#and the name of a cluster of stars i always wondered about

[azsazz]

Ride for Me

Cassian x Reader [Starfall Week Day 1]

Summary: @starfallweek Day 1 Prompt: Rumor has it, stardust increases attraction, and character A could really use some help right now…

Warnings: None

Word Count: 804

Notes: Starfall Week 😍

_________________________________________

“Sweetheart,” Cassian chuckles against your lips, groaning when you slide your tongue easily into his mouth, grazing it languidly against his, “We’re going to be late.” 

“Don’t care,” you pant, pressing even closer to his large body. He’s so warm, solid in all of the right places. Namely, his cock stirring against your hip. “Need you so badly, Cassian. Please.” 

You want to whine when his large, calloused hand caresses your jaw, gently straightening to his full height. His hazel eyes are swimming with an emotion that is gone before you can pick up on it, but the soothing motion of his thumb against your cheek helps settle the raging need inside of you. 

“What’s gotten into you today?” he wonders. Then, as if he’s made some sort of mistake, he tacks on quickly, “Not that I’m complaining. I love when you’re all needy for me…” His voice turns rougher and he pinches your hindsight which makes you jolt against him. He grunts a little at the feeling. Maybe you don’t need to be at the House of Wind on time…

You shrug bashfully, cheeks pinkening. “I don’t know,” you admit, “There’s something about Starfall that always gets me a little…”

“Aroused?” he teases, dipping down to pepper your cheeks with kisses because you’re too adorable not to. “No need to get all shy on me, sweetheart. I can smell it on you, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever smelled.” 

His words make your grip tighten around his neck and your thighs tremble. His hands are so big where they’re settled on your hips and you just want to feel those hands all over your skin, running down your sides, cupping your breasts, slipping into your cunt—

“Fuck, sweetheart,” he groans, dropping his head onto your shoulder and nuzzling into your neck. You shiver as his breath tickles your throat. Cassian digs his nose in, right where he can scent you the most. “You might just break me yet.” 

“It wouldn’t take much,” you croon, dragging your nails right down his back, reveling in the way that his grip on you tightens and he nips at your neck. “We can be a little late,” you offer, but it sounds more like a desperate plea. You’re uncomfortably wet, the ache between your legs distracting and in need of relief.

“We can,” Cassian answers, his lips brushing the shell of your ear. You squeeze your eyes shut, moving even closer into him, pressing your breasts up against his chest. “But then everyone would know that I fucked you so hard that you couldn’t walk.” 

There’s always something about Starfall that has you feeling like this. Maybe it’s the energy in the air, the excitement of seeing the greatest Night Court tradition, spending it with your mate. The celebration leaves you feeling needy, like those colorful star clusters darting across the night sky brings a spirituous sense to the court, to your soul.

It started early this year.

��So maybe we don’t show up at all,” you try to joke, but a night alone with your mate under the stars sounds too perfect, you don’t think Cassian would ever go for it.

As if you’re right, Cassian pulls away slightly, staring deeply into your eyes. His face is serious as his gaze flickers between each of your eyes, taking you in. “Is that what you want, mate?” he asks softly, and it makes your heart ache a little. 

You’d love to spend the night alone with Cassian, but you understand how important it is for him to spend it with the rest of the Inner Circle. It’s been an important tradition to him for centuries now, long before you came into the picture. You couldn’t ruin that for him, you wouldn’t ruin that for him.

You part your lips to speak but Cassian’s already swooping you into his arms and bounding for your bedroom. “What…?” 

His voice is gruff, sure of his words as he strides for your room. “My mate needs me,” he says, and butterflies explode in your stomach. “Everyone is going to understand that,” Cassian adds softly when he feels the worry emanating through your shared bond. He plants a reassuring kiss to your forehead, shouldering his way through the doorway. “And if they don’t, they can get fucked.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do,” you beam and he laughs. You snuggle closer into his chest, loving the way that it rumbles with his laughter.

“You’ve succeeded in that, sweetheart,” Cassian whispers, finally setting you down on your feet right at the foot of the bed. Your heart jumps into your throat when he gets down on one knee, but he’s lifting your foot, helping you out of one shoe and then the other. “Now, let me help you out of this dress.”

[yoonsdoll]

his star - yjh

content : n-i!jeonghan x gn!reader ; friends to... something more idk ! ; fluff n romance ; 1.3k words warnings : reader is called 'pretty' - actually, he was your star too . an : i miss hannie already SIGH i am not taking the news well

When Jeonghan invited you on a date randomly, you didn’t know what to expect but somehow it was so fitting. It was something different, but he still took into consideration all he knew about you, creating something ideal for you both — a date at the planetarium. The evening began as you met him outside the building, the city’s soft glow casting a golden light over his pretty face. He stood there, waiting with a smile that always managed to make your heart flutter, his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his jacket.

“You ready for a little trip through the stars?” he asked playfully.

Of course you were. You were ready to go anywhere with him. You nodded soon after, excitement bubbling in your chest. There was something magical about the idea of spending the evening together beneath a sky full of stars, even if it wasn't the real one.

As you stepped inside, the planetarium was dimly lit, casting a peaceful, almost dreamlike atmosphere. Jeonghan led the way, finding the perfect seats in the centre where you’d have the best view of the projection. You sat down beside him, the armrest between you feeling like a small barrier, though the warmth of his presence was (as always) unmistakable.

The lights dimmed further, and the dome above you both began to fill with stars — thousands of tiny, sparkling lights stretching across the ceiling like a canvas of the night sky. A soft voice begins narrating, guiding you through the wonders of the universe, but it’s Jeonghan’s quiet voice beside you that captured your attention more than the show itself.

“This is pretty amazing, right?” he murmured, leaning in slightly, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s like we’re floating in space.”

You glanced over at him, and even in the low light, you can see the soft smile on his lips, his eyes sparkling thanks to the stars above.

As the presentation continued, Jeonghan couldn’t help but make lighthearted comments, whispering them so only you could hear. He pointed out constellations, giving them silly names instead of their real ones.

“See that one over there?” he whispered, leaning in closer, his shoulder brushing against yours as he pointed at a cluster of stars. “That’s the constellation ‘Sleeping Bunny.’ It’s super rare.”

You stifled a giggle, your heart warming at his playful nature. “You’re just making things up now.”

“Hey, I’m an expert at this,” he joked, his tone light. “I could guide tours here if I wanted.”

Despite his teasing, there’s something about the way his voice dipped to a softer tone as he talks about the stars that made your heart race a little. He’s close—closer than before—and it feels like, in this quiet space filled with the cosmos, the universe has shrunk to just the two of you.

As the show transitioned to a slower, more awe-inspiring segment about distant galaxies and nebulae, the mood shifted into something more cryptic, almost surreal. The narrator talked about the vastness of space, about how small we are in the grand scheme of the universe, and Jeonghan grew quieter, as if the beauty of the moment had settled into his bones.

You both sat in comfortable silence, watching as galaxies swirled and stars exploded in brilliant colours. Jeonghan’s hand, resting casually on the armrest between you, inched just a little closer. You could feel the warmth of his fingers, almost brushing against yours, and your pulse quickened.

Then, just a moment later, his pinky softly hooked around yours, the smallest of touches but one that sent a rush of warmth through your entire body. He glanced at you out of the corner of his eye, and when your eyes met, he gave you a gentle smile—one that’s almost shy, but full of hope.

“It’s kind of crazy, isn’t it?” he said, his voice barely above a whisper now. “How vast everything is… and yet here we are, together.”

There was something deeper in his words, an unspoken connection forming in the quiet between you two. The stars above seem to shimmer a little brighter, and for a moment, it felt as if you both noticed the connection between you, just like two stars in a constellation.

Impulsively, you gently shifted your hand to meet his, your fingers lacing together naturally. The soft touch felt right — like it was meant to happen all along. Jeonghan’s thumb brushed over the back of your hand, slow and deliberate, as if savouring the moment.

“I’ve been wanting to do that,” he admitted quietly, almost playfully teasing you for being the braver one of the two.

The two of you stayed like that for the rest of the show, your hands intertwined, the warmth of the gesture grounding you both even as you watched distant galaxies millions of light-years away. Every now and then, Jeonghan gave your hand a gentle squeeze, and you couldn't help but glance at him, catching him smiling to himself.

Once the show ended, the gentle hum of the planetarium faded as you and Jeonghan stepped outside into the cool evening air. The night was quieter than before, the city’s distant sounds barely audible as the two of you lingered just outside the entrance. Above, a few stars peeked through the clouds, not nearly as breath-taking as the ones projected inside, but still worth admiring.

Jeonghan’s hand remained in yours, a soft, steady connection that had your heart fluttering. “They aren’t quite as impressive as the fake stars.” he hummed with a playful sigh, tilting his head towards the sky. But there was a lightness in his tone, as if the real stars didn’t even matter — because in that moment, his attention was on something else.

“You’re like a pretty, bright star, just on earth… so I'd say you make up for it.” he added quietly, his voice soft, as if he was letting you in on a secret.

His words caught you off guard, a rush of warmth spreading through your chest. Jeonghan stepped just a little closer, and before you could respond, his free hand gently lifted, brushing a lock of hair behind your ear. His fingers were soft against your skin, lingering for a moment longer than they needed to. The way he looked at you under the dim street lights made your breath hitch — like he was admiring something precious, something close, something real.

“I liked tonight a lot — I mean, I like being with you in general but…” he shared softly, his voice laced with something so genuine it made your heart swell. “I think I could sit under a sky full of clouds and still find it beautiful as long as you were sitting beside me.”

You couldn’t help but feel flustered, your cheeks heating up as Jeonghan’s gaze lingered on you, his thumb tracing a slow, soothing line across your knuckles. He watched your reaction, his eyes twinkling with the tiniest hint of mischief, but also something deeper, something meaningful. It’s like he knew exactly what he was doing — flustering you with the sweet sincerity of his words.

Before the moment could get too overwhelming, Jeonghan let out a soft chuckle, his usual playful charm peeking through again. “Okay, I'm getting a little cold now, let's get going, hm?”

You laughed, the tension easing as his words brought that playful atmosphere back. But even as you smiled, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper has settled between you, something as steady and constant as the stars themselves.

It wasn’t difficult to agree, not when he smiled so sweetly at you, not when you both knew that night changed what you were previously into something more, something closer, something you both wanted. It didn’t have to be then when you’d figure exactly what that connection was, that was a conversation for the future. Maybe another evening under the stars, maybe a movie date or a picnic. It didn’t really matter, because if you weren’t confident of it before, you were now : there will be a future where you explore those feelings, because he wasn’t going to let you go now.

[amethystarachnid]

Hi, can you do a High School AU with Modern Steve Rogers.

For you Valentine's Day thing. :)

Please.

PROM

⤷ STEVE G. ROGERS

ᯓ★ Pairing: Steve G. Rogers x fem!reader

ᯓ★ Genre: romance, fluff

ᯓ★ Requests status: open

ᯓ★ Summary: what the ask said

ᯓ★ Word count: 7.6k

ᯓ★ TW(s): a little spicy scene at then end

ᯓ★ From: MARVEL Love is in the air - Valentine's Day special game

ᯓ★ My Masterlist

ᯓ★ MARVEL Holiday Special

ᯓ★ MARVEL Multiverse - choose an AU, pair it with your favorite character and make a request!

ᯓ★ Songs & Superheroes tales - The Game (to make a request, follow the rules on the link!)

ᯓ★ MARVEL Bingo

ᯓ★ English isn’t my first language

The cold air bites at your skin as you tug your sweater closer around you, navigating the crowded halls of Brooklyn High. The chatter of students echoes around you, lockers slamming, laughter bouncing off the walls. You try to make yourself smaller, slipping past clusters of people who barely acknowledge your presence. It’s not like you mind. You’ve always been more comfortable blending into the background.

Except, no matter how much you try to stay unnoticed, there’s always one person whose gaze finds you.

Steve Rogers.

Captain of the hockey team. Star athlete. Straight-A student. He’s the kind of guy who could walk into a room and have every eye on him without even trying. And yet, whenever you catch him looking at you—which happens more often than you can explain—there’s something different in his eyes. Something warm. Something that makes your heart stumble in your chest, even though you tell yourself it doesn’t mean anything.

You push the thought away as you reach your locker, spinning the combination dial with practiced ease. Just as you pull it open, a familiar voice calls your name.

“Hey, kid.”

Bucky Barnes slings an arm over your shoulder, pulling you into his side with a grin. Your older brother is one of the few people who never fails to acknowledge you, and you can’t help but roll your eyes at his usual greeting.

“I’m not a kid,” you mutter, but there’s no real annoyance behind it.

Bucky laughs, ruffling your hair before you swat his hand away. “Yeah, yeah. You coming to the game tonight?”

You hesitate, shifting on your feet. You don’t usually go to school events unless absolutely necessary, and Bucky knows it. But he asks anyway, because he likes having you there, and maybe a tiny part of you likes watching him play.

And maybe, just maybe, you don’t mind watching Steve either.

“I don’t know…” you start, but before you can finish, another voice joins the conversation.

“You should come.”

You freeze, gripping the edge of your locker a little tighter. You don’t have to turn around to know who it is. You recognize the voice, deep and steady, laced with something softer when he speaks to you.

Steve.

Bucky doesn’t seem to notice your reaction, too busy digging through his own locker a few feet away. “Yeah, see? Even Steve thinks you should go.”

You finally turn, looking up at him. He’s leaning against the lockers, hockey jacket unzipped over his hoodie, arms crossed over his chest. His blond hair is a little messy, like he’s been running his hands through it, and his blue eyes—so damn bright it���s unfair—are focused on you.

For a second, you wonder if he actually cares whether you show up or if he’s just being polite. But then you see the way his fingers tighten against his sleeve, the way his jaw tenses slightly, like he’s bracing himself for you to say no.

You swallow, trying to ignore the warmth creeping up your neck. “I’ll think about it.”

Steve nods, but there’s a flicker of something in his expression. Disappointment? Hope? You can’t tell, and before you can analyze it, Bucky slams his locker shut and claps Steve on the shoulder.

“Alright, let’s get to practice before Coach skins us alive.”

Steve nods, but his eyes linger on you for just a second longer before he turns and follows Bucky down the hall.

You let out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding.

It’s ridiculous. The way your heart speeds up when he looks at you, the way your skin burns when he’s too close. You tell yourself it’s nothing. That it’s just because he’s Bucky’s best friend.

It doesn’t mean anything.

At least, that’s what you try to believe.

—

The rink is buzzing with energy when you step inside later that night. The game hasn’t started yet, but the stands are already packed, students decked out in school colors, waving banners and chanting excitedly. You make your way to the back, settling into a seat near the edge where it’s quieter.

You’re not even sure why you came. Maybe it’s because Bucky asked. Maybe it’s because Steve asked. Maybe it’s because some stupid part of you wanted to see him play, wanted to watch the way he moves on the ice, wanted to catch even one of those rare moments when his eyes might find you in the crowd.

The team skates onto the ice, and the cheers grow louder. Your eyes immediately land on Steve. He moves effortlessly, powerful strides carrying him across the rink, his gaze focused, determined. He looks completely in his element.

Bucky skates up beside him, nudging his shoulder before pointing towards the stands. Towards you.

You stiffen as Steve follows his gesture, his gaze locking onto yours.

And then he smiles.

It’s barely noticeable, just a small quirk of his lips, but it’s there. Just for a second. Just for you.

Your breath catches in your throat, and you force yourself to look away, pretending to be focused on something else. But you can still feel it, the weight of his attention, the warmth spreading through your chest despite the cold air around you.

You shouldn’t feel like this.

But you do.

And you don’t know what to do about it.

—

The game is intense, fast-paced, and even though you don’t usually care about hockey, you find yourself caught up in it. The way Steve moves, the way he commands the ice, the way he and Bucky work together like they can read each other’s minds—it’s impossible not to watch.

