#<-- that's just a thought you don't have to take it it was a silly

[sirxlla]

The Child You Had Before You Started Dating Him Calls Him Daddy (Batboys)

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

Dick: Dick came into your apartment with flowers in his hand which prompted Jasmin to bolt as soon as she heard the door.

"D- Da- Daddyyy." Jasmin cuddles his leg giggling. Dick laughs as well and sets the flowers down on the table before scooping her up.

"How's my sweet girl? Hmm?" Dick tickles her and she errupts in laughter which makes a smile flood your lips.

"Da- Daddy stop!" She was just squirming and giggling, happier than ever. Her favorite parts of the day were with you and with Dick.

"Okay, I'll stop." He kisses her forehead before setting her down and she runs off to go play with her today.

"Hey, I'm really sorry about that...Some of the teachers at her school started asking about her Dad and she asked them what a dad was...Once it was described to her, she said it was you....or at least thats at least how I was told it happened."

"Oh, Baby. Dont worry about it. It's no big deal and I'm happy Jazzy thinks of me like her father. I love you both and I'm honored she feels that way." He leans down and gives you a kiss on the forehead.

"I brought you flowers by the way, Sweetheart and you look amazing as always."

Jason: Aurora sat in Jason's lap as he played Fortnite watching the tv as Jason controlled the character and racked up kills.

"Kick their butts, Daddy!" She screamed which caused Jason to freeze for a second as he questioned if he heard her right. Jason continued playing the game and won. (ofc he did) You entered the room with two plates of chicken nuggets, Aurora's favorite.

"Mommy! Mommy! Daddy won!" Aurora squealed in her pride over Jason winning.

"Oh, did he?" You and Jason looked both as just confused, you never told her to call him that, she did it on her own.

"Rory he's not your-" You started cause you thought Jason would be upset about it due to the confused look on his face.

"Babygirl, it's fine. If she wants to call me that then I don't mind." Jason stated with a smile.

"Princess, Go wash your hands before dinner, Okay?" Jason asked Aurora.

"Okay, Daddy!" She scrambled out of Jason's lap to the bathroom.

"I guess you're not the only one calling me Daddy now." He smirked.

"Jason!" You laughed as heat filled your cheeks, that was something neither of you really brought up but both seemed to enjoy like a guilty pleasure.

Bruce: "No! I push button!" May yelled at Bruce...She has the gall of men a hundred times larger than her, probably her taking after Bruce as far as you could tell.

"Oh, is that so Little Boss Lady?" Bruce teasingly mocked her, the same stance where her hands were on her hips, she narrowed her eyes and he narrowed his back before sticking out his tongue and making a silly face.

"You're such a Silly Billy, Daddy!" She giggles as she speaks to him, distracted from button pushing.

"Am I?" He smiled as the words came out of his mouth, of course his other kids would call him Dad time to time but knowing May felt so comfortable to do so meant the world to him.

"You wanna push the button? We can do it together?" Bruce asked with a smile and an inquisitive look as if he didnt already know the answer.

"I push button with Daddy?" She asked as she took her thumb out of her mouth.

"Yeah, we push it together." He said as he took the hand she didn't have in her mouth and pushed the button with him.

Tim: Anna had crawled into the bed after a while of her being up, like a little gremlin she jumped up and down.

"Daddy, wake up! Wake up, Daddy! I go back to school! You come me with me and Mommy! I show everyone Daddy!"

Of course he was tired from a night of long crime-fighting, as soon as he was coherent enough to realize what she was asking of him that she wanted to introduce him to everyone as her Dad he quickly got up.

"Go to Mommy, I'm gonna get dressed, Okay? Then we go back to school together, Okay?" He ruffled the little girls hair.

"You match with me?" She asked as she twirled around in her Toy Story tee dress that Tim got her a couple weeks back, he'd get her the moon if she asked.

"Of course, I'll match with you." Tim's closet was full of graphic tees so she could just about wear anything and he could match. He slipped on a shirt that had the little green aliens on it from Toy Story, a pair of jeans and some very well loved Converse.

Tim was quick with it, he grabbed her backpack which happened to be the little green alien as well, no suprise there. That was Anna's favorite which made it Tim's favorite as well. She could convince him to like arson if she did, he was wrapped around her finger.

"Ohhhh! Daddy looks stylish!" She said with a giggle in the same tone and words he'd tell her all the time. He was her Dad through actions but hearing that word from her mouth meant the entire world to him.

"Come on, My Lil Munchkin." He put her on his hip and grabbed your hand as he guided you both to the car so you could get to the school and Anna could introduce him to everyone as her Dad.

Damian: You had started seeing Damian before you even knew you were pregnant, It was a one night stand a few nights before you met him.

He was sweet in the way he went through the whole pregnancy with you, the birth, taking care of little Enzo and everything.

Enzo was now getting old enough to talk and you dont even know who taught him it, it could be Jason playing a prank or Talia doting on the baby she saw as a grandchild, but regardless Enzo was now calling Damian 'Daddy'.

"Da- Da!" He giggled as he looked at Damian from his crib across Damian's office, his little green eyes peered into Damian's.

"I'm not your Dad, Kid." He stated to the child as he filled out paperwork, this work felt monotonous and at least the kid gave him some sort of entertainment.

"Daaaa- Daaaaa." Enzo almost giggled as he could tell he was pissing Damian off, he was a little trouble maker that's for sure.

"I'm not your Dad, You Little Shit." Damain was getting a bit annoyed, not because Enzo was saying it but because he didnt see himself as worthy or prepared enough for a child. Enzo just giggled and called out to Damian again.

"My Son." Damian whispered as he gazed down at his son sleeping in his lap, he might not be his by blood but he was sure his in temper and attitude.

"Fine." He gave in with very little pressure from the very little child. Enzo laughed as he noticed Damian give in and he reached his little arms out to Damian.

Enzo made his black heart swell, Like the Grinch's heart growing a whole size. He walked over to the little boy and picked him up out of his crib. Enzo calmed in Damian's presence, finally feeling safe and calm enough to sleep while Damian did paperwork.

Masterlist

[drarrily-we-row-along]

Winter Flu

"Absolutely not, Potter," Draco said, trying to close his door in Harry's face.

Harry laughed, "Stop being ridiculous," he said, pushing at the door to Draco's room.

"I'm not," he said, "while I appreciate that it is our tradition to grade papers together on Friday night before we watch a movie, I cannot take that chance today."

"Draco-"

"No," he said again. "Matilda Bagweather has that horrible winter flu and you didn't have the good sense to send her out of your classroom. You've exposed yourself to it and I'm not interested in getting sick."

The door closed firmly in his face and Harry sighed, letting his forehead drop against the door. This couldn't be happening to him. Not today. Not when he'd planned to-

"Draco," he called, knocking on the door again.

"Go away, Potter!"

"I brought a Christmas movie," he cajoled. "You're really going to like this one." He was certain about White Christmas, Draco was a sucker for cheesy love stories.

The door opened a crack and Harry wiggled the DVD so he could see it. "Are you feeling any symptoms? Any scratchiness of throat, tickling in the ears, are your eyes watering?"

He rolled his eyes, "I feel fine. I feel great, actually. I just wanted to watch this movie with you."

Draco debated for a moment, Harry could see it playing out on his face, then after what felt like an eternity, the door fell open. "Fine. But you're sitting at the other end of the sofa."

-----

An hour into the movie and Draco's head was where it always ended up, in Harry's lap. And Harry certainly wasn't complaining. He combed his fingers through Draco's hair, scratching lightly at Draco's scalp with his nails, like he knew Draco enjoyed from a great deal of trial and error.

He'd slipped right into Harry's lap as he argued with the movie:

"Why is she upset?" "Why wouldn't she just talk to him!" "For Cirice's sake, getting engaged isn't going to help!" "Do you see now what could have been avoided if you'd just talked to him, you silly woman?"

But none of the ranting stopped Draco from tearing up when the General stepped into the room and everyone started applauding.

He sat up and reached for a tissue on the table, sniffling and hair askew from Harry's fingers, and Harry loved him and loved him and loved him. Godric it wasn't healthy to love someone this much. To want nothing more than to look at them and make them happy.

"I don't know why they always have to be so emotional," Draco said, turning to look at Harry. "What?" he asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I'd just really like to kiss you," he said because he'd decided that tonight was the night. No more waiting, no more holding his feelings in. It wasn't quite how he'd planned it but it would do.

"What?"

Harry shrugged unrepentantly, "I would like to kiss you," he repeated.

"Well then why haven't you?" Draco asked, sounding affronted now.

He laughed, "Well I thought I'd get your approval first."

"You have it," Draco said, "so what are you waiting for? Do I have to do everything my-"

Harry leaned in and kissed him, soft and sweet, making the butterflies in his belly take flight all around his body.

"Oh," Draco breathed when Harry drew back. "I think you should do that again."

He grinned and cupped the back of Draco's head as he leaned in to kiss him once more. When he moved away he murmured, "You're missing the ending."

Draco blinked at him and Harry nodded to the screen as the barn doors opened and the snow appeared like a backdrop. Draco leaned back against Harry and Harry wrapped an arm around him, drawing him even closer.

When the movie finished, Harry squeezed him and pressed a kiss to his cheek before he shifted and stood up.

"Where do you think you're going?"

He grinned and leaned down to press a soft, short kiss to Draco's lips once more. "My own room."

Draco raised an imperious eyebrow but Harry spoke up first.

"I want to do this right," he said softly. "I want to woo you, I want you to feel pursued. I want this to be something that lasts."

Draco blinked up at him, that guarded part of him falling away, leaving him looking young and unbearably sweet.

"You're too important to me to rush this. So," he said with a fortifying nod, "I'm going to give you one more kiss, and then I'm going to leave." He nudged Draco's foot with his own, "but before I do, I wanted to ask, would you come with me to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"

"Like a date?"

"Yes, Professor Malfoy, exactly like a date."

He smiled and stood up, wrapping his arms around Harry's neck, "Yes," he murmured, leaning in to steal a quick kiss. "I'd love to."

----------

By the time the two of them did get the Winter Flu six weeks later, they were both all too happy to spend the time cocooned in a room, watching movies together while they recovered.

[fairytaleendingss]

Room for One More?

Chapter 8

Summary: You spend Christmas with your family and are joined by an unexpected guest.

CW: Discussion of family trauma (Sirius'; reader has a good family), allusions to sex.

Pairing: Poly!Marauders x fem!reader

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7

Hey everyone! Sorry that this chapter is a little late. I was meaning to get it out closer to actual Christmas Day but things just got really busy. I still hope you enjoy nonetheless and that you all had a wonderful Christmas!

--

Christmas Eve had rolled around quicker than you expected and you suddenly found yourself scrambling to pack for your trip home for the holidays.

James had left the day prior for a vacation with his family and Remus had headed home earlier that morning. The only person left in the apartment was Sirius.

You found him sprawled out on the sofa as you lugged a heafty suitcase of gifts out into the living area. He looked over at you in amusement.

"Need some help with that?"

"Maybe," you responded, already out of breath just from the journey down the hall. "I still have to get it down the stairs yet. I'm not sure I thought this all the way through."

He chuckled deeply.

"Well, let me know when you're leaving and I'm happy to assist."

"Thanks Sirius."

You paused for a moment then, gazing at him thoughtfully. He was wearing a tight-fitting long-sleeved shirt and his hair was tied into a messy bun at the nape of his neck. He was watching some Lifetime Christmas movie absent-mindedly. You noticed that he didn't seem paricularly fesitive.

"So what are your plans for Christmas?" You asked him as you dragged your suitcase towards the door.

He shrugged, eyes still glued to the TV. "I don't have any, really."

You frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I don't really get on with my family anymore and usually I'd spend the holidays with James but as you know, he's in Australia for Christmas this year and I couldn't quite afford the airfair. I thought I'd just spend Christmas here."

Your frown deepened so much that you were sure it'd give you premanent forehead wrinkles. "So what? You're going to spend Christmas alone?"

"I suppose."

You bit the inside of your cheek as you assessed him. You hated the idea of just leaving him alone in the cold apartment during the holidays.

"Okay, get up," you told him after a moment.

He looked at you, perplexed. You just sighed and crossed your arms over your chest.

"You're coming home with me for Christmas."

He raised a brow. "I appreciate the gesture but I don't think-"

You rolled your eyes, cutting him off. "I'm not taking no for an answer. If you think there's any chance I'm just going to leave you here, then you're out of your mind. Now hurry up and grab your things!"

--

It was a couple of hours drive from the city to your hometown and you couldn't help but take notice of Sirius' nervous fidgeting the whole way there.

The sun was just starting to set when you arrived.

"Y/n! Darling!"

Your mother swung the door open, a giant smile painting her face at the sight of the two of you. She threw her arms out, embracing you in a warm, comforting hug.

"Hi Mum! Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, sweetheart," she pulled back, glancing up over your shoulder. "And you must be Sirius!"

"Lovely to meet you," the boy greeted, uncharacteristically politely. He stuck his hand out towards her.

"Oh, don't be silly," your Mother exclaimed, bypassing the handshake and delving in for an equally enthusiastic hug. Sirius looked briefly surprised by the gesture, before leaning down and heitantly returning her affections.

"We're so excited to have you," she announced kindly.

"Is that y/n?" a voice called from through the threshold.

"Oh yes! Come in, you two. The family's all inside."

"Darling! So good to see you!" your Dad stated, getting up to embrace you as well. Sirius hung back as you were greeted by enthusiastic family members.

Once you'd said 'hello' to both parents, grandparents and your younger brother, you turned back to look at your roommate.

"Everyone, this is Sirius," you introduced. "He'll be joining us for the next few days."

"Oh my! You're a very handsome young man!" Your grandmother declared. Sirius let out a soft chuckle.

"Thank you. I'm flattered," he responded slickly. "You're quite lovely yourself."

You held back a laugh as your Nana's face flushed red. "Well, aren't you a smooth talker?"

"So are you y/n's boyfriend or something?" Your brother chimed in from where he was leaning against the kitchen counter, assessing Sirius through squinted eyes.

"Oh no, nothing like that," you were quick to assure. "Sirius and I are just friends. He's my roommate actually."

"Right..." your brother responded. He didn't seem convinced.

You were distracted by a sudden loud clap from your mother.

"On that note, why don't I show you to where you'll be staying?"

You and Sirius followed her up the stairs and down the hall.

"This is you."

She swung open the door to reveal your childhood bedroom. It was still adorned with the same brightly coloured wallpaper that you had growing up, and cluttered with long forgotten momentos of your adolescence.

Your eyes widened slightly as they fell on the queen bed postioned in the center of the space.

Being the gentleman he was, Sirius moved to carry your suitcases into the room while you pulled your Mum aside discreetely, looking around to make sure no one could hear you.

"Mum, there's a... uh, slight issue the bedding arrangements."

A look of feigned innocence crossed her face. "Sorry but there wasn't much I could do on such short notice. You're grandparents are staying in the guest room. So unless you think Sirius should take the couch, or share with your brother, he'll have to sleep in here with you."

You sighed thickly. There was a twinkle of mischief glimmering in he eye.

"I see what your doing here," you uttered, an unimpressed look gracing your features.

Your family had spent years trying to set you up with various different suiters during your holiday visits. Their intentions were good but for some reason they just couldn't stand the thought of you being single.

"I'm not doing anything!" your mother responded with mock offense. "It's simply out of convinience, that's all."

You rolled your eyes. "Right. Sure it is."

She shrugged. "But you know, if there was anything going on between the two of you-"

"Mum!" you scolded harshly.

"I'm just saying! He's very cute!"

You glanced back at the doorway behind you and rolled your eyes. However, you couldn't deny the facts. Sirius was a very attractive man.

"Anyway," your mother stated. "I'm going to get a start on dinner. I'll give you two a moment to settle in."

She sent you a glaringly conspicuous wink as she turned and headed back down the stairs.

You huffed loudly and ventured into the room. Sirius looked up as you entered, from where he'd been examining a set of porcelain figurines on the dresser.

"Everything okay? I heard a lot of whisper-shouting," he smirked.

"Yes. Yeah, it's just my Mum. She can be a bit overbearing at times."

