#you don't have to fake it for any longer than that i promise

[the-woild-is-y-erster]

vent ig

no one in my family will hug me anymore. i dont think i said or did anything, and i take showers consistently every other day, so i know i dont smell bad.

but none of my friends are very tactile, and ive been too busy to see my boss

so i havent had a hug in two months, maybe more (not that ive been counting.)

and i think i'm going insane.

i havent had more than a hand on a shoulder, at most holding someone's hand for theater, and i'm going crazy because i need to be hugged i need to be held i need to be loved but i guess that isn't in the cards right now.

that's ok. i can wait a little longer, i guess.

[mondaymelon]

— "𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲, 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝘆𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱!!" ♥

:feat~ xiao, kazuha, heizou, scaramouche x gn!reader:

⤷ synopsis: ah, poor reader's crush won't notice them!! the solution? ask your guy friend to pretend to be your partner, and perhaps that'll get them jealous... except-!? ⤷ cw: fluff, highschool!au, possesive + overprotectiveness, ykyk the whole package

ᴛᴀɢʟɪꜱᴛ (open!) : @manager-of-the-pudding-bank, @iamdedinside, @ilyuu, @achlysis, @swivy123

"C'mon, just for one week...?"

"Have you finally gone mad?"

XIAO's words come out as more of a scoff, if anything. You can see the way that his expression forms a scowl that he's less than pleased at your suggestion. "You want me to fake date you for a week?"

Sheepish, you nod. "...Please?"

"Because you want your 'crush' to get jealous?" You don't get why he's put that in quotations, but you nod along, slightly confused. Xiao's expression only darkens, for some inexplicable reason. What, have you done something to offend him?

Desperate, you recall your last resort. "Well," you begin, voice unsteady as you try to sound as nonchalant as possible. With a shrug, you sigh. "If you're not willing, I can always find someone e-"

"I'll do it."

Ah, there was the Xiao you knew. Aloof, yes. Cold, yes. But not willing to admit he was inferior to anyone - especially when it regarded you.

So there, your plan was complete. Act like Xiao was your boyfriend, and then maybe they would finally notice you… except, why do you get the feeling that Xiao was forgetting his purpose?

It’s not anything major, not by a long shot, but you find it strange how he’s suddenly grown so clingy, as if pretending to be your partner somehow enhanced the relationship between the two of you. He walks you to every one of your classes, and insists on coming over to your house for study sessions, and while you don’t particularly dislike it, it is awkward, seeing him act so intimate even with no eyes watching.

But… this was all normal, right? He was just normalizing himself with his role, so there was nothing to concern yourself over. That’s what you chided to yourself whenever these moments occurred again and again, until one day, you accidentally brush hands with the male while trying to pass him some papers, and he practically jumps away from your touch. He doesn’t apologize afterwards, but you can see how he’s more cautious around you, sometimes catching his gaze lingering on you for far too long while a sheepish red creeps over his cheeks… and the way he glances at his own hand so gingerly is something peculiar all together.

However, none of that prepared you when the next week, the last day of the promised agreement, Xiao asks to talk to you. Alone.

“Xiao, what’s up?” He hasn’t spoken yet, and the silence is suffocating.

“Can we… not pretend any longer?”

And for a moment, everything seems to stop. Time itself halts as the only thing you can hear is your own shallow inhale and exhale. His voice cuts through the moment. “I’m tired of pretending, wanting something that isn’t mine. Something that I can never have.”

“Something… that can never be yours…?” It’s hard to speak, like something is in your throat, but you manage to.

“Yes. You.”

Ah, how could you not return his words when he gazes into your eyes with such adoration?

“...Xiao, it’s not entirely impossible.”

And the words that come out of your mouth aren’t lies, because you’ve felt the butterflies too. You wouldn’t think, a week prior, that you would’ve fallen for someone as distant as him, but the way he treated you so gently swayed your resolve. In a way, this outcome was inevitable.

Ha, but to think that Xiao, born from one of Liyue’s elite families, would confess to you like this, with such a flustered expression, eyes clouded with love? 

“Ah… then, if that’s the case, you’ll allow me this, won’t you?” 

There’s a hint of something strange in his tone, yet it’s left undeciphered as the male swiftly leans forward, one hand making its way behind you and keeping you steady as his lips meet yours. He’s pressed against you, close enough that you can feel his own heartbeats along yours, beating just as quickly. When he pulls away, one shaky hand manages to grab yours, grasp surprisingly strong.

“If you keep looking at me like that, I’ll have to kiss you again.” ♥

"...Ah? Sorry, I think I heard something different. Could you repeat that?"

You don't think KAZUHA has ever looked more perplexed as he stares at you, eyes wide and mouth slightly ajar as he tries his best to process your words. "So you..." His voice cracks, and he coughs into his fist. "You want me to be your fake boyfriend?"

"Just for one week..." You nod at his words, feeling a little awkward at your request. It wasn't too outlandish, was it? From the way Kazuha seems completely frozen, one would assume so... but it was a simple plan, even if it didn't work, it was worth trying, right?

It takes the white haired male a whole ten seconds to respond, which is already unusual in and of itself. He nods hesitantly, “I…I suppose I could.”

It surprises you how good of an actor he is, holding your hand without a second thought, inviting you out after school, waiting for you to pack up after classes and always following you to your next… sometimes you wonder if it’s even an act at all.

His touch seems too sincere, gaze too warm… and by the third day, your crush fades. Is it too hopeful to wish for something more in your relationship with Kazuha? Was it really so shameful? He treated you too tenderly to ignore, even if it was all just pretend… you wanted it to be real.

And maybe such thoughts were given an answer when, on a whim of carelessness, a small, folded up piece of paper fell from the male’s pocket as he waved goodbye, walking out of the classroom. Curious, you retrieved the paper, figuring you could give it back to him later… but you couldn’t resist just one peek. If it was really that private, he would’ve taken greater measures in ensuring its safety, wouldn’t he?

Ah, but what was written on the paper…well, to put it simply…

It was a poem, addressed to you. Professing his love, his adoration, his infatuation.

Words you were not meant to see, but ones you witnessed.

And when he comes to pick you up after class, wearing his usual serene smile, it’s almost as if you’re seeing him for the first time.

His crimson eyes seem to glitter when he spots you amongst the crowd, his entire expression brightening as he excitedly half-runs over with a slight flush on his cheeks. “There you are!” And just like always, he latches his hand upon yours, his grip comfortably tight.

Have his hands always been so warm?

“Dove, is something wrong?” The look of concern in his eyes is almost overwhelming. Something that can’t all just be a farce.

“Sorry.” Then, amidst the bustling crowd, you lean forward and give him a light peck on the cheek, pulling away as you watch his features grow slack with shock, cheeks reddening as he lightly squeezes your hand.

“W- Oh, does this mean…” His voice has gained a hopeful edge as a smile graces his lips. “C’mon dove, you missed. Here, let me show you how…”

And then he embraces you tightly, and you can feel his bashful warmth spreading into your body as his soft lips meet yours in the mere span of seconds, engulfing you with a sense of affection that you had never felt before.

“K-Kazuha… I…” It’s hard to get words out, with how loud your heart is beating in your ears - but there’s no need to, as the male shushes you with a smile playing on his lips.

“There’s no need to explain, I already understand. Besides, I was getting tired of playing pretend all the same.” ♥

"Haha, never expected to hear those words from you..."

HEIZOU looks rather calm, which is odd, about the entire situation, laughing quietly to himself before turning to you with a rather smug expression. "What, you want me to be your 'boyfriend' for a week?"

"Mhm..." You do suppose he's likely heard of stranger requests before, given the part-time detective work he does.

"Hmm..." Even though it seems like he's already made up his mind, he still playfully puffs out his cheeks, squinting his eyes at the distance as if that'll help his decision making skills in any way. "What'd I get in return, though?"

"...Eh? Uhm..." While Heizou was one of the more eccentric people you were acquainted with, you hadn't expected that he'd ask for something in return. "...A kiss?"

You were joking, but somehow, that made the male perk up. "Sure, sounds like a fair trade to me."

Well… if he was satisfied, then all was fine, right?

Except, with the promise of a kiss in tow, why does he seem so much more… full of vigor? That wasn’t natural, was it?

It’s easy to dismiss things you don’t see, but not when it’s clearly witnessed. Every little action he did, accompanied with a smirk, would be followed with a smug little something along the lines of, “I can’t wait for the kiss,” or “Your kiss will make this all worth it~!” And even whenever he loosely held your hand, he would glance at you and make a puckering motion with his lips.

At that point, calling his actions “normal” would just be lying to yourself.

“So, how’d it go?” Heizou glances up at you with tentative emerald eyes as you near him, something in his gaze that you can’t quite describe.

“All they said was ‘congrats on finding a partner.’” You sigh, slumping as you stand next to him, sliding down the wall before sitting on the floor, knees hugged to your chest. “I think they're dating someone else… ah, how could this be? I’ve had a crush on them for years, yet…”  Another long sigh escapes your lips.

At the edge of your vision, you can see a certain male staring at you with a faint smile on his face, growing subtly wider with each word that leaves your mouth.

“Heh, seems like my love has run fresh out of fortune~!” His voice lilts, and you can hear the smirk residing in hsi tone as you flinch at the use of a petname. “Aw, it’s really too bad, isn’t it…” He’d almost look convincing if he wiped the jeering grin off his face.

“What are you…” Your voice trails off as Heizou sits on the ground next to you, mimicking your posture while placing his hand over yours.

“You promised me a kiss, didn’t you?”

Curses. That, you did.

“...Ah, were you serious about that?” You laugh awkwardly, but his expression doesn’t change.

“Were you not?” He counters instantaneously, his smug expression not budging an inch. “I never knew you were so unfaithful in keeping promises… I can’t help but feel disappointed.”

Then he pouts, eyes glimmering as he gives you the puppy eyes, albeit a little cursed. And just like that, you can feel your resolve shatter, crumpling like a piece of wet paper mache. An odd metaphor, but it seemed to fit the current predicament. With a groan of… embarrassment? Exasperation? You finally agree, grumbling, “Ah, let’s just get this over with.”

“Ready when you are~!”

Awkwardly… hesitantly, you lean forward, give him a light peck on the cheek, and retract as fast as humanly possible. Heizou only laughs at your antics, “You call that a kiss?”

“What, do you have any complaints?” You can’t help the snarky edge that makes its way into your voice.

“Perhaps a few.” The male smirks, scooching closer to you so that the two of you are uncomfortably close. “Why don’t I show you what a true kiss looks like?”

He doesn’t wait for your answer, he doesn’t have to - he just swiftly moves in, one hand on your chin as he moves your mouth onto his. You can feel the sneer against your lips as he engulfs you into one kiss, then another. It seems like an eternity before he pulls away, and when he does, your left panting, face flushed with red. 

“Hah… I-” Archons, why did he look so handsome right now? With his slightly dishiveled burgundy hair that framed his face so immaculately, the way his spring eyes glimmered with the slightest hint of mischief, and the way the corners of his mouth turned upwards with a satisfied air.

“No need to thank me for my services, but if you’d like to repay me…” He recovers quicker than you do, his smile not flickering from his face, not even once. 

“Why don’t you repay me with a date?” ♥

"Hahaha- oh. Wait, you aren't joking? Ugh, who do you take me for?"

The instant SCARAMOUCHE realizes you aren't jesting, his smile drops, and it's replaced with a look of absolute denial... or maybe it's repulsion?

Either way, he looks displeased, and his gaze towards you is one as if he's glaring at an annoyingly loud fly. Or maybe a worm, like he always likes to say to people he particularly dislikes, cursing "lowly worms" under his breath when he passes them in the hallways.

"Are you crazy? Delusional? Oh, I get it, you ate something weird." He lifts his eyebrow at you, frown deepening with every word. When he notices that you don't admit to any of them, his eyes go wide. "...You're being serious."

“Yes…?” The way he’s acting makes you nervous. “C’mon, please? Just for one week…”

“...How unfortunate… the way you’re acting so desperate is kind of disgusting… but if you insist…” Scaramouche glowers, but eventually loosens his expression. "Let's make it quick."

He's a bit of a strange boyfriend, to say the least, barely holds your hand, and when he does, it's only when people are around. He's not exactly polite in his affection either, whenever he's latched onto you, he'll stick his tongue out at anyone and all who passes by you two, giving any sort of strange look.

He may or may not tone his antics down if you ask him too, but likely not. Why should he give a shit about what you think, or what others think? He's stronger - if they want a fight, he'll give it to them.

And when your crush eventually never returns the jealousy you were wishing for, it's disappointing, to say the least, but the only words Scaramouche have to say about it are: "They didn't deserve you anyway, the fool."

...Wait, was he the one that sounded jealous, now?

Perhaps you were hearing things.

Except...

"Hey, the week's over, isn't it?" Scaramouche sounds disinterested, but the way his gaze is fixated on you says otherwise. "Our little 'dating scheme' is finally over." You note the slightest hint of remorse in his voice.

"So it is." You don't glance up at him, continuing to scroll through your homefeed.

