#and dog park on weekends for an hour or two

[emoisthenewemu]

Homie Hopper! Pt 3 FINAL!

College MHA boys x f! reader!

Summary: After making your way through the hottest friend group you know, the boys can't help but wonder--who's your favorite?

Cw: SMUTTT!, threesome, lots of different kinks n stuff, sub! Denki, name calling, p in v, reader has female anatomy, reader essentially gets passed around

Smut Series! Pt 1 Here Pt 2 here

As senior year comes to an end, you reminisce on all the times you had (good and bad). After all the hours of tears and dedication, all the times you swore you would quit and never come back-you are grateful for two things. Finishing college to become the boss babe you truly are AND the plethora of hookups with the hottest sweetest friendgroup you had ever met. You took a break on all of that, after a while it got to be too much. You realized just how much these men were taking up the time in your life so you swore off of sex completely. You got what you wanted, now it was time to give all that time back to you. Focus on yourself and the things that really matter. It's funny how once you stop fucking them it only made them crave you more.

Katsuki 'The Shit Talker' Bakugo & Ejirou 'The Big Boy' Kirishima....ft 'The Eifel Tower'!

-Katsuki Bakugo is the first to break. After a wall of 'you up?' messages he decides to just say fuck it and stop you in the hallway of your apartment building.

"Y'break your phone or something?" He catches you about to take the elevator one day, side eyeing the hell out of you.

"No. It works" You shrug, giggling at how pissed off he looks. You didn't think he would care that much. It's not like you two were ever serious or anything.

"So why the hell don't you answer my texts?"

"Cause I'm not hooking up with anyone right now" You shrug.

He clicks his tongue, very obviously annoyed. "That all I am to you? Just some dick?"

You cannot help but laugh. So pouty, kind of makes you want to fuck him. But no! You are not doing that stuff anymore. "Bakugo you only ever text me at like 2 in the morning! Be for real!"

"Whatever, brat" The elevator dings, your cue to go. He watches you walk through the doors, hands stuffed in his pockets. "Answer your damn phone!"

- The next time you see him is because you called Kirishima-not him. Much to Katsuki's dismay. It pisses him off but no worries, he'll just go and lend a helping hand with bringing up all your groceries. Ejirou has no time to even protest, seeing as his roommate was already putting his shoes on, ready to go. There goes Kiri's plans for the night. Looks like he won't be getting you all to himself.

Although, he never minded sharing.

So as the boys load your stuff up you give a grateful smile, purposely squeezing Katsuki's bicep teasingly because you just know he is pissed that you reached out to his red haired roommate for help rather than him. Sometimes you can't just help but tease him. It's all in good fun, you swear!

They look around and question where the hell your roommates who never seem to be home are, you tell them they are with their boyfriends for the weekend. Leaving poor little you all alone. They share a knowing look, could you have planned this? Was the whole 'im not having sex' act a lie and you are just trying to play coy? If so, you are a genius.

The funniest part is you really are not trying to entice them. You just did not want to have to make multiple trips up and down the stairs. You did not even think Katsuki was home, having spotted Ejirou's car in the parking lot. They think you are an evil mastermind when all reality is you were just trying to do your own thing tonight.

Or maybe they are giving you exactly what you know you want, deep down. You don't protest when they ask if they can stay and 'hang around' for a little while. You are not dumb enough to dismiss the way they check you out as you put away groceries. Like two dogs with treats being dangled in their face, their heads go back and forth to follow your every movement.

You sit in between them on the rather small couch, looking for something to watch as you try to ignore the tension that fills the room. Ejirou's arm rests comfortably behind you, Katsuki places a hand on your thigh. It's starting to feel like you're in some shitty porno.

You look at Kirishima. "Hey pretty girl" He chuckles, very aware of the situation which sits before him. You say the word, and he will be more than ready to make you see stars.

Turning back to Bakugo, you shake your head. "You done pouting?" You tease, running a nail down his clenched jaw. You go down to squeeze his hand which slowly inched up more and more, pressing your thighs together.

Shit. This is exactly why you'd been avoiding them completely. You knew if you got stuck in a room with any of the boys too long you'd go and do something you would regret. But it doesn't have to be so bad, they can keep a secret, you hope so at least.

"You promise you're not gonna tell anyone right?" You question, looking between the two men you want to climb. You swear they've gotten bigger since the last time you hooked up with them. "Cause' I seriously swore I wasn't gonna be doing this"

"Not gonna tell anyone princess" Bakugo reassures squeezing the fat of your thigh which sits dangerously close to the spot he has only fantasized about for these past few months.

"Yeah, I can keep a secret" Kirishima kisses your shoulder softly, tongue gently grazing the skin. Him you believe, you know sweet Eji is to be trusted. He's so patient with you, it's something you definitely missed.

Who could blame you for the downright wicked smile on your face as the two burly men begin to feel you up. Katsuki's hands immediately rubbing you through your shorts as Ejirou's find your tits. The blonde's rough, toothy kisses down your neck prove to be the complete opposite of the redhead's sweet sensual nips and sucks that make your eyes roll back. You let out soft moans, so drowned in attention that you have no idea which way to look first.

Although of course Bakugo is being selfish, grabbing your jaw and pulling you close to bring you in for a filthy kiss. Tongue battling yours as he groans for every little whimper you let out. He brings one of your hands to his throbbing erection. Painfully being contained by his shorts. He practically growls when you give a light squeeze. Then he pulls you away from his lips, turning your head back to big, beefy Kiri who even just the sight of can always make you feel some things. He's just so yummy in every way imaginable.

"Don't be mean baby, give Eji a kiss" Katsuki tuts, forcing you to kiss the other man who gleefully accepts. His kiss is just as passionate, as if he had been waiting months for it. Sucking and tugging at your bottom lip, tongue invading your mouth. "Touch him too" You almost forget about the hand teasing Katsuki through his shorts until the reminder to give his best friend that same love. Your free hand goes to grab his rock-hard length, he moans at the contact.

-Something about the way you switch off between them has the men going, taking turns in kissing you so impatiently. Every time your head goes back you are attacked by either set of lips, crying out at the wetness soaking through your panties. Your lips grow plump, saliva messily splayed about as you cannot decipher one from the other. All you can do is moan as Katsuki guides your head back to him, hissing as he kisses you like his life depends on it. You would whine once he pulls away if not for your face being shoved back to Ejirou who whimpers every time your lips meet. It is clear they are enjoying this dirty three way make out session just as much as you are. Although you'd like to take it a step further.

"Mm" You whine into Eji's mouth.

Receptive as ever, he pulls away. "What's wrong sweet girl?"

"Wanna kiss both of you" You pout, pecking his lips enticingly. "At the same time"

The men share a look. One of trust and understanding, I mean it isn't anything short of the shit they've done before. They get each other, no need to make it weird or uncomfortable. Besides, you're the one who begged them to keep this a secret so it's not like they have to worry about anyone finding out. Kirishima is the first to lean in, followed by Bakugo who only hesitates for a second until he feels both of your hot tongues flush against his. A groan comes from deep in his chest, maybe kissing your homie isn't so bad.

Both hands occupied with the two biggest dicks you've ever seen, life is good, you think. And things are about to get a whole lot better.

- It'll be hard to pretend you weren't arched over for Bakugo, hands on your hips as he pistons his hip into you. The angle, the curve of himself deep inside is enough to make you cry, like actually cry.

Or maybe it's Kirishima's big dick that can hardly fit in your mouth that's making you tear up. Every moan is choked out by his cock, he grabs your hair with one of his hands and moves you up and down, going along with the pace Katsuki has set.

- "Nasty fucking slut, huh?" Bakugo slaps your ass, you squeal around Kirishima.

Drool pools out of either side of your mouth, hefty balls smacking your chin with each thrust. Ejirou's stomach muscles tense up as he looks down at your absolutely ruined face. Shit, he's never seen a girl so fucked out before. You probably can't even talk. "Such a pretty girl" Kirishima gently caresses the hair out of your face, his soft touch the complete opposite of the pounding you receiving and the way he shoves his cock down your throat. "Pretty little mouth"

You pull off for only a second, gasping for air as the large man squeezes your cheeks. "Feel good baby?" Kirishima asks.

You cannot even provide an answer, gasping when Bakugo decides to grab you by both of your wrists and pin them behind your back. Had it not been for Kirishima, who cups your head in his hands so lovingly you would be falling face first into the cushion.

"He asked you somethin'" Katsuki warns and you whine, Kiri places a messy kiss on your lips.

"Mmm mm" You're a blubbering mess but the sweet look in Kiri's eye makes you want to speak. "Feels so good"

"Ohh yeahh sweet thing look how good you are for us" Kirishima coos, kissing you again.

- When it's Kirishima's turn to have you he slips in with ease, groaning loudly at the feeling of your slippery walls welcoming him. "So wet" He all but gasps as he bottoms out. "Bakugo got you all nice n' ready for me, huh?"

Again, you would answer if not for Katuski tugging your face down to suck him off. "Yeahh stretched her out real good for ya" He relaxes back into the couch, head lulling back to just breathe. Take full advantage of the way you guzzle him up, toes curling as he tries not to moan aloud when you begin to swirl your tongue around his tip. "Been waiting for this haven't you?"

He pulls you off of him, lips swollen, you squeeze your eyes shut as Kirishima begins to snap his hips into yours. Your walls being molded by the giant thing in between his legs. "Y-yes" You mutter but it's still not enough for Katsuki.

"You like when we treat you like this don't ya' crybaby? Just a pretty little toy for us to play with" You whine, squeezing your thighs together as his filthy words send waves throughout your body.

"Oh shittt, gonna cum" You warn and Bakugo laughs right in your face.

"Again? Kiri's dick that good?" He's teasing, pressing his face close enough that you can feel his breath but not enough to place a kiss on his lips like you so desperately crave. "Or you just like when I talk to you like a little slut?"

You try and grab one of Kirishima's hands that keep you in place, suddenly it's all getting to be too much for you. Attempting to move your hips up and away from him, he follows you instead, arching your back even further and begging to pound into you at a new angle. "Awww don't run from it. Eji just wants to make you feel good princess. Yer bein' rude" Katsuki tuts.

"No no" You shake your head that is currently being smushed into the armrest of the couch. Your tits pressed into Bakugo's lap as he watches you lose all sense of control in your body with an evil smile. "M'sorry Kiri. Ts' too much. So so big! Fuck!"

Maybe he should have fucked you first, you forgot about the absolute monster he was packing down there. Katsuki hooks his thumb into your mouth, looking up at Ejirou with wide eyes. They should have done this a long time ago. "You think she's done?"

Kirishima shakes his head, wiping his mouth as he realizes be is drooling as his pace does not falter. He can't find it in himself to stop, not with the way your pussy is choking him, not as he listens to your sinful moans. And especially not when his fat tip reached that squishy part deep inside that makes his whole body twitch. "She can take it" Kiri assures, one of his legs slides down to provide more support. Resting more of his weight on it he raises your hips slightly before slamming back into you. "M'nowhere near done with her"

Bakugo laughs, pressing his thumb down flat on your tongue that sticks out. "Hear that crybaby? Gonna be a longg night"

- It's safe to say that it took two days afterwards to be able to walk normally again.

And they keep their mouths shut, only share a knowing look later that week when Kaminari asks if anyone has heard from you.

"Nope" They say in unison, almost a bit too rehearsed. Sero and Kaminari ignore the sly smirks on either of their friend's faces. A plan of their own is in the works.

Hanta 'The One Who Talks You Through It' Sero....ft 'Reverse Cowgirl'!

-Hanta Sero has noticed the way you avoid him around campus these days. You even stopped responding to his lovely text messages that use to make your day. He asks his friends about it and Bakugo mentions something about you 'taking a break from hookups'.

No, this can't be. Not his favorite fuckbuddy! Something has to he done.

- He is patient with it, gives you all of about five days for your vow of celibacy before making a move. He invites you out to eat one night after class. You decline at first but he swears he won't try anything.

-So how the hell did you end up in his bed, Sero's tongue shoved down your throat as his experienced fingers play with your sopping pussy? The world may never know.

"Arghh" He groans into your mouth as he slips two fingers in, immediately setting an unforgiving pace—your juices splattering about. On this thighs, his abdomen. It drives him crazy. "Always so fucking wet for me"

You moan into his mouth, unable to form a coherent sentence.

"What happened to not fucking mamas?" He laughs right in your face, biting your bottom lip as he curls his fingers skillfully. By now, he knows all the right places to touch—a self proclaimed expert in all things involving your sweet little cunt. "You that easy to convince?"

"S-stop!" You choke out, trying to slap his hand away but he won't let you, of course not.

"Awww what's wrong? Am I embarrassing you?" He chuckles again, bringing his thumb up to press flat down on your clit. Your hips involuntarily buckle as a reaction, you start to slowly move them up and down—chasing that feeling.

Face hidden, you nod, but of course he brings your right back where you belong. Looking straight at him, swollen lips stuck in a pout as he toys with that squishy spot deep inside with his fingers. "Hanta! Fuckk!" You whine, shaking your head. Your legs twitch, hips try to run away but he follows you—not letting up.

"My pretty girl....you gonna squirt for me again? All over my fingers?" He leans in to speak into your ear, ignoring the burn in his forearms as he continues the impossibly fast pace. "Answer me"

You gasp as the knot in your stomach begins to unravel slowly. "Yes baby! M'gonna make a mess" You shake your head furiously.

He grins. He won. His other friends think you're off limits right now but here he kneels before you, fingers lost in your cunt as you whine and squeal for him. "And since daddy made you feel sooo good you gonna ride me after?" He coos. Fuck, you didn't even know he had a daddy kink before this, which is surprising given the amount of times the two of you have fucked.

"Yes daddy!" You squeal, finally coming undone.

He moans as you gush over his fingers, immediately going in for a kiss—not even caring that you are far too overstimulated in the moment to kiss back. There's just something about feeling you clamp down on his fingers, squirting all over them that he loves. He thinks it may be his favorite thing in the world. "Ahhh good girl. Let it alll out"

-You have no idea how you even have the willpower to ride him afterwards but you make do. One of his hands rests on your hip, the other gathers your hair into a ponytail.

And you ride, hips moving rhythmically up and down as the hand on your hip guides you. He watches your every movement, mouth agape as he cannot settle on where to look; your sexy back arched so pretty for him, your sweet face that looks back at him every now and then to make sure you're doing a good job, or your perfectly round ass which jiggles every time the two of your hips meet.

Safe to say his eyes are glued to your ass, he brings the hand on your hip to squeeze the flesh. He spanks you, uttering words of encouragement although the slaps are harsh—almost as if they were a punishment. Maybe they are.

"Look at your ridin' this fucking dick. So slutty baby my goddd" He is practically drooling at your figure, thrusting up every time you bottom out. And it makes you squeal every time. He gets so deep when he does that it almost hurts, tip pressing against your cervix in a way that feels bruising. He slaps! your ass again, hard and no mercy as the skin begins to turn red. It makes tears prick at your eyes. "Yeah thats what you fuckin get not answering my texts. Think you're too good for me?"

"N-no! Never" You shake your head, you swear. It's nothing personal, although all the boys seem to be taking it as so. "Was j-just taking a break" You stifle a sob, your legs are so tired. They ache, your ass stings, neck sore with the way it is unnaturally bent due to his harsh grip on your hair. His long curved dick hits deep inside, so deep that on some thrusts you feel as of you might faint. But you push through, every ounce of willpower in you at the ready because for some reason you cannot stand the thought of stopping now.

"Doesn't look like you're takin' a break right now" He chuckles, thumb going to swirl around your rim. “Goin’ dumb on this dick”

“Mmh mhh!” You whine, trying to reach back and stop his hand which pokes at your other hole.

- Soon he has your back pressed flush against his chest, sitting on top of him as his shallowly thrusts into you. You roll your hips back, tongues dancing together as one of his arms is wrapped around your throat keeping you in place.

He’s going to cum soon, you can tell by the way he moans loudly, legs twitching. He shakes his head side to side almost like he is in disbelief. “Oh shitohshitt pussy’s so good” He babbles, stupidly. It makes you smile.

“Cum for me baby” You plead, nails scratching against the stubble on his chin. “Be good for me, yeah? Gonna keep this a secret?”

Perhaps it was a bit messed up to wait until he was totally fucked out to promise he wouldn’t tell anyone. You knew you’d have to make it into a fun, sexy game of sorts if you wanted any chance of him shutting up. He’s a loudmouth, especially with Kaminari—you’re well aware they have no secrets between the two of them.

However, Hanta nods, toes curling as he reaches his peak. “Fuck! I promise mamas” And he kisses you again, passionate and sloppy as he shoots ropes into the condom. “I promise!”

Denki ‘The Munch’ Kaminari…..ft. ‘Facesitting’!

- Denki Kaminari, who is easily your closest friend out of the bunch. The two of you decided to meet up after the last day of classes to smoke and take a walk together. Like old times, when you would argue with your ex and turn your phone on airplane mode so he couldn’t track your location as you shared all of your life’s problems with a guy he most definitely hated. Those were such simpler times. -no amount of sex could ever ruin it.

“Holy fuck I’ve never been so stressed. My hair was starting to fall out” You huff, rubbing the bald spots you swear have formed. “I hope I passed”

“Course ya’ did” He passes the joint that is practically falling apart to you. Rolling was never his strong point. But the two of you deserve it after all that hard work. “I feel good right now” The blonde hums to himself amusedly, eyes low and crinkled due to the smile on his face.

“I’m trying to get like you” You muse, taking a longer puff than usual. “Y’look so peaceful”

“Bet I can make you feel even better” His fingers graze yours lightly as you pass the joint back.

“Oh no Denki! I already told you! I’m not doing that shit!”

“You really gonna make me beg for it?” He pouts, now that he knows you’re into all that submissive shit he uses it to his advantage. Like the little deviant he is, using your own weaknesses against you. Reaching the corner around your apartment he backs you up against the wall.

It is by your own volition of course, you could easily just walk away if you wanted to but if this whole situation has taught you anything it is that you are weak willed.

“Cause you know I will yn” He laughs, although both of you know he is not joking. You giggle, placing a hand on his shoulder, pulling him close but not enough to touch you. His hot breath hovers against yours and you take a hit, squishing either side of his cheeks to get him to open up his mouth a bit. Throwing the shitty joint to the ground, he wastes no time stepping on it, leaning into your touch. Slowly, you let the smoke out into his mouth.

Denki’s cock twitches to life beneath his jeans as he takes the hit directly from you-fighting the urge to whine aloud. Holding it in, he rests against the nape of your neck-softly tracing a line with his tongue. “C’mon baby….wanna be a good boy for you”

Shit. How are you ever supposed to say no to that?

“Wait!” You are snapped completely out of it, cheeks warming up. “I haven’t shaved!”

Denki laughs as if you just said the funniest thing he has ever heard. “I don’t care about that shit!”

- “Ohh Denki” You whimper, biting your bottom lip hard enough to draw a bit of blood. “Fuckk Denki!��

Denki Kaminari smiles into your pussy. Your sweet moans of his name is all he needs to hear. He swears he can cum in his pants just by doing this but he’s not that pathetic-he swears. Although it may be hard to tell with the way his tongue flickers against your swollen clit. Going fast, then slow-pressing flat down, sucking. Shaking his head side to side as you rub against his needy face.

Hooking his arms around your hips, he pulls even more of your weight down on him. He wants to be smothered in you. He fucks you with his tongue, moaning unashamedly into you. The vibrations ripple all throughout your body, tingling and ears ringing.

You reach down to pull at his hair, an attempt to ground yourself. Any chance to steady your trembling legs, head thrown back as you are overtaken with nothing but pure bliss.

He whimpers, pulling away with a glistening face. “Keep saying my name” He begs, voice so weak and pathetic. He kisses up your thighs, sucking and biting as he pleases. “Please don’t stop”

- “W-when’d you get so mean?” Denki mewls from beneath you, your dripping pussy teasing his tip. “It’s not fair!”

You chuckle, hand wrapped loosely around his throat as you place a soft kiss on his forehead. “Just so pretty when you beg Denks” You coo, kissing just above his eyebrow, then at the side of his temple. “My whiny boy”

His adams apple bobs beneath your hand, breathing heavily. “M-m not whiny” His pink, dainty lip is stuck out into a pout. There must be something wrong with him, he is into this way too much. He wants to cry with how fucking hard he is. “Please baby…it hurts”

“What hurts handsome?”

“I need you” His hips jerk up, dick prodding at your entrance. “Need you so bad”

You run your hand down his sweaty chest, resting above his rapid heartbeat. He’s such a mess, he looks so delicious right now. You just wanna eat him alive. You sink down on him, so slow that it feels like his brain is melting.

“Ohhh god!” He whines, throwing his head back. “Thankyou thankyou!”

“You’re welcome sweet boy” You run a hand up his chest, pinching one of his nipples which emits a squeal from your blonde haired friend. “You’re my best friend y’know that? Love you Denks”

“Mhm” He nods, eyes stuck on your slippery pussy milking him for all he’s worth. “Yer my best friend too! Love you so much! Got the best pussy I’ve ever had!” He goes on, words growing incoherent as you bounce down on him even faster-harder.

“Open up” You order and immediately his tongue is sticking out, inviting your soft fingers to press down on his tongue. Going deeper and deeper until he gags. You feel his dick twitch inside you. “You like when I use you like this Denki?”

“Yes mommy!” The word just slips out, truly. His cheeks and chest turn red in embarrassment. “Need you closer please!”

His strong arms wrap around your neck, pulling you down as he lazily tries to meet your pace. Moaning and groaning directly into your ear. “Awww baby let’s keep your mouth full”

Guiding your tit into his mouth his knees buckle below you, immediately latching on to your sensitive nipple. And your hands pet his hair, tugging whenever you feel it’s necessary. His eyes are rolling back, tongue swirling the hardened bud of your nipple as you pull at his soft blonde locks, pussy wrapped around him like a vice. He never wants to leave, wishes you would just fuck him until he can’t even get out of this damn bed anymore. Bringing his hands up he squishes both of your tits together, giving him the freedom to suck on whichever one he pleases. He goes back and forth, one to the other as he just feels so lucky to be smothered in some pretty titties. “S-so good mommy! Fuck! Gonna cum. Let me cum inside please!”

“Aww Denki baby got such good manners. Asking me to cum, huh?” He nods pitifully, still smothered by your chest. “Being a good boy for me?”

He comes off your nipple with a ‘pop!’, large submissive puppy eyes looking up at you. “M-always a good boy for you yn! Always! I’d do whatever you want me to!”

You giggle, pussy squeezing him in the same rhythm as your laughter. “Tell me who’s a good boy” You tease.

Yet, he is anything short of eager to answer. “I am I am!” Thrusting up into you haphazardly, chasing his upcoming release that will certainly wreck his entire body. “Wanna be your whiny pathetic boy forever!”

You slap his cheek lightly, purposefully squeezing around him as you decide to let up on him finally. He has been so good for you after all. “Yeah go ahead and cum for me sweet boy….let it all out”

His orgasm eats him alive, muscles contracting and tightening as he comes undone. Messy blonde tufts of hair stuck to his head, tongue lulled out and drooling. Eyes scrunched shut in pure pleasure. He may have needed this more than you did. And he just has to remind you, his sweet girl best friend one more time.

“I love you yn! I love you!”

- So who wins? In your eyes they are all winners, but the boys don’t see it that way. For some reason they need that validation, crave it as if it’s their favorite meal. They need to know who is the best, even if you have sworn off sex for the time being.

Well that’s what they believe at least, that you are only fucking them at the moment. That they would be your exception because what you guys have is just so special!

Who can blame you when they begin to connect the dots? Acting as if they are all above one another, arguing at every chance they get. All strewn about Bakugo and Kirishima’s couch they bicker—on the subject of you.

“You wish you were her favorite! I’ve been friends with her since way before any of you assholes came around!” Kaminari laughs, scrolling on his phone mindlessly because he knows he is the winner. He’s your good boy! There’s no beating that!

Bakugo’s arms are crossed, a judgmental eyebrow raised as if he cannot believe the words coming from Denki’s mouth. “Yeah whatever, you should all be thanking me. If I never would’ve fucked her in the first place none of you would’ve had a chance!”

“That’s not true” Kirishima argues. “She’d been eyefucking me for months”

“You think everyone eye fucks you!” Hanta laughs, putting his phone down as he finally decides to give in to the conversation. “You swore Ashido was tryna fuck the first time you met her!”

The red haired man laughs in remembrance. “Who knows? Could still happen” The boys laugh, he’s completely delusional if he thinks he has a chance at that. “Never give up hope man. It’s what my mom says”

“Good luck with that” Katsuki grumbles, checking his phone to see if you texted back. You haven’t of course.

“You guys are all idiots. I’m her favorite. Made her squirt who knows how many times” Sero shrugs nonchalantly, sending you a random post in instagram in the hopes of reminding you that he still exists and would very much like to see you again. “Make a chick squirt the first time you hook up and she’ll fall in love with you”

“How’s that workin’ out for you?” Denki muses, sending an invite for cup pong to your number. “She in love yet?”

“We’re talking about the same girl that begged me to cum inside her…just remember that” Bakugo grimaces, a bit jealous as he realizes he has yet to make you squirt yet. All the more reason to pay you a visit soon.

“Whatever. I fucked her in a hot tub. I win” Ejirou shrugs, getting up to go grab his phone charger.

“No, I win! She loooves me! I’m her good boy, remember?” Kaminari snickers. “You guys use her n’ abuse her but I let her have fun and make it all about her. You should try it some time, bet you’ll probably like it”

Sero and Bakugo meet eyes, considering the thought for a moment before making a decision. “No thanks” They say in unison.

The arguing continues, when Kirishima comes back he finds things have grown a bit heated. The name calling has begun, he knows what that means.

“Pussywhipped!”

“Sore loser!”

“Mommy’s Boy!”

“Fuckin’ dumbass!”

“Wait!” Bakugo stops to think, imagining the sight of you all arched and pretty for him with Eji’s fat cock in your mouth. It’s a sight he will never forget. “I know why we’re bein’ cocky assholes, why are you?”

The room fills with silence, wheels turning in all of the men’s heads. Sero imagines you above him, his hand wrapped around your throat as you made him promise not to tell anyone about that time.

And Kaminari remembers the way the two of you cuddled after last time, passing his vape back and forth as you laid on his chest, pinky-swearing that this particular time would stay between the two of you.

“Oh shit!”

- “What the hell are you talking about?” You groan. You had work today, you’re tired. You literally just put your pajamas on and got all comfy in bed. The boys certainly noticed the thin shirt which leaves little to the imagination, you were just trying to be comfortable. But of course they make everything about them.

“Just tell us who your favorite is n’ you can get to bed” Bakugo grumbles.

“Oh my godd” You sigh, pinching the sides of your forehead. “Guys are so weird”

“You owe it to us! You lied and said you weren’t fucking anyone!” Kaminari complains.

“I wasn’t!”

“Except for all of us” Sero says, to which Kirishima nods in agreement.

“Oh whatever! Made you feel special, didn’t I?”