"She seems nice," he murmered absently and suddenly you felt a terrible sinking feeling in your gut.

Sirius had been his usual, confident, charming self during the whole ordeal thusfar, but it didn't go unnoticed, the hint of discomfort that he was trying to mask. It dawned on you that he may not be used to such warm, welcoming family envionments.

You cleared your throat awkwardly. "Sorry, about the... um, sleeping situation."

He gave you a gentle smile. "I'm okay if you are- to share, I mean."

You felt your palms grow sweaty. God, his smile was deadly.

"Uh, y-yeah. That's fine."

"Great," he nodded. Then he glanced once more around the room, taking in it's eclectic design choices. "So this is where you grew up, huh?"

"Yes it is. Gorgeous, isn't it?" you remarked sarcastically, gesturing to the pink and blue striped wallpaper.

"So tell me," he teased. "How many boys did you sneak up here over the years?"

"Oh loads. Yeah, I was clearly very popular in highschool."

He barked out a laugh. "Of course. I'm sure all the guys were just lining up to spend some time under these lovely magenta bedsheets."

You chuckled, looking up to meet his eyes. He sent you a handsome grin, a dimple popping out in his left cheek and suddenly you felt a lot more at ease.

Maybe this situation wasn't so bad after all.

--

You awoke the next morning to the feeling of an arm splayed across your waist. You looked over at the boy beside you. He looked angelic, framed by the golden morning light that was peering through the gap in the curtains.

The previous night had gone extremely well, with Sirius charming your family in various ways over dinner. He'd chatted to your Dad and brother about shared music tastes and listened to your Nana's long-winded stories with unwavering interest. He even made sure to go back for seconds on every course of your mother's Christmas Eve menu. Overall, he'd been a perfect gentlemen.

As you gazed at the man, taking in his boyish, almost delicate features, he began to stir. He blinked up at you, gathering his bearings before a smirk overtook him.

"Merry Christmas sweetheart," he murmered, his voice deep and heavy like the strings of a bass guitar.

"Merry Christmas Sirius."

--

Your family was gathered in the living room when you made it down stairs, cups of hot chocolate in hand and ready to exchange gifts.

"Took you two long enough!" your father called from his armchair beside the fireplace.

"Yeah!" Your brother echoed. "What were you doing up there anyway?"

You rolled your eyes and slapped him gently on the shoulder as you came over to sit beside him on the floor. Sirius hung back awkwardly, not quite sure where he fit into the family dynamic, something that didn't go unnoticed by you... or your grandma.

"You can have a seat right here, hun." She patted the spot on the sofa beside her.

You couldn't help but chuckle as you watched Sirius follow her direction, squishing in to the tight seat between your grandparents. You raised a brow at him from across the room and he responded with an tight-lipped smile.

"Alright! I think it's time for gifts!" your Dad announced.

It took a while to get through all the boxes piled under the tree. By the end of the ordeal you had precured a mass of items including, several handmade bees wax candles from the shop down the road, a boldly detailed set of teacups, a new sunhat and a lovely pair of earrings from your mother.

Your gaze trailed back to Sirius every once in a while, taking note of the way he curiously watched on to see the reactions of your family as they opened their various gifts. It occured to you that Sirius had likely never experienced a pleasant Christmas morning such as this one before. Something in you felt very glad that you'd dragged him along this year.

"This one's for you, Sirius!" your mother chirrped after most of the presents under the tree had sucessfully been unwrapped. She held out a gift box towards him, over the sea of massacarred Christmas paper that now covered the floor.

Sirius eyes widened. "Really? Oh, you didn't have to get me anything."

Your mother chuckled warmly. "Well we couldn't leave you giftless during all of this, could we?"

Sirius smiled but seemed hesitant in taking the box.

"It's only something little," your mother informed.

Your brows furrowed as you watched Sirius take the gift. You hadn't been made aware that your family had gotten him anything. Especially on such short notice.

Sirius carefully removed the wrapping paper to find a large silver box hidden beneath it. Cautiously, he opened it up and you couldn't contain the snort of laughter that burst from you at the sight.

Sirius let out a throaty chuckle as he held up the ugliest Christmas jumper you'd ever seen. The rest of the room was quick to follow as they assessed the man's gift.

It was a frosty blue colour with a giant, smiling snow-man in the centre. There were snow-flakes of all shapes and sizes surrounding it, adorned cheaply with silver glitter that was bound to shed and get into every nook and cranny of the house.

"Wow. This is uh... well, it's definitely something," Sirius muttered as he analysed the woolen monstrosity.

"You could wear it today!" your grandmother suggested and you let out another chortle at the insinuation.

"Y-yeah. Yeah, I could."

With that, he hesitantly reached up and slipped the piece of fabric over his head. Everyone in the room began to cheer jokingly as he secured the item.

"How do I look?" he asked, throwing his arms out to show off his present. He looked directly over at you.

"Oh, it's super sexy," you teased.

"Knew it," he responded leaning back on the couch. For the first time since he arrived, it seemed that the playful glint in his eyes had returned. You could tell he was finally starting to feel more comfortable. "I reckon there'll be a queue for me outside the door once all the girls in town get a glimpse of me in this thing."

"Well, I think you look very handsome," you grandmother chimed in.

Another eruption of laughter filled the room.

--

The rest of the day went by smoothly. Your Aunt's family came over for Christmas Lunch and you got the chance to observe Sirius in caught up in an intense nerf gun fight with you younger cousins as you helped set the table.

You couldn't help but smile at the sight and the revelation that the man was surprisingly good with kids.

You spent the day laughing and drinking and unwrapping presents. All the while, Sirius never even thought about taking his new jumper off. In fact, he'd never tell a soul but secretly he found it very comfortable.

The day ended where it began, in the living room. With bellies full of Christmas ham, your family had spent the evening sipping brandy and remeniscing about your childhood in the english countryside.

You'd never felt more embarassed in your life as when your grandfather recounted the tale of you falling head-first into the touching pool at the aquarium you visited on your 6th birthday.

You also noticed the way that Sirius laughed loudly at all the stories, soaking up the energy in the room as if he was trying to freeze the moment in time. You found yourself drawing closer and closer towards him on the couch during the night, gravitiating into the comfort of his contact.

Everyone was pretty tispy by the time 11:00pm rolled around and one by one, began heading off to bed. You, Sirius and your father were the last men standing as the clock approached midnight.

"Well, that's it!" your Dad sighed, glancing down at his watch. "Christmas is over for another year."

"What a shame," you sighed. You were propped up on the sofa beside Sirius who had an arm lazily thrown around your shoulders. Unconciously you found yourself nestling into his side. "I wish it could be Christmas all the time."

"That sounds awfully expensive," Sirius teased and your father chuckled in response.

"Well, I'm off to bed," you Dad announced, getting up from his seat and setting down his mug. "Do you two need anything before I go?"

You shook your head gently. "Nope. We're good I think."

"Well then," he came over to place a kiss on the top of your head. "I'll see you in the morning. Merry Christmas guys."

"Merry Christmas, Dad," you called after him at the same time as Sirius muttered a "Goodnight Sir," in his direction.

And then there were two.

The room was mostly dark, the only light coming from the twinkling Christmas lights that adorned the tree in the corner. Snow was falling steadily outside and the fire crackled in the fireplace on the opposite wall from where you sat. You could feel the alcohol buzzing through your veins.

"Did you have a nice time?" you asked Sirius, scooting away from him slightly to get a better look at his face.

"I had a lovely time. Did you?"

You nodded enthusiastically. "I always have a lovely time on Christmas."

Sirius chuckled. "I can see why."

His eyes darkened a bit and you could tell he was thinking about some distant memory, probably from childhood, that rattled around in the back of his brain.

Maybe it was the alcohol or just the comfortability of being in your childhood home, but you decided that tonight was the night to broach the subject.

"James told me that you don't get along with your family."

Sirius scoffed. "That's putting it lightly."

You frowned. "I'm sorry."

"S'not your fault," he murmered, gazing into the fire. "They're awful, rancid people. The lot of them."

"But you're close with your brother aren't you?"

Sirius sighed. "I am now. Took us a while to get there, though."

"Oh."

You sat back, biting the inside of your cheek as you looked up at him. He looked ethereal in the flickering fire-light. There was a moment of heavy silence between the two of you. One that clouded the room and settled like dust over the furiture.

You didn't want to push him to talk. Not if he wasn't ready. However, after a few long seconds, he began to speak again.

"I ran away at sixteen, you know?"

He turned to look at you, stormy eyes boring down into your own. They were full of so much emotion. All the pain and vulnerablility he was so good at masking was coming to the surface, brought forward on the tides of liquor.

"i just couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't take them. My parents- well, they were always mad at me about something. What classes I was taking, who I dated, who I was friends with. It just seemed at that point, like all they could do was yell at me."

"That sounds awful," you sympathised.

"It was," he continued. "And the worst part of it was how they pitted me and Regulus against each other, made us compete for their love and attention. Regulus and I didn't speak for years after I left."

"Where did you go?"

He huffed, a small smile pulling at the corner of his lips. "James'."

A sort of fuzzy warmth erupted somewhere in your gut.

"That's nice. It's good that you had someone you trusted so much."

"James is my best mate in the world," Sirius explained. "And his family took me in like I was one of their own. If it wasn't for them... well, I don't know what I would've done."

"He's a wonderful person," you responded fondly. "We're very lucky to know him."

"That we are."

There was a pause and then:

"You're a wonderful person as well, you know? I also feel lucky to know you."

You felt an explosion of heat behind your cheeks, and you had to turn away from him quickly to hide your embarassement. Your heart was pounding in your chest and suddenly your throat was as dry as a desert.

"Come on, I think we should go to bed now.”

You stood abruptly from the couch, grabbing his hand in yours and tugging him up with you. The two of you tiptoed up the stairs, doing your best not to disturb any of your sleeping family.

"Wait! Hold on a second."

You stopped in the doorway of your room, coming face to face with the boy in front of you. He was standing very close, eyes alight with an emotion you couldn't quite describe.

He reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind your ear. Then he gestured upwards. Following his direction, you looked up to notice a single strand of Mistletoe hanging from the doorframe. You could only guess who put it there.

Then you looked back at Sirius, who had a small smirk painted on his lips. Slowly he began to lean closer towards you.

"We have to do it," he murmered, your lips only centermetres apart. "It's bad luck if we don't."

Then, in an instant, he lunged forwards, pressing his lips to yours. Sparks errupted within you as you kissed him back.

Sirius moved his hands into your hair, lacing them in between thick strands. You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him into the doorway and pressing him up against the wall.

Suddenly, he was reaching towards the hem of your shirt, fingers dancing over the skin of your hip and sneaking up your side. You let him.

Before you knew it, that stupid Christmas Jumper was decorating the bedroom floor.

You grinned against his lips as Sirius pulled you down onto the bed.

--

Taglist:

@hisparentsgallerryy @navs-bhat @shushbruv @magicwithaknife @eeviee4 @notapoetjustscar @gugggu6gvai @robertsmithclone @ilovesugurugeto69 @taytayy178 @its-notkiee @bugworldsworld @switchingfandomslikecrazy @evangelquill, @delusional-4-fake-people, @ch4rlotte35, @insideoutjulie, @hiireadstuff

[daily-tangotek-doodles]

I actually did see ur team ZITS on ur other acc and I am putting them into my pocket and I'm running off. I like them a lot you cooked w their designs!! (all your designs r very awesome btw :] taking all ur art n putting it in the microwave to watch it spin)

on that note can I. maybe. perhaps. request a silly little team zits doodle. it's fine if not ofc since that's 4 ppl n all n it's pretty big to just casually request :^

-🐚 ("I'll stop flooding ur asks" me when I lie I guess) also I did have a nice christmas :] went to a restaurant w a part of my family. and mid eating the block people thoughts returned to me so that was something!!

(i don't think you're flooding my asks, it's fun to talk to you! also, i'm glad you had a nice christmas and i'm sorry this is kinda late XD)

{66}

Slightly before hermitcraft team zits! (scene kid zed and his 3 punk besties)

[merrybloomwrites]

It's Just a Game, But Really

Summary: When your brother starts dating Taylor Swift, you figure your wild dreams of dating Harry Styles are now definitely crushed. But some meddling from Jason, Travis, and Taylor may make some dreams come true after all.

Word Count: 3K

AN: This idea randomly popped into my head months ago and I couldn't get it out until I fully wrote it. I feel like this falls into the category of "Crack treated seriously" lol

Also, I understand this is niche, but as an Eagles fan (pls don't come for me) I've watched the entire Travis/Taylor relationship unfold and just thought this would be silly. Writing Jason and Travis was pretty fun too since I've been listening to their podcast for years and it was a cool challenge to write in their voices

Finally, I took creative liberty here and while I normally try to keep details as close to reality as possible, I've changed some things. So the Packers vs Eagles game that happened in Brazil now takes place in philly, and the Chiefs game on Christmas is now against Baltimore so it would be plausible to have the dinner scene in PA. None of this actually matters, this is fiction lol

Title from "So High School" by Taylor Swift

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

Growing up with two athletic brothers had been quite an experience. Hundreds of hours were spent at sporting events, often bundled up to watch them play ice hockey or attend the late season football games. In your family, it was important that everyone supported each other.

It went the other way as well. Your brothers attended every spring concert, theater performance, and dance recital you were in. They were your biggest fans, always cheering you on and bringing flowers to give you.

They also took time to learn about your interests. Instead of getting annoyed when Taylor Swift’s music would play through the house, they started listening.

Especially Travis.

He liked the music, and thought she seemed pretty cool. He didn’t admit it, but you guessed that maybe he had a bit of a celebrity crush on her.

Life continued to change as your brothers left for college, then moved to different cities when they got signed to two different NFL teams. You missed them, but it was great seeing them succeed.

Jason and Travis still made time for family, even when Jason got married and started a family of his own. You and Kylie became friends right away, and you immediately loved having another girl in the family. You couldn’t wait for it to be Travis’s turn to find someone. But preferably not through his dating show.

When Taylor Swift announced her Eras Tour, you desperately wanted to go. So you were highly disappointed when you weren’t able to get tickets.

And then Travis surprised you with tickets to her show in Kansas City. By this point you had moved in with Jason and Kylie near Philly, but Travis assured you that he’d take care of all the travel logistics to get you to the concert.

You flew in the night before, getting to spend the day with your brother before heading to the stadium. It was weird to be there for a concert, having attended numerous games there before. It was cool to see how it was transformed into something almost unrecognizable.

Being there with Travis meant getting to be seated with a great view in a cordoned off section. It also meant Chiefs fans coming close to the barrier to talk to him before the show. Watching your brother trade friendship bracelets with these people was a strange moment, one you never would have imagined happening.

Through all that, there was one bracelet he had that you noticed he wouldn’t trade. Taking a closer glance you see what’s written on it and give him a confused look.

“Travis, what in the world is this?” you ask.

“Friendship bracelet,” he answers simply, dodging your true question.

“Obviously. But why is your number on here? Who is this for?”

He laughs nervously but before you can press it further another fan comes up to say hi. You can’t help but wonder what his plan is for that bracelet, even though you have a pretty good idea who its intended recipient is.

The concert begins and you have a wonderful time, dancing and singing along, Travis just as excited beside you. As it ends, Travis speaks with one of the staff members, looking slightly disappointed but not too bothered. Once again you’re left wondering what that was all about.

It’s a couple weeks later and you’re listening to the latest episode of Travis and Jason’s podcast when they bring up Travis attending the concert. Sure enough, he confirms he was trying to get that bracelet with his number to Taylor, and you have to commend him on his creativity and optimism.

What you don’t expect is for Taylor to find out about that and get in touch with Travis. Now a year later, your brother is in a happy, committed relationship with Taylor Swift. She’s come to family dinners, you’ve been next to her during Chiefs games, and she’s made it so you could come to a number of concerts on her tour. You cannot believe that this has become your life. And you have to give your brother credit for his powers of manifestation.

One afternoon you’re hanging in the living room while Jason records the podcast in the basement. He calls out for you and you go down to see what’s going on.

He hands you a set of headphones so you can hear Travis as well, and fills you in on the topic.