"Does that mean we're dating for real now?"

"...What?"

He lets out a sound that's a mix between a laugh and a scoff. "You tell me."

"Aren't we, now that we aren't faking it anymore?" ♥

(a/n) oops i made heizou's part too long and scara's too short whoopsies

[barcaatthemoon]

down for the count || barcelona x teen!reader ||

you take a bad hit during a game.

some things weren't meant to be joked about. you knew that you could be a bit dramatic, often treating little things like they were big deals. you weren't sure when it had become funny to you to see the look of concern on your teammates' faces whenever you'd go down for a few seconds too long before they realized that you were fine. you knew that it wasn't really funny, but you liked having the knowledge that someone genuinely cared for you.

el classico matches were big deals, and jonatan made you promise to be on your best behavior if you wanted to start. mapi was out on injury, so she wouldn't be there to spur you on towards trouble. everybody seemed to understand the impact of this particular match, it was alexia's first el classico since her injury.

"good luck today, la reina." your tone was cheery and playful, usually something the girls knew meant trouble. however, you genuinely were trying to be on your best behavior. none of them mentioned it, but you could feel them watching you closely throughout the warm ups.

the game iself wasn't what you had expected. you had played in big matches before, where tensions were high and players tended to be a bit aggressive. several girls had nearly trucked through you, and the refs didn't seem to be paying much attention of any of it. you were getting frustrated, and the playfulness from before faded away. the girls were still watching you, but they weren't paying enough attention to notice the switch.

you took a shot that was knocked out of bounds by the keeper, resulting in a corner. you thought your position was good, near the goal, but a bit further away from defenders and misa. she had been putting in the work to block your shots, even going as far as complimenting you on your progress during half-time.

"it's up!" you shouted as you jumped up to head the ball in. you felt something collide with your stomach, knocking you backwards before you could hit the ball. your body was shot back a few feet. alexia had always nagged you about your positioning during corners, claiming that it tended to be in dangerous spots. as you flew backwards towards the goal post, you realized just what she meant.

your head hit the post with a sickening crack. it wasn't a thud, and you didn't move an inch. misa immediately moved to crouch down next to you. she didn't know what to do, but anger filled her as she realized that none of your teammates were coming over to check on you. they all assumed that you were faking it. it wasn't until you hadn't moved for a couple of minutes that any of them sprung into action.

ingrid was the first one by your side. she knelt down next to you and gently moved your head to see where it hit. a wave of nausea washed over her as she saw the blood dripping out from the back of your head. if it wasn't for the small, shallow breaths, ingrid would have thought you were dead.

"pequena, come on, wake up," ingrid pleaded with you. alexia was the next one by your side. it took every ounce of her strength not to just break down as she looked at you. "she's not moving alexia. i don't know what to do."

"we have to let them take her. she'll probably wake up at the hospital," alexia said. it was more for herself than ingrid. she didn't want to finish the game anymore. alexia didn't want to do anything until she knew that you were alright. there wasn't a player on the field who wasn't in some form of distress over what they saw happen to you. for a moment, the whole world seemed to care about you, but you weren't awake to see it.

…

it took nearly two days for you to stablize, and even longer for you to wake up. your parents had stopped by, but only briefly. they had been back in barcelona on business when the game was going on. it was a lucky break that they had been able to show up, despite the fact that you were their only child.

alexia was sickened by the way they dismissed you, even as you laid there in a coma. she may have been the most strict with you and always at her wit's end with your pranks, but alexia loved you. she wanted to protect you, and seeing you in the hospital bed killed her. still, she didn't let herself break down in fear that you'd wake up to see her like that.

"it's been nearly a week," lucy said as she glanced at your bed. "have they said anything?"

"the swelling in her brain is still going down. they've only just been able to go in and repair the damage to her skull. we're all lucky that she didn't hit her head in any other spot or she'd be dead," alexia said. she was just repeating what the doctor had rattled off in rapid spanish back to her english teammate. you had always been fond of lucy, and so lucy decided that she'd stay in your hospital room with you.

"she'll make it out of this, alexia. (y/n), she's a tough little brat," lucy said. alexia needed the reassurance almost as much as she needed you to wake up.

"thank you." alexia reached out to hold lucy's hand. it was as she started to pull hers out of yours that she felt movement. you tried to squeeze her hand and pull it back towards you as you stirred in your sleep. alexia didn't want to get too excited, but lucy shot straight up from her seat.

"(y/n), are you awake?" you heard lucy's voice, but it sounded muffled and a bit echoed. alexia leaned closer towards you as your eyes fluttered open. you let out a small groan at all of the bright lights and your body's sudden discomfort. your head hurt in a way that sent waves of pain all over your body.

"ale, i hurt," you whined. alexia had tried so hard to keep herself composed, and for the most part, it had worked. however, the moment that you looked at her with pain and confusion in your eyes, the dam broke. alexia's head shot down to rest against the side of your bed, but you could tell from the way that her body shook that she was crying. "ale?"

"it's okay, (y/n), she needs this. i'll be right back, okay? i have to get the doctors and call the team," lucy said. you nodded, obviously not going anywhere. lucy was back fairly quickly, and alexia was rushed outside as the doctors caught you up on what happened and ran a few tests. by the time that they were finished, the majority of the team had arrived and were all packed into your room.

"i am glad that you're okay," alexia said as she took your hand in hers. it had taken a couple of hours for the team to stop doting on you, but now things felt normal again. you felt like you were in the locker room, with the exception of alexia, who hadn't left your side. "you scared us all back there… including me. especially me, actually. i'm so sorry that i wasn't there sooner, i don't know what i would have done if you'd…"

"i'm fine, alexia, so you don't have to think like that. mapi's taking me back with her because my parents just left for america and won't be back for another six months. ingrid will be practically begging you for help supervising us," you said with a smile. alexia cracked a small one as well. she was a little fuzzy on the details of your relation to mapi, as was everybody, but the woman had always treated you like her little sister. all anybody needed to know was that you were her family, and all you needed to know was that mapi would always be there for you.

[badbtssmut]

no. 20

Jealous bestfriend taehyung pounding hard in oc when he saw her having sex with her boyfriend in her room. He manipulates her by telling that he is "making sure she will fuck her bf nicer than before" . Innocent oc. She is crying as she knows it's wrong but she still can't help but get used by him.

Dubcon warning: Reader isn’t sure about this at times, feels guilt towards her boyfriend, Taehyung is being pushy and controlling, she knows she shouldn’t but also doesn’t tell him no, reader cries because she feels guilty

-

“That loser couldn’t even make you orgasm, how pathetic.” Your best friend mocked your boyfriend, and embarrassment crept up your face. It was true, your boyfriend was the sweetest man ever but he couldn’t manage to give that ‘wow’ factor in bed.. it was always just so… plain. But you loved each other and that was all that mattered.

”T-that’s not true!” You denied, at which Taehyung chuckled.

“Don’t you dare and lie, I saw it yesterday. I bet those moans of yours were fake too. He was barely doing anything yet you were screaming as if you were having the best time ever.” Taehyung mocked further as he took off his belt.

“Taehyung, I think it’s better that you leave…” You avoided his gaze— you never asked something like this out of Taehyung. He had always been the pushy and controlling type of friend, but things were different. You had a boyfriend now.

“No.” His voice was firm as he stood at the edge of your bed, towering over you. Your eyes wandered to his crotch and you couldn't help but feel a little tingle down there when you saw his growing bulge.

You swallowed the lump that had formed in your throat and looked up at him. His gaze was stern as he slowly lowered his jeans, his bulge now only hidden by the thin fabric of his boxers.

“I will make sure that I will fuck you nicer than he had ever done, I promise. And you know that I don't break my promises, right?~” He spoke softly and crawled over you, his knees now on each side of your thighs. You could feel your panties getting soaked.

Your body betrayed you as your mind told you that this was terribly wrong. This wasn’t okay, but then why were you letting him do this?

His hand grabbed the hem of your panties and pulled them down in one swift motion.

Taehyung held onto his cock as he scooted closer to you and slowly teased his tip up and down your folds.

You whimpered. "Tae... I can't... I have a boyfriend." You hated how weak your voice sounded, you fucking hated how your body didn’t allow you to get up and walk away, or push Taehyung off you.

He ignored you and pressed his tip against your clit, slowly rubbing circles against it.

"You don't seem to hate it though.." he mused as he slid his tip along your pussy, smearing your juices around. You were too far gone now to say no, you were too caught up in the moment to think about what was right and wrong.

Taehyung didn’t want to tease you any longer, and you could hear a soft grunt from his mouth as he pushed his length deep inside of you. You gasped at the sensation, feeling him fill you up in ways you have never been filled up.

He leaned down, his arms resting beside your head, and slowly thrusted his hips back and forth.

“O-oh!” You breathed out, avoiding his eyes out of pure embarrassment, as you felt his cock sliding in and out of you.

You couldn’t deny how good it felt, and how much better it felt than sex with your boyfriend. Taehyung was experienced, he knew exactly how to use his dick and he didn't even have to thrust hard to make you moan.

You wrapped your legs around his waist, pulling him closer, and he responded by pushing his cock deeper inside of you, hitting all the right places.

“Fuck, he has such a sweet pussy to himself yet he doesn’t know how to handle it, what a shame.” He murmured in your ear. “If I was your boyfriend, I’d be balls deep inside of you every single night, not wasting a second not having my cock in your tight pussy, making you come multiple times until you are begging me to stop.”

A shiver ran through your spine as you listened to his words, imagining all those scenarios in your head. You couldn’t deny that it made you even more aroused, and your juices started running down the length of his dick.

“Fuck, if only he knew that his girlfriend was being fucked like this, he would be heartbroken. And I know how much you love him, but he isn't the one that makes you feel like this, is he?”

There was something about Taehyung’s words that made you feel immense guilt, and tears welled up before they dragged down your face. You turned your head away, avoiding his eyes and hiding how good he made you feel.

He continued his pace, the room now filled with your moans and the sounds of his dick thrusting into you. It was embarrassing how much you were enjoying yourself, and your walls tightened around him.

You started to sob, feeling for your boyfriend but also hating how you just couldn’t stop. How you didn’t wanted to stop— Taehyung’s cock held you in a chokehold and your mind was filled with how badly you wanted it.

Taehyung noticed your tears and he forced you to look at him. His thumb brushed over your cheek as he leaned down to kiss you, his tongue sliding in your mouth. You didn’t even try to resist him, and you kissed him back.

“Don’t worry, he doesn’t need to know.” You weren’t sure if he was trying to comfort you or make it even worse for you. You knew you had a boyfriend, but here you were, being fucked by your best friend who knew how to give you more pleasure in a couple of minutes than your boyfriend had managed in an entire night. Your tears didn’t stop coming and you sobbed a few times, thinking all of this was so wrong.

"Such a shame such a good pussy is going to waste…” Taehyung kissed your neck before pulling away.

He was getting close, and so were you. Your hands were gripping onto the sheets underneath you, your knuckles white as you felt him thrust into you, your eyes squeezed shut and mouth agape.

"I need to cum in you, your little boyfriend didn’t even give you his cum last night, did he?" Taehyung groaned, the sound of his balls slapping against your ass driving you insane.

"No..." You breathed out, unable to speak further than that.

"What a shame, you love cum, don't you?" He smirked, and you nodded.

"Please.." you begged, unsure what for. For him to cum, or for him to stop.

“Mm, I am doing much better than your boyfriend, aren’t I?” He cooed and you nodded, giving in to him.

"Yes!" You whimpered, and he picked up the pace.

"Yeah, that's what I thought, I'll show you what a real man does." he grunted, his hips slamming into you harder, your tits bouncing as he did.

You tilted your head back. “Ah! Ah!” Your voice was louder than ever before, your orgasm building up quickly, before you came undone, your body trembling.

Taehyung wasn’t holding back and his dick twitched inside of you, your walls milking him dry. He kept his cock buried deep inside of you, releasing his hot, thick cum into you, some of it dripping out of your cunt.

"Such a good girl." He whispered and gave you a gentle kiss, a kiss that was completely different than the previous ones. Taehyung got dressed and got off your bed, and then left your room, as if nothing had happened.

[worksby-d]

They Can't Take What's Ours

Pairing: Andy Barber x fem!Reader

Summary: You overhear some people talking about your and Andy’s relationship and you don't want Andy seeing that it bothered you, but he's too attentive. 

Warnings: Age gap, established relationship, terrible coworkers, hurt/comfort-type vibes, sooo soft. 

Word count: ~2,200

a/n: A lovely anon asked if I could write something inspired by Ours - Taylor Swift so this is my take on that <3

Divider by @.saradika

Your hurried steps come to a pause right outside the door to Andy’s office. Closing your eyes, you take a deep breath in, but can’t get yourself to let out more than a few shallow ones. 

Normally you’d be elated to have an excuse to see him for a few seconds in the middle of the day, but you know as soon as you walk in his face will drop. You can only conceal so much from him. He knows you too well and will see your bad day written all over your face, even if you are somehow able to muster a fake smile real quick.

