#The title translation is 'Something Happened This Week'

[zoueriemandzijnopmars]

How can I have started a book, read the blurb on the back, the title and 30 pages, but only when I’m tracking my progress on the StoryGraph and only finding an English version of the book when searching by isbn I realise that the book is in fact in English and not in Dutch as I’d been convinced?!?!

[elusivedew]

💌 | Cubitum eamus ?

✧ synopsis ⤐ it takes you 2 years from the minute you meet spencer to confess how much you like him, and it all happens on a random wednesday night.

✧ contains ⤐ friends to lovers but they both know what's up, s3 spencer who's been through a handful of shit, brief mention of alcohol consumption on two occasions!!suggestive themes but no straight up smut, spencer reid experiences happiness for once, reader is his only hope in life, reader wants him real bad and he knows. My spencer reid debut yay! Title translates to "will you go to bed with me?" w.c ~ 9.2k

Working at the BAU is not an easy job. In fact, Spencer thinks, working at any unit in the FBI is the closest thing you'll ever get to hell on earth. This feeling of agitation and exhaustion seems to aggravate every time he's working on a particularly draining case. Not only does the content of the cases get into his head often, and sometimes into his dreams, but he's also been directly harmed by the criminals they’re chasing. How can you remain completely objective about something when you become a victim too?

Over the few years he's worked in the BAU, he's received more harm than he ever expected. Drug addiction was not something he had in his five-year plan when he first joined the FBI. It's not something anyone who works in law enforcement expects, really. 

Needless to say, he's tired. The kind of fatigue that makes you bedridden for days. 

He also happens to be alone on a Tuesday night in the middle of June. 

The latest case he worked on took a little over two weeks to wrap up, an unsub that likes to take his time and has such a disorganized MO that it was almost impossible to see the patterns. All the physical and mental work completely knocked everyone off their feet, except for him. His colleagues all went home and passed out of exhaustion, and he’s still up. 

Spencer can't sleep. He's too busy thinking. 

It's something he does a lot, for his job, for himself, for the duration of his whole life. The gears have been turning in his head since his very first word, the minute ‘mama’ was out of his baby mouth, he’d been tasked with the weight of the whole fucking universe. The price of knowing so much from a young age has cost him a lot. And tonight, it specifically costs him his peace, his right to pass out after a long day of work. 

And he'd love, more than anything, to have an off button somewhere inside. But because that hasn't been invented yet, and his nervous system feels like it's on fire, he's still up by the time it's 10 pm. It’s not late, objectively, but he’s been home for more than three hours now. He tried a lot of sleep remedies— herbal tea, audiobooks, aroma therapy, hell, even exercising to tire himself out, but all of them failed. And now he's just left with sore muscles and an even more tired brain. 

By the time it's 11 pm, he's lying on his couch, feeling like death. His head is pounding with the feeling of an oncoming migraine, and he knows that he’s in for a particularly long night.

That's when his phone rings, and because he’s so alert and so sensitive to stimuli at the moment, he almost kicks it off the coffee table. But he doesn’t do that, because he’s still a little sane despite everything.

Instead, he reaches over and checks the contact name, and his whole face lights up. He feels absolutely ridiculous for not making this call first, because his nervous system is now very much alive— and not in a way that makes him feel like an overheating microwave, no, this is a good thing. And good things don’t happen to him often. He runs his hand through his hair, a nervous habit, and picks up the call. 

Suddenly being awake doesn't feel so bad. 

“Agent Reid.”

Your voice comes through the phone like a cool breeze of air during the grueling heat of June. He finds himself relaxing a little, releasing tension he didn't know he had in his muscles when he was so distracted just a few minutes before.

“I'm begging you to stop calling me that.” 

“Aww, why not? I like feeling like your boss,” you're smiling on the other end, he can hear it, “what's his name again? Aaron?” 

He rubs his temple with a smile he can't fight off, “That's agent Hotchner to you.” 

You laugh and he feels proud of himself for eliciting such a pleasant sound out of you. He's immediately thinking of other ways to get that sound out again. If Morgan could see him now, he'd never let him hear the end of it. 

The good thing about you and Spencer is that no one knows. Not his colleagues, not your friends, not your families. That's the good thing, you get to keep this precious thing between the two of you. The bad thing is that you're not really together. You're not even romantically involved, you've never uttered the four-letter L-word around each other (like or love, both), and you don't even really flirt with each other. 

To put it into simple words, you and Spencer are just friends. 

But friends who relieve each other's stress nonetheless, and god knows Spencer needs that right now. 

“You're back from your recent trip, right?” You ask, audibly crunching on something. It sounds like you're also lying on your couch, he wonders if you were going through something similar when you decided to pick up the phone and call.

“Yeah, thank god.” 

“I take it that it wasn't a very good one then? I mean, none of them are good but, I'm guessing some are worse than others.” 

Spencer sighs, “You guess correctly.” 

“How are you feeling?” Your voice is softer when you ask, concerned, and even though he doesn't like to make you worry, your well-intended question is a very welcome sentiment. He’s almost relieved knowing that there's someone who'll always ask, someone who'll always notice. 

“Not very good. Tired.” It's a short answer, but he knows you understand. You've understood him for a very long time now, nearly two years of knowing each other. 

“It sounds like you had a very long day.” A very long month. “Why didn't you try to catch some Zs?” 

The way you phrase it makes him snort, and he knows you're proud of yourself for that one. “I can't, me and the Zs never had a very good relationship. Trust me, if I could turn my brain off, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.” 

You hum, “Do you wanna talk about it? I could give you some very valuable, life-changing insight, maybe you'll be able to go to sleep after.” 

He smiles, “I've actually had enough of this case, I'd like to talk about something else.” 

“Oh, I can definitely do that. Tell me, what did you have for breakfast?” 

Breakfast is a terrible topic, meals in general, because you know that he misses a lot of his meals when he's on the job. You always lecture him for it, berating him for being so skinny at his big age, but it's always underlined by concern. He knows you worry about him, he wouldn't blame you. 

“Not much…” He trails off, knowing you'll catch on. 

“Oh honey, I know your eating and sleeping habits are fucked, but can't you at least lie to me?” 

The way you call him honey should not be making his stomach turn like that. 

“I could never lie to you.” 

“You literally just did.” 

You both laugh and he's so, so glad you called. If he didn't think you were asleep he'd have called you first. 

“Okay well, I didn't ask that question to find out something I already know. I asked because remember that café we were constantly visiting before you went on this trip? They finally brought the chocolate chip cookies back.” 

The chocolate chip cookies case (the quadruple c) is a very vital issue in your relationship with Spencer. Because for weeks, the both of you have been visiting that place close to your apartment, hoping to get some chocolate chip cookies, only to be met by raisins. It was a very devastating experience for both of you, having to settle for something else on the menu every time. But now it’s okay! The chocolate chip cookies are back. 

Spencer is so glad he's done with his silly criminal case so he can focus on the real problems at hand.

“And I was thinking, if you're not too tired tomorrow, should we have breakfast together?” 

It's sweet, it's earnest, it's you.

It's such a characteristic gesture, asking him to have breakfast with you after particularly draining cases, checking on him as soon as you can tell he's home, and sounding so sweet and concerned over the phone when you know he's feeling down. It’s the small, thoughtful actions coming from you that have helped him keep it together so far. 

And the feelings that thought brings out in him lead him to realize, in those few seconds, that he liked you much more than he planned on. Not that he ever planned to like you in the first place, but he thought it was a small crush that would eventually go away, it’s happened before with the pretty women he befriends, and he didn’t think this time would be different. 

But it was, and now he’s totally screwed because he doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to say no to you. 

“Absolutely, I can't wait to have those chocolate cookies again.” 

You're ecstatic over his response, your tone picking up about 3 octaves when you jump to discussing the other plans you have this week. Your favorite artist is releasing an album soon, your favorite game is finally available at the video game store, the finale of that show you've been talking to him about is airing in two days, and it seems like your life is full of positive sequences.

The juxtaposition between what he sees at work and the enthusiasm you bring into his life almost gives him a headache, but it could very well be sleep deprivation. He wonders if all the misfortunes that have happened to him are the evil equivalents of the things you brought into his life. 

But if all the bad things that have happened to him and around him got compensated by you, he doesn't find it such a bad tradeoff. Because meeting you on a random Monday night and somehow catching your attention enough for you to leave him your number— even when he was so frazzled by the need for coffee so he could grind out some paperwork before his deadline— it feels like he used up all his luck on that fateful encounter.

And having someone he could always meet up with, outside of work, has been very grounding. 

You talk his ears off for the rest of the night, rambling about one thing or the other until his eyelids get heavy again, and he feels tired enough to sleep. You tell him that's been your plan all along and wish him a good night. 

Later, when he’s under the covers of his bed, drifting off to sleep, for a few minutes his brain isn't aggravating him with the thoughts that have been haunting him all day. For a few minutes, all he can think about is you.

He is so fucked.

Emily Prentiss is a very smart agent. 

She’s been told that ever since she was a little girl, and though it was often complimentary, people sucking up to her mom and whatnot, it was never a complete lie. She grew up thirsty for knowledge, mastering everything she could get her hands on, and even as an adult with a grown up job, she continues to excel at what she does

But then, if she's so smart, why the hell can she not figure out why Spencer Reid is so giddy while doing his paperwork? 

It may have to do with the fact that it's Spencer, and that kid has always been a little perplexing to her. He's bright and brilliant, but she could never truly understand how his mind works. But, at the same time, there's such a thing as habits, and Spencer is not typically so smiley while doing paperwork. No one is smiley while doing paperwork in this line of work, because it makes you relive the nightmares. For goodness’s sake, this is the behavioral analysis unit, and Spencer is behaving weirdly. 

It seems like she isn’t the only agent at the office who noticed the peculiarity. Agent Morgan stands behind her, his third cup of coffee in his hand, squinting at the young doctor. They observe him like a wild animal in his natural habitat; had they not been so tired from all the work, they would’ve been picking on him by now.

When Emily feels her presence behind him, she turns around, and they exchange a mutual look of understanding. They've never seen Reid act like that in the time that they’ve worked together, and they know one thing that they've never seen him experience during that time either. 

They realize it at the same time, and Morgan nearly drops his coffee. 

Spencer Reid is in love.

There have been many misfortunes in the 25 years that you've been on this earth, and you're convinced that a lot of them have been aimed at you. You're the only person who has ever suffered that much during your whole life, it's a known fact. It's a fact that you like to remind Spencer of, to make him feel better about his work, and when he laughs at it, you remind him that people called Jesus a liar too.

You've been through a lot of suffering, but the task of getting dressed before Spencer knocks on your door in approximately ten minutes may just be the worst thing that's ever happened to you.

He thinks that just because he has a day off, he could pressure you into a sudden— very much unplanned— date? He thinks that shooting you a text to get dressed so you can go to the record store and then have dinner only twenty minutes before you're supposed to do the aforementioned activities is allowed? He's absolutely right, and you hate him for it. 

Not that it's really a date, you know you and Spencer have never crossed that line, but it feels like it. Especially if he's making you feel like a teenage girl high on hormones having her very first crush. Her very first date. The particular action you're thinking about has to be kept to yourself, just so you don't jinx it. 

You really shouldn't be thinking about that when you still haven't figured out which outfit to wear. More thinking about clothes, less thinking about boys. Specifically one boy. 

It takes all your willpower and energy to finish getting ready in those ten minutes. You settle for your most comfortable pair of jeans and a white button-down with a vest over it, and for good measure, you throw your coat on— the long beige-brown trench coat that makes you feel like you're Sherlock Holmes about to solve a crime. You realize that it's very fitting for an outing with a profiler, he's kind of like Sherlock Holmes if you think about it. 

It's fall now, and it's much more chilly. You hope your precious profiler brought his own coat because, as much as you care for him, you won't be lending him yours.

When he rings your doorbell, you're finishing up and tossing the rest of the necessities into your bag. You make him wait for a minute, to avoid seeming eager, and then make your way to the door.

The minute you lay your eyes on him, you feel sick to your stomach.

Spencer Reid is beautiful, this is a fact that you've known ever since you met. He pulls off the dorky yet hot look so well, with that stupid smile of his when he talks like a smartass. And you're reminded of this every time you see him, the fact that he's so adorable that it physically hurts to keep your hands off him all the time. Tonight is no different, he's dressed in a dark button-down with a brown vest over it, covered by a beige coat that contrasts the dark colors beautifully. It takes you a couple seconds to realize you're wearing similar outfits, almost like a matching couple.

“Copycat.” You accuse, fighting off a smile with warm cheeks. He grins in retaliation, “Hello to you too.”

God, he’s beautiful. In the dim light of your apartment's entrance, you catch the gleam of his eyes. They're warm, earthy, and familiar, you don't think you'd ever stop staring at his eyes if you had the chance to do it without looking crazy. His eyelashes are unfairly long, and his light brown hair forms waves around his face like a frame around an artwork. He always tucks a few stray strands behind his ear, and you always mess it up for him– which is something you do for two reasons, you like annoying him, and you desperately want to touch his hair. It’s just simply unfair for him to be born that beautiful. 

He seems to notice you staring because his cheeks are a little pink, and he has a little bashful smile on his face. “Ready to go?” He scans your form like the little detective he is, “Looks like you could get ready in 20 minutes after all.” 

Now you remember why you were so annoyed at him, good looks be damned. 

“Oh shut up, never do that again.” 

“Or what? You'll cuss me over text messages again? How will I ever live with that.” 

His shy smile is replaced with a smug grin, and you hate to admit it, but it's one of your favorite looks on him. Because Spencer isn't always able to genuinely smile like that, he's usually stressed about one thing or the other; and knowing him, he's always reliving some terrible event that happened in the past two years, and sometimes even further back in time. So while his amusement comes at your expense, you'd rather see him smiling like this all the time. 

“God, you're so mean to me.” 

Even though you mean to sound stern, you can't hide your smile. 

You pick up your keys from the hanger by the door and toss them into your handbag, he follows your movements with his eyes, “that's not true. I'm always so nice to you, sometimes a little too nice.” 

You lock your door behind you and give him a fake offended look, “You could never be too nice to me. Let's go, agent Reid. We've got a long night ahead of us.” 

Then you're strutting ahead of him, motioning for him to follow you like a helpless little intern. Even though he rolls his eyes and laughs in disbelief, he ends up following you anyway.

‘Albert’s records’ has been your favorite record store since you moved into your apartment in Quantico— and not only because you’ve met Albert, the sweetest little old man to ever exist, but also because Spencer always looks mystified inside the store. It’s like something about vintage things just makes him tick. 

You're checking out vinyls that are selling for discounted prices, old pieces of famous artists and commonly known albums, while he's looking at the posters on the walls, admiring the artistic work of the rustic-looking store. He’s always trailing behind you, and you don't mind because it makes you feel safe and cared for. You didn't know being trailed by an FBI agent could feel so comforting. 

Your eyes catch on a certain record, and you turn around, “Hey, Spencer.” 

He stops eyeing the posters on the wall and turns to you, hair falling over his shoulders adorably. 

“What do you think of this?” 

You're holding a classic black Billy Joel vinyl in your hand, careful not to hold it too tightly. It's his 1977 release of The Stranger, an album you're not too familiar with. You've only listened to Vienna and a few other songs. Spencer eyes the cover carefully like it triggers a memory deep inside his brain. You're expecting him to go on a tangent about Billy Joel and 70s music, but you're instead met by a very sentimental response. 

“My mom loved that one.” 

He's quiet, using that careful but lost tone of voice, and you worry that you accidentally triggered something unpleasant. You knew Spencer had a complicated relationship with his parents, namely his mother. On the rare occasion where he had a few too many drinks, he spilled a lot more than he intended to. Drunk Spencer was always so painfully honest and you admired how easily his filter would come off a few drinks in, but you never wanted him to feel embarrassed by it. On those particularly emotional nights— after he calls you to pick him up because he's too drunk to drive— you would listen to him ramble the whole drive to your apartment, force him to stay over so you can take care of his pounding headache in the morning, and hold him until he passes out on your couch like a partying college student. 

Something he’s never been before.

Those incidents have led you to know more about Spencer than he ever thought he could share, and one of those sensitive topics just happens to be his mom. It's not an uncomfortable topic, you've talked about it before when he's not too drunk to realize what's going on. Even though it was hard for him at first, talking about it became easier the more he shared, you understood more and more things without him telling you. 

And because you’ve talked about it, you're not scared of his response when you ask with a lighthearted smile, “is that a bad thing?” 

That seems to bring him back to earth, and he gives you a reassuring smile, “No, not at all, just brought me back to some memories I'd honestly forgotten about.” 

You hold the record to your chest, almost certain that you're going to buy it now, “Well would you like to make some new memories in relation to this record?” 

Would you like to come to my apartment and listen to it with me?

“Yeah, I'd love to.” He smiles in a way that makes you feel a little lightheaded, knowing he's comfortable sharing this much of himself with you. It's so intimate, knowing that in this public store, you're still sharing private moments that no one else knows about.

You’re about to go back to checking out vinyls, trying to conceal the giddy feeling bubbling in your chest, when a high-pitched voice intrudes on the moment you were having with Spencer. 

“Oh my god.” 

You both turn to look at the source of the voice and when you look to Spencer to see what this is about, he looks like he recognizes the source. He looks terrified. Your gaze falls on two blonde girls, one gaping at the sight of you, and the other being the source of the dramatic reaction that broke through the silence a few minutes ago.

Her blonde hair is styled in waves and she's wearing such a colorful, creative ensemble that you're mesmerized by the intricate details of her outfit. The hair clips, the makeup, the platforms that she's wearing, you wanted to talk to this girl so bad. 

And it seems like you're in luck today, because she's immediately rushing to your side with wide mesmerized eyes.

“Wonderboy, you've been hiding her from us for how long exactly?” 

You're guessing “wonderboy” is Spencer since she seems to be his friend and your chest feels warm knowing his friends nickname him such cute things. Spencer deserves to be known for all his good traits after all, and he sure as hell is your boy of wonder. 

“Garcia, please, I'm begging you to act normal about this right now.” He mutters, trying his best to keep this conversation quiet.

She shakes her head, “This is the most normal I can act about you hiding a girl from us.” Then she turns to you again, extending her arm for you to shake. You eagerly extend yours back. “Penelope Garcia, tech analyst at the FBI, and genius boy's co-worker. Oh and, your source for any dirt you want on genius Reid over here.” 

That explains how someone like her is in Spencer's social circle, but it doesn't explain how someone so bubbly could work at such a gloomy unit. Working for the government when she should be at the club? It's a crime to you. 

“They're keeping a gem like you in a dark, creepy room to dig up information for them?” 

You honestly didn't know you could commit such flattery and Spencer is looking at you in disbelief, but she giggles at your poorly concealed flirting and you feel proud of yourself. 

“Oh, wonder boy, how did you ever snag a wonderful girl like her.” 

Spencer is blushing so hard at this point you could probably fry an egg on his face. You're introducing yourself to Penelope, filling her in on your occupation, when the other blonde introduces herself as Jennifer Jareau, JJ for short, and she's even more excited to meet you. 

She's also heavily pregnant, and you hope that she's currently on maternity leave. 

“We were looking for more records that this little guy here could listen to, it's incredibly engaging to include him in our vinyl pick-out process.” JJ rubs her stomach as she explains and you're so fascinated by the idea of childbearing and birth for a few seconds that you almost forget that it's terrifying. 

“What about you guys?” Penelope jumps in, eager to put Spencer on the spot again. 

“Oh we, uh,” Spencer's eyes shift between you and the two girls, like he's surrounded and begging you for help, “we're just checking out the vinyls on sale.” 

“Yeah, I was honestly waiting for these discounts because I'm not selling a kidney for some records, you know?” You step in, hoping to take some heat off Spencer, because the poor boy looks like he’s about to combust.

You're also well aware that the two girls in front of you think you and Spencer are dating, but they haven't said it out loud and Spencer hasn't attempted to correct their assumptions, so why would you be the one to ruin their fun? You'll let them think you're on a date. 