They look at you with what must be hurt on their faces. You want to laugh although you don’t think that would be appropriate at a time like this. In this moment, you feel like a guy. A slutty guy that uses women to his advantage and never calls them again.

No one wants to be that guy. So you sigh, finally ready to mutter an apology. “Okay…sorry guys. Really, I’m sorry I lied to you I just didn’t think it would happen again. Guess I wasn’t thinking about your feelings which is really fucked up of me to do”

They nod, accepting that answer but still craving more. “And?”

“Andddd…..” That was all you had to say, trailing off as you try to come up with anything off the top of your head. “You all have your own traits that I really enjoy. No one is better than the other, kay? Love all my boys equally”

Katsuki scoffs at that cop out of an answer, very obviously unsatisfied.

“So let’s just all kiss and make up, yeah?” You tease, trying to lighten the mood. You poke Katuski’s bicep, aware that he is left displeased with what you have to say.

Kaminari, having no shame whatsoever places a fat kiss on your lips for them all to see. He is your best friend after all. He has the right. “I forgive you yn! And I respect it, your heart’s just so big that there’s enough of it to go around” Well that’s surely a nice way to put it. He follows by dapping you up, adding that extra little spin to the handshake the two of you came up with years ago before walking away.

Sero decides he has no shame either, I mean they’re all aware of the situation before them. No point in playing coy now. “Alright mamas don’t give us an answer” He shrugs, hugging you tight before speaking low enough into your ear that no one else can hear. “I know the truth” He shoots you a wink, placing a peck on your lips before heading back.

Well, you definitely weren’t expecting this to be the end of your night. Looking up at the two large men in front of you, you sigh. They may be big, but they are definitely more sensitive that their much more nonchalant friends. You figure they need that extra bit of love.

“Aw come onnn. Don’t be like that Kiri” You pout as he refuses to meet your gaze. “Y’know you two are special to me”

Katsuki grumbles. “Not special enough”

“C’mere big boy” You beckon Ejirou over and maybe he’s pathetic for listening, but he does as he’s told. “Look at me”

He looks down, brows furrowed in distaste. Like a big pouty puppy you desperately want to kiss. “Don’t wanna hurt your friend’s feelings do you?”

“…..no” He sighs, and you smile, gently cupping his face with your hand.

“Course not. You’re a softie huh?” He nods softly, unable to help the grin on his face as you stand on your tiptoes to press your lips against his. “Ts’ my favorite thing about you. You’re sooo sweet Eji”

He blushes, finally satisfied with the compliment you gave him. They just needed a bit of praise is all—you were neglecting your boys! “Thanks pretty mama” He mumbles against your lip, giving you one more kiss before heading inside.

Katsuki whistles as he watches his last friend walk into the apartment. You’re talented, he’ll give you that. “Master manipulation at its finest. How do you sleep at night?” He chides although the smirk on his face proves he is just as amused as you are by all this.

“With no undies and a big fluffy blanket!” You chuckle and he steps closer, immediately going for the waistband of your shorts to see if you’re lying or not.

He lets out a disappointed ‘tch’ when he realizes you are wearing panties. “Still lyin’ to me”

“I was kidding”

“Mhm” He nods, eyeing you up and down like a piece of candy. “Gonna let me come over tonight or what?”

“Was just trying to sleep actually”

“Come onnn…do it for your favorite, yeah?” He flashes that irresistible smile that makes your knees weak. Curse his impossibly good looks, makes him way too hard to resist.

“I told you I have no favorites!”

He lets out another ‘tch’, stepping forward and wrapping an arm around you to grab a handful of ass. “Thought you were just saying that to make the other guys feel better. C’mon doll I treat you better than the rest of em”

“Mmm I dunno…you’re pretty mean” You wrap your arms around his neck.

“You like that shit” He goes in for a kiss, you lean in only for him to pull back at the last second—proving your point. “Makes yer’ pussy all wet”

You whine, thighs squeezing together as the evidence is there right before his eyes. Finally, he kisses you, not allowing you entrance into his mouth when you ask for it by licking his bottom lip. “Nuh uhh” He shakes his head. “You don’t deserve to have my tongue in your mouth”

You groan, pulling at his shoulder but he doesn’t move a muscle. “What’s wrong slut? Those other kisses weren’t enough for you? Greedy lips need more?”

You sigh impatiently, tugging at the collar of his shirt. Looking down at the ground, you think of anything to keep him happy. “I’ll leave the door unlocked. Come over later, kay?”

You both share equally evil grins. It’s a win-win situation really.

“Yes ma’am”

[finelinefae]

my darling

synopsis: a love triangle

word count: 10.8k

contains: angst angst angst, love triangle, mfm, best friends to lovers, boarding school, violence, unrequited love,

a/n: i wrote this for wattpad during the My Policeman era. I wanted to post it here after re-reading it. I remember this being one of the first pieces of fanfic i felt super proud of !! warning it is pretty sad

. . .

Then — 1996

Dear Diary,

Today we moved into our new home in Halton. It’s small, quaint, and quiet—very quiet. The kind of place where everyone seems set in their routines, the same patterns repeating every day. I already miss London. Mum says this will be good for us, though. Good to get away from the drama. Good to get away from Dad.

The house isn’t as big as our old one. I have to share a room with Delilah now, but it’s fine—I’ll be off to boarding school by the end of the summer. Mum says I’ll enjoy it since she went to the same school at my age, but I think she’s just trying to make me feel better. Who actually enjoys living at school?

It’s a three-hour drive from Halton, which feels like a world away. I’m nervous, excited, sad, and happy all at once. The feelings are so overwhelming they all blur together into something I can only describe as... heavy. Like my life is a snow globe someone’s just shaken up, glitter falling everywhere. It looks magical at first, but the reality is you’re stuck cleaning it up for weeks, finding it in the oddest places long after.

I miss my dog. I never got to say goodbye.

Dad cried when we left. I’ve never seen him cry before. He told me it wasn’t goodbye, just a "see you later." Mum always says Dad’s a good liar, but I don’t think he was lying this time. Maybe it was the tears—they don’t suit him.

-

Dear Diary,

Today I moved into my dorm at Southend Park School.

Mum was annoyed we had to wake up before seven to pack the car and drive me down, even though this was all her idea. She’s probably just tired—or maybe something else. I have a suspicion she’s met someone. I’m not sure how she moved on from Dad so quickly. Did she ever really love him?

My dorm has six girls, including me. I’ve mostly been talking to Ellis, who’s in the room next door. She’s fourteen, older than the rest of us, but only because her birthday is the 1st of September. Today’s the third, so her advantage is technical, but she likes to remind us.

Being alone here scares me, but it’s nothing new. Delilah always had loads of friends, and Dad was always working. Mum was usually out socializing, too.

Mum cried as we finished unpacking, promising she’d pick me up for half-term or that I could come home anytime. But I don’t want to go home. I hate it there.

Tomorrow is a full day of inductions, and I’m worried about making friends. Southend Park is a mixed school, and boys make me nervous. I’d rather have no friends at all than feel like I have to pretend to be someone I’m not.

I still feel like I’m picking up glitter from months ago. I wonder when it will finally stop.

-

Dear Diary,

I made two friends. You’ll never guess—they’re boys!

Their names are Harry and Dylan. They’re both thirteen, like me, but they feel older somehow. They even live in the same dorm and invited me over this weekend.

We met during lunch in the courtyard. I was sitting alone when Dylan walked up first, chatting easily and cracking jokes. Harry followed behind, much quieter. Dylan has blond hair and a small scar on his eyebrow from climbing trees back in Morston. Harry’s hair is thick and curly—I wanted to touch it but stopped myself because, well, that would’ve been weird.

Harry didn’t say much at first, though I noticed him glancing at me. When I met his gaze, he blushed and looked down at his extra-polished school shoes.

We didn’t talk much again until the end of the day, on the way back to the dorms. That’s when we compared timetables and realized we share four classes, including English Literature. It’s just Harry and me in that one, though.

I never thought I’d be friends with boys, but I like it. It feels different from being friends with girls—less pressure to act outgoing or girly. I hope we stay friends. I like them both a lot.

. . .

Then — 2000

“Hey, Harry,” Y/N called, running across the field toward the headmaster’s office where Harry stood, focused on his Nokia flip phone.

Harry glanced up, his expression softening when he saw her. He tucked the phone into his pocket and waved her over. Despite the end-of-day chaos, both were still dressed in their school uniforms. “Hey, baby.” He greeted her with a quick kiss, pulling her closer and wrapping an arm around her waist. He loved how perfectly she fit against him, as though they were made for each other.

“What’s going on? Aren’t we meeting Dylan to go to Ellis’ dorm?” Y/N asked, frowning slightly as she looked around for their other best friend.

Harry smirked, shaking his head. “We are, but Dylan got caught passing notes to Casey Becker in geometry. He’s stuck with thirty minutes in the headmaster’s office to make amends.”

Y/N chuckled, her laugh warm and familiar. “Again? He’s going to get himself expelled if he’s not careful.” She slid her hands under Harry’s blazer, warming them against his torso.

Harry brushed a strand of hair from her face, letting his thumb linger on her cheekbone. “How was your day?” he murmured, his lips brushing hers as he spoke.

“It was fine,” Y/N replied. “I scored three points in netball, and Tessa Riley gave me daggers in the changing room.” She giggled, leaning into him.

Harry smiled, pride gleaming in his eyes. “That’s m’girl.” He bent down and kissed her forehead gently.

“Oh, please, don’t make me sick,” a familiar voice drawled, breaking the moment.

“Hi, Dylan.” Y/N turned to see him strolling down the stone steps, his blazer slung over his shoulder and a cigarette dangling between his fingers. She leaned back against Harry, crossing her arms.

“Hello, my darling Y/N,” Dylan teased, his tone playful as he lit the cigarette with practiced ease.

“Seriously, Dylan?” Harry said, narrowing his eyes. “Do you really need another detention?”

“Don’t you smoke, Styles?” Dylan shot back, grinning. “Besides, Mary would love to see me again after our chat earlier. She’s got a soft spot for me.” He smirked, wiping his thumb across the corner of his mouth.

Y/N rolled her eyes, stepping away from Harry’s warmth. She was long used to Dylan’s antics—four and a half years of friendship had left little room for surprises.

The three of them had been inseparable since their first days at Southend Park Boarding School. Despite their differences in personality, they were like a family unit, supporting one another through the highs and lows of adolescence.

Dylan, the loudest of the trio, was notorious for his sharp wit and knack for trouble. Teachers despaired over his behavior, but students were drawn to his charm—especially the girls, who fell for his rebellious streak and the ever-present cigarette.

Harry, by contrast, was the golden boy: smart, polite, and beloved by staff. He balanced his role as student ambassador with captaining the football team, a position that made him one of the most popular boys in school. Dylan teasingly called him a “teacher’s pet,” but Harry wore the label without shame.

Y/N was the quietest of the three, rarely seeking the spotlight. She volunteered in the school library every Tuesday and spent her free time with her dorm mates. Still, Harry and Dylan were fiercely protective of her, and she often marveled at how lucky she was to have them.

The trio walked out of the school gates toward the housing blocks, their shadows stretching long in the late afternoon sun. Harry carried Y/N’s backpack on one shoulder, his free hand clasping hers. Dylan trailed behind, typing on his phone with an unlit cigarette between his teeth.

“Ellis doesn’t want you bringing anything to the party this time, Dylan,” Y/N warned, glancing over her shoulder. “You know what happened last time. If you pull that again, you’re getting kicked out of school.”

“My darling Y/N,” Dylan began with exaggerated sincerity, pausing for effect, “only for you.”

Y/N rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile.

When they reached her dorm, Y/N kissed Harry on the cheek and took her bag from his shoulder. “I’ll see you both later?” she asked, her eyes bright.

Dylan saluted her without looking up from his phone, while Harry smiled warmly. “I love you,” he said.

“I love you too, Harry,” she replied before disappearing inside.

Harry and Dylan walked in silence toward their dorm. The tension was palpable, Dylan unusually quiet as Harry’s mind churned with unspoken thoughts.

“We’re going to have to tell her at some point,” Dylan murmured, his voice low as the setting sun bathed the path in a golden glow.

Harry’s heart tightened. “No, we don’t.”

“Harry—”

“Shut up, Dylan. Nothing happened.” Harry’s voice was sharp, cutting Dylan off before he could continue.

They stopped, staring at each other, the air between them heavy. Harry’s frustration burned in his eyes, while Dylan’s sadness hung like a weight on his shoulders.

“I love her,” Harry finally said, his voice trembling. “I’ll never love anyone else as much as I love Y/N.”

Without another word, he turned and stormed into their dormitory, leaving Dylan alone on the pavement. Dylan exhaled shakily, the ache in his chest unbearable.

. . .

Then — 1998

Dear Diary,

It’s been a month since my fifteenth birthday, and Harry finally asked me out on a date. It feels like a dream, the kind where everything is so perfect you fear waking up to find it never happened.

To be honest, I think I’m already in love with him. He’s always been so kind to me, much more than Dylan. Harry carries my bag to class when I have netball, and sometimes, during English Literature, I catch him staring at me. There’s something about the way his gaze lingers that makes me feel seen.

In art class, he taught me how to use watercolors for the first time, his thumb brushing against mine as he guided me. Little moments like that remind me how much I care for him—so much that the thought of being without him feels unbearable. Is that dramatic? Probably. But I can’t help it if it’s true.

Even when I’m talking to Ellis during lunch or before bed, my mind wanders back to Harry—his smile, his eyes, the way he laughs at my jokes even when they aren’t funny, and how he hugs me differently from everyone else.

It feels strange to be fifteen and falling so deeply. What do I know about love at this age? How much further can I fall?

I think I’m going to love him forever. I hope he loves me forever too.

-

Dear Diary,

Harry kissed me today. My first kiss—with the boy I love most in the entire world.

I knew it was going to happen. We’d just finished dinner in the dining hall when he asked if I wanted to take a walk in the gardens. Dylan wanted to come along, but Harry shook his head, saying he wanted it to be just the two of us.

I felt a twinge of guilt when I looked back and saw Dylan standing there, his expression heavy as he watched us leave. He kept staring at Harry, even as we walked past the window overlooking the gardens.

Harry brought me to the tulips because he knows they’re my favorite. He said my braid looked pretty today, and that’s when I knew—I truly, completely loved him. It was the worst braid I’ve ever done, but he still thought it was beautiful.

We sat on a swinging bench, listening to birds returning to their nests. When he said my name, it sounded magical, like it had been made for his lips alone. I turned to look at him, and that’s when he leaned in and kissed me.

It felt like a scene from a movie.

No one ever tells you what it’s like to kiss someone for the first time. The way their breath mingles with yours, the world fading away as you close your eyes and step into a place so tender it consumes you. It makes you wonder if you’ve ever been truly loved before.

We only stopped because we heard a rustling in the bushes. We looked around but didn’t find anything, so Harry walked me back to my dorm. He kissed me again outside the door, and I floated through the rest of the night, humming to myself as I got ready for bed.

But when I think back to that moment, I could swear I saw a tuft of blond hair sticking out from behind a bush.

. . .

Now — 2000

Y/N sat cross-legged in front of the mirror on Ellis’ floor, carefully applying mascara as Fiona Apple played softly in the background. Ellis sat nearby, painting her nails a deep red.

“I’m just saying,” Ellis began, waving the brush for emphasis, “you and Harry have been dating for two years, and you haven’t done the deed yet?”

Y/N flushed at the mention of sex, shifting uncomfortably. She hated talking about it, even with Harry. Maybe it was because she didn’t know much about it or because she’d never had a safe space to ask questions, but every time the topic came up—whether in conversation or during truth or dare—she wanted to run for cover.

“We’re waiting for the right time,” Y/N said evenly, her voice robotic as she repeated the well-rehearsed answer.

“The right time?” Ellis scoffed. “I’ve never seen a couple more in love—it’s nauseating.”

Y/N hesitated, her mind drifting to moments when she’d wanted to take things further with Harry. But he always stopped before it went too far. Sometimes it made her feel like she wasn’t enough—pretty enough, desirable enough—but then he’d kiss her softly and remind her how beautiful she was, stroking her cheek as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “We’ve done... things, but not that.”

“Is Harry religious or something?” Ellis asked, narrowing her eyes.

“No, I don’t think so,” Y/N replied with a frown. “He’s never mentioned it.”

“Maybe he’s waiting until marriage,” Ellis mused.

The thought of marrying Harry made Y/N’s heart swell. She’d dreamed of it ever since their first kiss in the gardens—walking down the aisle in a white dress, Harry waiting for her at the end, tears in his eyes. Maybe they’d both cry.

“I don’t mind waiting,” Y/N said, her voice soft but certain. “I love him enough to wait as long as he needs me to.”

Ellis groaned, grabbing a bottle of vodka from her bedside table. “You can’t say stuff like that when I haven’t had a single drink.” She poured herself a shot and downed it in one go. “Okay, continue.”

Y/N laughed and turned back to her reflection, humming Queen’s Love of My Life as her thoughts drifted back to Harry.

. . .

Then — 1998

Dear Harry,

Today we went to the beach—the three of us. Me, you, and Y/N. I know in most situations it’s you, Y/N, then me, but in these letters, it will always be me and you.

We’d been planning this trip for weeks. It’s a three-hour drive to the coast from school, and Y/N had been complaining about the journey the entire time. I didn’t mind. Is it wrong of me to want to sit next to you on a bus full of people not one of them knowing who we are for three whole hours? Our knees touching for three whole hours? Sand on your feet and your hair salty from the sea, inhaling your scent and wanting your hand to touch my thigh for three whole hours?

When we got there, the morning was overcast, but by the time we hit the sand, the sun broke through the clouds. It was perfect. The light caught your skin, making it glisten, and your eyes shone with that impossible sea-glass green. I wanted to look into them forever, but you were too busy looking at Y/N.

I tried to catch your attention—touching your shoulder as I passed by, reaching for the beach bag at the same time as you, brushing my fingers against yours. But it didn’t matter. You only had eyes for her, and I only had eyes for you.

When you kissed her in the gardens, a part of me died. I had been pining for you for so long, silently hoping you’d see me, but it was always her. I felt stupid, running miles afterward, the wind howling in my ears: You fool, you idiot, how could he ever love you?

I didn’t want to feel this way, Harry. I tried to bury it, to pretend it wasn’t real, but when I met you, everything I’d hidden about myself unraveled.

The day wasn’t without its drama. Y/N, distracted, stepped into the road thinking the approaching van was the bus. You moved so fast, grabbing her and pulling her back before the van could hit her. I watched the terror flash across your face, the way you held her afterward as she cried. You kissed her forehead, comforted her, showed her the kind of love I’d only ever dreamed of.

And I hated her for it.

I feel terrible admitting this because I do love Y/N. I truly do. But most days, I hate her, and only because she has you.

When we finally got to the beach, the three of us ran toward the waves, shedding our clothes as we went, laughing like we were carefree children. For a moment, we were. We left our troubles behind in the sand.

You swung Y/N over your shoulder as you splashed into the water, and I couldn’t help but admire the way your muscles flexed. You were a work of art, Harry, something meant to be admired in a gallery. And I was nothing more than an observer, longing for what I could never have.

Later, Y/N went to get ice cream. Before she left, she asked for your order, and I already knew what you’d say—mint chocolate chip. The way she looked surprised made me feel smug for a second, but that quickly disappeared when she said it was her favorite too.

While she was gone, I felt a cramp in my shoulder. “Let me,” you murmured, and before I could answer, your fingertips ghosted over my shoulder, pressing into the tight muscle.

I couldn’t breathe, Harry. You were so close, your breath warm against my neck. For a split second, I thought if I just turned my head, I could kiss you.

I’ll never forget that moment for as long as I live. Even if you do.

. . .

Now — 2000

Dylan and Harry were in their dorm room, preparing for the party. Harry stood in front of the mirror, anxiously gelling his hair back.

“I think I’m going to do it,” Harry said suddenly, turning to face Dylan. “I’m going to go all the way with Y/N.”

Dylan froze, his heart sinking. He lit a cigarette, trying to appear nonchalant as he perched on the windowsill. “Really? Are you sure that’s a good idea?” His voice betrayed him, tinged with irritation and jealousy.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Harry’s eyes narrowed.

“I’m just saying, are you sure it’s the right time to sleep with her? After... what happened?”

Harry’s expression darkened. “Nothing happened. It was a mistake.”

“You keep saying that,” Dylan said, standing now, his voice rising. “Like you’re trying to gaslight me into thinking I imagined it. But I’ve imagined kissing you enough times to know what’s real and what’s not.”

Harry’s jaw tightened, his hands clenching. “I was drunk, and you took advantage of me.”

The words hit Dylan like a slap, but he forced himself to stay calm. “Don’t try that with me, Harry. It might work in your petty arguments with Y/N, but it won’t work on me. You’re the one twisting the truth to fit your narrative.”

“I don’t care what you think,” Harry snapped. “I only care about Y/N. And if you can’t handle that, maybe you need to step away—from both of us.”

“Step away?” Dylan said incredulously, his voice breaking. “You want me to walk away from the only two people who’ve ever cared about me? You want me to walk away from you?”

Harry hesitated, guilt flickering across his face. “You know how I feel about Y/N. I love her. I’m in love with her. Even if I felt something for you, it would never compare.”

“You’re lying,” Dylan whispered, his eyes glassy. “If you loved her so much, you wouldn’t have kissed me in the first place.”

“You don’t know anything!” Harry exploded, his voice shaking with fury. “Do you know what would happen if someone found out? What it would do to Y/N? To us? I felt nothing! It was a mistake!”

“Harry—”

“No,” Harry cut him off. “Whatever feelings you have, whatever intentions, you need to get over them.”

“That’s not as easy as you think—”

“You have to.” Harry’s voice was sharp, leaving no room for argument. Dylan stared at him, shattered, as Harry turned and stormed out.

He left Dylan standing there, broken, feeling like Harry had taken his very soul with him.

. . .

Then — 1999

Dear Harry,

We’ve been assigned as partners in media class, and now we have to make a music video. Naturally, you asked Y/N if she’d star in it. You told her she was the most beautiful thing you’d ever seen and that she’d be perfect for it. She blushed, of course, and said yes. Then you kissed her—so long and so deeply that I had to look away.

I imagined myself in her place, wondering what it would be like to kiss you in public, to have the world see how much I adored you. If it were allowed, I don’t think I’d ever stop kissing you.

Today, we filmed the music video. You wanted it to feel like a coming-of-age story. I’d wanted something more abstract, but I agreed to your ideas, nodding eagerly at every suggestion, whether it was brilliant or terrible.

We filmed in the gardens—my least favorite place in the entire school. That’s where you kissed Y/N for the first time, and if I could erase that night from my memory, I would in a heartbeat.

The sun was shining as you whispered into Y/N’s ear while I set up the camera. I tried to block out the sound of your laughter, the sight of her hand on your shoulder.

“Are we ready?” I called, my voice louder than I intended. You straightened up immediately.

“Dylan, why don’t you be in the video with me?” Y/N smiled warmly. She had that rare ability to make everyone feel seen, like she was radiating sunshine. It was impossible not to smile back.

“My darling, you know I’m not nearly as perfect as you,” I teased, watching her blush.

I don’t even remember when I started calling her “my darling.” The first time, I remember catching the flash of jealousy in your eyes. I liked that. I liked seeing you react to me, even if it wasn’t in the way I wanted. You’re used to it now, but sometimes, when I say it, I still see a flicker of something in your gaze.

The music video took all day to shoot. Every time Y/N nailed a scene, you rewarded her with a kiss. I worked hard too, Harry. Shouldn’t I have been rewarded in some way?

When Y/N left for her library shift that evening, it was just the two of us. You wanted to capture the soft glow of the sunset, so we stayed behind to get more footage.

“My mother wants me to go into politics,” you said as we sat cross-legged on the grass, the camera between us. “But I’d love to do this—be a director. I’ve always wanted to be an artist of some kind. It’s a silly dream, but I think about it all the time.”

I could imagine it. You had a way of leading people, commanding attention without being arrogant. You cared so deeply—for the art, for the people—that it would probably destroy you someday.

“It’s not silly,” I said. “It’s never silly to dream. My God, Harry, we only live once. Might as well do everything we can to feel something in the little time we have.”

You looked at me then, really looked at me. For the first time, I thought you might be feeling a fraction of what I felt every day. “I’ve never told anyone that before. Not even Y/N knows.”

“It’ll be our secret,” I whispered. And for a moment, I could’ve sworn you glanced at my lips.

Then, just as quickly, you diverted the topic. Grabbing the camera, you aimed it at me lying in the grass. “Looks like Y/N’s not the only model anymore,” you teased.

I tried to act indifferent, but I would’ve stayed there all night if it meant seeing you laugh like that.

It makes me wonder, Harry—do you know how much power you have over your friends? Do you know that you have two people who worship the ground you walk on? How does it feel to be desired? How does it feel to have a choice in who you love?

. . .

Now — 2000

“You’re here!” Y/N beamed, running into Harry’s arms and wrapping her hands around his neck.

“Hey, baby,” he murmured, kissing her temple before setting her down.

The party was already in full swing. Students from across campus had crammed into Ellis’ dorm, the air thick with music, laughter, and the faint smell of alcohol.

“Hi, Dylan,” Y/N greeted, pulling him into a tight hug. “You’re dressed pretty smart. Planning on impressing anyone tonight?”

“Only you, darling,” Dylan replied, forcing a wink and a smirk despite the ache in his chest. Harry’s words from earlier still rang in his ears, but he pushed them aside.

Harry’s eyes darted to the cup in Y/N’s hand. “Have you been drinking?” he asked, his tone light but concerned.

“It’s water,” she whispered with a smile. Harry relaxed. She wasn’t much of a drinker, and he knew that.

“You look so pretty,” he said, marvelling at her dress. It was the one she wore for special occasions—one he had once told her was his favourite. A pang of guilt pricked at his heart as she looked back at him, her doe eyes filled with love.

“Come dance with me!” she said, pulling him toward the living room. “Both of you! My boys!”

Harry and Dylan followed her to the dance floor. The song Love My Way blared through the speakers, and Y/N moved between them, carefree and radiant.

At first, Harry danced with her, his focus entirely on Y/N. But then his gaze shifted to Dylan, who was swaying along with the music. Something unspoken passed between them, an invisible thread pulling them closer.

Harry laughed when Dylan moved towards him and for a moment they had forgotten everything around them. Dylan was just Dylan and Harry was just Harry, two boys who felt something they weren’t allowed to feel in the eyes of everyone else.

Harry was so close, their faces almost touching and for a moment Dylan thought they might kiss. But the blissful moment was broken as Harry stepped away, shaking his head, “N-No.” He whispered, “No, No, No.” He shook his head, his eyes frantic in search of Y/N.

“O-Oh, Harry,” Y/N yelped as he grabbed hold of her hand and lead her out of Ellis’ dorm and over to her own, three doors down from where the party was happening.

“What are you doing? Are you okay?” She cups his face in her hands and he exhales, trying to regain composure. This was the girl he loved, the only girl he could ever love and being in her hands felt like home. Didn’t it?