Walk in, grab what you need, and walk out, you tell yourself. 

Someone turning the corner into the hallway you’re stalling in is your final push to finally walk in so no one else passes you and wonders what you’re doing outside his office.

Your eyes are on the ground, but you hear his voice, telling you he’s on the phone. You’re able to let out a discreet breath of relief as you reach for the file you came for and quickly turn to walk back out. 

The doorway is within reach when you hear him tell whoever’s on the other end of the call that he needs to put them on hold for just a moment. 

“Y/N?” 

It’s not like you to be in such a hurry with him. He caught a glimpse of your face and just needs to know you're okay. 

Overly conscious of the fact anyone could be in earshot, you answer with, “Yeah, Mr. Barber?” 

He knows for certain now that something's off since you didn't just use his first name. There’s zero reason for the formality right now. 

You avoid turning back to him, but he’s a step ahead of you, making his way across the room to gently grab you before you can walk out. He swiftly closes the door so there's no chance of anyone seeing you guys. 

“Stay, please,” he asks, letting go of you for just a second so he can step back to his desk to pick the phone back up and let them know he has to call them back. 

He waves his hand for you to follow him into the meeting room connected to his office for a better sense of privacy. 

“What's wrong?” 

The concern lacing his voice makes you feel bad, and you know he'll stand here with you all day if he has to to get something out of you. 

“I'm fine,” is the best you can offer.

You haven't allowed your eyes to meet his once though. He brings a hand up, using his fingers to gently move your head so you're finally looking at him. Your eyes look puffy and your makeup looks different than it did this morning, like some has been rubbed off. 

“Have you been crying?” 

“Can we talk about it later, please?” 

He pauses. He doesn't want to wait until later. He wants to help make you feel better now.

“I promise I'm fine, I just need to get back to work.” 

A small defeated frown tugs at his lips. 

“Okay… Later,” he says softly, but it's stern too. He’ll hold you to that. 

He leans to give you a quick kiss before walking you out, but you turn your face so his lips land on your cheek.

He holds back from pressing it any longer though, following as you walk out so he can open his door for you. 

“Meet me back here later so we can decide where to have dinner tonight?” 

“Sure,” you nod, forcing a small smile before leaving. 

He’s never ready to leave on time, so you walk into his office quietly when you come back at the end of the day, not wanting to interrupt anything. 

“Hey…” You speak softly to get his attention. 

He looks up right away, greeting you with a smile. “Hey, sweetheart.”

His glance lingers, taking in the sight of you looking better than when he last saw you. Your eyes aren’t swollen anymore and you’re not so tensed up.

“I knew you wouldn’t be ready to go yet,” you laugh a little, closing the door behind you before making your way across the room to sit on his lap. 

“You know me so well,” he teases. “I’m almost done, I promise.”

Truthfully, he’s not getting any closer to being done, only pretending to finish up while he waits for you to address the elephant in the room. 

When you don’t say anything, he breaks the silence for you. 

“It’s later… You wanna talk about it?” 

You shake your head, letting out a short laugh. “Not really.”

He has a hand resting on your thigh, holding you in place. He strokes his thumb gently telling you he’s ready to listen. 

“I overheard some people talking about us today when I walked by one of the breakrooms,” you start. 

Finally looking into his eyes, you expect him to start asking questions, but his brows just knit together, waiting for you to go on. 

“About how they don’t get us, assuming I’m somehow using you,” you recall. You wish you would have just walked away, but you couldn’t. “And something about you not being able to date anyone closer to your age because no one older than me would put up with your baggage, or whatever.”

“Who?” He asks quietly, but he sounds serious. “I’ll take care of it–”

“No, please,” you beg softly. “That’ll make it worse.”

“I don’t want anyone around here making you cry.”

“I know,” you chuckle, sniffling a little. “But you doing anything would just give them more to talk about.”

The look on his face softens, and he brings a hand up to wipe a few tears that escaped off your cheeks. 

“It’s not like we’re all over each other. It just caught me off guard to hear anyone talking about us, I guess. I don’t know why they would be…”

You’re both conscious about keeping your relationship private at work. You’re aware that most people probably know you’re together since you come in together and show up to events together. But most days you go without seeing each other at all until you meet like this to go back home at the end of the day.

“Sounds like they need more work to do if standing around talking about other people in the building fits into their schedules…”

“Andy,” you laugh a little, shaking your head at him. “It’s okay. I don’t know why it bothered me so much.”

He lets it go, pressing a kiss to the side of your forehead. 

“I know what it’s like to hear people talking behind your back…” He says softly.

Of course he does. Anything you heard is minuscule compared to what he’s probably dealt with before. 

He kisses the sympathetic look off your face. “I know what’ll make you feel better though.”

His hand leaves your leg so he can reach into one of his pockets, pulling out your engagement ring. He only proposed a couple days ago and you haven’t worn your ring at work yet, but you ask him to hold onto it for you so it’s not laying at home. 

“Can I give this back to you?”

“Yes please,” you giggle, holding out your hand for it. 

But he insists on putting it on your finger for you. “Let me.”

You smile at the diamonds glistening back at you, but it quickly fades as you look back up at him. 

“I’m sorry I don’t wear it here yet,” you whisper.

“You don’t have to,” he shakes his head. “It’s okay.”

He knows it’s not insecurity about your relationship. Your yes when he asked you to marry him a few days ago came out faster than he could have ever hoped for. It doesn’t cross his mind to question you over leaving it off just these few hours each day. He knows you like to keep things private, that you’ve never been one to overshare at work. It’s a wonder how he somehow broke through your guarded exterior all those months ago and became such a big part of your life. 

“I love you.” You kiss his cheek and move to get up. “I’ll let you finish up.”

“No, this can wait,” he says, quickly tidying up his desk, and gets up behind you. “Let’s get out of here.”

Your hand instinctively finds his, intertwining your fingers as you walk out together. You freeze for a split second though. “Oh– We didn’t decide on dinner…”

“I got it figured out,” he assures, giving your hand a squeeze to keep you walking. 

The car is quiet as he drives, your exhaustion from the day setting in now that you've gotten away from work. You let your heavy eyelids fall closed, only as a means of resting your eyes, but the way you jump when you feel Andy’s hand on your shoulder, you figure you did accidentally fall into a light sleep. 

“We’re here.” He gently shakes your shoulder before getting out of the car so he can walk around to open your door for you. 

You kind of knew where he was taking you based on the direction he headed when you left work. 

Luckily, he and you share a favorite restaurant. You frequent it as often as you can, the staff always joking that you're keeping them in business each time you walk in the door. 

You know something is up when the hostess at the front doesn't walk you to a table though.

“I know where we're going,” Andy winks at her and she just smiles, laughing at the questioning look you flash at each of them. 

He swaps which hand he's using to hold yours so his other can rest on your lower back as he guides you to one of the secluded corners. None of the tables are being used except one that’s set nicely with some candles and already has glasses of water and appetizers on it. 

“Is this for us?” 

Andy laughs at how you do that thing again where you stop in your tracks and he gets tugged back too because he's holding your hand. 

“How did you do this?” 

“I asked them very nicely and promised a lot of big tips for everyone who helped set it up,” he explains, pulling you closer to wrap his arms around you. “I called shortly after you were in my office earlier. I just wanted a nice evening alone with you.” 

“You're crazy,” you whisper against his chest, letting out a small laugh. 

“Maybe,” he teases, dropping his hands from your back to grab yours again to bring you to the table. 

You pull him into the same side of the booth with you before he can pretend he doesn't want to. 

As soon as you're settled, a waiter is greeting you guys, helping move the plate and set of silverware on the other side of the table to the side you're both on. 

“Can I get either of you something else to drink?” 

“Uh, yes,” you chuckle, definitely in need of alcohol after the day you had. 

Andy orders a drink too and expects the waiter to walk away right away, but he looks back to you. 

“Could I see your I.D. quick, miss?” 

“Oh! Yeah–” You have to dig through your bag to find it. 

“You don't wanna see mine?” Andy scoffs, joking with him. “What are you saying, man?” 

“I mean, if you wanna show me yours too…” He laughs, holding up his hands as if to say by all means. “But I believe you.” 

“Unbelievable–” 

You playfully swat at Andy. “Leave him alone.”

Reaching across with your card, you tell the guy to ignore the pity party he's throwing.

He likes to joke about these things, but you can tell he goes through small bouts of seriously realizing he's getting older. 

“Don't pout,” you tease, bringing a hand up to his face to physically turn his frown upside down. 

“I'm not,” he grumbles quietly.

He pulls you closer and you rest your head on his shoulder, feeling completely relaxed for the first time today. 

“You know what bothers me the most, right?” You break the moment of silence by reflecting on why you were so upset today. “I thought about it on the way here.” 

“What is it?” 

“It's not about people talking about our relationship,” you shake your head. “I know what we have and it's nobody else’s business. But I hate hearing anyone’s negative thoughts like that about you. You're the nicest, kindest guy and it hurts to hear anyone doubt that or doubt that I'm the luckiest person in the world for being with you.”

“I do have baggage though…” He tries to joke. 

“But that doesn't matter,” you chuckle. “Everyone does.” 

“Don't you worry your pretty little mind about me,” he whispers, turning enough to urge you to lift your head off of him. “I don't care what they say.” 

“I love you,” you smile, leaning to give him a kiss. 

“I love you, too.” 

Tag list: @patzammit @thummbelina @pppsssyyyccchhhiiiccc @astheskycries @chris-evans-indian-fanfic @la-cey @turtoix @harrysthiccthighss @tvckerlance @rocketrhap3000 @mrspeacem1nusone @murdcox @geminievans1 @doozywoozy @americasass91 @dwights-new-plague @wwwmarissa92 @redhairedfeistynerd @whxre4cevans @aubreeskailynn @white-wolf1940 @melchills-j @xoxabs88xox @before-we-get-started @chrissquares @christowhore @ice-dtae @mariestark @justile @rogersbarber @dilfbarber @livstilinski @payperhearts @vintagestarlight @gitasor @chaeycunty @miss-ariella @bemysugarbean @t-stark35 @seitmai @reginaphalange2403 @raelorns21 @mrsgweasley @pandaxnienke @brandycranby

[obeymematches]

Can I request the brothers reacting to mc saying i love you to them for the first time.

yessssss ❤️

Saying "I love you" for the first time

Lucifer:

You have been dating for months and you are yet to tell him you love him. It doesn't matter as your actions tell him every single day about your devotion. In your defense, he is also too proud to say it out loud. Maybe you two deserve each other after all, Just Say It Already, Damn. Today he could manage to take you out for dinner, ushered you home and made sure you felt good&loved, if you know what I mean. You were laying on your side, your hand holding your head up as he was getting under the blanket to put himself away.

"I love you, Lucifer. Thank you for today, I enjoyed every minute."

"I'm so glad. I love you too, y/n."

Now that it is finally over, he will be sure to remind you every day; he loves you, most ardently.

Mammon:

You were taking a stroll around town with him; you were a little tipsy which made you a little braver than usual. He took you to a place up top, where you could see the entire city from.

-Careful y/n, anything you say here echoes in the city, so keep quiet!

- Nu-uh, stop being so silly, no way it echoes here... see... I LOVE YOU MAMMON!

-What- Shhh- Human what you doing- damnit-

-Want me to do it again?

-....... you kidding me? sure but... this time only I wanna hear it.

Before you had the chance to say it again his lips were already on yours, his arms pulling you really close to him. (It did, in fact, echo on that part.)

Leviathan:

It was time for the annual cuddle break from his game. It took him weeks to get this comfortable with you, he sure did believe you were faking everything to prank him, for days. It took you consistent effort to prove him otherwise; that's why you were careful not to say it too soon. His head was laying on your chest, all was quiet for a second, both of you feeling peace surrounding you for once. Perfect timing.

"I love you." Then there was silence. You felt him squeeze you a bit, as if you could get any closer to him. He mumbled something you couldn't catch.

Satan:

He took you out to a local cat coffee. The date went really well, the cats were playful and the company was perfect. On the way home it started to rain; you might have stayed longer in the coffee than you intended, so of course you got caught. Thankfully he had an umbrella on him; you suspect he was expecting this situation to happen. You scooted very close to him to fit under his only umbrella. He haven't said anything for a couple of minutes when you broke the silence.

"I love you so much."

His steps slowed down a bit, turning himself to look at you.

"And I love you even more." He gave you a quick kiss on your forehead.

Asmodeus:

He had a long day today, he had to buy new clothes; the new season is here and he must keep up with fashion! You were at his room as he was giving you a spontaneous catwalk show in his new clothes. Of course he looked adorable in everything. You were sitting there cheering him on, - Another 10/10, you look so stunning Asmo!

- You think so? Don't you think green would look better on me?

- Oh come on now. You are breathtaking in every color. I love you.

He smiled, a very genuine smile in fact, and didn't hesitate to kiss you then and there.

Beelzebub:

He was strong enough to pull you closer to him as you were just a bit too far, both of you on the couch of the Common Room, watching a comedy. He kept stealing short kisses from you the entire time, needing your touch the most.

