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the-firebird69 · 1 year ago

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they are a waste of time say ridiculous things and mean bad things and get hit. and we hit take. and put him down. nd tons of times. we use it too. hit the scuckers. and rip them new ones. and the fr wont stop talking and then this we do it now nd slice off limbs and duing the shwo today we do it and later and he will be amazed no is a fag. now we recall him in th epost office and he called ofor it again. and said it we had fun. our son said i gained a key area yes. and finaacially one step closer to having your entire lot. and he said this so what it is not wroth anytyiing. and you say so we took tons of daimonds and cook huge armies of yours. and he spits so what. and we need to and robots suck vs the new stuff. we feel this is accoridng to ou rules ad such and so what..and he is steaming and says it you soud like one of us and so what our son says back lol alughs. and he says we ar emean ppl no shit sherlock. get a life and wife and dick fag. and ducks and says this he is one of us and penalties for your ass talk trump...tons and we add the up fine him now.

-tehy strike they say and dont are sitting in africa waiting for somehitng what we dont know. we laugh ok.-tons

-tons are at trump now here tons and hit. he and his out shortly needs to be he is an asshole. means to be.

-we use it of course and take territory and more need to.

-charlotte county wempties of trumps ad fast and yes it is said he is coming in. tons of them and bja is at it now

-huge loads of trumps and in and he is vulgar and mean. and says it we hit you now trump and shtup fag ok fag. an he says it this one needs a lessona nd we teach your faggots a lesson rip them limb from limb pile them pu light it.

-and we do this now these suck badly. are rancid. tons in now but think it and in the rings the die now the 25th expands to encompass west palm yes. and today and the shorleine and cuts off traffic. fully. and in the first to third they are surrounded about 20 out of 40.

-minority morlock may start to attack the morlock macs who are in he bunkers as tehy are watching and they want the shps. and it is clear it is why. no but ok lol

huge foces of mac morlock gtehr first and will try and move and saw the others and now move out and ty to get in and do the job. lol ahaah lol

-time is now here to come in. we do so and build and more. here too and all over florida. in the 25th ring they morlock die and tons of them. and in the three first they die now ten are out no one household the truckflew up in the air a tree a ramp landed and rushed the front end and went end over end and yeh only go 400 or less too many trees event hen hazardous. the truck crumbped one third its length they died instantly all of them. and releated to peter socorellis yes trumpsters. and our son knew a couple of them. and dyes a couople not jason no. a pair of them no husband and wife and knew him by name called him tings and yes. single guy loser and more and out loud. and said it no not to him. but to others. and finally this you stay singel we ihityou and meant it and he said your dead and they said this nope and wnt on and on and a scam and such and no i mean you die in the future it is on the erports. radio. truck crushed in therings and yyou die. and oh. left mad wept blabbed harrassed and went ot and died. recent epiteths on our son is reasn to hit them.

-tons die today here and tons say it and hit morlok and minority morlok hit too. cant sstandyou

-we take territory and move up the continenets form the south and totlly yes. no. partially. and wall off yes. tons of area huge lots ow about ten more spains and five portugals. and yes that country is not huge. only 80x70 ok. a bit less. africa is thousands of miles long about 3800 and 280 wide roughly nd the usa is about 2100 80 a small fraction of it.

-we move totake oil companies today

*mobil oil and fully no we absorb trumps 20% and waste his as tehy try for it back tons do and tons die mostly they dont stop inutul the oil folks are out

*shell oil and yes trumps share and all of it both about 20% of the whole and leaves only 30% andthat share is owned by bja nope the mac daddy and his kkids and soon out and ours.

*Sunoco and todya and 20% and buying it and he is gloating perfect timing and such is a slime and will ttry to sabotage the others. and will die tdoing it

*occidenta petroleum and we buyout the final 5%of the prime comppnay of trumps no the whole thing. and subsiduaries too today. whole thing yes. and only 15% of the total but it is huge. we then proceed to occupy them and use them for ourselves and society regular shipments of gasoline diesel and other petroleum products will continue uninterupted. yes airplne fuel too. and home heating oill power genertion jet fuel and for bases. yes mostly. they take it from the locals if we dont. if you block it we are seen being blocked they track it

*five other companies and are huge. and next up bja nope the psuedo empire and bja. and bja has less nope. and he wont sell he says and we force him to or take it as he sits does nothing and planned to. we use it now on him it is too late must start now and tk them or tohers might

Thor Freya

we have a list

walmart etarget, albertsons, stop and shop really the big grocery chains and suppliers and distributors and growers we work on now water companies and purification we take them whole and y es the psuedo empire figths over it and empire thinks we get hit and lose. we think not track all ours use our ehierarchy. now we hear you and laugh your the slobs at the bottom now. huge restarant chains like yumyum and subway outback chilis more and we take them over and start in ernest now. need it and need to. more shortly consctuction companies mostly we take them all

Olympus

a great day for us we see morlock build up and around the bunkers and tons pour in. and they expand too nd grow and haul stuff there and move building there. an an encroachment need it yes

and more too they are fillig up the bunkers with ordinacne a good sign and shal attract macs now and fast.

Thor Freya they will be out due to this conflicte re shps yes

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thefluffychipmunk · 2 years ago

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A Hallmark Movie

Fruity Four Advent Calendar day 4: hallmark movie. So this kind of got away from me. It was just supposed to be a little short fic. It snowballed. This is even cut down from what my brain wanted to write. So I may, at some point, go back to this fic and flesh it out, expand some scenes, add a few I had to cut. Maybe. One day. It certainly won’t be before this advent calendar fun is over.

(If anyone has done the math, this takes place in 2001. Everyone kept their original birth dates.)

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Eddie Munson was many things. He was 35 years old. He was tall, handsome in an unconventional way with his teased up curls and honey brown eyes. He was metal, but he was soft. He was the quintessential rags to riches story. He was a failure, but he was also a success. He was the lead singer and guitarist for world famous heavy metal band Corroded Coffin. He was also the main lyricist.

He had writer’s block.

He was losing faith in everything. He hadn’t written a single good song in over two years. The band was getting restless. The fans were getting judgy. Pop and grunge and r&b groups were putting out an album a year, sometimes more, but Corroded Coffin hadn’t released so much as a single in two.

His band was on the verge of breaking up and it was all his fault.

“I’m going home,” he told them one evening after tossing out idea after terrible idea. “Reset. Maybe I just need a change of scenery.” They agreed without fight and everyone went their separate ways. He could only hope it wasn’t the last time.

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Wayne met him in Indianapolis at the airport. He fell into his uncle’s arms and didn’t let go for a solid five minutes. He was tired. He was so so tired. Of everything.

Eddie was uncharacteristically quiet on the drive home, the drive to a house Eddie had never actually lived in, but was home anyway. Because it was where Wayne lived, the house Eddie had bought him after his first big advance. Wherever Wayne was would always be home.

Wayne didn’t say anything, but he kept looking over with concern. Eddie was rarely quiet. He collapsed into the spare bedroom, his room with all his stuff that Wayne set up when he moved, even though Eddie had never been back to it. He didn’t move for the rest of the day.

It was the middle of November. Eddie rambled around the house. He didn’t write a single thing.

It was Thanksgiving. Eddie rambled around the house. He didn’t write a single thing.

It was the start to a very chilly December. Eddie rambled around the house. He still hadn’t written a single thing.

“C’mon, son. Time to quit your moping. We’re going to get a Christmas tree.” Wayne said, dragging Eddie off the couch and pushing him towards the shower.

“But it’s only December 1st! It’s too early.”

“We need some cheer ‘round here. So we’re going.” Wayne countered. Eddie looked around. There were blankets and clothes all over the furniture. He’d left dishes piled on the coffee table. He didn’t even have the lights on, a dull grey din filtering through the living room windows.

“It’s Saturday. It’ll be crowded.” Wayne just glared at him.

“You ain’t done nothing but move from the bedroom to the living room to the kitchen and back again. Time to do something. So we’re going to decorate.” Eddie grumped about it, but he got in the shower anyway.

An hour later they were pulling up to a bustling Christmas tree lot in the middle of town. Lights were strung up around the perimeter fence and there were fresh cut wreaths and garland on every post. Trees of various sizes already in netting lined the entire fence and there were trees in stands in circular rows inside, a whole maze of them. There was a shiny new sign at the opening in the fence, hand painted by the looks of it.

Buckley-Wheeler Christmas Tree Farm Established 1987

Lot hours 11am-6pm Wed-Sun. Closed Monday and Tuesday

Cut your own by appointment only

It was, indeed, quite crowded. Families milled about with small children running between the trees. Men hemmed and hawed at every tree their wives picked out. Women measured twice before moving to something else. Somewhere a dog barked.

Wayne dragged him to a small shed in the middle of the lot. It was hidden in the center of the maze of trees. There were two women inside chatting. They looked about his age but he didn’t really remember them. They were familiar in the way most people his age were. He might have seen them around, but he didn’t know them.

“Ladies.” Wayne took off his ballcap and rubbed at his shaved head. He never was much of a people person.

“Mr. Munson! It’s so good to see you again!” the woman behind the table with a small cash register exclaimed. She stood and ran around the table to give him a hug. Eddie just blinked, not sure what he was witnessing. Wayne didn’t know anybody. Wayne didn’t do people.

“Hello, Eddie.” a quiet but confident voice said from behind the table. It was the other woman who had been sitting there.

“You know me?” he asked, glancing behind him to make sure she was talking to him. Of course she was, though. He might not feel it, but he was still famous.

“Of course I do. We all do. Who could forget your lunch table rants? Small town famous before you made it big.” He blinked at her. He had no idea who she was. She stepped forward and held out her hand. He shook it.

“I’m Nancy Wheeler. The woman talking your uncle’s ear off is my partner, Robin Buckley. We run the tree farm.”

“How do you know my uncle?” he asked. He didn’t mean to sound suspicious but it still came out that way. He’d been in LA too long.

“Wayne has done a lot of work around the farmhouse for us. He’s been a real angel since we took over the business.” She smiled fondly at Wayne and Eddie’s mind was blown. He didn’t know what to do with any of this information.

“And your young man always overpays me.” Wayne placed a gentle hand on Nancy’s shoulder and squeezed. “Now, can I pull one of you ladies away to help me ‘n Eddie find a tree?”

Robin practically bounced as she dragged them away. Eddie glanced back to see Nancy smiling at them, her eyes on Robin the whole way. He knew that look. Maybe they were partners in more than one sense of the word.

Robin rambled the entire walk through the tree lot. She talked about the different types of tree, how to keep it healthy through Christmas, what size was best based on the space she somehow knew they had, and even which trees grew best in which climate. He wasn’t sure she stopped long enough to take a breath. It should have been annoying. She made it endearing.

They were back towards the middle, with the 5-7 foot trees, and Eddie zoned out while Wayne listened intently. He looked around at the throngs of people. For the most part, they left him alone, though there were a few teenagers who gave him lingering stares, like they weren’t sure they were really seeing him. Across the empty space in front of the shed was a man, probably a farm hand. He was helping a woman with three little kids and the large, rounded belly that showed a fourth on the way. He had shoved a tree through the netting ring as if it was nothing and had it tied off and to the side in the blink of an eye.

Eddie watched as he chased the oldest kid around, picking him up and threatening to throw him through the net. The little boy squealed and wiggled while the second oldest clung to the man’s leg, demanding he let her brother go. The woman held the littlest one against her and smiled at the man. He winked at her like he knew her. Hawkins was small, though, Eddie had to remind himself. He probably did know her.

He put the kid down and picked up the wrapped tree, lugging it to the front where a minivan was parked. He tossed it on top like it was light as a feather and began to tie it down while the woman buckled kids into carseats. She tried to give him cash and he refused it, waving as she drove off. Eddie couldn’t stop watching him.

He wore a thin flannel shirt that pulled at his arms and chest as he moved. His jeans were rugged and dirty and he wore big brown boots. His hair danced around his face, something familiar about it he couldn’t quite place, in the gentle breeze. He was probably the most attractive man Eddie had ever seen. And Eddie lived in LA.

“Down, boy.” Wayne elbowed him in the stomach and Eddie tore his eyes away, back to his uncle and Robin. He cleared his throat and Robin chuckled at him with a knowing glance. At least he wasn’t about to get punched. The world was changing, but it wasn’t that different from when he was in high school. Not yet. Maybe one day.

“Steve!” Robin bellowed, calling the man over.

“Rob!” he yelled back. He sauntered, literally swaying his hips from side to side, as he made his way over to them. There could have been a nuclear bomb dropped and Eddie wouldn’t have noticed for staring at those hips.

Eddie’s eyes widened with sudden realization. She had called him Steve. He did know that man. Steve. Steve Harrington. King Steve “The Hair” Harrington. He was a year behind Eddie in school but everyone knew King Steve. He was unavoidable back then.

“Wayne! It’s so good to see you!” Steve exclaimed in a direct echo of what Robin had done earlier, right down to the enthusiastic hug. Now Eddie knew what Wayne meant by “your young man”. He was immediately identifiable as Robin’s perfect match.

“Can you help an old man with a tree?” Wayne asked. Steve laughed heartily. His eyes danced and his grin lit up his entire face. Oh Eddie was in DANGER.

“You aren’t that old, old man.” Eddie leaned in to whisper to his uncle as they walked towards the tree Wayne had picked out, Steve following close behind. “You’re only 58.” Wayne just winked at him and pointed to his tree. Steve stepped forward and assessed the tree, nodding. He grabbed it and hauled it toward the middle, toward the net ring, again lifting the hefty tree as if it were nothing.

They led Steve and the tree to Wayne’s truck, where Steve tied it down into the bed carefully. He took the handful of bills Wayne handed over and then tried to hand some back, claiming it was too much. Wayne refused.

“Do you need me to stop by later and get it set up?” Steve asked with a slight wheeze, finally showing a little effect of the effort of his manual labor. He wiped at his brow with his sleeve, leaving a little smudge of dirt on his forehead, looking as if it was artfully placed there intentionally, and it was so disgustingly charming. Too damn charming. Eddie wanted to stop staring.

He couldn’t stop staring.

Wayne glanced over at Eddie.

“I’ve got some young, strong arms here. I think he can manage. But maybe if you have some free time at some point you could help me with the lights on the house?” Steve flashed that hundred watt smile again.

“I’ll be there at 6:30.” Steve nodded, his hands on his hips, and turned to Eddie. “It was good to see you, Eddie. Glad you’re back in town.” It was the first time he’d spoken to Eddie at all. His smile went soft, shy almost, but he held Eddie’s eyes when he spoke.

“Yeah. Glad to be back.” Eddie winced internally. All the things he could say, and that’s what he went with? Steve raised his hand at his waist, just a little, in a small wave goodbye. He turned and walked away. Eddie just watched him go, admiring the view. Steve’s pants were far too tight and if Eddie wasn’t careful, his would be too.

Wayne cleared his throat from inside the truck and Eddie jumped. He blushed as he slid into the passenger seat and buckled his seatbelt.

“Not a word, old man.” Wayne just smiled and drove off.

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Steve was there at 6:30 on the dot. He helped Eddie climb on the roof and they hung strings of multicolored lights while Wayne directed them from below. He was surprisingly easy to talk to.

Steve was charming. Helpful. Friendly. Everything he wasn’t back in school. Eddie didn’t know what to do with it.

He invited Eddie to the farm on Monday to help with the preparation for the town’s Christmas festival. Wayne agreed for him. So Eddie went.

Steve was charming then, too. He showed Eddie around, gave him a tour of the land and all the trees. He showed him the house. They weren’t kidding when they said Wayne had done some work for them. Eddie could see his touch all over the place. It was in the remodeled walk-in pantry, the trim and the lighting in the living room, in the plumbing in the bathrooms.

Eddie was surprised to learn Steve lived there with Robin and Nancy, just the three of them. There were way more rooms set up than the three of them needed, especially since it was pretty obvious Robin and Nancy shared a room and Steve had converted the attic to be his bedroom. Some were generic guest rooms, but some were set up like kids lived there… science posters and trophies and dungeons and dragons books stacked next to old av equipment in one, old skateboards and girl band posters with comics scattered everywhere in another. Those rooms were dusty, though, time capsules that hadn’t been touched since the early 90s.

Steve didn’t offer an explanation. Eddie didn’t ask.

He showed up on Tuesday too.

He spent more time with Robin. She talked near constantly and he didn’t mind. She didn’t seem to care when he interrupted or talked over her and he didn’t mind when she did it to him. He could see himself being friends with these people.

And then he showed up at the tree lot on Wednesday. And Thursday. He helped price and net the trees. He helped set up wreaths. He took pictures with the teenagers that had been skulking around, finally getting the courage to ask if he was who they thought he was.

And then Eddie just kept going back. He took them out to dinner. He brought in hot chocolate when it was cold, ice water when it was unseasonably warm. He didn’t think 60 degrees was necessarily warm, but then, he’d spent the past seventeen years in California. He’d forgotten what winters in Indiana were like.

He still couldn’t write songs. He’d pick up his guitar and idly strum and nothing would come out. But he was starting to feel happy again. It was progress.

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It was early on Saturday the 15th. Far earlier than Eddie would have liked to be up, but Steve was a morning person and they had to get set up for the Christmas festival. Steve had asked for help. Wayne would have said yes for him if Eddie hadn’t agreed readily, powerless to say no to Steve Harrington and his effortless charm.

He was painting a few touch ups on the wooden train display that was set to stand near the line for Santa Claus. Robin was reinforcing the stands on the display, idly chatting away. Eddie had lost her train of thought.

“Steve’s not like he was in school,” he interrupted. Robin stopped hammering. She grew quiet. Eddie had never heard her quiet before. He looked at her over the top of the coal car. She wasn’t looking at him, staring down at the hammer in her hands instead.

“He’s not, no,” she finally said. She didn’t look up. Eddie waited. “Things really changed for him senior year. You left in 84 so you didn’t see. He and Nancy broke up and it was kind of messy.” Eddie raised his eyebrows and Robin finally noticed he was staring at her.

“Yeah, they dated for like a year before realizing they’re better friends than lovers.”

“And you’re cool with that? Just like… living with them? When they’re exes?” Eddie asked. Robin just frowned at him.

“It was over fifteen years ago, dude. Why would I care? He’s my best friend. The other half of me. Platonic soulmates. My hetero life partner. We’re ride or die. I trust them both with my life. I’m not worried.” He nodded. He couldn’t think of a response. He wished he was that strong, that secure.

“What happened?” he asked. She sighed and sat down. Eddie crawled around the plywood display to join her.

“She lost a good friend. She realized a few things.”

“She’s a lesbian?”

“Among other things.” Robin chuckled softly and nudged him.

“Did Steve? Realize some things?” He was fishing and he knew it. He knew she knew it, too.

Steve flirted with just about everyone that set foot on the tree lot, with every waitress in every restaurant, with every person they crossed on the street when they hung out. But he was spending all his time with Eddie. He touched Eddie, a hand on the shoulder or a bump of the hip, when he didn’t need to. It was Eddie he watched, Eddie he called to talk to late at night.

Eddie had fallen hard and fast, but he had no idea if Steve’s soft smiles and glances meant anything. And he was too afraid of rejection to ask.

“That’s not for me to say.” Robin finally responded, eying him warily. He held up his hands in acquiesce. It was as much an affirmative as it was a dismissal. He’d take it.

“It was really when his parents died. Middle of his senior year. Nancy broke up with him in November and then in January he finds out their plane went down. No survivors. He was the sole living relative. Inherited the entire Harrington fortune.” Eddie let out a whoosh of a breath. He didn’t know. Hadn’t known. How would he? He’d left town and it’s not like he’d been friends with any of these people before he’d graduated.

“I didn’t know.” Robin patted his arm.

“Yeah, well, he fell apart and then he pulled it all back together. Graduated high school. Stayed in town until Nance and I graduated. Then he asked what I wanted to do with my life. I said this. He bought the farm the very next day.”

“Wait. Steve owns the farm?” It was Robin and Nancy’s names on the sign. Their names on the business license. Their names on the house.

“Steve made everything happen. He kept the previous farm hands on for a few years, paid them double to stay and teach him everything they knew. He ran everything while I learned the business. Nancy graduated college, came home, and then she just… never left. We’re a package deal now.” Eddie hummed in the back of his throat. He wanted to be a package deal. Part of the group. One of the can’t haves without the others.

But he was a rockstar. A musician. His life was in LA. If he could ever pull himself together and start writing again.

He didn’t want to leave.

“He likes to take care of people. He has a good heart.” Robin broke him out of his head. She stood up and stared down at him. “If you break it, Nancy will kill you and I’ll hide the body.”

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It was December 23rd. Eddie hadn’t written a single thing. But he had spent every single day with Steve and Robin and Nancy. Every evening with just Steve. And all hours of the night on the phone. Steve was the first thing he thought of when he got up. He was the last person he spoke to before he fell asleep. They spoke every night.

“You’re coming to my Christmas Eve party tomorrow night, right? Most of the family’ll be there.” Steve whispered sleepily. Eddie could hear the smile in his voice, could picture him laying in his own bed, eyes lidded, half asleep. He glanced at the clock in his bedroom. It wasn’t midnight yet. Still the 23rd. Still tomorrow.

“Wouldn’t miss it, sweetheart.”

Eddie was long past needing Wayne to say yes for him.

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Eddie and Wayne were fashionably late. The long driveway to the farm house was filled with cars. The house was lit up from top to bottom and he could hear music and chatter through the open door. It was cold, bitingly so, and he could smell snow in the air.

They walked in and looked around. The house was packed full. People were running in and out of the kitchen. An older couple sat on the couch chatting with another older woman and a teenager who looked like she’d rather be anywhere else. Wayne grabbed them both drinks and immediately abandoned Eddie for the couple on the couch.

“You made it!” Robin launched herself at his back and he had to scramble to catch her without dropping his drink.

“I have no idea who any of these people are!” He practically had to yell over the noise. Robin wiggled her way around to his front. She started pointing at people.

“That’s Nancy’s brother Mike and his boyfriend Will.” She pointed at a couple sitting at the bottom of the stairs watching them.

