you just leaving him all of a sudden. They happened almost every night that he couldn't stand lying down on his bed.

"What's the matter?" you asked one night when he laid down but refused to sleep. "Ah, it's nothing, don't worry," he mumbled, but you could see right through him. "It's okay, tell me everything you need to, I'll listen." That was all it took for him to suddenly burst into tears. You were too kind, you were almost like the entire world to him. He told you all of this while you hugged him and patted his back

"Idia," you shook your head. "I'm not leaving, I'm not going to leave you. I'll always be with you." Ah, Idia felt it was unfair that he got to be around someone so amazing. You comforted him for the rest of the night, opting to grab a hot drink and cuddle with him

Lilia

Fae's are selfish creatures, it's just that Lilia learned to push that nature of his down. He was much wiser than Malleus so he knew just causing an earthquake wouldn't do much, but when it came to you it seemed like he couldn't contain his emotions.

Lilia would often tease you more than anything. He had no fear of jumpscaring you in the hallways or popping out from the corner with a "hah!" Either way, he liked seeing you flustered but this was mainly to mask his insecurity that you could one day disappear.

Fae live longer than humans. He knew you would one day leave without him. He had a horrible dream like that one night, and he woke up panting. It was a strange nightmare, one that mixed his days as a part of the army and his current life. He couldn't get rid of the image of your corpse in his head

Seeing you the next day so bright and happy made him feel better. "Lilia, you look a bit dazed, are you alright?" You asked, brushing his hair out of his face a bit. "Ah, don't worry about me. Just caught up in some thoughts," he laughed weakly, waving his hand to gesture it was no big deal. But of course this wasn't the case, he was still thinking about that dream he had. He could see you so alive but you could be gone in the next minute, who knows what could happen.

Lilia won't tell you how he feels directly, especially his fear of losing you one day. Thus, he makes a deal with himself that he'll enjoy every minute, every second he's with you. He can't go on regretting his life decisions in the future, right?

Azul

If there was one thing he didn't want to come true, it was a dream he had where he saw you leaving. It was a horrible dream, one where he had broken your trust because of his greed and one where you justifiably left him in his own dark desires. Azul knew your first impression of him was when he overblotted, but he wanted to start anew, and this time with you by his side

He started off awkwardly, with you having to hold the reigns most of the time in the relationship. Outside of dates and treating you out, Azul couldn't do much. He had a hard time telling you how he felt and things like that.

But this would change when he and you were studying together. He let you work on his desk while he slept. You thought you heard a mumble of your name and looked around but Azul wasn't awake. Thinking it was just your imagination, you were ready to go back to your studies but you heard a whimper next.

"Azul?" you looked at him, wondering if he was making those noises. Turns out yes it was him, except he was having a nightmare, one which was about you leaving. Azul was starting to cry, causing you to worry and try to wake him up from whatever torment he was going through. "Azul, Azul I'm here, it's okay."

Those words seemed to echo in the back of his mind. It slowly woke him up but he was crying a lot. He realized you saw him in his vulnerable state and was about to kick you out of the room but all he could do was reach out his arms and hug you. Holding him tighter, you told him it was all okay while stroking his hair, trying to comfort him

Cater

If there's one thing Cater regrets, it's letting himself take a bunch of photos with you. It wasn't that it was bad photos, but more that the memories of you would hurt him even more. You had left Twisted Wonderland only a few days ago, and all he had left of you were pictures

He had a dream one day, one that was about you leaving for your world. It was selfish of him to want you to stay, especially because you didn't even originate in Twisted Wonderland. But you were also the only person that looked at him for who he was. You let him be vulnerable, you didn't care if he wasn't always a bubbly photogenic student

Grim was the first one to tell him that you were leaving, but by the time he got there you were already going through the mirror, it was heartbreaking that all he could see was your back. "Y/n!" he shouted, wanting to say goodbye one more time, reaching out as he ran.

You turned around, realizing it was Cater and trying to stop the mirror from pulling you in. Maybe it could give you some time to say goodbye. But it kept pulling you in, and you had to fight the current that was taking you away from the person that you couldn't find the courage to say goodbye to. Cater and you took each other's hands and said your goodbyes, promising to meet each other again soon. However, it was only a minute long before you were gone

Cater stood there, silent and arms still outstretched. He wasn't sure how to act, it was also the first time Ace and Deuce had seen him so serious. Trey was about to ask Cater if he was alright, but Cater just gave him a sad smile and said "well, good things don't last forever, right?"

[koralira-kira]

him as your co-barista ❆park sunghoon❆

pairings : barista!parksunghoon x barista!reader

genre : fluff, romance, cafe love, coworkers to lovers, friends to lovers, sunghoon just being an absolute cutie

synopsis : sunghoon always wanted to try being a barista for a while ever since he moved to college. now he's giving it a shot

warnings : none

wc : 898

notes : i'm back again! honestly, i've been really tired lately. i moved in to my dorm, then it was the first day of school, and now i'm busy training dancing because i have a performance coming up (god bless my soul). and now there's new exchange students from japan that are coming to my school next month. to add up, my classes hasn't even started yet 😭. i'm doing fine though! just need a bit of rest then i'm ok. anyways, this fic is inspired by me cuz i'm a barista myself and i just had to write this down as soon as i thought of this. im quite proud actually and i hope you enjoy this as much as i do! i almost forgot, here's the link for the latte art that sunghoon did in the bonus part of the fic. hope you enjoy!

---

co-barista!sunghoon who asks you what to do on his first day working as a barista. obviously you started off strong by teaching him how to take orders. you also taught him how to extract espresso shots too! man was so happy and proud when he made his first espresso shots.

co-barista!sunghoon who stresses out while taking orders during lunch rush. rants to you about it as soon as the orders had quiet down. you didn't know why but you find it cute seeing him lowkey panicking while taking the orders. bonus! he also may or may not have mistaken a few orders during the rush.

co-barista!sunghoon who attracts girls in the coffee shop and will sometimes ask for a picture or his number. sales have been going up rapidly ever since he started working.

co-barista!sunghoon who on the next day arrives early and shyly asks you to teach him to make latte art. of course you did but you gave him a heads that it might take him a couple of tries to somehow achieve it.

co-barista!sunghoon who was amazed by your latte art skills and had sparkles in his eyes as soon as he saw the final product. he didn't even know that you could make a swan let alone a penis! of course he was impressed.

co-barista!sunghoon that tries his hardest to impress with his first latte art but fails miserably and makes a lopsided heart instead. of course you reassured him that it was good enough but for him it really wasn't. he really wanted to impress you the way you impressed him. and so, he tried doing it again.

co-barista!sunghoon who accidentally burnt himself while trying to steam the milk and it ended up all over his apron and the floor. you immediately went to get the mop while sunghoon was left alone embarrassed. poor boy just wanted to impress you.

