#anyway i hope you all have a good saturday and a chill weekend ahead of you ♡

[austerulous]

Tempted to post a tracker, but the thought of actually knowing the numbers makes me break out in a cold sweat. 🙃

[yanderecrazysie]

Witch Hunt: Chapter One

Prologue: here

Come now, leave not behind your handkerchief…

When your heavy eyelids fluttered open in the late hours of the morning, you were greeted with the sight of your mother sitting beside you, her eyebrows drawn together in concern.

“Mother? What are you doing in here?” You blinked heavily, still clearing the sleep from your eyes, “Why is it so bright out? Did I sleep in?”

“It’s a Saturday, I didn’t think it necessary to wake you,” she was unusually quiet, and you felt a chill go down your spine at this grim change in personality.

“Is everything all right?”

She paused, considering her words, before explaining, “I came in here to wake you, thinking it was strange that you weren’t already eating at the table, and heard you mumbling to yourself in your sleep. You looked so distraught, and you kept saying the word ‘hitch’.”

“That was the name of the girl they burned yesterday. Hitch Dreyse. I dreamt about her.”

Thankfully, the older woman seemed to understand one way or the other, “Yes, yes, that makes sense then. I’d tell you to get more rest, but you’re already awake, and it’s no good to go back to bed when you’ve already sat up.”

You nodded, the faint sick feeling in your stomach letting you know that there’d be no point in trying to sleep anyway. You waited until your mother had left the room to walk over to the mirror.

The reflection told a sorry story- your hair stuck up at every odd angle and your eyes had a pinkish tinge where it was meant to be white. Dark bags hung under your eyes, and you couldn’t help but think you looked half-dead this way.

“Regardless,” you scolded yourself, “this shouldn’t be an excuse for you to laze about the house all day. Mother and Father would never let you hear the end of it, after all…”

You stripped your nightgown from your sweat-drenched skin and searched for an appropriate outfit. Finally settling on an option, you hurriedly dressed and skittered off to the bathroom to finish getting ready for the day ahead.

When you arrived downstairs, your parents looked up, surprised at your decision. Having briefly paused in his reading of the newspaper, your father turned back to the words in front of him. Your mother, however, did not resume her knitting, instead suspiciously interrogating you.

“Market clothing? But you’re so strongly against shopping on Saturdays because of how busy and noisy it is. Not to mention, we just went on Thursday.”

You forced a calm smile to your lips, “Sasha says they sell the best food on weekends because they know they’ll get the most customers.”

To your surprise, your father let out a loud laugh, “Well, if Sasha says anything about food, I’m inclined to believe her. She does seem to be an expert on that sort of thing. That girl’s eating her poor father out of house and home.”

Your smile was genuine this time, “Yes, well I’m going to meet up with her now. I’d promise to bring back food but, knowing Sasha, there won’t be leftovers.”

“Hm…” Your mother still looked suspicious, but she didn’t say anything else, just giving a short, permissible nod that had you hurrying out of the house before she changed her mind.

As soon as you were out of view from the house, you broke out into a sprint for Sasha’s house in the woods, desperately hoping that she was home.

If your parents knew what you planned to do, they’d be in hysterics over it. They’d overreact, no doubt about it.

“Sasha! Sasha! Please tell me you’re home!”

The door to your best friend’s house creaked open, brown eyes meeting your gaze, “Eh? Your folks got you out of your room on a Saturday?”

Your face flushed, “Don’t tease me, Sasha! I need your help.”

“With what?”

“Can your father hear us?”

“No, no, he’s dead asleep- we were out hunting all night and caught nothing but a few rabbits,” despite her claim, Sasha slipped out of the house and carefully pulled the door shut behind her, “Now what’s so important that you don’t want your folks hearing about it even secondhand?”

You took a deep breath and let it out slowly, letting your heartbeat fall even before you told Sasha about your dream and how real it felt.

“Oh wow,” Sasha’s eyes widened like saucers, “Hitch totally cursed you before she died!”

“No, I don’t think…” You had definitely considered the possibility, but there was another idea that plagued your mind, “Minister Nick said witches had future-seeing abilities once, didn’t he?”

“So,” Sasha thought hard for a moment before continuing, “either a witch cursed you to have something bad happen in your future or she saw that something bad happens in your future. Does it really matter which one it is? Either way, if your dream wasn’t just a nightmare, something bad’s going to happen to you.”

“You’re awful calm about this.” You said sourly.

“She’s dead,” Sasha reminded you, “and witches are powerless after death. If she were still out there casting spells, I’d be terrified for us both.”

You were both silent for a moment before Sasha spoke up again, “Did you just want to tell me about your dream or was there more?”

“Well…” you squirmed uncomfortably, trying to think of a way to put your strange thoughts into words, “I thought I’d borrow a horse from you and go talk to the Dreyse family on their side of town. Try to help them in their mourning.”

Sasha looked surprised but shook her head, “They already left town early this morning. You’re too late.”

“Oh. Isn’t there anyone else she was close with? I just… I have this feeling that I need to do this. I can’t explain why.”

“Um, well,” Sasha frowned deeply, “there’s her one and only friend, but she’s a right piece of work and she lives on the other side of town!”

“I want to see her friend.”

Sasha’s frown deepened, “She’s a total ice queen! She doesn’t talk to anyone and she’s so scary-looking! What if she’s a witch too?”

“I want to see her still. I can’t explain why I just… I feel like I have to.”

“Fiiiiiiine…” Sasha groaned, throwing her arms up in frustration and defeat, “but don’t say I didn’t warn you when we get there.”

“We? I can just go alone.”

Sasha gave you a meaningful look- one that seemed to hold feelings you couldn’t quite comprehend, “I’d never leave you, (Y/n).”

“All right, let’s get the horses. I did tell my parents we were out together, after all.”

The two of you ran off to the stables and saddled up a pair of horses, keeping quiet so as not to wake Sasha’s father.

Sasha chose to ride her favorite horse- a caramel-colored mare named Potato and you borrowed a brown stallion named Meat. You silently questioned Sasha’s naming choices and briefly worried about her future children before you both galloped off towards the center of town.

You noticed that she rode a little too close to you for comfort and that she watched you out of the corner of her eye- that strange, foreign emotion still there, dancing in her eyes.

Her words came back to the front of your mind for some reason.

I’d never leave you, (Y/n).

Why did it leave you feeling like you had a pit in your stomach?

And why did Hitch’s warning from last night seem even more dire than before?

…it may keep you well.

[oreomonsterhunter]

Life Sucks

Pairing: Lee Know x reader

Word Count: 10K (I know.....this was a surprise for me, too)

Genre: fluff, romantic comedy

Warnings: language (our characters have a tendency to curse, apparently)

Summary: Sunshine reader is in love with love, but hasn’t had much luck with it herself.  When she meets Minho, a self-proclaimed cynic and disbeliever of “true love”, she’s determined to change his life.  If she can’t find the love of her life, she’s going to try to find his.

This fic was inspired by a tag game once upon a time.  It was supposed to be a short drabble, but apparently I can’t hold back with Minho.  Tag game featured this specific Lee Know and just kinda spiraled from there lol

Nearing the end of January, winter sometimes seemed endless.  Yet when you stepped out into the morning chill, you were pleasantly surprised to find the snow banks melting a bit.  Your boots splashed through small puddles as you strode down the street, and you smiled softly at the lavender sky.  It was still early enough—for a Saturday—that the sidewalks weren’t too packed yet, so you indulged in a more leisurely walk than usual, dancing along to the music from your headphones.  You caught a few odd looks, but you simply smiled and waved at everyone you passed.  They could judge your happiness all they wanted, nothing could possibly spoil your day when it was off to such a good start—

“Shit,” you gasped, jumping back onto the curb as a car barrelled through a red light.  Had you been a second slower, you would’ve been a vehicular manslaughter case.  “Asshole,” you hollered after them, flipping two middle fingers in the air.

You exhaled a sharp breath through your nose, attempting to banish the exasperation and get back into your music again.  More careful this time, you double checked both ways down the street before entering the crosswalk.

Unfortunately, your streak of bad luck continued.  Just as you hopped off the street, a truck passed by behind you, tires bumping through a pothole.  And with the recent snowmelt, this resulted in a spray of cold water hitting the backs of your legs.

You froze, mind stuttering as you tried to comprehend how the morning had taken such a turn, all within your first five minutes outside.  Pursing your lips, you twisted around to inspect the damage.  The dirty water might stain your jeans, but the most pressing matter was the cold and wet denim now plastered to your legs from your calves to the backs of your knees.  You bit your lip, contemplating just turning back and spending the whole day in your apartment.  Pajamas, a blanket, hot coffee and tea readily available.  Maybe a movie, just because you could.

Then you shook your head, determined to make the best of the day.  You wanted a cappuccino, dammit.  And chocolate babka from the cafe.  No homicidal drivers or puddles could stop you.  It was a Saturday, just past sunrise, and you had a whole day ahead of you.  No need to wallow a few minutes in.  And besides, who knew what would happen.

You set off for the cafe, determination heavy in each step.  You forced a smile back onto your lips, though it was thinner than before.  You switched to a different playlist so that your boots could thump the concrete in time.  And you breathed, spooling calmness back into yourself.

It was a Saturday.  You might meet the love of your life today.  And nothing could stop you from finding out.

The bell over the front door jingled merrily, and you softened a little further, relaxing into the familiar surroundings.  You hardly even noticed the damp denim chafing your legs as you skipped up to the counter.

Ruth, currently manning the register, chuckled as she rang up another customer.  “Well would you look at that, the sun came shining right in our front door,” she said.

“Good morning,” you giggled.  You waved to Jonathan, Ruth’s husband, in the back.  The couple had been running the little cafe and bakery for years, and you were a faithful customer, coming by at least once a week since you first moved to the neighborhood.

“Morning, Sunshine,” he called, hands busy kneading dough for what would doubtless become something delicious.  You hummed thoughtfully, considering the baked goods in the glass case before you.

“Your usual?”

You tapped a finger on your chin, “You know, the poppy seed muffins look awfully tempting.  I might just have to switch it up today.”