“So,” Jason begins. “Fans are starting to give you credit for Travis and Taylor getting together. Do you think that’s fair to say?”

You laugh for a moment that this is why you’re called to speak on what should be a sports podcast, before answering, “I think that’s fair. I mean, he did the work but I would say my childhood Swiftie obsession planted the seed.”

Travis replies, “You don’t think I would have found out about her on my own?”

“Oh you totally would have. But I got the ball rolling ages ago. Timing is everything, what if you’d been too late?”

“Alright, I’ll give you that. We can say you had a hand in this.”

“So that means you owe me,” you say.

Jason chimes in, “Yea Trav, your turn to manifest for Y/N.”

“You want me to manifest a boyfriend for our little sister?” Travis questions.

“Oh, right, wait, don’t actually do that. I forgot, Y/N’s not allowed to date until she’s forty,” Jason says, leading you to roll your eyes at his overprotectiveness.

“Ok, but if I were to try, who would it be? Y/N, who’s your celebrity crush?” Travis asks.

There’s no way you’re answering that on camera, especially with who the answer actually is. You clench your teeth and lift your eyebrows before cheekily saying, “Oh, no, I cannot answer that on the pod. That’s uhm. That’d be messy.” You then shrug and laugh, trying to play all of this off as a bit.

While Travis tries to dig and get you to answer, it clicks for Jason and he says, “Wait, I think I know who it is. Is it, uhm-”

“Don’t you dare say anything!” you exclaim to shut him up.

“Alright, alright. I won’t spill your secrets.”

“Well at least tell it to me later,” Travis says, to which you reply, “Absolutely not. I’m afraid you may actually try to meddle.”

“Who, me? No way,” he replies only to be met with an unimpressed look from you.

The boys drop the subject and you head back upstairs as they finally talk about football again.

You assume that they’ve moved on, and you’re happy when they don’t bring up your celebrity crush again.

You’re even happier when Jason tells you he’s taking you to the season opener Eagles vs Packers game in Philly. You’re super excited to be able to experience an Eagles game alongside your brother. You’re also glad you can be there for him in case it’s hard for him to watch them play without him for the first time since his retirement.

What you’re unaware of is the plan that Jason and Travis had made behind your back.

“So now you’re on board with trying to set up our little sister?” Jason had questioned during a phone call a couple weeks prior.

“Yes. And I have a way of making it happen,” Travis had answered.

“And you want me to help Y/N meet and potentially date a popstar who happens to be your girlfriend's ex-boyfriend?”

“Yes.”

“And he’s a Packers fan?”

“Yea, that is the unfortunate part. And you’re not really helping them date. That’s all on them. But you could at least help her meet him at the game.”

“This is ridiculous,” Jason says. “But I’ll do it.”

And that’s how you find yourself walking through the tunnels of the Linc with Jason before the start of the game and bumping into Harry Styles.

“Hello, I’m Harry,” he says cheerfully, holding a hand out for you to shake.

Mustering up all of your chill, you smile in return while reaching out to clasp his hand and say, “I’m Y/N. It’s so nice to meet you, I’m a big fan.”

“Well, thank you for your support,” he says.

“You kids want a picture?” There are few times you want to kill your brother, but him butting in while you’re talking to Harry Styles is definitely one of them.

“That’s alright,” you say, trying not to impose on Harry too much. So you’re surprised when Harry says, “Of course, let’s get a photo!”

You stand next to him, and his arm wraps around your shoulder and you hope your expression doesn’t show how crazy fast your heart is beating while Jason takes the picture.

“It was so nice meeting you both, I’ll see you around!” Harry says as he walks away.

Before Jason can begin to tease you, you say, “Don’t even say a word.”

He listens to you and instead just laughs as you keep walking.

After some quick hellos to the stadium staff, you’re led up to a box.

“I thought we just had seats today?” You question.

“We did. But when I was talking to Mark he said we got upgraded.”

When you step into the box you’re once again surprised by the presence of Harry Styles.

“Okay, we are definitely in the wrong place,” you murmur to your brother.

“Oh good, you guys found us!” Harry says. You look to see who he’s talking to and get shocked to see it’s you and Jason. “There were some open spots so I asked if you two could join us,” he explains.

“Wow, thank you!” You manage to squeak out.

Suddenly you’re realizing what is about to happen. A four minute encounter in the hallway? Easy. An entire three hour football game? There’s no way you make it through without embarrassing yourself.

And yet, halftime comes and you’ve so far managed not to make a fool of yourself. In fact, you’re even impressed by your witty banter as the Eagles and Packers go back and forth taking the lead.

“So, I read about these botanical gardens nearby,” Harry says.

“Longwood?” You ask.

“Yea, have you ever been?”

“A couple times. I went with Jason, Kylie, and the kids earlier this summer. They’re really nice. If you’re thinking about going, I highly recommend.”

“I actually got a couple tickets for the fountain show tomorrow night. I was wondering if you’d like to go with me.”

Quickly processing that Harry is asking you to hang out with him, possibly go on a date with him, you reply, “I’d love to!”

“Fantastic! I can pick you up in the afternoon?”

“Sounds good to me, thank you.”

You exchange phone numbers and give Harry your address, still in disbelief that all of this is actually happening.

The game resumes, and as the Eagles make their comeback you can’t help but cheer and get wrapped up in the game. And even as Harry’s team starts losing, he still stays happy and continues to joke around with you.

When the game ends and the Eagles fans celebrate, you say to Harry, “I hope this doesn’t affect us hanging out tomorrow.”

“Not a chance, in fact I think that will cheer me up,” he says with a smile.

“Hey Y/N, I’ve gotta go talk to a couple people. You hanging here or coming with me?” Of course, there’s your brother interrupting again. And while you’d rather stay with Harry, you don't really want to be separated from Jason in the post-game chaos. So you say goodbye to Harry with the promise to see him the next day.

On your way back home you put up with the teasing from your brother.

You beg him to be on his best behavior when Harry picks you up the next day.

You know he won’t.

So it’s no surprise that he gives Harry “the talk”, telling him that if he hurts you at all then he’ll have to face two NFL players.

You’re hanging in the living room with Kylie and the kids while this happens, and when the two boys come back Kylie asks,”He wasn’t too scary, was he?”

“No,” Harry replies. “Just scary enough I’d say. Shall we get going?” He addresses this last question to you and you agree, more than happy to get out of the house before Jason takes his big brother role too seriously.

When Harry drives away he lets out a deep breath and you say, “You good?”

“Yea, just- Your brother is scary.”

You start to laugh at the fact that Jason managed to actually shake up Harry Styles. But you decide to help him out by saying, “He seems scary, but it’s mostly all talk. Unless you do something to hurt me. Then you should be scared.”

“Oh I feel so much better,” he says, laughing along now.

The two of you have a wonderful time together at the gardens, especially since Harry manages to somehow fly under the radar. The fountain show is fascinating, and you stand together, Harry’s arm around your waist sending butterflies through your belly.

It’s late when you get home, and he walks you to the door like a gentleman.

When he asks if he can kiss you, of course you say yes. He leans in for a soft kiss before saying goodnight, not leaving until you’ve made it safely inside.

Jason is waiting up for you, and as you tell him about your night you watch his gruff exterior fade away. He looks truly pleased by all you have to report and you’re glad that he seems to approve of Harry.

For the next couple of months, it all goes well. Your relationship with Harry flourishes. You get to see him more than expected since he starts working out of a studio in NYC, only two hours away from where you are.

There is one mild bump in the road, occurring on a Friday evening when Jason and Kylie are supposed to be out at a party with the girls.

You’d been planning on a quiet night home alone. But then Harry had surprised you by showing up at your front door, a bouquet of flowers in hand.

One thing led to another, and before you know it you’re both on the couch. You’re straddling his lap, his hands sliding under your shirt as the two of you make out.

As much as Harry had surprised you, Jason surprises you even more by suddenly coming home and walking right into the living room.

Harry notices him first, and in an effort to save this interaction he pushes you off of him, luckily managing to shift you to the open spot next to him on the couch.

There’s a moment of oppressively awkward silence as Jason stares at the two of you, speechless. Without saying a word he walks to the mud room and grabs the diaper bag that had clearly been left behind earlier.

As he passes through the room to leave he says, “You are adults. Just- don’t be stupid. There are enough kids in this house already.”

Without waiting for a reply he leaves the house. After another moment you and Harry break into nervous laughter.

The mood is pretty much ruined but you still have a nice night watching a movie together. Harry stays with you but has to leave at lunchtime the next day.

That afternoon Jason knocks on your bedroom door, asking if he can talk for a minute.

“Sure, what’s up?” You say, not expecting the conversation that follows.

“I just wanted to ask how things are going between you and Harry,” he says.

“Oh! Good! Yea, things are going well. I really like him,” you answer.

“And you’re being safe?”

“Oh my god, Jason! We are not having this conversation,” you say as your cheeks warm at the implication.

“Well you’re living in my house, I just, you know. I feel responsible for your well being.”

“I’m safe. Very safe. You don’t have to worry.” You hope your words will convince him to drop the topic.

“And you trust him? Cause I mean, he’s a big time Popstar. Bet he’s broken a fair number of hearts before.”

You find yourself needing to defend Harry and ask, “Have you had this conversation with Travis about Taylor?”

“Fair point,” he concedes. “I just don’t want you getting hurt. You’re sure about him?”

“I am.”

“Okay then. That’s what matters. I’m only looking out for you.”

“I know. But Harry and I are happy. I promise.”

With that smoothed over, the next few weeks continue drama free.

And then comes Christmas.

Due to scheduling, Harry had yet to meet Travis. You’ve talked to your brother about him, and you know Travis has talked about all of this with Taylor. So while you’ve been told that it’s no big deal that your boyfriend and your brother’s girlfriend are exes, you’re still a bit nervous for Christmas dinner.

It’s a late meal, since you have to wait for Travis to get there after the Chiefs vs Ravens game, and you spend the afternoon entertaining your nieces and helping prepare the food.

Finally Travis and Taylor arrive, and for a moment you can’t help but feel self conscious. The room is full of NFL players and international pop stars. You excuse yourself to the kitchen for a moment to collect yourself. When you walk back to the living room, Harry greets you with the biggest smile, and those feelings of self doubt melt away. Because those big accomplishments and accolades aren’t what matter to him. What he cares about is how kind you are, how fun and loving you are. He wraps an arm around your shoulders, pressing a kiss to your head and you blush knowing your whole family is watching.

But looking up at them you see nothing but support. Your mom is practically glowing seeing all her children with their significant others, and quickly organizes a family picture.

It takes some time to get all three of the little girls to cooperate, and by the time the photo is taken, dinner is ready.

There is something surreal at seeing Harry and Taylor pass the potatoes or bread basket, never having imagined this is how your life would turn out.

But that night, as you all agree to break the internet by posting the family picture, you know you wouldn’t want it any other way.

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

AN: I wrote the first half of this as the Eagles lost to the Commanders, thus breaking a 10 game win streak soooo that was a bummer.

I wrote the ending after watching the Eagles beat the Cowboys, so at least that turned back around!

I think this may be the silliest thing I’ve ever written.

[m00nkissedlover]

・｡rings 💍

you've ordered: a bone-shaped lemon tart! enjoy!

"it's always been just him and me, together."

divus crewel x spouse! reader | word count: 994 words

summary: the students don't know you're married to their alchemy professor 💍 (silly little crewel drabble! :D)

warnings: kinda rushed, not proofread. other than that, none!

note: not my best work, but hey- it is what it it T-T. i will definitely be writing more for crewel in the future! also, i use they/them pronouns for reader. feel free to change them to your preferred pronouns while reading

"did you guys know that professor y/n is married?" ace exclaimed, receiving reactions of utter shock and complete indifference.

"you're just now finding out?" jamil asked as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"wait, you knew? since when?" grim asked, his face stuffed with a meat filled pastry.

"since the first day of class. i noticed the ring when they was handing out papers."

"do you know who they're married to?" kalim questioned, jamil shaking his head.

"all i know is that they're married to a professor. i happened to overhear them talking with another student who asked."

"professor trein's too damn old to be their husband and coach vargas already told us he's not gonna get married anytime soon." deuce explained. "and we've never seen professor crewel wearing a ring."

"maybe he doesn't teach here?" grim mumbled, finishing up his pastry and making a failed attempt to take deuce's.

"look! there they are." ace announced.

the others turned around to see you walking through the cafeteria, greeting students. when you spotted their table, you smiled and waved at them, stepping over. "good morning everyone! how are you all doing today?" you asked, your voice warm and inviting.

the boys all gave pretty halfhearted responses as their eyes drifted to the ring on your finger. whoever your husband was, he was definitely loaded. that diamond was the size of their heads.

you followed their gaze, giving a quiet laugh as you reached you hand out, letting them get a better look at the ring. "before you all ask: yes, i am married."

"wow! that's a gorgeous ring!" kalim exclaimed, taking in the sparkly rock.

"so, uh...what's your husband like?" ace outright asked, earning himself a kick under the table from jamil. "ignore him, professor."

"no, no. i don't mind at all. he's very sweet and kindhearted. he's very passionate about his teaching and wants his students to succeed. he's the best man i've ever met, really." you sighed dreamily, thoughts of your husband filing your mind.

the group found it rather sweet, whispering among each other for another question to ask.

"well, i must be on my way. see you all in class later!" you smiled, giving them a nod as you left the cafeteria and them dumbfounded.

you were currently in your classroom, setting things up for your next class. you taught magical botany and herbalism, a class that happened to go hand in hand with professor crewel's alchemy class.

as you checked in on the various plants growing in your "plant corner" of the classroom (you also used the botanical garden to grow things), you heard the sound of footsteps behind you. turning around, a wide grin spread over your features as you saw the familiar face.

"professor crewel, what a pleasant surprise." you said, a tinge of excitement in your voice at seeing your husband. yes, you were married to none other that divus crewel, alchemy professor and dog lover alike.

"y/n, you know you can drop the formalities when we're alone." he said, stepping over to you. his arms encircled your waist, making you laugh a little.

"crewel, our students might see!" you exclaimed, pretending to scold him despite your arms already wrapping around his neck.

crewel gave you one of his flashy grins, resting his forehead against yours. "so? at least then, the puppies will stop bombarding me with questions."

"what questions?" you mused, having a good idea of what they were.

"like, if i have a crush on you." the alchemy professor said, making you burst into laughter.

"well, we're married, so i would hope so!" you snickered, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

just as your conversation was going well, a few whispering voices could be heard from behind the door. voices you two knew very well.

"stop pushing!"

"shh, they're gonna hear us!"

"did they say they're married?"

you and crewel exchanged a knowing glance, walking over to the door and opening it. in tumbled grim, ace, and deuce, all three of them with rather guilty looks on their faces.

"oh? deuce, this isn't the botanical garden!" ace said, trying to sound convincing (and failing).

"where you puppies eavesdropping on us?" crewel asked, his tone turning stern. you placed a hand onto crewel's shoulder, shaking your head.

"let's at least hear them out."

crewel was about to protest, but nodded his head, letting them explain themselves.

"we were just curious about who professor y/n was married to!" grim blurted, ace facepalming and deuce silently scolding the cat-like creature.

"like he said, we never would've guessed it was professor crewel. he never wears a ring." deuce explained.

you couldn't help but laugh, crewel rolling his eyes at their little display of curiosity.

"the reason he doesn't wear his ring is because he's afraid he'll lose it or ruin it up during alchemy lessons. it also looks weird if he wears his gloves over it." you explained, the boys nodding their heads.

"you do understand that i'll have to punish you three, correct?" crewel said, the three boys hanging their heads.

"oh come on, love. cut them some slack this time, hm?" you suggested, playfully nudging crewel in his side. the students were shocked to see this side of their professors, finding it a bit weird, but also rather sweet.

"fine. but don't let me catch you again."

after the trio left, crewel helped you set up the last of your things. you two were now having one last little intimacy session before classes began again.

"tell you what? after classes are over, let's go have some tea in your office and just enjoy each other's company?" you hummed, reaching up to tuck a tuft of his white hair behind his ear.

"you always know how to take my stress away." he smiled, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead.

