#I miss the silence of the break when everyone was gone all ready

[kagedbird]

So everyone in the Airbnb I live in is back from winter break, and my actual downstairs roommate (it's just us two) has decided he lives in the fucking bathroom every time I need it (out of coincidence but still, mate, hurry the fuck up) to the point where I asked the owners if I could just use the upstairs bathroom and it was the first time I've ever gone upstairs before (since we're usually not allowed) and hoLY SHIT THAT WAS TERRIFYING. THOSE STAIRS ARE A DEATH TRAP.

Anyways: here's to getting my first apartment at some point this year because I Cannot take this shit anymore. Please.

[gguk-n]

Fading Shadow (Lando Norris x ex-Reader)

Part 2 of Last Straw Inspired by this request

Summary- Y/N moved on. Lando is still stuck, on what they had and what he lost.

{Reader's POV}

The moment I landed back home, I felt relief wash over me when I cried in my mother's arms. I had been holding on to too much, it seems. My father brought my favourite food and we ate together and we laughed together. This was the therapy I needed. My siblings weren't very happy with Lando since they had seen everything unfold on social media but they were happy to have their sister back. I was happy to be back home. I needed this, I needed my people.

I decided I needed a change of pace, a change of scenery. I had been mourning my relationship while I was still in it. Now, I was a new me, I was going to do everything I wanted.

I applied at the company I always wanted to work at but due to there being no vacancies I was assigned a job in a different country and I was ready to take on the world. I knew Lando would never search for me, he never truly loved me but I still wanted to leave. I needed a fresh start.

{Lando's POV}

The silence after the break up was exactly what I needed, or so I thought. I could leave as I wished. I could go out whenever I wanted. I didn't have to explain myself to anyone. It's so much better to be single then to be tied down.

I didn't think I would ever miss Y/N, but I did. I remember exactly when I missed her for the first time; it was after a difficult race and I had finish decently with the shitty cards I had and I just wanted someone to tell me how well I did; but there was no one; no one who knew what I wanted to hear. I felt so alone even when I was surrounded by hundreds of people for the first time in a long time.

The second time I missed her was when I was stood on top of the top step of the podium. I wanted to have her around so I could share my highs with her. I didn't get a 'do you wanna go out to celebrate?' like the last two times and I aired her both time to party with random girls. Right now, I was in the club celebrating my third win of my career and season and I felt empty and alone. Not even the alcohol helped.

The house we lived in was a stark reminder of the time we spent together. All our dates we had. All the times she would teach me how to cook but we would always end up with a big mess and half cooked or burnt food since I would get distracted. In retrospect, I loved every second of it even though I never admitted it then. I love all the time we spent together or the laugh she would emit when I messed up. I missed her and I wish she was here; I was too stupid to admit it then but I do now.

Oscar was getting sick and tired of me using his phone to check on Y/N's social media accounts since she had blocked me every where. I would end up borrowing the other driver's phone to check, just in case. Until one day, her account stopped showing up for Oscar too. I went through almost everyone on the paddock's phone to see if she had blocked my friends. Turns out, she had deactivated her social media accounts; I realised that after one of the gossip pages posted about her deactivating her profiles, across all the platforms.

I would wake up from dreams about her and I would fall asleep to the thought of her. No woman interested me anymore; I wish I was this loyal when we were dating, when she could see that I loved her, not now when she couldn't even see I had changed.

My PR team was losing their shit when I tweeted that. I had to sit through a stupid meeting after everything. It was miracle I didn't start crying in the middle of the meeting.

People had started to notice I guess, since Carlos approached me. "Cabron, what's up?" he asked while I was lying on my couch after media day. "Nothing" I hummed. "I fucked up right?" I asked. "I can't say no" Carlos said. I laughed painfully. "I didn't know how good I had it until it was all gone. I'm an ass and I deserve everything I'm getting" I cried. Carlos comforted me, hugging me tightly. "I just wish she would talk to me, at least once. So, that I could show her that I've changed. I really have Carlos. I love her so much, it hurts" I cried into his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Lando" he said patting my back.

There's a saying, You don't know what you've got until it's gone. I was living that nightmare and I will never stop living it.

[wosoragebaiter69]

forgotten about you

barça femeni x teen!reader

request: here

A/N: i just know alexia turned off the tv during the game 😭

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

You wake up, today is what could be described as a neutral day but it’s still your birthday nonetheless. You didn’t want to leave your bed, but you had to. Your family never really celebrated your birthday, only really caring about your brother and his dreams.

Even if it wasn’t the best day for you, a small part of your mind hoped that someone would wish you a happy birthday, at least Alexia anyways. It’s not like you told them though, the Barça instagram page would probably announce it.

You go through your regular movements of the day, traffic is light and you make it just in time.

Walking through, the admin wishes you a happy birthday, you smile lightly saying thanks and continuing to walk into the change room. However when you’re there it’s the same as any old day, it breaks your heart a little but you wouldn’t tell anyone that.

You’re quieter than usual walking to your cubby, it isn’t much of a change considering you’ve been one of the quieter ones since you joined barca, preferring to only be loud late at night when blasting music in your car.

It’s when even Alexia comes in and doesn’t say Happy Birthday that you feel even more hurt than before, out of everyone who would know, you’d just hoped she would. It’s not her fault though, you didn’t tell anyone. Why would she?

Training seems to be a blur, you miss the looks your older teammates give you at certain points. You’ve essentially become someone with no emotions which has somehow made you have a great session. Which in all honesty did not mend your shattering heart, no matter the praises the coaches had given you.

You make an effort to miss everyone after training and head straight home, you didn’t shower and just got up and left ignoring your confused teammates. No matter how much of an introvert you were, you’d always make time to say goodbye. It was a sign to everyone else that something had happened.

You make way to your car and drive off straight away, inevitably you end up sobbing halfway through. Unable to keep your emotions inside.

- - - - -

In the locker room, when you were gone there was silence. A pondering in the air of sorts. Mapi breaks it.

“Is she ok? She’s usually quiet but this… she’d at least say something.” Her statement lingers in the air, no one knowing what to say.

“Oh shit.” The unmistakable voice of Lucy Bronze cuts through the tension.

“Qué?” Many voices say at once. Lucy turns her phone around and shows the birthday announcement from the Barcelona Instagram page.

“How did we not know? Why didn’t she say anything?” Alexia sounds heartbroken, she cares for you deeply and to miss something so important is heartbreaking.

“I’m not sure.” Ingrid’s voice cracks and it looks like she’s about to cry.

Alexia is quick to regain her composure.

“Ok, we messed up. But, we can make this right. In the time I go to her house, talk and get her to come out, you all should do something. Plan a party and we’ll be there in like 1-2 hours. Got it?” The girls nod, seemingly ready to organise something not too big but enough to make up for what they didn’t know.

“Ingrid do you want to come with me?” The captain asks the Norwegian who nods, saying farewell to her girlfriend and teammates. You were very close with her, she took you under her wing a lot and you looked up to her.

- - - - -

You’re crying on your couch when there’s a knock on the door, thinking it’s preachers you ignore it, hoping they’ll leave. Only, the noise gets louder so you wipe your tears and trudge slowly toward the door.

Upon opening, Alexia and Ingrid immediately wrap you in a bone-crushing hug.

“What’s this for?” You say, you thought they’d forgotten about you.

“Don’t act like you don’t know, we’re sorry we didn’t know it was your birthday. We’ll make it up to you.” At Alexia’s words you start crying again.

“No Ale, it’s fine. I shouldn’t have expected anything. I didn’t tell you guys.” You say, feeling slightly bad.

“Elskling, no matter what we should’ve known, were your teammates and we didn’t even do any digging to find it. We made no effort before when we should have. Don’t ever feel like you should dismiss it. It obviously means something.” At her rant, you seem to understand her words as they compute in your mind.

“We did bring you something though nena. One from me and one from Mapi and Ingrid. Then we are going for a drive, ok?” You nod gratefully and get ready for what the two are giving you.

“Here you go.” Ingrid is first, she gives you two small boxes. You open the first one and it’s the Miss Dior perfume you’ve wanted for ages but haven’t ended up getting because you were too busy.

“I- thanks Ingrid.” You beam, she smiles softly back and points to the other one, you open it up carefully revealing a Dior charms bracelet. Your mouth opens wide.

“This is… thank you so much!” You place it down wrapping Ingrid in a hug.

“I’m glad you like it, I heard you said Dior was your favourite designer so I just figured.” It seems your broken heart from before was sealing up because she remembered something you’d told her weeks ago.

Alexia watches the interaction, smiling and happy to see you happy. Not the shell of a person you were at training because they forgot.

Luckily for her and Ingrid, there was a mall on the way to your house with many shops which would definitely satisfy what they needed to get you.

After speaking to Ingrid, you turn to Alexia who is also grinning and hands you a box.

“Aquí.”

You unwrap it, it’s quite big and heavy. When seeing the contents your eyes widen.

“Is this…” She nods her head, smirking. It’s a PS5, Alexia had been pretty strict on no video game consoles considering she wanted you to have a healthy sleep schedule.

“I didn’t think you’d ever allow it- Thank you Ale.” You bring her into a hug before unwrapping it fully and staring at the three things you had received in awe.

“Come on, get dressed we have places to be.” Alexia pulls you from your staring, you get dressed pretty quickly and you’re out of the house in 15 minutes.

- - - - -

You arrived at Patri’s house a little later and walked inside. The rest of the team were there, balloons everywhere and most importantly a cake with 19 on it being brought over by Frido.

Everyone’s singing and your face heats up at all the attention, feeling warm because of the love you’re receiving at the current moment.

When the singing dies down the Swede whispers to you softly.

“Make a good wish kid, it’ll be great.” You nod blowing out the candles and get given a knife to cut down the middle. It’s a pretty plain cake, but if you’re going to be honest you always loved when cakes weren’t so detailed.

The rest of the evening went by in bliss, people apologising and overall having a great time. Yes, they might’ve forgotten. But, they knew their mistake and made this the best birthday you’d ever had.

—————————————————————————

Finally wrote this.. I took too long to write it i’m sorry anon

can you tell what designer i like? (miss dior smells so good i feel rich when wearing it)

anyways i literally need to stop eating original kebab, like it’s so good and taking too much of my money PLEASE

[jzprncess]

the missing melody ♪

pairing : franco colapinto x singer!reader

faceclaim : various people!

summary : after several months of silence, Y/N L/N, a renowned singer, unexpectedly surfaces at a Formula 1 Grand Prix, leaving everyone wondering about her disappearance. Her arrival catches the eye of a talented rookie driver, intrigued by her in many ways then one.

part 1 out of unknown parts

warnings : some singers do not exist in this au since i might take their songs! read my note before reading!

note : first smau! Let me know in the comments for feedback! I actually had inspiration for this one. i don't think this is too long or too short, so expect the next parts to be the same length! this will be at the cota race in austin in october but with the the baku results because thats when they both got points (the william drivers). i

   ── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

F1GOSSIP just posted

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F1GOSSIP after several months of speculation and silence, y/n l/n resurfaced this weekend at a grand prix, and fans are buzzing! our sources say that y/n has always been a f1 fan but has never actually been to a grand prix! why now? did she get bored doing what she was doing? why was she gone for so long?

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username1 WHATTT?!?

username2 wait? MY QUEEN?!?

username3 where? i’m here also!! where is she?!?

username4 she’s still so pretty 😍

username5 NO WAY YOURE LYING?!!?

username6 no one understands how bad i missed y/n!!! 

username7 i almost had a heart attack oh my FUCK

username8 i’m totally not freaking out rn 😊😊

username9 i used to pray for times like this 🙏🙏🙏🙏

username10 DOES THIS MEAN MORE MUSIC? PLEASE ITS BEEN MONTHS IM STARVING!

yourusername added to their story

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username1 we missed you y/n!

f1 hi y/n! we’d love to have you come down and join us in the paddock! let us know if you’re interested!

y/n’s pov

I stare at the text message from the F1 account on Instagram, my thumb hovering over the screen. It’s been months—months of quiet, isolation, and letting the world forget me while I tried to remember myself. I glance around the room, so used to its stillness. The familiar hush, once comforting, now feels almost suffocating. Outside the window, life goes on, people go on, and I’m here, still debating whether I’m ready to step back into it.

My eyes drift over the message again. Maybe it’s time. Time to hear the noise, to feel the movement, to breathe in more than just silence. I sigh, gathering the courage I didn’t realize I still had in me. With a deep breath, I pick up my phone and click on the message. It’s time to be out there again.

messages

I turn off my phone and place it face down on the table, the screen going black as if signaling the shift I’m about to make. My eyes wander out the window, where the grandstands loom in the distance, already buzzing with life and anticipation. A knot of nerves twists in my stomach as I realize what stepping back into the limelight really means. After months of silence, the thought of all those eyes on me again makes my breath catch in my throat.

I close my eyes for a moment, taking in a few deep breaths, willing myself to calm down. The air feels cool and crisp against my skin, a slight contrast to the rising anxiety inside me. Reaching for the complimentary bottle of sparkling water on the table, I unscrew the cap, the soft hiss breaking the quiet. I take a sip, hoping the bubbles will settle me.

Just as I set the bottle back down, I catch movement out of the corner of my eye—someone walking toward my table. My heart skips a beat, but before I can gather my thoughts to say something, they speak first, breaking the moment.

“You must be Y/N! Hi, I’m Diana (not relevant to anyone irl), here to guide you down and give you the paddock tour!” Her smile radiates warmth, as if it spreads from her lips all the way down to her toes, instantly putting me at ease.

I return the smile, though mine is softer, still testing the waters. “Yes, that’s me.” My voice feels steady, which is a small relief.

I stand up from my seat, taking a moment to smooth down my outfit. Carefully, I push the chair back into place, making sure every movement is deliberate, giving myself just a little more time to adjust. I reach for my phone, sliding it into my back pocket, the familiar weight grounding me. Then I pick up my purse, feeling its soft leather strap slide over my shoulder as I take a deep breath.

“Ready?” she asks, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I nod, feeling a mix of anticipation and nerves swirl inside me as I let her lead the way, stepping back into a world I’ve been away from for so long.

As we make our way through the winding hallways of the paddock, the hum of activity grows louder with each step. My heart beats in time with the click of my heels on the hard floor, and I can feel the familiar rush of anticipation building as we head down the stairs toward the grid. With each step, I mentally brace myself for the crowd—the faces, the voices, the attention. It’s been so long since I’ve been in the thick of it all, and I silently rehearse how to hold myself together.

Just as my nerves start to rise, Diana slows her pace and falls into step beside me. Her presence is steady, comforting. “If you ever want to head back up during your time down here, just let me know,” she says gently, her voice low enough that it feels like she’s speaking just to me, despite the noise around us. “The team let me know you might be feeling a bit nervous with how sudden all this is.”

Her words catch me off guard, and my heart skips a beat, warmth spreading through me. The thought that the team has gone out of their way to make sure I’m okay—that they’re taking precautions for me—feels incredibly thoughtful, almost protective. It’s more than I expected.

I can’t help but grin, the tension in my chest loosening just a bit. “That’s really sweet, thank you,” I say, my voice light with gratitude. Knowing they’ve got my back makes everything feel a little less daunting.

I smile as I hear the start of one of my songs, love story , start playing (by taylor swift) in the background. As I start to hum, my phone dings.

I took my phone out of my back pocket and looked to see a message from Williams Racing on instagram.

messages

I slip my phone back into my pocket, feeling its familiar weight settle against my hip. Turning my attention to Diana, I notice she’s mid-conversation, her voice lilting as she discusses the unusually warm weather for this time of year. The sun beats down, making the air almost sticky, and I can feel a light sheen of sweat beginning to form at the back of my neck. I clear my throat with a small cough to get her attention before speaking.

“I’ll be alright now,” I say, my voice sounding steadier than I feel. “I got invited to the Williams garage.”

Her eyebrows lift in mild surprise, and she tilts her head with a curious smile. “Oh? That’s nice. I can walk you there if you’d like,” she offers, a hint of genuine warmth in her tone as she falls into step beside me.

I nod gratefully, returning her smile. “Thanks, I’d appreciate it.”

As we make our way through the crowded paddock, the buzz of activity surrounds us. The hum of engines revving in the distance, the faint scent of burning rubber, and the excited chatter of fans create a sensory tapestry that is unmistakably Formula 1. The Williams garage is up ahead, its blue and white banners standing out among the sea of team colors.

Just as we draw closer, I spot a familiar figure—Mr. Vowles, the team principal, standing by the entrance, his hands clasped behind his back as he speaks with a group of engineers. There’s a calm authority in his posture, even as the hustle of the race weekend unfolds around him.

My pulse quickens as we draw even closer to the Williams garage. The flurry of activity around us feels almost suffocating, and I can’t help but notice the curious glances from passersby. It’s my first public appearance after months of being away, and the weight of those unsaid questions hangs heavy in the air.

As we approach the entrance, Mr. Vowles looks up from his conversation, sensing our presence. His expression shifts from concentration to a welcoming grin, the lines around his eyes crinkling with warmth. “There you are,” he says, his voice carrying a tone of easy familiarity. “Hello, Y/N! I’m James Vowles, but please, just call me James.”

He extends a hand, his demeanor friendly and inviting despite the bustling surroundings. There’s a hint of recognition in his gaze—like he’s aware of who I am, or maybe just curious about the singer who suddenly vanished from the limelight.

I hum softly, finding my voice as I step forward to shake his hand. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you, James.” I offer a small smile, hoping it comes across as more confident than I feel. “Thank you for offering up your garage for me. I appreciate the hospitality.”

His grin widens, and there’s a flicker of something in his eyes—respect, perhaps, or a subtle acknowledgment of the unspoken stories that linger between us. “Our pleasure. It’s not every day we have a special guest with such a storied background. You’re more than welcome here.”

Diana hums thoughtfully and glances at James, a playful glint in her eye. “I leave her in your care,” she says with a smile, her tone light but sincere. She then turns to me, her expression softening. “It was nice to meet you, Y/N. Until next time,” she adds, giving me a small wave before turning on her heel and walking off, her figure soon blending into the sea of people.

I’m left standing at the entrance of the garage, the faint sounds of machinery and chatter surrounding me as I take in the unfamiliar scene. There’s a moment of hesitation, the feeling of being out of place creeping in despite the warm welcome.

“So… what now?” I say, glancing up at James with a faint chuckle to mask my uncertainty. “I’ve never been to one of these before. No idea what I’m supposed to do.”

James chuckles at my honesty, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Well, I’m sure Diana gave you a good tour around the paddock and the grid,” he says, crossing his arms casually. “But how about meeting the drivers? I’m sure Alex and Franco can spare a few minutes to say hello.”

There’s a friendly enthusiasm in his voice, as if he’s eager to make me feel at home in this high-octane world. The idea of meeting the drivers piques my curiosity, and a hint of nervous excitement stirs within me.

I perk up at the suggestion, though the flutter of nervousness in my chest is hard to ignore. Meeting the drivers feels like venturing into unfamiliar territory—a glimpse behind the curtain that I’m not entirely sure I’m prepared for. I’ve spent so long away from the public eye that even casual encounters seem daunting, like I’m out of practice.

“That sounds great,” I reply, managing a genuine smile despite the unease tightening in my chest. “I’d love to meet them.” My voice wavers just a little, betraying the anxious energy simmering beneath the surface. “I’ve seen Alex race on TV before, but I’ve never actually met a driver… or been this close to the action.” I laugh softly, hoping it comes off as lighthearted rather than strained.

“Lead the way?” I add, glancing at James with a mix of eagerness and uncertainty, my hands fidgeting at my sides. There’s excitement, yes, but also the familiar weight of anxiety, making me wonder if I’ll manage to fit into this world—or if I’ll just feel out of place all over again.

f1 just posted!

liked by williamsracing, username8, and 79,277 others

f1 a little birdie told us y/n is in the williams hospitality! it looks like williams was the only team to invite y/n inside or the only team she was interested in? #F1 

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username11 i doubt williams was the only team to invite her!

username7 why’re you making it sound like the other teams dislike her? 😭

username2 i still can’t believe y/n is outside 😧

williamsracing the little birdie is correct! she’s safe and sound with us! 💙

↳username11 does this mean she’s meeting the boys???  

↳williamsracing she’s about too! 

username3 but what does this mean musically? is she back? #imdelusional 

third pov

James had sent a message to the drivers’ group chat well before inviting Y/N to the garage, giving them a heads-up to expect a couple of guests later in the day. In the text, he made it clear that they should stay put in Franco’s room and be on the lookout for their arrival. With James’s usual eye for organization, he had made sure to emphasize the importance of keeping things discreet, hoping to avoid any unnecessary chaos in the busy environment.

Inside Franco’s room, the air buzzed lightly with anticipation. Alex and Franco were seated on the worn leather couch, chatting casually about their upcoming schedules. The conversation meandered from the logistics of travel to plans for the off-season, each driver sharing his own ideas for how to make the most of the downtime. Their words overlapped occasionally, excitement rising as they discussed possible locations for training and leisure.

Suddenly, a sharp knock interrupted their conversation. Both men paused, glancing at each other before Franco rose from the couch, crossing the room to open the door.

Franco approached the door, turning the handle and pulling it open just enough to catch a glimpse of James standing on the other side. As recognition set in, he swung the door wider, making room for James to step through. A moment later, Y/N appeared behind him, her presence drawing immediate attention as she trailed closely after James.

James strode confidently into the room, his usual air of authority softened by a hint of excitement. “There’s someone I’d like for you two to meet,” he announced, his tone carrying just a touch of mystery. With a subtle gesture, he stepped aside, allowing Y/N to take center stage, her figure framed in the doorway as the focal point of the room.

As Y/N stepped into the room, Alex’s eyes flicked over to her, and he stood up slowly. He knew of her—the whole world did—but seeing her in person, especially after her months away, was different. She held herself with a quiet determination, though there was still a hint of uncertainty in the way her gaze briefly dipped to the floor before rising again.

“Hi, I’m Alex,” he said, keeping his voice soft and extending a hand. He noticed only the slightest hesitation before she took it, her grip firmer than he’d expected.

“Nice to meet you,” Y/N replied, her voice steady. She met his gaze, her expression composed but carrying a guardedness that suggested she was still finding her footing. It wasn’t shyness, exactly, but a careful control—like she was reminding herself to be present in the moment.

“It’s good to see you here,” Alex offered with a gentle smile, his tone casual. “Hopefully, things are looking up.”

Y/N nodded, a small smile touching her lips. “Trying to,” she said, her voice a little stronger now. There was more left unsaid, but she seemed willing to let the silence speak for her rather than rushing to fill it.

As Alex stepped back, Franco took a step forward, his gaze irresistibly drawn to Y/N. The moment their eyes met, the world seemed to still, and time stretched in that small space between them. His breath hitched as he glimpsed something in her expression—more than just shyness. It was a quiet determination touched by a vulnerability that tugged at something deep inside him.

“Franco,” he introduced himself, his voice unexpectedly tender. There was a softness in his gaze, as though he could sense the silent courage it took for her to be there, facing the world anew.

“Y/N,” she replied, her voice steady, yet intimate, as if sharing a secret. She held his gaze for a heartbeat longer than necessary, then looked away—not out of hesitation, but as if deciding how much of herself to lay bare.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Franco murmured, the warmth in his tone matching the gentle curve of his smile. He kept a respectful distance, aware that while she exuded strength, there was still a part of her that seemed fragile, as though testing the waters.

“Likewise,” Y/N responded softly, her hands settling at her sides. She resisted the impulse to fidget, letting the moment linger between them. The silence that followed felt almost deliberate, as if it was allowing something unspoken to take root. Franco found himself drawn to the quiet resilience she radiated—a kind of beauty that seemed to unfold with every second he spent in her presence.

y/n’s pov

After a while of simple yet engaging conversation, I found myself feeling more at ease. I shared how I had always been a fan of racing, my voice growing steadier as I spoke. “There’s something thrilling about watching it unfold on screen,” I said, trying to convey my excitement.

Alex leaned in, intrigued. “That’s great to hear! It’s always nice to meet fans who really appreciate the sport.” His enthusiasm was infectious, and I couldn’t help but smile back at him.

Franco nodded, a smile on his face. “It definitely takes a lot of dedication to get here. Every race pushes us to prove ourselves.” His sincerity made me feel even more connected to their world.

As the conversation shifted to their plans for the day, Alex described the strategies for securing points in the race, his passion evident. “It’s all about timing and reading the situation,” he explained, and I listened intently, occasionally asking questions to show my genuine interest.

I relished this moment, enjoying the chance to connect with them. For a brief time, the weight of my absence from the limelight felt lighter, and I was just another fan in the room.

Just as they began to delve deeper into the day’s logistics, James cleared his throat, breaking the moment. “Time to head back to the paddock area,” he announced. “The pre-race interviews are about to start.”

I felt a twinge of disappointment at the thought of leaving this conversation behind, but I nodded. “Good luck out there. I’ll be cheering for you both,” I said sincerely, glancing at both drivers, though my gaze lingered on Franco a beat longer, as if the words were meant just for him.

As I followed James toward the door, I glanced back over my shoulder, catching Franco’s eye one last time. I offered him a small, lingering smile, hoping to hold onto the quiet connection we had just begun to form, even as we braced ourselves for the chaos of race day.

F1GOSSIP just posted!

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F1GOSSIP oh? Is this just franco being his charming self or is something brewing? this is after franco got asked how meeting y/n was. If you have the full clip, please send it in!