“Oh that's so true,” Penelope nods in understanding, “it's like I just want to listen to music, you know?” 

You nod in understanding, you do know. 

And you also know that you're absolutely going to adore Penelope Garcia and JJ and everyone that you meet who’s involved in Spencer's life. Even though this meetup is so completely unplanned and coincidental, it makes you excited knowing you can prod Spencer about more details now, talking about work in a way that doesn't concern the cases. You’d kill for some office gossip that doesn’t involve yourself.

“Oh, Morgan is going to lose it when he hears about this,” JJ says, almost talking to herself. 

Penelope jumps to add more wood to the forest fire, “Oh my God, remember what he said to Emily? He was right.” That catches Spencer's attention, “what did he say to Emily?” 

“He said that you're all giggly at work because you're in love.” Penelope answers without missing a beat, and she says it so casually, as if she didn't basically strip Spencer naked right in front of you. 

You’re subtly stealing glances at him from the corner of your eye, suppressing a smile at the way he blushes deeply and looks at the ground as if he wants it to swallow him whole right now. Something tells you you're absolutely going to love Penelope and he's going to pay the price for that relationship. 

“Spencer is giggling at work?” You ask, like she just told you he joined a cult.

Penelope nods eagerly, “Oh yeah, I've never seen someone look so cheerful while doing paperwork, every time I'm out of my office for a coffee refill he's just there giggling to himself like he's hearing voices. Except the voices turned out to just be a pretty girl, which I have to say,” she puts her hand over her heart dramatically, “I’m so glad it did.” 

Spencer squeezes his eyes shut, the shame overwhelming him, “I'm begging you to stop talking.” 

Penelope and JJ are giggling, enjoying torturing him like this for your pleasure, and you’re close to joining them, but you choose to stay loyal to Spencer— if only to make sure he doesn’t get a migraine from all this embarrassment. But you're also just giddy, knowing Spencer cannot conceal his infatuation with you to save his life. Despite all the hints here and there that he definitely likes you, and all the discreet touching and staring at your lips when you talk —something you know he can't tell you noticed— the way he doesn't deny any of what's being said tells you that you're, at the very least, a person of interest. 

A person of Spencer's interest. Your smile is getting harder and harder to hide.

“Okay, okay, lovebirds, we'll leave you alone now. But trust me, you haven't heard the end of this, once Derek finds out, oh Spencer Reid, you might never want to step foot in that building ever again.” You nod eagerly, excited to hear more about how they’ll taunt him later on. They give you their rushed goodbyes as Penelope guides JJ outside the store, you can hear her quietly complain about leaving empty-handed when she came all the way, but your mind is someplace else, neurons buzzing with ideas of how to torment Spencer now that you’re alone again.

You turn to look at him, no longer holding back your smile, “so…” 

He immediately puts a finger to your lips, “Don't start.” 

You reach for his hand to move it away, giggling like a schoolgirl, “you're fawning over me at work? Oh my God, Spence, I didn't know you were that far gone, baby.” You hold onto his hand, as a way to restrain him, but also because you just want to hold his hand. 

“I was not fawning, they made it all sound so much worse than it actually was.” You raise your eyebrows at him and he continues, looking more flustered. “I was smiling, can I not smile to myself anymore?” 

You absentmindedly lace your fingers with his, bringing your joint hands to your chest like something precious, “You're smiling like a lovesick fool about me at work, Spencer, you're so fucked.” 

Your amusement is so palpable, and your cheeks hurt from smiling, but there’s also something else there.

Something you haven’t fully experienced before, not its rawness and neediness. Something that you can tell will grow in your chest until it fully conquers your whole body and claims your mind. You don't know what you'll call it yet, but it's something a lot like love. 

“Alright alright, I get it. It's National Embarrassing Spencer day, let's buy this record and get out of here. We have a dinner to get to.” 

The weight of his hand in yours almost made you forget you were still holding the record, handling it so carelessly just to bring him closer. You realize you're drunk on affection, and eager to have more of his attention for the rest of the night. When he doesn't make a move to remove his hand from your hold, only dragging you behind him to check out, you feel like there will be a lot of new developments tonight.

The rest of the night goes as well as you would imagine.

Despite your incessant teasing, you have plenty of conversations that aren't centered around embarrassing Spencer and enjoying it. You sip wine together while he tells you about the letters he's been sending his mom; apparently, he's started telling her about you. While you're surprised he's only just doing it now, he confesses that he wanted to wait until he was sure you'd stay before he made such a decision. Unfortunately, with his line of work, he's right to be worried about things like that, but you stayed anyway, and now his mom knows about you. 

And you have her favorite record in a plastic bag that you carry on the way home. 

When his car pulls up to your building, you're hesitant to get out. You don't feel like the night is over yet. It was lovely and unforgettable, meeting his friends, learning about his mom, and having a very nice dinner together, but you feel like there's still one more topic that needs to be discussed. 

When you don't make a move to get out of the car yet, he calls out your name in concern. You turn to look at him and your gaze is so intense he's almost intimidated.

“Is everything okay?” 

You nod absentmindedly, too lost in trying to figure out what's missing from such a wonderful night. 

“Well, we're here. This is your apartment, you know?” You can tell that's not the sentence he aimed for, but you're aware that Spencer stumbles over his words when he's nervous. You don't fault him for it. 

You give him a genuine smile, “Yeah, I know.” 

Then you're moving to unlock the car door, the newly bought record in your hand, and you get one leg out of the car before you realize exactly what this night is missing. 

“Spencer?” You turn to him, he's already looking at you. 

“Yes?” 

Slowly, carefully, you ask, “would you like to come upstairs?” 

Your apartment is somewhere that he's only seen while extremely drunk, hammered out of his mind. You realize that this is the first time you invite him up when he's actually well enough to walk on his own, and you also realize that it means something to you. You hope it also means something to him. 

“Uh, yeah, sure? If you want me to walk you to your door, I'll definitely do that.” He's picking at the leather covering the wheel, cheeks slightly flushed like they’d been earlier. Multiple times during the night, you note how he’s always glowing red around you like a pulsating organ. Is it the slight chill of the weather or the heat behind your eyes? You hope it’s the latter. 

“I think you know what you want.” 

You weren't sure if he knew, but knowing Spencer, a line like that will trigger him into thinking about it so hard that he'll actually figure it out. You watch the gears turn in his head but he still looks confused, you hope that by the time you get to your door, he'll realize what you're talking about. 

“I'm not sure, but I'll figure it out.” You give him one last smile before you exit the car. 

True to his word, Spencer walks you up to your door after parking his car somewhere close. When you reach the apartment, as you dig for your keys in your purse, he stands next to you, looking a little lost because he clearly didn’t expect this. He fiddles with the ends of his vest while observing you. 

You unlock your door and get inside, leaving it open so he can follow you. You drop your purse on your dining table and lay the record down next to it, watching from the corner of your eye as he steps into your apartment cautiously, like he's stepping over booby traps. 

The door locks and you can't escape the conversation any longer. You also can't bear seeing him so lost, because god blessed him with eyes that make him look like a sad baby deer all the time. And every time he uses them on you, you immediately cave, because letting him suffer feels like letting a baby animal die.

“Spence.” You call, sultry and slow.

If you catch the way he slightly jumps at your voice, you don’t react.

“Yes?” He’s quiet, worried.

You lean back against your table, a relaxed smile on your face, “you know why I brought you here, right?”  

He swallows, tucking his hair behind his ear. “A woman inviting her date up to her apartment could lead to a variety of things, but most commonly it leads to either sexual intercourse or murder.” His cheeks heat up at the words ‘sexual intercourse’ and you want to eat him alive. “And I'm kind of hoping you didn't invite me up here to kill me.” 

You raise an eyebrow, the desire to tease him so strong and unforgiving, “So you hope I'll have sex with you then?” 

That really gets him. His whole face goes red— blood rushing down his neck and up to his ears. He opens his mouth to say something, but he can't. Instead, he just opens and closes it a couple of times, unable to articulate anything. If you were in a different situation, you'd have called him a fish, but you also realize something very critical: he doesn’t deny your previous statement.

“Spencer,” you call his whole name this time, voice low and heavy with something that alarms him further. “Can you come here, please?” 

He hesitantly leaves his spot, taking slow, careful steps to your side. He stands at a considerable distance, making sure he gives you your personal space. If he’d done this at any other time, you’d have been fawning over how considerate he is, but right now you want him as close as possible, personal space be damned. 

Feeling particularly brash, you reach out and pull him closer by a fistful of his shirt. He’s startled, but he lets you move him closer as if he were a rag doll, now you're barely a few inches away from him. Your hand moves to his neck, feeling the warmth that spread there a few minutes ago, the warmth that you caused. If it feels like it's getting warmer under your touch, you don't comment on it. 

It's the first time you've touched him this much, this intimately, and it feels like you've been missing out for the past two years. 

He watches you carefully, eyebrows furrowed as he tries to figure out what you're aiming for. This is probably how he acts at work, you think, staring at something until he’s able to break it open and decipher its message, will he decipher your message too?

You look up at him through long lashes, peering into his eyes, hoping to communicate something with your eyes before you can put it into words. You feel a certain need in your stomach, tying knots and constricting your airways— it's what you guess people would call butterflies. Right now, you'd call it absolutely torture. 

“Spencer.”

It's the third time you've called his name so far, and this time your noses are touching and you practically breathe his name onto his lips. This encourages him to put an arm around your waist and raise the other to cup your face affectionately. You lean into his touch, welcoming the reciprocation.

“I'm here,” his voice is low, more certain now, almost like he figured you out, “you can tell me.” 

You nearly melt in his hands now that he's using that self-assured voice. You love it when he's shy, but god do you adore it when he talks like he knows exactly what to do with you. The things you'd let him do to you would probably get you placed on a watch list, but you don't mind as long as he's the one watching. 

“You know what I want to say, don't you?” 

He blinks, the gold flakes in his eyes so striking when you're this close, “maybe I do, but I'd like to hear you say it.” 

He's in no place to be making such demands. He should be melting in your hands, not the other way around. You shouldn't be getting this weak at the knees just because he's using that stupid husky tone, sounding like he knows all your secrets. But, fuck, he absolutely knows all your secrets. He could probably read you like an open book— which you actually wouldn't mind at all because you've seen the way his hands stroke the pages when he's reading, and you'd love for those fingers to be all over you like they're all over those stupid books.

Your eyes glaze over with desire and you're getting impatient, while he watches you like he's studying your next move. Goddamn profilers and their dirty work. He should be getting dirty with you.

You mutter a quiet fuck and step back to separate your bodies; even though there's no place to go because the table is right there, you're at least not directly face to face anymore. His warm breath on your lips was driving you insane, and you brought him up here to talk, you needed to have this conversation. For your sanity. 

He gives you space, because he's always been so caring and so perceptive about what you need, and the gesture makes you want to bounce on him. You have to remind yourself that if you keep thinking with your lower regions, this will be a counterproductive night.

You realize you can't do this while standing up, so you hoist yourself up on the table, and wiggle around till you get comfortable. Your trench coat isn't bending to your will and it takes you some more shuffling to beat it down. You really should've taken it off when you stepped in through the door. 

The sound of Spencer's chuckle makes you realize that he's still here and he's very much observing your embarrassing fight with a trench coat. Your cheeks feel warm, but this is not the most shameful thing you've done tonight, and you're probably aiming to beat that record anyway. 

“Don't laugh at me,” you mutter, embarrassed but smiling. 

“Okay,” he laughs, “I won't.” 

“God, you're such a liar. Is everybody at the FBI full of lies?” 

He shrugs, “Depends on who you ask.” 

You laugh and you're so in awe at how all the stress leaves your body so easily when he's talking to you, it makes you wonder why the hell you can't just say it. One sentence, something he already knows, something anyone would probably know by observing you for five minutes, it should be easy. But as obvious as it is, you're also well aware that once you say it, it becomes real. And you can't escape It. You can't pretend like it's something casual between you if you get your heart broken, or if he feels like you're moving too fast. The minute those words are out of your mouth, you'll have to confront the reality of your situation. 

And you're scared. 

You're scared that once you say those words and it becomes a real living thing, you could actually lose Spencer. You could get into an argument later and it ruins everything between you, or he could fall out of love, or you could fall out of love. There are so many bad endings to a relationship and the possibilities make you hesitate. 

Spencer must've noticed that you're taking a while to speak, that you're too busy stressing out about it, because he comes close again (leaving enough space for the holy spirit this time) to gently hold your hand. It works like he intends it to. The skin-to-skin contact is grounding and you relax a little, wishing you could just melt into him and never have to go through any uncomfortable conversations.

But when you look up at him, and you're met with the familiar trustworthy eyes of the guy who has been your god-given solace for months now, you wonder how the hell you could ever rethink taking a chance on him. 

Even if the risk is terrifying and you're scared of ruining things, you know Spencer would be worth the try. Plus, fantasizing about a reality where it works out and you get married in a few years is actually much more fun than thinking about impending doom. 

You don't want the world to end before you tell Spencer the raw truth of your feelings, and not through subtle gestures or sneaky glances, you want him to hear the whole thing. 

You squeeze his hand for one final reassurance. He smiles and squeezes your hand back. 

“Spencer, I've got something very important to tell you.” 

Slow and stead. 

“I'm listening.” 

You lick your lips. 

“Okay well, remember how I told you a few months ago that there were currently no guys who were interested in me?” 

He nods.

“Well, I lied.” 

He raises his eyebrows, amused at the route you're taking, “oh yeah?” 

You nod, swallowing heavily, “Yeah, yes. There was this… guy at my job, he doesn't work there anymore because he got transferred because of ‘new chances’ or whatever, but he was working with me this time last year, you know? Anyways, he'd get really close to me whenever we were handling the same task, not in a sexual harassment way but in an ‘I have a crush on you’ way. And I realized that he was interested in me because he kept dropping hints and I'm, surprisingly, not that oblivious. I can tell when a guy likes me. He actually asked me out once to this new donut place near the office, but I declined because he has really bad table manners to be honest and, god I'm glad he's not working with us anymore because he'd hog all the coffee and we could barely find anything to drink by the end of the day— but that's not the only reason I rejected him, I actually rejected him because… because I couldn't imagine going out with anyone else who wasn't you, and I guess what I'm trying to say is- that's when I realized that I like you, Spencer. And I've liked you for almost a year now.” 

You're out of breath by the time it's all out, but incredibly relieved. You look up at Spencer and he has this amused twinkle in his eyes and a very dumb smug smirk on his face. Once you're fully and completely done with your little speech, the first thing he does is laugh.

You're so offended you immediately take your hand away from his and slap his chest, “Don't fucking laugh, I just confessed my feelings for you.” You hit him some more, but he won't stop laughing, “Spencer, this is so fucking rude, oh my god, just reject me like a lady if you're going to mock me like this.” 

He catches your hand before you land another weak punch on his arm, and you have very little time to react before he reaches forward, cupping your face with his other hand and joining your lips for a long-awaited kiss. 

You've fantasized about the way he kisses for a very long time. After you’d heard about his little make-out session with that actress in the pool, it took everything in your body to resist asking him to take you next. You've thought about kissing him nearly every night when you were falling asleep, he was even haunting some of your dreams like a fiend, kissing you like his life depended on it, only for you to wake up to the cruel, harsh reality of never having kissed Spencer Reid.

But that reality is different now. 

He uses both his hands to cup your face and angles your head just right to get as much contact as possible. He tastes like the wine you've been drinking all night and smells like cedar wood and sage. God, even when kissing you he has to smell like a perfect little herbal garden? You'd get mad at him if his lips moving against yours weren't melting away every ounce of sophistication you have in your body. 

You use the chance to be greedy and reach your hand into his hair, making sure to mess it up so that there’s proof that you were here, in his arms, kissing him. 

He's sweet with his kiss, despite knowing you both waited for it for so long, he doesn't push you to go further even though you'd love for him to. You'd let him take you on this table right now.

But the absolute worst thing about Spencer is that he's so respectful that he pulls away after a few seconds to watch for your reaction. He's flushed with desire and his eyes have gone dark in a way that you've only seen when he was really angry. You can tell that he's restraining himself to not make you uncomfortable. His eyes scan your face eagerly, his hands resting on either side of your face.

“God, you're so… ridiculous.” 

The comment is so unexpected that you laugh, and the sexual tension seems to ease into just… sexual existence. “Hey, what's that for? You're going to kiss a girl and then immediately insult her?” 

His smile mirrors yours, “my apologies, your highness. I have just never heard such a ridiculous confession in my life before.” 

You frown, lips curling into a pout, “not true, that actress in the pool had a ridiculous confession too.” She didn't, but you never fully got over her kissing Spencer before you could. 

“Oh yes, I'm sorry, I forget about any other woman when I'm with you.” Then he plants a quick kiss on your lips with a poorly concealed smile, and you can just tell that he's going to be doing that a lot to get away with whatever bullshit he's spewing. 

“You’re unbelievable, Spencer Reid.” 

Then you’re kissing him again, craving more of what he gave you during the first kiss. The desperation for contact has you pulling him closer by his collar, leaning into the kiss like you were starving before him. When he finally slips his tongue into your mouth, you moan so pathetically it makes his grip around you tighten, body drawing impossibly closer to yours.

You're kissing for such an extended period of time that you're dizzy from the lack of air when he pulls away, and you're greeted by that lovely shade of crimson on his face. You desperately want to find out just how red he can get and in what other places.

You're admiring his face, lost in the haze of the kiss, and chewing absentmindedly on your lips when you suddenly remember something very important. You draw back a little to shoot him a very serious look. 

“Hey, you never said you liked me back.” 

He laughs in disbelief, “do I have to?” 

You nod like a petulant child, seriously alarmed.

He playfully rolls his eyes, “alright, I like you too,” he kisses you, “I like you a lot actually.” 

You're satisfied with that answer, melting into his touch again, like a helpless pet. You admire the post-makeout look that adorns his face and makes him more beautiful than you could ever imagine, and he gazes at you with stars in his eyes. For a while, it feels like the universe belongs to the two of you and no one else. 

Until you remember how late it is and the fact that Spencer actually works tomorrow, then you're not that happy anymore. 

“What's wrong?” He asks, nose rubbing against yours as if you could ever focus on anything when he's that close. 

“You have work tomorrow, and it's very late…” 

He draws back from you, as if broken out of the trance by your words, “Oh no, you're right.” He's starting to move away when something inside you kicks in and suddenly your legs are flying to lock around his waist to secure him in place. He raises his eyebrows at you, amused and surprised.

“You can't do this.” 

You nod your head menacingly, “oh yes I can.” You know he could easily break out of your hold if he really wanted to, but the fact that he's entertaining your antics tells you that he's not very eager to leave either. 

“Angel, I have to go to work in the morning. Like an adult with responsibilities, you know?” 

If you were in your right mind, you'd be offended at that comment, but he's just kissed you senselessly and then called you ‘angel’ for the very first time. No one could blame you for not being very wise. 

“You can still go to work in the morning, you just... don't have to leave right now.” 

“You want me to stay? Here?” You nod. “My love, you don't even have a change of clothing that can fit me.” 

“Then sleep naked. I won't complain.” 

He laughs, “What about a toothbrush? You don't have an extra one for me.” 

“I change my toothbrush once every three months and I always buy extra, so I do actually have a completely sealed, never used before brush that you can use. It will be yours from now on.” 

He shakes his head in disbelief but you can tell he's starting to budge, your technique is working. 

Plus there's the unsaid promise that, if he stays, there will be a lot more kissing going on. 

“And you want me to go to work tomorrow in this same outfit?” 

“Mhm, we'll hang it and it will be just fine.” 

“I don't have my badge with me, I can't go to work without my badge.” 

You scoff. “Then wake up early and drive by your place, stop creating irrelevant problems, Spencer.” 

He’s in disbelief at your brazenness but seems to cave in anyway. “Fine, yeah, I'll stay.” 

You smile, very proud of yourself, “yes you will.” 

