#and the biggest one is if i’m so bummed about the way i look i can definitely change it

[hearmyvoiceoftreason]

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[mattybsgroupie]

— matt’s first punishment

★ requested by anon ★

tw: matt’s extremely sub + PISS kink — don’t read it if you don’t like it! this a fetish, a kink, and none of this is real. it’s fanfiction, purely for entertainment purposes.

“no! ‘m sorry” matt whines as you tap on your own thighs, silently commanding him to bend over. you don’t say a word, waiting for him to understand there was no way you’d let that kind of behavior go unnoticed. “can i at least go to the bathroom first? please?” he pleads, placing both hands next to his crotch.

“you think i’m gonna let you out of my sight? just so you can do that again? touch yourself without permission?” you spit out, the harsh tone in your voice making matt shiver. he denies with his head, lazily dragging his feet towards you. “‘m not gon’ do that again, i promise” he tries to convince you one last time. you click your tongue, reaching for his wrist and forcing matt’s body down.

a few minutes later, your hand smacks matt’s soft skin, leaving a huge mark. it soon starts to tingle, the sudden slap causing his blood to rush, stinginess taking over his bottom. with the second one, matt starts whining. “mommy!” he complains, tilting his head back to take a look at you. his cheeks are completely flushed, a pink tint taking over his paleness along with the pout on his lips.

you didn’t go easy on him. he took eight slaps perfectly, moaning each time your palm met his ass. you give matt a small break, fondling his flesh and massaging his sore bum. tears spilled from the corners of his eyes, his face showing a mix of pain and pleasure.

harder than holding his tears, however, would be holding his bladder. matt lazily rubs his cock across your thighs, receiving a small relief from the overwhelming, burning sensations taking over his body. “mama, p-please” he cries, “i c-can’t hold it” the precum oozing from his tip spreads on your legs and his own cock, each spank causing him to leak a bit more. “should’ve thought about that before jerking off like a little virgin boy who can’t control his own dick” you spit out, the degradation causing matt to groan.

the sticky liquid was replaced by a sudden warmth on your lap. matt’s body twitches as his whines turn to small whimpers and he brings his hands to his face, trying to cover his embarrassment. your tight grip softens, one of your hands caresses his lower back as matt continues to pee himself over you, the loud hiss of his release taking over the now quiet room.

matt couldn’t look at you. he felt humiliated. it was all too much. your harsh words, his burning skin, the hardness of his cock still rubbing against you, the pressure on his bladder — he just couldn’t hold it. “it’s okay baby, it’s all good” you coo, reaching for his waist and fixing his position on your lap. matt now was hiding on the crook of your neck, his legs resting around yours, sniffing as he tried to stop the tears.

“baby, it’s okay” you repeated, gently holding him. “mommy’s not mad” you assured matt, who soon relaxed at your words. “mama was a meanie hm?” you continued, and he finally looked at you. he nodded, the biggest pout on his lips, cheeks completely dampened. “but you were such a good boy, and you took your punishment so well” matt held back a smile at the praise, uncomfortably shifting on his spot.

“good boy?” he needed reassurance. the poor boy had pissed himself from a few spanks — all he wanted now was to be taken care of. “my good good boy” you affirmed, placing a kiss on his exposed collarbone. “did you get all worked up from some spanks?” you teased, feeling his cock poking against you. he nodded again, no longer embarrassed.

“since you were such a good boy” you continued, wrapping your knuckles around his shaft and slowly pumping his dick. “you deserve to cum” matt’s wet, swollen cock twitched inside your palm, moans escaping from the back of his throat.

“cum! need’a cum p-please” he begged, thrusting himself inside your fist. you gave matt permission, his release covering your hand in thick, white spurts of cum as his body trembled and his orgasm washed over him. you continued to stroke his cock, making sure to take every spurt from him before he started crying again. “good boy” you said, sealing your lips together. “now let’s get rid of this mess, shall we?”

i got carried away with this one might deactivate goodbye

[eddiesxangel]

Clueless | Eddie Munson x Reader

Summary: Eddie’s an idiot and can’t pick up that you’ve been flirting with him for months…so you take things a step further.

Cw: SMUT, dom/mean!eddie, name calling (whore/ slut)

4 months ago…

Tonight you sat at the bar, your usual Saturday night hanging with your friends from school. There was live music and you’d been eying the lead singer for about three weeks. They played here every Saturday and tonight you brought your roommates Nancy and Robin to join you so they could finally see the mystery man you’ve been going on and on about.

The three of you had been there for about twenty minutes before they took the stage.

“They should be on any minute,” you say as you hear some of the people in the college car cheer. Your eyes instantly find the stage and your heart flutters. There he is, in all his glory.

You hear Robin's gaps and you look at her immediately.

“What is it Bin?” You ask

“Nothing!” Nancy cut her off before she could talk. She gave Robin a subtle nudge and she caught on.”

“Nothing-nothing I-uh swallowed the wrong way” she pretended to cough. What the hell is going on?

You’d forgotten about how weird they were acting halfway through the set. You'd gotten up to dance and enjoy the music. You couldn’t keep your eyes off of him. As the three of you got closer and closer to the stage it seemed like he couldn’t stop starting in your direction. A bright smile spread across his face and you couldn’t help but blush. You’d hoped it was because of you. You’d made eye contact and almost turned into a puddle.

After the set finished the three of you found an empty booth and took a break from dancing.

“So what did you guys think?” You asked excitedly.

“They were great” Robin smirked.

“Yea usually not my kind of thing but I liked it” Nancy giggled.

“Ok, what is going on? You’re acting weird?” You winced.

“Should we tell her?” Nancy looked at Robin.

“Tell me what?” You asked.

They didn’t get a chance to answer.

“Buckley! Wheeler!” You all turn to see the man of your dreams appearing at your booth.

Your eyes go wide when it finally hits you. They know him. This is amazing! They can introduce you!

You thought the night went as well as it could have. Eddie was glued to your side, he was the biggest flirt, and he gave you compliments about your hair and how you smelled really nice. You were touching his arm and giving sublet hints that you also found him really attractive. On top of that, the conversation was cheeky and fun, you never had an awkward moment where you felt like you needed to fill the silence. the conversation was great, he was really easy to talk to. So when you went home alone, you were beyond bummed.

Eddie and you were always gravitating towards one another whenever he would come over to visit with Robin and Nancy or when your roomies asked you to come to the bar with them to meet some friends from high school. You had become attached to one another very quickly.

One month ago…

“Eddie, can you help me with something? You called him over from in the kitchen.

“Sure thing sweetheart” he got up from the rest of the group and made his way to you. Your stomach flip-flopped any time he called you a cute pet name.

“How can I be of your assistance?” He clasped his hands behind his back.

“I can’t open it” you pout pointing the lid of the pickle jar towards him.

You were making a charcuterie board. Did you really need help? Absolutely not. The jar had already been opened but any excuse to get Eddie near you you took.

“You could have called any of the guys but you wanted me to help you with the pickles?” Eddie smirked. *pop* The jar opened with ease.

“Well yeah” you took a step closer so you see in his space. “You’re just so strong.” You graze your hand against his bare bicep before giving it a squeeze.

“You have Steve the jock to call over” he raised a brow. Is he being serious right now?

“well...yeah. But I’m sure all that strumming doesn’t hurt” You bit your lip as you tilted your head up at him.

“Eh,” he shrugged his shoulders. Passing you back the jar.

“Oh um, we’ll… thanks” You turn back to the wooden board feeling defeated as he went back to the rest of the group

3 weeks ago…

* ring, ring, ring*

“Hello?”

“Hey Eddie, it’s me” you smiled.

“Sweetness, how are you?” He asked

“I want to have a movie night next Friday.” You just came out and said it. No more beating around the bush.

“I’m down, what’s the genre we are thinking here?” He crossed his arms over his chest while the phone rested between his ear and shoulder.

“Hmmm, I don't know. Horror?” You chide.

“I didn’t think you liked them scary” he smirked.

“But I’ll have you to protect me” You throw him yet another bone.

“I’m sure you won’t need me with everyone there.” He shrugged.

“E-everyone?” You stutter.

“Yea, who else is going?” He questioned.

Shit. You rolled your eyes and stomped your foot like a child.

“Uh I’m, not sure on the final numbers yet.” You strutted.

“No worries Princess. Count me in” You could hear the smile in his voice.

“See you then Eddie” you hung up with a defeated sigh. UGH

2 weeks ago…

Movie night. You had the living room all set up, ready with drinks, snacks, pillows and blankets for everyone. The lot of you piled up in your small apartment, Robin Nancy, Steve, Jonathan, Argyle, and of course Eddie.

Ten minutes into watching the original Halloween movie you ‘shivered.’ You were sat between Jonathan and Eddie.

“You cold?" Jonathan asked pointing beside him.

“I am but I’m sure Eddie won’t mind sharing with me?” He already had the blanket draped over his lap.

“Hmm?” Eddie hummed.

“Mind sharing some blanket I’m a bit chilly.” You scoot a little closer towards him.

“Oh uh yea sure” he draped the blanket over your lap while his eyes never left the screen. Fully immersed in the story.

“Thanks Eddie.” You placed a hand on his upper thigh.

Eddie didn’t bay an eye. He just continued to keep his eyes on the screen.

As the movie progressed you genuinely were getting scared. Micheal Myers had jump-scared you one too many times. It was about the fifth one by the time you grabbed onto Eddie’s arm. Eddie just smirked down at you as you covered your eyes into his shoulder.

However, Eddie sat there like a statue, unfazed by your advances. Eddie never seemed to be bothered by them, but he also wasn’t picking up what you were putting down.

Halfway through the third movie, you'd given up. He didn't put his arm around you, he didn't ask if you wanted to be protected. And He never reacted to your hand placed on his upper thigh. All of your moves were useless, and you hoped you didn't make a fool out of yourself in front of your new group of friends.

1 week ago…

Nancy and Robin started to gush about how cute the two of you would be together and it was only making you grow more impatient that he wasn’t making a move.

“Am I just not pretty?” You bit your cuticle. You were sat with your two roommates in your shared living room having a relaxing evening in.

“What are you talking about?” Nancy quipped.

“Not true, trust me, babes, you’re a smoke show, trust me I'm a lesbian.” Robin pipped up making you laugh.

"What brought this on?"Nancy looked at you with concern in her eyes.

"I’ve been throwing myself at Eddie for months! And he hasn’t once tried to make a move?” You admitted.

“He’s so dumb” Nancy said under her breath.

"I'm sure Jonathan thinks I'm pathetic. He had to suffer through my attempts during our movie night, which by the way was supposed to be just Eddie and I but he had to ask about who else was coming and I panicked!" You burry your head in your hands.

"Want me to knock some sense into him?" Robin asked.

"God no! That's the last thing I need" You shook your head. "He probably is just trying to avoid hurting my feelings... maybe he doesn't know how to turn me down so he's pretending like it isn't happening." You thought out loud.

"Nu-uh I know for a fact tha-OW" Robin looked at Nancy after feeling her kick her under the table.

"What Robin is trying to say, is that you and Eddie are perfect for one another, trust us. He will eventually see. Sometimes you have to be literal with him.

What were they not telling you?

“I don’t know…has he ever said anything about me to you guys?." you fiddled with your cup.

You look up to see Robin and Nancy give a knowing look to one another. They weren’t telling you something. They were not being subtle.

"Believe me, you don't want to give up yet." Robin reassured.

"Ohhhh kay," you sighed and changed the subject.

Today

You were so nervous but excited. Eddie has finally asked you to hang out one-on-one. You'd thought maybe this was it, the line would be crossed, and the initial step over the hump would be taken. You were so hopeful and you repeated Robin's words over and over again in your head. You don't want to give up yet.

Before arriving you had prepared yourself. You did everything from shaving to picking out a matching bra and pantie set. You had spraying yourself with the same perfume he'd complimented you on the first night you officially met. You did your hair and makeup, and don't even get started on how long it took to choose the perfect outfit that was cute enough to look like you weren't trying too hard but looked amazing in non the less.

You knocked on the apartment door that read 416. You could hear the eager padding of Eddie making his way to the door. He opned it with a swoosh and his hair blew back like he was n a goddamn shampoo commercial.

"Hey Princess, come on in make yourself at home." He greeted you with a warm hug. As he let go he scanned you up and down. You didn’t miss the way his eyes lingered on your chest. You’d picked a v neck top that extenuated your tits, even if it was just a t shirt.

“So what did you wanna do?” He asked as you examined his place. It was exactly what you’d imagine. Very boy, a bit cluttered but not dirty. It smelled fresh like he just put in a load of laundry.

“Would you teach me some guitar? If you don’t mind, I’ve always wanted to learn.” You smirk.

“You sure you want me as a teacher?” He tilts his head.

“Well why not have the best?” You flirt.

“Come on my guitar is in my room” he took your hand a lead you down the hall. Bingo

You walked into Eddie’s room and he lead you to sit in the edge of his bed.

“Ok sweetheart, first thing you need to know are the chords” he picked up his acoustic and handed it to you.

He sat beside you and proceeded to instruct you on where to place your fingers. Your hands not use to the awkward positions they kept a slipping away.

He placed each of his thighs on the sides of yours so you were sat right between his lap. His broad chest was pressed up to you.

“Here like this” Eddie scooted closer so he could help you place your hands in the correct position. You could feel his body heat radiating off of him as he placed his hand on yours. You swore you felt a jolt go through your body when he touched your skin.

“That’s better.” He whispered and your body broke out in a shiver as his breath cascaded down the side your neck.

“I think I’m getting the hang of it?” You look back at Eddie. He was so close your noses almost brushed. You could see his cheeks flair up into the pretties shade of pink you’ve ever seen.

“Yea….” He was so close he just needed to close the gap! This was it, this was the moment. He just needs to lean in and….

“Here let’s try a few together now.” He moved your strumming arm to around the front of the guitar.

You were screaming at him him your head! The opportunity to kiss you was right there! Why didn’t he make a move?! Better yet why didn’t you? You cursed yourself for not being the one to lean in.

As you shake yourself out of your thoughts you feel his large hands move yours so you played a few notes in a row.

“Very good sunshine” he smirked. Those butterflies were back fluttering in your stomach.

You leaned back into Eddie’s chest with a hum. You felt his whole body on your back. His broad shoulders, his chest, his soft tummy and his hard crotch…

Your eyes blew wide open at the realization that Eddie was hard.

Eddie jerked back “I ugh, excuse me I just uh need to use the bathroom.” He mumbled before jumping off the bed like a bat out of hell.

You couldn’t believe it! So he was attracted to you…more than attracted at what you had felt. So why on earth did he run away?!

It has been a few minutes since Eddie left the bedroom and he still wasn’t back. Was he jerking off? It was he just waiting for it to go down?

You assumed it was the latter because in the middle of your internal monologue he walked back in.

“Sorry bout that, where were we?” He rounded the corner

“I think right about here” you hooked your thumbs under the hem of your shirt and swiftly pulled up your shirt, bra included and flashed your bare chest.

You didn’t think Eddie’s beautiful brown eyes couldn’t get any bugged but the sure did.

“Sweetheart, what uh-”

“Come on Eddie, don’t be shy” God he was so nervous it was adorable.

“Princess I-uh? you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. You can touch them if you want.” You bite your lip.

Eddie doesn’t waist a second and rushed back towards the bed.

“Holy shit” he whispered to himself while cupping a breast in each hand. Eyes never leaving your chest.

You can only giggle at his reaction. He looked up to see the smile that broke on your face and couldn’t resist but to kiss you.

The moment his lips met yours it was like everything finally fell into place.

“Fuck you haven no idea what you do to me” Eddie gently pushed you down so you were on your back and inserted himself between your legs. he helped you take off your top and bra.

As his hand’s massaged your breasts you couldn’t help but moan into his mouth.

“Ya baby?” He ground his hips into your clothed centre.

“I want you Eddie.” You moaned

“Is that right?” Eddie asked cocking his head to look down at you.

You nod your head frivolously.

“You so desperate for this cock that you had to expose yourself to me like a little slut, is that it?” he growled in your ear.

This was not what you were expecting Eddie to be like in bed… well actually it was, before you’d met him. The rockstar version you’d seen on the bar stage 6 months ago. You’d expected him to be like this, but not your Eddie you know now. You imagined the Eddie you know now to be soft and gentle.

“Shit” you sigh as he bit down on the side of your neck.

“Mmmm you like that don’t you? You like being a whore for me?” Eddie slid down to latch his mouth on your nipple before flipping the two of you over.

“You want me so bad? Prove it.” he started unbuttoning his pants.

Your mouth watered at the sight of him when his cock was released from the confines of his underwear.

Eddie was big. You knew that when you felt his cock pressed against your lower back. But feeling it was much different than seeing it.

“Com’on babydoll” Eddie stroked your hair as you lowered your head to the tip of his cock. He let out a grunt when you gave it a chaste kiss.

“Don’t be a tease” he chuckled.

You engulfed him entirely running your lips to the base, the tip hitting the back of your throat. You dragged your head back up to the tip then fully down again.

“Fuck you’re taking me so well” he gripped your hair

You pop him out of your mouth and stroked his length with your hand.

“You like that Eddie? You like me being your dirty whore?” You say as you pump him in your hand.

“Fuck baby you’re filthy” he breaths.

You crawl up to kiss him as your hand still works him. His lips are so soft, and so gentle compared to the words that have been coming out of his mouth.

“Gotta fuck you.” He pulls away and pushes you back on your back and in one swift motion, Eddie pulls down your pants and underwear. “She’s already ready for me” he leaned down and licked you from your glistening hole to your clit in one agonizingly slow swipe.

“Mmmmph Eddie please” you ground your hips up for any sense of relief.

“Patients darlin’ ” he smirked before sucking on your clit.

“No, I’ve waited long enough, fuck me now.” You demanded.

