#It was exactly like asking my dad for help!

[viaxslz]

⭔﹐⌗ ATTENTION ﹕ᶻz﹒

享受 ! .°. ݁₊ 𐙚 gn!reader, cw: established relationship, post argument, making up, cold shoulders, pet names, oh take me back to this era 😭😭, not proofread :P

CHAN

You’ve been giving Chan the cold shoulder for hours after your argument. arms crossed, death glare loaded, and air pods in even though they’re not playing anything. Chan knows he's in trouble. You’re not even acknowledging the dog pics he sent you. The dog pics. That’s when he knows it’s serious. Cue Chan pacing back and forth in the living room like a sitcom dad. He's googling "how to apologize to your emotionally intelligent but terrifyingly stubborn significant other who might actually kill you with their eyes." No real help. He decides to go with the classic Chan combo: guilt + dramatic flair + ✨stupid charm✨. Next thing you know, he’s dramatically fake-sniffling outside your door with a Bluetooth speaker playing “Apologize” by OneRepublic at full volume. “Baby… it’s too late to apolo—oh wait, no, it’s NOT too late! That’s why I’m here!” You crack the door open just to glare, and that’s when he shoves a plate of perfectly microwaved dino nuggets into your hands like it’s a peace treaty. “I made these with love. And regret. Mostly regret. But also love.” You’re still silent. So he pulls out his final weapon: a handwritten letter addressed to “The Love of My Life (Who Could Annihilate Me With One Look).” It’s full of sappy lines like “Your silence hurts more than leg day” and “You’re my favorite notification and also includes a stick figure drawing of you kicking his butt, labeled “Me if I ever mess up again.” You finally snort, trying to stay mad but failing. He gasps. “Was that a laugh? Did you just—was that forgiveness I heard in your nose?” You: “That was me trying not to choke on a nugget, actually.” Chan grins like he just won an Oscar. “I’ll take it.” And before you know it, you’re in his arms, still pretending you’re annoyed, while he whispers sweet apologies into your ear and asks if you want to co-parent a puppy someday because, you know, trust rebuilding.

LEE KNOW

Minho isn’t the type to beg for forgiveness. At least, that’s what he tells himself. In reality, he’s been sulking in the kitchen for an hour, dramatically peeling oranges like they personally offended him because someone (you) won’t talk to him after your argument. He’s not even sure who was right anymore. Probably you. But admitting that out loud would break his cool, and that’s illegal in Minho Land. Instead, he starts making increasingly loud commentary to his cats. “Soonyoung, do you think I was being unreasonable? Hmm? No? Exactly. At least someone understands me.” You’re in the next room, scrolling on your phone, clearly ignoring him. He walks by casually and accidentally drops a photo of you two on the floor. “Oops,” he says way too loudly. “Didn’t mean to drop this beautiful memory we shared when we were still talking to each other like normal, emotionally stable people.” Still nothing. You don’t even blink. That’s when he resorts to phase two: petty bribery. He slides a plate of your favorite snack across the table toward you without saying a word. There’s a sticky note on it that says: “I’m still mad but I miss you more. Don’t let the cat eat this.” You glance at it, unimpressed. So he ups the ante and sends you a meme one of himself, edited to look like he’s crying in a corner with the caption: “Me after realizing I can’t win a fight against my insanely hot and emotionally intelligent partner.” Finally, you let out a laugh, and he looks up from across the room like a cat that’s pretending it doesn’t care but has been watching you the whole time. “Oh, so you do still love me,” he smirks, leaning against the counter. You: “I still haven’t forgiven you.” Minho: “That’s okay. I forgive me for both of us.” You roll your eyes and throw a pillow at him. He catches it, kisses it dramatically, and says, “Tell your representative we accept the terms.” Later, he lets Dori sit in your lap while he curls up next to you, whispering, “I hate fighting with you. Let’s not do that again. Unless you’re into angry make-ups. In which case, I’m very available.”

CHANGBIN

Changbin messed up. He knows it. You know it. The neighbors probably know it because you haven’t responded to a single thing he’s said in two hours and he’s been dramatically sighing every five minutes like someone just told him protein shakes were banned. He starts pacing the apartment like he’s mentally preparing for a final boss fight. Even his muscles look tense. He mutters to himself like a stressed-out drama lead. "Okay Changbin, you’ve survived leg day, you’ve survived Jihoon’s cooking, you can survive this." He tries casual tactics first. Walks by you holding a gallon of water like he’s not suffering. Drops a casual “sup” in the most broken voice ever. You don’t even blink. So he levels up: Operation Cute & Desperate. You hear rustling in the bedroom. Fifteen minutes later, he walks out in your hoodie, the one that’s comically tight on him and a headband with little bear ears. His arms are crossed. His face is dead serious. “I’m here to apologize,” he says, voice an octave higher. “As your oversized emotional support bear.” You blink. He waddles closer, overly dramatic. “I’ve been thinking about my actions. While lifting. And crying. Slightly. Okay maybe a lot. But my point is look into these bear ears and tell me you don’t miss me.” You burst out laughing. He grins like he just benched 300 pounds of forgiveness. But he’s not done. He dramatically pulls out a tiny tub of ice cream from behind his back like it’s an engagement ring. “I come bearing peace offerings and high-calorie emotional healing. If this doesn’t work, I’ll let you pick the next gym playlist. Even if it’s… ballads.” You, narrowing your eyes: “Even the sad ones with rain sound effects?” He winces. “Even those.” You pull him into a hug, bear ears squishing slightly, and he lets out a victorious sigh.

HYUNJIN

The argument was dumb. Like, really dumb. Something about the dishes and his suspicious ability to avoid them like they’re cursed. But now you’re not talking to him, and Hyunjin is spiraling. He’s lying facedown on the floor like a Victorian man fainting in a corset. Felix: “Dude, are you okay?” Hyunjin, muffled into the carpet: “No. My soulmate hates me and the world has lost color.” He tries texting you, but you left him on read. Tragic. So he gets creative. You walk into the living room and freeze. There’s a handwritten note taped to the wall that says: “In this house, i love and respect the queen (you). Even when she is intimidating and scary and not talking to me.” Below it: a trail of rose petals… leading to the kitchen… where you find Hyunjin in an apron, holding a vacuum cleaner in one hand and a spatula in the other like some kind of domestic apology warrior. “I have vacuumed. I have cooked. I have suffered.” You stare at him. He drops the spatula. “Do I get forgiveness points if I say you’re prettier when you’re mad?” You squint. “No.” He gasps. “How dare. I’m literally groveling. Do you know how much I hate crumbs on my socks? I vacuumed for you. That’s love.” You try to keep a straight face, but he’s got that kicked puppy look and there’s flour in his hair. It’s… kind of adorable. “I’m still mad.” He nods solemnly, walks over, and holds up a crayon drawing of the two of you holding hands, labeled: “Me + The Love of My Life (please forgive me I am weak without you)” You burst out laughing, finally giving in. He beams like he just won an award. Hyunjin, hugging you tightly: “I’ll do dishes every day this week.” You: “And next week.” Hyunjin: “Let’s not push it.”

HAN

Han is not handling this well. You're ignoring him and he’s been pacing the room like a raccoon on Red Bull. The argument was over something stupid (probably him forgetting to text you back because he was distracted by a pigeon outside), but now you’re giving him the silent treatment and he’s one sad meme away from spiraling. He sends you a voice note titled “Please Listen or I Will Cry in Public” You open it. It’s just him saying “hi” in 27 different accents, followed by a long sigh and then: “I miss you. Also, I stubbed my toe and I feel like that’s karma.” Still no response. So he launches Operation Desperate But Make It Stupid™. You walk into the kitchen to find a post-it note stuck to your favorite snack: “This snack is yours. So is my heart. Please take both.” Then there’s another note on the fridge: “If this is where the cold stuff goes, why are you being so cold to me :(((((” Another one on the toilet: “I flushed my pride. Let me back in your heart.” You’re trying not to laugh, but it’s becoming physically impossible. Then you hear him yell from the living room: “BABY PLEASE I CAN’T WORK UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. I TRIED TO WRITE LYRICS AND THEY TURNED INTO A SAD POEM ABOUT YOUR LEFT EYEBROW.” You peek your head out and he’s sitting dramatically on the floor with a ukulele he can’t play, strumming random strings while freestyle rapping an apology. “I was dumb and now I’m numb, You’re my queen and I’m your crumb, Forgive me please, or I’ll become…A worm.” You: “…A worm?” Jisung: “An unlovable worm.” You finally burst out laughing. He scrambles to his feet like he just got a Grammy and hugs you tight, not letting go. “I’m sorry. I was dumb. I always mess things up but I don’t wanna mess us up. You mean too much to me, even more than ramen. That’s serious.” You: “Even more than convenience store ramen at 3am?” He gasps. “Don’t make me say it again. It hurts.”

FELIX

You’re mad. And Felix? He’s a walking apology wrapped in sunshine and panic. He’s been following you around the apartment at a five-foot distance like a sad Roomba. Every time you turn, he freezes like he’s been caught committing a crime. He tries whispering your name dramatically like a telenovela character. “Y/N… Y/N, please… don’t do this. Not like this. Don’t ghost me while we’re still in the same house. It’s emotional terrorism.” You ignore him. So he leaves and comes back wearing the most ridiculous outfit known to mankind: your fuzzy pink robe, heart-shaped sunglasses, and a single oven mitt. “Look,” he says, dead serious. “This is what losing your affection did to me. I have no sense of fashion. No sense of self. I tried to toast bread but forgot to plug in the toaster.” You raise an eyebrow. So he ups the ante. Grabs your plushie and gently makes it “walk” toward you with a high-pitched voice. “Hi! I’m Mr. Snuggles and I think you should forgive Lixie because he’s really sorry and his freckles are crying.” You cover your face trying not to laugh. “Help what???” Then he puts the plushie down, sighs deeply, and finally drops the crack for a second. “I know I hurt your feelings. I didn’t mean to. I’d never do anything to make you feel ignored or unimportant, but I messed up. So… I’ll keep making a fool of myself until you smile again.” You glance up, and he’s got his arms wide open like a dramatic K-drama confession, still in your robe. You: “You look like a chaotic sleepover aunt.” Him, with the brightest grin: “But am I your forgiven chaotic sleepover aunt?” You sigh, walk over, and hug him. He melts immediately, nearly collapsing with relief. “I’ll be better,” he murmurs into your shoulder. “I promise. Even if I have to learn how to use the toaster properly.”

SEUNGMIN

The argument was small but loud. And now you’ve gone full cold shoulder. No eye contact. No banter. No sarcastic jabs. Nothing. For Seungmin, that’s worse than death. At first, he tries to out-ignore you out of pure spite. He walks past you dramatically sipping water like he’s never been hydrated a day in his life. Slams the cup down. Sighs. Doesn’t look at you. Repeats. Then he escalates. You walk into the kitchen and the fridge has a post-it that says: “This is where cold things go. Just like your heart apparently.” You spot your favorite snack on the counter. The packaging is untouched… but there’s another note: “I was going to eat this out of petty revenge, but I remembered I’m a good person. Unlike some people.” You almost laugh. Almost. Later, you hear him muttering while gaming: “Wow, teammates who actually listen… must be nice…” You finally lose it and throw a pillow at him. He catches it midair like a smug little gremlin and smirks. “So you can still see me. Thought I turned invisible.” You: “You’re so dramatic.” Seungmin, fake offended: “I haven’t even started yet.” Then he softens. Just a little. Barely. “I don’t like fighting with you. And I definitely don’t like not talking to you. I’m still mad, but I miss you more.” He walks over, hands in pockets, and says it without looking directly at you. “I’m sorry for being a jerk. I’m working on it. Please don’t stay mad too long, okay?” You stare at him. He stares at the floor. “…Also I may or may not have named your pillow Kevin and cried into him last night.” You: “You WHAT—” Seungmin: “Shhh. Kevin and I are going through a lot.”

