#and he's unapologetic about it. there's something to like about that

[aventurineswife]

haiiii ☆! hoping this reaches u in good health!! the idea of hsr characters (dr ratio/sunday/blade) with a gyaru reader has been shaking in my mind like a snow globe φ(≧ω≦*)♪ i super wonder what the dynamic would be! would they think readers personality is too rowdy? would they enjoy her fashion sense? maybe they’d even consider letting reader do their makeup~! ♡ anywho, feel free to ignore, it’s not a prob! thanks sm for ur time & love ur work!! xx 💖

Hiiiii! 💖 Your idea is so cute, and I think the contrast between these characters and Gyaru!Reader would be pretty cute! 🤭✨

Ratio is definitely the type to raise a brow at first. He prides himself on intellect and refinement, so your bubbly, expressive nature might make him assume you’re a bit... frivolous. But oh, how quickly he learns otherwise. The way you effortlessly command attention, your confidence, and the way you own your aesthetic? It intrigues him. You’re someone who defies expectations, and he respects that.

Would he let you do his makeup? At first, he scoffs at the idea—but then he catches you pouting (an undeniable weapon), and after a very dramatic sigh, he relents. He sits still, eyes half-lidded as you carefully paint his features, occasionally throwing in quips like, “Do not make me regret this.” But the moment he sees himself in the mirror? His lips twitch. "Hmph. Not bad.” He won’t admit it, but he leaves a little smudge of shimmer on his face for the rest of the day.

He may act unbothered, but deep down? He loves your energy. Your ability to brighten any space makes him feel at ease, even if he won’t outright say it. And when people judge you unfairly? Oh, he will cut them down with the sharpest, most eloquent retort.

Sunday is a dreamer, and you? You’re a dazzling force of nature. Your high-energy presence is like a burst of sunlight against his melancholic disposition, and it both soothes and unsettles him. He’s used to quiet contemplation, to conversations laced with philosophy—but then you come along, laughing freely, twirling strands of your perfectly styled hair, and calling him “Sundy-kun” just to watch his wings flutter in flustered confusion.

He’d definitely be fascinated by your makeup and fashion sense. The way you adorn yourself so unapologetically is a form of self-expression he deeply admires. He might trace the patterns of your nail art with a thoughtful hum, murmuring, “Every detail tells a story, doesn’t it?” And when you offer to do his makeup, he closes his eyes and allows you to paint over his worries for a little while. The soft brush of your fingers against his skin? It’s grounding.

You challenge him in ways he never expects. You refuse to let him get lost in his own head, pulling him back to the present with playful pokes and affectionate teasing. And despite his initial reservations, he adores it. You remind him that life isn’t just about philosophy—it’s about living.

Oh, Blade. He is so tired. So broody. And then here you come, a whirlwind of glitter and energy, calling him “Bladie~” in a singsong voice and insisting he needs a wardrobe upgrade. He side-eyes you so hard.

At first, he thinks you’re way too much. Too loud, too flashy, too alive—but he doesn’t push you away. There’s something magnetic about you, the way you throw yourself so wholeheartedly into joy. It’s a stark contrast to his self-destructive tendencies, and maybe, just maybe, he finds himself lingering in your presence more than he intends to.

Would he let you do his makeup? It would take a lot of convincing (and maybe a wager he loses). He sits there, arms crossed, grumbling under his breath, “This is pointless.” But as you carefully blend soft red eyeshadow to match his scarlet gaze, his expression softens. Maybe, for once, it feels nice to be touched without pain.

You’re the kind of person who drags him out of his own storm. You don’t care that he’s got a dark past—you see him, and you refuse to let him wallow. And honestly? That terrifies him a little. But it also makes him want to stay by your side just a little longer.

They all find something comforting in your presence. You remind them that life isn’t just about knowledge, philosophy, or vengeance—sometimes, it’s about having fun and embracing yourself fully.

Also, I definitely think at least one of them secretly keeps a tiny rhinestone on their person as a reminder of you. Just saying.

Thank you for this super cute idea!! I had so much fun with it ��(｡- ω -)

[wittyandobsessed]

𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐅𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓!

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 | Gregory House x Reader

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 | none.

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓: 11. He had told her not to make a fuss about his birthday. He definitely hadn’t told her to plan a surprise party.

You had spent years working with Gregory House. Years spent exchanging sharp banter, dodging his sarcasm, matching his wit with your own. Years of stolen glances, lingering touches that were easily brushed off as accidental, and a slow-burning attraction that had never quite ignited into something more.

And now, you were done waiting.

His birthday had seemed like the perfect excuse—an opportunity to show him, not just tell him, that you cared. And, because he was Gregory House, you knew damn well he would never make it easy for you.

“I swear to God, if you even think about doing something stupid for my birthday—” House had warned, his blue eyes narrowing over the rim of his coffee cup.

“Define ‘stupid,’” you had teased, smirking.

“Anything that involves cake, balloons, or people I don’t like pretending they give a crap.”

Which, to House, meant most people.

Wilson had confirmed it. Cuddy had sighed and told you that, yes, House had made it his life’s mission to avoid celebrating his birthday. But you were nothing if not persistent. And stubborn. If House was going to avoid his birthday, then you were going to make it impossible for him to do so.

So you planned a surprise party.

And now, standing in the crowded hospital lounge, surrounded by his team, Cuddy, Wilson, and a handful of other brave souls, you started to think maybe this had been a mistake.

The door creaked open.

“SURPRISE!” The group shouted in unison.

House stood there, his cane still mid-step, his expression unreadable as his blue eyes swept over the crowd. The silence that followed stretched on a little too long.

Then, finally, he spoke.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

The tension in the room thickened as people exchanged nervous glances. You, on the other hand, bit the inside of your cheek to keep from smiling.

Cuddy sighed. “Oh, come on, House, just—”

“No.” He lifted his cane, pointing it in your direction. “This has your fingerprints all over it.”

You shrugged, unapologetic. “Guilty as charged.”

“You—” He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “You ignored my explicit instructions.”

“They weren’t instructions,” you said, stepping closer, arms crossed. “They were a grumpy old man’s demands.”

He scoffed. “And yet, I find myself standing in the middle of a Hallmark nightmare.”

“Would it kill you to enjoy something for once?” You challenged, tilting your head.

House��s lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, you thought maybe—just maybe—he’d relent.

Then he turned on his heel.

“Nope. Not doing this.”

The room watched in stunned silence as he limped right out the door.

Cuddy sighed again. Wilson gave you an apologetic smile.

And you—well, you just rolled your eyes and went after him.

You found him in his office, sitting at his desk, tossing a small rubber ball against the wall with calculated precision. You leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

“You really know how to make an exit,” you mused.

“Practice,” he muttered, still tossing the ball.

You stepped inside, letting the door click shut behind you. “You didn’t even stay long enough for the cake.”

“Didn’t ask for cake.”

“No, but I did.” You moved closer, until you were standing right in front of him. “And I spent all night baking it.”

That made him pause. The ball hit his desk with a soft thud as he eyed you skeptically. “You don’t bake.”

“I do when I care about someone.” The words were simple, unfiltered. They hung in the air between you, heavy and undeniable.

House studied you for a long moment. “And here I thought you just enjoyed torturing me.”

“Oh, I do,” you admitted with a smirk. “But I also meant what I said.”

His throat bobbed as he swallowed, his fingers drumming against the desk. “You’re an idiot.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I didn’t say thank you.”

“Not yet.”

There was a flicker of something in his eyes—something raw, something real. You watched as he reached for his cane, pushing himself to stand until he was so close, you could feel the warmth of him.

“Why do you even—” He stopped himself, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe he was about to ask.

“Because it’s you,” you answered before he could finish.

His gaze flickered to your lips. Your pulse quickened.

And then, just like that, Gregory House closed the remaining space between you and kissed you.

It wasn’t tentative or hesitant—it was confident, certain, like he had been waiting just as long as you had for this. His hand found your waist, pulling you closer, deepening the kiss until the world outside of this office didn’t exist.

When he finally pulled away, his breath was warm against your lips.

“Still an idiot,” he murmured.

“Still worth it,” you countered.

His lips quirked into the faintest hint of a smile. “I guess one bite of cake wouldn’t kill me.”

You grinned. “Come on, birthday boy. Let’s get you that cake.”

And this time, he didn’t put up a fight.

▸ Everything

@alexxavicry

▸ House MD

@mayo-i @dustie-faerie @awxcoffeexno @khxna

[zomboivex]

Vexting’s Official (Unofficial) Tier-List of the TKD Cast

I’ll break down my reasonings below the cut.

S-Tier

For me, these are characters that steal the scene whenever they’re in it, for me. I live, breathe, and eat this character up.

Rui Mizuki - is it really a surprise that Rui is at the very top? He has stolen my heart the first time I laid my eyes upon him. There’s something about a blond man that has ties to a deadly touch that just gets me (hello Prosciutto). But- in all honesty, I just love how deep and complex he feels, to me. He’s profoundly tragic all while masking it with an air of being overly friendly and helpful. I could honestly write an entire dissertation of this character (and I plan to). But I’ll save that for another day.

Leo Kurosagi - A polarizing character for many. I do think he gets a lot of hate compared to other equally offending characters. But aside from that, I really actually enjoy Leo. Sure, he’s an ass at times. But he really strikes me as someone who is so deeply insecure but refusing to let others know any of his weaknesses so he comes across as an asshole. He DOES do assholeish things. He reminds me a lot of younger me, as well. So biased. And yeah- I was a shit person. But growth, ya know? Anyways. Leo does have redeeming qualities. He does try to help Alan and look out for him (when he refuses to give the original copy of the case file but made a copy to give) as well as trying to make sure Tohma doesn’t take advantage of him. Not to mention making a literal app for Sho’s food truck. He DOES care. He shows it in his own way. And yeah, he’s a prick. But ya know- I just don’t see him as the worst offender (‘realistic’ or not).