At this point, you're aware that your leg is still around his waist, and you're holding him in place like you took him hostage, but you honestly don't feel like letting him go just yet. Months of pining for him like a lovesick fool, you think you deserve to relish in the power you exert over him. He seems to notice the hunger for power in your eyes because he's coming closer again, placing his hands on either side of your thighs. 

“You have other plans for me tonight, don't you?” He's using that husky tone again and looking at you with glazed-over hazel eyes. Like a predator hunting its prey. 

You place your arms around his neck, back where they belong, “and if I do? Will you punish me, officer?” 

His warm breath fans over your lips and you're shaking to your core with anticipation, “I don't know, maybe I will.” 

Then he puts an end to all your antagonizing conversations that are distracting you from more important matters by bringing you in for another eager kiss. You take all of him in, the stubborn grip he has on your face, the teeth clashing when he shifts your positions, the low moan he releases when you pull on his hair — you take everything he gives you with eagerness and hunger. You could swallow him up whole right now if you could. 

When he pulls away to take a breath and you're confronted by his disheveled face once more, you realize that there are a lot of things you're going to do to him tonight. You realize that it’s going to be a good while before either of you goes to sleep.

[inktopuck]

miss honey | jack hughes social media au (pt. 7)

pt. 6

yournamelastname

Liked by jackhughes, l_hughes06 and others

yournamelastname we had some very cute visitors today! including bear!! and a few devils!

jackhughes i think those kiddies ruptured my eardrum 😅

yournamelastname you loved every second of it you attention whore

jackhughes i'm gonna tell my mom you called me that

yournamelastname and did i lie?

jackhughes 😔

l_hughes06 man your kids are the cutest... AND THE DOGS!!!

yournamelastname we all know how much you loved the dogs

l_hughes06 trying to convince jack to let me adopt a friend for bear

yournamelastname yeah and then you guys go off frolicking on the ice across the country and i'm the one stuck cleaning their poop!

l_hughes06 but MOM

curtislazar95 thanks for letting us hang out! i really enjoyed chasing rusty around with the kids!

jackhughes

Liked by elblue6, _quinnhughes and others

jackhughes bear got to make some new friends at wallace elementary, furry and not so furry ones.

colecaufield translation: luke and the kids

l_hughes06 ha ha little man ha ha at least i can GROW body hair

jackhughes barely

trevorzegras why am i NEVER invited to these things

_quinnhughes you're on the other side of the country genius

colecaufield also no one wants you arount their kids

trevorzegras as an honorary kid i am outraged by these declarations

njdevils oh! doggie hamilton was there!

yournamelastname thank you so much for stopping by! made the kids' year!

jackhughes you're very welcome, miss honey 😉

yournamefinsta

Liked by trevorzegras, colecaufield and others

yournamefinsta luke read a book for the first time since he became a dropout so he's been spreading wisdom for a week.

l_hughes06 a COLLEGE dropout

yournamefinsta yes that makes it so much better

_quinnhughes i knew i should've never let him read the monk who sold his ferrari

trevorzegras wait that's such a kickass title i need to read it

_quinnhughes the only book you read was the hungry hungry caterpillar

trevorzegras FINE.... i'll get the audiobook

jackhughes he literally asked keefe if he could keep the tripod and the giant notebook

yournamefinsta he is so dedicated to his craft

l_hughes06 what you resist will persist; what you befriend, you will transcend

jackhughes save ME

yournamefinsta you're fine drama queen 😘

_quinnhughes okay now this is starting to freak ME out

l_hughes06

Liked by yournamelastname, elblue6 and others

l_hughes06 winter drop!

jackhughes why did you post me two times you clout chaser

l_hughes06 the world needed to know that book nearly bored you to death.... the other one? who knows

colecaufield wait jack and y/n in close proximity and not killing each other?

trevorzegras why is her hand there

yournamelastname you guys know everyone can see these comments right

snoopy43hughes not luke soft launching

_quinnhughes i leave you for the season and this happens

_alexturcotte the world has been kicked out of its axis

yournamelastname oooooh big word turcs

_alexturcotte i AM an intellectual

hughesyodaddy no one's denying the hints that they're something oh shit

hischierkiss what about nicojack!

[f1amour]

✧˚ · . 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐀 𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐑

pairing: max verstappen x mexican!reader, charles leclerc x mexican!reader

word count: 4.4k

summary: being introduced to their once rival and falling for them was not what you expected but after struggling in your current relationship to feel loved maybe they were exactly what you needed

authors note: i feel like this made no sense lmao no build up but i tried my best i never wrote about a love triangle so it wasn’t my best interpretation of it therefore why i felt i didn’t create a good build up. also google translate was my bff so forgive me for any mistakes. highly recommend listening to sailor song by gigi perez some of the lyrics (hence the title) heavily inspired me <3

warnings: ANGST but happy ending :) no cheating, suggestive content, established relationship, takes place in 2023 — 18+, minors please do not interact!

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You knew what love meant. The definition behind it and you knew people who were in love, you knew everything about love. You showed your love to your friends by making memories with them or gift giving and with each friend it was something special. You paid attention to their likes and dislikes because you love them.

But you didn't know love as you grew up in a household filled with yelling and resentment. Now at the age of 23 you felt that you finally had someone who will love you the way you love others.

Someone who will love you loudly and proudly.

Being in a relationship with Charles for three years now you'd think he would be a bit more affectionate in public. You didn't expect to make out, you just needed his touch. You wanted to hold his hand in public without him scolding you that it wasn't a good look.

Our relationship wasn't a good look?

A question you'd always ask when he'd imply any public displays of affection wasn't a good look for himself and his team. You are being overdramatic. Would be his answer all the time and you'd go along with it. You loved him so much that seeing his flaws would fly over your head. You avoided all the red flags in the relationship because for the first time you loved someone and maybe if you loved them enough they could learn to love you.

It took Charles two years to say he loved you and you were fine with it. You never rushed him to say those three words despite you saying them first only a year into dating. Love took time and everyone had their own time to say those words. The two years with Charles before he said I love you was your favorite time together. He was affectionate (behind closed doors). Kind. Patient.

He was everything you ever wanted in a relationship but that all changed after he told you he loved you. In a way you thought the only reason he said those words was because of your argument after the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

He had finished in 2nd and was disappointed with the results at him still not being a world champion. Being asked by the press if there was anything that was distracting him that could have cost him the championship.

"Some distractions are definitely the reason both professionally and...personally. I think some personal distractions won't happen again for next year."

You were fuming when you heard that and what was worse you were standing right there a few feet away and like the good girlfriend you are, you couldn't show any emotion. Your smile faltered for only a second but then immediately a fake smile stayed on, unaware a pair of blue eyes watching wishing they could comfort you.

Giving Charles the silent treatment for a week he could see you were prepared to leave the relationship after his comment so he decided to plan a weekend getaway on a yacht while on the Amalfi Coast. During a romantic dinner he said those three words and promised he'd be a better man in the relationship. That lasted only a month.

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You were back in the routine of being ignored by Charles while out in public and sometimes even at home. Tonight was no different as you guys sit in a secluded corner of a local club while he talks to Pierre while you sit there awkwardly hoping for someone to at least acknowledge your presence.

If Lando or Arthur were here you'd be ecstatic because at least they would actually talk to you. You don't know why Charles even invited you to come along for drinks with him and Pierre but you assumed he wanted to spend some time with you. Now you regret coming out seeing as he is doing what he always does at home; ignore you.

"Max!" Your thoughts are interrupted by Charles voice calling the name of a person you have yet to formally meet.

Max Verstappen. A name you heard from everyone, especially your boyfriend who shared his hatred for the man when he first came into formula one but recently it’s seemed like they’ve both been getting along.

But that’s all you knew seeing as Charles never even introduced you to each other despite sharing many podiums together and being at the same parties a few times.

“Hello.” Max waves awkwardly at you after Charles introduces you quickly before focusing back on his conversation with Pierre.

“Hi.” You smile awkwardly not really knowing what else to say. Being in his presence was a bit intimidating, always hearing stories of his tough demeanor on the track so you assumed he’d be the same off the track.

“I’m leaving.” You whisper to Charles and it catches his attention. He begins asking why you’re leaving so early when you’d just arrived an hour ago and you make up an excuse saying you don’t feel well.

You’ve ignored me this whole time. Why would I want to be here?

You wanted to say that but knew it would lead to yet another argument so he just waves you off and you grab your purse quickly hoping to avoid anyone seeing your tears.

“It was nice to finally meet you, Max.” You tell the man, avoiding his eyes and walking off.

And that was the start of Max’s plan; to never see another tear on your face from the man you love.

He started that right away by following you out the club where the streets were quiet and empty. You sit on the sidewalk head in your hands sobbing uncontrollably.

At that moment he isn’t sure what he will say but he knows he wants to be near you. To comfort you.

So he sits right beside you carefully so as not to startle you and you look over ready to move away from whoever was sitting next you but meeting those blue eyes you felt a pull.

His eyes were so bright and welcoming that with a simple look and hand to your shoulder, you’re crying in the arms of a man you had only just formally met 5 minutes ago.

But being in his arms felt so right, like you had known them for years.

So maybe it was that or the way his blue eyes had such a calming look to them that you spilled all your feelings to him. From your failed relationship to your family problems. You expected him to defend his friend who he knew more than you but instead he held your hand rubbing thumb against it, "I think if Charles loves you he wouldn't make you cry. He would not make you feel alone, unappreciated…or unloved. His opinion about being private can be valid for the media but with friends? Family? Even in your own home? He should be able to express his love."

You nod along and let out a shaky breath, "It sounds pathetic but I always thought he was my soulmate at one point. So if he was my soulmate I convinced myself that this was it. That my only chance at love will be him and that is all I will ever get. But sometimes I think it might be better to live my life forever alone than to give all my love to someone who could never reciprocate it."

Max shakes his head and looks at you, his eyes flickering to your lips for a brief moment then back to your eyes, "I don't think that is pathetic. It's called love and sometimes being in love with someone you know won't love you the same is soul crushing but you'll stay in the relationship hoping that maybe one day what you give them will be enough to change their mind." He tells you, almost as he had gone through the same (he did).

"You know from everything I see and hear from people about you I'm surprised how wrong they were. How wrong I was…you aren't the same guy you are on the track. I'm sorry." You tell him sincerely, an apology he tells you is not needed but feels a flutter in his chest receiving praise from you.

"Never judge a book by its cover, right?" He smiles back at you, your arm wrapped around his and head against his shoulder. Maybe you shouldn't be so close to another guy that wasn't your boyfriend but there was a pull Max had that you wanted to be as close to him as you could.

Just friends.

─────────────────────────

And your friendship with Max sure did blossom for the last three months going into the 2023 season and Charles was fine with it. Mostly because he still was not paying you much attention so you being friendly with Max and joining him and Lando on trips was fine with him.

Until he realized how close you had gotten to Red Bull's superstar driver.

"I don't understand why you want to go there this race weekend. I doubt the PR team would even allow me to let you go, it's not a good look." He shrugs driving through the streets of Miami with you in the passenger seat.

"Actually, Max's team talked to yours already. People honestly think me and you are friends so they don't think it would cause any drama plus I'm doing a video with Checo and Max to try some of my pastries!" You tell him excitedly, a smile on your face he hadn't seen in awhile. Only this time another man was the reason for your smile not him.

"Ah well…okay." He says before shutting down completely and staying quiet the entire ride back to the hotel after dinner.

Once you arrive at the hotel room you wash your makeup off then go off to grab some pajamas, "You wanna wear this?" Charles asks holding up a red sweater that had his name on the back of it.

"Oh thanks, Charlie." You smile at him sweetly and throw the sweater on with some black shorts.

"I love you." He says pulling you in for a passionate kiss, something you haven't received in a week so your hands go to his hair pulling him in for a deeper kiss. You were so deprived from his touch that you felt yourself pushing him towards the bed wanting him to give you some more attention.

"Wanna be inside you, mon amour." He whispers in your ear before kissing down to your neck, your moans a little louder than usual and as his hands reach to take your shorts off there's a knock at the door.

"Mierda. Esperame aqui." You tell Charles and he just nods with a smile not knowing what the last two words are but he loved seeing how needy you were.

You walk over to the door opening it to reveal Max and Lando holding a bag full of junk food, "Shit. I forgot we were going to watch the rest of the movies on our list…Charles is here."

Landos eyes widen while Max's are filled with disappointment, "Ah you getting it on with your man!" Lando jokes and you slap his arm.

"Shut up! I wanna spend some time with him while he is actually giving me some attention for once. I'm so sorry guys." You apologize and Lando nods in understanding and says goodbye before walking off.

"Max, come on!" Lando yells for his friend but he waves him off asking to give him a second.

You smile at him, "I'm sorry, Maxie. I know I promised we would finish up the movies this week but he's paying attention to me right now and I know it's pathetic being so desperate for just one–."

"I'm always gonna remind you that it is not pathetic. You are not pathetic. Don't apologize, it is okay. We will wait for you to watch the movies and enjoy your time with him." He tries to keep his smile when he says the last sentence.

"I love you, Max." You wrap your arms around him, giving him a tight hug before pulling away.

"I love you too." He says, those words having so much more meaning than in the friendly way you had meant it. You wave him goodbye before going back inside enjoying your time with Charles for the rest of the night, but your mind was invaded with one person and one person only: Max.

─────────────────────────

It was Media Day and you were spending it with the Red Bull Team and while you were excited for it at first you had noticed Max was acting weird not really speaking to you unless for the video so you felt a bit down throughout the day.

"Estoy seguro de que no mas no se siente bien.” Checo talks to you while you sit beside him and Max who was talking to Daniel happily completely ignoring you.

"Pero claramente está bien con todos los demás. Solo soy yo. Él no me quiere aquí, así que... me voy. Gracias por invitarme, pero no quiero hacer esto". You smile sadly at Checo and his wife who ask you to stay at the team dinner but you can't. Not when someone you love is treating you like this. You already got that from Charles.

But you were unaware that Max understood every word you and Checo had said.

So as you walk out of the restaurant you refuse to turn back around as Max calls after you, "Oh so now you want to talk? Well I don't, so leave me alone." You yell at him and keep walking down the empty street.

"Please, I'm sorry." He begs stepping in front of you.

You stop and glare at him, "You…you know how I feel about being ignored by Charles all the time. How shitty it makes me feel and now you're doing the same?" You ask, tears welling up in your eyes.

"No I…fuck don’t cry. I promised to never be the one to make you cry and-.”

"What do you mean by that? What promise?" You ask, confused as to what he meant.

"I never want to be the reason you cry." He whispers, wiping your tears away.

"Why?"

“Because…because I love you.” He confesses, in his eyes you can see he means those three words more than the platonic type.

And in that moment you want to say it back. You want to mean it the way he is saying it as well. But then Charles fills your mind.

“You…love me?” Is all you can say. You knew there was something there you couldn’t deny. But you were a loyal person so you pushed those feelings to the back of your head because you were with Charles.

Max 's hands are cupping your face, “Mi amor por ti es tan fuerte que aprendí un idioma para ti. Tu idioma para poder decírtelo y demostrarte mi amor. Aprendí tu idioma en tres meses. Porque eres mi amiga es lo que me diría al principio. Porque valoro nuestra amistad y te respeto pero ¿ahora? Me doy cuenta de que este sentimiento es más que solo amigos. Quiero... no, te amaré. Te amaré fuerte y con orgullo como te mereces. Quiero que todos sepan que soy tuyo y tú eres mío. Quiero que las estrellas y la luna sepan que te amo. Quiero escuchar tu voz por horas. Gritaré mi amor por ti cuando quieras. Quiero ser tu mejor amigo. Te amaré hasta mi último aliento en esta tierra. Y en el más allá te encontraré y te amaré entonces.Te amaré como a un marinero. Fuerte y orgulloso” (My love for you is so strong that I learned a language for you. Your language to be able to tell you and show you my love. I learned your language in three months. Because you are my friend is what he would tell me at first. Because I value our friendship and I respect you, but now? I realize this feeling is more than just friends. I want... no, I will love you. I will love you strong and proudly as you deserve. I want everyone to know that I am yours and you are mine. I want the stars and the moon to know that I love you. I want to hear your voice for hours. I will shout my love for you whenever you want. I want to be your best friend. I will love you until my last breath on this earth. And in the hereafter I will find you and I will love you then. I will love you like a sailor. Loud and proud) He lets out a deep breath after his confession looking at you for answers.

Your eyes filled with tears hearing him confess his feelings, in Spanish. In your language. He learned your language in three months just because he loved you?

“Max…I-I-I don’t know what to say. You…fuck, you learned Spanish for me. I can’t…I want to love you. I know I can and I do but I’m still with Charles. I know he hasn’t proved anything to me but I can’t say what I feel at this moment knowing I’m still in a relationship. He may not care about it but I need to be loyal until the end.” You tell him. He had hoped you’d say something other than that but he also understood.

“I’m gonna wait for you. You can decide what you want with him but…if you decide to stay with him I need to give you this before you leave.” He digs into his pocket and grabs his keys, taking a key off the chain and handing it to you.

“I’ll send you the address in a text but I hope you love it. I hope I see you again.” He says before kissing your cheek and walking off.

─────────────────────────

You walk into the hotel room and you see Charles sitting on the bed waiting for you, "What are you doing here?" Your tone coming off a bit harsh.

"Oh, well I wanted to wait up for you. I was thinking we could spend the night together again. I've missed you and-."

"Why?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean why do you miss me? Why do you all of a sudden want to spend time with me?"

Charles sighs, "I just miss you and well seeing you get so close to Max I…I felt like you haven't made time for us–."

"Oh fuck you! I haven't made the time? I am the one who left my home country three years ago to follow you around the world like a lovestruck little puppy. I have all the time in the world to be there when you want it but it is you who hasn't. I have begged and cried for you to give me love. To show me you love me. You havent done that Charles one night that we fucked doesnt mean it all gets better."

"I know that! I want to try though. I shouldn't have let your friendship with Max make me so jealous but I see how he looks at you, Y/n. He loves you more than a friend–."”

"Yeah, he told me tonight."You interrupt him and the color drains from his body.

"He did? And…what did you say?"

You sigh and sit next to Charles, "That I could feel the same way. I do feel the same way but…I'm with you. And you may not believe it but I'm a loyal person. So nothing happened he just said that and that is all…he said he would wait for me."

"What does this mean for us?" He asks.

What does it mean? You were conflicted, Max…he was a breath of fresh air. What he makes you feel is something you wish Charles could have made you felt. Love should be given because they love you not because you beg them to do it. And thinking in that sense is enough to give you your answer.

"It means I am not ready for any relationship with anyone right now. I need to focus on myself and love myself because I haven't for a long time. We need to break up, Charles."

But I love you. I may not show it but I want to communicate my feelings to express why it's so hard for me.

"Okay…we break up then. Where will you go?" He says instead of what he wanted to really say to you, sadness in his eyes.

"Home." You tell him looking down at the keychain.

─────────────────────────

THREE MONTHS LATER.

When you had received the address from Max you weren't sure what else to tell him other than thank you and after that you lost contact for some time. He had bought a piece of land in Mexico, "a place where you can create your biggest dreams." He bought you a space where you create a cafe the way you had always dreamed of but you assumed no one ever paid enough attention to you to know that the dream was to have this cafe in Mexico.

Now having the space open it was thriving and everyone was raving about it even some F1 fans have realized it was your cafe and despite your break up with Charles now being out in the public they were still showing their support.

The Mexican Grand Prix was coming this week and you had received a few messages from some drivers hoping to catch up with you. You hung out with Lando for a day showing him around the city and then had dinner with Checo and his family. You were sad to hear Max was going to be there but bailed out.

When dinner was over you were headed home when you got a notification from your security system sensing motion at the front of your cafe so you went straight there.

When you arrive your heart stops at the sight of Max standing on a ladder in front of your door, "What…what are you doing?" You ask stepping out of your car and Max turns around, almost falling off the ladder when he sees you.

