#while I'm working on something a little bigger hue hue

[starwarjotta]

happy Valentine's Day my dears <3 you are all so very lovely

[from-izzy]

double a decade | tbz kim sunwoo

Double a decade—no, more than that. 

​PAIRING » tbz kim sunwoo x gn!reader (proofread twice! lmk if i missed anything!)​ TROPE/AU » ​childhood friends to lovers, non-idol au!, holiday season au! (starts a little bit from christmas up to new years!) GENRE​ » it's so fluffy like wow...i'm not going to write something so fluff for sunwoo for a while after this, a tinge of angst, SUNWOO AND READER ARE BOTH IDIOTS, sunwoo thought his love was one-sided, very shy kim sunwoo, sunwoo being very cute and patient to the reader, reader is sick and sunwoo takes care of them uwu, they platonically share the same bed, big spoon sunwoo who is physically bigger than you and holds you to sleep, MUTUAL PINING REEEEEE, a ton of hugs from kim sunwoo because he's so...ugh, reader blushing cause of kim sunwoo, sunwoo giving his jackets that're oversized for you to use (ahhhh) WORD COUNT » 5760 ESTIMATED READING TIME » ~21 mins WARNINGS (lmk if i missed anything!) » reader is sick with a fever (if you're actually sick, please isolate yourself!), kim sunwoo being a shy idiot, one swear word (but cuts through halfway)

navi/masterlist!! 🤍

my last story for 2023! looking forward to the new year! happy 2024 everyone!

thank you for reading and screaming with me @winterchimez, @heemingyu and @mosviqu !! you three were so chaotic 😭 like ally really whipped out my government name, i couldn't tell whether sana was mad at me or sunwoo, and bar was...yeah...uhm...yeah!

(i suffered so much with the banner, i need to stop looking at it now)

Even you found this situation absurd.

How could something so beautiful cause you to have tissues and wet towels lying around your heating body? It’s bittersweet to know that the things that made you enwrap in the layer of heated and weighted blankets are the same ones every year that fall nicely from the hues of orange and red sky. Maybe it’s the headache or the jealousy as you hear the excited shrills of the children outside the window having fun and throwing the cold ball of death to each other’s faces. It’s probably also the fact that you’re at the time of your month, the cramps around the underside of your stomach in addition to the scratchy itch on your throat that makes swallowing hard. 

In the end, this year’s Christmas has been wasted and you could only cry under the sheets alone, convincing your parents not to enter as you knew they had to return to work as soon as the holidays ended. You truly regretted your past naive and idiotic self for making a snow angel without proper winter battle clothes. The effect took a massive toll on your body, especially with the amount of hours you have been working and the stress of it all. The way you spent Christmas was lonely as you looked down to the ground floor where your family gathered, a warm blanket slouched on your messy, unwashed hair. The distance between your pout and their smiles wasn’t too far but because of your dying voice and their charged voice, even your mother could barely hear your Christmas greetings.

But, there was someone in your life who still barged into your highly contaminated room with his raccoon loverboy beanie and matching handmade raccoon scarf that you gifted for him this Christmas. Even with your refutes and arguments, he just shrugs, refusing to let you spend the holiday season time alone. 

Every year has always been the same at this time of the year. From when the clock strikes midnight when the jingle bells ring from the city hall up to your room, up until around noon, you would spend it with your family. From noon, when you and your best friend would be amazed at how the snowman still kept its shape up until around dinner time, you would be all over the neighbourhood with him. Then cues the opening of gifts underneath the green tree with ornaments from your grandparents’ age, the smile plasters on everyone’s faces as choruses of ‘thank you’s would be said. Three hours before Christmas day passes, you would retreat to your room, only to have a visitor open your door, the pile of snow between the strands of his hair making the wood of your floor a tripping hazard.

Every year has always been the same for you both and Kim Sunwoo is determined to make sure that it would still be that way. The boy has always made every single Christmas memorable from the day you both were in diapers to now. He made sure that Christmas this year isn’t wasted and he proves that solidly.

Now, another day of fighting begins as you pray for your fever to die down in time for the approaching new year. Contrary to your wishes, your whole body feels like it’s been shut down, feeling too effortful to even raise a finger despite it lying on your bed for the last twenty hours.

“Sunwoo…” The tears well up in your eyes, wishing that you could at least pick up the phone to hear his stories about the day. 

“I got you!” 

The door clicks open to reveal his toothy, mischievous smile. In one hand, a filled fabric bag is held as the other fist punches the sky eagerly. If you could, you would’ve chucked all the layers of fabric to the ground for all you care, clinging onto the boy like a koala. He understands the thoughts roaming in your head as soon as he sees the way the ceiling light highlights the sweat on your forehead and the moisture around the bottom of your eyes. 

The once-upturned corners of his mouth dipped and so did his shoulders. With his free hand, the door closed quietly. He slowly approaches you, kneeling on the floor beside your bed. Sunwoo takes his mittens off, tilting his head and his furrowed eyebrows match his solemn smile. 

“The new year is literally in three days and I’m still here all wrapped up like a mummy.” He unfolded one of the new towels on your bedside table, dapping the sweat away from your flushed face. “I hate this…”

Sunwoo couldn’t hide his true feelings either, missing having you healthy by his side for more than a whole week now. The night walks were now leaning more toward miserable than lonely. He misses the way you would wrap your nearest arm with his, the other hand loosely anchoring on as well as you both comment on whatever comes into your mind. It’s during those times that you would be so preoccupied with your words that the world around him becomes silent, looking down at the slope of your nose and the shape of your moving lips dearly. 

If you look up towards him, you can see the way that Sunwoo’s eyes relax and the corners of his lips lift just slightly, looking at you with utmost adore and affection. His cheeks would be red, not because of the chilly wind, but because his heart is telling him to just hold you close, confess and kiss you deeply into the night. 

It’s no exaggeration to say that the fluttering feeling in his heart, gave his body more warmth than the mittens, beanie, scarf and winter outfit.

“It’ll pass soon, don’t worry,” Sunwoo reassures you, straightening his legs and heading to your bathroom. There, he shrieks and the laugh from the joined room, where you lay in bed with a new cold wet towel on your burning forehead tells him that you did it on purpose. “I thought that was real!” His head peaks out slightly from the bathroom door with the toy cockroach in his hand, throwing it on the duvet where it conveniently plops upside down.

“I need some laughs, okay?” It only earned an eye roll from Sunwoo, who closed the bathroom door.

Your eyes widen at the familiar actions, the sprinkling of water confirming your thoughts.

“Sunwoo!” You scold him. “You can’t stay over! I’m literally sick!”

“I’ll be fine!”

These are the only words that he says, ignoring the rest of your complaints and nagging; he knows though, that it’s just because you care for his health and wellbeing.

Your lips could only form a big mountain when Sunwoo finally does exit your now sauna-like bathroom. He had his favourite raccoon onesie on, his used clothes in one hand and was supported with his chest to avoid it from toppling over his hold. A toothbrush is leisurely in his mouth, the frothing around the inside of his lips tells you that he has no second thoughts about staying over. 

“You can’t, Woo.” An exasperated sigh comes out as soon as he slips into the room. “Why don’t you ever listen to what I say?”

The toothbrush stops its rustling sound against his healthy, white teeth and you can tell from the way his hands land on the side of his waist that he has a complaint back about you.

“As if you’ll ever listen to me.” And the rustling continues with a tune of a song.

“Touche.”

There is one thing that changed from your usual sleepovers but again, you’re not complaining as it is the best choice. Sunwoo takes out the spare roll-up mattress after excitedly knocking on your parent’s room for help. You could hear how your parents are beyond surprised by the visit but you could only smile when you hear the way they scold Sunwoo for wanting to stay beside you with your condition.

For some odd reason, he was still able to walk back into your room, showing off the white fabric on his shoulder that he held, shoulder way too high for your liking as his pride replaces the gloomy atmosphere in the room.

“Make some sort of distance between you and my bed please.”

Your tone is no longer playful, almost tired and most definitely worried. Sunwoo nods, his lips pulling into a line. At this moment, when Sunwoo sets up his bed for the night away from you, you don’t realise the clench in your heart, your hand swishing over the space beside you where he would usually cuddle with you to sleep.

“This alright?” Pulling off his sparkly doe eyes, shooting you a smile that you couldn’t possibly refute. “Alright! Goodnight!” He cheers when you nod defeatedly.

With a flick of the switch, the only thing that allows you to see your covered feet is the moonlight from outside. Sunwoo is in a better position because the lower level means that your bed blocks the shine enough for him to slumber back to sleep.

For some reason, you couldn’t. Your body is still, your eyelids shut and your calm breathing would’ve fooled anyone that you were actually in dreamland. In reality, all you could hear was Sunwoo’s more soothing snores, the sudden feeling that nothing was covering you and the uncomfortable feeling of staying awake.

Your eyelids shoot open once more, staring at the lines and scratches that managed to make it there. Maybe it was a chaotic cat? Or a really strong spiky fly? Or maybe, a ghost? Continuing a questionable amount of ideas. You didn’t even realise when your body turned to the side where Sunwoo was. Without thinking much, your arm reaches for the expensive headpiece straight to the once-slumbering boy.

Disturbed between reality and dreams, his body immediately straightens up, turning his head at you. “Hey!”

“Sorry.” You did feel guilty, not knowing that your impulse actions would jolt him so much; but your laugh tells him that once again, you did plan it with some sort of naughty reason.

Like the antagonist of a scary movie, Sunwoo’s head dips down slightly, his bangs covering his eyes and his cheek rising with menacing thoughts in his head. Suddenly, he jumps over to the mattress, wiggling his fingers all over your body.

“S-Stop! Sunwoo!” He didn’t bother doing so, his heart delighted at the sound of your laughter after so long. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry, you pathetic raccoon!”

“Oh, you’re really asking for it!”

It’s a miracle that none of your parents didn’t woke up after almost five minutes of different volumes of laughter. After a week or so of copping up in your room, unable to properly see your best friend, he makes his mark on the winter holiday, knowing that every time you fall sick with a fever, you’ll recall this fun memory.

“Can’t sleep?” 

He retreats to the edge of the bed, his legs dangling. Yet, he has his full focus on the way your smile gradually falls into a frown. His hands move under the blanket, finding yours. As soon as he feels you, his fingers intertwine with yours. Automatically, your thumb caresses Sunwoo’s, calming enough for him to sleep. Eyelids heavy but not completely down yet, your brown orbs observe the way Sunwoo kneels beside you.

“Sunwoo…”

“Hm?” 

“Thank you for staying.” 

His eyes widen slightly but he then lets out a small chuckle. “Just doing your lovely parents a favour.” 

“No.” He gulps at your seriousness, watching the way that even though your back is facing the natural light source, the growing waters underneath your eyelids make his other hand reach out for you, the movement shaking your tears down. “I meant in life. Thank you for staying with me another year.”

Your eyelashes fluttered, the darkness quietly enveloping you. Sunwoo just lets out a soft sigh, your words making his heart beat too rapidly for him to sleep tonight. 

“I love you.” 

There…

He rehearsed the confession in the mirror many times, different scenarios each time, a different object in his hand every time as he imagined the perfect gift that he would give if he was ever given a chance to pour his feelings into you. A part of him wishes you heard it, hoping that you didn’t keep this friendship going. 

The mattress that he worked hard to retrieve from your parents is left untouched for the rest of the night. Forget about his well-being for a second, prioritising the love in his heart. Forget about being sick if it meant being able to hold you in his arms just like all those times. Forget about your scoldings that he would only stick his tongue out nonchalantly to. Sunwoo climbs on the opposite side, his usual spot in your bed. He carefully slips his body inside, the air a thousand times warmer, almost making him wince at the sudden temperature rise that he didn’t expect.

For one last time in the night, he wipes your forehead clean, pressing a lingering kiss on the area. Your body recognises the dip of the bed, turning to the other side and hiding your eyes from the glare of the night into Sunwoo’s beating chest. Perplexed but still somewhat composed, he lets you get comfortable first, both of your hands reaching up to the fabric of his collar, tugging it slightly as a satisfied smile makes its way onto your relaxed face. 

“I love you.” 

He says once more.

“I love you so much, bubs.” 

A little bit louder.

“I love you so much but,” He rests his head on the pillow, pulling you further into his embrace with his hand curling over the shape of your head. “I don’t think I can stay beside you next year.”

Unrequited love his whole life. 

The trade-off between friendship and love is too much for him to fully digest. 

But as the years pass, Sunwoo knows that there is nothing much he can do but drown in his uncertainties. At the same time, he’s no longer sure how much longer he could fake another smile towards you whenever you were taken out for dates. He’s no longer sure how to keep his heartbeat at bay whenever you accidentally whip your hair across his face whenever he scared you, and the way your first instinct is to squish his cheeks, frown and check up for any hurt on his beautiful face. He’s no longer sure if he could hide the urge to pull you into his chest whenever your fingers would lace together even during the hot summer days.

So Sunwoo made it clear to himself that tonight would be the last time he would bask in your presence. Another unsure kiss is given to your forehead and against the screamings inside his head, he follows his heart to press one on each of your closed lids, whispering loving words that he desperately wishes you would hear. 

“I’m thankful for you too.”

True to his words, Sunwoo is gone by the early morning, the white blob on the floor is gone and so are the used towels that you have used throughout the previous day. Judging from the coolness of the sheets beside you, he must’ve left some time ago and it left a bitter feeling in your whole being when he left no note that would usually snap the drowsiness in you to an immediate deadpan reaction, or contrary a dog video that would make up want to curl up and stay in bed for longer.

Three distinct knocks on the door tell you that your mum has breakfast ready but you can’t respond as enthusiastically as you usually would. 

“You’re looking better today, actually.” The plastic tray rests on the corner of your table. The now-occupied space reminds you of last night when Sunwoo used the same space for his worn-out backpack. Satisfied with the way your forehead is no longer burning and almost back to normal temperature, the woman nods and lets out a sigh of relief. “Must be the Sunwoo effect.”

It did make you forget your confusion for a second, the corners of your slumped lips pulling to a straight line. When you were once again left all alone in the room, the loneliness was unlike ever before. The charging cable is ripped away from your device, opening the messaging app to text Sunwoo a very formal, very awkward morning greeting. Your eyes bore into the bottom left of the screen, seeing if the familiar typing icon would pop out but after around four minutes of empty wishes, the way you shoved your phone under the pillow shows how crestfallen you are with his isolating behaviour. It continued for the rest of the day, your phone never buzzing because of him even though his social media activity shows him posting a new memory to share over the internet.

New Year is around a few hours and to you, it looks like Sunwoo has no plans to change his indifference towards you. Even when Eric says he would make sure that Sunwoo sends a message to you, the only thing that changed in your messaging status with him is the ‘delivered’ to ‘seen’ sign.

“The audacity of this little piece of sh—” 

Your fingers tapped rapidly first, and the floating tiles of your keyboard pour your conflicted emotions with a dash of empty threats to him. It’s infuriating that the only thing he did was still, left you on ‘seen’ but this time, in real-time. 

“Okay, fine!”

Why are you so defeated? Frustrated? Annoyed? Irritated? Worried? Sour? Confused? Are you really going to spend the rest of the year without him? Start the new one without him? Is he really breaking the streak of watching the fireworks together and being each other’s first ‘Happy New Year!’s with a bunch of jumping and squealing? 

Is he mad because you’re the reason why you can’t watch the flowers in the sky with him this year? But Sunwoo knows that you’ve been sick! But if he is, is he so mad to the point that he's going to break the streak of being each other’s first ‘Happy New Year!’s next year because of it? But between you both, you’ve always beaten him by a split second!

“Fine! Be that way then!” If the framed picture of you both had noise sensitivity, you’re sure that it would’ve cowered away and fallen straight to the bin next to it. “Ignore me then! Go have fun with the rest of your friends! Why’d you come here and act like you cared when you were just going to avoid me like this?!”

As if the whole universe isn’t seemingly against you already, the bunny doll that Sunwoo won for you smiled sweetly from the corner of your room. The rubber material of your slippers makes high-pitched slaps and your arms snatch the poor plush by its neck, shaking it back and forth as you start to let out all the cursing in all the languages that you know to the boy in your head.

“You got it!”

You couldn’t hide the excitement on your face as soon as the claw hovers in the hole of the machine, a few seconds away from delivering the prize to your hands. Sunwoo rejoices and is proud after winning against the rigged game with only the first try. 

You try to wait patiently for Sunwoo to give it to you, but the way that your upper body bounces, and the way your slightly wavy hair goes along with the motions of your body, only makes it harder for Sunwoo to properly hand you over the gift. You weren’t doing anything special but he was so in love with you that he couldn’t help but let out a shaky breath at the way your eyes sparkle to him—it didn’t help his case that you were cutely drowning in his jacket. 

“D-Do you love it that much?”

