#I started buying green stuff left and right

[robertlutecee]

Robertlutecee's Blorbos of 2022 ↺ In reverse Chronological Order ↳ Edward Nygma/The Riddler ♦ Gotham

[thanosscross]

HII I REALLY LOVE YOUR WORK SO MUCH, i hope your willing to write about pregnant reader x thanos yk, thanos didn't know she was pregnant before they break up and then they meet up again the games and he finds out player 222 and player 333 type stuff 😭

Of course! We love this!!

Good person - Choi Su- Bong x pregnant! reader

Summary: After leaving Thanos, you encounter him again in a serious death game, only this time the stakes are lot higher

Warnings: Not much, just your usual squid game gore

A/n: Sorry it's so short! I'm going to try and start adding some length to my stories again especially my Thanos stories so stay tuned for those longer stories, trust me they are coming, they're just takin a lil time

You had told yourself whenever you signed up, you'd be as careful as possible, and that it was all for your baby, after leaving their father and being disowned for choosing to be single mother, you were left with little to nothing, so of course you took the chance to get money.

As you woke up in the giant room you soon came to regret your decision, seeing your sperm donor just a few feet in front of you, focused on the screen reading off debts "Y/n L/n, 25 million won" The guard shouted, showing you getting smacked across the face, quickly holding an arm over your stomach afterwards. Almost like he knew, as soon as your name was called out, his head snapped to yours "Senorita! You're here!?" He shouted in shock "No Way!" He shouted as he walked closer, you attempted to curl your body up away from him, but due to the six month pregnancy belly, you could only bend your legs closer to you slightly.

"Please leave, Thanos" You grunted, trying your best to keep him at a distance, for all he knew you had taken a plan B after your last hook up and that was it. Instead he just kept approaching until he was standing in front of you "What're you doing here!?" He asked excited, you just shook your head "trying to get my family and I money after my sorry excuse of a boyfriend convinced me to buy stupid ass crypto?" You said like it was obvious, it wasn't like you were entirely lying, you just didn't specify what family.

Going into red light green light, you were cocky at first, knowing you could do this easy, until the shooting started, players falling left and right, while your baby dad just skipped and danced his way to you down the field "You never answered me, Senorita" He repeated, placing his hands on your hips, terrified of what he might do, especially after watching him shove other players to win "I-I'm pregnant" You blurted, you couldn't help it, between your fear of dying by Thanos or the game was too much, you just wanted to get out of this alive, you didn't think it'd be this serious, if you did, you never would've done this. "Haha" He laughed sarcastically before looking at your face as the doll called out red light, he was in front of you now, and you were visibly shaking, Thanos using his body to try and shield you from the sensors "for real, flower?" He asked, his tone a lot more deep and raspy, you could tell he sobered up quick upon the realization you weren't joking. "I-I forgot the pill after hooked up a few months ago! a-and I left because I knew you couldn't be a responsible dad" You blurted, unable to contain your emotions as the hormones in your body were on overdrive.

Thanos was frozen, staring at you in shock before finally snapping out of it as the doll called green light, he grabbed your arm holding you behind him as he followed the others past the red line "Just stay behind me" He whispered, your words stung, how could you be so sure of how he'd be as a dad if you never gave him a chance? As you made your way back to the giant main room, you took notice to Thanos's hand on your back leading you to the bed "Sit, you don't put yourself through too much" He explained softly, helping you over to your bunks before eyeing Nam-Gyu "Give her your bed, man" he demanded, his friend stuttering before giving up and giving you his bed that was floor level, him taking your third bunk bed. "Thanos" You warned, not wanting him to make it a huge deal "What?! You're huge! You don't need to be climbing!" He shouted before catching his tone, apologizing quietly "Okay, well One, that was very very rude, two, I can do whatever I please, if I feel like I can't do something, I'll tell you" You stated poking him in the chest with your finger, he just smirked at you, biting his bottom lip slightly "Have I ever told you, it's hot whenever you yell at me" he asked, trying his best to charm you, but instead you just flicked his forehead in annoyance "Get away, freak" You replied, he just smiled at you, sitting at the foot of your bunk "So it's my baby?" He asked smiling pointing to your stomach "Well, if not I'd be concerned" You said raising your eyebrows at him "Can I..touch it?.." He asked nervously "it's not an it, it's your daughter" you glared, before grabbing his hand slipping it under your jacket, pressing his finger down in just the right spot to get the small baby inside of you to move around "Woah..weird" He said grimacing as he pulled away in disgust "Really!?" You gasped in shock laughing loudly, somehow forgetting you were in a death game for a moment "Yea! You have a whole human inside of you! That's weird!" He laughed, resting his hand on yours "You put it there, Su-bong!" You argued, you swore sometimes you got with a completely dumbass.

"Y/n..If you'll let me...I wanna be there..I don't want to be like my dad" He frowned, squeezing your hand gently "Please?" He begged "I know I fucked up bad, but, I want to try again, please" He continued, you glared at him for a moment before sighing "How can I trust you? And you'll have to get clean, for real clean, not how you're usually clean" You added on, you just watched as he nodded his head, no faces or complaints "You're actually serious aren't you?..." you asked sweetly "I want to be a good person for you, y/n, please" He whispered, pressing his lips to your knuckles "I guess..but you only get one chance" You offered, he just nodded before flopping himself next to you "Thank you!" He cheered pressing multiple kisses all over your face as he chanted his thank you's, not realizing the next 18-19 years were going to be hell for the both of you.

The rest of the games, Thanos was always on you, making sure you didn't over do yourself or risk hurting yourself or your baby, charming you right back into his arms.

--

Taglist!!

@acehasmyheart

@corrdelia

@ag022123

[calypso-rt]

bookworm III

-> blurbs pt. I + blurbs pt. II

-> rafe x bookworm!reader

You should’ve known the second you mentioned book club that Rafe would take it as a challenge.

"I have to close early tomorrow night. Book club’s meeting here this week."

Rafe, who was leaning on the counter eating one of the muffins he brought (for you, but he always ended up eating half), perked up immediately.

"Book club?" he repeated, muffin paused mid-bite.

You nodded, sliding a volume into place. “Yep. Small group. Mostly regulars. Very nerdy.”

He grinned. “I’m comin’.”

You laughed. “You don’t even read the books.”

"I can read," he said, deeply offended. “Also, I like hangin' out here. And I wanna see what the hype is.”

You tried to warn him. You really did.

"It’s... a lot of older ladies. They take it seriously."

"I take things seriously," he shot back. Then smirked. "Especially you."

And that was the end of that.

The next night, you set out tea and cookies, rearranged the chairs in a circle, and, right on time, Rafe walked in. Wearing a crisp, ironed button-down. With his hair actually styled. And carrying a battered copy of The Great Gatsby he’d clearly panic-bought that morning.

"Hey," he whispered, slipping into a seat next to you. “I’m ready.”

You gave him a Look. “You actually read it?”

"…I read the back," he whispered proudly. “And a few pages. He throws parties, right? I can relate.”

You bit back a smile. “Just... try not to dominate the conversation.”

"Me? Never."

Five minutes in, the ladies were thrilled to have Rafe there.

"Oh, honey, we’ve heard about you," Miss Eleanor said, patting his arm. “The handsome one who keeps buying up all the poetry books.”

Rafe flushed pink. “Well, she makes this place hard to leave.” He shot you a quick smile.

You wanted to be annoyed that he was stealing focus off the book but the way he leaned in when you spoke? How he asked questions even though he was clearly lost? How he kept looking at you like you were the smartest person in the world?

Yeah. You couldn’t be mad.

When it came time to discuss symbolism, one of the ladies asked: “What do you think the green light means, Rafe?”

He sat up straight. Cleared his throat.

"Uh, yeah. That’s like... the thing he wants but can’t reach. Like… uh…" He glanced sideways at you. “…You know. Dreams. People. Stuff like that."

You blinked. That was... actually not bad.

Miss Eleanor beamed. “Well said, dear!”

Rafe looked so proud of himself you could’ve melted. After everyone left, you were stacking chairs when he wandered up behind you, slipping his arms around your waist.

"Told you I could handle book club," he murmured smugly into your ear.

You laughed, leaning back against him. “You barely knew what was happening.”

"Yeah, but you were impressed."

You turned in his arms, grinning. “Maybe a little.”

"Cool," he said, leaning down to kiss you softly. “Next week’s book?"

"Moby-Dick."

He groaned. “You’re tryin’ to kill me.”

"Guess you’ll just have to hang out here more so I can help you.”

Rafe’s grin was instant. “Deal. Now speaking of dick..."

...

It started because you’d been sighing over the love letters in your latest book club read: an old, worn copy of 'Persuasion'.

"Can you believe this letter?" you’d said, dreamy-eyed, reading the passage aloud. “'You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope.'”

Rafe, sitting at the counter with a coffee, had blinked. “Kinda dramatic.”

You gave him a Look. “It’s romantic.”

"Yeah. Well… maybe I’ll write you one," he mumbled, trying to sound casual.

You grinned, knowing full well Rafe Cameron probably hadn’t written anything longer than a text since high school. “I’d love to see that.”

Cue: Rafe Cameron absolutely panicking.

The next afternoon, he was in his truck with a blank piece of paper and a pen.

"Okay, letter. Gotta use big words. She likes big words."

He dug through the glove compartment and found a crumpled receipt which he used to scribble “synonyms for love” on the back. Thirty minutes and about five ruined drafts later, he ended up with this:

Dearest (your name),

You are an exceptionally luminous individual whose presence makes my days approximately 300% better.

When you smile, it is comparable to... the sun? Or like, a really good sunrise. I don’t know how to say it fancy but it messes me up. In a good way.

I would do literally anything to see that smile every day. I would read more dumb books. I would put Pride and Prejudice in the correct section. I would even sit through another three-hour book club.

I like you. A lot. Maybe even love you. Probably love you. Definitely love you.

Rafe

P.S. If this letter sucks, it’s because I’m not good at letters, not because I don’t mean it.

He left it on your counter early the next morning without telling you. You found it a few hours later, tucked between Persuasion and your planner. By the time Rafe strolled in later that day, trying to act casual, you were waiting.

"Hey," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “So. Uh. Did you, like... see anything... or…”

You just grinned, holding up the letter.

"This is the sweetest, most perfect thing I’ve ever read."

Rafe’s ears turned bright red. “Yeah? You liked it?”

You stepped forward, tugging him down by his collar. “I loved it.”

And when you kissed him softly he was pretty sure no fancy words in the world could explain how he felt about you.

bookworm comeback

[justwonder113]

Han drunkenly confessing to you

Inspired by this ask

Summary: When Chan calls you at 2 am to pick up drunk han because he is asking for you the last thing you expect is for Han to confess his love for you. warnings: CHAOS! Idiots to lovers, (Both reader and Han(mostly Han) are idiots.) Reader is gender neutral. Cursing to no one's surprise. Kissing. Han being somewhat drunk. Teensy tiny amount of angst. Reader almost having a mental breakdown from all the chaos. Somewhat proofread. let me know if I missed anything A/N- Happy new year lovelies! I wish you all the best! Please take care of yourselves and drink lot's of water. Thank you all for all the love and support you have given me, it really means a lot to me. Word count- 2.4 k

Masterlist

If you like my work you can buy me coffee🩷

You know how people put most bizarre things in their resumes? Like stuff they only did once and they wrote it down like they had some kind of PhD in that field? Well next time you if you decided to change jobs or just apply to a new one you would write down that you had an experience and could deal with being friends with Han Fucking Jisung! That is if he survived this day. Because what do you mean you were heading out to get his drunk ass home because this grown ass man was actually crying and asking for you in the damn club at two fucking am! You were so beating his ass once he got sober.

You were seeing such a great dream too. You and Han were actually together and didn’t have this weird ass relationship you two had right now where there were no literal boundaries and you didn’t have to question every day If he was returning the feelings or if you were delusional and he was just extra friendly and overall simply comfortable with you. He was quite touchy and flirty with boys too after all. So you could imagine how much headache this could bring in.

 Anyway, to stop with your let’s just say unfortunate love life and get to the point you were pissed. You really were looking forward after a shitty week sleeping in and actually resting. That’s why you didn’t go to the club with the boys in the first place. How much did he actually drink to be actually crying and asking for you? What was he, a toddler asking for his mommy? Or better yet what was up with you being actually in love with this man?

The club was quite crowded for 2 am. The neon lights of reds blues and greens kept flashing rhythmically. The shouts of laughter and the hum of conversation mixed with the music creating a bit of chaos but well it was a normal atmosphere for a club. As soon as you walked in the smell of cocktails mixed with perfume and sweat of the crowd immediately hit you. It was a bit headache inducing but it was tolerable, as long as you left soon. You started searching for your friends with your eyes which was quite hard at first the crowd really kept shifting and mingling with each other. People really looked like they were having time of their life and you, with the, I just woke up and I’m mad as hell face, surely sticked out like a sore thumb.

Thankfully you found the boys quickly. It wasn’t hard giving they were loudest in the whole establishment as always. They were by the entrance and thankfully everyone looking ready to leave.

As for the man child who was the main reason you were here in the first place, he was clinging to Minho yapping about something. He wasn’t crying now but his eyes really looked puffy and red. Honestly how much did he drink? Others looked normal. Well tired like they were already hungover but still normal. Minho really looked like he was seconds away from smacking him. Yes smacking him, he even managed to rile Minho up. God, what a lightweight.

Han must have noticed you because one second you were looking at his face light up and him call you baby on top of his lungs and the next second he was basically on top of you. He literally hugged you witch such force it was a miracle you were standing on your feet and didn’t fall over.

“Han be careful!” You hear Chan warn him, he sounded tired.

“I’m fine.” You mustered to croak out once Han let go a bit to check if you were fine, he still returned to hugging you but at least you could breathe now. He really must have missed you. God you really wanted to kiss him. All your anger and grumpiness immediately flew out the window. Good for him he was so cute or else you would have smacked his head for bringing you here. “How are you Hannie? A little birdie told me you were asking for me.”

Han looked at you with his wide boba eyes, his lips jutted out in the cutest pout ever. “Better now that you’re here. They are literally so mean baby, I’m glad you’re here. You’re my favorite.”- Han whined out and hugged you again. You looked at others who looked so done, only Minho looked bemused, he held his phone up and recorded Han whine to you. You looked at him with raised eyebrow as you patted Han’s back to calm him down.

Minho only shrugged, “I’m showing this to him when he asks me for something. You’re in charge now since you’re his favorite.”

You couldn’t help but roll your eyes. “Babe we both know that your softie ass is immediately going to cave in and do what he wants anyway.”

Minho glared at you, unamused by your comment but you didn’t really pay any mind to it, you had your attention to Han who stopped hugging you and went to Felix instead. He looked like he was about to start crying again any second now.

“Hannie baby what’s wrong?”

“You hate me!” His bold statement was followed by the most dramatic sob and collective sighs of being done from his friends.

“Why would you think that?” You were genuinely so confused. You had no idea what you did wrong.

Han glared at you for a second and returned to hugging Felix who was barely holding his laughter in. Not much to your surprise he quickly gave in. “You called Minho babe. You’re basically replacing me, you really must hate me.”

What now? You couldn’t help but blink in confusion because what the fuck was up with that logic. You really looked at him with a deadpan expression before the realization of what he said really dawned on you.

You tried, you really tried to hold your face together and not just burst out laughing, but you’re only just a human after all.

With the most teasing voice and biggest smile ever you used the chance to tease him, because let’s be real, pouty and sulky Han is the cutest Han. “Are you jealous baby?”

Han gasped and let go of Felix, he actually looked at you like he was mad now. Mad and maybe seconds away from crying which harshly puled on your heartstrings.

“I am! I’ve been in love with you for years and you’re calling Minho babe here!” He yelled and stormed off outside the club leaving you there shocked not knowing what to do. The boys also looked like they didn’t know what to do, only Minho was laughing his ass off and Hyunjin also looked like he was barely holding in his laughter in.

So he was jealous.

Oh.

Oh.

He said he loved you.

Han Jisung said he loved you.

The Han Jisung loved you.

He returned your feelings.

The boy you had been in love with for ages loved you back.

“HAN JISUNG GET YOUR ASS HERE!” You yelled as you chased after him. All seven of the boys cheering after you and encouraging you to get him. You would get to them later.

Thankfully he hadn’t gotten far, it might have taken you a second or two to let everything sink in. Han was closeby sitting on the sidewalk, pretty tears running down his rosy cheeks, what a silly boy, he even forgot to bring his jacket. You sat close to him thinking for a second of what to say to him, while also trying to warm him with your body head. He looked cold.

“If you want to tease me please go inside. I already feel like shit.” His voice was so raw and he looked so pained. It really hurt to see him like this. He sighed. “I need a minute okay? I will be fine I’m not that drunk anymore.” He took a pause. “I mean how can I be after the shit I said, God I am stupid!” You watched a tear run down his face. Before you could even realize what you were doing you reached and gently brushed away the tear. Han looked at you with tearful eyes.

“Maybe but who am I to judge? I mean, I didn’t even realize that my best friend, the man I had been in love with for god knows how long actually returns my feelings.”

God you said it. You actually admitted your feelings.

A pause.

Oh no, was he regretting it?

Was it something he just said because he was drunk?

You were startled out of your thoughts when Han literally slapped both of his cheeks. His skin immediately flushed angry red.

“What the fuck are they putting in these drinks? Actually making me hallucinate and shit.” Was he for real? You couldn’t hold yourself back so you smacked his arm.

Ignoring his whining you quickly got up and started to yell. “Han Jisung I did not just say I’m in love with you for you to think this is some kind of fucking hallucination! Do you know how much courage it takes to actually admit your feelings?” Han looked at you with wide eyes for a second then quickly got up too almost losing his balance for a second.

“Wait are you for real? You love me? You mean it?” - He asked with trembling voice.

You couldn’t believe your ears. “Of course I mean it? How can I joke about something like that?”

A second passed then two.

