#I love that one specific frame I did where she's looking at camera eyes sparkling hands held together face full of hope begging for praise

[redgillan]

Under Pastel Skies - 6

Sugar daddy!Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: Modern!AU Bucky doesn’t need anyone, especially not a sugar baby. He isn’t that desperate… but she smiles so sweetly and she’s endearingly awkward, and he’s so lonely. She’s an artist, a painter, the type of person who always puts others before herself. Throwing caution to the wind Bucky offers her a place to live, a place where she can finally paint whatever her heart desires. He doesn’t need much in return; a friend, a muse.

Word Count: 4,327

Warnings: panic attacks, Bucky recalls his accident

A/N: I don’t have much to say, Bucky’s real emotional in this one. I hope you enjoy this chapter :’) 

Wannabe sugar daddies don’t interact, idc if you have money, eat it and leave me be.

Everywhere Bucky looked his eyes and ears were assaulted by a cacophony of sounds and colours. Red and green baubles hung from the ceiling, shimmering like disco balls and sending sparkles around the mall.

The air smelled like pine and cinnamon, something he usually liked, but it was so pungent and unpleasant that it made his stomach churn and bile rise up his throat. He tried to breathe through his mouth, forcing oxygen into his lungs.

Flashes of silver and gold momentarily blinded him, and as someone walked past him, their shopping bag knocked against his leg. It didn’t hurt but it made him seethe with misplaced anger. Beads of sweat broke out on the back of his neck.

Christmas carols played over the mall speakers, more specifically Jingle Bells which they played three times in less than an hour. Enough, enough, enough. He was suffocating, unable to breathe. He felt too big for his own skin, he needed to escape.

Then he felt your hand at the small of his back, guiding him toward what looked like a furniture store. He followed blindly, his vision blurry and unfocused, and sat down when you gently pushed him down onto a sofa.

Bucky shut his eyes and let his head fall back against the cushion. A woman came up and asked if you needed help but you told her that everything was fine. The buzzing in his ears made the voices around him strangely soothing, as if he was underwater. Now that he was sitting down, he felt a lot better.  

You didn’t try to touch him, something he was very grateful for. He could feel your weight shift next to him and knowing you were there was enough. He focused on you –your heat, your voice, the smell of your shampoo- and his breathing slowly returned to normal.

“Sorry,” he breathed out with a small smile, his head lolling to one side to look at you. “I ruined our shopping spree.”

The fear and panic had dissipated, leaving him cold, exhausted and craving skin to skin contact. He took your hand and linked your fingers together. Your hands were freezing cold.

“You didn’t ruin anything.”

He snorted. “Yeah, I did.” A sad smile curved his lips, he needed to change the subject. “Do you celebrate Christmas?”

You sank further into the sofa cushion sitting shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand.

“We celebrated so many different holidays,” you said. “Perks of growing up in a multicultural family. Christmas was wild though. One tree, five kids. That poor thing never stood a chance. Now I don’t really celebrate anything. December used to be so much fun, now it’s just not the same.”

“We should create our own holiday,” Bucky suggested, squeezing your hand.

“Aren’t you going to see your family?”

“Nah,” he replied with a yawn. “My sister is taking her kids somewhere warm, and my parents are traveling the country in their RV. You can invite your siblings if you want.”

“They’re not available.”

Bucky tried to decipher the expression on your face. Every time you talked about your siblings, you had a faraway look in your eyes, as though you were reliving a memory. He couldn’t tell what you were thinking but your face twisted into a painful grimace. Then suddenly it was gone.

“I want a tree.”

He watched you with a lazy smile. “I’ll get you a tree.”

You pulled him up to his feet and decided it was time to go home. Home. It still made Bucky weirdly warm inside when you called his apartment ‘home’. You crossed the mall, your arm looped through his as you walked, and took a cab to Brooklyn.

He almost fell asleep from the gentle rocking of the car moving through the streets of Manhattan. When he glanced at you, you were looking out your window watching the snow fall.

You’d been living together for almost two months now and Bucky couldn’t have picked a better roommate. He liked the way you sang in the shower, loud, cheerful and most definitely off-key. He liked that you had more pyjamas than every day clothes. He liked watching you paint from the living room, and it always made him laugh when you added weird things to his grocery list.

He could go to bed and sleep the whole night without waking up, feeling safer knowing someone else was there. Of course, not everything was perfect but it was close enough.

He woke up on the sofa a few hours later, still dressed and with a fluffy blanket thrown over him. The sun was setting, painting the sky with reds and oranges. He basked in the setting sun, a content smile on his face, before he sat up.

The TV was on, the volume low, and you were sitting cross-legged on the floor between the sofa and the coffee table going through a bunch of old photographs. Bucky looked around the room, taking in the new furniture and decor.

There was a comfortable armchair in front of the gas burning fireplace. Your book was resting on the seat of the armchair. You had also bought a lot of decorative pillows, some were pretty funny like the one that looked like a giant cookie.

“Whatcha doing?” he asked, his voice gruff with sleep.

You looked over your shoulder at him. “Hey, you’re awake! I bought some picture frames. I thought it’d make this place look less like a high end furniture store.”

“I liked it better when you thought this apartment was amazing.”

You laughed. “I still do, but it’s a bit... soulless.” You tilted your head back, looking at him upside down. “Sorry.”

“Gotta call a spade a spade,” he said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “All right, well, while you do that I’m going to start dinner.”

He pushed off the sofa but you caught his wrist before he could leave. “I’m already done. I’ve left some frames for you.”

“I already have lots of pictures upstairs.”

“I know, but no one ever goes upstairs,” you replied, letting go of his wrist. “And you’re not in any of the photos.”

Bucky’s eyes were drawn to the picture you were holding. It must have been taken on the day of your high school graduation, you were dressed in a cap and gown, smiling with your whole face. He’d never seen you smile like that. He recognized Peggy Carter right away, her hair was more silver-white than brown and there were deep wrinkles around her eyes.

Your mom wasn’t looking at the camera, she was scolding the young man who was giving you bunny ears. The man was grinning mischievously at the camera. Bucky couldn’t tell how old he was, he appeared to be either twenty or fifty.

There were two other women wearing sundresses, one had long brown hair, the other had twisted her hair into Bantu knots. A young man with dyed silver hair and dark roots was squatting in front of you, his arms crossed over his chest à la Backstreet Boys.

“You should frame this one,” he said, sitting on the floor next to you.

You shrugged. “I don’t know. It makes me kinda sad.”

Bucky learned not to dwell on the past. It hadn’t been easy but it would have been impossible to heal without the support of his friends and family. Grief manifests itself in a number of ways, it’s raw and complex, and comes from your soul. 

Bucky had a deep love for his childhood, especially his college years, but while he would cherish this time forever, he had accepted that he was a different person. He wasn’t the same naïve, youthful man he used to be, and it wasn’t a bad thing.

But he also knew that some people live in the past. It makes them feel alive.

“Y’know,” he started, meeting your eyes with a smile. “My hair used to be pretty long. I think I still have some photos in a folder somewhere.”

You clasped your hands together in a silent prayer. “Bucky, I’m going to be honest with you,” you deadpanned. “I need to see those pictures. I need them now. It’s a matter of life and death.”

He rolled his eyes while he got to his feet. “You’re so dramatic. I’ll go get ‘em.”

Bucky took the stairs up to his office and came back a few minutes later with a laptop under his arm. He sat on the floor next to you and set the laptop on his lap.

“You promise you won’t make fun of me?”

“Absolutely,” you replied, mimicking a Cheshire cat grin.

He sighed and tried to look stern but it was nearly impossible. You were too lovely, and he couldn’t help but smile. He opened up the laptop and glanced at you from the corner of his eye; you were practically vibrating.

He started going through the photos when he found one of himself at a party. He was in his early twenties, slumped in a chair, his eyes glassy and unfocused. In the next one he had been joined by two equally drunk women, and he was now roaring at the camera.

“Early twenties, two arms, and not a care in the world,” he said with a little sigh.

You leaned forward, your elbow resting on the coffee table. “Looks like you were having fun.”

“College was a lot of fun,” Bucky said, grinning to himself.

“What was your major?”

“English,” he replied. “I was a really good student, I could have chosen anything but there were more girls studying literature so I enrolled as an English major.”

“Wait!” You recoiled as if you had misheard him. “Did you really choose English because there were more girls?”

He made a funny grimace, and his nose scrunched up a bit as he mulled it over. “Yeah... my priorities were a bit mixed up. Hormones and all.”

You lowered your face into your hand and laughed. When you looked up at him, he was sporting his boyish grin and you shook your head at him.

In the next picture, he was clad in a black university graduation gown standing next to a blond man also dressed in a black gown. They were smiling, sunglasses perched on their nose.

“When I graduated, I had no idea what to do with a BA in English,” Bucky said after taking a long look at the photo. “The thing is, I never found my life’s calling. In high school I didn’t know what job I wanted to do, or what really motivated me, and to be honest I never really thought about it. I figured I’d find my passion in college but...” he trailed off with a shrug. “You’re lucky to have found your passion.”

“Is that why you want to help me?” you asked. “Because I found my calling and I wasn’t pursuing it.”

He tilted his head to one side, considering. “Yes, I guess that’s part of the reason why I want to help you.” He took a shuddering breath.

“Turns out I wasn’t the only one struggling to keep my head above water.” He pressed his index finger to the computer screen. “This is Steve, my oldest friend. He had just started working as a professional freelance photographer. I had nothing to do so I decided to help him build his portfolio. You’re an artist, I’m sure you know that a portfolio will make or break you.”

“It shows what you’ve accomplished, the skills you mastered,” you said, nodding. “Your potential employers will want to see your portfolio.”

“Exactly, and you have to show them your best work. In Steve’s case, it meant taking risks. No matter how talented you are, no one’s gonna pay you for a shot of the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s gorgeous but it’s not rare.”

“So what did he do?”

“We decided to climb Mount Everest.” He mechanically rubbed his stump and your eyes followed his movement. “It might’ve been the dumbest idea we’ve ever had but it sort of made sense at the time. Steve needed a challenging project and I was trying to find my purpose. We trained for a year, put money aside and took a loan. We were young, we thought we were invincible.

“The thing is,” he continued, “Mount Everest is the most famous mountain in the world. It’s crowded and only half the climbers reach the summit. A lot of people die.” He took a small pause. “Sometimes they can’t remove their bodies and they become landmarks. Our Sherpa told us about this man, they call him Green Boots. He’s sort of curled up in a fetal position near what they call Green Boots’ cave. When you walk past him, it looks like he’s just sleeping and because it’s so cold out there he’s actually well-preserved.”

“Oh, God.”

“Yeah, it’s awful,” Bucky let out a small, humourless laugh. “When I fell, I dislocated my arm and it pinched my axillary artery completely closed. It cut off circulation. That’s why they had to amputate. I was just lying there, too weak to call for help, watching people walk past me. They thought I was dead. And I remember thinking, ‘I’m going to die here. I’m going to die here and people will refer to me as Blue Jacket.’ Then Steve and the Sherpa found me, and Steve carried me on his back until they found a shelter. When the rescue team arrived, it was too late to save my arm.”

He went through the photos in silence and glared at the screen without really seeing it, his mind far away. On the screen, there was an endless stream of blurry smiles and blue eyes but he couldn’t look away. His thoughts cleared up when he felt the back of your knuckles along his cheek and jaw.

He unclenched his teeth, feeling the pain in his jaw. You brushed your fingers through his hair, pushing it off his forehead. You mindlessly played with the curl on top of his head and raked your fingernails gently over his scalp. When you spoke, your voice was just a soft whisper.

“Come back to me.”

Bucky forced his eyes shut and swallowed past the lump in his throat, tears pooling on his lower lashes. He took a deep breath and released it slowly. After a moment, he felt his body beginning to relax.

“How do you do that?” he asked in a pleading voice, turning his head to look at you. “How do you quiet the noise in my head?”

The question caught you off guard but you recovered quickly. You took his arm and draped it over your shoulders. “I don’t know,” you said, snuggling into his side. “It’s your second panic attack today. Did I push you too hard?”

“No.” His response was immediate. “I don’t like winter. It’s freezing cold and it gets dark at three thirty. Not my favorite time of the year.”

“But this helps, right?” you asked, waving your hand back and forth in the space between you.

He chuckled. “Yeah, it helps a lot.”

“Good.” You snuggled a little closer.

“But since you’re hoarding my arm, you’re gonna have to go through the pictures yourself,” he added, grinning down at you.

“Sorry,” you laughed. You reached out and slid two fingers over the touchpad guiding the cursor over the arrow icon. “So where are those pictures of you with long hair, uh?”

He knew you were trying to distract him but still made him blush. Those photos were in a folder titled: recovery spring 2010. He gave you directions to find it and waited for your reaction, wondering if you would burst into laughter at the sight of him with long hair and a lot more weight on.

“Wow.”

Bucky turned his attention to the screen to see which one had caught your interest. It was a selfie Steve had taken one sunny afternoon after he had forced Bucky to go out with him and Sam. They were sitting outside drinking iced tea.

Steve’s smile was blinding. He was wearing that stupid baseball cap he loved so much. Bucky sat hunched over in his seat behind Steve, his smile small but genuine. It was the kind of smile that said ‘my friends forced me to join them but I’m secretly glad they did’. Sam was leaning sideways against Bucky, his eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses.

“You look like a completely different person,” you said. “So... strong.”

“Hey!” he gasped in mock offense. “How dare you? I’m still strong.” He removed his arm from behind your shoulders and raised it to flex his biceps. “Look at that!”

With a roll of your eyes, you let your hand roam over his muscular arm slightly squeezing his biceps. “Okay, I’m impressed.”

“Ah! Thank you,” he said with a pleased smile. “Now, c’mon, s’ time to eat.”

Bucky got to his feet and extended his hand to help you up. You trailed behind him as you walked toward the kitchen. “I bet Steve could rip a log in half with his bare hands.”

“I’ll ask him.”

“Where is he?”

“Hard to say. He works for National Geographic now. I think he’s supposed to be in Siberia.”

You spent the next few days like tourists. You showed Bucky your favourite museums, stayed way too long in front of several artworks but he never complained. Bucky took you to the movies. You sat together in the dark for several hours watching foreign films, and you only fell asleep once. Then the two of you would walk around Manhattan speaking in a made-up language and pretending to be characters in a movie.

Bucky couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so carefree. A little voice in the back of his head kept repeating ‘enjoy it while it lasts’ but he chose to ignore it.

“Thanks for helping me with this,” Bucky said, gesturing at the tree in the living room. “She went to the store to buy some ornaments.”

He handed Sam a bottle of beer which he took with a smile before tipping it to his lips for a long drink. Bucky hit his beer bottle on the counter to uncap it and followed Sam into the living room.

“She’s excited, uh,” Sam said with a grin. “You guys are spending Christmas together?”

“Liss,” Bucky replied after taking a swig of beer. “We’re celebrating Liss this year.”

“’The hell is that?”

Bucky shrugged. “It’s an old word. It means comfort, happiness.” A respite from pain. “We decided to make our own holiday. We’re going to spend two days in our fanciest loungewear, eating junk food and playing board games.”

“Cute,” Sam drawled out. “When’s the wedding?”

“Don’t say that.” Bucky glared at him. “Why do you always do that? I finally feel at peace with myself. I’m happy, I’m ready to take on new challenges. Why do you always have to make fun of me?”

Sam’s eyes widened at this. “Woah, I’m joking. It’s what we do. You tease me, I tease you. C’mon, I know things have been hard for you. I’m proud of you,” he rushed to say, afraid he might have hurt his friend’s feelings, but then he caught Bucky’s barely concealed smirk behind his beer bottle. “You’re messing with me.”

“Of course, man. Can you say ‘I’m proud of you’ again? Wanna make it my ringtone.”

“Screw you.” They sipped their beer in silence, each deep in thought. “But you like her, right?”

Bucky twirled the neck of the bottle between two fingers. “I do, she’s nice.”

Sam shook his head like he was frustrated with the answer “That’s not what I mean, and you know it. Don’t bullshit me.”

“I’m not in love with her, Sam.”

“I never said anything about being in love.” He was silent for a moment before he added, “Beside there’s an entire world between like and love.”

Bucky caught a glimpse of hurt and fear in the depths of Sam’s eyes. He reminded him of Steve: strong yet vulnerable, generous and righteous. Bucky had a feeling Sam wasn’t talking about you.

“Is this about Natasha?”

Sam hung his head and stared at the beer bottle he rolled between his hands. “Sometimes I feel like it was inevitable. These sugar daddy relationships are complicated; at first it’s fun and easy, we both get what we want.” He took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. “And then it changes, so fast you barely see it coming, and it becomes the only thing you look forward to.” He took another swig of beer.

“These few hours with her mean more to me than anything else in this goddamn world. But it’s not real, none of this is real.”

“How do you know it’s not real?” Bucky asked, swallowing past the lump in his throat.

“I pay her.” Sam gave him a sad smile. “She spends time with me because I pay her. Sex wasn’t part of our deal but it came naturally. It’s going to end, one way or another. And If my time with her is limited, why make things complicated, y’see?”

An uneasy feeling gnawed at Bucky’s stomach, taunting him, trying to make him see something he wasn’t ready to see yet. “What if she feels the same way ‘bout you?”

“I don’t know,” Sam sighed. “To know that I’d have to talk to her, and I’d rather not take my chances. I’m happy with the way things are right now. It hurts, but I’m okay.” He leaned back and made himself comfortable. “You gotta be careful, Bucky. I see the way you look at your angel. You’re skating on thin fucking ice.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Like, love,” Sam said, weighing the two words. “And everything in between.”

They mulled over Sam’s words while they finished their beer. A million thoughts raged through Bucky’s head, circling around like wasps, buzzing and annoying. He was relieved when he heard the front door open.

“Italian leather loafers, mmh is Sam here?” you called out from the kitchen where you set your shopping bag down on the table before you joined them in the living room. “Hey guys! What’s the matter? You both look like someone kicked your puppy-OH MY GOD! LOOK AT THAT TREE!”

While you ran across the living room, Sam cast Bucky a look. The message was clear; be careful. They got to their feet and acted like nothing happened. Sam put on his coat and gave you a quick hug before he left.

Bucky was silent while you were decorating the tree. He let you decide where you wanted to put the tinsel and baubles. He just sat there with a vacant look in his eyes, handing baubles. A smile curled his lips when you cupped his cheek and ran the pad of your thumb along his cheekbone. He looked up at you.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good,” Bucky said with a small smile. “Just old and moody.”

You laughed. “Come here, help me with this. It’s actually super boring when no one’s fighting for the baubles.”

“Oh, you wanna fight, angel,” he said with a smirk while he played with a tinsel garland. “Ok, let’s fight.”

You took a step back. “I’ve changed my mind.”

“Too late!”

You shrieked when he launched himself at you. He wrapped the tinsel garland around you, loosely pinning your arms to your sides. You laughed so hard your eyes watered and your shoulders shook. He used it to his advantage and looped two baubles over your ears like giant earrings.

Still laughing, you tugged one of your hands free and threw a handful of tinsel all over Bucky before you ran away. He chased you around the living room, using one of the fairy lights as a lasso.  

Soon, the living room was a giant mess. There was more tinsel in Bucky’s hair than on the tree, and you had managed to wrap the fairy lights around his body. You look pretty ridiculous with your giant earrings and dishevelled hair.

You and Bucky collapsed on the floor, out of breath and euphoric. The sun was starting to set behind the skyscrapers casting a warm golden glow over the room. You turned on the fairy lights and burst out laughing when Bucky sparkled like a tree.

He found his phone on the sofa and handed it to you. You opened up the camera app and nestled closer to him. The first photo was blurry because you couldn’t stop laughing. Bucky thought the second photo was nice but you didn’t like it.

“My smile is too wild,” you said.

“You look beautiful,” he argued. “I look like a Christmas tree.”

Bucky felt a pleasant stir in his belly when you placed your head on his shoulder. Be careful. He could practically hear Sam’s voice in his head. His chest was hurting. It wasn’t unpleasant, just peculiar and unexpected. He closed his eyes and rested his cheek on top of your head.

“Bucky! You have to open your eyes,” you scolded him after looking at the picture, unaware of his inner turmoil.

He wasn’t sure he could; tears were welling up in his eyes. He was terrified of his feelings for you, but his body was screaming at him to stop burying his head in the sand. He didn’t want you to see the tears in his eyes, he didn’t want to alarm you, because the truth was, he hadn’t been careful.

“Can’t. I’m comfy,” he replied, masking his true feelings behind a joke.

“Open them or I’ll tickle you.”

He chuckled. “Okay, okay, no need to use force.”

He soldiered on and opened his eyes, smiling at the camera. He liked you, and he promised himself he would never tell you. His feelings didn’t matter, it wasn’t part of your deal.

Part 7

[luninosity]

It’s @whumptober2020 time! Have some Steve/Bucky, with modern-day politician!Steve. This one’s for theme 17 - I Did Not See That Coming - specific prompt: blackmail; and theme 26 - If You Thought The Head Trauma Was Bad - specific prompt: migraines.

Enjoy!

#

Bucky reads the email. Then reads it again. Looks at the pictures. Then takes a deep breath and shuts his eyes, fingers pressing the spot between his eyebrows. He knows the words and the photos won’t go away.

 He’s already got a headache: the beginnings of what, based on experience, is going to be a really awful migraine. It’s been a long day even though it’s only eleven in the morning; he loves the energy and momentum of Steve’s congressional campaign, and he loves helping write press releases and speeches, and he loves Steve, of course.

 It’s just a lot. Noise bounces around the headquarters and bounds into Bucky’s office despite his closed door. The passion’s wonderful but also loud. Their lives are already changing; they’ll change even more once Steve’s elected. And now there’s this.

 Bucky wishes fleetingly, just for a second, that he and Steve could run away somewhere, just the two of them, maybe visiting a goat farm or the Grand Canyon or someplace quiet and vast and full of stars; and then he laughs a little at impossibilities and gets up. He loves Steve, and Steve needs to know about this.

 He catches his balance with a hand on the side of his desk, as his vision briefly sparkles and blurs. His desk supports him, worried. Steve’ll be worried too, so Bucky squares his shoulders and ducks out into the cacophony of posters and phone calls and lurking reporters and interns. Several of them recognize him—not as Steve’s boyfriend, but as a valuable inner-circle staff member—and wave. Bucky lifts a hand in reply.

 They don’t know he’s Steve’s boyfriend because, on advice from Brock the campaign manager, they’ve been keeping that one quiet. Bucky’s not an asset, Brock’d said. The sexuality might be acceptable—Steve’s proudly pansexual, always has been, and Bucky’s also out and not shy about being gay, and Steve’s campaign’s built around inclusion and affirmation. Steve could run for office with a man on his arm. But James Buchanan Barnes specifically…

 James Barnes, one-time prisoner of war. James Barnes, present-day moderately successful science fiction author, not bad with words and putting them together. James Barnes, formerly brainwashed former assassin. James Barnes, with a twisted and ugly past that even he doesn’t remember too much about, who’s done things the legal system says he’s not guilty of, not being in his sound mind and all, but who still pulled those triggers, set those traps. James Barnes has a prosthetic arm, PTSD, and migraines and full-body aches on an unpredictable and painful schedule.

 James Barnes would be a liability, if Steve wants to win.

 Bucky, who’d once upon a time seen Steve’s face on a local council-board election poster while roaming New York City streets on an assignment, who’d recognized the eyes of the boy who’d been the first person he’d ever kissed and the boy he’d grown up with and joined the Army with, who’d stood there and gone off-mission and abandoned his target because tiny firecrackers of memory were exploding behind his eyes…

 Bucky had nodded. Agreeing with Brock.

 Steve, of course, had been angry. But Steve also listens to Bucky, at least more than to anyone else. And Bucky had made a choice, and Steve won’t trample over that.

 His head aches, dull and clumsy and thick. He clutches his phone.

 He taps at the frame of Steve’s open door. Natasha, who’s in charge of publicity, is just getting up to leave; her expression starts as a smile but becomes concern. “Are you—”

 Bucky tries for a smile. Even his face hurts. “Just something Steve should look over.”

 Natasha obviously notices he’s not carrying anything, no printed speech drafts or copy for a press release, just his phone; but she only nods, not pushing. She does pat his shoulder, the not-prosthetic one, on the way out. And shuts the door.

 Bucky’s pretty sure she’s guessed about him and Steve. He’s not sure Steve realizes that.

 Steve at the moment is getting up—he’d been leaning casually against his desk, not sitting behind it—and coming over, holding out both hands, all muscles and blue eyes and golden shining heroic concern. “Buck—I was just going to come find you, I wanted to tell you—come here, sit down, you look—another migraine? Or—”

 “Yeah, but that’s not it.” He does sit down, because Steve’s guiding him onto the small blue sofa. It’s not really big enough for two men their size, but being close to Steve feels nice. Or it does for now; his stomach twists. Steve might not want to hold him, in a minute. “I just got this email. You need to know.”

 Steve takes his phone. Reads. Swears, low and vehement.

 “Yeah.” Bucky closes his eyes. His stomach feels unhappy too. Nausea, right on schedule. Steve’s lights’re too bright. His shoulder hurts; even his hair aches. “I don’t know how he got those pictures. But the how doesn’t matter.”

 The man has pictures. Bucky and Steve. Clearly together: caught sharing a kiss as they duck into their front door, coming home, laughing under an umbrella and the rain. Unmistakable.

 He wants money. He also wants Steve to drop out of the race. The timing’s flawless; the polls have Steve ahead, as announced earlier this morning.

 Steve sets down Bucky’s phone. Stretches an arm to reach the light switch, which he can, just barely, and dims the lights. Then coaxes Bucky further down onto the sofa, head pillowed on Steve’s lap. Bucky tries to protest but desperately wants to lie down, wants Steve’s hands on him, and so gives in.

 Steve’s artist’s fingers rub lightly over his temple. “How’s this?”

 “Better.” It is, a little. Steve knows how hard and where to touch, or not touch, or work up to. “Love you.” Even as he says it, he winces: that’s exactly the problem right now.

 Steve’s hand moves to the nape of Bucky’s neck, soothing, rubbing tension away. “Love you. So, um. What I wanted to tell you…guess this won’t be so bad, after all, and the timing’s even kinda funny…”

 “Steve, he’s trying to blackmail you. Using me.”

 “And it’s not gonna work.” Steve’s deploying a version of the politician voice, the authoritative fiercely protective one that never fails to weaken Bucky’s knees, but this version’s even deeper and rumbly and intimate: Steve’s not about to let anyone threaten Bucky. “I fired Brock this morning.”

 “You what? Why?” Bucky starts to sit up. Cars crash inside his skull; he can’t breathe, dizzy. “I need to write you a statement—you’ll need a draft of—Jesus, Steve, tell me you at least said something tactful—”

 “Well, I didn’t punch him. Close, though.” Steve sounds amazingly unworried. His hands ease Bucky back down; one covers Bucky’s eyes, making the world blessedly dark and calm. “Nat’s taking over as campaign manager. That’s what she was in here to talk about.”

 “Jesus,” Bucky says again. “It’s only eleven am, and you’ve fired Brock and given Nat a new job, and we’re getting blackmailed. Why’d you fire him?”

 “He…said something I didn’t like. Want me to make your ginger tea or grab your painkillers?”

 “No, just stay here for now. It wasn’t about me, was it?” The guilty silence on Steve’s end makes Bucky’s head thump more. “Steve, no. Tell me you’re not firing people over me.”

 “I fired him because he’s a fucking awful person who says fucking awful things about people who’ve been through trauma, and also about women, and also about people in therapy, and also about which of our interns he wants to fuck,” Steve says. “I don’t want any of that around here. And I want you here. I’m done pretending I’m not in love with you, Bucky Barnes.”

 “Steve—”

 “I’m proud to be with you.” Steve lifts the hand from Bucky’s eyes long enough for Bucky to focus on him, to see he means it. He does, and all that fiery conviction takes Bucky’s breath away.

 Steve Rogers has always been ready to take on any villains, to join any protests, to protect the world if the world needs a protector. Skinny scrawny sickly Steve’d had that lion’s heart long before the Army and the rippling muscles and, now, the carefully chosen politician’s suits and ties. Steve knows about strategies on all sorts of battlefields.

 And Bucky loves him so damn much, with heart and soul and fingertips and kisses and aching dreams and hopes and promises. With everything they are and have been and will be, together.

 Steve goes on, “I’m proud to stand next to you. I love you. I don’t fucking care who knows it—it’s about time everyone knows it. That’s who I am, and I’m not gonna hide it, and I’m not gonna let some jerk with a camera ruin it. You’re you and I’m me and we’re together to the end of the line.”

 “And that’s that,” Bucky manages, shaky.

 “Yep.”

 “So…we’re…just gonna ignore the whole blackmail thing.”

 “We can report it. But I’d already decided.” Steve hesitates. His hand’s stroking Bucky’s hair now, a welcome deliberate heavy presence. “But…guess I didn’t exactly ask you. Shit. I’m sorry, Buck, I should’ve. I haven’t said anything yet, just fired Brock, so…if you want…if you’d rather not…we don’t have to go public. You don’t have to go through that.”

 Bucky doesn’t answer for a second, only lying still in the dark. Steve’s thigh’s a good pillow. Steve’s voice is warm and loving. Steve’s hands are full of love too.

 He says, “I’ll write us a statement. A press release. And we should do an interview together.”

 Steve’s hand stops moving.