Ruth nodded, tapping on the register.  You handed over the requisite bills and she shooed you off, sliding the muffin over the counter.  “Go on now, a table opened up by the window, perfect spot.  I’ll bring the coffee in a minute.”

“Thank you,” you said, but Ruth was already fussing over the espresso machine.  Shaking your head, you weave through the maze of tables and chairs, dodging patrons on your way to the window seat.

You had your eyes on the prize, and you were only a few feet from the chair when you pulled up short.  A stranger, their back to you, plopped down in your chair.  You blinked, suddenly and painfully aware of your wet pants, the muffin growing cool in your hand, the fact that you could give up now and walk home but perhaps you’d just get hit by a car and never get a chance to enjoy your breakfast.  You sighed deeply, breathing out through your nose as you closed your eyes, seeking inner peace or something.

“Can I help you?”

The voice knocked you out of your momentary meditation, and you looked at the table thief in surprise.  He loosened the fluffy scarf around his neck before sliding his arms out of his winter coat.  A beret, of all things, tilted dangerously to the side before he adjusted it on his head.  He looked like some kind of absent-minded professor, but for the youthful features that peered up at you.  A sharp nose, tinted red from the cold, and a soft mouth.  Dark and depthless eyes, paired with high cheekbones and a cutting jawline.

You realized you were staring when he waved at you, eyes widened.  “Hello?”

“Um, sorry, I just,” you stammered, lost for words.

“Do you want to sit or something?”

You stopped again, mouth dropping open.  You checked the time—you had fifteen minutes or so, enough time for another table to open up.  “Uh, sure, if that’s ok with you.  I was hoping for a table, I’m meeting someone,” you said, beginning to ramble.

“No problem, I don’t need all this space, and I’ll head out soon,” he cut you off, raising one brow at you when you continued to stand there, rooted to the spot.

Ruth’s arrival with your cappuccino was what ultimately forced your hand.  You sat down, gratefully accepting the drink, your smile less shaky with a taste of the familiar.

“I didn’t think they did table service,” the stranger mused.

“They don’t, I just know the owners,” you shook your head, cutting yourself off when you saw his disinterest.  “Sorry, I should introduce myself,” you switched tacks, giving your name with a bright grin.  So what if it was forced?

The stranger looked at you, and his lips twitched in a shadow of a smirk.  “Minho,” he responded.

Silence fell, heavy and awkward, and you found yourself leaning forward desperately.  “So how’s your day so far?”

Minho snorted, reaching for his own drink—an iced americano, you guessed, despite it being the middle of winter.  “Probably better than yours.”

“What?” your brows furrowed in confusion.

He gestured to your legs with one hand.  “Unfortunate accident this morning?”

Your lips tightened, holding back a frown, “Puddles, you know.”

Minho sighed, sounding sympathetic now, rather than snarky.  “Yeah, life sucks, doesn’t it?”  And there was the sarcasm again.

“One or two bad things doesn’t mean life sucks,” you countered, sipping your coffee.  “I’m excited about the rest of the day, it’s not even eight in the morning!  And it’s the weekend, and it’s sunny and warm, and I have hot coffee and a delicious muffin, and the world is out there and ready to be enjoyed,” you finished, lips curling up as you looked out the window at the sunrise, the horizon flaming golden.

“Sounds like you’ve never had a job,” a harsh voice cut into your admiration.  Your smile faltered as you looked back at Minho.  You gaped at him, brain processing the way this soft-looking boy sounded like the king of cynics.  The last thing you expected from someone wearing a fuzzy beret and looking like a sly teddy bear was this blunt conversation.  “No one’s that excited when they have to work fifty plus hour weeks to pay the bills.  Trust fund baby?” he inquired, sipping calmly.

Yep, there was no fighting the frown now.  “No, and I don’t appreciate the judgement.  Why can’t I just be happy?”

Minho smirked, “Never said you can’t.  I just wanted to see if you had a personality beyond being Positive Polly.”

Your eyes flamed, but your phone buzzed, distracting you before you could smite the snarky boy.  You fumbled at your coat pocket, whipping out the device to check for a new message.  You slumped—just a spam email.

“Waiting for something important?” Minho asked, tilting his head.

You huffed, shoving the device back in your pocket.  “As a matter of fact, yes,” you sassed, tossing your hair over one shoulder.  “I’m waiting for a date.”

He hummed at you, expression unreadable.  “You’re too excited.”

“What do you mean?” you asked, eyeing the clock on the far wall of the cafe.

“You’re significantly early, watching the clock like a hawk, and they haven’t even texted you an update.”  He took a long sip.  “What time is your date anyway?  Eight in the morning?  They’re not coming.”

Your smile faltered again.  Damn him, why was a total stranger dimming your joy?  You shoved your chair back, even though no tables had opened up yet.  You’d wait by the counter and chat with Ruth.  Anything was better than this asshole.

Minho glanced over his shoulder, checking the clock himself.  “Five past, and still nothing,” he commented.

“Fuck you,” you spat.

A spark appeared in his eyes, and he grinned.  “Good to see you have some backbone,” he commented.

You could’ve sworn steam was coming out of your ears, but your phone vibrated again.  You checked the lock screen, seeing a new text pop up from Jay: hey I can’t make it.  You swiped on the message, but nothing followed it.  Seriously?  That was it?  No explanation, and not even a half-assed apology?

“Told you so.”

You spun to face Minho, glare renewed.  “And what makes you so sure of yourself and my date?” you demanded.

He snorted, “Life sucks; so does dating.  The only thing you’re guaranteed is disappointment.”

Your anger faded slightly as you watched the boy sip his iced coffee, his silhouette stark against the snow outside.  When you took a breath to get past your own mingled frustration—both at Jay and your new snarky companion—you saw the tense lines of his face.  You wondered what disappointment had left Minho so defensive.

“Alright, enlighten me,” you said, throwing yourself back in the chair.  This time, you settled in, sliding out of your coat and leaning forward with your coffee.  “Who broke your heart?”

A look of disgust slid over those pretty features.  “No one broke anything,” he scoffed, turning to the window and giving you another dose of his sharp profile.  You rested your chin on your hand thoughtfully, just watching him and waiting.  “Stop looking at me like that,” he muttered.  “You’re not my therapist.”

“But I am a perfectly kind stranger.  And strangers are the easiest people to talk to,” you said sunnily.

“And don’t sound so happy.”

“No can do, people call me Sunshine for a reason.”

Minho gave a long-suffering sigh.  “I’m not calling you that.”

Now you were the one with a cocky smirk, “Why, does it hurt your delicate masculinity?”

A beat of silence, and then, “One of my best friends is called Sunshine.”  Minho looked at you sharply.  “I’m not calling you that,” he said again.

You waved him off, oddly touched in spite of his gruff tone.  This human version of grumpy cat had a best friend named Sunshine?  Incredible, and surprisingly soft of him.  “Ok fine, no arguments from me.  Tell me about her.  Or him, whoever it is,” you stumbled over your words.

Minho didn’t seem to notice your blundering.  He stared somewhere beyond your shoulder, “No one broke my heart.”  Then his eyes focused on you again as he asserted, “I’ve just experienced enough to know better than to hope blindly.  The world isn’t looking out for you.”

Humming, you folded your arms as you considered his statements.  “Well, I believe in true love,” you started.

“Why am I not surprised?”  Minho groaned, rolling his eyes.

“I also believe in the power of positive thinking,” you continued as if he hadn’t spoken.  Ignoring his dramatic moaning, you steamrolled ahead.  “Yeah, my morning turned out pretty shitty, but if I just go crawl back in bed, I’ll have wasted a whole day over something as silly as wet jeans.”

“Wet jeans and being stood up.”

“And being stood up,” you allowed, gritting your teeth to maintain a smile.  “But if I let that stop me from living my life, then I’ve let the negative win.  If I go check out a new dating app or two and keep trying, one day I’ll have something good.”

Minho put his coffee down, resting one hand on the table as he met your eyes, gaze hard.  “Listen, nothing good comes out of a dating app.  You’re wasting your time.  And didn’t you say you hate doing that?”

You wanted to argue, but your friends had told you much of the same.  Minho was just less polite in his delivery.  But you hadn’t had any luck with real life men, either.  Case in point: your irritating argument with the perfectly attractive guy in front of you.  So that left apps, even if the pickings were regrettably slim.  And only growing slimmer, if the ghost date was any indication.  You didn’t have the guts to tell Minho that this wasn’t the first time you’d been stood up.

Then you had an idea.  Your grin widened, and Minho’s irritated expression faded into apprehension.  “Well if I’m doomed to never find love,” you started, batting your eyelashes teasingly.  “Why don’t I look for the love of your life instead?”

Minho blanched, recoiling with enough force that his chair rocked back on two legs.  “Yeah, no.  I don’t think so, sweetheart.”

“I think it’s a terrific idea,” you beamed at him.  “I’ve been a successful matchmaker for a bunch of my friends, too.  I’ve just had trouble finding my own love interest.”

“What is this, a rom com?” he hissed.

You clapped your hands, overcome with excitement for the first time since the puddle.  “Oh, a romance, I wish,” you nearly swooned at the thought.  “I promise I’ll do my best.  You’d get along great with one of my friends, they’re just as irritable as you.”

Minho exhaled sharply, massaging his forehead with one hand.  He closed his eyes, muttering, “What am I doing here?”

“Wait, wait, I’m getting ahead of myself.  No matchmaking until I know you better,” you amended, whipping out a notebook and pen from your bag.  You had just about everything in there—you never knew what emergency might pop up, like brainstorming a match for a stranger.  “What are some of your hobbies?  Favorite color?  Ooh, what about first date activities you love?  Oh my goodness, wait, are you looking for men or women?”

Part of you expected Minho to shove his chair back and leave.  You wouldn’t be too upset, that just meant you’d have the table to yourself, even if you weren’t waiting on a date anymore.  But you didn’t totally hate this guy.  And another part of you kind of felt bad for him.  He’d never experienced love!  Not that you’d had a taste of true love, either, but you knew what was out there.  And it was a shame that he didn’t see that too.  It was like...someone hating your favorite holiday—unacceptable, if only because you wanted everyone to enjoy it as much as you did.

