#// *she's a very nervous and easily-bored person

[genshingorlsrevengeance]

Can i request jealous furina,hu tao or march7th? Im so desperate for these cuties😢

(Genshin Impact/H:SR) Jealous Furina, Hu Tao, Noelle, Xianyun, and March 7th HC's

SAAAME, also adding Noelle and Xianyun just cause!

(Furina) "S/O, I demand that you pay attention to me this very instant! It is important!"

Furina pouts and crosses her arm, waiting for S/O to notice her (admittedly adorable) glare.

Failing that, she will march straight over to where S/O is.

And if that doesn't get their attention, then her Vision will summon her friends to hit them over the head!

You do not simply ignore the Hydro Archon!

And Gods forbid if someone is trying to hit on S/O. She is going to create the biggest scene to show that they are HERS, and hers alone!

(Hu Tao) "Hiya, I notice you're talking a lot to my S/O! Unrelatedly, did you know we're having a sale on our coffins?"

Also unrelatedly, Hu Tao is about to turn someone into a ghost!

Hu Tao shamelessly clings onto S/O's arms, laughing at the whole situation.

But the grip strength tells S/O that she's not joking.

But if it's just a task that's holding S/O's attention, she'll either suddenly spook them, or wrap her arms around her neck, sighing dramatically.

(Noelle) "Excuse me, S/O is taken!"

Noelle shows zero hesitation and her usual shyness is nowhere to be seen.

Noelle was easygoing on a lot of things, but S/O was the one person she would not relent on, no matter what.

Even if it was a Knight, she wouldn't back down!

She sweeps them off their feet (Very easily) and walks away from the rude individual.

But, if it's something S/O is working on, she'll poke her head in, slightly more nervous than usual.

She didn't want to be rude, but she did want to spend time with them as well.

(Xianyun) "Hm...is that paper so important that you must ignore the dinner One has prepared, S/O?"

Xianyun adjusts her glasses after she sighs. S/O couldn't possibly work on an empty stomach, much less bereft of the meal made with such large amounts of love.

So it was only natural for her to try and drag their attention away from work and onto more important matters.

Herself!

And if someone was trying to flirt with S/O, then she portrays a shocking amount of calmness, simply sitting next to S/O and giving them an intimidating glare.

If they didn't get the message, then she'd simply vanish with S/O in tow. They could have dinner in peace away from these other mortals, after all!

(March 7th) "HEY! Shoo, S/O is mine!"

March hugs S/O tightly to her, ready to throw hands with whoever was flirting with them.

She'd show them her phone's lockscreen of them together, and if they still tried to do anything, then March was ready to show them the back of her hand!

Until Dan Heng, Caelus/Stelle, or even S/O themselves stopped her.

But if something mundane is keeping S/O's attention, March will whine as she puts her head on their shoulder.

(March) "S/O, I'm bored, pay attention to meeeeeee!"

[literatureloverx]

Just use this blog! I would love to get your thoughts in Chuuya since you do such an amazing job with Fyodor. Would be awesome to know your ideal types for the other bsd guys (..well chuuya mainly)

Such a cutie patootie request 🥹 I love it, and I’ve been wanting to write about this for a while now!

I’m a bit nervous about writing a character who isn’t Fyodor, but I really hope I can meet your expectations. ❤️ I would hate to disappoint. 🥺

Just a heads-up: I’m also planning to write about Dazai’s, Nikolai’s, and maybe even Akutagawa’s ideal types at some point. ❤️

Chuuya x fem!reader, Chuuya x ideal type!reader.🧡

Chuuya’s ideal type

In my character analysis post for Fyodor, I mentioned that Fyodor is not a "darling-neutral" character, which suggests that he has a very clear and non-negotiable ideal type.

However, this is certainly not the case with our beloved Chuuya.

Chuuya is genuinely "darling-neutral," but I’d like to depict an ideal type nonetheless, as I believe he has some aspects he would greatly admire in a woman.

Although I can’t recall where I read it, it was mentioned somewhere that Chuuya appreciates elegant people with a good sense of fashion.

When I think of such a person, I immediately picture an elegant woman who knows how to carry herself effectively and gracefully.

A good sense of fashion often indicates high self-esteem and self-worth.

This leads me to believe that Chuuya’s ideal type would definitely be someone confident.

It’s important to clarify that confidence doesn’t mean being loud or mean.

Imagine someone who is elegant, feminine (but not hyper-feminine), and confident.

This person would not be gracefully meek or silent but would act, look, behave, and move with class and confidence.

Given Chuuya’s own pride in his male strength, his keen sense of fashion, and his confidence brimming with pride, I believe he would fall for such a person almost immediately.

However, his ideal partner should not challenge him in a way that disrupts his sense of harmony.

This is precisely why he says he hates Dazai; it’s not that he hates Dazai himself, but rather the constant challenges Dazai presents that unsettle him.

Chuuya is a proud man in every possible way, and he wouldn’t easily tolerate disrespect or undue challenge.

In terms of physical appearance, I don’t think that attributes like hair or skin color, height (even though he is 5'3"/160 cm), or weight would be of significant importance to him.

However, I don’t believe he would be attracted to someone who is obese. Don’t get me wrong—he is strong enough to carry someone regardless of their weight, but it’s simply not his vibe.

“If a person’s body is prominent, it should be due to athleticism.”—Chuuya, probably.

Still, I don’t see him caring much about your fitness level either.

When I said he is "darling-neutral," I genuinely meant it.

I believe that Chuuya could easily fall in love with a shy, more masculine, sincere, or careful partner.

He has a beautiful and deeply humane heart, which allows him to see the best in his partner, no matter their characteristics.

However, this is not in a naive way—he would guide his partner to the right path if he sensed something might be off.

On the emotional side, Chuuya loves challenges, but his life is already filled with them. He might seek rest in his partner’s arms rather than being constantly challenged.

He would likely get bored with someone who is only loving but not truly engaging, as he is not a passive person himself.

Chuuya is active in whatever he does.

Chuuya is active in everything he does, so he needs a partner who can at least keep up with his lifestyle.

As a feared man and a valuable part of the Port Mafia—an executive, no less—his position should not intimidate his partner.

This is why I believe he wouldn’t keep his situation a secret.

He wants a true partner, someone loyal to him who also has a life of her own with meaningful activities, so she doesn’t feel alone or isolated when he’s not around.

His ideal partner should be independent and capable of taking care of herself, but also willing to let him take care of her—not because she needs it, but because she wants it.

This is how Chuuya expresses his love, through grand gestures and physical affection.

His partner should accept this wholeheartedly.

Loyalty is one of the most important aspects of Chuuya's relationship with his partner. He is loyal until the end of time, and he expects the same in return.

Then there’s his expensive wine collection—he’s not a heavy drinker, but he enjoys a good glass of wine now and then, especially when celebrating or unwinding after a long day.

He would expect his partner to share these peaceful moments with him. His vulnerable state when he drinks and relaxes gives him a sense of domestic warmth.

I’m not sure if this is a common interpretation of Chuuya’s character, but I see him as a somewhat possessive lover—perhaps not possessive in the typical sense, but definitely territorial.

Sexually, he may be very possessive, but in other aspects, he’s more about asserting his territory.

Because he won’t take it lightly if someone flirts with you or eyes you, you’ll need to be someone who can maintain a certain distance from others when necessary.

This is why I envisioned an ideal type for Chuuya who is classy, carrying herself with elegance and confidence, rather than someone who is chatty or bubbly.

Chuuya is territorial, and while you’re free to do as you please—go shopping with friends (he would even give you his black card), meet them anywhere, or engage in any activities you like—he barely has time for himself.

So, when he does have time for the two of you, he would expect you to set everything else aside to spend that time together.

That is why he needs someone who is ready to make sacrifices when needed.

Edit: I practically forgot to mention any real sexual content about his potential darling, so here they are:

I don’t think he would care whether his partner is a virgin or not, but if you are, he’d be very proud to be your first and would strive to make your first experience as beautiful and sensually unforgettable as possible.

However, I can’t see him being attracted to someone who is "too open" with sexual encounters, like someone who sleeps around.

This simply doesn’t align with the image of a woman who carries herself with confidence and grace.

[faux-ecrivain]

Yan! Crossdresser

(First Official Post)

Yan! Crossdresser that only dressed up for fun or because he was bored. Then he sees you, he tries to approach you in his usual clothes, but you don’t even look at him. (maybe you have an aversion to men, maybe you get along better with girls, or maybe you just don’t like men.)

Yan! Crossdresser who, after seeing your reaction to his ‘normal appearance’, decides to approach you dressed as a woman. (He’s even wearing a dress in your favorite color)

It’s a bit awkward at first, it always is when you meet new people, but it’s especially awkward when the person you’re meeting is such a beautiful woman. This new person says her name is Alex, you shake her hand in a nervous manner (ignorant to the flush that graces her face) and then the two of you are hitting it off. It’s almost like Alex knows everything about you.

Yan! Crossdresser who just couldn’t believe it worked so easily, he expected you to be somewhat reluctant to meet new people. But you weren’t, you were so friendly and kind (that’s what he likes about you), but you’re just so oblivious. (He can’t believe how lucky he is that you aren’t the least hit suspicious about all the information he knows about you)

Yan! Crossdresser who goes out of his way to wear your favorite colors, to dress as your ideal partner. (No matter how irritating how those ribbons on his dress were, don’t even get him started on the hours he spends on his makeup)

Yan! Crossdresser who goes shopping with you, spending hours picking out the perfect outfit for you (maybe some of them are a size too small, just so he can help you put them on)

Yan! Crossdresser that goes out of his way to seduce the ones that are interested in you, despite how much he despises them, only to promptly get rid of them (probably hiding those love rivals in his basement)

Yan! Crossdresser who painstakingly prepares the perfect date to ask you out, he contemplates telling you who he truly is, but then he chickens out (he’s worried you might not like him if you knew the truth)

Yan! Crossdresser who decides to continue this facade of being a woman, cutting off those from his past, those who would recognize him. (He barely even talks to his family anymore) 

Yan! Crossdresser who becomes flustered once you express the worry you feel after seeing how distant he’s become to the ones he used to consider friends.

Yan! Crossdresser who has to resist the urge to shower you in kisses when you hold him close and tell him that you’ll be here for you, that if he’s going through trouble with his friends (and family) you’ll be here for him. 

His heart begins to beat ferociously the moment you embrace him, his face flushes an embarrassing amount and he almost squeals when you run a hand through his hair, trying to comfort him. 

He cautiously embraces you, his arms winding around your waist and he buries his face in your chest. 

(You’re mildly uncomfortable, but you’re trying to be a good friend, and Alex doesn’t mean any harm. At least, you don’t think she does, but sometimes Alex’s behavior if suspicious.)

He feels lightheaded (probably all that blood rushing to his face) and he never wants to let you go. 

Yan! Crossdresser who decides to drag out this facade for just a bit longer, he’ll tell you the truth one day, just not any day soon. 

(Alright, here’s my first official post, I’m not very proud of this post, but hey, I’m a beginner and there’s always room for improvement!)

[denwritesandcries]

YJS HCs – body types

Pairings: Yellowjackets x fem!reader

Summary: Okay so, I was thinking about body types so I could add details to my Shauna fic, really small things like skin marks and other stuff and that made me think about the other yjs too. I'm not used to writing headcanons, but here are a few that I couldn't get out of my head.

Word count: 1,9k.

Content: my personal headcanons, cursing, suggestive, fluff, insecurities, hurt/comfort, recent pop culture references so i guess modern!AU??

Note: This is so random and specific I don't think anyone will read it but I wanted to write it so badly.

English is not my first language.

shauna shipman

- I think Shauna is the most athletic of the girls, since in the first episode it’s said that she is the fastest on the team. Not necessarily thin; she is solid. Solid and warm. A warm wall seeking your touch all the time.

- She would always try to keep one hand on you and every time she touched you, her skin would be scalding hot, as if she barely needed gloves in the winter and only wore them because you told her to.

- Big spoon! She likes to wrap her arms around you and let her body wrap you completely when you cuddle or sleep together, her weight relaxing against you.

- Shauna is strong, like really strong and she knows it, her arms and legs are toned from training and she takes advantage of this to tease you at any opportunity, carrying things for you willingly (your backpack, shopping, whatever, she would be exactly like the *aggressively moves all groceries to one hand to hold yours* meme), rolling up the sleeves of her flannels ‘cause the muscles stand out, pressing you against walls/counters or simply carrying you during makeout sessions and nothing you do will take away the smug smile on her lips – well, barely nothing.

- She would also wear tank tops and shorts frequently just to make you nervous and receive compliments. It's ridiculous ‘cause she really thinks she's being subtle (she isn't).

“Shaunie, you sure you don’t want a jacket?”

“No, I’m good like that.” She's not, but she won't admit it.

“It’s raining.” You insist.

“The cold doesn't bother me anyway.” She shrugs, but leans back against you, placing her chin on your shoulder.

You snort, “Sure thing then, Elsa.”

- Shauna has a happy trail! Little baby hairs going up to her navel where she melts into a puddle when you caress her, goosebumps covering her skin in the same second.

van palmer

- I believe Van has rough hands from her goalie gloves! They're always warm even if the rest of her body isn't ‘cause of the constant movement – she expresses herself a lot with her hands too. She likes to run them down your sides just to see how your skin crawls, sometimes she does it out of nowhere just to scare you because she thinks it's funny.

- I think her skin is very sensitive, the kind that's full of moles and burns easily in the sun – you're constantly reminding her to put on sunscreen, but it's no use – she loves it when you trace patterns on her spots before bed or when you're bored somewhere.

- Her skin being so sensitive also means that hickeys and scratches are really hard to hide on her. She doesn't mind, in fact she seems to enjoy it a lot, you catch her a lot of times watching the marks spread across her shoulders and neck as they take days to disappear. That doesn't stop her from teasing you tho.

“It's been a week and there's still a purple mark on my neck. What are you, a damn vampire?” She mocks.

“Nah, you act like you wouldn't love me to be your Edward Cullen.”

She lifts her chin at you, “A leech then.”

"Van!"

- She has a belly and is very proud of it! She says it's the best for defending the goal and that it makes her fall to catch the ball less painful; She'll flex her muscles like a gym athlete when she's changing playfully just to seduce you (it works every time). She loves it when she lies in your arms after a bad day and you squish her tightly, it helps her calm down.

- She also has a happy trail, but she is too ticklish, like really ticklish. Many of your makeout sessions end up interrupted by her giggling when you drag your hands too softly under her shirt, she prefers firm touches.

- Van definitely has lots of small scars spread across her body from accidents over the years, that little weirdo (affectionate).

nat scatorccio

- Nat is as pale as a ghost, it would be impossible not to notice when you made her blush for any reason. She would try to distract you so you don't pay attention to it, but it wouldn't put off anything.

- The dark circles under her eyes are extremely pronounced, both due to her paleness and the heavy makeup she wears, so you always know when she's had a bad day or simply hasn't slept enough. She will complain incessantly about you making her stop and rest, but she will always do what you ask.

- I truly believe that she has lots and lots of moles all over her body, especially on her back.

- Some are bigger than others, large spots on the skin and she pretends that her heart doesn't warm with the fascination you have for them, but the prominent red face says everything you need to know.

“They look like small constellations, Nat," you sigh dreamily, hands soft on her naked skin, “Man, I wish I knew a single shit about stars so I could name them.”

“I’m shirtless in front of you and that’s what you’re thinking about?”

- I think she would have a lot of acne, especially on her face from sleeping and forgetting to take off her cheap makeup often, you would have to do a skin care routine together for her to really start taking care of it.

- She definitely has a tattoo scar that she got from one of those shady professionals before she was eighteen and didn't take care of it properly. You almost freaked out when she showed it to you out of fear that it would get infected. In the end she ended up with a weird drawing and a skin failure, but for Nat it was totally worth it, she says it makes her look like a badass (it's definitely not just because you kiss the mark every time you see it).

lottie matthews

- Alright then, let me tell you, this girl is FREEZING from head to toe. No matter how well she dresses up, her whole body will remain strangely cold, which worries you at a certain point, so what better way to keep her warm than to have her glued to you like a koala all day?

