#Also I'm going to a family reunion this weekend. So the trip down there would be a good time to catch up on reading

[familyofpaladins]

now that monkie kid season 4 is all out now completely, my brain is bebopping between deciding which media to focus on, so help me decide which I should do (first?)

[shiro-s2e2-erukinzu]

Anime only watchers and people who aren't caught up with the Manga, BEWARE... Cuz I'm about to discuss Spy X Family Mission 102... You have been warned...! 👌

[SPOILERS AHEAD FROM THIS POINT ON]

Mission 102, man... 🥲 What a way to end this amazing arc...!! 👏😭

This chapter was both heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time...! So let's go ahead and talk about it now, shall we...? 🥹

Mission 102 begins with Martha reuniting with her parents and...:

I'M ALREADY CRYING, THANKS ENDO...! 😭

After spending some wonderful time with parents, Martha finally heads out to find Henry... Since it's the weekend, Henry isn't at school, so one of the teachers gives Martha her his address and heads off to find him...! On her way to find, she trips and falls to the ground, when suddenly someone reaches out to help her...:

IT'S HENRY!!! 💗😭💗

And so, the two of them finally are reunited... Then, during their heartbreaking reunion...:

...An actual heartbreak occurs...! 💔🥲💔

Martha asks who this woman is and Henry tells her that she is his wife... And after learning that, it absolutely destroys Martha...

(Becky having my same reaction for the last few pages...!! )

We then learn from Martha that thanks to Lucia's (Henry's wife) uncle, Martha was able to do ballet again...!! 💗🥹💗 Not only that, but Lucia was truly happy for Martha when she watched her perform, and that just warms my heart SO MUCH...!! 💗😭💗 Henry married a truly wonderful woman...!

Becky was not happy about Martha and the man she loved (because Martha didn't tell Becky that it was Henderson) not ending up together because of the war, and she even said that "If all the snooty elites wanted a war so much, they should have fought!", and I was like: FACTS!! 👏👏👏 But then, Martha tells Becky this:

Everything isn't as black and white as we try to make it... It's not just "this person or thing is at fault", it's more complex than, but at the same time, it is possible to be that simple as well... But as Martha says in the page above: "latching on to such assertions and persuading yourself of their truths--that's a certain sort of weakness. And it's dangerous one." And I couldn't agree more...!

After their chat, we see Martha leave to do an errand at a cemetery as she runs into Henry:

It's seem that Lucia had passed away 15 years ago, and Martha goes to visit her and brings her flowers every year...! 🥹

THAT'S SO SWEET OF YOU TO DO, MARTHA!! 💗😭💗😭💗😭💗

And before the chapter ends, spend some time together...:

And that was Mission 102, AN AMAZING ENDING TO AN AMAZING ARC!!! 💗👏😭💗

OH MY GOODNESS THIS CHAPTER WAS SO GOOD!!! 👏👏👏 I knew that Henry and Martha's love story was gonna end in heartbreak, but I also thought that it was beautiful at the same time...!! Especially since even though she was sad that she didn't get to be with Henry, she was also happy that he truly loved Lucia and stayed faithful to her, and just so beautiful man...!🥹And though I would still love for Henry and Martha to end up together, but I'd be completely fine if they don't...!! 😊

This arc was HANDS DOWN one of the absolute best arcs in the entire series, and it only makes me even more excited to see what Endo is planning to do in this story next...!!! 😆 So until the next Mission; take care, be safe out there and be kind to one another...!! LATER Y'ALL!! 👋😁

[abiamm]

On a 'Work Trip' we go- Heikazuscara

Imagine this: you're the best detective in the Tenryou commission. You spent your youth training in the martial arts your father led you to know, and after cutting ties with most family and friends from childhood, you've learned to fend for yourself without problems. Your intuition alone can carry you through catching the most dangerous criminals in all of Inazuma, however arduous the process may be.

And yet your boss doesn't trust you to lead an investigation team in an overseas 'work trip' to Liyue.

This is the predicament Heizou found himself on a tuesday night, when, having brought up the idea to Sara, she had turned it down inmediately.

"But, Madam Kujou, you know that even when I am bombarded with the hardest cases one after another I get all my work done in a timely fashion!" protested Heizou.

Sara looked at him unbelievingly, "and yet you're never in the commissary, or actively patrolling."

"Well, I'm here right now, aren't I?" Heizou's smirk lessened under Sara's questioning gaze, "also, you never come in when I am here, and as for patrols, I don't think we should leave the defense of the citizens to someone as measly as a mere detective."

"And you're implying that this expedition is solely for work reasons?"

"... yeah?" Heizou tried to say it confidently. He really did. But something in Madam Kujou's stare made him think that she suspected he only wanted to attend the Lantern Rite with his boyfriends. It had been a while since he had seen Captain Beidou, and a reunion with Lady Ningguang and Yaoyao was way overdue. But well, it wasn't as if he needed anybody's permission to do whatever he wanted anyway. If he took a few days to investigate a criminal trail in southern Yashiori island, then no one could object to him being away. (and even if they did, who'd have the guts to fire the best detective in Teyvat's recorded history?)

When he got home, he told Scara that Sara had allowed the expedition, but on the condition that they travel on their own expenses. Paid time off, basically, outside of Heizou's official vacation days, and seeing as they had already aranged for the Crux to dock in Inazuma to take them, transport wouldn't be a problem. While Scara was surprised at first, he coud see that the day's cases had worn his detective out, so they headed to bed after eating the yaki onigiri Scara had prepared. Kazuha was already asleep, but before tucking himself under the covers, Heizou pressed a kiss to his forehead and wished them both good night.

Zuzu, being asleep, woudln't have heard, and Scara, while still awake, had no need for that kind of rest and would probably not invoke sleep tonight. Instead, he resorted to kissing Heizou and telling him to go to sleep.