“Yes ma’am” he didn’t even hesitate. His cock plunged into you. You let out a moan of pleasure as he stretched you out.

“Fuck you’re so big” you praise as he pulled almost all the way out

“You can take it” he slammed his hips back into you.

Eddie was relentless, he abused you cunt with no second thought to it.

“Fuckin should had this pussy weeks ago” he gritted through his teeth.

“You could have if you weren’t so-FUCK ME!”you cried.

Eddie didn’t let up, the way he was pounding your pussy was like heaven in earth. He slid his hand between your two bodies to massage your clit. It took him no time to find.

“Uuuuhhhhhnn” You called out in pleasure.

“What was that baby? I could have had you weeks ago? I bet I could have you little slut but I was waiting for the perfect moment” Eddie panted.

“Yes yes yes yes” you chanted. Yes to him and yes to the feeling of him hitting your g spot with each trust. Your orgasms was building and building.

“You gunna cum on this cock? Hmmm” he mocked.

“Fuck yes! Please I wanna cum so bad. Please. Fuck me Eddie, fuck me so good” you cried.

“Come for me baby girl” he cooed, still massaging your clit.

“Eddie!” You called as your orgasm took over your whole body. Waves of euphoria pluses through you.

“Good girl” Eddie praised and you shook below him. You cunt tightening around his cock was enough to throw him over the edge, cum spilling into you. Eddie rolled off you and layes down beside you.

A few moments of silence passed before you spoke up.

“So didn’t you know I was flirting with you this whole time or?” You looked over at him

“Pffft of course I did” he looked up at the ceiling.

You raised a brow at him. Even if he couldn’t see you Eddie could feel your eyes burning into him.

“Sure you did” you scoff with a laugh.

“Don’t make me come back over there” he threatened.

“Ooooo I’m so scared” you roll over and laugh into his cheek.

“Get over here” he pinned you down to the mattress.

Safe to say he definitely showed you two more times that night.



[only-lonely-star]

First Dates with Curtis Gang !! (HCs)

(These might sound a bit ‘inaccurate’ to some, but I personally think everyone would be a bit nervous/shy on a first date as well as being more soft. I mean, it’s a date with just the two of you, trying to look tough isn’t their biggest worry lol. I try to keep everything as accurate as possible. I also tried to keep these as gender neutral as possible but I am a cis fem so I can really only see scenarios through my own eyes. I’m trying!)

Warnings - Just fluff, how I think a first date situation with each member would go

Author’s Note - I GOT THREE FICS COOKED UP IN MY DRAFTS WHICH EXPLAINS MY INACTIVITY !! ENJOY 🫂

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.* *.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.* *.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

Ponyboy

He would lose his mind trying to make everything perfect. I feel he’s not the type to ask someone out without being friends or at least acquaintances first, he has to know you. He needs to know some of your interests, things you dislike - basics. He’ll curate the date and try to incorporate things he knows you’re into to create better conversation.

He definitely thought he was going to get rejected when he first asked you on the date. He mentally rehearsed what he was going to say for at least a week until the date planned finally arrived. He purposefully tried to look his best that exact day to impress you further.

Ponyboy would sooo take you out on a movie date ☹️. He would go for someone who shares similar interests as him - the love for movies a big one on his checklist. He would save up to buy tickets for the both of you to look good instead of just sneaking in. He might even bum Darry of a few cents to ensure he had enough.

“So��� how’s about we go see a movie tonight? Tickets for two, on me.”

He definitely smiled like a complete idiot after the question was posed, feeling embarrassed already.

His biggest accomplishment of the night would be to ‘subtly’ hold your hand. He’s too scared to straight up grab it, so he would try to work his hand towards yours as the movie progresses.

He felt more mature than usual. A first date with you was probably his first date ever so it was probably an even bigger deal to him than most.

Johnny

He had his eye on you for a good while before he finally found the right opportunity to ask you out. I can see him watching you from afar in class or somewhere during school, sitting there and drowning in admiration. He would give little side glances with a straight face so that nobody would think he was looking your way. He is Mr. Nonchalant at its finest 🙁🙏🏻

He would finally break it to Dallas he’s got the hots for “some kid at school” and ask how he should make a move. Obviously Dallas would tease him a bit, only to give him tips Johnny would never use. “You go up to ‘em, tell ‘em where the date is - introductions later. Add a little kiss on the cheek and there ya go.” Johnny would probably force a laugh or something and make a mental note to do the exact opposite.

HE WOULD ASK YOU TO A DINER !! I literally can’t stress this enough, Johnny needs to be able to be a listener at times and the speaker at others. He would strategically plan this shit out and eliminate any other ‘typical first dates’ besides going out to eat. Conversation gets awkward? He’s planning to shovel some food in so you feel obligated to talk more. This gives him a good opportunity to get to know you more and ask for your opinions on the food there, which flavor of milkshake you prefer best, or small talk about school and things you may have in common. He’s such an observer and he’ll find lots to talk about when it’s just you two.

Similar to Ponyboy, he was probably so worked up about thinking of asking you on the date. I can see him picking at that little area of skin beside his nails while he asks you, giving you a lopsided smile because he felt stupid. He’d try to think of some excuse to talk to you before asking you out.

“So I was thinking if you, y’know… wanna get something to eat later…? We could go to that diner if you’re up for it.”

He would literally not stop smiling when you accepted the offer. Johnny would do a good job at hiding the flustered feeling pretty well, but hiding a smile that big is hard for him.

I honestly don’t see him as the type to try to impress people. He is who he is and he wants someone who will actually be interested in his normal self. I don’t see him trying to fancy himself up or anything along those lines.

During the date he would try to sneak as many little glances as possible without trying to show it. Obviously he finds you attractive if he’s desperate enough to ask you out, but he doesn’t want to seem too obsessive.

He’d offer to walk you home and be the bigger person even though he doesn’t like to roam around alone at night anymore. He’d be a little hesitant, but he wants to feel protective of some sort and what better what to show it than walk you home and keep you safe?

Dallas

Surprisingly, if Dallas truly has interest for someone he won’t be so bitter about it. He can’t control how his own personality is perceived by others, but he’ll surely tone it down a bit just for your sake.

Social anxiety is afraid of Dallas. He’ll be in the middle of the most mundane task when he notices you. I can totally see him at a gas station, filling up Buck’s car, or attempting to steal some cigarettes from a corner store when he bumps into you. Unlike the others, I feel as if he goes solely off of looks before personality. He’s so raw and isn’t afraid to speak his mind.

His flirting style is a bit aggressive but it surprisingly works half the time - if the attraction is mutual of course. Dallas would say some corny pick up line or straight up call you some pet name before posing the question. He’s definitely the persistent type for sure. If you turn him down he’ll try and persuade his way into the date becoming an official plan.

“Damn, baby - I forgot all about our date tonight,” while proceeding to show he’s checking you out, no hesitation. While you’re over there confused out of your mind, he’ll laugh to himself and attempt to get you to play along.

“I’m serious. Be over at Buck Merril’s Roadhouse at ten.”

I can’t see him doing anything cutesy or romantic on a first date. He’s like the opposite from most, he’ll save the sweet stuff until he’s comfortable and knows he can be more vulnerable with you. His idea of a first date is something he would most likely do with friends.

Dallas would invite you over to lay down with him and get to know your personality better. He’s not so excited to know all of your interests and desires yet, but rather how you are as a person and your morals. He’d probably try to put on a movie in the background while inviting you to share a blunt in bed. He finds conversation to be what reels him in most, and he knows the best conversations flow when high.

He would be such a tease the entire night. He would let small comments slip, even small touches and gestures to help ease you into growing more comfortable with him. He’ll make it his goal to have you wanting more and more of him - hopefully leading to more dates to come.

Sodapop

He probably fell in love at first sight and immediately knew the two of you would have chemistry.

I just know he saw you at the DX and waltzed right up to you with that big, charming grin on his face.

Soda is definitely more bold when he asks somebody out because he knows he’s handsome. Anyone in their right mind wouldn’t reject him.

“Name is Soda, Sodapop actually,” while he proceeds to introduce himself to you and converse for a few minutes before asking the big question. I feel he’s such a friendly and kind person so he’d definitely be good at making interesting conversation and let it flow naturally before he even attempts to mention a date.

“We should totally see each other sometime. Like - soon.” followed up with a sweet smile while he waits for your response.

I feel like he’s such a family type of guy. He would have to make sure you love his friends as well as Ponyboy and Darry only because he sees them as brothers too. I feel like Soda would have a big hangout with the gang where he invites you and weasels his way into claiming it’s a ‘date’.

I think of something casual and fun like a bonfire where you all chit chat and make s’mores, huddled up against each other. This seems more of like a fall/winter type of date but HEAR ME OUT!!

So of course, you accept his offer and head over to his place where you meet the others and accompany them while sitting beside Soda.

He would for sure tell them about you before hand and try to make them get their act together because he feels as first dates are more important than others. Leaving a good first impression is vital. “Just be cool, we’re gonna have fun, don’t embarrass me this time... please?” with a cheesy ass smile to seal it in.

STOP BC SODAPOP IS SUCH A KISS GOODBYE TYPE OF PERSON !!

Soda would try to get all cuddly and shit by the fire the whole night, progressively getting more bold. He would start with small compliments and smiles, moving towards looping an arm around you, etc. By the end of the night he feels like he’s made enough progress to get a little goodbye kiss from you, even if it’s a small peck on the cheek.

“Aw, come on, no kiss?” as he gently places his hands on your upper arms.

Steve

Steve seems like such a sweet guy once you get past the whole ‘tough guy’ exterior he likes to keep up. He would definitely have to know you a bit before asking you out, so I think you would be somewhat friends with him previous to the big question.

He lovesss people with that natural spunk so I can see him taking you out to some party for kicks. Nothing crazy, but some small venue where music is bumping and the two of you can just share a good time without having to worry about much else.

OKAY SO Steve is definitely more of a bolder type of person when it comes to asking someone out. He’s not shy or nervous or anything - more so expectant.

He gets a bunch of attention from all kinds of customers at the DX although they usually rush to see Soda first.

He gets a lottt of tips from Soda on how to shoot his shot and not get flat out rejected.

Steve would probably have been crushing on you for a good while before making a move. I can see the two of you are engaging in the gang’s typical activities, hanging out or chit-chatting in the lot. Steve tries to subtly have some alone time with you when he executes the big question. I just know he asked Soda and/or Dallas to help distract the others 😭

He’ll try and keep his cool even though he’s beyond excited to finally spill it. I’m talking like clearing his throat and uncontrollably smiling seconds prior.

“What do you say to maybe goin’ to some party with me come this weekend?”

All goes accordingly and here comes the day of the date. He’ll try his absolute best to look spotless just to further impress you.

He would offer to pick you up and everything as he tries to seem like a gentleman.

Once you arrive, he would break the ice immediately and take you by the hand to dance, not caring enough to waste time being stuck in that awkward phase.

I just know he would get so flustered when you come in close contact or have some form of physical touch within a specific dance. Steve Randle is touch deprived. He loves that shit.

During upbeat songs he would actually kill it and own the dance floor with you with no shame whatsoever.

Whether it’s an upbeat and groovy song or a more slow one, he’d make the most of every moment with you and try to make this night one to remember in hopes you’ll want to go out again sometime soon.

Darrel

Darry would be the best boyfriend to ever exist, lemme tell you right now.

He’s definitely a big family guy as well, so it’s not surprising he would want someone who’s willing to commit and have intimate and vulnerable moments with.

Since he’s 20, I feel this is a time for him where people his age start to forget about having a stupid high school relationship and begin looking for a serious relationship.

I’m getting ‘friends throughout teenage years, lovers as young adults’ kind of vibes from Darry. The two of you most likely kept in contact and see each other here and there since senior year ended.

Darry would have mentally prepared himself to ask you out for a date at least a week in advance after noticing he’s caught feelings for his high school buddy.

He was most likely pacing around and trying to script out his lines before he finally gathered enough courage to call you. Since seeing each other face to face is harder to get around with work and watching out for his brothers, he resorts to calling you late at night when Soda and Ponyboy are asleep.

He wouldn’t stall or try to linger on about the topic, he would get straight to the point, just like ripping off a bandaid.

“Hey, it’s been a minute since I last saw you and everything. How does a date sound? I’ve been eyeing that restaurant downtown for a while…we might enjoy it.”

I know he would be giggling and smiling nonstop after you accepted his offer 😭

Come the day of the date, Darry had saved up enough to make a reservation at the somewhat fancy restaurant he mentioned on the phone call. (It’s canon that Darry would most likely be a soc if it weren’t for the gang so I’m envisioning this date based off of that.)

He would so give you his jacket/blazer before he sat down on his side of the table. I’m talking like wrapping it around your shoulder type of thing.

The restaurant is definitely more fancy than the usual diner he’d buy some cheap fast food from, but not fancy like some banquet. He would try and make everything run smoothly by planning it beforehand with the booking, nicer outfit, and picking you up to drive you there.

During the date he would sit and admire you from across the table as you awaited your food, loving the sound of your voice as you rambled on and on. He would’ve planned this whole thing out, trying to come up with a date where you could get to know one another without having to do much else. The point of the date is to talk, not have fun and goof around - but maybe catch up on life together.

Two-Bit

He isn’t one to settle down and usually goes after someone on a lonely night or just for kicks. When he does fancy someone for a long period of time, he makes sure you know it.

I get a lot of ‘friends with benefits’ kind of vibe from him because he seems to be the friendly type who can get along with pretty much anyone. Since he finds you attractive and a pleasure to be around, you settled for this weird arrangement.

Weeks into this situationship type of bond, he realized he may want more than a casual flirty friendship.

He’s definitely bold too, like BOLD.

Two-Bit wouldn’t be shy or anything when asking you. I think he would straight up say something blunt like “Let’s go on a date. Sound like fun?” And then proceed to list date ideas to you.

HE WOULD TAKE YOU SOMEWHERE FUN!!

I can see him taking you to a car show or something and being able to crack jokes and show off his knowledge on cars to you. He brings the good vibes and fun, so even if the date doesn’t sound too appealing to you, you’re guaranteed to have a good time with him.

At the show, Two-Bit would definitely gasp and fawn over every pretty car and continue on and on about the make, model, and how unique the style of it is. He would make small comments and flirtatious suggestions just to make you smile.

“Like that one? Imagine all the fun dates we could go in that!”

Y’all might flame me for this but I think he loves hugs 😭. By the end of the date he would initiate a semi-long hug and smile smugly while you caved in and hugged him right back.

Also gonna get flamed, but he would call you cute names and things super casually. In the middle of a sentence he’ll refer to you as “baby”, or “darling” even though the two of you aren’t dating.

He’s a sweetheart deep down and yall know it. He would go the extra mile when he genuinely likes somebody. He would act a gentleman and share his interests with you. HE CARES!!

[loveforlukeynewts]

So I’m confused. And wondering if you can help me with more info in Luke’s defense. I’m new to this and was all in with Lukola but now I’m reading so much about Luke. All the posting that he and Antonia did on IG was obviously coordinated but she gets all the blame. And then it seems obvious he may have been in on the papgate since no one else was papped and the colors they wore were intentional and somewhat rude even if he hadn’t been papped. All of this would be insulting to Nic and the whole cast as well as his fans. Then all the HBS crap from the summer before seems pretty creepy. It’s like he has two sides to him. Nicola is always talking him up and complimenting him and he rarely reciprocates. It’s hard to ignore these things as they really did seem to happen. He ignores his fans and most all Nics posts and achievements right after the WT and didn’t help promote S3 after WT like Nic did. It’s just confusing to me. What are your thoughts on these things. I’m not trying to cause trouble I’m just curious. I’d really love for them to be together as it seems there are real feelings between them.

Thanks for the ask.

When it comes to Luke, unfortunately there are sides of the fandom that feel he is a creep, a jerk, riding Nic’s coattails, disrespecting her, involved in pap gate, a lazy bum who doesn’t try to get work…I could go on.

So here’s my thoughts on what you’ve asked:

1. Luke was not involved in pap gate. No one has definitive proof of this fact but like everything else with Antonia, just look at his face and his body language. Tense, upset, angry, like he’d rather be anywhere else. He did not set it up to be papped with her. He didn’t even want to take her hand.

The colour SHE wore was intentional. Luke is styled by professionals. And his shirt was barely yellow! What he wore gives no clues to indicate Luke had any involvement in setting up pap gate.

People who think Luke was involved are Luke haters IMO, and I have no time for that bs.

2. I have no issue with Luke taking time off and having a fun summer with his friends. He just spent 6 months working. And yes, so did Nicola but they are not the same people nor do they handle things the same way. She kept working. He took some time off.

3. Promoting S3 - I’m honestly tired of people saying Luke didn’t promote S3 as much as Nicola. Let’s remember the hate Luke got thanks to pap gate and HBS and for literally living.

Luke and Nicola are completely different in many ways and social media is one. Luke has never been as active as Nicola on social media. People act like he never promoted S3 but I guarantee there are fans who have screenshots of every single story and post he ever shared about Polin Season. Maybe it wasn’t as much as Nicola, but it wasn’t nothing.

The biggest defense of Luke in this regard is the fact that Jonathan Bailey didn’t do a lot of social media promo for S2, and Luke Thompson will do no social media promo for S4 unless he gets an account somewhere and that is doubtful.

Will the fandom turn on Luke T next and say he’s a terrible person and how dare he treat Yerin that way and disrespect his season like that? I can say with much certainty that will not happen because it’s ‘Hate Luke Newton Season’ all the time.

4. Re: Likes on IG, I will say only this - Likes don’t matter. Never have. Never will. Go through all of Luke’s posts - has Nic liked them all? No, she hasn’t.

These are people who are in regular contact. Social media means nothing in the grand scheme of their relationship (whether you believe it’s a friendship or love relationship).