"I love you, you know." You could swear you saw his eyes tear up just a little bit.

"I love you too." He made sure you wouldn't see his face for the rest of the movie. Was extra cuddly with you that night.

Belphegor:

Today was awful for you and at this point all you wanted was a nap with your favourite person here. He promised to help you fall asleep; laying behind you he was stroking your hair from the front to the back, slowly and carefully. You were almost asleep when you quietly muttered;

"I love you." You couldn't see his expression but you sure heard a giggle from him.

"I love you too. Now, just relax and fall asleep."

[k-dokja]

Sex with dominant Daniel pls👹 most times I see him written tbh Hess really subby

😤 As an advocate of top Daniel, I got you ✊

NSFW under the cut. AFAB reader.

"Sweetheart, you're shivering," Daniel's concern is evident but all you can feel is the hotness of his breath on your pussy. He licks his lips while looking up at you from between your legs, trailing his tongue up the length of your folds. "Are you feeling all right? Do we need a break?"

"Hnng... aah..."

You want to smack his head and tell him to throw his fake concern out of the window. If it was any other situation, you'd have believed his worry to be genuine, but Daniel continues to stroke your inner walls while feigning apprehension about your current state.

When your lips part in a feeble attempt to answer him, his fingers curl and rub directly into the sensitive spot inside you. You choke back on a gasp, and he chuckles. "If you have a problem, you have to tell me," he murmurs as his slender fingers wrap around the soft curves of your breast, "I can't know if you don't tell me anything."

Your fingers crutch on his arm, but he doesn't show any sign of stopping. Daniel hums before taking your nipple into his mouth, suckling gently on the hardened bud, flicking it with his tongue. His hand never stops moving inside you, keeping an even rhythm while he pumps his fingers deep into you.

His teeth graze your nipple, pulling back with a pop. He places a soft kiss on the valley of your breast, his thumb idly circles your clit while Daniel appraises you with half-lidded eyes. He sits back on his haunches, sliding his hand down the side of your hip and slipping under you to grab your soft ass.

You hate how utterly benevolent he looks while reducing you into a shuddering mess, each one of his movements was deliberated to reduce your every sense down to him. "Look at how much you're dripping on me already, what am I going to do with you..."

Daniel slides his fingers out of you, filling the air with squelching noises. He sucks his digits clean of your essence before grabbing your thigh, pulling you flush against his lower half. His erection brushes against your thigh. The warmth of his cock makes your breath hitch.

Despite his nonchalant attitude, he has gotten so hard that his precum smears your skin, mixing with the essence coating your slit. "Can you last for another round?" He smiles softly at you. His gentle finger brushes aside the damp hair sticking to your forehead. The kindness in his eyes is almost warm, but it's nothing compared to the heat of arousal he has ignited in you.

His cock continues to slide over your folds while he grinds into you, not quite slipping in just yet.

"Daniel..." You whine, pressing up against him, desperate for his thick length to fill you up. "Don't tease..."

He laughs. The sound is angelic but nothing is reassuring about the way he presses down on you. Daniel nuzzles the side of your neck, spreading your legs open wider. Your breath catches in your throat as the tip of his cock slots into your slick hole.

"Just trying to be mindful of your state," he nibbles on the sensitive skin of your neck, smiling against your skin. "After all, there's still another one waiting to have his way with you~"

Daniel drives into you with a smooth stroke, filling you completely. Your walls take him up to the base, holding up no resistance to his intrusion. A broken moan rips out of your throat. You cling on his back, holding onto him with a shuddering cry.

One of him is already so much. Your mind is washed over by white-hot bliss when Daniel settles into a steady rhythm inside. He always starts slow and soft, you have half an idea that he does it more to frustrate than excite you.

But that frustration gives you a moment of clarity. Your breaths grow uneven, but you are no longer mad with craving while he maintains his pace. You glance at the other side of the room where another body lies dormant, asleep but not really. It's a promise of what's to come when the current him exhausts his stamina... if that ever happens.

Daniel seizes your mouth with his soft lips before you can linger on the thought for too long. His tongue overwhelms you with urgent caresses, giving you only a sliver of a chance to resist. Not that you manage to capture it in this lust-addled state.

"Focus, sweetheart," he kisses the side of your jaw, trailing his lips down the side of your neck, "you can have your dessert later."

If you had any strength left, you'd have scoffed. In your current state, the only one who will become dessert is you. And Daniel knows it, too, from the way his lips curve into a smile against your lips.

[lumpsbumpsandwhumps]

Love love love fake-outs in whump because there's just so many angst potentials ranging from "oh no :(" to "oh my fucking god"

Whumpee finally managing to escape, running as fast as their legs will carry them right into the arms of Caretaker who tearfully tells them they'll never lose them again...only to wake up and realize it had been a delirious dream from blood loss

Someone coming across Whumpee who begs them for help, pleading for rescue, and this poor stranger is so startled and hurriedly assures Whumpee that everything will be okay, they won't let anything happen to them, they'll call the police and...haha, sorry, couldn't keep a straight face any longer. Whumper, did you get all that? Send me a picture of that face, it's too priceless.

Caretaker has finally found Whumpee after so long and are working on getting the shackles off, whispering soft praises and promises that everything is all over now, there's nothing to be afraid of because Whumper is...well, they thought Whumper was dead, but apparently they had just enough strength to come up behind Caretaker and slit their throat

Whumpee has been rescued from their hell, picked up by a kind stranger who's none to happy to hear about Whumper's antics, but don't worry, Whumpee will never have to experience that kind of torment again...because what their new captor has in store for them is much, much worse than the child's play that had been described

Whumpee is dragged away kicking and screaming from their beloved Caretaker, begging for Whumper to show them mercy and that they don't deserve such cruel treatment, promising to be good if they only let Caretaker go...but Whumpee, what are you talking about? Caretaker is the real Whumper, don't you remember? When they kidnapped you so long ago? What did they do to your mind?

Caretaker is just so relieved to have Whumpee back by their side again, their wounds carefully treated and cuddled up close, refusing to part from Caretaker ever again after being rescued...everything went according to Caretaker's plan, now that Whumpee's had a taste of what life would be like if they tried to leave, they'll never want to let Whumper go. I mean, Caretaker.

[rocketrhap3000]

serendipitous

summary: you have undeniable, unrequited feelings for joel miller, yet you keep denying them. when you run into joel one night while out with someone you don't even like, conflict ensues.

warnings: jackson!era, a few swears, grumpy joel, stubborn joel, reader goes on a date with an asshole, brief!!! mention of an (unspecified) age gap between reader and joel, angsty angst but quickly resolved i promise :)

masterlist here

The creak of the door closing behind you lets you know there’s no turning back. Feeling overwhelmed already with the buzzing sound of chattering folks all around you, you make your way further into the Tipsy Bison to look for your company for the evening - a guy named Trevor, who you met a few weeks ago when you got put on the same patrol shift together. 

All the other times you’ve been on patrol, your partner has been Joel Miller, and you’ve had absolutely no complaints - other than the fact that the man barely spoke a word to you the first time you met him five years ago. Naturally, though, the longer you spent with him, the more you both opened up to each other, making for a fun, new, budding friendship for you within the Jackson walls. What you haven’t opened up to Joel about, however, though, are your true feelings towards him. 

Joel Miller is perfect in every way. He’s quite literally the only man you feel one hundred percent safe around, and he’s the only person here in Jackson you’ve really connected with. Every day you spend with him, you wish you were bold enough to make a move. 

You know your feelings toward Joel won't stop any time soon, and you don’t even know why you agreed to go out with Trevor. He’s cocky and arrogant, yet cowardly and selfish, and definitely is just not your type; Joel is everything Trevor isn’t.

Much to your dismay, however, you know nothing can come of you and Joel, even if he was interested in you. Although the tension between the two of you is thick, you’ve convinced yourself it’s one sided. Surely his gruff, protective, and sometimes even flirtatious manners are just part of who he is. You’re positive he sees you as nothing more than a friend, or worse - some helpless woman he feels obligated to protect because she’s younger and weaker than him.

As you scan the busy room, you hear your name called from a relatively familiar voice. And when you look in the direction of the call, your eyes fall on your date, and your stomach drops. 

You’d much rather be looking for Joel tonight. 

It seems like forever before you realize you need a break from listening to Trevor drawl on about himself. You’ve zoned out and resorted to a fake smile and insincere nods, feigning interest in his obvious self-obsession. 

But eventually, he asks a question that pulls you from your boredom like no other. 

“Do you wanna get out of here?”

“What?” you ask, wondering if you’ve heard him correctly. 

He cannot be serious. Does he really think talking about himself for an hour straight and not bothering to ask a single thing about you has convinced you to go home with him?

“You heard what I said. Let’s get outta here,” he smirks, and you have to bite your tongue to hold back from laughing. 

“Trevor, we just met a few weeks ago.” you chuckle awkwardly, surprised at how forward he’s being. 

“Doesn’t mean I can’t show you a good time,” he winks, and you have to stifle back a physical cringe at his failed attempt to be suave. 

You smile uncomfortably, then stand up from your seat. “I’m gonna grab a refill” you tell him, making your way over to the bar.

Once away from your jackass of a date, you feel like you can finally breathe. 

“Can I just get another water, please?” you ask the bartender behind the counter, but instead of hearing their response, you feel a sense of relief when you hear a familiar voice speak your name, instead. 

However, that feeling of relief doesn’t last long, once your eyes fall on a sight that makes you sick to your stomach.

Joel is seated at the bar down a little ways, but with a woman beside him, her hand on his arm as she clearly tries to woo him. And not only that, but she’s gorgeous: flowing locks of dirty blonde hair frame her face perfectly, her plump, pink lips whisper little flirtations, and her pair of sparkling blue eyes are just beckoning him to her bedroom. Of course, you’re too distracted by her beauty and your jealousy to realize how uninterested Joel is in her advances.

“(Y/n), hi,” he repeats, and when you turn to meet Joel, the woman beside him seems to give up on her flirting as she gets up and walks away for the time being.

“Joel, what are you doing here?”

“Could ask you the same thing,” he replies lowly with a tilt of his head.

“Just… getting drinks with someone,” you shrug.

“Yeah?” he questions, not fully convinced. “Everything okay over there?”

“Yeah, why?” you feel the need to defend yourself, as if you need to convince Joel you’re doing okay, although you know that you’d much rather be with him for the night. 

“You sure? He doesn’t strike me as the kind you’d hang around, Darlin’,” Joel replies, honestly meaning no harm.

“And you’d know that how?” you reply sarcastically, trying to cover up the fact that the nickname he calls you gives you the biggest rush of butterflies. “It’s just a date, Joel. It doesn’t mean anything,” you roll your eyes.

“I know it’s just… I saw you when I walked in. You just seem kind of uncomfortable. Wanna make sure you’re okay,” he reasons. 

“I’m fine,” you snap back, suddenly feeling angry at Joel for some reason, although you know his intentions are good. But even briefly seeing Joel in the company of another woman sets you off, especially now that he’s trying to make it seem like he cares about you, when you know he doesn't think of you as anything other than a friend, at best. 

“Darlin’,” he starts, but you interrupt him.

“Joel, I don’t need you watching over me like I’m some teenager out past curfew. I can hold my own,” you shake your head disapprovingly before grabbing your water from the bar, then brushing past him to return to Trevor.

“I didn't mean... M’sorry,” he mumbles in return, almost too late for you to hear as you walk away. But you catch it. And the sadness in his tone sticks with you for the rest of the night.

Joel’s heart breaks right then and there. All he wants is to help you and protect you - it’s just his nature. But seeing you with another guy, and one that he knows could never satisfy or take care of you the way he could - if he would ever buck up the courage to express to you how he feels - fills him with such an unbridled, unjustified rage.

He makes it his mission to keep a close eye on him for the rest of the night, although he feels guilty for invading your privacy. Then again, you’re in a public space, and Joel just has a feeling it’s the right thing to do. He knows that kid well enough to know he’s nothing but bad news.

Another half hour passes, and Joel’s female friend hasn’t returned to him, much to his content, - and yours, if you could only swallow your pride to look over at him to see that. Instead, he’s kept himself busy with listening in on your conversation and peering over every now and again, where he notices Trevor’s slight advances towards you, which are clearly unwanted. 

He knows you’re a strong, independent woman, and he doesn’t want to overstep. But his instincts - and his anger - take over the second he sees the asshole’s hand slip from the table to your thigh and your face drops, a tell-tale sign you’re extremely uncomfortable. He can’t stand to see you in this situation. 

“(Y/n),” he calls your name as he makes quick strides over to meet you, and your head spins in the direction of his voice for the second time tonight. 

“Joel?” you reply breathily, both shocked by his presence but also grateful that it has seemingly scared Trevor’s hand off your thigh. 

“Front door lock still giving you trouble?” he asks with a tilt of his head, hinting to you subtly he wants to talk in private. And though he knows the excuse is quick and not the best, he hopes you’ll catch on.

