#WHY IS ROMEO NOT IN THE SHOT i want to see him too

[lock-my-feelings-in-a-jar]

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW GLAD I AM THAT YOUR WRITE FOR SPTO THANK YOUUUU

UGH okay, my craziness aside; could you try “I think I’m in love with you” with Matthew Patel? It doesn’t matter who says it, I jsut think it’d be adorable (I adore that funky theatre punk so so much <3)

Thank you so much and have a wonderful day/night!!

"Do it!"

"Come on, Lord Matthew!"

"We're getting impatient.."

"Maybe we'll go in and tell them ourselves-"

"Ladies, that's enough! I will tell them myself...i-in a minute. First, I need to rehearse what I'm going to say..I can't mess this up."

The demon hipster chicks could only stare at their master with blank expressions, knowing damn well that he was stalling the inevitable:

That being his confession to you.

You two go back as far as middle school, with you being the first friend he ever made who didn't mind his weirdness or mystical powers. Plus, you shared his admiration for the theater and dramatics when he started obsessing over those, becoming his number one supporter.

Until now, Matthew never thought he'd fall for you like he did Ramona. But he feared rejection, ridicule, or worse--the relationship being extremely short-lived and him never getting to experience a "true love's kiss".

Once was painful enough.

He couldn't go through that again.

Of course, his demon hipster chicks knew all about this and the months he's spent pining after you. As much as they didn't like you "stealing" away his attention...they realized you made their master genuinely happy.

And above everything else, they wanted him to be happy.

So they were thrilled when he summoned them, seeing that they were at the doorstep to your apartment and squealing upon noticing the giftbox he had for you.

Finally, he seemed ready to move on from Ramona.

Yet....he had spent ten solid minutes pacing along the floor and trying to hype himself up, his confidence totally shot, before he eventually stopped in front of your door again.

"Okay, I got it! Erm..."Roses are red, violets are--" no, that's stupid. It's too cliche! Everybody uses that!" Shaking his head, he tried to think of something else. ""Hey, would you like to be the Romeo to my Juliet--" ohh, what am I saying?! That's not romantic!! That would mean our relationship could end in tragedy...UGH!!"

"Don't overthink it, my lord." One of the demons whispered to him. "Just tell them how you feel."

"....it can't be that simple, can it?"

"....."

"..alright. I'll take your advice. I'm going for it." With a nervous swallow, he bowed his head and raised a hand to knock at the door-

Only for it to swing open, causing him to freeze in-place and look up to see you on the other side. He quickly hid both hands behind his back, hoping you didn't see the gift. "H-Hi.."

"Oh hey, Matty. Hey, girls." You smiled, looking past him and waving to the demons. But as your gaze shifted back to his, you wondered why he seemed extremely nervous. "Are you feeling okay?"

"..yeah. Just..wanted to see how you were doing." Pink was starting to dust his cheeks. "Did you uh...know I was going to come visit?"

"Um...yeah? You texted me earlier."

"......"

"And I saw you outside my window and figured you forgot the spare key."

"Shit..did I?" Matthew checked his coat pockets, feeling more embarrassed to know he forgot such a simple thing. All because he couldn't stop thinking about you. "I guess I did forget.......how about I go get it?"

You blinked in confusion. "Huh? But you're-"

"I'll be back, I swear-?!!"

The second he tried to run away, two of the demons grabbed a hold of his arms, dragging him into your apartment, while the other two guarded the door it in case he attempted another escape. He yelled in outrage, putting up a bit of struggle before they let go.

At this point, he was seething red, prepared to yell at them for their betrayal and the humiliation it brought upon him...

But they just winked and disappeared, the last one wishing him luck.

Of course.

"I can't believe it! The nerve of those-"

"What was that all about? You're acting kinda..odd, Matthew." Raising an eyebrow, you sat down on your sofa, having no clue why the man in front of you looked so flustered.

"I....have something I need to say." He decided to sit beside you, sighing heavily. "[Y/n], I think....I..I..."

"Yes?"

"...I-I think I'm in love with you!" Finally blurting it out, he closed his eyes and handed you the box, too afraid to see your expression. "I know it's sudden but..you've always been there for me. Ever since I found my passion for theater. Ever since Ramona dumped me...you were by my side. A-And I feel like I took that for granted. I thought I only wanted revenge against those who wronged me....but no. I want something better. I want love...and I want to be yours. So please...let me prove that I can be a good boyfriend and not evil!"

Part of him wanted to curl up and die as he continued babbling on and on about his feelings, thinking about the hundreds of other ways he could have done this.

He could flawlessly play the role of a love interest in a musical or play and move the audience to tears so effortlessly. But off-stage, he felt like a bumbling lovesick idiot who isn't making any sense to his crush..

There's no way you could love him back.

Not after seeing him like this.

Yet after feeling the box being removed from his hands, Matthew bravely opened his eyes, watching as you took out the black and red roses he put inside it. The thorns have been clipped off, allowing you to twirl the stems in your fingers for a moment or two.

Then you looked at him with the brightest of smiles, laughing softly. "Of course you'd give me roses, you dork. That's so....you." You set them aside before moving closer, taking his hands into yours. "I'm trusting you to uphold that promise."

His heart was soaring.

He must definitely be dreaming right now.

"S-So...it's a yes?"

You chuckled, nodding. "Yes. And...I promise to be with you for longer than a week."

That got him choked up. He couldn't say anything else in that moment, as his only response was pulling you into a tight hug and hiding his face in your neck.

Thank god he didn't ruin this.

You just smiled and held him close, relieved that he finally decided to try loving again. When he calmed down enough to look back up into your eyes, that's when you both decided to go for the kiss--just in case he had any more doubts in his mind.

And there were sparks galore.

[f1girliefics]

Green Tinted Dark Eyes

Oscar Piastri x Reader

Summary: Perhaps attending a party with Oscar wasn't a good idea. Or was it?

Jealousy never looked sexier.

Oscar has always been a quiet guy.

He extremely rarely raised his voice. 

He was always a very kind person, and you have never seen him so angry before.

But again, it wasn't truly anger.

It was rage mixed with jealousy.

All thanks to a guy named Dean, who kept on flirting with you.

A reserved driver for the Alfa Romeo team, Dean was not even close to Oscar, and yet, as Oscar watched Dean put his hand on your knee for the second time, he was ready to punch the life out of him. 

Dean already had a couple of drinks and shots so it wasn't a surprise for you.

Seeing Oscar like this did turn you on. 

Seeing the anger and dilated pupils, seeing how his hand clenched, making his veins visible. And then the way he clenched his jaw... oh boy that was possibly the sexiest.

But as much as you enjoyed seeing your boyfriend so jealous, you decided to spare him.

Dean didn't even notice when you stood up and walked over to sit next to Oscar.

Dean was too busy telling a story to everyone. 

You leaned over and whispered into his ear.

"You look very sexy." and he truly did, not only the jealousy but the dark blue shirt he had on, the long sleeves pulled up until his elbow, you had the urge to bite his soft skin, but you rather not. Not with people around at least.

Maybe later...

For now, you just enjoyed the way he looked at you like a lost puppy, happy to see his owner back.

He smiled at you and placed his hand on your thigh. 

He was now a lot more calm, but you could still see the way he was looking at Dean, as soon as Dean stood up, so did Oscar. He pulled you with him over to the bar as Dean failed to follow you given his drunken state. 

"You are very sexy when you are jealous." you said as Oscar sat down next to you on the stool.

"He kept on touching you."

"He's drunk."

"You told him to stop."

"I did. He didn't listen, I left."

"Why did you sit next to him in the first place?"

"You wanted tot didn't listen, I left."

"Why did you sit next to him in the first place?"

"You wanted to sit wil Lando, it was the only place left. And I can handle a   drunk guy."

 "I know you can handle yourself. You could have sat in my lap."

"I'm not playing token girlfriend, Oscar."

"Just... Next time sit with me."

"I will don't worry."

"I nearly punched him."

"I saw. As I said, you looked sexy."

"You got turned on while I nearly went blind with anger..." he said as he let out a huff and asked the bartender for two drinks.

"But you do know I wouldn't never choose anyone else right?"

"Of course." he said and you offered him a reassuring smile. 

"Good. Then I will do that thing you like so much later when we get back to our room."

"Oh? With your tongue?"

"Exactly." he smiled back at you. 

You always found it incredible how he was so shy and quiet and yet with you he was always so open.

           /DO NOT REPOST OR TRANSLATE ANY OF MY WORKS/

[marvelavengerspovs1]

Puppy Love Pt. 2

Pairing: Bucky x F!reader

Warnings: Fluff

Length: 984

Summary: You and Bucky finally name the new puppy and introduce Alpine.

A/N: If you haven’t read pt. 1 yet, here’s the link! How would y’all feel if I made this into a mini-series? I just love the idea of Alpine and a puppy!

I do not give consent for my work to be translated, copied, or sold!

Once Bucky opened the door, he fell in love. How could he not? The way that the puppy looked up at the both of you, wagging it’s tail was too much for both of your hearts.

Bucky sits on the floor with the puppy, petting it and smiling. “Ok, I can see why you brought it home.”

You close the door behind you, making sure Alpine stays out of the room. “Yeah, he’s too cute.”

“It’s a boy?”

“Mhm!” You hum. “We do need to take him to the vet though, gotta make sure that he has all of his shots.”

The puppy lets out a soft bark and you hear a soft meow on the other side of the door. The puppy tilts his head before wandering to the door to sniff out the culprit. He sits at the door, pawing at it with his tail wagging.

“He really wants to meet Alpine,” You smile back at Bucky.

Bucky smiles at you but you can tell that he’s getting nervous. You place your hand on his knee and gently kiss his lips.

“Alpine is going to love him, I promise you.” You reassure the super soldier.

Bucky nods and looks back at the door. He notices that the puppy has gotten up and is playing with Alpine’s paw that she managed to wedge beneath the door. Bucky relaxes a little and smiles.

“You know, we should probably give the puppy a name.” Bucky looks at you.

Your smile widens. “Ok, let’s think of some names and then we’ll narrow it down.”

Bucky pulls you into his lap as you both watch the puppy, thinking about his name. You play with Bucky’s fingers as the names start to come to you.

“Ok, I have 5,” You turn and look at Bucky.

“I have a couple too,” He smiles at you and gives you a quick peck.

“Ok, you go first!”

“What do you think about Max?”

“Uh… I don’t hate it.” You shrug.

“Ok, well you give me a name and we’ll switch off.”

“How do you feel about Archer?”

“I feel the same way you feel about Max. What about Buster?”

You laugh at that name. “I’m sorry, I don’t want you to think that I’m laughing at you, it just sounds like what an old person would name their dog.”

Bucky pinches your hip and you yelp. “Hey! I’m not old!”

You snort. “Says the man who is 107. Ok, what about Romeo?”

“I’m definitely vetoing that one. What about Rocky?”

“I would love the name Rocky if he was like gray or black, but he’s a light brown.” Bucky nods his head and looks over at the puppy, still playing with Alpine.

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“How do you feel about Peter?” You suggest.

Bucky looks at you with a raised eyebrow. “Are you only suggesting Taylor Swift-themed names?”

You gasp and dramatically place a hand on your chest. “How dare you accuse me of something like that? I would never-” Bucky gives you one look and you cave. “Ok, yes I am. But you love her too and she has some pretty good dog names.”

Bucky nods his head in agreement. “You got me there, I do love Folklore and Evermore. But we are definitely not naming our dog Peter.”

“Ok, fine!” You sarcastically roll your eyes and Bucky laughs.

“What do you think about Charlie?”

You hum in approval. “I do like that one. What about Benji?”

Bucky tilts his head. “I don’t like that one very much. I don’t have any other names so you can tell me your last one.”

“What about Whiskey?” Immediately the puppy turns his head and looks at you.

“Well I guess he just chose his name,” Bucky laughs as Whiskey makes his way to the both of you.

“It’s a compromise. It’s still a Taylor Swift reference but it’s also your favorite drink.” Bucky hums.

“I think that we should introduce Whiskey to his sister, don’t you think Doll?” Bucky gets up and offers a hand for you.

You gladly take his hand and pick up the puppy, giving him a kiss at the top of his head. Even though you reassured Bucky that Whiskey and Alpine would get along just fine, you couldn’t help but feel nervous. It’s only been a couple of hours and you both already love Whiskey to the moon and back so if you had to find a new home for him, it would be devastating.

“Let’s introduce them.” You nod your head at Bucky and he opens the door.

Unexpectedly, Alpine is sitting at the door waiting for all of you. She is a pretty independent cat and only wants attention when she craves it, usually late at night before bed. Bucky bends down to pick her up to move to the living room, a place that would be more neutral for both animals.

Alpine jumps out of Bucky’s arms and waits patiently for you to let Whiskey down. The puppy squirms in your arms, also wanting to be let down. You look at Bucky, who’s sitting on the couch, and he nods at you. You gently put the dog down and sit beside Bucky.

Whiskey immediately starts to sniff Alpine and she does an inspection of her own. The two pets stare at each other for a minute before Whiskey bolts with Alpine chasing after him.

