#Yeah I’m just so confused but so excited

[wikiangela]

you're my happily ever after (so i'll take my chance now, risk it all somehow)

rating: G

words: 2.6k

8x06 fix-it, because I'm pissed - I or my fics aren't going anywhere tho <3

thank you to @evansboyfrend for beta reading, ily 🫶

[also on Ao3]

It feels like the whole world is crumbling down. It feels like the Earth should shake, burst on fire, open up and swallow everything around. As dramatic as it is, he kind of expects it to happen, and it’s weird that he’s still sitting here. His ears are ringing, panic rising in his chest with each of Tommy’s words. He watches Tommy get up and head for the door, and he’s frozen to his spot. It’s not- it can’t be. It fucking can’t be. “Wait,” he finally manages to say, trying to keep his voice from trembling, “did you just break up with me?” He asks, hoping to any entity that listens that he just misinterpreted it, that he got it wrong. Because- because he can’t lose Tommy. He’s falling for him so fast and so hard. He’s ready for the next step. He’s ready to move in together. He’s ready to talk about one day, eventually, maybe getting married. He knows he wants that. He knows what he wants, and he wants Tommy.  “Yeah, I guess I did.” Tommy answers, glancing back at him, his expression sad but firm. But Buck knows him. Knows that this mask will crumble into something devastated as soon as he leaves. That Tommy’s heart will shatter, just as Buck’s is right now. He can see through Tommy, he knows that he cares about Buck. It just- it doesn’t make sense. What was he even talking about… It was all so much, so fast, Buck’s brain is still scrambling trying to understand it all.  “Believe me, I didn’t see-” Tommy starts, but Buck shakes his head and interrupts him. “No.” He stands up, his legs feeling shaky. Tommy fully turns towards him, confusion in his face. “What do you mean, ‘no’?” He frowns.

“I mean, no, you’re not breaking up with me.” Buck says more confidently than he feels. Because this can’t be it. The last six months, the best six months of his fucking life, can’t end like this. Can’t end at all. He won’t have this. “I know you care about me. And I care about you. And I don’t want to break up.” He sees Tommy open his mouth to speak, his expression hardening – putting on a mask again, trying to hide the hurt. He speaks again before Tommy can. “If you truly, genuinely want this, not because you think it’s gonna be better for me or you, but because you don’t want to be with me, fine, I can respect that. But I won’t accept it without a fight. I- I wanna fight for us, Tommy.” Buck steps closer to him, hoping that Tommy doesn’t step back, that might just break him. He doesn’t, he’s stuck in place, sad eyes on Buck’s. “Let me fight for us. You-” he adds quickly, on a roll now, not wanting Tommy to interrupt until after he’s done, after he’s said his piece. He needs to say it all now, let Tommy know how he feels. He can’t watch him leave without trying to fix it first. Tommy’s looking at him intently, just listening, not even trying to speak. “You gave me a second chance once, when I fucked up our first date, and I- I want to believe it wasn’t for nothing. So- so you’re my first man, so what?” Buck throws his hands up in frustration, he thinks he’s starting to sound a little frantic, speaking faster and faster. He just can’t let Tommy leave without him knowing exactly how Buck feels. “It’s far from my first relationship ever. Why- why is it so different just because you’re a man? It shouldn’t be. I don’t need to date other people, experiment or whatever else. I’ve dated people, slept around, did it all. I know how that goes, how it feels, and I don’t want to do it again. I know what I want, Tommy. And I want you. And don’t you dare tell me how I feel.” He feels anger seep in, Tommy’s words ringing in his head. What the actual fuck was he thinking? “I’m a grown man, I know how I feel. Yeah, it’s new and exciting, but it’s also real. It’s real to me, and- and if there’s any chance of forever, I want to take it. And-” he takes a breath. He feels like he’s been speaking in one breath, feeling a little lightheaded now, his heart hammering. Or maybe that’s just the panic. “And don’t start with the whole ‘I’m not your last’ bullshit.” He shakes his head again, tears welling up in his eyes, anger still building. Really, what in the world? How could Tommy want to just throw away the most wonderful relationship that’s happened to Buck in years? Maybe ever? “You don’t know that. I don’t know that. Yeah, we could break up one day. But you could also be my forever, and I could be yours. I’d love a chance to find out, even if it hurts in the end. But maybe that’s just me. Maybe I’m the only one here brave enough to risk it. And- and what about my heart, huh?” Tears are threatening to spill, his voice shaking now, with sadness and anger, and desperation. He can’t let him go, he can’t. “You said I’d break your heart eventually. But this, right now? This is you breaking mine.” He finishes, almost panting now, his monologue taking the wind out of him, wanting to say everything on his mind, in his heart. He hopes he got his point across. 

“Evan.” Tommy just whispers, with a pained expression. There are tears in his eyes, too, one lone one slipping through, falling down his cheek. Buck’s hand itches to reach out and wipe it off, but he’s not sure if he’s allowed to anymore. 

“Give us a chance, Tommy. Let us fight for this. Fight for me, for us. Fight with me.” He’s aware he sounds like he’s begging at this point, but he doesn’t care. This is too important. “I thought it’s been so good between us lately-”

“It has!” Tommy rushes to say. “It’s been amazing. You make me so happy. That’s why I’m scared, I just- I’m sorry, Evan, but I can’t let myself get hurt like this again. Because I- I’ve been there before, and it was hard to get back up, and with you- I don’t think I’d be able to ever recover from this one.” He admits, his stone-faced facade crumbling, and Buck can see his own feelings reflected in Tommy’s expression. Sad, devastated, heartbroken. 

“We can- we can take some time apart.” Buck says around a lump in his throat. He feels like he can’t breathe. All he wants is to rewind until before he dropped the moving in bomb which must be what made Tommy freak out. He could say anything else, and take it slower, and maybe they’d be on their way out right now, a date night like they planned. “If that’s what you need. A break. But not for good. And then let’s come back to it clear-headed, knowing for sure what we want. And if you still want to break up, I- I’ll respect that. But I already know what I want,” he repeats firmly, decisively. “I want a future with you. I want to move in together, and one day down the line get married, and- and I want it all with you. We can slow down if I’m rushing this. I tend to do that, and if it’s scaring you, I’m sorry.” He adds, not wanting to backtrack any of this, but aware of how intense he’s coming off. He’s never been more serious about anything in his life. “But the past six months have been the best in my life. I’ve never felt so happy, so free, so comfortable, so safe. And I’m not giving up on you, Tommy. I will fight for you until I can’t anymore, until you tell me that you don’t care about me and I should just fuck off.”

“Evan. You know I’ll never say that.” Tommy responds quietly.

“I know. Because I’m confident in us, in the fact that you do care, and you do want me. I know that.” Buck emphasizes, and realizes, not for the first time, that he never felt like this before. This secure. This confident about someone wanting him. “I also know you’re just trying to protect yourself, your heart, and I get it. But I can’t let you go without a fight. I won’t. I messed up a lot in my life, and I won’t mess up this. I refuse to. Because I-” he takes a sharp breath, the words pressing on his lips. He doesn’t want to say it for the first time in a possible break up, a moment of such anger and devastation. But he needs to put it all out there. Needs Tommy to understand how much he’s trying to throw away right now. “I love you, Tommy.” He confesses, sees Tommy’s face melt into the saddest expression Buck’s ever seen on anyone, tears spilling freely now. Both of theirs, he realizes, feeling wetness on his cheeks. “I’ve been falling for you a little bit more with each day we spend together, with each minute. And I know- I hope you feel the same. But if you can look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t-” he swallows thickly, the thought alone is too much to bear. 

