#Please keep asking I'm willing to share more thoughts

[mythalism]

[ emerging from ur walls ] idk where that trick weekes stuff ab solas being reminded of someone by romanced inq came from nor do i care but i also had a thought like mostly bc i made my inq a rogue and more "no i'm not god no i'm not a messiah please leave me alone" reply played in the game but the parallel between solas being coaxed into having a physical body and proceeding to go deeper into the abyss that is personhood, and becoming an instrument of war whilst still being honored/shamed as a god & general parallels directly that of the inquisitor's journey (TO ME!)

cassandra & co. want you to admit andraste sent you, and you can deny all you want as a player but they'll keep hammering it down your throat (ok bioware. *i explode it w my mind*) and once they realize faith is not enough, they give you the title of inquisitor. suddenly you're not just a divine being sent to herald the people, you're also their sword, their shield. the same way fen'harel / dread wolf becomes a name no longer associated with the protection & guidance of mythal & her people and as the cruel god / rebellious general who doomed the evanuris, and a leader to the enslaven who seek freedom.

it is evident in both his & inquisitors stories that faith is not enough, people cannot cling to mere religious symbols, they need somebody willing to bleed for them. (the way the dalish later on rework fen'harel as cruel, and the way you meet people as inq who spit on you as a blasphemer in the name of andraste even though you can choose to say i never said i was a herald! it was forced upon me! let me out!!!)

like there can obvs be more than one story parallel (big if true for some people) but i always found it curious that if you romance him he fixates on talking about the inquisitors spirit. wanna get sumn off your chest puppy boy?

anyway the mortifying idea that neither inquisitor nor solas were allowed to be who they once were before they became instruments of war and only through their relationship / friendship do they find those silent moments where they don't play roles assigned to them by their gods, their people, or their generals and can just be as who they are to their core. not weapons, not martyrs, just pure beings. worms if you will.

10/10 banger no notes. just adding this from an ask i answered a week or two ago about how the solavellan ending so wonderfully wraps up this theme:

they are at once both finally free of the burdens of the myths and expectations that follow them as the dread wolf and the herald of andraste because they have left the mortal world that forced them into those roles and stripped them of their personhood, but they have also completely submitted themselves to those roles by submitting to the logical conclusion of the myths that they could not escape. for the dread wolf, it is earning his redemption through his willing submission to his own trap. its the logical, full-circle mythological conclusion to the trickster who trapped the gods, now trapped for eternity himself (allegedly, he will prob eventually break out... even loki gets his freedom during ragnarok...). for the inquisitor, it is andraste's herald finally sharing andraste's fate, choosing to leave the mortal world behind to ascend to the golden city alongside the god that she loves. both (presumably, for a lavellan) have tried to reject the myths attached to them over and over and over, but in the end they choose them willingly, and that choice at once binds them to those myths forever while simultaneously freeing them from the burden of them. its giving oedipal greek tragedy of attempting to outrun your fate and it finding you anyway, just when you thought you were finally making your own choice, but with a hopeful and bittersweet spin. its actually fucking insanely brilliant when i think about it this way it makes me genuinely foam at the mouth.

[acewithwords]

you're free to ignore this if you want, but what are the relationships (whether it be platonic, romantic, or familial) each of your mcs have with the characters in their respective games?

*slams down the door* HELLO I WILL NOW BE EXPOUNDING A BIT ON THE RELATIONSHIPS OF MY MCS (I'll do like a visual relationship chart when I remember)

Obey me

• Akio:

They are way closer to the brothers compared to the side characters during the 1st year of their stay in the Devildom. Eventually they do get closer to the side characters. They mainly see the newest characters in season 4 as acquaintances.

They mainly have a more familial bond with most of the brothers including Luke. They considers Luke as a little brother they never got to have. They teach him a couple of cooking tips they got from their grandparents. But they'd consider the dateables as friends.

They're very close friends with Levi since the two share a common interest in video games and Akio likes listening to him ramble.

They also are close to Solomon since they technically have a mentor-mentee relationship but they also have genuinely vibed well together even before Akio were taken in as an apprentice so they're good friends.

However, when it comes to the romance department they have a crush on Satan and Barbatos. They're just kinda nervous and unsure whether to confess or not so they don't really do anything about it.

• Ace:

For Ace, she genuinely considers nearly everyone as family but Thirteen, Raphael and Mephisto are people she's still not very close to. So she'd consider the three as like a weird family friend currently.

She sees the 7 brothers as like her weird older brothers with Lucifer being the single parent clearly.

While, Simeon is the cool uncle who Ace trusts a bit more. She sees Luke as a younger brother and they hangout a lot together. Barbatos is also the other cool uncle who Ace considers as a baking mentor. They bake a lot of things with him once Luke invited her for baking sessions with him and Barbatos when she told him that they wanted to learn how to bake as well.

Ace sees Diavolo as like a rich older cousin. She finds his presence a bit overwhelming sometimes but she enjoys hanging out with him. Meanwhile, Solomon is their weird shady uncle/teacher they're close to especially during Nightbringer.

Arcana Twilight

• Why:

Why doesn't particularly view anyone as family but she does mainly consider the guide committee as her friends. She struggles a lot with her memory so she's glad they're doing their best to help her out a lot.

She's pretty close friends with Alpheratz and enjoys sitting near him doing something else while he naps.

She also likes hanging around Spica sometimes even if they aren't super close. They usually hangout together while in the meeting room or while he does paperwork. She also occassionally hangs out with Arcky and Polkux but she couldn't really say she was particularly close to the two either.

Sirius and her have a complicated relationship? They're sort of like frenemies. They bonded a lot while painting nails and talking about the weirdest topics. She didn't expect to get close to him but the universe can be quiet strange.

Rigel is someone she doesn't really know so she can't really form a proper opinion on him. Principal schedar on the other hand is someone quite strange so she mainly just considers him as an acquaintances.

She rarely has ever felt romantic attraction to anyone but then she met Vega again and now she doesn't know what to do. She doesn't think he likes her back and only sees her as a friend. Somehow everyone else is confused about it.

Twisted Wonderland

• Thorn:

Thorn never really considered someone as Family outside of his own but now he doesn't really have anyone else but Grim and the ghosts. It's a little Ramshackle family!

He's definitely close friends with a few people in school. He likes hanging out with the firdt years especially Deuce and Ace but even if he can be a bit mischevous he's somehow also really good at not getting caught so sometimes they end up getting the brunt of the blame. He's also pretty close to Malleus. Thorn has always had a messed up sleep schedule so he ends up hanging out with Malleus for long hours throughout the night. Along with this he frequently ends up hanging out a lot with Lilia, definitely unexpected by msot but they somehow got along well after the Savannahclaw arc.

He's fascinated by a lot of the people in NRC but he wouldn't entirely say he's super close to them but he'd consider them as "friends," sure. The ones he probably doesn't entirely get along with but respect are Vil, Leona and Sebek.

Thorn works a few side jobs occassionally as a waiter the Monstro Lounge and with the rare instances of helping out Sam in his shop. He does also actually get paid as well for making or fixing up a few things surprisingly.

The teachers are people Thorn wouldn't consider being close to but he does respect them. But Crewel and Trein do have a very small a soft spot for Thorn, he's pretty hardworking and dedicated to their classes specifically but neither would ever admit it of course they don't play favoritism.

Azul is still on thin ice though...

Crushes? He doesn't know 'em sorry. That's a lie he ended up getting a crush on someone but who knows really...

--

And that is all I think.

[hanahaki270]

♡ Sharing a Dorm ♡

♡・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・♡

Synopsis ┊Your dorm is going under renovation and you need to find a place to crash in for a while. Luckily a certain someone offers you to stay in theirs for the time being.

Characters ┊Katsuki Bakugou, Shoto Todoroki, Izuku Midoriya.

A/N ┊beginner Writer here, these were harder to think of than I thought ngl. If you have any requests please send them to me, I'm open to do different characters and also different anime's!

♡・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・♡

Katsuki Bakugou

❥ By no means whatsoever does he offer his dorm out of the kindness of his heart. He just got pissed off of seeing you sleeping on the couch in the commons area every morning, and accidentally stepping on your blanket or pillows. After stepping on your blanket once more he grabs your shit and puts it in his dorm and acts like he's bothered by this but really he doesn't mind at all.

❥ Makes you sleep on the floor for the first two nights until you convince him to share the bed. He's reluctant at first but then allows it as long as you stay on your side of the bed. Do you really though?

❥ Expect to sleep earlier and get your sleep schedule in check because his dorm, his rules, lights are off at ten pm sharp with no exceptions.

❥ Also expect your grades to go up. While he's your roommate he's going to make you don't slack off on your studies.

❥ When he wakes up in the morning and notices your head resting on his chest he gets somewhat annoyed but secretly likes it. he's willing to get behind on his strict schedule and let you rest on him a little longer. but just a little.

❥ Demands you now be his training partner but is careful to not get carried away. You're strong, but he still doesn't want to run the risk of hurting you. therefore, he always keeps Aid kits in the bathroom just in case you do get any scratches, even if they're minor.

❥ Constantly threatening to kick you out over every little thing but actually has no intention of doing so. He won't admit it but he enjoys your company. "I swear if I see one more sock lying around I'm grabbing your shit and throwing it out."

♡・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・♡

Shoto Todoroki

❥ "Why don't you sleep with me." he said boldly unaware of how his sentence had more than one connotation to it. I mean you need help and as your friend he's more than willing to help you out. plus he has the biggest dorm compared to everyone else, if anything he's the most suitable to offer his help he thought.

❥ Asks you what temperature you prefer to sleep in so he can use his quirk to either make the room colder or warmer depending on your preference. and ALWAYS makes sure to make both sides of your pillows cold.

❥ When he's out visiting his mother you make sure the place is clean (though it usually is since he tends to be on the neater side) and prepare some soba for him as a token of your appreciation. After a couple of times he starts to look forward for it and got saddened the one day you forgot.

❥ In return he made sure not turn on the lights when getting ready in the morning as to not wake you up. Part of it was for a selfish reason though, he thought it was cute how you slept soundly on his bed.

❥ Speaking about sleep; During the night he would find himself cozying up next to you, not on purpose though. He just felt comfort in your presence and he realized you felt the same way when you also moved closer to him during the night.

❥ Leaves out coffee for you in the mornings since you tend to stay up late on nights and wake up always running late to your classes.

♡・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・♡

Izuku Midoriya

❥ Overheard you talking to Tsuyu and Uraraka about how you need a place to sleep in and walked over to offer his help without a second thought. You already spend most of your time in his dorm room during the day to share notes anyways. The only difference would just be you spending the night.

❥ Offers for you to sleep in his bed while he sleeps on the floor. After you refuse to let him sleep on the floor he shyly agrees to share the bed with you constantly asking you if you're okay with it.

❥ Midoriya stays up late at night writing in his notebook and murmuring thoughts to himself. You persuade him to go to bed and leave his worries for the following day. he deeply apologizes for the burden kind of embarrassed. "I-I'm sorry! was I keeping you up? I'll go to bed in a few minutes don't worry."

❥ Always invites you to go out with him whenever he leaves the dorm, even if it's something as simple as going to the gas station to get some snacks.

❥ he loves to talk your ear off geeking out about the knowledge he knows about the top heroes and their quirks. When he notices he got carried away he gets all types of flustered but even then he doesn't get the sense of being judged.

❥ Since he's constantly getting injured and going to see Recovery girl he always comes back exhausted. regardless, his stubborn ass still tries to go out on missions and push himself to the limits. he get's frustrated when you don't let him do so and force him to rest and leave his chores to you. But he loves you for it.

[imsandra]

I see

Pairing: Azriel x female reader

Summary: Azriel and Y/N, a couple who have shared a long and deep connection, face a crisis in their relationship.

Warning: Angst, sadness

Word Count: 1489

Notes: Hi! This is my first time writing, I hope you like this story and leave your comments about what you thought, suggestions, everything is welcome as long as it is with the motivation to teach and with respect. English is not my language, so I apologize for any spelling or grammar issues.

The story is original, I wrote it myself. Please do not copy and plagiarize my story.

I appreciate the comments, reblogs and likes that I receive. Kisses ❤️.

Happy reading!

He see (2)

Azriel had always enjoyed waking up next to her every morning. His black-and-white days, she painted them golden like the light of day, like the sun at every dawn; with a calm like the waters of the River Sidra. But things fall apart, and time breaks hearts.

During the first years of their relationship, life was a garden with beautiful colors, a clear sky, many flowers, and a large fountain full of futures. And so it lasted for centuries, until that garden was no longer watered and that fountain gradually dried up.

Another night in which he doesn't show up again, again, again...

Tonight, was or is the night of their anniversary. Y/N sat in the dining room she had decorated as she had many times for a romantic dinner, dressed in a beautiful dress, but the master of spies never arrived.

The next morning, she heard the door of the room they shared open. She just kept pretending to be asleep and that she hadn't cried all night as she had the last few times, and he could only observe the figure of the woman who had once calmed every nightmare with the warmth of her arms, as if she were only constant agony instead of his peace.

Y/N was walking through the streets of Velaris on her way to work when Azriel bumped into her and the coffee she was holding spilled on both of them. The beautiful girl couldn't have a worse day than that, she was late and her favorite coffee was spilled on the chest of the handsome man who was now holding her hand to keep her from falling to the floor. When she finally looked up, each of their senses felt stunned, his and hers. Azriel could only see her beautiful eyes, her face kissed by the rays of the sun, her lips so pure, while she couldn't take her eyes off his honey-brown eyes like the coffee she ordered every morning, her dark hair like the night she saw through her window at home.

"Oh, no! I'm so sorry," Azriel stammered, embarrassed, and released her hand as slowly as possible so as not to lose her warmth so quickly.

Y/N smiled slowly, shaking her head. "Don't worry, it happens to anyone, I should thank you for saving my butt from that horrible puddle on the floor," she said, laughing in the most nervous way she had ever been.

Azriel couldn't help but laugh. "I think I owe you a new coffee," he said as he looked at his stained shirt.

"Maybe, but I think it will be another time," she said smiling.

Who could forget that day?

"So, can you tell me where you were last night?" Y/N asked in a resigned voice.

"On a mission in the Summer Court," replied the shadow-singer, a vague answer that meant nothing to her.

"A mission, what smells of lotus flower and a touch of lavender? Tell me," she questioned with a calm voice but was more than broken.

"Y/N, let's not start this argument again."

For Azriel, it was just another argument, just one more he had that day. He couldn't see that he was doing things wrong. That with each passing day, he was breaking her a little more. He was the cause of it.

Y/N stared fixedly at Azriel, searching for any sign that he was willing to tell her what was going on. She was giving him an opportunity, and he was simply rejecting it.

"Honey, you look tired," Feyre whispered from the other side of the coffee table.

"I am, every day, I am," Y/N said in a choked voice as she tried to hold back her tears.

"Azriel is an important part of the family, but so are you. You're my friend and it hurts me to see you like this, like a ghost waiting in the corner of the room where he's not going to come in," Feyre told Y/N as she hugged her and stroked her hair.

There was no worse torture than feeling one's own heart bleeding in the darkness, while despair consumed her day after day, wondering what she had done to deserve such pain.

The front door opened and Y/N entered. She didn't expect to find Azriel in the living room. It was strange to see him sitting there with his gaze lost in the wall. He turned to look at her but could no longer see the spark that had kept the flame alive once, and she could no longer see that look that would tell her that no matter what happened, he would always be there. Two strangers living in the same house, two people who had been lovers.

Neither of them knew what to say, neither was willing to let go, not for love, but out of habit.

"I'm glad you're home," Y/N whispered, breaking the silence.

Azriel didn't answer. Deep down, he knew he had crossed the line, that it wasn't his home anymore.

"Did you ever think of telling me?" the woman he considered the love of his life moaned. "Did you ever see me through her when you kissed her?" as she continued to question, raising her voice a little more each time. "Didn't I make you happy?"

"Y/N..." Azriel whispered, before being interrupted by the woman who was his girl.

"No, no, don't try to lie to me," the beautiful woman shouted, knowing that her beloved would try to do it like the last time, but she was so tired.

"I wasn't going to, it was never my intention, but I had to do it to know," the shadow-singer expressed with a lump in his throat.

"Know what? That you didn't want to be with me anymore?" she affirmed with a broken voice.

"Yes," Azriel revealed.

The shadow-singer watched as the woman who was his, tears welled up in her eyes, as she crumbled at the affirmation of the fact she already sensed. Azriel couldn't help but wonder where his decision would lead him. Would she be okay? Would he regret it? He took a step forward to try to comfort her, and she couldn't help but take a step back when she saw that he wanted to get closer to her.

With the sharp pain in her soul and with tears running down her cheeks, the same ones he had kissed, she approached him while taking off the necklace Azriel had given her on their fifth anniversary as a symbol of pure love, one that would transcend even death. What a great lie, for her, in his eyes he was a liar, a promise breaker.

Y/N extended the hand that held the necklace with a yellow stone, a happiness that evaporated over time. Azriel was forced to accept it back, he knew her more than anything and yet he made his decision.