By the time the final buzzer sounds, your school has won, and the crowd erupts into cheers. The players pile onto the ice, celebrating, and you watch as Steve and Bucky bump fists before skating off.

You hesitate before standing, debating whether you should just slip out unnoticed. But before you can move, a familiar voice calls out.

“Hey!”

You turn just in time to see Bucky pushing through the crowd towards you, still grinning from the win. Steve is right behind him, his expression more reserved, but his eyes never leaving you.

“You saw that, right?” Bucky says, breathless. “We crushed ‘em.”

You nod. “Yeah, you guys were… really good.”

Bucky slings an arm around your shoulders. “See? Told you it’d be worth coming.”

You glance at Steve, who’s watching you with that same unreadable expression. You’re about to look away when he speaks.

“I’m glad you came.”

His voice is quieter than Bucky’s, but somehow, it drowns out everything else.

You swallow hard, forcing yourself to meet his gaze. “Yeah… me too.”

The corner of his mouth lifts slightly, and for a second, it feels like it’s just the two of you standing there, the noise of the crowd fading into the background.

And for the first time, you wonder if maybe he’s been looking at you the same way you’ve been looking at him.

The days after the hockey game pass in a blur, slipping into the routine of school, homework, and avoiding unnecessary social interactions. You still catch Steve looking at you sometimes—across the cafeteria, in the hallways, when he's with Bucky. And each time, something in your stomach twists uncomfortably, like you're balancing on the edge of something unknown, something you’re not sure you’re ready for.

You tell yourself it's nothing.

He’s just being polite.

But then there are moments—like when you drop your books in the hallway, and he’s there before anyone else, kneeling to help you gather them up. Or when you pass each other by the lockers, and he sends you a small, hesitant smile, even when he’s surrounded by his friends. Or when he lingers just a little too long whenever Bucky drags you into a conversation with him after school.

You try to ignore it, but it’s impossible when he’s everywhere. And it only gets worse when the school announces the Valentine’s Day prom.

It’s all anyone can talk about.

The posters go up on Monday morning—red and pink hearts plastered across the bulletin boards, glittery letters spelling out Brooklyn High Valentine’s Prom: Saturday Night! The second the announcement is made, the school erupts into chaos. Girls giggle excitedly in clusters, whispering about their potential dates, while the guys groan about the pressure of asking someone out.

It’s not something you care about. Or at least, that’s what you tell yourself.

You’re pretty sure no one’s going to ask you, and that’s fine. It’s not like you’ve ever imagined yourself at a school dance, dressed up in something fancy, slow-dancing under dimmed lights.

Except when you least expect it, your thoughts slip back to Steve.

You shake the idea out of your head every time. He’s Steve Rogers—hockey captain, golden boy, the guy every girl in school wants to be with. There’s no reason he’d waste his time thinking about you when he has a lineup of girls practically throwing themselves at him.

And yet.

Steve is thinking about you.

He’s thinking about you so much that it’s starting to drive him insane.

He’s never been good at hiding his feelings—at least, not when it comes to you. He’s spent years keeping this thing buried, years pretending you were just his best friend’s little sister, even though he’s known for a long time that you’re so much more than that.

And now, with prom around the corner, he sees his chance.

But it’s not easy when half the school is expecting him to take someone else.

“Hey, Stevie,” a voice sings, pulling him out of his thoughts.

He barely has time to react before Peggy Carter slides up beside him, smiling that knowing smile of hers. She’s one of the most popular girls in school—sharp, confident, effortlessly charming. And she’s been trying to get his attention for weeks.

“So… prom’s coming up,” she says, twirling a lock of hair around her finger. “Have you thought about who you’re taking?”

Steve tenses. He knows where this is going.

“I, uh…” He clears his throat. “Not yet.”

Peggy tilts her head, pretending to be surprised. “Really? Because, you know… a lot of people are waiting for you to ask someone.”

By a lot of people, she means the entire female population of Brooklyn High.

Steve forces a polite smile. “I guess I just haven’t decided.”

She pouts slightly, stepping a little closer. “Well, if you do decide soon… I wouldn’t mind an invitation.”

Before he can respond, she winks and saunters off, leaving him standing there, feeling suffocated.

It’s not just Peggy.

All week, girls have been dropping hints, batting their lashes, finding excuses to talk to him. Even Bucky teases him about it.

“You’ve got options, man,” Bucky laughs one afternoon at practice, shoving his shoulder playfully. “Half the school is waiting for you to make a move.”

Steve just exhales, tightening his grip on his hockey stick. “Yeah… I know.”

Bucky nudges him again. “So? Who’s the lucky girl?”

Steve hesitates. For a second, he considers telling him the truth. That he’s only ever wanted to ask one person, and that person is you.

But he doesn’t.

Because Bucky is your brother, and if Steve screws this up—if he asks you and it somehow ruins everything—he’s not sure he can handle losing both of you.

“I dunno,” he mutters instead. “Haven’t decided.”

Bucky just grins, oblivious. “Well, don’t take too long. People are getting antsy.”

Steve doesn’t respond. Because the truth is, he has decided.

He just doesn’t know if he has the guts to follow through.

You don’t expect anything when you walk into school on Friday morning.

You’re halfway through the hallway when you hear the whispers. People are staring at you more than usual, murmuring to each other, their eyes darting between you and something up ahead.

Confused, you keep walking—until you see it.

Your locker is covered in decorations.

Pink and red hearts, taped all around the edges. A small envelope, neatly tucked into the slats.

Your heart stutters.

You don’t know who did it, but there’s already a sinking suspicion in your gut. Hands trembling slightly, you reach out and pull the envelope free.

Inside, there’s a small, folded note.

Meet me outside after school. I’ll be waiting.

There’s no name.

But you have a feeling you already know who it is.

You spend the rest of the day in a daze.

You try not to let yourself hope. Maybe it’s a prank. Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe you’re reading too much into it.

But still, when the last bell rings, you find yourself making your way outside, heart hammering.

And then you see him.

Steve is standing by the steps, hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket, shifting on his feet like he’s nervous. He looks up the second he hears you approaching, and something in his face softens.

“You came.”

You swallow hard. “You left me a note.”

He nods, exhaling like he’s been holding his breath. “Yeah. I, uh…” He hesitates, running a hand through his hair before looking at you again. “I wanted to ask you something.”

Your pulse pounds in your ears. “Okay.”

He takes a step closer, and suddenly, it’s just the two of you. The sounds of the schoolyard fade into the background.

“I know prom’s a big deal for a lot of people,” he says, voice careful. “And I know you’re not really into that kind of thing. But…” He shifts, rubbing the back of his neck. “I want to go. But only if you go with me.”

Your breath catches.

For a moment, you think you’ve misheard him. That this is some kind of cruel joke.

But then you look at him—really look at him. And you see it. The nervous way he’s watching you, like he’s afraid of your answer. The way his hands tighten into fists at his sides. The way his eyes are shining with something you can’t quite name.

He’s serious.

Steve Rogers is asking you to prom.

You open your mouth, then close it again, because you don’t know what to say.

“You don’t have to decide right now,” he adds quickly, misreading your silence. “I just… I needed to ask.”

Your heart is racing.

And for the first time, you let yourself believe it—let yourself believe that maybe, all those stolen glances and quiet smiles meant something after all.

You inhale sharply, meeting his gaze.

“Yes.”

His brows lift slightly. “Yeah?”

You nod, swallowing past the lump in your throat. “Yeah. I’ll go with you.”

Steve exhales in relief, and then—he smiles.

And it’s the kind of smile that makes your stomach flip, the kind that makes the world feel a little brighter.

The kind that makes you realize this might just be the start of something you never saw coming.

The Barnes house is usually loud.

Between Bucky’s constant chatter, your mom yelling at him to put his dirty hockey gear in the laundry, and the old radio playing classic rock in the kitchen, it’s never really quiet. But this week, there’s a different kind of energy.

You feel lighter. It’s impossible not to. Ever since Steve asked you to prom, you’ve caught yourself smiling at random moments, zoning out in class, replaying the way he looked at you, the way his voice softened when he said I want to go, but only if you go with me.

It doesn’t go unnoticed.

Bucky notices everything.

At first, he doesn’t say anything, just watches you with narrowed eyes whenever you hum under your breath or check your phone more often than usual. But by Wednesday night, he’s done pretending he isn’t suspicious.

“You’re acting weird.”

You look up from your notebook, blinking. “What?”

Bucky leans against the kitchen counter, arms crossed. “You’re acting weird. Like… smiling-for-no-reason weird. Like you’re actually excited for prom.”

Your stomach clenches, but you keep your face neutral. “I never said I wasn’t going.”

“You never care about school events,” Bucky argues, pointing at you accusingly. “Last year, you called prom a pointless parade of teenage delusion.”

Damn it. You did say that.

You shift uncomfortably, playing with the corner of your notebook. “Well… maybe I changed my mind.”

Bucky’s eyes narrow further. “Why?”

Your heart beats a little faster. He’s going to find out eventually—there’s no way he won’t. But you don’t know how to tell him.

You’re saved, temporarily, by your mom walking into the kitchen. She looks between the two of you, raising a brow. “What’s going on?”

Bucky gestures at you. “She’s being weird.”

Your mom looks unimpressed. “She’s a teenage girl. That’s normal.”

“No, like weird weird,” Bucky insists. “She’s actually excited about prom.”

Your mom pauses, then turns to you with interest. “Oh? That is new. Did someone ask you?”

You freeze. Bucky stares.

Your silence is damning.

“Holy shit.” Bucky’s eyes widen. “You have a date.”

You groan, rubbing your hands over your face. “Bucky—”

“Who is it?” he demands. “Wait—oh my God, if it’s Peter Parker, I’m throwing you both into the Hudson.”

“It’s not Peter.”

Bucky studies you for a second, his brows furrowing. Then, suddenly, realization dawns in his eyes.

“No way.”

Your stomach flips. “Bucky—”

“No way,” he repeats, looking horrified. “Steve?”

Your face must give it away, because Bucky gapes at you, mouth dropping open. Then he whirls around, dragging his hands down his face.

“Unbelievable,” he mutters. “Unbelievable.”

You sigh. “Bucky, it’s not a big deal—”

“Not a big deal?” He turns back to you, eyes wide. “Steve—my best friend—Steve?”

You cross your arms, narrowing your eyes. “Would you relax? It’s just a date.”

Bucky scoffs. “Just a—? No. No, because I know him. And I know he’s been into you for years.”

Your breath catches. “What?”

Bucky throws his hands in the air. “Oh, come on. You really never noticed? He looks at you like a lovesick idiot all the time.”

You stare at him, your heart hammering. “You never said anything.”

“Because I didn’t think you liked him,” Bucky exclaims. “And I figured if he made a move, I’d have to kill him anyway.”

You roll your eyes. “Very mature.”

Bucky groans, dragging his hands through his hair. “Ugh. I need to sit down.” He drops into a chair, shaking his head. “This is so weird.”

You cross your arms. “You’re being dramatic.”

“I have to be dramatic,” Bucky argues. “It’s in my contract as your older brother.”

Your mom, who has been silently observing this entire conversation, finally sighs. “Well, if Steve is taking you to prom, at least I know he’ll treat you well.”

Bucky groans again, but you catch the way his shoulders relax slightly, the way his lips twitch like he’s holding back a smile. He may complain, but you know he trusts Steve more than anyone.

And despite his dramatics, you think he’s secretly glad it’s him.

The night of prom arrives faster than you expect.

For the first time in your life, you’re nervous about how you look.

Your mom helps you get ready, fussing over your hair and adjusting the soft fabric of your dress. You chose something simple but elegant—a deep midnight blue gown that falls just right, the fabric shimmering under the light. It’s not flashy, not over-the-top, but it makes you feel… beautiful.

Which is terrifying.

You take a deep breath, smoothing your hands over the fabric. “Is this too much?”

Your mom smiles. “Sweetheart, you look stunning.”

You swallow, glancing at yourself in the mirror one last time before there’s a knock at the door.

Bucky beats you to it.

“Oh, look,” he deadpans as he opens it. “It’s lover boy.”

You shove him aside just in time to see Steve standing there, looking unfairly good in a fitted suit, his blond hair neatly styled. He’s holding a small corsage in his hand, but he’s not looking at it—he’s looking at you.

And he looks absolutely speechless.

His mouth opens slightly, then closes again like he’s forgotten how to talk.

Bucky snorts. “Real smooth, Rogers.”

Steve finally clears his throat, blinking a few times before managing, “Wow.”

Your cheeks burn. “Um. Hi.”

He exhales a soft laugh, shaking his head. “You look… incredible.”

You shift on your feet, glancing away. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”

Bucky groans. “Okay, before you two start making heart eyes at each other, let’s go.”

Your mom insists on taking a few pictures, much to Bucky’s dramatic protests, and then you’re finally out the door, your heart pounding as Steve offers you his arm.

And when his fingers brush yours, a quiet, steady warmth settles in your chest.

The moment you and Steve walk into the prom, the entire room seems to pause.

You feel the stares immediately. Murmurs ripple through the crowd as heads turn, people nudging each other and whispering.

Steve Rogers—captain of the hockey team, golden boy of Brooklyn High—walked into prom with you.

You catch glimpses of shocked expressions. Girls who had been trying to get Steve to ask them looking completely blindsided. Guys who had never paid attention to you suddenly glancing your way like they’re seeing you for the first time.

Peggy Carter, standing with a group of popular girls near the dance floor, looks particularly surprised. Her eyes flick between you and Steve, her lips parting slightly.

Steve, to his credit, doesn’t seem to notice.

Or, more likely, he doesn’t care.

His attention is entirely on you.

“You okay?” he asks, voice quiet enough that only you can hear.

You inhale, forcing yourself to focus on him. On the way his blue eyes hold nothing but warmth. On the way he’s standing close, making sure you don’t feel out of place.

You nod slowly. “Yeah.”

His lips curve into a small smile. “Good.”

And then, just like that, the moment passes. The music picks up again, people go back to dancing, and the tension in the air shifts.

Steve holds out his hand. “Dance with me?”

Your heart skips a beat.

You hesitate, then slowly place your hand in his.

And as he pulls you onto the dance floor, the world melts away, leaving just the two of you in the glow of twinkling lights.

The music swells around you as Steve pulls you onto the dance floor. The bass hums under your feet, the chatter of students blends into the beat, and suddenly, you’re surrounded by couples moving in sync under the dim, glittering lights.

You swallow, feeling a little overwhelmed. It’s not like you’ve never danced before, but you’ve never done this—never been the center of attention, never had an entire room secretly (or not-so-secretly) watching you.

Steve must notice your hesitation because his grip on your hand tightens slightly, grounding you.

“You nervous?” he asks, leaning in so you can hear him over the music.

“A little,” you admit.

His lips curve into a small smile. “You don’t have to be. It’s just me.”

And somehow, that helps.

Because it is just Steve—your childhood friend, the boy who’s always been kind to you, the boy who asked you to be his date when he could have had anyone else.

So you let out a breath and nod. “Okay.”

The song playing is more upbeat than a slow dance, and Steve doesn’t hesitate to start moving, his grip on your waist light, his other hand still holding yours. You try to follow his lead, your movements awkward at first, but after a few steps, you let yourself relax.

And then… you’re laughing.

Because Steve Rogers, for all his talent on the ice, is not the best dancer.

He tries, though. He does this ridiculous little move that looks half like a hockey stance, half like he’s dodging something, and you can’t help but giggle.

“Okay, I wasn’t expecting that,” you tease, smiling up at him.

Steve laughs, unashamed. “What, you don’t think I’ve got moves?”

“Oh, you’ve got moves, alright.”

“Good ones?”

You tilt your head, pretending to consider it. “Mmm… debatable.”