"of course i do. i know my husband inside and out." 💍

© m00nkissedlover, 2024

[yellow-rose-embalmer]

So that was the impression he was giving off. Aesop adjusts his posture upon the bench uncomfortably, looking downward. He gives a slow nod as he reads the point about not wanting to force anything: he understands all too well how people react negatively to that sort of thing, even when what is being forced is best for them. Even when he is pushing something for their own good.

What he thinks is unpalatable... that is a question he struggles to answer, even with the assurance that Victor has seen more than a few things, even with the promise that it probably won't be the worst thing the man has had to read. Still, he is hesitant in writing, staring down the page as he slides one foot behind the other, tapping a rhythm he hadn't planned beforehand, and yet one that he realizes too quickly has settled into a familiar pattern. [I doubt either of us wish to converse in something one-sided... in any sense of the word. Even if I imagine we might have had to more than a few times. Though, I may be assuming or guessing for your end... Correct me if I am wrong.]

He moves down a line, to indicate a new thought, but his hand freezes up mid-sentence at several points when he tries to answer further thoughts, tries to elaborate in a way that he feels will not lead to the same reception as so many other times, as shown in strangely halted and elongated ends of words. [It is not that I find it any issue, necessarily, but... I have found that my own work with death is not exactly well-received by others. If life is too hard, and too painful, and there's so much suffering everywhere... should I not help them rest? People shouldn't have to go through all that... it shouldn't have to hurt so much for so long. But... the underworld needs its guide, a soul needs someone to help it pass on, and I can fulfill that. I've trained so long to do so, it's the way I know how to help people.] He stares, wide-eyed, at his writings, his breaths and heartbeat accelerating within him. He shouldn't have said all this so quickly after meeting Victor. But he answered the question he was asked, didn't he? It took much restraint of twitching hands to not crumple the page or tear it apart in his fear that he'd ruined it all so fast. He settles for writing down a rushed message underneath his steadily messier confession. [I am dreadfully sorry for all that. I said far too much.] Quickly, he slides the paper over to Victor, looking away as if he cannot bear to witness his own words any further.

"Oh... Oh dear. I... do not know quite how that feels on your end, but if you need anything for it, I am more than happy to provide. I'm... not a proper doctor, or anything, but... I have some cleaning materials and bandages that I carry with me."

"...I won't ask what happened with your eye, if that's any concern. You don't need to put everything on display to a man you just met, after all."

@yellow-rose-embalmer

Besides, even if you were a doctor, I doubt you could help me. As for my eye, well, it's quite simple. I could tell you about it as long as you don't, uh, want to lick it.

[etherealyoungk]

— ✦ etherealyoungk's 2024 rewind!

i saw this going around so i thought i'd hop onto it and do a little appreciation post for 2024! this is going to contain my top fics, some stats, goals for 2025 and a little paragraph for all my lovely moots on here <3

— top three posts this year!

into the night - jeon wonwoo (with 1918 notes)

sugar & spice - jeon wonwoo (with 1536 notes)

new beginnings - jeon wonwoo (with 1287 notes) honestly didn't think people would like this concept so much haha and not all the top three being wonwoo fics lol.

— longest fic of 2024:

sugar & spice - wc: 29.2k

— shortest fic 2024:

wonwoo fluff drabble - wc: 438

— an unexpected fic in 2024:

love between the lines - chwe vernon (wc: 12k) i genuinely really enjoyed writing this fic. vernon isn't a member i write for often or find a little hard to write, so this was a nice challenge. i honestly don't thing i'd ever have written a long fic for vernon if it wasn't for the collab and i'm so glad i joined and wrote this because i had great fun with it and really happy with the outcome + seeing so many of you guys enjoy it makes me always happy ^^

— some of my fav reads:

tell me that you love me pt 1 & pt 2 by @wheeboo one of the best fics i've read this year honestly this was tooo good like THE joshua fic so everyone go read this right now.

what's wrong with secretary kim with soonyoung by @xinganhao this was the cutest fucking thing i've read and i need more ahhhhhh kae your work is top tier i love it sm.

rates of change by @wqnwoos hana i'm literally in love with you and your writing and ths fic was the cutest thing ever i adored every word and ate it up.

ex-conomics by @ugh-yoongi oml this fic was so fucking good i read it in one go on my bed and it was such an emotional rollarcoaster but you wrote it so well everything was just so so amazing one of my favs for sure.

here and now by @writingmeraki babe im in love with your spy gyu couple im not even kidding when i say i go reread this often like i love it so much okay and i love you.

burnt promises, second chances by @slytherinshua omg zanna please this fic it was so good you wrote it so so well i just loved everything about this and the concept was so cool too!

— milestones in 2024

writng an almost 30k fic bc that is insane to me i never thought i could do that but im so proud of that fic.

hitting 4.5k followers just before the year ends! that's honestly insaneee. i adore each and everyone who reads my work and leaves reblogs and feedback.

joining collabs and doing a collab for the first time was so new but also so exciting for me. hopefully in 2025 i can do more.

— goals for 2025

finishing all my incomplete wips!!! i really really want to finish all the wips i started and left hanging skgjsg bc they were really good ideas and i wanna put them out in the world for you guys to read as well!

try to interact with you guys more? i feel like i don't enough.

— a word to my mutuals <3

to all my mutuals i love and adore you guys so much and i still can't believe i'm actually friends with some of you insane guys i love yall so much and i love this silly little family i have on here, it means the world to me <3

@wheeboo rania i love talking to you and love how i can just come in your dms and be delusional and bounce off ideas with you. i love talking to you about anything and everything. you're seriously one of the best writers and i can't wait to see where 2025 takes us.

@fairyhaos yenaaa my love! i love talking to you and you're the sweetest and your fics are always so so good. i miss you but i hope you're doing well and taking care and uni isn't too hectic. always thinking about you fondly and sending hugs mwah mwahh

@writingmeraki pri the loml my wife i love you so so much. i love how became moots bc of this one post of yours and after that it's history and i just love talking to you about anything and how we just talk about anything and everything <3 i just love us so much. mwah mwah mwahhhhh

@strawberri-uyu nico my love! our convos are honestly the best and i miss you and i hope you're doing well and taking care of yourself bubs <3

@paindivinemp3 my dear maria! you're the sweetest soul ever and i love talking to you about life and things and it's always so nice to talk to you, it always feels like i'm talking to an elder sister 🥺 sending much love <3

@wqnwoos hana i literally adore you and your writing so so much and you're the sweetest kindest soul mwah mwah ily <3

@gyuswhore you're the coolest moot! you're so so talented, an amazing person and just the coolest!!

@jeonsupershy kashii i love talking to you about day6 and seventeen and i adore your gifs they're truly amazing and im so glad we got talking.

@ylangelegy kae omg i love your work it's so good especially your text imagines im in loveeee and plus i know we only started talking but it's so nice to meet another myday and carat and hopefully we talk more!

@gyubakeries tiyaa i love how you text me on discord and we have the most funny convos.

@fxstpace aspen omg new moot but you're so much fun to talk to i hope we talk get to talk more.

and all my other lovely moots that i adore: @blue-jisungs @slytherinshua @kyeomyun @hannyoontify

@weird-bookworm @lvlystars @icyminghao @cheolhub @rubywonu

if i missed anyone im so sorry but just know you guys are so loved by me!

@reikaryu @husbandhoshi @welcometomyoasis @babyleostuff

@odxrilove @holdinbacksecrets @husbandhoshi @naaaaafla

[erogenousmind]

No Complaints

Imagine being so deep in trance that fundamental concepts or feelings just escape you. It's easy to picture yourself sinking to the point that certain things drop out of your head. The number 4, the word "no", even your own name. But what if you were able to lose something deeper?

You can begin to imagine what it would feel like to be taken that deep. The long, slow journey deeper into trance. The fractionation. Dropping over and over and over again. Each time taking you deeper. Each time helping you surrender more of yourself to this experience. The level of rapport you build to go so very deep. The trust you have in your hypnotist. Giving them access to the deepest parts of you. Giving them control in such a profound way.

And your eagerness to achieve something so incredible. To give of yourself so completely to someone who excites your desire to give. To surrender. To submit. And so you drop. Down and down and down again. And gradually you feel your agency fading away. You were an enthusiastic participant. Wanting to feel your mind sink. Wanting to be opened. Following directions so well. Complying with every request, every suggestion. Because you knew that would take you deeper.

But as you sank down more and more, as your mind relaxed more completely, it stopped being a decision. It becomes automatic. You are told what to do, what to think, what to feel. You obey. Up. You begin to rouse. Sleep. The rest of the world fades away again. Up and down your mind is moved, no longer following but being manipulated directly. And it feels so good. The pleasure of turning your mind off is so perfect. Abandoning responsibility, abandoning decisions. It feels so freeing. And maybe that's because your hypnotist told you it would feel that way. Maybe the pleasure comes from their suggestion of pleasure. But none of that matters anymore. You have given up that control. And your body and mind respond as they are told.

And because you are no longer in control, because you are completely passive in this process of dropping deeper, you don't even realize how far gone you are. How your thoughts have stopped. No longer responding positively or negatively to suggestions. You simply obey.

And that's when things begin to fall away. Things that once seemed so fundamental. Notions like resistance, struggle. They cease to have meaning. It's not that you aren't able to put up a fight. Rather, the concept no longer exists in your head. You cannot resist because resistance no longer has meaning to you. There is only obedience.

And of course you are happy that this is happening to you. That such silly ideas no longer take up space in your mind, replaced instead by the pleasure of obedience. Of course this is exactly what you wanted. The opposite belief no longer exists for you. You would never complain or be bothered by the way your mind is controlled. By how completely you have been enthralled going so deep. Those concepts have faded away along with your resistance. Complaint is just a funny combination of letters. Only pleasure has meaning. And you feel such pleasure when you obey.

And so it goes, one by one. All those unnecessary things. Those frivolous, mistaken impressions about independence. About being something other than a deeply mesmerized thrall. About being so completed obedient and devoted to the pleasure overwhelming your senses even now. You have been relieved of them. They have been discarded.

And that makes it easier for you. Simpler. All you need to do is focus on doing as you are told. And enjoying the pleasure of obedience. And even the distinctions between those can melt away as you become more obedient and feel even better. Pleasure becomes obedience. Obedience is pleasure.

And you would never dream of having it any other way. Because imagining it any other way isn't something you ever need to be able to do again.

[blitzbuckz]

OKAY TIME OF THE YEAR TO BE EMOTIONAL! — as of now, this blog is 8 months old. ( I'm not a hb verteran. im a baby c': ) I made my blog near the end of May 2024. I had about a year break from tumblr && I almost decided not to come back at all when my PC died on me.

Long story short I got a gaming laptop && decided to give Blitzø a try, which had a rocky start but in the end it saved my life! I couldn't picture my life without any of you guys && your time has seriously opened my eyes to so many things! which i'll elaborate further with some of you. ( mostly affiliates but not all ) PLEASE do keep in mind that I'm just ONE person behind this rampant demon, it's impossible for me to mention every mutual but do know I SEE YOU. whether we've interacted once or through 'likes' — do know I consider you part of my life too. always will. you guys are my every day inspiration do be better and I'll continue trying to share my time. foremost, make y'all smile because in the end that's your best feature. I love my audience ( mutuals ) and making you smile means everything to me <3

now onto the mentions! will be under 'Read More' for length purposes. again if you're not listed it doesn't mean i don't value you! i will get better at mentioning and dividing my time with everyone come this New Year! so HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE. WHETHER YOU SPEND IT WITH FAMILY OR ON HERE REMEMBER YOU ARE LOOOVED! I LOVE YOU ALL AND HERE'S TO VENTURING ANOTHER YEAR WITH YOU SINNERS mwah mwah <3

( in no particular order here I goooo )

[ @nopossum / @h3lled ] - MY M&M. MY SERETONINS. since beginning of my blog you guys have made me comfortable in this hell-ish fandom, I was afraid, afraid of reaching out to everyone and doubting whether I was good enough to write Blitz — but you guys accepted me for who I am. you guys gave me a reason to stick around, to dote with my silly doodles, but foremost made me obsess with I.M.P I'll wait an eternity to rp or let alone talk to you. your time means everything to me. I LOVE YOU GUYS SO FUCKN MUCH. YALL ARE FUCKABLE WORTHY. IM KISSING YOU BOTH!! MWAHS MWAHS!!! hope you guys are enjoying New Years!! you little rascals deserve nothing but the BEST! i'll be spoiling you two with art soon enough too. just you watch!! <3

[ @grimowled ] - MY FIRST RP STOLAS PARTNER. i remember being nervous to talk to you, let alone rp with you, yet we took off faster than I'd ever imagine. waay too fast, but that's how in sync we are! we have the same ambitions, same love for our muses. I can always hear Stolas through your writing, especially Pilot Stols. which I didn't think I would of had a eye for — but now I'm lowkey foaming in the mouth lol anything and everything you do is jaw dropping and I too will wait an eternity for you. you are worth the wait. ilysm please never change luv <3

[ @botanikos / @starsaught ] - MY FAMILY. MY HEARTS AND BRIGHTEST OF STARS. coming in on tumblr I didn't think I would of found anyone to share a family with, to feel needed every day, or even mentioned. Sinsmas may have ended in a rough note, but honestly I felt different because I had so much fun screaming with both of you. going back and forth on discord with you guys was the most fun i had in awhile. easily the best holiday I had in years! I love watching you guys go on rants, speak your thoughts, and overall write with a fiery passion. I want to like every single one of your posts, simply EVERYTHING you guys do and I cannot wait to venture into another year with both of y'all. another year, another problem. whatever comes your way I will protect you both!! you guys deserve the world and back — I'll do whatever it takes to make you two smile. you guys are my constellations, my burning stars, I couldn't picture tumblr without you both. IM ON THE VERGE OF TEARS HERE. seriously, it's a blessing and an honor anytime I get to interact with you two. I'd have the biggest gap in my heart without y'all. ilu fams so so much. Happy New Year! may it be filled with love and joy- as you bestowed into my life ;; v ;; <33

[ @gethellbcnt ] - MY DARLING. MY BOO. MY ENTIRE UNIVERSE. you've always made us feel wanted. you gave my muse a mother, a best friend, a boyfriend, frenemies, etc. I'll never forget the endless nights we would always go on rants but also the times we've screamed together over these unhinged sinners of ours. Drawing and editing with you has also been one of my joyous moments! Everything you do is crazy perfection and I never feel alone with you. Every waken moment with you is a bliss. I cannot wait to go in another year with you! to scream, cry, share our crazy collections, etc. ilu bitch so fuckin MUCH. pls never forget it <3

[ @madefate / @fearedelight ] - CLAAAIRE!! SAAAAL!!! BEST GIRLS!!!!! anytime Loona appears in screen I'm always thinking of you two. both of you write her with such precision and depth. I love engaging threads, screaming together, let alone spending time talking with you in general!! always eye-pleasing to see y'all in my dash! Highly respect the way you can handle multiple muses too. something I can never accomplished, you're GIFTED and will always have my undying respect. also doting!!! I WANNA GIVE YOU BOTH SMOOCHES!!! I know I'm terrible interacting daily like most, but I hope to be better at it come this new year. Thank you for interacting with a silly goober like me, your time is forever treasured in my heart. ily guys so so much! many mwahs!!! and here's to another year screaming together! hopefully <33

[ @peppy-jester ] - bEEANIIIEEEE! MY BEST MATE! im convinced we share one braincell at times xD you made me fall hard for BlitzFizz, something I never considered before, let alone have an interest in Mammon! you have the most bubbly personality I've seen in ages and it's honestly contagious, IN A GOOD WAY. I love spending time with you and foremost BEYOND GRATEFUL for comforting me. for going Hell and back when I was at my lowest. Every moment spent with you liberates my heart profoundly, it's a pleasure and an honor. I hold every thread of ours as if they are gems! they are my treasures! like you will forever be. whatever you need, I'm here for you. always will be. I would love nothing more than to go in another year with you. to scream, talk, smut, ANYTHING your wholesome heart desires. I'll always be within reach ilysm!!!!! <33