Would it be weird if he snapped a photo of you right now? When your cheeks are smushed against the bunny’s fluffy ones? Would it be weird if he wanted to set it as his wallpaper and just stare at it all day long?

“It’s so cute!” 

You indirectly answered, putting your full attention and affection to the animal in your hands. The way you bopped your nose with its own only fuels his adoration for you and because you’re so immersed in your birthday gift, Sunwoo did manage to get the picture that he desires.

Kim Sunwoo also had it as his lock screen, hiding it within a collage of other memories—it’s the reason why he’s been so protective over his phone for the last few months.

Having had enough of giving the inanimate animal a headache, you threw it onto the floor with a huff, blowing the loose strand of hair away from your vision. All of a sudden, the tears finally well up in your eyes and you let out silent croaked sobs. The hunched-over plushie is the catalyst for your head to replay the memories in your head. With your back against your bed, knees folded to your chest and the bunny sitting on top, the outside world blurs out of existence for a while.

Everything is just Kim Sunwoo.

From the way he smiles.

To the way he drools in his sleep.

From the way he would literally hide you from the outside world, arms enveloping and muffling your cries.

To the way he welcomes the series of punches on his chest because life is too much for you sometimes.

From the way he has your mum on speed dial in case he can’t reach you.

To the way that he would hop into the car to pick you up from your solo late-night, early-morning beach walks still in his pyjamas.

From the way he knew how to comfort you depending on the situation.

To the way he wouldn’t mind submitting his assignment late if it meant that you’ll be able to sleep peacefully.

Your face flares up, recalling the light pressure of his lips on your eyelids the other night and with it, the meaning behind your tight hold on the bunny becomes something entirely different. That’s all it takes for you to rush out the front door, your mum following your rushed actions with her eyes.

“Well,” she shrugs, eyes back to the television of her favourite Christmas movie, “that happened.”

So maybe you should’ve changed to snowing boots or something more appropriate than your slippers but in your body’s adrenaline to keep your body intact for another five minutes when you would reach Sunwoo’s house.

“You’re so—ugh!” 

The crystals falling from the sky are too uncomfortable and you know that you will be bedridden for longer after this but that’s not going to be your fault. Someone else will take the blame for this and you’ll make it clear for him.

It’s only when you reach the front door, hands on your bent knees, throat dry, nose red, cheeks most probably iced due to your tears and the weather that the words all evaporate from your head. Nothing seemed to make sense anymore and with the curtain from the living room open just enough for you to see Sunwoo snuggling in the couch with his cup of hot chocolate, the feelings that you have been hiding from him amplified greatly.

You’re so mad at him but you still think he looks cute with the blanket over his head, covering his shoulders and eyes focused so much to the point the colours of the graphics were being reflected on his eyes. Changing the direction from kicking down the front door, you decided to instead gather a lump of ice into your palm, striking it against the window where his face was. 

His body jolts back but it didn’t take long for his mind to register the white remnants crumbling on the glass, window frame and sill. It takes Sunwoo less than a second to take in your shivering figure on the other side of the window and he knows he’s going to get an earful from his mum when she sees the sweet and sticky drink on her carpet.

The coat hanger rattles and almost breaks an arm with how violently Sunwoo takes two of his warmest jackets, swiftly getting ready to meet the cold and starting blizzard outside. He automatically winced when nature slammed the door open, almost stubbing his toe—but maybe that’s his karma for leaving you on read for more than a whole day without a proper explanation.

Sunwoo took his focus away from the throbbing pain, skipping down the stairs, using the spiky handrail for support as he pushed his body up whenever he went down a step lower, relaxing when his feet landed on the ground safely. It’s only been a few minutes since he stepped out of his blanket but now everything is throbbing—his heart as well for a different reason.

Seeing you still facing the window, your hair flying all over the place, your chin basically on your chest, Sunwoo realises that he hurt you badly. Maybe he should’ve just been honest. If so, then at the very least, you wouldn’t chase him out like this when it looks like you just started to feel better. 

“Hey…” his feet make cautious little shuffles, scrunching the remaining mixes of nature and ice, kind of scared for his life that you would start to (rightfully) punch him. Thankfully, he got close enough to drape his jacket onto your shoulder, zipping up the front without asking you to put your arms. If it wasn’t for the fact that he ignored you, he would be teasing and asking you about what you are mulling over. “Let’s go inside, hm?”

Sunwoo sighs at your stubbornness when you shoved his arm away, feet planted on the ground.

“Go away.” 

His heart clenches at the way you probably meant that. It included a hint of hurt, broken the unanswered questions that were swarming your head.

“I’m sorry,” Sunwoo said so softly that you could’ve missed it if it wasn’t the way you were already actively focusing on him. “So please, let’s just get you inside. It’s my fault, I’m sorry.”

His palm goes over where his heart is and the other hand gives you a reassuring press. Sunwoo knew by the way you refused to look at him despite him bending over to meet your eyes, that this was going to be tough for you to listen to him.

But Kim Sunwoo is patient.

He’s always been patient and understanding when it comes to you. When his hands reach over to envelop yours, you don’t push away how he wraps his own between yours. Your heartbeat picks up its pace when he leads your joined hands into the pocket of his jacket, his thumb gliding over your skin. The act also sends your body closer to his, finally closing the gap between your bodies, sharing body warmth corresponding to the red hues on your cheeks.

Your lips now hover over his outwear and your nose takes his scent in, enjoying breathing in the familiarity after almost two days of no contact. Sunwoo bites his lips, nervous about having you in front of him and the way you tighten your hold on his hands tells him that you have a lot to say. 

“You don’t want to spend the first week of the new year bedridden, bubs.” Wordlessly and timidly, Sunwoo just scans over your facial features, his eyes roaming about while your eyes are stuck on his zipper which is halfway done.

“Don’t call me that…” Because it clicks open the surge of feelings that you have been trying to hide from him for the longest time. “Don’t…”

You were still half awake when he said his words.

Unknowingly to Sunwoo, you heard every single word that you have always wanted to say to him. That night, when his hand wrapped securely around your waist, you had the best sleep in your life, taking a mental note to talk about the topic later on.

Only to realise that you are both idiots with your feelings.

“I’m sor—”

“Stop apologising!” 

And it sends Sunwoo into a puddle of shock and confusion when your eyes send out a waterfall. He separates his hands from yours and they fly quickly to hold your cheeks. Stutters of more apologies string out and his thumbs weren’t fast enough to keep your face dry. 

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry too!”

“Hey, what are you sorry about? I’m the one who left you on read!”

“I’m sorry that I’ve never told you how much I appreciate you,” you hiccup before continuing, seeing a glimpse of Sunwoo’s gaping mouth, “I’m sorry that you’ve always been the one taking care of me and not the other way around,” and you see the way he shakes his head with furrowed eyebrows, “I’m sorry that I ever make you think that I don’t care about you!” 

“Hey, no. Don’t say that, I know you care abo—”

“I love you, Kim Sunwoo!” 

To him, even though Christmas has passed, he’s convinced that it’s a miracle for him. The night when he left to stay in your house, he innocently wished upon the shooting star, closing his eyes and hoping for your health and happiness—but he couldn’t help but also wish that you would love him back even though that’s out of his control.

But what can he do when he’s only loved one person and one person throughout his whole life?

“I’m sorry if I ever made you think that I like someone else because I can tell you now that all those dates I went to only made me sure that I’m so in love with you and you make me feel like I can just be myself when I’m around you and I also feel jittery when I’m around you and—”

This is not the type of confession that he has rehearsed for.

He guides your face into his chest, still sobbing and crying. As always, your hands weakly hit him, your lips still voicing out muffled confessions to him. Sunwoo’s arms wrap around your shoulders, the other on top of it. His head dips, his lips breathing out air near your ear, resting his forehead on his arm for stability. He wants to say something, anything to make sure that his avoidance doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love you back but all he wants to do is to just hold you closer to make it clear that no one could take you out on another date.

Only he can take you out on dates now.

You sniffle, catching your breath after letting your feelings out. The hold around you makes you melt, smiling before turning to where Sunwoo is. At your longing stare, his head shoots back up in surprise, tripping over his own words at how you look at him with beady, watery eyes in adoration. Shy Sunwoo is going to be a sight that you’ll get used to quickly, noting how adorable he is with how his eyes refuse to meet yours and his lips moving without any sound actually coming through.

“I love you.” 

You repeated quieter just for him so that he was the only one who could hear the words.

“I love you so much.”

You stood on your toes, planting a kiss on his chin.

“I love you so much but,” Sunwoo gulps with how you squinted your eyes, “if you leave my side next year, I won’t hesitate to throw a snowball to your face.”

“Oh God, please don’t do that.” Mortified and shaking his head, “I’m sorry, you win. I’ll do anything, just please have mercy on me.”

“Anything?”

Sunwoo gives a series of firm, convincing nods.

“Kiss me.”

The words took a while to register in his mind and he couldn’t help the breath hitching when he realised your request. Sunwoo almost stumbled backwards, your hands tug the fabric of his pockets, pulling him back to you and reality. It caused your foreheads to lightly bump and the impact made you wince at his stupidity. 

“I-I’m sorry! I-I’m—”

“Kim Sunwoo! There’s going to be a mark there! That hur—”

A pair of comforting hands hold your jawline, tilting your face to accommodate the height difference between the two once-best friends. When Sunwoo gets a better grip on himself, he quickly dives in when your lips part, swallowing your complaints and making his dreams come true. 

Double a decade—no, more than that. 

That’s how much he’s waited for this moment with you.

When his lips would slot against yours, hugging your top ones with his before pulling away to give the same amount of affection to your bottom ones. Your noses bump into each other slightly, making the moment seem real and fun, smiling and giggling when you both part for air. Shy and kind of embarrassed with how messy and uncoordinated it is but you both know you wouldn’t want to share each other’s firsts with anyone else. 

At this moment, it’s you and him in this world.

That’s how you ended the year. Clenched fist still inside his pockets, though that didn’t stop you from folding the fabric back so that you could have your arms wrapped around his middle to pull him closer. The sky soon blooms shortly after, and the happy firing noises illuminate the night sky, beating the dull light and colour of the moon that everyone sees every day. Because of the dynamic colours, Sunwoo is able to see the shades of the celebration mirrored on your skin, finding you more beautiful than ever before. 

Though beautiful, the fireworks did make Sunwoo roll his eyes when he seemingly needed to repeat variations of “Be my girlfriend!” even though you were less than ten centimetres away from his face. He knows after your third “What? I can’t hear you” that you were playing with him, giving you pecks of his lips across your face playfully, enjoying how your laughs neutralised the flowers in the sky. 

You ended the year with the start of a kiss with your best friend.

And start the new year with a new title for your ex-best friend.

With Kim Sunwoo, of course.

navi/masterlist!! 🤍 tags (send a dm/ask if you would like to be here!): @deoboyznet 📢❤️ @k-labels 💙🤍 @k-films 🤎🎞️ @kflixnet 📺🍿

[yurislotusgarden]

Hi there! How are you? Can I please request number 11 for the event with Dazai, Kunikida, and Fyodor? I'm a sucker for giving hand kisses, honestly XD. Gn or female reader, I don't mind.

ʚїɞ Separately! Dazai Osamu, Fyodor Dostoevsky x Reader

ʚїɞ Keep in mind English is not my first language, so you may find mistakes!

ʚїɞ The event

ʚїɞ word count: just over 1k

ʚїɞ Tw’s: None! Just pure fluff, reader’s gender is not specified in any way, they both are lowkey whipped <33, This is my fav work so far ngl

ʚїɞ I'm very well these days, thank you for asking! I do not write for Kunikida, sorry anon! Hope you don't mind it too much!

ʚїɞ Does it all the time, at every opportunity

ʚїɞ You think you would get used to it, and you probably would stop getting that red hue on your cheeks if he didn’t keep eye contact with you while doing it

ʚїɞ Ya know the way one would bow to kiss a lady’s hand as a greeting in the past?

ʚїɞ Yeah he does that

ʚїɞ There's no place on your hands that hasn't been kissed by this man

////////////////

The sun was slowly going down, the orange hue falling over the water, giving it a beautiful glow.

Two figures could be seen taking a walk along the water line, green bushes and trees dimmed in color upon being caught in the sun's rays, surroundings pleasantly bare of other people.

Dazai Osamu, one of the two figures mentioned before, thought that he had seen everything and that no view could cause shock or any other bigger emotion to go throughout his body or mind, and yet, he's standing still, planted in one place, the view of his beloved s/o, the love of his life, painted in the orange-yellow glow of the setting sun, taking his breath away.

Sometimes he wonders, how did he get so lucky? Because he had to do something in his past life to deserve all this. There’s no way he just got lucky for no reason, it’s not possible, not for him.

“You alright, Samu?”

A simple question said in a gentle voice, was enough to snap the man out of the daze he was in. He was so in his thoughts that he didn't even register you looking over at him.

“Yeah… Yeah, I am, love. Sorry for that.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for, don’t worry. We all get lost in our thoughts sometimes.”

Oh… Dazai swears that if he were to die right now, even if in the most painful way imaginable, it would still be a happy death.

He cannot comprehend your care. For other people, objects, opinions, all sorts of things… and him. He will never understand how can you care for him out of all people. Past him would argue that he simply doesn’t deserve it, and present him can’t fully disagree but… if you decided he deserves it, or needs it, as you once said, he will take it all. His heart never would, still can’t, and never will be able to stand the precious love that comes from you.

Dazai was aware you were about to speak, but he still went with what he wished to do. A hand gently touched yours, grasping it softly before bringing it up a little, effectively stopping you from speaking.

Once he brought your hand up enough, around the height of his hips, he could be seen leaning down, seemingly bowing before placing a gentle kiss upon your knuckles while keeping eye contact with you the entire time.

If there’s one thing he could promise to never get tired of, it would definitely be the light red hue blossoming upon your cheeks every time.

ʚїɞ Does it as an actual greeting

ʚїɞ He woke up and said "Let's be an asshole to everyone but the love of my life, Let's be a gentleman to them instead"

ʚїɞ He ALWAYS goes for the knuckles

ʚїɞ He bows on occasions, but most of the time he raises your hand up to his lips to place a gentle kiss, usually as a hello or goodbye

////////////////

The moon shined brightly tonight, giving everything that met the gentle glow a serene silver look.

Serenity. Something Fyodor doesn't have unless he finds himself inside the four walls of his home. Something he always, with no fail, finds near you. You, the figure he's been looking at for the previous half a minute.

The dark-haired man was planning on leaving the house quietly, with little to no sound to ensure that his beloved wouldn't wake, yet there you were. Glowing under the moonlight shining through the window not too far away from your person like a fairy, like an angel that decided to bless him with their presence. 'Like the moon is calling out to them' he thought.

“So? Will you answer my question, Fedya?”

A quiet, gentle voice snapped Fyodor out of the trance he found himself in. He always does it whenever you both are awake at such ungodly hours, doesn’t he?

“Yeah. Just have to go look through something, won’t take too long, myshka.”

And he can’t help it. The way you look under the moonlight will always take the air out of his lungs for a short minute. The way it makes your hair shine gently, the way your figure fits into the grey shades around you, the way it makes your eyes look so serene.

A sigh came from your direction before you spoke up. “Just come back safe, please.”

He doesn’t deserve it. He doesn’t deserve you and your care. He’s aware of that fact. Fyodor was aware of what he did for his plans, and that someone else who would do something like he does, wouldn’t most likely get such care from someone so delicate.

It doesn’t matter how you look, because in his eyes you’re like a fragile doll, something that could be broken if not looked after properly. The dark-haired man doesn’t know how he got your heart, but he guessed he had to get simply lucky. Fyodor didn’t manipulate you, even if it was in his plans, had you happened to not fall for him through his advances, but you did. It was all you.

“You know I will.”

A promise he swore to keep. After all, in his eyes there had to be someone to protect you. His figure could be seen walking up to you in a calm manner before he slowly stuck out his hand towards you, a sign for you to give him your hand yourself. You did so. It would be a crime if he said he never noticed how your eyes always seem to soften up at his gesture.

Fyodor could’ve been seen raising your hand up to his lips, before planting a gentle goodbye kiss upon your knuckles.

Serenity. A word foreign to Fyodor before you came into his life, but he couldn’t have been more grateful for that.

Notes, comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated

[alespov]

Preach til the morning light.- A.Wesker 18+

Tw: Content: No mention of religion, he's really just posing as a priest. Umbrella is cult-like. Swearing, smut to come in later chapters. age gap, creepy creature… anything else lmk loves

a/n : this is going to be a dark fic! I don’t condone this in real life! Feedback is appreciated, requests are open! (If the text is to small, don’t hesitate to ask for bigger text :) )

Consider Supporting me of Ko-Fi

As autumn leaves shifted their hues, a growing eagerness to depart from your stagnant hometown emerged. You and your mother were about to embark on a fresh chapter in Raccoon City, reuniting with family and liberating yourselves from the stresses of your former existence.