"Max! You gotta be careful." You put support on the ladder with your hands as he gets back to what he was doing.

"You got a broken light, it doesn't work." He states.

"Yeah I know. I was gonna fix it tomorrow morning. Not like a crazy person at night."

"Well the crazy person just fixed it so you're welcome." He says climbing off.

You thank him before unlocking the door to the place, "Do you want to see it?" You ask him and he smiles following you inside.

Max was in shock seeing how beautiful it looked inside, filled with tables and comfortable couches with a small corner that had books that you can pick from while visiting and he's most excited when he looks at the menu hanging behind the counter.

Two lattes named after his cats Jimmy and Sassy (who you have met and love very much). Then beside the menu is a small note thanking the customers, "And thank you to my favorite sailor." The same word he used when telling you he loved you.

"I'm probably gonna botch this but I'm trying okay?" You tell him and he looks at you confused when you grab his hands and clear your throat, "Don't laugh if I mess up!" You tell him and he chuckles.

"Could never laugh at you if it's this serious, my silly girl." If you hadn't been practicing this for so long you probably would have kissed him right then.

"Ik hou van je. Ik wil dat je luid bemind wordt, net zoals jij van mij houdt. Ik voel dingen voor je die ik nog nooit heb gevoeld en dat maakt me bang. Zo hard van je houden is eng, maar het is iets wat ik met je wil doen. Ik wil je liefde en je beste vriend zijn. Ik zal zo luid van je houden dat de hele wereld stil zal worden. Het spijt me dat het zo lang heeft geduurd voordat ik me realiseerde hoe graag ik dit wil. Ik wil ons leven samen opbouwen." (I love you. I want you to be loved loudly just like you love me. I feel things for you that I have never felt and that scares me. Loving you so hard is scary but it's something I want to do with you. I want to be your love and your best friend. I will love you so loud that the whole world will go quiet. I'm sorry it took me this long to realize how much I want this. I want to build our life together.) It's like deja vu as you take a deep breath after confessing your love in his language, something you too had been practicing for the last three months.

His face was hard to read at the moment and you frown thinking maybe it was too late confessing your love now, "Fuck I know it wasn't the best dutch and maybe it's too late telling you I–."

His lips stop you from finishing that sentence, you can feel his heartbeat close to you pressed against each other. Your lips on his felt like they were always meant to be there the way you could taste the coffee that you had made him beforehand. His hands on your hips with your arms around his neck trying to get as close as you can to each other, you both however pull away to take a breath.

"I love you. Te amo. Ik houd van je." Max kisses you all over your face giving you one last kiss on your lips.

"I'm sorry it took me some time to say it but after breaking up with Charles I needed space to breathe and remember I can still live my life without needing a man to love me…but these three months without you have been fucking torture. I miss all the little things you do and I just miss you. I want to hold you forever." You tell him, you both are now sitting on one of the couches in the cafe. You sit on his lap with his arms holding you tight hoping to never let go like you'd just said.

"I was a bit disappointed at first hearing about the break up and that you had left right away but then I saw you here making this place exactly how you dreamed of and that was enough for me to understand you needed your space…even if I was miserable." He says the last few words jokingly and you giggle, shaking your head.

"I still don't know how I can ever thank you for buying me this space." You smile at him, your fingers playing with his hair.

"Let me take you on a date and that is enough."

You nod, kissing his cheek, "Bit weird we said I love you before our first date."

"Loving you is out of this world, I expect anything ordinary is simply not what our love is." Max was a true romantic, something he did not think was in him until he met you. Maybe that side of him had been hidden for so long because he was waiting for you all along.

Your lips meet his once again in a sweet kiss, "Thank you for loving me, loudly and proudly."

[hallowpen]

This series continues to be a love letter to Thai tradition. It makes me sooo happy to get to share these cultural insights with you guys through watching Girl's Love media. We've come so far 😭😭😭

So... This episode didn't really highlight any traditional Thai dishes, but in keeping with last week's edition, I want to at least mention two that stood out:

ช่อม่วง (pronounced 'chor muang') are flower dumplings that were to be considered part of royal Thai cuisine. The dumplings are filled with a sweet and salty pork mixed with roasted peanuts. They are wrapped in a purple dough that gets its coloring from being dyed by butterfly pea flowers steeped in water with lime juice. (Any fellow UWMAers will recognize this dish, as the process of how to make them were included in that series)

สละลอยแก้ว (pronounced 'sala loy kaew') is another version of the dessert we discussed last week. It is made by having Salak fruit 'floating' in iced sugared syrup. Salak is a fruit native to Southeast Asia (specifically Indonesia). The Thai variety have more flesh with a uniquely sweet and slightly sour taste.

ยิงปืนกันกล้วย (pronounced 'ying peun gahn gluay') is a traditional children's game typically played amongst young boys. It is a game where children "shoot" at each other with an imaginary rifle that is made from banana stalks. They swipe one hand quickly along the banana stalk, and the following impact causes the upright parts of the stem ("the ammo") to loudly "snap"... a sound similar to that of a gunshot. The banana rifles are called ปืนของกล้วย (pronounced 'peun gahn gluay') hence the name of the game... and the "horses", which are also made from banana stalks, are called ม้าของกล้วย (pronounced 'ma gahn gluay').

ลอยกระทง - Thailand's Loy Krathong Festival is probably something viewers are already familiar with if they've watched other Thai dramas. It is a Thai tradition that takes place on the night of the full moon during the 12th lunar month. "Krathongs", which can be translated as 'ritual lantern vessels', are made from natural materials including banana leaves and flowers. They are often formed in the shape of a lotus to symbolize rebirth, strength, and resilience. For Anil and Pin it is a gesture to make merit, while simultaneously wishing for each other’s happiness and good fortune. It is representative of their hope for only good blessings to come into their lives while they are apart.

In more modern tradition, there are also certain romantic undertones revolving around the Loy Krathong Festival. It is said that any couple who float a Krathong together, will be bound together for life.

Aside from these cultural aspects, there are a few other instances I want to note.

I loved seeing the juxtaposition of Anil knowing and actively wanting to pursue a romantic relationship with Pin... and Pin only just coming to the realization that, maybe, her fond affection for Anil actually runs a lot deeper. I also want to point out, that Prik's participation in facilitating their romantic relationship is incredibly risky. As a low-ranking servant of the palace, she stands to receive the harshest punishment for 'breaking convention'. Which brings me to this scene:

There are so many social class dynamics happening in just this one scene alone. Pin cannot afford to be rude to a higher ranking official by saying, upfront, she does not wish for him to pursue her. Prik is being used as a shield to protect Pin from Kuea's advances. And Kuea, as a friend of Prince Anon AND who holds title himself, is blissfully unaware that his presence is completely unwelcome... because who, in their right mind, could ever want to turn away a person of his fortune and stature? Aaahhh, it's just such a brilliant scene!!!

[milla-frenchy]

And all that could have been

1k4 | Javier Peña x fem reader | ao3 | Masterlist

Summary: the memories of you don’t leave Javi, reminding him of his past mistakes

Warnings: 18+ mdni. Angst, piv, creampie, mentions of SA (not by Javi), no age specified. Reader has no specific physical descriptions. Writer chose not to use all warnings

a/n: this is for @janaispunk 1500 kisses challenge 🥳 Prompt was "last kiss/Javi p"

Thank you @toxicanonymity for the spanish translation 🖤 @aurorawritestoescape for beta-ing 💕 @morallyinept for your amazing Javi character database and dialogue 🌻 @saradika-graphics for the dividers 🙏

The title and some sentences said by Javi are from And all that could have been by Nine inch nails

Javi was at his apartment with Helena. She was one of his informers and worked in a brothel, but she meant more than that. He cared about her, and they saw each other regularly at his place.

“¿Qué harás este fin de semana?” (what are you doing this weekend?), he asked her.

“Iré a Medellín” (I’m going to Medellin)

“Bueno, tendré que buscarme otra” (I guess I’ll have to find another girl)

“Buena suerte con eso. Todas nos vamos a Medellín” (good luck with that. We’re all going to Medellin)

His heart sank and worry crept into him. Sensing a very familiar feeling, which had never left him since last year.

“¿Helena? ¿De quién es esta fiesta?” (whose party is it?)

Anxiety took over him, past events playing over and over in his head. Haunting him. And he thought about what happened a year ago. What happened to you.

You didn't plan for any of that. Neither Javi nor you did.

At first, he was a client almost like the others, except that he worked for the DEA, and bit by bit he asked you for information on the sicarios. He always treated you right, never made you feel uncomfortable. You had other clients and you weren’t the only hooker he used to fuck.

You got to know him and trust him as the weeks passed, as he also seemed to, until you realized that he was no longer fucking anyone but you. You used to see him in his apartment more and more often, and less and less at the brothel. When his cock was buried in your core and his eyes looked with yours, his gaze was different. Soft and caring.

One night at his place he lit a cigarette and was smoking it by the window. Looking thoughtfully at the city lights as you were lying in bed, naked, admiring all of him. The muscles of his back, his shoulders, his tanned skin.

When he sat on the bed, his thigh against yours, his hand caressed your stomach which was gradually returning to normal breathing. 

“¿Por qué no paras?” (Why don’t you stop?), he asked.

It wasn't exactly jealousy or possessiveness, more of a concern. You both knew what that implied. You had always been careful not to talk about those feelings you both felt. Scared that it would complicate everything.

He used to try to make you stay at his apartment longer and longer, but of course you always had to return to the brothel. To make some money. To have sex with the men you hated and who disgusted you. Trying to make it bearable you were thinking of something else. You were thinking of Javi.

“Renuncia a tu trabajo” (quit your job),” he finally asked one day.

“No puedo, Javi” (I can’t, Javi)

The more weeks and months with Javi passed, the less you could bear to go back to the brothel. But what other choices did you have? Tears threatened to roll down your cheeks and you batted your eyelashes to try to hold them back.

“You could stay here, with me. You don’t need to go back.”

“You know I can’t. They would find me, and God knows what they would do to me.”

“I’ll protect you. You know I would never let anything happen to you.”

You hugged him as the tears fell, unable to hold them back any longer. You wanted to quit your job and stay with him, but it was impossible. They made sure to let you know what happened to the girls who tried to leave.

“Necesito sentirte dentro. Porfa, Javi.” (I need to feel you inside me, Javi. Please.)

He caressed your cheek and wiped your tears like only he knew how to do. He kissed you with his warm, luscious, caring lips. Soft and delicate. When he lay between your legs you wrapped them around his waist to feel him deeper. His nose brushed against yours, and he kissed your forehead. Your hips were leading a perfect slow dance. He rubbed himself against you in the way he was sure would make you cum. His eyes fixed on yours. The eyes of a man in love, and you started to cry again.

“Don’t cry, hermosa (beautiful). I’ll take care of you and you’ll never have to go back there. Do you trust me?”

You trusted him. With all your heart. You wiped your tears and took his cheeks in your hands.

“I do, Javi.”

He leaned towards you and kissed you, until you came on his shaft, your pussy squeezing him perfectly and making him moan, and you felt his jolts at each rope of cum, painting your walls.

You didn't go back, he took you to a safe house. He exfiltrated you.

And for several days, you only saw Javi.

That evening you laughed and the atmosphere was as light as a summer breeze. You looked at each other smiling like teenagers, and he kissed your hands. Then he held you tight against him. You felt safe and free.

Later that night, as your hips rolled while riding him, you leaned into him and said, “dame un beso” (give me a kiss).

He caressed your cheek as your hands ran through his hair and you kissed. You needed to feel him more. Deeper. You moved away from him and got on all fours, looking over your shoulder as his hands caressed your hips. He slipped into you, in one slow, deep thrust. No one had ever brushed your walls the way he did. Without brutality, without clumsiness, without impatience, without hurting you. Just in a perfect way, like he always knew what to do. Stroking your clit when you needed it, until you came on his cock. His torso enveloped your back and he kissed your skin, before quickly thrusting in to claim you, grunting. 

You just knew that you belonged to each other, in the healthiest, most beautiful way.

In the early morning, he kissed your forehead and lightly stroked your cheek to not wake you up, and left for the office.

In the afternoon, you heard a knock on the door, and thought Javi had forgotten his keys. Your hand grabbed the handle of the white door and you opened it without taking the time to think.

It wasn't Javi.

In the late afternoon, his colleagues told him that a hooker had been killed by sicarios. His heart sank and he almost puked, as if his gut instinctively knew who he would find there. When they lifted the sheet, he fell to his knees on the ground.

Your mutilated and bruised body lying on its back left no doubt about what you had suffered. What they had done to you.

He went back to his apartment and drank until he couldn't remember his name.

A few days later, he visited your grave and placed white flowers on it.

He thought about how he had kissed your forehead that morning. Not knowing that it would have been the last kiss he had ever given you.

“In my nothing, you meant everything to me”, he murmured.

When the memories finally faded, he realized Helena had already left his apartment.

During the following days he had been organizing surveillance in Medellin, with Carillo and Steve. Taking photos, watching the Sicarios arriving one by one at the hotel.

Hours passed without news of Helena, and worry tightened his heart. He couldn't relive that. He was consumed with anxiety.

When he finally found her, he shot the man who was abusing her. Rushed to cover her bruised body. He failed once again, even though he arrived in time for Helena, he wasn’t able to prevent what had happened to her. 

He thought of you, not a day he had not. He thought of all that could have been.

When he visited your grave, and saw that only his last faded bouquet was there, he couldn't hold back his tears.

“I can still feel you, even so far away” he breathed. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry…”

And he chose to let his anger consume him, rather than letting the tears flow. On his knees in the cemetery, he screamed. He was clenching his fists so hard that his knuckles were white.

He would dedicate his life to bringing them all down. Even if it meant falling with them. But one thing was sure: Gacha would fall before him.

***********

@janaispunk thank you for the inspiring mood board 🙏

Thank you for reading 🙏

Comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated ❤️

Follow @millafics and turn notifications on for fics updates

@littlemisspascal @pascalsanctuary @survivingandenduring

[zephyrspace]

even if you have a rosary, who will save you now?

gn!yuu, very short headcanons + scenarios

summary: yuu accepts that there is no way home and that the world will keep turning no matter what. with no worth to their name and no real purpose in this twisted wonderland, except for solving other people’ problems, they decide to stop caring.

cw: swearing, violence, blood. dm me if i’ve missed anything!

a/n: title is translated lyrics from the song US by ruby ibarra. imagine yuu as however and whoever you want!

“woe is me, prefect! i just have so much paperwork to do that i completely forgot about your weekly food allowance. however, to speed things up a bit, if you lend me a hand here, i could probably get the allowance before the end of next week!”

yuu slinks over to one of crowley’s stacks of paperwork and ruffles through it. not without noticing how some pages were completely blank, ‘probably to bulk up and exaggerate the stack,’ yuu thinks and their eye twitches.

crowley gulps at being caught. but neither of the two say anything about it.

“i’m sure at your grown age you’re supposed to be able to manage your time better than this, but of course i didn’t expect anything from you.” yuu throws the binded document carelessly over their shoulder and onto the floor.

“wha-”

“as a minor under your care, this kind of thing could be considered child labour and abuse. especially for not prioritising my allowance.”

“but, prefect-”

“in other words, this isn’t my problem, bird shit for brains. so, unless you want me to call whatever magical bullshit equivalent you have of child protective services you have in this world, go ahead, give me your work documents. i would be ever so happy to oblige.”

the prefect’s eyes were icy and the atmosphere in the office turned chilly. crowley attempts to smarten up and clears his throat.

“i will have the cheque ready before noon.”

looking down at crowley, yuu sends him a smile with no trace of warmth.

“that’s better.”

unhinged!yuu wouldn’t actively seek out to fight people unless students do it to them first, which is all the time. kind of like ‘i’m nice to you if you are to me. but the second i deem you an enemy, you’re done’ mindset.

those who knew and were ‘friends’ with yuu, didn’t believe in their newly acquired attitude at the beginning, but after a group decided it’d be funny to poke at yuu a bit during lunch, that’s when they realise that yuu was serious about not caring for anything at all.

“oi, magicless runt.”

taking a bite from their sandwich, yuu looks up at the senior holding a tray of food, “hm?”

“get up.” the senior’s friends behind him snicker.

“why?” they take another bite. ‘i wish adeuce and grim would hurry up with their food.’ yuu thinks.

“there’s no more seats.”

“mhm?”

“as your seniors, we get priority.” the senior’s smile widens.

“hm.” another bite. “ish that shou”

with crumbs and sauce at the corners of their lips, yuu wipes it off with their thumb and licks it. they gulp down the remainder of the sandwich.

“sorry, senior. but i don’t see that rule anywhere in the canteen.” they swipe off the leftover crumbs on their hands.

“i thought you’d might say that.”

the senior picks up a bowl from his tray and dumps soup onto yuu’s head.

it’s still boiling hot.

it hurts.

“scram, first year. before i do something worse-”

the senior is on the floor, on his knees and doesn’t realise blood is seeping from his nose until it drips onto the tile.

by now, the whole canteen is silent.

he doesn’t even get time to process what happened until he feels a shin connect with his side and launches him onto another nearby table, his legs dangling off the side, uniform ruined.

“why you-” one of his goonies attempt to throw a punch back at the prefect.

yuu grabs his wrist and used the momentum to throw the senior onto his back. he chokes on the impact.

the rest of the group stays at their spots. ‘smart choice,’ yuu scoffs.

the prefect walks over to the first senior lying against the now abandoned table and grabs whatever food was on the nearest plate and forcibly stuffs it into the senior’s mouth. a whole bread roll.

“oh, senior! i see you’ve found a table to sit at!” the senior had tears along his waterline from the gag reflex of having a whole roll of bread in his mouth.

yuu shoves the bread roll further down the seniors throat. twisting and turning it. the senior makes sounds of retching and pain. “although, preferably, it’d be better to sit on the seat rather than on the table, no?”

the senior could only nod at yuu’s words.

yuu pats his hair demeaningly.

“good boy.”

in essence, yuu becomes very assimilated to nrc. scarily so.

[jokeroutsubs]

[📝ENG Translation]: Souvenir Pop Through the Eyes of Joker Out Members

Original article written by Boštjan Tušek, published 27.11.2024 on 24ur. Photos by Miro Majcen. English translation by @kurooscoffee, review by drumbeat, proofread IG GBoleyn123.

Full translation under the cut 👇

We visited Joker Out in their rehearsal space, where the band members shared their thoughts on their new album and explained all the songs from their third full-length album, Souvenir Pop, in their own words. The album has already been released on digital platforms and CDs, and they are promising a vinyl edition as well.

About the Title SOUVENIR POP:

Bojan: We were sitting here in the rehearsal space, struggling to find a short, universally understandable way to summarise everything that happened to us during this time. After some serious thought, we realised that the music is essentially a collection of memories—“souvenirs”—that we’ve gathered. For the first time in our lives, we traveled so much and spent so much time away from home. Everything was very “pop,” and we lived out all the pop star dreams we used to admire. We shortened this journey into “pop,” making it a souvenir pop journey.

Photo: Joker Out recently unveiled their third album, Souvenir Pop. Together with Bojan, Kris, Jan, Nace, and Jure, we analysed all the songs on the album. PHOTO: Miro Majcen.

On the Cover Photo Taken in Bed:

Jure: The cover photo was born long before the album got its title. It was captured on the morning of the semifinals last May in Liverpool. We kept it under wraps for almost a year and a half. We liked it already back then and immediately thought it could one day work as an album cover. When we started looking for a cover, it still best reflected our feelings.

Bojan: It was taken on an iPhone during the filming of a promotional video, so basically a completely randomly captured moment.

On the “Circus” Surrounding Them Because of the New Album:

Kris: What's particularly noticeable is the mental and emotional fragmentation. The songs are quite diverse and colourful, and at first glance, they didn’t seem to belong on the same album. But as Bojan said, they remind us of fridge magnets, which perhaps reflects that we were “all over the place,” and that we were exploring ourselves on a broader musical, lyrical, and instrumental level than usual.