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username2 me when y/n announces new music #imdelusional 

username9 no! y/n’s mineeee stay back 🤺🤺🤺

username1 my reaction when i see my leftovers still uneaten in the fridge 

username3 let’s not get carried away chat

username8 they’d lowkey be cute ,no?

username4 here goes mr rizzler

username5 we think y/n giggling at this or not even knowing that he’s basically down bad? 

As I gaze out the window of the paddock suite, my heart thrums with a mix of anticipation and anxiety, waiting for the drivers’ parade to conclude so the race can finally commence. The vibrant colors of the team uniforms blur together in a whirlwind of excitement outside, a stark contrast to the stillness within me. 

I’ve spent so long in hiding—wrapped in the suffocating embrace of identity crises, exhaustion, and a profound sense of disconnection from everything I once held dear. The weight of fame had become unbearable, each flash of a camera a reminder of the lack of privacy I craved. I’d watched as my personal relationships—family, friends—slipped through my fingers, one by one, until I was left with only echoes of laughter in empty rooms.

For the past several months, my life felt like an endless loop of anxiety and depression, a tangled web of emotions that left me feeling isolated and unrecognizable even to myself. The music that once flowed so freely from my soul now felt like a distant memory, a faint whisper drowned out by the noise of my insecurities.

I close my eyes, massaging my temples gently as I let the world around me fade into a soft murmur. The noise of the paddock, the distant roar of engines, and the chatter of eager fans all blend into a soothing backdrop as I focus inward. I think long and hard about what I truly want to do, contemplating the next steps I need to take to reclaim my sense of self and direction.

Images flash through my mind—memories of laughter, music, and the vibrant life I once lived, alongside the shadows of doubt and uncertainty that have lingered for far too long. I sift through these feelings, weighing the burden of expectations against the freedom of possibility. It’s not just about what others want for me; it’s about what I want for myself.

I draw in a deep breath, letting the air fill my lungs as I clear my mind of the noise. Slowly, I allow the weight of indecision to lift, replaced by a flicker of clarity. I envision the goals I’ve set aside and the dreams that still ignite a spark within me. With each thought, I feel a renewed sense of determination taking shape.

Finally, I open my eyes again, and the world around me comes back into focus, sharper and more vibrant than before. There’s a newfound sense of purpose coursing through my veins, a conviction that I can chart my own course and embrace the unknown. I sit up a little straighter, feeling invigorated by the possibilities that lie ahead, ready to take the next step with confidence and resolve. With all that said and done, I picked up my phone with an idea in mind.

yourusername just posted!

liked by williamsracing, username2, and 730,372 others

yourusername I’ve tried in so many ways to come back, but I always took a U-turn, doubting myself and slipping deeper into a place I never thought I’d find myself in. The past several months have been a struggle—a relentless cycle of exhaustion, anxiety, and moments of profound loneliness. The weight of the spotlight felt more like a shackle than a blessing, and I lost sight of who I am and what brings me joy.

I hope you guys miss me as much as I missed you. It’s hard to be away from the people and things I love, especially when music has been my lifeline. I spent so long in my own head, pushing away friends and family, that I forgot how vital connection is to my soul.

But here I am at a Formula 1 Grand Prix, surrounded by the roar of engines and the thrill of the upcoming race, feeling that spark igniting again. This moment is a powerful reminder of the joy that comes from pursuing what we love. I’m learning to embrace the chaos and take the first steps toward rebuilding my life, piece by piece.

So, this isn’t just a post; it’s a promise. I’m finding my way back to music, to the stage, and to myself. I can’t wait to share new songs with you, but more importantly, I want to reconnect with you all in ways that matter.

Stay tuned, because I’m not just coming back; I’m coming back stronger, and I have so much to share. 

view all comments

username1 the scream i just scrumpt and the race hasn’t even started yet!!!

username2 god answered my prayers and i’m not talking about lando world domination!

↳username10 lando we can be world champions i said!! 🧡

username3  lowk just got chills omg

username4 NEW MUSIC COMING ALERT!!!!

username5 it’s too early to be crying 😢

username6 WE MISSED YOU MORE!!

username7 you’re never alone y/n! i’m here 🤗

username8 lowk heartbreaking knowing the reason you left was due to struggles and not because you wanted to go on vacation or something 😔

username9 my queen, im deeply glad to have you back with us 💕

williamsracing ay, i see the williams team! the team will always be here for you y/n, especially when you need motivation and support! 💙💙

↳username5 ok now im sobbing

↳username11 this is deadass too cute 

↳username2 who’s cutting onions?

I shut my phone off and tuck it into my purse, sealing away any connection to the world outside this moment. No more notifications, no more distractions—just me, here. I glance around the paddock, surrounded by a sea of busy engineers, media personnel, and team members, all bustling with excitement as the race is about to begin. The walls of the hospitality suite insulate me from the noise of the crowd outside, but I can still feel the thrum of energy reverberating through the glass.

I shift my focus to the grid on the screen in front of me, watching the drivers as they line up in their spots, engines purring in anticipation. Outside, the Texas sun beats down relentlessly on the Circuit of the Americas, casting long shadows on the track. I can feel the tension building, a nervous buzz in the air as the seconds tick down to lights out.

I take a deep breath, but it’s not because of the race about to unfold. No, this moment is about something much bigger. The relief that comes with turning off my phone is like a release—a tangible sense of freedom I haven’t felt in what seems like forever .And now, watching the cars settle into position, the drivers preparing for the challenge ahead, it feels symbolic—like I’m waiting for my own race to begin.

The engines rev louder, vibrating through the floor beneath me, and I exhale slowly. The lights above the starting line flash red, one by one. My heart pounds in time with the countdown, but this time, it’s not out of fear or anxiety. It’s out of anticipation. I’m ready. As the lights blink off and the cars roar forward, I feel it—this is the start of something new, not just for them, but for me too. My own restart, right here, right now.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

taglist : @heluvsjappie @awritingtree @steamy-smokey

[tooclevertobehappy]

Hidden in plain sight Part.2

TRIGGER WARNING: Mention of blood and injury

Clara was worried. She thought she had done a good job hiding her issues over the past few weeks, but Ingrid's visit to her house yesterday and the text she sent afterward showed that maybe she hadn’t done as well as she thought.

She’d been there when Ingrid came, hiding in her room and nursing new bruises. They had been the whole reason why she canceled dinner that night—knowing she wouldn’t have been able to hide the pain that inhabited her every move.

That’s what worried her the most. She’d done so well hiding it so far, and the possibility of it all coming to light terrified her. She couldn’t handle the thought of her teammates finding out, of them looking at her differently—like she was a shattered mirror, ready to break at any time. She wasn’t fragile.

Clara had handled everything thrown at her so far: her mom leaving, her father’s descent into drinking-induced madness, the bruises, the cuts, the pain. She had gone through it all and stood tall in the face of it. She would not allow them to see her as weak.

So, she went to training, already dressed in her kit to avoid changing in front of her teammates, armed with a dozen excuses, ready to handle Ingrid’s inevitable questioning. But Ingrid didn’t ask questions. She didn’t even come to talk to her. She stayed in front of her locker with Mapi, giving Clara only a small smile when she came in—nothing else.

It confused Clara even more. She had come into the changing room ready for war, only to be faced with peace. She didn’t know what to do.

She stayed in front of her own locker for a few minutes, trying to figure out a new plan of action for the day. After a while, she sat down and put on her football boots, her eyes darting around the room every few seconds to make sure no one was watching her before making her way out to the pitch.

Her first mistake was allowing herself to relax after avoiding questioning. Her second mistake was getting lost in her thoughts while walking out. The third and fatal mistake was walking headfirst into Alexia as she exited the facility.

The blonde captain reached out to steady her before Clara could topple them both over. Grabbing her by the shoulder, Alexia was so concerned with staying on her feet that she missed the flinch of pain on Clara’s face when her hand tightened on her shoulder.

“You okay, nena?” the captain asked.

“Y-... Yeah, I’m alright,” Clara gasped out, the words barely escaping her.

Clara wished she could smack herself. Her voice was raspy, unused to speaking so much. She knew she had made another mistake when Alexia’s brow furrowed, her eyes scanning every inch of Clara’s face.

Clara could feel her stomach drop. If she had been worried about Ingrid and Mapi finding out, she was terrified of Alexia. The captain was known for not dropping issues until she fixed them, and Clara did not want her to find out about her situation.

“Are you sure? You seem... off?” Alexia demanded.

“Yes! Yes, I’m good, fine, all good!” Clara exclaimed, her voice more frantic than she intended. When Alexia raised an eyebrow in disbelief, Clara added, “I worked on my homework a little later than usual yesterday. I’m just a little tired.”

Alexia surveyed her from head to toe, a frown etched on her features, clearly unconvinced by Clara’s explanation. But with little time before practice, the captain was obliged to let the matter go for now.

“Let’s go before we’re late, nena,” she said, placing a hand on Clara’s back and leading her toward the training field.

The two walked in silence, taking in the last few minutes of peace before the chaos of training. Jona had planned for them to face off in an 11 vs. 11 match to work on set pieces for their next match against Valencia.

Clara didn’t like this type of training. Everyone was rowdier than usual, all obsessed with winning and claiming gloating rights until the next match. She liked playing with the team but wasn’t overjoyed about facing them on the pitch.

Though the players usually tried to be more careful not to bang her around due to her age, the inevitable collision was always a concern.

She took extra care to stretch longer than usual, more aware of the general ache in her body, being careful not to injure herself so close to a game. Caro joined her, as the two usually stretched together, appreciating the last few minutes of quiet before the storm.

If Caro noticed Clara taking longer to stretch than usual, she didn’t say anything, but Clara could feel her eyes lingering on her when they joined the rest of the team.

The training went well. They practiced passes, took shots on goal, and Clara felt confident that, like always, she had managed to fool them. She even felt a little proud of herself.

But the dreaded 11 vs. 11 match was next. While Clara was confident in the team she was in, she wasn’t sure she could keep up. Normally, she would run circles around everyone, her youth granting her more stamina than her older teammates. But now, she was hurt and tired, and all she wanted to do was sleep.

The bruises littering her ribs pulled at every movement she made and rendered her unable to pull in as much air as she usually could, she found herself straining to stay concentrated as the rough stop and turns she made as she ran seemed to pull at every bruise and cut she had.

Still, she powered through. She even managed to chip the ball over Cata’s head and received a few head pats from her teammates for it. They all congregated near the goal, waiting for a corner to be taken. Though Clara wasn’t small, she wasn’t the tallest on the team, but she had a knack for heading the ball when no one expected it.

As the ball left Mariona’s feet, Clara jumped between her teammates and headed straight for the ball when she collided with something. She was pushed off her intended path, still in the air, and fell back, hitting her head directly on the goalpost. Silence overtook the pitch as the sound of Clara's head banging on the metal post seemed to ring through all of them.

For a few seconds Clara felt nothing, her eyes could barely stay open and all she could see was a blurry mess of colors, then came the pain, like a fire spreading over her head she clenched her fists, and the only sound coming out of her ended being a small whimper before her beaten down body had enough, and she felt herself slip into unconsciousness.

The whole team stared in horror at Clara’s body sprawled on the ground. The noise her head made when it collided with the post froze everyone in their place.

The trainers that were stood a couple of dozen feet away stared running, grabbing medical equipment as they went, calls for an ambulance could be heard as they approached.

But none of the players moved, all staring at Clara laying still on the ground as if moving would make the horror real.

Finally, Ingrid snapped out of her stupor and rushed to her, sliding on her knees next to Clara, her hand hesitantly reaching out to her shoulder.

“Clara? Can you hear me?” Ingrid frantically asked.

“Nena? Come on, open your eyes for me,” Mapi added. Ingrid didn’t know when her girlfriend had joined her, but she was now kneeling on Clara’s other side, holding her hand.

The small striker didn’t answer, remaining limp on the ground. When they finally managed to get her on her back, they were terrified to see the blood covering Clara’s face marring the usually joyful traits on her face, making her look younger and smaller than she truly was.

They were soon joined by the trainers, who wasted no time pushing them away from Clara. They carefully cleaned her forehead, revealing the gash responsible for the alarming amount of blood. They wrapped her forehead in gauze, shone a light in her eyes, and tried to get her to regain consciousness, but to no avail.

After a few minutes, the decision was made to immobilize Clara on a board and transport her to the hospital for a brain scan to rule out further injuries. The team stood back, watching as Clara was put in a neck brace, lifted onto the board, and strapped in before being taken away in the ambulance that had been called as soon as the trainers noticed she hadn’t gotten up.

Even though Clara was no longer on the field, the team stood in silence for a few minutes, staring at each other, wondering how everything had gone wrong in just a few seconds.

Ingrid was holding Mapi’s hand so tightly that the defender wondered if she would still have a hand by the time they let go.

Jona understood that there was no way practice could continue after Clara’s fall and dismissed the team for the day.

Ingrid and Mapi rushed to the changing room, hoping to shower and change quickly so they could head to the hospital. Neither of them was comfortable with the idea of Clara being alone and unconscious in an unfamiliar place.

On their way there, they ran into Alexia, who seemed to be rushing as much as they were.

“You’re both going to see the nena, yes?” she asked, more ordering than asking. “I’m going too, as soon as I’m showered. Leave her stuff here, and I’ll bring it to her as soon as I’m done talking to Vicky and Esmee.” While she too wanted to check on Clara, she had to make sure the other youngsters on the team were okay after witnessing the injury.

Ingrid nodded and continued dragging Mapi to the changing room. As they quickly showered and changed before getting in their car, Ingrid couldn’t help but let her mind wander to the what-ifs.

What if Clara was seriously injured? What about her brain? Why hadn’t she woken up on the field? She couldn’t help but wonder if things would’ve gone differently had they checked on her in the changing rooms, but Ingrid didn’t vocalize those thoughts aloud, knowing Mapi’s tendency to overthink and panic. But the way her hands gripped the steering wheel left no room to question how worried she was.

After what felt like hours but in reality was only about half an hour, they finally arrived at the hospital and rushed into the emergency room. They went straight to the reception and gave Clara’s name.

They exchanged worried glances when they were told to wait for someone to come and get them. Worst-case scenarios sprang to mind as they sat in the waiting room. Finally, someone called their name.

However, it wasn’t a doctor or nurse—it was a police officer.

[herlondonboy]

trust, clarisse la rue

summary: how can she trust you again after you let everyone think she was the lightning thief?

warnings: break up, it’s rushed, child of hades!reader

wc: 1.0k

being the cousin of percy jackson would have it’s perks, if it weren’t for being his paternal cousin. sure, the gods have no dna, meaning you’re not technically related, but that didn’t matter to either of you

his father is poseidon, and yours, hades. you were cousins, if not by blood, by love for each other.

you’d only known percy for two weeks, but being on a quest with him taught you a lot. there was nothing he wouldn’t do for those he loved. grover, annabeth, his mother, he’s fight the gods for them. you admired that about him. he was twelve, but ready to humble the gods, days after finding out that he was a half-blood.

he was doing what you wanted to do your whole life. you wanted to scream and curse your father for being absent for so long, and he was doing it for you.

now that you have a family, consisting of a cousin and two little siblings (annabeth and grover, though annabeth hadn’t accepted it quite yet), all you wanted to do was go home into the arms of your girlfriend. you missed falling asleep in her arms, waking up to her scent, and just overall annoying her.

you wondered if she was mad at you, for taking longer that you said. she didn’t know you had been stuck in the lotus hotel for a few days and missed the solstice. all she knew what that percy failed the quest.

the underworld was your least favourite part of the quest. seeing your father, face to face. you scolded him as he tried to offer your friends pomegranate juice and he backed down, shrugging. then you left.

percy and grover followed you shortly, and you were once again face to face with ares.

gods, how you wanted to rip that smug smirk off of his face. he didn’t deserve it after what he said about his children, after what he said about clarisse. nobody forced him to reproduce, but he did, and now he blames them for being born.

despite being a god, and the one of war at that, ares lost to percy. you felt proud, like a parent watching their child succeed. ares was gone in a flash, and it was replaced by your fathers helm.

the children looked at you, so you stepped forward to pick it up. it was heavier than you had expected.

“percy, i-“ you turned around to see him walking into the small bungalow not far behind. sharing looks with the other two twelve year olds, you decided to follow him.

there, you met alectro. she took your father’s helm and percy made her tell him that you wanted your mothers back. hades wasn’t going to let your mother go, though. he needed you, and he’d lose you if you got her. sally jackson, however, was a different story. you prayed that he’d give her back to percy. he was just a kid, he needed his mom.

“no,” you heard, making you turn to see annabeth looking at percy.

“you’re not going to stop him,” you murmured, making them turn to you. “he going to olympus, whether you like it or not.”

percy nodded at that. “you three need to go back to camp. i have to talk to zeus. i have to.”

it took a little convincing, but eventually annabeth and grover agreed to go back. then all eyes were back on you.

“i’m going to olympus, too,” you told them. “my quest was protecting percy. if that’s where he’s going, that’s where i’m going.”

there was silence for a few more seconds before they accepted that.

-

you were finally back at camp. with percy walking next to you, you felt relieved. you’d met your uncles as poseidon defended his son against his brother’s wrath. now that you were back, you could hug and kiss clarisse all you wanted.

walking into camp, most demigods clapped for percy as you slowed down to let him relish in his glory. you were looking out for the one person that wouldn’t be clapping, and when you found her, her arms were crossed as she glared at you. you wondered if it was because you walked in with percy.

excusing yourself, you diverted from the path and towards your girlfriend with a smile. she scoffed and rolled her eyes at that and stormed off.

you followed her until you were far enough into the woods that no one would hear your conversation.

“hey, you,” you said softly, reaching out to touch her shoulder, but she spun around.

clarisse's eyes blaze with betrayal as she confronted you about the rumors circulating, questioning, "how am i supposed to trust you if you let everyone believe i was the lightning thief?" you're rendered speechless, struggling to find the right words.

in an attempt to defend yourself, you stammer, "i didn’t." but clarisse remains unyielding, her anger palpable.

“then why did you let luke believe it?” you stayed silent and she realised. the tension thickens between you, and the air becomes charged with unspoken emotions. she snaps, "oh, you think that because i crave my dad’s validation so much that i’d start a world war?" your heart sinks as she delivers the words with a bitter edge.

"i thought you, of all people, would understand," clarisse adds, her voice filled with disappointment.

desperation sets in, and you try to explain, "clarisse, it wasn't my intention. i would never intentionally hurt you. you know that.”

“do i?” she asked.

“i love you,” you tried.

but your words fall on deaf ears. she scoffs, shaking her head. "i can't trust you anymore," clarisse declares, breaking up with you. without looking back, she leaves you behind. tears well up in your eyes, emotions overwhelming you. the breakup is abrupt, and the pain lingers as clarisse walks away, leaving you alone with shattered emotions.

[i-wanna-write]

You Left Us - Bode Leone/Donovan x Reader

Synopsis: Reader and Bode had a relationship before the accident that changed everything. After that night, Bode left everything and everyone behind, including reader. Now he’s back and reader has some things to say and drops a bombshell.

Takes place during “Pilot”

Disclaimer: I tried googling so much to see how long Bode was gone before returning to Edgewater and there was nothing!!! I think he mentioned he got 4 years for the robbery and 2 years served before parole. So let’s say he’s been gone for 5 years!

Words: 1k +

Warnings: like 1 mention of intimacy, 2 F bombs. I think that’s it!

————————————————————————

When you got the call from Eve, you didn’t know what to think. After all this time he’s just here, in Edgewater, back in your life. 5 years of nothing. Of you trying your damn hardest to find him, to see if he was okay, hell to make sure he’s alive. You came up empty so many times you finally had to give up.

Yet here he is.

In Edgewater at Three Rock. Working as a con firefighter. Working the job that’s his legacy only in an orange jumpsuit rather than the firefighter shield.

Your heart breaks.

The two of you dreampt about your future together so many times. About how he was finally clean and sober and ready to settle down. About how you have been through so much together, and how you were by his side through his worse struggles.

But the accident happened and all of that was thrown away.

All these thoughts, all the memories are running through your head as you stand outside the hospital room. Sharon just went in, looking at her son for the first time in five years.

You watch as Vince creeps into the doorway to look at his son - the man you know he blames for his daughter’s death - and see his mouth move as he utters one sentence.

“What are you doing here Bode?”

Despite your good relationship with Vince, you hate that those words are the first he utters. How he still blames Bode after all these years.

You walk towards the doorway, getting Vince’s attention. He looks at you for a moment before nodding his head and leaving. He said all he needed to say to his son.

You see him for the first time in 5 years, noting how he looks so similar yet so different. The orange jumpsuit doesn’t look right on him. It makes it appear that he’s simply wearing it as a Halloween costume. Your gaze travels up his legs and to his chest, noticing that he’s filled out more and has more muscle.

You can’t seem to bring your eyes to his face.

Sharon notices you and turns toward Bode.

“I’ll give you two a moment.” She says before walking away from her son.

She places her hand on your shoulder, squeezing gently before quietly leaving the room.

Silence fills the room now, neither one of you being the first to speak. Your gaze is straight ahead, locked on Bode’s wide chest.

“Y/N.” He finally says, his voice a whisper.

You finally look at him and want to cry. Despite his bodies physical change, his face is still the same only speckled with blood and cuts. His eyes are just as blue, eyelashes just as long. His chin is draped in stubble, connecting with his hair by his ears. His hair - how you missed running your fingers through it due to its long length and pulling on it during your most intimate moments.

“How- how are you?” Bode questions with such hesitance in his voice.

“How am I?” You repeat slowly. You give a little chuckle. “Well, I’m looking at a ghost of a man I loved, so how do you think I am?”

Bode nods, expecting that answer. “Y/N, I know there’s nothing I can say that-“ Bode starts, taking a step towards you but you interrupt, hand raised.

“Don’t. There is not nothing, and I mean nothing, you can say to me. You had 5 years to say soemthing, anything! But you didn’t. No call, text, email, hell no fucking pigeon sending a letter! I didn’t know if you were somewhere strung out or dead or in jail. But I guess now I have my answer.”

You mutter the last answer, knowing it will cut deep into him like a knife. But he deserves it, you remind yourself. He left you with no explanation, and not once contacted you to simply say he was okay.

You watch as Bode hangs his head, nodding. He agrees with everything you said of course. You were the best thing that ever happened to him, yet he threw it away. Too lost in his own grief to stick around.

“I understand, I do. It’s not an excuse but I couldn’t stay here. I had to leave. I had-“

“You left us!” Your voice raises this time, again cutting him off. “We just moved in together and I had to try to pay it myself. I lost my bestfriend that night and my boyfriend! I’ve had to live the past 5 years without both of you! I had to try to stay afloat! I had to do it by myself. I had to set up appointments and- and deal with the late nights alone and look at schools and -“

This time you cut yourself off, knowing you said too much.

Bode takes another step toward you and now you’re a foot away, eyes locked on his as you know what he’s about to say

“Us?” He questions quietly. “What do you mean us? Us who?” He asks, his eyebrows furrowed and mind racing.

You sigh, tears falling from your eyes. You try to wipe them with your hand but they don’t seem to stop falling.

“I was going to tell you that night.” You reveal. “I wanted it to be a surprise. I had the whole thing planned. But, it happened and than days later, you were just gone”

You bring your hand back down and wrap them both around yourself, trying to find comfort. You didn’t mean for it to come out like this. For him to find out like this - or to find out at all as you considered the possibility that he was dead.

“I was pregnant.” You continue. “And- and I had to have our baby alone. I had to raise him, without you. Tell him that you aren’t here, that- that you-“

Bode cuts you off, his arms wrapping around your waist as sobs leave you. You face is against his chest as his arms run up and down your body, trying to calm your tears. You unwrap your arms from yourself and snake them around his neck, holding him tighter as you try to compose yourself.

You take a deep breath and inhale solely Bode. Despite how many years has passed, he still smells the same. Wood, spice, and for some reason he always had the faint scent of cinnoman. Maybe that’s why those are your favorite candles

Bodie pulls away after a few moments but doesn’t let go, his arms still on your waist. You notice tears in his bright blue eyes and can’t help but reach up and wipe one away.

“We have a baby?” He questions, his voice cracking slightly.

The guilt he feels right now is different than when Riley died. That guilt caused an ache in his heart that never went away, like a piece was missing. But this guilt is in his chest and throat, it feels as if he cannot swallow and the whole world is crumbling.

Not only did he leave you behind, but he left his baby, his unborn child and you had to care for them, alone - without him.

You nod, smiling slightly. “Well, he’s not much of a baby anymore.”

“He?” Bode questions, eyebrows raised.

You reach into your back pocket and pull out your phone. Wanting to show him your screen saver. To show him a picture of the child he helped create

“This is Benjamin Bode Leone. Born May 26. 7lbs 3 ounces. 10 fingers. 10 toes.” You pull away slightly to allow him a better look.

He carefully grabs your phone and stares at the picture. You watch as tears form in his eyes again and he traces the picture with his finger. You can’t help but smile at the seen.

Benjamin is a carbon copy of his father. Bright blue eyes, slightly curly blonde hair, and a mischievous smile that allows him to get away with just about anything.

You allow him a few more seconds to look at the picture before speaking again.

“I should hate you.” You whisper. “But I can’t. You’re his father and whether you stay in Edgewater or not, I- I want you to somehow be apart of his life. Only if you want to.” You finish quickly, not wanting to make a decision for him.

“No.” Bode states, still looking at the picture. “No I would love to be a part of his life. I - I’ve fucked up so many things, but this, he, he is one thing I got right.” Bode paused, looking up to meet your eyes. “That and loving you.”