You begrudgingly admitted that another teeny tiny part of you thought he was too attractive to be so cynical of love.  Some lucky girl out there was waiting for Minho, and you were gonna help her out, even if it meant dragging the man kicking and screaming towards her.

But Minho didn’t do what you expected.  He didn’t storm off, coffee in hand, scarf flapping in the wind dramatically.  He sighed and stood up, but made no move for his coat.  “If we’re doing this, I need more coffee,” he said, then turned and made a beeline for the counter without any further explanation.

You blinked after him, more than a bit surprised.  He was...going along with this?  You tapped the pen against your chin thoughtfully, watching his shoulders flex beneath his turtleneck as he talked to Ruth.  His head turned slightly, and you caught a glimpse of his smile—a real one—taking your breath away.

Now, if only you could get him to smile like that for any potential dates.  You clicked your pen with renewed vigor, laughing when Minho approached with a new coffee, exasperation written into every line of his face.

* * * * *

It was a lovely Thursday night, and you were curled up on the couch in your comfiest pajamas.  Your only companions were a blanket, a mug of tea, and your phone, which you checked every fifteen seconds.  The first time all week that Minho hadn’t answered your messages, and it was the night of his first date.  You were buzzing with anticipation, practically vibrating as you waited for news, not caring who it came from first.

Finally, you gave up waiting, throwing the blanket as you went to reheat your tea, since you’d let it grow cold while refreshing your messages.  The second you reached the kitchen, however, you heard a buzz.  You dashed to the couch, scrambling for your phone to find a text from Mari:

He had to dip early, lame date

You nearly screeched.  He left?  Your fingers pounded the screen:

What!?!?!! Did he say whyyy?

Mari’s response was short and to the point:

An “emergency”

You could read between the lines.  Mari was irritated, to say the least, since the blind date had been your brilliant idea.  But what on earth had happened with Minho?  Your stomach dropped, considering that he might have an actual emergency.  You quickly tapped out a message to him to check in, gnawing your lip in worry.

Hey, Mari said you had an emergency, is everything ok?

You waited what felt like ten thousand years before finally seeing the little bubbles appear.  His message, however, was not worth the wait:

Didn’t get on with her

You fumed, pressing dial on his contact with enough force, you were amazed your screen didn’t crack.  “You left because you didn’t like her?” you screeched as soon as he picked up.

“Yes.”

Gaping like a fish, you fumbled for words to explain how bad that was.  “You can’t just—”

“But I did,” Minho cut you off.

“But you can’t,” you said, exasperated.  “Jeez, I thought you knew what you were doing.  Obviously not.  You need a practice date or something so my friends don’t murder you.”

Now it was Minho’s turn to squawk indignantly.  “I do not need practice,” he started.

“Yes, obviously you do.  You might look like a player but you’ve obviously never talked to a girl for more than ten minutes,” you scolded him.  “Who leaves in the middle of a date?  With that bad of an excuse?”

“I hate wasting my time.  Didn’t we discuss how we should avoid doing that with our love lives,” he snarked.

You groaned, “There’s a difference between not wasting your time and being rude as heck.”

“So what?  She was abrasive, rude, cynical, and had a terrible sense of humor,” Minho said, as casually as if he was discussing the weather.  “I can’t believe you’re friends.”

“That’s a pretty great description of you, too,” you sassed back, irritation taking over.  “We might not be that close, but you can’t just insult everyone I set you up with.”

“Who said I wanted you to set me up with anyone?”

“I assumed you did, otherwise why are you going along with this?” you tried your best to calm down, lower your voice.  But something about Minho just put your back up.

“Uh,” Minho actually seemed lost for words.  Your ears perked up, eager to catch his answer.  “My mom wants to set me up with her friends’ daughters,” he tossed out at last.

Seemed a bit too easy.  “Sure,” you drawled, leaning back on the couch.

“Yes, really,” he sneered, and you giggled, picturing the exact expression on his face.

“Ok, whatever you say,” you allowed, laughing slightly.  “But you’re still going on a practice date.  Tomorrow night, six o’clock.  Meet me at the cafe.  If you’re not there, I’m gonna find your mom and help her out.”

You hung up on him before he could argue with you, grinning madly as you concocted your plan.

* * * * *

You half expected to wait for Minho to show up, much like your friend did, but much to your surprise, he was waiting for you under the awning when you arrived.  “You’re late,” Minho accused, and you grinned sheepishly.  You may or may not have lied about the time.  Just in case.

“The queen is never late.  Everyone else is simply early,” you quipped.  Minho rolled his eyes—absolutely what you expected.  You giggled, linking your arm through his and tugging him down the sidewalk with you.

“Woah,” Minho yanked at his arm, trying to free himself.  “If you wanted to hold hands, you could have asked.”

“You’re too much of a grinch, you’d just say no.”

“Exactly.  It’s called consent, sweetheart.”

He nearly fell at the sudden freedom when you released him, shoving your hands deeper into your pockets to escape the chill.  “Alright, follow me then, you unromantic dork.”  He muttered under his breath as you skipped away, having fun despite his attitude.  Time to show him what a real date looked like.

Five seconds later, and not even two blocks from the cafe, Minho groaned, “Are we there yet?”

“No.”

A pause, then, “Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise,” you told him, not for the first time.  He’d texted you all night, demanding to know, but your lips were sealed.

Except a certain someone seemed determined to annoy the answers out of you.  “Are we there yet?”

You sighed, your skip feeling a little less peppy.  “No.”

“Are we—”

“Minho,” you ground out.  “If you ask me that one more time, I’m taking you to get your nails done.”

“Ok, sure.  I could use a bit of pampering,” he said, the epitome of casual.

You stared at him.  “This feels like a trick,” you said slowly.

A grin flashed, “That’s because it is.  It’s after six, they’re all closed by now.”  But then he frowned slightly.  “Now you have me wanting a manicure though, I’ve never gotten one.”

Your brows were practically in your hairline but you just nodded.  “Ok, another time, then,” you agreed.  You caught sight of a familiar street sign and quickened your steps.  “Almost there,” you were nearly vibrating in excitement.  You felt Minho’s eyes on you, your skin prickling with awareness, but you ignored him in favor of racing around the street corner.  And there it was—the zoo!  All lit up...all lit…...not lit up at all.  Your feet stumbled to a halt.

“So the zoo is open at night now?” Minho inquired at your shoulder.

You gaped at the dark expanse before you.  “But where are the lights?”  Because indeed, not a single light was on in the zoo.  You’d just visited, not too long ago, and they had been open for night visits, so guests could walk around and see the trees all lit up, and wave hello to a few animals in the enclosures.

“Lights?”

“The Christmas lights,” you cried out, frantic.  “They were up the last time I was here.”

“You mean a month ago?  For Christmas?  Back when it was still December?” Minho questioned you.  You nearly snapped back before you realized.  It was January.  February next week.  Of course the lights were down, what kind of idiot were you?

You groaned in defeat, slumping against the wall and sliding down to a crouch.  You threw your arms over your head.  “I don’t know what we’re going to do, then.  I’m sorry I made you walk all this way,” you mumbled into your knees, wishing you could disappear into the sidewalk.  Gosh, and you’d really dragged him along, hadn’t you?  He obviously hadn’t been that excited, and all of your mysterious “it’s a surprise” nonsense only made this a bigger disappointment.

“It’s a Friday night, things are still open, you know,” Minho pointed out.  “So what if you somehow forgot a whole month happened.  I forget the year sometimes.”

“What are you, an old man?” you tried to perk up, but the tease fell flat.

“I’m only twenty-two.  You must be ancient.”  You picked up your head to look at him.  A faint smile curled on his lips as he played along.

“Oh my gosh, I’m your noona.  If you’re a grandpa, then I’m practically in the grave,” you forced out a chuckle.

Minho’s smile grew, and he extended a hand.  “Come on, get up.  Night’s still young.”

For a moment, you simply stared at his hand.  Then you met his dark gaze, “You aren’t going to take advantage of this?  I thought you hated the whole practice date idea.”

He sighed, wiggling his fingers at you.  “I don’t hate spending time with you, alright?  Now get up or I’m leaving you here.”

Your mouth twitched, a true smile threatening to form, and not just a cover-up.  You slid your hand in his gratefully, and Minho pulled you to your feet with more strength than you thought he had.  You blinked at him, realizing he hadn’t let your hand go yet.  But the second his eyes followed your gaze, he dropped it, sliding his hands into his pants pockets instead.

“So where to?” Minho asked.

You opened your mouth to respond, remembering a pretty little outdoor skating rink, but the skies cracked open, interrupting you with a sudden deluge.  You gasped as the first fat raindrops splattered on your forehead, eyes widening before you made a mad dash for the nearest storefront, Minho already a few steps ahead of you.

You’d barely been in the rain for a minute, but the icy water had your teeth chattering already.  Had it been any colder, this would’ve been pretty snow.  Instead, you got an arctic firehose.

Arms wrapped tightly around yourself, you peered down the street.  Beside you, Minho checked a weather app, hissing through his teeth.  “Looks like rain all night,” he muttered.

You groaned again, wanting to cry.  You’d completely messed up the evening, first with the lights, and now by not checking the weather.  You’d planned an outdoor date, why hadn’t you checked?

A hand brushed your shoulder lightly, barely detectable through your coat.  “Um, this might not be what you had planned, but my apartment is actually on this street.  Wanna just order pizza?”

Your first instinct was a vehement “no”, but you stopped that answer on the tip of your tongue.  Minho wasn’t one of the sleazy guys you’d gone out with in the past, the ones who’d thought an apartment invite was more than that.  Plus, this wasn’t a real date or anything.  It was a practice date, just pals, nothing crazy about that.  So why couldn’t you grab pizza at his place?  Especially with the monsoon and a long walk back to your own place.  And no umbrella.