5. I don’t know who is telling you Luke ignores his fans but they are liars and enjoy spewing crap about him. There are vids all over social of Luke interacting and taking pics with, even having convos with fans, as recently as during the night of the BAFTAS after parties.

Why is he said to not interact with fans? Because he’s not on social often and doesn’t acknowledge fan accounts? Nicola does that now and then on TikTok but it’s not a regular thing.

🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶

I think I covered it all. Apologies if I didn’t.

Now, I don’t know if you submitted this ask to draw me in to get my thoughts so you can troll me depending on my response or if you are genuinely asking me to respond because you don’t know.

If it’s the former, have at ‘er. Trolls don’t scare me and I will not waiver in my support for Luke or Nicola, or Lukola for that matter.

If it’s the latter, I really suggest you do some looking around on social media, see things for yourself and check out lots of the great fan-based accounts out there.

And by fan-based accounts, I mean the ones who wholly support both Luke and Nicola no matter what ship they’re on (if they’re even on a ship).

All in all, this fandom is very broken with all the different sides - anti Luke’s, anti Nic’s, Lukolas, Jakolas, Luktonias and anti Luke and Nicola’s as a duo (in general, not just romantically).

Find your place but always keep an open mind. And don’t jump to conclusions about anything. Ultimately this entire fandom knows absolutely nothing when it comes to Luke and Nicola.

We are all just speculating based on information that we have, which is very little if you think about how much of Luke and Nicola’s lives we do not see.

I will close in saying I created my Love for Lukey Newts account last summer after seeing all the nastiness going around about Luke.

I will defend him always unless he gives me a real reason not to (not because he enjoys his summers off, he vapes, he doesn’t give a like to IG posts, etc).

I was a fan of his long before Bridgerton so I’m not a fair weather Luke fan. He is a brilliant actor, from all accounts a wonderful person and is not deserving of the bad rap he’s been labelled with by some.

So don’t expect anything other than support for him from me!

[kentoxo]

I’m glad your askbox is back on ♡ may I request something with Yuta and how Rika would behave (would she?) towards someone he has a massive crush on? I feel there will be a Conversation™️ between the two when things get spicier with reader, idk~ ily, have a lovely day!

omg Rika would be soo like possessive but willing. like, she would never go out of turn, but she wouldn't just stand around and let him do whatever without explanation

pairing: reader (f) x crush!Yuta (aged up) ft. Rika

warnings: kissing, touching

a/n: ily2 anon!!! thank u for the req :') happy i turned on my ask right when you wanted to send a req

Rika would never let Yuta live it down.

He, too, never expected that he'd love anyone again the way he did Rika. It was a love so profound that he could not let her go. His soul is forever bonded and imbued with her love, something that has proven to be his biggest strength. But then, there was you.

Yuta's eyes would always follow you whenever you'd train, staring in awe at the way you performed as if fighting were a tango. He'd study you at a distance, sat at a few benches with Toge and Panda. With hands weaved together under his chin, he'd stare at you adoringly. But, Rika would remind him of her existence and lightly push the bench he sat on, forcing all three of the sorcerers to try not to fall forward.

"Huh?" Panda exclaimed, looking over at Toge quizzically. He looked up at the clouds, "the wind can't be that strong, can it?"

Yuta looked over at the confused pair with a sheepish smile, "sorry. Rika was... feeling playful."

Even in the dining hall, Yuta would work up the courage to go sit with you and the other sorcerers. Taking a seat across from you, he'd quietly hum a, "good evening, y/n."

You consciously had to make sure you didn't smile too much at his presence and would give a small bow, "good evening, Okkotsu." Although the both of you were similar in age, he was still Gojo's student, and you had too much respect for him.

When Yuta spoke to you, there were fireworks. His heart felt elated and full just hearing your words, and the way you spoke. How gentle the words came out of your mouth, your tongue flicking right at your enunciations. He could remain like this here, with you, forever. But, as he lifted his spoon full of soup, the spoon immediately shot out of his hand, and straight through the bowl and table, to the ground.

"S-sorry," Yuta hums in embarrassment, immediately letting out a deep sigh before beginning to clean up. But you jumped to your feet to help him, creating a bigger problem in Yuta's heart... and pants.

"No worries, let me help!" You chime.

Finally, with much time and patience, Yuta was able to confess his feelings for you. His dark circles felt as though they cleared when you reciprocated his feelings. But in Yuta's head, he was quite surprised that Rika had yet to react. Little did he know what was to come.

You contently invited Yuta over one night as he finally had some time off. Gojo was grateful for all the missions he had taken up during a short and very needed period. He relieved him of his sorcerer duties for a week, in which Yuta had no plans besides you.

When he entered your apartment, the air immediately went hot. Although the two of you hadn't done anything yet, the sight of you in a little tank top and pajama pants was enough to do things to Yuta. Your chest was bare under that tank top, and the pants were doing your ass wonders.

He'd just stare at you, watching your lips move as you asked about his day. But once you realized he wasn't listening (and he reason why), you immediately went quiet and felt your cheeks warm. Yuta's exhausted eyes lit up, energy returning to his pale skin.

In moments, his hands snake down from your sides to your waist, slowly making its way to your bum. His dark blue eyes hold hesitance, searching for constant reassurance in your own. "Is this okay?" He murmurs, cheeks completely flushed with his bottom lip wedged between his teeth. Once you give him the greenlight, nothing stops Yuta from enjoying you.

Cold lips meet your own, and the two of you finally closed the gap. The usually respectful and patient Yuta was now replaced with the ever hungry beast before you. His tongue dragged mercilessly against your bottom lip, forcing entry to tango with your own. He tasted of green tea and fig.

You could feel his fingers dent into your ass, his force pushing your body into his own. His back meets with the wall, and your body follows suit. He smells so good... feels so good... your hands sneak its way to the top of his pants, tugging teasingly. When you did, Yuta quickly pulled away.

He kept hold of you, staring down at your beautiful face. His heart could explode now from just the way your eyes met his own. They were filled with lust and worry. "m'so sorry to stop us like this... do you think it's okay if I have a moment? With Rika?"

Your cheeks go hotter, but you understood completely. You turn around and gesture the balcony, "go ahead there. I won't disturb you." You were not even an ounce upset, and Yuta couldn't be more grateful. Leaving a peck on your forehead, he calmly walked over to the balcony and slid the door shut behind him.

In the privacy of the outside, Yuta walked over to the ledge of the balcony, propping his forearms over it. He let out a long sigh before looking up to adore the stars. He begins to toy with his ring with an amused smile, "I never realized you could do that, Rika." He referred to the way she had made the ring spin while the two of you were kissing. "I must be pushing your buttons, huh?"

Rika was above him, holding onto the side of the building. Tears began to escape her body, her hand shakily reaching down at Yuta. "Yuta..." she cried, her usual shriek replaced with a calm whimper. Yuta couldn't dare scold her, for her feelings weren't wrong.

Turning around, Yuta looks up at her and smiles, "I know; this isn't fair to you. I would give the world to reverse what happened to you, and have you here with me properly. But that isn't what happened."

Rika remains still, her gaze falling to the door of the balcony, in which you resided on the other side of it.

Yuta continues to smile brightly, "I know you don't like sharing but she... y/n, she's good to me. And I need her like I need you. She keeps me safe like you do." He walks up to her, offering a hand. "Please be kind to her, Rika."

Rika leans down slowly, hesitantly. As she cowers her head, she asks quietly, "love me [still]?"

His hand pats her head gently, "always. That will never change, Rika. I promise." After a few moments, Rika seems to accept and finds comfort in his touch. Before she exits her physical form, she causes Yuta's ring to spin once more. He chuckles, shaking his head, "I know, don't worry."

Yuta joins you back inside, where you quickly jump up and rush to him. "Did everything go well?" You ask in a hush tone.

Yuta nods, "nothing to worry about."

[finelinevogue]

paparazzi nerves

summary - you get nervous around the paps

word count: >1k

pairing: boyfriend!harry x reader

You noticed the paparazzi before anyone else did

It had been easy keeping your holiday location a secret from fans, but somehow the paparazzi always seemed to be able to find you.

Harry’s tour had finished only days ago and now you were spending time together, relaxing and having fun. It had been hard to really dedicate time to one another when Harry had been touring every other day, but now it was time for rest.

Harry had rented a couple of small boats to drive over to a little island he had read about in one of his Italian travel books.

Now you were all arriving and soaking up the glorious sunshine, only to be rudely interrupted by the faraway lenses of the paparazzi.

Harry was on another boat, talking to James and Tyler, whilst you remained on a different boat with Gemma.

You and Gemma weren’t the biggest fans of the sun and the heat, so any opportunity to sit in the shade was taken instantly.

Gemma was sat in her pink dungarees, whilst you were sat in your yellow summers dress. The one that Harry said made you look like a summers dream.

As Gemma continued to read, you kept getting distracted by the paparazzi on a boat in the distance.

You’d never been one to really acclimatise to the constant clicking of photos. No doubt they would be focused on taking photos of Harry - especially when he’s sitting there shirtless, but part of you still remained uneasy.

“I might go and see if there’s a toilet nearby.” Gemma said, standing up and rocking the boat slightly.

You nodded, standing up too.

“I’ll go over there.” You pointed to where Harry was. “Just so I’m not alone.”

“Alright.”

Gemma wandered to the front of the boat, but before she can clamber out Harry has made his way over and is now standing at shin length in the sea.

“Y’alright Gem?” He asked and you couldn’t help but smile at how much of a gentleman he was. Always keen to help out and lend a hand.

He offered his hand for Gemma to hold and step out of the boat, which she took gladly.

“Yeah. Just going to the loo. Your missus needs company, though.”

“Oh does she now?” He turned to look at you once Gemma was out safely. He smiled brightly at you, checking you over and admiring how much you were glowing in the Italian sun.

Gemma kissed Harry on the cheeks before leaving.

Harry then jumped the boat and you bit your lip to hide a laugh when he nearly lost his footing. The idiot was trying to show off, not that he had to for you.

“Y’need me, do you?” he asked, walking over to you where you were still standing in the shade.

“Didn’t want to be sat here like a loner. I’d have been like that one photo of Taylor where she’s sat on the back of a boat by herself.”

Harry laughed at that, finding his arms wrapping around you to pull you in for a hug. He squeezed tight and you sighed into his warm chest. His hugs were always the best. Like your own personal teddy bear.

“Never would let you feel lonely, baby.” He kissed your head.

“I know.” Your lips kissed his chest as you spoke, due to how smushed against him you were. “Have you put suncream on?”

“Yes.” Harry whined.

“Oi, I’m just making sure you still look appealing when we’re older and not some wrinkly ball sack.” You explained, making Harry laugh again.

“Is that all I’m here for? Huh? Appeal for you?”

You tilted your head back to face up at him. “I thought you knew that already.”

Harry squinted his eyes and shook his head at you playfully.

What’s worse is that he brought his large hand down to your bum and gave it a pinch through your dress. The moment only lasted a second, but it was enough for you to step away and push him off of you.

“Harry, don’t.” You said sternly.

Harry knew you meant it too, because you used his actual name and not some other endearment.

“Hey, baby, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He said.

You sat down where you had been sitting before and huffed. You ran your hands over your face and tried to breathe slowly.

“No, i’m sorry.” You shook your head.

“What for?” Harry was confused. He sat down next to you, but made sure you had your own space until he knew what he was in for.

“I noticed the paparazzi here before and now I’m just paranoid. I mean, y’know I don’t deal well with them.”

Harry looked around you and only then noticed the small boat of about five photographers. Luckily he was wearing sunglasses to hide his dark stare, but he was severely pissed that they were here. Invading his private time.

What’s worse is that they were making his girlfriend uncomfortable.

“Hey, look at me. Y/N, honey. C’mere.” He twisted your legs to dangle over his and moved your body so that your back was to the paparazzi. “I’m here. Just us.”

You looked at him and noticed how he was only focused on you. You reached to move his sunglasses and pulled them down for a second to look at his eyes. His pupils were dilated slightly with the look of love he had for you. You pushed his glasses back up and settled in closer next to him.

“Just us.” You nodded.

Even though it wasn’t just you and the paparazzi would be taking photos of this moment no doubt, including the one of Harry pinching your bum, it was settling to know that Harry was here and he was doing this with you.

“Screw them. If I want to touch my girlfriend in public, I will.” You gave him a look. “W-with consent of course.”

You laughed then. “Harry I don’t care when, how, why you touch me. I.. I just… Let me know beforehand if we’re in public settings or if the paps are around. Please?”

“Promise.” He nodded seriously.

“Love you.” You reached for his hand and held onto one of his fingers with your entire hand. His hands are massive compared to yours - something the fans are always pointing out and crying over.

“Love you too.” He encompassed your hand with his and rubbed small circles into the back of your hand.

“Can y’kiss me now?”

“Never going to say no.”

[chukys-mouthguard]

maybe smutty prompt 16 w mat barzal too?

Prompt: “You just can’t stay away from me for too long, huh?”

Note: I kind of liked the idea of this and felt like it had the possibility of turning into a longer version? So definitely let me know if anyone wants to see that!

Warning: sexual content

“Well, if not a dance, how about a drink?”

A sigh escaping your lips as you clearly were too nice. Not being able to turn down someone without caring about hurting their feelings or coming across like a bitch.

“Look, I’m not interested okay? Go try it on someone else.”

Cursing under your breath you ran a hand through your hair. Wondering if someone was playing a cruel prank on you that all of these below average guys had been hitting on you.

Tonight was supposed to be a night to get your mind off of him. Your go to booty call that also was the biggest asshole you’d ever met. For months you’ve been telling yourself to give it up and find something new. But so far all of the guys who were trying their luck with you weren’t anything compared to Mat.

Not to mention, he just so happened to end up at the same club as you. What were the odds of that?

“Fuck me…”

Cursing to yourself you tossed back a shot before heading out onto the dance floor. The countless shots and drinks kicking in as you danced along to the music. Swaying your hips as you sang along to the words blaring throughout the building.

Soon enough a hand snaking around your waist. He had found you and was making sure he didn’t let you leave with someone else.

The two of you couldn’t deny the chemistry you had, most importantly the sexual chemistry. Your hands exploring every inch of one another while your ass was practically glued to his crotch.

Not feeling like exposing anyone to the acts you two were in desperate need of, you both quickly headed for the door. Mathew pulling you quickly behind him as he led the way to his car. Adjusting the seats before climbing into the backseat, patting his lap with a cocky grin. Signaling for you to join him.

“You just can’t stay away from me for too long huh?”

A hand finding its place entangled with your hair as he brought you in for a kiss, the other gripping your ass. Sinking into his lap as you began to grind against his hard on that was growing in his pants, you elicited a low groan from him.

“Mmm, last time I checked, you came onto the floor and found me.”

Smirking cockily down at him he let out a soft chuckle. “Yeah, only after I saw you turning down every bum that was in that place.” His hand slipping under your dress as his fingers pushed your thong to the side. A surprised moan escaping your lips as he smiled up at you, dipping his fingers into your growing wetness.

“And we both know, none of them could get you this wet. Definitely wouldn’t be able to fuck you like I can.”

Pulling you in for a rough kiss, his tongue entangled with yours as he fought for dominance, wanting to be sure you knew he’d always be the best you’d ever had.

“Definitely couldn’t kiss you like I can.”

“Okay Mat, I get it, please just shut the hell up and fuck me already!”

His smirk went from cocky to lustful as your words struck a chord in him.

“With pleasure.”

[flippinpancakes64]

The Cullen with a human partner who has very noticeable freckles all over his body and who is discouraged that after the transformation they will disappear.

The Cullens with a reader with Freckles

I made this a little more general to include headcanons of the Cullens with a reader who has freckles. I also made it gender neutral/not specified.

Thank you and I hope you enjoy!

Edward:

He loves your freckles

When you’re asleep, he has nothing better to do than count them

He loves when summer rolls around and he can watch as the sun pulls more out of your skin

If you’re ever insecure about them, he shuts that down instantly

He loves them so shut up

Now according to Stephenie Meyer, vampires lose all of the melanin in their skin when they transform

But that’s stupid so I’m gonna ignore that

When he turns you, you notice that your skin is stuck in the permanent state of winter, where your freckles are at their most faint

He tries to reassure you that they’re still visible

It takes him one entire night of kissing all of them for you to believe him :)

Alice:

She thinks they’re adorable

She wishes she had some

Makes a point to tell you that

Again, she loves the summertime because they become more obvious

One time, she drew a picture of you in art class and you were stunned at the amount of detail in which she captured your freckles

Like she got them in all the right spots, right amounts, everything

Before she turns you, you tell her that you're concerned about your freckles disappearing

She tries to convince you that they won't, but to be honest she doesn't know for sure

After she turns you, she notices that you’re pretty upset

She helps you recreate your freckles with makeup if she notices that it really bothers you

But other than that she tries her best to help you forget

She reassures you that she still thinks you are very adorable/attractive

Jasper:

He thinks they are so enchanting

He gets lost just staring at you very often

Whether that's because he's staring at your freckles or just you is up for debate-

Either way he loves them

He gets shocked around the summertime

"Did you do your makeup today?"

"No, why?"

"'Cause you've got more of those spots than normal"

When he (or Carlisle, let's be honest) turns you, he instantly notices the difference

They're not all gone, but a good chunk of them are

He's a little sad too

But he still loves you so

He does his best to cheer you up

He uses his gift to make you feel better

Rosalie:

When she was alive, freckles were considered ugly blemishes

But she never understood that

She always thought they were cute

So when she sees you and all of the freckles that you have, she is instantly in love

Another one who counts them while you're sleeping sorry

She's the only one who actually has an answer about whether or not your freckles will stay when you get turned

She still has her beauty mark, after all

So at the very least, your biggest, most noticeable ones will stay

And when she turns you, she is proven right

Obviously you're both bummed that not all of them stick around, but she reassures you that it's okay

Emmett:

It isn't the first thing that he notices about you

He sees your personality first

Jk jk jk

I mean it's just not the first thing he sees

However, when summer rolls around and suddenly all of your freckles have multiplied and they're all darker, he notices

"So... what are all of those?"