- She would place her cold hands on your neck just to bother you and then smile innocently when you took them in yours to rub them and blow warm air on them. That smartass.

- Lottie is tall (at least a lot taller than me) and I think she would have a lot of growth marks, you don't grow like that as a teenager without some.

- Light streaks on the back, hips, legs and thighs that would vary in tone over time. I think she would have the habit of hiding them so that people wouldn't comment, wearing long stockings with her skirts at school parties.

- She would be so flustreaded if you showed that you liked them by running your hands up her inner thighs, scratching her back gently to feel the smooth texture of the taut skin. It makes her feel so loved.

- She has sun spots on her face, around her eyes and cheeks. You think it's so beautiful that you could admire it for hours, anywhere, but you usually do it in bed in the morning.

“Are you watching me sleep, dear?” Lottie mumbles as she wakes to find you giving her a love gauze.

“Hm-hm,” you deny quietly, “‘Not watching you sleep. I’m watching you.”

“Oh.”

jackie taylor

- Now, Jackie would have stretch marks and be completely insecure about them. The girl needs constant validation about everything that concerns her and you better give it to her, she just wants to feel loved.

- Marks on her hips and chest that most of the time wouldn't even be visible, but she would still remember they were there. You run your hands down her sides as gently as possible and she will have tears in her eyes as you snuggle, heart warm.

- Your support helps her feel more comfortable with her own body over time, but she still wants compliments every day and will give you hints ‘til you comply with her requests.

- Jackie has freckles! This is actually one of the things she likes most about her face, the trail of dots around her nose and eyes. She’ll melt into a puddle on the floor if you start to kiss them one by one, but will lose patience if you decide to count them and stop the act of leaving wet kisses on them. She's not very good at waiting.

“Babe!” She whimpers.

“Just a second, sweetie, I’m almost finishing.” You continue, a look of pure concentration on your face, muttering “35, 36, 37…”

“No.” She says, hand grabbing the collar of your t-shirt and pulling you against her, “Come back now.”

- Jackie isn't necessarily icy, but she gets cold very easily and isn't shy about asking for your coat or jacket when you're together. Your girlfriend is a princess, better treat her like one. She'll squeeze her body against yours in bed and steal the blankets to stay warm.

- She has spots on her arms! Hundreds of light spots on the outside of the wrists to the shoulders, it's almost imperceptible, but so cute. Make sure to always let her know how beautiful she is.

misty quigley

- I think Misty has acne scars on her shoulders and cheeks, little red dots spreaded. She don't mind it most of time, but can be very insecure about it.

- She would be really suspicious if you just showered her with compliments out of nowhere just ‘cause you think she’s upset, so acting is better. Actions speak more to her.

- Place soft kisses on her shoulders, gently bite her cheek so she rolls her eyes in that nervous way she does. Make her feel beautiful as she is – because she is.

- She would be so pleased with you spoiling her that she would pretend to be sad about it a lot of times just to get your attention, she is an evil little genius. It’s captivating.

- She has freckles too! Little dots on her face so lightly that you only see them when she takes off her glasses, but they are there.

“I kiss you everyday, how did I never notice your freckles before?”

“Oh, I don't know.” She shrugs innocently, “Maybe you should take a closer look, baby.”

- She thinks she's so smooth but in reality she's a mess, the girl can't pick up social cues to save her life.

tai turner

- Okay so, Tai is the type who takes the football really seriously and works hard to win and to do that she would try to stay in shape as much as possible. I can easily imagine her doing extra training sessions and her friends teasing her about it, ‘cause Tai, it's a high school team.

- Because of this, I think she would have stretch marks on her back and calves, light fine lines that stand out against her dark skin. These are marks of her effort, so she shows them with great pride.

- She gets very smug and her skin crawls when you run your nails over the marks on her back.

- Tai is strong, strong enough to break someones leg on the field (sorry not sorry allie) and will show off for it whenever she gets the chance. She likes to wrap her arms around you from behind and lift you off the ground when she's passing by.

- She has sun spots on her face and arms! You think it's so cute, but if you say something silly and cheesy about it she'll roll her eyes and tell you to stop embarrassing her.

You sigh, “You are so, so pretty, Tai.”

“And you are so, so lame.” She echos, “...Come here, let me kiss you.”

- Happy wife, happy life. Always make her feel appreciated, she deserves it.

[frogchiro]

okay wait why am i now just hearing about butcher/slasher ghost, and why am i foaming at the mouth!!!???! like ripping apart pillows, tearing down walls, doing flips���RAHHH i am officially OBSESSED!!

i read it and thought of texas chainsaw massacre, but it’s the 2006 one so like simon is an absolute menace but he sees a pretty lady who’s new to town and his cold killer heart just can’t help but swoon :((( and she’s so polite, nervous, and timid because it’s so different in this town and simon with his cursed blessed keen sense of smell

OH MY GOD BUT SLASHER GRAVES IN A SMALL TOWN DOWN IN TEXAS!!!?

so sorry if this is a lot!! 😣 i’m just a little obsessed 🤭🤭 either way, have an amazing day!! stay hydrated and make sure to eat 🩷🩷

HOW THE FUCK DID I NEVER THINK OF SLASHER GRAVES

My dear, I know that you probably expected Butcher!Ghost but I'm highjacking this ask now and writing slasher Graves because oh my god-

The setting I imagine to be in a small southern town in Texas, and I imagine it to be like one of those creepy, small southern gothic towns with the old abandoned churches, houses and old beaten up signs that say "His return is near" or "God is watching you", you get the idea.

And there we have Philip Graves who owns a big ranch passed down for generations in his family, and by big I mean HUGE. Enormous pastures, corn fields, cows, horses, pigs and all that which means he and his name is quite well know in the area which admittedly makes his...hobby a lot easier than you'd think. Graves has friends in high places and he's buddy buddy with the town's sheriff, basically the golden child of the town which means that both the police and the sheriff will turn a blind eye to the "sudden disappearances" of people, be it locals or newcomers to town.

But the thing is that Philip Graves is bored. Bored out of his mind and nothing seems to excite him anymore, not even the desperate hysterical screams of his victims do the thing anymore. Sure he definitely has the money, the looks that refined well with age, he's respected and liked in the community but the truth is-he doesn't give a shit about it.

I imagine that Slasher!Graves is an incredibly arrogant man, and while he may put on a pleasant facade, his accent a thick and purring drawl and his southern charm do the trick he's a whimsical and capricious prick who gets easily bored and when he does...Well let's just say that it doesn't end pretty.

So imagine how surprised he was when he was in town once in his pickup truck, cowboy hat low on his brow as he watched the cars go by when suddenly his eyes were caught by a bus, one of those that travel for very long distances and the only person who got out was you. To say that Philip's interest was piqued would be an understatement; what's a pretty soft little thing like you doing in this bumfuck nowhere in Texas?

A pretty young lady, seemingly around 20, who looked like a lost little lamb, but just what were you doing here? Everything about you screamed that you're obviously not from here and while he could see even from a distance that you tried to act confident, his sharp blue eyes saw right through that act-you were scared shitless and more than lost. Were you here to visit someone? Or maybe...you are running from something? Whatever the case was, you definitely caught his attention in more than one way.

You just looked...so soft, so pretty, lovely he'd even say and I'm sorry but this Graves that we're talking about would definitely be a little misogynistic :(( He's old fashioned, maybe it comes with his age or maybe due to how his pa raised him but the further he observed you the more he he couldn't help but think about how such a pretty young lady like yourself should be married off already to a nice gentleman, getting provided for like you deserve and in return takin' care of your husband too; bringing him beer, cookin' and popping out a kid or two :((

His train of thoughts got interrupted only by a loud booming voice calling out his name cheerfully and when he turned around annoyed to see who was interrupting him, it turned out to be old Michael, an old friend of his pa. He greeted him politely but when he turned around to watch you a little more it turned out that you already wandered off, sneaky girl.

Philip cursed under his breath but on the other hand he decided to just ask the sheriff about you since he knows that the man has access to all the information about any newcomers to town. It looks like his bored streak came to an end <3

[trippinsorrows]

I feel like this is another multiverse type question. But say Solana wasn’t in the situation she was in and Roman was very much so attracted to her as he is now. How do you think Roman would have approached her ?

this is such an interesting question!

hmmm.

under the read more cause this got longer than i intended lol

roman was bored, ready to go. functions were never his thing. he always attended out of obligation and necessity. never want. and considering he's been present for an hour, he more than feels he's done what he needed to do.

he pulls out his phone to text paul to have the car pulled for him, ready for his wise man to foolishly try to convince him to stay when a body collides into him.

soft is one of the first things to hit him followed by a sweet, vanilla almond scent that's more than pleasing to all of his senses. his arm naturally reaches to brace the person who collided with him, a person he right away knows is a woman, both by the soft curves of her body but also the fragrance.

"oh my god." the voice. so soft and sweet, almost too sugary, too angelic for such a function, full of the world's most dangerous people. such a stark contrast. "i'm so sor---"

she's silenced, and roman is momentarily taken back as the two of them lock gazes. beautiful, big brown eyes widened in alarm that's most likely due to her recognizing who he is. "mr. reigns...."

roman is partially paying attention to her words but mostly taking his sweet time taking all of her in. her face is absolutely stunning, and roman can tell it's not just because of the beautifully done makeup. he can see natural beauty beneath that. her hair is pulled up into a fancy updo, but her full lips snatch his focus before he rakes his eyes over her body, even curvier than he realized. cleavage on full display in her red dress that hugs her perfectly. she's a tiny little thing. a good foot shorter to him, but there's no denying it.

she's fucking stunning.

and she's still fucking apologizing. "i'm so sor---"

"it's fine." anyone else, and it wouldn't be. but there's something about this woman with the soft voice, light eyes, and alluring body that has him not as irritated as he normally would be. "it was an accident."

she nods, clearly nervous, when she looks over her shoulder, as if looking for something. or someone.

suddenly curious, he asks, "who are you--"

"oh no," she interrupts him, an unintentional thing, as she offers what looks like an apologetic look. she holds up the bottom of her red gown to move past him. however, roman finds himself moving his arm to bar her, holding her. he has to stop himself from thinking too much about the almost natural feeling he experiences in and with touching her.

"i---"

"there you are."

roman breaks his stare with the woman to see none other than ethan fucking page. he scoffs. no wonder she's running.

this bastard is insufferable.

page clears his throat and gives roman a nod. "mr. reigns, i apologize for the interruption." his gaze falls on the woman who almost moves closer to roman, practically holding onto him. it's obvious she's uncomfortable as hell. has to be for good reason too. "just need to speak to---"

"she's with me."

it comes out without much thought, both page and the unnamed woman looking at him with equal surprise.

page removes his glasses, looking at her, "solana?"

solana

unique. pretty. fitting.

she swallows. "i---" and just like that, she seems prepared to ruin this save roman has provided her, though he hasn't the slightest idea why he's giving her a save. yet, here he is.

"get lost, page." roman's tone shifts into something darker, something that's very reminiscent of the reason that he's easily the most feared man in the room. "i won't repeat myself."

i.e. get lost, or i'll snap your neck. an unspoken threat that's clearly understood, because page murmurs something that's probably an apology. and then he's gone, leaving roman alone yet again with this solana.

looking back at her, she gives him a small smile. roman is quickly realizing she's even prettier when she smiles. "thank you."

roman nods, asking, even though he doesn't know why, "what's the story?"

her smile drops into a frown that roman finds himself wanting to wipe off her face. "ethan....he doesn't know how to take 'no' for an answer." she shakes her head, scoffing quietly. "he shows up to my store at least once a week just to ask me out, even though the answer is always no."

"where do you work?" it's not that roman necessarily wants or even needs to know this piece of information, but there's a thought of breaking both page's knees and providing specifics when he does as such, such as the name of the place he's never to step foot in again, which could be....helpful.

roman is thankful when the smile returns, not as bright but still present. he'll take it. "i own a bookstore in town. nina's." his curiosity must be visible. "my mother's name. we share a love of books."

he makes a sound. everything he's learned in the less than twenty minutes he's known about this girl makes all the sense in the world. of course, her name is different, unlike any name for a woman he's heard of. of course, she has trouble fending off an asshole like page. and of course she likes books.

she clears her throat, finally breaking away. roman didn't even realize he was still holding her. "thank you again, mr. reigns."

"roman," he corrects. "call me roman."

she swallows, voice softening, "roman...."

he's not sure he's ever enjoyed hearing his name as much as he likes hearing it on her mouth. he'd love to hear it even more if she was screaming it, moaning it as he fucked her, kneading those beautiful, soft breast of hers.

fuck

"why are you looking at me like that?" she asks in that same sweet, almost innocent voice.

his eyes twinkle with mischief. "do you really need to ask?"

solana shifts bit, playing with her hands, hinting at some nervousness. "i'm not like that."

roman is almost certain he knows what she's saying, but he makes sure, regardless. "and what is that?"

her mouth shifts into a small smirk. "do you really need to ask?"

and for the first time tonight, roman smiles.

this girl is unlike any he's met before.

continuously intrigued, he asks, "what's your last name?"

she answers, "miller."

recognition dawns after a couple seconds for him. "xavier and nina...you're the daughter?"

he's always heard they had another child other than wesley, but he'd never seen her at one of these functions. didn't even realize it was a daughter.

a beautiful daughter at that.

she nods. "i don't typically attend these sorts of things."

"you should," he finds himself suggesting. roman isn't the biggest flirter, doesn't need to. women flock to him like moths to flame, but there's something about this woman... he steps closer to her, hand reaching out to run his finger along her cheek. "how else am i going to see you?"

she seems taken back, cheeks turning pink, but she takes him by surprise with her reply, "you could come see me."

his chuckle is dark and his tone suggestive. "oh, i don't think coming will be an issue."

and her cheeks deepen in color, as she announces, "i should go find my brother."

eyes falling to her chest, he asks, "should you?"

solana smiles and diverts her gaze, slightly disappointing him when she steps back. "goodbye, roman."

he stuffs his hands in the pockets of his custom suit pants. "not goodbye," he correct. "just goodnight."

because there's no doubt in roman reigns mind that this was the last time he'll ever see solana miller.

far from it.

[maxsimagination]

𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 - 𝗺.𝗹𝗲𝗼𝗻

summary: moving from germany to spain is no easy feat, but luckily yn has frido and mapi to help

-> ingrid and mapi aren’t together for this, and never were

-> i apologise if any of the translations are wrong

𖦹 masterlist

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗘 𝗙𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 bayern to barcelona felt like it was insanely long, but really it was only two hours.

i got bored super easily and had no one to talk to for the time we were in the air. i was moving from bayern munich to barcelona, which was a big change for me.

i knew i wouldn't have a language barrier because i knew spanish but it was like moving schools. i have to learn a new city, where everything is and how to get places. and that not even including meeting new people.

i was a very social person, i loved to have company but that didn't stop me from being nervous when i had to make new friends or talk to people i'd never met before. and it didn't help that my new teammates were some of the best players in the world.

we got into the airport at 12:05 pm barcelona time and i ordered a taxi to my new apartment. it wasn't that far from the home stadium that i'd training at when i officially started at the club, maybe a 10 minute walk.

but first i had planned a trip to one of their home games to see what exactly i was getting into. their first game of the season was tomorrow night; the same stadium i lived by, and it was against valencia.

i wouldn't lie, i'm excited to see the players, especially knowing that frido plays here now. she was at the club for two years from 2017 to 2019 and we talked a lot when she was there. she moved to wolfsburg and then barcelona, so this was the first time i'd seen her properly in a couple of years.

the stadium was packed for the first game of the season, majority of the fans dressed in barcelona jerseys and waving flags around. it was exciting to see and think about the prospect that these fans would be cheering me on in a couple of weeks.

barcelona won that game, 6-0 with two own goals scored from valencia. i made my way down to the rail where i saw frido signing shirts. i waited until she was close enough and called out to her, she looked up and spotted me, her eyes widening.

"yn! what are you doing here?"