“Dude are you kidding me? How are you in love with me. Do you have no standards? You’re like a fucking deity, someone people should fucking worship the fuck you mean you love me? Raise your standards!”

God you needed to be paid for this shit but no amount would be enough. This whole situation made you want to pull your hair out one by one, or maybe scream on top of your lungs, or maybe actually hit him because what the fuck was this?

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” You actually couldn’t help but yell, you didn’t give a crap that you were in the middle of street and it was 2 am and maybe some people were actually asleep.

“NO?”

“I WILL ACTUALLY BEAT YOUR ASS!” You took a deep breath. You reminded yourself that he was somewhat drunk. You needed to stay calm for your own sanity at least. “Han when people tell you that they love you back you at least should be grateful that they return your feelings. The last thing you want to do is to tell them to raise their standards. Because frankly all I wanted to kiss you but now all I’m thinking about is how to hold back and not to beat your ass! You’re literally perfect what the fuck are you on about?”

You watched as the biggest grin appeared on his face. It was like his whole mood shifted. “You want to kiss me?” Okay you really wanted to hit your head against a wall now.

You couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of this whole situation. “Do you only hear what you want to hear?”

Jisung, still grinning got closer to you and wrapped his arms around your waist. “Maybe.” -he mused. “All I heard is that you want to kiss me. And I have wanted to know what it is like to kiss you since I met you. You don’t know how irresistible you are.” His voice was so sweet and tender your heart was going crazy. And it didn’t help when he leaned in and put his forehead against yours.

“I could say the same to you dumbass.” You sighed against his lips. When did he even get so close?

“Can I kiss you?” Han asked as his gaze kept shifting from your lips to your eyes.

Feeling impatient to actually answer you grabbed him by his cheeks and finally connected your lips.

Kissing him was so much better than you could have thought. His lips were cold and chapped but they felt so nice as they moved against yours. You couldn’t help but sigh in pleasure. You didn’t know who deepened the kiss but soon your tongue met his and you almost melted. He tasted so sweet. You could even taste fruity cocktails he must have had earlier on his lips. But there was something more, something purely just Han, which made you fall in love with him even deeper if it was possible. You could already feel yourself getting addicted to kissing him.

Soon you had to lean back for some air, seeing Han whine and actually chase after your lips made you smile, your heart feeling whole. You didn’t even remember why you were mad earlier. You just gazed at him lovingly his arms tight around you as your hands were still on his cheeks. His cheeks felt so warm against your cold hands, it must’ve still stung from his slap. You tried to soothe it as you gently caressed his skin. Loving how he leaned into the touch. Shaking your head a bit. Not in a million years could you imagine something like this could happen to you. Life sure is full of mysteries.

You two were brought back to reality by cheers and hollers of your forgotten friends. Oops? You immediately covered your face leaning into the hug more to hide, unable to look any of them in the eyes, feeling beyond embarrassed. Han chuckled and hugged you closer.

“This had to be one of the most painful confessions I have ever seen.” Seungmin deadpanned as others kept clapping and cheering for you.

“Like you had seen a lot of them.” Minho quipped back quickly.

“At least they finally got it over with.” Hyunjin chipped in.

“Tell me about it, it was painful to watch them.” Now it was Innie’s time to say something. Did they all have to say something?

“Oh by the way I recorded all of this, I’m playing this at your wedding.” Felix waved his phone.

Chan grinned. “Or we can show it to their children in the future.” He teased as Changbin cackled like a possessed witch.

God you were so done with these clowns.

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Taglist: @velvetmoonlght @notastraykid (If you want to be added to my taglist feel free to tell me^^)

[heavyhitterheaux]

Girl Errands

See Me Through You Blurb

Synopsis: You try to distract your husband from the multiple bags piled up in the back of your car, which was the result of you running "errands"

Pairing: Husband!Joe Burrow x Wife!Reader

Series Masterlist

Please Do Not Repost My Content Anywhere

Glancing down at your dashboard in your car, you saw that it was now around two in the afternoon and figured that Joe would probably be making his way home soon.

So, that left you with one task.

Beat him home so that he doesn't see the multiple bags that are a result of you telling him that you were going to run “errands”. 

You in fact did not run one errand according to Joe if you were to ask him since they consisted of Target, TJ Maxx, Starbucks, JoAnn Fabrics for more things to crochet, and last but certainly not least browsing the Savage Fenty website for new lingerie which you knew would end up getting torn and would make Joe buy you more. 

As you pulled out of the Target parking lot, you were met with a stop sign before turning on the main street and coming to a red stop light. You just so happened to glance to your right to see no one other than your husband drumming his fingers on the steering wheel and waiting for the light to change.

“Shit!” You muttered as you glanced behind you to look at the multiple bags in the backseat.

When you turned back around, Joe just so happened to catch your eye and you smirked before you gestured for him to roll down his window.

You might as well distract him.

“Hey handsome! You got a girl? I'm trying to go on a date with you tonight.” You said as you winked at him while he couldn't help but to laugh at your horrible attempt at a pick up line.

“I have a wife actually and I highly doubt she would like that very much.” 

“Well, I won't tell if you won't.”

“I'm trying to save us both from ending up being six feet under. She's short, but don't let that fool you.” He replied as you turned up your nose and glared at him.

“I'm sure I can take it. So what do you say?”

Before Joe could respond, he glanced in the backseat of your car and made a face before turning his attention back towards you.

“Uh oh.” You said quietly before you heard your husband's voice.

“Baby! What do you have in the backseat!?”

“Nothing! Bye!” You told him as the light turned green and you pulled off without another word.

But your luck ran out when you were once again caught at a stop light literally less than a mile from your house right next to Joe as he gestured for you to roll your window down and you shook your head no.

So as soon as you told him no, your ringtone for him started blasting throughout the car and you hesitantly hit accept.

“Princess….”

“Oh thank goodness. There's this weird dude who keeps following me in his car and pulling up next to me every time I'm at a stop light.”

“I am not doing this with you today. I refuse.” Joe said as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Refuse what, babe?”

“Don't act dumb. Now what is in the backseat?”

“Stuff.”

“What kind of stuff?”

“For me to know and for you not to find out because I was supposed to beat you home and hide everything.” You honestly told him.

“Hmm, and how's that working out for you?”

“It'll be fine once I get home before you do.” You replied as you hit the gas once more and sped away from him.

“I am literally right behind you and you better slow down before you get a ticket.”

“I'm pretty and I'll be let off with a warning. Works every time.”

“Why do you love to stress me out on a daily basis?”

“You're the one who asked me to marry you so you did this to yourself.” You replied as you pulled into the garage with Joe right behind you.

Joe got out of his Porsche before coming over to the driver's side door of your car and opening it, seeing you smiling at him, but he did not look amused.

“Hi baby!” You greeted him as you wrapped your arms around his neck and your legs wrapped around his waist.

Placing a kiss on his lips, he didn’t return it which made you frown. 

“Give me a kiss and fix your face.”

Joe rolled his eyes before kissing you and continued to make a face at you as he pulled away.

“Is this supposed to be serving as a distraction?”

“A little bit, but I can take my clothes off if it isn't working. Now how about that date you promised me?”

“I never even gave you an answer.”

“You're undressing me with your eyes so that's a good enough answer which obviously translates to yes.”

“We can go on a date... right after you show me what's in the backseat.”

“No.”

“Fine. I'll just get my hair cut and run errands in my gray sweatpants.” Joe told you as your eyes then went wide.

“I… Just get the bags please and I'll tell you.”

“That’s exactly what I thought.”

[pinkpurplesunrises]

Cleat Me Baby One More Time - the short story - Alexia Putellas x Pregnant!Reader - that time you morning sicked all over Alexia's cleats

Writer's note: will be on a week break. Though, when I get back, would you like to see more of Pregnant!Reader?

It started as such a good idea.

You. Sweet. Slightly delirious. Newly-pregnant you. Had decided to surprise Alexia at training. Nothing dramatic. Just a little midday drop-in with her favorite smoothie (because she’d left the last one in the fridge, and you (the heroic partner you are) refused to let it go to waste.

You were eight weeks along. Glowing... if “glowing” meant greasy from nausea and crying randomly during car commercials.

Still, your heart was full. You were carrying her baby, after all. Hormonal. Emotional. Kind of clammy? Yes. But full of love.

You stepped into the training complex like a romantic spy. You’d texted Ingrid earlier to make sure the coast was clear. She’d responded with: “yes, locker room’s empty, but bring snacks next time.” Fair.

You tiptoed inside like a cartoon burglar in leggings and flip-flops. The moment you opened the door to the locker room, though, the second the smell of turf sweat and fabric softener mixed with death hit your nostrils... It happened.

Your stomach flipped.

And then… betrayed you.

No warning. No chance for a heroic pivot to the bin. Just a horrible noise and a splatter.

Right onto a pair of freshly cleaned, pink-accented, absolutely-very-expensive Nike cleats.

Alexia’s cleats.

You stared at them. Then at your hands. Then at the vomit. Then at the smoothie. Still in your hand. Then back at the cleats. “Okay,” you whispered to yourself. “This is fine. This is fine. I can clean this. I’ll burn them. We’ll buy her new ones. I’ll fake a robbery.”

Then you burst into tears. Of course. Hormones. Pregnancy. Cleat-based trauma. The trifecta.

You were still crying when Alexia walked in.

“Mi amor?” she said from the doorway. “They said you... wait. Are you crying?”

You didn’t even try to be smooth. You just pointed at the cleats. “I THREW UP ON YOUR SHOES.”

Alexia blinked. Took in the crime scene. The smoothie in your hand. The puddle of regret. The puddle of you.

She moved toward you calmly, slowly. Like someone approaching a wounded animal. “Okay, okay. It’s okay.”

“No it’s not! They were your favorite pair! The gold-tipped ones! I was going to bring you a snack and be sexy and supportive and instead I’m a barf goblin who desecrated your equipment!”

Alexia burst out laughing.

You stared at her like she’d gone mad. “You’re laughing?!”

She carefully stepped over the carnage, wrapped her arms around you (YES, VOMIT AND ALL), and pulled you into her chest.

“Mi vida… do you think I care about some shoes?”

“They were limited edition!” you wailed into her collarbone.

She kissed the top of your head. “You are carrying our baby. You could throw up on all of my shoes. You could throw up on my jersey. On me. I don’t care.”

You sniffled. “You’d care if I threw up on your Ballon d’Or.”

She paused. “Okay. Maybe I’d flinch.”

You laughed, finally. A gross, congested, teary laugh... but a laugh all the same.

“Why are you like this?” you mumbled.

“Because I love you,” she said, wiping your cheeks with her sleeve, “and because shoes can be washed. And because the idea of you trying to be sexy while eight weeks pregnant and pale green is both adorable and completely unhinged.”

“Bold of you to mock me when I literally have a weaponized uterus,” you muttered, curling into her.

“I’m just saying,” she whispered, “if you’re going to throw up on my stuff, at least do it on Patri’s next time.”

You both giggled, still wrapped in each other like nothing else mattered. Because, honestly, nothing else did.

Except maybe buying a new pair of cleats.

Later that night, you tried to surprise her again. This time with new shoes. You wrapped them in tissue paper and wrote a card that said:

“Sorry for puking on your sole-mates. Love, your walking science experiment.”

She framed the card. And kept the old cleats, puke stains and all, tucked away in a box labeled:

“First gift from the baby.”

[harrywavycurly]

Worth the Fight: Disagreement

Masterlist: Here

CW: Pregnancy stuff, minor jealous Harry (him and Patrick have an issue lol), smut (fingering, thigh fucking and dirty talk).

Word Count: 5.8K

A/N: We are getting closer to the twins arriving and I’m so excited, there’s only 2 parts left after this! Also if you don’t want to read the smut just skip the last section, you won’t be missing any details just the spice!✨

Tag List: @kookjipao @msolbesg @lomlolivia @namoreno @outofthisworl-d @mema10 @watarmelon212 @natykn @sassamanda77 @st-ev-ie @ghayda0 @hannah9921 @indierockgirrl @chaoticthoughts2022 @lizsogolden @gmikaelson @styleswithaseaview @sofaritsalrightt @babegoals @fangirl509east @one-sweet-gubler @stylesftcher @umadirectioner @last-saturday-night @montgomery-929496 @laughterismytherapy @hisparentsgallerryy @jerseygirlinca @behindmygreyeyes @mads3502 @tpwkdpr @unfuckwitablenarry @itscoucouharry @latedirectionerera @ell0ra-br3kk3r @cumuluscranium @donutsandpalmtrees @silastylesswift @prettygurl-2009 @blueleonor @daphnesutton @angeldavis777 @harryssunflower17 @blckburd @tinawritesstuff @inlikea-coolway @mothersversiononly

Summary: Harry asks you a question, feelings are discussed and the two of you spend a day in bed✨

There’s a silence in your apartment that has you feeling on edge as you sit at your kitchen table rubbing your lips together as your mind begins to shuffle through all the check lists you have full of things you need to finish preparing and buy before the twins arrive. You flick your eyes over towards your kitchen where Harry is standing with a hand on your counter and the other holding a green apple that’s placed on the same cutting board he’s been using ever since he started making your juices months ago. You can tell by the way his eyes are looking straight ahead and not at the fruit in his hand that he is lost in his thoughts, probably thoughts very similar to the ones racing through your own mind so you just allow the silence to linger for a few minutes longer before you decide to break it.

“What’s the first thing on your list?” You ask as your hands rest on top of your very big pregnancy belly that has you not able to do much of anything without assistance these days. Harry blinks a few times before shaking his head as if to clear his mind before turning his head to look over at you.

“Sorry did-what did you ask me?” You let out a chuckle at his confused expression as his grip on the apple tightens ever so slightly.

“Your list of things you feel like you need to get done before the twins get here.” You look down at your belly and give it a gentle rub with both hands before looking back at him. “What’s the number one thing you-”

“Figure out where you’ll be staying once they’re here.”

“What do you mean? I’ll be staying here. In my house.”

“Okay.” You watch him as he carefully decides how he wants to articulate his next question as he lets go of the apple and turns around so he can lean his back against the counter. “And uh am I allowed to-uhm possibly also stay here with you?” He doesn’t look at you as he fumbles his way through asking the question, instead his eyes are glued to a spot on the tile floor near your refrigerator.

“Gee let me think about this.” You tilt your head to the side and tap your chin with your pointer finger as Harry lifts his head to look at you with a quirked brow at your playful tone because he is on the verge of a panic induced sweat while you seem very calm. “Can my boyfriend who also happens to be my baby daddy who doesn’t really let me get more then five feet away from him without him shouting my name to see where I’m at stay with me after our twins are born?” You question as you act as if you’re mulling the idea over in your mind but the slight upturn of your lips tells Harry you’re trying to hold off a smile and that can only mean one thing. “Yes Harry. Of course you can stay here because I’m sure as hell not going to your house right away with all those-”

“Stairs. I know love.” He says with a smile as he walks over to where you’re sat at the table. “I’d like to point out I let you get at least ten feet away from me before I’m shouting for you.” You roll your eyes as he holds his hands out for you to take so he can help you out of the chair.

“I was right behind you the other day and you shouted-”

“Baby I couldn’t see you I don’t have eyes in the back of my head.”

“You still shouted-in a library of all places.”

“It wasn’t even a real shout it was just a loud whisper.” You glare at him while his hands rub the sides of your belly as the two of you stand in the middle of your kitchen. “That lady didn’t need to be so mean about it.” The moment the words leave his mouth he knows he has royally messed up, so he just braces himself for you to let him have it as his hands continue to rub at your belly, lightly scratching it through the fabric of your t shirt since he knows you’ve been a bit itchy lately.

“That lady? You mean the librarian who was just trying to do her job of keeping it nice and peaceful in a place people come to read and learn?” You let out a huff as you swat his hands away from your bump making him frown at bit at the loss of contact. “You’re dating one of those ladies Harry and you’re lucky she just gave you a harsh shush and didn’t kick you out.” Harry knows you wish so badly that you could just storm off and leave him standing in the kitchen to think about what he just said but you can’t, you haven’t had your juice yet and you can’t exactly get around very easy and have been relying on Harry’s annoyingly toned arms for support so you’re stuck in the small space with him, annoyed and dangerously on the verge of becoming hangry.

“I’m sorry love it won’t happen again.”

“I would’ve kicked you out.” You mumble in a half annoyed and half serious tone, not ready to acknowledge his apology you keep your eyes focused on your bump making Harry bite down on his bottom lip in order to fight off the smile that wants to form on his face at your stubbornness. “And ban you from ever being able to step foot in any public library in the country.” You add making a scoff slip out of Harry’s mouth as he tries to sneak his hands back to the sides of your bump without you noticing.

“Now sweetheart that’s a bit much don’t you think?” You just shrug as you try to shove his hands away but this time he doesn’t let you, keeping them firmly on the sides of your belly making you huff in annoyance. “That would mean I’d never be able to bring you lunch at work or take the twins to story time or-”

“They wouldn’t be banned.” You correct him, finally looking him in his eyes that are a soft shade of green that has you wanting to let out a soft sigh but you don’t because there’s a point to be made here and you refuse to be distracted by his big dumb eyes. “Just you.” Harry lets out a chuckle as he shakes his head in disbelief.

“Well good thing you weren’t the librarian on duty then.” You roll your eyes as he leans in, and when you go to turn your head so his lips land on your cheek he pauses. “Come on Cranky gimme a kiss so I can get back to making your juice before you get really upset.” You let out a sigh as you turn your head allowing him to press his lips against yours for a quick and sweet kiss.

“I really would’ve kicked you out.” You mumble with a small pout as he pulls away with a smile on his face.

“I know.” He states as he leans in to press his lips to your forehead. “I love you.” You freeze as the words slip past his lips making him immediately pull away and take a step back from you with wide eyes and red cheeks, embarrassed he just accidentally let those words tumble out of his mouth so easily.

“You-”

“I uhm I meant I love them like-the twins yeah yeah I uh love them.”