“I can’t do that.” Tommy interrupts quickly. “Of course I love you, Evan. It happened so quickly it kind of scared me a little.” 

“I noticed.” Buck says dryly, and Tommy lets out a humorless chuckle. “If you ask me, which you didn’t, by the way, you decided for both of us, which was an asshole move,” he points out, and Tommy looks away, as if ashamed. Good. Buck loves him, which means he’s gonna call out when he’s acting shitty. “I’d rather give us a real try and get my heart shattered if it comes to this, instead of always wondering what if, always wondering if you’re my one who got away. Which you would be.”

“I’m sorry.” He shakes his head, takes a step towards Buck, now just half a step away. “I’m sorry, maybe breaking up is too hasty. Impulsive,” he scoffs at himself, probably remembering how he called Buck that just a few minutes ago. Well, so maybe they’re both a little impulsive. Not a problem, in Buck’s opinion. “I don’t- I don’t want to break up. I never want to be away from you.” He says, his voice barely above a whisper. His hand flinches at his side, like he wants to reach out, grab Buck’s, touch him. Buck hopes he does. “It just- it seemed too fast. Like you got wrapped up in the moment. It’s still so new, I thought we were taking it one step at a time, and I didn’t-” he takes a deep breath, as if bracing himself, and Buck knows what he says is going to sting – and it does, it feels like a gut punch, actually, “I didn’t think you were as serious about this as I was getting. And I realize we should’ve done the mature thing and talked it out. I’m sorry. It’s just, we’ve barely talked about any future here. But I want it, of course I do. I’m just- I’m scared. My heart has never been in this much danger.” He looks into Buck’s eyes as he says it, more vulnerable than ever. This is everything Buck wants right now, for them to talk, to discuss this, to try fixing it, instead of one of them running away and the other giving up and not fighting for it. Buck’s been there, he doesn’t want a repeat.

“Tommy.” Buck is the one to close the distance between them, carefully brings his hands up to cup Tommy’s face, giving him a chance to back away, but he doesn’t. Instead, he breathes out a sigh of relief, like he craved Buck’s touch as much as Buck craves his. “You remember when I told you I wanted something with you? Even though I didn’t know what that something was yet?” he asks and Tommy nods slightly, Buck’s palms still resting on his cheeks. “I’ve been serious about you since that precise moment. About pursuing this, and wanting some kind of future with you. I know I tend to rush into things, it’s been a problem before.” He huffs a self-deprecating laugh. “I tried not to do that with you, but I failed, clearly. I just think from now on, we both should stay and talk and try to work it out if we have any issues with something. If you still want me.” He adds a little anxiously, but relaxed when he feels Tommy’s palms settle on his hips.

“Of course I want you, Evan. I always will.” Tommy says, that loving look in his eyes, that always makes Buck’s heart melt a little. That look that Buck loves so much, that made him think that Tommy might feel the same way.

“Good. Like I said, I’m not letting you go. Ever.” He says decisively, a huge weight that’s been there since the topic even started finally lifting off his chest. This might be the best thing that’s ever happened to him, and no matter the conclusion – which he’s pretty sure will be the happily ever after he’s always craved – it’s worth the risk, it’s worth everything.

“Good.” Tommy echoes, that gorgeous, scrunchy smile of his slowly spreading on his face, and it’s like sunshine came out from behind stormy clouds. “I don’t intend on letting you go, either. I love you, sweetheart. And I’m so sorry for… for this mess. For overreacting.”

“That’s fine, we’re past this- well, actually, we are gonna talk about it more, but at least we’re on the same page now, I hope.” Buck says, slowly leaning in. “I love you so much. I never want to lose you.”

“I’m sorry.” Tommy says again, and Buck just wants him to stop saying it. It’s fine, they’re fine now. “You won’t. You have me for as long as you want. I promise.”

“What if I want you forever?” Buck whispers, his face so close to Tommy's, their lips almost brush. It sends a shiver down his spine, like he hasn’t kissed him in days, when they just exchanged a quick kiss hello a few minutes ago.

“That works for me.” Tommy smiles again, and finally dives in for a kiss, but it lasts barely a second before he’s pulling away, Buck trying to follow. Tommy chuckles, running a comforting hand up and down Buck’s side. “But maybe let’s put a pause on the whole moving in together thing, huh? At least until we fully talk everything through.”

“Yeah, good idea.” Buck nods, his gaze flickering between Tommy’s eyes, now sparkling happily, and his pretty, kissable lips. It feels so good to be able to just have a mature conversation and resolve whatever issues arise. If they keep doing that, he thinks they’re going to be okay. He’ll make sure of that. “No need to be impulsive,” he adds, his lips twisting into a teasing smirk.

“Okay.” Tommy chuckles quietly, his cheeks reddening. “Just kiss me.” 

Buck doesn’t need to be told twice. He kisses Tommy like he means it, like he’s his person, like he’s the love of his life, trying to put all those emotions into a kiss. He knows for sure he’s getting the same intent back. And at this moment, in his kitchen, narrowly avoiding losing his love because of a stupid reason, he decides it. One day, not too quickly, but not too far into the future, he’s going to ask Tommy Kinard to marry him. And he’s more than sure of the response he’ll get.

[also on Ao3]

[silverb0wties]

Lemonade - Part 5

leah williamson x alessia russo x child!reader

Summary: When something bad happens to your Mummy and Daddy, you end up living with your Aunty Lessi and Aunty Leah.  But is there room for you considering they have a new baby on the way?

Chapter Summary: the aftermath of your concussion

Warnings: pregnancy, self-harm, disordered eating, bullying

a/n: sorry if this chapter is a little bit dark in parts. if you're still reading the series, thanks so much for sticking with me. I appreciate it more than you know.

|| Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 ||

PART 5

You woke up on a plastic bed in a room that smelled like the awful cream your Mummy would rub on her legs after Netball, surrounded by a million different kinds and colours of sellotape.

You could hear voices, and you looked over to the corner of the room to find your Aunty Leah consoling your Aunty Lessi as she cried.  She looked distraught, her eyes red and puffy with tears.

“I should have known it would overwhelm her.  I was just so excited to share this with her…”

“Babe, she’s going to be okay.  We’re still learning all this, yeah?”

“But we’re meant to protect her, and… and I- I…” Aunty Lessi choked on her words before Aunty Leah cut her off.

“And I should have had a tighter grip on her when I saw she was panicking.  Like I said, we’re both still learning how to do this.  The medics said she’s got a bit of a concussion, but she’ll be alright.  We know how concussions work, so we’ve just got to keep our eyes on her and make sure she gets lots and lots of rest.”

There was a quiet knock at the door, before an important looking lady with a clipboard came in.

“Less, sorry but we need to know if you’re going to play the second half or not?” she asked.

As your Aunties turned toward the door, they realised that you were awake.

“Oh Bunny, sweetie, you’re awake.  How are you feeling?” your Aunty Lessi rushed over to you, her hands coming down to gently cradle the sides of your head.

You looked up at her a bit stunned, rather confused about why you were where you were and why everyone seemed so upset.

“Does your head hurt?  Do you feel sick or dizzy at all?” she asked, her hand softly brushing through your hair.