He grins, eyes shining. “Guess I’ll just have to impress you some other way.”

Before you can ask what that means, he twirls you—twirls you, like this is some kind of fairytale—and despite yourself, you let out a surprised laugh.

For a moment, everything else fades.

You don’t notice the stares. The whispers. The way Peggy Carter and the other girls who had been fighting for Steve’s attention now stand off to the side, watching in disbelief.

They aren’t subtle.

Peggy’s arms are crossed, her lips pressed into a tight line as she exchanges looks with some of the other cheerleaders. “I told you something was up between them,” she mutters.

Sarah Rogers, another popular girl who had been dropping hints to Steve all week, scoffs. “I don’t get it. No offense, but�� her?”

Peggy sighs, shaking her head. “I don’t know. I guess he likes her.”

Another girl huffs. “I still don’t understand why he didn’t just pick someone else.”

No one has an answer for that. Because Steve Rogers is the kind of guy who should be with a girl like Peggy Carter—someone who matches his status, someone who fits into the high school hierarchy.

But instead, he’s here—dancing, laughing, looking at you like you’re the only person in the room.

And that fact alone seems to shatter everything they thought they knew about him.

Bucky, meanwhile, is not enjoying himself.

He’s leaning against the punch table, arms crossed, glaring at the dance floor like it personally offended him.

“You alright, man?” Sam Wilson asks, raising a brow.

Bucky lets out a dramatic sigh. “No, Sam. I’m not alright.”

Sam follows his gaze, then smirks. “Ohhh. You’re mad Steve is dancing with your sister.”

“Damn right I’m mad.” Bucky gestures aggressively. “Look at him. Look at them.”

“They look happy,” Sam points out.

“That’s not the point,” Bucky grumbles. “That’s my baby sister.”

“She’s not a baby.”

“She is to me,” Bucky insists, taking a sip of punch. “And Steve’s my best friend. I trusted him.”

Sam laughs. “Dude, it’s Steve. You make it sound like he’s some player.”

Bucky glares. “I know he’s not. That’s why I’m pissed.”

Sam frowns. “Wait… so you’d rather she date some jerk instead?”

“Of course not.”

“So, what’s the problem?”

Bucky hesitates.

Because there isn’t a problem. Not really.

Steve is the best guy he knows. He’s loyal, he’s kind, and yeah—he’s obviously been head-over-heels for you for years.

But still.

Bucky groans, rubbing his temples. “It’s just… weird, okay?”

Sam pats his shoulder. “You’ll get over it.”

Bucky grumbles something unintelligible but doesn’t argue.

Because deep down, he knows Sam is right.

Back on the dance floor, Steve is still grinning at you like he’s never been happier.

“See?” he says. “Told you this wouldn’t be so bad.”

You roll your eyes but smile. “Okay, fine. You win.”

“I like the sound of that.”

You huff a laugh. “Of course you do.”

The song changes, the beat slowing, and suddenly, couples around you are drawing closer, settling into a slow sway.

You hesitate, your heart picking up speed.

Steve must notice, because he lifts a brow. “We can sit this one out if you want.”

You swallow. “Do you want to sit this one out?”

His gaze softens. “No.”

Your stomach flips.

You take a breath, then step a little closer. Steve’s hands find your waist, warm and steady, and you place yours lightly on his shoulders.

And then, you’re dancing.

It’s slow, gentle—nothing like the awkward shuffle you imagined. Steve moves easily, leading you without hesitation, and you let yourself relax.

“This okay?” he asks, voice low.

You nod, feeling strangely shy. “Yeah.”

He’s looking at you again—that quiet, thoughtful look he always gets when he thinks you aren’t paying attention.

You swallow hard. “What?”

His lips twitch. “Nothing.”

You narrow your eyes. “Steve.”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “I just… I can’t believe this is real.”

Your breath catches.

He hesitates, then continues, voice softer. “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”

Your heart pounds. “Dance?”

He smiles. “Be with you.”

The words settle over you like a warm blanket, and for once, you don’t overthink. You don’t panic.

Because this is Steve.

And maybe, just maybe, you’ve been waiting for this, too.

So you take a breath, tighten your grip on his shoulders, and rest your forehead lightly against his.

And in that moment, nothing else matters.

Bucky is losing his mind.

He’s actually going to have a heart attack right here at the punch table.

Because there, in the middle of the dance floor, under the dim glow of twinkling fairy lights, Steve Rogers—his best friend—is holding his baby sister like she’s the only person in the world.

And she’s letting him.

Their foreheads are practically touching. You’re looking at Steve like he’s hung the damn moon. And Steve—Jesus, Steve is looking at you like he’s already in love with you.

Bucky grips the edge of the table, his knuckles turning white.

He knew this was happening. He knew Steve had feelings for you. Hell, he’s known for years, even before Steve probably realized it himself. But seeing it? Actually witnessing his best friend hold you like that, touch you like that, dance with you like that?

Nope. Absolutely not.

“Breathe, man.”

Bucky startles. Sam is still standing next to him, watching with clear amusement.

Bucky scowls. “Don’t tell me to breathe.”

Sam snorts. “Dude, you’re gripping that table like it owes you money.”

Bucky doesn’t let go. “He’s holding her.”

“Yes, because they’re dancing,” Sam points out. “At prom. Like normal people.”

Bucky clenches his jaw. “It’s Steve.”

Sam raises an eyebrow. “And?”

“And—I know what that look means,” Bucky grits out. “That’s the look of a guy who wants to—”

Sam smirks. “Kiss her?”

Bucky groans, dragging his hands down his face. “God, I’m gonna be sick.”

Sam laughs, patting Bucky’s shoulder. “Relax. Steve’s a good guy. You said it yourself.”

“I know he is. That’s the problem.”

Sam tilts his head. “You’d rather she be with some random asshole?”

“No,” Bucky mutters.

“So what’s the issue?”

Bucky groans. “The issue is Steve is supposed to be my best friend. And she’s my sister. There’s a code.”

Sam snickers. “And did you ever actually tell him about this code?”

Bucky glares. “That’s not the point.”

Sam just shakes his head, watching the dance floor. “Face it, man. You knew this was gonna happen eventually.”

Bucky huffs, but doesn’t argue. Because, yeah. He did.

Still. That doesn’t mean he has to like it.

Especially not when Steve leans in a little closer.

Bucky’s eye twitches. “Oh, hell no.”

He storms off before Sam can stop him.

You don’t even notice Bucky approaching.

Because all you can focus on is Steve.

His hands are warm against your waist, his forehead almost touching yours, his blue eyes soft and searching. The music fades into the background, the room blurs around you, and for the first time all night, you don’t care that people are watching.

It’s just him.

You swallow hard. “Steve…”

He smiles, tilting his head slightly. “Yeah?”

Your heart pounds. You don’t even know what you were going to say. You just know that this moment—this feeling—is something you never want to forget.

And then—

“Alright, break it up!”

You jump as Bucky all but shoves himself between you and Steve, breaking your hold on each other.

Steve stumbles back, eyes wide. “Bucky?”

Bucky glares at him, crossing his arms. “That’s enough.”

You groan, covering your face. “Oh my God.”

Steve blinks. “We were just—”

“I know what you were just doing,” Bucky interrupts. “And I don’t like it.”

Steve sighs. “Buck—”

“Nope. I’m invoking big brother privilege. Step away from my sister.”

You groan again. “Bucky, stop—”

“No,” Bucky says firmly. “Because I see where this is going.” He turns to Steve. “And you, punk, should’ve asked me first.”

Steve raises an eyebrow. “Ask you?”

“Yeah,” Bucky says, like it’s obvious. “That’s how this works. You wanna date my sister? You ask me first.”

You glare at him. “That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Bucky ignores you.

Steve, to his credit, doesn’t look intimidated. Instead, he just sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. I should’ve asked you first. I’m sorry.”

Bucky frowns. “Wait, really?”

Steve shrugs. “Yeah. I get it.” He looks you in the eye, voice soft. “But I was gonna ask you on a proper date first.”

Your breath catches. “You were?”

His lips twitch. “Of course. I just figured I’d wait until after prom.”

Bucky groans. “This is a nightmare.”

You roll your eyes, shoving Bucky aside before turning back to Steve. “You want to take me on a real date?”

Steve nods. “Yeah. If you’ll let me.”

You hesitate for maybe half a second before nodding. “Okay.”

Steve smiles, looking relieved. “Good.”

Bucky makes a strangled noise.

You glare at him. “Leave.”

“No,” Bucky grumbles, arms crossed. “I have to make sure Rogers doesn’t try anything.”

Steve sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Bucky—”

“Nope.”

Steve looks at you, exasperated. You sigh. “Ignore him.”

Steve smirks. “Gladly.”

Bucky groans again. “This is so weird.”

And it is weird.

But when Steve reaches for your hand again—when he gives you that soft, knowing smile—you think maybe it’s the good kind of weird.

Steve picks you up on a Saturday afternoon, his truck packed with a picnic basket and a blanket. He had been oddly secretive about your first official date, only telling you to wear something comfortable. When you press him for details, he just grins and says, “You’ll see.”

The drive is peaceful, the windows rolled down as the early spring breeze sweeps through the cab. Steve drums his fingers against the steering wheel, humming softly to the song playing on the radio. Every now and then, he glances over at you, eyes warm, like he still can’t believe this is happening.

He takes you to a secluded spot near a lake, far enough from town that it feels like you’re the only two people in the world. The grass is soft and green, the water shimmering under the afternoon sun. He lays out the blanket beneath the shade of a tall tree, then starts unpacking the basket.

You sit cross-legged across from him, watching as he pulls out sandwiches, lemonade, and—of course—strawberries.

“You really went all out,” you say, amused.

Steve shrugs, a little sheepish. “Wanted to make it special.”

Your heart flutters.

You eat and talk for hours, the conversation flowing easily. Steve tells you stories about his childhood, some you’ve heard before, others you haven’t. You laugh as he recounts the time he and Bucky tried to build a treehouse but ended up stuck halfway up with no way down.

“I still don’t know how your mom didn’t ground you both for life,” you say, shaking your head.

“Oh, she did,” Steve chuckles. “But she also said it was the most ambitious disaster she’d ever seen.”

The sun starts dipping lower in the sky, painting everything in golden hues. You lay back on the blanket, staring up at the sky as Steve shifts closer, propping himself up on one elbow beside you.

After a moment, he reaches for a strawberry from the basket.

“Want one?” he asks.

You nod, expecting him to hand it to you, but instead, he brings it up to your lips himself.

Your breath catches slightly, but you take a bite, your eyes never leaving his.

Steve watches you, his gaze dipping to your lips. There’s a moment of silence, heavy and electric, and then—

He leans in.

You don’t pull away.

His lips are soft, tentative at first, like he’s giving you a chance to stop him. But you don’t. You kiss him back, your hand lifting to curl lightly into his shirt.

The kiss is sweet, unhurried, tasting faintly of strawberries and lemonade. When you finally pull apart, Steve rests his forehead against yours, his breath warm against your skin.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time,” he admits.

You smile. “Me too.”

That one kiss leads to more. Dates become a regular thing—late-night drives, walks around town, lazy Sundays at the park. Every time Steve picks you up, he greets you with that same soft smile, the kind that makes your stomach flip. Bucky complains loudly, but he doesn’t actually stop Steve from coming around, which means he’s tolerating it. Barely.

Eventually, the two of you make it official. It’s not some big announcement, but everyone figures it out when Steve starts calling you his girlfriend without hesitation. The looks and whispers at school don’t matter as much anymore. The popular girls still don’t understand how it happened, but Steve never gives them a second glance.

A few weeks later, you’re at home, sitting at the kitchen counter as your mom flips through a magazine. Bucky is sprawled on the couch, half-listening as you and your mom chat.

“I was thinking about getting a wax,” you say casually.

Bucky nearly chokes on his drink.

Your mom hums. “Oh, full-body?”

Bucky makes a strangled noise.

You shake your head. “No, just my legs and maybe a bikini wax.”

Bucky whips his head toward you. “What?”

You blink at him. “What?”

He looks horrified. “Why?”

You shrug. “Because it lasts longer than shaving?”

Bucky stares at you like you’ve just announced you’re moving to Mars. “But—but why now?”

Your mom raises an eyebrow. “Why does it matter?”

Bucky ignores her, still staring at you. “Is this because of him?”

You frown. “Who?”

His eye twitches. “Steve.”

You stare at him. “What does Steve have to do with—”

And then it clicks.

“Oh my God,” you groan. “Bucky, no.”

But he’s already spiraling. “This is it. It’s happening. You’re gonna get a full wax, then you’re gonna go to his house, and then—”

“Bucky, stop.”

He grips his hair. “You’re gonna sleep with him.”

Your mom snorts.

You cover your face. “I hate you.”

Bucky points an accusing finger. “I knew this would happen.”

Your mom sighs. “James, calm down.”

“Calm down?” Bucky sputters. “My baby sister is getting waxed for my best friend!”

“I never said that!” you exclaim.

“But you were talking about it!”

“For myself!”

Bucky doesn’t believe a word of it. “No. Nope. You’re not allowed to go to his house.”

“Oh my God.”

“I trusted him!”

Your mom rolls her eyes. “James, you need to get a grip.”

Bucky shakes his head, muttering under his breath about betrayal and how Steve is so dead the next time he sees him.

You groan, shoving your chair back. “I’m leaving.”

Bucky glares. “To his house?”

“I hate you,” you repeat, grabbing your bag.

Your mom pats your shoulder. “Have fun, sweetheart.”

Bucky gasps. “You’re encouraging this?”

“She’s grown, James.”

“She’s a child.”

“She’s seventeen.”

“Exactly!”

Your mom sighs, standing. “I’m making tea. You need some.”

“I need therapy,” Bucky mutters.

You roll your eyes, walking toward the door.

Bucky calls after you. “Tell him I’m watching!”

“Yeah, yeah,” you mutter.

But when you see Steve later, waiting for you with that soft, dimpled smile, you don’t think about Bucky’s dramatics.

You just think about how lucky you are.

The next few months with Steve are some of the best of your life. The dates keep coming—movie nights at his place, drives with no destination, lazy afternoons spent tangled up in each other on his couch. The longer you’re together, the easier everything feels, like you were always meant to fall into this rhythm.

It’s different with Steve. He isn’t just some guy you’re dating. He’s Steve. The boy who used to pull you up when you tripped running after him and Bucky. The boy who once sat with you on the curb for an hour when you scraped your knee, just so you wouldn’t cry alone. The boy who watched you grow up and somewhere along the way, started looking at you like you were his person.

It’s not just puppy love. It’s real.

And then, one day, it happens.

You go over to Steve’s place on a Sunday afternoon. His parents aren’t home, and neither is Bucky, which is rare. You don’t have a plan—you never do. You just like being with him.

You’re curled up together on the couch, the TV playing some movie neither of you are actually watching. Steve’s arm is around your shoulders, his fingers tracing lazy circles on your arm. You’ve been together long enough that physical affection is second nature, but today, there’s something different in the air, something unspoken simmering just beneath the surface.

When you shift slightly, looking up at him, he’s already watching you.

You don’t know who moves first. Maybe it’s both of you. But suddenly, his lips are on yours, and this time, there’s no hesitance. The kiss deepens quickly, hands gripping tighter, bodies pressing closer.

Your heart is pounding, but you don’t stop. Neither does he.

The shift from the couch to his bedroom is a blur. His hands are careful, his lips soft, his touch reverent, like he’s afraid he’ll break you if he isn’t gentle enough. You feel the same. It’s overwhelming, but not in a bad way. It’s new and uncertain, but it’s him.

And that’s all that matters.

Afterward, you lay in his arms, the room filled with the soft hum of his breathing. He holds you close, his fingers tracing along your spine, and you think to yourself that you’ve never felt safer than you do right now.