He recognized Will immediately. He wrote the bestselling fantasy horror series An Academic Study of Monsters of the Upside Down. It was six books in and Eddie hadn’t been able to get enough, reading and re-reading them. He wrote under the pen name Pendragon, but Eddie would know him anywhere. Will looked at him with just as much awe, both a little starstruck at the other.

He learned that the guy in the living room taking pictures of the tree was Will’s older brother Jonathan, also Nancy’s ex apparently, and he worked for a small magazine in California. The fashionable man standing with him was his partner Argyle, owner of a west coast famous pizza chain Eddie had never eaten at.

The couple on the couch with Wayne were Joyce and Jim Hopper, Will and Jonathan’s mother and stepfather. He remembered Jim Hopper. He used to be chief of police and the barrel of a man had always scared him. He had to remind himself he didn’t sell pot anymore. He had nothing to be worried about. Robin pointed out Jim’s daughter, Jane, a preschool teacher apparently, talking with a rather tall young man she identified as Lucas. A computer programmer.

The woman talking to the couple on the couch was Nancy’s mom and the teenager was her younger sister Holly, home from her second year at college. There was another young woman, half asleep on the couch, that Robin pointed out as Erica, sister to Lucas, wife to Dustin, whoever Dustin was, and a powerhouse in her own right so he better not ever think of her as anything other than herself, never as how she relates to the others.

“Which one is Dustin?” he asked, looking around. He had a name for every face so far, but there was a lot of noise in the kitchen so many he was back there with Nancy.

“He’s not here yet. He’s actually picking up a present for Steve. He’ll be here soon.” He had no idea how any of them related to Steve. He had only halfway followed how they all related to each other.

He didn’t see Steve.

He didn’t even get a chance to ask where Steve was when he came dancing out of the kitchen. He had a soft yellow sweater on, a white rag thrown over his shoulder, and a baby on his chest. The baby was the spitting image of Erica, so Eddie knew it wasn’t Steve’s, but the sight of him dancing with this tiny little human did something to Eddie he wasn’t ready to examine.

Steve bounced the baby and sang softly to her, gently cradling her tiny black curls, his whole hand covering the back of her tiny little head. Eddie was going to go feral. Steve being gentle. Steve being a caregiver. Steve holding a baby. Eddie wanted to tear Steve’s clothes off and ravage him right there in the living room. He was losing his goddamn mind.

Headlights beamed into the house as a car came careening up the driveway. It stopped with a squeal of the brakes. Robin practically screamed in his ear and pulled him back into the doorway to the dining room. Car doors slammed. Another young man, “Dustin” Robin yelled in Eddie’s ear, came charging into the room with two large suitcases in hand. He dropped the bags and made a beeline for Steve.

“Gimme my daughter, heathen! You’ll corrupt her with your sports nonsense.” He took the baby from Steve, despite Steve’s protests that he was just getting her to sleep, and stepped aside with a sly grin. He nodded towards the door and Eddie turned to look, a heartbeat of a second after Steve did, the whisper of a name in his ear.

Max.

There was a young woman standing there. She had long, wavy red hair. Freckles all over her face. The bluest eyes Eddie had ever seen. She was short and slim, bundled up in the brightest green. She was, in a word, stunning.

And she was staring at Steve with tears in her eyes. And Steve was staring back like he’d just seen a ghost.

Nobody said anything. Not a word. The chatter stopped immediately and only Nat King Cole on the record player kept the silence at bay.

Max took a step forward. She shuddered with a sob and suddenly she was in Steve’s arms. He’d crossed the room and gathered her close to him. They were both crying. Steve picked her up, spun her in circles, put her down. He pulled back and pulled her right up against him again. Max was sobbing. Steve had tears freely streaming down his face as he took shuddering breath after shuddering breath, her name a whispered with each shake. He leaned back enough to gently cup her face, his eyes roaming like he couldn’t believe she was real, laughing in delight. She laughed right back and held him tight.

Oh.

Shit.

This was. He didn’t know who this was. But this was not just a family friend. This wasn’t just a kid he used to babysit. This woman was clearly something else. Something more.

Eddie’s heart shattered in his chest. He couldn’t breathe. He had thought… it didn’t matter what he had thought. Clearly he’d been wrong. He shoved his drink into Robin, still standing somewhere behind him, and slid out the front door.

He didn’t hear Robin call his name. He didn’t hear the door slam behind him. He was halfway down the driveway when he realized Wayne had the keys. That was fine. He could walk home. He needed the air.

“EDDIE! Eddie, wait!” He did hear that. He heard the pounding feet behind him. He stopped but he couldn’t bring himself to turn around.

“Where are you going?” a tearful voice asked. He sniffled, rubbed at his eyes. He wouldn’t let Steve see him crying. He was stupid to think it had mattered anyway.

“I’m just… I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m going home.” He looked up at the dark sky. The frozen ground. The trees in the fields beyond the house. Anything but at Steve.

God how had he been so stupid? He should know better. There were a million reasons he left Hawkins in 1984. Reasons why he ran the day after graduation. The lack of gay people was only one of them. Being here with Steve, with Robin and Nancy, with Wayne, he’d forgotten all those reasons. He remembered now. He wouldn’t forget them again.

“What happened? You just got here. I wanted… I wanted everyone to meet you.” Steve hadn’t even bothered with a coat. He was standing there, lost and confused, in just his jeans and sweater.

“Look. I misread the situation, okay? You’ve got your… person. You should go be with her. I’m sorry I wasted your time.” He spit the words right at Steve with a cruel venom he hadn’t seen in himself since he left LA. Eddie watched a whole range of emotions flit across Steve’s face, from confusion to anger to sadness to confusion again.

“I don’t… I’ve got… She's my sister!" Steve cried out. Eddie's eyes narrowed. He remembered high school. And Robin had said it… he was the sole living relative. King Steve was an only child.

"I haven't seen her in three years. She was in New Zealand working on a contract. She's a special effects artist. They wouldn't let… she couldn’t come home until it was over. I didn't know she was coming home today! Eddie, please. She’s my sister." He was near tears again.

"You didn’t have a sister before." It wasn't at all what Eddie wanted to say. It was the only thing he could say.

"You graduated and left, man. You weren't around for my senior year. You didn't see… I fell apart. For awhile there. Things were hard. But I ended up getting to know these half feral kids. Kind of adopted them? You met a bunch of them in there already.” Steve nodded back towards the house. “There were two though… Dustin and Max. I took them in when they had nowhere else to go. They're my brother and sister in everything but blood. They needed a family. They needed ME. Max especially. But I think… I think maybe I needed them more. They're family. The only one I’ve got, really." Steve was rambling. He could see the desperation in his eyes, desperate to make him understand.

It clicked, then. Family didn’t have to be blood. Found family. Saving someone and being saved in return.

"Oh. Oh!" Eddie's eyes went wide. He got it. She was his sister. Steve nodded, hope in his eyes. "So it’s not… you’re sing…you don't have anyone special?" Steve stepped forward, into Eddie’s personal space. He could see the tear tracks on his cheeks.

It had started to snow at some point during the drama. Heavy flakes collected in Steve’s hair, on his lashes. He didn’t even try to shake them off, just looked at Eddie with hope and fear in his eyes.

"I do. I have you. You're special to me, Eds. And I'm yours, if you'll have me."

Eddie cupped Steve's face in his hands, a mirror to the move Steve had done on Max. A million words flew through his brain, poetic and lyrical. He could say them all and still not say enough.

He said none of them.

He leaned in and kissed Steve instead.

The reaction was immediate. Steve surged into him, wrapped his arms around Eddie's waist. Underneath his coat, as close to skin as possible. He kissed back with enthusiasm. With certainty and a wealth of experience. He kissed like he was drowning and Eddie was his oxygen.

Music sang in Eddie's head. Entire symphonies composed in seconds. His writer's block was definitely cured. If he didn’t have a band to go back to after this, he had a promising solo career ahead of him. He’d be happy either way.

So long as he had Steve.

#strangerthingsfestivefun #steddie #ronance #stranger things #fic #I'm Jewish and Christmas held me hostage and made me write this. Send help #I do not watch hallmark movies #but my mom does #should this have been two parts?#this probably should have been two parts

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notdonesimpin · 4 years ago

Text

The Truth Is Out ~t.k.~

taiga kagami x fem!reader

warnings: mainly fluff. v small smut scene that mainly just leads into it

synopisis: the story of how kagami’s team and your cousin, kise, find out about the relationship.

a/n: this is long. it WAS purely self indulgent so that’s another reason why it’s long but hope you enjoy :)

“Is this all the groceries we need for dinner? Do you have everything else already?” Riko asks.

Before Kagami could answer, Hyuga tagged another question along. “Do you live here by yourself?”

As he unlocked the door, he responded, “At the moment, my girlfriend is staying here, too.”

The team’s eyes widened and exclaimed, “You have a girlfriend?”

The door swings open to reveal you in the kitchen, making dinner. “Hi, Taiga’s teammates! It’s really nice to meet you guys!”

“Guys, this is my girlfriend, Y/N. She goes to Kaijou. Y/N, this is the team.”

He points at each member, telling you their names as they all looked at you with wide eyes, muttering a hello back as they walked in and Kagami walked over to you with the groceries you needed to finish up dinner.

“Don’t be shy! Make yourselves at home,” you encouraged them, grabbing the bags from Kagami. You give him a quick kiss. “Thank you. How was the game?”

He leaned against the counter. “It was really good. I wish you could have been there.”

You rolled your eyes, “My game was good, too, Taiga. Thanks for asking.”

“You still play basketball?” A small voice asked.

You looked around, eyes settling on the boy slightly shorter than you that stood on the other side of the counter. You jump back, slightly startled about how you didn’t notice him standing there.

“Kuroko! How can you still do that?” you exclaim.

“You guys know each other?” the team questioned.

You both nod as Kuroko explained, “She’s Kise’s cousin. She’s older by a few months, though.”

“Adopted cousin technically,” you add.

It seemed everyone's eyes were on you since they were intrigued about the insight into who you were and Kagami’s personal life. Kagami seems to notice as his cheeks begin to redden and he rubs the back of his neck.

“Guys, please stop staring. You’re going to scare her.”

You scoff, hitting him with a towel. “I’m not that easily frightened. Plus, if you’re going to be in my kitchen, you better be helping me cook.”

He muttered something under his breath as he walked past you to grab an apron. You give a triumphant smile, focusing your attention back on the boys and Riko in front of you.

“I quit basketball at the beginning of the third year. I play volleyball now.”

“Why?”

“I had more fun with volleyball. It came a lot more natural for me. Kagami makes me help him with basketball, though.”

Kagami shakes his head, glancing at you from the pot he’s stirring. “You offer because you know basketball is better for expanding your agility.”

“How’d you two meet?” Kiyoshi chimed in.

Kagami’s eyes shot to you, knowing the mischievous smirk that was plastered on your face as you chopped up the vegetables.

“I kicked his ass.”

“She did not!” Kagami tried to defend himself as everyone egged you on to continue.

“When he first moved back to Japan, we went to the same middle school. At that time, I’d recently joined the volleyball team.. He was beating everyone on our school team, making all of them mad and frustrated. Kagami, here, got a little bit of a superiority complex, so I challenged him to a game. His cocky ass thought it’d be easy since I was on the volleyball team so he played around and let me score two points. Before he realized it, I won 5-0. He was shocked and wanted a rematch, but I refused.”

Everyone’s jaws dropped. “You… beat Kagami?”

You look up with a questioning look. “Am I not supposed to? Y’all are talking like this man is a legend…”

Kagami tosses a towel at the back of your head. “Just because you beat me in a game the other day doesn’t mean you’re better than me. I have more wins overall.”

“By one game!” you exclaim.

“Now, I have to see you play. I don’t mean this the wrong way, but you don’t look like the type to be on the same skill level as Kagami,” Riko politely says.

You shrug, “I’m not offended or anything. I grew up playing with my brothers and cousins, and volleyball has helped with my jumping. When it comes to court awareness and IQ, I have Kagami beat. Skill set wise, he’s way past my expertise.”

“You guys get two more questions, then I’m duct taping her mouth closed.”

“She can’t eat if you do that,” Kuroko firmly states.

You point at him, “Kuroko, I’ve missed teaming up with you.”

Kagami huffs, “I can’t win if the two of you team up.”

“How did you two get together?” Hyuga questions.

“Taiga couldn’t take defeat, so we ended up playing one-on-one every day that I didn’t have volleyball. He didn’t know many people, so we hung out a lot during class and after school. Tomorrow will be our one year anniversary. He won’t tell me what he has planned, though.”

The team awed as they looked between the two of you. It was extremely apparent that Kagami was blushing from how his ears were tinted red.

“You’ll know when it’s time,” he said as you turned around and dumped the vegetables in the pot.

“I’m going to put on a shirt really quick,” you inform him, “I started cooking as soon as I got your text since I figured you guys would be starving.”

He nodded, watching you walk off and disappear down the hallway.

“Kagami, I like her. You better not lose her,” Izuki notes.

“I don’t plan on it.” He smiles to himself as he changes the topic, “Now, let’s talk about anything other than my love life.”

The boys easily fell into their own conversations. When you walk back out, you get pulled into Izuki’s conversation where he just wouldn’t stop telling puns, but you found it extremely entertaining.

You help Kagami sit the food out on the table. Before you could fully sit down, Kagami pulled you into his lap and lazily wrapped an arm around your waist. This caught you by surprise because he usually wasn’t this clingy when people were around.

“You feeling okay?” you softly ask as he makes his plate, putting enough on it for you, too.

He nods with a soft smile. “I just want to hold you.”

You both eat off of his plate, joining in on the casual conversations around you.

Later that night, all of his teammates ended up falling asleep in various places in the living room.

“Don’t tell me you’re actually tired,” Kagami whines, tossing his shirt and pants in the hamper as he makes his way to the bed.

You yawn, “It’s midnight and you’re not tired?”

“It’s midnight, meaning that we should bring in our one year anniversary the right way,” he smirks, dipping down to kiss you while you sit on the edge of the bed.

He deepens the kiss, guiding you down into the bed with a hand on the small of your back.

His other hand finds its way underneath your shit and becomes a cool contrast in your hot skin.

“Taiga,” you whined as he began to kiss down your neck. “Your entire team is here. They’ll hear us.”

“That just means you have to be quiet, baby. Let me take care of you tonight,” he softly requests as his fingers play with the hem of your shorts.

“Taiga, you are insatiable.”

He hums, standing up as he pulls off your shorts and tosses them.

He raises an eyebrow and looks at you with a triumphant smile. “No panties? Y/N, I think you wanted this to happen.”

“Shut up.” You try to kick him, but he easily catches your leg and presses a kiss to your ankle.

“I promise I’ll take good care of you, princess.”

The next morning, you wake up around 7 to rustling in the living room. Kagami had his arm tightly wrapped around your abdomen, so you had to pry it off with all your might.

As soon as you got out the bed, you heard a soft whine from him as he reached for you. “Where are you going?” he groans, “Come back to bed.”

“Your teammates are waking up. I figured I’ll offer some breakfast before they leave.”

He opens his eyes and looks at you, eyes narrowing when he noticed that you weren’t standing normally.

“Are you still sore?”

You shift your weight, wincing a bit. It was nothing too noticeable but Kagami knew you too well. “It’s not terrible. It’d just been a while.”

He rolled over to get out of bed as he requested, ”Sit back down for a second.”

You plop back onto the bed, watching him grab one of his shirts and toss it to you.

As you put in each of those items, he found a pair of sweatpants and walked over to put them on you. You lift your legs up, watching him slip the pants up your legs.

You stand up so that he can get them onto your waist and watch him tie the string so they wouldn’t fall down.

He gives you a quick kiss as he stands up, noticing the grin on your face. “What?” he asks, grabbing a pair of sweatpants for himself.

“I guess chivalry isn’t dead,” you tease.

He rolls his eyes, “I guess you can walk to the kitchen yourself, then.”

You pout, reaching your arms out to him. “Don’t be mean.”

He squats down in front of you, letting you wrap your arms around his neck as he holds your thighs.

He walks into the living area and you beam, “Good morning guys!”

“May I ask why you’re on his back, Y/N?” Kuroko questions.

“I’m just feeling lazy,” you shrug. What you said wasn’t a lie. You were feeling lazy, but that wasn’t the reason you were currently on Kagami. “Would you guys like breakfast?” you offered.

Riko shook her head with a soft smile, “We’re all about to head home, but thank you.”

Hyuga chimed in, “Dinner was amazing. I hope we get to see you again.”

You smiled, “I’ll actually be at the next game!”

They all cheered as they piled out of the penthouse, leaving you and Kagami by yourselves.

“Alright, princess. Now that it’s just me and you.” He sits you on the kitchen counter and turns around to look at you.

“Happy anniversary, Taiga,” you softly whisper, bring a hand up to his cheek as you lean in and give him a kiss.

“Do you want your gift now or later?”

You hit his arm. “I told you not to get me anything, you stubborn ass!”

He laughs, “I know you got me something, though. Even though we promised not to buy anything.”

You became quiet because you knew he was right as he gave you a triumphant smirk.

“Well, I saw it and couldn’t not get it!” you tried to argue.

“I know you too well. Wait here.”

He walks back to his bedroom, coming back after a few minutes with a small bag.

He hands it to you. “I’ve been dying to give this to you for months.”

Your eyes widened, “You actually held back for once in your life?”

“Shut up before I take it back.”

You shake your head, opening the bag to first see a necklace with a key on it. The key was red and had his initials engraved on it.

“The key to my heart,” he softly spoke.

You look at him to see how gentle his eyes have become.

Taiga has always had a more vulnerable side. He didn’t let it out much even though you’d been together this long. It took a lot for him to let himself fully relax and put down his walls around people since he’s always been seen as some sort of monster because of his dedication and skills with basketball.

You were the first person he connected with once he got back to Japan, so having this kind of relationship with you always made him weary. He didn’t want to lose the only person he connected with so a lot of the things he did were over thought for weeks.

“I know that I don’t say how much I love and appreciate you that often and because of our schedules, it’s been a lot less recently. Y/N, you know how bad I am at this thing. We’ve been learning how to do this together, and I don’t want to fuck up and lose you. I really do love you. You’re the best person to ever enter my life.”

“Taiga, I love you so much. Can you put it on me?”

He nods, taking the necklace from you. You lean forward so he could clasp it around your neck.

You hold the key in your hand as you lean back with a small smile. “I’m never taking it off.” You think of your gift, sitting in the bottom of his closet in the box and pout, “Your gift is so much better than mine.”

He shakes his head, “I’ll love anything that you get me.”

You playfully push him, “I could go get it if you weren’t in my way.”

“Just tell me where it is, and I’ll get it. You’re staying off of your feet today. You always take care of me, so I’m going to take care of you today.”

“The bottom right of the closet. The thin black box and the white box underneath it.”

He rushes off once again. You laugh, grabbing your phone to answer a few text messages from your teammates.

He walks back in with the biggest grin on his face as he reads the label of the black box. “Is this what I think it is?”

He sits the boxes down on the counters, attempting to open the black box but you snatch it away from him.

“This one is last, you fiend.”

He laughed, opening the white box to see a Chicago Bulls jersey customized with his name on it. “Baby, this is amazing!” he beamed, trying it on almost immediately. He spins around to give you a good look of it on him as he asks, “How does it look?”

“It looks like I’m dating a really hot NBA star.”

He gives you a quick kiss, mumbling a thank you against your lips.

“Now,” you hand him the black box that he was a lot more excited about, “you can open this.”

He practically rips the box apart in excitement, making the wallet size picture fall onto the ground. He bends down to pick it up, eyes widening at the sight of you in a lingerie set he’d never seen before.

He looks between you, the picture, and the empty box and asks, “Where is it? I need to see it on you.”

You laugh, pointing at the picture as you swing your legs, “You have seen me in it.”

He pouts, “You know what I mean.”

Before you could answer, your phone buzzed with a text from Kise. It read: Tell your boyfriend that I will kill him if he ever hurts you! He’s taking you away from me :( #worstcousinever

Next message: also, how am i supposed to be your favorite cousin if you won’t even tell me WHO it is or show me a picture -_-

Next message: YOUR PARENTS KNOW AND NOT ME?! i'm telling your brothers.

You look up at Kagami with pleading eyes. He sighed, knowing what you were asking without any words.

“We’ll see him tomorrow at the tournament. I’d rather tell him to his face. Plus, I don’t need your brothers showing up to kill me.”

You nod, sending him a quick text saying: I only didn’t tell you because you’re 100 percent going to steal him away. He’s still playing in the basketball tournament tomorrow, so you’ll meet him then.

You sit your phone down, turning the ringer on silent as you refocus your attention on Kagami.

“Impress me tomorrow during the games, and I’ll wear it. If you don’t, you’ll have to wait until Christmas.”

The next day, you left Kagami’s apartment to hang out with Kise before his game since he wouldn’t stop complaining about never seeing you anymore unless there was school.

“Y/N-icchi! I’ve missed you so much!” Kise exclaimed as you walked up to him.

His team was shaking their heads at him, giving you a small wave since they’d seen you around quite a bit.

“Where’s that boyfriend of yours?” he questions as you both start walking into the stadium to watch some of the games.

“He’s scouting with his team, but he’ll drop by to see us before they warm up.”

Kise nods, “Who does he play for?”

“Not telling.”

“Do I already know him?”

“Not telling.”

“Come on,” he whines, “Give me something to work with here.”

“He’s taller than you,” you say blankly, “Now, shut up and watch the game.”

You took your bag off and sat it down as Kise reluctantly did the same as he muttered, “You’re so mean, Y/N-icchi.”

45 minutes later, you heard your name being called from behind you as Kagami jogged down the stairs.

“Do you have your phone on silent? I’ve been calling you like crazy!”

You pulled your phone out of your pocket, noticing five missed calls from him and six from your mom. “My mom is going to murder me!”

“No, she’s not,” he laughed, squatting down to get out of the way of people watching the game as he continued, “She’s here. She wanted to see where you were sitting. She said that you told her about my games today and decided to come earlier to see me play before Kise did.”

As soon as he said Kise’s name, the life drained out of both of your faces.

“So you’re the boyfriend,” Kise leaned forward, trying to be intimidating.

“Kise, be nice.”