You tried to think about if you felt sick or dizzy, but all you could really feel was a powerful throbbing rattling through your head.  You also felt really, really tired.  But you had just woken up, so that could perhaps explain that.  You don’t remember going to sleep though, which was starting to concern you.

“I feel okay,” you replied, trying to brush away your Aunty’s concern.

“Alessia, sorry, we need t-” the lady at the door began to ask again.

“I won’t be playing, sorry.  My family is more important right now,” Aunty Lessi told her.

“Less, you should go play.  I’ll stay with Bunny and make sure she’s-”

Your Aunty Lessi whipped around to face Aunty Leah. “No, Leah.  I’m not leaving her.  She’s hurt.   We’ll get a car to take us back to the training centre so we can go home early,” she insisted firmly.

Aunty Leah replied with a sad smile and a nod.  “I’ll go get our stuff packed up then, yeah?”

“I’m okay Aunty Lessi, you should play!” you tried to insist.

“No Bunny, there would be no point in me playing anyways.  I would be so distracted out there and worrying about you I would probably kick the ball into the wrong goal by mistake.”

By the time you finally got back home that night, your head was still pounding and you were struggling to stay awake.  You were trying your hardest to be big and brave and pretend like you were okay, but as soon as you stepped into bath, your whole façade fell apart.  As the warm water lapped at your tense muscles, which you now realised you’d been clenching in an effort to distract from the pain in your head, your resolve melted and you began to weep.

You brought your knees up to your chest and dropped your head forward, your hands entwining at the back of your head as your little body shook with each sob.  The tears and jagged breaths only intensified the pain in your head though, which in turn caused more tears and jagged breaths.  You tried your hardest to stay as quiet as possible, but you were aware that your cries were becoming increasingly vocal.

There was soon a soft knock at the door, followed by your Aunty Lessi’s voice.  Whilst making sure you still got clean and dressed, your Aunties had always tried to give you your privacy while bathing and dressing, which you appreciated.  They were your Aunties, but it still felt weird being undressed around people who weren’t your parents.

“Bunny?  Are you okay?” she called through the closed door.

“It hurts” you cried in response.

“What hurts honey?”

“Everything.  My head hurts most.”

“How about we give you some medicine to make it hurt less, yeah?”

“Okay.”

“And then we can get you to bed, and you can try and get some rest, alright?”

“Okay.”

There was a short pause.  You’d assumed your Aunty had gone away to get the medicine, but then you heard her voice again.

“Bun, you don’t always have to try and be big and brave y’know?  If you’re hurting, you can tell us.  Always.  I promise you won’t be in trouble or we won’t make fun of you or anything.  We just want you to feel okay.”

“Okay.”

You didn’t fully believe her.  You wanted to, but a part of you still believed that there was only so much love and affection to go around and you needed to space that out at least until Lemonade arrived.  You didn’t want to use it all up on this incident.

So you tried your hardest to push the pain down and away as you quickly washed yourself.  You managed to get yourself up and out of the bath and wrapped in a towel before there was a knock at the door again.

“You can come in,” you mumbled, making sure the towel was secured tightly under your arms.

Your Aunty Lessi entered with a little cup filled with pink medicine and a cup of water.  She kneeled down to your height as she offered it to you.

“Now it says strawberry flavoured on the bottle, so hopefully it won’t taste too bad.”

You gingerly took the cup and gulped the medicine down, wincing at the distinctly fake strawberry taste.  You quickly grabbed the cup of water from your Aunty’s other hand and skulled that down to wash away the lingering flavour.

“Good job, Bun.  Now let’s get you into your PJ’s and into bed, yeah?”

By the time you were under the covers, arms tightly wrapped around your beloved Arthur, the pain in your head had dulled to only a mild ache.

“Goodnight sweet girl” your Aunty Lessi whispered, kissing the top of your head.

“Night Aunty Lessi” you mumbled back.

It was the first time you slept through the night without waking up to a nightmare since the fire.

--

You woke up to the smell of Aunty Lessi’s lasagne wafting through the house.  However, as you opened your eyes and came to your senses, you immediately panicked. 

You were not in your own bed. 

You were in your Aunties bed.

You had no idea how you’d come to be in their bed.  The last thing you remembered you were lying on the floor in the loungeroom studying one of the books the Arsenal girls had given you about football.  You were trying to understand where all the different positions were on the pitch and what responsibilities each position had.  You had been figuring out the difference between a centre-back and a full-back when you had… fallen asleep.

Bad. Bad. Bad.

Whilst it had been a few days now since your accident and you’d had a couple of days off school and your head no longer hurt, you were still feeling extra extra tired from your concussion.  You’d spent most of that day at school trying to hide your yawns from your teacher and classmates.  When you’d been given some free time after finishing one of your activities ahead of the rest of the class, the same group of students that always seemed to catch you at your weakest had caught you dozing off in the corner of the room where you’d been reading.  They’d tied your shoelaces together and were starting to draw on your arm when you woke up.  You hadn’t realised they’d also put rolled up pieces of paper in your hair braid until your Aunty Leah pointed them out when she picked you up.

You’d tried to brush it off and said it was just a game all the kids were playing with each other, but the concerned frown your Aunty gave you implied she didn’t quite believe your lie.

“You know you can tell us if there’s anything going wrong at school, yeah?  If anyone’s picking on you or calling you names or anything?”

You just nodded.  There was no way you would ever tell your Aunties what was really happening at school.  You would just deal with it like a big girl.  Push through.  Be brave.  They had bigger things to worry about than some kids putting paper in your hair and saying mean things.  Your Aunty Leah was growing a human AND mending her busted knee for heaven’s sake!  You could deal with some silly paper in your hair.

When you’d got back to the house, you went straight to your room to undo your braid and pluck all the little pieces of paper from your hair.  You’d counted them (23 in total) before scrunching them up and throwing them in the little wastepaper basket beside your desk. 

As the paper hit the basket, a tiny ball of raging heat began bubbling in your chest.  You didn’t know what to do with it or how to describe it, but it made you want to stomp your feet and hit a wall and scratch at your skin.  You’d never been the best at describing emotions, but you were pretty certain this wasn’t sadness.  Perhaps, this was anger? Frustration? Disappointment? 

The tiny ball continued to bubble and grow as you lunged for your bed where Arthur lay.  You attempted desperately to use your tried and tested method of rubbing his ear against your cheek to calm the feeling, and whilst it felt nice, it did nothing to soothe your need to stomp or hit or scratch.

You searched your room urgently for something else to ease the searing heat in your chest, even gulping down the remnants of a cup of water on your bedside table.  But nothing worked.  You needed to stomp or hit or scratch.  You knew couldn’t stomp your feet or hit a wall, because that would be loud, and your Aunty would hear and come ask what was wrong.  So, you decided to scratch. 

You had to pick somewhere not too visible so that if you left a mark, nobody would see and ask what happened.  So, you tugged up the hem of your school dress and pushed down your tights and began scratching at the skin at the top of your right thigh.

The relief was instant. 

The second your nails dug into your flesh, the little ball of heat in your chest began to cool.  You scratched and scratched, and scratched some more until it finally, finally disappeared.  By the time you eventually stopped, your skin was stinging, and your fingers were cramping.  But the little ball of heat was gone, and that was all that mattered.

There was a gentle knock on the door as you speedily pulled your tights back up, wincing as they brushed against your newly tender skin.