“What?” you stand up from the table, making your way out of earshot from Trevor, while ushering Joel back with a hand on his chest - and trying your best to ignore the way his rugged muscles feel beneath your palm. 

“Do you need help?” he asks quietly, once the two of you are far enough away. 

And even though your heart swells at the thought of Joel being so protective over you, it angers you for the same reason. Your hand falls from his chest and you shake both hands down at your sides. 

“N-no,” you stammer feebly. 

“You sure?” Joel asks like he did earlier, and for some reason, the genuine care and concern in his voice makes you even angrier. 

“Yes,” you snap back, then swallow nervously as you grab your jacket from the back of your chair. “I was just leaving.”

Leaving both of the men behind you as you book it for the door, Joel’s heart aches at the sight of you walking out, knowing he’s just blown it with you.

“How you doin’, man?” Trevor slurs, clearly well past his limit, which could partially explain why he had been so bold towards you.

“Fuck off,” comes Joel’s grumble of a reply, heading out the doors, too.

But instead of following you out, like his instincts tell him to, he heads straight for his own house, where he sulks up to his bedroom and overthinks every moment of tonight.

Joel doesn’t sleep a wink that night. 

Or the next night. 

Or the night after that. 

Three days pass before he anticipates seeing you again, when you’re scheduled to be on patrol together, and he’s a nervous wreck from the minute he gets up at four-thirty that morning to meet you by the post at five. 

The sun is barely up by the time he gets there, where Tommy is waiting for him, but you’re nowhere to be found, which makes Joel’s already nervous heart sink to the ground. 

His mind goes to the worst thoughts. Are you still on the schedule? Did you ask to be switched off after the night at the bar? Do you hate him now?

“Morning,” Tommy greets with a yawn.

“Morning,” Joel grumbles back. “What time is it?” 

“Ten to. Why? Got somewhere else to be?” Tommy snarks back.

“No. Where’s (Y/n)?”

“How should I know?”

“Well, ain’t she my partner today? She’s normally here by now,” Joel explains gruffly.

“Maybe she’s on her way. Don’t matter, though. I’ll go out with you if she doesn’t show in time,” Tommy reasons, which is not what Joel wants to hear. 

Luckily for Joel, you show up just one minute till five, and Joel is right; that is much later than you normally show up. But you sulked just as much as Joel did on the way here at the thought of seeing him again after your little dispute.

You’re embarrassed, but also eager to see him again; you want nothing but to apologize and make up, but also to stand your ground and stay angry at him. It’s all so confusing.

Shortly after Tommy gives you the radios, supplies, and a quick update, you and Joel head out on patrol, but not before you receive some extra ridiculing from Tommy about “someone needing her beauty sleep”. What Tommy doesn’t know is that you got just as much sleep as Joel had these past few nights, instead laying anxiously in bed thinking about seeing the man again. 

Joel takes the lead as the two of you head off, neither of you saying a word for the fifteen minute trip out, and for the first ten minutes at the first lookout post. 

“Morning,” Joel finally speaks up with his back to you as you look out on opposite sides of the vast landscape surrounding Jackson’s walls, long after you thought the entire patrol shift would be endless hours of silent agony and tension between the two of you.

“Good morning,” you reply cordially, but with no real emotion behind your words. 

You’re not sure where you stand with Joel now after the situation at the bar just a few nights ago, and that hurts more than you can say. You’re mad at him but you’re also dying for his attention and affection more than usual. But you doubt he wants to talk to you after you snapped at him for simply trying to help you. 

For so long, ever since you’d come to Jackson nearly five years ago, Joel was a safe place and your friend, above all else. But as soon as your little crush developed into something more, you knew it was something you would struggle with, especially with the way Joel treats you with such kindness and gentleness. You just couldn’t help falling for him the way that you did. 

Another beat of silence passes; the only sounds to be heard are the quiet rustling of leaves and the chirping of the early morning birds. The beginning of the sunrise around you casts a golden hue on Joel’s stunning hazel eyes, and you’re almost too mesmerized by their beauty that you nearly miss when he starts to speak up again.

“Listen, I’m really sorry… About the other night,” Joel says after another few moments. 

“It’s fine,” you shrug, feeling your heart beat nearly triple in speed at the pending conversation. You could not be more grateful that he initiated it, because you wouldn’t have known where to start. “I really do appreciate you helping me out of that. I’m, uh… I’m really sorry for being so rude.”

“I interrupted your date, Darlin’. You had every right to be rude,” he says softly, turning around to face you, and you mirror his actions at the same time. “I just worry about you, y'know?”

Your heart aches hearing those words leave his lips, but those feelings from that night are coming back to you now, and you’re starting to grow upset again. The whole situation has your brain muddled into a mess like no other.

“It wasn’t a date,” you turn away from him again as you mutter falsely in frustration both at yourself for even agreeing to go out with him, and at Joel’s stubbornly caring personality.

“I thought you said it was… just a date,” he returns with the echo of your own words from that night, clearly confused.

“I… I mean, it was a date. But not in that way,” you try to explain.

“Not in what way?”

“I don’t… Joel, I'm not interested in Trevor,” you sigh, turning around to face him for a second time. 

“Why’d you go out with him, then?” he pushes further, and though his tone is soft, it comes off a lot more accusatory than he means for it to.

“I–” you start, but realize just how upset he’s making you. “I don’t have to answer that. Why should you care, anyways? You have… Blondie, don’t you?” you bark back, and it upsets you how immature you sound, like a jealous teenage girl.

“Blond… Huh?” Joel shakes his head as he struggles to understand you. “(Y/n), what in the hell are you talkin’ about?” 

“I mean, that girl with you the other night couldn’t keep her hands off of you. You’ve got her, so why do you care about who I’m seeing?”

“What? (Y/n), that was just one of Maria’s... friends, I think. I didn’t even get her name. She was just very drunk. We are definitely not together.”

“Well, maybe you should tell her that. She was all over you, so I really don’t think you had the right to come up to me as if I was doing something wrong,” you spew out your anger through a sentence that doesn’t really even make sense. 

“You weren’t doing anything wrong,” he shakes his head sincerely, try to understand what you've said while taking a hesitant step towards you. “I was just tryin' to help you. M'sorry.”

“But why do you even care? Pretending like you care! Pretending like I mean something to you when I know you don't see me as anything other than someone you have to look out for, out of obligation, and I know you have no intentions of being anything more!” you exclaim back, completely disregarding the twinge of pain in Joel’s voice he’d just let slip out as you place both of your hands on his chest and give him a good shove away from you.

“(Y/n), I like you!” he finally shouts, still staggering backwards from the force of your little push.

But the second those words blurt from his lips, Joel wishes he would have just stayed in bed this morning.

Nothing Tommy would have yelled at him for sleeping in and missing a shift would even begin to compare to the embarrassment of what he’s feeling right now.

He wants the ground to open up beneath him and swallow him whole so that you never have to see his face ever again.

“What?” you speak back breathlessly after a moment’s pause, needing to hear him again because you’re not even sure if you heard him correctly. Surely you must be hallucinating. 

“Please don’t make me say it again,” he sighs shakily, turning away from you and indirectly confirming what you’d hoped he’d said. 

“Joel,” you whisper, finding the courage to reach out and place a gentle, trembling hand on his broad shoulder, quite the opposite of how you’d pushed him away just seconds before.

He only responds with a quiet, reluctant hum. 

“Please look at me,” your voice can barely be heard. 

And he fulfills your gentle request, turning back around to you, cheeks red with embarrassment. 

“M’so sorry,” he rasps, shaking his hung head.

“You have no reason to be sorry,” you say softly, then swallow nervously before continuing. “I… I like you, too, Joel,” you admit, and he looks up at you again, a small, barely-there smile drags onto his lips at your confession. 

“You don’t have to say that just to make me feel better,” he scoffs lightly, using the tip of his boot to nervously scuff up some dirt from the ground. 

“I’m not,” you insist. “Can’t you just accept someone’s affections?”

“Not when they're yours,” he smiles sadly and gives his head a slow shake. 

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” your voice breaks, hating how you feel cared for but also rejected by him, all at once. 

“You’re… We can’t… Darlin’, I—” he stammers, but you boldly interrupt him. 

“Joel, just say it!” you exclaim almost hysterically. 

“Alright!” he shouts back, clearly struggling with the vulnerability of the situation. “I just… You’re just enough younger than I am that I never would have thought you’d find me attractive,” he states nervously.

"Well, first, believe me, I find you attractive, Joel," you let out a quiet, shy laugh.

“Still grapplin' with that," he shakes his head and lets out a short chuckle of his own.

"And second, I’m very much an adult, Joel. We both are. The years between us mean little to nothing when the whole goddamn world is falling apart anyways,” you state with a small laugh. "Besides, I don't think anyone here in Jackson has the right to judge anyone else for what they're doing with their life. Have you seen some of the idiots that managed to settle here?"

"I suppose you're right," he laughs. "But then I guess I just thought, even on the off chance that you did reciprocate my feelings... Well, I was worried about what everyone ‘round here would say if we were together.”

“What do you mean?” you ask hesitantly, and he sighs reluctantly in response.

“Darlin', we're complete opposites. I’m the... lone wolf. You’re a social butterfly. Some folks here still hate me for what they’ve heard about me, and rightfully so. But you...” he then scoffs softly just to himself. “Darlin', Everyone adores you. I don’t think there’s a single person who could have one bad thing to say about’cha. We couldn't be more different if we tried.”

“Again," you start with a laugh. "I don't think anyone in Jackson has the right to judge us, Joel. And, so what if we’re different? Opposites attract, y’know,” you playfully nudge him.

“Clearly,” he chuckles softly, putting a smile on your face. "I guess I was just too stubborn to even let myself entertain the thought of askin' you out."

"I wish you would've," you giggle. "I've been doing it for too long, myself. Every time I see you, I have to hold myself back from making a reckless move. I was afraid I was nothing more than some annoying, inexperienced patrol partner you have to look out for."

“You're so much more than that, Darlin'. C’mere,” he then mumbles as he sets his gun down and takes yours from you, too, leaning them both up against the railing of the edge. 

Then, he’s opening his arms as an invitation for you to enter them, and when you do, it’s the best sensation you’ve ever felt.

Joel Miller is a broad, sturdy man, but he’s somehow simultaneously so unbelievably soft, and you feel so safe in his arms, despite the literal threats of the world around you that you’re supposed to be looking out for at present. 

“M’sorry for all this,” he chuckles, squeezing you tighter. “F’I hadn’t been such a stubborn old man, as Ellie says, I'm sure we could’ve avoided months of this confusion.”

“I agree with Ellie,” you laugh, pulling your head off his chest only to look up at him, admiring the way the orange highlights of the early sunrise make his eyes sparkle. “But if we had skipped all those months, then I wouldn’t have gotten this incredible hug, right now,” you tease with a laugh. 

“Oh, Darlin’, you would’ve gotten a lot more than a hug by now,” he taunts you right back. “And I’d love to show you how much we’ve missed out on, but if Tommy finds out we were doin’ all this… canoodlin’... I’m afraid he’d never let us go out on patrol together again,” Joel laughs softly, then lets you go, handing you back your gun.

“It’d be worth it, though,” you say with a smile, then lean up onto the tips of your toes to press a dainty kiss to his scruffy cheek before heading down from the post to start on the patrol route before Joel can even register what you’ve done. 

Pausing in your tracks then turning to look behind you when you don’t hear footsteps following you, you catch a glimpse of the man; hand just brushing over the spot on his cheek where your lips were, sporting a cherry red complexion in stark contrast to his silvery locks of hair and lush beard framing his face.

“Hey, old man,” you tease, placing a hand on your hip. "You comin' or what?" 

“Right behind ya, Darlin’,” he shakes his head and scoffs at you as he slings his gun back over his shoulder where it belongs. 

For as bold as he was just moments earlier, mentioning all the other things you could have done besides hugging, you know deep down, he's painfully shy, and such a softie. And you wouldn't have it any other way.

a/n: i love a good angst to fluff/kinda enemies to lovers trope lol dividers by @inklore !! thank you so much for reading! reblogs and feedback are so greatly appreciated and help out your fave writers more than you know 💘

Joel / Pedro taglist below, link in pinned post to be added :)

@pedropascalmylove  @caplanbuckybarnes  @auberosier @shesaidashamed​ @midgardianminx @hungrhay @mashomasho @fanofverymanythings @laufeyzlut  @gvfslayallday @pastelnap @blub-senpai @alwaysdjarin @jesslove23-blog @balekanemohafe @alexxavicry @cilliansangel @spideysimpossiblegirl ​​@anony-muse @darleneslane @nsuiswitch @joeldjarin @taz-97

[powerpuffobsession]

I don't like Vaggie getting retconned into an angel

(This one is more of a personal opinion/complaint/vent. I'm just trying to analyze why exactly I dislike this plot change. Viewer discretion is adviced)

When the leaks first said that would happen, I chose to believe it was fake until the very last second. I remember even denying it in my mind when I started watching season 1, hoping that they haven't implemented such a change....

