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talaok · 9 months ago

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Sunbathing

Pairing: Joel Miller x f!reader

Summary: you’ve decided to sunbathe topless, or as your husband Joel would put it, you’ve decided to torture him.

Warnings: needy Joel, kind of sub!joel, unprotected p in v, premature ejaculation, creampie, oral sex (f receiving), come play.

a/n: i sunbathed topless for the first time and well this wrote itself

"You've seen my boobs before babe" A soft laugh bubbled up your throat as you turned your head left.

He wasn't even pretending not to be staring.

"Not like this"

You smiled, "what does that even mean?"

"not out... here"

You lowered your sunglasses to see him better, tilting your head to ask for further explanation

Yes you were outside, by the pool of the beautiful summer house you'd rented, but you didn't get how that made any difference, they were the same boobs he'd seen hours prior in your bed.

"I'm not used to not doing anything about them"

"ah" you hummed "is it that hard?"

You didn't even need to look at the smirk painting his face to regret your choice of words.

"yeah babydoll, it's real hard"

You only needed to lower your gaze a little to asses his statement.

"You're incorrigible"

"And you're torturin' me darlin'"

"How am I torturing you?" you laughed "I'm just taking advantage of the privacy we have to get a good tan"

"and besides, I seem to remember how hard it is for you to see me with the whole bikini on too"

He sat up, the sunbed squeaking as he faced you.

"It ain't my fault if my wife's so pretty it hurts"

"you get so dramatic when you're horny" you chuckled, rolling your eyes.

He smiled, letting his gaze wander all over your body for a good minute, before getting back at your face

"nothin's gonna happen is it?" his tone was full of hope nonetheless

"no baby" you shook your head

He sighed, dramatically letting his head fall to his chest

"I'll have a swim then"

"have fun honey"

__ __ __

"darlin'?"

Not even ten minutes had passed, and that scene from the Barbie movie with the "Ken! Go for a walk or something" line couldn't not pop into your head.

"yes?"

He was standing right next to your sunbed, dripping wet and blocking out the sun.

"don't ya need sunscreen?"

A soft smile pulled at your lips.

Ten minutes, that's how long it took for him to come up with that.

"I put it on already"

He wasn't gonna give up, not on the first try.

"how long ago?"

"an hour, I think"

"the sun's real strong now doll," he said, drying his hair with a towel before throwing it on his bed "I think it's best if you put some more on… I can do it for you if you don't feel like it"

You chuckled, looking up at him, but he stayed in character, continuing to look oh-so worried about your safety.

"Somehow I knew that offer was coming"

"'m just worried about my wife, 's all"

he'd crouched down, taking your hand in his

"mh-mh" you hummed, sarcasm tracing your tone

"can't have you get sunburt now, can we?"

"no, we can't" you played along, smiling at him

"'f course" he murmured, leaning down to leave a soft kiss on your lips as he grabbed the sunscreen.

"I'm so lucky to have such a caring husband"

"I'm the only lucky one babydoll"

He gave you one more kiss, before he leaned away and got to work.

He squeezed some cream into his hand, but to your surprise, his hands didn't land where you'd expected them to-

Only his eyes were betraying him. They were only on one, or actually two things even when it was your legs he was massaging.

The coldness of the cream and his hands felt good against your warm body, so much you couldn't help but hum appreciatively.

"feels good?"

"yeah baby" you breathed as his hands made their way to your thighs.

It always amazed you how hands so big, rough, and strong were able to be so gentle and soft on you.

You couldn't deny the shivers running up your body when his fingers reached your inner thighs, getting close to your core.

"what's that?" your husband was smirking like a cat, as he dedicated himself much too long on that spot.

"I didn't say anything"

If he thought this was gonna work, he was wrong. It was too hot, and you were too relaxed to do what he so obviously wanted to do... although you both knew how much you liked seeing him desperate...

He still didn't touch your boobs, no, next were your shoulders, then your arms, and then... when he felt on the brink of exploding, when he couldn't stop himself anymore, he squeezed a generous amount of sunscreen in his hands, and oh so gently started massaging your tits.

He couldn't stop a soft groan from fleeing his lips.

It felt amazing- of course it felt amazing, but you didn't wanna give him the satisfaction, and this was mostly for him, not for you, so your eyes remained closed as you pretended like it was nothing.

But that only lasted so long, because Joel could endure just about 30 seconds of that before he was bending down, and his mouth was sucking your nipple.

"Joel!" you gasped, your eyes snapping open just in time to see him climb onto you to straddle your waist, and then go right back to groping and licking and sucking your nipples like it was his life long duty.

"baby you're all wet" you tried complaining, but the smile on your lips was everlasting.

He looked so damingly cute like this, looking up at you with those big doe eyes as he worshipped your tits.

"so are you"

And yeah so what if you were- there's only so much a woman can do in front of this.

A soft laugh spilled from your lips as your hand went to find a place in his hair, your back arching to offer more of yourself to him.

"I don't even know how good it is for you to be licking sunscreen"

The look he gave you made it very clear he didn't give one single fuck.

And just when you were about to protest again, his teeth had gently bit your nipple, and a moan had spilled from your lips.

he took that as an incentive to go further, his hand slowly sliding down your belly, between your bodies, until it was seeping underneath your bikini bottoms.

"babe-" you stopped him, your voice breathless

His hand stopped on your mound as he groaned in frustration.

You could feel his rock-hard cock on you since the moment he straddled you- the man was desperate.

"please doll" he murmured against the soft skin of your chest in between kisses "Gimmie something-anything” he pleaded “Have mercy on your poor husband"

Your response was mixed between a laugh and a moan

"I can take care of you if you want"

He shook his head, his teeth grazing your nipple "Need to feel you darlin’"

Again, a soft giggle rumbled from your chest

"’S too hot to have sex here baby"

His hand had gotten out of your bikini to reach the other on your waist.

"the pool- the ground? fuck- anywhere you want sugar, just tell me where"

His clothed hard-on was rubbing against your core now, and fuck but once again you’d succumbed to Joel and his goddamn irresistible neediness.

"bring me back into the house"

It was like he’d been waiting his whole life to hear those words.

In a haze of kisses and lust, he’d picked you up, letting you hold onto him by wrapping your arms and legs around his body as he hurriedly walked into the house.

He didn’t make it far enough to encounter a single surface- and perhaps that was because he’d stopped looking and placed you against the wall the moment he’d passed the threshold.

His mouth was on your tits again, his cock was out, and his fingers had pulled your bikini to the side.

He said nothing as he slowly began entering you, the only sounds in the room being your moan as you threw your head back, and the groan he emitted, muffled by your skin.

“Oh fuck” you cried once he bottomed out.

Your husband was a very gifted man.

"'m not gonna last"

He sounded like the mere act of talking was taking all of his energy, and yet he was thrusting up into you like it was a matter of life or death.

"'s ok"

"I've been hard since you took your top off" he murmured, his breath fanning over your chest “you-you-jesus”

Your left hand passed through his hair, softly soothing him.

“‘S alright baby, don’t wait for me”

“You’re too fuckin’-” he tried to speak, but he was interrupted by yet another groan

“What?” you taunted him, a smirk pulling at your lips “what is it baby?”

His eyes were wide with desperation as he looked up at you, as his mouth stole languid kisses from your tits.

“Too hot- too goddamn perfect”

You bit down a grin at that, still stroking his hair

“I love you baby” you breathed, his cock reaching the deepest, most fucking amazing spot inside you in the meantime.

The moment those words left your lips your husband was fucked- the only words he was able to mutter were a series of -fuckshitgoddamn- before he inevitably reached his peak, filling you up with rope after rope of come that never seemed to end.

He remained like that for a little while, buried inside you, eyes closed, mouth still connected with your boob, until you left a gentle kiss on the crown of his head, and he woke up from his heavenly trance.

He let out a soft groan as he slipped out of you, and took his time letting you down.

You were smiling at him with that soft smile that melted his insides right up, and he couldn’t help but lean in and kiss it, kiss you like you were a soft delicate thing that he was scared of breaking.

“I love you more” he promised, kissing you again, even if you were smiling.

“Feel better now?”

You said it like he was a kid with a stomach bug, and he couldn’t help but laugh a little.

“Yeah darlin’” he murmured against your mouth “thank you”

“You don’t have to thank me” you laughed, but he was already shaking his head

“Yes I do”

And without further explanation, he’d dropped to his knees.

He slid your bikini to the side once again, looking up at you with only adoration in his eyes.

“Baby you don’t have to” you tried to reason with him, but his mouth was already latched to your clit, and your hand had already flown to his hair.

He remained on your bud long enough to make you desperate, and then he started focusing on your whole core, his tongue lapping between your folds with what could only be described as feral hunger.

His come was everywhere, and yet he didn’t care, he was happy tasting the mix of your fluids, because that’s how Joel was- a nasty nasty man- only for you.

So much so that you felt his tongue enter your hole, simulating what he was doing just minutes before with his cock.

“Fuck-babe-”

Your moans were breathless, more like whines, like prayers.

You were looking at him as he was looking at you and Jesus... He looked fucking heavenly.

His hair all tussled from your fingers, his blown-out pupils, his never-stopping tongue-

“Joel” you cried, but he didn’t dare speak a word as he went back to your clit.

“Shit-baby- god!”

You had to tighten your hold on his hair as your orgasm crept up your body- and it was as you heard him groan with pleasure, as he sucked your clit into his mouth like a man starved, that it all came crumbling down, and you felt your body light on fire as your climax took over.

You were moaning and crying into the air for a good minute before you were sane again.

Only Joel hadn’t stopped eating you out for a single second, and even then, he looked like he had no intention of doing so

“Baby-baby” you whimpered, having to literally pull him away from your core.

He was smiling like a kid, and you couldn’t help but follow suit.

He put your bikini back in place, and then stood up, his hands lingering on your waist

“You’re crazy”

He couldn’t help but kiss you before answering,

“You make me”

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caleignii · 8 days ago

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Caleb Fluff Headcanons

a/n: can't get enough of my sweet boy calebyy, so here are some headcanons that I think about him sometimes. My requests are open btww! Have fun reading dolls. (⁠人⁠*⁠´⁠∀⁠｀⁠)⁠｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+

Caleb who's love speaks softly—never with grand declarations, but in the quiet consistency of care. A warm drink materializes on your counter, perfectly timed to your worst days. The bulb that flickered last night? Fixed before morning. When the frost settles on the windows, your coat and gloves are already waiting by the door, touched by hands that never ask for thanks. He never says, “I did this for you.” But when you catch his eye after noticing, there’s a flicker of a smile there—like he’s trying not to glow too much. Like loving you is something sacred he’s choosing to keep humble.

Caleb after his missions, when the adrenaline fades and silence stretches thin, he drives—somewhere quiet, somewhere star-swept. He doesn’t speak much on the way, only reaches for your hand as though that’s all the grounding he needs. You lie beside him under the cosmos, shoulder to shoulder, listening to the universe breathe. Sometimes he whispers things—not to the stars, but to you. “When the stars get loud, I look at you, and they get quiet again.” You don’t always answer. You just squeeze his hand and let the silence cradle you both. Stars don’t speak, but Caleb does.

Caleb who secretly has an interest in riding a big bike. Okay here me out, with him as a pilot whenever he's flying in a small/open-cockpit plane—sends of freedom, thrill, and wind-in-your-face exhilaration that he may miss when flying sealed aircraft. Just like when riding a bike, the breeze during a fast ride contributes to that immersive, high-energy feeling, similar to low-altitude flying. The rush of wind on a fast-moving bike closely mimics the sensory experience of flying in an open cockpit or glider. Both activities provide an adrenaline rush and it attracted him who enjoy controlled risk and excitement.

Caleb's insomnia visits often, but so does he. He settles beside you, opens a worn book, and starts to read—not to pass the time, but to share space with you. His voice is low, smooth, like waves against the hull of a ship. You rest your head on his chest, feeling every word more than hearing them. When your breathing slows, he doesn’t stop. He keeps reading—quietly, carefully—as if the story might guard your dreams better than silence ever could.

Caleb has a photo of you he keeps hidden, tucked in the lining of his helmet like a secret prayer. Every mission, just before the launch seals him away, he looks at it. Only for a second. No one else sees. No one needs to. Once, you asked him why. He said, “Because there are places out there that want to strip the human out of you. But when I look at this... I remember who I am. And who I’m coming back to.”

Caleb doesn’t talk about his soft side. But you see it in the way a stray dog curls up at his feet, or how a kitten somehow finds its way into his arms, even on a space station. Once, you caught him crouched beside a baby bird, gently feeding it crumbs. He didn’t know you were watching. He just murmured, “You’re cold, aren’t you?” He looked up, startled, and gave the smallest shrug. “Someone had to help.” You didn’t tell him, but in that moment, your heart broke a little wider for him.

Caleb when someone flirts with you, doesn’t get angry, just quiet. A subtle shift. A glance. His fingers graze yours, almost like a question. Are you still with me? You smile at him—really smile—and that’s all it takes. The tension slides off his shoulders like water off armor. He presses a soft kiss to your temple, says nothing, but holds your hand just a bit tighter. The message is clear: I don’t need to fight for you. You’ve already chosen me.

Caleb even when the world freezes around you, hands stay warm. On distant moons, in frostbitten ships, when your bones ache from the cold, he reaches for you. Always. His palms are steady, wrapping yours like a promise. No words—just touch. Gentle, grounding, there. It’s not just about warmth. It’s about reminding you: You are not drifting. You are not alone. I’m here.

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arminsumi · 13 days ago

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❀ 𝐈 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮 | 𝟔

Gojo Satoru / Geto Suguru

Falling in love despite a language barrier.

𝐂𝐡. 𝟔 | 𝐖𝐜. 𝟖�� | 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐱 | 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

To be able to kiss you every day... what would that be like? Some people are so lucky as to have their lovers by their side, but his lover is on the other face of the planet.

What are you up to right now? is a question that lingered in his mind every day as he dragged his feet from room to room across the apartment — oh he was in such a state after you left, he kept his gaze pointed downwards and snuggled his face into the plush bunny that you had forgotten to pack. Aimlessly wandering like this, Satoru's lost blue eyes lingered on small objects that reminded him of you.

The cup from which you drank, the pillow you loved to hold while sat on his bed, the photo strip with the tiniest square piece of evidence that he had the guts to kiss your cheek... the kiss that you left on his lips that he daydreamed about over and over again.

Sometimes it felt like your kiss was still on his lips, like it was a tangible memory; your breath, your mouth, your taste, your affection.

Blinking up at the ceiling, Satoru often laid awake in the middle of the night and thought of you with such focus that he almost felt like you were there. After long, blushing daydreams, he'd eventually roll over onto his side and hug his ribs — as he habitually did whenever he felt lonely.

One sleepless night, he penned down this feeling, 'I'm in my home, yet I feel homesick. Why can't I just be a rabbit and burrow a home in your chest where I know I'll be warm?'.

Some nights, just before he fell asleep, he'd stare into your photo and couldn't help but get teary-eyed, couldn't even hold back the tiniest of tears that leaked out and rolled down the side of his nose.

今すぐ会いたい ...

And Suguru?

Oh, Suguru.

Let’s not even begin to describe what he felt when you left.

He acted strong for his best friend; making sure that he didn't forget to eat, surprising him with little gifts like his favorite sweets when he came home, spending late nights watching TV with him until he was smiling again.

But despite Suguru’s efforts to cheer up Satoru, some days were stained with a frown. Satoru wouldn’t even notice how miserable he looked until Suguru said something about it.

"Satoru, you're frowning again." he commented while making coffee in the kitchen.

"And I’ll be frowning for as long as she’s not here." replied Satoru quite dramatically.

Suguru shook his head and slurped his coffee.

"... she hasn't fallen off of the face of the earth, you know." he said, setting down his mug.

"I know, but it feels like it." whined Satoru

"Don't mope around too much. She'll visit again, and I can bet that she'll make it for your birthday."

Satoru's face lit up ever so slightly at this.

"Mm... maybe..." mumbled Satoru.

"Now stop frowning; you'll get wrinkles."

"Nah! You may have that old man look about you, but I'm never gonna wrinkle — I'm forever twenty-one!"

Suguru spread his lips into a thin smile and laughed lightly. "Well, you definitely still act like a twenty-one year old..." he muttered in English under his breath.

“Hey, what’re you saying!”

“Nothing, nothing.”

They stood in the kitchen, drinking iced coffees before work started, feeling a coldness making its way up from their ankles to their ears. It wasn't cold because winter was nearing; it was cold because your warmth wasn't there.

As Suguru thought to himself, you're the sun that lights my way and warms my skin — but he didn't write this into his notes app, of course, because he felt it was too cheesy.

"If you miss her so much, just text her more often." said Suguru.

"I don't want to seem clingy." Satoru admitted.

"Huh, why? Jeez, ‘Toru... don't overthink things so much. You’re cute when you’re a little clingy; and I’m sure she'd appreciate hearing about even the most mundane things that happen throughout your day. Why don't you show her the route you take to work? It's pretty scenic. And I'm sure she misses your voice... I mean, don't you miss her voice?"

Satoru looked thoughtfully at his iced coffee, contemplating on what Suguru had suggested. He was using the same cup that you liked using, wearing the same shirt that he wore when he went with you to the aquarium.

"Yeah... that's a good idea..." Satoru replied at last. "I'll do that."

"Good; and stop being lazy and start learning English." Suguru teased.

"Well why don't you teach me yourself!"

"I'm not a good teacher..."

"... please?"

Suguru gave in so easily. "Alright. When I get home from work today, I’ll look for my old textbooks." he promised.

*****

Whether he was inside or out of the house, Satoru was always thinking about doing things with you, eagerly sharing snippets of his day after feeling this newfound freedom from the fear of seeming clingy — something he’d been scared of his whole life.

But just a few small words and encouragement from his best friend opened his eyes.

What's the point of fearing that? Why not risk seeming clingy? I'm only alive once, and I probably only know you in this lifetime.

I want you to be the one I watch late-night TV with, I want your scent to be the one I smell on all my clothes, I want to buy your favorite drink for you on my way home, I want you to be the one I walk alongside, I want you to be the one I complain about the weather to, I want you to be the lips I kiss before heading off to work.

So, Satoru tried to include you in his daily life.

But the things that he thought to be mundane, like his commute to work, meant so much more to you — the route he walked to get to work, the flowering trees that he passed on the way, the train that he took, the convenience store that he bought sweets from, the stray cats that he petted, the way he timidly spoke any new English that he learned even if it was almost completely muffled by his mask.

Being online together, even if it was just for a few minutes, left him glowing and warm. Suguru had come to know this glow on Satoru's face very well; whenever he caught Satoru smiling at his screen, he instantly knew it was you — cheeks tight and red, face alight with the glare of the screen, conversation reflected in the tiny diameter of his pupils.