Your Aunty Leah popped her head in through the door, “Bun, do you want a snack? I got some blueberry muffins from the bakery…”

“Oh… um, yeah, I’ll be right down, just getting that paper out of my hair,” you mumbled, quickly running your fingers through the ends of your messy blonde mane.

“Alright, I’ll pop them in the microwave to warm them up,” she replied before heading back downstairs to do so.

As you heard her footsteps fade away, you turned around and pulled your tights down again, trying with all your might not to release a pained noise as the fabric ripped away from your newly raw skin.  The area you’d scratched was an angry red colour and the skin seemed wet, but there was no blood, which whilst a relief, made no sense to you.

Not wanting to keep your Aunty waiting, you hastily pulled your tights the rest of the way off and threw them in your laundry hamper.  The house was warm enough, but you decided to grab your soft little blanket that had purple and grey clouds, as well as the book on football you had been reading and the little notebook you’d been making notes in (and Arthur of course), and head downstairs.

“Perfect timing Bun, just took them out of the microwave.  Do you want a drink?”

“I’m okay.  Thank you, Aunty Leah, this looks lovely” you replied, climbing up onto a stool in front of the kitchen bench where a little plate with a yummy looking blueberry muffin sat.

“Well, we all know the kitchen is Aunty Lessi’s domain.  That woman can cook like a dream!  But I’m not too shabby at picking out a good pastry.  I guess you could say bread and bread-adjacent foods are my domain,” she teased.

You giggled as you tucked into your muffin, appreciating your Aunty Leah’s silly jokes about how bad at cooking she was and how limited the range of foods she ate was.  Your extended family often seemed to tease her a bit about being a picky eater and she would usually laugh it off or join in on the joke.  But you knew it was something she was actually a bit self-conscious about. 

A few days into your stay here you’d gone to the fridge to grab some milk for your cereal and had accidentally knocked a container off a shelf.  As you bent down to pick it up, you noticed a little letter stuck to the lid that read “Leah, my love, it’s okay if you can’t eat this.  I know you tried and I’m proud of you.  Please just make sure you eat something or at least have a protein smoothie.  For you and for ‘L’.  Love you – xx Less.”  You’d immediately felt guilty for reading it as you rushed to put it back on the shelf, knowing you’d intruded on a bit of your Auntie’s privacy.  You’d seen a few similar little notes stuck to containers since then.  At the time you’d been very confused about what “for you and for ‘L’” meant, but you had since figured out it meant ‘for you and for Lemonade’. 

When you finished your muffin, you wriggled off the stool and headed over to place your plate in the dishwasher.

“Are you done with your plate too, Aunty Leah?” you offered.

“Oh, thanks sweetie, you didn’t have to do that,” she replied as she passed you her plate with a smile.  “Feel free to watch something on the telly if you want.  I’ve got a bit of boring adult housework stuff to catch up on before Aunty Lessi gets home.”

“Is there anything you need help with?” you asked.

“No, no.  I’ve just got to do a couple of loads of laundry and there’s no way I would make you deal with Aunty Lessi’s gross smelly training socks!  It’s bad enough poor little Lemonade is stuck with me and can’t escape from it,” she laughed, jokingly shielding her belly from the smell.

“Is it okay if I just read in the loungeroom?” you asked.

“Of course it is!  Just remember if your head starts to hurt or you’re feeling too tired or anything, to have a rest, yeah?” she smiled at you, stroking her fingers affectionately through your hair.

“I will, thank you.”

So, you made yourself comfortable in a little spot on the loungeroom floor, surrounded by a couple of cushions, the blanket you’d brought down from your room and, of course, Arthur.  Soon you were laying on your belly, nose deep in the book and jotting down notes in your notebook all about what a penalty shootout was and what circumstances led to one.  You drew a little picture of the goal and the line markings and where the goalie had to stand and where the other players had to stand, before turning back to the book to read about in-game penalties when slowly but suddenly you… were… asleep.

The next thing you knew you were waking up in your Auntie’s bed to the smell of your Aunty Lessi’s lasagna.

The realisation hit you like a hundred bolts of lightning.

You’d slept in someone else bed.

Bad. Bad. Bad.

Bad things happen when you sleep in someone else’s bed.

The last time you’d slept in someone else’s bed, your house burned down, and your Mummy and Daddy had died.

You jumped out of the bed as though it was burning you, panic rattling all through your little body.

“Bad. Bad. Bad.”

Your right hand began hitting at the side of your head before you even knew it was happening.

“Bad. Bad. Bad.”

Your other hand clawed at the skin of your neck, scratching determinedly at the tender skin there.

“Bad! Bad! Bad!”

You tried so hard to stop them, but your feet began to stomp loudly, your whole body seemingly moving with a mind of its own.  Everything around you seemed like it was spinning.  You thought you could smell smoke and when your eyes began to water you weren’t sure if it was because you were crying or if it was because there was actually smoke. 

You vaguely heard a commotion and saw the door swing open, but everything around you continued to spin making you feel like throwing up.  You couldn’t throw up in your Auntie’s bedroom!

“Bad! Bad! Bad!”

“Bunny?  Sweetie, what’s going on?”

You could hear your Aunty Lessi’s voice and feel her presence, but the only word you could think was ‘BAD’.

“Bad! Bad! Bad!”

The word kept falling from your lips and you continued to stomp and hit and scratch.

“Okay, Bun.  I’m going pick you up so you stop hurting yourself sweetie.  I need to make you nice and safe, alright?”

Again, you heard your Aunty but all you could think was ‘BAD’.

“Bad! Bad! Bad!”

Carefully you felt your Aunty wrap her arms around you, trapping your arms and lifting you off the ground.  You struggled as your body fought to keep hitting and scratching and stomping, but she gently tugged your hands away from your neck and head, tucking them tightly against her chest.

“You’re okay, lovely.  You’re safe, I promise.  It’s just you, me and Aunty Leah here okay.  Nothing bad is going to happen alright?  We’re safe.  You’re safe.  Everything’s okay…”

“Bad. Bad. Bad.”

“What do you mean by bad, Bun?” Aunty Lessi asked.

You shook your head, unable to explain yourself.  All you could say was “bad.”

“Oh sweetie, you haven’t done anything bad.  You’re not in any kind of trouble.  I promise.  And nothing bad is going to happen either, okay?” she whispered.

You began to slowly unclench in her arms, comforted by the soothing way she was swaying gently.  Eventually you opened your eyes to see your Aunty Leah standing in the doorway watching on, her face red and blotchy as though she’d been crying.

You immediately came back into your body, realising whatever you’d just done had upset your Aunty Leah.  You tried to wriggle slightly to free yourself from your Aunty Lessi’s grip, but she tightened her hold.

“Not yet sweetie.  I need to what’s going on?  What happened?” she asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed with you in her lap.

“I’m sorry, I’m so so sorry.  I didn’t mean to be bad and upset Aunty Leah.  I’m so sorry.  I promise I’ll be good.  I promise.”

“Darling, you didn’t upset me” your Aunty Leah assured you as she came over to sit next to Aunty Lessi on the bed.

“But your face is blotchy like you’ve been crying” you replied, your Aunty Lessi finally loosening her grip on her as your reached toward Aunty Leah.

“Well, it’s because I have been, but it’s not because you upset me.  I’m just worried about you is all.  Why were you hurting yourself?” she asked, taking your hand in hers.

“I just had to.  I don’t know.  I just did.  I was bad.”  You jumped off Aunty Lessi’s lap and started pacing on the floor in front of her and Aunty Leah.   “I woke up in this bed and I had no idea why I was in your bed and all I could think was ‘bad’ and I just did it without realising.”