“Y-Y/N, I-I think I’m ready.” He presses his forehead against hers, kissing her bottom lip. “I’m ready.”

Her lips part in shock. She hadn’t been expecting this tonight and she wasn’t sure where Harry’s sudden desperation was coming from. He kissed down her neck as she tried to speak to him, “H-Harry, a-are you sure?” He nodded, his mouth leaving open mouthed kisses on her shoulder.

“I love you Y/N.” He looked into her eyes and she saw the sincerity behind them but also a hint of something else that she couldn’t quite place.

He started to peel her clothing off, his fingertips gently brushing against her soft skin. She tried to steady her breathing but her chest caved in and out as the oxygen in the room seemed to be escaping as he moved down her body. “Harry,” She whispered and he could hear the desperation in her voice. She reached for his hand and intertwined their fingers together.

Y/N was stripped down to her bra and underwear. This was the most skin she had revealed to anybody but she trusted Harry with everything in her, he was her best friend. He blew warm air over the thin material of her bra and her nipples hardened, an overwhelming sense of desire and lust flooding her insides. It was so new and overwhelming, her hands shaking as she ran her fingers through his hair and tugged on the roots.

“Baby,” He whispered, his hands cupping her thighs as he pressed kisses down her body.

“Harry, wait.” She murmured, his eyes looking up from where he was laying between her legs, “You’re still dressed.” She sat up and tugged on the hem of his sweater.

He laughed softly, as she struggled to pull the sweater over his head. She marvelled at the sound and kissed the tip of his nose. He pulled her onto his lap and she grinded her hips against his, “God look at you.” He whispered. “Don’t leave me Y/N. You can never leave me.”

“I’m never going to.” She said it like it was a promise.

His hands hooked the straps of her bra and he gently pulled them down, her breath hitching as the pad of his thumb brushed against the side of her breast. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in tightly, his face burying into the crook of her neck as he inhaled her.

This was going to be perfect, she thought, nothing could go wrong.

She grinded her hips against him again, a groan eliciting from his lip and a name escaping past the lips he had kissed her with so many times.

“Dylan.” Y/N froze. Her blood ran cold, and she pulled away as though Harry’s touch burned her.

“What did you say?” She pulled away, suddenly being naked in front of him didn’t feel right, being in a space alone with him didn’t feel right, everything she had ever felt for him before this moment didn’t feel right.

“Y/N,” He reached for her but she slipped away from him, slipped out of his touch, a touch she begged for just moments ago.

Harry’s heart no longer existed, wherever it was it had abandoned him and left him here in this terrible moment to fend for himself. He felt his eyes well up with tears as he watched Y/N try to pick up her discarded clothes. This wasn’t how it was meant to be, she was suppose to be picking up his clothes after a night making love to each other.

“Y-You said his name.” Y/N whimpered, she was panicking and Harry could do nothing but watch.

“Baby I-”

“NO.” She spat, “You don’t get to call me that. Not anymore.”

Harry watched as she turned around and clutched at her head, her knees buckling as she fell to the ground. She sobbed and sobbed, his hear wrenching at the sound of it. He had never heard a sound so painful in his life and he wanted to die in this very moment.

“No, No, No, No.” She sobbed, her shoulders shaking.

“Y/N please just let me explain.” Harry tried, crouching down in front of her and trying to place a hand on her now clothed shoulder.

“NO.” She pushed him away and leaped back, her back hitting the wall.

Harry was broken. He was truly broken. This was something well out of his reach in fixing and nothing he could do or say could make up for the fact that he had hurt the two people he loved and cherished the most in this world, in the span of one night.

“Get out of my room!” She began to scream, “Get out of here!”

A knock at the door shattered the silence.

“Hey, you guys in there?” Dylan’s voice called from the hallway.

Before Harry could respond, Y/N lunged for the door, anger blazing in her eyes.

“Get out of my room!” she screamed, her voice raw with betrayal.

Harry caught her before she reached Dylan, her fists pounding against his chest. “I’m broken,” she whimpered, her strength fading. “You broke me.”

And for the first time, Harry knew what it felt like to be utterly powerless.

. . .

Then — 2000

Dear Diary,

You know those secrets so big they feel like they could swallow you whole? The kind you promise never to tell a soul for as long as you live? At first, they consume you, taking over every thought and breath. But over time, they settle into the corners of your mind, a quiet part of you that only stirs when something triggers it.

Well, today I made one of those secrets.

It was a Tuesday, the day I volunteer in the library after school. There’s something peaceful about wandering the empty halls when no one else is around—a stark contrast to the chaos between periods. Mrs. Ableton asked me to deliver a stack of books to the English Literature cupboard. Our copies of The Catcher in the Rye were practically falling apart, so we’d ordered replacements.

As I walked through the hall, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye near the classroom where Harry and I have English together. Curious, I paused, almost dropping the books in my hands.

Harry was leaning against a desk, and Dylan stood in front of him. At first, I thought nothing of it and smiled, reaching for the door handle to make myself known. But then Dylan stepped closer, touched Harry’s hand, and kissed him.

I froze.

I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. The same lips that had kissed mine were now kissing the lips of my best friend.

I wanted to cry, but I was too shocked to do anything but stand there, watching. A part of me hoped I was trapped in a nightmare—that I’d wake up, call Harry, and laugh about how silly it all was. But when Dylan pulled back, Harry grabbed his arm and kissed him again.

That time, I couldn’t watch.

I backed away, the tears finally falling. My mind raced as I searched for somewhere—anywhere—I could cry louder, scream even, because this wasn’t something I could cry about quietly.

Harry was mine. But he was also Dylan’s.

By the time I went to bed, I’d convinced myself I would confront them. I’d tell them I saw what happened and ask if we could move on, pretend it never happened. But as the hours stretched on, I realized I didn’t want to speak about it. Talking about it would mean reliving it, over and over.

I didn’t want to remember.

I just wanted Harry.

So, this is a secret I’ll take to my grave. I’ll never tell a soul I watched Harry kiss Dylan in a way he never kissed me.

Even if it breaks me.

. . .

Now — 2000

“What happened?” Dylan asked. They were back in his dorm now, Harry pacing the room like a caged animal.

“She knows,” Harry muttered, his fingers pulling at his hair—a habit whenever he was upset. “She knows about us, what we did.”

Dylan collapsed onto the bed, his face pale. “How?”

Harry stopped and turned to him, shame written all over his face. “I said your name.”

Dylan’s shoulders sagged, and he buried his face in his hands. Images of Y/N, broken and sobbing on her bedroom floor, flashed through his mind. She had begged them to fix her, but they were the ones who broke her.

“It’s fine,” Harry rambled, his voice shaking. “I-I’ll give her some time, however long she needs. Then I’ll explain. I’ll explain it was a misunderstanding.”

“Harry,” Dylan said gently, standing to take Harry’s hands in his own. “I don’t think there’s enough time in the world for Y/N to get over this.”

Harry’s breath hitched, and a sob escaped him as he crumpled into Dylan’s arms. Dylan ran his fingers through Harry’s hair, resting his cheek against Harry’s head. “It’s okay, love,” he whispered. “Everything will be alright.”

“I hurt her so bad, Dylan,” Harry cried. “I love her, and I hurt her.”

“She was always going to find out,” Dylan said softly, the truth cutting deeper than any lie.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen like this,” Harry whispered.

Dylan sighed. “Why do you always talk about how things are meant to be? You act like your life was mapped out before you left the womb. Was it ‘meant to be’ that the three of us became inseparable? That you fell in love with both of us because you care so deeply? That I fell in love with you because you see art in everything? None of this was ‘meant to be,’ Harry. It just happened. And now we deal with it.”

Harry pulled back, tears streaking his face. “You still love me? Even after I pushed you away?”

Dylan smiled sadly, wiping a tear from Harry’s cheek. “I love you despite everything.”

Harry’s lips ghosted over Dylan’s, and for a moment, it felt like all their pain had been lifted. “Dylan,” Harry whispered, his voice trembling as he said the name again and again, like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.

“You can say my name as much as you want, love,” Dylan murmured. “I’ll always be here.”

. . .

Three weeks passed and the friends were no longer talking to each other, instead they acted as though they didn’t know each other as they passed each other in the hallway.

Harry had to try and not flinch when he saw Y/N scurry pass him, her eyes red and bloodshot as Ellis comforted her, glaring at Harry as they did. He wanted to speak to her but he was never given the chance to, rightly so considering what he had done to her.

Dylan and Harry, mostly Harry, thought it would best to keep their distance for a while. It killed them both to not be around each other but for the sake of their friendship with Y/N, they shared small moments of brief eye contact and touches throughout the day. Neither of them knew what was to come for the both of them but this limbo was enough for now.

Dylan ate lunch alone and as he did, he listened to the conversations of everyone around him. He wondered what it felt like for them to go about their day feeling like they belong in their own skin and not feel ashamed over who they love. He had never felt so alienated and so out of touch with himself.

He had been given an after school detention for an hour with Mr Henley after calling him sexist in front of the class. No one was around when he left the classroom until he saw a group of girls walking across the field.

At the end of the line was Y/N, wearing her netball uniform.

She must have caught sight of him because the next thing he knew, she was walking up to him. He had to check behind him to see he was seeing correctly.

“Hi Dylan,” She keeps her distance for reasons unknown to him but being around her again made him relax, he missed the friendship he shared right at the very beginning when they were thirteen and picking each other up from class to go to the sweet shop after school.

“Hey Y/N.” He offers her a smile.

“How are you doing?” He didn’t miss the way she gripped her bag like she was trying to stop herself from saying anything she really wanted to.

“I feel like I should be asking you that.” Y/N huffs, “I’ve had better days.” “Y/N-”

“Just tell me this,” She starts, “H-How long?”

Dylan decided he would be as honest and as straight to the point as he could be, it was what she deserved at least.

“Y/N the only thing we did was kiss one time. Harry stopped it because he’s in love with you.”

“And you’re in love with him.”

“Y-Yes.”

Y/N laughs incredulously, “We could never just be three best friends could we? It was always going to be complicated.”

“We could still be best friends Y/N.”

“But it’s not the same now is it?” She bit back and Dylan realised he needed to be careful with what he said. “Is he sad?”

“Terribly. Sometimes I hear him crying in his room at night.”

A silence fell between them which was strange. Y/N and Dylan has always had a brother-sister relationship, Dylan was always one to tease Y/N and make her laugh but right now it seemed all he was doing was making her upset.

“I’m moving schools.” Y/N confessed, “At the end of the term, I’m moving to Bridgewater. Mum’s moving in with her fiancee, and she wants me to be closer.”

“When were you going to tell us?” Dylan was shocked.

“I was given the choice. I could stay here or move to another school but if I stayed I’d have to stay at my dad’s during the holidays and I’m not in the mood to be lectured during my time away from school.”

Dylan didn’t know what to say, he couldn’t fathom the three of them not being together for such a long period of time. “I know what you’re thinking. I know I need to tell him but if we are going to have a shot at being friends again, I need to be away from you both.”

“Y/N,” Dylan shakes his head, “It doesn’t have to be like this,”

“You know I saw you when you kissed each other in the English Literature classroom?” She confessed, Dylan’s lips parting. “He kissed you in a way that he never kissed me. Everytime we kissed afterwards all I could think about was how different it was, how I desperately wanted him to kiss me the way I had seen him kiss you. I used to write in my diary about how I would die if I didn’t have him near me. I thought he would be the end of me but I didn’t realise you would be too.”

“I know he loves you Dylan and... I’m happy for you but I’m not selfless enough to stand beside you both and watch you fall in love when I so desperately love him too.”

“Y/N,” Dylan reaches out for her hand and takes it, “I’m sorry.” “I know Dylan, I know.”

. . .

Now — 2000

Harry’s leg wouldn’t stop jittering as he sat outside the school library on a Tuesday evening. He’d been waiting for this moment for weeks, replaying it over and over in his mind. He had spent countless hours rehearsing his apology to Y/N until it became a permanent loop in his thoughts.

When the library door swung open, he shot up immediately, brushing down his school trousers and running a hand through his hair. Y/N stepped out, holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand and her backpack slung over her shoulder.

She looked better than she had in weeks, and Harry’s heart ached at the sight of her. He would have carried her bag for her if they were still together.

Her expression changed when she saw him, her voice barely above a whisper. “H-Harry.”

“I came,” he said quickly, the words tumbling out. “I-I couldn’t believe it when I got your text. I’d have waited here for hours if you hadn’t shown up.”

Her face softened briefly, but she walked past him. “Follow me,” she said simply.

He trailed behind her as she led him to the gardens—the place where they’d shared their first kiss and filmed the music video for his and Dylan’s project. It was a space filled with memories of the three of them: Y/N doing homework, Dylan reading, and Harry strumming his guitar.

They sat down on the swinging bench, a familiar seat now heavy with unspoken tension. Harry noticed she kept her distance, and though every fiber of his being wanted to pull her close, he knew it wasn’t the right time.

“Who gave you those?” Harry finally asked, nodding at the flowers in her hand. A flicker of hope crossed his face.

“Debbie,” she said, referring to the school librarian. “It’s my last day working at the library.”

“You quit?” Harry frowned, his gaze flicking from the flowers to her face.

Y/N inhaled deeply before speaking. “I’m leaving, Harry.”

The wind seemed to leave him. “N-No,” he stammered, shaking his head. “You—you can’t. You can’t just leave. I won’t let you—”

“Harry,” she interrupted, reaching for his hand and holding it gently in her lap. “It’s what’s best.”

“How can you say that?” he asked, trying to pull his hand away, though her warmth made it impossible. “How can you say it’s what’s best? The three of us—we’re supposed to be together.”

“It’s a little too late for that, don’t you think?” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she looked at him. He looked thinner, more tired than she’d ever seen him, but she couldn’t help him—not anymore.

“Y/N, the thing with Dylan...” Harry began, his voice cracking. “I-I never meant for it to happen. We were just alone, I was stressed, and my emotions got the better of me. But I don’t feel the same way about him as I do about you.”

She shook her head softly. “Maybe that’s true, but not in the way you think. Dylan has always been there for you, Harry, in ways I never could. The way you look at him... it’s like he hung the stars in the sky just for you, like he tilted the sun so it would never blind you but still brighten your world.

“Maybe you do love me,” she continued, her voice trembling, “but love isn’t just about taking care of someone. It’s not carrying my backpack because it’s too heavy or doing my homework when I’m too tired after netball. Love is about being vulnerable. It’s about being taken care of, about laughing and crying and feeling like your heart is burning, and nothing can put it out.

“Now tell me, Harry. Did you ever feel that way with me? Were you ever vulnerable with me?”

Harry’s heart cracked. He opened his mouth to respond but couldn’t find the words.

“Please, Y/N,” he whimpered, his voice breaking. “I can’t be without you.”

“You have Dylan,” she said, trying to be the bigger person even though it shattered her inside. “It was never going to be me, Harry. Can you honestly look me in the eye and tell me you don’t have feelings for him?”

Harry looked down at the ground, his silence all the confirmation she needed.

Her heart broke all over again, but she forced herself to stay strong. “Why do you have to go?” he asked, tears streaming down his face.

“Because, Harry,” she said gently, ���what good would it do for the three of us if I stayed? You need to find out who you are, and so do I. Before me, it was you and Dylan. Now, it will end that way - with you and Dylan.”

“And what about you?” he asked desperately. “What will you do? Where will you go?”

“I don’t know yet,” she admitted. “But I’m grateful for what I’ve had. You and Dylan will always be a part of me. I hope one day we’ll forget this pain, and everything will be okay again.”

She reached out, brushing his hair back the way she used to. “I love you, Harry. I love you so much, I feel like I could burst.”

“I love you too,” he murmured. For the first time, he meant it in a way that felt true—not as a lover, but as a best friend.

“Be brave,” she whispered, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “And tell him you love him.”

Harry nodded as the tears fell freely, clinging to her like a child who didn’t want to let go.

She was going to love him forever. She now knew he wouldn’t.

. . .

“She’s gone,” Dylan said softly from the doorway of Harry’s bedroom.

Harry sat at his desk, a pen still in his hand though it hovered, unmoving, above the page. “Was she alright?” he murmured.

“She was better than we probably thought,” Dylan admitted, realizing how much they’d underestimated Y/N’s strength. They’d always thought it was their job to protect her, but she’d always been stronger than the two of them combined.

“Right,” Harry muttered, his voice hollow.

Dylan moved to sit on the bed, the springs creaking under his weight. “I was thinking we could have the leftover soup for dinner instead of going to the dining hall.”

“I’m not hungry,” Harry replied—a rare admission from someone who was always hungry.

Dylan frowned. “How long are you going to wallow in this? Can’t you see we’re both trying to do the right thing for your benefit?”

Harry turned to him, anger flashing in his eyes. “And what exactly are you doing?”

“I’ve been keeping my distance,” Dylan snapped. “Acting like we’re strangers when we’re the complete opposite. Do you know how much it kills me to not be near you? To have to hide from myself?”

Harry stood abruptly. “And you think I’m not struggling? You think I haven’t been grappling with everything I feel?”

“Oh, don’t give me that bullshit!” Dylan shouted, standing to meet Harry’s gaze. “You had someone who loved you for two whole years. You have everything, Harry—loving parents, the best grades, popularity. And you act like it’s all been taken from you because I kissed you!”

“Y/N is gone because of us!” Harry yelled back.

“No,” Dylan said fiercely, his voice rising. “She’s gone because of you! Because you’re too afraid to be honest about who you are! Because you care too much about what everyone else thinks. That’s why she’s gone!”

Their faces were inches apart, their anger radiating in the small space between them.

“How dare you? Can’t you see this is difficult for me to accept?” Harry shouted, his voice trembling with anger and frustration.

“What is?” Dylan snapped back, stepping closer. “What is so difficult, Harry? What’s so hard that you have to sit in the dark and ignore the only two people who’ve ever truly cared about you? Huh? What is it? Tell me. TELL ME.”

“I am in love with you!” Harry yelled, the words ripping out of him like they had been clawing to escape for years. “I am a fool, and I am in love with you.”

Dylan froze, stunned. His breath caught in his throat as the weight of Harry’s confession settled over him. The words he had dreamed of hearing for years hung in the air between them, impossible to ignore.

“What?” Dylan managed, his voice barely a whisper.

“I have loved you since the moment I met you,” Harry said, his voice softer now but no less raw. “And it’s been killing me every day since. I think of you—daily, nightly, every moment in between—and it tears me apart. Kissing you was the bravest thing I’ve ever done, and denying it afterward made me a coward. But here I am now, standing in front of you, a man stupidly, hopelessly in love with his best friend.”

Harry’s eyes were red and glassy, the weight of years of unspoken emotion etched into his every feature.

Dylan stared at him, speechless. He had imagined this moment countless times, but now that it was real, the depth of Harry’s vulnerability left him breathless.

“Kiss me,” Dylan whispered, his voice breaking. “Kiss me.”

Harry didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, cupping Dylan’s face in his hands as though it had been crafted to fit perfectly in his palms. Then he kissed him—fervent and unrestrained, pouring every ounce of his love and longing into that singular moment.

Dylan’s world ignited. A piece of him that had been dormant for years finally came alive. His heart and mind, long at odds, now burned in harmony as Harry’s lips moved against his. He felt consumed, but in the most beautiful way, as if he could lose himself in Harry forever and never once regret it.

“I love you too, Harry,” Dylan whispered when they finally parted, their foreheads resting together.

“I bloody well hope so,” Harry murmured, a small laugh escaping his lips as tears spilled down his cheeks.

. . .

Now

Dear Harry,

I’d like to tell you a story that will more than likely make you happy.

One day, I was sat in a café, only a twenty-minute walk away from Southend Park School, which is closed down now and turned into a factory to fix airplanes. I bought my usual order of a decaf cappuccino and a slice of toffee apple cake. On this particular day, they added more sugar to my cappuccino, so I knew it would be a good day.

Across from me, a woman sat, her dog lying down at her feet as she read The Catcher in the Rye whilst sipping on a fruit tea. I didn’t think much of it, but I found it interesting the way she would read something and then shakily jot something down in the little notebook on the table.

Anyway, I had originally come to the café so I could write about our trip to Brighton. You were still complaining about the sand in your clothes just last night despite the fact that Brighton has no sand.

“It’s alright, love,” I comforted you, helping you put your pyjamas on.

“It bothers me, Dylan.” You responded, coughing into your handkerchief.

We don’t leave our small bungalow very often because you don’t like to leave the dogs and I don’t like change, but this trip to Brighton was one we had been planning for a year or so, so we didn’t really have much choice in the matter.

We spent a lot of time sat on the beach in the evenings whilst we were there, a blanket wrapped around the both of us as we fed the seagulls. I remember you saying you liked the sound of the ocean because it made you feel like we were seventeen again, running into the ocean without a care in the world.

You then proceeded to mention how worried you are about our Y/N, “I hope she’s doing alright, our Y/N.” You said and then went back to talking about a programme you watched the night before.

You had always worried about Y/N in the years after she left, always asking where she was or what she was up to despite the fact we never got in contact with her again. I also wonder whether or not she is okay, and I knew that if I were to see her again, I would thank her for allowing us the space to fall in love.

It was awfully difficult those months after we kissed in your bedroom. We were constantly berated by people we had never spoken to before, and I knew it bothered you for a while, but we overcame it just like we did every other obstacle in our lives... together.

Anyway, as I continued to write about our trip, the door to the café opened again and three middle-aged people walked over to the elderly lady in the corner. “Come on Mum, we’ve got to say goodbye to Dad now,” the man spoke to her, and she swatted him away. Something about that small action gave me a strong sense of déjà vu.

“Give me a moment,” the woman responded, and the three children sat at the table in the chairs around her.

Eventually, they managed to get her standing up. One of them placed her coat around her shoulders, and another handed her her walking stick. When she turned to look at me, I saw a familiar set of eyes looking straight at me.

The three people aiding her walked to the door and held it open for her. As she was about to step out the door, her walking stick fell out of her shaky hands and right at my feet. I quickly picked it up and handed it to her, her face brightening at the sight of me.

“Thank you.” Her voice still sounded the same all that time ago.

“No... Thank you, my darling.”

[cowaoba]

im sorry but i support womens wrongs and rights so when abby’s a bitch in kingdon fics i cannot be mad at her.

imagine marrying your college sweetheart thinking you’ve hit the jackpot. he’s a goddamn doctor, handsome, funny, and your kids are pretty fucking cute.

then the hours get longer and the uncertainty becomes worse. suddenly you’re juggling being a mother of two with a near-absent husband and a 9-5 in a city that’s not your home. not only that, but now your husband is acting strange and you can’t help but wonder if he’s found a younger, prettier, and smarter intern to his mcdreamy. not only that, but he’s gotten you a fucking puppy and now the kids are too attached to get rid of it.

then you find out he’s been hiding his addiction. and then you feel the guilt, how did you not notice? how could you not see your own husband struggling? then it’s the anger. of course you didn’t fucking see it, you couldn’t see beyond your own two feet between your job, maintaining the house, taking care of the kids, and walking your yapping puppy. then comes the guilt, the avoidance, and the overcompensation.

finally you’re divorced. for just a second you think it might finally be calm again, you might finally be able to relax. at the very least, you’ve got the house to yourself on the weekends. but then come the perils of being an almost 40 year old single mother with primary custody. your ex gets the kids for the weekend, where he’s giving them so much candy and so many apologies and taking them out to every museum, park, and movie available, letting them play with the dog; keeping them so busy there’s no chance for them to throw a tantrum and be disciplined. you’re living by the skin of your teeth and you’re not the “fun mom”, you yell at them and you don’t have a puppy or a bachelor pad with funny neighbors.

and then the new girlfriend comes in. not only is she younger, prettier, smarter, and understands your ex in a way you never really think you did, but she’s sweet, tragic, caring good with kids, and gives you these big sad puppy eyes that make you feel vulnerable the first time you meet.

eventually it’ll get better. eventually your kids will grow up and understand what you had to do to keep their life semi-stable. eventually your ex and his pretty girlfriend will be sorta friends of yours, amicable enough to chat and have a rare dinner together every now and then. eventually you’ll meet someone of your own, someone you connect with and who is pretty, smart, and treats your kids good.

but right now, you’re just exhausted.

[storiesofsvu]

Bump in the Night

Aaron Hotchner x reader warnings: language, some anxiety/fear, aaron to the rescue type vibes, nothing serious, just a creeper. This was supposed to be a drabble... I do not know what happened...

While you weren’t actually part of the BAU, you were best friends with Penelope which meant that any girls night’s, baking tutorials, birthday, Christmas or Halloween celebrations, you were invited. Over all of those events you’d become a friend of everyone on the team, a happy face for them to see after a long week or more away. You regularly helped Penelope get things set up for them or were the one out running errands or picking up treats while she was finishing work. It was as if the two of you were their own personal slice of sunshine, which was exactly why Hotch always felt a blooming of warmth in his chest whenever Garcia mentioned you’d be in attendance or he’d round the corner and lay eyes on you.

The two of you clicked, he surprised himself, already coming out of his shell on the first night you’d met, something he usually reserved until he’d had time to fully profile someone and make sure their intentions were good. Instead you had him laughing by the end of the night, a sight that you definitely wanted to see again. There was a mild flirtation, but nothing that anyone else ever picked up on, and not one that ever moved past a little tease here or there, an offhand comment about how you were prettier than the girl eyeing Aaron up, or that the muscley firefighter really wasn’t your type. You were friends, which was all you really needed.

Friends morphed into good friends over the course of the year that you knew each other. First it was a run in at a coffee shop, Aaron halfway out the door in a rush to work, just enough time to flash you a warm smile and say hello before parting ways.

The second time he was pulling into a gas station, spotting you hanging up the nozzle a few pumps down before you got back into your car to peel away down the street.

The third was the produce section of the grocery store, you spotted him first, eyes darting through the items in his basket, nearly making him jump when you suddenly spoke from behind him once you’d figured out what he was making for dinner.

Number four was a bright sunny Saturday afternoon, Jack had insisted on going to the park with a few friends and Aaron ended up chaperoning. One of the kids spotted a friendly dog and when they raced of to pet it, he realized you were on the other end of the leash and made a comment that he didn’t know you had a dog. With a glittering laugh you explained you were dog sitting and the moment Jack realized you were a friend of his dad’s; Aaron was the one stuck dog sitting while you were being dragged around the playground.

The fifth was a late Friday evening, Jack was away for the weekend and Aaron had stopped to pick up a bottle of wine to have with his take out. While he stood staring at the bottles he caught a movement out of the corner of his eye but didn’t look up until he heard the familiar laugh as you snuck in front of him to grab your favourite. He asked if you had a hot date and you practically snorted, saying the only company you had that night was a pair of sweats and your couch. You then raised a playful eyebrow and teasingly asked if he’d been stalking you and his cheeks instantly tinged pink, nearly fumbling his words as he tried to explain he lived around the corner. Your hand on his elbow suddenly brought him back down to his senses and he was able to laugh it off when he clued in that you were completely joking, explaining you’d been wondering the same thing.