You let out a relieved laugh. “Oh, I’m so glad that they’re getting along.”

Bucky wraps his arm around you and gives you a kiss. “You called it Doll.”

You both hear a crash come from the kitchen and your eyes widen. You hear Whiskey barking and Alpine meows right back, almost as if the two are arguing.

“We better check on them,” You say as you get up.

Bucky gets up and shakes his head. “Acting like actual siblings.”

[shira-cosmic-star]

hey!

im still in episode 3 of tb but Leo pissed me off in ep 2 broooo

and MC who doesn’t defend herself like 😔😔😔😔

WHO IS HE TO CALL MC A NPC 🙄🙄🙄

anywayy so I thought if you can write hcs with Leo, Tohma and Romeo x MC who outsmart them please ?

I hope I didn’t disturb you 🫶

thank you 🙏

𝓜𝓪𝓽𝓬𝓱 𝓶𝓪𝓭𝓮

Tags: Comedy, Romance, Enemies to lovers(?), slice of life, supernatural 

Characters: Romeo, Leo, & Tohma 

Warning: cursing, seductive on Tohma’s part

 Word count: 2,066 words

Leo:

You knew you weren’t smart in the same way Leo is. However, you were still witty. Often when he would insult you. You manage to always have a comeback. This interaction would go different ways. One, Leo would actually get upset. Maybe mumble, “bitch” after you shut him up. Two, color him impress. He liked the interaction and would playfully bicker with you. Three, he would be caught off guard. It would take him a minute to think about what to do next. Then, a sinister smile takes place. Everyone knows, he is up to no good... 

So, what does he do next? He will do everything he can to get under your nerves. This dude loves to reactions you give him. Although, he finds himself more frustrated, rather than pleased. Why? 

Simple, you weren’t giving him the time of day. You were well aware of the type of person he is. He was basically those type people, who bullies others to get what they want. A pure bully.  

Often when he talked down to you. You would try to handle your anger. Though, as much as you hate to admit. There were times where Leo did hit a nerve. Leo knows what button to press. He often pressed them as many times as he could. But what happens when old tricks don’t work anymore?  

Leo would often insult your friends to get under your skin. Yet, when it didn’t work this time. It displeased him, he tsked as he watched you react to his words like it was nothing. So, he changed his approach. If insulting your friends won’t get your attention. Then maybe he needed to attack you personally?  

He started to insult how you dressed, what you would say in conversations, how you made a mistake on anything and so on and so on.  

Nothing worked, he balled his fist as steam of rage shoots out of his ears. Why don’t his tactics work? He complained over and over to Sho. His best friend grew tired of the constant complaints. Sho was at his wits end with his friend. So, he asked Leo why does he care so much? You were just an NPC, right? So, what is up with Leo being obsessive over you? 

First Leo was in denial. “Me? Obsessed over that NPC? Don’t be stupid.” For a while, he was in denial. He actually loved the witty comebacks you shot back at him. It was smart, creative, and it was like you were ready. There wasn’t a dull moment with you. As much as he hates to admit it to himself. He enjoyed being around you. 

After realizing what this meant. He now needs to figure out how to get your attention. So, the game began. He’ll find creative ways for you to speak to him. He wants you to bicker back and forth with him. But he wants to be on good terms with you too. Everyone knows an apology would work. He’s too prideful, that won’t work in his case. It was set, he was going to challenge you to a game. Loser takes the other on a date. Leo planned to win, and he did. 

Now you were aggravated about the date thing. But you knew Leo wasn’t going to let it go. Therefore, you invited him to the arcade. You challenged him to all of your favorites. Surprisingly, you both were having fun. By the end of the date. Leo asked, why were you ignoring him. 

“I did it because I knew it would trouble you, Leo.” He blinked, “Troubled him?” 

Now it dawned on him. You knew Leo hates to be ignored. So, you played him. Seeing him basically beg for your attention was your planned all along. In shocked and impressed, he looks over to you as you smirked cheekily at him. 

Boy did he fall hard for you.  

Leo have finally met his match. 

Romeo:

You and Romeo weren’t always on the same page. Often, he would yell at you when you don’t understand his abbreviations. When this would happen, you felt exhausted, how on earth were you supposed to know? Even though he would often abbreviate his speech. There were times you did understand what he was saying. You were a tad bit quicker than others in the room.  

When you are at the casino or his office. Romeo would demand you to do this and do that. You were deeply over it. So, to get back at him and make him possibly leave you alone. You came up with your own plan. While making errands for him. You would purposely take your time. He needs a certain document from Professor Hyde? Sure, you’ll get it for him. Although, you’re going to take your time. Oops! You showed up with the papers two hours late? He doesn’t want to hear any excuses. Not, that you had anything else to do. Jin, Leo, or anyone really bothered you that much today. 

If you were tasked to clean his office. You would purposely make even the tiniest mistakes. After observing him and his behavior. You completely knew how to set him off. Why can he clean up his own office? Or his own mess? Or anything really? Pretty boy s just spoiled rotten in your book. As you were cleaning the spilled sparkling wine. You “accidently” smothered it more on the floor. It had left a brutal tough stain. This annoyed him, he yelled at you to do your job correctly. While tilting your head to the side and blinked slowly. You acted innocent and dumb. “Like this?” you questioned him as you made the stain even worse. 

Boy, if looks could kill. You would’ve been dead by now. Romeo was red to the face, a thick vein popped out on his forehead, his hands balled up, and smoke coming out of his ears. He had enough of you. “Enough! How useless can you be!? You’re even worse than that TGA!” You fought hard to keep up the act and not smile or laugh. He takes the rag out of your hand and decided to clean up the mess himself. 

He grumbled on how everyone is stupid and useless. He tells you to get out as he cleans up. In your sweet fake upsetting tone. You spoke softly with a deep fake sigh, “Okay...” His back was facing you. Satisfied, by your work, seeing him on his knee cleaning his mess. You smirked and went home. 

Later on, Taiga went to look for Romeo. When he finds him, Romeo was still annoyed by the whole thing. “Lulu, what got you all angry? You’ll get wrinkles if you don’t relax~” Taiga teased. Romeo quickly turns around and tells him to shut up. “Honestly that new student is working on my last nerve! They can’t do anything right!” His rant goes on for quite a while. Romeo was now finished in his nicely cleaned room. He sat down on his couch and told one of the general students to get him a drink. Taiga, resting on the couch next to him was wearing a smirk on his face. 

“What is it TGA?!” Taiga had a small clue on what happened here. Kitty cat wasn’t a dumb little cat. Oh no, Kitty cat was a sneaky and slick kitten. Color him amused by the antics. “Are you sure they didn’t do this on purpose?” His words held a teasing tone. That is when it hit Romeo. You have purposely made him angry just so he would do his own work. He was angry, but maybe he was impressed too.  

You knew what cards to play. You have successfully won the game. 

Tohma:

This man is hard to break. He’s sharp, too sharp. Most people can’t even tell what he is thinking or what is his next move. You on the other hand love secrets and mysteries. He was a whole book of nothing, but wonders. You wanted to know if you can break him. Would he fall for your tricks? Or would he know your game play? Tohma was always a few steps ahead of anyone. That always felt like he was mocking you. So, it was decided. When you want something. You go and get it. There you were playing a game of chess with him. You have tried asking him questions about him and his personal life. Yet, he would advert the question or smoothly changed the question towards you. So, you changed tactics and asked him the same questions but in a different form. He saw right through it. Now you have to change to pace of the conversation. What do you do? Pick a habit that he does without realizing. Everyone does something without being fully aware. This will be an ice breaker. 

Little by little, you want to break that ice. Your eyes skim over his body to see if you can pick up on any type of body languages. You see his smirk as he plays the game. By looking into his deep sharp blue eyes. That when you began to speak once more. “You know there’s a saying about eyes being the window to the soul?” He hummed, “Yes I’ve heard of that.” 

“I bet I can guess something about you just by looking into your eyes.” You smiled confidently. Ignoring the game, you stand up and strut towards him. He entertained you by letting you come stand by his side. You take off his monocle glasses off and placed it into his breast pocket. When you took your hand out. You left your hand on his chest. One hand on his chest and your other taking his face. Looking deeply into his eyes. You noticed a tired look in his eyes. “You are an intelligent man. Everyone knows that, but you are kind. I can tell you have a deep soul too. You are also extremely handsome, but you feel lonely. Am I right?” You smiled playfully, he laughs lightly and takes your hand into his. “Fluttery will get you nowhere I'm afraid.” 

You giggled and moved to sit on his lap. “I’m only speaking the truth~” It was a bold move, but he did nothing to move you. There was tension in the air. Nothing negative, but something. You played with his hair as his hands rest on your hips. “It must be so hard doing what you need to do. I can’t imagine half of it really.” You spoke quietly to him. Your eyes were gentle and filled with worry. Moving your hand from his hair. You placed it back on his chest. “You really are handsome though. I’ve always had a think for blondes and blue eyes.” He hummed again as you began to move your hands up from his shoulders to his forearms. He was tonally built; you looked back into his eyes and noticed a cloudy hazy look in his eyes. He was feeling strangely hot and bothered. You leaned close to his ear with your arms wrapped around his neck. “What’s the matter handsome? You are all quite all of the sudden.” 

He gulped as quietly as he could, but man. You had a grip on him. He was deeply attracted to you, but didn’t have time to play your little games. Here he was with his guard down. He knew he shouldn’t have let you sit on his lap. But he wanted to see if you were brave enough to make such a bold move. And you did it. You leaned in as if you were going to kiss him. He also leaned in. 

*Ding Ding* 

It was his phone; Jin is calling on him. You removed yourself off his lap and teasingly smiled at him as his answered the call. While you can hear Jin on the other line. You placed your lips to the ear that was left open. You whisper softly, “I had fun playing, maybe next time you’ll will handsome~” Rubbing your hand his shoulder blade gently. You began to walk out of the vault. Swaying your hips side to side as he watched. 

Even the king’s right-hand man falls too.

I'm so sorry this too super long to write. I do hope it is to your liking. Thank you for being patient with me. Please like, comment or reblog. It helps a lot. Love you all my sweet starlings

(Unedited)

[theyhavetakenovermylife]

Love your bay children series! Can you please write how the bay turtles are as uncles and how their nephews and nieces are with them <3

Du skriver även jätte bra! Puss och kram

The Kids and Their Uncles (Fluff)

Bayverse!Turtles x reader

A/N: I’ve made these with the focus on you and said turtle’s childrens’ relationship with one of the uncles. Hope that makes sense, lol. Oh, btw, the advice Leo gives Mini is actually one my psychiatrist gave me. Hopefully it also works for others💚

Og mange tak! Jeg har også øvet mig længe💚

(D/W/N) = Donnie’s wife’s name.

Warnings: None💙❤️💜🧡

Leonardo:

“Uncle Mikey!”, 16 year old Romeo called out, holding his odachi high above his head, gleaming with pride when Michelangelo entered the dojo. “See what I can do!” What followed was a series of fast movements that ended with him posing with his odachi just in front of him, shining in the light.

Gerardo let out a sound of amazement, while Marcello rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. “Show off”.

“Wow, when did you learn that?”, Mikey smiled, knowing how hard his oldest nephew had trained, since Master Splinter first gave him his odachi at the age of 15.

“I learned it myself”, Romeo said proudly, before swinging the odachi in a manner that reminded Mikey of a teenage Leonardo. No doubt that was the oldest son of the fearless leader. “I’m going to show dad later. Do you think he’ll like it?”

“You’re asking if your father will be happy to see something you have learned yourself?”, Mikey asked, his serious tone breaking with his smile as he ruffled the top of Romeo’s head, letting his nephew know that he was joking. “Of course he will. That’s the kind of stuff that will make your old man proud”.

“Me too!”, Gerardo yelled out, mimicking his oldest brother’s moves, but without any weapon in his hands.

“Leo! Is that you?”, Mikey asked jokingly, making the 10 year old laugh loudly, before Romeo put his weapon away, so he and Gerardo engaged in some light hearted sparring, their laughter echoing loudly through the dojo.

Mikey turned to find his other nephew sitting in the corner of the room, watching his brothers run around with a small scowl. Mikey was no stranger to Marcello’s tempered episodes, having been present to many of them, or at least within ear shot. So as he made his way over to the 13 year old Marcello, he knew exactly what was going on. But he would let the young half mutant have a chance, at explaining what he was feeling.

“Hey there, big guy”, Mikey said, taking a seat on the floor next to the grumpy teenager. Marcello shot him a look and greeted him with a small hey, resting his chin in his hand. “Why are you sitting over here?”

“Because those two are taking up the whole dojo”, Marcello mumbled, nodding to his brothers. “A guy can’t get space around here”.

Mikey watched Marcello have his brothers for a moment, before he decided to stand, turning to his nephew with a smile. “Well, guess we then have to make some space”, he said, Marcello looking at him in curiosity. “Ever tried nunchucks before?”

“No”, Marcello answered, unable to hide his smile as he stood up. “Can I try yours?”