Ren Shiranami - Ren is unironically fucking FUNNY. Dude is trapped in a clown world. Forced to wear the most atrocious outfits while trying to just keep to himself. He’s really trying to keep out of things and I love that for him. Also his SSR standard is my favorite standard. And he’s beyond expressive. I just love this guy.

A-Tier

This category are characters I greatly enjoy for one reason or another. They don’t quite make the cut into the S rank for one flaw or other. But, they’re still pretty solid in my eyes.

Ed Hart - He fucking cracks me up. I’m not into the whole vampire trope thing but he subverted my expectations by being the most cringe crackpot theorist I’ve ever laid eyes upon. I adore and despise him at the same time. He’s only not higher simply because it’s Ed. He just- can’t go any higher.

Yuri Isami - This newest chapter really bumped him up to top 5 territory for me. I love me an overconfident guy who’s clearly overcompensating. I won’t say anything else. But iykyk. He really shot up from like C-Tier to A-Tier.

Haru Sagara - Haru is fucking hilarious and he bounces well off of Ren. He zips about and is unapologetically a nuisance to all. Though, sorry Haru, you stay in A-Tier because you do have a few things that kinda make me go ‘hmmmmm’ for a second. And I can’t put my finger on why, just yet.

Ritsu Shinjo - One-track minded and really stuck in a single line of thinking. He’s hilariously wrong and doesn’t even realize it. I mean he’s not ALWAYS wrong, obviously. But- the fact that he’s so over-confident to the point of ignoring anything else anyone says kills me. A-Tier if only because of association with Taiga. And also his pretentious hand on chest pose that he has all the time in (most) of his cards. Get outta here ya failure.

B-Tier

These characters are one I feel positively towards but I don’t think too much on them. They’re ones that I do enjoy seeing but I don’t get beyond excited when they pop up. Still, it’s an enjoyable time, all the same.

Haku Kusanagi - I’m feeling positive about Haku but there’s still not enough there for me to push him up or down. I do like what I’m seeing, though. And I love his warding card with Rui. It’s hands down my favorite card in the entire game. In fact, I love his dynamic with Rui so far and I really hope we get to see more of them together. He’s- very similar to Rui, I feel. Only slightly different. But that’s a topic for another day.

Zenji Kotodama - Good god. First of all, he has the literal best SSR character card in the entire game. IYKYK. That shit EATS. In fact, Zenji EATS. He’s a fun character with enough tragedy to balance him out. I would feel so safe and included around Zenji and he’s honestly a great guy with killer fashion. I adore him. He’s only lower because I do want to see more of him. Truly. More dynamics. I want to hear what others thought of him before he passed.

Jiro Kirisaki - Jiro is growing on me and may see some upwards movement in the future. He’s interesting enough to keep me invested but doesn’t seem to also hog up screen time, either. He’s a solid balance of being there and present and impactful but also- not in your face about it. I am so curious about him. And because there’s a LOT of mystery there, I’m keeping him here for now. But I have a feeling he’ll see some upwards movement on this list.

Sho Haizano - Sho and I would 100% throw hands. But then we’d both laugh it off, I think. He’s a bit too passive for my liking. But I can respect a man with a good truck and passion for food. As a fellow food man, myself. Sho, you’re solid there. But wash that bandana, please. He’d be higher. But- again- his passive nature makes it hard for me to place him higher than he is.

Alan Mido - Alan is a comfortable character. He’s comfortably there. But the lack of information makes it hard to place him higher, for me. I do imagine he gives some of the best hugs, though. I feel like I need an Alan hug in my life. Truly.

C-Tier

Characters placed here are ones I feel a little indifferent towards or feel a bit annoyed if they’re on the screen (depending on the context). But they’re not irredeemable in my eyes. Just characters that I personally can’t rank higher at this time.

Kaito Fuji - Kaito, you have been ALL over this list, haven’t you? From A-Tier to D-Tier to slowly moving comfortably towards the middle. He has some amazing screen time. And has two really sick fucking cards. But the constant on-screen screaming KILLS him for me. I don’t mind the boy failure aspect. I think it has its charms. But I actually have to mute my game because of him.

Romeo Lucci - Romeo, you’re really only so low because of exposure exhaustion. You’re everywhere. He has his charms, for sure. I can see why he’s appealing to some. He cracks me the fuck up because he’s so exasperated. I’m just- also kinda sick of seeing his face is all. One day, I’m sure you’ll shoot up higher.

Jin Kamurai - Jin was solid D-Tier for a while for me but after doing my character study of him, he’s been slowly going up. I don’t care for his character trope. The cold/callous CEO(esque) son who actually has a soft spot for those he cares about. Ehhh not my type. He tries too hard to be hard and it’s- kinda lame. But- I also like this pathetic side of him that’s untrusting and afraid of being betrayed again. He has some interesting aspects so we’ll see where he winds up on this list in the future.

Lyca Colt - Lyca isn’t BAD. Per say. But I’m not a fan, at all, of his werewolf form. It just- looks stupid. It looks BAD. And I can appreciate that others like him. But that really took me out. In a negative way. Now. Lyca has some sweet traits about him. And I do teeter on liking him and hating him. So he has a chance.

Subaru Kagami - I do not trust this fucker at all. I would hate him in real life, too. He sets off alarms in my head. I know he’s an actor and it’s not really a surprise that he’s putting on an act. But something about him makes me feel physically nauseous. He’s not in D-Tier if only because he does have some nice interactions and I bet he’s a pretty crier.

D-Tier

If I placed a character here, it’s because there’s just something I greatly dislike about this character. It is a personal opinion. I don’t hate them. But until the game gives me a reason to move them up, they remain here.

Tohma Ishibashi - I can see the appeal of him to others. But he comes across as so slimy. I also just cannot take anyone serious who has their monocle pierced to their fucking ear. Or even just wears a monocle. Okay cartoon ass villain.

Lucas Errant - Stale bread. He’s the ‘safe’ option. And- again, I see why people see the appeal in him. He has cute moments. But I just find him to be a scene drainer. Anytime he’s on screen I suddenly feel myself losing interest in the game.

Towa Otonashi - Towa is interesting. I’ll give him that. But he also comes across as the type to really idealize what romance is. He just gives me major ick vibes. I do look forward to learning more about him, though. And he is very cute. It’s just that personality kinda kills it for me. Anyone who has an idealized version of someone else instead of seeing them as a person with flaws feels extremely just….. gross to me.

Taiga Hoshibami - I understand why people like him. People like unhinged bad boys who give no fucks. And good for them. Not my cup of tea. But my biggest issue with Taiga is exposure exhaustion. I’m so fucking sick of seeing his face to the point that every time I do see him I roll my eyes and find my mood instantly decrease. They better do something actually interesting with him soon because I’m really getting sick of him.

[shina913]

Porn Preferences | SVT/OT13

Rating: M 🔞; NSFW

Genre: Headcanon; crack; humor

Warnings: Explicit references to sex and pornography consumption; attempts at comedy

Word count: 1.2k words

A/N: Thanks to @roaminginthenights for a lively back-and-forth. Please enjoy!

***Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction—random bullshit, pure crack and not to be taken seriously. None of this is real, nor do we claim to know anything about anyone's personal preferences or kinks. Nobody is trying to push an agenda here. This is entirely made up just for fun!***

Seungcheol seems to be the type who likes to browse extensively, looking for exactly what might pique his interest at that moment. He’s generally open to watching anything and everything, BUT if the movie doesn’t immediately capture his attention in the first 2 minutes—”NEXT!” He’s a busy man with practically no attention span when it comes to content—he just wants to find something that works quickly, so he can get off and move on with his day. No time for drawn-out plots or elaborate setups.

Jeonghan has seen plenty, but he’s very picky about his porn. He refuses to waste his time on anything that doesn’t meet his criteria for “higher quality” and “better production value.” Otherwise, he considers it beneath his attention and a complete waste of time. He doesn’t get emotionally attached—he either gets off on it or not, and moves on accordingly.

Joshua has either never watched porn or rarely does. He thinks it’s offensive to women and he’s too much of a gentleman—a traditional gentleman at that! Although, if he does watch anything, he wouldn’t want to do it alone. In fact, he’d probably organize a viewing party and make snacks.

Junhui would be into scenarios that are “out there.” He’s the guy who’s willing to watch anything once. ~Finds friend’s porn stash~ “Ooh! You have porn?” ~Browses thumbnails or titles until something catches his eye~ “Hey, I haven’t seen this one!” He watches primarily out of curiosity and interest, then finds himself either surprised that he’s aroused or surprised that he’s not.

Soonyoung is an avid viewer and never one to keep a good thing to himself. He’ll recommend a video he’s seen and then sit with a friend through the whole thing, enthusiastically reacting to key scenes as if it’s his first time seeing them. “OMG—you have to see this...” “Wait, wait—shhhh...you have to hear the dialogue here! It’s so good!”

Wonwoo can go through periods where he watches porn frequently, then go weeks or even months without viewing any. Contrary to popular assumptions, his tastes lean more towards vanilla—which he embraces unapologetically! He does have a few go-to favorites that he revisits periodically. Unless a trusted friend makes a recommendation, he rarely explores new content. He knows what he likes and seldom deviates from that.

Jihoon’s approach is similar to Seungcheol’s, but commits to watching videos start to finish—giving each video time before making a judgment call. BUT he is very judgy and firm on his preferences; not a lot of gray area. His standards are non-negotiable, especially on degradation—that’s a hard pass for him. He won’t view content that crosses his personal boundaries. He also mentally rewrites scenes, thinking how they could be improved with better direction or production values.

Minghao watches porn sparingly, leaning more towards more realistic scenarios. He isn’t morally opposed to it; he simply finds most content too artificial. “Why watch something so obviously fake when reality—or even my imagination—is more satisfying?” Which is why you’ll never catch him watching anything with campy storylines or supernatural elements like fairies or alien encounters.