Upon setting foot inside your new residence, a surge of thrill washed over you. The charming essence of the house embraced you as you ascended the staircase towards your bedroom. Bathed in gentle sunlight filtering through the windows, it epitomized the idyllic sanctuary you had always imagined. Eagerly, you began to unpack and create a space that was truly yours. You occupied the bright upstairs bedroom while your mother chose the one on the ground floor.

Each possession that emerged from the moving boxes contributed to crafting a snug refuge for your soul. Beloved novels found their home on shelves, cherished photographs were displayed as reminders of fonder times, and nostalgia blossomed while recalling halcyon days when life was uncomplicated.

"Honey!" your mother's tender voice permeated through the air, urging you to reluctantly set aside your book. You hesitantly rose from the soft embrace of your bed and navigated the stairs to locate the living room. There, amidst flickering light from the television screen, your mom lounged comfortably on the sofa, leisurely absorbed in her show.

Upon turning off the television, a deafening silence filled the room, amplifying her burgeoning sense of unease. Her eyes, brimming with anxiety, locked onto yours as she inquired, "Have you noticed the alarming number of people vanishing lately?" Her voice trembled with palpable concern, and understandably so - such occurrences belonged to the world of fiction, not reality.

"Before I forget, I have a little something for you," she mentioned with hope as she made her way to her bedroom. She reemerged holding a dark green gift bag. "I'm always worried about you being out late, so I just wanted to help ensure your safety." Her laughter was strained and nervous; she was visibly unsettled. Handing over the bag, she embraced your appreciative hug. "Thanks, Mom. I truly appreciate it. But please don't stress about me," you told her gently while giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. She offered a bittersweet smile and responded, "I know, but after losing your sister and your dad... I can't help it." Tears streamed down her cheeks; your heart weighed heavy with guilt. Dabbing at her eyes, she motioned towards the bag.

As you delicately unwrapped the tissue-covered parcel, anticipation surged through you; her eyes danced with excitement. "Go on, open it already," she urged playfully; her infectious laughter warmed the room.

A soft gasp escaped your lips as a self-defense keychain was unveiled alongside a coordinating student ID holder. Both were adorned in your most treasured color - one that deeply resonated within your soul and intertwined with the present moment.

"Wow Mom, this is amazing! I love it - thank you so much," you expressed gratefully. After nodding in acknowledgement and exchanging smiles, you both went on to enjoy the rest of the evening separately. Clutching your bag and new keychain, you ventured out the door to make your way to work.

You genuinely enjoyed your job, and your colleagues were pleasant, with the exception of Victoria. Even though you had minimal interaction with her, she would deliberately make your life miserable for no obvious reason – from splashing water on you to knocking over books and taking unplanned days off. You were greatly irritated by her behavior, but there was nothing you could do about it. Victoria was quite popular and well-known.

Fortunately, she had called off today which turned out to be a hidden blessing. However, that also meant you had the responsibility of closing the library all by yourself. There weren't many people around today, so your workload was relatively light.

As evening approached and the sun vanished beneath the horizon, the library doors slowly shut. With the keys securely in your possession, a satisfying click echoed through the desolate streets, signaling the arrival of a peaceful nighttime ambiance. With the day's hustle and bustle finally over, you eagerly anticipated the warmth and relaxation waiting for you at home.

Quietly approaching your car, your fingertips gently traced the cold metal of the door handle. A serene atmosphere embraced the crisp night air, and all you wanted was to head home. However, something felt amiss, and you could sense it in the atmosphere. As you unlocked the door and reached to open it, suddenly someone grabbed your arm. Terrified, you glanced up and saw what used to be a man. His chin looked like it was half-separated from his face, with his skin slowly peeling away. Struggling to breathe amid choking on saliva emitted an even more unsettling aura.

you felt the whirlwind of emotions, the terror and vulnerability overwhelming you like a tidal wave. Your heart raced as if it were trying to outrun your tormentor, while the deafening sounds of the city seemed to mock your desperation. At that moment, the collision with the stranger felt like another attack, only adding to the chaos that had consumed you. You let out a piercing scream, causing the man to cover his ears and fall to the ground. Seizing the opportunity, you ran, dropping your belongings in the process. As you collided with another person, your fear escalated, making you sob uncontrollably.

"NO... let me go!" You continued to hit before you heard a soothing voice. Just as the stranger began to feel the full force of your distress, a surge of empathy erupted from within. They quickly wrapped their arms around you.

"Please, dear, calm down. You're safe with us, especially with me." You felt lightheaded, and soon you were struggling to keep your eyes open.

- sorry for the cliffhanger babes <\3

[alexinlalalaland]

Seeing Double pt. 1 (Gekko x !Civilian!Reader)

   Mateo was coming home for a week, was what his mother told you when you meet her in the grocery shop. You were very much excited to see your best friend after almost 3 months of no contact, the last you talked to him was over a call when he wished you a happy Birthday all those weeks ago. But now you get to see him ! You were giddy with excitement.

   The day of his arrival you went straight to his house after you had breakfast, that didn't deteriorate his mother from giving you more food through. After the two of you ate something you proposed helping her with tidying up the house a little before her son would arrive.

  "Dios mío, no need child. I can take care of it myself." she send you warm smile that looked exactly like the one you would get from Mateo. You shook your head at her words.

  "If we work together, it would go by faster. And you wouldn't be as tired once Teo gets here." you insisted heading over to the broom closet. You could her the woman huffing with amusement, but at least she let you help her out a bit. While you cleaned the kitchen, she took care of the living room and bathroom. There wasn't much to clean besides some piles of fur from Teo's dog Lobo.

   After an hour of cleaning you heard a car pulling up to the front of the house. You run out ready to throw yourself at your best friend, but the sight of him and a beautiful woman made you stop. She was much older than him, had purple-black hair and beautiful lilac eyes. Your face stretched into even bigger smile seeing her.

  "Oh my God, Reyna !" you ran full speed at the startled woman. However after seeing that it was you, she drooped her bag and opened her arms to hug you. Something she wouldn't do to just anyone else.

  "Mi niña, cómo estás?" she waved her fingers through your hair making you giggle as if you were younger again.

  "I'm fine. How are you doing ?" you asked stepping away from her. In the corner of you eye you could have sworn you saw a yellow dog (?) hiding behind Mateo's legs but it wasn't there when you looked again.

  "Been busy, as always. I am gonna go and check into my hotel if you don't mind, the journey here has drained me." you tilted your head at that.

  "Oh you're not staying here ?" it wasn't a secret that Reyna and Maria, Teo's mom, were good friends. Normally she would always stay at his house during their visits, apparently that wasn't a case this time. Waiting for her response, you missed the pointed look your green haired friends send her. She nodded discretely to his silent warning.

  "I have some things I have to take care of, but I'm sure Ge-.. Mateo will be more than enough to keep you occupied." she winked wearing a smug face at the sight of your blush. Looking up she could see the young mans face also changing hue to a reddish one, making her chuckle in delight. "I'll see you both later." she waved and drove away. You watched her go for a bit before you turned around.

  "I am wounded you would greet Reyna before me." you rolled your eyes at that, knowing he meant that in a good fun. "C'mere !" he jumped at you, making you squeak when his arms circled your waist. Soon enough he was spinning you around, enjoying the sound of your laughter and sight of your rosy cheeks. Putting you down he looked into your eyes, oh how much he missed your (color) eyes.

  "I missed you." the both of you said that at the same time, chuckling yet again just happy that you guys got to meet again. You were about to ask him how he was when his mother exited the house and run full speed at him, stopping only to let you get out of his arms before she smothered him in kisses and hugs.

  "Mamá !" you laughed seeing his embarrassed expression, but deep down you knew he was happy to see his mother again.

   You watched with a smile how he interacted with his mom, wiping away her tears and assuring her that he was fine. Or at least that's what you suspected, you didn't know much Spanish though you understood enough to hold a short conversation. It was cute to see the both of them so happy. When the three of you entered the house, you decided to let them enjoy each other company and grabbed your bag ready to leave.

  "(Name) ?" you turned your head to see Mateo standing in the door leading to his kitchen, watching u with raised eyebrows. "You're leaving already ?" he asked walking over to where you were, putting on your shoes and trying not to land on your face.

  "Uhhh, yeah ! I wanted to let you spend some time with your mom, ya know ? Other than that I still have a late shift at work I need to cover for a friends, so yeah. We can hang out tomorrow tho ? Maybe ask Reyna to go to a new restaurant that opened near by ?" you said with  a grin.

  "Late shift at work ?" he repeated with a grimace. You nodded your head.

  "Yep. Not everyone of us gets cool jobs Teo. I happen to be a simple waitress." you winked at him.

  "Do you still work at Joey's ?" he asked completely ignoring your playful attitude.

  "Uhm, yes ? Why ?" you asked but he only shook his head.

  "Call me when your done with you shift, I'll take you home." he said making you raise an eyebrow.

  "I can go home by myself, besides aren't you tired after the travel ?" you sounded a bit mad, and you know it was petty but you hated being seen as some helpless girl that couldn't even head home after work.

  "Just call me ? Please !" he begged.

  "I'll see about that." you turned around ready to leave when suddenly something warm grabbed your wrist and tugged you back, your back collided with warm chest. Looking up you could see a frown on his face, while he looked down at you with strange look in his eyes.

  "I mean it, I don't want for you to get hurt. Not if I can help it." he said seriously. It took you a minute to process his words. You hated being seen as helpless, but you hated fighting with him even more. So you opted for a joke.

  "What ? Are you going to send an army of tiny adorable creatures after anyone who wants to hurt me ?" you smirked. Mateos breath hitched, he let you go all the while looking at you with startled expression.

  "That's oddly specific, chica." he said trying to sound normal.

  "I was only joking." you shrugged your shoulders.

  "Yhmm." the green haired male hummed to that. "Call me ?" you rolled your eyes at that but huffed and nodded your head to somehow appease him.

  "I will, I will."

 

***

 

   The whole time you were at work you felt as if you were being watched, even a trip to the back felt strange. As if someone could see your every move. Paranoid you started to look around, hoping that it was just a funny feeling. You were currently underneath the table in the break room when the cook, your boss Richard entered.

  "What are you doing down there, kid ?" startled at the deep voice you banged your head on the table. Looking back you saw him standing in the doorway, he was clearly amused by your antics.

  "Hey Rich, what's up ?" you asked standing up, trying to dismiss the situation that happened just now. What were you doing anyways ? looking for hidden cameras or something ? You mentally sighed at your stupidity, ha ! As if someone would be interested in this boring place.

  "I was about to ask you if you could close the restaurant for me, Helen said Joey was feeling sick and she has to go to work soon herself. By the way what were you doing anyways ?" you blushed at the question.

  "I dropped something and was trying to get it back is all." you could tell he didn't buy your lie, but hoped he wouldn't pry. The last thing you needed was your boss thinking your crazy or something.

  "But yes, I would love to help you out. I'm sorry to hear that Joey got sick, poor thing. Tell him I said hi, yeah ?" you smiled at him, thinking of the adorable three years old brought a smile to your face. You couldn't wait to see the little boy again, maybe you should ask to babysit ? It always brought a little bit extra cash anyways, plus you could hung out with the cutest toddler in L.A.

  "Thank you. You can close up early, I don't think we'll be having anymore customers. I heard Mateo came back today, maybe you should call him to pick you up ?" he suggested making you roll you eyes.

  "Believe it or not, we kinda had a fight about it today. He insisted on picking me up from work. Come to think of it he acted kinda strange. Maybe he was just tired ?" you explained with a huff.

  "Or maybe he was onto something. I don't want to alarm you but I saw some strange people nearby, just be careful alright ?" he waved and walked out again.

  Strange people ? you thought walking out of the break room and heading over to the kitchen to start cleaning up. You decided to ignore it for now, already being spooked about the whole being watched thing, and concentrate on work. Looking at the clock you gnawed at your lip a bit, it was late and by the time you would be done it would already be midnight. Maybe calling Teo wasn't a bad idea ?

   Walking over to the register you pulled out your phone and dialed your friends phone number, but it directed you to voice mail. You tried again and again but the result was the same every time. Furrowing your brows you put your phone in the little apron you had on while working and started to clean the place.

   It took you hour and 45 minutes before you were done with everything. The last thing you had to do was taking out the trash. Kicking open the door to the back alleyway you could hear soft whispers making your hair stand up, you really were being to get paranoid. Walking over to the trash containers you threw the bags in, and closed the lid. Turning around you saw someone standing at the entrance to the alleyway. Squinting your eyes you could see a familiar shade of green in the persons hair.

  "Mateo ? I tried to call you, but you wouldn't pick up." you walked over to him with a grimace on your face. " What's the big idea ? You said I should call you and then you don't pick up the phone ? WHOA !" you yelped when suddenly all you could see was a barrel of a hand gun. Your eyes widened at the sight of the weapon being held by someone who you saw as your best friend, aimed straight between your eyes.

  "Sorry Querida, but orders are orders." he said in a steady tone, you could see his finger pushing on the trigger.

   Call it stupidity, or maybe bravery but the moment your flight or fight instinct kicked in was the moment you pushed him away from you, making him fire and miss. You cried out in pure shock at the fact he would do something like this. Looking at him with wide eyes, it took your brain a second to register in how much danger you were actually in. Turning around you ran full speed at the doors to the restaurant and quickly shut them  behind you. Your heart was beating a hundred miles per hour.

  "What the fuck !?" you hissed, with shaky hands you pulled out your phone to call the police but in a blink of an eye it was taken away from you. Looking up you saw a tall, lean man with a white hat and mask covering his whole face. You scream got cut off, when he put a hand on your face.

  "Shhh, we don't want anyone to disturb us do we ?" he said quietly, you watched him with teary eyes trying to come up with a plan of action to get as far away from him as possible. Every cell in your body told you to run and not look back, and who were you to ignore what your body wanted ?

  "It was quiet the challenge to find you. After we lost the other you it seemed like all hope was lost, until a little birdie told us that Alpha Gekko was a dear friend of yours. It took us months to finally get this close to you, and to thing your boyfriends counterpart nearly killed you. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk what a shame that would be. Don't you think so ?" you were completely lost while he talked. Alpha Gekko ? Other you ? What the fuck was he on about ?

  "Get off of me !" you finally snapped biting him on the hand and punching him in the guts, making him bow down so you took the opportunity and quickly smashed your knee against his face. Satisfied with how he seemed to pass you, you stepped over his body and ran over to the exit doors.

   There wasn't that many people outside right now. So your best bet was to run, but at the same time you couldn't just run home otherwise whoever followed you would know where you lived. Though something told you, that they already knew everything there was to know about you already. Suddenly something slimey got onto your face obscuring your vision and making you slow down. Stopping completely to get rid of the blue substance you didn't notice a shark like creature sliding over to you.

  "OYE ! MONSTER ON THE LOOSE !" you heard but it was too late to react, as something suddenly bit hard onto your arm making you fall down with a cry. You hand coming up to your arm, holding and pressing onto the wound. It hurt like hell.

  "Seems like we're gonna see each other a lot more, chica." you looked up at the person who looked like Mateo, from his green hair to the way he dressed he was your friend, but something told you this wasn't really him.

  "Who are you ?!" you spat finally, having been done with this bullshit from the moment you knocked that weird hat guy at the restaurant. Come to think of it, your boss would definitely not appreciate a stranger in the back rooms when he comes to work the next day.

  "Ayy, you know who I am." he crouched down and put his hand on top of your hand, sliding it down until he could cup your face and lean down a bit. You shivered when you felt his warm breath over your lips and cheeks.

  "You look like my friend, but you are not him. He wouldn't act like this !" you yelled, not caring if anyone else would listen. Something started to snap inside of you, you felt small shocks along your body. Your hair started to levitate a bit. Mateos eyes widened a small bit upon seeing you use your power for the very first time, it was beautiful how your eyes suddenly looked a lot more brighter and your hair ,that you tied up into a pony tail before your shift, started to have life of their own.

  "Maravilloso." he whispered with awe in his eyes. You narrowed your brows feeling untamed rage at this person in front of you, small pebbles and trash started to levitate around you making you look much more scary.

  "Let me go." you demanded but he only shock his head.

  "No can do, pretty girl." you scoffed at the nickname. You hair tickled your cheeks making you realize you were actually levitating right now, it was a good few inches between you and the ground still it wasn't that much considering your attacker still hovered over you.

  "What do you want ?" you asked, desperate to understand what was going on at least and buy some time. For what you didn't know, but you could feel someone was coming.

  "I can't..."

  "It's all you, lil' homie!" you jumped hearing your friends voice yell out. But the person in front of you didn't scream, he was talking while you heard it. Yet again you heard the strange sound of something sliding, yet you couldn't look behind you. Your hair fell down and you felt a wave of both nausea and fatigue hitting you all at once. Blinking you saw something black jump over your head at the man in front of you. You head hit the floor. Your eyes closed and all you could hear was gun fire and someone yelling to get you out of there, it sounded like Mateo and he was worried sick. What was happening ? Why was it happening now ? With all those Questions running around your head you decided to let the darkness consume you, you were so very tired after all. A short nap woudn't hurt right ?