"here to see you, and meet my new teammates. care to introduce me?" i nodded over to where some other barca players were chatting.

she grinned, obviously putting the pieces together and understanding that i was moving to her team.

"absolutely. come down here."

she reached up to where i was and lifted me over the barrier. she signed a couple more things and took some photos before we walked to her friends. i knew they were staring at me the second frido lifted me on to the field.

"ale! mapi, irene, ingrid! i'd like you to meet someone."

they all turned to me, the four pairs of eyes boring into me. i threw on a smile and held out my hand to each of them.

"nice to meet you, i'm yn yln."

the shorter girl from the group perked up when i said my name.

“¿como yn del bayern munich?” (like yn from bayern munich?)

“la única. mapi leon, ¿verdad?” (the one and only. mapi leon, right?)

she nodded and i grinned, she looked slightly taken aback that i could understand and speak fluent spanish. the other three introduced themselves then.

"yn is joining us in a couple of weeks. she's moved from bayern to barca, a german international."

"thankyou frido, for the introduction. and yes i can speak spanish."

it was a great way to meet some of the team before my first training with them in two weeks.

the time went by quickly from when i first arrived in barca and then officially starting at the club, but i was excited to see the girls again and meet the rest of them. i walked down to the grounds and met frido out the front.

we walked to the changing rooms where i dropped my bag off and grabbed my cleats. then we walked out to field and over to the covered gym they had. the coach, jonatan met us there and introduced himself, before announcing to the whole team who i was and that i was joining the team.

mapi and alexia came up to us and welcomed me back, mapi practically bounced her way over and gave me a hug while ale was more relaxed.

we got straight into gym then finishing with some mini games between the players.

——

it had been a week since i was at barca, i was settling in nicely and really enjoying my time here. all the girls were lovely but i was especially close with frido, because we knew each other previously, and mapi, who had become very close over the time i'd been there.

we had a 'team bonding' event tonight as lucy liked to call it. her and kie were hosting it at their place and it was basically a night were the whole team comes and spends time together doing anything and everything.

mapi had offered to pick me up and i gladly accepted, becoming quite fond of the short spanish woman.

it was now the evening and i had grabbed my pre packed bag and phone and rushed downstairs and out the door to where mapi was waiting in her car.

lucy informed me that most girls left before it got too late but i was welcome to stay the night if i wanted to, so my bag was fully prepared if i did stay the night. i joined mapi in her car and she drove us to lucy and kies house.

almost the whole team was already there when we arrived, some turned up early to help lucy and kie prepare for twenty-two 'kids' running around their house.

"hola chicas!" (hello girls!) mapi burst through the door with me right behind her. she was always full of energy and i loved it. the team matched her energy and cheered when she made her entrance.

it was such a great vibe for the evening, with lucy and kie already ordering a bunch of food that we could eat for dinner. there was a list of movies that we voted on and ended up putting on some random disney movie.

by the time the movie was nearing the end which was only a couple of hours later, some of the girls were packing up their things to leave and go to their own homes. however me and mapi were still on a couch in the living room.

at some point in the film i'd gotten a bit tired and cuddled into mapi. i think the spanish woman had a heart attack because she didn't move for a bit, until i looked at her and smiled.

we spent the rest of the movie like that, cuddled into each other.

lucy and kie had retired to their own room, leaving the rest of the girls who were staying to make themselves comfortable. mapi and i stayed on the couch along with ona who was fast asleep. i think i had gotten real tired right at the end and shut my eyes for a bit.

i hadn't fully fallen asleep yet and could still hear things, it was more of a lucid dream state.

however my acting must have fooled mapi because she brushed my hair out of my eyes and slightly caressed my face. i made no move to stop

her as she spoke soft spanish to my 'sleeping' form.

"god you look so pretty, mi corazón." (my heart)

i heard her, loud and clear, although they were the last words i'd hear for the night. i fell asleep then and didn't remember much else.

——

lucy dropped me back home the next morning, since mapi was still asleep. i didn't want to wake her and lucy was already up so i left mapi a note and grabbed my stuff. once i was home, the only words flowing through my mind being mapi's words from last night.

it made me think of how close we had become during the time i'd been with the club, which was not a lot. however mapi made it seem like we'd easily known each other for years. i admired the shorter spanish woman and i knew that what we had was slowly changing from friends to something more.

i walked down to training the next day, fully prepared to talk to mapi.

after everyone had gone through training, i pulled mapi over, asking if she wanted to go out for coffee. she agreed and volunteered her car, simply because i didn't have one yet.

we were at a little cafe in the city, just sipping on our drinks when i decided i'd stalled for long enough.

"so, did i look pretty while i slept at lucy's, mi corazón?" (my heart)

my eyes were trained on her face the entire time, not wanting to miss her reaction. she immediately looked to me, eyes slightly widened and a somewhat shocked expression on her face.

"you thought i was asleep, didn't you?" i was now fully grinning with a mischievous glint in my eye.

"i can explain." she seemed extremely nervous, although she had no reason to be. i wasn't mad or angry or upset, i just thought it was funny how this turned out.

"yn, ilikeyoumorethanfriends." she rushed it out, although i had an idea of what she said.

"slow down, maria, i don't speak gibberish." she blushed when i said her first name.

"i like you more than friends, yn."

"much better."

mapi didn't respond, only sat looking at me for a bit longer.

"that's it? you're not saying anything?" she almost looked offended, like it was criminal not to like her back.

"well maria, you're in luck. i like you more than friends too."

[astrologythingzzz]

Moon sign observations ✨🌝

Hi everyone! I've thought about doing these for a very long time now! I'll be using my own experiences with the moon signs! 🌙

Some observations are going to be more accurate than others!

Take what resonates and please know that none of these are meant to hurt anyone! 🌝

P.s. I started a tiktok account. It's called Astrologythingzzz too. Check it out if you want to! 🧡

Aries moon

My mom has this placement. She's very ambitious, but also really loves to experience new things every other day! She can be very impulsive with money (it is in her 2nd house). Her emotions sometimes get the best of her. She needs variety and stimulation, when she was in her 20s she travelled a lot and had a big friend group! Personally, I've never met many people with aries moons so she's my only reference.

Taurus moon

My dad is a taurus moon. His most used sentence is "You can save money in every part of you life, but you should never save money when it comes to food." I think that's very typical for taurus placements. He craves stability and peace. He loves good food, dancing and family time. His love language is also giving you food that you like! He likes tradition, he's from Italy so he always makes sure that his children are very much in touch with his roots.

Gemini moon

That is my placement! I don't know anyone else with that placement, so I'll write down my own experience with this one. I'm bored easily, but I'm not superficial. Actually I'm not that social and not very outgoing. As a Child i loved reading and fantasising. I get very restless and nervous, sometimes I have sleep issues if my body is in distress (it is in my 12th house tho). I feel like there are two different gemini moon people, the one is the social, outgoing one, the other is socially withdrawn and nervous. Guess I got the latter one! 🌝

Cancer moon

These are the most loving, warm hearted people ever. They do everything for their family, they provide and make the best gifts! They really listen to the people they love, they also sense your feelings and are amazing at comforting. One of my best friends that I used to talk to had this placement. Sadly we are not involved with each other anymore, but she always felt like home to me. You can count on them to cook you your favorite meal or bake your favorite cookies!

Leo moon

Sadly I've never been truly involved with one. The ones that I know are very obsessed with their image. The girl has really long hair, she's even known for it. But the guy has always been very attention craving. He is very sweet deep down and romantic. But also kind of toxic, I feel like he's an unevolved leo moon. Hopefully I'll get to know more leo moons, they seem so warm and welcoming!

Virgo moon

My girl bestfriend has this placement. We both love talking about kind of everything (mercurial moons) wether it be books, gossip, personal stuff... She gets stomach issues when stressed. She loves animals, she has a very deep bond to her pet dog. She lives vegan and loves minimalistic interior design. She always cared for her younger siblings, cooking for them, sometimes even taking the role of a caretaker (she's a cancer sun). We haven't been very much in touch lately, but I still cherish her a lot! She helped me getting through many things and I can count on her to always be honest with me. I have also shared a flat with two other virgo moons, the one was absolutely crazy about houseplants, she had like 30 in her room. She was very nice and gentle, but a little too naggy for me. The other one is my soulsister, we always grabbed food or cooked together which was very fun!!

Libra moon

Sadly, I didn't have the best experience with this placement. A friend in school had this, and she just was very passive aggressive. She wasn't romantic or warm, she was rather cold and aloof. When I started dating my boyfriend, she got so jealous and accused me of never having time for her. We never really hung out anyways, but that's when she started getting toxic. Her mother was very strict so she also became like that. She was also the one person that always complained about the exams but in the end she always had A's. We lost touch after school and I'm very glad about it. I know that she was probably an unevolved libra moon, so I hope I'll get to know the nice, gentle and loving ones! 🌚

Scorpio moon

I lived with one for about 4 months. She was very shy, but she was willing to open up. When you criticised her, she felt completely offended and never really talked to me ever again. She moved out very soon and my other flat mates and I weren't so sad about it. She never talked to us, she didn't even get out of her room after this one incident, where we criticised her for never coming out of her room. We were 4 girls sharing a big flat, 3 of us were always going out and having fun together, she never even read our text messages so we just assumed she didn't want to be involved with us. She just seemed very cold. In the end she blamed us for being cold, even though we invited her out for like a 100 times. We were even a little scared of her, she just seemed so unfriendly. I have never heard of her every since and I'm not mad about it.

Sagittarius moon

I know some people with this placement. Actually many of them are studying to become a lawyer and they're pretty good at it. One of them is becoming a police officer the other wants to be a politician. They cherish their own opinion a lot, they love living life as they want to. They are down for partying every weekend, I also saw a connection with drinking too much... Sometimes the girls are "not like other girls" because of their love for danger and adventure. One of them always felt the need to rub under my nose how much she liked to perform sports and whatever. They are very sporty though. But I sometimes get the feeling they take themselves too seriously. Not my favorite moon placement, but they're alright. They can be a little braggy and their political views can be a little extreme. A love for animals and justice.

Capricorn moon

Sorry, but no. 🧡 They treat everything as a transaction, if they're giving you something, you automatically owe them. They can be funny though and really nice. They are very ambitious. I noticed they do have a problem with feelings, and if they're getting involved with you, it is for the long run. On the other hand, if you don't seem like the one, they will just leave you hanging around until they find a better option. Maybe that's just my experience. I feel like their childhood was very strict, they had to look after themselves and their parents weren't very supportive of them. Might have a narcissistic mom.

Aquarius moon

That's another placement that was my flatmate. She also had a very rough childhood. Her father wasn't even involved, her mother always favoured her brothers over her. It was really hard getting to know her and even though i had loved to stay in touch with her, I haven't heard of her after moving out, which is kinda sad. She was very emotionally codependent on her boyfriend, so there wasn't really space for any other relationship in her life. I just hope she's happy now. :) The other aqua moon I know studies the same subject at university like me. We get along very well, but we're not best friends. She also seems a little distant, she lives in her own world and has her own circle of friends. But she's very nice and very human(?) I love talking to her, it just makes me feel great! 🧡

Pisces moon

This one is a little tricky. My boyfriend has this placement, and he's the most gentle, kind, supportive, understanding and loving person I know. Pisces moons can be the most creative, selfless and caring people in the world. On the other hand, my bully in high school had this placement 💀 She always used me for homework and talked sh*t about me behind my back. I feel like pisces is a placement in general, that really needs to learn how to deal with their gentle and sensitive nature. It seems like many of them try to mask their feelings by being mean/ dominant/aggressive. But it's no weakness to show emotions! 🧡 Because of my boyfriend, it's probably my favorite moon sign! 🧡

That would be it! Hope you liked it!

If you can't resonate, please know that these are my personal experiences with the moon signs. Every moon sign has an evolved and unevolved part. I feel like I met a lot of unevolved ones. Sadly.

Anyways, see you soon, love you. Byee🧡

[juinxa]

SHE

[ an excerpt from BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME! that I wrote so long ago ]

[ TW: suggestions of animal cruelty (nothing actually happens they were just being loud kids) ]

OR, kisaki’s first encounter with his slice of Heaven

▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂

                KISAKI WAS ALWAYS a nervous child, never sticking up for himself. His younger years weren't his best, but maybe he could’ve made up for it when he was older. For now, he was teased and an easy target for lunch money robbing. He never fought back. Was there any point when the most he could be scream before they would tape his mouth shut? Older kids were more dangerous than they used to be. He wasn’t sure he heard about kids mugging other kids from his parents. He wasn’t sure that he heard about kids his age abusing animals like it was an afternoon run. Though, he knew better than to criticize them. Who was he to say anything when they were dangerous. Ah, who was he kidding?

Kisaki Tetta wasn’t a hero.

Maybe he could’ve been the smart sidekick with the smart plans. He didn’t have the looks of a typical hero protagonist when he had black, messy hair with strands poking out, dark bags that carried heavily, and a face that wasn’t unique enough to attract model agencies. However, his smarts made up for it. His intelligence was exceeding more than others. He knew how to plan things accordingly, and whether there were bumps or not, he would easily find a way around them in order to reach his goal.

His classmates were a bore; they never interested him in the slightest. Sure, there was Hinata Tachibana, but she was more of a female who praised everyone, and she rarely stood around him to know much. Everyone in his year was bland, tasteless, and boring, overall. He couldn’t understand the joy of having many friends when everyone seemed to distance them from himself. He could’ve tried, but he didn’t know why he didn’t. Maybe it was fear of rejection. Maybe it was because they weren’t worth it. Maybe it was because he knew there was someone better out there.

Better there was.

[Name] [Surname], who was a year above him. She went to the same school as him. She also attended cram school. She was a peculiar girl with a likable personality, and he wondered why she had to be in the grade above him. Coincidentally, they sat next to each other in cram school. She always spoke about her adventures with her friends. Every story she told was interesting and caught his attention. He was always invested in what she had to say next. She was like an enigma force, like a book with millions of stories, or like a refreshing air after a day of being locked in a cramped room. Kisaki truly thought this girl was a heavenly slice of life.

Not to mention, she paid more attention to him than cram school. She explained that she was only there because of her parents and didn’t really want to attend. He felt flattered, flattered at the fact that she had rather spend time with him than listen to what was going on. She was given two options, and she went for the one that included him. She was including him in something that she chose. Refreshing. It was refreshing. At that point, he enjoyed her company. She was a good friend to have around.

”Kisaki, we should totally get ice cream afterward. You’re like my cram school friend, y’know?” She murmured, spinning her pencils through her spinning fingers. Kisaki pushed down the phrase “cram school friend” into his throat and decided to twist the words to his own liking—my best friend. ”I’d like that,” He smiled at her, heart racing fast at the offer.

At other times, she would ask other questions.

”Kisaki, you’re very quiet. May I ask why?” She asked, placing her chin atop of her hand while she stared at the words she was writing like she was in a trance. He continued on, thinking over his next words. “I’ve always been at the top of my exams, and many tend to avoid me because of it.” She hummed lightly, placing her hand down on the table to put her head down. It didn’t sound like he enjoyed those experiences. She never understood why being smart had to do with isolation and loneliness. Without much thought, she crawled out a response, “That’s stupid of them. If they spoke to you as I did, they’d see more than just a smart student. I suppose they’re missing out on a piece of art.”

‘There it was again,’ Kisaki thought, ‘that stupid heart thump.’

[Name] had no problem opening up to him about her concerns or worry. She’d ask for advice about troubles she was experiencing. He loved helping her out. Whenever she would confess something, he felt like he was getting closer to her. She was growing vulnerable around him, and it was blissful to know that she could trust him. There was a bond—a genuine bond that he had never experienced with others. It was the type of bond that exceeded any other he had. It wasn’t a bond of pity like others may have done. This was a true bond of friendship. She had willingly taken the time to befriend him, and Kisaki knew how important time was. You could never get time back, once you wasted it, there was no chance of getting back. You couldn’t reverse time!

