#and when I say uncles I mean older cousins I guess

[two-hearts-beat]

Dan and Phil's return honestly feels like my gay uncles who I haven't heard from in years suddenly inviting me to thanksgiving dinner in their cozy house and it somehow feels like coming home

[pandora-writes-one-piece]

The Meet Cute - Law's Story - 10

Source for pic

The Great Pretender 10 🔞

Word Count: 4329

Tags For The Whole Story: Fem!Reader; Law is a soft dom; you have bratty tendencies (not all the time); voice kink; praise kink; cursing; very suggestive behaviour and innuendo from the start; sexual tension; teasing; so much flirting; romance; slow-burn; fluff; slight angst; mature audiences (though explicit NSFW moments will be properly tagged on the chapter); possessive Law; protective Law; soft Law; teasing Law; manipulative Doflamingo; inappropriate Doflamingo; fake relationship trope; only one-bed trope; reader has some anxiety issues; reader is a control freak and perfectionist; modern day AU; Mention of ex mentally abusive relationship;

Special Warning: English is not my first language, I apologise for any possible spelling or grammar mistakes.

Summary: After moving away from the hustle and bustle of Grand Line City to help your father around the property following a horse-riding accident - and in the hopes of healing your broken heart after your asshole ex-fiancé cheated - you settle into the country calmness of the Calm Belt. You and Law (your father's doctor) start to build a flirty friendship because of your father’s procedure. So much so that when he’s invited to Baby 5’s wedding (his cousin), he asks you to be his date. His uncle Doflamingo - who is filthy rich - is very adamant on finding a suitable wife for him. Seeing as he wants to avoid that, he asks you to pretend to be his girlfriend for the weekend.

Notes: Forgive me guys, I haven't really had the time to write a lot this week, and I'll be teaching a course near the end of the month so, limited time again. I might have to stick to one weekly update instead of two. Sorry! Also, the 🔞 is for very suggestive talk. I hope you enjoy this one!

Masterlist |Chapter 9| | |Chapter 11|

“The game is pretty simple!” Baby 5 begins, a microphone in hand. The bride has rounded up all the couples on today's guest list - there are around a dozen, from younger couples to older couples - and she's explaining the rules of the first game. Law tried to shy away from the festivities, but Baby 5 wanted her favourite cousin to enter the games. You're pretty excited about it too, it might be fun. “One of you grabs a heart-shaped balloon and writes a love message on it. I'll collect them, inflate them, and read the message. It's the job of the other half of the couple to guess which message is meant for them.”

“Oh, this is fun!” You say while reaching for the balloon. 

Law takes the balloon from your hand with a smirk. “Very fun, let me.” The glint in his eyes tells you that his message will be interesting and you're both dreading and anticipating it. 

Law turns his back on you when he catches you peeking at what he's writing and you stifle a giggle. When Baby 5 comes to collect the balloon, she raises her eyebrow. “You let Law write the message? Oh, this is going to be interesting.” Law smirks and you gulp. 

“Alright, I have all the balloons here! Now, when I read what you think is the message for you, you come and claim your balloon, got it?” The crowd agrees and she claps excitedly. “Partners who wrote the message, no cheating!” 

Law senses your excitement and he chuckles, placing his hand on your lower back and pulling you closer to him. “This is a silly game.” He says, but you notice the slight amusement in his tone. 

“You don't have to pretend that it's annoying you, Law, I can see you're entertained.” You awe and clap at an older couple whose message was part of a love poem: ‘She walks in beauty, like the night, of cloudless climes and starry skies.’

“Oh, I will be entertained, alright. Pay attention, sweetheart, you don't want to miss my message.” He sounds so mischievous that you have to giggle. 

Baby 5 keeps reading the balloons and the messages are all heartfelt confessions and love poems. You can almost bet your savings that Law would never write something like that, and his smug smirk confirms it. 

As you look at him, your heart flutters slightly in your chest and, once again, you feel like you’re part of a real relationship. Your lips are still tingling from the earlier kiss - public claim? - and, suddenly, you feel bad for having pushed him too far. His reaction was unexpected and you were only thinking about yourself in the moment. Perhaps it wasn’t your brightest move.  

“Law?”

He hums softly near your ear, sending a ticklish sensation down your neck, his eyes never leave his cousin. 

“I owe you an apology.” You both clap as another couple guesses the message right - ‘If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you’ - and then Law fixes his amber gaze on you with curiosity. 

“Why?”

An exasperated sigh leaves your lips. “I pushed too far this morning.” A light blush tints your cheeks and you look back at Baby 5 to avoid Law's piercing gaze. “We… we were both vulnerable with each other yesterday, baring our insecurities and fears and I… foolishly joked about…” You gesture around with another sigh. “Mingling.” 

Law doesn't speak, and though you're still watching Baby 5, hearing her read ‘I love you more than chocolate. But please, don’t make me prove it’, you can feel his gaze burning your face. 

A laughing girl walks towards Baby 5 and her girlfriend gives her a very heated kiss that gets the crowd cheering. Law pinches your chin with his index finger and thumb forcing you to look into his eyes and, for just a second, you're scared of what you're about to find there. 

Which is silly, because there's only tenderness. 

“Sweetheart, I love the way you push me. Trust me, it was nowhere near far enough.” He dips his head, his lips hovering just above yours. “I can read you like a book and I know when you're testing me playfully. Don't worry on my account, okay? I'll be honest if anything rubs me the wrong way, as long as you do the same.”

You nod, too stunned because he used the word love and it's still bumping around your head as if it were a ball and your brain the pinball machine. 

“Oh, my.” Baby 5 has just inflated another balloon and she's giggling into the microphone. “This one is interesting.” Somehow you know this has to be Law's message and he must sense it too because you both look back at the bride, your heart hammering with such violence that you think it might just jump out and start walking on its own. “It just says: ‘Mine’” She turns the balloon towards the crowd, some laugh, some gasp, you flare up, turning beet red. Your hand flies to your mouth to stifle a gasp that turns into a giggle. This is so Law! 

You take a deep breath and shake your head as you stride forward to retrieve your balloon, ignoring whistles from the crowd as they realise who wrote the message. “Oh, I should've guessed!” Baby 5 laughs as she hands you the balloon. “Look out gentlemen, I think this was more a warning than a message!”

You're still blushing as you return to Law's side, feeling all eyes on you. You especially notice a pair of flaming red ones piercing you from behind tinted sunglasses. 

“Mine, Law, really?” His smirk is impossibly smug. 

“I told you people shouldn't stare. Now they know.” His eyes scan the crowd and he grunts again, enveloping your waist with both arms and pulling you closer to him. “Or maybe not. Maybe I should tie that balloon to your dress so everybody gets the message.”

You giggle at his silliness - especially because nobody is paying attention to you at this point - and you playfully wrap your arms around his neck, feeling more like a couple than ever and trying to convince yourself that you’re only doing this for the sake of your ‘fake relationship’. “So I would be walking around carrying your heart, Law?” You tease him with another giggle, your fingers playing with the hair at his nape without you giving them permission to. The stare he pins you with is serious and unwavering. 

“What if you already are?” 

A rush of heat travels through your body at his words and you swear your heart stops for a beat, restarting again, pounding faster and harder. What? The smile on your face is quickly erased as you're trying your hardest to read Law's expression. He didn't use the signal. He didn't even say his ‘if this were true’ motto. Is he being real? 

You open your mouth to answer when you're interrupted by Baby 5. “Guys, I already called everybody for the next game! Come on, you can suck face later.”

You smile wearily and let go of Law, taking his hand instead to follow her. Yet you can't stop the loud beating of your heart or shake away the kaleidoscope of butterflies swirling in your stomach. 

Is this real?

-*-

You've been playing silly trust games, like walking blindfolded and only following your partner's instructions and answering quizzes with questions like, ‘what’s your partner’s favourite colour?’ or ‘what’s your partner’s favourite movie?’. Safe to say you got all of those right and passed with flying colours. 

Now, Baby 5 announces yet another game and Law groans, looking at his watch. “Got somewhere else to be?” You ask with a grin. You’re actually enjoying this way too much while Law looks more miserable by the hour. Doflamingo hasn’t addressed any of you since his earlier interaction, so you’re feeling confident since everyone else takes you for a real couple who’s madly in love. 

“Anywhere but here?” He smirks at you.

“I think this might be the last game, then you’re off the hook.”

“Alright, alright, everyone gather round! So for this final game, we’re going to have one partner blindfolded…” She pauses for dramatic effect and the guests cheer. “And, in complete silence,” she emphasises the words, “they’re going to have to find their better half by touch alone while navigating the crowd. Now, this is where it gets fun! I’m inviting the singles to join in on the disruption! We don’t want the game to be too easy, do we?”

Watching Doflamingo and Bellamy join the area, you tense up again. It’s time to step up your game. You’re not going to fail this. Law is also visibly tensing and you sense his uneasiness when he reaches for the blindfold and tells you to turn around.

“You’ll find me. I know you will, this is just a silly game and we’ve already proven that we’re very good at silly games.” He whispers near your ear before setting the silk material over your eyes and tying it up in a tight knot. Your head jerks back softly with the motion and you can’t help but let out a small gasp. Law notices it because in a heartbeat his lips are back near your ear. “You like that, sweetheart, being blindfolded by my hands?”

The voice! 

Swallowing the lump that suddenly formed in your throat and wiping your sweaty hands on your dress, you nod slowly, not trusting your voice enough to grace him with an answer.

“Noted.” He slurs and places the lightest of kisses on your neck, making you shiver as you try to focus more on the task at hand and less on the throbbing between your thighs.

“Everybody ready?” The crowd cheers at Baby 5’s words, but you remain silent. You’re not ready. This is losing control to the extreme, and Law is not near you anymore. So you’re already feeling lost and overwhelmed, because losing control to Law is one thing, losing control, period, is another. “Begin the search for your partner, couples! Singles, disrupt!”

You take slow shallow breaths to try and calm the beating of your heart. You know there are no obstacles in the area around you, just people. A lot of people. Some bump into you, making you gasp from the sudden contact, others snicker and laugh around you to try and confuse you and it’s all too overwhelming.

Maybe you shouldn’t have done this.

“Focus, sweetheart.” You hear him somewhere to your right, so you turn in that direction.

“This is a silent game, people!” Baby 5 admonishes Law without singling him out, but it’s alright because his voice grounded you and you do as he says: you focus. 

You move tentatively, small steps at a time, hoping people get out of your way before you bump them. You reach out your hands so you can try to discern guests, trying to find Law. Here, a suit, shoulders, it’s not him. Too short. “Nope.” You mutter and move forward, step by step. Your fingers grip against a tie and you dismiss another person, Law’s not wearing a tie. “Not you…”

Slowly you begin to gain your confidence back, quickly dismissing guests because you can easily feel they’re not Law. Until you bump against someone who doesn’t get out of your way. Muttering an apology, you extend your hand and find a hard, steely chest. But it’s too high. It’s not Law. “Not you.” You make a move to continue your path, but the person grips your hand before you can completely pull away. A small intake of breath parts your lips as your hand is pressed firmly against the chest again. 

“Are you sure I’m not who you’re looking for, princesa?” He whispers and your legs wobble while a cold shiver runs through you. You try to remove your hand, but Doflamingo’s grip is strong. “Check again.”

“No, sir.” You wince as he grips your hand harder, but you know he won’t do anything else, you’re in public. “I’m looking for Law, not you.” You say as you pull harder and he releases you with an icy chuckle. 

“Are you sure about that?” His question follows you but you pretend to ignore it as you trek forward, nerves rattled, panting breaths and wishing for this to end. 

And then you feel the lightest brush of fingers against your waist. You’re not quite sure the direction it came from, but it doesn’t matter because your instincts take over and you’re drawn to Law as if you are magnets. Your hands collide against his chest and a jolt travels up your arms and settles gently in your chest. “Law.” You whine in relief as his hands remove the blindfold from your eyes.

When his gaze meets yours, you see a hint of worry in his golden eyes. “Hey, it’s over. I’ve got you.” You nod, your fingers digging into his shirt as his arms wrap around you in a warm embrace. “Lost too much control, sweetheart?”

You stifle a resigned chuckle against his chest. “I never want to play this again. I hated it.”

His presence grounds you and soothes you. His scent envelopes you in a comforting embrace while his arms pull you back into the controlled environment your mind had wandered away from. You're still basking in his comfort when Baby 5 approaches you both with a wide grin, dragging Sai by the hand. “Congratulations, you two. You won our games contest!”

“Contest?” You ask, pulling yourself away from Law with a tremendous effort. 

“Yeah, silly! Maybe if you two stopped being so lost in each other, you would've actually listened to what I said.” She rolls her eyes and sighs. “You won a private photo shoot with my wedding photographer - the best in Grand Line City!” She squeals in excitement. “So go change into your formal attire for the rehearsal dinner and meet the photographer by the greenhouse in half an hour, got it?”