Mingyu has totally done his homework, finding sites with porn written and directed by women. He’s down to try different things but is still pretty methodical about it. For instance, he’ll look up terms he doesn’t know on Urban Dictionary: ~types into search bar~”Rusty trombone...” ~results load~ “A rusty trombone is...” ~eyes widen in shock~ “Whoa! Okay...” He also likes to establish what he likes and doesn’t like. After checking out something new, he just thinks: ~makes mental note~ “Maybe someday, but not a dealbreaker.”

Seokmin peeks at content from behind his hands. He’s also not into jump-scare fucking, full-frontals, or full bushes! No extended, gratuitous closeups of organs moving in and out of holes. “I don’t even want to see my own that close, and I definitely don’t want to see anyone else’s genitals but my partner’s.” He most definitely is into sweet, sweet love-making. Maybe some light spanking or soft restraints at most! He’s also kind of horrified by the stuff the other guys—especially Jun—talk about. “You people are animals!” At least two others are going to nod and suggest he tries it sometime. “Wait...people actually do this? And they enjoy it???” Minghao simply shrugs and says, “Hey, don’t knock it ‘til you try it!” To which replies ~after gasping in horror~ “I expected more from you!”

Seungkwan would be selective about his porn content, if he even watches it. He may even be a bit too sensitive for it, which means he’s definitely not into degradation, humiliation, anything non-consensual, or torture. What he does appreciate is authentic enthusiasm and genuine chemistry between performers. He’s also viewed enough to the point where Chan asks if he would recommend a movie he’s interested in and Seungkwan would be like, “Hell no! I would not recommend that thing to my worst enemy. The set looked so cheap and the acting was wooden…” He’s got serious opinions about porn he watches—very passionate and detailed! And since Seungkwan is also into pop culture, he’d be the type to make a list of recs, especially ones that are popular or have gone viral.

Hansol keeps track of his favorite porn content like it’s his job. His preferences and approach are similar to Seungkwan’s, except he creates comprehensive lists that are not just recommended but thoroughly ranked, categorized, and cross-indexed for optimal viewing experience. He offers recommendations within recommendations: “If you like this performer, you should explore their body of work...(heh...body...).” He’s a porn connoisseur (if you will)—knowledgeable but without a hint of pretension. He’s just really into organizing his spank bank.

Chan has a straightforward approach to picking his content—he scans title cards and thumbnails. If the people look hot and the title isn’t too aggressive or off-putting, he’s clicking that ‘play’ button. And unlike most people who skip right to the good parts, he watches the entire thing from start to finish and will accidentally get sucked (heh) into the storyline. He’s sitting there staring at the screen thinking, “But what about the plot? Will there be a sequel?” whereas everyone else has gotten off midway through and moved on.

Bonus:

Seokmin may talk a big game, but he seems like a true romantic. Once he’s into you, he. is. in. to. you. Totally whipped for his partner, who has never told him he can’t or shouldn’t watch porn, but he also genuinely believes, “Why would I watch porn when I have you?” He might be more traditional in that sense, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t know how to have fun or keep things spicy and interesting in the bedroom. “Whatever we do in the privacy of our own home is hotter and sexier than any silly porn movie! Besides, we can make our own, if you want...” ~wiggles eyebrows~

Mingyu would also be into homemade porn. In fact, he would produce (with partner’s consent, of course) very high-quality homemade porn that’s worthy of a premium subscription or placed behind a paywall. Unfortunately, he’d be likely to record over videos of former lovers. [Unverified] Quote from an ex: “That bastard recorded over me! Spring for a new blank flash drive next time, asshole!”

Main SVT Fic Masterlist

Thank you for reading!

Interaction/feedback is appreciated but *not* required. But just in case you feel comfortable enough to comment or just say hello, my inbox 📩 is open 💜💎

[that1notetaker]

I love and hate Severus Snape in equal measures. Also, Harry Potter would have been 100% better if he was actually a vampire but only the teachers and the golden trio knew for sure. He would mess around with the students on purpose and listen to their weird theories to further mess with them. Minerva would think it's funny on the inside and would only tell him off occasionally.

[ehhlien]

Armand killing Claudia and allowing Louis to kill his flock so that the two of them can live happily ever after is so manipulative.. but also reminded me of Lestat going out of his way to keep Claudia with them in New Orleans because he saw first hand what losing Claudia did to Louis, and he never wanted Louis to be in that state again. Both men are obsessed with Louis and beg for his attention, but went about it two completely different ways. And it costs one of them their lives, because they never thought to consider simply getting along with Claudia or trying to keep peace with her.

Both men are manipulative and selfish, but at the end of the day, Lestat has always been genuine about wanting Louis to be happy, even at his own expense.

[miraculan-draws]

The artistic decision for Louis to have no regional accent beyond "nebulously American" ONLY in the Dubai penthouse...with the NOLA accent returning immediately upon leaving...Jacob your mind

[maryasmorevna]

why are you, as an adult in 2024, still hung up on reylo. why are you still mocking the shippers. why do you believe yourself to be superior only because you dislike a stupid ship from a fucking space fairytale. girl (gnc) get a grip

[empty-blog-for-lurking]

hiii uh. dunno if this will make any sense, im kinda just throwing my thoughts at you

OKAY. so. been thinking about kuron(again) and the thing im just realising how ALONE he is, at least at the beggining. the people he thought of as his family fucking KILLED him, stole his body, and then basically forgot about him for YEARS. and after being ressurected- like, in the first few days, weeks, months- did kuron had ANY support? anyone to lean on?? to help him adjust to being alive again?

i know he starts to meet new people and make friends, and thats great! but. at the beggining....... lance was in a coma 'n shit, team voltron propably wasnt too enthusistic about helping kuron, and it just hit me that, at least the way i understand it(i might be wrong), he had to figure EVERYTHING out by himself

thats FUCKED dude

Oh god yes!!! To be honest i dont really have like a detailed idea for this part of the story like at best i have this one idea where Veronica is the first one to find him. Like in my head Veronica has been trying to track down Lance cause he ran away/didnt give the address once he moved out, isnt picking up his goddamn phone and literally dropped from the face of the earth and she cant find a trace of him. That was until apparently Lance?? 'Attacked' Shiro?? Like Shiro's fine just fainted and on bedrest and according to Curtis, Lance was saying something about "he is still in there" before apparently using Magic?? Somehow?? And taking something? From Shiro?? Yeah Veronica has no fucking clue. But a lead is a lead and she was able to track down Lance's new home only to find 1) a guy butt fuck naked coming out of a quintessence filled tub like the girl from Shining and who looks a bit like her boss. 2) her brother unconscious. She instinctly about to pull a gun on him except Kuron just slips and hits the floor, so now Veronica has two men she needs to drag to a hospital. Joy.

So like yeah Kuron's first stranger-to-acquintance-to-friend is Veronica. She neither has the history of All That™ the others have with Kuron, knows a bit about the clone situation to not be weirded out by it, but also doesnt really care about the whole Evil Clone thing™, cause i am so sorry but she has seen this man fall on his face first 5 times and counting, cry over a fridge ad that had kittens in it, and try to name himself Frank Shelley, even if he somehow becomes Evil~ Veronica is sure she can just Take him down easily, and like what is she supposed to do? Just leave him? He clearly has even less of an idea what is going on and she cant in good conscience leave him like this.

And thing is that Veronica does want to support Kuron, because he deserves that! It's the right thing to do and he deserves that! But at the start he really is a stranger to her and Lance is more of a priority to her than he is, and he is like one of the only leads that explains what is going on with Lance. And while she wont admit this but Kuron can tell and like logically He Gets That™!! He Gets That™!!! And he wants to help Lance too!! But he's also someone who is used and thrown away by everyone around him and this shit hurts like hell. Like this is a recipe of disaester for both of them and will result in a shouting match but right now Kuron is too high on pain meds and pain of being alive again to truly get into it so.

So like physically he isnt really alone in figuring this out, Veronica is trying to help him as much as she can help him, and the hospital staff she dragged him to are really nice to him as well. Emotionally......well there is effort. Vero is trying! Heck she even defended him when Shiro suggested they should lock him up cause he was a danger to everyone and is evil. She is trying but she also has her own trauma, whatever is going on with Lance, her family having separation anxiety, her job, etc etc and she can only do so much, and like Kuron is also trying but he is also dealing with so much and pushing it into the back burner and my guy is just not having great time at all. So like yeah he did had to figure out so much himself

[aroaessidhe]

2023 reads // twitter thread

Like A Love Story

historical YA following three teens in 1989 New York amidst the AIDS crisis

a closeted Iranian boy who’s just moved to the city, a young punk activist rebelling against his conservative parents, and his best friend, an aspiring fashion designer

complicated friendships & romance, and revolution

[bednbunfast]

everything feels like it's falling apart,,

[littlepurplewakiya]

I really want make a Kira playlist but I always get too squicked by the possiblity that someone will find it horrible & OOC and bully me for it but??? then I remember that the circle of everyone who even as much as acknowledges his existence at all consists of maybe 4 people and 5 lemurs in a trench coat pretending to be a person (aka me) and I honestly dk which is worse...

[lemonynuggets]

I’m a guy that has so many personas

[starry-bi-sky]

Hi IT TOTALLY HASN'T BEEN *checks watch* THREE DAYS.

First off yesssss Danny has an ice core/space core while Wisp/Dames/(Damon?) has a fire/star core. But ALSO which is perfect for a little bit of drama beCAUSE you know who else has a fire core? Vlad. You know who is obsessively trying to adopt a certain halfa (or halfas?) into his family? Vlad. All I'm saying is that when his manipulation tactics with Danny doesn't work, there's a perfectly cherubic little boy with a fire core right there that's young enough to be much, much easier to manipulate....

Why, after all! They have the same core, Vlad could help Damian with his powers much better than his brother can. And if Damian is on his side, it'll only take a little convincing to get Danny on his side! He's seen how protective the boy is over the toddler....

Which wouldn't be a bad plan, if it wasn't Danny and Damian that Vlad was messing with. Vlad is going to get crushed. Curbstomped. Turned into a fine paste by one truly incensed mama bear.