Satoru always had a spare ear for you, always wanted to hear about your day — it was something so simple, and yet he was so eager to know every little detail.

Conversations kept the both of you awake so late because of the time difference. And it took a lot of discipline for Satoru to pry himself off of his phone; he only really stopped texting when he fell asleep, when his eyelids started blinking shut with little daydreams behind them to lull him into sleep. The screen would go black, leaving him laid there, softly snoring, with the cat snuggled at his feet.

On the other side, in the morning, you'd wake up so groggy, eyes barely able to open yet, whole body dreading going to work — but then you'd fish your phone out from under your pillow, and smile as soon as you saw your notifications;

✉ Satoru → Sent a photo; his cute groggy face made you miss waking up next to him. Good morning 🐥

→ Sent a video; at first, he pans the camera to get a slow, sweeping view of the train station, capturing a moment in time of such an ordinary day. It ends with him panning to himself and hissing a smiley 'it's cold'. Commute to work :) Hope the weather is better over there.

✉ Suguru → Sent a photo; he was showing you the back of his hand where there was a scratch. mint woke up and chose violence and we've run out of the hello kitty bandaids. pls kiss better.

✉ Satoru & Suguru → Sent a photo; they're sat at a cafe, smiling into the camera. Suguru looks sleepy and Satoru looks energetic — as is their usual dynamic.

we found a new cafe today. by the way, how's your spider situation? satoru suggests giving it an eviction notice 😄

✉ Suguru → Sent a photo; it's of Satoru looking down at two open books at the same cafe on a different day. He's scrunched up his face in focus, seemingly studying hard. toru’s studying hard. i'm his unpaid english teacher now.

✉ You Aw, can you be my teacher too? 🥺

✉ Suguru yes. send this to satoru: さとるに会いたい

✉ You What does it mean...? Are you teaching me terrible things, Suguru?��

✉ Suguru i'll tell you after. trust. i'm on a mission to make him blush.

So, you did as he said. Not long after messaging this to Satoru, (and being left on read for a few minutes), Suguru responded again.

✉ Suguru → Sent a photo; it's of Satoru hiding his face with his shirt, only his eyes revealing how hard he must have been smiling. mission success 👍

*****

Just seeing the whirl of life in the screen brought tears to your eyes — so as you can imagine, watching your daily 'mundanities' had the same effect on Satoru.

You were his favorite notification, yes, your messages were on high priority and had their own special sound so that he could tell your texts apart from everyone else's. Nothing could describe the way his whole body reacted whenever he heard that twinkling sound — he'd jolt, reach for his phone, and return back a small text... even if he was at work.

*****

"Nanami, does this sentence make sense?" he'd sometimes ask his blonde co-worker.

Satoru would often earn a pitiful look from Nanami after he'd shown him what he'd typed.

"... uh, let me re-write that for you..." Nanami offered, taking Satoru's phone and into his hand and correcting almost everything.

Because he was fluent in English like Suguru, that meant Satoru nagged him just as much to help him out.

What does this mean? How do I say this? Don't sigh at me. Come on, help a guy out; I’m in love with a girl and I have no idea what she’s saying ninety-percent of the time.

The clacking of keyboards and of phones going off filled the office, then it was lunch — time to sit too close to Nanami and nag him. Of course, one look at the genuine desperation in Satoru's blue eyes, and he couldn't refuse.

"... so is she visiting again soon?" Nanami asked conversationally, eating slowly.

Satoru nodded, mouth full of lunch, "Mhm, I think she'll make a surprise visit in December. I've got a hunch."

"For your birthday?"

"Ah, if I could be so lucky... I think she'll be able to visit in time for Christmas... which is perfect. I could ask her out for the twenty-fifth to see the lights... oh, Keyakizaka... I've wanted to bring a girl there for so long." Satoru swooned, "I'll make it an experience that she'll never forget."

Nanami toyed with his food, preparing to make the perfect last bite. With the way Satoru sounded — like a man who was beyond lovesick — Nanami made an assumption that took Satoru completely by surprise.

"Are you going to propose to her?"

Satoru nearly choked. His jaw stopped moving. The mix of food stilled in his mouth. His eyes went wide. His heartbeat felt like a drum. Blood rushed to his face.

"Propose?! Like, marriage?!"

"Uh, yeah — what other kinds of proposal are there?"

"I... well...” Satoru shifted around in his seat, touched at his neck, and looked up at the lights, “I don't think that she'd accept me as her husband. I mean, at the very least, she'd think it's too soon, wouldn't she? We've only kissed once..." Satoru started rambling.

Nanami shrugged, "It's either a yes or a no. Honestly, I believe you may as well go for it. From what I've heard, she's the one. Who else but someone deeply in love would travel so far just to meet a man who can't even speak her language?"

Satoru looked down in thought, face still completely red even up to his ears. One pale hand laid lax on the table, wrist poised to take another bite of food.

He pulled his shoulders up into a shrug, "I never thought about that... I mean, she likes Suguru, too."

Nanami waved his hand dismissively, "That's just platonic."

"No, it isn't; they've kissed."

"You don't get it; it's not the same."

"Maybe... I don't know, I haven't asked her about how she feels... I'm too shy to do that." Satoru admitted.

"Satoru." Nanami shook his head, like his co-worker was an oblivious idiot, "You don't get it," he emphasized, "I've never ever in my whole life seen a woman look at a man in the same way that she looked at you that night. It was like a novel. I generally don't believe in fateful encounters, but you and her are a story that the entire universe has carefully written. So, if I were you, I'd put a ring on it."

Satoru went silent, stopped eating completely, and just felt all his feelings right there in his office's cafeteria. A long moment went by, and eventually he stuttered back to reality.

"... what are you, a poet now?" Satoru teased Nanami.

"I'm serious."

"Yeah, I know. I'll think about it..."

And he did think about it. In fact, he thought about it all the way home; from the moment he hurried out the office at 5 PM to the moment he boarded the train home, Satoru was in deep thought about everything Nanami had said.

... you and her are a story that the entire universe has carefully written...

Satoru took out his notebook, and scribbled down his stream of thoughts.

His heart throbbed. His tummy felt tight.

Marriage?

He mused to himself, picturing a scene where he got down on one knee for you.

The train reached its destination. Satoru put his notebook away, stood in wait to be let out, and took long strides through the station — completely towering over everyone else. As he went on his way home, the only thing that occupied his mind was marriage.

*****

Satoru and Suguru talked late into the night, cuddling up together in Suguru's bed with Mint fluffing her tail around at Satoru's side. The glare of the laptop lit up Satoru's face as he balanced it on his lap.

"... it's something like ¥400,000, and I stared at it and thought of her... hey, Suguru, as a to-be best man, I need your input. Is it too much? Is it too soon?"

Suguru shrugged, "Well, Monroe did say diamonds are a girl's best friend..."

"But is it too soon?" Satoru repeated.

"No." he replied "I don't think so."

A soft silence went by. Satoru's face was illuminated by the glare of his laptop's screen, and Suguru was wiggling his foot, thinking of a song that he couldn't recall the name of.

"Suguru."

"Hm?"

"... would it upset you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, Nanami told me that he thought it seemed platonic between you and her... but I’ve always thought that you two felt more deeply for each other than I could judge. I don’t want to tread on your feelings, I’d rather we talk about it."

Silence. Suguru contemplated his response, pushed down words that could not be said, and then spoke.

"... she's special to me," Suguru began, choosing his words slowly, "But your happiness is also special to me. If I envision you and her being married, I don't feel bitter."

"You don't? Are you sure?"

"You're my best friend." Suguru emphasized, lips carrying a small smile.

Satoru blushed a little.

Suguru continued, "I'm not saying I don't have a little bit of a crush on her right now... I'm just saying that want to see a future where you're smiling at her side. You're the one who liked her first, you know?"

Oh he knew it wasn’t true. Oh even you knew; the one who liked you first was...

"Yeah."

"I mean, you said it once... 恋の予感、ね？"

Satoru held down a smile.

"Aw, look who's blushing."

"Shut up..."

They laid in silence, growing drowsy, when Satoru started talking about how he felt.

"... what if she and I loved each other in a past life?"

"Now that is poetic. Write that down."

"I'm too sleepy, can you do it?"

Satoru offered Suguru his notebook, taking it out from under his pillow.

"Why do you keep a book under your pillow...?" Suguru questioned.

"... I get ideas late at night. Don’t you?"

"Oh... well yeah, but I just use my notes app."

"Laaame."

Suguru opened Satoru's notebook, flipped through it, and immediately a smile spread across his face.

"Damn... you’ve been writing a whole novel on the side and didn’t even show me? Oh, ‘her eye contact makes me stutter’? You’re so cheesy!"

"Like you’re not! I’m sure your notes app is full of the cheesiest shit ever."

"Should I translate this for you? I mean, one day you might give it to her to reminisce."

Satoru contemplated this for a second, sleepy head held up by his hand.

"... but first, pen down my thoughts before I fall asleep."

Suguru poised the pen, ready to write. "Where do I begin?"

"... the day I was born…"

"... good grief, we’re going that far back?"

"Just listen to me; the day I was born, I was cursed to be born here. But then, despite the distance between us, she and I still met each other – and that’s so incredibly special. Really, it’s all thanks to you, isn’t it? If you hadn’t started an account on that shady little chatsite… this story would have never begun. Ah, you’re like my angel, Suguru…”

Satoru had began mumbling drowsily, feeling a tide of sleep coming over him. Suguru penned down his best friend’s brilliant last few thought before the poor boy completely passed out on his shoulder, snuggled up to him like a baby koala.

Oh, Suguru.

His heart panged, again and again, each time he read-over those words…

Special, huh? How long ago has it been now since we met?

You, and only you, filled Suguru’s thoughts right then.

No, more dramatic than that – it felt as if every living cell in his body was aware of you, and your presence, on the other side of the world.

*****

Not yet drowsy, as his night-owl side kicked in, Suguru laid there, careful not to disturb Satoru's sleep, as he meticulously translated every page of Satoru's diary. It wasn’t easy; some sayings in Japanese just cannot be expressed in English. Suguru wasn’t the most poetic in either language, so a lot of things ended up getting lost in translation much to his frustration.

It struck him, with each turn of the page, just how special it all was. Satoru had never been in love like this before. No, he can't recall a single person that made Satoru think like this, or write like a poet. You were very much his first love.

Flipping to the most recent entry, dated and marked as 10月5日/ 5:45 PM / 電車 Suguru read and translated what was written.

... the distance, the language; these don’t make me love you less, but I’ve got this ache in my chest that will only go away when I’m able to tell you just how I feel, on one knee looking up at you. I’ll be at your mercy, begging and pleading like a lovesick boy.

Reading it over again to be sure it was as close as possible to what Satoru meant, Suguru settled on this translation.

Pen stilled on the paper, feeling a pang in his chest, Suguru remembered something and hesitantly began to write it down.

悟、これをYNに言える

「月が綺麗ですね?」♡

Heart now throbbing after carefully stroking your name down onto the paper, he made a quiet promise to himself. Just a small whisper to his own heart. A whisper no one would ever hear except himself.

Then Suguru closed the book and set it aside, letting out a big yawn.

疲れた…

As Suguru went to turn off the soft-glowing lamp, that’s when his phone lit up with a message, so he looked over with sleepy eyes and went to check it.

✉ You → Sent a message to the group chat Exciting news, boys :) Gotta call tomorrow...

✉ Suguru oh really? can i get a hint?

✉ You Mister why are you awake it is 4 AM over there...

✉ Suguru uhh why are YOU awake? 👀

✉ You It's only 8 PM.

✉ Suguru normal people apparently sleep at 8 pm ☝️

✉ You Go to bed, silly.

✉ Suguru only if you join me

✉ You SUGURU 😳

✉ Suguru hahaha sorry. i’m kidding. i just wanted to see your reaction.

Suguru pursed his lips at the screen.

He glanced out the window, leaned towards it, and craned his neck to catch a glimpse of the goddess in the sky that was causing such a bright illumination in the room.

The moon is beautiful...

His heart throbbed. He saw you typing, read your messages, and took a few seconds to comprehend them and respond; because his mind was elsewhere. Oh god I like you, what do I do? Will it all work out if I just deny myself to feel these feelings?

✉ Suguru it’s a full moon tonight, did you see?

His heart throbbed harder. His thumbs moved over his screen, dark hair framed his face – lit up only by the glare of the screen.

✉ Suguru is typing...

You waited, but then he stopped typing, so you sent your response.

✉ You

I see it. It’s beautiful.

So are you.

Suguru typed this out, erased it, and replied instead with a smiley-face.

*****

“And in time for my birthday, too…” Satoru smiled to himself.

“I really didn’t expect to see her so soon again.” Suguru murmured.

“The tickets are surprisingly expensive for this time of year… do you think she’d accept if we offer to pay for her flight?”

“Uh, probably not; I think she’d be too humble. But we could try.”

“Too humble? Damn, if only she knew the prices I’m lookin’ at for rings...”

Suguru chuckled, sinking his hands into his pockets in similar fashion to Satoru; they really did rub off on each other. Habits from each boy reflected in the other. They were out and about, crossing the busy street under a shivery sky, lazily shopping for a new electric heater but eventually turning course towards the diamond store.

Greeting the employees politely, Satoru browsed the rings on display. When Suguru caught a glimpse of his best friend’s eyes, he smiled.

“Satoru, y’know your eyes kinda put the diamonds to shame.” Suguru said.

Satoru grazed his fingers over his undercut, “... what are you getting cheesy for...?” he mumbled.

“I am not cheesy.” he denied, “Anyways, you should buy a measuring tape.”

“What, why?”

“… well, how else are you going to measure her ring size?”

His heart fluttered. “What!”

Suguru smiled, having successfully teased poor Satoru.

*****

In the weeks leading up to your December visit, Suguru noticed Satoru singing to himself. Little lovesick songs, the dreamy ones that reminded him of you.

There was one lyric in particular which he sang over and over.

‘… あなたが好きです … ’

Isn't that Lamp? Thought Suguru.

Suguru tried to remember the name of the song, going days with a perplexed expression on his face. At last, he figured it out one morning; it was a song that Satoru had sent you when the two of you first met.

二十歳の恋

It's their love theme, huh?

Suguru thought to himself, still listening to Satoru repeating those lyrics over and over, softer each time, sometimes experiencing a voice crack.

“さとる、かわいい...”

“え？”

"... because you sing like you’re lovesick."

“ 恋煩いじゃないよ！”he denied.

“Yes, you are.”

“No, I’m not.”

They went back and forth like this throughout the day. Then came night, when it was time to crawl into a cozy bed and give you a call.

Satoru peered into the camera exactly like the cat sometimes does; two blinking eyes and a fluffy mess of white hair.

He had no idea why you were laughing, so he just confusedly smiled and stared intently at your lips and cheeks and watched how your features changed as you smiled.

“You should have seen him today, he was singing like a lovesick kid.” Suguru admitted.

This earned him a side-eye, because Satoru heard ‘him’ and ‘lovesick’ and pieced together what Suguru was saying. He stuttered, totally embarrassed, then pointed at his best friend while looking at you in the screen.

“Lie.” he said, “Suguru is a liar.” he said, sweet accent meeting your ears and making your tummy do flips.

Suguru was snickering off to the side.

“He’s been talking about you all day. Totally enamored.” Suguru snitched.

And queue the classic moment that’s happened since the very beginning; Satoru suddenly whisper-arguing in Japanese with his laughing best friend who just can’t take it seriously.

“What are you saying?! Don’t embarrass me... what are you laughing for!?”

“... Satoru, didn’t you tell me you were gonna show off what you learned to her?”

Satoru pursed his lips, “Oh... oh, yeah.”

You watched them go back and forth until they went silent – Suguru started snickering again, and momentarily left the two of you alone together.

Satoru sat on the bed, looked into the camera, and with the most red cheeks muttered a nostalgic “Hi” that just took you back to day 1; when Satoru had absolutely no idea what to say so he just said hi.

“Hey.” you replied with equal shyness.

He squirmed around, grinning with tensed brows, “Sorry, ‘m shy...” he muttered clumsily, then blew giggles through his nose ‘till the two of you were burning up and – oh there he went, diving off screen into the pillow because he couldn’t handle the tension. His tummy felt as if it might implode – or his cheeks might tear from smiling so wide for so long.

“So, Satoru, what’s the plans for your birthday?”

“Oh my god...” he clapped his hands over his face when he heard you speak all of that. What was all that? Why couldn’t you just – oh never mind, I’ll try my best, he thought.

She said something about my birthday.

“Uh...” he nodded, looking around for the words, “My birthday?”

“Mhm.”

“December seventh.”

“Mhm.”

“I’m going to make a cake.”

“Yeah? What kind of cake?”

He twitched his eyes at you and made a pout at the screen.

“I don’t know? Pink?” he replied, rubbing his temples as he got more and more stressed out the longer he spoke English. "A good one."

You went red in the face, held in your giggles, and dodged off the screen. Satoru’s smile grew bigger watching you slowly crack.

“Do you like... cake?” he asked, trying not to break into laughter. He felt ridiculous.

「うーん、ケーキが大好き。」 you replied to the best of your ability.

Satoru inhaled sharply and went delirious with giggles – your English accent in Japanese was so funny, in a way that he could never dare explain to you. Charming, sweet – he could listen to you speak his language for the rest of his life; and it was also just so funny. He resisted the urge to tease you about it, because he’d been self-conscious of his Japanese accent in English.

“Um, so...” he began, fishing out his diary – oh Suguru, what a friend he was... he had filled a whole page with things for Satoru to say.

“Sooo...” he stalled as you waited with a patient smile, “Are you excited to visit again?”

“Mhm. I miss you.” you nodded, wiggling your feet off camera as you listened to your sweet boy try his best to speak your language.

I miss you...?

Satoru blinked, his teeth slowly revealing themselves in a stubbornly cute smile.

She’s missed me...

“YN,” he replied softly, “I miss you too.”

Lingering silence, you shied away from your laptop camera because your smile was growing embarrassingly large.

There’s so much I want to say to you right now. You have no idea – no idea at all.

He held up a finger to signal you to wait as he read some sentences that Suguru had translated in his diary, baby blue eyes darting up at you every now and then with a lethal attractiveness.

The way his brows framed those intense eyes had you breathing a little faster, gaze trailing down to his kissable lips. You kissed those lips not that long ago. And you were going to be all over them again, soon.

Too busy reading the pages of his diary, Satoru didn’t notice how your gaze softened into something more amorous. He was practicing what he wanted to say under his breath, audio choppy and delayed, picture quality dropping drastically.

“... なにこれ? ‘the moon is beau — ’” Satoru stopped himself as he read the note that Suguru had written next to this. It’s romantic, save it for later, Satoru.

He went red in the face, and looked at you. “Oops.” he said, “Uhhh, anyways... uhhh... sooo...”