JEONGIN

Jeongin, immediately after the argument: “I don’t care. I’m not apologizing. I was RIGHT.” Jeongin, 20 minutes later, whispering to Hyunjin: “She’s not looking at me. Should I fake an injury?” Hyunjin: “What kind?” Jeongin: “Emotional.” Cue Operation Unbothered (but obviously very bothered). He starts acting extra around the house. Slams drawers. Loudly types on his phone with the keyboard click sounds on. Walks past you with exaggerated sighs and occasional mutters like: “Guess I’ll just go be emotionally damaged… ALONE.” You stay silent. Now it’s desperation hour. He walks in wearing a crown made from a cereal box, holding a mop like a sword. “I have returned from the Kingdom of Regret. I bring apologies and emotional growth.” You blink. He bows deeply, knocking the crown off his head. “Your silence wounds me, fair lady. I shall now sing of my sorrow.” You: “Jeongin, don’t—” Too late. He whips out his phone, plays the most dramatic instrumental music he can find, and starts fake-sobbing like he’s in a historical drama. “Forgive me, for I was young and foolish—AND STUPID. MOSTLY STUPID.” You’re cackling at this point, and he breaks character instantly, grinning like he just won the lottery. “AH, SHE SMILES. I AM REDEEMED.” You: “You’re so annoying.” Him, smug: “But… forgiven?” You roll your eyes, tug him into a hug, and he melts instantly, still holding the mop. “Next time,” you mumble, “just say sorry like a normal person.” He grins into your shoulder. “Where’s the drama in that?”

PERM TAGLIST 📌🔖 ──── @the-sea-called-history02 @oc3anfloor @queenofdumbfuckery @whatdoyouwanttocallmefor @my-neurodivergent-world @bookswillfindyouaway @beal-o @velvetmoonlght

[valc-cq0]

His Duty, Her Desire (1)

Pairing: Bodyguard!OC x Chaebol!F!Idol (Karina, Aespa)

Genre/theme: Slow burn, drama, forbidden romance, hierarchy

Rating: Mature

Word Count: [3396]

(a/n) Hey everyone! This is my very first fic, and I’m super excited to finally share it. I’ve been lurking and reading so many works here on Tumblr, and I finally decided to take the leap and write one of my own.

I’m still figuring things out, so please bear with any rookie mistakes, but I poured my heart into this. Feedback, comments, or even just a like would mean the world to me. Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoy it!

Seoul glittered beneath a sky of gold and smoke. From the penthouse of the Gloré Tower, the city looked like a snow globe of ambition and neon. Inside, however, chaos reigned.

“Unbelievable! That stylist thought a pink sequin jumpsuit was couture?! I looked like a bedazzled popsicle!”

Karina, full name? Yu Ji-min, but no one dared call her that, stormed down the hallway, flinging her custom Balenciaga clutch at the couch. Her voice echoed through the apartment like a warning siren.

Valc, tall and dressed in a sleek black suit with an earpiece barely visible beneath his black hair, leaned against the doorway with his arms crossed. Unfazed. As always.

“You didn’t look like a popsicle.” he said calmly. “More like... a disco ball with sass.”

Karina whipped around, glaring. “Was that supposed to make me feel better?”

“A little. You’re glowing today, if that helps.”

She rolled her eyes, grabbing a bottle of sparkling water and taking a swig like it was vodka.

This was his life now, babysitting South Korea’s most chaotic chaebol heiress, the youngest daughter of a conglomerate that owned half the country’s luxury malls, tech companies, and scandals.

When Valc had been transferred from international private security to Seoul, he thought it’d be guarding stuffy CEOs. Not... this. Not Karina.

“I want a new stylist. And a new driver. And while we’re at it, can I get a new bodyguard too?” she huffed, pacing.

Valc raised a brow. “I’m right here, you know.”

“Exactly.”

“Harsh.”

“Facts.”

He suppressed a smirk. Karina was fire and thunder wrapped in Chanel. Always dramatic, always late, and always surrounded by chaos.

“You’re stuck with me.” he said simply, pushing off the doorframe. “Until your dad finds someone else who can put up with your... charm.”

Karina’s pout deepened. She hated when he teased her. But she also didn’t hate it enough to stop him.

Later that evening, they were at the opening of a luxury fashion boutique in Gangnam. Cameras flashed as Karina stepped out of the car, her long legs accentuated by a micro-mini skirt and thigh-high boots. She didn’t wait for Valc, she never did.

He followed at a comfortable distance, eyes scanning the crowd.

“I swear, if that influencer chick shows up again and calls me ‘Karinnie’. I’m throwing champagne in her face.” she muttered to him under her breath as they entered.

“I’ll bring the glass.” Valc replied without missing a beat.

She giggled despite herself, then quickly composed her face back to its signature RBF as paparazzi shouted her name.

Inside the event, Karina immediately attracted attention, suits, socialites, and slimy heirs vying for her attention. Valc stood near the corner, arms folded, eyes trained.

And then—

“Oh my god, he’s hot.” said a voice behind him.

He turned slightly. Two girls were ogling him openly. One waved. “Hi! Are you single?”

Valc blinked. “Working.”

Karina, across the room, caught the exchange. Her eyes narrowed dangerously. The girl had the audacity to touch his arm.

Valc didn’t flinch. But he did notice Karina making a beeline toward them.

“Excuse me.” she said sweetly, too sweetly, placing herself between Valc and the girls. “He doesn’t talk to strangers.”

“Are you his boss?” one girl asked.

“I’m worse. I’m his nightmare.”

Valc coughed to cover a laugh.

“I need a drink.” Karina snapped, grabbing his wrist and dragging him towards the bar. “You looked like you were enjoying yourself.”

“I wasn’t.” he said, amused.

“You didn’t push her off.”

“She touched my jacket.”

“She touched your arm.”

“I can’t control people’s arms, Karina.”

“You could’ve leaned away!”

He leaned closer, voice low. “Like this?”

Karina’s breath caught in her throat for a second, but she scowled, refusing to let him win.

“You’re annoying.”

“Thank you.”

Valc had been to many mansions in his line of work, but Karina’s family estate in Hanam made everything else look like a vacation rental. Think Versailles with a Samsung sponsorship: marble floors, security drones, and a koi pond that probably had its own trust fund.

He adjusted the earpiece as they entered. Karina strutted ahead, throwing her sunglasses at a maid like a drama queen in a K-drama.

“Unni, I need a full bath, rose petals, pink ones this time. Not red. Red makes me look like a corpse.” she said, tossing her heels aside with zero aim. They hit a priceless vase. It didn’t break, but it flinched.

Valc followed, expression neutral. The staff gave him sympathetic glances.

“Is she always like this?” he asked a nearby maid.

“She’s... unique.” the woman said delicately.

Karina whirled around. “I heard that.”

“You were meant to.”

“Watch your tone, bodyguard.”

“Watch your aim, princess.”

Her mouth twitched. “Don’t call me that.”

“Why? You literally live in a palace.”

“I hate the word.” She turned away, but not before he caught the flicker of something in her eyes, resentment? Bitterness? Hm.

Later that day, Valc wandered through the estate’s west garden, waiting for Karina to finish her two-hour glam session. A voice interrupted his peace.

“You must be Valc.”

He turned. A woman in a sleek navy pantsuit stood at the edge of the path, smirking.

“Ningning.” she said, offering a hand. “Cousin, confidant, chaos enabler.”

Valc shook her hand, amused. “Bodyguard, babysitter, accidental therapist.”

“I like you already.”

She looped her arm around his. “Come on. Let’s gossip.”

“Is that allowed?”

“Everything’s allowed when your net worth starts with a ‘B’.”

They walked toward the indoor pool as she filled him in on the drama. The broken engagement with the chaebol heir. The scandalous yacht party that trended for three days. The secret tattoo Karina got during a tantrum in Tokyo.

Valc laughed more in ten minutes than he had all week.

Too bad Karina walked in right when Ningning touched his shoulder.

Her heels clicked like thunder on marble.

“Oh wow, look at you two getting cozy.” she said flatly.

Valc straightened. “Just talking.”

“Didn’t know my cousin was into guys who wear the same three suits.”

“I rotate them.” Valc said with a grin.

Ningning raised a brow at Karina. “Jealous much?”

“I don’t get jealous. I get bored.”

She strutted past, flipping her hair and refusing to look at Valc.

That night, at a black-tie event at Lotte World Tower, Karina arrived late, glammed up like a goddess of controlled chaos. She wore a black silk dress with a thigh slit so dangerous it should’ve come with a warning.

Valc, in a tailored suit for once (Karina’s doing, though she’d deny it), stuck close behind her.

“Smile like you don’t hate everyone.” he muttered.

“I do hate everyone.”

“Fake it.”

“Like this?” She smiled sweetly at a passing CEO, then whispered, “He embezzled ₩3 billion and cried when my dad threatened him.”

“Your family sounds terrifying.”

“You haven’t even met my mom.”

During the dinner, Karina got surrounded by a group of posh heirs, one of whom slid into the seat beside her with a little too much confidence.

“Ji-min-ah.” he purred. “You look stunning tonight.”

“Park Jin-woo.” she sighed. “Still pretending to be charming?”

Valc hovered nearby, eyes scanning. But when Jin-woo leaned in closer, Karina suddenly turned towards Valc.

“Bodyguard.” she called sweetly. “Can you help me with my necklace?”

Valc raised a brow. “It’s not broken.”

“Then pretend it is. Fix it.”

He stepped forward, hands brushing her bare shoulders as he reached around her neck. Karina tilted her head slightly, too slowly and her breath fanned against his cheek.

Jin-woo cleared his throat.

Valc didn’t blink.

Karina smiled, triumphant. “Thank you. So good with your hands.”

Valc stepped back, jaw tight.

Later, in the parking garage, Valc opened the door of her limo.

“That was unnecessary.” he said.

“What was?”

“The act. The jealousy stunt.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” she said innocently, but her grin gave her away.

He leaned close. “Be careful, Karina.”

“Why?” she asked, tilting her head. “Worried I’ll fall for you?”

There was a pause. A charged second.

“No.” he said finally. “Worried you already did.”

And with that, he shut the door.

​​

The next morning, the estate was unusually quiet, until Karina shattered the calm.

“What do you mean we’re going to Jeju?!” she yelled from her silk-draped bed, mascara smudged under her eyes like war paint. “I just got my nails done for Seoul!”

Valc, standing at the doorway with a duffel slung over his shoulder, kept his expression unreadable.