“I washed your sheets and they’re in the dryer.  So, when you fell asleep on the loungeroom floor, I just put you in here for your nap.  I didn’t mean for it to upset you so much, sweetie,” Aunty Leah explained, tears still rolling down her cheeks.

“You didn’t upset me, I just I don’t want you and Aunty Lessi and Lemonade to die too!”

You heard your Aunties gasp at your explanation, but you just kept pacing, trying to figure out a way to stop the inevitable from happening.

“Bunny, oh my goodness, why would Aunty Leah and Lemonade and I die because you had a nap in our bed?”

“Because that’s what happened when I slept in Mummy and Daddy’s bed!”

You watched as your Aunties exchanged a series of looks.  The seemed confused and shocked, which was confusing and shocking to you, because it all seemed so obvious.

“Darling, your Mummy and Daddy didn’t die because you slept in their bed,” Aunty Leah tried to tell you.

“Yes, they did!  They did.  They DID!  I know they did!  It’s the only thing different I did that night from all the other nights.  I had done so so good all summer getting into my big girl routine and kept it up really well for the first couple of weeks of school.  But then… then I slipped up, and I was bad and I asked to sleep in bed with Mummy and Daddy that night.  And and th- the fire happened.  And if I had of been in my own room, I could have got myself out.  Because we’d practiced.  Daddy made sure we practiced.  And and and then… then Da-Daddy wouldn’t have needed to get me out and he could have helped Mummy because of her leg.  And they could have got out too.  But I was bad.  I slept in a bed that wasn’t mine.  When I should have just slept in my own bed, like a good girl.  Like a big girl.  And now they’re dead.  They’re both dead.  And it’s my fault.  And now what if you die too!?”

[my-introverted-self]

I have some conflicting feelings about Oliver Stark right now. Not regarding his portrayal of the character (he’s doing a great job) but 1) his views of said character, his journey, growth and potential, 2) the ways he chooses to express and word those views.

Disclaimer: I admit these feelings of mine may be a bit misguided/overexaggerated at the moment for obvious reasons. Just ranting about what irks me. No hatred or accusations towards Oliver.

What rubs me the wrong way about all his interviews after 8x06 is his pure excitement, joy and strong desire for Buck to explore his bisexuality in fun ways with total disregard of how it came to be and what he already experienced (yeah I’m talking about his first queer relationship). He seems to be absolutely thrilled to immediately move onto the next fun (that’s the reoccurring theme) adventures. No genuine interest, engagement, reflection, empathy or gratitude regarding bucktommy arc during or after.

Since s7 there was a lot of talk about Buck figuring himself out after discovering he’s bi and it was said repeatedly loud and clear that it’s about Buck only. I get that Buck is the main and it’s no doubt his very personal journey that doesn’t need to be diminished to or overshadowed by someone else. But why was it so important for OS to completely isolate the story from Tommy (first queer LI) in his narrative, while other characters’ significance to the story (mostly their support) was mentioned regularly? Why his speculations and wishes for exploration couldn’t be interwoven into bucktommy arc? Why Tommy was never considered as means to/guidance/support/contradiction for the desired exploration (be it self-exploration, romantic/sexual/relationship dynamics, being part of the community, experiencing struggles etc)? I’m not talking about OS influencing the script, promoting the ship, going out of his way to defend it or speak out on any issues. I’m talking about opening up to opportunities of current canon relationship in terms of its impact on character development and not disregarding the whole thing as if it didn’t exist or mattered.

I guess I’m just confused what bi exploration and development exactly OS wants for Buck? Why could it only be done with single Buck? Why didn’t we see anything like that to this point and now it’s the logical next step as if Tommy was a nuisance the whole time (wasn’t important in bi realization and didn’t allow for fun adventures to take place during the arc). Why now OS rhetoric changes from distant and indifferent to anticipating and excited? He was so “honoured and humbled” with bi arc and talked about importance and intention of handling it with care, but now it’s just a fumbled relationship with no importance to it, quick recovery time and free way for bi Buck to sex it up both ways. That’s the development? I’m upset and baffled…

! Not blaming him for the actual plot (hoping he didn’t have anything to do with how it turned out), only thrown off by his perspective (at least the way it was perceived by me).

[midnight-shadow-cafe]

Soft Hearts, Healing Hands

Pairing: Steddie X Female!Reader

Warnings: fluff, bit of angst, reader is on their period and having a rough day, lashing out

Authors Note: I hope you enjoy! I haven’t written for steddie in a bit so here we go!

Word Count: 1.2k

Masterlist

MDNI18+MDNI18+MDNI18+MDNI18+MDNI18+

You had known the day would be rough from the moment you stepped into work. The phone had been ringing off the hook since you’d clocked in, and every customer seemed to have a complaint that could only be “solved” by raising their voice. Your boss was no better, throwing task after task at you with hardly a word of thanks. To top it all off, you’d felt the dreaded cramps creeping in around lunchtime, and by the end of your shift, the pain was a full-blown ache in your lower back and abdomen. Exhausted, sore, and overwhelmed, you drove home hoping for a quiet evening, but your mood was at an all-time low. Exhausted, sore, and ready to collapse, you finally drove home, hoping for a quiet night with your boys.

Pulling into the driveway, you let out a long breath, taking a moment to compose yourself before going inside. But the second you opened the door, you were greeted by the warm scent of food and the soft glow of candlelight, illuminating the living room in a cozy glow. Blinking in surprise, you saw Steve and Eddie waiting by the dinner table, both wearing eager, excited smiles.

“Hey, babe!” Steve called, hurrying over to greet you with open arms. “We made dinner for you!”

Eddie grinned, gesturing at the beautifully set table. “Yeah, we have a whole night planned out—just for you.”

Their enthusiasm, while sweet, hit you at the wrong moment. Already on edge, you struggled to keep calm, but their hopeful faces only added to the weight you’d been carrying all day. You could feel the ache in your body intensifying as Steve started listing out their evening plans, each suggestion a reminder of how desperately you just wanted peace and quiet. Your heart softened at their thoughtfulness, but exhaustion quickly swallowed any relief. The cramps throbbed sharply, a reminder that all you really wanted was to collapse somewhere and rest, not to engage in cheerful plans. They were still talking, detailing each part of the night with hopeful excitement, and it was all too much.

“Can we not do this right now?” you snapped, your voice coming out sharper than you meant. “I just had the worst day, and I can’t… I just can’t deal with all of this.”

Their faces fell, the joy in their expressions replaced with hurt and confusion. Steve’s shoulders slumped slightly, and Eddie’s smile faded. You could see the flicker of disappointment in their eyes, and guilt rushed in, leaving a bitter taste in your mouth. They’d put so much effort into making the night special, and here you were, lashing out at them. They had gone to so much effort to make the night special, and here you were, taking out all your frustration on them. You swallowed hard, feeling a tear slip down your cheek as you took a shaky breath.

A knot of regret formed in your chest, and you took a deep breath, forcing yourself to meet their gazes. “I’m so sorry,” you whispered, swallowing back tears. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’ve just… today’s been hell.”

Steve stepped forward, worry etched into his face. “What happened?”

You sighed, rubbing at your temples as you gathered your thoughts. “It’s just been one thing after another. Work was crazy — nonstop calls, angry customers, and my boss breathing down my neck. And then… I got my period today. My back is killing me, my stomach hurts… I just feel like a mess.”