"I want you to leave," the woman ordered as she looked him directly in the eyes, for him to see how she broke him, how she broke them.

"She is my mate," Azriel revealed with watery eyes and a look of longing.

For him, a mating bond had always been important, feeling his other half through the bond, so he decided to get to know the other woman while Y/N always waited for him awake every night to welcome him home. She, who had always made him happy despite considering herself a complicated person and unworthy of that love. He wanted to stay with her, but his yearning was stronger.

"I see, you chose her, her who barely knows you, not me who has spent almost my whole life with you, wishing you would always spend time with me," Y/N whispered with a broken voice and full of pain. "I want you to leave Azriel," she asked again.

"Forgive me Y/N, I didn't want it to end like this," he murmured, and so the shadow-singer took his things and crossed the threshold.

The door he had crossed so many times with joy just because he would find her on the other side waiting for him, but she would never wait for him again, not anymore.

She collapsed on the floor when the door clicked shut, crying over the loss of a love, like a sad song in the dark room her heart beat. What she thought was going to be forever, was momentary.

I read them!

[i23kazu]

♡ GENSHIN MEN & STUDYING WITH YOU

characters. xiao diluc kaeya childe wriothesley lyney alhaitham x gn!reader genre. romantic fluff. an. i need motivation. they are my motivation | please reblog!! im getting back into writing and reblogs with tags and comments will make me want to write more :D

xiao

he's the one who's a all the noise-cancellation, blacklisted apps kind of student. everything is on lockdown and on do not disturb mode – please don't disturb him. poke him with your pen and you'll just see him roll his eyes at you– no, seriously- it's not worth it! however, xiao is also a really good student ; always on task, even on the subjects that he absolutely despises. ask him to tutor you and he might grumble and groan, but what happens when the tutor falls in love with his student?

diluc

possibly the class rep. studying with him is a express ticket to resources that teachers had given him because of his high-class status. he's not proud of it – he believes that each student deserves the chance to have the same access as him – which is why he's willing to share it with you as well. we didn't even have to meet up, you could just have sent it over- you whine, but the tinge of crimson on his cheeks is a telltale sign that perhaps he needed- no, wanted, this excuse.

kaeya

the teasy study buddy. watch him annoy the hell out of you– you know he's teasing, but sometimes it hurts. "haha, i thought i taught you this already? does the little bunny not have enough space in there?" he taps your head with his pen. it's only when your face crumples and you start to mumble out apologies, teardrops cockling your paper – that he panics. "shit- i'm sorry– how can i make it better?" he wipes your tears away. he makes it up with a sweet kiss and a stack of gift cards to your favourite cafes.

childe

he's the friend who keeps you going, truly. if sunshine was bottled up and wrapped with a bow and had an orange cap, it would be childe! watching your face fall after staring at algebra simply won't do, no, no. let him lead you as he tugs on your hands outside of the study room, and just let your feet follow in his footsteps – you'll find yourself outside the library cafe. "alright, it's on me! what do you want?" maybe his wallet is a little lighter, but so is his heart, once he sees your face light up.

wriothesley

wriothesley is the one who has it all planned out. first, you'll start studying at 10pm... which is a little late, but it's alright. you'll get tired around midnight, which will be when he offers you the first cup of chamomile. "won't this put me to sleep?" you whine, accepting it from him anyways. he chuckles and runs his hands through your hair, replying that it's never worked on him. true enough, you start getting sleepy around half past one – finally leaning against his shoulder, your arms going slack. kissing your head, he drapes a blanket around you. good night, (y/n).

lyney

the one who sits besides you, cracking jokes every now and then! but when it's time to study, he can buckle down and start doing work –that's just lyney – the human on and off switch. there's something about him doing work while twirling his poker cards in his hands that's just so mesmerising – a stare too long catches his eye, and he starts doing a trick for you. get back to work!, you laugh and playfully swat his shoulder, turning back to your own paper. he chuckles in return, and unbeknownst to you, turns back with a smile.

alhaitham

alhaitham can be stricter as a study buddy – he's stern with distractions, wanting you to keep your phone to the side as he's explaining concepts – yes, concepts you learnt, but never understood. "hey, eyes here. did you understand, or do i need to go through it again?" he sounds bored, and you feel sorry for him. you mumble a soft i understand back, and he sighs and tells you to take a break. "look up." your eyes trail up from your phone, and instinctively close as he presses a sweet kiss to your forehead.

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[morallygreychaoticneutral]

Astarion prefers monogamy.

Again, simply my cup of thought tea steeped from my game experience. Its not everyone's drink. No shame, no blame, it's your game. Warning for triggers and spoilers.

*added note due to misunderstandings.

Please notice I said "prefers monogamy" not "is monogamous". He may be up for added partners later on down the line. But definitely not any time before the epilogue in my world.

So, why do I think he prefers monogamy?

Take..

"Iv never had anyone. Not really. Nothing that compares to you."

And mix that with...

"I had nothing for so very long. NOTHING! Not even my own body!"

And add..

"You're you. Nobody is like that."

Plus countless other comments and actions and you get a bowl full of elf who just wants something for himself only for a change.

Centuries of being forced to give up or share everything. His possessions, his person, his own thoughts. Nothing to claim as own that no one else could take or touch at any moment. I'm sure if anything was given to him, he had to fight to keep it.

I think, he would be a bit possessive of anything he could claim as his own.

You are a gift to him. Something rare and special beyond words. I highly doubt he would be willing to share anything you are sharing with him outside of friendship. I could even see him getting fussy about strangers touching you. Moving you away or putting himself physically between you and whomever just touched you without asking.

Hells, even ascended Astarion isn't 100% game to share.

"As much as I wish to sequester you in a deep chamber of my palace and keep you all to myself...there is much to be done."

But, what about Halsin? He says he's fine with it.

Is he? Or is he people pleasing?

If he had said something along the lines of,

"Oh? He wants to share does he? Of course he does. I'm not up for such activities just yet, but you are free to have as much Halsin as you wish. "

I would have gone on that bear hunt, but he doesn't.

He askes you if you are wanting to sleep with Halsin because he has not been able to meet your sexual needs. And I interpreted that as he's vulnerable and worried he's being replaced for not putting out.

Imagine you had asked your lover to not to look to you for sex for reasons you are working out. They agree and you are just relieved as hell about it.

"You were patient. You cared."

Then they come along later down the line and say they are thinking about having sex with a friend. Where would your mind go?

I would bet hard gold he weighed the options in his head. "If I don't let them do this, they might leave me for good. But if I allow it, they wont have an immediate reason to leave. Halsin is the safest option given his experience."

And what's the best way to feel less awful about a situation we cant control? Create a counter situation where we gaslight ourselves into thinking its fine.

Wheeee!

I'm not saying Halsin's offer was bad, it was perfectly fine, it was just poorly placed in the grand scheme of things. If you and Astarion were having fun again before he suggested being an extra, then it would have been easier to believe he was really fine with it.

If they wanted Astarion to be a poly partner they needed to write it better. Shadowheart makes more sense as pro poly than he does.

So for me, Astarion is a one on one elf.

I am not against polyamory. I am not trying to take representation away. I am not shaming anybody for their choices. There is just not enough specific content to support it fully FOR ME. I was actually excited at the idea of having two partners in my fantasy world. Halsin was very clear and very specific about being on board. Astarion was not. And the choice did not feel right. Add a line somewhere for Astarion where he says "Im perfectly fine with sharing, darling. As long as it is discussed and we are in agreement of course." I will happily be on board with it.

[mimi-cee-genshin]

Friend-zoned? - Alhaitham x f!reader

Summary: How many Akademiya guys does it take to figure out whether or not you've friend-zoned Alhaitham? After discussing how strong he is, Kaveh, Cyno and Tighnari analyze his relationship with you. Things get interesting when you join their table.

Other info: fluff and humor :D, female reader, my extension of the conversation in Alhaitham's character demo because I loved the guys' interactions there so much

Words: 2.7k

*****

"Essentially, more time on contemplation, less time on execution," Alhaitham tells them. "Simple, isn't it?"

"... Not really," Tighnari and Cyno reply.

"Ugh, I knew I shouldn't have brought this up with you," Kaveh complains.

"I thought my answer was quite engrossing," Alhaitham says. He raises his hand. "Boss, this is good wine. I'll have the same please."

Kaveh swirls his cup. "Well, he has at least one weakness," he comments.

"Do tell," Cyno says.

"He's had the same crush for years," Kaveh tells them. "The guy's completely smitten."

"You can't be serious," says Cyno.

"Why is that so surprising?" Alhaitham says. "It makes less sense that I wouldn't be attracted to her."

"See what I mean?" says Kaveh. "You should see how he is around her. He practically treats her like a queen."

"I have a hard time believing that," Cyno says, crossing his arms.

"Stop exaggerating," Alhaitham tells Kaveh. "I just treat her the way she should be treated."

Kaveh only laughs at his answer.

"I thought you didn't like social interaction," says Cyno. "Or had any friends for that matter."

"It's not tiring to be around her," he says. "She's different."

"Of course she is," says Kaveh.

"Well this is interesting," says Tighnari. "What is she like?"

"We've known each other since we were kids. She was mature for her age. She did things like helping me resolve issues I had with others to keep the peace, making sure other kids didn't bother me while I was reading… Also, comforting me whenever I got discouraged…"

"You? Discouraged?" Kaveh scoffs.

"Yes? I'm only human you know," Alhaitham simply replies. "Anyway, you get the picture."

"That seems reasonable," says Tighnari.

"So it's one-sided?" Cyno asks. "As far as I can tell, you're still single."

"No," says Alhaitham, crossing his arms. "It's not one-sided."

"You're kidding me, right?" Kaveh says. "Are we even talking about the same person?"

Tighnari raises a brow.

"Every time she introduces him to another woman, she's a little too obvious with sharing why they'd be good for Alhaitham," Kaveh explains, "as if she's trying to sell them off to him."

"Don't be so dramatic," Alhaitham says. "She's not selling anyone."

"If that's the case, then why are you sure she likes you?" asks Cyno.

"Well for one, she comes by often to check how I'm doing."

"Perhaps she simply thinks you're incompetent at your job," Kaveh chides.

"Two," he continues, ignoring him. "She's always willing to hear about the latest book I'm reading, no matter how boring others think of it."

"Hmm…" Tighnari mumbles. "I can understand that."

"And three…" Alhaitham puts down his cup. "Whenever she reaches out for my hand, like when she wants to comfort me, she stops short of actually holding it."

"She does?" asks Kaveh.

"Interesting. So it seems that while she does display some sort of affection for you," says Tighnari, "perhaps she just didn't want you to get the wrong idea."

"So you're doubting my conclusion?"

"I'm simply saying it's difficult to judge based on the evidence you've provided. We may need to observe the two of you for ourselves."

Alhaitham sighs. This isn't going anywhere.

"Does she have any reason to not want to date you?" Cyno asks. "I wouldn't be surprised if you were overly critical of her, commenting on her every action."

"I give her nothing but compliments. She knows I think very highly of her."

"Huh," Tighnari says. "That's quite unexpected."

"I've been telling you guys," Kaveh says, "but he's really something else around her."

"Is she… actually older than you by any chance?" asks Tighnari.

"She is."

"Hmm… Well this changes things. Perhaps, she still sees you as a kid and is simply just doting on you."

Kaveh turns to Alhaitham, eagerly waiting for his reply.

Alhaitham clears his throat. "She's less than a couple of years older than me. It's not a big deal."

"Just admit that you're friend-zoned," says Kaveh. "Who'd treat their love interest like a kid?"

"I'm not so sure…" Cyno says.

Both Kaveh and Tighnari raise a brow.

"I think that Alhaitham has a clearer picture and can judge more accurately than any of us. They've known each other for long enough."

"It's just his wishful thinking on his part," says Kaveh. "Who wouldn't want to read into their crush's actions?"

"I agree to an extent," says Tighnari, "but perhaps we're missing some crucial information here. We don't know how well Alhaitham can judge a person's actions when romantic feelings are involved."

"I'm thinking quite clearly, thanks," Alhaitham says.

"This is why you aren't getting anywhere," Kaveh scolds him. "You're assuming she has feelings for you when she doesn't. You still need to win her over."

"Then what do you suggest I do?" Alhaitham crosses his arms.

"Ha. As if I'd help you. She could do way better than you anyway."

Alhaitham groans. Why is he even part of this conversation?

"Well, have you ever told her how you felt?" asks Cyno.

"Of course," replies Alhaitham. "I'm pretty obvious about it."

"For someone as reserved as you, I highly doubt that," Cyno adds.

"I wrote her a letter, eloquently expressing my love for her."

"Pfft. What?" Kaveh snorts.

Tighnari stares in disbelief. "Oh. I get it. You did that when you were children."

"I'm referring to the one I gave her yesterday."

"Pfft."

"That's… pretty obvious," Tighnari adds.

"I bet it was more of an essay than a love letter," Kaveh says with a smirk.

"Well, in that case, she either doesn't like you," says Tighnari, "or there's something that prevents her from admitting her feelings."

"Perhaps she's intimidated by your position," suggests Cyno.

"It's unlike her to care about those things," Alhaitham says. "She even treats me like a kid at times."

"So you do admit she just thinks of you as a kid," Kaveh says.

Alhaitham doesn't answer.

"Honestly, this case is closed," Kaveh continues. "There's nothing more to it."

"Hmm... Have you tried to make her jealous?" asks Cyno.

"You're still not convinced?" Kaveh is surprised at him.

"Knowing the result of that would likely draw us closer to a conclusion," Tighnari adds.

"Why would I purposely try to hurt her?" asks Alhaitham.

They exchange glances. Alhaitham still had the ability to make them go speechless with his matter-of-fact tone.

"Well, he's definitely serious about her," says Cyno.

"I told you," Kaveh says. "Seems like she's the only person he'd open up to as well."

"Of course she is," Alhaitham replies.

"I wonder…" says Tighnari. "Has she ever shared her own struggles with you?"

"Why would that be a factor?"

"Well, that would display how comfortable she is around you."

"Hmm… Not bad…" Alhaitham seems to agree with his line of reasoning.

He goes quiet and uncomfortably so because the other three exchange awkward glances at each other in the meantime.

"Well?" Cyno breaks the silence.

"You may be right," Alhaitham tells Tighnari with a sigh. "But that certainly raises more questions."

"Can we just start playing Genius Invokation TCG?" asks Kaveh. "We just keep going in circles with this topic."

"So you guys did just drag me out to play cards," says Alhaitham.

"It would be interesting to meet her," says Tighnari. "It's gotten me curious."

"Same here," says Cyno.

Kaveh looks up at the tavern entrance. "Huh? She's actually here."

Alhaitham's eyes flicker open for a brief moment. "Nice try. I'm not falling for that."

"I didn't expect to see you here, Alhaitham," you say, ruffling his hair.

He freezes and the three of them take a closer look at his face.

"I never expected him to have that kind of expression," whispers Tighnari.

"Me neither," Cyno agrees.

Alhaitham clears his throat. "They simply invited me here for some cards," he tells you. "Nothing more."

"Can I join?" you ask.

Without question, Alhaitham gets up from his chair. He holds the back of his seat and slides it out, gesturing for you to take it.

Cyno and Tighnari widen their eyes.

"Is it just me or did that feel kind of odd?" says Tighnari.

"Coming from him? You're not wrong there," adds Cyno.

You hesitate for a moment before you accept his kindness and take his seat. He stands next to you, waiting for the other guys to start preparing the game.

The two onlookers feel slightly uncomfortable for some reason while Kaveh tells them another round of 'I-told-you-so's. There isn't anything out of the ordinary as you all take your turns playing each other. Cyno is intense as usual, not just with his tactics but also with how he approaches the battle like an interrogation. Tighnari was calm and collected even under pressure, and Kaveh spoke his mind with every move, regardless of whether it's his or his opponent's. But having you there with Alhaitham is… strange.

Nothing really happens of significance. The two of you treat each other well and with respect. Just having Alhaitham being a complete gentleman around you is unnerving for the rest of them. Curt responses and sarcastic remarks are absent. He's completely agreeable with you and his usual temper isn't there either. Everyone plays the game in peace.

"You should save that card for later," Alhaitham tells you. "He can't do anything for the rest of the round anyway."

"Hmm… I'm not quite sure if that's what I want to do yet," you respond.

"Alright," he says. "You should do what you think is best."

"This guy…" Kaveh turns to you. "How do you get him to be like that? If it were any of us, he would've scolded us with a lengthy explanation about how we'd lose if we didn't follow his exact instructions."

"What? She can think for herself."

"And none of us can't?"

"I'm already familiar with how the three of you play and where you go wrong. I want to see if she does anything differently."

"It seems that he really does only compliment you, huh?" Tighnari tells you.

"Why would I do otherwise?" Alhaitham states.

His straightforward remark stuns them once again.

"Okay, we get it," says Kaveh. "We all know about your huge crush on her."

"Seems like you can't say anything bad about her even if you try," Cyno comments.

"Of course I can."

"You can?" you ask.

The whole table looks at you funny. You fiddle with the cards in your hand, pretending you weren't shocked for a split second.