 



 



 



 

Hello guys ! I decided to post something extra today, seeing as it took me so long to post part 2 of the You're perfect One shot ^^ I hope you guys like this one as well, let me know what you think ! I think I'm gonna make it into a short story actually, or should I keep it short ? Anyways have a lovely day/night ! Stay safe and drink water !

-Alex



[viciouslyyearning]

Giant Witch x Reader

Thinking again about certain things, such as dating a witch, and living in his cozy cabin deep in the woods away from predominant civilization. Your shared home is more of an enclosed forest with moss and clover-covered floors, beams made of intertwined trees with a plethora of both living and dried fauna lining the walls, maybe even an owl as his familiar that totally prefers you but we don't talk about that.

Maybe you both met when you were younger, as the only person in the little village that didn't turn your nose up at him, he was curious, just as curious as you were of his studies. After some years the two of you settled gently, peacefully, into a relationship together. Orion, for all of his flashy magic and potions and spells, was a rather shy individual. Often leaning on you for support in conversation or social situations, which you happily gave time and time again.

While he worked away on his studies and products for his apothecary stand he stocked in town, you had ample time to focus on your own creations. Though when he was too busy you would always lend a hand in his workshop, gathering ingredients, fetching tools, and mixing measurements. There were many a day where he would devote such time to a spell or potion that he knew you would greatly enjoy. Such as the spell of languages that allowed you to speak with the forest animals for a certain amount of time.

Today was another day dedicated to a spell he thought you would love. As Orion fluttered around the workshop, gathering just a few more tuffs of mouse fur, he grinned excitedly. All but anticipating the excited reaction you'd have, how you'd wrap your arms around him and under his cloak to be all the closer, squeezing him tight and pressing kiss after kiss to his cheek. The witch giggled in excitement, grasping the brim of his pointy hat and pulling it down to cover his face as he settled himself.

Once he felt he had collected himself he opened the door to his workshop, leaning out into the main room. "Dearest? I'm all set! I can't wait to show you what I've been working on," He called out.

"Have you finished already, dear?" You responded, appearing from the hall next to him. The poor witch felt his heart stutter, a common occurrence upon seeing you after any period away.

Orion grasped your hand tightly and pulled you along, heart racing and eyes shining. "I've been studying this one for weeks, the preparation took time but the application should be so simple!" Moving to the workbench, he turned back to you, gently escorting you to his chair and waiting for you to sit before he continued. "See? Just a few gusts of the gentle spring breeze, a drop of morning dew, a pinch of dried and crushed daffodil, and!" Orion turned to you, holding his hand to his chest, something balled up in his fist. "Just a tuff of mouse fur," he spoke softly, smiling as he waved his hand over the collection of items that had been laid out in a certain presentation. His hand began to glow as he conjured up his will, eyes shining pink as he spoke in a low voice, words going unheard by you. This was nothing unusual, you could only sit back and wait to see what he would do this time.

swirling mist of pink and purple hues began to form in the room, encircling the two of you as he continued. You watched Orion slowly raise his closed fist to the pile of items that had risen in the air, his hand opened, dropping the fur into the mixture, and everything went dark.

It was warm.

It was exausting.

You felt nothing.

As the darkness faded from your vision, you realized you must have been laying down. Sitting up slowly, not quite noting how the action didn't seem to shift your perspective as much as it normally did. You let out a tired groan, rubbing the exhaustion from your eyes before opening them and freezing in place.

The room would swallow you whole if it was any bigger, moss floors not even dented by your weight, and glass jars containing items that could have fit in your hand could now contain you. Walls and trees that reached the sky and a chair that you could easily live under with the space you had. Most important to note, however, was your sweet darling Orion. Kneeling down and looming over you, with his shadow encasing you and a booming voice speaking far too loud and far too fast, his presence similar to the reaper with the feeling you were left with.

You let out a horrified shout, scrambling to fling yourself backward and afraid of the giant that you had once been taller than.

Said giant jolted back in surprise, slamming into the floor behind him and sending a shockwave that left you tumbling for a brief moment. "Oh no no no, it's alright dearest!" He jolted towards you, attempting to help you but only sending your heart through a stage two heart attack.

"Stop!" You shouted as loud as your tiny lungs could manage, making him freeze in place, wide teary eyes watching you closely. You sat upright, trying to catch your breath, wary of the hand that was far too close for your comfort at that moment.

Orion stared helplessly, wanting nothing more than to fix this, wanting to hold you close and assure you that it would be alright, this wasn't supposed to happen but it's ok he can fix it and you'll still be safe. His breath was shaky as he watched you, little you who could only fit in his hand, trying not to panic. Oh, how he wanted to lift you up and keep you in his hands where you would be safe from… everything a person your size might face.

You finally looked up at Orion's face, seeing his teary eyes and shaking. Closing your eyes you began to rationalize. You were safe, this was Orion the same who had time and time again proven to be harmless and loving and gentle and soft. You sighed forcefully. Looking back to Orion and motioning towards his hand, you spoke. "Lay your hand down in front of me, flat, palm up. But do so slowly, alright dear?" Your voice was far stronger in tone than you felt.

The witch jolted at the sudden instruction but nodded, not risking speaking but moving his hand slowly toward the ground.

It was almost fascinating how different his movements looked at this magnitude, but these were no times to ponder such things. As his hand lay flat, you stood slowly. Hesitating as you felt warmth radiating off of his skin, he was so close. Feeling his eyes staring, you shuffled forward, taking your time to work up the courage and resting your hand in his palm, feeling the soft skin as well as his racing heartbeat. Casting a glance towards his expression showed you just how torn between fascination and sorrow. You refocused on his hand, taking the leap of trust that had in the past been proven to you time and time again. Slowly, cautiously you climbed into Orion's opened hand, sitting and shifting until comfortable, you finally looked back up to your witch to see him watching you with the warmest expression you'd seen him make. "Now… Lift me up slowly, alright?"

Orion nodded mutely, raising his hand a short bit off the ground before wrapping his other hand under it to keep a more stable grip, and you were moving up. He lifted you as carefully as he could manage, rising you and stopping once you were right in front of his face. He seemed to hesitate before speaking, "This wasn't supposed to happen, it was supposed to allow you to scurry quick as a mouse, not as small as one." He all but whispered.

You rubbed your face with your hand, senses calming now that you were eye level. "Then what went wrong?"

He stood slowly, lowering you slightly and holding his hand against his chest as he turned to the book on the table. Orion began flipping through the pages, reviewing the ingredients he needed before stopping and tapping against the page. "Dandelion, not daffodil… ah." Orion looked back at you with a nervous smile, "Well, good news? The spell worked as it was intended based on what I had used. And I can promise that in three days' time, you'll be back to normal." His voice died out with each passing word which left you processing what was said for a moment.

"Three days?" You whimpered, unknowing of how you could possibly take care of yourself in such a state. feeling far too overwhelmed to think clearly.

"Oh no, oh dear no, oh it's alright I swear to you. I'll keep you with me the entire time I swear, you'll be safe and we can stay here and away from the noisy village and its people, I'll keep you close and safe," he soothed as gently as he could, shifting you in his hands to hug you to his chest. "You love cuddling up in my cloak and remember it has pockets I've sewn inside it, You can rest there as the fabric is heavy enough that up here it hardly moves and stays right with me. You can rest and sleep the days away so the stress of this all won't touch you if you'd truly like." Orion had hit his stride in offering whatever he could to make you happy, once again. "In fact, I can set you up a little grove in the wall of our bedroom so you don't feel so small in these big rooms, I can make you a nice soft bed and a safe place to sleep and eat and-"

"Orion."

The witch froze in his tracks and looked down at you with a sheepish grin, "I suppose that is for later? Now might just be the time to collect ourselves…"

You sighed softly, subconsciously leaning against his chest with closed eyes. "Later, for now, as you set. let's simply settle somewhere and rest. We can worry about this more later."

Your partner nodded, sitting down slowly in the comfortable chair you had been in just before, Orion watched you with fading concern and growing adoration, he stayed quiet as your breathing slowed, keeping you close and trying to think of what could be done for you in the meanwhile. If nothing else, you were absolutely adorable in such a state and if you hadn't been so scared he would have already said so. Repeatedly. He could later, though. As well as cuddle and kiss your little form as much as you'd allow once things calmed.

Maybe if this all went well… He could convince you to allow him to do so again, intentionally. You were truly and absolutely precious in his hands, after all.

[heartfullofleeches]

found the one that some people have been talking about: here and here

the one with the yan husband, Evan, and the monster reader, a ghoul, re-read it and yeah is very fluffy, but how was the wedding? the marriage vows? what about the groom's family? did Evan seriusly went to gym so he could carry them? my goodness thats so sweet 😭🥺

He proposed on your second anniversary.

A beautiful day met at its end by a trip to a quiet park. Up a small hill was a bench that over looked the city; just far enough way from the light population to see the beauty of a starlight night. A full moon, just like the night you had met. The weather was cool, and the warmth of your love fighting off the soft breeze.

Evan looks at you, sliding a gift box across the bench; his usual chipper self replaced with the confidence of a teen asking someone to prom.

"Here, Y/n.... Your last gift of the night."

You take the small box from him, wrapped in a bow the same hue as your favorite color. Just as the year before, he had shower you in affection and presents leading up to the day; saving the best for last. As one might suspect, was always hard to go outside with a mouth in your neck; even if you were able to hide it.

Turtleneck sweaters, heavy coats. Things you had to wear, but became a hassle in warmer months. Last year, Evan bought you a lovely silk scarf to make things easier for you. Easy to breath in, and light as a feather. He even had your name stitched into it. You loved it so much, sometimes you'd wear it at home. It became a habit to buy you a new one on holidays. Valentine's day, your birthday; and tonight all the same - although there was something slightly different about this one.

As you pick it up to try it on, you feel a small weight in its center; no bigger than a small stone. You unravel the scarf, finding a silver ring beneath its cloth. You glance at Evan, but he picks it up before you can speak; kneeling before you. Taking a deep breath, he begins his speech.

"Y/n... being with you has been the greatest years of my life. I'm glad I can way up every morning and see you, and this... doesn't mean anything to show the magnitude of our lobe, but I dream about seeing you walk down the aisle. You've done what nobody else has ever done - give me a reason to live. Will you marry me?"

You say yes. Of course you. Whether you knew about the culture or not, you wanted to be with him. Somewhere deep in his heart, Evan knew you would, but he's still knocked off his feet. He slides the ring unto your finger, tears forming as he laughs in disbelief.

"I never thought you could make me any happier than you already do..."

He kisses you, his arms hooked under your legs; wanting to pick you up and carry you off into the night. As a guy who never did any physical activity beyond what was mandatory, he could barely lift you from your seat. Instead, he presses his forehead to yours with a promise.

"Just you wait honey... I'm gonna carry you off into the sunset on our wedding night."

-

The wedding would take a little while to come. He had to find the perfect place, plus there were other needs to be taken care of. As much as he wanted to wed you then, there was no greater feeling at the time than coming home exhausted after a day of mental and physical labor to cuddle up with his soon to be spouse.

The title's weren't important, your love stronger than words could muster, but it still had him grinning like an idiot to call call that.

Eventually, he settles on a small church by a beach. A pretty view, plus it was away from the public eye. After a brief talk with the pastor, the two come to the agreement to hold it just before dusk on Wednesday; one of the few days the church's doors were closed. With the area decorated and time taken off work; everything was ready for the special day.

Evan stands anxiously at the alter; fidgeting with the collar of his suit as he waited for you to walk through those door. The pews of the church were empty; nobody important enough in his life to joy him in this moment, aside from one.

His sister offers him a tissue to wipe the sweat from his face, returning to her spot behind him after. With a poor upbringing, the two only had each other until she moved away for a better life; leaving him behind. Years later she found him online, believing he'd never want to see her again. It was a big surprise when he sent her an invitation and an even bigger one when she found out the truth.

It was, understandably, a lot to swallow, but her baby brother had been through so much and to see the life in his eyes made her want to cry. She happily agreed to be his groomswoman, and even had a hobby in photography; the perfect guest. She holds her camera pointed at the church doors, right as you walk in.

Evan nearly collapses as his eyes fall on you. It was a dream he never wanted to wake from; the happiness he never thought would come to his miserable life. You walk down the aisle, the tail end of your suit dragging along behind you. A cream colored scarf wraps tightly around your neck, fabric smoother than any you'll had before - like it was cut from am angel's robe. In hand, you held a bouquet of the same roses that brought you together.

You stop in front of Evan; his heart hammering in his chest with each step until it finally exploded when you reach his side. He wanted to kiss you. He wanted to hold you. He wanted to spend eternity with you.

With trembling hands, he removes the scarf from around your neck. The already on edge priest nearly faints at the sight of your neck splitting in two; meanwhile Evan is taking away for the millionth time.

"You look amazing, honey.."

"You may now speak your vows."

Evan shoves the index cards he hand in his pocket. He had memorized each word down to the letter, but it didn't matter. He knew what was in his heart. He grabs your hands.

"Y/n... you are the only light in my life. You are the first friend I ever truly had, the first person that's made me feel whole. Without you, I couldn't face the darkness that surrounds me. I don’t know what I'd do if I ever lost you. I promise to always protect you. Keep you safe from anything that could cause you harm. As your best friend. As your husband.

You speak yours after his. You could have said nothing, you could have said everything that you held inside. Either way, your words have Evan smiling from ear to ear and squeezing your hands tighter. The priest clears his throat and continues.

"Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do.." You grab one of the rings place on the podium beside you, slipping it onto Evan's finger.

"Do you take this... person to be your lawfully wedded-"

"Of course I do." Evan picks up the other and slides on yours, bringing you into his arms in the process. He kisses you before the priest can even say so, crashing his lips to yours in utter bliss. He trails his lips down your face until he reaches your neck, kissing your other mouth just as passionately as he brings his arms behind your legs. You're lifted off the ground with your lips still touched; carried bridal style to the end of the altar. His sister had been taking pictures the whole time, crying her own tears of joy. Evan stops before heading to the doors, making sure he's in earshot of the priest as he whispers.

"Thank you for the service, father. I'll be sure to send you a copy in the mail."

A silent threat; tale bearer of just how mad Evan's love for you was. He knew the risks of this ceremony, but there would be even greater ones for the members of it if they said a single word. He returns back to his smiling, happy self as he carries you off to your new life together.

[adobe-outdesign]

Can you do Dunsparce please? Can't believe you haven't gotten any requests for the best tsuchinoko baby yet!

Tsuchinokoreal.jpg

Dunsparce is, objectively, perfectly designed. The tsuchinoko is not even known for being particularly striking looking as far as I'm aware, but the way they handled the colors and markings here are perfect.

First, the shape of it is just really nice. The way the tiny wings branch off the shape of the head, which then help contain the stripes on the back, which are then paralleled by the drill lines on the tail, work perfectly to draw the eye through the design, and give it some excellent flow.

The colors also help with this. The blue and yellow have good contrast, both in terms of brightness and in terms of hue. I've found that using a color on the jaw/underbelly to separate the jaw always looks good, and Dunsparce is no exception. Then you have the eyes, which have blue rings around them to compensate for a lack of color in the actual eyes. Finally, you have the stripes on the back, which help to balance and pull through the colors. It's good stuff.

Aside from all that, I also really like the face here. It's not only distinctive and well-balanced (like how the eyes sit perfectly in the dip created by the underside of the jaw), but it also gives it such a gentle expression. It just looks so calm and chill I can't help but want to give this lad some chin scratches.

My only complaint here, which has nothing to do with the design itself, is that it really could use an evo. Single-stage Pokemon work best when the Pokemon has a gimmick or a crazy concept; something to really make it stand out. While Dunsparce is a charming lad, it tends to slip from people's mind because it doesn't really do all that much, even though it has potential to.

I see a lot of fan designs try to turn it into Magikarp 2.0, but I would prefer a design that keeps the mellow vibe and round tsuchinoko body. Maybe something that's just bigger around, longer, and with bigger wings and different markings; make it part flying-type, seeing as the 'dex mentions it used to be able to fly but the wings are mostly vestigial nowadays:

Another possibility would be to add poison-typing, seeing as the tsuchinoko is said to be extremely venomous in some texts; or perhaps ground, seeing as it burrows.

So overall, Dunsparce has a great design and a lovely sweet personality to match it. It just needs to be able to do a little more to make it stand out; hopefully Gen 9 will be the one to give our favorite tsuchinoko some love.

Also, Dunsparce has a very pretty shiny. This has nothing to do with anything, I just wanted to mention that.