“That’s not what you meant and that’s so not okay to say in the middle of an argument Harry that’s-that’s cheating.”

“What? How is that cheating? This wasn’t even an argument?”

“If it wasn’t an argument then why were you apologizing?”

“Because that’s-uh well that’s a good question.” You stare at him as he runs a hand through his hair as you try to come to terms with the fact he just casually admitted he loves you while in the middle of your kitchen. “So maybe this was just a disagreement over how I handled a situation in the library and also for me rudely referring to the librarian as just some lady so-so that’s why I was apologizing.”

“But do you know you were wrong?”

“I know you feel like I was wrong. Yes.”

“Harry.”

“Okay fine. Yes I know I was wrong and that’s why I was apologizing. I shouldn’t have shouted in the library and I should have more respect for librarians because I just so happen to be in love with one.” You feel your eyes well up as a lump forms in your throat as Harry stares back at you with a hopeful expression on his face.

“Does your therapist know you’re a cheater as well as a narcissist?” Harry lets out a chuckle and shrugs a shoulder as he reaches his hand out to grab yours that’s resting on top of your bump.

“I’m sure he’s well aware of all my flaws but I’ll ask when I talk to him next week.”

“Good.” You feel his hand cup the side of your face just as the first few tears fall from your eyes. “You really love me?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not just saying that because you’re panicking over the fact we have five weeks until the twins are here and-and we haven’t even packed a hospital bag or-”

“Hey sweetheart look at me okay?” You swallow thickly as your eyes meet his. “I love you and I’m not telling you this because I’m in pre twin arrival induced panic.” He gives you a smile as you sniffle and try to blink back a new wave of tears. “I’m telling you this because it’s how I feel or- how I’ve felt ever since you let me take you on that horrible first date a month ago and you know I’ve always been bad with timing and-”

“I love you too Harry.” Your voice is watery and the tiniest bit squeaky as it cuts off his rambling but Harry doesn’t mind, all he can focus on is the fact you’re saying it back.

“Yeah? You’re not just saying that so I’ll go and make your juice?” He teases as a grin spreads across his face making his dimples pop out.

“No I’m saying it because it’s how I feel. Besides I can make my own juice.”

“You can?”

“Yes I’ve done it before.”

“What? When?” His eyebrow raise as he looks over at the relatively large knife resting on the cutting board next to the apple he left on it. “I don’t like the idea of you using knives when I’m not around. I know that sounds-”

“Harry.” He turns to look back over at you as you reach over and cup his face with both of your hands. “Don’t ruin the moment.” He smiles as you pull him down for a kiss as his hands fall to your hips.

“Won’t happen again love.”

“Oh I’m sure it will.” You joke as you give his cheeks a small squeeze before dropping your hands from his face. “Also that was quite a declaration of love you just made- have you been reading my romance novels?” You ask making him roll his eyes as he turns to head back into your kitchen.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” You laugh as you watch him grab the knife and begin cutting up the apple.

“Whatever you say.” You stand there for a moment, looking over your shoulder to the chair you were just sat in and then through the doorway of your kitchen towards your couch.

“Harry can-” before you can finish your sentence Harry is by your side with his arm out for you to grab onto so you can begin walking towards the living room.

“Comfy?” He asks after helping you get situated on the couch. You just nod making him smile as Paris walks into the room causing his bell the jingle having woken up from his mid morning nap he no doubt took in his new favorite spot, the middle of the rug in the twin’s nursery.

“Paris your stepdad told me he loves me in the middle of an argument.” Harry playfully rolls his eyes as he leans over and presses his lips to the top of your head before turning to go back into the kitchen.

“Wasn’t an argument Paris it was a disagreement.” He corrects, Paris pauses to watch Harry disappear into the kitchen before he turns to walk over to where your feet are propped up on the coffee table with a pillow underneath them.

“Want to snuggle with your mom?” You asks the orange colored cat who just purrs as he leaps onto the couch and instantly plops down next to you so his back is firmly pressed against your hip. “Oh Paris things are about to get a little crazy around here.” You tell him with a sigh as the sound of Harry chopping fruit and the gentle purrs of your cat start to gently lull you to sleep.

This is something Harry has gotten quite used to, you just randomly dozing off for a quick Power Nap while he’s off doing something in another room. So he just smiles and places a kiss to your forehead when he walks back into the living room a few minutes later with your juice in one hand and a bowl of grapes in the other, not wanting to disturb your morning nap so he just puts your goodies on the table next to the armrest of the couch and picks up Paris so he can place him in his lap after sitting down next to you.

“Your mom loves me too mate so that means no more biting.” He whispers to the orange ball of fur currently curled up in his lap. “Or at least start biting my other ankle.”

“Love?” You turn your head at the sound of Harry entering your bedroom, when you get a good look at the sweatshirt he has on you bring a hand up to cover your mouth to hide your laughter. “What’re you giggling at over there?” He asks as he walks over to what has now become his side of the bed, the one closest to the door claiming it’s so he can rush off and go grab whatever you need in the middle of the night but you know it’s one of his safety things.

“Nothing I just really like your shirt that’s all.”

“Do you really? I picked it myself.”

“Oh that much is very obvious.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He questions with a quirked brow as he looks down at the front of his sweatshirt. “It says daddy.” You just nod as you try to get comfortable, Harry looks over at you as you roll over so you’re facing his side of the bed.

“I’m aware of what it says Harry I do know how to read thank you very much.” You say with a huff as you fluff your pregnancy pillow a bit before resting your head on it.

“I don’t get why it had you in a giggle fit? It says daddy and I’m going to be a daddy.” You let out another round of giggles as he gets on the bed after kicking off his shoes.

“I’m just curious have you been wearing that all day?” You wonder as he scoots over so his arm is resting on the side of your pregnancy pillow.

“Yes because you keep it bloody freezing in the house thanks to your-”

“You’re the reason I’m dealing with hot flashes so don’t be sassy about how cold it is in here.”

“Right. Of course.” He gives you an apologetic look as you reach over and flick him in the shoulder. “But yes I wore it to run a few errands and went to see Niall at the studio.” He answers making you just rub your lips together as his hand finds your wrist and begins tracing little circles on it with his thumb while he holds his phone in his other hand and is scrolling through his emails.

“You ran errands and went to the studio in a sweatshirt that says daddy on it?”

“Yes now can you tell me why that’s an issue?”

“It’s not an issue but does Mr. Popular really not understand how funny it is that he was seen walking around in a shirt that just says the word daddy on it in big block letters? I mean come on you-”

“Oh.” You watch Harry place his phone down on his chest as the realization hits him. “Well I mean-I can’t help what people call me and-and the sweatshirt is soft and I’m not ashamed to wear it.” You just give him a smile when he looks over at you.

“It’s cute.” You tell him making him smile as he leans over to place a kiss to your forehead.

“You’re cute.”

“Thank you-oh guess what I finally got today.” Harry’s thumb pauses its tracing on your wrist as he takes a quick look around the bedroom for any signs of what you could’ve gotten while he was out running errands.

“Uh did you pick their coming home outfits?”

“Without the opinion of their ultra fashionable daddy? I’d never.” The glare he sends you makes you laugh. “But it does have to do with the twins.” You tell him as he gives the room another subtle scan and his eyes go wide when he sees it, sitting in the chair in the corner of the room is a black backpack with the name “Styles” embroidered in white on it in a pretty cursive font.

“Holy shit.” He says out of shock making you reach down with your free hand and place it over your bump as you playfully glare at Harry.

“Harry Styles watch your language in front of the children.”

“Sorry but you finally picked a diaper bag? You’ve been looking for one for months.”

“I just wanted to make sure it was going to something that I could use for years and wasn’t too bulky.”

“You mean like that monstrosity you call a purse?” He questions as he leans over to place his phone on his nightstand.

“You’re the only one who hates my-”

“Nope not even close to being true my love because tons of people hate your purse I’m just the only one willing to be honest with you about it.”

“Whatever.” You huff making Harry lean over to he can place little kisses to your cheek until you let out a giggle. “You’re lucky I like you because I got you one too.” He smiles against your cheek as you tilt your head so his lips are now hovering above yours.

“Oh come on sweetheart we both know you love me.” He murmurs against your lips before capturing them in a sweet kiss.

“Sorry it doesn’t say daddy though.” You say with a smile when he pulls away making him let out a groan as he rests his forehead against yours.

“M’never gonna hear the end of this am I?”

“Nope.”

Harry sits up and crosses his arms over his chest as he turns and glares at your side of the bed, not at you but at the plush object you’re currently cuddling with as you lay on your side with a book in your hand. Your pregnancy pillow has somehow worked its way onto Harry’s list of things he can’t stand, now he’s happy you’re comfortable he wants you to be as comfortable as possible but he hates how the soft plush pillow gets in the way when he tries to snuggle with you. He can’t even fully get his hand on your bump when laying on his side at night before going to sleep, the pillow wedged between the two of you. Now he knows he’s being a tad bit silly and dramatic but in this moment when all he wants to do is cuddle up with you while you read your new book, he doesn’t really care how dramatic he seems.

“I can feel you staring at me.” Harry lets out a sigh as you turn the page of your book, not bothering to look over at him.

“Do you really need this right now?” He asks as he pokes the side of your pillow making your eyes glance down to the spot his finger just jabbed.

“Yes I need him.” You answer as you go back to reading while Harry just stares at you with a raised brow.

“Him? Your pillow is a him? Tell me you didn’t name him.”

“I did. His name is Patrick.”

“Patrick? Why-why would you name it?”

“Because it felt weird to cuddle with something and it not have a name so I named him Patrick the pillow but you can just call him Patrick.” You explain once again without looking up from your book, you just snuggle deeper into the pillow making Harry let out a huff.

“Well isn’t Patrick for sleeping? You’re not sleeping.”

“Keep talking and that’ll change in a few minutes.” You tease dryly causing Harry to send you a glare that you don’t even notice due to how intently you’re focusing on the book in your hand that you checked out from the library a few days ago and sent Harry to go pick up for you.

“Baby.” He doesn’t mean to sound so whiny as he leans his head back so it’s resting against the headboard of the bed. “I just want to cuddle and he gets in the way and you don’t even seem to care.”

“You’re the one who bought him for me.”

“Well yes but-”

“But now you want me to kick him out? That’s rude.”

“He was bought before we started sleeping together-as uhm as in we sleep in the same bed together not that we sleep together even though we-we have done that as well but the point is Patrick has got to fucking go.” About halfway through his little rant you lift your head and close your book sliding it to the middle of the bed, you look at him with a small smile on your face as he fumbles his way through explaining his frustrations with your pregnancy pillow.

“You really don’t like Patrick?” Harry looks over at you as you begin to try and sit up.

“I don’t like how he gets in the way when I’m trying to cuddle you and now you’ve gone and named him so it’s-it’s weird having Patrick in the middle of us when I’m trying to-”

“Spoon me?” He lets out a huff and sends you a playful glare that makes you laugh as you reach your hand out for him to take. “And is that what you’re wanting to do right now?”

“Is it so wrong that I want to spend a day in bed cuddling my girlfriend?” He asks as he takes your hand so you can give it a little squeeze.

“Of course not.” You say with a smile as you let go of Harry’s hand so you can maneuver yourself to where your feet are dangling off the side of the bed. “Now help me up so I can go get a snack while you get rid of Patrick.” Harry is already getting out of bed and walking to your side by the time you’re done talking.

“No more grapes okay? You’ll give yourself a tummy ache.” He tells you as he helps you up, you just roll your eyes as your hands rub the top of your belly.

“So bossy.” You mumble on your way out the door making Harry chuckle as he hears the sound of Paris’s bell jingling letting him know the cat is following you to the kitchen, leaving his napping spot in the rocking chair in twin’s nursery.

“Sorry Patrick.” Harry tells the pregnancy pillow as he grabs it off your side of the bed. “But you’ve gotta go mate.” He says as he tosses it in the closet before shutting the door.

What feels like half an hour later but is really just ten minutes later Harry’s face breaks out into a grin when you waddle your way back into the bedroom licking your lips and carrying your water bottle. He is laying on his side of the bed, now in just a tank top and athletic shorts having ditched his sweatshirt since he knows you tend to always run a little hot and he doesn’t enjoy sweating while trying to get some quality cuddle time with you. You give him a smile as you place your water bottle on your nightstand and sit down on the edge of the bed with a small huff.

“And what did you three agree on for a snack?” He asks as you swing one leg at a time onto the bed, Harry has to practically hold his hands together to stop himself from reaching over and helping you but he knows if you want his help you’ll ask or simply look at him with that dramatically adorable pout. He knows you’re trying to still be as independent as possible without pushing yourself too far so even though it nearly kills him, he will politely sit and watch you take a few minutes to get comfortable on the bed.

“A slice of watermelon and two bites of cantaloupe.” You answer as you roll over to your side so you’re facing your nightstand. Harry takes your queue and wastes no time in scooting over and laying down next to you on his side.

“I thought you didn’t like the cantaloupe? Said it was too sweet?”

“I forgot.” You admit making Harry let out a chuckle as one of his arms slides under the pillow your head is on and his other wraps around your middle so his hand is resting on your belly. “But that’s why I only had two bites and not the whole container.” You explain with a yawn as Harry places a kiss to the top of your shoulder.

“I love you.” He whispers into your ear as he moves so your back is up against his front earning him a soft sigh of content from you.

“I love you too.” He knows by the way your voice sounds that you’re only a few minutes away from falling asleep so before he gets too comfortable he reaches towards the end of the bed and grabs the thin throw blanket and tosses it over the lower half of the two of you because he knows your feet and legs will get cold since you’re just in maternity bike shorts and an oversized t shirt. And even though it might not look it given how he tossed Patrick in the closet for the afternoon, he still wants you to be as comfortable as possible while cuddled up in his arms.

Harry is curled up behind you, his hand gripping your hip keeping you pressed together, his chest rising and falling steadily against your back. It’s not that he tries to intentionally wake you up, but he has his face nuzzled into the crook of your neck and he can’t help himself when he places a kiss to the spot below your ear earning him a small giggle from you. He smiles against your sensitive skin and it’s not until you begin to stir and arch your back making your backside press against him that he realizes just how much he’s been enjoying having your warm body pressed against him during your mid day nap.

He knows you can feel him begin to harden as you unconsciously press yourself against him again as you stretch your limbs. The breathy sigh he lets slip passed his lips has you pausing as his hand on your hip tightens its grip ever so slightly. He’s prepared to slide out of the bed and head to the bathroom to deal with his growing issue, not wanting to disturb your post nap bliss. But when you place a hand over his on your hip and slowly drag it up to slide under the waistband of your bike shorts his hips jerk making him let out a moan that’s muffled by his face still being nestled in the crook of your neck at the pleasant friction he gets from his shorts against his now fully hardened length.

“You’re so warm.” He says softly, his breath hot against your neck as his hand slowly travels down over your hip and under the band of your panties letting him feel your skin against his fingers. “And soft.” He mumbles as his hips grind against your backside causing a tiny gasp to leave your lips.

“Harry.” You say with a sigh, voice still slightly thick with sleep but now mixed with a burning need that has you instinctively pressing yourself back against him.

“Can I take these off baby?” He asks, breathing into your ear, when you just nod he doesn’t waste any time before he’s sliding your shorts and panties down your legs until you can kick them off letting them land on the floor. You reach a hand behind you and give the band of his athletic shorts a small tug letting him know you want them off which he quickly does and soon you’re letting out a soft breathy moan when you feel him gently lift your top leg so he can slide himself between your thighs.

“God you feel so good.” He lets out a moan at how good the friction of being nestled snuggly between your warm soft thighs feels against his length.

Slowly he begins to move his hips, gliding against the silky heat of your skin. The friction sends waves of pleasure pulsing through his body, each thrust is slow and deliberate, as if he doesn’t want the intimate moment between the two of you to end too soon.

“Fuck baby- I love feeling you like this.” He moans, his voice strained as his hips maintain their rhythmic pace, his cock sliding smoothly between your thighs.

His grip gently tightens on your hip as he pulls you closer against him, intensifying the sensation. He hears your breath hitch as his fingers slip down until his thumb is gently circling your sensitive bud, matching the slow pace of his thrusts.

“Harry please.” You beg as you press yourself firmly against his hand, seeking more of his touch. He knows what you need from him so he moves his hips faster and adds a bit more pressure to your clit. “Need-oh god.” He doesn’t let you get the rest of your request out before he’s slipping two fingers inside your warm center making a deep moan of pleasure bubble up from his chest when you grind down hard onto his hand, your backside meeting his hips.

“That’s what you needed isn’t it baby?” He whispers breathlessly before placing a kiss to the side of your neck, nipping at the spot below your ear. “Fuck-you’re so wet and-shit so warm I can feel you squeezing my fingers.” Your thighs clench tighter around him as he thrusts his fingers deeper inside your wetness while he continues giving your clit gentle circles with his thumb.

Harry lets out a groan as his hips begin moving faster, losing himself in the intoxicating rhythm, his fingers matching the pace making your eyes shut as he feels you tighten around his digits that are tucked inside of you.

“H-Harry I’m so-oh I’m close.” Your words have his thrusts becoming urgent and fervent, driven by pure instinct and passion. He pumps his fingers in and out of you with a new found determination, needing you to get your release before he can get his own.

“Just let go for me sweetheart. Make a mess all over my fingers.” He urges tenderly before his lips attach to your neck.

When his thumb adds more pressure to your clit you begin moaning his name as you let the pleasure overtake you in waves, your body is arching into Harry’s embrace as your climax leaves you slightly overwhelmed. The tightening of your thighs and the way you’re clenching around his fingers sends Harry spiraling over the edge, his release spilling warmly onto your thighs as his body shudders with an intense wave of pleasure.

“Shit.” He breaths heavily as your hand wraps around his wrist to stop his thumb from rubbing at your sensitive bundle, he slowly removes his fingers from inside you making you let out a soft sigh. He lifts his head just enough so he can bring his glistening digits up to his mouth, he can’t help the moan that leaves him as he tastes you on his tongue.