You smile. You knew in that moment, he would never leave you again. Not if he could help it.

————————————————————————

*me hiding*

So, did you like it???? Again, I’m so new at this so please, leave a like or comment or reblog! I appreciate it so much!

💜 Kenzie

[kaijunouhhhhhhhhhhummmm]

Share With Me

4.4k/ Reader pov x soshiro build up/ reader has a big family/ it's chaotic but in a good way/ some drama with soshiro/  angy soshiro/ trying my darndest to be gn with my reader POV but im sure i missed somethin/ i guess hurt and comfort?/ where are all my ppl with loud and invasive families at haha

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Soshiro has yelled before. “Get those legs up!” “More! C’mon I know you got more in you!” “Ten more reps then we’ll call it a day!” all commands in training or shouting orders when on a mission. Sure, he’s yelled and shouted at all of you a whole lot. But always in your best interest. For your protection, strength, encouragement, to make you better. But this time was different. 

It got very silent after he did. This time he wasn't shouting from his usual place of care. He was angry. Almost menacing even. Worse, it was directed at you. 

You dropped your staff in the middle of armed combat training. It happens. Not a big deal. Usually. People drop staffs, swords, guns, all the time and then everyone corrects form and  moves on. Not today. 

You’re frozen in place. For the first time you find yourself afraid of the vice captain. There is always the knowledge that he could kill you if he really wanted to. He is extremely talented and could take a whole school of trainees. Of course. There is the reverence of his ability at all times. But to feel like it could be used against you? You’ve never felt fear quite like that sink into your bones. You’re sure your skin has gone pale and your basic bodily functions like breathing and heartbeat faltered. Everyone else feels it too. His eyes, a brilliant violet, are staring into yours and you can't move. The strength you were using a moment ago vanishes.The tension in his body seems ready to pounce on you. What did you do wrong? You couldn't understand. You go through all your movements in your head. Everyone drops fighting props. What did you do wrong? He berated you infront of everyone and internally you're doing it to yourself now too.

Kafka breaks the silence in the room and the panic in your head. “Hey, uh, vice captain, I’ll work with them.” He puts his hand on your shoulder and with a tug pulls you out of your frozen state and guides you away from Soshiro’s glare to a far corner of the gymnasium. Soshiro doesn't argue and you feel his eyes on the both of you as you’re guided away. The tension is still heavy in the air as you both walk. 

Practice continues quietly and with hesitancy from everyone as they avoid being on the receiving end of any more of his ire. You can feel eyes on you and murmurs of “Shit, that was intense.” “They okay?” “I wouldn't be.” You're still shaking a bit as Kafaka tries to guide you through the movements. A pitying look on his face you're half grateful for. You’re still trying to figure out what happened. What did you do that was so incorrect? Maybe something you did before this? 

“Hey.” Kafka’s low soft voice snaps you back from your spiral again. “Keep your eyes on me okay?” 

You nod trying to steel your nerves but you’re too afraid to look back at the vice captain. God, you think you’re going to cry actually. His anger is so frightening but more so is the thought of disappointing him. Kafka is fighting you with the same gentleness he would use on a kitten. 

Practice ends and your friends practically run to you. You're grateful for the shield they provide as you all put your weapons away and leave the gym. You still don't dare to look at the vice captain. Embarrassed, hurt and tired you let them guide you to the cafeteria. 

“Okay what the fuck was that?” Iharu asks once you're all out of earshot from Soshiro. 

“Yeah, that was a bit much.” Reno says.

“A bit? It was uncalled for.” Kikoru says, noticeably upset. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for berating people when it's called for but (y/n) wasn't doing anything wrong. We all drop our staff sometimes.” 

“Yeah, especially during sparring.” says Reno

“You didn't do anything to piss him off before training did ‘ya?” Iharu asks you.

“No? I don't think so?” It's not like you havent been thinking about it. It's all youve been thinking about. What did you do that was so wrong? 

“Hey, even if they did, that kind of reaction is uncalled for.” Kikoru says.

“She’s right.” Reno says. “Even if (y/n) had, vice captain still has to be mindful of how he carries out punishment. Obviously after he did that it affected morale.”

“Was he acting a bit off to any of you before training started?” Kikoru asks. 

“Nah, I didn't notice anything.” Iharu says. 

“What else is new?” Reno remarks. 

“Hey!” Iharu says, punching Renos arm. 

“Yeah, way to have self awareness, Iharu.” Kikoru adds. 

You all laugh at Iharu’s expense and his many failed objections to having some level of self awareness. 

Kafka sighs “I don't know what that was but I bet it's got nothing to do with you, yeah?” he rests a heavy arm over your shoulders as you all reach the cafeteria. “At least you won't be here for the rest of the week.”

“Oh yeah, your big family gathering and all.” Iharu pinches your arm.

That brings a smile to your face. You haven't seen your family in months, much less extended family and you're excited to have some home cooking and for your parents to buy your dinners for you when you all go sightseeing. You appreciate your friends so much for trying to make you feel better. A family away from your own. Kafka is probably right. Maybe something did happen to Soshiro before training. It still stung though. 

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

Five days go by in a very turbulent cyclone of hugs, sometimes the bear kind, kisses, hand shaking, other times straight up picking you up and shaking your whole body greetings. “Cousin!” “Sister!” “Mom!” “Uncle!” “Dad!” “Look at you! You’re real strong now, huh?” “Can we fight?” “How many kaiju have you killed?” “Any cute guys you got your eye on?” “Do you travel a lot?” “Do you get to keep body parts?” “Where can I get their body parts?” “Gross.” “I bet it's fun.” “I bet it's gross.” “Stop talking about it. I hate thinking about my baby in that situation.” “They arent your baby anymore!” “Yeah they are. Just a bigger baby now.” And on and on like that constantly for days. It doesn't particularly end at night either. 

You’ve all gathered at your grandfather's house managing to squeeze something like 15 people (with more coming and going) into four bedrooms, two living rooms, four closets and some even camping in the kitchen. Still more come for dinners and outings but do not stay the night. At night you can hear your mother and aunts cackle and chat about old boyfriends, girlfriends, some information you could have gone your whole life not hearing about your uncles and who in the family died recently. They talk outside for hours and still get up before everyone else to make breakfast. Your uncles outside talking about work and how their jobs are treating them. Maybe find new contacts through each other. Not everyone could take the time off for the reunion. Some come and go for work. Some drop by for lunch. Some relatives you only see briefly, some you spend the whole week with. Your grandfather half heartedly watching the kids with your other grandfather. Your afternoons with your cousins are left chatting about who's dating who, who's going to work where, accepted to what school, marrying someone here, going on a trip elsewhere. 

Long walks, shopping trips, hikes, several grocery runs, long drives, sleeping in cramped seats, lots of cleaning after dinner, arguing about bathroom order. You figure every single minute was used for something. It feels like a lof once you reflect on it but it's familiar and comforting even if stressful at times. Finding the quiet moments to speak in the silence of a tired house late at night are some of the best conversations you ever have. They happen in bedrooms, on the patio, in the backyard, in the kitchen, outside past the gate on the sidewalk, the bathroom. Whispers of gossip, your aunt's new young boyfriend, your cousin's way too expensive car that has your aunt shake her head when mentioned. Tense moments that are forced to pass, laughter that hurts your sides when you breathe, honestly that brings some to cry, reminiscing of days that make everyone silent and listen intently. Understanding this is passed wisdom you may not get the chance to hear again. Sometimes this all happens at once in the same room.

Your mom announces she wants to have a big dinner tonight since most of your family will leave the following day. All day all hands are helping cook, clean, shop, set tables, chairs, speakers, putting on makeup, doing hair, choosing outfits and shopping some more.

Finally everyone is in for the evening and once again settling down for long conversations, drinking, playing games, eating and dancing. You are often on your feet getting this for that uncle, helping an aunt with that, giving a cousin this, talking to grandma about some other thing you haven't thought about since you were eight. 

You finally get a chance to sit at a crowded table breathing in for a moment. So many family and friends showed up that the dinner had to spill out to the patio from inside. Then more friends and family arrived and then it spilled out into the front yard. All the young, too cool teens in the backyard, your cousins closer to your age crowded around you talking, well, more like yelling but that's just how they speak. Your older aunts and uncles half singing half telling stories to laugh at each other too. Some others helping set up hanging lights on the trees. Soshiro casually speaking with one of your uncles by the gate. The kids chase each other with toys or beg for a water slide. 

Wait.

Soshiro casually speaking with your uncle by the front gate?

No, you weren't drinking unlike your other cousins so you definitely were not imagining Soshiro casually holding a conversation with your uncle. Now one of your aunts is walking towards him with a drink. Oh god what is going on. 

You shoot up to your feet and try as fast as you can to get to him but have to shove past chairs and tables set tightly by each other. Push by family standing and talking. Squeeze around others carrying food and barely managing not to trip past spatially challenged adults and children. 

“Vice captain!” You shout although you don't mean to be so loud but you are still not convinced this is really happening. You’re actually not sure if you didn't drink something earlier while being tossed around for chores and taking a sip from anything to quench your thirst and forgot. 

Soshiro turns to you with his usual unreadable expression. He’s holding what looks like orange soda in his hand. “Hello (y/n). I hope you don't mind my intrusion but I really wanted to talk to you-”

“(y/n)! Why didn't you say you were going to have guests come today?” your aunt that handed him his drink asks.

“I didn't know I had any.” you say to her confused, worried, and maybe a little embarrassed. “I’m sorry I wasn't expecting anyone from the division to show up. What are you doing here?” you ask him. A million scenarios of how this evening could go horribly wrong play out. You're suddenly very self conscious. 

Before Soshiro can say anything you see one of your uncles walk towards you and give you both a look. You know that look. It's the look every family member in the history of family has always given when they are about to ask the dreaded question. You are too late to stop him from asking: “Boyfriend?” 

“NO!” you shout just as the word comes out of his mouth. But now you’ve managed to attract everyone's attention within earshot. You hope the music drowned out your uncle asking that. You dare a quick look at Soshiro’s face but it's unmoving. Thank god he's always had such a good poker face. 

Cousins begin to walk up “Hey, there (y/n)’s friend that is definitely not a boyfriend! What's your name?” 

This is gonna be a long evening. 

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

You're both sitting next to each other. It's been something like three hours and they have not stopped asking Soshiro questions. It's not everyday a famous kaiju killing officer shows up to a family gathering. You’re exhausted from trying to protect Soshiro from evasive questions but he takes it all in stride. He answers all questions promptly and gives just the right amount of information. He’s so tactful with your rude family it's admirable. There's no point in you telling them not to ask something because Soshiro has already responded. You stop trying to stop it. He's perfectly trained in combat and intrusive family conversation too it seems.

“So vice captain, is (y/n) any good at what they do?” a cousin asks with a baby on his lap. 

You’re about to say something but then remember the last training session you had with your division. You’re actually not so certain yourself. 

“(y/n) has exceeded all of my expectations.” he turns to you. “I couldn't have asked for a better officer to be in my platoon.” 

You search his face for a clue of him joking or waiting for a punchline. But his smile is sincere. You want to be moved by his response but you think he's probably just trying to make you look good in front of your family. 

Your cousins murmur their comments of approval among themselves. “Hey, vice captain, would you like something else to drink?” one of your cousins asks from further down the table. 

“Please, I’ll get my own drink. Don't trouble yourself.” he stands and turns to you. “Would you like anything?” 

You're still not quite sure what to make of all of this. A refill is not really a thought you're having. 

“(y/n) probably wants some of the cake we have at the table by the drinks.” someone else chimes in. 

“I can get that myself.” you do want the cake but having your superior serve you is too weird to handle. You start to get up from your chair when he interjects. 

“It's okay. I’m happy to. Enjoy your time with your family.” he says smiling then scooting past everyone towards the drink table.

“He’s nice.” “Yeah, I figured defense force officers were kinda meat heads, you know?” “He has real good manners.” “He's sitting so straight.” “I didn't know they made them like that anymore.” your cousins comment. 

One of them shoves your shoulder playfully. “He’s super cute!” she gestures to Soshiro speaking with your lively little cousin swinging a stick like a sword. “Why didn't you say you were inviting someone?” 

“I didn't.” you continue to watch him making sure nobody is being rude towards him. Who knows how this is going to affect your job if your family does something offensive or stupid. 

“He just showed up?” 

“Yeah. I mean I have to report where I’m going to be but I didn't invite anyone.” 

“He just wanted to show up?” another cousin asks. 

You nod. They give knowing looks to each other. 

“What?” you ask firmly. Who knows what mischievous things they're communicating with each other telepathically it seems. “Don't say anything stupid in front of him please.”

“Hey, we aren't gonna have you lose your job.”

“Does he do this a lot? Just show up to officers' houses unannounced?” your cousin who asked about inviting him wonders. She has a tone that you can tell is heading this conversation somewhere you don't want it to. 

You sigh irritated. “It’s not like that.” 

“Why not?” another cousin asks. 

Some of them are giggling now. They are enjoying this excruciating line of questions. 

“Because.” you say wanting this conversation to end before he comes back. 

“Are you not allowed to date superiors?” 

“No- I- well, I don't know.” You shake your head frustrated that they're leading you on the exact conversation you're trying to avoid. “It doesn't matter, okay! It’s not going to happen!” 

“Do you want it to?” someone further down the table asks. You had no idea the conversation had reached that far down. You can feel your face start to burn and you don't want to give them anymore ammo. It's time to make your escape before they realize your face is a giveaway. 

You stand up. “I’m gonna check on him.” you begin to walk away and some of them start to whistle a love song, giggle or whisper little comments. They definitely saw your face turn red. 

You get to Soshiro as he was about to head back to the table. He's holding your cake and his drink “You mind if I eat that somewhere else? It's getting stuffy at the table.” 

Soshiro smiles, not looking eager to return to his interrogation. “Sure. I’ll follow your lead.” 

“Let's go out to the sidewalk.” You both begin to walk towards the gate. You wish you could shrink your head into your body like a turtle. The looks you both are getting as you walk out is enough to make you want to disappear. 

You give a long exhale when you're both finally out the gate. You lean against the wall that borders your grandfathers home. The music and noise from the party faded considerably behind the brick. Soshiro hands you your food. 

“Thank you for getting this for me.” 

“Of course.” he takes a drink from his cup. 

“It's been such a whirlwind I didn't ask you why you're here.” you cut a smaller piece of cake to eat. 

“You did. Earlier. I just didn't get a chance to respond.” 

You stop chewing. “I did?” 

A smile grows on his face. “Yes. But I understand. I’m so sorry for showing up like this. I just needed to speak with you about last week.” 

“Last week?” 

He nods. A pained expression taking over his face. He places his cup down on the sidewalk. “(y/n),-” he faces you with a determined look. His voice is serious. You tense up not sure why he suddenly had to put his cup down for whatever he's about to do. For a moment you think hes going to kick your ass for having such a loud fucking family. He bows. “Please forgive me for my extremely rude behavior.” 

Your brain stops. “What?” is all you manage to squeak out. 

He rises up. He’s looking down but you can tell from his face that he means this. “Last week. I lashed out at you. It was uncalled for. I immediately regretted it after it happened.” 

You think for a second, still trying to catch up to the fact that Soshiro Hoshina just bowed to you. Then you remember. “Oh!” 

He gives you a look that says ‘Seriously? I’m trying to apologize and you don't even remember?’

“Sorry, it's just, well, this week has been so busy I kinda forgot about that. I mean until you showed up anyways.” you clear your throat. “I didn't expect you’d apologize for it. Much less show up here to do it.” 

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I shouldnt’ve’ shown up.” 

“No! Its fine that you did! It was just shocking.” 

He takes a deep breath and exhales. “I wanted to talk to you the next day but then I was told you were on break for a week. And, well, I didn't want to wait any longer. It was…” he trailed off before starting again. “It was botherin’ me too much. You looked real hurt so… I’m sorry.” 

A pause between you two follows and the only sounds are the nighttime insects and your family's music and laughter that echoes past the wall. Then it hits you. You're five hours away from Tokyo right now. Your vacation ends the day after tomorrow. He could have waited another day. He could have called. Even a text if he really wanted to apologize that way. But more importantly you never expected he’d apologize to begin with. It hurt and you were scared but you figured that was just part of the territory of being in the defense force. You get your commanding officers ire sometimes. 

“... I accept your apology.” You say looking at your half eaten cake suddenly too shy to face him.

He sighs in relief. “Good.” 

Another pause. 

“You came all this way to apologize?” you ask, looking at him. Searching his eyes. 

He looks at your eyes in return and doesn't respond for a moment. “Yeah.” he smiles. “Can I have some of that?” 

“Huh? Oh, yeah but I dont have another fork-” He steals your fork and takes a piece of the cake. 

He chews and swallows. “It's good.” 

You watch him chew. Stunned that he just did that. “Yes.” 

“Homemade?” 

“Yes.” 

“You like it a lot too, huh?” 

“Yes.” That's the only response you can say apparently. 

He chuckles then his voice drops when he speaks. “I have so much fun with you. I didn't want what happened to affect us.” 

You watch him not sure what to think right now so you say the first thing that comes to mind. “I have fun with you too.” You suck your lips into your mouth directly after saying that because never would you have imagined you'd have the bravery to say something like that to him. 

He laughs. “What's with that face?” 

You pretend not to know what he's talking about, raising an eyebrow still sucking on your lips. 

He laughs more and you try to hold your lips in but end up bursting out in a laugh too. It's so good to hear him laugh. It's so contagious. It always makes you smile without fail. You both go on until the laughing subsides on its own. You now remember what happened after the training session. 

“Can I ask you if something happened before the session that made you do that? I was afraid I did something to disappoint you.” 

His expression visibly shifts to a serious one as you say that. His eye brows furrow slightly like he's mad at you for saying that. “You could never disappoint me.” 

You once again are at a loss for words so you give a nod instead. 

He joins you leaning on the wall. He silently looks down at his shoes for a moment as if thinking of what to say before facing you. “I don't want to give you excuses.” 

You shake your head slowly. “Not an excuse. We were wondering if something had happened. You're not usually like that.” 

Soshiro looked hesitant to say anything. He seemed to look everywhere except back at you. He opened and closed his mouth several times before speaking. “My family isn't like yours ya’ know.” 

There had always been whispers about the Hoshina family. Not very good ones. Soshiro also doesn't often volunteer information about himself. But maybe tonight he's making an exception because he feels guilty. 

“My brother called me and…” he sighs irritatedly and drags a hand across his face. "I'd rather not bore you with the details.” he says with a breathy half assed laugh. “It’s a nice night with your family. I dont wanna ruin that.”

He's uncomfortable and you can see it. It stings a little bit that he won't tell you. 

He picks up on changes in your facial expression as you look away. “Sorry. I know I just spent the whole evening with your family but…” he sighs. “It’s just a lot that you really don't need to worry about.” he’s trying to sound like he's doing you a favor. 

You give him a sad smile. You want to know. You want to know everything about him. “I understand.” You understand that he's your boss and there's always going to be an invisible boundary between the two of you because of that. Can't get too close. That's always it isn't it? You both can laugh, joke, he can show up to your family gathering unannounced, charm all of them, get you cake, but no. You can't get too close. “But I want you to know you don't have to keep it to yourself. I mean you tried that and look where you are now.” 

He snorts. “Yeah you’re right.” He looks at the top of the wall then the gate. “It's not such a bad place to be though.” A sudden wave of laughter comes from behind the wall. Your family's joy makes you smile. 

“Yeah I guess they aren't so bad.” You eat more of your cake. “But it's not always like this, you know.” He looks at you curiously. “I just want you to know families are complicated. But I'm sure you know that.” 

He nods knowingly. “Yeah. I get it.” He stretches and takes the fork from your hand, swiping the last piece of cake for himself before you can say anything. He picks up the cup and chugs down his drink. He grimaces “Yeah your uncle for sure put somethin’ in that.” You laugh. “Well I'm gonna head out.” He checks the time on his phone. “I’ll catch the last train to Tokyo if I leave 10 minutes ago.”

You start to panic. “Are you gonna be able to get home?” 

He shrugs and starts to walk away. “If anything I’ll stay at the nearest base.” He waves as he walks backwards. “Thank your family for me! They were great! I’ve never heard someone be asked if they were my (girlfriend/ boyfriend/ partner) sa’ many times and be so cool ‘bout it!” 

You blush. You become the shade of a ripe strawberry. The inside of a watermelon perhaps. “What!?” 

He chuckles. “I’ll see you back at base soon!” 

You watch him walk away casting long shadows by lamp posts as he passes them. You ask him in a whisper “Why didn't you just wait until I got back?” 

[woniverse-writes]

"MOTH TO A FLAME (part 3)"

Bada Lee x Fem!Reader

part 2 ⟵ part 3 ⟶ part 4

series masterlist

summary: y/n l/n is the youngest team member of Jam Republic, competing in the second season of Street Woman Fighter. she’s got the sweetest smile and the most vibrant personality, but she also may or may not be the biggest hothead on the show when it comes to defending her teammates. apparently that’s attractive to Bada Lee.

word count: 9.2k

warnings: swearing, suggestive at times, both Bada and reader are idiots practically already in love, reader is described as younger and small a lot, sometimes isn't very accurate to swf's actual plot, also this isn't proofread so... sorry for any mistakes lol- lemme know if I missed anything!

All teams had gone their separate ways to begin discussing which company they were going to aim for. The only two teams securing the company of their choosing were Wolf’Lo and Lady Bounce- meanwhile Bebe, TsubaKill, and 1 Million all go for JYP; and Jam Republic, Mannequeen, and Deep N Dap all go for Hybe. When Bebe had walked into the room to 1 Million in there as well, they knew it would be interesting- then even more so when TsubaKill entered. And even though none of them outwardly said so, all of Bebe was secretly glad they weren’t going up against Jam Republic.

Jam Republic on the other hand- wasn’t worried at all when they saw Deep N Dap enter the room. In fact- when Kirsten had reported the information back to the team as they were preparing, Emma and Y/n couldn’t help but smirk and snort at how easy it would be. 

So all teams began preparing their choreography to battle against each other. Everyone was working hard and staying focused, ensuring they put out their best work to secure the company of their choosing. Bada had stepped out briefly, leaving the rest of Bebe to start choreographing. when she came back, they had yet to start anything, only having collected ideas. It frustrated the leader beyond words, yet she still tried her best to express the dissatisfaction she was feeling to her teammates.

“You guys know I’m not the only person on this team, right?” the eldest member sighed passively with her eyes shut in frustration. The others all stood in silence, too ashamed to speak up. 

“Every time we go out there, everyone calls us “Bada and her students”- aren’t you tired of that?? I’m tired of it, so why aren’t you?” she started raising her voice. Bada looked around at her teammates and felt disappointed, but was also starting to feel exhausted.

“I’m not competing by myself here… let’s get started” she sighed and everyone fell into a clump behind her, ready to follow her instructions. They begin working and eventually develop a pretty good routine, except everyone is on edge and they all keep making little mistakes. 

The Bebe members take a break and Bada grabs her phone and her water, walking out the door to get some air. She can’t help but criticize herself, wishing she was able to lead her team better- lead them in a way where they felt confident enough to work on their own. But no, Bada is still learning, yet not giving herself a break. She almost feels pathetic when she opens her messages app and her and y/n’s texts are already pulled up. She sighed reading over the last few messages they were talking about, which happened to be from the night before after they had all picked their groups. Bada had been saying how she was kind of glad their teams weren’t directly against each other, and y/n replied with something along the lines of how she agreed- saying it would’ve broken her heart. Bada types out a quick ‘how’s it going?’, not expecting a response right away but still hoping for it anyway. The leader was starting to accept the fact that the younger dancer was becoming a safe space for her, and she had a feeling that said dancer felt the same.

In the meantime- Jam Republic is having a blast coming up with choreography, their teamwork is impeccable, and the ideas flow like water. After about three hours of non-stop motion they take a longer break. Y/n sprawls out on the floor and Audrey comes to lay on top of her, causing them both to laugh- until Emma also comes to lay on top of them, and suddenly Audrey was dying laughing and y/n was groaning about how it’s not fair for the smallest to be on the bottom. The older three members sat back and admired their playfulness- Latrice began recording the chaos and Kirsten started snapping pictures. After a few minutes of messing around, Emma rolled off the two and Audrey followed, leaving y/n dramatically breathing with her eyes closed and head tilted- pretending like she was dying. Ling made her way over to the youngest with her phone and water in hand, passing them off to her as she sat up.

“Thanks Ling Ling” the younger girl appreciated with her eyes still shut, but a sweet gentle smile on her face. y/n opened her phone as she took a sip of her water to see a message from Bada. It was sent a couple of minutes ago simply asking ‘how’s it going?’ wot which she quickly replied with ‘pretty good! We’re getting a lot done and it looks pretty good too🫣😋’ totally unaware of how tragic the Bebe practice is going.

Right as Bada is about to put down her phone and start the practice back up, she feels it buzz and looks down to see it light up with a new text notification. She immediately opens it to see y/n’s reply, and smiles, happy to know at least one of them is doing well. She typed out ‘that’s great! Wish I could say the same haha… but it’s okay- I feel more motivated now after hearing that your practice is going well🩵’ and pressed send before waiting a few seconds to see if she’d get a response right away- which she did.