“Of course you can”, Mikey said, pulling his nunchucks from his belt, holding them out in front of Marcello, watching his face light up even further. And Mikey’s next words only served to make him smile even brighter. “Time to show your father something the others can’t”.

Raphael:

Raph had never really been good at meditating. He had never really liked it, and he generally had a hard time keeping his mind calm for so long. But he did really want his children to learn it. Or at least get familiar with it, should they ever get to a position where they would need it. And therefore Raph asked Leonardo for help. Leo had always been a natural at meditating, and had for the most part successfully taught his own children to do it, so maybe he could teach Raph’s children the same.

And that was how Leo ended up in the dojo with his nephew and two nieces, helping them clear their minds, the same way that had worked for his own children. But Leo soon found himself facing a difficult situation - these were his nieces and nephew, the children of his hot-tempered and at times inpatient brother. And that much was obvious, from the way the three children had a hard time sitting still, almost refusing to go too far into their own heads.

As Leo spoke about slow breathing, keeping their eyes closed, and bringing their thoughts to focus on the said breathing, only Joan seemed to be able to sit still, wanting to get this over with, so she could go back to whatever a 13 year old teenage girl liked to speed her time with. But her younger siblings weren't finding it as easy. 6 year old Ragnar had a hard time concentrating, his attention being grabbed by every sound outside the dojo, creating all sorts of images in his head. All from his mother and father watching television, to a monster breaking through the entrance of the lair, making him uneasy. Minerva however, just couldn’t sit right. Her legs kept falling asleep and her skin kept crawling, her knee impatiently bouncing in its bent position, pushing up against Joan, drawing an irritated sigh from the frustrated teen, who had just managed to empty her head for a short moment.

“Mini, stop moving your leg”, Leo said without opening his eyes, causing Ragnar to look at him in amazement. How did he do that?

“But, uncle Leo”, Mini said, laying down onto her back, stretching out on the dojo floor. “Meditation is so hard and boring”.

“If you shut up, it maybe wouldn’t be so hard”, Joan mumbled, shooting her little sister a look that made Mini sit back up.

Leo opened his eyes, taking a moment to study Mini as she still couldn’t sit still. “Can you say why it's hard and boring? It’s okay, there’s no right or wrong answer”.

Mini sat for a moment, chewing the inside of her cheek, thinking her answer through. "It's hard to empty my head”, the 9 year old mumbled.

Leo looked at Mini and thought for a moment, before he finally smiled at her, noticing the relieved expression on her face.

“That’s okay”, Leo said, adjusting his legs. “It’s very hard to just empty your head, especially when you’re used to thinking a lot. What you can do instead, is to notice your thoughts. Take note of them and let them be. Don’t fight them, but let them flow naturally. Hopefully that will feel easier”.

Mini nodded with a bright smile, before folding her legs once more, actually being able to sit still this time. Smiling at the sight, Leo turned his attention towards Ragnar, noticing how he kept throwing glances at the dojo doors.

“Do you want to sit next to me, Ragnar?”, Leo asked, holding out his hand to the small boy. Ragnar nodded before making his way over next to Leo, taking a good hold of his hand, before he sat down next to him with his legs crossed, for once not looking towards the door, when he heard the small sounds coming from the other side.

Donatello:

Sometimes it just happened, and Raph wasn’t really sure how. He would walk into a room, find his nephews and nieces playing with something, either with or without his own children, and suddenly he would be sitting down with them, playing along, all full of life and energy. And today wasn’t any different.

Raph had found his 10 year old nephew, Galileo at the kitchen table, scribbling away at pieces of paper with thick colorful crayons, and a concentrated expression on his face - one that very much reminded Raph of Donatello, whenever he was in deep concentration inside his lab.

Raph had asked Gali about what he was drawing, and soon he sat with his nephew at the kitchen table, drawing all sorts of stars and action heroes, causing Gali great amusement, as they took turns adding to the drawing. However, as the two of them continued their drawing game, they were soon joined by Marie and Dorothy.

The two 5 year old girls sat at the table, grabbing their own pieces of paper and a handful of crayons, only for their attention to be fully caught by Gali and Raph’s drawings. And of course, the two girls wanted in, wanting to join their older brother and their uncle.

“Can we play too?”, Dorothy asked, trying to touch the paper with her pink crayon, only for Gali to turn to her with a dirty look. A look that even Raph has seen many times, whenever Gali felt like his sisters crept in on his personal space.

“No, me and uncle Raph are busy”, Gali said, doing a hand movement, as if he was trying to shoo his sisters away.

“But we want to play!”, Marie whined, her green crayon in hand.

“I said no”, Gali said, turning his back on his sisters, pushing his paper further away from them. And of course, this action caused tears to gloss over the girls eyes, looking longingly at the paper he and Raph had been drawing on.

“You know what?”, Raph suddenly said, catching the attention of the three children once more. “I have a better idea”.

Standing from the table, Raph grabbed the stack of paper, before splaying them out over the kitchen table, until the whole surface was covered in the white paper. The three kids, seeming to understand what Raph was doing, looked up at their uncle with wide smiles, grabbing onto the crayons with excitement.

“Let’s draw the biggest drawing ever!”, Raph said, watching with a happy smile, his nephew and niece smiled at each other, before turning their attention towards the many papers in front of them.

As Raph and three kids continued their drawing, the other kids slowly came to the table, taking a look before adding onto the large piece themselves. It didn’t take long before all the kids of the lair sat around the kitchen table, drawing until there was almost no crayons left.

Michelangelo:

1.5 year old Luis had been sick for a few days now, crying for both you and Mikey at all times. The poor little guy was teething, and with that came sickness and pain, and so, you and Mikey was hung up, spending most of your time with your crying child, trying to soothe the pain in his gums. And this left Sunny BORED. Ever since Luis had gotten sick due to his teething, Sunny had been a bored and sighing mess. She wandered around the lair, waiting for the moment Luis got better, so either you, Mikey or maybe even Luis could come play with her. But until then, she would have to entertain herself, or find someone else to do so. And that was how she ended up in the lab with her uncle, draping herself over a small table on the other side of the room, with a small installation of the solar system on it.

Donnie saw his niece enter the lair, and spoke to her without looking away from his work. “Hey, Sunny. How’s it going?”

“Bored!”, Sunny groaned, resting her chin on the table, her eyes staring at the small earth in front of her. “Luis’ sick, so there’s nothing to do”.

“That doesn’t sound good”, Donnie said, turning his chair so he could watch Sunny, making sure she wasn’t getting her fingers into something she shouldn’t. She had a tendency to touch whatever she found interesting. And just as Donnie had thought, she was now poking at the miniature solar system. “Have you asked Gali if he wants to play?”

“He’s reading with aunt (D/W/N)”, the girl mumbled. However, her flighty attention and curiosity was very soon taken by the miniature she was playing with. “What is this?”

“That?”, Donnie asked, rolling his chair over to her. “That’s the solar system. The one you’re touching right now is earth”.

“Earth”, Sunny repeated, her attention jumping to the small white ball beside it. “What’s this?”

“That’s the moon”, Donnie answered.

“The moon?”, Sunny asked, her eyes shining with excitement. “Like the one in the sky?”

“Yes”, Donnie smiled. “Like the one in the sky”.

“Do there live fairies on the moon?”, Sunny asked, pushing the moon spindle, so it made a rush of circles around the earth.

Donnie chuckled at her question. She was truely Mikey’s daughter.

“Do you want fairies to live on the moon?”, Donnie asked, watching Sunny study the solar system. His niece looked at him and nodded. “Then in that case, there lives moon fairies on the moon. But they are hard to find. They neither like robots or beings that aren’t fairies themselves”.

“But I’m a fairy!”, Sunny exclaimed.

“You are!?”, Donnie asked, acting surprised. He looked around, acting as if he was thinking, making Sunny laugh. “But we’re in my lab! There are robots! Come on fairy, let’s get you out of here and find some of your fairy friends!”

And with a loud giggle, Sunny ran out of the room, waiting for Donnie to close the door to the lab behind him, before they continued their fairy game in the living area.

[nalyra-dreaming]

"Romeo?" reminds me of "No Peleas, no Melisande"

In both Louis through dreamstat expressing his doubt that he and Armand could ever be some grandiose iconic love story.

Which heartbreakingly ties with revelation that Armand did not see lestat. He felt him but he didn't knew details and didn't knew for sure how Louis viewed and still views their relationship. This episode solidified my theory that "love of my life" wasn't even delusion, but more put upon mask. OR it is what Louis believes in but I think it started after some...tinkering in San Francisco

Assad acting is insanely good, I understood why Rolin said he felt for Armand while filming. That moment of realization, that hurt and shock he experiences and tries to mask immediately because Daniel is there. Assad's interviews are very insightful and interesting and I got from them that Armand truly viewed this relationship better than they actually were, even though deep down I think he knew.

I have a theory that he was aware that things were not good to say the least at first but something happened in San Francisco. Something that made Armand believe things will be better. (Some memories were changed perhaps) And so they lived after this their stable life under sword of Damocles, because once memories returned? Peace is gone. Raglan mentioned other people trying to interview Louis (or at least that's how I interpretated this) and it ended poorly for them. Armand definitely took care of them.

So Louis definitely knows that something isn't right. We established it in ep1 s2. He also 90% knows that Armand is responsible at least partially for this. Or at least can restore memories. He knows interview will help him. He knows Armand doesn't want interview. He knows Armand kills(?) people who interview him. He knows that Armand spared Daniel (we don't know if anything else happened but we don't have to. It's enough already). He knows that there's something about Daniel that makes Armand intrigued and he can't kill him. He probably feels guilty about Daniel's memories as well. He invites Daniel so they both can remember.

Okay, so the "love of my life"... was more or less debunked already after the last episode of s1, in interviews. It was a play on "The Graduate", here is a great discussion on that (also this is from November 22, for context^^):

This isn't their great love story. It's being sold as such, for reasons.

And yes, Assad is insanely good, and he understands his character so well! Ultimately Armand wants love... and to be loved. (The problem is the way he goes about it...)

Armand canonically believes that "Louis would get over it". Not kidding. "It" being Claudia's and Lestat's (supposed) deaths. There is a whole speech in IWTV about that. And that was a misconception in the book, and it will be one in the show.

And yes, I have also theorized that Louis invited Daniel specifically because he is the one tool to crack Armand... and to remember. Because he knows things do not add up. And now Daniel knows, too. And Daniel... Daniel is the one mortal Armand won't just kill.

For... reasons which have a lot to do with San Francisco :)

[the-interidiot]

MCSM REMAKE ANALYSIS

god I’m so UNWELLLLL ABOUT THIS‼️‼️‼️ /POS

I just wanna state beforehand the trailer looks AWESOME, I have some criticisms but I’m MOSTLY excited! I haven’t played the game in years though, so a lot of my info is pure memory and the power of hyperfixation . It MAY be inaccurate and if it is, I do genuinely want to be corrected!

[WARNING: LONG. I YAP A LOT BELOW CUT.]

Male!White Jessie is the poster child, which makes sense as he is the most recognizable. As much as I LOVE female Jessie sm, I definitely recognize M by first glance.

The animation looks MUCH nicer, though it’s not shown in this screenshot! It’s got a raised FPS from the original, and actually doesn’t have a ton of lighting errors anymore!

They’re adding newer blocks, which I like a lot - though it does lead to one of the first major criticisms I have. They need to TREAD CAREFUL with new stuff. The amethyst looks great, but I guarantee 90% of people are going to play/watch Block by Block for nostalgia, and an OVERLOAD of new stuff will take away from this.

PETRA!!!!! She looks COOL in this shot, and in general! The lighting is GREAT, and I appreciate her getting an action shot! The shadow is a little intense, but no complaints here.

Olivia and Eligard using redstone lights is a nice touch, and connects the characters well. :)

It also begs the question of if Olivia (in that screenshot) is pre-witherstorm or post-witherstorm, as she WAS always a Redstone engineer but she got a lot of her inspiration and materials from Redstone City.

THE CREW! This is a GREAT starting shot, though I will unfortunately tripe that I wish the shading was less heavy here. Lucas looks great, and I’m happy to see him! He was always one of my favorites. :)

Alex and Olivia having a conversation, while Jessie and Lucas just separately enjoy the situation. Lucas doesn’t look super pleased here, but he isn’t really happy for most of MC:SM, so…. (Free my boy, he needs therapy) /j

I can’t tell if Gabriel is going to die or not, unfortunately. This scene looks like just adoration for his hero, but it also reminds me of the choice to take Eligard or Magnus’s armor, which worries me. Gabriel dying doesn’t seem too likely though, as we see him in shots that take place presumably later.

I’m not sure, but I THINK the first place here is Mobcity! If it is, WOAH. It looks INSANE! (/POS) I loved Mobcity so much when I first played the game, and seeing it again made me giggle a little bit.

The second and third locations are clearly Redstone City (Redstonia? I don’t remember the name, sorry!) And Boomtown. I personally always chose Boomtown when I played, but I watched people play Redstone city! They both look nice, and the more terf-war style chaos of Boomtown looks nice - it almost looks like something Fallout reminiscent to me.