"Interesting," says Cyno.

Alhaitham crosses his arms. "What is it?"

"I'm keeping my observations to myself for now."

Alhaitham raises a brow, but lets it go for the meantime.

A few rounds go by and you help set up for the next. When Alhaitham picks up a die for you from the floor, your hand brushes against his and the die falls off the table once more.

"What's wrong?" Alhaitham asks as he picks up the die again. "You're not usually this clumsy."

"I don't think there's anything wrong with me," you say.

He takes a closer look at you and you avoid his eyes. "Alright," he says. "You still ready to play?"

"I'll need to head out soon," Tighnari says. "It's my turn to be on patrol for tonight."

"Hold on," Cyno says, placing his cards on the table. "One last round. I'll be your opponent this time," he tells you.

You finish setting up the game and test your skills against Cyno. He certainly doesn't make it easy for you. You fall behind pretty quickly, but at least he's not as intimidating as when he played with some of the others.

"So," Cyno says, "what do you think of Alhaitham?"

Your eyes widen at his sudden question.

"You're straight up asking her?" says Kaveh.

"Why not?"

"I guess he has a point," says Tighnari.

They turn their attention to you to see what you'd say.

"Well…" you say, "he's very intelligent and talented."

"No, not what everyone else says," says Cyno. "What you think."

"What do you think you're doing?" asks Alhaitham. "Are you interrogating her right now?"

"Just let her answer the question."

"Well…" you say, "he's nice? And sweet?"

Cyno raises a brow.

"He's cute?"

"Pfft." Kaveh holds in his laughter.

Cyno ignores him and presses the question.

"I don't know how to respond," you tell him. "We've known each other for so long I can't just sum it up in a sentence."

"Alright. I'll get straight to the point," says Cyno. "What do you think of Alhaitham's feelings for you?"

"I think he should get to know other people… and try dating someone else?"

"See?" says Kaveh.

"I've already told you I'm not interested in anyone else," Alhaitham says.

"No, you should listen to her answer," Cyno tells him. "She's not lying."

"What?" Alhaitham widens his eyes.

"I'm not done yet," says Cyno. "There's more." He turns to you. "How serious do you think Alhaitham is about you?"

"He's definitely sincere."

"I'm pretty sure that was obvious," says Tighnari.

"But you don't take his feelings seriously," Cyno tells you.

"It's not that. It's just…"

"You don't?" asks Alhaitham.

"Alright. It's your turn from here," Cyno tells him.

"But I thought I was clear," Alhaitham tells you.

"You were."

"Apparently not clear enough."

"Look. You used to follow me around like a duckling whenever you weren't reading a book," you tell him. "How was I supposed to take your crush on me seriously?"

"It's been more than a decade since then."

"I... Okay, fair enough," you concede. "But it would disappear once you learned I didn't live up to your expectations."

"What expectations?" Alhaitham raises his brow.

"I don't know. That I'm this perfect woman that you've been pining for more than half your life. You'd know I'm not so great if you'd actually try liking someone else."

"Is that what you've been telling yourself?"

"You never say anything bad about me."

"Why would I want to talk about your flaws? Especially when I've been trying to win you over," he says. "Besides, aren't they obvious to you?"

"What?" You're genuinely surprised. "Like what?"

"Like how stupid you're being right now."

You freeze.

"Besides, I've been around you long enough," Alhaitham continues. "There's plenty I don't like. Like the way you cut me off at times–"

"What?"

"–or your atrocious style–"

"Okay, that one hurt a bit–"

"–or how stupid do you have to be to keep asking Kaveh for money –"

"Alright. I get it."

"–or that time you–"

"Okay! I get it! You like me!"

Kaveh looks at you as if you've grown another head. "How did you come to that conclusion? Are we even listening to the same conversation?"

"I think she's finally realized that his feelings were deeper than she initially thought," says Tighnari. "Especially since she knows that Alhaitham is still objective with her and not blinded with infatuation."

"That's right," Cyno says. "She's been the exception to his behavior for a long time. It makes sense she would think his judgment would be clouded with the information she had."

You hide your face from them. It's embarrassing how they read you like a book once your guard was down.

"I didn't expect the solution to be so simple," Alhaitham says.

He slips his hand into yours and you let out a little squeak. "You've also been wanting to hold my hand for some time haven't you?"

"Ugh. You're all smug now because you know that I return your feelings."

"I also don't like how you rearranged my bookcase."

"You can stop now."

"I think it's time for us to go," says Cyno.

"But we haven't finished our match yet," you tell him.

"I'll just forfeit this one."

"I'm with you on that," says Kaveh. "Anything before they start being gross with each other."

"I guess this is a good time for me to head out as well," says Tighnari.

The two of you are suddenly left alone at the table with a bunch of dice in front of you.

"Well, that's one way to win a match," Alhaitham tells you. "I'd say it's pretty ingenious actually."

You simply groan. You know what's coming.

"Do you want me to help you win every time?"

"Please don't."

*****

I hope you liked it. :)

This is one of those fics I wish had inline commenting like on Wattpad. I would've loved to see how everyone reacted at certain parts in real time but unfortunately Tumblr doesn't have that.

Anyway, you can find links to my masterlist and taglist on my pinned post if you want to check out more of my writing.

[thefatedthoughtofyou]

{ the song (I Just) Died In Your Arms came on at work today and then this happened. }

Warnings: aftermath of time loops, like years after, hurt/comfort, angst, allusion to sex and loss of virginity (its really more of a fade to black situation tho 👍🏻)

🍒🍒🍒

"Eddie?" Steve calls, dropping his bag and all his crap by the door, and toeing off his shoes.

"Kitchen! Rob's at Chrissy's tonight so I thought we'd do dinner and a movie?" Eddie's voice calls, and Steve can already smell something cooking. Hears the sizzle of a something as well, and the radio playing something, the sound just a low rumble in his ears.

"Sounds good. Watcha makin?" Steve calls, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it over the back of the couch, he knows Eddie will grab it later and hang it by the door. He leaves it there anyway, smiling to himself at the thought as turns toward the kitchen.

"Oh just the ol Eddie Munson special. Gourmet grilled cheese. It soothes the- Steve? You okay?" Eddie's voice is quiet now, Steve's sure his eyes are wide too but he can't see them. Not really.

He's staring at the radio. The low murmur of music finally hitting him, stopping him in his tracks, his blood running cold, like icy fingers trailing down his back. That fucking song. He could kill whoever wrote it. Who needs a song about someone dying in their arms?

"Steve?" Eddie asks, again. Steve nods. Takes one step backwards. And then bolts for the bathroom.

He hits his knees hard, slaming down in front of the toilet, losing the small amount of food he'd had for lunch, his stomach heaving. He's shaking when he stands, his knees buckle twice on the short walk from the bathroom across the hall to his room. He shuts the door softly when he hears Eddie's footsteps coming.

"Steve? Are you okay?" His voice is small, and Steve can see him, with his long sleeves pulled down around his hands, worrying the material between his fingers as he shuffles from foot to foot outside Steve's door.

"I'm fine Ed's. Just, keep cooking. I'll be out in a few for the movie okay?" Steve calls, yanking his clothes off and grabbing one of Eddie's old t-shirts that he'd stolen maybe a year ago. Eddie had never asked for it back. And Steve liked the way he blushed when he saw Steve wearing it.

Eddie does, sort of. He goes back to the kitchen, turns everything off, and then walks back to Steve's room. He slides down the wall outside his door and sits on the floor. He can hear Steve moving around in there, just shuffling around his room doing god knows what.

He does this sometimes. Eddie never knows what to do. Or say. Or how to stop it. He tries. But Steve won't talk to him about it. Just ignores that it happens. Or talks to Robin. They share little looks, he sees them, never knows what they mean.

It makes him uncomfortable sometimes, like they're telling jokes behind his back. He knows they're not. That they wouldn't. But there's something. And until now, he's never asked, never pushed. Just sat back and worried and tried to ignore the feeling that he'd done something wrong.

"Steve?" He asks, voice low. He hears Steve stop moving.

"Yeah?" He calls, sounding suspicious, or nervous maybe, or like he's been caught doing something he shouldn't.

"You know I'm not stupid right?" Eddie's chest burns, fire crawling up his throat, his eyes burning.

"I- what?" Steve answers, voice muffled, Eddie can almost see him standing in the middle of his room, staring at the door.

"I'm not stupid. I know something's wrong." He presses his finger to the floor, rubs at a knot in the wood, listens to Steve walk closer to the door.

"I told you I'm fine. Really it's-"

"Don't lie to me." Eddie cuts him off, doesn't yell, doesn't even raise his voice. He thinks he hears Steve gasp on the other side of the door. Can't be sure.

"Please just-" he closes his eyes, clears his throat, wills the tears away. He's so tired of crying about this.

"Just talk to me? I know- there's something you're not telling me." He hangs his head, worries at his shirt sleeves, his hands in his lap.

"It's been three years. And I thought it would stop ya know? Thought maybe I was imagining things. Or just, had to get used to the enigma that is YouAndRobin. But that's not it, is it?" He lets his head fall back and hit the wall.

"It's me. It's something I'm doing. Or like, multiple things? And I've tried to stop. Ya know? Tried to figure it out on my own cuz you guys clearly don't wanna share." He sighs.

"But I just keep fucking up. And then you guys give each other those looks, and lock yourselves away for hours, or fucking days, at a time. And I try so fucking hard not to do those things again." His voice is strained now, he clears his throat again, tucks his knees up under his chin and keeps talking, knows if he doesn't say it now he never will.

"But it's fucking impossible to figure out what I'm doing wrong if you won't talk to me Steve. I just- I feel like I'm hurting you somehow and you just- you just fucking sit there and take it and pretend it not happening when it really fucking clearly is! And it makes me feel insane!" He shoves his lips against his knee, tries to hide the whimper that claws its way out of his throat. He closes his eyes, tries to breathe, opens his mouth to speak again and hears the door open.

He looks up, watches Steve look forward and then down, finding Eddie on the floor, his own eyes shining like Eddie knows his are too.

"It's not you." Steve says, whispers really. And Eddie can't help the eyeroll. Or the huff. Looks away from Steve, drops his chin onto his knees and closes his eyes again, pushes the palms of his hands against his eyes.

"You're lying." He croaks, voice tight.

"I know you are. I just don't know why." And he hates it, that whine in his voice. And then Steve is on his knees, next to Eddie, his hands hovering near him as Eddie glares at him.

"I- I'm not. I promise I'm not. It's not you. It- it's complicated. I don't-" he sighs.

"Just say it! Just try!" Eddie's hands flail, his voice desperate as he looks at Steve. He stares for a moment, eyes wide, and then falls to sitting next to Eddie, his own knee tucked up to his chest, back resting against the door frame.

"I watched you die." Steve says, quiet. Eddie frowns.

"I know. And then you carried me out of hell and saved me. I know that. What are you-"

"No. Not- not that time." Steve shakes his head, grimaces when he looks at Eddie. He shakes his head, he doesn't understand.

"Before that. So many fucking times before that. Over and over. You died. No matter what I did. Or what I changed." Steve pinched the bridge of his nose, shoved a knuckle into the corner of his eye. He let his head fall back as he looked at Eddie, his hands falling palms up on his thighs, helpless.

"You died. Over and over and over. And everytime. Every single fucking time. I ended up covered in your blood." He closes his eyes, opens them again. Says nothing else.

"I-" Eddie starts, stops, takes a deep breathe, moves one hand over his chest, resting his palm against the scar on his side, a nervous habit he has now. His fingers drum against the thick skin there.

"That's- you're talking about a time loop." Eddie says slowly, and Steve, he fucking laughs. There's no humor in it, just a bark, and a wry smile as he shakes his head at Eddie.

"What? You are, right? I mean that's- why are you smiling?" Eddie flails again, hugs his knees tighter. Steve just shakes his head again, bites his lip to hide a smile.

"Robin told me I should tell you. That you'd understand. Or like, get it. And I knew you would I guess, I just- couldn't." Steve sighs again, gives a little helpless shrug.

"Why not?" Eddie rests his chin on his knees, watching Steve. The tension he'd been holding in his shoulders for what seems like years seems to melt away.

"At first I was scared. That if I said something. It would start again. And then it just-" he takes a deep breath, smiles the saddest smile Eddie's ever seen and says,

"It just hurt too much." He shrugs again, a tear falling down his cheek. Eddie stares, watches his fall onto his shirt, watches it bleed into the fabric.

"Why did it hurt? Cuz of me? Cuz I keep reminding you of it somehow? Right? That's what all those little looks between you guys have been?" He wraps his arms around his legs tighter, his lip wobbling again. He knew he'd been fucking up.

Steve looks at him, brow furrowed, and reaches out, his hand warm when it curls around Eddie's bicep.

"I didn't know you noticed that. And I'm sorry. But no. It wasn't that. I mean maybe a little. Just small things. Like, deja vu, sometimes." He shrugged.

"But tonight it was the song. That stupid fucking song." He sighs, shakes his head and laughs again. The sound hollow in his chest.

"The... song." Eddie frowns, trying to think what song had been on when Steve came through the door. And oh, yeah.

"Oh. Kinda... right on the nose that one. Sorry. It was just on the tape I found. It wasn't even my tape. I think it was one of Dustin’s old ones." Steve squeezes his arm, heads him off before be starts really rambling.

"It's okay. You didn't know. You couldn't have. Cuz I didn't tell you. And I should have. I'm sorry." Steve bites his lip again. Eddie nods, sniffles, untangles his arms from around himself and scoots a little closer to Steve, their legs pressed together.

"Will you tell me now? All of it? Please? I need to know what happened. Kinda really wanna know how you saved me." He feels his cheeks burn, his ears too. He can't look at Steve. Not right now. Knows he'll see too much.

"I'll tell you. But not on the floor." He laughs again, a real one this time, and gets to his feet. He offers his hand to Eddie and pulls him to his feet. Their hands stay together, Eddie's cheeks burn with a fresh wave of color and Steve smiles, tugs him into his room, and tells him everything.

~°~

"A whole year?" Eddie's staring at the ceiling, knows he sounds breathless.

"Yep." Steve says, pops the P.

"And you spent it with me?" Eddie asks, sounds unconvinced.

"Yep."

"And we-"

"Yep." Steve huffs, turns onto his side and looks at Eddie.

"Hey. Look at me." Eddie swallows, isn't sure he can. He let's out a shakey breath and does it anyway.

"Hi." Steve says, smiling, his cheek squished against his arm curled under his head.

"Hi." Eddie echoes.

"You and me?" Eddie asks, his brow furrowed, his throat burning again.

"Yeah. I uh... I wasn't expecting it. Or maybe I was. I'm not sure anymore. But I'm glad it happened." Steve shrugs, reaches out, his finger brushing a curl away from Eddie's face.

"Why didn't you tell me? We could've- I mean I would've-" Eddie swallows, not sure what he would've. Steve smiles that sad smile again.

"Because I'm an idiot. I thought I had to like- let you make your own choices. Not- tell you what you did before. And you didn't remember. Because it- it didn't work, that time. I didn't-" he pauses, clears his throat, wipes at his eyes.

"I didn't save you that time. I lost you. And it- fuck it hurt Ed's. It hurt so much." His throat catches on a sob, his palms shoving into his eyes and Eddie can't take it anymore. He surges forward, wraps his arms around Steve and pulls him close.

"I'm right here. I've been here. I'm not going anywhere." Eddie whispers, presses the words into Steve's hair as he clings to him.

"How many times after that one?" Eddie asks, his hand in Steve's hair, soothing.

"Two. I lost you two more times and then it worked. I woke up by your hospital bed instead of at my house. And you were there. Alive. And Robin was alive. And Dustin and Nancy. Everyone. More or less." Steve's voice is muffled, Eddie can feel his shirt getting wet from his tears.

"Steve I-" he takes a shakey breath.

"I don't know what to say." He sighs, keeps soothing his fingers over Steve's scalp. He pulls back, looks at Eddie, his face wet and blotchy.

"You don't have to say anything. I'm just glad you know now." He shakes his head, sniffles, drops his head back onto his pillow, eyes on Eddie.

"This um... this other Eddie. The one you spent a year with." Eddie draws.

"He wasn't 'another Eddie'. He was you. Just, before we really met." Steve snorts, rolls his eyes.

"Right. Right. So this Eddie you spent a year with." Eddie says, Steve fucking giggles and squeezes his eyes shut, nose all scrunched up. He opens his eyes, blinks a few times.

"What about him?" Steve asks, his teeth dragging over his lip as he smiles. Eddie shrugs, best he can laying on his side.

"Was he... I mean was he really like me?" Eddie asks, his voice sounding, doubtful. Steve hums, thinks for a moment.

"He was. And he wasn't." Steve shrugs too.

"That's very descriptive." Eddie says, voice flat. Steve laughs, rolls onto his back and then back to his side to look at Eddie.

"He was... different. Calmer. Less traumatized. At the beginning anyway. But he was still you. Still stubborn. And loyal. And kind." His shoulder twitches again.