‘Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear that love :( I hope it gets better- just remember to keep drinking water and DON’T overwork yourself! It’s important to do your best but you also need to make sure you’re in your best state of mind as well’ was the text Bada had received and truth be told, it made her a little emotional. She hearted the message and began typing again. ‘Let’s get something to eat after the battles tomorrow, okay? On me’ 

Y/n felt her face heat up and a smile began to take over as she read the latest message from Bebe’s leader. She made sure to heart the message and respond quickly with an ‘of course!! That sounds great!’ before putting her phone down and getting back to practice.

Bada felt relieved at y/n’s acceptance, sending a heart emoji then turning her phone off to head back to practice- now with a much better attitude. Her change in mood seemed to bring up the team's morale as a whole, seeing as how every member was bringing their a-game now. They finished choreographing and ran their routine into the late hours of the night before deciding to turn in and get some rest for a few hours. They came back the next morning and rehearsed a bit more, but ultimately they felt confident and were ready to compete.

As all the teams filtered in, everyone was sharing their nerves and excitement among themselves. Jam Republic was up first to battle and their three youngest members were beyond excited to take the stage. They showed their choreo, and even though they were only given a short period of time to work on, they blew everyone away with how energetic and clean it was. Audrey and Y/n once again received immense praise for their facials and explosive stage presence. The performance ended and while the other members were trying to catch their breath and process how they did, the two youngest members were skipping back to their seats giggling over how fun it was and how they hoped to keep HYBE so they could do it again

After watching Mannequeen, y/n was excited about how good it was but felt a little nervous after seeing her leader's tense expression

"Hey, let's try not to worry too much, we already danced and did our best, and we did amazing! Let's just try to enjoy the other dances right now" the youngest member softly states after putting a gentle hand on her leader's shoulder, giving her a bright youthful smile.

"y/n since when did you get so mature? You don't seem fired up at all right now and it's kinda scaring me" Latrice commented from the other side, causing y/n’s smile to widen a little.

"won't you be upset if we get eliminated?" Kirsten asked seriously before the younger girl could respond to the initial question. 

"Of course, but I'm so tired I can't even think that far ahead right now" she joked. The members all rolled their eyes and laughed. after staying up all night to perfect their piece, they could barely even process it when the votes came in and Deep n Dap was kicked instead of Jam Republic. But to be completely honest, they weren’t surprised at all.

They move on to the JYP battle section, meaning it’s time for Bebe, 1 Million, and TsubaKill. 1 million goes first and of course, y/n is hyping up her new friends- especially Redy, which Bada is absolutely not happy about. She hates it, it makes her more nervous.

y/n is even more excited while watching Tsubakill, cheering again for the member she’s closest with- Rena, but also fangirling over their leader, Akanen. This again makes Bada even more nervous- to the point where she feels like she's gonna pass out. She hated feeling jealous but she also hated how badly she wanted to please the youngest dancer from Jam Republic- and that paired with her already crushing need to succeed was tearing her apart. 

"Bada looks really tense…" Latrice comments

"oh my god I feel like I'm gonna throw up- I'm so nervous" y/n replies with her hand on her chest. Kirsten puts an arm around her shoulder, the whole pink team now feeling anxious. Bebe goes and they do amazing. Y/n is cheering and screaming the whole time, over the moon excited to see how well the routine turned out. When they finished dancing and everyone was cheering all the members bowed and turned to the various teams. When Bada had turned to face Jam Republic, y/n was already standing up throwing her hands in the air.

“What were you even worried about?? That was fucking amazing!!” the young girl scremaed with a huge smile on her face, causing Bada to share the same expression before shaking her head and turning back around to await the results. Everyone votes and the results are announced, 1 Million will be moving to another section. 

After all the teams are adjusted, it’s announced that the two teams of each company will have an hour and a half to decide who gets to choreograph each song, then they will all take a four-hour filming break for lunch, but teams were allowed to begin collecting ideas if they wanted to. Bada had already discussed with her team that they would be taking their break to relax and decompress as long as they had gotten to stay in JYP. similarly, Jam Republic had also decided to take their break if they got to keep their original group. 

Bada came waltzing over to Jam Republic’s seating with a cool smile on her face, even though she was really trying to contain an accomplished grin. y/n hopped down and met the older girl at the bottom, her teammates trying their best not to be nosy, but failing miserably.

“So I’m thinking a quick shower and then we can go?” Bada had asked looking down at the shorter girl who just smiled and nodded at first, her cheeks a little flushed already.

“Mmhm! Sounds good to me!” y/n responded enthusiastically, even though her brain was still stuck on the thought of Bada showering- or rather them showering together. Bada held up her hand like she was waiting for y/n to shake it, which she did albeit with a confused look. 

“Alright- see you soon then princess!” Bada affirmed, giving a final playfully aggressive shake to y/n’s hand, as if they had just sealed an important business deal, causing the younger of the two to burst out into giggles. After Bada is back with her crew, y/n turns around to see the rest of Jam Republic eyeing her expectantly. 

“Soooo what exactly are you gonna be doing later, princess?” Kirsten interrogated with a teasing smile. y/n just laughed some more and her smile grew wider (if that was even possible).

“Nothing crazy, we’re just going to get lunch” she had explained, somewhat calm, not entirely believing herself when she described it as “nothing crazy”. They all nodded and hummed, pretending to believe her.

“Right… just lunch… nothing crazy!” Emma repeated sarcastically with a knowing smile.

“Just don’t come back with hickeys the makeup crew won’t be able to cover-” Ling teased quietly to which everyone shot her a wide-eyed look.

“what? The way that girl looks at her is definitely not television-appropriate seventy-five percent of the time!” she exclaims, trying to defend her comment, which causes everyone to chuckle and nod in agreement.

“She’s got you there y/n… you should definitely go somewhere public, so she doesn’t pounce on you.” Emma snorts out a laugh, finding herself to be the funniest person in the room. Audrey shoves her shoulder and scoffs.

“Leave her alone- this is exciting! Y/n isn’t as delusional as we all thought!” “No Audrey- she’s still delusional, her delusions are just reciprocated by someone even more delusional that’s just really good at hiding it.” All the members look over to see Lusher standing in front of them with a knowing smirk. All of their faces drop, now looking a little panicked. 

“It’s okay- we’ve been having pretty much the same conversations with Bada.” the Bebe sub-leader reassures them with a subtle laugh and smile. They all briefly relax before turning their full attention back to the girl in front of them.

“Wait- what do you mean you have the same conversations? About y/n???” Emma excitedly speaks up, leaning forward ready for the tea. Y/n also leans forward hands resting against Emma’s shoulders, with wide eyes and a tiny curious smile.

 “Well… yes… but I don’t think right now is the best time to explain.” Lusher draws out with a teasing smile, causing Emma and Y/n to groan, but the rest to shake their heads and laugh. 

“Anyways- I actually came over to see if the rest of you would want to get lunch with us, seeing as our precious teammates decided to ditch us for a date.” The standing girl finishes off her offer by crossing her arms and landing her eyes on y/n with another teasing look.

“That sounds great!” Audrey gushes, smiling happily at the invitation before looking over at Kirsten for confirmation. The older nods her head and smiles.

“We’d love to, thank you so much.” Kirsten nods again gratefully, and Lusher smiles before heading back to her team. After the short break, all teams head into their battle rooms to decide who is going to get to choreograph a chunk of each song. Everyone else seems to have figured it out quickly, besides Mannequeen and Jam Republic, who ended up taking the whole hour and a half they had been given. After it was decided that Mannequeen would take “Dope” and Jam Republic would take “Eve, Psych, and the Bluebird’s Wife” they were finally able to go on their break. The rest of Jam Republic decided to head out and meet team Bebe for lunch right away, while y/n texted Bada to let her know she was just finishing up the decision process and that she was going to change quickly before the meeting.

Y/n rushed back to her apartment and showered before drying her hair and doing her makeup. She had kept it light but still pretty, tying the look together with her signature gloss. Her outfit was simple- well- simple for her. She had on a pink tank top paired with a khaki skirt and layered a white jacket on top. She finished getting ready and shot Bada a quick text letting her know she was leaving. They decided to meet at a cafe that was in between their apartments and happened to be really close to the studio. Once y/n had arrived she walked in to see Bada already sitting at a table looking at her phone.

“Hey! Sorry I kept you waiting…” y/n spoke up shyly as she approached the table. To which Bada looked up and shook her head immediately, signaling it was no problem.

“You didn’t keep me waiting, I actually just got here a few minutes ago” the older shared to ease the younger girl’s mind. She ‘ahh’ed and took her seat across from Bada. They exchange small talk for a moment over what they’re going to order and begin conversing more comfortably after that. Their food and drinks arrive as they continue their conversations about how each other’s day has been going. Y/n is currently retelling how the decision process went down between them and Mannequeen, and even though she's disappointed in losing dope she laughs about it openly because Mannequeen was surprisingly sweet and respectful about it (or at least most of them).

"Wait- so you’re telling me they blocked your door??" Bada asked in disbelief after taking a bite of her food, trying not to laugh.

"YES" Y/n openly laughed at Bada not fully believing her and took a sip of her drink. They continued to laugh about it for a little bit before going back to talking about how team Bebe had been doing.

“I’m just glad we were able to pull it off… I was really stressed.” Bada tried to laugh about it so she didn’t seem too troubled in front of y/n, but the younger girl still frowned and reached across the table to take Bada’s hand on hers, rubbing the back of it gently before nodding at her to continue.

“I felt horrible especially in the beginning, because it really seemed like I was the only one putting in work… but then I felt even worse after thinking about how it’s my fault that my teammates don’t feel secure enough or confident enough to lead themselves… I felt so selfish. Like I wasn’t fit to continue leading them in that moment…” the older girl continued quietly, looking down at the table. She didn’t want y/n to pity her, but it just felt too easy to open up to the girl.

“You’re too hard on yourself.” she spoke up, looking at Bada with puppy eyes. The young girl could feel her heart shattering into pieces while listening to the leader describe her stress. She just wanted to lean over the table and wrap her in a giant hug, and coddle her until she had no more negative thoughts about herself. Bada sighed and hung her head for a second before looking back up at the girl across from her.

“I know…” she began with a sad smile.

“I just feel like I have to always put out the best work- especially here. There are so many amazing dancers and choreographers, so many teams with such strong presences… I just want that for Bebe. I want them all to be strong and recognizable because believe it or not, I hate that everyone only sees me when they think of my team…” Bada finishes off her rant with her head resting in her hand that isn’t still being held by y/n’s.

“Bada-” the other starts

“You do always put out your best work. everything you do is amazing- whether it’s as a dancer, a choreographer, and especially as a leader. Your girls look up to you a lot for a reason. They wouldn't care so much about your opinion if they didn’t think you were deserving of leading them.” Y/n finishes off strong and the look in her eyes assures Bada that she means every word. She looks back down and smiles again, feeling pressure starting to build in her eyes- there is no way Bada will let herself cry in front of y/n like this. 

“You did well. I’m really proud of you.” y/n smiled and nodded gently, squeezing Bada’s hand in reassurance and that caused a single tear to slip down the older girl’s cheek, sending the younger into a slight panic. 

“Ah- don’t cry!” Y/n stood up and ran over to Bada’s side of the booth, sitting down next to her as she began wiping her tears with her jacket sleeve. The younger continued to do so until Bada had stopped crying. Y/n looked into Bada’s eyes with a pout on her face as she tucked a piece of hair behind the older girl’s ear. Her hands were still resting on her cheeks, caressing the taller dancer’s face, even though the tears had stopped flowing a while ago. The two sat there in silence, just embracing the close proximity. Bada’s breathing was shallow, still recovering from crying, but now feeling nervous after realizing how close y/n was. The younger of the two glanced down at the other’s lips and stared for a few seconds before hearing her gasp quietly, causing her to look back up. Y/n backed away slightly, to Bada’s disappointment, but only to give herself room to pull one of her hands away and kiss her thumb, before placing her hand back on the older girl’s jaw and rubbing said thumb gently across her bottom lip. Bada was so shocked by her boldness, she felt her lips part slightly and her face heat up. Y/n just smiled lightly at her reaction, once again staring at her lips. She looks up to make eye contact on her own this time, kind of loving the power she has over the older girl at this moment.

“Are you feeling better now” she whispers gently and Bada just nods in a daze. Y/n hums and nods also, rubbing her cheek one more time before standing and heading back to her own seat. Bada snaps out of her daze, still feeling dizzy at the interaction. She clears her throat and takes a sip of her drink. The rest of lunch goes on without another serious incident, but y/n’s eyes are filled with what could only be explained as “pure love and adoration” for the remainder of their time together. The two end up heading back to the studio together, sharing the backseat of a cab. 

Bada really is shocked by how bold y/n has become with her- after they finish up their meal and pay for everything, their cab arrives. Bada opened the door for y/n, which she giggled about and joked that Bada was such a gentleman to her, causing the older to roll her eyes and smile before explaining how she simply was taking care of her princess.

“Her princess…” y/n couldn’t stop thinking about that as they drove back. Once the two had both gotten in the car, they started off pretty evenly spaced out with Bada on one side and y/n on the other. But after about two and a half minutes they were side by side, and eventually, y/n had her legs lying across Bada’s lap as they cuddled and looked at the pictures they had taken together on their phones. When they had arrived back at the studio, y/n swung her legs back over placing her feet onto the car floor, opening her own door this time. Bada had followed her coming out the way, making sure to close the door behind and thank the driver. The two walked right next to each other, shoulders bumping but neither of them being brave enough to reach out and hold the other’s hand. As they both reached the lobby, it was almost the end of their allotted break time.

“I had a really great time today… so thank you” y/n began with a shy smile and blush painting her face, as she looked up at the older girl. Bada shared a similar smile, also taking on the look of “love and adoration” that y/n’s been sporting for the last hour or so. 

“Eyy you don’t need to thank me…” she began just as shyly

“I also had a great time- even if I did cry a little-” Bada joked halfway through, causing y/n to giggle and bump her shoulder.

“But I seriously love talking to you… I’m hoping we can do this again soon.” it wasn’t a question, but the younger girl’s eyes were immediately lighting up and she was nodding her head.

“Of course! I’d love to!” y/n started enthusiastically, but then she took a deep breath and continued

“I really love talking to you too” she thought she was gonna cry if she said anything else, so the younger girl just finished off with a smile and sparkling eyes, not believing what was happening. Her heart was pounding and her face hurt from how much she had been smiling. Y/n thought her stomach was going to explode from how many butterflies she was feeling- it was like a real crush now… not some celebrity crush or feeling of admiration for someone older that one looks up to… these were real romantic feelings and y/n was surprisingly ready to deal with them. And even if she wasn’t, the way Bada was smiling at her would definitely change her mind.

_______________

Rehearsals have been exhausting, especially after having learned their opponents' choreography. For some teams, it was an easy adjustment, but for others… it was definitely a challenge. 

TsubaKill had thrown in a tough acrobatic skill that was tough for even some dancers with experience in that area. Tatter was struggling to stick her landing on the double front handspring, and it was definitely bringing down the team’s confidence. Bada tried her best to stay positive as their leader, but even the members could tell she was starting to get nervous.

They’re given a longer break and Bada takes a walk, not even realizing she ended up near Jam Republic’s practice space. The pink also seems to be on break and the Bebe leader stands outside debating whether or not to knock on their door.

“Y/n…” Latrice starts suspiciously. The younger girl hums while taking a sip of her water, looking over with wide eyes.

“I think someone’s looking for you.” she finishes off with a soft knowing smile, pointing in the direction of their doorway. The younger looks over and furrows her brows, immediately standing up to head over to Bada.

“Hey- what's up? Are you okay?” the youngest Jam member asks in a concerned voice, eyes expressing how genuinely worried she is. Bada’s expression isn’t doing much to help her feel at ease, as the older hesitates for a second before sighing and closing her eyes.

“I don’t know… this practice is going terribly.” She begins, laughing pitifully, trying not to cry. Y/n pouts and makes a noise expressing her sadness and understanding. She immediately wraps her arms around the taller girl's waist, securing her in a comforting hug. Bada huffs out a sad laugh and wraps her arms around the smaller girl's shoulder, resting her head atop of hers. They stay like that for a few minutes with y/n rubbing circles on the older girl’s back. The whole time Bada was wishing she could just stay there forever, thinking that she might even fall asleep if she let herself stay any longer. She let out a sigh and stood up straight, patting Y/n's head before reaching to hold the smaller girl’s face in both hands. Y/n still had her arms loosely around the taller girl and was forced to look up at her since Bada was holding her face softly between her hands. The younger girl’s eyes glittered as she smiled softly, tilting her head slightly to lean into one of the older’s palms, looking lovingly into her eyes. In that moment Bada felt herself let out an uncontrollable giggle.

“You really are a puppy…” she stated absentmindedly with a lovestruck smile, still staring into the younger’s sparkly eyes. y/n giggled girlishly and wrapped her arms tighter around Bada’s waist teasingly, causing the older girl to laugh and squish the smaller’s cheeks playfully between her large hands. Both were giggling and clinging to each other, and the rest of Jam Republic was either smiling endearingly at them or making fake gagging noises (Emma). Bada sighed and let go of y/n’s face, placing her hands on her shoulders instead. The smaller of the two finally let go of the other’s waist and stood there waiting for her to say something.

“I should probably let you get back to practice…” Bada pouted slightly, not really wanting to go back to her own practice.

“I mean, you don’t haaaave to…” the younger dragged out her sentence with a playful eye-roll, playing around still, also not wanting the older girl to leave. Bada huffed out a laugh and shook her head.

“Okay, well I definitely need to get back to practice.” she stated, trying not to sound too distraught by it. Y/n’s eyes softened and her face fell for a split second, almost unnoticeably, before a gentle smile took over her face.

“Just please don’t overwork yourself… or the girls. Take care of each other please, your health and mentality are most important…” the younger girl pleaded looking deeply into Bada’s eyes. She patted her head and ruffled her hair a little, causing her to whine slightly. Bada laughed again and nodded her head.

“I promise we’ll all take care of ourselves… but we’re still gonna work just as hard as before. At least until we get things right.” her face dropped a little and the somber expression was back.

“No. health first, Bada… you won’t be able to get anything right if you’re injured… so please take care of yourself.” and after seeing the pleading look in y/n’s eyes while she stood there with her arms crossed over her chest, Bada really couldn’t find it in her to argue. So she let out a sigh and nodded. 

“Okay…” she nods again looking at the ground, feeling a bit emotional. Bada takes another deep breath and stands up straight, smiling again, causing y/n to smile again. 

“Alright, well i’m gonna get back to practice-” the older states, and right as y/n’s about to reply, Bada places a quick kiss atop her head, and then struts off back to her practice space, leaving the younger girl with her jaw dropped and eyes wide as ever. Once she’s taken quite a few steps and put some distance between them, Bada turns over her shoulder and throws y/n a wink paired with a teasing smile. The younger can’t help but huff out a laugh of absolute astonishment and disbelief. As Bada turns the corner and is out of y/n’s sight, the Jam Republic girl doesn’t even want to turn around to see her teammates' expressions, knowing damn well she’s gonna have to answer a lot of questions.

__________

The next day arrives and it’s time for everyone to present their pieces to the other crews, as well as record their practice videos to send in for the artists to view. While all of Jam Republic is in a good mood and extremely excited to show off their routine, their youngest can’t help but feel a little anxious. Not for herself, but for the team sitting next to them, and more specifically for their leader.

Bebe was one of the first to go and it started off well. They seemed pretty relaxed until it came time for Tatter’s front handspring. She didn’t stick the landing and it threw everyone off, but the team didn’t falter, continuing on as if it didn’t happen. Y/n was cheering the loudest, especially for Tatter, letting her know it was okay. But when the blonde didn’t land her font walkover as well, y/n’s screams increased in volume tenfold. 

“YOU’VE GOT THIS TATTER- LET’S GO GIRL” she’s screaming so hard that her chest hurts, and the small girl can feel tears starting to sting her eyes. At this point everyone else was cheering for the team as well, wanting to see them finish off strong. The second it was over, Bada was turning to Tatter and wrapping her in a tight hug. The younger member cried and cried, while her leader petted her hair and shushed her.

“Are you okay? You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?” Bada whispered to the crying girl in her arms, who shook her head and backed away to wipe her tears. The leader pushed some hair out of her face, and pulled her back in for another hug, leading her and the rest of the team back to their seats. Everyone continued to cheer for them as loud as possible.

“You did well, it’s okay. It was just a mistake. As long as you’re not hurt, that's what matters right now.” the blonde sighs, finally calming down and she lays her head on the oldest member’s shoulder, closing her eyes for a few moments.

On the other side of them, Jam Republic is holding back their own tears, feeling immensely sorry for the team they’ve grown so close to. Except for y/n who is freely letting her tears fall, as she hides her face in her hands. Latrice rubs her back until she calms down and is able to sit back up without crying.

A couple more teams take their turns before it’s time for Jam Republic. It’s safe to say that when they do their routine and everyone goes fucking crazy. Their ability to pick up Mannequeen’s whacking section and execute it as well as they did, sent everyone into a frenzy. On top of that, their energy and expressions were beyond praise, so everyone was just screaming. 

Everyone is surprised to see that the team isn’t utilizing y/n more, or at least using her old choreography. The youngest member mostly shared the center with another member, yet was never the main focus. The only highlight she really has is after Audrey’s articulated arch, where she runs to lead the line for a brief second, her expressions and energy being what makes her stand out. The look in her eyes and the slight smirk make everyone go crazy over the visuals and stage presence.

“THAT’S MY GIRL” Bada is leaning over her teammates screaming the loudest anyone has heard her scream. Her teammates just give her the same side eye they always do whenever she starts openly fangirling over y/n. But they all have just learned to ignore it for the most part now. Jam Republic finishes their routine and are all breathing heavily as they bow and walk back to their seats. While everyone’s still clapping and the members are about to sit down, Bada discreetly lifts up her fist right when y/n is about to walk by. The younger just smirks, trying not to laugh at the older girl’s silly yet supportive action, and bumps her smaller fist against Bada’s. 

The rehearsal finishes and the following day is the pre-recording and live performance. All the teams are once again getting their makeup done, this time sharing a room with their members.

“I can’t believe we’ve been here so long already and this is only the first mission we get to do together” Latriece states while getting her eyeshadow done. The others hum and some nod.

“It feels like we’ve been here forever, but it’s actually only been a couple of months…” y/n replies as her stylist applies a gemstone to her under eye.

“Only? I feel like these have been the longest two months of my life.” Emma exaggerates in return, causing a few of the members to hum more aggressively than before. They finished up with getting their makeup done and in typical y/n fashion, the first thing she did was start taking mirror selfies. At first, she was taking them by herself, and then of course Audrey joined… then Ling joined, and soon after that it was all of Jam Republic scrunched together trying to fit in the frame of one mirror. After that, Latrice offered to take more elaborate pictures for her, knowing how the young girl loves to pose and post. Once all that is done, they have a few minutes before having to head backstage for the pre-filming. Y/n doesn’t even think twice before opening her messages app and sending Bada a few of the selfies she took, along with some of the full-body pics Latrice had taken for her.

Bada’s finishing up in hair and makeup when she feels her phone buzz. Already getting her hopes up at the familiar hum of her text notification, she can’t help but expect a message from a certain Jam Republic member. Sure enough- when she unlocks her phone, she’s met with a series of selfies and other photos of the youngest member, dressed in pink and white with glittery makeup. Bada doesn’t even feel herself smile, she’s so lost in a dream over the pretty girl on her phone. 

‘Absolutely stunning, Princess🩷’ she presses send without even thinking. Y/n hearted the message and sent the hand heart emoji right as Bada was about to be done with her hair. As soon as the stylists step away the Bebe leader is opening her camera and snapping her own mirror selfies, immediately sending her favorites to y/n.

‘Ugh how do you always look SO fucking good😩🩵’ was the response Bada got almost instantaneously from the younger girl, to which she giggled and covered her mouth with her fist trying to hide her smile. Hearing the soft sound Lusher looked over and sighed affectionately at her blushing teammate.

“Did y/n text you?” she asked, already knowing the answer. Bada looked over with wide eyes, a bit shocked forgetting that everyone else could still perceive her in the present moment.

“Oh- uhm…” the eldest tried to be cool and calm, attempting to avoid the conversation, but just as soon as her walls went up, they came right back down.

“yeah… she did” and she was giggling and smiling again, causing Lusher to burst out laughing at her leader’s openness. It was a relief to the younger girl to see Bada so relaxed and at peace, even though they still had to go out and compete in a few hours. Seeing one of her closest friends and now team leader act the way she did with and around y/n made her feel okay, knowing that there was someone to take care of her just like how she had been taking care of them.

___________

Before the pre-recordings start an announcement is played on the monitors. It’s a member or group of members from each company, declaring who they thought was the better team during their practice. Le Sserafim chose Jam Republic as the better team, meaning they got to choose whether they went first or second during the live show- they chose to go second after Mannequeen.

During the practice/filming period- everything started out well for Jam Republic. They were all laughing and having a blast watching the other crews. They all casually made fun of wolf’lo for their uhm… “hip-hop look”… and ended up delving into a slightly more serious conversation about how crazy it is that level of cultural appropriation is still going on in 2023- the durags were already too much... whoever was styling these girls needed to get FIRED. After Mannequeen had gone it was finally their turn.

The recording started off really well until all of a sudden Latrice was on the ground, unable to get up. Y/n was right next to her when it happened, watching her go down. She stopped dancing immediately to make sure the older girl was okay and to see if she could get up. After a few moments, the team realized Latrice wasn’t going to be able to get up on her own any time soon and she was rushed to the hospital. The members halted their filming and headed back to their hideout. The members are holding it together surprisingly well at first, mostly just in shock at the situation. Audrey is the first to start crying, and it hits everyone else like a truck. Y/n is by her side in seconds, cuddling and trying to soothe her. Ling is next to start tearing up and shortly after y/n even sees Emma shed a tear. The youngest is able to hold it together until she looks up to see her leader crying. That’s when y/n feels the tears start falling uncontrollably, as she tucks her head into Audrey’s shoulder and silently cries. 