 Bucky opens his eyes a fraction. Peeking up. “Kinda proud to be with you, too, y’know.”

 “Oh,” Steve says. “But—I thought—”

 “Never really wanted to hide.” Bucky shrugs a shoulder, a small movement; it doesn’t hurt. “Just thought…maybe it was the right advice, not like I know anything about politics, and maybe you’d be better off…”

 “I wasn’t. Not without you.” Steve touches a fingertip to Bucky’s mouth; Bucky kisses it. “So you only agreed because of me. Trying to protect me.”

 “And you fire people because of me.”

 “Just the one, and he’s a dick.”

 “I like your dick,” Bucky tells him, not that Steve doesn’t already know. “So…guess we’re doing this. When?”

 “Now,” Steve says. “I’m taking a long lunch and I don’t have anything I can’t reschedule—or that Nat can’t handle—this afternoon. I’m planning to take my boyfriend home, take care of him, and also kiss him in front of the whole campaign staff on the way out. If he’s, y’know, good with that.”

 “He’s very, very good with that,” Bucky says, because it’s very, very true. Despite the pounding in his head, the world’s looking fantastic. Brock’s gone, Steve’s ahead in the polls, the blackmail’s utterly irrelevant, and Bucky gets to kiss Steve and be loved by Steve and swept away by Steve while people cheer, and so, yeah: good, he decides, is exactly the word.

[evansfm]

she’d forgotten just how much she LOVED it : the deafening sound of a crowd to her right and a live band to her left . everything fell away the moment the house lights went dark and the stage lit up ; her view of the world was distorted through a camera lens , and her trigger finger was fast on the shutter button . she’d been told before , time and time again , that photography was something ANYONE could do . . . point , shoot , move on to the next . but years of experience taught her it was more than that . to be the best behind a camera , you had to know PEOPLE . . . you had to recognize minute moments of pure , unfiltered human emotion and grab them before they disappeared forever . and evan was the BEST with a camera in hand , something she was still trying to convince herself of . 

self - doubt was buried deep when she was in the moment , though , focused on her surroundings . live music was the closest thing humanity had to MAGIC , she thought , the way it could bring strangers together in intimacy . . . the way it could make you feel like you were floating if only for a couple of hours . she did her best to translate that into her photographs , but the artists she worked with always made it EASY . they loved their work as much as the fans in the crowd did , and it was evident in the way she watched every musician she’d had the pleasure of working with pour everything into every performance . saint valentine was no different , no matter how BIG they’d gotten over the past several years . 

and they were big . the o2 was the biggest venue evan had ever shot in , and though she’d been the only one backstage , it seemed she wasn’t the only one in the pit , trying to get that coveted money shot of nicky haven at the mic . he was notoriously UNFRIENDLY with cameras , never a fan of being in front of them or having them in his face while performing . it was precisely why evan arrived early that day , camera bag zipped up and tucked away . for the first few hours , she just hung out with the four of them , getting to know them and letting them get to know her . by the time they reconvened in a side room set up with evan’s photo gear , she knew to have nicky’s younger brother –– a roadie that tagged along on all of their tours –– nearby . she knew that their drummer –– with her long , black hair and dazzling smile –– was the only one who could get a laugh out of him . that he was a bit sweet on her . she knew that he looked at his band like family and that he hardly trusted anyone else . 

so she cleared the room . 

it was like that with all four of them ; she’d spent the morning getting to know them , the afternoon shooting what she now knew to be the cover for their next single , and the evening doing what she knew best . she carved out a space for herself in their lives , if only for the night , and made it so hardly anybody noticed when she lifted the camera to her eyes . backstage , then on stage , then in the crowd . photographing live music like riding a bike , because she never forgot how to do it , and she’d only gotten better as time went on . . . evident in the way they’d CHOSEN her to document their first ever sold out arena .

it was unlike anything she’d ever experienced from a creative point of view . occasionally she’d find herself at shows this big , mostly when she was younger –– beck had always been a big fan of mumford & sons , something evan still quietly carried with her . but back then she was one of thousands , a face in the crowd that kept watch on her brother , rarely so unabashedly joyful . being there on the job , though , was completely different . . . having the means to wander where she pleased , slipping effortlessly through an electric crowd , shooting from the shadows of a stage bigger than she imagined . it reminded her of why she picked up a camera in the first place , pausing magic moments in time and turning them into tangible things to be kept forever . 

even more , though , it put her world –– her life in london –– into perspective . moving through concrete halls of the arena as it emptied , making her way backstage , she flipped through some of the raw images she’d gotten in the last couple of hours . her feet felt light , and her stomach was alight with fluttering from excitement . this was what she was BEST at . this was what made her heart feel full . the thought of her desk back at nme , the all-staff meetings and assignments with restrictions or specifications . . . it looked a lot more like what she was SUPPOSED to want . it was logical , working with the safety net of a publication . it felt like a step backwards , a step towards the life she was building in galway , before everything wonderful about manchester happened . 

“ admit it , ” evan peeked up from her camera screen –– beaming –– to see all four members of saint valentine as they lingered outside of the packed green room . nicky had his arm flung around his younger brother , and a crooked smile pasted on his lips , “ that was unlike anything you’ve ever seen before , right ? ”

“ consider me minorly impressed , ” evan said , tucking her dslr back into her bag . her hands instinctively cradled the film camera around her neck .

“ more like majorly . ”

“ are all american musicians t’is sure of themselves ? ”

“ no , ” lindsey , their lead guitarist named after fleetwood mac’s very own –– and certainly living up to it –– ruffled his shaggy hair with a towel , “ nicholas here just has a massive ego to compensate for other shortcomings . ”

an unintelligible grumble sounded from the taller boy , lost in the scuffle of nicky trapping him in a headlock and dragging them into the green room . spencer , their bassist , now back in his wire-framed glasses groaned and followed the both of them , uttering weak words of protest . only izzy hung back , beautiful black hair damp from a hard night’s work and finally pulled back into a long ponytail . evan wondered a few times how she managed to keep her vision clear on stage . she flashed a dazzling smile after the three of them , then turned back to evan .

“ dudes , am i right ? ”

evan’s gaze shifted from her to trail after the three of them , jostling each other about as people began to swarm for congratulations . despite the lightness in her chest , there was something small missing . . . an ounce of longing gripping at her stomach –– she missed all four of them .

“ absolutely ridiculous , ” she laughed before her gaze shifted back to izzy , “ you , miss , could out-drum just about ANY of t’e musicians i’ve worked wit’ . absolutely killer . ”

“ don’t flirt with me when i have no chance , connely , ” deep brown eyes sparkled in jest as she added , “ i know kiv o’niell’s got first dibs . ” shared laughter filled the hallway , “ you coming in ? we’d love to have you . ”

“ um , ” evan turned once more , peering into a hectic , happy room . a smile settled on her lips , “ i’ve actually got plans , but tomorrow ! i’ll stick around after tomorrow . ”

izzy studied her for a moment , giving a slow nod and an understanding smile , “ he’s in boston , right ? ”

“ not yet , ” evan sighed , not bothering to ask how she knew . she was sure she’d slipped it into conversation at some point that day , “ toronto . t’ey play boston in a couple days . reckon i can catch him in between press rounds if i time it right . ”

“ well , go on . we’ll see you tomorrow . bring that magical little machine with you , too . ”

“ you got it , ” evan lifted two fingers to her temple in a small salute , not needing to be told twice . her feet were moving before she’d even finished .

maybe it was the confetti fluttering about in her stomach . maybe it was the realization that perhaps nme wasn’t the dream she thought it was . maybe it was the sight of three boys jostling each other around after a good show . her only instinct , her only real thought , was to call kieran . to tell him all about how she’d gotten an infamous trouble maker to open up , how her photographs would be used as cover art for a stand alone single , how nothing quite compared to being in the thick of a live show . . . and how 20,000 people with a band she didn’t truly know couldn’t hold a candle to THE FOUND in berlin . . . let alone the found later in their career . it could’ve been the endorphins , the adrenaline , but evan felt certain in what otherwise seemed like a whim : being confined to a desk wasn’t it for her . she didn’t know what came next . . . leaving nme or locking down her own studio or heading out on tour with another band , but she knew she wanted to tell him . she was happier than she’d been in WEEKS , and the only missing piece was kieran .

even if things hadn’t been picture perfect with them lately . distance was easy when they were just an easy drive away from each other , but with an ocean , a tour , and ever changing time zones working against them things had been . . .  more difficult than what they were used to . evan tried to chalk it up to overthinking when she felt a hollowness in her chest after he missed a call . . . or worse , after her mentions flooded with a girl she wanted nothing to do with . she’d been familiar with the nastier side of the internet for a long time , if only because of her proximity to four boys rising to fame , but after she and kieran made it clear to EVERYONE that they were far more than friends , things had only gotten worse . it was easy to ignore before bex . easier to brush away as though it were nothing but a nameless , faceless few who put their opinion where it didn’t belong . but now , with evan in london and kieran ( and bex ) in the states . . . things were BRUTAL . especially as more and more usernames tied to the found’s opening act wandered into her tags or her mentions . she’d kept it to herself , for the most part , knowing that he couldn’t really do anything to change it . . . but it wasn’t like bex , herself , was helping . she couldn’t help the occasional curiosity that came when she couldn’t sleep , only to find a clip from bex’s story , fawning over kieran the way she had shamelessly back in manchester as evan was standing right there . 

she learned quickly to monitor her time on social media ; these days she mostly only used it when work required it of her . the last thing she needed was an array of new tagged posts on instagram , all having nothing to do with her and everything to do with her boyfriend . she’d known for some time about the rumors , and since stumbling across them she’d tried her best to tune them out . it did nothing to soothe the things she’d been actively working to unlearn over the last several months . the things her father , who left his entire family for another one , left behind . the things a boy , who she’d thought would be her first love despite his constant need to make her feel inadequate , left behind . kieran walsh was everything those men could never be . . . but it was easy to let the mind run wild when he was thousands of miles away .

even with the recent distance –– with the missed calls and miscommunications –– she still ached with missing him . she still wanted nothing more than to tell him about the night she’d just had , the one he’d been SO SURE would go well . she wanted to tell him that he was right . . . and that maybe she’d leave her desk behind to start something new . so she moved quickly from the empty bowels of the arena to the crowded lobby areas , smiling at but aptly dodging anyone who recognized her by CHANCE , kieran walsh’s girlfriend . she poured out into the parking lot with the rest of them , and only when she was exhaling as she flopped into the driver’s seat of her car did she pull out her phone . 

‘ hey , checking in with you babes . are you alright ? do you need me to come over ? ’ isla’s message sat at the top of a mountain of notifications , every single one from her work email address . . . and her personal .

‘ COMMENT REQUESTED ’

evan’s brow furrowed as she typed back to isla : ‘ great actually ???? why ’

but the answer to that question was tucked away in the emails flooding her inboxes . over a dozen emails from over a dozen different publications were reaching out , hoping for her thoughts on an article linked at the very end of each .

she’d been walking a tightrope over the past few weeks , balancing in the breezes that tried to sway her off center . work . distance . arguments . rumors . however all of it was stuff she could handle , for the most part . . . this , though , was like someone took a pair of scissors and snipped the rope as she was standing in the center of it .

‘ ‘I DON’T KISS AND TELL : Bex & The Found’s Kieran Walsh Confirm Rumors are True ’

it was nothing she hadn’t seen before .

" Rumors have circulated all over the internet throughout The Found’s wildly successful North American tour, and for weeks all we’ve gotten were vague answers from Bex and silence from Kieran . This past Saturday , however , it seems the pair –– speculated to be growing intimately closer over the course of tour thanks to Bex’s ever present social media presence –– finally decided to make it known outside of their inner circle . . . those rumors may not have been rumors after all . Summer in Toronto is warm , but these two were hot (and heavy?) outside of Everleigh . . . ”

and then her vision began to blur as a photograph came into view . she blinked , turned up the brightness on her phone , and held it closer as she stared and searched for some sort of flaw in the composition . . . a tell tale sign of photoshop , a detail that proved it only LOOKED like them , but wasn’t . . . 

but she found nothing . only bex and kieran swept up in each other’s arms in an intimate looking moment , a moment no one was meant to see . the telephoto lens caught her smile perfectly , beautiful as ever as hooded eyes looked over at kieran . what’s worse was . . . it looked like he was smiling too . wrapped up in each other the first photo , walking away from the club’s exit together in the second . 

nausea began to settle in as she stared , unable to read any other part of the article surrounding the photographs . things began to fall into place , one by one . the way she’d picked up the phone –– maybe she truly didn’t remember evan , because maybe evan didn’t exist at all in the states –– , the copious number of videos and photos evan had been tagged in but never got around to seeing , the secret keeping , the missed call . THE MISSED CALL . it was that night . . . when time got away from him and he texted instead of calling . she hadn’t understood then , but she had a hunch now that maybe . . . maybe it was because bex was there , laying on the side of the bed that should’ve been HERS .

her chest began to rise and fall in rapid breaths , every cautionary tale and lived experience flooding her lungs at once . everything from the past few weeks toppled over onto her chest because she’d been RIGHT to worry about bex . she’d been right to feel like the place she left in the boys’ lives was being filled with a girl who had eyes for kieran . she was right to tell kieran to be CAREFUL with that one . . . because it wasn’t insecurity , and it wasn’t being a JEALOUS  girlfriend . it was instinct , and her gut feeling was never wrong . 

or maybe it had been , when it told her it was SAFE to allow herself to believe that love stories didn’t have to turn into tragedies . . . that not every man would hurt her the way declan had or leave her as her father did –– trading her in for a newer , more expensive model . 

but kieran , with his arms wrapped around bex and a smile on his lips , had done BOTH . . . and hadn’t even had the decency to tell her before telling the world . 

am i worth so little ? she thought , am i so easily replaced ? so easily unloved ? how could i be so stupid . . . so naive ?  

her phone screen was a blur without definition , clear droplets hitting the glass like the beginnings of a slow summer rain . her clothes suddenly felt too tight , frantic breathing ripping at the seams of her shirt . her stomach lurched and turned and somersaulted , unsteady and queasy and . . . 

she shoved her door open , slipping out of her car and kneeling just on the other side of it . tucking her hair behind her ears , grasping curls in a ponytail behind her neck , she threw up on the pavement of the parking lot . it brought no relief , though . in fact , her cheeks were still stained with tears . her chest was still heaving with labored breath . her head was still racing . . .

when did it start ? did he put up a front at first or did he immediately find himself in need of a distraction . . . one that was close in proximity and ready and willing . why wouldn’t he just BREAK UP with me ? being dumped would’ve been easier . 

was he bored with her ?

was he in need of someone smarter ? someone prettier ? someone more accessible ? someone who knew the life of a musician far more than she could ever understand ?  

she stood , wiping her mouth with the back of her hand . 

maybe it was a misunderstanding . . . a doctored photo . . . 

the parking lot was nearly empty . . . how long had she been like that ? motionless in her car as tears puddled over the article until she had no choice but to move . . .

evan’s lashes fluttered , blinking away tears as they came ; she had no idea when her hands had begun to shake , but they trembled as she pulled up her recent calls . his name sat there near the top of the list . . . maybe if she called , he’d tell her it was a fake . a rumor . a mistake . or maybe bex would pick up again , still wrapped in his bedsheets in the midst of an afternoon off of press . her thumb hovered over his name .

kieran had WATCHED her change for a boy who didn’t love her . he’d seen the aftermath of a broken heart . he’d witnessed the hurt she felt when it came to her father , the anger . and yet there he was , crystal clear in a photograph breaking her heart for the world to see . 

kieran , who swore he loved her . who swore she had nothing to worry about . who swore that she was just a jealous girlfriend the first time evan brought up her discomfort with bex . who swore he’d come home to her . 

it was worse than declan , because she hadn’t loved him this much .

it was worse than her father , because she’d never really promised to stay .

her thumb tapped the screen and she brought the phone to her ear ; the shrill ring came three times before anyone picked up .

“ evan ? ”

“ mam , ” she huffed , voice cracking as silent , angry tears finally broke into a choked sob , “ can you –– . . . could you –– . . . i t’ink i –– ” 

“ evie , my sweet girl , take a breath , ” her voice was sharper now . evan imagined her sitting upright in bed , spine straightened with worry , “ tell me what’s going on . ”

“ he –– . . . kieran –– ”

“ is he OKAY ? ”

“ YES , ” she shook out her free hand , slight frustration creeping in and only fueling the tears , “ yes he’s . . . i mean he looks . . . i t’ink maybe he’s ch-chea– ” she couldn’t even get the word out ; she was going to be sick all over again . 

“ oh , evan –– ”

“ could you just –– could you PLEASE come to london ? ”

there was a pause , agonizingly long . 

“ i can be t’ere tomorrow . ”

[fanfictiondreamscape]

Polaroids

Request: Like I already told you for my Liz Thompson x Boyfriend! Reader where the two of them are going on a road trip and the reader has to take photos of the trip and LIz: The eldest of the Thompson sisters request. I would like this request written as an one-shot

Title: Polaroids

Genre: I hope you don’t mind the request being marked as a fluffy and romantic piece! 

Pairing: Liz Thompson X Boyfriend!Reader

Notes: Fair warning before I begin, I want to preface everything I say with this: the work is cheesy, the work will be very cliche, but I do hope that it comes off as cute and acceptable. Thanks for the request!

(Also, I took some small liberties and made the characters older for the idea to work. I hope you don’t mind that!) 

Below the cut! 

Death City was sparkling under the sun, the heat pounding on the walkways and buildings. People were walking around from ice cream stand to cafe, and the weather was making itself obvious on their faces. 

The rushing crowd was big, but nonetheless, Liz and (y/n) had managed to sneak away for the time being. You had dragged Liz on a date, and it was a time spent trying to get Kid to let Liz go for the day - “He needs his weapons, and he had to have symmetry!”

Safe to assume, Liz was able to be free of the teenage reaper for the day (as long as she was prepared to come by if a kishin were to show up), and she was as happy as could be. In typical fashion, she was complaining, but (y/n) and her wouldn’t have it any other way.

The couple were holding hands, a safer way to go through the town without dealing with heatstroke, when an idea hit the male. “Weird idea, how about a road trip? Maybe later this week, possibly even today?” 

The dirty blonde blanched before responding, “Kid would flip, babe.It would take a lot of convincing.” (Y/n) groaned at the realization - his girlfriend’s right, Kid wouldn’t allow it. That is, unless...

“What if we invite them to come with? Or, at least give them the warning?” he inquired. Liz had stopped for a second, trying to deliberate the idea quickly. (Y/n) found the image of her pouting just the slightest super cute, though he knew he had to hold off from doing that if it meant the thought would come somewhat to fruition. 

She smiled after a few seconds, “Tell me about the plan over coffee, and we may have a deal.” 

(Y/n) snickered at the compromise, rolling his eyes with a grin, but gently tugged her to the nearest Deathbucks. “First things first....”

...

Overall, the idea deliberation went fairly well, but the fact of the matter was: the rest of the group would be a hazard to a peaceful experience. 

The couple had come to this conclusion by the time their date had come to an end, and this led to a compromise in which (Y/n) and Liz would do the trip themselves, and if needed, could allow the team reason to find them in the case of a kishin attack. 

It seemed to flow pretty well, and the idea was considered and confirmed. After all, a meister needs their weapon, and with Kid you had to be careful. Luckily, the plan went by well with him (Patty was flipping out throughout the whole pitch) and Liz had already started to get her stuff together. Once you got the confirmation, you did the same. 

It took a few days to pass, but everything was prepared and you two left at an ungodly hour (4:30 AM to be specific). Liz was extremely tired, so she didn’t last too long with the softer music playing from the speakers of the taller male’s vehicle. Though he was also tired, (Y/n) had to stay alert if the drive was to be safe.

The specialized playlist had continued to play throughout the time on the road, as well as when (Y/n) had peeked over at his girlfriend in the passenger’s seat. Her hair was strewn about the headrest despite being tied into a ponytail, her jacket had slipped off her shoulder, and her eyelashes were casting shadows on the top of her cheeks.

“An opportunity, perhaps...?” the male had inquired under his breath. His own thought overwhelmed him and he pulled off at a nearby rest stop.

(Y/n) had to get the picture, and what Liz didn’t know was that her boyfriend had brought a polaroid camera with his stuff. And it was sitting in the bigger pocket of his travel bag in the backseat of the vehicle.

Given the scenario and the photo op, he quietly leaned back and grabbed the camera. After checking to make sure she was still asleep, he snapped a picture and waited for the photo to come out. 

Once it was in his hands, he put the picture in his wallet and slid the camera back into his bag. ‘I’ll tell Liz later, she’ll have a field day if I tell her now.’

He had checked the time once more, and with it now hitting 7:30, hunger pains were bound to strike them soon enough. With no food, the couple (on both fronts) would definitely be angry. 

“:Liz? Hey, Liz, baby?” He had started to shake the sleeping female, which only elicited a groan. “Liz, come on.” Still shaking her, still shaking her, still shaking her.... “Baby, come on. We need to eat.” 

The mention of the food was what caught her attention, and she opened one eye while muttering about food under her breath. “Food?...Mmm, I’m getting up....”

The male deadpanned and watched as she lethargically pulled herself up, making eye contact and smirking just the slightest as she flung the vehicle door open energetically. 

“What the- you weren’t asleep were you?” Liz giggled as she was able to recount the photography moment. The male’s jaw was on the floor, but he trailed after his girlfriend and partook in mutual teasing throughout breakfast. 

...

Eventually the two had to switch out. There was a plan, after all (courtesy of (Y/n)), and they had to keep it going strong if they wanted to make it to their predetermined destination before 2 PM. 

Now, seeing as it was pushing time for the two to leave from breakfast, they had to hurry. Guess whose job it was to drive this time? 

That’s right, Liz’s. And boy, oh boy, was she hesitant. 

That being the case, though....

(Y/n) had taken the liberty of paying, so that left Liz to start the car up. That also left her some time to snag the polaroid and snap a picture or two. So, snag she did.

‘He’ll never know~.’

Either way things worked out, as he left she snapped a picture of him in the sunlight. The wind had been flowing, he was shielding his eyes from the light, and he was fair distance away so the chances that he would suspect she had taken a picture was very low. 

Thought the walk wasn’t that short, she had rummaged around in her bag and hid the camera behind it as the photo processed and came out. When it was out, she had hid it in a compartment in her stuff and grabbed her sunglasses before moving the camera into the blanket in between their stuff. 

Liz, looking posh with her dark sunglasses and pristine white tank top and denim shorts, had noticed the taller male looking at her through the windows of the vehicle.

Fake ogling, ‘aah’ing, and a  raised eyebrow were a result of that. He had encouraged her to strut even more than she already was and was dead set on making his jaw drop on the floor before the end of the night. 

She was already working there, and (Y/n) had burst out laughing when she had opened the door and her smirk lifted into a goofy Grinch face. She eventually broke out into belly laughs after he sent one back at her. 

Yes, little words were exchanged, but the whole scene was refreshing for them (considering they deal with kishins fairly often). 

...

The sun had only gotten brighter as the time had passed by. When they had gotten stopped at a light from time to time, too - well, prime time to listen to her hilarious rants of anger regarding life in general. 

Granted, (Y/n) did the same, but his angry rants never matched up to her’s if they were to pop up out of the blue. 

They had spent a good hour belting along to songs blasting through the speakers as well, and given the chance that (Y/n) had reached behind to the backseat to grab a water bottle, he had also grabbed the camera. 

Though it was becoming a game of back-and-forth with a camera, he wasn’t bothering to hide the fact that he was down to take a picture (or five) of his glowing girlfriend. 

In fact, when she was singing along to some obnoxious road-trip rock, they had been going along a forest road after leaving the city. The trees letting in small glimpses of sun through their branches framed her face perfectly, and the little wisps of hair that had popped out of her ponytail were visible. 

The perfect, aesthetic, and beauty capturing photo of Liz Thompson. A woman he is proud to call his girlfriend. 

As he lifted the camera to the light and took the picture, his nimble fingers froze when Liz peeked over at him and rolled her eyes. (Y/n) let out a short giggle when she looked away and continued belting the notes out of tune. 

A quick snap sound didn’t phase her as she just chuckled and continued on her action as he waved the photo to see it better after it was ejected. 

“You are loving that camera aren’t you, babe?”

“Hmm? Oh, I’m loving the camera? Are you sure you aren’t, princess - cause it definitely loves you.”

“Oh, shut it. I could say the same for you, you loser.”

The laughter that filled the room following the banter was contagious, though that moment allowed it to be reserved for the two of them alone. 

...

Yet again, as lunch began to loom over the two, the sun had continued to beat down upon the couple. They were able to determine that they wouldn’t last much longer without any filling food, as well. 

Yeah, they needed to find a restaurant or rest stop soon, or else their angry rants and singing would become more obnoxious and annoying. The conversations they were having were also beginning to cut themselves a little short. 

That, though, was not going to be allowed throughout the course of the trip. (Y/n) had pointed out where things were as they were nearing a small town en route to their destination. The quickest place to go just so they could maintain time happened to be a small hometown diner. 

It was bustling with life, seeing as it was lunchtime, and people were smiling excitedly over coffee and homemade hamburgers as the couple observed the scene through the window. Liz was pulling into the decently sized parking lot, and as she did so, the male beside her had reached behind him to grab his wallet from his bag. 

The sound of her moving the gear shift to ‘P’ alerted the male as the car stopped. He held his leather wallet in his hand as Liz pulled the keys out of the ignition and tossed them to him - they hit him in the shoulder when he tried to dodge. 

“Oh my Death, what the-”

“You of all people should’ve seen it coming, babe.”

“Oh yeah? Well, I was going to pay for both of our meals, but if you don’t want food, I guess...”

“Fine!”

(Y/n) chuckled at his girlfriend’s antics before opening the car door and leaving the vehicle. Liz pouted and rolled her eyes before doing the same.

While they were walking to the front door, Liz snatched the camera from her boyfriend’s hands and snapped a quick picture of his shocked face before waiting for the photo to come out. He laughed and snagged it right back. 

“Had to get your fill of payback, didn’t ya, princess?”

“Okay, you seriously need to stop calling me that.”

“No can do, princess.”

...

The both of them had been seated by a sweet middle-aged woman who then took their order. She had a huge smile on her face, and (Y/n) was beginning to find it addicting. 

As the woman went back to get their drinks of choice, Liz had sent a look towards her boyfriend after noticing the look that settled on his face. He had a simper that stretched to his eyes as he held the camera up and grabbed her hand that had been resting on the table in front of them.

With a playful glint in his eyes, he raised a question. “So, who’s taking the picture?” As he finished his inquiry, Liz rolled her eyes.

“You really are a romantic, aren’t you?”

“So I guess it’s me, then.”

She let out a snort and gestured to their intertwined hands on the table. “Go ahead, you idiot.”

A calm smile made its way onto the male’s face as he snapped a picture of their hands from above, the light hitting their flesh through shadows that were cast from the condiment bottle set up beside other consumer-used additions. 

They (read: (Y/n)) had continued to snap photos of extra cheesy moments shared between them over lunch.

One photo consisted of Liz, a burger in her one hand and her other reaching to cover the lens. Another consisted of (Y/n) stuffing his face with his food, which Liz found hilarious and couldn’t resist the urge to take a photo of. The final photo in the ever-growing stack of their lunch endeavor was one in which there was a kiss - a short peck on (Y/n)’s cheek on the way out of the establishment. 

As they left the diner, Liz tossed the keys to the towering male and slid into the passenger’s seat as soon as the doors were unlocked. (Y/n) slid the camera to Liz as he entered the vehicle, and she took another picture of him from the seat beside him. 

He just shook his head with a loving smile on his face, watching as she waited in clam delight for the picture to come out so she could see it. He then directed his attention from his girlfriend in the passenger’s side and to the vehicle, turning it on and leaving the lot in favor of the road. 

There wasn’t much more time until they reached their destination.

...

Given the scenario ((Y/n) behind the wheel, Liz holding the camera in the passenger’s seat), it wasn’t shocking when they both went on about their day as they had been - off-key singing and taking charge of the other’s road rage. 

While the upbeat music had continued to play throughout the surrounding speakers, Liz had the polaroid up against the sun. She had snapped a few pictures of the passing skylines through the trees, of the clouds in the sky at just the right angle. And the best ones? Well...

In her mild frenzy of photography, she had snuck multiple photos of the male beside her while he was driving. Some were funny (sometimes catching him pretending to belt out a high note, sometimes catching him holding up a finger to the driver in front or behind them with a disgusted grimace on his face), others were just beautiful. 

His silhouette was outlined by the afternoon sun, his sunglasses glinting in the light, and everything reflected just perfectly. ‘Yeah, I regret nothing.’

“Hey, princess, you done admiring those photos of me you took?”

Liz rolled her eyes at (Y/n) as he smirked at her expression. “You mean your mug? Yeah, right...”

“...mhm, be honest.”

“Fine - yeah, I was. Happy you cocky loser?” Liz uttered sarcastically, a smile sweeping across her features. (Y/n) had a similar joking smirk cross his face as she finished her statement. 

Soon, they reached a stoplight. It was here that Liz snapped another picture of the male and waited for it to eject from the camera as (Y/n) had checked the street signs. 

“Hey, Liz. We’re almost to the peak.” Her ears seemed to perk up at the statement. 

“Really? We’re almost there?” she questioned excitedly, her boyfriend observing her reaction from his peripheral vision. A smirk began to rest itself on his face, and he chuckled just the slightest. 