A photo shoot? For you two? As a couple? 

Your heart warms at the prospect of keeping a memento of the wonderful time you are having with Law. But your mind tells you that it will just be a memory of something that is bound to give you heartache when you eventually fall apart. 

“Sounds fun.” Law says near your ear, and his words are such a contradiction to the scowl on his lips that you can't hold back a laugh. 

“You could've fooled me. We'll be there, Baby 5. Thank you.” The grunt Law exhales only makes you laugh harder. 

-*-

You had previously selected the dress for the rehearsal dinner - or Nami did, actually - and it's gorgeous. The dress hugs your body perfectly with strategically placed slits to enhance your figure. Its colour makes your eyes pop and your hair stand out. It's perfect. As you look at yourself in the bathroom mirror, you can't help but feel a tingle of excitement at Law's reaction. He always has a compliment ready for you, but you've never looked so gorgeous as you do now. 

Closing your makeup case and adding the finishing touches to your hair, you glance at the half-open zipper on the back of your dress. Maybe if you really tried you could've closed it yourself, but you decide to ask for help instead. 

Today things with you and Law have been going great. You've bonded, you've kissed, you've flirted… It feels like a real relationship. Maybe… Maybe you can take this one step further, why not? You're both adults, if you like each other what's stopping you? 

‘Nothing’ is the word that keeps repeating in your head as you open the bathroom door. Your heart was already thumping dramatically against your chest, but one look at Law dressed in a complete suit has you salivating on sight. 

Your legs almost lose their strength when he locks eyes with you. He looks so handsome. 

“You look-... - you’re beautiful.” His eyes burn into your figure and a blush creeps its way to your nose and cheeks. 

“Thank you. You look very dashing yourself, Mr. Trafalgar.” You imitate a posh accent and he chuckles. Then you turn slightly. “Can you help zip me up?”

You hear a confirmation as he approaches you with large strides. You're in front of the vanity so you can see him behind you. And you're mesmerised by him. You watch his throat bob up and down as he stares at your bare back, his eyes darkening with a haze and you feel a tingle in your skin even before he raises his hands. His mere presence commands you and then you make the mistake of taking a deep breath. He smells divine. 

Law's hands touch the back of your dress and his fingers are light as feathers. He's breathing near the curve of your neck and each of his rapid breaths brings a shiver down your spine, a clenching to your heart, and an ache between your thighs. 

“You're driving me insane…” He murmurs against your skin and you close your eyes, the deepness of his voice enveloping you like a lover's caress. His fingers graze your back as he slowly pulls the zipper up. “You look gorgeous…” Law brushes his lips against the exposed bone at the nape of your neck. “You smell delicious…” Burying his nose in the curve of your shoulder, he takes a deep breath. “You look ready to devour.” Then he exhales near your earlobe, making you arch your neck and grip the vanity so hard with your hands, that you almost sense the wood cracking. 

“Law…”

He pulls the zipper all the way up and you see him grin at you in the mirror, that particularly unhinged grin that makes you weak in the knees. “What is it, sweetheart? If you don't say what you want, how do I know what to do?”

Since his hands are no longer occupied with the zipper, he brings one of them to your belly, opening it flat against your stomach and pulling you flush against him. You can sense how much he's aroused by this moment and, judging by the ache between your legs, you're equally turned on. 

But what do you want him to do?

“Law!” You whine, not sure what to ask for but wanting him to give you everything. 

“Yes, sweetheart?” His hand traces patterns against your stomach and teases the underside of your breasts and, even without touching them, you can feel how hard your nipples are from all his teasing. 

“I don't know what I want, just… Please!” His low chuckle caresses your ear and sets you ablaze. 

“Maybe I can tell you what I want. How about that?” You can feel the deep rumble of his timbre coming from his chest vibrating against your back. His voice makes you throb and gasp and you nod. “That's good sweetheart. Open your eyes.” You do, chest already heaving from shortened breaths and cheeks slightly flushed. “You're going to watch your face in the mirror as I tell you all the things I want to do to you, got it? If you close your eyes, I'll have to punish you.” His thumb grazes your nipple again and you whine because the touch is not enough to soothe and it only serves to ignite. “I need a verbal answer.”

“Yes, Law. I got it.” You train your eyes on your expression and flush further at how vulnerable you appear. Your breath catches at the way Law's hand covers you and at how long his fingers are. 

“Take a deep breath, sweetheart.” You obey. “I’m going to tell you step by step what’s been playing on my mind on repeat.” Anticipation builds in your core and you clench your fists, holding your breath “I want to start by slowly licking every inch of skin on your body, worshipping you like the goddess you are and leaving no crevice untouched. I will take extra care with your neck, learning just how sensitive you are, and leaving you breathless.” His tongue traces a sinful pattern against your neck and you gasp. “And when I slowly get to your breasts, I will roll your nipple against my tongue, take it between my teeth and bite you in a way that's going to have you dripping down your legs. You won't know if it's pain, pleasure or both. And you'll want more of it.”

Your legs start to wobble at the vivid image he’s painting. The sensuality of his words is further enhanced by his voice and his touch. Law has you under his spell and you can't - nor do you want to - break from it. 

His other hand wraps around your neck, thumb pressing against your artery so he can feel it flutter under his skin, so he can sense how lost you truly are in this moment. You look at your reflection in the mirror and the throbbing between your legs only intensifies. “My hands will follow the trail my tongue creates with a gentle caress. I will have you arching your back, leaning against my touch, squirming and begging for more even before my tongue touches your clit.” 

An unbridled moan escapes your lips as you think about Law's head between your thighs and you close your eyes for a beat, too lost in the moment. Law presses your neck gently and pinches your nipple making you jump and mewl. “Law!” A gasp escapes you and he smirks deviously. 

“Eyes open sweetheart.”

“Fuck!” You mutter, your mouth half parted and your hands clenched into fists against your sides. 

“I know, I know.” The smugness in his voice only makes you wetter and by heavens above, you need this man to touch you. “You'll be cursing too, when I place my fingers inside of you just to find out how much you need me. And how ready and willing you are for me.” He lowers his hand, his pinky going lower than your abdomen and you throb incessantly, yearning for his touch. “Hot. Tight. Slick. Taking my fingers so well.” His words brush against your ear but they might as well be caressing you everywhere. This is unbearable. You need some sort of release. He's just building you up, his flames licking higher and higher and it's taking up all the oxygen. You need more. So much more. 

“Please, Law… please…”

“Yes, sweetheart. It's okay. You would behave so well, being such a good girl. You know what would happen?” You mewl a weak reply, something unintelligible even to you. “You'd come on my fingers once, and on my tongue again, until I bent you over this vanity and buried myself so deep in you that you would barely keep your eyes open.” His hot breath caresses your ear before he whispers, “And then you'd come on my cock. Twitching and squirming and taking all of me so, so well.”

Fuck, it's too much. His filthy talk is making you want to close your eyes and give in, touch yourself or rub against something to stop this ache, this need, this insane desire he keeps weaving with his sinful words. You need - want - everything! You…

“I want it all, Law.” You confess, breathless, as you turn your head to the side, facing him with hazy eyes and parted lips. Absentmindedly there's a little notification in your brain that pops up reminding you neither of you used the signal before this interaction. 

But who cares? 

Because Law's fingers tighten on your jaw tilting your face towards him, the hand on your stomach grips harder, fingers protruding your skin and he smirks smugly once more, though you can very well read the hunger in his eyes. “Can you handle it all?”

You nod for a second before you turn in his embrace and dig your fingers into his scalp, pulling him down to your lips into a heated kiss. He's as pent-up as you apparently, because his tongue latches immediately onto yours and his hands hoist you up, setting you on the vanity again in a repeat from last night, though this time there's no lingering hurt or unwanted vulnerability. There's not even the haze of alcohol between you. 

There's just desire. 

And maybe something more… 

This time there will be no what-ifs. This is true. You know it, you feel it. 

And it's happening. 

Law's hands caress your thighs and you open your legs for him in a silent invitation. The slits of the dress are there for his use, and he doesn't hesitate. Without parting the kiss, Law's fingers travel the inside of your thigh and you moan in anticipation. You know you're soaked. You need his touch. You can practically feel the tips of his fingers near your panties… 

Until Law's phone rings with a sound so loud it makes you gasp, your heart pounding harder against your chest as you both part, breathless and dishevelled. 

“Fuck!” Law curses, uncharacteristically rattled, and picks up the phone with a grunt. “Baby 5, I can literally see you. We're waving at you. Open your eyes!” Then he disconnects the call, places his hands on the vanity one on each side of your legs and sighs as his eyes search yours. “We have to go…”

You're still slightly addled. Your heart is still out of rhythm and the throbbing hasn't stopped, but you both know the moment has passed and you need to go. So you smile reassuringly at him, your hands resting above his, ignoring the way that touching him sends a jolt of electricity up your arm. 

“Raincheck?” You try, turning your smile into a smirk. 

A chuckle escapes his lips as he helps you get down from the vanity. “Definitely.”

Taglist: @rosidaze @beachaddict48 @armiliadawn @jintaka-hane @sprinkklz @baby5555 @hopelesslover06 @mars-mizuko @sleepykittycx @nerium-lil @eustasscapitankid @jqperi @rainbow2312 @ren-ni @alexturnersgirl

|Chapter 11|

[coffins-flowers]

Day 6: Pocky challenge

Storytime:

This one’s longer. Decided to give this one a bit more time and care than the rest.

July heat came and with it invitation for Uppercrusts and relatives yearly family gathering. Bradley asked Max to come with him for bravery sake; he knew it’ll be humiliating meeting.

First person to greet was Bradleys oldest sister Felicity. She was tall, blonde woman with fierce blue eyes and hypnotizing long hair down to half of her hips, her nose was even smaller than brothers.

”Good to see you two I guess. Are you sure it is a good idea to bring your boy into this circus tent?”

”All we have to survive is closest family”

”As every year… I’m going to Claire, you’ll find me near her or other cousins” Felicity came closer to Bradley and whispered „If Victor will say anything go straight to me”

”I’m not a child”

”But he is an idiot. Can you believe he thought he can disown you despite last will?”

”Not only him”

”Oh yeah. Our dear mother in law, the saint of the saints”

”I will go to others ok?”

”If you want~”

Gathering was going rather smoothly. Some were opposed of Maximilian being near them, some were more than thrilled to finally meet ‚a partner’ although it was a shock for everyone that Bradley meant ‚boyfriend’ by that. In the meantime Max also met younger siblings of Bradley - half-sister Emma was shy, short haired dark brunette with hazel eyes. Opposite to Felicity she was rather thick and very short. She’s only 14 after all, she has time. Her expression was an enigma to Max, her eyes weren’t as wild as ‚genetic’ Uppercrusts, but weren’t gloomy either. This eyes - as well as her as a whole - were apathetic and bland as if Emma wanted to blend in as much as she could. Dylan on the other hand, the youngest brother and favourite child had everything Bradley and Felicity were jealous of - his hair had similar lenght as Bradley’s, but were pure, light blonde, not ‚dirty’ blonde like some refer to Felicity’s hair. His eyes were also almond shaped, but more delicate and the color blue was lighter and richer unlike ‚dirty’ blue Bradley and Felicity used to hear from their mother, his nose small but not too small, his character was charming, but wasn’t a ‚wild horse whom must be beaten’ as uncles would refer to Dylans siblings.

Now came time for unavoidable. Victor. That green-eyed, dark-haired snake. As soon as his sight caught the two, he appeared behind them with devilish smirk.

”Well, well, well…” older half-brother started „… who do we have here? Have you lost last remains of your dignity? Bringing that… rat between us.”

”If I read correctly, I can bring anyone I want. Isn’t it right Victor?”

Brothers face got red and lips disfigured grotesquely.

”You think it’s so funny huh? Showing around your deviancy and sick fetishes?”

”Seems like it’s you problem considering no one else minds my partners presence except you. When we are at the topic of fetish tho- weren’t you the one who blew up a yacht party by begging random girls to strangle you?”

„Bradley. Maybe we should go.” Max felt that atmosphere is getting out of hand.

”Not now.”

”Let’s go to Felicity ok?” Labradoodle held Bradley’s hand trying to pull him away

”It’s NOT a big deal.” Bradley shoved his arm and glared at Max.

”Better listen to your boy-toy playboy and go back to sissy”

”HOW did you call him!?” Bradley almost jumped on Victor with fury. His boyfriend was the only thing holding him from beating him in front of everyone.

”C’mon Bradley. Go.” Max gripped Brad and tried to pull him back again.