"All of what?"

"The spots on your face... and arms... and chest"

He thinks they suit you though

One day, Alice used some foundation to cover them all up to play a prank on him and he was so shocked

Almost didn't recognize you

After he turns you, he doesn't really notice the difference

You're gonna have to point it out to him

But he just tells you that he still thought you looked the same

Reassures you that you're probably the only one who's noticed that you're missing a few

Esme:

She thinks they are adorable

I can see her having had a cousin or a niece/nephew who had a whole bunch of freckles when she was alive

She always wanted some

So she adores yours

Loves to stare into your face while you sleep or whenever you aren't doing anything

When you approach her with your concern, she honestly doesn't know the answer

She never had any significant marks on her body, so she never noticed anything missing when she was turned

After she turns you, if you are upset because you're missing a good chunk of your freckles, she tries her best to reassure you that it's okay

"You had more than enough to spare anyway :)"

Carlisle:

It's not really something he noticed first either

He sees so many people everyday that at some point you stop looking really hard

But as he gets closer with you, he notices all of your spots

He thinks they are so unique

It also makes him reflect on past beauty standards

He does go on a whole rant though about the science of freckles

Melanin pockets in the skin and whatever

Unlike literally everyone else that you ask, he does actually have an answer

The most prominent of your freckles will stick around, similar to Rosalie's beauty mark, and the lighter ones that really only show up in the summer will disappear

Mostly because you're not gonna be tanning anymore lol

He comforts you with science

And of course he tells you over and over again that you are still jst as attractive as you've always been

Vampire! Bella:

She's not too shocked

From the very few very grainy pictures I could find of Renee on Google, she has some light freckles all over her face too

So it's not like they're some new exotic thing to her

But again, she feels like they suit you

Like she can't imagine you without them

When you ask her, she has no clue

Like genuinely none sorry

But she reassures you that it can't be that bad

When you do get turned and you lose some of your freckles, she tries her best to console you

"I'm sorry, really I didn't know if they would disappear or not"

She tells you that you are beautiful/handsome/attractive either way

[b00tyliciousbabe]

my baby daddies - ep. 2

wyatt cushman x male reader

summary: the scoop on how wide i buss it open for mr cushman xx

notes: hi beautiful ppl, back again! once he go black, he'll be back again. tell them hoes that it's crunch time, abdomen. yes i cop mad chanel and mad given. she did it again, imagine them!!! sorry nicki ate that verse tf UPPP. bout to make these bum bitches mad again, okay lemme stop. I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS DOING W THAT BLACK VERSE XOXO. hope you guys are all doing well <3 i will be releasing 2 other series ("the DILFs' and a surprise one which will become coming soon ) so stay tuned! any requests? ENJOYYYY…

you and wyatt met at one of your first shoots. you were the stylist’s assistant and your boss had tasked you with making sure all the models had their hair, outfits, and makeup all ready for the editorials. you were admired by so many in the industry, icons and the public alike, and even though you didn’t have your own company, it was clear that you were on your way to becoming one of the biggest names in fashion history. you enjoyed getting to know all the models personally, and it made the whole process of getting ready much easier. but one person that always had you flustered was wyatt cushman, who you had become really good friends over the years. you definitely found him attractive, but he was so distracting; the agency called him ‘the menace’ with all the harmless trouble he got the two of you into. years had passed, the two of you remained really close, but it wasn’t until the balenciaga show, that the two of you vocalised the unspoken tension between you two.

you were responsible for all of the outfits for the fashion week at balmain, a huge role that olivier rousteing himself appointed you to do. it was a huge success and the press had a field day documenting your achievements. your biggest supporter, wyatt, was there to give you the biggest hug on the runway, garnering an even greater cheer from the crowd. “Y/N, you’re amazing” he said staring intensely in love as he placed his hands on your lower back. the distance between your lips decreased as the two of you shared your first kiss…in front of the entire world. you pulled away; being brought back to reality and how 4.5 million people had witnessed the two of you together, you couldn’t help but laugh, as everyone applauded and jeered at your love. the rest was history.

one thing about wyatt, he is the goofiest mf ever and you love it. he’s always cracking jokes and the life of the party. You feel so safe around him, don’t get it twisted, he’d beat the shit out of anyone who even looked at you the wrong way, but you could handle yourself. flashback to the time where y’all were celebrating your collaboration with vogue: you were dancing the night away with your friends when some guy decided to get a lil too close. the creep groped your ass to which he was served a fat slap across the face. he fell to the ground and the crowd started cheering. wyatt smiled proud that you were able to defend yourself - so proud, that on the way home you took a detour where you guys had the best make out session in the history of rom coms.

the golfer’s wife and the holiday maker:

this man is always travelling and he loves to share those memories with you. other than being his personal photographer, the two of you are able to explore so many different ways of living on your journeys and you dream together of living abroad one day.

On one of your holidays, you had decided to take your boyfriend stargazing “come on wyatt, i don’t wanna miss it” you say gripping his arm as you led him to a quiet space overlooking the ocean. “babe, I’m pretty sure the stars aren’t going anywhere,” he chuckled “and besides, the sky isn’t as pretty as the star right in front of me” he stops and turns to face you. he strokes your cheek, looking down at you with a smile that rivalled romeo’s love for juliet. y’all sat down watching how nature looked so peaceful. he started kissing on your neck, leaving light hickeys to mark you as his. straddling your bf, you deepened the kiss as you felt him grow uncomfortably large in his jeans. you undid his trousers as 8 thick inches of uncut hairy cock made contact with the chill of the night. “you don’t know how much this turns me on, y/n”

you continued sucking on his tip, swirling and drooling all over him as a pool of your spit congealed in his pubes. all the while his hands gripped your roots urging you to take more and more of his cock. you gargled and took him like a champ.

“babe, ughh, I’m bout to, uuhhh shit shit” he came deep down your throat, cleaning your chin with his finger and then poking it in your mouth as he made sure to feed you with every last drop.

you laid down, proud of your efforts to calm him down and your head tucked into cushman’s shoulder, as you began to feel sleepy. your bf noticed this and chuckled to himself, using the blanket he brought to make sure you wouldn’t get cold. “mkay, y/n kinda had a point, this is pretty cool,” he whispered, still riding the high you gave him “but it’s got nothing on him tho, my cute ass bf” wyatt embraced you tighter. the wedding bells were already ringing in his head.

MORE SLUTTY THOUGHTS:

• he deffo has a spit kink. not saying that he’d treat you as worthless scum but, he’d would make sure to slut you out. and you fucking loved it. “you’re a dirty little whore, aren’t you” he’d grunt raw dogging your ass as he spat in your face.

• as dominant as he is, he likes to give you your time to shine, always enjoying it when you spell coconut with your hips as you ride his pole. as I’ve mentioned already his smile drives you crazy, and this position has him cheesing the MOST. wyatt just loves to see how much you’re enjoying the experience, and nothing turns him on more than when he can see the pleasure on your face. “fuck babe, you look so sexy riding my dick.”

• this leads on to missionary, nobody fucks harder in this position than this man. he definitely compensates for his soft strokes in doggy and prone bone because of how hard he hits your hole in missionary. He turns primal as well, feeling your chest bounce up every time he’s balls deep, but all in all he’s crazy for how your bodies are so in sync.

[seenoversundown]

Somewhere

Josh Kiszka x Harper (Gender Neutral OC)

Warnings: FLUFFFFFF & some gentle flirty bullying

Word Count: 1.6k

Author's Note: just a sweet little thing for our sweet little man 🥰

🩷 🩷 🩷

Harper POV 

Nothing about Valentine's Day sounded appealing this year. 

Josh and I have been together for a little over a year, but he ended up having to move for a job and now we only get to see each other every few weeks. Unfortunately for us both, this was not a weekend he could swing. 

Him being the way he is insisted we would make the best of it, promising to spend as much time as we could on Facetime so at minimum, we were looking at each other. 

“I know it isn’t as good as being in person,” he sighed. “But, at least it’s something?”

I have spent the past few days trying not to be bummed out but when our group of friends invited me to a local carnival that night, I knew I would be the only one without their partner. So, I graciously declined.. privately in a message to the girl who invited us. I don’t want the pity from the rest of our groupchat. 

It being the day before, I went about my typical routine; wake up, drink the biggest mug of coffee, mentally prepare myself for work, and then get dressed and leave. Generally speaking, Josh and I would text throughout the day and then call or facetime once we’re both finally home for the evening. 

Work felt endless— possibly because I knew what was to come when I got home. Or knowing I had the next day off, regardless of the fact I would just be at home. Alone. I’m not usually this bitter, especially over a Hallmark holiday, but it had been a couple weeks since I had seen Josh in person and it had definitely started to wear on me. 

At least I’ll be graced with his sweet smile all day tomorrow. 

Pulling into my driveway, I let out a deep sigh. Quickly grabbing all my things and making my way to the door. Wiggling my key into the doorknob, it’s unlocked? I stare at my door for a second, trying to decide if I forgot to lock it when I left or if I’m about to meet my maker. 

“Hello?” My voice shakes as I open my front door, creeping through it slowly. Not seeing anything or anyone, but noticing the light is on in my kitchen. 

My hallway has never felt longer than in this moment. 

As I’m about to come around the corner, a voice startles me. 

“Well hi there,” Josh’s voice rings through my empty house. Leant against the counter, a smug little smile on his lips. 

My jaw drops, and I look around for a moment but my attention falls back on him.��

“Wait-“ I start, setting my things down on the island. “How? Your car isn’t here?” Walking straight into him, wrapping my arms around him tightly. 

His chest shakes with a laugh, “I parked at Jake’s and he dropped me off.” 

“Oh my god,” I breathe out, leaning back and touching his face. “Hi.” 

“Hey,” he whispered, as his plump lips found mine. “I couldn’t go another week before coming back, so I moved some things around.” 

“I missed you,” I tell him, pecking his lips. “I’m so,” kiss, “glad,” kiss, “you could be here,” kiss, kiss, kiss. 

His laugh in between kisses made my heart flutter, managing to get out, “I missed you too.”

We spent the rest of the evening glued to each other. Cooking dinner practically holding hands and falling into the couch to put on whatever shitty movie we could find, because we weren’t going to watch it anyway. 

❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Waking up with Josh meant staying tangled up in the sheets for a while. Our visits were so few and far between, that we would soak up any chance we had to just be. 

“We should probably get up soon,” he mumbles, his voice still laced with sleep. “Need to make sure you're fed and caffeinated for later.” 

“What are we doing?” I ask, propping myself up on an elbow to look at him. 

His hand brushing my hair out of my face, “Well, we were invited to the carnival, no?” 

“I told Kira we wouldn’t make it,” I cringe as it leaves my mouth. 

He smiles even wider, “Good thing I let her know the moment I got my work stuff sorted out.” 

Falling dramatically into the pillow, I let out, “How are all of you so good at secrets?!” 

“Is it that we’re good at secrets or that you, my love, are not the most observant sometimes?” 

Gasping at his comment and smacking him with a rogue pillow, I just watch as he dies from laughter. Shaking my head when I say, “You’re lucky you’re pretty, Joshua.” 

Hours later, finally dressed, fed, and caffeinated, we head over to where the carnival is. Josh insisted on driving us since he technically agreed to the plans. And to be frank, I’ll never turn down the opportunity to watch his performance whenever we’re in the car. 

Approximately four show tunes later, including a dance number, we made it. 

“You know,” he says as we’re getting out of the car. “More people should get on the West Side Story train, is all I’m saying.” 

“Josh, honey, we all have enjoyed West Side Story..” my voice trailed off. “When we were in fourth grade..” 

He stops dead in his tracks, holding a hand out toward me, “Harper, I need you to put that back in your mouth.” 

Not the government name. Throwing my hands up, “My bad.” 

“That’s fucking right, you’re bad!” He barks out, a smirk on his face. Wrapping his arm around my shoulders as we walk towards the entrance, I listen to every single reason why West Side Story is a perfectly fine musical. 

All of our friends waited at the entrance for us so we could say hello, but nature's way will always take over, which means we all just paired off once we got inside. 

“Where to first?” He rasps, squeezing my hand gently. 

Gazing around at all the lights from the rides and food booths, the sounds of children laughing, the smell of fresh popcorn. 

“Whatever sounds fun to you,” I tell him, looking over. “I’m just happy you’re here.”

And it’s true— I would gladly follow Josh around all night doing whatever it is that he wants because it means I get to be with him. 

We wandered around for a while, hand in hand, just weighing out what our options were. Finding somewhere to grab a beer to share, neither one of us wanted to drink too much before Josh inevitably dragged me onto a ride. 

It’s not that I don’t like rides, but the fact these carnival rides can be put together in like an hour doesn’t sit well with me. He’s just lucky I love him enough to muscle through it. 

“You would pick the most terrifying option,” I let out under my breath. 

His hand squeezing mine, “Guess you’ll just have to sit close.” 

Looking up at the rickety ferris wheel, trying to not panic at the possibilities. He just tugs me along, still humming that one Officer Krupke song from the car. 

When it's finally our turn, Josh death grips my hand as I step into the middle of the pod-seat-thing, sitting as close to him as I could. If I could be in his skin, I would be.

“See it’s not that bad,” he says, his arm stretched out behind me. 

My body tense as can be, my head slowly turns to him as we slow to a complete halt at the very top of the wheel.

“Okay so I have bad timing,” he laughs. “Though while we’re trapped up here.” 

“Can you not say trapped while we’re a million feet in the air?” I ask, slightly panicked. 

He smiles and his hand creeps down onto my shoulder, “I have been withholding information.” 

My eyebrows shot up. The air is silent somehow, but only for a second when I bark out, “Continue?” 

“What if I told you that—“ he starts, pausing for the drama as usual. “I’ll be able to work remotely as of next month..” 

“Like full time?” 

He nods, “I may have to go in every so often, but I’d have clear warning.. which means..” 

If I could jump up from this seat, I’d be in the stars. 

“Oh my god,” I let out, my hands coming up to cover my mouth. “You can live here?” 

He grabs my hands, littering kisses across my knuckles. “That’s right, baby. I’ll be able to pester you all the time.” 

My heart feels like it could explode. We both knew that when Josh took the job, that he would be traveling a lot, but neither of us really knew what to expect when it came to managing our relationship alongside it. Endless FaceTime calls and a constant stream of texts, but it’ll all be over in a mere few weeks. 

“Move in with me,” I blurt out. 

And for the first time in our relationship, I think he was speechless. 

“Seriously?” 

I hesitate, but the smile creeps onto my face, “Dead serious.” 

His hands hold the sides of my face as he plants the sweetest kiss against my lips. A feeling that will never get old. Mumbling, “Okay, let’s do it then.” 

The wheel starts to slow down with us near the top, yet again. But we’re too busy to notice. 

“I love you,” I laugh out against him. 

He pulls back, looking at me, “I love you, too.” 

Settling back into the seat, we stared off into the distance since we were “trapped” again. Enjoying the quiet as I tuck myself under his arm, until his pipes up after a few minutes. 

“And you thought today would be terrible.” 

I’ve never been happier to be wrong. 

❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Masterlist

Taglist:

@gvfsstardust @myleftsock @imleavingyoufornewyork @dont-go-home-without-me

@literal-dead-leaf @mackalah @edgingthedarkness

@writingcold @i-love-gvf @takenbythemadness

@earthgrlsreasy @peaceloveunitygvf @gretavanfan

@jazzyfigz @demonrat444 @josh-iamyour-mama @wrldabomination

@gvf-luna @lilbitx @gvfstuddedmajesty @katuschka @sanguinebats

@lightmy-love @myownparadise96 @cheersdannyx2

@lallisonl @fleetingjake @musicislove3389

[witchygagirlwrites]

Blue Eyed Guy

Greg "Mouse" Gerwitz x Halstead Sister Reader (Nicknamed Dizzy)

It's your first night home in Chicago and you're a little bummed your brothers can't make your gig but a blue eyed guy turns your night around

Warnings: mentions of cheating, Sexual happenings

“Yo D, where you headed?” you turned around when Jessica came running up to you backstage with a grin on her face. The adrenaline high of playing to a crowded amphitheater still had both of you buzzing pretty high. You nodded towards your shared bus “I’m just grabbing a jacket babe so we can head up to join the crowd and watch the set” she fell in step with you, hooking her arm through yours “In that case let me escort you”

This tour was the biggest break any of you could have even gotten. What Izzy Hale and her brother Arejay was doing in a little bar in Chicago was beyond you but when they heard your band playing they approached you that night with an offer to be their opening act. That was ten months ago. You’d played to thousands since then. “So, this is the last leg of the tour” she started as the two of you got closer to the line of buses that were parked in a group near the back of the lot. You nodded “I know dear” she laughed “Let me finish Halstead! Damn”

You waved a hand “My apologies ma’am” she shook her head “As I was saying. Izzy has offered to keep us in mind for her next tour. We’ve made a lot of contacts as well. Could even think about an album once we get home to Chicago. We made some serious money” you nodded “I don’t know about jumping into another tour right now, at least not one this long but an album would be cool. I miss Jay and Will though. I kind of just want to stick close to home for a while” she nodded “I get that well you know you’re coming to work with me at the studio either way” you shook your head with a laugh “Yeah, I figured”

You and Jessica had been friends since high school. You’d met her just after Jay deployed and you were going through a pretty rough time. She’d been your life line. It was also during that time she’d discovered she had one helluva voice and you discovered your talent with a guitar. Add in Tyler on the drums and Callian who was your bassist and you had your band. 

