#Flower Delivery Processes
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How To Manage Flower Deliveries With Our Own Fleet
Operating your fleet of delivery vehicles has many advantages for a floral shop. It allows complete control over the customer experience from placing an order through delivery. But taking flower deliveries in-house does come with added logistical responsibilities.
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#Flower Delivery Management#Manage Flower Delivery#Flower Delivery Processes#Flower Delivery Service#Inventory for Your Flower Store#Flower Deliveries#Hana Florist POS
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“OH GOD, IT’S NOT FAIR OF HIM TO MAKE ME FEEL THIS MUCH!” (HQ BOYS)
ATSUMU: says things out of nowhere that it makes you feel butterflies. it’s so sudden that it hits you like a tidal wave that knocks the air out of you. the two of you could be laughing at some random thing and suddenly, he opens his mouth to mention something, “your smile.” he says, almost out of nowhere, eyes looking at you with so much fondness that you refuse to believe that someone could ever look at you that way. “my smile? what’s wrong with it, tsum?” you question, and he chuckles, “oh, there’s nothing wrong with it.” a goofy smile plants itself over his face, “it’s just.. it’s so pretty. i want to see it more.” he says, resting his forehead over yours. “wanna be the person who makes you do all that—smile and laugh. you’re so beautiful.”
AKAASHI: “you were saying?” he questions as he’s scribbling over his notebook, studying for a test he’ll take the next day. the question almost surprises you. “i was saying..?” you ask, eyes on him as he looks busy enough writing over his notebook rather than listening to your nonstop blabbering. “yeah? you were talking about the book you just finished reading.” he says, and you sat there surprised, silenced and unable to fully process what you just heard. “well?” he ushers you to speak, the tone of his voice coming out as if he wants to hear more from you. and you couldn’t help but stare at him in disbelief. “you.. you were listening?” you respond with a timid voice. your boyfriend lets out a chuckle, dropping down his pen to look at you with interest in his eyes. “of course i do. i’m always listening to you, honey.”
KUROO: you weren’t sure what just happened, but all you could process was the fact that you’re suddenly lifted by the strong arms of your boyfriend as you walked through the hallway of the campus. it was supposed to be a normal day. you sighed, trying to ignore the stares of the students around you (and yaku, literally staring at the both of you in disgust). “tetsu, what are you doing? what’s all this? what’s happening?” you throw your boyfriend a wave of questions, unable to get a glimpse of the motive behind his actions. the deep chuckles from him reaches your ears, and you almost had to be grateful for being carried bridal style so as to not feel your knees weakening from the sound he just made. “am i not allowed to care for the love of my life?” he says, almost as if it’s an obvious fact. you roll your eyes, not convinced. you open your mouth to say something, but he beats you to it—“you mentioned you walked home yesterday, right? you know, it’s pretty convenient to take the bus sometime. your house is pretty far from here. your feet must have been aching. let me take care of you, alright?”
OIKAWA: “delivery for the most beautiful person in the world!” he knocks on your classroom door, catching the attention of your classmates. you mildly panic, a rush of embarrassment flowing over you as you’re greeted with teasing smiles and chuckles. you see, tooru always had the tendency to do these things. and it honestly surprises you ‘till this day. he makes you feel so openly loved that it scares you it might disappear someday. your heart beats at a fast pace as your boyfriend nears you, eyes never leaving your figure as the corners of his lips are raised upwards. he places a bouquet of flowers on your desk, along with your favorite food on a plastic bag, and you almost choke a cry. “what’s all this?” you question, looking at him with suspicious eyes. he chuckles, “is there anything wrong with a boy simply wanting to show his love to his favorite person in the world?” his hand reaches to cup itself against your cheek, his warmth cascading over you. “let me show you what you deserve. i’m right here.”
USHIJIMA: you let out a sharp breath as you’re suddenly being pulled to collide against a strong chest which happens to be your boyfriend. you’re about to ask what just happened when he speaks first, “be careful. you were about to hit a lamp post.” your eyes widens, looking to the side to notice that you were, indeed, about to bump against one. guilt quickly begins to rush over you. “o-oh.. i’m sorry, i get really clumsy and bad at these things—“ you try to explain yourself apologetically, but your boyfriend cuts you off before you could finish your statement, “please don’t apologize. these are simply trivial matters.” he tells you. it’s only ‘till then you notice his arm wrapped around your waist in a protective manner while he keeps you steady. “matters like these are the reason why i’m here. let me be the one to keep you out of danger.”
KITA: “this one’s wrong. you messed up the formula halfway, that’s why the rest of the equation is wrong.” your boyfriend explains to you as he compares his math homework with yours. you couldn’t help but chuckle in embarrassment, inwardly beating yourself up for being dumb infront of him. you scratch the back of your head, “s-sorry, i could really get confused over these things.” you apologize, and your boyfriend could only nod in understanding. “in this number too, you got the formula wrong. you’re supposed to use this.” he then adds, pointing to a certain number on your paper. you couldn’t help but feel small under his gaze. “r-right.. i’m sorry, i promise i’ll do better.” you reply apologetically. but your discomfort doesn’t go unnoticed by shinsuke. his eyes worriedly looks at your figure as he quickly slides an arm around your waist, “hey, it’s okay. don’t worry about it.” you could feel his thumb rubbing against the fabric of your shirt as a way to assure you. “you’re doing amazing, believe me. just let me know if you’re confused anywhere. i can always help you. you’re okay.”
#haikyuu x reader#haikyuu fluff#haikyuu!!#akaashi x reader#atsumu x reader#akaashi fluff#atsumu fluff#oikawa x reader#oikawa fluff#ushijima x reader#ushijima fluff#kuroo x reader#kuroo fluff#kita x reader#kita fluff
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"But don't let its beauty fool you. This plant can be processed into a powerful neurotoxin which can cause near permanent madness unless treated!"
Professor Calculus, upon developing a state-of-the-art automated hydroponics and pesticides delivery system, has been invited to judge a prestigious international flower show at the largest botanical garden in Belgium.
Botany experts and amateurs from around the world attend - Professor Zalamea is there to showcase his bizarre genetically modified bioluminescent blue oranges, Nash is displaying some of his explorations into living sculpture, and Castafiore is geared up to perform in the evening. Most controversially of all, Professor Fang Hsi Ying, a world leading expert on mental health, is showcasing his research on the Rajaijah plant, a plant historically used to produce madness poison.
It's this exhibit that causes a stir at the event. Security is on high alert. After the poison was used a few years ago in several high profile drug smuggling cases that were embroiled in politics, the plant is anticipated to be a subject of fear and Orientalism. Protestors calling for its destruction flock the event, and there are rumours of a plot to steal the rare plant. The organisers hope that the controversy will generate ticket sales and revenue.
Tintin and Chang are there to report on the goings on, having just confessed their feelings for each other. They're not sure what they are just yet - but even without a madness poison, Tintin's head is in a spin!
I had the idea to bring back Rajaijah juice for some time and was intially going to set it at a garden party, but I received this message from anon some time ago:
And I just loved the Drama of a botanical garden a whole lot more!
Because of the time it takes for me to make stuff and the planning that goes into my posts I do take a very long time to respond to messages, and sometimes multiple people send similar messages anticipating stuff I already have planned, so if I come across as standoffish I apologise, I just have a lot on my plate (by my own design tbh)!
I love every message I receive, I started this blog intending to respond to every message but that's becoming unrealistic ;_; I keep your messages to read back whenever I need motivation, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you if you've sent me an ask!
#tintin#adventures of tintin#animation#2d animation#snowy#milou#captain haddock#archibald haddock#ramo nash#professor calculus#cuthbert calculus#castafiore#bianca castafiore#chang#fang hsi ying#gifset#my stories#gif#the house of glass#fanart#botany#botanic garden#greenhouse#tinchang#long post
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spoiled it
hyunjin x reader, fluff - wc: 566
barging into the studio, you’re shakily greeted by a confused christopher bang.
“where is hwang hyunjin?” you ask sternly.
“i- i don’t know… probably in the practice room across the hall…” he replies, a bit disoriented after your sudden burst through the door.
you thank him before quickly leaving, forgetting to close the door behind you. chan grumbles as he gets up to close it himself.
opening the door to the practice room, you immediately lock eyes with your lover through the mirrors on the surrounding walls.
“y/n? you’re supposed to be home resting by now, what are you doing here?” he questions, quickly standing from where he was sitting on the floor to greet you.
“don’t be mad.” you hesitate.
“why would i be?” he replies.
“well… you know how we were gonna wait until the baby’s born to know whether it’s-”
“y/n! don’t tell me you spoiled it!” he interrupts.
“i’m sorry! i swear it was an accident!” you exclaim.
“don’t tell me! i don’t wanna know!” he tells you, putting his face in his hand and turning away from you.
“hyunjin… i know you wanna know.” you tease, creeping up behind him as he remains facing away from you.
“you’re right… i do wanna know… but i’m still mad.” your boyfriend sighs, turning to face you once again.
he remains still, his head tilted downward with his dark hair in his face. you kiss his pout away, brushing his soft hair from his forehead. he instinctively wraps his arms around your middle.
“tell me.” he speaks amongst the silence.
“i thought you didn’t want me to?” you tease again.
“y/n… you’re not gonna be able to keep it from me for two more months. you might as well tell me now.” he huffs.
“i know, i know.” you reply as you continue to brush your fingers through his hair.
“she’s already given me lots of attitude, and people always say first born daughters are most like their fathers, so i had my suspicions.” you whisper as if there were anyone else in the room.
at first he doesn’t say anything, processing what has to be the second most life-altering news he’s ever heard (the first being when you’d told him you were pregnant at all. it was all very unexpected considering you hadn’t even made plans for marriage yet).
your delivery of the news may have seemed a bit backhanded in a way, yet hyunjin thought it was the sweetest thing he’d ever heard.
“it wasn’t an accident, was it?” he asks softly.
you give a weary laugh. “i couldn’t help myself.”
“i think we were both gonna break at some point anyways.” he giggles.
as the news settles, hyunjin’s eyes brim with tears that threaten to spill. he doesn’t know how to express his excitement so he’s resorted to this.
“i can already tell she’s gonna be such a daddy’s girl.” you tell him.
that broke him. he whines, tears beginning to fall as you pull him close. it's ironic that he's the emotional one right now, considering you're very pregnant and always moody, and he's always the one to comfort you.
if he’s honest, he was hoping for a baby girl. he was hoping that one day he could pick flowers with her, dress her up, keep her as his lock screen, dance with her, draw with her, laugh with her. and the answer to his hopes was handed to him on a silver platter.
then chan walks in, confused as ever.
“what the hell did you do to him?”
#skz fluff#skz scenarios#stray kids#stray kids fluff#stray kids x reader#skz x reader#hyunjin fluff#hyunjin x reader#hwang hyunjin
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Is It Casual Now? || F2 (good ending)
type :: hurt/comfort tw/cw :: none contains :: ollie, kimi, paul, arthur, summary :: after getting heart broken by the boys, you're shattered. but the space between you two make him realize how dumb he was being - PART 1 HERE
f1 masterlist || f2 masterlist || more here!
Ollie Bearman | 03
After watching you run into your house with tears streaming down your face - Ollie instantly felt a pang in his heart. But he wasn't sure what it was. He thought it was just empathy, he always hated seeing you upset, so knowing he caused the pain was harsh on his heart. But, he thought it was for the better.
He didn't want to risk ruining your friendship. You were basically part of his family and entire life. Dating you would mean risking a nasty break up which would permanently change everything. His family loves you, if you broke up they would most likely side with you instead of Ollie. You got along with all of his friends, dating would change the entire group's dynamic. And even worse, if you did ever break up on bad terms: Ollie knew he would be shattered.
But his entire thought process was proven to be stupid. Saying no to your confession made all of those fears come true. You needed space from Ollie, to heal from the embarrassment and hurt you felt. While Ollie was dealing with every fear he tried to prevent by rejecting you.
So he did what he knew he needed to do: chase you down and get you to come back into his life. He learned that he needed you more than anyone else, even his own family. Once he finally put together all the dots, he came to your house a week later and knocked on your door.
But you weren't done healing yet, still puffy-eyed and snotty from crying your heart out. Like a true heart broken girl, you ordered some take-out to eat whilst sobbing. You didn't bother to check the cameras outside, assuming it was just the delivery man.
So imagine your shock when you're met with a driver, but not a delivery driver. Instead it was Ollie, looming over you with his height as he was holding a large box filled with gifts of your favorite things. But you couldn't ever get a peak at the box, since you instantly tried to slam the door shut - not wanting to see Ollie whilst looking like a mess.
But you weren't able to shut the door since his large hand pushed against your force. So now you were stuck there, looking up at him in week old pajamas and messy hair while he looked even more handsome than usual. You peaked at the gift bundle he made you - filled with your favorite snacks, flower legos, face masks, and almost every makeup and skincare product that you've ever talked about wanting.
"Please?" Ollie said, his voice soft. "I know I'm a jerk for rejecting you, and I don't expect you to forgive me or accept my confession but - I just want to give you something..." He said, looking at you with no pity in his eyes but instead a look of yearning.
"I don't need the gift," you say, not wanting to give in so easily. You wanted to say something cool, to reject his confession. But in your current state, it was going to impossible to fake confidence and reject him while looking homeless. "But um... thank you?" You said, unsure of how to reply to him.
"No no, please take the gift" Ollie said, pushing the door further as he handed you the gift bundle. And by pushing the door further open, you wanted to go curl up in a ball and hide - you looked horrendous.
And as Ollie looked at you, you could see his face soften even more. "When's the last time you showered? Or cleaned your face? Or gone outfside???"
All of his questions were way too embarrassing to answer. And as if the universe was doing it's best to give you a 13th reason, the delivery man came up to the door. The delivery man stood directly by Ollie and for some fucking reason he began to read out your order.
"Two cheese burgers with extra cheese, large fries, large sundae, side of chicken nuggets, and a soda?" The delivery man said, before putting the food into Ollie's arms and went off on his marry way. The man probably assumed you were sharing the meal... Ouch.
And as Ollie held the food, looking at you in such poor shape, he gave a small smile. "Can I have some?? And maybe help you tidy up?" And who were you to deny him any longer.
Kimi Antonelli | 04
It's been almost a month since you talked to Kimi. The interaction left you cringing in your head for hours on end, no matter the time or place. Although you loved learning Italian, it was impossible for you to do lately since you couldn't even speak it without feeling your throat close up from the thought of Kimi.
But luckily, you were able to heal with the time. You weren't over him, not quite yet, but you were able to focus on yourself for the time being. So you wanted to treat yourself out, going on a small shopping spree. Getting new clothes, makeup, even cute blind-boxes that you knew was a waste of money.
So when you came home, only to be met with a huge bouquet on your doorsteps, you were shocked. You put all your shopping bags down and picked up the large rose bouquet. And instantly, your eyes widened as you read the small card that was attached to it.
"Please unblock me. I miss you and want to make things right. But I understand if you don't feel comfortable. - lots of love, Kimi"
You completely forgot that you blocked Kimi on instinct! You felt like an idiot. All those nights you spent crying, hoping he would text you back and take it all back weren't able to happen because you blocked him. Without hesitation, you unblocked his number - getting hit with over 500 messages. If someone didn't know what was happening, they would have assumed you had some crazy ex boyfriend.
As you scrolled through the messages, you were met with paragraph after paragraph with apologies, begging to meet up, and more apologies. It made you feel awful to know that you were grieving over Kimi for no reason when he literally was sending the most heartfelt messages ever.
But you were hesitant. How could Kimi be so cruel and laugh in your face at the idea of dating only to spam you and beg for you. It was such a fast 180 that you were hesitant. So you agreed to meet up at your old favorite Italian restaurant in a few days.
As you sat down in front of Kimi, who seemed to arrive an hour early since the drinks and appetizers were already prepared. You felt your heart sting just at the sight at him. It made you feel the urge to cry yet again, even though you worked hard to become more confident without him - he just softened your heart.
And it seemed like he felt the same, he was absolutely star struck at the sight of you. His jaw was left hanging slightly, his eyes were sparkling with either tears or admiration, and his chest didn't move - you literally caught his breathe.
His breathe so stuck in his throat that he couldn't even speak, so you had to break the silence. "Um, hi?" You said awkwardly.
"Hi." He said, finally taking a breathe. "Um,,," He hesitates to dive too fast into the topic. "I got your favorite appetizers,, you should eat it before it's cold."
You simply nod, taking note of his care. He watches as you eat and you feel so awkward. "So uh, what did you want to talk about?"
"Well, I wanted to apologize - not really talk." He started, "I realized that what I did was so so SO stupid. Ever since you've been gone, everything has been so different. I can't eat anywhere we liked, can't go parties without them asking where you are - I can't even see my family without them asking where you are!" His voice got louder slightly at his annoyance at himself.
You just sat there listening, giving him time to say everything he needed. He continued, "And I kept trying to convince myself that I didn't need you and that we weren't serious, but who am I kidding, of course we were dating. I just never asked you to be mine and I feel so stupid for that! And then once you left it made me realize how much I missed you, now much I needed you."
As he spoke, rambling at an extremely fast pace, you realized he's been holding this in for a while. The way that his face and voice were still so angry at himself made it clear that he's not forgiven himself. But you were still wondering if he was trying to get forgiveness or actually date you.
"And then I got kind of depressed... I wasn't going out anymore, not working out, not socializing. And I guess my final breaking point was when my sister," He pauses, thinking back to what happened, "My sister asked where you were, and when you would play with her again, and I just - I just broke then and there" His fast rambling came to a halt as he looked down in shame for being so weak in front of his sister. "And um, as dumb as it sounds, she was the main person to encourage me to get you back."
You were always close with his little sister, playing dolls and dress up with her. She always wished she had a sister, especially since Kimi was only into masculine hobbies. You were that older sister that she's always dreamed of, so it broke her heart to not see you for so long. Now you felt even worse, knowing that she probably just thought you left her for no reason - not even saying good bye to her.
"I'm not trying to use her to guilt you. I'm just being honest. But I realized everything I did wrong. I'm sorry for saying I would never date you, I can't name a single person better than you. I'm sorry for leading you on for ages and never putting a title on us, I was just, scared, I guess. I wasn't confident in myself and just assumed you were too good for him - that my flirting was all one sided." He says, making you realize you didn't ever flirt with him back - it was mainly him.
And that when it clicked in your head, he was slightly right. You never once called him amore back, never reached for his touch in public, never once started anything romantic. He most likely saw this was him pining after you while you were just going with the flow. So now you felt like an even bigger asshole.
"Kimi," You spoke for once, "I'm so sorry that you went through all of that, I felt the same way. I do like you, that's why I asked in the first place."
"I realized that now. And I feel so stupid for what I did." He said, "Please let me make it up to you."
Paul Aron | 17
Going to the paddock has never been more nerve racking. Not because you were preparing for your home race, but because you would see Paul. You've been able to ignore him and leave him alone thanks to your extreme luck. But now you were forced to be with him for interviews, photos, and race discussions.
Once you arrived, your plan was to just say that you were having a tummy ache or head ache. Some type of pain that was bad enough to excuse you from doing your duties but not bad enough for them to tell you couldn't race. But before you could even speak to anyone - he was right there, in front of you.
You knew you should have come an hour or more early just to avoid him, but you overslept on accident. So now you were stuck standing their awkwardly as you looked up at him. You gave a small head nod, a sign of acknowledgement but also a sign of not wanting to speak to him.
But you knew Paul was stubborn, always the type to fight until he got what he wanted. So he just stood there and shook his head. "Nope," He said, "You can't ignore me forever. It's been 4 WEEKS (Y/N)."
You were avoiding his gaze, not wanting to look at him after how embarrassing it was to get rejected. You knew it was immature but you genuinely weren't sure how to respond to him, giving him a weak shrug as you kept your head turned away from him.
"(Y/N), please." He said, his hand reached forward and he held your chin gently, pulling your face to look at him. And that's when you saw how sincere he looked, as if he was in pain. His voice didn't convey his emotions, but his eyes surely did.
"What?" You say, not wanting to assume too quickly that he actually missed you as a person, "You want to fuck or something?" Trying to seem tough, as if his words from the weeks before didn't shatter you.
"No." He instantly said, his lack of hesitation made you surprised slightly. "I want to talk, tell you everything."
"About what?" You say, still trying your best to hide the fact that your heart was racing. You desperately wanted it to be good news, but that last time you hoped for good news it ended with you both splitting paths.
"You." He stared at you, "You, for fuck sakes, you. It's all I've thought about since, forever. I'm so so sorry, I'm sorry for being such an idiot when it comes to you. I know that we promised to not catch feelings and just be friends with benefits, but if I'm being honest I fell for you a LONG time ago."
His confession was shocking to you. If he fell for you first then why would he reject you? Why didn't he confess to you first? It was nice to hear him say he liked you back, but you were still lost.