You found yourself nodding, shivers wracking your body.  Minho’s teeth flashed in another fierce grin, “Alright, sweetheart, let’s make a run for it.  In three, two, one—”

The two of you raced down the slick sidewalks, dodging lampposts and puddles alike.  You skidded to a stop at one of the apartment buildings, nearly slamming into Minho’s back as he yanked the door open, and the two of you tumbled into the warm lobby.  Once out of the wet, Minho shook his head like a dog, water droplets spraying everywhere, and you shrieked, hands coming up to protect yourself.

“Sorry,” Minho laughed, not sounding apologetic in the least.  “I’m on the sixth floor, so we can take the elevator,” he said, pointing you in the right direction.

The ride up was awkward; the only sound was your jacket zipper rattling from the force of your shivers.  Minho unlocked the door to his apartment, waving a hand dramatically.  You stepped inside tentatively, toeing off your boots by the door.  You watched Minho follow suit, then pad over to a closet along one wall.  Your confusion abated when he emerged with towels, passing one to you with raised brows.  The two of you were still soaking wet, and you didn’t want to track rainwater all over his apartment.

Minho was already drying his head off one-handed.  When he stopped, letting the towel slip down to rest on his shoulders, you giggled at the sight of his hair.  He made a face, only adding to the comic effect of his hair standing on end.

“I know you drink coffee, but what about hot tea?” he asked, making his way to the kitchen while you continued to dab at your clothes.

You nodded enthusiastically, eyeing the space from where you stood in the entryway.  It was pretty minimal, not a ton of color or anything, but cozy.  Black couch, gray curtains, some photos on the wall.  Fairly tidy, but definitely nothing out of a magazine.  A meow at your feet interrupted your train of thought, and you looked down to coo at the cats that were slowly approaching.  “Well aren’t you gorgeous,” you complimented the bravest of the three, who nosed at your hand gingerly.

“Soonie, Doongi, and Dori,” Minho said, pointing at each cat in turn.  He leaned on the counter while waiting for the water to boil.

“They’re adorable,” you beamed at him.  “And much more friendly.”

“Hey,” he narrowed his eyes.  “I’m friendly.”

“Yeah, right,” you laughed at him.  Your mirth was interrupted by a fierce shiver, reminding you that you might not be dripping wet, but your clothes were still icy cold.

Minho eyed you as you wrapped your arms around yourself.  “I have sweats you can borrow.”

You started to protest, but the next shudder of cold made you change your mind.  Besides, you didn’t want to get his furniture soaking wet.  So you nodded and waited while Minho disappeared into the bedroom.  You shuffled awkwardly to the kitchen, toes curling in your socks.

Minho reappeared.  “Here,” he said, voice gruff.  He pressed a pair of sweatpants into your hands, along with a fuzzy looking sweatshirt.  Your turtleneck wasn’t too wet, just a little damp along the neckline, but you slid the extra layer over your head gratefully.  Before you had to ask him, Minho pointed to a half-open door.  “The bathroom.  I’m going to get something dry on, too,” he added.

You smiled in relief, escaping to the small bathroom gratefully.  As soon as the door was shut, you were scrabbling at the soaking wet denim, peeling it down your legs.  You grimaced, not missing this experience at all after the last time.  Minho’s sweatpants were soft and oh so warm by comparison.  And fleece-lined, too.  You slung your jeans over the shower rod to dry, rolled the ankles of your borrowed pants—just enough so you wouldn’t be drowning in excess material—and went in search of that promised hot tea.

You found Minho on the phone in the kitchen.  When he noticed you, he waved you closer.  “Do you like anything on your pizza?” he asked.

“Um,” you scrambled to collect your thoughts.  “Cheese?”

Minho cracked a smile.  “Cheese it is then.  And peppers, onions, cherry tomatoes, garlic, basil,” he rattled off what sounded like an entire grocery list.  When he noticed you staring, Minho raised his brows in confusion.  You shook your head with a small laugh, leaving him to it.  On the counter behind him, you found two mugs, tea bags already steeping.  You wrapped your cold fingers around one, humming in contentment.  Finally, the shivers stopped.

“Wanna watch a movie while we wait for pizza?” Minho asked, but then he froze, grimacing.  “Oh shit, sorry.  I mean, you can go home if you want.  I don’t mean to keep you if you don’t want to stay.  I have an umbrella, and you can keep the sweats I guess—”

“Sure how about a romance?” you interrupted him, grabbing your tea and making your way to the couch.  You plopped down, eyeing Minho, who was still stiff as a board by the counter.  You giggled at him, “Maybe you’ll learn a thing or two from Mr. Darcy.”

That seemed to knock him out of his stupor.  An indignant expression wiped away any trace of sheepishness, and he stomped over to find the remote.  “Yeah right,” he scoffed.  “I’m not watching a romance.”

“A romantic comedy then,” you decided, snatching the remote out of his hands.

He grabbed it back, lightning quick.  “Action.”

You narrowed your eyes, crossing your arms defiantly.  “Drama.  Fight me and I’ll demand a Hallmark movie.”

Minho smirked, “Fight me and I’ll make it a horror movie.”

You groaned in disgust, glaring at him.  “Ok, fine, let’s fight over it.  Rock, paper, scissors?”

He rolled his eyes, but ended up on the couch beside you, holding one fist out to meet yours.  “Best out of three,” he smirked.  “Get ready for a zombie fest.”

After a crushing defeat, Minho slumped on the couch, moaning dramatically when you selected Pride and Prejudice.  You giggled at the grumpy man beside you, and his similarity to Mr. Darcy.  Most notably their matching pouts.

To your surprise, Minho didn’t interrupt the movie once.  Sure, he grumbled at first, but when you snuck a peek at him after about half an hour, you caught him watching intently.

You’d seen the movie at least a dozen times by now, but you still couldn’t resist the pull, and your heart fluttered at the brush of hands the way it did every time.  Your breath caught at every interaction, and you couldn’t tear your eyes away to save your life.  Until the pizza arrived, at least.  You were about to press play, two slices at the ready, when Minho looked over at you.  “Why are you so in love with the idea of love?” he asked.

You gaped at him for a moment, taken aback.  “What?”

“Not just the movie, but real life,” he said, twisting to face you fully.  “Why are you so determined to find Mr. Right?  Or to set me up on the perfect date?”

“Don’t you want to find someone?” you questioned him, backing away from the question.  “You can’t possibly be putting up with me just to avoid your mom playing matchmaker.  I’m literally no better than that.”

He scoffed, “You haven’t met my mother.”

“Maybe I should team up with her.”

“Oh please no.”

You grinned, grabbing a slice of pizza.  “Oh please yes,” you teased.  “Two matchmakers are better than one.”

Minho shot you an unimpressed look.  “I told her I already have a girlfriend, but I felt bad lying to her, so I’m hanging out with you instead.”

You nearly choked on your pizza.  So you were a pity friend, great.  Or worse, you weren’t even real friends, you were just a convenient excuse to alleviate Minho’s guilt complex.  You set the slice back down, no longer hungry.

“Hey, you know I’m joking, right?  That was a joke.  I’m sarcastic all the time, remember?” Minho nudged you.

“Yeah, sure.”

Minho sighed, leaning over to bump his shoulder into yours.  “I might not love the matchmaking, or this dumb movie, but I guess I’m glad we bumped into each other so I could tell you to dump ghost boy from Tinder.”  You snorted, biting back a small smile.  Noticing this, Minho forged ahead, “And this better not be part of the act to get me to forget my first question, because you still haven’t answered.”

“Minho,” you whined.  “Why does it matter?”

“Pretend it’s girls night.  We’re practically having a sleepover, minus the nail polish and braids.  This is the part where we talk about boys,” he smirked.

“I hate you.”

“Do we need to watch 10 Things I Hate About You next?”

Your brows rose.  “I thought you didn’t like romance, how do you even know that movie?”

“.....No reason.  Now answer the question already,” he huffed.

You sighed, curling up on your end of the couch.  “I guess it’s just something I’m not good at, so I can’t help wanting it to fall in my lap,” you said.  “I can’t pull all nighters to find love, that’s not how it works.”

“Well no, studying isn’t the answer,” Minho agreed.

“My parents have the kind of love I want.  I’m not rosy-eyed or anything, I know it’s hard work and commitment.  But the friendship—that’s what I love the most.”

The two of you sat in silence for a little while, Minho chewing on your words.  And you mused on your recent attempts to find a partner.  Perhaps dating apps weren’t the way to go, you admitted.  Not to Minho, though.  He’d never let you hear the end of it.

“Maybe,” Minho started.  “You should look for new friends instead of new boyfriends.”

“What do you think this is?” you laughed.  “I’ve been setting you up, not looking on Tinder or whatever for myself.”

“Good, you’ve wasted enough time on those trash apps already,” he groused.

You grinned at him, “So I guess you don’t want me to start looking for Bumble girls, huh?”

“Don’t even think about it.”

You giggled, but Minho pressed play on the movie before you could tease him any more.  To your surprise, he looked as interested in the ending as you were.  You doubted he was misty-eyed like you, though.

A yawn snuck up on you, and you glanced at the clock in surprise.  How had it gotten so late?  “I should probably be going,” you started.

“I’ll walk you home.  It’s late.”  Minho grabbed your dishes to bring to the sink, snatching them right out of your hands.  You blinked after him, then shrugged, making your way to the bathroom.

Unfortunately, your jeans were still damp, but they’d be fine for the walk home.  You squeezed yourself back into the denim, emerging with the borrowed sweatpants.  “Laundry?” you asked, since Minho was busy with the dishes.

“Just inside the bedroom, next to the door,” he gestured with his chin, hands still sudsy.

You slid the sweatshirt off as well, placing both in the hamper by the door.  Despite your curiosity, you didn’t linger, but you caught a glimpse of an equally tidy bedroom.  And a large bed with dark sheets.  Why was your heart pounding?  Mr. Darcy hadn’t been that distracting.  You shook your head, hurrying out of the room.  Only then you came face-to-face with Minho, and you had to fight a blush.  What on earth was wrong with you?