Jay hadn’t been too thrilled about the tour, worrying about your safety but the amount of security guards posted around every stop was insane. Halestorm took every precaution with safety plus Izzy and her crew were truly just sweethearts. You’d met Leo, your current boyfriend about a month into the tour, he was a roadie for Halestorm and pretty good looking. Five ten, dark hair and green eyes. The current plan was for him to come home with you to Chicago at least for a little while.

When you got to your bus you froze when you realized the door was cracked and cut your eyes at her “We closed that fully before our set” she nodded “Should we get security or at least Callian?” you shook your head and stepped closer to the bus, trying to peek inside without letting whoever was in know that you were aware of their presence. That was when you spotted Leo sitting on the couch with a blonde kneeling between his legs. His hands were buried in her hair as her head bobbed up and down, his head was dropped back on the couch as a moan escaped him.

You stumbled back against her and one look at your face told her something was wrong. “D, Dizzy. What is it?” you nodded towards the crack in the door so she peeked through “That son of a bitch” she started to grab it but you shook your head and grabbed her arm “No, Just let’s go find Ty and Callian” she looked back at you “He not only cheated but used our damn bus” “I know and I’m not letting it go but I’m not ruining my damn night either”

She nodded and the two of you headed back towards the backside of the stage, in an attempt to find your boys.

___________________

You were standing just off the stage as Halestorm exited and they all greeted your band with smiles. “Drinks on our bus?” Izzy offered and Jessica threw an arm around your shoulders “That sounds amazing” you fell in step with them, all of you talking about what everyone was planning for when the tour was over.

You were almost to their bus when Leo caught up with your group. “Hey baby” he greeted and reached for you but you stepped back and let Callian put himself bodily between you and him. “What the hell?” Leo questioned and Tyler shook his head “Let it go man” “Like hell you two aren’t letting me get to my girlfriend” “Because we’re through so leave me alone for the next two stops” you told him and he spun around to face you “What, why?”

You cut your eyes around at Izzy, Arejay, Joe then Josh, feeling your face warm before admitting “I saw you with the blonde between your legs” Izzy’s eyes widened “What?” he tried to sputter out some excuse but she shook her head “Like hell we don’t do that around here. You’re fired. Turn in your badge and get the hell away from our tour and our opener” 

The moment Izzy spoke her bodyguards appeared and she nodded at Leo “Get him out of D’s sight” her guards dragged Leo away before Izzy threw her arm over your shoulder “Come on D. I’ll get you a drink” you shot her a grateful smile “You didn’t have to do that” Arejay shook his head “We aren’t putting up with that, besides if he’s cheating the ass wasn’t even doing his job”

Sorry Dizzy,I can’t make it. See you tomorrow- J

Sorry Dizzy, a surgery came up.I’ll see you tomorrow-W 

You sighed as you looked at the texts and Jessica leaned over your shoulder “What’s wrong gorgeous?” you showed her the texts “Will nor Jay can make it” she shrugged “It’ll still be awesome. We’re home and playing where we started coming off a ten month tour. Basically getting a hero's welcome!” 

You shook your head at her enthusiasm “Chill out a bit babe, save some of that for the stage” she grinned “Well all of us can’t just be the sexy guitarist. Some of us just have a microphone and our voice to amuse people with” and winked at you. “You’re insane” you laughed as she took it upon herself to plop down in your lap “And yet I am your best friend” “Says something about me, doesn’t it?”

Callian walked into the green room and raised an eyebrow “Not gonna ask. Are either of you hungry? Brit made wings” you grinned “Oh, yes” and he laughed “Want a drink too?” “Tea!” you and Jessica called in unison as he left the room to retrieve the food and drinks. You still had some time before the show. 

______________________

Mouse walked into the bar and cut his eyes at the stage, supposedly there was a decent band tonight. They were coming off a tour with Halestorm from what he’d heard.

He headed for the bar and ordered a beer as he waited for the show to start. Jay was on a date, so he was on his own tonight. A guy in his meeting at the V.A. had actually recommended this show. Couldn’t hurt to do something besides sit at home on a friday night right?

The moment the band started taking the stage he joined the crowd moving to stand near it and his eyes immediately landed on the guitarist. She was gorgeous, hair down around her shoulder and wearing a shirt that read “Dibs on the guitarist” under a denim jacket. Her eyes met his and a smile slipped onto his face as they started playing. They were fucking amazing, he had to admit. 

She winked at him when they finished their set and he decided then and there he had to try to get her.

____________________

You followed Jessica out onto the stage, taking your place to her left as the lights came up and Tyler counted you all off on the drums before you started playing. Your eyes skimmed the crowd before landing on one guy. He was standing near the stage and god he was fucking gorgeous, even this far away and in the low lights of the bar you could see the bright blue of his eyes. He smiled and the dimples made your heart flip.

When you finished the set and everyone started clapping you winked at him and Jessica saw you do it and laughed “Uh oh did Dizzy just spot a target?” and you bumped her shoulder “Oh hush” before all you started off the stage.

You spotted the guy and walked towards him. He smiled at you and held up his own beer “Can I buy you one?” Jessica leaned up over your shoulder “Yes you can. D. go with the man” and shoved you gently. He laughed when you walked towards him and shot a glare back at her “That’s our singer Jessica or Jess”

She waved “This is D” then hurried off. The guy looked back at you and grinned “D?” you shrugged “It’s a long story. It’s short for Dizzy” “Dizzy?” he asked and you grimaced “It’s a nickname my brother gave me that stuck. He nodded “I get that” you offered your hand “And your name?” he seemed to consider it before saying “Greg” you grinned “Greg” and told him your real name too but he shook his head “If you prefer Dizzy or D” you grinned “Either works good looking”

You followed him to the bar and he ordered two beers then turned to face you. “Dibs on the guitarist huh?” you cut your eyes down at your shirt and laughed “It was a gift from Izzy Hale actually” he nodded “So can I get dibs on this guitarist?” your eyes flew up to his and a grin slipped onto your face “Greg, I think you can have whatever you want if you keep looking at me like that”

He grinned and the offered beer was quickly forgotten when he leaned closer, gently pushing your hair out of your face before catching your lips with his. His hand cupped the side of your face as he deepened the kiss, tongue flicking across your bottom lip, asking for access which you gladly gave him.When he rolled his tongue into your mouth against yours a light whimper left you and he pulled away from you with a laugh “Do you want to get out of here Dizzy?” you nodded with a grin “Yeah but um I need to tell Jessica” he nodded “Here, hand me your phone, I’ll share your location with her so she can see where you’re at the entire time you’re at my place”

He hit a few buttons then Jessica popped up over your shoulder with a raised eyebrow “Guess I’m picking you up in the morning?” you cut your eyes at Greg who gave you an almost shy smile despite having his tongue down your throat moments before “Yeah, you are”

______________________

You followed Greg into his apartment and the moment the door closed behind the two of you he was pulling you to him. His lips found yours as he pushed you back against the door. “You’re so damn gorgeous” you laughed against his mouth “Have you looked in a mirror?”

He shook his head and pulled you closer “Fuck, come here” and walked backwards towards his bedroom. A trail of clothes marked your path from the front door to his bed. The moment you were to the bed he pushed you back onto it and you grinned up at him “Well Greg, what are you gonna do with me?” and he groaned “Fuck, look at you” and leaned down to catch your lips in a rough kiss, gripping your hips to move you a little further up the bed. You gasped at the sudden movement and he grinned, slipping his tongue past your lips and teasing yours. 

Your fingers found his hair, tugging the short locks and he groaned as he broke from your lips kissing across your jaw then down your neck. When he nipped at the sensitive skin a moan of his name left your lips. He continued down your body, kissing and biting every inch of flesh he could reach, letting the sounds falling from your lips be his guide.

He rolled your nipple into his mouth and you moaned, back arching into him. He used one of his hands to tease the opposite breast, pinching at the sensitive bud. “Fuck Greg” you moaned and he pulled off your breast with a wet pop “Fuck I love the way my name sounds on your lips” 

He continued his way down your body, when he got to your waist your breathing quickened and he cut his eyes up at you “You still with me? You want to stop just say so” you shook your head “No, I want you. So damn bad” he grinned “Ok sweetheart” and pulled your panties off your legs. 

He settled between your knees, using his shoulders to keep them open. Those blue eyes shining up at you as he licked into you made your eyes roll back in your head, fingers tugging at his hair. He kissed you there like he did at your mouth, enthusiastically and deeply. He used his tongue and his lips, sucking at your clit as he plunged his tongue deep inside of you hitting that spongy spot.

He added one finger then a second, curling them into you. Within minutes you found yourself rutting your hips against his face and fingers, that pressure building inside of you. When he grazed his teeth against your clit you felt that pressure burst as you came, soaking his face and the bed underneath you. He kept teasing at you with his fingers and tongue until you shoved at his shoulders “I can’t. Fuck Greg I can’t”

He rocked back on his heels and grinned up at you “You good D?” you nodded breathlessly “Fuck, you’re good at that” he shrugged “I try baby” you curled your finger at him “Want to get those jeans off?” a smile slipped onto his face, those damn dimples shining as he nodded to the side table “Grab a condom?” you nodded and turned to grab a condom out of the drawer as he stood up long enough to shove his jeans off his hips.

You didn’t mean to but a whimper escaped you when his hard cock slipped free of the confines of his jeans. He grinned slightly “What’s wrong darling?” you swallowed hard, eyes taking it his body in all its glory “You’re fucking gorgeous first of all, second of all please try not to hurt me because you’re pretty well blessed there”

He chuckled slightly “Don’t worry baby, I won’t hurt you” and took the offered condom before opening it and rolling it down his hard length. He crawled up your body, kissing and licking every inch of skin he could before getting to your mouth. You felt the head of his cock tease at your entrance and you shifted your hips down to try to meet him and he grinned “Eager Dizzy?” 

He pushed into you and a moan left you both, your head falling back against the pillows as he stretched you around him. He kissed the hollow of your throat, fingers teasing your sides while he gave you time to adjust. When you took a deep breath and lowered your head to meet his eyes he smiled “You ok?” and you nodded “You can move”

He gave a slow roll of his hips and your hands moved to grip his shoulders tightly. “Feel good?” he asked and you nodded “So damn good” he gave another deep roll of his hips and groaned “Fuck you feel amazing D” and you moaned just from the praise. “Fuck me Greg, I won’t break” you gasped and he cut his eyes up at you “Damn honey, you’re wanting me to keep you. Aren’t you”  before he hooked your left leg up around his hip. He gave a hard thrust of his hips, making your breasts bounce with the force, his eyes following them. When your response was to grip him tighter and moan out his name he caught your lips in a searing kiss before setting a pace that had you gasping his name and your nails digging into his flesh.

He slipped a hand between you, long fingers easily finding your clit. “I need to feel you cum around me” your head fell back as your orgasm slammed into you and you came, clenching hard around him. He buried his face in the bend of your neck before snapping his hips into your a few more hard times then buried himself deep into you, “Fuck D” he moaned as he came, fingers digging into your thighs.

He collapsed against you, both of you working to get your breathing back to normal. You laughed lightly when he kissed your neck “Jess isn’t coming until morning, right?” “Right?” he pulled out slowly, apologizing when you flinched. 

He stood up and walked to the bathroom to throw the condom away and came back with a warm rag, gently wiping between your legs then tossed it into the dirty clothes hamper. You watched him with a lazy smile “Damn that’s a good sight” he laughed “Well not every night I have a gorgeous woman in my bed” you scoffed “I doubt that” he shook his head “Doubt all you want, doesn’t make it any less true. Need water or anything?” you shook your head so he climbed into the bed next to you and slipped his arms around your waist.

When he pulled you back against his chest you laughed “Gorgeous, shared my location to my friend without me asking, made me cum multiple times, checked what I needed after sex and cuddling..are you real?” he kissed your bare shoulder as he tucked you against him “I hope I am” you turned to snuggle into his chest “Feel very real to me” he grinned “Get some sleep. Jess knows where you are” you smiled “You’re a real amazing guy Greg” and the smile he gave you made your heart flip “Thank you sweetheart. You’re a real amazing woman”

Your phone ringing woke you up, Jessica’s ringtone blaring as you stumbled out of Greg’s bed and grabbed your jeans off the floor to scoop your phone out of the hip pocket. “Hello” “Good morning. From the way you sound I am assuming last night went well but if you don’t get picked up soon you’re not gonna have time to shower and get to breakfast with Jay and Will” you cut your eyes at the alarm clock on Greg’s nightstand and groaned, fuck she was right.

“Are you on your way?” she laughed “Be there in five. Kiss lover boy goodbye and be waiting” then hung up. Greg was already sitting up by then and smirked “Jess?” you nodded “I’ve got to meet my brother for breakfast and I’d like to have a chance to shower and grab my car” he nodded “Can I get your number” a grin slipped onto your face “I’d love that” and he held his phone out so you added your contact then called your own phone and let it ring. When you handed him his phone back you pulled him into a kiss “Don’t be a stranger Greg. I plan to stick close to home so I’d like to see you again” he smiled “Yes ma’am. I’d like that too”

Your phone chimed with a text that read Your uber is here sexy. Get a move on!!! You laughed “I gotta go” and pressed another kiss to his lips “Hoping I hear from you soon” then headed for the door.

______________________

Mouse watched you leave and a smile slipped onto his face. Damn he was glad he went to that show. He got up to go grab a shower himself.

Just as he was getting out of the shower his phone rang and he saw Jay’s name. He grabbed it to answer “Hey man” “Hey Mouse, wanna grab coffee with the Halsteads?” Mouse raised an eyebrow “Halsteads? Hold on, your sister is finally back home?”

Jay laughed “Yeah, I want you to meet her officially. So come have coffee with me, her and Will” he had always been curious considering all he’d ever seen was high school aged photos of the youngest Halstead and she was only about five or so years younger than him and Jay. “Alright I’ll meet you there”

___________________

“Who are we waiting on?” you asked Jay with a laugh. You were hungry and couldn’t exactly admit why you had such an appetite. He shrugged “I want you to meet Mouse” “Mouse?” you asked,scrunching up your nose.

Will laughed “Well Dizzy Diva not everyone can have such dignified nicknames” you grinned “I know, right! Now Mouse as in your best friend Jay? The one who pulled you out of all the crazy shit you got in when you first got home, right?” he nodded and you grinned “Oh, ok cool” you’d wanted to meet the man for a while just to thank him. He’d been there when your brother needed someone and for that you would always be grateful.

You heard your phone go off with a text so you glanced down to see it was one from Greg When can I see you again? You were just about to reply when Jay said “Mouse, over here!” 

You looked up and felt your heart hit your feet. Standing in front of the booth was Greg. Your blue eyed guy was Mouse, Jay’s best friend. 

@desimarie12

[compacflt]

For the requests/open inbox, this may not be the lane you're looking for, but you made a throw a way mention in a response to the ask about Ice's enforcement of DADT that Bradley and Ice probably got into it at one point about Ice being totally okay with DADT as a policy (which I love your read on Ice being like, 'yeah, nobody should ask and nobody should tell. what's the problem here?') I would love to see that argument go down. Or honestly, just any Ice and Bradley interaction after the reconciliation that suits your fancy. I find that dynamic in your world super interesting. Bradley sees him as a father, Ice sees him as the person whose father I killed. I love the drama.

Five times Ice was so obviously Rooster’s dad + one time he explicitly wasn’t.

[Carole. 1994.]

He’s such a nervous man. Usually that’s not the word people associate with him. Nervous? Never! But he is. Carole Bradshaw’s more a religious woman than a spiritual one. She’s never put any stock into “chockras” or “ouras” or whatever the other girls her age were fooling around with in the late sixties and early seventies. But she does believe that you can understand a person just by looking at him or her, and when she looks at Tom Kazansky, she sees a little anxious creature, shivering in the cold, like one of those tiny spindly dogs who always needs a sweater. Maybe it’s her southern maternal instincts, something primal and animalistic inside her, I need to take care of you—and when he nudges her with a nervous shivering shoulder and whispers, “Can I bum a smoke?” —she reaches down to take his hand and says, “I only have one left. We’ll have to share.”

She knows she makes him nervous. His ears are red, and so’s the back of his neck. It’s early on a Saturday morning, and the church is crowded, and he’s self-conscious about the fact that she’s holding his hand. Good. It’s so rare she gets to make a man nervous anymore. She waves to Bradley, proud in his little striped button-down and his little blue bow-tie, where he’s lined-up with all the other aspiring pianists against the stage along the far wall, under the bare postmodern crucifix. The recital isn’t going to start for another five, ten minutes, and it’s organized by age, so Bradley’s somewhere in the middle. If Tom Kazansky needs a smoke, Carole Bradshaw will bum him a smoke.

They exit out the side door, and the low murmuring of the other proud parents in the church fades to the quiet of the alley. Birds chirping nearby. The sound of a latecoming car on gravel somewhere far away. Her cigarette and the flick of his lighter, her eyes on his mouth and his puff of smoke—it’s lit. He takes a drag, closes his eyes, then passes it to her. “Sorry to make you share,” she says, and she’s watching the red flush creep up the side of his throat with a silent pleasure. When she takes her own pull, she looks down to see that the filter’s gone the sweet red-pink of her old lipstick. Kind of like a kiss, sharing a cigarette.

“That’s okay,” he says. Nervous spindly little dog. “Uh, what’s he playing?”

“Beethoven. ‘Für Elise.’” Then, before he can think to judge, she goes on quickly: “It’s more complicated than you’d think. Goes up and down and all over the place.”

“It’s a good song,” Tom Kazansky says, “though I don’t know too much about piano.” He pauses. “I’m learning a little German, though. I think it’s E-leez-ah. She must’ve been an alright girl if Beethoven wrote a song for her.”