So when she took the irreversible time to speak, know, and understand him, Kisaki felt like he was at home. It wasn’t like the location of the home. It was a sense of familiarity—where you could be safe behind the walls that wrap around you and hold memories. He held memories with her. He didn’t care if it was only at school. To him, as long as it was with her, he’d cherish it to the end of time.

She was always oblivious to her surroundings. He took notice of it. Cram school came with its own difficulties. There were those in cram school who were aggressive. Some were even rude to her, but she was never phased by it, simply ignoring their threats and taunts. She was strange indeed. When he asked her why, the answer was the same as always: “Hm? Why do I ignore them? They aren’t threats to me or my friends. If anyone hurts my friend I’m mad. Besides, I’m a pretty patient person.”

No threats to her or her friends. He wondered if he were threatened, would she do something? Would her patience run low if someone bothered him? He didn’t have the answer, and he wanted to know. She didn’t seem like the type to fight anyone. Throughout his time with her, she never displayed any signs of violence or aggression. Languid is what she was. 

“Who can make me mad?” She repeated Kisaki’s question, in which he nodded. Pondering, she poked her chin with the eraser on her pencil. “I don’t think anyone can make me mad. Oh(!), but I know someone—or some people—who can annoy the hell out of me.” Her smile was wide like she enjoyed having them annoy her. Kisaki felt his throat clench. She seemed very happy about the ones who could annoy her. Why was she so happy?

”Mikey and Baji!”

”Mikey?” He breathed out. It sounded familiar to him, but Baji was a foreign name to him. Since Mikey was the only one he was familiar with, he asked, “Who’s Mikey?”

”Hm, he goes to a different school, but he’s my friend! He knows how to get on my nerves, though.” The girl admitted, giggling at the memories of what he had done. Kisaki felt his hands grow sweaty. Her giggles were nice, too nice to be caused by someone named Mikey. He felt his brain freeze. It was as if he felt there was a threat towards him. Why was he feeling this way? He had only seen her around school and during cram school. He never hung out with her outside of school. He had a chance with the ice cream scenario, but he couldn’t go out late as she could, so he had missed an opportunity.

”Mikey, huh?”

”Mikey isn’t his real name. It’s actually Sano Manjiro!” She beamed, and Kisaki felt his hands go cold, mouth losing its salvia that lapped around, and his legs began to bounce from confusion. The Sano Manjiro? Who hadn’t heard of him? He was an infamous name around the elementary schools. He was a delinquent who managed to beat up many middle and high schoolers. He didn’t know how you were affiliated with him. You were so pure and innocent, so how did you know him?

It kept Kisaki up all night. Mikey seemed to be one of your closest friends. When he thought back to previous conversations, it was then he remembered that you mentioned him in some of your stories that sounded like dreams to him from how adventurous they were. He couldn’t believe he forgot the repeated name you continuously brought up. Mikey was always in your adventures. If he met Mikey, would he be able to tag along? Would he be able to understand the inside jokes you had? He definitely would’ve. He wanted to be her true friend! He wanted to be by her side! She stuck with him, always acknowledging him, unlike others. He opened up to her and she opened up to him about her feelings and thoughts.

Kisaki knew her better than anyone! He was her best friend!

”Kisaki, do you wanna walk home with me? You don’t have an umbrella, I see.” She noticed, looking out the window to see the small neighborhood that was dark from the heavy, thick clouds. Cram school had just ended and everyone was packing their papers and pencils, rushing to get out before the rain could start pouring. There were whispers thrown around about how it was going to be a bad storm, which didn’t deter the [h/c] haired girl one bit. Kisaki had just finished putting his things away, now only staring at the girl who was looking out the window. Her black umbrella was loosely in her hand, still waiting for the inevitable response of her friend.

”Um,” His hands grew sweaty, legs almost collapsing like there was a building he was lifting. This would be his first time hanging out with her after school. He couldn’t miss the chance. This could be his only chance to then hang out with her on the days there was no cram school. His adam apple bobbed as he swallowed his spit that was overflowing in his mouth. He was nervous, so nervous that he could barely muster a sentence. “I w-would like-like that, [Surname].”

Ignoring the stutters, she turned around to finally walk out of the classroom. Walking past him, she grabbed his hand to lead him out. The sky was darker now, giving the school an omniscient vibe. Putting up her umbrella, she released his hand to pick it up over her and Kisaki’s head. It was drizzling, faint sounds of patterns forming puddles in the potholes around the streets. Some kids from different schools were walking as well, chatting away while the pair walked in silence. The silence was insufferable to Kisaki while [Name] didn’t mind it. She enjoyed peace and quiet from time to time.

“[Surname], do you still want to take up on that ice cream appointment one of these days?” He felt his throat go dry, almost shaking that he actually said that. She hummed lightly, not even thinking before speaking. “I’m afraid I can't, I’ve been very busy these past couple of weeks compared to the last time I asked.”

His heart dropped as his eyes were wide. She didn’t spare him a glance, looking forward towards a park. Kisaki felt like he failed. She had been busy in recent times? He almost cursed at himself for not just taking the chance when she has asked him last time because now she was too busy. “I see, can I ask with what?”

”It’s personal.” Was her response, but she continued, “I think the rains picking up.”

Kisaki nodded in understanding, but truth be told, he wanted to yell in frustration. He was masking it well under his smile. He did feel the rain go harder as his shoulder was poking from the umbrella, slightly soaking his uniform. However, the sounds of the rain could not block out the cries of a kitten. Kisaki stopped as soon as she did. He noticed her head turn towards the park where a group of middle school delinquents stood around a box. He gulped, realizing that they were one pester him for money. He freaked out, worrying for the safety of the girls next to him who continuously stared at them like she was trying to figure something out.

”Hey, what are they doing?” She wondered, stepping forward on a twig that snapped loudly. Kisaki’s breath hitched, knowing that it drew their attention. [Name] heard the noises of a distressed kitten, but she didn’t know if it was coming where she thought it was coming from. The group of boys craned their necks to see the pair under an umbrella. Then, their eyes laid on Kisaki, someone who they knew very well as they began to walk towards them. Kisaki looked at her, hands shaking, “[Surname], we need to leave. We shouldn’t involve ourselves with them.”

”Oh, and why not?” One asked, looking down at the female and male. She didn’t pay mind to them, looking past them to see the cries from the kitten stopped as soon as they left, followed by a small cat poking it’s head out, perfectly fine. She heaved a sigh. It confirmed her suspicion. They were bothering a defenseless kitten, so whenever they left to come to them, it had stopped meowing because it was left alone. However, it may only be because they moved their targets to other people—them.

”Kisaki, you wouldn’t have any money leftover. I really need a drink right now.”

”Hmm, who’s your little friend?”

”She’s very pretty! Is this your girlfriend?”

”Nah, no way he could’ve bagged a girl!” With a push, he was stumbling back on the ground. The rain was getting worse, making the sidewalk runny and slippery. They surrounded him while a boy stood in front of [Name]’s face, keeping an eye on her. Kisaki’s breath was taken from him as a punch was delivered to his stomach. 

“Stop,” [Name]’s voice was hushed when the older male’s burly finger was placed on her lip. He grinned at her, looking into her eyes that were blank. Kisaki gasped, garnering all of her attention. She hadn’t noticed that she spaced out, too focused on the box that was away. It looked red? Was she seeing things?

”Leave her out of this!” Kisaki wheezed out, “Run!”

”Kisaki?” She muttered, looking down to see his glasses on the floor the same way his body was. One of the older boys laid his hands on her shoulder, pushing her into his chest. She repeated once more, trying to be patient as best as she could. “Leave him alone.”

”Hm, we couldn’t hear her?” He taunted, leaning closer to her mouth. Her mouth was parted, and he didn’t notice, but her eyes were shaking at the frustration that was bubbling within her. “I said: leave him alone.”

She was pushed down on the ground, the grip on her umbrella coming unloose. Her hands scraped against the concrete, an abrasion ripping the top layer of her skin off. Her face was in a puddle, dirtying her uniform. Kisaki’s voice was shrill as someone delivered another kick to the stomach. They moved their attention away from her, focusing on the smaller boy that “owed” them money. The leader leaned down, smiling at Kisaki’s busted lip and bruised skin. “We need you to speak up, Kisaki~“

“Hey,” [Name] placed a hand on his shoulder, gripping it tight, “leave him alone.”

”Huh?” He turned around to her, “What are you going to do—!”

Her knee swiftly knocked into his mandible before she pulled her knee back to strike again in his face. Pulling his hair, she swiftly threw him aside. The commotion stirred Kisaki. It was then he stared at her. Kisaki saw something different. She looked different. The atmosphere was different. The emotions being expressed were different. Her skirt was dirty with some stains of blood from her first victim. One of the other males grabbed her shoulder from behind, in which she pulled her arm forward before jabbing him in the face with her elbow, making his head fling back. Turning around towards him, the toes of her feet slammed into his jaw, sending him back.

Moving her head to the left, she avoided a quick punch from behind. Grabbing the arm she dodged, she pulled him over her body, slamming him onto the ground. He coughed violently, eyes going white from the impact. Her eyes looked at the last member who came at her with full speed. She scoffed, striking a hit in his face before he could react. His nose cracked as he fell to his knees. She took the chance to then give a back kick in his face.

”I warned you. I gave you three chances, and you didn't stop.”

Kisaki’s vision was hazy, but he saw the whole thing clearly. He didn’t know where that came from. He didn’t know how you managed to take care of them so easily. You saved him. Why did you save him? He carefully heard your words, and the next sentence made his heart stop.

”You hurt my friend.”

The rain continually poured down on him, drenching him to where it felt like a flood take over his body. He remained still like the other bodies around him. His pulse was racing while his body was weak. The rain was loud, the thundering booming and clapping. It was everywhere. The droplets fell and fell on him—until they didn’t. His eyes were cracked open, staring at the sky that was then blocked by a black umbrella. He was no longer being attacked by the rain. His eyes widening when [Name]’s face came into view. Her shining [e/c] eyes staring down at him in concern while her [h/c] hair was framing her face as she bent down. She looked like an angel coming to help. She was like a descendant from heaven.

His slice of Heaven.

”Kisaki, are you okay?” She placed his head on her lap, observing the wounds on his face. “Can you stand up?”

He nodded slowly, admiring her appearance, saving it to his memories. Her eyes were full of worry. They continued to stare at each other, ignoring all other surroundings. She sighed, “I’m sorry I didn't fight them sooner.”

”It’s okay,” He confessed, and it was true that he believed it was okay. You had a breaking point that they crossed. Smiling, Kisaki reached up to her face before dropping his hands back down. She didn’t grab his hand, only focusing on his wounds. After a short while, she decided to help him up from the soaking floor. With careful steps, she pulled him to his feet, cautiously keeping her hands around him to prevent him from falling. He almost fell if she hadn’t caught him. She smiled at him, telling him to not worry since they were going to get him fixed up.

He liked her smile. It comforted him in a way that no one else could. Kisaki’s stomach bloomed in a euphoric way, his gut tightening when her saw her dazzling eyes. She did so much to help him. He almost felt pathetic, but he was grateful for her at the same time. She could’ve gotten hurt, but she protected him. There was a reason for it, and he was then reminded of what she said way back: “They aren’t threats to me or my friends. If anyone hurts my friend, I’m mad.”

She was his friend. She was his first friend. Kisaki was infatuated with that idea. He wanted more of it. He didn’t know what more he could want, but then he finally knew where it had to go from there. It could go from friend to something more. He swore he’d do anything to protect her, to understand her, to have her. Kisaki didn’t know how just yet but he would find out. After all, she was the first one to know him, really know him. She was the first person to accept him with open arms. She was his very first friend.

And his very first love.

—

never published this, let alone the story, probably never will bc I lost motivation from it but I didn’t want this to sit, I wrote it almost three years ago? Time flies

[bucky-fricking-barnes]

Reckless

Title: Reckless

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader

Word Count: 3.7k

Warnings: Fluff

Summary: Y/N goes on a date with Steve Rogers and, unbeknownst to him, comes to the conclusion that he’s a very gentlemanly, albeit very boring, person. However, she decides to give him a second chance before she forms her final opinion of him.

A/N: Thank you for reading and supporting me! I hope you enjoy this quick little story about our lovely Steve. Dividers are by @firefly-graphics

“So how did the date go?”

You have your head propped up with a hand under your chin, so you simply sigh and try to keep your expression neutral as you search for the words. If this were a video or phone call, your friend wouldn’t be able to read you so easily, but you know that she’s caught on already when she winces across the table from you.

“That bad, huh?” Sophia asks.

Shaking your head, you sigh again and gesture vaguely with your free hand. “It was fine. It was good, I guess. I didn’t have a bad time. It’s just…”

“What? He wasn’t a creep, was he? I thought you said he was nice!” She leans in, almost knocking her drink over as she reaches across the table for one of your fries.

“No, no, he was nice. That’s just it, though. He was just nice.”

She chews, humming around the fries as you drop your arm and finish off the rest of your drink to occupy yourself. You don’t want to say anything too specific since you know his life is already so public, so you pick up your fork again and move some of the food around on your plate. At that, Sophia raises an eyebrow, then swallows and takes a sip.

“So… Are you gonna go out with him again?”

The waitress comes by to refill your water and you both offer her polite smiles and murmur thank yous, which gives you time to consider your answer. Steve had been a nice date—an almost perfect one, at that—but that was all you could say about your time with him. Sure, he checked all the boxes. On paper, he was the perfect match for you, but in reality, there was no spark, and you’d found him fairly boring. You feel a little bad calling Steve Rogers boring, of all people, but you can’t lie to yourself about it, no matter how great a person he is.

“I don’t know. Maybe? It feels rude to judge whether I like someone or not after only one date, since everyone’s nervous on first dates, and he was really nice…” You trail off, tilting your head from side to side with a grimace. “I don’t know.”

Sophia arranges her dishes so they’re easy to collect. “Well, you don’t have to make a decision right away. I mean, it’s not like he’s asked you out again so soon already, right?” Her smile fades into a gasp of disbelief when you don’t agree, and she smacks her hand on the table. “Already? Man, this guy moves fast!”

You nod. You’d been just as surprised as she is. You hadn’t known what to say when Steve had texted you this morning, so you’d just left the message on read. Thankfully, the dating app would never tell him that, but you still felt bad about not responding right away. Hopefully, he just thought you were busy at work.

“Already. He wants to go out again tonight,” you tell her. You wince again and fall back against the booth, crossing your arms. “Am I crazy if I tell him no?”

“No! Absolutely not, you can totally tell him no. You don’t have to go out with him if you don’t want to. You’re not obligated to go on a second date with him either,” Sophia reminds you.

Your phone buzzes in your pocket and you dig it out, glancing briefly at the screen to make sure it’s not important. And it’s not, really, because it’s a message from Steve telling you that he won’t be offended if you decline his offer to take you out for dinner. The twinge of guilt you felt earlier is more like a stab now.

“How can someone so boring be so sweet?” you whine, more rhetorically than anything, but Sophia jumps on the question.

“Is that Steve?” 

Nodding, you shove the phone back into your pocket. “Yeah. I don’t know, I’ll probably tell him yes. One more perfectly boring date can’t hurt..” You shake your head a little. “I’ll let you know what I decide to do.”

Your friend smiles and slides out of the booth, taking her bag with her. You do the same and wait for her to be ready before you walk beside her to the diner’s exit. After a quick hug, the two of you part ways and you head back to your apartment.

That night, there’s a knock at your door precisely at six o’clock, exactly when Steve said he’d be there. You sigh a little, expecting just as much, and you smooth out your dress. It’s one you haven’t worn in a long while, but you’re hoping it will inspire a reaction from him. At this point, any reaction besides the politest one would be a welcome change.

You open the door and smile when Steve meets your eyes. He smiles back, small and polite. He’s dressed well, in jeans and a white shirt, with a navy jacket over his shoulders. It’s infinitely more casual than the button-up and khakis he’d worn to your first date earlier this week, and it’s a good sign.

“Hi, Y/N. I hope I’m not early?” he asks, though you both know he’s not.