“Your father wants you at the investor retreat. Starts tomorrow. Jet leaves in three hours.”

“I hate investor retreats. Everyone smells like old money and desperation.”

He shrugged. “I just follow orders. You scream at them.”

“Ugh, fine. But I’m bringing my wine fridge.”

“You’re not.”

“Then I’m not going.”

“You are.”

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

Karina threw a pillow at him. “Shut up.”

The private jet was stocked with enough food, champagne, and skincare to supply a K-pop tour. Karina lounged on a cream leather seat in a silk robe, scrolling through her phone and sighing dramatically every three minutes.

Valc sat across from her, reading a thick file labeled Contingency Protocols.

“I’m bored.” she said.

“I’m busy.”

“I’m prettier.”

He glanced up. “True.”

She blinked. “Wait, what?”

“I said it’s true. You're prettier. Now let me read.”

Karina flinched at the compliment, even though she'd been fishing for it. She stared at him, a little too long, before shifting her gaze to the window.

Jeju’s breeze was different. Softer. Saltier. But the resort they were staying in was anything but calm.

Karina arrived in a mood. That morning, Dispatch had dropped a juicy article titled "Chaebol Princess and Her Hot Bodyguard: Secret Romance or PR Stunt?"

She was livid.

“Why would they say that?!” she shouted, pacing the suite.

Valc sipped his Americano. “You flirted with me in front of like... a hundred cameras.”

“I was acting!”

“Right. Oscar-worthy.”

Karina hurled a cushion at him. “You don’t care?! They called you hot!”

“I’m not mad about that part.”

“You’re impossible.”

“You’re dramatic.”

She collapsed on the bed with a groan, then peeked at him. “You think I’m pretty, right?”

Valc blinked. “We’ve been over this.”

“I want you to say it again.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

“Because I hate you, but I still want to hear it.”

That made him chuckle. “You’re impossible.”

“You already said that.”

He crossed the room, sitting at the edge of the bed. His voice was quiet. “You’re the most beautiful chaos I’ve ever met.”

Her breath caught.

She turned away.

“Gross. Don’t get poetic.”

That night, Valc joined the retreat's formal dinner, reluctantly. Karina was surrounded by suit-clad men with predatory smiles and old money names. Valc kept to the shadows, sipping whiskey.

Then she walked in.

Winter, Karina’s childhood rival and now CEO of a skincare empire, glided in like an ice queen. Short dress. Diamond eyes. Deadly smile.

“Valc, was it?” she asked, gliding toward him like she was already bored. “You look much better than the rumors.”

He nodded, diplomatic. “Nice to meet you.”

Winter smirked. “Charming and polite. Karina always did pick the best toys.”

He blinked. “I’m not—”

“Oh, I know what you are. The question is... do you?”

Karina was across the room, watching with narrowed eyes. And then she stood.

In three seconds flat, she was beside them.

“Winter.” Karina said, voice dipped in venom.

“Ji-min.” Winter purred. “Your bodyguard and I were just chatting.”

“Too close for chatting.” Karina snapped.

“I was standing.”

“You were drooling.”

“I was complimenting his jawline.”

“Well, compliment your own and walk away.”

Valc said nothing. He just watched Karina’s jaw twitch.

Winter smirked, gliding off with a smug twirl.

Valc leaned in. “Jealous again?”

Karina took a sip of champagne, eyes locked on Winter. “Shut up before I drown you in this glass.”

“Copy that.”

Later that night, back in the suite, the tension was too thick to cut.

“Why do you care who talks to me?” Valc asked, toeing off his shoes.

Karina didn’t answer. She stared out the window at the crashing waves.

“Karina.”

“I don’t care.” she said. “I just hate her.”

“Right.”

“Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you’re seeing through me.”

He didn’t say anything. Just walked up behind her, close but not touching.

“I see more than you think.” he said quietly.

Her voice cracked. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

The rain hit Jeju like a grudge. Sheets of water poured over the coast, wind howling against the windows of the cliffside villa Karina had insisted they move into last minute, because “retreats are for old men and bad wine.”

Lightning flashed, thunder cracked, and in the living room, Karina was still wearing a silk robe, arguing with the smart fridge.

“Why does it keep suggesting kombucha? I asked for wine!”

Valc sat nearby, barefoot, in sweats and a hoodie for once, watching her like she was both exhausting and entertaining. Which, frankly, she was.

“I think it knows you’re unhinged.” he said.

Karina spun around. “Are you siding with the fridge now?”

“I trust it more than your mood swings.”

She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. “You’ve got jokes for someone who’s supposed to protect me.”

He caught the pillow with one hand, grinning. “Laughter is protection. Keeps me from losing my mind around you.”

She flopped onto the couch, letting out a dramatic sigh. The lights flickered. Outside, trees bent like they were bowing to the sea.

“You ever think about quitting?” she asked suddenly. Her voice, too quiet.

Valc glanced at her. “What, and miss your daily tantrums?”

“Be serious.”

He put the pillow down, sobering. “Yeah. I’ve thought about it.”

She blinked. That clearly wasn’t the answer she expected.

“Why?”

He leaned back, arms folded. “Because sometimes I forget if I’m protecting you from the world… or from yourself.”

Silence.

Karina looked down at her hands. Perfect nails. Rings that cost more than tuition.

“I don’t know who I’d be without all this.” she murmured. “The money. The power. The drama.”

“You’d still be you.” he said simply.

“You don’t know me.”

“I’m starting to.”

She met his gaze. There was something in her eyes, vulnerability, raw and rare. It made Valc sit up straighter.

“I don’t let people in.” she said. “Not really.”

“I noticed.”

“But with you…” Her voice dropped. “It’s different. And that scares me.”

Valc’s heart kicked in his chest. This wasn’t teasing. This wasn’t bratty games.

“I’m just your bodyguard, Karina.”

“No, you’re not.”

A crash of thunder drowned the silence between them. The lights blinked, and then died.

Darkness.

Karina jumped.

“Okay, that’s a nope, I hate storms.” she said quickly, voice pitching higher.

“You? Afraid?”

“Shut up and come here.”

Valc reached for his phone, flashlight flickering on as he walked toward her.

“You good?” he asked.

“No. My life is blacked out. I feel poor.”

He snorted. “You’re so dramatic.”

She grabbed his sleeve and tugged him down next to her. He sat, warmth between them immediate.

“I used to be scared of blackouts.” she said quietly. “When I was little, I thought it meant the world was ending.”

He turned the flashlight off. “It’s not.”

“I know.” A pause. “Because you’re here.”

Valc looked at her. Something shifted.

Karina leaned in. Just slightly. Just enough for him to feel the heat of her breath.

His voice was low. “Karina…”

“Shut up.” she whispered. “Just for once.”

And then she kissed him.

Soft. Quick. Like a secret.

When she pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, and her mouth opened to say something, anything.

The lights came back on.

Reality crashed in.

Karina blinked. “I—That didn’t mean anything. I was... stressed.”

Valc sat still. “Right.”

“Seriously. It was a blackout kiss. Everyone gets one.”

“Sure.”

“I’m gonna take a shower.”

She fled.

Valc sat there alone, blinking at the now-too-bright room.

He touched his lips. “A blackout kiss?”

Yeah, he was definitely in trouble.

Back in Seoul, the city skyline greeted them with its usual chaos, billboards flashing, taxis honking, camera flashes hiding behind coffee shop windows. But for once, it wasn’t the skyline Karina was looking at from the backseat of the Maybach.

It was Valc.

He hadn’t said a word about the kiss.

Not during the flight.

Not during the drive.

Not even when she dropped her designer sunglasses and nearly lost her mind at the airport lounge.

He was back to his usual self, calm, unbothered, unreadable.

And it pissed her off.

“What’s your problem?” she snapped suddenly.

Valc raised an eyebrow from the passenger seat. “Me?”

“You’ve been quiet.”

“I’m usually quiet.”

“Well, you’re extra quiet. Is this about Jeju?”

He looked out the window. “You said it didn’t mean anything.”

Her jaw tightened. “And you just agreed.”

“Was I supposed to argue?”

“Yes!”

Valc turned towards her, finally. “You’re confusing as hell, Karina.”

She scoffed. “And you’re an emotionally constipated tree.”

“Glad we’re being mature about this.”

They didn’t speak again until they reached the estate.

The next morning, Dispatch dropped another bomb.

[EXCLUSIVE] Chaebol Heiress Karina Spotted Kissing Her Bodyguard in Jeju Villa?!

The photo wasn’t clear, low-light, slightly blurry, but it was them. The kiss. The lightning in the background added drama straight out of a romance novel.

Karina stared at her phone like it had personally betrayed her.

Ningning stormed into her room minutes later. “Okay, girl, what the hell! You and Tall, Dark, and Stoic are making headlines! Again!”

Karina threw the phone onto her bed. “How does Dispatch keep getting this stuff?! Are the lamps mic’d?!”

“Probably. But more importantly, are you, like, in love or whatever?”

Karina flinched. “What?! No. It was a blackout kiss.”

“A what now?”

“You know, like... a panic move during a thunderstorm. Happens all the time in dramas.”

“Karina. You’re not in a drama. You’re in denial.”

“I can’t like him.” she said, pacing now. “He’s my bodyguard. That’s messy. That’s scandalous. That’s… dangerous.”

“So are you,” Ningning said with a smirk.

Karina paused. “What if he doesn’t feel the same?”

Ningning’s smirk widened. “Then he’s a bigger idiot than I thought.”

Meanwhile, Valc stood outside the estate, watching the press cars pile up like vultures on a buffet line. His phone buzzed.

Unknown Number.

He answered.

“Is this Valc?” a woman’s voice asked.

“Who’s asking?”

“I’m Giselle. We need to talk. About Karina.”

They met later that evening at a rooftop bar in Itaewon.

Giselle wasn’t what Valc expected, confident, sharp, and stylish in a way that said she knew how to ruin reputations with a single Instagram story.

“I’m her friend.” she said, sipping a mojito. “Kind of. More like... her mirror. Except my life didn’t get handed to me on a platinum plate.”

Valc nodded. “You said you wanted to talk?”

“Yeah. I like you. But you need to be careful.”

“Of Karina?”

“Of the world she lives in. She’ll break you without meaning to.”

He frowned. “I’m not easily broken.”

“You think she kissed you because she’s in love? Maybe. But maybe it’s because you’re the only thing in her life she doesn’t control.”

Valc didn’t respond.

“You’re a good guy. I can tell. Just don’t expect her to know what she wants.”

Giselle stood, dropping a business card on the table.

“If she hurts you, call me. I’ve got tequila.”

The next day, Valc was walking through the estate garden when Karina appeared out of nowhere like an angry angel in leather boots.

“Oh, so you do have time to meet mysterious women now?” she snapped.

He blinked. “What?”

“Don’t play dumb. I saw the photos. Giselle? Really? You think that’s subtle?!”

Valc crossed his arms. “She wanted to talk about you.”

Karina’s jaw locked. “Sure she did.”

“Jealous again?”

“No, I just hate being replaced.”

“I haven’t replaced you.”

She stepped closer. “Then what are we, Valc?”

He met her gaze, calm but intense. “You tell me, Karina.”

“I told you it meant nothing.”