[sakura-chan-25]

Prideful Happiness

Pairing: Lucifer x Sakura

Word Count: ~430

Warning(s): soft Lucifer, Sakura sinning (I guess), pet names (sweetheart, my dear), lots of smiles and smirks and chuckles, slightly demonic Lucifer at the end?

Sakura rushed down the hallway in the direction of Lucifer’s office, happily knocking on the heavy wooden door once she reached it. Lucifer smirked to himself. He was able to feel his girlfriend’s pride long before she reached his door. “Come inside, sweetheart.”, he answered her knocks and chuckled when Sakura almost pounced on his sitting form.

“Hey.”, she breathlessly said as she nuzzled her head into Lucifer’s neck with a wide smile on her face. His pact mark on the inside of her left elbow proudly glowed in a deep blue, making his brothers’ pact marks look like fading tattoos around it while perfectly matching the blue hue in Sakura’s pink eyes. “What has gotten you so happy, my dear?” Now Sakura was chuckling. She lifted her head, the smile never leaving her lips as she answered: “I finished all of my work.”

“Did you now?”, the demon mumbled teasingly and the human eagerly nodded. “Good job then.”, he said while patting her curly hair. Her smile seemed to become even bigger and the blue colour of the pact mark stronger as she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. She looked like she would purr any second. Now Lucifer understood why Satan compares her to a cat.

Before Lucifer could pull her onto his lap, the human opened her eyes again and looked at him fondly. “I actually came here to ask you something.” Lucifer stayed quiet to let her continue, though he already guessed what she wanted to know. “I wanted to ask you if you have some free time right now? We could go around town a bit.”

The tall demon nodded and smirked: “Of course. Make sure to wear something short-sleeved.” Sakura confusingly titled her head to the side. “’kay? Like what? I’m certainly not going out in this washed-out t-shirt, you know.” His smirk widened as he stood up. “How about that red dress I gifted you some time ago?” Sakura smiled softly at the memory and nodded. “Mhm. Sounds good. I’ll see you at the entrance hall?” “10 minutes.”, he answered. Sakura slightly paled. “Oh shit.”, she mumbled as she dashed out of his office to her room to get ready.

Lucifer chuckled as his smirk turned more demonic. They could not only match clothes, he could also stare at his pact mark proudly presenting itself the whole time they were out. The demon just had to make sure his little human got the praise she deserved. Oh, how fun when people, especially the ones he’s close to, indulge in his sin around him.

A/n: Yes, that's from Sunday when I felt very proud of myself for finishing my homework so early. With the "inside of her left elbow" I'm not talking about 'inside inside' with the bones & the muscles and stuff by the way. I'm talking about the skin parallel to the elbow facing you. I hope you enjoyed and have a good day/night! :D

[thehistoriangirl]

I wanted to request a Jayce fic but I couldn’t think of one haha but hmmm maybe one where the reader was just a usual citizen and loves jayce and he loves them but then Jayce and Mel have a bit of a thing cause Jayce thinks that the reader doesn’t love him back and the reader is heartbroken and jealous like ofcourse he loves mel she’s the perfect looking woman and is so smart etc and then happy ending pls xx thank you!

Okay this one took a while because ✨ANON, YOU CREATED A MONSTER ✨ I'm going to divide this idea in a two parts fic bc I have no idea what to do to fix my mess sorry about it 😬

This Ache, Mistimed [1/2]

Jayce x gn!Reader-------4.7K-------SFW

Tags: Childhood Friends to Lovers| Pining| Hurt almost no Comfort (in this one)| Crushes| Unrequited Love (supposedly)|Use of y/n| Self-Hatred| Angst| 🎶it's 2AM and I'm uploading this 🎶 so it surely has typos I will fix when I come back from my trip| I watch a lot of Telenovelas & it shows|

You spent most of your lifetime inside your parents’ atelier located at the Talis factory of hammers.  Since you were little, your mother taught you to engrave the hammers with the characteristic T of the Talis family crest, your father modeling the handles in wood and iron, while you used sandpaper to polish the imperfections.

It wasn’t so strange that you encountered Jayce Talis for the first time when you were eight years old. The only child of the Talis house liked to wander around the forges while taking notes about the fabrication of new objects that nothing had in common with his family hammers except the manufacture.

His eyes illuminated like beacons when he saw a kid around his age. He was playing with a horse toy made of metal by a cold forge near where your parents' atelier was localized. Red light filtered through the windows, welcoming the dusk and the chilly air that began to move your hair.

“Hello,” you muttered, half-hidden behind a worktable. “I thought nobody was here…” You usually came here to draw, an ashy-stained notebook tucked against your chest. “I will leave now. I’m sorry for disturbing you.”

“Hey, not go!” Jayce was aligning up rocks inside a coffer, multicolor hues reflecting against the gray ceiling when the light hit them. “What’s your name? I haven’t seen you here before.”

"I'm y/n, my parents work here." You were fidgeting with the pages. He extended his hands for you to shake them.

“Hi y/n, I’m Jayce. Do you want to play?”

You blinked. “Play what?”

“Whatever you want! I haven’t played in a long time, so whatever it’s fine while we’re having fun, right?” You knew how that feel, the fabric being too crowded but lonely at the same time.

Nodding you two began to play the catch game, your steps echoing around the walls alongside your laughs, that could be heard from that time onwards, the shadows only growing bigger as the time ran forward.

You also wanted to convince yourself that it was only natural to develop a silly crush on Jayce as time went by. Blaming your hormones, or simply trying to mask it like a misunderstanding: he was only your friend, a very dear friend.

As spontaneously as it come, it would disappear. It must, it was only logical.

“Fancy seeing you here, y/n.” Jayce peeked his head over the door frame. He was smiling, holding a paper bag with something that smelled like cooked meat. “Do you mind if I invite you to lunch?”

Your hands were covered in bronze powder, a burin played between your dexterous fingers as you finished another hammer handle. “Yes, wait a minute. I almost finish.” Since your parents decided to retire you had been in charge of the atelier, inheriting the duty of engraving.

“Some day you have to teach me how you carve so fast." Jayce took one of the stools laying around the room and sat next to you. The day of the noon reflected the metal laying carelessly on the table, a window showing the landscape of the city.

Chuckling, you pressed the last details into the wood and metal. This one was the second last step of the manufacturing process, the original signature of a Talis hammer. “I have to fulfill my quota of hammers per day, you know.”

“According to inventories, you’re ahead of the game.” You scoffed, you only had been made twelve out of thirty, and it was way past half your working hours.

“Inventories made by who, may I ask?”

Jayce raised his shoulders. “I don’t know. But people say he’s good with math, so he’s probably right about the quota, though.”

“Oh, that’s right!" You ended the work while Jayce took the handle out of your hands, fingertips touching mistakenly. You moved your hand out the way, Jayce's thumbs rubbing over the engraving of his family crest with a loving gaze. "What happened with your Academy application?”

A sly smile appeared on his face. “That’s why we are celebrating.”

You giggled while washing your hands in the sink localized in a corner of the room. “Is that smell of your mother's special roast chicken?"

“Who knows? Let’s go outside.”

You two encountered shelter on a bench outside the factory where a little garden was arranged to present a more aesthetic façade to the building. The workers usually came here to relax and cold down after the suffocating heat of the forges. Jayce and you used it since years ago to play board games, draw, and coloring books. Even now, in the wood, it could be seen some traces of crayons tinting the surface, scratches from metallic figurines both Jayce and you gifted each other every birthday.

It was Ximena Talis's special recipe for roast chicken. The sandwich was still warm when you bite it, remembering all the occasions Jayce’s mom cooked food for you two, or vice-versa. You moaned with your mouth full after starving all morning.

"It's a celebration meal," you leaned against him, nudging him with your shoulder. “You have to tell me everything.”

Jayce shrugged, pretending to look innocent, even if his eyes were blinking with barely contained amusement. “I don’t what are you talking about— hey!” he stopped when you bite off some of his sandwiches. “That’s mine!”

“I don’t what are you talking about, I didn’t do anything.” You tried to imitate his voice.

“Oh, you’re earning it now.”

You blinked, looking at him with your best puppy eyes while leaning against him, trying to sneak another bite of his food. “Earning what?”

He removed the sandwich, instead putting himself in front of you, almost bumping his chest with yours. You couldn’t avoid the sudden gasp that escaped from your lips, feeling Jayce's breathing moving your hair. Instinctually you tried to cast a joke, your words dying out of your mouth when you raised your eyes to his.

Your heart leaped when you noticed his eyes were directed towards your lips.  You tried to repeat the same plea every night, that the feelings were mistaken, he was only your friend, it there was no way Jayce could think of you any different.

“Jayce?” you muttered when you thought you were about to pass out.

He blinked, patting your head. Just like that, the trance was broken. “Sorry, you had a bug in your head. I was watching it. ”

“Oh.” Of course. You were too embarrassed to keep your body too close to him now, thinking he would be able to hear your rampant heartbeat. If your hot cheeks weren't enough clue.

“The Kirammans accepted to be my patrons,” Jayce murmured while eating out the rest of his food. You directed your widened gaze from your shoes to him. “I’m going to enroll in the Academy next week.”

A euphoric laugh flowed from your lips to the air around you both. Hugging him to the side, you feel tears burning in your eyes.

“I’m so happy for you! I knew it! I knew you could do it! I’m so proud of being your friend.” You snuggled your cheeks against his shoulder, looking up at him with brilliant eyes. “I’m so proud of you, Jayce.”

He smiled softly, caressing your hair. “Thanks for believing in me. I would never forget it.”

You pulled away slowly. “Would you come to visit?”

Jayce interlaced his fingers and put them in his lap. “I will try, but it won’t be so often.”

“I know," you answered, even if the blunt truth stung your heart a little. "I'm still happy for you. Please not forget me when you become famous.”

He blurted in a contagious laugh. "I wouldn't dream of it, y/n." Jayce stood up and hugged you when it was time to say goodbye. You buried your face against his shirt trying to freeze this moment in time, to remember his essence and the warm feeling that his sole presence poured over your body. “Not for anything in the world.”

*~*~*~*

Jayce kept his word. But it didn’t change much.

While he visited during the holidays, he spent most of his time with his mother or in the Kirammans’ mansion, assisting at fancy parties. Jayce tried to invite you a couple of times before, but since the cold, hostile stares of that Mechanical Talent Competition at the Academy that kept you ostracized in a dark corner while Jayce was dragged away from your time and time again, you stopped accepting, much for Jayce’s sake.

With each semester conquered at the Academy, a bigger crevice expanded between your worlds. While he spent his days working away in the state-of-art laboratories in Piltover, maybe even the whole world, you were still in the same workshop engraving hammer handles all day, frozen in time as he was moving further and further away from your grasp.

Sure, he still sent you a letter for your birthday, and you still hung out with him on the scarce occasions he had time. But those moments seemed more like a memory. And when he told you about his Hextech theory, you knew he was a step away from glory. When Jayce cracked down on his theory to make it a reality, he would become the greatest inventor Piltover would have ever seen.

And you would be still the same worker at his family factory.

Who knows? Maybe one day he would still remember you like a distant memory and nothing more.

*~*~*~*

You couldn't attend Jayce's trial, but you did attend his celebration party when his theory thrived as a fact. Ximena Talis saw you standing far from the spotlight dominated by him and the Councilor that declared herself as his new sponsor, but Jayce didn’t.

He looked so different without his Academy uniform; the gala suit perfectly tailored made him resemble a prince. And your heart ached when you left the party early after a busy day at the factory.

The next day, Jayce went to your atelier with a slice of cake.

“What’s this?” you murmured with brows furrowed.

"From yesterday's celebration. You couldn't make it, right? You like fancy sweets, so I brought you cake. The chocolate is imported.” He was smiling while checking the new design of the Talis hammers, slightly modified with his insight. “Do you change the family crest?”

“A little, now I use gold and red to form the T." Your hand was painted with red metal. “Do you want to go outside?”

Jayce grimaced. "I'm sorry, y/n. I must come back to the Academy. We are creating a prototype of Hextech that would allow good to travel as fast as light.”

You smiled a little, even if your eyes were adverting his gaze. You didn't want to see your disappointment. The last thing you wanted was to drag him down with your selfish desires.

“Of course, not worry about it. Goodbye. Thanks for the cake.”

“I will come back one of these days, yes? There’s this new cafeteria near the Arts District that prepares incredible beverages. We should go some time."

You nodded; voice neutral. “Yes, sound good.”

Jayce hugged you before he left, but it was so quick you didn’t have a chance to reciprocate. He was already gone when you gathered the courage to hug him back.

Days later you two went to the cafeteria. It was a lazy afternoon, the sun wasn't that warm to make it suffocating staying at the tables outside the place. Your iced coffee wetting the glass and your fingers every time you drink it. A gentle breeze moved your hair while you leaned with your elbows towards Jayce's place, looking at his gesturing hands.

Jayce was talking about his new invention—the Hexgates, showing you with a wrinkled napkin and a pencil that he always carried around how they would look once finished.

A shadow covered the sun pouring over the table. Both of you looked up, a woman dressed in a completely white suit with a black collar and gold details outlining the clothes was smiling.

Jayce blinked. “Elora, what are you doing here?”

She nodded slightly. “Good afternoon. I’m sorry to interrupt, but Councilor Medarda wishes to see you. Regarding an urgent matter with the last prototype of the Hexgates. Your partner told us you were here.”

You looked away when you felt Jayce’s legs bouncing under the table.

“It’s fine, Jayce. You should go.”

His eyes were wide, a sad gesture governed his features while he extended his hand to take yours, stopping a few centimeters away. “Are you sure?”

You nodded. I’m not going to drag you down with me. “We will have another chance later.”

He stood up, nodding towards both you and Elora. “Right. I will make it up to you, I promise!”

You observed his figure striding up the Academy, Elora telling him something and him gesturing vividly as an answer until they were too far away to distinguish. Up the Academy where he belonged, while the factory and your home were down the twisted streets of the Industrial District near the bridge and the Undercity.

Two worlds.

Finishing your iced coffee, which now tasted more bitter than before, you realized that the only way to stop hurting was to trace a line. You were stupid and thought your feelings were a fleeting mistake, now, years later, you were tired of facing the same heartless consequences of feeding your hope only to be snatched away from you.

Maybe if you cut off all contact, you could pretend the feelings—Jayce himself, wasn't a part of your life anymore. A risky bet, but you were desperate enough to try.

The first time was the hardest. Turning down Jayce caused your chest to hurt for days, an echo of longing at seeing him leave with his shoulders dropped and low head. But with time, you get used to, lies flowing up your lips with excuses for every chance he got to spend time with you.

You grew colder as he comprehended the situation. Even if his ideas were inaccurate, was enough for him to stop trying. Jayce stopped asking, and you stopped caring as much as you could, trying stupidly to hate him even when deep down you were aware everything was your fault.

Everything began because of you. But you weren’t brave enough to even imagine finishing it.

Years passed by, and you both became a memory in each other’s treasured past.

Time ran off, you grew tired of your dull job at the Talis factory, and Jayce became a Councilor. Of course, he did.

You were at the Talis’ family house, Ximena Talis sitting in front of you. The tea she served you was already cold when you drink a sip. Her brows were furrowed, a deep grimace on her face.

“Are you sure of your decision, dear?”

“Yes. I’m immensely grateful for letting me keep my family atelier inside your factory, Mrs. Talis. But I'm tired of doing the same thing for over fifteen years." You looked away from the photographs hung on the wall, one of them of you and Jayce hugged while at one of his birthday parties. “I want to start anew, I guess.”

Her brown eyes read the depths of your soul, but she didn’t mention the obvious rift between you and his son.

“Very well, dear. If you wish so, then I will write your termination agreement and give it to you in no more than a week." Nodding you went to extend your hand for her to shake, but instead, she stood up and went face to face to hug you. “I’m going to miss you. You are like a daughter to me.”

You grasped her shoulders, burying your face against her neck as you did with your mother. Sobs made your body tremble like a leaf against a cruel wind. She patted your back, trying to soothe you.

I’m sorry, this is all my fault. But the words stuck on your throat, a knot growing bigger and bigger even when your tears were falling freely.

You left the Talis’ house with puffy eyes and a red face. Looking back, you nodded slightly as if saying goodbye.

*~*~*~*

Days later, you had your termination contract and were piling up the tools your parents used to build the reputation of this atelier. Wooden boxes were piling up against the table, and the only thing left was your childhood toys. Many of them were made by Jayce.

It hurt to touch them, remembering all the glorious times left behind.

There was a knock on the door. Your hand froze, shoving hurriedly the mechanical toys inside the last box.

“My mom told me you were leaving.” You tighten your jaw at hearing his soft tone. You missed it, you missed him.

“I’m going to miss you,” you muttered with a breathy voice, not able to meet his gaze. "What brings you here?" He was supposed to be at the Council or the Academy.