Upon the discovery that you were in adjacent neighbourhoods and that you worked from home, you exchanged phone numbers. On the off chance the jet was delayed, you could pick up Jack from school, stopping at the park for an hour until Aaron was home, maybe even get started on dinner and homework. If there was a last minute case and Jessica was still at work, you’d head over to be the in between buffer so Hotch could leave right away. He was insistent on you calling whenever you needed anything, he picked up your mail when you went on vacation, helped out with the leaky pipe in your laundry room and came in very handy when it came to changing the light bulbs you couldn’t even dream of reaching.

Currently, Jack was away at summer camp and Aaron was swindled into finally using up some of his vacation time. The first few days he’d deep cleaned the house from top to bottom, next it was a similar treatment for the yard. By the time he’d reached the second Tuesday he’d ran out of things to do until he ran into you at the corner store and you suggested seeing a movie considering neither of you had anything to do and the movie theatre air conditioning couldn’t be beat. With the heat on the rise, and a plethora of summer blockbusters you continued the new tradition each night that week. Most days you drove together, Aaron either picking you up or walking you home from his place depending on the weather.

Friday you’d been out with friends for a late lunch, had a handful of errands to run and were closer to the theatre than home, meeting him there. When he asked if you needed a ride you let out a small laugh, explaining that you’d driven, but thanked him anyway, the smile evident on your cheeks as he wordlessly insisted on walking you to your car at the very least.

Car windows down you had music going on the drive home, pulling into the driveway and enjoying the song for one more chorus before finally turning off the ignition and collecting your things. You made your way through the front door, relocking it behind you and tossing your keys down onto the small table in the entry way as you toed off your shoes.

You were making a beeline through the house to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water when a couple of thumps from the other side of the wall caused you to jump, your heart leaping in your chest. You left the kitchen light off, tip toeing through the room and you realized you’d left the kitchen window ajar earlier to get some fresh air in. Letting out sigh of relief you pushed it down so it was only open an inch or two, though your eyes caught movement across the yard, a clattering that sounded like your garbage bins and your brow furrowed, wondering why the automatic security light hadn’t caught what you figured was a raccoon.

Padding across to the doorway you flicked the light switch a couple of times, normally if the light was activated already that did the trick, but this time the yard remained pitch black.

“For fuck’s sake.” You muttered, digging around in a cupboard until you found a spare bulb before unlocking the back door and stepping onto the porch. Reaching up you went to unscrew the bulb and let out another annoyed sigh that it was actually just loose, so you screwed it back in, shielding your eyes as it burst to life.

The screen door swung shut behind you as you stepped back inside and you noticed a small duffle bag on the edge of the porch that at first glance didn’t look that familiar, but you didn’t really think much of it. A few people on your street often leant things to one another and you had been waiting on a couple of gardening tools, but you weren’t about to look into it now. The hairs on the back of your neck were still standing up and you were ready to be back inside behind locked doors, especially as your motion stilled and the light flicked off once again.

As you crossed through the kitchen to finally pull open the fridge you heard yet another clatter from outside and your stomach dropped when the security light flicked back on. Fridge quickly shut you backed into it, up on your toes in an attempt to peer out the window, praying it was just an animal. There was a light scuffling right at the back porch and you were so thankful for having immediately locked the door.

You were even more thankful for the lock when your eyes finally caught the movement, a hand creeping up through the railing near the duffle bag and you couldn’t help the gasp that left your lips. At the sound, the hand froze and you immediately leapt forward, slamming the kitchen window all the way shut and you saw a shadowy figure dart through the outskirts of the yard, just out of reach of the light. Your heart thundering in your chest you were honestly surprised you were able to dig your phone out of your pocket and find Aaron’s contact.

“Hotchner.”

You felt a brief wave of relief wash over you at how quickly he answered, “I’m really wishing I’d taken you up on that ride now…”

“Why?” His voice immediately tensed, “what’s wrong?”

“There’s someone in my yard…” you let out a breath you’d been holding when the light outside flicked off, your shoulders starting to relax, “pretty sure he was there before I got home.” A crash echoed through the air and you jumped, your voice wavering when you spoke again “fuck he’s still here.”

“I’m already on my way, keep the doors locked, the lights off and stay away from the windows.”

“Yeah.” You muttered, heart racing as you heard his car start through the phone and he assured you he’d be right over before the phone line clicked.

Trying to keep your breath calm you kept your eyes trained on the window, backing into the pantry door so you were concealed by the fridge but could still see if the light went off again. It was only a matter of moments later you heard a car squealing to a halt out front, the door slamming shut followed by Aaron’s voice. You caught his shadow moving around the side of the house and the light in the backyard flicked back on when he announced himself, the gate booted open and you were just able to see someone launching themselves over the back fence into the alley before running off. All they needed was the threat of a federal agent and the assumption of a gun to peel off into the night.

You felt your breathing calming down as the sound of running got further and further away, finally dropping down into a chair at the kitchen table. Aaron, being Aaron, wasn’t satisfied with just running the perp off, doing a full sweep of both your front and back yards, checking the alleyway, under the porch and any nooks and crannies anything or person could possibly have been stashed. You heard him on the back step and glanced up to see him sifting though the duffle bag, a frown on his face, his lips pressed into a firm line. With a huff he scooped up the bag and sauntered across the yard, dropping it on the other side of the fence with the garbage before making his way back to the door. A brisk knock echoed through the kitchen followed by his voice,

“He’s gone, it’s just me, Aaron.”

You couldn’t help but let out a breath of a laugh, as if you hadn’t had your eyes on him the entire time, making sure everything was okay. Crossing the room you finally turned the kitchen light on, unlocking the door and letting it swing open.

“Hey.” You smiled softly, “thanks.”

“Of course.” His lips formed a tight smile as he stepped into the house, locking the door behind himself, “just to be safe I want to do a sweep inside, stay put.” His hand squeezed at your elbow as he moved past you and you were left awkwardly standing in your own kitchen until he returned.

“No psycho killers?” You asked, a shaky laugh in your throat.

“All empty.” He nodded, his features softening as he noticed the rapid rising and falling of your chest, “are you alright?”

“Yeah, sure.” You tried to wave him off but he took a step closer to you.

“Come here.” He crooked his hand and you surprised yourself with how quickly you closed the gap between the two of you, enveloping yourself in his arms. Aaron squeezed at you tightly, tucking you under his chin and just letting you breathe until he felt the tension begin to melt away from your body. “It’s alright. He’s gone and I highly doubt he’s coming back.” His lips brushed against the top of your hair as he spoke and something about it calmed you even further, finally pulling out of the embrace.

“What was in the bag?”

“Trophies.” He replied with a sigh and he only caught himself when your eyes widened. “No, no, not those kind of trophies.” His hand squeezed at your shoulder, “sorry. Keepsakes, prizes, expensive things that can be pawned or sold to the highest bidder. My guess is he was only here to get your valuables, you spooked him coming home and he just wanted the bag back, he probably hit a few houses on the block before here.”

“God he was on the porch.” You shivered, “probably right as I walked in.”

“And your instinct was to grab a light bulb?” Aaron’s lips twitched up in a teasing grin and your brow furrowed until you followed his gaze and realized you hadn’t let go of the object yet.

“No.” You huffed, “the backyard light wasn’t working, I went to change it but it just needed to be tightened.”

“You were out there?”

“Yeah.” You shivered again, this time heavier, “he was probably less than a foot away. God, that was stupid.”

“Agreed.” He frowned in your direction, “that happens again you call me right away, alright?”

“You think he loosened it?”

“Most likely. Easier to stay in the darkness, not alert the neighbours of anything weird. You’ve always said Mrs. Ferguson was a bit too nosy.” His lips flicked up into a grin again and you let out a small laugh, “he probably cased the neighbourhood, have you been keeping the same daily routine recently?”

“Yeah.” You nodded, “movies with you. But we almost always go at the same time and tonight’s movie wasn’t any shorter or anything, so why would I have been home before he expected it?”

It was Aaron’s turn to fumble over his words, his cheeks turning a pale shade of pink while he quickly ducked his gaze, letting out an awkward laugh before he glanced back up at you. “I guess now would be the proper time to admit that when I drive, I tend to take the scenic route…”

Your head titled in a curious and adorable way that didn’t help the burning in Hotch’s cheeks, “what? What’d you mean?”

God you were absolutely going to be the death of him and he knew it. This summer had finally brought something to the edge for Aaron and he’d been holding back, happy with the time he got to spend with you. The evening hangouts had began to start to feel more and more like dates with each one that went passed and he’d been hoping that you would start to think the same and be the one to break the tension. Instead, he found himself feeling flustered, standing in your kitchen at nearly midnight having to explain it to you.

“Don’t get me wrong, the movies are great, but there’s something about the way you light up afterwards that just makes me smile.” He started and you felt a fluttering begin in your stomach, one that finally wasn’t due to fear, “hearing you gush about things, delve so deep into characterization or the cinematography of it all, seeing you so passionate about it.. it just makes me happy. Honestly, it’s my favourite part of the day.”

“Oh…” you replied, the realization washing over you and for a moment Aaron was afraid you were about to step back, ask him to leave, but then you giggled and the smile broke out on your lips, “so you’re just a big ole’ softie?”

He shook his head, the smile bright on his cheeks, “I’ve grown to adore the time we spend together. I was planning on taking a detour tonight too, Pintango just launched a lavender honey flavour this week—”

“And you remembered that I couldn’t shut up about wanting to try it after the movie last week…” you felt your cheeks heat, “embarrassing on my part yet endearing on yours.”

“And lucky on life’s behalf that it didn’t happen, you’d be down a few heirlooms and pieces of technology.”

“Yeah, no kidding.” You wrapped you arms around yourself, “my adrenaline’s high enough lord knows I’m not gonna be able to sleep anytime soon.” With a sigh you glanced across at him, “don’t suppose you feel like sticking around for a bit? Keeping me company while I ramble on and on about useless facts?”

The sly smile on your cheeks nearly melted Aaron and he laughed softly, “I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.”

He followed you out to the couch, letting you get comfortable while you voted on a number of different movies before finally settling on one. A movie and a half later and you were relaxed into the crook of his arm, his hand just daring to softly play with your hair. You let out a long yawn, sinking even further into his side and he chuckled softly.

“You should get to bed, get some actual rest.”

“I’m still on edge. I don’t want to have to call you to come running for every bump in the night.”

This time Aaron did squeeze at your shoulder, shifting on the couch so you were forced to sit up straight and he could catch your gaze.

“I meant it when I said I wasn’t going anywhere, at least not until sunrise. That creep’s likely going to come back for his bag, that’s why I dumped it in the alley rather than bringing it inside. I don’t want you to be alone for that.”

“Mmm…” you hummed, a sleepy smile on your cheeks, “you’re sweet. Thank you.” Leaning in, your lips brushed against his cheek and Aaron felt his stomach do a flip flop. He squeezed at your hand, giving you a soft smile as you finally stood up off the couch. “Make yourself at home.”

“Sweet dreams.” He replied and you weren’t sure whether it was his words or the sleepiness that was making everything feel warm and fuzzy as you made your way to the bedroom.

It was a few hours later when you rolled over, only awake enough to shift your body into a more comfortable position until a thump outside had your eyes shooting open. It was very quickly followed up by the hissing of two cats and you let out a huff, rolling back onto your side.

Your bedroom door was left cracked open and there was a sliver of light and the tiniest hint of noise coming from the living room meaning Hotch was likely still awake. You swung your legs over the edge of the bed, reaching for a hoodie to tug over your head before you padded out to the living room, finding your overnight company peering out the window blinds. At the sound of your footsteps he glanced back over to you, his body relaxing.

“Did I wake you?”

“No,” you waved him off with a small yawn, “couple a cats outside my window.” You covered a second yawn with your hand and Aaron barely moved from his spot, curious as to why you were up already. You glanced from him to the couch, a mug of coffee on the coffee table, and finally to the television. “Hey…” you started, picking at the sleeves of your hoodie, “I get you’re doing the whole protective thing—and I appreciate it! I really do…but uh.. there’s no reason for you to stay awake all night.” You took a breath, the butterflies in your stomach fully awake and doing laps, “might as well come to bed.”

“Oh, well I was just going to wait until morning, head home to nap…” He started, unsure of what he even wanted to say. He was pretty sure you’d just woken up, and there was a pretty high change that your choice of words weren’t exactly what you intended, “but if you’re feeling okay, I could make up the couch?”

“Aaron.” You laughed, “the sun’ll be up in a couple of hours anyways, you need to sleep too.”

“I still want to make sure you’re safe, I’ll be alert out here.” He offered and you chuckled once again.

“And if he comes in through the bedroom window? No better place to protect me than right beside me.” You extended out your hand, “c’mon, humour me? Maybe I talk in my sleep and you’ll get to listen to more of those ramblings you seem to adore so much.”

It appeared the lack of adrenaline coursing through your veins and a couple hours of sleep made you not only fully comprehend what Aaron had admitted to earlier, but much more ballsy about acting on it. He laughed softly, feeling the heat creeping up the back of his neck and after glancing between you and the couch he knew that the latter was going to do a number on his back if he actually slept on it. So he flicked off the television, scooped up his phone and your hand slid into his like a glove so you could lead him to the bedroom.

You wordlessly climbed back into your bed, curling up on your side, letting out a soft sigh as you nuzzled into the pillows. Aaron watched you for a moment in the low light, a warmth blooming through his chest at just how at peace and comfortable you were with him around and he realized maybe there was something he liked even better than your ramblings.

“If you’re just gonna stand there and stare at me all night maybe I should kick you back to the couch.” You teased, your eyes cracking open and he let out a huff of a laugh, shaking his head as he snuck under the blankets.

“This okay?” He asked, trying not to take up too much of your space.

“Yes.” You replied, a smile on your lips as your eyes fell shut again, “but I can’t be held responsible if we wake up cuddling.”

Aaron chuckled, relaxing into the pillow as his breathing finally began to slow, chest rising and falling at the same time yours did, lulling him into sleep quicker than he could have imagined.

*

The stream of light coming through the blinds and the chirping of a bird outside your window was what woke him up first, his eyes scrunching slightly before they finally opened. His lips curved up into a grin, as it certainly did seem like you wouldn’t be the one responsible for any cuddling. You’d barely moved from where you’d curled up the night before, just rolled over to face the window, yet Aaron found himself wrapped around your back, arm circled around your waist, his head barely on his own pillow.

He shifted slightly, attempting to stretch out the stiff parts of his body without moving entirely and waking you up. However his attempts proved futile as you let out a soft groan, eyes scrunching at the brightness of the room before you stretched out your legs and rolled over to face him, a sparkle already in your eyes.

“Morning.” You murmured.

“Morning.” He replied, smiling softly.

“So not only are you a softie, you’re a sleep cuddler… what other secrets are you hiding?” You asked with a tease and he laughed.

“Would you believe me if I said I crocheted in my downtime?”

“Not in a million years. You don’t have any downtime.” Laughing, you swatted at his chest before sitting up, fully stretching your body out with a soft groan.

“Guess that one was a little too obvious.” He replied with a chuckle, sitting up at the sound of his phone pinging. He swiped open the notification as you swung your legs out of bed, scrolling through a couple of things on your own phone as you padded toward the hallway.

“Work?” You asked, his footsteps following you down the hallway toward the kitchen, “or do you have time for coffee?”

“No.” He pocketed his phone, “but unfortunately, also no. I promised Garcia I’d help her install one of those cat wall climbing, enrichment, obstacle courses.”

“Cute.” You shot him a smile before scooping out the appropriate amount of coffee for yourself.

“But if you’re free tonight…” he stepped toward you as you turned back to face him, “maybe I could pick you up, we could go get some ice cream?” Somehow Aaron’s heart wasn’t thundering in his ears this time and the smile you looked up at him with really was about to make him melt.

“I’d like that.” You replied, the butterflies in your stomach calmed, spreading warmth through your entire body.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Then it’s a date.” Smiling, his hand reached out, smoothing back a piece of your hair before trailing down your cheek, “I’ll see you at seven.” His hand on your chin he tilted your head to the side, lips brushing against your cheek, lingering for just a moment before he stepped back. You couldn’t help but smile at the slight blush on his cheeks as he gathered his things and headed toward the front door.

“I’ll see you at seven.” You repeated his words, “and Aaron?”

“Hm?”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t ever be afraid to call.”

“Oh believe me, I won’t.”

______________

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[areislol]

A walk in the park

►— pairings. genshin men x gn! creator! reader

►— warnings. crack/fluff, happy sappy stuff

►— synopsis. albedo created a machine where it would bring back their creator, who was stuck in another world, back to where they belonged. but instead of bringing you here to them, it brought them to where you were.

►— a/n. the more i write the more it feels like these are more like fillers.. sigh. once the angst settles in maybe it'll feel more eventful!

►— wordcount. 6k

✧ part five | ✧ part six | ✧ part seven | more tba.. NAVIGATION

recommended to listen to: what once was - her's

Who would've known that all 29 men would be pumped to go out for a picnic?

For a couple of weeks they've been in your home with only a selected few going out to accompany you out for shopping, and through those weeks you've felt like they lacked the sun and the outside world.

Not only that but they were curious about your world as well! So it was the best idea to take them to a park nearby your street and have a picnic as well. Not many people went to the park and if they did it was normally to walk their dogs.

You were more than happy when they all agreed to the plan to go out to the park and have a picnic.

Not only can they have more time to spend with you (ahem cross out the fact that you spend time with them every weekend) but also go out and see the view that they've been wanting to see for a while now.

You along with Diluc discussed about what you were going to bring, what snacks and meals to bring so that Thoma could prepare them with the help of Aether.

It was a nice change after a while, to be outside and having a nice little picnic with your favourite people (don't say who they'll have a fight, from your experience).

One thing that you were most excited about was how this wasn't just an ordinary park. Instead of the normal, prickly grass landscape with benches and a playground for children, there were no playground equipment and no benches at all.

Well.. you could just say that this was more of a plot of unbought land than a park. It was a comforting and quiet area that came with a river beside it, not only that but there were Willow trees near the river line.

Pretty romantic, right?

You were sure they had no feelings for you so why would you care if it was romantic or not? You had no clue as to why.

(No feelings for you? They're literally HEAD OVER HEELS for you, if their advances and courting don't work then they might as well make it obvious to you this day by doing everything they can!)

Currently, you were sitting on the floor, hands smearing sunscreen all over their face like how a mother would to their young child. It was an endearing sight.

Aether happily and quietly sat down in front of you, his eyes screwed shut as you smeared the sunscreen over his cheeks, chin, nose and forehead. You were careful not to touch his eyes with your hands.

Baizhu, Venti and Heizou stared at you in admiration and adoration, the way your brows furrowed in concentration as you tried your best to be careful and gentle with your touch.

They wouldn't wait for their turn, to feel your hands on their face... would it be just like how they imagined?

No matter what they knew they wouldn't be let down, if anything it'd be better than what they imagined from the first place!

Aether looked more than happy, you were just happy that he wasn't like Wanderer (the previous "victim" before Aether) who grumbled and scowled as he tried to swat your hand away a couple of times, he wasn't used to this type of affection.

Never in a million years would he resist his only creator who touched his face, and only after you gently told him to stay still did he listen.

"When do I need to reapply it?" Aether asked, eyes blinking open before moving to the side since you were now done with him, Tighnari came forward and sat down, waiting for his turn.

"Uhhh in like two or three hours? Don't worry I'll remind you!" You smiled, looking up at his face which was covered in white substance.

Aether happily hummed in return before walking away, proudly showing the rest of the men his sunscreen-covered face to the rest of the men. "You look quite giddy, Aether," Zhongli spoke, amused.

"I can say the same for you guys," Aether chuckled plopping down on the couch. Truth be told, they were all giddy to have your hands touch their face, most were teasing Diluc with the fact that he was blushing too hard, his cheeks almost the same colour as his hair.

"You can not be teasing me about blushing when you all are flustered as well! Don't act like you aren't."

Well... he wasn't lying.

For you to even touch them... the mere thought of it would certainly make them faint, but they needed to stay strong and pull it together, what would you think if you were just applying sunscreen on their cheeks and suddenly they passed out?

While you were busying yourself with your own job, Diluc, Kauzha, Itto and Ayato were all packing everything that they needed. You had given them a paper note with everything they needed, consisting of:

Water bottles Hats Bug spray (just in case) Snacks (no beans because of Itto) Extra pencils for Albedo and Tighnari to sketch with Tissues Sunscreen if it gets sunny Jacket just in case it gets cold

"Huh? Why's it crossed out?" Itto questioned, glaring at the scribbled-out sentence hoping that the scribbles would magically clear. Ayato shrugged, grabbing the pack of tissues that were stored in the drawers. "Guess we will never know, now get back to packing!"

Itto let out a small "ouch!" as Ayato hit him with the same packet of tissues. Ayato turned his back on Itto, a faint smile on his lips. He was a genius, minutes before he had scribbled out the last necessity, it had no need whatsoever.

Why have a spare jacket "just in case" when you can have his? A genius, he knows.

"Let's not waste time, they're probably waiting for us, you know." Diluc chimed in, both Ayato and Itto knew better than to stay idle. After a bit, they were finished packing everything.

Everything except the jacket, that is.

But Ayato dismisses it off to you being silly and writing it on accident. "Look outside, the weather is immaculate!" Ayato announced, pointing at the sun shining down onto the floor, small dust particles floating in the air in the sunlight.

Kazuha nods his head, a gentle smile on his face. "Indeed, the weather is amazing. If Y/N does need a jacket by the time we arrive at the park then we could lend them ours."

His idea was what Ayato worried the most, and now he had said it. Fuck, he wanted to be the one to have the idea to lend you his coat. But of course, Kazuha was Kazuha, a gentlemen.

After a couple of minutes they finally finished what they were supposed to do. "Is that everything?" Diluc asked after watching Itto zip up the stuffed bag. "Yup! All we have to do now is tell Y/N that—"

Itto hadn't even finished his sentence when he noticed Diluc walking away with the bags in his hand. Since when did he grab the one out of my hand?! Itto was appalled, obviously he did not expect Diluc to move so swiftly and quickly.

Diluc made his way towards the main area where everyone was, bags in his grasp as he stood near the couch where Aether, Wriothesley and Lyney sat.

Lyney gasped as he noticed the bags and coincidentally, the fresh and warm aroma of baked goods. "Does this mean we'll be going out soon? Oh I can't wait 'till I smell the fresh air..." Lyney sighed in relief, but his moment of happiness didn't last long as Aether playfully slapped his shoulder.

"Did you forget about the times you went outside in the yard? Is that not fresh air?" Aether raised his brow. Lyney rolled his eyes, nodding his head relunctantly while muttering a low "yeah yeah".

Finally, after what felt like infinity you finished applying sunscreen on all of them, it took you longer than expected but you didn't mind, the soft plush of their cheeks—the way they squinted their eyes as you carefully applied the cream near their eyes, was a sight you enjoyed.

Al haitham remained seated on the floor, and to your confusion, you cocked your head to the side. "You're the last person Al haitham, are you tired?" Ah, you were still as sweet as ever.

Your eyes scanned his face, he looked adorable with his almost white-covered face. There was no sign of discomfort at all. Al haitham shook his head, thankful for the sunscreen that covered his arising blush.

"I'm fine, thank you. I just want..." His voice trailed off, eyes darting away from yours. "Just waaannnttt?" You repeated, leaning in towards him with a curious gaze. Damn, you weren't helping at all.

Al haitham sighed, looking back up at you. "Nothing, don't worry about it." Your brows furrowed at his response, knowing that he was lying but backed away reluctantly.

You studied his expression, noting the delicate pink tainting his cheeks (the sunscreen did not justice whatsoever) and the troubled look in his eyes. "Are you sure?" you asked softly, your concern evident in your voice.

He hesitated for a moment. "Positive." he replied, his tone sounding believable for the moment. But your interaction was broken as Venti burst out laughing before yelling out something that Al haitham would most likely chase him for.

(He did.)

"Al haitham is feeling shy, Y/N~! I think he may be in L-O-V-E with you!" Venti giggled, acting drunk even though he has never drunk an ounce of wine in your world. As you turned your head towards Venti your cheeks a light pink ue.

Unbeknownst to you, Al haitham was staring daggers at the bard menacingly, deep down he did not want to deny his interested in you but now.. now was not the right time. He didn't like you, he was just... interested in you is all. Nothing more.

"Shy? Why would he—" "I am not feeling shy, Venti." Al haitham stated before he muttered a small "I apologize, Y/N" all the while his eyes were trained on Venti. The tension in the air was more than enough to get you to stand up and let out a dramatic and loud sigh.

They immediately looked at you, their gazes filled with confusion, anxiety and concern. But more of anxiety at the fact that they might have upsetted you, or more specifically, at the fact that Venti may have upset you and an upset you was definitely anxiety inducing.

Your eyes flickered between Venti and Al haitham, clearly disappointed in them. But by some miracle before they could get scolded, Diluc cleared his throat, catching the attention of you and the others.

"I'm sorry if I interrupted anything but Y/N, we're done packing. Is there anything else you want me to do?" His eyes bore into yours, too intimate for your liking. You shake your head, there was nothing else to do. "No it's fine, I'll go get ready now. Give me a couple of minutes!"

Diluc watched as you got up and scurried to your room, watching as the door closed shut. After your figure left his sight he quickly turned away, about to walk away he was suddenly smacked face front with a pillow.

The room went silent before Childe let out a small "oops.."

Clearly, that pillow wasn't meant for Diluc but for another. "Ah, Diluc. You know I didn't mean that—"

"Save it, Fatui."

Thankfully you were too busy locked in your room wondering what you should wear out. But instead of wasting time choosing and pairing up different clothes, you opted to just go for a casual look with a large straw hat for extra style.

Once you were done you stepped out of your room with your newly changed outfit, perfect for the occasion and weather. You were too busy patting your shirt down to notice the many stares being directed at you.

Despite not physically seeing the men staring at you, you could definitely feel their gaze. It was embarrassing honestly, them and the way they would stare at you. You were sure that you'd get used to them by now but every time it happens you never fail to melt into a large puddle.

You didn't have much time to walk away or prepare the others as you felt much larger and warm arms wrapping around your waist. You tensed up, looking over your shoulder to see—

"Childe!" You exclaimed, warmth creeping to your cheeks as you realised how close he was, he buried his head in your neck, arms snaked around your waist and holding you closely pressed against his stomach.

"Save me from that madman!" He pleaded, pointing to the furious red-haired male. You quirked your eyebrow, trying to grasp the situation.

Wait, was he... using you as a shield right now?

Shaking your head, you stared at Diluc, letting out a sigh before removing Childe's hand from your body and walking over to Diluc, pinching his cheeks.

"Just what are you doing to Childe?" You asked, scolding him all the while Childe watched, smirking.

Diluc muttered a small "nothing" when you stopped pinching his (chubby) cheeks, a delicate pink reaching his cheeks. Just as Childe was about to speak Venti interrupted him, much to Diluc's relief.

"Y/N! When are we going? We're all ready." You turned your head to the side and he was correct, they all looked dolled up and ready to leave. The sight itself made you smile. "Right now."