“Then stop acting like it meant everything.”

Her face twisted. She shoved him.

He didn’t move. “Done?”

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

And before she could argue, he walked away.

This time, she was the one left alone, furious and breathless and maybe, just maybe... heartbroken.

A/N: Part 2 dropping soon, stand by !!

[xoxorory]

Floaties, Heatwaves & Stolen Kisses !

POV: Fem!Reader (Cabin Counselor, Daughter of Aphrodite,though it's not specified!) Pairing: Lifeguard!Percy Jackson x Cabin Counselor!Fem!Reader Genre: Romance, humor, flirting, established relationship, fluff, suggestive comments, babysitting chaos Word Count: ~3000 words Tag list: @simpingmyassoff , @shootingstargirl2001 (if you want to be added,comment below! !) Warning:English isn't my first lenguage,enjoy ! ! ! a/n: I've been inactive for a long time . . . (I mean in posting fics LOL),hopefully i'm back

1. Melting Skies

The sun hung above Camp Half-Blood like some divine punishment. It wasn’t normal heat—it was godly. Like Hephaestus accidentally left his forge on, and now all of Long Island was preheating at 475°F.

I sat under a canopy near Hermes Cabin, fanning a group of sweaty, grumpy kids with a giant palm leaf.

“My shirt is sticking to my soul,” complained Caleb, a dramatic little son of Hecate.

“My face is melting,” added a girl, collapsing into the grass.

I was about to cry when I spotted salvation in swim trunks.

Percy Jackson. Lifeguard whistle, no shirt, water-slick curls, and that smug grin.

“Hot out here, princess?” he called.

I looked up, fanning myself. “What gave it away, seaweed brain?”

“I’ve got a plan,” he said, lifting a cooler and some floaties. “Lake day. I already got the okay from Chiron. We cool the kids off, and I don’t have to watch you melt.”

“Does your plan include bribing me with alone time and cold drinks?”

He walked up, leaned down, and whispered, “Only if you let me rub your shoulders later, princess.”

I blushed. Hard.

“Are you guys married?” asked a tiny Demeter girl out of nowhere.

“WHAT?” we both exclaimed.

“You look at each other like my mom and dad do before they kiss,” she added.

Percy grinned. “Not married. . . yet.”

I gave him the death glare. He just winked.

2. One,Two,Three. . .To the water, demigods!

Twenty minutes later, kids were splashing in the lake. Percy was up on his lifeguard stand looking like a water god, and I stood beside Piper and Leo on the dock, keeping watch.

“No pushing!” I shouted at the Hermes kids trying to body-surf.

Piper nudged me. “You know he’s been staring at you since you walked up, right?”

“Not my fault I look hot in shorts.”

“Not his fault he wants to marry you.”

I rolled my eyes—then Percy blew his whistle and waved me over.

“Hey, counselor,” he said. “Need help with floaties… and I think my back’s burning.”

“Sure you’re not just craving a little attention, love?”

He handed me the sunscreen. “Please. This is a life-threatening situation.”

I rolled my eyes and began rubbing the lotion onto his shoulders. He groaned softly.

“Did you just moan?” I teased.

“That was a restrained sigh of survival, princess.”

“From what, exactly?”

“You in shorts. Touching me. Acting like it’s nothing.”

I smirked, dragging my fingers just a little lower.

“What if I said I was doing it on purpose?”

“Then I’m filing a complaint with Aphrodite because her daughter’s trying to kill me.”

We were very into it when—

“Why is she rubbing you like that, Percy?”

Caleb. Again.

“Uh... sunscreen,” I said.

“She loves me,” Percy added smugly.

“Does love mean touching backs?”

“Only after curfew,” he muttered under his breath.

I smacked his arm.

3. Floaties, Flirting, & Chaos

The chaos continued—kids were flinging lake water, floaties were capsizing, Leo was making a raft out of juice boxes, and Percy kept diving into the water like some hero from Baywatch.

I sat with my legs in the water, letting the cool ripple against my calves. Percy joined me, his curls wet and clinging to his forehead, his smile soft.

“Hey, pretty girl,” he said.

“Hey,waterboy.”

“Thanks for today.”

“For wrangling demigod toddlers in the heat?”

“For that. And for being drop-dead gorgeous while doing it. And for not drowning me in the lake when I said we were married.”

“You're lucky you're cute.”

“I’m lucky I have you.”

He leaned in, his hand brushing my thigh just under the water.

“Pretty” he whispered, “I’m madly in love with you, and I want to kiss you properly.”

“You sure you won’t combust?”

“Only one way to find out.”

And then—

“EWWW! They’re gonna kiss!” someone shrieked.

“BOOOO!”

Percy groaned, resting his forehead on mine. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“I told you,” I sighed, “we’re owed at least one uninterrupted kiss.”

“Princess, I swear, the first moment we’re alone—”

“I’m cashing in. With interest.”

4. Sunset & Soft Things

Finally, the little ones were back in their cabins, passed out from too much sun and sugar. The counselors retreated to their own corners of camp, and Percy tugged me toward the dock.

The lake shimmered in the golden-pink of sunset. It was quiet, warm, perfect.

“You ever think about the future?” I asked, curling into his side.

“All the time,” he murmured. “Usually with you in it. In every version.”

I looked up at him. “You’re dangerously romantic today.”

“I’m just in love with the most beautiful girl in the universe. Happens.”

“I’ll allow it.”

He turned to me, eyes serious now.

“I want more days like this. Chaos, floaties, tiny goblins interrupting our kisses... and you. Always you.”

“Are you asking me to be your girlfriend again, seaweed boy?”

“No,” he said, smirking. “I’m reminding you that you’re mine. And I’m yours.”

And this time, when he kissed me?

No one interrupted.

[otakudragones]

Kento Nanami

As a Boyfriend

• Nanami doesn’t fall in love easily, but once he does, he is serious, straightforward, and completely honest.

• His way of caring for you is practical: making sure you eat well, rest properly, and don’t overwork. Not because he’s boring, but because he knows what exhaustion feels like and he doesn’t want that for you.

• He prefers small, consistent gestures. A hot cup of coffee in the morning, a silent hand reaching for yours, a “Did you get home safe?” every night.

• He gets nervous with physical affection at first, but once he’s used to it, he becomes your anchor: long hugs, slow caresses, his head resting on your lap as he listens to you speak.

• He’s very observant. He notices when something’s bothering you, even if you don’t say it. And he stays with you until you’re okay, even if he doesn’t know exactly how to help.

Imagine:

You come home after a bad day. He doesn’t ask anything. He just takes off his tie, sits you on the couch, and puts a blanket over your shoulders. Then he sits beside you, saying nothing, and holds your hand. It’s all you need.

As a Husband

• He’s methodical, but affectionate. He has schedules, routines, and a very specific way of doing things… but he always makes space for you in all of it.

• He makes breakfast every morning. Not because he has to, but because he loves seeing you smile at the first bite.

• Fights are rare, because he prefers to talk things through calmly. Still, he never underestimates your feelings. He always listens.

• He calls you “my love” naturally. Sometimes it sounds so formal, so him, that it gives you butterflies like the very first time.

• He firmly believes in respect, commitment, and true companionship. He doesn’t want a perfect story—just a life with you.

Imagine:

You’re lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He walks in, lies down beside you, and asks, “Would you like to take a vacation?”

He doesn’t say it because he’s tired… he says it because he’s noticed you are. And he wants to gift you a break.

As a Father

• Nanami is the kind of dad who reads parenting articles and keeps a personal mini-library of illustrated books.

• He fears the world—not for himself, but for his child. That’s why he teaches them early that being strong isn’t the same as being cold.

• He loves reading bedtime stories, especially if he can do different voices (even if it’s hard for him).

• He has a photo album organized by months. He also keeps every drawing, letter, and memory.

• If his child stumbles or falls, he doesn’t rush to pick them up… but he does kneel beside them, asks if they’re okay, and says, “I’m here. Try again.”

In general, a relationship with Nanami is...

• Like a warm cup of tea on a cloudy day. Calm, safe, sincere.

• He looks at you as if you’re the most precious thing in his life. Not as an unreachable ideal, but as someone real, human, whom he loves even on their hardest days.

• With him, you learn that love doesn’t have to be a storm. It can be a refuge. A routine made of tenderness.

• He never takes you for granted. He’s always grateful to have you. He always chooses to stay.

Mini One-Shot: “Shared Time”

Nanami comes home later than usual. Work, as always, has taken more from him than it should.

But there you are. In the kitchen, with soft music in the background, making something simple.

He sets down his briefcase, takes off his shoes, and walks over. He leans his forehead on your shoulder, quietly.

—“Sorry I’m late,” he murmurs.

—“You don’t need to apologize,” you reply, taking his hand.

He smiles, tired but thankful.

—“Do you mind if I just… stay here for a moment?”

You nod, and he hugs you.

In that moment, the world stops. There’s only the two of you. The shared warmth. The silence full of love.

Traducción

Como novio

• Nanami no se enamora fácilmente, pero una vez lo hace, es serio, directo y completamente sincero.

• Su forma de cuidarte es práctica: asegurarse de que comas bien, que descanses, que no trabajes de más. No porque sea aburrido, sino porque sabe lo que significa estar agotado y no quiere eso para ti.

• Prefiere los gestos pequeños pero constantes. Un café caliente por la mañana, una mano que se extiende hacia la tuya en silencio, un “¿llegaste bien?” cada noche.

• Se pone nervioso con el contacto físico al principio, pero una vez se acostumbra, se convierte en tu ancla: abrazos largos, caricias lentas, la cabeza apoyada en tu regazo mientras te escucha hablar.

• Es muy observador. Nota cuando algo te preocupa incluso si no lo dices. Y se queda contigo hasta que estés bien, aunque no sepa exactamente cómo ayudarte.

Imagina:

Llegas a casa después de un mal día. Él no pregunta nada. Solo se quita la corbata, te sienta en el sofá, y te pone una manta sobre los hombros. Luego se sienta a tu lado, sin decir una palabra, y te toma la mano. Es todo lo que necesitas.

Como esposo

• Es metódico, pero cariñoso. Tiene horarios, rutinas y una manera muy particular de hacer las cosas… pero siempre deja espacio para ti en todo.

• Hace el desayuno cada mañana. No porque tenga que hacerlo, sino porque le gusta verte sonreír con el primer bocado.

• Las peleas son raras, porque prefiere resolver las cosas conversando con calma. Aun así, nunca subestima tus emociones. Siempre te escucha.

• Te llama “mi amor” de forma natural. A veces suena tan formal, tan suyo, que te da mariposas como la primera vez.

• Cree firmemente en el respeto, el compromiso, y la compañía real. No quiere una historia perfecta, solo una vida contigo.

Imagina:

Estás acostado en la cama, mirando el techo. Él entra, se recuesta a tu lado, y te pregunta: “¿Te gustaría que nos tomáramos unas vacaciones?”

No lo dice porque esté cansado… lo dice porque ha notado que tú lo estás. Y quiere regalarte un respiro.

Como padre

• Nanami es el tipo de padre que lee artículos sobre crianza y guarda libros ilustrados en una pequeña biblioteca personal.

• Le teme al mundo, pero no por sí mismo: por su hijo. Por eso le enseña desde pequeño que ser fuerte no es lo mismo que ser frío.