Because the sinner Vaggie premise had so many interesting possibilities - of making her a person, someone interesting on her own, when separated from Charlie

Her sex worker past (meaning the incoming bonding with Angel Dust over shared trauma), her life in El Salvador, her death age that was supposed to be very young (early 20s dead in 2014) contrasting the other hotel residents exept for Niffty (who's from 50s), an interesting dynamic with Charlie where a human sinner gets together with an ancient demon princess - we were promised all of that.

The fandom built plenty of fancontent on the "sinner Vaggie" basis and got used to it. Not many expected an angel Vaggie, and I remember a lot of people saying that would be too obvious and boring and that that wouldn't happen

And in reality, it turned out to be even worse, in my opinion. Now Vaggie is literally one of the faceless Barbie dolls mass produced by Adam. She's so unimportant in-universe, she got broken and thrown away when she was no longer in use. Very symbolic, don't you think?

Her boss, Adam, is objectively more interesting than she is now! By becoming his inferior, Vaggie lost her miniscule interesting features in favour of being outshined by a male character! The one who mistreated her too. So typical... never change since the pilot era

To add salt to the injury, we learned that Vaggie IS in fact, short for Vagina, and that this "charming" name was given her by Adam, the sexist murderous pig! And she kept that name, as if actually liking it! Great!

(Vaggie being short for Vagatha was still unpleasant because Vivzie's dumb humour was obvious through and through, but a lot less offensive than what we actually got)

(And wow thanks a lot for that Vagatha joke with Sir Pentious. Way to mock the viewers by accentuating what was lost)

Also, Vaggie has basically no backstory now - "she was a murderer, then BAM she's not a murderer anymore, and out of nowhere she became a love interest for the main character". And her sparing a child was honestly such a cheap attempt at pulling at the viewer's heartstrings... why did she spend so many years murdering everyone in her way (making her the most effective exorcist, according to Adam himself!) but suddenly decided not to kill a child sinner? Were there no other child sinners before that one? Besides, it's hell, girl! That child could have drove his peer to suicide or killed animals for all we know!

And we are seriously supposed to care about a character who was a boring basic warrior intended for mass murdering just a while ago? Sure, that cliche can actually work with the right portrayal, but not like this! (Personally, I really felt my interest to Vaggie drop when the angel plot twist was revealed, it was like a cold shower)

That leaves Vaggie no choices of showing any personality whatsoever other than clinging to Charlie and having every moment of her life revolve around being with the princess, loving her and helping her. No thoughts, hobbies, world views and goals of her own. Come on, that's so bland!

Vaggie basically just changed one owner to another - from Adam to Charlie, to completely dissolve in their needs and wants instead of devoting some time to her own (which she can't have because she was born as a slave - that is if exorcists are created by Adam)

I feel like I shouldn't complain. I want to believe that if angel Vaggie was given time and space to develop, I'd like her, but really no... the very idea of making her part of Heaven was still-born to begin with, given the nature of hazbin hotel. This cartoon shot itself in the foot with an awful pacing. In the light of that, making Vaggie a significant part of a plotline that had no time to shine was a choice to avoid

And angel Vaggie should have stayed an urban legend in the fandom instead of making it into the show. I feel sad that for me Vaggie was ruined as Hazbin Hotel's aspect I could have enjoyed

I hope she at least gets more interesting interactions with Charlie and other characters in season 2. The ones in season 1 were not so bad, even if they're not the ones I wanted. And I'm still going to love Vaggie out of habit even if she's not the same anymore. Maybe I'll come around and start loving her as an angel eventually 🤞

P.S. why did they change the delicate white colour of her dress and the light pink colour of her bow to bright red shirt and bow? If she's a angel, wouldn't it have made more sense for her to be wearing pallette that has a bit of white in it to make her stand out? Even in that regard a questionable decision was made, dear god...

[ageingfangirl2]

Join My Crew! Luffy (OPLA)

You help a little girl steal a pocketwatch back from a marine, Luffy approaches and asks you to join his crew. You refuse. The next day you find yourself wanted by the marines and reconsider Luffy's offer. Luffy x Reader (F)

'Someone help me!' a young girl calls out, distress in her voice.

You look up from the fruit you were admiring at the local stall, just in time to watch a smug marine stare down at the little girl swinging a pocket watch by its chain.

'Give me Daddy's watch back! You can't take it!' the girl demands and stomps her feet.

The marine throws his head back and laughs mockingly, 'Run along little girl, you probably stole this, tears won't help you.'

You clench your fist as the marine shoves the little girl to the ground roughly. The girl bursts into tears. No one around dared to do anything, not wanting the wrath of the Marines, but that's not what you were about. You might be a thief but you had a heart, because you'd been that little girl who'd had a family necklace taken from you, that you stole back and started your life of crime.

'I hate the Marines!' a boy next to you states, you'd not seen him on the island before, but he stood out wearing a red vest and a straw hat.

You pay him no attention as you set off after the marine. This would be a simple pickpocket job, you just had to stroke an ego to get away with your crime.

You pull your blouse a little lower revealing a bit more chest than you were comfortable with, and roll your eyes before fake tripping into the marine.

'Oh no,' you gasp loudly, stumbling over nothing.

The marine catches you around the waist, and it's not lost on you when his eyes linger on your chest, but you use the distraction to snatch the pocketwatch out of his back pocket.

'Careful there beautiful,' the marine swoons, and helps you back to your feet.

You bat your eyelashes, 'Thank you, I'm such a klutz. The island needs more strong marines like you watching over us.'

The marine blushes, 'No problem, you keep safe now.'

You part ways quickly and approach the little girl who'd been helped up by the boy in the hat and a girl with short red hair, 'here you go little lady, keep a better eye on this.'

You drop the watch in her open hand and smile before ruffling her hair.

The girl stares up at you with wide eyes full of admiration, 'Thank you miss, I promise to look after daddy's watch.'

Not wanting to stay in the open any longer you go to walk away, but not before someone grabs your arm, and you stare blankly at the boy in the hat.

'Join my crew!' he says loudly, 'you can never have too many thieves.'

You shake your head and shrug him off not liking the attention, 'No thanks.'

He pouts, and you note determination behind his eyes, but you take your leave to head home for the day to try and keep a low profile.

NEXT DAY

You walk down the street feeling like hitting up the weekly market, when you walk past the bulletin board and freeze. On the board was a brand new wanted poster with your name and face with the caption 'THIEF AND ASSOCIATING WITH THE STRAW HAT PIRATE CREW'

'Shit! What am I going to do now? I'm a wanted person,' you curse, and rip the poster off the board.

'Oh? Congratulations. Join my crew,' a familiar overly excited male voice says next to you.

You jump at his sudden appearance, 'Excuse me.'

He grins, 'Join my crew, sail the seas, go on adventures, I could use someone with your set of skills.'

You gulp, noticing some marines in the distance, 'err I don't even know your name kid.'

'Luffy...now what do you say?' he replies.

You grab him and start dragging him back towards your house to grab what little belongings and weapons you have, 'fine... let's go...I hope I don't regret this...'

You were already a criminal so why not add pirate into the mix? This was going to be a wild ride.

[lazyjellyfish300]

An Easter Eggs Benedict Engagement🍳💍🌷🐰

Miguel O'Hara x gn!Reader S/O

Synopsis: Easter breakfast with Miguel and Gabi! They have a heartwarming surprise for you. 🥰 part 3 of my Easter proposal mini series🐰💍💝 (these are all separate, unrelated stories but each one has a happy ending and cute twist) You don't have to celebrate Easter to enjoy the story. 💜 Word count 1.1k

Easter proposal masterlist

CW: none, just fluffy

🍳💍🌷🍳💍🌷🍳💍🌷🍳💍🌷

You watched Gabi with a warm smile as she happily giggled at the large Easter basket waiting for her on the kitchen table, reaching down to hand her the Easter quartet of bunny squishmallows you and Miguel picked out for her

"Thank youuuuu!" Gabi squealed, practically in tears at all her beautiful presents.

Miguel smiled, walking from behind the kitchen island where he was cooking breakfast to give her a kiss on the head. "Feliz Pascua, mijita..." (Happy Easter my little daughter)

"Gracias, papá, te amo..." (Thank you, papa I love you)

Gabi runs across the kitchen and hugs your legs. "And I love you!"

"Awh...." You feel your heart utterly melt faster than a chocolate egg. "I love you too, princess. I'm so happy you love your presents!"

"We got something for you too, silly!" Gabi says, resting her chin in her hands as she looks up at you from where she's leaning against your lap.

"Oh?" Your eyes flicker quickly to Miguel who quickly goes from making a zipper motion over his lips to trying to act neutral. Your eyes narrow playfully.

"Does your daddy know about this gift?"

Gabi gasps and covers her mouth. "Wait, no! It's a surprise!"

"Allllright..." Miguel sighs and walks over to both of you. He bends down, whispering something to Gabi, who nods and runs out of the room giggling. "Watch the eggs for me, will you honey?" Miguel winks at you and you laugh, shaking your head and crossing your arms as you walk to the stove, eyeing the eggs so they don't burn.

"You two are killing me!"

Gabi returns with a proud smile on her face as she hands you a small cardboard box with shimmery green fake grass. In the middle, is a gorgeous, hand painted egg made of a thin material. It's white with little pink flowers and red roses adorning it, complete with green vines running delicately in orate patterns around it.

"You painted this?" You ask softly, your soul enormously touched at the heartfelt gesture.

"Mhmm!" Gabi answers, head held high with pride. "Papá can't paint to save his life, so I did it!" She grins, her adorable smile missing one of her front teeth.

Miguel grins bashfully from the kitchen, slowly walking to stand by your side.

"You're supposed to crack it!" Gabi says crossing her arms.

"Wha-?" You look concerned at Miguel. "It's too pretty to just break..."

Gabi waves you off. "I have like a gazillion of them in my room. Don't you wanna know the big surprise?"

You look at Miguel, who gives you a nod of reassurance, and, with a nervous smile, you gently crack the egg against the kitchen counter. Your mouth falls open at its shiny contents. Out tumbles a square cut, shiny white gold diamond ring. As soon as you look up, Miguel is down on one knee and Gabi is silently squealing, jumping up and down in the corner.

Source: Pinterest

"My love?" Miguel takes your hand in his, you shudder and let out a loud sob, clapping your free hand across your face when you realize this is for real.

Miguel's own eyes become shiny with his own window of tears that threaten to leak when he sees your reaction. His voice is thick with emotion, but he manages to keep it steady. "I don't want to be without you any longer..."

He takes a deep breath. "You mean the world to me and Gabi. Our family would not be complete, if you were not a part of it." He takes the ring carefully in his fingers. "I know that the promise we make in our hearts to one another well surpasses the ring, the certificate, and the worldly, tangible symbols of our love...but, I want to make this permanent. I want to ask you to be mine in the most lasting way I can. By making you my spouse. My forever companion. So sweetheart..."

You close your eyes, a huge smile erupting on your face through your tears as he brings the ring just over the tip of your finger.

"Marry me?" He asks, his voice hovering just above a whisper, the words he utters nearly brings you to your knees. The feeling of bliss that only barely started to brush the surface of being close to this one was when he told you he loved you for the first time. That beautiful night in the rain outside your favorite coffee shop when you kissed, not minding that you were completely soaked.

Now, you stood locked in a tender embrace in your kitchen, hugging this man who was going to be your husband, uttering the word, "Yes" what felt like a thousand times. Saying it as if every time it left your lips, it wasn't nearly strong enough to convey how devoted, how utterly in love you found yourself with this man. You both make space for Gabi as she wedges herself in between you. This beautiful, happy, family of three celebrating what's sure to become an Easter to remember.

Miguel finishes cooking your breakfast: Eggs Benedict with regular bacon in place of ham atop two buttery, flaky English muffins, California style with neat slices of avocado and tomato and a healthy dollop of creamy hollandaise and a garnish of fresh chives. For the side: crispy hashbrowns and freshly cut strawberries and juicy grapes.

Your mouth waters as you take a bite. Miguel flashes you a dazzling smile at your approval of his cooking. You sip your coffee and take Miguel's hand in yours in quiet gratitude. His lips gently graze your left hand just above where your gorgeous ring sits in its permanent spot. He gives your hand three squeezes. I love you.

You answer with four. I love you more. Miguel smiles, pressing one more kiss to your hand then turning his attention to a chatty Gabriela, nodding and humming attentively to his little girl as he gently rubs your thigh.

Even though this was a big step for all of you, the truth is you've been a family for ages. Your heart flutters with a wave of bliss as the hot food and coffee warms you from the inside out, leaning on the arm of your devoted husband-to-be as you watch your lovely daughter sit her squishmallows on the empty chair next to her so they can enjoy Easter breakfast too.

The ruby of Miguel's eyes and the gentle sound of his voice keeps you grounded in this blissful reality that only seemed like a dream. Your own little piece of heaven on a joyous Spring morning.

A tranquil rain shower began to kiss the tender petals of the pink tulips that Miguel bought you that sat in a planter on the patio; its new blossoms symbolizing this promising life you were beginning together as the late March Easter rain made its landfall.