And aaaaa Wisp is a little kitten. A mischievous and playful little kitten, who likes to play hunt Danny when his back is turned (it MIGHT work if Damon didn't have a tendency to giggle whenever he got close... Or set off Danny's ghost sense/flood the parent-child bond they have with the sense of lightjoy-play.) And yesss his ghost form as is is very simple. He's gonna have a blast experimenting once he gets older and he settles more into his person.

Baby ghosts SO have a much easier time at shapeshifting/changing their size. It's kinda like how kids have a ton more energy than adults do but also a built in defense-mechanism to hide from 'predators'. Makes it easier to hide under their parent.

Yesyesyes to the ghost cannibalism. Whenever they go into the Zone and have to leave the spectre speeder, Wisp is under strict conditions not to leave Danny's side, and just as an extra precaution, Danny's scarf acts as a secondary child leash just in case Damon gets the idea to zip off somewhere. (They usually don't have too much of a problem, Damon prefers to be close to Danny in the zone out of ghostbaby instinct. Much safer to be tucked under baba's underbelly than it is anywhere else. But... just to be safe. Or if they're in the Far Frozen/Greater Athens/one of the mega-isles)

I've thought it before but I don't think I've said it -- and if I have, I'll say it again -- but you know the Batman Shadow Blob thing he's sometimes drawn as? That's Danny. That's Danny 100%. He can just go Full Shadow Ghost at a whim and it's so fun, he loves hiding in his friends' shadows and scaring the shit out of them. It's less fun when he inflates his size and turns into a great snarling, vaguely-human-shaped shadow beastie when someone tries to go after Wisp.

Rip to that one dude in the Greater Athens, he still gets nightmares sometimes.

Danny has never MacGuyvered something faster in his life than when Damon started floating, flying, and going through walls, and when he started getting the hang of it. Damon's threes were terrible. Oh man. Danny was convinced he was going to go gray before 16.

He kept the leash in his backpack or bag Always whenever he went out with Damon before Damon stopped running off.

Aaaa I love that Danny and Bruce have some kind of friendship/bond after that initial trust is established, that's so sweet. I don't see them having a relationship that isn't like, Danny dunking on him, that often. So that's super sweet <333. They talk about their Damians over tea, and Bruce has baby pictures from Talia (they trade).

Honestly tho I imagine Danny being super skittish/shy around his template at first, if only because of his own trauma and insecurities. He feels extremely guilty over his own existence lol. Lmao even. He's very polite to Batman when they first meet because he feels like he needs to make it up to him somehow, even if his creation was out of his control.

(he empathizes with the man HARD because he was also cloned. So its a special kind of hell that danny is in where "yeah I know what its like to be cloned so i know how violating that feels" and "i'm a clone, i feel so gross about myself bc i know what its like to be cloned. i can't stand the skin im wearing, oh god" aND "nothing about me is unique. i'm a ten cent copy of something far more advanced than me." all co-exist with each other. He's got clone trauma^3 <3)

And after Batman reveals his identity to him, I see Danny struggling to look him in the face a lot. It pulls up all those ugly feelings in him over his own identity. The first time Danny went home post-reveal, he covered all the mirrors in the house (or at least in places where he would see it) and flinched away from his reflection for a while.

Batman has to reach out and bridge that gap first before any kind of connection can be made lol. But once they get over that initial awkwardness, I can see them very much developing an almost sibling-like bond despite the age gap. Danny very affectionately calls him "template" as a playful nickname. And, as a personal hc I have, calls him Buzz.

("You know! Since all your kids call you "b" and a 'bee" is a type of insect, and bees buzz! So, Buzz!" "I thought it was because Buzz Aldrin was your favorite astronaut--" "ssHHHHHUSH DAMON")

Wisp so play-hunts with Kon whenever he visits. He's not really allowed to with Sam or Tucker since they're 'squishy humans who will get VERY hurt with your teeth if you bite them -- yes even if they're baby teeth' but Kon is not only okay with it, but invulnerable! So Damon's got the okay to play.

Which also makes me think of like, Danny and Damon visiting Wayne Manor, and they're chilling on the couch with some of the other Fam. Damon is leaning against Danny and idly using his hand as a chew toy, and showing off some very frighting fangs while he's at it. Danny looks completely nonplussed, and is either scrolling boredly through his phone, or talking to like, Tim or Bruce or something.

"uhh--- Danny.. are you sure Damon should be--"

"Dw it's fine, he's still got his baby teeth. The adult fangs haven't come in yet."

"Adult fang--?"

and Danny gently grabs Damon's face, squishing his chin between the web of his thumb, lightly ignoring Damon's indignant whining, and uses his thumb to push his upper lip up to show off the little fangs on Damon's upper jaw. "Ghosts have fangs, although they all look different from ghost to ghost. Wisp is still little, so he's got baby teeth. And only on the top shelf. Once he starts losing them, his big ones will come in. And they'll probably look like mine."

He lets go of Damon, and then hooks his finger around the corner of his mouth and pulls the skin back to show off some fierce looking fangs, both top and bottom canines look much sharper and bigger than a human's should, and the teeth surrounding it look a little sharp as well.

"I still wouldn't let him bite you though, the itty babies can do some serious damage when they want to."

(honestly baby ghosts probably have even sharper teeth than adults do just because its an even better defense mechanism. And I'm pretty sure that's a thing with most if not all animal species. Because I know for fucking certain its a thing for humans. Seriously! If you've ever worked with kids, those mfers have some seriously sharp chompers on them. I've never seen sharper human teeth than I have on a two year old toddler. they've given me BRUISES in a single bite.)

"I don't plan on being bitten by any Damians a day in my life, thank you very much, but I'll keep that in mind."

"Hn."

ALSO. i have more doodles

Over 900 prompt

Okay I love the Danny is a clone of Batman aus but I've never seen this done.

Danny and Kon dating and Then Danny learning his parents cloned Batman thinking he is a ghost only to find out he isn't and kept Danny as their kid.

Just think of the hilarious reactions

Caue this immediately popped into my head.

Kon: *muffled screaming into Tim's couch*

Tim: ....you good?

Kon: danny is the clone of Batman

Tim: ...

Kon: I'm the clone of Superman

Tim:...

Kon: AND WE ARE DATING!

[nezuscribe]

being married to gojo is probably such a weird limbo to be in. he doesn’t talk much, but he watches you a lot. the way you move, the way your head tilts back as you laugh unapologetically, the little way your nose scrunches up when you’re confused.

he’s aware of your past, the way you were raised. he knows how much of a black sheep you are, and the more he spends time with you the more he realizes how much you try to hide that.

the way you joke through awkward moments, or the way you tried to hide your expression when somebody doesn’t laugh at something you hoped to be funny are all things gojo has noticed about you.

he knows how you sometimes come down to the training yard, hiding behind a pillar as if a group of men who are trained to be aware of their surroundings wouldn’t spot you from a mile away.

but a part of him likes having you there, puffs his chest out a little more when he disarms someone, his grin a little cheekier when the men praise him of his talent.

though you never really seem to be there for him, despite gojo being your husband. it almost seems like you don’t even want him to know you’re there, making sure to duck your head if he sees you.

until one night, when the men file out and into their quarters, gojo stays behind, in one of the rooms that lead out into the yard, still cleaning up.

his ears prick up when he hears the sound of footsteps, leaving the sword room, expecting to see on of his men, when instead he sees you, looking at the bows littered on the ground.

gojo watches as you pick one up, looking around to see if anybody were there, missing the way gojo was hidden in the shadows, and sees you look around for an arrow.

he wonders what that feeling in his chest it, the one that contracts and loosens whenever you’re near.

he goes back into the shed, picking out some arrows for you and walks to where you were.

“here,” he calls out, and you whip your head around, a look of surprise and embarrassment on your face.

your lips slightly part, shocked that it’s your husband who caught you, and you duck your head a little bit as you quickly go to set the bow back down on the ground.

“sorry,” you quickly say, your eyes trialing at the arrows in his hand in a curious sort of way, “i just wanted to, um, hold one.”

gojo snorts, rolling his eyes at your lie as he picks the bow back up from the ground, wiping some of the dirt from earlier from his hands on his pants as you slowly accept it.

“do you know how to shoot?” he asks, his sturdy figure towering over yours as you stare at him, squinting your eyes a little, and finally shake your head no.

he nods, expecting this as he picks up a bow that was resting on the wall, cocking one of the arrows in the as he shows you what he’s doing.

you’ve spoken to him a bit more as of recently, but never enough for you to think he’d be willing to show you how to use a bow.

“line up your arrow with the bowstring,” he demonstrates, “use your non dominant hand to hold it,” you watch silently as he grips it with his left hand.

you do the same thing, the arrow clumsily sliding around until your able to cock it, holding it loosely with your non dominant hand like he said.

“your dominant hand should hold the string between three fingers,” his slender fingers take it in between and he stretches it, “but make sure your wrist is aligned with your fingers.”

you do the same thing, feeling the resistance from the bowstring as you pull it back.

gojo looks over at your legs and clicks his tongue, clearly not liking what he’s seeing. he sets his own bow on the ground as he comes up from behind you.

“your legs should be like this,” his voice is deep, breath hiting the back of your neck as he nudges your legs apart, separating them until one is in front of the other.

your heart is pounding so loudly against your chest your sure the bow is about to vibrate along with it.

his hand cups your elbow, carefully pulling it back as the string groans under the pressure. you feel like you’re sweating your entire body weight in water off right now.

his eyes are focused on your wrist, holding it gently as he lowers it slightly, and you feel his nose slightly brush against the side of your head.

“don’t focus on the tip of your arrow but the target,” his voice comes out barely audible, but you swallow thickly, nodding.

you try your best to focus on the target that’s in front of you, trying to center the bow with the middle.

“let go when you’re ready,” gojo says, his lips near your ears.

you give it a couple seconds, trying to aim as best as you can, before your hand lets go of the string.

you both straighten your backs up, watching as it flies into the target.

the arrow nearly hits the wood around it, so far away from the target itself that it’s almost comical, and you laugh, tilting your head back as shake your head in embarrassment.