Nace: You can tell the songs are “hyped up” because we were in that mindset. Different things influence you, and it would have been quite different if we had stayed home for a month before that instead of being on tour.

PHOTO: Miro Majcen.

On Lack of Time:

Kris: We had to intentionally carve out time to write and record songs. We spent two months in London, a month in Hamburg, and last year we took a week in Kočevje to work on 'Everybody’s Waiting'. Carpe Diem took 14 days. We were maybe even under a bit of pressure, knowing we had to produce something.

On Three Languages on the Album:

Bojan: We spent a lot of time with all three languages; speaking, listening, and thinking in them. The stories naturally emerged in all three languages, and we didn’t resist that because it would have been truly foolish.

I see language as just another tool for conveying information, like how a specific guitar effect suits one song but not another.

PHOTO: Miro Majcen.

On Egos:

Bojan: Egos have to clash because they’re an important part of our drive. I wouldn’t say our egos fight; they occasionally disagree, but everything generally moves in the same direction—to create something the five of us like. We have a healthy dose of competitiveness, and we’ve never truly had a fight. We separate the person from the musician, which I think is important.

Kris: There was never much ego, but for this album, we threw out what little was left. On this record especially, we faced moments where someone else did something on your instrument that you should have done. But that opened new possibilities and ideas—a fresh perspective. This happened to all of us except Bojan with vocals.

Kris: Today, a friend sent me a message from Venice; they were playing 'Carpe Diem'. Last year, we made it onto the top 40 charts of a Lithuanian radio station. PHOTO: Miro Majcen.

Comments on the songs from the album SOUVENIR POP:

1. MUZIKA ZA DECU (Serbo-Croatian):

Bojan: When the idea came to me, I was thinking about how much I liked what was coming out of the speakers; quite grown up. Then I had a flash of cynicism and sarcasm: it’s all just for girls, for kids. Hence, “muzika za decu” (music for children). Initially, it was called Zlatna kosica (Golden hair), haha. I wrote the intro, then improvised the rest of the lyrics in Hamburg while we were playing it.

Nace: You might have changed two words.

Kris: The intro I play on guitar was originally done by Bojan on the piano. While recording, I was strumming along, imagining a piano intro. But when we listened to it later, everything felt so wrong that we started liking it. That’s how it stayed. We recorded it all together in one room, in one go.

Bojan: Žare was thrilled that he had to “clean up” the vocals (laughs), which we recorded in the kitchen.

Jure: This is one of the songs which features guest performers; a children’s choir at the end.

Nace: The kids from our crew and their relatives sang. The first group sang too in tune, so we recorded another group that was a bit less perfect. In the end, we combined the two recordings, and it turned out just right. There were about 15 to 20 kids altogether.

Jan: The guitar sound came from my Whammy pedal, which the producer Žare Pak didn’t always like, haha.

Nace: We have to commend Žare for producing in such a way that everything unnecessary is stripped away. He never hides anything like some other producers might.

PHOTO: Miro Majcen.

2. ŠTA BIH JA (Serbo-Croatian):

Kris: This was the first song we created in London. Within a week, we already had the structure, though it initially resembled Bijelo Dugme. Some elements were later removed.

Nace: Yeah, Žare came in and said, “Guys, this is unnecessary” (laughs).

Kris: His reaction was hilarious. When he heard it, he said, “Did I send you to the UK to make yugo music?!” (laughs). It was our first Balkan reaction to being foreigners in a foreign country, and it just poured out of us. Bojan already had the lyrics “šta bih ja u ovoj crnoj noći bez tebe radio” (what would I do in this dark night without you), and we recorded it.

Bojan: I actually prefer hearing my voice in Serbo-Croatian over Slovenian, the position of the voice seems more natural.

Jure: It's interesting how the colour of Bojan's voice changes with different languages, which is actually quite normal.

Kris: Yeah, Bojan, in a 'Balkan language,' your rocker alter ego comes out even more, I think.

PHOTO: Miro Majcen.

3. CARPE DIEM (Slovenian):

Bojan: This is the original souvenir. And pop. It’s hard to believe how one song can change everything for you like that. It’s literally just one of our songs; not necessarily better than the others, maybe not even one of my favourites. But as our Eurovision entry, it perfectly conveyed our message. The whole story and image of the band are captured in those three minutes. It’s an excellent channel for our energy, which got people to believe in us and become interested.

Kris: Today, a friend sent me a message from Venice; they played 'Carpe Diem' there. Last year, we were on the Lithuanian radio top 40 charts.

Bojan: The most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen in my life was when an older Mongolian singer and his band played and sang Carpe Diem live at a reception for our president, Nataša Pirc Musar, in Ulaanbaatar. We also received a recording from Zanzibar, where someone played it on a hotel terrace.

Bojan: I wouldn’t say our egos fight; they occasionally disagree, but everything generally moves in the same direction—to create something we all like. PHOTO: Miro Majcen.

4. STEPHANIE (English):

Bojan: Of course, Stephanie isn’t really Stephanie, but these are real people who exist.

Jure: I didn’t have any part in this one since there are no drums; everything is programmed (laughs).

Nace: Yeah, everything was done by Casio, haha.

Kris: For many songs, we had a sample beat to practice with, and in some cases, it stayed in the final version. 'Stephanie' is one of those songs as well.

5. AKO TOGA VIŠE NEČE BITI (Serbo-Croatian):

Bojan: You believe in Santa Claus until you realise he doesn’t exist. It’s the same with love; until something destroys everything so thoroughly that you simply stop believing in it. This is a song about very raw disappointment with love.

Nace: I’m in a long-term relationship, and when you leave home, it’s a sacrifice both partners make. In the spirit of it being good for both of you and your partner supports it, everything is okay.

Kris: Full respect to your partner for enduring how you went from ‘zero to a hundred’ in six months.

Nace: We have to commend Žare for producing in such a way that everything unnecessary is stripped away. PHOTO: Miro Majcen

6. BLUZA (Serbo-Croatian):

Bojan: I wrote 'Bluza' a long time ago, up to the chorus, about three years ago. For a long time, nothing happened with it until I presented it to the guys on an acoustic guitar. From there, it developed quickly, in a day or two. We even played it on tour before its release. Initially, it was more guitar-driven than it is now. The title, 'Bluza', literally just comes from the lyric “u ritmu tvoga bluza” (in the rhythm of your blues), but I quite like it.

Jan: A lot of our songs are titled after a phrase from the first verse that has no connection to the chorus.

Bojan: Similarly, back in university, my friends kept nagging me about 'Gola' (Naked), why we gave it that title, but nobody thought of the phrase “za naju” (for us), haha.

Kris: It’s probably because, during the creative process, we repeat the first part a lot, and that phrase naturally becomes the title.

Bojan: The story of a song always takes shape in the first verse.

PHOTO: Miro Majcen

7. LIPS (English):

Bojan: We heard there’s a lot of money in music for films, so the song sounds like an apocalyptic ballad (laughs). Initially, it was quite Franz Ferdinand-esque. We even considered a duet with a French singer but didn’t have a clear vision, so we dropped the idea. Later, Žare and I restructured it, and then Nace tied everything together into a cohesive piece.

Jure: The song went through quite a few iterations.

Nace: Originally, it was a completely different song called 'Je t'aime'.

PHOTO: Miro Majcen

8. MESTO DUHOV (Slovenian):

Bojan: Trumpeter Luka Ipavec collaborated on this track, adding trumpet parts to the choruses. We created it in England and named it after the street we were living on; it had quite a dark vibe. Initially, the song was about a girl who cheated on me, leading to my suicide. Then we introduced the “papapapa” part, creating an atmosphere of a funeral, a procession. When we decided the song should be in Slovenian, we tied it to how the current social climate feels incredibly negative overall. People are always ready to quickly react to something negative. It’s no longer pleasant to go outside; everything reflects the weight of what’s happening around us. There’s unfortunately an air of superficiality around us.

Jan: The solo came to life in Hamburg. Later, when we were finishing the songs, I had the idea to rhythmically slice the solo so that it spells out “baby boo” in Morse code.

Jan: A lot of our songs are titled after a phrase from the first verse that has no connection to the chorus. PHOTO: Miro Majcen

9. SONCE (Slovenian):

Jan: I play the keyboards on this one. Bojan had already outlined the song on guitar with chords. The idea was to create something orchestral, like in 'Novi val'. I, however, approached it differently and arranged the piano part. I showed Bojan a melody that, in my view, reflects the essence of the song.

Bojan: This song is a direct reaction to events in Palestine. It’s the story of a deceased son speaking to his mother. It’s undoubtedly the most emotionally heavy song on the album. The structure is also unconventional; no part repeats, and the chorus appears only once. Jan captured perfectly what the vocals are saying with his piano part. It’s like a haiku, a single thought; not a classic pop song. Jan nailed the final take on his first try.

Kris: We could quickly get stuck creatively if everyone only insisted on their own instruments. Many songs only broke through when someone pressed something different. There were many moments where we needed that kind of freshness.

PHOTO: Miro Majcen

10. EVERYBODY’S WAITING (English):

Kris: This was a song we didn’t know what to do with until Žare offered the most basic beat, and Jan started working with the Rhodes electric piano, which set the direction for the album.

Bojan: Jan picked up the Rhodes out of nowhere and according to Žare, he plays better than 90 percent of Slovenian keyboardists (laughs).

Kris: Žare’s modus operandi is to break your conventional thinking and enhance your intuition. He believes intuition is superior to thinking.

PHOTOS: Miro Majcen

[pedripics]

One to One: Pedri - Translation

How did the celebration for his dad come about?

“Well, one day we were at home, we were eating with the family, and I had the idea of doing something to dedicate the goals to my family, and because of my father’s glasses, well that came up.”

How are you?

“Good, good, very good. I haven’t felt this way for a long time and now I enjoy it.” - you are always smiling on the pitch! - “Yeah, that’s why. Because many times I wanted to be where I am now, and now that I am, I’m enjoying it.”

Of all the pics in the studio, Pedri chose the one of Puyol kissing the armband as his favourite

Most special match of your career? (question from Gerard Martin)

“Let’s see, my debut was special. It’s always special. Maybe my debut in the Champions League. But I will always remember my first game. Well, I also hope that it’s still to come. But the one that made me the most excited was my debut.”

And this season?

“The final against Madrid in the Supercopa. And on a personal level, I think I played very well against Atlético Madrid.”

What did Hansi Flick give to you?

“Well, I think for players confidence is very important. And what Flick conveys to you is a lot of confidence. He transmits that he trusts you a lot and so you know what you are capable of doing. And well, that helped me. Also the issue of injuries. It’s a thing that’s left in the past and I have that continuity. And like I said before, I am enjoying it.”

Is this best season of your career so far?

“Well, so far yes. Then it has to be reflected in titles, which is the most important thing. But yeah, it’s one of the seasons I feel the most comfortable in. The first one, I think I also had a good season. But yes, so far yes.”

Without the current one, which was your best and your worst season?

“Not counting the one now, I think the best was the first one. Because apart from the fact that everything was new to me, I managed to adapt very well, very quickly and very simple, because I had been watching Barça for many years. And the worst, I think the second, because of the injuries, because as I recovered from the first, I suffered from another.”

How does it affect you? How do you get out of that loop?

“It’s complicated, because in the beginning, well, as you say, you are injured. I’m already recovering and that’s it. And then when you relapse and those injuries keep happening to you, you don’t know what to do, what to stop doing, or what’s wrong in your life to change it. You try to change a lot of things and I think it’s been a process that I have had to change throughout my life. But hey, it’s a process that happened, I’ve learned a lot and now I am enjoying it again.”

How did all the noise around it affect you?

"You try to isolate yourself from what people say, but if you don't hear it yourself, other people say it to you, that you go out partying, that you don't work hard in the gym…. It's a lie, you don't have to give it importance, but it affects you. I train the same, I have changed the way, but not the time I dedicate to it".

Rest?

“I prefer to play for half an hour every week and in every match, rather than resting by not participating in matches at all.”

How hard is it to overcome mental struggles?

“Yeah, I think a player when he gets into that loop of struggles, it’s hard to get out. But I was able to and now I am happy! That’s it. I am happy, looking forward to continuing to enjoy it and to play.”

To what extent have Hansi and his staff helped you?

“Well, I think the people who came into the gym, the way they train, I am doing much better. We managed to nail it with the physios, conditioning and such, with what’s best for my body, what is better to train for me personally, and I think they have a lot to do with that.”

About the Fantasy League

“I stopped playing, man. I had me and I had Raphinha. They took Raphinha from me, they took me… So I stopped playing. My friends take it very serious. They say no mega clauses or anything.”

Doncic NBA drama

“I wasn’t expecting it. I don’t think anyone expected it, but together with LeBron they could do nice things.”

About his renewal:

“The club wanted it, I wanted it, and then it’s easy for everything to happen. They spoke, they more or less agreed and everyone was happy. “

Did you expect to wear this jersey until 2030?

“No, I didn't expect it. I didn’t even expect next years not to have a number. When I arrived here, at first I was sleeping in a hotel, I was staying at there with my brother and I was always telling him: "Wow, I had a good training session, I hope I get lucky and stay here." We talked about it a lot, until Koeman came to tell me that I was staying. And from that day until today, everything changed.”

You’re already a veteran. Do you feel like it?

“I am already worn out mate (laughs). Yes it’s true that there are a lot of young people and for the length I’ve been at the club now, maybe I am a veteran. Not by age, but by time at club. And yes, inside the locker room I feel like I have weight, that I am someone important, but in that locker room you cannot be too serious either. The secret is to have a good time both inside and outside. We are always smiling and I think that comes through later when it comes to playing.”

About fans enjoying to see them play

“Yeah, I think the fans enjoy it because we’re enjoying it on the pitch. We try and make it a show for the people who go to the games. And when we win, it’s even better. In games like against Atlético when we lost, people were happy with the way the team played.”

About Pedro

“As a kid, I always cheered him on, because he was from home, from the same place, and I was lucky to be able to meet him. He is a great guy, very funny, like a good Canarian. As a player, there’s nothing that people don’t already know. He is spectacular. How he played, how he dribbled, how he scored goals with both feet. I really enjoyed watching him.”

About his nickname Pedri Potter

“I’ve never seen Harry Potter, really. They always call me Pedri Potter, but I’ve never seen it to be honest.”

What is the future at the club?

“Well, I, from what I see, I think it’s going to be a good future, I think we have a good team. Personally, I hope to continue enjoying football, in the end, that’s what every player wants. Let’s win titles, it’s what Barça needs.”

About the season so far

“I think playing like we are, we’re on the right track to get titles. And well this year, why not?We’ve already won one, we are alive in all the others, so why not go for them all?”

What did it mean to you to be captain?

“It was in El Sadar. Also last year in the Champions League. If someone would’ve told me as a kid, I wouldn’t have believed them. I’d say ‘you’re crazy’. But it’s a pride. I think, already just being at Barça for me has always been the best. Imagine wearing the captains armband.”

Barça’s style seems to suit you

“Yeah, I always saw it when I was little and I was trying to learn from it. And well, I guess something about watching so many games has stayed. And well, that’s a lot of my father’s fault as well, who’s a lifelong Barça fan, I always supported Barça and we always watched the games together.”

About his family

“Without my family, without my father, my mother and my brother, I think it would’ve been impossible to get to where I am today. I hope they will be by my side, safe and sound, for everything that is still to come. Enjoying it with them is the best.”

Is the Liga still alive?

“People, when we lose two or three games, and they get a few points ahead… But yeah, it’s true that we messed up a bit. But hey, there are a lot of games left, a lot of points at stake and if we win the rest of the season, I am sure we can be champions.”

Can we dream of la sexta?

“Well, why not? Dreaming is always free. But hey, it’s true that in other years it was complicated. In the big games we usually didn’t play a good match, we didn’t usually win. I think this year it’s been the complete opposite. I think in the big games we’re showing what we can do, we’re playing good games, dominating them and winning them.”

What is Pedri like in victory and in defeat?

“Depends on what you’re playing. But if it’s in football, Pedri in victory is very happy, very happy. And in defeat, so angry. Mostly, I get angry with myself, if I could’ve done anything else, if i could have improved, maybe changed something in what I had done. And then I try to find solutions for myself and for the team.”

[nicks-den]

Bokura no Sonzai wo Kike (2022)

Continuation to Minna Bakayarou Da which I posted a few weeks ago. I finished most of the lines a while back, but I've been stuck on some lines since this movie is even harder to hear than the prequel short.

Synopsis: Set a year later, Sousuke and Satoru, both 19 years old, are now rounin (high school graduates who didn't get into university and are waiting for another shot). They're both attending a prep school for university until someone from their past emerges and causes conflict and unraveling of the past.

This film won several awards in Japan on independent film festivals, so I hope you enjoy watching. By the way, I gave this the title "Hear Our Presence" because it fits very well with the theme.

Download raw and subs here:

Mega | Google drive

Steam here.

After watching, you might want to read some explanation about Japanese university admission system below the cut that I forgot to do for the prequel short.

Since the two leads are both rounin now, it's implied that Satoru failed the general examination - this is the examination that most students want to take to get into university, and Sousuke failed to get in with the recommendation of his high school (if he even attempted to go through with it).

The different types of entrance examination to get into university are quite complicated in Japan and highly depend on whether the university is private or public and on the university/school itself. There were also several changes that happened in 2021 that changed up the terms, but I'll briefly explain some different types using the older terms. These are by no means official translations (I'm not aware if any official translations even exist for something like this).

There are three main ways students get admitted into university - general entrance examination based on test scores (一般入試 - ippan nyuushi), recommendation-based examination with its two main types depending on circumstances (推薦入試 - suisen nyuushi), and a comprehensive (all-encompassing) selection (総合型選抜 - sougou gata senbatsu, formerly known as AO nyuushi / AO入試) which focuses on evaluation in different ways, but I don't want to go into details for that one because it can be quite complex.

Now let's get into the two types of recommendations. In Japanese, it's designated school recommendation (指定校推薦 - shiteikou suisen) and open/public recommendation (公募推薦 - koubo suisen). The designated school recommendation is usually done by private universities and only students from select high schools can apply for it, so the competition is smaller. They are restricted, but have a high acceptance rate, while the open recommendation is less restricted and open to all who meet the conditions, but the competition can be high and students need to promote themselves, with a focus on not just the grades. In any case, the student still needs to go through the process to get accepted despite the recommendation from the principal, so the interview itself determines whether the applicant gets accepted or not. It's often accompanied by an essay as well.

In this movie, Sousuke can no longer be recommended by his senior high school since he graduated, so he's doing self-recommendation (in Japanese: 自己推薦 - jiko suisen). So what's the difference? Not much, it just means he doesn't need the recommendation from his high school. This admission focuses a lot on the individuality of the applicant, not just their grades like the general examination would. The benefit would be less competition as with general examination, and having extracurricular activities would be a bonus. Usually, you'd write a self-recommendation document, an essay on a certain topic and do the interview for this type of admission/examination.

[royallyprincesslilly]

Lewis Hamilton Masterlist

Here is my long-awaited and asked-for masterlist for all my Lewis Hamilton fics thus far. As a warning, there is a HELL OF A LOT here. WOW, and I am sure there will be a hell of a lot more to be added.

Thank you ALL for reading, liking, and reblogging. I appreciate the reception and the love more than you know. ❤️

✧*.。:。✧*.:。✧*✧*.。:。✧*.:。

Things To Know:

-I'm Lilly you may call me that or Lee.

-There is a psychologically proven link between content interaction and content creation. Simply, the more interaction with something (content) or someone, the more content is produced. {Wink, Wink}

-If you are sensitive to angst or erotica this may be an uncomfortable, high blood pressure-inducing, hedonistic place for you. LOL.

-Pay attention to my warnings section.

-My content is meant for individuals 18 and older. If you are under 18 please DO NOT INTERACT.

-Do NOT reproduce, or translate any of my work on any platform. I do not consent to that. Also, DO NOT steal what I write. That's an a$$hole thing to do.