He presses a kiss to your hair.

“You okay?” he murmurs.

You nod against his chest. “Yeah. You?”

He exhales a soft laugh. “Yeah.”

You stay like that for a while, wrapped up in each other, the weight of what just happened settling between you in the best way possible. Neither of you regret it. If anything, it feels inevitable, like every moment leading up to this one was pushing you here.

Eventually, the sun starts to set, and you know you have to go home.

Steve walks you to the door, kissing you once, twice, three times before you finally force yourself to leave.

When you get home, Bucky is waiting.

He’s leaning against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, brows furrowed. He doesn’t say anything, just gives you a long, scrutinizing look.

You keep your expression neutral. “What?”

His eyes narrow slightly. “Where were you?”

You fight the urge to roll your eyes. “Steve’s.”

He tilts his head. “All day?”

You shrug. “Yeah?”

His gaze sharpens, but he doesn’t press. Instead, he just hums, watching as you grab a glass of water and make your way upstairs.

You can feel his suspicion, but you don’t acknowledge it.

It’s fine.

Everything is fine.

Then comes lunch the next day.

You, Steve, and Bucky are sitting together in the cafeteria like always. Sam is off grabbing food, which means Bucky has a clear opportunity to make things uncomfortable.

And he does.

“So,” Bucky starts casually, taking a sip of his drink. “What’d you guys do yesterday?”

You freeze mid-bite.

Steve tenses next to you.

Bucky notices immediately.

His eyes flick between the two of you, interest piqued. “What?”

“Nothing,” you say quickly. Too quickly.

Bucky squints. “That’s suspicious.”

Steve clears his throat. “We just hung out.”

Bucky nods slowly. “Hung out.”

“Yeah.”

“For how long?”

You and Steve exchange a quick glance.

Bucky notices that too.

His eyes narrow further. “You were at his house all day.”

You shrug, forcing yourself to sound normal. “So?”

Bucky leans forward. “What exactly were you doing at his house all day?”

Steve coughs into his drink.

You glare at Bucky. “What are you implying?”

Bucky raises an eyebrow. “I don’t know, you tell me.”

Steve shifts in his seat. “Buck—”

Bucky ignores him. “I mean, you did get that wax recently.”

You choke.

Steve nearly drops his fork.

Bucky grins.

“Oh my God,” you sputter, heat flooding your face.

Steve groans, rubbing his temples. “Bucky—”

Bucky points a finger. “I knew it.”

You grab a napkin and throw it at his face. “Shut up.”

Bucky swats it away, looking disgusted. “I knew something was off when you got home last night. You were acting weird.”

“I was tired!” you argue.

Bucky scoffs. “Oh, I bet you were.”

Steve covers his face. “Please stop talking.”

Bucky gapes at him. “Oh my God.” He turns back to you. “You did, didn’t you?”

You groan, burying your face in your hands.

Bucky slams his hands on the table. “I knew it!”

People are starting to look.

You lower your voice, glaring. “Bucky, shut up.”

“I trusted you,” Bucky says dramatically, looking at Steve. “I trusted you, and this is how you repay me?”

Steve sighs, dragging a hand down his face. “Bucky—”

Bucky turns back to you. “And you! After everything, you still—” He makes a strangled noise. “I knew this would happen!”

Sam walks up to the table, setting down his tray. “Knew what would happen?”

Bucky throws his hands up. “They slept together!”

Sam chokes on his drink.

Steve groans again. You bang your head against the table.

Sam, still coughing, blinks at the two of you. Then he grins. “Finally.”

Bucky glares at him. “Not helping.”

Sam just laughs. “Oh, this is great.”

“It’s not great,” Bucky snaps. “It’s awful.” He looks back at Steve, betrayal all over his face. “You were supposed to be my best friend.”

Steve sighs. “I am your best friend.”

Bucky shakes his head. “Not anymore.”

“Buck—”

“Nope. Friendship over.”

“You don’t mean that.”

Bucky scowls. “Maybe not, but I am mad at you.”

Steve gives him a flat look. “You’ll get over it.”

Bucky glares. “Don’t bet on it.”

You sigh, rubbing your temples. “Are you done?”

Bucky folds his arms. “Not even close.”

You groan. Steve sighs. Sam grins.

Lunch is ruined.

[overtake]

Hi!!!! I can't get over how much I love this fic and I was thinking about the first time they meet in the locker room at the practice rink. You wrote "Max looks up, cheeks flushing in surprise to find someone else in there. His eyes go big at seeing Daniel." and I was wondering if there's a chance we can read about Max's point of view sometime in the future ♥️ I would really love to read anything you want to share with us about this fic algjkshd ♥️

So late on answering this but I’d love to provide you with Max’s POV!

The first time Max talked to Daniel Ricciardo, Daniel was commanding attention in a cluster of hockey players at Max’s rookie season All-Star Game. To date, Max isn’t sure if his ears are just innately tuned to the frequency of his bright, honking laugh, or if his joy was truly louder than the announcement and subsequent crowd cheers for the start of the hardest shot competition.

Daniel’s helmet and gloves were carelessly abandoned somewhere. He was leaning his chin on the butt of his carelessly taped stick, and his curls were toeing the line between handsomly tousled and unruly. He was giving everyone who spoke his undivided attention, the bags under his warm brown eyes gently crinkling in time with his smiles. Max didn’t care that some annoying reporter kept trying to grab him over to the side for an interview. He had just wanted to know what it felt like to be in Daniel’s orbit.

Between Daniel and Lewis Hamilton was a space big enough for Max to worm his way into, and he didn’t care that he was crashing the conversation. Daniel wouldn’t care either, probably. Max knew lots of people who played with him, and everyone said the same gushing things about Daniel’s kindness.

Most of the guys just nodded at him and didn’t break their side conversations, but Daniel had flashed his bright white teeth at him. “Max Verstappen,” he said. He said Max’s name funny, more like Maksh Vershtappen, and grinned a little wider after Max scrunched his face up at it. “Nice of you to join us, but aren’t you in this competition?”

He nodded over at where Sebastian Vettel was lining up a shot. Max just shrugged. “Maybe if I hide in this circle, they won’t be able to find me.”

“Aw,” Daniel said. “Shucks, Verstappen. Too nice to show up Seb?”

“I could’ve been on a beach,” Max said mournfully. “And instead I am here.”

Daniel laughed again. He doled them out as easily as breathing, but Max still let himself glow at the reward of being its cause. “Normally people wait until at least year two to start complaining about the All Star Game.”

“Well, they keep saying I’m ahead of my peers, first overall pick and everythint,” Max joked. Daniel opened his mouth to respond — some chirp about Max being cocky, Max would’ve bet — but his name was being announced as the next competitor, and he was forced out of the circle to perform like a show pony for the crowd.

“Save my spot,” he told Daniel, who winked.

“Only if you win.”

Max had won, and by a solid few miles per hour over Seb’s previous record. By the time he returned to the circle, Daniel had been warbling some terrible version of the American anthem, and Lewis had kindly explained the Fergie backstory to him, and then Daniel darted off toward Sebastian before Max could grab his attention back and make the joke he’d been trying to formulate about winning.

Up until the day Daniel walked into the Leafs practice facilities, Max never spoke to Daniel again, but he’d remembered the way Daniel’s attention had made him feel.

He’d mentally separated sex and hockey long ago. It wasn’t even a conscious choice he needed to make. He was in the locker room to win, and attraction was a distraction. He’d always known that he was into guys, as easily as he recognized that his name was Max and his eyes were blue, but that had nothing to do with hockey.

Hockey players weren’t a dating pool. A hockey team was an ecosystem so delicate that one chirp gone too far could throw off the entire chemistry of the team and lose them the season. The opponents were the guys trying to stop them from winning, and Max would be damned before he let there be a single earthly chance that he fucks one of them and they somehow use it against him to win. Thus, hockey and sex did not co-exist. It wasn’t even a consideration. Like his name, and his eyes, and being gay, it was a fact of life that Max never had to consciously think about.

Daniel was the first time his stomach flipped being nearby a hockey player, and he’d allowed himself the guilty pleasure of a youtube deep dive when it hit two weeks after the All Star Game and Daniel hadn’t left his mind. It resulted in a shame-ridden jerkoff session over bad commercial acting and an orgasm over a compilation of Ricciardo game-winners.

Daniel wasn’t even in the Leafs conference, Max had told himself after that first time. Max could have this. It wasn’t actually combining sex and hockey, and he’d still smash Daniel against the boards if he ever tried to get near Max’s puck.

Then Daniel was in Edmonton, still the other conference but in Max’s country, and everyone was calling it lights out on Daniel’s career. In the faceoff circle, face framed in orange fabric and dark circles, Max saw that all the free joy Daniel had once doled out had soured into pungent melancholy.

Max only had a few games against Daniel as an Oiler, but one stood out. It couldn’t have been more than two weeks before Daniel entered the assistance program, but there was a steely scrap of fight in his eyes that Max hadn’t seen in the past year and a half.

Max had won the only faceoff he had against Daniel that game, but Daniel stole the puck from him five seconds later in a motion so smooth that it slotted perfectly in the highlight reels Max had rabidly consumed and that everyone claimed were a ghost of Daniel past. He was focused on racing Daniel down the ice to try and prevent the breakaway, but his first thought when he heaved himself over the boards at the end of his shift was that he couldn’t fathom how anyone could consider Daniel done after a move like that.

He only understood when he heard their dipshit coach ream out Daniel a second later. It was a strain to hear from their bench, even with Zak’s loud-ass voice, but he was lecturing Daniel for attempting the shot. Zak was stabbing his stubby pointer at a whiteboard and screaming himself red to argue that Daniel should’ve passed to a guy that had been covered by two defencemen. The useless rookie he was referencing hadn’t even caught the rebound of Daniel’s shot on net, but fucking genius idea: don’t let your open guy go for the goal that Esteban had stopped only by the luckiest glance off his goalie stick.

Max understood, then. Daniel’s talent wasn’t gone. It’d just been suffocated. He was trying to change his game to conform to a system of hockey that constrained him to a set of plays. They weren’t allowing him to trust his gut, to capitalize on unexpected chances and make the right plays. Daniel would leave, or they would trade him, and Max knew he’d be better for it.

And then it was June, and Max had a surprise call from Cyril and a contact card for Daniel Ricciardo saved into his phone. He let himself be excited instead of apprehensive, even though letting himself combine hockey and sexual desire, all by using the desperate justification that the guy was a conference away, was clearly Max daring the universe to make this happen.

Max is here in his locker room in the heart of summer, and Daniel Ricciardo walks in with a slight stumble of hesitancy that betrays his uncertainty at finding Max in his new surroundings.

He looks back to the guy that keeps the sun a willing hostage in his smile. His curls are long and shiny, his under eyes no longer hollowed, and Max can see muscle on his body where there was once only bone. Max is struck dumb with the reckoning that his stomach still churns the same way at the sight of Daniel, even when he’s picking at his cuticles and looking the closest to nervous that he’ll probably let himself show.

This, Max grimly considers, could maybe be a problem.

[drea-ms]

AUGUST 10. a.akane.

synopsis .... after not being able to cope with the death of you beloved, you find yourself at at 24hr store and meet someone who is grieving like you. While you grieve to dead, he grieves the alive.

warnings .... death, implications of suicide, signs of depression, rejection (on akas side), implication of being used as a coping mechanism, angst, hurt/comfort, readers last name is taira LOL, f!reader

word count .... 3.2k

THE MOON LOOKED BEAUTIFUL tonight, the night sky an almost navy-black, some stars shining brightly than others, and the smell of the ocean was a nice smell at night. The rooftop of your apartment was always a nice way to calm you down. You hated studying, you hated the night sky, the moon and the stars. You hated everything. Yet, it never stopped you from admiring it like you were it's devoted follower. You look down at your phone, it's three am, you were supposed be back in your room at 2:30 am, you got distracted once again.

You wonder if any stores were open, as you start heading to the door, you turn to look back at the moon, wondering when will be the last time you will ever see it.

~

By the time you got down from the roof top and to your room, it was already 3:06. You put on a hoodie you stole from your brother and a pair of pants. You headed out your room and towards the living room. Your home was always quiet at night despite the noise it makes during the day. Your older brother who was in his room playing games in his computer, is now in the kitchen, making himself some fruit. Your older sister who usually sleeps like a log, is now sitting in the living room watching some TV.

They both to turn to look at you, smile on their faces, you smile at them back. They're both glad that you're out your room, they always tell you that you don't have to study much, not to over work yourself, not to...

Not the point. You look at them with a confused look on your face, before you get to ask them why they're up, they answer you.

"Got hungry." He said, sticking out his tounge at you. Your older sister on the other hand points to the long bag which you can guess contained a katana she owned.

"Went out, I heard there was an influx of spirits out there, some of them contain negative energy." she shrugs, looking at you with a confused look on her face. Now it was her turn to ask you a question.

"Where are you going?" pointing at your outfit, you shurg before scratching your hair. A habit you suppose, one that helps you calms down.

"Store. I just finished studying and can't go back to sleep." you started to walk towards the door, stopping to put your shoes on. you look at the two as you put your shoes on.

"Text me what you want as I head there." like reading their own minds before they get to speak, the both smile at you, the window making their features look more soft, shining down at them. The moon gracing your siblings with her beauty.

(You wonder if this is how he saw you, he always loved the night, as you loved him.)

You head out the door and start walking to the elevator, you're to tired to be thinking about him again, so you think of other things as you're on the way to the store. You live by the beach, the smell is great (at least to you.) and the sea reflecting the moon makes it the view even beautiful. (you stop to take pictures. He would love it.)

It takes five minutes to get to the store, by the time you get there it's already 3:19 am. The store lights are on, that's a good sign. You push the door open, making make a ding as you do. You check your phone to see if your siblings texted you anything.

~

TWO (2) NOTIFICATIONS FROM

izu ^^ and saki <3

izu ^^ (1) : can u get me two reg redbulls and a bag of nerd cluster gummies 🥺🥺🥺🥺

saki <3 (1) : get me 3 monsters and some sandwiches pleek 👍

~

You give your phone a deadpan look, what is it with you and your family being addicted to energy drinks? Nonetheless, you head your way towards the the baskets, you get one and make your way to the back of the store where the drinks are in a fridge. You look back at your phone, a twitch in your eye appears, Misaki never said why flavor to get her, you're glad Izumi did though.

"Why would she ask for three Monsters and never tell me the flavor." you mumbled to yourself, a upset look on your face, "What's a good flavor to get her?" you asked yourself, looking at the variety of Monster drinks on display.

"The pink, purple and blue ones are always the ones for me." A voice next to you says, looking at you while are searching for a drink on the fridge next to you, you look at him with surprise, you scrambled out the words,

"Huh?" Great, just great [Name]. A pretty boy talks to you trying to help you and all you have to say to that is 'huh?' you facepalm in your head and start to cringe at everything.

"Sorry, I heard you didn't know what flavor to get as you mumbled to yourself." he nervously smiled at you, you look at him with a small smile, shy that that you look like you got hit by a bus and a pretty boy is talking to you.

"It's uh, fine. So, about those flavors you were talking about."

~

You check out all the stuff you were going to buy, waiting for a tall boy with brown hair and a pair of glasses. It's 3:45 now, you walk outside the store and wait for him. The stars are shining brighter than before, and the moon is now looking at down at you, your features now being shun by the fluorescent moonlight, you zone out the entire time you're waiting for the young boy. (At least you think he's young...)

"Did I make you wait a while, the cashier made a mistake on something." rubbing his arm that the bag he was holding with his free arm, he smiled at you.

"No, no. It's fine, I was looking at the moon—" you stop yourself before thinking about whether or not he would join you at the beach. I mean, to him your a random stranger, he is to you too. But, maybe what you need to cope is telling a random stranger anything.