I have a FEW thoughts here. First - the obvious, I can’t tell what the drones are. I’m likely forgetting something story wise - but I can’t identity where they come from. BUT, the lights in the background look a lot like White Pumpkins mansion zoomed in, which excites me.

Except…. I don’t think those are from White Pumpkin.

THIS shot interested me the most of the whole trailer. Red arrows shooting in a snowy forest. This appears to be the same location as the previous shot, and initially I thought these arrows were from PAMA. But that doesn’t make sense, she’s in the desert.

These arrows look like ROMEO. Sure, it’s a possibility they’re the poison arrows from the Mansion, but they’re glowing too bright and in addition to the drones from the previous shot makes me think them to be The Admins.

So how is HE, HERE? And why was only one drone blue? (Also, keep in mind I DO know the difference between the drones and phantoms).

Speaking of PAMA. HOLY. JEBUS. /POS

This looks TERRIFYING. I love this shot because it’s nailing in a concept the original kind of failed at, that this robot is ENSLAVING EVERYONE. These people are drones - pawns to the perfect system. And some of the armor here is detailed, making me think some of them are named characters. I don’t remember if any named characters get taken over in the original, but probably.

The Temple! It FEELS big just with this shot, which amazes me. 10/10, no comments.

This is the one shot I took a while to identify. I first thought this was the Spleef area for some reason, then I thought it was the Mob Grinder due to the downward shot, but it seems to simply be the cart ride near the beginning of the game through the nether. (Which is a shame, because I would LOVE to see the mob grinder in the trailer!)

The Piglins concern me a little for the same reason as the amethyst, so I restate - PLEASE don’t rely on new stuff. This is justifiable, as Pigmen are gone, but just a quick warning.

I CANT tell who the person on the left is, but I have a few theories? This is a snow environment, so my brain thought is that it’s somebody from the White Pumpkin area. But it looks a lot like (from memory) Ivors ninja costume. I’m sure there’s an obvious answer one google search could tell me, but I’m dumb and don’t wanna google stuff.

It could also be an anti-PAMA person? I don’t remember that plot too well, but wasn’t there also a blue headset used to see through the red ones?

AND FINALLY. THE ONE. THE ONLY.

THE WITHERSTORMMMMMMMMM!!!!!

I have SO many good things to say, as well as a few criticisms, but they’re so small I’ll knock them out now. The roof doesn’t really look like it’s glass being shattered, it looks too thick. And the color contrast is a tad too high.

That’s it. The whole criticism. NOW, it’s so BIG. It feels consuming, like it’s not just eating its environment but also growing too fast for even the camera to catch up with. One of my hopes is that they don’t have as many full-body shots of the creature, because shots like THIS - where it’s so large you can’t even SEE THE END (no pun intended) amaze me. I love these shots.

Anyway this excites me very much and also gave me motivation to crawl my MC:MS oc’s from the grave and look at their dirty, cringy asses again. I might remake them TBH, those concepts were fire. 10 year old me COOKED.

[aayakashii]

So I was thinking abt Yuri’s theory abt pacts and most humans being allergic to demonic particles causing them to die. If his speculation is correct then doesn’t that mean people planning on making pacts could try using immunotherapy?

Sooo just imagine. A few months pass and there’s still no hint of her curse being cured. MC doesn’t want to jump the gun but she wants to have a back up plan of her own instead of just trusting the institute to cure her curse, so she starts considering making a pact. She doesn’t wanna risk just happening to be one of the few that aren’t allergic to demonic particles (it’s not like her lucks all that great after all) so she seeks a ghoul who has a blood type that is compatible with hers (or she just has AB+ blood so she can accept any blood) and is just trying to not seem suspicious as she awkwardly asks if they’ll let her take their blood samples for months until the last week (or earlier depending on wether she even knows how to find a demon to make a pact with) before her year limit is up so she can build resistance. Whether she tells them her true or intentions or not tho may depend on the person.

Like I can just imagine that she’s type O (O- if you wanna give her less options) so she’s forced to ask Tohma, Ren, or Taiga who also have type O blood.

Or having to ask Leo or Romeo for whatever reason and you can only convince them by:

A) Giving them a reason they’d believe and care enough about

B) Telling the truth

C) Doing their bidding

Or

D) A combination of C and another one

It also makes me wonder how Yuri would respond. I’m guessing he would know why without having to question you for long since he is the one that told you about his hypothesis. Now whether he would initially refuses cuz he knows he can find a cure or he agrees right away to prove his conjecture is the question.

Sorry for rambling I know this is long 😭

I think it’s a pretty cool idea though, thx for reading it!

PLEASE I LOVE LONG ASKS LIKE THESE, KEEP SHARING IDEAS WITH ME!!!!!

That's actually such a good theory, too! I honestly think MC could be honest with almost all the ghouls, except Kaito and Luca. They would most definitely be 100% against the idea of her making a pact. Maybe Alan and Haru too, since they have a protective streak on them that would probably make them very against the idea. So maybe she would have to hide her intentions from these guys. But the rest could pretty much be aware of her goal. Some would be more resistant, but then they could just shrug and think "ah whatever it's worth a shot ig 🤷"

It would still force her into a bind, though 💀 it's not like Leo or Romeo would just accept it without getting something from it. But I don't think they would be against her using their blood like that. They would call her crazy for sure, but they would hardly stop her. It's not like they care about the poor girl all that much 😭

I think Yuri would be very conflicted. In one hand, he is adamant that he can cure the curse. But in the other, this would be the perfect way to prove his theory. He doesn't seem like a person who creates a plan B for any of his scientific endeavors, but maybe because it plays into something very important to him, he could accept it.

Although I wonder if he ever tried using his own blood to search for the specific antibodies in order to check whether or not his theory is valid.

Oh, but he would definitely need demon antigens to see which antibodies latch on them, and getting that must be very hard (I don't think Darkwick has a demon sample at all). yeah nevermind, immunotherapy for a probable allergy is the only option 💀

I wonder what types of adverse effects she would have to face though! Like, since she'd be building immunity, her body would be working overtime to fend off those antigens. How would that appear in her body? Would she get high fevers, vomiting, weakness, and other cold-like symptoms, like when we take a flu vaccine?

The thing is, she would need to start the therapy right away, so she can have at least those last 10 months of intense treatment. The mermaid guy did it for only a few weeks I think and it went horribly wrong 💀

But all in all, that's such a good theory! I love how they're pushing a medical pov through Yuri! It kinda gives me war flashbacks because I immediately think of work but that's okay dkjdsjdjd

[cetaitlaverite]

Anything to Anywhere

Masters of the Air - John Egan x OC

masterlist is here <3

23. Where She Belonged

“Oh god.”

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s no fucking flare path,” Stella said, swallowing hard as she checked her watch. She was definitely on time. Next she checked her compass. She was definitely in the right place. That was definitely the right field. And it was definitely pitch dark, no flare path and no Resistance on the ground waiting to signal her in morse code.

“What does that mean for me?” the spy she was ferrying, code name Piper, demanded, bracing a hand on the back of her seat so he could peer through the windscreen. Stella wasn’t sure what he was looking for; all there was to see were trees and empty farmland.

“It means we can’t land,” Stella ground out. “You might have to parachute out of the back.”

“Fuck that,” Piper hissed. “I’m a wireless op. My radio’s too precious to fall out of the back of a plane and there’s no point in me being here without it. Figure something out.”

“Do you suggest I just turn us around and fly back to England?” Stella snapped. A bead of sweat rolled down her back, another tracking along her hairline. The night air was freezing, making the tip of her nose and her ears ache, but beneath her clothes she was sweating, stress and panic making her blood buzz.

“I suggest you find somewhere to fucking land,” Piper snarled in reply. He shot her a dirty look which Stella refused to look at. She kept her attention directed on the field she had been ordered to land in, the field which an entire welcome committee were currently supposed to be waiting in and yet weren’t.

Stella and Piper didn’t get along very well at the best of times. Where most of the spies she’d come into contact with respected her simply by virtue of the fact she was a Special Duties pilot, Piper didn’t like that she was a woman. “Where’s Daisy?” he’d demanded the first time she’d ever ferried him into France. “Or Sparky? Romeo? Scots?”

“You’ve got me,” she’d replied, and he’d made no secret of his dissatisfaction with this fact. He hadn’t even seemed happy to see her when she’d arrived to pick him back up again after he’d completed his assignment.

Now, crammed into a Lysander with nowhere to land, their words came harsh and fast. For some reason they were whispering, even up so high in the air, as though they thought the Gestapo might overhear them. Really, if the Gestapo was going to hear anything it was going to be the engine, but neither of them were thinking much about that.

“Maybe they’re just running late,” Stella reasoned under her breath, speaking mostly to herself. Her hands were fluttering above the yoke, wondering which way she was supposed to steer. Her training had only grazed over the possibility of anything like this ever happening; as far as she knew, it never had before.

Piper scoffed, overhearing her. “They can’t afford to be late. None of us can. If they’ve gotten held up they’re supposed to radio to cancel.”

“They could’ve been held up on their way here,” Stella replied sharply. She had no idea why she was trying to defend the team on the ground; they were screwing her over just as much as anyone else. Nonetheless, she went on, “They may not have had time to radio. Or their radio might have been confiscated.”

“If they’ve been arrested then this whole operation’s in shambles,” Piper snapped.

“Still want me to land?” Stella snarled sarcastically in reply.

The field was definitely still dark even when they were right above it. No flare path, no torch flashing morse code, no nothing.

Stella growled in frustration, putting the plane back into the climb and starting to circle. If she just gave them more time, she reasoned with herself, they might arrive. Next time she lined up for the landing she might be staring at a fully lit flare path, might find herself scrambling to blink her morse code signal back at them.

It was when Stella was turning around, ready to come back in for the approach, that she saw it. A separate field a few miles west of the one they’d agreed on, smaller and locked in by trees on all sides but with a waiting L-shaped flare path, a morse code letter ‘B’ being flashed in her direction on loop.

“That’s them!” Stella exclaimed, starting to head for it. “The other field must have been compromised.” Just as she’d predicted, she had to scramble for her torch, flashing a morse code ‘J’ back at them, the agreed upon return signal to identify herself to them.

They received it and promptly lit up the rest of the flare path.

Stella let out all of her breath, rolling back her shoulders, preparing to get this plane down or die trying.

“Or they realised they weren’t going to make it there on time,” Piper muttered, getting prepared to disembark the plane behind her. He bumped into the walls of the plane and cursed as the plane jolted, going so slow by now it almost stalled.

“Jesus,” Stella mumbled as she put the plane in its landing gear. “It’s tiny.” The field they’d chosen last minute was smaller than she’d realised. If she managed to get the plane down in one piece it was going to be a miracle; she was more likely to drive them head first into a copse of trees.

“Just land the fucking plane, Bambi,” Piper said from the back.

Stella rolled her eyes. “I’d like to see you land a Lysander in a hundred yard field. It’s not designed to land in anything shorter than five times that.”

“You’ll work it out,” Piper said, his bitter smile audible in his voice.

“Either that or I’ll kill us both trying,” Stella drawled in response. “So if you want to make it safely to the ground you’ll shut your fucking mouth and let me work.”

She was covered in a sheen of sweat by now. All of this had not been covered by her training. But, she reminded herself, the Moon Squadron didn’t choose pilots who were little more than puppets, who could follow orders and recreate their training in the field and no more than that. The Moon Squadron chose pilots who were fearless, who would fly into occupied territory and work with the cards they were dealt, would rely on their instincts and their talent to get them out of hot water because no amount of training could account for everything that could go wrong when ferrying spies in the middle of the night. The Moon Squadron had chosen her because she was the best. She’d always been the best. At every airfield she’d ever flown out of before coming to Tempsford and Tangmere she’d been the best, and everyone had known it. She’d been the last to join the Moon Squadron and she’d still jumped the queue for a promotion.

She was here for a reason, she reminded herself, and it was because she’d earned it. It was a privilege to be a woman flying into enemy airspace, wondering just how the hell she was going to land her Lysander and get her spy safely to the ground. Not too long ago she’d been ferrying B-17s across England and she’d always been too good for it. This was what she was meant for.

This was where she belonged.

It took all of her strength, all of her concentration, and all of her training to get the plane anywhere even close to the ground in that slip of an airstrip. “Jesus!” she cried, drenched in sweat, pulling on the yoke as hard as she could as she tried to bring the plane down in one piece.

The flare path was rapidly disappearing beneath them. The trees up ahead were getting scarily close.

“Come on, come on, come on,” Stella muttered, squinting through the sweat dripping into her eyes. Her hands were on fire, raw where she was gripping the yoke so hard. Every muscle in her entire body was tensed with the effort of keeping the plane steady, of trying to get it to land in time. Her heart was pounding loud and insistent in her ears.

“Come on,” Piper mumbled behind her, his eyes focused out of the windscreen and on the copse of trees they were about to run straight into. “Fucking hell, Bambi, come on!”

