#I can't believe I went this long without ever seeing this fully. Even at the peak of my MJ obsession I never was able to seek this out

[mangle-my-mind]

hey so why hasn't anyone told me what a complete trip Michael Jackson Moonwalker is

[won4kiss]

⋆ ｡⋆୨୧˚— BACK TO ME

𝜗𝜚 ༘⋆ ⋆˙pairing. ex bsf! jake sim x fem! reader synopsis. after your best friend whom you were in love with suddenly moves to korea without telling you until the day before, comes back years later.. what will happen now? genre. angst ,, fluff ,, wc. 4100. 𝐥u𝐧a notes ⋆.˚ this actually took YEARS. 🫧 — 𝓵𝗂𝖻𝗋𝖺𝗋𝔂

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The golden sun dipped low over Bondi Beach, casting long shadows on the sand and tinting the waves with a fiery aqua glow. The air was warm, the kind of warmth that enveloped you like a comforting embrace.

But the atmosphere between you and Jake Sim was anything but comforting.

You and Jake had been inseparable since you were basically in diapers. Growing up in Sydney, the two of you had shared everything—from ice cream cones on intense hot summer days to whispered secrets under the stars.

You were best friends, confidants, each other's anchors. But that evening, standing on the beach where you'd shared so many memories through out your whole life, everything changed.

"I can't believe you did this, Jake!" you shouted, your voice breaking with emotion. The argument had been building for days, fueled by misunderstandings and unspoken feelings.

Jake's eyes, usually so bright and full of life, were clouded with hurt, anger, and frustration. "And I can't believe you won't even try to see my side of things!"

The cause of the argument was trivial in hindsight, a misunderstanding about your future plans after high school. Jake had been accepted into a prestigious university in Seoul, South Korea, and he'd decided to go without discussing it with you. It felt like a betrayal, like he was abandoning everything you had built together.

"I thought we were in this together," you said, your voice trembling. "You didn't even tell me you were applying Jake, I could’ve-“

Jake ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of exasperation you'd seen countless times. "I didn't think it mattered. I didn't want to hold you back, and I thought you'd be happy for me, and I know for a fact you don’t wanna go to Seoul.”

"Happy?" you echoed, the word tasting bitter in your mouth. "How can I be happy when you're leaving me behind?"

“And how do you know I wouldn’t go for you?” you say to yourself in the back of your mind.

The argument ended with harsh words and tears. Jake walked away, leaving you standing on the beach, your heart shattered. The next day, he was gone. Without a proper goodbye, Jake had moved to Korea, and you were left to pick up the pieces of your broken heart.

The years that followed were a blur of university life, part-time jobs, and attempts to move on. You threw yourself into your studies at the University of Sydney, trying to forget the boy who had once meant everything to you, and than had thrown you away like trash. You didn't follow Jake's life in Korea, it was too painful to see his success and wonder if he ever thought about you, while you thought about him endlessly. It was quite embarrassing, really.

Occasionally, you heard whispers of his achievements from other classmates who kept in touch with him. “Jake Sim had become a top student!” “Jake Sim is the heart throb of Seoul university!” He was living a life that seemed worlds away from yours.

But no amount of distance could erase the memories of your friendship. Late at night, when the world was quiet, and you left alone with your thoughts, you found yourself thinking about him—his laugh, his smile, the way he used to look at you like you were everything to him, The pain was a dull ache that never fully went away.

It was your third year at university, and life had settled into a comfortable routine. You had a close group of great friends, a part-time job at a local café, and a busy-busy course load that kept you busy. You had learned to live with the void Jake had left behind, even if it still hurt tremendously sometimes.

One crisp Summer morning, you walked into your first lecture of the semester, juggling a coffee cup and a stack of textbooks. The lecture hall was buzzing with chatter, but one voice stood out among the rest— your face falling at a voice you hadn't heard in years.

You froze, your heart pounding in your chest. Slowly, you turned to see him. Jake Sim. He was standing at the front of the lecture hall, talking to the professor. He looked older, more mature, but there was no mistaking those familiar features you had adored so much.

Jake's eyes met yours across the room, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. You could see the shock and recognition in his eyes, mirroring your own. The memories came flooding back, overwhelming you with a rush of emotions.

Before you could process what was happening, the professor began the lecture, and you had no choice but to settle down and find a seat. Your mind was racing with thoughts, unable to focus on the words being spoken. Jake was back. After all these years, he was here, back in the blazing Sydney sun at your university.

After the lecture, you hurried out of the hall, your thoughts in turmoil. You needed to clear your head, to understand what this meant, why he was back. But as you stepped outside, you felt a familiar warm touch on your arm.

"Wait," Jake's voice was soft, hesitant.

You turned to face him, your heart in your throat. Struggling to find words. "Jake..."

"I didn't know you'd be here," he said, his eyes searching yours. "I transferred here for a semester abroad. I didn't know you were still in Sydney."

There were so many things you wanted to say, so many questions you had. “You hadn’t asked”But the words caught in your throat, and all you could manage was a nod.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "For everything."

You felt a pang in your heart, he had broken you completely, and left the next day. What were you supposed to say? He was all you had known your entire life, and suddenly you had to learn how to breathe without him.

"I was so hurt, Jake," you finally said, your voice shaking. "You left without even saying goodbye, without even asking me what I wanted.”

He looked down, guilt, shame, and regret written all over his face. "I know. I was scared, stupid and young. I didn't know how to face you after what happened."

There was a long silence as you both stood there, the weight of the past pressing down on you. Finally, you took a deep breath. "Maybe we can talk? Later? There's a lot we need to say, and I’m kinda busy right now…”

Jake nodded, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "I'd like that so much. Can we meet at the café you used to work at? Tomorrow afternoon? If your free of course-“

You quickly cut Jake’s rambling off, knowing it was a habit of his when he was extremely anxious and nervous, and anxiety clouding over him.”

"Okay," you agreed, your heart pounding with an unfamiliar feeling, the feeling you felt all too many years ago when you were with Jake.

"Tomorrow."

The next day, you arrived at the café early, your nerves getting the best of you. You found a quiet corner and sat down, your thoughts a mix of anticipation and anxiety. When Jake walked in, your heart skipped a beat.

He spotted you and made his way over, a gentle smile on his lips. "Hey."

"Hi,” you replied, trying to steady your breathing.

Jake sat down across from you, and for a moment, neither of you spoke. The silence was heavy with the weight of unspoken words and unresolved feelings.

"I'm sorry," he said again, breaking the silence. "I know I hurt you, and I regret how I handled everything."

You looked at him, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me you were applying to universities in Korea?"

Jake sighed, running a hand through his hair and biting his lip, you found yourself with a soft smile seeing he still had his familiar habits.

“I didn't want to put any pressure on you. I thought it would be easier if I just made the decision on my own. But I was wrong. I should have talked to you about it."

The anger and hurt that had been simmering inside you for years bubbled to the surface. "You were my best friend, Jake. I thought we shared everything. But you just left without a word, and it felt like I didn't matter to you."

"You did matter," he said urgently. "You still do. I was scared, and I made a mistake. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I see now that I hurt you more than I ever imagined, and I never wanted that, I never ever wanted to cause you pain.”

The raw honesty in his voice cut through your anger, leaving you feeling exposed and vulnerable. "I missed you," you admitted, your voice barely above a soft whisper.

Jake reached across the table, taking your hand in his. The touch was gentle, familiar, and it sent a shiver down your spine. "I missed you too. Every day."

And you found yourselves smiling at each other, with that familiar look you had all those years in your eyes.

The conversation that followed was filled with tears and laughter, apologies and forgiveness. You talked about the past you had shared, about the dreams and the paths your lives had taken. The pain of the separation was still there, but so was the bond and understanding that had once made you inseparable.

Over the next few weeks, you and Jake spent more time together, slowly rebuilding the friendship you had lost. There were awkward moments and difficult moments and conversations, but there were also moments of genuine connection and understanding.

One evening, as you walked along the beach, the sky painted in hues of orange and pink, Jake stopped and turned to you. "Can we start over? As friends, and maybe... something more?"

You looked into his eyes, seeing the hope and vulnerability there. The years of hurt and distance had left their mark, but you knew that you still cared for him deeply. "I'd like that," you said, a small smile tugging at your lips. "But we need to take it slow. There's still a lot to work through."

Jake nodded, a look of determination in his eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes. I just want to be in your life again."

The months that followed were a journey of healing and rediscovery. You and Jake spent countless hours talking, laughing, and reminiscing about the past. The more time you spent together, the more you realized how much you had missed having him in your life.

Your friends noticed the change in you, the way your eyes lit up when you talked about Jake, the way you smiled more often. They were happy to see you reconnecting with someone who had once been such an important part of your life.

One evening, as you sat on the beach watching the waves crash against each other, Jake turned to you with a serious expression. "There's something I need to tell you."

Your heart skipped a beat, worried about what he might say. "What is it?"

"I've been offered a permanent position in Sydney," he said, his voice steady. "It means I can stay here, with you."

The relief that washed over you was overwhelming. You threw your arms around Jake, laughing with tears brimming in your eyes, burying your face in his shoulder. The tears came unbidden, a mixture of happiness and the release of long-held fears. Jake's arms tightened around you, holding you close.

"Hey, it's okay," he murmured, his voice soothing you as he mumbled onto your bare skin. "I'm not going anywhere this time, not without you."

You pulled back slightly, looking up into his eyes. "I was so scared you'd leave me again."

Jake brushed a strand of hair from your face, his touch gentle. "I promise, I'm here to stay. Not leaving you ever again love."

As you gazed into his eyes, you felt a sense of peace that had been missing for so long. The beach, the stars, the gentle sound of the waves—it all felt like the perfect backdrop for this new chapter in your lives, together.

Over the next few months, you and Jake focused on rebuilding your relationship, strengthening it and laying the foundation for something stronger and more resilient than before. You spent time together, sharing stories of the years you had spent apart, learning about each other's lives all over again.

There were still moments of pain and doubt, shadows of the past that occasionally surfaced. But each time, you faced them together, talking through your fears and doubts. It was a process of healing, of learning to trust each other fully once more.

Jake's presence in your life brought a renewed sense of joy and purpose. You found yourself looking forward to the future with him by your side. You found yourself happier, youthful again.

It was a warm summer evening when you and Jake decided to have a picnic on the beach. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the sand and sea. You spread out a blanket, laughing as you struggled to keep it from blowing away in the gentle flowing breeze.

As you sat down, Jake handed you a sandwich he'd made. "I hope you like it," he said, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

You took a bite, savoring the familiar taste. "It's perfect," you said, smiling at him. "Just like old times."

Jake smiled back, a look of relief and admiration on his face. "I'm glad."

After you finished eating, you lay back on the blanket, gazing up at the twinkling stars. Jake lay beside you, his hand brushing against yours. The touch sent a shiver down your spine, a reminder of the unspoken feelings that had been building between you, the feelings all those years ago resurfacing.

"Do you remember when we used to stargaze here?" Jake mumbled softly.

"Of course," you replied, turning to look at him. "We'd make up stories about the constellations and dream about the future."

Jake's eyes were filled with a mix of nostalgia and longing. "I missed those moments, more than you could ever imagine.”

You reached out, taking his hand in yours. "Me too, Jakey.”

For a moment, there was only the sound of the waves and the distant hum of the city. Then, Jake leaned in, his gaze locked on yours. Your heart raced as he drew closer, his breath warm against your skin.

When his lips finally met yours, it felt so right, like all those years apart were worth it as it bought you to this very moment.

The kiss was gentle at first, a tentative exploration of emotions long held back. But as you responded, the intensity grew, a shared hunger for the connection you'd both been craving.

The world around you seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of you, wrapped in each other's arms. When you finally pulled away, breathless and smiling at eachother, with love in both your eyes, you knew that this was just the beginning.

With your relationship now onto the next step, and official, you and Jake faced new challenges. Balancing your studies, part-time jobs, and spending time together required constant planning and communication. There were moments of frustration and exhaustion, from being overworked and extreme tired, but you both pulled through together, because at the end of the day being in each other’s warm embrace was all worth it.

One evening, as you sat in your apartment studying for exams, Jake surprised you with a visit. He brought takeout from your favorite restaurant, knowing you'd been too busy to cook.

"Thought you could use a break," he said, setting the bags on the table.

You smiled, feeling a surge of affection for him. "You're a lifesaver."

As you ate together, you talked about your hopes and dreams, about the future you wanted to build together. The conversations were filled with laughter and occasional serious words, but through it all, there was a sense of partnership and mutual support.

Life was not without its storms, and one particularly dark evening, an old wound reopened. You had been out with friends, and when you returned to your apartment, you found Jake waiting for you, a troubled look on his face.

"What's wrong?" you asked, concerned.

Jake hesitated, then handed you his phone. "I got a message from someone in Korea. They want me to come back for a research project. It’s a great opportunity, but..."

Your heart sank. The fear of losing him again resurfaced, the old scars aching. "But you'd have to leave Sydney," you finished for him, your voice barely above a whisper.

Jake nodded, looking torn. "I don't want to go if it means losing you again. But it's a chance to work on something I'm passionate about."

You felt a mix of emotions—pride for his achievements, fear of being abandoned again, and a deep love that made you want the best for him.

"Jake, I can't ask you to give up your dreams. But I also can't go through losing you again."

You said as you felt your heart breaking.

Jake took your hands, his eyes pleading. "We'll find a way, We can make it work long distance. I won't make the same mistakes. I promise, please baby.” He says with eyes brimming with shiny tears.

Tears filled your eyes as you considered his words. "I just don't want to be hurt again, I can’t be hurt again Jake..”

Jake pulled you into his arms, holding you tightly. "Neither can I, We'll figure it out together, mm?”

The weeks that followed were a test of your determination to each other. You discussed every detail of how to maintain your relationship while he was in Korea. The planning was meticulous—scheduling video calls, visits, and ways to stay connected despite the distance.

The night before Jake was set to leave, you both stood on the beach, the moon casting a silvery glow on the waves. The familiar setting brought back memories of your first kiss, and the promises you had made to each other.

"Are you sure about this?" Jake asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.

You nodded, taking his hand. "Yes. We'll make it work. I believe in us, believe in you.” You say caressing the back of his neck as he wrapped his arms around you.

Jake's eyes were filled with emotion as he leaned in to kiss you. The kiss was filled with both longing and desperation, a promise to hold on to each other no matter what.

The months apart were challenging, but you and Jake found ways to keep the spark alive. Daily messages, video calls, and surprise care packages became your lifelines. You shared your successes and struggles, celebrated milestones, and comforted each other through the hard times.

There were moments of doubt, nights when the distance felt unbearable. But each time, you reminded yourselves of the love you shared and the future you were building together, the future that was so close in reach.

One evening, as you sat on your balcony, Jake called you with exciting news. "I got a grant for my research! It's going to make a big difference."

You smiled, proud of him. "That's amazing, Jake. I'm so happy for you, so proud baby.”

Jake's voice was filled with hope. "It also means I can come back to Sydney sooner than planned. Just a few more months, and I'll be home."

The news filled you with a renewed sense of determination, and happiness. "I can't wait."

The day Jake returned to Sydney was one of the happiest of your life. You stood at the airport, your heart racing as you scanned the crowd for his familiar face. When you finally saw him, it felt like the world had shifted back into place.

You ran to him, tears of joy streaming down your face. Jake dropped his bags and caught you in his arms, lifting you off the ground as he kissed you deeply.

"I'm home!” he shouted against your lips, as people gave him looks as if he was a crazy man- and in this situation.. he kinda was.

"Welcome home, Jakey.” you replied, your heart overflowing with love and happiness.

With Jake back in Sydney, you both focused on building your future together. You found a small apartment, filled it with memories and dreams, signs of your love and started planning the next steps of your lives.

Your relationship was stronger than ever, forged through the trials and triumphs you had faced. You supported each other's ambitions, celebrated each other's successes, and provided comfort during the tough times.

One evening, as you sat on the beach watching the sunset, Jake turned to you with a serious expression.

"There's something I want to ask you."

You looked at him, curious. "What is it?"

Jake took a deep breath, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"

Shock flooding through your body as tears filled your eyes as you realized what he was asking. "Yes," you said, your voice trembling with emotion. "Yes, I'll marry you."

Jake slipped the ring onto your finger, and you kissed jake gently with love and softness, the sunset casting a golden glow on your new beginning.

The years that followed were filled with love and adventure. You and Jake faced life's challenges together, always supporting each other and never forgetting the journey that had brought you to this point.

“Daddy, please tell me another bedtime story!” Your six year-old daughter pleaded as Jake looked at you with permission.

You giggled at his desperate gaze, “go ahead, honey.” You say kissing his forehead, sitting on the other side of your daughter’s bed as Jake cradled you both into his arms.

“Once upon a time…”

As Jake had told the same story he tells your daughter every single night, your story, you know there is nowhere else you’d rather be right now, but here with Jake.

@ won4kiss 2024

[alwaysobsessed777]

SAILOR SONG PT. 2 - N.M.

Words: 1267

Warnings: None other than it being sad (sorry)

Summary: Slowly falling in love with Nika. Things just seem to be going so perfectly, but nothing last forever....

I don't believe in God, but I believe that you're my savior

"Nika?" She lifted her head from my chest, a small smile on her lips.

"Yeah?"

"I love you," Her smile grew. I wanted nothing more than to be with her for as long as I possible could. I felt...happier, more myself. She made me, me.

"I love you too, y/n," She leaned in, placing a soft kiss to my lips. Her hand finding my cheek, burning and flushed red.