”Fffine” Chodsky pes barely hissed through teeth. Victor was shouting other things but Bradley muted himself. He felt sudden lost of any strenght.

The rest of the day went slowly. Not good in any means But at least not tragic. Maximilian was tired of many dramas and humors from Bradleys family. It made him look beaten down. He and Bradley went to their bedroom to calm down.

(Bradley)

I’ve seen this face several times now. Depressed and lost. Max tends to get drained from stuff like that, it’s not his enviroment and totally out of his element. I’m still mad at myself that I let my family say so many bitter words towards him, but what was I expecting?

„I will make you wish you stayed shut” still rings in my ears after all those months. I admit - I blew the fact that Victor knows about us out of proportions. Feli is right, I get driven by emotions too quickly and too strong, I still am a lost child near my older siblings.

All I can do now is try to make my dear Max feel better. Glad I bought perfect sweet for that occasion.

”Hey, Max! How do you feel?”

”I’m… okay”

”Are you suuuuurrrrreeee~” Time for special maneuver. Getting close face to face and kissing on the cheek.

”Yeah. I’m pretty sure” Then why are you preparing to rot in the bed? Dumbass.

”Yeah. Totally” Now for maneuver number 2. Lay with him and boop his nose.

”If you want to piss me off and feel bad than congratulations! You did it!” he sat rapidly

”Knew that.”

”Knew what!?”

”You always get all shy and timid and than blow within seconds when something is wrong”

”Wow. After 8 months you get so good at deciphering my every move”

”So… if you won’t tell at least lay with me a bit more. I got cemented into this bed now”

”You really are insufferable”

Manouver number 3- reach my arms to him, palms signalizing to lay on me and cuddle

”I know~”

Max snuggled into me and sighted loudly. It was his time to lay in quiet a little bit. Of course after maybe five minutes I’ll give him pocky. Faster if I’ll get bored and will let him win in one competition.

(Max)

Bradley started looking for something in his bag. I’m too tired to care honestly, today was a nightmare. Just thinking it’s going to be like that every time makes me sick. Oh man are those pocky!? I love pocky!

”Ever heard of pocky challenge babe?” Bradley asked

”Not really.”

”It’s easy. We take opposite ends of the same pocky, eat it, and than meet in the middle. The one who breaks the kiss loses.”

”Seems fine”

”Soo. Wanna try?”

”*sight* Why not.”

We started in kinda awkward position, looking at each other. Bradley started pulling slowly, we went head to head, I got focused on eating my end of the stick. We are almost in the middle, just let me swallow my part OOP.

Bradley sealed a kiss with me, just lips touching for now. After short while I felt his tongue pressing on me, it was nice as always, his french kisses always make me forget about the world, his hands around me pulling me towards his well-built chest, Bradley jumps on my hips, head above me, my hands are on autopilot going up and down one playing with those beautiful, soft hair, the other caressing sculpted back, oh the delicacy, the love, he makes me feel like the most important person in the world. Bradley pushes me down on a mattress and continues the unbroken pleasure. I feel him getting up a little above me, his hair still gently touching my skin.

”You won.” he says while I see myself in his half closed eyes.

His smile is worth more than anything. (Even when he pisses me off to the moon and back).

[mr-walkingrainbow]

TORALEI ANGST LORE DROP???

TORALEIS FINALLY IN FUCKING THERAPY WAHOOOOOO!

NOOOOO ITS FAMILY THERAPY MEANING SHE HAS TO SEE HER FUCKING NIGHTMARE OF AN ABUSIVE ASS MOTHER. IT ALSO PROBABLY MEANS SHES GETTING RETRAUMATIZED NEARLY EVERY FUCKING TIME

COME ON CLAWDEEN WHY ARENT YOU LOVING YOUR GIRLFRIEND?!?!

THE REFORM CENTER FOR BEASTIE BADDIES?!! THE FUCK DID THEY JUST COMBINE JAIL. A MENTAL HOSPITAL. ALCOHOL ANONYMOUS AND CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ALL INTO ONE ?!

ALSO? CATARINAS ALIVE? THATS UH? Not bad I guess? This is literally the first confirmation we’ve gotten that she survived the finale. So uh. That’s good I guess. Somewhat. HAHA ALOWS ME TO TORTURE TORALEI MORE IN FANFICS HAHAHAHAHAH!

I’m literally in love with this so fucking much. But really. Come on. The society could do better. Get toralei in individualized therapy. Catarina should be in rehab WAY longer then she’s been before they even initiate such type of conjoined therapy. Operating under basic guidelines. They can allow supervised visits between mother and daughter but they shouldn’t be in something like therapy till the mom’s somewhat proven/served time that allows them to see she’s headed on the right path. Not to mention they’d BOTH be in individualized therapy as well. It wouldn’t just be family therapy like this. Also. I love that Toralei got to stay at the Wolfs house. But??? What the fuck was CPS thinking? They’d never put a child with a random family who has no foster care license when she has ALIVE AND WELCOMING NEXT OF KIN. Toralei literally could have stayed with the weretwins and her aunt/Uncle. Like??? The cousins ADORE her! (Too a concerning agree. Don’t get me wrong I love their relationship. But Persephones treating dissapointing toralei like it’s life or death. I could somewhat understand that panic for a parent. But it’s somewhat unhealthy for a cousin. Although it’s not completely odd. I know I’d be destroyed if I ever dissapointed my older cousin who I look up too. I feel like it’s somewhat like that?)

Anywho. I LOVE how supportive Meowlody and Pursephony are with toralei and family therapy. They don’t judge her. And they don’t judge their aunt. Just tell her to say hi for them. They offer unwavering support and with how much Toraleis currently getting I’d say it’s dearly needed.

also. Not related but I LOVE Meowlody having adhd. I have adhd and I connected with her SO FUCKING MUCH in this episode. Jsut in this clip. Her volume control and excitement about the ‘wrong things’ just is so relatable. Her being confident but also somewhat not confident about a list of tasks. Practically begging her sister to realize she really did listen but it’s so hard to remember and things get confused and to show that we DO have good memory! We just see it in different ways! God. Amazing. My only thing is I wish she would have audibly confirmed it. Like we know they had Twyla verbally say she’s autistic. Why couldn’t they do that for adhd? It’s odd but I’ve never actually seen it verbally stated in tv before.

anywho uh- I’m gonna be writing so much fucking toralei angst so yall should be on the lookout!

AND YO THAT OPERETTA GENERATION ONE REFERENCE WAS UNHINGED I LOVE IT

And yo was that a hint of FUCKING YARN SALT AKA MEOWLODY X BARKIMEDES I SAW???

[tgmsunmontue]

From the top 2/? (WIP)

IceMav, (eventual) Explicit, (background Hangster who are already established). Set post-TGM. (No dead Ice obviously).

Featuring not-mistaken identities (where they (Ice and Mav) pretend to be in the dark for REASONS), Ice is Jake's Uncle Tom, Mav is Bradley's Dad, everyone knows everyone, (un)requited love, coming out as an older person, and a little bit of a circus-vibe where Ice has a horrible realization that this is indeed his circus and these are also his monkeys.

An AU where Mav married Carole and adopted Bradley to make things easier legally. A USNA Bradley who has been very careful to separate Dad/Pete from godfather/Maverick. They had an argument prior to TGM, but it was around Maverick being careless with his life (RE: Darkstar because Bradley got the call that Maverick was missing, presumed dead). So it was about risk taking and thinking while flying, so that was happening and Bradley admits to the Dagger Squadron that Maverick is his godfather and they have a ‘complicated relationship’ which isn’t a lie per se, however it’s… complicated.

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

                Jake has gone still beside him and Bradley feels nervous, wonders if he’ll have even noticed.

                “Uncle Ice?”

                Nope. No such luck. Jake’s voice is pitched a little higher than usual, like he’s maybe trying not to freak out.

                “It’s, uh, a nickname?” Bradley offers, which he realizes is a bit ridiculous considering the sheer number of nicknames they throw about on a daily basis. Jake is staring at him, eyes wide.

                “Like a callsign?”

                “Maybe?” Bradley offers, cringing. God he loves how smart Jake is, but sometimes he wishes that maybe he could just play dumb. For Bradley’s sake and sanity.

                “Iceman?”

                “Yes…”

                “You call the COMPACFLT Uncle Ice?”

                “Ah. Yeah. About that…” Bradley starts, running a hand over his face. Instead of looking more tense or pulling away Jake seems to relax, slumping against him and wrapping his arms around him, back into the snuggling position they were in before Ice’s call had him sitting up to take it, unable to lie in bed with his boyfriend wrapped around him while on the phone with his… well, Ice.

                “Oh thank fuck… I call him Uncle Tom, so… wait. Who’s your step-dad?”

                “Wait, you call him Uncle Tom? Why?”

                “He’s my mom’s cousin,” Jake says, hand waving around impatiently and Bradley guesses they can circle back to that later. “Who is your step-dad?”

                “Uh…”

                “Bradley… Do I know your step-dad?”

                “Yes?” Bradley says, face scrunching up in defeat.

                “Oh my god. Pete. I just thought it was a common name. So, Maverick? Maverick’s your step-dad?”

 ��              “Yeah…”

                “Oh my god… we’ve just set them up.”

                “But Ice is straight.”

                Jake snorts with laughter.

                “No he isn’t.”

                “Mav thinks he is… I thought he was.”

                “Oooohhhh… oh shit.”

                “Oh my god… I just told Ice that I installed Grindr on Mav’s phone. Do you think he’s figured it out?”

                “Oh definitely… wait. Did he know about Maverick not being straight?”

                Bradley swallows, eyes going wide.

                “Uh. I mean. I assumed he did? They’ve been friends for… decades! I know about Mav. Oh my god. I’ve just outed Mav to Ice…”

                “And apparently I just outed Tom to you. There is no way he hasn’t pieced everything together. He’s far too smart. But… Okay, this is either going to be the most amazing thing ever, or it’s going to backfire horribly.”

                “They’re already friends though. They’ve known each other for years. Mav goes around and has dinner with him at least once a week when he’s in town. Surely they would have figured their shit out if they were interested in each other.”

                “Well… not if they didn’t know about each other? Maybe this will be a blessing in disguise?”

                “Or maybe it’s the reason we both get shipped off to Antarctica or something, but sure, let’s think positively.”

…            …            …

                Tom didn’t sleep very well last night, unable to think about anything other than Pete being… not straight. That, and the fact that Pete hasn’t ever mentioned it to him, and he’s somehow missed it. He doesn’t know how he’s missed it, he knows Pete better than he knows himself, or at least he thought he did. He wants to get confirmation from Jake now, because before he goes ahead and starts messaging Pete he wants to know for certain that it’s going to be Pete he’s going to be talking to. Pete is a common enough name, but these could all just be incredibly highly specific coincidences. He didn’t get to where he was without fact checking everything. He dials Jake’s number and waits impatiently for him to pick up.

                “Hello?”

                “Jake.”

                “Uncle Tom, it’s before seven on a Saturday…” Jake complains.

                “I’ve been awake for hours. Tell me more about this guy you want me messaging.”

                “Oh. Uh, well, his name’s Pete. He’s my boyfriend’s step-dad,” Jake says, and he suddenly sounds a lot more awake. “He’s also in the Navy, your, uh, age, and he’s bisexual. You know you could just ask him all this stuff by messaging him, right? It’s not meant to be anonymous.”

                Definitely Bradley then. The idea of Jake and Bradley together makes him smile, glad they’ve found each other. It’ll at least make introductions nice and straightforward. Except Jake and Bradley seem to have gone to quite elaborate lengths to matchmake him and Pete. What does Bradley know? He clearly knew that Pete wasn’t straight, and he guesses Bradley clocked him and… has Pete said something to him? Or is it all just pure coincidence. Tom leans back, because it’s possible, Pete and Tom are common enough names. But surely they’ve put it together now, especially with his call to Bradley and then second call to Jake.

                Well, he can pretend to be ignorant, especially if they know somehow how he feels. He doesn’t think they do, he’s mastered keeping it to himself, years of practice now. Slider only knows because he was the one who told him he needed to practice. He’s dying of curiosity, as to who knows what, and he’s going to assume everyone knows everything, it seems the safest going forward. And he’s also going to assume that if he messages Pete then Pete will… what?

                For once he actually has no idea what Maverick will do. Just a few days ago he’d have said that Maverick would own up, but now he’s wondering if he’d actually play along. He picks up the phone and rubs in between his hands, wonders if maybe Jake is on to something. Well, there’s only one way to find out. What do the kids say now? Fuck around and find out? It seems like a very Mav approach to everything.

>>Hi. My name’s Tom.

>>I guess our kids think we should get to know one another.

>>What did yours bribe you with?

>>Hi Tom, I’m Pete.

>>He said he’d stop meddling in my love life.

>>Plus I get to meet his boyfriend.