“it’s your first time,” he says, trying to help but you shake it off, missing his warmth from behind you as you set the bow back on the wall.

“and my last,” you promise, missing the way he seemed to deflate.

you turn back to gojo, only to see his eyes it filled with the mirth they had only moments ago, this time focused on your left hand.

you look down, trying to figure out what was wrong.

suddenly, you remember that you had taken off you ring a couple days ago, not finding any use in wearing it.

gojo swallows thickly, a strange lump in his chest as he stares at the arrow you had shot and then back to your face.

“i just figured…” you trailed off, biting your lips as you tried to find the words, “you know…” you motioned to his own left hand, void of any ring.

his eyes are a different hue, as if a storm was brewing inside them.

you watched as he dug his hand inside his tunic, tugging something out. your eyes fall to a delicate gold chain, his wedding ring hanging off of it.

“i don’t want it to fall off during training,” he bites out and suddenly your mouth feels dry.

you nod once, eyes fleeting away from his as you nod again, at nothing and everything, and silently leave.

[lowkeyren]

in which : alhaitham speaks to you in 5 different languages, unaware that you understand every word he says.

wc 7.3k (pls give it a chance lol), academic rivals to lovers, unrequited hate, attempt at humor, college au, denial + pinning.. crazy ik, he falls first (and harder), tw stalking by a drunkard, a genius on paper but a total dumbass when it comes to crushes, lil smau at the end!, ft. sumeru gang. art by @/gamegatchihaja on x.

ps. translations ay nasa maliliit na titik, katulad neto!!

ps. translations will be in small letters, like this!!

PROLOGUE: GOD I HATE THIS GUY! (DOES HE THINK IM STUPID?)

the semester is nearing its conclusion, and the imminent approach of finals marks the most critical period of the year; students rush through the halls, clutching their notes and textbooks like lifelines, while you pour every ounce of effort into your studies —not just for your grades, but also to surpass a certain arrogant scholar. 

alhaitham. 

the name tastes like spoiled milk on your tongue, a sour reminder of all the times he’s bested you, even if it’s just by a small margin, leaving you dumbfounded when the difference between your marks during the last exam was a mere 1%. 

you were groveling in front of your professor, “please, just round the marks up?” you could practically feel your dignity slipping away. and the worst part? you were so desperate that you started mentally calculating how many odd jobs you’d be willing to do just to sweeten the deal. 

(maybe you’ll help organize the office, run around the campus to buy him drinks every day, or even wipe down the windows of his car…)

disclaimer: he ultimately said no, but he did compliment your impeccable taste in coffee so, a win is a win? 

anyhow, alhaitham’s nonchalance only adds to your frustration, especially when he switches to a different language mid-conversation. it feels like he’s rubbing salt in your wounds, why of course you can understand him perfectly —after all, you aren’t majoring in linguistics for no reason, plus he's not the only one who’s fluent in multiple languages.

though you keep that to yourself, perhaps because the things he says in those languages, which he assumes you don’t understand, are far from innocent, unknowingly letting you have a glimpse into his true feelings. 

ACT I: WHOLEHEARTEDLY, I DETEST YOU. 

alhaitham would never fall in love —such irrational and illogical emotions held no value to him. 

that was what he always believed, but then he saw you. 

the way you laughed so unapologetically at cyno’s jokes, how you always stood firm by your beliefs, your refusal to compromise who you are; you were a breath of fresh air in a world that often felt stifling.

as much as he tries to act unfazed, he can't help the heat prickling his skin nor the way his composure falters just slightly in your presence. and when his heart raced for the first time in what felt like forever, he knew —he was completely, utterly screwed.

(“fix me, kaveh.” / “hah. who do you think i am, ‘y/n’?”)

when kaveh told him that he just had a simple “crush”, he nearly rolled his eyes so hard he thought they might get stuck there permanently.)

likewise, this ugly arrogant handsome bastard here, is one you’ll never fall in love with. 

he’s infuriating, completely insufferable, and yet there’s something about him, something hidden beneath that arrogance, that draws you in. the idea that you could ever fall for someone like him seems laughable, impossible even. he's exactly the kind of person you should avoid and you know better than to be charmed by someone like him. yet, there's that nagging feeling, deep down, that perhaps you’re not as immune to him as you think.

by some stroke of luck, you’re in the same major, same year, and even enrolled in the same lecture periods, which means you end up in the same place at the same time more often than not.

but you can’t deny that, in some twisted way, you admire him. his intellect is beyond impressive, even if it annoys you to admit it. so surely, in his eyes, you’re still inferior, and you often wonder if he even considers your ideas as worthy of attention.

(they are.)

ACT II: YOUR WATCHFUL EYES, I CAN’T IGNORE.

your pen glides across the pages as you jot down notes, fully absorbed in your studies, barely registering the faint sound of distant chatter.

unbeknownst to you, a group of students has gathered just outside the lecture hall, peeking in from the door with curious, amused expressions. they’re clearly there for you, exchanging glances and murmurs, waiting for the moment you step outside.

you don’t notice, but alhaitham, seated a few feet away, certainly does.

his eyes narrow slightly as he takes in the scene. he doesn’t say anything at first, but his jaw clenches ever so subtly. as you begin to pack up, you glance up to find him standing in front of you, his tall figure effectively blocking the group outside’s direct line of sight to you.

with a discreet glance over his shoulder, he shoots them a cold, unmistakable glare. they visibly shudder, seemingly getting the message as they awkwardly shuffle away. 

“what was that about?”

alhaitham leans against your desk, “nothing important,” his tone is dismissive, laced with irritation, his gaze still fixed on the now-empty doorway. 

you narrow your eyes, unimpressed. “really? you just scared them off for no reason?”

“just getting rid of some… distractions,” he says casually, turning his attention back towards you. you raise an eyebrow, clearly not believing his words. “distractions? they weren’t bothering me.” 

his expression remains impassive, “khi họ cứ để ý đến em như vậy… em thấy không phiền, còn tôi thì có.”

“seeing them constantly paying attention to you… you're not bothered by it, but i am.”

“bởi vì cái cách mà em chú tâm hoàn toàn vào một việc gì đó…  nó quyến rũ vô cùng.”

because the way you completely focus on something… is truly mesmerising.

you blink, feeling a momentary flush of confusion and surprise at the words slipping from his mouth. did he just—? but before you can fully process it, he continues.

“vậy nên tôi cũng không thể trách họ khi họ muốn nhìn em gần và lâu hơn được.”

so i don’t blame them when they want to look at you closer and longer.

his words linger in the air, a moment passes before it clicks —he doesn’t think you understand. that’s why he’s speaking so… freely; letting slip things he’d never say outright in a language you both speak fluently.

“nhưng mà… chắc không ai trong số bọn họ có thể sánh ngang với tôi, em nhỉ?”

but… none of them can compare to me, right?

your chest tightens as a surge of warmth courses through you. 

his detached attitude only fuels your irritation. but there’s also a certain satisfaction in knowing something he doesn’t: you’ve understood every single word he’s said.

feigning ignorance, you raise an eyebrow, meeting his gaze with what you hope is a neutral expression. "what are you going on about?" you ask.

his expression remains as stoic as ever, not a single crack in his mask. he simply shrugs, eyes still on you, "just telling you to focus more.”

your grip on the pen tightens, there's a part of you that wants to wipe that smug look off his face, to show him you're not as clueless as he assumes. but not yet —you’re curious to see just how far he’s willing to push.

"right," you mutter under your breath, tapping the pen against your notebook. "focus. got it."

he leans down slightly, one arm resting on the back of your chair while the other presses against the table, effectively caging you in.

"you're wasting time, finals are coming up." he takes a brief pause before continuing, "i wish you the best of luck, you’ll need it.”

your eyes snap up to him in a glare, “don’t you have somewhere to be?" you bite back.

alhaitham straightens, giving you a final glance before turning towards the door. “naturally, i have studying to do.”

“bởi vì tôi sẽ chứng minh cho em thấy rằng chỉ có tôi mới xứng tầm làm đối thủ học thuật của em, không một ai khác.”

because i will prove to you that only i am worthy of being your rival, no one else.

why did he frame it as if it’s a privilege only he can claim? or is he trying to… flatter you?!

you shake your head, no way, that’s ridiculous. finals are coming up, there’s no time to dwell on whatever mind games he’s playing. though if the almighty alhaitham wants a rival, then you’ll show him exactly what it means to stand at the pinnacle.

ACT III: IN MY DREAMS, I SCORED HIGHER THAN YOU.

you’re tired, the kind of tired that seeps deep into your bones. every blink stretches longer than the last and you find it increasingly difficult to focus on the words in front of you. stifling a yawn, you feel the pull of sleep tugging at you, whispering sweet promises of rest.

there’s still time till your next class.

maybe you'll take a moment to close your eyes, just for a few seconds…

did you not get enough sleep last night, or did you stay up late studying again? alhaitham watches silently from across the room, his eyes narrowing as your head droops lower, your exhaustion becoming painfully obvious with each passing second. his gaze lingers on the way your pen pauses mid-sentence, the line on your notebook trailing off as your hand grows heavy.

he pushes himself up from his seat, and approaches your desk; he notices the sunlight streaming through the window, harsh and unrelenting, hitting right over the table where you’re sitting. he looks at you —eyes closed, with the faintest crease of discomfort on your brow.

without a word, he reaches out and slips the pen from your grip, the slight shift causing your fingers to twitch, but you don’t wake. 

for a fleeting second, he considers waking you. but then, as you shift again, settling more comfortably into your chair, he decides against it. what good would that do, anyway? you’d probably just brush him off and keep going until you collapse from sheer fatigue. typical.

instead, he adjusts his stance slightly, positioning himself just right to make sure the sunlight is fully blocked from your face, casting you in a cool shadow. 

you mumble something incoherent, and he can’t help but roll his eyes at your state. did you really think burning yourself out like this would help you focus?