“You’re so dramatic.” You say with a giggle as you turn your head so you can get a better view of Harry’s face just as he takes his fingers from his mouth with a pop.

“Can’t help it I like the way you taste.” He tells you with a smile as he leans down to place a kiss to your lips.

“You made a mess.”

“Oh I made a mess? I think you meant to say we made a mess.”

“Now we need a shower and new sheets.” Harry just lets out a chuckle as his hand goes to the hem of your t shirt, slowly sliding under it letting him feel the softness of your belly.

“Might as well finish getting undressed then.” He whispers against your lips, his hand going higher until he’s cupping one of your bra covered breasts.

“Did you have another sex dream about me or something? What’s got you all horned up?” You tease as he gives your breast a soft squeeze when you turn your head to look over at the clock on your nightstand that lets you know your nap was a little over an hour.

“You’re just-so fucking sexy I can’t help it.” He answers as his lips kiss their way down your neck. “But let’s get you cleaned up and then I’ll change the sheets.” He gives your shoulder a kiss over the fabric of your t shirt before he slides his hand out from underneath it, he sits up as you roll over to your back.

“I love you.” Harry grins as you stare up at him with a smile on your face, when his eyes meet yours he finds himself almost getting lost in them.

“I love you too.” He says as he leans over so he can place a kiss to the top of your head. “Now come on let’s get you in the shower before you start to get cranky from missing your post nap snack.” This has you rolling your eyes but the smile doesn’t fall from your face and Harry knows it’s because you know he’s right. And in someway it has your heart wanting to melt because he knows you so well and despite all your little moody moments and the need to have eight snacks a day, he still loves you and you love him just as much.

[trashedsunsets]

Spoiled Honey

***

Summary ~

Small towns need big personalities to compensate. If only overworked ER doctors knew that.

wc ~ 1k

big credit to @candlelitea for the inspo on this 💕

a/n ~

girl idk I’ve never done this before

Retirement.

A beautiful ten letter word. Sparkling. Glimmering. Hopeful.

And something that Michael Robinavitch still can’t find himself committing to yet. Though here he is with his old friend, Jack Abbot on what he’s deemed a pseudo retirement. Airbnbs are still in the realm of what Robby deems sketchy, self endangerment perhaps? Either way he found himself talked into using his plethora of leave days to take an extended three month summer stay. Somewhere rural, real middle of nowhere, Main Street USA, type of place.

Abbot pulls the old pickup truck into the only grocery store in town. No sooner is the car parked before its doors are flung open both men all but stumbling out. Robby’s joints are groaning from what he wishes he could blame entirely on the long drive. A solid clap to his back when he stands to his full height as Abbot starts guiding him, “Come on my friend, let’s see what uh, Delaneys grocer and general store, has to offer huh?”

The door chimes with an old fashioned bell announcing their entrance to the store. Blasts of cool breeze from the air conditioning is a reprieve from the humid summer air. To the left is a wall lined with refrigerated doors, the center is taken up with two long rows of shelves, and the right wall houses the stores the bulk food dispensers. At the front of the right side sits a lone cashier station, behind it someone has their feet propped up on the counter with a worn book covering their face. They don’t move to greet the men only flipping to the next page of the book. However the pup that sits in a fancy plush bed at the foot of the counter raises their head curiously. A very well loved cavalier spaniel huffs softly at their presumed owner as if chastising them for not greeting the customers before settling again.

One of the carts is pulled from the front of the store as the men start perusing the aisles. Robby takes note of the front window display next to the first refrigerator door, a very staged set up of handmade goods. He keeps moving following Abbot with the cart.

“The one with the blue cap is fresher. The ones with the green caps are from yesterday but they’re discounted, 25 percent off. Still good though.” Called from behind the counter is the cashier’s voice, their book now pulled down so their eyes are revealed, watching them. Abbots head whips around to the source of the comment. “Pardon me?”

Nodding and gesturing with the book the cashier speaks again. “The milk you’re holding the Callahans, our dairy suppliers, do different cap colors every day of the week. Rainbow order, blue caps means it’s Friday.” Returned to the fridge is the milk bottle with the green cap exchanged for a blue capped bottle. In thanks Abbot gives a nod back, “good heads up.”

Humming softly the cashier returns to their book as the men continue to shop. Making their way around the store they continue to fill their cart, only soft debates about what products to buy. Eventually they round the store to the bulk section, back in view of the cashier. Who has now abandoned the book completely in favor of watching the men. Robby sneaks a glance at the cashier whose face is now fully revealed to them. A pretty young woman sits with her chin resting on the palm of her hand elbow on the counter. Abbot hasn’t gotten a look at her yet as he reads an ingredient list for granola.

“That stuff is delicious, Marjorie makes it fresh down the road in the bakery twice a week. Family recipe she says…” The cashier glances conspiratorially at the store entrance before leaning closer voice lowering in a mock whisper. “Between you and I though, I think it’s just the recipe from behind the Quaker Oats box that she jazzes up.”

Robby and Abbot glance at each other then back at the cashier. Chatty girl is a shared thought between the glance. Yet Abbot smiles picking up one of the small paper bags starting to fill it with the aforementioned high praised granola. “You seem to know a lot about what goes on here, take it you’re a long time resident?” Jack muses languidly in response. Robby stifles a grin turning his head to the side as he knows his partner is appeasing the young girl.

Undeterred she perks up at the reply seemingly eager to have someone entertaining her quips. “Oh only my entire life, my daddy owns the place figure it’d be rude to run out on him after he so graciously raised me and all.”

Pretty girl… Daddy… Hmm…

Another glance is shared between the newcomers. Men are still men at the end of the day.

Robby clears his throat, “Well you and your dad must be pretty close if you think that way. Most kids can’t wait to get away from their parents.”

Tilting her head back and forth as if considering then giving a relenting nod, “Yeahhh… he’s okay.” She’s grinning despite it, lots of love there obviously.

“Anyway you two must be the ones renting the Talbots place for a few months, just past their ranch but before the woods.” Not a question, but stated as a fact from the cashier.

Brows are raised in surprise from the men before Jack speaks this time. “You must know everything that goes on around here.”

Moving her book off the counter to clear space for groceries as the men near with their full shopping cart. “Mmhm, Mrs. Talbot has been ecstatic since you booked. Called me a bit ago when you got in, I believe the words ‘strapping’ and ‘devilishly handsome’ were used.”

Faintly flushed cheeks adorn both the men’s faces as she starts scanning the chosen products, expertly packing them away into waiting paper bags.

“Oh really?” Robby takes the bait this time.

A nod as she turns the screen around displaying their total awaiting their payment taking them in up close. “Really really, and you know what? Guess her eyesight isn’t that bad after all.”

She holds out a receipt, “Pleasure doing business with you Michael and Jack.”

Masking their surprise but not that well from the perceptive cashier, the bolder of the two, Jack. Turns the charm back on the girl, “And do we get to know your name pretty girl?”

Bright laughter fills the air before she gives her name with an unabashed grin.

Nods from both the men in acknowledgement, “Well that’s certainly one we’ll want to remember.” Robby answers as they collect the hefty paper bags.

“The only one in town can’t be too hard.” Calls the girl as the pair makes their way to the door. They both laugh this time, Jack holds the door turning his head “Well if the first impression wasn’t memorable enough the names gotta stick right?”

It’s her turn to laugh now as the men take their leave. Bells on the door chime again barely disguising what she says next. “What do you think Honeybee? They’re hot right?”

The dog rolls over tummy up unconcerned with her owners appraisals of attractiveness, and more concerned with belly rubs. An over dramatic sigh is heard as the girl slips from her stool to crouch next to the dog giving into the demands scratches. “And they say I’m spoiled.”

[lehguru]

FIRST TASK + ONE PIECE MEN

how they would react to their child first task + trafalgar law, roronoa zoro, sanji

info + tw: for the people that dont know— first tasks are something that the kids do alone for their parents in japan, its usually simple stuff, like buying one or two things at the market! also, ive randomized the kids for each of them tw children — ko-fi

trafalgar d.water law thought he wasn't a protective father—when the idea of sending his three year old daughter to buy basic medical supplies alone came up, he was calm about it and agreed. bepo gave her a bag that matched her father's hat, berries to buy the supplies and a pocket den den mushi. while everyone in the crew was almost crying seeing her walk off alone, law let out a soft 'tsk' and said "all of you are overreacting. she will be fine."

it didn't take 10 minutes for him to wonder if she was really fine, where she was, if she was coming back or was still buying things—what if she never made it to the pharmacy at all. he tried to focus on other matters, but those thoughts never left him. he got up and went to leave the submarine, the crew following suit and telling him to wait.

when the door was swung open, golden eyes that mirrored his blinked up at him. she proudly showed the bag with the supplies, her lips splitting into a smile. feeling tears tickling his lower eyelid, law kneeled and gave her a tight hug. "'m so glad you're okay." he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. he pulled away and patted her head. "you did well." while they walked back inside the ship, the little girl started to ramble about her adventure, making a soft smile appear on trafalgar's lips.

roronoa zoro always did things alone as a child, so when nami proposed that he asked his son to do a task in the next island they stop at, zoro groaned a yes. when the day came, he sent off his son with one of his swords—the excuse was to fix it's guard—and just went to take a nap like always. "aren't you worried he might get in trouble?" nami asked, looking at the green haired man with raised eyebrows. zoro shook his head and nami murmured: "okay, well, let's just hope he knows how to use your sword."

upon hearing that, zoro immediately jumped out of the ship, the two swords he still had tied to his belt clicking together. his heart raced as he ran around town, looking for the tiny version of himself—when he found him, it was quite hilarious. "are you challenging the son of the greatest swordsman? how dare you!" the kid yelled, waving his father's sword at a stray cat that didn't seem phased at all. zoro cleared his throat and the green haired child turned fastly, dropping the sword and startling the cat.

"h-hi da—" zoro approaching him made the boy shut himself up. he gulped, his black eyes going wide and his lips pursing. as zoro raised his hand, he prepared himself for a good smack, he closed his eyes and—felt a soft pat on top of his head. "your posture holding the sword was wrong. pick up the sword and let's go, i'll teach you." they started to walk back (away) to the ship, the 'task' long forgotten. but zoro was quite proud of his little one, nonetheless.

sanji adored his son more than everything in the world. even if they didn't look alike appearance wise, the kid behaved so much like him, sanji would do anything to protect him. "i can do it, daddy!" his kid exclaimed one day while they were out getting groceries for the ship. "imma get spices! alone!" the little giggle that left his lips made sanji simply nod and the boy ran away happy before his father could even process his sentences.

after a couple of seconds, sanji ran after the kid, but keeping his distance and watching out for him. surprisingly, the little one was picking up all the right spices and even held the door open for a lady to walk out. feeling his chest swell with pride—and his eyes filling up with tears—, he went back to the store he was previously.

"dad, i got them!" he exclaimed as soon as he saw the blonde. their bright smile could blind everyone around the duo. sanji kneeled to hug him and chuckled. "i'm so proud of you." they walked back home holding hands, talking happily about the exciting dishes they could cook—sanji felt like something inside him was slowly healing.

2024 © content belongs to lehguru, do not repost, translate or feed it into ai without permission

[vicolette]

Favorite Student !

– A/N : Got requested and I lost the request, what a great way to start the day (it rhymed omg??)

– Warnings : English isn’t my first language, mentions of y/n & pet names, teasing,

"I don’t even need English in my life."

For someone so strong and determined on the field, Pau for sure was neglecting his studies, like probably any other footballer. Even so, you couldn't just let him kick a ball around for hours daily and then not understand a word during interviews.

Pau saw this from a different perspective as he leaned forward until his forehead touch the table, tilting his head to the side as to not hurt his nose. Silence took over the room as he was pretty grumpy at how you were forcing him to take this seriously, although you knew that he needed this.

Especially when you were teaching him how to use the conditional clauses, which was stuff for the eight grade – that is how worse his grade was from all the other students.

But it wasn't even his fault! Whenever he had tried to pay focus on the classes, his classmates would poke him in the arm or exchange playful notes, which would make him face away from them and look outside the window. The green grass got him distracted easily, so that was how Pau ended up never taking any notes.

"Y'know, you're doing a good job in this." His sincere compliment was sudden as you raised an eyebrow in confusion, wondering what made him say that while your lips twitched to form a smile, before you hid it behind your hand. "I didn't understand a thing in Mrs. ... whatever her name was."

"Maybe you should've paid attention." A dramatic gasp left from his mouth as he clutched his hand on his chest, right above where his heart was, as he pouted in frustration. While you might not take it so serious, Pau was extremely hurt – or at least he was trying to act like it.

Over the time, Pau made a mental pro and con note in his mind, sighing as he realized that he indeed needed English in his life as a professional athlete.

"Can we compromise..?" This made you lean your chin against the palm of your hand, pondering about it as you looked up to the ceiling, completely avoiding Pau's gaze.

"Depends." Just a mere word made him sat straight as he smiled brightly, taking hims pen and some paper to take notes as, while you were quite surprised by his sudden determination. Nonetheless, you cleared your throat and pointed with your pen towards the notes that you have took, making him lower his head.

Much to your surprise, Pau was actually a fast learner, which was hard to tell due to his… rather hard-go-read handwriting. Sure enough, he claimed that he was 'fluent' in the language, to which you playfully rolled your eyes.

"What, you don’t think so?" He teasingly leaned closer to your face, the typical childish smile of his on his face as he maintained eye contact. Meanwhile, you could feel heat creep up in your neck, but he somehow didn’t notice and only continued. "You gotta reward me now."

"Hm, how?" In your mind, you would have expected something silly, like buying him ice cream or play FIFA games with him. Never did you ever expect him to say this next.

"Call me your favorite student."

You facepalmed at the request.

"Seriously?" Pau repeatedly nodded his head, excitement evident on his expression. He for sure was going to kill you one day, with his stupid mind and stupid suggestions and stupid smile – stupid pretty smile, if you may add.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're my favorite student, happy?"

"Definitely."

- A/N : the first draft was better☹️ also I had to write this in my notes so that I wouldn’t lose this bro

[midnightbasil]

Imagine you’re in an isekai to One Piece…the Straw Hats take you in and everything seems like the perfect adventure until….

You realize it’s 4Kids One Piece.

You stare out at the sea wondering why the water looks so…wrong.

You keep arguing with Luffy about his attack names. “But Luffyyyy, Gum-Gum Pistol would just sound so much cooler”

Zolo keeps getting confused/pissed you call him Zoro. (Or Mr. Sabat 😏) If he ever pisses you off you just make chicken noises at him

You start to lose all fear of guns. They’re just green water guns, right? And why are everyone’s swords so short?

You’re begging Sanji for a drink and smoke, but all he gives you is orange juice & lollipops.

It might be from you telling him to never quit his day job and become a voice actor…

You can’t help calling out Usopp on lying about the Log Pose, but he insists his dad left him the Grand Compass. It’s an argument you’ll never win even when you know you’re right.

You only address Robin as partner, or little lady with your best southern drawl until you notice a hand around your neck

The crew takes bets on how long it’ll take you to get arrested since you keep back talking the Navy on how “they’re not good enough to be called Marines…”

Mihawk stabs you on sight because you keep laughing and can’t take him seriously.

Hell, Shanks is just as bad. He might just not stab you for it but. But after you say “Blimey ya bloody pirate!” to him a dozen times he’s thinking about it.

I can’t even imagine if you’re there between the two of them. I wouldn’t be able to breathe.

You keep following Nami around with bug spray and flu medicine. It’s really starting to annoy her and she doesn’t understand what your deal is.

All you want is to buy clothing with some text/kanji on it, or know what a building is before you , but you sure as hell won’t fine anything in Loge Rouge Town…

Captain Chaser damn near arrests you on the spot when you offer him a cigar and say: “Hey there big fella, you’d be a lot cooler if you were a…smoker.”

When you offer one to Crocodile though he’s either going to kill you or fall in love with you. How main character energy lucky are ya feeling?

✨Protagonists are protected from plot holes in Isekais, right?✨

That’s why nobody blinked when you slapped Vivi across the face when she said with her whole chest “Zolo has the compass, he’ll keep us on course” It’s not your fault okay, it was a reflex reaction to hearing the most stupid phrase ever uttered.

Brook keeps talking about Laboon, but nobody seems to know what the hell he’s on about. You make up some shit about them being so scared of the ice berg that’s why they don’t remember.

You offer Dr. Kureha some pickled plums and Chopper just stares at you…

And just because I can’t resist…

The literal second you get the chance you sharpie “ASCE” on Trace’s arm. He’s so confused when he wakes up. You grip his shoulders with all your might and look him dead in his eyes:

Maybe it was the Rainbow Mist that made everything feel off, because one day you wake up and everything seems…better. At the end of the day, you’re just glad they couldn’t get their hands on Law…

I could go on, there’s obvi more wack stuff 4Kids did. (Like unforgivably cutting Dan Green from being the narrator!!!)

But these are my favorites/what stood out most to me. If I forgot something reblog this and add it on!

[splishsplashgash]

My Lawrence Oleander headcanons

-he dumpster dives behind gardening and floral shops sometimes.

-Lawrence either eats like he's at 5 star restaurant or like a feral racoon in the trash.

-Lawrence actually deeply cares for his sisters he just doesn't know how to express it.

-His first pet was a fish,he'd sit for hours watching it in the family living room.

-Lawrence developed his plant obsession because his father would often garden,after his parents found out about his hobby with dead animals his father started teaching him about plants in hope that it'd give him a different hobby.

-Lawrence has to listen to either white noise or nature sounds to go to sleep

-Lawrence only showers once a week,and when he does it's an everything shower,aka shave,wash hair,body,etc.

-Lawrence is a rainbow baby,his parents calling him a miracle but once he got older his mother would murmur when he walked past that he was a curse instead

-Lawrence would clean the house when his family left hoping that they'd see him in a different light but they'd come home and say nothing,ignore him.