“Is there an option we just forfeit?” Kirsten asks the staff, wiping her tears. Once Y/n hears this she picks up her head immediately and the look in her eyes is one of heartbreak and the poor girl seems terrified by the idea of giving up. The staff explains that if they were to forfeit it would immediately put them in last place, meaning they’d be up for elimination. This news caused them all to fall back into tears, completely lost on what to do. After what felt like half a day, Latrice came back with a boot on her leg. The other members immediately rushed to her side and helped her sit down.

“Basically I just have to ice it for a few hours and then I’m allowed to dance on it for the performance, but after that, I’m gonna have to rest for a while.” she had explained to them, as her team all watch over her with worried eyes. She then began talking to them about how Redlic was also in the hospital at the same time as her. The others were amused but y/n just rolled her eyes.

“Of course she was” the young girl mumbled, not at all surprised with the show’s resident drama queen. Latrice looked over and shook her with a laugh, then proceeded to joke about how she was starting to see Redlic as her soulmate instead of her rival, which ended up making y/n somewhat emotional again.

After a few hours of recovery, Jam Republic quickly shot their pre-recording of the routine and went back to get some touchups done on their makeup as the audience started pouring in. After about an hour and a half of anticipation, the live performance began. All the girls could hear the audience from backstage, and some even from their dressing rooms. It made them all even more hyped to perform. 

TsubaKill does their performance first and everyone is blown away by how aggressive yet clean they are with their movements. When it’s Bebe’s turn y/n can feel her nerves increase by two hundred percent. The girl was already nervous, but knowing that Tatter had been struggling intensely with a few points really made y/n’s heart hurt for the other team. But her nerves quickly dissipated as she watched the blond stick her double front handspring, in fact- she was up and screaming immediately. 

“LETS FUCKING GO TATTER” is the small girl’s immediate reaction. She’s standing on the couch in her crew’s waiting room, screaming with the rest of her team. y/n briefly calms down for a moment and brings herself to sit next to and cling to Emma, who pats her head and laughs.

“I feel like I’m gonna cry I’m so proud of her.” and the excitement only increases as the performance goes on. There’s one moment where they all point at someone in the crowd, and when it happens the camera pans to Bada, charismatically pointing and smirking, which has y/n’s jaw dropping to the floor and all of her members immediately looking her way to catch her reaction. No one says a word until y/n looks around to meet eyes with all of them. She holds up her hand and closes her eyes, pretending to cry.

“Enough.” is all she says yet it has her members bursting out in laughter. Minah is the next victim of Jam Republic’s inhumane screams of support, when she does her jerky laugh move, once again sending them all spiraling. Especially y/n and Audrey who are now standing on the couch again, clinging to each other for dear life. And then of course, y/n pretends to faint when Bada does her peek through the other members before the end half of the song. Emma smacks her on the side of the head, asking her politely (sarcastically) to pull herself together. Bebe finishes their routine and all the members are standing in the middle of their room cheering and clapping like maniacs.

Shortly after the JYP match, Mannequeen went first during the Hybe competition and for the first time, y/n is actually nervous for herself to compete. The other team had done really well and even adjusted accordingly to the choreography Jam Republic had given them. When it was time for the pink team themselves to finally perform, y/n took a deep breath and put on her game face- ready to go. The music started and she instantly felt herself become immersed in their doll-like theme. She and Ling had taken the center for the intro, already bringing the story to life. The audience loved them and so did the other crews. Bada really did try her best to focus on the dance as a whole and was able to when y/n wasn’t seen on the screen, but any other time her eyes were focused on the youngest member.

“I’m really surprised they didn’t utilize y/n more…” Minah shares with her group after the performance ends. To which Bada explained that the girl told her how she had wanted to help mostly behind the scenes for this one instead of taking the spotlight, as she’s not the only one on Jam Republic that can look good doing kpop choreo. They all ‘ahh’ed and nodded, adding yet another thing to the list of reasons they all admire y/n l/n. 

When it’s revealed that Jam Republic won y/n bursts into tears and collapses on the ground, but she immediately gets up and hugs Latrice and they’re just crying together. The rest of the teams compete and the day ends as a success for half and a learning experience for the others.

Not even getting a day to rest and recover, the first elimination occurs the next day. Everyone once again files into the fight zone, taking their seats and waiting for filming to start. The first two battles to be announced were SM and YG, resulting in 1 Million and LadyBounce securing their safety from elimination. Next was JYP- Bebe versus TsubaKill.

“There’s no way Bebe will be up for elimination…” y/n starts off although she feels her stomach turning. Her teammates hum and nod as they focus their eyes on the screen in front of them, awaiting the results. But they all gasp when the scores are revealed.

“I didn’t think it would be that bad…” Audrey whispers with sad eyes. All of the members slowly turn to catch TsubaKill’s reaction to being up for elimination. They were surprisingly calm, still smiling and nodding peacefully. Bada had spoken about how she was proud of her team for pulling through but got choked up at the end, wishing their opponent good luck in the final battle.

When it came down to Mannequeen versus Jam Republic everyone was just about ready to throw up because they were so nervous.

“I actually have no clue how this is going to go… I have such an awful feeling about this” y/n’s shaking her head and hiding her face in her hands. The screen reveals that even though Jam Republic had won the judges' votes, Mannequeen won the audience points, and the whole pink team tensed up. They all join hands and hold onto each other as they await the final score. When it came, their shoulder sagged and they all let out a heavy breath. Jam Republic wins by a hair.

As the final team score is announced, the host reveals the final ranking with Bebe in first and Jam Republic in fourth. TsubaKill and Wolf’Lo had the two lowest ranks, so now their teams were going up against each other for one final match to determine who was going home.

The first of what would be five battles began, crew versus crew. Y/n’s already fangirling over Tsubakill, especially Akanen

“She’s so mommy-“ “I need you to actually shut the fuck up” (yet another classic argument between Jam Republic’s designated Tom & Jerry duo, Y/n and Emma). Meanwhile, Bada is just as excited but is more in favor of Wolf’lo, really enjoying their classic hip-hop dance style. Tsubakill takes the first win and everyone flips, but the second battle between them has y/n heated.

“Why the fuck is she tripping her and getting all up in her space… that’s so juvenile” She was outraged when Baby Sleek won, always hating when dancers got too touchy with each other during battles, but especially when they were dancing at the same time and one of the dancers got too reckless- aka Baby Sleek.

The leaders battle next and Jam Republic is heavily rooting for Akanen, especially y/n.

“If Akanen doesn’t win, I’m leaving” the youngest member dramatically expressed with her arms crossed, tapping her food comedically, causing her members to laugh. 

“Oh so you’ve moved on from one team leader to the next already?” Emma teases and causes y/n’s jaw to drop and her eyebrows to furrow in defense. The duo battle was another hard-to-watch experience for her, as she felt that Wolf’Lo didn’t deserve the win for simply rolling around on the floor. Then the final group battle happened. Y/n absolutely loved TsubaKill’s performance, but it upset her to say that Wolf’Lo’s was slightly more put together.

When wolf’Lo takes the final win y/n’s head immediately hangs in defeat. She’s able to avoid crying until Rena starts speaking and they’re both instantly in tears. Once they’re told to leave the fight zone, y/n rushes down the seats and runs straight to Rena engulfing her in a huge hug. The two had become close ever since the class battle mission, and it hurt to see such a talented and kind-hearted friend go so soon. After they had all said their goodbyes and TsubaKill went back to their hideout for one final time to pack up their things, the rest continued to cry and try to pull themselves together. After about 45 minutes, each team took turns going up to say goodbye to the red team, truly not ready to let go of the newfound friends they all had made. TsubaKill turned off their sign and left, then the cameras stopped rolling for the day. 

Each crew was back in their own hideout now, just discussing the events of the last few days and how they could relax briefly since they all survived the first elimination. Jam Republic’s room was eerily quiet as the small team with such big hearts sat heartbroken still. Y/n didn’t look herself, eyes tired and face puffy, and oh how it made her members feel even more upset knowing their youngest member took every blow straight to the heart- yet she never let that truly impact her as a person, always taking on every new situation with a bright smile and open-mind.

“How’re you holdin' up mama?” Kirsten asked, gently rubbing the young girl’s shoulder. Her lip quivered and she started to tear up again before leaning forward and hiding her face in her hands.

“This is so much harder than I thought it was gonna be.” Y/n cries into her hands, shoulders shaking as she sobbed. Kirsten just continued to rub circles on her back until she calmed down. Once she finally did manage to stop crying, the younger girl sat up and ran a hand through her hair, suddenly seeming a tiny bit more alive than before. She looked around at all her members and stopped at Emma.

“Fuck this shit.” she declared confidently and the members couldn’t help but chuckle and shake their heads, forever impressed by how unpredictable the girl will always be. She throws her head back to rest against the back of the sofa in their room. A few moments of silence pass then there's a knock on their door. Ling, who is sitting closest to it, stands up and opens the door, revealing a slightly-somber-looking Bada Lee. once she realizes all eyes are on her, the tall girl’s eyes widen and she clears her throat. Before anyone can even say anything y/n is up and moving. 

“Hey, what’s up?” she whispers as she meets the older girl in the doorway. Bada stutters for a second before taking a breath.

“I just wanted to come check on you… I know you take these things pretty hard.” she had clarified with a sympathetic comforting smile, causing y/n to smile slightly as well.

“Well thank you… how are you holding up?” she asked in return with her signature puppy eyes. Bada tilted her head for a second, thinking about how she wanted to word her sentence. 

“I think I just need to keep moving. Of course I’m upset about it, but I feel for me personally I just have to keep working… there isn’t any time to rest-” she starts and sees Y/n take a deep breath, knowing the young girl is about to reprimand her for not taking care of herself.

“But-” she continues, holding up her hands in defense, causing the girl across from her to sigh and cross her arms expectantly.

“I actually want to take the time I have and enjoy it… maybe with someone?” Bada had finished her statement with a question, hinting that she very much wanted to spend her free time with the smaller girl in front of her. Y/n matched her cheesy smile and looked over her shoulder to see her teammates staring (per usual). Kirsten and Latrice looked at each other for a second, having a silent conversation, before looking back towards the two in the doorway and nodding with a thumbs up. Y/n looked back at the tall girl in front of her and smiled brightly.

“Are you free now?” she asked, and Bada held out her hand for y/n to take, which she did. The two already grinning like lovesick idiots.

“For you I am.”

note: sorry this part took so long!! i hope everyone enjoys it- next part is gonna be the pool party episode omg yay lol

taglist (open): @tinybada @angel-hyuckie @violetinferno @jesuschrist2006 @1luvkarina @uwulyn @justandloyal2961 @deadgirlwalking3 @heeheemich @squidvoldyvoid @vivzyo @ouhaika @jksjx @ocyeanicc @marianamartinsthings @jxrdxnh @luvjanexx @lorenztired @khjssss @heavenlycloud @loisje123 @starchasermyloves @zhivaxo @grinnwolph @notyourd0lly @stinkbvgs @nermandiiiii-blog @abllucena @arujee @idontknownemore @thatgayinsomniac @l-a-u-r-a--b @fruitr0llup @cgriffin9797-blog @woooooya @kaaylvst @ssc7514 @astoreea @linda-botello @kpopgirl-97 @erikook @majookim @okjaeminn @misszoldyc

[ducktoo]

Syncing Dream [Aespa x M!Reader]

18. Dying Star

Note: O-ohh….what will happen with Karina now?

Masterlist here

The tension in the dorm had become almost unbearable. Y/n had hardly spoken to any of the members since the argument with Karina. The usual banter, the laughter, the inside jokes—it was all gone, replaced by an awkward silence that no one quite knew how to break. Y/n’s footsteps were heavier than usual, and every time Karina walked into the room, he’d either retreat to his room or disappear into his phone, avoiding eye contact.

The comeback was looming closer, and with it, the pressure continued to build. They had rehearsals, interviews, photoshoots, and it seemed like the only person struggling to hold it all together was Y/n. But that wasn’t the worst of it. The group could feel the strain growing in his absence—like a shadow looming over everything they did.

Giselle had always been the level-headed one. She noticed things that others might miss, and over the last few days, she had picked up on the subtle shifts in both Y/n and Karina. They were both hurting, but neither one of them was ready to admit it. Something needed to change, and fast.

One afternoon, while the group was lounging around the dorm between schedules, Giselle decided to step in. The air was thick with unspoken tension, and everyone knew Y/n was on edge. But Giselle had a plan—kind of.

“Hey, Y/n,” she called out, standing in the doorway of his room. He was lying on his bed, scrolling through his phone, pretending not to hear her.

“Y/n,” she said again, a little louder this time, walking inside without waiting for an invitation.

Y/n finally looked up, forcing a tired smile. “What’s up?”

Giselle crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. “We need to talk.”

He groaned inwardly, already bracing himself for another uncomfortable conversation. “About what?”

“About you. And Jimin-unnie. And, you know… everything.”

Y/n sat up, rubbing his temples. “Aeri, I really don’t have the energy for this right now.”

“I know,” she said softly, her voice unusually gentle. “But that’s exactly why we need to talk. Look, I get that this comeback is a lot. We all do. But you and Rina-unnie… it’s like walking on eggshells around you two. You’re avoiding each other, and it’s making everything harder.”

Y/n frowned, his hands clenching into fists. “I’m not avoiding her.”

Giselle raised an eyebrow. “Oh really? You’ve barely spoken to her since that argument. It’s okay to admit you’re both stressed out, but you need to talk to each other, not just… avoid the issue.”

Y/n sighed, leaning back against the wall. “I tried talking to her, Aeri. It just… blew up.”

Giselle took a deep breath, trying to remain patient. “Okay, but maybe you need to try again. And this time, with a little less… I don’t know, explosion? Just don’t be like Bakugou”

Y/n couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle at that. “Yeah, easier said than done.”

Giselle smiled, feeling like she was finally getting through to him. “Look, I’m not saying it’ll be easy. But if you two don’t fix this, it’s only going to get worse. We’re a team, and right now, our team’s falling apart. And you know who feels it the most? You.”

Just as Giselle was about to delve deeper, Winter popped her head into the room, clearly having eavesdropped on part of the conversation. “Are you guys having a secret therapy session without me?”

Y/n groaned, but Giselle shot Winter a look. “Not now, Minjeong.”

But Winter, being Winter, ignored the look and walked into the room anyway, plopping down on the edge of Y/n’s bed. “Come on, Y/n, don’t be all serious and moody. Where’s the idiot who didn’t stress out over every little thing. Remember when we used to just vibe and chill? Lighten it up.”

Y/n smiled faintly but shook his head. “Yeah, well, that was before this comeback became a mess.”

Winter’s expression softened as she scooted closer to him. “It’s not a mess. You’re just under a lot of pressure. We all are. But you don’t have to go through it alone, you know?”

Y/n sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I feel like I’m failing you guys, Jeong. I used to be able to balance everything. Now, I’m just… screwing everything up.”

Winter’s voice was gentle, but there was a sadness in her eyes. “You’re not screwing up. We’re just worried about you. It’s not just about the comeback—it’s about how you’ve been acting lately. You’re not yourself, and it’s making us all feel weird. I miss the Y/n who used to tease me and bring snacks into the dorm.”

Y/n chuckled, shaking his head. “I guess I haven’t been much fun lately.”

Winter nodded, placing a hand on his shoulder. “We don’t need you to be perfect, Y/n. We just need you to be here. With us. You’re part of the team too, you know?”

Giselle, watching the interaction, saw a chance to ease the tension. “And we need you to talk to Jimin-unnie. She feels just as bad as you do, but she’s not going to say it unless you do first.”

Y/n closed his eyes, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He knew they were right, but admitting it—admitting he was overwhelmed—felt like a failure. And that’s the last thing he wanted to be.

-

Later that evening, Y/n was sitting in the dorm’s living room, his mind racing with everything that had been said. He hadn’t spoken to Karina yet, but the thought of confronting her made his chest tighten. He just needed time to process everything.

But that time would soon run out.

The next day, rehearsal was intense, and the tension between Y/n and Karina hadn’t improved. Small misunderstandings during the practice led to more frustration. At one point, Karina asked about a timing change in the schedule, and Y/n—already feeling cornered—snapped.

“Karina, can you just stop? I’m trying to handle it!”

Karina’s eyes flashed with anger. “Handle it? You’ve barely been able to handle anything since this started!”

The words cut deeper than either of them expected, and for a moment, the room went silent. The other members exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to do.

But before Karina could say anything else, Y/n’s face darkened. “You think I don’t know that? I’m doing everything I can!”

The tension snapped. Y/n, unable to deal with the pressure anymore, stormed out of the rehearsal studio, slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed through the silent room.

The group was left in shock, the weight of the argument hanging in the air.

“I didn’t mean for it to go that far…” Karina whispered, her voice shaky.

None of them knew what to say. For the first time, it felt like their team was truly falling apart.

-

A few doors down, Minji and Jihoon, having overheard the commotion again, exchanged worried glances. Jihoon looked at Minji and muttered, “That doesn’t sound good.”

Minji nodded, her expression tense. “No, it doesn’t.”

“Should we step in?”

Minji sighed. “ I don’t think it’s our place to do so. Let them work it out… but we’re going to have to keep an eye on this. It’s not just a comeback at stake here.”

The situation had gone from bad to worse, and everyone knew it.

-

The air in the dorm was thick with silence after Y/n stormed out of the rehearsal. None of the girls spoke much that evening, and the usual banter was replaced by awkward exchanges and glances. Karina felt the weight of her words more than anyone. She had replayed the argument over and over in her head, regretting the way things escalated, but unsure of how to fix it.

Even worse, Y/n was nowhere to be seen after he stormed out.

The next morning, the group was summoned to the company building earlier than usual. There was an uneasy feeling in the air as they entered the CEO’s office. They exchanged nervous glances, the tension from yesterday’s argument still fresh.

SM Entertainment's CEO, a man they rarely met outside of major events, sat behind his desk with a stern expression. He didn’t waste time on pleasantries.

“I called you here today to discuss something important,” he said, his voice measured but serious.

Karina shifted uncomfortably, sensing that this wasn’t just about the comeback. Winter bit her lip, and Giselle kept glancing at the door, as if hoping Y/n would walk in and explain everything.

But he didn’t.

The CEO’s next words confirmed their fears.

“Y/n has requested an indefinite leave of absence.”

The room fell silent, stunned. Winter’s eyes widened, while Giselle’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. Ningning blinked a few times, not sure if she’d heard correctly. And Karina… Karina’s heart sank, her stomach twisting into knots.

“He’s taking time off?” Winter finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "That idiot?"

The CEO nodded. “Effective immediately. He’s asked for some time to rest and reflect. He’ll be gone for the foreseeable future.”

Karina’s chest tightened. She wanted to say something, to ask if this was because of their fight, but the words wouldn’t come out. The guilt gnawed at her. Had she pushed him too far?

The CEO continued, his voice calm but firm. “This comeback is still moving forward, and we will assign another manager to take over Y/n’s responsibilities. But I need all of you to remain focused. I'm sorry to hear and I understand this is a difficult time, but the show must go on.”

Ningning, always the one to break awkward silences, raised her hand hesitantly. “Can we… can we talk to oppa? Maybe convince him to come back?”

The CEO shook his head. “Y/n made it clear that he needs space. It’s best to respect that, girls.”

Giselle sighed, her eyes dropping to the floor. Winter looked devastated, her usual playful demeanor replaced with sadness. And Karina… Karina just sat there, staring at the ground, her heart heavy with regret.

After the CEO dismissed them, the group walked out of the office in silence. There were no words to say. The weight of Y/n’s absence loomed over them, and the reality of how bad things had gotten started to sink in.

Winter was the first to break the silence as they stood in the hallway. “He really left… just like that. That idiot.”

Giselle nodded slowly, rubbing her temples. “I don’t blame him. We’ve all been pushing him too hard.”

Ningning looked at Karina, her eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay, unnie?”

Karina didn’t answer right away. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her emotions in check, but the guilt was overwhelming. “I should’ve handled things better,” she muttered. “This is my fault…”

Giselle put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s not just you, unnie. We all could’ve done more.”

But Karina wasn’t so sure. All she could think about was the argument, the way Y/n had looked at her before storming out, the frustration in his voice. She had pushed him to the edge, and now he was gone.

As they made their way back to the dorm, the atmosphere was somber. The comeback was supposed to be an exciting time, a new chapter in their careers, but it now felt like something was missing—something they couldn’t replace.

And without Y/n, their manager, their friend, the group didn’t feel quite the same.

[archangeldyke-all]

okay, wait y all

EXSEV i mean how she be, toxic? possesive? maybe none of that

maybe she gonna kiss/ fuck you so everyone knows your still hers? idk

maybe you have new partner?

if this inspires you, is nlt necessary have to be what i said, maybe she is a cry baby

but if you do i die for see sev on her knees beg to have you back.

if your comfortable, kiss

omg... OMGGG okay...

(just a quick heads up! this one has a brief scene where reader vomits, so if that is a trigger for u plz don't read!)

men and minors dni

there isn't a big fight. well, that's not entirely true. you fight it tooth and nail, but sevika stays stoic, sad, and sure. she's breaking up with you. you don't understand why.

"i thought things were good-- i thought you loved me!" you shout. you're in your pajamas, had been expecting sevika to come home and cuddle you. you never would've guessed this was coming.

she nods. "they are. i do." she says.

"so then why the fuck--"

"i don't know!" she shouts suddenly. it's silent as she gathers her thoughts. "i just can't do this anymore." she says softly.

"you can't be serious." you whisper. sevika shrugs, looking down at her feet. "what happened today?" you ask. "you-- everything was fine this morning!" sevika shrugs again, still not looking at you. you scoff.

if she had said something, she would've said that today at work she narrowly avoided a knife to her stomach. she would've said that she's never been scared to die before, but today-- she was terrified. all she could think about was your face when you'd get the news. all she could think about was how she could never hurt you like that.

if she had said something, you wouldn't have stormed off to pack a duffel bag, muffling your sobs with the back of your hand.

if she had said something, you would've stayed-- told her that you're both guaranteed to die someday, that you just wanted to spend every moment alive you could with her.

but she didn't. so you left.

sevika is miserable without you. she thought she'd just be back to her old self, the person she was before you-- grumpier, quieter, more tired.

she wasn't. she was much worse than that.

she felt physically ill each morning when she woke up without you beside her. each night, she'd lay in bed awake, her mind replaying the pathetic sobs you tried to hide from her while you packed your bags that night.

each time she comes home to an empty apartment it's like a punch to her gut. her closet is bare now, without your clothes shoved up against hers. her shelves are nearly empty-- all your knickknacks and books gone.

so she starts avoiding home. starts spending more and more hours at the last drop, nowhere near ready to return to babettes. the thought of fucking someone besides you makes her sick.

she doesn't hear from you at all.

you aren't doing much better than she is, but you're determined to avoid her at all costs. the thought of seeing her makes you cry.

about a month after the break up, you bump into her on the street.

you were walking home from the market, hands full with paper bags, trying to figure out what you were going to cook for dinner.

you bumped into someone, cursing and apologizing, cutting yourself off when you look up and your eyes meet with sevika's.

you're both shocked to silence. for a heartbreaking moment, everything feels normal again, like the two of you are walking home from the market together and sevika's stopped in the middle of the street to kiss you.

you shake your head. that's not what's happening here.

you take a step away from her. "hey, sevika." you say sadly.

her heart breaks at the use of her full name. you were the only one who ever called her 'sev.' she missed the nickname.

"hey." she grunts awkwardly. you look around, trying to avoid her gaze, and let out a spiteful laugh when you see the building sevika's loitering in front of.

"back to your girls already?" you spit. sevika freezes, looking over her shoulder at the glowing neon light of babette's.

"no i'm not-- silco's here on business."

"right." you say sarcastically, taking another step away from her. "'s this why you ended it? missed 'em that much?" you ask. "or maybe you were fuckin' 'em all along. didn't want me to figure it out."

you're spiraling right in the middle of the street, all the rage and sadness and grief boiling over at the sight of sevika.

"don't be fucking stupid. you know i'd never cheat on you." she spits. you laugh hysterically.

"yeah, well there were a lot of things i thought i knew, sevika." you say. "thought i knew you were the one." you shrug. "guess i was wrong about that, though, huh?"

you may as well have ripped her heart out through her chest. she realizes then what she's done to you, how heartbroken you truly are. she has to ball her hands into fists to keep from reaching up and brushing your tears away. she bites her tongue and reminds herself that this is what she wanted.

"have a good night." you say, sidestepping her and hitching your paper bags further up your hip. "don't forget to tip your girl."

your friends take you out one night in an attempt to cheer you up. it's been a month and a half since the breakup, and you still feel just as gutted and horrible as the night it happened.

they take you to the last drop, but only after you give it the okay. you still have sevika's schedule memorized, so the only reason you agree is because you know she'll be off tonight.

it's nice to be back. sevika's coworkers greet you with smiles and hugs, telling you they've missed having you around, asking you where you've been.

you realize that sevika hasn't told them about the breakup. it makes you furious.

"she broke up with me." you say to theriam as he whips up your usual drink order. he freezes.