"But I didn't think it was possible because - and I know it's so cheesy and embarrassing but - I know I'm not the best guy out there. So I thought that maybe just staying friends with benefits until I became someone I'm proud of would be smart. So I could be the perfect guy that you deserved and so when you confessed I just didn't feel ready and wanted to seem cool but I ended up sounding like a dick head-"
You cut him off by giving him a tight hug. Although you wanted to kiss him to shut up, his fast rambling made it impossible to get a good spot to kiss him. Your hug around him was tight, as tight as you could possibly give him. Telling him that you didn't care, that you wanted him as he was right now. And that even if he wasn't proud of himself yet, you were.
And he understood perfectly, giving you a tight squeeze back. He couldn't help but smile and kiss the top of your head. His large hands then slipped out of the hug and held both sides of your waist.
"I promise, once we're both not busy, I'll take you out on a nice date - one that's honest." He said, looking at you with a new light in his eyes.
Arthur Leclerc | 65
I'm gonna be so fr I don't know how to redeem Arthur... I've been stuck for weeks...... So if you have ideas, send it! But for now uh, you guys are still broken up LOLLL
#f1#f2#ollie bearman x reader#kimi antonelli x reader#paul aron x reader#arthur leclerc x reader#formula 1#formula 2#f1 x reader#f2 x reader#formula 1 x reader#formula 2 x reader#ollie bearman#kimi antonelli#paul aron#arthur leclerc
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Meet Cute Uglies [Bruce]
AN: Shout out to @luckyarchaeologist whose comments inspired me to go a completely different direction to what I had envisioned.🩷 And everyone else who reblogged/comments/voted for a part 2! I hope it lives up 🩷
GN!Reader/Bruce Wayne, 1.6K Words [2/?]
Part One >[Here]<
CWs: Mild/nonexplicit threats of violence, teasing
His hands are soft, and warm, soothing the tension from your body as he uses them to cup your face and hold you steady as he pushes closer, pressing your body deeper into the wall with his broad chest. Up close you can see a smattering of his five o’clock stubble coming through, even under the dim slivers of moonlight breaking through the gloomy alley. You note a hint of coffee on his breath before his lips brush against-
Loud banging at your apartment door startles you awake. Tired eyes sluggishly take in the time on the nearest clock, you’re barely able to process the numbers before the knocks come again. It’s too early. It’s your day of for goodness’ sake and it sounds like someone is trying to break down your door with their fists. When you answer it’s an equally disgruntled delivery driver. They ask your name before bombarding you with a large box and snapping a proof of delivery photo. You ponder your unkempt morning appearance and pray the sender of this parcel doesn’t ever check that photo.
It was almost certainly not from you because you hadn’t ordered anything, especially not anything this big. You don’t recognise the logo, but it, the matte black tape, and the distinct florally smell permeating from the smooth white container tells you that whatever is inside is expensive. That or it’s a trap, designed to lure you in with its unsuspecting exterior, then BAM Ivy toxin or Joker gas. You’re not dumb, you’ve seen the PSAs.
30 minutes, one morning brew, one disposable mask, one sharp knife, 2 gloves, and a whole lot of nerve later you gently remove the contents from its packaging. It’s wrapped in a layer of security card and glittery tissue paper but it’s pretty evident what it is. It’s a very nice bouquet of flowers. A mix of carnations, hyacinths, and baby’s-breath, already sitting in a pretty crystal vase that probably cost more than your rent. A gold envelope stands out amongst the colourful petals, and you fork it out to read despite being certain you already know who it's from. Nobody else in your life would spend this much money on flowers for you, even if it were a special occasion. The repercussions of telling your name to a stranger, even a famous stranger, who you’d known of all your life, but never known hadn’t occurred to you until you see it printed in foil against the high-quality textured card.
“As you understandably didn’t allow me the chance to apologise last night, please accept these as a token of my penitence. Regards, B.W.”
You’re not sure which irks you most, him cornering you in a dark alley in the first place, his seeking you out to apologise in an unsettlingly short amount of time, the absurd display of wealth, his pretentiously unironic use of the word ‘Penitence’, or the fact that you kinda liked it. The fact that you’d spend the night dreaming about slivers of moonlight and soft hands that didn’t exist. In actual fact, the remainder of the scene had been clumsy and anticlimactic.
“Who are you?” He demands. “And why are you following me?” You squint to read his expressions, barely able to make him out under the faint light of apartment windows high above your figures. There's a disconnect between the upper and lower halves of his face that adds to your already heightened nerves. His jaw and lips remain in an ever-present scowl, but steely blue eyes seem to soften as you tell him your name. “I'm not following you.” Your voice is stunted, weak due to the unrelenting pressure actual billionaire Bruce Wayne is applying to it. “I swear! It’s a coincidence.” He seems to believe you, or at least, he doesn’t consider you much of a threat because his grip loosens enough for you to find your footing again. Before he can change his mind, you scramble out of there, almost tripping on your accidentally discarded bag on the way. Whatever is up with him is not your problem. “I-“ “Save it.” Creep. You’re not interested in his apologies or excuses. You’re just an average person trying to make their way in the crime capital of the world, probably. It’s a miracle he didn’t put you in an early grave due to a heart attack. You could see the headlines now: ‘Playboy Billionaire Charged with Manslaughter: Officials unsure why he corned innocent Gothamite’ which is to presume a man with as much wealth as Bruce Wayne would ever be charged with a crime. Rich, ill-mannered, paranoid, handsome, creep. “Just stay away from me.”
As you stand motionless, relaying the events of the previous night in your head, it occurs to you that there's still something in the envelope, something slightly smaller and thicker than the apology card. You slip it out and flip it between your fingers, a gift card to the coffee shop you’d first seen him in, with a pre-paid value high enough to keep you and all your colleagues caffeinated for the rest of the year, if not longer.
The remainder of your day is spent relocating the two gifts between errands and relaxation time. The gift card is inserted and removed from the card section of your wallet so many times you’ve probably incidentally rubbed off its magnetic strip. Accepting it, and using it wasn’t bad, not really. He wasn’t buying you or your forgiveness it's just a show good intent, not to mention it was basically pocket change to a man with that much money.
But it did feel a little bit like being bought.
And the flowers reminded you of that conflict every time you looked at them, so they made their way onto every feasible surface and counter until you found a spot with enough light to keep them alive that wasn’t in plain sight 90% of the time. Maybe you could sell or donate the vase once the flowers are dead. It really did make the rest of your living space look shabby-er in comparison. Or maybe you could paint it to match the rest of its new home, cover it in acrylic paint and use it to hold anything else. If you ever see Bruce again you could show him a photo, see if he really did give it in good faith to be used however you pleased, or if it makes him uncomfortable.
In fact, on your next day back at work you’re scrolling through Pinterest for design inspiration as you queue up for the first of many Wayne-funded drinks when you sense it. Him. The enticing scent of his cologne clueing you into his presence. You cast a look over your shoulder and there he is, smiling at you with perfect white teeth. He seems more casual today, his hair still perfectly styled but appearing free of any products, his suit traded in for just the slacks and button-up. Once again, you’re reminded of his player image, it’s not hard to tell why so many people swoon all over him.
“Oh, hello.” He greets, raising his hand as though to wave at you. His fingers don’t look nearly as soft as you’d imagined. They look sturdy and calloused, strange for a man who guzzles champagne and stands behind a podium, smiling for photographers more days than not. Paperwork does not account for skin that thick. “I was hoping to run into you here.”
“Really?” Internally you’re suspicious, but your voice comes out an octave higher than usual, your skin growing warm under his gaze. It’s stupid to think that he’s pursuing you, flirting with you. He’s probably just looking for closure on his apology, ensuring you don’t slander his image by selling the story to the papers. He really is buying you. Your silence. “Why?”
“I was hoping I could buy you a drink.” And without your confirmation he sides steps around you, joining you in your spot amongst everybody else waiting to be served.
“You’re already buying me coffee.” You flash him the gift card he’d paid for. “Or did you forget casually dropping this much cash?”
He laughs at that, like you’ve made a joke. He’s deflecting? Maybe. But he sounds so genuine, so hearty it’s contagious. Your laugh isn’t as cheery as his, but it slips past your lips regardless.
“No, no. I didn’t forget. I couldn’t forget anything about you. Especially not after seeing you in that delivery photo.” He finishes with a wink. That was flirting, definitely flirting. Or maybe an insult. Either way, you’re feeling just as nervous, if not more than you had been that night in the alley. This is just a different kind of nerves, it’s the butterflies in your belly instead of the pit in your stomach kind. “What’s one more between new friends, huh?”
“Friends?” You raise your brows. He does not have the decency to look sheepish under your dubious stare, he just looks back at you calm and collected, just like he is on the TV. A few days ago, you might have bought it, but you’ve seen him lose his cool in person. Something feels off.
“I’d like to be friends, or I’d at least like to apologise in person. If you’ll let me.” For a man so bent on making amends with you, there isn’t a hint of sorrow in his tone or posture.
It’s almost your turn at the counter, you have seconds to make your decision.
The barista gestures for the next customer, as you answer. “Okay fine, let’s be friends.”
“Excellent. You just made my day.” And then his hand cups the small of your back as the two of you step up to order. He does it so casually that you almost don’t notice, you’re not sure if you’re just susceptible to his moves, or if he’s practised them to perfection. Maybe you’re reading too much into it, maybe all pretty boy billionaires act like this, maybe it’s all strategy to keep his image clean, or maybe there’s something shady about Bruce Wayne and his weirdly hard, slick hands. Maybe he's hiding something, and whatever it is, you intend to figure it out.
If you should enjoy the view along the way, well, who could blame you?
#bruce wayne x reader#bruce wayne#bruce wayne/reader#batman#batman x reader#batman/reader#gilverrwrites#dc#x reader#reader insert#gn reader
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Uncle Buck • Part 7
Goodnightmorning
Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Single Aunt!Reader
Word Count: 9.3k
Masterlist: One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven
A/N: Surprise! I hope you enjoy 🤗 I love hearing from all of you, so don't be shy - please spam me with your thoughts. I love gifs and seeing your reactions. 🥰 If you have any ideas for future parts let me know! xo
"I GOT IT!" You call out while rushing downstairs to answer the door, grabbing your wallet from your purse by the door for the pizza delivery.
Opening the door while still fiddling with getting the money from your wallet, you look up and freeze.
"Fuuucking hell," you clutch your wallet at your chest.
"Heyyy, Aunt Y/n," Sam greets while leaning against the doorway holding a stack of pizzas.
"Cute outfit," Bucky smirks while looking you over. He has two pillows tucked under his arm and a backpack hanging from one shoulder.
It's movie night and you're currently wearing a fluffy hooded cookie monster robe (when you pull the hood up it has his goofy looking googly eyes on top), a blue ribbed tank top, black and blue plaid flannel pajama bottoms, fuzzy slipper socks, and your hair tossed up in two messy buns on top of your head.
"Did you guys decide to get a pizza delivery side hustle going?"
"Walked up at the same time as the delivery kid," Sam answers, nodding his head behind them.
"And what exactly are you doing here, besides stealing our pizzas?" You tilt your head to the side, a questioning glare looking over the both of them.
Bucky holds up a greeting card in his right hand. More specifically Benji's Christmas card. He flips the card open and holds it up to you. You reach out and take the card from him looking it over.
The front of the card says "MERRY CHRISTMAS YA FILTHY ANIMALS" with an edited Home Alone poster showing Benji in the middle with Bucky and Sam in the background. This you already knew, but what you didn't realize was the little shit apparently customized the inside of their cards without you knowing.
The inside of the card reads:
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
You've been cordially invited to:
New Year's Eve Movie Marathon Night
📍 Location: Attic movie space
⏱️ Time: 3pm set up, 4pm movie selection process
Comfy Attire / Pajamas
Bring your own: overnight essentials - pillows and blankets encouraged but probably not necessary
Snacks and Pizza will be provided
[*Mom knows of this, Aunt Y/n does not...please direct any further inquiries to Mom 718-555-0110*]
"I saw you yesterday, you didn't want to bring this up to me??" You glare over at Bucky, holding the card up.
"Oh you did, did you?" Sam looks back and forth between the two of you.
"Must have slipped my mind," Bucky shrugs.
"I'm sure you were both very busy at this mystery meetup," Sam smirks.
"Yes, it was very eventful," you keep a straight face, "My legs are still sore."
"Oh??" His eyebrow raises as his head whips over to you.
"Mmhm, and there was also a lot more oils involved than I expected."
"Go on..."
"Lots of flowers. Candles. Honey. Fruits... Anything I'm missing?" You look over at Bucky.
"The leather. Can't forget that."
"Of course, how could I forget that. Very sturdy leather, indeed."
"Wow, I just knew you two were a couple of freaks." You can see the wheels turning in Sam's head as he processes this information and tries to decide which question to go with next.
"And then there was that sweet old lady that joined us," you're starting to struggle to keep a straight face, but manage to keep it together.
"Mildred was very energetic for 86 years old," Bucky nods. You finally break and start laughing.
"She probably could have gone another 3 or 4 rounds."
"Whoa whoa whoa whoa," Sam interrupts, holding his hands up in an X motion. "You lost me. Explain yourselves," he looks back and forth between you, an eyebrow raised.
"We went to the farmer's and craft market, obviously. What were you thinking we were talking about?" You sass.
"Yeah, Samuel. What were you thinking of?" Bucky asks, a smirk appearing on his face now.
Sam scoffs. Nora makes her way downstairs and spots their new guests still standing in the doorway.
"Hey, guys! Welcome! Why are you still in the doorway? Come on in," Nora waves them inside. She greets Sam with a squeeze on his arm as she walks by, "Thanks for grabbing the pizzas! Bring 'em on up with you. Everyone's in the attic - you're just in time. Hey, Bucky!" She grins while greeting him with a quick wave.
Nora quickly disappears into the kitchen. Sam sets the pizza boxes down on the entry table temporarily and wraps you in a bear hug, giving you a lift before he sets you back down to snag the pizzas again while making his way upstairs.
Bucky steps inside and hesitates as he closes the door behind him, "Is this ok with you that we're here? I would have told you but I wasn't sure what repercussions would happen if I was the one to spill the beans. Plus seeing the look on your face when you opened the door..."
You grab one of the pillows from him and playfully whack him with it.
"How dare you," you laugh, "And of course it's ok. You're welcome here any time. The fact you keep willingly coming back to this circus amazes me every time."
Bucky just shakes his head and holds his pinky up to you. Those piercing blue eyes staring right at you with his stupidly handsome face.
You smile as you hook your own pinky around his, reminding you of his promise back in the attic during your last movie night together. "Promise you'll tell us if the crazy gets to be too much?"
Somehow we still haven't scared him away. He's gorgeous but you're worried he might be a beautiful idiot.
"Happy almost New Year," you smile as you place your hand on the side of his face, the stubble tickling your palm. He smiles down at you in return, "Happy New Year's Eve." He starts to lean in but you're lost in thought for a moment.
"Wait," You blink and Bucky halts his movement, "Did you guys tip the pizza delivery?"
"It was a young kid, he got a picture with Sam and ran off in his excitement after."
"Damn, that's genius." Note to self, remember that for the next time we order delivery.
You kiss his cheek and hand him the pillow back. "Well, I'm pleasantly surprised and glad you're here. Your continued movie education awaits. You first," you gesture up the stairs, "I'm just gonna go help Nora real quick." Bucky stares at you for a moment, an eyebrow raised as he tilts his head.
He goes to question you but you interrupt as you start to back away, "I'll be right up!"
He gives you a face that looks like you just kicked his dog and you suddenly realize in your frazzled state you gave him the brush off. You step closer again and place your hands back on his face.
"Hi, sorry. Starting over," you crank up the excitement, "I'm so happy you're here. Happy almost New Year!" You move his face between your hands back and forth for emphasis.
"Happy New Year's Eve," he repeats his part in amusement.
You wrap your arms around his neck and pull him closer into a sweet kiss. Bucky slowly rests his forehead against yours after, his piercing gaze searching yours with a light smile.
"Sorry for the awkward scatter brain. Was just caught off guard."
"S'fine. Don't do it again though," he jokes with you.
"An eight year old wasn't trying to set me up with a stranger for no reason. He's aware I'm a basket case."
"If you think you're a basket case, I don't know what that could possibly mean for me then."
"Well, the remaining roles available are brain, athlete, criminal, and princess. If you don't understand that reference we'll add it to the growing movie list. But I'm voting princess," you quip and kiss his nose quickly before you step away, "See you upstairs, your majesty."
He glares down at you sceptically, but decides not to bother questioning you. He's sure he'll find out at some point. He shakes his head while adjusting his backpack strap on his shoulder and making his way over to the stairs.
You escape into the kitchen in a flash but wait a moment, listening to Bucky's footsteps make it up the stairs before you say anything.
"Nora, how could you?" You try to keep your voice low while you whisper yell at her.
She clearly knew about this and said nothing this whole time.
"I made sure you looked cute today! Come on!"
"Traitor."
"Why are you even in here? I don't need your help. Go make out with your handsome future husband."
"I'm moving somewhere tropical and far away from all of you," you mutter as you grab a tote bag off the counter.
"Send postcards! Save a guest suite for us," she blows a kiss at you. "Oh, that also sounds sunny! Make sure Bucky gets your back for you when you need to reapply sunscreen."
You send a middle finger (with love of course) her way as you exit the kitchen.
Bucky lets out a low whistle when he reaches the attic space, "Wow."
"How does it get cooler every time we come up here? What is this?" Sam waves his arms towards the fully decorated ceiling.
Benji's previous surprise movie set up had been recreated but on a much larger scale.
The couch was set up much the same with it's pillows lined up, sheet canopies hanging over it, and string lights surrounding the area. However Prudence had helped Benji cover the rest of the space to look like the room was basically a giant blanket fort, with sheets draped and hanging from the ceiling from various strings and pins.
The king size and queen size foam mattress toppers that belong both on your bed and Nora's now took up residence on the floor for some padding along with every cushion that could be found and removed in the house, making one large cozy area. Sam tosses his backpack down, flopping onto his stomach on the padded floor next to it, "I'm moving in."
Benji jumps on top of him, "Heck yeah!"
"Hi fellas!" Prudence greets from her spot on an oversized beanbag chair, her boyfriend Monty next to her.
You make your way up the attic stairs with Nora, the large tote full of snacks and candies in your hands.
You hold the tote open to Bucky with a grin when you reach the top of the stairs.
"Are you sharing?" He asks while peering into the bag.
"I suppose," you tease, "Go ahead and pick your poison."
The lights dim as Bucky goes to reach into the bag and "Get Ready For This" by 2 Unlimited starts playing. The recognizable beat pumping through the Bluetooth speakers.
"Ohh, here we go," you sigh but laugh.
The starting line "Y'all ready for this?" announces Theo's presence as he starts pumping his phone in the air while the lights in the room start flashing with the help from Nora flicking the switch off and on rapidly to the music.
Benji groans. "Every time," he grumbles while crawling off of Sam and standing back up.
"Party peopleeeee!" Theo shouts as he reaches the top of the stairs.
Nora turns the lights back on, "Everyone go ahead and pick out your movie choice for tonight. Try not to share your choice yet."
Sam and Benji move to huddle by a large shelf of DVDs.
Sam silently holds up a copy of Sleepless in Seattle to Benji with an eyebrow raised.
Benji's eyes widen as he continues their silent exchange with a violent head shake side to side.
Sam slowly puts the DVD back on the shelf and gestures to locking a key over his mouth and throwing it over his shoulder.
"I knew that line about soulmates, puzzle pieces and cosmic forces sounded familiar," he points an accusing finger at the small agent of mischief.
Benji smirks and flashes his choice so only Sam can see. They both break into a giggle fit and high five.
Meanwhile across the room, you stand next to Bucky, "Do you have any favorites you'd like to pick out? If we don't have the physical copy we can try finding it online and just hold up a photo on my phone."
"Haven't been big on movies these days. I caught part of a movie recently playing on one of the TV's at the bar? Never saw the end, definitely didn't start watching at the beginning either. Just glimpses here and there."
"Do you know what it was? We could find that one if you are interested."
"Never saw the title," he shrugs.
"Oooh, a challenge," you rub your hands together and turn to face him better, "Let's see... Was it real life or animated?" You lean in, face turning serious in concentration.
He laughs lightly under his breath at your switch in demeanor, "Not animated. It was in space? It had people and robots in it."
"Oh hell yeah, okay. Let's see... Was it like a moon landing situation? Or maybe trapped on a planet?"
"Uh.. buncha people with terrible aim. Like, astonishingly bad aim. They were in a garbage compactor that was closing in..?"
"BUCKY, please shut your beautiful mouth right now. Star Wars????"
"That's the movie people always bring up?"
You grab his arm and yank him over to the many movie collections. You pull 'A New Hope' out and hand it to him.