“Give it a few minutes, okay? If you’re thirsty, we can stop somewhere and get something to drink before we get there so we don’t die of dehydration.” 

Liz rolled her eyes at him, snapping a picture of his overdramatic expression - a hand, positioned on his forehead, in a woeful pose. He let out a chesty laugh after the image was taken and continued on the road to the peak. 

...

Time had seemed to slow down as Liz’s adrenaline started to kick in. She had suggested that they go to the peak, but she wasn’t sure that (Y/n) would agree with the idea. He’d never been the most romantic type, nor had she, but she wanted to try to be. 

It seemed that he wanted to as well, because he had told her what he had originally planned. Liz was ecstatic when she became aware of his romantic sunset-date that he had thought of. 

While the time was starting to get to her, especially after (Y/n) had run in a gas station and picked up something for the two to drink other than warm water. Things did come to a head when they made it to the destination, though.

This image in front of them made the two of them become quiet.

The both of them had only ever imagined what the view would look like, though (Y/n)’s was much more gorgeous than the setting sun in front of them. Liz, lit up by the purple and orange glow of the sun with the shadows of trees behind her acting as a frame, made his cheeks flush and his eyes flash with hearts.

Liz had left the polaroid in the vehicle in her rush, and the male had noticed it. The amount of joy he had when he realized that, had he not grabbed it, this moment couldn’t and wouldn’t be captured was through the roof.

He had to get a picture. Now. So he did.

The sound of the camera shutter drew Liz’s attention away from the rocky, glowing landscape. “What was that for, you loser? You distracted me.”

With a laugh to start, (Y/n) uttered a statement that made her cheeks flush tomato red. “I couldn’t help it, you were glowing. That, and the angle was perfect - you literally made the landscape so much more beautiful.”

Her boyfriend’s words shocked her, but she knew that this wouldn’t last long and her blushing face would be the target of teasing if she didn’t do something. So, she leaned up and kissed him quickly.

He froze at the action, and kept a tight grip on the camera as he stood still. ‘Okay, not happening.’

With almost superhuman speed, he had turned Liz’s body to face him and pressed his lips to hers gently. She had responded quickly, and in the moment, he had taken a picture of their lips intertwined.

The setting sun had made the whole scene take on a purple hue and, as it continued to set, everything throughout the day fell into place. All of the words settled into the chilly night air, their hands seemed to fit together even better than before, and the way that their heartbeats seemed to beat in time got even more synchronized.

The kiss got very passionate, and once the picture was taken, the hand holding it was dropped to the male’s side while his other went up to cup Liz’s cheek. She had a grip on his wrist and her other hand was resting on the back of (Y/n)’s head, and she had begun to push it into the base of his head as the kiss continued.

Before time had picked up, they had pulled away from the other and stared into the other’s eyes. Smiles slid onto their faces, but that was swapped for a look of surprise as Liz snagged the camera and took a picture of (Y/n)’s blushing face.

The fun continued to play out for another minute or so before they reached into the vehicle and set up a small rest spot. Liz had the blanket and pillows they had brought while (Y/n) had the drinks and leftover snacks. 

Five minutes passed as they set up, and the rest of the night passed by with stargazing, constellation games, and more teasing and kisses. 

By the time they had finished their items, their phones indicated the time, and they both packed up and got ready to head home or find a motel to crash at for the night. 

...

Morning had already struck, and Liz was behind the wheel while (Y/n) slept in the passenger’s side seat. His hair hit the headrest in a certain way, the coffee that was sitting in the cupholders halfway empty an indicator of a caffeine crash he had a couple hours back.

‘6:45. Great, it shouldn’t be too much longer until we get back home.’

She smiled lovingly at the (h/c) beside her before redirecting her attention to the road and continuing back to Death City. 

[thethoughtsfromthreeam]

Monument Woman

Pairing: Marcus Pike x OC (Rosemary Carter)

Warnings: Angst, Death (y’all knew it was coming)

A/N:  I am so glad I went on vacation!  I’ve got a renewed interest in this story and I knocked out several new chapters over the last few days. I am also feeling the other stories I’ve got half cooked up.  I need to take a mini vacation more often!

Reminder: I ain’t ever seen Pedro Pascal in FUCK ALL, I’m just coming up with this as I go along, using imdb.com, wiki, and 84,000 tabs I got open to plan out this shit.  I also write soft versions of his characters so if you’re craving asshole vibes, I ain’t got any but my own to offer.

Tag List:

@zeldasayer​ , @beskars​ , @coolmaybelateruniverse​ , @the-feckless-wonder​ , @pascalisthepunkest​ , @mandoandyodito​ , @randomness501​ , @fioccodineveautunnale​  , @ahopelessromanticwritersworld​ , @lilkermit14​ , @tortles   [please message me to be added or subtracted]

Part 4 – Good-bye is so Harsh, Just Say See You Later

“Dammit!”  Agent Fitzgerald slammed his fist on the table, startling everyone in the room. Agent Armand peered at him over her glasses and he ducked his head under her steady, motherly gaze.  Everyone went back to the work in front of them as Pike and Carmichael came over to see what the fuss was about.

The junior agent sighed as he leaned his head back.  He had been working to clear up some surveillance video they got from a museum in Wisconsin who had reported a piece stolen in the 1990s. It took him three days to piecemeal the tape back together, which had deteriorated over the years due to bad storage. Then it took another week to render it clear enough to see what was going on.  While the original notes state that the tape was grainy, the original agents didn’t clarify that the video looked as if someone smeared Crisco over the lens.

But finally, Fitzgerald had it watchable and as he peered closely at the tape, a subtle changed occurred, causing his outburst.  When he looked up and saw Pike and Carmichael, he waved for them to sit down and started the digital video again.

“Tell me what you see?”  The two agents watched the tape as the gallery sat devoid of people for the entirety of ten minutes.  They sat back when the video ended and looked at the man watching them.  “You missed it, didn’t you?”

“Missed what?” Questioned Carmichael, curious as to what he was talking about.

“The jump.”  They looked at him and he gave a sardonic chuckle, knowing that they missed what the original agents missed back then.  He rewound the tape to about the halfway point and started it again.  This time, the partners leaned in and stared closely at the video.  Fitzgerald knew when they saw the skip because both sets of eyebrows shot up at the same time.

“Whoever this crew is, they know where the cameras are and how to alter them.”  The man leaned back and rubbed his eyes.  “And they know how to make it look seamless.  Although the analog video was grainy, I didn’t catch it the first time I saw it digitally.”

“I think we need to get all the rest of the videos that we can review.” Pike sat back, his brain already working up a plan.  “How long will it take you to review all the tapes?”

“I’m not sure, not more than a couple of days, assuming I don’t have to fix them like I did this one.”  Came the reply.  The special agent nodded, his eyes unfocused as he began to add this new information into his mental files.

“Pike, what are you thinking?”  Carmichael stood up, waving over Agent Horacio.  She mumbled to them that she needed all the tapes from all the cases gathered up and given to Fitzgerald.  They nodded and walked off to begin the task at hand.

“I’m thinking we need to go back and ask people about their surveillance systems.  If we can prove even the private collections had tampered videos, then this isn’t an inside job like we originally thought, it might be more.  And we need to recognize this is more sophisticated than we’ve been giving them credit for.”  The two agents looked at him and nodded with a shared smile.  After working on these cold cases for months, they had something to go on – finally.

-*-

“Hey Carmichael, I’m going to run out for lunch, you want anything?” Pike stuck his head into her office, eyebrows slightly raised.  She poked her head up, her dark eyes look dull and bleary.  “You look exhausted, maybe you should go home.”

“Maybe you should be quiet for a moment Pike.”  Her voice sounded scratchy and lower than normal.  “And come here for a second, I need another pair of eyes.

Her partner walked over to the desk, taking silent note that she looked smaller and the exhaustion was etched into her face.  Taking up a spot next to her chair, Pike leaned over to read what she was pointing at.  One of the junior agents had created a compilation of quotations from the original interviews in each of the cold cases and then a list of ones from the new interviews they had been conducting since June.  She watched him as he skimmed the papers and as his eyebrows rose higher on his forehead, her tired smile got bigger and bigger.  He glanced over at her.

“Is this all true?”  His voice sounded excited and she vigorously nodded.  “Oh my god, Carmichael!”

“I know Pike!  I had Horacio and Fitzgerald both review this before I looked at it.  Every single one of these cases were executed the same way. This is one team we’re hunting, and they were responsible for every single case.”

Pike started to laugh in relief. There had been concern among him, Carmichael, and Armand that they were looking at unrelated cases or possible copycats, which did little to narrow their search.  But the interviews showed the same pattern every single time, the original agents just never cross-matched their case with any open ones.

“They’ve been able to actively do this since, what?  1982?  I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’s the same group but may have had different people over the years.  No way someone who was forty in 1982 is still out here robbing the say way almost forty years later.”  Pike looked at Carmichael.

“You’re probably right but let me take it a step further and say they kept their theft team the same as long as they could.  Someone new comes in, they learn the ways of the crew and as old members died or went to jail, new members came in.  But I bet at least two-thirds of the crew were long-timers and so that’s why there was little to no deviation from case to case.  The newbies become the experts by the time more new kids are recruited.”  She paused. “Which I think is how all these cases ultimately were executed in virtually the same way over such a long period of time.”

“So, what we have is a sophisticated theft ring that spans nearly forty years and at least seven countries.  They are so good that not one of the thirty pieces stolen have been recovered nor had the cases been connected until recently.  And of course, they are all still out there, not having been caught for these specific crimes.”  Pike stood up and scratched his jaw, the dark stubble rough under his fingertips.  “What does that sound like to you?”

Carmichael closed the folder and sat back in her chair.  The dull look to her eyes gave away to their more familiar sparkle as she bared her teeth in a bright smile.

“Sounds like mafia to me.”

---***---

Rosemary shifted in the bed, letting Banana wiggle his way between her body and Robert’s emaciated frame.  In the week since she had dinner with him and Fern, his progress went downhill rapidly, and Rosemary rarely left the room.  Although the late September day was chilly, all the windows were open because he wanted to smell Saugatuck.

As the dog got comfortable, she laid her head back down on the pillow and rested her arm on his warm body so she could take Robert’s hand into hers. The last forty-eight hours had been the hardest as he delved further and further into delusion, speaking in a foreign language one moment and in English the next.  Sometimes he spoke of names that were unfamiliar to her, as if he were remembering a time many years ago.

The sun was lowering in the sky when Robert turned his head and glanced towards the young woman next to him.  For a long moment they looked at each other, the silence between them worn and old and comfortable.  But something in Robert, his old self, fought to the top and through the delusion to speak to her, his voice cracking under the strain.

“I love you Rosie.  I always have.  You are my daughter as sure as if I fathered you myself.”  He could see the tears forming in her eyes and her throat moving as she tried to swallow them, not wanting him to see her cry.  She nodded at him.

“I love you, Robert.  Thank you for being in my life.”  He smiled and closed his eyes, sighing.  They laid like that for another hour before he opened his eyes again and looked at her. He scanned her face as if trying to memorize her freckles or her hazel eyes or that weird scar on her forehead. He finally looked her in the eye and smiled.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.  And as the sun set, he was gone.  Banana lifted his head and began to cry as Rosemary let her tears flow. She scooted over and wrapped herself around Robert and cried and cried.  A small part of her seemed to die with him as she felt empty – far emptier than when Pops and Grams died.  

She was truly alone now.

---***---

“Rose?”  A soft knock came at the bathroom door, Amy’s lilting voice on the other side sounded muffled through the wood.  “Honey?”

Rosemary sat on the toilet, slumped over and her face in a daze.  Her hands rested on her thighs, gripping at her sleeping shorts mindlessly.  She didn’t say anything, her throat raw and sore from her crying.  When Amy opened the door, she bit her lip at the scene before her.

After Robert finally passed, Rosemary laid with him for an hour before pulling herself from the bed to call the funeral home.  When Benson Harwood arrived with his assistant, they immediately went about preparing to remove the body as she stood by the door, arms wrapped around her torso.  She shivered as she watched the two of them work, but when they zipped closed the body bag, rendering Robert from sight, she dropped to her knees and began to keen loudly.

The assistant, who was new, jumped back at the sound, but Benson had been around long enough to know what to do.  The heavy-set man with kind eyes sat down on the floor next to her and held her in his arms.  Rosemary cried Robert’s name over and over for nearly half an hour.  When she couldn’t cry out loud anymore, she pulled away from Benson and curled into a ball on the floor, blocking the door.

“Rosemary, we need to take him.  It’s time for him to go.”  The funeral director rubbed her back, recognizing the shock of loss in her eyes. Like others, he knew of her close relationship with Robert and had told his wife that he was glad the old man had someone with him in his last days.  He looked around the room before his eyes laid on her cell phone on the bed. “Rose, can I call someone for you?”

She laid there, practically catatonic when the assistant touched Benson’s shoulder.  He looked up and nodded at her before she walked over and got the phone.  He asked gently for her to unlock it so he could call her friends and her shaky fingers took three tries before her home screen popped up.  When he saw the group text, he pressed dial for the first name he saw in the chat.

After explaining the situation, Amy Anton agreed to come help with her distraught friend.  When she arrived, she was able to coax Rosemary off the floor, who merely crawled into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.  The three looked at each other and Amy finished with Benson so they could leave.  After texting Fern and Tina, she knocked on the door.

“Rosie. . . “

“No.  That was his name for me.  No.” Her voice crackled with rawness, her vocal cords in screaming pain at the movement.  She turned her head to look at Amy and the tears spilled over her cheeks.  “I’m alone. Alone.”

The crying began again and as if all sensation left her body, Rosemary slid off the toilet and hit the wall.  She seemed impervious to pain, but Amy still shrieked out at the sight.  She couldn’t muffle her own tears as she dropped to the cold tile to scoop up her friend in her arms.  Tina and Fern’s footsteps echoed through the house as they arrived, and both stopped when they found the duo on the floor.

Without a second thought, the two women dropped down and enveloped their sobbing friend and held her for what seemed like hours.  Eventually, they convinced her to get into the shower and then into bed. As Amy cleaned up Robert’s room, Fern called her paralegal to begin the post-death legal process, and Tina took Banana for a walk before curling up in bed with Rosemary.  Sleep avoided the four women that night and for the first time in a long time, Rosemary dreaded the morning sunlight.

[mythicalfanfics]

Is This Home? (Tyler Scheid x Fem!Reader)

Title: Is This Home?

Pairing: Tyler Scheid ( Apocalypto_12)/Fem!Reader, Platonic!Teamiplier x Reader, Markiplier x Amy, CrankGameplays x Mika

Requested?: Yes

Requested by: @lost-love

Summary: The reader has a YouTube channel where she records cover songs. Her sister, Amy, helps her record another song for a special someone.

A/N: This request has been in my inbox for a LONG while now. I had been putting it off for a while, but I had finally gotten inspiration to finish it.

Pronouns: she/her

Warning(s): swearing, slight angst from Tyler

Word count: 1,236 words (got a little carried away)

Amy settled the camera onto the tripod, centering you in the frame. She had, like the caring sister she was, volunteered to help you record another cover and shoo away any distractors, specifically Mark who always seemed to peek in whenever you tried to record. 

“Are you ready?” she asked, standing behind the camera. 

“Just a sec.” You adjusted the mic in front of your ukulele, strumming to check the feedback and sound. It seemed to be working properly.

You took a deep breath. “Alright, I’m ready.”

“You’ll do fine,” Amy reassured you. 

You shook your head. “Uh-huh, sure.” 

She paused, holding her finger over the record button. “You’re not nervous because of him, are you?”

You frowned. “No... no, of course not. Why would I be?” You waved your hand. “Just press record already, jeez.”

A mischevious smile came over Amy’s lips, but she said nothing more as she pressed record.

You bit your lip.

Another deep breath.

A sigh.

And you began to play.

“Often I am upset that I cannot fall in love but I guess

This avoids the stress of falling out of it.

Are you tired of me yet?

I’m a little sick right now but I swear

When I’m ready I will fly us out of here.”

“Is she singing?”

Amy turned her head to see Mark peeking in from the doorway. “Seriously?” she mouthed, pointing to the camera. “We’re recording right now.”

“Ooh, I’ll cut my hair

Ooh, to make you stare

Ooh, I’ll hide my chest

And I’ll figure out a way to get us out of here.”

“So, yes?” Mark leaned against the doorway, smiling cheekily at his girlfriend.

“Oh my God,” Amy whispered. She left the camera and strode up to Mark. “I’m not having this today, mister. This is very important to her.”

“Turn off your porcelain face

I can't really think right now in this place

Has too many colors, enough to drive all of us insane

Are you dead?

Sometimes I think I'm dead

‘Cause I can feel ghosts and ghouls wrapping my head

But I don't wanna fall asleep just yet.”

“Is it because of--”

“Out.” She pointed. “Out with you.”

“Ooh, my eyes went dark

Ooh, I don't know where

Ooh, my pupils are

But I'll figure out a way to get us out of here.”

“Okay, okay,” Mark said, “but only because you asked nicely.”

Amy rolled her eyes.

“Get a load of this monster

He doesn't know how to communicate

His mind is in a different place

Will everybody please give him a little bit of space?

Get a load of this trainwreck

His hair's a mess and he doesn't know who he is yet

But little do we know, the stars 

Welcome him with open arms.”

Amy returned back to her place behind the camera, making sure everything was still in frame before giving you an apologetic smile. “Sorry,” she mouthed.

“Ooh, time is 

Ooh, slowly

Ooh, tracing his face

But strangely he feels at home in this place.”

Amy clapped when you finished the song. “That was amazing!”

Mark burst through the door. “Is she done?”

“Mark, seriously, what is wrong with you!”

Mark laughed. “Just trying to be supportive of my girlfriend and her little sister.”

You shrunk down in your chair, smiling weakly at him. “Thanks.”

-

Tyler lounged on the couch, staring at the ceiling. He had nothing to do. That is until you returned from your ladies’ day out with Kathryn, Amy, and Mika. Teamiplier was planning to see a movie that afternoon due to his suggestion.

“Hey, Tyler.”

Tyler glanced around and was met with the face of Ethan staring down at him. “What’s... up?”

“(Y/N) posted a new video yesterday,” Ethan said. “I was wondering if you saw it or not.”

Tyler frowned; he was skeptical. You always texted him right away after posting a new video. He had yet to receive such text. “...No, I haven’t.”

Ethan held out his phone to him, slightly smirking.

Tyler was good friends with Ethan, never having a problem with him except when it came to you. He always felt-- what was the word?-- jealous when he saw you and Ethan hanging out. You always seemed to sparkle with joy when you were around him. 

Tyler just couldn’t compete.

His eyes lit up when he saw your face on the phone. 

Ethan wasn’t lying after all. 

He immediately recognized the song when you started strumming, This Is Home by Cavetown. For the past month, you’d had played on repeat whenever he offered to drive you to work. He probably knew the lyrics just as well as you did by now.

At the end of the video, you would always talk a little about the song you covered and what it meant to you. This time was no exception.

“Cavetown is one of my favorite artists,” you said, “but I really covered this song for a good friend of mine, someone who always seemed to make me smile. He’s someone who I always want to be around and whenever I don’t see him... well, I miss him.” You smiled. “Thank you, guys, for watching. I’ll see you next time.” You moved your hand toward the camera as the video ended.

Tyler’s heart sank in his chest, a million thoughts racing around his head. He placed Ethan’s phone on the coffee table and stood up. Without looking Ethan’s way, he headed to the bathroom.

“Where are you going?”

“I just... I just need to use the restroom.”

-

“Are you guys ready to go see--” Mark started.

“Wait, where’s Tyler?” you asked.

Ethan put a hand on your shoulder. “Last time I saw him, he needed to use the bathroom,” he said. “He must have had a real large shit.”

You stifled a laugh as you tore away from your group of friends to look for Tyler. It only took you a couple of minutes to find the restroom he locked himself in.

You knocked on the door. “Tyler, you okay in there? We’re about ready to leave for the movie.”

There was a pause. “I’m... I’m fine, but you guys should go without me. I don’t really want to go anymore.” He sounded like a kindergartner who didn’t get the toy he wanted.

“Tyler, it was your idea to go in the first place,” you said. “What’s wrong, Tye Dye?”

You could hear a soft chuckle. “I hate that nickname.”

“I’ll keep calling you that if you don’t tell me what’s wrong.”

Another pause. “Who did you make the cover for? Ethan?”

“Goddamnit, Ethan,” you cursed. “Will you come out if I tell you?”

“Fine.” Tyler unlocked the door and opened it. The first thing you noticed was his red eyes. Was he crying?

“The video wasn’t for Ethan--”

“Then who--”

“He wasn’t supposed to show you the video. I was gonna show it to when... when I was ready to tell you,” you said.

“Tell me what?”

Your face turned red. “That... that I... I like you a lot, like a lot, a lot, Tyler.”

“I like you, too.” He reached for your hand, squeezing it.

You stood in silence for a moment, staring into each other’s eyes. Then, you asked, “Were you crying because I thought I liked Ethan?”

“Well...”

“You realize he’s dating Mika, right?”

[shhhhyoursister]

nog! can you write some dumbass davenzi with a side of brain cell squad for a homie. it’s missing druck hours

yeah of course i can????? heres some drunk clingy matteo and sober clingy david!!! ive written so much drunk david that i know i gotta write some drunk matteo and this is the perfect prompt for it!!!!

It may have been cheesy, but David really did miss Matteo any time they weren’t together. They were usually wrapped so tightly around each other that any second they weren’t touching, David was wishing they were. It was rare that they didn’t spend the night with each other, so when David found himself alone in his cold room, in his cold bed, he might’ve been a little upset. He might’ve even pulled up the playlist he made specifically for when he was missing Matteo, and may have been blasting it loudly in his ears as he lay in his bed, alone. Was it mentioned that he was alone?

He was about to turn the music off and go to bed, alone, when his phone started buzzing. It was way too late for it to be anyone other than Matteo or some kind of spam call, and he smiled when he saw his boyfriend’s face on the screen. His smile grew when he saw that it was a video call, and he quickly accepted the call.

“Hey, ba--”

“DAVID!”

David winced at the volume as the video actually loaded, and he saw what looked to be the inside of Matteo’s room, but no person in the frame. He could hear what sounded like 15 people talking at once, and he flinched a little and lowered the volume until his ears didn’t hurt. 

“Matteo? What the fuck is happening?”

“One sec, I’m- guys, shut the fuck up- David! Look how much we drank!”

The phone finally focused on the table in Matteo’s room that was completely covered in empty beer bottles. He saw Carlos, Abdi, and Jonas sitting around the table. It seemed like Matteo had the camera on selfie mode so the boys could see him, and he heard them all yell when they realized it was David on the phone. 

“David, bro, get the fuck over here! It’s not that late!”

“Idiot, it’s fucking, like, oh fuck. Where’s my phone?” David watched as Carlos patted his pockets in a panic, before Jonas kicked him with his foot and then pointed to a phone resting on the table. As Carlos leaned in to grab it, he knocked over one of beers, and Abdi yelled as it spilled on his leg.

David heard Matteo laugh at the fiasco, and he wanted to ask him to flip the camera so he could see him. He may have been at Matteo’s flat that morning, and he may have been exhausted, but that didn’t mean that he didn’t want to look at his boyfriend’s face. He wanted to do that all the time. 

“It’s 2:30.” He piped up, hoping that Matteo would remember that he was the one on the phone and acknowledge him. David didn’t like being ignored, and being ignored by his boyfriend was especially unpleasant.

“David said it’s 2:30, Carlos!”

“Not too late for him to come over.” David saw Jonas shrug, and he heard Carlos scoff.

“It’s cold out dude! David doesn’t need to be walking in that.”

“Are you saying you don’t want him here? That’s homophobic, Carlos.” David snorted, and he could imagine the exact look that had to be on Matteo’s face. Blue eyes bright, mouth stretched in the most annoying, shit-eating grin, cheeks a little flushed from the alcohol. He just wished he could see it.

“Luigi, how is that homophobic?”

“‘Cause I’m gay, and I want my boyfriend here!”

“Why don’t you invite him then, idiot?”

“Okay, I will,” the camera jerked around Matteo’s room, until David was finally looking at Matteo’s face, and he was right; Matteo was smirking into the camera, his eyes sparkling, and his cheeks pink. When he saw David his smirk got a little softer, though, and he opened his mouth to speak, but instead just licked his lips and then pressed them together in a small smile.

“Hi.” Matteo said quietly, and he could hear Jonas groan in the background.

“Hi,” David smiled, and chuckled when he heard a distinct booing from the other boys in the room, but he continued anyway with, “I miss you.”

He watched the pink on Matteo’s cheeks get darker as he responded, “I miss you too. I drank, like… a lot of beers. But I beat Jonas at Mario Kart earlier!”

“I’m proud of you, babe,” he watched Matteo preen under the praise, and David smiled wider before saying, “are you having a good night?”

“It could be better. You should co--”

“Bro, fucking ask him to come over! You’ve been talking for so long!” David could hear Abdi yell from somewhere behind the phone, and he chuckled when Matteo looked in his direction with a glare.

“I was just doing that, shut the fuck up!” He looked back at David and his face softened again as he said, “You should come over. Because I miss you and--”

“We miss you too David!”

“Abdi, stop! He’s mine, only I get to say that!” Matteo whined, and David was so pleased by the statement that he giggled, and Matteo looked down at him and grinned.

“It’s true! You’re mine. Only I get to miss you.”

“Is that how it works? Well, you’re mine, so I’m allowed to say that I miss you too.”

Matteo obviously only focused on one part of his statement because he tried to wink, and loudly said, “Fuck yeah I am!”

“Hey Matteo, stop being cute with your boyfriend and tell him to get his ass here!”

“Don’t talk about his ass! That’s--”

“Oh my god we get it, just fucking invite him over!”

“Okay, fuck,” Matteo came back into focus on the screen, just as he asked, “David, do you want to come over?”

“I do, very much,” he started, and felt awful when Matteo grinned, as he continued with, “but I have to do stuff for my film in the morning, remember? That’s why I’m sleeping here tonight.”

Matteo’s face fell and he lifted it to call out, “He can’t come, guys.” to the boys before there was a lot of shuffling and static and David couldn’t see anything on the screen. He could hear muffled yelling, and when it finally quieted down and Matteo appeared on the screen, he was in the kitchen.

“I want you to come over.” Matteo was pouting, and David felt his heart break a little at the sight.

“Oh, Matteo,” he said, sitting up a little more, “I would if I could, but I shouldn’t even be awake right now. I’m waking up in like, four hours. I’m staying over tomorrow night, remember?”

“Baby,” Matteo drew it out in that obnoxious way he did when he was trying to get his way, “tomorrow night is so far from now. And I won’t be drunk.”

“You won’t be drunk, but we can cook and watch a movie? I’ll even let you pick this time.”

“You’ve said that the last three times.” Matteo was whining, but David could see the pout soften until he was just frowning, and he knew he could win him over.

“I promise, okay? I won’t even ask, you can just set it up and I won’t complain. We can eat, cuddle on the couch, sneak away when Hans isn’t paying attention....” He trailed off when Matteo started smiling again, and he smiled back softly.

“I don’t think Hans is even gonna be here tomorrow night,” Matteo said, “and what if I pick something awful? Like, Shrek, or something?”

“Like I said, I won’t complain. I’d watch a thousand shitty movies for you.”

Matteo grinned at him, and David wished he was there so he could kiss him right where his cheek was a little pink, and David opened his mouth to say something sappy but his phone buzzed with a text before he could.

“Why is Laura texting me? She should be asleep…” he thought out loud, and checked the message as Matteo started humming a song under his breath. David smiled when he heard it, but frowned when he saw the text.

Laura: David, stop talking to your boyfriend like you’re in a fucking 80s romcom and go to bed. I can’t sleep.

“Fuck,” he said, and responded with an apology before flipping back to the call, and saying in a sad voice, “I have to go, baby, I’m keeping Laura up.”

He watched as Matteo’s lips curled back into a pout, and he huffed and rolled his eyes fondly.

“Do you really have to?”

“I do, I’m sorry. But I’ll see you tomorrow, right? And then I won’t have to leave.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Matteo was still pouting, and David wanted nothing more than to wrap him in a big hug.

“Can you tell the boys I said bye?”

“Yeah, I guess.” He was definitely putting it on a little, David thought, as he watched Matteo’s eyes drop to the floor.

“You’re so needy when you’re drunk.”

“Well, you’re needy all the time.”

“So are you. I meant you’re especially needy when you’re drunk.”

“Okay, I'm a needy drunk and you’re a slutty drunk. We’re even.”

“Sounds good, babe.” David grinned cheekily at the phone and Matteo rolled his eyes, before frowning again.

“I love you. I know I’m being annoying but I really just love you a lot, and I miss you. But I’ll see you tomorrow so it’s okay. We should go so I can make the boys leave and then go to bed so I can see you sooner.”

David blushed and bit his lip before nodding, and saying, “I love you a lot too, babe. And I miss you, but I’m excited to see you tomorrow. Sleep well, okay?”

“Yeah, you too. Dream about me.” Matteo grinned way too close to the camera so all David could see was his top lip and some teeth, but he grinned back anyway.

“How could I not? I’m gonna hang up. Good night, Matteo.”

“Good night, David.”

He hung up and collapsed against his pillows, his phone resting on his chest as he smiled up at the ceiling.