Carole Bradshaw doesn’t know what to say to that. So she says this instead: “Thank you for coming. It made Bradley—well, over the moon, I guess.”

Tom Kazansky smiles shyly. “Sorry Maverick couldn’t come. I know he wanted to.”

Of course he brings up Pete Mitchell. Drags her back into reality. “He’s in Washington again, isn’t he?”

“Correct.” He reaches out for the cigarette; she gives it to him. “TOPGUN’s biggest advocate. I keep telling him he should go into politics. I just talked to him yesterday—he told me he went to the Natural History Smithsonian on Wednesday—he bought Bradley a dinosaur picture book, I think. Does Bradley like dinosaurs?”

Carole Bradshaw shrugs. What nine-year-old boy doesn’t like dinosaurs, but… “He’s more into sea life these days. Whales, sharks, fish.”

“Some fish used to be dinosaurs, they think,” says Tom Kazansky, clearly just trying to fill the silence. Ears red, lips red. Smoke out of his mouth like a fire-breathing dragon.

Carole Bradshaw doesn’t know how much dinosaur history she actually believes. So she says, “It’s still really nice of you to come. You know, Bradley—Bradley thinks of you and Maverick as his—well, his fathers, I s’pose. So it’s nice for you to be here.”

She watches his reaction—just nervousness. Straight anxiety. He doesn’t meet her eyes, like she’s just kicked him in the ribs. He does not want to be Bradley’s father. 

She says, “You don’t have to sign any papers, Tom. You don’t have to put a kid seat in your car. I’m just saying. Don’t worry about it.”

He says, “I can hear the kids starting inside—we should probably go back in.”

So Carole Bradshaw drops the cigarette butt to the ground and steps on it with the bottom of her flat. They go inside, and wait for a kindergartener to finish an overly simple “Canon in D” to take their seats again. She takes his hand. He lets her. After another half-hour, Bradley sits down on the bench in front of the hand-me-down Steinway and busts out “Für Elise” without a single missed note. It still shocks her, sometimes, to watch him play—it still shocks her, sometimes, that she is the mother of all that talent. And now maybe Tom Kazansky is the father of all that talent. How did that happen?

At the end of the recital, Tom Kazansky lets go of her hand. She knew he would. Knew his fatherhood is only temporary. But he lets go of her hand to accept Bradley’s great-big hug in the parking lot: “Gosling, that was so good.” Bradley’s proud smile is missing a few teeth. It makes Tom Kazansky laugh.

And after he drops them off at home, and peels away with a wave and a smile, Carole Bradshaw lights another cigarette from the half-full pack she’d brought with her to the recital and brings Bradley out to the backyard so he can play and she can watch him. But before she lets him go, she looks down at him and says flatly, “If kids at school ask you about Uncle Tom and Uncle Pete—you need to tell them they’re just friends.”

And in his eyes, she can see the confusion of a little boy who hadn’t been aware that Tom Kazansky and Pete Mitchell were anything other than just friends—the confusion of a little boy learning about duplicity for the first time in his life. 

“Okay,” he says, so she lets him go.

—

[Maverick. 1998.]

“Don’t go easy on him,” Maverick hollers breathlessly over his shoulder, fishing around in the ice chest in the sand for two cans of Coors; “He just joined the J.R.O.T.C.; don’t go easy on him; he’s tougher than all your squadrons combined; beat him into the dirt…”

“Thanks, Uncle Mav,” shouts Bradley from across the volleyball court, where he’s getting initiated into one of the volleyball teams of younger fighter pilots. 

Maverick flashes him a thumbs-up and finds his T-shirt on the first bleacher bench, pulls it on with one hand, and then hops up the rest of the benches to sit with Ice, who’s got his CVN-65 ballcap on and a book open in his lap and is offering informal career advice to one of the other lieutenants: “Yeah, so, in my opinion, it’s all down to what you think you can stomach… If you want me to look over your C.V., I can totally do that—I think I’m free Monday at around thirteen-hundred, if you want to stop in to talk. Not a problem. Not a problem. Alright. See you later.” He watches the lieutenant go, then lolls his head over to look at Maverick, who’s tossing an ice-cold can of Coors up and down. “Hey. Good game. —Coors, Mav? This is an insult.” But he takes the offered can anyway, looking out onto the court, where Bradley—fourteen and just entering his beanpole phase of evolution—is currently spiking the ball. “Cool.” It’s a nice summer Saturday, a casual opportunity for the officers of Miramar to socialize with their families (Ice is wearing a golf shirt and jeans), and by now pretty much everyone knows that Maverick Mitchell’s raising his friend’s kid and that he and Captain Kazansky are good friends, so this is pretty nice. Not much to hide.

“C’mon,” Maverick says, popping open his own can, “you and I were having a scintillating conversation, a few minutes ago.” He’s hunting around for the sunscreen so the tops of his feet don’t burn to ashes in the sun.

“Scintillating. That’s a big word for you. Wow.”

“You’re rubbing off on me, Sir Reads-a-lot—”

“See, that’s funny,” Ice interjects, “because I seem to recall, before you so-rudely interrupted me to go play volleyball with the kids, I was telling you that it’s really not that interesting. It’s actually, Maverick, quite boring.”

“Well, I’m intrigued now. Go on. Finish it off, I wanna know.”

Ice slaps his book shut and gives the long tired sigh of a man who is very self-conscious about the fact that he’s about to turn forty. He pops the tab on his can of Coors and huffs in exasperation when it foams all over his hand. “I mean it, my family history’s really not that interesting. Typical eastern-European immigrant shitshow. U.S. officials change one letter in our last name and everyone loses their goddamn minds… Actually, that story might be apocryphal, I keep forgetting which former Soviet Socialist Republic I’m actually from, I just can’t remember, all the borders got redrawn so many times, one of ‘em…”

Maverick smiles and pulls his TOPGUN ballcap back down onto his head, tugs the brim down low over his eyes so he can tip his head back and not go blind from the summer sunshine. He’d thought Ice would be reluctant to share his family history, but it turns out that most people are just afraid to ask him, and he’s actually pretty eager to talk, if you just ask. Maybe over-eager. He’s rambling. Maverick cuts him off: “Yeah, you do have a left curve to you, don’t you. Genetic.”

The dirty joke strikes Ice dumb for a second, but then he forges ahead, wisely choosing not to engage. He keeps going, oblivious to the fact that Maverick’s not really listening… “Anyway, my grandfather was Jewish, but he died literally the second he stepped foot in America, so it doesn’t count…my grandmother was Orthodox, crazy story how they ended up together; actually, that story’s probably apocryphal, too…she’s the one who raised me, pretty much. I told you that. She brought my dad out to Southern California when he was a little kid, but I don’t know if you’ve noticed, So-Cal’s not exactly the Mecca of Orthodox churches or anything, so he wasn’t very religious at all… My mom was from Milwaukee, I think. Or maybe Minneappolis. Some kinda Protestant. Forget which kind. The preachy kind. But then she died and I didn’t have to go to church anymore, so I didn’t.”

“You just never believed?” Maverick mumbles, half-joking.

“Nah. I mean, I always had too many questions no one wanted to answer. For instance: okay, say you’re bad. Say you commit sin…”

“I’ve never sinned, sir. You’re talking hypothetically.”

“Right. Me, neither. Hypothetically speaking. So you go to Hell. Well, the devil’s there, too, ‘cause he’s a sinner, too. But why’s he want to punish you? What does he get out of it? You’re both in the same boat!”

“Probably a sexual thing,” says Maverick, watching the purple-green imprints of the sun dance around behind his eyelids. “He probably gets off on it. The devil, I mean.”

Ice laughs and laughs. “Sure. Try saying that in front of my mom and see if you survived. I learned pretty early on that they don’t want you to be too curious. So I kept all my questions to myself.” He’s also joking, not taking this super seriously, but that’s a pretty in-character answer. “What about you, Mav?”

“If I’ve told you my family’s history once, I’ve told you a thousand times…” That’s a joke. Maverick’s the one who doesn’t like talking about his family history. Ice hasn’t heard any of it, and for good reason. Maybe someday he’ll tell him about it. “Later. But, remember, I used to be Southern Baptist? Jesus, I was serious into that shit, Ice.”

Ice snorts. “Yeah, right. You.”

“Not joking. I had about eighty girlfriends between fourteen and eighteen, but that’s the most pious I’ve ever been. Lotsa loopholes to make my relationships biblical. Was thinking about being a youth pastor. —I’m not joking. It was my whole personality, for a while. Most of my childhood, anyway.”

Ice is still laughing in disbelief. “Oh, yeah? And then what happened?”

Maverick smiles. “…Got hooked on sinning.” 

“…Yeah,” Ice replies, and Maverick can hear the nervous smirk in his voice, “I guess I’d know a little something about that.”

And normally that would be the end of the conversation. But Maverick’s feeling a little sun-drunk, a little giddy, and he’ll never, ever, ever grow out of instigating stupid arguments with Ice just for the fun of it. From beneath the brim of his ballcap he mutters, “…You think Carole’s brainwashing her kid?”

Ice huffs a laugh, and says through a lazy yawn, “I’m not militant in my atheism, no.” But he, also, will never, ever, ever grow out of instigating stupid arguments with Maverick just for the fun of it, and his curiosity’s clearly been piqued. He stews in it for a second before he snaps, “Do you think Carole’s brainwashing her kid?”

“I’m just saying she has him readin’ outta the Bible, like, five times a day. She sends him to church camp. Does something to a kid.” He has no dog in this fight, but this is fun.

“And what did it do to you?” Ice says, reaching down to shove his shoulder good-naturedly. “Weren’t you just telling me not five seconds ago how you used to be the perfect model of Christian charity?” Maverick mumbles a retort sleepily; Ice pushes on through it: “Bradley’s a human being. Either he grows out of it like you did, or he doesn’t, in which case, whatever, land of the free. That’s the First Amendment. You swore an oath to the Constitution. Maybe you should read it.”

“I’ve read it. I’m not Congress, shithead. How’s it go, you want me to cite it to you directly, ‘Congress shall make no law…’ actually, I don’t know what comes after that. Got me there.”

“Don’t call me shithead, dipshit. And whatever. Good thing he’s Carole’s kid and not yours, then. He’s got a mom who wants him to go to church. It’s up to him if he wants to listen to her or not. That’s growing up.”

Maverick tips up the brim of his ballcap to look at him, sprawled out in the bleachers very unprofessionally for the CO of this entire volleyball court, and snaps back, “Well, he’s a little bit my kid. The same way he’s a little bit your kid.” 

Ice just flicks his sunglasses down onto his nose and purses his lips and neither confirms nor denies this allegation. 

They watch the game together for a while, Ice’s toes pressed against Maverick’s lower back discreetly, trying to work their way under Maverick’s T-shirt. Until one of the young pilots approaches a few minutes later: “Sir!” / “What’s that kid’s call sign again?” Ice mumbles to Maverick, prodding him with his foot. / “Hooker.” / “No shit.” / “Sir!” says Hooker again. / “Which one of us, kid?” says Maverick. / “Captain Kazansky, sir. We’ve got a spot opening up. Wanna play?”

Maverick looks up at Ice expectantly. Ice sighs and harrumphs and waffles for a minute— “I’m too old for this shit.”

“Sir,” says Maverick, “it’s not a competition, but if it were, I’d be winning.” 

Lighting the fire of competition under Ice like that is always a good strategy. He rolls his eyes, but immediately stands and tugs off his shirt and rolls up the cuffs of his jeans; “I’ll only play if I can play with the kid.” 

So Maverick watches the teams get scrambled again with a smile, and sits up to watch Ice join Bradley in the sand. Bradley’s only just now taller than Ice, and Ice clearly isn’t used to having to reach up to curl an arm around his shoulders to strategize, his eyes narrowed like an eagle’s, staring down the competition. Maverick can read his lips from across the pitch: Alright, kid, I’ve been watching for a while, and I think I know these guys’ strengths and weaknesses…okay, here’s what we’re gonna do… And the game begins when Bradley spikes the ball.

Ice won’t always be this fun, this down-to-earth, this human. The admiralty and the guilt and the grief of the years to come will strip it all away from him, bring him back to the cold, remove him from his own humanity. And maybe, even if it isn’t conscious, Maverick can recognize that, right now, watching Ice dive into the sand with a laugh: this summer sunshine is only temporary. It’s gonna have to end at some point. So he doesn’t take it for granted. He keeps his eyes open and watches and tries to commit it to memory.

And after the game, Ice and Bradley come over so Ice can finish his beer and put his shirt and his baseball cap back on, and Maverick can make fun of them for losing. And: “What were you guys talking about for so long before the game?” Bradley asks Maverick with a grin.

“Whether or not your mom’s brainwashing you,” Maverick says.

“Oh!” Bradley says mildly. “…No, I don’t think so!”

“Oh, that’s a great start,” Ice laughs. “You would’ve made a great Soviet. No, I don’t think I’m getting brainwashed. Hey, by the way, Gosling, if you want a beer, Maverick and I won’t tell anyone.”

“Aw, really?” whispers Bradley. “Thanks, Uncle Ice!” And he races down the bleachers towards the ice chest in the sand.

Maverick watches Ice watch him go, fingers still pinching the brim of his CVN-65 ballcap, clearly worrying about something the way Ice always is. 

Then he looks down at Maverick, stares openly for a minute, and says, “You don’t think we’re teaching him to rebel too much, do you?”

—

[Bradley. 2000.]

“Kiddo! You’re here early!” It was Uncle Ice, walking through his own front door, catching a glimpse of Bradley watching the Astros-Nats game on the TV. He was still in uniform, but smiling wide, and he set his bag down near the couch and leaned over to ruffle Bradley’s hair goodnaturedly.

“Practice ended early today.”

“Oh, okay. Cool. Maverick should be home soon, still at work—your mom’ll be here in about an hour—she told me to put the chicken breasts in the oven, but you know me, every time I use this oven I set off the fire alarm, so you oughta help me with that…”

“And,” Bradley said, watching Uncle Ice wash his hands in the kitchen sink, “I got here early because I wanted to talk to you.”

“Oh, sure!” chirped Uncle Ice. Then he paused, sensing a trap. “What about?”

“Advice,” Bradley mumbled. He took a deep breath, and stood to follow Uncle Ice into the kitchen “I was just—I was just curious. If you had any advice for me joining the Navy. You know, with me being gay, and all. How do I—I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about it a lot. It’s kinda been weighing on me. Do you have any advice?”

Uncle Ice was still drying his hands off on a kitchen towel. Rubbing them red and raw. And when he raised his head to speak, there was something dull and startled in his eyes: “I don’t, um—no, I don’t—I don’t know anything about that. —You should ask Uncle Maverick about that.”

“I did,” Bradley said desperately, because he had. Yes, he’d gone to Uncle Mav first. “He—he told me to talk to you.”

“…Oh,” said Uncle Ice, now standing in front of a shelf to return one of his books to it. This surprised him. Maybe hurt him a little. “No. I—I, I wouldn’t know anything about that.”

“But—”

“And there are probably better people to ask than me or Maverick. I—I don’t know—that’s not really my…I don’t know.”

“Okay.”

Uncle Ice swallowed, put the book back on the shelf, then clasped his hands together and set them on the shelf, too, as if leaning over his captain’s desk to chastise someone. He blinked for a long moment. Clearly shifting gears. Becoming someone else so easily. Why couldn’t Bradley do that? “But I can tell you this,” he said, and his voice had gone grave and dim, “and I know you and I don’t always see eye-to-eye on politics—but I can tell you this, professionally, because I respect you, and I care about you, a lot—you’re going to have to keep it a secret.”

Dismayed, Bradley said, “Why?”

“Why’s a funny question to ask about something like this,” said Uncle Ice curtly. He shrugged. “Why? Because it’s the law. That’s why.”

Bradley swung his bat at the hornets’ nest. This was always dangerous with Uncle Ice. “It shouldn’t be a law. Don’t you think?”

“Doesn’t matter what I think. It’s the law. And we get paid to enforce the law, internationally speaking. And the military doesn’t work if personnel refuse to follow the rules in broad daylight. So.” He trailed his fingertip along the spines of all his precious books, then eventually found a different one, started flipping through it absentmindedly. “And even if it weren’t the law, it’d still get enforced extrajudicially. You know what that means?” He did that, when he was intentionally being cruel; used big words that Bradley didn’t know to make himself sound smarter. “It means outside the law. The way people talk to you. The way people respect you or don’t respect you. And this business, the one you want to go into, is all about respect. Being a pilot is kind of like being a knight: you have to be noble, you have to be honorable, you have to respect your service and your adversaries and yourself. And because I respect you, and because I care about you a lot, I’m just telling you the truth—you’re going to have to keep it a secret.”

Bradley blinked. There was something crushing and overwhelming about the truth—maybe the fact that it was the truth, maybe the fact that he hated the fact that it was the truth. It made sense. But it also meant his future was unspeakably bleak. He tried to speak over the lump in his throat when he said, “Yeah. That’s what Maverick told me, too.” And what he’d wanted to hear from Uncle Ice was that Uncle Mav was telling a lie. 

Something went soft and slightly wounded in Uncle Ice’s eyes. “I’m sorry,” Uncle Ice said gently. “I wish I could give you better advice than that. But that’s all I know. I don’t know any more than that.”

“Don’t you want to know more than that?”

“No.”

And thus did the generational gap widen into a chasm. 

—

[February 2003.]

Dear SN Bradshaw, / Please call/email/write me back when you get a chance. / Love Uncle Iceman.

…

[August 2003.]

Dear AN Bradshaw, / I hope you’re doing all right. I hope at some point you and I can get in touch to talk. Please let me know if there is some other address I should be sending my letters to. I am not sure if they are finding you. / Love Uncle Iceman.

…

[May 2004.]