—

You really wanted to book a cab to save yourself some time to walk, but with 28 men? Yeah, no chance.

Currently, you are on your way with 28 men trailing behind you with Ayato and Wriothesley beside you. The park wasn't that far but since everybody had different walking paces sometimes you had to stop and wait for them (cough cough Baizhu cough cough).

Despite the occasional stops, the walk was filled with lively chatter and laughter. Venti played a cheerful tune on his lyre, and the sound of it seemed to do the opposite of lifting everyone's spirits.

When you finally reached the park, the men wowed in aw. The sun was shining, birds were singing, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees.

You found a perfect spot under a large oak tree with ample shade and enough space for everyone. Alhaitham and Zhongli set about laying out the picnic blanket while Diluc and Kaeya carried the baskets filled with food and drinks.

Lyney and Tighnari helped you settle down, making sure you were comfortable. The others began to gather around, forming a loose circle. Xiao and Cyno were already scoping out the area, ensuring it was safe and secure. You couldn't help but smile at their actions.

"It's safe don't worry," You spoke, trying to ease their worry. Xiao nods his head. "I know… I was just making sure." He murmured, a faint blush on his cheeks though you dismiss it as the heat.

"Alright, everyone, let's settle down!" you called out, clapping your hands together.

The group erupted into action. Kazuha and Kaveh began setting out the various dishes they had prepared, each one looking more delicious than the last. Pantalone and Pierro arranged the drinks, ensuring there was something for everyone.

Albedo, Baizhu, and Thoma took charge of ensuring that the surrounding area was safe from dangerous bugs and whatnot. You wanted to help as well but they all (scarily) disagreed with a synchronized "no." and "we'll do it, you just relax and enjoy."

As everyone settled down, you found yourself sandwiched between Venti and Wanderer, who seemed intent on keeping you by their side. Across the blanket, you could see Albedo and Tighnari deep in conversation, likely discussing some fascinating "alchemical theories".

You glanced over at Baizhu, who was taking a moment to rest. Baizhu caught your eye and gave you a reassuring smile as if to say he was fine and enjoying himself.

The aroma of various dishes filled the air, making everyone’s stomachs growl in anticipation.

"Are you not going to eat?" You asked, cocking your head to the side as you watched Baizhu lie down on the blanket, seemingly bored out of his mind. He hums softly for a moment before replying.

"I'll eat later don't you worry. However, the naan and chicken curry smells delicious. You should try that first."

You nod your head. "Sure—"

"No, you should definitely try the salted chips, I ate some earlier and it was so good!" Venti intervened, a bright and wide smile on his lips as he spoke of how delicious the salt was on the chips.

"You should try the dango first," Ayato insisted, holding out a stick of the sweet treat.

"No, the chicken skewers are the best way to start," Childe countered, waving one in front of you.

"How about some fresh fruit? It's light and refreshing," suggested Tighnari, offering a bowl filled with colorful slices.

"Soup first," Diluc said firmly, presenting a thermos of warm, savory broth.

You couldn't help but laugh at their attempts to sway your decision. "Alright, alright, I'll eat everything eventually," you said, trying to calm the frenzy. But they only seemed to become more determined.

But after a little, they gave up (some merely pretended to) with low, disappointed mumbles. Everyone began to pick out their food and ate, talking amongst one another, playing cards or simply just admiring the view (you).

You were about to eat some chicken when Venti interrupted once again. "Here, try this," Venti said, playfully feeding you a bite of apple pie. You chewed and smiled, the sweetness filling your mouth.

"How about this one?" Xiao asked, gently offering a piece of grilled fish. You accepted it, savouring the flavor as the others looked on with amusement and jealousy.

"Hey, no fair, we wanted to feed them too!" Itto exclaimed, crossing his arms.

"There's enough for everyone," you reassured, reaching out to take a bit from the various dishes presented to you. Each bite brought new flavors and voices vying for your attention.

Amidst the laughter and friendly arguments, you felt a wave of happiness. This chaos, this silly competition to see who could please you the most, was very amusing to watch unravel before you.

After everyone had their fill, you wiped your mouth and looked around at the eager faces. "Alright, you can go play now," you said with a grin. Childe erupted cheers, being the first to jump up, thanking you and grabbing Ittos arm.

"Finish the chase you started," He sneered, wanting to show everyone of how much of an idiot Itto was. "Oh, you're on!" Itto replied, beginning to chase Childe like a madman while Childe taunted him.

"Those idiots.." Diluc sighed, looking away from the embarrassing sight. You hummed in response, continuing to bite down on the fruits as you watched them both. "How do you even put up with them?" Diluc asked.

You shrugged your shoulders. "I don't even know."

Albedo, Tighnari, and Cyno stayed behind, preferring a quieter afternoon. They sat with you, Albedo sketching in his notebook while Tighnari discussed botanical topics. You listened intently, occasionally asking questions there and then.

Zhongli and Wriothesley settled beside each other, munching on the snacks. and offering you some there and then. Al haitham, Kaveh and Ayato simply talked to one another, playing the game you taught them—"I Spy".

It was quite fun, it started off as a small group but others began to join after overhearing them play. It seemed fun. Needless to say, Heizou, Dottore, Gorou, Lyney, Venti and Wanderer joined in, some screamed out in excitement, their eyes scanning the area to find the answer.

The sight was funny, for you anyway. Seeing them get all riled up over the wrong answer and fighting over who would go next.

Neuvillette, Thoma, Kazuha, Kaeya, Diluc and Baizhu all did their own things, Neuvillette was staring at the lake, watching the ducks swim by and the frogs hopping on one lily pad to another.

Thoma secured each container and made sure that the rubbish was in the rubbish bag, Kazuha watched the scenery and scribbled in his book, Kaeya laid down on your legs, feeling content as you played with his hair. Diluc finally got seated down next to you and simply sat there, enjoying your presence.

And Baizhu was now seated up, snacking on some of the food that you saved for him and ChangSheng.

While watching the things around you, you felt happy, overwhelmingly happy, the aura was so positive, and everyone was having fun and that made you happy.

It made you realise that you needed to record the memories somehow so that you could always look back and remember the feelings you felt back then.

Grabbing your phone from your pocket you pressed the record button, recording the men playing I Spy, they laughed and yelled, enjoying themselves.

You took a moment to soak it all in, feeling a warm sense of contentment. Being surrounded by so many people who cared about you made your heart swell with love.

"What are you doing?" Diluc questioned, leaning towards your side and watching you record them. You don't take your eyes off the phone and just smile. "Recording memories, they look so happy."

Diluc hums, eyes glancing up at you and then down at your phone. "Do you mind if I borrow your phone for a moment?" he asked, his voice gentle.

You glanced at him, surprised but trusting. "Sure, go ahead."

He took the phone from your hand, and you expected him to record the others playing. Instead, he turned the camera towards you, your phone capturing your surprised expression. "Smile," He softly said.

"W—Wait! Not my face!" You shrieked, instinctively covering your face with your hands, your voice muffled behind your fingers. You could feel the heat rising to your cheeks, embarrassed by the sudden attention.

"Why not? I think it's important to have memories of you as well," he replied, his eyes meeting yours through the screen. He gently pulled your hands away from your face, trying to coax you into letting him capture your smile.

You peeked through your fingers, feeling both shy and touched by his words. "Because… I don't know. I just prefer being behind the camera," you admitted, eyes not meeting the lens.

"Well, I think it's time you get used to being in front of it," Diluc said, his smile still so gentle and tender. He held the phone steady, patiently waiting for you to relax.

Taking a deep breath, you slowly lowered your hands, trying to muster the courage to face the camera. "Alright, but just for a moment," you said, your voice shaky yet determined.

He began recording again, and you tried to smile naturally, feeling embarrassed. "There you go," he encouraged, his eyes never leaving yours. "See? It's not so bad."

You couldn't help but laugh at his persistence, the sound light and genuine. "Fine, you win," you said, finally giving in.

Diluc laughed along with you, "Perfect," he said, his voice filled with affection. "Alright, let me record the rest of them now." You laughed, getting back your phone and making sure that you videoed everyone.

But that wasn't enough. You began to take photos of everyone, mid-eating pictures, photos of Childe and Itto panting, falling onto the ground as the passerby looked at the both of them in confusion. There was a picture for everyone.

You took some photos of the scenery as well, especially the sky and the lake although some of the photos included the faces of the men. "Is it okay if I post this on my story? It's friends only." You pointed at the photo in your gallery, waiting for Ayato's response.

Ayato smiled, nodding his head. "I don't mind, just make sure that I look good before posting" You rolled your eyes playfully. "Of course, I wouldn't do you dirty."

You took your time in picking out a good song for the picture for your story, making sure to edit it and make it look aesthetically pleasing for your friends. You posted a lot, around six or more photos, even some silly filter selfies with you and Diluc.

(Diluc would rather die than admit it but he really enjoyed the silly filters with you, especially the alien and dog ones.)

"Why do we look like that?"

"It's called a filter! Here, look.." You flipped the camera around, the lens focusing on Heizou's face as he continued guessing, unaware of the filter on his face that sharpened his features and gave him a whole facelift.

Holding back your laughter you let out small laughs, trying to not attract attention. "See?"

"Do it on Pierro."

"Oh, you're evil."

The sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the park, Some of the men had fallen asleep, and you were fighting the urge to just fall asleep in a click.

You felt a wave of drowsiness wash over you and leaned your head on Diluc’s shoulder, your eyes growing heavy.

Diluc, silent as ever, noticed your weariness. He adjusted himself slightly to give you a more comfortable spot, his shoulder a firm support.

Childe, who had recovered from being chased around by Itto, bounded towards you, ready to call out your name with his enthusiasm. “Hey, Y/N–”

His voice died in his throat as he caught sight of Diluc’s glare. “Wake them up and I’ll murder you,” Diluc’s eyes promised without needing to utter a word.

Childe, recognizing the threat behind those eyes, immediately clamped his mouth shut, smiling sheepishly before turning around and walking over to where the others were.

The other men, aware of your state, exchanged nods and communicated in hushed tones, not daring to wake you up.

"It's getting late, should we go back?" Kazuha questioned, his eyes scanning the sky and the park, there were fewer people and it was comfortingly quiet with the occasional chirping of the birds.

"The sun is setting…" Neuvillette pointed out, his gaze wavering on your sleepy face. It didn't take long until the rest of the men agreed that they should leave.

Diluc carefully shifted, preparing to carry you back home. With the help of Zhongli and Ayato, they managed to hoist you onto Diluc’s back without disturbing your sleep.

As they began to walk back to your place, the gentle rhythm of Diluc’s steps and the warmth of his body slowly roused you from your sleep. You blinked groggily, realizing that someone was carrying you.

Diluc’s warmth enveloped you, his warmth was comforting and he smelled good as well. You instinctively nuzzled closer to him, feeling safe and content.

“Sorry for waking you,” Diluc’s voice was soft, almost apologetic. “We’re heading back now.”

You smiled sleepily, the drowsiness still present. “No, it’s okay,” you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper.

Diluc’s hold on you tightened slightly, the others walked around you, occasionally glancing back to ensure you were alright, their faces a mixture of concern and affection.

The walk back was quiet for the most part, the earlier energy of the day giving way to a peaceful silence. The night air was filled with the sounds of crickets and the soft rustle of leaves.

Each step Diluc took was steady and deliberate, the warmth radiating off his back made you want to fall back asleep but as you lifted up your head you realised that you were near your home.

Finally, arriving at your place, Diluc gently lowered you down, ensuring you were steady on your feet. The men began to settle their things, chatting softly among themselves about the day's events.

Thoma and Aether immediately took charge of the kitchen, efficiently cleaning up and wrapping the leftovers with practised ease.

You made your way to your bedroom, grabbing a white top and shorts before walking into the bathroom, and stepping into the shower, the warm water cascaded over your skin, washing away the tiredness and leaving you feeling rejuvenated.

You let the water run along your back, letting out a sigh from the sensation. This is what you need after a day out.

The familiar scent of your body wash enveloped you, a comforting aroma that lingered even as you stepped out. Dressed in a simple white top and shorts, you felt ready to wind down for the evening. You stepped out of the bathroom and walked towards the washing machine, throwing your clothes into the machine.

"Feeling better?" Aether asked, looking up at you as he sat on the couch, reading a comic book. You nod your head, plopping down beside him. "You smell good," He crooned, leaning in towards you, his nose almost touching your neck.

You let out a whine at the ticklish sensation, pushing his head away. "It's my body wash, maybe you should try it." Aether offered you a small smile. "Hm, maybe."

One by one, the rest of the men took their turns in the shower, each emerging looking more relaxed and at ease. Despite the tiredness evident on their faces, there was an underlying sense of contentment from the day well spent. It was already 7 pm, and the house buzzed with a quiet, tired energy.

Diluc, always attentive, handed you a cup of tea. “Here, this should help you relax,” he said, his voice soft and caring. You took the cup gratefully, the warmth seeping into your hands as you sipped.

“Thanks,” you murmured, giving him a small, appreciative smile.

The living room was soon filled with the men, some lounging on the couches, others finding comfortable spots on the floor. Xiao sat nearby, his usually stern expression softened as he listened to the soft music that played on your record player.

Thoma and Cyno joined you on the couch, Thoma still drying his hair with a towel. “Today was fun,” Thoma said, his eyes sparkling with the remnants of the day’s excitement.

You hummed, taking another sip of your tea. “It really was. I’m glad we got to spend time together like this.”

Cyno smiled warmly. “We should do it more often. It’s good to take a break. And the games we played were fun as well.”

Before you could respond, the persistent buzzing of your phone pulled your attention away from the peaceful evening. You picked up your phone, noticing the flurry of notifications from friends reacting to your latest story.

Messages like

"Oh my gosh!! So pretty!" and "You didn't invite me?? :(" filled your lock screen. Some friends commented, "Looks like you had a lovely time, next time invite me xx" and "WOWW!! Who are those cuties??"

One particularly bold message read, "You gotta give me their number, mannn, they…" trailing off suggestively.

Smiling, you responded to each message, enjoying the interaction. You took a little more time replying to Elisa, your new friend who had recently joined your circle. Despite her outward friendliness, there was something about her that felt off, but you pushed that thought aside.

Perhaps she was just shy?

Her message read,

"Hey, saw your story! That looked like so much fun! Are you free tomorrow night? There's this amazing party my friends hosting at 8 PM, it's going to be epic and it lasts till the next morning. There will be plenty of boys and girls as well~ You should totally come!"

After a moment's hesitation, you replied,

"Hey Elisa! Thanks for the invite. That sounds fun! I think I'll come, no drinking though…"

Elisa's response was almost instant.

"Great! Can't wait to see you there! Wear something cute! If you can't find any I'll lend you mine, or I can help you piece 'em up together! Night!"

As you put your phone down, you couldn't help but feel excitement and slight unease about the party. "Everything okay?" Zhongli's calm voice broke your reverie. He had a knack for sensing your moods.

"Yeah, just got invited to a party tomorrow night," you replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Will you be going?" he asked, his eyes steady on yours.

"I think so," you said, smiling. "It might be nice to get out with my friends for a bit."

Zhongli nodded, though his gaze remained thoughtful. "Just be careful. Parties can be unpredictable."

Wriothesley, sitting nearby, chuckled. "We'll make sure you get there and back safely." You smiled gratefully at his words. "Aw, thank you! You guys are the best" Wriothesley let out a cough, looking away with a slight tint of red at the tip of his ears.

Suddenly the wall looked interesting.

The evening went on, the men gradually settled into a comfortable silence. Albedo and Kazuha were engrossed in a deep discussion about poetry and science as usual, while Kaeya and Itto exchanged playful banter, their laughter filling the room.

You found yourself gravitating towards the large window, looking out at the darkening sky. The stars were beginning to twinkle, and the moon cast a soft glow over everything.

Childe plopped down next to you, his usual boisterousness tempered by the day’s events. “You did good today, keeping everyone together,” he said, a hint of admiration in his voice.

You chuckled softly. “It’s not that hard when you have such great company.”

Childe grinned, his eyes twinkling at your words. “Still, it’s nice to see you enjoying yourself. You deserve it.”

The room gradually quieted as the tiredness caught up with everyone. Diluc suggested that everyone get some rest. “We’ve had a long day. Let’s all get some sleep,” he said, his tone gentle yet firm.

You nodded in agreement. “He’s right. We should all rest up.”

The men began to disperse, finding their respective sleeping spots. Some of them opted for the couches and floor cushions, while others made their way to the guest room or into your room.

Today, Baizhu and Lyney would be the (lucky) ones to sleep in your bed. They all made their way to your bed with Baizhu going first, you, and then Lyney. Settling in, you pulled the covers over you all, feeling snug as you immediately began to melt into your bed.

"Night guys," You yawned, sleeping on your side, closing your eyes as Thoma closed the lights and rolled the blinds down, the room fully dark now. "Good night." They responded all at different times, some had already fallen asleep.

"This week I can leave campus early, so I'll go buy some more mattresses for you guys okay" The men hummed in response. "Who's coming with you?" Wanderer asked because if you didn't have someone set in your mind, he called dibs.

You let out a sigh, thinking about your answer. "I'm not sure… anyone I guess."

"I call dibs." Wanderer quickly stated.

"Hey no fair! I was going to call dibs!" One said.

"I dibbed in my mind so I was the first one" Another said.

"It doesn't work like that, idiot!"

The house soon fell into a peaceful silence, the only sounds being the occasional rustle of blankets and the soft breathing of your companions.

But for some odd reason, you couldn't fall asleep despite how tired you felt (possibly might be because of the tea). You couldn't shake the nagging thought that… the joy you experienced might be the last time you would see them all.

You knew that they didn't belong in your world, that they would have to return one day, but in the back of your mind, you prayed that luck would be on your side. But the realization hit you like a punch to the gut, wondering what the future held for them all.

You knew better, you told yourself, "Don't get attached." but now? You could care less, even if would hurt you in the end. Instead, you chose to embrace the present moment, savouring every laugh, every smile, and every shared memory as if it were your last.

You closed your eyes, feeling the comfort of the day’s memories. Surrounded by the people you cared about, you let yourself drift off to sleep, knowing that no matter what, you were never alone.

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(if the usernames aren’t highlighted that’s because I can’t tag you so I’ll dm you when I post a new chapter! if i forgot to tag you im so sorry!)

additional notes: i may not be able to see your comment to be added to the taglist for the earlier chapters (1, 2, 3, etc) so please hop in my inbox and tell me as it'll be easier for me! thanks for reading :)

liking + following + reblogs are greatly appreciated!!!

[justallihere]

i've been talking about this for two months now, but we're past onyx storm and i'm finally far enough into this fic that i'm almost ready to start posting, which means. . .

dead on arrival chapter 1 will be coming your way on feb 3rd!

this is a bones-inspired modern au, and i'm in love with every moment of it so far. i can't wait to start sharing it with you, but in the meantime, here's the summary - and below the cut, a longer look into the first bit of chapter 1

Violet Sorrengail is a forensic anthropologist good with only one thing: dead people. Their bones speak a language only she can hear, but the living aren't quite so easy to understand - particularly one FBI Agent Xaden Riorson, who does everything possible to get under her skin. When an unexpected murder victim washes up in DC, the ensuing investigation brings them closer together despite her every effort to stay away, and she's forced to decide if the careful distance she keeps around her heart is really worth it.

There was a dead body.

That was what the text message said anyway, the one that interrupted Violet Sorrengail’s music with a cheerful little ding and made her flinch. It popped up on the screen of her car—from FBI Agent Xaden Riorson.

7:03 am There’s a dead body. I’ll pick you up in 10. 

When she read it, she rolled her eyes. Of course there was a fucking dead body. That was the only reason he ever texted, called, emailed, or otherwise contacted her. There was a steady stream of texts from him dating back six months, from their first case together, all variations of: Got a body. On my way to pick you up. Any updates on the case? Why aren’t you in the lab? I have new evidence for you. Never so much as a hello or a how are you. If his neck was more easily reachable, she would have strangled him by now, but as it was, he stood about fifteen inches taller than her, and Violet hated both high heels and step stools, so he got to keep breathing. For now. 

A bark came from the passenger seat. She spared a glance at Tairn and found the dog was already glaring at the car screen, as if he knew exactly who had texted. He held a special sort of contempt for Xaden Riorson that Violet didn't think he'd ever shown anyone she knew, and he'd been her service dog for almost three years.

She was stuck at a red light, so she took a fortifying drink of her coffee and then plucked her cell phone out of the second empty cup holder to respond. 

7:04 am  it’s 7 in the morning on a monday y tf do u think i’m in the lab already. i’m 20 min away 

Riorson hated shorthand text. Violet normally didn’t do it, but once, in a hurry, she’d typed bc instead of because, and it was the first thing he’d commented on the next time he saw her. She’d made it a point ever since to shorten as many words as possible. 

7:04 am  Then I’ll pick you up in 20. Washed up from the Potomac at a park in Alexandria a couple hours ago.

Sounded lovely—and unstable for her, given it had rained the entire weekend before and she could break or dislocate just about anything with a single wrong look.

It took her twenty-two minutes instead of the promised twenty to get to the lab, and she felt confident Riorson was losing his mind. He had a thing for punctuality that bordered on compulsive. Sure enough, he was already there, his government-issued SUV parked next to her usual spot. He stood outside it, leaning against the closed driver’s door, wearing a sleek black suit and aviators, not a strand of dark hair out of place. He looked the perfect picture of professionalism, were it not for the tattoo on his left arm that wound from wrist to jawline. The early morning sun gilded his brown skin, and he looked almost ethereal. It was both infuriating and unfair how beautiful he was, but he made up for it by being a complete and utter dick most of the time. 

Riorson was too composed to show any outward signs of impatience, but Violet was sure he was counting the seconds it took her to gather her coffee, her phone, and her bag and climb out of her own car to join him. Instead of waiting for her to round the car and open the passenger door, Tairn followed her out of the driver's side, his leash trailing. She didn't bother to pick it up; he stuck close to her side regardless, his nose nearly against her thigh.

“I need to go inside and get waders,” she informed Riorson instead of offering any polite greeting. She knew he certainly wasn’t going to offer her one. She skirted around the back of his car to the passenger side. She was wearing jeans and a white sweater and sneakers—not exactly appropriate attire for investigating a dead body on a riverbank. “I’ll be right back.” 

“Your waders and boots are in the trunk, and Sloane has the rest of all your fancy tools and equipment. She rode ahead to the scene with Rhiannon.” 

Well, that at least answered the question of which intern was on the schedule today. And hopefully Rhiannon was far enough ahead of them that she’d be done with her preliminary analysis by the time Violet got there. If this was the FBI’s problem, and Riorson wanted Violet there, then the remains were presumably in bad shape. 

Violet opened the back door for Tairn and stood back as he jumped inside, settling on the nice leather seats without a care for his claws. There were scratches in the material already, but Violet was sure most of them came from Xaden's own dog, Sgaeyl. She wasn't a service dog like Tairn, but Riorson had brought her around a few times, usually when a case called them in on a weekend or late at night. Tairn used his teeth to tug his leash closer when it dangled, and then sat back on his haunches, looking at her expectantly. She shut the door.

Violet climbed into the passenger seat, dropping her bag at her feet and her coffee in one of the cup holders, then buckling her seat belt as Riorson climbed in next to her, starting the car without a word. 

He was seemingly allergic to music, so they almost always rode in silence. Violet was never quite sure why he felt the need to drive her to crime scenes. She could just as easily get herself there, or hitch a ride in the forensics van with Rhiannon or Ridoc. But since the very first case, he’d insisted, and he was about as much fun to argue with as a brick wall, and some things simply weren’t worth the energy to complain about. 

Every so often, Tairn would make a little chuffing noise in the back seat, but he didn't actually lean forward and alert, so she ignored him. He was always restless and grumbling around Xaden. Despite his relative youth, he acted remarkably like an old man.

"So why are we going to Alexandria?" Violet asked skeptically as Riorson weaved expertly through the early morning DC traffic, heading the opposite way Violet had just come from. She had a charming, spacious house in Georgetown she'd received as a gift from her father, with a secluded backyard and even a small heated pool. As one of the most renowned forensic anthropologists in the world, she made good money, enough to cover the utilities and the property taxes and insurance with ease, but it was still far too rich of a neighborhood for her; she never could've afforded it outright. There had been questions for a while about where the money came from for her father to afford to buy her such a place, if it had been earned through legal means, but after six months of investigating when she first got the deed, everyone had stopped looking into it, and she'd been able to finally move in with no problems.

She'd been there for three years now with no additional issues. She suspected that was her mother's doing, but Lilith Sorrengail had never admitted it outright.

"Because that's where the dead body is?" Riorson offered dryly without taking his eyes from the road.

Violet huffed, and Tairn echoed the noise behind her. "It's in Virginia," she said, like it should've been obvious, because it should have. "What makes this the FBI's problem? Shouldn't local police get first dibs?"

"They don't want it," he answered. "The remains are in bad enough shape that we need you, Sorrengail. Do you really think Alexandria PD has the resources to investigate this?"

"Do you really think I know anything about the resources Alexandria PD has?" she countered. She didn't, and she didn't want to. That fell into the pile of things that were very firmly not her problem. Her brain had a lot of room, but local police jurisdiction wasn't really something she bothered to make space for. Riorson gave her bodies, and she told him how they died. That was her job.

He did look at her then, a brief, cutting glance from the corner of his eye. "I thought you knew everything."

She rolled her eyes. "Obviously not, Riorson."

A little smirk curled up one corner of his mouth, but he didn't say anything else.

Violet spent the rest of the car ride braiding her hair. She kept it long, and she liked to wear it loose, but her work didn't often lend to it. When she was younger, her older sister, Mira, had braided it into a crown for her when she'd gone through a phase of reading only princess books, and had taught her to do it herself as a teenager. It had quickly become her signature style in college and while she completed her PhD; it was the easiest way to ensure it was all out of the way while she was in the lab or on the university's body farm, studying decomposing remains. Beyond its practicality, she just thought it was pretty, especially because the ends of her hair were leached of all pigment, so the silver strands looked interesting all weaved together.

It was a challenge in the car—she had to lean forward to flip her hair over and start the plait at the back of her head, which didn't do great things for her heart rate—but it wasn't the first time she'd done this and it wouldn't be the last. She had hair ties and pins in her bag that she held between her teeth until she needed them.

By the time she was done, they'd reached the crime scene. The park was right on the Potomac River, and already blocked off with yellow tape. Riorson eased the SUV around a group of civilians standing and tittering as they watched the FBI forensics team as they gathered evidence. Violet couldn't find her own people among the sea of navy jackets, so they must have been closer to the river.

She hopped out and paused when her head spun, bracing a hand on the open door. Tairn barked, scratching at the door she hadn't yet opened for him.

"You good, Violence?" Riorson paused, leaning back down to look at her through his own open door. His sunglasses slid down his nose, revealing dark eyes and long, thick lashes.

She lifted her head enough to glare at him. "Don't call me Violence."