"Was he nice to you? This other me?" Eddie asks, chewing on his lip, eyes locked on Steve's face. His cheeks flush and Eddie feels heat crawl over his skin.

"He was yeah. After awhile. He was... very nice." Steve's voice is soft, low, that little smile tugging at his mouth.

"Did he love you?" Eddie doesn't mean to say it. Not really. But he can't stop it. He has to know. Steve said they'd been together. But it was just a year. But a lot can happen in a year, Eddie knows all too well.

Steve eyes go soft at the question, a fondness in them that Eddie knows well, his stomach flutters at the realization.

"He said he did." Steve nods, scoots a little closer.

"And did-" Eddie swallows roughly, blinks a few times,

"Did you love him?" He asks, voice barely above a whisper. Steve nods, slow, his hair splaying against his pillow, his hand lifting to his mouth, teeth worrying at his thumb nail.

Eddie feels a breif spike of jealousy peak its head up and then feels ridiculous. And then he feels something else, something that blooms in his chest and wraps itself around his ribs warmly. Something he thinks might be hope.

"Do you-" he bites into his lip, hard. His hands shaking on the matress between he and Steve. Steve's hand moves away from his mouth, his knuckles brushing Eddie's before lacing their fingers together.

"Say it." Steve whispers, his eyes shining. He smiles at Eddie and Eddie can't not smile back. Can't not ask.

"Do you love me?" He hears his voice, hears how he clearly doesn't believe that. But Steve nods, a giddy smile on his face.

"You do? Why?" Eddie blurts, and Steve laughs, curls closer to Eddie, his hand cupping Eddie's cheek, thumb moving over his skin softly.

"I'm not sure I ever had a choice." Steve breathe between them.

"I think it was just always meant to be you." Steve moves his thumb over Eddie's lips, then up over his cheek again, wiping at the tear that runs over Eddie's skin.

"But he's not- I mean I'm not- we're not the same person. I don't remember it. I don't remember getting to have you. I did get to have you right?" Eddie asks, his chest shuddering as he tries to keep his breathing steady. Steve nods, crowds impossibly closer, his knee slotting between Eddie's own.

"You had me. You had me then and you have me now. And you are the same person. That's why me and Robin always give each other those looks. Because I told her everything. Anything I could remember. And you do things. Things that you did then. When you were mine." Steve smiles. Eddie laughs out a sob.

"When I was yours." He says, mocking, his voice wet and wobbly.

"Yeah. You were mine. Do you wanna be mine?" Steve's fingertips move over his face, like he's trying to memorize him.

"Pretty sure I've been yours since I woke up to you reading The Hobbit by my bed in the hospital." Eddie smiles, more tears falling.

"Dustin told me it would help." Steve shrugged again his thumb back on Eddie's lips. He nodded, closing his eyes to warmth of Steve's skin on his. 

"I wanna be yours." Eddie breathed, gasped when he felt Steve's thumb press into his lip.

"Yeah?" Steve was so close now, Eddie opened his eyes and he was right there, his nose almost touching Eddie.

"Please." Eddie wasn't sure what he was begging for, but he trusted Steve to give it to him.

"Yeah. Anything you want." Steve sighed, closing the space between them.

His lips hit Eddie's and his whole world tilts. Steve holds his head and kisses him sweetly and everything slams into him at once. Thoughts. Feelings. Memories. Memories that aren't his. Things he's never done. Not with Steve. Not with anyone.

But they crash into him, wash over him like a wave and blend into him like they're his. Things he said to Steve, the way he touched him, the way he loved him, during that year that never was. All of it filling him and becoming his. His and Steve's. Just another piece of their story, another peice of their love.

Eddie gasps, pulls back and finds Steve's eyes on him, wide, his brow furrowed.

"Did you?" Steve asks, his head tilting.

"I remember. Or... I saw it. I felt it. Or like, an echo of it. I love you." He laughs then, breathy and sweet, and Steve laughs back, nearly tackles him back onto the bed, arms curled around Eddie, face buried in his neck.

"I love you too." He sounds giddy. The way Eddie feels. He buries his hands in Steve's hair and pulls him up, so he can look at him. Steve comes willingly, looking down at Eddie with adoration.

"Our lives are so fuckin weird. You know that right?" Eddie asks, his nose scrunching. Steve snorts, bites his lip, and smiles.

"Oh yeah. But would you want it any other way?" Steve asks, his nose scrunching too.

"I'll take it whatever way lets me have you." Eddie says, his finger moving down the line of Steve's nose. He bites at Eddie's finger when he drops his hand on his chest.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to ask. And that you were stuck for so long. Back then." Eddie nods to the side, like that time in '86 is right beside them.

"I'm not. I learned a lot about loving you back then." Steve smiles down at him, pushes his bangs back off his head, Eddie leans into the touch.

"Oh yeah? Well I look forward to reaping the benefits." Eddie says, tongue poking into his cheek.

"Yeah? Well I look forward to taking your virginity. Again." Steve smirks down at him. Eddie squaks, tries to shove Steve off him and gets pinned to the bed instead.

"How dare you! I'm not even- that's- I mean... absolute hearsay!" Eddie stammers. Steve laces their fingers together and straddles him, leaning down over him, that smug look on his face.

"You trying to say you're not?" Steve asks, his tongue moving over his teeth.

"I- it's just- I mean that's not fair." Eddie squeaks, looking up at Steve with wide eyes.

"Seems fair to me. Like a really nice reward." Steve boasts, leaning closer and closer.

"It feels like cheating. Like not that kind of cheating. Just... I've never- done stuff. And you're just... you have. With me. That's not-"

"Hey. I'll take good care of you." Steve breathes, presses his lips to Eddie's genlty and pulls back, settles himself on Eddie's thighs.

"I know. I have the memory. But it's like... I dunno, like it's foggy. Like a dream. I can see it, in my head, but I can't feel it." Eddie sighs, looks away.

"Forget about it." Steve says.

"Oh okay. I'll just forget about the images I now have burned into my brain of you, naked, on top of me." Eddie scoffs, tries to take his hands from Steve's and fails, Steve squeezes his hands tighter.

"Why are you so strong?" Eddie kicks his feet, feigning attempts to break free. Steve laughs, lowers himself back into Eddie's face.

"You can hold tight to that new old memory. Or we can make some memories of our own. Pick one." Steve brushes his nose against Eddie's and smiles when Eddie bucks up into him.

"New memories. Absolutely. We should do that. Let's make new ones. We should do that right now." Eddie nods frantically, lifting up and trying to kiss Steve, both of them ending up sitting, Steve in Eddie's lap, finally letting his hands go to snake his arms around Eddie's neck.

"New memories. Got it." Steve kisses him, sweetly, pulls back, just a fraction of an inch.

"You've got shit memory anyway baby. I'll get rid of those in no time." He breathes the words into Eddie mouth like a promise. Eddie moans and grabs at his back, pulling him closer.

"Holy shit. Okay." He huffs, shivering as Steve presses him down onto the bed again, laughing against his lips.

"I'm gonna take this slow. Be real sweet to you." He peppers kisses across Eddie face.

"You're gonna fuckin torture me you mean?" Eddie whines, his hips jumping and stuttering everytime Steve rolls his down against him.

"Trust me. You'll love it." Steve whispers, his lips ghosting over Eddie's, teasing.

"I love you." Eddie says, both of them freezing. Steve just stays there, looking down at him, his eyes shimmering again. Eddie reaches up, wipes the tears away.

"I love you too." Steve breathes, his body dropping onto Eddie completely, tension leaving as he kisses Eddie, slow and deep, both of them moaning into each other's mouths.

Steve's true to his word. He takes Eddie apart slowly. And then puts him right back together. Three years of longing, and lost time, and impossible memories passing between them. A slow ebb and flow, like the tide, like the ocean and the moon, moving through them both, pulling them together after so long apart.

Steve falls asleep on his chest after, small sounds falling past his lips as he nuzzles into Eddie's skin. Eddie holds him there, one hand in Steve's hair, one moving slowly up and down his back.

He holds Steve close, watches him sleep, and thanks whoevers listening that he gets to have this. Have him. And thanks them again for bringing him through it all, all the monsters, and the time loops, and everything else. Just for him to end up in Eddie's arms.

Eddie's certain it's where he was meant to be all along.

[lila-lou]

✨His second exception - Pt. 9/?✨

Summary: The moment Ben found out you were pregnant was probably the happiest moment of his life. However, happiness proved fleeting. Now, he is faced with the aftermath of his shattered dreams. Of what is left of you, and what is left of him.

Pairing: Soldier Boy x Reader

Warnings: 18+ only! Smut, Language, fluff, hurt/angst

Word Count: 7118

A/N: This is the sequel to “His only exeption” - and Part 9 of "His second exception".

English isn’t my first language, so please be lenient. 💙✨

The next two weeks, Ben and you spent most of your time either at the tower or at home together, finding a new rhythm in your relationship. The days were filled with a comforting routine of work and shared moments, allowing you both to heal and grow closer again.

Your parents hadn’t reached out to you since the night they came over, and you were beginning to wonder if the confrontation had left a lasting rift. But then, today, you received a text from your mom, inviting you both over for dinner on Sunday. The fact that she included Ben in the invitation surprised you, but it also gave you hope that they were willing to try to accept your relationship.

Right now, you walked into Ben’s office to tell him the news. He was sitting at his desk, engrossed in some paperwork, but he looked up as soon as you entered.

“Hey”, he greeted, leaning back in his chair. “What’s up?”.

You took a seat across from him, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. “I just got a text from my mom. She invited us over for dinner on Sunday”.

Ben’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Us? As in both of us?”.

You nodded, unable to hide your own surprise. “Yeah, both of us. I think they’re trying to make an effort”.

“That’s… unexpected”.

You took a deep breath, wanting to be sensitive to Ben’s feelings. “So, what do you think? Are you okay with going?”.

Ben’s lips curled into a playful smirk. “Are you asking me if I’m okay with having dinner with my girlfriend’s parents who might just be trying to accept me? Hmm, let me think…”.

You rolled your eyes, but a smile tugged at the corners of your mouth. “Ben, seriously. I know it might be a bit awkward, and I don’t want to force you into anything you’re uncomfortable with”.

He leaned forward, resting his arms on his desk. “Well, I’m not going to lie and say I’m fucking thrilled. But if this is a chance to mend things and make them see how happy we are together, then I’m in”.

You chuckled at Ben's straightforward response, appreciating his honesty. "Alright, fair enough. Thank you".

Ben grinned mischievously, his eyes gleaming with playful intent. "Since I'm agreeing to potentially survive a dinner with your folks, can I ask for something else in return?".

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Depends on what you're asking for".

Ben leaned back in his chair, a sly smile playing on his lips. “Well”, he started, his tone lowering, “you know, all week you’ve been too tired to even let me touch you”.

You felt a blush creeping up your cheeks as he continued, his voice turning even more suggestive. “I think now would be the perfect time to… well, you know, make it up to me”.

Your blush deepened at his bold words, and you could hardly meet his gaze. “Ben”, you stammered, feeling a mix of embarrassment and excitement. “That’s… quite the request”.

He chuckled softly, his eyes never leaving yours. “Just think of it as a little motivation for me to get through dinner. What do you say?”.

You bit your lip, trying to gather your thoughts. Part of you wanted to tease him right back, but another part was genuinely flustered by his boldness.

"Alright", you said, trying to keep your voice steady despite the flutter in your stomach. "But you better behave yourself during dinner".

Ben's grin widened, clearly enjoying your reaction. He leaned back in his chair, patting his lap playfully. "C'mere", he murmured.

Your cheeks burned even hotter at his audacity, but you couldn't deny the thrill that shot through you. You walked over to him, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement.

As you straddled his lap, Ben wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close. His lips brushed against your ear as he whispered, "You know, you drive me crazy sometimes".

You chuckled softly, feeling his warmth against you. "I guess that's why you put up with me".

Ben’s eyes darkened with desire as he pulled away slightly, his hands deftly unbuttoning your blouse. He took his time, savoring each moment as he revealed the smooth skin of your chest. When he had your blouse open, he gently tugged your bra down, just enough to expose your nipples.

You shivered at the sensation of the cool air on your skin, combined with the heat of his gaze. Ben leaned in, his lips brushing against your neck. His breath was warm against your skin as he took his time, his lips brushing over your collarbone and then lower, leaving a trail of soft kisses. You felt your breath hitch as he hovered just above one of your nipples, his eyes flicking up to meet yours.

“Look at you”, he murmured. “You get all worked up so easily. Just a touch, and you’re already trembling”.

You bit your lip, again feeling a blush spread across your cheeks.

He finally took one of your nipples into his mouth, his tongue flicking over the sensitive peak. You gasped, your hands instinctively reaching for his shoulders to steady yourself. Ben sucked gently, then harder, drawing a moan from your lips.

“That’s right”, he murmured against your skin. “Let me hear you. You’re mine, and I want to know just how much you need this”.

His words were rough, but the pleasure he was giving you was undeniable. You arched your back, pressing closer to him, feeling the heat between your bodies.

Ben didn’t lose much time. He knew that sucking on your nipples was more than enough to make you wet, so without hesitation, he opened the pants of his suit, pulling out his already hard dick. He held you up with one arm, his strength making it easy, while his other hand grabbed his dick.

Without the need for his words, you quickly pulled up your skirt and pushed your panties aside, a shiver running through you at the anticipation. The tip of his cock pressed against your entrance, and you gasped at the sensation.

“You’re so ready for me”, he murmured, his voice thick with desire. “Just can’t wait to have me inside you, can you?”.

You nodded, biting your lip to stifle a moan as he began to push inside, stretching and filling you in a way that made you feel complete. His grip on your waist tightened, guiding you down onto him inch by inch, until he was fully sheathed within you.

The feeling was intense, the mix of pleasure and the sheer physicality of it taking your breath away. Ben’s eyes never left yours, his gaze fierce and possessive. “That’s it”, he growled softly. “Take all of me”.

You whimpered, your hands clutching at his shoulders for support as you began to gently move your hips, adjusting to the feel of him inside you. Ben tried his best to give you the time you needed, his grip on your waist steadying you as you found your rhythm.

“Just like that”, he whispered, his voice rough with restraint.

You moved slowly at first, savoring the sensation of being so intimately connected. Each shift of your hips brought a new wave of pleasure, the friction sending sparks through your body. Ben’s eyes were locked onto yours, his gaze filled with a mixture of desire and adoration.

Encouraged by his steadying presence, you gradually increased your pace, your movements becoming more confident. Ben’s breath hitched as you rode him, his hands guiding you but allowing you to take control.

“You’re doing so well”, he murmured.

You missed feeling him like this so much. The intimacy, the connection, the way he made you feel—everything about being with Ben was perfect. You’d always heard horror stories about how Supes could hurt or even kill people during sex, but with Ben, it was pure pleasure. He was always careful with his strength, and although sometimes he underestimated it, the most you ever experienced were some soreness and a few bruises.

You couldn’t imagine ever sleeping with someone else. Ben just knew how to push every single one of your buttons.

As you moved on top of him, finding a rhythm that sent waves of pleasure through both of you, his hands guided you, his touch grounding and reassuring.

The connection between you was palpable, a silent understanding that transcended words. You felt safe with him, cherished. Each thrust, each touch, brought you closer together, both physically and emotionally.

Ben’s hands roamed your body, caressing and squeezing, his breath coming in short, heated bursts. “You feel so good”, he murmured. “I’ve missed this, missed you”.

You leaned down, your lips brushing against his ear as you whispered, “I’ve missed you too, Ben. So much”.

Your words seemed to ignite something in him, his grip on your hips tightening as he thrust up into you, meeting your movements with a newfound intensity. You gasped, the pleasure almost too much to bear, but you didn’t want it to stop. You wanted to hold on to this moment, to the feeling of being so completely connected to him.

As the pleasure built to a crescendo, you felt yourself teetering on the edge. “Ben”, you moaned, your voice a desperate plea. “I’m so close”.

His eyes locked onto yours. “Come for me”, he urged, his voice a rough whisper.

With a final, deep thrust, you felt the wave of your orgasm crash over you. Ben followed right behind, his release mingling with yours as he groaned your name, his hands holding you close.

For a moment, you stayed like that, bodies entwined, hearts pounding in unison.

After a while, Ben gently lifted you up, his strength effortless and tender. As he pulled your panties back in place, his softening dick fell against his stomach. He grinned mischievously, whispering, “Keep it inside”, a playful glint in his eyes, referring to his cum.

You blushed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and arousal at his boldness. Just then, the door to Ben’s office swung open, and MM stepped in. “Ah man, fuck that!”, he exclaimed, quickly covering his eyes with his hand. “Seriously? You guys can’t even keep it in the bedroom?”.

Ben grumbled under his breath as MM stood awkwardly in the doorway, his hand still covering his eyes. “Can’t you fucking knock or something?”, Ben said, his tone half amused, half annoyed.

MM dropped his hand from his eyes, shooting Ben a playful glare. “You’re lucky I walked in and not someone else. You two really need to learn some damn boundaries”.

You bit your lip, trying to stifle a laugh as you straightened your clothes. “Sorry about that, MM”, you said, feeling a bit flustered.