“No, it’s alright. I just need to get my shoes on. Come on in?” You step out of the doorway and gesture for him to enter. Once he’s inside, you shut the door and turn, only to find him inches closer than he was before. You inhale sharply and meet his gaze, then look down at the singular flower in his hand.

“For you,” he says. “I was afraid a bouquet would get damaged on the ride here.” He glances down at your dress and clears his throat. “I think it would probably be better if you changed into pants, too.”

You blink. “Pants? Why? What’s wrong with my dress?” This wasn’t the response or reaction you’d been hoping for. You step back a little, suddenly self-conscious about your choice in outfit.

Steve looks a bit sheepish as he hands you the flower and steps back to give you more space to breathe. “Yes. I rode my… bike.”

Raising your eyebrows, you glance over at your closed curtains. The window faces out into the street, where you know from experience most people park if they’re only staying for a short time.

“Your bike,” you repeat. He nods, and you carefully step around him to go look out the window. There is, in fact, a motorcycle parked in one of the spots. The light from the lamps reflects off the shining black and silver metal, and you let the curtain fall back into place with a quiet laugh. It seems that Steve Rogers could truly be the daredevil that some of the internet prospects him to be.

When you turn, Steve is still standing by your front door. The golden glow from the lamp by your couch casts a shadow behind him, making him seem taller and darker, but he watches you with such trepidation that he doesn’t seem as intimidating as you know he does to some. 

“It’s a Harley,” he tells you.

You smile a little. “Gotcha. I guess I’ll go change, then. Just give me a minute?”

Steve nods and you hurry to your room to change into a different outfit. In a moment of panic, you drop the flower into a half-finished glass of water on your nightstand. You don’t want to make Steve stand awkwardly in your living room any longer than you have to. 

With very little time to spare, you quickly change into jeans and one of your favorite tops, then head back into the living room. Steve has moved to look at your shelves, inspecting your photos, books, and knick-knacks in silence. He’s got his hands in his pockets and you watch for a second as he stands so relaxed in a foreign space.

“I’m ready if you are,” you finally say, stepping further into the room.

He turns and nods, then glances back at one of the photos. “Where was this taken?”

Frowning, you move closer so you can see, and then you smile a little. “That was back in college, at some restaurant near campus. It was this little local place that my friends and I used to go to. I think that was after one of their trivia nights.”

“You like trivia?” he asks, and you shrug.

“I’m not very great at it. Probably not as good as you—you’ve had a lot more time to study up.” Inwardly, you cringe. Steve probably doesn’t like to be reminded of his past.

There’s a beat where you and Steve stare at each other, and then he smiles at you. “That’s what Clint keeps telling me. He’s been trying to convince me to join his team. Maybe I’ll take him up on it the next time he offers.”

“That sounds like it would be fun,” you reply, nodding.

“Are you ready to go?”

You nod again and grab your things, sticking your phone into your pocket before following him out. He opens the door for you and pauses so you can check that it’s locked once you’re in the hallway, and then you let him lead you down to the motorcycle parked out front.

It’s even bigger than you’d thought. You hesitate at the curb, and Steve smiles encouragingly when he holds out the helmet he’s clearly brought for you.

“I promise to drive safely,” he says.

“Do you not normally?”

He ducks his head at that, smiling a little more. “Some of my friends tend to say I’m a little reckless.”

“Reckless?” you scoff. “I wouldn’t have pinned you as someone who’s reckless after the other night. I figured you’d be the exact opposite.”

You take the helmet and carefully fit it onto your head, then drop your hands when Steve steps closer to check that it’s secure. He buckles the strap underneath your chin.

“Well, I’m not great at first impressions. I was nervous. I don’t spend a lot of time eating dinner with pretty girls.”

Cheeks warm at the compliment, you laugh and follow him over to the bike. He climbs on first. You straddle the bike behind him once he’s holding it straight, then carefully slip your arms around his waist.

“Is this okay?” you ask.

“It’s great. You’re doing great, Y/N. Make sure you hold on tight, okay?”

“Can I ask where we’re going?”

He glances over his shoulder as he starts the bike. “Brooklyn!”

The engine is too loud for you to ask any more questions, so you simply tighten your grip around his (very firm) waist and tuck your head against his shoulder as he backs the bike out of the spot and then onto the street. There’s little traffic and not a single red light, but as he maneuvers you to wherever in Brooklyn you’re headed, he still swerves around and between the cars and trucks. It’s exhilarating, and a little wild, and by the time you arrive, your heart is pumping and you’re smiling from ear to ear. Once he’s parked, Steve looks back over his shoulder at you, then laughs as you detach yourself from him.

“That was fun!” you tell him as you carefully climb off. Your legs are a little unsteady, and he quickly holds out a hand to help you regain your balance.

“Good, I’m glad. We have to walk a little from here, is that okay?” Steve asks. He climbs off the bike, but you don’t fail to notice that he doesn’t release you from his grip. Not that you mind. His hair is ruffled from the wind, and though you’re sure that yours is too, you can’t bring yourself to fix it. You’re not so worried about being so perfect when he’s relaxed like this, unlike last time.

“That’s fine, yeah. Where exactly are we going? Besides Brooklyn, that is.”

You and Steve start walking, with him on the outside. He keeps hold of your hand as he explains, “It’s an old diner. It’s not one that I grew up going to, but it’s authentic enough that it feels like it.” He pauses and glances over at you. “I know it’s kinda cheesy to go to a retro diner for a date, but—”

“I love it,” you interrupt before he can say anything otherwise. “It sounds like fun. Do they have a jukebox? I don’t think I’ve used one of those in forever!”

Your hands swing between you slightly as you walk, and Steve glances over, smiling. “If they don’t, I’ll keep that in mind for our next date. If you want to go out again, that is,” he quickly adds, the smile faltering.

Unabashed, you squeeze his hand with a grin. “So far, so good, Steve.”

The rest of the walk to the dinner is filled with conversation, and though you still talk at the table, you realize that he’s more comfortable talking when he’s moving. His hands are constantly fidgeting, as if he has too much energy for his body, and when you’re finally done eating and the bill has been paid, you glance out the diner’s windows.

“Is there a place we can go for a walk around here? It’s nice out, and I don’t think I’m ready to go home yet,” you say.

Steve seems a little surprised, but pleased, and he nods as he slides out of the booth. You do the same, waving at the employees behind the long painted counter as you leave.

“There’s a park about a block that way,” Steve says. He points further down the street. “It’s got a trail that goes around it. I’ve run there a few times.”

“Wanna race?” you ask, grinning. You’re full from the meal, but you’ve been wondering just how fast and strong he really is since you first started talking. He certainly eats like an athlete, and you’ve seen pictures and videos of some of the things he’s done. You just want to know what it’s like when he uses his abilities for fun instead of work.

“Really?”

You take off without another word. Behind you, Steve laughs. Your shoes aren’t made for running, and neither is the rest of your outfit, but you give it your best effort. It’s not a surprise when Steve passes you only seconds later. His figure quickly becomes miniature, but you see him stop at the corner to wait for you before crossing the street.

“You weren’t even going full speed, were you?” you pant once you reach the park. He’s grinning wide in the light from the lamps, standing tall while you’re bent over with your hands on your knees. “And you stopped!”

Steve laughs. He’s not even slightly winded. “You wanted to race!”

“What happened to polite, chivalrous Steve from the first date? Would you have let me win if I’d asked then?”

He laughs again, nodding, and leans against the lamp as you swallow thickly and try to catch your breath. “Probably. Like I said, you made me nervous.”

“Do I still make you nervous?” you ask. You start walking again, heading down the paved trail that loops around the park. 

Steve falls into step beside you, his hands in his pockets. “A little. I don’t normally go out on dates. I only had the app because I lost a bet with Natasha.”

You raise an eyebrow and glance at him as the two of you move out of a biker’s way. “Natasha? Like, Black Widow?”

“That’s the one.”

“What was the bet?” you ask him. You’re nearing a playground, and it’s dark enough that it’s empty except for a couple pigeons, but there’s a mother walking with a stroller up ahead.

He ducks his head and rubs the back of his neck with one hand, smiling sheepishly. “I bet her that I could do more handsprings in a row than her.”

You stop and gape at him, and there’s a definite pink tint to his cheeks, even in the dim park lighting. “You’re kidding me. Are you serious, Steve? She’s like, the queen of gymnastics. She could probably go to the Olympics!”

“Probably,” he agrees, laughing. “It was a stupid bet.”

The two of you resume walking again, weaving around the stroller mom, and Steve puts his arm out to block you when you almost walk into a biker you don’t see. You give him a grateful smile and fall into comfortable silence as you walk, but there’s a question nagging at you from the back of your mind, so much so that you can’t ignore it.

“So how many handsprings did you end up doing?” you finally blurt out.

He chuckles. “Not as many as her.”

“What a political answer,” you tease. “Really, how many?”

There’s silence, and you nudge his arm with yours, stopping beside a tree. He looks at you and you raise your eyebrows expectantly.

“Two,” he sighs, and you have to cover your mouth when you snort. He gives you a scathing look, but it’s only a farce because his smile peeks through a minute later.

“I’m sorry, but I was expecting something a little more… heroic than two,” you tell him.

Steve rolls his eyes. “I’m better at other things,” he says.

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

He starts walking and you catch up, taking a few extra steps until you’re beside him again. His hand bumps against yours and you look down, then smile as you lace your fingers with his.

“Pull ups, push ups,” he lists. “Painting, piano.”

You glance over at him, surprised. You hadn’t suspected something so artistic.

“You paint and play piano?” you ask. He nods and you smile wider. “That’s so cool. Maybe you can show me one of your paintings sometime? Or hear you play?”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really.”

The rest of your walk around the park and back to his motorcycle is easy and comfortable, and you hold hands the entire time. You talk about everything, from work and your family to the practical jokes he and Bucky had pulled on Bucky’s younger sister back in the 30’s and 40’s. He gives you his jacket when you’re heading back in the direction of the diner, after you shiver. You protest, but he insists, and the jacket wrapped around you is much too warm and comforting for you to truly argue. By the time you reach his Harley, it’s been an hour and you still feel like you could keep going. 

Steve’s driving is a bit tamer on the way back to your apartment. There are more stop lights, too, and you take those moments to rest your chin on his shoulder and ask him questions or point out things you see. You have to yell, but he nods and smiles along, and when you’re finally parked outside your apartment building again, he recaps his comments and thoughts for you as he helps you off the bike once more. Your balance is better the second time, but Steve still holds your hand until you’re steady, and you hope he doesn’t notice how giddy it makes you.

“I had a really good time tonight,” you say as you arrive at your door. Carefully, you pull your arms from the sleeves of his jacket and hand it to him, then dig out your keys. You fiddle with them as he slips on the jacket again, shrugging his shoulders until it’s firmly in place. 

“Me too. I’d like to see you again, if that’s okay,” Steve replies, and you smile wide.

“I’d like that too.”

There’s a moment of silence where you stare at each other, and you look away first. You want to kiss him, but you know that as much as he’d surprised you tonight, Steve was still raised in a different time. He might not be comfortable kissing you so quickly, and you don’t want to push him.

“Can I kiss you?” he asks, so suddenly that you jump a little.

You blink, looking up from your keys. “What?”

He seems to take that as a sign of disinterest because he smiles politely and steps back a half step, the tips of his ears rosy in the dim hallway light. “Never mind. Goodnight, Y/N.”

“Wait, no,” you quickly say, stepping forward to regain his attention. “You just surprised me. Yes, you can kiss me.”

He smiles a little wider and closes the distance between you even more. His hand rests on your side, warm and solid as he leans in to press a chaste kiss against your lips. It’s sweet, and he somehow tastes like peppermint, though you’re sure he hasn’t been chewing gum.

A bit bashful, you rest your hand on his chest for a second after you pull away. You’re smiling like a fool but you can’t help it—Steve has proven himself over and over tonight, and he makes you feel like nothing could ever go wrong while he’s around. You’re close enough that you can smell his cologne, and you close your eyes for a second as you take a deep breath. Whatever it is, it’s warm and sweet, like coffee with cinnamon, and it makes you want to curl up against him forever. 

“Goodnight, Y/N,” he murmurs.

You meet his gaze and slide your hand down, then away. “Goodnight, Steve. Let me know when you get home, okay?”

He nods and watches as you unlock your apartment, then open the door and step inside. You give him one last look and one last smile before closing the door. Silently, you stand in the entry area and listen as he heads back down the stairs. Once you’re certain he’s far enough away that he won’t hear, you let out a little laugh before darting across your living room to peek out the window. He’s climbing onto his bike when you pull the curtains back, and after the bike roars to life, he tilts his head back and gives you a little salute, a small smile curling on his lips. You wave back, grinning, and then Steve is pulling away, racing down the street towards his home.

Thank you for reading! If you liked this, please consider reblogging my work so that others can enjoy it too.

I do not consent to have my work posted, translated, or published to any third party site or app. If anyone sees my work anywhere other than my personal tumblr, Patreon, or ao3 accounts, it has been reposted without my permission.

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Forever: @aya-fay

Steve Rogers: @lipstickandvibranium​ @delicatecapnerd

[pimosworld]

The ties that bind

Pairing-Dave York x f!reader x Frankie Morales

Series Summary-Dave is a private investigator who tracks down soulmates. He’s tasked to find Frankie’s, but what happens when he finds you and wants you all to himself?

CW-18+, MDNI,NSFW, Angst, Fluff, Hurt,Comfort, Eventual smut, MMF dynamics, a lot of music references, best friends loving each other.

WK-5.2K

A/N- Santi puts his investigation skills to use and maybe a little of his personal agenda.

I really appreciate all the love and feedback I’ve been getting on this story so please keep it coming. 🤍

[Series Masterlist][Main Masterlist]

Not beta read

Chapter III

Santiago set out for the long haul, despite Frankie telling him Dave’s lead was just a few hours away. He had a bag packed for several days and the gas tank was full. Much to his surprise a short amount of time later he parks down the street from Dave on the streets of downtown Naples. 

  Ninety minutes

  He watches Dave enter a sandwich shop briefly and exit with a large white bag. Santi’s car is inconspicuous enough but he stays a safe distance just in case. Men in Dave’s line of work aren’t going to be easily followed, unless they are distracted of course. 

  In Santi’s case it seems he’s distracted enough to not have noticed him tailing him for the better part of two hours. 

  He hasn’t done anything out of the ordinary but there’s this uneasy feeling building in his gut telling Santiago this isn’t just a coincidence. 

  Each move he made was thought out and deliberate…not more than five minutes from the sandwich spot he’s parked in front of some storefront shops. He passes a clothing boutique, plant shop and a tourist spot before he enters what looks like a music store. 

  There’s a painting in the window and a plant wall obstructing his view. Even with binoculars Santi can only make out Dave’s profile as he stands at the front counter. His body language and movements are telling of a man flirting. Any man would know without military training what it looks like when you’re nervous and trying to impress someone. 

  ****

  You really did love Mrs. Carlson…she kept you company on boring days, talking about music from her younger days. You would sit and listen to all her favorites in the back while she reminisced and told you stories about her wilder times. 

  She always had to preface the story by telling you it was before she met Mr. Carlson. They moved here several years ago to escape the cold and live out their golden years. They were the kind of soulmates that gave you hope. 

  You really did love her….

  Right now you would love it if she wrapped up her fifth telling of the first time she heard the righteous brothers at the drive in movie theater…Dave should be here soon and you want to close up the shop for lunch. 

  The front door chimes just as she gets to the part about her date getting too handsy. 

  “Be right there.” You call out towards the door as she reaches out for you to help her from the chair.

  “Thanks for listening to my rambling dear, you make this old lady very happy.” She places her record in the sleeve and slides it into her large purse. 

  “You’re not that old Mrs. Carlson.” You smile at her and she laughs. 

  She reminded you so much of your grandmother. The sweetest person in the world but won’t take any of your shit. Your dad always said you were so much like her. 

  “Don’t lie to me dear, that’s my husband's job.” You wrap your arm in hers as you both make your way towards the front of the store. 

  He’s standing there in a polo and jeans, a white paper bag in his hands that he’s clutching for dear life. It’s adorable to see him so nervous and you feel a light squeeze to your arm as you approach him. 