The awkwardness continued, and you felt strange and itchy the whole walk home with Minho.  You were hyper aware of how close you were under the umbrella, of the way your elbows brushed every few steps.  Minho was surprisingly quiet, as well.  Ordinarily, he’d be making fun of you by now.

As you walked the last block together, you tilted your head to look at him.  “So tonight was a fail,” you said.

“What the heck are you talking about?”

“The practice date?” you giggled at his expression.  “Total failure.”

Minho’s frown deepened, “I thought it was fun.  Even if you made me watch a period drama.”

“Oh no, it was wonderful, but the date part of it was a bust.  We need to do another, since tonight doesn’t count,” you told him, slowing to a stop in front of your building’s entrance.

“Well what does count?” Minho asked, exasperation dripping from his tone.

“Hmm, something in public.  No one ever does a private first date, and obviously that’s what you need the most help with,” you sassed.  “Maybe I’ll kick your ass in laser tag or something.”

“Maybe I should beat you in bowling,” Minho retorted.

You hummed, tapping a finger off your chin.  “You might be onto something, actually.  How about you come up with our next practice date.  That’s your homework.”

“Since when is this a class?  With homework assignments?” Minho demanded.

“Oh shut it, or I’m making profiles for you on every dating app I know.”

* * * * *

You looked over at Minho, suspicion tugging at you.  “So when you said you should beat me at bowling, did you mean it?”

“I’m going to try and win at whatever we do, I’m competitive like that,” Minho said, holding the door open for you.

“No, I mean, are you secretly a professional bowler or something?” you corrected, making your way towards the shoe rental.

Minho chuckled, “I doubt you’ll believe whatever I say.”

You opened your mouth to object, but decided he was right.  “You better not be hustling me,” you threatened, slapping cash down on the counter.

“Pay per game or pay per hour?” the attendant asked.

Minho cheekily slid a few bills beside yours.  “Best out of three?”

“Insufferable,” you muttered, watching as the attendant took his money instead of yours.

At least Minho looked just as goofy as you did.  The brightly colored bowling shoes looked very out of place against his “cool guy” outfit.  You’d already poked fun at him.  Who showed up to a date wearing sweats?  Not that he looked bad in them, but you had at least dressed up a bit.  Then again, you might not have worn a dress if you had known that bowling was on the agenda.  You tugged at the sleeves of your sweater dress, feeling a bit out of place as you looked at all of the other couples.  Jeans, slacks, more jeans...why had you decided to dress up?  You should’ve known Minho would pick something casual.

“Hey, you wanna go first, or should I?” Minho’s voice cut through your thoughts, and you shook the negativity away gratefully.

“You go ahead,” you called over to him, trying to find a smile.  What were you so worked up about?  It’s not like this was a real date.  You could have shown up in a potato sack if you wanted, you weren’t trying to impress anyone, least of all Minho.  On that thought, maybe he had the better idea after all.  You eyed his sweatpants enviously.  You knew how comfy they were, and they’d doubtless be better than the tights you were terrified of ripping.

“Ok sweetheart, prepare for a thrashing,” Minho joked, selecting a bowling ball from the rack.

“You prepare for a thrashing,” you countered, despite knowing it was an empty threat.  You probably needed the bumpers if you wanted anything but gutter balls.  Then you caught sight of the names on the board.  “Did you seriously make my nickname ‘Loser’?  What are we, five?”

Minho smirked as he passed you.  “We’ve been over this, I’m a grandpa, you’ve got one foot in the grave.  Childish antics are beneath us,” he said with a laugh.

“So you’re ‘Lee Know’?” you inquired, curious about his chosen nickname.

Minho turned to face you, tilting his head.  “Yeah, that’s what my friends call me.”

“...Am I supposed to call you that?”

“We’re friends, aren’t we?  Call me whatever you want.  Just not ‘asshole’,” he joked.  Your heart warmed, and a true smile found its way to your lips.  You watched as Minho wiggled a little, eyeing the pins at the end of the lane.  Then, to your utmost surprise, he turned around and rolled the ball between his legs.

“What?” you choked on a laugh, nearly falling over at the sight.  Minho backed up, and you both watched as the ball rolled down the lane, painfully slow.  It ended up knocking down half of the pins, much to your surprise.  Minho just looked proud as he picked up another ball.  Miracle of miracles, he wound up with a spare.

You had no words, didn’t even bother trying to explain how his technique had any sort of success.  Your own attempt was...pitiful by comparison.  Your form looked good, but both balls wound up in the gutter in a matter of seconds.

Minho didn’t waste the opportunity to gloat.  “Told you I’d beat you at bowling,” he said with a wink.

You grumbled, flopping down onto the bench next to him.  “I didn’t expect you to be successful at the toddler technique.”

“Give it a go, maybe we’ll change your nickname if you win,” he laughed, getting up for his turn.

Halfway through the game, you even tried the ‘toddler technique’.  This was also a fail, made worse with the mortifying realization that your underwear would be visible if you bent over too far.  When your attempt ended up in the gutter, you resolved to get bumpers for the next game.

But Minho had other plans.  You had just approached the lane when you felt a hand on your shoulder.  “Keep your wrist straight, you keep twisting it at the last second,” he said.

You turned to face him, finding him close behind you.  “Anything else, wise one?”

“Don’t overthink it,” he smiled at you.  This close, you could swear his eyes were twinkling.  “We can both go get bumpers next round, I need them almost as much as you.  I’m amazed at my own streak of luck tonight.”

“I’m terrible at bowling,” you whined, looking away from him.  Your cheeks felt warm.  Gosh, it was embarrassing to be this bad.

“We can go do something else, we don’t even need to finish this game, let alone all three.  As long as you’re having fun, I’m happy.”

You glanced at him from the corner of your eye, but looked away quickly.  He was watching you so intently, the flush burned hotter, threatening to run down your neck.  “I’m sorry you paid for so many games.  We can definitely finish them, it’s fine—”

“I’ll never make you do something you don’t want to do,” Minho murmured.  You looked at him in surprise, surprised to hear him sounding sincere rather than snarky.  “Otherwise, I’d be a shitty friend, wouldn’t I?”

“Right, yeah.  An asshole friend,” you agreed, nearly stumbling over the words.

“Ok, I’ll let you focus on your first strike of the night.  Don’t overthink it,” he reminded you, walking back to the bench.

You nodded, ignoring the tight feeling in your stomach that reminded you of disappointment.  And you sank another one right into the gutter.

Minho’s solution to the bowling fiasco was consolation ice cream.  Somewhat surprising, since a part of you had expected him to gloat.  Instead, he talked about anything and everything but bowling, entertaining you while you both sat at the window of the local shop.  You simply watched him, enraptured.  He had hardly opened up at all to you at first.  Visiting his apartment felt like the first peek into the real Minho.  The happy memories captured in picture frames, the handmade mementos here and there on shelves, all hints as to the soft interior of your once-prickly friend.  Now he was regaling you with stories of his best friends—brothers, by the sound of it.  Loving rivalry, playful banter, sibling torment.  And the look on his face...pride.  He was proud of them, his family.

Then you paused, tilted your head to look at him anew.  When had Minho stopped being prickly?  Where was the cynical, negative, angsty boy you’d befriended, partly out of spite?  When had he stopped trying to hold you back with barbed wire edges?

When Minho caught your gaze, he lifted one brow, mouth twitching into a crooked smile.  “See something you like?” he sassed you.  But his remark was devoid of bitterness.  It wasn’t mocking, it was warm, inviting.  It was asking you to join in on the joke.

“Yeah,” you said softly.  Then you turned up the wattage on your smile, grinning widely at him.  “What’s cookin’, good lookin’?”

Minho rolled his eyes at your antics, spinning his ice cream cone between his fingers.  But hidden behind your grin was more than a little truth.

* * * * *

You knocked on the door, stepping back tentatively.  You could hear raucous laughter on the other side, which would ordinarily have you curious, maybe a little excited to join in.  Not tonight.  Right now, standing in the hallway outside Minho’s apartment, you were nervous as hell.  And on top of it all, you were nearly an hour late, having dragged your feet the whole way there.

“Stop it, this is ridiculous,” you muttered to yourself, shifting from foot to foot.  It felt like meeting the parents, which was dumb.  Firstly, you and Minho were not dating.  Secondly, these were his best friends, not his parents.  And thirdly, you and Minho were good friends.  You had nothing to worry about.  Absolutely nothing.

Which was why you were currently worrying all over the place about meeting Minho’s best friends.  What if they hated you?  Or worse, what if they pitied you?  You thought you’d disappear into a crack in the earth if that happened.

Before you could spend too long contemplating your inevitable end, the door swung open, and a boy came rushing out at you.  You gasped, jumping back before he could run into you.

“Sorry, sorry, excuse me!” he blurted, skidding to a stop, then immediately taking off running down the hallway.

You blinked in confusion, but your eyes only widened when a second boy came barrelling out of the apartment after the first.  “Minho?”

Minho paused briefly, eyes alighting on your stiff figure.  “Hi!  Um, I need to take care of something, but I’ll be right back.  Go on in,” he waved at you, breaking into a jog, and then a sprint.

Immensely confused, you peered into the apartment, now that the door was wide open.  Now or never, you told yourself firmly.  Easing through the doorway, you caught sight of six more boys in various states of chaos.  Upon noticing your entrance, they all froze.  “Uh, hello there,” came a voice on your right.  You looked over to see two boys in the kitchen, appearing to be mid-struggle with a bag of popcorn.  “You must be Minho’s friend, he said you’d be coming.”

You gave a tiny wave, pasting on a sunshine smile.  “Hi guys, it’s nice to meet you, I think?  Should I be concerned about the escapee?”

Popcorn boy number two laughed, arms bulging as he ripped open the bag.  “Oh no, Hyunjin will be fine.  Minho hasn’t made him eat toilet paper in years, he’s above that now.”  You must have looked concerned, because the boy chuckled again, waving you off.  “It’s all empty threats with that one.  Mostly.  I’m Changbin, by the way.”

Popcorn boy number one stepped forward, extending a hand to shake.  “I’m Chan, and this is our menagerie of chaos.  Let me introduce you to everyone,” he offered.  You grinned at him, relieved.