-Lawrence as a kid didn't eat his boogers like other kids he'd eat and pick at his scabs instead (me too Lawrence me too.)

-Lawrence was designated babysitter when ever his parents would leave for dates or other things.

-Lawrence hated school,we all know that, but I believe that Lawrence's teachers probably loved him,that they would call him sweet and hardworking.

-Lawrence likes routine and when his routines are messed up it angers him

- (Okay this one is more jokingly but...) He uses MC's piss to pass his works drug tests.

-He buys those essential oils that those old white ladies promote saying it will cure everything and all that junk

-He doesn't know much about technology,yeah he'd search stuff up on the family computer and on his phone but besides that he doesn't really know much.

-avid nail biter

-lived off Arizona Green Tea as a teenager

-Let his sisters braid and play with his hair when they were younger

-When he got his hair cut as a kid by his mom he'd cry everytime to the point she gave up on cutting it anymore

That's all I can remember right now I'm sure I have more though lol.

[goldenraeofsun]

got a bone to pick

“I can’t believe you,” Lois seethes as she slams the door behind her, her chandelier earrings quivering. 

Clark sighs. “It’s really not that big of a deal.”

Lois whirls around. “It is!” she pokes him, hard, in the chest, right below his lopsided, droopy bow tie. “You are a damn good reporter, and I will punch anyone who says otherwise right in the face.”

Clark’s shoulders slump even further, which Lois didn’t know was even possible. “I know. You nearly did.”

“You shouldn’t have held me back!”

“Lois,” Clark says patiently, “it was a fundraiser for Metropolis’ group homes. I couldn’t let you start a fight in front of literal children.”

“Oh, gimme a break. They’re orphans. They’ve definitely seen worse.”

Clark exhales a deep breath. “And why would I possibly let you add to their trauma?”

“To defend yourself! To defend your reputation!” Lois fumes as she stalks past him to yank open his refrigerator door. The chilled air wafts over her, but it does nothing to cool her burning rage. She skips the vegetables, jars of condiments, her favorite white wine Clark buys when she stays over. 

Her stomach growls. The fundraiser, glitzy and full of glamor, was full of on-trend bite-sized canapes and entrees that consisted of three slices of perfectly seasoned beef, artfully shredded greens, and two orange wedges. Oh, she would kill for hamburger right now, assuming Clark was out of the picture since he’d probably stop her from doing that too.

She tosses a half-empty pizza box in the general direction of the counter. It lands with a thud. 

“My reputation is just fine, thanks,” Clark says evenly. “Yours, on the other hand…”

“Is also fine,” Lois says scathingly, “because you didn’t let me beat the crap outta him.”

Clark tugs his bow tie loose. “Have you ever heard the advice, ‘pick your battles wisely’?”

Jesus Christ, what the fuck is he doing, parroting fortune cookies at her? She viciously throws open the lid of the pizza box, snarling, “Everyone knows the correct answer is always, D) all of the above,” and grabs the largest slice left. 

Half the cold cheese stays stubbornly behind, attached to the rest of the pie. Fucking laws of inertia. 

Lips pressed tightly together like he’s trying not to burst out laughing, Clark leans over and gently eases a new slice free. The cold, congealed cheese stays in its perfect, pre-cut triangle shape. “This might be a metaphor,” he says as he swaps slices with her.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Lois huffs before she stuffs her mouth with pizza.

Clark sighs as he reaches over to surgically separate the extra cheese from the pie and reattach it to Lois’s first attempt. “I feel like you’ve also never heard the saying, ‘you catch more flies with honey than vinegar’.”

She rolls her eyes. “Heard it. Didn’t care for it.”

Clark chuckles. “I’m not surprised.” He takes a bite of pizza, chewing thoughtfully. “While I… appreciate the support, you don’t need to fight my battles for me.”

“Well, someone clearly does, if you’re not going to step up,” Lois retorts, elbows braced on the table, staring him down.

“I’m choosing not to engage,” Clark points out as Lois grimaces. “That’s still a strategic decision, and I need you to recognize that.” 

“Yeah, sure,” she grumbles. “But,” she hesitates, searching for the right words. “Why? The things he was saying about you… if he insinuated those things about my work, my ethics, I would’ve put him in the hospital. Fundraiser and traumatized orphans be damned.”

Clark sighs. “I can’t do that.”

“Sure you can,” Lois says. “I’ve seen those arms you hide under a billion layers, farm boy.”

Clark’s eyes narrow. “That’s exactly why, Lois.”

Lois purses her lips, and she won’t give Clark the satisfaction of saying she really has no fucking idea what he’s talking about. Still, something in her expression must give the game away.

Hesitantly, Clark starts, “I might not look it all the time, but I’m a pretty big guy.”

Lois smirks. “You get stuck in the revolving door every morning like clockwork, buddy. Believe me, I know.”

“So,” Clark plows on, ignoring her entirely truthful if not very nice aside, “if word spreads that I can and will throw my weight around when provoked, my sources will dry up faster than a full harvest during a heatwave.” 

“No, they won’t. Your sources know you,” Lois argues. “They know you’re a good guy. That you wouldn’t throw hands without a good reason,” she rolls her eyes, “unlike certain people in this apartment who will go unnamed.”

Lois almost never pokes fun at herself because it gives others license to do the same, but Clark (hardly ever) makes her the butt of the joke. When he tries, she gives twice as good as she gets. He has never let that stop him, though. Honestly, if he ever gives up ribbing her for good, she will assume he’d been replaced by an alien and will investigate accordingly. 

Clark smiles wryly. “And how many ‘nice guys’ have you really known that turned out to be not-so-nice behind closed doors or when things get a little tough?”

Lois opens her mouth because that argument is a moot point; Clark is practically the paragon of an old fashioned gentleman, minus the sexism and casual microaggressions. But she shuts her jaw with a snap as she mentally answers the question he actually asked with a firm, all of them. Every so-called “nice guy” she’s met has always turned out to have a hidden mean streak. Sometimes it came out with waiters on the third date. Other times it came out after she published a not-so-flattering but entirely factual quote that they said to her face.

Except Clark.

For fuck’s sake, two days ago, Clark apologized to her for the time she cried all over his favorite Smallville High sweatshirt after she bruised her toe kicking his wall. It’d just been one of those days – Superman nearly died saving them all in the morning from Metallo, Perry shot down all her best pitches for her next investigative piece, her AC broke at the hottest point in the day in the hottest week of the year, so she had to migrate to Clark’s place, but he was out running errands, so she waited in his dingy (non-air conditioned) lobby for 20 minutes, and then… she bruised her toe. 

“Okay, fine, but you’re not like that,” Lois counters, tilting her head pointedly at the foot-high dent in the plaster behind her.

“Come on.” Clark jabs his pizza crust accusingly at her. “You have to know how weak that argument is.”

Lois chews mulishly at him. Fuck Clark for being right. 

“Look, I’m not saying I’ll roll over for every Tom, Dick, or Harry –”

“You sure about that?”

Clark glares. “I am not a doormat, Lois.”

Lois’s head jerks up at the tone of his voice. “I’m not saying you –”

“I think you are,” Clark interrupts. He exhales a short, explosive breath, and for a flash, Lois sees that steel-like backbone she’s only read before in his articles. “Just because I’m not as showy with retaliation does not mean I am not incapable of it.”

“Really,” she says dubiously because if there’s anything Lois Lane is good at, it’s needling one Clark Kent. 

He throws her a look like he knows she’s goading him, and he is not falling for it; he is going along with it. “Remember Jay Harrison?”

Lois’s eyebrows rise. She hasn’t heard that name in two years, not after he sued The Planet for libel. Their investigative team, led by Clark, had published an expose on the fraud in his healthcare insurance company. The Planet won (barely), but they all had to tighten their belts for the rest of the year and cut their summer internship program to pay all the legal fees. 

“After – well after everything,” Clark starts awkwardly, “all he had left was the Liberty Building. And everyone knew it was practically crumbling in on himself, but he paid off all the building inspectors, so he got to keep it as collateral for all those loans.”

“Mm hm,” Lois nods along. So far, so boring. But Clark wouldn't be telling the story if it stayed that way.

Clark taps his chin, brow furrowing. “I think you were covering the Vincents’ murder-suicide at the time, but it was a quiet week in terms of giant robots and alien invasions, so I flagged down Superman -"

Lois's eyes nearly bug out of her head.

" - and asked him nicely to mention the Liberty Building in his upcoming speech about Metropolis’s Lead Removal and Compensation Commission. It was filled with the stuff, you know.”

Lois says, genuinely surprised, “You got Superman to help? I – I didn’t think you were that close to him.”

Clark shrugs. “I’ve written about him a fair bit.”

“Unwillingly,” she points out. Clark always complained the loudest when he got assigned Superman stories, in sharp contrast to Cat, who squealed at a pitch wholly unbefitting a woman her age with that much cleavage spilling out of her shirt. As if Superman could be swayed by a push up bra and strategically placed bronzer.

(Lois tried that her second week with zero results)

Clark rolls his eyes and folds his slice of pizza in half for easier eating. “He can be useful. At times.”

Lois yanks the slice right out of his hands and stuffs as much of it in her mouth as she can. “No pitha for Ooperman hatahs.”

“I just said he was useful!” Clark protests with a small smile as he steals the rest back.

Lois, preoccupied with not spraying the counter with masticated dough and sauce, lets it go with a glare.

Clark takes a large bite and swallows. “Anyway, the Commissioner of the Department of Buildings turned out to be a massive Superman fan. He could probably give you a run for your money, Lois –”

“Doubtful.”

“ – so he was more than happy to take Harrison’s money and condemn his building. What was Harrison going to do, sue him for breach of bribery?”

Lois whistles. “And that’s why we haven’t heard anything from Jay Harrison since.”

“He officially declared bankruptcy ten months ago,” Clark says matter-of-factly.

“Hang on, I think I did hear about that,” Lois says, the memory tugging at her. “He had to leave Metropolis, right?”

“Sold everything he owned,” Clark says with a satisfied nod. “And then I –” He coughs. “And, well, that was that.” He polishes off the rest of his pizza, a faint pink spreading across his cheeks.

Lois’s eyes narrow. “What were you going to say?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing my ass, Smallville. Spit it out.”

Clark sighs. He leans both elbows on her counter, back bowing. “I’m not proud of it.”

Lois leans in, a shark-like grin tugging at her mouth. “Well, now you have to tell me.”

“I might’ve… stolenhisdog.”

“You what?” Lois splutters, loud, surprised laughter spilling from her lips. 

Clark hangs his head. “Harrison had no money, no property, was driven out of his city, but - but it was my first time directing the investigative team, and then he had to go and get us all tangled up in that awful court case when he could have ridden the bad press out. Instead, he dragged the entire Planet down with him.”

“So, you figured the only logical thing to do, when a man is down, is to steal his dog?” Lois asks, thoroughly amused.

Clark nods. “She was one of those fancy hypoallergenic ones. And just before he was about to leave town, Ma mentioned that the Cushings down the road were having a devil of a time finding a pet for Sophie, and, well…” He drifts off, clearly ashamed.

Lois leans back, surveying Clark in a whole new light. “You petty son of a bitch,” she breathes.

“Lois,” Clark pleads, now a deep shade of maroon.

“I don’t think I’ve ever liked you more, Kent,” she says smartly as she turns to open the refrigerator.

Clark scrubs his hand down his face. “I’m a terrible person.”

She brandishes the wine aloft and kicks off her heels. “Okay,” she says as she scurries around the counter to tug Clark off his seat. “You and me, we’re gonna have an old-fashioned sleepover. I’m gonna count that dognapping story as your truth.” She drags him in the direction of his bedroom, where she’s currently sleeping since he insisted on taking the couch.

“Lois,” he protests, even as his feet follow hers down the short hallway. “Aren’t we a bit old for sleepovers?”

She glances over her shoulder, making her violet eyes nice and big. “But, Clark, I’m an army brat. I never got a real sleepover growing up.”

He falters because he might say he’s some big bad reporter, but she can always play him like a fiddle. “I… fine.”

Lois punches him in the shoulder. “That’s the spirit. Now, how about a dare?”

Read Part III here!

Head back to Part I here!

[furbynurby]

Wearing Mischief

Pairing: Loki x Fem!Reader

Summary: You may have treated yourself to a new set of lingerie—Loki themed lingerie… this is ridiculous.

Word Count: 3.0k

Warnings: 18+ | Dom!Loki/Sub!Reader, Dirty talk, Light BDSM, Vaginal Sex, Oral (Fem Recieving), Masturbation, Spanking

Okay, this was embarrassing. Too embarrassing. It was just last week, you were scrolling on your phone when an ad had popped up. Specifically for lingerie. Were you single? Yes, but you wanted to treat yourself. Clicking on it you had realized quite quickly that it was a new themed release, on the Avengers, no doubt.

At first you found it quite funny. Scrolling through the patriotic Captain America themed lingerie to Hulks signature purple and green themed. That was until you saw his. Loki’s. It was gorgeous, no question. It was themed in his signature colors; green, gold, and black. The brassiere was delicately designed, the embroidered lace resembling florals, with snakes encompassing them. A golden pendant –Loki’s helmet– sat in the middle crevice of the bra, holding the thin golden chains that ran down to your waist, before coming back up and meeting the back. The panties were much the same, deep emerald green, and two thin gold chains connecting from hip to hip. The lingerie was soft, and not too uncomfortable to wear. It was stunning.

The price may have been a little hefty, 120$, are they crazy!?, but it took only a few seconds for you to place it in your cart to order. Gosh that was stupid. Why would you do that, who would you even wear that for, you thought. Plus you and Loki were friends, or you would like to think as such. You weren’t close, by all means but he wasn’t very close with anyone. You were probably acquaintances at most in Loki's mind. When you did catch Loki in a good mood your conversations were pleasant enough, and left you wanting to know more of him. But he didn’t seem to give in that easily.

Sighing you shook the nerves off of you, you had decided not dwell on it. Quickly even forgetting that you had bought it in the first place. However just as the week rolled by Tony Stark had waltzed right up to you on the common floor, holding the package in his arm, along with another smaller one. Probably for himself.

“Hey kid, saw that you ordered something for yourself. You never ship to the tower. Whatcha’ buy?”

You immediately flushed, grabbing the package out his arms quickly. No one could read your mind here, or at least had the decency not to. However it still scared you to no end that someone knew what you had in there, and were about to exploit it everyone. Okay that probably won’t happen, but you never know.

“It’s nothing Tony, just some new clothes I bought myself. I’ve been needing to upgrade my wardrobe a little bit, my stuff is uh… kind of out of fashion… yeah.” You said waving a hand in front of you, an awkward half smile plastered on your face. You quickly turn around, not noticing the weird look Nat gives you from the other side of the room before turning to leave to your floor.

“Well, what was that?” Tony said, a bit stunned from the interaction.

“Probably a new vibrator she’s embarrassed about.” Nat said, releasing a puff of air before turning back to the tv.

And that’s what brings you to here, you standing in front of your mirror endowed in nothing but the lingerie you had bought yourself, and some gold jewelry to go with it. Before you also touched up your face, just some light makeup. Not to be so self-absorbed, but you did look great—hot, even.

Posing in front of the mirror time and time again you were starting to get a little turned on. Well, what are you kidding? You were practically dripping on the carpet. Well fuck, the scenarios running through your head a mile a minute were not helping.

What if… you stood on your knees, gazing at yourself in the mirror. Your hands caressed the soft silks, admired the intricate lace, and your stood nipples erect from the gold chains swaying slightly. You imagined it, a faceless man behind you gripping your thigh while the other hand grasps your throat. It made you clench at just the thought of it. Then it switched, you on your knees, maybe getting spanked… yeah definitely getting spanked, punished for being such a dirty girl.

“Oh yes,” you whimpered as you traced the folds of your pussy, the lace soaked from arousal. Glancing at the mirror one more time you noticed the slightly dangling golden glint on the brassiere, it was a charm of Loki’s helmet. You had almost forgotten that this was his, you don’t even know how because once you realized the scene had switched again.

Before you knew it you were scrambling up on your knees to the side of your bed, scavenging through the end table, quickly grabbing your favorite vibrator before making your way back to the same spot as before. Not without bringing a pillow with you. You sat back, closing your eyes letting the daydream encompass you.

You were sitting in between his leathered covered legs- you might have a thing for Loki decked out in his armor- as he caresses you from behind, your head in the crook of his neck, his tousled black hair tickling your cheekbones. You imagined his natural minty scent, mixed with his favorite woody cologne. You sat in front of the mirror, watching his every move. His long pale fingertips traveled up your ribs to your breast, groping them harshly, teasing your nipples, while you simultaneously teased yours. One of his hands left and traveled down to your aching pussy. Pushing your panties aside, your- his fingers gently stroked your lips before teasing your clit.

“Such a dirty slut, all dressed up, just for me.” He purred in your ear, pressing down on your clit just a little firmer.

“Is this what you want to be known as, Loki’s whore, always parading around in my colors to let them know who you belong to,” he chuckled, you could almost feel the vibration of it. You choked up a moan, releasing your fantasy for no more than a second when you heard the buzz of your vibrator turn on.

“Just look at you, your pussy is practically begging for me to touch it. All red and swollen, wanting, waiting for me to release you of your woes.” You whimpered at that.

You, he, continued to play with your folds and breasts as your vibe pulsed around your clit. Raising the intensity of your vibrator you basically screamed, you were so close.

“Fuck, come for me, my sweet,” his voiced faded in your head as your moans took over. You arched your back against the wooden bedframe, the rumbling of your vibrator overtook your senses.

“Fuck, yes- yes! Loki please!” You were close, so fucking close, right at the edge about to be tipped off-

“Now, this, I did not expect.”

You nearly screamed, choking up a gasp of shock before you scrambled anywhere, everywhere, for something to conceal you with. Your blankets on your bed were just too far, so you settled on the pillow behind you, yanking it from underneath to hide from him. You flush at your vibrator still buzzing on the floor, scooting slightly to where you tossed it and shut it off.