• Le encanta leer cuentos antes de dormir, especialmente si puede hacer voces diferentes (aunque le cuesta).

• Tiene un álbum de fotos organizado por meses. También guarda cada dibujo, cada carta, cada recuerdo.

• Si su hijo tropieza o se cae, no corre a levantarlo… pero sí se arrodilla a su lado, le pregunta si está bien, y le dice: “Estoy aquí. Inténtalo otra vez.”

En general, una relación con Nanami es…

• Como una taza de té caliente en un día nublado. Tranquila, segura, sincera.

• Te mira como si fueras lo más valioso de su vida. No como un ideal inalcanzable, sino como alguien real, humano, a quien ama incluso en sus días más difíciles.

• A su lado, aprendes que el amor no tiene que ser una tormenta. Puede ser un refugio. Puede ser una rutina hecha de ternura.

• Nunca te da por sentado. Siempre agradece tenerte. Siempre elige quedarse.

Mini One-Shot: “Tiempo compartido”

Nanami llega a casa más tarde de lo habitual. El trabajo, como siempre, le ha exigido más de lo que debería.

Pero ahí estás tú. En la cocina, con música suave de fondo, preparando algo sencillo.

Él deja el maletín, se quita los zapatos, y se acerca por detrás. Apoya la frente en tu hombro, en silencio.

—Perdón por llegar tarde —murmura.

—No tienes que disculparte —respondes, mientras le tomas la mano.

Él sonríe, cansado pero agradecido.

—¿Te importa si solo... me quedo aquí un momento.

Tú asientes, y él te abraza.

En ese instante, el mundo se detiene. Solo quedan ustedes dos. El calor compartido. El silencio lleno de amor.

[ericshoney]

In the past ~ Bucky Barnes

Summary: Bucky always seems to avoid you and you needed to know why.

Warnings: Mentions of car crash, HYDRA, slight angst, mild language.

Reader's Age: 16

The Stark Tower wasn't just a monument of metal and glass; it was home. For Y/N Stark, it was a playground, a laboratory, and a slightly chaotic family hub. Being Tony Stark's daughter had its perks. She had access to cutting-edge technology, a practically unlimited supply of snacks, and a front-row seat to superhero shenanigans. The Avengers were her extended, if slightly dysfunctional, family. Steve told dad jokes, Natasha taught her self-defence moves, and Bruce was always willing to help with her science projects.

But there was one Avenger who remained a mystery, a ghost in her otherwise vibrant world: Bucky Barnes. She’d catch glimpses of him in the communal kitchen, grabbing a quick coffee before disappearing, or see him heading towards the training room as she wandered the halls. Each time, he’d acknowledge her with a curt nod, his steel-blue eyes holding a flicker of something unreadable before he'd quickly turn away.

It wasn't that he was unfriendly, exactly. More like…avoidant. The others told her Bucky was a private person, still struggling with his past. But Y/N couldn’t shake the feeling it was more personal than that. She was sixteen, observant, and acutely aware that Bucky avoided her like she was a landmine waiting to explode.

One afternoon, armed with a half-eaten bag of chips and a healthy dose of teenage determination, Y/N decided to confront the mystery. She found Bucky in the library, a space usually deserted, lost in the pages of a worn leather-bound book.

Taking a deep breath, she approached. "Hey, Bucky," she said, trying for a casual tone.

He looked up, startled, the book snapping shut in his hands. That unreadable look flickered in his eyes again, quickly masked by a carefully neutral expression. "Y/N."

"I was just wondering," she began, trying to ignore the sudden dryness in her mouth, "why you always, like, avoid me?"

Silence stretched between them, punctuated only by the hum of the Tower's ventilation system. Bucky’s jaw tightened. He looked away, towards the cityscape visible through the panoramic window.

"It's not personal," he finally said, his voice gruff.

Y/N scoffed, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet room. "Yeah, right. That's what everyone says. But you literally run the other way when you see me coming. Is it something I did? Did I accidentally insult your favourite hat or something?"

"I feel guilty." Bucky blurted out.

Guilty? Did you eat my cereal? Use my shampoo? What have you got to feel guilty about, you're a super soldier!" Y/n exclaimed.

Bucky sighed and looked up at the young girl, a spitting image of her father, a reminder of everything he did.

"Did Tony ever tell you about his parents?" He questioned.

"He said they died in a car crash when he was fairly young when they passed and that he wanted to be a better father than his ever was." She answered with a casual shrug.

Upon hearing her response, Bucky felt even more guilty. She didn't know the true reason for their death, meaning this conversation was going to be even harder, a conversation he thought he'd never had to have.

"Bucky your doing that intense staring thing again. Look if you're just going to feed me some bullshit, I'm just gonna go." She said, ready to leave the quiet room.

"I'm the reason your grandparents are dead. I killed them." He confessed, studying the girls face for any sign of anger, hate or sadness.

"Was that at a time HYDRA had you?" She asked carefully, knowing the trauma was still there.

Bucky nodded silently, making the teenager sigh. She went and sat next to the ex-assassin and gave him a soft smile, "I'm not angry Bucky, I can't be."

"Your...not?" He called.

"No. I can't be. I didn't know them, it was such a long time ago and honestly from the stories dad has told me, Howard Stark wasn't the warmest person." She chuckled.

Bucky let out a small chuckle too, something that seemed to warm Y/n's heart. Something that made all her anxieties and worries about the man fade away.

"So can you not avoid me? Can we agree it's in the past?" She offered.

"Deal, mini Stark."

Tags:

@parkjihoonsnudes @riowritesitall @mandmilovehim @onelesslonelygirlbieber6 @lgbtq-girl

Dividers by: @issysh3ll

[markantonys]

My Mom Reacts To: wheel of time season 3 episodes 1-4 (no book spoilers)

season 1 (book spoilers)

season 2 episodes 1-4 (no book spoilers)

season 2 episodes 5-8 (book spoilers)

she found her handwritten list of characters from when we watched s2 back in 2023, i couldn't believe it haha below is her summary of some of the gang as she was trying to jog her memory

lan: the one i really love mat: the one who got recast perrin: the big guy nynaeve: the healer rand and egwene: the ones who should be a couple but probably won't be

(i don't know if she meant that *she thinks* they should be a couple, as her personal opinion, or if she was just describing the general narrative framing of them as "should be together but won't be". we'll see what, if any, reaction she has to all the mess between them this season!)

ahead of s2, we rewatched all of s1 to prepare, but this time, we just watched the 20-minute recap of the first 2 seasons by unraveling the pattern. i get the sense that my mom is more lost and struggling during s3 than she has been in prior seasons, probably due to a combination of not doing a full rewatch first and to s3 just being so much more packed with Stuff than the first 2 seasons. but she knows all the main characters well and cares about them, it's mostly other stuff like plot and terminology that's hard to keep track of! and she did seem to settle in more once the hectic first episode was done and once she could focus more on the new storylines that are happening right now instead of trying to remember setup from previous seasons.

beginning of the recap: it's easy to get lost with all the different characters and terminology my mom: that's for sure!

during the recap my dad asked "is the dragon good or bad?" and i was like "that's kinda the big question of the whole series" haha

onto the episodes!

3x01

mom: didn't moiraine get banished from this city? me: yes, that's why she's hiding mom: she's not doing a very good job

me to my dad (who used to work in local government) at the beginning of the meeting of the hall: it's like town meeting dad later during all the shredding: town meeting never got QUITE this violent

mom: how did they not know there were this many bad guys lurking inside the tower? me: that's exactly what siuan is wondering too

my dad at some point during the street fighting: they need that guy who thinks he's a wolf to come and help

could perrin emerge as a fav for my dad if he was his first thought for somebody who would be useful in a situation? watch this space

mom after liandrin gets healed from double-stab out in the streets: ugh, she's unkillable!

huge gasp when ihvon died

mom when lan went to find nynaeve amid the rubble: oh yeah, they're in love right? [i will say, the recap was highly plot- and lore-focused and left out quite a lot of important info regarding interpersonal relationships!]

rand's line about "you know what prophecies are like, nothing's clear" got a chuckle

loial's line about leaving at dawn got a big chuckle!

mom: [smiling] he's one of my favorite characters me internally:😬

the girls' gossip session was instance #1 of my mom going "who's that???" about elayne because she "looks different" this season and she didn't recognize her (i suspect it's the hair throwing her off, in this scene especially it looks REALLY blonde and pale)

she definitely had some grumbling about it being stupid of the boys to go around town while so many bad guys are looking for them, though i forget exactly what it was

then later on she said "considering how many people are after them, they keep engaging in some pretty risky behaviors" (but this comment was just when mat was going to get himself a midnight drink at the inn, let him live, mom!)

mom: does rand know selene is evil? me [seeing my opportunity to get her sympathetic to rand's perspective early]: he knows she's lanfear, but she's been manipulating him hardcore, so he still thinks maybe he can fix her and help her be good again

i think it was during siuan's convo with egwene and nynaeve about being prepared to stop the dragon that my mom quietly said "...........is rand the dragon?" evidence of how overwhelmed this poor woman is with everything going on this season haha she's questioning everything she thinks she knows!

elayne delivering letters out on the street was instance #2 of going "who's that????" about her

no comments at all on any of the rand-avi, avi-elayne, or rand-elayne interactions this episode. i don't think she's particularly invested in either elayne or avi at this stage since they're newer characters compared to the OG crew, but we'll see!

moiraine: where do you really want to go? rand: where do i REALLY want to go? home mom: i was going to say, i bet all he wants is to just go home

she gets him!

rand: i was there [scaring egwene in her arches trip], wasn't i? mom: he's too smart for his own good

first time anybody has ever said that about rand dkfjgh but she's right! he's a lot more perceptive than much of show fandom gives him credit for!

mom: that guy perrin killed [bornhald], was he a bad guy? me: well, he was a whitecloak, so yes, but as whitecloaks go, he was better than some dad: a fitting description for his tombstone

mom during the inn attacks: it's so dark, i'm glad i can't see everything [because it's scary]

mom when lanaeve are saying their goodbyes: oh, why can't they just stay together?!

relatable to all of us who watched our favorite ships part ways in this episode!

"since perrin is going home, does that mean he won't be in the story anymore?" perrin wishes that was the case!

me: rand could've at least told moiraine the change of plans before she spent all that money on the boat mom: i know! it's like they think she has bottomless pockets! me: well to be fair she kinda DOES have bottomless pockets

dad after the episode: that felt like a lot more than just one episode

mom: will lan and nynaeve see each other again? me: not this season, but they should if there are more seasons mom: [sighs sadly] i just want lan to be happy

she followed this up with "this doesn't seem like an easy world to be happy in" you can say that again!

"if you counted how many times these 5 people got attacked throughout the show, i wonder how many it would be" very dangerous new WOT drinking game just dropped courtesy of my mom

the next day, she said "dad said he'll be home after [whatever time] and we can watch more then, it sounds like he really doesn't want to miss any" could've fooled me since it's never obvious that he's paying attention let alone invested, but it IS rare for him to even so much as imply that he wants us to wait for him to watch something!