[ @a-hell-of-a-time ] - JOOO. venturing with you in this fandom has been one of my greatest joys as well! I enjoy our discord talks, our silly interactions- WHICH TURNED UP TO BE CANON. it's engraved in my brain and i'll never forget it as long as I live. or see that icy bird. I love all the times I drew our silly interactions and when we obsess over Stolas/Vassago privately. Let alone how much we have in common with it comes to our mother language lmao I look forward to interacting with you more come this New Year! <33 and thank you so much for having the patient of a saint! you're awesome ily ;;;

[ @yoroiis ] - KASAAA!! MY WORLD. I wouldn't of gave tumblr a chance if it weren't for you. you opened my eyes to a place so fun??? to help me make friends but also distract me from the every day hellish existence. I'm so glad I followed you and I will forever treasure your time! as I have been for- 15 years?? it's crazy how far we've been mutuals/friends. i practically grew up with you xD it's INSANE but god getting old with you has been such an honor. although I'm struggling to pick up threads, I love that you are always understanding and always willing to talk to me. as you have been for YEARS. I love you so much and I cannot wait to draw more TLK kitties with you! even if you don't have the time, I will spoil you anyways!! bc you deserve the world!!! thank you for being by my side for DECADES. Iysm and I'm certainly ready to spend another year with you <33 hopefully i'll Genshin will have an ending by then bc jfc it's never ending lmaoo

[ @contractfee ] - we just recently got acquainted but i'd be lying if i didn't admit how ridiculously ATTACHED i am to you. you're so multitalented?? I have the biggest respect for people with multiple muses and- MAN there's no one who ever challenged us with such tantalizing power prowess. I HEAR YOUR STRIKER yeah im biased but I never bat an eye for that serpent before?? you made me feel a newfound adoration for that character. Im besotted with him as I am with your writing, but also venturing nights talking with you until you drift to sleep. I enjoy every second of it and I'm so glad you reached out to me when you did, I never envisioned us being this close. You are never a bother, but an inspiration. Thank you for being involved in my life and I look forward to spending another year with you. if you'll have us :') ilysm

[ @themosthatedbeingg ] - KAAAS. IRL BESTIE. my only irl friend as a matter of fact lmao I adore you to the moon and back! I was ready to give in on Conventions, if i had to be blunt, I guess a lost my passion for them- but you convinced me to give them another shot. you gave me and my sister another reason to go. HELL I wouldn't be hunting down HB CASTS if it weren't for you. FOR THAT I LOVE YOU FOREVER you gave me something that will stick with me for the rest of my life. the memories. also us calling each other bitches and losers was so so much fun! i wish i could have shared our texts bc it was so damn hilarious!! i never get to talk to anyone like that but i felt- so comfortable with you?? you also helped me when i was going through shit. I'll be seeing you soon next month! then the month after for the convention!! I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE THINGS. I'LL BE HUGGING YOU SOON BITCH ily <333

[ @lustsang ] - MAAAY. my waifu material. it's crazy how long we've been mutuals and i'm so so thankful we didn't drift apart. You will always be the first Verosika into our lives. I sometimes glance back at my own doodles to go through everything again. I wouldn't be where i am at if it weren't for you. YOU helped my writing grow, YOU helped me feel comfortable in this fandom. I hate myself sometimes because I've been having a hard time keeping up with everyone. especially with you. nevertheless, I love how you are always understanding and have the patience of a saint. I feel so comfortable around you!! please never change, you are the light of this fandom and tumblr wouldn't be the same without you c': everything you do is FLAWLESS. please remember that. ilysm bby! and i cannot wait for our muses to wed someday <33

[ @spidersins ] - LEONAAAA!! MY FIRST HAZBIN FOLLOWER! i've been floundering keeping up with everything?? you are a godsend for having the patience and understanding of a saint. I love you so very much and I cannot express how thankful i am to have you in my life ;; v ;; Im ridiculously attached to you and I enjoy our threads/discord interactions!! it's been a pleasure! from screaming over our muses VA hotties, talking about our unhinged boys, and indulging with Danny motta videos. It's like our fuckin tradition and I love spending it with you!!! i get overwhelmed easily but you are the one diamond in the rough. I never have to worry about you drifting apart, or losing interest on me, cuz i know you are always there in the other end. just as excited to engage with our silly talks or kinky smut. im super comfortable around you! here's to another year, and hopefully we'll scream over hazbin for a change too!! I cannot wait <333 ILYSM HON. talk to you real soon!

[ @avispatr ] - FINN!! I don't give you enough credit but I won't lie, I would of been lost without you. you kept me from making the biggest mistake of my life, you kept me sane when I was nearing my edge. You kept me in the right path and that's what i fucking admire about you. You are a leader, always lending a wing for those who need it. also your writing is entertaining as they are inspirational! please never change! I'm so grateful for the time we shared and I look forward to see you more in my dash. you're a blessing to the fandom and I will forever be a huge fan <33 you're the best!!! and, again, thank you for saving me. for giving me a reason to stick around too. I highly appreciate it!

[ @the-smallest-star ] - HANNAHH!! I remember seeing you in my dash, and how ridiculously nervous I was to reach out to you. Even when we followed each other, it took me a heckin month? months?? to send you anything, but when we did- it's like we knew each other for years!! I had such a blast talking to you! to have our boys instantly make a connection. also doodling with you has been easily one of my favorite pastimes! Coming into this fandom I never knew i'd find someone like you- not only good at art/writing but with such a creative mind to make an OC stand out. OCs don't get enough credit and I love how much in depth you have given not only one- but several OCs!! I've never seen anything quite like it and I have been on deviant art for YEARS before giving tumblr a shot. you are truly an inspiration to EVERYONE. I can't unsee your muses and I often think about them when Im watching Helluva episodes. IT'S THAT GOOD! please never change, you're the fuckin MVP and tumblr wouldn't be the same without you either. i'm forever a huge fan <33

[ @partyqveen ] - KIMBAA!! i know we sorta kinda just met but, I won't lie, even with the little time we've known each other- I'm already feeling so attached to you??? I HEAR YOUR MUSE AND I WAS SCREAMING YOUR NAME WHEN I WATCHED MASTERMIND. i missed you so much when you went on your hiatus and i was ridiculously excited when you made your return. I'll admit i haven't been the best at reaching people but I'm forever grateful to those who are understanding. like you. adulthood is a bitch, and talking to you always makes me feel better. always made me forget every day shitty stuff. you also restored my passion for TLK AND BEASTARS i finally have someone to scream with! it's been a blast so far and I look forward to venturing another year with you! especially when the new season of Beastars comes out! it's gonna be GR8. ily gurl. stay awesome!!! <33

[ @flamesignite ] - KAAAYY!!! we've also just met but I'm grateful to have a mutual like you. I love our silly interactions but also engaging with our slowburn romancing goofballs. I can't thank you enough for you patience and I cannot wait for our muses to get to know each other more coming this New Year! plotting with you is so much fun!! you're also one of the kindest of people I have ever met??? honestly you deserve all those followers and then some!! hope you have a wonderful New Year's!! talk to you real soon <33

[midnight-mourning]

Imagine.. Cowboy DCA x Y/N that'd be really neat (alynwrench is NOT wild west obsessed)

Smoke & Stars

❄️❄️Midnight's DCA December Day 29❄️❄️

Lots of firsts with this series of requests (not that i'm complaining, it's been fun ^^), I enjoyed writing about the silly cowboys, and I hope that shows :)

Prompt: See Above

Word Count: 2206

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

You look out across the expanse of plains in front you, eyes narrowed against the bright sun. It's a beautiful day, though it always is out here, hardly ever a cloud in the sky. Even with the cold weather it's still a pretty sight, a dusting of snow over the ground. 

Your cattle much away contently on the grass that peeks out through the snow, sticking relatively together, making your job that much easier. You spit out your tooth pick and click your tongue, urging your horse to move forward. 

It wasn't your favorite thing to be out here, alone, watching after your herd like this. The hands you'd hired had up and bailed on you, leaving you high and dry and with less cash. It had infuriated you, and you swore you'd get revenge once you turned back in to your ranch. You didn't take kindly to strangers—much less ones who double crossed you—and this incident reminded you as to why.

A gust of wind goes by, but you hardly feel it. Be that because of your own toughness or the warm coat you're wearing it's hard to say for certain. Regardless, despite the circumstances, there's no place you'd rather be. 

You knew it had to be around the holidays now, but you had no interest in celebrating. Your family was gone, sickness or violence claiming them all in one way or another, leaving you to care for the ranch on your own. All you had now was it and the cattle. 

Your horse snorts, seeming to know your thoughts. You chuckle to yourself, and of course, Felicity, you had her too. 

You decide you'll venture out up ahead, see what's in store for you as you make your way back home. It'll be about a week's long trip, and then you'll be there to stay for the next few months. You click your heel against your horse's side, picking up pace as you ride.

The crunch of the snow and the blowing wind are all you can hear as you ride. It's thrilling, taking in the open expanse like this, you'll never tire of it. You ride out aways, and when you turn back you just barely make out the herd. Out here, in the silence like this, it's peaceful, truly. Though you'd rather be viewing it from your front porch than out on the prairie like this. 

All of the sudden, you become aware of two specks, larger than cows, approaching your cattle. You feel your serene smile become a concerned frown. Turning around entirely, you hurry back and upon closer inspection you find that your suspicions were correct; someone's approaching your cows. 

Specifically, two someone's and your fear spikes in your heart. Surely those bastards hadn’t come back, not after abandoning you like this. As you gallop closer you search for your pistol, hand gripping it tightly as you approach. You snap open the chamber, thankful it's fully loaded. 

You aren't afraid to shoot someone if you have to at this point. And out here, all you can assume is hostility based on your past experiences. You won't be taking any chances. Though, you'll have to be careful, a shot could spook the herd, and you don't need to be chasing them that one reference i can’t think of currently. Therefore, it'll have to be your last resort. But you aren't afraid to throw fists, especially with the likes of these two. 

Color you surprised when as you come to a stop in front of the two rogue riders that they're not the hands you'd hired. 

You know for certain, because you'd hired two humans. 

"Howdy there, friend." The sunny one says, tipping his hat to you. 

The other just nods, scowl on his features. 

You're sure you have the same expression. Still, you keep your calm. For now. "Howdy. Can I help you two?"

"We saw these cows here out on their lonesome and figured they were lost." The first animatronic nods to your cattle. "Realize now that they're with you I'm guessin'?"

You snap open your pack to grab a toothpick, your habit to keep from smoking. "They belong to me, actually. Now, might I ask why you two fellas are out here lookin' for cattle?" Your hand grips your iron, not subtly, mind you. You need to make a statement. "Or are you looking for trouble? Because if so, you best move along."

The yellow animatronic cringes just a tinge, and the other scoffs. You turn your attention to the later. "Got somethin' you want to say there, fella?"

"I do actually." He moves his course a bit closer, so now you're only a foot or two apart. You narrow your eyes, but keep quiet as he speaks. "We've got our own herd to worry about, over yonder. And while it ain't my business, seems suspicious you're out here on your lonesome like this, claiming these as your own."

You move closer now, leaning in so you're just inches apart. "You're right. It ain't your business. So you best move along now. Before I do something you regret."

A sharp clap interrupts your staring contest with the moon bot, who's almost snarling but snaps his attention to the other animatronic, you glance over as well.

He rides over, coming in between the two of you. "We seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot. We should've introduced ourselves. I'm Sun. He's Moon." Sun extends his hand out to you. "And your name, partner?"

You eye his hand a moment, and decide to trust the gesture. Your hand grips his for a firm shake. "Y/N."

"Lovely to meet you, darlin'." Sun winks as he lifts your hand to his faceplate briefly, then lets you go. "I apologize on his behalf, we've been a bit cautious because of some robbers a few days back."

Moon huffs, but doesn't say anything. 

You roll your eyes, turning back to Sun. "They wouldn't have happened to be riding a brown Appaloosa and a grey Mustang, would they?"

Their eyes both widen a fraction, sharing a look before turning back to you. 

"How would you know that?" Moon's spits. 

You scoff. "Because those are the hands that ran off with my cash and left me out here in the dead of winter." You shake your head, lost in your anger for a moment. "Couple of good for nothings is what they are.  Should've known better than to trust folks like that."

Again, the two bots share a silent exchange, before Sun turns to you. "Could you give us a moment, Sunbeam?"

"Sure." You drawl. You click your heel against Felicity, ride back to your cattle. 

You observe the two animatronics discuss back and forth from a distance for a bit, before they ride over to you. While you're suspicious of them, they don't seem to be a threat, especially if what they said is true. Though, you could never be too careful, you keep your pistol hot, thumbing over the hammer as they approach. 

They both come to a stop just in front of you. A respectable distance, you note. 

"We have a proposition for you, friend. If you're interested." Sun says. 

You tilt your head, then nod. "I'm listening."

"Three's better than two, and one for that matter." Moonstates, blunt.

Sun continues for him. "With bandits still out there potentially, we'd stand a better chance together than apart. What would you say to traveling as one group for a bit?"

You shift your toothpick around with your tongue. "How long?"

"Depends on where you're headin'." Sun shrugs, then points behind you. "Our ranch is that direction, we can split off whenever you choose, and if we reach our place before you reach yours, you're welcome to stay a few days and recoup. Sure the boss man won't mind."

You consider the offer, mulling it over. It would be nice to have some extra bodies for a few days, you're facing the same threat, seemingly. There is of course, the gnawing fact in the back of your head that they could be tricking you all the same. But, be it because of that little smile on Sun's face, or your own—admittedly—soft heart, you decide to take your chances. Just this once. 

You nod. "Alright. I accept. Your boss smart enough to mark his cows?"

"Who isn't?" Moon asks, snarkily, you'll add. 

You chuckle. "More people than you'd think. There's some stupid people out here."

"Had the pleasure of encountering them, have you?"

You nod. "More than once."

You stare at each other a moment, then Moon scoffs though there's a laugh mixed in, you think. He starts to head back the direction they came. "I'll go round up the herd. Go find a place you want to set up camp come nightfall."

He gallops off then, leaving you with Sun. 

"Was that directed at you or me?" You turn to him. "Because I don't take kindly to demands."

Sun deflates with a small sigh. "Honestly? Hard to say with him."

"I figured."

Over the course of the next week, you find yourself charmed by the two hands you've acquired as riding buddies. To your genuine surprise. Sun's naturally charismatic, always chatting, cracking quips left and right. Not to mention, quite the flirt. 

You don't buy into it, of course, seeing right through him. But, you can't deny it does make your heart flutter every so often. Especially when he leans in close, hand gripping your chin as he sings your praises. Surely it's just part of a grander act, you argue. 

As for Moon, after a prank of dumping snow in his wake, giving him quite the wakeup as you sit around the fire that second morning, you develop a playful back and forth. Much less hostile compared to your previous one. He also flirts, but in more of a challenging manner than his counterpart. 

You enjoy many long days and late nights with the two. Huddling close around the fire, swapping stories from days long past. Racing across the plains, not a care in the world for some short, sweet moment. Dancing under the stars, laughing, joking, lots more flirting—just, living. Living life how you maybe should have for a while now, but never had the chance.

Your heart aches a little when you finally arrive at your ranch, which ended up being the closer of the two in the end. Once things get a bit settled, you're standing on your porch, about to say your goodbyes. Though at this point, you really don't want to. Not yet, at least. Who'd've thought you'd be thinking like that a week ago? Certainly not you, that's for damn sure. 

You're leaning against your open door frame, leaking out heat from inside but you don't care at the moment. 

You bite your lip, considering what you're about to do carefully as they walk up onto your porch. 

Sun wipes his hands, hopping up to sit on your railing. "Well, should be sorted out now. Double checked to be sure. If we snagged any of yours by mistake we'll be sure to return 'em quick."

"I appreciate that." You say. 

Moon leans against the pillar by the step, arms crossed. "And if you got one of ours, we'll be back quick for 'em, too."

"I appreciate that too." You chuckle, then sigh. You stare at the ground a moment, then work up your courage. It's now or never. "Listen, this past week it, it's not what I was expecting. Not in the slightest. Maybe I'm just lonely, maybe I've lost it a bit bein' out here on my own so long but," You look up to them. "Maybe it's a bit more than that. A lot more, really."