By the time Minho returned, practically dragging Hyunjin with him, you were giggling on the couch with the rest of the boys, embroiled in a fierce MarioKart race.  With Hyunjin still trapped in a headlock, Minho paused to watch.  You just barely caught a glimpse of him from the corner of your eye, too focused on staying on the track.  Jeongin had chosen Rainbow Road for your first match, and you were determined to crush them in the dust.  Even if it had been several years since you last played.

You watched as your character was knocked off the edge, a cry of dismay falling from your lips.  “Dang it, I wasn’t even in first place, what gives?”

Han grinned victoriously, only to cry out when he accidentally drove over the edge as well.  “Friends fall together?” he joked.

“You made me go ziplining.  Alone,” Minho said, announcing his presence at last.

“Uhhhh,” Han fumbled for an excuse.  “You love me anyway, though, right?”

Before Minho could retort, Seungmin stood up.  “You can play next, if you want,” he offered.

The rest of you blinked at him in surprise, before looking at his screen and realizing he’d already won the race.  Jeongin groaned dramatically, flailing on the couch as he came in second.  You and Han just gave up entirely, letting your characters fall off the track once more.  Meanwhile, Minho finally decided to release Hyunjin, and the blonde escaped to the other end of the couch, diving into a bowl of chips like nothing had happened.

Felix looked excited, so you tossed him your remote for the next round.  “I believe I was promised food,” you said, arching an eyebrow in Minho’s direction.

“I believe I told you to arrive at six,” he fired back, stalking towards you.  He finally stopped a foot away, looming over you.

You smirked at him, “What did I tell you on our first date?”

The room went silent, and you froze, realizing your mistake.  “You guys are dating and you didn’t tell us?” Han exclaimed, eyes wide.

Your mouth opened and closed, but you couldn’t seem to find any words.

“Oh yeah, real fancy dates, too.  We had dinner at the Eiffel tower last week,” Minho drawled.  “Isn’t that right, sugar plum?”  The cherry on top was when he reached out, lightly pinching your cheek.

A stranger might have mistaken his dry tone for sincerity, but everyone in the room knew Minho’s humor well.  Half of the group dissolved into giggles.  Changbin rolled his eyes and threw a pillow, but Minho caught it before it could smack into you.  “No wonder you don’t have a girlfriend,” Changbin joked.

“All those promises and no follow through,” Han clucked his tongue in mock-disapproval, then ducked when Minho tossed the pillow at him next.

Your cheeks threatened to catch on fire again.  The situation only worsened when you met Minho’s dark gaze, his eyes ensnaring you.  “So,” you threw out desperately, clapping your hands together.  “The food?  Or am I going to starve?  Not very boyfriend-like,” you tried to laugh.  The joke must have been convincing, because the boys merely chuckled, going back to their game.

Minho still hadn’t moved from where he stood over you.  Instead of moving back so you could get up, he extended a hand.  You bit your lip, teeth digging in, but you placed your hand in his rather than make a scene.  The last thing you wanted was more attention, especially with your cheeks warming up past their usual temperature.

Fortunately, he released you as soon as you regained your footing.  Your fingers flexed lightly, hand falling back to your side.  You kept your chin high as you followed Minho to the kitchen, ignoring the prickling feeling that the boys were still watching you.

“Pizza?” you blurted out, incredulous.  “Don’t you eat anything else?”

Minho snorted, leaning against the counter.  “For the record, I do know how to cook.”

You snooped in the fridge, disbelieving.  “Of course, all evidence points to you being a five star chef,” you said, casting a pointed look at the empty shelves within.

He chuckled, folding his arms while he watched you investigate.  “Sweetheart, if you wanted me to cook for you, all you had to do was ask.”

You hummed, closing the refrigerator once more.  “I’m kinda afraid you’ll burn something, to be honest,” you teased, grabbing a plate from the cabinet and selecting a slice of now-cold pizza.  You popped the pizza in the microwave, then relaxed against the counter opposite Minho.  He was still watching you intently, and you frowned.  “What?  Do I have something on my face?” you asked him.

Minho shook his head wordlessly.  Self-consciousness took hold, and you looked down awkwardly, brushing your hair behind one ear.  “Hey, I’m sorry about what I said.  I totally didn’t mean it the way it came out.”

“I know,” he said, one corner of his mouth quirking up in a half smile.

You tipped your chin again, unable to look at him for long.  Even if Minho seemed to forgive your blunder, you still couldn’t believe you’d blurted that out.  Your hair fell in front of your face again, and you let it, happy to hide behind the locks.

Then another pair of feet appeared a few inches from yours.  Plain black socks next to your patterned ones, covered in cartoon rainbows.  Then a butterfly touch along the side of your face, soft enough that you almost doubted the sensation.  You lifted your gaze, but this time, Minho’s eyes weren’t on yours.  Instead, his laser focus was directed on the hair he was gently situating behind your ear again.

You realized you had forgotten to breathe when he finally took a step back, and your lungs remembered to inflate.

“For the record, you’re right,” Minho said softly.  “The queen is never late.”

* * * * *

It was nearing midnight by the time Minho’s friends started leaving.  You eyed the clock, then went to grab your shoes as well.  “I better get going, I want to get home sometime before dawn,” you joked.

“How close do you live?  Are you taking the bus?” Chan asked, worry evident in his tone.

You waved him off, “I’m just a few blocks away, not too long of a walk.  Bus doesn’t run after ten or so, anyway.”

Chan frowned, but Minho cut him off before he could say anything.  “I was going to walk her home, it’s pretty late.”

That was a surprise to you, but seemed to alleviate Chan’s concern.  The others waved goodbye on their way out, Chan following them.  “Nice to meet you,” he said, shooting you a quick grin before closing the door behind him.

“You really don’t have to,” you started.

“I want to.  It’s late,” Minho reminded you.

“I didn’t argue last time, but I didn’t want to steal your umbrella.”  You narrowed your eyes at him.  “I’m not some little girl in need of protection.  It’s a perfectly safe neighborhood.”

Minho didn’t look up, busy tying his shoes.  “I like walking.”

“At midnight?”

“Any time of day, really.”

You rolled your eyes.  “Do you walk Jeongin home, too?”

“Sure did.  He moved in with Han, though, so I don’t anymore,” he said simply.  “You don’t have a roommate.  If no one’s there to make sure you get home safe, I want to walk with you.”

You gaped at him, unable to fault his logic.  And not really wanting to.  “Thanks,” you murmured, scuffing one shoe into the floor.

Minho stood up again, a crooked smile on his lips.  “Don’t mention it,” he said, snagging his keys.  “After you.”

Walking home with Minho, you were reminded of the first time.  Then, you’d been so awkward, quiet.  Unsure of yourself.  You’d been worried that you were some kind of pity friend at first, but after getting to know Minho, you knew that wasn’t the case.  And now that you’d grown comfortable around each other, you could hardly get him to shut up.  Even now, he was talking about his dance team’s newest choreo, his words running together from excitement.

You smiled, just listening.  This was all you really wanted, if you let yourself admit it.  The Tinder dates were just a shit attempt at finding someone to sit and listen to for hours.  You wanted movie nights and quiet mornings with someone who cared about you.  You wanted a cute little house and kids and a dog.  Maybe a cat.  Maybe three.

Shit.

You were so wrapped up in your realization that you didn’t realize you’d reached your apartment building until Minho snagged your elbow to pull you to a stop.  “This isn’t a midnight hike, where do you think you’re going?” he asked incredulously.

You laughed nervously, “Oh, sorry, I was pretty lost in thought.”

“Apparently.  Were you listening to a word I said?  Some friend you are,” he snorted.

Friend.  Right.  Your realization didn’t mean much.  Why were you surprised?  You hadn’t had luck in the romantic department in years, why would that change now?  Minho was your friend, and it was obvious that his opinion of you wasn’t going to change.  Why would it?  He was way out of your league.

Gosh, now you felt like a fool.  You’d really just daydreamed about a happily ever after with him.  Why did you ever bother getting your hopes up?  You were always bound for disappointment.  Hadn’t your crappy dates taught you anything?

Minho called your name, bringing you back down to reality.  “Sorry,” you muttered, fumbling in your bag to find your keys.

“Are you alright?” he asked.  Shoot, now he sounded concerned.

You pasted a sunny smile on your face, “Totally fine.  Thank you for walking me back.  I won’t keep you any longer.”

You turned away to walk up the steps, but the smile fell as soon as he was out of sight.  How were you only just coming to the realization that you were halfway—or perhaps all the way—in love with him?  His face was burned into your mind’s eye.  Brows furrowed in confusion, slight pout, and those damned eyes.  You’d probably been in love with his eyes from the beginning.

“I only agreed to let you play matchmaker so I could see you again.”

You stopped at the top of the steps, not quite believing your ears.  Turning slightly, you looked at Minho over your shoulder.

Once he had your attention, he continued, “I bailed on the date with your friend because I knew you’d yell at me.”

Lips parting in surprise, you turned to face him fully.  Minho put a foot on the first step, gaze locked on yours.  You weren’t sure what he saw when he looked at you, but his mouth softened into a slight smile.

“I was going to do the classic move of teaching you to bowl, but I chickened out,” he said.  “I wish I hadn’t.”

“What are you...why are you telling me this?” you asked, fingers curling nervously.

He ascended another step, “You only smile like that when you’re sad.  When you start getting in your own head about what you deserve.”  Another step, “And I’m tired of hiding.”

Now he was only two steps away.  Close enough to touch, if you dared to reach out.  You didn’t.  “We’re friends,” you said, voice small.

“Yeah, we are,” he agreed.  Then he bit his lip, drawing your attention like bees to honey.  You sucked in a breath, closing your eyes firmly.  When you opened them, Minho was on the step just below you.  “Tell me to stop,” he said, voice low.  You didn’t.

Your breath stuttered to a stop, your whole body stilling at the electric shock of his lips on yours.  For a moment, you were frozen, utterly focused on the whisper of a touch.  Then Minho pulled away, and you could breathe again, gasping for air.  But you didn’t want it to be over.  Your eyes fluttered open, finding his dark gaze melting into you.