-YOU are responsible for managing what content you consume. NOT ME. Heed warnings that open the stories.

✧*.。:。✧*.:。✧*✧*.

Content Meter:

*Mentions of NSFW content. Not explicit or even detailed.

**Half of the work is NSFW and recommended to be read at YOUR discretion. Can be explicit and/or detailed.

***Most of the work is NSFW. Don't read this at work, or around others you might feel embarrassed with them knowing you're freaky. Very detailed, and very explicit.

****Pure Filth. Don't read this anywhere not private unless you can handle the consequences. All the details, no limits on explicit content. This is NOT "wham, bam thank you, ma'am". There is work being put in!

✧*.。:。✧*.:。✧*✧*.

Oh, one more thing! Did you know, I take commissions? I do! So have something you want just for you? Send a DM and let's talk about it!

One last thing! My writing takes time, care, energy, and an endless well of creativity. It's as fun for me to write it as it is for you to read it. So, if would like to show your monetary support, appreciation, and or like for me and what I create here, check out my Ko-Fi and CashApp links in my bio.

Thank you in advance for the love. ❤️❤️

✧*.。:。✧*.:。✧*✧*.

Series/Mini-Series

-If This Is Love Mini-Series {COMPLETED}

Lewis Hamilton x Mercedes Owner Daughter Reader

Title: If This Is Love--

Summary: Against your better judgement, you allowed Lewis to woo you. For 10 months he chased you with more determination than a starving wolf. You finally gave in and found happiness and what you thought was love. Thought is the operative word as you stare at the pictures from his week in Antarctica, pictures that show you definitely had been made a fool of.

{1}-If This Is Love, I Don't Want It | {2}-If This Is Love, You Need To Prove It | {3}-If This Is Love, You Need To Mean It | {4}-If This Is Love, You Gotta Ride For Me | {5}-If This Is Love, It’s Forever

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

-A Long Time Coming Mini-Series {COMPLETED}

Lewis Hamilton x Best Friend Reader

Title: A Long Time Coming

Summary: After a long, grueling and stressful 2023 season where Lewis dominated and showed the world once again why he was the best at what he does. He walks away with his 8th championship title and plans with his closest and bestest for some much-needed R&R.

{1} | {2}* | {3}***

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

-What We Did In The Dark Series {ONGOING}

Lewis Hamilton x Reader

Title: What We Did In The Dark

Summary: Neither of you planned any of it. You’d met by chance, and everything that happened after had to have been predestined. There was no way blazing passion like what was between you was something coincidental.

{1}**** | {2}* | {3} | {4} | {5}....(Coming Soon)

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

-3P Series {ONGOING}

Lewis Hamilton x Famous Singer Reader x Aaron Pierre

Title: 3P

Summary:“Sharing is caring”, “The more the merrier”, “Love knows no bounds”. There are so many quotes that circulate that can be tied to love and relationships. Two of the many you like happens to be “Two is better than one” and “The more the merrier”. Now it wasn’t like you particularly and purposely went out your way to collect men. That wasn’t the case at all. It’s just that there were two gorgeous faces in the sea of bodies at Coachella that you couldn’t decide which you wanted more. So you decided why choose. That was 4 months ago and now everything was much more complicated than you’d ever intended.

{1} | {2}...(Coming Soon)

{More To Come...}

✧*.。:。✧*.:。✧*✧*

One,Two, & Three Shots

-Trauma: Hysteria | Trauma 2: (Coming Soon)

-Wasted Time | Wasted Love | Wasted 3: (Coming Soon)

-Forever Mine***

-She Calls Me Daddy Now***

-Everybody Else Is No. 2***

-You First***

-Message My Heart

-Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You**

-Stake My Claim*

-Plus Baby Makes Three**

-Love Will Remember***

-Thirsty Or Parched**

-Just Do It

-One Night****

-True Peace***

-Book Trap {Social Media Collection}**

-Lil' Love*

-4am Drunk Calls**

-Show Me**

-Ion't Even Need 7 Minutes***

-Taste The Rainbow***

-Forever & Ever & Ever & Ever--But Not Right Now**

-Morning Voice {Headcannon}**

-1, 2, 3 {SongFic}***

-It'll Be Fun They Said {Social Media AU}

-Trick Or Treat {Headcannon}

-Forgive Me, I Am A Sinner {Any Celeb}** | No Saints Here...(Coming Soon)

-Going Once, Going Twice (Coming Soon)

-Once Bitten | Twice Shy | Thrice My Lady... (Coming Soon)

-Distraction... (Coming Soon)

-Unruly.... (Coming Soon)

-Slip Of The Tongue.... (Coming Soon)

-Do That Again.... (Coming Soon)

-R&R.... (Coming Soon)

-You Make Me Want.... (Coming Soon)

-Grown Folks Thangs... (Coming Soon)

-Truth Is.... (Coming Soon)

-Behind The Mask | Behind Closed Doors | Underneath Your Clothes | Behind The Name.... (Coming Soon)

-When It Hits Hard.... (Coming Soon)

-Lil' Princess.... (Coming Soon)

✧*.。:。✧*.:。✧*✧*.

[pikahlua]

MHA Chapter 408 spoilers translations

This week’s initial tentative super rough/literal translations under the cut.

1 "与一"と名付けたのは自分に最初に与えられたものだったからだ "よいち"となづけたのはじぶんにさいしょにあたえられたものだったからだ "Yoichi" to nadzuketa no wa jibun ni saisho ni ataerareta mono datta kara daHe named [his brother] "Yoichi" because [his brother] was the first thing given to him.

tagline 1 自分のものにならないのなら… じぶんのものにならないのなら… jibun no mono ni naranai no nara... If he won't become his...

tagline 2 No.408　努努‼︎GANRIKI　堀越耕平 ナンバー408　ゆめゆめ‼︎がんりき　ほりこしこうへい NANBAA 408  yumeyume!! ganriki   Horikoshi Kouhei No. 408 Relentless eyes*!!  Kouhei Horikoshi (*Note: This chapter title is as interesting as it is incomprehensible. "Yumeyume" is a word that means basically "more, extra, whatever it is but PLUS ULTRA," and "ganriki" is something of a meme Horikoshi loves and uses a lot in MHA that refers to eyes bright and extra detailed to the point of being distracting or over-defined. It can refer to the eyes or even just the "power within the eyes" or one's gaze. All together it's basically just some nebulous sort of concept of eyes that are bright/sharp with dreams or effort or toil or just EYES, BUT EXTRA.)

3 弟が彼の元を去ってから おとうとがかれのもとをさってから otouto ga kare no moto wo satte kara Since his younger brother had left him,

4 約２ヵ月が経っていた やく２ヵげつがたっていた yaku 2kagetsu ga tatte ita about 2 months have passed.

1 所有物を奪った青年と目が合うも おとうとをうばったせいねんとめがあうも otouto (kanji: shoyuubutsu) wo ubatta seinen to me ga au mo He met eyes with the young man who stole his younger brother (read as: property), but

2 彼の眼球は生まれつき薄膜が張ったように艶がないので かれのがんきゅうはうまれつきうすまくがはったようにつやがないので kare no gankyuu wa umaretsuki usumaku ga hatta you ni tsuyaganai no his eyeballs were lackluster from birth, as if they were covered with a thin film, so

3 その瞳に青年が映り込む事はなかった そのひとみにせいねんがうつりこむことはなかった sono hitomi ni seinen ga utsurukomu koto wa nakatta the young man was not reflected in those eyes.

1 僕が「与えた」筈の異能が消えていた ぼくが「あたえた」はずのいのうがきえていた boku ga 「ataeta」 hazu no inou ga kiete ita The meta ability I definitely gave him had disappeared.

2 「他人から奪ったモノ」「隷属させる為に奪ったモノ」はいらないと拒み続けた与一に無理矢理与えた力… 「ひとからうばったモノ」「れいぞくさせるためにうばったモノ」はいらないとこばみつづけたあいつにむりやりあたえたちから… 「hito (kanji: tanin) kara ubatta MONO」 「reizoku saseru tame ni ubatta MONO」 wa iranai to kobami tsudzuketa aitsu (kanji: Yoichi) ni muriyari ataeta chikara... The power he forcibly gave Yoichi, who kept refusing, saying he didn't need "something taken from others" or "something stolen in order to enslave"...

3 こんな事は今までなかった こんなことはいままでなかった konna koto wa ima made nakatta This sort of thing has never happened until now.

1 いや…与一に"異能"がないのは僕の力で確認している いや…よいちに"いのう"がないのはぼくのちからでかくにんしている iya...Yoichi ni "inou" ga nai no wa boku no chikara de kakunin shite iru No...I'm confirming with my power that Yoichi does not have any meta abilities.

2 自我も芽生えぬ頃に「奪った」かと思っていたが… じがもめばえぬころに「うばった」かとおもっていたが… jiga mo mebaenu koro ni 「ubatta」 ka to omotte ita ga... I thought I stole it before I even had a sense of self, but...

3 僕の"異能"が認識できぬ程に小さく機能しないゴミが検査で見つかった ぼくの"いのう"がにんしきできぬほどにちいさくきのうしないゴミがけんさでみつかった boku no "inou" ga ninshiki dekinu hodo ni chiisaku kinou shinai GOMI ga kensa de mitsukatta I found upon inspection a piece of trash that was too small to be recognized by my meta ability.

4 形成時の栄養不足によって形にならなかった因子のようなもの… けいせいじのえいようぶそくによってかたちにならなかったいんしのようなもの… keiseiji no eiyou busoku ni yotte katachi ni naranakatta inshi no you na mono... Something like a factor that did not take shape due to lack of nutrition during its formation...

5 まさか…動いたのか…？ まさか…うごいたのか…？ masaka...ugoita no ka...? It can't be... Did it move...?

6 リーダーあの敗戦の時ーー リーダーあのはいせんのときーー RIIDAA ano haisen no toki-- "Leader, at the time of that defeat--"

7 AFOには触られてないんだよな？ オール・フォー・ワンにはさわられてないんだよな？ OORU FOO WAN ni wa sawararetenainda yo na? "you weren't touched by All For One, right?"

8 しつこいなブルース shitsukoi na BURUUSU "You're so obstinate, Bruce."

9 結果だけ伝えろ けっかだけつたえろ kekka dake tsutaero "Just tell me the results."

10 「あの日以降全身に違和感」…よく気付いたよ… 「あのひいこうぜんしんにいわかん」…よくきづいたよ… 「ano hi ikou zenshin ni iwakan」...yoku kidzuita yo... "You noticed it well...how since that day something's felt out of place all over your body..."

11 因子が２つある… いんしが２つある… inshi ga 2tsu aru... "You have two factors..."

12 生来のものと…出来損ないのような小さいものが せいらいのものと…できそこないのようなちいさいものが seirai no mono to...dekisokonai no you na chiisai mono ga "Your innate one, and...a small, seemingly useless* one." (Note: FYI this term, "dekisokonai," is the word Izuku uses in DvK1 to tell Katsuki that his "Deku" name won't always mean "useless.")

1 ……なんとなくそうじゃないかと思ってた ……なんとなくそうじゃないかとおもってた ......nantonaku sou ja nai ka to omotteta "......Somehow, I was thinking that was the case."

2 与えた"異能"が消えたのは…足りない部分を補う為に取り込み…「奪った」…！ あたえた"いのう"がきえたのは…たりないぶぶんをおぎなうためにとりこみ…「うばった」…！ ataeta "inou" ga kieta no wa...tarinai bubun wo oginau tame ni torikomi...「ubatta」...! The [reason] the meta ability I gave him disappeared...was because he took it in to make up for the missing part... [He] stole it...!

3 僕は兄さんを止められなかった ぼくはにいさんをとめられなかった boku wa niisan wo tomerarenakatta "I couldn't stop my older brother."

4 僕を生かしてくれた ぼくをいかしてくれた boku wo ikashite kureta "[You]* kept me alive." (*Note: Yoichi is likely speaking to AFO in this frame as implied by the art.)

5 他人が玩具やゲームにしか見えてない ひとがおもちゃやゲームにしかみえてない hito (kanji: tanin) ga omocha ya GEEMU ni shika mietenai "He saw other people as nothing more than toys or games."

6 もしほんの少しでも他人を思い遣れていたらーーーー もしほんのすこしでもひとをおもいやれていたらーーーー moshi hon no sukoshi demo hito (kanji: tanin) wo omoiyarete itara---- "If [you]* could be even a little considerate of other people----" (*Note: Yoichi is likely speaking to AFO in this frame as implied by the art.)

7 俺の中に与一の意志が おれのなかによいちのいしが ore no naka ni Yoichi no ishi ga "Yoichi's will is inside me."

8 まだ在るのか まだあるのか mada aru no ka "So it still exists?"

1 与えるも奪うも あたえるもうばうも ataeru mo ubau mo "Whether giving or taking away,"

2 世界一優しい力になったかもしれないのに せかいいちやさしいちからになったかもしれないのに sekai ichi yasashii chikara ni natta kamo shirenai noni "it might have become the kindest power in the world."

3 涙を出せば狼狽させられるから出した なみだをだせばろうばいさせられるからだした namida wo daseba roubai saserareru kara dashita If I shed tears it would make me flustered, so I shed them.

4-8 嫌がる事と望んでいる事を操り貶めそうやって手中に収めてきた いやがることとのぞんでいることをあやつりおとしめそうやってしゅちゅうにおさめてきた iyagaru koto to nozonde iru koto wo ayatsuri otoshime sou yatte shuchuu ni osamete kita I took possession of that which I hate and that which I desire through manipulation and degradation.

9 なのにおまえは nanoni omae wa But you

10 思い通りにならない おもいどおりにならない omoidoori ni naranai did not go the way I wanted.

11-12 ただ欲しいだけなのに ただほしいだけなのに tada hoshii dake nanoni I only* want [you], but (*Note: He's not saying he wants Yoichi and nothing else but that the only thing he feels is desire in this situation. You could read the "only" here as "simply" to have it make better sense.)

13 追っても おっても ottemo even though I chase

14 追っても おっても ottemo and I chase,

1 すり抜けていく すりぬけていく surinukete iku [you] slip through the cracks.

1 おまえのせいだ omae no sei da "It's because of you,"

2 駆藤‼︎ くどう‼︎ Kudou!! "Kudou!!"

3 駆藤！奴の血縁は絶やした！それだけじゃない奴に近しかった女も子どもも疑わしきは全て！ くどう！やつのけつえんはたやした！それだけじゃないやつにちかしかったおんなもこどももうたがわしきはすべて！ Kudou! yatsu no ketsuen wa tayashita! sore dake ja nai yatsu ni chikashikatta onna mo kodomo mo utagawashiki wa subete! Kudou! I eradicated his blood relatives! Not only them, but all the women and children and anyone suspicious who were close to him!

4 もし奴の血ならばーーー もしやつのちならばーーー moshi yatsu no chi naraba--- If [Bakugou] has that guy's blood---

5 あの時何か感じるものがあった筈！ あのときなにかかんじるものがあったはず！ ano toki nani ka kanjiru mono ga atta hazu! I surely would have felt something back then!

1 ー眼が！あの時はまだその眼じゃなかった‼︎ ーめが！あのときはまだそのめじゃなかった‼︎ -me ga! ano toki wa mada sono me ja nakatta!! --His eyes! Back then, he didn't have those eyes yet!!

2 ただの空似だ ただのそらにだ tada no sorani da It's just an accidental resemblance.

3 だが今確かに駆藤に似た意志が だがいまたしかにあのおとこににたいしが daga ima tashika ni ano otoko (kanji: Kudou) ni nita ishi ga But right now, there is certainly a will similar to that man's (read as: Kudou's)

4 時空を超えて じくうをこえて jikuu wo koete transcending space and time, and

5 僕を阻んでいるのだ‼︎ ぼくをはばんでいるのだ‼︎ boku wo habande iru no da!! it's blocking me!!

1 "ワープ"で強制的に引き剥がそうにも転送可能ポイントは "ワープ"できょうせいてきにひきはがそうにもてんそうかのうポイントは "WAAPU" de kyouseiteki ni hiki hagasou ni mo tensou kanou POINTO wa Even if I were to forcibly remove him with a warp, the transferable points are

2 すぐ近くのオールマイトか弔の位置しかない…！ すぐちかくのオールマイトかとむらのいちしかない…！ sugu chikaku no OORU MAITO ka Tomura no ichi shika nai...! only the positions of nearby All Might or Tomura...!

3 これ以上交戦し体を小さくするわけにはいかない‼︎ これいじょうこうせんしからだをちいさくするわけにはいかない‼︎ kore ijou kousen shi karada wo chiisaku suru wake ni wa ikanai!! I can't afford to engage in battle any more than this and make my body smaller!!

4 弔の元に辿り着いても とむらのもとにたどりついても Tomura no moto ni tadori tsuitemo Even if I reach where Tomura is,

5 彼は既に僕を拒否しているのだ争いは必至 かれはすでにぼくをきょひしているのだあらそいはひっし kare wa sude ni boku wo kyohi shite iru no da arasoi wa hisshi he has already refused me. A fight is inevitable.

6 "譲渡"を成立させる為余力を残しておかねばならない "じょうと"をせいりつさせるためよりょくをのこしておかねばならない "jouto" wo seiritsu saseru tame yoryoku wo nokoshite okaneba naranai I must leave enough energy to make the transfer happen.

7 …と思っていたがもういい… …とおもっていたがもういい… ...to omotte ita ga mou ii... "...or so I thought, but enough..."

8 おまえを殺すのもゴールも譲渡も… おまえをころすのもゴールもじょうとも… omae wo korosu no mo GOORU mo jouto mo... "I'll kill you, [reach my] goal, and [do the] transfer..."

9 一括だ いっかつだ ikkatsu da "all at once."

1 来る くる kuru "[Here it] comes."

2 全因解放 ぜんいんかいほう zen'in kaihou Unleash all factors

3 "全ては一つの目的の為に" "オール・フォー・ワン" "OORU FOO WAN (kanji: subete wa hitotsu no mokuteki no tame ni)" "All for the sake of one goal (read as: All For One)"

1 押し通る おしとおる oshitooru "I'll push through."

2 あの膨大なエネルギーを推進力に…⁉︎ あのぼうだいなエネルギーをすいしんりょくに…⁉︎ ano boudai na ENERUGII wo suishinryoku ni...!? "He's using that huge amount of energy for propulsion...!?"

3 一気に総取りするつもりだ…！ いっきにそうどりするつもりだ…！ ikki ni soudori suru tsumori da...! "He plans to take everything all at once...!"

4 ……赤ん坊にまで戻るぞ！賭けに出たか！ ……あかんぼうにまでもどるぞ！かけにでたか！ ......akanbou ni made modoru zo! kake ni deta ka! ......He'll return to being a baby! He's taking a gamble!

5 避けろ少年ン!!! よけろしょうねんン!!! yokero shounenN!!! "Dodge, young man!!!"

6 バカがてめえんなもん BAKA ga temeenna mon "You really are such an idiot."

7 勝てるわけねーだろ かてるわけねーだろ kateru wake nee daro "There's no way you can win."

tagline しかし、確かに、希望を見据えてーー しかし、たしかに、きぼうをみすえてーー shikashi, tashika ni, kibou wo misuete-- However, certainly, looking toward hope--

[caitified]

secret

sabrina ionescu x reader

warnings:none

for the person who requested sabrina in a hidden relationship! hope it’s okay that they’re teammates.

the season had started with a promise, the new york liberty ready to make a mark in the wnba. sabrina ionescu, the team’s shining star, had quickly become a leader both on and off the court. but behind the scenes, there was another story unfolding—one that neither she nor you had anticipated.

from the moment you joined the liberty, you felt an undeniable connection with sabrina. it was the little things—the way she would catch your eye during practice, the subtle touches when you passed each other, and the shared laughter that echoed through the gym. you tried to keep it professional, knowing how intense the scrutiny of fans and media could be, but your chemistry was electric, making it nearly impossible to ignore.