  “He brought food, that’s a good sign.” She whispers to you as you let her arm go. 

  Dave notices her and rushes to open the door. 

  “A gentleman too.” She winks at you and exits as he turns to you with a curious look on his face. 

  “She’s here almost as much as you.” You reach for the bag as he holds it behind his back. 

  “Oh…jokes at my expense.” You shake your head as you step into his space. 

  He doesn’t back away from you as you reach around tracing your fingers down his arm, you’re becoming addicted to the way he smells, the way he can’t look anywhere but at you. He’s thoroughly distracted as you extricate the package from his hands and peak inside. 

  “No jokes…just sandwiches from my favorite place.” 

  He smiles wide at that, the way you dip your nose into the bag and make the most intoxicating noise. 

  “Lucky guess.” 

  You crinkle the bag and hand it back to him, stepping out of the dangerous bubble that is Dave’s presence. 

  “If you got turkey with everything then you might just be the luckiest man alive.” 

  He thinks at this moment he may very well be. 

  ****

  It was a short walk to lowdermilk park, your suggestion to enjoy your lunch on this beautiful sunny day. Thankfully it wasn’t too humid so you didn’t have to explain your excessive sweating to Dave. Although you may have been sweating for entirely different reasons when you’re in his presence. 

  He listens intently as you point out some of your favorite shops on your walk, he enjoys hearing you tell him little bits and pieces about your daily life. 

The way your eyes crinkle when you smile or how you wave your arms when you get particularly excited about something. 

  You seem too distracted to notice how he looks over his shoulder every so often. He’s unable to kick that nagging feeling like he’s being watched. 

  It’s a picture perfect setting as you approach the park. Couples stroll along the water's edge hand in hand, while the children build sandcastles and chase the foamy remnants of the retreating waves. 

  “Oh perfect.” You skip over to a bench facing the water and kick off your sandals. “I love this spot because it’s half way in the park, but I can still put my feet in the sand.” 

  He smiles as he sits across from you and lays out the contents of the bag. You quickly reach for the jalapeño chips and he smirks knowing he’s checking all the silent boxes. 

  “These are my favorite.” 

  “Well then I’m two for two.” You offer him the bag to share and it’s something he’s gathered about you. You’re a giver and Dave is a taker. Right now he’s taking moments with you meant for someone else. 

  Something brushes his foot under the table and he peaks under to see the small mound of sand you’ve dug in. 

  “Those aren’t really beach friendly shoes Dave.” You grin at him playfully as you dive into your sandwich. 

  “I wasn’t planning on going to the beach today.” 

  Your laugh seeps deep into his chest. As bright as the sun shining on you both. 

  “Last time I checked, you came to Florida.” You wipe the corner of his mouth with a napkin. “The state of endless beaches.”

  “Last time I checked it’s called the sunshine state.” You note the teasing tone in his voice. 

  You try not to let your mind rob you of this perfect moment. It’s been so long since you’ve allowed yourself the chance to be happy. 

  “Sorry, I was just joking.” He grimaces a little as he sees your face drop momentarily. 

  “No,no it’s not you.” You wave him off as you finish your sandwich. “Can’t let the intrusive thoughts win.” 

  He huffs at that, most of his life consisted of letting those intrusive thoughts in. Except he’s noticed when he’s with you. The thoughts aren’t as frequent. 

  Your phone buzzes on the table and you briefly glance at the screen to see a message from Alicia, but more importantly the time. He sees that look on your face again as your eyes meet his. 

  “I should be getting back soon.” You can’t believe how quickly an hour goes by when you’re with him. You hate to end your date so soon but you don’t feel like explaining to your boss why you took a long lunch.He couldn’t be bothered to stop by but still calls regularly to keep tabs on you.

  “Let’s get you back before we have a riot outside the store.” Your laugh is disarming in a way he never expected as he bags up the trash for the both of you. 

  He studies you carefully as you gently brush the sand of your feet and place your shoes on. The powder blue blouse falls open slightly and he doesn’t look away as fast as he should. 

  When you look up at him momentarily catching the way he’s looking at you, you’re grateful Alicia let you borrow her top. 

  He should be embarrassed for acting like a horny teenager but the way you smile at him when he’s clearly been caught checking you out says maybe he could get away with a little more. 

  When you happily accept his extended hand it’s all but confirmed that this is something he could get used to. It’s nearly perfect the  way your soft hand fits perfectly into the grasp of his and you lean in a little when you begin your walk back to the store. 

  You can tell he deliberately matches your strides, a subtle way of saying I don’t want to rush you…take your time. It’s a comfortable silence as you walk hand in hand. Only the sound of  crunching sand on the gravel and the light breeze rustling the palm trees. If you hadn’t started this playful banter with him from the beginning you’d diminish under his intense gaze. 

  There’s a fondness growing between you that you won’t soon be able to detach from. Yet you still know next to nothing about him. You file that away for tomorrow's problems. Right now you want to enjoy the rest of one of the best hours you’ve had in months without Alicia. 

  You’re relieved as you approach the store that no one is waiting outside to burst your bubble. 

  You’re waiting for him to say something as you unlock the front door and turn on the neon open sign. He follows behind you quietly like a lost puppy unsure of his next move. 

  You rock back and forth on the balls of your feet, a nervous habit you couldn’t kick for the life of you. “Well…I had a nice time on our lunch date.” The odd look on his face as soon as the word leaves your mouth has you instantly regretting putting a label on it. He brought you a sandwich for god sake. 

  “Date huh.” It’s meant to come off much more lighthearted than he says and by the bewildered look on your face he definitely said the wrong thing. “I would love to take you on a proper date. If that’s alright with you?” 

  Relief washes over you and before you have a moment to process he’s leaning in, crowding your space but you don’t mind. His hand cups your jaw with just the right amount of pressure as he tilts your face up and kisses you on the cheek. Tease. Your first thought but then again, what a gentleman. 

  “Since it’s our first date.” He winks at you as he stands to his full height. “I’m not usually so modest but I thought I’d spare you the onions from my lunch.” 

  Perhaps you were a little desperate but you would take the onions and whatever else he wanted to offer at this point but you don’t want to push. Second date. 

  “So I’ll text you or call, so we can plan our proper date.” 

  “Whatever you want, hummingbird.” 

  You miss the warmth of his hand on your chin, like he’s branded you. You’re momentarily stuck as he exits…the buzzing in your pocket brings you back to life and you remember you need to text your best friend. 

  ****

Santiago was starting to feel a little crazy. 

  About as crazy as he felt dragging all of his friends to the jungle and stealing from a drug lord. 

  He had dated plenty of women on the job, so he’s not sure what he’s looking for as he watches Dave from afar on a seemingly harmless lunch. 

  It’s obvious by your body language that you’re attracted to him. Dave’s a lucky man. You’re strikingly beautiful. He can't really blame the guy for taking a break to spend some time with you. 

  But there it is again, that persistent beast that lives dormant in his chest. Something is off. Frankie or rather himself isn’t paying Dave to go on dates. Frankie had said it was bad news about any leads on his soulmate and by the looks of it, Dave’s not in any hurry to sniff out anymore. 

  Once this is all said and done Santiago thinks he’ll need to find a healthy hobby. He’s spent years treating every aspect of his life like a recon mission and it’s becoming exhausting. It’s probably for the best that he wasn't going to have the opportunity or subject his soulmate to his obsessive compulsive behavior. 

  He has to see this through for his friend and then maybe he’ll start to work on his own love life 

  He watches briefly as Dave exits the quaint record store where you presumably worked before he decides he’s going to go in. He has no idea what he’s looking for or what compels him to do so but he’s locking the car door and moving down the street before his brain has a chance to catch up to his feet. 

  It’s risky

  Dave could come back at any moment and see him. 

He doesn’t have an explanation as to why he would be here. Right now it doesn’t matter. 

  ****

  The door chimes before you have a chance to text Alicia. You quickly shove your phone in your back pocket and when you meet eyes with the man who enters the store, you’re certain you stop breathing. 

  Your mouth hangs agape and he chuckles lowly at you as he scrubs his hand behind his neck nervously. 

  You manage something close enough to a greeting as you take in his appearance. He’s chiseled to say the least, tan skin and well kept salt and pepper curls. The way he smiles at you is practiced, he’s used to people looking at him this way and he doesn’t seem to mind one bit. 

  “Hi, I’m Santiago.” He confidently steps into your space and holds his hand out to you. 

  Most customers who weren’t regulars came and went without so much as a polite nod your way, definitely not on a first name basis. You weren’t about to pass up an opportunity for an introduction with this handsome stranger as you sheepishly extended your hand and gave him your name. 

  His eyes drop briefly from your face and you think he may go for a look in your revealing blouse, but they travel further to where your hands are joined. His grip is strong but not forceful as it tightens slightly. The look he gives you when your hands drop is more one of amazement than flirtation. 

  “So…what brings you into the store? Looking for anything in particular?” He notices the shift in your voice. The way it perks up at the prospect of getting a peek into his brain. 

  Music can say a lot about a person. 

  “Metallica.” He says assuredly and you chuckle as you wave him over to the section for heavy metal. 

  “Something funny, cariño?” The playfulness in his tone, nearly mirroring your first interaction with Dave. 

  “Oh it’s nothing, I’m just oddly not surprised by your choice.” You say it so matter of fact. Like you’ve already got him figured out. 

  “Should I be offended?” He scoffs as he tries to keep his eyes on the back of your head and not your body. He absolutely can not be checking out his friend's soulmate. He noticed the tattoo almost immediately when he shook your hand. 

  “That’s entirely up to you sweetheart.” You wink at him over your shoulder as you stop in front of a large row of records. The middle of the stack is not marked as you lean forward confidently and thumb through a few before sliding one out of the row. 

  He smiles as you mutter something to yourself and stare at the front like a precious work of art you’re admiring. 

  “I have a feeling you’re going to love this one.” You hand it to him gently. “That is if you really like them for —.”

  “Holy shit.” You watch his eyes light up as he starts laughing in disbelief. He has to take a step back as if that’s going to bring it into focus. You love this reaction. It’s why you do this and spend countless hours listening and researching. 

  “How do you have a special edition master of puppets for…thirty dollars?!” His voice is nearly a shout at the end and you can’t help but burst into laughter at his utter shock. 

  “It’s my specialty. I spend a lot of time finding affordable vinyls so that everyone can enjoy them. A lot of people don’t realize what they have and they end up just giving things easy for free.” You wave your hands as you explain your passion and he can clearly see why Dave has tripped and bumped his head. “So anyway…that’s where I come in. So people like you and I can experience the finer things.” 

  The most ironic part of your statement is you have no idea what Santiago can afford. Now he can afford a lot more and if he really wanted this he could’ve bought it at the real price. You don’t need to know that. Old habits die hard and Santiago has a hard time spoiling himself knowing what it cost to get that money. So to him…this is a prize. A glimpse into his old life and the old version of him would’ve bought this in a heartbeat.

  “I’ll take it.” You let out an excited squeak and he can’t help the smile that breaks out across his face. 

  “Do you want to listen to it? We have a player in the back of the store and a place to relax.” He should say no. He glances nervously behind him and meets your cheerful expression again. 

  “Lead the way cariño.” 

  You bounce toward the back and then remember yourself and the flimsy top and opt to walk briskly. He’s keeping pace with you as you approach the little nook. 

  He sets the record on the small gold holder next to the zenith. You both reach for the dust cover and he levels you with a look of ‘let me’. You step back with your arms crossed signaling you’ll let him for now.

  He slides the shiny gold record out of its sleeve. Holding it delicately at the edges. He places it calmly on the turntable as he lets out a small puff of air. 

  He flips the switch on the top and the light signals as his hands admire the framework. The light humm in the speakers starts as he lifts the tone arm to the vinyl and carefully places the stylus on the end. 

  The menacing sound of the electric guitar plays slowly through the small speakers. Followed promptly by the sound of the front door chiming. 

  He doesn’t see you turn as you both curse under your breath. 

  This is it. He would have to confront Dave about why he lied and this is not at all how he wants you to find out about Frankie. He rolls his shoulders back as the music escalates into the frenzied uptempo crusher that he knows it to be. 

  When he turns around he curses for an entirely different reason as he’s met with the enraged look of a tall, dark haired brunette stomping towards you both down the aisle. 

  You’ve already succumbed to defeat as you raise your hands in apology. Things just kept happening and you forgot to text your best friend to let her know you were still alive. 

  “I’m so sorry Alicia—.” She cuts you off with her hand in the air. 

  “Save it.” She slaps her hands down to her jeans as she bends over attempting to catch her breath. 

  Alicia, Alicia, Alicia. 

  Santiago repeats the name until it’s etched into his skull. He can hardly hear the bass of the music over the sound of his own heartbeat in his ears. 

  Alicia looks up when the burning in her chest subsides from running more in the least twenty minutes then she has in all her life. She had come in with such a blind rage and concern that she hardly noticed the Adonis standing next to you looking at her like a deer in headlights.  

  She stands to her full height once again, smirking at him as he swallows thick. 

  “Hey handsome, can I borrow my friend for a moment?” Her voice drops to a sultry tone and Santiago just nods as she wraps her arms around you and guides you away.

  His hands find the silver knob on the player just as the song ends to turn it down slightly before it picks up again. 

  “What’s our rule?” She can’t hide the quiver in her voice, now that she’s not on display. Her cheeks are red and her eyes are filled with worry. You hated that you worried her so much while your head was in the clouds. 

  “Always check in—.”

  “Always. check. in.” She shakes your shoulders with each punctuation as her lips turn up into a smile. You’re laughing with her now as she pulls you into a hug. “Dibs on the hot piece of ass.” She whispers into your ear before letting you go. 

  “He’s all yours.” 

  She excitedly grabs your hand and leads you back to the record player. 

  He’s standing facing it, with his arms crossed. The black shirt pulling taught along his muscular back as he seems lost in the lyrics. 

  Master of puppets I’m pulling your strings

Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams

  “You break it, you buy it.” She leans in close to him but he doesn’t flinch. Letting her words drip down his spine like honey on tree bark. 

  “He already promised me he’d buy it.” You say as you plop down on the small tufted chair to watch the mating game. 

  “Smart man.” She picks up the cover and inspects it as she whistles. “You’re getting a great deal.” 

  “Oh I’m aware sweetheart.” He winks at you as he places his hands confidently on his hips. 

  You wish you had some popcorn right now for the front row seat to this show. She flips her hair over her shoulder and his jaw ticks trying to keep his eyes on her face. He has to look up at her with him being nearly eye level with her chest. You have to give it to him. He's doing pretty well. 

  “I should buy this for you.” She bumps his hip out of the way as she lifts the arm to stop the record. It’s not often Santiago ceded control and right now he’s willing to let this play out. “I didn’t mean to be so dramatic. I just had to make sure my friend wasn’t Murdered on her lunch break by her date.” She looks over at you and sticks out her tongue as you mirror her actions. 

  Santiago’s throat goes dry at the word. Date. 

  He doesn’t have time to unpack that so he recovers quickly before she notices the color draining from his face. 

  “I take it you’re not one to argue with.” 

  “Wow, he learns quickly.” She slides the record into the sleeve and places it lightly against his chest. 

  He stops her before she can pull her hands away. “I’ll let you buy this for me if you let me buy you dinner.” 

  Wow she’s good, that must be some kind of record. 

  “Consider it done, mystery man.” 

  “Santiago.” You chime in from the chair as you lean back and smile at them. They both turn to you seemingly haven forgotten your existence for the few brief moments they shamelessly flirted. 

  “Well Santiago I’m—.”

  “Alicia.” He huffs in satisfaction as she pulls out her phone and hands it to him. 

  The door chimes and you see two younger women enter. You slink out of the chair and head to the front to give them some space. You throw a thumbs up over her shoulder at him and you see the way the corner of his mouth turns up as he enters his digits into her phone. 

  ****

  Santiago thumps his head against the steering wheel hoping the mindless drumming will bring him some clarity. 

  He needs to tell Frankie about you. He needs to talk to Dave. He needs to plan a date for the girl of his dreams. He really needs to get his priorities in check with this whole situation. One step at a time. 