The frustration and exhaustion finally came spilling out, and you felt yourself choke up. “And you two were just trying to do something sweet, and I ruined it,” you added, a tear slipping down your cheek.

Steve’s expression softened, and he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around you in a gentle hug. “You don’t have to apologize,” he murmured, his hands rubbing soothing circles along your back. “Sounds like you’ve had a terrible day. Come on, let us take care of you. No more plans, just whatever you need, alright?”

Eddie came up beside you, wiping a stray tear from your cheek. “You’ve been holding all that in, haven’t you?” he asked softly. “You don’t have to. We’re here to help.”

Letting them guide you, you moved to the table, and Eddie pulled out a chair for you. Steve poured a glass of water and set it beside a plate piled with comforting food. They both sat with you, watching carefully, each of them making sure you didn’t have to lift a finger. Their kindness, the comfort in their actions, slowly began to ease the tightness in your chest.

Eddie reached across the table, squeezing your hand gently. “Here, take these,” he said, handing you some pain relievers. “They should help with the cramps.”

Dinner turned into a quiet, intimate meal. The boys shared lighthearted stories about their day, coaxing a few smiles and chuckles from you, their gentle voices filling the room with a comforting warmth. Slowly, the weight of your day seemed to dissolve, your body relaxing bit by bit.

Once you were done eating, Steve took your hand, leading you to the couch. He wrapped you in a soft blanket, while Eddie placed a warm heating pad over your abdomen. The soothing heat helped ease the cramps, and you let out a long, relieved sigh, sinking into the cushions.

“Movie time,” Eddie announced with a gentle smile, clicking on your favorite film. He sat down beside you, pulling you close, while Steve took his place on the other side, draping his arm over your shoulders.

“Are you comfortable? Need anything else?” Steve asked, his voice soft and warm.

You shook your head, feeling a rush of gratitude. “Just stay here,” you whispered, leaning into him, savoring the warmth of his embrace.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Eddie promised, his hand finding yours and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Throughout the movie, they took turns checking on you. Eddie adjusted the heating pad when it slipped, brought you water, and occasionally ran his fingers along your arm. Steve traced gentle patterns through your hair, his steady, calming presence lulling you into a peaceful state. The cramps and the aches, though still there, felt more bearable with them by your side.

When the movie ended, they led you to bed, each of them curling up on either side of you. They nestled close, wrapping you in warmth and security, their gentle breathing steady and reassuring. But even with their comforting presence, a flicker of guilt lingered in your heart.

“I’m really sorry for snapping earlier,” you murmured, voice barely audible. “I was a mess, and you two didn’t deserve that.”

Steve’s hand found yours, his voice gentle but firm. “Hey, you don’t need to apologize. We all have rough days. We get it.”

Eddie leaned in, resting a hand on your shoulder. “Honestly, if either of us were dealing with what you’re dealing with — that kind of pain and a day from hell? We’d probably have snapped a lot sooner.”

Their understanding made your heart swell, and Steve brushed a gentle kiss to your forehead. “We’re just glad you’re letting us take care of you. You deserve this.”

Nestled between them, you finally felt all the day’s pain and frustration slip away. Safe, warm, and wrapped in their love, you closed your eyes, letting go of the day’s weight. With their steady breathing lulling you into peace, you drifted off, knowing they’d always be there to hold you through the tough days.

[svtcupid]

BSS Comeback:

‘SURPRISE!’ Jieun shouted entering the dressing room.

‘oh Sunbae! Hello!’ Hoshi bowed with respect as Dk and Seungkwan followed in toll.

‘yeah. Yeah. Work hard.’ Jieun cheered as she patted each of their shoulders handing a plastic bag they cheered in excitement.

‘What did you bring?’ Dokeyeom asked feeling his mouth water at the smell.

‘my halemonis rice cake.’ Jieun smiled seeing her members reaction,’ enjoy it. I’ll be back.’ Jieun told her members walking to another room

Jieun knocked on the door waiting for ‘come in.’

‘youngji, how are you?’ The idol greeted the younger who bowed in respect.

‘yes I am good. Are you here to watch?’ Youngji asked

‘yes. Do well and take care of yourself. Also this is for you it’s my halemoni rice cakes.’ Jieun cheered as Youngji bowed with look of admiration for the elder as they bid farewell.

Jieun re-entered her members room to scoff in disbelief seeing them all stuffing their faces with the rice cakes. Jieun took a seat and lazily rested her head against the leaders shoulder.

‘Have you eaten?’ Seungcheol asked as he chewed on a rice cake

‘Later. Let me rest.’ Jieun dismissed closing her eyes only to be jabbed to her forehead the female furrow her brows,’stop.’ To only be jabbed on the forehead again,’ I said stop.’ Jieun repeated to only occur,’ I said-‘ a rice cake was shoved into her mouth Jieun eyes widen sending a playful glare to the elder who sent one back.

seungcheol shook his head ,’ so childish.’ He chided,’ when are you going to stop this behaviour.’ Seungcheol asked

‘when are you going to stop using that cologne?’ Jieun bit back with a sarcastic smile.

Seungcheol smiled sarcastically,’do you wanna die?’ Said in a sarcastic tone Jieun opened her mouth to only mingyu to talk.

‘okay you two. Don’t fight right now.’Mingyu broke the two. Jieun took a rice cake placed it in her mouth sending the taller a weird look.

‘when were we fighting.’ Jieun asked in a confused as chewed turning to the elder for an answer who shrugged as Mingyu had a done face.

‘it’s pointless with these two.’ Wonwoo commented

‘yah Wonwoo! I’m your leader.’ Seungcheol reminded ‘I made rice cakes.’ Jieun added feeling offended

‘technically your halemoni did you just delivered did.’ Wonwoo reasoned getting another offended look from the female,’ your our leader so?’ Wonwoo edged picking up a rice cake to only be snatched by Jieun who fed the leader who had a pout.

‘both of you are so childish.’ Seungkwan roasted in disgust giving the two an unimpressed look.

Jieun and Wonwoo did not join on the dance as she told them she was too exhausted the BSS slightly disheartened but they understood. The two stood to the side as they watched the members dance to the song.

[darlingdreadwrites]

Living Dead Girl

THIS IS A SECOND PART OF AN AU. IF THIS IS THE FIRST POST YOU SEE, I SUGGEST YOU CLICK ON THIS (“MAIN STORY”) TO READ THE FIRST PART OF THIS AU!!

pairing: Clockwork x GN!Reader

summary: After arriving at Mr. Mann’s Manor of Frights, you decide to look at some of the booths.

contains: mini date, clockwork defending you, easily distracted reader

warnings: clockwork is referred to as Natalie, drunk men bother you

word count: 1.6k

masterlist

“I want to walk around first,” you tell your friends. They nod, and you all begin to walk deeper into the festival.

You take a deep breath to soak in the energy and excitement of the night ahead. You can’t help but look all around, taking in the people and the decorations. You linger only for a second around some of the booths before catching up to your friend group. But something catches your attention, making you fully stop. You tell your friends to wait up, but don’t glance in their direction to check if they heard you.

While admiring one of the booths, you run your fingers over the skulls hand-painted with intricate details. You lose yourself in all the trinkets on the table, and you look over your shoulder to beckon one of your friends over. But you don’t see them – you don’t see any of them. You straighten and turn to scan the crowd. Nothing.