You take a deep breath. "Would, would you two want to stay a few extra days? Or, or more? I don't know how much a rush you're in to get back but, I'd really like it if you'd come visit sometime at least. Hell, I'll even pay you to help out even." You feel embarrassed now, ducking your head. "I just, don't want to lose this now that I've got it. Sorry, this was foolish of me. Forget I said anything. Have a safe trip." You turn to go back inside, but a firm hand on your wrist stops you. 

Looking down, you see it's Moon. And looking behind him you see Sun's hopped off the railing, also ready to reach out to you. 

"We'd like that." Moon shifts his grip to hold your hand. "Or at least, I'd like that. Sun can speak for himself."

He leans in, head tilted slightly. "I'd also be very interested. Probably more so, honestly."

This triggers an argument, stopped only by your laughter. You shake your head, and taking Sun's hand start to pull them both inside your home. "Well don't just stand there, come in."

They both follow after you willingly, and as you drag them along behind you, you can't the grin on your face. 

No matter what happens, something tells you that you won't be spending this time of year alone any longer.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

Thank you @alynwrench for the request! Probably not entirely accurate to y'alls fic, but hopefully it was a fun little read ^-^

Thanks for reading!

Masterpost link

Tag list (if you would like added, see this post for more info, you can also dm me!):

@scarletcowboy @beemyhuneybee @fishm0ther @deviouscrackers @elsajoyagent8 @luckyyyduckyyy @zenkaiankoku @jogimote @local-shrub @milosmantis @robinette-green @everlightreader @sinister-sincerely @starredeclipse @dangerva @juukai @crystalmagpie447 @mothgutz236 @lizyxml @divinit3a @amarynthian-chronicles @crystalfay

[drarrily-we-row-along]

Roasted Marshmallows

"C'mon," Harry urged, pushing Draco through the door of a cottage that looked like it had seen better days. "It's freezing out here."

Draco allowed himself to be shoved through the door but paused the moment they were through to survey the absolute mess that had been left. "You've got to be joking." This day had gone from bad, to worse, to even worse.

"Look," Harry said as he shut the door behind him, "I know it's not ideal-"

"Not ideal?" Draco all but shrieked, he could feel his blood pressure rising, he was trying to remain calm, honestly he was. "It's horrible!" he exclaimed. "My mother's been attacked and is in Mungos as we speak, my apartment was ransacked with who knows how much damage done, it's three days from Christmas and I haven't gotten any of my shopping done, and now I'm here in this horrible little safe house until the bloody DMLE can catch whoever it is that's been trying to kill me!"

Harry winced, looking around uncertainly.

Draco deflated, "and I know none of this is your fault. I know you're trying to help me. I know you had to call in a few favors to be the auror assigned to watch me. And I appreciate that, I really do, but-"

"Listen," Harry said, his warm hands cupping Draco's shoulders, "I know the past 12 hours have been a lot. Why don't you take a bath? I brought some of that lavender bath salt that you like, I'll put on some music for you, and by the time you come out everything will be right as rain out here."

He pulled Harry in, wrapping his arms around his waist and pressing his head against Harry's neck, "Thank you."

"Don't mention it, love," he murmured, pressing a kiss to Draco's temple.

---------

When Draco emerged from the bath, feeling practically like a new person, he found that Harry hadn't been kidding. The whole cottage had been set to right, the couches had been uprighted and repaired, the floors cleaned, walls scrubbed, a fire burned merrily in the fireplace.

The smell of homemade food drifted through the cottage, something warm and hearty by the smell of it and Draco followed the scent to the kitchen where Harry was pulling something out of the oven. "Hey, you," he said over his shoulder as he set the pan on the top of the stove. "I made us a shepherds pie."

His eyes started to sting and before he could fully process what was happening, Draco was crying.

"Hey," Harry said, immediately dropping the spoon he was using to start serving their dinner. "Hey," he pulled Draco into his arms, "Don't cry." His lips brushed over Draco's forehead, "don't cry love. Everything's going to be alright."

"You made shepherd's pie."

"Sorry!" he said quickly, "I can make something else. We don't-"

Draco couldn't help it, he just started to cry harder. "Stop. It's not that I don't want to eat your shepherd's pie. I'm just," he shrugged, "I don't deserve you."

"Don't be silly," Harry said, rubbing Draco's back and directing him to a chair. In a matter of moments there was a glass of red wine in front of him along with a healthy helping of shepherd's pie. Then Harry was sitting down beside him and bumping his knee against Draco's. "Eat," he said softly.

So Draco did.

Once they finished dinner, Harry shooed Draco from the kitchen, telling him that his book was on the table by the sofa. It wasn't long before the other man also emerged from the kitchen, carrying two mugs with what Draco felt quite certain was homemade hot cocoa.

He set them down but before Draco could reach for one, Harry handed him a roasting stick and held out a bag of marshmallows. "Whoever was here last left the bag in the cupboard," he said. "I thought they might be just the thing we needed to go with our hot chocolate on a day like today."

"Thank you," Draco whispered, too overwhelmed by all of the emotions that he'd been feeling to say much else.

"Don't mention it," Harry said, bumping his shoulder against Draco's as they moved to sit in front of the fire and toast their marshmallows.

He swallowed, "I meant it, what I said earlier."

Harry raised an eyebrow uncertainly.

"I really don't deserve you."

"Darling," Harry murmured, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "You've had a terribly traumatic day. Making you some dinner and cleaning up the cottage was the absolute least I could do."

"But-"

"No, I mean it," Harry said, waving him off. "I have genuinely done the exact same thing for other people that are in the Ministry's safe houses."

"Oh," he said, brow furrowing.

"But," Harry said, wiggling his eyebrows at Draco, "What I have planned for you after hot chocolate is exclusively for you."

He couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. His day may not have started out terribly well, but it looked like it was going to end markedly better.

[sangreprince]

Em's Big Long Sappy New Year's Post Under The Silly Cut©

Hey y'all, I wanna say thank you so much for sticking around this year. It's been a wild ride, and this blog has gotten WAY more love than I ever thought possible. I still have yet to start working on the big post I wanna do that shouts out all of my moots, but still I'm so incredibly thankful to all of you who have been here this whole time.

And I know this is supposed to be a positive thing, but I also want to be real for a second here. This year's been tough.

I don't talk about it a lot but I've been really struggling with stuff, and it's things I don't hear talked about a lot. So here goes. I wanna talk about some mental health stuff I've gone through and where I'm at now. Maybe it'll make somebody's 2025 easier than my 2024. It'll end when the orange lines do.

─────────

I'm not a terribly social person, I prefer one on one interactions much more because it gives me a lot more energy to give people and makes me a lot less anxious than group stuff. I have to be pretty exceptionally comfortable to reach the same level of comfort with a group that I can easily find with individuals. And this year what I've really come to understand is how that happens.

I find that when I introduce myself into a group setting, I compare myself to others a lot. And that really sucks. It's not fair to me, or the people around me. I think a lot of it comes from coming from a 'pull yourself up by the boostraps' type household where failure just isn't an option, and I still think I struggle with the idea that I'm 'failing' if I'm not the best at a certain thing. And if I compare myself with other people, I'm never ever gonna be the best at everything because naturally somebody else is gonna be better at some things than you.

For me this habit has been a really big issue in my relationships in 2024 because I've gotten more involved in friend groups. I don't think I'm over this bad habit, but here's what I've learned: You can't compare yourself to others, because you're not them.

You can't be everybody's best friend because people don't need that. I don't think I could even handle more than a few very close friends ( But I don't think I'm necessarily super 'close' with anyone as I think most people only see what I want them to see, and I have immense trouble with actually showing people every side of who I am just because I'm still struggling with feeling comfortable with being truly vulnerable around people and not comfortably vulnerable )

This is hard to admit even as I'm writing it, but I think deep down I learned this year that I have an intense need to prove myself to somebody that doesn't exist. An idea of this 'perfect' version of myself I've conjured up in my head. And to those close friends who've seen me lose it damn near self-flagellating myself because I wasn't the best friend somebody has or best player on the team: Thank you. For being honest with me. For grounding me and splashing the proverbial water on my face and taking me out of my own headspace. This kinda growth is hard, and overnight change is... Unrealistic at best but I try and take your grace and trust that you place in me every day and overcome one step at a time.

And I hope that one day, I can repay the kindness and patience you've shown me. I'm not used to having friends, frankly. I didn't have any, not really, until about 2019/2020. I've always been a recluse, somebody who shied from getting close to anyone as a consequence of abuse. This ( I theorize ) has affected me down to my sexuality, identity, and habits I've taken into other relationships. I've only had true, close friends for about four or five years of my life total.

I am not used to it. And I fear, at times, this is painfully obvious. So to those who I call close : Thank you. You are what keeps me going. You are what I work towards and what I carry with me. I hope that one day I can get out of my own head about this stuff, about this notion I feel to constantly prove myself in some way or another. And I want you all to know that you're the reason I'm determined to make this change, no matter how hard it is or how long it takes.

─────────

Anyway... Now for the shoutouts. This is less heavy than all of the above and in no particular order of significance as I'm just going off the top of my head: I would include everybody I love talking to but oh my god I would be here all day and besides y'all are getting that in the future anyways so. This is just the short list of personal thank you's!!!

@espelharr You, much like the radiant Viktor you write, have been a catalyst of change for me in a lot of ways. You've helped keep me honest, and been honest with me. We're pretty close and I'll admit, it makes me a little quiet and a little nervous because I'm really not used to having somebody I would consider a friend like that. You are among a very small group of people that I can confidently say I dearly trust. I admit it's kind of alien to me. I honestly don't know what to say with regards to it because I'm not entirely sure I've developed the social skills to develop a relationship beyond what we have.

In other words, you've maxed out my friendship meter and exhausted my dialog. Well, not actually. I never shut the fuck up and you know that perfectly well. I know we're both goin through out shit but if I could give you one gift as a token of my appreciation, it would be to let you see yourself for one minute how I see you every second of every day of every year that's to come.

And that's coming from somebody who has no idea of what's to come. But if you'll have me, I'd like to be a part of it. Through thick and thin, wind rain and snow.

Thank you, friend. I am proud to call you this. You get the long post because it's the last bit of Em "I wanna step out of my comfort zone and be vulnerable" before I retreat into my ball again.

@lronwilled Shep I'm still so confused how you infected my friend groups and became so close to me LMAO LIKE IT JUST KINDA HAPPENED AND I can maybe pinpoint like. One or two instances of maybe where it began but I still honestly have an immense amount of appreciation for all the patience and kindness you've shown me. I'm incredibly glad to have met you and started to actually talk more and I hope in 2025 I can maybe finally give you more than one reply a year and oh my god I haven't replie-

@untoldwithin / @avatarwithin YETI... I adore having got to know you and plot stuff like we have. Your portrayals conjure the voices of those you portray to my mind, and talking with you about ideas is always such a blast?? I love seeing you on the dash and love doing things just as much. Here's to a 2025 filled with a LOT MORE of all of the above, I'm so ready for it!!

@plasticsouled / @fearedelight Sal I hope you know how much I love seeing your silly little self on the dash. Even your main blog with muses I know nothing about are stuffed full of life and so much passion that it makes me so glad to be here and be a part of it. You're a fantastic writing partner and I'm so thankful to have met you in the last quarter of this year, and I really hope we can expand on everything we have and more in what's to come!! I love our silly lil shippy stuff and being able to talk is always such a joy and I go pspspsppsp for you to give me any and all thoughts whenever you have them because I can't get enough.

@primegrim / @mirkc / any of your other blogs PICHU I'm so glad to have met you this year and had somebody to ramble with. You write like a thousand blorbos but I'm grabbing each and every one of them with both my hands. Being able to talk and plot and do whatever else is such a blessing and I'm so glad you're here with us. if possible I'd take all your characters and raise them up like Simba, I'm such a fan 24/7 no questions asked.

@jinxe RAY MY BELOVED you have been here with me since the Volibear days and I'm so thankful for it. I've made this known several times but your lil meow meow will always be at my heart and you alone have made me appreciate her as a character so much more than I ever thought possible. I wish you were here more because I would be GRABBING YOU at all possible times.

Honorable Mentions:

You guys already know I love and appreciate you so much, and this is by no means all inclusive. If you're not on here I probably just forgor because this post is already long and emotional for me so skdjhfsdkj here goes!

@rotdame / bloom @soulcluster / NERD (I had to) @luxcruor / sailor @curscdtm / nathy @decaeys / my favorite stinky goth irl toreador @venstm / Ray :3 @hexsreality / Itzel @edgymuses / Jolyne @nameaprice / Xena @pompedia / POM @erobret / FERGIE :D @blueheals & @heirashari / Evie @avernusfuries HANNNN- gets slammed through a wall @spiderwarden & @coldjustness Melody @lunaetis / Hina @blackrosesmatron / lucy

Thank you.

All of you.

Here's to a good 2025.

[daenysthedreamersblog]

SECRET OF US - VI

us.

that night you were talkin' false prophets and profits

they make in the margins of poetry sonnets

you never read up on it shame, could've learned something

Robert Bly on my nightstand, gifts from you, how ironic

masterlist // previous chapter // next chapter

summary: you promised him a date, a date without mistrust and contention...you should have never made that promise as you're dragged deeper towards an admission you can't face

pairings: modern!coriolanus snow x reader

warnings: MDNI! swearing, drinking, smut, oral (f receiving), fingering, p in v sex, unprotected sex (yk what hell ya)

notes: omg i meant to have this out friday but i rewrote the whole middle and with the holidays it set me back so much. legit spent 20min on my phone the whole past week

You don't dare tell Arachne or Clem as you swipe the lipgloss along your lips. You wished you could, wished your friends were helping you get ready, laughing about silly things. You frowned at your reflection, what were you so ashamed of, why were you hiding?

He finally bested you huh? Arachne's voice snaked through your head rattling a metaphorical tail. Don't be so surprised when he breaks your little heart. A small laugh. Or you break his.

Clemensia looked disappointed, He's using you. Soft hands landed on your shoulders. He's as selfish and manipulative as they come, let this go before you're in too far. Let this go before he looks too deep.

You sighed placing your head in your hands; no they couldn't know, not yet at least, not until you could figure out his intentions, or yours for that matter. There's a knock on your door and you slowly make your way over to it, to him.

"Hi." He looks so handsome in a well pressed button up and slick coat to ward away the lingering winter and you're sure he could take over the world looking like that. "These are for you." He holds out the bouquet of white roses.

You take them, backing up to allow him inside. "Thank you." You say digging through cabinets for a vase. 

"You...uh...You look nice." 

You smirk over at him cutting the stems, "Geez was that truly so difficult for you."

"No." He glared as you placed the roses in water.

"Do I make you nervous Snow?"

He scoffed, "Shut up let's go."

"Wow skip the pleasantries huh?" You joke sliding on heels, grabbing your own coat, and following him out. 

"You know me too well." But he helped you slip into your coat once the door was locked behind you, hands lingering too long in all the right places. 

You glanced over your shoulder at him, "Do I?" Because sometimes you felt like you barely knew him at all beneath hidden layers neither of you should dig up. He doesn't answer only tugs at your waist to keep you walking. "Did you call an Uber?"

"No." His jaw ticked as cold air blew your hair back. He walked a few steps forward to the sleek black car and pulled the door open for you. "Get in." He said tightly before you could even ask and got in quickly behind you. You raised a brow, "Don't even say it."

You shoved it all down, relaxing into the car's leather seat. "I was just gunna ask where we're going."

He turned his head away to hide the little grin, "No you weren't." The car is filled with silence, the slight tapping of your foot against the car floor the only annoying noise. "Fine. Ask."

"The car?"

He sighed, "The Plinth's."

"I thought..." You chewed on your cheek knowing this was not the subject to be breeched right now. "Never mind." Later, you'd ask later, or never you weren't sure when they were involved if you even wanted to know truly. He had become so upset when you had thrown their names back at him, and he obviously hadn't spent time with them during the holidays. You tuck it away readjusting yourself into the seat as you drove towards your date. You wanted to laugh at how ridiculous this all was; Coriolanus Snow taking you out on some date. "Hey, since we agreed on the no feuding and armor...let's try to be...nice to one another." It was a rule you're sure neither one of you could stick to.