"I've never been so happy in my life. You make me feel like there's a reason to live," I spoke, her face dropping. Her forehead resting on mine.

"Bab-" I cut her off, "No, I mean it," I pull my face away from hers. "You're everything to me, I don't think I can lose you."

She blurted out something I hadn't expected, "I can't be."

"Why not? You already are, you mean so much to me," She started to get up, wanting to leave.

"My parents, they'd...they wouldn't approve," She paused, "But, God, do I love you more than my own life."

"It's not up to them, we make our own decisions," She sighed.

"I can't lose my parents, y/n," She moved toward me, her hands finding my waist, "But, I don't wanna lose you either."

"Do we just not tell them?"

Her face went through every emotion, almost as if she was going through every possible outcome. "As long as we keep it between us."

I was willing to do anything, anything to keep the woman that seems to save my life everyday by just being here. I shook my head, agreeing. Nika pulled me into a hug, her face cuddled into the crook of my neck. My hands found her back, rubbing slightly.

"I'll do anything for you, Niks," Instead of a word from the girl, she placed small kisses on my neck.

And when we're getting dirty, I forget all that is wrong

Our bodies intertwined, skin too skin, I almost forgot that the world would never know she was mine. The way we made each other feel, every word shared between us, it was only ever going to be between us.

"That," Nika says, her breaths becoming even, "That makes me feel like we're supposed to be together."

"Why?"

"Nahiem wouldn't have ever thought about me...you did. That's all you think about, no matter the case. Your better than any person on this planet, y/n," Her words sending chills through me, my cheeks flushing red.

"Nik-" She cut me off, "What if I was to tell my parents? Convince them we're supposed to be together. That you've been the only person to make me feel like...I care, like I matter. Y/n, if I had to come out, it would only ever be for you. Losing them would me nothing compared to losing you."

I sat there, words not wanting to escape my mouth, "Nika, you can't throw your whole family away for me."

"I will. Who knows, they might not hate that fact I found someone that makes me feel so special."

"Nika."

"I'm going to Croatia next week."

Dumbfounded again, I sat there, trying to form words, "When did you plan this?"

"Last night. I wanna talk to my parents. I wanna tell them about us, or at least that..." The words seemed to stick in her throat, "That I'm gay."

Her body shivered against mine, "Niks, you don't have too. Don't do it 'til you're ready."

"I'm never gonna be ready, I just...I just gotta do it. If I don't do it now, I'll never do it. I'll never be fully myself."

I nod, "When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow night."

I couldn't imagine being without her for a week. I couldn't imagine her being across the world and me not being there to comfort her when she decided to come out. I wanted to go with her, but it was best for me not to.

I sleep so I can see you and I hate to wait so long

She left, she went to Croatia. I worried, I hadn't been able to leave my bed. I wanted her next to me. I wanted to know she wasn't going to possible destroy her life back home. All these thoughts, they only stayed when I was awake. Only when I allowed myself away from my bed, the last place she was before she left to her home.

The thoughts would overwhelm me, the void of her not being her overwhelmed me. I wanted to see her, be with her, talk to her, do anything with her.

I couldn't.

I was here, she was there. She'd call every night, my mornings. She'd update me. She'd tell me what she had planned.

"Baby, I miss you," She pouts, a small smile spreading on my lips.

"I miss you too, Niks," She's constantly look around, hoping no one was eavesdropping.

"I haven't told them yet," Her expression changed, nervousness peaking through her happy exterior, "I think I'm gonna wait 'til it's close to time for me to leave."

I nod, "Whatever is best for you. You really don't even have to do it."

She shook her head, "No, I want to. That's just the best time."

"Who you on the phone with?" Nika's eyes darted to the door.

"Bye, y/n. Love you." She hung up.

I didn't even get to respond. I laid back in bed, hoping to fall back asleep. Then I could have dreams of her, of our future. If there even was one.

But nothing can capture the sting, Of the venom she's gonna spit out right now

I waited at the airport for her, she never came. I was worried, maybe she stayed another day. I texted her, I called her, nothing. I tried one more time, finally, she picked up.

"Did you end up staying another day?" I asked, concern laced in my tone.

"Oh, um, I forgot to tell you," She paused, "Nahiem came and picked me up. I'll tell him to drop me off at your place though."

My stomach dropped, why him? Why not me? We were together, or at least I think we are.

"Oh, okay."

"You're not mad are you?" I couldn't pinpoint the emotion that she must've felt, so I just answered.

"No."

"I'm sorry," She sounded like she meant it, I sighed.

"It's okay."

I made my way back to my place, trying to find a reason for her to pick him over me. Nothing. I couldn't think of anything.

I walked through the door, Nika meeting me there. She pulled me into a hug, whispering in my ear.

"I'm so sorry, baby. Please let me explain?" She pulled away slightly, her eyes pleading.

"Of course," She sat me down on the couch, her hands intertwining with mine.

"I told them."

I stared at her, disbelief evident on my face, "What?!? How'd it go?"

Her eyes began to tear up, "They told me...it wasn't natural. It's not supposed to happen. They think the demons are taking over my body."

I gasped, pulling her into a hug, "I'm so sorry."

"They're forcing me to get back with Nahiem. I have to break up with you," Her voice broke, my heart shattering.

"Nika," I tried, she wasn't going to listen.

"No, y/n, we're done."

"Please, you can't do that," I went to grab for her hand, her yanking it from me.

"I never loved you, my parents were right," Tears fell from her eyes, she didn't believe what she was saying.

"Nika, we could keep it secret. Please, I can't lose you," Tears falling from my own eyes. She ran up to me, pressing our lips together.

"In another life."

She opened the door, "Nika, we could say you and Nahiem are together. We'll lie to them, I know you still love me. I love you."

She looked back, shook her head, and left.

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

A/N: Sorry guys, but there's gonna be one more part. It might get better.

[bonny-kookoo]

Jungkook: Restless 🔞

In which Jungkook is simply restless, especially when making love to you.

Tags/Warnings: WAY MORE ANGST WHY IS IT SO ANGSTY, Idol!Jungkook, ADHD sex position challenge I guess?, Roma made me do it, obviously smut, multiple positions duh, primal feel?, angsty sex, denial is a river in egypt, protected sex (reader has an IUD), cum, body fluids oops, sweat?, he cums inside and outside lol, biting, manhandling, oops my hand slipped and now I wrote porn with feels again

Length: 1.6k baby, look at that

-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶--⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶

In the time of knowing him, Jungkook had always been restless.

He can't sit still for long, can't concentrate on one thing only, has to do something at all times it seems. Only sometimes, rarely, does he become lazy or tired, it seems. You cherish those moments just as much as the rest of the time you spend with him.

Now, you and Jungkook aren't necessarily.. a thing, at least not traditionally. He worries a lot; about his job, about you, about what could happen to the both of you if anything ever went public. But there's also this sinful feeling of doing something you're not supposed to, like a kid sneaking candy behind their parents backs. There's no denial even for you that you can't help but go back every single time. The feeling of longing sometimes just.. overwhelming.

You know this is gonna hurt you at some point. Maybe it won't hurt him as much, but it will hurt you, most definitely. He's sacrificed a lot and often throughout his lifetime already- who says he won't sacrifice you as well?

He's an Idol, a performer, singer, entertainer. He's made for the stage, made to be loved by millions, and you'd never force him to forget about that and leave this life behind. No. He's got it all, and he deserves it all. It's going to be fine. You'll just enjoy the times you have with him, the memories you're making.

It's not just sex, after all. You both often simply spend time with each other as friends as well. And you believe that that's what he actually sees you as- a friend, who's just a bit more intimate than a friend should be. And while his love might just be a daydream made up by your head to make your heart hurt less, his lust for you is most definitely real.

You don't know why he finds you so attractive, and you'll probably never fully understand it. Maybe it's because you're.. there. You're available. You're all he gets in this life, without fearing the consequences.

Jungkook is an old-school romantic with a twist here and there. He holds doors for you, helps you sit down at the dinner table whenever he cooks, opens tightly closed jars for you. He's a horribly cruel man in that department- because he always gives you attention, and something that might feel like it could potentially be love- but it's not. It's just a plastic rose that's going to catch dust at some point, never to bloom and never to rot either.

It'll just be thrown away, polluting the environment. Just like him leaving you one day will pollute your heart with feelings heavy and burning like molten lava, merciless.

"I- fuck." He gasps out as he halters his hips for a second, grip on them loosening as he kisses down your spine, your back arching downwards as you fall into the pillows below, entire bed already a mess. He's out of breath, and so are you- but you know he's not done with you yet. He's never just a hit-and-run kind of guy. He works his body until it literally gives in, never satisfied with just a one-time-high with you.

And he's also a carnal lover, raw and untamed.

He bites your skin, marks it up for you to remember, but also for himself to admire. Unbeknownst to you, he's hopelessly in love with you, no matter how hard he tries to distract himself, or scold his own emotions for acting out like that. You're just going to get hurt, and he knows this. He wants to end it every single time, but he also crawls back to you every night it seems, desperate to feel your skin beneath his fingertips, taste you on his tongue. He's starving, even though he's currently taking his fill.

Maybe that's why he feels so desperate every time he's with you like this. Maybe that's why he feels as if nothing is ever enough. As if he can't get close enough.

It scares him, admittedly.

With his hands on your hips, he slips out of your heat, obscene sounds accompanying every movement as he maneuvers you onto your back, hands pushing your knees apart in an impatient manner, before he slips back inside. With his knees digging into the mattress below, he holds your wrists close, pulls you into every thrust like that, jaw clenched and eyes unmoving, focused on you and the way you look.

Divine. Enchanting. Absolutely beautiful.

He wants to cry at how your skin seems like it's made of glass with the slight layer of sweat. He used to hate it on himself, used to hate it on others as well, but in a weird way, when it comes to intimacy with you, nothing seems to bother him at all. Not your slick coating his thighs. Not your spit drooling down his length whenever you give him head. Not the cum he covers you with at the end of every round.

He wants it all. He wants you.

His knees seem to ache after just a few moments, muscles itching to move in other ways as he pulls out yet again, making you whine. "I can't-" He stammers, unsure what he wants to say. He doesn't know why he's especially restless this time. It's like nothing feels quite right.

Until you climb onto his lap, pushing back his chest to get into a proper position to ride him. It's moments like these that simply hurt him, because you're always so attentive to his needs. You don't seem to need any verbal communication with him at all to know what he needs, what he wants.

And yet, you're oblivious of his feelings, or so he thinks.

He wants to keep you safe, hold you close, show you off and hide you at the same time. He just wants you, nothing else, and that's not just his lust speaking for him.

No, he's not like that. He knows what's right and what's wrong. He knows when to listen to his heart, and when to ignore it. But with you, he can't. It's all so loud, his thoughts, his feelings, his brain won't shut up about you it feels like.

He sits up with you again, pushes you closer by the small of your back, crosses his legs and finally kisses you again.

He keeps kissing to a minimum most of the time, hates how good it feels, how comfortable it is, how much it affects him. Your lips are so soft, moving in perfect sync, and when you tease his piercing or bite his lip, he just can't help but growl out because you just have to be sent from hell by the devil himself with the mission to drive him mad.

There's no way a person can fill his mind and body up like this simply by existing.

He's desperate by now. His cum already sticks to your tits, has already made its way down to your belly, some of it even rubbed off on his own chest, but he still isn't satisfied. He's close, so close, and his muscles are yelling at him to stop and rest, but he can't stop now.

"You close?" He murmurs between his open mouthed kisses, lips traveling along your jawline now before his head falls into the crook of your neck, teeth gripping any flesh he can as he marks you up. You just whine, and nod. You stopped trying to count your highs with him. It's surely never just one, however, that much you're sure of.

You know by now how to tell when he's close as well. His actual end, that is.

The muscles in his thighs tremble visibly under the stress he's forcing them under. The veins along his arms and hands are prominent, sweat dripping along his neck and chest. He will become more vocal, start to whine, even growl, hips becoming erratic as he collects every little last drop of strength to make sure you'll finish alongside him. "Hold it." He demands, teeth clenched together as he suddenly becomes more forceful, the sound of skin against skin loud and obscene echoing off his bedroom walls, as you whimper beneath him. "Fucking hold it.!" He growls out, palms grabbing your thighs before they slip beneath the small of your back, lifting you up a little for that very specific angle he knows will send him off the edge. "Cum baby, fuck!" He finally tells you, before your hips start to move erratically, no longer under your control as your orgasm hits you full force.

You don't notice the way his cum stays inside, this time. Because he doesn't pull out, keeps you close, falls to his side with you in his arms.

He doesn't know why he feels so incredibly emotional this time. As if he just cant hold himself together anymore, if he doesn't have his arms around you. The room smells like sex, air stuffy, bodies awfully slick from your entire endeavor. Usually, it ends like this. Usually, he will part from you, shower by himself to give you time to get your strength back up enough to clean yourself up after him. He hates leaving you on your own like that, wants to care for you before and after the act because that's how you're supposed to be treated, but he knows, the longer he keeps you close in a headspace like that, the more he will end up hurting.

But tonight, he can't bring himself to leave you.

Tonight, he holds you tenderly, kisses fluttering against your bare shoulder, as he feels your breath start to even out.

Tonight, he will clean you up first, before he will change the sheets and shower himself.

Tonight, he will let you sleep in his bed together with him while he airs out the room, cold chills forcing you both under the covers that smell like fresh laundry and unfulfilled dreams.

Tonight, he will let you have his heart.

Tonight, he will break.

And so will you.

-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶--⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶-⊶

[apomaro-mellow]

King&Prince 6

Nancy was pacing back and forth. Normally, it made Eddie anxious, but since he knew exactly what was on her mind, he decided to let her continue until her short legs tired her out.

"I just-I don't understand you. How can you give him free reign of the castle?"

"He doesn't have free reign", Eddie said.

"Did you put a collar on him? Or cuffs?", Nancy asked. When Eddie shook his head, she continued. "Do you put any sort of spell on him? Or charm?"

"Robin can handle herself. And there's always guards nearby if he steps out of line."

Nancy looked him up and down, then crossed her arms. "It's almost like you have faith in him or something."

Eddie couldn't describe what he was feeling. He couldn't forgive the Harringtons for what they had been doing. But Dustin was right. Unless he could prove that Steve had been directly responsible, it wasn't right to punish him. He could still dislike him, since he definitely benefited from the misdeeds of his family.

And there was a slim chance those hard feelings would ever change.

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

Steve got dressed just in time to hear someone knock on the door.

"Hey, your royal slowness, we haven't got time for you to soak all day. I have actual important things to do."

It sounded like the woman from before. The one who didn't want him. Steve opened the door to her unimpressed face.

"Let's go."

"Without shoes?", Steve asked, looking down his bare feet.

"You won't need 'em."

She led him down the hall, past some windows and Steve got his first glimpse of the outside. It looked...normal. Nothing like the blackened, dead trees, and the dry, salted earth that he'd been led to believe this area was. The trees were wilting, sure, but in the typical way ones did in autumn. There was grass and even people doing chores outside.

Past the castle walls, he could make out something in the distance that looked like a town.

"Keep up!"

Steve tore his eyes away and saw that she was a long ways ahead of him. He jogged to catch up, noting the carpet on the floor. He was suddenly reminded of being very young and still allowed to go barefoot outside his quarters.

"Alright", she opened up a closet that was filled with instruments. "I need these moved over to the other end of the south wing and then polished and shined."

"So you're using a prince as both a pack mule and a maid?", Steve asked, brow raised. "What if I refuse?"

"Then I get our all-powerful king to put a compulsion hex on you and hypnotize you to do it anyway."

"Steve!", Dustin exclaimed when he came around the corner, beaming. "I went down to visit you and you were gone! They set you free?"

"I'm less free and more like free labor, apparently."

"You know you're not supposed to go down into the dungeons, Dustin."

"I see you've met Robin. Don't worry, she's nicer than she looks", Dustin grinned.

"Not nice enough to not tell Eddie what you've been doing. And I'm pretty sure he threatened to tell your mom. Maybe I'll just cut out the middle man", Robin warned.

Dustin paled. "You wouldn't dare."

Robin gestured to the musical instruments. "Help out with this and I won't tell a soul."

Dustin let out a breath of relief. "Menial work? That's it? Between Steve and me, we can knock this out easy."

Steve frowned. "I never said I'd-"

"This spoiled brat probably can't even lift a flute", Robin challenged.

"He knows how to kill a guy like a dozen different ways. Steve could finish this in like ten minutes", Dustin countered.

"Ooh, challenge accepted", Robin turned, ignoring Steve's protests. "I'll be in the second music room. Keep his highness on a tight leash."

Fully roped into it, Steve started hauling instruments. Dustin was talking, but he was thinking of his escape. He had no shackles, no bars. He could find a moment to get past the walls and then...maybe it would be better to sneak to the stables and get a horse first. He dreaded the thought of traveling such a distance with no shoes though. Maybe someone had a pair lying around?

Could he steal a pair in town without anyone noticing? He doubted most townsfolk would recognize him as an enemy prince. Steve was deep in his escape plan strategizing, that he just nodded along and 'mhm'ed to whatever it was that Dustin was saying. That kid could talk to a wall and keep the conversation going, which he was pretty much doing now, talking to Steve.

He barely even noticed that they were done moving things until the woman, Robin, threw a cloth at him.

"I want these shiny enough to see my reflection in them", she ordered.

"Why are you making him do all this?", Dustin asked.