“we should probably keep this on the down-low,” sabrina said one evening after a particularly long practice, the two of you sitting on the floor of the empty gym, legs stretched out in front of you. her hair was damp from sweat, and there was a softness in her eyes that made your heart race.

“i agree,” you replied, a mix of excitement and apprehension swirling inside you. “it’s just… hard, you know? pretending like nothing’s going on when it feels like everything is.”

sabrina smiled, reaching over to squeeze your hand gently. “i know. but we’ve got a season to focus on. the championship is our goal.”

as the weeks passed, you both navigated the ups and downs of the season, all while keeping your relationship a secret. you were always careful to maintain your distance during team events and practices, but the fleeting moments when you were alone felt like stolen treasures.

the liberty’s games became your sanctuary, the energy of the crowd and the adrenaline of competition a welcome distraction. still, you couldn’t help but notice the way fans began to piece things together. whispers of a connection between you and sabrina floated through social media, the occasional tweet or post speculating about your friendship. you both brushed it off, convincing yourselves that it was just fan speculation.

“it’s just a coincidence,” sabrina said during a team dinner, her eyes darting around the table to make sure no one was listening. “people are just looking for drama.”

“yeah, drama that we’re feeding them by sneaking kisses in the locker room,” you teased, trying to lighten the mood. sabrina chuckled but her smile faded as she looked around, still wary of being caught.

as the season progressed, you both put your all into every game, the chemistry on the court translating into victories that fueled your determination. but with every win, the scrutiny intensified. fans were quick to capture your interactions, posting clips of sabrina’s lingering glances or the way you leaned in to whisper something during huddles.

“i think they’re onto us,” you admitted one night, sprawled across your bed while sabrina sat next to you, scrolling through social media. “look at this thread.” you pointed to your phone screen, where fans were dissecting every little thing.

sabrina sighed, her brows furrowing. “we’ll figure it out. right now, we just need to stay focused.”

but as the championship game approached, the tension was palpable. both of you could feel it in the air, a mix of excitement and anxiety. the liberty had made it to the finals, and everything was on the line. in the locker room before the game, sabrina caught your eye, her expression serious.

“no matter what happens tonight, just know that i’m so grateful for you,” she said, her voice low but full of emotion.

“me too, sab,” you replied, a smile spreading across your face. “we’ve come this far together.”

the game was intense, each possession filled with adrenaline. the crowd roared, the atmosphere electric as the liberty fought for the title. as the final seconds ticked down, the arena erupted into cheers, and you jumped up, pure elation coursing through you.

after the final buzzer, sabrina was mobbed by her teammates, but all you could think about was her. as she broke free from the celebration, she scanned the crowd until her eyes found yours. in that moment, everything else faded away. sabrina rushed over, her face glowing with joy.

“we did it!” she shouted, pulling you into a tight embrace. you could feel the warmth radiating from her, and for the first time all season, you didn’t care about the whispers. you leaned in and pressed your lips against hers, the kiss filled with all the passion and secrecy you had held back for so long.

the world around you blurred into a haze of cheers and confetti, but in that moment, it was just you and her. when you finally pulled away, the realization of what you had just done sank in. the fans around you had witnessed everything, their phones capturing the moment that would ignite the rumors into a full blaze.

“well, there goes our secret,” you said with a nervous laugh, your heart racing as you glanced around at the wide-eyed fans.

sabrina’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “let them talk,” she said confidently.

the celebration continued, and as the team gathered for photos, you and sabrina stood close together, her arm draped protectively around your shoulders. you felt free, ready to face the prying eyes of the world, with the person you loved most.

as always, thanks for reading. leave me some requests!

[noforkingclue]

Hey, I hope you're having a great day. If it's alright (and if I haven't done so already. I don't think i have but i can't remember) request and Indiana jones x reader which involves the following dialogue "Why don't YOU translate and I'll wave the gun around"

Yeah I'm doing well! I have the week off work so I'm going to be chilling, writing and catching up on some of my crafting projects. Hope you're doing well :D

Title: Shots

“Fucking hell,” you shouted over the hail of bullets, “I thought you said that you had dealt with them.”

“I had,” snapped back Indy, “and don’t swear.”

“Why? Because ladies shouldn’t swear.”

“No,” Indy gritted his teeth and reloaded his gun, “because I want you to stop talking and focus on translating.”

You just rolled your eyes and turned your attention back to the inscriptions. Damn Indy for turning up on your doorstep late at night. He had another mad idea and just had to drag you along. You knew you should’ve said no. Things always ended badly when you and Indy went adventuring together. Either the two of you getting shot at or ending up in bed together.

And after last time you swore the latter would never happen again.

Which only left being shot at.

“How much longer are you going to be?” shouted Indy

“Why? Running out of bullets?”

When Indy didn’t give you a smart-arse response you looked over at him incredulously.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” you said

Immediately Indy was by your side. He jabbed you in the chest and you sat down on the ground and leant against the wall.

“Keep your voice down,” he said, “or do you want them to know about their advantage?”

“Tell you what, Doctor Jones,” you hissed, “why don’t you translate and I’ll wave the gun around? You never know, I might end up hitting something.”

“Someone,” snapped back Indy, “you think you can have someone’s death on your hands?”

“Doesn’t matter. They’re only Nazis.”

Indy didn’t respond and you smirked knowing you had won. Indy fired another shot and you winced as you heard another body hit the floor.

“How much longer?” he asked

You flinched as a bullet grazed your cheek and hit the wall. You cursed and ran a finger over the chipped wall.

“I got the general gist of it.”

“General gist isn’t good enough.”

“Well it’s all you're going to get! It might’ve been a bit more complete if someone hadn’t managed to get the wall shot up!”

“Not my fault.”

“Well it usually is. Now then, how are we going to get out?”

“Come on darlin’, have I ever let you down before?”

Yes in this moment you hated Indiana Jones but at the same time you couldn’t help but smile. You could feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins. Yes, you had missed this. You had missed the excitement and the thrill or find new objects.

The thrill of the chase and of being chased.

The thrill of new discoveries.

The thrill of being with Indy.

Indy raised a hand and brushed your cheek with his thumb. You let out a hiss of pain and he grimaced when he saw the blood.

“It’s just a graze,” you said, “I’ve had worse. You should know that.”

“Shouldn’t have let that happen.”

Indy cupped your cheeks and pressed a kiss against your forehead. You rested your head against his chest and closed your eyes. Indy reached behind you and at first you thought he was going to hug you. However, instead he reached behind you and pressed a panel on the wall. You looked sharply behind you as part of the wall slid away.

“How long did you know that was there?” you asked

“Well…”

Indy trailed off and smirked at you. You glared and slapped him on the arm.

“You jerk! I’m going to kill you!”

“I’d rather you kiss me.”

“Maybe if we survive.”

[k-evans-reads]

The Spare

We do NOT give permission for our works to be reuploaded, translated, or reposted on any other site. Our work is our own.

Summary: When Princess Rosie unexpectedly is thrust into a political tour of the country, a working-class Air Force Captain is assigned to be her pilot. Although the princess is unhappy about the decision, she realizes she’s stepping into unknown territory when the unexpected happens

Previous l Main Masterlist | The Spare Masterlist

By @k-evans-writes and @ourfinest-hour

Word Count: 5,194

Chris stretched his arms above his head and stepped out into the morning sun, yawning as his muscles relaxed. His chest rose and fell with the exhale, feeling the tension leave his body as he took in the first relaxed morning he’d had in months. Birds chirped overhead as he started down the paved pathway from the large estate they were calling home until they headed north the following day.

It’d been a chaotic…. Week? Has it really only been a week? The schedule made it feel so much longer than that, and he hadn’t been at the forefront, that was all reserved for Princess Rosie. He just stayed to the rear, wearing the most expensive and soft blazers and collared shirts he’d ever had while she handled the crowds with a maturity and poise that seemed well beyond her years. But the moment the car door shut behind her each day, as they headed from destination to destination, Chris watched as her shoulders slouched and her arms crossed over her front, her eyes distant as she stared at her feet. He’d glance in the rearview mirror at her every so often as the driver led them to their next destination, and yet her body language never changed. But without missing a beat, she straightened up as they made their final turns, her dazzling smile slipping back onto her lips as they reached their destination, her shoulders moving back as her perfect posture returned at the click of cameras and cheers from the crowds.

It reminded him of the way James had always sighed with relief as the curtains and door closed each night as he came back to their university flat, knowing there were now four walls between him and the outside world. He had told Chris that by walking out the door every day, he was obligated to have every set of eyes on him, every pair of ears lurking to eavesdrop, and any camera within the vicinity? It was assumed, for the worst, to be pointed at James, no matter the state of him or the hour. Chris had always been exhausted just by watching James shift his personas back and forth at will depending on the surroundings, but a pity had grown in him at seeing the way Princess Rosie shouldered the burden of the title in ways both similar and different to her older brother.

It seemed like a lonely place, to be clearly struggling with something and yet be pushed to do something that Chris could honestly say he’d never wish for in a thousand years. He couldn’t even imagine staying in this behind-the-scenes role for long, yet alone put up with a life like that for the rest of his days; never having privacy, always performing, always carrying the responsibility and duty, and giving up every last semblance of privacy he held. It seemed like his worst nightmare, and at times, he thought the princess would agree with him.

His feet had carried him through the winding grounds, the house growing farther and farther away until he reached the wide open yard, with a… frankly ridiculous pool and the tennis court, where he found not only the princess, but a perimeter of security on the outskirts, all looking quite relaxed given the nice weather and low-stakes.

And yet, despite the crowd that formed around the courts that morning, the princess was all alone in the court, hitting the green ball back and forth to herself against the smooth wall.

He gave a short wave to the men nearest to him as he passed them on his way to the fence, leaning against it as he watched her practice. “Wow, tough opponent huh?” He finally spoke, watching as she jumped a bit in surprise before turning her head to look at him, squinting in the sunlight.

She let the ball bounce past her, racket by her side as she stared at him. A slight smirk grew on Chris’ face as he watched the surprise on her face as she asked, “What?”

“Looks like you’ve got a tough opponent,” he repeated, gesturing to the empty court around her with a chuckle.

Rosie didn’t have a response to his words, instead her hand went into the pocket of her skirt, pulling out another ball and fiddling with it in her hand - in a slightly anxious way - as she looked over at Chris, then the guards, back to Chris, and over again.

But it was Chris’ turn to be surprised as Rosie finally answered him, “Well it’s not like I have anyone to play against.”

Chris schooled his expression quickly at the offer, something he knew maybe overstepped a bit, but her offer only pushed him. His feet carried him down the short steps of the lush court, a half smirk on his face. He found himself thankful that his original plan had pushed him to slip sneakers on his feet earlier, but quickly focused on the woman standing across the court from him. “Well, I’m here,” he told her, picking up a racket from the collection on the table before he got into position.

“Don’t you have a job to do?” She shot back with a smirk, but clearly she didn’t give a shit, as she began to bounce the ball, getting into position.

“Considering you’re not in a plane right now, I’m going to go with no,” he reminded her, knowing where his primary contribution on this tour lay.

Her head cocked as she kept her eyes on him, hand never moving while he stretched his legs a bit, grateful for the quick warm up she was giving him. “Aren’t you supposed to be on my security team too?” She asked, her voice amused.

He rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he dropped one leg and lifted the other. “Yeah it really seems like you’re in a lot of danger here on this tennis court with guards posted every twenty feet,” he muttered loudly enough for her to hear him, feeling that prickly and uncomfortable sensation of knowing there were no less than a dozen pairs of eyes on him at that moment, and yet he couldn’t do anything except focus on the woman across from him.

Her head cocked, eyes narrowing in the morning sunlight as she watched him stretch. Chris had begun to think he might’ve overstepped finally - made her uncomfortable - and had just prepared an apology when - for not the first time this morning - she said something he hadn’t expected. “Then I guess you better try to keep up,” she chuckled, a genuine smile on her face.

He spun the racket in his hand, shooting her a smirk from across the court to silently let her know that he was up for the challenge. The sound of the ball hitting the court echoed as Rosie bounced it a few times before tossing it up and hitting it with impressive force over to his side before he smacked it back over to her, starting off their game. The sun was shining down as they played, their laughter quickly bubbling out, making Chris realize it was the first time in a week since the tour had started that he heard Rosie laugh.

By all accounts, Chris knew he didn’t actually know Rosie. He had flown her multiple times this week, stood in with her giant team of security, and still only talked to her for a grand total of about three minutes. He had seen her so stoic the past week, often keeping to herself and always seemed a little bit… sad.

After being in the Air Force so long, Chris certainly understood duty and putting aside your own feelings for what had to be done. He knew there was a high level of that with being a member of the royal family but this past week, he had observed Rosie as almost completely opposite to who he thought she was. The princess was arguably one of the most photographed, written about, and famous people in the country. She’d become a favorite amongst the people for the way she appeared to be a lot more down to earth and in touch, and that coupled with her large range of expressions and less than stoic behavior made her relatable and truly a princess of the people.

That, coupled with the countless stories he’d heard over the years from James about the sister he loved so dearly, made Chris feel like he did know Rosie. He felt like he truly already did know her, making him notice just how opposite she appeared this week than what he thought was true about her. Chris had begun wondering which version of her really was the truth, but seeing her now, pointing her racket at him while she warned him the next ball was coming straight for him, he realized that what he’d seen this past week was that thick wall of duty that had to go before anything else.

The sun was growing higher in the sky as they played game after game, each one seeming to loosen Rosie up more which made Chris know his casual nature was being responded to well. He had seen this so often with James over the years and the struggle he had to be able to trust anyone and feel like he actually had a friend. Chris knew that had to be the same for Rosie, and even more so on this tour where she was surrounded by a staff of people and, from what he’d observed, not a single person who just cared about her, only the job that lay ahead and it certainly clicked in his head just why James had worked so hard to get Chris on this tour with her.

He thought about the trust that his best friend had in him, and the ever-loyal Chris was determined not to let him down and to make sure his sister was okay. But as he looked across the court, seeing Rosie give him a sideways smile as she asked him if he was going to serve the ball or just stand around all day, he knew deep down that it wasn’t just his loyalty to James that had made him want to come down and talk to Rosie.

Once Chris had hit a particularly fast shot whizzing by Rosie’s legs, scoring him a point to win, Rosie tossed her racket on top of the small half wall that she leaned against as she sipped her water bottle. After picking up the ball and stacking his racket with hers, Chris plopped down on the stairs she was standing by as he leaned back and rested his elbows behind him.

Although the sun was in his eyes, he could still make out the way Rosie was looking down at him from a few feet away and it made a feeling run through him that he hadn’t felt in a long time. As fast as it came, Chris tried to push it away while she came to sit down near him, slightly uncomfortably popping the top on her water before closing it again a few times. Chris wanted her to feel the same level of trust and comfort James felt with him and tried to strike up a conversation, asking, “So how many of these tours have you done before?”

“Too many,” was the quick response Rosie gave with a laugh before her eyes flickered back to her water bottle and muttered, “I try not to keep track or I get too depressed.”

Wanting to make light of her comment, Chris tipped his head so he could see her face and teased, “What? You don’t love giving speeches and sitting at stuffy dinners?”

“As fun as you make it sound, not really,” Rosie laughed as her body relaxed and she tossed her dark blonde hair over her shoulder. “I’m sure I’ll enjoy the tour as much as you will.”

Chris gave a faux offended look to her as he put a hand to his chest and rhetorically questioned, “What? I don’t give off the vibe that I know how to use more than one fork?”

“Remember that I’m well aware of how this works. I know you’re just doing a favor for James,” Rosie challenged him with a raise of her eyebrow, making it obvious she wasn’t one to let much of anything get by her.

“That might not be true. Maybe I just really wanted to come to play tennis with someone who’d be this easy to beat,” he easily shrugged with a playful smile.

“Easy to beat? I saw you running pretty hard for a few of my shots,” Rosie tried to remind him, tipping her water bottle at him accusingly.

With a snort, he just rolled his eyes before vaguely motioning to the nearby foliage, “Yeah because if I didn’t they would have gone into those fuckin’ bushes!”

“They would not! I’ve been playing tennis almost everyday for years now, I know how to line up my shots,” she argued back.

“Wow, well it sure doesn’t show,” he couldn’t resist teasing her as he schooled his expression.

“Oh and you’re such a tennis master?” Rosie retorted with a smile that was so effortlessly bewitching he thought it should be illegal.

But he didn’t let himself get tripped up by her easy charm and just stated, “Apparently more so than you,” unable to help but remind her that he had in fact beat her.

Chris watched the way Rosie’s steel blue eyes sparkled in amusement, her rosy lips parting as she was undoubtedly ready to make a quip back. Suddenly he saw her eyes flicker over his shoulder and as quickly as that sparkle on her face was there, it fell as she sat up a little straighter. Following her eyes, Chris turned his head and saw Thomas, the head of the princess’ security team, making his way down to where the pair were sitting.

Years of military training made Chris instantly stand up at attention, ready to leave so he could speak to Rosie but he was surprised when he bowed to the princess but then turned to him saying, “Captain Evans, we need you for a briefing for our departure tomorrow afternoon.”

“Of course, where’s the briefing?” Chris asked.

“In the front room in ten minutes,” Thomas simply stated before turning to walk a few feet away to wait for him.

Instantly focused on his job and the reason he was here, Chris looked at his watch and was internally making a plan for the flight tomorrow when his eyes were pulled away to see Rosie standing up. He watched the way she was pulling her hair up into a ponytail, only showing off more of her face that so enamored him. That stoic front had seemed to return, her posture immaculate and her mouth straight, completely the opposite of the playful side he’d seen for the past nearly two hours. Wanting so badly to see that side of her come out again, Chris met her eyes before motioning over his shoulder and leaned in to ask quietly, “What? Were you too tired of losing that you had to call Thomas in?”

“More like you’re about to get in trouble for not doing what you’re supposed to be doing,” Rosie shot back without missing a beat.

“Well I’ll let you in on a secret,” he leaned both his forearms on the corner of the half wall, leaning in closer to her as he whispered, “I don’t have a fucking clue what I’m doing.”

“On this tour or playing tennis?”

Chris admitted through a chuckle, knowing this was the truth, “Maybe a little bit of both,”

“I’d say it’s a little more true about the latter, Captain,” Rosie smiled, picking up the tennis ball and tossing it up a few times.

Chris barked out a laugh as he pushed himself off the wall, “Says the girl who just lost to me three times.”

“Or maybe I just let you win,” was the quick response Rosie teased him with.

At that moment, another voice broke in as Thomas reminded from a few feet off, “Captain Evans, we need to go.”

“He’ll be there in a minute,” Rosie snapped at the head of security, no doubt more about years of frustration rather than this one instance. Her gaze then fell back on him as she told him, “I want a rematch sometime.”

“Sounds like someone is a sore loser,” Chris smirked.

“Or I just want to prove to you that I let you win today.”

And with that, Rosie gave him one last stomach turning smile before flipping her ponytail over her shoulder as she turned to walk off the court, a few of security guards trailing behind her as she walked toward the large estate. Chris then went over to Thomas and walked in stride with him across the large perfectly manicured yard as Thomas gave him a harsh look that was coupled with a simple question, “What were you doing with the Princess?”

Chris had learned throughout his short time working for the palace that there didn’t seem to be a single person who had a sense of humor about much of… well… anything. He knew of how harsh and cold so many of the staff members who were entrusted to uphold the image and safety of the royal family were thanks to the many laments that James had said over the years but even that hadn’t prepared him for just how icy it was. Thanks to his years of military service and experience as a captain, he knew to answer directly and plainly, answering with, “Playing tennis.”

“I could see that,” Thomas’ harsh tone cracked down as they neared the door to lead inside. Before they could open it, Thomas slowed to a stop and squared his shoulders in front of Chris, hands folded behind his back while firmly stating, “I know you are close with the prince but a member of the royal family's staff needs to have a divide between a relationship and a job.”

Knowing that any rebuttal of explaining that he just had wanted Rosie to feel like a human being rather than a bug under a microscope of guards around her, Chris just acknowledged the truth in the words, “… I understand.”