"Yeah, that's the one. The girl with the hair," he holds the cover up to your face to compare side by side. "Yours are cuter," a sweet but devilish smile appears on his face as he references your hair that's up in two buns.
You swat the case away from your face, "Is this what you'd like to pick? You might get some heat for choosing this... Just a fair warning."
He shrugs while tucking the case under his arm.
"Beautiful mouth, huh?" He smiles slyly over at you.
You fix a playful glare at him, "Now is not the time, Barnes. This is serious business."
"Okay!" Nora announces, "For our esteemed guests, welcome. We're glad to have you join us. Everyone please put your choices behind your backs and line up when you're ready."
You all finish grabbing your choices and gather in a line, standing side by side. You pull on Bucky's arm and direct him to stand next to you. Benji grins up at him and tosses his arms around Bucky's waist, giving him an excited hug. Bucky freezes at first and then relaxes, ruffling Benji's hair. Benji lets go and gives his attention back to what's going on in the room.
"Here's the deal," Theo begins, "We each get a turn. When it's your turn you step to the front and present your choice. When you hold the movie up, we like to say a line from the movie for an added razzle dazzle, you don't have to though. The next person goes up and does the same with their movie. We then vote on which one stays and which one goes. The winner stays and the next entry goes up against them. We repeat until the last movie is standing. Got it?"
You all nod and confirm your understanding of the rules.
"Since we're watching more than one movie tonight, how are we deciding follow up winners?" Prudence asks.
"Well I mean, if you insist, I will choo-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence," Nora cuts Theo off.
"Guests could choose," Prudence suggests.
"What about the youngest? Hellooo?" Benji cuts in, waving his hand.
"We could go by highest rating on IMDb?" Monty adds.
Arguments break out. You roll your eyes and go back to picking out chocolate from your tote. You grab a snickers and inspect the wrapping and then silently offer a piece to Bucky, tapping his arm with the wrapper to grab his attention. He smiles and accepts your offering while you rip into a KitKat and take a bite. "This could be a minute."
Sam nods over to you and holds his hands up in a stance ready to catch. You reach into the tote again and toss over a random candy for him. He catches the orange Reese's and gives you a thumbs up.
"Alright!" Nora interrupts the bickering, "Raffle style? We pull from a hat."
A chorus of fiiiiine's agree and you're all finally ready to continue.
Theo steps up to present his choice first. "Pockets ain't empty, cuz." He proudly slides a copy of 2 Fast 2 Furious out from behind his back.
Nora rolls her eyes. "Another one?! Again? Why the second one?"
Theo puts his hand over his heart, "How could you? You're my wife, my FAMILY."
"Don't you dare say it-"
"You're gonna turn your back on family?"
Nora's palm covers her face.
"This is the fourth time in a row he's chosen a fast and furious movie," you whisper to Sam and Bucky, taking another bite of your candy.
"I heard that," Theo points at you, "and that is a lie. This is my seco-... No wait, it's the third time."
"And you don't choose them in any order. You just pick random ones! Last time we watched one of the more recent ones, now you wanna go back to not the first but the second movie? Make it make sense," Nora argues. They both stick their tongues out at each other.
Prudence skips up next to Theo, "Well this should be an easy choice then." She holds up her choice over her head: Hot Rod. "You look pretty. What did you say? Uh, I said you look shitty. Goodnight, Denise!" She quotes while mimicking the two different voices.
You laugh while pointing towards Prudence, "Cool beans!" You quote back.
The majority votes for Prudence and Theo dejectedly goes to stand to the side, Monty stepping up in his place.
"You have been weighed, you have been measured, and you have been found wanting," he kneels while holding up A Knight's Tale over his head, "Come back when you're worthy."
"Dang. Sorry Prue," you join the votes and point over to Monty.
"It's a worthy choice, I understand." She moves to the side and Nora steps in her place.
"D-i-g, what's that spell?" She swings the DVD case for Holes like a shovel, "DIG!"
Theo groans, "I'm tired of this, Grandpa!"
"Well that's too damn bad!" Nora shouts back.
Bucky looks over at you with visible confusion written on his face.
"They're still quoting the movie," you answer for him.
He nods but still seems baffled by this movie selection process. You link your arm around his and pat it in a gesture to show your silent support among the chaos.
Votes stick with A Knight's Tale. It was close though.
"If you forget to come back for Madame Zeroni, you and your family will be cursed for always and eternity," Nora does her best Eartha Kitt impression as she moves aside.
Finally it's your turn. You let go of Bucky's arm and make your way over next to Monty.
"I do a great impression of a hot dog!" You scrunch your shoulders up and neck down, holding up Mrs. Doubtfire.
"HelloooOOooo!" Prudence cheers while voting for you.
"My first day as a woman and I'm already getting hot flashes!" Nora points to you as well.
"It was a run-by fruiting," Benji giggles.
"I'm melting like a snow cone in Phoenix," Sam joins in, Benji giving him a high five.
Bucky's eyebrows scrunch together. Benji tugs on his hand and pulls him down to whisper in his ear.
Standing back up, Bucky clears his throat and answers, "Help is on the way, dear?"
"Yeah!" You all cheer.
Bucky blushes a bit at the attention. Benji grabs his arm, giving it an excited shake.
"Alright, alright." Monty surrenders and steps aside.
Sam starts singing in a deep voice as he walks up next to you, "Bow bow, Oooh yeahhhhh," he raises his movie up, "Chick, chicka-chickaaaa!"
His voice goes monotone as he continues, "Bueller..... Bueller......"
It's a strong choice but votes stick with Mrs. Doubtfire instead of Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Bucky shyly makes his way up next to you. You give him an encouraging nod and smile. His face is scrunched up and unsure, "I'm not really prepared with a quote or anything..."
"Wait! Hang on," you pull out your phone, quickly typing away. "One second... Almost got it... Fucking ads - five more seconds please..." You watch the countdown waiting for 'Skip Ads' to finally appear. "Ok! On the count of 3," you nod over at Bucky. You hold up three fingers, two, one, and then point over at him as you press play.
The intro to Star Wars dramatically blares as Bucky presents his choice.
"Boooo, hiss!" Prudence yells out towards you.
"You coached him!" Theo argues.
"Party foul, bending the rules to your advantage!" Monty joins in.
"I didn't coach shit! This was his choice! So be nice!"
"Then you two really are perfect together," Nora rolls her eyes.
"The rule was I can't choose this movie ever again. Our GUEST chose it!"
Bucky's eyes are wide as he stands frozen, trying to figure out what is happening.
"Uh, we can skip my choice?"
"Of course not, Bucky. So sorry for freaking you out. Y/n has made us watch this a million times. Open the case, we started a tally mark system for them," Nora motions towards the case.
He opens the case and sees the cluster of line tallies filling the inside cover.
"I tried to warn you," you shrug at him.
"At least it's not Lord of the Rings again," Theo sighs.
"You leave my precious out of this," you point at Theo accusingly, "I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground."
Theo rolls his eyes at you.
"I'm just gonna.. step aside... No votes necessary, really," Bucky assures.
"You're all a bunch of jerks. Bucky, I will gladly watch the entire series with you. You're not getting out of it that easy."
"Wait, have you not seen them before?" Nora asks.
"I've only seen parts of that one," Bucky shrugs and moves back to his original spot.
"Well, that's a different story I guess," Monty shrugs, "but still not enough to sit through it again. Sorry."
"Nerf herders," you mutter under your breath.
Benji dances up to the empty spot. "With it being New Years, I have decided to go with a more New Year resolvation related choice."
"Resolution," Theo corrects.
"Yeah, that." Benji reveals his DVD, holding it up with a wide grin. Uncle Buck.
Prudence lets out a snort that instantly makes her start giggling even harder. "Remember when you showed me his first ultrasound and I told you ' this baby is destined for greatness'?" She asks Nora next to her, "Absolutely knocked it out of the park."
"Well, that was fun. I'm so honored to have the winning choice," you interrupt while shoving Benji's face as you push by him.
"Hey! We didn't vote yet!" Benji protests.
"Are you really sure you want us all to watch this? Mr. 'Where do you live, own or rent?' Hm?" You whisper the last part to him, hinting at you knowing all about his previous kitchen interrogation after prying the info out from Bucky yourself during your first date.
Benji's eyes widen as he gasps. "I, uh, I... Y'know what... I was just being silly. You know meee, just gotta get that title joke in there. I.. take back my choice and pass," he plasters on a nervous grin as he hides the movie behind his back, "Maybe next time!"
Bucky raises an eyebrow but you refuse to look over at him.
"Can I see that?" He asks Benji with a smirk.
Theo and Nora claimed the couch.
On the floor area in front of it Monty and Prudence assembled their own little nest where they gathered some of the extra cushions and blankets around them.
You were next to Prudence, a wall of cushions between the two of you and a stack of pillows from your bed behind you. Bucky is next to you with his pillow he brought with him, the other pillow he carried in earlier was Sam's. Sam is on the other side of Bucky, an empty space left between them for Benji who called 'dibs' on the spot before disappearing downstairs.
While Theo sets up your winning movie for Mrs. Doubtfire, you get up to grab some plates and pass out pizza slices with Prudence who passes out the drinks.
You place one more plate of pizza in Benji's open space and sit back down in your spot with your own.
As you're pulling your blanket over your lap, loud thumps and clatters from Benji running back upstairs start to echo and he emerges carrying a bag full of items over his shoulder like a small Santa Claus. He plops everything down immediately.
"Here you go, Sam." Benji grins while tossing a thick rolled up fleece blanket over to him.
"Ayyy! Thanks so much, big guy." Sam unrolls the blanket and tosses it up slightly to spread it over his legs, revealing a large captain america shield on it. "It's perfect," he laughs.
"Do I get a blanket?" Bucky asks, looking over at the blanket and back over to Benji in betrayal.
"I'm all out. Sorry. You'll have to share one," Benji smirks and scurries away.
"I wonder who he thinks you'll share with," you ask in an airy tone while pretending to brush dirt off and pick lint from the comforter over your lap, tucking it closer under your legs with one hand while taking a bite of your pizza with the other.
Bucky gives you a side eye, but you keep a straight face while focusing on your pizza. A piece of mozzarella stretches as you pull it away and place it back on your plate.
Sam makes a show out of smoothing his blanket out as well, pulling it up over his shoulders and giving them a shimmy. "So cozy. Wow. It's like I'm being hugged by a fluffy cloud."
Bucky shakes his head at both your antics.
"You can share with us, BB." Monty lifts a corner of their blanket up with a wink.
Suddenly the large blanket over Prudence and Monty disappears towards their feet. Benji has their blanket tangled at his feet as he walks away. "Whoops," he shrugs while shuffling his feet and the blanket around some more like a plate of spaghetti. You almost break, but manage to keep a straight face still. Benji then grabs two chunky black plastic objects from his earlier pile and you know exactly what they are. One definitely came from your room, the other from his own. He rushes over to the corner of the room and plugs one in, setting the object down on the floor at a slight angle. He then rushes to the other corner of the room and does the same with the second one. He excitedly runs over to the light switch, shutting off the overhead lights, leaving only the movie projector and the string lights lighting the room.
"Sure, I didn't need to see anything," Theo grumps, remote in hand still clicking around on the screen.
"It's a projector, you can see better in the dark," Nora shakes her head at him.
Benji excitedly plops down in his spot and leans over to Bucky. "Are you ready for this??"
"Da na na, da d-da da, na na-" Theo starts singing the same 2 Unlimited song from earlier.
"Dad, stoppppp!" Benji swats behind him at Theo. "Anyways! Watch this!" He holds up two small remotes and presses the power buttons on them.
Two more projectors come to life, but these cast laser dots to look like stars with multi-color aurora light effects dancing around the room.
"Are you kidding me?? I'm forwarding my mail. How much for my share of rent?" Sam asks Theo behind him.
"We'll crunch some numbers and get back to you," Theo answers.
"I could stare at this for hours," Bucky watches in awe as the colors slowly shift and dance around.
"I bought Benji one for his birthday and then immediately bought one for myself. Ceilings are so boring and depressing without them now."
"Can we turn the spinning off? It makes me slightly nauseous," Prudence requests.
"On it," Benji presses a button and the laser stars stay stationary in their positions, they continue to blink in and out softly and the Aurora effect is still shimmering and shifting colors.
"Perfect, thank you!"
Benji starts making himself comfortable in his spot between Bucky and Sam. He has wrapped himself in his favorite fleece blanket that looks like a giant tortilla and has managed to lounge his way across both Sam and Bucky, shoving a large slice of pizza in his mouth.
The 20th Century Fox logo pops up on the screen as the opening music for Mrs. Doubtfire starts playing.
A sense of calm washes over Bucky as he relaxes. Next to Wakanda he thinks he has found a new favorite spot. A feeling catches him off guard. A feeling he hasn't had a lot of experience with in a long time... Home. He has had a similar taste of it when he visits the Wilson's, but he still felt more like an outsider looking in. This though. This felt different. He looks over at you.
You were still sitting up, a bag of chips now resting in your lap while you toss candies back and forth with Prudence. A smile is stretched across your face as the two best friends giggle at each other. Monty retrieved their blanket.
Benji has his head resting back against Bucky's chest and left shoulder, while one leg stretches across Sam's shins. Bucky's vibranium arm rests across Benji's small shoulders, his forearm bent up allowing his hand to rest on top of Benji's head.
You smile and shake your head when you look over and see Benji has made himself comfortable. In his own little chosen people bubble. Wrapped as a cozy pizza-eating burrito.
You give in and lift the edge of your blanket and comforter, tossing it over what you can reach of Bucky.
He looks down in surprise for a moment and then smiles over at you. With his Benji-free right arm, he adjusts the blanket over his legs. You scooch over closer, purely to make it easier to share of course. He nudges you with his shoulder in thanks. You tap him with your knee as your silent reply.
During the movie Benji grabs a bag of peelable red licorice strips that he starts chowing down on. Every few peels he'll hold a couple strings up and offer them to Bucky or Sam.
-
Mrs. Doubtfire wraps up and you all get up to stretch and take bathroom breaks while setting up for the next movie.
You start clearing up some discarded pizza plates.
"Anybody want some cake?" Nora asks.
"Yes!" Benji cheers.
Nora goes to open a cake box, revealing a decorated vanilla & chocolate marble cake made to resemble a clock.
"Theodore, why is the 5 o'clock slice missing?" She points the serving knife over at her husband.
"Uh.. because seven ate five?"
Prudence lets out a snort of laughter. Nora just sighs while shaking her head, slicing into the cake to serve the rest.
"Alright, Benji," you hand him a plastic cup, "I scribbled down the movies on paper scraps and put them in the cup. Go ahead and pick out the next movie."
"How do we know you didn't put Star Wars in there for every entry?" Monty points an accusing finger at you.
Benji reaches in and pulls out A Knight's Tale. You hold a middle finger up while Monty cheers, "Only joking, sweet Y/n. I knew you'd never do that." He cuts his eyes over to Prudence quickly, mouthing "What are the odds?"
"You owe me five," she mouths back while holding up her hand.
Monty gives her a quick high-five, earning an eye roll from Prudence. "That was my fault for not being more specific that I meant dollars, you cheeky bastard."
Monty grins and leans over, stealing a kiss from her.
-
Mid-movie Benji let's out a slight snore-snort as he startles himself awake, sitting up straight. "Wha- is it midnight yet?" He rubs at his eyes.
"It's not even 8pm yet, you lightweight," you toss a smaller pillow at him and it bounces off his head.
"Heyyy. So rude." He yawns while laying back down but instead of leaning back on Bucky again, he burrows into his own stack of pillows.
Bucky takes advantage of his newly freed arm and range of motion, reaching over to steal some of your snacks. You playfully glare over at him in mock offense as he gives you a smirk in return.
Benji pops his head back up suddenly, a new wave of energy hitting him at his sudden thought. His head whips around to look over at his parents on the couch behind him, his eyes staring owlishly wide at them.
Theo whispers over to Nora, "We made that terrifying little being."
"Straight up brought that chaos into this world," she whispers back. "How can we help you, sweet definitely-not-possessed baby boy of ours?"
"Can we play my new board game?"
"That sounds more like a group vote decision, my love."
Benji sits up on his knees sitting back enough to have all eyes on him. The overkill gut-punch pout and large puss in boots eyes appear, "Can we all play my new board game, pleeeease?" He clasps his hands together under his chin making sure to tilt his head and pitifully look at each adult while he begs.
"Man, that is stone cold. How do you say no to that?" Sam asks.
You and Nora sigh at the same time, "You don't."
"Which board game is it, Ben Ben?" Prudence asks.
"I'll go get it!" He leaps up and runs to a closet in the corner
"Are you sure you can stay awake long enough to play a game?" You tease.
"I was not sleeping! I was resting my eyes like Pop-pop! It wasn't my fault, Bucky's arm must have some sort of sleeping magic."
"Sleeping magic?" Bucky and Nora ask at the same time.
"Can't say I've unlocked that feature before," Bucky answers while flexing and twisting his arm back and forth as the plates shift with the motion.
"Please tell whoever made it I will donate my entire body to get some of this sleeping magic. Even if it's just a pinky," Nora pleads back.
"I'll pass that along," Bucky laughs.
Benji runs back in with his new board game proudly held over his head. A box that says... Benjopoly?
"Benji, what is this?" You ask taking the box from his hands to get a closer look.
"It's a custom monopoly board!" He jumps up and down in excitement.
"Hey, our house is on a spot!" You point at a spot on the box, "How cool! Why is this the first time I'm seeing this?"
"He wanted to surprise everyone with it today," Nora shrugged, "I haven't even seen some of the choices he went with yet."
"So can we play, pleeeease??" He begs.
You open the lid and hold the box back out to Benji. He's practically vibrating with excitement as he pulls the board out.
As Benji lays the board out you get a closer look at the property choices around the board. You also catch a glimpse at the little trinkets for player pieces.
"Sweet Jesus...." You sigh and shut your eyes while you press your fingers against them.
"What?" Bucky questions, "You okay?"
You clear your throat, "Fine, I'm fine..." You grab Benji by the back of his shirt and tug him over into your lap. He lands with a thump and gazes up at you with a look of complete innocence, but you know it is anything but. Placing your forehead against his, you playfully glare into his tiny mischievous eyes, "Wanna delight me with an answer on why you chose these places?"
Your house, the library, museum of natural history, a few fancy hotels, the gazebo at a local park, Brooklyn botanic garden, the aquarium, even Disneyland and the Smithsonian were on here. These were all innocent enough until you started noticing things like your childhood family church, city hall, the large barn on your uncle's property where Nora and Theo were married and you finally start to piece together... These were all a variety of wedding venue options. The player pieces? You noticed a diamond ring, top hat, flower bouquet, and a limo amongst them.
He beams up at you in return and rubs his nose against yours. He then pulls you into a tight hug, squeezing the life out of you. "Just some favorite places!"
"Oh hey, it's Uncle Dave's barrnnnn-ooooh..." Nora's sudden epiphany hits next. She looks over at you, her eyes wide but trying to keep a neutral face. She mouths, "I didn't know," over to you and winces.
"Oooh? Oooooh what?" Theo asks her.
"Uh..I was just thinking how long this is gonna take to play... Bubs, I know you're excited about this, but what do you think about something less time consuming? Like maybe Uno?"
Benji pouts and huffs while getting up and going to grab the deck of cards instead.
Nora makes quick work of packing up the board game and discarding the box discreetly under the couch.
At 10:45pm Prudence jumps up and starts lining up plastic champagne flutes, filling them with a sparkling cider. Benji also gets up and grabs a shopping bag from the corner of the room, pulling out a stack of cone shaped party hats, glittery gold paper crowns, and some foil horns to blow into. He passes out one of each to everyone, asking each person, "hat or crown?" while holding each option up.
You try to figure out the best way to make this work with your hair up. You grab two crowns. Bucky takes one from you and helps you adjust the sizes to put a crown around each bun on top of your head. He shakes his head once they're on and pulls his phone out, snapping a photo of you posing with your hands under your chin. Benji and Theo can be spotted in the background giggling as they were also trying to figure out how to give Theo a mohawk look with the party hats, elastic strings meant to go under your chin covering his face at weird angles to accommodate multiple hats going along the back of his head, which only makes them giggle harder. Nora shakes her head at their antics but has a smile on her face as she watches the two in amusement, a crown already on her head as well.
You grab Bucky's phone and go to take a picture of the both of you. He places his arm over your shoulder and smiles for the photo. After you take a couple to make sure you get a cute one you tell Sam to move closer and join in for a photo.
"I don't want a photo of Sam," Bucky argues with a huff. You lightly elbow him and Sam ignores Bucky, plastering a goofy grin on his face for a photo with both of you, while yelling "Misterwives!" as his way of saying 'cheese!'