"I'm getting new students tomorrow and they deserve nice equipment."

Dustin's eyes narrowed. "Who?"

"Oh no one you'd know. Except for Mike."

"Mike?!"

"And Max. And El, oh and Lucas and", Robin went on naming people, some Steve knew, others that he didn't.

"Bullshit! There's no way they're all taking classes!"

"Oh they are. And you are too", Robin said while leaving the room.

Incredulous, Dustin followed her out, leaving Steve alone in the room. Alone. They had left him alone. He looked to the open door, leading out into the hallway, then the instruments spread out on tables and the floor, covered in dust.

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

Jeff and Nancy were strolling the halls, discussing how best to prepare for any sort of retaliation when they heard whistling. It wasn't the sound that gave them pause, but where it was coming from. A music room that wasn't supposed to be in use yet. They poked their heads in and saw Prince Steve, whistling a happy working tune while shining a shining a trumpet.

The two of them pulled their heads out, shared a mutual expression of confusion and went to seek out Eddie to report to him, but he was nowhere to be found. That usually meant he was off in town or visiting some other part of the kingdom. Either way, they wouldn't be able to talk to him until he returned.

Steve didn't spend too long rationalizing why he was doing this. He was just biding his time until he came up with a more solid plan. Even though his homeland wasn't really a home, at least no one there wanted to actively kill him. He wasn't safe here and he couldn't forget that. He especially couldn't let his guard down around the king.

Robin remembered him a couple of hours later and led him back to the room he'd first been brought to. Steve had time to actually look at it now. Smaller than his own room but larger than the prison cell. Definitely warmer to. But besides that, it was very minimal and sparse. A bed, a small drawer, and the bathroom. Steve wondered what this room was for. It was an odd sort of guest room.

Robin said something about dinner being brought up but Steve paid it no mind when he realized he'd be sleeping on a bed tonight. He collapsed into it and buried himself in the blanket. He'd be having sleep for dinner.

Part 8

Tag Team

@thesuninyaface @only-evanescent @snakeorsquid @ignoremyworld @theclichefortunecookie @goodolefashionedloverboi @just-a-tiny-void @0body0disphoria0 @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @samsoble @sugartin @jamieweasley13 @y4r3luv @xtkxkrzrizir @un-knownperson @greekgeek24 @justdrugsformethanks @potato-of-the-lord @notaqueenakhaleesi @swimmingbirdrunningrock @queenie-ofthe-void @nebulainajar @lil-gremlin-things

[manddor]

fluff with ajax? this boy is so 😫 😫

ikr? and i feel he’s a little underrated! btw, thanks for the request <3 this is a little long! but i hope you like!

ajax petropolus x fem!reader — friends fake dating; angst and fluff

YOU BELONG WITH ME !

Rave'N was approaching and you - despite not liking those things - needed a pair. Even Wednesday who had zero manners with people had a date and so your friends started talking about you. 'You swear nobody asked you to go to the ball?' 'Awn, y/n, don't worry, I'm sure someone will call you soon!’

So you went to Ajax's dorm and thank God he was alone. "Please, be my date for the prom-" you begged. "I swear I didn't want to do this with you, but Enid already has a date" you mumbled, glancing to see if he wouldn't get bitter by the statement. When he gave a small smirk you continued "and people started whispering behind my back about how they feel bad for me! And we've always been best friends, so it wouldn't be weird.." He rolled his eyes. "Please, please, please... you owe me! I gave my answers to you on Tornhill's test."

"Cheating on a test and being your fake date is extremily different..." he looked up, because a snake was starting to come out of his hood. "Okay, I'I go with you." he said trying to hide the animal.

You jumped out of his bed and sprinted to give your friend a hug. "Have I mentioned how much I like you?" he started laughing, hugging you back.

"That's enough, y/n, I need to have energy to pretend I can handle dating you to everyone at Nevermore" he said pushing you away with a smile on his face. "I'll be the best boyfriend you've ever had. Although it won't be difficult at all... people will think it's weird that you're dating someone so nice and handsome like me."

"Don't think so, pretty boy. People will be jealous of you for being with me" you said pointing your finger at his chest. "I'll make you some protection charms...” he rolled his eyes again and pointed to the door and muttered for you to leave. "Oh, another thing.." you giggled. "We need to start this as soon as possible to make it feel more real."

"Ugh, okay, y/n! But after prom, I'II try things with Enid again, okay?" you agreed and finally left his room wishing him a 'goodnight, boyfriend.’

The next morning, in your history class - all the lights in the room were turned off, as your professor was showing a slide about the great war - you were almost asleep, your eyes were heavy and you're fighting with the urge to pay attention in class. Suddenly, Bianca who was sitting next to you punched your arm almost making your head hit the table, you looked around without understanding and you noticed the door was open, with an intense light coming towards you. Xavier was standing next to the old man "Sorry about the confusion Professor, but my friend has something to say."

You were still sleepy, but you were fully aware that it was Ajax walking into the room with a huge bouquet of flowers, with Kent's company who had a sign - which Xavier helped him open - that was written ‘Y/n, would you like to go to Rave'N with me?’.

Holy crap.

"Y/n, honey, would you give me the honor and be my date to prom?" he asked and even your professor had a small smile on his face waiting for you to answer.

The whole class started whispering and Bianca shook you to get up at once to answer the boy who had an adorable smile on his face. You were astonished. You had told him to be your fake date, but you had no idea that his head could think of all that.

"Wow" you whispered, then cleared your throat "Y-yes! I'll go with you, Aj."

"Come here, kid." the professor said and you went to Ajax to hug him.

"I can't believe you did that" you whispered into his ear.

"It was what you deserved" he whispered back and you took the bouquet from his hand which almost fell out of your hands as they were sweating. "I'll see you later honey" he placed a kiss on your cheek and left the room. You stood there still without reaction, watching Xavier congratulate Ajax - both with the brightest smiles you ever saw. All your classmates started applauding.

When you sat down, Bianca's jaw dropped. "Why didn't you told me this before? Ajax is so cute and you guys are a match" you blushed.

The next few days were in the same intensity. He spent every meal at your side, giving you hugs and placing kisses on your cheek or in your forehead, getting a lot of questions from your friends. 'When this started?', 'You've always been so close... we should have noticed' and 'You finally decide to get to know each other deeply!'

Ajax took to answering for you, once you commented that you felt embarrassed with so much attention on you. 'Yeah... we didn't even thought about it, but it happened.'

But something strange happened. You two spent a lot of time together to show your cute little relationship, but he started ghosting you. You thought maybe he was trying to figure how he would fix the things with Enid after that.

"Aj" you called him when you were alone in the hall. "Are you mad at me?" he barely looked at your face. "You haven't spoken to me in a while.”

He looked a long time into your eyes and placed a hand on your arm, squeezing a little bit. "No! No way" he cracked a smirk.

"Great! Because tomorrow is Raven'N and we need to be super connected" you said and his smile disappeared.

"Yeah, I know" he paused for a moment. "I have class now, see you later." and he left. You felt a strange feeling, because you knew he didn’t have any class right now.

At Raven'N's day, you were surprised by how excited you were. It was actually a mix of excitement and anxiety and you didn't know why, but you decided to embrace the feeling. You got dressed up with Bianca and a few other friends, dancing and singing together.

You ended up exchanging a few messages with Ajax and even though things were still a little awkward between the two of you, he was still being cute and funny, like he always was.

And when you went to the ball, the hall was amazing, super decorated and with exciting songs. You started looking for some boy who was covering his hair but failed. "Xav, have you seen Aj?" you asked as the tall boy walked past you.

He seemed to think for a while before answering, his cheeks turning red "He... he was talking to Enid." your heart skipped a few beats. "And he's a little drunk." Shit.

You knew that interrupting their conversation would be an embarrassment, so you decided to wait for him to come talk to you. Even if he didn't spend the prom with you, if he had patched things up with Enid, you'd be happy for him. Right? You were supposed to be happy for him. He was your best friend. Just that.

So when you saw Enid come back with a huge smile on her face, you got worried and decided to look for the boy. Ajax was sitting in the hallway and you could see that he was really drunk. "Aj!"

"Oh, Y/n. I'm so sorry... I failed on that fake date thing" he said putting his hand on his face as if he was embarrassed.

"What are you talking about?" you helped him up and his body was heavier than you imagined. He ended up not answering your question and you didn't insisted. Ajax slipped and his forehead met yours. He laughed.

"I really want to kiss you right now." he whispered. Your heart raced.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"I do, y/n. I'm the dumbest guy in the world... I wish I had told you this a long time ago." he said running his fingers through your hair. Suddenly, all of your body felt warm.

"And the whole thing with Enid?" you knew asking questions to drunk people wasn't a good idea, but you've wanted to ask him for a while.

"Bullshit, she's just a friend.” he started laughing. “Actually she was helping me how to express my feelings" he said looking into your eyes, your heart cheered. "Fuck" he muttered and before you realized it, he had kissed you. God, how you wish he'd done this sober. But you reciprocated. Pulling him closer and feeling his little snakes stroking your hair.

You stopped the kiss and took your friend to his dorm, leaving some water by his side and a medicine that you knew he would need. The moment he laid down, you were going to leave the room, but he pulled your hand. "Y/n... I'm in-"

"Don't" you interrupted him. "Tell me that when you're sober." and then you left.

You couldn't sleep the whole night. Your heart was impatient, it felt like it had just broken, but this time hurting more. It hurt more because you knew what you were missing, you knew your heart was beating for just one person and maybe it had been beating for all this time and you just realized it now. It hurt even more that he had kissed you while he was drunk, probably knowing that it wouldn't happen when he was sober.

It was Sunday, meaning you were free of classes, but your friends were meeting for lunch together as an after-prom celebration. Ajax was waiting for you in front of your dorm's door and you walked to the place without saying a word. You knew he remembered last night, but he sure as hell regretted it.

"Where were the lovebirds yesterday?" Bianca asked as everyone saw you entering the place hand in hand. "We didn't see you the rest of the party"

"We were very busy yesterday" Ajax smirked and squeezed your hand. You pretended to smile and your friends faces were shocked by the answer.

But you started hearing murmurs behind you as the celebration was going. 'Does he really like her?', 'He's too cute for her...', 'Are you kidding? As soon as they're done, I'm going to ask Y/ n to go out with me, she's extremely hot. Aj is the one who's lucky'.

Ajax felt his face boil with anger, pulling you closer and pressing his lips to yours. You felt your heart beat faster and more desperately. You felt his tongue brush your lips and you gave permission to enter. Your breathing was heavy. He placed his hand on your neck and trailed his fingers down your back to the waist, where he pulled you even closer. You broke up when it looked like you were going to pass out from lack of air.

The entire room was silent, but your gaze didn't break Aj's for a second. What was it all about? "That's my bro" Xavier spoke, breaking the silence of your colleagues.

Once everyone was entertained with conversations and gossip from the ball, you left the place and headed towards the forest. It was raining and it didn't take long for your hair to be completely soaked. That was the best way to get your energy renewed and clear your mind.

You sat on a tree, but it didn't take long to hear footsteps behind you and see Ajax's worried face beside you. "Not in the mood for talking right now" you said putting your face on your knee, feeling the raindrops roll down your cheeks.

"But we need to" he said sitting next to you.

"This fake dating thing was a mistake, you know?" you said, feeling his eyes on you.

"I know I confused you about yesterday-"

"No need to explain yourself, Aj." you interrupted him. He shifted his position and sat in front of you taking both of your hands.

"Yes, I need." you looked into his eyes. "It was really a mistake all this" you already felt your eyes watering. "But everything I said and all my actions yesterday were honest" your heart was beating fast again. "Even though I did it in the world's stupidest way, didn't know if it's reciprocate or-"

"It is." you said without elaborating and he smiled.

"Y/n, I'm in love with you. And I'm saying this in the most sober way possible." you got up and the boy followed you.

"I can't imagine a life without you, Aj. I feel like you belong with me. The same way I belong to you" you said running your hand over his face and kissing him. “I love you.”

[marloree]

𝙰 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚏é 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎

Pairing: boyfriend! Soobin × Reader

Genre: fluff

Word count: 0.78 k

You've been wanting to go to this new cute little café that just opened recently for a while now. Unfortunately, your and your boyfriend's tight schedules didn't let you run straight to the café on its opening day. But, on you way back home, you would observe it eagerly, wishing you could visit as soon as possible.

Luckily, the weekend didn't take so long to come and now you finally had some spare time to go to the lovely café you've been eyeing for the past week.

Despite it being Saturday, you woke up early, the excitement rushing through your veins made you unable to sleep for a second longer.

Well, you had some dignity to not wake up your boyfriend at 7 in the morning on one of his rare weekends, so you took your time getting ready.

Firstly, you finished all the work you had left and then began getting ready. While putting on the cutest outfit and making your hair, you felt the anticipation building inside you more and more.

Once you were done and checked the time, it was already almost 10 am. Quite the time to wake Soobin up, you thought.

You went into your shared bedroom, trying not to make too much noise to save the last precious moments of your boyfriend's sleep.

"Hey, Soob..", you whispered, lightly tapping his shoulder.

It didn't take him long to fully wake up. Looking at you, Soobin could see you beaming with joy and anticipation which made him smile, too. He knew how badly you wanted to go to the café and, to be fair, he wanted it almost just as badly. He missed your cute lovely dates: both being busy, you couldn't afford going out as much as you used to.

"I'm coming right away", Soobin nodded, letting out the last yawn before getting up and going to prepare as well.

You waited patiently for him to get ready as you looked out of the window, your gaze on the café on the other side of the street - the café you were going to. It was so prettily organised, you thought. Obviously you couldn't tell much about the inside since you haven't been in yet, but you could see just how lovely it looked from the sneaky glances you took from the outside.

Soobin, as promised, didn't take too long. Deciding to match up with your outfit, he also wore something cute: a fluffy jacket and baggy jeans.

"Ahh, I can't believe we're going there today, the week flew by so fast. You look almost as cute as the café itself, by the way", you let out a content giggle as you two headed straight to the café.

"You look even cuter, though", Soobin remarked, taking your hand in his as you made your way towards the café.

It took you less than 5 minutes to get inside. Honestly, the inside was ten times better than you could've ever imagined. Everything was so nicely organised: the tables, the chairs and the cute little sofas placed on the sides of the café, the paintings on the walls - everything together brought such a cozy vibe to the place.

Even without tasting the bakery yet, you were sure you'd come here often when you had the time. The atmosphere here was so relaxing and peaceful.

However, once you two settled down and took a look at the menu, you got only more delighted by the sight. It contained so many diverse peaces of bakery, you felt like it could please everyone's taste. Numerous muffins with different flavours, cupcakes, buns, cinnamon rolls and many many more made you want to try every single dessert they could offer.

Well, for now you had to pick a few that caught your eye the most of all. It's not like you could devour all the bakery they served even if you wanted to...

So, you picked a few of your most favourite desserts and so did Soobin.

While you waited for them to be done, you chatted, recalling the times you would sit like that at some other café. You both missed these days dearly and were happy to get a chance to spend your weekend just the way you used to once again.

However, once the bakery you ordered was brought to your table and you got a taste of it, your eyes sparkled even brighter. The taste was heavenly: not too sugary, containing just the perfect amount of cream, it was perfect. Now you could proudly call the café your favorite. You definitely wouldn't miss a chance to visit it again with your boyfriend in the future.

[lurkingshan]

Love for Love's Sake Episodes 7 & 8

Well holy shit, that went in some directions I never imagined, and it was very dark indeed. I can't believe this intriguing little show is already over. So let's unpack what happened here.

My interpretation of everything we learned in these final episodes is that Myungha already died by suicide in the real world after a series of hardships, including the death of his grandmother, a long-term struggle with depression, and rejection from his ex and his mother, and the author gave him a chance to live again in the game world. The ending suggests he will now stay in the game world with Yeowoon and get another chance at life where his core objective is to make himself happy, and any expectation we had that he would have to return to the real world is out the window, because his life there has already ended.

But what exactly is this game world? I don't think we'll ever fully know for sure. Certainly, the show did not explain the how of it, or tie together all the vignettes we saw of Myungha and the author discussing their philosophy on life in a clear throughline to how we got to the game. The game world was purportedly based on the author's fictional novel, but all along it has taken on the features of Myungha's real life, including all the significant people we saw in his first life flashbacks. His grandma is here, his mother is here, his ex is even here in the guise of Yeowoon's agent. Myungha's memories and consciousness seem to inform the way this world was built, even as he did not create it. The author is given the role of Creator, somehow designing this world for Myungha to try to find happiness via seeking to make someone with very similar experiences to his happy.

Now, on this point, I don't think everything that happened in the original iteration of the game totally holds up. The way the author was messing with Myungha and forcing cruel choices on him really does not track with a desire to help him find happiness, and the point where Yeowoon seems to discover the game and somehow intervene to pull Myungha back in was lacking some clarity. And I wish the show had grounded us in Myungha's experiences earlier on rather than holding everything back for the sake of mystery--I do think that choice got in the way of a more coherent emotional arc for our protagonist.

But despite those quibbles, I still was able to connect with Myungha's struggles. This is a boy who has been so mired in his own misery that he doesn't know how to let anyone else in. He is too afraid to trust and let someone care for him in the way he cares for others. I wanted to reach through the screen and strangle him when his own emotional paralysis caused him to destroy the game--Yeowoon was telling him exactly what he needed, but he couldn't find the strength within himself to give it to him. And this is why knowing Yeowoon is exactly what he needed to see a different path for himself, because Yeowoon has experienced many of the same hurts but still finds within himself the ability to trust and rely on Myungha. Yeowoon is the stronger of the two of them, and Myungha needed to learn from him to overcome his own cowardice. Their happy reunion in the game world felt earned, and I believe in Myungha's ability to try again at both life and this relationship without holding back this time.