"seriously?" you nod. "what the fuck'd she do that for?" he asks. you try not to burst into tears at the question, simply shrugging.

"wish i knew." you whisper. "think she got bored of me." he scoffs behind the bar.

"no way, she's obsessed with you. it all makes sense now, she's been a total bitch for like... five or six weeks now." he says. "she's been miserable." he adds. you shrug again.

"yeah?" you ask. he nods. "good." you say. he chuckles and passes you your drink, telling you to have a fun night.

you and your friends dance and drink-- and for a few hours you really do manage to feel okay again. that is, until sevika walks in.

your eyes meet across the dance floor and you both freeze. sevika feels something warm bubble up in her stomach at the sight of you, and she tries to swallow it down.

she storms to the bar to drink away her feelings, downing three shots in quick succession before ordering a drink.

you keep your eyes trained on sevika, a fact she's well aware of. she can feel your gaze on her, she's always been able to. she wonders if she should come talk to you, wonders if it would be the right thing to say hello.

she catches your eye from the bar and waves shyly at you. you roll your eyes at her but wave back anyways. she has to bite back a grin.

beside her, a woman's hand slowly snakes up her arm. she's so caught up in the sight of you she doesn't notice one of babette's girls (for the life of her she can't remember her name) draping herself over sevika until the woman's purring in sevika's ear.

"long time no see, sevika." she whispers, her tongue flicking sevika's earlobe. sevika jumps in her seat, whipping around to face the woman, then back around to face you.

you look devastated.

you look... slightly green.

sevika pushes the woman off of her as you bolt from the bar, running after you.

she finds you vomiting in the alley between bouts of crying.

"shit." she says at the sight of you. she walks over to pull your hair back from your face and rub on your back, only to be furiously smacked away by you.

"get the fuck away from me!" you cry out before another round of bile forces its way out of you. she doesn't move, and your vomit splatters on her shoes. it makes you feel slightly better.

"you okay, baby?" she asks. the petname rolls off her tongue subconciously, and she cringes when she hears herself say it.

you snap up from where you were bent over, fire in your eyes as you shove sevika away from you with both hands, hard. she barely stumbles.

"you do not get to call--"

"i know." she cuts you off. "i'm sorry. it was a mistake." she says softly.

suddenly, you're bursting into tears. you bury your face in your hands and try to compose yourself, but something about sevika's presence makes it impossible.

across from you, sevika is digging her nails into her palm to keep from reaching out and gathering you in her arms. she tries speaking.

"it's not what it looks like." she says. you laugh between your cries, shaking your head.

"none of my business anyways, you're not mine anymore." you reply shakily. with a deep breath, you pry your hands away from your face, wiping away your tears and snot.

it's sevika's turn to laugh. "don't be ridiculous." she says. you blink up at her in confusion, your eyes wide and watery, and something inside her snaps. "of course i'm still yours!" she shouts. you jump at the outburst. "i can't sleep, i can't eat, i'm a fucking mess all the time. i can't even-- i can't even step foot inside babette's, the thought of someone else makes me sick to my stomach. i can't go home either-- not without you there. you're all i ever think about, and i miss you so much it hurts!" she finishes with a shout. rage bubbles up inside of you.

"then why'd you break up with me, jackass?!" you spit out. "you did that, remember? that wasn't me, that was you. none of this is my fault-- i don't even know why it happened! you left for work one morning as the love of my life and you came home that night and dumped me! i-- you-- you fucking broke my heart," your voice cracks, "and now you're acting like it's my fucking fault!"

sevika is silent. this is the last thing she ever wanted. she broke up with you to avoid this, to avoid the horrible heartbroken look on your face, to avoid the way your hands are shaking uncontrollably by your sides. it occurs to her now, with you sobbing uncontrollably in front of her, that maybe leaving you wasn't the best way to keep you safe and happy. maybe you needed her as much as she needed you.

she thinks about it for a second, how heartbroken she would've been if you'd dumped her out of the blue with no explanation. she thinks she'd probably have gone on a murderous rampage.

oh shit, she thinks as she watches you storm past her back into the bar, i've made a horrible mistake.

sevika spends the rest of the weekend working on 'operation: win you back.' it goes something like this:

on monday morning you get to work and find an envelope stuffed in your locker. you open it curiously, it isn't signed or addressed, and you wonder if it's an old paycheck your manager forgot to give you.

inside is a five page handwritten letter from sevika. upon seeing her handwriting, you scoff and crumble the letter up, throwing it back in your locker and slamming the door.

that night, though, as you're shoving your coat on to leave for work, you can't help but slip the ball of paper into your pocket. you tell yourself it's just to take it home to throw away, but you know it's a lie.

you read it in bed that night, sobbing. the letter is unfiltered and rambling, you chuckle a few times at lines you can practically hear sevika speaking out loud in your mind.

"i think i fucked up," is one of your favorite lines, second to "i'm never going to be able to stop loving you."

the letter details everything, the near death miss you'd never known about, the way she had a panic attack in the back of the last drop afterwards, her mind imagining your heartbroken wails as you get the news she's died. she writes about how miserable she was without you, how everything seemed to get dimmer, how food lost its taste, and drinking lost its fun. she writes about realizing how much she must have hurt you, how sorry she is for being so careless with your heart.

you fall asleep with the papers pressed against your chest.

on tuesday, you wake up to someone knocking at your door, a deliveryman with a bouquet you needed to sign for.

when you take the flowers inside you open the card in the front. it simply reads, 'have a good day. S.'

on wednesday, you bump into sevika as you leave work to start your walk home. she avoids your gaze as she asks to walk you home. you say yes, heart melting at the awkward way she's rubbing the back of her neck.

"how've you been?" she asks you. you chuckle and shrug.

"goin' through a rough patch with my girlfriend, so you know. things could be better." you say.

you don't miss the grin that grows on sevika's face when you refer to her your girlfriend. she doesn't mention it, and you don't either, but you do reach out to snatch her hand into yours.

she doesn't kiss you goodbye when you get home, but she does hug you for a solid three minutes, breathing in your scent, soaking in the way you feel against her body.

god, she'd missed you.

nothing happens on thursday. at least, that's what you think until you get home and see sevika waiting outside of your front door with takeout in her hands. you raise an eyebrow at her.

"i don't remember inviting you over." you say. she shrugs.

"you don't have to let me in. just wanted to make sure you were eating right." she says as she hands the bag of food to you.

you consider her for a moment, then roll your eyes.

"come on." you say, as you unlock your door. "i don't have any whiskey but i've got some beers in the fridge."

the two of you spend the night catching up on the couch. sevika tells you all the crazy work stories she hasn't been able to tell anyone for nearly two months, and you do the same.

after a few beers, you both start talking about what went down between the two of you. sevika apologizes profusely, going into great detail on how she's going to make it up to you, how she's going to rebuild the trust she broke. you roll your eyes, trying to keep the tears from falling at her words.

"what?" she asks. you scoff.

"you're gonna make me cry again." you huff. "don't you think you've done enough of that lately?" you ask wobbly as tears start to bubble up in your eyes. sevika takes a shaky breath beside you.

"don't cry." she demands. "'cause then i'll cry." you laugh, and lean forward to bury your face in her chest.

sevika freezes for a moment, before reaching up to curl her arms around you, holding you against her as both of you cry.

you make her sleep on the couch that night, because you're still feeling a bit butthurt.

but in the middle of the night, you wake up cold and alone and acutely aware of sevika snoring twenty feet away from you. fuck it you think as you get out of bed and shuffle into the living room, nudging sevika awake.

"wha-?" she blinks awake. "you okay, honey?" you melt at the nickname.

"come on." you say, turning to walk back to your bedroom.

sevika sits in confusion for a few moments until you call for her from bed. "come on, sev!" she sprints into your room, diving into bed and giggling as she curls up in your arms.

on friday, you wake up with sevika on top of you, snoring away, right where she belongs. you breathe in the smell of her shampoo, press a kiss to her scalp, whisper sweet nothings into the top of her hair.

she wakes up somewhere between your "i love you so fuckin' much." and your "you're such a fuckin' asshole for making me pay rent all on my own."

"jus' move back in with me." she grumbles, still half asleep. you laugh.

"signed a year long lease." you say.

"so break it." she groans as she picks her head up to look at you, shuffling off your tits to lay beside you on a pillow. you turn over to face her, your noses brushing together.

"and wreck my credit? what'll happen next month when you break up with me 'cause someone shoots at you?"

it's quiet for a second, and you sigh.

"sorry. that was fuckin' rude." you grunt out. sevika shakes her head.

"it's cool, i deserve that." she says.

"it's not cool. not after last night. and this whole week. i get it, sev. i get why you did it. it just..."

"really fucking sucked of me?" she guesses. you giggle.

"yeah." you say. she smiles.

"so let me move in with you." she says with a shrug. you gawk at her. she shrugs. "i'll break my lease. i just wanna... be with you. if you'll have me."

"your apartment's half a block from your job!" you say. she shrugs. "and the shower here sucks!" she shrugs again.

"yeah, but you're here." she says easily. tears start welling in your eyes.

"okay." you huff out. sevika beams. "but i reserve the right to actually fucking murder you if you break my heart like that again." you add on. sevika grins.

"of course, baby."

you were gonna make her wait a few more days to kiss her again, but you can't keep yourself from leaning forward to kiss her breathless right then and there.

sevika's crying when you pull away.

"what's wrong!?" you ask, panicked. she giggles and pulls you in for another quick kiss before she speaks.

"nothing. i'm just so fuckin' happy you're mine again."

the two of you spend the weekend moving sevika into your apartment.

the space starts feeling like home with each box of sevika's stuff you unload.

you sleep soundly for the first time in weeks on saturday night, after sevika'd spent hours eating you out.

on sunday, she takes you out for dinner and a walk in the park. unbeknownst to you, sevika's 'win you back' plan had one final bonus step titled 'if things go well.'

you're in the middle of rambling to sevika about the book you're in the middle of reading when she stops in her tracks. you pause and turn around to look at her.

"you okay?" you ask. it's just the two of you in the park this late at night. you and a few geese swimming in the fountain pond beside you.

"i--i was gonna wait til we had a house together." sevika says. you furrow your brow in confusion. "but these past two months made it crystal clear to me that if there's ever anyone in this world who'll get me-- it's you." she says. you frown, unsure of where she's going.

"baby what--"

"and i-- you know, i'm trying to tell you my feelings now. all of them." she says. you nod, encouraging her to talk but still completely unsure of where her train of thought is headed. "so... right now-- and honestly probably for years now-- i feel like i want to marry you. and know it's probably a bad time to do this because we just broke up, but... i feel like i don't wanna wait anymore to make you my wife." she rushes out. you blink at her and she shrugs. "you don't have to--"

she's cut off by your hysterical laughter as you double over in front of her. "you're proposing!?" you gasp out. she nods in confusion. you burst into another round of laughter. "sevika!" you laugh.

"what?"

"this is a horrible time to propose! and you're not even on one knee! and you don't have a ring! you're crazy!" you say between laughs. she frowns, looking down at herself like she's just now noticing these things too. she pouts. you take a moment to compose yourself, wiping away your tears of laughter and standing back up to your full height. "you're lucky i'm fuckin' crazy for you, too." you say, leaning up to kiss her pout away.

"is-- what-- does that mean...?"

"yes. i'll marry you." you say, nodding. sevika blinks, then grins, tackling you onto the grass beneath you and kissing you breathless.

"i love you so fucking much." she says against your lips.

"i love you too." you say, giggling up at her. "good job sharing your feelings."

"yeah?" she asks you, pride shining through her voice. you grin and nod.

"definitely."

"i'm sorry i didn't do it right--"

"i don't care." you cut in. "i mean-- you're definitely getting me a ring, and a nice one too!" you say pointing up at her where she hovers above you. she nods enthusiastically. "but-- it was perfect. i mean it was horribly unromantic and i think i'm laying in goose shit right now, but it was you, you know? i'll always say yes to you." you say, grinning. sevika melts above you.

"you're the best thing that's ever happened to me." she says. you smile. sevika leans down to kiss you, not even caring that the hand she's holding herself up with is squishing a pile of shit.

hell, she'd eat shit if it meant you kept giggling and kissing her like this.

so, overall, the breakup was shit. but it ended up being one of the best things that's happened to either of you.

taglist!

@lesbeaniegreenie @fyeahnix

[kimmie2me]

# 03. Unexpected Partners

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✰⋆⁺⋆˙⠀⠀⠀⠀taglist ... chapters ... masterlist

.....

If you’d had a time machine, you wouldn’t use it for anything noble or selfless—no epic rescue of historical figures, no preventing major disasters. Nope. You’d drag yourself back a month just to shake your wide-eyed, naïve self by the shoulders and scream, "Don’t do it. Find another department. Any other department. Join traffic control. Herd cats. Just don’t end up here."

Because here was Bakugou personal circle of hell. The past few weeks felt like a marathon in which you’d been tripped at the starting line, dragged halfway, and then left to sprint uphill. In the rain. With weighted vests. There was no mercy in Bakugou’s world, only adrenaline and barked orders that carried enough force to knock the confidence right out of your chest.

You learned, fast and furiously, that he wasn’t just tough. He was ruthless, exacting, and demanded perfection with all the warmth of a drill sergeant who hadn’t had coffee. And coffee—you’d learned the hard way—was something that could make or break a morning. There was The Incident when you dared bring him a cup with too much sugar, only to receive a sharp glare and a grumbled, “What, you think I’m ten?” The next thirty minutes were dedicated to sprint drills so intense your calves whimpered for days. All you wanted to do is figure out what the hell his favorite coffee is! Yes, you're still trying..

And yes, you're still failing.

Bakugou’s teaching methods were a combination of trial by fire and sheer terror. He wasn’t interested in your excuses or half-assed answers. If you messed up, you’d know—usually by the clipped way he’d shout, “Run it again,” or the eye twitch that signaled he was two seconds from ripping the folder out of your hands and doing it himself.

It wasn’t just the shouting, though that was certainly a staple. It was the moments he’d watch you with that hawk-eyed stare, arms crossed and expression set like granite. There were no second chances when Bakugou was breathing down your neck; you either got it right or got ready to count pavement cracks while doing your punishment laps. You hadn’t done so many wall sits since training, thighs quivering like jelly by the time he allowed you to stand.

And it wasn’t just you. Anyone who dared step into his path found themselves swept up in the tornado of his expectations. It made surviving the day feel like a badge of honor, if surviving meant stumbling into your apartment with barely enough strength to fling your shoes off.

One time, you’d accidentally jumbled up a lead in a report, swapping suspect descriptions that Bakugou caught in record time. He’d smacked the paper onto your desk with an incredulous look. “D’you even read this before handin’ it in?” And just like that, your next hour was filled with circuits and resistance bands that made your arms feel like spaghetti. “C’mon, rookie, or should I start callin’ you noodle arms?” The jab stuck, and you groaned whenever he brought it up.

Bakugou’s wrath was tempered only by moments of begrudging silence, the rare instances where you met his eyes and thought you saw a flicker of something softer, only to blink and find it gone. Those moments would have been comforting if they weren’t fleeting, crushed by his next tirade over a misplaced document or a missed clue.

But just as you’d started thinking maybe you’d bitten off more than you could chew, a case dropped that pulled everyone into high gear: a string of burglaries, each more calculated than the last. No dumb luck, no rookie mistakes would fly with this one. Bakugou’s tension was palpable, a crackle in the air whenever he entered the room. He’d pace with his hands shoved into his pockets, muttering curses and theories under his breath like the case had insulted him personally.

Your nerves spiked with each passing day. Bakugou was more relentless than ever, orders flung out faster than you could grab your notebook. And if you so much as hesitated? He’d turn, eyes gleaming like a predator scenting blood. “Keep up, or get out.”

By the time you wrapped up that week’s legwork, you weren’t sure whether to feel accomplished or absolutely wrecked. Bakugou had pushed every ounce of strength and patience from your body, leaving you hollowed out and aching. Yet, for some reason you’d yet to understand, you kept coming back, stepping into the precinct with a quiet determination that only grew as his glare followed you like a challenge.

Time machine, you reminded yourself, scribbling down notes that were half-legible from your shaking hand. You’d go back, find yourself, and whisper conspiratorially, Choose desk duty. It’ll save your soul.

But you didn’t have a time machine. You had Bakugou. And you were starting to suspect he might just make a detective out of you, whether you survived him or not.

.....

The burglaries had started small—a string of break-ins that barely made the back page of the city’s morning paper. But each successive hit grew bolder, more precise, like the thief was taunting the force. By the time it hit their radar, Chief Yagi’s usually calm expression had hardened to steel, and even the more seasoned detectives were exchanging wary glances.

For you, it meant one thing: Bakugou was operating at maximum intensity, his usual scowl deepened to something almost carved from stone. It was an energy you could feel in the air, like the static before a lightning strike. And with that, the pace of your life turned from grueling to almost impossible. Long days blurred into longer nights, the fluorescent lights above burning into your skull as you combed through reports with squinting eyes and a splitting headache. The precinct buzzed with anticipation and tension, everyone bracing for the storm.

You sat at your desk, meticulously cross-referencing suspect details when Bakugou stormed in, clipboard in one hand and the other pressed into his hip like it was the only thing keeping him from losing it entirely. He glanced around the room, eyes sharp as the edge of a blade, before they settled on you. The air shifted.

“Rookie,” he barked, and you jumped, nearly dropping your pen. He didn’t wait for you to recover before launching into his rapid-fire speech. “Listen up, ‘cause I’m only sayin’ this once. The pattern’s changed. Our thief’s not just hittin’ high-value targets anymore—they’re goin’ after places with tech infrastructure. Means they’re not just lookin’ for loot—they’re diggin’ for data, and if we don’t get ahead, we’re gonna be two steps behind with our heads up our—”

He paused, jaw tightening like he was biting back an insult, and then leaned down, bringing himself to eye level. His eyes were an inferno, daring you to miss a word. “You listening?”

You nodded so fast it was a wonder your neck didn’t cramp, scribbling down notes as if your life depended on it. Maybe it did—at least, your peace of mind surely did. Bakugou’s tone wasn’t just demanding; it was drilled into your skull, searing in its urgency.

“Good. Now, look—”

“Oh! Hey, Kacchan!!”

The voice sliced through the room like a record scratch, shattering Bakugou’s hyper-focused tension into a thousand jagged pieces. He physically recoiled, straightening up so fast you’d think he’d been stung. Your pen stilled mid-word, eyes flicking between him and the newcomer with an internal "?!?!?!?!" blaring in neon letters.

Kacchan?

There, standing at the threshold of the precinct like he’d wandered in by accident, was Detective Midoriya Izuku, all soft smiles and bright green eyes. He gave a little wave as if Bakugou wasn’t seconds away from launching into orbit.

“Kacchan, hi! It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Midoriya’s tone was impossibly cheerful, and the nickname fell from his lips like it was a greeting between best friends. But from the way Bakugou’s hands twitched, it may as well have been a bomb dropped into a room full of dynamite.

Bakugou’s response was instantaneous, voice sharp enough to cut glass. “What the hell’re you doin’ here, Deku?”

The silence that followed was suffocating, punctuated only by the distant hum of computers and a detective a few desks over clearing their throat awkwardly. Your heart thumped in your chest as if it was trying to escape the awkwardness, and you glanced at Midoriya, expecting him to shrink back. But he didn’t—his smile wavered, sure, but he held his ground, eyes earnest.

“I’m here to help with the case,” Midoriya explained, and it took everything in you not to whip your head around. Help? With your case?

Bakugou’s reaction was as explosive as you expected. “Help? You—”

But before he could finish, a voice cut through the tension like a blade. “Enough, boys.” Chief Yagi’s voice was firm as he walked in, flanked by another man who exuded calm authority—the infamous Chief Aizawa Shouta. His tired eyes swept over the room, taking in the scene with a raised brow.

“Chief Aizawa and his team are joining us for this operation. And that includes Detective Midoriya.” Chief Yagi’s tone left no room for argument.

Bakugou’s jaw set so tight you could hear the grind of teeth. And in that moment, you knew that whatever the past few weeks had been like? They were about to get a whole lot more complicated.

…

You barely had time to absorb Midoriya’s, let alone Cheif Aizawa's, sudden appearance before Chief Yagi called everyone into the briefing room. This would’ve been a regular meeting for the higher-ups—the kind you’d usually only hear about when Bakugou came out, slamming the door behind him, face redder than the emergency exit signs. But today, for reasons you couldn’t fathom, you were summoned along. Because apparently, if Bakugou was involved, you were involved.

The briefing room was already filling up, the thick scent of coffee and paper lingering in the air as officers shuffled in, muttering greetings and speculations under their breath. Chief Yagi took his place at the head of the room, looking as solid and unyielding as ever, while Chief Aizawa leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets, observing the room with the detached but alert gaze of a cat watching a busy street. Midoriya slid into a chair near the front, shooting you a small, encouraging smile. Bakugou, in contrast, looked like he’d swallowed a wasp.

Then, in strode Officer Ashido Mina, bright as a firecracker, with Officer Sero Hanta close behind her, both exuding a casual confidence that somehow didn’t feel out of place even in a room of high-stakes professionals. Mina shot a finger-gun wave at the room, winking in your direction before taking a seat across from Midoriya. Sero plopped down beside her, his grin almost lazy but eyes sharp, taking in everything at once.

Chief Yagi’s voice brought the room to order. “Alright, everyone, this joint task force is in place because the burglaries have escalated. We’re dealing with a team of thieves targeting secure information in addition to high-value assets. The leads point to a complex operation, and that’s where our collaboration comes in.”

He nodded to Chief Aizawa, who spoke in that low, measured tone that commanded instant respect. “We need all hands on deck. Each of you will have a role—whether it’s field, intel, or processing. Officer Uraraka will be on the evidence team, coordinating with the data we’ve collected so far.”

The mention of Uraraka’s name caught your attention, and sure enough, she was at the back, beaming when she spotted you. Her presence was a rare comfort in this sea of intense, stern faces. It had been years since you’d seen her, but it was like old times when she waved, mouthing an excited “Hey!”

“Detective Bakugou, Officer L/N, you’ll be working alongside Detective Midoriya’s team,” Chief Yagi continued, and the very air in the room seemed to vibrate as Bakugou’s scowl deepened. He was in full protest mode, shooting daggers at Midoriya, who looked back with a determined—if slightly nervous—smile.

Once the briefing concluded, Chief Yagi dismissed everyone, and the room exploded in chatter as officers filed out. You managed to navigate through the crowd until you reached Uraraka, who practically bounced on her toes, pulling you into a quick hug.

“Can you believe it? We’re working together!” she said, her voice bright with excitement. “I’ve been doing the fingerprinting, data scans—all the good stuff. Remember when I used to geek out about this stuff in school?”

“Oh, totally! You always aced those forensics projects,” you replied, grinning as the memories rushed back.

She nodded, laughing. “Exactly! And now, look at us! I get to actually do it. And you—you’re working with Bakugou Katsuki, of all people!” Her eyes widened with awe and maybe a little mischief, the kind that reminded you of her knack for getting you into trouble back in the day.

“Working is a strong word,” you muttered, glancing over at Bakugou, who was still glaring holes into Midoriya, ignoring everyone else. “Surviving might be more accurate.”

Uraraka giggled but quickly straightened when she caught Bakugou’s expression aimed squarely at her—a glare so intense that it was a wonder she didn’t spontaneously combust. She cleared her throat, gave you a small, sympathetic smile, and said, “Well, I’d better get back to it. I’ll send over the scans when they’re ready! And hey, catch up soon?”

You nodded, squeezing her hand in agreement. “Definitely. Thanks, Ochaco.”

With a final grin, Uraraka turned back to her workstation, her demeanor shifting from friendly to focused in an instant. You watched her go, feeling a brief pang of jealousy at how seamlessly she slid into her work. But that was quickly overridden by the realization that Bakugou was striding your way, arms crossed and a storm brewing in his expression.

“Done with your little reunion?” he sneered, barely waiting for you to nod. “Good. 'Cause now it’s time for you to actually do somethin’ useful, rookie.” He nodded towards the open case file in his hand. “Let’s go.”

.....

The silence between you and Bakugou was taut, strung up like an overused wire threatening to snap. He stalked ahead, practically dragging the storm cloud that was his mood behind him. You weren’t entirely sure why he’d decided that now was the time to go full boot camp on you, but here you were, heels clicking on the polished floor, trying not to look like you’d rather melt into it.

“Listen up, rookie,” Bakugou started without turning around, his voice a low rumble laced with that familiar bite. He navigated the labyrinth of hallways like a predator circling its territory. You’re gonna make yourself useful if it kills ya, got it?”

You swallowed thickly, feeling a combination of irritation and nerves twist in your chest. You’d learned over the past few weeks that Bakugou had a penchant for the extreme. Everything was all or nothing with him, whether it was paperwork, interrogations, or the way he yelled about the printer jamming (which was only your fault that one time).

“Got it,” you managed, though it came out weaker than you intended. He spared you a glance, eyes narrowing as if daring you to prove him right about all the times he’d muttered under his breath about “extras” wasting his time.

As if on cue, the door to one of the briefing rooms swung open, and Detective Kirishima stepped out, his broad grin a sharp contrast to Bakugou’s perpetual scowl. “Yo! Heard we’re working together on this one,” he said, his voice friendly and warm, instantly cutting through the tension.

Great. If there was ever a time to look capable, it was now. Not that Kirishima would ever point out your mistakes, but being around Bakugou had a way of amplifying your self-awareness until it was deafening.