Prudence checks her phone, "My co-worker lives up the street. She said they're all at the park having a new years party. Looks like there's a projector show of their own set up against the nearby buildings to watch the ball drop with music. Anybody interested in checking it out? We have enough time to get over there."
You trade your cookie monster bathrobe for a long wool coat and slip on your boots on the way out.
Bucky is giving an overtired, sugar-buzzed Benji a piggyback ride. Benj yaps away in his ear as you all walk along the sidewalk
"We have a 'bring your favorite person to school' day coming up soon. Can you come?" He asks Bucky while playing with the cone party hat on Bucky's head.
"EXCUSE me?!" Theo, Nora, and you stop short and yell at the same time.
"I can't pick just one of you. Two of you will get all butthurt. So I'm choosing outside the box.. or roof..? And then you all can be equally butthurt together."
"Unbelievable. The audacity," Nora scoffs and keeps walking while holding Theo's hand.
"Judas," Theo grumbles.
"Good thing we kept the receipts on those Christmas presents."
Benji ignores them and continues, "We eat lunch and they have some games set up around. We would totally crush it." He holds his fist up.
"Am I expected to make some sort of presentation?"
"Nope!"
"I'll think about it, but I think you have better options, pal."
"Nope!" He repeats and squeezes his grip around him.
"I thought I was offended before, now I'm extra offended. The absolute nerve," Theo scoffs.
"I'll text you the info," Benji fake whispers.
You get separated from Bucky at the park. He went to get you a water but he hasn't returned yet. You make a quick sweep through and finally find him, his body language clearly showing discomfort as he looks around. A woman is standing in front of him trying to pull him into conversation. You walk over and see his shoulders sag slightly with relief.
"There you are, we were about to start a search party!" You joke as you walk up to him and link your arm around his. "Hello," you greet the woman standing in front of him.
"Oh, hi!"
"This is the future Mrs," Bucky tilts his head towards you.
Her eyes dart down to your gloved hands.
"Yup, that's me," you play along, "Nice to meet you. Are you the owner of the salon on 8th? I think I've seen you there before? I've had an appointment with Mac before."
"Oh yes! We miss her. She moved back west after the baby was born."
"I heard. I'm happy for her, but she will definitely be missed."
"You'll like Alex, he has the same aura. Very welcoming and highly recommended by clients. His bridal updos are to die for."
"I'll keep that in mind. Happy New Year," you wave to her as you steer both you and Bucky away.
"We lose you for a few minutes and you're nearly on your way to another future wife, you stud."
"Haa-haa," he gives a flat response back, pulling you closer to him. "Can we go find the others before she decides to appear again?"
"What, you weren't enjoying your conversation with crazy eyes? She's loaded, you could have been her sugar baby."
-
The midnight countdown echoes as everyone chants down from ten.
At 'three', Bucky gently tugs you closer while his hand cups your jaw. His vibranium fingers brush gently against your chin, tilting your head towards him. You can feel your heart pounding faster in anticipation. The growing noise of the excited crowd starts to fade as he pulls you into a soft, tender kiss. Your lips fitting perfectly together.
The midnight cheers erupt and echo around you as you fight your own internal fireworks erupting for your new year's kiss. Time feels like it slows to a crawl.
"Happy New Year," you whisper with a grin when you finally pull away. You can't help but let out a laugh.
"Why are you laughing? What's so funny?" He squints down at you.
"Sorry, I don't wanna ruin the moment... This is just so cheesy," you bite your lip while holding back another laugh at the stunned look on his face.
"Cheesy? Cheesy?? You think this is cheesy, huh??" He squeezes your waist, while he playfully taunts you. With each question his face inches closer to you.
You break into laughter as his fingers tickle into your sides.
"I'll show you cheesy," his grip tightens as he dips you backwards, pulling you in for a breathtaking kiss.
Bucky lifts you back up and you both take a moment to breathe before he interrupts and pulls you back in for a more passionate kiss.
Benji makes his presence known by blowing a foil horn at both of you. The loud sound startles you away from the kiss. "Ew, was his tongue in your mouth? Or was that your tongue? Either way, tongue was involved here." He holds an accusing finger up at the two of you as his face twists in disgust.
Theo places a hand over Benji's forehead and directs him away. "Stop making things weird. Keep moving."
"I'm making it weird?? But that can't be sanitary!"
You hide your face against Bucky's shirt, both of you shaking with laughter. Tears fill your vision from a combo of the cold weather and your laughter. Your face burning up from both the exertion of laughing and the embarrassment of being called out by your nephew.
You finally look up and go to wipe your eyes but Bucky beats you to it. His finger slides along your cheek first and then gently swipes his thumb under your eyes. He takes extra care to wipe some of your smudged eyeshadow at the corners and he smiles warmly at you in the process.
"Are you gonna finally let me call you mine, or will Benji need a 12 step plan drafted up to help convince you?"
"I dunno, I might have to update my cootie shots and consult with the counsel. It's a whole to-do."
He growls and goes to squeeze your sides again, playfully nipping at your chin and cheek, "C'mere."
You giggle as you try to back away but he only squeezes you closer, "I'm still waiting for an answer," he locks his arms around you, holding you in place.
"How could I say no to this face?" You try to go squeeze his face but he has your arms pinned to your sides.
"That's not a proper answer," he squeezes tighter. "Are," he leans closer, "you," and closer, "my girl," his nose brushes against your cheek, "or not?"
"Yes."
You let out a surprised squeal as his bends slightly, moving his grip around your hips and upper thighs, lifting you off the ground and giving you an excited spin.
You gather the group back up and start to head back to the house. This time Theo gives a dozing Benji a piggyback ride.
You squeeze Bucky's hand and smile over at him. He squeezes back and pulls you closer as you both continue walking behind the group. You still can't believe how this all started. You're still expecting to blink and this all was one big hallucination.
Nora unlocks the front door as you return to the house and you all make your way back upstairs after discarding your coats and shoes.
Theo and Nora grab their pillows from the couch and decide to go sleep in their room. Theo's snoring would keep everyone awake. Although you're surprised Nora doesn't want to stay. She claims without Theo's snoring it's too quiet for her to fall asleep.
They offer Sam the couch, "If you stay down there, Benji sleeps like a starfish and moves around as if he's fighting crime in his sleep," they warn him on their way back downstairs.
"I do not," Benji grunts as he sits up while rubbing at his eyes. He reaches a tired hand up and pulls at a dangling string. A series of sheets pinned to the ceiling fall and section you all into your own little separate fort areas.
The couch area is almost completely covered, and both sides surround you and Bucky into a somewhat tent-like section together.
You hear snickering and look over to see Benji and Sam making shadow finger puppets at each other through the sheets.
Bucky moves to kneel while he grabs his pillow, and starts to shift as if he's going to stand up.
"Um, where are you going?" You ask.
"Home?" He answers, his eyebrows scrunched in confusion.
"What do you mean home? It's late, just stay here?"
"I'm not sure that's a good idea."
"Why? Do you turn into a green ogre like Fiona?"
"I hate that I understand that reference now."
"You loved that movie and you know it. Stay and we can watch Shrek 2."
"They made another one?" He looks baffled at this fact.
"Oh, my sweet Fiona," he rolls his eyes at you, "there's a whole franchise. At least 4... or 5? Maybe 6. I'm honestly not sure at this point, but we're going to find out."
"Oh no."
"Oh yes," you grin and grab the remote. You reach for his hand and tug him back down.
Everyone has settled into their spots. Monty and Prudence have already fallen asleep by the time you find the movie.
"Hey, Shrek 2!" Sam cheers quietly.
Bucky places a hand over his face. You try not to laugh as you grab his pillow from him and place it back in it's spot behind him. He moves his hand down to look over at you and shakes his head. You continue to grin over at him as you press play.
-
"You're still awake?" You whisper. The movie ended at least 15 minutes ago. Everyone else peacefully snoozing around you. Well, it's 50/50 on how peaceful Benji actually is, judging on the awkward position he's contorted and passed out in. Oh to be a kid and not worry about your neck and back again. You're already positive you're gonna be regretting this floor slumber later today, even with the foam padding attempt under you.
It's not that Bucky doesn't want to sleep, he just...can't. Too many people in the room. Too self conscious of having a nightmare and potentially disturbing the rest of the sleeping occupants. The last thing he wanted to be was a burden or a nuisance. His mind is also telling him to stay vigilant as he watches the staircase entrance.
He shrugs as his short answer, not wanting to voice his thoughts out loud.
"Sleep magic run out on you?" You joke, trying to lighten the mood when you see the dark look in his eyes, the wheels turning in thought behind them. You can tell he's fighting his answer, a look of uncertainty on his face, but a lazy smile appears. He shakes his head at you.
Laying on your side, you scoot closer and grab his right arm, hugging it against you. "Can I borrow your sleep magic then?"
Bucky smiles over at you as you drift off. He tugs your pillow closer and tucks it against his arm some more so your head and neck are more comfortable. He places a gentle kiss to your forehead, letting his lips linger for a moment. He slowly tilts his head back up towards the ceiling. However, he continues to stay awake. Silently watching the stars and swirling patterns dance across the room. Soaking in the comfort and the feeling of being surrounded by people that care for him. In their own dream worlds.
Benji starts to stir with a slight grumble. Bucky lazily turns his head and watches the shadow of a small lump shift slightly closer to him behind the sheet.
"Un Buc, m'gumdrops. Gone," he mumbles together in his sleep. "How dare...th's m'ne. Hmmph." He shifts again, an arm and leg flailing as he turns over and starts to settle back into a deep sleep. Bucky shakes his head in amusement and goes back to watching the ceiling.
-
Hours later, Bucky is still awake when everyone starts slowly shifting and waking up. He hears Prudence and Monty shift around as they quietly make their way downstairs.
You start to stir and stretch next to him soon after. He watches as you rub your eyes and then bury your face into both your pillow and his arm. He waits a moment to see if you're awake. You finally peak up at him, giving him a slurred greeting.
"Mornin', " he greets back with a tired smile. You clock the dark circles under his eyes.
"Please don't tell me you've been awake this whole time."
"Course not. I feel fresh as a daisy."
"Liar."
You sit up, grab your pillows and drag him downstairs.
"Where are we going?" He asks at the bottom of the stairs. You ignore his question and approach the door to your room. "Can't drag me to your bed fast enough, huh?"
"Oh baby, you're about to get hours," you pause and look over at him, leaning up closer, "and hours," you lower your voice and kiss his knuckles quickly, "of great sleep. Let's go." You pull on his arm again and direct him over to the bed. You give him a push towards it and take a step towards the side table. He sits on the edge of the bed and watches as you open the side table drawer, pulling out a small spray bottle. Uncapping it, you give two quick spritzes over the pillow areas and one more in the general area over the bed behind him before putting the cap back on and tossing it back in the drawer.
"What the hell was that?" He blinks at you.
"Lavender spray," you shrug and walk over to your dresser. "It's supposed to be calming and relaxing to assist you with falling asleep." Opening a bottom drawer of the dresser you pull out a water bottle and set it on the side table.
Bucky watches in amusement, observing the other bright colored packages of what looks to be a snack stash in the same drawer before you close it.
"Are you one of those doomsday preppers? Or is it a hoarding thing? What else do you have stashed around here?"
"Look, I'm just trying to survive in this household. Benji and his little friends eat everything. I'm terrified when puberty hits. Also, I don't feel like going all the way downstairs when I'm thirsty," you shrug. "Now will you lay down?"
You pull the blankets back, "Chop chop. Don't make me dump that whole bottle of lavender on you."
He rolls his eyes and lays back against the pillows.
"Is this ok? Are you comfortable? Do you need space and want me to leave?"
He scoots back and grabs your arm, tugging you onto the bed next to him. You sit on the edge of the bed and he pulls your arm again, and then places a gentle hand on your leg making you lay down next to him. You lay on your side facing him.
"That didn't answer my questions. Do you need music? white noise? a bedtime story? I can go grab the comforter," You continue to ramble on.
"Just a good night kiss," he pouts his lips towards you.
You lean over and place a soft kiss to his waiting lips.
He smiles and wraps his arms around your waist, hugging you to him. "Goodnightmorning," he whispers.
You let out a soft laugh in return and place another kiss to his cheek which gets another smile from him.
You start to lightly run your fingertips up and down his forearm and then repeat again lightly with your nails, back to your fingertips.
He hums in appreciation.
"Goodnightmorning. Sweet dreams," you whisper back as he drifts off.
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Dividers by @saradika
#Bucky Barnes x Reader#Bucky Barnes Fluff#Bucky x Reader#Bucky Barnes Fanfiction#Bucky Barnes Fanfic#Marvel Fic#Bucky Fanfiction#Bucky Barnes x Fem!reader#Bucky Barnes x y/n#Bucky Barnes x Female Reader#Uncle Buck Fic
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We need more sub Hugh, give him some more of the lovin… Maybe he’s the insecure one, you’re a young up and coming singer/actress who has your entire future ahead of you and tons of other men and women your age who were dying to get a chance with you, he worries that you’ll tire of him in his old age
You assure him, of course, maybe suck him off in the process to remind him that he’s Hugh fucking Jackman and you’re the one who should be worried if anything and that you love him more than life ;)
You're All I Want
18+ No Minors
Warnings: jealously, oral (m recieving), deep throating
The crowd roars as you walk off the stage, the stage crew waiting to take off your in-ear monitors and microphone while Hugh walks up to you with a beaming smile. Your arms immediately wrap around his waist and he pulls you close, kissing the top of your head congradulating you on your show as he leads you towards the dressing room.
"I'm going to shower real quick and then we can head to the hotel." You say, kissing him softly and he goes to sit on the couch to wait. While you're in the shower, you hear a knock on the door and some chatter before the door shuts again but you don't pay any mind to it since it's normally your assistant bringing you some stuff the fans gave her.
You step out of the shower and walk out with a towel wrapped around you, smiling when you see Hugh but quickly furrow your brows when you notice he looks upset. "Everything okay?" You ask, snapping him out of his trance. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just spaced out for a moment." He gives you a short smile, looking at you while you get dressed.
"There was a delivery for you." Hugh says after some time, motioning towards the 2 dozen roses. A confused look comes across your face as you read the card and you quickly notice why Hugh's acting strange. "I have no idea who these could be from." You walk over to him, noticing he won't look you in your eyes. "Apparently it's from someone who has their eyes on you." His response carries a bit of jealously but also something else you can't quite put your finger on.
"Hugh, I love you and you're the only pair of eyes I care about being on me. You know that, right?" You try to hold his face but he shrugs it off, standing up quickly. "Let's go to the hotel. You need to rest after the show you put on." He grabs your bags and leads the way to the car, setting them in the trunk before opening the door for you then getting in the other side.
The ride to the hotel is quiet. You glance over at Hugh but he's staring at the road ahead, his jaw slightly clenched and you can't help but worry about why this is affecting him so bad. People send you gifts and flowers all the time. You always ignore the ones that have flirty messages written on them and Hugh knows that. Hell, the two of you has even poked fun at the men who try to flirt with you while knowing you're a taken woman.
Once to the hotel, Hugh carries your bags to your shared room and you quickly shut the door, locking it. "Hugh." Your voice is quiet but you know he heard it. "Need to get ready for bed, love." He says trying to walk past you to the bathroom but you stop him, placing your hands on his face to make him look at you.
"Please tell me what's wrong." You say, seeing his eyes turn from distant to sadness. His hands find your waist as he sighs, placing his head against yours. "It's stupid." He mumbles but you keep pushing for him to tell you. "It's just, seeing the roses tonight on top of all the messages and gifts you receive from men and women makes me feel like you could do so much better than me. I'm getting older and you have so much of life to experience. You don't need someone like me holding you back." His confession shocks you but you keep a hold of him, pecking his lips softly.
"You will never hold me back. I want to experience everything I'm going to experience, with you. I don't care about the people who send those gifts or messages because at the end of the day I get to come home to you. You're the only one I love and that will never change." You say, seeing the hesitation sweep across his face so you kiss him deeply.
"Take your clothes off." You lightly command, seeing his eyebrows raise so you repeat yourself, firmer this time and he starts taking his clothes off. "Lay on the bed." He does what you say as you remove your clothes, straddling his hips and kissing him deeply.
You move slowly down his body, trailing kisses and small bites all the way down his torso, sitting up slightly so you can look at him. "Why would I want anybody else when my man looks like a Greek God?" A soft moan leaves his lips and you move further down, grabbing his semi-hard cock in your hand.
"You've ruined me for any other person, baby. I only dream of you and your dick. Nobody else's," You lick a stripe up his base, watching him twitch, "Nobody could take care of me the way you do. You've spoiled me in every way possible." Your mouth wraps around his tip, taking him slowly in your mouth as a gasp leaves his.
Hugh's hands tangle through your hair, moving your hair while your tongue circles around his tip then pulling slightly as you bob your head, moving down his length. You finally fully take him, your nose pressed against his neatly trimmed hair before coming back up. He tries to push your head back down but you swat his hand away, wanting to be in control for just this once.
You start bobbing your head, hearing a string of curses leave Hugh's lips as his head falls back against the pillow. You keep one hand on his base and move the other to wrap around his balls, massaging them gently as you take him.
"Fuck, darling. You look so pretty down there." He moans, thrusting his hips slightly causing you to gag but neither one of you let up. You brace yourself and allow him to fuck your mouth for a few minutes before pulling off slightly, telling him to let you continue before placing your mouth back on him.
His moans become erratic as his body starts to tense up, a slew of curse words fall from his lips while you keep your quick pace. "I- I'm fixing to.. c-cum, darling." He warns but you don't let up, taking him fully back down your throat as his dick starts twitching, his release shooting ropes inside.
You let him ride out his release before removing your mouth with a pop, wiping the spit and hint of cum from around your mouth.
"Still question if I want you?" You ask with a smile, watching him chuckle as he pulls you to him, kissing you deeply and sliding his tongue past your lips to taste himself. "I'm not letting you go after that. I love you even more after that," He rolls on top of you, "Now let me show you why you love me so much."
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Just imagine getting new acrylics or press on ones and scratching jjs back accidentally in the middle of sex…he would totally love it as well 😭🙏
-🌻
cw: jj maybank x fem!reader, smut, lowkey fluffy too, caring bf jj, bro breaks the headboard
something jj consistently feels horrible about is his inability to buy you nice things. obviously, being from the cut makes his money limited and he doesn't get many opportunities to buy you nice things. but after helping Pope with a few deliveries, he comes home with a couple hundred bucks and wants to do something nice for you.
"what is it?" you ask, you eyes closed tight as jj leads you into his house. his dad isn't home, he made sure of that.
"just keep em' closed, princess," he responds and eventually he stops you, "okay open em."
on the table are three things, a bouquet of your favorite flowers, a teddy holding a giftcard to the nearest nail salon, and a bag of food from your favorite take out place. you squeal in excitement and throw your arms around jj's neck.
"thank you! thank you! you're the sweetest ever, j, i love you!!"
he just chuckles and wraps his arms around you in return.
-
jj loves the colors you picked for your acrylics, you don't get them often and you went for your favorite color this time with a few gemstones on various nails.
jj fucks you into the mattress, your pussy squeezing around his dick. his hands hold onto the headboard for leverage. desperate for some mercy, you wrap your arms around his neck.
"your so pretty, baby..so fucking tight for me. have me worked up all the freaking time. look so pretty with your new nails, princess, wanna see them wrapped around my cock."
"oh- jj- fuck!" you moan out, as you unintentionally dig your nails into his shoulder.
"jesus fuck!" he cries out in response, gripping the headboard tighter and sub-sequentially cracking it in the process. he stops as the cracking noise fills his ears, worried he had hurt you, "princess? you okay?"
"did you just- how- why-"
"cause of you, baby," he mutters, realizing your not hurt. as he comes to this realization he starts thrusting again, slower this time, feeling the way he fills you up, "drives me insane when you dig your nails into me like that..just like when you pull my hair. maybe i'll keep giving you a reason to do those things, hm?"
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What’s up babe? How’s it going? Could you please write something about how each ateez member would be like coming home to reader with a established relationship??? Love you🥰🥰🥰
⛓️Looove this idea! I still have longer fics in the works. Please dont worry! Figured I'd at least post a bit of a shorter request for you all today🖤 Im working on making my masterlist and making things easier to access. Please just bare with me through this process, lol⛓️
✨️Coming Home to You✨️
❤️Pairing: Ateez (individually) x reader
⚠️Warnings: Possibly some cussing, suggestive, lmk if I missed anything 🖤
‼️This is purely for entertainment purposes and does not represent the idols in any way‼️
🖤Hope you enjoy! Also, shout out to my day 1 and biggest help @evis-gossip thank you for all the amazing ideas and for helping me proofread🖤
Hongjoong:
A man really invested in his work, it's his pride and joy. He never thinks much about leaving until he's already on tour. Then he realizes just how much he misses you. Coming home he is quick to wrap his arms around your waist and smother you in kisses. He missed you and your body more than he thought he could and he will absolutely be making up for lost time. First, you have to open all the gifts he got you from every single place they stopped.