co-barista!sunghoon that you taught how to steam the milk properly and got flustered as you helped him guide his hands to angle the pitcher right. he found it cute how you had to go on your toes because the machine was a bit too high for you to see the milk steaming. he didn't really listen the whole time you were talking but he was damn sure that it made his heart go a bit faster than usual.

co-barista!sunghoon who watched multiple videos on how to make latte art as soon as he went home. though he didn't have any equipment in his apartment complex, he listened carefully and attentively as if it would really affect his grades. he wouldn't admit it but he stayed up until 2am just watching videos on how to improve your latte art and how to steam the milk correctly.

co-barista!sunghoon who clocked in while looking like he was sleep deprived. his under eyes were dark and he looked like he could sleep anytime. you asked if he was doing fine but then he replied, "yeah, don't worry about it. just slept a bit late last night."

co-barista!sunghoon who subtly gets to know you by the playlist that you made for the coffee shop. after about a week of him being a barista, he learned that you like niki a lot, especially her album 'nicole'. what you didn't know is that he secretly scans the coffee shop's spotify to see what you mostly play during your shift. he also has seen you singing the lyrics while making a few orders.

co-barista!sunghoon who asks you out to get food after your shift. you tried to decline thinking that it would waste his time but he insisted it. both of you ended up in a ramen shop just nearby and ordered away.

co-barista!sunghoon who insisted on paying the bills and now the two of you are bickering about it. both of you ended up deciding that you pay the bills. now sunghoon's determined that he'll surely pay the bills next time.

co-barista!sunghoon who asked you out for the second time to roam around town and tell you that it's his treat this time. you'd be lying if you said it didn't make your heart flutter.

co-barista!sunghoon who always waits for you then accompanies you after your shift and will walk with you to your apartment complex. he doesn't care if it's a bit far from where he is, all he needs to know is that you're home safe.

co-barista!sunghoon who asks you out again for the fifth time this month and tells you it's just a "friendly hangout". little did you know that he'll admit his feelings for you. of course you accepted and returned the feelings back.

co-barista!sunghoon who gets too excited and kisses you with so much passion that he forgot to ask for you consent. but as soon as he tried to break this kiss, you pulled his collar back to you and kissed him again. the both of you pulled back to catch some air then eventually smiled at each other. thank god that the lights in sunghoon's car was off, or you could've seen him being as red as a tomato.

bonus!

co-barista!sunghoon who has finally mastered his latte art skills, surprises you with his works from time to time. but it's mostly a just a penis.

fin

---

[free-for-all-fics]

Stupid, silly Namor or Attuma fic ideas. Don’t think too hard about these they’re just funny little ideas. Pls tag me if you write or get inspired by any of these. Like always, there are no rules:

1. The reader is labeled as the village idiot because she likes to sing with her head underwater to "sing to the mermaids". The village ridicules her for it. One day, she is swept out in a riptide, and no one is willing to come to her aid—no one from the village, that is.

2. Reader is full of bad puns and dad jokes, much to the chagrin of Namor/Attuma. "Why are seagulls called seagulls?"

“Stop now.”

“Because if they flew over bays, they'd be bagels! Oh hey, What did one wave say to the other?"

“I swear, if you make one more ocean related pun, I will murder you on this island and tell everyone you died in a shipwreck."

"...well, someone's salty."

3. You put a message in a bottle and set it out to sea in the hopes it’ll reach Namor/Attuma so you can be pen pals. “Oh my god I love you but you’re so stupid.” They say because you have no idea that’s not how mail works.

4. You’re in love with Namor/Attuma, but you’re also obsessed with monsters and cryptids so you keep asking them questions like “Is the Kraken real?? What about 6 headed hydras? Have you seen Nessie?? Are they friendly? Darling tell meeeeeee”

5. Reader does that stupid prank thing where she pretends to do a magic trick with an egg and a bottle of water. She’s like “Ok now look inside” and squeezes the bottle, spraying water in Attuma/Namor’s face and runs away cackling.

6. You introduce Namor/Attuma to a wonderful human invention - Water beds. They are less than amused. Reader, consider your sexy time privileges revoked😑

7. Attuma/Namor trying to teach reader combat and how to fight like a Talokanil but reader keeps making it sexy and Namor/Attuma is like “Ok maybe we should stop. You’re not even listening to me or learning anything properly!” And reader is like “Oh I’m learning all the right techniques perfectly. 😏😘”

8. Those videos from EVNautilus of the people in a submarine coming across a dumbo octopus and a googly eyed stubby squid but instead it’s scientist reader being shown Talokan by Attuma or Namor and fawning over the sea creatures because they’re just little guys. Sweet underwater babies. And reader being like “it’s just a baby can I adopt it pls” 🥺 and Namor or Attuma being like “pay attention. Remember why we’re here.”

9. “Your child brings home a raccoon, mistaking it for a cat and begs to keep it” trope but instead it’s Namor/Attuma and their child has brought home an anglerfish or some other hideous abomination of the sea. It’s surprisingly docile and follows the child around like a pet anyway so can we keep it??? Please father 🥺

10. Namor and Jeff the Land Shark crossover. That’s it. That’s the post. Reader wants to adopt Jeff as their child. He’s just a baby 🥺

11. Peter Pan “They were just having a bit of fun, weren’t you, girls?”

“We were only trying to drown her” Mermaid Lagoon AU

12. “General, I’ve brought the cartographer into the war meeting today. I believe you owe her an apology for ruining all her maps when you stab them to dramatically mark a location.” (What if the “cartographer” is actually Attuma’s small daughter or sister drawing doodles of maps and playing pretend/mirroring what her dad or brother does because she wants to help and it’s all in jest hehe)

13. 2 days ago you went to an animal shelter and adopted the most adorable cat. What you don’t know is, he’s the reincarnation of an Aztec god. Your food offerings are unacceptable and that ugly small box that feels like it’s made from scratchy carpet will not do. No. He’ll be sleeping in your bed with you. Don’t try to lock him out; he’ll just scream and sing the songs of his people until you let him back in. (Or maybe through a magic mishap Namor has been accidentally transformed into a cat. Yeah Namor as a cat AU. I told you these ideas were silly.)

14. “Would you still love me if I was a worm” meme With Namor or Attuma but instead it’s “Would you still love me if I was a sea cucumber” or something ocean related

15. Namor or Attuma are taking their daughter trick or treating this year and ask what she wants to be for Halloween. A superhero, a mermaid, a princess? No. She wants to be a horseshoe crab. Possible Modern AU.