“stubborn,” he mutters under his breath. 

you're always like this, pushing yourself past your limits, and while part of him respects your determination to outdo him, he won’t allow it to come at the expense of your health.

you stir from your slumber, lifting your head, your gaze lands on a familiar figure standing to the side of your table. his back turned, facing the sunlight that streams in from the window. 

alhaitham. 

he’s close, so close that his broad shoulders completely block out the sunlight from the window. the sight sends a rush of confusion through your already sleep-addled mind. did he… stand there the whole time? why? 

you shift slightly in your seat, your movement catching his attention. without turning, he speaks in that low, steady tone of his, “you’re awake.”

“alhaitham?” you murmur, your voice still thick with sleep.

he glances over his shoulder, just enough for you to catch a glimpse of the calm expression on his face. “you’ve been out for a while,” he comments, a hint of amusement in his voice. “i was starting to think you’d sleep through your next class.”

you rub the sleep from your eyes, “why didn’t you wake me up then?”

his shoulders shift slightly as he shrugs, still facing away from you. “you looked like you needed the rest. besides, it’s more entertaining to see how long you’d stay asleep.”

a flicker of annoyance courses through you as you roll your eyes, “oh, so you mean you care?”

he turns slightly, and you can see a hint of a smirk on his lips. “don’t read too much into it. i just prefer my competition functioning at their best.”

you wish you could roll your eyes harder because this man has an uncanny talent for grating on your nerves while somehow being insufferably charming at the same time.

“ah yes —because you need me to keep up with you,” you remark sarcastically.

“exactly.” you let out an exasperated sigh as you lean back in your chair. “you really think so highly of yourself, don’t you?”

“mushiro, kimi no koto o hijō ni takaku hyōka shiteiru yo.”

if anything, i think highly of you. 

your brows knit together in surprise, and you can’t help but scoff. “what was that? i didn't catch it.”

“i said i won’t go easy on you.” oh, the audacity. he’s lying again, and he knows it.

the corners of your mouth twitch in disbelief as you scrutinise his expression. there’s that familiar glimmer in his eyes, a spark of mischief that tells you he’s enjoying this too much.

“whatever,” you retort, crossing your arms defiantly. “not like i want you to anyway.”

despite your words, you can't deny that his actions earlier were surprisingly endearing. you wonder how long he intends to keep this up. perhaps it’s time you let him know.

“ii ne, kimi ga iraira shite iru toki wa kawaiikara.”

good, because you’re cute when you’re all riled up.

you feel a blush creep into your cheeks at his words, okay maybe you shouldn’t let him know. you instinctively look away, as if avoiding his gaze can help you regain your composure.

cute? what does he mean “cute”?! he thinks he can get away with calling you cute —well… well, there’s not much you can do about it, you’re not ready to confront him about this either.

the mere thought of asking him directly makes your stomach twist with a year’s worth of embarrassment. yet, as you try to refocus on the book in front of you, you find yourself biting your lip, struggling to suppress a smile that threatens to break free.

ACT IV: I WOKE UP TODAY, AND A DREAM CAME TRUE.

the hallway buzzes with excitement as students gather around the large announcement board, eager to see the results of their theses. you push through the crowd, heart pounding, the low hum of chatter filling your ears. 

when you reach the front, you quickly scan the list; the moment your eyes land on your name, your breath catches in your throat.

there it is, in bold red ink at the top of the board —a score higher than you’d ever hoped for, higher than his. and your name, on top of his.

alhaitham.

you glance over and spot him approaching the board, approaching you. his expression is, as always, unreadable. but you know him well enough by now to catch the slight pause in his movements, the brief moment where his eyes linger just a second too long on the board.

you try not to think too much about it as you collect your thesis, with alhaitham following closely behind, his fingers nearly grazing yours as you both sift through the stack of papers on the table.

you take in the glowing praise from your professor, each word making you feel like every all-nighter was worth it. you clutch the paper, resisting the urge to grin like an idiot. 

glancing sideways, you wait for him to say something, maybe some backhanded comment, but he remains silent. your eyes meet, and there’s a shift in his gaze as the usual sharpness in his eyes dulls ever so slightly, your smile lingering like the first light of dawn breaking through the night's embrace.

it’s subtle —just a flicker —but you catch how his gaze falters, softening, if only for a heartbeat. the edges of his stare blur, drawn to the warmth of your expression as though it’s something he hadn’t meant to witness, yet can’t look away from. 

at this moment,

"looks like i finally beat you," you say, not bothering to suppress the grin spreading across your face now.

he feels like

there’s no scowl, no sign of frustration —just the slightest raise of an eyebrow. “hmm. by a point.” he pauses, studying you for a second longer than necessary before returning his gaze to his paper. “enjoy it while it lasts.”

he's in heaven.

it’s as if he’s not bothered by the outcome at all. in fact, if anything, he seems... satisfied?

"hindi dapat ganito kalala ang epekto ng ngiti mo sa akin."

your smile shouldn't affect me this badly.

“—huh?” your mouth drops slightly open at his words; out of everything, you didn’t expect him to say that. it catches you off guard, making your heart race just a little faster. if you peer closely enough, you might catch a glimpse of the gentle arch of his lips, a ghost of a smile. 

the silence stretches on for a beat too long before he clears his throat and shifts his gaze away from you. “ang iyong ngiti ang pinakamagandang tanawin ng aking araw.”

your smile is the most beautiful sight of my day.

“what?” the word slips from your lips, barely a breath, a soft gasp that hangs in the air. it feels almost surreal and you wonder if you’ve misheard him.

each heartbeat thunders in your ears, a rhythm that matches the erratic flutter in your chest. why is he saying these things, what for in a different language…? there’s no way that he—

"—tulad mo na ang hinangad ko na ligawan, ngunit sa bawat ngiti mo, halip ay mas lalo akong nahulog para sayo."

—like you, who i wish to court, but with every smile, i instead found myself falling for you. 

your breath hitches as your heart stumbles, the implications of his words washing over you like a wave. a rush of heat floods your cheeks, “what… did you say?”

his shoulders stiffen, and there’s a subtle tension in the way his fingers curl against the paper he’s holding. “see you tomorrow, [name],” he mutters, his voice low but hurried, and before you know it, he’s already walking away.

two strange things happened today: 

1. you finally beat your sworn enemy!

2. said enemy… complimented you? 

huh, it’s as if the words slipped out before he could catch them, as if he’s been holding them in for far too long, as if… you notice the way his neck reddens, even as he turns away.

behind the door, alhaitham lets out a quiet breath.

“gago… nagkamali ba ako?”

stupid… did i make a mistake?

to his dismay, an annoyingly familiar voice cuts through the silence. kaveh, who had been waiting just down the hall, notices him standing there, a little too still. 

“oh, what do we have here?" there's a slight pause, followed by a raised eyebrow. "is that—no way, your face is red!” kaveh teases, amusement dancing in his eyes. “what happened there?" he leans in, clearly enjoying himself. "come on, spill the tea..!” 

"not a chance," alhaitham retorts, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms defensively.

just then, kaveh spots cyno and tighnari; grinning, he waves them over. “what’s going on? did alhaitham finally crack under pressure?”

alhaitham would rather reorganise the entire library than listen to kaveh recount what happened.

“i’m leaving.” 

"no, i'm afraid you're not getting out of this one.” cyno steps forward, blocking alhaitham’s path; and tighnari, who has been quietly observing till now, chimes in, “don’t leave us hanging.”

“you’re outnumbered.” 

alhaitham sighs and shakes his head. he hadn’t even thought it was physically possible for him, of all people, to do something as ridiculous as blushing —until today.

(on the other side of the door, their banter echoes through, and you can’t help but chuckle to yourself at alhaitham’s misery.)

ACT V: PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY, YOU SAY? BUT EVERYONE CALLS IT FLIRTING.

“i think alhaitham likes [name].”

the whole table falls silent before kaveh dramatically slams his glass down on the table, causing a splash of alcohol to spill over the edge. “oh finally, it’s so obvious! have you all seen the way he looks at them?” 

across the table, tighnari taps his fingers absentmindedly on his notebook, his attention only half on kaveh’s (incoming) rant but clearly invested enough, as shown by the slight twitching of his ears, to be listening. 

cyno snickers, “you’re telling me the man who can dissect any philosophical argument can’t handle a little crush? that’s rich.”

kaveh waves a hand dismissively. “come on! remember that time they were partnered up for a project? he was so... uncharacteristically patient! i’d almost say it’s cute if it weren’t alhaitham we’re talking about!”

right, it’d be almost endearing —if it weren’t coming from the most stoic, intimidatingly aloof guy in the entire school. it’d be adorable —if it weren’t alhaitham, who instinctively covers the corner of your table with his hand when you drop your pencil, ensuring you won’t hit your head as you bend down to retrieve it.

oh, you don’t notice (of course not). but your friend dehya, sitting nearby, catches the whole scene out of the corner of her eye. she raises an eyebrow, nudging the girl beside her. 

(“candace, do you see that shit.” / “yeah.”)

“a soft spot for [name], you say? well, i’ve got a story of my own, too.” cyno glances around, ensuring no one else is within earshot, then lowers his voice conspiratorially.  “have you noticed? he doesn’t wear his earphones when he’s around them.”

kaveh pipes up, nodding eagerly.