“Try not to get in the way,” Bakugou snapped, jerking his thumb towards the entrance. You wondered if his eyes had always held that unrelenting glint or if he’d sharpened it specifically for you. Kirishima, bless him, only chuckled, patting you on the back as he passed by.

“Don’t mind him. He’s just on edge about the syndicate case,” Kirishima whispered, though you knew Bakugou’s sharp hearing likely picked it up. His glare confirmed it, but he didn’t say anything, turning his attention to the map on the table instead. Red pins clustered like a rash, each marking a hit by the crime syndicate that had every department in the city scrambling.

The realization hit you hard. The stakes were higher than ever, and the idea of fumbling now made your stomach churn. The last thing you needed was to mess up in front of Bakugou and Kirishima, especially when the latter’s optimism made you want to do better and the former’s disdain made you feel like you never could.

Bakugou laid out the plan, his voice cutting through the thick tension in the room. "..'nd if we’re lucky, tonight’s stakeout’ll give us what we need.” He turned to you, eyes narrowing to twin blades. “That clear, rookie?”

“Crystal,” you muttered, earning a sharp nod.

As Kirishima checked the comms equipment, you shifted on your feet, the weight of what was coming pressing against your chest like a vice. The quiet hum of urgency filled the room as you prepared for the night ahead, a stakeout that promised no sleep, a test of patience, and a confined space with Bakugou’s intensity smoldering beside you.

Yeah. You're soo fucked.

[shybluebirdninja]

FADED DAYS: PART 7 (THE FINAL)

Summary: In a bleak world where Logan has lost his purpose, an unexpected connection with his nurse brings a spark of humanity back into his fading life as an Uber driver.

Pairing             : Uber-Driver!Logan Howlett x Nurse!Fem-reader

Genre              : Heavy Angst

The hospital room is dim, the steady beeping of the heart monitor filling the silence. You sit by Logan’s bedside, the pale morning light casting long shadows across the floor. The air feels heavy, thick with the weight of what’s coming.

Logan’s eyes flutter open, his breath shallow and labored. He looks older than you’ve ever seen him, his once-powerful body now frail and weak. The sight of him like this tugs at something deep inside you—a feeling of helplessness you can’t shake.

“Hey,” you say softly, trying to keep your voice steady. “You’re awake.”

He turns his head towards you, his brow furrowed in confusion. It takes him a moment to recognize you, but when he does, a faint smile tugs at the corner of his lips.

“You’re still here?” His voice is raspy, barely above a whisper.

“Of course I am,” you reply, squeezing his hand gently. “I told you I’m not going anywhere.”

Logan chuckles weakly, the sound more of a wheeze than a laugh. “Stubborn... just like me.”

You smile, though it feels hollow. You can see how much pain he’s in, the way his body is betraying him. It’s not fair, you think—not after everything he’s been through. Not after all the times he’s fought, survived, lived through unimaginable pain. But this? This slow, cruel decay? It feels like the universe’s last, twisted joke.

“You should... go,” Logan says after a moment, his voice barely audible. “Ain’t no point in... watching this.”

“No,” you say firmly, blinking back the tears that threaten to spill. “I’m staying right here.”

He sighs, his eyelids drooping as exhaustion pulls him down again. “Always were a stubborn one.”

For a long time, neither of you speaks. You just sit there, holding his hand, listening to the rhythmic beeping of the machines, the soft hiss of the oxygen tank. Logan’s breaths come slower, more strained, and every second that passes feels like it’s slipping away too fast.

“Logan,” you say quietly, breaking the silence. “I... I don’t want you to go.”

His eyes flicker open again, and he turns to look at you. There’s something different in his gaze now—something softer, more vulnerable. The barriers he’s spent a lifetime building are finally, irrevocably down.

“Everyone goes, kid,” he says, his voice hoarse. “It’s just... my turn.”

A lump forms in your throat, and you can’t stop the tears from spilling now. “But it’s not fair.”

Logan lets out a breath, his hand squeezing yours weakly. “It never was.”

You take a deep, shaky breath, trying to hold yourself together. But it’s hard—so damn hard—watching the man who seemed indestructible slowly fade away in front of you.

“Remember what I told you,” he murmurs, his voice barely a whisper now.

You nod, your heart aching. “I remember.”

Logan closes his eyes again, his breathing ragged. His hand is still in yours, but it’s grown weaker. The tremors that once wracked his body are gone, replaced by a stillness that scares you more than anything.

“I’ll miss you,” you whisper, the words catching in your throat. “Even if you’re a grumpy old bastard.”

A faint, almost imperceptible smile crosses his face. “Yeah... me too.”

There’s a long pause, the quiet stretching out between you like an eternity. Logan’s breaths are shallow now, and you know—deep down—you’re at the end.

But you don’t feel ready. You’re not sure you’ll ever be ready.

“Hey,” you say, your voice cracking. “Logan...?”

His hand goes slack in yours.

The beeping of the heart monitor slows, each beat dragging out longer and longer until it finally stops. The sound that follows is a flat, unwavering tone that seems to echo in your chest.

And then, silence.

You sit there for a moment, frozen, unable to move. The reality of what’s happened hasn’t fully sunk in yet. Logan—grumpy, stubborn, impossible Logan—is gone.

The tears come hard and fast, and you don’t bother trying to stop them. You bury your face in your hands, your shoulders shaking with the force of your sobs. It’s not just the loss of Logan—it’s everything. His pain, his loneliness, the fact that no matter how much you cared, you couldn’t save him from this.

It’s later when the nurse comes in, a solemn expression on her face. She doesn’t say anything—just gently touches your shoulder and nods toward the door. You know what she’s asking without words.

But before you leave, you lean over Logan one last time, your heart heavy with grief.

“Goodbye, Logan,” you whisper softly. “You weren’t alone. Not in the end.”

You stand and walk away, leaving the room, leaving him behind. The door clicks shut behind you, and with it, an era ends. But somewhere deep down, you know that Logan—fierce, broken, brave Logan—found some peace in those final moments. That, somehow, he didn’t leave this world alone. And that’s enough.

(THE END)

[imaginesfordifferentfandoms]

Not Leaving You

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Prompt - "You need to leave."

Requested - anon

The Doctor never said more about his past than he had to. Most of the people who travelled with him never asked too many questions, too caught up in the life that came with knowing the Doctor to ask about who he really was. When they did ask he gave them just enough to stop asking. 

He didn’t know what was different about you. When you asked he found he didn’t mind sharing a part of himself with you, a part of himself that nobody else knew. He couldn’t say for sure why because it ached his hearts terribly to talk about a life long gone but it was a little bit easier with you at his side.

You were a curious thing too, he’d lost count of how many times he’d lost you, you wandering off, too distracted by something or other and ready with a million and one questions by the time the Doctor finally did find you.

He knew sooner or later you’d be curious about him too, once you found out he had two hearts that had taken up about a week’s worth of conversation, you asking questions about Time Lords and what else was different about them, not knowing that there were no more Time Lords out there and missing the sad look that the Doctor forced off his face.

He had taken you to a planet he had found many, many years ago, one that made his chest feel warm and a smile pull on his face as you repeated the name after him, the word Zirafell sounding as beautiful as the planet itself coming from your lips. He had never shown it to anyone before but there was something so extraordinarily different about you that he wanted to share all his hiding spots and secrets with you.

The two of you were sitting in the field, the TARDIS parked not too far away. The grass was littered with little pink and blue flowers and a lilac lake glistened under the two suns in front of you.

“Where are you from anyway?” You asked softly, breaking the peaceful silence that had settled between you causing the Doctor to look at you in surprise but you kept your gaze on the lake.

“Me? Oh nowhere really.” The Doctor answered after a few beats of silence, watching as a frown pulled at your face.

“Everyone’s from somewhere.” You told him, finally turning to face him and seeing the discomfort on his face. You wondered whether to push it but before you could decide the Doctor spoke again.

“Not me. Not anymore.” The Doctor sighed and you stayed silent for a moment, just looking at him.

His gaze was on something just passed your shoulder, refusing to look at you as his mind played memories from long before you could even imagine. You wanted to know what he was thinking about though, wanted to know what put that sort of look on a person's face. 

“You could always go back home.” You told him, keeping your voice soft.

The Doctor looked back at you, a sad smile spreading across his face. You hadn’t seen that smile in a while, of course you’d seen it plenty when you’d first met him. A sad man sitting alone looking like his whole world had fallen apart around him and there was nothing he could do about it.

It took some time but eventually he told you about the people he’d lost and how travelling with him was dangerous. He had told you he’d take you home, that he’d understand if you wanted to leave but you just wrapped your arms around him, pulling him in for a hug, smiling into his chest when he gripped you tight.

“Not even I can do that.” The Doctor laughed softly, no amusement in it as he turned to look out at the lake. He never wanted to talk about it, about all that pain and suffering, about what he had done and yet sat here with you, he wanted you to know that sad, angry, lonely part of him. 

“My home’s long gone, Y/N.” The Doctor said after a long silence where you had figured he wasn’t going to share anything with you. “It was a beautiful place, you’d have loved it. I’d love to have shown you. The Time Lords, my people, the universe was so much brighter with them in it. People would cheer when they saw one and now, now they’re gone, my planet’s gone.”

“What happened to it?” You asked, voice barely above a whisper as you looked at him, his eyes glazed over. 

“There was a war.” He told you, swallowing around a lump in his throat. “It doesn’t matter, but nobody won that day. Nobody ever really wins I suppose. Everyone died. Everyone but me.”

When you first saw the Doctor, before you knew who he was, you just referred to him as the sad man. Watching him now you couldn’t think of a better way to describe him, the sad man, the sad man who was all alone in the universe, the sad man who had lived through the destruction of his whole planet, his whole race.

The sad man with a magical box who spent his life bringing hope everywhere he went.

“The last of the Time Lords.” You murmured, remembering what a woman from several months back had hissed to him, at the time the Doctor brushed it off when you asked questions, now you knew why. 

“The last of the Time Lords.” The Doctor agreed just as quietly and neither of you said anything else, there was nothing left to say so you rested your head on his shoulder, his coming to rest on top of yours as the two of you stared ahead at the lilac water.

From that day onwards you and the Doctor were closer than ever, he shared more of his life with you and you found yourself falling a little bit more for the man as each day passed. It was a dangerous thing to do, falling in love with the Doctor and yet you let yourself fall, not bothering to question if he would catch you but enjoying the fall while it lasted.

You felt closer with the Doctor than you had with anyone you had known back home, not a single day went by where you regretted leaving, regretted choosing the Doctor over your old life. You knew you’d make the same choice over and over again. You could never give the Doctor up.

Months passed since that day, months where you and the Doctor would spend your nights floating through the galaxy, legs hanging over the TARDIS door as the Doctor told you about the different stars and planets that surrounded you with such fondness, months were he took your hand in yours and you couldn’t help but smile, savouring the feeling of his thumb running softly across the back of your hand as he pulled you along, tugging you back to him when you went to wander off. Months were you and the Doctor traded secrets in the quiet of the night, things that you’d never have dreamed of sharing with anyone else and yet knowing the whispered words were safe with each other.

“You’ll love this one, Y/N/N!” The Doctor told you with an excited grin on his face, hurrying you to put your coat on causing you to laugh before he finally grabbed your hand and pulled you out of the TARDIS, pausing long enough to lock the box before the two of you were off.

“Welcome to Thucruiruta.” The Doctor beamed at you and you couldn’t help the gasp that escaped you as you finally looked around.

The planet was beautiful, the sky was golden and all sorts of creatures were moving around you, so many things demanded your attention and the thing that won it was the Doctor squeezing your hand.

“It’s beautiful, Doctor.” You breathed out, watching as the Doctor’s grin softened and you didn’t even try and stop yourself from smiling back, leaning into him before letting him lead the way.

The Doctor was eager to show you everything, used to your curiosity and the hundreds of questions you came up with, more than happy to show off and answer them, making his way through the stands and insisting you try all the different foods on display. 

It was hard to imagine such a perfect day taking a turn but you had also gotten used to trouble following the Doctor by now, so when an explosion sounded not too far in the distance you immediately turned to the Doctor, waiting for him to do something.

It didn’t take him more than a second to grab your hand, pulling you into the heart of the danger and you went along with him willingly. You knew you always would, you never gave it a second thought, you knew that you would always follow the Doctor no matter where he went.

You gasped as you took in the scene, people were scattered all over the floor, some crying out and others not moving at all. You gripped the Doctor’s hand in yours and he squeezed back before moving further into the chaos, looking around for some clue as to what had happened.

There was a child on the floor, a deep cut in their green skin as blue blood poured from it. You pulled your hand from the Doctor’s and made your way to the child’s side as the Doctor pulled the sonic screwdriver out to try and find what had caused the explosion. 

“You alright?” You asked softly, pulling your jacket off and using a sharp bit of rubble to rip the end of your shirt in lieu of a bandage. 

“Hurts.” The kid whimpered and you gave her an encouraging smile, warning her it might sting as you tied the torn material around her arm as tightly as you could.

“Good job, that’ll be good until we can get you to your family.” You told her standing up and holding a hand out for her, pulling her up by her uninjured arm and looking around. “Where was your family?”

You watched as she pointed the way you had come from, away from where the explosion was and you glanced over your shoulder to see the Doctor glaring down at the sonic, a furious expression you couldn’t ever remember seeing on his face that sent a shiver down your spine.

“Come on then, let’s see if we can find them.” You said, pulling your gaze from the Doctor and forcing the uneasy feeling you suddenly felt in the pit of your stomach away, leading the young girl away from the scene.

Even in the sea of screams and shouts for friends and family you managed to find the young girl's family quite easily, her mum falling to her knees and wrapping her arms around her daughter, mindful of her arm after she winced. 

You stayed long enough for the family to thank you tearfully and the girl to hug you before you pushed your way through the crowd and looked around for the Doctor, frowning when you couldn’t see him.

You made your way further into where the explosion had gone off, gasping when something sharp dug into your arm, looking to your left to see a tall figure beside you, sharp teeth visible as the thing grinned down at you and pushed you forward, dragging you alongside it and not even pausing as you fought back against it.

There was a slimy sort of wet texture to the creature and you couldn’t stop yourself from wincing as it’s nails drew blood from you, the thing snarling the whole time until it pushed you onto the floor and you were staring at sharper nails and blue feet, looking up to see more than a dozen of the things standing together.

“Let her go.” The Doctor’s voice sent a wave of relief through you and your head snapped around to look at him. “Now.”

The Doctor’s voice was cold, so devoid of any emotion that it scared you. The creatures, however, didn’t seem at all phased by him and instead laughed at the Doctor.

“The Doctor always was too fond of the humans.” One of the creatures laughed, sending a wave of spit flying from his mouth. “Too bad he can never save his precious little pets.”

That seemed to hit a nerve with the Doctor and you had heard the stories of his past companions, of how much danger they had been put in simply by being with him. You knew it was scarred on his two hearts, every loss, every defeat, every life lost, every life he blamed himself for.

“The Doctor’s not good at saving anybody.” Another one called, amusement clear in its voice, “Poor little Doctor, all alone, no Time Lords around anymore.”

The creatures all laughed together and you winced as you watched fury take over the Doctor. It seemed these creatures had history with the Doctor, at the very least they knew exactly what buttons to press to tear him apart.

The Doctor looked different, he didn’t look like the Doctor you had seen every day, he looked like a whole different person. Cold fury in his eyes, mouth set in a thin line and his knuckles bone white from the grip he had on the sonic.

“You will let her go and you will leave this planet.” The Doctor told them, voice low and commanding the attention of everyone.

You could only stare at him, fear in your eyes, not sure who you were more afraid of in that moment. Usually you could read the Doctor easily, always seeming to know what his next step was but right then, in that moment you didn’t know what he was going to do.

“Or what, Doctor?” One of them spat but you didn’t bother looking behind at them, keeping your gaze on the Doctor. “The last time we met you were a coward, what’s changed?”

“What’s changed?” He shot back, taking a step forward and you felt your breath catch in your throat at his tone. “What’s changed? The last time I showed you mercy. That was a mistake. I won’t make the same one twice. Now leave.”

“Or what?” It asked again, tone hard as the creatures refused to move.

“Or I’ll burn this entire planet with you on it.” The Doctor said without hesitation and your eyes widened, staring at him in shock.

“You wouldn’t, the Doctor wouldn’t harm innocents, not in the name of revenge.” One of them laughed but it sounded nervous, like it didn’t believe its own words and looking at the fury on the Doctor’s face you had to agree with it.

“Do you really want to test that theory?” The Doctor asked, the silence stretching as the creatures all looked at each other. “All I have to do is press this button and you’ll be dead before you realise it.”

The Doctor held the sonic up and you shook your head, not that he was looking at you but you couldn’t believe him. He wasn’t bluffing, he wasn’t improvising whilst he came up with a plan to deal with this without harming anybody. He was being deadly serious.

You were terrified of the man before you. He wasn’t the Doctor, not the Doctor you knew anyway.

“Liar!” A creature yelled and the Doctor gave it an unimpressed look before going to press the button but you stood up before he could.

“Don’t!” You shouted, reaching a hand out like one would around a scared animal, locking eyes with the Doctor for the first time since you’d been pushed onto the floor. “Don’t.”

“Y/N, you don’t know what these are.” The Doctor told you, his thumb hovering dangerously close to the button on the sonic. 

“I don’t care. This isn’t you, you’re the Doctor! People look to you for hope, you’re not a murderer, don’t do this! Don’t become them.” You pleaded with him but his face was still set with cold fury and you feared there was no changing his mind.

“Get to the TARDIS and don’t look back.” He instructed and you immediately shook your head.

“No.” You told him. “No, I’m not letting you do this. There are millions of innocent people on this planet and you will not destroy them for whatever grudge you’re holding.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, you need to leave. Now get on the TARDIS, Y/N!” The Doctor snapped and you felt tears sting your eyes but held your ground.

“No. If you’re going to burn this planet you’ll do it with me on it.” You said, voice shaking as tears made their way over your eyes, hating that you didn’t know what the Doctor was going to do.

“Get on the TARDIS.” The Doctor commanded through gritted teeth but you shook your head again.

“I already told you I’m not leaving.” You told him, blinking away the tears as they carried on running down your face.

The Doctor held your gaze, the small part of him that wasn’t consumed with anger and hatred felt guilt and hurt as you looked at him like you were terrified, like he was the monster instead of the creatures behind you. 

“Leave.” He spat out, not taking his gaze of you as he addressed the creatures. “Get off this planet and if I ever see you again I won’t show a shred of mercy.”

The creatures wasted no time scurrying away, hurrying over to their ships and taking off just as quickly, leaving you and the Doctor staring at each other. Just as the Doctor opened his mouth, you cut him off.

“Take me home.” You told him, suddenly feeling drained.

“Y/N,” he sighed but you just shook your head at him, moving past him and making your way back towards where the TARDIS was parked, using your key to unlock the box and letting yourself in.

The Doctor sighed to himself, rubbing a hand across his face before pocketing the sonic and following after you, desperately trying to think how he could salvage this. He hadn’t wanted to let himself fall for you but over the year and the months you’d spent at each other’s side he couldn’t help it.

Now he was losing you because he had held onto a grudge from so many years back.

The anger had taken over him to the point he couldn’t control himself but you could, you stopped him even when he didn’t think he could be stopped.

When he walked into the TARDIS you were sitting in one of the chairs, looking away from him as he quietly worked on setting a course for Earth, hoping you would change your mind before you got there.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered, watching you closely. He could tell you were listening but you didn’t say anything. 

“Those creatures, Y/N…” He trailed off and you finally looked over at him, seeing him take a deep breath before he spoke again. “Those creatures are called Eelvo’s. I met them a long time ago, long before I had this face. I lost somebody because of them and I let them go.”

“You don’t kill people.” You told him, your voice quiet but firm and the Doctor sighed as he came and sat next to you. 

“I have bad days, Y/N. Days where I am not a good man.” The Doctor told you, ashamed of himself, ashamed that you had seen him like that. He had never wanted that.

“Doctor, today I was more scared of you than any of those other things.” You said softly, glancing at the Doctor as he shut his eyes and swallowed thickly around a lump in his throat, fighting back tears.

The last thing he had ever wanted was for you to be scared of him.

“I’m sorry, Y/N, I’m so, so sorry. I don’t know what happened, seeing them again after so long, seeing the destruction they were still causing, the pain and lives they were still taking…” The Doctor trailed off, a single tear making its way down his cheek.

You sighed softly, reaching over to take his hand in yours and giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze. You were still unsure, still hadn’t liked seeing the Doctor so furious but he was still the Doctor, he was your Doctor again and seeing him in pain was the last thing you wanted.

“I’m sorry, Y/N/N, I never wanted you to hate me.” He whispered, his voice breaking around the words and you felt your heart break with them.

“I don’t hate you, Doctor.” You told him honestly, “I’ve never seen you like that and I didn’t like it but I don’t hate you. I’m not sure I could ever hate you.”

The Doctor smiled over at you sadly and you returned it, squeezing his hand again.

“I’ll take you home.” He whispered and you frowned, you had asked him to take you home but the thought of actually leaving the Doctor behind sent an ache through you.

“How about Zirafell instead?” You asked him, a small smile pulling at your lips as he looked over at you in surprise. 

“You sure?” He asked, a hopeful note in his voice and you nodded, watching as his shoulders lost the tension in them and he let out a small breath, nodding himself before standing up and moving around the console to change the course, hoping that the two of you would be alright. 

10th Doctor Taglist (Click the link in my bio to add yourself!) - 

@ajordan2020, @nyx2021, @etanordoesbullsh1t, @book-fic-reader, @buckystrash, @queen-who, @cinderellacauseshebroke, @black-rose-29, @kodiakwhiskey, @alexxavicry, @instabull, @rosesinmars, @freeshavocadoooo, @audrie-bryant, @leothesquishy, @etanordoesbullsh!t

Thank you so much for reading!

[itsthesinbin]

Sins in Stardust (Bill Cipher/Reader)

OKAY SO. I've been thinking of Ideas since I got HORRIFICALLY fixated on Bill/Gravity Falls. I still do like the "bill's hot wife" idea but I gotta think abt how that wld work, logistically. I can't get off if the plot doesn't make sense. BUT I do have. Another reader insert idea.

Post Weirdmageddon and technically post Book of Bill. I couldn't read the full book in detail bc all I had was a kinda blurry pdf to work with so I'm missing some details.

This is the first chapter just 2 kinda gauge interest. I'm only posting it here rn until I write out a couple more :3 Feel free to leave a reply or tag if u reblog to let me know what u think

EDIT: Came up with a title I liked :3 I need to stop crutching on Hozier song titles LMAO

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

You missed camping- you and your parents went at least once every summer, when you were a kid. A good old cross-country camping trip is what you needed, after the multitude of bullshit you’ve gone through. You quit your job, sold whatever shit you didn’t need and used the money you had to get out of your home as fast as you could. You’ll find a new place to settle, a new job in a new city with new neighbors and never have to worry again. All you had to worry about, now, is finding a fun spot to camp for the night.

You could sleep in your car- you have a few times since you started your trip- but it was a gorgeous night. The moon was full, the stars were so bright and clear this far out from a major city… It’d be a waste. You pulled your car off the road and trekked a bit out into the woods nearby. Hopefully your car would still be there in the morning. Please, God, let it be there in the morning.

You entered into a small break in the trees. The late spring breeze made the leaves sway and branches rattle softly. The starlight caught on the toadstools odd triangular spots. Eye-shaped spots on the trees seemed to follow you as you stepped into the small field. Like looking at creepy paintings in a haunted house, you felt like you were being watched. It was a little creepy, but you chalked it up to the full moon. Everyone was on edge during a full moon just because of stories and superstitions they all heard growing up.

The brightest thing in the clearing was a small statue, half buried in the ground. A triangle with a large eye, tophat, and bowtie. A single arm stuck out, as if ready for a handshake. The stone itself seemed to glow, but you chalked that up to the brightness of the moonlight that filtered through the canopy. You stepped a bit closer, noting how… quiet the area was. No birds, no crickets… Nothing. It was a little unsettling, you wouldn’t lie. Quiet woods never led to anything good. You really should go back to your car.

You pulled out your phone, first, though. You had to get a picture of this funky little guy. You were probably overthinking things. The statue was probably just someone’s abandoned art project, or store mascot, you thought as you snapped a few pictures of the lichen-covered statue. You smiled slightly. The little thing was kinda charming.

You decided to put your tent up anyway, despite the eerie silence. It was late, you were tired, and your car was still close enough to this clearing that you’d probably be in “danger” anyway. If you even were actually in trouble. The silence and the eye-spots on the trees were unsettling, sure. Weirdly enough, though, you felt a sense of calm here.

You decided against setting up a fire, opting to eat a can of cold pork’n’beans for dinner as you looked up at the stars. The sky was alight with blues and pinks and purples, seemingly swirling nebulas catching the attention of any being capable of comprehending beauty. You felt yourself smiling to yourself.

“Beautiful night, huh li’l guy?” You joked to the statue. You missed the way the eye-spots on the trees had stopped following you, instead focusing on the night sky. You threw the empty can of beans into a bag to throw away tomorrow, before rolling out your sleeping bag and laying out under the stars. You crossed your arms behind your head, and one foot over the other. Obviously, you were met with the same silence that had been here. Humans would be humans, though. Bonding with anything that even remotely had a face.

“Bet it gets lonely, stuck out here. Sure you got the view, but it sounds like nothing really drops by.” Nothing. The stars above almost seemed to move. You could almost make a shape out, but as soon as you tried it seemed to dissipate. You hummed to yourself, trying to find the shape again.