"Do you maybe—you can say no if you're busy—want to go the beach with me? I noticed you were looking troubled and the sea at night helps me calm down and—" you stop yourself before talking his ears off, you look anywhere but him.

"I would love to, thank you for worrying about me...uh"

"Taira."

"Taira, thank you."

"It's fine..."

"Aoi."

"Aoi, what a nice name."

"I can say the same about Taira."

AKANE ISN'T SURE WHAT time it is. He knows the moon is high and the sky is dark, but he doesn't know the time. Ironic for someone who is a clock keeper. He looks out the window where Aoi's window is. Her curtains are shut, they have been shut more recently. He doesn't know if she did just because or because of him. Nonetheless, he still looks at the window with a furrowed eyebrows and eye bags under his eyes.

He checks his phone to check the time, it's 3:06 am. He decided that if he wasn't going to sleep after doing his loads of homework on a friday night, he was going to the store. He put on a hoodie and headed towards the door leading outside his home. Finding a pair of slippers that was discarded by the door. (whether it was his, his father's or his older brother was a mystery to him.)

He open the door to his home and exited out, by the time he was outside, it was 3:09. This time, he can clearly see the moon and the stars. They both looked beautiful but not as beautiful as...

Shit. He was doing that thing again, he told himself to not do it again, and here he was, comparing the beautiful of one thing to something that could never rival hers. He has to find a way to get over her. Curse first loves, curse the night sky that shines bright, the moon that shines it's white light in the ocean water, and the stars that never become shooting ones because dreams aren't able to come true.

Aoi Akane hates everything about the night.

With small tears in his eyes, he wipes them away and starts to head to the store near him, he knows it's always open, he's been there before and knows some of the workers there, so while on a peaceful walk to the store, he notices a figure. He forgot his glasses again, he's been forgetting them lately, it's pissing him off.

Sometimes, he wished that Kako and Mirai never saw him and staged that stupid stunt to get him to become like one of them. Looking towards the figure, he notices a young girl around his age. Across the street from him, she's taking pictures of the night sky, smiling to her self as looks through them. She looks sad, almost as if she sees something in the night that he can't.

Either way, he turns the other way, ignoring her and zoning out as he walks to the store. Reddish-brown hair flowing as the wind moves in a slow pace, the smell of the sea sickens him, how can he enjoy the smell of the ocean without it reminding him of her? Why does he associate everything that's beautiful with her? He stops for a bit and turns to look at the beach just across from him.

He sees the same girl again, this time, her hood is down. Her hair flowing with the wind, her phone up and taking a picture of the moon. She turns to look foward, a sad smile on her face, from far away, it looked like to him that she was beginning to cry.

For the first time since his first year, Akane has never saw something more beautiful than Aoi. The way the moonlight shines bright, her freatures enveloping with the light, the stars that once shined bright tonight, are being outshined by the beauty of the some random girl he saw taking pictures of the moon. Almost as if she was grieving, as if the connection between the moon and her grief were connected.

The girl continues to walk straight, only turning when she sees the store is open. For a minute, Akane just stands there, thinking about the girl. Wondering just who she is, and how ethereal she might be.

For the first time since his first year, Aoi Akane had begun to blush like crazy, his heart beating at an abnormal rate, one would think he was dying. But no. For the first time since his first year, Aoi Akane has begun to fall for someone at first sight, just like his elementary days.

~

It's 3:25 am when Akane gets to the store, he pushes the door open, a small ding can be heard from pushing it open, the cashier who was working tonight waved at him, a smile across her face. "Welcome back Akane." she says, a smile on her face. He smiles back at her, waving hello as he heads down to the drinks aisle. His head hurts and he still don't feel like sleeping, maybe an energy drink would suffice. Maybe not.

When he heads to the drink aisle, he already sees someone there, looking as if they're having a dilemma on which drink they should have, he laughs quietly before going to the fridge next to the person. One full of juices of every kind, he chooses one that would go well with his mood.

"Why would she ask for three Monsters and never tell me the flavor." they mumbled, the voice of a girl be heard. The only girl he saw enter the store was—

"The pink, purple and blue ones are always the ones for me." What.

Oh.

Oh.

Akane wasn't so sure that he was thinking throughly with what he had just said, he doesn't even drink monsters! His older brother does! Not him! He doesn't even like them! So why did his mind think it was best to just to blurt that out?!

He might just kill him—

"Huh?" she said, turning to look at him, and oh how he wishes that he had a camera to take a picture of her, her beauty blinding him. She reminded him of A—

The night sky. She reminded him of the night sky that was still outside waiting for him to go home. He stood there for a bit before answering her, nervously looking everywhere but at her.

"Sorry, I heard you didn't know what flavor to get as you mumbled to yourself." he says quickly, finding new ways to kill himself to get away from the embarrassment he was feeling right now. A smile her face said everything he needed to calm down. Granted it was an awkward one, but it helped him soothe him.

"It's uh, fine. So, about those flavors you were talking about."

Right.

THE TRIP TO THE beach was an easy one, granted they lived near it, and the store was near it so they don't mind it one bit. It was a quiet walk to the beach, not one that would be deemed as awkward like before, but one that was comfortable for both, where they didn't have to say anything just to make the other feel comfortable. The comfortable silence is broken when Akane begins to speak.

"Do....Do you like the beach?" he asked, walking while staring foward, they were near where the entrance of the dock is. As they head there, you look at him more closely.

He looked beautiful, his hair framing his face perfectly, the color of his hair going well with everything about him. His eyes and hair match. They shine bright as the moonlight reflects the light towards his eyes. Mesmerized by him, you stop walking and out of concern he stops a few steps ahead of you.

"Did-Did I bother you" concern in his face, he scratches his cheek with his free hand. Now you're at fault, you were to mesmerized by him and his looks, that you stop walking and he's concerned that he might have struck a nerve.

'You should stop doing that often [nickname]! You'll end up sending the wrong message!'

He was right.

Stepping out of your dazed state, you decided to be honest with the boy infront of you, not like how you were with him back then. You won't mess up again like before.

"You're face..."

"My face...?"

You step infront of him, now looking directly into his eyes, Akane notices that as much as the moonlight was shining down at him, it was mostly shining down at you. Your features being illuminated as the moon shares its beauty with you. You looked like an angel, one who has fallen after sinning and disobeying your god.

A fallen angel.

"You're very handsome if I say so myself....Your features are beautiful at night, are they as beautiful during the day?" You mumbled, now way nearer than before, your faces are almost touching. Akane turns a bright red, he isn't sure if it's out of embarrassment or being flustered, but before he can say anything, you back away. Laughing like he just told the most funniest thing in the world.

"Was that to much? I'm sorry, I don't want to make you uncomfortable Aoi-san." Though you don't regret what you had said, you didn't want to make to make him uncomfortable.

"I-It's fine, Taira-san..." he's still blushing like crazy. Not even Aoi has called him handsome outright. The poor boy is so flustered, he doesn't notice the girl answering his question from the beginning.

"About your question, I would say I enjoy the beach. It helps me relax, especially at night. Where no one can interrupt you." You looked at him with a smile, walking past him to start walking towards the sand. He follows you.

"Do you? Like the beach I mean." you ask, stopping to take of your slippers, stepping on the sand that was once hit by the sun in the day time, now that it's night, the sand is cold.

Akane does the same thing as you, taking of his slippers as he continues to talk to you, "I wouldn't say so, the beach reminds me someone."

As the two of you walk closer towards where the sand and the water collide, you look at him with an unknown look on your face, "You too?"

Akane wasn't sure what you are on about, but from what he can infer, the beach probably remind you of someone as well. you sit down and pull out a red bull, the juneberry one he believes, "I guess" he sits down, knees propped up, his hand on his left knee, using it as stand for his face. He inspects you a while longer.

Akane notices some things about you, how your eyes are a nice shade, your hair that's messy, looks soft. How under your eyes, you have heavy eyebags.

The rest of the night is spent with knowing about the other, you tell Akane things about you, he tells you things about him. The night is spent with new memories and new things about each other. Before you realize it, it's around 4:36 am. Your brother is calling you to come home before your parents wake up.

"Ah. It seems like it's time to go, Sorry for bothering you, Aoi-san" You get up from where you were sitting, bowing at him to apologize, he waved his hands in a rejecting way, shaking his head 'no'.

"Don't apologize! It's fine Taira-san! You don't have to worry, you made me have fun tonight." He smiles at you, you believe it to be a beautiful one. "I..had fun with you too." you tell him, turning to look the other way, as you start walking behind him, you turn to look at him one last time for the night.

"Bye, Aoi." you wave at him goodbye as you start walking your way home. Akane on the other hand, stays a bit longer, watching as the waves come and go, hitting the sand where he sits. turning around as he sees you gone, he finally puts his head on his knees, turning a bright red as he does so.

"I'm an idiot, aren't I?" He whined, he gets up from his place, and starts to head home with some juice boxes and an open heart once again.

vals yapping session — 👋 hi, no im not back on here, i just started making a fic in wattpad so pls read wiege! it's a tbhk x reader 🙂‍↕️ that's the only thing keeping me alive n motivated LOL

[pholla-jm]

Space Nerd

IMAGINE: SPACE NERD~ YUJI X READER GENRE: FLUFF cw: unestablished relationship. gn! reader. use of (y/n). not proof read. ~~~~~~~~~~

The crickets chirped late at night as you walked through the halls of the dorm. It was reaching morning hours, yet you couldn’t fall asleep. So a midnight stroll would surely be the answer to your restlessness. 

One thing that you were not expecting was to bump into Yuji. 

Even though it was unexpected, you still welcomed his presence with open arms. 

“Yuji.” You greet him with a large smile on your face. 

His eyes were wide for a second before he returned your smile, “(y/n), what are you doing up so late?” He asks. You shrug, “I couldn’t really sleep. What about you?” “Same.” 

It was quiet for a couple of seconds before Yuji came up with an idea.

Late nights with Yuji were always the best. They were spontaneous, but you always had the best time of your life. 

Of course, you agree to any notion he told you. So that’s how you found yourself in the chilly outside air, even though the both of you were wrapped in blankets, looking up at the clear night sky. 

It was truly a rare wonder. Somehow the city lights failed to pollute the sky, allowing the both of you to see the stars. 

“Oh, look, it's Andromeda.” You say pointing at the sky. Yuji follows your finger, trying to find this ‘Andromeda’. But all he could see were clusters of stars. 

“The what?” 

“Andromeda, also known as the chained maiden. It’s named for the daughter of Queen Cassiopeia and King Cepheus of Greek mythology. Andromeda has the nickname of the Chained Lady because her parents chained her up and offered her as a sacrifice to appease the sea monster Cetus… so it kinda looks like a woman that’s chained.” You ramble while staring at the constellation. 

It was silent and you realized that you might have rambled a bit too much. You look over to Yuji who was staring at you with such wonder. “I’m sorry. I can get a bit carried away when talking about stars. I really love anything to do with space.” 

Yuji chuckles a bit and shakes his head, “don’t worry about it. I liked it. It’s amazing that you know this. You’re really smart.” You shyly smile at him, thankful that it was a bit too dark for him to see the growing blush. 

“Can you do another one?” He asks and you nod your head. 

You look back into the sky, looking for a constellation to name. Unaware of the cold still nipping at your skin, even though the blanket is wrapped around you, you started to shiver. 

“Are you cold?” Yuji asks, breaking you from your concentration. “Oh, um-” “Here. Come over here.” He says opening up his blanket to show the empty space between his legs. 

You didn’t really want to pass up this opportunity of being really close to him, but you were lying if you said you weren’t nervous. 

Swallowing your nerves, you scooted over until Yuji helped you sit in between his legs. He moved around a little so he could get comfortable. His legs basically caged you in, arms wrapped around you, so that your blanket and his blanket were now over you and him. You could feel the warmth Yuji’s chest was radiating. 

Not only was your body warming up but your face was warming up at close proximity.  

“The next constellation?” Yuji asks and you nod your head. “Right.” 

You look back up at the sky, only now noticing how close Yuji’s face is. His face right next to yours as he rests his chin on your shoulder. You had to admit, it made it really hard to concentrate. 

You spotted one. One that you were quite familiar with since you knew it was Yuji’s zodiac sign. 

“There’s pisces. It’s a zodiac constellation… your zodiac sign. It is associated with a story about the goddess Aphrodite and her son Eros transforming into fish to escape the monster Typhon. It kinda looks like the letter ‘V’...” You say and Yuji laughs. 

“Yeah, when you say it like that, I see it.” 

“It’s easier to remember it that way.” 

“One more?” He asks and you could basically feel the puppy dog eyes accompanied by the pout. 

You couldn’t say no to him. 

“Fine, one more.” 

Your eyes skim across the sky until you find one of the easier ones, “ Right there- Hydra. Also known as the water serpent. It was named after the Lernaean Hydra, the monster from the myth of Heracles’ Twelve Labours. It’s one of the largest constellations. It’s almost like a line that looks like a snake.” 

Yuji tilts his head, trying to see this ‘snake’, but the stars all look the same to him. 

“I don’t see it.” 

You turn your head to face him, “well that’s cause you’re not looking in the right direction.” 

You lift your hand to his face and push his head in the other direction. With another hand, you point along the line. “You see? It’s right there under Corvus and Crater.” 

“Well now it just sounds like you’re making up words.” 

You burst out laughing, “no. No I’m not. I swear.” “Well how am I supposed to find it if I don’t know what Corvus and Crater is?” 

“I guess I have to just teach you about those too.” 

Normally, Yuji would pass on the idea of learning something like that. But when it came to you, he’d learn anything. 

“Yeah, I’d like that.” 

You only now realize that your hand is still on his face. “Oh, I’m sorry.” You say while putting your arms back down into the blankets. 

Yuji smiles at you, finding how you react to getting nervous to be endearing. His heart would beat faster every time and he could only hope that you didn’t feel it on your back. 

“It’s fine. I kinda liked it anyway.” 

He could feel your body shake a little, assuming that you were laughing a bit. 

Yuji let out a sigh of content, his arms wrapping around you a bit tighter. After a while, he could feel your body relax against his and when he looked down he saw that your eyes were closed. 

A soft smile graces his face, as he admires your peaceful complexion. He leans down a bit, his lips placing a gentle kiss on your forehead. One that he was too scared to do if you were conscious. 

“Good night, my little space nerd.”

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

Galileo Galilei Birthday Story

Translations may not always capture the exact nuances or tone of the original text. Expect grammatical errors and inaccuracies.

Not proofread.

As I walked, carefully examining each bunch of grapes一

Galileo: "Mitsuki."

He suddenly called my name and pulled me close, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

(........)

Galileo: "How about these grapes? The color and shape aren't bad."

Mitsuki: "Eh, ah, grapes?"

Just as he said, a cluster of fine grapes hung heavily on the branch he pointed to.

(I'm feeling kinda silly, getting all flustered on my own like this.)

Mitsuki: "I-I think they look great. They're shiny, and the stems are thick and sturdy."

As I tried to stay composed while evaluating the grapes, he narrowed his eyes gently and smiled.

Galileo: "Apologies. It seems I gave you the wrong impression."

(Huh?)

Galileo: "Let's take some time to relax and reflect on this again later tonight."

Too shy to respond verbally, I nodded, feeling my heartbeat pick up again.

Later, thanks to the kind owner who let us use the kitchen, we brought some freshly made schiacciata back to our hotel.

Mitsuki: "Alright, let's cut it."

It was finally time to cut into the schiacciata.

Galileo: "It smells wonderful, and it looks well made."

Mitsuki: "Hehe, thank you."

(I hope he'll like the taste too.)

I handed him a piece of Schiacciata, watching in hopeful anticipation as he took a bite.

Galileo: "It’s delicious."

Mitsuki: "Really? I'm so glad."

As relief washed over me, I realized just how much pressure I'd felt.