16. Reader goes to the beach often and befriends the seagulls/pelicans. So they start to bring her gifts like shells, rocks, etc. Except one day they bring you a golden bracelet, beaded necklace, or jade earrings (your choice of which). It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. A few days later, Namor shows up at the beach, looking very annoyed as he asks for his necklace/bracelet/or earrings back.

17. You and Namor or Attuma meet on the beach in your special spot. You don’t get to be with him often considering he’s kept away by his responsibilities and loyalty to Talokan, and you’re human. It’s usually your only chance to have time where you can just quietly love each other. Except a stupid fucking seagull or pelican has been following you to both the beach and your home; squawking incessantly, wreaking havoc and basically cockblocking you. Untitled Goose Game AU but it’s a seagull/pelican.

[faeirtopia]

ʚɞ ; yandere boyfriend sandy!

pairing! boyfriend!sandy x fem!reader.

warnings! mentions of sexual activities, manhandling, anger, jealousy, possessiveness, and clinginess.

this man… he loves being clingy and super and I mean super possessive over you. no matter the situation he’ll keep you close to him and make sure that no one ever tries to mess with you in a way that he doesn’t like or appreciate. he loves you more than he loves to throw pitches. that’s a lot

since he loves you that much… he’s become quite obsessed. when you two first met he knew that he wanted to be with you of course but as the days, weeks, months, and years went by that you two were together he became so obsessed with you.

never wanting you to leave his side and when you had too he noticed such withdrawals he would go through. that resulted in him needing to call, facetime, or have you send him videos of yourself to him. he just needed to see and hear you.

when you’re close to reid, sandy hates it. all he can think about is reid trying to steal you away from him so he’s cautious and careful when reid is around. with that being said sandy is even more of an clingy boyfriend and will do everything he can to keep your attention on him and only him. desperate

“you love me baby? how much? tell me how much you love me baby please? it makes me so happy.”

“I’ve thought about you all day long, I’m so happy to be home now with you. come here sweet angel.”

sandy isn’t the camera type, he won’t set up cameras or even watch you on a camera. instead? he’ll have a small mic set up in your purse or on a plushie that you own in the room so he can hear you. his favorite sound is your voice, he’s obsessed with the sound and it makes him feel much better.

“can I record your moans to listen too when I’m away during games? I don’t care about recording us I just want to hear you and what I do to you.”

“please don’t ever leave me, alright? I’ll give you everything that you possibly want, I love you.”

sandy is obsessed with the idea of giving you his children. it’ll be the mix of you both so he’s so excited about the idea of it and always brings it up to you. that way you two are stuck together.

sex with yandere sandy is…. great. he talks you through it and is extremely touchy and loud in a few ways. he wants you to face him no matter what which means his favorite position is missionary.

“look at you, you’re so perfect. be mine forever.”

sandy will eventually get a tattoo of your name or something in honor of you. you’ll tell him no but he won’t listen because he thinks this is the right thing to do and not even you can stop him from doing so.

matching shoes, jewelry, hoodies… I’m not even joking about this sandy will match with you and claim you as his that way as well. he’ll think it’s so cute and the both of you are just too adorable.

everyday you’ll have a new bouquet of flowers with a small letter inside that sandy writes himself just saying how much he loves and needs you. he never misses a day to do so. he’ll also add in a few of your favorite chocolates or snacks to top it all off.

“I’m so obsessed with you, did you know that?”

when he thinks he’s being threatened by another man, he’ll get aggressive. never scary aggressive but he’ll beg you not to leave him and he’ll make it up to you. although he’s done nothing wrong he gets way too emotional for his own good and gets you home as fast as he can to show you exactly how he’ll “make it up to you” for hours upon hours.

watches you sleep. we all know how creepy this sounds and what not but sandy stares and carefully plays with your hair while you’re still asleep to admire such a beautiful face and how lucky he is that he gets to wake up to it everyday.

“my sweet princess, look at me please. I love you so much. you’re all that I ever need understand?”

he loves when you hold him before bed. it shows him just how much you love him and his presence which only makes him feel more special and safe. since you love it when he holds you.. he likes being held and the feeling of you being in charge for once. plus.. he’s obsessed so he just loves it.

[tomorrowxtogether]

HUENINGKAI: “Once I like something, I end up liking it for a long time”

TOMORROW X TOGETHER The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION comeback interview

2023.02.08

HUENINGKAI listened closely to each question with his hands neatly folded as if in prayer. He would always nod along as he listened to them, waiting for the very last word to finish before answering. He knows he must wait so that he can fully absorb everything. HUENINGKAI has always waited like this, and he’s waiting now as well—for the roots to take hold, firmer and deeper.

Did you enjoy the photoshoot?

HUENINGKAI: I like Weverse Magazine because it feels new and fresh every time we shoot. Like last time—we were all connected through hands. I liked how this time it captured Neverland in all its dreaminess.

It’s winter, your favorite season. What have you been doing this winter?

HUENINGKAI: I spent Christmas and New Year’s with my family, which was great. I made mini cakes with my sisters. I ate tteokguk on New Year’s, so I’m a year older now. (laughs) I usually get up around seven or eight and go for a morning jog. I like the morning winter air and I don’t really feel the cold. I’m a morning person, so I usually wash up as soon as I get in and sleep, even if work runs late.

You did a Weverse Live with the other members to mark the holidays. You gave a pet rock as your Secret Santa gift, right?

HUENINGKAI: I chose that because I have a pet rock already and wanted another of the members to raise one with me, and then I got BEOMGYU. My pet rock was originally a gift, too. They’re cuter than you think—you can draw a face on them. I’m still raising it—Lionel Mbappé. It’s doing a shoot for a moment so it’s going to be a star soon. (laughs)

It sounds like you did a lot of small but fun things. (laughs) You must have been really busy getting ready for the year-end awards ceremonies.

HUENINGKAI: There was supposed to be a vacation in between, but we all turned it down and practiced the choreography instead. We really wanted to do a good job, so we tried to bump up how often we practiced. You’re always going to feel nervous when you get on stage if you haven’t practiced enough. It makes you anxious. We decided to practice more because we wanted to feel relaxed when we got up on stage. We put on a high-quality performance so I was satisfied with the result. I think it’s particularly amazing that the dance break we did at MMA [Melon Music Awards] managed to contain our whole storyline in just five minutes.