His cheeks were so soft and cute, eyes dazzling even with the low video quality – a poor connection plagued the call, but it hardly hindered the feeling tethering the two of you together.

Lost for words and struggling to see your pretty face when it hit 144p all of a sudden, Satoru just awkwardly smiled like a cutie pie. He brought his face closer, illuminating his features. Your memory made up for the lacking picture quality, recalling his tiniest freckles that scattered randomly across his pale skin.

“Satoru,” you began, voice full of love, chin resting on your palm, shining soft eyes at him like no one else in the world existed but him and him alone, “大好き。”

You caught him completely off-guard. He staggered, blinked with his mouth open. He scratched at his undercut, unable to respond.

“Uh, uhhh...” he went on like this, until his mouth formed a bashful smile. He clapped his hands over his cheeks, not knowing how to respond even though his whole body was screaming I love you I love you I love you.

Suguru returned to find you and Satoru were a mess of giggles. He snuggled back onto the bed, thoughtfully bringing back sweet snacks for Satoru.

“Wow, what happened?” he asked, switching to a whisper of his mother tongue and leaning closer to Satoru, “Did you propose to her or something?”

“Hey! Don’t spoil it!”

“Relaaax, I’m sure she doesn’t know what I’m saying.”

“How can you be so sure?”

They aimed a suspicious look at you. You blinked back at them, bewildered and confused and close to laughing again.

“Nah, surely she didn’t catch that.”

Satoru’s heart throbbed – what if you did?

“You two are so goofy.” you shook your head.

“And you’re pixels. Are we pixels, too?”

“Yeah, the connection is just awful tonight... should we reconnect?”

“No no! It’s fine. It’ll clear up. Stay here.”

Satoru plucked nervously at the collar of his baggy white shirt; eyes trying to find his favorite features of your face in the pixels.

“No problem...” he gave a thumbs up, briefly consulting Suguru on the side before adding; “You’re gonna be here soon and then – ” he did a little happy dance with just his hands, “No more screen.”

*****

Waking three hours early, the boys spent their time differently; Suguru was meticulous about making the house look as inviting as possible, meanwhile Satoru was meticulous about making himself look as inviting as possible. He sparingly dabbed on cologne between his collarbones and on his wrists, not wanting it too be too overpowering for you when you went in for a – hug? Kiss? Oh my god, where are my strawberry mints?

Satoru came out of his bedroom and Suguru was still in his lazy grey sweatpants, scurrying around like a maid and readjusting the welcome back banner – pink and cute and hand-made with all their love.

"I'm ready. Let's go."

"Satoru, her plane doesn't land for another three hours."

"So? I like airports."

“Three hours.” Suguru emphasized, “It’s going to be agonizing to wait that long. How are we going to pass the time?”

He shrugged, "We'll figure sumthin’ out!"

Suguru sighed and shook his head, giving up on persuading his best friend out of going to the airport three hours too early because he knew he couldn’t; Satoru was buzzing. On edge with excitement.

"That turtleneck looks good on you, by the way."

"Thanks. I appreciate that you've complimented me without fail each and every time that I've worn it."

"Yes, because it looks that good on you."

*****

In the hours leading up to your arrival time, feet wandering the airport floor, Satoru told himself that he had to appear disciplined and cool, like Suguru, and refrain from hugging you too quickly or seeming too excited.

I can't come off like that. And I can’t be clingy when I hug her — I've got to be subtle.

Oh but of course his plan fell apart when he saw you in the flesh again, when he watched you walking over, waved the boys down.

All his coolness melted like snowflakes on the tongue, and his heart beat faster and harder until you were right there in front of him.

Oh god it’s you.

He practically engulfed you with his arms, holding you in a such a trembling hug. Suguru watched with soft eyes, admiring the cute scene, deep down itching to have his turn.

You heard a small, heartfelt "I missed you." mumbled into your hair.

Satoru was glued to you. His hands squeezed at your shoulders with need. He missed you — you felt it in his whole body. He missed you, he missed you, he missed you. The phrase didn't convey what it truly felt like to miss you – the ache in his chest subsided at last.

Prying himself off you, Suguru came to hug you with a familiar coolness; at least that’s the exterior he was trying hard to maintain. But you felt his big hand squeeze at your waist, felt his chin tremble against the crown of your head, felt him press his firm body tight to you like he wanted to leave his print on you.

“How was it?”

“Crazy turbulent – there was this young girl sitting next to me who started crying and she was convinced that we were going to crash into the ocean. I felt bad for laughing.”

Suguru chuckled, “You’re nasty. Ah, I’ll carry your bags for y – oh.”

Satoru had already swiftly swept up your luggage for you.

“Okay, let’s go home.”

*****

The moment you and Satoru were alone together, you fell into each other and kissed like mad; locked your lips together and melted so that you formed seemingly one thing – so to say, existed together rather than as two separate people.

He felt like he was going to start levitating.

Oh, your lips made him feel alive.

We just hugged, how did we start kissing? Pondered Satoru.

It was a mystery. You and Satoru were simply hugging in the hallway, happy to see each other in the flesh again – and then the next thing you know the hug turned into a tender kiss.

With need, Satoru framed your cheeks in his hands and pressed his lips to yours. It was cosmic. It was something otherworldly. His hair got messy, he ran out of breath – no words, just love and the taste of strawberry mints and lips plastered all over each other, tongues too shy to even poke at each other. You’re humming into his mouth, he’s feeling the vibrations on his lips, pulling you impossibly tighter to his torso as he puts his poor spine into an ungodly curve just to reach down far enough to have you.

It's fine. The ache in my spine is worth it.

Five minutes, then ten – stuck together in the hallway while Suguru was in the kitchen. You grazed your fingertips up Satoru’s undercut and suddenly his legs shuddered.

“Mmf.”

“Mm?”

You broke the kiss to adore him; he was disoriented and breathless and somehow still on planet earth even though he swore that your kiss transported him to the moon. He swallows hard, tasting you all over his tongue and lips.

“I missed you.” you whisper on his lips. His heartbeat drummed harder hearing this.

Satoru was going to say it back but then, just like during the call when he was interrupted from returning an I love you too, Suguru called out your names from the kitchen, sarcastically asking if the two of you got lost.

Oh the sweet boy in front of you, he blinked the lovesickness out of his eyes and licked his lips and stole another daring kiss from your lips, giggling as he trotted off – leaving you there a dizzy lovesick mess yourself.

The taste of you on his tongue was driving him crazy. He could hardly act like himself. All he could think about was the diamond ring snuggled in-between his clothes in his closet.

Ah, it tastes like you’re the one.

Tokyo sunrise. Seventh floor. Satoru and Suguru’s apartment. Black coffee and flipflops. Plants on the balcony. Insomniac’s eyes.

You lazily come out of the bathroom, hearing Suguru was awake, leaving the bedroom for the balcony and letting Satoru continue to dream in bed like a princess in all his funny positions.

Suguru was nosing over his plants, sleepily watering them.

“Well well, Suguru’s garden is sure lookin’ charming.” you greet him, giving him a small surprise.

“Yeah? You’re lookin’ pretty charming yourself.” he rasped back.

You grinned at him. He grinned back. Something sparked between the two of you just like it did way back then. He looked away, fixing his eyes on the plants, green leaves drooping with the weight of fresh water as it beaded off the tips.

“… so, miss, how’s the writing going?” he asked. “You haven’t been talking about it much.”

“Oh!” you felt a pang in your chest, delighted to be asked. “Well, I haven’t got much… I wrote a few chapters... whiiich are still in review... uh, work has been suffocating my creativity. But my mom read over my stuff and she said it sounds a bit bizarre.”

Suguru let out a chuckle, nodding in agreement, “Yeah – but I like your bizarre little stories precisely because they’re bizarre.”

The traffic roared. You joined Suguru on the balcony. The both of you were trying not to think about the very obvious memory of kissing right there, mere months ago.

Suguru swallowed, sunk his hands into his pockets, and stared out at the cityscape.

“You know, I’ve always wondered what your mom thinks of me. Er, I mean, because I’m that guy from the other side of the sea.”

“Ahah... well, honestly, when we were teenagers she was a little sceptical of you. She tried to limit my internet usage, because she thought I was getting involved with creeps online.”

Suguru giggled through his nose, “Fair enough. I respect moms being cautious.”

“Mhm. Anyways, my mom still calls you ‘bangs guy’.”

“Wow, really? Unbelievable.”

You laughed together in the soft morning light.

Suguru got a whiff of nostalgia, and his heart started to softly pang – lub-dup, lub-dup, lub-dup – right up against his ribcage.

We’ve come so far, he thought as he recalled how the two of you met. He could feel his past weighing on his consciousness.

“Isn't it insane when you think about it? I grew up here, went about my life totally oblivious, and then by chance met you in a tiny chat room.”

“It is pretty insane, yeah.”

Memories of the youth you shared together flickered somewhere in the back of both your minds.

“I wonder if that site still exists?” Suguru pondered.

“I don’t know… but I wish I could read our first chat on there…”

Suguru scrunched his nose up, “Oh god no, I was so... ew. And my English was so bad.”

“Aw, no – I miss your cringe era. It was cute.”

Taking a moment to blush behind the back of his palm, Suguru denied ever having a ‘cringe’ era.

“I wasn’t cringe...”

“... yes, you were so cringe. So was I. We were both cringe.”

He smiled.

“You know what’s even more insane,” you spoke and he drew his gaze to you again, “is if that site was never made, then you and I would not be standing next to each other right now.”

Suguru went quiet. His heart throbbed.

After a small silence, he replied.

“You and Satoru are so cheesy…”

“But it’s true!”

“Yes, it is. I think we should also thank the invention of the airplane… and translators… and – sorry, I’ll stop teasing you. But you know what I mean, don’t you? Isn't it freaky how the past drives the present? Satoru said that he likes to think that our fate was set as far back as the big bang... when we were all just particles.”

“I think Satoru’s poetic way is rubbing off on you…”

“You might be right.” Suguru smiled behind his hand. His hair looked deliciously unkempt in the mornings – something about him felt so homely.

That’s it – that was the perfect wording, you thought. Suguru was homely. Observing how his black eyes moved, how his thin brows twitched just like a puppy, how his posture was slightly hunched so he could view the ringing bicycle breezing down the road seven floors down.

He continued, “What was that one theory? ‘Every choice we’ve made in our entire life has led us to the present moment’? I don’t know… maybe it’s all just random chance… but thinking like that gives me hope on bad days; it would mean that even my worst days contributed to good days in the future… like this moment — so all my worst days had to exist. Maybe if I wouldn't have had so many barren days of loneliness when I was young, then I wouldn't have wandered online and met you. Then this story would never even have existed.”

Suguru ran out of steam after saying so much, and his voice cracked. He seemed to realize that he was speaking a lot, and dialed it back a bit out of fear of seeming too much.

“Sorry. Now I'm getting all cheesy..."

“You’re allowed to be cheesy every now and then, Suguru. Anyways, you know I like cheesy boys.”

His heart throbbed as a memory of you came flooding back into every corner of his mind, completely filling his chest.

“Hey…” he began slowly, almost hesitantly, “Do you remember ‘Space Song’?”

“By Depression Cherry?”

His heart throbbed again.

“Yeah, that one.”

And it throbbed harder, and harder.

“It’s… uh, I listened to it this morning before I got out of bed... thinking about...” he didn’t continue, trailing off and starting afresh from a different direction, “You know when a song just transports you back to a specific time in your life?”

Your eyes gleamed at him.

He went on, “… I was super lonely when I was nineteen, ‘cause Satoru and I didn’t have time to hang out with each other as much, you know, because we’d both gotten jobs. And his jobs have always been so demanding. Back then, he was working at a job with just the worst hours, and everything between us was kind of just a mess and falling apart for some reason – or maybe it was just me. I was a mess and falling apart for no reason.” he chuckled, hiding the hurt in his eyes

“I don’t remember much of that time, I just kind of blocked out those memories... I only remember listening to that song on repeat and crying a lot, because I thought no one was interested in me anymore. But I know I was just being a drama queen,” he joked, trying to lighten the mood after seeing your long expression.

“But then what happened?” you asked.

“Then Satoru and I decided to just move in together. Now I can’t imagine living apart. I mean, at the very least, I want to live next door or on the same street.”

“Oh Suguru, why didn’t you ever tell me this?”

He shrugged serenely, “I don’t know. Too embarrassed, I guess?”

And just like he had always done since you first met him, Suguru chuckled after expressing his deepest thoughts. His words lingered in the air. It was just you and him and the roar of the city that he had tried so desperately to escape.

He continued. You listened to him.

"... have I ever expressed my hatred for the city?" Suguru spoke, taking a slice of your interest,

"Hatred? Why is that?" you asked.

Suguru shrugged, looking to the sun as it painted the sides of buildings in a golden light.

"I grew up in a more rural area... apparently it's been getting urbanized lately. But it's not even half as built up as this city. I miss it sometimes... I’ve always been a bit of a country boy at heart. Really, I only came to the city because of work opportunities. Cities are chaos and I need quiet for my soul.”

“But if you don’t like the city, then why did you stay here?” you asked.

"Satoru.” he replied simply.

“Ah, Satoru.”

“Yeah, he’s a sweetheart... a madman, really, but you haven’t seen that part of him much. He's a good boy when you're around.”

“Is he maintaining the sweetheart facade for me?”

“Not a facade, per se, – he just softens around you.”

“So you stayed in the city for Satoru...” you smiled to yourself.

“Yeah. I knew I could never find another Satoru back home. Though, I did try to suggest moving back into my old house together, but he rejected the idea. We visited once, in the winter, and I remember,” he laughed in between his words, “I remember he absolutely hated it.”

"But the countryside is so serene, why does Satoru not like it?"

"Too many old people." replied Suguru.

"Oh."

The two of you looked at each other and laughed.

“It's a pity, but I think I'm glad things turned out this way. Actually... I'm happy that all those choices led me to this moment."

Suguru looks at you and feels his stomach tighten, feels his heart thump gently in his chest — in his fingertips. His lips parted like he was going to kiss you, but he refrained when he heard words echoing in his head;

"... it's something like ¥400,000, and I stared at it and thought of her... hey, Suguru, as a to-be best man, I need your input. Is it too much? Is it too soon?"

Suguru looked at you with a mixed expression, before blurting out something he perhaps shouldn't have.

"You're just too damn beautiful." he said.

He watched how your eyes glittered for a moment, then lowered his gaze to your lips. Though part of him wanted to, he didn't; because he felt his heart pang in reminder to the promise that he made to his best friend.

Lips sealed, looking soft red in the light, he gently pulled his face away.

"I think I'm happy with this decision, aren't you?" he asked you sensitively.

You nodded so, so slowly, with a little smile on your face that Suguru would store in his little memories for years.

"I am." you replied at last, giving Suguru the closure he needed.

One more glance at your lips, of course, could not be controlled.

Oh, Suguru.

@ringsofsaturnnnn / @ohimsummer / @miwanilla / @sukunasdirtylaugh / @coco-cat / @babydiamondblog / @moon3player / @froufrousnowman / @lovesickramblingsofmine / @arminswifee / @kaechannn / @sabo-has-my-heart / @yoonjinhusbands / @thirtykiwis / @satoruiloveu / @melaaaara / @xakilicious / @starrylibras / @reese-is-right / @rains-mae / @c0pkiller / @baepsays / @hueanhdang / @fuck-imstillhere / @yourimaginaryfriiendd / @alwaysminhyuk / @andromidagalaxie / @izanacult / @ducksdoughnuts / @itsnotmelo / @animechick555 / @ba-ks / @satoryaa / @aiikuraa / @uno3 / @polarbvnny / @aphoenixnamed-angel / @boundedbyfate / @p1nkfluffysocks / @notahappyyoongi / @sullybrothersmate / @nissatamz / @bakugosbottombitch / @zhonglis-missing-wallet / @martothejay / @rosariymchapter / @augustsosexy / @spicy-takimura / @oyuki22 / @spicy-takimura / @euaphoria1 / @hexoolio / @notrlynicole / @maya-maya-56 / @elitesanjisimp / @moon3player / @huffle-punk / @dedicatemyhearttoyou / @justkbree1 / @mima0127 / @ohio-gyatt-mega-sigma-rizzler / @curvaliberate / @f1nd1ng-yuki / @hobbybound / @c1trusbubbless / @fanficsforkicks / @blubearxy

♡ 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠

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skimmingmilk · 1 month ago

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aughhh sonic going back in time to visit little two yr old tails as been in my brain for what feels like forever! like how many dots does he end up connecting? how does he have the strength to not travel back further and knock the daylights out of tails’s mom? how does he react to the whole kukku invasion and forest fire? so many questions…aaaaa im so excited for this fic i will be in ruins. in ruins, i tell you

also with the whole sonic punching tails’s mom thing: you were talking about tails and his parents, but like sonic interacting (or just seeing) tails’s parents is always something ive thought about. idk, im curious about what your take on that would be, if you have one. (sorry if you’ve already answered something like this ahshhshs)

your boys are just spinning around in my brain constantly. they are living in there completely rent free. i adore them sm, they make me sick. anytime there’s a reference or parallel to something in their past, it hurts. these boys need therapy immediately. maybe even before immediately. your portrayal of them is such a huge inspiration istg

anyway, sorry this is kinda all over the place 😭 i just had a bunch of thoughts and threw them together in the most coherent way i could lol. hope you have a good rest of your night/day! stay safe out there 🩵

So, I was saving this because it really inspired me to write a little something, and it felt fitting because I live for your baby Tails and Sonic art, it's seriously the best boost of serotonin for me xD I'm sorry it took a minute to get to this, and I'll address the second idea you had in another ask (someone else was on the same wavelength as you around this time, and also asked about Sonic and Tails and Tails's parents xD).

But for now, please accept a continuation of the back in time shenanigans <3

Sonic Back In Time Shenanigans WIP #2: Back for the Luggage

Tracking down a second Chaos Emerald so he could skip back in time for an afternoon wasn’t how Sonic saw himself spending the past few days. Though, to be fair, he spent a good chunk of them trying to ignore the very itch encouraging him to give into this particular whim of the week, but impulse control wasn’t Sonic the Hedgehog’s claim to fame. Not by a long shot.

His curiosity had been piqued. New insight into the lore of his little brother’s life before he’d ever crossed his path niggled at his mind no matter how far and fast he ran from the temptation to take a peek. The glimpse he’d got on that rainy night hadn’t been all that reassuring, with Tails so small and sick and the time Sonic got to spend with him in that dusty, stuffy cabin all too brief.

Cocoa Island. He’d looked it up after he and Silver returned to Sonic’s present, their respective futures stabilized for the time being, but he couldn’t find much information on it. If it wasn’t for the fact that Sonic could chart it on a map, it almost seemed like it didn’t even exist.