  He decides first to text Alicia to plan something before she loses interest. He’s never felt such an instant connection with someone and he doesn’t want this opportunity to pass him by. It’s pretty selfish of him considering the circumstances of which he met her but Frankie doesn’t need to know that. Yet. 

  ****

  You helped a few more customers after Santiago left with the widest grin on his face you’re ever seen. 

  Alicia hadn’t emerged from the back of the store until the last person left. She strolled down the aisle with a giddy look on her face as she typed away feverishly at her phone. 

  “You were worried about me being murdered and you agreed to go on a date before you even knew his name.” She finally looks up at you from her phone as you raise your eyebrows at her. 

   She points her finger at you before hopping up onto the counter. “Do as I say, not as I do.” 

  You rest your chin on her shoulder as you both stare out the window. “I don’t think I can take that advice right now.” You sigh dramatically into her ear. “I really like him.” 

  “You’re saying that like it’s a bad thing.” She pauses to let you continue even though she knows what’s going through your head. “Listen babe…not every guy who isn't your soulmate is gonna be like Nate.” 

  Nathan. The man you fell in love with. The reason you decided to move across the country after he decided he’d had enough. As much as you tried to convince him that it didn’t matter, the seed had already planted itself deep in his thoughts. Each time a new tattoo emerged on your body it was like salt in the wound. 

  He would ignore you for days, treat you like a stranger in your own home. For reasons you had no control over. No amount of love bombing or gifts, endless reassurance that you were devoted to him could convince him that you were his. 

  When he broke it off with you and told you to leave you were gutted. Your step mom refused to let you move in with her and your father. It drove an even bigger wedge between you and your already fractured relationship. 

  It took many late nights with Alicia after you moved in and a multitude of therapy sessions for you to realize that he was not the one. Someone who treated your body and your mind like a careless possession was not someone to behold. 

  A small tear rolls down your cheek and lands quietly on her shoulder. She turns to you and sighs as she cups your face in her hands. “You know what’s different about this time?” She asked as her thumb wiped away another stray tear. You shook your head instead of speaking unsure if your voice would betray you. “You have me, and I won’t let anything like that happen to you again.” 

  She held out her pinky as you chuckled. Wiping the rest of your red face before anyone else came in. No matter the outcome you are ready to put your heart out there again. Any person to cross you should think twice, Alicia was never one to break a promise. 

  ****

  “Cálmate hermano.” Santi bristles at the look Frankie gives him as he watches the man pace in his living room. 

  “You can’t seriously be telling me to calm down.” His face is beet red and the muscles strain in his neck as he tries to keep his voice level. Tensions have been high to say the least. Santiago hasn’t looked this nervous since he asked the boys to help him go back for the money. 

  Frankie already knew that look in his eyes when he pulled up to his house unannounced. He was however not prepared for the emotional roller coaster of a conversation that Pope had prepared for him. 

  They’re relationship over the last decade or so has been complicated to put it bluntly. Despite their ups and downs they always managed to make it back to each other. Frankie always said Pope might as well have been his soulmate because he could never get rid of him. At his core Santi always had his friends best interests at heart, even though his way of going about things usually resulted in some form of chaos. Maybe it was the universe or just his pure dumb luck but the handsome bastard always stepped in shit and came out smelling like roses. 

  Right now as Frankie leans against his kitchen island with his hands bound in fists he’s starting to think Santi’s luck may have run out. 

  His fingers are itching in his palms and the sweat trickles down his back. He can almost taste the metallic remnants of what he used to do in situations like this. 

  Santi is reticent at the moment and as mad as Frankie is at him he’s reluctant to leave. He knows Frankie’s addiction was of his own doing but he can’t help but feel guilty about running away whenever things got complicated. Will and Ben had each other, and Santiago selfishly let Frankie go through all the fallout alone while he absconded off to some beach on the other side of the world. 

  His friend was a shell of himself when he returned and he vowed to never let him go through that alone again. 

  So now he waits for either Frankie to speak or strangle him. Whichever way he’ll deal with the outcome because it’s what he deserves. 

  “You’re gonna take me there.” Santi opens his mouth to speak but Frankie holds his hand up. “I need you to watch my back, in case that asshole shows up. I’m going to tell her everything and even if she doesn’t want me, she needs to know the truth.” 

  Frankie may have had his issues but he was virtuous and despite it all, Santiago respects him for it. It’s why he quickly agrees to whatever he wants. 

  Once Frankie has calmed down a bit he starts asking questions about you. They chat over beers and Santiago answers as much as he can about your short interaction. He can hear the optimism in his voice, hanging onto every word. 

  Santi tries not to give him too many descriptors. He wants Frankie to have something from all this. He won’t take away the thing he’s been wanting for years. That moment when he finally gets to meet you. To know that you’re real in the flesh. 

  “Ugh…I forgot to mention one thing Fish.” Frankie grumbles as he sets his empty bottle on the coffee table. “I might have a date with her best friend.” 

  “You’ve got to be kidding me Pope.” 

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[matsubusa-m]

I suppose an introduction may be necessary…

(//OOC: Better picture maybe in the future, but this’ll do in the meantime)

Full name: Marc Masashi Matsubusa

Nickname: Maxie

Age: 49 years old

Birthday: 17th of July

Apparently, I'm the most boring Maxie in the multiverse. But that is fine for me. At my age, living a quiet life is really nice. Though our Courtney described our universe as an "Slice of life/Comedy Anime"… whatever that is supposed to mean…

OOC & Lore/Infodump down below (I may add stuff in the future)

//OOC - About this Maxie:

Hi, I’m @starlightcosmos04245 and I’m the one behind this dorky Maxie - though I mostly go by his German name, Marc (I am German, and have a separate OC who’s related to this Maxie, whose name is… Maxie (too much Maxie). That’s why lol).

Marc lives in a universe of the multiverse many years into the future. The events of ORAS have long been said and done, he’s still the leader of Team Magma (although they’re known to the public as "Magma Research Laboratories" now. Internally they’re still Team Magma) and is actively working with Team Aqua (aka. "Aqua Marine Laboratories" (they weren’t very creative) to better the environment. Sadly, since they’re still under the radar of the government of Hoenn (which is mostly led by people who have no clue about anything + the Pokémon League of Hoenn), Devon Co. has a say in their affairs. Marc is pissed off about it, Archie as well. Just fyi. Marc just always tries to keep up a calm facade. One court trial and probation are enough for him in his lifetime. He doesn’t need any more problems than he already has (the public still views him as public enemy #1 together with Archie).

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//OOC - About this blogs boundaries:

I, personally, am usually very open about everything. Though I have to admit I’m very shy and get nervous easily… so sorry for that. I’m happy though to be included in the "multiversal beef" - I’ll try to keep up, but I’m usually a peacemaker ^^;

(I maybe disappear sometimes for some time due to mental health reasons. We all need breaks sometimes ^^; )

I’m okay with ic anon hate, poke fun at Marc, tease him, annoy him. He will be responding accordingly (or dorkily lmao). Also, feel free to ask him any questions, he usually tries to find an answer for any question, even if it's stupid. If they’re too extreme, though, I’ll ignore them (fyi). I also won’t condone any ooc hate. It’s just inappropriate. This is a RP-Blog, after all. We’re all here to have some fun :)

☆

Ahem… just a heads up… I have a lot of headcanon lore that’s probably getting spitted here. So I’m very sorry in advance but I try to tone it down.

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HEADCANONS/LORE

His story takes place many years after the events of ORAS, especially a version where both Maxie and Archie gave their stupid ideas a try and both kinda succeeded. Though they both got stopped by Lizzy (my OC who’s basically a stand-in for each of the protagonists. She has her own blog (@ematsubusa), if you want to interact with her too) who later becomes Maxies wife after being done with her journeys. They don’t have a romantic relationship before she finishes travelling. She initiated it. He was a nervous mess. Big-ass old virgin.

In the timeline they live in, they have three children - a pair of fraternal twin sons (8 yrs old atm) and a daughter (5 yrs old atm).

This Maxie cares about his family very much. He sometimes can be caught rambling about his “little Numels”, as he endearingly calls them.

More about the children here: https://www.tumblr.com/starlightcosmos04245/750105201355243520/let-me-tell-you-about-the-matsubusa-siblings-the

This Maxie is a descendant of the Diamond Clans founder from PLA (the guy in the paintings so looks like RSE Maxie). He’s not directly Adamans descendant, but Adamans uncle’s who migrated from Hisui to Hoenn long before the events of PLA.

Maxie’s father is one of the last remaining descendants of the clan… who takes it all wayyyy too seriously.

Both his parents here: https://www.tumblr.com/starlightcosmos04245/726381359415820288/i-kinda-have-a-thing-for-not-only-creating-fankids

Maxie is half Japanese half German (father is Japanese, mother is German). He can speak both languages. I can’t. I can speak German and English. That’s it (for now, who knows). So maybe Maxie will speak German sometimes

Some more useless info:

- Maxies favourite band is Depeche Mode. "Everything Counts" is his favourite song of the band

- In this universe, Archie and Shelly are married. Nessa is their daughter (because looks. Stupid, I know)

- When they were teenagers, Archie, Shelly and Maxie were playing D&D together with some other friends from school. Maxie was the Dungeon Master

☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

I might add more stuff over time, but this is all I’ve got for now.

If you’ve read it all, you earn my respect 🫡

With all that said… I hope you have fun and happy rp-ing (๑╹ω╹๑ )

[mermaidsirennikita]

Louis de Pointe du Lac, as originally written, could be regarded as one of lit's most famous "also rans", someone who was originally positioned as Thee Tragic Figure of the series, only to be almost immediately superseded both in the readers' and the author's minds with Lestat. Like, you know Louis because of the original book, but Lestat is the one everyone talks about, Lestat drives the rest of the series, Lestat has all the best lines.

And the movie, as much as I personally don't like it, only sort of dug this further into the pop cultural understanding of the story. Brad Pitt is at his most "I am relying on pretty" boring and sulky; when there is a performance, it's largely annoying. And Tom Cruise... I mean, it's literally nothing next to what Sam Reid does in my mind, but it was at least very off-brand for him at the time, and he was doing SOMETHING, and he (and Kirsten Dunst) have the most iconic Moments, the camp, the arguably most memorable part of the movie (the very end with the Sympathy for the Devil cover playing us off).

So it's honestly SUCH a testament to the innovation of the show's writing and the brilliance of Jacob Anderson's performance that Louis has been reinvented, not only as a compelling protagonist, but as a character that is EASILY as complex and multilayered as more traditionally antiheroic/villainous types like Lestat and Armand and Claudia. He's more than the beautiful, tragic object of Lestat and Armand's affections, he's more than the guy telling us the story.

Louis is self-loathing and self-aggrandizing; he's victimized by Lestat, and he manipulates Lestat, very aware of his own emotional hold over him (might we note how much agency Louis had over Claudia's turning, and how Lestat in no way would've done that if not for Louis... and that act was arguably one of the most selfish in the series, if emotionally understandable). He's controlled by Armand, yet we get hints that he's actually quite dangerous and perhaps in some sort of self-delusion about just how dangerous he is (and Assad certainly plays Armand like he's nervous as fuck about Louis knowing the truth--and I don't think that's JUST about the possibility of Louis leaving him once he finds out).

Louis tells himself that he loved Claudia more than anything and that she was his "spark in the dark", when we see that in reality their relationship deteriorated over time and continued to do so, even after the person who was seemingly a wedge in their relationship was vanquished. We see hints, perhaps, that Claudia was no more the ideal daughter in his mind than Lestat was the ideal lover.

And that last scene in the premiere? When we're not sure who the "you" is? Sad and kind of horrifying, too. Because like--what will Louis do to Claudia to further his own love and obsessions? Who does Louis prioritize more--Claudia, Lestat, Armand? Maybe none of the above. Maybe himself and what or who he thinks will stave off his own loneliness, his need for love and validation and, yes, power.

None of this is a criticism of the character. The show already did something SO good and SO smart by turning Louis from a white slave owner to a Black man with money and social standing, still so held back by the laws and environment of his day. Vampirism gave him agency, yet the show, in season one, showed the potential for Louis to still be the perpetual tragic victim (in episode five especially). And maybe they'll still slip up and do that.

But increasingly, with the reveal in the s1 finale and the s2 premiere, I think we're getting the implication that the thing Louis could be protecting himself from mentally (with some help from Armand--I don't think Louis's memory issues are all Vampire Magic, though) is something horrible that he did. A choice he made. Because Louis does have agency, and the narrative allows him to be someone with conflicted desires and a complicated sense of self. Someone who doesn't love PRETTILY. Someone who is manipulated and manipulates.

Like, I've joked about him being this kind of like vampiric Helen of Troy because of the allure he holds for powerful figures like Lestat and Armand, but I also think it's so powerful to explore the way that Louis uses that appeal and ALSO makes fucked up decisions on his own because he is... into being adored, frankly. Even if the people who adore him also hurt him. He gets caught up in his own romanticized retellings of his life story, whether heartfelt or tragic, because in those retellings he can pretend that he had no choice, he had no ability to say otherwise.

But like--Louis could have stopped that woman from being decapitated, potentially. Louis didn't have to walk away from human affairs. He chose to do so, just like he chose to beg Lestat to turn Claudia. Just like he chose to deny her Lestat's true death.

And I think there's like, an attempt to reckon with this in the unreliable narration of the books, but I also think that this is so dependent, in Anne Rice's version, on spinning to Lestat... That Louis's culpability and untruths are overshadowed by his Everything. Here, the story lets us soak in Louis's mind, and Jacob Anderson's performance really seals that. I find it so smart.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Is Malleus not that famous in other countries cause in the Scalding Sands event Najma didn't seem to know who he was, there probably aren't many pictures of him around the internet but with how nervous Jamil was getting its weird it didn't cross her, you'd think he'd be pretty well known being the top 5 strongest mage and heir to the throne in Briar Valley

Well 😅 Najma’s just one person, right? I don’t think her specifically not knowing who Malleus is reflects on the average Twisted Wonderland civilian’s knowledge.

With that in mind, there’s actually many reasons why Najma in particular (and/or some other people) may not recognize Malleus:

People don’t always know political figures or figures of prominence in specific circles, especially if it isn’t of interest or of relevance to them. Think about it. Do you know the names and faces of political figures in countries outside of your own? What about specialists (athletes, artists, scientists) in fields you aren’t involved in? Thinking of it like that, it isn’t at all surprising that Najma, doesn’t recognize royalty from another country or highly ranked magicians (when she isn’t shown to be one herself).

Maybe Malleus just hasn’t been mentioned in Najma’s history class yet. For example, in Glorious Masquerade, we learn that Magic History class does not cover certain materials like the accomplishments of the Just Judge until year 2. Therefore, it’s possible that Najma has not yet learned about the Draconias in school. (Alternatively, it’s also possible that non-magic schools skim over notable mages; this would explain why NRC students specifically take Magic History, which I assume focuses on magic and mages, rather than just “History”.)

With how fae aging works, maybe the history books are just not up to date. There is a noted few hundred years of unexplained time between Malleus’s egg existing and it finally hatching when, in reality, it should have only taken a few years for his egg to hatch. It’s also said in book 7 part 4 that none of the history books speak of what happened to Briar Valley’s monarchs (ie Malleus’s parents), and that “the books at home and at the school library don’t mention anything about the Briar Valley’s history”.

It’s difficult to communicate with the Briar Valley. This is very possible, especially seeing as how the country is said to be lacking in way of technological advancements. (STYX is able to contact them, but they’re a secret organization 😂) This would likely mean that historians would have to physically travel far north to personally document Briar Valley themselves—which may be an arduous task, seeing as mirror travel and warp pads are not widely accessible to the general public. Since the Briar Valley is reclusive and even implied to not be accepting of non-fae, it may be even more challenging to get clearance to visit the country. A lot of their history seems to spread mainly by direct word of mouth (as Silver and Sebek imply in book 7; their father and grandfather, respectively, did not either of them about the Draconia family history or about the several years’ period of war Briar Valley went through).