🍳💍🌷🍳💍🌷🍳💍🌷🍳💍🌷🍳💍🌷

[cillyscribbles]

i promised cats metaposting 2 bagpipe boogaloo and i am a bitch of my word here we go

cats 1998: the rum tum tugger + these hands are rated G for grizabella

(theory wank under cut call that catracter development)

(theory wank about munkustrap & grizabella here for those uninitiated)

RIGHT SO unfortunately this one is no longer semi-coherent overanalysis of microexpression but a full descent into conspiratorial madness, so please remain aware of the fact that this is a tangent missing textual support at the best of times. it's entirely possible and even likely that rum tum tugger is genuinely just a bitch to grizabella because that's who he is as a person and doesn't like what she smells like or something idfk. anyway.

welcome to my red string board of why rum tum tugger actually doesn't dislike her for no reason and totally has depth and yeah we're poor little meow meowing a white boy with more hubris than eyeliner, classic essay genre on tumblr, at least he's a catboy this time and the hubris-eyeliner ratio is actually a close call.

anyway, for any of my theorizing to make sense, here are the two headcanons it's all based on:

grizabella is an (ex-)wife of old deuteronomy and the mother of rum tum tugger (and munkustrap if you're so inclined)

grizabella left the jellicle cats at some point when rum tum tugger was a kitten or otherwise a very young cat

and honestly the rest just flows from the mommy issues to be honest. there's a load of alternate explanations and theories and headcanons and mine's by no means the right one necessarily, but i do have to admit the family angst it allows for is balls to the walls insane because it just. it fits what we see on screen so well!

look at this clown i love him. he ONLY does the puff-up at grizabella. and even though that supports my theorizing it's also honestly a bit of a loss i think. it's such an evocative cat-thing. i want him to do that when something jumpscares him lmao. i NEED him to do that at old deuteronomy jokingly and get cuffed on the back of the head by munkustrap for being a professional youngest child. anyway

don't get me wrong, the fact that tugger has a grudge against grizabella isn't anything special, most older cats do; hell, some of them deliberately walk past her Judgementally (bombalurina, notably) or shake their head at her in disapproval (jennyanydots), but it's so pointedly constant and so pointedly Pointed with tugger that it draws my eye. every time she appears, he has to clearly and explicitly broadcast his displeasure with the fact that she's daring to breathe at them.

like, she's not In His Way or anything here. he doesn't have to walk past her if he doesn't want to. he doesn't have to look at her; plenty of other cats pretend she doesn't exist when she looks at them. but not only does he do all those things, he explicitly looks at her and puffs his coat up again. he's walking at a fairly brisk pace toward her and actually slows down to do it. it's such a deliberately mean thing to do it's stuck between really extra and really petty. exactly the same with the jellicle choice scene.

my man's being so petty this should be constituted as bullying lmao. look at that! nobody likes you still! sucks to be you i guess! like. this man would be pouncival doing the fake pranks and scratching her if he was a kitten. he's just, constantly upping his level of mean to her. in the first scene he at least has the decency to walk out in the opposite direction of her.

a really professional youngest child. again, all that ^ is fairly grounded thought on character performance i think if you don't really connect it to anything, but i'm connecting it to abandonment issues for maximum ouch lmao.

so, bear with me for a moment: for whatever reason, grizabella leaves the jellicles, including her husband and kid(s). (if you're a fan of the theory about macavity being the third brother to munkustrap and tugger, i mean, she might've just left with him because he was her kid. i dunno.) and you're tugger. Baby tugger, even. you don't understand why she'd leave you. was it you? were you too much? were you not enough? of course not, but you're a little cat with a lot of pride and all the makings of a Petty Little Bastard in you, so you say fuck all that. i'm not too much; i'm actually more than enough. i'm the best! and i'll make damn sure you never forget it!

i feel like if you include munkustrap in that too it gets to be a really interesting dynamic. tugger's mean and angry and going out of his way to show it, and munkustrap is just kind of. "can we not do this" about it. really seems like he'd rather be somewhere else, but, i mean, welcome to The Unpleasant Shit being his job. professional eldest sibling.

she approaches him and he actively goes absolutely not oh look at that what a nice corner i'll just go stand over there. meanwhile tugger's determined to be all OH! OH LOOK WHO'S HERE!!!! WELCOME HOME CHEATER!!!!!! about it. like i already made a post about this so i won't get into it again but i really don't think munkustrap is all that mad at her, which gives tugger's attitude some nice contrast.

continuing with dynamics for a moment, i feel like tugger either has real Attuned Parental Figure Senses or is surprisingly perceptive for his character? this isn't necessarily connected with the point before, but i mean, he stops his whole entire number MID-DANCE MOVE to point out grizabella. he does do it with great flow though you must admit.

he loves attention!! that's established!! whether or not he's up for it at All Times we can have a discussion about (he really just dips out after his number to recharge for a good while lol) but he's here having the time of his life, BOOM one whiff of grizz and he's tearing down the party decorations, that's it, everyone go home.

i'd attribute it to him just Really Having That Big of a grudge if he didn't also kinda sorta activate his Deuteronomy Detect power during the lad's arrival LMAO.

look at that! he beats munkustrap to it! admittedly i can't see the rest of the stage so it might be that all the other cats already saw it and he's just pointing old deuteronomy out to munkustrap as the latter's too busy looking the other way. but it's still a funky way to get in character traits besides Mean & A Whore!

ok and another notable thing, and to me something really interesting, it that tugger never does end up touching grizabella, even though he has the choice to.

after she's first accepted back via touch from victoria, the cats sort of line up to show their affections too. it's a really nice scene in my opinion, you get the sense that all those cats really are happy to be able to take back an old friend and i'm all for it. but the cherry is that tugger is being Really Interestingly Acted here - he leads cassandra closer so she can reach out to grizabella, but tugger himself stays behind with this sort of blank expression over him. even those cats i mentioned before - jennyanydots and bombalurina - get the moment to hold grizabella's hands and smile and encourage her on. tugger doesn't do that.

grizabella doesn't touch every cat, granted, but even those she doesn't touch are reaching out to her, which is pretty much as good as. they all do enough of that sort of implied gesture throughout the musical that it shows it's affection and acceptance all the same whether or not physical contact is made, like for example old deuteronomy's greeting and the moments before the jellicle choice; the first one's posed similarly to grizabella's return, everyone's trying to touch old deuteronomy, but they're perfectly fine with sort of just reaching out and being reached out to (note mr mistoffelees and bombalurina). in the second one it's even sillier because both munkustrap and old deuteronomy could clear the like 10cm of distance between them, but the reaching and willingness is more than enough for that mutual understanding to come between them. basically intent > result (side note: this is not a good rule for life outside of the cats musical).

tugger doesn't reach out. doesn't try to get any closer than he already got and stays in the shadow behind the rest, just watching her go for a bit before he dips again.

with the way he's squashed behind asparagus jr here i can't tell if he's bowing or nodding or what, but i think it'd be really funny if he was just trying to make himself shrink a little. like hanging his head nope i'm not here don't look at me goodbye. so completely contradictory to his usual vibe it's hilarious.

it is interesting to think about though, in my opinion, that he spends pretty much the rest of the musical in the shadow and separated from the other celebrating cats. he climbs up onto the chest and stays on that platform for the rest of the show while the other cats are being directed by munkustrap to follow and then surround old deuteronomy.

it's interesting - he may be positioned above the other cats physically, but it makes him feel sort of separated if you know what i mean. there's usually this pretty clear separation between munkustrap and the other cats when they're on screen, they might crouch when he stands and reach out to him when he's talking, but this time munkustrap is just down there calling upon the vibes with the other cats, and only makes his way up to old deuteronomy's right after grizabella's gone and it's time for the closing number. rum tum tugger straight up bounces as they're going to the russel hotel LMAO.

he does hype her up as she's going up, which is also really cute. he's off to the side so the other cats aren't really looking at him, but even as old deuteronomy shows her the rest of them, grizabella's eyes linger on tugger's wee rockstar schtick and it just kind of melts me.

anyway. man may be conflicted but he's happy mum gets a retry whether anyone likes it or not. and i think that's nice. :)

[illusion-of-sea-axes]

How would the other ninja + Master Wu react to see Kai as an Anacondrai?

(CW I drew some partially topless Kai in this. Also. This got way longer than I thought it would)

Well they don't really have a whole lotta time to process that initially. The first time everyone sees it is when Kai shows up on his elemental dragon with Skylor and then they immediately head off to Ninjago to stop Chen. There's time to talk on the dragon ride over the ocean and the brief stops at the underground HQ.

I feel like there'd be much more of a reaction to the Mark of the Anacondrai itself, because it amplifies Kai's betrayal. Him having it suggests he's turned not just to Chen's side, but also joined the Anacondrai cult as well. This would probably mean Nya and Garmadon don't automatically realize "oh he's playing a longer con" even after he winks at them in the snake pit. (It also means Sensei Garmadon sees another parallel with himself and Kai later on, in that they both took on the marks and then later turned on Chen)

I figure that Chen would relish in that and would actively have Kai show off the Mark. So, all the masters see Kai's mark when they interrupt the Ceremony. He has to explain himself to them very quickly after the Ceremony fight to avoid getting attacked (especially if any of them saw him going bonkers with Chen's Staff)

(I do think it'd be fun though if the guards at the factory gossiped about one of the Elemental Masters getting the Mark of the Anacondrai, though, so that the imprisoned masters are all suddenly worried that one of the few left in the fight have switched sides)

Jay would probably make a joke about Kai's new ink, Cole would point out how dangerous his plan was once he hears about it, and Zane would agree. Zane also ices the tattoo to help with the pain and swelling, even if its not as effective after, like, however long he's had it (timeline is iffy but it's not more than like three days I think).

(If you wanna keep the angst going, too, the fact that Kai essentially goes missing while searching for Skylor would probably bring up some doubts in the other masters, and maybe even his own team, about whether he could still be pulled onto Chen's side -especially with Skylor as a possible bargaining chip- at that point.)

Once Kai's been turned into an Anacondrai though, not a whole lot changes. Jay's initial reaction is also jokes because... what else are you supposed to say to your friend who has turned into a snake man? Cole is probably the one to prompt him to try and play with the invisibility ability cause That's a Cool Power, Dude. Generally looking on the upside with it. Zane's got a little bit of scientific interest in the whole transformation.

Lloyd just. Doesn't fully process it. He does promise Kai immediately though that they'll turn him back to normal (because its Lloyd. He feels responsible for his big brother being in this situation even though he shouldn't). He's genuinely relieved when they start turning back when the spell begins to wear off.

Kai does not like Lloyd putting responsibility on turning him back on himself, especially cause Kai betrayed and still definitely feels bad about it and the act he had to put on for it to work.

The Ninja all do pay close attention, though, because they're obviously worried about Kai's well being, but also... What if Kai likes being an Anacondrai (once he adjusts to fighting like one)? What if he wants to stay that way? What if Kai's turning to Chen's side wasn't entirely fake?

Kai sticks close to Skylor during their time as Anacondrai as much as possible because he's kinda freaked out by himself and doesn't want everyone to keep looking at him like.... well, like he's turned into a snake man.

Wu doesn't have any notable reaction to Garmadon as an Anacondrai, but I feel like he'd be very confused and a little freaked out on why one of his students is also one now. He gives Kai a very disapproving look when he learns how it happened because that was incredibly dangerous Kai. He doesn't really scold him though cause 1. Not the time. 2. Kai's plan worked. 3. No one knew that the mark would turn him into a snake.

Also, you didn't mention the folks at Kryptarium, but they almost definitely poke fun at Kai for being a snake now when they recognize him. Pythor finds it very funny that one of the Ninja is now a snake.

The worst reaction to Kai's Anacondrai form is definitely when they land in Ninjago City and people start freaking out because there are Serpentine on a Dragon made of Fire.

[chimielie]

between lightning strikes

summary: Oikawa x F!Reader. as a prince, he can have whatever he wants. it’s a shame he wants you—his wife.

word count: 1.3k

cw: fighting, arranged marriage/royalty au, enemies to lovers, fake history stuff, angst to fluff, just like. the writing as a whole

a/n: my deepest apologies i promise i will never write a historical romance novel. happy late birthday oikawa [starts sobbing]

Oikawa Tooru can sense it: a shift in the wind, a burning in his muscles. Like a bloodhound, he can smell the storm coming.

His wife is angry with him.

You storm through the halls, your skirts trailing behind you, the whistle of the stiff linings over the floors the only sound as the servants flatten themselves against the walls and the out-and-about nobles scramble into their apartments and out of your way. Your spine is stiff, your face serene.

Your fate was decided before you were born. Upon arriving in the world, your every trait was analyzed for compatibility with his. You were raised, nearly designed, to be his perfect match.

Thousands of years of tradition culminated here. Your marriage had been arranged, an aristocratic girl handed from her own family to the crown prince (future emperor always seemed to echo behind the words), a perfect match on paper.