[rkjinwook]

• • •  STARTING LIVE!

       02AUG2020  |   🐥 JINWOOK’S HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🥳 🥳        DURATION   |   1:02:22

it’s a cute set, albeit typical for this kind of broadcast. the staff have provided jinwook with a fixed camera framing his mini birthday table, complete with multicolored balloons decorating the back wall. there’s a small tablet to monitor the stream and comment feed, which jinwook fiddles with as he waits. in retrospect, he thinks it would’ve been nicer to hold a more casual conversation with fans for his first solo live, but that might just be the nerves talking.

he fills the silence with music, his guitar in his lap. it’s an everyday sight, but jinwook realizes most fans won’t have heard him play much, so he takes care to warm up cleanly, and warm up his vocals too. he only alternates between a few simple chords, though. it’s the sort of background music he used to hear when he’d occasionally attend church services with eve. as jinwook plays he imagines an audience quietly filing in, taking their seats at his birthday party as they each receive the live notification. finally the staff motions for jinwook that the actual video is starting, and he rests the instrument in his lap, out of view for now.

“hello! i’m convex’s sunshine, jinwook.” the greeting is bright and familiar as he dips his head toward the camera. it’s unlikely that the viewers, who arrived so early from a notification, don’t know his name, but it can’t hurt to start off formally. “today is my birthday! yay!!” also evident from the title and the backdrop. jinwook gives himself a round of applause anyway. then he picks up a party hat from the table and slips the cone over his head. “tada~” 

“since we can’t meet in person, i wanted to greet you all with a live today to celebrate.” there’s a pause as jinwook adjusts the thin elastic of the party hat. he takes a breath. “last year, hmm...” he taps a finger to his cheek as he thinks back. “oh, last year i made cupcakes! i was helping our team sphere on the mgas.. so i couldn’t meet consta that time, either.” jinwook hums in thought, suddenly a bit nostalgic about his time as a coach. he shakes his head. “so i’m excited to try this out now.”

“let’s see...” he says, quickly moving on, “is everyone settling in here alright?” he peers over the tablet and rests a finger over the chat to pause its scrolling speed. the amount of viewers is staggering and the number only keeps rising, but jinwook focuses on the individual users sending messages instead. it’s a relief to see the majority in his native language. “hello and hello and hello,” he says, reading off a string of usernames and greeting each one individually, “and thank you for coming, and thank you for coming, and thank you for coming~!”

when jinwook releases his finger from the screen, the chat jumps back to life, shifting too quickly to read. he frowns and tries to pause it again. it takes some concentration to read off the unusual username combinations, but he does his best.

💬  :  happy bday 🥳 🥳 🥳 💬  :  you look handsome!!! 💬  :  happy birthday oppa~ 💬  :  thank you for being born 💖🎁🎁 💬  :  bare faced jinwook is the best!

“ah, thank you~ hello!! thank you too~ thank you for being by my side! oh! this one...” jinwook is startled into a laugh at the last comment, bringing a hand over his mouth. when he drops his hand he shows his full face to the camera, grinning. “this is definitely not bare faced jinwook, but, still i appreciate you thinking so~”

as he tries to keep reading, he tilts his head and squints. many of the messages are just full of celebrating emoji or animated emotes. it’s less to parse, but more noise to sort through. “ah, so much emoji in chat, you all must’ve learned from me, huh...” he muses.

after another minute he leans back again, his nerves settled. well, jinwook’s never had much trouble even talking to himself, so it shouldn’t surprise him that speaking to a bustling chat window comes naturally, too.

💬  :  did you have a good day so far?

“i’m happy today!” jinwook answers confidently. “my grandmother always wakes up early on sunday mornings, so i called her on the way to practice! and later tonight i’m going to video call with my family. actually i told my sister what time i was going live, so she might be listening too?” jinwook squints back down at the tablet and bites his lower lip. “ah, the chat is going way too fast to tell...”

💬  :  where are the other members!!

“hmm, training?” jinwook grins. “i’m taking a break to talk for right now~ but we are all working very hard otherwise!” he shares another smile, proud of himself for not mentioning anything further - although if his eyes sparkle, he can’t be held responsible. “they might stop by at the end!”

“that reminds me!” jinwook reaches below the table for his bag, pulling out a fresh journal that jaehyun had gifted him in the morning. he holds it up for the camera, proudly showing off the nice foil accents and the fold-out attachment. “my roommate, haru, got me this really pretty notebook. it’s supposed to work as a real midi keyboard.” jinwook’s runs his fingers over the cover. “he has good timing since i am almost out of pages in my old notebook... i’m excited to use it.”

💬  :  oppa’s hair is cool today!

“my hair, ah..” jinwook reaches absently to touch it, pleased. “it grew!” it’s worn longer than it was for pretty u era, freshly dyed and parted down the middle. he’s lucky he’s even allowed to have it showing for the live right now, since it’s a similar shade to his old cut. “i’m kind of happy, since it feels healthy recently...” he chuckles a little, the compliment leading him to another train of thought.

“speaking of cool, consta, did you guys see our call me baby special stage last week?” jinwook looks up to the camera and leans in, curious. “the concept was slightly darker for us, since unit black is so, you know... cool.” jinwook gestures vaguely but laughs at the understatement. it’s not a big enough word to describe some of the biggest superstars in the industry. “we have songs like rock but it’s different from convex‘s usual image, maybe,” he adds thoughtfully, knowing full well that their next comeback is inching in that direction. “do you think we suited it well?”

💬  :  convex is cool too!

jinwook nods, pleased by the positive responses in the chat. “so it was okay, then?” he laughs a little because of course, they’re all biased fans and he asked for it on his birthday, but it’s still reaffirming. “mmm, it still felt a bit refreshing and funky like convex, too. so i think there can be a middle ground,” he says, as if simply imagining how things could evolve in the future. “something smooth like that stage?”

something smooth. jinwook’s thinking of crazy in love, specifically, but the title song itself is an even bigger departure from their pretty u sound and aesthetic. “ah..” he shakes his head with a sheepish grin, “i think i’m rambling a lot.” jinwook takes a dramatic deep breath and collects his thoughts.

then he shifts away from the tablet to pull up the guitar in his lap. “i wanted to answer a lot of messages, but i actually prepared a song for you, too.” he strums a bright chord for emphasis. “it’s nothing fancy but i thought consta would maybe enjoy something like this. so i don’t have to sing happy birthday to myself, or anything,” he jokes.

🎵  :  heartz / minhee&luda — i’ll be there

“this is one of my favorite songs recently! i thought it would be nice for our fans, too.” it’d been an easy choice when jinwook was preparing for this stream. it’s a recent sphere release, plus he’s been listening to and singing the song since it came out, so he already knew most of the words. still, jinwook pulls up the lyrics on the tablet just in case. since he frames it as a fan song, there’s no need to change the gendered parts, although he doesn’t think he would have bothered, either way. 

jinwook only slows the tempo and lowers the key slightly to fit his guitar and his voice. the song has a different energy with an acoustic guitar instead of the bouncy synths, but it’s just as sweet and upbeat. he takes his time, singing all the way through both verses and two choruses. 

just before the bridge, jinwook trails off with a little smile. “ah, i just practiced up until here so far...” he keeps strumming idly as he leans over the tablet again. the comments flood with cheers that jinwook only can read some pieces of. it feels good, though, and jinwook feels confident about the vibe.

he watches several prying questions about heartz fly by in response, and carefully doesn’t acknowledge any of them. “of course i’ve been cheering for heartz,” is all he says. “i really liked around you and vivid also! and i’m excited for the next singles released this week, too.”

💬  :  please a convex song next!!

“oh,” he says, “a convex song?” jinwook takes a break, first, to roll out his wrists. then he hums in thought, searching for something he could play on the spot. “do you remember this one?”

🎵  :  convex — 20

he transitions into a familiar guitar intro. long-time fans might recognize it as the vocal unit song from convex’s debut album, but jinwook is pleased to introduce it to anyone else who’s unfamiliar. personally, he thinks it has held up pretty well over the past two years. “shh—” he mimics the sharp first line, then smiles as he continues strumming and begins to sing.

the song proves difficult to solo, and jinwook wishes he’d thought to prepare more material ahead of time. a medley could’ve been nice, but with all of the comeback preparations going on..... instead jinwook giggles as he trips over the lyrics, attempting the first verse’s backing and lead vocals both together. “hm..” he mumbles, glancing up at the camera. he casually redoes the section to make a decent recovery, and the chorus soars as intended. 

“ah...” says jinwook wistfully after he eases to a stop, “i’ll have to come back to that one someday. that one is nice to sing to consta, too. i always liked the lyrics a lot. you’re my twenties~”

he taps his fingers against the body of the guitar and is reminded of the special day. “but today my twenties are officially half-over, aren’t they? wah... scary....”

twenty-five. he stares blankly toward the tablet, thinking he should follow up: then i’ll just spend the second half of my twenties with consta!

these days, though, it feels like an unfair promise to make.

💬  :  like a gorilla like a gorilla!

his eye catches on one of the suggestions breezing down the chat window, and it interrupts his brooding with a burst of laughter. “gorilla? de:code’s gorilla?” he repeats. he tries a few chords but they’re not in the right key, and jinwook grins as he puts away his guitar on its stand. “i don’t know, that one would be an interesting acoustic cover.” he sings a little phrase of it anyway, a random adlib from the ending: “girl you make me feel~!”

“but!” he points a finger at the camera, not wanting his opinions to be twisted. “maybe one day i could cover their song beautiful, or i’m fine from predebut!”

💬  :  what are you listening to recently?

“hmm... what is new?” jinwook absently adjusts his elastic party hat elastic and pulls out his phone. “i like lee hi’s holo! per_se have a nice summer album.. with o sole mio, and of course...” jinwook hits a pretty falsetto as he opens the music app: “this is how i feel about you, twilight~”

“it’s like twilight, yeah~” he flicks through his playlist and wonders if he should just share screenshots of the whole thing on fancafe. “ah, and eclipse’s comeback!” he adds. “look, isn’t the album cover pretty?” his screen is probably illegible, when he holds it up close to show the camera, but at least his enthusiasm is clear. “i like their night side the best, with that unique rock sound...” jinwook pauses, and reconsiders. “actually, navillera was totally my style, too.” he shakes his head and grins. “eclipse is definitely cool no matter what.”

💬  :  it is already 4 in the morning here why 😭

english. jinwook has glazed over every message in foreign languages but he laughs at this one. he trips over a stilted reading of the comment, and quickly switches back to korean to answer. “i’m sorry ahh, next time i have to think of different timezones, right?” he tilts his head. “mm, it seems impossible to find a good time for everyone all around the world? but i’m happy you could visit with me for even a little bit. please make sure to rest well~” as an afterthought, he finishes in english: “and goodnight~”

💬  :  can you show a rap verse? 

“rapping?” jinwook’s eyes light up at the suggestion, and he laughs out loud. “can i tell a secret?” it’s not the right question to ask, judging by the staff’s reaction. but jinwook leans in sneakily, and continues despite their concerned looks. “we tried to switch parts for adore u once, so i learned seungcheol’s rap! that choi seungcheol,” he says with a grin, “has pretty good expressions on stage these days... his parts are fun! i like practicing his pretty u verse, too.”

he tells the story casually, although that part switch was not just boredom in the practice rooms, but an official planned anniversary release. that weekend in incheon is still a fond memory despite the disappointment of never getting to see the final edit.

he rolls his shoulders. “anyway, i don’t have the nice low voice for it, but there is a little melody to his parts a lot of the time...” jinwook postures up for full effect and puts on his best rapper expression. “how can you dazzle so much? you’re so pretty it’s—”

it’s probably for the best that he is interrupted by a loud knock and a rowdy chorus of happy birthday starting right outside the door.

➡️  :  continued in part two...

[sprnklersplashes]

not beyond repair (19/20)

AO3

Veronica thought she had everything ready for her senior prom. Dress, check. Make-up, check. Shoes, check. Date, ride, hair. Check, check, check. And to top it off, she had had Heather going through everything with her and Martha the other day, the two of them sitting on her floor and nodding so much it was giving them whiplash. So she was sure she had prepared herself for every possible outcome.

Except one, clearly. Her mother and her ever-present camera. Veronica hadn’t even made it all the way downstairs in her dress before her mom started snapping photos of her and Martha in between gasps of amazement and overly-enthusiastic compliments.

“Okay let me get one of you and Martha before your dates get here,” her mom says, practically dragging Veronica over to the fireplace. She may well be rolling her eyes, but there’s a warm buzz about the room that’s been following her around all day, and she feels like nothing can really chase it away. Since she woke up that morning, even the usual worrying she’d felt following her around recently had evaporated, even if it’s just for the next 24 hours, giving her one day off. So she wraps her arm around Martha and smiles for the camera, willing to accept an overabundance of photos as the price for one golden day.

“Oh, you girls look so gorgeous,” Martha’s mom sighs, also armed with a camera. She nudges Veronica’s mom, her eyes beginning to glisten. “Oh Ella, where did the time go?”

“Hell if I know,” her mom sighs. “Doesn’t it feel like yesterday they were clinging to our legs because they didn’t want to go to kindergarten?”

“Mom!” Martha hisses. “Gosh… Please don’t be like that when Heather gets here.”

“I won’t embarrass you in front of your friend, Martha,” Mrs Dunnstock says. “And I’m sure her mother’s thinking the exact same.” Martha nods stiffly, her lips rolled into a thin line. Heather’s mother has become something of a dark inside joke for their group, and even more so for Martha and Heather. “Oh, Ronnie that dress really is lovely on you.”

“Thanks, Aunt Mel,” she says, pulling at the skirt again. She’s forgone pretty much every accessory she had thought about, going just with her butterfly necklace and a thin silver bracelet she found on her dresser. She touches the butterfly again, her lips curling into a smile and her heart picking up as she traces the outline.

“That’s the necklace the boyfriend got her,” her mom explains to Mel, in a voice Veronica guesses is meant to be low and quiet enough for them not to hear. Needless to say, it failed. Still, her mom gets this soft, tender expression when she talks about JD, specifically to anyone else, maybe because she’s glad they’re still together, maybe she feels responsible for them. Whatever the reason, it brings Veronica more happiness than she thought it could.

A knock at the door stops the photoshoot in its tracks, and sends Veronica’s heart racing, her skin prickling as butterflies take flight in her stomach.

When she goes to open it, the small silhouette calms her a little, but she’s still beaming when she opens the door.

“You look amazing!” is what Heather first says to her. She’s one to talk, clad in a light yellow dress with a glittering skirt, the dress hugging her petite figure and her hair cascading down her back like a waterfall, her lips and cheeks pinker thank usual. A yellow gemstone hangs on a silver chain around her neck, glittering in the setting sun, and a gold bracelet shines on her wrist. But even without all that, she’s practically sparkling herself.

“So do you,” Veronica tells her, giving her a quick hug, careful not to wrinkle her dress.

When they turn to Martha, they find her with her mouth hanging open and her cheeks beginning to turn pink. Her eyes move so, so slowly over Heather, committing her to memory, and they shine the minute they set eyes on her. Veronica grins behind her hand, especially when she sees Heather gasping beside her, equally as transfixed by Martha as she is by her.

“You look amazing,” Martha tells her, her voice shaking and breathless with a hint of disbelief. Heather shakes her head, grasping Martha’s hand in a gesture that feel so intimate that Veronica feels bad for watching.

“So do you,” she tells her, stroking her cheek and running her hand over Martha’s curled hair. “I… I got you something.”

“Heather-”

“I know it’s not a corsage,” she says weakly, taking a small box out of her purse. “But you’ve got a lot of flowers already, and I thought you might like this.” When she opens the box, there’s a silver ring inside, a pink gemstone sitting in the centre of two minute diamonds. It’s nothing short of gorgeous. Martha’s trembling hand flies to her mouth, just about hiding the growing smile. “My dad helped me pick it out. It’s from his store.”

“Heather…” She whispers. Veronica knows to avert her eyes as Heather slips the ring onto Martha’s finger. “Thank you.” She doesn’t need to guess what the seconds of silence that pass between them mean. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” The words are whispers of whispers but charged with so much meaning that even Veronica feels it. If Heather hadn’t already drilled into her that she can’t lest she mess up her eyeliner, she’d be crying for them.

And then, just as she’s turning to follow the two of them into the living room, there’s another knock at the door. One that stirs up butterflies in her stomach and leaves her breathless. She steps back from the living room, squeezing her necklace once for luck. She takes a second to check her reflection in the mirror, her face framed with loose strands of hair that artfully escaped her loose low bun, before turning the handle and opening the door.

“Woah,” he breathes. She can only describe his expression as awestruck, his eyes wide and bright, the smile on his face dazed but so sincere, his mouth opening slightly and closing without words. As if he needs any. She can’t remember a time where she like this before, a little dizzy and a little giddy, bashful and bold at the same time. When eyes meet hers, they overflow with admiration and pride and wonder. They tell her everything he can’t say and she hears every word.

The sight of him does the same to her. His hair falls gently over his forehead and he’s clad in a black suit and light blue shirt, no tie and the top button undone a little, which takes her mind to the cheekiest of places and the whole thing leaves her breathless. Beneath his shirt is a flash of a familiar silver chain and the ring he’s worn since he came back to her is still in its usual place on his thumb. Prom or no prom, he’s her JD, and she utterly loves every part of him.

“You’re pretty woah yourself,” she teases, their fingers brushing against each other and tangling playfully.

“You look stunning,” he tells her, his voice still a little shaky. Warmth rises in her cheeks, even more so when she takes her hand. “Absolutely stunning.”

“Thank you,” she replies, the words admittedly a little weak. She lets go of his hand to run her finger down his cheek and trace all the way down to his collar. “You look amazing.” She presses her finger into the corner of his mouth as he grins.

“Here.” He takes a box out from behind his back, revealing a white lily on a thin blue ribbon.

“Oh my gosh,” she breathes, shaking her head a little as a laugh escapes her body. She looks up at up, into his shining eyes, and she wishes she could just live in this moment. His hands are delicate and gentle, if a little nervous, as he slips it onto her wrist, all the while he bites his lip in anticipation. “It’s beautiful, J.”

She pulls him into a kiss, one that’s threaded with sweetness and bliss and one that, were there not people waiting in the living room and on the porch, she’d have let go one forever.

“Ahem, parental figure in the room,” a familiar voice says behind JD, dry and sarcastic but just as warm as it always has been. Claire smiles, just as much pride in her eyes as her own mother had. “You look amazing, Veronica.”

“Thank you,” she tells her before leading her into the living room. “Come on, everyone else is in here.” She doesn’t fail to notice how she tucks her shirt further into her jeans as they go and tucks a lock of hair behind her ear.

“You look nice, son,” her dad says from across the room, raising an eyebrow. JD’s hand tightens around hers while his other one grasps the hem of his jacket and he takes in a sharp breath. Veronica shares a sly look with Martha and Heather, the three of them stifling a giggle.

“Thank you, sir,” he says stiffly, nodding behind him. “This is my-um… This is Claire.”

“You’re the foster mom, aren’t you?” her mom asks, shaking Claire’s hand enough to take her arm off.

“I was,” she says, her eyes flitting to JD and her face growing soft and her smile proud. Beside her, JD smiles back with gratitude in his eyes. “Permanent mom-figure now.”

“Oh, of course, the adoption,” her mom says. “Well, maybe you can tell us over coffee once we get these kids ready.”

Behind them, Martha’s mom has already started taking photos of her and Heather, the two of them more wrapped up in each other than in the camera, Martha holding Heather tightly against her and Heather nuzzling in as much as she can, her arms firm yet gentle around her waist. The smile on Martha’s face is so bright, so carefree in a way that’s completely new and completely wonderful. The sun streams through the window and the two of them glow in its light.

“Okay, Veronica, JD, you two get in front of the fireplace there,” Veronica’s mom says. “Come on before we lose the light.”

“Hey, do you think you could send me a copy of these,” Claire asks, quirking an eyebrow at JD. His mouth falls open in response, and a silent you wouldn’t falls from his lips, Claire the only non-oblivious adult. “I’d love one for the mantle.”

“Oh, I hate her,” JD whispers in a tone that implies anything but.

Laughing, Veronica positions herself against him, one arm around his waist and her head carefully resting on his shoulder, mindful of her hair. JD takes her free hand and squeezes tightly, pressing a gentle, quick kiss to her hair, a bold move in front of her dad, and it only makes her smile grow wider and her heart warmer.

The photo might be fun, but it’s not really necessary, she thinks. Nothing could make her forget this.

“Have a fun night, kids,” her dad tells them as he pulls up in front of the school. “But not too much fun.” He turns and shoots JD a look while he’s pressed into the corner of the backseat. “You hear that, son?”

“Crystal clear, sir,” he replies, his hand fidgeting in his lap as he no doubt remembers the ‘have her home by 11’ speech that Veronica had to negotiate to 12, and then to 1. Eventually he had relented, patting her on the shoulder and telling her to stay out as late as she wants. Within reason, of course.

“Wow,” Veronica whispers as they step into the hall. Outside they hadn’t done much outside of a banner draped across the front door, but inside, she can’t help but feel impressed. She still recognises it as the gym she’s played basketball on for years, but the low lights hide the chipped paint and the mirror ball slowly turning above them gives the room an air of elegance not known to Westerberg High. White and silver balloons roll around the floor, some boys throwing them between each other and stabbing them in girl’s ears, pissing them off and making them laugh in the same breath. Matching streamers hang from the rafters, as do little stars and moons, turning from silver to a rainbow of colours when the light catches them.

She never thought she’d describe her school like this, but it’s beautiful. Clearly, the prom committee have outdone themselves.

“Why don’t I get you a drink?” JD offers as they come to their table.

“Gentleman,” she replies with a peck to his cheek. “Thanks.”

Just as she turns to take her seat, she spots a dazzlingly lovely red dress and blonde hair swept up and held not by a scrunchie, but by a silver and ruby clasp. She shakes off everyone following her, including Kurt, her date, Veronica would guess, sending him off to chase some poor kid around. Even in the half-light, Veronica can tell there’s loneliness written on her perfectly made face, and when she turns to Martha and Heather, she can tell they both feel the same. Especially since one half of her seems to be missing.

“I’m just going to go talk to her,” Veronica says, pushing the chair further into the table before she can change her mind and looking to the two of them. Martha nods and after a moment’s hesitation, so does Heather. It doesn’t take long to reach her at all, and it takes even less time for Veronica to realise she doesn’t actually know what she wants to say.

So she figures she’ll begin with “hi” and go from there.

“Hi,” Heather replies with an uncharacteristic uncertainty. “You… look good.” Veronica steps back out of instinct, a shield raising before she can stop it as she waits for the catch. Chandler just rolls her eyes, a laugh escaping her. “It’s just a compliment, Veronica.”

“Well… so do you,” she replies. “And this…” She waves her arm, gesturing to as much of the room as she can. “This is really cool.”

“Thanks,” she replies, looking behind her. “So you’re with… with JD?”

“Yeah.”

“And Heather’s here with… Martha.” Just Martha. Who knew that would make Veronica feel more satisfaction than an aced SAT would? “They’re cute together.”

“Yep. She’s her date.” She grabs her own hand tightly, something silent passing between them. She hopes it’s an understanding, and she’s daring enough to believe it. Heather made her, for a while at least, and maybe she liked some of it. Even if she is a mythic bitch.

“I have to go find Heather,” she says. “Who knows where she got to. If you see her-”

“I’ll send her your way,” Veronica agrees, jokingly saluting her, to which Chandler huffs a laugh.

“Thanks.”

When Veronica makes her way back to the table and to her friends, it’s with a newfound peace of mind and having left her mistakes behind her.

As the night goes on, she finds new memory after new memory to hold on to; from fondly watching Heather and Martha steal kisses in unlit corners, to watching a bunch of boys from her grade dancing in a way that would definitely get them suspended if there were teachers here and if they weren’t so close to finished anyway. As she laughs, dancing with JD, she doesn’t find it surprising at all. If she had to ask herself in sixth grade to guess who would be attempting the splits with ah half-open shirt at senior prom, she’d have definitely guessed these guys. All accompanied by the gentle singing of the alcohol in her veins (one drink per hour, she’s limiting herself) and a tangible excitement that sparks in the air as students who haven’t spoken in years converse like casual friends and girls who brushed past without a second glance tell her how nice she looks. Barriers don’t matter tonight, not when they’re all together like this, and it dawns on them one by one that it might not happen again.

As one song fades, she hears the bouncing beginning to Dancing Queen, and her excitement skyrockets, her eyes finding Martha’s in an instant and the two of them jumping to the dancefloor with barely a thought for their dates. It’s their song after all, the one they danced to in her mom’s living room at barely four years old. JD and Mac watch them as they jump with no rhyme or reason, her head thrown back from laughing so hard, her arms coming around Martha in a hug that contains nearly two decades worth of friendship. Martha twirls Veronica under her arm and they fall into something that resembles a jive, tripping over their heels and acting out the motions they learned as kids in the most dramatic way possible. As they twirl around the floor like no-one is watching, Veronica briefly wonders how different her life would have been if they weren’t friends. Then she realises how grateful she is that she’ll never know that.

When falls into JD’s arms when it’s over, her cheeks hurt from laughing so much.

It’s then that she spots Heather Duke, skulking half in shadow, biting the inside of her cheek and a wistful envy in her eyes. As she comes down from her high, Veronica feels something clench in her chest, something close to pity but not as condescending. She doesn’t like pitying people, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel bad. Especially when someone is alone in the middle of a crowded room.

She squeezes JD’s hand and kisses his jaw before walking over to her, her steps tentative as nerves begin to make themselves known. Heather Duke was always a complicated case. Sure, there were moments, a lot of moments, where she made Veronica want to tear her hair out, but also moments where she made her laugh. And moments where she wanted to hug her but was too busy hiding under her new persona to do it.

“Hey,” she offers half-heartedly. Duke blinks and looks behind her before turning to Veronica, her mouth half-open.

“Hi,” she says rather suspiciously. Unlike Chandler, that’s where Duke ends.

“You look really pretty,” Veronica tells her, meaning it. With her emerald dress and her hair half-up, she’s worthy of the Prom Queen crown.

“I don’t,” she scoffs. “But thanks.”

“You do,” she says so firmly that Duke is taken aback by it before smiling weakly and running her hand through her hair.

“Thanks. So do you.” Veronica nods stiffly, kind of selfishly wishing she hadn’t come over at all and that she was back with JD. She takes a look over his shoulder and sees him dancing with Heather and Martha, trying and failing to twirl both of them under his arms and being pulled down as a result. She hides her laugh behind her hand and looks back, only to find Heather looking in the same direction.

“Heather seems happy,” she says, looking at her near-empty glass. “With you guys, I mean.” Her jaw sets. “I just mean….”

“You could go over and talk to her,” Veronica offers. Heather shrugs, her hand curling into a fist and her face uncertain. After a moment’s hesitation, Veronica reaches out and taps her shoulder. “I mean… think about it?”

“Maybe,” she sighs. “I should go. I need to find Heather. My Heather.” And then, her hand comes up and squeezes Veronica’s wrist gently. Although she could never really know what Duke was thinking and had given up a few days into their “friendship”, she likes to think she hears a ‘thanks’ in there. “See you around. Have a good night.”

Veronica smiles a little as she watches Heather go, letting out a contented sigh.

When she returns to her boyfriend, she wraps her arms around his waist and leans her chin on his chest so she can look up at him, up at the broad, amazed grin across his face and the glint in his eye. Briefly, she thinks about when they first got together, how quickly he hid himself behind dashing smiles and affection. And maybe he’s still a little like that at times, and that’s perfectly okay with her. That’s what they work on, together.

“What?” she asks him as he runs his knuckles up and down her back.

“Just thinking about you,” he says, no trace of irony in his voice. “Just about you and how great you are.”

“Oh, stop,” she sighs, rubbing her cheek against his jacket. “You’re so mushy.”

“I mean it,” he tells her earnestly. “You’re out here, on your senior prom, making up with Heathers.” He kisses the top of her head firmly. “That’s why I love you, you know.”

“Oh it is?” she teases, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. “What are the other ones?”

“We’d be here all night,” he says. “And that’s not what senior prom is for.”

“What’s it for then?” His hand curls around hers as an answer and pulls her onto the dancefloor just as the music slows to an old song from long ago, one about steadfast lovers and everlasting affection. Veronica, old romantic that she is, can’t help but feel moved by it. She never really understood love songs that much attention before, just enjoyed them for what they were, but recently, she’s started feeling them right in her heart. Even more so when she’s this close to him.

He twirls her under his arm, letting the skirt fly around her, and pulls her close against her. His smile grows smaller, but not dimmer. In fact, amongst all the lights and the mirror ball and the street lights brightening up the scene outside, it’s his smile that shines the brightest. She presses her finger to the corner of his mouth playfully and he kisses the palm of her hand in response, the gesture bringing an overwhelming sense of calm over her. As they sway gently to the song, she thinks about him, every minute of him, from the day she saw him on the first day of seventh grade, to the day she first met his dad, to losing him, to finding him again, to the time between then and now where she grew a little bit more in love each and every day. She thinks about the first time he kissed her in the playground, then the first time she kissed him in his room. Two different kisses at two different ages, one tentative and sweet and sad, one wild and brave and brilliant. She wonders how many other couples could say what they can; that they had two first meetings and two first kisses.

“Do you ever think about us?” she asks him. Despite being in the middle of a dance floor and bumped into every couple of seconds, they’re alone in their own world, belonging just to each other.