Seonghwa:
Walking through the front door, he is quick to drop his bags and give you the softest most lovingly passionate kiss. He already planned a spa day for the both of you on his way home and is telling you to pack your bags. Taking you out for some relaxing time together is all he wants right now. He's glad to be home, you are his home.
Yunho:
He is picking you up and twirling you around giving you little kisses in the process. Your giggles are like music to his ears and oh how he's missed his favorite songs. Placing you back down he is quickly dragging you to the couch for cuddles. And of course you're watching your favorite comfort movie: Spiderman.
Yeosang:
He isn't usually one for being extra but he missed you more than you could imagine. He's dipping you down in the most passionate kiss, whispering how angelic you look in your ear. He'd whisk you away to your room for cuddles and little nap. He really missed sleeping with you in his arms.
San:
He is coming in and picking you up IMMEDIATELY. You're getting kisses everywhere, your face, neck, shoulders, head, anywhere he can reach with you in his arms. Once he's satisfied, he's carrying you to the kitchen and placing you on the counter, so he can make the two of you dinner. After a romantic candlelit dinner, he's taking you to bed and taking his time making sure every single inch of your body gets loved and worshipped.
Mingi:
He is walking in and scooping you up bridal style without a word. He'd carry you straight to the bedroom saying he's made sure his schedule is clear for the week and you two will be spending every second of that together. He's ordering delivery and turning on your favorite anime, wrapping his arms and legs around you like a human blanket. He's missed his baby and neither of you will be free from this cuddle puddle anytime soon.
Wooyoung:
He's walking through the door and looking around with a fake pout on his face. "What, no party? You must not have missed me that much. I'll just go back". Once you give him a scolding look he's quick to grin widely in return, running to you and spinning you around in his arms. He'd say he was just joking and you'd most definitely punch his shoulder calling him an idiot. He's quick to ease the playful tension, pulling you to the bedroom, saying you'll be having a "two person pleasure party" then.
Jongho:
He made a pit stop in the car on the way home. There was absolutely no way he's showing up without your favorite flowers and a new book for the two of you to read together. At home, he's giving you the biggest bear hug, before putting your flowers in a vase for you. He'd ask if you want to read together now or later, in case you had other plans. You of course chose to lay in his arms, your back against his chest, as he read to you placing gentle kisses to the top of your head in between paragraphs.
#ateez x reader#ateez fluff#ateez#ateez au#ateez reactions#ateez scenarios#hongjoong drabble#hongjoong x reader#hongjoong fluff#seonghwa drabble#seonghwa x reader#seonghwa fluff#yunho x reader#yunho drabble#yunho fluff#yeosang fluff#yeosang x reader#yeosang drabble#san x reader#san fluff#san drabble#mingi x reader#mingi fluff#mingi drabble#wooyoung x reader#wooyoung fluff#wooyoung drabble#jongho x reader#jongho fluff#jongho drabble
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𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐔𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐀 𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐈
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jujutsu kaisen w HIGURUMA HIROMI format. headcanons + scenarios warnings. fluff + nsfw. mdni. fem!reader. oral(reader receiving). fingering. pretty tame and domestic stuff. summary. unorganised thoughts ab higuruma.
author’s note. this is literally just me yapping ab all the possibilities w higuruma cs i love the man and i’ll probably reblog this w a continuation of my thoughts + non-sorcerer au so he’s just an overworked lawyer here
PART 1
Similar to nanami kento, he’s a busy man, perhaps even busier since he’s a lawyer. Being at the office most of his time made him a stranger to the mundane pleasures of dating—especially so when you suddenly barged into his life.
A stranger as he is, he tries his best. Sending delivery flowers to your own workplace when he finds himself staring at his phone, waiting for a lightbulb to go off in his head to find an idea on what to do or say to you after hours of no contact.
He wanted to talk you, he truly did, but he didn’t what to talk about exactly. He was the best at the finding the big words to get his point across when presenting something to the judge in court, and yet here he was, as speechless as ever with you.
If it wasn’t flowers, then it’d be a short voice message that he begrudgingly made when he finally had the words to say to you at the busiest of moments he was in. As deep and dismissive his voice may be, his words expressed enough when you heard him say your name. In fact, you would always notice how he keeps calling your name in the audios he sends you, like if he was yearning for you and lazily keeping it under wraps. He was too unbothered to truly hide his affections for you, admitting to whatever accusation you made on him.
You thought he was down bad? He won’t deny it. You called him out for his lack of subtlety of being infatuated with you jokingly? He’d say yes to it immediately without realising you were just teasing.
He picks you up from work whenever he could but most of the days he’d come home later than you do so you’d have to go home on your own. Though when he gets home late at night to you, he’d take off his suit jacket and have his sleeves rolled up, ready to curl you up in his arms and drag you to bed with him.
He’d have one arm firm around your waist, his hand hold your side once he has you on top of him on your shared bed. His cologne would wash over your nostrils, making you playfully complain why and how he still smelled so good after so long at work. It’d make him scoff, his eyes closed and the corner of his lips curled to a smirk.
Once he has you in his arms it’d be hard for you drag him out of it. You knew for a fact he was baiting you with his closed eyes, ignoring all you excuses and pleas to get out of bed and shower, maybe even have dinner you kept for him. Higuruma would ignore them all, waiting for you say the magic words—i’ll bathe with you.
Only then would he finally release you from his grasp, loosening that arm he had around you, patting your hip as he got up from the bed with you.
With a tug on his tie, he’d take slow steps into the bathroom, watching you walk into it first and the lights open. He’d tilt his head to the side slightly, a faint smile of amusement making it’s way to his face at the sight of you failing to hide that hint of excitement as you got the faucet on your bathtub running, your movements quick and rigid despite your best efforts to act natural.
PART 2
The silent process of helping him undress was awfully suffocating, the tension and stolen glances with only the sound of water running in the background making you hold your breath against your will. Your hands up against his chest untying the now loose tie around his neck made your body heat up, the soft yet short breaths leaving your lips not going unnoticed by either of you. Looking up at him was impossible but also so fucking irresistible. You’d flicker your eyes up at him only to find out he was already looking you, the sight of his own gaze fixated on you alone made your thighs rub against one another, the slick of your arousal beginning to coat your panties.
You finished untying his tie and took steps back, checking up on the bathtub that was now near full of water. While you went to close the faucet filling up the bathtub, higuruma would start unbuttoning his shirt, shrugging it off his shoulders and carelessly letting it fall to the floor. He’d innocently tease you by making the sounds of the metal on his belt louder than it should be, purposely making you hyperaware that he was stripping.
Finally, he’s naked and bare in the bathtub with you. He’d have his head thrown back against the curved rim of the tub behind him, letting out an exasperated sigh that he knew would catch your attention. When your head finally turns to him and your pretty voice utters his name, he lift his head off the cold rim of the tub, leaning forward to you and slithering his arm around of stomach under the water. He’d give you a short hum, his voice hoarse yet still curious.
While you went on talking about your day at work all that he’d be thinking about if how perfectly your soft body fits against his hard one, like a puzzle piece he’d been missing for the entire day, and the years he lived before you. He’d have his thumb gently rubbing the side of your rib, nuzzling his chin onto the top of your head and letting you feel the reverberations of his gravelly voice through his neck that he had so close to the back of your head, his adam’s apple bobbing and all whenever he acknowledged you.
Higuruma would have his hands wandering as you speak, you words progressively being reduced to incoherent mumbles when you felt his fingers moving down your tummy, fingers rubbing circles on your pelvis before slipping lower to the fold between your thigh and your hips. His calloused fingers would be cupping your heat under the water in no time, his eyes following his hands and looking down at you with soft hums to keep you thinking he was still paying attentions to your mutters. Higuruma’d point out how your voice was getting quieter and quieter with each second that passed, exhaling a brief chuckle when you retorted him in return, blaming him for distracting you.
You’d have your legs spread further in the water, your thighs pressing up against his to give him access to your cunt, shivering when he scissored your folds, his middle finger making slow strokes up against your slit. Higuruma would have the length of his middle finger ground up against your slit while he teased you, revelling at the sight of you squirming in the water between his legs. Fuck, he was tired, he’ll admit. But what would be better rest than the sleep he’d get after fucking you, after making you feel good.
PART 3
Sundays. A day that was supposed to be his day off was spent by being in his office completing paperwork and sorting documents from last night. Being the menace you were, you bothered him. Coming in and out his office, whining and complaining about how he should spend some time with you on his day off.
After hours of convincing, he gave in. Higuruma thought that maybe if he gave you what you wanted so bad, you’d be sated and leave him alone for a while. But oh fuck, he was so wrong.
It’s been God knows how many minutes know and he still had his face buried between your legs, your skirt hiked up to your hips and your body sprawled on his desk. He had your legs hung on his shoulders, your heels burying into his back whenever his hooked nose ground against you clit, your hips rolling forward to seek more friction from him however you could.
His desk was a mess now, your hands flinging and pushing some stacks of his well-organised files off the table unintentionally. You muttered some apologies but he shut you up with deliberate strokes of his tongue up for entrance, lapping up your juices shamelessly. His eyes remained as stern before, though they were more fixated on the view of your body that he saw from his perspective. He loved it, the sight of you with your back arched and writhing for him, your hands gripping onto whatever you could of the table to use as an outlet for the onslaught pleasure he was giving you.
Higuruma would have you cum on his tongue once and continue on his assault on your sopping wet cunt with his tongue all up until he made you reach the brink of another orgasm only to pull away, sitting upright in his chair and licking your juices that he had smeared on his lips, using the back of his hand to wipe your cum dripping down his chin. He’d leave you panting and aching for more, mewls and pleas leaving your lips to let you cum just one more time though you knew he wouldn’t—he’d break your pretty mind instead.
#This is#such a sloppy mess#AHAHAH#anyw#higuruma hiromi#higuruma x reader#higuruma hiromi x reader#Higuruma x reader smut#Higuruma smut#higuruma x you#higuruma jjk#Higuruma hiromi smut#jjk smut#jujutsu kaisen x reader#Jujutsu kaisen smut#jujutsu kaisen x reader smut#jjk x reader#jjk x you#hiromi higuruma#hiromi higuruma x reader#hiromi jjk#higuruma hiromi x you
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MASTERPIECE IN THE MAKING
When did it start? Was it when she skipped lunch, lost in the world with her guitar? Or when her beautiful smile widened as she greeted everyone? Perhaps it was when her eyes shone brightest under the stage lights, captivating everyone, but especially me.
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GENRE: fluff??
“Please, Dani, just this once!” Y/N begged, her voice barely above a whisper as Daniela—or Dani—rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, that’s what you said last time too,” Dani replied, exhaling sharply as she stared at her hopelessly romantic best friend.
Y/N bit her lip nervously. She and Dani had clicked easily when they met through mutual friends before Dream Academy, but the two couldn’t have been more different. While Dani thrived under the spotlight, Y/N preferred staying out of it, except when it came to Lara. And now, they were backstage, whispering frantically just five minutes before KATSEYE’s live stage, all because Y/N couldn’t bring herself to confess.
“I can’t, Y/N,” Dani said, crossing her arms. “Lara probably thinks I’m into her now because of all the gifts you’ve been giving her through me. I mean, seriously, how many times can I hand her flowers and gifts without looking suspicious?” Dani cringed at the memory of Lara’s confused look last week when she handed over yet another gift box.
“Dani, this is adorable, but... what’s all this for, sweetie?” Lara had asked, her smile polite but her tone uncertain. Dani had felt her stomach sink, the unspoken ‘are you into me?’ question hanging heavily in the air. The way Lara tilted her head and tried to let her down gently still made Dani want to disappear.
“I promise this will be the last one, please, it’s my best work yet, Dani,” Y/N pleaded, weaponizing her rarely-seen puppy eyes.
Dani stared at her in disbelief. The awkward, 24/7 ‘don’t talk to me’ best friend was giving her puppy eyes. And all for Lara.
“Fine,” Dani said, exhaling sharply. “But this is the last one, Y/N, and I’m serious. Next time, you’re going to face her yourself, or I’m telling her everything, including how you’ve basically forced me into being your personal delivery girl.” She grabbed the gift, shaking her head as she turned to leave.
Y/N winced at the possibility of her long-time crush knowing the truth, her heart pounding at the thought of finally facing Lara. The idea sent a wave of panic through her chest, but she pushed it away. For now, all she could do was hope Dani wouldn’t actually follow through on her threat.
As they finished performing “My Way,” Dani’s head was spinning, searching for the perfect excuse to avoid being cornered by Lara. Truthfully, it wasn’t hard to just leave the gifts and flowers in their dressing room, but Dani thought it wasn’t fair for anyone but Y/N to get credit for her hard work. It felt like her responsibility to ensure everything Y/N prepared actually made it into Lara’s hands.
“Lara, hey,” Dani greeted awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck as she approached.
Lara turned at the sound of her name, her expression showing a mix of exhaustion and curiosity. “Oh, Dani. What’s up?” she asked, her tone light but her gaze was steady. Dani swallowed hard, silently praying Y/N’s latest creation wasn’t going to get her into more trouble.
“For you,” Dani said, her voice almost too fast as she quickly shoved the gift and bouquet into Lara’s hands. Lara’s gaze was unreadable, making Dani’s nerves flare up.
“Dani,” Lara began, her tone careful. “Listen, the gifts and flowers are nice, and I appreciate everything you’ve been giving me. Especially the sculptures—they’re masterpieces, and I couldn’t be happier to be the one receiving them, but—”
“You love the sculptures?” Dani blurted out, her eyes wide with excitement, as if this were the best news she’d heard in weeks.
Lara blinked, caught off guard by Dani’s overenthusiasm, her brow furrowing slightly. “Yeah, but that’s not the point,” she said, her voice softening with confusion as she tried to process the strange amount of excitement coming from Dani.
“She’ll be over the moon when she hears this,” Dani whispered quietly, grinning as if her biggest dream had just come true.
“Who’s she?” Lara asked, furrowing her brow, reading the excitement on Dani’s face with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
Dani’s eyes widened slightly at the slip, quickly recovering but not without a hint of panic. “Oh, no one, uh… just someone who’ll be thrilled to hear you love the sculptures.”
As if the universe had suddenly shifted sides, let’s just say... Lara did not let that go.
After pressing Dani to reveal more about “her,” Lara had pieced together that the sculptor was her secret admirer. True to her word, Dani didn’t reveal who “she” was, leaving Lara both frustrated and intrigued. For two days, Lara tried and failed to extract more information from Dani, whose responses ranged from cryptic smirks to outright denials. Determined to uncover the truth, Lara turned to the person closest to Dani, Manon.
Catching Manon just as she finished practicing her part, Lara approached her with a determined smile.
“Water?” Lara offered, holding out a chilled bottle toward Manon, who looked up in surprise.
Manon raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking into a half-smile. “Okay, what’s going on? You don’t just hand out water for free.”
Lara placed a hand over her chest, feigning innocence. “What? A girl can’t do something nice now?”
Manon leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. “Not when that girl is you. Spill it, Raj. What do you want?”
Lara sighed dramatically, dropping the act. “Alright, fine. Do you know anyone close to Dani who’s good at sculpting?”
A knowing smirk curled Manon’s lips. “Who?” she asked, feigning ignorance.
“You obviously know who,” Lara said, rolling her eyes. One look at Manon, and Lara knew she was hiding something—probably enough to end the little game Dani and her secret admirer were playing. Lara sighed, exasperation clear in her voice. “Please, just tell me. It’s driving me crazy,” she pleaded.
The truth was, it was driving her crazy. The artwork felt so familiar, almost painfully so. And while the thought of discovering who was behind the masterpieces scared her especially if it turned out to be someone she hadn’t even considered but her curiosity was winning out.
Manon, on the other hand, knew this wouldn’t end well if Dani and Y/N kept the secret much longer, not with Lara actively searching for clues. Other than Dani, Manon was the only one who spent enough time with Y/N to pick up on the obvious signs. Even without Y/N outright admitting it, her crush was crystal clear. After all, Y/N only ever visited the KATSEYE house when she knew Lara wouldn’t be there.
“All right, Raj, what’s in it for me?” Manon asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Deciding to finally offer Y/N some much-needed help, she figured Lara could use a hint or two, of course only if the price was right.
“I’ll pay for your food for two months,” Lara promised, extending her pinky in a hopeful truce. Her expression was serious, but there was an unmistakable edge of desperation as she waited for Manon’s response.
Manon raised an unimpressed eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “That’s it?” she teased, dragging out the words for effect.
Lara groaned, her patience already wearing thin. “Fine! I’ll do your laundry too.”
“For two months,” Manon quipped, wiggling her eyebrows with a cheeky grin.
“Don’t push it,” Lara shot back, her voice laced with annoyance as she crossed her arms.
Manon chuckled, clearly enjoying her rare position of power. “Deal,” she said with a triumphant smirk. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you. What I’m about to tell you might change everything.”
Manon leaned back, crossing her arms with a smirk that screamed satisfaction. “All right, I’ll give you a hint, but don’t expect me to spell it out for you.” She paused for dramatic effect, watching as Lara leaned in closer, eager for the answer. “You don’t have to look too far, Raj. The answer’s been right in front of you—literally.”
Lara blinked, her brows knitting together in confusion. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Manon shrugged nonchalantly. “Exactly what I said. You’re smarter than this. Think about it, who’s been around, leaving clues for you to find?”
Lara’s mind raced, replaying her recent encounters. Dani had been acting strange, sure, but she was certain Dani wasn’t the one behind the sculptures. Then there were the sculptures themselves, especially the way they felt oddly familiar, as if the artist knew her better than anyone else.
“You’re telling me it’s... someone close to me?” Lara asked cautiously, her voice quieter now.
Manon’s smirk softened into something more genuine, almost sympathetic. “Closer than you think,” she said cryptically. “But don’t take too long figuring it out, Raj. Some things are worth the risk.”
That night, Lara thought was running wild. Manon’s words lingered in the air, their weight settling on Lara’s chest. Closer than you think. What did that even mean? Her mind raced, running through the possibilities, but it always came back to one person, Y/N. The girl who’d been elusive yet everywhere, the one who made Lara feel things she didn’t quite understand. The sculptures, the unspoken words… Was that what Manon was hinting at? Was it possible that Y/N had been there all along, right in front of her?
Lara exhaled, pushing the thought to the back of her mind for now. If she was going to get to the bottom of this, she needed to do it face to face. She needed to see Y/N for herself.
Meanwhile, Y/N was carving one of her latest pieces, enjoying the calmness of her art studio, completely unaware of what was about to unfold. The soothing, acoustic version of “My Way” played softly in the background, the only sound filling the space, until it was abruptly interrupted by the sound of someone stepping inside.
Y/N turned around, and believe it or not, standing there in the doorway was none other than Lara Raj, in the flesh.
Y/N froze. Don’t get her wrong, sure Dani was a superstar, but Dani was also the same girl she’d shared embarrassing moments with, like the time they both ended up puking after their first drink. Lara, however, was different. How? Well, for starters, Y/N was madly, hopelessly in love with her.
“Yes? What can I help you with?” Y/N said, pushing everything she felt down as best she could, trying to appear confident and unbothered despite Lara’s presence. Unfortunately, the way her eyes darted nervously around the room, avoiding Lara’s gaze, betrayed her effort. And as one of KATSEYE’s most observant members, Lara noticed that almost immediately.
“I’m looking for Y/N,” Lara said, deciding to play along.
She smirked, clearly enjoying the way Y/N was trying so hard to appear calm, despite the obvious nerves that betrayed her. It was almost too easy for Lara to notice the little tells—the way Y/N’s hands trembled slightly as she fumbled with her tools, unable to focus entirely on her task. Lara couldn’t help but smile, amused by how much of an effect she had on the girl. It seemed Dani and Manon had kept her visit a secret after all.
Y/N wished she could lie, tell Lara that “Y/N” wasn’t here, and escape this moment. But then she remembered what Dani had said, and something shifted inside her. Maybe it was time to woman up and face the love of her life—ready to accept whatever response Lara might give. Y/N had meant it when she told Dani that the last gift was her best work, her final sculpture for Lara. But as always fate had a way of turning things around. Who would’ve thought that Lara would walk in the moment Y/N decided it was time to move on?
“I’m Y/N,” Y/N confidently introduced herself, though her voice wavered slightly. She was ready, no matter how fast her heart raced.
“I know,” Lara softly muttered, a playful glint in her eyes. “Nice meeting you again, Y/N.” She smiled warmly, her gaze lingering on the flushed girl in front of her, clearly amused by the mix of nervousness and determination in her expression.
“You remember me?” Y/N exclaimed, a hint of disbelief in her voice, as if the two of them hadn’t gone to the same high school. Her cheeks flushed a little, suddenly feeling aware of how much she was overthinking this moment.