(Maybe it's because he told me this dessert held memories of his family.)

It was almost as if I'd been afraid of tarnishing something so dear to him.

Galileo: "You should try it too."

Mitsuki: "Okay, thanks."

I took a bite, and my mouth filled with the sweet and tart flavors of the grapes. The juicy grapes burst over the springy dough, followed by the crisp, nutty flavor of the roasted seeds.

Galileo: "These grapes are juicy—not like the ones I tried making before."

Galileo: "Maybe the simplicity lets the freshness of the ingredients really shine."

Nodding at his words, I took another bite of the schiacciata, and he paused, holding his fork mid-air.

Galileo: "It truly tastes nostalgic."

(Galileo.)

From the time we met until now, he hasn't said much.

Yet, looking at Galileo in front of me, I could tell he was moved by the taste of it, as he recalled those days he spent with his family.

Galileo: "Mitsuki."

He spoke my name, his amethyst gaze resting only on me.

Galileo: "Will you make it again?"

Mitsuki: "Sure. As many times as you want."

Not long ago, he told me that his father often played a string instrument called the lute.

This time, he told me about enjoying schiacciata with his family.

(But I've never really asked about the specifics, like what kind of interactions he had with his father or what his family was like.)

(I wonder if he'll talk about those memories someday.)

(I really hope so.)

Galileo: "........"

As I gazed back at him with that wish in my heart, I noticed a slight sadness in his eyes.

Mitsuki: "It's beautiful here. You can see more stars than in Paris."

After finishing the schiacciata, we made our way to a nearby flower field.

Galileo: "It's probably because the air is so clear."

Mitsuki: "I'm glad the manager told us about this place."

When he asked if there were any good spots nearby to see the stars, the hotel manager kindly drew a map leading us to this flower field.

Galileo: "Shall we sit here?"

He stopped, looked up at the starry sky, and sat down.

As I sat beside him, he unexpectedly offered me something that looked like a thin, disc-shaped object.

Mitsuki: "This is?"

Galileo: "It's a star chart."

Galileo: "With this, you can know the approximate positions of the stars throughout the year."

Looking at it, I saw countless white dots forming a star map through an oval cut-out window.

One of the overlapping discs was designed to rotate according to the date and time markers, revealing and concealing different star maps with each turn.

(In other words, it's like a star finder from my world.)

Mitsuki: "Cool! Did you make this by hand?"

Galileo: "Yeah. I thought it might be nice for you since you've shown an interest in the stars."

That's true. Ever since I met him, I've been looking up at the sky more often because I wanted to be closer to him and see the same things he does.

(I suppose my desire to learn about the stars is the same as my desire to understand him.)

Mitsuki: "I'm so happy! Also, it's pretty cool that you could make something like this for our trip!"

Galileo: "Actually, I finished it before the trip was even decided. I just hadn't had the chance to give it to you."

Mitsuki: "Huh? But we've stargazed together recently."

Mitsuki: "Why didn't you tell me then?"

Galileo: "........."

He suddenly fell silent.

Part 1 ╎ Part 2 ╎ Premium ╎ Epilogue

[kedsandtubesocks]

baseball spring training started & I miss Gojo so here we are lol, this is dedicated to @stellamancer @seiwas & @vigilante-izuku for always supporting my baseball Gojo brainrot, love you babes

01: change-up.

baseball player!gojo x reader

-

The weather is gorgeous.

“A wonderful day for baseball,” the lady checking your bag into the stadium even grinned when she told you that.

You don’t know baseball. Didn’t even know spring training was a thing. Yet with the amount of fans in the smaller stadium, and the cluster of photographers and news reporters lining the media area, you could’ve sworn this is a regular game.

And it’s all because of one man, the same man you met at a coffee shop.

Satoru Gojo - born on December 7 1989.

Thankfully you didn’t have to stare at the wiki page for long because every sports outlet online happily was ready to tell you more about him.

He’s considered a once in a lifetime player. He hit a home run once where the ball busted out of the Tokyo Dome. He broke a pitching record his first season in Japan’s Major leagues. He has one of the highest batting averages a pitcher can have.

As a pitcher you learn he is known for his notorious changeup.

It’s a type of pitch that relies on deception, tricks a player into believing a fast pitch approaches only for the ball to change speed and throw off the batter. You can’t wrap your mind around a ball even being able to do that.

But you couldn’t help but think how it fits Gojo. This seemingly way too tall and annoyingly charming guy turns out to be an absolute mega star of an athlete doesn’t feel real.

Because now here you are at a baseball spring training game not even knowing a single clue about the sport.

Currently waiting for the game to start, you scroll through the ESPN page and accidentally press a video attached to his section. It starts up a recent interview of him at a talk show. The sigh of him in a sleek gorgeous deep navy suit that brings out his eyes has you memorized. Then hearing him talk, hearing him laugh through your phone breaks the spell.

You quickly scramble out of the article, click away all open tabs, even clear your history and wonder if you should maybe just leave.

He did beg you to come see him, but how would he even know if you came…

That’s when the team line ups are called.

In the 00 jersey, batting second and not pitching this game, the announcement of Satoru Gojo’s name makes the crowd erupt in a frenzy shocking you.

A kid behind you, with absolute adoration in his voice, excitedly tells his dad how amazing Gojo is and how this year their team had to make it to the championship because of him.

Your eyes zone in on the man constantly trying to pay for your coffee shop order.

He even paid the poor barista to make a messy baseball sugar cookie with a sad face on it as an apology for you.

Now he struts onto the field drawing all the attention to him, yours included. It’s unfair how handsome Gojo looks in the uniform that highlights his tall frame and broad shoulders. He also wears sleek sunglasses that block his eyes.

Once on the line with the rest of his teammates, Gojo wearing the most charming smile takes off his hat and nods his head ever so slightly to the reception given to him. His face turns to skim the crowd in front of him, smiling and waving at everyone.

That is until he spots you.

You feel caught red handed and your heart hammers inside your chest so rapidly.

Suddenly Gojo slides his sunglasses down and blatantly stares at you. You regret sitting so close in the arena because now his twinkling sky blue eyes refuse to let his gaze leave yours.

Then, with the most amused grin, he winks at you and slides his glasses back on.

You’re horrified, almost squawk, and think about walking to sit on the opposing team’s side. But it’s because of all the nasty butterflies trying to infest your stomach.

Whatever was on your face, whatever reaction you made, suddenly has Gojo laughing.

It’s a bright thing he tries covering up by coughing, but you saw it. Even his teammate standing beside him notices.

Even with gorgeous weather, the wonderful energy of the crowd so eager for the game to start… watching Gojo, finally taking in this new reality in, feels like something dangerous is starting to brew in your chest.

[deoreoo]

Can I have something fluff with Rocket pretty please?

-💥

CITTALI

Rocket x Reader fluff!

Mhmhmhm i went crazy on this one can you tell?

Under the vast canopy of night you and Rocket found yourselves on a gentle hill away from the city’s bustling place, The grass beneath was soft and the sky above was a tapestry of shimmering stars. Rocket was always eager for exploration laid back with a sigh of contentment eyes fixed on the celestial display

"Look at that constellation," You pointed out, tracing the outline of Orion with a finger Rocket’s eyes sparkled with interest as he tried to connect the dots.

"I’ve read about that one" Rocket said, his voice filled with excitement "It’s amazing how ancient stories link to these stars"

Rocket propped himself up on one elbow, his face illuminated by the soft glow of starlight.

“Do you think there’s more out there, beyond what we can see?”

You smiled, imagining the endless possibilities

“Absolutely. The universe is so vast, and we’ve only just begun to explore it each star and planet has its own story, waiting to be discovered.”

Rocket's eyes widened with wonder the bright lights from the sky illuminating on his eyes “It’s incredible to think that somewhere out there, someone might be looking up at the same stars and wondering about us”

The thought lingered in the air as we both gazed up in contemplative silence a gentle breeze rustled the grass around us, adding to the serenity of the moment

Rocket suddenly sat up, a playful grin spreading across his face.

“Hey, let’s make a wish on a shooting star! Maybe it’ll come true.”

We watched eagerly as a streak of light crossed the sky. Rocket closed his eyes and whispered his wish while you made your own silent hopes. As the shooting star faded we both felt a warm sense of connection to the cosmos.

As the last traces of the shooting star vanished, Rocket settled back down beside you, his gaze returning to the stars. “So, what’s your favorite constellation?”

thinking for a moment before answering.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the Big Dipper. It’s not just a constellation but part of a larger group called Ursa Major. It’s been used for navigation for centuries.”

Rocket’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “That’s so cool! I’ve heard about how it’s used to find the North Star. What about other constellations?”

“Well,” you start off thinking-

“there’s Cassiopeia, which looks like a ‘W’ in the sky. It’s named after a queen in Greek mythology who was known for her beauty.”

Rocket tilted his head, considering this. “Mythology is so interesting. I’ve read that the stars in Cassiopeia are actually different distances from us, but they just look like they’re in a line because of our perspective.”

“Exactly,” you say with a grin your eyes seemingly twinkling with excitement as you continue speaking

“The stars in any constellation aren’t necessarily related to each other They’re just grouped together from our viewpoint.”

Rocket pointed to a cluster of stars. “What about that one? It looks like a triangle or maybe a dorito..."

“That’s the Summer Triangle, It’s made up of three bright stars from three different constellations- Vega in Lyra, Deneb in Cygnus, and Altair in Aquila. Together, they make a distinctive shape that’s easy to spot.”

Rocket traced the triangle with his finger, visibly impressed.

“I love how each constellation has its own story and significance. It’s like the night sky is a huge, cosmic tapestry, and every star is a thread in it.”

Then he turned to you with a huge goofy grin

"But you seem to be a nerd when it comes to the stars"

"I'll take it as a compliment thank you!" You snort as you playfully smack his arm making him retaliate and slap you back earning fits of laughter under the starry sky

As we both continued to converse about the constellations, Rocket's gaze became wistful. He looked up at the stars with a thoughtful expression, lost in his own imagination.

“You know” Rocket began slowly “sometimes I wish I could be a star in another timeline. Imagine being part of that endless dance of light shining brightly for centuries, and seeing the universe change over time.”

You glance at Rocket intrigued and amused by his thought. “That sounds interesting i wonder what would it be like?”

Rocket’s eyes sparkled as he spoke. “I’d love to be a star, witnessing the birth of new celestial bodies, watching planets form and maybe even seeing distant civilizations look up and wonder about me. It would be like being part of something so grand and timeless”

You smiled, touched by Rocket’s poetic vision. “It’s amazing to think about how every star has its own journey. Even though we’re just observers, we’re connected to that grand narrative in our own way.”

Rocket nodded, his gaze fixed on the distant stars. “Yeah.... It makes me feel like even if I’m not a star, I’m still part of the same vast universe It’s comforting to think that our dreams and wishes are intertwined with the cosmos.”

As the chill of the night settled around us, Rocket shifted closer, wrapping hiself with his arms we sat side by side, the gentle rustle of the grass the only sound besides our quiet breathing.

Rocket’s voice softened to a contented murmur. “Even if we’re not stars, moments like these make me feel like we’re part of something just as magical.”

Iooking over and saw Rocket’s eyes reflecting the starry sky.

“Absolutely. It’s moments like these that make the universe feel a little smaller and a lot more beautiful.”

We both sighed in unison, feeling a deep sense of peace the stars above seemed to twinkle a bit more brightly as if sharing in our quiet joy as the night wore on we drifted into a comfortable silence wrapped in the softness of the moment and the shared warmth of friendship.

With the cosmos as our backdrop and the promise of more adventures to come feeling myself close my eyes feeling truly content and connected under the infinite sky

[chronicallycouchbound]

Unhoused Joy: Meeting Diane

I was talking with my partner about the seven sisters star cluster and then about subarus and how great lesbians are and how having a butch lesbian in your life is wonderful. And I was reminded specifically of a butch lesbian named Diane who was the cook and staff at the youth shelter I lived at.

When I met her, she pulled me aside after my first breakfast there and said if anyone messed with me because I’m trans to just let her know and she would make sure I would be safe. We had many long conversations and she saved extra mac n cheese (my favorite) for me.

She always was great about my dietary restrictions and sometimes even made special meals just for me, even though she never had to. When she moved across the country with her partner, she hugged me goodbye and we cried together.

Her brief presence in my life as a safe queer adult, after I had just gotten kicked out and had zero contact with my family, was absolutely life saving for me.

I told my partner all about her. He said “I wonder how many other queer and trans youth she got to build connections with in her years working there” and I know it was many, her cooking alone was legendary in our community. Everyone I knew spoke kindly of her.

There was so many people who cared for me through hard moments in my life, and Diane was one of them. I hope she is doing well in life.

[circus4apsycho8]

Oh also did I request a oneshot of the reader taking care if the ninja during child's play cause my more is horrible

𝚊/𝚗: 𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎! 𝚒 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚞𝚋𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝟷 (𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕, 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝟸) 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚐𝚘, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚒 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚒𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚕. 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛!

𝚒 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝟸 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚍𝚔 𝚢𝚎𝚝!

child's play. | ninja & reader

There has to be a story here somewhere. 

You push your way through the sea of bodies clustered on the sidewalk, eyes trying to locate a nearby street sign. Soon enough, you do, taking a moment to ensure that the street name you’re on matches the one on your phone’s map. 

“The museum has to be close,” you mumble, heading down the correct sidewalk. As you do, your eyes occasionally dart to your phone to verify that you’re continuing in the correct direction.

As you round the corner of the block, you notice a few pedestrians milling around, some waiting for the phone booth to open. You pass it, not noticing the hopeful stares of four pairs of eyes looking at you. 

Your mind shifts to the details you had heard concerning the break-in that had occurred within the museum early this morning: the police had caught four children red-handed with a stolen sarcophagus nearby. And although they’re in the process of investigating the museum’s security feed, something about the whole situation seems off. And it’s your job to figure out why and let the world know about it. 

You’re about to cross the street when you hear someone yelling your name from behind you. 

Frowning, you turn, shutting your phone off as you look around. 

“Down here!” 

You shift your stare down, finding four children stationed in front of you. Something about them seems...uncannily familiar, but that couldn’t be because you don’t know any children personally. 

“Hi there,” you greet hesitantly. “What do you need?” 

“You’ve gotta help us!” cries the redheaded boy, eyes wide as he jumps forward and gestures wildly. “We were trying to stop Lord Garmadon from resuscitating the Grundle with the Mega Weapon, but then we got caught up in its spell and it made us kids again and now we’re stuck as kids running from the Grundle but we can’t even go anywhere because we’re kids now!” 

For a moment, you’re speechless as you try to process what he’s saying. You try to be polite, but all that comes out is: “What?” 

The brown-haired boy shoves the redhead roughly. “You can’t just say it like that! She doesn’t even recognize us yet!” 

“My apologies,” adds the white-haired child. “My friend is a bit rattled from the events of the morning. Do you recognize us?” 

“...No?” you wonder, frowning. “Should I?” 

“We’re the ninja!” the black-haired boy cries. “Remember? We work with you a lot during the public conferences!” 

“We just got turned into kids because we were trying to stop Garmadon!” explains the brunet. “Remember? I’m Kai, that’s Jay, Cole, and this is Zane.” 

You’ve got to be kidding me. 

“You work as our journalist! Well, kind of!” adds the redhead – Jay? “You’re about to investigate the museum, because wherever there’s trouble, you follow! And we just happen to be there like eighty percent of the time!” 

“You always help us out with the public press conferences,” Cole notes. “You give us advice on how to reply and join in on our discussions.” 

“Are you kidding me?” you respond. “Wait, wait, so let me make sure I’m understanding you correctly. You’re actually the ninja, and during your fight against Garmadon, you got turned back into children?” 

Kai nods. “Exactly. And now, there’s a revived Grundle preparing to hunt us all down when the sun sets. And we’re basically powerless against it!” 