In the actual Scalding Sands event, the visiting NRC students mention that the locals aren’t panicking about Malleus because the head wrap he’s wearing disguises him. Najma also later mistakes his horns as being decorations or fakes. This can easily be explained by the simple fact that… well, celebrities would wear different clothes in public to “blend in” and people wouldn’t recognize them because no one thinks “hey, I’ll run into a super famous person roaming my local market”. If you don’t pay enough attention to something, you may just overlook it. Attention is selective.

Aaaand of course, we have the good old boring explanation of “it’s for plot convenience, don’t question it” 😂

Personally, I think the “the history books just don’t talk about it” explanation is the most accurate, as there’s actual strong narrative implications of it in the main story; however, it’s possible that the real reason is a combination of all of these.

[iaminfourthwing]

The Generals Daughter

A/N: I am so sorry for the wait. Life got in the way. I was sick, on holidays and work kicked my ass. This chapter is pretty boring but the next one will be up shortly after that.

Chapter XI

“The right way isn’t the only way? That’s what he said to you?” I ask again as Violet and I walk to the next practice session of the Gauntlet. It’s almost the last session and only now she tells me of her encounter with our wingleader the night she burned Aurelie’s personal belongings.

“Yeah, but I have no clue what to do with this, because he surely doesn’t have anything helpful to say and I am just too fucking short.” she grumbles.

I understand her frustration and annoyance. The chimney and probably the wooden ramp afterwards are giving her troubles. She can’t really reach the walls of the chimney due to her body missing centimeters.

The Gauntlet looks menacing in the sun.

“I mean, we all know that your size isn’t helpful- “ “Why thank you!” she whisper shouts offended. “BUT- I may have an idea how you’ll get up to the top!” I smirk. Now I have her attention.

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

Presentation day. Probably the third deadliest day for first-years in the quadrant, right after conscription and Threshing. I tone out the others around me as I stare up the obstacle. Up there is the flight field. Up there are the dragons. I can feel the anxiety creeping through me as my breath starts to quicken.

“Nervous?” a deep but soothing voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I didn’t even notice when Liam stepped beside me.

“Yeah, a bit” I admit quietly. There is no use in trying to be strong right now. You can be an excellent fighter but one wrong step and it’s over. It could happen to the best of us.

“I think you’ll do just fine. You are certainly a badass and from what I’ve heard, you didn’t had a single misstep. You probably can do this with your eyes closed” he chuckles.

“I mean, I already had Gauntlet training even before I entered the quadrant. Father made me do it under his watchful eyes. But now that it’s finally the day that will partly decide our future … I am not so sure of my skills anymore” I say. He hums but doesn't say anything.

“But the same goes for you. I believe you’ll get the patch just as easily as everything else. Do you even consider taking second place?” We snicker till Violet takes her place on my other side; Dain right next to her.

“I don’t think I can watch” he admits quietly. “Then close your eyes.” Violets answer is just as soft as the breeze that runs through our braids.

It’s time.

Over an hour later I stand next to Rhiannon and Ridoc on top of the cliff, trying to catch my breath as I finished just seconds ago. Not a single misstep. And I think I outdid my previous times, because the way Xaden looks up from the stopwatch, impressed, makes me think I am almost as good as Liam.

Violet is currently climbing the rope up next to the chimney, as our friends, myself included, cheer for her.

“Can she do that?!” someone complains from the back.

As she pulls herself up with what’s left of her strength, I think about what comes next. That will earn her complains, for sure.

“Come on Violet! You know what to do!” I roar from the top as I walk over to the edge, crouching down on one of my knees, ignoring the confused glances that are thrown my way.

She unsheathes a dagger she brought with her to the quadrant and takes place, far enough from the wooden ramp to run as fast as she can. For just a short moment she looks up, finding my glare on her. She knows I believe in her.

And then – she runs.

When she reaches the point we talked about, a scream breaks out of her as she rams her dagger into the ramp. With the very last bit strength she has in her she pulls herself over the edge with the help of her dagger and yanks it free. She fucking did it.

I catch Xadens impressed gaze over the heads of the other cadets until his eyes meet mine and the usual closed-off face takes place again.

Rhiannon and I are beside our friend in no time and pull her into a tight hug, Ridoc and Sawyer joining us.

“You made it” Rhi breathes in relief. “Luck. And adrenaline.” Vi rasps out. “Doesn’t matter, I take that over anything right now. You fucking did it, Silver one.” I say, a big proud grin on my face, mirroring hers.

“Cheating” someone yells enraged behind us.

Turning around, I see Amber Mavis, a wingleader and Dains little friend from last year, storming over to our own wingleader. But Garrick is faster and puts himself between his friend and the strawberry-blonde girl. While Amber looks like she is about to burst from her rage, Xaden just sits bored on the stones. God, it’s just so funny how unbothered he is. I could laugh right now.

“The cheater used foreign materials! Twice!” she yells. “This can’t be tolerated! We live by the rules or we die by them!”

That makes me scoff. “Of fucking course. No wonder Dain used to fuck her. I bet they even have rules for that too” I murmur, not expecting to be heard but the chocked-out laughter proves me otherwise. Liam stands around five feet away from me but he clearly heard what I said, because when I look at him I can see how much he struggles to keep his laughter inside. I smirk.

They bicker for a few more minutes and when Violet starts quoting the codex to Amber, it’s over for me. And Ridoc. Both of us step back behind our squad to get our laughter under control.

I fucking love this girl.

When the last two of our squad made it to the top, the winner of the Gauntlet patch (who is quite obvious) is announced.

“Liam Mairi. Second Squad, Tail Section, Fourth Wing. Congra- oh. Wait a second.” Xaden stops and turns around to the other wingleader (minus Mavis as she is still sulking) with the roll and they start to discuss something.

Furrowing my brows, I turn to Violet to see she is just as confused as everyone else. She is still holding her shoulder in pain but puts a brave face on.

The leader are talking for a few more minutes till they all turn back around and focus their gazes – on me?

“It seems to be that we have two winners this year. Both of them have the exact same time crossing the obstacle, which is a premiere. Like I already said, Liam Mairi and … Arya Melgren. Second Squad, Flame Section, Fourth Wing. Congrats to the both of you. You bring great joy to your wing.” Xaden finishes.

I - Huh?!

Confused I turn to Liam. “How in the actual fuck was I just as fast as you?!” Even the confusion is confused.

But the handsome blonde male just laughs out loud.

I am congratulated by my friends.

[badabidiboo]

COINCIDENCE

pairing: yunjin x reader

synopsis: bored out of your mind on a cloudy day, you decide to walk to your favorite bookstore after realizing you hadn’t been there in a long time. walking through the aisles, you spot a book on the higher shelves that catches your attention. right as you reach up to grab it, another hand appears next to yours holding the book. turning your head to the side, you see yunjin, staring at you.

wc: 2.1k

venturing through the various aisles, you flipped through the pages of a few books you had been wanting to read. putting them back in their place on the shelf, you continued to walk further into the small but cozy shop.

you finally reached the back of the bookstore, which was your favorite place to read in because of the vintage pieces of furniture, vinyls, and souvenirs collected by the store owner being placed as decoration had always made you feel at ease, like no one could ever bother you there.

looking up at the shelves, your eyes stopped on the title of the book you were in search of. you reached up to grab it when suddenly, you saw another hand holding the book right as you placed your own over it.

you averted your gaze from the book and found yourself staring at a girl you had never seen before. she had long velvety blue hair, and was taller than you, her thin glasses framing her eyes as she stared at you, her hand still resting on the book.

realizing you hadn’t spoke a word despite staring at her for quite a few seconds, you decided to speak up, suddenly feeling nervous. ‘’uh.. sorry, you can have it’’ you smiled politely as you retreated your hand from the book.

the girl looked down at you curiously, as she easily took the book out of the high shelf where it was placed between a multitude of other books.

looking down at the book cover for a few moments, she averted her gaze from it as she handed you the book. ‘’you had your hand on it first, you can have it’’ she muttered, trying to maintain the quietness of the place.

you were surprised, after all if she had reached for that book, it must have meant she wanted to read it.. right?

nonetheless, you took the book in your hands and scanned over the cover before you smiled to yourself in appreciation of the girl’s gesture ‘’thanks!’’ you whispered as you looked back up at her.

since you were already here, might as well read the book at your favorite spot, you thought. after all, the stories you read in here got even better than they originally were because of how warm and authentic the place felt to you, as well as the bond you had built over time with the old lady running the store.

going to the very back of the room, you sat on one of the large bean bag chairs, excited to read the book you had been longing to read.

slowly starting to immerse yourself in the story, all you could see were the lines of words on the pages, the place quieter than ever as it wasn’t a busy time for the store.

the silence was interrupted by quiet footsteps which approached you, before you heard the other bean bag chair rustle next to you. you didn’t pay much attention to you, as you focused on the unfolding of the story, only wondering what you were to find out next as you kept reading.

a few minutes had passed, and the feeling of a pair of eyes being on you progressively grew. not even being able to focus on the book anymore, you sighed in annoyance, wondering when the individual would stop staring at you.

you finally had enough of it, and looked up from the book, turning your head to the side only for your eyes to be met with the ones of the girl you had just seen earlier in the aisle, when she gave you the book.

during all this time, you were thinking some weird, creepy old man must have been staring at you, hence the uneasiness which had been growing in you up until you saw who the person in question really was.

once you acknowledged the girl’s presence, she smiled at you ‘’sorry, you just looked really.. captivating’’ she said as she had her arms crossed, a thick book resting on her lap.

at her words, you felt your heart backflip as well as butterflies in your stomach. you didn’t even know this girl, so why were you even reacting this way?

‘’oh uh.. thank you’’ you mumbled, suddenly feeling shy. the girl was especially confident in her words, her relaxed demeanor showing it even more.

she sneered quietly at your reaction, letting you know that she had indeed noticed your nervosity. ‘’i’ve never seen you around before, do you come here often?’’ she suddenly started a conversation, which you debated whether bothered you or not.

‘’i usually come by pretty often but i didn’t really have time these days, so i thought i’d swing by. what about you?’’ you continued the conversation as you let your book rest on your lap.

‘’i started working here just two weeks ago, the owner’s my grandmother’’ she admitted, which surprised you. you considered yourself to be pretty close with the store owner, yet she had never told you about having a grandchild your age despite the fact that she shared a lot of facts about herself.

‘’oh well, guess i’ll see you more often if you work here’’ you smiled, strangely feeling excitement over your new discovery of the girl’s job in the store.

the girl’s smile slowly transformed into a smirk as you felt her eyes travel down your body. ‘’what’s your name?’’ she asked, breaking the short silence that had come back.

‘’my name’s y/n, what’s yours?’’ you returned the question, as the girl’s confidence only seemed to grow along with her smirk ‘’pretty name for a pretty girl’’ she stated, waiting for your reaction.

indeed, her compliment only made your heart’s condition worse as it skipped a beat or two, maybe even a few more. you tried to control your face expression as best as you could, trying not to let the fluster you felt show, although you knew you were definitely blushing, enough for her to see at that.

she snickered at your reaction ‘’my name’s yunjin’’ she spoke, finally answering your question as her previous words still lingered in your mind.

‘’o-oh well, nice to meet you’’ you smiled nervously, your hands getting sweatier by the second.

your phone suddenly buzzed in your bag which you had placed down on the floor. reaching into your bag, you found your phone and realized it was your father calling you. your eyes widened when they landed on the time on the left corner of your phone screen, it was already 8pm, which was late enough for your parents to start worrying.

standing up and pulling your tote bag over your shoulder, you hurriedly answeree the call and muttered a few words to your dad over the phone to reassure him, before you hung up and turned back to yunjin.

‘’sorry it was nice talking to you but.. i really have to go’’ you quickly explained as the girl looked up at you from where she sat before she stood up, slight disappointment showing in her eyes.

‘’no worries, don’t forget to take your-‘’ she started, until you turned away and left quickly, as if fleeing the scene ‘’..your book’’ yunjin mumbled to herself, finishing her sentence although you were no where to be seen, the bell at the door ringing as you walked out.

a week later

after leaving the bookstore in a hurry, you were lying in bed when you suddenly remembered something: you had completely forgot about the book you had been reading until yunjin interrupted you.

truth was, the girl made you so nervous with only her gaze on you, that you were waiting for an occasion to leave, even though you did feel like you wanted to see her.

after gathering your courage, you decided to go back to the bookstore, trying to convince yourself that it was for the book you had been dying to read, and not for the blue-haired girl.

pushing the door open, the familiar sound of the bell was heard as you were met with the old lady at the counter, who welcomed you in.

silently heading for the aisle at the back, you looked for the book you had found the previous time, but couldn’t see it anywhere on the shelf.

you wondered, could somebody have bought it before you came back? the question circled in your head as you mentally slapped yourself for forgetting to take the book with you before you left.

just as you were about to turn back around and leave, you felt a light tap on your shoulder before a familiar voice sounded behind you. ‘’looking for this?’’

spinning on your heels, you were met with yunjin, her face adorned by her usual smirk as she held the book you were looking for.

as much as you were relieved to have found the book, you found your nervosity coming back as the girl made her appearance. you looked down at the book and smiled, trying to act normal. ‘’mhm! thanks, i thought someone else had bought it while i was gone’’.

‘’i kept it safe until you came back, thought you might wanna finish reading it’’ her words were like hypnosis, drawing you in as you didn’t even know how to act or what to say.

trying to answer, you found yourself a stuttering mess to which she chuckled as she leaned against the shelf, her arms crossed in front of her chest. ‘’i’ve been wondering whether you would come back or not’’ she smirked as you couldn’t find anything to say before she continued ‘’i’m glad to see you again’’ she admitted with a smile.

a few weeks went by as your bond with yunjin grew, your visits to the bookstore becoming more frequent until you found yourself spending all your freetime with the girl, laughing and getting to know her more with each day that passed.

you had learned which day was yunjin’s birthday and as it approached, you wondered what you could possibly gift her. after giving it a lot of thought, you ended up finding a book that immediately reminded you of yunjin.

the book tells the story of a girl who loses her bestfriend in a drowning accident. unconvinced by this cause of death, the girl finds herself searching for the true reason of her friend’s passing. scientific facts about jellyfish, which are yunjin’s favorite animal, are integrated in the story to provide parallels and metaphors to daily life.

thinking this book was perfect for yunjin, you ended up buying it and wrapping it into a gift before taking it with you to the bookstore.

after walking in, yunjin instantly looked up from the cashier to you, her eyes lighting up as she got around the counter before she walked up to you ‘’hey, what’s up?’’ she spoke in confusion as she realized you were trying to contain your excitement, failing to do so as you extended your arms in front of you, handing her the gift box. ‘’happy birthday, yunjin! hope you like your gift’’ you smiled brightly at the girl who looked down at the nicely wrapped box which was in front of her as she gently took it in her hands.

smiling at you in appreciation, she walked behind the counter where she placed the box down. you waited on the other side of the counter where you could barely stand still, wondering whether she would like the gift or not.

as she gently undid the ribbon you had tied around the cover, she slowly opened the box as her eyes landed on the book you had placed in it. she reached inside the box and held up the book in front of her, her eyes glistening with what seemed like happiness, the corners of her lips curving into a smile.

looking up at you, she spoke ‘’i’ve been looking for this book for so long, how did you guess i wanted it?’’ you were surprised to find out yunjin was looking for this specific book, relief filling you as you realized you had found a gift she liked.

‘’do you like it?’’ you smiled with anticipation as she reciprocated your face expression. ‘’i love it’’ she giggled as she looked back down at the book.

you breathed out in relief as yunjin averted her gaze from to book to look at your hand which was resting on the counter before she gently put her hand over yours, which pulled you back out of your thoughts as you looked up at the girl.

yunjin was now leaning over the counter, her eyes gazing into yours as you found your face closer to hers than ever.

the girl smiled cheerfully at you as her free hand patted the top of your head, her eyes shining in joy ‘’thank you’’.

thank u for reading!! <3 i don’t know whether this is good or not, so feel free to give advice on what i should change to improve!