-- .. --- .. --

The next week, Heizou headed to the police station to turn in some paperwork for a criminal that'd been caught during the weekend. On his desk, he realized, lay a fancy looking envelope sealed with none other than Madame Kujou's stamp. He read the letter's contents very carefully.

Well, it seemed like Madame Kujou had had a change of heart! He wouldn't have to sneak around anymore, as she had permitted his abscence for a full week. With that in mind, she did mention that she'd like him to finish his workday without sneaking out. Oh well, maybe bearing through a police station lunch was worth the week that awaited him.

[On ao3 at On a work trip we go]

[transrightsyamaguchi]

thoughts on volume 6 of real:

look at this color page!! hi loser!! i am going to be so sad when he cuts his hair. i know this is a depression hairstyle and when a character in this manga gets their hair cut it's a sign of acceptance and change and moving forward and all those thematic elements but takahashi is really cute with his hair like this. and look!! a smile!!

reading this series has made me realize that i outgrew shonen a long time ago. i don't fucking like action sequences and high stakes!! i like complex characters and internal conflict and themes and motifs!! anyway this volume was SO cathartic to read. here's my thoughts on the themes and motifs:

FUMIKA'S BACK!! finally. and it seems like takahashi's finally coming around to her. even if her way of coping with his disability is. sub-optimal.

this stays with him through the rest of the volume. he keeps turning over that dog in his head. i wonder if it's a commentary on how people seem to have more empathy for animals than they do for other humans. like you think a dog in a wheelchair in a viral video is cute but you won't make eye contact with a man in a wheelchair. it also might be takahashi finally learning that all the hate he has for himself transfers to others--if he's like the dog, and the dog didn't do anything to deserve all that hate, then what does that mean for him? i'd love to think about this some more but fumika's dog's name is my deadname so this limits my analysis a bit.

oh but the family issues are hitting full swing for him. we have another trip outside that ends poorly and another instance of takahashi vs stairs wherein the stairs win. but it's log cabin episode time otherwise known as what i did every other weekend from the ages of 14 to 18 otherwise known as Spending Three Days With Your Absentee Father. and considering that it takes two people to get takahashi in and out of a car or up a flight of stairs i'm a bit worried about him. it's come up a couple times actually that takahashi can't use the bathroom by himself and i wonder if that will get touched on again.

but first! kiyoharu. some more internal strife within the tigers. i hope nothing bad happens here.

and they BETTER win their next tournament because they've made a bet to shave their heads if they lose and even though kiyoharu would still be quite cute bald i'd prefer that not to happen.

i love when the characters get drawn like this.

especially when there's a beautifully detailed close up shot of someone's face in another panel on the same page. some much-needed lightheartedness in the middle of takahashi's journey through the five stages of grief. and it looks like he's in the depression stage now.

i can't tell if i'm relating so much to takahashi's family issues in this volume because he's similar to me or because i'm so invested in him that i can feel his emotions through the page. a combination of both i think. the actual history of his family situation is different from mine but this reunion sequence. just. you can tell your parent is better Now and they're trying hard Now but you needed them Then and they failed you Then and you've been living with the effects Ever Since.

i love the way the bad parents are written in this series. they're never just complete one-dimensional monsters. there's always something they do that shows that they care on some level about their kid. kiyoharu's father has all that stuff going on but when kiyoharu was still on the track team he'd come to the meets and there's the scene where he massaged kiyoharu's legs before nationals. takahashi's mother obviously loves him a lot and wants him to recover but she's just like him in a sense, she's got her own expectations for what's going to happen and when they're not met she breaks down. takahashi's father walked out, we see that in the flashbacks in this volume, but he's had his own character arc in that time and now he's putting in an effort to reconnect with takahashi, and he's presented as a genuinely good guy who made some mistakes in the past.

and takahashi hates him for leaving and he's allowed to hate him for leaving. because takahashi's father leaving is the tick that set him down the journey of becoming the complete douchebag that he was at the start of the story. but takahashi is starting to have more and more moments where he recognizes how other people must be feeling, or takes into consideration what other people are doing for him. i smell character development on the horizon.

GET HIS ASS!!

i so love the interplay between takahashi and his father here. they're two deeply flawed people who are trying on some level to reconnect, but they're clashing and going up against each other and they're both right. takahashi's father is right to call him on his attitude, takahashi acts like a jerk to everyone. and takahashi is right to be angry with his father for failing at being a parent.

takahashi's monologue about basketball is interesting. i can't quite figure out what he's talking about when he says it wasn't fun. if he's referring to the fact that he was playing it because of his father and his father wasn't there to see it, or if he was so caught up in his own game of ranks and social status that he couldn't really enjoy the game like nomiya could, or if he genuinely didn't find it fun and only did it because it was something he was good at. maybe a combination of all three. i wonder if he'll even end up pursuing basketball again in the story.

it's interesting that he thinks of nomiya here. nomiya really does live rent-free in everyone's mind. nomiya, who inspires the people around him to change but is still lost when it comes to himself. it seems like nomiya's earned the respect of his co-workers at his new job now, but nothing in this manga is ever simple and easy like that so i'm more inclined to think they're bullying him. we'll see.

GET!! HIS!! ASS!!

[taetaespeaches]

Idk if requests are open so I'm sorry if they're not, but could i request bestfriend namjoon, where you go w him to his home town to see his family and his family don't believe you're "just friends" and constantly ship you both? Sorry if your requests are closed - I'll use this as an opportunity to tell you how much I love your writing. You're one of the best writers I've found! You nice, keep going 💓💓

“We believe you. We believe thatyou think you’re just friends”

Namjoon x Reader

Word count: 5.3K

a/n: Thanks for requesting this babe, and thanks for the amazing compliment :) I’m so flattered that you like my work. I loved writing this, obviously, since it’s by far my longest piece so far. I’m just so soft for Namjoon and the whole friends to lovers trope. I hope you and everyone else enjoys this! 

p.s. My requests are always open, I just may not get to it for a while. Thank you for being patient! :) 

You almost didn’t notice the lackof music buzzing in your ear as the busy sounds of the subway car flooded youreardrum. “Where are you right now?” Namjoon whispered into your ear, causingyou to quickly turn to face him in surprise, noticing him holding your earbudbetween his fingers.