With a loud, wild scream, Stella reached as far into the reserves of her energy as she could, bringing out everything she had left inside of her. She dragged up the dregs of every last bit of talent she’d ever had, every last bit of training she’d ever been given. She thought of her oldest brother, Will, teaching her to fly. She thought of her other brothers, killed in action. She thought of the commanding officers who had fought for her to get this promotion. She thought of all of the pilots at Thorpe Abbotts who had idolised her. She thought of all the pilots at Tempsford, who believed in her. She thought of Lucky. She thought of John.

The plane hit the ground with a crash. It bounced three times. It screeched to a stop inches from the trees.

“Fuck!” Stella shouted when it was all over. Her breath was heaving, ragged and rapid, her heart was racing in her chest. She slumped back into her seat, exhausted.

The plane was thrumming beneath her, the engine coughing and sputtering as it slowed to a halt.

Stella began to smile, relieved and amazed that she’d managed to pull that off, before she realised she’d never flicked the engine off.

It had stalled.

“Wait,” she sputtered, lurching forward in her seat. “No, no, no.”

Piper was already on his way out. “Oh dear,” he said when his boots hit the ground.

Stella’s eyes fell shut. Her bottom lip wobbled. “No, no, no. Please no. Please, god, please no. Not this. Anything but this.”

“Bambi,” Piper called, giving the side of the plane a tap. “You’d better get out.”

Stella’s first step on French soil was on wobbly legs, her knees weak with lethargy, fear, dread.

“Oh no,” she whined, fighting the tears in her eyes. The undercarriage was broken. Even if the engine hadn’t stalled, there was no way she was getting this plane back in the air.

The dark was oppressive, the light of the moon all but futile. Stella couldn’t make out faces unless they were right in front of her, so she didn’t try to. She stood in the mud, staring at her broken plane, as the Resistance operatives around her hurried to swap out the supplies she’d been delivering for the supplies she was supposed to be taking home.

Out of the chaos, one person came to stand beside her. She didn’t glance over, just continued to stare, forlorn, at her ticket home, all but torn to shreds before her eyes.

“The Resistance are going to take you in,” Piper informed her. Tentatively, he lifted a hand and patted her on the shoulder. “I’ll wire Mouse as soon as I’m in position to let him know you’re here. They’ll send someone for you as soon as they can.”

“As soon as they can isn’t very soon,” Stella replied dumbly. They needed moonlight to fly - blind flying wasn’t possible for 161 like it was for 138. The moon was already waxing; tomorrow it would probably be too dark. They wouldn’t risk another pilot’s life to spare hers, they couldn’t afford to. They’d already lost so many last year.

Piper gave her another firm pat on the shoulder then gave it a squeeze. “You’ll be fine,” he said, though he didn’t sound like he believed his own words. “This lot have been doing this for ages. You’re far from their first downed airman.”

“I’m their first downed airwoman,” she pointed out.

Piper shrugged. “What difference does it make?”

Stella scrambled back into the cockpit of her Lysander only to retrieve her flight bag and then, like a child, was led by the elbow to sit in the wet grass at the edge of the field. Resistance operatives hurried around, setting the scene before they set the plane on fire; they needed to make it look like an emergency crash landing, not a planned one, or else the Gestapo would go looking for the pilot and spy who had been delivered.

Unfortunately, that meant they needed two bodies to burn with the Lizzie.

“Fucking hell,” Piper was muttering as he threw himself into the grass beside Stella. “Their little fucking charade has landed us all in the shit.”

Stella hummed, staring out dazedly ahead of her, hardly able to believe where life had landed her.

Piper sat beside her in silence, stewing, before he scoffed out of nowhere and said, “They got stopped and searched. That’s why they were running late. And they knew they wouldn’t make it to the right field in time. That’s why they chose this one.”

“This one was too small,” Stella said redundantly.

Piper gave a bitter laugh. “Yeah,” he said. “I know.”

Stella’s gaze fell to the bag in her lap, with her gas mask and her pilot’s notes and her identity papers and her pilot’s licence inside, all sitting beside a Polish toy bunny.

Oh, Lucky was going to be furious, if not because Stella had gotten stuck here when she had specifically told her not to then because she’d taken her beloved rabbit down with her.

The Resistance operatives shot two German sentries who happened to stumble upon them. It was convenient that they’d found them, which was likely the first time anyone doing anything like this in occupied territory had been able to say so, because before they could report anything they were dead and their bodies were shoved into the Lysander, one in the pilot’s seat and the other in the back with all the compromised radios Stella was supposed to be returning to England.

The rush of heat from the flames warmed Stella’s face and blew her hair back. It wasn’t long before the fire started to roar, which meant it wasn’t long before more Germans sought them out.

“Venez,” said one of the Resistance operatives, a woman who must have been in her fifties, extending a hand to Stella. She had sweat beading on her forehead and hair escaping her chignon, a stern look in her eyes and no smile on her face. “English girl,” she said when Stella didn’t move. “Come.”

“She’s taking you in,” Piper explained, hauling himself to his feet and then hauling Stella up beside him. “She’ll hide you for as long as she can.”

“And then?” Stella asked.

Piper shrugged. “We’ll cross that bridge if it comes to it.”

If. Not when.

Stella’s stomach flipped. If the French woman hadn’t grabbed her by the elbow she was sure she would have been sick.

“Are you coming too?” Stella asked Piper as she was led over to a bicycle which had been abandoned in the mud.

Piper stayed put, his feet rooted to the ground, and shook his head. He offered a small, fleeting smile and raised one hand in a wave. “I’ve got a job to do, Bambi,” he said. “You delivered me safely, remember?”

Stella was shoved onto the back of the Frenchwoman’s bicycle and driven rapidly around the outskirts of a village she didn’t know the name of, somewhere close to Tours. The woman didn’t say anything so Stella didn’t either, just held on tight and watched the trees and farmland and cattle pass, wishing she was on her way back to Tangmere and her tiny single bed in the bedroom she was always put up in, wishing she was looking forward to the party celebrating her fifteenth successful flight with 161.

It seemed cruel to take her down now. Fifteen successful flights meant you’d beaten the odds. She’d managed fourteen. The odds had beaten her. And now here she was, in the damp and the dark and the cold, on the back of a stranger’s bicycle in the middle of occupied France, shivering even beneath John’s jacket with Lucky’s childhood bunny stuffed into her bag.

And all she could think of on that fateful journey to wherever she was going was the conversations she’d had with the other Hut 6 girls about what would happen to them if they ever went down, unregistered female RAF pilots who the Germans would never believe were official: torture, medical experimentation, death.

One fat, silent tear dribbled down her dirty cheek.

The woman slowed the bicycle to a stop outside a barn and dismounted the bike without warning. She grabbed Stella by the elbow and jolted her out of the way before the bike could take her over as it fell. Silently, she pulled open the barn door and led Stella inside, around an old car and to the very back of the space. She pushed and pulled at some stacks of hay, then reached for the ground and pulled open a hatch.

When she turned to Stella, her lips were drawn into a thin line, but her eyes were softer than before. Maternal was the word which came to mind, though Stella knew she wasn’t a reliable source where identifying such a trait was concerned; her own mother had never been much good with all of that.

Carefully, slowly, the Frenchwoman reached out and wiped away Stella’s single, solitary tear, then rested that same hand on her shoulder. “Français?” she asked. French?

“Un petit peu,” Stella replied in what was sure to be a terrible accent. A little bit.

The woman smiled. “We will take care of you,” she said in heavily accented English. “No tears. Only sleep.” Then she gestured down to the space beneath the trapdoor she’d pulled open, where there already lay a pillow and a blanket, evidence of the airmen who had lodged here before.

The woman helped to get Stella situated and went so far as to pull the blanket up over her. She let Stella keep her bag, though her eyes were suspicious as Stella set it beside her. She had a feeling it would be confiscated as soon as she found somewhere to destroy it. And then the woman retreated, reaching for the door and whispering through the darkness, “Bonne nuit.”

[the-authoress-writes]

Wherever You Go

Prologue

Tom “Iceman” Kazansky x Aviator!reader (Callsign: Thorn)

Moodboard by @bradshawsbaby

Written for @roosterforme’s Top Gun Rocktober Playlist Fic Challenge

Synopsis: Tom Kazansky made a mistake.

Or rather, a series of mistakes.

He chose to take the assignment as an instructor at TOPGUN.

He fell in love with one of his students.

He broke her heart.

He chose to leave TOPGUN, and redeploy.

Now, he was stuck onboard the USS Nimitz with the woman whose heart he broke, with no way out.

Unbelievably, that’s not the problem.

Problem is, he still loves her.

Series Warnings: Teacher/Student relationship (but you already knew that) with no real age gap, warnings will be updated as the series progresses.

Warnings: Here be some cursing, because they are men in the Navy—they will curse.

Other than that, nothing really.

Author’s Note: “It’s only going to be a oneshot.”

Every author knows that those are the famous last words, and that is no truer than with this story.

I really, really thought I could make this into a oneshot but then I gave up on that.

Because I am so in love with this storyline, that it deserves space to breathe.

So this one shot is now going to be at most (hopefully), a six-part series.

*sigh*

Darn it, Val, what have you done to me?

Thank you so, so very much to @roosterforme for hosting the Top Gun Rocktober Fic Challenge, and for allowing me to use one of my favorite 80s rock ballads, “The Flame” by Cheap Trick.

Lyrics from the song will be peppered in throughout this series, because it’s too good not to, and the song is the reason this story exists, as it is what birthed the plotline.

Another thank you goes to the incredible @bradshawsbaby for making the stunning moodboard for this fic, which was beyond my wildest dreams!

Special thanks also to @valmare, the fact that I am writing Tom Kazansky x reader! fic is all your fault; but thank you so much for dragging me down with you, it’s been an absolute joy!

Not much plot happens in this prologue, but I think it’s important to set up the narrative.

Ice cold, no mistakes.

That’s what everyone said about him, and he knew it.

He’d be lying to himself if he said that some part of him didn’t enjoy it, that reputation for perfection.

But now, as Tom watched her doing preflight for her CAP in the shadows of his little nook in the superstructure of the Nimitz, he knew that he was staring at the biggest mistake of his life.

He watched her hands lovingly run across the airframe of her F-14, and he inhaled sharply in remembrance.

He’d only been able to feel her touch him like that once, but it was more than enough to burn it into his memory forever.

As he watched, the large form of her RIO, LTJG Emmett “Romeo” Kinford, came up behind her, slapping her on the shoulder, which elicited a bright smile from her.

It tugged at his heart, to see her smile, even though it wasn’t the same smile she used to smile at him.

What he wouldn’t give to have her smile at him again.

She was the first woman he’d ever really loved, and he knew she’d be the last.

But he’d broken her heart two months ago.

It tore him apart to have to do that, but he had no choice—not if he wanted her to keep her wings, much less her title as Top Gun of TOPGUN Class 1, 1987.

And he knew she belonged in the sky, so he made the bitter choice, and he suffered for it—they both did.

He was still suffering.

It was why he’d chosen to redeploy, even though he loved teaching at TOPGUN, could easily have seen himself doing it for at least another few years, because he couldn’t stand to stay at Miramar, where he had so many memories of her, about her, with her.

He hadn’t missed the half-pitying, half-understanding look Viper had given him as he turned in his transfer papers—the now-Captain had always been intuitive.

“You’re a damn good instructor, Kazansky, we’ll be sad to see you go.”

“I’m sad to go, sir, but I… feel that I need to do this.”

A nod.

“Alright, son.

I’ll turn these in.

You and Kerner should get your new orders in two weeks.”

Within a week, he and Slider were deployed on the Nimitz.

One week after that, VF-1 chopped in, Mav and Merlin included.

“What the hell are you doing here, Mav?” Tom grinned, smiling for what felt like the first time in weeks as he hugged his wingman while Slider did the same for their former Academy classmate.

“I quit teaching.”

“What?!” Tom and Slider exclaimed, while Merlin sighed longsufferingly, shaking his head.

“You loved teaching!” Tom continued.

The dark-haired aviator shrugged. “It was boring without you there—no one else gave me a run for my money.”

“Sounds an awful lot like you’re admitting that I’m the better pilot, Mav.”

“In your dreams,” Mav scoffed. “But again, I will admit it was boring without you there.”

Tom smirked. “Love you too, Mav.”

“Fuck you, Kazansky,” his wingman retorted with a grin.

“No thanks, not in the mood,” Tom deadpanned.

Mav guffawed, making Tom’s deadpan melt into another grin, before the other pilot threw one arm around his shoulder, the other around Merlin’s upper back (as that was as high as it would go without effort, given the RIO’s borderline absurd height of 6’ 5”). “The Layton Boys are back!”

Slider interjected, “Technically, we’re missing Wood and Wolf.”

Mav rolled his eyes, “Okay, most of the Layton Boys are back—better, Ronald?”

Tom sighed, preparing for the bitchfest he knew was coming—he’d learned at Annapolis how much Slider hated his full first name.

(That wasn’t even mentioning the absolute hissyfit that would occur if the middle name was whipped out: Evelyn.)

(It was his great-grandfather’s name.)

“Yeah, Peter,” Slider retorted.

Okay—nothing was going to stop this now, to paraphrase the song—Mav was just as bad; Goose was the only one who could call him “Peter” and get away with it.