“You’re dating one of my rivals, Y/N-icchi! That’s so low.”

Intimidation factor: gone.

You rolled your eyes, “We were dating before you even knew he existed!”

“You’ve only been dating for like two months!”

“Kise, it’s been a year!” you hissed back.

Kagami watched the two of you bicker in amusement.

Kuroko’s voice brought the three of you back to reality. “Kagami! It’s time to head to the court.”

“Right,” he nodded, looking at you.

��Good luck,” you smile.

“I don’t need luck. You’re here.” He gives you a quick kiss.

Kise fake gags and you elbow him in the side as Kagami walks off.

“Oi! Kagamicchi!” Kise said, returning to a threatening state. “If you hurt her, I swear to make your life hell. You don’t know much about her brothers but they are twice my size and ten times scarier, so make wise decisions.”

Kagami's eyes widened as he nodded and rushed off to meet the rest of his team.

“Also, I’m glad you finally told me after I’ve had to act clueless for months. You never come to my practice games, but you show up at our one against Seirin. Then, somehow Kagami and you run into each other outside before his team leaves. Learn to keep better secrets.”

#kagami #kuroko no basket #kagami x reader #taiga kagami x reader #kagami x you #KNB #kuroko's basketball #knb x reader #knb masterfind

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toorusbaby · 4 years ago

Text

end of the day

summary: after a very bad day, all you really want is for your boyfriend, kei tsukishima, to hold you in his arms. however, things don’t go the way you hoped they would.

warnings: self-angst, a very upset y/n, tsukki makes up for it <3

word count: 4,987

The loud jingling of your keys as you unlocked the door to your shared apartment weren’t enough to push the negative thoughts out of your mind. The sound of chirping crickets in the air weren’t capable of relaxing your nerves either.

It had been a long day to say the least, more exhausting than others. If you were running on batteries, the last of your juice was used up hours ago. It was safe to say that you were burned out.

You had left the apartment at seven in the morning, fifteen minutes later than usual because your phone decided to go missing. Since Kei was sound asleep after a long night at the museum, you were on the lookout on your own. In the end, your phone turned out to be on the kitchen counter, the battery half drained. By the time you reached the station, you barely missed the train by a millisecond, having to hail a taxi instead. If one thing went right today, you made it just on time to work.

On the other hand, with the combination of being reprimanded by your boss for missing an important deadline that slipped your mind, a coworker spilling hot coffee on your new blouse, and your thoughts jumbled due to yet another argument you had over the phone with your traditional mother the night before, it was as if your world had come crashing down in the span of a few hours.

It was eight in the evening when you finally left the office, arriving at your apartment’s front door thirty minutes later. The fact that you were starving only made you more antsy. All you wanted at that very moment was to be held by your longtime boyfriend, Kei Tsukishima, as you buried your face in his chest. You needed him more than ever.

Twisting the doorknob, the familiar creak of the wooden door made its way to your ears when you entered your apartment. The living room lights were on, symbolizing that Tsukishima was home. Letting out a sigh of relief, you gently shut the door shut behind you, locking it in the process before your eyes made contact with plastic bags on the coffee table.

Just as you were going to check what was inside, you stopped in your footsteps when you heard the voice of your favorite blond from the kitchen.

“Y/N, is that you?” Tsukishima’s head popped out slightly from the kitchen entrance, his honey brown eyes meeting yours. A tired grin immediately made its way to your face at the sight of your boyfriend, who wore his favorite grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt. His hair was a bit damp, probably from his shower. Without missing a beat, you walked your way over to greet him with the usual peck on the lips, holding your arms out for a much needed hug.

“Kei, I missed you—”

Suddenly, Tsukishima had brought his phone back up to his ear. Your heart dropped at the sight.

“Is he serious?,” Tsukishima scoffed into the phone. “The exhibition isn’t supposed to open for another five weeks. How are we going to make it work in only two? Fucking ridiculous,”, He grumbled, turning his body away from you momentarily.

If you thought the coffee that spilled onto your shirt spread fast, the pain in your chest expanded even faster. You understood that you weren’t the only busy person in the relationship; Tsukishima was both an employee at the Sendai museum and a volleyball player for the Sendai Frogs. Compared to him, you felt as if you had no right to complain about being tired. After all, you only had one job, which was working for a well-known design company. And after today’s fiasco, you weren’t sure you even knew how to do your job correctly.

Kei doesn’t need me bothering him right now, you thought to yourself. He’s busy with work, which is understandable.

The thought was bittersweet; how could you be so proud of your boyfriend yet feel so lonely?

Almost as if he remembered that you were standing before him, the tall volleyball player turned back to face you. Tsukishima pulled the phone away from his ear and placed his palm over the speaker, walking towards you.

“Sorry about that, Y/N. I should be done soon—” You unintentionally cut your boyfriend off.

“Don’t apologize, Kei,” You spoke with the most enthusiasm you could muster. You hoped it was believable. “I know you’re busy with the upcoming dinosaur exhibition.”

When you lifted your hands in front of you to wave his apology off, your navy blue blazer had spread open, revealing the brown coffee stain on your white blouse. Tsukishima made brief eye contact with it, immediately frowning to himself; he knew you had been waiting for it to arrive for weeks.

The exhaustion of the day was catching up with you and you found yourself feeling much more sensitive than usual. Sadness flooded your chest, your heartbeat thudding in your ears. You couldn’t bring yourself to make eye contact with your boyfriend. If you did, you knew you would only end up crying; Tsukishima didn’t need to add you to his list of worries.

Unbeknownst to you, the blond noticed your stiff posture and the way you refused to meet his gaze. Tsukishima opened his mouth to speak, but you spoke first.

“I’m so proud of you, baby. Seriously. But if you’ll excuse me,” your voice slightly wavered. “I’m going to take a shower and call it a night. I’ll see you in a bit.” Flashing a small grin at Tsukishima, you made a beeline to your shared bedroom.

Even if you had tried your absolute best to give him a proper smile, Tsukishima wasn’t stupid. He knew that you were faking it. It only hurt more to know that you were hiding your pain from him.

༺♥༻

Stripping your clothes off, you mindlessly left them in a pile on the edge of your king sized bed. Taking one last glance at the coffee stain on your shirt, you clenched your jaw in frustration. You weren’t sure you could hold your emotions in any longer.

Your feet padded across the room and into the bathroom, your hands moving on their own to open the see-through door of your shower, turning the knobs of the shower faucet. Finally, you stepped inside and shut the shower door.

Although the steamy hot water cascading down your back helped relax you the majority of the time, that wasn’t exactly the case in this situation. Your posture was stiff, your jaw was still clenched, and the crease between your eyebrows only furrowed deeper.

The only sound should have been the water falling onto the shower floor, tumbling down the drain. If that was the case, why could you hear the voice of your boss in your head?

‘I expected more from you, Y/N. A lot more. You’ve never let me down, not once. What happened this time? Do not miss a deadline as important as this again or there will be consequences. I hope you don’t make me regret promoting you.’

The disappointed voice of your respected boss morphed into your mother’s, the tone furious. Memories of her words from the other night played like a record on repeat in your mind.

‘Do you really think that living with your boyfriend at this age is acceptable? You and Tsukishima are only twenty three. A man and woman should not live together unless they’re married. I don’t think you two will last for long anyways. Your father may have been more accepting about it, but I think you made the wrong choice. You’re lucky I’m hiding this from your grandmother. What do you think she’d have to say, knowing her granddaughter was so easy?’

You blinked once. Then you sniffled twice.

You had finally reached your limit. Every hurtful word from your mother, every head shake from your boss, and even not being able to peck Tsukishima on the lips for a second, the way you usually did when you got home, echoed in your head. Before you knew it, hot tears leaked from your eyes and down your cheeks, small hiccups escaping your mouth.

What’s wrong with me?, you clamped a hand over your mouth to silence yourself. That didn’t help much. Why am I such a fucking mess?

Wrapping your free arm around your torso as if to hug yourself, your knees buckled in a moment of weakness. Quiet sobs wracked through your body, annoyance filling you up to the brim when you couldn’t silence yourself. You really didn’t want Tsukishima to hear. Despite the heat of the water affecting your senses, you stood still, allowing the water to mix with your hot tears.

Little did you know, Tsukishima had been standing silently outside your door the moment you had turned the shower on. As soon as he laid eyes on the bunched up clothing on your shared bed, the blond knew you were bottling your emotions. You were always tidy; you never left a mess behind unless you were out of it. You were more similar to Tsukishima than you thought.

And because you were so similar, your boyfriend knew that you were trying to drown out the sounds of your crying as you stood under the shower head. Even if he hadn’t been able to hear your cries, Tsukishima knew you all too well, only because he was the same way. And he loved you far too much to let this continue.

Two quiet knocks on the bathroom door startled you, your hands rushing to wipe your face before you blinked. Trying your best to quietly clear your throat, you sniffled once.

“I-I’m in the shower, Tsukki!”, you called out. “Is everything okay?”

Tsukishima’s silky voice still managed to make your heart skip, even if he was on the other side of the door.

“Not really,” you heard him say in his usual monotone voice. “Mind if I join you?”

Your eyes widened and your heartbeat quickened out of nervousness. You did not want him to see your puffy eyes; you were sure you looked horrible.

“Um, give me a second!” you called out. There was no use in hiding the fact that you were sobbing your eyes out; the reddened skin around them made it very apparent that you were bawling like a baby. The best you could do was rinse your face repeatedly until most of your sniffling went away.

After a few seconds, you cleared your throat. “Y-You can come in, Kei!”

When the door opened, revealing your tall boyfriend who placed one of his t-shirts on the counter, you bit the inside of your cheek. However, when he began to strip, you couldn’t help the blush that rose to your cheeks. His toned, fit physique made your heart race and your pulse quicken. Even if you and Tsukishima had been dating for six years, living with each other for two of those, you couldn’t help but still feel a bit shy.

After all, Kei Tsukishima was your first everything. Your first crush, your first boyfriend, your first kiss. The first person to see your naked body, the person who gave you your first sexual experience, but most importantly, he was also your first love. You knew deep in your heart that the sharp tongued blond would also be your last.

Silently, you watched as Tsukishima opened the shower door. You stepped to the side, allowing his tall frame to enter the shower which was larger than most apartments would have. When the honey brown orbs you loved so much met your own eyes, you gulped.

“Kei,” you mumbled with a questioning tone. “Weren’t you busy with work? And didn’t you already take a—” He cut you off with his own questions.

“I hung up the moment you left the kitchen,” he spoke. ”You’re my priority. What’s going on, Y/N? Why were you crying?” Tsukishima wondered, his tone a bit sharp. Although his tone may have seemed a little harsh to an outsider, you knew that the blond was only worried for you. When he sounded frustrated, it only meant he was concerned. As a result, you only felt worse.

As Tsukishima reached behind you to lower the excessive heat of the water, you let your eyes wander everywhere but his face. This only made the volleyball player clench his jaw. Even though Tsukishima was known for his patience, he wouldn’t tolerate your avoidance of his question.

“It’s nothing, baby. Just a bad day, that’s all. I’m okay. Just a little tired— Kei!” you shouted when the warm water suddenly cut off. The cool breeze entering the bathroom from the open window was sure to give you goosebumps. “Kei, stop messing around. Turn the water back on,” you humorlessly chuckled. You really didn’t find it funny.

You reached for the shower knobs, wanting to avoid any confrontation. Your tears were the last thing Tsukishima needed to worry about, especially because he had to focus on preparing for the new exhibition. Your feelings simply weren’t that important.

As soon as your hand was about to reach the handle, Tsukishima grabbed onto your wrist, gently pushing your back against the shower wall. You let out a loud gasp at the sudden feeling of the cool wall tiles behind you.

“T-Tsukki, what the hell! It’s cold!” You shouted, your back instinctively arching. Your eyes were wide, finally meeting his golden brown ones.

About time, the blonde thought. He missed having your eyes on his.

Suddenly, the boy pinned you against the wall. Tsukishima’s stare was so intense, you instinctively rested your back against the cold tile. His bare body against your own caused your cheeks to redden. When goosebumps formed on your arms, the blond used his free hand to rub them away in order to warm your skin. The action was loving, despite his serious gaze.

“I’ll turn the water back on when you tell me what’s got you so upset, baby.” Tsukishima calmly spoke, his hand quickly moving to lift your chin up the very second you were about to look down. He knew you well; too well. “What is it that hurt you to the point where you’re hiding your tears from me?”

When he asked the second question, you noticed that Tsukishima had used a softer tone, one that was gentle yet doting. The feeling of the pad of his thumb gently stroking your chin brought you back to reality. You loved Kei with your entire being. Despite your fear that you would stress him out, you couldn’t lie to him.

After a moment’s pause, you were ready to open up. Your mouth felt dry, but you forced yourself to speak. “I-I just…” you trailed off. Your eyes wavered on his, your emotions threatening to take over once again.

Tsukishima could see the glossy screen making its way over your eyes. He knew that you always tried to display your strong side, but he also understood your sensitivity. For you to cry alone, Tsukishima would never allow it. But for you to cry in front of him, in his protective arms, he wanted you to know that everything would be okay. Even if things didn’t seem like they were going to go well, Tsukishima would make sure everything worked out. For you.

Everything he did, Kei Tsukishima did it for you.

“Kei, I just…” your voice was uneven. You blinked rapidly.

Tsukishima’s hand moved its way to cup your cheek in his palm. When he felt you trembling, the blond didn’t hesitate to turn the water back on to its hottest setting. Understanding that you couldn’t meet his gaze at that moment, the volleyball player used his free hand to lay your cheek against his chest. Then, he wrapped his other arm around your waist, pressing your body flush against his.

You shut your eyes, your heart aching in your chest. Your hands instinctively reached out to hold onto his biceps. You felt like a burden. The moment you felt a kiss on the top of your head, you broke.

“Kei, I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” you whispered in a desperate voice. Your vision became cloudy with tears once again. “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Why can’t I do anything right for once?” you whimpered. Your throat began to ache from holding in your cries.

Tsukishima felt your shoulders trembling in his arms. In response, he held you tighter to his chest, his large hand reassuringly grazing up and down your bare back. A quiet sigh of relief left his lips when your body relaxed from his touch.

“First, it was an argument with my mom. You know how she’s always been about us living together,” you mumbled. Your shoulders relaxed when you felt the low vibrations of your boyfriend’s chuckle in his chest.

“Trust me,” the blond mused. “I know.” The memory of your mother throwing a temper tantrum the day you and him officially moved into your shared apartment was burned into his memory.

Even though tears were dripping down your chin and your sniffling had returned, a small smile made its way to your face. Tsukishima didn’t have to use his words to make you feel understood.

You cleared your throat, the smile slowly fading. “And then it was my boss. I-I understand why he was upset. I mean, it was my fault for forgetting about the deadline. But I just…” your grip on his biceps tightened and you sighed. “I hate knowing that I’ve let people down. I really don’t mean to.” Your voice cracked.

Momentarily, your boyfriend pulled your face away from his chest. The sounds of your whimpering made his chest ache. Using the pads of his thumbs, he wordlessly wiped from under your eyes and gave you a sweet kiss on the forehead. Your eyes responded by welling up with a new batch of tears.

“Kei,” you breathed out. “Kei, you’re gonna make me cry even more.” You whined and felt your bottom lip tremble. With his large palms now cupping your face, Tsukishima only smiled softly down at you.

“So cry then. Let it all out, Y/N.” As soon as Tsukishima’s words registered in your head, golden brown eyes watched as tears leaked from your eyes that he loved so much. His thumbs held your head in place gently, his lips moving on their own to kiss both of your tear streaked cheeks, ignoring the salty taste on his lips. In that moment, Tsukishima only cared about making you feel better.

“It’s okay to cry. And it’s okay to have bad days. But it’s not okay to keep all of these emotions to yourself. Why do you think you have me, you dummy?,” the blond gently chided, his lips pursed together when you grinned. After a pause, he continued.

“I know that I’ve been really busy with work and I’m sorry.”

“Tsukki, you don’t have to apologize—”

The pointed stare your boyfriend gave you halted your words. When you fell silent, Tsukishima gently grazed his knuckles on your cheek. His eyes never left yours.

“But nothing is more important to me than you. Work can wait, you come first. You always will.” Tsukishima’s hands reached behind you to grab your strawberry scented shampoo. The two of you fell silent for a second, the only sound being your sniffling and the water tumbling down the drain. When your boyfriend poured some shampoo onto his palm, his fingers working to lather the substance into your hair, you swore your heart was going to burst. It was only the sound of Tsukishima clicking his tongue that brought you back to reality.

“I know you well enough to know that you’ve been calling yourself a burden or some shit like that, so stop it.” Tsukishima watched as your cheeks reddened from the truth of his words. He let out a small sigh, amused at the fact that he was correct, but upset that you viewed yourself as one. The idea of you putting yourself down over inevitable events didn’t sit right with him.

The feeling of his fingers lathered in shampoo against your scalp released the tension in your body, the scent of strawberry filling your nostrils and the silky sound of his voice filling up a void within you that had been empty just before. It was as if Tsukishima was picking up your broken pieces, placing them back together again.

“But trust me. You’re far from being a burden. If anything...” the blond trailed off, gesturing for you to rinse the shampoo out of your hair. Leaning your head back, you let the water wash the shampoo off. Tsukishima already had conditioner in his palm, ready to loosen the tangles in your hair.

“If anything,” he continued. “You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.” Tsukishima admitted. The blond could feel heat rise to his cheeks, but he didn’t care. His long, calloused fingers worked their magic on the tips of your hair first.

“My favorite part of the day is waking up by your side in the morning.” Untangling your hair, then rinsing. “Every time you kiss me, I fall in love all over again like an idiot.” A peck on your forehead. “I love teasing the hell out of you, only because I know you secretly like it.” A smirk and a gentle spank on your butt. You pouted playfully.

“But holding you as we fall asleep,” Tsukishima breathed out, his forehead against yours. “The feeling of having you in my arms every single night?” His voice was a drug and you couldn’t get enough.

Your attention was only on Tsukishima. You didn’t even feel that the water was slowly growing colder. You wouldn’t care even if you noticed. You had the love of your life keeping you warm and that’s all that mattered.

“Knowing that you need me, just as much as I need you… You’re the only person I’d go soft for, but you’re also the best thing I could ever ask for, baby. Not even close to a burden.” You felt Tsukishima’s hand intertwine with yours, fingers locked together.

“I love you so much, Y/N. This will never change.”

You’ve heard Tsukishima tell you that he loved you hundreds of times. The love confessions often paired with either his famous smug smile, the sad eyes Tsukishima only showed to you after a rough day, or the tired tone in bed after a heated argument, after the two of you would apologize; both of you never went to bed angry.

Hearing Kei Tsukishima, the man with a sharp tongue who was known to conceal his true feelings, remind you of how much you meant to him and feeling him hold you so closely, your body moved before you could think.

Grabbing hold of his neck from behind with your free hand, you pulled the blond into a deep kiss. Tsukishima didn’t hesitate to reciprocate, his hands running through your wet, now silky hair as he pulled you closer by the waist. You tilted your head to the side, feeling his nose brush against yours as he deepened the kiss.

You were on cloud nine.

It was a long moment later when you pulled away, out of breath and cheeks ablaze. You quickly used your thumb to wipe away the small string of saliva on your bottom lip, embarrassed at how forward you had behaved. Tsukishima only had a smug smirk on his now swollen lips, his tongue poking out to lick at the corner of his mouth. He chuckled when you wordlessly buried your face in his chest. The blond immediately wrapped his arms around your smaller frame, resting his chin on top of your head.

“I’d rather have you give me a sloppy kiss like that than see you crying, moron. Thank god you’re cute though, even if your eyes are puffy.”

You groaned into his chest, spanking his butt out of spite. His sudden jolt made you smirk.

“I love you Kei, but please shut up.”

“Mm, I don’t really feel like it.”

༺♥༻

What once was steamy hot water had soon turned cold by the time you and Tsukishima left the shower. Freshly clean and your tears completely washed away by the water and your boyfriend’s sweet kisses, you were now dry, wearing the blond’s large olive green t-shirt and a pair of black panties.

Tsukishima had gone to the living room to make sure the doors and windows were locked, telling you to get comfortable in bed. Only in his grey sweatpants, the blond didn’t feel like wearing his shirt. You definitely didn’t mind.

On the edge of your bed, your pile of clothing from earlier was placed in a laundry basket, only to be replaced by the plastic bags you had seen on the coffee table the moment you entered your apartment. A very familiar scent was coming from whatever was inside and your stomach growled in anticipation.

No way, you wondered with wide eyes. Did he…?

“Did you really think I’d let you go to bed hungry?”

Your head swiveled back to face your favorite blond. There Tsukishima stood with plates in one hand, water bottles gathered in his other arm. Your excitement must have been evident on your face because your boyfriend gave you an authentic, loving smile, all signs of smugness gone.

“Baby,” your fingers happily toyed with the plastic bag’s tied handle. “Did you get curry buns?”

Tsukishima made his way over to you, settling the plates down on the bed. Then, he lifted his hand to gently flick your forehead. “Why don’t you open the boxes and see for yourself, hm?”

༺♥༻

The humming sound of the fan in front of your bed blowing cool air into the room filled the air. Very faintly, you could still hear the crickets chirping outside when you lifted your head. Glancing at the nightstand, the clock beside Tsukishima’s glasses read that it was a bit past ten thirty.

With a stomach full of curry buns along with other side dishes your boyfriend so lovingly spoiled you with, you sighed contentedly. In a sleepy daze, you laid your head onto Tsukishima’s warm, bare chest and closed your eyes. Listening to the sound of his heartbeat was one of your favorite things to do when the two of you cuddled; you found it endearing and intimate. Although he’d never admit it, Tsukishima felt the same way.

A protective arm wrapped its way around your waist, Tsukishima’s long legs tangled with your own. His free hand played with the ends of your hair, twirling it repeatedly with his fingers. You began to feel even sleepier, the food coma making an entrance. You slowly blinked, then turned your head to look up at your boyfriend who had a ghost of a smile on his lips.

“You know I love you, right Kei?”

“If you didn’t, I wouldn’t have bought you curry buns, Y/N.”