This time, you let yourself fall into him, ignoring the voice in the back of your head that said this was a fantasy.  He caught you, one arm wrapping around your waist, his other hand coming to your jawline.  He ascended that final step, pulling your body into his.  His lips were plush, a little dry.  Real.  Minho was here, warm under your fingertips.

His hand slid up into your hair, slowly enough to make you shiver.  You sighed into the kiss, goosebumps appearing on your arms as his fingers gently tugged the strands.  And then his mouth opened beneath you, and you let yourself tumble into sensation, drowning in him.

You don’t know how long you kissed, but your heart was racing when you finally came up for air.  Minho panted, little breaths puffing against your lips.  He rested his forehead against yours, the weight somehow grounding you.

“Do you understand now?”  Minho’s voice was hoarse, deeper than before.  You shivered, just a bit, and the corner of his lips twitched up.

You couldn’t find words, unable to string any coherent thoughts together.  And you didn’t really want to, happy to have your mind all to yourself, no doubts in sight.  You leaned forward, placing a small kiss on the tip of Minho’s nose.  He scrunched his face up, making you giggle.  But you needed to know one thing.  “Are we—are things different now?”

“We’re dating.  Unless you don’t want that,” he backtracked, eyes wide.

You grinned at him.  “I do.”

He heaved out a sigh of relief.  “Thank goodness.  I thought I really fucked up there.”

Now you really laughed, head falling forward to rest on his chest.  Minho’s arms tightened around you, pulling you closer than you thought was possible.  You could hear his heartbeat, thudding just as fast as yours.

“You said the friendship was your favorite part of love,” Minho mused.  You hummed in agreement, nodding against him.  “Well I hope you don’t get sick of me.  I hear I’m pretty annoying.”

“Minho,” you rolled your eyes.

“I know you just rolled your eyes at me,” he teased.

“Well, you are annoying.  But I suppose it’s a part of your charm.”

He chuckled, “So that means you like my jokes?”

You smiled fondly, “Don’t push it.”

* * * * *

Masterlist

[jaedore]

BINDING BONDS | 1

< next 

parings: jung jaehyun x reader

genre: ceo!au, arranged marriage!au, (semi) angst, consumption of alcohol, asshole/player Jaehyun, swearing 

note: BB deals with themes of mental and physical abuse, which can be upsetting for some readers. If you feel uncomfortable reading these types of plots, you are advised to not continue

[ 4.9 k words ]

Out of breath. That’s what you felt when you woke up this morning and saw that you were going to be late to work. 

“SHOOT!” you jolted out of bed and sprinted to the bathroom. 

Today was the first day where you would work under your mother to prove to her that you’re worth the CEO position. Your mother was the CEO of Audace, a clothing line competing against other luxury brands such as Gucci, CocoChanel, Versace, Louis Vuitton. Today, you couldn’t afford to be late, so there you were, sloppily throwing makeup on your face in your bathroom. 

“Not today, you’re not gonna ruin this y/n,” you talked to your reflection. 

As soon as you looked as ready as you could be, you rushed out the door of your apartment and into your car. 

“Whatever, I’m already late,” you sighed and as soon as you knew it, you were taking a detour to the coffee shop. 

Parking your car, you shut the door and entered the little coffee shop. It was always your favorite, even though you never drank coffee. The comfort it held, held a soft spot in your heart. 

“Hey Soojin, I’ll have my usual,” you smiled, setting your sunglasses on top of your head, “Oh! And a medium chai for my mom please,” you figured that you could bring her her favorite drink while you were at it.

“Of course, $5.75 please.” 

You swiped your card and stood aside, waiting for your drink. You sat at the nearest table and looked at the little pot of sunflowers sitting in the center. You ran your fingers against the soft petals, but soon your thoughts were interrupted by a call. 

You sighed looking at the contact, “morning, mother.” 

“Why are you late? You were supposed to be here half an hour ago,” she asked. 

“I overslept and made a little detour,” you simply replied. 

“Y/n!” As soon as you heard your name called, you stood up and grabbed both of your drinks. 

You nodded at Soojin to thank her and rushed out of the coffee shop. 

“Well you better be on your way in the next half hour because we have a meeting with our joint company, got it?” Your mother sternly said as you opened the door with your back. 

“Of course! I’m coming right n-HEY! Watch it!!” you yelled. 

You looked down at your stained white blazer and blouse. The iced matcha you were dying to drink was suddenly gone and absorbed into your shirt. It was the first blazer your mother bought you for your first day of working with her. 

“Chill, princess, you were in my way” the man stood in front of you, the nickname he gave you frustrated you even more. 

The man stood tall and confident, he was wearing his own suit and he wore it well, too bad your drink spilled a bit on him. 

“Do you have a napkin?” you desperately asked him. 

“Only my handkerchief,” he replied. 

“Oh, thank you,” you reached to grab it from his blazer pocket until he stepped to the side. 

“I never offered it to you,” he bluntly said, taking it out and wiping himself instead. 

Surprised at his comment, you huffed in defeat and walked to your car. You couldn’t be late to the joint company meeting. 

“Hey, mom,” you walked into her office. 

“Hey-oh...what happened to you?” your mother looked up from the papers in front of her. 

“Some douche ran into me on my way out to the coffee shop,” you muttered. 

“My blazer’s in the closet, grab it before we go,” your mother pointed to the closet. 

The only option was a navy blue blazer so you grabbed it and buttoned it, hiding your stained blouse. After you fixed yourself, it was time for you and your mother to go to the meeting. Thankfully the CEO was coming to Audace’s building.

“We’re meeting with Jung Corporation, they’re the biggest trading company here,” your mom explained as she reread the files in her hands. 

“But we don’t need to trade...Audace is international,” you stated. 

“Yes I know, but it’s got to do with partnerships, stocks, it’s a joint business partnership, y/n,” she explained. 

The elevator bell rang and the two of you left for the meeting room. 

“Anyways, we’re meeting to discuss our joint business celebration that’s happening this Saturday,” your mom continued. 

“Shoot,” you whispered to yourself. 

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten,” your mom stopped walking to look at you. 

“I-I mean I-no I haven’t mom,” you lowered your head, “lets just go, they’re probably waiting for us.”

“Greetings, Mr. Jung! Thank you for coming,” your mom was the first to walk in and shook hands with the man and his wife. 

The man was a little older, had some grey streaks in his hair, but still looked fairly well for an older man. His wife stood up and also shook hands with the both of you. She was very beautiful, there wasn’t even a streak of wrinkles, you couldn’t stop looking at her youthful features. 

“My apologies, my son couldn’t make it. He had a...minor incident before this,” the wife spoke. 

“No worries, I’m sure we’ll be seeing him at our joint business celebration this Saturday” your mother smiled. 

The meeting went by smoothly, the talk of the facility, decorations, invitation acceptances, champagne. You had to refrain yourself from yawning so much, the meeting felt like it was never going to end. It felt like forever until the never ending conversations finally stopped.

“So everything’s set!” Mr. Jung clapped.

“Yes, thank you, and thank you Mrs. Jung, for both coming to meet us. We’ll be seeing your family this weekend,” you and your mother shook their hands and walked them out of the building. 

“No, y/n I just don’t think it matches your...vibe?” Your friend Haewon brows furred thinking of the right word. 

“Well then, I don’t know. Maybe I should just wear one of my older dresses,” you sighed. 

“No no no, you can’t do that. We’re going to Versace,” and with that, she took your hand out of the store. 

Haewon was your only friend. Growing up, you had a hard time establishing friendships and later on, relationships. As a kid, no one had a desire to be your friend. Your family was one of the richest where you lived so all the little kids were afraid to approach you, intimidated that if they’d get on your bad side, hell would ensue. As for relationships, you never had time for them. Even when you did, the guys were in it for the money and fame, so you saved yourself the energy to pass dating overall. 

You opened up your heart to many many people in your life, but it always resulted in them leaving after they took something from you. You learned that the hard way. Each and every time someone left, you guarded yourself more and more. Instead, you went to school, studied hard, and focused on the CEO position your mother was going to pass down to you. 

Haewon, was there the entire time. You always laugh to yourself whenever you remember the moment you two met. You met her at a charity ball when you were very young. She took the last cream puff that you wanted and ran off with it, so when you chased her into one of the rooms, you cried to her that you wanted it. Feeling bad, she gave half of it to you. That’s when the friendship began. Even though she’s loud, a talker, and loves to gossip, she’s always been there for you during hard times. 

“Haewon, I’m tired and my feet hurt, can we just-”

“No, we are not going, I’m going to make sure that you look so good at this celebration. Especially when the Jungs are going to be there,” her eyes widen looking at the wide variety of dresses. 

“Huh?” you furrowed your brows. 

“Oh you haven’t seen? Their only son, Jung Jaehyun, he is-oh my gosh- he is the most beautiful man you will ever see,” Haewon gushed. 

“I...doubt that,” you walked ahead of her, searching for a dress. 

“Just wait until you see him! He is gorgeous, but…” Haewon paused. 

“But what?” you asked not taking your eyes off your choices. 

“He kinda likes to uh...play around?” Haewon cautiously said. 

“Really?” you hummed uninterested as you still browsed the dresses. 

And that was the truth, you were truly uninterested. You thought men like him were a waste of time, they’d never survive in the world of business. 

“Girls say that he never gets into serious relationships. The ones that I’ve talked to, had either one night stands or flings with him, but sadly, nothing serious…” Haewon pouted.

“Guess we’ll just have to confirm that on Saturday,” you picked up a dress. 

“Oh, that’s perfect,” your best friend’s eyes widen in awe. 

Saturday came closer than you thought. You just got back from helping your parents prepare for the celebration, along with the Jungs. And again, the famous Jaehyun still didn’t show up. 

You picked up the Barocco Signature Shift Dress that you bought from Versace the other day and carefully slipped into it. After you got yourself ready, you drove yourself back to the facility. There were already so many cars, the sudden amount of people overwhelmed you. You parked your car and sat there, leaning your head against the steering wheel. As a baby, before you could even walk, you were taught a certain way to act at events like these. At the same time, you didn’t find joy in being the center of attention and being presented in front of a crowd like a...prize. It was draining.