You feel yourself start to panic as you weave through the crowd. But no matter how many people you pass, you can’t seem to spot a familiar face. You take your phone out of your pocket, the screen lights up your face as you text the group chat. You have to swallow a groan when you notice that the message is going to take ages to send. You place it back into your pocket and continue your search.

Minutes feel like hours, and the swarms of strangers laughing and screaming further add to your unease. Your discomfort intensifies as, while you were checking your phone again, a loud voice sneering next to you.

“You lost?” a man who’s clearly drunk slurs. His friends leer at you, mumbling inappropriate comments to each other.

Your nose scrunches up in discomfort and you try to move past them. They block your way, a different man speaking up.

“Where you goin’?” He smirks down at you, and the way he looks at you makes your skin crawl. You take a step back, but, as your discomfort intensifies, one of them reaches out to you.

“Hey. Move it. Now,” comes a sharp tone from behind you.

The men freeze and you turn around in confusion and relief. Your eye land on a tall, striking woman with short, auburn hair. She’s dressed in a security uniform, a badge clipped to her belt. She takes another step forward to stand between you and the men, unwavering.

“Don’t stand there looking stupid.” she crosses her arms. “Get off the property, or I’m kicking all your asses out.”

The men seem to hesitate, unsure of whether she would be true to her word. But when she takes another step closer, they back off. They scoff and click their tongues, retreating into the crowd. She turns around, gives you a quick once-over, and her expression softens just slightly.

“Are you okay?” She asks you, her tone is now calmer than the one she used earlier.

“Yeah,” you nod, still a little shaken. “Yeah, I think so… Thank you.”

She only nods, her gaze lingering on your tense form. She can tell that your problem went beyond just that group of assholes harassing you.

“Were you looking for someone?”

“My friends,” you answer, your grip on your phone tightened. “My phone. Nothing is sending.”

“That happens a lot,” she sighs as she slowly lets go of her tough demeanor. She looks around briefly before looking back at you. "I could help you find them. If you want.”

“I wouldn’t want to bother you,” you frown, and she gives you a quizzical look – as if you had said something silly.

“It’s my job. I’m Natalie, by the way.”

You tell her your name, and she lifts her hand, casually curling two fingers toward herself. You almost feel pulled to follow her, staying close enough that the fabric of her jacket touches your arm. She looks down at you every few minutes, asking if you see your friends anywhere, but you don’t.

As you continue your search, you can’t help but be drawn back to the colorful booths all around. You stop at one, almost starting up a conversation with a seller over a bat-shaped keychain. Natalie lets out a huff, the corner of her lips curve into a small smirk. Without missing a beat, she grabs your arm gently.

“I can see why you got lost in the first place,” she teases as she pulls you along.

The two of you reach the entrance of the mansion in case any of your friends are in there. You look every which way at the festivalgoers walking about and those in line. You catch sight of a sign next to one of the doorways leading to a haunted experience.

“Hey, what about this one?” You suggest, walking closer to the door, the sign above it reads “Butcher’s Lair.”

“What do you mean ‘what about this one?’” She scoffs and follows you.

“There isn’t a line here,” you tell her as you get your wristband scanned. “Can’t we go in?”

“Aren’t we supposed to –“ Natalie pauses and just stares at you, her brows furrowing. “Fine. I’ve been meaning to check this one out anyway.”

Inside of the room, you can really see how much detail went into all of it. Despite being one to take it slow and marveling at everything, you have to speed up your sightseeing as scare-actors and props jump out at you. You cling to her strong arm like a koala almost every time. She doesn’t seem to mind, finding humor in the whole thing instead.

“Keep practicing, Tony,” she gives the actor an unimpressed look. He throws his arms down, slapping the sides of his thighs in exasperation, completely breaking character for a moment.

She allows you to stay close, making casual comments and critiques as more scares come. She seems to be trying to make the attraction less scary, and it actually works.

“Bet he’s sweating so hard in that mask. Just drenched,” she snickers, earning a laugh from you. The intensity of it all seems to fade with every joke she makes, though you keep an arm wrapped around hers.

Walking out of the exit, the two of you are still laughing. That is, until your stomach growls loudly. Both of you pause and look at each other.

“I’m getting kind of hungry…” You admit sheepishly.

“Kind of?” She laughs, pushing her sleeve up to check her watch. “We can get some food. C’mon.”

Natalie escorts you to the other side of the festival, where many spooky-themed booths offer different foods to choose from. Despite you protesting, she insists on paying for your meal, having deemed herself your personal bodyguard. She even made a joke about hand-feeding you if you asked her to, making your face heat up. Once you have your food, she takes you to a quieter corner of the festival.

The conversation seems to flow easily with her, as if you’ve known each other for longer than just a few hours. She leans back on the bench, an arm draped over the backrest, and you feel the warmth of it on your back. You eat, swapping stories, and you love to hear about the ones from her time working as security. You found yourself getting distracted as you watched her talk. Every time she would swipe her tongue over bottom lip, scratched at her cheek, or got so lost in a story that she used her hands to narrate, you were even more mesmerized than before.

“We had a guy think he could just come in and scare the shit out of us,” Natalie recounts, pausing to munch on a chip. Using the pad of her thumb, she wipes at the corner of her lip, then sucks it to clean the cheese off it. It was as if she was completely unaware of how every little action of hers had you staring dumbly.  “Dude hid in the bushes dressed like a zombie. Almost gave one of my guards a heart attack.”

 “Does that happen a lot? People pretending to be scare-actors?” You can’t help but smile. She clicks her tongue and chuckles.

You glance down, now feeling a bit shy. “I’m sorry if I distracted you tonight. I know you have to work.”

“Are you kidding?” She pauses mid-bite to give you a goofy smile. “This is the most fun I’ve had all week. I’m glad I saved you from those creeps.”

There’s warmth in her sincere tone that makes your cheeks flush again. You return her smile, grateful that she was enjoying your company as much as you enjoy hers. After a few moments of silence, she speaks up again.

“Okay, you,” she says through a sigh, patting your head playfully. “Let’s get your cute ass back to your friends.”

You laugh, feeling a bit flustered by her casual affection. Once you’re ready to go, she gets up and offers a hand to help you off the bench. You take it almost a little too quickly, earning a chuckle from her. As you walk side by side, she keeps a steady pace, her hand occasionally brushing against yours. You find your friends gathered near a booth, and you both slow to a stop. She turns to you and you flash her a grateful smile.

“Thank you, seriously,” you say, your voice filled with genuine gratitude. “I really don’t know what I would’ve done without you. Die, probably.”

“Aw, come on,” she nudges your arm playfully. “Try not to get lost again, alright?”

If getting lost would let me spend time with you again, you think to yourself, I’m so getting lost again.

With a final wave, you head over to your friends. When you glance over your shoulder one last time, you see that Natalie is still watching you with a smile on her face.

[jikigo]

so suddenly samael is penny and rayne is iola. fun

[chilapis]

WE’RE SO FUCKING BACK WE’RE SO FUCKING BACK WE’RE SO FUCKING BACK

[lesbiansanemi]

Things to make me lie down and contemplate everything. 400 ppl liking my writing enough that they want a notification when there’s something new

[steviescrystals]

i’m fr gonna lose my mind :)

[flurriethefox]

Okay I know it’s super cliche and shit but I love the “this guy bullies this person cuz they love them” trope. Just like, “oh shit this guy is a bitch I don’t wanna fuck with them” while the other is like “did they find that cool? Intimidating? Am I doing this right why am I panicking what do I do” It’s delicious.