“Huh?” You asked him with big eyesas his lips turned upwards a bit at your surprised reaction. “I’m right here.”Namjoon cocked his head at you, appearing to disapprove of your answer.

“No,” he shook his head. “Yourbody is here, but your mind,” he gently tapped his finger on your forehead, “issomewhere else.” You simply shrugged in response, Namjoon lightly chuckling.“Are you nervous?” He asked gently with a small smile.

As a bashful smile formed on yourmouth as you nodded. “Kind of.” Namjoon watched you intently, trying to gageyour emotions. “It’s your family, and they’re important to you, and you’reimportant to me, so therefore, they’re important to me and I just want them tolike me,” you admitted with an embarrassed giggle as your cheeks tinted pink.

Namjoon actually laughed inyour face, shaking his head in disbelief, causing you to pull your eyebrowstogether in a glare. “Y/n, you’re my best friend. I love you and they’ll loveyou too,” he assured you as he slung his arm around your shoulders, pulling youinto his body. “Just relax.” And relax is what you did as a response to histouch. He popped the earbud in his own ear, ignoring the glances from theothers on the subway, who were intrigued by your sudden and unnecessarycuddling. “What are we listening to?”

Playfully rolling your eyes, yousighed as you held your phone up to him to show him the name of the song andartist displayed on the screen. He simply nodded, and the two of you stayedjust like that for the remainder of the 25-minute subway ride to Ilsan.

Walking down the streets of Ilsanas you made your way to a bus stop, Namjoon pointed things out to youexcitedly. He had been talking about bringing you home to Ilsan with him forwhat seemed like forever, and he was ecstatic you were finally there with him,even if just for a day. The original plan was to stay for the weekend, butBTS-related business required him to shorten the trip to just one night.

Loading the bus, you struggled tocarry your overnight bag through the seats, causing Namjoon to laugh at yourstruggle. Shooting him a glare, he tried to cut his laughter off, but to noavail. Holding his hand out, he gestured for you to give him the bag. “Come on,”he told you as he took the bag out of your hands with a smile still on hisface. “Sit down,” he gestured to the two seats. “You get the window seat so youcan see the city.” Taking your seat, you smiled fondly at Namjoon as sat downnext to you.

“Thank you,” you told him quietly,making him nod at you, placing his hand on your knee for a moment, just longenough to squeeze it affectionately before he removed his touch.

As the bus started moving, youstared out the window as Namjoon stared at you, watching your face forreactions to his hometown. Feeling his stare on you, your lips turned upwards.“Stop watching me,” you teased him without even a glance towards him, to whichNamjoon quickly averted his eyes to the opposite side of the bus with a bigsmile spread across his features, dimples on full display for anyone who mayhave been looking at him. As he looked away from you, feigning innocence, hemade eye contact with an elderly couple who were both smiling adoringly at him.Feeling slightly nervous under their gaze, he bowed politely.

“You two make a beautiful couple,”the man said as the woman nodded in agreement. Their words made you turn tolook at them, cheeks already flushed with red at their comment. You smiled atthem and bowed, not wanting to correct them.

“Thank you,” he told them as hisbody heated up in embarrassment. Turning to face you, you both looked at eachother and tried to hold back your laughter. You and Namjoon? Yeah right, youthought. It wasn’t that you weren’t interested. In fact, you had always beeninterested in Namjoon. But when you first met, you went straight intofriendship, and it would difficult for that relationship to change into somethingelse… wouldn’t it? Sometimes the way he flirted with you made you feel like hemay be into you, but you also couldn’t believe that your best friend wouldactually reciprocate the confusing feeling you had for him.

Suddenly, by the grace of god,Namjoon pointed out the window. “This is our stop.“

As you stood up, you both smiledand bowed at the couple once more before exiting the bus. “That was soawkward,” you laughed as the bus drove away, Namjoon bursting into his ownlaughter. However, he didn’t say anything else regarding the topic. Did it meannothing to him, or did it mean too much?

“Here, the house is this way,” hesaid, stepping in front of you as he led you towards the direction of his home.As you tried to take your bag out of his hand, he pulled it away from you. “Igot it, babe,” he told you with a smile. You nodded, smiling graciously at him.

After walking just for a coupleminutes, he stopped and pointed at a cozy looking house. “That’s it,” hesmiled.

Your eyes lit up at therealization that this was where your best friend grew up. “Oh wow,” you smiledbrightly. “It’s beautiful, Joonie.” As you took in the sight of the home, hiseyes were locked on your features, admiring your enthusiasm for a simple house.

“Namjoon!” A woman yelled inexcitement as she stepped out of the house, pulling his gaze from you to thevoice.

“Mom!” He smiled happily, quicklystepping towards his mom. Looking back at you, he gestured for you to followhim, to which you obliged, following closely behind. As he greeted his mom in ahug, you watched the scene, feeling an overwhelming happiness. When his dadstepped outside, Namjoon greeted him with a hug as they both chuckled into theembrace. You stood by, watching the reunion fondly. As Namjoon stood next toyou once again, he grabbed your hand in an effort to calm your nerves.

“Mom, dad, this is—“

“You must be y/n,” His mominterrupted him with a giddy grin.

“Yeah, this is my best friendy/n,” he looked at you. Namjoon’s parents shared a knowing look, though youweren’t sure what they knew, before his mom stepped towards you andpulled you into a hug.

“It’s so nice to meet you, y/n,”his mom told you as she squeezed you tightly.