You could see his wide frame moving from side to side, unsure to cross the threshold. “I’m… I wanted to invite you to my birthday party.” His hands were firmly tugged against his stomach, shoulders dropped. He looked like a copy of his younger self. “It’s going to be in Council Medarda’s residence. And I can invite whoever I want, so I thought of you. I…” his voice trailed off, slightly cracked. “I… it would make me very happy if you could come.”

A ‘no’ was forming inside your mouth, but you swallowed it. Looking directly at him now that his gaze was directed towards the ground made you want to cry. It was probably best to use this opportunity as a closure for both of you.

“I will be there.”

His head jerked up, a wide smile breaking over his grimace. “Really? I mean— thank you. I’ll be waiting for you.”

You almost chuckled, nodding him softly before giving him your back to finish up the packing of your things.

The party went just like you imagine it. You were glued to Ximena’s side or lounging on a lonely corner not-to-close to Jayce’s partner, Viktor, that looked as socially drained and bored as you.

Even Ximena was deep in conversation with other families. But you? No one approached you outside Viktor and Ximena. Jayce was long gone, people surrounding him at a prudent distance all the time he went to talk to you.

The gift’s box felt too heavy when you put it in his hands, the last time your fingertips brushed against the others. You wanted to respect the tradition of your past gifts, a colored-metal carving of a photograph of you two, the last photo you took when you went visiting him in a Progress Day festivity. In the back of the photo, you carved a useless, hypocrite apology.

You hoped he would never open it.

It was late already, but the guests were still fueling around thanks to expensive wine and other liquors you didn't dare to grab from the platters the waiters traveled down the hall.

Viktor had left without your knowledge. Now you were the only person leaning against the wall. Sighing, you went to look for Ximena.

The aristocracy looked at you with a soft scowl, eager to show your place now that Jayce wasn’t here to look at them.

“Mrs. Talis, I’m leaving.”

She nodded. “Yes, dear. It’s already very late. Thanks for coming.”

Guilt struck your chest. “Do you know where Jayce is? I don’t want to go without telling him.” You wouldn’t see him again, probably. You at least wanted to say goodbye properly.

“I think he’s by the further balconies,” one of the merchants said, swinging his flute of liquor with each word to show the direction.

“Thank you. Goodbye Mrs. Talis, have a good night.”

The further section was silent, each step the sound of the conversation muffled away. You felt like an invader, roaming in an unknown home like that, peeking at the corners and hoping no one would cross your way.

The hallway opened into an enormous balcony that looked like a living room in plein air, with couches, plants, imported rugs, and even a half-painted canvas. You were so enthralled in the golden accents and the exquisite, minimal, and regal decorations that you didn't catch the two figures entangled on the balcony’s edge.

Your eyes widened when among the semi-penumbra you viewed Jayce entangled in a kiss with another woman. No, no just a woman. It was Councilor Medarda's spotless white dress, the golden accents of the metal decorating her back and legs shining a sole lamp swinging with the air.

You wanted to stop but were too astounded that your brain didn’t follow the command. Your feet knocked out a plant pot, the sound of ceramic breaking making them pull away with a deep, annoying glare towards you.

Until Jayce distinguished your figure outlines with the abundant light inside. He called out your name, his hands still enveloping Councilor Medarda’s body. But you were far from the hall, running as fast as you could to get out of there.

Tears prickled your vision as you stumbled with different assistants who screamed at you to pay attention. But you didn’t care. This was a mistake. You shouldn't have come, you should have never pushed him away, you should just left quickly, it was the best, you…

You took the empty elevator, ignoring the distant footsteps that were tailing you. Your reflection inside the metal cage was pitiful; messy hair, red eyes, and winced lips. Your hands were fists, trying the pain of your nails digging the skin would distract you from the raising void consuming your heart and leaving you both hot and cold.

The streets were being patrolled by Enforcers around the building. You wanted to get out of there as fast as you could, but you knew that running away from the place would only make them keep questioning you for 'suspicious behavior', so you descended the stairs as calmly as you could.

At least, until you heard him calling your name from the entrance hall.

You sprinted off the entrance, flying over the carved stairs.

“Y/n, wait!” He sounded out of breath, as he would have taken the stairs while you were using the elevator. “Please.”

His wounded voice made you look back at him. Your feet slip down one step, the gravity pulling you down the remaining stairs.

It hurt the friction of the rock scratching your knees and hands, but it hurt way more when Jayce tried to hold you to put you on your feet.

“DON’T TOUCH ME!” you screamed, crawling away from him. Angrier with yourself every second that passed. You suppressed a cry when you support your right foot on the ground, wobbling, you struggled to keep yourself steady.

Jayce was frozen. You had never screamed at him, much less with such force.

“You probably twisted your ankle. Please, let me help you.”

“I don’t need your help, thank you." You grumbled as you were limping away. The Enforcers were looking from a distance, which made the situation even worse. Here you were, a nobody snapping at a Councilor.

How pathetic.

“Then tell me what’s wrong!” his voice was beginning to raise, too. “Tell me why you began to hate me.”

Your bottom lip was trembling, and at any minute you were about to burst into tears. He approached you, and because you were trying so hard not to look at him, you didn’t notice until you felt his hand lying softly on your shoulder. He was trying to console you like when you were younger, but it was just making it worse.

The sudden warmness of his skin distracted you for a moment, a flash of images of all the moments you enjoyed his casual touches as if it were a big deal for both of you, and not only part of your daydreaming.

“Nothing! You haven’t done any…thing!” your voice cracked, and you hit your feet against the ground, the sharp pain of your ankle sending some reason to your senses. Jayce jumped away at your sudden movement. "You haven't done anything," you mumbled, tears falling free on your cheeks. "We didn’t do anything.”

“Is that why you left like that?” From the factory? From my life? Jayce didn’t have to say it out loud for you to read it in his eyes.

You tried to wipe off the tears staining your vision. He was extending a hand towards you, too scared to decide to touch you. The crack was never more visible. And it was all your fault.

“I leave because it’s the best I can do.” You took your purse against your chest as if it were a plushie. “For you not to look after me anymore.”

You looked at him, you were saying this looking him right in the eye.

“What are you…?”

“We can’t be friends, Jayce. I don’t want to be your friend anymore.” You were trying so hard not to crumble in front of him. You wished he could be mean and cold, to get angry and yell at you.

It would make it easier to hate him.

"Please not say that. If… If I ever did something wrong, please tell me what it is, and we could amend it. I will amend it.”

You don’t love me. But that’s not a mistake.

A sarcastic chuckle bubbled out your throat. Not even him broking your heart was enough for you to hate him.

"I thought being your friend would be enough but… it isn't. I can't stand it anymore." You paused, feeling each of the words formed in your tongue burn and make a hole inside your chest once they got out. "I know you're dating Councilor Medarda, and I wish you happiness. But I can’t pretend I’m happy with just being your friend now.”

The words seemed ashy, all you could hear was the raging of your heartbeat in your ear.

"I will get over you. Eventually," you mumbled. "But for that, I have to get away from you. To pretend you don’t exist anymore. Or that you ever existed. That’s why I left. That’s why I’m leaving now. And I wish you to not follow me.”

Even if your eyes were teary, you could see how Jayce clenched his jaw.

"I wish I could just erase how I feel about you, so we can be friends like always. But I can't. No matter how much I keep telling my heart I don't want you, it just… doesn't change anything." Tugging at the loose threads in your heart, you tried to apologize, at least. “I’m sorry to ruin our friendship this way. I know you don’t feel the same way. But I just… needed to tell you so I can move forward. I’m sorry I messed up. But I hope you never forgive me. Please hate me, Jayce. It would make things easier, for both of us."

With tears trapped behind his hazel eyes, Jayce pressed one of his fists against his mouth. Both were frozen, in the eerie silence it could be heard the buzzing electricity of the streetlamps above your heads and your agitated breathing.

“Y/n…”

“Please just let me go!” you cried. “Be happy and forget about me. Our time is over.”

Please hate me, please make me hate you.

Jayce raised his top lip, nose wrinkled. For a second, he covered his mouth as if he were about to yell something back.

His eyes were flicking with tears trapped. But he just sighed, turning on his heels and disappearing out inside the building.

You limped away from the building as far as you could until you found a dark corner in an alleyway you could refuge inside. Your wounded leg hugged against your chest as you made yourself a ball and rocked back and forth, hiding your head between your limbs to try to hide your misery. Sobs emerged from the depths of your being, and tears were falling, hot and messy on your contorted face.

Everything hurt. And you wished, while an Enforcer tapped your shoulder asking if you wanted help, that everything would keep hurting for a while.

Maybe, that way, the love poisoning your being would finally abandon you.

[airborneice]

I'm very new to digital art and was wondering what sort of process/brushes you use for your Hilda art? I absolutely love your trolls and centaur designs ❤️

aw that’s very kind, thank you!! tbh my art approach is kind of all over the place but I’ll do my best to answer!

first off, I draw in photoshop and use mainly these two brushes -

the 1st is pretty much the standard PS brush and the HB one is what I used for most of the trolls/centaur stuff! generally I pick one of these brushes and use it for both lineart and putting in colour/shadows. (to be honest photoshop somehow got the settings on the HB brush messed up a lil while ago which is why I use it for lineart less now, but it’s still nice for doing shadows bc it has a really pretty soft edge :) )

as for art process, I’ll try to explain with the hilda little mermaid drawing I did recently - explanation thingy under the cut!

.

.

so with most of my art I usually start out sketching it on paper first and then move the sketch to my computer - since you’re new to digital you might find it easier to start that way, it helps make things less complicated bc you already have something to start from

so for the drawing in question I started with this which is. A Mess

everything is all over the place and yasha from crit role is hanging out in the middle of it but this is the type of thing I start with! first with the lil thumbnail sketch up in the corner, and then doing the characters in more detail separately (if I know I’m gonna end up moving something to digital I’ll just draw the characters anywhere I can fit them on the page, bc I can worry about fitting them together properly later)

u can honestly skip the thumbnail sketch if u want, but for bigger drawings I find it useful to have something rough to refer back to, so I don’t forget what I’m aiming for overall when I start getting into the details

anyway then I move the paper sketch to digital and arrange things properly and add anything I’ve missed, and depending on how messy it is I do another slightly cleaner sketch overtop -

I’ve learned the hard way that fixing things at the lineart stage is a lot more hassle so I try to make sure everything’s looking as it should in the cleaner sketch - david’s initial sketch looked mostly fine to me so I only redid a couple things and added some details, while I changed a lot of kaisa til I was happier with the pose. I knew the salt lion was gonna end up being mostly hidden so I didn’t worry about refining it

SO next I make a new layer and start drawing the clean lineart over the sketch. I like using coloured lineart these days, so I pick a colour to sketch and do lineart in - literally any colour except black, since photoshop lets you change the hue later (you can go to Image -> Adjustments -> Hue/Saturation and change things as much as you like). I did all the lineart for the characters here in purple, like the sketch, and I made sure to keep all the lineart for different characters separate so I could mess with it individually later. I’ve got a bit of what kaisa’s lineart folder looks like below, and you definitely don’t have to put Everything on a new layer like I did, but I usually keep the eyes, brows and little details like the fin lines and scales separate bc they’re the things I’ll most likely want to adjust later

once I’ve got the lineart done in that one colour, I’ll use the Adjustments-> Hue/Saturation slider to change some parts of it (this is where having things on different layers comes in) to blend in or stand out more, so by the end it looks like it does below. I made some swatches so you can see which parts I changed from the main outline colour:

so I kept the original purple for most of it, but I changed the salt lion’s lines to blue, and kaisa’s scales to a light grey so they’d blend in more, and made her eyebrows much darker so they’d stand out from her hair. (I usually do this step after I’ve started colouring them in, bc it’s easier to see what’s working then and what isn’t, I’m just showing it here so you can see it in isolation). also, I’ll usually set the whole lineart folder to ‘multiply’ so it blends in with the colour layer even more

(tbh you don’t have to do it as complicated as this, everyone has their own approach depending on what they’re going for and it might take some trial/error before you find what works best for you. I just do this bc I’m used to it and don’t mind the extra hassle. pretty colours go brrr :) )

for colouring in, I use the lasso tool to trace over areas of the drawing and the paint bucket to fill them in. I usually put every different coloured area on a new layer so it’s easier to go back and change something if I decide I don’t like the colour. so everything is built up over a number of layers, and I can use the airbrush tool to soften the edges of some areas (like david’s arm fins). for the parts with gradients like their tails, I put down a flat colour layer (like the orange for david), select that area and then make a new layer and put the gradient on with a big airbrush tool. also for stuff from hilda I usually colour-pick straight from a screenshot of the show with the eye-dropper tool, it’s much faster than guessing them

so then we have the flat colours done, and I can show you why I like doing coloured lineart even though it takes longer bc

here’s the lineart all in black vs the final result with the colours. like…it’s fine, there’s nothing wrong with the all black one, but having the colours really helps soften things imo!

I didn’t really do much by shading for this one but to go over it real quick -

if I was just drawing a character on a white background I wouldn’t bother with this step, but here I know this scene is taking place in the dark & underwater, so I selected the characters, made a new layer and filled in a dark green colour overtop on a low opacity & set to Multiply, so the characters get this slight green tinge and look more like they’re in the setting (I did the same with the salt lion but I’m gonna just focus on these two for now)

for the actual shadows I got the same green colour, and on another multiply layer blocked it in, and just played around with the opacity til it looked about right

honestly not my best job at shading lol but it helps give it some depth and put them in the scene! if I hide the colours and lines for a sec you can see that literally all I’ve added over the original colours is this:

and if I add the basic colours of the background in, you can see how much it helps compared to the flat colours I started with -

they look so much more like they’re in the scene!

anddd after doing the same thing to the salt lion (which is just the same shading process but more layers and darker) and adding the rest of the background that’s it!!

don’t worry they’ll be fine lol

anyway sorry this got so long, I hope it helps!! I’m not the best at explaining myself so if anything I said here doesn’t make sense then feel free to ask :)

[advnterccs-archive]

@countlessrealities-2 sent; “He-Hey, I know we have that thing w-where we pretend not to remember when our birthday is, b-but...I got you something. I-It doesn't have to be a birthday present, i-if you don't want tit to be, b-but I really wanted to get you a gift.”

It's a small package, wrapped in velvety black paper and decorated with a bright green lace, tied in a ribbon on top of it. Inside there's a box, similar to the ones rings come with, but a little bigger.

A chuckle. “I-I'm not fuckin' proposing, s-so don't worry. I-It's, uh, a memory crystal. T-They are extremely rare, an-and exist only in a few dimensions, but...y-yeah. Y-You can store memories in them an-and watch them whenever.”

The crystal is light blue, a hue very similar to the one of their eyes, and has been shaped in a half sphere. The curved surface is shiny and perfectly smooth, while the flat one swirls just like a portal would.

“I-I imprinted some shit in it. M-My best memories of you, b-but not just mine. I-I had the families do the same...yeah, even the Jerrys...an-and BP, Squanchy, Karl a-and tha-that couple of friends of yours I met.”

A pause. “W-When you feel down or-or worthless or a-a piece of shit...or any of that self-loathing crap we do? J-Just watch them. A-As a reminder that there are people who want, love an-and value you. An-And you can also see how f-fuckin' amazing you are in my eyes.”

[[ My Rick to your Rick || Birthday presents exchange! Someone decided to be extremely thoughtful x3 ]]

Taking the box in his hands, Rick took in the way it was packaged. Even to the last detail it all looked so planned and thought out. He wasn't going to lie, a proposal was the first thing that reached his mind. Due to the small box and loving look in those blue eyes, mixed with a hint of nervousness. Yet, he wasn't disappointed to be proven wrong.

As the explanation went on, he carefully undid the bow and opened the box to reveal the crystal. His eyes widened, sparkling with awe. With a gentle touch, he picked it up between his thumb and index, holding it up to the light to see the details within it.

Sliding his thumb over the shape, he already saw the glimpses of the memories held within it. It startled him for a second. Not expecting it to work similarly to those death crystals that he had a run in with some time ago.

For a moment, the features on his face softened. He put the crystal back into the box and set aside onto the work bench. Only for him to throw his arms over his boyfriend's neck.

"D-Damn, are you trying to make me fall in love with you all over again?" He spoke with a smile, half-lidded gaze that was more struck with love than anything else. "Because i-it's working and I think I-I just fell in love with you again and fucking deeper,"

He cut his own words off with a kiss. Soft, tender and filled with admiration and appreciation. Quickly igniting with a heat of passion from the overwhelming love that he held in his heart for the man. His arms tightening around to pull the other in closer.

Tilting his head, he separated their lips, ending the kiss. "I-I have something for you, too," He whispered. "A-And I know we don't do this whole birthday thing, but, y-you're the love of my life, so I couldn't fucking help it,"

Not really wanting to leave the warm embrace, he pulled his boyfriend along with him as he walked backwards. He made his way to one of the shelves, taking out a clear, crystal orb. Sat on a pedestal of gold. On top of it a green bow with a thin black stripe running through it.