Historic records mentioned studies of the volcanic activity on the island more than a decade ago. Mines had also been dug out in the cave systems throughout the island long before Sonic had been born, in search of potential esoteric energy sources.

The Chaos Emeralds, no doubt.

But other than that, it seemed the island had never been properly settled. Sonic could’ve flown over in the Tornado for a quick jaunt—running to small islands never boded well for him, they were always tricky to aim for—but he knew it wouldn’t have the answers he was itching to find out.

And sure, the big one was already answered. The sick baby fox he’d had to leave behind in the care of some flickies after that rainy night obviously made a full recovery, or else Tails wouldn’t be alive in Sonic’s present, off on his own adventure. Flying solo. Alone.

But knowing that without actually seeing it, experiencing it for himself, didn’t satisfy Sonic in the slightest. He was all about experiences. And he wanted to experience this mysterious chapter of his best bud’s life, one he never really let himself think all that hard on.

So, that was how Sonic found himself on a nearly deserted island eight years in the past with two Chaos Emeralds in hand. It was warmer than in his present, willing to bet they were somewhere in spring or early summer as opposed to late fall, but the dense cover of pine trees kept the forest floor cool in its shade. Allergies tickled his nose, prompting Sonic to scratch at it as he took in his surroundings. Flickies sang throughout the branches, their chirps a comforting song accompanied by the steady hum of insects hidden in the brush. With his own curious hum, Sonic picked a direction and ran with it—er, walked with it. He took it slow for the moment, trying to find his way back to the cabin from that night. It seemed like his best bet to start his search for Tails.

Until a child’s voice somewhere in the forest caught his ear, both perking up and flicking towards the sound with an instinctive pull as everything else faded into the background. A breath Sonic hadn’t realized he’d been holding lifted from his chest. The child sounded light, healthy. No coughing or crying as far as he could tell.

Sonic followed the voice to a clearing. Unlike the stormy day he’d first stumbled in on, sunlight flooded the patch of grass between the trees with its warm beams. One fell across a tree stump where a two-tailed fox kit lay sprawled across on his tummy, bright-eyed and bushy tails further confirmation that he’d made a full recovery. Sonic’s shoulders sagged with relief as he observed him from the brush, his own green eyes lighting up as he realized he was playing. Making motor sounds with his mouth, Tails rolled a toy airplane through the long, wild grass. His tongue poked out as he accidentally blew raspberries amidst his very serious airplane noises.

“Pfft—” Sonic’s laugh nearly sputtered out of him, cut off only by the fact that the kid heard him and froze.

Ears swiveled in his direction, but Tails couldn’t see him through the trees from his spot on the stump. The toy airplane fell to the grass with a soft thump as the baby fox squirmed and tried to hoist himself up into a sitting position, his two blue boots dangling just over the edge as his bare hands planted themselves on the wood between them to support himself. One tail flicked up and down with excitement while the other twitched limply against the tree stump, like it didn’t know it could lift itself up like its twin.

“Mom?” he called out, and the hope in his voice ensnared Sonic’s heart in a vice. “Mom!”

“Ah, sorry, little guy. Not mom.” Sonic stepped out from behind the brush with his hands up, a sheepish smile on his face. “Just me. Long time no see.”

His tails immediately wilted as the bright-eyed, eager expression on his face retracted into something shy and pensive. But not scared, Sonic noted. There wasn’t a trace of fear in his eyes.

“Remember me? I stayed with you during that rainstorm the other night,” Sonic added, hoping to jog the little guy’s memory, but he didn’t actually know how long it had been since that night.

He didn’t have Silver’s neat little time travel gizmos. His comm couldn’t pinpoint where he was in time, only in space. Which meant he couldn’t stay long, because if Tails or anyone else tried to ping his location, it’d probably come up blank.

The Tails sitting in front of him drew his legs up, curling into himself a bit the closer Sonic got. Okay, well maybe he was a little afraid. Sonic stopped short of reaching the tree stump, hoping a reassuring smile would get him the rest of the way.

“My name’s Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog. What’s yours?”

Tails stared at him for a moment, until his gaze slowly slid past him to focus on the tree line behind him. Sonic planted his hands on his hips and canted his head back to see if anything was there, but aside from the buzz of insects and rustling of flickies in the leaves, the forest was still. No one else but the two of them smack dab in the middle of it.

“…Mom?” Tails whispered, grabbing onto one of his tails to hold.

Sonic’s smile slowly slid off his muzzle. In all the time he’d known Tails, he’d never once called for his mom. Not a single cry. By the time he came into Tails’s life, whatever innate trust he’d had for this faceless person had completely evaporated. There was only one person Tails had ever called out for, ever cried for, ever searched for when he was lost or scared or lonely.

Sonic swallowed thickly. “I don’t know where your mom is, bud. You waiting for her?” Tails nodded with the most intense certainty, his ears flopping forward and back with the force of it. “Did she… did she say when she’s coming back?”

This time Tails pursed his mouth as he thought carefully about his answer, his pensive expression the same one he’d still make to this day when he debated how to explain something to him. If he should explain something to him. If he should give his big bro a glimpse into the inner workings of his big brain, or if it’d be easier—safer—to keep it all to himself.

And just where’d he pick up that particular trick?

But this Tails was young enough—hadn’t been hurt enough—to trust someone who looked like a grown-up, so he slowly shook his head in response, wide blue eyes gazing up at him like there’d be some sort of prize if he answered all the questions correctly.

Sonic’s brow furrowed. “Do you know how long it’s been since you last saw her?”

“Long.” The small, squeaky voice was so matter-of-fact, Sonic nearly fell over with the sheer amount of joy a single syllable filled him with; his little bro’s attitude had been baked into him from the start.

“I’ll bet,” he huffed out a chuckle, choosing to sit cross-legged in the grass so he wasn’t towering over Tails like some kind of threat. “You like planes?” Sonic glanced meaningfully at the toy plane still discarded in the grass.

Tails glanced down at it, the tip of his tail in his mouth as he gently chewed on it. “Mmhm.”

Though Tails had long-outgrown the habit of chewing on his own tails, Sonic would still occasionally catch him nibbling on the ends of pens and pencils when he was deep in thought or starting to get hungry. Or, at least, he used to. Back before Sonic had been captured and Tails had been out on his own for six months…

“I like ‘em, too,” Sonic piped up with a grin. “Probably my favorite way to travel! Second to running, of course.”

Tails blinked at him, head canting to one side. Sonic’s smile grew and he scooched forward a couple inches, steadily closing the gap between them.

“Y’see, running’s sort of my thing. What kinda things do you like to do?”

Tails glanced down at the toy plane again, then up at the sky. He pointed shyly at the white, puffy clouds slowly floating by overhead. Sonic followed his gaze, unable to help the way his smile crooked to one side.

“You like to watch the clouds?” Sonic filled in for him, beaming when Tails nodded. “Me too. You ever look for shapes in ‘em?”

The little guy’s brow furrowed. “Shapes?”

Sonic laughed as the perplexed, and ultimately unconvinced, expression remained fixed on Tails’s face. “C’mere, I’ll show ya!”

Unceremoniously flopping onto his back, face turned towards the sky, Sonic patted the grass beside him. Though they were mostly shielded by the thick cover of trees, a light breeze still wafted down into the clearing and carried the salty scent of the sea with it. The stands of grass tickled Sonic’s side as he laid back and took a deep breath, listening for the familiar patter of eager footsteps following his lead.

Except they didn’t come.

Sonic pushed himself up onto his elbows. Tails was still curled up atop the tree stump, chewing on the tip of his tail as he watched him with worry in his eyes. Worry that had no place being there in a kid so young.

So Sonic cracked another smile. “Don’t worry. The floor’s not lava,” he teased, but it was something the toddler obviously didn’t understand. “It’s safe, bud. I’m not gonna hurt ya. Promise.”

Tails’s gaze darted to the treeline again, searching amongst their thick trunks and low-hanging branches before snapping back to Sonic. “Mm… s’pposed to wait here,” he mumbled, his words sounding a little thick as some of his syllables slurred together in a mouth that was still so small, but ultimately what he’d said was clear enough for Sonic to understand.

His smile slowly faded as he processed the simple explanation; the same feeling rising in the back of his throat as when he sat with a sick Tails in the cabin while the kid asked if he could go home. “Your mom tell ya that?”

Tails nodded. “Wait here. Be good.” His little face scrunched up in a look of pure, earnest determination. “Wait here an’ be good, then mom will come back. She said… she said.”

But she wouldn’t.

No one would.

And maybe Tails already knew that. Even if he didn’t want to believe that someone he loved would leave him, he’d always been a smart kid. Tails’s tiny claws caught in the fur of his tail as he clung tighter to it—like he could physically cling to the hope that his mom would still come back if he did this one thing really well.

If he did his very best.

“Look Sonic, I made this for you!”

“Sonic, I’ve made some adjustments to the Tornado’s aerodynamics, so her base speed has more than doubled! Pretty cool, huh?”

“I made a radar to help us track the Chaos Emeralds faster!”

“I still need to optimize your Extreme Gear’s turning radius and acceleration for your next race. It’s not good enough.”

“The Cyclone still has a ways to go in terms of balancing its different modes of transport. It’s just not good enough at land or air travel yet.”

“I’m wildly inconsistent. I’m just a burden to you. I’m not good enough.”

Not good enough.

Sonic’s fingers dug a little firmer into the soft, damp soil beneath the grass. “Well, I mean, ya gotta get off that stump sometimes. What about when you get hungry? You leave to go get food, dontcha?”

Tails stiffened, fur frizzed up like he’d been caught with his hand in the proverbial mint chocolate chip cookie jar. “Don’t tell,” he pleaded, eyes wide as panicked tears welled up. “I’m sorry—”

“Woah. Hey, hey, hey,” Sonic sat up straighter so he could lift his hands, using them to make a calming gesture as Tails’s little chest started to heave with each little gasp. “Easy there, bud. I’m not gonna tell her.”

“…Not?”

Despite the storm brewing just beneath the surface, faced with further confirmation that Tails had never truly felt safe or wanted, he refused to scare the kid with its intensity. Offering up a kind smile and reassurance, Sonic held up a finger to his mouth. Like they were keeping secrets from some nameless authority figure they’d never shared.

“I won’t tell if you won’t.”

Tails’s ears perked up and the grip on his tail eased up. “M’kay…”

“M’kay,” Sonic mimicked, smile growing as he watched Tails scrub at his face with the fur of his forearm. “C’mere, kiddo. Watch the clouds with me.”

Tails looked at him for a moment, then scooted closer to the edge of the tree stump. He swung one leg over, then the other, his little boots scraping against the bark as he eased himself down. He was a little off-balance as he toddled over. Both arms splayed out to steady himself as one tail flicked up and the other was dragged behind him, still as limp and awkward as it had been on the stump.

Sonic’s gaze narrowed in on it immediately. “Didja hurt your tail?”

Tails paused and craned his neck back, wobbling a little as he tried to look behind him. “No,” he answered simply.

“Then how come it’s not up like your other one?”

Tails reached behind him and picked up the limp appendage, hugging it to his chest. “Doesn’t do it.”

Sonic’s frown deepened. “Let me see it.”

Tails didn’t even hesitate. He let go of his tail as he waddled right over to him. He turned his back to him, giving him complete access to the part of his body he protected the most. Sonic was the only one he’d learned to trust with them over the years, but he’d had to earn it.

Sonic gently ran his fingers through the fur, watching his baby brother’s posture for any sign of discomfort. He didn’t flinch, but his good tail started wagging almost immediately, thwacking Sonic in the side of the face.

“Careful with that,” he chuckled, catching it in a loose hold when it smacked him again. “You could take someone’s eye out with one of these bad boys. Here, hold onto this for me.”

He waited for Tails to grab onto his eager tail, hugging it hard when it wiggled uncontrollably. “S’tryna get away,” he giggled.

“Oh boy, better get a good grip. It’s a slippery one, that tail,” Sonic laughed, using the distraction to his advantage as he palpated along the base of the weaker tail with his fingertips.

There was barely any muscle to it, and the fur was patchy and matted, flattened in a way that his other tail clearly wasn’t, even though his fur overall could’ve used a good brushing. But it wasn’t injured, no welts or bruises or cuts. It was just… weak. Like it was developing slower than its twin. He’d caught a glimpse of it that night where he was sick, but now that he was getting a good look at it, the differences between the two were stark. He couldn’t imagine why; Sonic’s brain literally wouldn’t let him conceive of a situation where this would happen—where Tails wasn’t allowed to use one tail to the same extent as the other.

Whatever had caused this had reversed itself by the time Sonic met Tails, both little propellers of equal strength. At least, he thought they were. To be fair, he’d only been eleven and he hadn’t looked all that closely at them. And Tails barely let him patch him up from where he’d been smacked around by bullies or badniks in those first few weeks.

Idly petting along the length of his tail, Sonic stilled when it spasmed against his palm. Just looking at it, he’d have thought he accidentally pulled on it or snagged his fur, but there was a gentle rumbling sound emanating from Tails’s chest that assured him otherwise. Sonic flicked his gaze up to see Tails watching him, a smile on his face while he purred openly. His tail jerked in his hold again. It was trying to wag.

Sonic’s shoulders sagged, his own smile lopsided as he let his tail slip from his grasp. “All clear. Time to park those two tails of yours right here on the runway.”

Tails squeaked as Sonic nabbed him around the middle, but dissolved into a fit of giggles as he was lifted up and plopped down on the grass next to him. Kicking up one leg over the other, Sonic laid back once again, arms pillowed behind his head as he let out a contented sigh. Beside him, Tails laid back and wiggled a bit to get comfortable, both tails swept to the same side so they wouldn’t get pinched underneath him. He tilted his head up to look at the sky, the same color reflected back in his eyes.

“Shapes?” he asked.

“Yeah, we’re gonna look for shapes, little buddy,” Sonic hummed. “Go ahead and tell me what ya find.”

Tails considered the sky for a moment, then pointed at a blob above them. “Oval.”

A sharp laugh burst right out of Sonic. “Sorry, sorry,” he wheezed when Tails pouted at him. “Not those kinda shapes, pal. I’m talking things like flickies or flowers or chili dogs! But good first try. I’m thinking that one looks more like… a whale.”

“Whale?”

“Uh-huh. See the tail?” Sonic removed one hand from behind his head so he could trace the oblong cloud as it faintly curved upwards at the end, making sure Tails’s eyes followed where he pointed. “And there’s its fin. And the wispy bits at the top are like the water shooting out of its spout.”

“Spout,” Tails echoed, blinking up at it like he was trying to solve a puzzle.

“Yeah, you know. Like when they come up from the water and all that mist sprays from that hole on top of their heads like…” A devious grin spread across Sonic’s face before he looped his arm around Tails and dragged him close enough to blow a raspberry against his cheek with a loud, “pbbbbbbfffft!”

Tails squealed, legs kicking as he squirmed about instinctively, but made no move to pull away entirely. The ticklish sensation buzzed through him like a bunch of tiny butterflies; the feeling silly, unfamiliar, and almost overwhelming all at once. He eventually pawed at Sonic’s muzzle, pushing it away from the fluffy, baby fur of his cheek, but he was smiling and laughing as he looked over at him, eyes shining with delight.

“Was that funny?” Sonic snickered.

“Yeah!” Tails beamed at him, his tails beating an inconsistent rhythm against the grass. “You’re funny.”

“I’m funny?” Sonic feigned offense. “Excuse me, but seems to me like you’re the funny one, wiggling around over here like a cup of sparkle gelatin!”

“No!” Tails squeaked, curling up when Sonic poked him in the tummy.

“No?” Sonic eased back, reminding himself to reign it in a bit so he could figure out if the “no” was just in play or if he was serious.

As much as he wanted to give this little guy something to smile and laugh about while he was out here on his own—and it was so easy, it was almost intoxicating when he hadn’t seen his brother’s smile in weeks—he didn’t want to overwhelm the kid. But as he let him go and pulled back, a panicked look flashed in Tails’s eyes. His smile fell and a fear that was too big for a guy so small replaced it as he froze up.

“Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay.” Sonic lowered his voice, but even that didn’t stop the tears from suddenly sprouting in the corners of his eyes. “Was that too much? Sorry, kiddo. Not really used to you like this. I don’t know your limits.”

Tails didn’t answer him, probably because he didn’t know how. He was a baby, after all. Four-year-old Tails had often had trouble expressing how he felt or what he wanted. And heck, even ten-year-old Tails was still facing that particular issue. He couldn’t expect a maybe-two-year-old to know…

Tails’s tiny paw reached for Sonic’s arm, the light touch barely registering as anything other than an itch before his fingers curled into his fur. Sonic stared at his hand for a second, then immediately darted to his face. Tails sniffed, muzzle quivering as he held back his tears.

Always sucking it up. Always putting on a brave face. Always trying to be a big kid, like his big bro.

Even when he was just a baby.

“It’s okay,” Sonic repeated, his arm curling around Tails again. “I’m right here, it’s okay.”

Tails nestled against his side, nuzzling his face against him with a shiver and a barely suppressed whimper. “Mom… dad…”

The storm returned with a white-hot flash of frustration and resentment. Sonic directed his glare at the cloud whale lazily floating past them, since he couldn’t look the people responsible for this in the eyes. Not that he particularly wanted to. If they never crossed paths, his and Tails lives would only continue on for the better. That was one thing he was still certain of. There was nothing in the universe that could convince him otherwise.

Not even the baby who desperately wanted them.

But he didn’t know any better. They were all he knew.

Releasing a long sigh, Sonic let go of the past and pulled himself back into the present—or, well, two-year-old Tails’s present anyway. He patted Tails’s side, then ruffled his fur a bit when he cuddled closer. His fur tickled as he rubbed his little face against his ribs, so Sonic scooched him up a bit more until his cheek was pillowed against his shoulder.

“Sorry if I scared you, bud,” he hummed, watching as one of Tails’s ears twitched from the lull of his voice. “Didn’t mean to. You’re safe with me, okay? When I’m around, I’m always gonna do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

Tails tipped his head back to watch him, silently absorbing his words, even if he didn’t understand them. But as Sonic looked down at him, he saw his four-year-old brother snuggling up to him in a storm and his six-year-old brother falling asleep on him during a movie and his eight-year-old brother trying to be strong for Sonic as they lost another friend… He could see all of Tails in the way he looked at him, every moment where he let Sonic see a little of that vulnerability he always tried so hard to hide.

He could even see his ten-year-old brother, hundreds of miles away, determined to bury that vulnerable little kid for good, somewhere Sonic would never find him. And that was fine. If that was what Tails wanted, then Sonic wanted that for him. He wanted Tails to feel confident and capable and every bit the hero Sonic saw in him every day.

“And even when I’m not here… when you can’t see me? I’ll still be with you. Wherever you go, whatever you face, you won’t have to do it alone.”