“I know how it feels to be stuck, buddy,” you offered, sympathetically. You sighed as a heavy feeling settled on your chest. You shook away the bad memories, the stars seeming to move again to keep your attention. It was getting a little weird, now. But you had heard that Gravity Falls was a pocket of weirdness in the middle of nowhere.

“I could use a traveling buddy,” you laughed. “I haven’t had… a friend in a long time…” You trailed off as the stars continued to twinkle and dance. You sat up with a heavy sigh, face to face with the statue again. Unsurprisingly, he stared at you stoically with his hand still poised for a handshake. You put your chin in your hand.

“And it’s driven me so crazy I’m talking to an old ARG piece left in the woods…” You rubbed your face. You stood with a stretch, the light around you seemingly getting a little brighter. You stepped in front of the statue.

“They use us and leave us to rot, don’t they? Hardly fair,” you mumble. You reach a hand out as if to grab its hand, but stop short of actually touching it. The hair on the back of your neck stood as you felt a million eyes on you at once. You look behind you, only to be met with the trees. You look up, and find the stars once again in the vague shape you couldn’t make out before. It felt like the very universe was watching this moment. Your throat felt tight. Strangely, though, you didn’t feel scared. You looked back at the waiting statue. Something prodded at the back of your mind.

“Maybe I will take you with me. Once I get settled somewhere, you can become a piece in my next living room,” you smiled. “I’ll get you cleaned up and see if I can patch some of those chips and cracks.”

You hesitated a moment, before you grasped the statue’s hand. Obviously, the stone limb didn’t actually move.

“I’ll get you out of here, you be my travel partner, and we both get to be free for a while. How’s that sound?” No response. Not that you expected one. You let the little hand go with a yawn. You kicked your shoes off near your sleeping bag and lay back down on it. The stars finally stopped shifting and swirling. They twinkled down at you as you covered yourself up for the night. You didn’t think it’d rain, so sleeping outside should be fine. You’ll deal with whatever happens, if anything.

You dreamt of the stars that night. They swirled above you, forming into a large creature that swam its way to you. You floated among the stars, eyes wide with wonder at the smiling creature. Its tail swept along the empty space beside you, leaving a small… child? It was a triangle with a huge eye, like the statue in the woods, but had giant shoes. It didn’t look at you at first, instead staring at the creature made of starlight and space dust in front of you. You also turned your gaze back to it.

The Axolotl stared down at you two, a peaceful smile on its face. You felt small under its gaze- like a child looking up at their parent. You reached out to pat it on the nose, finding your hand smaller than usual. You heard a squeaking noise and turned to look at the triangular baby.

“You see the stars too?” You didn’t know how he asked without a mouth, but you nodded anyway. Your 5 year old face was reflected in his large eye. He held a hand out for you to hold.

“You wanna watch them together?” You were quiet. You turned back to the Axolotl, only to find it swimming away from you. Back to depths of the universe you could only imagine. With no other option, you looked back at the kid next to you. His eye was turned up to show that he’d be smiling, if he had a mouth. His eye crinkled more as you grabbed his hand.

The stars began to burn.

You woke with a start, finding the sun creeping over the tree canopy and shining down on you. You groaned and covered your eyes with your forearm. You forced yourself to sit up, rubbing your eyes with your hand. Your head was pounding, the strange dream leaving you in a cold sweat. Maybe you shouldn’t have slept here.

A groan from in front of you made you freeze. Your head snapped up, making it throb. A triangular creature was sitting where the statue used to be, stone splintered and sprinkled around him. He massaged his singular eye, muttering under his breath. He looked up, tensing when he saw you. You both sat there in stunned silence for what felt like forever.

Then you both screamed.

[vanfleeter]

Black Smoke: Chapter 7 - When Ones Ends, Another One Grows

Characters: Jake Kiszka x Fem!reader Warnings: 18+, that never changes. Fluff. Sentimental memories. Mentions of marriage. Mentions of pregnancy and babies. Angst. Death. Grief. Crying. A funeral. A little bit of fear. Smut. Sneaky. Penetrative sex. Getting caught. And if you have a squeaky bed? Good luck. (as always, if I miss anything, please let me know so I can add to the list.)

Black Smoke Masterlist

Stepping up to the bedroom door, Jake slowly reaches for the doorknob and twists it. The familiar smell of cheap cologne and flowers fill his nose as he steps through into the room. A smell that he’s known his entire life. There lying on the bed with his eyes closed and his hands resting in his chest is his grandfather. His chest softly rises and then falls, signaling to Jake that he has waited for him to get there. Approaching the bed, he slowly sinks down in the chair that was placed beside it. His grandfather’s eyes flutter open and he turns his head to look at Jake. A smile spreads across his face and he stretches out a hand to him.

“Jacob..” He breathes.

“Dziadek..” Jake says as he wraps his hand around his grandfather's.

He chuckles with a smile. “You haven’t called me that in years.”

Jake smiles and squeezes his hand. “You held on for me.” He says. “Why?”

“I had to see my Jacob,” His grandfather says as he squeezes Jake’s hand back. “I heard you were in France with a pretty little woman, hmm?”

Jake scoffs with a smile. “My girlfriend, yes,” He says. “Her name is (Y/N), and she’s amazing.”

“I bet she is,” He says. “I can see that twinkle in your eye again.. Been a long time.” He squeezes Jake’s hand again and smiles. “Don’t let go of her, okay? You have a bright future with her, I know you do.”

“And how can you be so sure?”

“Mmmm, a grandpa just knows these things.” He winks at Jake and chuckles. “She’s going to bring you so much joy and so much love, a love you’ve never experienced before.”

“You’re sounding a little prophetic,” Jake narrows his eyes at him with a little smirk. “What do you know, old man?”

His grandfather laughs, a deep laugh, one Jake hasn’t heard for a while. “Just trust me.. But I want you to be brave because that is who you are.”

“You’re scaring me,” Jake laughs.

“Oh no,” His grandfather chuckles. “These are all good things, and nothing to be afraid of.”

It was quiet between the two of them. Jake still held his hand while his grandfather stared at the ceiling. “How much time?” Jake asks, breaking the silence.

“Mm, not much..” He says as he turns his head to look at Jake again. “I do feel at peace.”

“Are you ready?” Jake says, feeling the tightness his chest grows. His grandfather nods his head. Jake’s eyes begin to feel with tears. “And you said your goodbyes to everyone?”

“You were the last one.”

Jake pats his hand. “Then I guess you are free to go.” He says as a lone tear slips down his cheek.

His grandfather smiles. “I love you Jacob.”

“I love you too.” Jake says with a weak smile. “Put in a good word for me, will you?”

His grandfather laughs softly. “Of course I will.” His eyes begin to drift to a close and his grip on Jake’s hand softens.

The tears flow from Jake’s eyes as he holds his grandfather’s hand still. He stayed there for a while until a knock came on the door. “Jake?” Comes your sweet voice.

“He’s gone..” Jake’s voice cracks. He feels your hand rest on his shoulder. He turns to face you, never letting go of his grandfather’s hand. He reaches out with his other hand and pulls you in for a kiss. “I love you, you know that right?”

“Of course I do.”

“And you know that I was only jealous..” He continues. “I could never accuse you of such a thing.”

“I know you wouldn’t,” You say as you brush your thumb over his cheek to wipe away his tears.

The two of you stayed in Michigan until after the funeral. You’ve never heard Jake play the guitar before but you did the day of the funeral. He played a beautiful melody while Sam played along on the piano. It was a beautiful day despite it being a sad one. You held Jake’s hand throughout it all and gave him your shoulder when he needed to cry.

He was quiet for most of the day, except for the few times where he would whisper ‘I love you’ in your ear and kiss your cheek. Aside from playing the guitar and dropping a fistful of dirt into the ground, he never left your side. Even when he was playing the guitar, he’d occasionally look up and his eyes went straight to you. He clung to you like he was afraid that he might lose you too.

And when the burial came to a close and everyone was getting into their cars, Jake started the engine of his and turned his head to look at you. “Can I take you somewhere?” He asks.

“As long as that somewhere has food,” You say. “I’m starving and I’ve been smelling ham all day.”

Jake chuckles and nods his head towards the back. “I may have stolen some food from the reception hall,” He says, a twinkling smile playing on his face.

“You didn’t..”

“But I did,” He turns back to face forward and puts the car in drive.

“You naughty boy,” You giggle.

–

The drive wasn’t long as Jake was pulling into the parking lot in front of the pond. He gathers out the food from the back and a blanket that he snatched from his parents’ house. He brings you over to a specific spot in the grass and lays out the blanket. “What are you doing?” You ask as he sits down on the blanket.

“Just spending some time with you,” He says. “Is that a bad thing?”

“Definitely not, but Jake, shouldn’t we be with your family today?”

He sighs and looks down at his lap. “I need a break, just for a little while.” He says. “I’ve been with them all week and all day today, and I just.. I need just a little moment in time where I’m not thinking about grief and death.”

“Fair..” You go to take out the first item in the tote bag. A plastic bowl full of mashed potatoes. “Good god Jake,” You laugh. “Did you leave any for the others?”

“You did not see how big that bowl was,” Jake says. “There’s plenty left for them.”

He packed all of the main food items. Potatoes, green beans, pasta salad, fruit, vegetables with a small side of ranch, six rolls, a bowl full of cookies and various other desserts.

“Are you sure you left enough for everyone?”

He chuckles and pries the lid off of the container of grapes. “I promise they won’t starve.” He picks a grape off the stem and feeds it to you.

“Tell me about your grandfather,” You say, resting your hand on his knee.

Jake clears his throat, “What do you want to know?” He says.

You shrug your shoulders. “Umm, what’s your favorite memory with him?”

“Oh uh,” Jake puts on his thinking face which makes you smile. “Well, once when Josh and I were five, we were supposed to play baseball this one Saturday but unfortunately the weather decided that it wanted to rain down that day. You can just imagine how bummed out we were. It’s the classic little kid sitting by the window looking all upset and staring out the window at the rain.” He smiles and messes with a button on his jacket. “But as we were sitting there, we saw his truck pull up in the driveway and he got out with our grandmother. And when he came inside, he made the announcement that we’re going to play baseball. At first we were confused, but then he explained to us that it doesn’t rain everywhere.. So he made us get our shoes on and get in the truck and he drove us out a ways away from here, where it wasn’t raining. He brought us to a baseball field and we played baseball. He managed to turn a gloomy day into a fun one.”

“That’s so sweet,” You say as you feed him a grape.

“That was also the day that Josh tripped over his shoelaces and got a mouthful of grass and dirt.” You playfully roll your eyes and he chuckles. “Aside from that.. Our grandfather was all around a caring man, he loved all of us equally but differently. He knew we were all different so he treated us with the same amount of love but also catered to our differences and interests. He was very supportive of Josh, and supported everything about him. He supported our band and then supported us when we decided to do our own things.”

“Speaking of the band,” You say. “Why did you guys drop it?”

Jake shrugs his shoulders. “I don’t know, really..” He says. “We all loved it, but I guess we were getting to the point of knowing it just wasn’t going to go anywhere. We struggled to get signed and we were always rejected.. So we all mutually decided to just split off and go in our original directions.”

“And you picked up photography?”

Jake nods his head. “I enjoyed being behind the camera when helping Josh with his films that I thought I’d try it out.”

“Turned out pretty successful.” You say as you pick another grape off the stem.

He smiles and leans over to kiss you. “I think it did too,” He says. “If it hadn’t, I wouldn’t have met you.” He shifts around on the blanket and closes the container to the grapes. “I had quite an interesting conversation with my grandfather before he passed,” He says.

“Oh yeah?” Jake nods his head. “What was it about?”

“You.. Me.. Us.. Our future..”

“Oh? Was he a fortune teller?”

Jake chuckles and shakes his head. “I said something similar,” He says. “But uh.. He told me to never let you go, because you’re apparently going to bring me so much joy and so much love, a love that I’ve never experienced before.”

“I will?”

“I guess so,” He pops off the lid to the mashed potatoes and grabs a plastic fork from inside the basket. “He also told me to be brave.”

“He’s just looking out for you.” You smile and dip a fork into the potatoes and take a bite.

“Yeah.. Maybe..” He takes a bite from the potatoes as well. “Do you know something that I should know?” He says with his eyes narrowed just slightly.

You giggle but shake your head. “I don’t know anything.” You say before taking another bite.

After spending a couple hours at the pond, eating all of the food until you were positively stuffed, the two of you make your way back to his parents’ house. He reverted back to his quiet self when he stepped through the front door, but he bid both of his parents a goodnight, giving his mother a kiss on the cheek before he followed you upstairs.

He stared out into space as he stood in front of the mirror and loosened his necktie. Sliding it off, he drops it onto the desk on sets to work on unbuttoning his shirt. Crawling off the bed, you walk over to him and help him finish undoing his shirt.

“What’s going on inside of your head?” You say.

“Just.. Thinking..” He says.

“Thinking about what?” You help him slide off his shirt and carefully put it on a hanger.

“Us..”

You turn back to face him. “Still stuck on what your grandfather told you?”

“No,” He says. “Sort of.. But not entirely..”

“Care to fill me in?” You ask as you unbuckle his belt and slide it out from the loops.

He grabs your hands and pulls them up to his mouth to kiss them. “I love you so much.”

“Well I love you too.”

“And I want to take the next step forward.”

“Pardon?”

He chuckles and kisses your hands again. “What are your thoughts on marriage?”

Your eyebrows perk. “Marriage? That’s what you’re thinking about?”

He nods his head. “Today got me thinking.. What if we got married?”

“Now?”

He laughs but shakes his head. “No, not right now.” He says. “But soon, maybe?”

“Is this your way of proposing?”

“Not quite,” He says as he pulls away from you. He goes over to his duffel and digs around in his pocket. “Not exactly how I planned on doing this,” He says. “But nothing we do is ever planned.”

He turns back to face you and holds a black velvet box in his hand. “Jake..” You say. “How long… How long have you had this?”

“Since before we left for France..” He says. “I know this is crazy but.. I really, really love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to grow old with you like my grandparents did. I want to make babies with you and watch them grow, I want to create this life with you.. If you say yes..”

He slowly bends down to one knee and looks up at you with those hope filled, chocolate brown eyes. If there’s one thing you're certain of is that you can’t live without this man. He’s shown and given you nothing but love. He’s brought you to places that you never thought you’d ever get to see with your own eyes, and he’s given you experiences that you never thought would ever happen, and of course he’s magnificent in bed. That you have to factor in too.

“Why wouldn’t I say yes?” You say with a smirk playing on your face.

He chuckles and stands to his feet. He slides the ring on your finger as he leans down to gently kiss you. “I’d say let’s make love, but umm.. My bed is kind of squeaky. And Josh has to sleep in here too.”

You giggle and wrap your arms around his neck. “That’s okay, I can wait.”

“I love you,” He says.

“I love you too.” You say back.

-

The next morning you wake up to Jake tracing his finger along the curve of your breast. “What are you doing?” You ask as you turn over to face him.

“Waiting for you to wake up,” He says. You can see a hint of mischief in his eyes as he looks at you.

“What do you want?”

“You.” He simply says before kissing you.

You press your hand against his chest, pausing his movements. “But your bed squeaks.”

He chuckles and draws you in for another kiss. “No one is here.” He points across the room and you find Josh’s bed empty. “They all went out to clean up the reception hall, they’ll be gone for a while.”

“Oh Jake, we should go help.”

He shakes his head. “When I went down earlier to snag a little bit of coffee, I told them you weren’t feeling well so we’d stay here.”

“Jacob, you lied?”

He chuckles. “Not entirely.. I also told them that if you’re feeling better then we’d help unload everything when they get back.”

“You are sneaky.”

He smiles and kisses you again. “I just wanted to have you.. I can’t wait until we get home. I want to celebrate now..” He interlaces his hand with yours and moves around your engagement ring on your finger. He rolls you on your back and releases your hand. He leans back on his knees and pushes down his boxers until he’s kicking them to the floor. The bed lets out a low groan and he grimaces making you giggle. “I told you..”

You sit up to remove your top and work on taking off your bottoms before he has you laid back again against the pillows and he draws the covers up over the both of you.

“I feel seventeen again,” You say, making him laugh.

“Definitely feels like high school, having to sneak around without my parents knowing what I’m doing.”

He lines himself up with your entrance before pushing inside of you. “Fuck I’ve missed this,” His says into the crook of your neck. “I knew we should've just gotten a hotel room.”

“Then what thrill would we have from sneaking around?”

“True,” He says as he begins to pick up his pace a little. The bed beyond squeaking with each thrust he gives. “Fuck this is a lot louder than I thought it was going to be.” You can’t help but to giggle and he thrusts deeper inside of you. “You find it funny?” You nod your head and he pulls out before pounding right back into you making you gasp.

“You have to admit, Jake..” You moan, your back arching as his cock brushes against that one spot inside of you. “That this is definitely on the list of things we’ve never done before.”

“And what would that list be?”

“Sex in the middle of the savannah…”

“That was…incredible.” You feel his cock twitch inside of you, his orgasm creeping on him quickly. “What else?”

“The kinky mirrored room in the French villa..”

“Fuck..” He throws his back, biting his lip but never ceasing his thrusts.

“And don’t forget you fucking me in the middle of the vineyard where anyone could have seen us.”

That warm feeling spreads through your belly and you grip tighter to his ass, pushing him as deep as he can inside of you. “Fucking hell..” He groans as he thrusts once more and finally succumbs to his orgasm, his warm seed filling you as your own spills.

“But I think a squeaky bed takes the cake..”

He laughs against your chest, the laugh you’ve missed all week. He’s no longer brooding or quiet. You can feel the warmth radiating from him as the light finally shines through. He slowly pulls out of you and rolls carefully beside you with his back pressed against the wall. His chest glistens with sweat and his face matching.

Suddenly the bedroom flies open and Josh steps through. “GOOD MORNING LOVEBIRDS!”

“Josh!” Jake shouts as he pulls the sheets up to cover your chest.

“What? It’s my room too.” He says as he walks over to his suitcase and retrieves a shirt for himself. “Oh and next time you decide to have sex in this rickety old thing, be sure to listen for the garage door opening. I’m assuming you’re feeling better.” Josh smirks towards you. “Better have one hell of an excuse for mom..”

“Oh god..” Jake groans. “Did she…”

“We all did.”

You can’t help but to laugh and Jake looks at you astonished. “What’s so funny?”

“It’s definitely like being seventeen again..”

“Y’all couldn’t have waited until you were back home?” Josh questions as he leans against the doorframe.

“I would rather not say when we’re buttnaked right now,” Jake says. “So if you don’t mind..” He says as he waves his hand in the shoo’ing motion for Josh to leave.

“Of course, of course.” Josh says as he rolls his eyes and leaves the room. “Make sure to wash those sheets!” He calls as he closes the door.

Jake groans and falls back against the pillows. “Still think this takes the cake?”

“Oh for sure,” You laugh before pushing yourself out of bed and grabbing your clothes to get dressed.

-

Eventually making it downstairs, all of the conversation dies down when the two of you step into the kitchen. “So should I start buying little booties for the baby?” Sam teases, earning a slap on the back of the head from Danny. “Ow! It was just a joke, damn..”

“No-o-o,” Jake says as he rolls his eyes. “But you can start looking into buying a tuxedo,” He adds.

“A tuxedo?” Sam questions. “For what?”

Jake grabs your hands and lifts it up for them to see the ring on your finger. “You’re engaged?!” Josh exclaims. “When did this happen?”

“Uh, last night,” Jake says, scratching the back of his neck.

“Well congrats!” Josh exclaims as he gets up from the table and comes over to hug the both of you. “After this week, I definitely think this is the good news we all could use.”

“Good news?” Their father says as he walks into the house and carries the last of the trunk load. “What did we miss?”

“Uh Dad.. Mom..” Jake takes a deep breath, clearly more nervous to tell his parents than he is his brothers. “Last night I asked (Y/N) to marry me.”

“M-Marry?” His mother stammers. “Y-You're engaged?”

Jake nods his head. “Yeah, Mom.. We are.” He braves a small but proud smile and squeezes your hand. “I know with everything going on this week, it might not be the best time but I wanted to.”

A smile spreads across his mother’s face and she rushes over to the two of you. “This is wonderful! Oh, your grandfather would be so happy for you!” She gushes. “This is great news!”

“Welcome to family, (Y/N).” His father chuckles as he hugs you.

“And who knows, they might even have a baby on the way.” Sam jokes again.

“Don’t make me slap you again,” Danny warns. “Shut up.”

“Oh my god,” Their mother gasps. “Are you pregnant?”

“No! No!” Jake exclaims. “Sam can fuck off.. No, we aren’t having a baby–at least not yet anyways.”

“Yeah, tell that to the bed upstairs..” Sam grumbles. He puts his hand out to stop Danny. “Hit me again, I dare you.” Danny chuckles and reaches for the glass in front of him to finish off his orange juice.

“I don’t want to know.” Their father says as he walks over to the fridge.

Sam gets up from the table and comes over to the two of you. “I really am happy for you two,” He says with a smile. “I was hoping this would happen. I knew from the moment I first saw you two together that it would lead to this.”

“And yet you never told me.” Jake jokes as they hug.

“Didn’t want to jinx anything,” Sam laughs. “So, since you took our engagement photos, can I take yours?”

“Hmm, I’ll think about it,” Jake chuckles.

-

Later that day, you’re lounging out on the front porch and watching the few cars that drive by the house when the front door opens. Looking behind you, you see Jake stepping out. He gives you a small smile before sitting down in the chair next to you. “What are you doing out here?” He asks.

“Just thinking.” You say as he picks up your hand.

“Please don’t tell me that you’re rethinking any of this.”

You giggle and shake your head. “Never..”

“So what’s got you thinking?”

“Sam is his baby talk..”

“He doesn’t know how to filter his mouth.” Jake says making you laugh.

“Would you want to have a baby though?”

Jake’s eyebrows raise and his mouth falls slightly agape. “Right now?”

“Well no, not necessarily, but eventually.”

Jake smiles and kisses the top of your hand. “I would like to have a baby,” He says. “I think we’d be pretty good at making one.”

You scoff and shove him away making him laugh. “You’re such a dork.”

“Eventually we will have a baby and I am ready whenever you are.”

“Yeah?”

He nods his head and squeezes your hand. “So I did get an email the other day,” He says. “I haven’t responded yet due to circumstances but,” He shifts in the chair and runs a hand through his hair. “I was asked to photograph for a magazine in London. A pretty high profile magazine.”

“Intriguing.” You say as you lean on the arm of the chair. “Which magazine?”

“Vogue,” Jake smiles. “Well.. British Vogue, but still..”

“That’s incredible!” You exclaim. “Are you going to take it?”

“I wanted to talk to you first. I’d be gone for a few days, but I was going to ask if you wanted to come with me?” He says. “You’ve pretty much come on all of the trips with me so I figured, why not come along on this one?”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“So who do you get the privilege of photographing?” You ask.

“Uh well..” You watch him as he chews on his bottom lip and scratches his head.

“Jake..”

“Now hear me out, it is strictly work.”

“Jacob..” You cock a brow and he sighs.

“She’s a model..”

“Mmhmm..”

“Just a model.. And it’s strictly work..” He rubs his thumbs over your knuckles and looks up at you with the puppy dog eyes. “You’re not going to be jealous, are you?”

“Me? Jealous? Ha!” You laugh and pull your hand away. “Never..”

“So you’ll be nice while we’re there?”

“I will be nice, I promise.” You say as you stand up from the chair. “But the second she flirts, I’m unleashing my claws.”

Jake laughs and pulls you back down to sit on his lap. “Even if she flirts with me, I won’t give her my time.”

“Mmhmm..”

“You are jealous,” He says with a chuckle.

“No, I am not.” You fold your arms over your chest and turn your head away.

“Hey now, I love you. I’m marrying you.” He reaches for your chin and forces you to look at him. “No one is going to get in the way of any of that. Not a creepy vineyard owning old guy and definitely not a supermodel.”

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

“Good,” You lean down to kiss him. “Now if you don’t mind, I am going to start looking at wedding dresses.” You climb off his lap and start heading for the front door when you stop and look back at him.

“What?” He says with a slight chuckle.

You shrug your shoulders. “Just imagining you as a daddy..”

Jake leans on the arm and cocks his eyebrow. “Which one?” You chew on your bottom lip and he laughs. “Be careful..” He warns.

Jake stays out on the porch long after you have gone back inside the house. The screen door swings open and his father steps out. “So you’re getting married,” He says as he occupies the empty chair where you had been. “What made you decide that?”

“After talking with Grandpa, I came to the realization that I love her and all I want is her. She’s the one for me.”

His father smiles and reclines back in the chair. “And she’s definitely not pregnant?”

Jake laughs and shakes his head. “No, she’s not pregnant. And even if she was, that wouldn’t be the reason I want to marry her.” He sighs and leans back in his chair as well. “Grandpa told me to not let her go. She’s supposed to give me something that I’ve never had before.”

“And you want to know what that is?”

Jake nods his head. “You know Grandpa and his cryptic talk,” He scoffs.

“Mm,” His father nods his head and rubs his index finger and thumb over his chin hair. “When one ends, another one grows.”

Jake groans. “Another riddle?”

“Pay close attention to (Y/N). I’ve noticed something about her that I’ve seen on your mother a few times.” He pats Jake on the back before standing out of the chair and making his way back inside the house.

______________________________________________________________

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