The beginnings of The Name Chapter were at MMA.HUENINGKAI: I really think this new album is our conceptual peak. It brings up the subject of Neverland, so it makes connections to Peter Pan, too. I feel like Neverland would be like the Nightmare version of the concept photos: It seems like a good place at first, but then you realize there’s something ominous about it. It’s like a video game: I like games, and when I have fun playing and hanging out with other people in the game world, I feel like I want to stay there. But it’s a virtual world and it’s not real. There’s stuff to do in the real world, so I’ll enjoy what I can then come back and focus on my work. I felt really happy while shooting the Nightmare version, actually. I liked lying down on the nice, soft floor with all those cute stuffed animals around me. (laughs) How did you interpret the message behind that concept?HUENINGKAI: It’s about deciding to get out and escape from Neverland even in the face of temptation from the devil. The story about that temptation starts with “Devil by the Window.” It’s like saying, Let’s walk down our own path—I mean, I think that’s how we grow up in the end. Even though you’re an adult on the surface, sometimes you’re still tempted to go back to your childhood. Sometimes when I’m up against a wall I think about how I want to return to a time when I just had fun, went home for food and studied. But I’m the kind of person where, if something bad happens, I might hold a little grudge for the day, but I sleep it off and then I’m perfectly fine. (laughs) The other members say that’s something good about me, which I think is a good personality trait for an idol to have. (laughs) What did you do to try and express being tempted in “Devil by the Window”?HUENINGKAI: I tried to sing it as breathily as possible to give it the feeling of the devil whispering. To compare to another artist: Billie Eilish. I have so much fun dancing to it because the song and dance feel like a perfect fit for the concept. I’m currently trying to make facial expressions I’ve never made before. I’ll try to stare at MOA with a mellow look when we’re on stage. The idea of temptation continues into “Sugar Rush Ride.”HUENINGKAI: It wasn’t easy to capture that at first. It’s also about temptation, but it has a different quality from “Devil by the Window,” so I tried not to be too breathy and sing with a little bit of power behind it. And it’s hard to stay in sync for that dance because it just flows with no real clear points of emphasis. So I have a lot of concerns but I’m going to make it work somehow. I don’t think anything would make me happier than putting on a perfect performance of that song.

Is wanting to grow musically another part of wanting to prove yourselves as a group? You set a goal for yourself again this year to increase how much of the music and lyrics you write.HUENINGKAI: I think I’ll still be wanting to increase my proportion after 10 or 20 years even. I don’t have a lot of time to work on it, obviously, but since we’re the ones singing and dancing, I always figure it would be nice if we could have more of our own words on the albums. You couldn’t achieve all your goals for last year, but you got the most important one done: seeing MOA.HUENINGKAI: The pandemic kept us apart for way too long. We should have been able to come around sooner and I thought it was amazing they somehow managed to hold out for three whole years. I felt really regretful and sorry. It’s really important for us to see MOA and get that energy from them, too. It wasn’t until we saw them that I truly felt like I’m a real singer. You said in another interview with Weverse Magazine back in 2020 that when you finally met them, you wanted to yell out the group greeting at the top of your lungs, dance like never before and sing “Sweat” as the encore.HUENINGKAI: Nailed it! I guess everything worked out, then. For me, the encores were the most memorable part of the concerts. I was running out of energy at that point but that part was so exciting and fun, and we could see MOA right up close and personal. I actually remember being clearly exhausted by the end of the performance at the beginning of the tour, but after doing it awhile, I got used to it. It’s like how cardio is so hard at first but after you build up your strength you can go faster and run more. It’s the same sort of thing on stage. Being that energetic and then doing “Sweat,” which is the real final song, it’s always just touching. MOA always has something prepared, too, so it’s new every time. You sang “Our Summer” as an additional encore in Manila, the last stop on the tour.HUENINGKAI: It was a pity to tour in the summer and not have “Our Summer” on the set list so it was a spontaneous final gift. (laughs) The tour allowed me to experience all kinds of things and improve myself by another step. We’re touring again in the spring. We tried to go back out as soon as possible, just like we promised! We’re going back out so soon because of how much we want to see MOA. There’s an amazing set list waiting, so look out for that. How has your relationship with MOA changed over time?HUENINGKAI: I think we actually became closer during the pandemic. It made us miss each other even more. My self-esteem improved during the tour thanks to MOA and I was so excited and grateful to see them every time. Well, duh! I’m happiest when I’m on stage and dancing for MOA. (laughs)

What else makes you happy these days, whether big or small?HUENINGKAI: Yogurt ice cream? These days it’s when I eat ice cream late at night or something else sweet at night. I’m happiest when I’m having dessert. Forget meals—I’m on Team Dessert. (laughs) That reminds me of when you said, “I live life feeling satisfied every day. Every day’s five out of five, and if I feel a little let down, it’s just a little lower.”HUENINGKAI: When I feel a little down, all I have to do is eat something sweet and I’m back in business! I’m usually okay after sleeping even if I had a rough day, so it’s not hard to have five-point days. Zen—like, no thoughts, head empty, as much as I can, calmly and with positivity. (laughs) Do hoodies, stuffed animals and anime still make you as happy as before?HUENINGKAI: Of course. Those are still my favorite things in life and nothing about that has changed. What’s your secret for holding onto that feeling so long?HUENINGKAI: I think it’s just in my nature. Once I like something, I end up liking it for a long time. My feelings don’t wane that easily. I guess you could say my love toward them is great from the start. Has there ever been a time you ended up liking something later despite your first impressions?HUENINGKAI: As far as music goes, I’d say “Good Boy Gone Bad.” I like every track off our albums but I think having a good lead single every time is our specialty. To be honest, when I first heard “Good Boy Gone Bad,” I felt like something was different suddenly and it wasn’t my style, so I had a hard time accepting it. But after we did it on stage, it felt exciting and I had fun with it. I warmed up to it when I realized people who like it would probably really like it.

When it comes to TOMORROW X TOGETHER, you can transcend your own tastes. Where does your affection towards the group come from?HUENINGKAI: The other members, of course. If we go on stage feeling resolved beforehand, I can really feel the difference in the performance. It makes me feel really enthusiastic when we yell, “Fighting!” together and go out there. They’re passionate and ambitious people and I think doing it with them makes me ready to keep moving forward and take on the challenge. You can’t really climb up higher and higher if you keep running away. I think being an idol means having to put up with things to some degree and I think it’s important for me to be active. When TAEHYUN said, “We chose to do this job, so we have to try and reach the very top no matter what, don’t you think?” I thought, Wow, he’s absolutely right. We have to keep going until the end. You mentioned that TAEHYUN’s had an influence on your MBTI changing from ENFP to ISTP.HUENINGKAI: I hear about what he’s thinking a lot since we’re roommates, so I think I naturally came to understand him. That must be how we both ended up as Ts. (laughs) There’s times when it’s good to look at things rationally and I used to be an F so I think my strong point is that I can understand both sides. It’s pretty amazing how I completely changed from ENFP. I was really emotional even as recently as when I was a trainee. I even cried a lot back then but I’ve become a little more rational since debuting. What caused your personality to change?HUENINGKAI: I think being so busy during my trainee years and after the debut slowly dulled my capacity to express my emotions. I thought about going home in the early days of trainee life because it was so hard sometimes, but after a few years I learned to just accept it. So sometimes I feel bad lately when I’m having a hard time and I say that to the other members. We’re all working together and all have hard times and I don’t want to pass my troubles on to them. When you said that, “as the youngest member, I want to be a reassuring presence” for the others, was that born out of the same feeling?HUENINGKAI: I wasn’t grown up yet when I was a trainee and I was so childish (laughs) so I don’t think I really earned much trust from the other members. Even after we debuted, I still thought about how I wanted to gain their trust. But now that we’ve been living under the same roof together, we’re just like family. I’ve been waking up to YEONJUN’s face right in front of mine ever since we were trainees. (laughs) Now, even if one of us feels like giving up, the other four can keep things moving along and help each other out. You always emphasize how important it is that you achieve things together.HUENINGKAI: We’re a team and it’s important that we’re all doing a good job together. That’s how we show the real TOMORROW X TOGETHER. If even one of us isn’t giving it their all, it isn’t TOMORROW X TOGETHER, I don’t think. I also picture us in the future together, reaching the top the way the BTS members have. And I hope our members will be happy after that. Honestly, I think their happiness is top priority. I just want them to be happy because I know how hard they work.