Tails sniffed, then lifted his head to gaze up at him. “Pomise?”

Sonic’s breath hitched, his eyes as wide as saucers as the fox kit who’d only known him for a few minutes at most looked at him with nothing but trust. “Yeah. I promise.” He had to clear his throat, then tugged Tails up to sit on his chest. “You’ve got no idea just how stuck with me you are, keed.”

“No idea,” Tails repeated, shaking his head with the utmost seriousness a two-year-old could express.

Sonic’s laughter traveled through him and right up into Tails, the two of them shaking with it. The feeling of being bounced about coaxed a few giggles out of Tails and he nearly slid off his unsteady perch. But Sonic’s hands supported him, holding tight so he wouldn’t fall.

“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Sonic choked out as his laughter petered out on a breathless sigh. “Don’t ever forget that, okay?”

“M’kay,” Tails agreed.

“M’kay.” With one hand remaining on Tails’s waist, Sonic lifted the other to poke him on the tip of his nose, grinning at the way he went cross-eyed from following his finger. “I’m gonna follow up on that in eight years, y’know, so better work on committing that to memory, stat.”

“M’kay.”

“I mean it. There’ll be a test and everything.”

“M’kay.”

“You’re so agreeable,” Sonic sighed, closing his eyes as he laid his head back, leaving the comfortable weight of the baby fox on his abdomen. “I don’t think I know what to do with a little bro that actually listens to me.”

He felt Tails squirm a bit, one knee digging into his ribs as he attempted to scoot further up, then a finger lightly tapped Sonic on the tip of his nose. One green eye cracked open, immediately greeted with a pair of pleased blue ones and a wagging fox tail. Despite the fact that it was pinned beneath him, pressed into the grass, Sonic felt his tail give a jerky little wag, too.

“Shapes?” Tails asked.

“You wanna look for more shapes in the clouds?” Sonic waited for Tails’s eager nod before turning him around and laying him back in the grass beside him. “You got it, bud! You need a redemption round, after all. Let’s see what kinda shapes you can find this time.”

Tails hummed, contemplative gaze fixed on the clouds for a good minute before he pointed slightly to his left. “Floor!”

“Floor?” Sonic squinted up at the cloud, making sure he was looking at the right one. “Oh, ‘flower!’ Yeah, that does kinda look like a tulip flower. Good eye, kiddo.”

Tails nodded proudly. “Mmhm. Floor.”

“Flower,” Sonic repeated, and even made the sign for it, touching each side of his nose with his fingertips, like he was smelling a flower.

“Floor-er.”

“Close enough,” he chuckled. “Oh, okay, now that one looks like a crab claw. Like from a crabmeat.” Grinning devilishly, Sonic made a claw-like grabby motion at Tails with his hand while the little guy laughed. “Or, y’know, an actual crab.”

They watched the clouds, picking more shapes out of them until Tails’s stomach started growling. Sonic quickly sped through the forest to gather up whatever kind of fruits or vegetables were available on the island, eventually settling on some peaches, plums, and cherries. He grabbed them from the other side of the island, so as not to take from anywhere Tails was likely to forage on his own. He liked the plums and peaches, the sticky juice staining his muzzle as it dripped from his hands. He kept trying to lick his fingers clean while Sonic wiped the fur around his mouth so it wouldn’t bother him later when it dried. He didn’t care for the cherries as much, but Sonic still left a small stash of them and the leftover peaches at the base of the tree stump.

With a full tummy and sticky paws, Tails let out a big, squeaky yawn before he curled up on top of the tree stump. His tails covered him like a blanket as he settled down for a nap, giving Sonic just the out he needed. He’d been debating how to head back to his present time without sounding any alarms for Tails. He honestly wasn’t sure he’d be able to if the kid just looked at him with those sad eyes, like he was being abandoned all over again.

But if Tails was asleep, then maybe this would all have felt like just a dream. Sonic had just wanted to check on him after leaving him so abruptly that first time, and then he figured it couldn’t hurt to give him one good afternoon. There would be so many days where he’d be on his own after this, so many months before their paths would cross. One afternoon where a stranger showed him kindness and played with him wasn’t going to break the time stream, but even Sonic knew it couldn’t really go further than that.

“I’d break time lines for that kid.” His own words echoed at the back of his mind, the certainty he’d felt at the time faltering when faced with the sleepy face of a baby fox who wasn’t supposed to have met him yet. It wasn’t so simple.

Sonic waited until Tails’s breaths were deep and steady, arms wrapped around the weaker tail while the stronger one blanketed him with its fluff. Smoothing down his bangs with his thumb, Sonic gently stroked the top of his head and scritched behind his ear.

“Love ya, little bro,” he whispered.

Things would be okay, Sonic reminded himself as he backed out of the clearing, picking up the two emeralds that were his ticket back to his time. Because they were okay in the present. Even if Tails wouldn’t be there when he returned, they would still be okay. Eventually. They always came out on top. Sonic still believed that.

If there was anything he still believed in above all else, it was Tails.

So, to be fair, when he left the Poloy Forest that afternoon, it had been with the intention that this wouldn’t happen again.

But then, Sonic the Hedgehog’s impulse control wasn’t his claim to fame, was it?

---

A/N: Anyway, just wanted to say thank you again, 0vergrown, and that I appreciate you so much! I'm so happy you're interested in this little side plot I've got brewing and all the angst potential that it holds <3 I have so many little scenes I want to write for them, you have no idea! Hope this scratches a bit of the itch for more of these boys who need so much therapy. So much...

And thank you everyone else who's also interested in this idea! Much love to all of you!

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thenoellebird · 2 months ago

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A fun little fluff drabble

inspiried by This Post by @artsymeeshee

The day was warm and comfortable, but Stan had obviously not slept the night before. He was very tired all throughout the morning as they kept the boat moving, chasing a fifteen-tentacled squid.

But after lunch they’d settled down for simple fishing in the afternoon, both of them on their respective chairs on the deck of the boat. Sunlight shone down on them, warming their skin pleasantly.

Ford inhaled deeply, smelling the fresh air and the salty sea spray, closing his eyes and smiling. He opened his eyes to glance over at Stanley.

Stan sat on the edge of his chair, his chin propped up on his hands, staring blankly at the boards of the deck between his feet. He looked exhausted.

“Stanley, maybe you should take a nap,” Ford suggested out of the blue, feeling concerned.

Stan straightened up, startled. “N-No, I’m fine, Poindexter, really, I’m not tired,” he said nervously.

“Yes, you clearly are,” Ford told him flatly, but Stan still shook his head, stubborn as ever.

Ford sighed as he stood up and walked over to Stan’s deck chair and sat down on it next to him. Ford nudged his twin’s side with his elbow.

“Hey,” he said. Stan didn’t respond, staring down at the deck again. Ford nudged him a little harder.

“What?” Stan asked, shrugging his shoulders in a sort of protective gesture, scooting a little away from Ford.

Ford smiled and put his hand on Stan’s shoulder instead. “You need to sleep, Stanley. Come on.” He climbed onto Stan’s chair and put his arms around his brother, leaning back in the reclined chair so that Stan was half on top of him in a sort of cuddle-hug.

“Hey,” Stan protested tiredly, but Ford shushed him, cradling the back of Stan’s head and rubbing his back.

“Sleep, you,” he told Stan affectionately. He nuzzled Stan’s hair. Stan didn’t even reply, he was already almost completely asleep.

Ford started humming one of their favorite sea shanties and he’d barely started when Stan’s head fully rested on his chest and his brother relaxed in his arms, fully asleep and content.

Ford smiled at him and then looked up at the bright blue sky, feeling much better with his brother in his arms–where he could keep him safe.

It really was a beautiful day.

—End.

IDK IT POPPED INTO MY HEAD AND I JUST HAD TO WRITE IT

if u tag this as ship, I block u on sight.

#gravity falls #stanley pines #stanford pines #grunkle stan #grunkle ford #smoll fic #wholesome #brotherly love #platonic love #platonic cuddles #platonic hugs #just fluff #platonic fluff #stan twins #sea grunks #sea grunkles #I love these bois so much <3 #hope u like the lil fic #izzz just floof

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seokminfilm · 4 months ago

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mystery of love | jeon wonwoo

🪄 pairing, jeon wonwoo x reader

🪄 warnings, non-idol au, fluff w a bit of angst, best friend's older brother trope, confession, mingyu is mentioned as wonwoo's sister's boyfriend, reader is a mess, open ending??

🪄 summary, sharing a bed with your best friend's older brother (who also doubles as your two-year crush) takes a turn for the better.

🪄 author's note, lots of people have been asking me for a part 2 to the professor wonwoo fic but i don't think i'm ever gonna write one, so here's my peace offering to you all 😭 ALSO this was WAYYY longer than i expected it to be BUT i still really like it!! i'm probably going to do a poll to see what type of fic lengths you all like...anyways, enjoy lyrnation! (and yes yuna is referencing the one and only @jjjjeonww 🤍)

🪄 now playing, mystery of love, sufjan stevens

🪄 word count, 2.1k | for @kstrucknet

"i've got to talk to you," yuna has a nervous look on her face, and you pull away from the conversation with mingyu, approaching her with a matching worry. "what's up?"

"so....apparently there's a mistake in the system," yuna sighs, walking up to you as you stare at her confused. "what do you mean by that?" you question nervously, and yuna sighs again, running a hand through her dark hair.

the four of you─you, your best friend, yuna, her boyfriend, mingyu, and her older brother (and your long-time crush), wonwoo─all went out of town to celebrate her acceptance into her dream college. she had been looking forward to the trip all semester, and now that she was out for a two-week break, the trip was underway.

everything was perfect on the way here─the weather was nice, the traffic was minimal, and the music wasn't that bad (mainly because wonwoo had the aux). even when you arrived at the upscale hotel, the vibe of the place was warm, and you couldn't wait to get in a warm bed and watch youtube to your heart's content.

apparently, that's not what was going to happen.

"the lady that helped us buy rooms swears up and down she has us paying for three, but the system only says we have two." yuna points to the recipt on her phone, clearly showing there were only two rooms reserved.

"so, what does that have to do with me?" you ask confusedly, and yuna glances at wonwoo, currently texting someone on his phone, listening to mingyu ramble half-heartedly.

"you and wonu are going to have to share a room." yuna coughs out, and you nearly squeal, eyes widening like saucers as you gasp loudly, directing the attention of a few patrons.

"share a room? with him? come on, yuna, you know i can't do that." you blush, rubbing the back of your neck shyly. yuna was aware of the two-year crush you've been harboring, and she's been overly supportive of it, doing everything in her power to push you together.

she was also aware of how shy you were when it came to her brother, and how complicated it made things when you were shy and wonwoo was usually closed off.

"this could be the night that finally sets it off for you too! plus, mingyu and i want to share a room tonight─" yuna pauses to sigh dreamily, to which you roll your eyes.

"wonwoo will kill mingyu if he does anything," you mutter under your breath, and yuna purposefully steps on your toes, earning a hiss from you.

"he's not going to know, so it doesn't matter." yuna states proudly, crossing her arms. "anyways─" she continues quickly. "─this could be the night that finally gets you and wonwoo together, and the lady at the desk is getting a bit pissy with how much mingyu and i have bothered her, so..."

yuna trails off, leaving you with a gobsmacked expression. imagine that: sharing a room with your best friend's brother who you also had a massive crush on. your night couldn't get more laughable than this.

"we'll take the rooms!" before you can stop yuna and beg her to not leave you with wonwoo, she's already taking the keys from the cranky lady, having mingyu take your luggage as the four of you reconvene.

"wonu, you don't mind sharing a room, right?" yuna asks her brother. wonwoo shrugs, his blank expression not very confirming as he nods. "i don't mind." his voice is still so shockingly deep, and it still makes you jump a little, hoping it wasn't noticeable.

(it was, as you saw wonwoo glance at you from the corner of his eye.)

"okay, cool! here's your room key! you two are right beside us, so just knock if you need anything! mingyu and i are gonna go for a snack." yuna hooks her arm into mingyu's muscled one, and you know your mouth is wide open, because mingyu mocks your expression before yuna pinches him, causing him to hiss to himself.

"why can't i go with you?" you plead, doing anything to stop yourself from having to stay behind with wonwoo─alone, mind you─and sleep in the same bed as him.

"this is a date, silly. it's for kim mingyu and jeon yuna only. are you one of those people?" mingyu teasingly asks, and you glare at him, eyes sharp as he chuckles. "that's what i thought."

"okay, now, bye!" yuna says quickly, giving you a not-so-discreet wink as she yanks mingyu back into the lobby.

now left alone in the awkwardly quiet hallway, wonwoo looks down at you. he's always towered over you, but now, it feels like he's gotten five inches taller (or it could just be the nervousness talking). his sharp eyes have hardly any emotion as he looks at you for a split second, and he just takes his backpack and your luggage in his arms, quietly heading to the room down the hall.

not knowing what else to do, you follow him from a distance, awkwardly fidgeting with your hoodie string as wonwoo fishes the key from his back pocket, unlocking the door with ease.

the two of you quietly pile into the nice furnished room, and wonwoo places your things down, backpack now on the floor as he yawns.

"you can go ahead and shower first, if you want. i can wait." wonwoo's voice is deep, bouncing off the walls of the room. you nod quickly, fishing through your drawstring backpack as you get your pajamas.

after your hot, ten-minute shower, you step out of the bathroom fully clean, quietly maneuvering your way around the room. wonwoo has his headphones in, reading a book as he sits on the bed. his posture is scarily straight, and so is his face─as if it's not 24/7.

his full lips are pressed shut, and his sharp eyes survey the pages slowly, taking in every word as he flips the pages a few minutes later. he's discarded his hat, short hair still scarily neat. wonwoo was really an attractive man, you thought to yourself. even if he didn't try to be, he was naturally distracting.

finally pulling yourself away from secretly admiring wonwoo's strong figure, you drop your clothes beside your suitcase, awkwardly grabbing your phone and climbing onto the bed.

wonwoo doesn't pull his attention away form his book once, and you sigh, preparing yourself for the worst as you pull up enough courage to tap his hand.

when you do so, it's soft and warm, making you blush at the tiny contact as wonwoo's eyes flick to yours. he takes his airpods out quickly, closing his book as he turns to you.

"are you done with your shower?" he asks simply, to which you nod.

"thanks for letting me go first, by the way. i was really tired, so it meant a lot." your words spill out from your lips faster than you want them too, and wonwoo cracks a small smile─a smile─at your blushed expression, nodding.

"no worries." wonwoo says, and you smile, watching him get up as he closes his book and places it on his bedside.

"oh, and wonwoo─" you start, surprised that the thought you were formulating in your head came out of your mouth. wonwoo stops short, turning back to face you as his piercing brown eyes lock with yours.

"i hope─i hope that you weren't offended by my overreaction or anything. i just..." you trail off, cheeks flaring hot as you sigh. "i didn't think we would have to share rooms. it just caught me off guard."

why were you specifying this? you didn't really know. you really did care so much about what wonwoo thought about you that even the natural reactions you had always had to be justified to wonwoo. you really were in love with this man─so in love it was painful to watch.

wonwoo shakes his head, cracking another small smile as his deep voice replies. "it's fine. i mean, yuna didn't really try that hard to fix the problem, and it was unexpected. i'm not hurt by it," wonwoo takes his glasses off, revealing that side of him you only rarely saw early in the morning or late at night.

"oh─oh, okay good." you hold an awkward thumbs up (why did you even hold that stupid thumb up?), and wonwoo matches your energy, holding your gaze for a bit longer before grabbing his sleeping clothes and heading into the bathroom.

sighing and considering suffocation by a pillow, you settle for just trying your hardest to go to sleep, closing your eyes and turning on rain sounds. you could deal with your racing heart tomorrow morning.

your heart did not wait until tomorrow morning.

your phone was dimmed, but even when you turned it on, it was too bright for you. glancing at your screen, you saw it was 12:15 am, and it felt like it too. the hotel was completely quiet, save for the distant hum of a tv and the crackling of the air conditioner.

wonwoo's sleeping beside you, breaths deep and steady as he stays bundled up under the blanket. his eyes are closed peacefully, lips still as he sleeps. he has an oversized shirt on and matching sweatpants, decently covered (thank god) but still comfortable.

sighing, you stare at him, saying nothing as you watch his slight movements. wonwoo really was a beautiful human being, sculpted perfectly by whatever higher being there could be. everything was perfect about him, from his thick eyebrows to his strong nose, and everything in between.

"are you okay?" wonwoo's voice is raspy and deep from disuse, and it makes you freeze in your bed, surprised and embarrassed.

"yeah, i'm okay. i just can't sleep," you sigh, and wonwoo turns on the lamp on his bedside table. it lights up the whole room in a warm, golden glow, and illuminates the dark room, which you're grateful for.

"me too. i guess all those energy drinks mingyu bought haven't worn off just yet." wonwoo rubs at his bare eyes, and you laugh, sighing into the sheets.

"why were you drinking all the ones mingyu wouldn't finish? i thought you were stopping the whole energy drink thing," you remark, and wonwoo doesn't say anything, looking at you as he weakly smiles.

"i did say that, didn't i?" he questions, and you laugh again, nodding. "you did."

the two of you laugh together, and the tension in the room seems to fall to nothing for just a split second. your heart is still hammering in your chest, but it's because you're happy. being with wonwoo in this moment doesn't feel like you were forced by your circumstance to sleep in the same bed with him. it feels domestic, in a way, natural in the way you're looking at wonwoo like he hung the stars in the sky.

for the past two years, you had always wondered why you had a crush on jeon wonwoo. he was completely different from your best friend and your usual type─he was quiet, studious, low-energy, and emotionally stable. wonwoo was rarely moved by outside factors and always seemed to keep to himself, minding his own business and going his own way when he felt he needed to.

you had finally found why you loved him so much tonight, in this moment.

wonwoo was everything you needed in your life─you needed someone to bring balance, and he was perfect for the job. you admired him for who he was and admired him because he was what you wanted to be. you wanted wonwoo because he made you want yourself. he made you want yourself to be the best person you could be.

for yuna, for him, and for most importantly─yourself.

"you're thinking about something." wonwoo says softly, voice deep and pressing as you nod slightly, inhaling and exhaling. "i am."

"i'm thinking..." you trail off, rethinking everything. you could lay everything down right here, telling wonwoo how you feel. so many things could change from tonight─change from right now, or you could ignore it all, going back to the way it was before.

why would you do that? you've gotten so far now.

"i'm thinking about how much i love you." your voice is barely a whisper, and you swallow, eyes filling with tears as you finally mutter the words you had been waiting to mutter for two years.

"i'm thinking about how much i love you and want to be with you." you add, and wonwoo turns to face you, eyes so soft they feel like feathers dancing across your skin.