“It’s nice to meet you too,” youtold her as she pulled away, keeping her hands placed on your shoulders as shestudied your face.

“Aren’t you beautiful,” she saidmore to herself than to you. Looking up at her husband, she asked for hisconfirmation. “Don’t you think, Dear?” Namjoon cocked his head in confusion athis parents’ reaction to meeting you.

Mr. Kim nodded in agreement,flashing Namjoon a proud smile, to which Namjoon scrunched his eyebrows, hisconfusion increasing. His dad held his hand out for you to shake. “Nice to meetyou, y/n.”

“You as well,” you said as youshook his hand.

“I’m happy to be able to put aface to all the stories,” he told you with a happy chuckle.

Eyes widening, you looked from Mr.Kim to Namjoon. “Stories?” Namjoon immediately blushed. “Hopefully goodstories,” you smiled, still a little nervous.

“Oh, of course, sweetheart.Namjoon just likes to talk about you. We feel like we already know you,” Mrs.Kim smiled.

“Oh he does, does he?” You teased,looking at Namjoon as he bashfully hid his grin behind his hand.

“Now, come in, you two,” his momsaid suddenly, leading the way inside. “How was the trip?”

“It was good,” Joon told hisparents. “Quick. It’s amazing how little I make it out here when it’s soclose,” he frowned slightly.

“You’re here now, though,” his dadsaid as he patted his son’s shoulder. “How do you like Ilsan so far, y/n?”

“I like it a lot,” you assuredwith a smile. “I’m excited to tour the city a little bit. It’s very prettyhere. And the people seem nice.”

“Yeah,” Namjoon agreed, his eyeswidening. “We already met a sweet older couple on the bus. They thought we madea beautiful couple,” he laughed, as you shook your head with a smile,both of you still in disbelief of being mistaken as a couple. Namjoon’s dadsmiled widely at that.

“Well, you do,” Mrs. Kim confirmed.“A very beautiful couple.” Joon quickly shook his head as you blushed.

“Mom—“

“You two go get settled and thenI’ll cook us some lunch, ok? You sister will be here shortly,” she toldNamjoon. “You know where your room is, and I’ve prepared the guest room fory/n, but, perhaps you want to share a room?”

Namjoon quite literally choked ashe shook his head. “No, that’s ok,” you smiled. “I’ll take the guest room,thank you.”

“Mom,” Namjoon finally sputteredout.

She looked at him with wide eyes.“What? I’m not naive.” Namjoon stared at her questioningly. “If you want toshare a room, we’re ok with that.”

“Mom, we’re just friends,” hesaid, making his mom look at him in surprise. “We’re friends,” he gesturedbetween the two of you.

“Ha!” Mr. Kim laughed out loud.

“Sure, sweetie,” she smiled at youboth. “Go get settled.”

His parents walked out of theliving room to the kitchen, leaving you and your best friend standing thereawkwardly. “What the fuck?” You whispered, making Joon chuckle.

“I have no idea,” he said as heturned to face you.

“Do they think we’re together?”You asked with shock lacing your tone. Namjoon shrugged, making you look at himwith wide eyes. “Joon,” you whined.

“I’ll set them straight, don’tworry,” he assured you, making you sigh. Namjoon pulled you into him for a hugas you sighed into his chest.

“I was already nervous to meetthem, and now they think we’re a couple,” you complained as you wrapped yourarms around the comforting man’s waist.

“I honestly don’t know where theygot the idea that we’re a couple,” he said as you literally stood in the middleof his home holding each other comfortingly.

Pulling away to look at him, youflashed a teasing grin. “Maybe because you talk about me so much,” you giggled.

“Don’t,” he warned as he pulledyou back into his embrace. You continued to chuckle into his chest.

“I like them,” you smiled as heheld you. Looking up at him, you were met with his excited grin.

“Yeah?” He asked, his dimplespopping out. You nodded as he squeezed your body against him. “I’m glad.”

“Namjoon!” A younger girl’s voicesounded across the room, your best friend and you quickly separating to see hisyounger sister standing there with a grin.

“Hey!” Namjoon greeted cheerfully.“Come here,” he gestured for her to come to you both. “You remember y/n,right?”

“Of course,” she said as you bothsmiled and waved at each other before Namjoon pulled her into a hug. You hadmet his sister over FaceTime once and ended up talking to her for nearly 40minutes before Namjoon made you both cut the call off. “I thought you werebringing a friend, not y/n,” she said suggestively, looking up at her bother.

“Y/n is my friend,” heclarified with a confused look. She raised her eyebrows, nodding, however, notbelieving.

“It’s nice to meet youofficially,” you smiled at his sister, holding your hand out to shake.

Shaking your hand, she agreed witha big smile. “Wow,” she said looking at you. “You got yourself a looker,” shetold her brother, wiggling her eyebrows.

“Oh my god, we’re just friends,”he groaned.

“Uh huh,” his sister said as shemade her way to the kitchen, sporting a sly smile. He looked at you infrustration.

“We’re just friends,” he yelledout so his whole family could hear, making them all giggle, as your faceflushed with heat.

“I’m so sorry,” he looked at you,his lips remaining in the shape of a small smile, showing his amusement of thesituation.

Smiling, you shook your head.“It’s ok,” you assured. “It’s just kind of weird how everyone here thinks we’rea couple.”

He shook his head in disbelief ofeveryone’s perceptions of your relationship. “How come no one in Seoul evermistakes us for a couple? We’re practically still in Seoul, why would it be sodifferent here?” He complained. 

“There must be something in thewater here,” you joked as you reached for your bag. Namjoon chuckled as hegrabbed his bag and led you to the bedrooms.

“So, here’s the guest room,” hesaid as he opened the door and led you inside. Setting your bag on the bed,your eyes scanned the room. “My room is right across the hall,” he pointed. Yousimply nodded as a wicked smile overtook your face. “What?” He asked nervously.