“Loki!”

“What in god's name were you doing?” He rose a dark brow, almost tauntingly as he stalked forward, you might’ve been so shocked your senses had gone blank, for all you could focus on was the slight taps his boot gave off as he stepped closer. His face might’ve been completely stoic if it wasn't for the hint of mischief resting in his eyes, and his very slightly upturned lip.

“I mean, here I was, just moments before thinking you were in some dire peril, and that you had called out to me for help,” he stopped, just a few feet ahead of you. He was close enough now you noticed the scratches on his face, he was wearing his full battle armor. He must have just gotten back from a mission. “However, you started chanting my name, like a prayer, it ran so smooth off your tongue I couldn’t help but want to hear more.”

“Tell me darling,” he chuckled, “what have you been doing?”

Your face flushed, you could practically see the steam coming off your cheeks in flares. This might’ve been a game for him, nothing more than something to pass the time, but you couldn’t help but be drawn in. Wanting more. So you played along. You opened your mouth to answer, seemingly more turned on than before, but your tongue ran dry.

His jaw clenched, his eyes flashed over you once more, “answer me.”

You swallowed down your nerves, this is unbelievable. “…I was touching myself.”

“To whom?”

“To you,” you buried your head into the pillow.

“Naughty girl,” he smirked, kneeling down next to you, grabbing the pillow off your lap before tossing it somewhere behind him. “Now what, pray tell, are you wearing?”

“I bought it, it’s… styled around you.”

“I can tell,” he growled, reaching over to gently caress the pendant between his fingers. “With this on you might as well have come to me and thrown yourself to my feet. Were you trying to capture my attention? Because you have it.” His eyes clouded over with lust as he took in your form.

You whimpered, his hand moved from the pendant to your face, taking your chin within his hand, his gaze so searing you didn’t know what to do with yourself.

“Were you expecting me to walk in on you, to find you in such a brazen state that all I could think to do is fuck you there, to lay my claim on you?” You kept your eyes fixed on the floor. He growled, his grip on your chin tightening, “look at me when I speak to you. Is this what you wanted, do you want me to own you, pet?”

You couldn’t help but moan at that, squeezing your legs together for some long awaited release. You nod.

“Speak.”

“I want you to own me, Loki. I want to be yours, only yours.”

He let go, his lips tracing the side of your jaw, the way he felt against you, his heated breath on your skin was all that you could feel.

“Do you truly?” He breathed.

“Yes.”

He moaned, pulling the both of you up before settling you down at the edge of the bed. His lips never left your skin, sucking at the nape of your neck, running his tongue over a particularly sensitive crevice before nipping it with his teeth. The hand that rested on your hip traveled down, squeezing the plush of your thigh before meeting your heated core. His lips traveled down to your chest as his fingers toyed with your covered core, you couldn’t help the mewls of pleasure that have been so greedily drawn from you, like a hunger that cannot be sufficed.

“As much as I love you adorned in this, so stately mine, it is much of a hindrance to what I have been wanting to see.” He kissed the top of your breast, maneuvering his other hand under your back, freeing you of your constriction before throwing the brassiere over his shoulder.

Moving back a bit he admired your bare breasts, just for his sight only. Stopping his ministrations he groped them, so soft and perky, just how he liked them. He leaned taking one his mouth, swirling his heated tongue around the erected nipple, while simultaneously pleasuring the other. He sucked the hardened bud before nipping it gently and moving to make the same with the other.

“Yes, Loki ah-.”

His lips grace you down from your breasts over your stomach, running his hands along the soft surface. “This might be one of my favorite parts of you, if it is not all of you.”

He slipped down lower, meeting your awaiting cunt, burying his nose in the lace, taking in your sweet musky scent. Giving it a kiss, he pushed the fabric aside, inserting a long pale finger, then two. Lazily pumping in and out your pussy.

“Fuck, Loki please!” You gasped, grasping at your sheets, wanting anything. Wanting him, more of him. “Please, Loki! I want- ah,” your legs jerk from pleasure as his fingers curled within you, hitting a particularly sensitive spot.

“What do you want, pet? Tell me what you need.” He smirked up at you, continuing to gently tease at your center.

You flushed, never having been so provocative before, so wanton. It almost felt constricting to say, “I want- I want… god.”

“Say it!” He slapped your thigh.

“I want your tongue in my cunt!”

He chuckled, “Of course you do, dirty girl- my dirty girl.” Ripping the remaining cloth off your legs, revealing yourself to him wholly. “Heavenly,” he breathed, peering upon you, an almost wistful look upon his eyes.

Delving back down face first, your thighs resting on his shoulder. He gave a thoughtful lick, groaning at the taste, “you are like no other, darling.”

Diving back into her quivering pussy, he licked one long stripe from the pucker of your ass, up to your clit. You tasted like honey to him, slightly salty, but not unpleasantly so. Thrusting his tongue into your whole he circled your clit. You encompassed him, it felt as if you were in him. Your scent, your touch, your voice. everything. He wanted to be consumed by you. Your hands came down, gripping his hair, pushing him deeper into your leaking pussy. He groaned. You chanted his name like it was the only word you knew.

“Loki, Loki… gods yes Loki! Fuck please!” He lapped your cunt like a dying animal, sucking on your clit.

“I’m-… I’m-!”

“Cum for me pet, cum, love.”

Loki held you, heated with overwhelming desire. Your moans and whimpers filled the room, your body trembled. A wave of bliss coursed through you as you rode out the aftershocks of your orgasm.

“That was-,” Loki started, not even having the moment to finish as you tugged him up, meeting him with a heated kiss. As almost as quickly as it ignited, the shock died down, as all he could focus on was you. You could taste the remnants of his moments with you, your tongue swiping your bottom lip. The sweet tang of your arousal making you groan against his lips. It was addictive.

“Loki, please, I need you…”

“Say it, tell me what you need, I want to hear it from your lips.”

“Fuck me, Loki. Fill me with you, ruin me so no other could desire me.” You begged.

“Temptress.”

Loki magicked away any remaining clothing, positioning you on all fours. “If you are going to act like an animal in heat, I will fuck you as such,”he hissed, lining his throbbing cock at your entrance, and with one swift thrust, he buried himself deep within your tight core. You cry out in pleasure, his grip at your hips holding you in place.

“Oh, gods,” you gasped, the sensation of his thick cock filling you so completely bringing you over the edge. His thrusts were primal, ruthless, reverberating throughout your body. Every smack of his hips against your ass enamored him.

“Such a slut for me,” he lazily slapped your ass, watching it ripple from the contact. Your body burned with need, releasing a guttural moan.

“Harder, Loki!” he obliged, slapping your ass again, with enough force to bruise. Your hips bucked in response, meeting his thrust halfway.

“You’re so wet for me, have you always wanted this? For me to fuck your whorish needy cunt?” He panted, reaching down to circle your engorged clit.

“Yes, L-loki, ah need y-you,” you mewled at his touch, the way he pulsed within you. Every feral thrust makes you whimper with need.

“You’re mine now,” Loki grunted, his chest flush against your back, biting down on your neck, digging his fingernails into your plump hips. He rutted into you with a rough, animalistic ferocity. Your cunt clenching against his cock, trying to trap him within your wet heat. Lacing his finger through your hair, he heaves your head back crashing his lips and entwining his tongue against yours.

“Cum for me, darling.”

You screamed his name, your climax surging over you like a tidal wave, leaving you quivering, breathless. Riding out his own orgasm, his thrusts grew more erratic, his grip on your hips firm. He was close, so fucking close, slamming into you at an unholy pace. You could feel his cock swelling, begging to release into your awaiting heat. His eyes half-lidded, his cock diving as deep as your pussy will let him before releasing his cum within you. You let out a loud moan, feeling every spurt of his seed coating your insides, relishing the feeling. The scent of sex and sweat filled the room, Loki gently slipping his softening cock from your warmth, letting the mix of his sperm slide down your thighs.

Loki collapsed at your side, you doing the same not long after. Loki pulls you to his side, his heavy breath fanning your warmed skin as you lean against his chest. He wraps his arm around you, kissing your temple.

“You are extraordinary,” he sighs, resting his head on yours glancing down at your lips, “may I?”

You giggle, gazing up at his eyes, pretty green eyes. “You’re asking now?”

He frowned, “It’s different now, well?”

“Yes,” you say, without a second thought. Softly, he pulls you towards him, kissing you tenderly. “Loki…”

“Be mine.”

You smile wistfully, “yes, always have been.”

[lazylattedgleam]

———————————————————————————————————

LOST AMONG THE PAGES

(A Zayne x NONMC!Reader fic)

(Word count: ~3.7k)

(Credits: All images from the net. Except for the color editing and brush strokes and writing are made by me.)

(Credits: Pinterest)

*TW: Angst, maybe not well written, NON!MC Reader, Reader has Anemia, heavy blood loss during periods, fights, shouting, feeling of betrayal and heartbreak, shaking, crying, unrequited love.

*Index: Reader speeches are white, bold and italicised.

Zayne speeches are blue, bold and italicised.

MC speeches are pink, bold and italicised.

Others are white and just italicised.

Thoughts are written inside single inverted commas and italicised, sometimes struck through.

Texts and chats have ‘Indented’ font.

Calls have double inverted commas, white and italicised. They are differentiated from other speeches. (Except for main characters like MC and Zayne, they will follow their color code as mentioned earlier and italicised.)

Actions are written inside asterisks, white and bold.

Diary entries have ‘Chat’ font.

If you’re uncomfortable with the following genre or any of the trigger warnings, then please don’t read ahead.

———————————————————————————————————

“She was radiant, held an aura of brilliance…She was a Yellow Rose come to life…”

Memoir: One. Memoir: Three.

———————————————————————————————————

(Credits: The Feels)

Time…07:21 a.m.

Date: 15/XX/2048

Day: Monday

Dear diary,

Hi…last night was well…we didn’t talk after that just went to bed…I fell asleep before him…I hope he’s not mad at me, because we did say our usual good byes this morning as he left for the hospital… but even if he was he’d never speak his mind out…that’s Zayne for you I guess…Anyways I’ll be off to work soon too at around 9:00-9-30, I’ll go make our lunches soon, and yeah…Tomorrow my periods start, I’ll have to keep the tracker ready again, buy some supplies, and medicines, I have a lot of stuff to do…I haven’t checked in on the flower shop either, I guess Raya did text me…I’ll have to update her on everything, besides there’s gonna a lot of shipment coming in throughout the day too, we’ll have to make the places for them, I’ll mention them about the place needing some touch up too and and and…am I forgetting anything? Hope not…Anyways I should get up now, go on with my day, soooo talk to you later.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I go about to get done with my shower, then get dressed as I pace around making our lunches, packing them all up in our respective boxes securely. It takes me around an hour and fifteen to do so, as I keep everything ready, opening my phone to text Raya.

RAY

You: Hey girl, sorry I’ve been busy with my doctors and tests these few days hence didn’t get the time to knock…I’ll be coming from today again, just wanted to let you know :D

RAY: oo yay we were missing you, and no worries it’s alright, how are you now?

You: Better. How’s business going? The new shipments are coming in today right?

RAY: Business has been good, although we deal with our daily dose of jerks but yeah you know it. And yes the shipments will be getting in throughout today.

You: K thanks! See you there then we’ll talk more :)

RAY: See ya! <3

Closing my phone, I check the time, it’s still a bit early than I usually leave, but I decide to go forth…

I reach in about twenty minutes by foot, after dropping his lunch off at the hospital, as I open the door and enter hearing the jingling of the bell, the sign still kept on “Closed”. Many greet me as I greet them back then going behind the counter putting on my olive green apron and headband, I access the register through the computer… “Last day’s sales have been good”, “Ikr, we are among one of the popular florist shops in Linkon.”, says Raya. “Ray! Morning!” “To you too! So tell me about the reports.” As we talk, while we arrange up the racks and baskets, the other handling the garden accessories and more…soon we open the shop as the customers start to come in…

We get our first shipment of lavenders and daffodils, completing the necessities before they leave off… “Good?” “Pretty good.” “They’ll make good sales” “Uh-huh”, as we tend to our customers… “Thank you Ma’am please do visit again!”, I send off the last one of them as I heave out a sigh, it was our break now so we’ll have an hour of peace. “You good?”, Raya asks… “Yeah, you know the fatigue is just getting to me…” “You’ve got in spare pads right?” “Mhm, I’ll have to buy more after work tho…” “Cmon let’s have our lunch then you’ll need to take your supplies and meds too.”

While eating, my phones chimes, as I open it.

UNKNOWN

UNKNOWN: Hey! This is (Name) right? I’m MC, we met at the hospital, Zayne’s friend…

You: Oh hey! It’s good to talk to you again, I’m sorry I couldn’t add you in last night.

*UNKNOWN saved to MC ^^*

MC ^^: No no it’s all good. Im actually on standby right now, just having completed a mission, so I thought I’d text you :)

You: Oh it’s my break right now too!

MC ^^: Great then! I was wondering about our coffee plan when will you be free?

You: I’m fine on Thursdays and Sundays, we close early on Thursdays, and on Sundays I take leave…but you tell me, you have it more hectic.

MC ^^: Thursdays are good for me too, I have lesser load well that is unless I get summoned…so Thursday around say…8:30–9:00 p.m.?

You: Sure works for me!

MC ^^: Great then see you soon! ^^

You: See ya :D!

“Zayne?” “Hmm? Oh no no it was his friend MC, she’s just moved into the city, we’re gonna meet up for coffee.” “Ahh…didn’t know Zayne had a friend.” “Pffft neither did I, but oh well.”

💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐

Time…10:37 p.m.

Date: 16/XX/2048

Day: Tuesday

Dear diary,

Ughhhh today was hectic already, this one customer was at our ass, with demanding for a white rose bouquet on the last minute…told him it’s all sold out, but ofc he wouldn’t leave it, good thing Raya, took care of it…And after I reached, I got my periods, fuck it hurts like a bitch…plus the super heavy flow, I just want to lay in bed all day and night…This pain is gonna last till tomorrow, the first two days…I have to go in for work tomorrow, plus we have gotten a pretty huge order for tomorrow so I have to be present, ughhhhh! It hurts…I can’t cook dinner for the night…maybe I should tell Zayne to have dinner from the canteen and I’ll just go to bed…I’m crouched up into a ball, fuuuuuuck….I don’t want to write anymore…I’ll go now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I groan stuffing my face into my pillow and the other pillow, tightly against my abdomen…I need the heat pad, I still have to take my meds and supplies…ugh I don’t at all want to do anything…I wish Zayne was here now…I wanna text him or call him, but I don’t…anyhow Yvonne did mention he had many operations today, so he’s probably busy or at the OT still…This damned pain…sometimes makes me worry, if I have a Cyst or not…prolly will get an USG later…Although my stomach grumbled, my eyes were all droopy…I needed to sleep…but I am hungry…I want my heat pad… “I want Zayne…”

Don’t know what the time was, as I was woken from my uncomfortable slumber, I groan as I felt gently sat up, an aroma of something filling my nostrils… “Hey hey…cmon eat up…”, I slowly open my eyes… “Zayne…? When did you—” “Not now darling…eat up first, then we still have to give you your meds…it’s too late tonight, I’m sorry I couldn’t reach earlier, we’ll have the supplements again from tomorrow…”…he called me ‘darling’, oh how my entire being craved for his pet-names…He fed me, I felt a comforting warmth around my abdomen, as I find my heat pad there, easing the pain a bit…Zayne…he…he sounded so soft…compared to most days…and especially yesterday…I felt my heart ease up…maybe it was just me…

“Where did you eat?” “Canteen.” “When did you reach?” “Around half past one…” “What time is it now?” “Two in the morning…”, I nod as I continue eating the chicken sandwich and at the end some chocolates he got for me…I chuckle “Oh Dr. Zayne is letting me eat sweets this late?” “It’s your periods, you deserve some slack”, I see a hint of smile on his face, as I smile too…everything is fine…

💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐

Time…10:23 p.m.

Date: 17/XX/2048

Day: Wednesday

Dear diary,

Today went well, business was good as usual, blooming hehe. It was a shitty day though, had been raining since morning, thankfully it stopped a couple hours ago…Anyways well it did pain like a bitch but I took some painkillers while working, so ya I could ease through the day, also carried some extra toffees and chocolates plus some sour patch candies, to keep my mind off of it. I’m really tired right now, and the effects of the painkiller have worn out, so it’s gonna start stabbing again, although I feel a bit better, think I can make dinner tonight…Zayne said he’d be early tonight so yeah… I’ll take another painkiller and get to it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I do, walking over to the kitchen, prepping for dinner.

LOML

You: Hey when will you be coming back?

As I go back to making dinner after the text…After an hour or so I was done, as I place them on the table, washing my hands clean, wiping them before I check my messages again…

LOML

You: Hey when will you be coming back? (Delivered at: 10:40 p.m.)

“Hmm he didn’t reply yet…must be busy or finishing up.”, I wait up for him, while scrolling through my phone, checking the posts of my friends and family, reels to keep myself engaged…

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

It was almost around quarter to twelve, as I check his chat again…

LOML

You: Hey when will you be coming back? (Delivered at: 10:40 p.m.)

“Still he hasn’t seen…should I call him up…or better let me call up Yvonne and check…”

As I dial her contact—

Ring…ring…ring…

*click*

“Hey (Name)! How are you?”

“I’ve been doing well thanks! You?”

“Good!”

“Hey sorry for calling you up so late, but I just wanted to know, is your shift over?”

“No worries! And yeah, why?”

“Is Zayne working overtime again? I mean I texted him two hours ago, got no reply so I got worried, he did say he’d return early tonight…so I was wondering if he got caught up in an emergency or something. I thought of calling him, but then thought it’d be better to ring you up.”

“Dr. Zayne clocked out an hour ago with MC…they had dinner plans, Greyson told me… He didn’t tell you?”