"i was thinking of the same thing." wonwoo says lowly, smiling at you. his arm is just inches away from yours, and you know it too, growing the courage to reach out and hold his hand.

your hand fits in wonwoo's perfectly, and at that moment, you feel like a piece of you is finally complete.

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sugarplumkneecaps · 5 months ago

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Memories (Shadow x Reader)

Pairing: Shadow the Hedgehog x Reader (gender neutral) → Can be read as platonic or romantic Word Count: 3.4k T/W: loss, mentions of death (previous to story) Summary: It's New Year's Eve and life has been quite peaceful for the last few months following Dr. Eggman's defeat (again). You work up the courage to invite Shadow over, but he seems to be a bit distracted...

SQUEEE- the marker squealed as another day was crossed off the paper calendar hung on the wall in the hallway. The end of the year had come much sooner than Shadow expected. It felt as though most of his days blurred together, the mundane routine turning his concept of time on its head. At one point in his life, he had longed for the same sense of normalcy that Rouge had mentioned long ago. But this? This was torturous. He replaced the cap of the pen and hung it back up with the calendar before moving into the kitchen of his apartment with a great deal of reluctance. He had yet to go grocery shopping, making his usual routine of finding breakfast somewhat more adventurous than he had the energy for this morning.

Rouge had urged for him to rent the apartment and get his current job following their efforts to put a stop to Robotnik’s world ending plans. “I think you are long overdue for a taste of normal life Shadow,” Rouge had cooed at him.

He scoffed at the memory, taking in the view of his living space as he exited the kitchen with a sad bagel topped with cream cheese (making a mental note to stop by the corner store to grab something to fill him up a bit). His apartment wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t anything grand either. His living room could fit a single, plush couch across from a TV, record player, and his plant. The walls were lined with records that were regularly rotated out every week. He had direct access to his small breakfast nook and kitchen due to the open layout, which he enjoyed. It allowed for him to sit and enjoy his music as he ate or cooked. The hallway led to his room, office, and bathroom, all neat and tidy in their own respective manners. It was comfortable for him, mostly due to never expecting any real company over.

The size of it also meant that rent was cheap, which was good as all of his paycheck from the cafe only had to go towards every day living expenses (at the behest of a certain bat, once again, advising him to save his payout from their more intensive work). Shadow couldn’t deny the merit of her words; the higher paying work had slowed down significantly. Preventing world domination for the upteenth time seemed to discourage others from another attempt too soon.

Shadow finished his breakfast and headed toward the front door, slipping on his shoes before starting his commute to work which was only a short walk from his place. He let out a long sigh as he locked the front door behind him, nearly running into you as he turned toward the stairwell.

“Oh! Uh- Sorry, Shadow. I didn’t see you there,” you stuttered, embarrassment dripping from each word. You had been neighbors for a few months now, excited and yet intimidated by the proximity you had with him. It was simply chance that you two had even met in the first place, what with Infinite sparing you and the events that followed; you had somehow become an integral part of Sonic and his cohorts’ plan to bring Dr. Eggman to a halt. But the fact that Shadow not only worked with you at the local cafe but had also moved in next door to you so soon after felt too good to be true.

“All good. See you at work,” his voice somewhat hushed and low before he continued on his way. Burying his hands in his pockets, his steps covered an impressive distance in only a few minutes, Shadow’s mind wandering. He had also taken note of you - your impressive feats to aid them in their world saving efforts all the way down to your also somewhat mundane ritualistic activities. You both worked behind the counter at the cafe; him focusing more on brewing orders while you handled customers. He was always curious how you managed it with a smile on your face most days; the idea of switching spots with you was enough to make him shudder, shaking his head in effort to rid himself of the idea.

“Oh Shadow, people aren’t all bad!” Maria’s voice echoed. Shadow stopped dead in his tracks, the sudden flashback startling him. Why would he remember that now, of all times and places?

You weren’t too far behind Shadow, but you swore he glided to work effortlessly even without his air shoes. It wasn’t until he paused that you were able to catch up with him, letting out a small chuckle as you bumped shoulders with him lightly. This seemed to pull him out of his daze.

“C’mon, spacey, we don’t want to be late. I still owe you a breakfast sandwich for yesterday!”

“Wait- what? What are you talking about?”

You turned to look at the dark hedgehog, a smile creeping on your lips, “you saved me from that older gentleman, remember? He was making all sorts of comments-“

Shadow let out a “tch-“ sound before furrowing his eyebrows further, “Oh. You don’t owe me anything for that. You seemed uncomfortable.” His pace picked up a bit, causing you to need to start into a light jog to keep pace with him.

“I mean- yeah. He was being a bit creepy.” You huffed out a breath, once again embarrassed only this time by how winded keeping up with Shadow made you. “Hey, could you slow down a bit? We aren’t running that late or anything.”

Shadow eyed you from the side, smirking slightly before slowing his pace, “well, lucky for you, we’re here.” He motioned toward the building in front of you both, windows lining the outside to reveal the dark seating area of the cafe. You let out an exaggerated huff in an effort to make light of your winded state before digging in your bag for the keys to the front door. After wrestling with the key for a moment, you were able to unlock the building and begin setting up to open.

“Hey Shadow, I’ve been meaning to ask, how do you like your coffee?”

Shadow paused for a moment while he removed the chairs from atop their respective tables, pushing them in and moving on to the next methodically, “black, which I’m sure you probably could’ve guessed.”

“Ah- right. My bad. That does seem too fitting to not be obvious, huh?” you laughed shyly, starting the brew and selecting a breakfast sandwich to heat up for your counterpart. Man, you’re really going 3 for 3 this morning, huh? Your head hung low before rolling your shoulders back. This is your last chance to invite him, don’t screw it up!

The oven chimed as an indicator that Shadow’s sandwich was done, encouraging you to work up a bit of courage to not only present the seemingly unnecessary gesture but to also address him. You plated the sandwich and placed it on the table Shadow had just cleared off.

“Your breakfast, my good sir!” you bowed dramatically, getting a strained chuckle in response from Shadow. Clearing your throat, you figured now was as good a time as any, “I wanted to ask you something.”

Shadow sat in the chair in front of the sandwich, thankful that he wouldn’t have to resort to the corner store option, “hmm?”

You waited a moment to see if his gaze would meet yours, only to realize after a few bites in that your gesture maybe wasn’t as unwanted as he made it seem. “Well, see, I am going to be having a few people over later tonight to celebrate New Years. Rouge, Silver, maybe a few others, and uhm-“ you gulped, your mouth dry as your original, short invitation started to take a turn for the worse. “And... you? If you’d like to come?” Your ears drooped a tiny bit, your body subconsciously preparing for the inevitable rejection you were sure you would face.

Much to your surprise though, Shadow paused his chewing to look at you, “Yeah. I could stop by.” He continued to eat, completely unfazed by your shock at his response.

“Really?? That’s great! I mean- that’s, uhm, yeah! The party starts at 8PM!”

Shadow said nothing, which you took in stride, practically twirling as you went to grab him a coffee.

The work day somehow dragged on and yet also was over before either of you knew it. Shadow was appreciative of the routine of brewing the coffee, cleaning the machine, collecting dishware, and starting over as it allowed him to shut his brain off. It seemed to be determined to pull the rug out from under him today considering his flashback earlier. Memories of Maria weren’t unwelcome by any means, but Shadow recognized his emotional responses to them weren’t necessarily appropriate at work. He could have contemplated the reason behind their resurgence, but he simply chalked it up to his recent living situation changes, unwilling to dig deeper than that. Although, he might not have been too far off.

Rouge wasn’t the only one Shadow had heard speak of normalcy longingly; Maria’s illness was better managed whilst in the care of her grandfather, but that didn’t mean she got to experience much of a normal childhood as other kids her age did. She was at the mercy of her grandfather’s schedule and her small living quarters. “I know it seems silly,” she would say softly, “but sometimes I miss going to school. I miss riding the bus. I miss running through flower fields and my parents yelling for me when the street lights came on.” These concepts had meant very little to Shadow at the time, but as life had settled around him, he couldn’t help but wish he could show Maria that he was trying to live each day with her in mind.

The New Year creeping up on him was maybe too much of a reminder that he hadn’t done that great of a job to really appreciate the peace he had recently found. All he could hope for is that the party tonight would not be something he would regret agreeing to. I’ll make a promise to Maria that I will do better in the coming year.

You stared at your reflection for far too long. Clothes were strewn about your bed, all rejected options for tonight’s celebration. “You don’t need to overdo it!” you said to yourself, gripping the jeans in your hands. “Just wear the stupid jeans and find a comfy sweater. This isn’t meant to be some crazy thing.”

A knock on your door indicated that you didn’t have time to continue to bemoan over your lackluster wardrobe any longer. Throwing on the clothes in hand and quickly fluffing your hair, you made your way to the front door to greet your first guest. To your surprise, Shadow greeted you with a bottle of champaign.

“Hope this is okay,” he said, looking you over subtly. He was dressed in a pair of dark slacks, a turtleneck sweater, and a nice blazer. You could feel the dread set in once again before mentally shaking yourself out of it, “yes! This is fine! Thank you, you really didn’t have to bring anything.” You welcomed him inside and placed the champaign on the kitchen counter before turning to pull refreshments from the pantry and fridge.

Shadow stood next to the door as he watched you move about your apartment, removing his blazer and placing it in the crook of his arm. Your own apartment wasn’t much different than his, the layout the same, but flipped. It seemed much more suitable to host guests than his own, he noted, as he moved across the living room to where you were at in the kitchen. He hung his blazer along the back of one of the dining room chairs before holding his hands out to you. By this point, you were struggling to move the punch bowl, having filled it prematurely and realizing you would have to move the full thing to its proper place. Shadow’s outstretched arms took you by surprise but you did not refuse the help. You gingerly placed the bowl into Shadow’s arms, “thanks- uhm, you can set it on the bar counter next to the cups.”

He nodded and placed the bowl with ease, something you were quite jealous of. His otherworldly strength was quite useful while you two worked together, as he did a majority of the heavy lifting when food shipments arrived. Of course the simple task of moving the punch bowl would be easy for him. You laughed at yourself quietly at the thought and quickly turned away to continue setup.

It did not take long for the other fantastic mobians to join you both, the space of your apartment quickly filling with sounds of chatter and laughter. As the festivities kicked off, you began to notice that Shadow wasn’t really interacting with anyone (except for Rouge every now and again when she would seek him out). You had made a mental note to check in with him, but were quickly swept away to host.

You had never quite pulled something like this off, and the constant interaction was quickly draining your own social battery. Chaos, if I’m feeling this way I can only imagine how Shadow is doing. The thought prompted a quick scan of the apartment, but Shadow was nowhere to be seen. Your brows creased with concern, hoping he hadn’t left without saying anything. However, your search would need to wait as you felt an intense need to step outside for a bit of fresh air. You checked in with Tails, asking for him to keep an eye on things while you stepped out, to which he smiled at you and told you not to worry.

One of your favorite parts about this apartment was access to a private balcony. It wasn’t anything impressive but it made for a nice getaway when you needed it. You pulled on the door, struggling as it stuck to the doorway before prying it open and prompting Shadow to turn around to face you.

“Oh- sorry! I didn’t mean to, uhm-“ you gulped, startled by his presence. Why was talking to him always so nerve-wracking? “I just needed some fresh air.”

You watched as Shadow shifted over to allow some space to join him, “be my guest.”

Struggling again to close the door behind you, you moved next to him to rest your arms on the railing. Your eyes gravitated toward the sky, catching sporadic flashes of light from fireworks far off in the distance. The cool night air was a refreshing contrast from the sudden stuffiness in your small apartment and almost immediately your body relaxed. It was only at that point that you were able to take a deep breath and really released the subconscious tension you held in your shoulders since everyone arrived.

“Quite the turnout, huh?” you offered, shifting your gaze to Shadow.

He stood unmoving, his eyes now fixated on the sky above him. The stars lit up their dark backdrop, competing only with the bursts of fireworks every now and again. Shadow hadn’t seen the night sky like this in what felt like a lifetime. He had his own balcony but rarely ever used it, having forgotten it was there for the most part. In his solitude, he had very little reason to occupy the space.

The silence between you two and his unbroken focus on the sky brought you to look up again. This moment was not unwelcome nor awkward like you feared it might be. You felt a wave of comfort wash over you as you listened to the muffled sounds of your friends indoors alongside the chirping of crickets and popping of fireworks.

Shadow finally acknowledged his lack of a response to you, shifting slightly and clearing his throat, “I wonder if Maria had gotten to experience a New Years like this.” Taken aback by this vulnerability, you turned to Shadow again.

Maria. That was a familiar name in regards to the dark hedgehog. You knew she was the only friend he had before he was captured by GUN, having suffered a horrendous fate at the organization’s hand. You contemplated if she was the reason for his more prominent standoffish behavior tonight.

“This place reminds you of her, doesn’t it?” The words came out as hardly anything more than whisper, your effort to come across as tender shining through.

You watched as Shadow winced, moving his hands to interlock his fingers. “Not just this place.” He took a deep breath, as if calculating how much he wanted to divulge to you. “Everything and everywhere does...”

His voice was low and barely audible in comparison to the world around you. Shadow had been carrying the weight of Maria’s death with him through life, a feeling you could only imagine. His ears drooped slightly as his gaze shifted downward to his hands. He studied their shape, taking note of his inhibitor rings and the creases along his fingers, trying to remember what Maria’s felt like. With another small breath, he continued, “memories of her are in everything.”

To say you were stunned would be the understatement of the century. You took in the scene of Shadow, arms resting on the railing in front of him, the fingers of one of his hands tracing the other, his demeanor sad and sincere. You placed your hand on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. His eyes lifted to meet your own, his gaze years away as tears pooled and fell along his cheek. You smiled at him, pulling him gently toward you.

He hesitated at first before accepting your embrace. You held each other there for a moment, searching for the right words to say in response to his. Everything seemed to come up short, in your mind, sounding way too cheesy and cliche to truly convey your desire to comfort Shadow. Against your better judgment, you pulled away to look at him.

“I think... that’s how you help keep their memory alive. You carry them with you in some capacity. You associate certain things in life to them, and you cherish those things more than you would have otherwise.”

You paused, searching his expression in an effort to ensure you weren’t overstepping. He stared back at you, his usual scowl nowhere to be seen, his expression softer than you had seen before.

“Maybe it also helps us live life to the fullest and not take things for granted.”

He nodded slowly, your words sinking in as he stepped out of your arms to look at the sky again.

“She would have wanted me to enjoy life,” he said thoughtfully. Shadow took a deep breath before looking at you once again, a timid smile playing on his lips. “Thank you.”

You returned his smile in kind, imprinting this moment to memory for you to cherish always. After a brief pause, you offered your hand to him, “what do you say we go back in?”

He looked down at your hand and nodded, wiping the tears from his face and giving the night sky another glance. Shadow would have to remember to spruce up his own balcony to enjoy the stars.

Your fingers intertwined with his as you started to head back inside; the backdoor being of no issue for Shadow (of course) to pull open and close shut with ease. He let go of your hand after giving it a light squeeze and moved through the group to find Rouge of his own accord, smiling back at you. Sonic approached you, taking note of the interaction, “wow, never thought that guy could actually smile! You sure we don’t have a SUPER faker among us?”

Your elbow jabbed into Sonic’s arm playfully as you laughed and shook your head.

As midnight approached, you all gathered around the TV in the living room and counted down the New Year. Shadow closed his eyes, allowing Rouge to shake him as she joined the others in celebrating. His eyes opened and rested their gaze on you, watching as you cheered alongside everyone. It was then that he decided; he was going to make sure he did everything he could to appreciate his newfound friends and peaceful existence, just the way he hoped Maria would have wanted him to.

#tried to write smut #all i have to offer is fluff #shadow the hedgehog x reader #shadow the hedgehog #shadow x reader #wholesome #✧*̥˚ my fics *̥˚✧

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jandthecrow · 5 months ago

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Connected

Simon Ghost Riley x Reader

SUMMARY: Simon gives you one of those trendy bracelets made for couples on Christmas Day. Literally saw an ad for it and immediately thought about this.

CW: SFW, wholesome, Soft!Simon, Christmas Day, established relationship, non gendered reader

The room was quiet except for the soft crackling of the fire and the occasional rustle of wrapping paper. Snow fell lightly outside, the sun making the snow glow with a beautiful sheen. You and Simon sat close together on the living room floor, surrounded by open boxes and torn ribbons. The morning had been filled with laughter and surprises both big and small, but Simon had one last gift for you.

He reached behind the couch and pulled out a small box, wrapped in baby blue paper and tied with a simple white string. His fingers paused on it for a moment before he handed it to you, his eyes holding yours.

“This one’s… different. Don’t know if you’ll like it,” he said, his voice quiet but steady.

You tilted your head, as you took the gift. “Different how?” You say examining the box and the little white snowflakes printed on the thin paper.

“Just open it,” he grunted, his gaze unwavering.

With a small smile, you tugged at the white string and peeled back the paper, revealing a sleek black box. Lifting the lid, you were met with the sight of two bracelets nestled inside; sleek, simple, and modern. One was slightly larger and blue, clearly meant for a bigger wrist; Simon’s wrist specifically. While the other was smaller and white gold - with a small skull printed on top (he had to stake his claim somehow lol) designed for a smaller wrist - yours.

“Wait… are these what I think they are?” you asked, glancing up at him.

“They are,” he confirmed, his tone gruff but softened by the emotion in his eyes. “Thought it’d be… useful. For when I’m not here.”

You picked up the smaller bracelet, running your fingers over its smooth surface. “They’re the ones that send a signal, right? To let the other person know you’re thinking of them?”

Simon nodded, his forearms resting on his thighs as he leaned forward watching you. “Yeah. You press the button, and it buzzes on the other end. Subtle. Nothing flashy.”

Your chest tightened as the weight of the gesture sank in. He wasn’t the type to voice his emotions often, but this - this was his way of saying he wanted to stay connected, even when countless miles separated you.

“I…” You trailed off, trying to find the right words to express your aching heart. “Simon, this is… it’s perfect.”

He shifted slightly, reaching for the other bracelet and sliding it onto his wrist. “It’s not much, but I figured… if you ever needed… or um missed me… or maybe if I wanted you to know I’m thinking about you - this would help.”

You slipped your own bracelet onto your wrist, marveling at how well it fit. “It’s more than enough,” you said softly, pressing the small button on the side.

A faint vibration buzzed against Simon’s wrist, and his eyes crinkled at the edges as he glanced down at the bracelet. Without a word, he pressed his own button, and you felt the gentle pulse against your wrist in return.

The exchange was silent, but it spoke volumes.

“This way, you’ll never be alone… even when I’m not there for you,” he said his voice breaking and filled with a rare tenderness.

You reached over, placing your hand on top of his. “And neither will you.”

The two of you sat there for a while, the fire place crackling as the fire danced. The world outside seemed to slow, as if the world was giving you this moment to savor.