“he’s got those earphones practically glued to his head, he doesn’t hear anything he doesn’t want to, and he certainly doesn’t talk unless he’s forced to. but around them?” cyno pauses, pretending to think for a while. “not once. he’ll put them away entirely, like he’s actually willing to be… present.”

sure it’s small, subtle, the kind of habit no one would pick up on unless they were looking closely. but to anyone who knew alhaitham well, it tells them more than words ever could. 

for him, actions speak louder than words, even if he often doesn’t realise the meaning behind his own gestures.

his earphones slide down, resting forgotten around his neck, all so he can be close enough to catch the delightful lilt of your laughter. his chair inches a fraction closer, seemingly by accident. a subtle upward twitch at the corner of his mouth, so fleeting and often passing so quickly if one weren’t paying attention.

for him, it’s a language without words.

dehya laughs softly. "for someone who supposedly ‘doesn’t like being bothered,’ he sure seems invested in whatever [name] has to say."

and what sealed their suspicions? 

definitely the time when kaveh complimented nilou’s new bracelet. he glanced over at the man beside him, nudging him lightly. “what do you think?”

alhaitham gave the bracelet a cursory glance, before replying, “it’s nice.” though his gaze flickered back; and almost absently, he added after a pause, “[name] has the same one too.”

oh… oh? well that was oddly specific. kaveh’s eyebrow quirked as he fought to suppress a grin.

alhaitham had noticed a detail seemingly insignificant about [name] —the kind of thing he never cared to show the slightest interest in when it came to anyone else.

the glint in nilou’s eyes seemed to mirror kaveh’s unspoken thoughts, silently agreeing with his suspicions.  

now they’re certain —100% sure, in fact —that alhaitham has a crush on you.

“well, speak of the devil… lovely seeing you here, alhaitham,” kaveh quips. tighnari, ever observant, gives him a pointed look. “your jacket’s missing.”

“someone took it,” alhaitham replies, his tone as composed as always, giving nothing away.

—nothing until you walked past. draped over your shoulders, unmistakable, is alhaitham’s jacket. you don’t notice the way every pair of eyes follows you, or the way kaveh barely stifles a triumphant laugh.

...make that 110%.

(translation: he means he borrowed his jacket because [name] was cold.)

ACT VI: IT’S YOU, WHO COMES TO MY RESCUE. 

the quiet night hangs heavy, the road empty and bathed in the dim glow of distant streetlights. you weave through the streets, but no matter how many twists and turns you take, that weirdo just won’t leave you alone.  

he’s been trailing behind you for blocks now, his persistence grating on your nerves, cornering you with endless “compliments” and invasive questions. you’ve tried to shake him off, but his determination far exceeds your patience.

"come on, just give me a chance," he insists, stepping closer, a little too close for comfort. you take a step back. the smell of alcohol reeks from his breath, and his grin is making your skin crawl. 

"i told you, i’m not interested," you say firmly, keeping your voice steady, but the panic was starting to creep in. you glance at the empty bottle in his hand —he’s definitely drunk out his mind.

“you sure?" he completely ignores your clear discomfort. "how about you just give me your number, yeah?" he slurs out.

"no, i have a boyfriend." you lie through your teeth, hoping that would be enough to make him back off.

unfortunately, he’s as insufferable as he is persistent.

he snorts dismissively, "yeah, right. a boyfriend? you’re just playing hard to get."

you sigh, you aren’t in the mood for this, not here, not now, and especially not with someone like him. "i already told you, i have a boyfriend," your voice now tinged with frustration. "so please, just leave me alone.”

"oh, don't be like that," he steps in front of you, blocking your way. "prove it. call your boyfriend. show me you’re not lying."

your heart races as the man reaches out for you, dodging his hand, you take the chance to look behind him for an escape. just then, you see an all-too-familiar figure in the distance. 

alhaitham. 

you barely manage to suppress a relieved sigh as you wave frantically in his direction. he spots you almost immediately and without hesitation, he rushes over.

"what, this your boyfriend?" the guy sneers with derision, still sounding a little too cocky for someone who was about to get a reality check.

alhaitham steps beside you, you can feel his eyes on you for just a brief moment, the faintest flicker of worry flashing across his face. it’s subtle, almost imperceptible, but you catch it—and it makes your chest tighten.

his voice is low, unmistakably carrying a warning, "yes, i’m their boyfriend. and if you don’t want things to escalate, i suggest you leave." 

the man’s face twists as anger flares in his bloodshot eyes. he takes a step forward, his grip tightening around the neck of the bottle, the glass slightly cracking. "you think you can tell me what to do?" he slurs, gaze wild and unfocused. “y-you think you’re some kind of saviour? *hic* a-and you! how… how dare you reject me?!”

alhaitham doesn’t move, his expression cold and unbothered, and that only seems to make the man angrier. his frustration boils over, and with a snarl, he clumsily swings the bottle in his hand, aggressively lurching towards your direction. 

the world seems to slow for a moment. though before you can even react, alhaitham pulls you firmly behind him with one swift motion, his other arm instinctively rising to shield the both of you from the blow. the sound of glass meeting his forearm is sharp and jarring —you can hear the high-pitched tinkle of glass scattering, the jagged shards bouncing off the pavement, and some skittering across the ground.

but he doesn’t even flinch, his stance unwavering as the man stumbles back, glass crunching underfoot. you’re still frozen from shock, your heart racing in your chest as you watch the scene unfold. 

“big mistake,” he starts, and the man visibly falters. “harassment, assault —keep this up, and you’ll regret every choice that brought you here tonight.”

the man shifts around, clearly disoriented. his eyes dart between you and alhaitham, but it’s clear that the fight’s already left him. “you— you can’t do this!” the man stammers, trying to regain some semblance of courage; unfortunately for him, the tremor in his voice is unmistakable. 

“do you really want to find out?” alhaitham asks, to which the man shakes his head vigorously. “get lost,” he mutters. the man, looking more pathetic than threatening now, quickly stumbles away, mumbling incoherent curses under his breath.

you’re breathless, still clutching the edge of his jacket, fingers trembling slightly as the adrenaline courses through you. 

"are you alright?"

you nod, forcing a small, unconvincing smile."yeah... i’m fine. thanks to you." 

alhaitham’s eyes narrow slightly, scanning you for any sign of injury. you follow his gaze instinctively, glancing down at yourself. that’s when you notice it —not on you, but on him.

streaks of red stain his forearm, where jagged shards of glass must have cut him during the confrontation. the gash bleeds steadily, a dark line of blood seeping through the fabric of his jacket.

"wait," you breathe, your heart sinking. "you're bleeding."

your stomach twists with guilt.

"why didn’t you say anything?" you exclaim.

he shakes his head, a dismissive gesture that does nothing to ease the knot forming in your stomach. "it’s nothing," he says, but the slight furrow in his brow and the tension in his jaw betray his words.

"nothing?" you fix him with a hard glare. "idiot… you just blocked a glass bottle with your arm, don’t try to downplay this."  

you grab his sleeve, tugging it gently but firmly, the fabric sliding beneath your fingers as you pull it up. “—and unless you think an infection is ‘nothing’, you’ll let me take care of this."  

"hold still," you murmur as you settle beside him on the couch, your supplies spread across the coffee table in front of you.

the scent of antiseptic fills the air as you take a disinfectant wipe and gently dab it against the gash. the sting of the alcohol makes him flinch slightly, but he doesn’t pull away. you mutter a soft apology, your movements slow and deliberate as you try to be as gentle as you can.

you open a tube of ointment, squeezing a small amount onto your finger before smoothing it carefully along the edges of the cut. the cool gel glides over his skin, and you can feel the tension in his arm ease ever so slightly under your touch.

“nǐ zhème guān xīn wǒ, huì ràng wǒ wù huì de.”

if you care so much about me, i might misunderstand you.

your fingers pause briefly, the words catching you off guard. you glance up at him, but he only averts his gaze, his eyes remaining fixed on a distant spot beyond the room.

misunderstand? misunderstand what, exactly?

the bandage wraps securely around his arm as you smooth it into place. as you tuck the end of the bandage, his voice comes again, just as soft, but no less clear. 

“—wù huì nǐ duì wǒ yǒu gǎn jué.”

"—misunderstand that you have feelings for me."

your brain short-circuits, and in your shock, your hands jerk. in turn, the bandage tightens way too much, causing him to wince and tense up. before you can apologise, he lets out a light chuckle.

“suǒ yǐ nǐ dān xīn wǒ… nǐ shì bù shì gù yì ràng rén xīn dòng de?”

“so you're worried about me… are you purposely trying to make my heart race?”

his words only make you more flustered, and you find yourself fumbling to fix the bandage. “i’m sorry! i didn’t mean to—”

his chuckle only grows softer, and you catch the glint of amusement in his eyes. “it’s fine.”

you quickly finish adjusting the bandage, trying to focus on anything other than how your heart is now racing. (ironically) 

“you seem flustered,” he comments casually, as if he isn’t the one who just made your head spin. “did i say something wrong?”

you shake your head quickly, hoping to hide the flush creeping up your neck. "no, not at all.”

his lips twitch into the faintest hint of a smirk.

"nǐ bù bì yǎn shì, wǒ xǐ huān nǐ hài xiū de yàng zǐ, tǐng kě ài de.”

“you don’t have to hide it. i like seeing your flustered expression, it’s quite cute.”

(oh this bastard!!!!)

you try to speak, but the words get stuck in your throat. what do you say when someone’s teasing you so openly —and they think you don’t even realise it?

after a long moment, he stands, “it’s getting late, i should get going.” alhaitham gives you a small, almost imperceptible nod, his eyes meeting yours for a brief moment —and there it was, that trace of softness reserved only for you.

he heads toward the door, you watch him, feeling a strange sense of emptiness when he turns away.

“i’ll see you,” he pauses. "...and thank you for tending to me."

you watch him leave, the door clicking softly behind him, and the silence settles back into the room.

you blink, taking a deep breath. what a rollercoaster of a day. yawning, you turn to start tidying up, but your eyes land on something on the couch.

it’s his jacket, draped over the armrest. you notice a tear on the sleeve, just where his injured forearm had been. what truly catches your attention, however, is a folded piece of paper slipping out of the pocket. 

intrigued, you unfold it, revealing his neat, precise handwriting. 

ACT VII: THE SECRET I’VE ALWAYS KNOWN. 