                Tom frowns, because Maverick already knows Jake. Unless he doesn’t know that Jake is who Bradley is dating, and to be fair, Tom hadn’t realized it himself until this whole thing came about. Which had been Jake’s bargaining chip when he’d been trying to convince him to do this. Well, jokes on him, he’s known Bradley longer than he’s known Jake, and Tom’s  been around since Jake was born, so that’s a damn long time.

                Ugh. He doesn’t want to think about it, already feels old enough as it is.

>>What about you?

>>What do you get?

>>I get my kid off my back about dating for a while.

>>Think he’s worried I’m going to die old and alone.

                Once he’s pressed send he realizes the truth of the words, not so much what Jake is worried about, but more the little worried looks his sister gives him when she visits. He knows she voices her concerns loud and clear, mainly in the hope that he’ll overhear her and do something about it.

>>Ouch. I think I got the better deal.

>>Maybe.

>>Probably.

>>Are you out to your friends and family?

                This is the question he wants the answer to the most.

>>No. Although thinking about it more now.

>>Some know of course, but it’s never been an active choice. Most just… stumbled into knowing.

>>By stumbled do you mean they walked in on you?

>>Uh. Sometimes. Yeah. Pretty much.

                Tom has to laugh, because yeah, that does sound like the Maverick he knows and loves. Then he realizes that this may be how Bradley found out.

>>Including your kid?

>>Unfortunately yes. Not my finest moment.

>>However it did make him feel comfortable about coming out to me himself.

>>Silver lining.

                Tom rolls his eyes and lets out a breath, because of course Bradley is fortunate enough to know nothing but unconditional love and support, however part of him also feels bad that Bradey apparently walked in on Maverick doing god knows what with someone. He doesn’t want to think about it, if he does he’ll picture it and he doesn’t like the image.

                It’s weird. Knowing it’s Pete that he’s talking to, but that Pete maybe doesn’t know it’s him. The fact that he’s somehow finding out new things about his best friend even after all these years is surprising, but also he wants to know absolutely everything. So he’s going to get to pretend he doesn’t know that it’s Pete he’s talking to, flirt with him under the guise of anonymity and the shield of a screen. Ask questions and get answers to things he’s never dared ask because he’s always been scared of the answers. He’s still scared of the answers.

                This whole thing might break his heart. For good this time.

PART THREE

[honey-minded-hivemind]

Reader Readerson is the only mutant in their family. Everyone else is very much human and has no idea where their x-gene comes from, but their best guess it's so far back in the family tree that there's no record of it.

While most have fairly traumatic stories of when their mutation first started showing. (Sometimes, the trauma starts at the literal day of birth if they are born with their mutation.) Reader's story sounds more like a sitcom bit of everyone panicking, and a lamp gets broken.

So all the Readerson family are fascinated watching their kid do mutant things. They watch during Danger Room training and treat it like a sports game, and they ask the others stupid but well-meaning questions about it. Their little cousin asks Charles if they had action figures of Reader cause "my cousin is the best hero and the best heros need toys!"

Reader is blushing and excusing their little cousin, who then helpfully pipes up how those powers would be so useful helping their Uncle Readerson out-!

Reader is quick to say they're just joking, and then is tugging their teammates back, all while their family happily keeps watching their little tot learn how to fight and try not to die-

Later, once everyone has settled for the night (because of course Reader's family stayed the night, for dinner, because Meemee Readerson said so!), Reader is quick to warn everyone to NOT make Meemee Readerson, or ANY of their family mad, or make them think Reader is in danger. When Logan asks why...

"Well, erm... Missing Parent didn't come back when he/she/they started to get... mean... mm... or my brother or sister when they stole everything from me and Other Parent... or our uncle Two or cousin Middle, when they tried to manipulate me and Older Cousin to be mean, too..."

And now the adults are trying to figure out what the h*ll Reader just told them, and what they're subtley trying to say...

(Well... haha... I couldn't help myself... @sugar-soda What do you think of this little addition?)

[thatseventiesbitch]

Fictober 2 - "It's been a long time"

"Are you nervous?" Donna asked Eric. He was fiddling with the sleeves of his dress shirt as they approached the funeral home.

"I mean, kind of. It's been a long time."

"Yeah," Donna agreed softly. Ten years... it had been ten years since they'd last seen him. And now this.

The funeral home was surprisingly ornate inside, with high, white ceilings and large wall-to-wall windows that let in a generous amount of autumn sunlight. A long line of mourners, dressed in dark clothes, snaked around the entryway. Donna stood still for a moment, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar crowd and unsure of their place in it.

Eric seemed just as unsure as she was. He gestured towards the front of the line. "Should we - um. Sign the guestbook?"

Donna nodded, and grasped his arm. They followed the line to the end, where two weeping people stood close together. From their facial features and clear familiarity, Donna guessed perhaps a father and daughter. They looked up to acknowledge Eric and Donna, and she gave them a sympathetic smile.

"I'm so sorry for your loss."

The words, though meant to be reassuring, caused the younger woman to burst into tears again. Her father rubbed her back.

"He's my cousin," the man told Eric and Donna. As he said it, Donna nodded. Even though she'd never actually met any of his family members, it made sense. He looked just like him. He carried himself the same way. "We were - " the man's voice wavered. "We were very close."

Eric cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable, and Donna grasped his elbow tightly, almost like she was afraid he'd dart off any minute.

"How did you...?" the man's question trailed off, implicit. How did they know him?

Donna glanced at Eric's ashen face, and realized quickly that he wasn't going to answer.

"Um, we're - we're friends of the family," she decided on, but she quickly glanced to the floor. Was that even true anymore? She wasn't sure.

It didn't seem to matter to the man. He wasn't going to interrogate them - only their own guilt did that.

"Thank you for coming," he clasped Donna's hand gratefully. "It would have meant a lot to him."

"I don't know about that," Eric mumbled.

"No - no, trust me when I say it would." The man shook his head, and his daughter - who had composed herself - nodded along. "He didn't like to show his emotions much, my cousin. He didn't like to show weakness or to express his affections. But his family meant more to him than he'd ever admit. And if you were friends, then he considered you family."

Donna smiled at the man kindly. "I'd like to think so."

He squeezed Donna's arm. "I know so."

Eric cleared his throat and nudged Donna. They'd reached the front of the room, to the receiving line. She turned around, and her heart caught in her throat. There he was.

His hair - unlike Eric's - wasn't thinning with age but it had darkened, and he wore it closer cut to his scalp. He'd stayed in shape, but wore a starchy navy blue suit that he was clearly uncomfortable in. His hands were clasped behind his back, his icy blue eyes nodding along with what the sniffling older woman in front of him was saying. Someone must have insisted he not wear his sunglasses, because they were hooked into the top of his dress shirt rather than on his face.

"Hyde," Eric whispered, next to her. He was just as awe-struck.

Donna's heart started to thunder in her chest, and she grasped Eric's hand tightly in hers as they got closer and closer to the front of the line.

Hyde greeted each guest warmly, often with a hug or a handshake. He wasn't the surly teenager from the basement anymore. Next to him was Angie and a man she suspected was Angie's husband. They had two young girls, who were clinging to Angie's skirt. But Hyde appeared to be alone.

Finally, they were next.

W.B.'s cousin and his daughter stepped forward.

"Steven," the man said affectionately. He opened his arms to Hyde, and they embraced.

"Uncle Arthur. Hey, thanks for coming." He looked beyond Arthur, to his daughter. "Corrine. You came all the way from Florida, huh?"

"Anything for Uncle W.B." Corinne had tears in her eyes as she and Hyde, too, embraced. "You know, he was my godfather."

"A real stand-up guy, your father. One of the very best."

"The very best," Hyde echoed. But his voice had gone flat. He'd made eye contact with Eric and Donna.

Eric went rigid beside her, but Donna pulled him forward.

"Hyde - I - I just - oh my god, we're so sorry - "

He lifted an eyebrow and smirked. "'Bout W.B.?"

"About everything." Eric finally found his voice. It cracked as he continued. "About your dad, about - " he hesitated. "You know. Everything."

"We should have tried harder to stay in contact," Donna added. "After everything that, you know. Happened."

Hyde shrugged. "Yeah, well. I wasn't very easy to find for a while."

"I know." Donna swallowed. "Hyde we were - we were worried."

But he shrugged, and smiled. Then his jerked his thumb in the direction of his sister, his family. "Well, I was fine." One of his nieces ran by, and he ruffled her fluffy afro affectionately. He nodded to Eric and Donna. "Your daughter. She about this age now?"

"She's ten, Hyde."

"Wow." He rubbed his chin. "It's been that long, huh?"

"Way too long," Eric said.

The two old friends met eyes. Hyde's were uncharacteristically soft.

"Thanks for comin'," he croaked. "It means a lot."

[abibliophobiaa]

hello lunieee

I would like to request some dad!Steve-

HAH

just kidding.

I would love some dad!Eddie in the summer playing with his tween kid - maybe running through the sprinkler or someone gets sprayed with the hose, maybe eating ice pops, but most important of all is Eddie being a nerdy, kinda lame adorkable dad that his kid both loves and cringes at. Bonus points if we are watching him and really feelin' a surge of attraction or affection based on his antics.

thank you love youuu 💕

Gone Fishing: Just Go With It…

warnings: r is pregnant, minor injury & barely edited — i needed something soft, sweet and fluffy today. (2.6k words)

dad!eddie munson x afab!mom!reader.

masterlist

——

It’s meant to be a joke.

A little Russian Roulette game, if you will. A precursor to the barbecue plans with your friends for the summer festivities to determine if the pitcher of sangria Robin put her heart and soul into will end up going to waste.

Once you’ve all taken your tests, Max and El have you all turn around and scramble the order. When ready, you all turn around to find the three tests face up on the countertop.

“Mine’s negative,” Robin says, dramatically wiping the back of her hand over her brow. “What a relief!”

But she’s met only with silence.

Until. “Holy shit,” Max breathes out, trying to not break out into incredulous laughter.

“That one is definitely positive,” El points out, hooking her chin over Nancy’s shoulder.

Two lines.

Two very dark lines.

So you…or Nancy.

Baby number four for her, or number three for you.

Shit.

Nancy bites her lip. Turns to you, smile a little hopeful despite the fact your nerves are buzzing to life at the prospect of another baby when you and Eddie hadn’t intended for another baby.

“Guess we have to take another,” she says, reaching for more test strips.

——

“Hey man, can you watch Quinnie?” Eddie asks, passing off the giggly two year old to her honorary uncle. “I’m just going to run to the bathroom.”

And they prove to be famous last words.

Words that change a lot.

Because as he’s washing his hands, humming a song that had been playing on the radio before he’d run inside, he spots the tests.

Multiple tests.

He’s seen a few since becoming a dad to know what two lines or a smiley face means.

He also knows that you, Nancy, Robin, El and Max had all gone to the bathroom at the same time to ‘take care of something.’

So despite it being his bathroom, in his home, he’s not sure if it’s your test.

But, he does know someone is pregnant.

Someone standing outside in his backyard just a few feet away.

The sudden realization hits him then. Either he’s becoming an uncle again to four, or a father of three.

Shit.

——

“And you’re sure?” Steve asks, carding his fingers through his hair. Eddie pulls the strips out of his pocket and Steve whisper-yells, “There’s pee on those!”

“Grow up, Harrington, they’ve got the caps on. We have bigger things to worry about.” Eddie holds the tests in the space between the two of them, bent low near the grill, far away from the rest of the guests.

In the distance he can see you and Nancy watching the youngest Harringtons and Munsons in the pool while the older “kids” watch on. James’ laughter echoes as Dustin and Lucas toss him up into the air and catch him, his little rubber ducky floaties keeping him from slipping too far beneath the water’s surface.

You’re glowing, Quinn bouncing on your hip, wearing the same brightly colored summer dress you’re wearing that flutters around your thighs in the cool summer breeze. And he wonders briefly whether or not you carry a little secret beneath your heart.

“So one of us is pregnant?” Steve exhales deeply as Eddie nods, running a palm down his face. “Look—I know I said I wanted six, but I’m overrun by girls at the moment, Ed. Do you know how terrifying throwing a fourth girl into the mix is?”

Steve’s gaze travels over to Nancy and his three little girls. One reaches out to grab at her little ‘cousin’ Quinn, while the other two try to quite literally become mermaids in the pool, little legs kicking behind them, spraying Mike Wheeler in the face until he’s redder than a damn tomato.

“What do you think we should do?” Eddie asks, flipping over the burgers on the grill, waving as you look over your shoulder and give him one of your wonderful smiles he loves so much.

“Should we ask them?” Steve wonders, tossing some cheese on top, both men watching with increasing nervousness over their present (potential) situations.