Before you could give a sassy response, Tsukishima tilted your head to face him. Then, he gently pecked your lips twice.

“To make up for earlier. I’m sorry I missed it when you came home. Never again,” he mumbled, using his hand to move strands of hair away from your face.

You giggled quietly, your face tickled by his blonde hair that loomed over you. You loved it when he was physically affectionate. “Thank you for loving me, Kei,” you whispered. Your eyes were fixated on his, his pupils dilated in the room’s soft yellow lighting. “I love you. So damn much.”

With a kiss to his nose, you readjusted yourself so you could snuggle into Tsukishima’s chest. The volleyball player leaned over to turn the night lamp off before placing the blanket over the two of you, the scent of your strawberry shampoo creating butterflies in his stomach. When he looked down at you for the last time that night, you were already sound asleep with your arm securely wrapped around his torso.

Sure, the majority of your day consisted of mostly negatives. And yes, you had to say goodbye to your new blouse. Coffee stains on white were a done deal. But it wasn’t as if you couldn’t order a new one. Your boss would eventually get over your flaw at work; you’d compensate somehow and get back on track. And when was your mother not upset with you? It was hard, but it was worth it if that meant living with Tsukishima. Your mom would eventually come to terms with the fact that you were twenty three, almost twenty four. You were an adult after all; days like this were normal.

But at the end of the day, Tsukishima was always going to be there for you. Despite the difficulties you faced and the many downfalls that were yet to come, you knew that Kei was going to be there to hold you when you fell asleep. You’d do the same for him if it was the last thing you ever did.

Your faint breathing and the whirring fan were the only audible sounds in the room. With his golden brown eyes threatening to flutter shut, Kei Tsukishima gave one last glance at his cabinet across the room. Inside the third drawer underneath his volleyball practice clothes, sat a black velvet box with a diamond ring waiting to be worn on your left ring finger.

A smile formed on the blond’s lips when he leaned over to kiss the top of your sleeping head one last time before dozing off. He truly couldn’t wait to ask you to marry him when the time was just right. But for now, it was already the end of the day. Regardless, Kei Tsukishima was excited to share a new beginning with you.

#tsukishima x reader #tsukishima x y/n #tsukki x reader #tsukishima #haikyu x reader #haikyu #tsukishima angst #tsukishima fluff #haikyu angst #haikyu fluff #karasuno

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daisybeewrites · 4 years ago

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Academy Blues — Prologue

word count: 1.8k

warnings: not any for this chapter

ship: Dousy, background Fitzsimmons and Philinda

okay y’all.. here it is. the first installment of my first LONG TERM SERIES!!!!!! ahhhh i’m so excited. literally i cant wait to continue this and see where it takes me. i have an idea and a few different planning sheets, but honestly i have no idea where exactly this will end up. i love each and single one of you <3 thank you for reading!! this is also posted on Ao3, and linked in the masterlist.

Daisy hated the sound of the bells at The Academy. Screeching, awful, way too loud, the bells were the bane of her existence. They all wore standard-issue watches from the lab that monitored vitals and gave them reminders, and also told the time, for god’s sake! Fitz had even modified hers so that she could play snake on the tiny watch face! There was no need for the bells to be so excruciatingly disruptive. Though, Daisy guessed, there were many things more tortuous than bells ringing every hour and fifteen minutes.

Daisy slowed to a jog, cutting her morning run short. The bright side to being a third-year was that you chose your schedule, for the most part, and that meant Daisy had a free first period for four out of five days of classes. She usually spent this free period getting an extra hour in at the gym, boxing or sparring with Mack or Bobbi, two fourth years that had reluctantly taken her under their wings, or sleeping in. She reserved sleeping in for especially rough nights where visions of ashes and earthquakes and lightning returned time and time again, no matter how many deep breaths she took or sheep she counted.

But this morning was not one of those mornings. She had been up before sunrise, a little before her usual alarm and silently headed out of her dorm for a run. It was humid this time of year on most Virginia mornings, but never so hot that it made Daisy feel as if she was being smothered. The cooler air chilled her sweaty skin, her chest rising and falling as she jogged up the three flights of steps to the second years’ dorms. Down one long hallway, and she arrived at her room.

Daisy had been given her own room at the start of last year, complete with poly-adaptic-proto-whatever panels, which she had painted a pastel shade of purple, to compliment the greens of her cacti and the dark purples and blacks of everything else in her room. Even May had agreed that the stark white was too ”psych wing” for a bedroom. Daisy was grateful for the space, but considering the panels and the private room were only necessary since...

She shuddered. Grabbing her shower caddy, Daisy set off to the bathroom at the opposite end of the hall, hoping no one else was spending a free first period at the dorms.

Her shoulder-length waves were wet from bouncing against her neck, and starting to become annoying now that the sweat had dried and was starting to itch. Picking the white tiled shower furthest away from the door, Daisy quickly turned the water on, checked the temperature, pulled her sports bra and shorts off and hopped into the shower. Shampoo, condition, soap body, rinse. Checking her watch, Daisy found that she had showered in record time, less than three minutes. After spending another five just enjoying the hot water, she hopped out and changed into her class clothes.

Dark purple leggings, Coulson’s grey vintage SHIELD tee and a pair of white running sneakers she had “borrowed” from Jemma completed her look. Passing the mirrors, Daisy tried not to glance at herself. If her hair was messy or her undereye bags a bit too dark, she didn’t want to know. Instead, she headed back to her room to pack her bag for the day.

SHIELD-issued laptop, extra hard drives and a charger, Advanced CS 3: Ethical Hacking: Theory and Application, Advanced CS 4: Secrets of The Coding Languages, Physics notebook, an essay that was three days late on some boring book about international laws, and her sparring gear were all thrown into the black bag. She gave a second glance at the Russian notebooks Bobbi had loaned to her, promising that she’d learn without taking the class. Oh well, she still had all of this term to start. Plus, would she ever really need more than the dirty words?

One look at the alarm clock that sat on her dark hardwood night table showed that she still had almost forty-five minutes before she had to be in the computer lab. Sitting down on her bed, Daisy ran a hand over the grey blanket May had given her.

Daisy’s relationship with May and Coulson had been something of a problem with other students when she first got here. Some had been okay with the obvious paternal love Coulson showed for Daisy, showing her around and checking up on her, scheduling lunch dates and reminding her of tests. May was more subtle, texting her links to tai chi videos when she noticed Daisy getting too stressed or letting Daisy do her own thing if she saw that she was overwhelmed. Of course, none of the other students knew her family history, what she had gone through just to realize that May and Coulson were more her parents than her biological father and mother could ever be. She would see them later today—May during field training and Coulson in between lectures in the canteen.

Daisy walked over to her window to open her blinds, staring out at the campus she had grown to love. The large brick buildings scattered around acres of the Virginia countryside; green fields meant for physical activities like sparring or obstacle courses, or simply basking in the weather to study or chat; the dorms—red brick and concrete melded together to upgrade and expand the charming style of previously-built homes.

Grabbing a protein bar, Daisy headed to the canteen to make a green smoothie (and maybe snatch a cup of joe before she had to listen to an hour-long lecture on the reason SHIELD must cooperate with the UN’s stupid rules at 7:30 in the morning). Smelling the pines and morning dew surrounding her, she smiled slightly. Maybe this term wouldn’t be so bad.

———————————————————————

Daniel Sousa was a man of honor. He was a man of great strength. Agent Daniel Sousa, previously Officer Daniel Sousa in the US Army, was a man who could fix his damn alarm clock on his own.

Just, not today. Or the day before.

So, Agent Daniel Sousa was now hurrying his way to class at The SHIELD Academy, books in hand and gym bag slung over his shoulders. Catching a glance at himself in the shiny glass doors of the bio-chem building, he groaned. He hadn’t even brushed his hair. And, looking down, he discovered he was wearing two different shoes.

This is the college experience everyone raves about, he thought bitterly. You see, Daniel Sousa had enlisted to the army straight out of high school, forgoing university. He climbed the ranks impressively quickly, earning his place as second-in-command and reconnaissance scout in the 28th Infantry Regiment. Unfortunately, after only four years in the army, Sousa was injured in the field, losing his leg and almost his life.

He came back to the US a war hero, and yet, he felt he wasn't finished. So, when a recruiter named Peggy Carter knocked on his door claiming to be from SHIELD (“Wow, you guys are still a thing?”), he leapt at the chance to continue fighti-...doing good. The Academy wasn’t exactly what he had bargained for, though. Trying to earn his B.A. and training to be an agent at the same time was grueling, but nothing he couldn’t deal with.

No, six different one hour and fifteen minute long classes plus mandatory physical therapy every day wasn’t going to break him. Learning how to be a communications agent and re-starting field training and catching up on general college education was no problem. Pressuring himself to be the best, to break the limits, to get past all his weaknesses was just another miniscule feather to add to the pile.

Unless his stupid alarm clock broke. Then yes, Agent Daniel Sousa would fail, buckle under the weight and be left on the floor to die.

Maybe he was being a bit dramatic.

One bunny-slippered right foot and a sneakered left leg carried him forward, propelled by a quickly chugged orange Celsius and his sheer will not to be late.

Daniel heard the late bell ring out, understanding that, on his first day of class, he would be counted late. It wasn’t like him, not at all. Especially when his first class was a refresher course on field tactics and covert strategy, something in which he was already aces.

He let out a sigh, slowing as he rounded the corner into the comms building. At the Academy, most buildings were grouped into categories: the cafeteria, gym and pool, and student resource building all to the south; the gun range, obstacle course, and specialized gym to the east; bio-chem labs, tech labs, and smaller rooms for lectures to the west; the computer labs and comms buildings right smack in the middle; and dorms to the north.

He swiped a key card with his driver’s license picture and student ID, unlocking the sliding doors that led to the computer labs. It was quicker to short cut through them than to walk around the building to the entrance closest to communications classrooms.

It wasn’t because he knew a certain broody brunette spent her mornings in the lab.

No, it wasn’t, because she wasn’t in her usual seat in the corner, typing away.

He slowly walked through the rows of computers, searching for a familiar black backpack. Nothing was there.

“Hey, Sousa,” an accented female voice called behind him. He whipped around to see who it was, feeling just a twinge of disappointment when Elena, or, as most people knew her, Yo-Yo, was leaning against the door frame. Yo-Yo, a fourth year operations trainee, who was very close with Daisy.

“Hey, Yo-Yo. Good morning,” he called, “I’m running a bit late.”

Elena checked her nails casually, “Way to state the obvious. You were running faster than I could trying to get here before the bell.”

Daniel rubbed the back of his neck and blushed. “Yeah…”

“Daisy’s running late today, too.”

Daniel looked around, pretending that hearing Daisy’s name didn’t make him want to smile. “Oh, of course. She’s usually here early.”

Elena nodded, chuckling a little at his response. She couldn’t tell if he was oblivious or just a bad liar. It was charming, really. “Right. See ya ‘round, Sousa!”

“See ya,” He replied. He thought he heard a quiet ‘Lovable nerds’ coming from the direction she left, but he couldn’t be sure.

And so, with a last look around the computer lab, Daniel set off to arrive late to May’s lecture.

———————————————————————

okay okay,,, what do y’all think?? like/reblog and let me know! it’s the best way to support writers and it only takes a second! stay tuned for more chapters!!

#academy blues #daisy johnson #agents of s.h.i.e.l.d.#dousy #daisy johnson x daniel sousa #timequake #daniel sousa #jemma simmons #leo fitz #fitzsimmons #philinda #philindaisy #ashby’s fics #marvels aos #au!

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amedetoiles · 5 years ago

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In another installment of things I should absolutely not be adding to my already large collection of unfinished google docs, I once more have absolutely no self control, so about that post on wedding planner!WWX.....

Set in the same verse as this. Very on brand of me to start writing a sequel for a fic I have yet to finish. Post-canon, post-reconciliation, and WQ is alive because I say so.

---

In retrospect, Jiang Cheng probably should have predicted this.

Jiang Cheng has grown up with Wei Wuxian. He knows exactly the level of ridiculousness his brother can reach. Nearly all of his childhood was dedicated to learning this exact fact. Compounded with that is how fully Wei Wuxian always throws himself into any project that catches his brother’s attention. For a long time, that had been a-jie’s wedding.

All those late nights he and Wei Wuxian had spent planning together, mapping out detailed seating charts, and designing elaborate challenges for the groom. Wei Wuxian, practically delirious with childish excitement, had proposed and demanded in equal measure extravagance after extravagance because their sister only deserved the very best in the world.

Even still, Jiang Cheng can’t say that he had expected exactly... this.

Three days after Jiang Cheng and Wen Qing tell their family about their betrothal, Wei Wuxian bursts into Jiang Cheng’s office mid-morning, his hair still uncombed and sticking out in multiple directions. His arms are full of scrolls, which he proceeds to unceremoniously dump across Jiang Cheng’s desk.

Wei Wuxian ignores Jiang Cheng’s indignant squawking and speaks rapidly, all of his words running together, and practically vibrating on his feet with a frenzy that brings Jiang Cheng abruptly back to their childhood, laying on the floor of their shared room with scrolls strewn all around them and listening while Wei Wuxian raves enthusiastically about his latest idea for a challenge.

Lan Wangji stands at the doorway, alternating between looking worried that Wei Wuxian might asphyxiate with how fast he is speaking and giving Jiang Cheng a look that says this is under no uncertain terms completely Jiang Cheng’s fault as usual.

(In the three years since his brother married Lan Wangji, Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji have formed an extremely respectful and productive relationship of tolerating each other’s presence for the exact minimum duration it takes to make Wei Wuxian happy. It is still too long for either of them.)

“The Mao and Guo sects are still feuding so they need to be seated as far apart as possible,” Wei Wuxian is saying, barely pausing for breath as he flits from topic to topic with a speed that leaves Jiang Cheng feeling faintly dizzy. “Fan shushu says he will share his recipe for Qing-jie’s xi bing. The head of the lotus harvesters will arrange to have water lilies transported from the southern borders. I have some designs for the invitations that you and Qing-jie can take a look at. And – Oh!”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes light up suddenly with an unholy fervor that has never, ever boded well for Jiang Cheng, and then Wei Wuxian turns, calls I have to go! over his shoulder, and leaves as quickly as he came. Lan Wangji makes sure to shoot Jiang Cheng one final accusatory glare before following after his husband because Wei Wuxian couldn’t have married someone that wasn’t a huge petty bitch.

Jiang Cheng sits, shocked still, his desk looking like a storm had blown by, and stares at the empty space where his brother was just standing.

He may have slightly miscalculated.

---

A month later, Jiang Cheng contemplates taking Wen Qing and running away to a deserted mountain. (Who says Wei Wuxian is the only one allowed to do that anyway? At least his mountain won’t be prone to murder.)

He won’t of course. He is the Jiang sect leader, and since his birth, his wedding has always been expected to have the pomp and circumstance befitting that of a leader of a great sect. He would never run out on that responsibility no matter how fucking crazy Wei Wuxian is driving him.

But Jiang Cheng does think about it, very wistfully.

He even brings it up half-seriously with Wen Qing one morning after a disciple comes to inform him that Wei Wuxian had had his schedule completely cleared without Jiang Cheng’s knowledge or permission. Jiang Cheng is now expected to meet his brother at the gate in a quarter shichen’s time for who knows what because his brother is as obnoxiously forthcoming as he has always been.

Wen Qing laughs at him because she is terrible, and he has clearly made a huge mistake.

She also presses a light kiss to his cheek and promises to threaten Wei Wuxian with needles later if he doesn’t sit the fuck down and rest before leaving to have tea with Luo Qingyang because she’s also pretty fantastic, and Jiang Cheng has made the best decision of his life.

Even if it means standing in the middle of the tailor shop while Wei Wuxian darts around him like a deranged bird, dangling various fabric samples in front of Jiang Cheng, frowning for some obscure reason he doesn’t deign to tell Jiang Cheng because who cares what Jiang Cheng thinks about his own wedding, tossing the piece of fabric onto the growing no pile, and then picking up yet another.

On the eleventh turn of this, Jiang Cheng feels a sharp throb against his temple and takes a deep slow breath, then another, and another, so he doesn’t scream, or strangle his brother with the fabrics.

“You do realize that this is my fucking wedding?” Jiang Cheng growls with frustration.

“Of course,” Wei Wuxian says immediately, nodding in a way that feels like he’s actually taking Jiang Cheng seriously even as he picks up yet another fabric sample. Jiang Cheng bites his tongue to keep himself from shouting and glares.

Wei Wuxian continues before Jiang Cheng can speak (yell), moving to hold the fabric against Jiang Cheng’s face, “But you’re my little brother.”

Jiang Cheng blinks, opens his mouth and then closes it. His throat feels suddenly inexplicably tight. An embarrassing warmth expands rapidly beneath his rib cage, and he thinks he might actually choke on it.

He looks at the fabric instead of his brother’s face because he will not cry. The red silk is a shade lighter than Wei Wuxian’s customary color and of exceptionally high quality. (That Wei Wuxian has been choosing from the most expensive of silks has not escaped Jiang Cheng’s attention. He has been trying and failing to not have feelings about this.) The patterning is beautiful, the soft, gentle swirls reminiscent of the lakes surrounding Yunmeng.

It isn’t something Jiang Cheng would have chosen on his first glance through. It is, he realizes with a swoop in his stomach, something a-jie might have picked out.

Jiang Cheng has, until now, avoided thinking too hard about all the empty spaces at his wedding, still riding the steady wonder that fills him every time he looks at the comb tucked neatly against Wen Qing’s hair. And after these last few years of having his brother beside him again, of their misshapen family relearning to fit together with all its new pieces, it is almost, almost, unfamiliar to feel that old aching loss rise within him.

He wonders how much of Wei Wuxian’s frenzied insanity is because he is feeling it too.

After all, Jiang Cheng remembers the months of spreading himself thin between sect obligations and wedding preparations, of tracking down the finest fabrics and jewelry that Jiang and Jin gold could buy in between meetings and conferences, of trying and trying and trying to make up for an absence that creased the edges of a-jie’s eyes in sorrow, even when she stood, radiant in red and gold on her wedding day.

“Jiang Cheng?” Wei Wuxian asks, his voice and gaze softening with concern.

Jiang Cheng swallows several times, his eyes prickling along with his nose, and he stares at the spot above Wei Wuxian’s head. You don’t have to do this, he wants to say. You don’t need to do this. “It isn’t atrocious I guess,” is what comes out.

Even in his periphery, he can see Wei Wuxian’s eyes crinkle with a familiar fondness. His brother nods and lays the fabric gently down on what Jiang Cheng supposes is now the yes pile.

“As expected of Jiang zongzhu,” Wei Wuxian says in a teasing tone that he only uses when he wants to piss off Jiang Cheng.

“Shut up,” Jiang Cheng says swiftly, without any heat. Then, adds, “Yiling Laozu.”

Wei Wuxian laughs and shoves him. “Fuck off,” he says, but he’s smiling as he turns and picks up the next sample, and Jiang Cheng feels his own lips curve in an answering smile.

Okay, he thinks. Okay. He can do this.

He can let his brother have this. Maybe they can both have this.

#陈情令 #the untamed #mdzs #jiang cheng #wei wuxian #yunmeng shuangjie #!mine #!fic #*iywdas #god knows when we'll see the rest of this but hey i'm working on things hurrah!

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recentanimenews · 4 years ago

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FEATURE: 21 Great Anime You Should Absolutely Watch In 2021

Happy Anime Day! With every season bringing a plethora of new series, there are now countless shows and movies, both new and old, to watch. Whether it's adventure, comedy, romance, or drama you're looking for, here are 21 anime series you should add to your watchlist in 2021.

1. My Hero Academia Season 5

When it comes to the next chapter of My Hero Academia, 2021 couldn't come fast enough. Season 4 showed audiences just how high the stakes really are and how dangerous the enemies can be. Season 5, which recently premiered in March, will not only deliver high-level action, but we'll also get more time with the great slate of heroes and villains showcased last season.

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2. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train

After hearing the news of Mugen Train dominating the box office, the time has come for North American audiences to experience this highly anticipated film. Mugen Train will be available for digital release this summer and will help fill the void fans of the series have been feeling since the season ended. And we can always revisit Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba in the meantime.

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3. The Devil Is A Part-Timer

The Devil Is A Part-Timer! offers lots of comedy with all the appeal of your traditional fantasy series, but it takes place in the modern world. Demon Lord Satan gets transported to Tokyo, and while his original goal was to take over his homeland of Ente Isla, Satan finds a better path to world domination ... climbing the ranks at the local MgRonalds! It's fun, it's wacky, and it's one of those series we never thought would get a second season, until now.

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4. Given The Movie

Talk about a bag of mixed emotions. Like the series, you'll feel proud and happy one minute, and then a pile of mush the next. Given The Movie provides a touching viewing experience following these fractured characters as they navigate their personal feelings, as well as expressing their innermost emotions through music.

5. Hunter X Hunter

2021 marks the 10-year anniversary of Hunter X Hunter. Whether you've never seen this series or you've re-watched it hundreds of times, come celebrate this epic title's milestone!

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6. MEGALOBOX 2: NOMAD

MEGALOBOX brought all the charm of a '90s anime, but with the story of a futuristic society that takes boxing to a whole other level. Gearless Joe made a name for himself in Season 1, and although things have changed and gotten complicated, he's "not dead yet." For Joe, the fire still burns within him, and he seeks to fight once more.

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7. Osamake: The Romcom Where The Childhood Friend Won't Lose!

Finally, a series where the childhood friend captures the heart of the MC ... I hope? It is a harem after all! Osamake: The Romcom Where The Childhood Friend Won't Lose! has a whole lot of comedy, a whole lot of shenanigans, and a noticeable amount of ... revenge. It looks like an epic competition is about to get underway!

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8. Chihayafuru

If you're experiencing Haikyu!! withdrawals, then Chihayafuru may be the next best sports anime for you! Now don't be fooled. Although Chihayafuru is all about Karuta, a Japanese card game, it still delivers the same level of development and high-stakes settings as other sports anime. This may be one of those series you always saw around but never watched but if there was ever a time to binge, it's now!