“I always remember the pretty ones,” Lara flirted, her smile widening as she took in the sight of Y/N’s nervous energy. There was something about Y/N that had always intrigued her, but she didn’t want to make it too obvious, well at least not yet.
Y/N blinked, trying to process Lara’s words. She had always imagined what this moment would be like, but never in her wildest dreams had she thought it would be so overwhelming. Was Lara serious? Or was this just another joke to her? Y/N’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively looked away, not sure if she could handle the playful intensity of Lara’s gaze. She wasn’t sure if she should laugh it off or let herself believe that Lara might actually be interested.
Lara, sensing Y/N’s internal conflict, decided to be straightforward with her. “You were the one behind the sculptures,” she said, her tone calm but tinged with curiosity.
Y/N froze, her heart sinking. She assumed Dani was the one who spilled the secret. Cursing her friend under her breath, Y/N forced out a laugh, trying to hide her embarrassment. “Yeah, I am,” she admitted, her gaze dropping to the marble floor, unwilling to meet Lara’s eyes. She could feel the weight of Lara’s gaze on her, but she couldn’t bring herself to look up, afraid of what she might see there.
Lara looked around the room, taking in the artwork, her eyes lingering on each piece. “They’re amazing,” she said softly, her voice sincere. “I can tell you’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into them.” She paused, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “They’ve got so much heart in them. It’s... it’s really impressive.”
Y/N blinked, surprised by the genuine praise, her heart skipping a beat. She wasn’t sure how to respond. The compliments were both unexpected and overwhelming, and a part of her wanted to brush them off, to avoid letting herself get carried away by the moment. But another part, the part that had poured so much of herself into each sculpture, wanted to acknowledge the truth.
“They are impressive because they were made based on you,” Y/N said, her voice steady but not without a hint of emotion. “You are impressive, both on and off stage. Thank you for the kind words, and I'm sorry for using Dani to deliver them. I guess I just wanted you to feel appreciated.”
Her heart raced, each beat louder in her chest as if it was the only sound in the room. For the first time, she forced herself to meet Lara’s gaze, feeling the weight of her eyes on her like an electric current. Her body tensed, the words stuck in her throat, and her hands were clammy. She felt exposed, as though every part of her soul was on display. When Lara stood before her, it was as if every emotion she had buried for so long was now laid bare in that moment, raw and vulnerable. The silence stretched painfully between them, and Y/N’s mind raced, only able to focus on the fear that Lara could sense the nervousness trembling beneath her words. She hoped, prayed, that Lara wouldn’t see how much she was shaking inside.
Lara didn’t immediately respond, her expression unreadable as she processed what Y/N had said. For a moment, the air felt thick with anticipation. Then, the corners of Lara’s mouth curved into a soft, thoughtful smile, the kind that reached her eyes. “I appreciate that,” she said quietly, her voice surprisingly gentle. “And I don’t mind Dani delivering gifts on your behalf. You’ve put a lot into these, I can tell. It’s not just about the sculptures, is it?”
This is it, Y/N thought, feeling the words hanging in her chest like a weight. She stared at Lara for what felt like an eternity, her breath shallow as her heart fluttered wildly in her chest. Her hands clenched slightly at her sides, a desperate attempt to ground herself. She caught her breath, her pulse quickening as the moment stretched on. “Yes,” she whispered, her voice trembling but determined. “I’ve always admired you... and I believe the admiration turned into something deeper, maybe love... I’m not too sure.” She could feel the heat of a blush creeping up her neck, but she forced herself to hold Lara’s gaze, desperate for her to understand, yet terrified of the silence that would follow.
“You’re driving me insane,” Lara murmured, her voice low and husky as she closed the distance between them. Without another word, she let her lips meet Y/N’s, her kiss both gentle and urgent, as if it held everything that had been unsaid between them.
THE END
#katseye#katseye x reader#lara raj x reader#lara raj#daniela avanzini#manon bannerman#megan skiendiel#jeong yoonchae#katseye imagines#sophia laforteza#wlw#sirenontheloose
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Say it with Conviction
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Bangchan (idol) x Reader (Fluff)
Warnings: Thoughts about depression, Insecurities in not being enough, Some kissing and some suggestive themes were mention. Bangchan is called Chan, Channie, and Christopher.
Description: Morning depression hits you hard as you awoke in your lover arm. He finds you crying and he comforts you with words of passion and truth expressing his love for you.
Author note: Hey gang was feeling major morning depression and I just couldn't help but think about Chan and how he might comfort a lover in deep insecurity about their relationship. Instead of mopping I wrote this. Now glad that I did because in a way it did help me feel less alone in my little delusional bubble. Hope this warms you as much as it did me when writing this story. :)
WORD COUNT 2,357
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You have always dealt with deep depression since you could remember. Always sad on days you should be the happiest scared for the start of a new year wondering if worse things will come. But when you got together with Chan, you did your best to hide the sadness away. Afraid he would leave like all the others did when they found you crying over nothing or laying in your bed like the wakening of a funeral.
“You are always sad, why can’t you see the good in the world,”
“You are so self-centered it’s not always about your problems,”
“I can’t take it anymore Y/N it’s your birthday and all you can do is be anxious,”
“You need help and I just can’t be it,”
The phrasing of words from past lovers cut through your heart like a knife. Constantly afraid you were undeserving of love and constantly holding back to show only the best sides of yourself. It had been a problem with most of your relationships. And yet while you tried to build your walls so high only a few ever stood up to the test. Your close friends who'd never let you shut them out and to your surprise Chan.
That was the most surprising thing about your relationship with Chan. Every time you tried to push him away he’d do something unexpected getting a laugh out here and there. Finding the root of the problem before you could even find the words to explain. Even going so far as to wash you when the world was heavy. And he never said a word against it only that you should always feel comfortable talking to him about anything. He made it his purpose that you were to always feel love even if he was miles away. And when you simply needed space to process he would give you it but never stopped at making sure you eat by sending a few deliveries here and there. Sending a bouquet of your favorite flowers with simple love notes that remind you why he loved you.
Even when you felt alone he was always there. Apart of you was afraid that one day he’d wake up and leave. Walk through the door and never speak to you again but every day he found new ways to stay. Planning trips so you always had something to look forward to. Buying matching clothes or jewelry so you’d both have a piece of each other no matter the distance. He always did his best to respect your boundaries and still somehow pushed the limit that you didn’t know could be pushed.
But as you lay on his chest listening to his heartbeat you couldn’t help but to let a few tears slide down your face. If there was one thing Chan was scared of in your relationship it was your tears. “You never make a noise when you're sad, please find me don’t close yourself off, you don’t even have to say a word,” he would say as he would caress your head and hold you like it was all he was ever made to do. And while you wanted to wake him up you didn’t. The voices in your head had been growing these days. Reminding you of all the things he did for you but what did you do for him?
Nothing
The voice ranged deep in your head reminding you of feelings you did your best to talk yourself out of. As if he could sense your sadness in his sleep his hand that rested around you tightened pulling you closer to him, his spirit trying to remind you that you were his everything. Tears fell from your face even more like a damn breaking gushing from your eyes. You thought about getting up to whip your eyes before he woke but you remained frozen in his warmth more afraid to ruin the sleep that he desperately needed. No matter the painful thoughts telling you to leave him before he did. You couldn't, he is everything you could have ever wished for.
With that thought you carefully tilted your head to look at him. He was smiling in his sleep, your heart clenching at your lover. You slowly brought a hand to his face pushing away the wild hair that peaked towards his closed eyes. And softly you fell into a trace slowly running your hands on his nose. Softly touching around the shape of his lips. He slightly shudders at the feeling of your touch and his eyes slowly opening. His hand sleepily looking for your face but his eyes shot open at the feeling of your tears.
“what’s wrong baby,” he said voice groggy with sleep as he turned to face you not letting go of your waist. “did you have a nightmare?” he said whipping the tears from your eyes. You only smiled at him, your morning sadness slipping away at every touch.
“It’s nothing do you want breakfast?” you asked stroking his cheek as his eyes looked at you with worry frowning only a bit at your dismissal of your own emotions. He studied your face looking deep into your eyes searching for whatever may be the cause to make you cry so early in the morning.
“It’s not nothing if it makes you cry, tell me what’s wrong I'd find a way to make winter stop if it made you too cold or hid the sun away if it made you too hot. There is nothing in this world that’ll stop me from caring even about the simplest things that make you cry, tell me please so I can find a way to bring you peace,” he said with urgency. You only smiled quietly at his determination to bring you joy.
“but I'm happy right now see I'm smiling,” you said giving him a light peck to ease his mind. “your the reason I'm smiling now so you have nothing to worry about,” you said running you fingers over his furrowed brow you began to try and leave the bed. Key word tried. Chan didn't let go only pulling you closer. Rubbing softly at your back gliding up and down from your arms as he looked see into your eyes.
“Yeah but I found you crying, why didn’t you wake me what do I always say,” he said but as he started you said the words in sync, “Always find me” him giggling at your joking expression. “it’s nothing to worry about I promise,” you said after he still didn’t let go. He only pulled you in more in response. Your head back to his chest as he caressed your head. You couldn’t help but sigh in relief. Tightening your arms around his waist.
After what felt like hours only a few seconds he spoke again into your head. “You know when you say it’s nothing, I get afraid that you’ll leave. I’m afraid that I’ll never be your cure anymore,” he said quietly almost in a whisper. If you weren’t so close you’d probably miss it. Your head rose from his chest quickly as you looked into his eyes sternly. “I would never leave you, Chan, if anything I’m more afraid you’ll leave me thinking I’m too much or too little,” you said caressing his head softly. Trying to push away the fear from his mind.
“Is that why you were crying this morning,” he asked quietly. Putting your head back in his chest you sighed. He always found a way to wiggle the truth out of you. You both never being good at hiding from each other. It was always scary how well you both could see each other and how easy it was to confess your darker sides. But yet you never ran from it. If anything it brought you both closer like it did in this moment.
Tracing shapes on his chest you began to whisper out, “I’m afraid I don’t do enough for you,” you said quietly. He remained quiet as if giving you space to explain more as his grip tightened slightly. “You do so much for me love, you give me space when I need it, you buy me flowers and food and you even help me wash when I can’t. I’m afraid all I do is take from you. I’m worried I don’t add up to you,” you said with a bit more courage. He pulled back slightly pulling you both up to sit and look at each other but he didn’t let go. Fear ranged in your eyes as he did so worried that your words had woken him from this dream to a nightmare of reality.
He looked in the distance as if trying to find the words. This is it said the voice in your head he’s gonna finally break up with you.
He took a deep breath before looking at you carefully reaching for your face to rub away the tears that flowed with ease. And he softly kissed your forehead before he spoke.
“My love, you do more for me than you can even see,” he said with determination. “I’m never leaving you if anything you’d leave me. You do so much for me. When I’m sick you take care of me with such care. When I get hurt from practice you force me to rest and even go so far as to find ways to ease my pain. You make me lunches with cute notes that taste only of your love. When it’s my birthday you make me the most beautiful cake and get only the most thoughtful gifts that I don’t even think about. When I’m stressed from work you give me massages that help ease my mind. When I go to bed sometimes I get too excited to sleep because I can’t wait to experience another day with you. You fill my mind even when I dream it’s only about you. You’re so caring and kind and you have these moments of true bliss that I work hard to keep on your face. Hell, even now when you are crying you are more worried about me. You are my everything I'd never leave you.” In between every sentence that left his mouth, you couldn't help but smile gripping onto him as if he disappeared and he did the same looking into your eyes with worry as he said each sentence. But no matter how worried he was there was a fire of determination to prove his love was real and that you were his end game. “if anything I'm trying to find ways to keep you with me forever. I’d plead to the gods just to have you again in another life,” he said again rubbing your cheek as you laughed.
“Your obsessed with me aren’t you,” you said sweetly looking into his eyes. He only nodded smiling at your smile. “Good because I’m just as obsessed with you,” you said back. his smiling deepening as he rushed to take your lips.
“You’re forever mine,” he said in between pecks. You giggled at his possessives. “And your forever mind right,” you asked questioning. He looked at you with slight confusion a small pout. “Say it with conviction,” he said looking into your eyes studying your face as you smiled again, “Your forever mine,” you said this time with just as much determination as him. He smiled as he peck your lips.
“Louder,” he said simply. “say it again but louder,” he said again pleading running through his voice.
“YOUR FOREVER MINE,” you said again. Him slightly wincing at your loudness but he giggled as he pecked your lips again.
“And don’t you dare forget it,” he said going back in for a longer kiss. Deepening as your lips moved. You sighed happily feeling every loving thought every loving touch he tried to tattoo upon your heart your soul.
The kiss grew with urgency to help you remember this moment for the next time that stupid voice was in your head.
He suddenly pulled away but not before pecking the areas of your face. You giggled in response, “Channie” you said softly with giggles still slipping from your lips. He pulled back so he could kiss your lips softly only touch your lip as if stamping his love with approval.
He pulled back again this time picking you up in his arms as he led you to the kitchen. You laughed loudly and slapped his chest softly.
“What are you doing,” you said as he walked looking down at you with a smile.
“Oh nothing just taking the love of my life to the kitchen so we can have breakfast together,” he said as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
Your heart beating at his words and looking at his face for any lies or anything foul but as you looked you only found his love for you. You only leaned up kissing his cheek. “And what does the love of my life want to eat,” you said whispering in his ear. His cheeks blushing at your question.
He smirked a little something naughty brewing in his mind, “I’d say you but sadly humans have these things called stomachs and while I think you are more than enough I guess I can settle for some pancakes and maybe if you're keen I can have a little nibble of you,” he said setting you down on the counter. You looked away as a deep blush settled onto your face. Still to this day, you could never understand how he could be so sweet and charming to so devilish in a mere second.
“Christopher,” you said covering your smile as he only laughed kissing the side of your head. “chocolate or blueberry,” he said simply in response pulling your face back to his own smiling face.
“Chocolate,” you said back with your own smile. But as you tried to get off to help with the ingredients he shook his head keeping you there. “Nope not today,” he said rubbing circles on your hips with his thumb. “Today my love gets to sit pretty as I make them breakfast,” Your face forming to protest but he silent you with a kiss that linger only slightly before pecking again.
“If you're really itching to help you sit their and tell me hot I am when I mix the batter,” he said again. You only laughed at him, “your egos so big,” you said looking lovingly into his eyes. He only scoffed, “How could I not be when I get to wake up to the love of my life every morning,” he said inches away from your lips.
You only pushed him away before he could kiss you again, he looked slightly offended at you pushing him away but smiled as you blew him a kiss, “You dork just go make the pancakes and maybe I’ll cheer you on hot stuff,” you said jokingly his smiling winding at your words as he caught your kiss bringing it to his heart.
Oh yeah, you guys were definitely stuck with each other. But you wouldn't have it any other way.
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After reading notes: hahahaha I hope I didn't fill your delusions too much. But when looking for my own stores to read I can't help but feel a lack of soft Chan moments. He always written as the leader and this tough steam engine that could if you read the feugo like stories. And while I don't disagree with him being this hot dom, I can't help but to crave more of his softer sides that we get to see pop out every once in awhile when he decides to make his presence known in content. I treasure those moments because it reminds me that he still gets to feed into that inner child every so often. I just hope he feels as loved as he does with Y/N in this. Sorry brb gonna go write in my diary about being obsessed with some random Idol that doesn't know I exist. Ha very much feeling spain again. RIP :(: Hope you enjoyed, write again soon.
#bang chan#bang chan x reader#bang chan fluff#bang christopher chan#stray kids x reader#stray kids fluff#stray kids x you
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Hi, I read your Frederick/Reader and absolutely fell in love with your writing style. Was kicking my feet type shi😭 If you’re willing to, could you write for Victor Grantz in the same format ? If you do my world genuinely will be complete.
Thanks and have a good one!
WARNINGS: GENDER NOT SPECIFIED + NOT PROOFREAD
NOTES: The way you worded your request was hilarious thank u so much and sorry this took super duper long…consider this my early Christmas gift to you. I hope this is the format you wanted 🥹❤️❤️❤️
Meeting Victor is like trying to pet a stray cat: approach too quickly, and he’s gone before you even say “hello.” He’s a master of the subtle retreat—one second there, the next, poof, like smoke in the wind. Victor’s shy, wary nature doesn’t just make him skittish; it’s practically an Olympic sport. He’s the reigning champion of Avoidance 101.
But don’t worry—if you come at him gently, with no sudden movements and a kind heart, he might cautiously peer out from behind the metaphorical couch. It’s a process though, so buckle up for the long haul. Winning Victor’s trust is less about grand gestures and more about the quiet, unspoken ones.
Want to impress him? Forget the flashy declarations of friendship and instead offer to help him feed the strays or—better yet—silently leave him a little note of encouragement. He’ll find it later, blush like a tomato, and spend three days overthinking how to say “thank you.”
Victor values people who respect his boundaries like they’re sacred artifacts in a museum—look, but don’t touch, unless invited. The tiniest, most understated acts of care leave the biggest impression on him.
Did you pick up a letter he dropped without making a big deal about it? Congratulations, you’re now a recurring character in the cinema of Victor’s mind. He’ll replay that scene like it’s Oscar-worthy, analyzing it frame by frame. “Were they just being kind, or did they pity me?” he’ll wonder at 3 a.m., sandwiched between anxiety and the hope that maybe—just maybe—you actually like him for who he is.
Spoiler alert: Victor is going to assume pity at first. That’s just his brand.
Victor’s idea of initiating a conversation is basically an international diplomatic incident. He’s not one to start talking, because, let’s be honest, that requires bravery, and he’s still working up to being brave enough to ask for extra ketchup at the fast food drive-thru. But once he trusts you and that’s a long journey involving more emotional hoops than the Olympics, he’ll let slip little nuggets of his inner world.
He’ll drop these tiny little gems about himself like it’s a treasure hunt, but you’ve got to be quick, because they’re easy to miss. One day, he might casually mention how a certain flower takes him back to his childhood—cue the mental image of him as a tiny, awkward version of himself, surrounded by daisies.
Another time, he might comment on how people’s faces light up when they get letters, like he’s some sort of professional mail therapist who knows the emotional impact of a good envelope. When Victor opens up, it’s like witnessing a rare bird in the wild—blink and you might miss it.
Victor is not one for blatant hints, because he’s too busy trying to avoid direct confrontation (his skill at this could be rivaled only by the world’s most skilled diplomats). So, no, he’ll never explicitly ask for your company, because that would require him to open his mouth and risk exposing his soft, squishy emotional side.
Instead, his actions do the talking—though they might need a bit of interpretation, so keep your detective hat on. Victor might subtly adjust his delivery route so it conveniently passes by places you frequent. It's almost as if he’s carefully plotting to get within a five-foot radius of you, and hey, who could blame him? Maybe he’s just really into the whole “unexpectedly running into people you know” thing.
Or, if he’s really feeling bold, he’ll linger a little longer when dropping off your mail, as if the mailbox suddenly has some profound existential meaning. If you happen to notice this and casually join him (because you are a good person who isn’t going to let Victor spiral into further awkwardness alone, right?), he’ll be overjoyed—but also extremely flustered, because admitting he wants you around would require him to admit he has feelings. And that, my friend, is a level of vulnerability he’s not quite ready for. But don’t worry, his heart’s doing the cha-cha on the inside.
Victor is a masterclass in the actions speak louder than words school of love. He’s not going to serenade you with declarations of affection or wax poetic about how your eyes sparkle like the morning dew—because, frankly, just thinking about that would make him combust.
Instead, he shows he cares in his own quiet, sneaky way. Mention your favorite tea once, and guess what? He’ll remember it for eternity. He’s got a mental file labeled Your Preferences: Highly Classified that’s better organized than the national archives.
You’ll casually say, “Oh, I’ve been meaning to read this one book,” and BAM—next thing you know, it’s magically in your mailbox with a little note that just says, “Thought you might like this.” And if there’s a stray cat you always stop to pet, Victor will casually start carrying an extra biscuit in his satchel for it.
Let’s be honest, though—if you look hungry enough, that biscuit might end up being for you. It’s basically his love language: tea, books, and snacks.
If you want to make his day, just sit next to him quietly and do something peaceful together. He’s like a houseplant—happy just existing in the same space as you, soaking up the shared sunlight.
Whether you’re tending a garden, reading side-by-side, or helping stray animals, those moments make him feel like he’s starring in his own low-budget indie movie (the kind with no dialogue but lots of meaningful glances).
There’s no pressure to talk, and that’s exactly how he likes it. If he had his way, his life would just be a montage of cozy, quiet activities with you, set to the soft plink of piano music.
Of course, Victor’s social anxiety has a habit of pulling pranks on both him and everyone else. One minute, he’s enjoying your company; the next, he’s retreating like a vampire caught in the sunlight. No explanation, no warning—just poof, gone. It’s not you, it’s him—and his brain, which likes to play a cruel game called Let’s Overthink This Until We Die.