"I-I didn't know how to wrap it, but, I-I made this for you -- took me a month, but it was worth it," He brought his head closer, nuzzling into the side of his counterpart's head. Cheek pressed against cheek.

Bringing the device closer, in between their chests, he brought his hand to hold the top of the orb, causing it glow a soft green. Inside of it, a holographic image began to play out. The two of them, slow dancing in the garage. And when his hand moved off from it, that image slowly faded.

"A-Any fantasy, thought, or dream you've ever had about us can be seen through this -- 'cause I-I know that dreams are hard to remember and I-I know you miss me sometimes, so if I'm not around or i-if it's late at night and you can't sleep, maybe this can give you some comfort --- for those nights."

Maybe it wasn't as fully thought out, but it came from the heart. Something that he wanted to make to express those hidden feelings that were to hard to express due to one reason or another. And he crafted it with their relationship and the love of his life on his mind.

[macveigh]

you know I had to pick this one for them, right? ....and also a little bit of this one too

"Dexter," she breathed his name through a heavy sigh, hands moving across the table to clasp both of his in her hands, "I'm not crazy, okay? I'm not delusional. Trust me, there are some days where I wish that were the truth, ironically enough, it would sure as hell make my life a lot simpler than it is right now. " Morgan laughed, though her big brown eyes were welling up with unshed tears.

She was desperately trying to get him to listen to her, despite how impossible must have all seemed to someone like him, someone who never once in a million years could possibly comprehend that magic actually existed. But he was the only ally in town that she had left. Michael was AWOL, Ciara wasn't returning her calls either, even Rascal seemed to have up and gone missing. Without Dexter, she would be completely and utterly alone in Miami while it goes to Hell in a handbasket for who knows how long?

Her heart felt too big for her chest, it was choking her, making her feel small and fragile. She hated that feeling. She needed someone else in her corner that she knew she could trust. Someone who she knew could keep a secret. Someone that she could let in on what was really going on behind the veil, so to speak. He wouldn't be the first mortal that she's trusted with her secret. And Morgan doubted he would ever be the last. Maybe having a cop on speed-dial to help her with cases rather than deterring her from them would actually work out in the end.

"I'm not just some hippy-dippy-neo-pagan with a Hot Topic credit card and a penchant for the occult," Morgan said this with a slight edge to her voice, "There a things out there in the world, things that even your beloved science can explain. They have teeth and claws and powers and abilities so far beyond your comprehension that they make nintey-percent of the guys your precinct puts away look like juvenile delinquents," her face flushed a bright red hue, her patience wearing thinner and thinner by the second the more she plead with Dex.

"I. Have. Powers. Too. The good kind. I was born with them, just as millions upon millions of other people were as well in this country alone, not to mention throughout the rest of the planet. Can you honestly sit there and tell me that you've never once considered it, at some point in your life, that there might be something out there that's bigger than all of this? Bigger than ourselves?" Morgan stretched out her arms to gesture around the restaurant in which they sat. "Something extraordinary and wonderful and...magical?"

@intcthatgoodnight // s.c

[volleychumps]

Heyy idk if this'll make sense but,, I'm ugly (or at least not as pretty as others) and a lot of times guys would be dared to say "oh my friend likes you" while laughing at me. It made me very insecure growing up and makes me suspicious of compliments now... idk if anyone can relate but can you write a fluffy comfort scenario with Bokuto, Kageyama, or Tsukki? Maybe with reader laughing at a confession because she thinks it's a joke or something? Thank you, I love your work and stay healthy ❤️

Aw bby~ I’m sure you’re absolutely goregous <3 hope you enjoy your request!

Insecure S/O Reacting To a Confession (Bokuto, Kageyama, Tsukishima)

This is set in a time in which you’ve developed trust issues because a confession before had been a joke- so a little angsty ngl 

---------------------------------------------

Bokuto 

“She’s not coming, is she?” 

“Calm down. You told her to meet you after school- the bell let out less than five minutes ago.” Akaashi’s voice sounded through the spiker’s phone as Bokuto releases a bigger sigh than he expected. Nervousness tingled through his muscles while the burly boy seemed to tremble in both excitement and fear for what was to come, leaning against one of the many exits to the school as golden eyes scoped the area for your figure. 

“Today’s the day, Akaashi, I just know it!” 

“Yeah. You said that yesterday. And the day before that one. Not to mention every day for the past month-” 

“I think she’s coming!!” A hand slipped out of his pants pocket as he pushes off the wall giddily. 

“Well, be careful- I don’t know if you heard about it, but-” 

“See you at practice, my #1 Wingman!” 

Bokuto ends the call, the last thing he hears being a sigh of Akaashi’s at his abrupt cut off. That could wait. A growing grin began at Bokuto’s lips as you, confused, approached him with a crumpled paper in your hand- looking as beautiful as ever in the eyes of the ace. 

“Bokuto-san...?” 

“You made it!” 

He couldn’t see the hesitation in your steps, or the nervousness in your movements for the national-known volleyball spiker had his gold eyes downcasted at his feet, a hand nervously coming up to rest on the back of his neck as he internally prepares himself. 

“Was there something you needed from me?” You wrung your hands out, biting your lip as you seemed to fidget in place, the scenario being all to familiar with what you once had to go through. However, you knew better- it just simply wasn’t possible. 

Bokuto was always friendly towards you, but previous events had placed a limit in your head on just how far that friendliness just happened to extend. Until- 

“Y/N...do you maybe want to go out with me?” 

Your jaw slackened a little as you still in shock, watching as the boy you thought was eons out of your league blushed a little, squeezing his eyes tight as the question came out rushed, the words fumbling over each other. 

But you still heard it. 

Your chest sunk and heat flamed in your cheeks as you push out your first instinct- a laugh. A laugh bubbled up in your throat at the question, and Bokuto opened his eyes, confusion and anxiety rising in his stomach at the sound that still made his heart race. Nervously, he began laughing too. 

“Alright.” You make out between giggles. “Who put you up to this?” 

All laughter stopped on his end as you continue to giggle, but your eyes were a tad bit poignant as your fists clenched at your sides. Bokuto straightens, furrowing his brows at the ridiculous question. 

“What do you mean?” 

“I mean, this is a prank right?” Your voice wobbled. “Was it Rui? His friend Droy?” 

“Y/N, what-?” 

“You shouldn’t play with girls’ feelings like that, you know?” You continue, smiling yet your eyes screamed of another story. “But in my case, it’s funny- right?” 

Bokuto blinked, mouth agape at the accusation in your words as you take a shaky breath, trying not to show weakness as Bokuto takes a careful step in front of you. Was this what Akaashi was trying to tell him? 

“Y/N, I’m serious!” The ace exclaimed, causing you to finally meet his eyes with your slightly watery ones. “You’re absolutely goregous, there’s no way this is a prank!” 

“Y-You’re taking this too far...” 

“I’m not, because there isn’t anything to take!” Bokuto grabs your hand in his, intertwining your pinkies as you can’t help but smile a little at the childish gesture. “I promise you, Y/N, I like you! Way too much, I’ve been trying to tell you for the past month now, but...you scare me. In a I’ve-never-had-these-feelings before kind of way.” 

You find yourself leaning into his palm as Bokuto smiles, golden eyes gleaming genuinely as he cups your face. “Who made you think of yourself this way?” 

“N-No one in particular...” You lie, looking off to the side as you feel yourself being tugged gently into the sweet boy’s chest, causing you to yelp a little as Bokuto crosses a boundary, digging his face into the juncture between your neck and shoulder. 

“Please.” You stop trying to push him away at the sincerity in his voice. “Can I change that? I can. I promise you I can, if you give me a chance!” 

Shakily, you look up to the sky, feeling Bokuto’s warm breath on your neck as he spoke, wondering if this was worth learning to trust again, your arms wrapping around his mid-section as you did so. 

Your voice quiets, cracking slightly as you hold him back just a little tighter. 

“One chance. Don’t let me regret this.”

Kageyama

“This is ridiculous, you moron!” 

“Trust me, she’s gonna love it Kageyama-Kun!” Hinata flashes his setter a big thumbs up as Kageyama groans, glaring into the bouquet of flowers with pink dusted across his cheeks. After Hinata had snuck a horribly written note into your shoe locker- Kageyama couldn’t put his confession off anymore, much to the setter’s dismay. Admiring you from afar had been enough, and confessing you face to face had once been a daydream- 

“Can’t I just, you know, text her?” The raven haired boy attempts to escape one more time as Hinata points a finger to the spot where he was standing stubbornly. 

“Nope! As if you could get her number anyway-”  Hinata dodges the hit coming his way with ease, sidestepping as he continues his tangent. “So you’re going to stand right there and wait for Y/N-chan to come! I’m going home now, and tomorrow- you better have a newly minted girlfriend!” 

“I should’ve never asked you for advice.” 

“See you tomorrow, and you’re welcome.” 

Kageyama scoffs, snarky reply falling on silent lips as Hinata mounts his bike and takes off before he can get it out, leaving the blue-eyed setter standing at military position near the courtyard, red roses tightened in his grasp around the less thorny areas. He hoped Hinata was smart enough to not mix up the two locations.

“Kageyama-Kun!” 

Said boy almost drops his flowers when you round the corner, now changed out of your school shoes as Kageyama swallows- a futile attempt to aid his now dry mouth. You took small steps towards him as you find a lump growing in your throat at the scene before you, memories flashing in your mind at what once had been. 

Regardless, you managed a tight smile as Kageyama blinks once. Then twice as if to make sure this was really happening. 

“You...wanted to see me about something?” You question formally, ignoring the red hue of the roses as Kageyama stutters out a response, bright blue eyes darting all over the courtyard. 

“I...um....you are....UGH-” 

In any other circumstance, you might’ve found this cute- but the only thing you could think of was how good he was at acting. 

“Take your time.” Your eyes dim down a little as the familiar unease rises in your stomach. 

“D-Date!” Kageyama manages, the pink on his cheeks now turning into a bright red. “I want to g-go on a date with you...!” 

You press your lips together as a heat pricks the corner of your eyes, the one image you didn’t want to remember blurring perfectly over the one in front of you. 

.... Again?

Kageyama curses, offering you the roses with one hand shakily as the back of his hand covers his mouth, blue eyes seeming to glare off to the side in utter regret. “I heard you like flowers, s-so....”

“You don’t need to do this, Kageyama-Kun.” You find yourself saying, surprised at how stable your voice was as Kageyama’s arm slackens a little, the bouqet lowering in height as he takes in your words- in his case, your response. 

“It’s cruel, you know? I get it- you’re popular, attractive, and people want to be your friend- but this? I know I can’t be with someone like you the way I am now, so you have to show me firsthand?”

“Huh?” 

You chuckle humorlessly at the genuine confusion in his voice before laughing a little. “It’s hilarious, isn’t it? Poor, naive, ugly girl believes for just a second that the boy she likes wants her back.” 

Kageyama’s eyes widen a little, still trying to process what you’re saying as the roses fall slack at his side. But the only thing he’s able to get out, is- 

“Wait, you like me?” 

You spin on your heel, flustered you admitted it, before beginning to walk off. 

“Goodbye, Kageyama-Kun.” 

“W-Wait!” Before he can stop himself, he finds himself grabbing you from behind to stop your leaving, your eyes widening as the bouqet of flowers remains tightened in his grasp as he does so, your back against his chest. The aromatic scent fills your nose as he successfully stops you from going anywhere. 

“I-I don’t know why you think you’re ugly or any of those things, but you aren’t.” Kageyama mumbles quickly, and you’re shocked to see that he’s trembling at the touch. “But I wasn’t lying, or trying to play you. I want to go on a date with you...and if you like me too, there shouldn’t be an issue, right?” 

“Shit!” Kageyama releases you right away, and you step away subconciously as you find yourself believing him, a hand over the clothed part of your chest as you do, cheeks blooming with a pink of their own. 

“...I think I’d like that.” 

“Like what?” Kageyama questions obliviously as you groan, blushing in a way that made the setter want to admire you even closer than from afar. 

“The date, don’t make me say it!” 

The blue-eyed setter releases a sigh of relief, his heart being sent on an emotional rollercoaster coming to an end as he chuckles the slightest bit at your embarrassed stature, offering the roses again in a now relaxed-manner. 

“Right. So can you maybe take the damn flowers and be my girlfriend?” 

Tsukishima

“I regret this. I’m going home.” 

“Tsukki! No!” Yamaguchi whines, pulling on his friend’s sleeve for the second time in six minutes. 

“She isn’t coming. Waiting outside her classroom is creepy anyway. She might’ve even already gone home.” Tsukishima says straight on, glancing at his childhood friend before the freckled boy could interject. “What are you even doing here?” 

“Moral support!” 

“Yeah, could you maybe...do that somewhere else?” 

Yamaguchi sniffs once, frowning. “I get that you’re nervous, Tsukki, but don’t take it out on me. Text me later and send Y/N my regards, okay?” 

“I’m not nervous.” The tall blonde claims, swiping through his playlist when in reality- the butterflies in his stomach said otherwise.

“That’s all you got out of that?” Yamaguchi sweat drops, shouldering his bag a little more before waving as he begins to walk off. “Be nice to Y/N!” 

“Wasn’t gonna kill her.” Tsukishima mumbles to no one as he’s left by his lonesome in the empty school corridor after school had ended, mostly everyone leaving or going to attend their club activities. He knew from Yachi who shared your class- that you stayed a little after school to study for a bit before leaving. 

Tsukishima had discovered about his emotional surge towards you when you had visited practice one day to drop off Yachi’s notebook- only to notice you more and more each time you had passed him by to the point where you would smile and wave while greeting him by name. Soon, all other girls seemed to become see-through, leaving you bright in a sea of unfamiliar heads. 

“Crap!” You stumble back, a relieved laugh filling the corridor as the blonde blinks, wondering how he had gotten so lost in his thoughts he hadn’t even seen you emerge or make himself known. 

“You scared me, Tsukki!” You whine, shifting your bag upon your shoulder before blinking in confusion. “Wait, what are you doing here? Is the volleyball club off today-?” 

“Go out with me.” 

Your breath hitches at the sudden attack. 

Tsukishima remains indifferent, thankful he was able to even say it, as he shoved his hands in his pockets, eyeing you seriously through his spectacles before you find yourself back there again. Back where your trust was stripped and your pride was stomped on before you smile- a smile that was anything but cheerful. 

“That’s not a very funny joke, Tsukki.” You laugh a little, hand tightening around your bag strap as you refuse to meet his eyes, your gaze falling on his shoes as you become overwhelmed with past events. 

“I’m not joking. Go out with me.” He repeats, not asking, but in a way where it sounded like he was basically telling you. 

“...How far are you willing to go?” You feel wetness brim your eyes, but your smile still remains- shaky yet present- as your voice cracks differently from the way you used to call his name. 

“What the hell are you-?” 

A smirk and multiple laughs ring in your head from your memories before you finally snap. 

 “Stop screwing around, alright?”

Tsukishima’s brow quirks up once, and in the next few moments, you gasp as your back is suddenly touching a nearby locker- Tsukishima’s hand resting by your side to create the illusion of entrapment as he leans in to you, and you don’t have to look up to know that his gaze was searing into you with a mixture of frustration and something else you couldn’t pinpoint. 

“Who’s screwing around?” His voice was quiet and irritable, and you swallow the lump in your throat as a few stray tears slip. 

“I’m just a joke, right?” You mumble, barely audible as you breathe in his scent from decreased proximity. “You boys always toy with girls like they’re your little playthings-” 

“Are you talking about that shitty prank that bastard pulled on you a few months back?” 

Your eyes snap up before you can stop them. “You...know about that?” 

“Why the hell are we here wasting our breaths on them?” Tsukishima questions, irritation evident in his tone. “I don’t do these kinds of things, ever, and you seriously think I’d be here telling you I like you as some kind of shit joke? Give me a break.” 

You blink, believing his harsh words as Tsukishima sighs, relaxing his neck so his head falls on your shoulder. 

“On the bright side you finally looked at me. Understood, I hear you loud and clear.” 

You bite your lip when he moves to step away from you, your hands clasping at the sides of his shirt before you can stop yourself. 

“I...I’ll go out with you, Tsukki.” 

The blonde’s eyes widen a fraction as you bury your head in his chest. 

“Just...please please don’t be like the others.” 

“I thought I told you.” Tsukki’s pointer finger prods at your chin, causing you to look up at him as he leans down so your noses brush. 

���You’re wasting your breath on the wrong thing, Y/N.” 

---------------------

General Works: @takemetovalhalla @savemesteeb @kasandrafaye @dreebbles

[antarax]

𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

It's late at night when Damian makes a stop by your house with the intention to confess his feelings for you.

Damian Wayne x Black!Reader, gender neutral.