Dear AN Bradshaw, / I wanted to congratulate you on your acceptance to college. Yours is a very good AE program & you should feel very proud. Please let me know if there’s anything you might need as you prepare to start your first year. / Love Uncle Iceman.

…

[August 2010.]

Dear LT Bradshaw, / I wanted to let you know that I’ll be at NAS Oceana for a conference from December 6-9. I understand that’s your neck of the woods—would you be interested in having dinner with me on either that Tuesday or Wednesday night? I would love to hear how you’ve been doing. You can reach my secretary at the number below. / Love Uncle Iceman.

…

[October 2014.]

Dear LT Bradshaw, / We Maverick and I want to wish you a Happy Birthday 30th Birthday. We heard you are deployed out in the Atlantic now—we hope you will be able to enjoy the enclosed gift card when you make it back to terra firma. Our updated personal cell numbers are below. / HAPPY BIRTHDAY! FROM UNCLE MAVERICK & Uncle Iceman.

…

“Haven’t heard back from the kid yet.”

“…You think we ever will?”

The longest silence.

—

[Pacific Air Type Commander Beau Simpson. 2016.]

You could see it in the way they held themselves. An utmost similarity. Aristocratic propriety. Maybe a little sense of entitlement: look how hard we’ve worked to be here. All three of them had it. More accurately: Captain Mitchell and Admiral Kazansky both had it, and had passed it down to their son.

“Captain Mitchell.” Everyone was watching. The sun had only just set; the sky was melting from horizon-red through orange and yellow and teal up to midnight black above them.

“It’s an honor, sir,” said Captain Mitchell, accepting Admiral Kazansky’s handshake. God, you’d never know it by looking at them. Half the people here on this Roosevelt flight deck knew about them, but they were so convincing that more people weren’t sure. TYCOM Simpson glanced at Rear Admiral Bates, who glanced back in confusion—I thought they were…? They were, TYCOM Simpson signaled, just abnormally good at keeping it a secret.

“Honor’s all mine, Captain,” said Admiral Kazansky, and he passed by without a second glance.

And when he made it down the line of aviators to Lieutenant Bradshaw—you could see it. The similarity in the way they held themselves. Straight and rigid and unyielding. Cold and dismissive beyond belief, even to each other. Admiral Kazansky held out a hand. Lieutenant Bradshaw took it, but refused to make eye contact. Quiet rebellion under the radar: Admiral Kazansky had taught him well. 

TYCOM Simpson glanced at Captain Mitchell, to gauge his reaction. And for once, he and Captain Mitchell were clearly thinking the exact same thing.

Like father, like son.

You could see it in their stubborn determination. How far they were willing to go. How hard they were willing to push. How long they were willing to hold their own hands to the fire, if it meant the familiar painful comfort of staying warm. “Ice-cold, huh?” TYCOM Simpson asked him the next morning, trying to pin down their strategy, trying to secure a guarantee that their family would do what their country asked of them, even if that meant death. Even if that meant the ultimate sacrifice.

“Only when I have to be,” replied Admiral Kazansky, which meant always, and—soon thereafter, he ordered Lieutenant Bradshaw to his death.

But also, Lieutenant Bradshaw went willingly, too.

“Dagger One is hit.”

“Dagger Two is hit.”

Loss is supposed to hit a man in stages. Isn’t that the truth? —Not so for Admiral Kazansky, whom grief obviously swallowed whole in just an instant. He did not break, or bend under its weight. Just stood there staring at the E-2D AWACS screen with wide wounded eyes—not disbelieving eyes. They were gone. Captain Mitchell and Lieutenant Bradshaw were gone. He was in no denial whatsoever. He had leapt straight to acceptance.

“Sir,” said TYCOM Simpson hesitantly, and he reached out to touch him—the stars on his shoulder—guide him back to reality—what must it be like, to lose a son?—to willingly forfeit your family?—

But before he could make contact, Admiral Kazansky drew a breath, moved away, and closed his eyes for just a second. Perfectly composed, even with the waters of grief closing over his head, even with three dozen observers in this C2 room all scrutinizing him for his response. Perfectly composed. How did he do it? How could he manage? How was he possibly still this proud?

“Vice Admiral Simpson,” he said calmly, “I relinquish my command to you, until you deem me necessary to return to my post.”

“Sir,” said Rear Admiral Bates, darting panicked, sympathetic eyes to TYCOM Simpson, but it was too late—Admiral Kazansky was already leaving the room. Head held high and steady. 

Some confusing weeks later, after Captain Mitchell and Lieutenant Bradshaw returned from the dead, TYCOM Simpson and Rear Admiral Bates would casually debrief the mission together in the lobby bar of the Waldorf-Astoria in Washington, D.C. No hard liquor, just beers. Just barely enough alcohol to give them an excuse to philosophize. “You think pride is a sin or a virtue?” TYCOM Simpson found himself asking, tracing the rim of his gilt-edged Stella Artois glass with a finger, after having recounted the above testimony.

“Neither,” said Rear Admiral Bates. “Gotta be a vice.”

“A vice.”

“Yeah. Good men die because of pride, bad men die because of pride…we send our sons to battle because of pride…wars are fought and won and lost because of pride… every war in human history, when you boil it down, begins when someone says, ‘You’re wrong and I’m right, and I’m proud of my own righteousness, proud enough to kill, proud enough to die, proud enough to send my sons to die…’”

“Oh, okay. That’s the root of all human conflict, then, according to you, Warlock. Okay.”

Rear Admiral Bates smiled and laughed at himself, too. Pride, he mouthed. Then shook his head. “We’re a proud species. It’s our vice.”

TYCOM Simpson was thinking about the two proudest men he knew, Admiral Kazansky and Lieutenant Bradshaw, and wondered what it was, exactly, that had driven a wedge between them, you’re wrong and I’m right and I’m proud enough of my own righteousness to send you to your death/inflict my death upon you… And then he remembered the warnings he’d previously received about Lieutenant Bradshaw and Lieutenant Seresin and their open relationship, and then he remembered Admiral Kazansky coldly shaking Captain Mitchell’s hand… and he wondered if the wedge between them was exactly that: the matter of pride.

—

[Tom. 2018.]

“Merry Christmas and a happy new year, and all that,” says Pete, raising his glass and reaching over the dining table to clink rims with Tom and then Bradley. “A good year! A really good year! —Sorry your guy couldn’t be here, Rooster. We’ll call him tonight before you go. Tell him we miss him.”

“Where is he again?” Tom asks.

“Washington,” Bradley says with a smile. “Big conference at the Pentagon. I’ll see him next week.”

“You know,” Pete says with a sly grin directed at Tom, “I’ve never actually heard the story of how you two got together.” 

“Oh,” Bradley says, shrugging as he tears open a dinner roll, “not that interesting. Pretty much what you’d expect. Inter-squadron competition-turned-sexual tension. Not exactly within regs, but we did meet each other before D.A.D.T. got repealed, so it wasn’t like we’d’ve ever been within regs, either…” (All the while, Tom’s smirking over the rim of his wine glass at Pete, No, Mav, I’m not gonna tell him I had them reassigned to the same boat…) “We broke up when I got sent to TOPGUN. But we figured it out eventually.”

“Glad you did. Sorry he couldn’t be here.”

Bradley hesitates, then says, “You know what I just realized? I never heard how you two got together…! You’ve never told me that story!”

Tom glances over at Pete, do you want to take this or shall I, and when Pete motions all yours, he sighs and says, “Uh, we don’t really know. We’ve just been telling people nineteen-eighty-six because it’s easy. But in a much more real sense…” He thinks about it, then shrugs. “Whatever. If you really want to know. In nineteen-ninety-three, right after I came back to San Diego to take command at Miramar, he and I had a drunken one-night stand. By accident. Which then turned into twenty-five years of accidental one-night stands. So.”

“Oh, c’mon. You guys bought a house together.”

“Yeah, that,” says Pete, “that was, uh, to facilitate the accidental one-night stands. Make it more convenient for everyone.”

“Cut out the middle-man,” Tom supplies, then shrugs again at the look on Bradley’s face. “That’s our story, kid. It’s not super romantic. We weren’t thinking about it that way. We didn’t know how.”

Pete raises the wine bottle to refill Tom’s glass—though it’s still halfway full—and then raises his eyebrows when he “notices” the bottle’s empty. Changes the subject as he stands: “Okay, what’s everyone feeling? Red, white, what’s next?”

“Red,” Tom says absently. “Anything big, I guess—first cab you see…” But then he thinks about it, and he amends his order before Pete leaves earshot: “Actually—we’ve got that petite sirah we gotta drink—two-thousand-four. Israeli. Might be somewhere in the back, sorry. But now’s a good occasion, I think, to bust it out for the holidays. No reason to save it.”

“Israeli sirah two-thousand-four,” Pete repeats, “okay. I got that.” 

Then he steps outside, leaving Tom and Bradley alone. It’s not awkward—they’ve worked really hard over the last two years to make it not-awkward, after the mission—but human beings are human beings. Prideful, stubborn creatures. There will always be a little guilt between the two of them, and a little blame.

“I have to be honest,” Tom says after a moment, interested in being honest for Bradley’s sake, “sorry we don’t have a better story to give you, about us. It is a little hard to talk about.”

“Why?”

“Well—we don’t know the words we’re supposed to use, for one. It’s your generation who sets the standard for that kind of thing. You young people. We’re a little out-of-date. And…well. I guess we’re just jealous of you. It’s hard to talk about.”

“Jealous?” Bradley repeats quizzically. “Why?”

Tom leans back in his chair and really thinks through what he wants to say. This is one of those impromptu speeches you never really intend to make, but are probably still important to get off your chest. “Maverick and I,” he starts carefully, “will never stop feeling guilty about what we did to you. Ever. You need to know that.” And when Bradley scoffs and huffs and tries to interrupt, he goes on, “Not just pulling your papers from the Academy. It goes back further than that. We will always feel like we deprived you of your father. The merits of that feeling are debatable, sure, but it’s a fact of life. A fact of our lives, anyway. And it’s dictated so much of how we live, and how we’ve lived, over the past thirty years. Part of the reason I came back to Miramar in nineteen-ninety-three was to be with you and your mom. Because I felt I owed you that, in return for what I’d taken.”

“You didn’t kill him,” Bradley says. “Or, at least, I never blamed you for killing him. You or Maverick both. You guys were my dads. You didn’t take anything from me. —Excepting the obvious, the Academy, but that was mostly my mom, I guess, so, whatever.”

“I’m just telling you what our lives have been like since the day I met you. Why we did what we did.”

“Okay. But I still don’t understand why you’re jealous.”

Tom smiles, a little faintly. “Because the other part of the reason I came back to Miramar in nineteen-ninety-three was to be with Maverick,” he says, “and I’m jealous of you because I didn’t recognize that at the time. —Everyone hopes, when they have kids—because, look, I’m not your dad, but you are my kid, really—everyone hopes they can bring their kid into a better world than the one they had when they were a kid, and we did. But no one prepares you for how jealous you get when your kid grows up in a better world than you did. I’m not sure people your age understand how hard it was for us when we were your age.”

“I do.”

“Sure, but I don’t think you do. I—I didn’t…” He sighs. “I never meant to fall in love with Mitchell. He never meant to fall in love with me. There certainly were men in relationships in the Navy back then who could make it work—we weren’t those guys. We looked down on those guys. Most people did. And when you were an officer, your job security and your paycheck relied on your subordinates’ respect for you. If we’d rocked the boat, traded away our respect for our relationship, well, we’d have each other, but we’d be out of a job. And then, if we’d been fired—what did we kill all those people for? For nothing! What a waste of all the lives we took! It wouldn’t have been honorable. Would’ve disrespected the Navy, our careers, the men we killed. So we didn’t talk about our relationship. You know that. Didn’t talk about who we were, or what we were doing, or why, because we were afraid of losing our own honor. Didn’t talk about it until the day you two died and came back from the dead. That’s what it took. Maverick still hates talking about some of that stuff, all the labels, all the words—that’s why I sent him to get a bottle at the back of the fridge, he might be out there a while…”

“Cunning,” Bradley says softly, but leaves the space open after he speaks.

Tom looks away. “Maybe this is getting too deep into the weeds. I’m just trying to tell you what it’s been like for us. Not sure how much of this you want to hear.”

“All of it. —All of it.”

Tom clears his throat. “…Well, Maverick keeps trying to convince me that we never wasted any time. And I know there is some truth to that—we didn’t start out liking each other at all—even if we’d been as brave as people your age are nowadays, even if we’d been open with each other about that kind of stuff, we still probably wouldn’t have ended up together. I mean, we really didn’t like each other. Especially right after your dad died, and especially after you left, in two-thousand-two. So maybe it was better for us in the long run that we didn’t talk about it. But I look back on the thirty years I’ve spent with him, and…it still all feels like a waste to me.” Maybe he really is too deep into the weeds. But he just wants Bradley to understand. “Look, Mitchell is, beyond any possible shadow of a doubt, the love of my life. Always has been and always will be. Right? —I just wish I’d known that at the time. I’m jealous of you because you’re exactly the age I was when I came back to Miramar to be with you and your mom and Maverick, and you’re already married, and you won’t ever have to sacrifice any of your honor for your marriage. You’re one of the most respected men in the Navy.”

“So are you, Ice, and you’re also married to another man.”

“I’ll remind you, though it hurts a little, that I’m almost exactly a quarter-century older than you, and you and I got married within a week of each other. I had to wait for times to change.” He holds Bradley’s gaze for a moment, then finishes the last of his dinner and sets his fork down on his plate. “So, if you were ever wondering why Mav and I are a little bitter around you and Jake, well, it’s because we are.”

“Oh,” says Bradley. “See, I always thought it was just because you and Maverick are both notoriously bitter people.”

“We are,” Tom admits through a laugh. Then he continues, “But—you should also know how proud of you we both are. How proud of you we’ve both always been. We’re not very brave men—well, we are, of course, but maybe not in the way that matters. It’s pretty gratifying to have a kid who’s braver than you are. Every parent’s dream, whether we want to admit it or not. You’re brave enough for all of us.”

It’s at this moment that Pete opens the garage door and sticks his head inside and hollers, “Ice, I can’t find it. What about a merlot? Can we do a merlot?”

“No, baby, the sirah,” Tom answers without turning his head. “It’s on the second shelf, you might—have to rearrange some of the bottles—we have too much wine. We need to drink more, me and you.”

“Not a problem,” says Pete, and he shuts the door again.

“It’s on the third shelf,” Tom tells Bradley in an aside. “He’ll find it eventually. He would’ve tried to change the subject six times by now. —The previous Secretary of the Army—he actually just got married this week, I think; I need to send a card—also gay. He and his partner invited Maverick and me out to dinner the last time we were in D.C. Most uncomfortable I’ve ever seen Mav in my whole life. Asking us questions like, ‘How did you guys get together…?’ ‘Was it easier for you guys because you were in the Navy…?’ ‘When did you…know…?’” When Bradley laughs, Tom does, too. It’s really nice, it turns out, to joke about this stuff with someone who understands. “We just made our answers up out of thin air. I was uncomfortable too, admittedly. That’s what I’m saying. Mav and I never learned the vocabulary to answer questions like that.”

Bradley starts taking their plates to the sink. What a good kid. “You know,” he says from the kitchen, glancing over his shoulder when Tom joins him at the counter, “it’s so funny you bitch that you and Mav don’t have a romantic love story, or whatever. When I was a kid, you and him were literally the pinnacle of romance.”

“Oh, really.”

“Yeah. There’s something romantic about the secret, too. When Jake and I made our relationship official—the first time—I begged him to keep it a secret just for a little while. You know; it was sexy, for a few minutes! Something only he and I knew!”

“And you immediately discovered how awful it is, I’m sure,” Tom says noncommittally. “I’m jealous of you that you learned that lesson young. —Yeah, real romantic. Maverick and I could’ve ended each other’s careers fourteen thousand times over. Real romantic.”

“And trusted each other not to,” Bradley points out—

—which makes Tom reconsider. 

Yeah, okay, maybe it’s a little romantic. The way Grimm’s fairytales, once you wipe away all the blood, are just a little romantic. “I’m of the opinion that the only thing getting old is good for is looking back on your life through rose-colored glasses. Sure. Historical revisionism it is. It was a little romantic.”

“What’s a little romantic?” says Pete, stepping into the kitchen and triumphantly brandishing his 2004 petite sirah; “Have I missed something funny? —It was on the third shelf, by the way. Could’ve told me that before I went and reorganized the whole fridge.”

Tom graciously accepts the half-annoyed kiss to the cheek, and answers, “Nothing you would’ve laughed at, I’m afraid.”

“Oh, one of those conversations,” says Pete, hunting around in the drawer for the corkscrew. “If you were planning on continuing, I can go out and rearrange the wine bottles by region instead of by year—” and scoffs when Tom kisses him back to reassure him, conversation’s over.

“Did you know,” Bradley says, “your husband is now openly calling you the love of his life?”

“Oh, yeah,” says Pete with a smile, popping the cork from the bottleneck, “he tells me that all the time. Nothing new.” Tops up their glasses, then deftly changes the subject: “Oh, gosh. I never asked. This is the big news. How are you and Hangman enjoying SOUTHCOM?”

“Oh, God,” says Bradley, rolling his eyes. “Let me tell you…”

“I think we did good,” Pete says later that night—they’re alone now, so he’s fine talking—as he tugs loose the tucked sheets to clamber into bed, and when Tom moves to turn off the light he adds, “No, you can keep reading.”

Tom sets his book down onto his chest and pulls his glasses off anyway. “Well, you and I are known for doing ‘good,’” he muses after a second. “We’re pretty universally renowned for being good at stuff. But, regarding what in particular? —Raising our kid?”

“Yeah. We did good.”