This show definitely wasn't perfect, but it really did some interesting things and left us with a lot to think about. I am looking forward to reading everyone else's interpretations of these final episodes, and Myungha and Yeowoon will be staying with me for a long time.

[fivestar-outlaw]

New Horizons (Park Seonghwa) (Ch. 3)

Chapter 3: Scorpions

Pairing: Park Seonghwa x Fem!Reader

Words: 3.5K+

Warning(s): insecurities and discussion of insecurities, angst, someone's rude to MC :( (None of the guys), slight hurt/comfort, dumbdumbs in love but dont realize each others feelings

A/N: Here is chapter 3. I think this one is the second hardest to write (The fourth chapter is kicking my ass rn). I'm not sure how I am feeling about this chapter? I had like three/four different ideas for it. Sooo I did a 'spin the wheel' and went with what it landed on for this lol. I feel like this is the weakest chapter but it has some charm. Regardless, I hope you all enjoy <3

Reader is implied to be living in the US bc uh TIMEZONES ARE FUCKY and i didnt realize how reliant i was on mine (PST) when looking up KST

Summary: Attempting an all-nighter while playing Animal Crossing alongside your bias, you didn't expect your turnip prices to be such a high amount... nor did you expect Park Seonghwa to actually accept your offer to sell his turnips on your island.

Series Masterlist | Navigation

"I can't tell her, Woo." Seonghwa sighed.

Wooyoung nearly ripped out his hair at the very similar phrase he has heard you tell him before. The others all groaned as they lounged around in the recording room, 10 minutes before they needed to start recording and re-recording lines for their last song on the next album.

It was now February, two months since Seonghwa figured out his feelings towards you that night you fell asleep on video call. He immediately told Wooyoung the next day he had been right and ever since then, the younger has been trying to push Hwa into confessing. He even tried assuring the older male that you most likely returned his feelings without giving away you told Wooyoung you developed a crush on Hwa just a few days before Hwa told him.

Woo's mind thought back to his conversation with you a week ago.

"I don't think he likes me like that, Woo. No matter how much you tell me." He heard you say with a dejected tone through the call. He had snuck away on his own during practice, having the choreography down before the others. "I mean, I met him as a fan. I don't want him to think I offered him to sell turnips for this outcome."

"I don't think he assumes any ulterior motives, (Y/N)." He said softly. "He speaks fondly of you."

"And that's another thing. He is Seonghwa. He is the super kind, very lovable, handsome, and talented guy who loves to mimic his villagers, build Legos, and is an all around great person. It's hard not to fall in love with him... and then there is me. The average looking, college student working at the local bookstore. I feel so inadequate-"

"Hey. Don't speak like that about yourself." He scolded, his tone and facial expression serious. "You are amazing. You are beautiful. You've been a great friend and we all deeply appreciate and love you."

"Sorry." You sigh. "I just... I want to believe you, but it's hard, you know?"

"I get it, I do. Just... keep thinking on it, okay?" Wooyoung smiled sadly. He could see the self-doubt was still eating at you and his words didn't fully penetrate the self-conscious wall you built up. He just hoped you'd keep holding out long enough for him to try and push Seonghwa into confessing.

"Okay, why not then?" Yuhno asked, exasperated.

"It's clear she only views me as a friend. And I am fine with that."

"You don't know that for sure, hyung." San offered a kind smile.

"Are you guys sure (Y/N) likes me like that?" Hwa gave them each a pointed look. Everyone tried arguing that it was clear to them you did, though the only one who knew for sure was Wooyoung. "I... I truly come to appreciate her and every time we speak I feel like I am falling further and further for her. She is sweet, funny, gorgeous, and I feel my heart is always about to burst when talking with her..."

"He's a love sick puppy." Yeosang teased, making everyone chuckle. The eldest's face adorned a bright blush but he made no attempt argue against the notion.

"It's adorable seeing you crush so hard on someone, hyung." Mingi cooed.

"Why not try and talk to her now? It should be..." Hongjoong looked at the time, seeing that it was nearly 10am for them. "... about 6pm for her. Try gauging her feelings for you and bring up wanting her to visit next month for her spring break."

"I don't know..." The eldest unlocked his phone and had your contact pulled up. Wooyoung immediately moved spots and sat next to Seonghwa.

"Seonghwa-hyung, just go for it. We are all here cheering you on." Jongho smiled softly and the others nodded in agreement.

"And its not like your confessing now either. We've told you the signs, now watch for them." Wooyoung added. The others decided to join in on the call, hoping to catch anything that gave away you had feelings for their friend.

Seonghwa took in a deep breath before slowly exhaling as he pressed the call button. He felt two large hands on both shoulders pat him and give a firm squeeze as he slowly extended his arm to make sure everyone could be visible to some extent. He felt anxiety building up with each ring, waiting anxiously for you to pick up.

They all smile when you finally pick up. You were sitting at your desk, adding what looked like the finishing touches of your makeup on your face. You looked at the camera with a small smile before you looked down, picking up a tube of lipstick.

"Hello boys. Usually you text me before you start a call. What's going on?" You ask, eyes flickering to the phone again before you focus on your hand mirror.

Seonghwa felt Wooyoung nudge him off camera. "I wanted to check in on you, (Y/N), and they all decided to join me."

"Aw, really?" Your face seemingly brightened at the fact and the eldest could feel Jongho on his left excitedly tap his leg.

"Compliment her, Hwa." Hongjoong hissed into his ear, a toothy grin was on his face as an attempt to mask any suspicion.

"Did one of you say something?"

"O-oh it must of cut out." Seonghwa nervously chuckled. "I said you look amazing. Is there a special occasion going on?"

You got a bit bashful and smiled, though everyone could tell it didn't fully reach your eyes. "I got asked out on a date."

Seonghwa felt like he was punched in the gut.

But his face remained soft with a smile.

"Really? Who is the person?" He asked, his voice steady.

The others eyed him in concern but did their best to mask it while on video.

"His name is Charlie. He is in my English course this semester. We worked on some in-class assignments together a few times before he asked me out today."

"I'm happy to hear. Well, we better get going. We are about get to recording." Hongjoong could pick up some shakiness in Hwa's voice. "Have fun and please periodically message me, just to give me peace of kind on your safety."

"Thank you, Seonghwa, and I will." You gave them a wave goodbye before hanging up the phone.

It was silent in the room. Seonghwa slowly lowered his arm, resting his phone and hands in his laps. The smile he had dropped just as slowly as he took in a deep, trembling breath.

"Hwa, are you okay?" Hongjoong hesitated, placing his hand on his friends shoulder.

"Yes. I'm fine, Joong." He asserted, getting up from the couch.

"Are you sure?" San asked.

Languidly, the eldest turned to face the rest. Their breaths caught in their throats. His eyes were full of tears, his lips were quivering as he still maintained his smile.

"I told you guys I am just a friend to her. And I will be fine with that." He sniffled, one tear rolling down his cheek. He hastily wiped his cheek with the back of his hand. "Please, lets drop it and get work done today."

"Of course, hyung." Yuhno spoke with a comforting voice and stood up, wrapping an arm around the older males shoulders. "Lets grab some waters together." Carefully, the taller of the two led Hwa out of the room. The second the door closed, everyone exhaled.

"Maybe...Maybe we were wrong." Jongho mumbled.

"No we weren't." Wooyoung insisted, pulling out his phone.

"Wooyoung-" San tried to speak but the younger male kept talking.

"We weren't! (Y/N) told me herself she likes Seongwa!" The others watched as he called you, pressing speakerphone.

The phone rung a few times when they hear the line click.

"It's just me, (Y/N)." Woo gave the others a look to be quiet. "What was that? What do you mean date?"

"Exactly that, Youngie." You sighed, your voice sounding as if it lacked any confidence.

"But you like Seonghwa... You love him."

"... I do." The others in the room looked at each other in shock, their eyes wide.

"Then why did you agree to the date, (Y/N)?"

There was a moment of tense silence before you spoke again, starting your sentence off with a sniffle.

"Because I can't logically believe he likes me the same way. He just see's me as a friend and I just feel so inadequate to be on any level with him." You faltered. "I don't have any particular feelings for Charlie but I... I just wanted to try to get over loving Hwa."

"(Y/N)..."

"I need to get going Woo. I'll... message you tomorrow." Before he could say anything more you hung up.

The room was just as tense as before. No one knew what to say. Wooyoung pressed his lips tightly together as he kept his own tears at bay. When they heard the door open everyone else started getting up and getting ready to start recording. Seonghwa looked to have calmed down. Wooyoung refused to look at his oldest hyung until he could calm down.

---

After the video call with Ateez and the call with Wooyoung, you decided to try to to push any negative thought aside and finish getting ready. You put together a outfit that wasn't too fancy but still looked nice. You styled your hair the way you liked most for things like this. Overall, despite the heavy heart, you felt cute. You left your place with an Uber, figuring you may have something alcoholic to drink, with enough time to get to the restaurant on time, sending a message to Seonghwa letting him know you were heading there...

You glanced at the clock on your phone for the umpteenth time. It had been an hour since your uber dropped you off at the restaurant, 50 minutes since you were sat down at a table, and 35 minutes since that sinking feeling in your gut that you had been stood up started kicking in.

You sighed dejectedly as you finished paying for the meal you ordered. You may have been stood up but you weren't going to let that stop you from a nice meal. Luckily your waitress was kind and nobody paid you much mind. You felt that any pity sent your way would make you feel worse.

You slowly walked outside the restaurant, your phone out as you get ready to order another uber, when you heard loud cackling. Your head turned to the left and just a few cars down in the parking lot was Charlie in a car full of people. They were all laughing and looking at you.

It felt like a bucket of ice water was poured over you.

Ignoring them and the button to confirm the uber, you started walking in the direction of your apartment. You needed to get away. You could feel your chest tightening with humiliation and panic.

"Oh come on, (Y/N). It was a joke!" You heard Charlie yell but you just kept walking. You heard the car roar with life and could hear from their rolled down window various jokes directed at you.

They all cackled and decided that was enough teasing. Charlie then nearly squealed his tires as he drove away. The tears you kept at bay finally spilled over. You hiccupped as you glanced down at your phone. It was 8pm for you, which meant it would be around noon for him.

You didn't think, really. You just knew you needed to hear his low toned, comforting voice. You opened your phone and immediately dialed Seonghwa, pressing your cell to your ear as you walked back to your place. You felt pathetic but you knew you needed to speak to someone or else you would be a sobbing mess if you were left to stew.

---

It was lunch time in the canteen area at KQ when Seonghwa heard his phone ring. His brows furrowed when he saw your name on the screen. He finished his last bite and quickly wiped off any possible crumbs on his hands with a napkin.

"Didn't she leave for her date like an hour ago?" Mingi tilted his head, everyone else had a confused look.

Seonghwa pressed the green answer button and raised his phone to his ear.

"(Y/N)?" His voice with smooth and low. "You're calling me so soon-"

"Seonghwa..." He heard your voice trembling, making him freeze. His face must of gave away to the others something was wrong, as they stared at him intently.

"Hold on, (Y/N). Let me go somewhere private." He quickly got up fron his seat and wasted no time getting into the hallway where there were less people. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"I-I got stood up." You sniffled.

"What?"

"I sat there for an hour looking like a fool. And then... And then I went to leave and I saw him outside in his car with his friends." Seonghwa could feel his blood start to boil with anger. "They laughed at me. They made fun of me." He could hear you take in a shuddering breath.

"Where are you now?"

"I'm walking home..."

"How long until you get back?"

"Maybe... Maybe 10 or 15 more minutes?"

"Stay on the phone with okay? I want to make sure you get home safe." He needed to take deep breaths to stay calm. In the corner of his eye he saw the others leave the canteen, though they stayed back, giving him and you some privacy.

"I just don't get what I did wrong to-"

"You did nothing wrong, (Y/N). Don't start blaming yourself for some asshole's behavior." He glanced to his friends, feel a pinch of confidence. "You are a wonderful person. It's his loss."

There was silence for a moment.

"Did I interrupt work?" You asked in a small voice.

"No, I was just finishing lunch. Did you eat?"

"I had something small after I realized he wasn't showing up." Hwa felt some relief when he heard your voice getting steady. "I'll probably have some ice cream when I get home."

"It better not be mint chocolate chip." He joked and smiled when he heard you giggle. "You really did look amazing, by the way. You should send me and the group chat any selfies if you took any. I'm sure the others would like to see the full look."

"Really?" Your voice was meek.

"I would never lie to you... You truly look beautiful. You always do."

"Thank you, Hwa. I really needed to hear that, especially from you." He could hear your voice tremble again.

"Don't start crying because of me, jagiya." He gently teased, the petname slipping out seamlessly.

"Where are the others?"

"They are watching me down the hallway I'm in." He looked over and saw that they were still there. Wooyoung, San, and Jongho kept their eyes on him while the others were looking at their phones, occasionally looking back at the eldest.

"Am I keeping-"

"I want to be talking with you. They can all wait." Seonghwa huffed, which pulled a giggle from you. He was glad he was able to get you to cheer up, even if it was a miniscule amount. "They are very concerned for you though."

"You can tell them what happened. Woo will bug me when he can until I tell him."

"He is good at that isn't he?"

"Too good." You snort.

There was another moment of silence before Hwa spoke again.

"How close are you to home?"

"Uh..." You pause. "I'm pretty close. I'm passing the park thats nearby. I'll probably be there in two minutes."

"Good." He hummed. "I'm glad you called me."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Besides enjoying the sound of your voice, I am glad you felt comfortable enough during this vulnerable time to reach out to me. It warms my heart."

"I'm glad you answered."

"For you? Always. Well, unless I am on stage or Joong is lecturing us." He couldn't help but beam when he got you to laugh again.

"I see my apartment. I'm walking up to the door now." Hwa heard your keys jingle in your hand. "I'll let you go now. Thank you for everything, Hwa."

"It wasn't a problem at all. I'll check in on you when I have the time okay?"

"You don't have to." He faintly heard you unlocking the door and then heard the door close.

"I want to." He smiled. "Get comfortable, have that ice cream, and smile for me okay, (Y/N)? I'll talk to you soon. Have a goodnight in case you fall asleep."

"Have a good rest of your day, Hwa." There was a lingering pause before you ended the call.

Seonghwa let out a deep sigh, his face dropping into a scowl as he pocketed his phone. The rest of Ateez took that as a sign to approach him. They nearly froze when they saw the angry look on his face.

"I'm going to need one of you to stop me from buying plane tickets right now." Hwa muttered.

"What happened?"

"Why are you so upset?"

"Is (Y/N) okay?"

Were questions all asked at the same time.

"Let's get back to the recording studio first." Hongjoong offered. It took a lot of restraint for them to not run down the hallways.

The second that door closed to the studio, everyone turned to look at Seonghwa, who still looked pissed off. He sat down on the couch staring past the glass that viewed the recording booth. He needed to take a moment to calm himself down.

"Did something happen to our dear (Y/N)?" Wooyoung sat next to the older male, looking at him with desperate eyes.

"She called me crying, saying her date stood her up." Seonghwa finally spoke. Everyone let out shocked noises and some curses. "That's not even the worst of it. She said he and his friends were waiting for her to come outside to make fun of her."

Wooyoung pulled out his cellphone. "I'm buying you and I plane tickets."

"Count me in, I want to beat that guys ass for making her upset." San sat on the other side of Seonghwa.

Hongjoong quickly snatched Wooyoung's phone.

"Hey-!"

"You won't be making a spontaneous trip to her place and you all are definitely not going off to fight this guy." He said, using his captain voice.

"Come on, hyung. It'll be worth it." Jongho tried bargaining but quickly stopped at the look he got from their leader.

"Seonghwa." Seonghwa's attention was on Hongjoong's face after he called his name. "You already did most of your recording today. Unless you want to hang out with those who still need to record and need to re-record, or do some choreography practice with Yuhno, you should head back to the dorm and spend some time with (Y/N)."

"Thank you, Joong." Seonghwa smiled and gathered his belongings.

"We want to spend time with her too." Wooyoung whined.

"Too bad. You're assisting Yuhno after you re-record your lines." The eldest male smiled at his friends playful banter as he left the room.

He quickly fished out his cell and called you as he walked down the hallway. He was heading to his managers office to get home. He wasn't entirely sure if he had the confidence to confess right now, nor did he want to spring on a confession to you after the night you had... but he wanted to let you know he would be there for you. That he would never let you feel less than or alone. That stupid guy lost his chance and Hwa wanted to be the one treasure you. He was going to confess and tonight would be the start to his plan to do so.

"Seonghwa?" Your voice sounded confused when you quickly answered.

"Hongjoong is giving me the rest of the day off. Do you want to watch a movie with me? Or we can play Animal Crossing? Whatever you want, I want to do it with you." He took in a deep breath. "I'll even pick up mint chocolate chip ice cream and we can eat it together."

You laughed. "Sure, I would love that."

There was a pause in the conversation. Seonghwa was now waiting in front of the manager's office.

"I have a question for you, (Y/N)." He wanted to wait for later to ask his question but Seonghwa felt he had the confidence to ask now.

"What is it?"

"You said you took time off work for your spring break next month, right?"