“Merry Christmas, Simon,” you whispered, squeezing his hand.

“Merry Christmas, love,” he replied, his thumb brushing over your knuckles.

The bracelets weren’t just a gift but a promise. No matter where he was, or how far apart you might be, you’d always have a way to reach each other. A silent signal that said, I’m here. I’m thinking of you. And for both of you, it was everything you could ever ask for.

#cod #tf 141 #simon ghost riley #call of duty #wholesome #merry christmas #simon riley fluff #simon ghost x reader #established relationship #lovers #braclets #fluff #holiday fic

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your-local-simp-writers · 7 months ago

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Ghosts and S’mores

Word Count: 1743

Warnings: None

Dick Grayson x Fem! Reader ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

The pumpkin patch was a vibrant tapestry of fall colors, a lively spectacle filled with families and friends enjoying the crisp autumn air. As you and Dick wandered among the towering rows of pumpkins, laughter and chatter surrounded you, weaving a tapestry of joy that was infectious. The sweet scent of hay mingled with the spicy aroma of cinnamon from nearby stalls selling warm apple cider and baked goods. It was one of those perfect October afternoons that felt like a scene from a movie, and every moment felt imbued with magic.

Dick was clad in his favorite leather jacket, the one that seemed to radiate his effortless charm. His dark hair tousled in the gentle breeze, he flashed you a playful grin as he strolled beside you. “Look at this one!” he exclaimed, dropping to his knees beside a pumpkin that was surprisingly large and oddly shaped, with deep grooves and a slightly crooked stem. “This one’s perfect for carving! Just imagine the scariest jack-o’-lantern in Gotham with this bad boy!”

You laughed, shaking your head as you picked up a smaller pumpkin, perfectly round and smooth. “As much as I love your enthusiasm, I’m not sure Gotham is ready for a pumpkin that terrifying,” you teased, turning the smaller pumpkin in your hands, contemplating its carving potential. “I think we should aim for something a little more charming. You know, something that reflects our style.”

Dick stood up, brushing off his knees, and approached you, his mischievous glint unmistakable. “We should do matching costumes this year. How cute would that be?” he suggested, leaning in closer, the excitement in his voice palpable.

You raised an eyebrow, holding the pumpkin to your chest, feeling your heart warm at his enthusiasm. “Alright, Mr. Grayson, what are we dressing up as this year for Halloween?” you asked, a smile dancing on your lips.

Dick’s grin widened as he dropped his hands on his hips, striking a goofy pose. “How about this: I’ll be a graham cracker, and you’ll be a marshmallow! Together, we can be a s’more!” His laughter echoed in the air, infectious as he picked up a pumpkin and held it up to his face like a mask, the playful absurdity of the idea sending you into a fit of giggles.

You couldn’t help but laugh at his antics, shaking your head in disbelief. “I love you, I swear I do, but there’s no way I’m dressing up as a marshmallow. I have my dignity to think about!” You teased, though your heart danced at the thought of being a couple in matching costumes.

“Oh, come on! Just think of the photo ops!” he insisted, doing a little twirl with the pumpkin as if it were a trophy. “Imagine it—two adorable treats, making everyone else jealous with our cuteness!”

Rolling your eyes but unable to suppress your smile, you responded, “Fine, fine! But we have to come up with something better than that. You’re the horror movie expert. What do you think?”

Dick glanced at the pumpkins around you, mock-serious as he crossed his arms. “How about you dress up as Sidney Prescott and I’ll be Ghostface? I can totally pull off the scary vibe!” he suggested, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

You laughed, nodding in agreement. “That’s actually a great idea! I could even carry around a fake knife to chase you with!” The thought of him running away from you, feigning terror, made you giggle even more.

He feigned a look of horror, eyes wide and hands up in mock surrender. “You wouldn’t actually stab me, right? I’m your boyfriend, not your victim!” he exclaimed, stepping back dramatically, making you laugh even harder.

“Just saying, it depends on how convincing you are in your role!” you replied, your playful banter making the atmosphere even more cheerful. The two of you continued to explore the patch, debating over which pumpkins would serve best for carving.

After a bit more wandering, you finally settled on a pumpkin, holding it up triumphantly. “What do you think? This one has the perfect balance of cute and spooky!” you announced, turning it slightly to show off its unique shape and texture, your excitement bubbling over.

Dick nodded appreciatively, his gaze softening as he looked at you, then at the pumpkin. “I think it’s perfect! But if we’re doing Ghostface and Sidney, we have to go all out. I can’t just wear a mask and call it a day.”

You grinned at his determination, leading the way to the checkout area with your chosen pumpkin in tow. “Agreed! We should definitely take the time to make our costumes look awesome. This is going to be the Halloween to remember!”

Once you paid for your pumpkin, Dick insisted on carrying it back to the car. “This baby is all mine! I’ll guard it with my life,” he joked, cradling the pumpkin like a precious trophy. As you made your way to the car, the sunlight bathed everything in a warm golden glow, and you couldn’t help but glance at him, feeling your heart swell.

Later that evening, you found yourselves in your cozy kitchen, the soft glow of fairy lights illuminating the space and creating an inviting ambiance. You spread newspapers across the table, lighting pumpkin spice candles that filled the air with a comforting scent, crafting an atmosphere perfect for a cozy night in. Dick set the pumpkin down with exaggerated care before turning to you with a playful gleam in his eye.

“Alright, I’ll get the carving tools!” he declared, bounding to the kitchen drawer. You watched him rummage through the utensils, his enthusiasm contagious. As he turned back with a small carving knife and a spoon, he struck a dramatic pose. “Prepare to be amazed by my pumpkin artistry!”

You leaned against the counter, watching him work, the way his brow furrowed in concentration making your heart flutter. “Just don’t mess it up too badly. We need to impress the other partygoers,” you said, a teasing lilt to your voice.

“Mess it up? Please!” he scoffed, pretending to be offended. “I’m the king of pumpkin carving! This pumpkin is going to be the talk of the party.”

You smiled, moving to your own pumpkin as he continued to sketch his design, a mix of horror and humor. The rhythmic sound of carving filled the kitchen, punctuated by laughter and playful jabs at each other's artistic choices. You shared stories about past Halloweens, recalling funny moments and childhood costumes, the atmosphere light and filled with joy.

“I remember one year, I tried to be a vampire but ended up looking like I had a bad case of toothpaste on my face,” you said, laughing as you recalled the memory. “My mom still has pictures of me, and it’s one of the most embarrassing things ever!”

Dick burst out laughing, putting down his carving knife to clutch his stomach. “That’s too good! I can’t wait to see that picture! I can totally picture you with a little cape and fangs that are too big for your mouth,” he teased, moving closer to get a better look at your pumpkin.

“Shut up! I was only eight! I thought I looked cool!” you retorted, trying to sound indignant but failing miserably. His laughter was infectious, and soon you found yourself laughing along.

“Okay, but let’s be honest. You were probably the cutest vampire ever,” he said, leaning in closer to inspect your work. “And I’m not sure what’s scarier: my pumpkin or the thought of you with a cape.”

You felt your cheeks heat up at his compliment, a flutter in your stomach as he leaned in to examine your pumpkin closely. “Thanks! I’m going for spooky-cute, you know? The perfect balance,” you said, focusing on carving the jagged smile.

After a bit more back-and-forth, you both paused to admire each other’s work. Your pumpkin had turned out beautifully, the jagged smile and piercing eyes giving it a menacing yet charming look, while Dick’s creation was… well, unique, to say the least. It featured a goofy, lopsided grin that was more silly than scary, and you couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“I think yours might scare off all the trick-or-treaters!” you teased, pointing at his pumpkin. “It looks like it just got done running a marathon!”

Dick chuckled, feigning a pout as he crossed his arms. “Excuse me, but that’s exactly what I was going for! The ‘scary but adorable’ vibe.” He gestured grandly toward his pumpkin. “This little guy is going to steal the show!”

You shook your head, still grinning, but then your expression softened as you looked at him, your heart swelling with warmth. “Honestly, I love it. It’s so you—full of fun and unexpected charm.”

His gaze met yours, the playful energy shifting into something more intimate. “And I love you,” he said softly, moving a little closer, his expression sincere. “I love how you make everything more fun. You’re the one who keeps me grounded, even when I’m pretending to be a horror icon.”

Your cheeks flushed at his words, and you leaned in closer, playfully nudging him with your shoulder. “Well, I’m glad to keep you on your toes. Just remember, I’m still the one chasing you down at the party!”

“Only if you promise to keep it PG-13,” he said with a laugh, leaning back against the kitchen counter, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’d like to leave some mystery for the next Halloween party, after all.”

With the room filled with laughter and love, you both settled into a rhythm, finishing up the carving and lighting candles to place inside the pumpkins. The flickering flames illuminated the room, casting playful shadows and filling the kitchen with the warm, cozy glow that made everything feel perfect.

You admired your handiwork, the warmth of the candles reflected in Dick’s eyes, and you couldn’t help but smile. “I think we make a pretty great team, don’t you?”

He nodded, a soft smile playing on his lips. “Definitely. Here’s to many more adventures and memories together. I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else.”

You both leaned in closer, sharing a gentle kiss, the world outside fading away as the glow of the pumpkins surrounded you in a cocoon of warmth and love. In that moment, everything felt perfect, the bond between you deepening as you embraced the spirit of Halloween together.

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gothamite-rambler · 3 months ago

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Duke Thomas meeting Ra's Al Ghul for the first time.

Duke: SATAN!

Ra's: What? Ow!

Duke tossed a small rock at Ra's alarming the villainous man. Jason covered his mouth chuckling. Damian turned the other way so his grandfather didn't see him laughing as well.

Duke: Damian, Jason, get behind me!

Duke clasped his fingers together in the shape of a cross.

Duke: Stand back, Satan, prince of darkness!

Ra's: I'm not Satan, and I'm certainly not a mere prince!

Duke: The devil is a master of disguise, taking on many forms. Evil walks among us, hiding in plain sight.

Ra's: Okay, that’s just hurtful.

Duke kicked Ra's in the shin, causing the man to grunt in pain and crumple to the ground.

Duke: Uh huh, that’s what the magic goop does to you when you keep swimming in it! And that’s for Jason, jerk.

Ra's (weakly): Oh, for what? Teaching him how to be an actual protector of Gotham?

Duke: Of course you’d defend it! Look, if you come near me or my little brother again, I’m going to spritz you with my holy water. I've been wanting to do that for a while. Let's go, guys.

Duke stepped over the fallen man, with Jason and Damian following closely behind. Jason struggled to stifle his laughter.

Damian (turning to his grandfather): Sorry, Grandpa, but you had it coming.

Ra's (standing up): This is rare for me, pride in someone else. Sadly, it's being suffocated by my rage at being kicked in the shin!

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

Duke: Stay away from him! Don’t come near us, Prince of Darkness. Damian doesn’t want you near him.

Duke sprayed Ra's Al Ghul with a spray bottle filled with water. Ra's wasn’t hurt by the water, but found it irritating to be sprayed in the face like a disobedient cat.

Ra's (eye twitching): I’m not a cat, and he’s my grandson! Damian, get—Stop spraying me!

Duke (continuing to spray): Unfortunately, you’re related, but he doesn’t want you near him if you can’t keep your promise about no ninjas.

Duke lowered the spray bottle as Ra's took a step back.

Damian (keeping a safe distance): Thanks, Duke. He wants me to enter some weird tournament, and I’m really not in the right headspace to almost die.

Duke: No problem. How did you handle beelzebub as a little kid?

Damian (shrugging): He’s not completely evil; sometimes he’d give me hard candies for winning fights.

Duke nodded, quickly spraying Ra's again when the man made a move toward him.

Duke: Back up, dude! I ain't playing. I have powers, I can vanish in this lair of yours and then beat you up!

Ra's (squinting his eyes enraged): I don’t care about you.

Ra's stormed off, grumbling under his breath. Damian picked up the spray bottle, confused.

Duke: It's just regular water, but I pretend it’s holy water.

Damian (impressed): You know, you haven't quite reached our level of strangeness, but I admire how odd you can be.

Duke (chuckling with a smile): I appreciate that, bro.

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lightspringrain · 11 months ago

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Happy Tech Tuesday! I am back! With a cover piece for my mini fic "Howling Love." It is short but sweet and full of Tech/Phee goodness. I hope you like!

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firemenenthusiast · 1 year ago

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thinking about being jann’s wag (wife and girlfriends of sportmen or women)

summary: what its like being at jann’s races

content: fluff and wholesomeness

“and also spotted here with us today with the nissan crew is jann mardenborough’s partner smiling bright at the chances he has today”

the loudspeakers of the track booming with the commentator’s light voice. suddenly your face is plastered all over the big screens with your name across it. you flash your proudest smile, looking up at the screens as you hear the whole audience cheer.

they could be cheering for anything else but you’re here to cheer for your handsome boy. the broadcasting cameras are now tracking him down, as shown on the big screens. he’s standing beside his car, his face tilted upwards obviously watching the screens that were showing you. he’s grinning realising that he’d been caught snooping. the racing suit hugging his body perfectly showcasing his broad shoulders. and his slutty waist. he shakes his head still smiling before returning to the paddock with his helmet in his hand

its not the first time you’d follow him to his races, you’d insisted on going just to enjoy how hot he looks on the tracks in real life. not that you hadn’t seen him on the tv but they dont really focus on jann all the time. here, you get praises from the crews all the time because of his talent and skills. everytime he would advance they’d be searching your face for a reaction and you couldn’t be prouder. and he knows it too, it’s become his motivation on the track, he’s focused to do his best and to make you proud

best part of being at his races ? you would get to see him coming towards you in all his glory, face shiny with a thin layer of sweat. just like right now. you greet him into the paddock with a hand on his chest, his arm wrapped around you. he leans down for a kiss which you return passionately

��i saw you on the screens” he tells you

“yeah ? well i saw you passing capa, you looked hot”

“you couldnt even see me in the car”

“exactly” at which he throws his head back chuckling

though he has other things to settle before going home after finishing the race (winning), he’d ask jack to go see you first just to be peppered with kisses all over his face. after couple of times, jack already knows he’d want to go see you first and he’d just be happy for the both of you.

puppy love, he thinks.

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arminsumi · 1 year ago

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❀ 𝐈 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮 | 𝟓 Gojo Satoru / Geto Suguru

Falling in love despite a language barrier.

𝐂𝐡. 𝟓 | 𝐖𝐜. 𝟒𝐤 | 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐱 | 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

Summer with you felt fuller and brighter than any other.

Waving sparklers in the humid night air. Sore feet after walking for hours. Mesmerized by the feeling of life whirling around you. Winning a squish mallow from a claw machine and watching Satoru and Suguru rock-paper-scissor fight over who got to keep it. Listening to Satoru and Suguru’s murmured conversations, and feeling giddy when you got the gist of something they said. Feeling your heart throb and ears perk up when they mentioned your name. Laughing embarrassedly into a pillow when you tried to speak Japanese and got everything wrong — Satoru's enamored smile.

It felt like you were in a rush to enjoy everything sometimes, because your return flight date loomed in the back of your mind. Suguru was nervous to show you Japan in a light that you'd never forget, and Satoru was just oblivious to all the sight-seeing and festivals because you were far more captivating.

On the train ride deeper into the city, Satoru sat thigh-against-thigh with you. The both of you were very consciously aware of contact, the press and the warmth. At your left, Suguru leaned close, the fabric of his t-shirt grazing your arm giving you butterflies.

Heads together, all three of you took turns in Satoru's diary; writing your names, scribbling, doodling, until the page was filled from corner to corner.

They talked about Nanami, who was going to meet you for the first time.

Suguru giggled at something Satoru said, so you asked what he was laughing at.

"Satoru's scared that Nanami is going to show off his English to you." he said.

“Oh?” you smiled.

("... and!") Satoru added dramatically, interrupting Suguru, ("He better not flirt with her.”)

Suguru went completely red in the face and laughed.

("Satoru, You're acting very boyfriend-like.")

("... oh, am I?")

("Yes.")

Satoru stopped talking, went redder than Suguru, and sat back in his seat like he was contemplating himself.

"What?" you asked, looking between them.

"Nothing." Suguru feathered, covering his face to hide his smile, "Nothing at all."

*****

Even you were taken aback by Nanami's English, because he spoke more elegantly than you did — so you can just imagine what expression Suguru had when he watched the two of you interact for the first time at the festival.

"Satoru's my senior at work, even if he doesn't act like it." he said. Satoru looked at him suspiciously as he spoke.

"Ohhh, I see." you nodded, "Then, you two met at work or...?"

"No, we went to high school together.” Nanami said.

You nodded again, "Ah."

"... he talks a lot about you." Nanami said, "Talks my ear off at the water cooler about this girl who lives on the other side of the world — with the biggest stars in his eyes. It's nice that you two could finally meet."

You smiled, "Yeah... this summer has been amazing."

"Have you ticked everything off your bucket list yet?" Nanami asked.

"Yes — though, I missed Tanabata." you said. “Maybe next year.”

The two of you kept talking. When you laughed at something Nanami said, Satoru threw a jealous look at him. Then he and Suguru talked under their breaths.

(“Are they flirting?”) Satoru asked suspiciously.

(“They are not.”)

(“It feels like they are.”)

(“… you really are acting like a boyfriend, Satoru…”)

*****

A blue night sky deepened as you three walked across the street crossing, closer to where residents were gathered and some dancing around a raised stage.

"I wish I could experience December here, too." you sighed dreamily.

"Why don't you?" Nanami asked.

"... the flights are too expensive." you replied.

"... what a shame. A romantic like Satoru would be over the moon to spend December with you." Nanami said. "Maybe next year, you two can go as a couple."

You acted shyer after realizing Nanami assumed you and Satoru were dating, and it was incredibly funny because Satoru misinterpreted your shyness to be a response to Nanami's flirting — so he interrupted the conversation right there.

Suguru stifled a laugh. He didn't say anything, just watched you three like it was a sitcom.

("Nanami, you look a bit taller. Did you grow?") Satoru teased, physically comparing heights with him — which he only ever did when they were kids.

"..." Nanami stared at him. ("Why are you like this?")

Suguru was trying so hard to contain his laughter.

While Nanami and Satoru went back and forth with each other, Suguru grabbed the chance to have his own moment with you.

He talked a bit louder over the singing and drumming, right into your ear, as you watched, captivatedly, at people performing bon odori around the stage.

All you remember was feeling like Suguru’s voice was in your chest, truthfully you can't remember what he was explaining to you about the festival.

Then he went quiet and stared at you softly.

A weird, familiar feeling took residency inside his chest, and he thought;

(Oh... It's been a while since I last fell in love.)

But even if you had paid attention to him in that moment, would you have noticed the tenderness in his eyes?