Now shove my blorbo in there somewhere and whatever comes out I shall put on my gravestone.

[aceofstars16]

I think I realized what was different about The Chosen this time…this is the first time where I was disappointed after watching it…which is just…well disappointing lol

[autism-disco]

how am i supposed to focus when. the book

[kimtranssexler]

My friend…who would never…..in a million years…be interested….in trigun….is now interested…in trigun…because they think…the new vash…is hot…...?????

What the fuck is going on right now…???

[sea-me-now]

*chanting* FLOUNDER HEIGHTS FLOUNDER HEIGHTS FLOUNDER HEIGHTS FLOUNDER HEIGHTS FLOUNDER HEIGHTS FLOUNDER—

[thewispsings]

broken up? no, engagement! | max verstappen

pairing: max verstappen x actress!reader

summary: y/n l/n has a weird way of announcing hers and max’s engagement.

liked by, danielricciardo, charles_leclerc, and 602,927 others!

yourusername: i no longer have a boyfriend.

view comments below!

user1: wait what

user2: i’m sorry???

user3: DID YOU AND MAX BREAK UP???

user4: no no no

user5: this CANNOT mean what i think it does

user6: you’re kidding me right

charles_leclerc: please answer my messages!

user8: no way

user9: THE CAPTION???

danielricciardo: ?

danielricciardo: answer my messages please

landonorris: mine too?

user10: does anyone know what is going on?

user11: so you’re available now 😏

user12: you were too pretty for max anyways 🙄

landonorris: um what’s going on?

user13: lando just being as lost is so??

user14: wait but why would she and max break up

user15: i’m so…confused?

user16: MAX ISNT IN THE LIKES??? OMG NOOO

— f1gossip has posted new pictures!

f1gossip: y/n l/n was seen cozying up with cast mate, Luke Newton amidst breakup rumors between her and max verstappen. thoughts?

view comments below!

user17: “cozying up” and it’s her taking a picture of him ??? 🙄

user18: admin is acting like they were making out in front of everyone…

user19: oh!

user20: users on twitter were saying max was THERE with them so??

user21: she moves on fast!

user22: this sounds wrong…

user23: we literally know NOTHING about hers and max’s relationship or WHY they broke up. let’s not assume.

user24: my heart just broke

user25: okay but her and luke are kinda cute together? no? just me?

user26: HER AND MAX WERE CUTERRR

user27: i’ll start foaming at the mouth if y/n l/n doesn’t come out and say her caption was just a joke.

user28: HER AND MAX WERE SUPPOSED TO GET MARRIEDDDD!!!!!😓😓😓

user29: i can’t do this rn. i just can’t.

liked by yourusername, danielricciardo, landonorris, charles_leclerc, and 962,028 others!

maxverstappen1: I understand that, without my agreement, my lovely finance has put out a instagram post this morning indicating that we have broken up. This is wrong, we have not broken up. We got engaged. We are to be wed.

view comments below!

yourusername: i thought they would understand what i meant 😞

user30: GIRL ALL YOU SAID WAS YOU NO LONGER HAD A BF???

user31: you did NOT phrase your words correctly

user32: gave me heart attack and for what 😐

user33: don’t play with me like that ever again.

danielricciardo: i love you @/yourusername, but please do not play with my heart like that again.

danielricciardo: BUT YAY!!!! WEDDING OF THE CENTURY!!

user34: OMG ???

user35: I KNEW IT!!! I FUCKING KNEW IT!!!

user36: AHHHHH AHHHHH AHHHHH AHHHH

user37: oh thank GOD

user38: pls don’t ever scare me like that again 💗

landonorris: OMG OMG OMG OMG ???!??!??

landonorris: AND YOU LOT DIDNT TELL ME ?!?!?

landonorris: YNSTAPPEN WEDDING!! AHHHH

user39: congratulations!!!

f1: about time you proposed 😒

maxverstappen1: ?

redbullracing: so excited for the red bull themed wedding!! ☺️

yourusername: yeah that won’t be happening

redbullracing: i understand.

user40: i’m crying??

user41: does this mean i don’t have a chance with y/n anymore ?? ☹️

user42: THAT SHOULDVE BEEN MEE

charles_leclerc: congratulations too you both 💗

maxverstappen1: thank you charles 💙💙

user43: omg just ask him to be your best man already 🙄🙄

oscarpiastri: it is an honor to have my tweet used as your engagement announcement 🧡🧡

yourusername: max couldn’t resist 😒

user44: i just know this wedding is going to be GORGEOUS

georgerussell63: congrats too you both! ❤️

yourusername: you’ll sing at the wedding right?

georgerussell63: duh 🙄

yourusername: perfect!

lewishamilton: so excited 💗💗

yukitsunoda0511: can i cook?

yourusername; of course you can yuki!!

user45: i’m so excited and it’s NOT EVEN MY WEDDING??

schecoperez: did you tell her how you were shitting yourself with nerves this entire week?

maxverstappen1: no 😒

yourusername: aw max 🥹🥹

liked by, maxverstappen1, georgerussell63, oscarpiastri, and 1,238,028 others!

yourusername; i got married today. it was cool. 10/10 would do again!

view comments below!

user46: was the wedding 10/10 or was the groom 10/10??

yourusername: both!

user45: OMG ITS HAPPENED??

user46: so happy for you both 🥹

maxverstappen1: 💙💙

georgerussell63: i personally think my singing brought everything together…

yourusername: it really did george, it really did

charles_leclerc: so incredibly happy for you both ❤️

user47: we all saw the video of you sobbing during the ceremony charles…

user48: to be fair, EVERYONE was sobbing

user49; their vows even made ME cry

landonorris: amazing wedding, 10/10 would attend again!

yourusername: thank you little lando 🧡🧡

oscarpiastri: i would like to request the video of my dancing to be scrubbed off of the internet.

maxverstappen1: no chance mate 😂

yourusername: it’s okay oscar, i thought your dancing was adorable!!

lewishamilton: me and roscoe had the times of our lives ❤️❤️

user50: ROSCOE WENT TO THE WEDDING ?? 😭

user51: not only roscoe, but alex and TWO of his cats 😭😭

liked by, yourusername, danielricciardo, yukitsunoda0511, shecoperez, and 1,629,028 others!

maxverstappen1: i married my bestfriend today. it was amazing. 10/10 would do again!

view comments again!

user52: he’s officially off the market ladies 😒

user53: he’s been off the market for 4 years ???

user54: if my man doesn’t love me as much as max loves y/n i don’t WANT HIM

user55: ever since y/ns “i no longer have a bf” post i’ve been thanking the gods that this is how it turned out

danielricciardo: bestfriend? wow, you get married and suddenly you forget who raised you.

maxverstappen1: y/n is my bestfriend. she always will be.

danielricciardo: JUST RUB IT IN THEN.

user56: omg her dress 😍😍

user57; them >>

user58: did you guys see that they BOTH took each others last name??

user59: wait really?

user58: yeah 🥹 it’s y/n l/n-verstappen and max verstappen-l/n

user60: that is the cutest thing ever

user61: the matching captions 😞😞

user62: remember last year when y/n made everyone believe they broke up??

user63: thank GOD that wasn’t true

yourusername: i love you mr l/n

maxverstappen1: i love you more mrs verstappen

user64: WHEN IS IT MY FUCKING TURN