“We all need to know our place and it’s none of our place to be close to the Princess,” Thomas’ thick mustache flicked underneath his pointed nose while going on to question, “Why did you engage her?”

“She invited me to play with her,” Chris honestly answered, knowing that while Rosie hadn’t given an invitation as obvious as that, it was implied with her words and the lightheartedness and laughter that followed only backed up that it was what the princess had meant.

“Invited you?”

“Yeah,” he nodded.

Chris could see the shock in Thomas’ eyes, tipping him off that this must have been unusual, before he went on to chastise, “You must not accept those offers, your role is your role, we can get another pilot in minutes. The princess has a job to do, one much more important than playing tennis with the prince’s friend.”

The captain just nodded his chin before following Thomas into the briefing room in silence even though so many thoughts were running through his mind. He knew it wouldn’t have been any use to reply, but that last sentence Thomas had given him some insight into the feelings of the palace and the seemingly obvious resentment there was for Chris being on this tour due to his friendship with James.

Chris knew that it was unusual for a military captain to be the pilot for one of the most senior members of the royal family, most everyone on these tours having been longtime employees of the palace. It had just been a favor for his best friend and they all knew it, but Chris thought it was almost comical that moments like what had just happened were probably the exact reason James wanted him here. Over the years Chris couldn’t have cared less about James’ titles and heir to the throne, he was simply just his friend and because of that, James knew that in a hard time, his sister needed something a little less frigid that the iceberg of security and staff members rushing her from one thing to the next on the tour and watching every move she made with a critical eye.

At his core, Chris was a man of duty and loyalty, having long put aside many of his own wants and desires to take care of his mother, make good use of the scholarship he got to university and succeed and make the most out of his enlistment in the air force to be a good pilot and more recently an even better captain. His loyalty was to his country, which included the royal family, and he was the first one to take this tour and the princess’ safety seriously. But the other part of him, that purely authentic, playful, empathetic, and maybe even the tiniest bit mischievous side of him that remembered James was the one who wanted him. He had wanted someone personal, someone he trusted, here to make sure Rosie was alright and make it a little better on her and he would be damned if he didn’t make good on his word to do just that.

The minute the door closed behind Rosie, she toed off her high heels and left them by the wall, relief washing over her at finally being alone. She had spoken at three events just today, feeling like that was more of a workout than the two hours of tennis she had played yesterday against her pilot. The thought made her lips momentarily turn upward as she remembered being able to just laugh and feel… normal. Well, or as normal as she figured she could ever feel.

Ever since then she was back to the grind of meeting with the palace advisors for briefings, getting fitted for dresses, shaking countless hands and delivering three speeches in just the past twenty-four hours. Despite her exhaustion, Rosie still grabbed the telephone and sat in the window seat and dialed a number she knew by heart.

Once she could hear the receiver being picked up, Rosie grinned, “If it isn’t my long lost little sister.”

“Long lost? You’ve been the one who’s been too busy making headlines in the papers on your tour to talk to me,” Annie’s soft voice laughed through the other end.

Rosie leaned back in the seat, gazing out the window as she honestly said, “Well I’d much rather be where you are than here.”

“If you knew about the exam I have to take in my literature class on Friday, I think you’d change your tune,” her sister joked about the dread of her university tests.

“I’m not so sure about that.”

Trying to turn it on a positive note, Annie replied, “It seems like the tour is going well though. Mom called yesterday and was saying that everyone was pleased with it so far.”

If it hadn’t hurt so much, Rosie could have laughed from hearing that their mother had called her younger sister. Sometimes it felt like night and day with the differences their parents displayed to her siblings than to Rosie. James was the eldest and heir apparent, making him the one their parents, particularly their father, had poured into over the years. He had always been the golden child not only for his position in the family as future King, but for his upstanding behavior, always doing the right thing at the right time and seemingly never misstepping.

Annie, being a chunk younger, had always been the baby. She was the meek, kind hearted, and rosy child who their parents had always been softer on. Maybe it was because she had been shielded from so many things James and Rosie were thrust into, or maybe it was because of her tender nature, Annie had always been a lot more naive about most things, seeing the good in just about everything and that seemed to be a bridge between her and their parents, particularly their mother which showed up in moments like this when Annie casually mentioned their mother calling her meanwhile Rosie hadn’t heard from her since she had departed the palace over a week ago.

But between those two shining siblings was Rosie. The spare. And she certainly felt that in just about every way possible.

Where James stood tall and Annie was shielded, Rosie felt like she was just the odd one out. The past years that she had been in James’ place while he got to join the Air Force, Rosie had been forced to be on display for the whole country. Although nearly everyone in the country found a favorite royal in Rosie, someone they could relate to and admire for her untraditional ways and obvious care for the people, the palace felt quite differently. She had been constantly reminded of all her missteps, things she shouldn’t have said, or ways she had done wrong, so much so that on this tour she hadn’t been able to even walk into a room without thinking of the laundry list in her head of things she was supposed to do and what she might be doing wrong. It haunted her so much she felt nearly sick.

But as complicated as those feelings were at times, Rosie long ago had decided she never wanted any of that to get in the way of her relationship with either of her siblings. Both of them were pretty much the only people she could be closer to her real self with. She and James had relied on each other deeply through the years, truly having a friendship beyond siblings, and Annie was the little sister she loved deeply and wanted to shield from so many of the things she had been exposed to. Rosie knew that her life would forever be in the shadow of her older brother, being the one that didn’t quite measure up, but Annie had the chance to have something different and Rosie wanted to give that to her.

Realizing that she hadn’t answered her sister, Rosie shook herself out of her own thoughts and replied, “Yeah I’m trying. I’ve got a week down so only nine more to go.”

“Well it sounds terrible when you put it that way,” she heard her sister laugh into the phone, making Rosie’s own smile appear.

Sarcasm dripped from her words as Rosie comically responded with, “Sorry, how would you like me to say it? I get nine more glorious weeks of flying somewhere, going to event after event shaking hands and talking to people who wish James or our father were there instead of me before giving speeches nobody cares about just to fly somewhere else and do it all over again?”

“Rosie, don’t be too dramatic, it can’t be as bad as all that,” Annie’s tone softened before she tried to look on the bright side as she so often did, “Who knows, maybe there’ll be some man shaking your hand at one of those events that’ll catch your eye.”

“I doubt that,” Rosie couldn’t help but mutter, having a hard time seeing past the seemingly never ending list of duties she had to perform.

“I don’t, I’ve seen how gorgeous you look on the cover of all the newspapers this past week so I’m sure you’ve already caught the attention of quite a few people,” her younger sister sweetly said.

In the past, that comment would have made Rosie laugh. In her younger years she would have been a little more excited by the thought, enjoying to playfully flirt with some people here and there. But that had been nearly beaten out of her, the palace advisors constantly on her back about staying neutral and holding people more at an arm's length even though it went against her very nature.

A gentle sigh escaped Rosie’s lips, her finger twisting the cord of the phone around her finger while she gazed longingly outside, “I wish you were here with me.”

“I will be soon, I’m still coming to the military pinning ceremony before you head to the coast,” she tried to reassure her, giving Rosie a little bit of a light in the packed schedule that had her feeling like a puppet on a string.

“I can’t wait for that.”

There was a silence on the phone before the kind voice encouraged her, “I think you’re doing a great job Rosie.”

“Thanks Annie,” the eldest sister smiled at the words, knowing they were from Annie’s heart even if her naive younger sister didn’t have much of a clue just what this role entailed. Rosie was unable to hold back her emotions any longer, finally acknowledged, “These tours are just… exhausting. I feel like I just have to play a character the whole time and it’s just really lonely sometimes.”

“I know, but when you’re done you’ll get to have a real break.”

Rosie internally sighed, knowing she’d been promised that so many times, especially now. James coming back had been the end for her. Her chance to live some semblance of a real life. A chance to finally be herself. But that had quickly been ripped out from underneath her as it so often had before with the dangling promise of just one more thing that never ended, making Rosie only able to respond with, “I hope so.”

And she truly hoped that it was true. That after this she’d get a real break. Every leg of this tour seemed so daunting to her, nearly every minute being packed full and so many opportunities for her to screw up and misstep all while being completely alone. She just stared out the window while these thoughts nearly made her sick but her steel blue eyes caught sight of movement in the large green yard the window overlooked as a tall figure bounced around. Rosie was staring as she saw him wave a ball around in the air as one of the security dogs bounced around his feet before he took off running when the Air Force captain threw the ball with impressive force across the field.

Rosie laughed softly to herself when she heard his loud voice echoing as he called to the dog, jumping around with more excitement than the dog when he took the ball and waved it around again. While she saw him drop to his knees to rub the dog’s stomach, Chris glanced at the building before doing a double take when he caught sight of Rosie sitting in the window watching. She softly laughed when he just shot her a sideways smile with a wave and in that moment, Rosie realized she maybe was a little bit less alone than she thought.

A/N: We loved writing this! It came together so quickly and we couldn't wait to share it.

[grapefives]

ESTOY PERDIENDO | DR

luffy + law + drabbles (separately) x gn!reader (male lenient though)

reader w/gravitation manipulation powers + denial of feelings + fluff + love confessions + reader is a musician (best buddies w/brook) + WANO SPOILERS! + crewmate reader +ft.frobin

a/n: i say drabbles but lowkey they might as well be scenarios lmao (title translates to: i’m losing)

your captain is very known for going all out in a fight. especially when it’s some bigshot. you really loved that about him. you couldn’t help but feel the deadly need to be there once he’s worn out after a battle.

for example, right now, as soon as his body gave out from his gear, falling down the sky, you fought yamato to catch him. seriously, what a stubborn girl- er, boy. he’s your captain! as his crewmate you have to save him!

“luffy, you okay?” you ask rhetorically, making your way anywhere that was away from the rubble.

luffy pants, barely able to make you out from his blurry sight. “i’m… hungry.”

“and hurt, let’s find chopper,” you say gently, carrying him in your arms tightly.

“thanks,” he mumbles, melting into your arms.

“you guys are really something!” yamato clamors with fondness.

“yeah,” you smile down at your cute captain.

you feel so warm that luffy really doesn’t think he’d want to let go even after he blacks out. he holds on though, making sure he finishes his business with momonosuke before finally dropping.

luffy is someone who trusts quite easily, trust towards his crew mates is blind. yet, out of all his crew mates, he finds himself more fond with you. he loves to talk to you, to go on adventures with you and… secretly look at you for as long as you stay unaware of his gaze.

your captain is oblivious. he’s the type of person that mistakes love for friendship. one: he doesn’t know what love is. two: he’s pretty sure you’re his best friend. best friends like each other.

a lot.

which is why, when he wakes up, the first person he looks for is you. upon not seeing you, he deflates for a moment, until his stomach grumbles and he knows food is his priority.

“MEAT!!” he yells, chanting it despite how fast the plates are placed in front of him.

he’s devouring the plates as ruckus happens around him. momonosuke appears, he swears he couldn’t recognize the kid, and then yamato, who he soon learns was on a vigil.

“woah! thanks yamabro! must be why i feel so great!”

yamato grins, looking around. “where’s y/n!? y/n was starving too! y/n has to eat too, now that luffy is awake!”

“huh? why?” luffy tilts his head as he chews on some meat.

“y/n was also on a vigil, they liked the custom.” nami explains, not seeing how luffy’s eyes slightly widen and a small blush forms on his face.

you soon walk in, smiling wide when you see luffy. “glad to see our captain is awake!”

“sit down and eat,” luffy orders as he stretches his arm and grabs you, pulling you and making you gasp at the unexpected action.

if anyone knows anything about luffy stretching and doing things like that, is that the bounce effect is really jet lagging. so, due to the recoil, you slam into him and the two of you tumble over the floor.

he shouldn’t think much of it, not with the way your face is so close to his and any strands of your hair are tickling his skin. he pushes aside his flustered emotions and laughs, sitting up and shoving a plate of food in your hands.

and when you smile at him, wide and enchanting, he really puts in more thought about his feelings.

but again, he pushes them aside and goes on with his life. and yet again, he falls into the pit of his feelings for you during the remaining few days it takes to repair the ships.

“y/n, let’s go see if there’s food to eat!” he sayys clinging onto you.

“ah, hold on luffy, usopp said he wanted to switch shifts in a bit.”

“but you’ve been doing that all week!!” he whines,”spend time with me!”

he’s literally acting like a clingy partner. you can’t help but smile at his cuteness.

“oi, why are you staring at me like that?” luffy asks, feeling a bit nervous at your doe eyes and lopsided smile.

“huh?” you blink. you feel your ears turn red, “how?”

“almost the way sanji looks at women.”

you sputter, “luffy, you’re seeing things! it’s cus you’re hungry, how about you go to the banquet hall with usopp once he gets here-“

luffy frowns, “but i want to go with you!”

“luffy, seriously. i’m busy.”

“spend time with meee, captain’s orders!!”

you shake your head, only to continue and see how far he can go. you knows he’s stubborn, you had already mentally agreed to go with him but you like to tease him.

“don’t you want to set sail soon?” you ask, “we’re almost done with repairs. it won’t take long.”

“you always say that!”

“my, my,” robin laughs softly when she casually walks by, “better please his wishes.”

“luffy’s acting like a jealous boyfriend,” franky laughs, spawning out of nowhere.

luffy stands up straight. boyfriend is what? another level to best friends? he stares at them before staring at you, who seems to be blushing at their comments.

“a-anyways,” you continue, “i’ma go help franky-“

“if i’m your boyfriend will you come with me!?”

your eyes go wide, and you genuinely wonder if he even knows what he’s saying. “come again?”

“if i’m your boyfriend, will you give me attention?”

“l-luffy do you even know what you’re asking?”

“i’m asking to be your boyfriend!” he huffs, cheeks flushed a nice rosy color and puffed.

“and do you even know what that is?” you seem a bit troubled, almost sad.

there’s no point to agreeing if luffy doesn’t know what he’s asking. yes, you’ve grown these feeling for him a while ago, but he’s your captain. you don’t want to ruin that friendship, nor trust, with your feelings. plus, luffy never showed any sort of interest in that. you were just kidding yourself.

“it means you get to be with me! no matter what, i’m top priority!”

“i thought you said me reaching my dreams was top priority when i joined the crew-“

“second top priority!”

you can’t help but smile sadly, “i’d rather not, dating is pretty noncommon among pirates, it could interfere with lots of things.”

“but y/n~!” he clings to you again, “just say yes! i’ll be a good boyfriend! and if i’m not you can teach me!”

you blush, “teach you-“

his puppy eyes are just so… you groan.

“are you sure, a romantic relationship entitles other things. it’s a huge commitment.”

“if it has to do with you i’ll do it!”

you… “luffy i’m not very sure… i feel like you’re not taking into account how i feel-“

“do you like me?”

your breath is caught in your throat. “well, yes-“

“then what’s the issue!?”

you’re stumped.

“luffy,” robin buts in, “a relationship means more dedication to one another. it’s romantic.”

“romantic,” luffy repeats. he looks at you, “that means more hugging and stuff, right?”

“well, yes? for starters yeah,” you nod, heart beating like crazy.

“then say yes!” luffy huffs again.

you stare at him, then at robin and franky, who smile. “o-okay.”

luffy’s grin had never been so wide. you’re pretty sure you’ll be fine.

“play a song while we eat,” he says as he drags you along.

“luffy, i recall you said you wanted me to eat too. my hands will be full and i’d rather not dirty my instrument.”

“anything’s is possible if you’re my boyfriend.”

you couldn’t help but laugh. you feel so warm, so happy. for sure, everything will be alright.

trusting people doesn’t come very easily to law. even the man he owes his life to struggled to gain his trust, but that experience is what made him even colder. the walls he’s built so high around him were even guarded. he was a tough nut to crack.

and darn it! he hates you! he hates you so much! why? because you made him so… so soft! it’s like his walls are actually futons wrapped around him and he hates it!

“y/n-ya,” his voice is dull and his gaze is deadly.

“h-hold on cap!” you pant as you jump over rubble, holding him tightly in your arms.

“y/n-ya, let me down.”

“no offense cap but you can barely keep yourself awake-“ your breath hitches when the hilt of his sword buts your chin.

“down.”

“almost out of here-“ you trip, and he almost falls to the ground if it weren’t for you quickness, your fingers twitching to activate your powers, causing him to float for a measly few seconds before you get back up and pick him up.

“you idiot!” law yells, annoyed with how much care you’re giving him. he’s really trying to fight you but he can’t deny how worn down he is. but he won’t tell you that, duh.

“hey! stay still!”

“don’t give me orders you nimwit! let me down! i’m not weak!”

you growl, “law! we’re almost there! calm down!”

he stares at you, almost shocked at how aggressive you’ve gotten. his face heats up, unsure whether to continue his fight or actually give in. you are holding him quite strongly actually, if he were to allow himself to melt for a few seconds he knows he might fall unconscious. heck, he really wants to.

but all these enemies around! one look at this and he won’t heat the end of it! especially by the eustass bastard.

“bepo! are you okay?!” you ask when you see the rest of your crew.

“he doesn’t do well with heat!” sachi yells, “seriously! he’s a pain in the ass-“ he pauses, “captain!?”

law groans, so ashamed that he presses himself into you, wishing he could disappear. he focuses on anything other than the situation he’s in, which leads to him settling on your heartbeat. and he hates how much he enjoys it. both knowing you’re fine and being in your arms. it makes him realize how much he’s longed having you this close, makes him realize how strong his feelings for you are.

truly, he wishes he wasn’t such a coward when it comes to his feelings for you and you in general. and as he hears momonosuke give his speech after everything is settling down, you’re still touching him- putting bandaids and ointments on his injuries, bepo helping you as well.

and when everyone is settling for the night, exhausted from the last few months, especially the day’s fights, he almost wants to call for you.

“captain, any bandaids you want me to change before leaving?” you ask, startling him awake before he had fallen into unconsciousness.

he sits up on his futon, staring at you. “y/n-ya,” he says softly, unsure what to do or say.

is exhaustion going to make him reveal his feelings? will he own up to it? no, he can’t lose himself. he can’t let himself go soft. love makes you soft, right?

“-okay?”

“what?” he blinks.

you’re kneeling in front of him, a worried look on your face. “i asked you if you’re feeling okay. you’ve been more silent and out of it lately. you really need to rest. the guys are already sleeping, we should too. i just wanted to check on you before doing so-“ you fall silent when he leans into you, all his weight pressing into your chest.

you wrap your arms around him, afraid he could fall over if you didn’t hold steady. “captain?”

“y/n-ya,” his voice is so coarse, almost on the verge of giving out. “stay with me for the night.”

your heart skips a beat, and for a second you’re both scared he hears how flustered you are and to say yes.

“cap, you-“

“please,” he whispers, almost inaudible.

you close your eyes, sighing. “captain, i’m not sure. i… if i… if i could i would.” your heart hurts.

law looks up, he looks quite adorable tired. “why not? who did you agree to sleep with? i’m your captain, it was an order not a question.”

you stare at him, almost… sorry. you feel bad about your feelings. sleeping here with him will only make them worse.

“i… you know how bepo gets, poor thing. i better go before-“ you’re surprised when he hugs you, tight.“captain,” you try to pry him off of you, “are you feeling okay? why are you behaving so-“

“i love you.” he blurts into your chest. “i…” he squeezes you harder, “i want to love you.”

you falter, “w-what?”

he’s silent, almost scared at how this could go. and he’s so, so tired. so on edge that if you say no and you leave him alone in his uneasiness, he will most likely cry.

“law…” your hands tremble as they grab his face, his face is flushed with a lovely red, eyes drowsy and glassy. you’ve never seen him so… so raw. “tell me, is that true?”

he nods, not trusting his voice.

“i’m sorry,” you say, shattering his heart, “i really want to kiss you so i will,” he doesn’t even process that until after he feels a warmth on his lips.

and when he acknowledges the situation, he melts.

and he doesn’t regret putting his heart in your hands. because he knows he has yours in his.