[joelalorian]

The Dog Days of Starting Over - Part One

Joel Miller x f!reader | WC: 1386 | 18+ MDNI | masterlist

Summary: Joel is hit with the loneliness of an empty nest when Sarah goes overseas for college. Her solution? Adopt a dog. That may just change Joel's life.

Series Tags/Warnings: 18+ mdni. Empty nester Joel. Loneliness and sadness. Humor. Cursing. Dog park shenanigans. Awkward flirting. Socialization for dog and human. Probably more to come. Slow burn to start.

A/N: This short series is inspired by my own adventures at the dog park with Benny every weekend morning and the interesting people we've met. Hope you enjoy.

Series Masterlist

Part One

The silence in the house was deafening. Like the fading ring of a gunshot, it echoed in the ears of its only occupant.

Joel Miller sat on the edge of his daughter’s neatly made bed, calloused hands resting on his jeans-clad knees because he didn’t know what else to do with them. The early afternoon sunlight slanted through the half-closed blinds, casting striped shadows across the comforter.

He hadn’t even needed to tell her to make it every day; Sarah just did it. Had since she was a little thing, insisting on tucking in the corners the way Uncle Tommy told her he had to do in the Army. Now the bed sat as arranged and oddly sterile as a museum display in her absence.

Little remnants of Sarah were still scattered across the comforter. A half-folded sweater lay draped across the foot of the bed, left behind in the last-minute shuffle to zip up her overstuffed suitcase. A few plush animals – a lopsided duck, a white bear with a frayed ribbon, and a gray wolf – still sat vigil on the pillow, exiled when space ran out. Joel didn’t know what to do with them, so he left them all there. Other items also left their mark around the room. A photo strip tucked into the mirror frame showing the two of them, cheek to cheek, making ridiculous faces at the camera. The faint scent of lavender and citrus lingered in the air, soft and stubborn just like his little girl.

It all made his heart hurt beneath the pride.

Three hours ago, Joel hugged her tightly outside the security gate at Austin-Bergstrom airport. Watched her disappear through the crowd with a brave wave and a trembling smile, carrying a backpack nearly as big as she was and a heart set on studying abroad. Oxford, of all places. Off to study environmental justice or political philosophy, or whatever major caught her fancy this week.

He was so damn proud, of course he was. Overjoyed, even. He should’ve been strutting around like a peacock. Not many people from their town could say their kid was studying in England. But pride didn’t fill the house. Pride didn’t make conversation when you made dinner for one.

That first night was the worst.

“Come on, brother. Let’s go to the bar, get your mind off Sarah.” Tommy stopped by to check on him, knowing how attached Joel was to his only child. She was his whole world, after all. “It’s time you start living life for yourself.”

Joel blew him off, opting to stay home and fester in his loneliness. And fester he did.

He drifted through the rooms like a shadow, picking things up and setting them down again without purpose or thought. He reheated some chili from the freezer but forgot it in the microwave for hours. He didn’t bother heating it again when he finally remembered to eat. He sat on the couch but didn’t register a damn thing that played full blast on the TV. Eventually, he wandered back to Sarah’s room after a few too many glasses of amber liquid and collapsed on top of her comforter fully clothed, the faint scent of her shampoo clinging to the pillow beneath his cheek. The smell reminded him of all those years spent washing her hair for her. No one had to know about the wetness in his eyes as he stared at the ceiling, his mind replaying all the precious moments with Sarah.

He wouldn’t have slept a wink if not for the whiskey. Even then, he woke up parched and groggy, the early sunlight turning his headache into a pounding drumbeat behind his eyes. Joel could have sworn there was a high school marching band playing its heart out between his ears. He was halfway through downing two aspirin and a tall glass of ice water when the phone rang.

“I’m just checking for proof of life,” Sarah’s voice floated through the receiver, warm and teasing. Clear, too. Surprisingly crisp for a call coming from across the Atlantic. The marvels of modern technology, he thought as he blinked away the fuzz in his brain.

“Hey, babygirl,” he greeted, doing his damnedest to sound steady and not like he fell apart at the seams last night. “I take it you made it there safe? You all settled in?”

“It’s amazing, Dad!”

Her joy was infectious. A tired smile crept across his lips as she regaled him with every moment of her journey, from her window seat overlooking the clouds to her tiny dorm room on campus. Her new roommate was ‘super posh’, she said, and used words like brilliant and rubbish without irony. Joel had no idea what half of what she said meant, but he laughed whenever she did. One day in and she was having the time of her life.

She kept him on the phone for nearly an hour, talking fast about anything and everything that came to mind, pausing only to catch her breath or toss in a sarcastic remark that sounded so much like Tommy, his heart ached. Ever perceptive, Sarah knew that her dad would be lonely without her. They’d never been apart for longer than the few weeks when she used to go to summer camp. This was uncharted territory, and her heart ached for him.

She knew he was hurting.

“Maybe you should get a dog, Dad,” she said gently as the conversation began to wind down. “You need someone to talk to that isn’t a cactus.”

Joel snorted, rubbing a large hand across his stubbled jaw. “I talk to Tommy and the TV plenty.”

“Yeah, and neither one of them is capable of intelligent conversation.” Sarah laughed at her own cleverness.

He chuckled despite himself. “Neither is a dog, sweet girl.”

“No shit, Sherlock—”

“Hey now!”

“Sorry, Dad,” Sarah replied, though she clearly wasn’t regretful given the grin in her voice. “You do remember I’m an adult now and allowed to curse, right?”

The snark was strong with that one. Tommy was a bad influence.

“I don’t need remindin’.”

There was a beat of silence, soft and thoughtful.

“I just don’t like the thought of you being all alone,” she admitted, quieter now. “I know you don’t mind the quiet like I do, but… This is different, you know? You’ve always had me around for the past eighteen years, and now I’m not there.”

Joel stared at the dust motes floating in the air, highlighted by the sunlight filtering across the counter, his throat tightening.

“Yeah,” he said softly, vulnerably, “I know.”

“So, just… think about it? A dog would make good company. And you could take it to the dog park for socialization for both of you.”

He rolled his eyes. “Alright, smartypants. I’ll think ‘bout it.”

“See that you do,” she commanded playfully.  A pause, and then she added in the softest voice he’d ever heard her use, “I love you, Dad. Miss you so much.”

Something in Joel’s chest tightened, and the small pit of emptiness grew, knowing it was time to say goodbye. “Love you too, baby. Be good. Have fun, but not too much. And learn lots. Make your ol’ man proud.”

“Will do, Dad. You do the same, okay? Get out of the house and meet new people. It’ll be good for your health.”

When the call ended, the house felt emptier, the silence heavier than ever before.

That night, when Tommy came knocking to coax him out for a beer and a game of pool, Joel caved. He didn’t stay long, just enough to prove he was still capable of speaking to another human being without falling apart. The bar was noisy, and it gave him a headache, but the whiskey didn’t burn as much as it did the night before when he drank alone.

A week passed like molasses. Mornings bled into evenings with no rhythm. Joel tried cleaning the garage. Fixed the loose railing on the porch. Even attempted to cook something he saw on MasterChef. Anything to stay busy.

But the loneliness didn’t lessen, let alone go away. It just learned how to sit quieter in his chest.

That’s when he went to the shelter.

Just to look, he told himself.

Just to look.

tbd

Part Two

[agiiiiiiiiiiiii]

Ace

Hey, hope this one makes you smile!

mason mount x reader

Theme: fluff

Words: 1157

—————————————————————————

You had only been dating Mason for a couple of months when he casually mentioned he’d been thinking about getting a dog. At the time, it was more of an offhand comment during a walk in the park, where he pointed out someone’s German shepherd and said, “I’ve always wanted a dog like that—loyal, smart, just... a proper companion, you know?”

You’d nodded, smiling at the thought of him with a dog, but you hadn’t realized how serious he was about it. So, when you walked into his flat one evening after work and were immediately greeted by a massive, fluffy German shepherd bounding toward you, you froze in your tracks.

“Oh my god,” you exclaimed, stumbling back a step as the dog stopped in front of you, tail wagging furiously and eyes bright with curiosity. “Mason?”

From somewhere in the kitchen, Mason called out, “Don’t worry, he’s friendly!” He appeared a moment later, drying his hands on a towel and grinning as he saw you frozen in the doorway. “Meet Ace.”

Your jaw dropped. “You got a dog? When?”

“This morning,” he said, crouching down to ruffle Ace’s ears. The dog wagged his tail even harder, leaning into Mason’s touch before glancing back at you, as if inviting you to join.

“You just—" you paused, still processing. “You just went out and got a dog?”

Mason laughed, standing up and walking over to you. “Okay, it’s not as impulsive as it sounds. I’ve been talking to a breeder for a few weeks. He’s a rescue, actually. They were looking for the right home for him, and I couldn’t say no when I met him.”

You looked down at Ace, who was now sitting patiently, staring up at you with the most soulful brown eyes. “He’s gorgeous,” you said softly, reaching out a hand.

Ace sniffed your fingers, then gave them a big lick, making you laugh. Mason grinned. “He likes you. That’s a good sign.”

————————————

It didn’t take long for you to fall in love with Ace. Over the next few weeks, you and Mason worked together to settle him into his new home. You helped pick out toys, spent hours playing fetch in the park, and even stayed over a few nights to keep him company while Mason was out for late practices.

Before long, Ace decided you were his favorite. Every time you came over, he’d greet you at the door, his tail wagging so hard it looked like it might fly off. He’d bring you his favorite toy and rest his head on your lap while you sat on the couch, his big, warm eyes melting your heart.

One weekend, Mason had to leave for an away game, and he didn’t hesitate to ask if you’d stay with Ace. “He’d miss you more than me, anyway,” he joked, handing you the spare key.

By the time Mason got back, Ace had firmly cemented his spot as your biggest fan. Mason teased you endlessly about it.

“I don’t get it,” he said one evening, watching Ace follow you around the kitchen while you cooked. “I’m the one who feeds him, walks him, gives him treats, and he’s still obsessed with you.”

You shrugged, smirking. “Maybe he just has good taste.”

Mason rolled his eyes, but the smile on his face told you he didn’t mind sharing Ace’s affection. If anything, he seemed happy that the two of you got along so well.

Eventually, Ace became a symbol of your growing relationship with Mason—loyal, loving, and always ready to greet you with a wagging tail and a warm presence. And you couldn’t imagine life without either of them.

————————————

Months turned into a year, and Ace had fully integrated himself into your relationship with Mason. He was always there—whether it was snuggling between you during movie nights, joining you for long walks on lazy Sundays, or sitting attentively by the table during dinner, hoping for scraps.

You and Mason often joked that Ace was the third member of your little family, but in a way, it felt true. He was always the first to greet you when you came over, and whenever Mason wrapped an arm around you on the couch, Ace would nudge his way in, settling his big head on your lap as if to say, Don’t forget about me.

One evening, Mason came home from training to find you and Ace sprawled out on the floor, playing with one of his new toys—a plush sheep that was already missing one ear.

“Having fun without me, are we?” Mason teased, leaning against the doorway with a smirk.

You looked up, grinning. “He’s very competitive. We’ve been playing tug-of-war for twenty minutes, and I think he’s winning.”

Mason walked over and plopped down beside you, scratching Ace behind the ears. “You spoil him, you know. He’s supposed to listen to me, but you’ve turned him into a softie.”

“You’re just jealous because he loves me more,” you teased, sticking out your tongue.

Mason laughed, pulling you into his side. “Yeah, yeah. But let’s not forget who picked him out in the first place.”

Ace barked as if in agreement, then flopped down with his head on Mason’s leg, his tail wagging lazily.

————————————

Things only grew more serious between you and Mason over time, and Ace seemed to sense it. Whenever Mason wasn’t around, he’d stay glued to your side, almost like he was keeping you company in Mason’s absence.

One night, while Mason was away for an overnight match, you curled up on the couch with Ace, a blanket wrapped around you and a cup of tea in hand. The flat felt quieter without Mason’s usual energy, but Ace’s steady presence kept you grounded.

As you scratched behind his ears, you found yourself talking to him like he could understand every word. “You know,” you murmured, “if it weren’t for you, I’m not sure I’d have stayed over so often in the beginning. You made this place feel like home.”

Ace tilted his head, his big eyes meeting yours like he was trying to understand.

“And now,” you continued, your voice softer, “I can’t imagine my life without you—or Mason.”

When Mason returned the next day, you told him about your late-night confession to Ace, and he laughed, pulling you into a hug. “Well, that’s good,” he said, his voice warm. “Because Ace and I? We can’t imagine life without you, either.”

From that moment on, it felt like the three of you were building something real—something solid. Ace might have started as Mason’s dog, but over time, he became your dog too, a constant reminder of how much your life had changed since Mason walked into it. And every time Ace greeted you at the door, his tail wagging and his eyes bright, you knew you’d found something special—not just with Mason, but with the little family the three of you had created together.

[urmomschocolatemilk]

Dad!price

I wrote this for a request and then scrapped it. My inbox is open for ghost headcanons as of now & part four of the Price series is underway

Prices second daughter was ten years old, she was, in his opinion, the most adventurous of all his daughters. She would consistently drag her sisters out to play in the mud, challenge them at the monkey bars when they’d go to the park and hopped around sports.  

It was spring now. The mornings were warm and dewy, bustling with calm life and that was newly reawakened by early morning light. His little girl had always been an early morning riser, even on the weekends so it was no surprise when she sprung up from the sofa where she had quietly been watching wild crats one morning and marched her way into the kitchen where Price was drinking a cup of Coffee.  

“Dad,” she started, and Price hummed in acknowledgment looking down at the girl, “can we go on a bike ride?” Her other sisters were still asleep and her mother was just getting out of bed, it was quiet early for a bike ride. Price set down his hot mug, and turned his wrist so he could see the time on his watch.  

“And where would you want to go at this time-of-day little lady?” Price asked. His daughter paused for a moment and then she grinned as she was struck with an idea.  

“We can go get ice-cream.” She offered, looking quite pleased with her proposition. 

Price replied with a reminder, “I don't think the shops are open at this hour sweetheart.” His daughter pouted.  

“Then we can just ride around,” she said, “pleaseee.” she begged, looking up at her father with mock puppy dog eyes. Price chuckled lightly, reaching out to pinch her cheek. She flinched and pulled away.  

“Go change,” he instructed her, and she grinned. Turning on her heel and racing out of the kitchen to her room. Price finished his coffee, and washed the mug, before leaving the kitchen to go change as well. When he exited his room, his daughter was standing by the door waiting impatiently for him. 

“You’re just as slow as my sisters.” she complained as he approached her.  

“I didn't realize we were in a rush,” he retorted lightheartedly. 

“I am.” she responded. Price chuckled but didn't respond, slipping on his shoes and pocketing the keys to their flat.  

“You got your helmet?” Price asked, and she held it up with a wordless nod. He opened the door, letting her walk in-front of him. “Lead the way little lady.”  

The two biked around the block for about 30 minutes, before Price decided an early morning treat wouldn't hurt and took them to get lemonades at their favorite breakfast place. They sat outside, on the restaurant patio sipping at the cold drinks.  

“What’s your favorite season?” Price asked her as she took another cheery sip of her lemonade. 

His daughter answered surely, “probably spring.” 

“Why do you like Spring?” The girl grinned, kicking her feet under the table as she watched the a butterfly flutter by,  

“Because of the mornings.”  

[queen-of-the-avengers]

Ride Of Your Life

Pairing: Biker!Bucky Barnes x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~2.1k

Warnings: douchey ex, minor angst

Summary: After an aggressive confrontation with your ex, Bucky comes to your rescue. He takes you on the ride of your life, unknowingly giving his heart to you as much as you give yours to him.

Squares Filled: vigilante (2020) for @buckybarnesbingo

Author’s Note: any and all comments are greatly appreciated <3

x

Maybe this time will be different. Maybe this time you’ll be able to have a civilized conversation with your ex. He has been holding your shit hostage and refuses to give it back until you two sit down and have a conversation about your relationship. He was a shitty boyfriend and crazily jealous which is one of the many reasons why you broke up with him, so you’re hoping that by meeting up in public, he’d be reasonable and give you your shit back.

You look around the parking lot of the park you’re in and notice a group of guys on the other side talking and laughing with each other. Bucky hasn’t seen his friends for weeks since they kept putting off hanging out. They all live in different areas of the state so they make sure to meet up once a week and play catch up.

Bucky leans on his bike and crosses his arms as his friend talks about how great his wife is. Bucky is happy for his friends and their mushy relationships but he’s sick and tired of hearing how in love they all are. Bucky hasn’t had a steady girlfriend since he got out of college and Steve moved out to be with his girlfriend, Natasha. Maybe he’s not putting in enough effort or maybe they’re not, but his relationships never seem to work out. There’s no spark and all he wants is to find that spark with someone.

“Buck, you got the cabin for this weekend?” Steve asks.

“Yeah, all ready to go.”

“I’m so excited to get away from this all and leave everything behind for the weekend. If we’re lucky, I might be able to get my hands on some weed.”

Bucky chuckles at Sam’s comment. Ever since he tried it a few months ago, it’s all he can talk about. If that’s how he wants to unwind, then by all means. Bucky never found the appeal in smoking. If he needs to unwind, he usually likes to ride around town on the back roads for hours. There’s nothing like the thrill of the bike on an empty road. He tends to go faster than he should but he always makes it home, and he prays every day that he always makes it home.

Bucky scans the park and notices a family of four playing with their dog, a mother and her two children on the swings, and a beautiful young woman standing on the sidewalk like she’s waiting for someone. He does a double take, enthralled by her beauty. He’s met a lot of women in his day but he’s never seen someone with such raw beauty before. Why is she standing there alone? Who is she waiting for? Boyfriend? Husband? If she’s waiting for a ride, where is she going? Home to someone or to no one?

“What do you think, Buck?”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you want to do,” he mutters having heard none of what Steve said.

The woman looks at her watch and then around anxiously. So, she’s waiting for someone. Husband? Boyfriend? Ex? By the look on her face, she’s not excited to meet this person. Ex, Bucky decides. She clenches her hands into fists by her side. Something isn’t right. Suddenly, the loud roar of a black Camaro comes speeding into the parking lot and stops right next to the woman.

“About time you showed,” you complain.

“Calm down. I’m here now.” Peter, your ex, gets out and walks over to you. “Come to your senses and want me back?”

“No, I want my shit back. Seriously, when can I come over and get it?”

“Never.”

“Peter.”

“We’re not done. You’re just overreacting. When you’re done having a tantrum, call me and we can talk about you moving back in.”

“We’re not getting back together. I made myself perfectly clear when I broke up with you. We’re toxic and I refuse to lessen myself for you.”

Peter looks around with a smirk and leans against his precious Camaro that he’d never let you drive.

“Where are you gonna go? Your parents are living two states away and you have no friends. You gonna live alone? You can barely eat alone much less live by yourself.”

Heat flourishes on your cheeks as anger bubbles in your chest. He has no right to talk to you this way. You hate the fact that you don’t have friends. All of your friends are his, and guess who took his side in the breakup? You might have put up with his bullshit in the past but you’re done now. You didn’t call him out here to fight with him.

“Yeah, I don’t have friends. You made sure of it. Don’t worry about me. That‘s not your job anymore.”

“Oh, yeah? Who’s job is it now?”

You open your mouth to say, “me” but what comes out is something entirely different.

“My new boyfriend.”

Peter doesn’t like that. He stands to his full height and stalks to you with a scowl on his face.

“What did you just say?” You open and close your mouth like a fish, unable to form a response. “Who’s going to want to put up with you? I’m sorry sweetheart, but I’m just trying to help.”

“Try less,” you glare.

“Come on, let’s go home. We’ll talk there.”

“No, I‘m not going anywhere with you.”

“Get in the car, Y/N.”

At this point, Peter is screaming at you which you don’t like since there are other people around. Unfortunately for your ex, Bucky and his friends heard everything. They get on their bikes and ride over to where you and Peter are, and you look at them in shock. Bucky is the first off his bike and places himself between you and Peter. Bucky has at least seven inches on Peter but Peter has more muscles than he does. However, there are more of them than Peter and he realizes that.

“Are you okay?” Bucky asks you without taking his eyes of Peter.

“Yeah, because he was just leaving, weren't you, Peter?”

“Not without you.”

“I don’t think you heard her, man. She said you were leaving so leave,” Bucky glares.

“Screw this. When you come to your senses, call me.”

Peter angrily gets back into his car before peeling out of the parking lot so fast that he leaves behind rubber marks on the road. Bucky relaxes once he’s gone and turns to you with soft eyes.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, that was my ex. He has my shit and won’t give it back to me. I’m this close to calling the police and forcing him to give it back. I thought we could be friendly and talk like adults. I guess not. Thanks for coming over.”

“No problem,” Bucky says and licks his lips.

That simple act shouldn’t have given you butterflies but it did. You’re not going to lie, Bucky is attractive in a way that makes your panties wet with a single look. Should you really get involved with a man you just met? Someone that attractive is dangerous but you’ve always loved a bit of thrill in your life. Still, you back up from the group and nod in appreciation.

“Thanks, again, but I have a dinner date with my brother and sister.”

“Sure.”

Bucky and his friends turn away but one look at your phone tells you that calling a ride isn’t going to be as simple as it should be. Your phone is dead which means you can’t call an Uber to take you to the restaurant. You’ve never been on the back of a motorcycle but there’s a first time for everything, right?

“Hey, wait,” you call out.

Bucky turns to you and his friends walk off to the side to give you two some privacy.

“My name is Bucky,” he chuckles.

“Bucky, I wouldn’t ask this if it wasn’t my last resort but my phone died which means I can’t call an Uber to the restaurant. Can I use your phone?”

“Yeah.” Bucky starts to pull his phone from his pocket but pauses. “Or…”

“Or what?”

“I have a second helmet. I can take you where you need to go. Save your money.”

“Seriously? We just met.”

“Your point being?”

You look around and debate whether or not to trust the guy enough to get on the back of his bike. He did just save you from Peter which earns a certain level of appreciation from you.

“Okay, yeah, I could use a ride.”

“Boys, I’ll see you later,” Bucky says to his friends. They all get on their bikes and ride out of the parking lot, leaving you two alone. “Have you ever ridden a bike before?”

“No.”

“Okay, first things first, when I turn, lean with me. It might feel like you’ll fall off but it’s best to do it that way. Secondly, there aren’t any handlebars so you’ll have to wrap your arms around my waist.” You could have sworn you saw the hint of a smirk on his face. “Lastly, tell me if you’re ever uncomfortable. There are mics in the helmets so we can communicate.”

“Lean, squeeze, talk. Got it,” you nod.

Bucky takes the second helmet and slides it over your head. He makes sure it’s on comfortably before tipping your head back and strapping you in securely. He takes his own helmet and slides it on over his head while keeping the visor open.

“Okay, before we get on, you realize that you’re trusting me with your life, right?”

“Yes.”

“That doesn’t bother you?”

“No.”

“Okay. Let’s ride.” Bucky gets on first and looks at you. “Grab onto my shoulders and swing your leg over.” You do as you’re told and ignore how defined his muscles feel even under his leather jacket. “You ready?”

“As ready as you.”

Both of you put your visors down before Bucky peels out of the parking lot. He loves driving fast but precious cargo is on board and he doesn’t dare scare you on your first ride. You wrap your arms tightly around his waist, again, ignoring how defined his muscles are. A feeling of complete bliss washes over you as you let the wind hit your skin. This is so much different than you thought it was going to be. It feels so much freer like you can do anything you want to do.

The drive is short since the restaurant isn’t that far away, and you’re sad that the ride is over.  Twenty minutes with Bucky has been so much better than the two years you wasted with Peter. When Bucky parks, he’s the first one off so he can help you off it. You grab his hand and swing your leg off the bike. Again, butterflies erupt in your stomach at the simple gesture. You take off your helmet and hand it back to Bucky who takes his own off.

“Thank you for the ride.”

“No problem.”

“God, I’ve never felt like that in my entire life. I never knew riding a bike could feel so… freeing. Like I can do anything right now. I feel alive.”

“Yeah, that feeling never goes away,” Bucky chuckles and leans against his bike.

“I hate to part ways but they’re waiting for me inside. Thank you again.”

Before you can take one step, you’re being pulled into Bucky. He slides his hands into your hair and presses his lips to you. Your brain short-circuits as you try to process what is happening but damn, he has such soft lips. He slips you the tongue which causes you to immediately pull away from him. You didn’t do that because you didn’t like it, only because you’re overwhelmed.

“What was that for?”

“Your ex is in the parking lot watching.” You turn your head to look for Peter but Bucky grabs your chin and keeps your gaze on him. “No, no, eyes on me.”

His eyes are so blue that it’s making your head dizzy. Peter’s Camaro starts and he drives away angrily. When Bucky knows Peter is gone, he leans in and kisses you again, this time more slow and sensual.

“That was because I’ve wanted to kiss you since the moment I saw you.”

“You think you’re charming, don’t you?” you chuckle and step back from him.

“I’d like to think so.”

“Yeah, well, you are.” He laughs and you melt for his smile. “I gotta go in.”

“This is the part where I ask you for your name and number.”

You stop by the front door and turn to him with a sly smile.

“My name is Y/N.”

“And your number?”

“You found me once, you can find me again.”

With that, you go inside and take Bucky’s heart with you.

x

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[ladyofstarfall206]

Modern Eris HCs

Pairing: Eris Vanserra x Reader

A/N: SMAU for these HCs!

🔸 Eris is the chief neurosurgeon at the hospital where you’d gotten an internship during grad school to complete the supervised hours needed to earn your license as a therapist.

🔸 The two of you met at a conference, where he complemented your work after you’d given a brief presentation of your proposed plan to improve the mental health of ICU patients. He was impressed that a student could construct a plan of action for a population of such a large scale.

🔸 It started off slow; quick smiles when you passed one another in the hall, him holding doors open for you, a discrete brush of hands when you passed paperwork back and forth, and the occasional banter over lunch in the rare event that you both happen to be in the break room at the same time.

🔸 Once you’d completed your internship and became a licensed psychologist, the hospital offered you a permanent position which you accepted. Eris, of course, was all too happy to recommend you.

🔸 It was by this point that Eris knew he was in love with you, and would use any excuse to interact with you. He’d schedule appointments with you even when he didn’t need to talk about life stress just so he could have a full hour in your presence, seek out your advice personally rather than simply looking a topic up, cutting into your conversations with other male co-workers, and offering to drive you home whenever your car was in the shop.

🔸 This game lasted for two months before he finally got the courage to ask you out. After your shifts, Eris came by your office with a large bouquet of roses and asked you to dinner. He was elated when you agreed and pulled out all the stops in advance. He gave you a fine black cocktail dress to change into, hired a driver to pick you both up from the hospital in a limo, booked reservations at a five star restaurant located in a rooftop garden overlooking the city, and had your car dropped off back at your apartment so you wouldn’t have to worry about it.

🔸 He asked you to be his girlfriend on date number three, after you’d spent the afternoon hiking and having a picnic at one of Eris’s favorite spots. He was so overjoyed when you said yes that he lifted you up and spun you around.