“Oh…um no no oh now that I recall he did say he had dinner plans with her…thanks Yvonne, and again I’m so sorry for bothering you this late.”

“It’s no issue! But are you sure? I can tell Greyson to tell him to ring you up or give you a text.”

“Its alright I’ll call him up…bye have a good night!”

“Okay bye goodnight take care!”

*beep* As I cut the call…

…I sit in silence for sometime, but my mind is loud…too loud… ‘Again? Why didn’t he tell me he was gonna have dinner with her or that he had dinner plans…He could’ve told me, it’s not like I’m gonna restrict him or anything…It could be because he forgot…or maybe it was impromptu…but still he could’ve texted me, atleast let me be aware…It’s the second time this is happening…first he doesn’t ever tell me about her, and now dinner plans…What’s going on with you Zayne…?’

I sigh as I pour my portion of the soup in my bowl and keep away rest in a container in the fridge, to reheat and have tomorrow for breakfast…I eat in silence staring at my phone, while my mind blares with noises of, ‘why didn’t he tell me why didn’t he tell me why didn’t he tell me why didn’t he tell me why didn’t he tell me why didn’t he tell me—’

After I finish I wash the bowl and spoon and keep it in place…For some reason I suddenly felt like wanting to hit the sack asap…I didn’t want to ask him at all…not tonight…

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Time…07:30 a.m.

Date: 18/XX/2048

Day: Thursday

Dear diary,

Third day of my periods…the flow reduces today so does the pain, then again increases on day 4, finally coming to halt on day 5 or 6…I’ll still be taking a painkiller at work, plus I also have the meet up with MC…Speaking of which…I really don’t want to go…besides I didn’t wake up with Zayne today…I knew he left, I was awake…but I didn’t want to talk to him…besides I was too tired, and I palms and feet were sweating…I kinda don’t even want to go to work today…I feel too iffy for some reason…Am I jealous? But for what…MC? But…I chat make sense of it, and I feel too tired again…I don’t know if I wanna talk with him even tonight, let alone ask him anything…ughhh…Anyways I should get up now, get our lunches ready…should I give him a note? Act like everything’s normal?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I sigh as I get off of bed, stepping inside the bathroom…Showering while my thought run haywire… ‘He could’ve told me…could he be hiding something? No no…he’s not like that…at least tonight we close early yay…’, as I went on to perform my usual tasks of the day.

Heading out, I was sure to carry my umbrella along with me like always in my bag. As I drop off his lunch and head back out…

…“You good?” “Hmm? Oh yeah Ray, just calculating some totals…” “You sure? You look down…” “Am good hon, thanks…”, as I brace myself and go back to focusing on work. During break time I get a text from MC, sort of disappointed hoping it’d have been Zayne given that my text was still on delivered from last night…

MC ^^

MC: Hey! We on for tonight right?

You: Mhm sure. Where are we meeting by the way?

MC: I have a great place in mind! You know Destiny Cafe? It’s really famous in Linkon, besides it was the first outdoor place I visited when I arrived here, well except for the HA.

You: Oh yeah I know it! Cool then see you there! ^^

MC: See ya!

“Hello excuse me?”, I look up at the counter, seeing an old lady. “Oh yes Ma’am how can I help you?” “I would like to have a bouquet of your fresh red roses and lavender dearie”, “Sure! My coworker will show you to them—” “Hey (Name) sorry can’t, family emergency call, I have to go.”, as Raya walks out the store… “I am sorry for the inconvenience but here I’ll take you to them. Please.”, as I gesture her to move ahead. I take her to both sections, as she picks out the bunch she likes, while I prepare the bouquets for her. After I was done, I take out the card she chose, “May I know who this is for?” “Tabitha…she used to be my best friend…once she died she left a void in my chest…she used to love flowers especially roses and lavender, it reminded her of her childhood…of what that could have been…” “I’m so sorry to hear that, may she rest in peace…” “Thank you dearie”, as she left after paying…Her words left me at an edge, I couldn’t stop thinking about it for some reason and her flower choices…Bright red roses and lavender, they contrasted each other beautifully and elegantly…

Soon it was time to leave, as I say my goodbyes, off to heading to Destiny Cafe…I am carrying a small bouquet of yellow roses with me, I didn’t even know I wanted to but I am…maybe the lady stirred something inside of me…

Reaching the cafe, I stand by the front waiting, as I open my phone to see new messages.

MC ^^

MC ^^: Reaching shortly.

You: Ok no rush!

… “Hey!”, as she waves and smiles brightly, as I return the gesture… “I am so so sorry, got held up by some Flux Anomaly reports, had to review them…” “It’s no problem…here.” “Oh my you got me something? Now I feel bad for not getting you anything—”, I brush it off by waving my hand, “Don’t worry it was impromptu, but I guess this is for the beginning of ur friendship? Since yellow roses symbolise friendship.” “Oh I’ve heard! Let’s go.”

As we sit at a table, order our drinks, she got a coffee black, whole I got a boba tea. “These are so beautiful, thank you so much for them! Let me at least pay for tonight to return the gesture!” “No no no it’s alright! Please your liking them is enough payment.”, I smile… “You’re really sweet, Zayne is really lucky.”, Zayne’s name icked me off, since he still hasn’t messaged me from morning or anything…and neither have I… “So what do you do?” “I’m a florist, I work at this flower shop down Hashcrew Lane.” “Wait you work at -insert shop name-? That’s like one of the best ones in Linkon! How is it like?” “It’s really fun, plus working among flowers is rejuvenating.” “Do tell me more symbolisms of more flowers please!”, I chuckle as I do, she chimes in too at times…

We talk and gossip, I noticed that she too keeps facts from her childhood herself, mostly mentioning some about Zayne and then her Hunters’ Exams and life in Linkon…

Time flies by as always, and we say our good nights. “I had a blast tonight thank you so much! We should do it again sometime?” “Sure! And me too thanks for such a lovely night.”

We part ways as I check the time…oh well not too late it’s like when a little late than I usually get off of work, it’s around five minutes to eleven. I walk the streets when I get a call from Raya..

*click*

“Hey (Name) could you please manage for the remaining days? I can’t come anymore this week.”

“Yes sure *I stop on my tracks, sitting upon a nearby bench* no worries, but what’s wrong?”

“Remember my mother had an Endometriotic Cyst…yeah it had increased in size, 7.3 cm…needs to be surgically removed…I’m not worried, cysts are really common…but it’s just…oh god…”

“I understand…don’t worry she’ll be all fine again…I pray that the operation goes all well…”

“Thanks a lot N/N, puts me at ease, but I have to go now, bye.”

*beep*, she cuts the call…

…As I open the door walking inside, taking off my shoes, only to see Zayne preparing dinner. He’s home early tonight. “You’re back.”, he says as I hum…I still didn’t want to talk to him, and neither did I want to cause another awkward situation while dinner, so I kept shut. Dinner goes by, as I take my medicines and supplements. ‘He’s not even himself gonna say anything about last night? Do I not deserve to know?’…

“I texted you last night…”, I start as I see his body language stiffen slightly, yet he continued to wash the dishes. “Are you…upset with me?” “Why would you think that?” “I don’t know ig maybe because I am feeling like you’re avoiding me. And what’s up with me getting to know from other people that you had dinner with MC?” “You had coffee with her too tonight.” “Yes I did but that’s not the point Zayne. The point is that I didn’t hide it Zayne, I’d informed you…I just…I just didn’t understand yesterday, first you text you’ll be home early, then you don’t reply at all making me worry that I had to call up and ask Yvonne. It was almost around twelve you had me worried sick! It’s different if it was your usual days, but not when you tell me you’d be early!”, my voice strains, gaining a sharp edge, laced with worry and desperation. “…It was unplanned for…she came over to visit as I was done for the day, told me since I don’t take care of myself at all during working hours and barely eat, we should have dinner together…”, hearing that ticked me off more, “That’s fine! But you could’ve atleast dropped a text or a call telling me! How long does it take???”, I raise my voice, my breath quickening, as I feel myself shake, so I sit back down on the chair and breathe in and out… Maybe he had something more to say but I don’t listen as I walk into the bedroom, putting myself straight to sleep…

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Time…07:57 a.m.

Date: 19/XX/2048

Day: Friday

Dear diary,

Fourth day…the pain has started again…my head hurts like shit, I feel really dizzy and nauseous…don’t wanna get up, especially after last night…Lord I hate arguments…especially with dear ones, I can’t handle them, they drive me to the edge…I hope he’s already left for the hospital, I don’t want to see him at all right now…Should I call in sick? I mean I did take a leave recently last week…on top of that another…plus Raya is not gonna be there her mother is in the hospital…Cyst operation… *sigh*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I slowly and steadily get up, dragging myself to the bathroom, continuing with my daily routine…I really don’t want to make either of us lunches today—

—LOML

LOML: You don’t have to prepare lunch for me today…I’ll have it with MC.

I scoff to myself, ‘of course.’

LOML

LOML: Have some rest…

Im not supposed to feel like this over MC, when she’s just the sweetest, but can I blame myself? I really don’t wanna go today…

My mind wanders back to the anniversary plans I’d made and pictured in my mind for us…the surprise…I felt sure back then…but now…I can’t help but feel like maybe just maybe he’ll forget…The familiar unsettling feeling creeps inside of my heart again, I know the name of it, but I dare not utter out even in my thoughts…

As I bury it deep down once again…I take a pain killer, and go on with my dailies.

Business felt really slow today…or maybe it’s just me? I feel incredibly exhausted and fatigued, I just want to go back and rest my eyes…Feels like I’ll be better once I return back to my apartment after my periods end for the month…

…Zayne and I barely utter a word to each other tonight, just silently minding to our chores and activities…I have this urge for the need of at least a small apology from him…

(Credits: The Feels)

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(Credits: Pinterest)

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[ginnsbaker]

fic: if i bleed (you'll be the last to know) (3/?)

Part summary: Leigh develops an unhealthy habit as she hits closer to rock bottom

Pairing: Leigh Shaw x Fem!Reader | Word count for this part: 5.370 | Warnings/Tags: Some hetero stuff | A/N: Things will pick up after this part. I think there's going to be a total of 6 parts, but let me confirm that in the next update :)

Masterlist | Part I Part II | Next

-

Leigh is ten minutes late. 

It makes sense. Her willingness to attend this meeting was surprising, because if you were in her shoes, you doubt you'd have agreed to it. Listening to the entire history of a relationship can be exhausting, and it's hard to imagine what it feels like to hear about one that arguably should never have existed.

But just as you're about to think she's bailed or intentionally left you hanging, you spot her sprinting toward the cafe from across the street. She's a mess—hair soaked and sticking everywhere, face bare, missing its usual touch of makeup. But even like this, Leigh doesn't look much different from her usual self. You can't help feeling a bit envious of that.

She rushes into the cafe, attracting a few curious looks, but she barely registers them, her wide green eyes quickly finding you.

“Sorry I'm late,” she pants, struggling to catch her breath, “I got caught in the rain and then missed my bus.” The lie slips out effortlessly. True, it had rained, but the real reason was far more personal—something you didn't need to know.

You shrug off her apology with a smile, signaling the waiter for a menu for Leigh. “No worries, I'm just glad you made it,” you say.

Leigh gives you a quick once-over, then forces a smile and thanks you. Once her coffee order's in, she gets right down to it. “So, Matt,” she starts, her voice dropping to a whisper, “how did you two meet?”

You lean back, carefully thinking about what to say next. You didn't practice your answers ahead of time because you weren't planning to lie about anything. But you're wary of how you word things, not wanting to upset her. Being caught up with a married man is embarrassing enough as it is, and having to relay the details to his widowed wife only adds to it.

“Actually, our first meeting was totally by chance,” you say, bringing your steaming cup of tea to your lips. “I quite literally bumped into Matt one day. It was so brief, I barely gave it a second thought.”

You take a deep breath before continuing, “Then, about a week later, Matt showed up at my clinic with the same friend from before. It turned out, they were there for his friend's dog, who needed a check-up. Matt was just tagging along, helping out.”

Leigh’s face remains passive, making it hard to read. 

“The friend was the one who interacted with me the most that day. He even asked for my number, saying they were grateful for the help with the dog. I assumed he was interested,” you say, the memory coming back to you clearer now as you speak. “But, to my surprise, it was Matt who texted me later, not his friend.”

You barely manage to suppress the slight twitch of your lips, recalling how everything once seemed magical to you. Leigh on the other hand, takes a slow sip of her coffee, buying a moment to process.

“Who was that friend of Matt's? Do you remember his name?” she asks.

You pause, racking your brain for the detail, feeling its importance to Leigh. “Yeah, I think his name was Nick or something,” you say, scratching your head. Whether the name ‘Nick’ rings any bells for her or not, she doesn't let on. 

“Strange,” you mumble under your breath, but then shrug it off. “It doesn't really matter, he's not the one I—” You stop yourself just in time, realizing you're about to say something potentially hurtful about a situation that still feels raw, especially to Leigh.

Instead, you quickly pivot. “Anyway, that's how it all started. On the day of the dog’s follow-up, it was just Matt who came by. We struck up a friendship from there, and one thing led to another until he, uhm, asked me out for dinner.”

At this, you notice a subtle change in Leigh's demeanor. Her entire frame becomes more timid, the first real sign of emotion she's shown since this conversation began. 

You’re about to go on with your story when Leigh suddenly speaks up.

“So, you just said yes, even though he was your client? Don't veterinarians have professional boundaries?”

Ever since meeting Leigh, you've found it challenging to predict what might trigger her reactions—it's like navigating a minefield. Occasionally, you’d find yourself wondering what it would be like to know her without the complications currently defining your interactions. You think about the roles you both involuntarily play in each other's lives, roles neither of you auditioned for but somehow ended up performing.

You feel a lump form in your throat, and your gaze drops to your lap. “Well, he was persistent,” you say, feeling the need to defend your decision. Nevertheless, it sounds weak to your own ears. “But I made it clear nothing could happen until the dog's treatment was complete. And I insisted he'd have to find a different vet for any future appointments. It was... complicated.”

“I bet,” Leigh scoffs, crossing her arms. After a beat, she asks, almost too casually, “So, how quickly did you two... you know, have your first kiss?”

The question hangs awkwardly between you. You know you can’t answer it in any way you could avoid her judgment, so you just decide to spit it out. 

“First date.” Under Leigh’s scrutinizing gaze, it feels like admitting to a minor crime.

Leigh stares at you with unblinking eyes. “And how long after meeting him did this first date happen?”

You draw in a slow breath. “Three weeks,” you mutter. “It was last fall.” You add that bit, proactively laying out the timeline as if it could somehow soften the blow or make the situation less complicated. Leigh, however, looks like you've just knocked the wind out of her. She looks away, her expression shifting into something like shock or deep pain. Alarm bells ring in your head at the picture before you.

“Hey, did I say something wrong?” you say in a rush. “I mean, this whole situation is messed up, but if I—”

Leigh’s eyes are glass as they return to you. When she speaks again, her voice is so soft you almost have to lean in to hear. “Last fall... That's when I told Matt we should start trying for a baby.”

The words drain the color from your face. And suddenly, all the pieces of your story with Matt feels even more tainted.

You're not sure what your face gives away when you hear this news, but Leigh's expression quickly shifts from tearful to furious. “Stop feeling sorry for me,” she hisses. “I don’t need your pity.”

Leigh's tears start to spill over, and it's only 7:30 in the morning. It feels way too early for tears, especially here, in the middle of a coffee shop where the day is just beginning for most. You try to shrink into your seat, wishing you could make both of you invisible as the few other patrons start throwing curious, if not outright concerned, looks your way.

You never realized a simple conversation could cause someone so much pain. You thought providing Leigh with answers would help, but it looks like you're just making things even harder for her. Maybe keeping your distance from her is the kindest thing you can do.

“You know the worst part?” Leigh brushes away the tears that keep streaking down her face.

Clearly, she isn't looking for an answer, so you stay silent.

She makes sure she catches your eye before saying, “He agreed, and we started trying.”

-

Leigh catches her breath after wrapping up her class at the Beautiful Beast. 

She took a day off yesterday, immediately after talking with you, spending the whole day in bed just trying to sort out her thoughts and feelings. Surprisingly, wasting away for a whole day seemed to help, and her concerns gradually drifted back to her fight with Jules. It’s been days, and Leigh feels the urgency of reconciliation pressing on her. By this point, they should be on speaking terms again. By now, Jules should have let go of her anger, right? Leigh knows she can't afford to have her sister hating her. At least not right now. She needs her family, or what’s left of it—on her side. 

“Hey, Jules, got a sec? About the schedule…” Leigh tries, hoping work might be a safe enough topic to get her sister to acknowledge her existence once again.

Jules barely glances her way. Her hands keep moving, adjusting a strap here, aligning yoga mats there, as if the very act could shield her from having to engage. “Sorted. Check your email,” she replies, her voice cold and detached.

Leigh nods, awkwardly shifting from foot to foot. “Great, great... um, did you consider adding that beginners' workshop we talked about?”

Jules stops for a beat, and Leigh thinks, maybe she's going to drop it. But no, Jules resumes fussing over items that hardly require any attention. Then, without even looking up, she says, “Yeah, it's on the list. Anything else?”

Leigh tries to keep her cool, wishing Jules would just cut to the chase and tell her what needs to be done for all to be forgiven. 

Trying a different tactic, Leigh goes, “Hey, found a Starbucks card in my bag. How 'bout I grab us some coffee? My treat.”

Leigh’s trying. She really is. Why can’t they see that?

Jules just gives her that look, the kind that doesn't need words, and heads back to her desk. And there's Leigh, offer of a beverage truce just floating in the air, going nowhere.

Getting ignored really gets under Leigh's skin. Back in the day, Matt's habit of brushing her off would drive her to the edge. She'd respond with over-the-top demands or twist things around just to make sure he’d always pay attention to her. She didn't start off wanting to be that person, but looking back, she sees the lengths she'd go to just to keep his attention from straying. 