MM grumbled, shaking his head in exasperation. “This is the third time now I’ve walked in on you two. Apparently, some people need to learn to keep it in their pants”.

Ben chuckled. “Maybe you just enjoy the show. Learning anything new each time?”.

MM shot him a deadpan look. “Yeah, I’ve learned that you have zero boundaries”.

Just then, the door opened again, and Annie and Butcher walked in. By now, you were fully dressed, but your flushed face told exactly what you had been up to.

Annie took one look at your face and raised an eyebrow. “Did we miss something?”.

Butcher, always direct, smirked. “Blimey, don’t tell me you two were at it again”.

You raised your hand, a mixture of frustration and embarrassment evident in your voice. “Does anyone here fucking knock?”.

Annie chuckled, shaking her head. “Clearly not”.

Butcher shot back with a smirk, “Well love, you wouldn’t need to worry if Ben could keep his dick inside his pants for more than two minutes”.

Ben rolled his eyes, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Butcher”.

Butcher snorted. “Hardly. Just trying to keep this team somewhat professional”.

MM sighed, stepping in to redirect the conversation. “Alright, enough. Can we please focus on the task at hand?”.

Ben looked up, his eyes hopeful as he asked, “What task? Please tell me it’s something more exciting than paperwork. I’m about to lose my fucking shit with all these reports”.

Annie smirked, knowing how much Ben despised paperwork. “Don’t worry. We might have something that’ll get you out from behind that desk”.

MM nodded, pointing to the folders on the table. “We’ve got intel on one of Vought’s key labs. It’s heavily guarded, but if we hit it, we might get the leverage we need”.

Ben’s eyes lit up at the prospect of action. “Finally, something worth doing”. He glanced at you with a grin. “No offense to you and your love for that shit”.

You laughed, shaking your head. “None taken. Someone has to keep this team organized”.

Ben turned to MM, his excitement barely contained. “Kimiko, A-Train and that french fuck. Tell them to meet us in the meeting room. I’ll be there in a few minutes”.

MM nodded, already moving towards the door. “Got it”, he said, leaving the room to gather the rest of the team.

With the others gone, Ben looked back at you, leaning against his desk with a smile. "You okay?”.

You chuckled. “Besides the fact that I can feel your cum soaking my fucking panties?”.

Ben’s grin widened, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “Well, you did promise to keep it inside”, he replied, his tone equally teasing.

You rolled your eyes, but couldn’t suppress your own smile. “You’re impossible, you know that?”.

“I aim to please”, he said, his voice low and affectionate. He pulled you close, wrapping his arms around you in a quick, comforting embrace. As he held you, he murmured into your ear, “I won’t be gone long. Maybe a few hours. You look out for yourself, okay?”.

You rolled your eyes playfully, mumbling, “Of course”. As you said it, Ben’s fingers found their way to the necklace around your neck—the one he had given you for your birthday. He gently played with the pendant, his touch a reminder of his affection and the bond you shared.

“You still like it?”, he asked.

“Of course I do”, you replied, your voice tender. Leaning in, you pressed a soft kiss to his lips and whispered, “It reminds me who I belong to”, you teased, your eyes sparkling with affection.

Ben’s grin widened, a flicker of pride and warmth in his eyes. “Good”, he murmured, his voice a low rumble. “And don’t you forget it”.

He gave you one last squeeze before reluctantly pulling away. “Time to get to work”, he said, his tone shifting to a more serious note. “I’ll see you soon”.

You nodded, watching as he turned and headed towards the meeting room. You took a deep breath, steeling yourself for the task ahead and feeling a renewed sense of purpose.

Inside the meeting room, the team was already gathered around the table, reviewing the intel. MM had spread out the maps and documents, and Frenchie was studying them intently, pointing out key areas to Kimiko and A-Train.

“Alright pussys”, Ben said, taking charge. “We’ve got a solid plan, but we need to execute it perfectly. Frenchie, you and your chick will handle the infiltration. A-Train, you’re on distraction duty with me. We need to keep their attention away from the lab as long as possible”.

Frenchie nodded, his eyes sharp with focus. “Understood. We’ll disable their security systems and get in and out quickly”.

Kimiko gave a silent nod of agreement, her expression determined.

A-Train crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. “Chaos is my middle name. They won’t know what hit them”.

As Sunday arrived, you found yourself standing in front of your parents’ house, feeling a mix of nerves and anticipation. Ben stood beside you, grumbling under his breath.

“Why couldn’t I just wear simple jeans?”, he muttered, adjusting the collar of his beige dress shirt. You had convinced him to wear beige slacks and a matching dress shirt, a more formal look than he usually preferred.

You couldn’t help but laugh softly at his discomfort. “Because we’re trying to make a good impression, Ben. Besides, you look really handsome”.

He huffed, shifting uncomfortably. “These pants are squeezing my fucking dick”.

“Well, maybe that’s because your dick is just too big”, you said with a playful smile.

Ben raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Oh, so now my dick is a problem? I don’t remember you complaining last night”, he teased back, leaning in closer.

You felt your cheeks flush but managed to keep your composure. “I didn’t say it was a problem. Just an observation”, you replied, giving him a sly grin.

Ben leaned in even closer, his voice dropping to a low whisper. “Well, if my size is such a concern, maybe we should give it another go tonight, just to make sure it’s not too much for you".

You bit your lip, trying to stifle a giggle. “Oh, really? And what makes you think I’d want to endure that kind of ‘torment’ again?”.

Ben's grin widened. “Because I remember how you were begging me for more, while I was balls deep inside you, fucking you stupid”.

Your cheeks flamed with heat, and you quickly placed a hand over his mouth, your eyes wide with a mix of embarrassment and amusement. “Ben!”, you hissed, trying to keep your voice low. “We’re about to go inside! Can you please behave for just a little while?”.

He laughed softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he gently pulled your hand away. “Alright, alright. I’ll behave. But don’t think this conversation is over”, he whispered.

You rolled your eyes, but couldn’t suppress a smile. “We’ll see. Now, let’s go make a good impression”.

With a final shared grin, you turned to the door and rang the bell. Moments later, your mother opened it, her face lighting up with a warm smile.

“Hello, sweetheart”, she said, pulling you into a hug. “Ben, it’s good to see you”.

Ben smiled politely, shaking her hand. “Good to see you too, Mary".

With that, you stepped inside, the familiar scent of your childhood home enveloping you. Your dad emerged from the living room with a beer in his hand. He hugged you warmly, and then turned to Ben. Taking a deep breath, your dad held out his hand. “Ben”, he mumbled as a greeting.

Ben accepted the handshake firmly, meeting your dad’s eyes with a respectful nod. “Frank. Thanks for having me”.

Your dad gave a curt nod, releasing Ben’s hand. “Dinner’s almost ready”.

The atmosphere felt a bit tense, but you were determined to make the evening go smoothly. “Let’s go to the living room”, you suggested, leading Ben through the familiar layout of your home.

In the living room, your mom had already set out some appetizers on the coffee table. “Help yourselves”, she said, gesturing to the array of snacks. “Dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes”.

As you all settled into the living room, you could see Ben making an effort to be polite and engaging. He started a conversation with your dad about sports, quickly finding common ground in their shared interest.

“So, who do you think is going to take the championship this year?”, Ben asked, genuinely interested.

Your dad relaxed a bit, appreciating the familiar topic. “Hard to say. The league’s pretty competitive this season. What do you think?”.

They continued chatting, the tension in the room gradually easing. You caught your mother’s eye and she gave you a small, encouraging smile.

After a while, you stood up and held out a hand for Ben. “Come on, I’ll show you my old room”, you grinned.

Ben took your hand and got up, following you with a curious grin. As you led him upstairs, he couldn’t resist pinching your ass roughly with one of his big palms. You jumped slightly, shooting him a playful glare.

“Behave”, you whispered, trying to suppress your smile.

Ben chuckled softly. “No promises”, he whispered back, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

As you reached the top of the stairs, you led Ben down the hallway to your old room. You opened the door and stepped inside, memories flooding back as you looked around. The room was much the same as you had left it, with posters on the walls and a few personal items still on the shelves.

Ben looked around, taking in the details of your old room. His eyes landed on a picture of you in your cheerleader uniform, and he grinned. “Oh, so you were one of those girls?”, he teased, picking up the photo to get a closer look.

You blushed slightly, rolling your eyes. “Yes, I was a cheerleader. Got a problem with that?”.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Not at all. Just didn’t picture you as the cheerleader type. You look cute in that uniform, though”.

You snatched the photo from his hand, laughing. “Oh, stop it. That was ages ago”.

Ben’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he took a step closer to you, wrapping his arms around your waist. “Actually, I should have known”, he murmured, a teasing grin spreading across his face. “It explains your… flexibility”.

You blushed even deeper, giving him a playful shove. “Ben!”.

He laughed softly, pulling you closer. “What? I’m just stating the facts”, he said, his voice low and full of mischief. “You can’t deny it”.

You tried to keep a straight face but couldn’t help the smile tugging at your lips. “You’re impossible”.

Ben leaned in closer, his breath warm against your ear. “Do you still have that little uniform?”, he whispered.

You raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you serious?”.

His grin widened, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Absolutely. I think it could make for an interesting evening”.

You laughed, shaking your head. You started to turn away, but Ben’s grip around your waist tightened, pulling you back against him. “I’m serious”, he said, his tone playful yet insistent.

You looked up at him, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, really? And what exactly do you have in mind for this ‘interesting evening’?”.

“I have a few ideas. But let’s just say it involves you, me, and that uniform”.

You nodded with reddened cheeks towards your closet. Ben’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as he made his way over to the closet. He opened the door, rifling through the clothes until he found the uniform. A big smirk appeared on his face as he held it up, examining it with a playful glint in his eye.

“I knew you’d still have it”, he said, his voice a mix of amusement and satisfaction.

You bit your lip, feeling a mix of embarrassment and excitement. “I can’t believe you’re actually making me do this”.

Ben walked back over to you, the uniform still in his hand. “Oh, come on. It’ll be fun”, he teased, leaning down to kiss you gently. “And besides, I think you’ll look amazing in it”.

You rolled your eyes, but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at your lips. Ben handed you the uniform, then turned back to the closet with a mischievous glint in his eye. “Anything else interesting in here?”, he asked, grinning over his shoulder as he opened the top drawer.

“Ben!”, you protested, feeling your cheeks flush even more. “Stop snooping around!”.

But he ignored you, his grin widening as he rummaged through the drawer. “What do we have here?”, he murmured, pulling out an old diary and a few trinkets from your high school days. He flipped through the diary playfully, pretending to read. “Dear diary, today I—”.

You snatched the diary from his hands, laughing despite yourself. “Alright, that’s enough. Get out of there!”.

Ben chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. I’ll stop”.

He looked around the room again, his eyes landing on a photo of you at your prom. He picked it up, studying it for a moment before grinning. “Alright, we got everything”, he said, handing you the photo to take along with your uniform.

You rolled your eyes but took the photo and placed it, along with the uniform, in a small bag. “Happy now?”, you asked with a playful sigh.

“Very”, he replied, his grin widening as he took your hand.

You both walked out of the room, making your way back downstairs. As you reached the bottom of the stairs, you could hear your parents talking softly in the dining room. You and Ben exchanged a quick, reassuring glance before entering the room.

Your parents looked up as you entered, smiles on their faces. “Everything alright?”, your mom asked.

“Yeah, just showing Ben around a bit”, you replied, taking your seat at the table.

As you began to eat, your mom and dad tried their best to engage with Ben, wanting to get to know him better. Your mom hesitated for a moment before asking, “So, Ben, what was it like in Russia?”.

You saw a flicker of discomfort cross Ben’s face, but you gently placed your hand on his thigh, giving him a reassuring squeeze. He took a deep breath and began to speak. “Well, it wasn’t easy”, he started, his voice steady but filled with underlying tension. “I spent decades there, subjected to all kinds of torture”.

Your parents listened intently, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity. Ben continued, “They were trying to break me, control me. But instead, I became stronger. They conducted experiments on me that enhanced my abilities”.

Your dad leaned forward, clearly interested. “Enhanced how?”.

Ben glanced at you briefly. “They upgraded my powers, made me more resilient. My strength and durability were significantly increased. It was hell, but in the end, I came out of it stronger than ever”.

Your dad leaned back slightly, his gaze shifting from Ben to you, a protective glint in his eyes. “Do you know how to control those powers and, even more, that strength?”, he asked, his tone cautious.

Ben’s jaw tightened, and he tried his best not to roll his eyes. “I’m America’s first superhero”, he grumbled. “Of course I know how to control my powers”.

Your dad didn’t back down, his eyes fixed on Ben. “Can you blame me for asking? She’s my daughter, and I’ve worked with supes long enough to know how they treat humans, especially the male supes. And I know firsthand about your short temper, Ben”.

The room fell silent for a moment, the tension palpable. You tightened your grip on Ben’s thigh, silently urging him to stay calm.

Ben took a deep breath, his eyes softening slightly as he looked at your dad. “I understand your concern”, he said, his voice more measured. “But you have my word that I would never hurt her. I care about her more than anything".

Your dad nodded slowly, seeming to weigh Ben’s words. “I appreciate that, Ben. But you have to understand, as a father, it’s my job to worry. I’ve seen too much to simply ignore the risks”.

Ben nodded, his expression serious. “I get it. And I respect that. But I want you to know that I would do anything to protect her. She’s my world”.

Your dad’s gaze softened a bit, and he seemed to accept Ben’s sincerity. “Alright”, he said, finally. “That’s all I needed to hear”.

Your mom, sensing the tension easing, quickly shifted the conversation to a lighter topic. “So, Ben, do you have any hobbies or interests outside of being a supe?”.

Ben glanced at you, a small smile playing on his lips. “Well, I enjoy spending time with her”.

Your mom couldn’t help but roll her eyes with a soft grin. “Well, and besides clearly charming my daughter?”.

Ben shrugged playfully. “Nah, that’s it. She’s a full-time job”.

Your dad chuckled at that, and the tension in the room eased even further. Your mom laughed too, shaking her head. “Come on, there has to be something else. Hobbies? Interests?”.

Ben leaned back, considering. “I like working out and staying in top shape”.

You looked at Ben, biting your lip with a small smile. “He also likes whiskey”, you mumbled, glancing towards your dad, knowing it was one of his interests too.

Your dad’s eyes lit up with genuine interest. “Whiskey, huh? What’s your favorite?”.

Ben grinned. “I’m a fan of a good single malt scotch. Lagavulin 16, if I had to pick”.

Your dad nodded appreciatively.

Your dad nodded appreciatively. With that, he stood up. “Come on”, he said, gesturing for Ben to follow him into the living room where his bar was set up.

Ben glanced at you, a mix of curiosity and eagerness in his eyes. You smiled encouragingly. “Go ahead. I’ll help Mom clean up”.

Ben gave you a quick squeeze of your hand before following your dad. You turned to your mom, who was already starting to clear the table. “Need some help?”, you asked.

Your mom smiled warmly. “Always. Thank you”.

As you collected plates and carried them to the kitchen, you couldn’t help but overhear snippets of the conversation between your dad and Ben in the living room. The clinking of glasses and the low murmur of voices reassured you that they were kinda getting along well.

In the kitchen, your mom handed you a dish towel. As you began to dry the dishes, you hesitated for a moment, then decided to broach the topic that had been on your mind all evening.

“Mom”, you said carefully, “have some of your reservations about Ben eased tonight?”.

She sighed softly, pausing as she washed a plate. “I won’t lie, I still have some concerns. It’s not easy to just set aside everything about supes and their history. But…”.

You looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to continue.

She glanced at you, a small smile forming on her lips. “But I can see that he genuinely cares about you. And he’s been respectful and open with us tonight. That counts for a lot”.

You nodded, feeling a bit of relief. “He really does care about me, Mom. And he’s trying hard to make things work”.

Your mom dried her hands and turned to face you, her expression softening. “I can see that. And I can see how happy he makes you. That’s what’s most important to me and your father”.

You smiled, feeling a swell of gratitude. “Thank you, Mom. It means a lot to hear you say that”.

She pulled you into a hug. “Just promise me you’ll be careful, okay? Love can make us do crazy things sometimes, and I want you to stay safe”.

“I promise”, you replied, hugging her tightly. “I’ll be careful”.

After a while, she looked at you again, a hesitant expression on her face. She took a deep breath before speaking. “Stop me if the topic is too sensitive, considering, well, you know. But… does Ben really want kids?”.

You swallowed, your gaze drifting to the living room. Ben, as if sensing your eyes on him, looked over and gave you a quick wink. You smiled back before turning to your mom.

“He does, Mom. He really does. Having kids has always been his dream. Before we found out I was pregnant, he never thought he’d get the chance to have a family of his own”.

Your mom’s eyes softened with understanding. “I see. That must have been difficult for him”.

You nodded. “It was. But now, he’s so excited. If it were up to him, we’d have a whole kindergarten”, you joked.

Your mom chuckled softly, shaking her head. “I hope you won’t say yes to a whole kindergarten. One or two grandkids at a time would be just fine”.