🔸 Eris wanted to invite you to move in with him too in that moment, but didn’t want to come off too strong so he opted to wait a few more weeks. He has two properties; a luxury penthouse overlooking the city and a rustic hunting cabin in the mountains when he needs to get away. Eris also owns two hunting dogs… or maybe they own him, who absolutely adore you. When you move in, the dogs follow you everywhere and sleep with you and Eris in the king sized bed in the master bedroom.

🔸 He drives you both to work everyday and always stops to get iced coffees and breakfast from a cute local cafe before your long shifts.

🔸 On weekends, he makes you breakfast in bed and you two spend the mornings curled up in your matching robes watching movies. Shared showers and baths are an important part of your routine, so you have a whole cabinet dedicated to skin care products in your bathroom.

🔸 You usually take the dogs to the dog park on Sundays and stop to get donuts on the way home.

🔸 It is Eris’s honor to spoil you in any way he can, and one of the biggest obstacles at the start of your relationship was getting you to let him without feeling guilty. He loves any excuse to shop, so whenever you go out he will buy you whatever you want no questions asked. Don’t even bother looking at the price tag because he’s got you.

🔸 If he sees you looking at something you like but not buy it, chances are the item will be presented to you as a gift over dinner days later. You’re his dream girl, of course he loves surprising you with good things!

🔸 Eris gives you nightly massages if your shoulders are tense from work.

🔸 At work functions, Eris always has a hand on you, either around your waist or on the small of your back. Neither of you are particularly interested in bureaucratic jargon, so you usually stand off to the side in your own little world gossiping, laughing, and quietly playing “marry, fuck, kill” with the board members behind their backs. Eris refills your drink or plate whenever you need it, and never misses a chance to brag about your professional accomplishments whenever you come up in conversation. 

🔸 Eris is big into travel and  physical activity, and has flown you first class thus far to the Bahamas, Hawaii, Iceland, and France. He loves going on adventures with you and looks forward to the rest of your lives exploring the world together.

🔸 You two wear matching sweat sets and soft Ugg slip on boots when you fly to stay comfy. Stocking up on your favorite snacks too of course.

🔸 He proposes to you on a week long trip to Bora Bora where the two of you are staying in a floating villa. After an afternoon of riding jet skis in the crystal blue water, he gets on one knee on the dock and presents to you a gorgeous diamond ring.

🔸 “Oh gods. Yes, a thousand times yes Eris!” You’re both crying as he slips the ring on your finger and pulls you in for a crushing embrace.

[cmdrfupa]

Family Day

  You’ve turned a house into a home and a home into a sanctuary for Choso. He never thought he’d be given the gift of parenthood or love, so he wants to say thank you on an important anniversary.

Sfw, cute Papa Choso x reader. Fluffy, cutesy, teeth-aching sweetness. Reader called Mama but mostly gn.

a/n: I’ve been watching turtles go into the ocean after hatching, and now I’m here. Idk how I got here but we are here so let’s smile about it 😭

Weekends were meant to rejuvenate and catch up on the hobbies you neglect during the week. Waking up just in time for brunch and pajamas all day until time to get out of the enclosure.

Weekends for Choso were meant to play battle ninja princess and make pasta because his daughters wanted it for literally any meal when you weren’t around to say otherwise. He cherished the busy days as much as the calm ones. Running across town to toy stores and the bakery was his rejuvenation today.

“Mama would want the sprinkles!”

“Yea! Sprinkles! With the cereal, too, papa!”

“Make it five!”

With an apologetic expression to the cashier on his face, Choso took his wallet out of his fanny pack while using his free hand to massage his energetic children's heads gently.

“I’m sorry. Would you please give me two of each specialty donut and a dozen matcha macarons? Oh! And if possible, one of your full-sized ube mango tarts?” The twins exchanged "thank yous" to the cashier as Choso picked up the boxes, placing them in the stroller's attached storage bag before heading home.

It wasn’t a lengthy walk home. The weather, however, proved pleasant enough to go a longer route. Early summer was always more forgiving. The blossoming trees shadowed the ground, reprieve from the hint of heat. A soft breeze carried the delicate fragrance of blossoms and mowed lawns that lingered as Choso glanced in both directions before joining the group on the crosswalk.

“Papa. What’s a tart?”

“It’s like a pie but with less crust and more tasty filling like berries or custard.” Choso focused on the pathway ahead while answering.

“Who’s gonna eat the obey tart you got?”

Choso chuckled. “Ube, birdie. And Mama likes it. It’s her favorite.”

Saturdays started with the inevitable cuddle mountain attack from Ani and Nori once they realized it was a no-school day. This promptly led to them dashing around the house as ‘Papa Kong’ chased them until breakfast was done. Perfected chaos.

On this Saturday, things were different. Choso, with the twins accompanying him, instructed you to stay in bed as he ran a few errands. You didn’t even try to protest. You nodded, turning over to go back to sleep for another hour.

While you enjoyed the morning of reading with the humming humidifier in the background, you began to miss the sound of your rowdy duo and patient husband.

When you first met Choso and a teen Yuji, weekends were filled with nothing but noise as Yuji had his 2 friends over often. The liveliness around the house reminds you of those days when you watched the three having the “Is a hot dog a sandwich” debate in your cute little apartment back then.

“We’re back!”

“Mama!”

The energetic war cries sliced through the silence, and you sat your book down. “Well, there my little birdies are! Where did you all go?”

“We went to eat pasta! And we went to the park! Papa took us to get sweets!” Nori stated as she sat beside you, wrestling with her shoes before pulling them off.

“yeah! We got mac’rns and donuts! Ones with berries and sprinkles!” Ani added, setting her small bag down before she climbed into your lap.

You looked to see Choso heading to the sunroom. Curious, you attempt to get up, but Ani traps you with a toothy smile on her cherub face.

“No, no, sorry! Papa said to keep you here until he finished uh… Preppering for you!”

“Preparing for me?”

They nodded in unison, snickering with glee.

The raven-haired girls tugged at your heartstrings with their sweet existence. Spitting image of their father with you being seen in their mannerisms and warm smiles. “What’s happening with you three, hmm?” The pair smiled at you as they spoke in hushed tones about the super secret Kamo party in what could only be described as the loudest whisper known to man.

While your children were talking to you about the squirrel they insist said hello to them, a very familiar knock was suddenly heard at the front door. “Be right back, birdies.”

The knocking persisted, and you knew exactly who it was the moment you saw the pink hair through the door's frosted glass.

“Yuji! What on earth are you doing in town?”

Yuji embraced you tightly, his bag falling to the floor as he practically picked you up, his boyish grin never fading.

“Cho called me! He said he wanted to get together soon. Though maybe I should’ve asked when…”

“Nonsense! Now is the perfect time. It's so good to see you.” You gave his cheek a slight pinch as he closed the door behind him.

He gave you another hug, this time squeezing you like he used to when he was younger. The familial warmth set in as he pulls away, looking at you. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you all. It's been forever”

“It has been. And your nieces are going to be thrilled to see you.” On cue, the twin girls ran into the foyer, screaming with excitement as they jumped onto Yuji.

“You two have certainly grown. You'll be bigger than Uncle soon! Must be eating your veggies, hm?” They giggled as he kneeled down to be at their level, his new tattoos being their point of interest with shock and awe.

A few minutes into your mini-reunion, Choso appeared at the foyer entrance.

“Little brother!” His tone was warm, and his eyes were shining. Choso went to Yuji, kissing his forehead before subjecting him to the most suffocating hug he could. “I’m glad you could make it!”

“Of course. I’ll never miss the chance to see you guys!”

Taking in the energy from his most beloved people, he settled his eyes on the twins “Birdies? Do you mind leading the way to the back?”

“Uncle Yu, come on!” They both took one of his hands, you and Choso following behind.

  “Choso? What’s all this about?” Most of them being a much younger version of yourself and Choso; curiosity sets in as you scan over the various Polaroids that trimmed the hallway.

One in particular with you, Choso, and Yuji, eating ube tartlets after your graduation, catching your eye.

“Just wanted to do something for our family to celebrate today,” his lips landed a peck at the corner of your mouth.

“I’ve forgotten a holiday? Oh hell, Cho-cho, I’m so sorry-”

“Baby, you forgot nothing. It’s a new holiday.” Squeezing your hand, reassuring you, “One I declared and didn’t announce til today. So, do you remember what we did on this day 9 years ago?”

You pondered a moment. Your anniversary was a few months away, while birthdays were set for later in the year.

Hanging on the wall was a framed photo of Choso, Yuji, and you. Taken in front of your first apartment when Choso became Yuji’s guardian. It all clicked. “Oh Choso”

You paused at the opened French doors leading to the sunroom. Cherry blossom fairy string lights cross over the ceiling, highlighting drawings made by the twins. Sweets were arrayed on a table, and traditional tea was set in the center of the room. Yuji stood next to the setting, proudly looking at his brother's work.

“9 years ago, you stood right with me as I became his guardian. And you never left.” Yuji smiled on, remembering the moment when you welcomed him into your arms like you’d known him all his life. “You helped me grow. You became a figure in both our lives that we needed, and I haven’t properly shown how much I appreciated that.” Choso led you into the room, the girls sitting down as Yuji began to pour tea and plate their sweets. “You became my family and gave me the best gifts anyone could ever ask for.”

Speechless, you hugged him tightly, butterfly kisses to his now flushed cheeks before you looked around the room. Every detail from past dates to recent events in your lives is shown in the decor. “Thank you”

“Im pleased to say our first Kamo Family Day is officially here!”

Ani and Nori cheered as you sat with them, passing you the designated party hat as Yuji and Choso shared stories of their first years together.

Later that evening

  With both the kids and Yuji settled in for the night, you and Choso settled on the couch with the leftover tart.

Holding the fork out for him to take his bite, you peered over at him, deeply engrossed in the episode of Master Chef.

“I really feel like Gordon Ramsey would make me cry.”

“Hm?” you swallowed, trying to hide your laugh.

“I’m serious.” He glances over at you, low-lidded eyes showing a hint of melancholy. “Remember when the girls talked about how I did their space buns, which were all wonky, according to Nori? That haunted me for a week.”

He finally took a bite of tart and looked back at the TV. “Gordon would have me sobbing in our linen closet over how raw I like my burgers.”

You couldn’t help but grab the pillow, chortling into it. “I’ll protect you Cho, don’t worry.”

[gyll-yee-haw]

Heartbreakingly yours

🌻Husband!Jake x Wife!reader (Angst/Smut)

(Bonus: our good boy Leo Gyllenhaal!)🐕

🍂Prompt: You're heartbroken, your marriage is falling apart and Jake knows it's his fault. He has to do something before it's too late.

🌿Warnings: angst (with a happy ending), broken marriage, fights, mentions of anxiety and insecurity, oral sex (f), unprotected sex, bit of spanking...

Like 5.2k words 💀

---

Peace filled your mind and fresh air filled your lungs as soon as you left the city. Leo surely felt that too, as he had his head out of the car window, tongue out, euphoric with the way the wind hit his face. You smiled watching the German Shepherd through the mirror, so unaware he would have the time of his life this weekend. Jake kept his eyes on the road as he drove.

It was a two hours drive to the county side, where Jake rented a house for the weekend. He had been working non-stop since the pandemics.

Working on everything but your relationship.

They say the first year is the hardest. Well, for you it wasn't. You and Jake got married a few months before COVID spread, so you spent the first year of your marriage on a never ending honeymoon. Trapped inside a brand new house the two of you decorated in the coziest way, everything turned into sex. From making bread, laughing together to vaguely looking in each other's direction, it would somehow lead to sex.

It was a calm life. That's what you missed the most: tranquility. Peace. Silence. You didn't expect things to change.

Jake went back to work before people stopped wearing masks, and you saw your honeymoon start to crumble. And you didn't think it was a bad thing, at first... Jake loved his job and you were dying to see his new projects. You were happy that things were going back to normal and married life was about to start.

You were happy, but you weren't ready.

You weren't ready for the sleepless nights waiting for him to come back. Or the nights he wouldn't come back, cause he was on another continent. For the days you'd freak out because he didn't answer your calls or replied to your texts. For the fans thirsting over him on the new promos, hating on you. For his costars who just... looked better than you. For the fact that even when he was home, it wasn't the same anymore, because he was always either too tired or rambling about things that didn't include you anymore.

And he started to grow distant. Or maybe you did. You weren't sure who's fault it was, all you knew is that you forgot what his lips tasted like... or what it felt like to be safe and loved.

You and Jake had been planning this trip before things got too bad. Because both of you missed that nothingness you tasted for a moment.

You expected it to be canceled, but now you were on your way. Anxiety filled your guts just imagining being trapped with him for a whole weekend without being able to talk. Not because you didn't have anything to say, but you just felt like everything about you was so irrelevant and boring now. You didn't remember when was the last time you two sat on a sofa and laughed at the most absurd things you said to each other... the sense of humor you shared and the inside jokes... you were afraid to bring some of that up now and earn a weird look from him. You were afraid he didn't remember what it felt like before.

Very few words were said during the car ride. Still, the air on the country side brought you peace. For now, the grass and the sight of the mountains on the horizon cleared your mind.

---

The first thing Jake did after parking in front of the cutest little stone cottage was open the car door for Leo, watching him run like no tomorrow. He was a senior dog now, but he acted like a puppy everytime he saw a big field... running, jumping, barking until he ran out of breath. Then he would come inside, drink water for 5 uninterrupted minutes and pass out by Jake's feet.

You sat in the car for a few moments still, watching the dog with a smile on your face. No matter how hard this weekend would be for you, at least Leo deserved it.

"Wanna come inside?" Jake's voice startled you a bit. You only realized you dissociated for a while when you saw he had already picked up the bags from the trunk and stood beside you with the keys in his hand.

"Sure." You nodded. As soon as you got out of the car, you felt nervous. The car was safe, the two of you were distracted by the road... what about now?

You followed him to the entrance. You were in awe when he opened the door. The house was somehow even cuter inside. First thing you see as you walk in is a colorful living room. You could see plants hanging from all surfaces and a rusty book shelf. An old small tv was placed in front of a terracotta colored sofa, where a few wool blankets were placed, all handmade, decorated with different patterns. A few more steps would lead you to a small kitchen with wooden cabinets painted white, filled with baby blue accessories, including a baby blue fridge, that could only be described as vintage. The dining room separated the kitchen from the living room, containing a table for six, an old record player and a bunch of candles.

"It's very pretty." You commented, looking around.

"I know." He smiled, relieved that you liked it. "There are two bedrooms upstairs. And two bathrooms too. One has a bathtub and all."

"That's lovely." You stood there awkwardly, not knowing exactly what to do. "Do you need help taking the bags upstairs?"

"Hm... yeah, that would be nice, we should do that." He handed you the smallest bag. He didn't really need help. But what was he going to say? The truth is that he was just as lost as you.

You followed him into a cozy bedroom upstairs. The biggest one. It didn't have much inside. A small wardrobe and a queen sized bed covered in white sheets, decorated with lace. On each side of the bed, a small table with a lamp.

The light coming through the window made the place look ethereal, no matter how simple it was. You wondered what would be like to wake up on that place beside someone you love. The room would look pretty boring through the eyes of someone who didn't know what being in love felt like, but you knew it. You knew it because he was looking at you, and something in that room made the eyes you knew so well never seem bluer. Fear invaded your heart as you wondered if Jake felt that too. For months you worried about how you looked through his eyes, but never more than now. He knew what being in love felt like, you were sure of that. But did that light remind him of it? Did he love you still?

"Are you tired?" He asked.

"A little." You admitted. "I... I need to stretch my legs a bit, it was a long drive."

"Yeah." He agreed. "It's a bit further than I remembered."

Remembered? You were caught by surprise.

"Have you been here before?" You asked, trying to hide how your guts told you there was something wrong.

"Yeah." He furrowed his eyebrows. "I came to have a look before bringing you here."

You stood in silence for a while. He never mentioned it. You would remember it.

"Y/N, what's wrong?" He spoke when he realized you wouldn't.

"Nothing." You lied terribly. "You just didn't mention it."

"I thought I did." He shrugged.

You tried as hard as you could to hold it in you, but the question slipped out.

"Were you alone?"

"What are you suggesting?" He looked at you absolutely incredulous.

"Answering a question with another question is trying to escape it." You would never talk back to him like that if you weren't beyond pissed. You were exhausted.

You were ready for your marriage to die of natural causes. You were ready to hear that he didn't find you attractive anymore. That he got tired of you. That he didn't really enjoy being married. Anything. Anything but being fucking cheated on.

"No. I wasn't alone, in fact." He shook his head and let out a chuckle. "The real estate agent showed me around."

"Is it funny?" Your voice cracked a little and that made you even more angry. You. weren't. going. to. cry.

"Yeah, it's a bit funny, actually." He replied, now as angry as you. "I'm being accused of cheating because I tried to do something for you."

"For me?" You raised your voice. "To keep me entertained once a year so I will keep being your stupid little obedient wife? Oh sorry, I forgot to kneel at your feet and thank you for all these wonderful crumbs of attention I've been getting!"

His eyes were wide and his mouth shut. He had no idea what to say. He simply didn't know how he felt. There was anger. Anger because of your tone. There was guilt. Guilt because of your words. But what dominated him was the deepest sadness he had ever felt. He obviously knew your marriage was falling apart. But he was a coward and all he was doing to try and save it was act like nothing happened and bring you to this stupid trip.

And there were no word to describe what he felt when you walked out of that room and he wasn't brave enough to follow you.

His body felt heavy. He sat on the bed, head in hands, wondering if that was it. Wondering how could he fail so hard at the one thing that was more important to him.

---

Took him 40 agonizing minutes to get out of that room. But at some point, he realized that he just couldn't do that anymore. He wanted you back. He needed you back. Your laugh, your passion, your strength, your touch. He couldn't keep hoping everything would go back to how it was. He had to earn it. And it if was too late... he had to let you go. Seeing you suffer like that was destroying him.

He walked downstairs and saw you in the living room, sitting on the rug, back against the sofa. Leo was peaceful asleep with his head on your lap. Jake approached slowly, trying not to startle any of you. You felt his presence, but didn't do anything about it. Didn't look in his direction or wiped the tears from your face. He deserved to see them.

"Y/N..." He sighed, sitting beside you on the floor.

"I'm fine, doesn't matter." You said bitterly.

He knew he would have to choose his words carefully. You weren't open for him. He needed to pave his way in.

"He always does that." He said, pointing at Leo. "He can't stand to see you cry... he'll rush to you, protect you. Even with all this space to play he..."

"I know." You interrupted him.

"I should learn from him, shouldn't I?" He admitted sadly.

"But you have all this space to play." You shrugged. "Paris. Milan. LA. All on the same week."

"Y/N, I know I've been the worst. I know I've been making a thousand mistakes..." He closed his eyes, feeling guilt consume him. "But I swear I never even looked at another woman."

"It's a matter of time." Was all you could say. "All those gorgeous costars. Models everywhere. All dying for just one night... and that would be perfect, wouldn't it? A body a thousand times better than mine and no feelings attached. You can just leave them like you did to me, except that no one will whine about it. You won't have to waste your precious time doing something like this to keep them quiet."

"Don't say that..." Those were probably the worst words ever directed to him. "I don't want that. I don't want any of that. I want all the feelings I only ever felt with you. I want to come home to you."

"But you just don't." You shrugged. "You left one day and never came back to me. I am still here, waiting for you. But you never come back..."

"No, Y/N... I never left, I promise you..." He rested his hand on top of yours and it felt like the first time in weeks you had any kind of physical contact. "The man I truly am could never leave your side. But he's just... lost inside me somewhere. I... I buried him too deep while I was trying to be the actor, the professional, the face people wanted to see and I... I just couldn't find him anymore."

"I hope it was worth it." You gave him the saddest smile.

No, those were the worst words ever directed to him.

You gently moved Leo's head so you could stand up. The poor dog was too exhausted from running, so he just adjusted himself on the rug and went back to sleep. You turned your back to Jake.

Only this time he wasn't going to let you leave.

You felt strong hands gripping your arms from behind and let out a gasp as he pushed your body against his.

"No, it wasn't fucking worth it." He grunted. His hands were shaking. "And I've learnt my fucking lesson. I'm going to dig as deep as I have to, but I'll bring him back to you, if you'll have him."

"Let me go." You tried to free yourself from his grip, but you couldn't. Maybe you didn't try that hard. Maybe you were just testing if he would put up a fight.

"I'm not letting you go. Ever." He didn't mean physically. The look in his eyes as his face was now dangerously close to yours indicated that.

"How can I trust you?" You begged internally for him not to kiss you, because if he did, you would believe every word he said.

"Because I've already started digging." He told you. "This house... when I decided to bring you here... I needed to be alone with you. Away from everything. Somewhere people don't expect anything from me."

"Right. Very nice, we spend a nice holiday fucking like rabbits once every six months..." You said sarcastically. "Then we go back to our life in New York, where it all goes to shit again. Then we come back here and it's wonderful... a never ending cycle. Seems like hell to me."

"No, baby..." His voice grew more desperate. "It's never gonna be like that again. Never. Nothing changes when we go to New York. This place is just... somewhere to run away to when it gets overwhelming."

"Jake." You kept your head high and spoke firmly. "I need you to be husband when things are hard and overwhelming, not only when everything is peaceful and quiet. I am not going to escape. I have to face a lot of shit every single day and every single day I choose to be by your side. You better do the same for me."

It was like slapping him on the face. But it made him love you more than ever. You were so brave.

"I just feel so undeserving of you all the damn time." He admitted, bringing one hand to your cheek. "Exactly because you have to face a lot of shit and it's my fault. I thought... I thought I was protecting you by pushing you away, then... then I thought I could protect you by taking you somewhere far away from all that but... but you're right. I fucked up terribly. I'm protecting you from everything but me, and I ended up hurting you the most."

"Jake..." Your heart was heavy. Maybe you were a bit hard on him... he was confused and filled with good intentions. But how could you solve anything without being rough when he built a brick wall between you?

"I will never be able to tell you how fucking sorry I am. How fucking stupid I feel." He admitted, tears filling his eyes. "I will understand if I'm not the man you need. Fuck, I know I'm not the man you deserve, but..."

"Jacob." You cut him, and he was ready for you to hurt him. "Kiss me."

He cursed under his breath. He was so divided... he didn't feel like he deserved to ever feel your lips again. But God, how he wanted to.

The moment his lips were on yours, you were filled with hope. It still felt the same. It still felt like home. And if you could bring home to this place miles away, you could take the peace that flooded the little cottage all the way back home.

But hope wasn't the only thing the kiss ignited in you. As it got deeper, Jake's hands wrapped around your body and squeezed you like you were going to disappear. Like this was all a dream and he would go mad if he woke up. The way his body felt against yours brought memories from those happy times, when the two of you were never not in contact. And you needed it back, even if only for a few hours.

Jake felt the exact same way, but he was scared to make a move and ruin everything. So he waited for you to give him a sign. And when you bit his bottom lip, letting out a moan as your hand gripped on his hair... he understood that as a sign.

The two of you were physically incapable of letting go of each other as you walked upstairs. You were desperated, yes, but this wasn't a matter for a quickie on the sofa or against a wall. Jake felt the absolute need to worship you and nothing less. Take his sweet time, even if he never got to cum that night.

He laid you on the bed and you looked at him a little less sure now. He knew that look. You were feeling insecure. A lot had changed since your honeymoon phase and that included your body. But not only that, you were distant for so long, what if something went wrong? What if the sex was terrible and you realize you lost the connection... would that be the end?

"Jake, maybe I..." You tried to find a good excuse to stop it.

"We don't have to, if you're not comfortable." He assured you. "I'll understand it."

"But..." The thought of not having him on that moment seemed more terrifying. You craved him badly, body and soul. "But I want you so bad..."

"I want you too." He felt his heart flutter and got really emotional again. "So badly. But I can stop at any moment if you need me to, okay?"

You nodded. You seemed a little more confident now, but he decided to take things very slow anyway, to make sure everything would be perfect. He knew your body better than his own and he would trust your little signs.

His kisses on your neck had you pressing your thighs together, and that was his sign to start undressing you.

He took his time. Every time a piece of clothing was discharged, he would run his fingers and spread kisses all over the newly exposed skin. He was going to apologize to every single inch of you.

"What did you say earlier about a body a thousand times better than yours? Like that's even possible..." He smirked. You hadn't changed your mind, but the look on his face made it very clear that he didn't agree with you. The look on his face made it very clear that you were a goddess in his eyes. That he was as in love with you now as he was when he saw you walk down the aisle.

He stopped just to look at you for a moment. He couldn't believe he was that lucky and he almost lost you.

"Hmm... Jake?" You moaned impatiently.

"Shhh... gonna take care of you, my sweet angel." His eyes shined from the tears he wasn't allowing to fall. "Gonna be the husband you deserve from now on, okay? Promise you..."

His hands ran down the sides of your body as he worshiped your breasts with his mouth, whispering "I promise you" over and over again.

He spread open mouth kisses all the way down your belly as he removed your panties.

"You're a fucking goddess, look at you..." The way he was adoring you didn't give your insecurities any time to speak.

He grabbed your thighs like his life depended on it. When he got his mouth on you, you remember just how much that man loved eating pussy. And by how eager he seemed, he probably remembered it at that moment as well. By the obscene noises he made. How long had it been? How long since you last felt his tongue enter you and explore your walls until your hips bucked messily against his face? How long since he last sucked your clit until your eyes rolled back like now... how long since you came that embarrassingly quick?

"Jake... please..." You tried to sit down and push his head away, painfully sensitive, but he wasn't moving.

He wasn't moving at all. He wasn't stimulating you anymore, he just kept his face pressed against your pussy as he hugged your thighs. God, he never wanted to leave that place.

"Jake, come here, baby, come here..." You called. His red eyes met your gaze. He was a mess. Tears mixed with your wetness on his face.

He was heartbreakingly yours at that moment.

He was more yours now than the moment you placed that golden ring on his finger... one he was so proud of, he didn't even want to play single characters in movies anymore, just so he didn't have to take it off.

You had to insist very much before he was brave enough to lose contact with you, even if it only lasted a few seconds until he was laying on top of you.

Your hands went to his face, half caressing him, half cleaning that mess. His eyes were so soft it hurt.

"Can I kiss you?" He murmured, barely able to make a sound.

"Right now and everyday, for the rest of our lives. Forever." You smiled at him.

He didn't waste a second, for he had already wasted too much time. His lips met yours and it was like the kiss could tell you how he felt better than his words could. He was so angry with himself. His hungry kiss, the way he desperately ate you out before, everything, every touch asked for your forgiveness, begged for all the things he craved, even though he felt deeply undeserving.

You hated it. That man, whose lips tasted like you, wasn't the man who abandoned you. That man was dead. Died of a heartbreak, right there on that bed. Now you needed your Jake back. And on that very same bed, you'd find him.

"Jake..." You moaned against his lips. "Need you to make sweet love to me, baby..."

He was obviously already rock hard from eating you out earlier, but hearing you say that absolutely broke him.