Words: 2,105

AN: Happy Valentine’s to all the beautiful black people in the fandom!! I dedicate this one to all of us, who rarely get any works that include us or are actually vague enough to. Hope you enjoy it 💞

It was a quiet, cold night in Gotham. Neon city lights blurred into your room as the muffled sounds of the videogame on the old TV kept you company, the blue hue of the fluorescent lights washing over your bedroom even through half-pulled curtains. 

The day had been a slow and uneventful one. For you, at least, after the hope of receiving someone's valentine had been completely blown off, the same energy manifesting itself in you as the night also dragged itself along. 

You almost jumped out of your skin at the sound of your window opening, having had no expectations of anything more for the day –that, and the fact that it was well into the night already. You saw Damian standing outside with his hand on the window sill, a bag in the other, Robin uniform dirty and tattered as his cape fluttered violently with the breeze. 

He seemed stuck in his place, as if he had been the one surprised, frowning like he hadn't expected you in your own room. 

The slight semblance of a smile grew on your face, "Well, come in," you said, pausing the game. 

It wasn't uncommon for Damian to stop by your building after a busy night, the moon shining beautifully in the sky and the clouds a beautiful swirl of the light as he came through your window expertly quiet. But, even then with the known comfortability and trust you two had managed to reach in your relationship, it also wasn't uncommon to feel like remnants of the younger, more insecure Damian still clung to him slightly. 

Slightly as in  heavily. 

You watched him as he moved into the small space and set down the bag on the floor, taking off his gloves and mask with the rough delicacy you associated with him. 

He stood as if he was tightly wound up, like perhaps he could breathe wrong, or whatever new, unspoken rule he'd created for himself plagued his mind now. 

It was a little funny. 

"I'm not going to eat you, you know?" 

Damian rolled his eyes, "I'm aware." 

"Doesn't look like it," You muttered, glancing down at the controller in your hands, "What's in the bag anyways?" 

"I— Things." 

You raised a brow. 

"Food, sweets. Drinks." 

"Really?" 

"Yes," Damian replied, sitting down and sagging against the wall underneath the windowsill, chest rising and falling slowly as he exhaled deeply. Damian grabbed the bag again, putting it down next to you, "They're yours." 

You set aside the controller and rummaged through the bag, the thoughts racing in your head. Damian knew you well and you him, your friendship spanning over a few years now. There had been a lot you'd trusted him with. Secrets, worries, embarrassing shit you'd done that still haunted you and Damian had been no different. He let you in on his bigger secret, how he carried the mantle of Robin every night. Some of his deepest remorses were ones that you had knowledge of; although never diving too deep in the murky waters of Damian’s life, you still valued the clear trust he had in you. 

And along all these moments, every opportunity you've had to know each other, slowly and softly peeling aside the layers covering the people you were, a warm intimacy rooted itself in your growing friendship. A comfortable sort of intimacy. 

Every once in a while you stopped by the manor on the quiet days where it was only Alfred and the animals. You helped Alfred in the kitchen whenever he was practicing for a new recipe or baking a dessert for the family later in the day. You spent hours with Damian in his room, where his cat Alfred would always curl up next to you on his bed as he worked on his art, walking around the manor or playing around with Titus and Batcow in the manor's backyard –which, really, was just an enormous open field that they were too humble to call so– and sometimes you'd even earn an invitation to dinner. 

As for you, Damian tended to visit at night more so than day, but there were moments where he would show up on a sunny afternoon when everyone else wasn't home, slumping down on your couch for an hour or two before going back to his own things. Sometimes he'd drop by books he'd seen at the library, a small trinket he'd bought at the store and various other paraphernalia that, somehow, you always ended up loving. 

Damian knew your taste well, and there was no doubt he'd spend countless amounts of time pondering over each of his gifts before they ever reached your hands. All things that while anyone else might have brushed over you appreciated immensely. 

"You know," you began as you leaned back into the foot of your bed, ripping off pieces from a napkin you'd taken out of the bag, buying time. Hesitating, "I actually— sort of, was hoping for a valentine this year." 

You gazed at Damian's eyes, your interest boring into them, digging as deep as you were allowed. They looked nervous, hilariously so. Almost like he'd been caught. But caught... doing what, exactly? 

Perhaps caught in the middle of staring back at you as he'd tend to do; how he'd tend to do and assumed you didn't notice. 

Or maybe caught when he would discreetly drop off something in your room or your locker after having seen it at the store or the cafeteria and knowing immediately you'd like it, always behind the guise of simple complacency. Caught, in his true intentions, what truly made him do all these otherwise insignificant things that were much too small even for somebody as detail-driven as Damian. 

Olive-colored eyes still shifted uncomfortably in front of you as the sole giveaway of the true nervousness Damian was drowning in, refusing to show anything more of himself, even when it mattered. 

Especially when it mattered. It was frustrating. 

"You were?" 

"Yeah," You shifted in your spot, "I was." 

No one could ever, ever know something about Damian that he didn't share. It's just not something you could do. Not when it came to him. Anybody who knew anything at all about who Damian Wayne is, at his core in existence, knows it only because he's allowed them to. 

And he'd allowed you to know this too, and yet now he was hesitating. 

"You wished to have... a valentine. Anyone?" 

"Anyone." 

"You could have, easily, if you wanted it," Damian rolled his eyes. 

"I could?" You smiled, and the twinkle in your eyes was nothing short of mischievous. 

"Yes." 

"Reeeally. How?" 

Damian slouched against the wall, "Well, you'd simply have to ask," he said it as if it had been an obvious fact, "I'm sure anyone at the academy would've said yes." 

Your smile widened as you raised your brows, "Oh?" 

Damian frowned, "You are making fun of me." 

"What do you mean? How." 

Damian crossed his arms as you laughed. 

"You think I'm making fun of you," you protested, "I'm not." 

"TT." 

"There's something you want to say, isn't there? Just spit it out, Damian." 

Damian's eyes lingered all over the room. His hands had started to sweat a while ago and by then, his heart had sped up so much he was sure it was making some attempt at breaking through and out of his chest. 

Originally, his plan had been to drop by and bring you a gift, but then he'd gotten nervous and internally malfunctioned, because he'd bought a double of everything so that you wouldn't assume it had been a gift and instead just him coming by to hang out like he always did. 

He had planned to come by, tell you he'd... harbored a few unwanted feelings towards you and hoped you would have been tired enough that you wouldn't have realized it, but clearly, his plan had flipped over backwards and blown up in his face. 

Damian took as deep a breath as possible with his collar putting him in a choke hold, as if trying to push out his words while simultaneously wanting to keep them buried the deepest he could. 

"I— hm," He stared intently at the floor, for the first time in a while feeling like the small child who would trip over his own emotions again, but he was resolved to tell you, "I like you. I suppose." 

It hadn't been surprising to Damian. More that it was hard to accept. He'd mulled over it for a long, long time. In fact, the reason he'd visited you tonight, made up his mind to tell you so, had been his ridiculously embarrassing performance. 

Being surprised by petty thieves and thrown out of the loop by measly codes, none of which happen, ever, not to him at least. Damian was far above such childish mistakes, at least so he thought until he started taking a closer look at his own thoughts and realized your eyes had gone from brown to 'beautiful pools of honey', your skin a beautiful, shining shade of brown. 

He was an artist, after all. He'd spent afternoons studying his environment, the shapes and colors, how everything fit in together; you were no stranger to his thoughts. 

Which of course, you wouldn't know. If you had, you would have taken the jump much earlier. You would have never acted based off of assumption alone, but having the confirmation, well. 

By now you had to contain your smile because surely, surely, your cheeks would be sore afterwards. 

"Wow," you raised your brows in obvious mocking, "Really?" 

Damian scrunched up his face in disgust, like he'd witnessed the most foul thing yet, crossing his arms tighter but refusing to meet your gaze as he turned to the wall. 

"You know, Damian." 

"Yes?" 

"The valentine I was hoping for this year… was yours. You could've easily made a card and thrown some glitter over it and that would be the end of that." 

"A card, with glitter?" Damian snapped his head at you, seeming almost bored as he spoke in a deadpan voice, "Is that how lowly you think of me?" 

At this you did laugh, almost too loudly for one in the morning, that you had to push both your hands against your mouth. 

Damian frowned, "Please do know that if I were to ever make something so miserable, it must be because I've been replaced. Which would not happen. Ever." 

You stood, shuffling over to Damian and sitting down next to him. 

He looked pretty underneath the moonlight coming through the window, the curls over his forehead looking soft and shiny. 

Damian looked right into your eyes, for the first time that night not looking away, he was trapped now. Not truly, he could leave, but did he want to? Not at all. 

Softly, Damian touched your hand, something perhaps akin to fear in his eyes as if he still expected rejection. 

"Damian?" 

"Hm?" 

"I'm going to kiss you." 

"Oh." 

"Unless you don’t want me to." 

"Please do. I mean—" 

It was a shy and quick kiss, but so, so exciting as Damian's grip tightened around your hand and you leaned into him. 

When you leaned away, it was with a mischievous glint in your eyes. 

"Please do—" 

Damian frowned again, clearly not amused. After a few seconds though, your laugh died out. Truth is, your stomach was churning. Because, while you were very much happy and excited, you were also incredibly nervous. 

Both of you were stitching your thoughts back together, seconds of silence passing by. You were still holding Damian's hand. 

He closed his eyes, frown deepening considerably and quickly before he spoke, vile spilling out of his mouth, "A card? With some glitter thrown over it?" 

He looked downright furious, disgusted even. 

"Seriously?" 

"It's not that big of a deal," You chuckled, "Get over it." 

"Hm." 

Damian looked out the window, and you followed, the moon standing beautifully in the middle of the sky. 

Damian sighed, "I have to go." 

"Oh... okay." 

He didn't move. Neither of you did. 

Damian gave you a quick kiss again, looking absolutely scandalized when he pulled back. You stared at each other in complete disbelief before he stood up and started putting his gloves on again. 

He pressed his hands onto the windowsill and took a deep breath.

Damian looked at you, tenderly, "Goodnight, Y/N." 

"Goodnight, Damian." You smiled. 

Damian gave you a small smile, "Hm." 

You watched as he jumped off, grappling to the nearest building and laughed when you saw him standing still before disappearing into the night. 

[sheafrotherdon]

I posted 419 times in 2021

94 posts created (22%)

325 posts reblogged (78%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 3.5 posts.

I added 866 tags in 2021

#joe x nicky - 194 posts

#the old guard - 146 posts

#yusuf al kaysani - 132 posts

#nicolo di genova - 117 posts

#tog - 110 posts

#andromache the scythian - 44 posts

#nile freeman - 42 posts

#kaysanova - 28 posts

#luca marinelli - 27 posts

#immortal husbands - 26 posts

Longest Tag: 93 characters

#i cannot imagine how cranky i would be to learn i'm immortal and have pms in rapid succession

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

Sometimes I think about the fact that Joe and Nicky have been together for nine hundred years, and yet still reach for each other when they go to sleep.  A person could be forgiven for wanting some space on the bed after nine hundred years, but no, they curl up together, Joe with his arm tucked around Nicky, Nicky snugged with his back against Joe’s chest, and they sleep touching each other because nine hundred years is apparently not enough time to grow tired of being physically close. It’s not just that they love each other deeply, it’s that they still demonstrate it in their most vulnerable moments, trusting each other, wanting the other there, reaching for each other. jqshlfh I cannot.

467 notes • Posted 2021-11-15 16:27:55 GMT

#4

Joe comes back to the safe house with food and wine, and a large bag that he sets down beside Nile before he starts unpacking the groceries.

“What’s this?” Nile asks.

“We’ll be here a while,” Joe offers. “Thought you could use a distraction.”

“Hmm,” Nile offers, because distractions around here tend to come in the form of hand-to-hand combat and some memorable afternoons spent wielding a sword.  She pulls the bag into her lap and pulls out the first thing she can reach—a box of colored pencils, the good kind, in two-dozen different hues.  She fishes in the bag again, finds sketchbooks and watercolor paper, oil paints and pastels and a brand-new pencil sharpener. There are brushes and a palette, a knife and cakes of pigment, and a handful of eight-by-eight canvases.

“There are bigger ones in the car,” Joe says.

Nile doesn’t know what to say. There’s a small fortune in art supplies in front of her, and she’s still a little hazy on where their money comes from in the first place. She skates her fingertips over the watercolors, settles on, “This is all for me?”

Joe smiles. “Yep.”

“But this is . . .”

Joe hitches a shoulder. “No expectation. You don’t have to use any of it. But if want to, well . . . I think you have pretty much everything.”

Nile flattens her hand over a sketchbook and cautiously returns his smile. “Okay,” she says.

“Okay,” Joe says back.

*

Nile starts out small, taking one pencil and a sketchbook out to the terrace and sketching the forms of sculptures she remembers, figures coaxed to life from marble and bronze. When she tires of memory, she doodles caricatures at the edges of the page, and then sketches out the view in front of her, the sweep of the garden and the valley beyond. She experiments with color, with watercolors and then pastels, and she keeps things to herself, at least for a while. Joe has nine hundred years of practice under his belt, and she’s seen his art—she feels like a rank beginner when she compares what they produce.

But the way her paintings turns out keeps bothering her—something’s not quite right, and so she seeks Joe out, asks for his critique, and he sits them both down at the kitchen table with glasses of wine, and gets her talking about her technique.  He suggests a few things, adds a pencil line or two to her landscape and transforms how she sees what’s on the page, and from that moment on she shares everything she does.  Joe works beside her sometimes, and she’s blunt when he gets the shading wrong, and he tells her of the artists he’s met—the famous and the forgotten—and she soaks up every word.

One unremarkable Tuesday, a package tied in brown paper, wrapped with string shows up on the kitchen table.  Nile’s name is on it, written in Andy’s hand.  Nile unwraps it while Nicky busies himself with brewing espresso, and finds a thick book on North African art, full of photographs and reproductions with history leaping from every page.

“Oh my god,” Nile says, lifting the book to her fact to smell the new pages.

Nicky sets a cup in front of her, says, “It is not always grief,” and Nile nods with a smile, sits down and begins to read.

509 notes • Posted 2021-06-04 13:10:40 GMT

#3

Nile moves on autopilot through everything circumstance throws at her, right up until the she wakes up in a single bed in a house in Germany where they plan to lie low.  She blinks at the unfamiliar light flooding in through the window.  They arrived after dark; she barely remembers any of it thanks to the disorientation of travel and the exhaustion of being alive. She can’t hear anyone else; she can’t smell coffee; she has no idea what time it is and for a white-hot moment wonders if she’s been left behind.  But reason makes an appeal and she swallows her panic, lifts her chin and pushes back her shoulders before she gets up to find out where she is.

The doors to the other bedrooms are open, and she catches a glimpse of Andy, fully-clothed and face down on a bed, and across the hall a lump she supposes is Nicky and Joe huddled beneath the covers. She keeps going, pads down the stairs and through the hall, ends up in the kitchen.  She stares at the back door before she unlocks it; pulls it open and steps outside. There’s a garden, a rough stone wall, trees and fields and nothing that looks like anything familiar. 

Grief rises up inside her so fast she doubles over, and when the first wave recedes and she can pull in a breath she sits down hard, right in the dirt.

Nile balls up her hands into fists and presses them against her mouth.  Every person she won’t ever see again, every place she can’t return to for a hundred years or more runs through her mind.  She thinks she might scream, or yell, or wail—something inarticulate and pained, rising straight from her heart—and she rocks back and forth as she fights, tooth and nail, to shove it all down. It’s impossible, all of it, that anyone, anything should ask this of her, should turn her from who she was into—what does she even call herself now?

And then Andy sits down beside her, smelling of stale sweat and antiseptic.  She says nothing, but reaches into the pocket of her jacket and pulls out a French chocolate bar, tears it open, and offers Nile half.

Nile isn’t sure that if she takes it she won’t shatter; that she can hold it all together without her hands against her face. But she reaches out anyway, says thank you and is shocked at how hoarse she sounds.

Andy nods and half smiles, and Nile feels her understanding slam into her like some kind of solace, like waking up a second time, like a concussive wave.

542 notes • Posted 2021-06-05 21:07:49 GMT

#2

594 notes • Posted 2021-05-18 01:36:50 GMT

#1

I was studying a map of the Mediterranean yesterday evening when it suddenly struck me so hard that Malta is right between Italy and Tunisia. It represents the meeting point between the two - no wonder the boys think of it fondly.

And then I realized that in the lab, while Nicky is being tortured and Joe is (I think) dead, Nicky’s thinking of home.  He wants to go home.  He wants to take Joe with him.  He wants to escape not just in body but in being - to go somewhere safe that is about the two of them and simply be.

And the idea of Nicky lying there thinking “I want to go home,” is just so deeply human and vulnerable . . . and now I am emotionally compromised for all time.

647 notes • Posted 2021-05-22 10:31:56 GMT

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