“I think about us a lot,” he replies. “Is there anything specific?”

“Well, just that I met you twice,” she begins. “And it’s sort of my fault you got sent away.”

“Ronnie-”

“I don’t regret it,” she tells him. “Not if it helped you.” His breath catches, his chest stuttering underneath her hand. “And… I got you back.”

“Probably the better version of me,” he says, tearing at her heart a little, even if it might be true. “I don’t like to think about what would have happened to me if I had stayed with my dad.”

“Then don’t think about it,” she says, toying with the hair at the back of his neck. “Just be with me.”

“Always.” Now it’s her turn to catch her breath.

“But seriously… do you ever think about how out of all the places, in the whole country, your dad moved you to Ohio? And in all the towns in Ohio, you moved to Sherwood?” she asks. “And then again, out of all the places in all the states in the whole system, you ended up moving back here?” Back to me she adds silently. “Do you ever think about that?”

“Of course I do,” he admits. “I’m not a big believer in coincidences. And I don’t know how I feel about fate or God or destiny or anything like that.” She shakes her head because for all her fantasy, neither does she.

“So what does that make us?” she asks. “If it was no coincidence, and it’s not fate… then what do you think?”

“I think,” he begins, growing quiet as he looks at her, taking a second to push a lock of hair away from her face and twirl it around his finger, a knowing smile creeping across his face. “I think I must have done something really good to know you, Veronica Sawyer.”

“Want to know what I think?” she asks.

“Of course I do.”

“I think maybe the universe knew we weren’t done back then,” she replies with a shrug. “I don’t mean like fate or destiny… I just think that we were cut short back then. And the universe gave us a chance to pick back up.”

“That’s beautiful,” he says, his voice cracking a little. He nuzzles into her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “That’s another reason why I love you. That beautiful way you see the world.” His fingers intertwine with hers and his thumb strokes the back of her hand. “And people.”

She presses her cheek against his shoulder, smiling into the crook of his neck, his heart beating slowly and steadily against hers. His arms tighten around her and his cheek rests on her hair as they two of them rock slowly together. She might, from time to time, wonder about the years they could have had together. But she also knows she wouldn’t change a thing about them. As far as romances go, she thinks this one might be her favourite. Besides, they’ve got years now to make up for lost time. She pulls away and looks up into his eyes, a little bit dazzled even now.

“I love you,” she tells him, her knuckles brushing against his cheekbone as the song begins to fade. She may never say those words in that way to anyone but him. He owns them now. “So much.”

“I love you too,” he says, and it sounds a lot like a promise. “You know… I should tell you something.”

“Oh?”

“I think leaving my light on that night was the best decision I have ever made.” She takes in a deep breath, blinking against the tears in her eyes.

She pulls him into a kiss, one that tastes like only he does-like something a little rough and ruined, beautiful with a little damage, passion and comfort, shoulder to cry on, friend to laugh with, keeper of secrets and the key to her heart. Her Jason Dean.

When she’s kissing him, she doesn’t feel the crackle of electricity or the goosebumps trailing on her skin, nor does she feel the desire to shove him against something, or the spine tingling thrill she used to associate with being so close to him. No, instead, she’s just happy; the kind that settles in your veins and wraps around you like your old blanket. The kind that’s deeply comforting and oddly familiar. It tugs on the corners of your mouth and pulls it into a smile without you realising. The kind of happiness you may not notice while it’s there, but you’d never want to be without.

Sure, there’ll be plenty of time for thrill and goosebumps and passion later. But for now, she’s just happy.

                                                                                               *****

“One, two, three, say graduation!”

“Graduation!” The camera flash momentarily blinds Veronica, until the world comes back into focus after a few seconds, the dazzling sunshine celebrating along with the class of 1990. Because against all odds, they did it. They graduated.

Veronica removes her arm from around JD’s shoulders and runs to let her mom hugs her close, telling her once again how proud she is. She’s decided not to argue or squirm or blush, because this time she’s proud of herself too. And of them. Her amazing best friend, her wonderful boyfriend, and her lovely almost-best friend. She sees Claire squeeze JD’s arm warmly, telling him something Veronica can’t hear, but the smile on her face tells her everything, as does his equally ecstatic expression. His has a hint of disbelief in there as well, but that’s fine. She’ll hug that out of him later.

“Oh, you guys!” Speaking of disbelief, Heather is probably too busy being in shock to be proud of herself. And although she had had a rough patch, like they all did at one point or another, she’s earned those shining eyes and red cheeks. She throws her arms around Veronica and Martha, pulling them into a hug that’s surprisingly strong for such a tiny frame.

As the four of them talk amongst themselves, Veronica looks past Heather’s shoulder for a moment, noticing Ryan, their valedictorian, high-fiving his friends, Kurt and Ram celebrating in a way that’s probably more suited to the football field. Although she shakes her head at them, her mood is as bright as the sun is, and she guesses it’ll remain that way.

Heather and Heather pass by them, flanked by pleased parents in nice suits and floral dresses, Duke’s mom stroking her back and Chandler’s practically leaning on her to get a better look at the diploma. The two look over at the same moment, both offering friendly smiles and half-waves.

“Hey,” Veronica says, nudging her Heather, whose gaze is held by her old friends-slash-new acquaintances. “Go talk to them. We’ll be fine.” Heather looks from her to JD and lastly to Martha, the question holding in her green eyes. Martha smiles, easy and soft, and gives her hand an encouraging squeeze.

“Go on,” Martha says. “I’ll see you later.”

“Okay,” Heather replies, taking a moment and looking around before swiftly kissing Martha’s cheek. She turns to Veronica, dimples forming in her cheeks. “I’ll see you tonight.” And with that, she runs up to her old friends with a bounce in her step and greets their parents with the kind of puppy-like energy that’s hers and hers only.

You might think that it would feel like nothing had changed, seeing Mac with Duke and Chandler, like the deadly trio was back again, maybe Veronica should worry. But she doesn’t because there’s nothing to worry about now. Not when their Heather looks over her shoulder to wave at them again and when Heather Duke nods at them without malice.

What a beautiful world, she thinks.

“Can’t believe we made it,” Martha sighs, turning her diploma over in her hands.

“All those long nights paid off,” Veronica tells her, rubbing her arm up against hers. “Told you it would.”

“As did you refusing to take a damn nap,” JD reminds her fondly. “Does that mean you’ll take one now?”

“I’ll take all the naps in the world now,” she promises, laughter lining the edges of her voice. She looks up at the field, taking in the Rottweiler logo hanging proudly behind the stage. “So long Westerberg.”

The three of them, soon re-joined by their Heather, find a spot on the grass, the same spot they ate lunch on at one point. While the adults converse and take advantage of the refreshments, they pass the time with banter and teasing and laughter, all of which then turns into fondly remembering their favourite times at Westerberg.

“Punching Kurt and Ram,” JD says with only a little sarcasm. Veronica turns to him, raising an eyebrow in mock-severity. “Made an impression on my very first day.”

“J-”

“He’s right though,” Martha says with a shrug. “He’s right and he should say it.”

“No he’s not,” she jokes, resting her chin on JD’s shoulder.

“I don’t know what my favourite memory is,” Heather says, cocking her head. “Maybe making cheer captain. Or…” Her fingers creep along the grass towards Martha’s and their fingers intertwine. “My first B on a test.” Veronica giggles into JD’s shoulder as her friend’s cheeks turn the palest shade of pink.

“What about you, Ronnie?” Martha asks. Veronica frowns, cocking her head as JD’s hands run up and down her arms. When she thinks about all four years of high school, not all of them are pleasant. She won’t miss her and Martha hiding out in the library during lunch, or scurrying down hallways to avoid Heather Chandler’s wrath, nor will she miss zoning out during classes or Miss Fleming’s too happy, too sweet morning speeches and faux concern for those in need. In fact, when she thinks about the happiest times of her high school life, very few involve the actual school. They just involve the people with her. The times that made her smile the most weren’t the biggest and loudest ones, but her and Martha giggling on the bus during a freshman field trip, she and JD sitting on the window ledge, or just weeks ago, when the four of them sat out there and exchanged bad jokes during lunch. Mundane and forgettable to everyone else, yet it holds the most meaning for her.

But that’s too sentimental and sappy for the hour at hand, so she mentions the Christmas sing along session they had in English class freshman year, prompting a curious JD and a cheer from Martha and Heather that echoes though the air.

Soon it’s down to just her and JD, Heather and Martha both leaving, hugging her despite knowing they’ll see her hours later. The conversation between her mom and Claire begins to dwindle and that’s when they know they only have a few minutes left.

“Hey,” she says, nudging him a little. “I’m proud of you.” He smiles, his cheeks turning pink as he ducks his head a little.

“I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Yes you could have.”

“Maybe.” He presses a feather-light kiss to her fingers and curls her hand into a loose fist. “Or maybe I had someone pushing me.” She huffs a laugh and, after a moment, closes the space between them entirely and sits in his lap, her legs on either side of him. “I’m proud of you too. Not every guy can say he has a super smarty-pants girlfriend who’s going to Duke.”

“Stop,” she sighs, running her fingers through his hair. “Not every girl can say that they have a super supportive, sweet boyfriend either.” She quickly kisses his lips and presses their foreheads together, a silent ‘I love you’ passing from her to him. “Or a boyfriend who is way smarter than everyone gives him credit for. Including himself.” Even though her eyes flutter closed, she still feels his smile.

When she opens her eyes, she sees her mom hovering at a distance and looking over at them, pointing at her watch when she notices her. Groaning quietly and pouting, she climbs off of him with warm cheeks.

“That’s my cue to leave,” she sighs, pulling him up to his feet. “I’ll see you tonight?”

“Definitely,” he replies, tapping her nose before they go their separate ways.

Her relatives start arriving for her house party just as the sky is turning pink and her mom is laying out bowls of rainbow coloured salad and freshly opened bread rolls and bottles of champagne line up on the counter. She hands Veronica a glass, chuckling at her raised eyebrow and mouth hanging half-open.

“It’s an occasion,” she tells her with a tap to the cheek. “And it’s in the house anyway.”

JD and Claire arrive while she’s in the middle of a rather one-sided conversation with her aunt, and she can’t be happier as she excuses herself.

“Am I glad to see you,” she sighs, hugging him lightly as she lets them in.

“Hi hon,” Claire says, giving her a one-armed hug, the other arm holding a basket covered with a white and blue tea towel. “I was raised never to come to a house empty handed. So I made blueberry muffins.”

“And I ate one,” JD adds. “Just to make sure they’re good. And they are.”

“Thanks, Claire,” she chuckles. “Come on, we’re just through here.”

When Claire hands the muffins to her mom, she’s nothing short of thrilled, asking her if she makes a habit of saving house parties or if it’s just a one-off. Laughing, Veronica tugs on JD’s hand and pulls him away from the kitchen, leaving their respective moms (or mom and mom-figure) to themselves while they brave the backyard.

“So… this is the boyfriend,” her uncle says, his smile friendly and his eyes wary.

“Jason Dean, sir,” JD says, holding his hand out.

“Well, you picked a fine young man, Ronnie,” her uncle says, shaking JD’s hand warmly. “So how did you two meet?” Luckily, he laughs when they give two conflicting answers and exchange slightly-alarmed looks.

One day they’ll come up with a good cover story for that.

The evening rolls on with friends and food and laughter. Veronica crushes Martha in a hug when she arrives, as do some of her relatives. And when Heather comes, she makes a beeline for the three of them, squeezing Veronica and even JD lightly before throwing her arms around Martha. Veronica shares a knowing look with JD as the two take a little longer to break apart but who could blame them?

The music from the radio is carried outside on the wind, the songs just about audible underneath the dozens of conversations going on around them. JD twirls Veronica around and traps her in a dance, kissing her head as she rolls her eyes and laughs, which turning into shrieking as he picks her up and swirls her around, her arms tight around his neck and her face buried in his shoulder.

“Asshole,” she laughs as he sets her down. She holds his shoulder tightly until the world comes back to her level. He simply kisses her head and responds with an affectionate ‘you love me though’.

Well she can’t deny that, can she?

He drapes his jacket over her when it starts getting cool, just as her mom is rolling out the dessert options. The four of them grab plates and pile them with food (including one of Claire’s muffins) and settle on the patio, disregarding the chairs and table in favour of cross-legged on the ground, even with the stones and gravel against their bare legs. JD’s arm circles around her shoulders and she leans against him, fitting against his chest like she has so many times before. Like she’s made for it. They cycle through a game of Never Have I Ever with varying degrees of blushing before Veronica grabs her dad’s cards and they go through every card game they can, bringing back the old favourites from summer camp and last days of school. They laugh at everything and nothing and look forward to the future while not quite saying goodbye to their pasts. All around the garden the air turns calm and contented as the sky trades the blue for pink and orange and the setting sun paints a gentle golden hue over the scene. Or maybe that’s just in her head. Either way, she doesn’t think the world has ever felt as right as it does now, the puzzle pieces that is her young life slotting into place. She’s not looking over her shoulder, nor is she thinking about how things could be better. Because how could they be better? JD kisses her head in a way that’s as natural as taking a breath and she laces their fingers together, their joined hands resting on her stomach. As they laugh, their voices reach up and mingle in the wind, carried up and mixing in the cotton candy coloured sky above them.

And at that moment, Veronica realises that she’s one of the luckiest people in the world, to have people like this to miss.

[thescarletofarose]

The Consequences of His Actions

Chapter Ten

Duusu swirled through the air around Emilie’s chair, singing a wordless tune. Nooroo chased after her in an attempt to calm the Kwami, but she cried out her shrill song. Emilie calmly set her coffeecup on its saucer and rubbed her temples. A low but annoying burn thrummed behind her eyes.

“Duusu,’ Emilie chirped. Both Kwamis instantly halted. At the call of her name, the ancient peacock flew around to face her master. Emilie scraped a manicured nail gently down the side of Duusu’s head. “Let’s keep it down, yes? Mommy’s head hurts.”

The Kwami purred, rubbing against the woman’s hand. Nooroo silently watched from the side. His eyes drifted to the adjacent room that held the painting of his master, the painting that if touched in specific places would open– 

“Nooroo.”

Nooroo was startled out of his thoughts but quickly recovered. He immediately flew over to Emilie, his head bowed in submission.

“Carry this,” Emilie said, motioning to a croissant on the platter before her. “I don’t want it to be said that I mistreated Ladybug’s mother.”

Her eyes followed the purple Kwami as it carried out her order without a word. “Afterall, I’m a good master, aren’t I?”

Nooroo lifted his head and met Emilie’s gaze. Her bright green eyes bore into him, refusing to reveal even a drop of the thoughts held within her head. Her smile was gentle, but he knew of the fangs that hid behind those thin lips. The rough exterior of the pastry scraped against his arms as Nooroo cheerfully smiled. “Of course, Master.”

Emilie stood up, brushed off her skirt, and made her way into the atelier with Nooroo and Duusu in tow. At the touch of her fingers, the trio began their descent. Though silent, Duusu swam around Emilie’s head, moving her body to some unknown tune. The fluid but erratic shifts set Nooroo on edge. It would only take one bump in the small space, one graze of a tail feather, to break the thin ice that was Emilie’s patience. He itched to chase after the broken being but that would only raise the risk of something going wrong, and Duusu would see it as a game. 

Nooroo couldn’t help the sigh of relief as the ceiling opened, allowing entrance to the lair and freedom to the flighty peacock. Emilie smirked, and Nooroo realized she knew he had been nervous. 

Emilie stepped into the bare room with a flourish of her wrist. “Sabine,” she called, “I brought you a snack. Don’t worry, I didn’t poison it this time.”

Emilie’s eyes adjusted quickly due to the streaming moonlight, subsequently making her freeze. Scattered debris and glass littered the floor, sparkling in the white light. She turned to see the still bound form of Sabine crouching where she had left her. Emilie slowly scanned the room, landing on a corner of shadows. 

“Oh dear, it looks like I was interrupting something.” She stepped further into the room, closer to the hostage, and said, “As an uninvited guest, it’s rude to not introduce yourself.”

Soundlessly the shadows moved, advancing, growing, and taking shape. The luminescence warped reality, and he emerged from the licking shadows like an entity born from darkness. Emilie’s breath hitched but when she saw the green eyes, her lips curled into a grin.

“Chat Noir,” she said and pointedly looked over his shoulder. “All alone?”

Chat Noir didn’t respond, only stared. Emilie’s hand went up to the two brooches. “How did you find me?”

“Gabriel confessed everything.”

Emilie scoffed. “I find that hard to believe. He wouldn’t expose me at the risk of his son. Think of the emotional damage it would have on him with both mother and father imprisoned.”

Chat Noir swallowed hard and curled his fingers into a fist. His voice cracked as he said, “He would if his son was the one that asked.”

The tension thickened as hero and villain stared at each other, realization setting in the latter. Sabine watched with wide eyes, uncomfortable and confused with the sudden change in atmosphere. 

Emilie cleared her throat. “I suppose I can’t use parental authority to make you hand over your Miraculous?”

Chat Noir snorted, but Emilie just shrugged. She swiped a few strands of hair out of her face with the grace of one used to being in front of a camera. “It didn’t hurt to ask.”

Sabine’s wide eyes went wider at the exchange. “A-Adrien?”

Emilie rolled her eyes and lolled her head over her shoulder to gaze down at the hostage disdainfully. Her lip curled up in disgust. “Obviously, Sabine. Quite the coincidence, is it not? My son and your daughter chasing after our Miraculouses? Well, mine now.”

Chat Noir furrowed his eyebrows. “Her Miraculous? I don’t understand,” he said looking between the two mothers. “You abducted her after learning about Ladybug’s identity. How could she–“

“Abducted her?” Emilie touched her cheek as if stung, though her smirk contradicted the action. “My dear son, I never go to anyone. Sabine came here of her own free will. I just… ensured she stayed.”

“Enough with the lies. As if I would believe Mrs. Cheng would willingly–”

“It’s true, Adrien.” Sabine said, cutting him off. She hung her head in shame. “I-I thought I could convince her… I wasn’t thinking, and I’ve put you and Marinette in a dangerous position.”

Chat Noir stared at Sabine, his brow scrunched as he tried to understand what she was saying. “Y-you…”

Emilie stepped in front of the woman, cutting off Chat Noir’s view of her. She spoke in a soothing voice, tilting her head so that Chat Noir looked up at her. “Don’t worry about her, son. This is a personal matter between Sabine and me. She wronged me and she needs to pay for it.”

“Wronged you?” Sabine’s voice squeaked from behind Emilie. “Emilie, you stole the Miraculouses and the book from my family.”

“Pardon me, but do I hear the pot calling the kettle black? Those Miraculouses don’t belong to your family.”

“Finding and stealing are different.”

Emilie whirled around, her eyes blazing with fury. “I found Duusu, and she chose me–” 

“Enough!” Chat Noir grabbed Emilie’s shoulder and pushed her to the side. He stalked toward Sabine. His body shook as though struggling to support his weight, and his eyes were full of tears. “You’ve known about my mother… my father… and you’ve kept quiet all this time?”

“That’s not true!” Sabine jerked up, her body surging forward with the desperate force to be believed. “Adrien, I swear I didn’t–”

“That’s right, Adrien. She’s withheld the truth all this time.” Emilie said, appearing from the shadows, her voice a slithering wisp of air. She looped her arms through Chat Noir’s and laid her head on his shoulder. Her head fell back until her lips were near his ear. She whispered, “Just think: had she said something in the first place, we wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have been gone for so long. Your father wouldn’t be in jail. She kept us apart, but you can fix this.”

Faces of countless Parisians being used and twisted from their anger and frustration flitted through his mind. Marinette’s sobs as she, cornered and exhausted, revealed herself to him, breaking a rule she swore to uphold. His father’s betrayal yet the numb understanding as to why he did it. All of them raced circles in his head like a preview to a movie on repeat, each one waiting expectantly for him to fulfill his promise. Chat Noir’s mouth dried and his voice came out hoarse. “I can fix this?”

Emilie straightened up and turned Chat Noir to face her, gently cupping his cheek with a cold delicate hand. “Yes, my precious son. With the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculouses, we can fix everything, regain the past… have a family again.”

In the background, Chat Noir heard Sabine calling out to him, pleading to pay no attention to his mother’s words. Emilie’s grip tightened as if affected by what Sabine was saying, but Chat Noir ignored the woman. His eyes and ears remained focused on his mother’s face. She rubbed gentle but firm circles with the pad of her thumb as she spoke, her eyes silently demanding him to keep looking at her. “We would play the piano together. Your father would be with us, happily listening. The three of us could even watch Solitude. I never got a chance to watch it with you.”

Chat Noir’s heart ached as he tried to draw up these images. He closed his eyes, leaning into his mother’s touch… and then he saw it, clips and snippets of conversations, moments from his past all simmering to the surface. Each one a bubble popping with scalding clarity. 

“Her name is Ananta Haine… she’ll do anything, sacrifice anyone, to get what she wants.” His father’s powerless body fell from the top of the Eiffel Tower, discarded like the wrapper on a newly received toy. His body limp, resigned to his fate.

“She’s been one step ahead this entire time, and I… I’m nothing!” Marinette crumbled against him, sobbing her apologies into his arms as she confessed her intent to relinquish the Ladybug Miraculous.

“You never know, my precious son, people change.’” A man groveled at the feet of his mother as she leered down at him, desperate for her forgiveness, unable to afford losing his credibility. 

“Emile was changed… damaged.”

Gabriel folded in on himself, dropping all airs of importance as he took in the news of Nathalie’s departure. “Nathalie take a vacation? Unlikely.”

“What could you possibly do?” Marinette stared up at him, her eyes, which once held so much life, were now empty and reflected her broken spirit.

“If you had known about my identity before my defeat, would you have revealed yourself?” Gabriel sat across from him, eyes piercing into his soul, looking for an answer that neither knew if really existed. Shadows framed his face, outlining his age and the weariness that was suddenly apparent. The same weariness he knew he would see if he were to look in a mirror. “So. How will you proceed?”

Chat Noir opened his eyes, his breath coming out in short gasps. A familiar sting pricked the corners of his eyes.

“I love you, mom,” he said, tears streaming. “I love you; I hope you know that.”

Emilie smiled and pulled him into an embrace. Chat Noir closed his eyes and enjoyed the warmth of his mother’s arms. He gripped her tightly, trying to take deep and steady breaths. His body shook as the tears rolled down his cheeks. He could hear her heart beating against his chest. The repeating lub-dub gave him a steady rhythm on which to concentrate. 

Finally his body relaxed. He said, “I promise to fix everything.”

Emilie let go and tried to step back, but Chat Noir tightened his grip. He uttered tiny whispers of ‘I love you’ and ‘I promise’ over and over again as Emilie began to struggle to get away. Her arms beat weakly against his black suit as she demanded he let her go, but he barely felt it, protected from minor injuries and his mind elsewhere. He shut his eyes and drowned out any background noise, only listening to his own steady breathing and the now erratic beating of his mother’s heart. Burying his face against her shoulder, Chat Noir squeezed her one last time.

“Cataclysm.”

Emilie stiffened and her flailing ceased. Chat Noir could feel her slip away, but he refused to open his eyes. It was only when he had nothing left to hold that he opened them. Black dust fell through his fingers, sprinkling an already established pile. Chat Noir stared at his hands, turning them over as if only realizing they were there. He flexed his fingers, the last of his mother’s warmth vanishing.

Light gleamed off a hidden object within the remains. With a gulp, Chat Noir bent over to retrieve the item, pulling out the Peacock and Butterfly Miraculouses. They were speckled with ash, but he quietly wiped it off. His fingers lightly trembled as he cleaned the jewelry.

“Adrien…”

Chat Noir jumped, having forgotten he wasn’t the only one. The frantic beeping of his ring reached his ears, and he turned around as his suit faded away. Plagg spiraled out of the ring and landed exhausted on the floor. Adrien immediately picked him up, cradling the ancient body in a hand. He glanced over at Sabine.

Sabine sat in the light, her face twisted in anguish. Adrien gave a weak smile. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Your mother… What have you done?”

“I promised them I would fix everything.” Adrien fondled the brooches in his hand, the metals cool against his sweaty palm. He swallowed hard as his thumb rubbed the bumpy surface of the Peacock Miraculous. “How did you know my mother?”

Sabine shook her head, unable to believe what she was seeing. Adrien took a step forward and she flinched. Frowning, Adrien stopped and sat on the ground. 

“I’m not going to hurt you, Mrs. Cheng,” he said.

“You murdered your mother.”

“I did what I had to do.” Adrien took a breath. “Please…”

Sabine bit her lip and looked away. “I met Emilie while catering for one of her films. I found out she was to star in an upcoming movie with Tibetan influence. I invited her to travel with me to China, so she could do some research for the role.”

“Mom was great at acting,” Adrien said, fondly remembering, “but that doesn’t explain how you both obtained the Miraculouses.”

Sabine’s heart broke, but she continued. “My great-great-grandfather discovered the Miraculouses and the book at the base of a mountain when he was a boy. He quickly discovered their power, but he kept them hidden, knowing the power wasn’t his to use. Later when he became the head of the family, he displayed the jewels and book as sacred family heirlooms. I suppose he was hoping that whoever had lost them would come back, but when they didn’t, he decided that he would at least protect them. I wasn’t aware at the time of the power they held; I thought they were just objects with a silly lore attached.”

“I brought Emilie with me and introduced her to my family. We gave her a tour of our home and the city. The day before she left, I showed Emilie the Miraculouses and the book, along with other family heirlooms. The next morning Emilie was gone, taking with her the book and Peacock Miraculous. I don’t know why she took them, but as I was the one who brought her, it became my duty to retrieve them. Your mother and I fought the day before she disappeared.”

“You lost,” Adrien said. Sabine nodded her head. He had fed Plagg during the time she was speaking, and the Kwami was now hovering beside him, quiet and despondent. Adrien furrowed his brows. “Why didn’t you say anything?” 

“I was being honest when I said I didn’t know. Your mother disappeared along with the Miraculouses, so I assumed she had run off with them. When Hawkmoth made his debut, I thought he had taken her. I was powerless with useless information, but then you and Ladybug appeared–the two of you defeated that first akuma–and I knew that the true owner of those Miraculouses was nearby. I took that as a sign that I was no longer needed; I could leave it to the two of you.” Sabine ran a hand through her hair. “Gabriel’s reveal and downfall and Emilie’s sudden reappearance are why I approached her. I was hoping she had answers. I didn’t know…”

Sabine looked up to see Adrien attach the Peacock and Butterfly Miraculouses to his shirt, releasing Nooroo and Duusu from the jewelry. He stood up, but a wave of dizziness washed over him, bringing him to a knee. 

Plagg immediately moved to his holder. “Adrien, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Plagg,” Adrien said, waving the Kwami away. He took a second to regain his bearings before standing up.

Sabine looked between the Kwamis and the boy. Her voice shook as she asked, “What are you planning to do?” 

“I’m going to release you,” he said with a jerk of his head. Nooroo and Plagg flew to Sabine and began to untie the ropes, “and then you are going to tell Ladybug to meet me. Tonight.”

Sabine stood up and rubbed her sore wrists. She feared what he would try to do to her daughter, but in her current state she was vulnerable. “Where should I tell her to go?”

Adrien reached into his pocket and pulled out his lucky charm. He held it up to the moonlight, running the memory through his mind. “Tell her to meet me where it all began.”

[vantekay]

moonlight kisses and dahlias ||kth

word count: 7.7k

estimated reading time: about 12-15 minutes

genre(s): fluff fluff fluff and oh, did I mention fluff? also idk if you would call it angst but like hyung line lecture tae for a half a minute before everything is all good again.

warnings: a couple curse words towards the end, a steamy kiss at the end ;)

summary: basically taehyung enjoying himself until a strange girl (you) comes up and stares at him in bewilderment because this field felt like it belonged to you and what was he doing lazing in the lavender? after a few weeks he takes you stargazing as an unofficial first date and you accidentally totally on purpose kiss him whilst straddling him surrounded by dahlias underneath the night sky.

guys! @whimsicalliethereal made this beautiful moodboard with MKAD in mind and it’s really amazing! I was so happy and amazed when she sent it to me and told me she loved the story so much that she wanted to make something for it and when she found the photos of tae in a field she knew she had to make it for MKAD. like I told her, it completely and perfectly captures the first scenes in the story with so much similarity its a little scary haha. these are the types of images I created in my head when I made the story and to see it put into a moodboard format is unreal! please show her all of the love in the world for this because it really is amazing, thank you so much again cara!

the wind blew through the field with such grace that could only be likened to that of a ballet dancer, lightly sifting through the patches of blue larkspurs and purple lilacs, drifting under the stretch of red anemones and floating through the petals of yellow daffodils. she spurred on in her endeavor to reach the boy laying in the space he created amongst the lavender, fit perfectly to his thin frame. when she finally reached him she flowed delicately around his body, sending a soothing chill down his spine. finally, washing over him completely- she started at his messy dirty blonde hair, moving through his locks and  towards his nose and cheeks, leaving the softest of kisses amongst them before finally falling towards the bottom half of his body and eventually leaving.

he closed his eyes with a contented sigh as the sun rose higher into the clouds above, marking it midday. he had ventured out here early in the morning to catch the sunrise, his camera resting peacefully beside him filled to the brim with all the pictures he had captured, making sure he would have enough to look through until he found some he liked. he decided to lay in the fields for a bit afterwards, embracing the cool May breeze that came with spring, the beautifully bloomed flowers around him only adding to his serenity. he enjoyed days like this, days were he could come out and not have to worry about being spotted by fans. he had always come to this field because it was empty and tucked away from the rest of the world, albeit never as early as he did today. it also harbored some of his favorite flowers which he didn't hesitate to add to his portfolio throughout his visits.

he had begun to drift off until he heard the faintest sound of footsteps. he felt his heart rate start to increase, thoughts running wild on who could have followed him here. he thought maybe it was one of the other boys, quite possibly jimin who had accompanied taehyung to this field a few times in the past. but he was sure that the others would have been busy with other projects or taking time for themselves after their long months of touring and other activities. taehyung had become so lost in thought about who could have arrived at the field that he didn't realize the footsteps had stopped only a couple feet from where his body lay, a girl standing merely 5 feet from him observing his relaxed stature.

she blinks a couple of times, contemplating on whether she should ask the boy if he is awake or simply continue on her walk through the flowers, but something about his calm aura was intriguing, she felt as if she were being pulled into him. she frequented this field often, sketchbook and camera always in hand so she was ready if inspiration were to ever hit her but not once had she run into this boy. she couldn’t help but to feel offended by his presence, but the thought was gone as soon as it had appeared because this wasn't her field, it was available to anybody who wished to venture into its gorgeousness. she supposes she was so used to always being alone that it had started to feel like the field was placed here specifically for her to sit and enjoy, allowing the sun to kiss her skin to a golden tan. she's getting ready to continue on her walk towards her favorite spot when the boy slowly opens his eyes to peer up at her. she swallows thickly before squeaking out the shyest of “hello”'s. the boy below her smiles politely before sitting up and looking at her, instinctively she takes a couple steps backward.