“No—no, you absolutely cannot ask them if they’re pregnant.” Eddie shoves the bag of burger buns into his best friend’s chest. “Start laying the buns in that container right there. Yeah, that one. But as I was saying…asking a woman if she’s pregnant is enough to get you as number one on their to-kill list. Do you not fear death?”

Steve seems to consider this, swallowing thickly as he lays out the buns in the tin container so Eddie can begin loading burgers on top. “Nancy will murder me in my sleep.”

“Exactly.” Once the burgers are loaded up, he calls out into the open yard that dinner is ready and then claps Steve on the shoulder. “Best plan of action is to be supportive, remain calm, and act natural.”

——

“Are the guys being a little weird?” You ask, running your fingers through Quinn’s little curls, the two year old dozing against your chest.

“You two married the weirdest guys in Hawkins,” Robin says, sipping her cup of sangria. “I’d say this is within normal limits for them.”

“Steve knocked my drink out of my hand,” Nancy points out, pulling at a piece of cookie and popping it into her mouth.

“And Eddie kept demanding I eat more,” you add, laughing at the memory of your overly eager husband adding more macaroni salad to your plate as soon as you’d finished your first spoonful. “He also kept asking me if I should be holding Quinn.”

The men in question are presently standing in the yard bare chested in their swimsuits, with the sprinkler running. The kids rush through the stream all taking turns, still donning their little pool floaties, little shrieks of joy and peals of infectious laughter warming your heart.

Because you and Eddie finally saved up enough to buy this home, and are now sharing it with your friends who are more likely family now, and seeing the happiness on all their faces has made all the endless hours of work, hardships and obstacles so worth it.

So no, you can’t help the fear that wedges into your heart if you disrupt all of that.

——

“J! NO!”

Quinn whines from Eddie’s lap as James leans over and snatches a marshmallow from the bag his daughter is insistent upon keeping clutched in her tiny palms.

“Quinnie, give me!”

Quinn’s newest favorite word in the dictionary other than Momma and Dadda?

No.

She uses it so often, Eddie sometimes forgets she’s picked up others throughout the past few months.

“NO!”

This time, her little fingers curl in her brother’s hair and give a harsh tug. Hard enough he winces and scrambles onto Eddie’s lap, knocking the wind from him when his knobby knee jabs him in the stomach, to try and alleviate the stress on his hair.

Catching his bearings once more, Eddie grips his daughter’s hand and unfurls her angry little knuckles, finger by finger until she reluctantly releases James.

“Quinnie, let’s be nice to your brother,” Eddie coos, bouncing her on his thigh as you start to rise from your chair, conversation with Nancy and Robin pausing to see the commotion. Wanting to show you he can, in fact, handle three kids, he shakes his head, reassuring, “I’ve got this.”

“NO!”

Steve glances over from beside him, braiding both his little girl’s hair into braids at the backs of their heads. Eddie frowns, and Steve gives him a sympathetic smile as his own littlest one trips over the leg of his chair and takes a tumble onto the patio below, scraping her knee and bursting into ear piercing wails, crying out for Mama.

——

“Chloe, do you want vanilla or chocolate ice cream for being such a good girl?” You ask, leaning your back against the kitchen counter as Nancy finishes putting a pink bandaid on her youngest daughter’s knee.

Hazel eyes that resemble her father’s peer up at you, fingers pointing to the vanilla container held up in your hands. “‘Bow sprinkle, pease!”

“She wants rainbow sprinkles,” Nancy clarifies as you get to work on her daughter’s ice cream, shoulders slouching, tears burning on your lower lash line. “Hey. Hey. What’s going on? You’ve been quiet tonight.”

Forearm pressing to your sweat-slick forehead, you sigh. “Eddie and I never talked about having another baby. We’ve been trying to save up for the house, we got the house, and now we’re really only just settling into the house. And I don’t even know how this happened, or how he’s going to react, or if he even wants another baby. We always said two and I-I—”

“Momma cry,” Quinn huffs beside Chloe, lifting at the edge of her frilly little summer dress.

You let out a weak laugh at that, sniffling noisily. “Momma is crying, yes sweetie.”

Nancy tugs you close as you join her and the girls on the counter, handing each of the greediest little ones a tiny spoon to likely smear vanilla ice cream on their faces with.

“We planned for James and planned for Quinnie.” With a groan, you grab your own spoon and shovel a spoonful of rainbow sprinkles into your mouth, needing a little sweetness to quell the nervousness bubbling in your belly.

“Well, it seems like that little one had other plans. I know it’s not ideal. But if you take away the house, if you take away all the other things stressing you out right about now, what do you feel?”

And that’s the thing. If you think about it. If you really think about it, you love your husband. Have for so many years now. You married him for all of the reasons you’d said in your vows. Wanted to take on life together, build a family, build a home.

Now here you are, still as deeply in love with him as you were that day, in the house of your dreams you never thought you’d own, with your sweet little boy who has love in his heart and joy in his laugh, and your little girl with her father’s tenacity and your features, and this unexpected little one, faceless and nameless and yet loved.

So so loved already.

“I’m happy. Just…really happy.”

“Then you’ll figure everything else out as you go.”

——

Outside, Eddie’s sitting near the bonfire with his acoustic guitar on his lap, strumming along to a silly song meant for the children. Made up, naturally. A tale of beautiful princes and princesses who wield swords and fight impressive dragons, of harrowing tales and defeating evil.

James sits on his lap, beaming bright, with chocolate smeared across his cheeks, heading into what is surely to be a lovely night of sleep induced by a food coma. Steve’s got his two older daughters, Olivia and Violet, draped over each of his thighs, their heads swaying back and forth and feet kicking as Eddie slips in and out of singing and speaking his stories.

The older kids in “The Party” have started cleaning up, weaving in and out of the house as you and Nancy make your way back outside the sliding glass door with Chloe and Quinn on your hips.

And later, as Steve and Robin show the kids how to safely play with sparklers, tips of their little fireworks exploding into colorful light, Eddie pulls you into his side and presses a kiss to your temple, murmuring he loves you against your skin.

You reply the same, turning your head enough so you can peck him once. Then again, humming into his smile. “Our first party in our new home.”

“The Munson home,” he says, kissing you once more.

And as his arms loop around your waist and James calls out “Mommy and Daddy look!” his little face illuminated in the dark, excitement blooming across his features, and your little girl dancing with Max and El off in the grass, you know you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

In this home, with your family, and these people.

——

Quinn is already down for the night when Eddie starts getting James ready for bed. The boy in question yawns and protests very little as his father lifts him once he’s done dressing for bed and lays him down in his bed shaped like a little race car that Steve had helped put together for him on his sixth birth.

“Can we read The Hobbit?” James asks, clambering over his father’s chest as he settles down beside him on the mattress.

“Yes, but only one chapter, okay?”

James nods his agreement and Eddie begins where they left off, using all the silly fake voices that James always laughs at. Those belly laughs that shake the boy, and warm Eddie from head to toe. Those same laughs that remind him he’s not his father. That reminds him that he’s been made for this; to be your husband, James’ dad and Quinn’s dad. He’s got his support system. His uncle who is more a father to him now than anything else and the strength of his friendships. All he needs, really.

As he finishes reading, and James’ eyes grow heavier, his head curling into Eddie’s neck, James whispers, “I love you, daddy.” Eddie replies the same. Lifts his head and finds you there in the doorway.

Sees the worry lining your brow, remembers the way Nancy had warned him you’d been a little upset as her, Steve and the kids had left, and he has an inkling why. But he doesn’t know for certain.

All he knows is no matter what, as long as you have each other, it’ll all be okay.

You’ll figure out the rest as you go.

——

“Hey, baby? Can you come here for a second?” Eddie calls, just as you finish brushing your teeth and pat your face dry.

Exhaling deeply, you slip out of the bathroom and find him already propped up against the mountain of pillows on your bed, bare chest on display. He’s added tattoos as time has gone by, meant to cover the tapestry of scars across his skin, the same ones that you’ve traced countless times over the years, forever thankful that he’s still here.

His hands reach out to curl around the fullest part of your hips as you lower yourself down onto his lap, a thigh bracketing each of his hips, your own hands resting against the heat of his chest.

He rubs gentle patterns there. Callus scarred fingers dance across your thighs, along the curve of your hips, over your ribcage, the smallest point of your back, the softness of your stomach. Eddie pauses there, dark eyes meeting your own, tongue dragging a slow line across his lips.

“Eddie…” you begin, but Eddie jumps in before you can say any more.

“I want you to know I saw the pregnancy tests in the bathroom. I don’t know if they’re yours, but I wouldn’t be upset if they are. We have this home, we have each other. I got that promotion to manager at the shop, we’ve been saving. We might not have planned for another one, but I think we did a pretty damn good job with the first two, and I would love this baby so much and I—”

“It was my test. Both of them. I’m pregnant.”

His fingers spread further across your stomach, before reaching up to grip at both your cheeks and pull you close for a lingering kiss that has your toes curling. Before you can say anything else, he’s rolling you over onto your back and shoving at the flimsy sleep shirt you’re wearing, pressing kiss after kiss to your midsection.

“I’ll take it that you’re happy?” you giggle, threading your fingers in the soft curls at the back of his head.

Another kiss, this time to your belly button. “So happy,” he says, a grin growing against your skin. “Hi Maisie, it’s your daddy. I already love you so, so much.”

“Maisie, huh?”

“We always liked the name, and I have a gut feeling.”

Several months later, Eddie’s right.

Maisie Munson enters the world.

Seven pounds, six ounces, and pure love.

——

——

[rinaforpages]

christmas cheer # 5 : merry christmas!

inspired by events that occurred today, jake x reader non idol au

reader and jake take a shower together but nothing happens its christmas

———

christmas eve

the car ride to mass was 30 minutes long and filled with jovially singing along to christmas carols and harsh debates on whether or not the bruins would make it past the first round of the playoffs that jake had no input to (consensus: no). he held your hand the whole way, giving it squeezes when the grandparents or aunt or uncles he had never met were brought up.

your dad assured him there wouldnt be much socializing at mass: everyone wanted to get out of there.

but when you pulled up, and walked to your grandfather and aunt and uncles standing outside, seeing your grandfather shake his head, you looked at your brothers in confusion. your twin raced up to him, only to come racing back with the words, “its full” falling out of his mouth.

jaws were on the concrete. “this is why they should’ve had it at the other place!” being said by the older generation. “lets go back to my house,” great rallying by your grandfather, and everyone nodded along.

“what does he mean its full?” jake whispered to you, as you two walked side by side in the back of the pack.

“the church must be full,” you shrugged. “usually they had christmas mass over at the parish center which was larger but i guess they didnt want to? maybe theyll decide to next year.” he nodded, grabbing at your hand. you swatted it away. “my catholic grandfather is right there along with my nosy aunt and my nosy uncles, and i have an even nosier grandmother. sorry babe”

jake laughed, nodding, as you all piled into the car once again.

in the car-ride, your brother paused as he was saying something, and asked if you all could swing by the cemetery to see your mom. you, who wanted to introduce her to jake, agreed quickly.

after your dad gave directions to the lone-gone brother, two left turns and a right, you all arrived promptly. getting out, you trekked across the snow begging your dad with a bad back and a bum need didnt fall as you held hands with jake all the way there.

at your mom’s gravestone, you muttered a hi. “this is jake. hes my boyfriend. weve been dating for…a while.” she would know. you didnt need to say it. “jake, this is my mom. and to her side is my uncle mark. hi uncle mark.” jake said hello, talking to your mother in a hushed tone like he did when he met your father.

by the time you finished at the cemetery, you were rushing to your grandparents house.

they were waiting, although the food hadnt started, and your grandmother had gotten word of a man with the baby in the family. naturally, she laid on the questions.

“whats your name? how old are you? what do you do? howd you meet?” every question jake answered with extreme grace, even with interruption from your aunt to beg your grandmother to stop interrogating the poor boy. jake said he was fine.

your grandmother liked that.

when dinner ended with stuffing your faces with lasagna and alcohol, and jake being approved by everyone in the family—your grandfather took some time—you made your way to your next stop, your dad’s best friends/your moms cousin.

——

your cousins welcomed you with almost tears in their eyes—although they mightve been drunk. jake didnt get the nosy reaction that he got at your grandparents’, but he got the same reaction as from your brothers’.

the night went on smoothly, if you count joking and catching up and meeting and consuming copious amounts of alcohol, then yeah it was going extremely smoothly.

so extremely smooth, in fact, that you all hadnt realized you had been there for 5 hours, the clock already 11:40. none of you really paid attention, the alcohol did plenty to keep you all awake until your heads hit your pillows later that night.

jake and you stayed cuddled up on the couch, despite retching noises from cousins and brothers alike, and continued drinking. your eyes were the only ones that kept checking the analogue clock on the wall of their living room.