On Weverse Live, TAEHYUN said, “Do you want to plant a tree in the spring?” You replied, “I think I’ll be a little sad whenever the tree grows. If 20 years passes and I see the tree grew, I think I’d feel so proud. Proud, yet sentimental.” What made you feel that way?

HUENINGKAI: I think because I would feel time passing by. I feel like I’m still a fairly new artist, and if I saw that tree growing, I’d think, Wow, it’s already been that long. Time really flies.

You said you were sad when Ash became the Pokémon champion, too.

HUENINGKAI: I was already showing my true colors when I was little (laughs) and I liked the anime ever since I was a kid so it made me sad to hear someone I spent so much time with would be retiring. I looked it up and Ash and Conan are the two longest-running main characters. While the main character kept changing in other shows, Pokémon’s always been Ash. In the context of the story, the fate of everyone who becomes champion is they end up retiring somehow. I already knew it was going to end that way, but it’s still really sad. It’s just like it would feel looking at a tree if we planted it—sentimental and moving.

At least Ash must be happy. (laughs)

HUENINGKAI: Because he became the very best. Now we can reach the top, just like Ash did.

[alitwebster]

closed starter for @aindreisblythe, Oct 21st

As per usual these past few weeks, Ali woke up with a strange feeling in his chest. Every morning when he looked at you sleep, a pinch came shortening his breath. He would hesitate between waking you up, telling you everything he had on his mind, and letting you sleep, picturing all the ways he could leave without hurting you more. That had to be the solution, right ? Look at what you two had become. Sure, you had talked a little bit the other night, after Ali had slept at Jo’s instead of coming back home. However, it didn’t feel enough. There was so much more to say, yet all the words were stuck in Ali’s throat like a bad cough. It hurt just looking at you. Why did it feel like 2003 again, when loving you hurt so damn much ? Love was not supposed to be hard, that much he knew. For a romantic like Ali, you two should have been the most in love you’d ever been when arriving in East Haven. You were opening a new chapter, living a life your teen selves could only dream of. And now, even with all the efforts and talking you could do, Ali was lost. Tonight was Halloween night at Haven’s. He’d told you last week and wrote it on the fridge’s planner so you’d know how and when to prepare if you wanted to come, but Ali didn’t mention it regularly. He thought of a costume, simple but efficient, and promised Haven to arrive early with food he’d prepared in advance. Halloween macarons, savory biscuits and sliders, that was what occupied Ali’s mind at night for the whole week. Sometimes, he’d leave some bits in the fridge for you to try, he’d leave you a plate of biscuits that couldn’t fit on the plate, or ones that didn’t look as good. However, he scarcely made any comments. Not that he was sulking, or deciding not to talk to you. He just felt sad, all the goddamn time. He looked at you and wanted to cry because he had no idea how to express what he felt for you anymore. He’d give you food, smile when he’d see your face, listen when you’d have stories to tell. He’d even laugh at the videos you sent him, but the world felt different, and without you to hold his hand, he didn’t know what his place was anymore. He felt ashamed, angry, desperate and a whole lot of other emotions, all at the same time, without knowing how to tell you about it, because you were wanting to make everything work out. Ali felt empty, because all the emotions came and told him he was responsible, at least for part of what was happening between you two. Then they left and he remained quiet, ignorant as to what to say to feel happy again, as a pair. At least, he was willing to try. The efforts were there. Ali didn’t go out as much anymore, and usually came home before midnight if he had something planned. He saw you making an effort as well. You were home more, that he noticed. Even though silence was a big part of your daily routine now, Ali tried to talk, give you proof that he was willing to take a step towards you. He felt fake. Taking steps towards you felt like walking into a ravine he had helped dig. But he wanted you two to climb it up again. This afternoon, when he got out of the guest bedroom dressed as a pirate, Ali came looking for you in the living room. As he was putting on an earring, he proceeded to give you tonight’s program of his. “I’m leaving in about 20 minutes. A cab’s coming to pick me up, I can’t bring all the food by myself. I’ll be home around 2 am, I think. There is leftover lasagna in the freezer if you don’t want to cook.” Of course, Ali thought you weren’t coming. He didn’t talk much about the event, and you weren’t ready at all. Moreover, he didn’t want to force you to go to another night out with him, given how the wedding went. So, standing between the kitchen and the living room, Ali grabbed all his stuff and gathered it on the kitchen table before speaking again. “What will you be doing tonight ?” 

[tmnt-tychou]

When Leo Met Mona Update

When Leo Met Mona

Chapter 11: Here Be Monsters

It had been six days since Mona Lisa's disappearance. Six days without any sign, any clues. The Dumpster Killer had been their only lead and with him now in custody, there was no other avenue to search. The longer she went missing, the less likely it was that she would be found alive. They all knew this as fact, but no one dared speak it out loud. Especially in front of Leonardo.

He was already unraveling fast enough. During the day, he continued to comb camera footage until Splinter told him to get rest, in which he holed up in his room and obsessively listened to the sixteen voice messages left on his phone. Which, of course, riled him up even more until the sun went down. Then he would go out hunting, even though there was no trail to follow.

He would prowl around the city, a new part every night. He would skulk through the shadows at ground level and then climb the buildings. He stalked the rooftops like a tiger in a cage, pacing up and down as he eyed New York. There, in the open air of the city, he was truly caged. He was strong, fast, deadly, but impotent in his anger. There was no one to turn his rage upon. There was only the pacing, the hunting, and the frustration.