“hi, do you mind if I ask why you were staring at me?” he questions, with a voice as deep as the ocean but as smooth as silk and she wonders if its normal to be so attracted to someone's voice. she quickly dismisses the thought as her cheeks tint the faintest of pink and taehyung can't help the smile spreading across his lips as he watches the girl in front of him become shy. 

“I-I'm sorry. I was just walking through to um, to get to that tree over there-” she points to their left at the oak tree situated between spreads of dahlias. the flowers range in color from full deep purples to reds with white tips and the softest of pinkish whites alongside dark blues. she turns back sheepishly to the boy, hoisting her tote bag higher upon her shoulder. she doesn't miss the way his eyes flicker to the bag with curiosity before they quickly move back to her own, silently encouraging her to continue explaining why she had stopped to stare at him. “-and I'm not used to seeing anyone else around here, so you sort of piqued my interest.” she raises her hand that isn't occupied by the bag on her shoulder and subconsciously tucks a loose piece of hair behind her ear, her cheeks turning darker red and taehyung notices that her ears are slightly pink as well.

“I was about to leave though! I'm so sorry if I interrupted your nap.” taehyung realizes that this girl must not recognize who he is, because she isn't freaking out over him being a member of BTS, or she's just handling the situation very well. he smiles up at her again before speaking.

“you didn't interrupt me, I come here pretty often to take pictures of the flowers or just to clear my head for a bit,” he raises a hand and points at her bag secured around her shoulder. “whatcha got in there?” he doesn't miss the way the corners of her mouth curl up into a slight grin at the mention of her tote bag. he watches as she lifts the bag higher upon her shoulder more before wrapping both hands around the straps, looking anywhere but at taehyung's face as she speaks.

“uhm, just my sketchbook and camera, I come here often as well to see what kind of inspiration I can get from the scenery, it took me by surprise seeing you here because I've been coming here for a little over a year now and have never seen anyone else around.” she speaks in a louder voice now, excitement beginning to drip off of her words as she speaks, and her eyes beginning to sparkle like someone had placed the stars in them themselves, and he can't help but wonder what it would be like to get lost in her eyes. 

“you take pictures too?” he grins before turning slightly to his right and grabbing his camera from behind him, gently shaking it in front of his frame as if to say “so do I” before  situating it into his lap and looking back up at her. 

“ah yeah, but I mostly use it in case my sketchbook isn't handy and I find a scene I really want to draw. but sometimes I like to have both the sketch and the picture just because.” her cheeks are turning red again and she can feel her whole body igniting with heat. she nervously tucks another piece of hair behind her ear before she clears her throat and looks down at the boy in front of her, their eyes finally meeting. taehyung allows himself to become lost in her eyes like he thought of before but it's not the same when he's situated on the ground and she stands a good 5 feet above him. 

the moment doesn't last long before he's standing up and placing his hand out in front of him for a handshake.“my name's taehyung, and you are?” he tilts his head slightly to the left as he reaches out for her hand and she can't stop the small giggle that leaves her lips as she allows one hand that has been gripping the shoulder straps of her tote bag free and is connecting it with his in a firm shake.“y/n.” she breathes, and taehyung blinks a couple times as he plays her name out in his head, happy that he now has a beautiful name to put to the equally beautiful face before him.

“well, it was really nice to meet you y/n, but unfortunately I have to get back to my place,” taehyung smiles as he finally lets go of her hand, watching as she lets it drop to her side instead of returning it to the shoulder straps of her bag. she nods her head before she responds, telling him that it was a pleasure to meet him as well. for a moment taehyung wonders if he should ask for her number, but quickly realizes how risky that could be in case she was a fan and was just really good at keeping her cool, but something told him she didn't know who he was and that made him feel happy. 

he knew that if they did meet up again at the field and continued whatever this was he would have to tell her, but for the time being he allowed himself to be known as taehyung to her, not as “v from bts”. They both turn after saying their goodbyes and walk towards their destinations, but after a couple of steps taehyung can't help but to turn around and get one more glance of her. he watches her walk toward the tree she mentioned, carefully parting a path through the dahlias to sit under the trees shade. he watches as she sits down with ease, breathing out a deep sigh of relief at being in a place that brings her so much peace. he watches her pull her sketchpad out first, briskly looking around her for inspiration. It's not long before he sees her pull out her pencils and begin working on a sketch. he smiles for what feels like the hundredth time and turns away, his walk back to the dorm filled with thoughts of her and hopes of meeting again soon.

It's approximately one week later that he sees her again. he's laying in the patch of lavender when he hears footsteps. he sits up quickly, a smile already placing itself on his lips as he watches her approach him, but this time something feels off. he notices that she walks with her head down, earbuds placed in her ears to drown out the world around her, and she wears a deep frown on her face. taehyung can't help the drop he feels in his stomach at watching her walk with such a sad atmosphere surrounding her. he finds himself wanting to protect her and fight off whatever it is that made her feel this way. as she gets closer he worries she will pass right by him, so it's with a small pout that he lays himself back in the lavender patch and puts his arms around his face to block out the sun, breathing deeply and peeking through the tiny hole he has allowed in his arms to see her pass by. when she doesn't and he notices the footsteps have stopped, he removes his arms with a confused look on his face as he sits up and looks around only to immediately find her standing in front of him like when they first met, only this time she is looking at him quizzically.

“hey taehyung.” she speaks quietly and replaces her quizzical look from before with an obvious forced smile. he feels his heart sink more, but knows he has no right to ask what it is that's bothering her, for all he knows she could just be having a bad day.

“hey y/n.” he smiles up at her and she quickly smiles back, and this time its not a forced one like before, but its also not as wide and as full as her smile was the first time they met. he's getting ready to ask her if she's alright despite his previous thought but he's cut off by his phone ringing. he smiles at her apologetically as he reaches into his pocket to pull it out and answer. 

she can't hear whatever the other person is saying but by the look on taehyung's face she assumes it can't be good. she sees his smile falter before it turns into a tiny pout, one that she finds herself staring at for a bit too long-wondering what it might feel like to place her lips upon his soft looking ones. she shakes her head at the thought, mentally scolding herself because she just met this guy, she shouldn’t be thinking of him in that way. but she seemed to find herself thinking of him quite a lot since they first met. she couldn’t deny that he was attractive, god was he heavenly. she thinks back to last week when they had met for the first time. how she immediately noticed the small moles that littered his face in the cutest of places, like angels had kissed them there themselves, their lips brushing against his smooth skin and leaving the feathered marks behind. there was one on the tip of his nose, another towards the center of his right eye, and she almost missed it but there was one that occupied the corner of his mouth as well. she hoped that she didn’t alarm him with her staring that day, but she couldn't help but marvel at the beauty marks on his face. wondering what it would be like to trace them lightly with her fingertips. She got so lost in thought about taehyung and his stupidly gorgeous face that she doesn’t realize taehyung had ended the phone call and was staring at her waiting for a response.

“I’m sorry did you say something? I zoned out for a moment there” she states as her cheeks begin to dust pink at being caught in her thoughts, though she knows taehyung doesn’t know it was him on her mind she can’t help but feel flustered. 

“that’s okay, I was just saying I'm sorry but my friend called and said he needed to meet with me as soon as possible,” taehyung scratches the back of his neck as he speaks, feeling like a high school  boy who just confessed his feelings for his crush. “I’ll see you here soon though, right?” he asks hopefully, and who would she be to tell him no when he looked this adorable and bashful. 

she nods her head, asking if he would like to exchange phone numbers to ensure their next meeting. taehyung swallows thickly at the thought of giving her his number. he’s almost positive that she isn’t a fan, but he’s still unsure. he would feel rude telling her no though, especially when she seemed so nervous about asking him in the first place. so he agrees and they exchange phones, putting their numbers into the others phones and handing them back with smiles plastered on their faces. he tells her he will let her know when he is free again and they can hopefully work it into their schedules. she assures him that she will keep her weeks open awaiting for his text and he can’t help but laugh at her cuteness. it’s with a couple quite “goodbye”’s and repeated “see you later”’s that they finally part ways. 

taehyung finds himself preoccupied with what his message to her will be, that he is of no help to the other boys who had called him for help at the dorm earlier. they’ve taken notice that throughout the past week taehyung had seemed like his head was elsewhere, but they didn’t think to ask him about it until jin did later whilst they ate. 

“what’s got your head in the clouds today tae?” jin asks around a mouthful of food.  jin was the first to notice that taehyung had barely touched his food, a goofy and love struck grin plastered on his face as he moves the food around the takeout container. he had been like this ever since he came back from the dorms last week. he finally looks up and makes eye contact with jin for the first time since he arrived home earlier.

“ah, sorry hyung. it’s nothing.” taehyung smiles, his mind wandering back to her yet again. he still is thinking of how to text her, wondering if he should send her a simple “I’m free Friday night if you are!” or actually try and make conversation. he couldn’t deny the fact that he’s been itching to get to know her better since they met earlier that day, and if he didn’t believe at love at first sight before; he definitely did now.

“it can’t be just nothing if you’re so preoccupied that this is the first time you’ve even looked at us since you came back” namjoon laughs and taehyung can feel a blush rising to his cheeks as he bows his head slightly at the mention of his ignorance.

“awe hyung’s blushing! how cute~ it must be a girl that’s got his mind elsewhere” jungkook chimes in and taehyung raises his head quickly, mouth open to dispute what the maknae has said only to be beaten by yoongi.

“ah, so it is a girl” he states calmly as he continues to look down at his food and eat. taehyung opens and closes his mouth a couple of times, dumbfounded by the fact that his members were able to read him so quickly, and seem to be so calm about it too.

“is it that obvious?” he questions, his cheeks heating up even more as he fights the urge to smile.

“only because we know our taehyungie so well~” jimin says before bursting out into a fit of giggles and leaning onto tae’s shoulder. taehyung just smiles and begins eating his food in hopes they will change the subject but he knows that it’s all wishful thinking.

“well? are we right or are we right?” hoseok laughs, and all the members turn to look at taehyung expectantly. if taehyung didn’t look like a tomato before then he definitely does now. after a couple of deep breaths he slowly nods his head. it takes a good 3 seconds before everyone is screaming and cheering, the room quickly filling up with mixed shouts of encouragement. taehyung waits until its gotten quieter to speak again. “don’t get my hopes up, we just met the other day at the field.” he mumbles, beginning to play around with his food as an excuse to avoid eye contact with any of the members.

“the field? you mean that really pretty one we went to a couple weeks ago?” jimin questions from next to him and taehyung nods his head.

“yeah, I went there Monday morning to take pictures of the sunrise and wound up just laying there for a bit. she showed up and I noticed her staring at me so I asked if she was okay and she said she was just surprised to see someone else there. she said that she had been going there everyday for a year and had never seen anyone else there so I shocked her, I guess.” taehyung doesn’t notice it but the others surely do, how his lips have formed one of the biggest boxy smiles ever. they all exchange glances back and forth at their taehyung falling for a girl he had just met. they don’t blame him, being an idol is lonely and hard especially since they are forbidden by the company to date. taehyung looks up after he’s done speaking about her only to notice all of his members staring at him. he twists his face as speaks, “what? why are you all looking at me like that?” he is genuinely confused as to why his members were staring at him as if he were their son who had just won first place in a stupid spelling bee, looking at him with giant smiles on their faces. they all smile at each other again before hoseok speaks up.

“nothing tae, just glad that you’re meeting people,” he flashes him a smile before his lips form a thin line and his face scrunches up a bit and everyone else follows suit as their minds finally click into place about taehyung’s meeting.  

“was she a fan?” “ did she recognize who you were?” “ oh god, she didn’t try to hurt you did she?” they’re all talking at once as they just realized that a random girl had approached tae while he was alone and far from the dorm. taehyung giggles, causing the rest to immediately stop shouting their concerns and stare at him.

“you guys are so cute sometimes but no, I don’t think she was a fan. she didn’t seem to recognize me and if she did then she was really good at hiding it.”

“well that’s good, as long as you didn’t give her your number then there is nothing to worry about. you wouldn’t do something that reckless anyways” jin laughs and everyone else joins in too before they all realize that taehyung’s shoulders have slumped and his head had buried in his chest, mimicking that of a hurt child.

“oh my god taehyung you gave her your number!” yoongi says exasperatedly at taehyung for doing something so stupid. even if she weren’t a fan and had no clue who he was, that didn’t mean she wouldn’t eventually find out and potentially post his number online for fans to find.

“I couldn’t say no to her! she was so cute and nervous about even asking me! how was I supposed to say no to that? I probably would have ruined her whole week if I did. you guys have to trust me when I say that I really don’t think she would do something like that.” taehyung’s hurt, but he knows he deserves their angry stares. he has potentially put himself in danger if she were to release his number on social media where it can be attained by anyone and everyone.

“you just met the girl like what,a week ago? how can you sit here and tell us you trust her when all you know is her name and where’s shes spent her evenings every day of the year?” this time it’s jin to speak up, as the oldest of the group he’s always been the most understanding but also the most sensible one next to yoongi and namjoon. speaking of, taehyung is surprised that namjoon hasn’t spoken up about his mistake, and when he moves to gauge namjoon’s reaction he’s surprised. namjoon sits still, his takeout container long forgotten by his side as he stares off in front of himself in thought. taehyung is almost scared to ask him what he has to say about all this, but he isn’t left to worry long as namjoon shifts his attention to taehyung and begins speaking.

“I’m going to have to agree with jin and yoongi on this one, taehyung-ah. what you did was reckless and even though you did it to preserve this girls feelings, you should have thought about the trouble you could potentially be causing for not only yourself but the rest of us as well.” everyone else is nodding along to namjoons words whilst taehyung instinctively begins to curl up into himself.

 “I know hyung, I’m sorry I just-”

“but, if you say that you trust her then I’ll take your word for it. you have a good sense of character, but if she starts causing you any trouble you need to tell someone immediately so we can get your number changed and take proper action against her.” everyone’s mouths are agape at namjoons words, including taehyung. he thinks he might have given himself whiplash with how fast his head snapped up at the leaders confession. 

“are you being serious right now?” taehyung can’t believe it. he turns to jimin and whispers “pinch me so I know this is real” and jimin looks at him with furrowed brows until taehyung is shoving his arm at his friend with eyebrows raised. jimin timidly pinches his arm and taehyung pulls back, rubbing at the spot jimin pinched. jimin just giggles at his friend before namjoon begins to speak again.

“yes I’m serious, if you really think she has no clue who you are, who we are, then I trust your judgement. though it baffles me that she hasn’t heard of us, I doubt she would be lying about that. has she contacted you yet? why did you exchange numbers?”

“well when jimin called and asked me to come back to the dorm and I told her I had to leave but wanted to see her again, she asked if I wanted to exchange numbers so we could make sure we both were going to be at the field. and no, she hasn’t contacted me yet, I’ve been thinking all day about how I should text her.” taehyung rubs at his neck, a blush beginning to creep up onto his cheeks again as he talks.

“well text her! what are you waiting for?” hoseok has jumped out of his seat and is animatedly moving around the living space, jumping between all the boys to get to taehyung. they all laugh at his antics and it only gets increasingly louder as hoseok reaches taehyung and jumps on top of him, squirming to reach his phone and text the girl himself. “just let me help you! you don’t have to send it! let me see your phone taehyung!” everyone is laughing as hobi holds taehyung down with one arm and begins searching his pockets for the device. when he finally retrieves it, he unlocks it and goes to the messages app. “what did you save her contact as?” hoseok asks from above taehyung, and he lets out an exaggerated sigh as he speaks. “it’s saved as her name, y/n.”

she’s spent the whole week thinking of him, wondering if she should message him first and tell him when she is free or wait for him to make the first move. she decides to wait for him to say something first, not wanting to come across as eager and desperate. why do you care so much? it’s not like you’re going on dates with the guy. she shakes her head, attempting to start work on cleaning up her apartment like she’s been meaning to for weeks now. she gets about 2 hours into cleaning when suddenly her phone goes off, interrupting the music she had blasting throughout the place to play her ringtone before resuming again. she walks over to check and see who texted her, almost dreading that it could be her boss asking her to come in on her day off like he’s done many times in the past. she’s shocked but finds a smile pulling at her lips when she reads taehyung’s name on her screen.

[5:15 pm] taehyung: hey! it's me! the guy from the field, taehyung. I just wanted to text you and let you know that I’m free in like 3 weeks if you wanted to meet up again! I know it’s really far away but I’m just super busy these next couple weeks :( if that doesn’t work though just let me know and we can work something out!

she smiles down at her phone, his nervousness is apparent in the way he texts her. repeating his name as if there was anyway she could forget meeting him. she quickly sends him a reply, letting him know that she has no problem with waiting to meet up. she can’t help herself from wondering what has him so busy the next 3 weeks though, but quickly dismisses it because it’s none of her business.

she doesn’t expect to hear from him again unless it was to talk about a day he would be free, but ever since that text about meeting in 3 weeks time they’ve been talking nonstop. later that day however, she caved and asked him about what he did because he seemed really busy all the time and he told her he was an idol, much to her surprise. well, not too shocking because he was insanely gorgeous and she didn’t doubt that he was incredibly talented as well, but she was still caught off guard.

it was cute when he had told her, he was so worried she was secretly a mega fan and was going to give his phone number out on social media and he had begged her to please not do that because “my hyung said if you did then we have to change my phone number and like sue you and stuff for harassment and I don’t want to stop talking to you just because I’m famous :( so like it’s not a big deal, I’m in a boy band, but I’m still a normal person like you so please don’t give my number out :(”. she remembers laughing hysterically at how he pleaded for her to keep it between them, but she promised him and he knew he could trust her.

since then they’ve spent countless nights talking about nothing and everything, learning about each other more and more and soon it began to feel like she had known him all her life. they found out they had a lot in common, they both liked the same foods, both had the same likes and dislikes, they shared their quirks and embarrassing childhood stories with each other. they even face-timed occasionally when taehyung claimed he had a story for her that would “take too long for me to text you about plus it’ll be funnier this way” only for them to end up on call for hours upon hours until she could hear his members telling him to hang up because he was being too loud and they all had practice the next morning.

it seemed that no matter how busy taehyung was, he always made time for her. he always made time to send her a quick text, reminding her to take care of herself because he had learned by now that when she was stressed at work she would often forget to eat or drink anything or he would text her countdowns of how much longer they had until he was finally free to see her at the field again. he couldn’t help but to keep  promising her that he was going to make it worth the long wait that he apologized for daily until she told him that it was fine and she understood.

she had found that during their 3 weeks of endless chatting, she had begun to catch feelings for him. whenever she found herself thinking of taehyung in a way that was more than friendly she would stop herself, scolding herself for thinking anything could happen between them because he’s an idol and you’re not. little did she know that taehyung felt the same way too, and was having the same mental conflict as her because I’m an idol and she’s not and it could never work. it was rare to meet someone like her though, someone who wasn’t an idol themselves but was understanding of times when they would be talking and suddenly he had to leave. she never complained, never made it aware that she was frustrated with how crazy his schedule was. he knew that he had to keep her, no matter what it took.

it was somewhere during the two week mark of them meeting that taehyung had decided he was turning this meeting at the field into a date. he spent a lot of time with the other members asking them what he should do for the date, asking them if his ideas were too cheesy or too over the top, what girls appreciated during dates and what they found obnoxious and anything else he could possibly know. they helped him make the date into everything he could have dreamed of, the last step was to ask her if she was free on a Friday night and to ask her to show up with an empty stomach because he had “plans :)” as his already vague text had said.

she found herself feeling nervous when he texted about them finally meeting up. taehyung told her that he wanted to meet later in the day, around when the sun would be setting so he could get some pictures and they could have the opportunity to stargaze, an activity they both thoroughly enjoyed. she let herself think of this meet-up as a date but he can’t possibly be planning that because he doesn’t like me like that, right? maybe taehyung was feeling the same attraction that she was, but she didn’t allow her hopes to get too high because at the end of the day he was still an idol and she was just a normal person.

it was at exactly 5:30 on the day they had agreed to meet that taehyung texted her.

[5:30pm] taehyungie: hey! just wanted to make sure you were still showing up. I know you wouldn’t ditch me or anything like that but I was just getting nervous because you aren’t here yet.

[5:31pm]: of course I’m coming silly, I just left my apartment so it should take me about 5 minutes to get to the field. try not to die of boredom before I get there, see you soon!

she sends the message and puts her phone back in her pocket. the whole trip to the field is filled with thoughts of what he could have possibly planned for tonight.

it’s five minutes later, as she promised, that he hears her footsteps approaching and he gets nervous. he looks around him to make sure everything looks perfect.

“what’s all this?” he hears her question, turning himself around to look at her clad in a giant hoodie and a pair of jeans. her outfit is simple but taehyung can’t help but think she looks absolutely gorgeous. he smiles up at her before patting the spot next to him on the blanket.

“I told you we were stargazing, I had to make sure we were prepared.” she takes a spot next to him and they’re so close that their knees brush against each other every so often as taehyung pulls out sandwiches that jimin helped him make and hands her one. “I know it’s not like, I don’t know a steak or whatever, but I thought we could have a bite together too while we watched the sunset. oh look!” she breaks her gaze away from his and follows his eyes to look straight ahead of them. the spot taehyung picked was perfect, he’s placed them underneath her favorite tree surrounded by dahlias and the view of the sunset was absolutely breathtaking.

the sky broke out into strings of oranges, pinks and purples. all of them meshing together to form the prettiest of golden pink pools in the sky. she gazes out and can’t help but have her mouth fall open at the sight. she doesn’t think she’s seen something this beautiful in her life, and she’s trying her hardest to absorb it all into her memory for years to follow, focusing on the way the colors blend themselves together with the clouds and the treeline just below them. taehyung chances a glance over at her and can’t help but laugh at her dumbfounded expression.

“if you don’t close your mouth, you’ll drool all over yourself.” he laughs again and she looks at him before finally closing her mouth but not before she whispers, “it’s just so beautiful.” taehyung smiles and agrees with her, mumbling a soft “yeah, it is.” he quickly whips his camera out to take photos because he never wants to forget how the sky looks, but he also finds himself wanting to take photos of her too. he takes a couple shots from where he sits before standing up and looking down at her as she continues to stare off straight ahead.

“hey y/n, do you mind if I stand behind us a bit and take a picture of the sunset with you in it too?” she’s caught off guard by how quiet taehyung speaks, so used to the loud taehyung who’s always excited with whatever it is he’s speaking about. she looks up at him as he stands next to her with his camera in hand, a slight blush beginning to travel up his neck and spread itself onto his cheeks. she nods and before she knows it taehyung is running behind her a few feet and kneeling into the grass to line up his shot. she giggles at his antics before facing herself forward again, listening to the shutter of his camera. if she weren’t listening closely she would have missed the way taehyung mumbles a “beautiful” before jotting back to their blanket and watching the rest of the sunset with her. she allows herself to think that the comment is about her being in his shot, but figures he just got a really good photo.

when the sun finally finishes it’s decent, they’ve finished the sandwiches that taehyung packed and talked about their day. after a couple minutes of silence they both take note of the stars beginning to blossom in the night sky and situate themselves on the blanket so they can lay down and watch the stars. taehyung can't help himself and peers over at her, admiring the way the moon caresses the curves of her face, lightly settling on her cheeks and highlighting all of her features that he can see from this angle. he moves his gaze around her face, starting at her eyes and the way they are adamantly darting across the night sky, attempting to drink in everything it has to offer. he then moves his gaze down her cheeks again before settling on her lips, watching they way they naturally pout as she uses all of her focus to find stars and constellations above her.

taehyung finds himself staring at her face for what feels like hours but is really only a couple of minutes before he realizes he is staring into her eyes directly. she turned to face him when she had asked him a question and he didn’t answer. she thought that maybe he had fallen asleep, seeing as he told her earlier that today they had a tiring practice. what she doesn’t expect though is to be met with taehyung marveling at her features, staring at her as if she were even more beautiful than the stars that litter the sky above them. taehyung lets out a small yelp before he’s swiftly turning his head back towards the sky, acting as if he wasn’t just staring at her.

“kim taehyung, do you wanna explain why you were just staring at me?” she feigns anger, but when taehyung turns to look at her again he finds that she has the deepest shade of red flushing her cheeks as she brings her arms up across her chest and puffs it out a bit, attempting to be seen as intimidating. he laughs at her attempt to be angry at him before he shakes his head and turns back to the sky.

“you’re not gonna tell me?” she asks and he shakes his head again. he breaks out into a smile as she huffs out a sigh and sits up. “fine, then I guess I’m just gonna have to force the reason out of you.” she smiles now too and taehyung feels himself grow anxious at her words.

“what do you mean?” he asks and now he’s sitting up too, the both of them staring at each other, her eyes filled with mischief and his filled with slight fear.

“oh I don’t know,” she smiles again, “I might just have to tickle it out of you.” she starts to laugh maniacally as taehyung's face drops.

“I knew I would regret telling you that,” he huffs, but quickly thinks of an escape. “but you can’t tickle me if you can’t catch me!” and in the blink of an eye, he’s jumped off the blanket and begun running around the tree.

“kim taehyung if you don’t get your ass back here!” and she too has jumped off the blanket in an attempt to catch him. they spend a good while chasing each other around the tree, their breathy laughs and screams filling the air around them. at one point she ducks behind the tree whilst his back is turned, in hopes to lure him in and finally catch him.

“y/n? y/n where did you go?” she hears his voice getting closer as he looks for her, and she finally sees her chance as he stands a few feet in front of her, his back turned. she stealthily moves through the dahlias that surround the tree and stands behind him, a shouted “boo!” leaving her lips that has taehyung turning around quickly and she pounces on him. she quickly situates herself into a straddling position, after the both of them have fallen to the ground with a hard thud. she breathes heavily on top of him, raising her arms above her head in triumph. she quickly lowers them again and begins to attack taehyung’s sides, tickling him with so much intensity that he’s squirming and giggling underneath of her, his pleas to stop falling on deaf ears as she continues her attack.

“I’ll stop as soon as you tell me why you were staring at me!” she laughs and continues moving her fingers, before taehyung finally gives in and huffs out a “fine! fine! I’ll tell you!” his eyes watery from the pain of laughing so hard. her fingers finally come to a halt, bringing them up to cross them over her chest as she raises a brow at him expectantly. he feels his cheeks begin to heat up as he whispers out a quick “ you looked pretty” and then attempting to get her off of him. she refuses, however and only swats his hands away as he attempts to move her body off of his.

“nuh uh,” she shakes her head at him and he sighs, bringing his hands and running them down his face. “I didn't hear you, what did you say?” she brings a hand up and cups it around her ear, turning her head so that she can hear him better. he lets out a small giggle at her exaggeration before he states louder his statement from before. he watches as her hand drops to her lap and her face flushes of all color and for a moment he wonders if he fucked up the whole date he had planned. he quickly begins to stutter out apologies and excuses before he feels her lean down a bit, a smirk playing on her lips as she whispers “say that again.” and now it’s taehyung’s turn to blush. he falters a bit before stuttering out “I-I said you looked-” but he doesn’t get to finish his sentence because suddenly her lips are on his and he’s lost all sense of thought. he closes his eyes and quickly reciprocates the kiss, placing his hand behind her head to push their lips together tighter.

after a couple of minutes, taehyung takes a chance and deepens the kiss, tightening the grip on the back of her neck just a bit and he’s surprised when she whines against his mouth. he quickly moves to add his tongue into the kiss, making a small moan escape her mouth. it’s not long before they’re pulling apart for air and taehyung takes his time to look over her features again, admiring the way her lips look all plush and swollen from their kiss, the way she parts them slightly and breathes heavily out of them. he doesn’t miss the red resting heavily on her cheeks as she brings her hands up to cover her face in embarrassment at having made the first move. taehyung laughs before he’s reaching up at her wrists and tugging them down so he can look at her again.