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9. Tokyo Revengers

With the manga receiving much praise, probably one of the most anticipated anime adaptations for 2021 is Tokyo Revengers. Motivated by tragedy, Takemichi Hanagaki finds himself in the past, climbing the ranks of the Tokyo Manji Gang in order to change destiny. He may not appear the toughest, but he's determined to get through the intense situations he finds himself in.

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10. To Your Eternity

Knowing this is a story from Yoshitoki Oima, creator of A Silent Voice, To Your Eternity, will surely be an adventure that tugs on your heartstrings. Audiences will witness an intimate journey of life and death revolving around an emotionless orb with no identity but can take the shape of those around it. There will be elements of time, drama, emotion, plus Hikaru Utada performs the theme? ... Sold! Want to know more? Check out the full manga catalog here.

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11. Shaman King

A Shaman King reboot was the best present fans of the original series could've gotten as the title just marked its 20th year since the show premiered back in 2001. Fans will be transported back to their childhood, all the while looking forward to a new story that reflects the manga. The series recently aired in April in Japan, and fans in North America can expect to watch the series sometime later this year.

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12. Horimiya

If you've been searching for a romance anime unlike any other, then you should watch Horimiya if you haven't already. This series takes everything you know about anime romance tropes, and delivers a series of fresh new twists, making for a warm and cozy viewing experience.

13. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

If in between all the action and comedy you need a good slice of life series about friendship, Anohana is the series for you! The original series aired 10 years ago, but sometimes a trip down memory lane is exactly what you need. Plus a new visual and news of an upcoming project will surely get you pumped to hit play.

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14. The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2

Thinking he'd be the hero in this new fantasy world, Naofumi Iwatani ended up being hated, shunned, and stigmatized at the beginning of The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 1. But as he journeyed on, he developed genuine relationships, gained valuable trust, credibility, and gratitude from others. Season 2, airing in October, is ready to continue with Naofumi's journey and progression.

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15. Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid S

Miss Kobayashi Dragon Maid has it all! This series draws you in with its cute appearance, but it surprises you with its mature moments and shocks you with some unexpected sizzle. Plus it has dragons, maids, and sweet raps! Be sure to check out the second season's adventures this July.

16. One Piece

If you haven't already committed to the legendary behemoth One Piece, now may be a good time to start. The anime is set to hit its 1,000th episode this year, and while diving into a series that's so far along can seem intimidating, if you've been spending a lot of time binging TV lately, this series could be your next big marathon.

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17. S8 the Infinity

Take the Tony Hawk Pro Skater video games, and mix them together with vibrant, aesthetically pleasing animation and cool action scenes and you have S8 the Infinity. Sports anime has been really expanding its catalog lately, and this series is an entertaining addition to the genre.

Image via Hulu

18. The Wallflower

A little bit of nostalgia is nice to mix into your anime watchlist. If you're a fan of Ouran High School Host Club, then you'll love The Wallflower! It's got some handsome boys, a cute and quirky girl with a fascination for all things dark and scary, and all the ridiculous antics of a harem!

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19. Death Parade

Death Parade has stayed under the radar, but it at least deserves to be on YOUR radar. A story about the afterlife where a bar represents limbo and its bartender decides the fate of the souls in front of him whether they experience reincarnation, or disappear into the void by playing a game. This is a psychological, thought-provoking drama with some mystery, as we don't know the true nature of the people in the bar, or what led them to where they are. Those secrets will eventually be revealed as the game plays on.

20. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Like Hunter X Hunter, this year also marks the 10-year anniversary of Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Madoka was and to this day still is a defining series that was a real game-changer for the magical girl genre, showing just how much danger magical girls face. It's a must-watch if you haven't already, so make a contract with yourself to watch or re-watch this series sometime in 2021.

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21. How To Keep A Mummy

How To Keep A Mummy is a heartwarming episodic series to watch when you want to have a feel-good time! Friends and classmates spend time together with their mythical creature companions: A precious, tiny mummy who anytime he holds anything will make your heart melt, a somewhat hot-headed but caring oni, a clever dragon, and a fluffy baku. After catching up on everything on your watch list, have fun with this series to round out 2021.

What anime will you be watching in 2021? Let us know in the comments!

Veronica Valencia is an anime-loving hot sauce enthusiast! You can follow more of her work as a content creator on Twitter and Instagram.

Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: Veronica Valencia

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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katalyna-rose · 4 years ago

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Kat’s Rat Shopping List

I’ve gotten a few requests for a shopping list of my rat setup (tagging @collapseofthesky because they requested this, specifically, but I’ve had a few others message me), so I thought I’d give it a try and also add a few explanations for why I do some things the way I do. As such, this is going to be a very long post and is therefore under a cut. There will be a basic shopping list without all the explanations at the very end of the post under TL;DR if you don’t care about the rest or whatever.

I had a lot of fun with this and spent way more time on it than I meant to, and might be open to doing more of this kind of thing in the future.

Cage

First up, the cage. Obviously. I’ve said it before but it’s a Double Critter Nation and a Single Critter Nation with the side panels removed and zip tied together. These are sometimes sold in pet stores (the locally owned pet store I prefer has them in stock). I bought mine online because of a really good sale, but you can sometimes get really lucky and find them for resale on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist for super cheap. I love this cage because the whole front opens up and that makes it super accessible and easy to clean, decorate, and get to my pets wherever they may be. It’s also huge!

US minimum for rat cages is 2 cubic feet per rat, with a minimum of two rats because rats cannot be housed alone as they are extremely social animals. No, human companionship is not enough, rats need same-age, same-species companionship at all times. Please be aware, as well, that minimums are not the ideal to strive for. Whatever space you intend to dedicate to your rats, fill it! Fill it all up! And if you don’t have enough space for a large cage, don’t get rats. My setup, with the Home Depot/Lowe’s large cement mixing tubs in the bottom, is roughly 45 cubic feet of space. If we’re looking at minimums, this means I could house 22 rats! There’s no way that 22 rats could ever actually be comfortable in my setup. It would be insane, chaotic, and extremely messy. So why would 2 rats be comfortable in 4 cubic feet? They wouldn’t. More space is always better, hard stop.

Also remember that wire cages with bar spacing of no more than an inch for adult rats and no more than half an inch for small or young rats is a must. Tanks are absolutely not recommended for rats due to poor ventilation, which will cause respiratory issues and allow ammonia to build up much faster.

Bedding

This is different from nesting. Yes, it is. Bedding is the substrate used at the bottom of the cage or on shelves to catch errant droppings and urine, and is generally left where it is by the rats because they have no interest in it.

My main bedding is pine wood horse stall pellets. They are as dust free as the alternatives like shavings or paper pellets, and combine the best aspects of both those types of bedding with the ammonia-neutralizing effects of wood shavings and the compact, easy-to-clean nature of pellets. I love them. I also get them super hilariously cheap from Tractor Supply Co, so despite it being a little bit of a drive for me (about an hour round trip) the fact that it’s half the price of the next cheapest option more than makes up for it. I buy a bunch all at once and currently have a few bags left in my trunk because I didn’t have enough closet space for them. It’s great stuff. It crumbles when wet so it helps me keep track of how much and where they’re urinating, and it’s easy to spot clean those areas in between deep cleans.

When choosing a wood, if that’s the route you want to go, remember to check what is safe to use. Pine is only safe when it’s kiln-dried, since it contains fragrant oils that can cause respiratory issues in rats, mice, and hamsters. Some people will advise you to stay away from it entirely, and that’s fine, but since pine is often the cheapest option it’s not always viable. Aspen is a safe wood, but harder to find in pellet form and slightly more expensive as shavings. I use aspen shavings in my litter trays. Cedar wood is NEVER safe, no matter how it’s treated. I don’t think cedar is ever safe no matter what for any animal it’s marketed to, actually. It’ll cause respiratory distress in rats, mice, and hamsters, and guinea pigs and rabbits should never be on shavings regardless though I’m pretty sure they’ll still experience respiratory distress. The oils naturally in the wood are not safe, do not use cedar. Also make sure your bedding is as dust-free as possible, also for respiratory reasons. If you have a small animal, their respiratory system is extremely delicate, and that’s just a fact of pet ownership that you should have learned before getting a pet when you were researching how to care for it.

Since I have two shelves in my cage and they are both shallow to the point of not even having a lip (Critter Nation’s only flaw is the trays that come with the cage), I line my shelves with fleece over an appropriately sized bath mat. Fleece makes a great shelf liner, but I don’t recommend using it in the entire cage because it gets dirty really fast and most rats will chew it up, so you’ll both be changing it every other day and going through it super fast as it is destroyed. However, it makes great shelf liners, especially when very little of the shelf is actually available to the rats like in my setup, where the shelves are mostly covered in other things. Remember that fleece must always be lined with an absorbent layer underneath because the fleece itself allows liquid to pass right through it. That’s the point: the fleece stays relatively clean and dry while the absorbent layer takes all the gross stuff away. Towels are generally not recommended for this because rats can get their nails stuck in the fabric and rip them out, which is painful and distressing for the rat and also you. Anything super absorbent with a really tight weave will do lovely here, hence the low pile bath mats I use. I get them for one or two dollars at Ikea and wash them every week. I keep several around to rotate through. The fleece I use is also a fleece blanket from Ikea for a couple bucks that I cut into four sections because that rendered it the perfect size to tuck around the shelves. This makes my bedding extremely cheap, and that makes me happy because I can spend that money on enrichment instead.

Nesting

This is the material that the rats like to push around, dig in, and sleep in. It’s important to provide soft but preferably absorbent materials for the rats to nest in because it’s enriching, comfortable, and helps them regulate body temperature. Multiple types of nesting are recommended for enrichment purposes. Rats like texture! I use unscented, unlotioned tissues as a main nesting material for within their hides because they’re cheap, safe, absorbent, and soft. I bought 30 boxes of 100 tissues each for super cheap online, but you can also buy dollar store tissues or whatever you have access to. Just make sure they don’t have scents or lotions, because those are not safe for your rats’ delicate respiratory systems. The empty boxes (plastic removed) can also be given for the rats to chew up and play in, or you can save them up to DIY some fun toys later, which is what I’m doing.

I also have two dig boxes, which will also go under the enrichment section. The bins I got for cheap from Target, but obviously you can get bins wherever you want to get bins. Just measure to make sure they fit in your cage properly. The only dig box I want to talk about in this section is the hay box, because the dirt is not actually a nesting material but rather an enriching one. So, hay. My girls love this stuff so much that they drag it all over the cage to shove it into all their sleeping areas. They build actual rat nests in the box, tunnel through it, stash food in it, shred it for fun, and generally spend as much time as possible with the hay. I use oat hay for the seed heads that provide additional enrichment and snacks because the rats have to get to the seeds in order to eat them. If you are feeding a low-quality diet to your rats, do not use oat hay because they’ll fill up on seeds instead of eating their nutritionally-balanced food and that is not good. My rats love their food so much that the seeds are a sometimes snack that I don’t need to regulate because they do it themselves. Any good quality hay will do for a hay box, however, and timothy hay tends to be the cheapest option. Just make sure it’s not super low quality, because low quality hay tends to be dusty. As mentioned previously several times, rats have delicate respiratory systems and dust is bad for them. I buy my hay from Small Pet Select because I like supporting small business, ethical business, and businesses that provide excellent products. They are, however, primarily a rabbit site. I keep hoping they’ll expand the other sections of their shop. Also, make sure your rats aren’t trying to eat the hay. This is highly unlikely because rats are smart and know what’s edible and what isn’t, and hay is not edible for rats. If for some reason your rats are eating hay, do not give them a hay box.

Other nesting options I’ve used in the past include cut up bits of fleece, cut up old clothes you might have lying around, and generally just bits of fabric. Just remember to change out/wash them regularly. Ammonia will build up, and once again that’s bad for your rats’ respiratory systems.

Hides and Hammocks

Rats are prey animals. Surprise! As such, they need plenty of places to hide and feel safe. Rats love small, dark places to rest in. Much like many introverted humans, myself included! Make sure to include plenty of hides all over the cage. Variety is excellent here for enrichment reasons. My rats absolutely love Space Pods! Lixit makes the ones I use, but there’s also a brand called Sputnik that’s basically the same thing. I’ve never seen them in stores, but they’re all over the internet. For rats, make sure you get the large size. Honestly I wish it was larger than it is, but oh well. The girls love it anyway. I kept getting sent only the bottom halves, which is why I have two half space pods in my cage. I got a refund or replacement on both because it’s not what I paid for, but, like… I received the usable half, so I’m gonna use it. The girls don’t like to sleep in them without the covers, but they’ll hang out in there and clean themselves, and they climb through them to get from one spot to another.

In addition to the space pods, I also have various other hides. Lixit also makes a pill-shaped plastic hide that I keep on the shelf over the dirt box. They used to use it a lot more than they do now, and I’m not entirely sure why. Even so, they still use it! I also have a woven grass tent that they enjoy, and a cork log. Neither of those are really for sleeping, but they do hide in them sometimes and generally like to hang out there.

Hammocks are great, and also available in wide variety all over the internet and in stores. My favorite banana hammock was just retired, but I intend to get another. The girls loved it and so did I! Hammocks come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and can pull double duty as both a place to sleep and a way to break up the cage so there aren’t any dead drops where your rats can fall from a height and hurt themselves. Fill your cage with hammocks! All the hammocks! Support small creators by buying homemade hammocks! Learn to make them yourself! They’re cheap and easy! Hammocks are great.

Enrichment Part 1: Levels

Rats are climbers. Rats need vertical space as well as horizontal space. Rats are sometimes clumsy idiots who fall off of things. As such, all vertical space must be filled with all kinds of fall breakers. As mentioned before, hammocks are great for this. So are ladders, bridges, ropes, and that Ikea tie hanger I have strung across the back of my cage. If your rat falls from anywhere in the cage, make sure there’s something to catch them!

Also make sure there’s something to do on all the levels of the cage, even if that thing to do is just get from one level to the next. Rats are dexterous and adventurous. Ramps are boring because they’re easy. If you have sick or injured rats, absolutely use ramps! Accessibility matters! If your rats are of sound body, however, make them work for it. Lava ledges and bird perches make great alternatives to ramps. Screw them into the cage walls and watch your rats hop around! They love it. Ladders are also fun, especially if they’re not used the way ladders are meant to be used. Suspend them from things, put them at weird angles, just make sure they’re secure. I get a lot of my levels from the bird aisle at the pet store (or virtual pet store). Be aware that sometimes your rats are going to prefer to climb directly on the bars of the cage. That’s normal! The bars are there, so the rats will climb them. That’s all there is to it!

Climbing frames like the wooden wine rack from Ikea that I have in the bottom of my cage are also good to have. My girls love it, and it does double duty as a chew toy.

Enrichment Part 2: Chewing

Contrary to popular belief and old science, rats do not actually require chews to keep their teeth trimmed. Rats trim their own teeth by bruxing, or grinding their teeth together. This does not, however, negate the need for chews. Rats like to chew! What your rat likes to chew best is entirely subjective. Some rats love wood and sticks, some rats will always chew fabric over anything else, some rats will never chew fabric. Every rat is different! Try as much variety as you can and keep stocked up on the things your rats like best. My rats really like woven grass, and I try to keep at least a couple different kinds around for them. I keep a grass mat on a shelf that they like to pull apart, and the woven grass tent will likely have a short lifespan, as well. There’s a woven grass tunnel thing that they’ve put into the dirt box and are slowly but systematically shredding. My girls also like willow sticks, so I’ve got a couple hanging toys of willow that are very slowly being chewed because there’s so much else to chew. The wooden bridges see a fair bit of chewing, and even the lava ledges get chewed on the edges. My girls also love destroying rattan and wicker balls. I bought a bunch of them for cheap and toss a new one in there about every week or so. They love them. I also got a couple things from Small Pet Select like a pine cone, a bit of natural loofah, and a dried okra pod. So far the okra pod has seen the most action and is shredded halfway to infinity. I think they like that it has seeds inside, but the others get chewed sometimes, too. There’s enough variety in my setup that everything lasts a decently long time. Except the rattan balls.

Enrichment Part 3: Digging

As much as rats like to climb, they also like to dig. That’s why it’s highly recommended to have a dig box. Safe substrate is important here. If you’re going with potting soil, make sure it’s just dirt and doesn’t contain any fertilizer. Personally, I found potting soil to be kind of annoying a little expensive. I prefer coconut soil. I use Exo Terra terrarium soil, which is sold in compacted blocks that you have to hydrate. I use two thirds of the recommended water because my rats don’t need humidity. I use three blocks per dig box, and replace the soil every month because the girls will do their business in it sometimes, leave food in it, leave bits of tissue or hay or various shredded chews. Basically, the dirt gets dirty in bad ways and needs to be replaced sometimes. It can also grow things if left too long because of the humidity (which will be a problem regardless of the type of substrate being used). So every deep clean, both dig boxes get emptied, wiped out, and refilled.

The hay box gets an honorable mention here, since it pulls double duty as both nesting and digging. Triple duty, really, since it’s also a forage toy.

Enrichment Part 4: Misc

Yeah, I didn’t know what category to put this under, so here we are. Litter boxes! No, seriously, this counts as enrichment. Training your rats, whether it’s to do tricks or just poop where you want them to, counts as enrichment. Rats are incredibly smart! They’re at least as trainable as the average dog, especially if they come from an ethical breeder who breeds for health and temperament (let me just slide a reminder not to buy live animals from pet stores that source from highly unethical breeding mills in right here; please support ethical breeders and rescues), and will happily take to any training. Remember that positive reinforcement is the only ethical way to train an animal. Treats are great for this, and your pet will love you even more because every living thing loves food. My rats actually didn’t require much training for their litter trays. Make sure that whatever you’re lining the litter trays with is not the same as their normal bedding. If you’re using aspen shavings in the main cage, use pine in the litter trays, or literally any distinct safe bedding. I use shavings in my litter trays and pellets in my main cage. This helps the rats distinguish the litter trays from the rest of the cage and makes it easier to identify where to do their business versus where not to do so. When you first put the litter trays in, just go in at least once a day and toss any poops you see into the tray. If you see your rats using the litter tray, offer a treat while they’re doing so. Rats are extremely clean animals and they like their mess contained as much as you do. It would not be possible for me to only deep clean once a month if I didn’t have litter trays that I clean out about twice a week (or more, if necessary) to get rid of the majority of the mess and smell. I’d be deep cleaning every two weeks at least without them, so the litter trays are a great investment overall. Your rats will never be perfect about using them, because they’re still rats, but they’ll help a great deal.

Also under this section are forage toys! Do not feed your rats from a simple bowl, it’s boring and encourages stashing, which means you’ll never know when they’ve actually run out of food because they’re just going to pick it up and take it somewhere else and have a great big hoard that you’ll find on deep clean day. You can definitely scatter feed, that’s enriching as well because it makes the rats go looking for their food, but forage toys are the ultimate way to feed your rats, I think. I mostly don’t get my forage toys from the small animal aisle. I do have one that’s small animal specific, a little ball that they roll around the get the food out. I also have some marketed for cats, and some marketed for birds. Having multiple kinds is really helpful. I’ve also noticed that while some stashing still occurs, it’s greatly reduced. I refill the toys as they empty and everyone’s happy.

Food/Water

What you feed your rats is extremely important, obviously. Many commercially available pellet foods marketed for rats are actually extremely not good for rats. The same is true cat and dog food. It is a sad fact that the companies that make these foods tend to be far more interested in their bottom line than the health of your pet. As such, do your research! Always do your research! Know what’s in the food and what your animal should be eating, and try to match those two things up as closely as possible. In the UK rat owners typically will avoid pellet foods and prefer homemade mixes for these reasons, but making your own mix is not always feasible and can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re doing. Most US rat owners tend toward pellets because it’s a lot harder to mess up the balance of nutrients when it’s done for you. Also, the UK does not have Oxbow, which is one of the most popular brands of healthy rat food. It’s the brand that I use, and my rats adore it. Mazuri is another popular and healthy option, but my rats prefer Oxbow over anything else. I kind of want to try making my own mix at some point, but I’m not sure I ever will. Like with most of my rat supplies, I buy food in bulk because it’s cheaper. A 20 lb bag of Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat food runs me about 40 bucks. Be careful to buy adult rat food, even for baby rats, because any food that says Young Rat and Mouse is not going to have the appropriate balance of fat and protein even for young rats. Adult food will do just fine for babies, too. If you want to add some extra protein to their diet, try a boiled egg or bits of meat every now and then, but it’s probably not necessary as long as they’re getting enough food and some extra fruits and veggies now and then. If you want to try making a mix, do so much research before you try it, and make sure your ingredients are good quality.

Rats should also receive other foods in addition to their pellet or main food. Rats are omnivores and love fresh veggies, fruits, milk, eggs, and meat! Make sure you research safe foods before giving them to your rats, as not everything is safe. If you adopt your rats from an ethical breeder, they should have resources available to you on what’s safe and healthy. If you rescue, you can still reach out to established ethical breeders for tips and tricks, or find lists online as you do your research. Some veggies are only safe cooked, some parts of certain plants are unsafe while others are safe, and some foods are only safe for males or females but not the other sex (citrus and mango are the ones I remember that fall into that category). Just do your research and try to keep processed foods away from your rats. Sodium is also not good for them. Any raw meat or fish should be frozen and then thawed before being fed to your rats to kill any potential contaminants. Like always, do your research first!

Rats obviously require water, as well. Water bottles tend to be the most widely accepted way to give rats water, because they don’t evaporate and are easy to keep clean. I, however, have a terrible time with bottles, and they always leak or break. Thus, I have opted for water bowls instead. The girls love them more than the bottles I’ve used in the past, and they’re a little more enriching, as well. The only downside is that I have to wash them out daily. But since I spot clean daily anyway, I don’t mind at all.