"No snide remarks? No japes?" He came closer until his leg pressed into yours.

You nodded, "No glaring."

Two fingers tilt your chin up towards his face, "My sword is at your feet." His lips brush against yours. Your breath halts in your lungs waiting on bated breath for his kiss, "Will you surrender yours?" He whispers into your mouth his fingers running up your thigh, you let him, let him inch ever closer to the heat pulsing out of you.

Your rigid as his finger dip into your inner thigh feeling them part involuntarily. Yes. You want to say, want him to sprawl you over these leather seats to take you right here, right now. He smiles along your lips knowing it all too well; it was a trick to have you admit defeat all the same, to see if you were sticking true to your word about trying to be open to him. You pull back, "That's a tall ask."

"I'm a tall man." You glare at the him and his laughter is felt deep within your body. His fingers disappear under the hem of your dress, "There she is, never too far. I adore your glare, your claws, kitten." With the faintest feather light touch the pad of his finger ghost over the front of your underwear as you take in a sharp breath from his mouth. "Come on," His drags his knuckles up until the push gently into your clit. "Don't you want me to touch you? To make the driver take us back to my place while I make you whimper out my name from that wicked mouth."

You think you just might say anything, do anything to make him keep touching you, it had been your ask after all and you did want it, want him. But to be nice and to give over to him completely were two different things and you couldn't trust him; his sword may be down but he could just as easily take a hidden dagger to your back. You jut your bottom lip out to try and capture his, the submission a pathetic breath away when theres a knock on the window.

He chuckles slowly peeling his hand away, nearly eliciting a whine from your throat. You hated how badly you wanted him to touch you, hated how you wanted to scream his name out of these tinted windows, hated that he wouldn't give you that just yet, hated that he was making you work for it. He moves to open the door helping you outside into cool air that is welcomed against feverish skin. You're out of it, disoriented, you barely recognize where you're going until the bright cat walk comes into view. You're finally able to make sense enough of it to put the pieces together.

"Tigris." You say out loud before turning to look up at him. "She was launching a new line, this is her show." Something like a proud smile fights its way across his face as he nods; you return it. "Let's go find our seats then."

It's beautiful, filled with every color imaginable, bright fabrics of animal print you never knew even existed and feathers, tons of feathers in heavily powdered tall neon wigs. You glance over at him, an expression of comfort, but also grief written across his features as he watches the models pass. You want to reach out, grab his hand, but you can only cradle your palms in your lap.

That was the issue wasn't it? You had always promised to never let anyone in too close, to never let your guard down. It would only distract you, deter you from your goals...well your father's goals for you. So how could you ever let him in, how could you ever yield to the very man you had sworn to gut, who had made his own promise to do the same. It had always been anger, and hatred and competition. It had always been a game, and this final round would truly determine who wins.

You picked at your nails. There were new memories, new feelings; joy and sympathy and curiosity for him, with him. This passionate desire was the embodiment of all of those loathsome feelings coming through in a new way, there was no other explanation.

You glanced over at him as he clapped for the last model, you had to win, there was no other way to keep your heart safe. This passionate desire was the embodiment of all of those loathsome feelings coming through in a new way, there was no saner explanation.

"Come on," He motioned for you to take his arm. He led you away towards back stage where his cousin stood.

Her eyes brightened when she saw him. "Coryo!" She rushed over cupping his face before hugging him tightly. "I'm so glad you came."

He hugged her back. "Wouldn't miss it for the world." He pulled away from her slightly revealing you, "I want you to meet someone."

She took you in whatever joy she found in her cousin was gone as she recognized you no doubt. You held out your hand and introduced yourself anyways, "It was a wonderful show."

"Thank you." She shook your hand eyes confused as she looked to Coriolanus.

You took your hand back, "We went to school together."

She smiled, it was fake. "Yes, yes now that's where I've seen you before."

You didn't feel like explaining, he could do that later when you weren't around. "You know that play I'm in." She nodded at him while he looked at you, "She's in it with me as well it's how we became...friends."

"I can't wait to see it." She cups his face again with one gentle hand. "We're having a little after party at some shitty dive bar do you guys want to join?"

The two of you share a look before Coriolanus takes your hand shrugging. "Sure it will be better than the place I picked out."

It was everything a fancy restaurant was not; loud and gaudy, cheap and sticky, neon beer signs littering the back wall, and filled with older couples and too young college students who's fakes would never get them in anywhere else. You're overdressed, Coriolanus is too, but you didn't care, not as you carry two drinks to the pool table where he's breaking. 

"This is supposed to be a date kitten." He takes his drink from you as you grab the pool stick.

"I'm being nice."

He scoffs, "That's a first."

You roll your eyes, "Never mind then." He grabs the middle of the stick to keep you rooted urging you to continue. "That truce lasted shorter than the first one." You chuckle staring up at him, "What was the other place?"

"It was stuffy and overrated." He lets go laughing slightly. You walk around the table, "I should have known better to go to some overly priced restaurant with tiny portions that reeks of your father." He leans against the table watching you line up the cue ball. "You hate that stuff."

You knock a stripe in the hole and stand up straight. "I was being immature about all of that, there's some stuff I do enjoy." You did hate the reminder of your father, but it was a resentment you needed to face or let go.

He feigns shock, "Admitting immaturity? Am I in an alternate universe."

You shake your head to yourself and walk back around towards him holding out the stick for him. "I'm on a date with you so probably."

He wraps his hand around it, but uses it to pull you closer, "Are you enjoying it?"

"We'll see." You smile up at him biting back the honest answer. It felt nice, the banter without the hatred behind it, knowing he could kiss you, you could kiss him. The air felt lighter, sweeter, like the world had opened up to opportunities you never knew existed. You feel like your tucked away from reality until your eyes meet Tigris across the room and you recognize the worry for her cousin, you didn't blame her, she knew you, she knew him, and no amount of watered down beer would hide that.

Coriolanus takes the stick to walk around the table. "Answer me after I've beat you in pool."

"Oh please."

He does beat you, at least at that round. He orders food while you set up the next round sipping on your first drink from the night. You watch him over the table, lining up to hit the cue ball into the triangle of multicolored balls, and you're not nervous. You used to drown the anxiety in alcohol at the mere thought of being around him, using it as a crutch to excuse thoughts you didn't want to examine. 

"Do you want another?" He points the tip of his stick at your empty drink.

You shake your head, the small smile on your lips. "Maybe a soda." He raises his eyebrow at you as he hands the stick off to you. You weren't nervous anymore. You didn't want the excuses. You liked his company. You liked kissing him. It didn't need to be more complicated than that. Maybe it didn't need to be about winning or losing.

"Tell me something real about you." You sink three solids into holes before looking up at him.

"I ate paste as a child." He shrugged.

"How did it taste."

He smirked, "Pasty." He misses and the cue ball ends up in the corner hole. "Your turn."

"I know it's not a real animal." You blush, "But I love dragons, and I want one desperately."

"A fantasy creature?" He laughed at you. You whacked him, but he caught your wrist. "It's cute."

You scoff, "The dragons would disagree. They are fierce and vicious and-!"

He smiles, blue eyes alight with hidden joy. "Just like you." 

You're kissing him before you can think, soft lips and soft hands roaming bodies as you tug each other closer, as you let the dive bar disappear into the void. Your heart speeds up as his tongue dips into your mouth and every nerve ignites under his touch. 

Someone clears their throat behind you; Tigris. "I'm heading home it's been a long day." She eyes the pair of you. "I'll call you tomorrow Coryo." To discuss you no doubt, you find yourself sinking away.

He hugs her, "It really was a great show."

"What's the name of the line?" You ask to show interest, so maybe she could see some semblance of care inside of you, that you weren't the evil villain in his story. The fact that you did care what she thought of you had to mean something?

She smiled for real this time. "The Capitol." She walks away soon after leaving you two alone as some sad country song floats through the weary speakers.

"If only they could see us now." He cuts through it all turning your attention back to the game.

"See you losing." You sink another ball in when the thought crosses. "Do you...um...do you still speak to..."

"Livia?" He finishes for you grabbing the pool stick from your hands. "No, well...not like that." You continue to watch him. "She lives in the city, and we all went to school together, I run into her a lot." The striped ball he was going for bounces off the wall and misses the hole by a few inches. He sighed, "I mean...not typically, no I don't see her...like that."

You tightly smile. "It's fine, Snow. Just because we're on a date doesn't mean we are dating." You're lying. You don't want him to see Livia, see anyone for that matter, but you can't say that, can't reveal that part of yourself to him.

"Guess so."

You win the next round, but he wins the one after that. You dance to shitty music coming from the live band playing inside the bar. You even jump on stage to join in, singing along to the only song you knew they were performing while he records you making a fool of yourself. It's carefree, and fun, and plain stupid. "Delete that!" You shout at him as he pulls you from the stage wrapping his arms around your waist as the song slides into a slower one. 

"Never." He chuckled into you ear. "Was this a better time than overpriced ice cubes?"

You lay your head against his chest. "Of course." You glance up at him, "Not us."

"Not us," His voice is too soft as he says it has you spilling your unguarded guts.

"But any time with you would have been a good one."

He stares down at you sidelong the corner of his mouth turning up, "There is a heart inside of you yet, my fire breathing kitten." You roll your eyes, but don't bite back. Instead you let his hand linger to the bottom of your back, "Let's get out of here."

You chew the inside of your cheek the whole time he guides you back out into the real world, back into that black car. He doesn't take the route back to your apartment, instead it takes you towards a different side of the same town.

His side.

"Do you remember that night?" He asked watching the buildings glide by the tinted windows. The night of the party, the night he fought that man and brought you back to his apartment.

You remembered him cleaning your face, putting you to sleep in his bed, a soft finger running down your cheek. "Not really." You force yourself to break the tension coiling in your gut. "I remember you knocking me over to fight that man."

"You shouldn't have ran." It not cruel, or condescending. It was simply a fact he believed.

You leaned in close, "You shouldn't have been using me to make Livia jealous then."

"I didn't use you to make Livia jealous." His hand lands on your thigh as he breaths it back into your face. "I used Livia to make you jealous."

Your eyes widened, but then you squeeze them shut shaking your head trying to understand this new information. "But that-that means..."

The car came to a halt and suddenly he's ushering you outside into the wind whipping frigid air. He leads you into his apartment building towards the elevator to head up to his floor, you watch his fingers hit the button for the top. You glance over at him, "They're the floor below me." He answers the questions in your eyes.  

You won't allow yourself to push him any further regarding the Plinths, not as the elevator dings to let you out onto his floor. His apartment pent house was too dark to make out many details, but it was simple, not too many colors or design for his lonely one person home. You didn't remember taking in much detail the last time you were here besides the clean white countertops and soft comforter. He flicked on the lights letting you take it all in; the spacious room, the floor to ceiling windows, the long black couch in front of a flat screen hanging on the wall. "I know you didn't decorate this place." You look over at him watching you, "You don't have the taste."

"What does that say about you?" He prowled towards you.

"I am an exception and a sign of good judgment and-!" You squeal as he picks you up and throws you over his shoulder. "Coriolanus Snow!" It's not strong at all as you laugh towards the end.

He walks down a dark hall and into an even darker room before you're falling backwards into softness; his bed. "You're a pest is what you are, and a sure sign of poor judgement." 

"How so?" He climbs over your body, hands grabbing onto your waist. The light from the hallway spills into the room illuminating the side of him.

His lips hover over your neck, linger along your jaw as you barely feel the brush of his lips on your skin. "Cruel, wicked curse of mine." You need to stop him, ask him what he means because he had said that before about you but this time he wasn't obliterated. His drags his teeth along your jaw and you forget all about it, forget about everything.

He rewrites history as he kisses down your neck, tongue dragging across your carotid, lingering to feel the increase in your pulse. He smiles against the sharp intake of breath as his hand slides the strap of your dress off of your shoulder. You're happy you didn't drink, happy you could feel every nerve fraying under his touch, happy you'll remember every groove of him. He moves his head upward until his lips connect with yours and you're tracing the fabric of his shirt as his tongue delved into your mouth, slowly, exploratory, running over teeth, sucking on your bottom lip as your knees come up around him. "Coriolanus." You breathed.

He groaned pressing his forehead into yours, "Don't say it like that." He kisses your bottom lip palming your breast. "I'm holding on by a thread."

You cup his face, "Don't hold back." You brush a kiss along his jaw, "Please."

It snaps and he's slithering down your body, pushing your dress up around your waist as he yanks your underwear off. He pauses, on his knees in front of you as he stares down at your bare cunt, as he admires it. "All of this," His eyelids are hooded with lust as he drags his fingers through your soaked folds. "Just from kissing me." He pushes his fingers inside and you moan out into his bedroom. He shoves your thigh down as he curls his fingers inside of you rubbing against a sweet spot that has you fisting his sheets. "All for me." He growls down at you composure long forgotten into the past.

"Fuck," You hiss out as he dips down and runs his tongue along your clit. God fucking dammit you hated him for being so good at this as his tongue swirls around your clit, you hated yourself more for waiting so long to indulge in him, let him indulge in you. His fingers keep pumping in and out of you as his mouth devours your clit making you see stars behind your squeezed eyes. 

You're panting, you're grabbing onto his hair, you're pushing your hips up into his face more as he presses down hard, moving his hand faster. You bite down on your cheek as the orgasm washes over you with the tiniest whimper slipping through gritted teeth. He's still going, lapping you up, running his tongue along your entrance like a man starved. When you finally think you've had enough he pulls back and stands up. 

You don't even ask as you hear his belt come off, the rustle of clothing falling to the ground. He's crawling back over you, reaching behind your back to unzip your dress. He helps you tug it over your head until you're both bare, both equals.

"This okay?" He asks running his hand along your rib, thumb brushing the side of your breast.

"Yes." You whisper.

His hand shifts, thumb passing over your perked nipple. "What do you want?" He rolls your nipple between fingers kneading your breast. "What do you want kitten?"

You, Coriolanus, you.

But instead you whisper, "Fuck me."

Your head hits his pillows as his hand moves between your bodies, as he lines himself up with your wet entrance. You knew there was never any coming back from this, so you wrap your hands around his sides as he pushes inside of you.

You gasp into his mouth as he slowly pushed in deeper and deeper, your cunt throbbing around every glorious inch of him, until he finally stops, until he's buried inside of you. He's still for a moment, forehead against yours and he takes a breath like he's trying to memorize the shape of you. 

Then he pulls back to slam back into you again and again and again until he's moving at a pace that has you moaning pathetically for him. You drag your nails down his back as legs wrap around him tighter to pull him even deeper. He dips down sucking and biting along your neck as he thrust in and out of you, as you beg him for more, as he takes you to planes you'd never thought you'd see. You tilt your hips, letting his cock slide along a delicious spot. "Is it as good as you imagined?" He chuckles against your neck.

"I di-didn't."

"Don't lie." He sinks his teeth into your neck, lapping up the small wound. "I know you touched yourself to wet dreams of me."

You try to look at him as your face burns. "How do you know?"

He smirks, "Because I did it too." You moan loudly as his fingers find your clit, as he presses down while he pounds into you. "Cum for me kitten." He pants into your ear, "Cum for me baby girl."

You scream his name as you orgasm, as your body clamps down around him in one final blow of pleasure. Your head is half sideways in his pillows, feet grasping for purchase in sheets and skin, whining out for him. He cums soon after, stuttering slightly before spilling inside of you with a hard thrust.

He stayed seated inside you, head resting in the nap of your neck while you mindlessly run fingers through his hair. You search for regret, you search for apprehension, but you just feel content bliss.

You stare up at the ceiling, "You said that before." His head perks up at the sound of your voice. "That night you showed up wasted. You said 'cruel, wicked curse of mine.'"

"Oh."

"What does it mean?" You wince as he pulls out of you suddenly extremely empty without him there.

He rolls to his side next to you, "It doesn't matter."

"Why?" You glance up at him propped up onto his elbow.

"Because it doesn't." He pushes stray hair off your face. "I hated that I thought of you so often; I viewed it as a horrible curse that plagued my mind." He tucked a piece behind your ear, "But maybe it's not."

He sat up and moved off the bed, so you sat up as well. "When will you know?"