Tooru finds that you are a far different kind of match off the page. Blazing but nearly flickering out of reach each time the flame comes close to licking his fingers, rekindling whenever he thinks you've finally gone out. Brilliant, his brain supplies as you enter his room, the wind supplying a satisfying boom for drama. He squashes the thought in favor of trying to look appropriately innocent. His efforts are in vain, and he knows it.

"Wife," he greets you, while you stare at him with narrowed eyes. You don't respond, only stalking closer. His full lips pull into a wolf’s grin. "Beloved. Sweetness."

"Highness," you say, so icily and so informally he’s sure one of your former etiquette instructors must fall over dead wherever they are. “I received a missive from you this morning.”

“Did you?”

Blasphemous it may be to admit, but he is a man of many faults. One of these: he has a hot temper, and full freedom to act upon it.

You do not hate him as you once did, when you were first wed and he had, in his resentment of his family and his position, lashed out at you as the most obvious symbol of his loss of youthful freedom. When he had failed to consider that you were less than happy yourself to be locked in a union with a man you didn’t know; didn’t want; didn’t love.

Tooru is older now, and wiser (though not by much, Iwaizumi says). He, of all people, is not exempt from the whims of fate. Between lightning strikes, he fell in love with you.

He hopes you no longer hate him. He can never be sure.

“I have been dismissed,” and for all the arguing you’ve done with him, there’s an odd quaver in your voice that he’s never heard before. “From the imperial court. I am free to-to travel, whether it be to another hall or another island, and to seek companionship elsewhere, wherever I may choose to settle.”

“If you so choose,” he repeats his own penned words, turning away from you. His curtains are drawn, though it is late in the day. He does not spend much time in his private rooms, unless it is with you. “Though I must ask you be discreet. It is, unfortunately, a necessity—”

“I will do no such thing,” you snarl. He jerks his head back in surprise. “I may not be what you had hoped for in a partner, but I will not be disloyal of all things. Though I’m sure you will not spend a moment’s thought on me while I am away, I assure you any image you may conjure of my cavorting with another would be pure fantasy."

"Fantasy," he scoffs, can feel his own face spasm against his will at the thought.

"Oh—!" You seem unsure what to do with your hands, settling for clenching them into fists at your sides. "Are you jealous?"

"No," he denies. He lies. He, who has the world at his fingertips, is so consumed by jealousy at all times, by his desire to have you all to himself. He burns.

"Tell me the truth. Speak freely, as a man and not a god-king.” He nods, features twisting into something ugly, ugly, ugly.

“What do you wish for me to say?” His voice is brittle, his temper bound only by a thin string. “Yes, I am jealous. The sight of you with another man might kill me, if I didn’t kill him first. Though it might surprise you, I do care for you, beyond seeing you as some sort of-of possession. So I’m sending you away, giving you a chance to escape this fucking farcical marriage, to do as you wish, to find love as I have—as I have loved you.” The words die an abrupt death in his throat as your eyes round, then glisten.

“Loved me?” An accusation or a question. He swallows around his traitorous tongue, grinding out his response.

“I do.” The weight of those two words is smoke in a sickroom, a weighted coffin in the sea. He sounds wrecked when next he speaks, and looks it too, eyes red and mouth split. “So I am ordering you, as a prince and not as your husband, to go and be happy, and I am begging you, selfishly, to do it where I cannot follow.”

It occurs to you to remind him that there is no such place, but you don’t wish to spit on the bones beneath the words. He will not follow. He is offering you the truest freedom he can.

“You say you’re begging me,” you tap your chin, an empress to the core. “Then why are you not on your knees?”

His eyes narrow. You expect a slap, an execution order, anything you had been warned all your life would come from such total insubordination.

Instead, his right knee bends, then his left. The bones pop, as though in protest, as though he had never before done what he did now.

From the floor, Oikawa Tooru looks up at you with all the love he is capable of and says: “Leave me.”

You drop to your knees, crashing into the floor, uncaring of your garments or his, and take his face in your hands. The first tear spills from his eye, a diamond you crush beneath your thumb.

“I cannot do both,” you say, trying very hard to be gentle. “To ask me to leave to find love would tear me in two. If I were never to look on you again, I would never see the only man I could ever love.”

“Don’t lie to me,” he says, “don’t sacrifice yourself for duty’s sake.”

“I’m not,” his eyes search your face wonderingly. “Let me stay. Let me stay, and prove it to you.”

“Only if it is what you want,” he insists. “You need not—” You silence him, pressing your lips to his. You are—inexpert, desperate, perfect. He closes his eyes and anchors himself on your shore, his hands the only part of him that’s sure as he takes yours.

“Let me show you all the ways I love you,” you repeat, and Tooru nods. You smile when he does, and the sky splits open above you.

He senses it before he wakes, opening his eyes to the weak sun in the early morning. There’s been a shift in the wind and his muscles are sore. He doesn’t mind it; the mark of work well done.

He can see it, feel it, as you wake, eyes fluttering open to rest on his face.

His wife is very, very pleased.

[lowkeyremi]

𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 -> Aizawa Shota x afab!reader

➼ Sum: In short, you're fired from your main job. The worry and stress hits you while you're ugly crying outside of the building of your old workplace. You happen to meet a man who can give you a job. The question is... should you take it?

➼ Chapters: Prologue, 1

➼ Content Warning: Implied fem reader, reader has fem parts, eventual sexual content, suggestive language, all characters are aged up, eventual relationships, strippers, reader is struggling. (I'll add more as time goes on)

Prologue - I'm Fucking Losing It.

banner by: cafekitsune

"Please... I promise it won't happen again." You're on your knees in one of the halls, pleading- no begging to keep your job. It couldn't be helped though, why should you let people get handsy with you when it makes you uncomfortable?

"I'm sorry but that was your last chance. You've beaten up too many customers.. publicly at that and it's scaring away customers." Your manager says, he seems to feel for you but that frown may just be as fake as your life right now.

"But I'm your top money maker!" This is your last resort. You cannot lose this job because you don't make much at your coffee shop part-time.

"Technically, that's no longer true. Your performance has been sloppy lately, so Ami has risen and taken your spot." His words shatter what's left of your hope. Your makeup runs as you cry ugly tears. A man walks past the two of you, most likely toward the restroom. Any other time you'd be embarrassed, but right at this moment all you can feel is emptiness.

"So I'm being fired for defending myself?" You ask between sobs and sniffles.

"No, you know we wouldn't let anything happen to you. It's policy after all. You also know better than anyone that people at clubs are drunk and high even, so, of course, they're going to touch you. It's what you signed up for." He says to keep it professional.

Anger starts to seep into you. "Fuck, if that's how it's gonna be then I'll leave!" They don't deserve your service anyway.

"Ms. L/n...?" Your boss asks and you look up at him. He sees you struggling to stand because of your sore feet, these heels do you no justice. A hand is held out and you take it, trembling as you get up.

"I could recommend you to another club-" You cut him off.

"I'm good, thank you for everything you've done for me." It breaks your heart that you're leaving this place. As weird as it sounds this club was the closest thing to a home for you.

You start your walk to the backroom to get your things. Emptying your locker was the hardest. The tears start flowing again when you see the old Polaroid pictures you took with some of your coworkers who you considered to be some of your best friends.

Once changed out of your lingerie and you've packed everything you turn in everything the club let you use.

There was no way you'd say farewell to this life, it'd only make leaving it behind all the more hard. You walk outside and slump against the club's wall. You allow yourself to cry it all out.

You call your mother not sure what to do.

She picks up on the second ring, "Hello?"

"Hey.." you mumble. Your voice is hoarse due to crying.

Your mother instantly sighs, "Did you get yourself into some bullshit again?"

"Um.. yeah. Can I stay with you until I-" You're cut off by your mother's stern voice.

"Y/n, I cannot keep covering for your ass. You are twenty-six years old and every time you get into some shit you come crying to me or your father to fix it. I raised you better than that." And so the lecture begins.

"Mom please, just for a week or two.." You plead, usually she'd give in but she seems to be set on teaching you a lesson.

"No. You can call me if you need anything, but you need to get your life together. Life is not all cupcakes and rainbows. You need to learn how to deal with it. I love you but I have to go." Your mother, the one who's supposed to have your back through thick and thin is in your opinion giving up on you.

Your crying continues. What the hell are you supposed to do? Bills are due a little while from now and you work a small paying part-time.

"Shit I need to look for a job." You say sniffling.

"I could be of some assistance." A deep voice rings in your ears. You assume whoever it is is making a phone call and is not talking to you.

"You are in need of a job, correct? I could help you get into an honest line of work." The voice tries again. This time you look up to see a man with long raven hair casting down his shoulders, he has stubble covering his face alongside a few scars, and an eye patch that hides his right eye.

"Me?" You ask stoked about his appearance.

"I don't see anyone else out here crying their eyes out." He says with a hint of smugness. Wait.. how does he know you need a job?

"How did you-"

"Those walls aren't that thick." He replies somehow already knowing what you were bound to say.

"I need an assistant, I teach in a high school." The scoff that leaves your lips is inevitable.

"Teachers don't make shit, how am I supposed to pay my bills with a job like that?" Sarcasm is laced in your tone, you search his eye for any sign that he'll leave you alone but he seems determined.

"It's not just any high school. I'm a first-year teacher at UA high school, you'll be making around $20 an hour as my assistant. Also room and board is provided." Your eyes widen, now the offer is more tempting.

Looking down you get a glimpse of his prosthetic leg. "You need help because of your leg?"

"No, I could just use an extra set of hands, it seems every year the hero students get a little bit more naive." His sigh does not go unnoticed by you.

"Don't you need like a degree or something? Why are you asking an ex-stripper?" It's not even out of spite just pure curiosity.

"Usually you would, but I can get you the job. I'm asking because you seem to be struggling and if I can do something about it then I'll try to the best of my ability to make it happen."

Oh. So he's one of those people. The kind to pity anybody, you assume.

"I'm not struggling, I'm fucking losing it." The tears threaten to come back.

"What would I do?" You ask.

"Bring stuff from the printer, monitor the class, answer questions on current subjects, get coffee, other simple things like that." The calmness in his voice is a little unnerving.

"And I'd get paid $20 an hour for that?" The shock in your voice causes the man to chuckle a little bit.

"Correct. Any other questions?" His voice is smooth.

"How can you trust me? I just got fired for beating people up." You fear losing the potential job but you just had to ask.

"As you said, you were defending yourself. Your job should have considered that, even if the people are drunk that is no excuse for them to touch you when you have asked them to stop." He explains simply.

"Okay, I'll take the job.. when can I start?" This is what is crucial to you, those bills need to be paid, and getting behind would only cause you more trouble. But then again room and board is provided... would you even need to live in your crappy apartment anymore?

"Next week or the week after, I need to speak with the principal. Once everything is set straight I'll contact you about moving in." He rubs his face, and when looking into his eyes there was no way to tell what he was thinking. He looks so good though, you couldn't deny that.

"Eraserhead, a pleasure to meet you." That must be his hero name.

"Do I need some kind of code name? I'm not a hero. My stripper name was Golden Tiger." Your face flushes a little bit.

"Should've been Golden Kitten, you clearly haven't reached tiger status yet. Just give me your last name." It was clear he was teasing, his voice gave it away.

"Okay, just call me L/n then." He chuckles at your little huff of annoyance.

"Alright L/n, you think I could get your number to contact you?" That easygoing tone not leaving his voice.

You hand him your phone and you watch with interest as he types in his number. You hear a little hum escape his lips signaling he was done.

"Text me," he commands handing you back your phone. Something about the way he said that gave you goosebumps.

'Golden Tiger here.' you text biting your bottom lip. All you receive is Eraserhead shaking his head at you with a smug smirk.

"You need a ride home, Golden Kitten?" You can't even be upset when that smirk looks so good on him.

"Oh fuck off. My car's over there." You point to your ugly beige 2006 Honda Accord. (let's just pretend those still exist even tho the mha timeline is in the future)

"Is that any way to talk to someone who just got you a job?" His voice dropped an octave and you weren't sure if it was on purpose or if he was doing it unconsciously.

He looks like a tired man anyone wouldn't consider being attracted to but something about this man is drawing you in.

Instead of responding to his question, you ignore it, "I'm leaving."

You push yourself off the wall that hasn't been cleaned since who knows when. You'd forgotten that your feet were sore because of Eraserhead's presence but they reminded you of the pain.

Eraserhead mumbled something that sounded like 'be careful' but it wasn't certain, you already started limping to your car in pain.

Once situated you shut your eyes and let out a sigh.

"As cliché as this is, I'm glad my life is starting to work out a little bit." Your statement was heard by no one but yourself. When pulling out of the parking lot you play some music to prevent yourself from being left alone with your thoughts.

➼ AN: And that's a wrap for the prologue. I hope it's okay, this story came out of no where tbh. I'm not sure on how long I want it to be yet. I'm working on being more detailed in my writings. Also this is NOT beta read yet, bc I need to find someone to be my beta reader. Feel free to like, reblog, and comment! <3