You laughed, feeling the tension ease. “Don’t worry, Mom. We’ll start with one and see how it goes”.

Your mom looked at you, her expression thoughtful. “Do you know if the baby would be a supe too?”, she asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.

You took a deep breath, thinking back to the conversations you had with the doctors at Vought while you were pregnant. “The doctors at Vought explained that there’s a high likelihood the baby would inherit some of Ben’s abilities”, you said slowly. “They couldn’t guarantee exactly which powers or how strong they’d be, but they said it was almost certain the baby would be a supe”.

Your mom nodded, absorbing the information. “How do you feel about that?”.

You paused, considering your feelings. “It’s a bit scary, to be honest”, you admitted. “The idea of raising a child with powers is daunting. But Ben has been incredibly supportive, and he’s confident that we can handle it together. Plus, having him as a guide and role model would make a huge difference”.

Your mom looked at you with concern. “Do the doctors think your body can handle nine months of a pregnancy, considering everything?”.

You sighed. “It’s definitely challenging”, you admitted. “There were some complications early on, but the doctors developed a special medication to help. They call it V-Med. It’s designed to strengthen my body and help it cope with the demands of carrying a supe baby”.

Your mom’s eyes widened slightly. “V-Med? Is it safe?”.

You mumbled, “Since I’m the first and likely last woman who’ll carry a supe baby, there’s no way to tell for sure. We just have to try”.

Your mom gave you an unsure look, her worry evident. “But you’re okay with this?”.

You tried to reassure her, your voice steady. “The doctors did a very good job taking care of me in the first place. They were thorough and cautious”.

She sighed deeply, shaking her head. “Clearly, not good enough”.

You bit your lip, tears filling your eyes. The pain of the past was still raw, and you struggled to find the right words. “Mom”, you began, your voice trembling, “I didn’t lose the baby because of any medical issues”.

She looked at you, confusion and concern etched on her face. “Then what happened?”.

You took a deep breath, steadying yourself. “Homelander attacked me. That’s why he’s dead. Ben killed him right after, he’s not retired like the media says. And Ben still blames himself for not protecting me enough, even though he did all he could, always”.

Your mom gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “Oh, sweetheart”, she whispered, pulling you into a tight hug. “I had no idea. I’m so sorry you went through that”.

Ben tensed beside your father as his supe hearing caught the conversation between you and your mom in the kitchen. His grip tightened slightly on his glass, the painful memories flooding back. Your dad noticed the shift in Ben’s demeanor, his brows furrowing in concern.

“What are they talking about?”, your dad asked quietly, sensing something was wrong and knowing full well that Ben could hear every word being spoken in the kitchen.

Ben had to bite back his own emotions, the pain and guilt threatening to surface. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. “They’re talking about what happened with Homelander”, he said, his voice controlled but strained.

Your dad’s eyes widened in understanding and concern. “I heard the official story, but…”, he trailed off, unsure of how to continue.

“The official story was a cover-up”, Ben said, his jaw tightening. “Homelander didn’t retire. He attacked her while she was pregnant”.

Your dad swallowed hard, digesting the heavy information. After a few moments of silence, marked by the soft clinking of ice in their glasses, he ventured another question, his voice cautious but firm. “Did you have him locked away?”.

Ben turned to face him directly, his expression grim and his eyes haunted. “I killed him”, he stated monotonously. The words hung in the air, stark and cold. He paused, then added quietly, “He nearly killed her and—”. His voice broke off, choked by the weight of what he was about to say next. The reality of the situation seemed to press down on him, making it impossible to voice the deepest part of his pain, that Homelander had killed his baby.

Your dad reached out, placing a hand on Ben’s shoulder, squeezing it firmly as a gesture of support. “You did what you had to do”, he said solemnly, his voice thick with emotion. “I can’t even begin to imagine the choice you faced. But you acted to protect your family. That’s what any father would do”.

Ben looked down, nodding slowly, the acknowledgment from your father seeming to offer a small comfort amidst the torment of his memories. “It never feels like enough”, Ben admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I… Never mind”, Ben grumbled, emptying his glass. “I’ll just check on her”, he said, before walking towards the kitchen, followed closely by your dad.

As Ben entered the kitchen, he carefully placed a hand on your lower back, a gesture of comfort while you faced your mother. “Are you okay?”, he asked gently.

You looked up at him as he stood beside you, nodding, quickly wiping away a few tears. Trying to ease your momentary pain, Ben attempted a joke. “Oh no, you told her about the fucking iPads, didn’t you?”.

You chuckled, your eyes still wet. “No, I didn’t”, you replied, feeling a bit lighter.

Your mother looked puzzled, so you continued with the story. “Ben bought me three new iPads in one week. Every time the battery went low, he thought he had broken it and would go out and buy a new one”, you said, laughing at the memory.

Ben grinned sheepishly. “In my defense, I had never used an iPad before. I didn’t know the battery could be charged separately”.

Your mother joined in the laughter, her earlier worry momentarily forgotten. “That’s quite the learning curve”, she said, shaking her head in amusement.

Your dad, who had been standing quietly, finally spoke up, a smile tugging at his lips. “So, Ben, I guess technology isn’t your superpower?”.

Ben laughed, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Definitely not. But I’m getting better at it. Now I know what those little lightning bolts on the screen mean”.

The shared laughter and light-hearted banter helped to lift the heavy atmosphere. Ben, with a gentle squeeze on your hip, said, “She taught me well, in more than one way”.

You didn’t just teach him about technology and all the stuff of the ‘new world’, but also in showing feelings, controlling feelings, and most importantly, learning to fall in love and accepting to be loved.

Again you looked up at him, smiling softly, knowing exactly what he meant. Ben cleared his throat, breaking the moment with a hint of playfulness. “Anyway, thanks for having us. Hopefully, you don’t think that poorly of me anymore. Like I said, your little firecracker here means the world to me, and even if she’s robbing me of every fucking last nerve, I will do everything to protect her”.

Your parents both chuckled at Ben’s remark, the tension easing further. Your mother stepped forward, her expression warm. “We don’t think poorly of you, Ben. It’s clear how much you care for our daughter, and that’s what matters most to us”.

Your dad nodded in agreement. “You’ve got our respect, Ben. Just keep taking care of each other”.

Ben smiled, his eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and relief. “Thank you”.

After a few more minutes of light conversation and farewells, you and Ben finally made your way to the car. As you settled into the passenger seat, you felt a sense of contentment and hope. The evening had turned out better than you had hoped, and it seemed like your parents were beginning to see Ben for who he truly was.

As Ben started the car and began to drive away, he glanced over at you. You were grinning widely, your eyes sparkling with joy. "They like you, Ben. I know my parents, and they really like you".

Ben chuckled, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Of course they do. What's not to like? I'm charming, good-looking, and I happen to have excellent taste in women".

You laughed, rolling your eyes playfully. "Oh, really? You think so highly of yourself, huh?".

He smirked, his confidence evident. "Well, I managed to win you over, didn't I?".

You shook your head, still smiling. "You're impossible". He just winked at you.

"Thank you for tonight, Ben. For everything. You handled everything so well… I love you", you said softly, looking at him with all the love you felt.

Ben glanced at you, his eyes warm and filled with emotion. "Love you too".

The rest of the drive was filled with comfortable silence, the kind that only comes from being with someone who truly understands you. As you pulled into the driveway of your home, you couldn't help but feel excited for the future.

Once inside, you both settled into the living room, the weight of the evening lifting from your shoulders. Ben pulled you close, his arms wrapping around you securely.

"So", he said with a playful grin, "about that teasing offer…".

You laughed, leaning into him. "I think we both deserve a little relaxation after tonight".

He nuzzled your neck, his breath warm against your skin. "I couldn't agree more".

———————————

A/N: Please let me know what you think. 🥰

-

Part 10

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Taglist: @deangirl96, @thatgirljayy, @suckitands33, @deans-spinster-witch@mimaria420@kaz11283@uncle-eggy@jackles010378@vxnilla-hxrddrugs @meowmeowyoongles@sarahgracej @zemosdarling228 @leila22rogers @mostlymarvelgirl@emily-winchester @blacknoirr @onlyangel-444@seasonofthenerd@staple-your-mouth@artemys-ackles@selfdestructionandrhum@mystic-mara @kat-nee @samanddeaninatrenchcoat @star-yawnznn @me1501 @CheyNovaK @faephoria @hobby27 @baby19sthings @fitxgrld @winchesterwild78 @uddiifiigj @libby99hb @urgogodancer @urinternetmom

[acourtofthought]

"Gone to the mat again and again to fight for that future with Feyre"

Rhys may have stepped back and kept his distance for months when he thought Feyre would be happy with Tamlin but what Cassian said is true, Rhys did consistently show that he was willing to fight for Feyre.

Lucien fighting for his future with Elain:

Lucien breathed, "Where is he keeping her?"

"I don't know. Rhysand has a hundred places where they could be, but I doubt he'd use any of them to hide Elain, knowing that I'm aware of them." "Tell me anyway. List all of them."

"You'll die the moment you set foot in his territory." "I survived well enough when I found you."

"I need to find her."

I asked Lucien to escort me, and he'd been more than happy to do so, given that his own status of mated male made him uninterested in any sort of female company these days".

"I'm getting my mate back."

"Tell me about her - about Elain," Lucien said quietly.

"My mate is engaged to a human male." I want to see her. Just once. Just-to know." "To know what?" "If she is worth fighting for. And then I'll ask your mate how he survived it - knowing you were engaged to someone else. Sharing another male's bed."

"I would like to see them first. I know you're anxious -" "Just do it," Lucien said, bracing his forearms on the stone rail of the veranda. "Come get me when she's ready."

But Lucien was standing in the doorway. And from the devastation on his face, I knew he'd heard ever word. Seen and heard and felt the hollowness and despair radiating from her.

Lucien stiffened - not at what I'd said, I realized, but at the tone. A hostess. But he asked, "What of - Elain?" "I need to think about it," I answered plainly.

"I would never hurt her."

"She needs fresh air." "We'll judge what she needs." "Take her to the sea. Take her to some garden. But get her out of this house for an hour or two."

"I sensed no ill will, no conniving. Only concern for her. And ... sorrow. Longing."

"Let me do something. About Elain. I heard - from my room. Everything that happened just now. It wouldn't hurt to have a healer look her over. Externally and internally."

"Please tell me," Lucien said when I crossed the threshold into the foyer. "What the healer says. And if- if you need me for anything."

"I'll go." Lucien was staring at Elain as he spoke.

Lucien, haggard and bloody, panting for breath. As if he'd run from the shore. His gaze settled on Elain, and he sagged a little.

"I heard - what happened. I'm sorry for your loss. All of you."

"I heard you made the killing blow."

Lucien now stood in the sitting room, close to Elain's side.

"How is she?" "Good. But is she still..." A muscle flickered in his jaw. "Does she still mourn him?

Lucien had encountered him, I realized. Somehow, in living with Jurian and Vassa at the manor, he'd run into Elain's former betrothed. And managed to leave the human lord breathing.

"The bigger box is for you. The smaller one is for her."

Cassian's heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien's face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. "

Two years after their bond snapped "he tried to hide his disappointment and longing."

From the start of their bond snapping until where we are currently at in the series Lucien is still fighting for Elain.

Is he being pushy? No, because that's not what would best for a female who recently had a broken engagement with someone she loved.

But does he still think of her? Does he still long for her? Has he been loyal to only her?

That is the author showing us that Lucien remains committed to their bond, he is fighting for their bond.

Authors do not write loyal kings as not ending up with their HEA and Elain will always be able to take comfort in the fact that he wanted her, he waited for her, he allowed her to set the pace of things while he suffered for her.

That is how you write a real love story. Not a guy who rejected her at the first real test to their love as Graysen did, not a guy like Az who hadn't thought of a future with her beyond his sexual fantasies and proceeded to feel a spark in his chest at the thought of another female's happiness mere hours after he rejected Elain.

Lucien is loyal to Elain regardless of what he's getting out of the situation and that's exactly what we saw from both Rhys and Cassian with their mates.

[absolute-flaming-trash]

Been a hot minute, my friends, and I'm sorry for that.

This is something that has been sitting in my drafts for a bit and with how long it's been taking me to get other work out, I figured why not even if I'm not fully pleased with it.

I hope you enjoy regardless 💛

Pairing: Yandere!Chrollo x Reader

SFW

Word Count: 910

Warnings: Yandere, Kidnapping, Forced relationship, Murder (mentioned)

Please be nice, I don't write for this man often

“May I ask you something?”

It was a simple question, but one you regretted the moment it left your lips because of how it silenced the room.

Gone was the soft scratching of pen against paper as Chrollo looked toward your seated position, his expression thankfully that of neutrality mixed with a hint of slight intrigue.

You swallowed and looked down at your lap. Better than annoyance, you supposed.

“I just… I can’t stop thinking about it, and I have to ask...” Your fingers picked at the frayed ends of the couch while your graze returned to his. “Why me?”

He arched a brow, amusement creeping into his eyes. “Why you?”

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

“Yes.” You replied with a little more conviction in your own tone this time. “Surely keeping one person alive when the rest were doomed to die is more trouble than it’s worth.”

“Are you saying that you would’ve preferred to have shared the same fate as the rest of your fellow party go-ers?”

Your cringe followed by a beat of silence was more than enough of an answer, but you felt obligated to continue since you were the one who started this conversation in the first place.

“...No.” Your teeth found your bottom lip while you tried to gather your thoughts in a way you hoped would make sense, all while pushing the memory of the fundraiser-turned-bloodbath out of your mind. “I’m saying I don’t understand.”

Chrollo leaned back in his own seat, still looking directly at you. “You’re here to keep the police from doing anything foolish.”

“I know that!” The frustration in your chest made itself known. “But you could have taken anybody. One of the sponsors of the damn thing, or even some other random woman, yet you kept me alive. I want to know your reasoning for it.”

He didn’t seem upset by your outburst, if anything it just served to increase his growing interest in the conversation.

Likely because these were the most words you had ever spoken to him at a given time.

Bastard.

“I liked you.”

Such a simple answer, and one you did not expect from someone who typically played their cards so close to the chest. It threw you off whatever balance you mentally had, and you recovered with a scoff.

“You liked me?”

“Yes.”

A twitch went through your eye when he didn’t expand on that - the sound of pen on paper filling up the room once more. You refused to let the conversation die there.

“I don’t believe you.”

That was a lie, but one you were willing to risk if it meant bringing the topic back to life, and boy did it work.

Not only did he stop writing, he set the pen down on the desk in front of him and turned his whole body to face you. “Oh?”

Shit.

“I mean, I don’t know how you could decide using something like that in a situation that was such a spur of the moment.”

“What makes you think any of what I do is ‘spur of the moment’?”

That made you pause. He had a point there. In the short time that you knew him, he had proved himself to be anything but impulsive…

Your temples throbbed with a quickly encroaching headache.

“If it wasn’t, then what? Your choice was made before the bloodshed started?”

The words were spoken sarcastically, but you had no idea just how right you were until you saw his expression change from amused neutrality to one of…

Come to think of it, you had no idea what to call the look on his face. Admiration came closest to mind, but that didn’t feel right.

“You catch on fast, well done.”

You made a face, not a fan of the condescending tone. “So, what? If I’m not sacrificed to the cops in a hail of bullets, you’re going to keep me as some kind of pet?”

Amusement crept back onto his face. “Is that what you think?”

“If it is, I hope you know I’ll fight that with every fiber in my being.”

He hummed lowly, your promise of violence completely brushed to the side. “As intriguing as the notion is, I have no intention of doing such a thing to you.”

“Then what do you intend to do?”

A small smile appeared on his face, but he didn’t answer, allowing you a moment to draw your own conclusions.

When you did, you frowned.

“Not a chance.”

“Why?”

You gave him an indignant look. “You can’t seriously expect me to willingly be with you after everything that has happened.”

“I don’t, hence your current circumstances.”

Silence filled the air again after that. A nice reminder that whatever outcome you could’ve hoped for during this exchange, you were doomed to lose regardless.

All you could do was shake your head in malcontent and pick at the frayed ends of the couch again, unable to come up with anything further to say.

More amusement flickered across his face. “You do not wish to be my pet, nor to be my lover.” He sat back ever so slightly in his chair. “Tell me then, what do you wish to be?”

“Free.” You replied without a sliver of hesitation, locking eyes again with him once more. “But we both know that will never happen, will it?”

Chrollo threatened to genuinely smile at your answer and he shook his head once.

“No. It won’t.”

© absolute-flaming-trash 2023. Do not repost, modify, copy, or claim.  