An all-too familiar pissy look came over Mav’s face. “Dickhead.”

“Yardstick.”

“Asswipe.”

“Petey Pocket.”

That was new—he and Merlin held their breath to see what would happen next.

Mav stared.

Slider stared right back.

A black-haired blur rushed forward, and Slider took off running, the flight deck now thankfully free of planes, the next CAP not starting preflight for another hour.

“Should we stop them?” Tom asked Merlin, as they watched the other pilot and RIO run across the Nimitz, a faint “Come back here, asshole!” carrying on the sea wind.

“If it’s all the same to you, I say let them go; you don’t know how wound up Mav’s been.”

He chuckled. “Fair enough—Sli could use the exercise.”

Eventually, Slider finally slipped up, and half-tripped on a padeye, allowing the smaller man to tackle him, the chase devolving into a wrestling match, which further devolved into what could only be described as a third grade slap-fight, before it finally ended with both men on their backs, heaving breaths into their lungs.

Tom and Merlin looked at each other, and in unspoken agreement, headed over to their RIO and pilot.

“Missed you too, Shortstack,” he heard Slider mutter, once he and Merlin came close enough.

“Didn’t say anything.”

“I know.”

“You done, you little gremlin?” Merlin asked, a wry expression on his face.

Mav glanced warningly at Slider, who silently raised his hands in surrender. “Yeah, we’re done.”

“Alrighty,” Merlin sighed, offering his pilot a hand up, Tom doing the same for his RIO.

Once both of them were hauled off of the flight deck, the aviators/infants stared at each other once more, and Tom was just about to pinch the bridge of his nose in exasperation, when Slider extended his hand. “Truce?”

Mav considered the extended hand for a beat, before slapping his hand into the other man’s. “Truce.”

Slider grinned, and used their clasped hands to pull the diminutive pilot into a hug. “It’s good to see you, Mav.”

A sigh. “You too, Sli.”

They finally made their way below deck, Mav and Merlin dashing off to report to the Air Boss, before they met again in the Officer’s Mess, the quartet eating dinner leisurely, as none of them had a CAP until tomorrow.

To their surprise, Tom and Slider found out that Mav and Merlin would be sharing their berthing, and Tom couldn’t help but wonder at the Hand of God making such happy coincidences occur (or perhaps the hand of a certain TOPGUN instructor).

The four of them easily settled into the layout they had set up on the Enterprise; who would take which bunk or locker, which segued into the boisterous exchange of stories between them.

In the midst of the familiar camaraderie, Tom could almost forget the ever-present gaping hole in his heart, ignore the pain which always threatened to swallow him whole when he was alone.

But bedtime soon came upon them, which drew the exchange of stories to a close, and had them all lying in their respective bunks, and soon, Merlin’s deep breaths could be heard, indicating the man was asleep.

Mav was, as usual, dead silent, which always made him unsure if his wingman was actually asleep.

And he’d tried to see if there were any auditory tells in the other pilot’s sleep, but there were none.

Maybe eventually, he would figure something out to give away a sleeping Mav, but hopefully, he was asleep.

Slider, however, was pitifully attempting to convey sleep, his deep breaths a little too measured, Tom knowing all too well how the man breathed when he was actually asleep.

Ron, loyal brother that he was, wanted to make sure Tom was asleep before allowing himself to drift off.

So he allowed his breathing to slow, gradually adding the slight rasp in his breath that he knew Slider was listening for.

The last week of being back in a berthing with Slider had been a testament to his acting skills, not having had to hide how he was sleeping (or not, rather) from the other man since the Academy.

Eventually, his RIO succumbed to the siren call of sleep, and Tom settled in for another cold night, in more ways than one.

He blinked up at the ceiling, seconds passing like sand through an hourglass, and though he could feel fatigue pressing in on him, he couldn’t fall asleep, despite all the techniques the Navy had taught him, his restlessness punctuated by the sound of the launch and recovery of two night CAPs.

But eventually, between one blink and the next, Tom woke up to the alarm clock going off.

Realistically, he knew he slept, but it really didn’t feel like it, he felt just as tired and weary as he always did.

He dragged himself out of his bunk, swiftly silencing the clock, as the Slider-shaped mass of blankets began to stir.

“Ugh—I hate mornings,” his RIO moaned.

“Shouldn’t have joined the Navy then, Sli,” Merlin cheerily fired back, feet thudding onto the berthing’s floor from the top bunk.

“Yeah, what the hell were you thinking, Kerner?” Mav grinned, already in the act of making his bunk.

“Why, oh why, God, did I have to be cursed with morning people,” Slider declared, finally throwing off his blanket.

“You love us, Ron,” Tom smirked, unable to help himself, the affectionate snark coming easy to him amidst his brothers, despite his exhaustion.

“Ehh—ask me again after I’ve had a coffee.

Or a dozen.”

The berthing rang with laughter, and as the day progressed, it confirmed to Tom that he’d made the right choice to redeploy, the brotherhood they had, the self-proclaimed “Layton Boys”, being exactly what he needed to nurse his broken heart.

Their CAP was uneventful, being flown with Mav and Merlin, the guard frequency filled with their light-hearted teasing and conversation, and they had to be the cheeriest four men on deployment in the Navy’s history.

But inevitably, another night slowly closed in, leaving Tom alone with his thoughts, his loneliness and pain threatening to overwhelm him as usual, and all the façades in the world couldn’t do a damn thing against thoughts and feelings from your own mind and soul.

The call was, as they said, coming from inside the house.

He felt like he was going crazy; he was losing sleep, he knew he was in too far, in way too deep over her, and he wasn’t sure when he would ever stop feeling like the world had fallen out from under him.

As he fought the urge to toss and sigh for the umpteenth time, he heard a soft “Can’t sleep?” from across the berthing.

Tom fought the urge to sit bolt upright, which was a good thing, as it kept him from banging his head on the top of his bunk.

When he caught his breath and calmed his heart some, he whispered, “Mav?”

“That’s me.”

“What are you doing up?” Tom hissed.

“Pot, kettle.”

“I—sometimes people can’t sleep, Mav.”

“Bullshit.

You couldn’t sleep last night either.”

“How do you know that?”

Mav kept silent.

“I knew you had to be awake,” Tom scoffed.

“Yeah, well.”

Here, Merlin stirred, turning in the bunk above Mav, which caused Slider to also stir and the two pilots held their breath, waiting for their respective RIOs to still.

When they did, Mav crept out of his bunk, grabbing something out from under his mattress, before leaning over Tom. “Come on—if we’re going to be awake, might as well be awake together.”

Tom sighed, nodding.

Maybe if he got up, he’d have some hope of feeling sleepy, and he’d be able to get some sleep.

Mav led him to the unoccupied half of the berthing, on the other side of the lockers, and plopped himself down on the floor between the empty bunks.

Tom took that as invitation to sit next to his wingman, and he leaned his head against the mattress behind him.

A soft noise which he belatedly recognized as the sound of a zip bag opening had him looking down.

Despite the darkness, his eyes had long since adjusted enough to see Mav holding out what appeared to be a cookie of some sort—chocolate chip, if his nose didn’t deceive him.

“Carole made these fresh before I shipped out.

Have some.”

“Thanks, Mav.”

“No problem,” the other pilot murmured, mouth already full.

Tom bit into the cookie, just the right amount of chewy and sweet, with the perfect amount of chocolate chips.

He must’ve made some sort of sound, because Mav chuckled. “Good, huh?”

“Don’t interrupt me, I’m enjoying my cookie.”

“I keep telling Care she can sell these suckers—heaven in a cookie, am I right?”

“Mmm.”

For the next few minutes, neither said anything, and no noise was heard save the sound of plastic rustling, cookies being eaten, and the distant sounds indicating deep sleep from their RIOs.

But then.

“You’re thinking about her, aren’t you?

That’s why you can’t sleep.”

Missile lock—tone.

Sigh.

“How’d you know?”

“Doesn’t take a genius, Ice, even if I am one.”

Tom scoffed, lightly bumping Mav’s shoulder, even though he knew his wingman wasn’t being hyperbolic—the younger pilot had a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering.

Mav good-naturedly took the bump, bumping right back.

When they had settled again, Tom whispered, “Can you blame me?”

“No, I don’t.

But you had no choice, Ice, Jester made that clear.

You were between the proverbial rock and hard place.”

“I loved her, Mav—I still love her.

And she loved me too.

And I broke her heart.

I can’t just… forget that,” he frustratedly said, running a hand through his hair.

“I’m not asking you to,” came the even reply. “All I’m asking is that you admit it.

It’s not good for you to keep this all in, you know?

Isn’t that what you told me before?”

“Yeah, it is,” Tom sighed—he felt like he’d been doing a lot of that lately.

“Have you told Sli?”

“Kind of,” he muttered.

Mav hissed, “What does ‘Kind of’ mean?”

“He… he knows that I was in a relationship that ended badly while I was at Miramar, but he doesn’t know that—” despite the fact that the two of them were the only ones awake in the berthing, he whispered, “that she was my student.”

Tom didn’t know it was possible to hear a shocked expression. “Way to bury the lede, Ice.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.

I just—I didn’t want to talk about it.”

“So you stonewalled your RIO?”Disbelief dripped from the sentence.

“I…” Tom vaguely gestured, “gently led him around the full truth.”

“You fucking Obi-Wan Kenobi-ed him.”

He sent the other man a glare even if he wasn’t sure Mav could see it. “You’re the worst therapist ever, you know that?”

“I’m a naval aviator and an engineer, Ice, forgive the slight fumbling.”

“‘Slight’?” Tom scoffed humorously, and in the darkness, he could see an ebony-haired head shake.

There was a joke that a more uncharitable person could have made about engineering in regards to him, but he and Mav were long past that, and he was grateful, something he never would have said before.

“You should tell him, you should have someone other than me who understands, who knows what you went through, Ice.”

Tom could see the point.

And it would feel better, he had to admit, even if it would trigger Slider’s mother hen instincts to the max, even more than they were right now.

“I’ll think about it.

And don’t think I forgot that you were just as sleepless as I was.”

“This about you, not me.”

“Uh-huh, sure—for now, you little shit.

Now hand over another cookie, will you, Mav?”

“The things I do for you.”

The plastic rustled again, and a cookie was placed in his hand.

And as he ate Carole’s heavenly consolation in a cookie, Tom reflected on just how he’d ended up in this position.

To be continued…

Next Part

CAP: Combat Air Patrol

Women were not allowed to participate in combat units and fly combat missions until 1993, so a healthy suspension of disbelief is required to read this story, 😂…

The USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is the lead ship of her namesake class; commissioned in May 1975, she is the oldest US Navy aircraft carrier in service, and the oldest serving aircraft carrier in the world.

If you look at the nametags they’re all wearing in TG86, the second row says “TOPGUN 1”, so I’m assuming that there’s more than one TOPGUN session a year, at least in the TG/TG:M universe.

VF-1, a now inactive squadron based out of NAS Miramar, is the squadron that Mav and Goose belonged to before they went to TOPGUN, although it must be noted that, like most of the squadron patch designs in Top Gun, the patch design as seen on Mav and Goose’s flight suits, is incorrect and not matching the squadron designation.

I am assuming, though I have no confirmation, that Merlin was also part of Tom and Slider’s USNA class.

The “Petey Pocket” insult is a reference to the toy Polly Pocket, which is a toy from the late 80s, notable for its tiny size, which is being sold again by Mattel.

However, the toys did not come out until 1989, and they did not come out until much later than that in the States, and despite my best efforts to find a more period-accurate insult/comparison, the insult was too good not to put, so again, healthy suspension of disbelief.

“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” by Starship, from the 1987 film Mannequin, is the song Tom references.

A padeye is used to secure aircraft to the flight deck.

Taglist

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@permanentlyexhaustedpigeon88

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If you’d like to join my taglist, just send me an ask!

[f1-giuki]

ello lovie! here with a prompt suggestion for you!! you tagged your post with ‘lestappen prompt’ so my i request Them 🫶🏻 my song vibes are either bellissimissima by alfa or welcome to st tropez by dj anthoine. two very different vibes, so you choose which you prefer!!! 🩷

HI SWEET DARLING ANGEL<3<3<3<3<3<3<3 i loved the alfa song, so i went for it!!!! I did some lestappen fluff!! It's a bit longer than previous drabbles, but I was very inspired!!!! Hope you like it💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

bellissimissima - prompt post

-

Max likes Padel. Scratch that, he should rephrase it. Max “likes” Padel. Fuck, no, not even this works… Max likes Padel only because Charles plays with him. That's the truth. Sue him, he likes to see Charles smile in those little Puma shorts of his, is this a crime? Max is sure many people, including the entire Italian population, would agree with him.

He hates the bloody sport, if he has to be really honest, with those ugly courts with walls, the small rackets, the balls, which to him are just a stupid more expensive copy of a tennis ball. Max likes tennis, and Jannik Sinner lives in his building, the floor right below him, so he happily listens to the Italian Sinsplaying (?) matches and shots, so it feels familiar. Max feels like he has to protect his ginger neighbour from Padel players.