Shaking your head nonchalantly,you tiptoed to the door, your grin growing. Namjoon suddenly caught on, rushingto stop you from entering his childhood room. He caught you in the hallwaybefore you could open his bedroom door, his arms wrapping around your waist,lifting you off the ground, your back pressed against his chest. You squealedin laughter as he sported an amused grin. “Just let me see your room,” you whinedas you squirmed in his arms.

You both didn’t realize yourlaughter had caught the attention of his family, who were standing down thehallway watching you both fondly.

“I will,” he assured. “On onecondition, though.” You hummed in acknowledgement, waiting for his terms. “Nomaking fun of me for whatever you find in there,” he whispered against yourear, sending tingles across your skin.

“You’re no fun,” you teased,making him sigh through a shy smile. “Joon, I promise,” you assured. At that,he set you down and that’s when he caught his family watching you out of thecorner of his eye. You noticed the surprise in his face and followed his gaze.Upon seeing them all smiling at you both, you suddenly felt shy, instinctivelytucking yourself into your best friend’s side for comfort, Namjooninstinctively pulling you in closer.

“We’re just friends,” he told themsternly before shoving you into his bedroom. As he shut the door behind him, hestarted ranting about his family and apologizing for you. However, you were toobusy looking at his childhood room to care about that.

Looking over the plushies thatadorned the walls and were scattered throughout the room, you smiled to yourself,thankful that this sweet man hadn’t changed from youth to adulthood. Walking overto his nightstand, you picked up a picture frame of him as a young boy, hislittle sister on his back. “Oh my god, Joonie, you were so cute.” You cut himoff mid rant, making him look at you with big adorable eyes and a small ‘huh?’You smiled at him as you held the picture frame up. “You have the same smile,”you cooed.

A bashful grin appeared on hisface as he looked down towards the floor. “You promised you wouldn’t make funof me.”

“I’m not,” you defended. “I’madmiring how freaking adorable you are.”

“Did you just say how adorable youare? As in how adorable I am? Presenttense?” You glared at his widely grinning face. “Is that what you said?” Hecontinued to tease.

“Just take the compliment andknock it off,” you giggled. He smiled bashfully, covering his mouth with hishands.

“Thanks,” he said quietly as helifted his eyes to meet your own fond ones. Setting the frame back down, yousaw the notebook laying on the table. As you reached for the notebook, Namjoonwas suddenly at your side, grabbing your wrist to stop you. “Please don’t,” hebegged. Looking at him, you cocked your head.

“What is it?” You smiledmischievously. He stared at you, silently pleading with you not to look at thenotebook. You gasped. “Old songs?” Your smile grew when he didn’t deny yourguess. “Babe, please let me read it, please,” you begged as he shook his head.“I promised I wouldn’t make fun of you,” you pouted.

“No,” he said as he took thenotebook off the table and held it above his head.

“Really?” You glared. “Holding itover your head? I’m not that short,” you complained, making him laugh.“Joon, I’m not gonna read it if you don’t want me to,” you told him sincerely.Looking into your eyes, he saw your sincerity.

He lowered his arm, holding thenotebook out to you. “No, it’s ok,” you smiled. “You don’t have to show me.”

“No, go ahead,” he assured you itwas ok as he placed the notebook in your palm. Your smile spread further acrossyour face, but you still waited for his go ahead. “I already show you everysingle song I write, no matter how shitty it is—“

“None of them are shitty—”

“Go ahead. I actually don’tremember what any of these lyrics are so we’ll read them together,” he smiledbashfully. Instead of taking the notebook from him, you instead crawled ontohis bed, laying on your stomach, propping yourself up on your elbows.

“Come on,” you patted the spotnext to you, Namjoon immediately plopping down next to you. He opened thenotebook and you both started reading the childish lyrics. They weren’t bad fora kid, but some of them were pretty silly, making you both laugh. Every once ina while, you pulled your eyes from the pages to watch Namjoon’s amusementdisplayed across his stunning features.

Eventually, you both started todoze off, both of you exhausted from staying up late in the studio the nightbefore. Namjoon was working tirelessly on the comeback, and you had brought himdinner and ended up crashing on his sofa.

When Namjoon’s father came in tocollect you both for lunch, he fell upon the scene of you curled into Namjoon’sside as he slept on his stomach, his arms protectively wrapped around yourshoulders. You were both lightly snoring, making his dad almost sad to wake youboth. He shook Namjoon’s arm until Joon stirred awake, his eyes immediatelyfalling on your sleeping form, tucked in tightly to his side. He could feel yourarm draped across his lower back, your legs wrapped around his own like a koalabear. Namjoon smiled contentedly before looking up to see his dad smilingfondly at the two of you. Namjoon’s cheeks flushed as his dad shook his head.“You’re just friends,” his dad said with a knowing smile. “I know, son.” Thetone in which he spoke, mixed with the smile he flashed, made Namjoon shove hisface in the bed in embarrassment. He felt as though his dad just ripped downevery wall Namjoon had ever built up, leaving him and his feelings bare, withnothing to hide behind anymore.

His dad gently patted Namjoon’shead. “Y/n is a good person to have, no matter what you two are to each other. Youboth are very lucky to have each other,” his dad said, smiling at his son.“Lunch is ready, so come and eat.” With that, he left the room, leaving Namjoonto deal with the butterflies that had just exploded in his chest at therealization that followed his dad’s words.

Reluctantly, he rolled away fromyou, tickling your nose to wake you up. Groaning, you pushed his hand away, buthe then just attacked your sides with his fingers. “Babe, stop,” you whined,your eyes fluttering open. Babe. He’d heard you call him that name amillion times before, yet this time it made his heart pound against his chest.

“Let’s go eat,” he said. Withthose words, you popped up, your stomach immediately growling in response.

“Food,” you whispered, Namjoonlaughing at you. He took your hand and led you out of the room to the kitchen.