[sweetkpopmusings]

miserable (you & me) | h. hyunjin <3

a/n: i have had these blurbs in my drafts FOREVER. "miserable (you & me)" is a song i've had on repeat since it dropped. i'm also a sucker for angst, so please enjoy these self-indulgent posts (they all have happy endings, i promise!) there will be one for each member, so stay tuned <3 pics not mine~

content: angst, happy ending | wc: 1k | warnings: none really! | pairing: hyunjin x gn!reader | requests:open

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

난 가망이 없는 미래에 손을 뻗어 날 부었네 / “i stretched out my hand towards a hopeless future and poured myself out”

of course it would be raining right now. the day’s weather had been normal, a smattering of clouds above and an overcast glow hinting that the weather might take a turn for the worse, but nothing was set in stone. that turned out to be true in a more literal sense, hyunjin realized, while watching people mill about on the street below with freshly opened umbrellas. he scoffed. what did you think would happen? what did you think would change?

the answer was nothing. but i had no choice.

you and hyunjin met up for your usual weekend get-together, returning to a favorite drink spot of yours after a few weekends of schedules keeping you apart. he had missed you so dearly, something that became achingly clear when his whole body lit up from seeing your face peek through the entrance. you noticed the buzz in his body when he greeted you, a sweet laugh escaping your lips. hyunjin’s heart melted at the sound, collapsing even more into endearment when you said, “i missed you a ton, too.”

a moderate number of people took up the tables and seats in the building, so there was a comfortable hum of casual conversation surrounding you. hyunjin, as always, was so closely tuned into the sound of your voice, he would’ve believed you if you said the place was completely empty. it was clichéd for sure, but he was enraptured by every single thing you said. he loved listening to all your thoughts, stories, jokes, anecdotes; whatever you were willing to share with hyunjin, he’d accept with open and grateful hands. you both laughed as you finished telling him an embarrassing story your friend shared with you the other day, and, so you could take a sip of your drink, you asked hyunjin, “how are you?”

without skipping a beat, hyunjin answered, “i’ve liked you for the longest time.”

seeing as that was quite the unexpected answer to your question, you froze. your brain buffered, face showing barely any expression, except maybe shock or confusion. hyunjin, perhaps realizing what just occurred, reacted with wide eyes and frantic apologies. if his confession hadn’t stopped you so sharply in your tracks, the endless refrain of i’m so sorry! i don’t know why i did that. i’m so stupid! would have drowned out the words he spoke so naturally. you didn’t have time to process, but you tried to protest against hyunjin’s incessant apologies. this, it seemed, was fruitless.

hyunjin, with shaking legs and fumbling hands, gathered his things. 

“hyunjin, what’re you–”

“i should go, y/n,” he responded quickly, too quickly for him to mean it.

your heart broke at the way his voice cracked when he said your name, “no, just stay for a minute. please, i–”

his chest tightened when please fell from your lips, but he couldn’t bear the idea of you begging him to stay, only to tell him you didn’t feel the same. yes, it was immature, and, sure, it was probably selfish. yet all hyunjin could think to do was leave. so he did, his goodbye all staggered breaths and darting eyes.

you turned in your chair, barely catching his gaze as he raced to who knows where, “hyunjin?”

his eyes caught yours, and he ripped them away before he lost his foolish resolve. he hoped he offered you a soft smile, something to say i’m sorry for this. i just want you to be happy, and i guess this is me trying to make sure you stay that way. the adrenaline rush meant he couldn’t feel his face, though. he had no way of knowing what he looked like when he looked back at you. 

hyunjin’s whole trip home consisted of pleas for his legs to move faster. if his steps hit the ground hard enough, he could ignore all the scolding voices inside his head until he was safe in his room. if he were honest with himself, he was outrunning the look of shock on your face, and the way your voice fell when you asked him to stay. hyunjin, as he caught his breath in his room, realized that running away from you meant he ended up in front of his window, facing a future of heartbreak. a sardonic laugh broke free from his lips. maybe if you did it the right way, at the right moment, you’d be looking at them instead. maybe you’d be thinking of something other than angsty plotlines for the strangers passing by on the street below. 

“or maybe i could be hurt much worse,” he whispered to himself. 

that was the last sound that shared space with hyunjin in the room. he sat, mind racing and leg bouncing, completely silent. until someone knocked on the door.

hyunjin shuffled to the entryway, instinctively opening it at a familiar knock, only coming to when he saw you standing before him. of course, no matter how hard he tried, his body would always end up right in front of you.

ignoring the way his deflated figure twisted your chest up in all the worst ways, you chided, “you know it’s rude to confess to someone and leave immediately after, right? you didn’t give me a chance to respond.”

you huffed as you spoke. hyunjin couldn’t help the endeared smile that graced his face when he watched your frustrated, furrowed brow turn into a cute, unintentional pout. 

he thought, they are more precious to me than they’ll ever know, and he admitted, “you’re right. it was very rude of me. while i may not deserve to hear it after the way i acted, would you mind telling me what you were going to say?”

your shoulders relaxed as the familiar shine in hyunjin’s eyes returned. his beautiful smile came back too, as he watched your face light up with a reply he’d only ever dreamed of before.

“i like you too, hyunjin. i have for the longest time.”as though his hands weren’t shaking from anxiety a mere five minutes before this moment, hyunjin reached out to you, pulling you into his home and into his arms. when you accepted his invitation and melted into his embrace, hyunjin thought, i’ll pour my heart out to them again and again, if it means we’ll always end up right here, together.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

[aventurineswife]

Hey !!! How are you?? I love what you write so much so ure so talentedd !!

Also could u do an aventurine x reader where like they started dating not long ago and like aventurine notices self harm marks on reader’s arms ?? (If ure comfortable w/ that ofc)

“You Drew Stars Over My Scars”

Summary: In the early stages of your relationship, Aventurine notices scars on your arm. With quiet compassion and understanding, he addresses it gently, offering his support without judgment. As you share a vulnerable moment, he reassures you that he’s there for you, bringing lightheartedness and warmth to ease the conversation.

Tags: Aventurine x Reader, Hurt/Comfort, Established Relationship, Emotional Support, Fluff and Angst, Healing.

Warnings: Mentions of self-harm, References to past emotional struggles

A/N: HELLO!!! I'm doing alright and I hope you are doing alright as well!! Thank you for appreciating my work! I put my best effort into writing each character as accurately as possible, even while balancing my personal life, so your support means a lot to me! 🤭💖🫶 Don’t worry about your request—I’m comfortable with it. But for anyone struggling with something similar, please reach out to someone you trust completely. It may not seem like much, but sharing is better than keeping everything to yourself. If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here! Don’t hesitate, and remember to love yourself more! ❤️

It was one of those rare, quiet evenings. Aventurine had cleared his typically packed schedule, something he was only too willing to do since the two of you had started dating. After a whirlwind start, tonight felt like a pause – a chance for him to simply be with you, away from the risks and wagers that often defined his world.

You sat beside him on the couch, your arm resting casually against his. Aventurine noticed a faint change in your body language – a hint of self-consciousness, a slight turn of your wrist. The faint movement caught his eye, and he saw them – the small, faded scars along your arm.

He glanced up, meeting your eyes with a gentle look, saying nothing at first, allowing you the space to choose whether to share or to stay silent. But his hand reached out, fingers brushing along your forearm. The gesture was soft, free of judgment or expectation, just a comforting presence.

"Can I ask about these?" Aventurine asked softly, his tone inviting but unintrusive.

You hesitated, not used to this level of openness, especially when it came to scars from a part of your past you were still trying to make peace with. You shifted slightly, averting your gaze, but Aventurine’s hand gently anchored you there, his thumb brushing softly over your wrist. His eyes, usually so full of confidence, held only a quiet, calming sincerity.

“It was… it’s something I went through,” you whispered, barely able to meet his gaze. “It’s… something I still struggle with, sometimes.”

Aventurine listened, his hand never leaving yours, his gentle touch reminding you that he was there, that he was listening and would wait as long as you needed to feel safe in sharing. After a beat, he spoke, his voice thoughtful and warm.

“You know,” he began softly, “I can’t pretend to know exactly what you’ve felt, what led you here. But… I do know about hiding things that hurt. I’ve got my own scars – maybe not the kind you can see,” he added, his smile faint but real, “but they’re there.”

The weight of his words settled around you, and you felt something shift – a wall you’d kept up out of habit, slowly lowering. You exhaled, feeling a bit of the tension release, as though you were finally in a space where you didn’t have to hide this part of yourself.

He leaned closer, his hand now holding yours firmly but gently, grounding you in the moment. "I'm here with you, okay? Whatever you’re going through, I want you to know it doesn’t make me see you any differently. You’re… important to me." The sincerity in his voice was unmistakable, and it softened something deep within you.

“Thank you.” you said quietly, squeezing his hand back.

Aventurine tilted his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. “How about this – every time you feel like you’re slipping, like things get too much, you let me know? We can talk, or… not talk,” he said, a hint of his usual humor breaking through, “or we can find some ridiculous way to distract ourselves. I’ve got these mooncake cats I haven’t introduced you to yet.”

That earned a soft laugh from you, breaking the lingering tension in the room. He caught the sound, grinning as he pulled his phone out and showed you a photo of his silly, mooncake-shaped cats. He held it up with a playful smirk.

“These little guys reminds me every day not to take life too seriously. So, any time you need them, They're just a text away.” he added with a wink.

The lightheartedness lifted the weight from your heart, and you looked at Aventurine, grateful for his presence, his understanding, and his unspoken promise to be there, both in laughter and in the moments that were hard.

And as he pulled you into a gentle embrace, you felt it – the quiet assurance that, whatever scars you both carried, you didn’t have to bear them alone anymore.

[artistsfuneral]

Jaskier meets Death at a forked path. He has never seen them in person before, their face - although incredible kind looking - is not one he's familiar with and yet he instinctively knows who is in front of him.

It's quite the idyllic picture to be honest. The path Jaskier has been following for the past few hours is lined with rough stone walls, the ones that are keeping flocks of sheep from straying too far. The sun is out and shining through the tree's leaves, creating a kaleidoscope of dancing shadows on the fresh grass. Death sits under one such dancing shadow-patch, surrounded by napping sheep. Their left hand is idly petting the spotted fur of a guardian dog, with their right, they're waving Jaskier over to join them.

He silently wonders if he should be scared. Others certainly would be terrified upon seeing Death waiting for them, but Jaskier has always been easily intrigued. Besides, Death is hardly looming over him, it's more like they're waiting for him - like one may wait for an old friend. It could be a trick of course, he muses as he walks over to where Death is sitting, then again it feels like the two of them could have met many, many times before and in much worse situations than this. So who is Jaskier to question Death?

The closer he gets the more he is able to take in. They're tall - taller than anyone he's met before, Jaskier thinks - and incredibly pretty. Not in the perfectly manicured kind of pretty, like some of the most beautiful darlings at court tend to be. No, Death carries a natural loveliness that can only be found and never created, like a special constellation of freckles, an off-center nose, or a small gap between your teeth. Death is everyone Jaskier ever sung of combined in one person, which makes him wonder if they always look like this or if they changed their appearance to please Jaskier's eyes specifically. If the latter, he'd surely feel flattered.

"Come sit with me, sweetheart," Death says and Jaskier is delighted to hear their voice. It's a very nice voice. He wants to hear Death laugh, he realizes as he sinks down next to them on the grass. Their eyes meet his and Death sends him the kindest smile, "It's been a while since I've seen you, sweetheart, I'm glad to see you happy and healthy." Jaskier grins, because what a funny thing for Death to say, but he can hear the honesty in their words. "Oh you know, just the usual aches and pains of my slowly progressing age. Nothing you haven't heard a hundred times before, I'm sure," Jaskier happily chatters back in the same familiar tone. "It's a lovely day, isn't it?" He asks and reaches for his pack. Might as well take his lunch break now, while the fruit he bought earlier this day are still fresh. Death answers his question with an agreeing hum and oh yes, Jaskier might just fall in love with them right then and there.

He focuses on his lunch and wills his foolish heart to calm. "Would you like some?" he asks Death, because his Mama raised him well and eating alone is never quite as enjoyable as sharing a meal. Death looks at him with amusement in their eyes. "I can not eat, but I appreciate the gesture."

Jaskier sighs, "What a pity."

"A small price to pay for a life like mine."

"You're alive?"

"I am here, am I not?"

He looks at Death wide eyed, a hundred thoughts stumbling through his mind at the same time. "I have so many questions."

"And I have a favor to ask of you, sweetheart," Death retords not unkindly. Throughout their short conversation the amusement never quite left their eyes and while Jaskier would normally feel patronized by such a look he somehow knows that Death is simply enjoying his company.

"Are we doing this right? Doesn't this whole asking for a favor thing usually go the other way around?" Death laughs and Jaskier's heart does a little jump, his fingers itch to write a new song. "You read too much, sweetheart."

"I don't believe there's such a thing as reading too much."

"The words of a scholar and a poet."

"At your service."

"Of course. I always get what I want," Death says knowingly, shoving yet another metaphorical box of Pontar towards Jaskier. Lucky for him he has long since learned to not think about these kind of things too much. It does feel a little bit like Death tricked him, though he loves a good repartee. "I have to admit, I am curious indeed. What could I possibly offer to you?"

Death turns their head away from him, looking at the dog in deep consideration. "I need..." Death pauses and Jaskier almost wants to think of it in a hesitant way, "to win a bet." The bard's shoulders drop immediately. "Ah," he says, because the hesitation now starts to make sense. Surely Death must know this of him. "I don't do bets, I'm afraid. It never ends well for the poets caught in between."

"I know," Death agrees easily and not very reassuringly, as a matter of fact. "But I am in need of a song. A song to bring the gods to tears and neither can I write nor sing. What I can do, is offer you my protection."

Jaskier's mind floods with thoughts.

Protection from Death.

The two of them stare into each other's eyes, the world around them timeless, everlasting. Finally, it is Jaskier who breaks the contact and returns to his bundle of food. He bites into a fruit, it's sweet juices run down his chin and drip onto his chemise. "I will make the gods weep," he declares and watches Death smile full of warmth.

[ofbardsandmen]

i can't get my mind off of kaeya's hangout. kaeya's unending thoughtfulness and kindness. kaeya thinking of everyone from back home while he was away, missing them and going out of his way to get all of them personalized gifts. kaeya missing his family and them missing him even more. kaeya directly quoting shakespeare and thus pleasing my classic lit enthusiast self. adelinde answering the long debated question of which ragnvindr sibling was a little menace and which was the one following said menace in every step (turns out i was right amongst many who thought the same). kaeya most certainly knowing of venti's identity and venti struggling to keep his act up around him. kaeya getting albedo and klee matching gifts, a set, further emphasizing their great found family bond and his own belonging to it. crepus indulging in kaeya's shenanigans and making him his own semi-alcoholic drink as a treat. kaeya playing all the characters (the bandit, the prince...) without needing to stay in character, for it is he himself that speaks from them. adelinde knowing exactly how kaeya likes his food. kaeya - unable to get diluc's name out of his mouth - alberich. my personal headcanon of kaeya being fond of birds (enjoying birdwatching and singing to them) proving to be true. diona wanting to curse every drunkard with anemo archon's wrath not knowing that her beloved archon is a drunkard himself. kaeya's endearing and genuine love for people and being around them. the foreshadowing for kaeya's own story in the play he acted in and him admitting it resonates with him deeply, thus explaining why he knows it by heart. kaeya canonically embodying his nickname 'prince charming' and serving as an eye candy for many. kaeya's wish to rid himself of the shackles of fate, to rise above it and challenge his destiny. kaeya proudly stating his connection to diluc and crepus, without batting an eye. adelinde reminding him that he has always been one of their own, and that he always shall be. kaeya dancing the night away in a land far from home and having genuine fun. hoyoverse giving us a jeanlisa, kaebedo and kaejean moment all in the same scene. kaeya's and klee's shared childlike wonder and mutual understanding. kaeya revealing the secret behind the coin he constantly plays with. diluc memorizing every lie and excuse of kaeya's that he uses to spend time and indulge in pleasure in his rightful home. kaeya subtly implying that he only acts part-time currently (if you understand what i'm hinting at). the ending 'the grapes of warmth' being a reference to steinbeck's 'the grapes of wrath', once again pleasing my nerdy ass. diluc being protective over his staff and dawn winery family. kaeya being a typical younger sibling and taking every chance to tease the older one. venti sneezing around diona. klee's misunderstanding of the events surrounding kaeya making the situation twice as wholesome. kaeya, once more, doing everything in his power to help jean and make her work life easier. kaeya knowing the schedule of the winery staff members and diluc despite not being around as much. diluc willing to openly display another one of kaeya's gifts inside the winery. adelinde serving us a ragbros childhood story along with a nice, home-cooked meal each time we meet her. kaeya being a beloved son not only to his adoptive father, but to many. diluc's staff trying to cover for his darknight hero vigilante persona as if kaeya doesn't know about it. kaeya helping out the people in need, out of the good of his heart, no questions asked and not needing anything in return. the ragbros nation predicting plenty of scenarios, one of them being grape picking that, as it turns out, kaeya indeed participated in. venti writing kaeya a personalized poem, once again accepting him as a child of mondstadt.

[miyuhpapayuh]

we're goin' out tonight.

Sitting inside of the ever bright lounge area of Tropic, the pair ogle at each other from across the table.

Both equally surprised on how good the other looks, outside of work.

“You look really pretty this evening.” Isaiah breaks the anxiety-driven silence, Mya’s brown eyes lift towards him.