First Aid Kit

Any responsible pet owner should always keep a first aid kit around, no matter what kind of pet they have. Pet owners who have particularly vulnerable pets should especially be careful to make sure they have a well-stocked first aid kit. This should include single-use sterile syringes without needles, gauze pads, vet wrap, infant/toddler ibuprofen or acetaminophen, medical tape, cat nail trimmers, and probiotic powder like Benebac. But most importantly, it should include the phone number and location of a vet that will see and treat rats. Have a vet picked out that you have confirmed will see and treat your pets BEFORE getting pets. If an emergency arises and you’re suddenly scrambling for a vet last second, not only do you waste precious time getting your pet the help they need but you may find out too late that the nearest rat-friendly vet is too far away. That means your pet will suffer unnecessarily and you are an irresponsible pet owner. Hard stop. If there is no vet within reach that will see rats, do not get rats. Rats will require a vet trip at least once in their lives, since all rats are extremely prone to respiratory illness. Sometimes this happens for no reason at all, because all rats possess a bacteria in their respiratory systems called mycoplasma. There’s no way to get rid of it and nothing you can do about it except make sure your rats live in a clean, well-ventilated environment with safe bedding and materials. Even with all this, sometimes your rats will get sick. That’s normal! Just make sure you can take care of them when it happens. As such, make sure you have a vet fund at all times of at least a couple hundred dollars, in addition to a well-stocked first aid kit and the name and location of an appropriate vet.

It’s also beneficial and enriching to syringe train your rats. What this means is putting a liquid treat like baby food, yogurt, or apple sauce into a syringe and giving it to your rats. This teaches the rats that the syringe is a good thing so that if you ever need to give them medicine from the syringe (rat medicine tends to be oral and dissolved in a liquid solution, so those needle-less syringes will be necessary) they’re more likely to take the medicine with minimum complaints.

Storage

Maybe it goes without saying, but you also need places to put all of the things for your rats. Keep your first aid kit in a box to itself so you always know where it is, and organize your supplies appropriately. I really like Ikea bins for my bedding and food and other dry bulk items, and I keep a lot of my smaller stuff on a shelf at the foot of my bed. Work with the space you have, and plan appropriately.

And thus concludes this extremely long explanation of the bare basics of healthy rat living. Really, this is the bare basics and not even remotely comprehensive of the options available. Be creative when shopping, and definitely look outside of the small animal aisle at your local pet store because it will not contain anywhere near all of what you need.

TL;DR: A Basic Shopping List of My Specific Setup

-Double Critter Nation

-Single Critter Nation

-Zip ties

-2 Large sized cement mixing tubs from Home Depot/Lowe’s

-Pine wood horse stall pellets

-Low pile bath mats, enough to rotate while washing

-Fleece blanket, cut in quarters to fit shelves, enough to rotate while washing

-Bins to hold digging substrate

-Oat hay from Small Pet Select or Oxbow

-Exo Terra coconut fiber terrarium soil

-Lixit Critter Space Pods, large

-Lixit Small Animal Hideout

-Woven grass mat

-Woven grass tent

-Woven grass tube

-Rattan/wicker balls, lots

-Willow stick hanging toys

-Natural loofah

-Sanitized (and therefore safe) pine cone

-Dried okra pod

-Dog ropes

-Wooden bendy bridges

-C-clips, both the kind meant for shower curtains and smaller ones marketed for kids, for hanging things

-Hammocks. All the hammocks. From everywhere hammocks are sold.

-3 (sometimes 4) Ware Scatterless Lock-n-Litter Small Animal Litter Pan, Regular

-Ikea tie hanger

-Ikea wine rack

-Ikea storage bins

-Forage toys

-Oxbow Essentials Adult Rat food

-Ceramic (and therefore tip-proof) water bowls, and/or bowls that can be attached to the cage

-Sterile single-use syringes without needles

-Gauze

-Vet wrap

-Medical tape

-Infant/toddler ibuprofen/acetaminophen

-Cat nail trimmer

-Probiotic powder like Benebac

-The phone number and location of a rat-friendly vet

-A vet fund of at least a couple hundred dollars

A final note before the end: Always remember to do your research before getting pets, do not get pets if you cannot provide a good life for them with MORE THAN the bare minimum requirements for safe and healthy pets, do not buy live animals from pet stores unless it’s part of a rescue program, don’t take the word of just one person as law, don’t be afraid to ask questions respectfully, and always seek new ways to improve your pet care. This has been a PSA from your friendly small animal enthusiast.

#fancy rats #pet rats #my rat setup #rat care #rat care advice #pet care #long post

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spideyyroos · 5 years ago

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are you kidding me? - peter parker (soulmate!au) - part 3

pairing: peter parker x stark!female!reader

summary: during your everlasting rivalry against peter parker, you’re unlucky enough to find out that not only is he spider-man (your dad’s new kid), but he is also your soulmate. god help us all. (soulmate au where you have a mark of where your soulmate first touches you)

word count: 2511

requested: yes!

warnings: language, slight angst, stab wound

a/n: GUESS WHOSE BACK BACK BACK BACK AGAIN!!! hey guys! sorry i’ve been mia recently, school has really been piling up on me and i pushed off this part for so long! tbh i think this is gonna be slightly slow burn?? i don’t want to rush anything oof. hope you guys like it :))

THE NEXT DAY

As both Peter and Y/N made their way to school, they communicated to one another on how they should act and when they should tell their individual friends about the whole soulmate ordeal. For the time being, they decided to still hate each other at school--which, technically, they still hadn’t been too fond of each other ever since the previous day. Y/N, being the more stubborn of the two, couldn’t push aside the decade-long rivalry between her and Peter. She was still in denial that he was her soulmate, the one who she would spend the rest of her life with.

Chewing on her lip, Y/N thought about her future with Peter in it. She always knew that he would stick around in her life but never where. After the almost-kiss that they shared last night, she muted her thoughts from him, not wanting to distract while fighting crime. As she did so, she wondered why she cared about the well-being of the boy, not just in academics.

-at Midtown-

As Peter and Y/N made their way to their first period, they cautiously stood at different places from one another when passing through the hallway. Thankfully enough, Ned found Peter and they weaved their way into their history class. Y/N found herself in the class moments after, taking a seat in the back corner to ensure that she could take a nap for the period.

Y/N had always prepared ahead of time for the classes she decided to take naps in. Her phone was programmed to pick up what the teacher was saying during the lecture; later, Y/N would listen and add extra information to her notes (a/n: i suggest this highly; it works super well! :)).

When the lecture started, Y/N was out like a light. She got plenty of sleep the night before, but still preferred to be asleep. Peter, who sat across the room, tried to focus on his notes, but felt the strong urge to stare at her. Similar to Y/N, Peter felt hesitant to feel affections toward his usual enemy. Ever since yesterday, he cringed at how the two treated each other.

Needless to say, these circumstances were more than overwhelming.

-lunch-

After their fifth period Spanish class, Y/N and Peter walked side by side in the hallway. Before they knew it, Flash called out at Peter.

“Hey Penis Parker! What are you doing, flying out of your league?”

“And what would you know, Flash? Last time I checked, your homecoming date left you in the dust to go and grind with some other egotistical prick.”

Flash’s jaw dropped at Y/N’s words and Peter covered his mouth to stifle his laughter. Y/N turned around to face Flash, deadpan--clearly unamused by his ever so endearing nickname for Peter. Then, as if in some world-turning moment, she realized that she had just defended her rival.

Nobody knew that they were soulmates just yet.

She couldn’t let that happen--not now at least.

However, before she could make an excuse for standing up for Peter, Flash suddenly changed his target of ridicule.

“Aw, I’m sorry babe. Do you have a personal score to settle with Lindsey? Or, better yet, come over tonight and we can,” Flash continued to advance towards her and corner Y/N onto a locker, “make up for lost time.” Flash was face-to-face with Y/N, expelling his hot breath over her face. Although Flash was yet another person who knew how to make Y/N’s skin crawl, she decided to swallow the vomit coming up her throat and let herself be “enchanted” with the king of douches.

“Umm...you sure have a way with words, handsome,” Y/N’s mind was screaming at her to kick him in the nuts, but her pride didn’t allow her to let up and run to her only safe space--Peter. She feigned a gleaming smile, letting it hit her eyes. Flash only smirked at his supposed “power” over women, though it repulsed anything that walked--no, breathed--on this very earth. Y/N continued to keep this act up by biting her lip and forcing herself to eye his lips, misshapen and topped with peach fuzz for a mustache. It sent her back to last night with Peter, and she mentally sunk into thoughts of the blessed day when she’d put her guard down and allow herself to love him--woah, wait...what the fuck?

Just as she was about to dwell on her absurd thought, she felt the disgustingly warm body heat in front of her being ripped away and an angry Peter now in front of her. His back was facing her and he held his death grip on Flash, who now looked scared as all hell, was panting from the sudden movement and wide-eyed.

“How about we don’t do that?” Peter threatened, gritting his teeth and shooting daggers at Flash. Y/N walked directly behind Peter and performed the trick as old as time: playing with the angry boy’s hair to calm him down. As she laced her fingers through his wavy hair, Peter fell victim to the affection. He let go of Flash, freeing him to run away from the previously seething Peter--not sparing to look back at the nerd who once could never have the heart to kill a fly.

Y/N grabbed onto Peter’s shoulder and turned him around, hand still interlocked within his curls. Peter’s expression showed pure relaxation, contradicting the near-death that he could have caused. They looked into each other’s eyes, once again letting the rest of the world slip away. Thank God that everyone else had cleared the hallway and went their own ways to the cafeteria. The young Stark filed her hand through his exceptionally soft hair--what conditioner do you use? They chuckled, knowing that only these two could see into her comedic genius. Peter’s eyes wandered her face, taking in her features and mentally noting small details that he would’ve never noticed beforehand. He suddenly cupped her face with his hands and went to lean in, only for Y/N to abruptly rip her contact from him.

“Peter--”

“I’m sorry--”

“Can we just give...give whatever this is--a moment to breathe? Jesus, it’s been a day and now I have to make sure that no one ever hits on me because God forbid Spider-Man’s soulma--” Peter’s hand clamped over Y/N’s mouth, eyes wide and desperate for her to shut up.

“I’m sorry, ok? Now will you stop talking before someone hears?” Y/N shoved his hand off her mouth and made a beeline towards the exit, not dealing with anymore of this bullshit.

Y/N, frustrated and fed up, went home to the complex--this, and she swears by it, was by far the worst week of her life. She wished that she wasn’t so difficult, that she could have been dealt a different soulmate, that she could start over, that she could be anywhere else but here. She made an effort to ignore his thoughts and mute her own. She didn’t want to be burned again. She has always pined after the well-deserved love and freely gave her heart to the people who gave her half-assed compliments--believing that each time would be different. Yet time and time again she would be let down, until she had enough. She sealed her walls with super-glue and rejected any form of genuine interest in her well-being.

-at Avengers complex-

4:56

Peter tried to busy himself with expanding his patrol area, patrol hours, and homework--anything to avoid facing the obvious. He may as well be dead to her, right?

God, no! Don’t ever say that. Just--give me time, alright? This is just...a lot.

Look--we’re adjusting right now. Us even talking is already some sort of sign that we can try to get along. I know you’d prefer to stay at the very least 6 feet apart but--fuck, I’ll be honest--ever since we…connected I’ve been able to see you in a different light--

--pretty sure that’s called being horny--

--will you just...you know what? No. You don’t get to find out what I was going to say. Are you happy now?

Y/N didn’t respond. She just laid on her bed, aggressively staring at her window, hoping that he just might swing by.

It wasn’t long until she felt a searingly white hot pain on her left side. She screamed out in her room, trying to haphazardly relieve some of this unbearable punishment of having a superhero as a soulmate. Tears blurred her vision and she clutched her side, unable to move in fear that she would break her entire body. With as much effort she could put out, she reached for her suit tracking device--jesus christ, what the fuck happened to him?

Y/N saw the spider icon deep in the streets of Queens, at one of the many Mom and Pop restaurants. She saw an update on the suit condition:

OPENING ON LEFT SIDE - COULD BE KNIFE WOUND?

Peter, are you okay? Please get out of there as soon as you can! I’ll call the police right now--OW!

Y/N received a crisp punch to her right cheek, wincing and letting the new tears fall over her face. She tried to stay strong, despite everything hurting so much. She pressed “NOTIFY POLICE” on the device and curled into a ball, hoping the pain would stop soon. Just as she thought it was over, a square kick to the stomach almost caused an upheaval of her last meal. Stars taking over her vision, she fell unconscious onto her bedroom floor.

-meanwhile-

Peter has had his fair share of difficult and strong criminals, but damn! This group was one for the books. Not considering the soulmate tie between himself and Y/N, he fought the band of robbers and took each hit as a grain of salt.

Peter, are you okay? Please get out of there as soon as you can! I’ll call the police right now--OW!

“Oh shit--” Peter mumbled, allowing himself to get punched in the face by the one of the last men standing. Easily knocking him out with his special “pow, pow, POW” combo, as Peter liked to call it.

Unfortunately, before he could safely escape the scene, with the criminals webbed up against the wall, the final “stupidhead” (once again, as Peter liked to call it) attacked him with a swift kick to the stomach.

Shit.

Peter heard the sirens nearly a block away, so he opted to avoid any more conflict by webbing the kicker against the ceiling of the restaurant--stealing away into the city and on the way to the complex.

He remembered the backpack that was so secretly plastered next to the window of Y/N’s bedroom and was quick to change into his street clothes. Practically breaking into her bedroom, Peter was instantly at Y/N’s unconscious side--did her body show where he got hurt also?

Unsure if he was throwing away all of Aunt May’s well-taught respect and manners of “don’t put your hands on a girl unless she says you can and she wants you to,” Peter lifted her shirt to check if she was stabbed as well. Fortunately, either soulmate can have the sensation of pain--not the actual injury itself.

Y/N woke with a start, breaking her eyelids open to see Peter lifting her shirt to check the left side.

“What are you doing?” Y/N flinched away, tearing the material out of his hands.

“I’m sorry--I was checking if you were okay--”

“--people don’t check under other people’s shirts--wait. Am I stabbed?” Y/N went to check herself, only to double take at Peter’s blood stain growing larger by the second.

“Oh my god--stay right there, ok? I’ll go get a first aid kit--holy shit…”

Peter chuckled at her antics, but winced as he realized that...I got stabbed and it’s an open wound and now I’m laughing and oh my god--

“Ok, holyshitok--lay on my bed, please. Lay on your side, with the wound facing me. Also, please take off your shirt,” Y/N took a deep breath, preparing the sutures to properly address the injury. She concentrated, despite her hands shaking horribly.

“This is going to feel even worse than when I start to sew but you can grab onto something if you need,” Y/N softly spoke, ready to clean, with alcohol, around where the knife had tore into his flesh. Peter nodded, unsure what he could grab onto without breaking her concentration. He opted for her bedsheets, which were slightly wrinkled and smelled like the expensive detergent that often surrounds Y/N--what? Why am I--

Y/N hummed in content and smiled to herself as she finished disinfecting and started to sew. Although Peter was used to his clumsy hands dangerously stitching together his deeper injuries, Y/N’s precision and patience to ensure the least amount of pain almost...put him at peace. She would glance over at him to reassure herself that he wasn’t passed out--though that would make the situation far less intimidating. Here he was, Peter Benjamin Parker, shirtless and occasionally bleeding (though it was far less than before), on Y/N M/N Stark’s bed. When she wasn’t looking at him, Peter would steal glances at the young Stark, appreciating her calm nature in such a scenario like this. On the other hand, when he wasn’t staring at her, Y/N would give a side eye to Peter--who was focusing on the small design on the bedsheets. He recognized the R2-D2 and C-3PO duo that continued across the dimensions of the mattress, tracing the dark outline of each character.

“Ok, I’m almost done. I just need to apply the gauze and the skin adhesive,” Y/N stated, quickly exiting the room to go fetch the proper dressings.

When she came back, Peter was still in the same position--but with stilled breathing and relaxed muscles.

Oh my God, he’s asleep. At least the hard part’s over--I think.

Y/N finished the full treatment for the wounds, briefly waking Peter up to tell him to get changed into some loungewear. He barely obliged, grumpy from having been woken up from his short nap. He pouted like a toddler, wanting to return to the “comfy bed with the nice blankets.” Y/N did her best to not laugh, admiring the adorable nature that came with him. He returned to the bed and Y/N made sure that he was comfortable enough without laying directly on top the wounds. She tried her best to be a better person and reluctantly played with his hair, hearing a small “thank you” in response. Peter fell asleep immediately, exhausted from a mentally and emotionally gruelling day.

Y/N watched as he finally relaxed into his sleep, thankful that she could at least help the superhero everyone loved.

Someday, I will love him. Just not now--not yet. I can’t let you in just yet.

taglist: @mega-bi @lordofblamo @sadstrudel @ispiderdudei @everythingsship @learning-howto-be-myselfx3 @annathesillyfriend @mybitchborky @randxmthxughts @dear-selena

#peter parker #peter parker x reader #peter parker imagine #soulmate!peter parker #soulmate!au #spiderman x reader #spiderman #tom holland #tom holland x reader #tom holland imagine #peter parker fanfiction #marvel #marvel imagine #tony stark #dad!tony #hi i'm back #it's been like 10 years #spideyyroos writes

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arnoldperlstein · 4 years ago

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what’s wrong with rides again?

this time around i’d like to talk about my issues with the reboot of the magic school bus, the magic school bus rides again!

don’t get me wrong, for the most part? there’s a lot i love about rides again: it really expands on characters like arnold, tim, janet, and ralphie, whose new characterizations are developed but still faithful to the original; likewise, i like fiona frizzle and jyoti as new additions to the class. many of the jokes land and the episodes tend to be pretty funny and inventive! (jokes in the 3 recent specials have been particularly great)

there are, though, rather noticeable flaws that especially bother me, someone who grew up with the original. now here we go, in order of importance!

1. wanda

okay, i’ll get this out of the way: rides again wanda is not wanda. the original 90s wanda was a force to be reckoned with, a headstrong and active character who acted first and thought later - she was a great foil for a character like arnold who, in contrast, is so cautious and reserved. 90s wanda had an immense chaotic energy which reflected that of the original ms. frizzle and that of the show as a whole, really making everything exciting.

rides again wanda is... none of those things. she’s... kinda active? more in a stubborn way. she’s more defensive than offensive now and seems way more... soft than before? rides again wanda now loves animals and often acts as a morality pet in terms of them. now, if you’ve ever seen the original 90s cartoon, you know there’s one person who this sounds exactly like. pheobe.

by the start of rides again, pheobe had apparently went back to her old school, with jyoti taking up the 8th spot in the class. you wouldn’t think that pheobe’s role needed to be filled now that she was gone, and yet almost all of her traits were superimposed onto a character who originally had none of them. if they were going to pheeb-ify anyone, doing it to someone as iconically un-pheobe-like as wanda was a terrible idea!

not like they needed to pheeb-ify anyone - you already have cautious and shy characters like arnold, quiet and observant characters like tim, and voices of reason like da. i love pheobe, but her role didn’t need to be filled; people don’t work like that in real life.

and what sucks the most about this for me is that wanda was one of my favorite characters growing up! i loved her spunk and her attitude and her bravery going into anything! and i loved her catchphrase of “c’mon, you weaselly wimps”, which i may add i don’t remember her saying at all in rides again. it just sucks, man!!

2. lack of chaotic energy of the original/lack of memorability

one thing that characterized the original 90s cartoon was how... well, chaotic it was. there was something so energized and wacky about the whole thing, and you never knew what was going to happen next! the jokes were hilarious and the characters played off of each other perfectly, giving it an interesting, pseudo-sitcom vibe in the background.

the fact that it came out in the 90s at all, with its animation style and the technology at the time made these fantastical field trips all the more fascinating and mysterious - oftentimes, the frizz would push a simple button or pull a simple lever and the bus would turn into a fish or a bee or a rocket ship! this combined with the fact that the bus itself was rather old and rudimentary made it all seem more relatable and nostalgic.

unfortunately, rides again has none of this. the new art style, character designs, futuristic tech, and voice acting not only further suspends your disbelief with how starkly different they are from the original, but also completely get rid of that nostalgic 90s chaos that made the original so memorable.

and speaking of memorability, i can remember the premise of just about every 90s cartoon episode - they all have some wacky twist that makes it all the more bonkers and memorable: gets ready, set, dough? the baker thinks he’s delusional and that a moth baked a cake. in a pickle? court scene and the ‘mike robe gang’. shows and tells? arnold is forced to do improv and doesn’t suck at it somehow. holiday special? wanda turns the recycling plant into a pile of garbage. it’s all over the place yet somehow plausible, which makes it all the better to remember.

but rides again? the only jokes i remember are from episodes i’ve specifically seen over and over and over again, such as frizzle of the future, monster power, or making magic. give me episodes like pigs in the wind, in the swim, hides and seeks, the tales glaciers tell, the land before tim, ghost farm, i spy with my animal eyes, or send in the clouds and i won’t remember a single joke, funny line, or wacky moment. it makes it all seem bland in retrospect, unfortunately.

3. catchphrases!

there isn’t a ton to talk about here, but there is an annoying lack of characters using their catchphrases in rides again: sure, arn does occasionally say ‘i knew i should’ve stayed home today’, and da does say ‘according to my research’ (albeit differently than she did before - i’ll touch on this in a second), but most other characters don’t use their catchphrases much at all now.

tim doesn’t say “we’ve been frizzled” and keesha doesn’t say “let me get the facts” and ralphie doesn’t say “is it just me” and carlos doesn’t say “you’re gonna love this” and wanda doesn’t say “c’mon you weaselly wimps” etc. or heck, if they did, i just don’t remember, which is honestly telling enough.

you’d think this’d be a good thing, as people in real life don’t tend to have catchphrases, but it only makes the characters’ personalities more distinguished and memorable, having the unique things they say when excited or scared or whatever.

4. pheobe leaving :(

don’t get me wrong, jyoti is super cool, but i can still miss pheeb!

while i always resonated with arnold more, i’ve also found a connection with pheobe, such as with her love of animals (especially butterflies). she’s also just a really sweet, kind character who has a very strong moral backbone and a passion for doing the right thing. i find that a really nice personality for a character to have!

i also have my personal ship of pheobe and keesha (just watch the 90s episode gets ants in its pants, you’ll thank me later), and i find the two of them really cute! sucks that my pheobe privileges had to be revoked by rides again, though... why don’t we at least see what she’s doing, or get a mention other than just that ‘she returned to her old school’? why would she do that, anyway?