As your sleepy forms stumbled intothe kitchen, Namjoon’s family all looked at you, his mom giggling a bit at yourand Namjoon’s puffy eyes. “Did you two get a good nap in?” She asked as she setthe final dish on the already full table. Namjoon nodded as he pulled out achair and sat in the one next to it, you sitting down in the chair he pulledout. The subtle action did not go unnoticed by Namjoon’s family as they allsilently swooned.

“Thank you so much for this meal,it looks amazing,” you bowed to Mrs. Kim, making her graciously smile at you,Namjoon affectionately smiling at you both.

“Why are you two so tired, anyway?”Namjoon’s dad asked you both as everyone dug into the food. Slurping down somenoodles, Namjoon spoke up.

“We were up late. I’ve beenworking on the album, and y/n was kind enough to hang out with me in thestudio,” he told them as he ate a bit more. His mom shook her head indisapproval.

“You need to stop working yourselfso hard, Namjoon. Working hard is one thing, but I’m worried you’re overdoingit.” Namjoon’s dad nodded in agreement. You stopped eating as you glanced atNamjoon to gage his reaction. This was a touchy subject for Joon, and you knewthat because you had attempted to tell him the exact same thing on severaloccasions.

“I’m not overdoing it,” hedefended calmly. “I’m just doing my job.”

“But rest is important,” Namjoon’sdad told him.

Namjoon nodded in acknowledgement.“I’m getting rest. My schedule is just different than most people.” Namjoonlooked at you to meet your gentle gaze, helping him to keep his aggravation atbay. “Trust me, I get rest. This one makes sure of that,” he gestured to youwith a laugh.

“Well we’re very thankful to youthen, dear,” his mother told you with a smile. “But who is making sure youget rest if you’re staying up with him all night in the studio?” She asked youbefore looking to Namjoon, making his body flood with guilt.

“Oh, no, I don’t usually stay upwith him. I’ll bring him food or just hang out for a bit, and then I go home beforeit gets too late. Last night was a rarity. He doesn’t usually let me stay toolong,” you looked at Namjoon gently. “He worries about me too much to let mestay up late,” you laughed. “I can sleep pretty much anywhere, and I think thecouch in his studio is just as comfortable as my bed, but he still insists I gohome to get a good night’s rest,” you explained with a smile. His family’s eyesbounced between you and a bashful Namjoon as you spoke. “I actually wish he’dlet me stay late with him more often,” you continued. “It’s inspiring to seehim work on something he’s so passionate about.” Namjoon’s sister pouted at yourwords, overwhelmed by how cute you two were, while his mother and father lookedat each other and smiled.

Namjoon caught on to his family’sreactions, groaning in response. “We really are just friends,” he said quietly,your cheeks heating up instantly, realizing how you just furthered theirsuspicion of your relationship.

“Mhmm,” his mom nodded. “You’rewhatever you say you are.” His dad nodded in agreement with his mother.

“You still don’t believe us, doyou?” Namjoon asked in defeat.

“We believe you,” Namjoon’s dadassured. “We believe that you thinkyou’re just friends.” You couldn’t help but giggle at his dad’s choice ofwords, making his dad point a finger at you with a wide smile. Namjoon chuckledas well, looking down at his plate as he placed a hand on the back of yourchair.

“Would it be so bad to be morethan just friends?” Namjoon’s mom quietly asked you both, just as you shoved abunch of food into your mouth. Joon looked over at you and chuckled fondly atyour full cheeks which might as well have been permanently painted red at thispoint. He found himself smiling like an idiot, utterly amused by you and yourcuteness.

“Ok, ok, let’s just eat,” Namjoontold them with a blush across his cheeks. You hid a smile with your hand as youswallowed the last of the food. Looking over to Namjoon, you were met by hisadoring gaze. Admiring the man you called your best friend, you couldn’t help butlet your mind wander over the possibilities if you ever did allow yourrelationship to venture into romantics. No, it wouldn’t be so bad.  

After finishing the meal, you,Joon, and his sister prepared to head out so they could take you on a shorttour of the city. With the weather still being a bit cold, Joon handed you a beanieto wear. Smiling, you took it, pulling it over your hair. Looking up at him, heflashed you a close-mouthed smile, his dimples popping out, as he looked at thetufts of hair sticking out wildly underneath the beanie. Reaching up slowly, headjusted the beanie, tucking your hair into it nicely. When he finished, henodded at you, leaving his hands on the sides of your face for a moment.

“Oh my god, just date already!”His sister yelled at you both as she walked outside, ready to leave. Both ofyour cheeks flushed red again as he quickly removed his hands from you. Youswiftly walked past him to head outside, pushing aside the butterflies thatwere now fluttering throughout your body.

As Namjoon and his sister escortedyou around, showing you their favorite spots, your interactions with Joon feltdifferent. For example, Namjoon often held your hand. It was never anythingthat concealed more meaning, but rather just a friendly display of affection.You both did love each other, but you weren’t in love… at least you didn’tthink so. Did everyone around you see something you both didn’t?

However, when he reached for yourhand to bring your attention to his favorite cafe, you felt a spark ignite wherehis skin touched your own, heat bursting in your chest, flowing throughout yourentire frame. You pulled your hand out of his grasp, almost scared of how itmade you feel, making him look at you with confusion and a bit of letdown. “Doyou want to go in?” He asked you as if you didn’t just have that awkwardinteraction. Nodding, the three of you walked towards the cafe.

Upon entering, you could seeexactly why Joon loved this cafe so much. It was cozy and modern. The woodenshelves full of books and albums that littered the walls gave it a verycomfortable vibe. You imagined a younger version of your best friend, cominginto this very cafe and feeling at home, surrounded by the experiences ofothers that had been put into words on a page and into the grooves of therecords.

“This place feels like you,” youtold him with a smile, making him blush under your adoring gaze.