His brothers always went with him. They followed, kept an eye on him, stayed close. They eyed each other as he paced, wondering if this was the night Leonardo would finally crack. He didn't eat, he didn't sleep. He had to have a breaking point. He was the only one who hadn't mourned her; hadn't accepted that she probably wasn't coming back home. It was time to make him talk about facing his loss.

With a heavy sigh, Raphael knew it had to be him. He pushed off from where he leaned against a water tower and started what felt like a very long walk toward his brother. Leonardo didn't notice his approach. He continued to stare at the city, twitching, daring it to make a move.

“Come on, baby,” he muttered. “I just need one little sign. All you have to do is show me where you are and I'll be there. I'll come get you.”

“Leo,” Raphael said softly. “Come on, you gotta call it.”

His brother didn't answer as he shook his foot in agitation.

“Leo.” He spoke more sternly as Raphael slapped a hand on his shoulder.

Leonardo jumped at the contact. “What?” he demanded.

“You can't keep doing this to yourself. You gotta sleep, you gotta eat; you know, take care of yourself. You gotta accept that there's nothing else we can do. Maybe she's gone.”

He expected Leonardo to get mad, but instead, he only snorted. “You don't know her like I do. If you think whoever has her beat her, you're an idiot. She's out there, waiting for her chance and she expects me to meet her half way. I'm not going to let her down.”

Raphael stared at him, mouth open and expression both angry and baffled. What was he supposed to say to that response?

Before he could figure it out, Leonardo's phone rang. Both turtles stared at the device as the other two brothers came forward to hear what the phone call was about.

Leonardo looked at the phone's caller ID before putting it to his ear. “April?”

“Leo!” April's voice was excited, urgent. “Listen, I watched the footage again, the video of Mona Lisa leaving her job. Something about that place just didn't sit right with me, but I couldn't put my finger on it. So I watched the video again. And right at the end, right before it cuts off, you can see her pulling out her phone. But we all know that she didn't call or text any one of us at 5:07 that day.”

“You're saying she called someone else?” Leonardo asked.

April huffed in frustration. “No. I know for a fact the only other person on her phone besides all of us is her boss and there's no reason to contact him when you're just leaving work. So I checked my phone log again. Mona texted me at 5:08 the day before she went missing.”

It was too much information. Leonardo was struggling to follow. “Meaning...?”

“They lied to me. When I went to her work, they showed me footage from the wrong day, but they doctored it to look like it came from the day she disappeared. Not only that, but I didn't have to wait long to see that footage. Meaning it had already been doctored before I got there. They were expecting to be asked about her and already had it ready.”

That was all Leonardo needed to know. He still had enough discipline to say “Thanks, April” before hanging up on her and taking off across the rooftops. Mona's workplace was several blocks away, but not too far that they couldn't run there.

As fast as he had left his brothers behind, they caught up to him, flanking him on either side as they ran in formation.

“Leo, that building has a security system,” Donatello called to him. “No crashing in shell-first this time. We're already on Chief Vincent's shit list. If SWAT gets called, they may open fire this time.”

Leonardo didn't say anything, but he gave a slight nod in his brother's direction. He had been fraying at the ends for days. But all it took was a clear path and his brothers at his side and he was back together. They had no idea what was waiting for them in that building. He would rather his team at his side, keeping him together, than descending into chaos on his own.

The turtles reached an industrial section of the city where the buildings were separated by large parking lots. Far too spread out to jump between buildings. They were forced to street level, to risk running out into the open parking lots. Leonardo didn't care. He made a half-hearted attempt to avoid street lights, but otherwise made a straight bee-line for the building. His brothers remained hot on his heels as they ran.

“Uh, bros?” Michelangelo's breathy voice called at his right. “What's that?”

Leonardo didn't know what he was talking about and he didn't slow down.

“Bros, there's something on the building. THERE'S SOMETHING ON THE BUILDING!”

Because the whole building had been dark, Leonardo hadn't noticed it at first. But now that his attention was drawn to it, he saw the broken window three stories up and the dark, massive...thing squirming out of it.

“What the fuck is that?” Raphael demanded, his voice an octave higher than his usual.

From atop the building, something else just as big screamed at the sky. It was a primordial, unnatural scream that sent the pack of giant turtles skidding to a stop. The sound of shattering glass at street level caught their attention just in time to see...something running at them. Something much bigger than themselves, tearing up the space between them as it raced on all fours.

Full chapter found here on my AO3.

Tag List:

@thelaundrybitch @turtle-babe83 @hotredphoenix @post-apocalyptic-daydream @leosgirl82 @dilucsflame33 @fluffytriceratops @happymoonangel

@akesdraws-blog

[betweenuspreferences]

Preference #28 You Fight and Break Up (Liam) Part 2

You couldn't believe that Liam had told you to get out of his house. True, you'd said some harsh things, spoken out of anger, but kicking you out of his home was something you hadn't imagined he'd do.

"Stupid," You muttered, kicking at the leaves on the sidewalk. You began the walk home, wanting to get there quickly, since the hour was rather late. When you reached your home, you went in and tossed your keys on the hallway table before quickly showering, putting on your comfiest pajamas and crawling into bed. You glanced at your phone to make sure Liam hadn't texted you, before placing it on the bedside table and drifting off to sleep.

When you awoke the next morning, it was to a pounding on your door. You stumbled out of bed and to the door, checking through the security hole to see who it was.

"Harry, what are you doing here?" You inquired, pulling open the door.

"We've been trying to get a hold of you," He explained. "Liam told us about the argument and him telling you to leave. We wanted to make sure you were home safely."

"Well, I am," You replied, crossing your arms. "And I'm not really in the mood to talk to anyone."

"You should talk to Liam. He feels really awful about what he said and did." Harry said.

"He should've thought about that before he said it, then. He told me, at eleven thirty at night, to leave his home. And yeah, I said some things I shouldn't of. But if our roles were reversed, I never would've told him to get out at that hour," You snapped. "Why are you even getting involved in this? I know Liam's your friend, but that doesn't mean you need to get involved in his relationship. Or former relationship, now."

"You're right. I'm sorry, (Y/N)," Harry muttered, looking ashamed. "I'll just....head out now."

You slammed the door behind Harry's retreating back, and went back to bed, picking up your phone. Notification after notification glared back at you, from Twitter, some magazine articles that questioned if your relationship with Liam was still on, as well as some texts from Louis, Harry and Niall. But nothing from Liam.

"Whatever," You muttered, swiping to close all the notifications and opening up YouTube. You scrolled mindlessly though it, clicking on a video and watching it until you fell back asleep.