5. da’s accent

i don’t know how to describe dorothy ann’s accent in the original 90s cartoon? it’s like an american accent with slight bits of an english accent to it. a tad old-timey. either way it’s a very distinguishing trait of hers, besides her gravity-defying pigtails and love for the color violet.

unfortunately, there seemed to be no effort to carry this over to rides again in any capacity - heck, even if the voice actress couldn’t replicate her voice, they could at least pronounce the word research the same way da does: ‘reh-search’ rather than the more common ‘ree-search’. but alas, no. also da in a ponytail is not a good look, at least to me.

also, please return to the books. i don’t want to keep hearing the word ‘frizzpad’.

6. please don’t let them ruin this with a bad live action movie

note: it doesn’t have to be bad! it could be good! but the reputation of live action movies lately has been abysmal and i’m just worried how much they might butcher it...

and that’s all i can think of! despite all of this complaining i still do rather enjoy rides again. there’s just a lot of room to improve!!

#tmsb #the magic school bus #i need me some chaotic energy!!!!#one day i want to do a ytp of a rides again episode to inject it with some of that chaos i enjoyed in the original

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prokopetz · 5 years ago

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And finally, THE AVENGER. This one was by far the easiest, as it’s just a modification of the original Slayer playsheet; important changes include scrubbing off some of the more obvious setting-specific assumptions, making the action lists more flexible and more friendly to versions of this character who don’t necessarily have access to guns and explosives, and slightly toning down the implicit mockery of the source material (but only slightly).

I’m defnitely interested in comments and criticisms, of course, but I’m also terribly curious to see whether someone is going to explain how this playsheet is totally Kirby, since I received comments to that effect on the last two expanded playsheets as well!

(This is a first pass at an expanded playsheet for Doomguy, a provisionally titled tabletop RPG in development. Previous expanded playsheet drafts can be found here and here, for comparison.)

***

SLAYER PLAYSHEET: THE AVENGER

Media Inspirations: Doomguy (Doom), Kratos (God of War), Senua (Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice)

For you, the apocalypse is personal. Somebody's responsible for this, and that somebody needs to die. You're coming for them, and heaven help anyone who gets in your way.

Your Look (choose one or more): Bulky armour; spikes and chains; rippling muscles; scars and tattoos; a torn, filthy uniform

Your Weapons (choose one or more): All the fucking guns; a rough-hewn sword; fire, and lots of it; your own enhanced physiology; whatever you can lay hands on

Your Idiom (choose one or more): Capturing experimental hardware; upgrading your cybernetics; recovering mementos of your past; taking the strength of your defeated foes; getting so angry you spontaneously develop super powers

Your Agendas

Destroy your targets

Protect the innocent

Disrespect authority

Strike fear into the hearts of your enemies

Rip and tear

Taking Action

Any time the Opposing Forces ask “what do you do?”, describe what you do. Your actions are divided into three types: Heavy Actions, which require you to spend a token and return it to the pile; Light Actions, which let you pick up a token from the pile and add it to your supply; and Routine Actions, which do neither of those things. After each action, the Opposing Forces get to react.

Heavy Actions

Spend a token to:

Annihilate a single greater threat in an ungodly display of carnage

Wrest open a path to any objective you can see, even if there’s no reasonable way to get there from here

Resolve a complex problem through escalation of force, and not have that come back to bite you later

Power up according to your idiom; write a new Heavy Action and add it to the Slayer playsheet for the rest of the session, or recover a previously crossed off one

Ask the Opposing Forces "what here is my highest priority target?" They'll set an objective marker for you.

Routine Actions

You may always:

Casually destroy any lesser threats within reach

Perform improbable feats of strength and athletic prowess

Redirect a problem by breaking something important

Catch a reprieve according to your idiom; write a new Routine Action and add it to the Slayer playsheet for the rest of the session, or recover a previously crossed off one

Ask the Opposing Forces "what's my best way out of here?" They'll update your map.

Light Actions

Gain a token when you:

Get thrown back or forced to make a tactical retreat

Walk into an obvious trap

Impulsively destroy something you really ought not have destroyed

Run out of energy, ammunition, or momentum; cross off one Routine or Heavy Action from the Slayer playsheet

Ask the Opposing Forces "what don't I know that's about to screw me over?" They'll clue you in.

Doing Other Stuff

In between actions, you can ask the Opposing Forces what you see, talk to any non-Slayer characters who might be present (if you're the talkative sort), and perform incidental tasks to investigate and move about your environment. None of this counts as your action, unless you ask one of the three specific questions the Opposing Forces are bound to answer honestly -- or unless you seem to be stalling for time!

#gaming #tabletop roleplaying #tabletop rpgs #game design #doomguy (the game)#violence mention #death mention #swearing

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joelmillerthirstqz · 4 years ago

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You asked for more prompts so here I am! 49 - Chair Sex. Joel + any female. They try chair sex once, then find other types of chairs and go wild. There's a list of chairs wiki, pick whatever ones sound most fun/kink. In case Joel being ridden gets old (ha!) feel free to mix in other creative positions. Or add in a new kink with each chair! 2 or 3 different chairs is plenty or do more if you want. I'll leave chair/kink combos up to you unless you want me to pick.

ilu buddy, if you have preferences, hmu!

That said, I did write a chapter that isn’t really super bound to plot for Like Real People Do where Molly is just trying to integrate their record collection and ties Joel to a chair to get him to stop pawing at her for two seconds. Because I love that you prompted me, here it is! Not posting on AO3 until it threads into their story chronologically.

---

“Joel,” Molly mumbles, pulling the record from its sheath to confirm its in the correct place and nodding before adding it to the shelf.

Joel followed her down to the floor after she’d shooed him up onto the couch for unsettling her piles. Molly had undertaken the delicate work of integrating their pilfered record collections (50, his; 49, hers; 5, a mutual pile broken in the attempt to bring them home from the music shop outside of town) when the rain made clear they wouldn’t be going anywhere for the day. Her objection to his proximity came at his tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, a reliable precursor to him becoming more distracting.

“Joel,” Molly protests as his knees cage her hips from behind, mouth dropping to her bare shoulder, index finger tugging a knitted cardigan off of it.

“Do we know different alphabets?” he criticizes, pointing to the next record she’s picked up. His mouth slips to her clavicle, hand snaking around her middle.

“Joel!” Molly turns, eyes flashing. Joel shifts to sit on his heels, raising his hands in surrender.

Molly bites her bottom lip and considers him, rising smoothly and moving to the door to retrieve the rope hanging there. She returns with a kitchen chair loudly dragged behind her, wooden feet scraping the floor.

“You can’t keep your fucking hands to yourself, so you’re going to be good while I finish it,” Molly gestures to the chair. Joel looks up with raised eyebrows and smug interest, shrugging and complying with a tilt of challenge to the set of his jaw. Molly hisses into Joel’s ear, doing her best to secure his arms behind the kitchen chair from above him, even as he tries to nip at her neck when it comes near enough. He holds his arms in position for her to bind them, though, so she cinches the rope tight and hovers close to his face.

“Unnecessary, you were doin’ just fine,” Joel’s close enough to breathe against her mouth for her to hear him.

“I am on ‘C’, Joel,” Molly protests, flopping with her back against the couch to sort her crate among the piles of Joel’s records awaiting their new companions on the floor.

Joel’s leg starts to shake immediately, his eyes restlessly calculating. His hands can’t help but clench to test her knot-tying, broad knuckles making the fabric rasp as he moves.

Molly’s eyes shoot up to watch him between two records she’s comparing to one another, narrowing at the sound.

He tries to look innocent for half a second before letting his legs fall open. Molly flicks a glance to his capable thighs, annoyed that he’s realized what makes her miss a beat.

She moves a complete pile to the bookcase, gently setting a bookend to hold them while she finishes the rest of the shelf. Pausing to shrug her sweater off, she doesn’t look up when she hears the chair creak with impatience.

“How about, if I’m good until ‘M’ I can come help again?” Joel proposes.

Molly looks at him over the top of a record once she’s seated again.

“You’ve been terrible from ‘A’ to—” she glances down, “‘H’,” Molly says, fixing him with a haughty, pitying look. “Rough track record.”

“I’d show you my hands if you hadn’t tied ‘em,” he complains.

Molly smiles and resumes her task, stacking records one at a time after careful verification of the sleeves’ contents.

Joel’s leg starts to bounce once again, impatience not disguising the way his eyes rake over her.

Joel spots the cover of the next record.

“That counts as an ‘M’,” he supplies.

“And we had no such deal, Joel Miller,” Molly says without looking up at him, the tap of another record hitting a stack resounding.

“Molly—” Joel sounds strained, quiet.

Molly looks up at him critically. She rises silently and unbuttons her jeans, sliding them down and off. Her shirt follows, and she settles back against the couch in her underwear, largely ignoring him. Rising to put everything up to ‘R’ on the shelf, she takes her time watching him crane towards her in profile.

Settling primly onto the couch and selecting the next of their dwindling disparate stack, she looks up at him from under her lashes.

Joel watches her singularly, nostrils flaring as his jaw tenses.

Molly flips up two records as if to ask him to opine on their order, smirking and setting one aside when his eyes don’t leave hers. Stepping over him without sitting down, she scrapes his chin with blunt nails, Joel going easily to her touch, trying to get close enough to her abdomen to catch her off-guard.

She finishes stepping over him to cross the room for the record player, Joel lurching forwards to try to catch her off balance as she goes. He takes in the slope of her back and long legs and thinks his mouth may actually water, agonizingly hard as she carefully sets the needle.

Later, Joel would swear he’d recognized what she’d put on, but all the drifting sound does is intensify her form returning to him.

Joel bites at her, barely out of range as she settles back over his lap, closer to his knees than his hips. Molly tilts her forehead close to his, looking at him before brushing her lips against his.

Smiling down at him, flicking his top shirt button open, Molly slips the first knuckle of her finger into his mouth, fascinated by how pretty it is below his beard, inflected with scars from busted lips over the years.

Joel bites her index finger and there’s a sharp crack as he twists out of the rope holding him.

“Fuck!” She protests, Joel tugging her against his lap forcefully, tongue in her mouth without prelude (though she’s prepared to accept).

He rises with one of her thighs in each of his hands, adrenalin narrowly tempered by remembering to turn his palm up to catch her head as he pins her under him on the floor.

Molly’s more smile than surprise, biting her tongue when he tears her underwear, other hand getting through his belt, button, and zipper in a second, maybe two.

Joel penetrates her quickly, which would have been a stupider idea if she’d liked watching him puzzle his way through being out of control less.

She grunts as he frames her face with his hands, heedless of trapping her hair under his hands.

“Not—done—” Molly manages to complain, flailing a wrist towards the records, one of Joel’s hands pressing directly down onto her thigh, spreading her open beneath him.

“Yeah? Got too close,” he stumbles, focused on finding the right angle to take her apart.

Molly bites his earlobe when she has the chance, nails leaving neat punctures on his shoulders in her wake. Joel snaps his hips in kind, shrugging at the pinprick sensation.

He collects her wrists in each of his hands, spinning her to her stomach and entering her again, rough enough for her to sigh with the impact. Joel slows for a scarce moment before she shoves her hips back against him, earning a swift reply. Her shoulders ache wrenched behind her, but she melts with his teeth grazing her jaw, shallow thrusts angled where she needs.

“I should come and leave you right here for that,” Joel murmurs against her ear, lost in how they move together, a stuttering but coordinated rhythm building sweat on both of them.

“Yeah, you wouldn’t,” Molly breathes, catching his free wrist and moving his hand to her core. She bites his lower lip harder than she needs to while he takes up stroking her clit like he’d known the pattern his whole life. Her whole life.

Joel releases her hands to capture her jaw in his palm, kissing her seriously, past the bounds of necessary with his cock hilted into her.

Molly’s eyebrows draw together and she whimpers, twitching around him without reservation. Joel smiles against her mouth and presses his tongue deeper when she smacks him softly, riding her orgasm through.

He spans his hand between her shoulder blades, snapping his hips with commanding calm, firm and rapid. Molly basks in the deep resonance of his thrusts, scrabbling at the carpet as he stretches her from a new angle.

Molly grins as her suspicions are confirmed and he comes far sooner than usual, clearly spurred by light denial. Joel makes this tame, consumed noise that has her reaching back for him, needing him closer even as he falls to his elbows over her, gasping. When his breath changes, Molly wriggles onto her back, tugging him close and admiring the way their hearts meet below rapidly expanding ribcages.

“You’re helping me with the rest,” Molly whispers into his hair.

“Mhm,” Joel acknowledges, stroking her sides.

#tlou fic #asks #molly x joel #the last of us #the last of us 2 #the last of us ii #joel miller #joel #tlou ii #tlou 2 #joelsbeard

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sushiandstarlight · 5 years ago

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Kintsugi

Read this story on AO3

Inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi: " repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum, a method similar to the maki-e technique.As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.” and the fact that Aziraphale seems to limp when he's temporarily discorporated and sent back to heaven.

Crowley had written it off as a figment of his imagination the few times he thought he had noticed it: the slight limp in Aziraphale’s walk. Angels didn’t really get hurt and, if they did, they could heal themselves. If it was bad enough, they could go to one another for healing. No, there was no reason for Aziraphale to have a limp. And, every time Crowley thought he saw it in the next blink it would be gone.

In the days leading up to (what was to be) the failed end of the world, he thought he saw the limp with increasing frequency. Maybe it was stress on his own part: the ever-present worry that they wouldn’t be able to save the world, that they would be parted, that one of them (maybe both of them) would be destroyed... Really, there were a lot of stressors. Maybe he wanted to see something he could actually put his hands on as a problem. Or... maybe the strain was living in Aziraphale and he was having more difficulty hiding his physical ailment. Crowley couldn’t decide because, again, as soon as he would be sure there was something amiss he would take a breath to address it and then the evidence would be gone. They would be off chasing the doomed apocalypse or arguing over the merits of running away from it.

As they walked back to his flat after dining at the Ritz he noticed the limp again. Aziraphale was a couple steps ahead of him, talking about his favorite part of the meal and there it was: a slight lopsidedness to his gait. Crowley could kick himself. He was inside that corporation just hours ago. He could have checked for himself. But, he had been too busy trying to save Aziraphale’s whole self. It hadn’t occurred to him to give the angel a physical once-over. And, really, wouldn’t that be an invasion of privacy?

He caught up quickly enough, taking in the angel’s face and finding no distress there. He couldn’t just ask, could he? “Hey I’ve known you 6,000 years and I’m just now noticing that you limp on one leg... what’s that about, eh?” There was no decent way to ask. It might be something that Aziraphale didn’t want to discuss.

Only now they were at his door and he hadn’t heard much of anything Aziraphale had said the whole way here. He hardly remembered putting one foot in front of the other. He had just followed Aziraphale like a puppy, worrying and fretting and trying desperately to figure out how to bring this up. He wanted to know that Aziraphale was okay, that was all.

Yet, somehow, his mouth was running. Which, wasn’t really a good thing, since he wasn’t in complete control of it. It was meandering on about something. Ducks, it seemed, and methods to make them less buoyant. How had they gone from talking about dinner to discussing the buoyancy of water fowl?

Aziraphale was giving him the most peculiar look: head tilted and a soft smile on his face. It was only interrupted by the occasional glance at the door beside them. The door that was still closed. Because Crowley couldn’t stop talking about ducks while he thought about asking him why he limped.

And then Aziraphale’s warm, soft hand was on his cheek and his lips- somehow even warmer and more soft were on his own. Whatever Crowley had been about to add to the duck discussion (for the curious: he was about to propose the idea of finding something equally as buoyant as a duck and strapping the duck to the thing to see if the duck would spin perpetually in the pond) died on a gasp.

“Could we go inside?” Aziraphale’s face was still close to his, the soft smile from before tugging harder at the side of his mouth. Crowley nodded dumbly and snapped the lock open. “There we are.” Aziraphale had hooked his elbow in Crowley’s and was leading him inside.

Brain still stalled out completely from the kiss, Crowley stood in his own entryway while watching Aziraphale venture further into his flat. The sounds of a kettle being put on (did he even own a kettle?) and mugs being set out on the counter drifted his way from the kitchen.

Aziraphale had kissed him.

Aziraphale had kissed him as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Aziraphale had kissed him while he’d been having a serious thought. But, that thought was gone now. All that existed in Crowley’s head was the feel of Aziraphale’s lips on his own. The gentle breath that tripped over his chin as the angel had pulled away and smiled at him.

And Crowley hadn’t had a chance to respond to that kiss. He wandered into his own kitchen in a daze.

“I hope you don’t mind... I miracled over my own kettle and mugs. You really have nothing in here, Crowley,” Aziraphale tutted, “I figure... well, I figure I won’t be getting any more memos about frivolous miracles from upstairs. Not for a while, anyway.”

Crowley found himself standing directly behind Aziraphale now, close enough that he could feel the heat of him. When the angel turned he startled.

“Crowley!” a hand went to his chest, “I’m glad I wasn’t holding the mugs... what a mess! Really, though, if you’re going to have a kitchen you should at least make an attempt to stock it- mph!”

He hadn’t really given it a lot of thought. Really, no fretting at all had occurred. Aziraphale had kissed him in the hallway which meant that it was okay for Crowley to kiss him in the kitchen. a + b = b + a

Aziraphale’s hands wasted no time finding the waistband of Crowley’s too-tight jeans and untucking his shirt. Those hands that had been on his face mere minutes ago traced over his belly and then his sides on their way to his back where they clawed him closer with always-well-manicured, blunt nails. Crowley pressed him harder into the counter top, sucking his lower lip into his mouth and scraping his teeth over it. The angel made a sound deep in his chest, one of his hands dipping beneath Crowley’s waistband to grab a handful of Crowley’s ass.

Crowley broke the kiss off abruptly, leaning his forehead against Aziraphale’s and sucking in some deep breaths even as he rutted against him.

Suddenly, the kettle went off on the stove beside them, causing them to spring apart and spin wildly, looking for whatever danger had found them. They both looked from the still-whistling kettle to one another at the same time and laughed as the tension in the air eased. Aziraphale took the kettle off the heat and turned off the stove.

“Maybe we can have tea later.”

“Something you’d rather be doing right now, Angel?” Crowley would argue that his voice never “purred,” but he was perfectly aware that it just had. He took a step toward his bedroom and then looked back at Aziraphale in invitation.

“Tempting me, serpent?” Aziraphale reached out a hand and Crowley took it.

“As I recall, you kissed me first.” Crowley pulled him down the hall and into the bedroom, tugging him closer once they got there.

“Well, you would not stop talking and I’m afraid I p... I pani... cked.”

Crowley had leaned into his space, trailing his nose along the angel’s jaw in an almost nuzzle as he breathed him in.

“Perfectly good way to shut me up, Aziraphale, bravo.” And then Aziraphale was left with cold air in the space in front of him as Crowley knelt at his feet. “May I?” Crowley paused, hands over Aziraphale’s trouser fastenings.

Aziraphale nodded and was about to say more, but now his trousers were in a pile on the floor at his feet. Crowley suddenly remember what he had been pondering before they got to the door of his flat.

He found himself face to kneecaps with Aziraphale and got a partial answer: the knee to his right looked like any ordinary human knee. The one to the left, however gleamed a bright gold. The gold spread in patterns almost like spiderwebs- or sealed cracks- up into his thigh, disappearing under his pants, and down into his shin, leading to his sock. Crowley reached out a hand to touch, but thought better of it and glanced upwards for permission. Aziraphale didn’t so much look embarrassed or upset as he looked caught out and vaguely concerned.

“You can touch. You won’t hurt me, darling.”

Crowley looked back at the patterns before him, tracing the cool metal replacement kneecap downwards to where it mixed with warm flesh then back up again, following the same lines up Aziraphale’s thigh until his fingers stopped just under his pants. He felt Aziraphale shiver.

“I wanted to ask.”

“You knew?”

“Angel, there’s little about you that’s escaped me in 6,000 years,” Crowley leaned forward and kissed his golden knee, “I just wasn’t sure you’d want me to know.”

“I want you to know everything about me... but this, well...”

“Wouldn’t they heal it for you?” Crowley was proud of himself that his voice remained level. The idea that heaven would let Aziraphale suffer, even after what he’d seen of them when he wore Aziraphale’s body as a disguise... It made his blood boil. He could feel the yellow expanding in his eyes as he vied for some kind of control.

Aziraphale sat heavily on the bed behind him and Crowley immediately filled the space between his knees again, stroking his fingers along the newfound lines.

“I was afraid to ask them to. Afraid they would think less of me or cast me out for my weakness. It was all about casting out then, you know.”

“Yeah, I know... So you healed it yourself.”

“As best I could.”

“But it still hurts.”

“Aches sometimes. If I’ve been on my feet too long or if I’ve been back to Heaven. It’s so very cold there. It seeps in and lingers.” Seemingly without thought, Aziraphale flexed his leg under Crowley’s hands. “Not to mention they don’t seem to believe in chairs. What marvelous inventions, chairs.”

“You hid it from me. Why?”

“My dear serpent,” Aziraphale reached down and caressed the side of Crowley’s face, tilting it upwards so he could meet his eyes, “I didn’t want you to worry. You worry enough. There was nothing you could do.”

Crowley gazed up at him, rubbing his hand up and down Aziraphale’s shin and knee.

“I suppose not.”

“And I don’t want you worrying yourself about it now, either.”

“Okay.”

“No, I mean it. I’m not made of glass. You’re not going to hurt me.”

“I hear you.” Crowley walked his fingers around the back of his knee and found flesh there, making Aziraphale jerk and laugh. “Hmm, been hiding a ticklish spot, too, I see?” Crowley tickled the spot again and Aziraphale tried to pull away, but the demon had his ankle in a strong grip. He sprawled backwards, pulling at the bedspread trying to get away from the merciless fingers.

“Foul fiend!”

Crowley took the moment of distraction to divest him of his socks and shoes and finally completely remove his trousers. Then he released the angel’s ankle and climbed up the bed to face him. Aziraphale was doing the best he could between deep breaths to look put out, but the crinkles around his eyes gave away the smile he was hiding.

“I suppose I only have one more question, then,” Crowley drawled as he traced the edge of Aziraphale’s pants with his fingers, watching in satisfaction as shivers raced up the angel’s body.

“Only one? You? Surely not.”