To [Name],  I once believed you to be little more than a nuisance. A bright, well-meaning nuisance, no doubt, but a nuisance nonetheless. One who seemed intent only on striving for perfection, always seeking to best me at every turn, not out of malice but out of some earnest desire to prove your worth. In my arrogance, I mistook your relentless pursuit for a need for recognition, as if you sought my attention in some petty rivalry. Though very quickly, you made me think otherwise.  You saw the world differently, you also saw me differently. You didn’t treat me with the reverence others seemed to, nor did you shy away from challenging me. You refused to be seen as anything other than yourself; and that, in itself, was what made me admire you —what made me long to understand you more. Now, I find that I am standing with half a heart and an emptiness I never knew I could feel, because you showed me what it truly means to crave something more, something I never thought I deserved. You may think I’m a coward for not expressing my feelings more directly, perhaps you are right. I am a coward for fearing to lay bare the vulnerability of my heart. But even in my cowardice, know that my thoughts have always been of you.  If you have seen through my silence and hesitation, if you understand my actions when my words fail me, then perhaps you have already known this truth. I care for you, more deeply than I can fully express. Though I may never be able to say these things as openly as I wish, I’d like you to know that my actions have always been my confession. Even now, I’m still a coward for you. So please, if you decide to give me a chance, I’ll be waiting at nightfall. Helplessly,  Alhaitham. 

you absentmindedly trace the edges of the letter with your fingers while your eyes skim over his writing for the nth time, the ink seeming to blur together with your thoughts as you try to process everything. your fingers curl around the fabric of his jacket, a foolish smile creeping onto your face.

tomorrow’s nightfall feels impossibly far away, yet you can’t wait for it. 

alhaitham lays on his bed, his arm aches slightly from the injury, but it’s nothing he can’t ignore. plus, the bandage you had carefully wrapped around his arm is enough to keep the discomfort at bay. 

(originally, he had only planned to meet you, slip you the note, and be on his way. things didn’t go exactly to plan, but either way, he hopes you’ve read it by now.)

of all the possibilities, he’s never accounted for the one he’d be at mercy of his own emotions; he had always prided himself on his rationality, his restraint. but now? he’s reckless, absurd, foolish even —he can admit that to himself. but he finds he doesn’t care in the slightest.

for as much as he is a coward in your presence, he is just as much a fool in your absence.

ACT VIII: UNDER THE RAIN, I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY. 

“alhaitham isn’t really an expressive person, so don’t worry if he comes off as distant or uninterested. it’s not that he doesn’t care, he just… shows it differently.”

ah well, ‘differently’ indeed.

“—most importantly, alhaitham doesn’t waste time on people he doesn’t care about, so you must mean a lot to him.”

maybe you didn’t mind how your heart raced when you heard that.

“don’t fuss over it [name], you’ll know when he’s in love.”

how so? 

if he was in love, what would it look like? would you be able to tell, or would it be just another one of those things you had to catch on to?

you wrapped the his jacket tighter around yourself, a faint smile tugging at your lips. it wasn’t the answers to those questions that mattered, but asking them in the first place —that was what made you realize you already knew all along.

the evening air is cool against your skin; a gentle breeze stirs the trees, their leaves rustling quietly, and your heart beats louder than ever, urging you forward.

in the distance, you spot him, standing still in the dim light. and without a second thought, you quicken your pace.

“haitham.”

the sound of your voice catches his attention as he turns to face you; you can’t help but notice how his gaze flickers down for just a moment, his eyes taking in on how his jacket looks on you, before meeting yours. 

his posture is unnervingly perfect, rigid almost to the point of stiffness …is he nervous?

“hey,” he finally says, clearing his throat. “there’s something i need to tell you… though you’ve probably already figured it out. you’ve always been sharp.” 

“i… ” he falters, and it’s the first time you see him hesitate. “i’m not sure how to put it… since i’m not exactly great at this.”

you tilt your head, subtly urging him to continue. 

“but you’ve managed to make me care about things i never thought i would. and now i can’t seem to stop thinking about it —about you.” his voice lowers, softer now, but there’s a rawness there that’s unmistakable.

“i’m telling you this now, because not saying it... doesn’t feel right anymore."

suddenly, you feel a soft mist that barely kisses your skin, a slight chill against your cheeks, then a few tiny drops,  until they start to gather in your hair, the beads of water slipping down the back of your neck, but you don't move. neither does he.

his hair is damp, sticking to his forehead, droplets trailing down his temple. his clothes cling to his frame, soaked by the rain, yet his attention remains solely on you.

“[name], i am irrevocably in love with you.”

you stand there, the rain falling relentlessly around you, the pitter-patter mirroring the frantic beat of your heart. the water trails down his face, but it’s hard to tell if it’s just the rain, or something else.

his lips part, as though he wants to say more, but the words seem caught in the storm, swallowed up by the downpour. the rain is cold, but his gaze? his gaze feels impossibly warm. 

it’s only when you feel the dampness of his jacket beneath your fingers, that the words finally come. “you don’t need to convince me of that.”

you take a step closer, and for a moment, the world outside seems to disappear.

“i’ve known,” you add. “but hearing you say it,” you pause, allowing yourself a small smile, “makes all the difference.”

reaching up, your fingers graze his damp skin as you gently push a wet strand of hair from his forehead, the warmth of your touch lingering against his cool skin. 

“'uhibuk aydan, alhaitham.”

i love you too, alhaitham.

a single droplet slides down his cheek, tracing the line of his jaw before falling to the soaked fabric of his collar. another follows. and then another. his breath catches in his throat, and a shaky exhale leaves his mouth.

you wrap your arms around him, and he sinks into your embrace, his hair tickling your cheeks, as his chest rises and falls against yours.

“you’re gonna make me cry too, idiot,” you murmur, burying your face in his chest, your eyes glassy. “you really are a fool,” you tease softly, a slight smile playing on your lips. “but only for me.”

slowly, his hands rise, trembling slightly, until they cup your cheeks, gently stroking it. 

“la yujad 'ahad akhar 'urid 'an 'akun 'ahmaq min 'ajlihi.”

there’s no one else i’d ever want to be a fool for.

his palms are surprisingly warm despite the weather. his thumb grazes your cheekbone as he leans in, and the world falls away —nothing but the warmth of his presence and the soft press of his lips against yours.

“this is my first time in ten years seeing this guy cry! can you believe it?!” kaveh whisper-shouts, peeking out from behind the shrub. 

nodding along, cyno agrees, poking his head out just right below the blond’s. “[name] is truly exceptional. though i must say, seeing alhaitham cry is quite tear-rifying.”

kaveh rolls his eyes in exasperation. “ugh, you and your puns.” he mutters under his breath while zooming in on his phone, which is currently recording the whole scene.

“quiet down, you two!” a voice hisses from behind them —tighnari, face flushed with panic. “they’re literally right there, and you’re making more noise than a herd of goats.”

“relax, we’re out of their line of sight anyway!” kaveh raises his phone higher, almost giddily, eyes glued to the screen. “and damn this is a good angle.”

tighnari exhales sharply, “you’re incorrigible.”

“look who’s talking,” cyno raises an eyebrow at tighnari… who’s also peeking out from behind the bush. (what a hypocrite)

…

“they kissed oh my g—” kaveh’s voice rises in disbelief, but cyno quickly covers his mouth with a swift hand. the three of them scramble to duck behind the bush just as you turn to glance in their direction.

(“is that… senior kaveh?” you squint your eyes, “cyno, and tighnari?” 

alhaitham clears his throat before glancing over at his friends with a deadpan expression. “yes and unfortunately, they’re very invested in my personal life. so please don’t mind them."

you laugh, finding the whole situation a bit too amusing. “not in the slightest, but i’m sure they’ll never let you hear the end of it.”)

EPILOGUE: IN EVERY LANGUAGE, I HEAR LOVE YOU.

“how long?”

you blink, feigning confusion. “how long what?”

alhaitham’s eyes narrow slightly, an expression you know well. “how long have you understood everything i’ve been saying?”

you bite back a smile and offer a small shrug, “...ever since you started?” 

his lips press into a thin line, and for a moment, you can’t tell if he’s upset or impressed. then, he sighs, almost amused. “and you let me embarrass myself all this time?”

“you were being honest,” you shrug, a smirk forming. “plus i knew you’d figure it out eventually.”

he huffs a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “may ideya ka ba kung ano ginawa mo?"

do you have any idea what you’ve done?

"mas lalong umibig sakin?"

made you fall in love with me even more?

you tease, but there’s a tenderness in your voice that softens the edge of your words.

“yes, and you really are insufferable,” he mutters with no malice. his tone is different now. softer. warmer, even.

you lean in slightly, a playful glint in your eyes. “that’s not what i heard you say before.” your fingers graze the skin of his cheek before you tenderly pinch it, giggling softly at the reaction you provoked.

in one smooth motion, he catches your hand before you can pull away and tugs you towards him, closing the distance between you in a heartbeat. you tilt your head back to meet alhaitham’s gaze.

you’ve often thought he’s the most-perfect boyfriend, undeniably handsome in every way —but there’s really just one flaw: his height.

“ugh, you’re too tall," you grumble, rubbing the back of your neck. "i’m having a neck sore just looking at you."

he quirks an eyebrow at your sudden words. “you could use a stepstool.” 

"or," you counter, "you could get on your knees and save me the trouble.”

he slowly lets out a breath, his lips curling ever so slightly. 

“'akida, 'antaziri hataa 'ashtari alkhatama.”

sure, just wait till i buy the ring.

"wh—" 

he crosses his arms, "what’s wrong? isn’t that what people expect when someone gets on their knees?"

you roll your eyes, half-smiling. "fine, then i’ll eagerly wait for that day.”

his gaze softens as his hand reaches up, brushing a stray lock of hair from your face; his eyes drop to your lips for a moment, and you know what’s coming even before he speaks.

this fic was not sponsored by duolingo, but with the help of my beloved friends!! wouldn't have been possible w/o em please give them a round of applause xx

vietnamese — @https-sourlimes

tagalog / filipino — @vxnuslogy

arabic — @ughscara

chinese, japanese — me!

ty @mitsvriii for proofreading, love u all <3

and thank you for reading!! reblogs are appreciated ^^

pspspss check out the cool fanart / comic based on this fic here by @rei-plswork 🤍

MASTERLIST.