Unable to control herself, she heads straight for Jules, grabs her arm despite her trying to wiggle free, and yanks her into the backroom.

“What the hell is your problem?!” Jules explodes, not caring if anyone’s heard her outside.

They're both standing there, kind of shocked by how heated things got so fast. Jules’ shout might've turned a few heads outside, but right now, that's the least of Leigh's worries.

“How many times do I need to apologize, for you to get over this?”

Jules’ eyes are wide in disbelief, her mouth twisting into a sardonic smile, like she can’t believe what she’s hearing.

“You’re so fucking full of yourself, Leigh! This is exactly why I’m not talking to you,” Jules hisses, but keeps her voice down this time.

“What—”

“Do you even know what you’re sorry for?”

Leigh's initial scoff dies in her throat as she watches Jules' expression twist with hurt. “Yeah, okay, I said sorry about the crap I pulled the other day. I know I was out of line, talking about your past like that—”

Jules doesn't let her finish. “You weren't just being ‘out of line’, Leigh. You threw the worst time of my life in my face! Do you have any idea how hurtful that is? Coming from my own sister? From my own family? What, just to win an argument? To cover up for acting like a jerk at the club?”

Leigh goes quiet, but her face hardens, trying not to show how much Jules' words hit her right in the gut. What she said, laid out like that, it sounds…well, unforgivable.

“I'm trying, okay?” Leigh blurts out without thinking.

“Shouldn't be that hard to just be a decent human being, should it?” Jules shoots back, her dismissal sharp as she exits the cramped space, leaving Leigh reeling.

Under her breath, almost like she's talking to the walls, Leigh mumbles, “I'm really sorry…” It's quiet, almost lost in the room, but she means it the most at this very moment, even if no one's around to catch it.

-

Leigh clocks out from work, her day's fatigue hanging off her shoulders like a weighty cloak. Instead of heading straight home, she veers off her usual path, her feet bringing her to places that made breathing difficult the first few weeks after Matt's death. She's walking the same old route she always did when he was still around, back to when her home address was different and she'd pick up takeout from his favorite places along the way.

There’s the park first, the one where she and Matt spent countless afternoons sprawled on the grass, lying side by side as they watched the sky blush into shades of orange at sunset. She allows herself only a fleeting glance at the familiar paths and the bench they claimed theirs, feeling the same regret, the same hollowness as she remembers the good times they had there. 

In the back of her mind, she can't shake off the worry that maybe you've been here too, making your own memories with him. She doesn’t feel the surge of anger at this thought however. Instead, a part of her is almost willing to share these sacred memories if it means holding onto him in any form. She wants to believe that her jealousy has faded into a quieter acceptance that others might also carry pieces of him, pieces she's learning to live with.

Pulling herself away from the park, Leigh's walk inevitably leads her past Matt's favorite Italian restaurant—a quaint, cozy place where they celebrated most of their birthdays and, on occasion, anniversaries, especially when neither felt like cooking (which became an increasingly common choice in the months leading up to his accident).

She remembers how Matt's face would light up at the prospect of their rich, creamy carbonara and the tiramisu he claimed was unrivaled in the city. She recalls the numerous times she attempted to recreate the restaurant's tiramisu at home, aiming to surprise Matt at least once a month. Despite her efforts, if she truly wanted to indulge him, she knew there was no substitute for the real thing. So, on special days, or whenever she felt an extra burst of affection, she'd stop by the restaurant on her way home, picking up takeout. 

A waitress from the restaurant notices Leigh's lingering gaze and asks if she'd like a table. With a shy smile, Leigh declines, then pauses before finally deciding to order a tiramisu to go.

When she returns to her mom's house and eats the tiramisu alone, it tastes different. 

Leigh can't decide if the difference in the tiramisu's taste is good or bad, but that doesn't stop her. She finishes the entire slice in minutes. But instead of feeling full, it makes her feel emptier. Perhaps, it’s not the flavor that's changed; it's the experience of eating it without Matt's enthusiastic commentary, without him lighting up at the first bite or playfully claiming the last one, despite his generous offer to let her have it.

Suddenly, tears just start pouring out of Leigh as she sits there with an empty plate. She didn't see it coming, no chance to stop it or shove it down. Then, she finds herself laughing—a deep, throaty laugh—because she's grieved for him in countless ways, but this, crying over a dessert, has to be the most absurd. It's exactly the kind of moment they would have laughed at together.

Deciding that that would be her dinner, Leigh cleans up the small mess she's made and considers the evening ahead. But just as she’s about to sink into the couch for a quiet night, her phone buzzes, making her jump.

Seeing your name flash on her screen, she sighs, sensing a familiar bitterness creeping back in, disrupting the soothing moments she had just spent reminiscing about Matt. She lets it ring a few times more before picking up.

“Hi, Y/N,” Leigh says, managing to keep her voice steady over the phone.

“Hey,” you start, unsure how to break the ice after everything. Especially with what you’re about to say next.

“Listen, something happened today at the clinic. Someone came in looking for their lost French Bulldog, and they had a picture,” you pause to breathe. “Leigh, it looks a lot like Visitor.”

On the other end of the line, you can practically hear Leigh's heart skip a beat.

“Hello?” you ask, checking to make sure she's still there after she doesn't respond for several seconds.

“Are you sure?” Leigh’s voice cracks slightly.

“Yeah, I'm pretty sure,” you say softly, feeling a surge of empathy. “I'm sending you the picture now. Check it out and tell me what you think.”

You hit send and then wait for Leigh’s confirmation.

“It's him. It's definitely Visitor,” she says a moment later.

You're relieved but also concerned about what comes next. “So, what are you going to do?”

Leigh hesitates, and when she speaks again, she doesn’t give a direct answer. “Thank you, Y/N,” she says, and you pick up something in her tone. Something somber. 

“Everything alright?” 

But the line's already dead, leaving you staring at your phone, wondering what she is up to.

-

Leigh stands outside the community center, her hand lingering on the door longer than usual.  It's been weeks since she last came to a session. First, there was the shock of uncovering Matt's darkest secret, and now, there's the issue of the man inside, already looking her way, waiting to see her next move.

Danny appearing at her doorstep earlier in the week caught her completely off guard—and not in a good way. The moment she realized it was him, Leigh didn't hesitate to close the door in his face. After she shut him out, it escalated to the point where she threatened to call the police because he wouldn't stop pounding on the door and shouting for Leigh to let him in, insisting he just wanted to talk. His last attempt to get through to her fell flat when he flooded her inbox with texts and missed calls, pushing Leigh to the point where she blocked his number for good.

Despite the problem of Danny being here tonight, Leigh isn't willing to walk away from this just because of him. She's already given up so much lately, most recently Visitor—or Chico, as she found out his real name was—and his absence carved a fresh ache in her heart that she hadn't seen coming.

So, she takes a deep breath and pushes the door open, ignoring the smirk on Danny’s face as she proceeds to pretend like he doesn’t exist.

-

Somehow, after the meeting, Leigh ends up saying yes to a quick chat with Danny. He reels her in with the news that he submitted Matt’s remaining works—which he got custody of—to his publisher, and they were keen to publish them posthumously. 

Leigh can't help but throw in a bit of shade. “That's nice of you, doing something good for your brother, even if it's a bit late.”

Danny's face drops a little. Her words were sharp enough to hurt him, but he doesn't bite back or get in her face about it, which totally throws Leigh for a loop. After all the time she'd spent ignoring him, she had expected him to be at his worst around her.

And then he surprises her even more when he says, “Let me give you a ride home? It's the least I can do…”

Leigh arches an eyebrow. She didn’t bring the car tonight because Jules had a thing with Tommy, and she didn’t want to give her sister another reason to resent her. A ride from Danny beats the alternatives of walking or shelling out for a pricey cab, especially now that her phone's battery has given out, nixing the option of booking an Uber.

But this is Danny. Matt’s brother, and the guy she hooked up with because she thought she’d get back some semblance of her dead husband. After Jules pointed out how messed up it was that they'd slept together, Leigh's been all over the place. The rules around what they were doing either turned her off or, weirdly enough, made the whole thing more enticing, taboo and all. That's a big part of why she's been steering clear of him. Hanging out with Danny feels like reaching for a cigarette long after she's sworn off smoking.

Even with all that swirling in her head, Leigh ends up saying, “Sure, why not?”

Before she knows it, she's also agreeing to a drink at his place.

-

The second they step into his apartment, something inside of Leigh snaps. Acting on impulse, she grabs Danny by the collar and kisses him fiercely. She clenches his shirt in her hands, practically tearing it in her grip. Danny's initial surprise melts away in seconds, and then he’s kissing her just as hard, his tongue prying open her lips, taking control of the kiss right away. His hands find her waits, pulling her closer, practically already half-lifting her against the wall.

Leigh, caught up in the moment, begins to move her hips in a rocking motion against him. The action is effective enough to distract him from where he’s kissing every inch of Leigh’s neck, and he retaliates by suddenly pressing her more firmly against the wall, pinning her with his hips, their chests are tightly pressed together.

But as Leigh's fingers begin to fumble with the button of Danny's pants, he catches her hands gently and, panting, says, “Wait, Leigh, hold on for just a sec.” 

Leigh’s eyes fly open at his voice, irritation and impatience coloring them. “What?” she gasps out. 

He ignores the hard edges of her tone. He wants more—something real—and he's hoping she does too.

“I can’t do this again unless I know it’s going somewhere,” Danny says. He gently lets go of Leigh and takes a step back, trying to collect himself. It's a tough task, though, with Leigh looking the way she does—hair all tousled, lips slightly swollen and marked from when he got a bit carried away, her cheeks tinged with a warm flush. He could’ve made her come in the next two minutes, he’s sure of it.

At Danny's confession, Leigh can't help it; she bursts into laughter. The idea of him catching feelings now, of all times, seems absurd to her. As she laughs, Danny's jaw tightens, but he waits patiently for her to finish.

When Leigh finally notices the seriousness etched across Danny's face, her amusement evaporates almost instantly. The realization that he's not joking strikes her, and it doesn't sit well. Not one bit.

“What, you think because your brother's gone, you get to... what? Step in? Take his place?” she spits out, incredulous. “This is never going to be anything more than a quick fuck, Danny.”

In his desperation, he calls her bluff. “You’re lying.”

Leigh's reaction morphs into a cruel sneer. “If you're going to insist on something more, then we're just wasting our time,” she mutters, turning to leave.

Danny's not ready to let her walk away, not yet. He grabs her arm, and for a second, they're just staring each other down, a silent battle raging between them. Leigh’s resolve is impenetrable.

It’s Danny who cracks first, exhaling a defeated, “Fine.”

But Leigh's not having any half-measures. She whirls around, fire in her eyes. “Nope. Say it properly,” she demands.

With a sigh that feels like he's giving away a part of himself, Danny looks at her, worn and resigned. “This doesn't have to mean anything,” he says even if it’s the last thing he wants.

Leigh locks eyes with him, a storm brewing in her look. Just when Danny thinks it's better to just drop it, she throws him a question out of nowhere. 

“Did you know?”

“Know what?” Danny asks, genuinely puzzled.

“About Matt and me... trying for a baby when he... you know.”

“He... he never mentioned anything like that,” he says, feeling the pain she’s radiating. Leigh looks like she’s about to fall apart and all he wants is to be the one to gather her pieces and put them all back together.

No more words follow from Leigh. It's as if the question drained what was left of the conversation. Without warning, she surges forward, her lips meeting Danny’s in a bruising kiss, then she grabs Danny's hands, placing them firmly back on her waist. He gets the message loud and clear, and together they quickly shed their clothes, letting them fall in a heap around their feet. She comes about twelve minutes and thirty seconds later.

-

It's been eight days—not that you're keeping track or anything. But after giving Leigh the heads-up that someone’s been looking for a dog that looks exactly like Visitor, you were kind of expecting she’d at least update you if it really was him or not.

So, when a client strolls in later with Visitor, who's actually called Chico according to the file your secretary slips you, you're a little disappointed it's not Leigh showing up instead. It must have been incredibly tough for her to return Chico to his real family. She invested her heart, time, and not to mention her wallet, into that dog, caring for him as if he were her own.

Thinking she’d be relieved to know he’s in good hands, you send her a text to update her about Chico's visit to the clinic today. You mention how healthy and content he seems, yet you hazard a guess that he's probably missing Leigh too. 

She sees your message right away, and then leaves you on read.

-

Her thing with Danny turns into a late-night ritual, particularly after Drew fails to respond to her following their conversation, not even offering her a guest column in the weeks that followed their talk. Drew continues to invite her for coffee and dinner dates along with his fiancée, but he avoids the topic about the column, so Leigh stops asking.

The hookups are always a post-midnight impulse. She’d find herself sneaking out of her mother's house to meet him, driven by a mix of need and escape, or occasionally, by insomnia. After their moments together, she never lingers in Danny's bed for too long once she's found her satisfaction, eager to shower away his scent from her skin. 

Back at home, she ensures there's no trace of their deed by the time she slips into bed, allowing herself to sleep deep into the middle of the day. This pattern of nocturnal activity and daytime slumber has led her mother to adjust Leigh's responsibilities, moving her to take charge of the afternoon classes instead. This behavior earns her suspicious glances from Jules, but Leigh chooses to ignore them—if Jules isn't interested in reconciling, then she has no right to concern herself with Leigh's personal affairs.

Leigh doesn’t know how she got here, back at the beginning, in an ever messier situation. She can't stop fucking Danny, her emotions for Matt are a rollercoaster—she finds herself forgiving him and cursing him interchangeably a couple of times a day. 

She's astounded this is her life now, seemingly unable to talk herself out of decisions that pull her deeper into chaos.

-

A month later, Leigh becomes a distant memory. Following a series of tumultuous encounters, your life gradually returns to its normal rhythm—quiet, ordinary days filled with clinic work, attending to various cases, meeting new clients, and addressing the myriad issues of small animals. All of these tasks prove easier to deal with than anything involving Leigh Shaw.

The sole noteworthy event in your generally uneventful life lately was your latest visit to a physician for an annual physical exam. The blood tests revealed some numbers outside the normal range, notably elevated cholesterol levels. Consequently, your doctor advised you to integrate exercise into your daily regimen and to reduce your consumption of takeout meals, specifically pizza and Chinese fast food.

It’s a big sacrifice, considering your day usually flies by without much thought for food, except for dinner. It’s the one time in your day you actually look forward to. So, to hold onto that bit of happiness, you've been looking at fitness classes that are actually enjoyable and help burn those extra calories to keep you in shape.

Yoga stands out as the top choice for you, mainly because it all unfolds on a mat. You assume it'll demand the least amount of effort compared to the other options (specifically spinning), which all seem to promise nothing but pain and suffering.

Deciding to give yoga a shot, you choose Beautiful Beast, swayed by its stellar reviews. You secure a slot for a 6pm class, feeling pretty good about this decision.

That is, until Leigh Shaw walks into the said class, clad in a sports bra and tight-fitting leggings that highlight her toned legs. She’s busy on her phone, and without looking up, she walks to the front of the room. 

What are the chances you'd both be in the same class at the same fitness studio? The plot thickens when she pockets her phone and turns to face the class, gesturing for everyone to get their mats ready as the session's about to start.

You swallow hard. Leigh isn't here as a joiner—she's running it.

It takes about a quarter of the session for Leigh to notice you’re in her class. It's only while she's making her rounds, observing each student's camel pose, that her gaze finally lands on you. Struggling through your lack of core strength, you can't quite catch her initial reaction, but then she calls out your name. The surprise makes you gasp as she places her hand on the curve of your spine, just above the small of your back, and gently pushes you upward, deepening your arch. 

The stretch draws a grimace from you, but then she says, “Good, that's it,” and suddenly, you're determined not to let her down. You focus on the pose, on Leigh's instructions, and on not falling apart under her watchful eye. Leigh keeps everyone in the position a few moments longer than expected before instructing the class to transition into the child's pose for recovery. At her cue, your arms collapse, and you find yourself breathing heavily, grateful for the brief respite.

Something tells you it's not the high cholesterol that's going to be the end of you, but rather this yoga class and Leigh's merciless teaching style. 

-

You're all packed up and ready to leave, still reeling from what could easily be the toughest hour of your life, when someone calls out to you.

“Hey, Y/N.”

It's Leigh. Her tone is softer, more fatigued than you remember. She’s still in her gym clothes, looking like the workout barely touched her except for a few strands of hair sticking to her forehead. And somehow, she smells more like a rose garden than the gym floor.

“I didn’t know you work here—” you blurt out, almost apologizing. But before you can add anything else, Leigh just shakes her head, something like amusement in her smile, stopping you mid-sentence. Her smile, warm and a little teasing, eases some of the tension you didn't realize you were holding. 

“Are you a mind reader or something?” she teases. “Cause yeah, I was going to ask if you were following me.”

You’re quick to deny it. “I wasn’t.”

Leigh lets out a chuckle like she's getting a kick out of seeing you on edge. You shuffle your feet, still unsure if she’s trying to scare you off or welcome you to her tutelage.  

“Look, if it's weird for you, me being here... I can find another class,” you offer, the words tumbling out before you can think them through.

Her reaction is swift and a bit surprising, “Why would I want that? So you can duck out and be a rubbish yogi elsewhere and ruin my reputation?”

You’re taken aback by her response. Clearly, Leigh's not pushing you away; it's almost as if she's egging you on, daring you to stick it out. And if there's any hope of moving past this... whatever it is, leaving now because it might get awkward doesn't seem like the right move to make a fresh start.

“All right, I'll stay,” you find yourself saying, more to your surprise than hers. 

Leigh's got this look of triumph, chin lifted just so, when you agree to stick around. “See you at 5:30. Greenway Park,” she throws out casually.

You're there blinking, trying to piece together what she means. But before you can even get a word out, she's one step ahead. 

“We have to work on your endurance,” she clarifies. “Make sure you’re wearing real running shoes. No sneakers.”