If he avoids eye contact or looks like he’s considering tunneling through the nearest wall to escape, it’s not because you’ve done anything wrong. He’s probably just overwhelmed and desperately trying to remember how humans are supposed to behave. Give him some space, and he’ll come back once he’s convinced himself you don’t secretly think he’s the most awkward person alive.
Spoiler: he totally thinks you think that anyway.
Victor wrestles with an Olympic-level sense of unworthiness, like his brain has its own personal commentator constantly reminding him, “And here we have Victor, doubting his ability to be loved again—10 points for consistency!”
He struggles to believe that anyone could genuinely care for someone like him, especially given his arsenal of awkwardness and insecurities. Seriously, if self-deprecation were a sport, he’d have a gold medal and a sponsorship deal.
But here’s the thing: if you’re patient and reassuring, he’ll eventually start peeling back the layers of his fears. He might quietly admit to his scopophobia (fear of being stared at), his doubts about whether he’s even capable of forming meaningful relationships, or—prepare yourself for heartbreak—his lingering sadness over never receiving a letter addressed just to him. (Excuse me while I cry forever.)
When this happens, please, for the love of all that is good, don’t panic and start shouting affirmations at him like you’re his personal life coach. Victor thrives on calm, gentle reassurance, not pressure or raised voices. Your steady, quiet presence is like emotional chamomile tea to his frazzled soul.
Despite all his self-doubt, Victor is ridiculously perceptive about your emotions, even if he doesn’t always know what to do about them. He’s the kind of guy who notices you’re upset before you even realize it yourself.
Did you sigh a little too heavily or stare off into space for three seconds longer than usual? Victor clocked it. And while he might not be the type to launch into a grand speech about feelings, he’ll wordlessly show his care in his own way.
Maybe he’ll leave a single flower on your desk—no note, no explanation, just there, like a little whisper of “I see you.” Or, if he’s feeling extra sneaky, he might nudge Wick in your direction, because let’s be real: nothing cheers a person up like an adorable animal who’s clearly been coerced into playing emotional support.
One thing Victor absolutely loves is writing letters. And by love, I mean obsesses over to an absurd degree. His letters to you are the perfect blend of poetic and adorably clumsy, like he’s trying to pour his heart out but keeps tripping over the words.
One moment, you’ll be reading something surprisingly profound about how much he values your presence, and the next, you’ll find a sentence where he’s clearly panicked mid-thought and gone with something hilariously awkward. (“Your eyes remind me of… uh… really nice things!”)
But what makes these letters so special is how deeply personal they are.
They’re filled with gratitude for the quiet joy you bring into his life, written in a way that’s so uniquely him you can practically hear him fumbling through each line. Honestly, if love languages were mail-based, Victor would be your number-one postman.
Crowds and Victor go together about as well as oil and water—or Victor and social confidence. But if you casually mention liking something, prepare yourself, because this man will brave the seventh circle of hell (the local market) to get it for you.
Picture it: Victor, sweating bullets, weaving through bustling streets like a man on a mission, clutching his satchel like it’s a lifeline. He’ll return flustered but victorious, the prized item wrapped so carefully you’d think it was made of glass.
His face will be a mix of relief and pride, as if he’s just slain a dragon. (To be fair, for Victor, that is the equivalent.) Don’t be surprised if he brushes off your thanks with an awkward, “Oh, it was nothing,” while secretly hoping you’re impressed by his bravery. Spoiler alert: you should be.
Wick, Victor’s trusty dog, isn’t just a pet—he’s practically a third wheel in your relationship. And, honestly? It’s adorable.
Victor sees Wick as an extension of himself, so when Wick curls up in your lap or adorably gnaws at your shoelaces, that’s basically Victor saying, “I trust you with my soul, but, you know, through the dog.”
The moment you start caring for Wick—feeding him, petting him, or playing fetch—Victor’s heart practically bursts into a thousand sparkly pieces. Watching you with Wick is like watching someone hold a tiny, fluffy version of his heart in their hands. Wick’s antics aren’t just cute; they’re a whole bonding experience.
Honestly, at this point, the three of you are a family. Wick’s the child, Victor’s the awkwardly doting dad, and you’re the incredibly patient parent trying to keep them both in line.
Arguments with Victor are about as common as a solar eclipse: rare, slightly uncomfortable, and leaving everyone a bit disoriented afterward. Confrontation isn’t in his wheelhouse—if there’s tension, his first instinct is to retreat like a turtle into its shell.
If he’s hurt, he won’t blow up or yell; instead, he’ll quietly pull away, letting his mind run a marathon of overthinking. By the time you’ve moved on, he’s still replaying the argument on loop like a bad soap opera. But here’s the thing: Victor is ridiculously introspective.
Once he’s processed his emotions a process that may or may not involve pacing, Wick cuddles, and at least one existential crisis, he’ll write you a letter. And not just any letter—a heartfelt, soul-baring essay on what went wrong, why he feels the way he does, and how much he still values you.
Victor’s ultimate dream isn’t flashy—it’s not a yacht, a mansion, or a five-star lifestyle. No, in Victor’s perfect world, it’s just the two of you, Wick happily trotting at your heels, living your best life of ultimate domesticity.
No loud parties, no awkward small talk, just a quiet house with a cozy garden and maybe a suspiciously large collection of rocks Victor has insisted are “artistic.” The joy of daily routines—making tea, feeding stray animals, and Victor nervously handing you love letters he’s rewritten five times—is his idea of pure bliss. If this man ever proposes, it’s going to involve Wick wearing a bowtie and an “I woof you” sign, so brace yourself for maximum wholesome chaos.
One day, Victor might finally muster the courage to show you his favorite quiet spots. Each one has a backstory that’s equal parts sweet and painfully awkward.
There’s the meadow where he feeds stray animals because, of course, he’s secretly the neighborhood Dr. Dolittle. There’s the stream where he collects smooth stones, claiming they “help him think,” even though he’s just really bad at skipping rocks. And then there’s the old tree. Beneath its branches is a hollow stuffed with letters Victor was too shy to deliver as a teenager.
You’ll probably find one addressed to “That Kind Lady at the Bakery Who Smiled Once,” because he’s been like this forever. And if you’re really lucky, he’ll read one out loud, stammering through every word.
Over time, you become more than just his partner—you’re his anchor, his emotional life raft, and occasionally his human shield in crowds. While Victor still breaks into a cold sweat at the thought of socializing (his personal Mount Everest), your presence helps him step outside his comfort zone.
Maybe he’ll start saying “hello” to strangers instead of just nodding and looking at his feet, or—dare we dream—he’ll manage a full conversation without overanalyzing it later.
Knowing you’ll always have his back gives him the courage to face the terrifying world of small talk and eye contact. And when he’s feeling especially brave, he might even join you in a crowd without Wick acting as his emotional chaperone. Just don’t expect miracles—Victor’s still Victor, after all. But you love him either way, shy or not <3
CHRISTMAS BONUS
Yes, it’s his birthday, but it’s also Christmas, and let’s just say the holiday tends to hog the spotlight like a diva at center stage. While everyone’s busy decking the halls and roasting chestnuts, Victor’s birthday barely gets a whisper. Imagine being handed a gift as a kid and hearing, “This counts for Christmas and your birthday!”—traumatizing, honestly.
As an adult, he’s resigned himself to the overshadowed celebrations, but deep down, it still stings a little. But that’s where you come in.
If you acknowledge his birthday with a small, heartfelt gesture—a handwritten card, a bouquet of winter flowers, or even a slightly burnt homemade cookie—he’ll be so touched he might need to sit down. (Emotionally overwhelmed Victor is a sight to behold—think deer in headlights but with more blushing.)
On Christmas morning, Victor isn’t inside unwrapping presents or sipping cocoa by the fire like a normal person. Nope, he’s outside in the frosty dawn, feeding the stray animals, because of course he is.
When you join him, he won’t make a big deal about it, but his face will light up like a Christmas tree—albeit a very understated one. Without a word, he’ll pull out an extra scarf from his satchel and gently wrap it around your neck. If you thank him, he’ll just mumble something about it being cold, all while his ears turn red.
Wick, meanwhile, will be living his best life, barking like a lunatic and spinning around your feet in an uncoordinated display of canine excitement. Between the wagging tail, Victor’s shy smiles, and the soft crunch of snow underfoot, it’ll feel less like a Hallmark movie and more like a quiet, perfect slice of real life—the kind of moment Victor secretly dreams about but never dares to ask for.
Victor’s favorite part of the holidays isn’t the gifts he receives—it’s watching other people open theirs. Specifically, your gift. While you’re tearing into the wrapping paper, Victor is sitting there, looking like a bundle of nerves wrapped in a sweater, his amber eyes fixed on you with a mix of hope and terror.
His present is always something he’s put way too much thought into: a delicate trinket he made himself, like a pressed flower bookmark or a small wooden carving of you and Wick that probably took him hours. He’ll fidget like crazy as you look at it, practically sweating bullets, and then stammer out something like, “I-I wasn’t sure if you’d like it, but I thought, uh... maybe…”
Here’s the thing: you’d better say you love it. Not just “like it,” but full-on, scream-with-joy love it. Why? Because poor Victor will have spent approximately 400 sleepless nights agonizing over that gift. When you smile and tell him it’s perfect, he’ll just about melt into the couch with relief.
Externally, he’ll nod and mumble, “I’m glad,” like it’s no big deal, but internally, he’s bursting into a fireworks display so sparkly it could rival New Year’s Eve. Wick might sense the mood too and start barking happily, adding to the chaos.
In the evening, as the holiday buzz winds down, you and Victor find yourselves by the fire, sharing a quiet, intimate moment. He’s wrapped in a blanket like a burrito, and his hands are cradling a mug of tea that he’s barely touched because he’s too busy working up the courage to speak.
Finally, he starts recounting a few childhood Christmases. His voice is soft and hesitant, like he’s afraid the words might shatter if he says them too loudly. The stories themselves are simple—a handmade toy from a neighbor, the first time he saw snow—but his eyes glow with such quiet contentment that you can practically see the warmth of those memories written all over his face.
When the fire burns low, the two of you head out for a walk. Snow is falling in soft, lazy flakes, the kind that makes the world feel like it’s holding its breath. Wick, of course, is living it up, bounding ahead and occasionally stopping to sniff a suspicious patch of snow before darting off again.
Meanwhile, Victor stays close to you, his gloved hand brushing yours but never quite daring to hold it unless you make the first move. For once, he doesn’t feel the usual anxiety about being seen. The world could be watching, but with you beside him, it doesn’t matter. He feels safe, as though the snow-covered streets and the warmth of your presence are enough to shield him from everything else.
And if Wick comes barreling back mid-walk, absolutely covered in snow and looking absurdly pleased with himself, Victor might let out the softest laugh you’ve ever heard. It’s rare, like spotting a shooting star, and it fills the quiet evening air with a joy so pure you can’t help but smile.
#victor grantz#idv x you#idv x reader#identity v x you#identity v x reader#identity v#Victor Grantz x reader#identity v postman#idv postman#idv victor#idv victor grantz#victor grantz idv
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a gesture across time
Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman
Summary: Lando, distracted during a pre-race briefing at the Dutch Grand Prix, finds himself fixated on TikTok videos of Amelie performing in Mexico. Her success stirs up feelings he's been trying to bury, leading him to impulsively order yellow tulips for her.
Wordcount: 1.0 k
Warnings: just fluff
full masterlist // request over here!
August 25, 2023 – Zandvoort, Netherlands
Lando sat slouched in his chair in the team briefing room, trying to pay attention as the engineers and strategists went through the usual pre-race rundown. It was another humid morning in Zandvoort, the waves of heat rolling in through the windows and making the air feel thick. He glanced around, catching the occasional murmurs from his teammates and a few glances at the clock ticking toward the start of practice.
It was hard to concentrate. His thoughts kept drifting elsewhere. He didn’t even realize how long he’d been holding his phone in his hand, scrolling through TikTok. The screen flickered with video after video, but the algorithm had decided it was time for him to revisit a familiar face: Amelie.
Every other video was of her, performing for a massive crowd at the Foro Sol in Mexico City, opening for Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour. The clips were breathtaking: Amelie, radiant in a shimmering outfit, her voice soaring above the crowd as she belted out the lyrics to “Feather” under the lights, the Mexican crowd singing along. It was the culmination of a dream she’d been chasing for as long as he knew her.
Lando felt a knot form in his stomach. He didn’t know why it hit him like it did. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen her perform before; he’d seen the clips, the snippets, the interviews. But this—this was different. This was her dream. The one she had talked about late at night, when the rest of them were playing games or chatting casually. Opening for Taylor Swift. Selling out arenas. The world loving her.
And now, there she was, making it happen.
He felt a wave of pride rush over him. It was almost overwhelming, like a flood of emotions he didn’t know how to process. He wasn’t even sure how to feel about it. They’d been through so much—their messy, chaotic relationship from 2020 to 2021, the fallout, the years of silence. And even though they hadn’t spoken in months, even though they hadn’t really been anything but strangers in each other’s lives since their last run-in in Monaco—god, he still cared.
It wasn’t supposed to matter. But somehow, it did.
Lando scrolled past another video of her, her smile wide as she waved to the crowd. Then a thought hit him—a flash of something impulsive, something that felt right despite how reckless it was.
Yellow tulips.
She’d always loved yellow tulips, he remembered. It was something small, something trivial, but it was something he’d learned about her back in their time together. A quiet moment on a balcony in Monaco, just after a long day, when she’d told him that yellow tulips were her favorite flowers. He could still picture the way her eyes had lit up when she said it.
Without even thinking about it, he started typing, pulling up the page for a flower delivery service. He was aware of the irony of it all. The thought of sending her flowers after everything—after the way they ended—felt like both a statement and a confession, a way to acknowledge that something had been left unfinished between them.
But he couldn’t stop. He filled out the details, unsure if he was just being impulsive or if he was actually making a move to fix something.
"Yellow tulips to the Foro Sol" he typed, his fingers moving before he could overthink it.
Lando stared at the confirmation screen for a moment, then exhaled slowly, as if he’d been holding his breath this whole time. He clicked "confirm."
There was no turning back now. The tulips would be sent, and he would have to live with the consequences. Two possible outcomes, he thought to himself: one, she loved them. Two, she threw them in the trash.
Neither scenario seemed ideal, but at least he could live with the fact that he’d tried. That he’d done something that wasn’t just about himself for once. It was for her. Maybe, in some small way, it was an apology, or a way to show her that, despite everything, he still cared.
—Are you even listening?— one of the engineers asked, breaking him from his trance. Lando blinked up at him, suddenly aware that everyone was looking at him.
—Yeah,— Lando muttered, clearing his throat. —Yeah, just thinking. Sorry.—
The engineer raised an eyebrow but moved on, continuing the briefing. But Lando’s head was still spinning.
He couldn’t explain it. He couldn’t explain why he still felt this pull towards her, why her smile in those TikTok videos made his heart ache. They hadn’t talked in months, hadn’t shared more than a few awkward moments in the past year. They weren’t friends, and they weren’t anything more than exes.
But still.
She was out there, living her dream, and he was here, in the middle of a Dutch Grand Prix weekend, trying not to think about her.
He didn’t even know what he expected from sending the flowers. Maybe it was a way to prove to himself that he wasn’t the same guy he was before. A way to show her he wasn’t the person who messed things up, that he could be better now. Maybe it was just the thought of her, still somewhere in the back of his mind, even after everything that had happened.
Lando sat back in his chair, a sudden tension in his chest. He wanted to believe that he was over it, that the years of silence had made him stronger, less affected. But it was hard to ignore how much he still cared. She was still her, after all. Amelie. The girl who had once been his whole world.
It didn’t matter that they were no longer anything.
The flowers would be delivered tomorrow. He would know soon enough whether or not she even cared.
But for now, he could only hope that somehow—somewhere—this would make her smile.
Maybe, just maybe, it could be the start of something new.
#f1 fluff#lando norris#lando norris fluff#f1 fanfic#f1 x reader#lando norris fanfic#lando x reader#f1#f1 smau#formula 1#lando fluff#lando x you#f1 fic#formula 1 fanfic#formula one#singer#sabrina carpenter#lando norris x singer!#lando#lando norris x you#lando norris x reader#lando norris x y/n#lando norris x oc#lando x singer!#lando x y/n#f1 imagine#short n sweet#short n sweet tour#sabrinasource#sabrina carpenter edit
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Manners (Part 2, Final)
Viscount Joshua Hong is by far the most eligible bachelor in London. Rich, handsome, and renowned for his excellent manners and refined tastes. Young woman would kill for the chance to be the Viscount's chosen bride. But nobody can quite determine which of the young ladies he prefers, and you are beginning to have your doubts. Is the Viscount really as gentlemanly as the ton seems to think?
Genre: Joshua Hong x Female!reader. Regency!AU (It's sort of Bridgerton-esque in the sense that I give zero attention to historical accuracy and prioritize aesthetics lmao) You are a sibling to all the Lees (Woozi, DK, Dino) so your last name is Lee but the reader has no other specific characteristics, physical or otherwise.
Word Count: 5.2k+
Part 1
Series Masterlist [I would highly recommend reading the earlier stories in this series, Patience, and Candle, before this one but it's not strictly necessary.]
![Tumblr media](https://64.media.tumblr.com/314faebe9dcbf99c864a5b83ee0e3fef/b6a4058bcabb35e6-1f/s540x810/2142b4926cc61e2c15a5e3a11b3ec4d30ed54414.jpg)
You had never been formally courted before, and therefore had no inkling of what to expect from your new courtship with Viscount Hong. Indeed, you had scarcely even processed the events of the night before. The entire evening- right from Viscount Hongs' unannounced arrival up until his proposal of marriage- felt rather like an intense fever dream.
You were awoken from a fitful sleep early that morning by your maid.
“Miss- oh miss, you must awaken, there has been a delivery for you!” she cried frantically.
You sat up in bed and rubbed your tired eyes. Lily and Nessie ran into your room in their nightgowns, giggling as they climbed up onto the bedcovers. They were followed by two maids struggling to carry an enormous basket of arranged pink and red roses between them. They placed the assortment precariously on your bedside table.
“What is this?” you asked, confused.
“A delivery for you miss- there is a card as well.”
The maid handed you the card and your sisters climbed up behind you eagerly to peek at it.
“Read it aloud!” Lily ordered, and you had no choice but to take the card into your hands and read out the message written in Viscount Hong’s neat and careful handwriting.
Miss Lee,
I thought perhaps some flowers would brighten your morning- I hope the events of last night have not caused you too much distress. I did fear that writing to you would be too forward but then again, I believe we can agree that the mistake I have made so far is failing to be forward enough.
May I persuade you to join me for a ride in the park this evening? If you are concerned about the lack of a chaperone, you may bring Chan- I will ensure an extra horse is available for him.
Yours,
Joshua
Lily and Nessie squealed in delight and even the maids were biting back their smiles. Sending flowers and a personalised invitation was a bold and romantic gesture indeed; you could not help the fluttering that arose in your heart.
It appeared that Viscount Hong meant business.
—-----------------------------------------
“I did suspect that Joshua might harbour some affection for you,” Jihoon admitted over breakfast. Your father was eating in his study, leaving you and your siblings to speak freely about the previous night's events in the dining room. “He always asks after you whenever he sees me or Seokmin.”
Seokmin agreed, mouth full of scrambled eggs. “He does ask about you often, now that I think of it, but I thought he was only being polite. The Viscount is always so well-mannered.”
You frowned at your brother. “Unlike you, Seokmin. Please swallow your food before you speak.”
“It’s only us siblings here,” Seokmin protested.
“You should be setting a better example as a gentleman for Chan.”
Chan scoffed before sipping at his tea. “Please don’t insult me, sister. I know better than to emulate anything Seokmin does.”
They began to argue and you did not have the energy or inclination to interrupt them. The gravity of your situation was slowly beginning to set in. You still harboured a certain girlish pleasure at the thought of Viscount Hong being in love with you- but you were also forced to begin thinking about what this proposal from a nobleman so superior in station to you would mean for you and your family.
Jihoon noticed your expression.
“Are you all right, sister?” he asked gently as Seokmin and Chan continued to argue.
You turned to your elder brother with a hesitant smile. Jihoon was certainly the most mature of your siblings, and you trusted him implicitly.
"Do you think it will be alright? The entire ton has been watching to see whom the Viscount will marry. I cannot even begin to think of how many young ladies must have their sights set on him. The thought of the gossip alone…"
Jihoon smiled kindly. "I did not think you were the sort of woman to be easily disturbed by gossip, sister."
"I-I am not, but you must admit that people will talk about it and you know that everyone holds him in exceedingly high regard while I am…" you bit your lip and looked at your brother, hoping he would understand your fears.