But let's be clear, Max likes to watch tennis, there's no way in hell he'd embarrass himself on a clay court for the whole world to know. He already has the padel courts for world-class embarrassment.

Unfortunately, Max also likes Charles, even if he keeps denying it and avoiding Checo's death stares after too many third-wheeling sessions, so once a month, when they're back in Monaco, he has to succumb to his heart's desires.

That's why he's currently in a town the size of a post stamp, with a stupid padel bag on his shoulders, listening to Charles charm his way into getting a padel court for the day without a reservation or giving any names. Max would like to know what the Monegasque is doing, but he has a better time staring at Charles' ass in his tie-dyed heart jeans. And he doesn't know French.

Charles also drove them there in his Alfa Romeo Stelvio. Max feels really useless.

“He said we can have the court, nobody plays padel here, the last couple of players apparently died!” Charles says, nonchalantly, leading Max to the locker rooms.

“They what?” Max asks, pushing the door open and raising a brow.

“Oh, shit, not like that! They were two old men! Anyway, nobody has come here since then, so we can have the court for ourselves!” Charles says again, taking off his t-shirt and standing in the room half-naked. Max wants to die.

“Ahah, fun,” Max shrieks, making Charles laugh. He's so fucked.

Max changes in a nanosecond, praying God Charles hasn't seen him trip on his feet and nearly fall down as he pulls his shorts up.

“Ready?” Charles asks with a soft smile after Max ties his shoelaces. He nods and they walk out to the court. 

The facility is empty. Ghostly so. Max can fill it with his embarrassment and his humongous crush, there could be enough space for those two.

They get inside the court and Charles drops his bags down, taking his racket, and six balls, and putting them on the ground. He looks at Max and grins as he starts running around the court, to warm up. Max sits down and pretends to do his usual stretching session. That's obviously an excuse to stare at Charles. 

That motherfucker is so pretty. Extremely pretty. Illegally pretty. He's so soft and kind, with fluffy hair, Dorito-shaped. Charles smiles at him every time he passes by and Max blushes, as Charles giggles.

After another lap Charles stops and stands in front of him, hands on his waist. His eyes are right at crotch level. Max wants to die. Charles' shorts are really short today.

“Wanna play padel or you're going to stare at my pretty face all afternoon, uh?” Charles jokes.

Max chokes on his spit and starts coughing, making Charles laugh. “Ah, fun, yeah, coming! Let me grab my racket!” Max shrieks, voice breaking in the middle of the sentence, and does his little walk of shame to his bag.

He takes out his racket and as he turns around Charles is standing right behind his back. Too fucking close for Max's liking, he can see all the moles on his face, he could do something stupid, like kissing each one of them.

“If you win today, you can take me out to dinner,” Charles says with a teasing grin.

Max likes this, even if he's blushing like a maniac and his ears are ringing loudly.

“A or V, Leclerc? I'm going to destroy you!” He mumbles, feeling as competitive as if he was on a race track.

“V, Verstappen,” Charles giggles, winking with both eyes at Max, who rolls his eyes.

“Game on, baby!”

[a-libra-writes]

I goofed this post alfksakfk (iykyk) so! Back to it. This is very fun to think of! also ignore my romeo + juliet indulgences

So, Asa's always been a fairly indulgent and lenient father. He hadn't minded your going off on dates, as long as you were home at a reasonable hour. Yes, you're an adult, but getting your own place was still out of the question unless you were staying at the dorms at college. He never had to worry about you, either. The boys were always the same; college boys, sons of the rich acquaintances in your family's circle, some newcomers at the country clubs. Always the same types.

He never thought his princess would even think of getting involved with gangsters and bootleggers. Asa kept that part of his life very separate from his family. Even if you knew, your mother hadn't a clue. She wasn't the one who'd go along with Asa to the Maribel Hotel for years. Initially you loved it because it meant going to a fun, exciting place with your father, and getting fawned over by the staff. Then it meant getting to see the Marigold Room.

"Listen," your father began gruffly. "I know what you girls get up to nowadays, but - if you're going to be dancing, best do it here. Stay with your friends and no funny business, understand?"

Always too permissive, not that you had a habit of raucous drinking and partying. Getting access to the Marigold Room made you something of a hot commodity at school now, and it led to something else: a cold, club-shaped metal pin being dropped in your palm.

That's how you met him. This too-skinny, too-smiley, too-chatty violinist who played at the Lackadaisy club. You nearly made him forget about the next performance.

You sought him out the next few visits, but it was just easier to meet outside the club. That was like going to the next step with Rocky. He wasn't just some guy you flirted with for a night, you actually wanted to take him on dates. You knew lots of places to take him, and there was just something so .. so cute about how earnest and endearing and affectionate he was. There was no stuck-up airs or obsession with this family or that or thinly veiled condescension. He wasn't dating you because that's what was expected. And while you had plenty of swanky cafes to take him, he had all sorts of places you'd never seen on the "other" side of town.

(There's so many stars once you drive a few miles outside of the city. You two fell asleep naming them and just talking... then woke up hours later in full panic. You snuck back into the dorms at the crack of dawn, covered in mosquito bites and beyond giddy.)

Uptown girl with downtrodden city boy cliche? Yes, absolutely. Neither of you cared.

News that Atlas May was shot frightened you. You'd heard it before reading it in the papers - well, overheard your father's shock as he talked to someone on the phone. Your first thought was some kind of police raid on the speakeasy, and if Rocky was hurt. Asa didn't want you going to the clubs after that, even the Marigold room. He seemed spooked. That was fine - you were seeing Rocky more in the daytime hours, anyway.

Right, your father still didn't know about him ... at least he was too distracted with work to notice your happy mood and the pep in your step lately. Your mother certainly did, and she was harder to avoid. She was so sure it was some college boy. "What's his name, sweetie, we can invite his family for dinner. Oh! Maybe have a lovely afternoon boating. Or brunch at the club, with the Robinsons? What do you think?" Honestly, you'd rather throw yourself from a window.

You'd heard about the troubles Rocky was having at the Lackadaisy, and a few times you asked why he just doesn't perform at the Marigold Room. Okay, you were half just saying that because you wanted to see him more, risky as it'd be. The other half is you were a little worried about some of the things he was getting up to. You noticed the scratches and dents in his car, and his own bruises and messy clothes.

(He'd never wear the clothes you bought him during these little bootlegging adventures, though. He didn't want to mess up the things you so lovingly picked out. They were also the only nice ones he had.)

On that topic, it's really fun to dress Rocky up. You aren't trying to be patronizing or act like he's a charity case, but - he just looks so nice cleaned up, and look, you can't take him to a nice cafe when he both looks and smells like he rolled in dirt (and ... syrup?). So, sure, you bought a shirt here and tie there and maybe a jacket and well obviously he needs pants to match that and it really means nothing that they just happen to fit so well, you definitely weren't measuring him when he was asleep or anything. Rocky isn't bothered by it at all, he loves the gifts and attention. And it kind of does something to him when you smooth out the creases and make sure the tie is straight and hook your arm around his and walk down the street, totally happy and proud of him, not embarrassed in the slightest.

You know he wouldn't fight it if you kept him some kind of dirty secret forever. It'd hurt him so much, of course, but Rocky would let you do it. You knew he'd just smile and pretend it was fine, like he does when you mention your parents keep trying to set you up with this hotshot lawyer's son. You see the flickers of disappointment and hurt when you joke about how your parents would kill you if they knew where you were right now, then he tries to cover it up.

Rocky deserves better, you know. And this really isn't a fun little fling anymore, is it? It's getting serious. He has so much love he's nearly bursting from it and you really, really don't want that to be ruined.

God, what are you going to tell your parents? "It's fine, he's only been a bootlegger for almost a year, before that he was a perfectly honest dirt-poor fiddler! We're disgustingly in love already and he's better than all those snob-nosed spineless trustfund bozos you keep setting me up with!" Yeah that'll go over Thanksgiving dinner just great.

As if fate's sense of humor couldn't get any better, it's Mordecai who finds out first. That shadowy, really unsettling (and actually kind of dorky ...?) gunman your father keeps around. Mordecai is good at remembering faces. When Asa introduced you two, he knew he remembered your's. He saw you once or twice at the Lackadaisy, though he hadn't known who you were at the time. You stood out because you were actually chatty with that ridiculous violinist, where most were exasperated with him.

Mordecai recalls that, and Asa idly complaining about his daughter always ditching the dates her mother set up for her, when he spots you and Rocky out and about. Broad daylight, not trying to hide, but certainly not where the more affluent friends and family of Asa's would go. You were even dressed down and weren't wearing any jewelry.

Yeah, he's not getting in the middle of this. Even as things heat up between the Marigold Gang and Lackadaisy.

Note, Rocky is very aware of who your family is. You never hid it back when you met him, and as far as he's concerned, you're the picture of innocence and can't be blamed for anything your father or the gang do. He's trying to be cute when he calls you 'princess' or 'my lady' and it is cute, but... you also feel kind of guilty. Reciting plays and poetry is fun and games until he brings up Romeo and Juliet again. It used to be romantic, but now it just claws at something in you. "Rocky, come on, you remember how that ends, right?"

(Oh, and there's a matter of keeping this all hush-hush from the Lackadaisy crew, who already know Rocky has a sweetheart because he can't shut up about you, but they don't know who you are exactly. It's best Mitzi or Viktor doesn't catch sight of you, because they'll spot the family resemblance right away..)

And then there's your father finding out. It had to happen eventually, especially with Lackadaisy getting in on the Marigold's suppliers. He makes it clear to Mordecai that if some accident were to happen to "that boy", then you're young, and you'd get over it. This is just some late teenage rebellion, he tells himself. A fling you'll forget all about once the excitement wears off and your school work picks up. Mordecai isn't so sure about that.

He actually tried to warn you about it, but the thing is ... Mordecai is Mordecai. He's staring intently and of course he cornered you as you were leaving the hotel at night and he's deadpan as he says, "I'd begin reconsidering your choice of paramours; there isn't any way that this will end well for him."

"Mordecai Heller, are you threatening me?"

"What? No?" He's startled by the tone of your voice. Did you just pull a knife on him? From your purse? "Put that down - I'm giving you practical advice."

"Oh. .... Maybe next time, don't do it in a creepy alley?"

It's like ice water drops on you when your father brings it up. He just lets out a heavy sigh, the most perfect cliche noise that says he's not mad, just disappointed. Right away you know he thinks this little dalliance has only been around for a few months, if that. "Really, pumpkin? What about that lawyer's son we told you about, he's not half bad looking. Or that rowing team captain, you remember him? He really took a shine to you. Look, I know a guy with a cousin whose son is--"

You get the whole lecture: You're too good of a girl to run around with unwashed gangsters and besides, what about your studies? Think about what your mother would say. Do you really want her finding out? Or the country club, or god forbid, her little society ladies? He'd be sleeping on the couch and you'd be in a nunnery. Some scrawny hoodlum isn't worth all that trouble, is he?

Asa doesn't raise his voice and actually get angry until you defend Rocky, until you actually say his name. He actually slams his fist on the desk, making the candy jars and his name plaque rattle. The conversation is done, so you leave. And of course you go straight to Rocky and don't come home on Sunday for the usual family brunch, or the next one. Your father makes excuses for you. It's little consolation, because you know exactly what the gangsters he employs are capable of. And you don't think for a minute they'll spare Rocky. Why couldn't he have just taken the job at the Marigold Room ...

Onto pleasanter things. One of the greatest nights in your life (so far) was the massive city charity gala that the Maribel Hotel hosted every year. It stopped being fun for you years ago, but this time you had a date. You told Rocky to leave it all to you. Yes, your dad was attending, but he was always off schmoozing with his associates. Besides - this year's theme was a masquerade, no gangsters would be there, it's crowded, and you had Rocky dressed to the nines. No one would notice! It'd be great. This was a little secret you'd been hiding for a month, you just knew he'd love all the music and the ridiculous fancy foods and you just wanted to share something magical with someone you loved. Because you were very, very sure you loved him.

And Rocky looked so handsome you just couldn't keep away from him, and you two danced and laughed at the prissy food and absurd people like you'd imagined. Anyway, it was cut short when you were nearly spotted by Mordecai - who looked wonderfully out of place without a mask and dressed like a funeral director, but you'd laugh about it later. You grabbed Rocky's hand and just ran, and bolting up the backrooms and stairwells of the hotel you knew so well.

Maybe you should have been deflated. A silly, childish desire for a fairytale evening came crashing down thanks to reality, even if you knew Mordecai wouldn't shoot Rocky dead. But it was hard to feel too disappointed when you both were still giddy and laughing, gleefully stealing 'hidden' champagne from the general manager's office and climbing your way up the rickety fire escape - even with your heels and his suit you spent way too much money on - and spending the rest of the evening making out and giggling and watching the city from high above.

[kandisheek]

FIC REC WEEK 43 – ENEMIES TO LOVERS

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: imposterhuman

I pretty much love all of the ideas and AUs that imposterhuman comes up with for these boys, they're so much fun! Especially the ones where they are clearly rivals, which is why I chose to rec them here. The characterizations are spot on, and I really love the dialogue – imposterhuman writes fantastic sassy banter.