11:57

11:58

11:59

12:00

christmas day

“merry christmas,” you whispered to jake, kissing him while on the couch.

“merry christmas,” he whispered on your lips.

lying in bed, two hours later, slowly falling asleep, the two of you traced trees and stars into the others arms.

[gunilslaugh]

Hi! I'm so happy to see your requests open again. I hope you're doing okay dear 💜

Can I please request another part of Xdinary Heroes as your older brothers and you're dating another member? Let's say there was a time skip (like maybe 3-6 years) and you and the member are about to get married or/and you expect a child?

Take care and drink a lot of water 💜

Thank you! I hope that you are doing ok too! 💜

This is kinda a part 2 to Wait, You're Dating My Member, so there are references to it, but it still can be read as a stand alone :)

All members (U ~ U)

Summary: It’s been six years since you started dating your brother’s bandmate, Xdinary Heroes, now you two are getting married/having a child.

WC:~1.2k

Warning:none 

photo not mine credits to owner.

Gunil

“I can’t believe my bandmate and sibling are getting married,” Gunil cooed whilst looking at the engagement rings on yours and Jungsu’s hands. 

“I mean we’ve only been dating for six years,” you remarked. 

“Yeah.” Jungsu intertwines his hand with yours. “He’s taking our engagement better than when we told him we were dating though. Remember he just stared at us not saying anything,” Jungsu chuckles recalling the memory. 

“That’s right we thought that we broke him,” you laughed too. 

“Because I never saw the two of you dating coming. I didn’t think that it was a possibility, but I’m really happy for you both,” Gunil says. You and Jungsu tying the knot makes Gunil feel really sentimental. He finds it a bit crazy that his member is becoming his brother in law, but likes it nonetheless. He feels elated that he is there to witness yours and Jungsu’s love story unfold. 

“So I get to be the best man right?” Gunil quirked while folding his arms.

“Actually we were thinking maybe Seung-” You began to tease.

“Yah!” Gunil cut you off.

“Yes, you’re going to be my best man,” Jungsu told him.

“As I should be,” Gunil hummed happily.

Jungsu

“And I was worried that the two of you would breakup. Now you’re married with a kid. Jungsu mused as he watched you holding your newly born child in your arms with Gunil holding you in a back hug, head peeking over your shoulder to admire your guys’ child.

“That’s right you kept askinging us if we were sure,” you noted, recalling the past. 

“Yeah I also said to not act couple-ly in front of me.” He shot the both of you a playful glare, but Gunil only held you closer. 

“You think that we’re cute don’t lie,” you sassed him. He does, but he will never admit it, out loud, so he rolls his eyes at you. “As if.” “You two did make a cute kid though,” he says coming up to boops your twos’ child’s nose. “I can’ believe I’m finally an uncle,” he adds. Jungsu was excited to be uncle, he had been waiting for it. He often asked after you and Gunil got married when you were gonna make him an uncle. He sounded like your parents asking for a grandkid.

“Yeah, well when are you gonna give our kid a cousin?” you played. Jungsu blushed, averting his eyes.

“Eventually,” he murmured.

Gaon/Jiseok

“I guess I can’t steal him from you now,” Jiseok told you at your wedding reception. 

“The papers aren’t filed just yet,” Seungmin jokes. 

“Aye!” You smacked Seungmin, your newly wedded husband, in the chest. 

“You know I’m just joking.” Seungmin pulls you into his side and presses a kiss to the crown of your head. 

“Gross,” Jiseok muttered, but he secretly finds it adorable. Since he’s your brother he doesn’t want to tell you how glad he actually is that you and Seungmin have each other. He thinks that the two of you make a really good pair. What you still don’t know is that when he first found out about you crushing on Seungmin six years ago he immediately rushed to tell Seungmin about it. Why? Because Seungmin had told him right after you left on the day he first introduced you two that he was interested in you. Jiseok actually played cupid to get you and Seungmin together. He feels like a very successful cupid now as he watched you and Seungmin cut your wedding cake. Maybe one day he’ll tell you the truth or maybe he won’t. All he knows is that he’s very happy that you and Seunngmin are together.

O.de/Seungmin

“Here we got a gift for you?” You handed Seungmin a bag before sitting beside Hyeongjun, your husband, on the couch.

“What’s the occasion?” Seungmin questioned, looking at the bag. 

“Just open it,” Hyeongjun told him. Seungmin listened, opening the bag to see a folded shirt. He took it out of the bag, letting it unfold.

“World’s Best Uncle,” he read out the words on the shirt. It took him a few moments to register what it meant. “U-Uncle?” he repeated. “I’m gonna be an uncle?” he asked with wide eyes. 

“Yes, I’m pregnant,” you revealed, placing a hand over your stomach. Seungmin jumped up from where he sat to engulf you and Hyeongjun in a hug. 

“Congratulations,” he told you both sincerely. 

“Thank you,” you each said. 

“How far along are you?” Seungmin asked.

“Almost three months,” you replied. Seungmin’s heart was filled with warmth at the news. 

“And I was worried about you hurting Hyeongjun,” he chuckled.

“Even threatened me about it.” You playfully shook your head.

“That really weirded me out,” Hyeongjun noted. 

“Y’know we both like you more than each other, but who do you like more, Hyeongjun?” Seungmin pressed. Hyeongjun smiled smartly.

“My child,” he answered, putting a hand on your belly.

Junhan/Hyeongjun

“I can’t believe you're marrying y/n tomorrow,” Hyeonjun tells Jooyeon.

“Why? Didn’t think that we would last?” Jooyeon said jokingly.

“It’s not that. You two were just such an unexpected pairing to me. Now we’re about to be in-laws,” Hyeongjun explained. Jooyeon laughed loudly.

“What can I say I’m hopelessly in love with y/n. I really care about them,” Jooyeon states. 

“I know you do. Seeing you step up to care for y/n made me see you a bit more maturely you know? As our maknae we always babied you,” Hyeongjun chuckled lightly. 

“You guys still baby me,”Jooyeon grumbled. “But thank you. I promise I’m gonna take the best care of y/n for the rest of my life,” he swore. 

“You better,” Hyeongjun lightly threatened him. 

The next day Hyeongjun tried to hold back his tears as he saw you walk down the aisle to meet Jooyeon. Yes you two were an unexpected pairing to him, but now he thinks that you are the perfect pair for one another. As long as you both are happy and he knows that you are, he couldn’t be more elated about you marrying his member.

Jooyeon

“Aww, you are such a precious little nugget,” Jooyeon coos at yours and Jiseok’s child as they wrapped their tiny hand around his thumb.

“Jooyeon please stop referring to our child as a nugget,” you sighed. 

“What? No! They are the third nugget of Nugget Time. I have to call them a nugget,” Jooyeon insisted. You send your husband, Jiseok, a pleading look. 

“The nugget has a name and it’s c/n,” Jiseok said, patting Jooyeon on the shoulder. Whispering a small “Just don’t call them a nugget when y/n is around” into Jooyeon’s ear. You heard the whole thing but rolled your eyes, but decided to leave them be. You cherished the bond between your brother and husband. Jooyeon cherished the bond between you and his bandmate too. Your baby started to get a bit fussy, so you were quick to take them into your nurturing arms. Jiseok too was quick to join you at your side in comforting your twos’ child.

“My sibling and my member really got married and even have a child now. I guess it really is a small world,” Jooyeon spoke recalling the words Jiseok said when he asked about why out of all people you two had to date each other. Now couldn’t be more glad about it.

[storiesbyjes2g]

3.99 The llama

"What is it?" she asked.

I was so smiley and nervous. This was one of those things that could go left really quickly, and I didn't want that at all. But I felt like we couldn't ignore it anymore. No married couple knew every single thing about each other, and I looked forward to learning the good, bad, and ugly about Sophia as time went on. But this? Family dynamics were basics. Previously, I tried to blame it on the newness of our relationship, but she and I were not new to each other. She had plenty of opportunities to share this story with me while we got to know each other as friends. I shouldn't have been wondering if her parents were alive or dead still.

"I think, uhhh... I think it's time we talk about...your parents...if that's okay."

She sighed heavily, but not in an annoyed, exasperated way. It felt like she conceded reluctantly, torn between not wanting to but knowing she had to.

"Yeah...I guess I have kept you in the dark long enough."

I almost told her she didn't have to if she didn't want to, but I bit my tongue. We were married, and I didn't intend to end up like my parents. Sharing the hard things with each other was of utmost importance to me.

"I'm adopted...as you know."

She paused for a few moments, staring at the floor, searching for the right words. She found some, but her eyes remained on the floor.

"When you adopt a child, you don't get to choose who joins your family."

She let that line hang in the air for a moment and had me on the hook already.

"You simply state what age you prefer and wait for an agent to arrive with a child. My parents...I think they were just so enamored with the idea of finally having a child of their own, they failed to consider this."

My stomach felt queasy. I had no idea where the story was about to go, but it was definitely not heading in a positive direction.

"They didn't want you?" I asked nervously.

She hesitated.

"They would take offense to you saying that, but they often made me feel that way. I wasn't mistreated or anything. They made sure I had everything I needed and took care of me to the best of their ability. But they didn't love me."

I groaned in agony, thinking of what she must have gone through in her childhood. My parents may have put me through a lot, but never have I ever doubted their love for me. I believe their love sustained me. Who or where would I be without that?

"Sophia...I'm so sorry."

She shrugged and kept going.

"I used to be sorry, too. Throughout my childhood, I thought I was the problem and needed to be better. But as I got older, I realized there was nothing I could do. I was a pretty freakin' amazing daughter. They were the ones with the problem."

The cat was out of the bag, but I was still nervous.

"But...how did you know?" I asked. "I mean, what did they do?"

"To start, they never gave me their name. They claimed they wanted me to remain connected to my heritage or whatever, but that was cowplant poop."

Given that we just got married, that one cut deep. I think it would upset me greatly if Sophia didn't take my name. That tradition had seriously deep significance, and they didn't give it to their own child? I feared what else she would tell me.

"They always made a big deal about where I came from. We read books, watched documentaries, and whatever they could get their hands on so I understood what kind of blood flowed through my veins. In truth, it's really great they did that. So many adopted sims are clueless about their histories. But when I got older, I found it to be weird. Like, they put all this energy into teaching me about my biological history, yet I didn't have relationships with my own family. I can count on one hand how many times I've seen my aunts and uncles and cousins... I felt like they were trying to get me interested in my biological family so I could go find them and forget about theirs."

Both my parents were the only child, so I had no extended family to speak of. Still, I couldn't imagine my parents not interacting with them. I don't think we would be super close, but I'd have a relationship with them, at least.

"We never went on vacations and barely went to local places together. My parents were not wealthy, so it took them a while to save they money to adopt me. It was easy to think we didn't go anywhere because we couldn't afford it or because they were older. But one time, my mom took me to the park. I was sooooo excited to be outside among other kids. I found something and wanted to show it to her, so I picked it up and ran over yelling, 'Mommy! Look!' She was talking to some other parents. The look on her face when I finally reached her... I was almost a young adult when I realized what that was because I'd seen it many times by then. She was embarrassed. The other moms were looking at her for answers because they'd never met me before, and she clearly never told them she had adopted a brown child."

Maybe all the sims in my six degrees of influence were just cool because no one ever made a big deal about me having mixed heritage. I wasn't naïve enough to believe that kind of thing didn't happen, but how could sims be so ignorant? I had no trouble imagining Sophia being the perfect child, but that was not enough for them, and it angered me. How could they go through the heartbreak of realizing they couldn't birth their own children, struggle through saving the money to adopt, finally get a child, and not shout it from the rooftops? What kind of parent is ashamed of their own kid??

"Like I said," she continued, "they took good care of me, but they kept me at a distance. By my young adult birthday, I had a clear picture of the situation, so I left home and never went back. Their care was an obligation, not love. It took me a while to see, but I was empty and it affected me; I hated them for it. I wanted to be loved so bad and went from relationship to relationship trying to fill that void in my heart. My ex was cheating on me pretty much the entire time, and I knew about it. I was that desperate for the crumbs he left me. It took a while, but eventually realized what a gem I am and what a llama turd he was. I didn't have to settle for crumbs. And I didn't have to be anyone's obligation. My parents had died by then and left me some money, so I broke up with him and went on vacation for the first time in my life."

I smiled.

"Mt. Komorebi?"

"Mmm hmm. It always looked so pretty and peaceful in pictures, and I definitely needed some peace. I went to spend time with myself, heal, and reset my mind. Then I met you."

"Wow. I had no idea you had gone through so much then."

"I just wanted it all behind me. I'm sorry for not saying anything. I know it wasn't fair."