After ordering, Joon’s sisterwaited at the counter for your drinks and desserts, while you and Joon found aseat next to the window. “I’m sorry if my family’s comments have been makingyou feel awkward,” he told you sadly, obviously feeling bad about it especiallysince you pulled your hand out of his. Quickly, you shook your head, placingyour hand over his in an attempt to let him know you didn’t feel awkward. Ifanything, you felt too comfortable with what the commentsinsinuated about your relationship “I just don’t know why they keep makingcomments.”

Looking down at your hand that washolding the back of his, you let out a mixture of a scoff and a laugh. “Joon,”you gestured at your hands. “You don’t know why? Really?”

Looking at your hands, pink tintedhis cheeks. Readjusting your hands, so they were palm to palm and your fingerswere intertwined, he smiled shyly. “What? This?”He asked teasingly as he squeezed your hand. “So now we’re a couple because wehold hands sometimes?”

“We call each other babe,” youtold him.

“Yeah, as like, a friend thing,”he justified. “We’re affectionate towards each other. That doesn’t make us acouple.”

Nodding, you agreed. “I know, butcan you at least see why peoplethink we are?” Sighing, he nodded.“As long as we know what we are though, then who cares what other people think,right?”

“But do we know what we are?” Heasked, slightly shocking you.

Suddenly, Joon’s sister appearedat the table, balancing three drinks and three desserts. you quickly removedyour hand from Namjoon’s to help her set the treats down. “Thanks,” she told youas you smiled at her. Noticing the heavy atmosphere between you and herbrother, she excused herself to the restroom. “I’ll, uh, be back in a few,” shesaid as she made her way across the room, looking back at you with a curiousgaze.

Locking your eyes with Namjoon,you chuckled. “She’s observant,” you noted, making him cock his head at you,waiting for an answer to his previous question. Sighing, you shrugged. “We’rebest friends, Joon.” He nodded in agreement.

“We are. But that doesn’t make us justfriends.” He looked back down at your hands which were no longerintertwined, but your fingers were playfully dancing together on the tabletop,making both of your lips turn up just the slightest bit.

“Have we ever been just friends?”You asked him, locking your gaze on his features to try to read what he wasfeeling.

He didn’t say anything, but youknew what he was telling you with his eyes. Both of you knew you were never just friends. There were other factorsat play when you met that kept you both from allowing yourselves to feel morethan friendship with each other. Timing was a big one. You were balancingschool and part time jobs and he was busy being the leader of a massivelypopular boy group. Another one was the fear you both had to let someone in. Itwas scary giving yourself to someone, putting your trust and faith into them.However, throughout your friendship, you let each other in anyway. He was theperson you trusted the most. You believed in him and you had faith in him. Andthe feelings were mutual.

“Ok, I tried to stay away, but mydrink is getting cold and I really want to eat my cookie,” Namjoon’s sisterwhined, sliding into the seat next to you. You laughed and pushed her drinktowards her.

“You’re fine,” you assured her.

“Did I give you enough time?” Sheasked you both, looking from you to her older brother. “Are you still justfriends,” she mocked Namjoon’s voice.

You both laughed in response,looking at each other to see how the other would respond. You shook your head,giving him the answer he needed. Reaching for your hand again, he tangled hisfingers with your own. “No,” he answered his sister, however, he was looking atyou, letting you know his words were for you. “We’re not just friends.”

[van-dyne]

I'm thinking of skipping some seasons of spn, are there any seasons that would be good to skip(I don't want to skip them I just don't have the time to watch them)

S1-5 is the ‘classic’ supernatural, so don’t skip any of them. The first 5 seasons tell a coherent story, and it’s an Epic one. They set the tone of the show, develop your attachment to the characters, makes you fall in love with them and their relationship with one another. It’s the Winchesters origin story, and imo you’d always feel something is missing, something you can’t quite grasp if you hadn’t been there with them from the start. 

With that covered, let’s go into the later seasons, I assume you want to catch up with the current season asap? I wouldn’t recommend to skip a whole season because in order to understand the characters’ action (primarily Sam and Dean) you have to know what they’ve been through, and though the later seasons are more self contained, each has its own arc, it is still a coherent journey of the brothers as a whole. And they have quality episodes each season you dont want to miss.

Here’s the episode list from s 6-12, I highlighted the important episodes in order to understand the story for it to progress, also point out those fun and quality episodes you may not want to miss ;) (god it’s really long list) (sorry to those who’re on mobile) 

Season 6 (there’s something wrong with Sam (!), monsters, demons and angels all want to open the backdoor to purgatory (imo it’s a mess)1. Exile on Main Street2. Two and a Half Men 3. The Third Man 4. Weekend at Bobby’s* (Love letter to Bobby)5. Live Free or Twi-hard* (Dean becomes a vampire, temporarily) 6. You Can’t Handle the Truth 7. Family Matters 8. All Dogs Go to Heaven 9. Clap Your Hands If You Believe*  (This is a fun one, X-file style)10. Caged Heat 11. Appointment in Samarra 12. Like a Virgin 13. Unforgiven 14. Mannequin 3: The Reckoning 15. The French Mistake* (The one that will go down in television history) 16. And Then There Were None 17. My Heart Will Go On* (The one where they un-sink the Titanic)18. Frontierland* (The one where they time travel to the Western )19. Mommy Dearest 20. The Man Who Would Be King 21. Let It Bleed 22. The Man Who Knew Too Much