"Yes, I have the Friday before that week off to Monday after it. Why do you ask?"

"Come visit me." He was shocked he got it out.

"What?"

"Come to Korea and visit me. I'll help pay for the flight and you can stay with us at the dorm. Is the issue with your passport?"

"My passport is fine." You sighed and took a moment before speaking again. "Are you sure, Hwa? Are the others okay with that? What about-"

"Everything will be fine. The others, our manager, and I have already discussed this in length and will probably want to discuss with you later."

"Well..." You didn't speak, which had Seonghwa feeling rejection would soon follow. "I would love to."

"...Is this a yes?"

"Yes it is." You chuckled. "I've been actually thinking of planning a visit after I graduate in May, but honestly, the sooner the better."

"Make sure to message the others about this, they'll be so happy." He smiled, unable to hide his excitement. "I am about to leave the office here soon. I will call you when I am back at the dorm."

"Get back safely."

"Of course. I will talk to you soon."

"And- Fuck!" You swore loudly.

"Is something wrong?" Worry seeped into his veins at how your voice sounded.

"I got stung by scorpion while island hopping."

Taglist: @stopeatread@hee0soo@pocketjoong-reads@seonghwaddict@tridkeys

[cupidddd-d]

and i'm hating myself because you don't want to

in which he can't help but wonder why you chose him

he went by many names. tartaglia. childe. the eleventh harbringer.

and ajax. the only name truly close to his heart. you were the only person outside of his family to ever call him that, and it sounded far too sweet coming from you.

you spoke to him as if you didn't know what kind of unforgivable things he had done. every word that fell from your lips was so saccharine that for a moment-- only a moment, he allowed his eyes to flutter shut and enjoy you fully without remorse or hesitation.

he allowed himself to believe that he truly deserved you, that he lived in a world in which he was worthy of you. but that world didn't exist. it never would, but he could dream. he could dream while he basked himself in the sunshine of your lovely voice, memorizing the way you felt in his arms.

but cruel reminders of his reality turned the dream into a nightmare. the scars on his hands that made him feel ashamed to even touch your soft, unblemished skin. the blankness and cruelty in his eyes that never deterred you. the summons from the fatui that cut his time with you short.

you were too good, too pure, and yet he allowed himself to revel in your presence. greedily accepting your love even if he was undeserving. selfishly keeping you for himself, even if there were so many others that came without the baggage.

he played with your fingers as he laid in your lap, their smoothness so different from the texture of his own scarred ones, weathered from the decades of practicing weapons.

"ajax, you're being quiet again." you said softly, a fond smile on your face as you look down at him.

"am i?" he couldn't help the twitching of his lips at the sight of your smile.

you were too bright, too good for him. if you were the sun, he was the black hole looming over the solar system. if you were a flower, he would be the weed that stole all of the soil's nutrients to itself. you didn't see it yet, but he did. he would be your undoing. he would be the cause of your painful end. but he still couldn't bring himself to let you go. "what's going on in your head, huh?" you grinned, soft fingers carding through his hair.

"why....why did you choose me? why me? why....why do you love me?" and he finally spoke, his insecurities finally confirming their existence.

"that's a stupid question," you poked his forehead as if you couldn't believe the words coming from his mouth. "why wouldn't i love you? you're so easy to love, so of course i'd fall in love with you. i mean, you're gentle, you're kind, and you treat me well. what's not to love?" you speak plainly, as if it was so simple.

"but i almost destroyed your home," he looks at you with those sad blue eyes of his, and your heart cracks a little at the fact that he's been internalizing this despair for so long.

"yeah, and i love you despite all that. doesn't that say a lot about how much i truly care about you?" you say softly, not realizing the way those few words healed him.

he doesn't say anything, and you don't acknowledge the way his eyes well up with tears.

"i love you, you know that?" you trace the lines of his face, your fingers delicately smoothing across the slope of his nose and the arch of his eyebrows.

your eyes are so loving it makes him want to rip his heart out and present it to you, saying, "here it is. it's yours. it was only ever yours. to own, to break, to love, my heart beats only for you."

but he doesn't do that. he just stares up at you, and in that moment, he actually feels like he might be someone worthy of your love.

[rogersideup]

Nice to be Kneaded

Chapter sixteen

Crawl Home to You

Series masterlist

Previous Part: Everything will be Okay Next Part: Endgame

Word Count: 7,532

Warnings: My blog is 18+ only. All minors or blogs without an age in bio will be blocked. Minors DNI. Mentions of medical equipment, loss, abuse, PTSD, anxiety and depression.

"Psst"

You stopped in your tracks.

Walking the empty main hall of the compound towards where Steve, Scott, Bruce and Nat were conducting a time travel test, the only sound was the echoed thumping of your sneakers against the floor.

Steve advised you to wait it out in the living room until they were done so he knew you'd be safe and sound, then he texted you that they were all done. However, that text came in the middle of a business call, so you told him you'd come down to them when it wrapped up.

So now, here you were, approaching the pull up zone outside and trying to figure out where that noise came from.

"Sunflower!" You heard the loud whisper again.

Knowing that literally everyone here but Steve only ever called you Sugar Cookie, you knew exactly who it was already.

"Where are you?" You giggled, turning around in a complete circle to find him.

Then, he bashfully turned the corner. Arm behind his back, with a cheeky, genuine smile on his face.

"What's gotten into yo-" You asked with a giggle before he fully turned the corner and you saw what he was trying to sneak around. Your laugh turned into a gasp and your jaw happily dropped. "No fucking way!"

He propped his arm up, and attached to it was the red white and blue shield. "Tony just gave it back to me. We made up, it was actually really nice."

You stepped closer to inspect it, "I can't believe I've been with you for this long and I've never seen the shield before!"

Steve laughed at your body language. Your hands were crossed behind your back, and instead of getting even closer, your few steps kept you at a comfortable distance away from it, yet you still leaned forward and squinted your eyes to see all of its details.

"Are you so happy to have it back?" You asked, looking up at him for a brief moment to see his facial expression.

"It's like reuniting with an old friend, feels like no time has passed." His free hand lovingly pat the front of it. You still seemed very timid, and his step forward caused you to take a step back. "Are you... scared of it?"

"What? No." You denied, shaking your head.

As a test he stepped forward again but this time you stayed put. Steve gave you a confused look, unable to gauge your reaction. "You wanna touch it?"

He extended his arm out to you, and you shook your head again. "I can't just touch it!" You exclaimed like he had gone absolute mad.

"Why not?" He asked with a laugh.

"Why not?! I don't even want to breathe too hard near it! That's like an artifact, dude! Are you crazy?!" You explained like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I have lotion on my hands, and it's gonna get all over it."

"Baby, it's made out of the strongest metal on earth." Steve explained, gently grabbing your wrist and placing your palm flat to the front of it. "See? Nice shield!"

"Woaaahhhh, that's so cool." Your face turned from concerned to amazed before you ran your finger around the grooves. Then, you made a cheeky big smile at Steve, "Can I hold it?"

"Wow, quick turn around time" He noted how fast you went from 0 to 100 as he pulled his arm out of the straps.

He instructed you to hold your arm out before sliding it through one strap, and to grip the other in your palm.

"How's she feeling?" Steve asked. "I can make it tighter."

"It feels so cool!" You said giddily.

"Looks even cooler, Baby" His heart melted at the sight of his love holding it.

"What do you think? Should I get me one of these?" You asked.

"I think you need lots of training and a small lump some of money to obtain this much vibrainum, but I believe in you!" He kissed your cheek and started guiding you down the hallway again, right back towards his room.

"Sooooo, how did the test run go?" You asked, walking tall and proud with the shield on your arm.

"Not too great. We accidentally tuned Scott into a baby and an old man. But pay no mind to any of that because Tony is here, and he figured it out. So he's going to build a real time travel machine, oh- and Rocket and Nebula just got here too. Rocket and Bruce are going to go get Thor."

"Steve..."

"What?" He questioned nonchalantly.

"Is Scott back to normal?" You asked. "Why did you just brush over that part?"

"Oh yeah, he's back to Scott-ish age now." He confirmed.

"Okay great." You giggled.

"Woah!" Sounded from behind you.

Admittedly, it scared you at first. You didn't hear any footsteps, and you definitely didn't sense anyone nearing. You jumped, shrieked, and dropped the shield straight into the floor.

Steve laughed and he swiftly bent down to pick it up, and you turned to address the terrifying elephant in the room.

None other than Tony stark. "Sugar cookie stuck around, huh?"

"Nice to see you again, Mr. Stark." You greeted him while puffing out a breath and clutching your chest.

"She's polite." Tony acknowledged, Steve nodded with pride. "Just Tony works."

"Oh, sorry." You apologized for using an incorrect title.

"Rogers, didn't I just tell you to keep that under wraps because I didn't bring enough for everyone?" Tony joked, pointing at the shield.

"What could I say? She just looked so cute holding it" Steve justified.

"She looked even cuter dropping it." Tony joked. Then his eyes met yours. "You really are beautiful by the way, thanks for sticking around. Contrary to popular belief around here, I do like seeing Rogers happy."

"Thank you, Tony. I'm happy to be here." You responded politely, unsure of how to let your guard drop around the billionaire.

"Steve, meeting room in 10. We have a lot of thinking to do." Tony told Steve, then turned to you. "Would it be inappropriate to tell you o could really go for some brownies right now?"

"No, not at all." You shook your head. "I'll get right on it... Do you happen to know if Raccoons can eat chocolate?"

"This isn't about the build-a-bear." Tony shook his head. "Okay, gotta go. Kinda have half the universe counting on me to build a Time Machine."

And just like that, he walked off.

You sighed. "When he says it like that, I guess he really does deserve some brownies."

Steve giggled and leaned down to kiss your cheek. "I'm guessing you're headed off to the store now?"

"Depends. Do the Avengers have any dark cocoa powder handy?"

With his free hand, Steve reached into his back pocket and handed you the keys to his car. "Nobody here is smart enough to know how to bake anything. Of course we don't have cocoa powder."

You laughed at his statement, a little snort passed through. "I just love you so much, Stevie."

"I can tell, nobody would put up with any of this for any other reason." He acknowledged. "I love you too, Baby."

You rocked up on your tippy toes to give him a kiss. "Use your big brain, smarty pants. They need it."

"Oh, and by the way," Steve started, smug look on his face. "If you're holding the shield and you get scared, best practice is to hold it in front of you and not drop it on the floor. It can't really do much for you all the way down there."

"Yeah, yeah" You playfully rolled your eyes.

Over the next few days, Steve watched you connect with the team in ways he wasn't quite sure he's ever had. Honestly, it came quite naturally for you.

If someone was upset, it's like your brain didn't even have to think about what to do. You'd autopilot hugs and comforting words. And if someone needed a break to rest their tired brain, they'd always come to you for some fun conversation. If anyone fell asleep, you were there to throw a blanket over them.

No matter how happy it made him, he reminded you time and time again that you didn't have to stick around if you didn't want to. The conversations they were having were heavy, and he could tell a lot of them took a toll on you regardless of your efforts to not show that they did.

But you knew you wouldn't be able to sleep at night without being here for him. You wanted to make sure he was okay first and foremost, and you knew he couldn't sleep at night if you weren't there. It was a tricky balance, but one you'd do almost anything to keep the scales from tipping.

Steve had warned you not to get too attached to any of the team, he told you realistically how it works. They get along and work well together, but when the mission was done they all went back to their separate lives. He knew you and your sweet as sugar heart, and he wanted to protect it from the reality of the people he surrounded you with.

Perhaps Sam, Bucky and Nat were the exceptions. He always knew they would be there for him no matter what. Oh how he wished you could've met Bucky, he knew the two of you would be like two peas in a pod.

But in the time it took to get the whole team assembled and the machine built, he could tell his advice to you had flown out the window.

You and Nat were just too precious to separate. And Thor; sweet, poor Thor. He was really having a rough time, and you just couldn't help yourself from comforting him. Steve saw Thor bond with you in a way he had never quite seen him bond with anyone before. You made Rocket how very own tray of blondies since he definitely couldn't eat the brownies. He even saw Tony giving you business advice, that spiraled into him giving you opinions on everything about the new bakery you were working tirelessly on. Tony complemented your business model and taste in interior design on multiple occasions, which was a very high compliment.

Two days before they decided the machine was good enough for a test run, Steve decided that's when he would feel most comfortable bringing you home.

Everything in him was screaming to get you to safety, but his heart was screaming to never let you go. So, he decided the day he brought you home he'd spend the night at home with you, then go back the next morning. He knew a little bit of peace away from the craziness would help him go into the mission with a stronger, more rested mind.

Honestly, driving through the neighborhood with one hand on the steering wheel and the other hand being held between both of yours, he had never been so sure that this was his home now.

Even in just the relatively short time away, he missed everything about it. Your shared home, the bed, the running trails, the lake view lookout cliffs, and breakfast burritos from the diner.

He even almost missed the feeling of being watched by Georgia's careful eyes every time he simply exited near the view of her living room window.

When the two of you pulled up the driveway, put the car in park and turned off the transmission, he looked over at you. You were lost in thought, staring out of the window with no awareness to your surroundings. Steve felt a little crack in your heart knowing exactly what you were thinking about.

"Baby," he squeezed your hand, grabbing your attention. "You'll see them again, okay?"

You grinned and squeezed his hand right back. "I just want you guys to stay safe, that's all."

"We will be." He nodded. "You have to know that saving the world is the goal but getting home to you is number one priority. We all have too much to lose to put anything on the line."

You leaned over the center console to give him a kiss. "I trust you."

Instead of a response, his eyes were open when you pulled away, staring straight ahead. Instead of asking what he was looking at, you followed his eyes and saw Georgia conveniently out on her porch.

Rather than the perfectly put together version of Georgia everyone knew, she looked... off. Rather than a proper outfit, she was in comfortable clothes. The color in her face looked drained, other than her cheeks which were blushed pink.

This time you weren't so sure she came out to see what the two of you were up to. Especially when she slowly walked towards the railing of her porch and barely made it the few steps it took to get there. Stumbling over her own two feet to grab onto the railing, and even when she wasn't walking, she was slowly swaying like she couldn't even stand up.

"Something's wrong." You mumbled, unsure if it was to yourself or the superhero in the drivers seat.

You could tell he was thinking the same thing as you, and every issue you've ever had with her completely flew out of the window and wasn't even a thought in either of your minds as you both un-clicked your seatbelts and got out of the car as fast as you could.

Your legs carried yourself over to her faster than you even looked both ways to check for cars before crossing the street. Steve's legs were longer, they got him to her first. He walked up her porch stairs two at a time before putting his hand on her shoulder to steady her.

"Are you alright?" He questioned, full of concern.

"I'm sorry, I just haven't been feeling good an-" She started explaining, before noticing you approaching right behind Steve.

"What's wrong, Georgia?" You wanted her to keep going.

"Baby, you know I wouldn't be asking for help if I didn't need it." She told you.

You were even more worried as you could hear shakiness and mumbling in her voice. She could barely separate words on her tongue, the syllables were slurring together.

"It's okay, tell me what's going on." You reassured her, caring a lot more about her well being than anything that's happened between the three of you.

Steve was already three steps ahead of this situation. He was looking around and making a plan in his head, he knew just by looking at her that she was very very sick with something. Just with one hand on her shoulder he could feel the heat radiating off of her yet her arms had visible goosebumps.

"I just have the flu or something, but I can't go- go to the store to get any medicine." She slurred.

Her swaying was getting worse, eyes growing heavier by the moment. Getting increasingly more concerned by the second, Steve had to make a judgment call.

"Baby." Steve got your attention, now with one hand on Georgia's back and another on her upper arm. "Call the paramedics." He mouthed as to not make Georgia more concerned.

You nodded, understanding why he didn't speak it out loud. "I'm going to go grab you a few things from my house, why don't you let Steve take you inside so you can get comfortable okay? I'll be right back."

"Really I'm f-fine. Just need some cold medicine or someth-" She didn't finish her sentence.

"Georgia?" Steve tried getting her to respond, but her eyes closed.

Having already bracing for this, Georgia became unconscious and fell backwards onto Steve, but he caught her gracefully before she even had a chance to come close to the floor.

You pulled out the phone and immediately called for an ambulance as Steve set her down as gently as he possibly could before sitting down next to her and rolling her head to the side.

He was worried with a fever this high she would have a seizure following the loss of consciousness, and while you were on the phone, your big concerned eyes found his calm ones.

You answered all the questions as best you could before the dispatcher told you the paramedics would be there as soon as they could, then you hung up.

Calm as a clam, Steve sat with her with a watchful eye.

"Do you want to stay with her, or do you want to grab me a few things in the meantime?" He asked.

"I'll stay" you nodded, feeling overwhelmed and worried sick.

"Okay, I'll be right back." He nodded, swiftly standing up and jogging across the street.

He came back not even a full minute later with everything he needed to start treatment while waiting for proper medical care.

You watched as he slipped a pillow from the porch swing under her head, then put a cold wet rag on her forehead, and put down a cold water bottle just in case she woke up. Sitting down next to you on the ground, he reached out and let you play with his hand.

"She'll be okay" He explained. "I think she has a really high fever and hasn't been trying to keep it down enough. They'll probably take her and keep her for a few days, but it's an easy fix. Nothing to be worried about."

"How do you know?" You questioned sadly.

"I spent the first 23 years of my life sick as a dog." He grinned emphatically. "I know because I've been here so many times before."