3x02

me: this is elayne's mom pregnant with elayne mom: but she has two kids already me: yes, elayne has two older brothers mom: so why is elayne the one inheriting the throne? me: it's a matriarchal throne succession mom: i'm glad i have you here to explain things

huge gasp when the assassinations happened. "elayne is so nice, but her mom is so terrible!"

my dad's thought on the assassinations was "now this DID happen a lot in town meeting" lmao

as soon as they showed gaebril my mom went "i think i've seen him before", it turned out she was mixing him up with ishy since they have similar hair/beards, but i was cracking up imagining that rahvin had compelled her through the screen to remember him being in previous seasons

the music got a shoutout from her in this episode during the travel montages! there's some particularly groovy tunes in this episode's travel montages

several chuckles over galad getting made fun of in various scenes, as is only right

another chuckle at "the prophecy does not say i must enjoy the task"

elayne: that's the first time anyone's accused this room of being big mom: it looks pretty big to me!

first my mom was upset that no one was coming up to perrin to say hello when he arrived in the village, and then after finding out the whitecloaks have a bounty on him, she was upset that he was walking around out in the open and so many people had seen him arrive

she was also like "why did moiraine just let him leave and go home?" and i pointed out that moiraine's goal was to separate rand from his friends and that she really kinda only cares about rand at this point and not the other four so much, which my mom semi-accepted haha

mom after finding out min's viewing of dead aes sedai & warders wasn't referring to the 3x01 battle but was actually another battle still to come: is there ever any hope at all in this world?!

much appreciation for chiad's line about asking the lion to protect you from the bear and ending up in one belly instead of the other

perrin: i'll turn myself in mom: oh perrin, you're too good for your own good

once again my mom asked "does rand know she's evil?" about lanfear, so i took another chance to explain that rand knows objectively that she's evil but she's been careful not to do anything evil in front of him as a way of manipulating him, and that he really loved her during the months they were together so it's hard for him to just turn that off. i'm doing my best to seed in Rand Sympathy! we'll see if it pays off in the remaining episodes.

then my dad sneezed really loudly and distracted us all from the quick reveal that lanfear is disguising herself as renna to torture egwene, so i had to catch them up on that. classic dad behavior.

mom: [trying to jog her memory] was min romantically involved with anyone? me: no mom: she and mat might make a good pair me: NO they're like siblings to me!!!!

if she makes any kind of shippy comment during the CPR i'm going to pull out the "rand's the one who gave him CPR in the books, would you have considered THAT romantic too?" card hahaha

after gaebril told elayne about the trouble in andor, my mom was all "why would the queen leave the country if there's trouble?" "why is she leaving all her advisors behind at the tower if there's trouble?" she was starting to pick up on Something Fishy Going On Here

the scene of siuan taking the horn from mat was a big hit, naturally!

elayne: i learned from the best [morgase] mom: i don't know, i don't think SHE would ever kill her rivals dad: *i* think she would

mom about elaida: is she evil? dad: no one in this show is fully evil or fully good, they're all some of both

continuing his tradition of remaining mostly quiet and seeming not to pay much attention and then coming out with completely accurate takes

3x03

at first when my mom saw "gaebril" skulking around she was laughing because she thought morgase accidentally forgot him at the tower and left him behind, i was dying and am going to think about that every time i watch this scene forevermore

at the reveal that he's evil: "ugh! of COURSE!"

then i was explaining that he's not just evil, he's a forsaken, and explaining more about how he planted fake memories, and also giving her the list of all the forsaken we've met so far to add to her notes. we did pause for most of this, but sadly sammael's rug line got talked over so they missed that one, alas!

while nynaeve and elayne were walking through the streets my mom said she thought she saw somebody lurking around - it must have been the gray man, i was impressed! i hadn't caught him myself!

mom after hearing elaida's plan to cage rand: [unhappily] there are so many different groups of bad guys, and only one of good guys

she remembered the tuatha'an well from s1! she said she remembers s1 better than s2 since she'd watched it twice (and also said that s1 was the easiest one to follow since it was only about the main small group of characters)

we both keep fretting about wanting to know exactly how much time has passed, so in the scene with laila's tree we were like "well i guess however long it takes for a tree to grow that tall is how much time has passed" (and then in the later scene when perrin was like "don't you remember what happened at bel tine?" my mom was going "five years ago? last year?" trying to prompt him to specify haha)

she thinks it's very foolish for nynaeve and elayne to go off to tanchico on their own with so much danger afoot

"they're like paris fashion models" about liandrin & co's new getup in tanchico djkjfg

"i've never seen someone try to turn themselves in and fail" was a big hit!

though later my mom wondered if faile might be lanfear in disguise, which i accidentally shot down because first she just asked "is that lanfear?" and i said "no, it's a new character" thinking she was just mixing them up, not that she was suspicious lanfear might be in disguise as faile

mom about galad and gawyn: they remind me of, we used to call them "big men on campus", pompous and arrogant but also popular

mat: LIANDRIN?! nynaeve: keep your voice down! mom: he's always shouting about things that should be kept secret!

mom: i don't think elayne will be happy if mat kills her brothers me: he's not going to KILL them

3x04

mom while moiraine is watching lan and rand spar: why is she just sitting around? me: there's not a whole lot else to do in the desert

over the course of this episode, aviendha progressed from "that girl" to "aviendra" she's getting there!

me: [mentions something about the car'a'carn] dad: speaking of, were you able to find a parking space for the car'a'carn at the dentist earlier?

rand: tell me you won't try to stop me or use me moiraine: i will do nothing to hinder you from fulfilling your destiny mom: [disapprovingly] that's not what he asked

whether she'll understand rand's perspective in his upcoming conflict with egwene remains to be seen, but she does seem to understand his perspective in his conflict with moiraine! and kinda always has, i think, i remember her expressing distrust of moiraine in the prior seasons too.

"rand sure has a lot he needs to get done before he goes mad" WOT: A Summary

the first sight of the dragon tattoo with rhuarc got a "that looks cool" stamp of approval

earlier in the day she'd asked whether everything in the show was from the books or if some stuff was made up and i'd said the show made up/altered some stuff, and here i gave an example of how in the books mat is part of the waste trip and he's the one to go to rhuidean with rand and to get the moment of pulling a bunch of different knives out of unlikely places and my mom said "ha! i can see mat doing that. more than i can see moiraine doing it." i agree!! [cries in Mat Being Yoinked Out Of The Waste And His Silly Character Quirk Moment Given To Another]

[shot of rand's broad shoulders from behind as he's walking] "he looks like he's gotten a lot more muscles since the first season"

as rand is stepping into the columns: "i bet he's wishing he could just go home to his farm"

i gave a rundown of what to expect for the visions, with rand seeing real events from the past through the eyes of his biological ancestors starting with the most recent and getting further back and with moiraine seeing many possible but not definite paths for the future, because i feared she might get confused otherwise and i thought she would appreciate the experience more if i clarified this firmly ahead of time

and she did appreciate it! not much commentary (aside from "he should get an award for playing all these different characters" and "it's like they were on drugs when they wrote this episode" djkjfgkh but i think this was Complimentary rather than Derogatory), she was mostly just quiet and taking it all in

although she was very indignant about moiraine "stealing something from the tree" haha she was like "that can't be allowed!" and i said "moiraine doesn't really care about what's allowed"

and of course she was horrified by the future vision of lan dying and hastened to seek assurance that these are not definite futures

rand: [collapses in exhaustion after all the visions are done] dad: i agree

aviendha: as you wish, wetlander mom: [chuckles] like the princess bride me: [silently giggling in avirand]

i don't know if this episode struck either of them as particularly noteworthy or standout the way so many WOT fans feel about rhuidean, but if they make any additional comments on it later, i will be sure to note them!

[galaxymagitech]

Found my not-live liveblog for WFA 138-155 in my Tumblr drafts:

They’re mimicking Gotham War with more than just the fight—there’s that “you stepped up to lead the family” moment too. I may post them side by side later because it’s really cool. Especially because there’s another similar moment coming up that I saw a screenshot of.

Two episodes with hugs in a row!

Steph and Jason are an excellent chaos duo.

I’m not in favor of Jason calling Barbara “mom” even ironically, but I’ll deal because it was funny.

I love that they had Harper take out the generator. STEM girls ftw.

They could never make me hate you Timmy.

Lol Freeze called Catwoman a sellout. He’s…not exactly wrong.

Deal with the Devil, there, Tim.

Wow they literally had Calculator fall multiple stories. They’re lucky he survived.

Bruce asking Tim and Selina for their opinion because they were the ones to talk with Freeze and he trusts their judgement…10/10. This is a good leader.

Does Dick only own one jacket? Also, is he incapable of closing it? Or wearing a shirt? Caves are cold, dude!

Tiny hiding Damian. I feel you, Duke—his hair is so ruffleable.

“I think Alfred would murder me if I let you stay out any later.” Said to Tim and Damian. So I guess they have an Alfred-enforced bedtime.

Yes! Duke! Thinking about the rest of Gotham and helping them feel safer! Community!

“They’re good kids,” Selina says. (About Nightwing and the other Batkids.)

Tim: *yawns* Me: awwww

Dick Grayson: Strategist. And I’m here for it.

“I had some caffeine. That’s basically the same thing as sleeping.” Oh, Tim.

Bruce really isn’t allowed to catch a break, I guess.

“If you start to get overwhelmed, get out. That’s an order.” Good Dad Bruce! Good Dad Bruce! Good Dad Bruce!

Killer Moth looks ridiculous, which I suppose is comics accurate.

They’re spread waaay too thin. This feels like Knightfall.

Good job, Dick. Talk some sense into your father!

Oh. Wait. Gave him too much credit. He wants to go out in the field injured. Of course he does.

Yay Duke arguing for his plan and standing his ground!

Duke…Luke…what’s their situation? Duke calls Luke a mentor but idk where they met.

Batman prioritizing civilians! Yay!

If. You. Think. You. See. Something. Freaking. Say. Something. Like seriously, it’s never “just the smoke,” Cass.

Tim’s “supervillain pose” is sending me. (Bruce admits he’d be a terrifying supervillain.)

Bruce accepting Tim’s help!

Duke is worried about interrupting :(

“We’d learned early on that a better future isn’t handed to you. You have to fight for it.”

— Duke Thomas

Alfred is guilty about Troy’s death

Okay I think making the We Are Robins search and rescue is an acceptable compromise between the Bats’ very real limitations and the fact that these are teenagers with very little training

Bruce can learn from his mistakes!

Aw! Affectionate Timmy hair ruffle from Bruce!

Duke and Izzy seem to be flirting, so it seems like the narrative has backed away from his random girlfriend

Oh…looks like We Are Robin is getting trained by a ten-year-old now. Okay then.

“The beds are upstairs. I am downstairs. It’s an irreconcilable difference.” Amazing Jason line.

Jason is rubber ducking for Tim!

Tim don’t you have a job? Why are you on this case 24/7?

Tim gave Jason a photo of him as Robin! This feels like a fanfic moment but it’s really sweet so who cares?

Apparently whether or not Damian pulls out knives when asking for space is an indicator of if it’s really serious or not

Dami is capable of asking for help!

I love crazy baby Dickie.

Dami’s still worried about being replaced. :(

“And what if people don’t like Damian Wayne?”