“don’t cover your face, y/n. you’re so cute.” he smiles and the blush on her cheeks gets darker, if that were possible. “I had a kiss planned at the end of this date, but I think this one was much better,” he intertwines their fingers, resting them on his stomach and she gapes at him. he tilts his head and asks “what?” as she continues to look at him as if he had eight heads.

“d-did you just call this a date?” she questions and taehyung can’t help but to laugh at her again.

“yeah, why do you think I provided dinner and suggested we do something we both love to do? I wanted to make this special because, well because I really think I like you. I know we just met like a month ago but-” he’s interrupted again by her lips on his, but the kiss this time is much shorter, but still just as intense as before.

“I like you too, taehyung. I’m just glad that it’s not all in my head” she laughs and taehyung looks at her as if her laugh was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard.

“well then, you wouldn’t say no if I asked you out?” taehyung asks sheepishly and she plants one last kiss onto his lips followed by two more-one on each cheek- before she responds quietly “of course not silly.” and they both break out into huge grins. taehyung finds himself thankful for being stupid, as yoongi so graciously told him when he told them about her, and giving his number to her. if he had denied her request to exchange numbers, he wouldn’t have this, he wouldn’t have the butterflies in his stomach or the lingering feeling of her lips on his or most beautiful girl now sitting next to him and admiring the sky with him once again, surrounded by dahlias and the chilling night breeze thats kissing their exposed hands that lay intertwined between their bodies. taehyung looks over at her once more, counting his blessings for meeting the girl of his dreams.

[inkognito97]

In the lion heart au do shifters who have more carnivorous animals tend to eat and crave meat more than others? Because I can see quigon and Asian being big meat eaters?

@mostie01

I can see them adapt a lot of other animal specific characteristics…

“That’s disgusting,” Tahl sounded truly disgusted and while Qui-Gon only rolled his eyes - he could not do much more with his mouth full - but Mace had to agree with her.

“She is right, Qui. It is one thing to eat meat, but you basically eat it raw… and bloody,” the corner of his mouth twitched a little. 

“I tend to keep my opinion of food consummation to myself, since I am a vegetarian and you both are not, but this is disgusting.” 

Qui-Gon finally swallowed.”You can blame it on Aslan,”  he said.

“Your… spirit animal… lion thing?” Mace quirked an eyebrow. 

The long haired man nodded, before his midnight blue eyes fell on the chrono. “I have to go, Obi-Wan is waiting for me.” He stood up from the table in the cafeteria, where not many Jedi were currently eating. He took his tray with him and with a last nod towards his two friends since créche, he finally left. 

Tahl leaned slightly back in her seat, watching the tall Jedi Master go. “I still have not completely wrapped my mind around this ‘spirit animal’ thing,” she said.  

The dark skinned Korun Master nodded. “Me neither,” his eyes had a hard look.

The female tilted her head so that she was looking at her remaining companion. “If this Aslan influences Qui-Gon in his eating habits… do you think that other areas of his life are influenced as well?”

“It could be,” said the Councillor. 

“Did you know, that male lions tend to kill their male cubs?” Tahl had raised an eyebrow.

Brown eyes looked hard at his companion for a few moments. “As a fellow friend of Qui-Gon… do we have to bring this before the Council?” his tone was serious.

Tahl took a deep breath, “Let us watch them… let us… catch them in an unguarded moment.”

“You mean we are to spy on them?” Mace raised an eyebrow.

“Yes,” Tahl was serious too.  “We could install cameras in their quarters, not in their fresher or their bedrooms, mind you.”

Mace seemed to ponder about the idea for a moment. With a defeated sigh, he eventually gave his approval. “But we are only doing this for Obi-Wan’s safety,” he said, as if to convince himself of the rightness of their idea. Tahl chose to not reply.

“We have been watching them for days now and nothing unusual has happened, except the unnatural amount of meat they consume,” grumbled Tahl.

“Their spirit animals are carnivores, Tahl. What do you expect?” Mace retorted. 

They were currently watching Qui-Gon lying on his stomach on the couch, reading something they could not identify. He had been like this most of the evening and the two Jedi were getting bored in.

“I think this whole idea was stupid,” the Korun Master said. “There is obviously nothing wrong with their relationship.”

“I agree, we… wait, look.”

Mace leaned forward to see the monitor better and he followed the female’s finger, which pointed at a certain ginger haired boy, stealthily making his way towards the couch, while crouching on all fours. 

“What is he doing?” Tahl asked aloud.

“Hunting,” the Councillor shrugged. “As I said, carnivores… in wilderness foxes or lions have to hunt to eat.”

They held their breathes when Obi-Wan made his way forward and a Qui-Gon was not the only one, who let out a startled gasp at being pounced on.

“Obi-Wan,” the man’s deep voice reminded the two Jedi of a growl.

“Master,” the word was muttered in the cute access of his. “What are you doing?”

“I am reading,” he turned back to his reading material, ignoring the young Padawan resting on his back. He did not seem to mind. “Or at least, I am trying to.”

Obi-Wan ignored the remark and moved until his chin rested on the taller man’s shoulder so that he could read as well. For a few long moments, nothing more seemed to happen. 

“That was it?” the Councillor sounded actually surprised.

“Hush,” the female waved at him, her eyes were practically glued to the monitor now.

The ginger haired Padawan grimaced and slightly turned his head, looking sideways at his Master, who completely ignored him. “Master, I am bored.”

“Then by all means, Obi-Wan, continue to read or do your homework or train.”

“I already did all that,” but the Padawan’s protest was skillfully ignored.

Obi-Wan huffed and slightly pushed himself up, with a big pout. But then, a wicked grin appeared on his freckled features and he leaned down again. Qui-Gon had no time to react, none at all, before his cheeky apprentice BIT into his ear. It was not hard enough to draw blood, but it still hurt. 

By the time the Jedi Master had sat up and was angrily rubbing his abused ear, had the younger male already moved far out of his reach. There was still a huge grin plastered on his young face.

“Did he just… BIT Qui-Gon?” Mace could not believe it.

The Noorian had to hide an amused smile. “It was an invitation to play, nothing more.” 

Mace hummed in reply, watching how his friend since creche slowly rose from his couch.

“Oh, just you wait until I get my hands on you,” he growled, but the way his eyes sparkled, it was clear that it was just fun.

“You have to catch me first though,” Obi-Wan challenged. 

A mere huff was his answer and then the two Jedi were already in action. Tahl suspected that their spirit animals were slightly taking over, at least that was her guess, because she had never seen Qui-Gon move and jump like this, not was it usual for Obi-Wan to scramble on all fours, not so fast at least. 

It came like it had to come however. With an elegant jump over the couch, Qui-Gon had finally gotten a hold on his Padawan, who squealed in surprise. Almost immediately, the younger male rolled on his back, looking up at the towering man with an innocent expression. 

“Ah, a submissive position. Clever, but I don’t think it will get him out of trouble,” Tahl observed.

She would end up being right, because Qui-Gon began to mercilessly tickle his Padawan, until the latter was a laughing mess on the floor, with tears running down his pale face. 

“Do you give up?” Qui-Gon asked cockily. His Padawan was panting heavily and unable to answer, but the older Jedi decided to take mercy. “I take that as a yes.” 

his midnight blue eyes softened and with a thumb, he gently wiped away the tears stains. Obi-Wan immediately leaned into the touch. Out of instinct, did the older Jedi lean down again, rubbing his cheek against his Padawan’s. 

“Come here you,” he sneaked his arms under the boy’s frame, with the latter holding on to his neck and wrapping his legs around his waist and with the ginger haired Jedi secure in his arms, did Qui-Gon raise. “It’s time for bed now, Padawan mine, you have an important exam tomorrow.”

“But I am not tired yet,” it was not defiance, realized Qui-Gon and so did the two spies, it was just a fact.

Qui-Gon waved with his hand so that the couch turned into a sleep couch and then he lowered his cargo onto it.“How about I read something to you?” he suggested.

Obi-Wan nodded eagerly and after his Master had laid on the couch, he cuddled into the older male as close as possible.

Tahl and Mace were not sure, how long they sat and listened to their friend’s deep and soothing voice, but both agreed that the man’s voice was made for story telling. Obi-Wan seemed to have the same opinion.

At one point, the young Padawan began to shift and moved, so that his back was towards his Master, then he rolled himself into a tight ball with a huge yawn. Qui-Gon send his Padawan a smile, kissed the boy’s cheek and then shut off the datapad. With another flick of his wrist, the lights were turned off and he curled himself around his charge, offering warmth and his presence. It did not take long for the pair to fall asleep, with Qui-Gon still curled around his Padawan and Obi-Wan rolled to a small ball, with his head resting on his Master’s arm.

“And we were afraid that he might do something to Obi-Wan,” Tahl whispered, as if she were actually in the same room like those two.

“Ridiculous,” Mace agreed. He had seen enough. He and Tahl would remove the cameras tomorrow and then they would be done with it. There was also no denying it now, Kenobi and Jinn were the closest Master-Padawan-Team this Order had seen in a long time. They just had to be careful that their love - for what else could it be - for each other would not turn into attachment.

“Let’s leave them to their rest,” Tahl shut down the equipment.

“I will return to my own quarters now, good night Tahl.”

“Good night, Mace,” she smiled at the retreating Korun Master and with a last glance at dark monitors, she went into her own bedroom. Had the monitor still be on, she would have witnessed the protective arm that the older Jedi unconsciously laid over his charge and the matching smiles of content on both their faces…

[sumisuchan]

Strangers Ch.3, Song

All three stood around the room, still, like the monuments erected of them. They nearly formed a triangle with how they were placed. Yellow looked at White and Blue looked at Yellow, but White looked at no one, having given up upon her chair and staring at the floor. The clear parts of her eyes had grown pink around the edges, as well as the expanse of her cheeks. Each part of her expression sagged, and wild hair that she had usually trimmed and controlled branched out past its usual points.

“So, is this it?” Yellow spoke, digging into the eldest of them with a glare like claws. “You’re just going to leave?”

White gulped and produced a few more tears, but she couldn’t meet her accuser.

“Why? Because it’s hard? You just can’t take it anymore? What kind of Diamond are you? What about your gems?”

“Yellow, stop it.”

“No!” She took a hard turn toward Blue. “If she’s so insistent on leaving, she had better have a damn good reason! We’re already out one Diamond and now she’s trying to saddle us both with enough work for four! Do you remember how many colonies she has?!” Yellow then placed her focus upon White, who only moved in wiping beneath her nose. “Let’s hear it. What’s the reason you’re abandoning your gems? Why are you abandoning us?”  

Slowly, White warmed up her lips and after a gulp, spoke, “After corrupting all of those gems—”

“Most of them were traders!”

“But all of them were mine!”

They finally looked at one another.

“I don’t want to do this anymore,” White began to cry anew and reflected a rainbow from her gem in turning away. All the while, Yellow stared, not bothering to prevent the sneer warping her lips. “If things can be so horrible, I don’t want to rule. I never want to repeat what I’ve done.”

For a moment, neither Blue nor Yellow spoke. Neither moved. They merely watched as White cried and cried. It wasn’t long, however, before Yellow moved closer, until they were centimeters apart, and said between clenched teeth, “If you think things are bad now, you’re not going to believe how awful they’re going to be if you leave. If you intend on abandoning your court—your gems, your fellow Diamonds, you had better go and never come back. Because if I ever see your face again, I don’t know what I’ll be liable to do.”

White gasped and replied, “Fine. I’ve made up my mind. I guess I’ll never come back.”

The final word had left her mouth and Yellow grasped her by the highest point of her hair, ripped her from the seat, and threw her to the floor. White screamed; Blue screamed, and Yellow released some of her lightning. It set fire to a few patches of the carpet and White’s cape, but before any of them could speak, Yellow left the room, leaving Blue to come and put out White’s outfit and sooth the raw skin of her scalp.         

She ended up going to a planet in a galaxy far away from Homeworld. They had found it millennia ago, rotating in the fourth position away from its star, nearly barren aside from several craters and pale dust. Despite these features, however, it was of decent size and pleasant temperature, and held a lovely view of all the stars around them.

White had taken the closest members of her court—her Pearls, her guards, her sapphires and a few others to this planet where there were neither warp pads nor surroundings. She had her Bismuths build a palace and erect a force field to blast away the meteors, and there, within the never-ending silence of multicolored space, White lived in retirement.

One day, she stood within her music room, singing an old song in an ancient language as two Pearls played from their instruments. The Diamond filled her body with air and turned it to audible gold and delicate high notes. Her voice slipped into them as though she slid her elegant hands through silken gloves, and the sound poured from her in smooth waves that echoed around the room, packaged in beauty. She never seemed to run out of air, like a star lighting the sky, or the way her gem flashed a thousand colors any time she moved her head.  

Once White had finished her song, she received a round of applause from her attending Pearls, one of which spoke immediately, “My Radiant, Lustrous, Glorious, Fabulous, Talented, Well-read Diamond, Madame Sapphire has predicted that Blue Diamond will come to visit you very soon.”

“Blue Diamond? I wonder why she didn’t call first. Did Sapphire mention if she’ll stay for long?”

“She didn’t, Your Luminosity.”

“Very well, then.” White adjusted her long and loose skirts by running her hands over them. A lacy collar grew around her neck, and her outfit frothed as it became more refined. Stretching out her arms, White said, “Pearls, would you mind preparing some tea for us?”

“Certainly, Your Clarity.”

“We had a lovely practice today. Very well done, everyone.”

Her Pearls replied in unison, “Thank you, My Glittering, Sparkling, Wondrous, Fashionable Diamond,” and started right for the kitchen to put on the tea.

The empress went to her leisure room, and began to pick up the yellowed sheets of music left upon the table, as well as rearrange the pillows on the sofa. They had slumped over and weighed unevenly in their obesity, having grown indents where White Diamond had put her head and elbows. With her considerate long-nailed hands, she fluffed them and set them back into place, and sat in the center of the couch. Not one part of her body touched them as her attention wandered towards the window, where the stars arranged themselves into words and images from the past that played out as if the gem on her forehead projected them.

Three-fourths of the walls were glass, but White had still hung pictures upon the one that wasn’t. Many of the multicolored frames held photographs of her subjects, such as her Pearls standing and posing together, or the picture of her two Agates she had taken with both of them beaming into the camera. White had posted images of all the gems that lived with her upon the one solid wall, and given their color, were speckled like stars around the old paintings of the other three Diamonds. Like pretty galaxies with their various colors, they stood out in rich pigments and specific detail. The artist had made their eyes shine with metallic paint—something White caught when she turned around briefly to take her knitting from underneath the sofa.

But as soon as she secured one of her enormous needles, the door came open and a Pearl announced, “Presenting Madame Blue Diamond, Your Purity.”

“Oh—” White sat straight up to regard her guest, taking her hand from her great ball of string. “Welcome, Blue.” She stood and came to the other Diamond, outstretching her arms. “How was your journey?”

Blue filled in White’s embrace and received several kisses upon the cheek as soon as the eldest empress had her. “Oh, White—” She returned the gesture, touching just beneath the ivory woman’s right eye. “I hope that you’ll forgive me for not calling ahead. I realized how long it had been and I wanted to see you.”

“Of course,” White gave her a squeeze before releasing her, but placed her hands upon her guest’s shoulders. “You’re always welcome here. Please, come sit. My Pearls are preparing some tea for us.”

“Thank you.”

Both Diamonds sat upon the sofa together, crushing the pillows waiting on either side as a silence commenced. Neither spoke to fill it, and while White set her palm upon Blue’s knee, the other empress unveiled her tired eyes.

“You’ll have to forgive me,” Blue started, “I don’t know why I came here, other than wanting to see you. I’m not sure what to talk about. Certainly, this must seem odd.”

“Not at all,” White took her unintentionally intense eyes from Blue. “I was just thinking about the both of you, and I wondered how you were. Has Yellow…” White began her sentence, but paused halfway through it, as if wading through heavy sludge. “Has she forgiven me?”

Blue furrowed her brows.

“I’m sure she never mentions me, does she?”

Still, the guest said nothing.

“I’ve wanted to come visit. I miss Homeworld. As boring as it is here, she couldn’t let me retire there.” White looked into space from the well-polished windows and didn’t turn back for several seconds. “But how is she? I do worry about her.” The fingers White had set around her guest’s knee squeezed a little, and both pairs of diamond-shaped pupils finally aligned.

“She keeps herself busy. I don’t think she ever stops working unless it’s to visit me, and even then, it takes a lot to get her relaxed. She came to my bath recently—”

White raised an eyebrow and Blue stopped talking, cheeks flooding with pigment while the eldest Diamond placed her hand delicately upon her chest.

“What is that face for?”

“Your bath?” White’s lips took up a crooked and playful shape. “I thought Pink only ever went there, and things might become…”

Before Blue could speak, White kept talking. “Well, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I promise, I’m not trying to make you feel embarrassed. I suppose I’m just taken aback.” Her face burned grey with steamy implications. “She’s admired you a long time. Can I ask, how was it?”

“We didn’t get very far. She told me she had never been with another gem before.”

White blinked, “Well, I’m not sure who she would have ever been with. You were practically taped to Pink and she’s never been interested in me.”

Just then, the doors opened and the Pearls wheeled in two enormous cups of hot tea upon separate push carts. The steam drifted from the near rose-colored drink and obscured the servant’s faces as they approached the Diamonds.

“Thank you, Pearls,” White took her cup, as did Blue, and both of them bowed only to leave more quickly and quietly than they came.

The eldest empress blew away some of the steam as her colorful nails scraped past the vibrant flowers painted upon the porcelain.

Once the doors whispered shut, and the room emptied of foreign ears, White Diamond took a sip and spoke more softly than normal, “It may feel odd, to be with Yellow in a romantic sense.”

Blue stared deep into her cup of tea, not yet taking a sip, and allowed the steam to obscure some parts of her face. Within the liquid, she observed the bags beneath her eyes and the crinkles she made along her forehead, finally admitting, “I feel as though I’m betraying…”

“I don’t think you should.”

A silence passed where neither Diamond looked at one another, but gave their attention to the volume of the surrounding space. The stars lined up a thousand different ways and both took it in for a few moments, until finally having enough and studying the finite depth of the rose-colored tea.

“I don’t know, White. As demanding as she is sometimes, Yellow keeps me from becoming lonesome. She worries about me, and I appreciate that. In a lot of ways, she’s all I have and is so resilient, but sometimes their bodies are just too similar, and all of the memories come back in a rush. It’s overwhelming, and I feel…” Blue trailed off and never came back.

“If Pink were still with us, you would consider it infidelity, but given the unfortunate circumstances, I don’t think you should allow any guilt to tarnish your relationship with Yellow. Even if you find yourself wildly in love with her, it will never take away the time you’ve shared with Pink.” White took another sip and ran her finger over a rose.

“I can’t deny that she cares for me.” Finally, Blue drank. “There are many things I admire about her. Sometimes I catch her at such an angle, and she looks so beautiful, and other times, she’ll be so caught up with her work she doesn’t pay any mind to what she looks like at all, and there’s something charming about that.” Most of the steam had bled away and those sad eyes regarded themselves. “But sometimes these feelings are so familiar, and it seems I need them as desperately as I want to push them away.”

White touched her shoulder. “I’m not sure there’s a cure for that, but I would suggest giving it time.” Her fine brows bent. “I don’t think you can do anything else.”

“I only wish the pain would stop.”

“Oh, Blue.” White set down her tea and wrapped her arms around the other Diamond, holding her near, despite the fact that Blue still held her cup carefully in her right hand. With the other, she wiped the heavy tears from her face and used it to drape over the elder’s shoulder. Their cheeks touched and White Diamond squeezed the younger one until she stopped crying, having spilled a few fat droplets of tea upon her floor.

They separated with a kiss to Blue’s cheek.

White caught her free hand inside both of hers. “When I feel horrible, I try to sing. It usually helps. Shall we do a duet? We rarely see one another anymore.”

A smile warped the sad corners of Blue’s mouth. “You would always sing when you were happy too, if I remember correctly.”

“Well, when I’m happy I want to sing, and when I’m sad, I want to be happy, so I sing anyway.” The ex-empress grinned. “You had to have guessed I would want to sing with you when you came here.”

“Of course.” Blue wiped the last of her tears and gave into the upward curve of her lips.

“Well, come along. I’m already warmed up.” White stood up from the sofa and placed one fabulous hand upon her hip, outstretching the other for Blue. “Finish your tea and I’ll warm you up too.”

The two ended up going together to White’s music room, and copied the notes the eldest empress played. Her fingers commanded the keys and Blue met them with her voice, until both of them came to singing several duets together, as White played her instrument in unison.

Blue stayed for a long time, until so many hours had passed that she couldn’t spend any longer. She left with White walking her to the ship and nearly clinging to her embrace, but the original queen finally returned to her secluded palace and Blue drove back to all her responsibilities before Yellow began to wonder.

[teachingoutsidethebinary]

Insomnia Cookies: Best Birthday Ever

Summary: Poe, Finn and Bucky plan a special surprise during Y/N’s 17th birthday party.

Characters: Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton, Tony Stark, Sam Wilson, Reader, Poe/Finn Dameron

Warnings: none, major fluff alert though

Word count: 1852

A/N: So sorry this took so long!! This was a really important chapter for me, and I wanted to make sure I got it right. We’re starting to wrap everything up now, so there will only be a few more parts. As always, thanks for reading!!

Read previous parts here

“Here comes the cake!” Finn announced to the room. Tony dimmed the lights and Poe walked in carrying an ice cream cake decorated with seventeen blue candles. The words “Happy 17th Birthday Y/N” were drawn in a loopy cursive, and icing hedgehogs dotted the space around them.

Y/N blushed and grinned shyly as everyone started singing. Poe and Finn had taken Y/N and her friends from school out to the movies earlier in the day, and now they were celebrating as a family. It was a patchwork family for sure, but to her, it was perfect.

Tony, Sam, and Clint really belted out the last lines, and the others clapped enthusiastically.

“Make a wish!” Nat exclaimed. She held out her camera as Y/N closed her eyes. She paused a few seconds before taking a deep breath and blew out all of the candles at once.

“What did you wish for?” Bucky asked, squeezing her shoulder.

Y/N shook her head. “I can’t tell you!” she admonished. “It won’t come true!”

“Yeah, Bucky!” Steve joked. “You should know better!”

Before Bucky could interject, Poe and Finn began passing out the cake. Of course, Y/N got the first (and biggest) piece, and she eagerly attacked her cake.

“Good?” Poe asked.

Y/N nodded and gave him a thumbs up. “You sure?” he asked uncertainly.

She swallowed her cake and smiled. “Poe, this day has been awesome! I promise.” She crossed her heart for emphasis.

“Okay, okay, just checking,” he replied. He moved over and sat next to Finn on one of Tony’s couches.

“They’ve been acting weird all day,” Y/N whispered to Bucky. “Like all nervous and jittery.”

“It’s your first birthday with them, kid,” Bucky said. “They probably just want it to be perfect.”

“Yeah, maybe,” she said uncertainly. “Do you think everything is okay?” Her forehead creased with worry, and her eyes filled with a slight sense of fear.

“Y/N, I swear, everything is fine,” Bucky reassured her. He scooted closer and gave her a side hug. “You’re good, it’s all good.” Y/N nodded and slowly went back to eating her cake.

A clinking glass drew everyone’s attention to the center of the room where Tony was standing. He cleared his throat. “Y/N,” he said, “you are a very special kid. And a special kid gets presents for her birthday, am I right?”

Everyone cheered and clapped as Nat and Clint brought out two large piles of presents. Y/N’s face lit up as they were placed in front of her.

“No way!” she squealed. “Thank you!”

“Don’t thank us until you’ve seen them,” Steve warned. “Some of us weren’t supervised.”

“Hey, man,” Sam argued, “you guys picked the worst time to get presents. Not all of us follow your super soldier schedules.”

“So Sam’s present is bad, got it,” Y/N replied cheekily. Sam pretended to be offended, but he broke a smile when Y/N got up and gave him a hug. She sat back down on the rug and began going through the pile as Nat took pictures.

All of the presents were surprisingly awesome. Clint got Y/N a bow and arrow set that Tony insisted was “for outdoor use only”. Clint shook his head and winked at Y/N when Tony wasn’t looking, and she giggled in response. When Tony whirled back around, she got busy opening the first edition A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, one of her favorite books, from Nat.

“Nat, this is awesome!” Y/N exclaimed, jumping up to give the redhead a hug. “Thank you!” She pulled away and turned the book over. “Where did you find this?”

“Let’s just say I have my sources,” Nat replied, coyly.

“Okay, my turn!” Sam announced, pushing a bag towards Y/N. She carefully rooted through it and pulled out a stuffed hedgehog. “You got a hedgehog pillow at Ikea, remember?” he asked. “I thought you might like this to go with it.”

“It’s beautiful,” Y/N whispered, hugging it to her chest. “Does it have a name?” Sam shook his head. Y/N held it out in front of her in consideration. “How about...Spike?” she asked.

“Spike?” Clint scoffed. “For a hedg-ow!” He stopped as Nat jabbed an elbow into his side.

“It’s perfect, Y/N,” Nat said, sending daggers Clint’s way. “It fits perfectly.”

Y/N nodded in satisfaction and hugged Spike into her chest.

“Open mine next!” Tony said, pointing to a small box.

Y/N tore off the wrapping paper and opened the box to reveal a key card. She held it up and tried not to look too confused at the odd present.

“That’s a key card for a room in the Tower,” Tony explained. “Specifically, your room. It’s on the same floor as Barnes, and you can decorate it however you want.”

“Seriously?!” Y/N asked, her mouth gaping open. “I have a room here?”

“As much as I love torturing Tin Man, I figured he didn’t need to sleep on the couch every time you slept over,” Tony replied.

“Wow, this is...is this okay with you guys?” Y/N asked, turning to Poe and Finn. They both nodded enthusiastically.

“Yeah, sweetheart!” Finn replied. “Tony asked us first, and we think it’s a great idea.”

Satisfied with their answer, Y/N lept up and gave Tony a hug. “Thank you!” she mumbled into his shoulder.

“Anytime, kiddo,” Tony said.

Steve cleared his throat, and Y/N turned to face him.

“This one’s from me,” he said, handing her a box. Y/N tore the paper off and pulled out a large collage picture frame. Steve filled it with various pictures of him, Y/N, and the other Avengers. The words “Friends Forever” was embossed in a fancy cursive at the bottom of the frame.

Y/N carefully traced each picture and smiled at the memories. Steve and Y/N at the top of the Ferris Wheel at Coney Island. Nat and Y/N getting manicures at the spa. Tony and Y/N battling it out on the Wii. Everywhere Y/N looked, she saw happiness. Her happiness, to be exact. It had been so long since she had seen any pictures of herself, and this was a girl she could get used to.

“Steve,” she said, choking back tears, “I love it.” She stood up and Steve met her halfway in a hug.

“Happy birthday, Y/N,” he whispered.

Poe clapped his hands and jumped up. “Okay, last but not least!” He jogged out of the room and came back in wheeling a suitcase wrapped in sparkling blue paper.

“What the heck?” Y/N giggled.

“Just open it,” Finn insisted.

Y/N kept giggling as she pulled off the paper. The suitcase was a sleek navy blue, and Y/N spun it around to admire it.

“This is like the Ferrari of suitcases,” she said, running her hands down the fabric. “Thank you!”

“Open it up,” Poe suggested. Finn gripped his husband’s hand nervously as Y/N tipped the suitcase on its side and unzipped the main compartment. A pair of Mickey ears sat inside, and she carefully held them up. She gasped and looked up at Poe and Finn with excitement.

“We’re going to Disney World?!” she shouted.

“We leave next week!” Poe exclaimed.

Y/N yelped and ran over to tackle them in a hug. She sat back down and stared at her hat adoringly.

“What does the back say?” Bucky prodded.

Turning the ears around, she ran her fingers along the the silver stitching on the back.

“Y/N Dameron,” she read. She furrowed her brows, looked up at Finn and Poe and looked down again. “Dameron?” she asked. “I don’t...I’m not...I don’t understand.”

“There’s still more,” Finn urged, pointing inside the case.

Y/N rifled through the tissue paper and picked up a picture frame.

“This certificate shows,” Y/N read aloud, “that on this day of October 14th, Y/N L/N became a permanent member of the Dameron family.” She stopped and gasped. “Are you...am I…?” she stuttered.

“There’s one more,” Poe said, clutching Finn’s hand tightly.

Y/N moved the frame and took out a manila envelope. Opening it, she bit her lip and tried not to cry as she read the document title.

“Adoption papers?” she whispered. “For real?” Once the first few tears escaped down her cheeks, she couldn’t stop.

Poe and Finn both stood up and knelt down next to her.

“We love you so much,” Poe said, resting his hands on her shoulders.

“We would be honored for you to be our daughter,” Finn added, wiping away her tears. “Officially, anyway,” he laughed. “We’ve thought of you as ours from day one.”

Y/N couldn’t speak as she continued to cry, but she nodded her head vigorously, and wrapped her arms around Poe and Finn, hugging them tight. The other Avengers smiled and wiped away their own tears as Nat recorded everything.

“We love you,” Finn said, squeezing her one more time.

“I love you too,” Y/N replied. “This is amazing. Thank you so much.”

Poe cleared his throat and looked at Bucky. “Hey sweetheart, Bucky’s present is in the front pocket. Why don’t you open it?”