You nodded silently and played with his fingers before a quiet tear slipped down your cheek and you tried your hardest to not alert Steve of your emotions, but he was always far more observant than you ever hoped he would be.

"Hey, baby." Steve pouted. "Talk to me, are you scared?"

"I'm sad." You corrected. "I care about her and love her so much, and I still do even after all this time and everything that's happened. I don't understand why it has to be like this."

"I'm sorry, Honey." Steve pouted. Though unspoken, his apology had a double meaning. I'm sorry it had to be this way, and I'm sorry for being the wedge in the strained relationship.

"I could've been here taking care of her had she just heard me out and opened her heart to you. It never had to be this way. It should've never come to this." You shook your head. "And now I feel guilty that she's alone. I feel like I have everyone and she has no one."

"That's not your fault." Steve reminded you gently. "You aren't the one who decided for any of this to happen."

"I hope she can see that I still love her, and that you're a good man when all of this is said and done because I hate this stupid grudge."

Although Steve still admittedly hated what she did to you, and wanted to be petty and hold onto it for as long as he could, he understood where you were coming from.

It reminded him of his relationship with Tony. There was a long time in which he thought it was past the point of reconciliation, but not all things were impossible, and the love he had for him never went away.

"You have the best heart, and she's lucky to still be loved by you even after all this time" Steve told you, both of you could hear sirens blaring in the distance.

"She has a sister I should call, do you think I should go to the hospital with her?"

"I think you should do whatever will make you feel like you're doing the right thing." Steve advised you. "I know this is tricky, there's no right or wrong answer, but what we already did was the right thing to do. Anything else is above and beyond."

The sirens got too loud to even respond to him, and the paramedics rushed up to to take her and treat her with urgency. But no matter how quickly they worked, a few concerned neighbors still came out to ask you and Steve about what was going on.

Apparently the nice couple two doors down from her had formed a pretty close friendship, and the wife made a pretty mindless decision to get into the back of the ambulance with her with almost no second thought. It did a lot to ease your mind, especially knowing she wasn't as along as you once thought she was.

After calling her sister who also assured you that she was on her way to the hospital, you felt a lot better and decided to stay home and spend time with Steve who would be quite literally traveling through time in just a short day away.

Eventually you dragged your two feet through the front door, Steve closing it and locking it behind you as you kicked off your shoes.

"Straight to the couch, young lady. I don't want to hear any if's, and's, or butt's about it!" Steve joked.

You followed his instructions with giggle and you plopped down right before he did. It wasn't long before he had you cuddled up to him, with the fluffy blanket on top of the two of you.

Face to face, he gently pushed your hair behind your ear before letting his palm warm your cheek.

"Thank you for helping her even though you had no reason to." You spoke quietly. With barely any distance, words didn't need to travel far anyways.

"I always have a reason to. Helping is what I do best."

Non-verbally agreeing with him, you came to terms with your own thoughts. "These next few days are going to be really hard."

"They will be, I don't think there's anyway we can sugar coat that." Steve agreed. "But I believe in our ability to get through hard times together."

"There's no one else I'd rather be by my side."

"Couldn't agree more." He grinned. "Can I add two more codes to the sunflowers?"

"What do you want to add?" You asked.

"I think in case of emergency, we should do 4 blinks." He suggested gently.

"But there's not going to be an emergency." You raised an eyebrow.

"If course there isn't" Steve agreed with you, though you both knew the chance was pretty high. "And on the contrary I think one long blink should signal that I'm okay. I want you to have peace of mind and a quick way to communicate that to you whenever we need it."

"Ooh, I love that one!" You enthused, earning the sweetest smile from your favorite boy.

"I knew you would"

"What do you want to do before you leave in the morning?" You questioned, fully devoted to making him as happy and relaxed as possible.

"You." He stated smugly.

You gasped and your cheeks immediately turned pink before hiding your face into his neck. He laughed as you squealed like a teenage girl, because even after all these years his sexual comments still pulled great reactions out of you. "Naughty!... but I think we can arrange that."

"You're so cute" he giggled, now cradling the back of your head with his hand.

"I'm trying to hide that I'm blushing!"

"Well it's not so secret anymore, is it?"

You lifted your head to glare at him, and sure enough, your cheeks were painted rosy pink. "What else do you want to do?"

"This is fine by me." Steve shrugged. "Just wanna spend time with you."

"You want a breakfast burrito tomorrow morning, don't you?" You narrowed your eyes.

"I want to spend time eating breakfast burritos with you." He reiterated,

"I know how to read in between the lines, Baby." You giggled.

Besides the forefront of your mind being full of concern over Georgia, Steve, and the Avengers, the two of you managed to spend a really nice day away from the chaos.

You slipped in one phone call to make sure Georgia was okay, then the rest of your time was occupied by Steve and Steve only. Long conversations ranging from heavy topics to funny ones that made the two of you laugh so hard you couldn't breathe, to making sweet sweet love that never failed to make you feel so appreciated and your souls interconnected.

And just as important as making you feel loved during sex was to Steve, making sure you felt just as loved after the fact was arguably even higher priority for him. He never could let go of hearing all the ways you were used and manipulated in the past. All he ever wanted was to make a life for you in which you never had to even be worried about feeling that way every again.

Every single year you've been together has been a constant reminder to him that you always felt safe, loved, and the most comfortable version of yourself when he was around. But that didn't mean he would ever stop being as attentive as he could to you. And you loved to return the favor to him as well.

So after the fun came even more fairytale romantic intimacy in the form of a long, hot shower. The two of you washed each others hair, exchanged kisses, sweet words, and his strong hands even gave you a nice relaxing shoulder massage.

One thing he quickly learned is that a baker's shoulders were always tense, always over worked, and most of the time your right shoulder was hurting you. So some shoulder rubs always released mental and physical tension, and it almost always made you sleepy.

That night Steve felt a sense of accomplishment when he successfully lulled you to sleep after being convinced you wouldn't sleep a single wink until the mission was over, Georgia was no longer sick, and everyone was home safe.

But when the two of you cuddled in up in nothing more than a sports bra, some underwear, and your softest blankets, the warmth and comfort of his bare skin and sweet words sent you straight to dreamland without even processing that it was happening.

Not a single thought in your brain could keep you awake when it was full of nothing but thoughts of how much you loved him, and how lucky you were to be loved by the gentle giant.

When his big frame engulfed you like the cutest little teddy bear, your soft and even breathing always knocked him out quickly too. Though the two of you weren't quite married yet, he was a firm believer in the happy wife, happy wife notion.

You woke up the morning of his departure a lot less relaxed than you were last night, and you could tell that was the case for him too considering he was awake, yet quietly hiding away with his face shoved into your chest and the blankets pulled up to his ear.

For as long as the two of you could afford, you played with the short hair on the back of his head, squeezed him tight and peppered gentle kisses to the crown of his skull.

"Good morning, handsome." You spoke quietly, only to be responded with by him shaking his head. You laughed and gave him another kiss knowing he definitely wasn't ready to start the day.

A few more minutes of cuddles later, he finally poked his head and peaked at you through his eyelashes. "G'morning."

"Maybe if we keep sleeping you don't have to leave." You suggested, feeling the mutual dread over the lack of unknown.

"I just tried that, it didn't work." Steve pouted.

Your arms squeezed him as tight as they could for just a few seconds, and he appreciated every second of you trying to love him to death. That was until his phone ringing interrupted the peace.

He groaned in complaint while you reached over to grab it for him. "It's Tony"

"Let it go to voice mail." Steve half joked.

"You want me to send Tony Stark to voice mail?" You raised an eyebrow.

"It helps keep him humble" He rolled into his back, squinting his eyes to hide them from the harsh daylight.

You clicked the answer button and put Steve's phone to your ear. "Hello, Anthony."

"Oh, even lovelier than hearing Rogers' voice in the morning." He commented. "Where is he, by the way?"

"He's really busy right now." You joked with a smile, everyone knew it was bullshit. He was now hiding his eyes in the ditch of his elbow.

"I'm just gonna assume he's pooping. How are you? Happy to be home?"

"I'm great, but I miss you already."

Steve let out a little complaint, he couldn't believe how well you and Tony got along. He should've expected it, you got along with everyone, but there was something about Tony being able to butter you up that just really got under his skin. He poked your ribs, so you put the call on speaker phone.

"Miss you too, Sugar Cookie. I've been meaning to ask you. When are you and Rogers getting married? If he hasn't proposed yet just let me know and I'll pester him about it. I'll even pitch in for a ring, make sure it's real pretty."

"You're so inva-" Steve started.

"Helpful. Thank you." You cut him off.

"That got him here quick!" Tony noted.

"I think the wedding will be sometime next year, but I'll make sure you get a hand delivered invitation."

"Steve? Do you need some money?" Tony asked, earning a laugh from you.

"I'm more than fine, Tony. I have a big boy job." Steve denied.

"Oh! It's actually funny you bring that up because I was talking to a few of your colleagues, they were all thinking we do the whole time heist thing today instead of tomorrow. So if you want to keep your big boy job to buy that rock we were just talking about, you should probably get here like... soon-ish."

"Okay, then I'll be there soon-ish." He agreed.

"How soon is soon and how ish-y is the ish?" Tony asked.

"Well the soon part is the whole flying a jet thing, and the ish is eating a breakfast burrito and getting dressed so give me 2 hours."

"Hey sugar cookie?" Tony called your attention.

"What's up?"

"When this is all done, Team party at the bakery?"

"The doors are always open for you guys." You agreed.

"Great. See you soon. Rogers, see you soon-ish." Tony said before hanging up.

Both of you dragged yourselves out of bed to put some clothes on and eat breakfast together before sending him off.

Outside of the diner you two hovered next to his car, leaning on it, trying to selfishly take every single moment you could. He briefed you on everything that would go down, you soaked up the information, and unfortunately it was time to say goodbye.

"Remember, I'll be gone for a few hours, but for you it'll only be a few minutes. I'll let you know when I get back by holding down the sunflower, okay?"

"Okay. One long glow." You nodded. "You're going to do great, Baby. And by all means, you're fucking time traveling. Enjoy it, but be safe."

"Always." He squeezed your hands. "I've got the most important thing in the whole world right here, nothing else comes before that. Shit, even if I die and they bury me underneath a concrete slab, you best believe I'm climbing my way out and crawling my way home to you"

"First of all, don't say that. Second of all, don't even think that. Third of all, that sounds horrifying. And fourth of all, that's really sweet, thank you." You schooled him with a giggle.

"I just love you that much!" He enthused.

"I love you too." You smiled. "I'd help dig you out, by the way."

"Teamwork makes the dream work." He cupped your cheeks and gave you a kiss. "When you see that I'm back, stay home, alright? We don't know what the world is going to look like when we bring everyone back. I want you to stay safe too."

"Got it" You agreed with a nod, and one more kiss. "You still have your good luck charm?"

"That $20 was the first thing that made it to my new suit." He reassured you.

"Perfect. Go get 'em Soldier."

"Yes ma'am." He followed your orders, opening his car door. "I love you!"

"I love you more."

Upon his departure, you knew you needed to keep yourself busy. So you decided to eat your own pride and bring a bouquet of flowers to the hospital to check up on Georgia and hopefully start the mend of your broken relationship.

She was asleep when you got there, but her sister let you know she was doing well and will be home tomorrow. Not wanting to disrupt, you left the flowers then made your way back to your second home.

The bakery welcomed you in with the smell of fresh baked cookies and a warm waft of air from the ovens that felt like a big hug.

Time always flew by when you became truly focused on running the place and taking care of orders, but it was never enough to completely rid you of the knot in your stomach you were trying so hard to ignore all day long.

Before you knew it, your sunflower lit up with a big long glow as you were adding on final touches to the cake on your turn table. The last one of the day. You send him a little three glow message to acknowledge that he was back safe and that you loved him before wrapping up at the bakery and heading home like he told you too.

The sun was starting its decent as you were getting comfortable at home. You had gotten into pajamas, pulled your hair back into a ponytail, and cleaned the kitchen as you anticipated hearing all the details about Steve's day.

You wondered where exactly he had gone, what year he went to and what happened while he was there. It took a lot to hold back your desperate yearning to call him, you knew he was probably busy and exhausted from the day he had.

The calmness in your heart turned into a brick in your stomach when you got a text, and clicked the notification on your screen.

Steve: Hey baby, Danielle is on her way to our place right now. Please call me when she gets there <3

Danielle was a decorator of yours at the bakery back before the snap. She quickly became a very close friend of yours and Steve's through the years. Though she left the bakery for a corporate job, she was always there for you both when you needed her.

The knowledge of her arrival and him wanting to talk to you after made your heart thump out of your chest and your legs weaken with anxiety. You knew Steve. If there was bad news he couldn't deliver straight to your face, he would never give it to you over phone or text if he knew you were alone.

So sending a trusted and close friend over to you for support and company before laying it on you was definitely what was about to happen.

It was barely even five whole minutes before there was a gentle knock on the door, and you rushed to open if like your life depended on it.

She stood there with a sad, sympathetic look on her face. She was in sweatpants and a shirt much like you, a bag slung on her shoulder. The pout on her lips and big eyes full of dread told you that there was definitely something wrong.

"Dani, what happened?" You didn't even bother saying hello, this was way beyond that. "Steve told me he was okay. He's okay, right?

She stepped inside your house, and quickly set her bag down. "He's fine, I just talked to him. But you need to call him, he will tell you everything."

You sunk into yourself, and Danielle wrapped her arm around you. "Come on, let's get comfortable on the couch."

With hands so shaky and legs so wobbly did just that before you grabbed your phone, and called Steve. It barely even rang once before he picked up.

"Hi, Sunflower." He spoke, you could hear the bad news in his voice before he even said what happened. He sounded sad, his voice hoarse, raspy, and deeper than usual.

"Oh baby." You felt a physical pain in your chest just from him speaking two greeting words to you. It was like you could feel his pain. "What happened? I thought everything was okay?"

"The mission is okay, we got all six of the stones. We're working on getting them in the gauntlet. But, Honey..."

"No. No buts. You always tell me no buts." Your heart cracking more and more by the second.

"I know. I'm so sorry I have to tell you this but Nat, she's gone." He finally got the words out.

"What do you mean she's gone?" You needed him to clarify, pure disbelief and denial racing through your mind.

"We didn't realize the soul stone was only retrievable with a trade. A soul for a soul. She sacrificed herself. I'm so sorry." That's when the tears started. You hurt for yourself, the amount of grief that flooded over you felt immense, but mostly you hurt for Steve. Steve was in a family of four before he met you. Him, Sam, Bucky and Nat. Nat was the only one he had left and now she was gone in an instant. "I know you two were close, and I hope you know how much your friendship meant to her. You really were a light in her life especially recently when things felt so dark. She told me all the time how much she loved you."

"Can't you just go back again? Just get her?" You cried.

"I wish we could." He gently denied, his own tears flowing quietly. "This is irreversible, we would do anything to get her back if we could. You know I would."

"I'm so sorry, Honey. Are you okay?" You questioned feeling so awful for him.

"I'm devastated." He admitted, his voice shook even though he was trying to be strong. "But we still have a job to do. We can't let her have died for nothing."

Understanding the heartbreak and unfathomable amount of pressure this added to his shoulders, all you wanted to do was hug him. "I wish I could be there for you."

"This is awful." Steve cried and laughed at the same time. "I'd do anything just to be with you, yet the only thing that would make me feel worse than having you states away is having you here in the compound. I need you to be safe."

"I know, I know." You understood where he was coming from. "How's everyone handling it?"

"Everyone is upset and not it great spirits, but again, we have to keep going." Steve sighed. "It's been a really long day."

"I could only imagine." You shook your head with a sad sniffle. Half of your sadness was hearing him cry on the phone and not being able to do anything about it.

"We're going to rest up tonight, and finish this damn thing in the morning. I'll be home the very second I can be."

"Okay, but try to take care of yourself in the meantime. You can't be saving the world without saving yourself first." You reminded him.

"Are you going to be okay?" Steve asked you sympathetically.

"Obviously this is devastating, but I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me."

"I always worry about you." He denied your claim.

"I know you do." He managed to pull a smile out of you. "But don't let that distract you from the bigger goal here."

There was a pause on his end, a sad sniffle, then a sigh. "I'm exhausted."

"It'll be over soon, Baby." You reminded him, but deep down you knew exactly what he meant.

He wasn't sleepy, his body wasn't sore and his mind was alright beyond the obvious, but there were unspoken truths about his life recently that he just couldn't get himself to verbalize.

Steve was exhausted of being Captain America.

You knew that without him even having to say it straight to your face. He told you in little ways, like how every time he left Greenwood to report to duty his feet would drag out of the house and his back would slump. When he was gone away from you, your sunflower would light up so much sometimes you were concerned that whatever was inside of it to make it glow would burn out one day. Then when he got back, the very first thing he would do after greeting you was put all of his tactical gear completely out of sight so he could get it out of his mind.

Just as secretly as he kept his longing for a life where Cap wasn't around anymore, you secretly hoped he was catching on to your subtle reassurance that there was so much more to him than the stars and strips he's worn since he was only 23 years old.

The complexities of his existence never ceased to amaze you, and much like you felt since the moment you found out the cutie next door was a superhero, his job was one of the least important qualities you found in him.

His sensitive heart, compassion, and love for life would always remain regardless of the status of a shield on his arm and a star on his chest.

You didn't need him to be strong, you just needed him to be happy.

Truly, wholly, and undeniably happy.

So when you said it would be over soon, you hoped he understood that you already knew what was to come. All you wanted was to help him make peace with what you already knew.