Crowley traced him through his pants, just a barely-there touch.

“You got anything else that’s gilded?”

“I’ll gild you in a second if you don’t touch me properly!”

#aziraphale x crowley #crowley x arizaphale #ineffable husbands #good omens #good omens fic #star light-reads

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mancavecloset · 4 years ago

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The Waterpark, Part 2

Part 1

...

The four of us hadn’t been on the road more than an hour by the time I noticed Kyle and Josh had begun to read restaurant signs aloud as we passed them on the highway. The PB&J sandwiches, the chips, and the cookies were all ancient history by this point, and I got the sense that Kyle and Josh were itching to eat something else.

“I really want to make sure we have enough time in the park,” I said wearily, “But would y’all want to stop for… uh, well we already had breakfast, so… brunch?”

A chorus of “YES!” resounded from all angles of the car.

I rolled my eyes. I was used to putting a decent amount of food away during swim season, but these guys seemed to have hollow legs. I had been the least greedy when it came to the food, only eating a single PB&J, no chips, and just two cookies. Still, I wasn’t the least bit hungry, and frankly I was a bit surprised and turned on by the fact that it was only 10am and all of my friends were ravished despite sharing 11 sandwiches, 22 cookies, and a family size bag of chips between themselves.

“I do need to get gas soon,” I remarked. “Next exit with a gas station, we can stop for a quick bite.”

A few miles later, I pulled off and filled my tank. Josh graciously threw me some cash that covered about half of the gas money, and Kyle offered to cover my meal, with one caveat.

“… but dude, we have to go to Cracker Barrel,” Kyle remarked, pointing across the highway at its 50-foot tall sign.

“That’s not exactly fast,” I replied. But the quick reinforcement of support for the idea from Josh and Sam left me no choice.

“Fine,” I sighed, slightly annoyed that we would probably be pushing noon until we arrived at the waterpark. “Let’s make it quick though.”

---

We filed into the restaurant, Josh leading the way. I followed behind him, watching the ripples in his shoulders that jutted out from his tank top. My eyes wandered down to his muscular ass, which strained against his shorts. I slowed my pace, letting Sam also walk in front of me. Somehow, despite going to the gym far less frequently than Josh, and being a good 9” shorter than him, his ass looked even more impressive despite his baggy shorts, dancing as he walked like two tussling melons.

Kyle brought up the rear, and as he entered the dining area I once again caught his shirt riding up towards his bellybutton, showcasing his broadening stomach and wiggly love handles.

We sat down at the table and quickly looked at the menu. I wondered if I would get anything, but decided that since we were eating now, I might as well keep myself full so that we didn’t have to eat as soon as we got in the park.

I planned to order two eggs and some hashbrowns to go with my much-needed coffee, opting not to add any breakfast meats or toast, since I knew I’d never be able to finish them. My friends, however, seemed to have different plans.

“Dude I forgot how cheap the food is here!” Josh exclaimed excitedly.

“For real,” Sam chimed in.

Kyle, belly rolls resting inches from the edge of the table, nodded in agreement as he intently studied the menu. “Yeah, I can’t decide between the country boy platter or the pancake breakfast, so I might just get both since it’s so cheap. I can just heat up the leftovers tomorrow morning.”

I tried to mention that we had plenty of food packed and wasn’t sure there was a microwave, but Sam cut me off. “Oh shit, those both do look good. Smart.” I noticed him smirk just a tiny bit out of the corner of his mouth.

So Kyle ended up ordering two of the biggest meals that the restaurant had to offer, throwing in a side of bacon “for the table.” Josh ordered the country boy platter and also added a short stack of pancakes.

“I might as well carbo-load since we’re going to be running and hiking around the next two days, and I might sneak a workout in tonight anyways,” he reasoned.

We all rolled our eyes jokingly at him. So like Josh to bring up working out any chance he could. But Josh had a big appetite and fast metabolism, and he was probably right: the day at the waterpark combined with the hike we had planned tomorrow would probably erase a few thousand calories, not even accounting for this so-called “workout.”

Sam surprised me, also ordering the large, 1300-calorie platter. I figured he would have gone for something smaller since he had already had breakfast, two sandwiches, and a handful of cookies, but apparently he was also as ravenous as Josh and Kyle.

When I ordered my food, Kyle chided me. “Micah, just cause I’m paying for yours doesn’t mean you have to get the tiniest, cheapest thing on the menu.” He turned to the waitress, “He will also have a side of sausage.”

I lightly protested that I wasn’t hungry, but Kyle was having none of it.

“You came one slice short of beating Josh and I in the pizza eating contest at Cici’s, I know you’re hungrier than that.”

He was right about the contest, but he also failed to account that it had occurred in the winter, after an especially draining swim practice. Nevertheless, I didn’t want to make too big a show of not eating a lot, considering everyone else was pretty much pigging out.

I shrugged at the waitress and said, “I guess I’m having a side of sausage too.” I didn’t even bother asking her to hold the toast, figuring Kyle would badger me even further.

The meals came, and I nibbled on my hash browns and over medium eggs while taking in the sight of the three men across the table from me. They all attacked their food like it was the first thing they had eaten in 30 hours, when in reality it had been about 30 minutes.

Kyle’s two huge platters of food disappeared at a crazy rate. I noticed that as he ate through the pile of eggs, the mound of hash brown casserole, generous saucer of fried apples, slabs of country ham, two large golden biscuits topped with thick gravy, four pieces of toast, four thick dinner-plate size pancakes, and laughably small fruit cup, his stomach inched ever closer to the edge of the table. The plate of bacon, supposedly for said table, ended up consumed solely by Kyle as well. During it all, I watched his jiggly rolls dance under his shirt climb higher and closer as he shoveled forkful after forkful. As he neared empty-plate status, his shirt painted itself against the top arc of his belly, forming creases where his expanding belly rolls hugged against each other.

He started to slow down with about a third of the second platter remaining. By then, Josh had finished his food and patted his now slightly-distended abs in satisfaction. Sam seemed to have finished too, sipping intently on his coffee as he watched Kyle try to finish his immense meal. We all cheered him on, and when I mentioned that I wasn’t sure that the cabin had a microwave, it provided the fire he needed to power through the final remnants of the plate.

As he sat back in his chair, his jelly rolls morphed into a round arc, poking hilariously far out underneath his meaty moob-pecs and rounding down towards his straining belt. He reached down and loosened the belt a notch, leaving his pants button undone, which just gave his gut more room to expand outwards. He looked proud and stuffed.

“Fuck,” he said. “That was really good. Thank God I’m bulking.” He chuckled lightly. “Josh, I want to make sure I put this to good use, so maybe I’ll join you for that workout tonight.”

Josh nodded in agreement. Kyle stood up to go take a leak, and he had to brace himself on the table to do so. As he leaned forward, the gut rocked back and forth in his shirt like a cannonball on a sling. As he stood straight, it was clear just one belt notch looser was probably a temporary fix, as his belly poked out from below his shirt and formed a dramatic muffin top. His spare tire wrapped from one love handle to the other, hanging lowest in the center of his belly and covering about half of his belt buckle. The overhang was slight but undeniable, and made my cock leap in my underwear. As Kyle walked away toward the bathroom, his noticeably wider ass strained against the fabric of his incredibly tight olive khaki shorts.

Sam turned to me. “Micah, you really only halfway done? Wasn’t it you who wanted to get out of here quick?”

“I really wasn’t all that hungry.”

“Dude, if you never bulk, you’ll always be Lank,” Josh chimed in. Normally, the teasing remark would have bothered me enough to chow down more, but I was full.

“That may have worked in getting me to suffocate on pizza at Cicis, but I truly cannot eat more,” I said back. “I don’t know, I guess I don’t really get hungry while driving.” Or I’m not a huge human who lives in the gym and needs 8,000 calories a day to get ripped, I thought to myself.

“Not me,” Sam said, “I always get hungry on car rides.” He surprised me and asked if he could have the rest. “You know, since there might not be microwaves?”

“Go for it man,” I said, somewhat surprised, and pushed him my plate.

“Look at Sam-boy over here with the studly appetite. You’ve bulked up, haven’t you?” Josh goaded, reaching over and squeezing Sam’s bicep and shoulder.

“Yeah man, YogaFit has been really hitting the strength training stuff this summer and I mean, I guess I’m filling out finally,” Sam said confidently. The affirmation from his much-taller, muscular friend clearly boosting confidence.

“Better watch out, M, you’re going to be the only one of us that isn’t stacked soon,” Josh said, turning to me with a playful double-eyebrow raise.

I tried to hide how much the comment hurt. It sucked to see Josh slip back into his douchier self, but with Kyle in the bathroom, maybe he felt insecure. He knew Sam and I had grown closer this summer and that he and I had barely spoken. Without Kyle, we has kind of the odd man out. So I laughed it off.

Besides, I was still very aroused and very intrigued by how much Sam had been eating thus far. I began to notice how much he was filling out in the chest and shoulders. His biceps definitely did look more prominent, and even the muscles in his neck gave his once-boyish features a more manly look. Josh may have had a point about Sam getting bigger. Despite being a solid 6” taller than him and historically, about 30-35 lbs heavier, I surmised that with Sams newfound “man-body,” I probably only had about 15 lbs on him anymore. My eyes traveled down to a little belly poking against the fabric of his snug white shirt. Maybe only 10, I thought, cock stirring once more.

Still, the extra heft was probably a welcome sight for the slight-framed Sam. He had always had boyish facial features and had never really been able to put on weight, so filling out probably correlated with looking more grown-up. Regardless, he definitely had the start of a little belly on top of the new muscle, and I was interested in it.

Sam scooped up the last of my egg and sausage with a piece of my toast, and patted his tummy after his final bite. I made sure to walk behind him as I tried to determine if his recent ‘gains’ extended to his ass, but the baggy shorts made it tough to really gauge.

We cashed out and piled back into the car. A few miles into the drive, I checked my phone’s GPS.

“Good news – we’re just over a half-hour away!” I chirped excitedly. “We will be on a waterslide by noon!”

“Are we going to stop by the cabin first to drop the coolers off and change?” Kyle asked.

“Well check in isn’t until 4, and the coolers have plenty of ice, so we can just go straight into the park and then take a break when its time for check-in,” I answered. “And they have changing rooms in the park.”

“Oh ok sweet,” Kyle replied, going back to whatever game he was playing on his phone.

As I tapped my fingers to the beat of the alternative music playing loudly in the car, the circumstances of what I just told Kyle began to sink in. The first thing we’d be doing in the waterpark would be changing into our swim trunks. In the same room. The thought of the four of us naked together teased my dick into attention yet again. I was equally nervous and excited at the possibility of catching a glimpse of any of my friends in the changing room, especially after all the weight they each seemed to amass that summer.

At 11:30, we pulled out of dense forested road and into view of the waterpark’s entrance gates. Behind them, colorful waterslides covered the front side of the slope of a mountain, woven between bare spots of land – presumably ski paths for the winter months. We had arrived.

“Lets get wet boys!” Sam hollered from the back seat. We all let out a whoop in response and piled out of the car. We gathered our drawstring bags and marched through the parking lot, up to the park’s gates.

___

Because it was a weekday, the crowd was light, which was awesome because it meant no long waits for any of the slides. It was also awesome, because when we got into the changing area, we were the only four people in the entire room.

Josh led the pack into the room and turned right, into a row of benches and lockers that dead-ended about 20 feet in. Kyle and then Sam followed suit, which left me on the end of the row. Everyone kind of stared straight ahead into their lockers as we started to open our drawstring bags and pull out our swimsuits and towels. Out of the corner of my eye, I waited for someone to start changing, but realized I was the first. As I slid off my shorts and balled them up to throw into my bag, Josh spoke up.

“Woah guys, look at this!”

Everyone turned to see what Josh was talking about. There he stood, facing us, athletic shorts pulled halfway down his thighs. He was still wearing his Under Armour boxer briefs, but the fly was gaped open. His cock hung soft and thick through the fly, and flopped five or six inches below the opening to meet the waistband of his mid-thigh athletic shorts. Even soft, it was a big penis… borderline huge. It had definitely gotten bigger since the last time I’d seen it. Three years ago, Paisley had talked about it being north of seven inches hard, and that was back when his soft cock was smaller than I was seeing in front of me now. Hell, it was most of the way to seven inches even in its flaccid state. His expression turned upwards into an evil grin as he rocked his hips side to side, sending his dick flying around like an elephant trunk.

“Nice,” Sam deadpanned sarcastically, turning back to his locker. Kyle chuckled and then did the same.

I, on the other hand, found myself staring at the pendulous swing of Josh’s impressive cock for a second too long. A large central vein ran down the thick, smooth shaft, and his bulbous mushroom head hung low, flopping against the fabric of his athletic shorts.

When my gaze shifted upwards, I caught Josh’s eyes fixed back on mine. Still smirking, he bounced his eyebrows upward at me. Trying not to look guilty, I puffed air out my nose and rolled my eyes at him before turning back towards my locker. I tried to will my cock soft as I slipped off my underwear, settling for a half-chub that wasn’t entirely obvious. I quickly wriggled into my tangerine-colored swim trunks, not daring to steal more glances to my right. I was terrified of getting caught looking again.

As I slid my shorts and underwear into my bag, I heard Kyle making annoyed huffs and grunts to my right. Sam, who was midway through pulling off his athletic shorts, turned at the same time I did to ask what was wrong.

“These… fucking… shorts…” Kyle grumbled, trying to force the Velcro of his swim trunks to meet under his overhanging belly, which poked out from underneath his hiked-up shirt. The shirt was pulled up, perhaps for Kyle to see his shorts, a few inches above his belly button, where the round arc of his belly started to curve back towards his pecs. “… they must have shrunk when my mom washed them.”

“I don’t thi…” I started, but Josh cut me off.

“It’s all the GAINS man! Your glutes, your core, your lower back. Everything’s thicker now, man. Here, inhale your chest,” he said as he grabbed the two ends of waistband that constituted Kyle’s maroon floral swim trunks. The two Velcro strips were about 6 inches apart from each other, but they might as well have been a mile because there was no way they’d ever meet under current circumstances: separated by a long berth of overhanging gut. Still, Kyle did as he was told as Josh, now in just his boxer briefs and tank top, spun Kyle towards himself and tried to yank the two pieces of fabric together, chiseled arms rippling with exertion.

Kyle’s backside faced towards Sam and I as Josh tried to will the Velcro strips to meet below Kyle’s belly. What we saw was a good two or three inches of pure love handle spilling over the waistband of Kyle’s swim trunks, in every direction. Below the love handles sprouted a wide, jiggly butt that strained against the seams of the two-year-old swim trunks. Even Kyle’s meaty thighs filled out the pant holes nearly the whole way, where they finally opened up above his knees.

“Got it!” Josh exclaimed, pressing the two ends of the fly into eachother as Kyle still strained to suck in his gut. I was impressed that he managed to get it fastened at all, but his unlikely victory was quickly nullified as Kyle exhaled. The shorts flung back apart with a loud brrrrap, and Kyle’s exhaled gut crashed back down, splitting the Velcro fly once more.

“Fuck,” Kyle said.

“I have an idea,” Sam interjected, thrusting his loose athletic shorts to the ground and kicking them into his locker. This left just his powder blue Calvin boxers, and his bubbly ass jutted out from underneath their waistband, further than I’d ever seen.

I didn’t get to look long though, because Sam jumped over the bench and next to Josh. “You pull, I’ll tie,” Sam directed Josh. As Josh strained to pull Kyle’s shorts back together, Sam grabbed the laces, yanking them towards each other and weaving them across the other, before pulling the strings tight enough for Josh to marry up the Velcro. Sam double-knotted the laces and clapped one of Kyle’s love handles. “There ya go bud.”

The result was almost comical. Kyle’s swim trunks, which he had bought the summer after sophomore year when he weighed a trimmer 190 lbs, encased his lower body like a sausage. There wasn’t a free centimeter of space anywhere in the shorts. In the front, his exhalation lowered his overhanging gut to cover the entirety of the swim trunk’s laces. His meaty thighs pushed against every seam. Even his junk had no room; you could see his package pressed against the crotch of the floral trunks in a tennis-ball shaped arc. Kyle grumbled and turned around to put his remaining clothes in his locker, removing his shirt the rest of the way. The effects of the three-man effort to tie his swimsuit showed from behind as well, his love handles spilling comically far over the sides of his waist like a soft-serve ice cream cone. His globulous butt strained against the fabric holding it in - it looked like the seams were even starting to pull apart slightly where his fat, bubble ass mounded to its furthest arc. “I don’t know if I can go all day in these and still breathe… I guess they do sell swim trunks here,” he sighed, turning back around.

I sensed the slightest bit of shame in Kyle’s voice, almost as if he had begun to admit to himself that maybe his recent “bulk” had gotten a bit out of control. And a bit out of control was an understatement. Without his shirt on, Kyle’s fatty pecs rounded into muscular, fleshy tits, framed by a moderate smattering of light-brown chest hairs that thinned out as it traveled in a faint happy trail over his plump, fleshy belly. The “dad-bod” as we call it today was in full view, and he stood sturdier and much fatter than he had ever had before.

Josh seemed to have picked up on Kyle’s newfound shame as well. He reassured Kyle: “Dude, you’ve had those shorts since you were barely 16. You're a man now,” punching him playfully in the side. “You absolutely should get a new swimsuit that you haven’t had since you were just a kid. Man bodies aren’t built like boy’s bodies,” he said. Though Josh’s back was still turned to me, I was almost certain he darted his head in my direction as he said “boy’s bodies,” as I watched Kyle’s eyes briefly flick to my shirtless abdomen and back at Josh.

The validation from Josh (perhaps combined with seeing my “lanky” body) seemed to make him snap out of it, smiling sheepishly at first, but then proudly. “You’re right... and it’s bulking season anyways! Might as well have a proper swimsuit for it.” His stomach, looking massive above the suit’s skin-crushing tightness, jiggled in a downward arc towards his thighs as he swung his drawstring bag onto his now-bare back. “I’m gonna get us a spot along the deck chairs” he said, walking out of the locker room. He passed an incoming kid, skinny as a rail, who did a double-take at Kyle as he passed by, his big stomach swaying with each step at the kid’s eye level.

As I began to apply sunscreen, I turned my attention to Josh as he lowered his boxer briefs, big dick flopping out as he bent over to step out of them. I forced myself to steal only the quickest glances so as not to get caught staring, and it was all over too soon as Josh quickly yanked his blue and red-striped polo trunks up to his waist and stuffed his egg-sized balls and bratwurst-sized flaccid cock into the netting.

Sam, directly to the right of me, had been changing as well, quickly swapping his boxers for his trunks. I saw some bare skin out of the corner of my eye, but was too scared to fully turn my head as he was directly next to me. Sam wiggled his hips as he pulled the shorts up, and I realized he was struggling to pull the waistband up and over his bubble butt. This made me lust once again, thinking about the two bubble-cheeks exposed a few mere feet to my 4 oclock. Sam eventually got the shorts over his ass, but was now having some issues bringing the button of his pants together as well. Not nearly as dire a situation as Kyle’s trunks, but I stole a longer glance as he inhaled slightly and buttoned the trunks before exhaling his tummy, the slightest spare tire pressing into the waistband. They were snug alright, but as he turned around to leave, it was even clearer why Sam had struggled so much more to pull them on. His narrow waist curved nearly 90 degrees below the trunks’ waistband, jutting out to a proportionally enormous bubble ass. It pulled dramatically at the seat of his pastel-blue Nautica trunks as he walked out of the locker room. So much so, that the leg holes, which fell right above his knees last year, now ended much higher, at his mid-thigh. His ass swallowed the seam of the seat of his trunks, disappearing as his cantaloupe-shaped cheeks rubbed the material inward as he walked out of the locker room. I had to will my plumped dick from growing any further in my swimsuit as I dumped my sunscreen bottle into my drawstring and began to lock my locker.

Josh had apparently seen Sam struggle to get his suit on as well, because as Sam walked out of the locker room, Josh finished locking his locker, and turned to me. “Looks like you’re the only one that still actually fits in your suit, Lank,” he chuckled friendlily, pulling off his tank overhead by the back collar with rippling arms. His shirtlessness revealed two defined, bulging pecs, with perfect nickel-sized magenta nipples that sat atop an upside-down triangle of bulging traps, abs and obliques. His muscles were covered by the slightest layer of fat that only enhanced their size, creating a smooth silhouette like a marble statue. Deep “v” lines ran along the bottom of his six pack and pointed towards where his muscled torso met his polo swim trunks. The trunks were snug along his waist, and got even more snug on his upper legs, large quads and thighs filling out the upper part of the pantlegs. As a result, his package had nowhere to go but forward. If Kyle’s package created a tennis-ball shaped bulge, Josh’s girthy dick and huge balls formed a softball pressed up against the lower crotch of his trunks. He playfully turned his hips 180 to show his well-muscled ass straining against the swimsuit’s fabric, and I could see the outline of Josh’s sizable glutes.

“I guess you’re right” I half-smiled. “You and Kyle are both going to have to buy new suits I guess. For your... “man bodies,”” I air-quoted.

“Kyle needs a new suit so he can keep gorging himself without tearing through his pants,” Josh responded with a surprising glib acidity. “My man-body,” he said more playfully, melodramatically running his hands from his pecs to his abs to his hips, “looks pretty great in this tight suit, don’t you agree?” His facial expression changed from playful back to serious as his eyes met mine with surprising fire. As he finished the question, one of his hands moved from his hip to his immense package, giving it a light squeeze. I held his gaze, not really knowing what to say, focusing mostly on keeping my cock from getting any more chubbed than it already was. Perhaps three or four seconds passed, which felt like eternity due to the silence and unbroken eye contact, before Josh lowered his gaze, cracked a cheesy smile and clapped me on the back. “Let’s get out there and ride some water slides, Micah.”

I did my best to mirror his snap out of the awkward interaction. I smiled a half-sheepish, half relieved grin, and cheered, “finally! Let’s go!”

I followed him out of the locker room, shaking off the strange encounter and slipping my shades on. I smiled, knowing the day was young and I was about to spend the rest of it with my three shirtless friends in the hot sun and refreshing water.

...

part 3 to come.

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