Bucky gulped as Y/N pulled out a box from the small pocket in the front of the suitcase. She opened it and found a charm bracelet inside. Holding it up, she examined the two charms that swung gently from the silver band.

“Is that a cookie?” she asked. Bucky smiled and nodded. “That’s so awesome!” she exclaimed.

“A cookie?” Steve whispered to Nat. “I don’t get it.”

“Shhh!” Nat hissed. “She’s looking at the other one!”

Y/N placed the second charm on her palm. It was a small heart with delicate filigree designs all along the outside. Two words were inscribed in the middle of the heart.

“Goddaughter?” she asked, looking at Bucky in awe. “You want to be my godfather?”

“If you’ll let me,” he replied. “Poe and Finn asked me last week, but I wanted it to be your decision.”

Y/N was silent and stared down at the charms again. Her chin trembled as her emotions overwhelmed her again, and Bucky was terrified he pushed her too far.

“Y/N?” Finn asked, gently.

She finally looked up, her eyes swimming with tears again. “I would really love to be your goddaughter, Bucky,” she announced, her voice cracking. She wiped at her eyes. “Oh come on, I just stopped crying too!”

Everyone chuckled as Y/N and Bucky embraced in a hug.

“Pictures!” Nat called. “We need pictures of the new family!”

Poe and Finn posed with Y/N first, and then Bucky joined in. Their eyes were red, and their cheeks were blotchy from crying. But what really stood out were their smiles. They all grinned from ear to ear, and their eyes sparkled. Their joy shone through as Nat snapped picture after picture.

It was by far the best birthday ever.

TAGS: @buckyappreciationsociety @fab-notfat @cutefandomsdaily @rebekahsprinkle

[d-s-winchester]

The Charade

(gif credit to the creators)

Part Six

Master List

Pairing: Misha x OFC / Jensen x OFC Word Count: 1,706 Warnings: language, drinking A/N: Here’s part six of mine and Nicole’s (@iwantthedean) collab! Hope you guys like it! Anyway, feedback for this is awesome! :)

“Are you nervous?” Adeline asked Boden as she fastened her earrings.

 “Why would I be nervous?” Bo asked as she slipped on her shoes.

 “Because this is technically our first public appearance with Jensen and Misha, and it’s the party for the show’s 200th episode,” Adeline stated, applying her lipstick, “this could make or break our cover.”

 “Well now I’m nervous, thanks for that.”

 “Sorry.”

 Boden double checked her makeup and Adeline slipped on her shoes before Misha sent her a text saying they were outside waiting for them. When the girls reached the car they noticed the two men were dressed to the nines and the girls were happy they’d decided to dress fancier than they normally would have.

 “You girls ready?” Jensen asked.

 “I guess,” Adeline shrugged, “not entirely sure what to expect.”

 “Lots of photographers and lots of alcohol,” Misha smirked.

 It wasn’t long before the car was pulling up to the venue and the couples were being helped out of the vehicle. Once they were at the entrance to the red carpet they paired off and walked down the carpet toward the entrance. Boden and Jensen went first, walking arm-in-arm past the photographers and journalists, stopping every few feet to take pictures and answer questions. It wasn’t long before the handler was ushering Misha and Adeline down the same path as their friends. They posed for the cameras and answered the questions but in the back of her mind Adeline knew they weren’t selling themselves as a couple as well as Jensen and Boden were.

 She pushed it from their mind once they made it into the building, however, and met up with the rest of the cast and crew. They spent most of the night mingling, drinking, and posing for various pictures -- Adeline never leaving Misha’s side in case a journalist decided to ask him about his recent break up with Charlotte -- and the night was going well. After sitting through a screening of the episode things seemed to be dying down.

 Misha grabbed Adeline another glass of wine and a photographer stopped them for a picture. They were the picture of perfection, her dress matching his tie, smiling like they were happier than they’d ever been but Adeline could tell the press wanted something more. Working for the press had her in tune with what they wanted and she knew they weren’t getting their top story from them even though both her and Misha were trying their hardest.

 As they mingled with Jensen and Boden along with some of the other cast and crew Adeline noticed that one of the photographers had their eye on them. She took a sip of her drink and tugged on Misha’s arm. He looked over at her and she motioned for him to listen to her. He leaned down toward her and she whispered in his ear.

 “Kiss me,” she stated.

 “What?” he asked, taken aback, though he wasn’t showing it.

 “Kiss me,” she repeated, “we’re not giving them what they want. They don’t believe we’re actually a couple. You have to kiss me.”

 Without a second thought Misha turned to her and grabbed her face in his hands. He pulled her close and pressed his lips against hers. Adeline wrapped her arms around his neck, being careful not to spill her drink, and melted into the kiss. Under any other circumstance she would have played it off as good acting but she couldn’t help but notice that there was something else there. She pushed herself closer to him and deepened the kiss, surprising herself.

 From the minute she met Misha she knew they would be friends, there was no denying that, but there was no way she could have anticipated the way she felt while she was kissing him. It was like nothing she’d ever experienced before. It was like they fit. Like two pieces of a puzzle that were missing and had finally been placed back together. Adeline wasn’t sure how long they were standing there, practically intertwined, but the sound of Boden clearing her throat pulled them apart. Adeline cleared her throat and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear before slipping her fingers into Misha’s and looking over at her friend.

 Boden was smirking at her, one eyebrow raised, and all Adeline could do was blush. It was clear that her and Misha’s kiss lasted far longer than the time frame of the photographer taking their picture and all Adeline could do was smile at her friend before finishing off her glass of wine.

 “What do you think that was about?” Jensen asked in a low voice.

 Boden shrugged. “Probably because the press is looking at all four of us like we’re playing a game here.”

 “Really? You can tell that.”

 “Technically, I am the press,” Boden reminded him. “Hey, do you want to play a drinking game with me?”

 Jensen raised his brow. “A drinking game? I don’t know …”

 “Pansy.”

 Her immediate question of his courage, however teasing her smile might have been, caught Jensen off-guard. He laughed and put an arm around her, deciding the press deserved a show.

 “I’m just saying, you’ve already had a few drinks, Bo. I don’t want you puking in front of all these people.”

 Boden rolled her eyes. “Trust me, Ackles, I can hold my liquor. You in or not?”

 Jensen took one look at her smile, the excited sparkle in her eyes, and gave in. “All right, Emerson. You’re on.”

 “Good,” Boden said, clapping a little. She ordered two shots from the bartender, then handed one to Jensen. “Every time Misha and Addy ham it up for the press, we take a shot.”

 “A shot? Not a drink?”

 “Nope,” Boden shook her head. “Shots.”

 “All right, you’re the commissioner here,” Jensen sighed, clinking his glass with hers. “To … uh … eternal happiness.”

 Boden giggled before downing her shot. Jensen downed his, too, then resumed his position with an arm around her waist. If Misha and Adeline could ham it up, he could make this thing with Boden look real, too.

 As it turned out, when Boden said she could hold her liquor, she meant more specifically that she wasn’t going to puke. She could not however, refrain from getting ridiculously drunk. By the time the party was wrapping up, she was giggling at everything, and there was no way she could walk on her own.

 The majority of legitimate reporters had filtered out sometime earlier, and most of the press that was left were borderline-paparazzi reporters who wouldn’t hesitate to get the worst possible picture of Boden in her drunken state. Jensen was loving her drunken antics, but he wasn’t about to let anyone sabotage her on a night when she was just trying to have fun.

 “Hey, Misha,” Jensen said, nudging his friend. “I’ve got to get her out of here, but there’s no way she’s going to walk out on her on her own two feet.”

 “Yeah, whose fault is that?” Misha asked, giving Jensen a mischievous smirk.

 Jensen rolled his eyes. “Yours, you ass. We were taking a shot for every time you and Adeline hammed it up for the press after that kiss, and -- okay, maybe I didn’t take all the shots I was supposed to, but Boden did. Anyway. You. It’s your fault.”

 That sobered up Misha’s expression a little bit as Addy walked with her friend back to their group from the bathroom. Addy sighed as Jensen took Boden, pulling her close against his side.

 “We can’t let them see her like this,” Addy said. “There’s a couple people still here that we know.”

 Searching the crowd, Jensen found the face he was looking for and pulled out his cell phone. After a quick call and a code word, he informed them that in five minutes, Clif would be waiting for them at the back entrance.

 “How did you do that?” Adeline asked.

 “Yes, how did you do that?” Misha echoed.

 “Are you kidding me? Clif and I have had that backup plan in place for years, in case I overdo it at a party or a bar or -- anywhere I need to get away from, really.” He adjusted his arm around Boden’s waist and looked down at her. “Ready, slugger?”

 Boden giggled. “Yeah. Ready.”

 She headed for the main exit, but Jensen carefully redirected her toward the back. In order to help out, Misha and Adeline wrapped up their drinks as well, and made their exit through the front door.

 Halfway to the back door, Boden stopped and took off her shoes. Jensen took one look at the floor and knew it wasn’t clean enough for her to be walking barefoot, so he took her shoes in one hand and lifted her into his arms, one arm supporting her back and one supporting her legs. Boden leaned her head against his shoulder and mumbled to herself all the way until Jensen carefully placed her in the back of Clif’s car, then slid onto the seat with her.

 “We should try it,” Boden said, looking up at him.

 “Try what?” Jensen asked.

 “Misha and Addy.”

 Jensen was confused. “We should try Misha and Addy?”

 “No,” Boden giggled. “They kissed. And I think they really enjoyed it. We should try that, too.”

 Jensen’s brow nearly hit his hairline. He glanced at the front seat, where Clif was strategically pretending not to know what was happening in the backseat.

 “Kiss me, Jay,” Boden whispered, leaning against his shoulder.

 Clearing his throat, Jensen hooked one finger under her chin and tilted her mouth up to him. He licked his lips and considered asking her if she was sure she wanted this; the thought of losing his chance to kiss her, though, was causing some sudden panic to tighten his chest.

It took another deep breath and a slight surge in courage, but Jensen softly pressed his lips against Boden’s. After that initial kiss, he pulled back just a little to gauge her reaction. Boden pulled his mouth back to hers, and they didn’t part again until Clif cleared his throat and announced they were in front of Boden’s apartment building.

[pastelbatfandoms]

A/N: My New fan fiction story based on Characters from The Flash. Specifically Harrison,Harry and HR Wells. Also Eobard Thawne. My OC is loosely based on me. A Fantasy/Sci fi love story if you will.  The first half is pretty long.

NONE OF THE GIFS ARE MADE BY ME!

He came out of the portal in a flash, All Bolero hat and black with his Drumsticks and ‘Cool Cat’ attitude. I’ll admit while I found him as attractive as all the other Wells, this Harrison or “HR” as he liked to be called, seemed like he was trying too hard. His witty banter didn’t impress me at first, he was so different then the last two Wells that it threw me off, when Harry had tried to sound hip it came off as Sarcastic but this one, this HR Wells seemed so confident in what he would say that it was hard not to believe him. Of course, when he came out as a fraud and not an actual scientist I don’t think any of us where surprised. But we couldn’t stay mad at him, he was a hard man to stay mad at.

We worked together, all of us as a team that I didn’t really pay attention to when he’d try to flirt with me or agree with me more often than the others, he was still closest to Cisco but as Caitlin observed to me. “I think HR likes you.”

I made a face and shook my head. “Nah he’s just friendly. He’s like that with everyone.”

Caitlin smiled. “Yes, he is quite friendly and boisterous.” She agreed. “But more so with you. He’s always finding reasons to sit next to you or putting an arm around you. He compliments you all the time.”

“He’s just being nice.” I argued not wanting to believe it.

“He let you read his book!” Caitlin exclaimed, raising her eyebrows.

I froze and looked at My best girl friend. (My best guy friend being Cisco.) She was right HR, though he talked about it, NEVER let anyone read his stories, out of insecurity I imagined.

“Also, I don’t think he’s the only who has a crush. I see you changed your style again.” Caitlin nudged me and with a knowing grin walking off to help Cisco with something.

I frowned looking down at My all black outfit and fedora hat. My style always evolved though, true it resembled HR’s but…. Oh, who was I kidding. I sighed closing my eyes, maybe I did actually like him.  But why now? What had changed? I decided to figure that out tomorrow. Tonight I’d go home, take a long bath, sleep and try not think about anything. It didn’t work.

Especially since the next day when I arrived at Star Labs Headquarters, I learned I’d be working with HR, just us, together.

“Wait…. Me with him?”

“Oh thanks, glad you’re so excited.” HR replied in mock indignation.

I looked at him. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just mean that we’re not super smart or super human, what are we supposed to do?” I asked a questioning look on my face as I looked at the group.

HR crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame.

“Yes, what are we expected to do? Michelle’s right we don’t have well super ANYTHING really.” HR agrees with a carefree air.

It was Caitlin who spoke up. “Well we need Michelle to…”

“Help me with My journalistic piece!” Iris jumped in. “I’m going to be helping Wally with school.” She gestured for his input.

“Yeah right! I do need Sis’s help with an English essay.”

“Yeah so I’ll need your help Michelle with the new Flash editorial I’m working on.”

“I could help Wallace with school, I mean those books don’t write themselves.” HR points at Wally. “Though I wish they did that be fantasy come to life, am I right?” He looks at us to join in.

Cisco just pats HR on the back.  “Actually, HR we will need you to help Michelle with the Piece maybe find some good photo’s. You have that keen eye.”

HR nods in supposed understanding and smiled. “That I do.” He agrees with a snap and point of his fingers.

While I’m just looking at them still not sure why I need to be the one writing this, I say as much.

They look at each other.

“Because Iris trusts you and I trust you not to make me look bad.” Barry finally speaks up. “Besides it’ll be fun. Especially with HR helping you.” Barry smiles warmly.

I sense something else is going on but my thoughts are interrupted by HR who puts an arm around my shoulders. I feel my face warm as he gives me a wink.

“Yes, I’ll make sure we have fun and that you are never bored.”

I nod relenting.

“So, Coffee run?” he suggests.

“Of course!”

“Then my place or yours?” He then realizes what he said and stammers. “I mean for the story, it’ll be quieter less distractions, you know…”

“You sure about that…” Cisco murmurs under his breath.

I just laugh and retort back. “You have a place?”

“I most certainly do!”

“Then your place it is.”

“Alright, then shall we?” His eyes light up as he removes his arm from around my shoulders and offers it to me, I take it with only slight hesitation.

“Lead the way.”

“Have fun!” The group call out grinning to one another.

When we walked outside, I looked to see the car HR had said he was driving but didn’t see one that remotely struck me as HR. No Hipster wagon in sight until I noticed HR give a dramatic gesture at a VW bug, A BRIGHT orange VW Bug. I blink in surprise.

“That’s your car?”

“Why so surprised?”

“I guess I just expected you in something flashier. No pun intended.” I shrugged.

“Nope. This is my Baby.” HR says placing a hand on the car.

He then opens the passenger door. “So, want a ride milady?” he smirks.

I give a little curtsy. “I would like that sir.” I joke, getting in.

As HR bounces over to the driver’s side, getting in and starting the car with a tip of his hat.

“What do you think of Led Zeppelin?” he asks.

���They’re ok but do you have any Poison?”

His eyes widen in what I read as pleasant surprise. “That I do.”

 A while later…

We arrive at HR’s place after grabbing coffee at Jitters.  HR’s place is actually a studio and as he opens the door for me, ever the gentleman, I think it looks pretty much how I imagined it would. It’s a studio apartment so it houses a large living room, with a small kitchen, the hall revealing one bedroom and a bathroom. But it was decorated in HR’s hipster chic vibe. The living room was sectioned off by a beaded curtain, the walls were decorated with famous blues singers and old portraits, I noticed he had a vintage camera collection on the large overstuffed bookshelf in the corner. He had furniture in random styles, A large leather couch, A blue corduroy recliner and a hippie chic bean bag chair. He had an antiqued coffee table. A flat screen TV with a built in blu ray player on the wall, underneath was an actual stereo and boxes that, when I looked in, held lots of DVD’s, CD’s and a Super NES console. HR also had a large fake plant in each corner.

I stopped snooping when I heard his boisterous voice from the well-lit kitchen as he walked into the living room.

“Your Black and White Mocha My dear.” He bowed grandly, presenting me the hot coffee in its paper cup and lid.

I smiled a thank you and took it.

He peered around me.

“So, find anything interesting?”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to snoop I was just curious.” I shrugged embarrassed.

“No need to be shy, I am an open book.”

“Are you really?”

HR evaded the question by hitting a button on his stereo.

“Oh! I think you’ll like this song.” As ‘Heartbeats’ by The Knife came on.

I nodded deciding not to question him further. “Yeah I do actually.”

HR claps his hands as he looks at me. “Where do we start?”

We sat on the couch with our coffees, his a cappuccino, my journals and his laptop and got to work.

We work well into the night, he’s as animated as ever but things I wouldn’t have noticed before I start noticing, since Caitlin had made those comments the day before. The way he’d sit really close to me or put an arm around me to grab a paper when he could have just asked for it. The songs he had chosen to play, I was very Intune with songs people chose to play, so him playing Fall Out Boy’s “Me and You’ didn’t go unnoticed.  I also realized I was paying more attention to him than usual. I noticed his genuine smile when he looked at me and his eyes that sparkled when I looked at him, not being able to repress a shy smile at his charm.

Shit I guess I really did like him….

I wasn’t sure I was ready for that, though I’m sure THAT’S exactly what our friends where thinking when they set this up.

I was ready to tell him I was tired and it was time to call it a night, when he grabbed my hand causing me to look at him in surprise.

“HR what are you doing?” I asked looking down at our hands.

HR cleared his throat before answering. He smiled nervously. “Michelle um…There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. Well now’s a good time as any.”

I leaned away not meaning to but I was taken aback. “HR I think I know what this- “

HR stopped me. “Wait I need to say this, it’s now or never.”

“Okay….” I met his intense gaze with my wide eyed one.

“I like you. A lot, like you light up the room a lot. I would like to date if you’re up for it.”

“HR…I like you too, I’ve come to the conclusion that I AM attracted to you.”

HR lets out a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank you Allah!”

“Wait your…”

“What?”

I shake my head in confusion. “Never mind. Listen please.” I let go of his hand I realized I was still holding and raised my own.

HR calms down and looks intently at me. “Yes?”

“I just need time to think. I’ve done this before with Harry and The Evil Harrison and neither turned out well.”

He nods in sympathy and understanding. “I know. But I’m not them. I just look like them.”

“I know that, I just need to get my brain to make that connection.”

“I get it. My brain can get a little crazy too.” He makes a humorous face pointing to his head.

I grin. “I think we can all believe that.”

He lets out a bark of laughter. “Ha! But really I am better looking than them.” He grins.

“Well your personality certainly is.” I remark.

HR suddenly looks at me for a second and though he was grinning at me I could tell by his eyes that he was contemplating something.

I looked at him apprehensively.  “What...HR don’t kiss me.”

Though in reality as I watched him lick his lips, I realized how much I wanted him too. Then he leaned in and with a mischievous look, landed a chaste kiss on my lips. Then leapt to his feet.

As I looked at him speechless.

“Did it anyway!” HR cried as he rushed out of the room. Leaving me sitting there not sure what had just happened.

A few minutes later he poked his head around the hall, grinning and drumming his hands on the wall.

“So, do you wanna sleep here?” He asked then at my look, raised his eyebrows and his hands in innocence.

“Nothing naughty, I AM a gentleman but it is getting late and we have to leave early. You can have the couch or bed it’s your choice.”  He gestured.

I smiled warmly forgetting the kiss for a moment. “I’ll take the couch.”

“If you’re sure?”

I nodded.

“Well then Miss Michelle.” I cringed at the hated nickname but let it go as he continued. “I shall let you get some sleep.” HR brought his fingertips to his lips and blew me a kiss. I blushed and smiled as he disappeared down the hall.

That man is quite the charmer. I thought to myself in amusement. I settled in to bed, glad I had brought a pack of extra clothes with me.

I planned on having happy maybe even romantic dreams that night. But what showed up was far worse and, though they shared a face, were not about HR at all…

Soon. Very soon. I felt a man whisper in my ear. Then a rush of air. Then nothing as I fell back asleep.

 Midnight…

I must have been crying in my sleep because my eyes shot open when I felt a warm hand on my arm and a soft voice rapidly calling my name. “Michelle, Michelle! Wake up.”

I looked up to see HR above me, instead of his usual wide smile he wore a concerned expression on his face. “Where you having a nightmare?” he asked.

I looked at him, sitting up. Glad he was wearing a long sleeved grey shirt and flannel pants instead of being nude as I half expected him to be, he seemed like the type to sleep without a stitch on.

Shaking my head away from that train of inappropriate thought, I answered him. “Yeah I guess I was.”

HR sat on the edge of the couch as he handed me a glass of water.

“Do you wanna talk about it? Sometimes, I’ve been known to find, that helps.”

As I stared into those concerned blue eyes, I knew I needed to tell someone and who better than the guy I liked and their Doppelganger HR Wells.

“It’s about Harrison Wells, Earth one Harrison.”

HR sat up a little straighter as he regarded me. “Ah, The Reverse Flash. Go on.”

I nodded, taking a breath as I told him my sordid past with the first man I ever truly loved.

 2 years ago...

I was a young college graduate, only 24, when Cisco (who I had dated briefly for 8 months in college) and Caitlin my best friend since freshman year of college, had recommended me for a job at Star Labs.

I had studied Journalism and Fashion Design, some Graphic Design, but what could I do with that? They were all Tech nerds. I couldn’t compete. But they convinced me to try, told me about The Flash and had me meet Harrison Wells, The CEO of Star Lab Industries and the man who had accidentally created all the meta humans, including The Flash. After a freak storm had hit the city.

Dr. Wells was confined to a wheelchair after the incident. Even in the wheelchair he exuded power, charm and quiet confidence.  I was immediately drawn to him. I came to find out, as was he.

Harrison saw something in me as well and welcomed me to the team, taking over for Cisco as the costume designer and doing the face recognition's.

Over the coming months, we all worked closely together, none more so than Dr. Wells and I.  

Though he regarded Barry like a son and were Mentors and Teachers to Caitlin and Cisco, I had a feeling he regarded me as something more. He came to me first for help and I was the only one that stayed to work with him while everyone else went home. I was even asked to go out on the field and help Barry train even though I didn’t need to.

I liked being part of a team.

One night while we were doing the mundane task of filing paperwork, just us two, Harrison asked me why.

“Why what?”

“Why do you like working here? I mean you have a degree in Journalism and Design you could be working for the paper or becoming a famous fashion designer.”

“Well,” I contemplated his question. “I wanted to help out my friends.”

“That can’t be the only reason.” He said, looking at me and leaning an elbow on his chair.

I could tell by his posture that he was genuinely curious but I also felt like I was being sized up, like a Canary being spotted by a Cat. A very inquisitive, Intelligent, sexy Cat....

I shifted nervously but replied. “No, I also like helping people and this job is humbling, a lot more than being a “Famous fashion designer.” “I joked attempting to hide my nervousness. “Which is a lot harder than it sounds by the way.”

He smirked like he didn’t believe me, but seemed to let it go. “I see. Well we are glad to have you.” Is all he said as he went back to his work.

I frowned confused. “Why do you ask?”

“Just curious.” He said not looking at me.

“Okay...” I was still wondering what it all meant. Lost in thought.

I didn’t notice the small grin appear on his face and the dark look that peered out at me from the corner of his eye.

 One night while on a stakeout Harrison asked me out of the blue. “Do you like me? I mean could you find me attractive?”

I was surprised by the suddenness of the question but not it’s context, not really. We had been subtly flirting for a while, our long looks and smiles at each other, how I’d go out of my way to talk to him, I loved learning from him, his lingering touches on my arms, once he even held my hand, though that was possibly out of fear for The Flash, I knew I was scared when he went against Blackout.

Even more scared when Wells was flung out of his chair by Blackout’s electricity.

So yes, I knew this conversation would come up eventually, though I thought it would be in an open well-lit room like say Star Labs. Not a closed in car at night while we waited for any signs that Tony Woodward aka Girder, would be showing up.

Dr. Wells coughed to get my attention and eyed me with a raised eyebrow. “Michelle? Do you?”

“What?! Oh I...” I worried my bottom lip and sighed as he waited for a response.  “ I mean I do! Like you and definitely find you attractive.”

Harrison looked down and gave a small smile at that.

“Why would you think I wouldn’t?”

Harrison shrugged. “ I guess I thought because of this...” He trailed off gesturing to his legs.

“Because you can’t walk?! Do you really think I’m that shallow? I don’t care about that!”

“Really?”

“Yes, Dr. Wells I like you for you, your intelligent and cunning and a great mentor to all of us. Not to mention very, very attractive.”

I hadn’t realized I had scooted closer to him in the front seat when I felt his breath on my face as he tried one more time to dissuade me.

“What about my age?”

“you mean cause your older? I like them mature, as long as it won’t affect our working together.” I replied staring at his lips.

“It won’t.” He said in a low tone as he took off his glasses and captured his lips with mine. I touched his chest and he softly grabbed my hand, keeping it there. I breathed him in as we kissed never wanting it to end. But it did when Cisco came over the intercoms that Girder was there. We broke apart, it was ShowTime everything else would have to wait.

 Flash subsequently defeated and jailed Girder.

Afterward Harrison and I talked and agreed that because he was my boss, we should keep our relationship a secret for now.

We managed to keep it under wraps despite our needing, or my needing, to touch each other whenever we were in close proximity to on another.

The team didn’t notice too concerned over the next bad guy to notice anything or anyone else, Barry was still head over heels for Iris, though she belonged to someone else. Caitlin was still trying to deal with losing and then finding Ronnie again. Cisco had met a cute barista at Jitters.

So, they all had their own love lives going on to care about ours.

Harrison still didn’t want them to know for fear of judgement. I agreed besides it was kind of fun.

Especially when we had our subtle games we played while with the team.

“Ooooh he’s kinda cute.” I remarked looking at the guy on the screen in goggles and a ski jacket with shorn hair.

“Michelle he’s a wanted jewel thief!” Caitlin replied as everyone looked at me.

I raised my shoulders in defense. “So? We’ve all stolen something. Besides I like them with an edge.” I stole a flirtatious glance at Harrison who winked back at me but I could tell he was a bit bothered by the cute comment.

“At least he’s never killed anyone.” I finished, crossing my arms.

Cisco interjected walking over. “That is Captain Cold or Leonard Snart and actually he has killed people with his freeze gun.”

“Oh.”

I fell back as Harrison tried to keep from laughing a smug smile on his handsome features.

I wasn’t the only one playing though there had been a couple times Harrison had flirted with women in front of me, kissing their hands and then grinning slyly at me.

I don’t know why we played those games honestly, it’s not like we could do anything about it short of jealousy fueled makeout sessions, we still hadn’t done anything, mainly because Harrison COULDN’T not because he didn’t WANT to. Which frustrated him to no end. So, I suppose the game was all for him. To distract him. I took it all in stride for the most part.

Plus we knew we were only interested in each other, he had told me as much one evening when we were actually taking a break from work and relaxing with an old movie at his house.

As I helped him onto the couch, he put an arm around me as I laid my head on his chest once we had settled on the couch.

He said in my ear. “You know you’re really important to me. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

I smiled and kissed him, realizing that was the closest to saying he loved me I had gotten.

I would take it.

My being important to him meant more to me than being in love.

As long as he wanted me I would be there.

I was realizing how much I liked him and how far I had fallen or how far I was about too...

A few months later...

Harrison led me into his apartment as I opened the door for him, saying he needed to show me something.

I was instantly curious maybe he had something that would get us that much closer to finding out who had killed Barry’s Mom.

Harrison suddenly stopped and turned in the middle of the expansive living room.

“Hare?” I was the only one who could call him that. “What did you want to show me?”

“This.” Harrison answered as he slowly rose from his wheelchair and stood in front of me.

I stared wide eyed, confused but also excited for him. “How? When did you...”

“A few days ago. I wanted to surprise you.”

“Well color me surprised.” I stared at his tall lithe physique in shock and awe. “Does that mean...”

Harrison took off his glasses and slowly set them down on the desk. I don’t know why him taking off his glasses turned me on so much, but I found myself biting my lip as I followed him with my eyes.

“Yes, it does.” He finished my thought from a minute ago and before I could react, strode purposefully towards me, placing a hand on my cheek and kissing me hard on the mouth. When he lips finally left mine, I opened my eyes long enough to look into his eyes burning with heat and undisguised passion.

It was different then when we made out before there was an animalistic look to him I hadn’t seen before, he wouldn’t be holding back tonight.

He pushed me against the wall and growled into my ear. “I have been waiting too long to be gentle tonight.”

My eyes fluttered closed as he kissed my neck and I breathed out, “You don’t have to.”

I barely got the words out when his lips captured mine again and he pulled my body tight to his own, as the other hand moved up my thigh.

After almost a year together we were finally letting all that tension out, it shooting forth at super speed just like a thunder bolt bursting from the clouds.

It was only after we were lying in bed, him stroking my hair, that I asked.

“Harrison how are you able to walk now?”

He seemed to weigh my question before answering. “Simple answer? Lots of physical therapy.”

“The complex answer is very scientific isn’t it.”

Harrison snickered. “Yes, it is.”

Despite it seeming too convenient, I didn’t question him, I was just happy to finally have him like this with me, as I fell asleep with a small smile.

A/N: I HATE TUMBLRS DOUBLE SPACING!! wanted to find add more gifs but couldn’t find them all...