-----

It had been a full year since Liam had told you to leave, and you hadn't spoken to him since. The seasons had changed, you'd made new friends, read new books and reread old ones. It was Autumn again, and the nights were growing chilly, perfect for curling up under a blanket with hot chocolate and your favorite show. You wrapped a scarf around your neck and pulled on your coat, before opening the door to your home and heading out in the blustery weather. The wind smelled of Autumn, dried leaves and smoke from fireplaces. You walked to your local coffee shop, pulling open the door and stepping inside, inhaling the smells of fresh baked pastries and coffee. You sat in one of the poofy armchairs that were scattered around the shop, placing your book on the table before getting up to order a drink. When it was ready, you wrapped your hands around the mug and leaned back in the chair, thinking about how the past year had been. Snapping yourself out of your thoughts, you set down your mug and picked up your book. You had hardly read a paragraph when a throat clearing made you glance up. Your hands began to shake, and you inhaled sharply.

"L-Liam," You stammered. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm back in town for a bit and decided to try a new coffee place," Liam responded. "Is it okay if I sit?"

"Sure." You said, not really sure about this.

"How have you been, (Y/N)?" Liam asked, fiddling with his headphone case.

"Fine. How about you?" You asked.

"A bit of a mess, on and off," Liam said. "Harry really gave it to me when I told the guys what happened."

"He shouldn't have done that." You murmured.

"Shouldn't he? Instead of listening to your concerns, I kicked you out of my home, late at night, no less," Liam replied. "I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry."

"Why didn't you try and contact me?" You asked.

"I wanted to. I should've. I convinced myself that you didn't want me to contact you. That you were better off without me." Liam said, looking down.

"I wasn't," You murmured. "I wasn't better off without you."

"There hasn't been anyone since you." Liam blurted out.

"There hasn't been anyone since you, either." You replied.

"Do you think.....we could try again?" Liam asked.

"I think we could." You replied, reaching across the table and taking his hand.

Written by Angel

[jovalencia]

good morning ladies it is 6am and I spent the entire night awake and I’ll explain why under the cut bc I am gonna vent abt my health issues again and I’m gonna talk about vomit and all my stomach and eating issues as of late so just be aware of that. and this is all like a massive tmi but none of you are real so it’s okay

okay yeah so basically last night I had avocado toast for dinner which I’ve never had before and it was really good and that’s actually not relevant I just wanted to tell you guys. also not relevant but I was listening to tower of nero while I did that and I can’t believe how much I actually care about this series now. the lester effect I guess I’ll talk about that in a post once I finish the series

anyways I was still hungry after the toast so I ate some leftover gas station jojos from the day before and you’re probably like “carmen ofc you felt sick again last night you ate fucking gas station jojos” and yeah maybe I did and it’s not exactly the smartest decision but I also ate them two desperate times the day before so idk why this time would be any different since it hasn’t even been 2 days since I bought them. but yeah halfway though eating those (and watching my ethanimale video🫶) I started to not feel great so I was like fuck it I’ll go to bed. and I was sooooo excited to go to bed bc I was exhausted and since I’m home alone I was (tmi) gonna sleep naked bc I’ve never slept naked and it sounds fun as hell. and I’m sure it would have been if my stomach wasn’t doing backflips the whole time and despite the fact that I Just Fuckig Ate I was very noticeably hungry. I tried to fall asleep and ended up just doing that half in and out of consciousness thing that was going on last time I was sick like this. without the hallucination stress nightmares this time. except every time my stomach did a flip big enough to wake me up, I did in fact have to go to the bathroom to shit. and guys this is gross but I truly have no idea how I was able to shit so much like i took at least five full sized shits and I’m not even constipated or anything like WHERE did it all come from. every time I got up I was legit flabbergasted. anyways. I ate half a fig bar to try and get some more food in my system and finally put on some clothes and did what I know always helps when I’m sick: lay on the living room couch.

side note shoutout to my sister for insisting hat this couch was so soft and comfy that we Needed to buy it and the matching chair despite the fact that we didn’t need new living room furniture. we absolutely did and she’s the mvp of my life for that.

so yeah I was finally able to get some sleep out here on the couch and I still wasn’t feeling Great but I was able to actually sleep which is a testament to the power of this couch. and it was fine I was waking up to piss like eve Rey half hour big I’ve been driving a lot of water since it’s the only thing I can stomach and I was getting up to shit every half hour before so what does it matter. and it was all fine I could handle this until I needed to wake up for work (whether I’m going idk) but then I won’t up and I was like “yeah I’m definitely gonna throw up” so I threw up. and like here’s where it’s weird. like first of all it was a Lot of water considering how much I’ve been pissing out every 30 minutes for the whole night. second of all I threw up carrots which I haven’t had since wednesday night and god could they possibly still be in my stomach considering how much shitting I’ve done this morning. very weird.

but yeah I feel a bit better now and I tried to call my mom but she’s off the grid on a camping trip (boooooo👎) so I texted her instead and it said it went through so hopefully she gets back to me on that. I’m gonna scroll through some posts then try and get back to sleep bc despite how hungry I am right now my persistent lack of appetite is striking again and i don’t think if actually be able to eat anything right now. god bless.

[themculibrary]

Peter 1, Peter 2, Peter 3 Masterlist

All Good Things Come In Threes (ao3) - batsbatsbatsbats G, 3k

Summary: It took weeks of brainstorming, getting barely any sleep, and slaving away but he’s finally done it. He successfully made a way to see the other Spider-Man again.

He dropped both transporters off and explained the mechanics of them before heading back to his own dimension.

Maybe they’ll use them, maybe they won’t. At least he left the choice to come back up to them instead of forcing them to stick around.

I mean why would they choose to stay.

Or:

Peter’s 2 and 3 visit the youngest Spider-Man after they get their dimension hoppers and aren’t too pleased about how burned out he is and how insecure he feels about his place in their lives.

Brothers (ao3) - Nock_and_Bolt peter/gwen T, 1k

Summary: “I’ve always wanted brothers,” he says, and there’s a lightness to it, an electric spark glimmering across the chasm beneath the words.

Good Things Come In Threes (fanfiction.net) - Val-Creative 

Summary: Peter-3 and Peter-2 deal with their injuries and some usual feelings of attraction. They look after a grieving Peter-1. (Spiderman: No Way Home Movie Spoilers.)

I just wanna let you know I'm proud (ao3) - Supreme_OverGnome peter/mary, peter/gwen, mj/peter

Summary: After No Way Home, the Peter Parkers are having personal struggles. No one really understands Spiderman like Spiderman does.

So by some fateful miracle, they are able to write to each other, and get the encouragement, help, love (platonic), and listening ear they need.

in search of someone else (ao3) - merikai N/R, 4k

Summary: no way home spoilers in tags and in summary

And it's strange; the only way they got here last time was through Strange’s portal, and that's probably how they got here now. But—Strange doesn't remember him. That's impossible. Except they're standing right in front of him, and it's all he's got.