“I could see all this bad stuff happening around me and there was this fire under my skin to fix it, but no one else seemed to care at all.” Yeah, this feels like Zero Year Duke.

Damian is proud to call Duke his brother. YesyesyesyesYES!

Increment hugCounter by one!

“You can count on me.” / “I know.” — a cat and a bat

Bruce is still keeping Dick away from the action, so he’s probably still pretty injured from fighting the Joker. Reasonable recovery times!

Nightwing is able to watch Batman’s back from the comms.

Classic damsel in distress pose.

Bone-chilling jumpcut of all time.

WFA Joker sounds like Fanon Pit Mad Jason and I feel like there’s some sort of meta that can be made about this.

Joker just licked his own blood off his gloves.

Bruce just said Damian’s name out loud in front of two henchmen 💀 Bet this will remain unaddressed

Yeah. I. Kind of figured.

Bruce called Dick into the fight. That must’ve been really hard for him. But he needs to get to Damian, so…understandable.

No hug here but a hand-squeeze!

Yay! Huzzah for Jon Kent!

Jean-Paul’s still kicking? Oh, I forgot about that. Good for him.

Nice costume, Helena.

Group hug!

And another hug!!!!

Bruce actually said “Thank god” that is really rare for him. He is. Genuinely. So relieved. He was so scared.

Damian accidentally started a pillow fight by throwing a pillow at Dick to prevent a hug and Dick dodging it. And Cass was behind Dick. That was an “oh shit” moment.

Bruce just admitted he’s not okay!

Wow that’s an Eliza moment for Selina

“Investigating potential murder is how I relax.” Kate Kane, everyone.

Steph & Cass hug and I can’t even be happy about it because this is so sad.

Cass. What are you seeing, Cass. Share with the class, Cass.

Human chain

“But if something were to go wrong…I don’t want that on your shoulders.” YES!

And now Dick is just leaning on his brother. Dunno why but I find this hilarious.

Cass don’t go off alone!

Ohhh we really are echoing the comics

“Death is the only language you speak” is such a powerful statement coming from Cass

Comics quote reference!

Duke was onto something…if only Tim and him had pooled brains earlier… (I did kind of suspect Checkov’s epicenter was important)

Knightsfall

And there it is. Wonder how many other heart of the family references I can find?

The hug!!!! So much love in this one!!! And Bruce emphasizing Tim’s compassion and selflessness over his mind/intellectual contributions is great.

“I CHOSE YOU RIGHT BACK”

[corpsedogs]

Dreaming costs money (Jason Todd x Reader)

✿ chapter 6 — Jason brings your drunk ass back to the hotel. tag and master list

Jason half-dragged, half-carried you into your hotel room, your heels dangling from one hand and your clutch clutched awkwardly under your arm like a trophy.

“Shhh,” you giggled as you stumbled into him again, “You’re gonna wake the plants.”

Jason raised an eyebrow as he shoved the door shut with his foot. “There are no plants drunkass." he scoffs.

“Exactly,” you whispered dramatically. “So don’t wake them.”

He sighed, steadying you with a hand on your waist and guiding you toward the couch. “How much champagne did you have?”

“Enough to enjoy your family,” you said, collapsing onto the cushions with an exaggerated sigh.

“I like them. Tim’s smart, Steph’s chaotic, Cass is sweet, Dick is funny, and even Damian grew on me after I caught him trying to Google my net worth.”

Jason snorted despite himself. “That tracks.”

“They’re not what I expected…” you trailed off, eyes glassy but honest. “They love you. Even if you act like a porcupine with a death wish.”

Jason didn’t answer. He crossed to the minibar, grabbed a bottle of water and a clean towel, then returned to you.

You’d already flopped over sideways on the couch, your gown twisted awkwardly under you, hair falling out of place, makeup smudged just enough to reveal how tired you really were.

He crouched in front of you, wetting the towel with the cold water.

“Don’t,” you mumbled, but didn’t move.

“You’ve got lipstick on your nose.”

“You sound like a dad.”

Jason arched a brow. “Do you want help or not?”

You sighed dramatically again and let him dab gently at your face.

The towel was cool, his touch surprisingly careful. He cleaned the corner of your mouth, brushed a thumb under your eye where your mascara had smudged.

“You don’t have to do this,” you whispered.

“Someone has to.” His voice was quiet, but it held a note of something else.

You blinked. “You mad at me?”

He didn’t answer right away. He just moved the towel down to your collarbone, wiping away the glittering sheen of sweat and faint champagne.

“You didn’t eat. You drank too fast. And you made me deal with Dick trying to wingman for me while you disappeared with Steph to the rooftop bar.”

“She said I needed a moment,” you replied defensively.

Jason leaned back, finally tossing the towel onto the coffee table. “You’re not bulletproof, it was a good thing you were surrounded by my family but what if it wasn’t? You can’t act like this and expect nothing to happen.”

“Like what?” you challenged, eyes locking with his. “I was fine. You were there. Isn’t that the deal?”

He stared at you for a long beat. “It’s not about the damn deal.”

You stood— well, tried to. You staggered slightly, and Jason instinctively reached out to steady you. You slapped his hand away, wobbling with pride.

“I didn’t ask you to clean me up or babysit me, Jason. I can take care of myself.”

He stood too, his jaw tense. “You say that, but every time I look away, you’re throwing yourself into another scene,, like you want something to go wrong.”

“Maybe I’m just tired of being careful,” you snapped.

“Yeah? Well, I’m tired of pretending I don’t care what happens to you!”

The silence that followed was sharp enough to cut glass.

Your lips parted, but no sound came out. Your eyes, still a little hazy with champagne, widened.

Jason looked away first. “Forget it,” he muttered.

You sat back down on the couch, slower this time. “I’m going to bed.”

“Good.”

You narrowed your eyes at him. “Goodnight, Mr. Brood.”

He snorted. “Sweet dreams, trouble.”

You turned your back to him with an overdramatic huff and kicked off your heels again, one narrowly missing his shin. He watched you go, your wobbling silhouette vanishing into the hallway.

Jason sank down onto the couch after a moment, scrubbing a hand through his hair.

You weren’t easy. You were impulsive, emotional, stubborn, and dangerously easy to care about.

And now, half-asleep and glitter-stained, you’d made yourself at home in a place he never intended to let anyone in.

He looked toward your room, then toward the towel still damp in his hand.

“Damn it,” he muttered.

You woke to a headache pounding like drums against your skull and the taste of regret (and expensive champagne) still clinging to your tongue.

The hotel room was quiet, too quiet. The kind that told you Jason hadn’t come to check on you again.

Good.

Screw him.

…Mostly.

You shuffled into the minibar, blearily pulling a cup from the cabinet. It clanged a little too loud against the counter, and you winced, muttering something unkind to the espresso machine.

Jason was gone. His jacket had disappeared from the back of the chair, and the towel from last night was folded on the table. Folded. Not tossed, not dropped, folded.

You stared at it for a second too long.

The rest of the night came back in flashes. The gala. The family. The fight. Your words. His.

The way his voice cracked just slightly when he said he was tired of pretending not to care.

You hated that he got under your skin. That he cared and didn’t know how to show it without turning it into a fight.

That you still wanted to hear him say it again, even if you were too stubborn to admit it.

By the time you’d sat on the couch, wrapped in a throw blanket and halfway through regretting both your choices and your eyeliner, the door opened.

Jason stepped in.

He didn’t say anything at first. Just held up a greasy brown paper bag in one hand and a drink tray in the other.

“I brought tacos.”

You blinked.

“Tacos.”

He shrugged, setting the bag on the coffee table like it was a peace offering. “Figured you’d be hungover. And mad. And probably not in the mood to talk unless I had food.”

You stared at him. “Is this a bribe?”

“Technically, it’s a truce.” He sat across from you. “You like steak. No cilantro. Mild salsa. Sprite.”

Your throat tightened. “You remembered.”

“I remember everything,” he said simply, not looking at you.

You picked up a taco and studied it. “You could’ve just left. After last night.”

“Thought about it,” he admitted.

“Then I thought about how you looked like you were going to cry and punch me at the same time, and decided I should probably come back before you did both.”

Fuck this guy.

You gave a small, reluctant laugh. “You’re such a pain in the ass.”

“Likewise.”

After a few bites, you set your taco down and glanced at him. “I meant what I said, by the way. I do like them. Your family.”

He nodded. “I know.”

“And I’m sorry for being reckless.”

Jason looked over at you then. Really looked. “And I’m sorry for being a dick.”

You blinked at the bluntness. “Wow. A real apology. I didn’t think you had those.”

He smirked. “Limited edition. Don’t get used to it.”

You rolled your eyes, but your voice softened. “Thanks for coming back.”

“I always come back,” he said. And this time, it didn’t sound like a threat or a warning. It just sounded true.

You leaned back into the cushions, chewing slowly. “So what now? We go back to normal?”

Jason raised a brow. “Do we even have a normal?”

You smiled faintly. “Guess not.”

There was a beat of silence.

“Still mad at me?” he asked.

“A little,” you said honestly. “But I’m full of tacos, so I’ll allow your presence.”

“Generous.”

You nudged his leg with your foot. “Don’t push it.”

Truce.

its three in the fucking mornibf @deadbeatphobos @lingxio @nkryuki @lettucel0ver @punchdrunkjay @ydkmsstuff @starmansirius

[deswhomst]

🦋 I think this one was for the microfics??? Why is my memory so bad- ANYWAY

Tedromeda with Tonks? Fluff or angst I don’t mind… but I’m thinking a Tonks coming out to them about being gender fluid or Tonks being a metamorphosis(?) for the first time?

Up to you really! I don’t mind! Also take your time my love! No pressure!

[500 followers event ask game]

thank you for the ask and i’m sorry for taking so long! <33 this was great to write i hope i was able to capture the experience well but if i have misrepresented it, i am very sorry and feel free to call me out on it so i can better my understanding.

Mother, Mother | @black-sisters-microfic | Tonks & Tedromeda | Word Count: 930

Andromeda wished she was one of those picture perfect mothers who always knew what to say—who always knew what their kids needed—but it has been evident time and time again that she’s far from that. She truly does try her best but she knew what having a difficult mother felt like and she lived in constant fear that she’ll make her daughter feel exactly as Druella had made her feel.

Nymphadora was eighteen now, freshly out of Hogwarts and already enrolling for the Auror training programme. At her age, Andromeda was hiding a pregnancy and leaving home, which makes her think that she didn’t fuck up that bad, right? At least, Nymphadora knew that she could love whomever she pleased and her parents would support her.

Druella Black could never.

Still, that didn’t mean that Andromeda and Nymphadora never struggled. It came almost naturally to Ted, though—parenting and all. She supposed that it helps that he wasn’t a Black.

“Relax,” Ted whispered. “I can hear you worrying, darling.”

“Easy for you to say,” Andromeda snapped unfairly. “We both know that Nymphadora didn’t call this family meeting because she has an issue with you.”

Ted sighed. “We don’t know what she wants to talk about, Andy. Why are you assuming it’s an issue with you?”

Andromeda crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back into the sofa stubbornly, choosing not to answer the question.

“I know you both have been fighting a lot recently,” Ted began tentatively, “but not everything is an attack, yeah?”