“Oh my stars,” you mumble, rubbing your forehead. Well...this is certainly not how you expected the day to go. But you know they have to be the ninja now, considering what they told you. “Okay...okay. Fine. What do you need me to do?” 

“We managed to get in contact with a teammate,” Jay notes. “We have to meet him at Buddy’s Pizza in three hours!” 

“Three hours?!” Cole exclaims. “Why so long?!” 

“Because! Lloyd has to get into contact with Sensei Wu and Nya, then find a way to get down here without an adult! Which, as we now know, is much harder than we initially thought!” 

Whew. A few hours with mini ninja. This should be interesting. 

“Okay, so...what do you guys need me to do?” you question. 

“We need a ride, for starters,” Kai answers. “We can’t get around anywhere without an adult.” 

“Well, my car’s parked in a garage a few blocks away,” you note. “We could just use that.” 

“That’s perfect!” Jay chirps. 

“Any chance we can stop for breakfast, by the way?” Cole asks, earning an elbow to the stomach by Jay. “Oof! What was that for?! We’ve been out all night!” 

“You can’t just ask her to do that! That’s rude!” Jay admonishes with a frown. 

“Actually, I'm kind of hungry too,” you note. “Fine. Let’s go. You said we have about three hours, right? So, we have some time to kill.” 

“See! She gets it!” Cole taunts victoriously. 

“Just...just make sure you all stay close. The streets are crowded today, and I don’t want to go losing any of you,” you direct, deciding to follow behind them so you can keep an eye on the four. 

“Yeah, yeah. We’re not actually kids, you know! We still remember adult stuff!” Kai announces. 

You sigh, listening to their banter as the five of you start the trek back to your car. As you watch them, you give them instructions on where and when to switch direction when needed. 

Thankfully, you’re able to make it to the intersection leading to the parking garage without much trouble. 

“There it is!” Kai yells, taking a step towards the street. “Come on, let’s go!” 

Your heart lurches as you spot an oncoming car from the right, hand immediately latching onto Kai’s shoulder before he can walk. The car speeds past, making them gasp. 

“Don’t go until I say it’s okay!” you scold as you let go of his shoulder. “You guys aren’t big enough to see around the cars parked on the street! They block most of your view!” 

Kai chuckles nervously, rubbing the back of his neck as he stares at the car that had passed. “Sorry. Force of habit, I guess.” 

“You should still look both ways on the street, regardless of your age,” you state, watching as the pedestrian light turns to the ‘walk’ signal. You double-check that the road is clear before ushering the group across. 

Now at the entrance of the parking garage, you watch as the ninja fall into a single-file line. 

“We’re headed to the elevator,” you instruct, pointing towards the mentioned object just a few feet ahead. 

“Elevator! Oh my gosh, can I push the button?!” Jay questions, eyes bright again as he proposes the idea. 

“No way, I wanna push it!” Kai butts in, frowning. 

“Not if I push it first!” Cole challenges. 

“Why does it matter?” Zane wonders. 

With that, you find yourself groaning as you listen to the ninja as they start bickering over who gets to push the freaking button. You wonder how to get them to stop when an idea occurs to you. 

“Guys, you’re pushing my buttons!” you grumble before taking a breath. “Okay. How about this? Jay can push the first button, since he was the first to suggest it. Kai can push the floor button, then Cole can push the button that closes the door. Finally, when we get up to the level, Zane can push the button that keeps the door open. Sound good?” 

Thankfully, this manages to satisfy the group as they agree and quiet down. Jay taps the up button, watching as it lights up. 

“Haha! That never gets old!” he laughs, the four watching as the sign showing the elevator’s current level decreases. When it gets to the ground floor, a ding sounds. 

The door opens, revealing a couple inside. You step in front of the boys, blocking them from butting their way inside first. 

“Please, go ahead,” you say, smiling. The strangers thank you as they exit, the ninja filing in moments after. “Kai, press 3A.” 

“Ha! My turn!” Kai shouts, aggressively pushing his designated button. 

“Use your inside voice!” you remind exasperatedly, sighing as Cole closes the door with his button. 

Thankfully, the group quiets down for a moment as the elevator ascends. Though, you notice that they’re sending each other knowing looks. Are they planning something? 

Just as the elevator is about to stop at the target floor, the four jump in unison. You gasp as they land, causing the elevator to shake. 

“We went so high!” Jay exclaims. 

“It would have been better if we had waited slightly longer,” Zane notes, calmly tapping his assigned button. 

You sigh, watching as they exit with excited chatter about the elevator jump. 

“Okay, this way. Stay to the right, and next to me,” you instruct, leading the group to your car. 

“Echo!” Jay yells. “Aw, man, it doesn’t really echo in here. Lame parking garage.” 

You roll your eyes, pulling your keys out and unlocking the car. You open the back door, realizing you have another problem. 

“Wait,” you say, making them all stop. “Let me see...who’s the tallest?” 

“I am,” Zane states. 

“Okay. You’ll sit in the passenger seat, then, because I only have three seat belts in the back.” 

“Aw, come on!” Kai whines. 

“Kai, shut up,” Cole retorts. “Just be grateful that we have a ride that we won’t have to pay for!” 

“Sorry,” Kai mumbles sheepishly. You chuckle, watching as Zane makes his way to the other side. You help the smaller ninja clamber into the vehicle, making sure they’re all buckled up before you shut the door. 

“Okay,” you mutter, opening the driver’s door and entering. You set all of your belongings down on the console before shoving your keys into the ignition. “Everyone’s all buckled up, right?” 

They respond with a chorus of affirmations. 

“Good,” you note. “Okay. Let’s go eat.” 

… 

After designating Zane as the car DJ and letting each of the ninja take turns picking music, you finally arrive at the agreed breakfast place. After you park, the sound of unbuckling takes over the interior before you exit with everyone else. 

“I love this place!” Cole admits as you hold the door open for all of them. 

“So do I,” you agree, following them inside after they enter. 

“Good morning. Just five today?” the host question. 

“Uh, yeah,” you reply. 

“Alright,” he acknowledges, turning around to pull out the needed number of menus. You notice that he only picks out one regular menu, the other four being paper menus accompanied with packs of crayons. “Follow me, please.” 

After being seated, the host distributes the menus before letting you all decide what to order. 

“I remember these!” Jay says, pointing towards the black and white picture of a dinosaur next to the kid’s menu. “Man, why do they assume that just because you’re an adult means you don’t want to color?” 

“Because coloring is lame,” Kai answers, glaring at his picture of Lightning McQueen. 

“I kind of liked it,” Cole admits, opening his crayon pack. You notice that he was given a picture of a cartoony cat. “I bet I can do it even better now.” 

“You are supposed to color the image?” Zane wonders, studying the cute, furry monster on his page. “Perhaps I will give it a try. I have never experienced this.” 

“How about this?” Jay suggests. “Whoever has the best picture wins!” 

“Wins what?” Kai inquires. 

“The glory of being the best artist on the team,” Cole answers. 

You watch in quiet amusement as they all start coloring, quietly discussing amongst themselves. You can't help but giggle upon remembering that these are the destined protectors of Ninjago – fearsome wielders of the Elements of Creation, all participating in a coloring contest at some random breakfast place. What a strange day. 

After the waitress comes by to collect your orders, you elect to watch the four. 

Kai seems to be scribbling in his color loosely, often going outside of the lines but not really caring. At one point, he even snaps his blue crayon in half - much to Jay’s dismay. He decides to put a pair of angry eyebrows on Lightning McQueen before declaring his masterpiece complete. 

Jay appears to be taking their impromptu contest more seriously, taking his time coloring in the dinosaur but also adding some silly features – like a mustache and top hat. He draws a yellow sun with a smiley face in the corner of the paper. 

Cole elects to go a more realistic route – he colors the cat slowly, taking the time to add smaller details that make the picture appear less cartoonish. He even takes the extra step to add a background, too – it appears to be an alleyway, with another cat perched atop a trash bin. You think you even see him trying to blend the colors together. 

Zane seems a bit unsure of how to start, but after a brief chat with Cole, he decides on a simple design for his monster. He makes its body a gradient of green to blue before adding some yellow for the polka dots scattered about the torso. His markings are neat, calculated, and precise. 

You smile softly, sipping on your drink as you observe the group. This could certainly make for an interesting story. 

Eventually, the food arrives, and the drawings are forgotten. The five of you thank the waitress before tucking into your respective meals. 

“Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask,” you start between bites. “You guys said that Garmadon revived a Grundle?” 

“Yeah, he did!” Jay confirms. “It’s gonna hunt us down once the sun sets.” 

“You sound a little less freaked out than I expected,” Kai interjects. 

Jay shrugs. “At least I get to go out after a day of reliving some of my favorite childhood moments. Pushing the elevator button, jumping in it, then coming here to color and eat chicken tenders with honey mustard? It’s not a bad last day, you know.” 

Kai rolls his eyes, finishing up the last few bites of his grilled cheese. “Guys, seriously. What are we going to do about this thing? Our Spinjitzu’s worthless!” 

“We’d better hope that Lloyd has an idea,” Cole adds. “I mean...who would know how to stop an animal that’s supposed to be extinct?!” 

“There is little research about them that I can access at the moment, which only adds to the problem,” Zane chimes in, frowning. “Hopefully Lloyd will be able to contact Sensei and Nya in time.” 

“I hope so,” you mumble. “But we do know for sure that it’s nocturnal, right?” 

“Yes, it is. My assumption is that it will seek shelter until dusk before continuing to track our scents,” Zane explains. 

“Awesome!” you chirp sarcastically. “So, you’re basically just hoping that your friend has an idea?” 

“Pretty much. We’ve gotten pretty good at getting ourselves out of messes like this,” Jay notes. 

“Yeah, I know things look pretty bleak right now, but come on! Of all people, you should have at least a little faith in us!” Cole adds. 

Okay. Fair point – they are good at digging themselves out of situations like this. “Alright, alright. Fine. What should we do next?” 

“I know exactly where to go,” Jay states, grinning wickedly. “I’ll explain on the way!” 

With that, the group finishes up eating before you pay. Before you leave, however, you sneakily collect the ninja’s drawings with a soft smile as an article idea occurs to you. 

… 

Jay’s secret place had turned out to be a random playground. 

“Seriously, Jay?!” Cole wonders. “I thought you said that this place would be secure enough for us to talk!” 

“Is it!” Jay counters. “I mean, who would suspect us to form our game plan on a playground?” 

“You don’t even want to talk about the plan, you just want to go down the slide!” Kai accuses. 

“Haha! And you don’t?!” 

Before you can even say anything, the four are already unbuckling and sailing out of the car. 

“Seriously?” you mumble, sighing. Well, since you have to wait anyway...maybe you can at least get some work done. 

You grab your laptop bag, walking over to one of the picnic tables nearby. You sit down facing the ninja before pulling your computer out. 

Their yells and laughter accompany the chirping of birds, only adding to the inspiration for your new article: 

Tapping into our inner child: what we can learn from the saviors of Ninjago...

[entamesubs]

Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!! Episode 90 Sub Release

Torrent

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Please make sure to read the FAQ if you have any questions.

There are translation notes below, so spoilers ahead.

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ドッチ・ジャーニー・ショウ！ Which Way the Book Turns!

This is a pun-laden name from Dudi again. It can be romanized literally as "Which Journey Shall/Shows!", but it is also a play on 書 (sho), which can sometimes be used to refer to a book - like the one Dudi is reading in the card art.

I just tried my best here; I'm sure there's a punnier name that makes me go "oh my god why didn't I think of that" once YGOrg puts their article out.

お���の中でこれがしの自我を保つのは難しそうだ "Your body is unable to sustain my ego."

Clarifying here that Kuaidul means this in the sense that if he merges with Yuudias, something disastrous will occur... to Yuudias. He is willingly undoing the fusion, or reversing it, so that it doesn't harm him.

He is "letting go" of Yuudias of his own volition.

種の寿命が尽きようとしている "Our species is approaching the limit of our lifespans."

More accurately, Kuaidul is trying to say "our species is going to exhaust our lifespan", as in "use up" or "run out", but I couldn't think of a way to word this that had the same finality as limit.

It is very much with a finality that Kuaidul says this. Interpret as you wish.

-------------------------------

Some other easter eggs

In order for Shewbahha's card to activate, Yuudias had to send Leviaknight (Phaser's card) to the grave - kinda like giving Shewbahha something to eat!

Nyandestar's Cat Claw Girl is the last obstacle that everyone must overcome, which is fitting considering she was the first ever card created by Kuaidul

Similarly, the last people to give Yuudias the ATK boost he needs are some of the first people he ever met upon arriving on Earth... Yuamu and Yuuhi!

Dudi Nishaw, though he's part of the Dudi Ducasse, is in fact a Velgearian... due to how he's supposed to be one of the three "factions" fighting in the Velgear Star Cluster. You can sort of think of the term "Velgearian" as both a species identifier and a nationality. Dudi is a "Velgearian" species-wise, but he is Dudi Ducasse in terms of nationality. Hope that makes sense!

The "Andromeda-Milky Way collision" is a real thing that is projected to happen... in the next 4.5 billion years. According to Wikipedia, it's actually not going to cause much damage to either galaxy or the stars within it at all, due to how far apart each individual star is. In fact, by the time this happens, all life on Earth would've been wiped out about 3 billion years ago anyway due to the Sun's growing instability

In Mahayana Buddhism, which Japanese Buddhism is derived from, a "bodhisattva" is someone with "a spontaneous wish and compassionate mind to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all" - does it sound familiar? It's Yuudias offering his body to Kuaidul even despite all of the wrongs he has committed.

I guess we now know why the ED is titled "Song of Departure"

-------------------------------

Announcements

Go Rush will be taking a break on New Years weekend and will not air an episode then! The next episode will be on January 7th.

As well, the entameSubs team will be on vacation for the next two weeks. I will be in Japan! That means episode 91 will be massively delayed until I get back.

There will be a dedicated announcement post of the vacation in a day or two, just so people are aware.

-------------------------------

And that's a wrap!

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am for Go Rush season 3, now that we know that's a thing that's happening! It has always been something I wanted because I adore this show to bits... but I was so convinced we would be moving onto the next series already.

But here we are! The voice actor of Yuudias, Arthur, said that this third year was only possible "with [the fan's] support" - so it's wonderful and heartwarming to know Go Rush is very well received.

Merry Christmas, if you celebrate! Happy Holidays otherwise!

This is one of my favorite episodes of all of Yu-Gi-Oh! as a whole. I have not cried at a finale or even any episode like this since ZEXAL aired Nasch vs Yuuma ten years ago.

I leave you with a quote from one of my favorite games that applies word-for-word to this episode. Just replace "Ardbert" with "Yuudias".

Yuudias chose love, and Kuaidul was undone.

Happy New Year.

[paigeswiftsea]

here are two days of rofd prompts because I forgot to do them yesterday, sky will be in a different post

@dark-rider-pr

Day 4: Stars

no content warnings or happenings, just rambles

Wc: 902

The stars used to mean something to Blaire. In the days before everything fell apart, they were guides, each point of light telling stories, whispering legends of ancient heroes and distant worlds. She had loved every part of it—memorizing constellations, learning about astrological signs, and sneaking off to Mario's observatory whenever she could. As a Leo, she had always embraced the idea of being a leader, fierce and brave. And with her wild, untamed hair, she had felt like she belonged to the stars themselves.

But tonight, sitting high in the branches of an ancient tree, the stars didn’t feel like friends. They were cold, distant. She watched the sky with a lingering sadness, naming constellations in a low murmur, trying to feel that old spark. There was Cassiopeia, the proud queen; Orion, the hunter; and Ursa Major, the great bear. They twinkled down at her, just as they always had. Yet the comfort she once found in their light felt dulled now, washed over by the reality of a world broken and abandoned.