Steve Rogers always has been and always will be enough.

You were met with more silence. He was completely shut down, and that broke your heart even more. You knew he never used to be like this, he'd tell you all the stories from before the Civil War about how he lived his life bouncing from mission to mission, plucking off one threat at a time all while meeting and losing people along the way without a single glance at what happened behind him.

What broke your heart even more was that you knew he'd wake up tomorrow morning and put on his brave face. Not a single complaint, not a single tear, not a single speck of anything considered to be a lack of bravery would slip past him just so everyone on the team would have someone to look to.

"I miss this morning." He admitted, breaking down as a deep inner thought slipped passed his composure.

"There's going to be another morning tomorrow." You wiped tears off your cheeks, Danielle wrapped her arms around you and hugged you tight."But then there will be another morning the day after tomorrow, and it'll only get a little better every day after that. You remind me of that all of the time."

"Even just hearing your voice has made me feel infinitely better."

"Call me whenever you need to, okay? Even if it's in the middle of the night I'll be here for you." You reminded him.

"Same goes to you, you know that."

"Of course I do. But you seem tired, I think you should get some well deserved rest."

As you said that, he allowed your words to be true in his mind. He did deserve rest.

"If all goes well, I'll see you tomorrow."

"It's going to be just fine, so I will see you tomorrow."

"I'll dream of you until then." Steve said, making your tears fall just a little harder because you still didn't know what you did to deserve to be loved the way he loved you. "I love you, Sunflower."

"Goodnight, Honey. I love you too."

When the line disconnected, you accepted the big hug your best friend wrapped you up in and all the way in New York Steve dug his face into his pillow, and clutched the pillow you slept on not even a full 48 hours ago to his chest.

Regardless of the distance, you both hoped that the result of tomorrow promised a better future and a long, happy life chalk full of everyone you loved.

If anyone could do that for you, and the whole universe, it was Steve Rogers. He was more than enough.

Next: Endgame

Tag list: @patzammit @bemysugarbean @buckymydarlingangel @happinessinthebeing @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory @differenttyphoonwerewolf @themotherof10 @talesofadragon @spikeluv84 @avid-fic-reader @royalwriteroftheuniverse @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @bitchy-bi-trash @crazyunsexycool @openup-yourmind @selella @kattreffic @benedict-squirtle @magnificentsaladllama @theroyalmanatee @calwitch @avengersinitiative2012 @rogersbarber @daddywattpad4945

[charlewiss-writes]

make damn sure / charles leclerc

masterlist

day 19: wonder (part of one-word november prompts!)

word count: 1.5k.

pairing: bff!charles x reader

summary: being the hopeless romantic that you are, you've been dreaming about your special other your whole life. you're talking to your best friend pierre about the dream guy. what if you already knew him?

author's note: not proofread, so for sure many errors lmao. hope its still understandable (? also, im sorry for the delay! will try to have day 20 ready soon but its one prompt i really like so i dont want it to be short :( ill see what i can do! thanks for sticking with me through almost 20 days already!!

since being childhood friends, charles, pierre and you were inseparable. going to school together, joining them on their karting days, them joining you in your school plays. you were always there for eachother, without doubt. so when things started to get complicated at your house and you decided to move, they were 100% in. and that's how you ended now, two years after living with them, in the couch while talking to the frenchman.

"don't you wonder sometimes?" you had started the conversation, voice dry after hours without saying a word. it went like that sometimes, all too busy with their stuff: sometimes, even though you lived with two other people, thanks to their jobs, it seemed like you lived on your own. pierre straightened himself a little on his seat and turned his body towards you, so he could look into your eyes as he said "about?".

immediately regretting your decision to bring this topic to the table, you tried to back off. "well of course you don't, you already have a girlfriend" jokingly, you said. that only seemed to interest the boy in front of you more, being one that didnt like to leave things unresolved. "what are you talking about?". after knowing you for so long, they already knew you were a hopeless romantic at heart, but still, it made you nervous to talk about it out loud, being aware that it could seem ridiculous to others. "promise you won't laugh about it".

"when did I laugh to you?" he said, tilting his eyebrowns like you were telling him something unbeliavable. but you two, having the brother-sister relationship that you had, knew that he was blantantly lying as he always made fun of you, as you made fun of him too. seeing your glare, he laughed before saying. "fine, I won't, i promise". still, you took a bit of time before actually telling him what had been on your mind all day. "I don't know, I started to think about how everyone has met their significant other but I can't seem to find them".

"what if you did already? you know plenty of people".

you fully laughed at him, with no means to offend the frenchman. it truly seemed hilarious to you that he would believe that. "I think I would have realised if a certain person with all the qualities that I look for passed in front of me, pierre. I'm not dumb".

"you sure?"

and if look could kill, you would've been charged for murder. "you're being awfully mean to me today, pierre".

"it's cause you're so blind sometimes, like you purposely don't want to see". he looked pissed off now, and the change between his playful tone and this much colder one threw you off. "see what?" you asked.

"the way he looks at you".

it was a common discusion betweet you two, ever since you realized that you didn't love both boys the same. and although yeah, you cheered for their wins and stood through their hard times the same, the smile that adorned your face was different when you were greeted at the other side by the grin of a certain monegasque, who you also lived with. but for you, he was completely off limits. and you were okay with that, with being alone on the sidelines cheering for him, not expecting anything else from him. "oh shut up. you know we're just friends".

"if telling yourself that lets you sleep at night, go ahead. but you have to know that its okay to fall in love. if it goes wrong, i'm sure we can figure it out: you won't lose us. but what if it goes right and you're wasting your time? won't you like to know?".

"know what?".

the voice of a certain someone startled you. it wasn't like you didn't know he was in the house, but after a few hours asleep you had forgotten about him at all, otherwise you wouldn't be talking about this topic in the middle of the house. "know why she likes to talk about deep topics when we should be asleep" he quickly managed to answer, and even though it wasn't a lie, it felt wrong to lie to charles like that. "but why don't you two continue with the chat, eh?, i'm sure charles as more answers than i,he's smarter after all". the monegasque laughed at that and punched his arm in his way out, while he entered the room and started to get comfortable in the same couch that you were sat in.

"i love talking about deep topics, why don't you ever talk to me about it?" he sounded genuinely hurt, like the fact that you preferred to talk about certain stuff with pierre over him really bothered the ferrari driver. "thought you were asleep, charles". and it wasn't a lie.

"don't you trust me?"

"don't be silly, cha. I didn't want to bother you, that's all"

"you could never bother me".

after a few moments in silence, where he directed his eyes towards the ceiling instead of looking at you, he said, softly this time, like he truly didn't want to wake pierre up with his tone. "pierre's right. we need to talk. i want your opinion about something". at that, you clearly became more interested in whatever charles had to say. it had been a while since you two really talked, since he was always away, and when he wasn't, you were the one with the busy schedule. "it's really really really complicated, but i think i like a girl, and i don't know how to talk to her about it".

ah, that's it. that's your worse nightmare coming true, once again.

obviously, being the pretty boy that charles was, always so well manered and the perfect boyfriend that a mother could ask for his child, it wasn't the first time that he had a partner. but as the time went on, you knew he was getting more serious about the whole dating thing, and it scared you to think about him settling in for someone lese. someone that wasn't you. so, after all the years that passed, it still hurt quite a bit to hear him talk about other people in the same way you wished to be talked about.

after a few minutes where you didn't say anything, too stunned to actually answer him, you started to get self concious. obviously, he for sure saw how your face dropped when he told you that. would he realize that you had feelings for him all this time? would he feel betrayed? after all, he thought that you were only his friend, and thats why he was telling you this in the first place.

"you don't get it, do you?"

you furrowed your browns, now confused at what he was implying with that last sentence. "what do i have to get?".

he laughed about it and took your hands into his, to gently brush your fingers over your palm. "i'm talking about you, silly".

"what do you mean? why?".

his deep greenish blue eyes looked straight at yours, and it was impossible to pull away from his gaze. he softly started to answer your question. at least the one you had told him about, since your brain was already a mess with all the questions you had for him. since when? how didn't you see it before? did pierre knew about this? was that why he always talked to you about it?

"cause i've been in love with you for my whole life, more or less. i was just too scared to ruin things between us, but pierre talked me into it. said our friendship is bigger than anything that life could throw at us. and im confident we can work things out, you know? we have known eachother for so long. i know you like the palm of my hand. and you know me the same. please, don't tell me you didn't think about it, at least once, y/n".

you smiled, knowing about the endless times you had fallen asleep to the thought of you two together. wondering exactly this, if you could ever work out. how, each time, pierre and you talked about what you were looking for, you were, knowing or not, describing the boy that was in front of you, looking lovingly into your eyes. "i think about it all the time, cha".

"and why didn't you say anything before?" he reached for your face, gently caressing it with his right hand. "cause we're both dumb, i guess. but i think it's for the better, no? we've grown so much. we know how to make this work"..

"i'm gonna make damn sure, love".

[theflyindutchwoman]

Is that an apology? Yes. All right. No! Look, because you never would've let me work my magic if I had told you, and then I would have ended up transferring to another station to save you from yourself, and…this worked out so much better. And if you can't see that, I'm sorry not sorry. Okay. I accept your non-apology.

| ANATOMY OF A SCENE - CHENFORD EDITION 5.16 - Exposed

I'm not going to lie… this is one of those scenes that I wish I could fully love… It has so much potential, but, unfortunately, it feels like something is missing. Like, say, a deeper conversation between Tim and Lucy… one where he gets to explain why he is so upset with her in the first place. Is it because she went behind his back to orchestrate the five-player trade, as suggested here? Is it because he worries about how this makes him look, as he implied earlier in the shop? Those are not mutually exclusive but since he never get to properly voice his thoughts on the matter, we never really find out which is it (or if it's both for that matter). Instead, it is skimmed over, as if it was an argument just for the sake of it.

Now, there's nothing wrong with that in itself… Not everything needs to be an arc. But as this 'fight' is connected to two storylines, it needed more depth. And this is where I, personally, feel a bit let down by this. I absolutely loved how Lucy didn't hesitate to put her career on the line to help Tim find a more suitable job, just like he did when he decided to take a desk job for her… They are prioritising the other, which is something neither of them ever had before… And that is extremely special for them, to have this unconditional support and love. In Tim's case, he was asked twice to sacrifice his career. And this time, he has someone who does everything in her power to make sure he can have it all, a job that he loves and a relationship. But none of this is truly acknowledged. We saw Lucy being grateful and appreciative when he transfered for her but not Tim… And I have a hard time believing that he wouldn't be even a little, once the sting fades. That is not to say he doesn't have any reason to be upset… And that's my second issue with this : this could have been used as a setup for the coming angst, the one that is brewing with Sava and Jake, Isabel's return, Lucy's undercover mission… All these episodes have one main theme : how secrecy and lies can destroy a relationship. How this is what actually started to break Tim's marriage with Isabel, long before her addiction drove the final nail in the coffin… So this could have been the perfect opportunity to have Tim confide in Lucy why her going behind his back, no matter how good her intentions were, is triggering some bad memories. Why their promise not to lie to each other is that important. This could have tied this whole arc altogether in a more organic way.

That said, I love how unapologetic Lucy is. She gets where he's coming from - to an extent. But she still stands her ground, simply explaining why she did it. After all, this all started because of the decision he unilaterally took, when he went to Grey and accepted a desk job, without consulting her first. So her worries that he would end up resenting her, their relationship or even just his situation are natural. Honesty works both ways. And that's the thing with them : while they are usually really good at communicating, they can also be selfless and impulsive when it comes to the other, ready to sacrifice themselves so the other can be happy. That, and they're both used to being independent. They just need to find a balance in their personal relationship. And as upset as Tim appears to be, it's quite clear that he is ready to move on right after her first apology. They might be good at arguing but he doesn't like being mad at her, that much is clear. He can't even stay that way too long, even after she turns the tables on him #sorrynotsorry. His smile… He's just so amused and disarmed. He can't even hide it anymore. So much for not being a softy...

(To be continued...)

[cuubism]

First of other-pairings fics. Calliope & Lucienne. this dynamic turned out odder than I thought it would.

--

At long last the Dreaming is normal again -- such that the Dreaming can ever be normal. After a century of decay in which Lucienne had feared the Dreaming might simply fade away, after the manifestation of the vortex in Rose, when she'd feared it might be ripped apart entirely--after all this, the Dreaming is peaceful again.

It should be peaceful.

Why can't she feel it?

Lucienne is wandering the palace gardens. She does not often wander. Usually she walks with decision. But all the major reconstruction is done in the library, and around the Dreaming more generally, and while there is always general organizing, and a continual influx of new books, her time is not currently fully occupied.

And so she is wandering. Something she had only truly done during Lord Morpheus's absence, when the library became too unspooled to tend, until things decayed to the point that even the gardens felt treacherous and she had retreated to the palace.

She does not think she is meant for wandering. She likes to have something to do. One of the hardest things during this century of a crumbling Dreaming had been not being able to do anything.

It's as she is walking the gardens, the peaceful-yet-strange breezes of the Dreaming fluttering the tails of her coat and chilling the tips of her ears, when she encounters a familiar--yet unexpected--dreamer.

She looks much the same as when Lucienne had last seen her, those thousands of years ago. Poised, elegant, timeless. She's wandering just as Lucienne had been doing, the long hem of her dress brushing the grass, and despite her bare arms doesn't seem chilled by the cool wind. What is she doing here?

"Lady Calliope," Lucienne greets as their paths cross at an intersection, surprise slipping past her usual professional neutrality. There is no perfect way to say, I thought Lord Morpheus had barred you from the Dreaming, but Lucienne is a master of tact. "I... had not expected to see you in the heart of the Dreaming. Welcome."

They had known each other once, though they had never been friends. Lucienne is, and was then, a custodian of stories, and could not help but to admire the muse who had inspired so many. Calliope was, and perhaps is still, a being of grace, and there was much to admire in that. But there was always the wedge of Morpheus between them and the possibility of friendship.

Calliope gives her a wan smile and an acknowledging dip of her head. "Lucienne. Greetings. Fear not, I've not come to trouble your lord. He would not admit me anyway; I know this without having to approach the gates."

Lucienne thinks this is true; if she were meant to find her way inside, she would have already, else Lord Morpheus would have found her here. But Lucienne had not been aware they were even on such meager visiting terms.

"It is no trouble," she says. "You are welcome."

It is strange, though. An upset to the tentative balance. Only Morpheus softening his ire could not be a bad thing... could it?

Calliope trails her hand along a flower petal; the stem shrinks back, and then reaches for her again. She touches another: it shrinks, and then reaches. "Yes, it seems he has given me leave to wander the gardens. I suppose this is progress."

Lucienne's curiosity overtakes her propriety. "Did something... change? Recently?"

"Oneiros and I met recently under poor circumstances," Calliope says, and looks up at the tall spires of the palace, just visible over the trees. "We had not spoken for a millennia."

When she doesn't continue, Lucienne asks, "And... you are speaking now?"

"It was I who first went silent on him," Calliope says, skirting the question--though perhaps the fact that she's outside of the palace instead of in is its own answer.

"I remember," Lucienne says. She remembers, too, Morpheus afterward. Lucienne does not believe in exonerating him of fault, but when it comes down to it she is Morpheus's man, so to speak. If there must be sides, she always knows which one she is one, particularly when it comes to his heart. And there are always sides when a marriage falls apart.

She wonders if she should be wary at all of Calliope's renewed presence here. Not that the goddess would mean harm, but harm does not have to be meant to be enacted.

Calliope gives her a knowing look, like she suspects much of what Lucienne is thinking. She is clever, and perceptive. Once Lucienne had thought--hoped--that she might be good for Morpheus. That she had mettle enough to withstand his tempests, and to stand up to him, and yet the gentleness to be soft when he needed it. That her steady tides might temper his storms. Perhaps they had, for a time--Lucienne's knowledge of the situation is certainly not entire. But storms and tides... too easy for the storm to whip the tide into a froth. Too easy for the tide to pull back into the ocean right when the storm is about to fall.

"We are not speaking," Calliope says at last, "though I have made the offer. Perhaps I was silent for too long. I could not forgive him for how he treated our son. Still, I cannot. But..." She looks up again at the highest spires of the palace, expression creasing in a pain that's familiar. Lucienne has felt it herself. "But, I think that I no longer begrudge him the strangeness of his grief."

Lucienne wonders if Morpheus's grief is not so much strange as it is simply buried, but doesn't say so.

Calliope shakes her head, looking back to Lucienne. "I speak too much. Long has it been since I have been in the Dreaming this way. It loosens the heart, does it not?"

Perhaps for dreamers, Lucienne thinks. For herself, she knows quite well how to shore up her heart. Perhaps she learned it from Morpheus, all those years perched upon his shoulder.

"The Dreaming does reach for emotion," she says. "It recognizes you."

Calliope touches one of the flower petals again. "Yes. Tell me, how is he? You have always had a most perceptive eye."

Met under poor circumstances, she had said. Lucienne wonders whether Calliope knows where her former husband was this century. The manner of the question suggests that she may, but Lucienne won't speak of it regardless.

"Lord Morpheus has been busy," she says. To say that he is well might be overstating it. But he has... changed, she thinks. Perhaps for both good and ill.

"I imagine," Calliope says quietly.

"But it is peaceful here," Lucienne adds. She will convince herself of it.

"So it seems," says Calliope, even as another chill wind rustles her hair. "I am glad of it."