“Thank you. You look really handsome, yourself.” She replies, smoothing her clammy hands over her dress.

With autumn quickly approaching and the sun's warmth wearing off, Mya decided to wear her favorite mustard toned mini dress, one last time.

Coincidentally, Isaiah's button down almost matched the color of her hair, but on a toned down level.

“Thank you for the flower, by the way.” She says as she fiddles with the orange tulip in her lap.

“My pleasure. I didn’t know if you liked tulips or not.”

“They’re actually my favorite flower, so you’re doing great,” she laughs.

His brows raise. “Are they really?”

“Yeah!” she exclaims, feeling her nerves subside, just enough for her to relax. “I’ve loved ‘em ever since I was a kid.”

“Mind if I pat myself on the back?” He jokes, his infectious smile coming out to play.

She giggles, sipping on her spiked lemonade.

“So, tell me about yourself, Isaiah.”

“What do you wanna know, Miss Mya?”

“I’ll take anything you’re willing to share with me.” She truthfully responds.

“Well,” he clears his throat, “I’ve been here for almost ten years. I moved to Charlotte for a job opportunity, but I didn’t end up getting it. So, I slept on my cousin’s couch, until I found an apartment and a new plan,” he laughs to himself, “and I landed in front of Abstraction. Place is really cool, I’ll admit.”

“Yeah, it is. Do you mind me asking how rough it was to go through that? Especially not having a place of your own?”

“It was hell, man. Absolutely. I felt like I was starting all over, again. But, I grew up in a home where you had to fight for what you wanted, so I did just that.��� He smiles, but she can see the pain flicker in his eyes.

“Well, I’m glad you made it out of that. That says a lot about your character.”

“Good things?” He asks with a grin.

“Good things, yes.” She mirrors his expression.

His eyes wander around the wide area, internally grateful that the place was as great as he heard it would be.

“This place is a whole lot nicer than I thought it would be,” he remarks, drinking his own bourbon sour.

“I was just about to say, this place is so cute! They’ve even got a disco ball out there.” She points towards the dance floor.

“Let’s get out there and dance, at some point. Yeah?”

Feeling the butterflies come back, she chews on her lip.

“Yeah. I’d like that.”

“Me too.” He smiles.

“Now, it’s your turn. What do I get to know about you, besides the fact that you’re as pretty as you are?” He leans forward.

“I think your mission is to make my cheeks fall by the end of this date. Cut it out,” she laughs.

Holding a hand up in defeat, he bows out. “I quit, but I'm listening.”

“Well, I’m as boring as they come. Honestly. I’ve got an older sister. She’s a pain in the ass, but the girl can cook like our grandma, so we keep her around.”

Isaiah laughs, making Mya do the same.

“Seriously! I wanna kill her, sometimes… but then she makes apple pie and I like her again. Siblings are weird. Do you have any?”

“Two. Older sister and younger brother. Both, equally a pain in my ass, as well.”

“Oh, not the middle child!” she frowns, coyly reaching across the table for his hand. “Please don’t tell me that you guys actually get overlooked.”

“No, we don’t get overlooked,” he covers her hand with his own, patting the back of it. “If anything, we’d be the ones that you remember more.” His eyes flash to hers

Her heart thuds in her chest as she reaches for her drink, taking another sip.

“But, back to you. I’ve always been curious about something, but I don’t know how to ask you without it sounding… invasive.”

“Try me.”

“How often do you change the color of your hair?”

“That’s actually one of my favorite questions to answer,” she claps her hands, “I’m a situational type of person, when it comes to dying my hair.”

“Meaning?”

“I either need a reason to dye it or I’ll just dye it for no reason at all, other than the fact that I’m bored. It’s not like every four months or anything healthy. It’s more like every other month.” He nods at her explanation.

“How long does it take you?”

“It depends on what color I’m dying it.” She giggles.

“If you were dying it purple?” He quizzes.

“Oh! Let’s see,” she stares up at the starred ceiling, her thoughts aligning. “Since my hair is red, I could probably get away with just dumping purple dye on top of it, with some assistance of course. It’ll take me, maybe, an hour or so.”

“Impressive. What about green?”

“You know, I’ve never tried anything that wild, besides pink and that ended in a catastrophe. I wore scarves for two months.” She shakes her head.

“I’m sure it still looked great.”

“No, it was really bad. Mercedes and Taylor gave me hell for weeks!”

“Friends,” he sighs. “They push those buttons, like no one else.”

“Make you wanna commit crimes,”

His laugh rang through her ears at a louder level. “You wanna do jail time?”

“My motto is no face, no case. If they can’t identify me, they can’t catch me.” She shrugs.

Amused, he takes another swig of his drink. “That’s funny.”

“Thank you. I keep my comedic card on standby,” she jokes, twiddling her thumbs underneath the table.

“So, you got friends that get on your nerves, too, huh?” She asks.

“Oh, yeah,” he nods. “Jane— you know her, right?”

“Short hair? Nose ring? Very sarcastic?”

“Yeah, that’s her,” he grins, “she’s a handful. But, she was the first person that I met, when I got to Abstraction. She, very roughly, took me under her wing and we’ve been cool, ever since.”

“She’s very sweet, but she don’t take no shit.” She laughs, him agreeing all the same.

“That’s why I stick by her. Don’t get me wrong, I can handle my own, but it’s funny when you’ve got a mini fighter tryna handle it for you.”

“She fights you too, doesn’t she?”

“She fights everyone.” He stresses, making her laugh, once more.

“A brash friend is needed, ya know?”

“I’ll drink to that.”

He holds his glass up, as she does the same. The cliché clinking of their glasses makes her giddy, as well as the alcohol that’s flowing through her bloodstream.

“I’m such a lightweight, I should probably stop now.” She says, finishing off her drink. He gives her an incredulous look as she does so.

Reaching out for her hand as he stands from the table, Isaiah leads her down the short steps to the dance floor.

“Let's go dance, pretty.”

Jonz in my bonz by D’Angelo is the soundtrack to their first dance.

“Man, I ain’t heard this song in years,” he remarks, Wrapping his arm around her waist.

“I actually just added this to my playlist, a few days ago.” She rests her hands on his broad shoulders, fighting the urge to squeeze.

“A woman with taste! How refreshing.”

The sultry beat captures their hips, pulling them closer to one another.

She hums in response, her eyes linger on his face. “I’ve wanted to tell you this, since the day you saved me from falling on my face… you smell so good.”

Looking down at her, his grin spreads across his cheeks. “Thank you,” he leans down to her ear, talking over the music, “you always smell good.”

A chill rushes up her spine at him being so close to her, all the while giving her compliments. 

“Always?”

Still close to her ear, he continues to speak. “Yeah… kinda smells like sandalwood.”

“It is!” she playfully hits his chest, slyly copping a feel of how hard it is. “You’ve got a good nose on you, sir.”

He hums a laugh, returning to his upright position.

What I wouldn't do to get next to the things that were meant fo’ me..

Getting completely lost in the music, Isaiah's hands sit dangerously low on his backside, seconds away from copping a feel of his own.

Their eyes on each other, as they continue to sway.

The song fades into another smooth jam, giving him the courage to spin her around in his hold, smiling at her rosy cheeks.

“Havin’ fun?” He asks.

“So much fun,” she hums. “I hope you are, too.”

“Most fun I’ve had in a while.”

“A while? We gotta get you out, more.” She states.

“Yes ma’am.” He agrees.

Continuing to dance the evening away, the pair end up back at her doorstep.

“I had fun tonight.”

“Yeah, me too.”

Their fingers intertwined, the smiles on their faces are both pure, and slightly blitzed.

“Thank you, again, for allowing me to show you a good time.”

“Of course. It’s been a minute since I let my hair down.” She giggles.

“Let’s do it again, some time?”

She nods, her eyes falling to his lips.

“I’d like that.”

Having the same thought on his brain, he leans down to press his lips against hers.

A wave of relief washing over him as she kisses him back.

Mya innocently leans into him as he takes her breath away, almost pouting as he begins to pull away.

“I’m not gonna lie… I’ve been wanting to do that, since the first day I saw you.” Isaiah admits, their eyes back on each other.

“I’ve wanted you to do that, since the first day I saw you.” She breathily laughs.

Unlocking her door, they share one more kiss before departing for the evening.

“Goodnight, pretty.”

“Goodnight, pretty.”

Finally able to let out her squeal behind the closed door, she rushes to call her friends.

As the call connects, the three friends begin to greet one another, as if they haven’t seen each other in ages.

“How was your date with mister swole arms?” Taylor asks as Mercedes snickers.

“You two,” she shakes her head. “The date was great. He was such a gentleman, ugh! The drinks were great, the music was great, and he was great. I’ve never had a conversation with a man that didn’t end in me throwing a drink in his face.”

“Girl, we’ve all been there!” Mercedes laughs.

“What did y’all talk about?”

“Things.” She smirks.

“Like???” They ask in unison, making her laugh.

“Ya know, we just talked about any and everything, honestly. He’s very intelligent, and I’ve known that from working alongside him, but to just sit and listen to him was amazing.” She smiles, like she’s still on their date.

“Ew, you’re blushing!”

“You look flustered, as well. Care to tell us why?”

“We kissed.”

Their jaws drop collectively.

“That’s why you're smiling like that!” Taylor laughs.

“That god of a man put his lips on you???” Mercedes asks, her eyes wide.

She nods, the smirk never leaving her lips.

“Were they soft?” Taylor asks.

“Mmhm. Rose petal soft.”

“Mm!” Taylor exclaims.

“Was there tongue involved??” Mercedes asks.

“It was our first date, girl! No, there was no tongue.” 

Her incredulous expression didn’t sway her brash best friend from being any less than such.

“You know you wanted him to tongue you down, shut up!” Taylor laughs.

“That’s besides the point,” she playfully rolls her eyes. “If y’all are done, I’d like to get in my bed now.”

“Ooh, testy!”

“We just wanted to see how you and strong arms hit it off, heffa. We’ll get out of your hair.”

“I’ll catch up with y’all, tomorrow.”

They say their goodbyes and Mya slips out of her dress and pulls on her pjs, face planting into her soft sheets.

A notification hits her phone, causing her to lift her head up and check it.

Taylor 🤎

Have sweet dreams about ol broad arms for us! Goodnight 😂

☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ.☆:☆: .☽ .☆: .☽ · 。ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆

“So, how was the date?” Jane asks, spinning around in Isaiah's office chair, while he stands a foot away from her, shaking his head.

“Jane. Get out of my chair.”

“I don't wanna! Tell me about your pretty girlfriend!” She faux whines, bringing her spinning to a stop.

“Quit being a child, please. I’ll tell you about the date if you just get up.” He repeats.

Huffing, she stands to her feet and moves away from the comfy computer chair, to the blue club chair on the other side of the desk.

“I leave for one second and you start treatin’ my chair like a damn merry-go-round, Jane? Really?” The annoyed crease in his forehead makes her laugh.

“It’s not broken, Isaiah.”

“That’s not the point, Jane.”

“Okay!” she sighs. “ Are you gonna tell me what happened now or are you gonna continue being dramatic over a chair?”

“I got a mind to kick you out, but I’ll refrain.” He briefly closes his eyes, before proceeding with the much awaited news.

“Let’s see, after I left your house, I went to Fannah’s Florals and bought a tulip— turns out, they’re her favorite flower. I know, I’m good. Uh…” Jane bursts into laughter, undoubtedly making him join.

“You’re hilarious, man!” She giggles.

“I did good, though, Doe! Gimme my props.”

“You did good, bud. You did good.”

“Thank you!” he laughs. “We went to Tropic, it was very nice. The music was great, the drinks were great and man…she looked amazing.” He sighs, going into a dreamy tangent.

“Yeah?” Jane cheeses, sitting her chin in her palms. “What did she wear?”

“She had on this mini dress, it was kinda orange and yellow, at the same time.”

“That’s what the kids call mustard.”

“Maybe, honey mustard. But, it looked beautiful on her, nonetheless.” He digresses. “Her hair was all done up.”

“Did she think you looked as dreamy as you thought she looked?”

“I don’t know if dreamy is the word, but she said I looked handsome. So, you did good, friend.”

She bows from her seated position, making him chuckle and shake his head.

“Yay! So, was the conversation good?”

“It was. We’ve had brief conversations in passing, so I’ve always kind of known this about her, but she’s sweet. I just felt comfortable enough to tell her anything. We related on a couple of things, which made it even easier, cause my nerves were shot.”

“I’ve never seen you that nervous, before.” Jane agrees.

“It normally doesn’t happen.”

“You really like her!” She coos, the urge to throw her out comes back, tenfold.

Sighing, he smiles. “Yeah, she’s great. We danced for what seemed like an eternity. Just lost in the moment.. her scent is still fresh in my brain.” He laughs to himself.

“She seems like a vanilla kinda girl.” Jane comments.

He shakes his head. “Sandalwood.”

Her brows raise. “Ooh, the good shit!”

“Indeed.”

“She’s got good taste.”

“I remember telling her that, at least twice, last night.”

“How’d you bring the evening to a close?” She asks.

“I walked her to her door, we agreed to go out again, and I kissed her, goodnight.” He casually says.

Jane’s eyes grow wide. “You kissed her?? Oh my gosh! How’d that happen?”

“It honestly just happened,” he laughs. “I could tell that she was thinking about it as much as I was, and I went with my gut, and there we were.”

“Well, gimme the juicy details!”

“It wasn’t that kind of kiss, doe. It was sweet and simple. Gentle, even. She’s got soft lips.”

“When’s the wedding?”

“Get out,” he points towards the door, causing her obnoxious laugh to ring out, yet again.

Bumping into one another in the common area, Isaiah and Mya shyly glance at each other.

“Hey, pretty.” He greets.

“Hey,” she waves, smiling. “How are you?”

“Better, now.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, you got a way of brightenin’ up the room when you step in.” He admits, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

“You’re a very sweet man.”

“And, you’re a very sweet woman.”

“So,” she begins, tossing her coffee cup in the trash. “I was thinking that I could plan our next date.”

“Yeah?” amusement colors his tone. “What did you have in mind?”

“Well, it’s a surprise—- which is code for, I haven’t figured it all out yet.”

They share a laugh.

“You’re funny.” He compliments.

“I’ve been told.” Their eyes linger on each other, an awkward sway taking over their bones.

“I know this ain’t the most appropriate time… but I feel like kissing you, again.” He admits.

Her palms turn sweaty at his confession. “Well, I can um,” she leans in to kiss his cheek.

“Just cause this ain’t the most appropriate time.” She responds. “Catch me a little later, though.”  A grin takes over his lips.

His brows slightly raise. “A little later, it is.”

Sitting around the round table, a select group of computer techs, including Isaiah and his smitten coworker, sit with Savannah for a meeting.

“Alright, so I’ve brought y’all here, because our annual Creative Edge seminar is coming up and y’all have been invited to attend the Gold Ball!” she excitedly grabs the stack of golden envelopes from her binder.

“What?”

“Really??”

“Thee Gold Ball??”

“Yeah!” Savannah laughs, holding up the envelopes. “I got ‘em all right here!”

“Oh my gosh,” Mya cups her face in shock.

“Hard work does pay off,” Isaiah hums to himself. The creative kid inside of him, jumping for joy.

Everyone opens their official invitation, as Savannah begins to give them the details.

“I’m very proud of you guys. You’ve all worked very hard to get here.” She smiles at the group, while they continue to process the news.

“The seminar is November the fifteenth and the sixteenth, and the Gold Ball is that night. The times are posted on the invitation, as well as the dress code for the ball. Focus on networking and getting your name out there, the rest will fall into place. More importantly, have fun. You guys deserve this.”

“Thank you!” the group graciously responds.

As the meeting ends and the small group files out, Mya stays behind to continue staring at her future in the form of a pretty white and gold letter.

“Wow,” she mumbles to herself.

“You didn’t think you’d get invited, either, huh?” Isaiah heads back to the table.

She briefly looks up at him, before looking back to the letter. “If I’m being honest. Not a chance.” She laughs.

“Why not?” He asks, sitting back down.

“Because.” She sighs. “This ball is for people that do more than just color code a system and make pretty signs.”

“That’s not all you do.” He says.

“And, how do you know that?”

“Because, you’re not the only one that leaves his work up on the computer.” He chuckles.

“Oh… I did?” She asks, embarrassment seeping into her tone.

“You did,” he gives a small smile.

"And your work is amazing, Mya. I feel like you know that, but you second guess yourself.”

“Hmph. I think you’re in the wrong field, ‘saiah. You sound like a therapist.” She cracks.

“I just want you to know that you deserve this. Maybe more than the rest of us.” His eyes wander over her face, a slight somber taking over her eyes as they connect to his.

“Thank you. But, I think that it’s you that deserves this more than the rest of us.” She smiles.

“I appreciate it.” He stands from his seat, once again. “I have to get back to my paperwork, but I’ll see you later, okay?”

She nods, her smile easing him.

“Alright.” Tapping the table, he heads out of the conference room.

Turning her attention back to the letter in her hand, she smiles.

“I deserve this.”