I loved her before and tried to show her as much as possible, but I was even more compelled to ensure she never questioned my love for her. She was no obligation to me. It was an honor to love her, especially knowing she chose me after deciding what she deserved and how she wanted to be treated. I vowed to cherish her with every pixel of my being for the rest of my life.

[olderthannetfic]

https://www.tumblr.com/olderthannetfic/748889482696278016/all-the-cousin-shipping-talk-has-me-wondering-if?source=share

Happens all the time in the Ace Attorney fandom lmao

Edgeworth and Franziska? To make a long story short her dad took him in and mentored him after his dad died and she started calling him her little brother (even if he's older and in the original she says it more like "younger disciple of the same mentor" afaik) so God help you if you see them as anything other than adoptive siblings and ship them.

Edgeworth and Kay? They first met when she was a child whose father had just been murdered and then met again, worked on cases and became friends years later so now he's her dad I guess.

Phoenix and Maya? They became friends after her older sister/his mentor had just died and he defended her when the real murderer framed her for it, so he's "literally" her replacement big brother now.

Phoenix and Mia? She was his mentor and he "literally" informally adopted her younger sister, which obvs makes them family too.

Phoenix or Edgeworth with any of their employees? Bosses are parent(al figure)s now.

Phoenix and Apollo? Boss/employer dynamic and Apollo turns out to be Phoenix's actual adoptive daughter Trucy's long-lost sibling (even if neither Apollo nor Trucy know it) which means Phoenix is also Apollo's dad.

Simon and Athena? Simon's sister was in love with Athena's mother so that makes Simon Athena's uncle (even if iirc we don't even know if his sister's love for her mother was requited or not).

--

[cottoncandy-cult]

Tough Talks

Shiva X Reader

(This is just a little something I did based off an OC of mine I plan to elaborate on over on my Ao3, I did this as a reader insert and if you're interested in seeing what OC of mine this is based on hop over to Ao3 or drop a comment and I'll drop her Bio!)

The little sea nymph skipped through the halls of Helheim, searching for her dear uncle Hades in need of advice in regard to her father Poseidon. Hades was the uncle that watched her most as a child when her father was busy, so she was a normal face to see in the underworld as she often visited and came to him for sound advice on things she wasn't comfortable bringing to her father. "Lady (Y/n)? I didn't know you were here." This had been her older cousin Hermes; despite her smaller stature she was only a couple hundred years younger. "I came to see Uncle Hades; do you know if he's in the throne room." The young woman turned to face the tall male, arms crossing in front of her as she rocked on her heels. The older male chuckled, nodding his head as he pointed down the hall. "Yes, he is, I just came from there to deliver a message from Lord Zeus. Is everything ok?" This made the girl giggle; she knew how much of a gossip her cousin could be, so she decided to tease him some. "Oh yes, I just need some advice on approaching my father about something." That clearly got the male's attention as he crossed his arms and cocked a brow, leaning forward some. "Oh? I do hope you aren't in trouble. You've always been such a good girl." The male was now teasing back, causing twin grins to break across their faces. Of course, their teasing was all in good fun, both were quite friendly when they'd see each other. "No, no trouble just… I believe I've found the relationship I would like to be in." She was purposely wording it in a way to avoid giving him information, she wanted to speak to her father before it burned through the family like wildfire. "I see, so it's about a love interest. I'll not keep you waiting then, the sooner you talk to your dad the sooner I get to tell the others." He gave her a playful wink and wave before he turned to leave, letting the young woman resume her way to the throne room. She knocked gently at the door after greeting the guards, waiting for her uncle's permission before she entered. "I hope you aren't busy Uncle; I have something Important I need to talk to you about." The sweet little nymph practically skipped towards her uncle's throne, moving to sit in one of the small thrones beside him. "Never too busy for you darling, what it is you need?" The older male gave her a smile as he turned to face her, Poseidon had many children and her being one of the youngest she only really got to spend so much time with he father. Hades would often watch her for her father as her mom was often "busy" whatever that was supposed to mean. Hades had a few of his own and his favorites to raise were his daughters, so he had instantly melted over his niece when she came to be in his care. He'd spoil her if he felt she was being treated fairly, even spoke to his younger brother when one of the male's mistresses would step out of line in regard to the little one. Needless to say, little was more important than his niece. "You see, I have been talking to and spending time with a god and his wives from another pantheon. But he wishes to talk to dad and get his permission to date me to avoid stepping on his toes, so I need to set up something for them to talk. But I don't know how to bring it up to dad especially since I don't know how he feels about the god in question." She blushed deeply; she knew her uncle could probably guess who it was based on how important it was to her. Afterall, she had the same crush since she was a preteen, none other than the god of destruction himself Shiva. She had met him a few times growing up from accompanying her dad and uncles and even cousins to certain events and meetings, she had never spoke to him though and simply fangirled and flustered herself from a distance.

It wasn't until she was officially old enough to drink that she had actually met Shiva's 3 wives, it was at her birthday celebration that she had truly got to socialize with many of the other gods. Zues had thrown a big party, inviting a large number of gods and goddesses from across the pantheon. Dionysus had even showed up to serve as a bartender, making for plenty of variety. Kali had approached first to wish her a happy birthday, giving her a necklace from the 4 of them. It was made by some dwarvish artisans with a bunch of gemstones handpicked by the group, figuring if she was important enough for Zeus to throw such a party then she was worthy of a thoughtful gift. "I see, so Shiva has finally noticed you?~ Congrats sweetheart." He chuckled and gave her a head pat; he knew she'd probably tell him all about how this all came to be later. "Well, your father and him have never really spoke much as far as I remember, so if he dislikes Shiva, he has never made it known. I don't think you'll need to take any special precautions, just approach him when he isn't busy and let him know that Shiva would like to meet with him to discuss courting you. My brother isn't the type to freak out, and everyone knows how far Shiva would go for the people he cares about so he has no reason to believe Shiva would do you wrong." He could see her relax some, despite how calm he was her father was still quite intense at times and most daughters would be apprehensive to approach their fathers about a man wanting to date them. So, her anxiety was very real and understand able, but Hades knew well everything would work out. "Would you like me to accompany you and wait outside the door just in case?" The older male chuckled as he pinched her cheek, knowing she'd most likely deny him but still wanting to offer. "No that's fine, I think you're right and I'm just overthinking it." She nods her head and moves to stand, stretching some as she took a deep breath. "Now to go home and get things settled, Hermes wants details and if it takes more than a day or two, he'll be teasing me about being a scaredy cat for the next millennia." She pouted as her uncle laughed, nodding his head. "Alright darling, be safe on your way back. I'd hate to think of what the god of destruction or my brother would do if something happened to you on your way back." His comment made the girl giggle as she bid him goodbye, practically jogging out of the room to go and see her father.

It didn't take her long to get back up to the heavens, and back to the home she and her unwed siblings shared with their father. But she took her time once inside the castle, rehearsing her words in her head to make sure she didn't mispeak or leave anything out. She had been on her way to her father's throne room, spotting one of the many servants walking down the hall. "Excuse me, is father in the throne room?" The servant had been quick to turn and bow, giving a curitous yes as they kept their eyes on the ground. Her father refused to let the servants treat his children any less than him, as since he was perfect that meant his children were aswell. "What do you know of his mood? I'd prefer not to bother him if it's been a particularly frustration day." With that the servant stood straight, though kept their eyes on the ground. "It's been a quiet day so I don't believe he is upset. Though you know your father best." (Y/n) simply nodded, turning to continue on her way to her father's throne room. She entered quietly without knocking, her father always telling them that it was their home and they have no need to tiptoe about as no one would dare scold them for adventuring through their home. "Hello father, is now a good time?" She walked over to his side, standing patiently as he flipped through his book. "I suppose it isn't a bad time, has something happened?" He tilted his head slightly to look at her, he saw his children as his equals as far as their existence went and so he had no problem looking at them. Something that used to piss off Adamas, as the other male hated how Posidon doted on his kids in a way most other gods would never understand and the fact his neices and nephews received more respect from the male than he did enraged him. "Nothing bad, I promise. It's just… There is a god who would like to speak with you about courting me." Now that had the blonde closing his book and setting it aside, he took the relationships of his children seriously and he'd never sell them off to just anyone. "Oh? I'm assuming you wouldn't bring this to me if you weren't interested in him as well. So which god do you want?" He spoke as if he was going to get her a puppy, no doubt that's how he saw the gods who he allowed to be with his children. "It is Lord Shiva… I've spoken to him and his wives for some time, and they'd like to move forward with a relationship. But Shiva doesn't wish to cross you and so he wishes for your permission."

The older blonde sat quiet a moment; he didn't have any particular qualms with Shiva. The male could be somewhat loud, but he was also strong in his own right and only a foolish god would be unaware of Shiva's devotion to the things and people he cares about. "I see, I suppose I can make time tomorrow to speak with him. You can go out with the other women; I'll speak with Shiva man to man." He nodded his head, watching his daughter smile in relief before she hugged him. His daughters were the only ones that could get away with such actions, the only thing they'd receive is a pat on the head in return just as she did. "Thanks dad, I'll go let him know." It wasn't until she was out the door and down the hall that he let himself chuckle, his little ones were growing up so fast. Soon they'd all be married off and having their own families, it was odd for him to think about given how long he had been living in a full household.

[icy-watch]

^^^^ me with Geo

So so so so so sooooooooooo

You've met GEO

My reasoning for loving him so much stems from Season 2 Part 1 so I can't fully explain

BUT

I can tell you some things that they show doesn't tell (I think):

Geo says that he's a Munch with the color of a Geckle but it's not true; he's half and half

If you didn't notice but only his left ear was pierced; a sign in the Gay community to other gays that you are gay back when being public about it was frowned upon

The man who wrote the episode "Land of Lost Things" and created Geo (I think he made the character) is gay himself! So in a way, Geo is a self-insert character

I am Aromantic. I just don't feel the need or want to have a romantic relationship. And that seems to have stepped over into the media I watch. I don't ship. I'm slightly romantic repulsed. I don't actively hate it, I just don't like it. I'm fine with canon ships like Jaya or Lumity (from Owl House (plz watch it)).

But something about Geo and Cole. Something about how they interact in Season 2 that just.........AUGHAUGHGHHAHG!!!!!!! It awoken something in me. I feel warm inside!!!! I found myself grinning ear to ear.

It could just be the fantastic writing, but it's so much more. The ship for Geo and Cole is called LostShipping and/or Geode. The fanbase kind of goes back and forth. I don't mind either.

I'm still aro, and I still cringe inside at most romance. But Geode is the one exception and the whole #savemyboycole thing is really dumb

Oh look, I did explain it all without spoiling lol

And yeah......there are ppl who are NOT happy about Geo and Cole. They're not even actually together yet some ppl on Twitter are pissy. They HAAAAATE Geo! It's stupid. First off, it's a lego. Second, it's a kids show. Calm down. It's not that bad/important. Some ppl see Cole as Gay (me) and others see him as straight. Both are fine. Both are cool. He's still the same guy.

Oh, and there's no minifig for Geo. I think it's bc of his hair. They don't have like a set piece of it or something.....eh....just make a plushie of him (and of Cole plzzzzzzzzzz) I'd buy 500 if they did honestly

And now that you've met him.....I am safe to change my pfp to GEO!!!!!!!! (I also LOVE his outfit so much!!!! I want it)

(I almost put in a pic of him in Season 2 and was like "Oops....back it up! Can't use that!")

Geo! A blorbo! He's such a bean!

I noticed something right off the bat with him looking like a Munce and a Geckle, so when he mentioned it, it kind of confirmed what I'd thought.

I totally remember the gay ear piercing thing! My cousin and uncle were double and triple checking when they got their ears pierced that they didn't get the wrong ear. And that was in the early 2000s. It's amazing what's changed in 20 years. (Note: this is not the cousin who got married in Malaysia last year. This is his older brother, the extreme goth who hosts the Halloween Birthday Party every year. The 1 where my sister pumped me up to do this.)

Oh! I love that little bit of trivia!

*gives you a virtual hug* I will always love my aro friendlies.

It's extremely rare to see a queer couple that is Comfortable and just Exists. With Geo and Cole, it feels natural and unforced. And I'm very glad for that. It's probably why shipping them feels... nice.

Idk, I'm rambling.

I'm guessing the #savemyboycole thing is connected to chriscreator0 somehow?

A characters sexuality or gender doesn't change who they are as a person, and I wish people who criticize media for including queer characters were more willing to understand that. Just bc something about them is revealed doesn't mean they still aren't the character that they liked.

Justice for Geo! We deserve an official minifig or plush of our pretty guy! I will shake my fist at LEGO until something is done for him.

[theonetruegnome]

The critters are all sitting together at lunch. SunnyShoat is telling a joke

'ok, and then?'

'Well then the barkeeper says, 'Is that damn nun here again?' Baahahahaha!'