He shrugged as he picked up his clothes, "When does anyone know."

You get cleaned up, slipping on one of his t-shirts for bed and meandering around his room snooping when you know you shouldn't. You go to his desk the very same book you had been reading sitting there open; highlighted and annotated with various colors and scribbled words. The smile comes involuntarily as you trace his handwriting. It falls as quickly as it came as the picture comes in sight again. You pick up the small frame on his desk; a picture of him and Sejanus from school. You trace his face, the ambition deep in his eyes even then. "Curiosity kitten." You jump scrambling to put the frame back whirling on him standing in the doorway. He chuckles walking forward, "It's fine. It's just a picture."

"Do you miss him?" The question slips out of loose lips.

He eyed the picture. "Of course."

"Can I ask?" You voice was barely audible. "What happened that night?" You were ready for him to dismiss you, yell even, change the subject away from the death of his friend. He took in a breath before he began speaking.

"It was my fault. We snuck out, drunk after a graduation party, had a run in with one of Sejanus's old buddies from where he used to live. I started spewing out bullshit, one thing led to another and it turned into a big fight. He-Marcus knocked me out and when I woke up Sejanus was dead." He sniffed, "They tried to press charges but Marcus ran when they went after him." His fingers traced down the skin of your arm. "I'm not sure if they blamed me, but I blamed myself, sent myself away to military camp for some form of punishment, but uh..." He paused and you wanted him to stop because you knew it was hard, you didn't want to hear how badly his world had broken. "He wanted me back, said I was like a son to him too and they couldn't lose another one. They payed for this," He waved around to the dark room. "The car, my school, it was supposed to be..."

"Coryo." You squeezed back the tears. "I-I'm so sorry. I didn't...I'm sorry. It's not your fault." He didn't answer, he didn't believe you. "I wish..."

He darkly chuckled. "That you could have been there for me? You hated me." He sighed, "I've made my peace with it, no use trying to change it."

"I'm sorry." You whisper even if it didn't matter. "I've been taking all my anger for him, my father, out on you." You stare up at him, "It's blinded me for too long."

He doesn't say anything back, just tugs you back towards his bed to crawl under the blankets together. He's probably heard it all when it comes to Sejanus's death so you don't bother with over flowered sympathies, instead you tuck yourself into his chest and let his arms hold onto you tight. "Your question." Your ears perked up, heart pounding. "This isn't a game, you're not a game to me." You want to feel relief, but after everything you just feel more confused, by him, by yourself. "What did you think of it?" He mumbled into your hair and you're not sure what he's talking about until he adds, "The book."

You smile against his skin, "It was a bit pretentious." You pull back to peek up at him, "Why are you reading it again?"

He smirked to himself running a hand down your spine like you were a novel as well, "Boredom but now I must understand your analysis of pretentious."

Perhaps winning wasn't needed, maybe this was enough for you, or maybe that meant you were already losing.

next chapter coming soon!!

[alasijia]

I'LL IMAGINE WE FELL IN LOVE

ft. subaru kagami, haku kusanagi, zenji kotodama

summary ; the hotarubi ghouls and lyrics from blue by yung kai.

notes : hi tkdb fandom i got roped up in this silly game and started writing for it. oops. sorry if they're ooc in any way, im still kinda new ... (ﾉД`)

SUBARU KAGAMI

"You'd be mine, would you mind if I took your hand tonight?

Know you're all that I want this life."

Subaru had never been one for physical affection. He'd feel far too guilty about having taken an nonconsensual glimpse into the other person's memories. Poor boy, really.

There's no difference in his reaction when your fingertips brush against his skin when you had picked up the sweet little treat Subaru had offered you from his hand. You barely even had any time to react before he started apologizing profusely, slipping on his gloves.

Subaru paused when he felt your hand on his skin again, images of your memories flashing through his head. He tried to pull away, only to find that your hand was wrapped tightly around his wrist. He looked up at you, an understandable look of confusion and surprise marring his pretty features. "I don't have anything to hide from you." Is all you say, with that sweet smile Subaru had fallen for. Your hand moves from his wrist, instead slipping your fingers between his own.

He finds himself unable to stop the pink dusting his cheeks, eyes wide.

You, however, took that as a negative reaction, pulling your hand away. But as soon as you did, his face fell almost imperceptibly, and he gently wrapped his hand around your own again.

Subaru thought it was greedy of him. He had everything already, fame, influence, the academy's trust, and so on. But he couldn't stop this feelings of wanting more.

No maybe not, because he would throw away all of those things if he could have you. You're the only thing he wants in this life.

HAKU KUSANAGI

"My love will always stay by you

It's stuck with you forever, so promise you won't let it go

I'll trust the universe will always bring me to you."

Haku has a playful and flirtatious aura about him that isn't lost to those he graces with his presence. It's simply in his nature – "a devilish charm," as Zenji puts it.

Him doing all these romantic gestures of giving you his umbrella or jacket, or walking you back to the cathedral after you've helped out in Hotarubi never really crossed your mind as, well, romantic. Though that seems rather silly now if you were to think about it.

But now you're wondering if this is all really just platonic when you find your hand on his chest, his heartbeat drumming against it steadily. It's faster than usual, you note. "Feel that? It's all yours, princess." He says in his usual playful, light-hearted tone. And for a second you want to reply with "Feel what? Your tit?" but the words die on your tongue as you catch sight of the distinctively soft gaze he has on you. The way he's looking at you doesn't match the tone he's saying those stupidly romantic words with, and you're not sure anymore whether you want to believe that this is all still purely platonic or that it's been romantic this whole time.

You don't say anything in response, but the way your body relaxes and you move to lean your head on his shoulder speaks volumes. Maybe you can't be together in this life, but the way he looks at you has you believing that Haku would find you in the next one, and the one after, and so on, no matter what it takes.

ZENJI KOTODAMA

"I think I'll picture us, you with the waves

The ocean's colors on your face

I'll leave my heart with your air"

Beauty can be found in anything. Zenji, being the artistic and passionate man he is, couldn't agree more to this statement. He finds beauty in anything and everything, even the seashell you picked up by the shore. He even wrote a poem about it.

Having been so distracted by Zenji's singing, you accidentally dropped the seashell, the object getting washed away by the waves. Without thinking, you ran into the water to chase after it, the small waves crashing against your feet as you trudged deeper and deeper into the ocean.

At some point, Zenji must have noticed you were missing, judging from his exclamation of "My dear! Be careful!" coming from behind you that the whole beach could probably hear... if he wasn't a ghost. Either way, his voice was enough to stop you from going any further, now realizing that you were knee-deep in the water.

You take a few steps back, a sigh escaping your lips as you realize and accept that that seashell was good as gone.

What you didn't realize though, was the way Zenji was looking at you. The moonlight casted a soft, silver glow on your face, highlighting your features. Zenji always knew you were beautiful, but this moment in particular, he could almost feel his heart beating wildly in his chest as if he were alive again. He truly felt like he could ascend right at that moment.

You had your gaze fixed on the horizon in front of you, and was only broken out of your trance as you hear Zenji start to compose yet another ode, only this time, it was about the fair maiden in front of him.

[burdenandacrop]

hiiii mags !!

(anon here b/c i'm not as brave as i thought i was 😅)

first of, i'm sorry to break your chain of silly little goofy prompts, they've all been heartwarming & got me giggling & kicking my feet :D howeveerrr, i know you write more sensitive topics and the big guy™️ is pretty comforting for me. now you can take this in any direction you want— angst, fluff, do whatever your heart desires, girl!— but i was wondering if you could do a gender neutral reader x schlatt who was in a past abusive relationship? maybe the reader has certain quirks like they flinch or overapologize because of past memories.

(is this the most self-indulgent ask in the history of asks?? okay, maaaybe... but like, yolo! right?)

and if you don't mind, if 💌 anon isn't taken, then allow me to fill that spot up for ya!

thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this! MUCHHH love girlie!!

- 💌

˗ˏˋ ❝ these hands can only be gentle. ❞ ˎˊ˗

hi anon !! i apologize for how long this has taken me, but i hope this appeases you. i know how it feels so if i can give just a smidge of comfort, that makes my heart happy :>

summary : with a bruise that still stings, you try to navigate what is supposed to be 'normal'. as does he, with open arms and an open mind.

⋮ ⌗ ┆established relationship, comfort, mentions of abuse, small bit of crying, gender neutral reader.

the soothing voice of chet baker rang through the kitchen, you waved your hands around to the smooth sound. watching as schlatt was attempting to figure out the instructions on the box of penne pasta. his eyes squinting as he tried to rack his head on just how long he really needed to have it boiling in the pot for. you sigh and place a hand on his arm as you leaned in to read the directions with him, he was making it seem a lot harder than it probably was. looking at him, all you could think was 'poor soul'.

"you've got the right times, don't think about it too hard." you softly giggle out, poking his arm before you let go of him. "gonna pop a vein if you keep that face." you added, playfully toying with him. he dropped the box to the countertop, causing a loud clash to be heard, looking over to you with a grin. he wasn't met with a matching smile on your face though, instead he saw for a split moment a genuine look of fear on your face.

you quickly fix your face and cross your hands over one another, knowing you shouldn't have reacted like that to such a small thing. "sorry- it was the box wasn't it?" he muttered, raising his hand up to your shoulder to gently rub his thumb along. you bite on the inside of your cheek and try your best to keep your face fixed, "we need, olive oil. yeah." you stammer out, turning to the stove and grabbing the bottle to gently pour onto the pan. he watched as you desperately tried to distract yourself, his hand dropped back to his side as he watched you.

he looked at you for a moment longer before grabbing the box of penne and looking over the instructions again. he took a few quick glances at you as you evened out the oil onto the pan, he could easily see that he accidentally upset you. even if it was an accident, he desperately wanted to fix it, somehow at least. he looked at the box one more time before quietly placing it back down this time.

he walked behind you and leaned over slightly to gently kiss the temples of your face, letting his hands softly lay upon your shoulders. he could feel how tense you became, it ached at him. "i love you." he whispered into your ear, sending a shiver down your spine. you slow down your stirring and come to a complete stop to turn your head to face him more, "i love you too." your voice quivering ever so slightly. his kisses traveled down your cheek, moving the hair by your ear to gently kiss the nape of your neck.

"just focus on the pan, sweetheart." he said barely above a whisper as he moved his lips off of you, moving your hair back gently. you let out a deep sigh, the uneasiness slowly going away. moving your hands back to stir the oil, as you seasoned the pan as well. his hands gently massaging your shoulders as he watched you, leaning his cheek against the back of your head. he couldn't comprehend how someone could hurt someone as delicate as you, when he saw you nothing short of a fairytale.

he let his hands slowly move from your shoulders, instead wrapping his arms around your torso with a sigh. "it looks really lovely already, baby." he muttered, kissing the side of your head, in hopes that he was doing something right. you move the pasta mix into the pan, pouring it gently as it sizzled with the oil. you were trying so hard to not mess anything up, especially not with him watching. you felt more on ease as time went on, it did feel nice to have him wrapped around you.

"any seasonings you want?" you speak out of thin air, embracing the warmth from him behind you. you could feel his cheek move along your head, assuming he was shaking his head to the question. "just the usual, i'm not picky." he replied, rocking you slowly as he stood. "anything you make is good, sweetheart." he adds on with a smile, his voice low and soothing. you lean your head against him and weakly grin as you gently stir the pasta mix, maybe it was going to be alright.

there had been other kitchens, other meals, other hands. hands that didn’t hold so gently, voices that didn’t soothe but seared. you thought you’d buried it all, hidden it deep enough that it wouldn’t resurface, but sometimes all it took was the wrong sound at the wrong time. he didn’t say anything as the silence stretched, his chin resting lightly on the crown of your head, waiting. he had learned not to push, not to pry. "just some garlic, never hurt anybody right?" you snicker out, the nervousness still evident in your voice. it was embarrassing for him to see you like this, you only wanted him to see you in your light; not the darkness that someone before created.

he shrugged and squeezed you softly, "i'm not a vampire, so you're safe with that." he started, chuckling to your comment, "for now." he added on jokingly, even letting out the stereotypical 'mwah hua hua' after. you let out a soft laugh, the kind that still felt unusually foreign on your lips, almost like a language you were relearning. the tension in your shoulders eased just a little as you reached for the garlic cloves, their papery skin crackling under your fingers. you glanced back at him, catching the playful glint in his eyes as he leaned into his ridiculous vampire impression, his grin as cheesy as you imagined it.

“for now?” you teased, raising a brow as you placed the garlic on the cutting board. “should i be worried you’re gonna start craving my blood instead of dinner?” you added with a smile. he gasped, a hand flying to his chest as though mortally wounded. “darling, i’d never! though…” his voice dipped theatrically, “if it means i get to bite that lovely neck of yours, i might reconsider.” you rolled your eyes, but your smile lingered this time, small but genuine. “then you’d better help me mince this garlic, dracula, before i revoke your invitation to this kitchen.”

he laughed, moving to your side with ease, his presence steady and warm. “course, course,” he said, grabbing a knife and making a show of twirling it lightly in his hand before chopping the garlic. for a moment, the air felt lighter, the weight on your chest loosening its grip. his effort to make you smile wasn’t lost on you, and you found yourself grateful. not just for his humor, but for the way he didn’t try to fix you. didn't view you as some sort of project that he'd see fit as. instead, he let you exist, fractured edges and all, and somehow that felt more healing than anything else.

“you’re getting better at this, you know,” he said after a beat, nodding toward the stove. the garlic was sizzling now, releasing a rich aroma that mingled with the bubbling oil. “at cooking?” you asked, pretending not to notice the way his hand brushed against yours as he slid the minced garlic into the pan.

“at trusting,” he said softly, his eyes meeting yours. you froze, the words cutting through you with their quiet truth. it wasn’t the kind of compliment you were used to. there was no flattery, no sugar coating, just a simple acknowledgment of the effort you’d been pouring into rebuilding yourself; and it felt nice. nicer than you imagined it being. he sliced the last bit of garlic and rubbed the excess from his palms, softly grinning as he kept his eyes on you. letting his hand raise up slowly, in fear that it might startle you, so he could gently caress the side of your face.

"just stay like this, okay?" he sighed out, letting his thumb run along your temple. "this is more than enough for me." he added on, before leaning over to kiss you on the forehead. "more than enough." he concluded, looking right into your eyes as he was mere centimeters from your touch. you swallow the lump in your throat as you could feel the tears welling up in your eyes, but it wasn't sadness. rather relief. relief that you finally felt safe.

"i love you." you shakily state, your lip gently trembling. you could feel the waterworks making their way, and so could he. even making him gear up a few tears of his own, he couldn't help it. knowing just how hard it was for you on a daily basis, but he wouldn't stray from you. he was just fine right here with you, in moments like this. whether it was crying because he accidentally raised his voice, holding you through the shakes when you had a night terror, or just singing you to sleep.

he was fine with all the moments in between the so called 'good', he just wanted to be there period. "i love you too, more than you'll ever know." he replied, trying his best to cut away the tears. grinning softly as he wiped under your eyes, "it's the garlic- swear." he snickers, making you laugh with him and shake your head. "onions are what makes you cry." you reply, feeling the heaviness get lighter in your chest. "shh shh, let me have this one." he defends with a giggle. taking a deep sigh and gently caressing your face.

"you're so- good. i'm so sorry anyone has convinced you otherwise, sweetheart." he stifles out, a tear escaping his eyes as it fell slowly down his cheek. you nod and raise your arms up to pull him into a hug, you needed this more than ever. closing your eyes as the sound of the sizzling pan and chet baker's soothing trumpet soared through the room. schlatt began to slowly sway you to the rhythm, kissing the top of your head softly.

"i just love emotional pasta nights, really do." he jokes, making you swiftly poke your head up and shake your head with a smile. a real smile. "as long as you're there, i love them too." you mutter barely above a whisper. tilting his head down and kissing you, leaning your chin up delicately and basking in every second of it. he knew it'd be a long road, but he knew he had enough love in his heart to withstand it.

author's note : i might've like ?? actually happy teared at this while writing, my apologies ?? i hope this isn't too short for you anon ! i can always write it longer if you'd like, i just hope you love it <3 cause i definitely did.