Suguru got startled out of his love-struck daze by Nanami, who was leaving early.

("Satoru finally got on your nerves, huh?")

("Yes… no, not actually. I've just got sore feet.")

Satoru teased playfully, ("You just want to go home and take a bubble bath and listen to jazz like the old man you are.")

("Satoru, you're annoying. That's absolutely what I'm going to do, though.")

Nanami said goodbye for the night.

The sky blackened and the crowd thickened with more people, so Satoru took your hand in his and kept you close.

After an hour, the three of you headed out of the festival and went in search of a quieter place. Suguru observed you and Satoru holding hands. He stared and stared, then forced himself to snap out of it.

Satoru was quietly thinking, then said dramatically;

(“He was totally flirting with her!”)

And to this Suguru burst out laughing so hard, like all the laughter he held back earlier came out. A man with a laugh like that was definitely popular with boys and girls in high school, you’re certain.

(“How do you know?”)

(“… it sounded like it!”)

(“I can’t believe you’re such a jealous guy.”) Suguru shook his head, bearing a big smile, (“You even got jealous at me for flirting with her.”)

Satoru shrugged guiltlessly. 「僕は僕！」

“What is going on?” you asked laughingly.

Suguru could hardly translate or speak as he had a laughing fit on the street.

*****

When you walked out of an alleyway into a busier street and saw the neon glow of lights of a 7-Eleven, and a cyclist going by, and inhaled the night air, and heard all the city noises, and felt all the city feelings, this feeling whirled around you.

"Life feels different here." you commented, looking around you.

"... oh really?" Suguru hummed sarcastically.

You nudged his arm. "Don't be sarcastic. You know what I mean, don't you?"

"Yeah, of course. That feeling... like a spark...?" he teased, just to see the look in your eyes.

He spoke to Satoru, and Satoru said something and Suguru chuckled and translated for you, " 'You'll miss that feeling when you leave for home.' "

"... I'll miss you two more."

Hearing sentence made his heart fluttery. When Suguru translated it, it just didn't feel the same as hearing it in your voice. It made him wonder just how much he was missing out on by not knowing your language. What feelings were being lost in translation?

*****

The three of you headed out further, getting a bit lost in the city for fun.

The hot night called for ice cream, so Satoru and Suguru rock-paper-scissor fought for who would go to buy some.

"... 最初ぐう... じゃん拳ぽん... あいこでしょ... あいこでしょ... !"

Satoru pulled a funny face after losing that made you and Suguru laugh. He went on his way to the convenience store, navigating through a detour, stopping to pet a cat on his way back, and meanwhile... you and Suguru were left alone together, with that spark clearly fizzing between your chests.

*****

At the park, the two of you lazed in the grass, side by side, while waiting for Satoru to return from the convenience store with ice creams.

Eyes directed up at the sky, propped on his elbows, hair messy after a long evening. Suguru momentarily closed his eyes in bliss at the soft breeze fanning by.

Next to you, Suguru stretched out his long legs and stared deeply at the moon. It was blazing. The longer he stared at it in silence the more this feeling struck him.

He took a sideways glance at you, and you were obliviously enjoying the cool night breeze.

(Does she have a clue about how I feel right now?) Suguru thought softly.

"月が綺麗ですね..." he murmured romantically.

"Hm? What does that mean...?"

He turned his head to look at you, totally smitten.

"... the moon is beautiful, isn't it?"

"Oh. Yeah, it is." you agreed. "I haven't seen a moon so bright in a while."

Suguru chuckled dreamily.

(She's a clueless angel.)

No thoughts passed through either of your heads as you leaned into each other.

His features were too fuzzy to make out in this lighting, but you saw a hint of a tender expression on his face.

He inhaled deeply and got so high on the sweet, humid night air that he leaned into a kiss without thinking his action through — but it's alright, he only grazed his still lips over yours. He only hovered. It was just a sweet, shared breath if anything. Just a ticklishly light touch of lips grazing lips.

No thoughts. Just that spark in the air and heartbeats thumping quickly in your fingertips.

Then immediate realization hit him. He pulled away and apologized like he was shocked at himself.

"I'm so sorry." Suguru stressed, "I didn't mean to — I —I wasn't thinking."

"It's okay, don't apologize." you replied softly, unable to say more.

(What does she mean, "Don't apologize"? What does she mean…?)

Suguru began to ramble, and you watched his lips move as he spoke each syllable. His lips felt tingly, wanting— desperately — for a kiss.

He wanted to kiss you, but he couldn't.

"It's just — I haven't — you know, it's been years since... um, anyways. I don't even know what I'm saying anymore." He became out of breath, talking too fast.

Suguru drew in a breath like he was going to say something more, but then stopped speaking altogether because Satoru returned — with a plastic bag of convenience store ice creams swishing at his side.

“Hey hey.” he greeted the two of you, and sat down on the grass.

Satoru didn't sit between you and Suguru, rather, he sat in front of both of you, stretching his legs out onto the soft grass like a cat.

「顔赤いよ・・・」 Satoru wiggled his brows at Suguru.

You watched Suguru as he patted his hands against his hot cheeks to cool them.

Satoru giggled naughtily.

You looked between them and watched them have a small exchange, never learning what they said to each other in that moment. But you could gather Suguru's embarrassment and Satoru's teasing and mild jealousy.

Suguru grumbled to himself on the way home.

(We could have shared a movie kiss...)

*****

You fell asleep before Satoru — almost as soon as your head hit the pillow. He looked down at you for a moment, his gaze catching onto your parted lips, his ears picking up on your soft breathing.

(I hope you're dreaming of me.) he thought hopefully.

He stared for a bit, daydreaming.

The longer he stared, the more his face reddened and his heartbeat quickened. Eventually he crawled into bed next to you, keeping a distance but wishing so badly that he could cuddle you.

He was thinking about how unfair it was to be himself; to have to contain himself when he was such a romantic and emotional man, and not just that; a man in need of touching, kissing, cuddling. He felt a need for all of that more that night than at any other point in his life.

Satoru timidly inched closer and lifted his face to plant a kiss on your cheek. Just a tiny kiss. His lips hovered over you cheek, then over your lips. But he held back.

He pulled away slowly and smiled shyly to himself.

That satisfied his heart enough, he could calm down and sleep.

But in the other room, Suguru moved around sleeplessly in his bed like a hopeless insomniac.

*****

Curled into his pillow, cheeks warm, fist to lip and knees hugged, Suguru was daydreaming of how that moment could have gone differently if he had just kissed you.

And his daydream played out like a film, one full of scripted kisses, shot from every angle, replayed over and over to satisfy his little heart — the poor thing was beating in panic at his growing feelings.

Yes, he knew he liked you, but not like that. Not until now. Now that feeling was nearly in full throttle.

*****

Suguru's daydream of kissing you went on until it got light outside.

He thought, thought, thought. But a daydream wasn't enough to satisfy his need to kiss you. With a suppressed sigh, he rolled onto his side, hugged his ribs, and blinked his stinging eyes at the room as it lit up a dawn blue.

The room became lighter and lighter.

He leaned up in bed, blinked, then reached for his phone and opened yours and his chat. And he scrolled up into the texts that gave him butterflies. He stared at the blinking cursor, then typed out;

I wanted to kiss you.

Then he stared at your profile picture, and promptly erased what he had typed.

Instead, he wrote it in his notes app, as if it was his most guilty secret.

Then he cuddled back into his fortress of pillows, begged his mind for a dream of you, and fell asleep at 7 AM, sleeping a weak 3 hours before waking up again.

*****

You and Suguru were awake earlier than Satoru, who was still softly sleeping. The roar of early morning traffic reached the 7th floor, and the sunrise teased its appearance through the buildings.

Suguru watered the balcony plants in his flip flops.

And he did it lazily, in his baggy pants, with unbrushed hair. It was quite a sight to see, so you stared. He could feel your eyes on him and his heartbeat quickened.

He watered each plant with a cup of water, complaining that he keeps forgetting to buy a watering can for his ‘lil guys’.

Names were assigned to each plant, written on paper on toothpicks.

“… you named a plant… Dave?” you questioned.

“… what? It’s funny.”

He watered ‘Dave’ and looked closer, nearly nosing into the plant.

"Oh my god... he’s wilting." he genuinely panicked. "I swear I'm doing everything I can to keep him alive, it's like he just wants to die… keep it together, Dave."

You laughed and hovered over the plants with him. Suguru was frowning at his other plants as they looked unhappier than usual.

"Suguru, you're such a plant dad." you said.

His frown lifted, he looked at you and then his sweet smile lines showed up on his cheeks.

"Thanks."

When he made eye contact, and that something sparked in the air between you two. It sparked bigger than it ever had before.

"You look tired..."

I can't believe she notices that. How sweet.

He shrugged in response.

"I was thinking about you..." he trailed off.

You widened your eyes and went silent.

"— your flight." he lied and you knew it.

"... yeah, it's gonna be a long flight home." you swallowed hard, looking so deeply into his eyes that you got dizzy.

"You know what's weird? Right now, in this moment, it feels like you'll never leave." he said softly.

The following silence heightened the tension between you and him. He felt the urge to kiss you again. He felt it bad. His self-restraint was slipping, he couldn't discipline himself.

(A kiss is just a kiss, right?)

When you licked your lips, that’s when Suguru started to lean his face in. As his gaze flitted between your lips and your eyes, his heart panged.

He hesitated, you hesitated, he stuttered, you stuttered. He kissed you like a nervous mouse.

You were shocked even though you knew it was coming.

Even if the kiss lasted just a split second, that was long enough to catch a glimpse of heaven.

Suguru pulled back and looked at you unsurely.

"えーと" his lips twitched. "I — I'm — I — uh." he forgot how to speak completely, so stunned that his mother tongue and English tongue got tangled together.

You stared into his eyes and that's what got him, he went in for another kiss, this time harder – lips smacking together like you just needed each other. And as he exhaled against your face, you could feel all his passion.

His heart fluttered when you kissed him back with almost the same intensity. The heat and softness of someone else's lips was exactly what he needed at this time in his life, just to kiss someone who he really liked.

Gasping into the kiss, Suguru held onto your cheeks like you were his baby. When he ran out of breath, he pulled away and breathed a little heavier.

"I'm so sorry, I — " he said breathlessly.

" — no, it's o—o-okay." you stammered, feeling a bit out of it.

Both of you were digesting the moment when suddenly a bleary-eyed, sleepy Satoru came out onto the balcony, holding Mint against his chest. He was squinting and blinking at the morning sun.

Suguru immediately switched to nonchalance and acting as if nothing just happened. But his shoulders were stiff.

("Mint looks especially evil this morning.") his voice quivered a little.

("... you mean fluffy?") Satoru replied, petting Mint between her fuzzy ears.

("No, evil.") Suguru joked, ("She's a devil in dis—guise.") he choked on his words.

Satoru looked at him strangely and thought;

(Huh, Suguru doesn't usually choke on his words.)

Satoru stared at Suguru, looked at you, then looked back and forth between you and Suguru.

The air was thick.

"What?"

"What...?"

("What happened?") Satoru asked.

Satoru's sixth sense was insane. Like it was some scene in a comedy movie, he forwardly asked;

("Why do I feel like I interrupted something?") he said.

Suguru raised his brows and made a funny guilty face. You looked between them with wide eyes.

"I'm gonna go make some coffee..." you said, and scrambled to your feet like you were desperate to escape this awkward tension.

"... I'm gonna tell him." Suguru said.

"You're bluffing..."

"Nah, I'm an honest guy."

You groaned funnily, "Then I'm gonna go hide behind the coffee pot..."

Satoru looked confused. Once you headed inside, it was just him and Suguru there on the balcony.

The traffic was roaring louder by now. For a while it was the only sound between them, besides your distant clanking in the kitchen.

A long silence dragged out and then Suguru's words abruptly popped into existence.

"(YN)にキスした・・・"

"は?!"

Suguru made a guilty grimace and scratched the back of his head.

("What do you mean you kissed her? When was this?") Satoru's voice got higher.

("Uh, like right now.")

They went back and forth for a while. You heard them and had no idea what was being said.

("Thief.") Satoru said, calming down after a while.

("How am I a thief?") Suguru got defensive.

("You stole her kiss from me!") Satoru pouted childishly.

("... I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself.") Suguru lowered his head, ("Are you mad at me...?") he asked worriedly.

("... No, I'm not mad at you... well, a little bit.") Satoru mumbled, ("I'm more jealous than mad.")

(“So…”) Suguru looked at his best friend wearily. How could he not be furious? (“This is fine with you?”)

(“You can get away with it. If it were Nanami, I’d be throwing hands.”) he joked.

Suguru still felt like he was a puppy that did something wrong, but Satoru just didn’t seem to be taking it as seriously.

("... I've got a plan, okay.") Satoru said suddenly, ignoring Mint's silent begging for cuddles. ("I'm gonna kiss her at the airport, right before she leaves — ")

Suguru laughed, ("Are you procrastinating — ?")

Satoru cut him off and said 「やるよ！！！」 with such intensity and conviction that it made Suguru burst out laughing.

Hearing Suguru's laughter from the kitchen reassured you that everything went over fine.

*****

He stood in front of you.

(できるよ・・・) I can do it...

Satoru swallowed hard. Discretely wiped his sweaty palms on his pants. Nibbled his lip. Tried to act natural in the airport, looking to Suguru for inspiration on being nonchalant.

You were testing the clock by waiting until the very last minute to get onboard.

Just like you were procrastinating to board your flight, Satoru was procrastinating to kiss you. The three of you exchanged a look.

"Oh.” Suguru realized, “Go ahead. I’m not looking. I'm a plant." Suguru joked, covering his eyes.

He gave you and Satoru space, he thought it was fair. If he had his moment with you on the balcony, then Satoru deserved to have a moment with you. Now he understood how all-consuming the desire to kiss someone was.

(It has to be now, when else? I don't know when she'll be back for her next visit, I could be waiting a whole year. The universe knows how impatient I am. I've got to have her lips right now.) Satoru thought anxiously.

His body stuttered.

You were thinking to yourself, is this the wrong moment to kiss him? Is there ever a right moment anyways?

"Satoru." you said in a tone of goodbye, and outstretched your arms to him.

He leaned down into your embrace like the awkwardly tall man he was.

You clung to each other's bodies for a while. Such a clingy hug already spoke volumes. But still, Satoru just wanted to go that bit further — to spell his love on your lips.

He wanted you to board that plane knowing what his love tasted like, to sit in your seat with lips freshly tingling.

Yes, he knew nothing in life ever played out like in movies or daydreams, so he was hoping just once it would.

Last-minute doubt filled him and he felt his mood drop.

(… maybe I shouldn’t.)

Just as he pulled out of the hug, you reached up, cupped his cheeks with conviction, and gave him the biggest kiss that he'd ever received in his life right smack there on his lips.

"...?" His knees buckled, and redness grew on his cheeks very quickly.

He blanked so hard, but only for a second or two, because he dreamily tilted his head off to the side and deepened the kiss.

(yeah, 恋している。)

You pulled back. He stammered, stuttered, totally stumbled. He was all over the place now. He couldn't form a thought now.

Even if someone would have told him that he was on planet earth, he wouldn't have believed them, because your kiss definitely sent him to heaven.

"は、はずかしいな・・・embarrassed, I'm embarrassed." He chuckled nervously.

Suguru watched as you two broke down into giggles, then he came over to you two again.

"You know, that was very cute and all," he said, spooking the life out of Satoru who was just totally in his feelings. "But even the last-minute procrastinators have boarded the flight by now."

"Oh my god!" you panicked, "Um, yeah! Okay, okay I'm gonna go... I love you two. I'll come back soon, I promise. I promise."

Hugging goodbye for the last time hurt, and seeing you get teary-eyed made it hard for them not to cry too.

You went through the gates.

Satoru felt like you tore a piece of him and took it with you, and his whole body wanted to chase after you.

You waved and gave heart hands to them as much as you could until you disappeared out of sight.

Boarding the plane felt like a dream. After stowing away your bag in the overhead cabinet, you took your seat and stared blankly, lips feeling tingly and alive with Satoru’s lingering feelings on them.

*****

It was all over too quickly. Satoru licked his lips.

Idling to the window to watch your plane take off, both of them felt like they were on the verge of crying, Satoru a little more than Suguru.

(まだいかないで。) Satoru frowned.

*****

At home, Satoru walked into his room and when he inhaled your lingering scent, god, he burst into tears so loudly that Mint got startled. Suguru came to comfortingly rub his back as he wept like a dog.

"悟、泣かないで。"

He didn't cry as hard ever again as he did that day, and he never even told you.

*****

It's hard to imagine that summer could have ever ended, but it faded away like a sweet taste fading on his tongue.

Satoru woke up the morning without you, and it took him a few seconds to realize that — he felt his fingers over the pillow and slowly opened his eyes.

(ああ、もう会いたい。)

Puffy eyes, dry lips, he reached for his phone.

You hadn't replied yet — still on your flight home, high up in the air. Probably staring out the window. Hopefully thinking of him.

He checked your live flight status, and laid on the pillow as he watched it, forearm concealing his frown, and he just stayed like that for half an hour. Watching that tiny plane move on the screen, over so many countries.

He zoomed out, and felt stricken, as if he just realized how far you actually were from him. And you weren't even home yet, home was still hours away.

"Wake up, princess." Suguru knocked on Satoru's door, then barged in after Satoru let out an I’m awake noise. "I could sense your damp mood through the door." He said.

Satoru groaned, "She's still in the sky..."

Suguru dove into Satoru's unmade bed. "Don't frown so much, you'll get ugly frown wrinkles when you're old."

"Mhm."

They were watching your live flight for a few minutes in silence.

"Let’s look through photos."

So, they both laid there, looking through photos, mumbling amongst themselves about little things and missing you like they've never missed someone before.

Then Satoru let out a long breath, rolled onto his back, and hummed happily to himself.

"I kissed her. I actually kissed her.” He said, thinking of you.

"... oh really? That's crazy. Me too." Suguru teased sarcastically.

"Shut up, you."

Suguru just teased further, "The only way you'll get me to shut up is if you book her a flight back to Tokyo and let her use her lips to silence me."

"She'll kiss me before she kisses you next time she visits." Satoru said confidently.

"... bet?"

"Okay, bet!" Satoru flared up, "I bet all my savings, because I know she loves me more."

"Then say goodbye to your savings."

They go back and forth, getting competitive.

"... I'll kiss her harder." Suguru said.

"No, I'll kiss her harder." Satoru said.

"I'll kiss her dumb." Suguru said.

"I'll kiss her dumber!" Satoru said.

Mint fluffed her tail and stared at her noisy, bickering owners. Then she leaped off and went on her way to the washing machine.

𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

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♡ 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠

I do not permit the copying/reposting/translation/plagiarism of my works. Do not steal what I've worked hard to create.

This is fictional work.

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