Season 7 (this season arc is basically Leviathan from purgatory is unleashed on earth and they can impose people, cause the winchesters a few, but they manage to off the monster in the end. The leviathan story is not that engaging but they have fun episodes. The more intriguing and important part in terms of characters arc is about Sam’s hallucination)  1. Meet the New Boss 2. Hello Cruel World 3. The Girl Next Door (Dean did something /questionable/)4. Defending Your Life 5. Shut Up, Dr. Phil* (The one with the Buffy reunion)6. Slash Fiction* (Leviathans!Winchesters, forcing the real winchesters on the run)7. The Mentalists (The bros resolve their conflict)8. Time for a Wedding! 9. How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters 10. Death’s Door 11. Adventures in Babysitting 12. Time After Time* (Dean travels back in time to the 40s) 13. The Slice Girls (Dean doesn’t want you to know about this one)14. Plucky Pennywhistle’s Magical Menagerie* (The one with the clowns, it’s fun)15. Repo Man 16. Out with the Old* (It’s a fun one, also Sam’s hallucination is getting worse)17. The Born-Again Identity 18. Party on, Garth (The one they drunk kill Ghost)19. Of Grave Importance 20. The Girl With the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo* (The one introduces Charlie) 21. Reading is Fundamental (The one introduces Kevin)22. There Will Be Blood 23. Survival of the Fittest (The one where they finally off the big Dick)

Season 8 (Dean’s back from purgatory and Sam quit hunting for a year, bros are back together, conflict ensured, they find a way to shut the gates of Hell in the second half of the season) 1. We Need to Talk About Kevin 2. What’s Up, Tiger Mommy? 3. Heartache 4. Bitten 5. Blood Brother (Benny the vampire friend of Dean) 6. Southern Comfort (The bros are lashing out on each other)7. A Little Slice of Kevin 8. Hunteri Heroici (The one with the looney tones, so fun)9. Citizen Fang (More Benny)10. Torn and Frayed 11. LARP and the Real Girl (The one where Dean dresses up as Medieval knight, it’s good fun)12. As Time Goes By (Grandpa Henry Winchester! Introducing Men of letters)13. Everybody Hates Hitler (The one introduces the Bunker) 14. Trial and Error 15. Man’s Best Friend with Benefits 16. Remember the Titans (The one with all the greek gods, it’s solid episode)17. Goodbye Stranger 18. Freaks and Geeks 19. Taxi Driver 20. Pac-Man Fever 21. The Great Escapist 22. Clip Show 23. Sacrifice

Season 9  (Dean is burden with guilt)1. I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here 2. Devil May Care 3. I’m No Angel 4. Slumber Party 5. Dog Dean Afternoon (The one Dean becomes a dog, temporarily)  6. Heaven Can’t Wait 7. Bad Boys* (get to know a slice of Dean’s childhood)8. Rock and a Hard Place 9. Holy Terror 10. Road Trip 11. First Born 12. Sharp Teeth 13. The Purge* (Undercover as yoga instructor and food lady, it’s fun)14. Captives (The winchesters have really nice coats in this one just sayin) 15. #thinman 16. Blade Runners 17. Mother’s Little Helper 18. Meta Fiction (it’s weird one I don’t know)19. Alex Annie Alexis Ann 20. Bloodlines 21. King of the Damned 22. Stairway to Heaven 23. Do You Believe in Miracles

Season 10 (Sam is gonna save his Dean no matter the cost) 1. Black 2. Reichenbach 3. Soul Survivor 4. Paper Moon* (Something you need, as a therapy, after the first three episode)5. Fan Fiction* (The one with the Supernatural Meta Musical) 6. Ask Jeeves* (Cluedo style, FUN)7. Girls, Girls, Girls 8. Hibbing 911 9. The Things We Left Behind* (Re-introduces Claire novak) 10. The Hunter Games 11. There’s No Place Like Home* (Charlie and her evil twins) 12. About a Boy* (De-aged Dean, yes) 13. Halt & Catch Fire 14. The Executioner’s Song !! (holy shit this episode)15. The Things They Carried 16. Paint it Black17. Inside Man 18. Book of the Damned 19. The Werther Project 20. Angel Heart 21. Dark Dynasty 22. The Prisoner 23. Brother’s Keeper

Season 11 (Darkness on earth, but at least the brothers are on the same page) 1. Out of the Darkness, Into the Fire 2. Form and Void 3. The Bad Seed 4. Baby ** !! ( A love letter to Baby)5. Thin Lizzie (There’s that kid from Stranger Things)6. Our Little World 7. Plush 8. Just My Imagination* !! (the one with the imaginary friend, very fun and unique)9. O Brother Where Art Thou? 10. The Devil in the Details 11. Into the Mystic 12. Don’t You Forget About Me 13. Love Hurts* (epic Winchesters wardrobe) 14. The Vessel* (Dean travels back in time! again)15. Beyond the Mat* (Happy fanboy Winchesters)16. Safe House* (Bobby and Rufus old case)17. Red Meat* !! (Epic Monster of the week episode)18. Hell’s Angel 19. The Chitters 20. Don’t Call Me Shurley !!21. All in the Family (Meh but you kinda maybe need to watch it)22. We Happy Few (UGH but you kinda maybe need to watch it)23. Alpha and Omega

Season 12 (British Men of Letters wants to take control of the American hunters, also Mama Winchester is back, also a hot mess) 1. Keep Calm and Carry On 2. Mamma Mia 3. The Foundry 4. American Nightmare* (the theme is dark af but it’s a very good episode) 5. The One You’ve Been Waiting For (Dean kills Hitler)6. Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox* (introduces the hunter network, solid episode)7. Rock Never Dies 8. Lotus 9. First Blood 10. Lily Sunder Has Some Regrets 11. Regarding Dean** (Jensen A+ acting)12. Stuck in the Middle (With You) * (the way this episode is directed is worth watching)13. Family Feud 14. The Raid 15. Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell 16. Ladies Drink Free 17. The British Invasion 18. The Memory Remains 19. The Future 20. Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes* (A solid monster of the week episode with the Hunter Twins) 21. There’s Something About Mary 22. Who We Are !! (this episode imo saves the whole season)23. All Along the Watchtower ! (now you’re excited for what comes next)