“I don’t want her to be so upset every time we talk,” she admitted, blinking aggressively to keep the tears away. “I don’t want to sound like a fucking baby but I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, Ted.”

“Hey, go easy on yourself,” he said gently. “I promise you it feels worse to you than it is. ‘Dora’s just at an age where she gets easily irritated.”

“By me, alone?”

“She just values your opinion more than anyone else’s.”

There was the sound of a crash outside which signaled Nymphadora’s arrival. Andromeda sighed but made a note to refrain from criticizing her daughter’s clumsiness because those remarks were exactly the type of thing that fed her irritation and drove her away.

“You okay, kid?” Ted asked as soon as she was inside the house.

“Fine, Dad,” she replied, brushing off her clothes and taking a seat on the chair opposite her parents. “Stupid step at the entrance—I never see it.”

It took everything in Andromeda not to point out that it wasn’t the step’s fault.

Ted chuckled. “Maybe we can do a renovation. It’s been years since we changed things around.”

See. Ted always knew what to say.

“Yeah!” Andromeda piped in, a little too enthusiastic. “That sounds like a great idea. We could all work on it together.”

“Sure,” Nymphadora shrugged. “But first I should tell you both why I called this family meeting.”

“Go on,” Andromeda nodded, passing what she hoped was an encouraging smile.

“I—I don’t like being called Nymphadora,” she started. “And at first I thought it was only because the name is so stupid but it also just feels too … feminine.”

“Too feminine?” Andromeda repeated hesitantly.

Nymphadora nodded. “I don’t always feel like I’m a girl. I know this may be something you both have never heard of but I’ve done a bit of research and it’s really helped me understand how I feel about gender.”

Andromeda was admittedly having a hard time following but she didn’t want to hurt her or say the wrong thing so she quietly nodded along.

“Can you elaborate?” Ted said. “I would like to know more so I can get it better.”

“So—it’s like, I sometimes identify with one gender and with others at other times,” she explained. “Sometimes, I don’t identify with any gender at all. It varies, honestly … the term is called genderfluid, if you wanted to know.”

“What—what would you liked to be called?” Andromeda asked. “If not Nymphadora, I mean.”

“I like Tonks, actually,” she shrugged. “I don’t mind “Dora” either but sometimes my friends called me Tonks and I really liked it so I started telling everyone to use that.”

“And you’re our kid then? Not daughter?” Ted wondered.

Nym—Tonks shook her head. “Sometimes, I’m your daughter. Sometimes, I’m your son. Sometimes, I’m just your kid.”

It suddenly occurred to Andromeda that Ted refers to her as both kid and daughter while Andromeda solely has stuck to daughter. She also realised that she was the one who named her Nymphadora and called her that all the time, unlike Ted who used ‘Dora as well. Maybe some of Tonks’ frustration towards Andromeda came from here.

“Another thing,” Tonks continued. “I don’t hate being called she but I also like he/him and they/them. People usually stick to just she/her if they know it’s an option but I would really love it if you could alternate between all three maybe? Not many people do.”

“Got it,” Ted nodded, then with a smile, he added, “Tonks.”

Tonks grinned back at him and Andromeda doesn’t remember the last time she had seen them so happy.

“Mum?” she said, looking at her expectantly.

Andromeda smiled like it was the easiest thing in the world. “I’m so proud of you for sharing this with us, Tonks.”

And that grin was now aimed at Andromeda.

It would definitely take some time getting into the habit of these changes but it will all be worth it if it made her child happy and feel supported.

[unashamedly-enthusiastic]

I am beginning to suspect that my success in communicating with the socially awkward, highly skilled, specialist technology team members is not just down to "having lots of experience talking to my dad"

[words-writ-in-starlight]

just saw ur post about the odyssey and how fucking cool your mom was about it and um. almost cried! i love her please let her know how cool she is next time you talk to her. or like. thank her for being cool about this specific thing, i guarantee it'll make her day. wahh i love it when a parent encourages the weird shit their kid is into, not every parent is like that!! that's just SO GREAT, man

My mother is THEEEEE biggest nerd I know and I'm seeing her in two days to play D&D so that I can try to kill her and my partners with vampires. I had to interrupt my Odyssey tirade on Christmas to tell her to wait with her LOTR rant to see if I covered her point (actually I think I said "give me a fucking minute, I'm making a point here") and she immediately cracked up and went "I am SO proud of you actually" and I think it confused my in-laws even more than the fact that I had an Odyssey tirade locked and loaded. When I was a kid she told me that if I didn't like LOTR then I had to lie to her for the rest of her life. She fucking rules.

[figureitoutinthemorning]

I would eat this up so hard

WAIT I DIDN’T SEE THIS ASK BEFORE, TUMBLR HID IT FROM ME!!!

But yeah. At some point I will write it!! I have a bunch of little scenes in my head like that.

[lightblueminecraftorchid]

Rly wish that the point where I need someone to grab me an ice cube was not also the point where I was physically incapable of asking someone to get me an ice cube

[lunar-fey]

oh yeah not sure where we're at w money btw. we might be able to get some of it back but we wont know anything concrete until friday

[tacochippy]

??? Plenty of straight women believed and defended Johnny Depp (despite all the evidence that he was an abusive piece of shit)

A lot of women have internalised misogyny and inherently believe men over women

You see it all the time in fan spaces

These things can be true simultaneously !!

I know this is a thing that happens because it happened to my dad. His job? Lost. His friends? Left him. Nobody (other than our family, which is more than most can say in this situation) beleived my dad when he said he would never do that to my mother or to his kids. My dad would never do anything like that, to anyone, for many reasons. I know this for a fact.

Its a thing that happens. Its not every time (heavens no), but it still happens. Lots of women get beelived immediately.

It also doesnt need to be brought to court! Its mostly just rumour spreading, from whst ive seen firsthand and been told.

Women dont beleived often, but when they do if theyre lying it causes all sorts of problems.

And btw, i am saying this as a sexual absue victim who didnt get help for years because nobody beleived her. So i have seen and been through both sides of the story.

[ericshoney]

Stark's Wit~ Tony Stark

Summary: You're not the best at hand-to-hand combat, but your the second best Stark with sarcastic responses.

Warnings: Platonic nicknames, possible swearing, sarcastic humour.

Reader's Age: 18

The biting wind whipped around Y/n as she stood on the training platform, a scowl etched on her face. Sparring with super soldiers in January was not her idea of a fun Friday afternoon. Especially when all she had to defend herself was the Stark family arsenal of sarcasm.

“Alright, kid, you ready?” Steve, radiating earnest encouragement, adjusted his gloves. Beside him, Bucky simply stared, his metal arm gleaming dully in the overcast light. Sam hovered behind them, a wry grin on his face. He knew how this usually went.

"Born ready, Captain Rogers," Y/n quipped, her voice dripping with irony. "Just try not to break anything too important. Dad would have a conniption if his precious lab assistant came back in pieces."

Steve winced. He still wasn't entirely used to Y/n's… bluntness. "We'll be careful, Y/n. This is just for practice."

"Practice for what? The Super Soldier Olympics?" She rolled her eyes. "Last time I checked, my skill set leaned more towards coding and caffeine addiction, not hand-to-hand combat."

Bucky finally spoke, his voice gruff. "Everyone needs to know how to defend themselves, Stark. Especially with your… family history."

That hit a little too close to home. Y/n tightened her jaw. "Right, because I specifically asked to be born into a world of interdimensional travel, rogue AI, and sentient purple grapefruits. My bad."

Steve sighed and stepped forward. "Alright, enough talking. Let's see what you've got."

The next few minutes were, to put it mildly, humiliating. Steve, ever the gentleman, pulled his punches, but even he couldn't help but land a few glancing blows. Bucky, predictably, was less restrained. His metal arm was like a battering ram, and Y/n found herself mostly dodging and weaving, her reflexes surprisingly sharp despite her lack of formal training.

"Having fun yet?" Sam called out, leaning against the railing.

"Oh, I'm having a ball, Sam," Y/n gasped, narrowly avoiding Bucky's fist. "This is exactly how I pictured spending my Friday: getting pummeled by a century-old assassin. Living the dream, really."

She managed to duck under Steve’s arm and deliver a swift kick to his shin. It wasn’t exactly a knockout blow, but it was enough to make him stumble.

"Not bad, Y/n," Steve said, rubbing his leg. "You're getting faster."

"Years of dodging Dad's bad science puns have honed my reflexes," she retorted, then spun to face Bucky, who was advancing with a predatory gleam in his eye. "Alright, Tin Man, let's dance!"

Bucky lunged. This time, Y/n tried a different tactic. As he swung his metal arm, she sidestepped and grabbed a handful of his long hair, yanking him off balance.

"Whoa! Hey!" Bucky sputtered, momentarily disoriented.

"Sorry, Barnes! Didn't know you were so sensitive about your 'vintage chic' hairstyle," Y/n said, releasing him and darting away.

Sam burst out laughing. Even Steve cracked a smile. Bucky, however, wasn't amused. He charged again, his movements less precise, fueled by irritation.

Y/n knew she couldn't keep this up forever. She was already winded, and her sarcasm reserves were starting to run dry. As Bucky cornered her near the edge of the platform, she knew she was out of options.

"Okay, okay, I surrender!" she yelled, throwing her hands up in the air. "Uncle! Mercy! I admit defeat! You win, metal arm! You’re the best at… uh… arming metal-ly! Yeah, that’s the one.”

Bucky stopped, his expression a mixture of annoyance and begrudging amusement. “You’re impossible, Stark.”

“That’s what my therapist keeps telling me,” Y/n said, panting. She collapsed onto a nearby bench, gathering her breath.

Steve clapped her on the shoulder. "You did well, Y/n. You're quick, and you think on your feet. You just need to work on your… offensive capabilities."

"My offense is impeccable," Y/n said, gesturing to Bucky. "Just ask him. I practically incapacitated him with my devastating wit."

Sam snorted. "Yeah, well, wit doesn't exactly stop a bullet."

"True," Y/n conceded. "But it can annoy someone enough that they forget what they were going to do in the first place. That's a defense mechanism in itself, right?"

She looked up at their faces, a hopeful glimmer in her eyes. They were her dad’s friends, family even. And despite the inherent strangeness of having super soldiers trying to turn her into a miniature Avenger, she knew they cared.

Steve, ever the optimist, gave her a reassuring smile. "It's a start, Y/n. We'll keep working on it."

"Great," Y/n said, her sarcasm returning full force. "Just promise me one thing: next time, can we at least do this in a heated environment? And maybe with a pizza? I'm pretty sure I can weaponize pepperoni."

Bucky rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Even he had to admit, Y/n Stark, with her sharp tongue and Stark-brand stubbornness, was growing on him. Even if she did almost pull his hair out. He smirked, “I’d pay to see that.”

As the three men began to pack up, Y/n pulled out her phone. Time to order that pizza. And maybe send Dad a text. Something along the lines of: 'Almost got murdered by Bucky today. Send backup (and maybe a new shield design. Sarcasm-proof, preferably).

Tags:

@parkjihoonsnudes @riowritesitall @mandmilovehim @onelesslonelygirlbieber6 @lgbtq-girl

Dividers by: @issysh3ll