Here's some of their work that I think you should check out:

the new romeo and juliet

Pairing: Bucky/Tony Rating: G Words: 2,179 Tags: No Powers AU, Firefighter Bucky, Detective Tony

Summary: Bucky and Tony weren’t dating, because a firefighter and a detective couldn’t date (never mind that Tony hadn’t slept with anyone else since their thing had started, and he and Bucky hung out with an alarming frequency, and the whole precinct thought that they were an item). It didn't matter how many nights they spent together, how Bucky had a drawer of Tony's things and vice versa, they just couldn't. It was a classic Romeo and Juliet situation, if Romeo and Juliet actively disliked each other on top of everything.

Reasons why I love it: Aw, look at our idiots in love, they're adorable. The dialogue in this is hilarious, and I really enjoyed the rivalry between the different departments. And of course, it takes a kick in the ass for Bucky and Tony to finally admit how they're feeling. I love it, and I bet you will too!

all dressed up for a hit and run

Pairing: Bucky/Tony Rating: G Words: 2,174 Tags: FBI Agent Bucky, Criminal Tony, Flirting

Summary: “I’m not sleeping with a criminal,” Bucky said sternly, trying to pretend like his resolve wasn’t wavering. “C’mon, baby,” Tony purred, raking a nail down his chest. “You’ve got nothing on me. Innocent until proven guilty, right? Technically, I’m not a criminal.” Bucky raised an eyebrow. “You’ve stolen billions of dollars worth of artwork.” “Allegedly,” Tony shrugged artfully. “Everyone needs a hobby."

Reasons why I love it: Oooh, Bucky, my man, you're in danger. Tony is sexy as hell as an untouchable art thief, Bucky doesn't stand a chance at resisting him. I love the UST in their dialogue, and the entire setting just makes me want to read a whole novel about this verse. It's amazing, and I really hope you give it a shot for yourself!

white flag

Pairing: Bucky/Tony Rating: G Words: 1,005 Tags: High School AU, Science Bowl, Banter

Summary: “You sound uncertain,” Bucky said. “Maybe you should give up. In fact-” he dug in his pocket for a moment, producing a piece of white cloth that he thrust at Tony. “Here.” “Ew, Barnes,” Pepper wrinkled her nose. “No one but Tony wants to see your dirty underwear.” He barely spared her a glance, intense gaze focused on Tony. “It’s a white flag, and you better start waving it now, doll.” “Does he just… carry that around?” Rhodey asked quietly. “Like, all the time?” “Probably,” Bruce said placidly. “He does seem like the type.” Tony ignored them and pushed Bucky’s white flag back at him. “The only thing that I will be waving is your decapitated head on a stick in front of your weeping mother!”

Reasons why I love it: Tony is such a little shit, I love it! And I bet Bucky loves it too, that little faker. I would read a million more words in this verse, as is the case for pretty much all of these, really. This fic is fantastic, and I hope you go and check it out for yourself!

a pirate's life for me

Pairing: Bucky/Tony Rating: T Words: 4,295 Tags: Pirates, One Night Stands, Pining

Summary: If Bucky Barnes didn’t stop chasing him across the seven seas, Tony was going to have to do something drastic, probably involving cannons, illegal activity, and a shit ton of rum. “You need to sort out your relationship with Barnes,” Rhodey scolded. “He’s chasing you like a scorned lover.” “Scorned?” Tony scoffed, shaking his head. “I was perfectly courteous the morning after. It was a mutual decision to not see each other again, seeing as he’s supposed to arrest me on sight.” “You left before he woke up, didn’t leave a note, and stole something valuable, didn’t you?” Rhodey looked to the sky like he was praying for strength. ���Tony, if we get arrested because you had a one-night stand with the commodore’s first mate, I will send you to the gallows myself.”

Reasons why I love it: I grew up with Pirates of the Carribean, so this fic was like catnip to me. The reference are perfect, I love the banter between Tony's crew, and of course, the Winteriron is magnificent. I adore this fic, and I bet you will too, so I hope you'll check it out!

suicidal stolen art

Pairing: Bucky/Tony Rating: G Words: 1,871 Tags: No Powers AU, Thieves, Flirting

Summary: Tony was going to kill Bucky Barnes. Tony was going to cut the other thief’s flesh arm off and beat him with it. It was bad enough that they were both running jobs in the same building, but they had to be going for the same necklace, too. Really, the universe hated Tony. He stared at the ceiling, sending up a very nasty prayer in case someone was listening, then turned back to the job at hand.

Reasons why I love it: I really enjoyed the back-and-forth in this one. They're clearly both equally skilled, and the power play that comes with that is just delicious. I love this one, and I bet you will too, so you should definitely read it!

[ficoandleo]

He doesn't even process that "I never loved Taiga" could have been the problematic part of the statement. Because Taiga knows better. As though he would be able to get away with the shit he does if he wasn't loved. As though Romeo would put up with his bullshit and take on his world of responsibilities if he didn't love him.

As if Romeo would have come to some magic rock in the middle of Tokyo Bay with him if he didn't love him.

That part didn't even occur to him as an issue. Taiga had to know that already. There's no way Taiga would have forgotten that. If this was a Taiga who thought his Lulu didn't love him he would hate to see what Taiga would get up to when he knew how important he was.

No, the other parts must have been the problem. Thinking he was a pawn(nonsense even if he hadn't told him otherwise to his face--since when did Taiga do anything he said? Since when did he give Taiga orders?) or thinking he should have died(again, he'd come here with him, even if Taiga's death would give him the opportunity to leave he wouldn't want him dead. The only things allowed to kill Taiga were old age or Romeo himself. Surely he'd told him that ago some point?)

. . .it was just a story. He'd reminded Taiga of that already.

And Taiga would forget all about it. He probably already had forgotten it! Right? He didn't need to do damage control for Taiga. As much as he resented the way his memory was failing him it was good for things like this. Taiga just erased most of the memories he made these days, good or bad. As long as he wasn't reminded it wouldn't be a problem.

Right the only damage control he had to do was for his own anger. And as much as he would feel much, much better if he went over to Obscuary and shot Ed in the head(it's not like it would kill him!) it would be more trouble than it was worth in the long run.

. . .however because Ed was there that also meant that going to Obscuary to drink until he wasn't as pissed off wasn't an option either. They had real booze on the ship, both in the kitchen and the bar. But he would just feel like he was surrounded by work and drinking supplies for the casino bar.

The idea of going for a walk was nice until he felt a little twitch from his leg. Last time he tried to take a walk when he was pissed off it hurt. And that would just make him more angry.

Some other options to vent came to mind. His mind briefly flashed to Yuri's text about Taiga's search for narcotics. Very briefly. He doesn't touch his own product. Even if it wasn't his he wouldn't. There were people he could see. Friends. He could go see Leo or Haru. Towa would probably be amused by his upset and lovesick rambling.

He could talk to Taiga.

But Taiga wouldn't care. And that would just make him more angry. And upset. He puts so much effort and care into all of this and Taiga just didn't care, did he.

. . .did he? He got upset by some stupid story just because it used their names.

Well, Romeo got upset too.

Mostly because Taiga was upset.

. . .was. He wouldn't remember by now. He wouldn't still be upset.

So it was just Romeo's own feelings to stew over. He didn't even care that much about how poorly he had been portrayed. More that Ed had written something that had, incidentally, upset Taiga.

His guards jumped when he slammed his fist on the table. It made him feel a little better but if he kept it up he'd have to replace the table. Or fix the wall. Or something.

He glared at his phone. What if he just. Texted Taiga anyway. What would he even say to him when he can't remember what the problem is. That BTH would just. Laugh at his anger or something. Why are you so upset? I don't even remember what we're talking about! You're gonna get wrinkles if you keep making angry faces. Infuriating bullshit like that.

. . .but that was normal, to some degree. If they both just had a normal interaction. . .maybe that would feel better. Taiga would see, because of the way they communicated, that he wasn't a pawn. Romeo texting first would mean he wouldn't want him dead, too. Right? And Taiga would make him so angry he would forget all about it and then he'd get over his anger because Taiga-based anger rarely lasted that long. And Taiga would forget. And they'd move on.

He could just. . .text Taiga.

Right? He could do that.

It might even be nostalgic. They rarely had exchanges that weren't somehow driven by work.

[noonaishere]

Online/Offline [C.S] - thirty-two | because…

“Have a nice day!” Minsoo said cheerfully as she handed the customer their drink. She turned around and looked at you.

“Nice job,” you smiled.

She beamed. “What should I do now?”

“You can wipe down the counter. Seonghwa likes the place to stay clean.”

“Oh, of course!” 

You watched silently as Minsoo wiped down the counter. All of it. Even the parts that were already clean and didn’t need wiping.

“Uh, I’m sure he’ll be ecstatic.” You saw Seonghwa walk out of the back. “We can show him now: Seonghwa, look at how nicely Minsoo’s wiped down the counter.”

Minsoo went beet red and moved so he could see.

“Very nice Minsoo. I actually came up here to ask you a question: y/n, do you feel that Minsoo has mastered the simple drinks yet?”

You looked at her and then turned back to Seonghwa. “I think she has, yes.”

“Then you two can start on the more complicated ones. I would like to get you trained in the bakery as soon as possible.”

Your eyebrows ticked up. “Why do you want me trained in bakery so bad?”

“Because ‘Romeo’ was supposed to be Wooyoung’s second, so he could actually take a vacation for the first time in three years.”

“Oh-- yeah! And shit, no one told me that it’s been three years, that sucks. Yeah, we’ll get started.”

Seonghwa nodded. “Thank you. Good job, both of you.”

You and Minsoo nodded as he left for his office.

“Who’s Romeo?” Minsoo asked as she turned to you.

“Before I started working here, there were two people who were dating and they left spur-of-the-moment and left some ridiculous letter for Seonghwa about their romance and he was oppressing them or some… headassery.”

“Wow, really?”

“Mhm.”

“Oh… San told me the job opened suddenly, so I suppose that makes sense.”

You chuckled. “Well, don’t you and San run off on us.”

She turned to you, confused. “Why would San and I run away?”

“Because…”

Her eyebrows furrowed.

“Because you’re a couple?”

Her eyes went wide and she laughed loudly as a customer walked up to the counter. The customer shot her a confused look and you walked up to the counter and took their order. You made their drink to a chorus of wheezes, giggles, and snorts and the customer seemed to want to ask what was going on, but all the two of you did was exchange a look and you shrugged.

“Have a nice day.”

“Uh, you too.”

The customer left and Minsoo’s laughter had finally subsided. She was wiping tears from her eyes. “That almost made me choke. You thought San and I were a couple?”

“I mean… aren’t you?”

“San is my cousin.”

“What?”

“He told me about the job because I’m a college student and I told him I was thinking of getting a part-time job so I had extra money.”

“Oh. You guys seemed so close I thought you were together.”

“We seem close because we’ve known each other our whole lives.”

“Oh, yeaah… sorry, I guess I’m an idiot.” You laughed awkwardly.

“No, I mean, he takes extra care of me since he’s a few years older and I’m the only family he still talks to, but I can see how you’d get the wrong impression.”

She wiped another tear away. “But yeah, we’re cousins. I think he’s single, actually.”

“Oh.”

She nodded. “Mhm.”

“I’m… surprised. He’s such a sweet guy, I would have thought women would be dropping at the chance to ask him out.”

“I mean, they probably are - girls were always fawning over him when we were younger - but I don’t think he’s been interested in most of them.”

“Why’s that?”

“Mmm… he tends to value personality over everything else? Like… he really doesn’t care about looks and only cares if someone’s kindhearted--”

You chuckled. “Every guy says they don’t care about looks, but they normally do.”

She shook her head. “No, the girls I know he went out with have all looked different. He doesn’t have a type and, uh, I’ve even heard my mom call a couple of them ‘ugly.’” She whispered the last word as if one of them could be listening in.

Your brows ticked up in shock.

“Not to their faces, of course. But… he really doesn’t care about looks.” She nodded.

“Wow… he might be the first one who isn’t lying about it then.” You raised your brows at Minsoo and she laughed.

“But really, San is a good guy.”

You nodded. “Now I feel a bit bad that I told you he wasn’t shit on your first day.”

“Oh-- you said that because you thought-- I was wondering why you phrased it like that.” She laughed.

“Yeah, sorry, I thought your boyfriend was treating you like shit--”

“No, no, I get it now.” She nodded.

You laughed.

“I’m glad you would tell me if a guy was being shitty towards me, though. That’s very cool of you.”

“Yeah?” You shrugged. “I don’t know, I guess I just feel like… you shouldn’t let people treat you like shit, you know? And if someone does, you should break up with them.”

Minsoo nodded.

“Maybe hit them with a car.”

She snorted as she stifled a laugh.

“So yeah… if you start dating someone, bring them here and I’ll sus them out and tell you if I think they’re trash.” You nodded.

She laughed and thought for a second before blushing bright pink. “Okay.”

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