Actually, they didn’t do very well at all. But of course that’s not what Pete means. Pete means: it’s shocking and stunningly fortunate that they did as poorly as they did and still somehow ended up with such a good kid. Tom’s looking up at the ceiling and feeling very small. “How did that happen? Genuinely, how did that happen? I did always build getting married into my plan for my life—but I never thought far enough ahead to consider having kids. And now you and I have a kid who’s in his thirties. How’d that happen? I remember when he could barely walk!”

Pete yawns and rolls over onto his side and closes his eyes. “You and I have a kid who earned a Medal of Honor.”

“I know exactly how that happened” —and doesn’t like to think about it too much. “I suppose we’re just a family of overachievers. A lot of failing upwards, you and me. Somehow we failed our way upwards into a very happy lifelong relationship, a superstar kid…a few dozen medals each, ourselves…”

“That’s life,” says Pete sleepily.

“That is not most people’s lives. You’re aware that our lives look nothing like the average person’s life, right? You understand that?”

“That’s our life.”

Tom considers this. Yeah, it is their life. Wild how that happens. 

He smiles at the singular word life, sets his book on the nightstand, presses a kiss to Pete’s bare shoulder, and turns off the light.

[aikohellscape]

Im working on this Evo nightsilver fic on and off since 2019. I only really got into it while I was manic. So now I have to go back and deep edit so the characters are more themselves and not just pining idiots right off the bat. I pulled out my sketchbook and have written down the plot so I can see where things are clearly too rushed. I feel bad cuz theirs this one active reader who’s always in my comments (I love her she’s so nice) and now she’s gotta reread all my bullshit if she wants to be up to date. Cuz I’m making major plot shifts to push the actual story line, I’m trying to push myself threw the editing so I can focus on the part I want to work on, Lance, Toad, and Tabitha. So i wrote some small things to help me cope with being stuck editing

Here are some fun little drabbles from my fic:

Toad is 100% the Brotherhood’s biggest stoner and unofficial weed dealer, always carrying pre-rolled joints like it’s part of his daily essentials. He’s got a steady supply from some sketchy high school connections and will smoke just about anywhere, anytime. Lance, being the opportunist he is, bums one off him at least once a week—not because he doesn’t have his own stash, but because why waste his when Toad practically hands them out for free? It’s an unspoken agreement at this point. Toad never complains, and Lance never thanks him, but they both know the deal.

Toad and Lance have a standing tradition of getting their piercings done together, hitting up the same slightly sketchy shop run by some dude who definitely doesn’t check IDs too hard. Lance plays it cool like it’s no big deal, but Todd treats every new piercing like a badge of honor, hyping it up way more than necessary. Meanwhile, Tabitha? Absolutely not. She has standards. No way she’s letting some back-alley piercer with a questionable sterilization routine put a hole in her body. She’s got her own guy—professional, expensive, probably does celebrity clients on the side—and she never lets the boys forget it.

Lance is Peruvian, not that he really talks about it though. Family isn’t exactly an easy topic when you’ve spent more time in the foster system than with the people you came from. Most of his early memories are hazy, blurred at the edges, but one thing that’s always stuck with him is the sound of his mom playing Peruvian cumbia while she cleaned the kitchen. He doesn’t remember much else—what she looked like, the exact shade of her eyes—but he remembers that. The music, the warmth, the way the whole house smelled like lime and cilantro. Sometimes, late at night, when everything’s too quiet, he’ll pull up an old cumbia playlist and let it play low in the background. He misses her. He just… never says it out loud.

Before the amnesia, Kurt had this habit of picking out jewelry for Todd, always keeping an eye out for pieces that would suit him. Toad acted like he didn’t care, like he’d wear whatever just to humor him, but the truth was, he never took off the stuff Kurt picked—especially the little star-shaped septum ring. It was Kurt’s favorite, said it made Todd’s canines stand out when he grinned, which made Toad show his teeth more often, made him smile a little wider. He’d never admit it, but even now, with Kurt not knowing who he is, Toad still wears it hoping Kurt will remember why it’s important.

Before the amnesia, Pietro barely spared Kurt a second thought. Sure, they argued sometimes—Pietro lived to get under people’s skin, and Kurt, bless his heart, was basically Xavier’s walking, talking success story. Too easy to poke at, too predictable in the way he’d get frustrated, which made it fun. But it wasn’t deep. Not to Pietro. Just another way to entertain himself, another game to play. Kurt, though? Definitely took it deeper than it was meant to be. Maybe it was just frustration, maybe it was something else buried too deep for even him to recognize, but Toad saw it. Saw the way Kurt would get way too in his head after a fight, the way his tail flicked sharply whenever Pietro so much as breathed too cockily in his direction. Yeah, maybe Toad tried to steer him away from that mess, kept nudging him toward literally anyone else, because come on, Speedy was the worst option possible. Not that he was jealous. Nope. Not even a little.

Scott has absolutely no idea what Kurt sees in Toad—seriously, out of all people, why him? But it doesn’t really matter, because here Toad is again, climbing through Kurt’s window like a little goblin, tracking mud onto the carpet, and grinning like he just thought of the world’s dumbest, most annoying prank. And of course, Kurt’s laughing, already in on whatever disaster is about to unfold. Scott can feel his blood pressure rising because he knows—he just knows—that his night is about to be ruined, and there is absolutely nothing he can do to stop it.

Kurt likes hanging out with Todd because, for once, there’s no pressure to be anything other than himself. Even with the X-Men, there’s always this quiet weight pressing down on him, this reminder that no matter how much they accept him, they don’t have to hide like he does. They get to be themselves without a second thought—he has to put on a mask just to exist outside. But with Todd? There’s none of that. Todd leans into being the scrappy outcast, the guy nobody wants around, and somehow that makes it easier. He doesn’t make Kurt feel like he stands out—he just makes him feel like he belongs.

Jean doesn’t understand why she can’t sense Kurt. Ever since he went missing, she’s tried—God, she’s tried—stretching her mind out again and again, searching for even the faintest whisper of his presence. But there’s nothing. No thoughts, no emotions, not even that subtle, familiar hum of his consciousness at the edges of her awareness. Just a void where he should be. She tells herself it’s fine. That there’s an explanation. That maybe he’s just too far or something’s blocking her. But every night, when she’s alone with her thoughts, the truth slithers in—the one thing she refuses to say out loud. Maybe he’s dead. Maybe that’s why she can’t reach him. She can’t tell the others. If they knew she couldn’t sense him at all, they’d think it too. They’d believe it. And if they believe it, then it’s real. So she keeps pretending. Forces herself to act like she’s still trying, like there’s hope. Because as long as no one asks, as long as no one knows, then maybe—just maybe—she can keep pretending he’s still out there somewhere, waiting to be found.

Back when Toad was living in Brooklyn, he picked up bits and pieces of different languages—some conversational Mandarin from the old ladies who ran the corner store, but a lot of Spanish from growing up around it. It’s not perfect, and his accent is definitely rough, but it gets the job done. Lance loves that he finally has someone who actually understands him when he slips into Spanish, even if that someone is Todd. He also loves to give Todd endless shit for his pronunciation, mocking the way he butchers certain words just to get a rise out of him. Toad, of course, just rolls his eyes and fires back a stream of insults in Spanish, half of which don’t even make sense, but all of which are deeply offensive. It’s their thing.

When Tabitha got her navel pierced, it basically became her entire personality for a solid few months. Every outfit? Crop top. Every movement? Deliberately positioned to make sure people noticed. Didn’t matter where she was—school, the Brotherhood house, committing minor crimes—she was showing it off. It took actual winter weather to finally break her streak, and even then, she only caved begrudgingly. Of course, Lance and Toad immediately seized the opportunity to tease her about it. Every time she wore a normal shirt, one of them would casually go, “Wow, guess the belly button era is over, huh?” or “Damn, we really lost something special.” Tabitha would glare, threaten violence, maybe even chuck a small explosive their way, but the second it was warm enough again? The crop tops were back.

Toad is secretly way more sentimental than anyone would ever guess—not that he’d ever admit it. He’s got this whole stash of photos and videos saved up, just little moments of the people he actually gives a damn about. A lot of Kurt, because, well… obviously. But he’s got plenty of Lance and Tabby too—dumb inside jokes, random nights of them messing around, even the rare, unguarded moments where they actually look happy. And then there’s Pietro. The problem with Speedy is that he’s either moving way too fast for a normal camera or he’s making some deeply annoyed face at Todd for even thinking about taking a picture. The result? Pietro is mostly just a collection of motion blur and irritated side-eyes in Todd’s little archive. Toad hates that his collection of memories is full of useless, streaky nonsense instead of actual pictures, but whatever. Speedy will just have to live on as an artistic choice.

Pietro doesn’t mind when Kurt gets high—hell, he knows now that Kurt and Toad used to get high together all the time, which is honestly kind of hilarious. He even joins in sometimes, though it never lasts long. His metabolism burns through everything way too fast, making him the ultimate heavyweight. Joints and edibles don’t do much for him—he’s more of a dabs guy, the only thing that actually lets him feel anything. Still, just because he’s chill about it doesn’t mean he’s not watching Kurt like a hawk. No way is he letting his boyfriend green out or, worse, try to keep up with Pietro’s freak metabolism like it’s some kind of challenge. If Kurt’s getting too spacey, Pietro’s the one making sure he’s got water, making sure he’s eating, making sure he’s not about to tip over somewhere dumb. He plays it off like it’s just because he doesn’t want to deal with a mess, but the truth is? He’s stupidly protective, and no amount of weed is ever gonna change that.

Toad doesn’t really care what people call him—nicknames, insults, whatever, he’s heard it all—but there’s something kinda nice about hearing his actual name from his friends. Lance only ever calls him Todd when he’s exasperated, usually after Toad’s done something particularly dumb, like, “Todd, for the love of—can you just not?” Meanwhile, Kurt started calling him Todd the second he found out it was his real name, like it was the most natural thing in the world. No teasing, no hesitation—just Todd, warm and casual, like it belonged to him. Tabitha, on the other hand, takes it to another level, dragging it out into Toddy whenever she’s feeling playful—or right before she’s about to blow him up. And then there’s Pietro, who only calls him Toad—except, every now and then, he slips up, a careless Todd tumbling out in a moment where he’s not thinking. Toad never calls him on it, but they both know what it means. He doesn’t need some big declaration to know Pietro cares—he just needs to hear his name.

[chrissturnslovergirlx]

truth or dare - a chris sturniolo short

a/n: requested by anon; lowercase intended

summary: a game of truth or dare leads to a crush confession

the air was filled with laughter and exposed secrets as we all sat in a circle for game night. chris, matt, nick, madi, nate and i all decided to play a classic game of truth or dare. as the bottle spun, our nerves heightened and our deepest, darkest secrets were waiting to be revealed. the bottle slowed in speed, passing nick, passing madi and landing on me. crap.

“oh, y/n!” madi says in a sing-song voice.

“yeah?”

“will you tell the truth or shall i dare you to expose yourself?” she asks, as a mischievous grin spreads across her face.

i hesitated, glancing nervously at chris, who was sitting opposite me. i’ve had the biggest crush on chris since we first met at a movie premiere. nobody knows about this crush except for madi. i feel everyone’s eyes on me as they wait for me for my answer. 

“dare," i finally said, trying to mask my anxiety.

madi's eyes gleamed with mischief. oh no, she better not!

“i dare you to tell us who your crush is."

the room fell silent as everyone turned their attention to me. i feel my cheeks flush and my body go numb. she really went there. my heart races as i feel the panic rush through my body like an adrenaline rush, and without a word, i stand and bolt from the room, leaving everyone else stunned. 

“um. i think i messed up,” madi says, breaking the awkward silence.

“should someone go and see if she’s okay? i feel bad for her,” nate speaks up.

“i’ll go and check on her,” chris says, getting up from his spot and going to find me.

“and off the crush goes!” 

“madi!” nick yells.

“i’m going to shut up now as i'm a terrible bestie.”

i hear a faint knock against the bathroom door. hearing chris’s voice, my heart skips a beat. how did he find me so fast? i quickly wipe my tears to hide the evidence that i was crying from embarrassment and open the door. chris comes in and notices my rosy cheeks and watery eyes.

“have you been crying?”

i nod in shame and hang my head low as i feel more tears threatening to spill. chris pulls me into his embrace, rubbing my back as i softly sob into his chest. he pulls away and takes me by the hand to lead me into his bedroom. 

“so, um, madi kinda exposed you even more just before by saying that i’m your crush. is that true?”

“yeah. yeah it is. i just couldn’t say it in front of everyone, including you.”

“why? matt said his and nate said his. you know you can trust us, right?” chris smiled gently.

“i’m just scared that you don’t feel the same way and i didn’t want to say anything so i panicked because i didn’t think you’d like me the way i like you.”

chris held my hands and he looked right into my eyes. i feel his thumbs run along my hands, bringing me at ease. i watch as he leans in, his face coming within inches of mine. he closes the gap between us and i instantly feel fireworks go off in my stomach. the kiss is soft and passionate, like he’s been wanting to do this for so long. i smile into the kiss, slowly deepening it as i remove my hands from his and wrap them around his neck. i pull away and touch our foreheads together, the spark between us feeling so real.

“i like you, y/n, so much. i’ve had a crush on you for a while now too.”

“really?”

“really.”

i close the gap between us again, this time the kiss is more passionate and fiery, our tongues colliding as we fight for dominance. chris wins as he pushes me against the bathroom sink. the kiss is so addicting, it’s like a drug. i just can’t seem to stop myself. i feel chris’s hands slide down my waist and to my bum, giving it a slight squeeze, making me jump. our heated makeout session is interrupted for a loud screech.

“what’s this?! oh my god!” matt yells in excitement as he finds his brother and myself pressed up against each other.

the other three come rushing to find us up against one another, our hair all messed up and clothes wrinkled. cheers and screams sounded off as we all crushed into a big group hug. 

“i’m not a terrible bestie anymore! from now on, you can call me madi the truth or dare matchmaker.”

we all laugh at madi’s comment before heading back downstairs to continue where we left off. sitting back in our original positions, we continue our game.

“so, y/n. i dare you to tell us who your crush is.”

“my crush is christopher owen sturniolo and i like him so much.” i proudly say with my chest.

i’m met with “awww” and “oooh” before we all burst into laughter. truth or dare continues into the night, from lap dances to kisses to exposing naughty secrets. i glance over at chris and we make eye contact. smiling, he gestures for me to come over to his side. i sneakily make my way over and he pats his lap. i slowly place myself in his lap and his arms immediately wrap around my waist, his head leaning on my shoulder. i spend the rest of the game in chris’s lap, kissing him and leaning against him. 

[amaisms]

AJIN: DEMI-HUMAN Quotes && Long Post !! Feel free to edit as needed

★ But I want to save you! ★ You're a piece of shit ★ You're a dumbass ★ You can trust me. ★ I haven’t been concerned for anyone, I’ve never felt the need to. ★ I'm sorry to have caused you trouble. ★ He’s in love. That weakness gives us an opening. ★ Let your heart guide you and your body will crumble. ★ People don’t change. ★ You idiot! ★ I'll help you get out. one time. ★ If you want to change your power, change yourself. ★ Guess you've got more guts than I'd thought ★ Do you understand human suffering?! ★ Give me one reason why I’d need to change. ★ When i speak, it always makes sense. ★ I’m just moving my pieces into the most favorable position for me. ★ Why would I do anything else? ★ if I don’t risk everything I have it won’t be fair. ★ We have to do this to keep the possibility alive of creating a way to win. ★ Do you understand what I’m trying to say here, you idiot? ★ You talked about friendship so much that it came off as fake. ★ Maybe you knew better than anyone. ★ Just get to shelter will you? ★ If someone’s in trouble…it’s just what you do. ★ Now lets fuck em up. ★ But this time…you’ve gone too far! Come back! ★ Give me at least one chance…to do something for you ★ You're human. At least that's what I think. ★ If he says he doesn't need me, I'll back off. ★ You barely reacted. ★ But if something ever happens to him, I swear I'm going to go save him. ★ I always hate…just how much of an idiot I am ★ He's still alive?! ★ What's wrong with caring for everyone?! ★ At this rate, the stress might kill me ★ It's staring at you. ★ Our orders from above are just to cause as much pain as possible. ★ Is it impossible for a monster like me to pretend to live like a human? ★ Personal feelings just complicate matters. ★ Fighting to the end, even if it comes to nothing, isn’t an illogical act! ★ A winning hand's only good when you keep your cards hidden. ★ Calm - but it doesn't last for long ★ Life, you see, is a precious thing… Not a trifle you run around taking away! ★ They said favors always get repaid. But no, not in the real world ★ Fight! ... for your own sake! ★ This isn't a goddamn joke! ★ You’re not bumming a smoke. ★ To be afraid of change means you lack the guts to do it ★ I need to keep it under control. ★ This is war. ★ I don't feel like doing this anymore. What a pain. ★ He’s just repeating the kinds of things his mother always gossips about. ★ Come on, that's insulting. ★ I'm the biggest idiot. ★ Lets have a coffee. ★ What are you going to do next? ★ I want to go home and sleep. ★ Now we just need to figure out how we will fight. ★ That's right, hack the police department. ★ That piece of shit! ★ You’re starting to doubt yourself. ★ Here, you need the determination to cut off ethics and emotion. ★ Hurry up and die. ★ It's already gotten this troublesome with just some sunlight ★ …do you plan to use ___ to threaten me ★ Are you lonely? ★ Please just help me for a little longer... ★ It's important to be aware of what you can and can't do, whether it's related to fighting or not ★ We have a 0% chance of winning right now. That number will stay at zero forever unless we intervene ★ I don't like it. The sun. It's so selfish…always acting all high and mighty and looking down on us ★ So if you're going some place where you don't know anyone but me…then you are just a human. ★ I've known that people destroy themselves when they get carried away with their emotions