Lucienne wonders if Morpheus will speak with her, eventually. And whether that will bode healing or more grief.

A stronger wind blows past. Calliope looks away, as if hearing something far off--the morning is calling her to wakefulness.

"My lady--" starts Lucienne, before she can disappear--but Calliope says--

"Please. Calliope, now." Her smile twists--reflecting on something Lucienne does not know of. "I am finding I don't care much to be... deified in this age."

It is strange to have seen her and Morpheus in the early notes of their courtship, at the peak of their joy, its plunging wake, eons of silence-- and to see them now, backs turned to each other, and yet something so similar upon them. Sometimes, Lucienne does not know what to do with all that she has witnessed.

"Calliope," Lucienne amends, and Calliope gives her a real smile. "Shall I tell him you were here?"

"I am sure he knows already," says Calliope. And this is true, Morpheus certainly does.

"Shall I tell him anyway?" says Lucienne.

"I do not wish to make you into a messenger between estranged former lovers; you have more important work to do than that, I am sure," says Calliope, but looks contemplative. "Yes. Do tell him. I should like this open door to be..." her gaze flicks up again at the palace, and then away, "acknowledged. Thank you, Lucienne. Fare you well."

Then she's gone, back to the Waking. Lucienne watches the gently-swaying flowers. Truly, strange breezes are blowing in the Dreaming. And she does not know if the tentative peace can hold against them.

[pedroschka]

Hi! I love your JQ work 💕

I would like to request a cute blurb. This one contains about reader and Joe having a baby together. If you're uncomfortable with that, it's totally fine - just ignore this.

Reader and Joe met on the set of season 4, they're characters are love interest and behind the scenes they also fell in love. A few years later they're married with a baby less than a year old.

The couple shows their baby their scenes. Baby recognizes mama but not dada.

not daddy

dad!Joseph Quinn x mum!reader

A/n: so cute! I couldn't not do it! hope you enjoy <3 (fully inspired by my nephew and his judgement for everyone)

Seeing yourself on TV always comes with a little discomfort, cringing upon hearing your own voice or how your nose looks in some scenes but watching yourself from five years ago hits extra hard.

You and your husband had planned a small movie night together cuddled up on the sofa, but just as he was searching through Netflix to find something to watch, the baby monitor beside you lightens up and the small whimpers from your 18 months old daughter turned into crying within seconds.

You and Joe looked at each other, it's his turn now. He jumped off the sofa and handed you the remote before sprinting up the stairs to her room.

The crying stopped nearly instantly and you could hear Joe's soft talking and shushing through the baby monitor before it went silent and he walked with her on his arm into the living room sitting himself beside you again

"What's the matter little munchkin huh?" You cooed at her "you just ate, you can't be hungry again can't you?" She turned her face into Joe's neck, grabbing his curls in her small hands

"Her nappy is also dry, just think she needs a few more cuddles to sleep hm?" He softly nudged her little head with his nose, soft curls of dark hair on it that looked so much like Joe's, matching their chocolate button eyes and turning her into a tiny version of your husband.

Her answer to him was an even firmer grip on his hair before pulling on it, hard.

"Ow ow ow no baby don't hurt daddy " Joe winced and desperately tried to free his hair from her surprisingly strong grip.

At this she lifted her head up and blinked owlishly up at him, "daddy" her small hand let go of his curls and instead pushed her flat hand into his face, squishing his nose and making you laugh at Joe's deadpanned face

" Surprised she even recognize you with such long hair, you start to resemble Eddie again " you joked, his hair wasn't that long but it reaches nearly his shoulders and was the longest you ever saw it without the help of a wig, wanting to grow it out for his new role.

"You always recognize daddy right, you're a smart girl " he nodded at her

" You wanna bet on it ?" You winked at him and nodded towards the TV where the trailer for stranger things showed up

" Gosh I haven't watched it in years " he turned your daughter around on his lap and pointed with his finger at the screen "without this show you wouldn't even exist now, can you believe this? Not a world I wanna live in " he whispered to her and gives her a little kiss on her head

Your heart felt like it's gonna explode with all the love you felt watching the two most important people in your life, not even wanting to imagine a world without them in it. But Joe was right, if there wouldn't have been so many coincidences lined up onto another, bringing you two together on the set of season four and falling in love in between filming, you maybe would still share a flat with your best friend, jumping from one night stand to another, giving up on relationships and true love.

" Alright but only the fun scenes, don't wanna traumatize her already with watching her mom's bones getting cracked " you mumbled the last part to not get her to catch that and fast forward to the forest scene with both you and Joe, your favorite.

Her gorgeous round eyes lit up and a big smile spread across her cheeks, she starts wriggling excitingly on Joe's lap, having him grab her a little tighter to not let her fall, "mummy!" She turned her head towards you and then back to the screen

" Yes you're absolutely right, that's your mummy! And look who's there too!" You make a surprised face at her and point to the screen where Joe aka Eddie walks into the scene.

But instead of screaming daddy with the same enthusiasm her face turned into the most uninterested little frown her little face could master, plumming her little body against Joe's creating an adorable double chin

"Told ya" you laughed at Joe who frowned down at his daughter

" Look it's daddy " he tried to convince her

"Mummy!" she smiled at you again when she saw your character on the TV but instantly turned blank again when the camera switched towards Eddie, even looking a bit judgy as he threw himself off the bench

"Wow this is the most devastating criticism I've ever received" he tried to cover his disappointment with humor but the little downtown of his lips was clearly visible

"You have to admit, the wig does make you look very different"

Joe huffed as your daughter screeches mummy again and places her on your lap before walking to the TV and standing right in front of it.

You watched in amusement as he starts recreating Eddie's scene, exaggerating the facial expressions and theatrics, making your daughter giggle before screaming "daddy move!" at him

You started laughing hysterically and Joe tried really hard to look offended but eventually couldn't hold his laughter back and ran up to her and held her up in front of him wriggling her around

"What did you just say hm? What did you say" blowing raspberries all over her face and making her screech in laughter, little body shaking

"Don't do this too much she's gonna…."

The loudest fart in baby history echoed through the living room and ended your sentence for you

Her cackling after it rounded it all up

"Alright, she definitely got this from you" Joe stated before holding her away from him and pushing her nappy butt near your face making you screech and hide behind the cushions

TV fully forgotten now.

(reblogs and comments are very appreciated additional to your likes)

[l-in-the-light]

Chapter 1129 commentary

Oh boy, I can't believe we're already leaving the Lego Land. Let's start from the end this time, shall we?

He looks so happy! Is he seeing a fairytale-like world? Many people speculate Elbaf will feel like a fairytale world because it spells backwards Fable :D I don't personally picture that myself, but I definitely wouldn't be opposed to it!

Japanese native speakers noticed the "ah" reaction from Luffy there, which usually means Luffy saw something or someone he recognized. I don't think Luffy ever saw Elbaf before. But he might have seen Kid Pirates (if they're trapped in this prison as well, after their defeat) or Hajrudin (why Hajrudin? Because of our sun god person, ofc :D). Or Law. Because why the fuck not and it's his birth month ffs, it's the time for him to reappear finally!!

In comparison this is how Luffy usually looks like when he visits new places (those are from Water 7 and Skypiea mostly). It's more a :O than :D

Meanwhile slight blush and big smile is how Luffy often reacts, feeling all happy, when seeing someone he knows and likes! That expression looks the closest to the one from the end of the chapter 1129, which might mean something or it might mean nothing, but I thought I would share my thoughts anyway.

The more they say it's gonna be Elbaf, the less I believe them. But the hype for Elbaf is unreal, if it ends up not being Elbaf I'm not sure how fandom will take it at this point lol. I will be still fine. I don't want another long arc without Law.

Seems someone is slipping off his character. Now we can fully see how all of this is just a roleplaying bit.

Which puts the comments of all those tiny giants into completely new perspective. They're all in on this, the sun god is the game master, and they're the challengers (well, sorta).

Despite playing along they clearly want to get out of there, so perhaps they're not willing participants in this D&D roleplaying ;) they probably had no choice.

He's reeeeally into that. He would make a great (if slightly too immersed) game master.

Someone has a slight god syndrome here... which makes me wonder... we know in One Piece world there were beings even more gigantic than the Giants - the Ancient Giants like Oars. To them, the world must have felt the same way it does to our sun god here: like a doll house. I always wondered how they might have felt about other races in the world. Normal humans probably looked like polly pocket sized toys. Were the Ancient Giants once the enemies of humankind? If that's the case, how did humankind win against them and set itself free, I wonder?

Careful there, we're almost breaking the 4th wall again, haha.

Someone got so immersed his first thought was "wait, I didn't make this" haha. I wonder if it means he could have made a thunder clouds himself as well, even if just some fake ones :D

Now it's time to reveal who our sun god is. Apparently it's Rodo, a giant who is part of Hajrudin's pirate crew of giants, which joined the grand fleet of our Strawhats. Rodo seems to have been against the idea and doesn't like to serve "tiny humans". But this is curious, because Hajrudin and his crew used to work under Buggy for his delivery business. Perhaps Rodo isn't the smartest and fell for Buggy's visual trick to appear bigger than he actually is ;)

And this is our culprit. Tekking already figured it out before this chapter even came out and I'm amused to no end that the high heels turned out to be the key evidence :D

Another mystery sort of solved. They got carried by a crow pet of Rodo here (wherever "here" is) and apparently they went through sleeping mist belt, whatever that is (there are other belts besides the calm belts?!). I know it sounds like an ass-pull and it sort of is, but I guess it wouldn't be called a "belt" for no reason, right? So this is a new puzzle piece for the worldbuilding, even if it sounds like a poor excuse instead lol.

Rodo's reaction to "but the giant warrior pirates were guiding them" sounds a bit like "so they shouldn't arrive here". It really doesn't sound like they're on Elbaf, but they're probably at least somewhat close to it? Rodo did know what Dorry and Broggy were up to, at the very least.

Despite not agreeing with Hajrudin's decision, he knows all of Strawhats names and calls them with a cutesy honorific, which kinda proves he is a fan of them and heard quite a lot about them as well, lol. Rodo is kinda a funny guy, ngl. Btw the "taso" honorific is apparently one of otaku lingo trends in Japan nowadays. Old guys call young characters by "tan" instead of "chan" (those of you who read Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles are probably well acquainted with the "tan", thanks to "Kuro-tan". I had no idea though that Fye used old guy's way of addressing him lol).

It's based on a silly thing really, "n" and "so" look almost the same in hiragana and sometimes Japanese mispronounce things on purpose because they think it's funny. That's how "tan" became "taso". There's nothing more to it, just a nerdy linguistic joke. That reminds me that no matter how internationally popular One Piece has became, it always stays Japanese at heart and is mainly targeted at Japanese audience.

There's also the fact that Rodo apparently also speaks like a samurai, but kinda clumsily, like he forgets about doing it sometimes. He seems to like samurai culture, he also carries a katana sword. So Rodo is not only a D&D nerd, he's apparently also an otaku. And this gets dangerously close to representing Japanese fandom of One Piece. Rodo might as well be a representation of an otaku kidnapping Strawhats and playing with them like figurines heh. A fake sun god, definitely :D

I gotta say I'm amused that his sorcerer's staff is just a wired net, meant to help him catch those that run away lol. We also learn that this place is a detention center for the giants! So the people in the Lego diorama are indeed giants despite being small. My bet is still on them having been shrinked somehow to fit in there!

"That way is another dead end", says Rodo curiously enough, so maybe Strawhats didn't manage to break out to freedom by destroying that wall, after all?

We saw that the corridor before had many other doors arranged alongside it. If it's a detention center, then it's possible there are other "prisons" behind each door, maybe each with different theme? One is a Lego fantasy castle, maybe there are some sci-fi realms as well, for example?

And this is how the whole room looks like. Makes me again think back to the Ancient Giants and the huge gates leading to Enies Lobby, Impel Down and Marineford. Could that place have been the ancient detention center, if we go by this analogy? Or perhaps an ancient temple, if we go by how Rodo called this room?

It somehow reminds me of the picture from Enel's side story. Especially that snake that looks like it's folded up like a paper fan. In Enel's story that picture below the three moon people looks like a bunch of folded up snakes as well. Btw do you know that it's speculated to be the appearance of Pluton? :D a bunch of huge snakes that will fill up a battle ship of some kind.

The creatures on the right on the wall represents Poseidon (Neptunians), and the sun like object on the top of the wall is Uranus, with 16 swirly beams coming out of it (we see only half of them, more or less), and is powered up by Mother Flame or something akin to that (the flame-like thing in the centre).

We finally know how the Ear God rabbit looked like! RIP XD

Luffy seems to like this little diorama. Apparently Japanese readers think that Luffy is a bit of a nerd himself, he likes robots, he went really bonkers over Sanji's germa suit (on their way to Wano), in One Piece Red we see him build a tower mound with stones so he likes to "build stuff". He also doesn't like to destroy other people's things, especially those that look cool. In Egghead he informed Shaka that he wasn't the one who broke the headphones, kinda expecting to be accused to be the reason why they're malfunctioning. Luffy might seem like he doesn't care if he destroys things, but if he thinks something is cool, he would want it to stay intact :) I'm sure Rodo will appreciate the fact that Luffy finds his Lego city so cool :D

Someone wanted the adventure to last a bit longer. Can't blame you Luffy, I also wouldn't want to leave the Lego city!

One mystery solved! Apparently Luffy can now control Gear 4 to such an extent that it doesn't exhaust him and that it only extends to his hand or leg, instead of covering his full body like before. He learned from his mistakes, so now it doesn't eat up his whole haki! Law would be proud of him :)

Back to Uncanny Valley. Nami tossing away a map? I know it's not much of a treasure, but I don't remember Nami ever throwing anything she found like that before. It's kinda confusing to me.

Something I might have missed from previous chapter. Someone pointed out that Zoro's sense of direction is so bad that even if he followed a noise he would still not arrive at correct destination. They might have a point, lol. We should never underestimate how bad Zoro's sense of direction is.

Seeing how we're already three chapters in and there's no progress on the mystery behind some oddities in Strawhats behaviours, I have to revise my theory a little. I think trolls impersonating them seems to be less likely now, but the inconsistencies remain a fact. Which is interesting, what might have caused them?

Zoro's case is particularly curious, because his lack of sense of direction is a real life disorder. It's called developmental topographical disorientation and it can affect people even in environment they're familiar with, like around their home or neighborhood. They can get lost despite walking the same path every day! Some studies even point out it can be genetically passed down in families, which might explain why Zoro has it; it got passed down in his family ever since Ryuuma, who was infamous for getting lost easily too.

If Zoro suddenly gained some resemblance of a sense of direction then whatever caused the inconsistencies in Strawhats behaviour must work on genetical level. Maybe it's also a consequence of drinking the Green Fairy. It has "green" in it's name, and so far all sus green substances we saw in One Piece have one thing in common: lineage factors! Think of SAD liquid that was green, the liquid in which the clones in Germa's lab were kept in, and the green blood of Seraphims which Vegapunk explained to us contained DNA of current devil fruit users. It's not impossible that Green Fairy somehow also has "lineage factors" that temporarily affect behaviour of anyone who drinks it. It might not have to be only about hallucinations. I have no idea why that would be included in the alcohol, but I already speculated it might be some equivalement of "gift from gods". It could also explain why Giants shared it with the Strawhats, I doubt they drink hallucinatory drinks on a daily basis, without any special occasion. But since they saw Luffy in the form of Sun God Nika, that could potentially call for a celebraton in their eyes.

Rodo calls himself Taiyoushin which means sun god (as opposed to taiyou no kami, Nika's title). Amaterasu is also called taiyoushin in Japanese. One of her attributes was yata no kagami mirror (later became one of three sacred regalia of shinto), and Rodo's shield in the picture above kinda resembles it visually. Interesting!

We also have to finally adress the animal skull Rodo is wearing. We saw it actually quite a number of times before! In Drum Island's castle and in Long Arms Tribe's place on the walls, on top of the houses and ships of Elbaf, and on the head of one of the God Knights. We still don't have any sort of answer for it, but it's worth noting that this theme is ongoing for quite some time now. I guess it's not the time yet to give us any answers. For now all I can tell is this: in One Piece's universe there was once a sun god that looked like a demon wearing an animal skull. Was it a true sun god or yet another fake, who knows?

Last but not least, seems some people are disappointed with the identity of the sun god (Rodo from Giants Pirates). I can't say I can relate to that. Yes, I also wanted it to be something bigger than this, a proper threat, a true horror Strawhats would have to face. But also like, it was only three chapters long, I would lie if I said it was super hyped in that direction. On the contrary, the chapters constantly played with our expectiations and used twists at every corner, so the answer to the mystery being something not really that sinister is quite fitting in that context. I also think the ride was entertaining, I don't remember when was the last time I had so much fun just trying to figure out things and paying extra attention to smallest details! Also, Rodo is kinda easy to like, even though feeding humans to beasts is definitely still, well, quite sinister.

But who knows, maybe the Uncanny Valley adventure isn't over yet, there might be still few more chapters of that :D though Redon's hints for this week's chapter suggest otherwise. But I'm aware they're also often just pure crap.

But he did hint about bounties going up. Newspapers hitting the press finally? Strawhats posters hanging around somewhere?? Ugh I'm having way too many thoughts about this! I hate those teasers, why do I even check them up?!

If you're curious where I got some of the ideas and inspirations for things I wrote in this post, I leave you with a link to a youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77Lpu0q1W4g It's a good channel btw, it's always helpful to get a Japanese native speaker's perspective on things :)