Moving on and Mourning (At Last) (ao3) - redshirt36 G, 6k

Summary: “I mean, sure.” Wade said as he sat up a bit. “But what about the reflexes? That’s super handy in a fight.”

“Yeah. But- I mean, all of us have pretty good reflexes. Wade, I’ve seen you dodge bullets before- well, not that that really matters, anyways. And Matt, you caught that brick that got thrown through the window.”

For a moment, the room went quiet before Matt finally spoke up. “Peter, what brick?”

no matter the distance, no matter the difference, and no matter the issue (ao3) - Never_Give_In peter/mary T, 6k

Summary: Alternatively, 5 times Peter Two and Peter Three visit Peter One's dimension, and the 2 times Peter One visits theirs.

parker and the ring ^3 (ao3) - galaxyquill mj/peter T, 14k

Summary: With the casting of a spell, Peter Parker lost everyone that he loved.

Well, almost everyone.

(It’s kind of hard to forget Peter Parker when you’re Peter Parker, isn’t it?)

When the world forgets Peter One, the Sling Ring brings his fellow Spider-Men swinging into his universe - right when he needs them the most. And how could he not return the favor for his new brothers?

pieces into place (ao3) - pinklemonades T, 2k

Summary: “If anyone was the leader, it would have been Tony Stark, Iron Man.”

With a confident grin, Peter 3 snaps his fingers. “Let me guess: he was a guy made out of iron!”

“Um, no. Not exactly.”

(aka a self-indulgent fic of Peter 1, 2, & 3 just chilling together with a slight addition of hurt/comfort)

Protocol: Hasta la Vista (ao3) - Petra4President peter/mj T, 7k

Summary: “Boss has programmed me to always listen, even when inert. At the use of the word ‘underoos,’ a new file has been unlocked.” Peter’s eyebrows furrowed, setting the headpiece back on his lap. His alternative selves remained silent, listening in awe. He wondered if AI’s existed in their universes.

“What kind of file is it?”

“A video file. Boss requested that it can only be viewed by you under two circumstances: you must say ‘underoos’ and in the event of his death.” He froze at that, eyes widening as realization hit him like a semi-truck.

Tony left him a video. A video that he could only watch if he had died. A final goodbye message to him.

OR, the one where Peter One discovers one last message to him from Tony Stark. Good thing he has his Spider-Bros for emotional support.

Tergeminus (ao3) - jade_rabbit peter/mary jane, mj/peter N/R, 13k

Summary: SPOILERS FOR SPIDERMAN: NO WAY HOME. The following is a fix-it story of sorts following the events of the movie.

-----

They made an incredible team and even Strange had to admit that he was proud to see how well they moved together once they figured out how to dodge each other’s webs. He saw out of the corner of his eye when the teenaged girl had fallen off the platform -when one Peter couldn’t reach her, another took his place without a second thought, driven by the deep need to do the right thing.

Of all the people in all the universes, of course it’d be Peter Parker who’d make the best teammates with himself, Strange thought with exasperation and fondness.

The Oath (ao3) - jade_rabbit christine/stephen, peter/mary jane

Summary: SPOILERS FOR SPIDER-MAN: NO-WAY HOME. Takes place in my Tergeminus AU, where Tom Holland's Peter has figured out a way to reunite with his brothers using the magical ring that he took from Ned/Strange.

-------

The youngest Peter’s shoulders sagged with defeat at those words. He wiped at his wet eyes. “I hate this,” he whispered, “People always get hurt because of me.”

Peter-Three said nothing for a long, pregnant pause. “No. People will get hurt anyways,” he admitted finally, “Spiderman is just there to do his best and minimize the damage.”

Peter-One gave a sad laugh. “You sounded like Peter-Two just now.”

The taller Peter’s mouth went dry at the compliment. He laid a hand on Peter-Two’s bloodied chest. “Yeah, well, I try.”

The Workings of Webs (ao3) - eldritchopossum G, 9k

Summary: Spoilers for No Way Home below this line.

Peters One and Three are curious about Peter Two's spinnerets.

three is the magic number (ao3) - Goldiee (Pastel_Gold) peter/gwen G, 587

Summary: “May is dead because of me!” His voice cracked. “MJ and Ned can’t live normal lives because of me,” He sobbed. “Now all these villains are here, and I don’t know what to do!”

"It's all my fault!" Peter cried, holding his head in his hands.

Suddenly, strong arms encircled him from both sides. Peter gasped and moved his hands away from his face.

“You’re just a kid, Peter.” Peter Two spoke softly.

----

While waiting on the Statue of Liberty, Peter feels insecure and thinks he's not good enough. His multiverse buddies comfort him and convince him that's not true.

three, that’s the magic number (ao3) - zippe peter/gwen G, 7k

Summary: Peter gets sick. Good news is he's got people who care and want to help. Bad news is he doesn’t know he’s got people… and some of them are across the multiverse

Better news is that it doesn’t take long for him to figure it out (and a universal gap isn’t as big as it seems)

To Meet Again (ao3) - RikuKingdomHearts3 T, 33k

Summary: Though the memories of Peter Parker are gone and everyone forgot, it doesn't mean they are truly gone. The memories are merely broken from a chain, but they still remain. Those broken memories sometimes can find their way into dreams, but that is something Peter has yet to figure out.

For now he learned that there is a bond between him and the Spider-Men, and it is a bond that can even transcend the multiverse itself. That bond may just be what Peter needs to get through this new start to his life and help him discover what is needed.

two unread messages (ao3) - zippe peter/mary

Summary: It’s a long way home, but Peter makes it there. He doesn’t realize how much misses it, and how much time he has, until he’s back

Where the Sunlight Ends (ao3) - thelostcolony peter/mary T, 76k

Summary: Peter Parker (One) is alone. That's the first thing. Now he just has to figure out all the others.

Peter Parker Number Three only just got brothers. He doesn’t want to let them go—not for anything, not even world colliding, ground shattering villain things. Peter Parker Number Three is also a scientist. So he puts on his lab coat, hunkers down, and gets to work.

Peter Parker #2 is the oldest. He's the oldest; the first of them to be told that with great power comes great responsibility. That great power has now extended to two mini-Petes across the universe—both of whom need him.

OR: It's time to really multiverse this shit, baby.

with great power, there must also come great responsibility (ao3) - hunkahulkaaburningfudge G, 79k

Summary: The Avengers watch their future.

A Spider-Man: No Way Home + Venom: Let There Be Carnage post-credits watch-it fic.

Wise Guy (ao3) - honeysucklesonata G, 6k

Summary: Who knew Peter 3 would be a little trouble maker off of anesthesia?

OR

Peter 1 & 2 take care of Peter 3 after he gets wisdom teeth removed. Sounds simple, right?