The forest around her was silent, save for the faint rustling of leaves as a soft breeze swept through. She tightened the strap around her waist that held her to the tree. From up here, the stars were clearer, sharper against the midnight sky. She could almost convince herself she was back in the observatory, peering through Mario’s telescope, letting herself fall into the wonder of it all.

But now, the stars felt like a reminder of everything that was lost. Her friends, her family, the future she once thought she’d have. She sighed, her breath a faint cloud in the chill air, and closed her eyes, letting the stillness wash over her. And yet, somewhere deep down, a small flicker of hope lingered—the stars were still here, unmoved by the chaos below. Maybe, just maybe, they could still be her guides through this darkened world.

But, the stars were a constant. Every night, without fail, Blaire could look up and know exactly where she was by their arrangement in the sky. No matter how far she’d traveled or how lost she felt, they were there, steadfast and unchanging. It was a quiet sort of comfort, one she held onto tightly when everything else seemed so fragile and fleeting.

She’d spent countless nights navigating by their light, the patterns becoming second nature. Even in this ravaged world, where familiarity was a rare gift, the constellations were like old friends, waiting to guide her back to safety. The North Star gleamed above, pointing her toward firmer ground, while Orion’s belt stretched out as a reminder of courage and strength.

Settling back into the curve of the tree branch, Blaire took a deep breath, letting her gaze trace each cluster. She whispered their names, her fingers moving over invisible lines between the stars, connecting them into constellations she knew by heart. It was a habit she couldn’t shake, a ritual that made her feel as though the world she’d lost was still somewhere up there, hovering just out of reach.

In these stars, there was still beauty, order, and a strange, unyielding sense of peace. As long as she could see them, she’d find her way through the darkest nights, the wild forests, and even the ruins that once held her home. They were her anchor, her map, her reminder that even when everything else faded, the stars would be there to light her path.

Blaire had always been fascinated by the stars—not just as points of light but as something deeper, something that felt personal. She knew each astrological sign, its strengths, its flaws, and what it all supposedly meant. Leo, her own sign, seemed fitting: the bold lion, fierce and unafraid. Leos were said to be natural leaders, proud and stubborn, qualities she’d always thought described her perfectly. Her friends used to joke that her hair was proof enough; wild and untamed, it was like a lion’s mane.

But now, her Leo traits took on a new, lonely meaning. Leadership and pride felt hollow when there was no one around to lead, no one left to remind her of who she used to be. The bravery and strength Leo was known for—she wasn’t sure if she embodied those things anymore or if she was simply surviving because she had no other choice. It was strange to realize that the traits she once embraced now felt more like burdens. Her pride made it harder to accept help, her stubbornness often kept her in danger, and her loyalty, she knew, had driven her to make reckless choices.

Still, she found herself turning to the stars for reassurance. Each constellation, every sign, felt like a quiet reminder that she was still someone with a story, a path—no matter how far she’d wandered from it. Sometimes, she’d find herself thinking of other signs and what they might mean in this world: Aries, the warrior, with its endless courage; Virgo, the healer, a symbol of wisdom and patience; Cancer, the nurturer, a reminder of the warmth and care she now found only in memories.

The stars were like an unbroken thread back to herself, the girl she once was, the woman she was becoming. And every night, under Leo’s watchful gaze, she tried to believe that the traits she carried, even the flawed ones, would be enough to guide her through another day.

[izar-tarazed]

✨

Send ✨for Izar to assign your muse a constellation and read their fate from the stars It isn’t unusual for Izar to spend quite some time on a request to read someone’s fate from the stars. After all, it’s not something to be done on the fly; single stars and constellations as a whole hold a vast array of meanings, their nuances determined by context, and since she wants her readings to be accurate, she’ll go out of her way to back them up with research and double-check her calculations.

Even more so if the request is an unusual one, as in this case, coming from a fire monk. Truth to be told, she has often wondered how relations were between fire monks and astrologers in that distant past where both groups would dwell on the Mountaintops; what they might have learned from each other.

‟You know,” she tells Laurentius when she finally returns with the results of her reading and research, her eyes alight with excitement, ‟I like to imagine that in the old days, fire monks would find their way to the Stargazers’ Ruins and ask about their fates, and the astrologers present there would be glad to provide answers. Of course, that’s all long gone and it’s almost impossible to find any kind of source from those times. I tried, though, because as obscured as it may be, that past is still part of the picture, and when I was trying to read your fate without taking it into account, something always felt off…”

She pulls a map from the pile of paper she has brought, sliding it over to him.

‟Turns out, the fire monks did have their own way of looking at the night sky, and a couple of constellations nobody else would consider; they’d connect stars overlooked, or grouped into entirely different constellations by others. It seems they’d focus on those with a hint of orange or red glow to them: stars they believed to bear an echo of the very flame they were guarding. I only found mentions of a handful of constellations, but in time, I might be able to figure out others… But still, once I considered this, it all came together. So, your constellation is the Fire Blossom: barely visible, I’m afraid, from Liurnia and its neighboring regions, but easy to spot from the Mountaintops. A small cluster of reddish stars—each named, I believe, after a particular Fire Giant, but we no longer now what tales might have been told about them—forming the pistil of the blossom, with other stars marking its petals.

It’s an interesting constellation, this one. There’s gentleness and promise to every blossom, but fire blossoms are also fierce and desperate; tiny flames struggling against a hostile environment. It’s about persisting in adverse conditions, or at least in a place one might not feel belonging to. It’s about maintaining a delicate balance—the smoldering must neither be too intense nor too weak, or the whole flower would burn to ash before long. A fire blossom can be plucked if one is careful, and put to use in crafting (if one’s ingenious)... or it can burn our fingers if we’re too careless and have those delicate petals crumble away under our touch.

The Fire Blossom constellation is about how maintaining this balance is possible, but nonetheless challenging. You probably know better than I would how this translates to your life; there are many ways in which it might manifest. I’d wager that trying to be gentle and helpful in a world that might rather require you to lash out like a flickering flame to defend yourself might be one of those challenges. Enduring somewhere out of place might be another one. Pursuing something—somewhere—that is both deeply tied to what and who you are, and yet seemingly out of reach, could be another meaning…

As for fate: I believe some may see the Fire Blossom as imbued with the prospect of failure, because what is fire if not destined to burn out eventually? What is a blossom if not something fated to wither? I’m not sure I’d agree with that, though. As I said, I rather understand this constellation to be about the struggle for balance. As long as that balance is maintained, there is no ruin; neither flame nor ash predominate. As long as there’s balance, there is life and warmth and potential, even with the cold ash always in sight. And there’s more power in gentle smoldering than consuming it all at once. It’s worth struggling for that kind of balance, and bringing together in oneself what might seem irreconcilable. Just keep in mind that it’s not meant to be easy.”

[leffee]

Sunil x Russell ..kinda

On a warm summer evening, the sky unfurled like a vast canvas, dotted with countless stars that twinkled against the deepening blue. Sunil and Russell made their way to a secluded hill on the outskirts of town, a place they often visited to escape the noise of their daily lives. Tonight, however, there was an electric undercurrent to the air, one that Sunil couldn’t ignore.

As they settled down on a soft patch of grass, Russell’s eyes immediately turned upward, alight with fascination. He had always been captivated by the cosmos, his passion evident in the way he spoke about constellations and planets. Sunil admired this about him; it was one of the many things that drew him to Russell.

“Look over there!” Russell exclaimed, pointing at a cluster of stars. “That’s Orion. You can see the belt right there.” His enthusiasm was contagious, and Sunil found himself smiling despite the fluttering in his stomach.

“Yeah, I see it,” Sunil replied, his gaze shifting from the stars to Russell’s animated face. The way the starlight illuminated Russell’s features made Sunil’s heart race. He wanted to tell Russell how he felt, but the words tangled in his throat. Instead, he leaned back, letting the cool grass cradle him as he tried to focus on the constellations.

“Do you ever wonder what it would be like to travel among the stars?” Russell mused, his eyes sparkling with wonder. “To see new worlds, meet new civilizations?”

Sunil nodded, trying to ignore the way his heart ached with longing. “Yeah, it would be amazing. But I think I’d miss Earth. It’s home.”

“True, but think of all the things we could learn!” Russell said, his voice rising with excitement. “Imagine discovering a new star system. We could name it anything we wanted!”

Sunil chuckled, picturing the two of them as intergalactic explorers. “We’d probably name it after our favorite snacks.”

Russell laughed, the sound bright and joyful, but soon turned his attention back to the sky. Sunil watched him, his heart full. He admired the way Russell’s passion shone, like the very stars they were gazing at. It made Sunil wish even more that he could express how he felt.

As they lay in comfortable silence, Sunil stole glances at Russell, memorizing the way the starlight danced in his eyes. “You know,” Sunil finally said, hesitating before continuing, “you really light up when you talk about this stuff.”

Russell turned his head, surprise flickering across his face. “Really? I guess I just love it so much. It’s like… each star has a story.”

“Do you have a favorite story?” Sunil asked, hoping to keep the conversation going and to somehow reveal his own feelings through shared interests.

“Definitely. The story of Cassiopeia is fascinating,” Russell began, his voice filled with enthusiasm. He recounted the myth of the vain queen who was punished for her arrogance, drawing Sunil deeper into the narrative. As Russell spoke, Sunil felt a sense of warmth envelop him—a blend of admiration and affection that he could no longer ignore.

As the story wound down, a moment of silence enveloped them, punctuated only by the rustling leaves and distant sounds of the night. Sunil’s heart pounded. Maybe this was the moment. He took a breath, summoning all his courage. “Russell, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you…”

Before he could finish, a shooting star streaked across the sky, bright and fleeting. Russell gasped, his eyes lighting up with excitement. “Did you see that? It was incredible!”

Sunil smiled, feeling the moment slip away. “Yeah, I saw it. It was beautiful.”

“Let’s make a wish!” Russell said, closing his eyes for a moment, his expression serious. Sunil followed suit, but instead of a wish, he simply thought about how much he cared for Russell.

As they opened their eyes, Russell looked over at Sunil, the glow of the stars reflecting in his gaze. “What did you wish for?”

Sunil hesitated, then decided to embrace honesty. “I wished for more nights like this—together, just us.”

Russell smiled softly, and for a heartbeat, Sunil thought he saw something flicker in Russell’s eyes—understanding, perhaps, or a shared longing. But before he could dive deeper, Russell shifted his gaze back to the stars.

“I love nights like this,” he said quietly. “There’s something about the universe that makes me feel… connected.”

Sunil felt a mix of hope and uncertainty. Maybe tonight wasn’t the right time, but it was a start. As they lay back on the grass, the weight of unsaid words lingered between them, but the warmth of companionship wrapped around them like a comforting blanket. Under the vast expanse of the cosmos, Sunil held onto the hope that one day, he’d find the courage to share his heart with Russell. Until then, he was grateful for the stars—and for the moments they shared together.

:O Russunil fans are eating tonight! Straight up consuming 🔥🔥🔥

“Imagine discovering a new star system. We could name it anything we wanted!”

“We’d probably name it after our favorite snacks.”

Guy has the right idea, yes.

Vinnie wasn't mentioned but he was there, I know it

[writernopal]

🐍Eiph'ck, Silent Son of Clan Hartim🐍

Like the War Dancers of generations past, Eiph'ck's sacred duty is to call down the blessings of the Goddess Kava and deliver them to the fierce warriors of The House of War. But as an agent of the god Ishva, he also bears the burden of banishment on his shoulders. Such a god hungers for the spoils of war too. So he sends the souls of his enemies to the fiery Pits of the Wretched, where they rot for all of eternity as punishment for raising a violent hand to him or his people.

It is for this dually honor-bound service that he and Clan Hartim are rewarded with a fabled longevity said to rival that of Elves. But can a life so long truly be enjoyed under the weight of two entangled gods? For some such purpose is glory, but for others...

The nights here were alien. For one, the sky seemed to stretch on and on. He could finally understand what the authors of the books he’d read meant when they said it was endless. And although he’d seen it before, he’d never seen it like this. It was dotted with more than just a few clusters of stars, much more. More than he was sure he’d ever seen in his life. More than he had names for. And it was quiet. 

The incessant calling of birds and insects, the wayward howl of some predator—neither thing existed here. Only the occasional sound of sand blowing over sand, the light chirping of crickets, and the fire that burned between him and his friend. He wondered if fires were always so noisy. And the air, it was crisp and light. Perhaps a little too cold for his liking and a touch dry, but pleasant.

“It’s different, isn’t it?” Quye’ck asked.

“Yeah.”

“Don’t know if I like it.” 

“Why not?”

“Only ever gets this quiet when you’re somewhere you shouldn’t be.” Quye’ck responded scanning the horizon with the learned motion of a soldier. “It’s how my Pa lost part of his arm to a jungle cat. Said it was real quiet right before it happened.” 

“I remember that. He was the shaman’s worst patient.”

He chuckled nostalgically, then sighed. “It’ll be hard to sleep.”

“You should try to. With the hunt starting tomorrow and all that.” Eiph’ck said, leaning back on one elbow.

“Yeah. You excited?”

“Mmm.” He fiddled with the knife he’d been given earlier that afternoon. 

“Somethin’ the matter?”

“I’ve been thinking about what comes after.”

“After?”

“Mmm.”

“Oh. That.” Quye’ck responded, betraying his own less than enthused opinion on the subject. “We could run away. Be bachelors forever. No offense to your sisters.”

“Come on, don’t be stupid.”

“What? You don’t think we could?” He asked in that goading tone he always took when he was about to do something idiotic. “That’s what this ikismal business is all about, isn’t it? To prove that we’re real men!”

“You know that’s not it. We could make it anywhere. The problem is,” He gestured around him at nothing in particular, “all of this.”

“This?”

“These wilds stretch on for miles in every direction. And who knows how far that sky goes. And that thing, ‘the ocean’ is out there somewhere. I know it is. Looked at a map once.” 

“I believe you.” The way he replied was gentle. It was surprising, in a pleasant sort of way.

“My Pa has lived for nearly one hundred years.” Eiph’ck drove the small dagger into the soft desert sand. “He can count on one hand the number of times he’s seen The Empire outside of battlefields and medical tents. Said that war is the only reason to go anywhere. ‘Everything is here. That’s why we call it The Heartlands.’ He always says.”

“You’re not him, you know. You’re different. And you won’t be first pick for clan leader when he croaks. You can leave… If that’s what you want.”

“Hmm.” He pushed the dagger further into the sand, then chanced a look at his friend. The dancing flames warped his expression. “And what about you?”

“They’re gonna swear me in when I get back.” Quye’ck shrugged, “Hantaphian Reserves stay in Hantaph.”

“Oh. Right.”

A deafening silence lingered in the air after that. Eiph’ck lay on his back to look at the stars, deciding it was better not to talk. Easier. He gathered Quye’ck had done the same, judging by the sound of the shifting sand just a few feet away. They lay there as their fire burned down to coals, not speaking or moving, nor acknowledging the cold that followed once it fully died. 

“Do you remember that pact we made?” Quye’ck asked softly.

“Pact?”

“Yeah. From when we were yolklin’s.”

“Be more specific.”

“You know…that one.”

“Oh. That.” Eiph’ck remarked with a sleepy chuckle, “Before we knew that was a crime.”

“Yeah.”

Something about the way he had spoken the word made Eiph’ck feel strange. He turned his head, easily finding Quye’ck’s outline. He was looking back at him, but in the darkness, could not make out his expression.

“Goodnight, Eiph’ck.” 

Those words, they were warm. And loud. Like a fire… They made his throat hot. They made him grateful for the darkness. 

“Goodnight, Quye’ck.”

He was the first to leave the next morning.

Character art by: https://twitter.com/Azraels_Art

Graphics made with license free images from Unsplash and formatted in Canva.