'I… Don't get it.'

'Yeah, explain please Sunny?'

'Well *heh* You- you see *Hehheh* It's cause nuns can't drink. So...'

Nobody is laughing, but Conk is smiling very widely.

'Well it was funny when my uncle said it!'

'Oh, well that explains it.'

'Oh? what did I do wrong then?'

'You're our leader Sunny, not our uncle. Uncle jokes only land if you're an uncle.'

'I mean, if we're doing uncle jokes now, I think I have this down pat. *Ahem* Two guys walk into a bar. The third one ducks.'

'Good try, but we've all heard that one before Munchy! Okay, my turn! They say life speeds up as you get older, which is why my grandpa is always wearing a crash helmet.'

'Ha! Very good Callum, much better than me. I only have a Joke about unemployment, but it doesn't work at the moment.'

'He he he he!'

'Jesus Christ I need better material.'

'May I have a go please?'

'Leah, you don't need to walk on eggshells around us, we're friends! Just tell a joke if you want to.'

'Oh ok, sorry, force of habit. Ok, so um.. L-last time I was invited to a party, it said on the invite 'Look smart.' So I went dressed up as Mana!'

*Complete silence*

'Oh. okay, sorry. never mind, sorry I said anything...'

'It's not your fault Leah. It's just that nobody here is an uncle, so nobody here can make uncle jokes funny. Simple physics.'

Dandy raises her hand, 'I'm an Aunt'

*WHIPLASH INDUCING CAMERA SPIN ONTO DANDY*

'...How, you're eleven?'

'Last year my third-cousin Lydia had a baby, so I'm technically an aunt. Here, wait I have photos...'

'OOOH, LEMME SEE, LEMME SEE!'

'That still doesn't change the fact that the joke won't land. You need to be an Uncle, dandy.'

'Same difference. So, last time I was in Madrid, I got sick while staying at this little hotel. Luckily, they told me 'Oh we have our own doctor here', so I went to see him, and within the hour I felt better. I told him, 'I would never have thought a small hotel like this would have such a skilled doctor as you.' He shrugged and said 'Nobody expects the Spanish Inn physician!''

There's a small delay as the jokes is processed but soon everybody is laughing, with dandy at the centre, grinning from ear to ear. Man she's cool!

Callum, who just snorted milk out of his nose, looks up and his laughter dies down.

'Hey, where are you going Kitty?'

'Oop, Sorry guys, I just saw some old friends outside, need to catch up. I'll be back in in a second.'

'Wait, Callum-!'

'I'll just say hi, don't worry!'

'But your food-'

Ting-a-ling! The last glimpse of the cat is his long tail almost getting caught in the restaurant door.

'Huh. Didn't know callum had other friends'

'Probably from following his dad to work.'

'Oh yes, probably. A lot of noble house servants bring their children to work to keep an eye on them, so the kids usually become friends. It's sort of a tradition.'

'Really? I have no idea what It's like to be taken to your dad's job, tell me more!'

While the others laugh, Sunny and munch look across to each other. Something about this seems... off... But, they might just be jealous 'cause he has other friends. The thought passes, Callum sheepishly returns, and soon all eight are talking and amicable again.

Have a guess, what noble house do you think Callum's dad works for? Best answer becomes canon!

[starlitangels]

Watch Duty

This is not the Vincent/Lovely I posted about brainrotting for last night. That’s still coming, I promise. This just had to get written first because it was nagging at me. 1.9k words

—

“William did his best with the schedules not to have either of you here all winter if he could help it,” a voice remarked. If I hadn’t smelled Sam the second he was on the clan’s property and listened to his every step as he approached, I would have jumped. He hoisted himself up into the Wonder Wheel basket beside me and sat down. He braced one knee against the dinner-plate-sized disc jutting out of the pole that hung the basket from the Ferris Wheel. Back in the old days, that disc would let the basket spin. My older cousins used to tell me how they’d try to spin it as fast as possible to make my aunt and uncle sick.

“Vincent I get. Why me?”

Sam shrugged and looked out over the park. “Turnin’ time is hard for all-a us,” he said casually. “Ya both got turned in winter. You at the start, him toward the end. Hard season for ya both.”

“That why you’re here?” I didn’t look at him. Just kept watching the park.

In the corner of my eye, his eyes flashed like a cat’s in the moonlight. “Nah. I’m here to keep you company.”

I scrunched my eyebrows. “Two-and-a-half years of polite distance and suddenly you wanna be buddies?” I didn’t mean to be hostile, but I couldn’t help but feel a little prickly. This was the man who saved my life after Adam—who Vincent loved like a brother and helped him turn me—and yet he had barely said ten words to me the whole time. I knew he tended to be grumpy and keep to himself, but still; he could have at least tried small talk. I’d tried.

He sighed. “It’s your first time watchin’ the park. You’re outta the bloodlust now. And Vincent doesn’t like bein’ here any longer’n he has to for clan meetin’s. Hell I haven’t been to the intersection where the crash happened since that very day. And I doubt you’ll ever go back to the academy stadium grounds. The places we turn have too many conflictin’ memories for all-a us.” He shrugged and unbuttoned his flannel, draping it over my shoulders, leaving him in just a grey Henley, sleeves rolled up. “All that to say, I figured Vincent wanted to be here for you, but didn’t want to be in the park. I can’t even fathom how you managed to convince him to stay home.” Sam actually chuckled—then sobered up. “But. Since it’s your first time… I figured maybe you could use the company. I supervised Fred and his progeny’s first nights watchin’ this place. Since they turned here too.”

I tugged the flannel tighter. Temperature had stopped mattering so much when I got turned, but I hadn’t realized how cold I was until Sam’s warmth wrapped around me.

I cleared my throat. “Thanks.”

Sam shrugged. “I’m sure if William could have swung it he would have been here but…” He sighed. “He had a meetin’ with some DUMP vamp agent that he couldn’t miss.”

“Thought that counts,” I muttered. “I guess.”

Sam made a face. “Guess so,” he agreed.

We sat in silence for a while. Both holding unnaturally still. In the way I’d watched Vincent do while I was human.

Sam sucked in a breath. “Did Vincent ever tell you I’m a year older than him?” An impish little smile tugged on the corners of his mouth.

I whipped my head to look at him, jaw dropping open. “Bullsh—”

“It’s true,” he interrupted, still grinning. “He was born in seventy-nine. I was born seventy-eight.”

“No way!”

That made him chuckle. “Good Lord kid, it’s almost like you don’t know that I was turned when I was thirty.”

I sat up straight on the uncomfortable plastic bucket seat. “You were?!”

He scoffed and rolled his eyes. “You, my partner, and my progenies are all gonna give me a damn complex. You’re all children.” He was still smiling. “I mean… my partner’s not that much younger’n I was when I turned but I’ve still been on this planet a good chunk longer than they have. That and they’re always fixin’ to tease me about this, that, or the other.”

I snickered. “How are they by the way? Vincent and I never hear much about them from… well. You. Or anyone.”

The amusement on his face softened to fondness. “They’re alright. Just moved in with me.”

I beamed. “That’s amazing!” I said. “I’m glad you’re happy with them.”

“Thanks, kid.”

We lapsed back into silence, eyes scanning the land around us. A cold winter wind whipped across the park, whistling through the dilapidated roller coaster tracks like an eerie symphony.

Sam didn’t even flinch at the cold as it buffeted his hair.

“Thirteen years,” he said softly. “And I’m still not used to the fangs in my head.”

I turned to face him again. “Really?”

He shrugged. “Vincent’s been a vampire longer’n he was human, for a year or two now. I haven’t. I won’t reach that for a while. Everyone’s experience is different, ‘course. That’s just mine. If you’re still not used to your fangs, ain’t no shame in that.”

I cleared my throat, tonguing at the teeth in question, pointy in my mouth. “Oh. Well. Thanks.”

“Sure thing.”

I cleared my throat again. “Are you used to the eyes?” His met mine. “Looking in the mirror and not seeing your own, I mean.”

“I know what you meant,” Sam said softly. “No. Not used to that either. I still get a jolt every once in a while.” He reached back and rubbed the back of his neck. “Surprisin’ as you might find this, considerin’ you’ve only known me as a vamp—my eyes used to be green. The silver is still jarrin’.”

I blinked. “Green?”

“Yeah. Dark.”

A melancholy sort of smile brushed my mouth. “That suits you.”

Sam laughed awkwardly. “Thanks.”

I fidgeted with the buttons on the flannel. “Sorry I was rude when you first got here.”

“Nah. You had a point. Nothin’ to be sorry for.”

“Still. You didn’t deserve it. I mean, you saved my life twice over. With Adam and with helping Vincent with turning me. Being terse is a hell of a way for me to show my gratitude.”

“I’ve done it too. To Vincent and Will mostly, over the years.” He shrugged, leaning back in his bucket seat, making the basket sway just a touch, creaking loudly on its joint. I winced at the noise, but Sam didn’t seem concerned. “Trust me, kid. I can take a little terse. Lord knows I took a lot worse when I was a human—and when Fred’s progeny is in a mood.”

“I… I’m sorry.”

He actually laughed—just a chuckle, but it was a laugh. “Ain’t nothin’ to be sorry for. People have a hard time speakin’ polite when they’re in heaps-a pain. I was a healer, remember? You develop a thick skin. You givin’ me a little attitude about something true is nothin’. Trust me.” He crossed his arms and looked out over the park again. “Besides,” he added, “my partner’s a shifter who is all bark and all bite. Sure they’re a playful menace now, but when we first met, it wouldn’t-a surprised me if they’d handed me my ass without a second thought.”

I cocked my head to one side. “Could they? Aren’t vampires stronger than shifters?”

That earned me the first broad smile I’d ever seen on Sam’s face. Vincent was still more my taste but I could see what drew Alexis—and Sam’s shifter—to him. “In human form, sure,” he said. “Shifters, like vampires, have magic in every cell of their bodies. It’s why all-a us struggle with other forms of magic. Shifters are still stronger than normal people in human form because-a that, but they’re not on vamp level. But in their shifted forms? Depends. My partner is probably about as strong as Vincent and their alpha, David, the one of the most powerful shifters in the country. As a wolf he could tear me apart without an ounce-a effort if he wanted to.”

“But your partner…”

“It’s not just about strength. It’s about skill. My partner can and has won fights against a vamp similar in origin to Alexis—fifty, turned by Old Blood—and a two-on-one brawl with the two being vampires. Beat themselves to Hell to do it, but they won. My partner’s got skill. And they’re fast. That matters more than strength.” A fond chuckle. “Trust me. If they wanted to lay me out the night we met, they would have. If I’d initiated the fight, I’d’ve had my ass handed to me. No question about it.”

I couldn’t help the mischief that pulled at my smile. “And you found that hot,” I stated. Not asking.

Sam decidedly did not meet my gaze in favor of suddenly finding the top crest of Maneater the most interesting thing in the park. “I do not have to respond to that,” he said deliberately.

I started laughing—harder than I had around someone other than Vincent in a year. “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me.”

Sam scoffed. “Like hell,” he said. “You’re tellin’ Vincent the second you get home to him.”

“Okay, yeah, I am. But we won’t tell anyone else.” I held up both hands to show I wasn’t crossing my fingers. “Promise.”

He rolled his eyes. “I see why Vincent loves you so much. Little twerps, both-a you.”

I laughed harder. “Oh, definitely,” I agreed.

Conversation flowed much easier after that, taking up the rest of the night, until the first rays of sunlight began to stab through the inky blue-black of the night sky. Sam and I bid goodbyes to each other and took off for our homes.

“Vin! I’m back!” I called.

Vincent appeared in front of me with a Zip! “How was Sam?” he asked, grinning.

“How—”

“Lovely, even if I couldn’t smell the traces of him being around on you, you’re still wearing his flannel.”

I swore, realizing he was right.

“And I figured he’d stop by. He told me he might. Just to make sure you were okay.” Vincent pulled me close and kissed my forehead. “He’s a big teddy bear, under all the grumpiness. But don’t tell him I said that,” he whispered. I laughed. Vincent gave me a soft look. “You seem… lighter. Unburdened.”

“It was nice to just… talk, y’know? With nothing behind it.”

He smiled. “Yeah. I know.”

“I did miss you though. Can I have a kiss?”

That earned me a broader smile. Vincent leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. I hummed against his lips, holding him close to me. He wrapped his arms around my waist. “I love you, baby,” he whispered. “Welcome home.”

“Thanks. I love you too.” I pecked a kiss to his nose. “Now, I gotta tell you something Sam said while we were talking.” Mischief twisted my smile. “So, we got on the subject of his partner, and he mentioned that they could have beaten him in a fight if they’d tumbled when they first met…”

—

Tag list: @zozo-01 @shellssstuff @thegoldenlittlerose