Jihoon sighed and nodded. "I won't lie. It is an unexpected proposal and will certainly generate some surprise among the ton."
"What should I do?"
"I am sure word has not spread just yet. You should speak to Joshua about your fears."
You sighed and nodded. Perhaps you should.
—--------------------------------------------------
It was a warm and pleasant afternoon; perfect for a ride in the park. Unfortunately, this meant that many other members of the ton had made similar plans. You were uncomfortably aware of the curious stares of some young ladies who passed by you on the walking trail.
The Viscount was already waiting for you and Chan with the horses, but you had to stand aside and wait for a few moments as Chan monopolised the Viscount's attention. Once your younger brother's questions had been answered and he had taken his pick of the horses, the Viscount carefully took the reins of the horse you would ride and turned to you with a smile.
"May I help you up, Miss Lee?"
Joshua stepped closer to you when you nodded. You tried not to show how flustered you felt when he gently took your hand and placed it on his shoulder, giving you the boost you needed to push yourself up onto the horse and seat yourself side-saddle.
"Are you comfortable?" he asked with a caring smile.
"Uh-yes, yes thank you very much," you replied.
The Viscount and Chan each mounted their own horses. The three of you began a slow-paced ride around the park, but Chan could not resist pushing the purebred horse for a little more speed.
"Chan! Don't go far, stay within sight!" you called after your brother as he went further ahead. Your brother merely lifted a hand to signal that he'd heard you.
The Viscount brought his horse up to trot gently alongside yours. He was a skilled rider.
"I… I received the flowers you sent me this morning," you began awkwardly in an attempt to make some conversation with Joshua. "Thank you. They were beautiful."
He nodded. "I am glad you liked them."
"I did. Very much."
"Have I made you uncomfortable, Miss Lee?" Joshua asked suddenly. He had a worried smile on his face.
"N-no, why would you think so?"
"You seem to be avoiding my eyes."
You cleared your throat. Why did Joshua have to notice? It was true. You couldn't look at him, and not only because he was extremely handsome and his kind eyes caused butterflies to erupt in your stomach. You were simply too aware of the people watching you- there was a group of young ladies near the trees that gaped at you openly, and another pair of gentlemen who had been casting glances at you since Viscount Hong had helped you up onto your horse.
"It… it is nothing," you said quickly.
Joshua sighed. "Miss Lee. Please. The intention behind this courtship is to make you more comfortable with me and to trust me. If there is anything that troubles you-"
"There are too many eyes on us," you blurted out.
Joshua was silent for a long moment.
"I see. I've made another mistake," he said quietly.
You turned to him with wide eyes. "No, not at all-"
"I have. It was quite foolish of me to ask you to come here with just your brother and no proper chaperone- and our courtship is not yet common knowledge to the ton. I failed to take your feelings into consideration, and-"
You felt miserable and rushed to correct him. "Viscount Hong, please, I never meant to suggest that you were responsible for this-"
"But I am responsible."
You shook your head and began to explain that it wasn't his fault, that it was your own insecurities and fears that were making you uncomfortable. But Joshua had already set his lips in a straight line and spurred his horse forward to catch up with Chan, leaving you behind.
This was not a good start.
Not at all.
—-------------------------------------------
The ride at the park ended earlier than it should have; Chan was vocally disappointed but you were too mortified by the entire incident to object and Joshua was firm in sending you home safely escorted by his servants.
Still; the damage was done.
Word of your potential courtship with Joshua Hong had spread among the ton and you were faced with the full extent of the situation not three days later, at the ball hosted by the Hessingtons.
Joshua had sent you flowers every single morning leading up to the ball, and had even written to apologise for his thoughtless invitation to ride in the park. He requested you to reserve him a dance at the Hessingtons' ball.
You had, of course, accepted.
The reality that this would be the first, formal social event where almost every single person in the room would have their eyes on you was clear from the moment you made your entrance with Jihoon and Seokmin.
You had become accustomed to blending into the background at balls- Seokmin was lively and charming, hence rarely had trouble obtaining his desired female dance partners. Jihoon was more reserved when it came to women and dancing. But he had many friends among the ton and was often in the company of other gentlemen engaging in conversations about business. You had always been content to sit at the sidelines, accepting the offer of a dance when you received one and mingling with other ladies when they approached you.
But a lady being courted by Viscount Joshua Hong did not have the luxury of being ignored by the ton.
“Miss Lee!” cried one of the more obnoxious gossip-mongers, Mrs. Patty, as soon as she found you alone at a bench. “You must come and dispel these strange rumours about you. Is it true that you are being courted by our lovely Viscount Hong?”
You hesitated. “Erm…”
“Ha!” Mrs. Patty cried triumphantly, turning to her companions. She understood your hesitation to be a confirmation of her beliefs. “I knew there was no chance that little Miss Lee could capture our Viscount. I have been quite observant of his attention to the Duchess of Graham of late and I believe it is only a matter of time until they announce their engagement.”
One of the other ladies tutted with disapproval. “But then Miss Lee must explain how she came to be riding in the park with Viscount Hong!”
Your response was interrupted by the sound of a strong female voice behind you.
“Miss Lee is not required to explain anything,” a young lady said sharply as she took your arm. You recognised her immediately, despite never having conversed with her before.
This was Miss Hong. Viscount Hong’s infamous younger sister.
"Miss Hong-" you began to greet her.
"Come, Miss Lee. I have saved a seat for you near the refreshment tables, and you must sit with me until the dancing begins," Miss Hong said simply.
You allowed her to lead you away from the gossip-mongers.
You knew what everyone in London society said about Miss Hong. She was praised for being the most skilled pianoforte player among the ton, and it was well established that there was no young lady who could rival the musical talents of the Viscount's sister.
But Miss Hong also had a reputation for being excessively fashionable, vain, and quick-tempered. While her status and wealth prevented anyone from saying so to her face, Miss Hong did not enjoy the same universal approval of society that her older brother did.
"Miss Hong," you said gently. "Thank you for interrupting on my behalf. I really did not know how to answer their questions."
She brushed off your gratitude. "You need not bother about Mrs. Patty. That odious woman has been trying to make my life miserable since I was a child. I am not surprised she attempted to sink her claws into you."
You smiled awkwardly. "I see."
"I have been looking forward to meeting this elusive Miss Lee that seems to have the power to make my brother miserable," she said. You were shocked by her words, but when you turned to look at her, she was giggling.
"I-I am so sorry, I really have no intention of upsetting the Viscount," you tried to explain.
"Oh Miss Lee, you are such a sweetheart!" Miss Hong said with a carefree laugh. "I meant that my normally suave brother makes the most foolish mistakes around you and then renders himself miserable afterwards. You needn't apologise to me, I find the whole affair quite entertaining."
You relaxed a little. You had been anxious about how Viscount Hong's family would react to your courtship but, judging from Miss Hong's behaviour, she at least did not openly disapprove of you.
"I warned Joshua he was being hasty about the proposal and that he should have someone speak to you first to assess your reaction," Miss Hong continued as she gestured for you to join her on the bench. "But he said it was not appropriate and that naturally he had to seek your father's permission before speaking to you."
You nodded. "I see…"
Miss Hong gave you a sympathetic smile. "My brother is kind but he is still a man. Society is more forgiving towards his type. He does not understand the fears and pressures that we face as young ladies."
You felt the need to defend your Viscount.
"He has certainly been very thoughtful and considerate towards me-"
Miss Hong laughed. "Has he? Or perhaps you are blinded by your love for him."
"But the entire ton agrees that the Viscount has the most excellent manners, and-"
"Oh," Miss Hong said scornfully. "The ton. Miss Lee, I am sorry to say that if you intend to marry my brother, you must learn to take the opinions of the ton with a pinch of salt. Being a Viscountess is not an easy job. And it is certainly not one for a weak or feeble-minded woman."
Her words struck you like a blow to the face.
A Viscountess. You would be a Viscountess if you were to marry Joshua. It suddenly occurred to you how much power and authority came from a title like that, and the strength and poise with which women carrying such coveted titles conducted themselves.
You had certainly never seen a Viscountess who stumbled over her words in front of gossiping old women.
Miss Hong noticed your sudden silence.
"I apologise if I have offended you, Miss Lee," she said quickly. "It was not my intention to call you weak or feeble-minded. I am sure you are neither. But if I may be so bold as to make a suggestion, purely coming from my goodwill as your potential future sister-in-law…"
You nodded at her. You did not know if Miss Hong was as vain or quick-tempered as the ton claimed. But in this confusing reality, she was the only person willing to tell you the truth.
"Please do," you said.
"You should use this courtship wisely. Not only to consider whether you wish to marry my brother… but also whether you wish to become a Viscountess. If you choose to marry Joshua, you should carry his title as a matter of pride, not as a burden. That is the only way you can be happy together."
Oh.
You took a deep breath as you considered her words and then turned to Miss Hong, clasping her hand in yours.
"Thank you," you told her quietly. "For your honesty."
She smiled- a sudden, genuine smile that was rare for the fashionable young debutante.
"Thank you for not being offended by it," Miss Hong replied. "Now, I regret to inform you that the dancing has begun and my brother approaches to claim your company for the first dance."
You nodded before turning to see that Joshua had indeed appeared from the crowd with his usual handsome smile.
"Miss Lee," the Viscount greeted you warmly, offering you his hand. He raised an eyebrow at his sister. "I hope my sister has not been troubling you."
"Not at all!" you said quickly. "She has been very kind."
Miss Hong stood and smiled as she smoothed down the front of her fashionably decorated ball-gown. "Excuse me- I have promised this dance to Mr. Hessington," she said lightly before disappearing into the crowd.
The Viscount turned to you.
"And I believe you have promised this dance to me," he reminded you with a smile.
"So I have."
You allowed Joshua to lead you out onto the floor for a pleasant waltz. The dance was not very demanding- and it allowed you both the chance to have a much-needed conversation.
"I do hope my sister did not trouble you," Joshua said slowly. "She is known to be rather…"
"Honest?" you asked.
"I was going to say impudent," he replied with a chuckle. "Although I dare say she usually means well."
"No, not at all. She helped me put things in perspective. I will admit that everything about our courtship is… new to me. I cannot help but have some fears and concerns about it all, and… I… I do not want you to think that I am ungrateful for the flowers and letters because I really am not, you have been very thoughtful and kind, I-I only…"
You were beginning to stumble over your words and your cheeks turned hot. Joshua's hand squeezed your gloved one reassuringly.
"Tell me," he pressed you softly. "I would like nothing more than to hear your feelings."
"I wish we could have a conversation," you admitted slowly. "Only the two of us. Without- without any interruptions or eavesdropping chaperones so that-that we could have an honest discussion about the future and what this really means for each of us."
Joshua's expression was gentle.
"Of course, Miss Lee. I agree entirely. I think we have stumbled blindly through this courtship without understanding each other. An open discussion would certainly help."
You nodded. "Well, yes. Open but…" you cleared your throat and glanced around you anxiously. "Well. Discreet, if you understand my meaning. Since we are not officially engaged."
He chuckled.
"Of course. I understand perfectly. Would you do me the honour of coming to the assembly rooms on Thursday evening? I believe I can arrange for our… discreet discussion there."
You smiled and nodded.
"Yes. Yes, that sounds wonderful."
"Excellent."
—---------------------------------------------------
Viscount Hong was a man of his word.
You arrived at the assembly rooms on Thursday; Seokmin had been glad to accompany you as he had a bet to settle at the card tables with Mr. Yoon Jeonghan.
Upon your arrival, the Viscount offered you his arm and requested your company for a walk around the gardens. You accepted- after all, you were now openly courting him, what harm could a walk about the gardens do? To your surprise, Joshua led you towards a thick copse of trees at the end of the path that provided complete cover and privacy from the rest of the gardens and the assembly rooms.
"Shall we speak here?" Viscount Hong asked you.
You nodded hesitantly. "Yes- I am shocked that you discovered this, it is such a private little corner."
Joshua looked slightly embarrassed. "The spot was recommended to me by Mr. Kim Mingyu. He is rather more… experienced than I am when it comes to finding ways to do things that society may not approve of."
You giggled. "You mean he is a rake."
"He admits it quite openly," Joshua agreed.
"And we will not be interrupted- nobody will accidentally stumble upon us here?" you asked nervously.
"It is unlikely. In any case, I have asked Mr. Kim to watch over the garden path from the balcony. If anyone begins to walk in this direction, he will send us a warning," Joshua replied.
You were flattered that Joshua would go to so much effort to indulge your simple request for a private conversation.
"Thank you," you told him honestly.
"It is the least I could do, Miss Lee. I understand that I have thrown quite a wrench in your life this past week. You have me quite flustered- I seem to repeatedly make poor judgements in your regard, and I will strive to remedy that."
You looked up to see the genuine regret in his eyes. It was still so strange to you that the Viscount should care so much about you and you could not help but feel a warmth towards him.
"Viscount Hong, please do not say so. You have not made any mistakes, really."
Joshua reached his hands out hesitantly towards yours. You realised that he was seeking permission to hold your hands- and you offered them to him freely.
His warm hands clasped yours.
"May I go first?" he asked.
You nodded.
"You asked me the other night why I wanted to marry you," Joshua began. He spoke slowly- as though every word was being carefully considered. "I will admit I was not prepared for that question, and I did a poor job of answering it. Will you allow me to answer it again?"
"Of course."
"Over the last year, ever since it became clear that the time had come for me to marry- I have met and considered many young women of my acquaintance. They all have their charms, of course, but I found that only your charms made a consistent and lasting impact on me."
You looked at him with surprise.
"My charms? I must insist you tell me what these are, Viscount Hong, since I am entirely unaware of them," you laughed as your cheeks slowly turned hot.
Joshua chuckled. "I would be glad to elaborate. I know your brothers well, Miss Lee, and I am familiar with the difficulties that your family has faced. I have watched you bear them with quiet dignity. You have a strength and maturity that is rare among young women of your age- indeed, rare for any person at all. Even in the face of my hasty proposal, you had the presence of mind to stop me and question me. You are kind and generous; but not a woman who is easily swayed. That is what makes me confident that you would be a perfect choice for a life partner, and makes me want more than anything in the world to be your husband."
Your heart swelled. It was strange; you had expected some vague words from him about love and admiration- something along the lines of what you read in novels.
But Joshua's answer gave you more confidence than any declaration of love could have.
You now understood that his proposal, as sudden as it may have seemed to you, was not a rash or hasty decision on his part. Joshua had watched you, considered you, understood you… and still chosen you.
"I… don't know if I deserve such praise," you told him softly. "I have not behaved very maturely this past week."
"What makes you say that?" he asked gently.
"I have been selfish. My fears and insecurities got the better of me, and I worried about the gossip that our courtship would create and what people would think. How they would react to you proposing to someone like me."
Joshua shook his head. "Those are reasonable fears. And I have not done a very good job of protecting you from the ton's speculations."
You took a deep breath and looked up at him.
"You do not need to protect me."
Joshua looked startled. "Miss Lee…"
"I have had time to think about what I want from our courtship, and what I can offer. Entering into this with the expectation that I should be protected from the hardships involved is foolish. If we are to be married, then I will be a Viscountess. I cannot live my life fearing the opinions of the ton."
Joshua smiled. Your face had taken on a determined expression. It was the first time since the night of his proposal that you looked like yourself again- without that fear and anxiety looming behind your eyes.
"You have nothing to fear from the ton," he assured you. "I will always be with you."
"Your sister said something to me that struck me deeply," you told him. "She said that if I was to become a Viscountess, then I should carry the title as a matter of pride and not as a burden."
Joshua sighed. "My sister has a strange relationship with pride."
"Perhaps so, but I think there is some truth in what she said," you replied. "It boils down to this… I would be proud to call myself your wife. And as long as you would be proud to call yourself my husband, then I do not think that there is anything society can do to ruin our happiness."
Joshua's eyes twinkled. His grip on your hands pulled you closer to him- you were mere inches away from him now and you could not tear your eyes away from his.
"Dangerous words, Miss Lee," he warned.
"Oh?"
"You are only making me fall more in love with you."
Your cheeks turned hot but you smiled up at him. "And you are treading dangerous waters, Viscount Hong. We are alone here, without a chaperone. I thought you were a gentleman?"
Joshua nodded. His eyes briefly flickered down to your lips. "I am. Will you allow me to kiss you?"
You flushed. "We are not even engaged…"
"I will stop if you ask me to."
"... Do not stop."
Joshua's right arm wrapped around your waist and pulled you closer to him. Your hands naturally placed themselves on his shoulders as he leaned down and pressed his lips to yours.
It was a delicate kiss; one filled with passion and longing. Joshua was careful with you. One of his hands cupped your cheek as he pulled away slightly. He pressed his forehead to yours and gave you a small smile.
"Have I made another mistake?" he asked breathlessly.
You felt light-headed from the kiss but you managed to look up at him with a small pout.
"You know perfectly well that you have not," you scolded him.
"I had to check- my judgement always fails me around you. You cloud my senses," Joshua whispered. "You are the only woman that can make me doubt my own actions."
You looked up at the handsome man in front of you with adoration.
"I would never want you to doubt yourself," you told him firmly.
"Then shall I kiss you again?"
"Please."
Joshua kissed you again- and again, and again, until you were both entangled in a mess of lips and tongues and limbs, allowing your bodies to express the adoration that words could not satisfy. In your heated whispers between soft, sensuous kisses, Viscount Hong became Joshua, and Joshua became my love.
—---------------------------------------------------------
The passionate courtship that ensued had the ton in an uproar.
It was all over the gossip sheets, and on the lips of every member of the ton: Miss Lee had cast a spell on Viscount Joshua Hong and he was absolutely smitten with her.
Joshua made no effort to abate the gossip. Instead, flowers and letters arrived at your doorstep every single morning. Some days he would send you presents; pretty little hand mirrors, ribbons, satin gloves…. always accompanied by love notes stating how they made him think of you. (He even once sent you a set of silk garters that was almost opened by Nessie. You scolded him thoroughly and his gifts remained family-appropriate thereafter).
Joshua danced with you-and only you- at every ball. It caused an immense displeasure among the ladies of the ton and Mrs. Patty even saw fit to complain to you on one occasion.
"How unfortunate that Viscount Hong will not look at the Duchess anymore," Mrs. Patty bemoaned openly to you. "She would have suited him so well- so rich and with her own title."
"Yes," you said to the older woman calmly. "It is unfortunate indeed that Viscount Hong has no need to marry for riches or titles. He shall have to settle with marrying for love, instead."
Mrs. Patty gave you a sharp look but you heard no more from her on the subject.
The whispers were not all pleasant, naturally. Many gossiped about how Viscount Hong was clearly marrying down, how your dowry and station and beauty were so far beneath his. It was painful when these whispers reached your ears- but it was a pain that you would gladly bear for the privilege of being with Joshua. To his credit, Joshua swiftly and politely silenced anything that reached his ears.
The weeks flew by; and on the 30th day from his initial hasty proposal, Viscount Joshua Hong appeared once more on your doorstep just before suppertime. (This time with notice- Dotty had been able to prepare her venison pie.)
"My father is away on business," you informed Joshua as you led him to the dining room where your siblings were all waiting for supper to be served. "So I am afraid that you will not be able to ask for his permission to propose to me again."
"How unfortunate," Joshua said with a chuckle as Lily ran up to him and greeted him with a hug. He lifted her into his arms easily and set her down in her seat at the table. "It would be very inappropriate to propose to you without permission- but whose permission shall I seek?"
Chan piped up. "You could ask Jihoon."
Jihoon looked up from his plate with a raised eyebrow. "I would not dare to assume such a monumental responsibility. You will have to seek permission elsewhere."
"Seokmin?" Joshua asked.
Seokmin shrugged. "Ask me again after supper. I am too hungry to grant any permissions at the moment."
Joshua chuckled. "Chan?"
Chan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I could be persuaded… for the price of an Arabian horse, perhaps?"
"Absolutely not," you said firmly.
Joshua settled down into his seat and turned to your little sister Lily, who was looking up at him with a big smile and a gap in her teeth.
"What shall I do, Lily?" Joshua asked her with a mock sigh. "I had hoped to propose to your elder sister tonight, but your father is not in town and none of your brothers will grant me permission."
Lily frowned. "Why do you need permission?"
"It is good manners to seek the permission of a woman's loved ones before making an offer to her."
"Then I shall grant you permission, Viscount Hong! You may marry my sister."
You couldn't hold back your laugh; Nessie giggled and the corner of even Jihoon's lips curved upwards. Joshua gracefully accepted her permission and then turned to you with his usual handsome, charming smile.
"Well, Miss Lee; what say you? Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" Joshua asked you with a chuckle. Lily looked up at you expectantly with big eyes.
You smiled back at Joshua.
"Well, since Lily has granted her permission…"
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes, Viscount Hong. I would be honoured to become your wife."
—--------------------------------------------------------
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