You watched him undress fully, he needed as much skin contact with you as possible, and you surely wouldn't complain about it. Jake's body has always been mindblowing, but his latest roles had demanded him to work out a lot... your eyes widened as you saw his defined abdomen. You kinda regretted having asked for sweet sex for a minute after seeing his physique, you felt like you needed him to ruin you. Nasty and loud. But the sweet look in his eyes showed you that was far from what he needed now, and you decided to wait. After all... there would be plenty of opportunities to have him however you wanted if he keeps his promise. And when you saw him remove his underwear, thick cock hitting his abdomen... his hands were very big, but didn't make his cock seem any less intimidating as he stroked himself. On that moment you were grateful for taking things slow.

He pushed the tip inside you, eyes on yours the entire time, to make sure you were okay. He saw you furrow your eyebrows and slowed down... then you let out a moan of pain, and he stopped.

"Baby?" His hand went to your cheek, caressing it lovingly.

"It's just been a while." You explained, but quickly added more words before he could get sad for not satisfying you for so long. "But I can take it... remember?"

"I remember." He chuckled. "I thought about it everytime I was away... all the things we did... hold on, baby, I'm almost all the way in..."

You nodded and took a deep breath.

He hit a spot so deep that got you arching your back before he even started moving.

"The things we did..." You smiled at him. "The things we're still going to do..."

"Yeah?" He smirked, giving you one experimental thrust, checking if you were adjusting to his size. "Tell me about them. What do you want me to do to you, honey?"

"Hmm..." You thought about it for a second. You didn't want to tell him what you were thinking minutes ago...

"Come on, pretty girl, don't get all shy now." He chuckled, keeping his hips moving very very slowly. "Tell me what's on your mind. I'll do whatever you want."

"Well... maybe... maybe some other time I... would like it rough." You admitted. It was ridiculous to be so shy at that point, when he was burried deep inside you. But you were coming from months of avoiding saying the wrong thing.

"Rough?" He repeated, his mouth going towards your neck, giving you small kisses, giving you shivers as he spoke close to your ear. "Too vague, baby, you can do better than that."

Oh? When did he go from begging for forgiveness to teasing? He was getting bold. Bold like your Jake was.

His dirty talk made you wetter and prepared for him to speed up his thrusts a bit.

"Fuck..." You wrapped your legs around him, keeping him close. "Want you to fuck me stupid from behind... don't wanna be able to walk... want..."

You got interrupted by a loud slap on your thigh. It didn't exactly hurt, but you weren't expecting it... you looked at him wide-eyed.

"Sorry, fuck..." He shut his eyes, hands gripping on the sheets on both side of your head until his knuckles went white. "You're driving me crazy, I don't want to lose control."

"Why?" You moaned as he started going a bit faster.

"Cause you asked me to make sweet love to you." He smiled. Something about his dimples when he smiled... "And I really really want to."

"Well, I..." You tried to argue, but he wasn't having it.

"Don't worry, sweetheart." He burried his face on the crook of your neck again, proceeding to go deeper inside you as he did. "We have all the time in the world. Hope you got enough sleep these last months... cause you won't get any tonight. Fuck, maybe not even tomorrow..."

"Jake..." You moaned. "It's still sweet love if you go a little faster..."

"Eager little brat." He shook his head. "Want another slap?"

"Yes..." You smirked.

"Yes?" He raised his eyebrows.

"You said whatever I want." You gave him a pleading look.

He meant it, he would do anything for you. Specially if it didn't envolve leaving that bed. So he gave your thigh another slap. You gasped, but looked at him with pure lust in your eyes.

And that did it for him. He had to go faster now. When he finally did, he got lost in pleasure, lost in you. Fuck, it had been a while and you felt so fucking good. The room was filled by moans and grunts and skin slapping. The pace was wild, but the looks you exchanged... the way his hands squeezed yours... that was sweet, sweet love making.

"Jake! Fuck..." You shut your eyes hard, feeling you were getting close again. "I'm gonna..."

"Y/N, look at me." He rested his forehead on yours, never stopping.

You tried your best to hold it. You opened your eyes and looked at him quite desperate. You thought it was one of those 'look at me while you cum' moments, but...

"I love you." He said. "I fucking love you... always have..."

"Jake..."

"Loved you every single day since I first saw you." His movements indicated he was close too. "Will love you til the day I die..."

"I... I love you too, Jakey, love you so much..." You replied, tears in your eyes both from hearing those words you hadn't heard in so long, and from trying to hold the orgasm that was dangerously close to burst.

"Fuck, baby, cum for me, I know you need it..." He smiled, heart melting at your words, he was dying to give you the best orgasm of your life, he didn't even care about his own, and God, he was close. "Let go for me, want you to cum so good, baby..."

The thing is that you would also do anything for him. You came. Hard. Loudly. Screaming his name. The freedom, the relief you felt... it was your second orgasm of the night, but it felt different with him inside you. It felt different because you barely came down from your high and you felt his cock throbbing painfully, until he spilled himself inside of you. So much you felt like it would leak out of you for days. And you weren't even sure if he enjoyed it fully, because he was so busy admiring you.

He pulled out way to soon for your liking. But he just didn't want to waste time... he needed to kiss all over your body.

"Hey!" You chuckled, feeling too overstimulated for that. "I know we're not sleeping tonight, but I could use a break..."

"Fine." He sighed, laying down beside you. "Listen, I'm really sorry, I..."

"It's fine. Let's move on, okay?" You got closer, resting your head on his strong chest. "I forgive you."

"Thank you... you're wonderful, did you know that?" He wrapped his arms around you.

"You're wonderful too." You assured him, running your fingers through his abdomen. "Taking your time to fix things. Admitting your mistakes. Bringing me here. Mindblowing sex. The dinner you're about to cook..."

"Oh, am I?" He left out a laugh.

"Whatever I want." You shrugged. "50 years from now I'll still be using your words against you."

The idea of you being an old couple teasing each other brought him the warmest feeling ever. He promised himself he would work hard for it.

"God, I hope you are." He kissed the top of your head. "I hope you are."

---💚---

[crazylittlejester]

LU Links as things I did in the month of September (except two weeks late because i forgot to post it and it’s been rotting in my drafts-)

Time: Sat in the gamestop parking lot for TWO full hours waiting for the store to open so he could get the game he preordered because he thought the line would be super fucking long and he made a friend come with him and wait because he NEEDED his game, but he didn’t wanna get lonely. No one showed up till like 10 minutes too and at that point he’d gotten so distracted he ended up last in a line of 5 people and he was really upset about it

Warriors: Got bit by a mosquito and had a severe reaction to it but because he whines and complains about everything all the time people were just kinda like “yeah I’m sure it DOES bother you dude” but it was genuinely so bad he was on 3 meds for a week, had an allergic reaction, and had to go to urgent care. And on his way to said urgent care a lady told him he looked sad and handed him a 10$ IKEA coupon. When people in his life actually saw the size of the bite they were horrified

Twilight: Looked at his dog and cried because he didn’t understand why such a little creature would love him enough to fall asleep outside his room waiting for him to wake up in the morning

Sky: Stood outside in a rainstorm with his head down staring at his bare ass feet in his sandals that were getting absolutely soaked and decided he maybe DIDNT need to get the mail just then, but then slipped and ate shit in the garage because his shoes were wet

Hyrule: Drove 40 minutes for a can of pringles and three 3 musketeers bars. Intended to ration them out over the course of three days, but ate them all in one sitting and then got sad about it

Legend: Realized he can’t be sad if he’s screaming to FNAF songs in the car, and then realized yes he CAN be sad because FNAF songs remind him of his best friend who he really fucking misses. Now he listens to podcasts in the car because he will start tearing up if he listens to music in general while he drives

Wild: Spontaneously drove to a different state on a Thursday afternoon and the fact that it was a Thursday fucked with his internal calendar and for the rest of the weekend he was mentally one day off. But it ended up being great for him because he woke up and cried Monday morning but then realized it was actually Sunday and no he DIDNT have to go to school

Four: Ate so much chocolate he made himself sick and unfortunately this happened while all his housemates were out so he just had to lay there pathetically wishing he at least wasn’t lonely while suffering

Wind: Wakes up every god damn day and choses NOT to eat his dnd dice. It is a STRUGGLE. They look so fucking edible…

[louisrarepairfest]

LOUIS RARE PAIR FEST 2025

— Prompts —

[Submit a prompt you'd like to read or write here!]

🪐 The prompt can specify a particular pairing or can use Louis/Character B as the pairing.

🪐 Writers can sign up with one of these prompts or sign up with their own prompt not on this list.

🪐 Prompts will be crossed off as they are chosen during sign ups.

⬇️ Possible prompts below ⬇️

(A) Louis/Character B are uni roommates

(B) Louis/Greg James - Louis takes Clifford to a secluded park and lets him run free for a few hours. A few weeks into going to a park, a friendly dog (Barney) Louis assumes is a stray comes over by him with a stick in his mouth and Louis plays fetch. This becomes a Thing every time. Louis notices Clifford has been gaining weight and can’t figure out why. One day, Clifford doesn’t come back like he usually does. Louis goes looking for him with (Barney) trailing on his heels. He’s just about to give up when (Barney) sprints away and Louis can’t stand the thought of losing two dogs in one day so he runs after him. Cut to…Louis finding a very tall, very handsome man, very excitedly welcoming Barney back with Clifford barely looking up from the almost gone bucket of dog food said very (very) handsome man clearly brought to the park. Confusion ensues since each thinks the other’s dog was a stray. Wild accusations from Louis about Greg making Clifford fat, jokes from Greg about how Barney has taken up finding perfect sticks and running away with his best one. They fall in love and become one big happy family.

( C ) Louis/Character B are musicians vying for the role of band leader at their former high school. They went there at the same time and were rivals then too, though for a totally different reason: they both had secret crushes on one another. When I've of them learns this, it changes everything.

(D) Girl direction! Louis/Character B are star athletes on the college (you choose the) sport team. They're both on the butch side, and it takes them a while to figure out that they're into one another and don't need to femme it up to get the other to like them.

(E) Omegaverse: Alpha Louis has never questioned who he is, a strong Alpha loving Alpha who defies stereotypes. When he meets character B, a beta, he certainly doesn't expect to fall for him (and hard)

(F) Famous Louis returns to his home town for his sister's wedding. When he sees his non-famous ex-boyfriend at the first wedding event of the weekend, sparks fly. Cue a whirlwind romance and a lot of big decisions about what they're both willing to do for love.

(G) Louis is a werewolf who's gotten good at hiding his nature in order to make a quiet life for himself in a small town. Character B is the vampire whose arrival coincides with a couple of murders that threaten his peaceful existence. When it becomes clear that B isn't behind the murders, he and Louis team up to find the real culprit (and maybe accidently fall in love along the way).

(H) Louis/Liam - Bros who get married for insurance purposes and then decide divorce isn’t worth the hassle.

(i) Louis/Charlie Lightening…no plot but sex on the ping pong table. Obviously. 

(J) Louis and his bandmates/opening band let off some steam by having a circle jerk. It might turn into more for some of them.

(K) Ever since Character A was a kid they wanted to climb on a fire truck and one day they decide to just walk over to the fire station and ask if they can get on the truck. Character B is one of the firefighters.

(L) M/M Louis and Taylor Swift are rival quarterbacks for their town's 2 high school teams. Nobody knows that they've been secretly dating since sharing a NYE kiss. 

(M) Louis/Liam - everyone thinks Louis and Harry are together but it’s actually Louis and Liam

(N) Lilo hot water maintenance au based on this tumblr post

(O) Lilo Robin Hood AU

(P) Lilo Howl’s Moving Castle au

(Q) Louis and either Charlie or Nick from Heartstopper (the Netflixshow), friendship fic. Would love Louis either helping Nick through his sexuality crisis or Louis being there for Charlie through the events of the first season

(R) Omegaverse: Louis is about to turn 25 without having presented. As he debates undergoing the risky process to force a presentation, he meets Character B who helps him realize he doesn't necessarily have to "present" to be the alpha he know he is. (Omegaverse but make it trans and powerful!!)

(S) Bread van fic reimagined with all the guys in Louis' band

(T) Louis plays on the uni football team and Liam is on the athletics team. they pass each other to and from training all the time. cue attraction. they are or become friends and are secretly pining for a while before they eventually start dating

(U) Edwardian era Lilo au where they’re both working class. maybe one is a servant and one is a shop assistant, or both servants.

(V) Louis and David Dawson bond over their time with Harry

(W) Louis/Oscar Isaac- edwardian AU where Oscar is a poet and Louis is his muse

(X) Louis/Pedro Pascal AU where Louis is exploring in the arctic and needs a guide

(Y) Louis/Pedro Pascal Gladiator AU

(Z) Michael B. Jordan as a boxer and nurse Louis

(AA) Louis/Sebastian Stan arranged marriage royalty AU. Louis is betrothed to King Sebastian Stan, a widower with two kids who aren't to keen of the King's fiancé.

(BB) Louis/Sam Claflin - something based on the interview where Sam says Louis follows him on Twitter and that they've had a conversation but he doesn't want to get into it.

(CC) 27 dresses take off where Niall is always the best man, never the husband, and Louis is the snarky reporter.

(DD) Zouiam, uni AU - Zayn meets Liam at the library and falls halfway in love during a single conversation. It’s a fairy tale, only back home is Louis - his FWB, the most important person in Zayn’s life, and someone who doesn’t take well to losing out on attention. Louis' a bit put out when he meets Liam at football practice and this annoying, bossy, fit as all hell guy slides right in under all his defences. It could be the start of a beautiful term of fighting and fucking, only back home is Zayn. Zayn not only needs Louis - he’d become a full-time hermit otherwise - but it’s damn convenient having sex on tap right there in his own flat. And, oh yeah, Zayn’s like, his reflection or his shadow or his other half or something. Liam’s quite confused by having two drop dead gorgeous guys alternately sending him go signals, then just as quickly, stop. He figures if either of them settle on go, he’ll be batting a thousand. Then he realises they know each other. Biblically.

(EE) Louis is an actor in a murder mystery troupe. Character B (maybe Nick Grimshaw...?) is the audience member who’s clearly too cool for all this but giving joining in his best shot anyway. Louis is distracted by him all night, and then after the denouement they meet in the bar.

(FF) Louis/Greg James - Louis won’t stop whanging on about not getting to do the breakfast show with his new album, and character X (maybe Niall, or Oli?) eventually realises it's less career-related jealousy and more about who sits behind the mic. He hatches a matchmaking plan.

(GG) Character A does embarrassing things when interacting with Character B because of their massive crush. Like Character B reaches out to do a fist bump and Character A thinks it's supposed to be a microphone and says hello into their fist.

(HH) Character B joins local amateur dramatics society and suddenly Louis is no longer a shoo-in for every lead role. Cue the drama!

(ii) AU. Preschool teacher Louis / Boxer Sebastian Stan

(JJ) Yellowjackets AU! Girl direction, any pairing from the show, cutting from 1996 to present.

(KK) Louis/Cillian Murphy - 1970s criminal au (preferably with Louis as the criminal), based on this photo: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FvyDkCnWAAk1UwS?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

(LL) Louis/Isaac: Louis and his band Rogue Direction are doing their first tour in their beat-up van at questionable bars across the country. One night, Isaac is hurled into his life, fleeing from an abusive boyfriend in parking lot of the band’s gig. Louis can’t help but feel..protective of the scrappy tagalong who’ll do anything to earn his keep.

(MM) Louis/Isaac: Louis fucks Isaac’s gauged ears.

(NN) Omega Louis / Male Alpha / Female Alpha polyamorous relationship

(OO) Louis/Patrick Dempsey. AU Patrick is Louis’ dad’s best friend. Possible tags: age difference, secret relationship, feminine Louis, hung Patrick

(PP) Louis Tomlinson/Alex Turner AU. Is basically based in the Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino where Louis and Alex are imprisoned together; so they must find a way to escape. But while they try to escape they begin to fall in love with each other however it will be difficult for both of them to escape.

(QQ) Louis and Rob Pattinson are in a secret relationship during the 1d days (around 2014 or 2015) unknown to everyone but then louis gets pregnant.

(RR) Beta Louis with alpha whomever, not established relationship.

(SS) Louis and Michael are secretly dating and navigating the resurgence of the Larry rumor mill. Larry was once real, Louis has insecurities about secretly dating another band mate, and Michael has some insecurities over Harry being Louis ex. Maybe an awkward run in or two with Harry trying to get him back but Michael and Louis being endgame.

(TT) Louis tomlinson/Dev Patel- second chance romance

(UU) louis/charles Leclerc, could title the fic as -my good luck charm- (or some such since charles won the race when louis was there etc) and or u could have charles say that to louis and louis getting smug and or bashful & giggly!

(VV) Charles Leclerc at one of Louis gigs? Or him joining the band onstage?

(WW) Louis had to wear multiple badges to have F1 access, so Louis makes Charles wear multiple badges to have VIP access to his concerts. All’s fair…

(XX) Louis/Taylor Swift - 2014ish. They commiserate over Harry not being able to make up his damn mind

(YY) Louis/Character B are the only single parents in the PTA, and everyone keeps trying to get them together.

(ZZ) Louis/Nick Grimshaw (or Greg James, I just want someone from 1D era but not someone in 1D). Nick run into Louis when he's on a vacation to the USA and Louis is there for his work. Maybe Nick goes to a park and see Louis sitting on a bench. He is hesitated at first whether he want to go and greet Louis or not because they weren't best friends back in the days, even though they didn't hate each other like some fans imagined them to be. Eventually Nick goes to greet Louis and Louis seems very delighted to see Nick, like he has the brightest smile on his face or something and that makes Nick's heart skip a beat. They catch up and go for coffee/lunch/dinner while Nick is in the US. Nick doesn't think they will keep in touch after he flies back to the UK but to his surprise, Louis textes him when he gets back and they hang out more. At one point, Louis comes out as gay to Nick. He is happy that Louis trusts him enough to come out to him. The relationship develops. You can be creative with this. I want it to be slow-burn, fluffy, and spicy.

(AAA) Sebastian Stan/Louis Police Officer AU with omegaverse. Omega Louis is a rookie detective in crimes and investigations division. He's paired with Alpha Sebastian whose old partner just resigned. Louis is a loud and bratty omega who often gets himself in danger at work. Sebastian tries to keep him safe while solving crimes and somehow falls in love in the process.

(BBB) Louis Tomlinson/Sam Thompson Since Louis and the love of his life split a few months ago, before their joint coming out, he’s been utterly rudderless and destroyed. With his third album only partially completed, but full of love and life, his manager has organize a PR stunt to smooth over any inquiring minds and fill in the gaps while he finishes his album, which seems to be taking a turn for the worse. He’s absolutely bored with the gal chosen, and luckily they’ll be spending very little time together. However, a quick meeting with all parties involved includes her closeted gay “ex” and Louis couldn’t be more intrigued with the guy. Could he be the one to help ease Louis’ broken heart and become his muse? Is it too soon for Louis?

(CCC) A bouquet of flowers arrives backstage with the note “for the most beautiful”. All the members of Louis' band think it's for Louis, but Louis sent the flowers to (band member of your choice).

(DDD) Louis is a cowboy along with Character B out on the range, and they come back into town to find that the apocalypse has happened.

(EEE) Louis is too polite to say no. This leads to increasingly weirder situations.

(FFF) Louis and Character B work for the same company and have the same job position but they hate each other because the first time they met there was a misunderstanding or something. But all their coworkers think they would make an amazing couple so they try to get them together.

(GGG) Louis/Simon or Louis/Robbie Williams, x-factor judge era

(HHH) Louis/Robert Pattinson exes to lovers. Louis and Rob broke up for a while, as in months, but they hadn't really moved on from each other. One night Rob got a call telling him that Louis was in an accident and Rob was his emergency contact.

(iii) Kevin Kaarl/Louis. Could be canonish. In a serious way or in a crack way. During the AFHF 2024 Kevin, one of the acts, dedicated his song "San Lucas" to Louis. (Your eyes shine brighter than the moon, the sea and the sun. I want to bare your soul and dedicate it a song.) Later in an interview, he said, "I was giving my all, and then when I left the stage I saw they were shipping me and Louis on twitter. So, I said, 'Oh well, I'm going to go and give bro a little kiss'."

(JJJ) Louis/Pedro Pascal - Pedro's friends order a "bunny boy" stripper for his birthday party as a joke. He meets bunny boy Louis and falls for him fast.

(LLL) Louis spends countless nights not sleeping so he doesn't have nightmares but character B starts to notice. (Or vice versa with the characters)

(MMM) Louis asks Character B if they want a kiss and Character B blushes and says okay, but Louis meant Hershey's chocolate kisses and holds out the candy. Character B is super embarrassed and runs off and Louis runs after them because he really does want to kiss them and not just give them chocolate candy. Could switch the characters around too

(NNN) This is from a social media post I saw once that said something like these two people were friends and they knew their friend had feelings for them after they were at a party and went to leave and their friend kissed them on the forehead unexpectedly and they both just froze. But their mutual friend was standing there with them and realized what had happened and so also kissed them on the forehead to try to make it less awkward. And I just thought that would be so cute for a fic.

[upon-a-starry-night]

Number Neighbors Pt.20

Natasha Romanoff x Fem! Reader

Natasha Masterlist Series Masterlist

Word Count: 1.2k

Summary:  When you catch sight of the newest trend going around you know you’re all but bound to at least try it, it was harmless anyway. What could possibly stem from something so little?

----

When you’re finally released from the hospital they send you home with a list of instructions on how to take care of your wound and some medication. You sigh in relief at the sight of your apartment, it wasn’t the most extravagant place but it was comfortable and familiar, and you had actual food here. 

Tired of hospital food, you head straight for the kitchen when you spot the roses Leon had sent you. They’re still fresh and it doesn’t feel right to just throw them out considering you two ended on a good note. Instead, you set your bouquet from Nat on the counter and take apart the roses from Leon. You individually wrap them in some leftover tissue paper and despite your stomach grumbling you head back out of your apartment. 

You head to the park closest to your house and begin handing the roses out to random strangers you pass. An old lady sitting by herself, a man and his dog, and a group of women walking down the sidewalk. The deed makes you feel good about yourself and the smiles on their faces help remind you of all the good things in life. 

It’s a reminder you need after what happened.

You go to hand the last rose to a woman sitting on a bench on her phone when she looks up and you realize you recognize her

“Y/n! Oh my god!” You smile down at your coworker and her face lights up when you hand her the rose. “This is so sweet, thank you” You’re prepared to bid her a good weekend and leave when she stops you, grabbing your arm. 

“Wait- okay this might be kind of short notice but there’s this party coming up in a week and I really don’t want to go alone- plus you promised me we’d start hanging out” 

You do vaguely remember promising one of your coworkers that you two would start hanging out after you bonded over workplace struggles. Parties aren’t normally your thing but she’s got this bright and hopeful look in her eyes and honestly, you could probably use the socialization.

Shrugging, you figure it wouldn’t hurt to go, your habit of spending your weekends cuddled up with your TV and your snacks had been less and less appealing these past months anyway. 

“Sounds like fun! Will you text me the details?” She nods excitedly and hugs you and it makes you think of your mother. She would be so excited to hear how outgoing you’ve become and you can’t help but think it was all because of Nat. Not because she told you to go out (Although she did so very often), but because her presence just seemed to have that impact. Her sass and humor pulled you out of the slump that you’d been stuck in for what felt like forever. In the past few months, you’ve done things you hadn’t done in years and it felt amazing. 

You waved goodbye to your coworker with the promise of texting her more often and headed home. 

You didn’t know why but you had a feeling everything was going to change next weekend.

~~~~~~~

You weren’t panicking. You weren’t. You just hadn’t been to a party in a long time and your coworker definitely forgot to mention just how fancy the dress code was and now she was coming in half an hour to pick you up and you had no idea what to wear.

So obviously after a 5 minute mini-panic attack, you opened your phone to text Nat

        Nat🔪:

Y/n🍦:

I’m having a crisis

Nat🔪:

Typical.

What’s going on?

Y/n🍦:

I have a party tonight and

I’m told it’s very fancy

Nat🔪:

Look at you socializing!

Y/n🍦:

Har Har

Don’t patronize me

Nat🔪:

So what’s the problem?

If you need to brush up on 

Pop culture or recent celebrity drama

I am NOT the person to ask.

Y/n🍦:

Noted.

I need help finding an outfit

and you sounded like someone 

with impeccable style

Nat🔪:

If I knew calling you was all I had to 

do to get you to compliment my style 

I would’ve done it a lot sooner.

Y/n🍦:

I’m pretty sure all my fancy clothes 

have dust on them.

Nat🔪:

I’m surprised you have any at all.

What have you got?

Y/n🍦:

Well, I’ve got a red dress, a gold strapless one,

and a black one with a thigh slit.

Nat🔪:

Black. Definitely. 

Y/n🍦:

I should’ve guessed that’s what you’d choose.

Emo.

Nat🔪:

Rude. black goes with everything okay?

And it hides drink stains ;)

Y/n🍦:

…okay you might have a point.

But now the real crisis-

Gold or silver jewelry.

Nat🔪:

Show me your options.

Y/n🍦:

Sure!

*Images Attached*

Nat🔪: 

Definitely that silver bracelet.

And the pearl earrings.

Is that dust on your jewelry box, Y/n?

Y/n🍦:

No! Shut up!

For good measure, you send her a picture of your middle finger, to which she responds with an emoji with its tongue sticking out. It makes you chuckle until you see the time and frantically begin scrambling around your room to grab stuff for your shower. Not to mention you had to find a way to cover up your healing shoulder wound. You send Nat another brief text as the water is warming up since you know you probably won’t get the chance to text her until after the party.

      Nat🔪:

Y/n🍦:

I’ve got to get ready but

Thanks for your help, Nat<3

Nat🔪:

Of course.

Have a good time, Y/n ❤️

—-----

Nat had all but gotten used to the fluttering feeling she felt when she texted you until that damn phone call. Everything in her had been screaming at her not to do it, that you would recognize her voice and everything would fall apart. But after what happened to you she knew both of you needed it, maybe her more than you.

It was brief. So brief.

She was trying so hard to show you her authentic self while still making sure you didn’t recognize her but more of her actual voice slipped out than she intended. She couldn’t help it, she lost all train of thought when she heard your voice.

She loved the way you said her name. She could hear you say it a million times over but the call was cut short by her gift to you arriving. She didn’t mind though, not when you sent her photos of your flowers every day with cute captions like “longest I’ve ever kept anything alive!!” and “they still smell so good!?” and she won’t even mention the backflip her heart did when you sent her a picture of the dying flowers you pressed to keep them for longer.

She was glad you liked them. She was glad about everything when it came to you. She’d never consider herself an optimist but you were definitely changing her perspective on life.

Her mind drifted to the party you were going to tonight and she briefly wondered if it was the same one she was expected to show up to tonight, but it was a Friday night in New York and there was no way out of the hundreds of parties tonight you two would happen to be at the same one. Not to mention she didn’t see your name on Stark’s guest list. 

She sighed as she read your goodbye and looked to her closet. It was about time she got ready for her own party. God knows what Stark would have her doing this time, it was better to prepare for these things early.

Pt.21

A/n: Q& A in the comments while we wait for the most anticipated chapter of this series?~ Starry

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