Ring ring ring!!

“Hello?” you cleared your throat as you answered. 

“Y/n, are you coming yet? The Jungs will be coming here soon,” your mother said on the other line. 

“Uh yeah, I just parked,” you sighed, rubbing your forehead hoping that the marks from the steering wheel didn’t tattoo on your forehead. 

With your Runway Virtus Mini Chain Wallet, you walked into the facility that held the large room. There were two staircases on both sides of the room that went up to an indoor balcony that oversaw the whole room. 

“Y/n, over here,” your mom waved to you. 

As you walked over, you spotted Mr. Jung and his wife standing behind your mother. 

“Hello,” you bowed to them. 

“You look so beautiful, y/n,” Mrs. Jung hugged you. 

“Thank you, you look wonderful,” you complimented. 

“Oh honey, where’s Jaehyun?” she asked her husband. 

“He said he’s going to be late,” Mr. Jung’s lips thinned, fists tightening. 

“No problem, I’m sure we’ll see him in a bit,” your mother said. 

You excused yourself to grab some champagne. You could feel it in your spine that it was going to be a long, long night. As people started to pour in, the music got louder and the hotter it got. People came by and greeted you, giving out small talk. After a while, you excused yourself to grab more champagne. 

When you could feel the temperature in your body rise, you fanned yourself as you walked up to the balcony to oversee everyone. Despite the second level, it was still cooler. You sighed, sipping on your champagne thinking to yourself how much more you can drink in order to still drive. 

“It’s quieter up here,” A low voice came from behind you. 

It was the guy, the guy from earlier who spilt your iced matcha. He was dressed in a sleek suit and tie that framed his broad shoulders and lean physique. 

“You,” your eyes slightly widen, “who are you to be here?” 

“I’ll leave that for you to figure out,” he sipped on his drink, looking down at the crowd. 

“No I’m serious, I’ve never seen you before, but apparently you made it through security,” you stated, mumbling the last part. 

“Just know that I’m significant enough to make it in,” he turned towards you, eyeing you up and down. 

“Although, I can say the same thing, I don’t know who you are, yet you managed to make it in too,” he raised a brow. 

“I’m-” 

“Didn’t ask,” he waved his hand up and dismissed you off.

You bend your neck to the side and think to yourself, who this man was and who he was to be acting like that. Someone so forthright, rude, and upfront disrespectful. Before you spoke up, another girl around your age came to his side, wrapping her arms around his.

“There you are, I’ve been looking all over for you!” she smiled.

“Just wanted to get some air,” he looked back down and gazed at the crowd as she pecked his cheek. 

Girlfriend…? You took another sip and walked away from the couple. You thought to yourself if you’d ever get to that stage in life. To be in a relationship where things were gentle, comfortable, and felt like home. You had to remind yourself that you didn’t have that kind of luxury. 

“Ahem, excuse me!” Your mom stood on stage holding onto a microphone and her glass of champagne. 

“We would just like to thank all of you who were able to make it to our celebration,” she spoke happily, “being able to become partners with Jung Corporation is such an honor. With this, we hope to expand more internationally. At the same time, I would like to introduce my daughter to everyone,” the light panned on you.

Oh mother, what are you thinking? You sighed, she didn’t inform you on this. You walked up on stage and presented your best smile. You didn’t have a speech written down, so you were only relying on what sounded reliable and serious in your brain. 

“Tonight isn’t just about Jung Corporation and Audace joining businesses, it’s also about our future generation! As you all know, I will be retiring soon, and I want everyone to know who will be taking my position,” your mother explained, “This lovely young lady, is my daughter, y/n. I want you guys to know that she wasn’t given this position. I pushed her to the bottom of the chain and told her to work herself up. She did it quicker than I thought,” she winked to the audience, earning several laughs. 

“Y/n?” Your mother turned her attention back to you, “how about a few words?” 

You adjusted the microphone to your level and began speaking. You weren’t as nervous as you thought, probably because you’ve done this a dozen times already. 

“Good evening everyone, as you know, I will be taking over the CEO position soon,” your voice echoed throughout the facility, “I want everyone to know that this isn’t all fun and games. The world we live in doesn’t grant wishes and it most certainly won’t go the way we want. Business is one of the biggest factors that make the world go around. So, when you invest in us, you are entirely with us the whole way. You are part of the family, and so with this, I hope you can warmly welcome me into it,” you smiled as you bowed and left the stage after the audience clapped. 

It was Mr. Jung’s turn to speak. He gave a few wise words, but you were way too hot to stay for the entire speech so you left to go outside to the garden. As you were leaving, you could hear him faintly introducing his son, who apparently, finally made it to the event. You knew you should’ve stayed to meet him, but you figured that you’d see him sooner or later. He’s the one who’s been absent anyways. 

“Honey, what are you doing out here?” It was your father.

“Father!” you jumped from your seat to hug him, you didn’t think he’d come, “I was just getting some air. What are you doing here?”

“I decided to take a little time off. Work was getting overwhelming, so I’m taking a few weeks off. Hopefully I can spend time with you and your mother,” he smiled. 

Your dad held the CEO position of a law firm in the overseas, so that’s where he mostly was. Of course he came home for the holidays, birthdays, celebrations, and other important things. Your parents were married, but they were forced to be. Nonetheless, they learned to love each other so you grew up with a healthy childhood. You wondered if your parents had thought about forcing you to marry someone as you were around the age they also got married. 

After you and your father got the chance to catch up, you two went back inside to join the celebration. The night consisted of exchanged laughs, short conversations, and business plans. Soon, people trickled out and before you knew it, it was midnight. Sleep was beginning to call your name, you were ready to walk out the door until your mother stopped you.

“Where are you going? We have important matters to talk about with the Jungs,” she waved for you to come back. 

“Really mother? It’s past midnight, what’s so important that we have to talk at this time?” you frustratedly asked, all you wanted was to take off the tight dress, high heels, and the makeup that sat on your skin. 

“No, come,” she gently grabbed your arm, dragging you to an office room. 

When you went in, your father sat on the leather seat and the Jungs sat on the other side of the room, leaving two seats in the middle of the room. The guy you met earlier was sitting in one of them. The one who spilled your iced matcha on you and approached you on the balcony. 

“What’s going on?” you quietly asked.

“Sit please,” she let go as you obeyed her. 

Please don’t be the son, please don’t be the son, please don’t be the son. You mentally pleaded.

“Y/n, this is my son Jaehyun. My apologies that you had to finally meet him,” Mrs. Jung said. 

Shit. Your eyes widened looking at him, and he held your gaze, you could see his dark orbs hold frustration and curiosity. 

“As you two know, we now hold a joint business partnership,” Mr. Jung began from his seat. 

Based on his tone, you knew that he wasn’t going to be delivering good news. You could feel the beating in your heart pick up. 

“And that means that you were joined based on an agreement,” your mother finished his statement. 

By this time, your palms were sweating and you held your breath to stabilize your breathing. You just wanted to get this over with, but you weren’t ready for the bad news.

“You two will be getting married,” Mr. Jung spilled. 

“What??” You and him both turned your heads towards Mr. Jung. 

“No,” Jaehyun stood up, “There is no way I am marrying her,” he spat out, pointing at you. 

Yes, you were hurt by his words, but you were focused more on the big announcement.

“Jaehyun, you don’t have a choice,” Mrs. Jung gently said, patting his shoulder. 

He moved from her touch as he mumbled something you couldn’t comprehend. The sound of voices tuned out into nothing as vexation clouded your mind.

“Don’t say that you don’t know her,” his mother whispered as she pleaded with him. 

The room was soon filled with arguments with Jaehyun and his parents. He was clearly frustrated and the boom in his voice told you so. You had to cover your ears to block out the loudness of his voice that managed to slither its way into your head. You pressed your hands against your forehead to stop yourself from shaking. 

You paused for a second, calming yourself down before you stood up, “I’m not getting married to him.”

“Yeah, same. Anyone but her,” Jaehyun commented. 

“ENOUGH JUNG JAEHYUN,” his father stood up and shouted at him. 

His wife, Jaehyun, you, and your family all stood in shock. 

“Mr. Jung, don’t be so harsh. We just announced it to them, let them process it for a few days,” your mother gently spoke, holding onto your father. 

“She’s right honey,” Mrs. Jung grabbed onto her husband’s shoulder. 

“I don’t think anyone understood what I just said, I’m not getting married to him,” you repeated in a low tone, running out of patience.

“Y/n-” before your mother spoke, you were already out the door. 

When you finally arrived at your apartment, you threw your heels to the ground and quickly unzipped your dress. Tossing it onto your bed, you immediately went to the shower to get yourself cleaned. As the hot water relaxes your muscles you think about the announcement that was made a while ago. You couldn’t believe your parents were forcing you to marry him. Fucking Jung Jaehyun. 

Wait- but how come I never seen him before? You sighed to yourself as you wrapped the towel around you. 

Trudging to your bedroom, you pulled out your pajamas and immediately buried yourself under your blankets. Before you could manage to fall asleep, you mother called. 

“Yes mom?” you were beginning to get tired of her constant calling, but you couldn’t because she is your mother. 

“Where are you? Are you okay?” She feverishly asked. 

“Mother, I’m fine. I’m back at my place, I just need to sleep. Please, let’s just talk about this another time, okay?” You begged her. 

“At least you're safe. Good night,” she said hanging up. 

With that, you set your phone back onto the night stand and finally dozed off.  

Jaehyun on the other hand wasn’t handling it well. He left right after you did, but he didn’t go to his place. Instead, he went to the nightclub run by his friend. He immediately went to the bar, started drowning himself in drinks, and making out with random girls who begged for his attention. 

“Dude, stop this,” Taeyong, the nightclub owner, sat next to his best friend. 

Jaehyun pushed the girl who sat on his lap away from him to speak, “you don’t understand” he slurred. 

After Taeyong didn’t say anything, Jaehyun aggressively grabbed the girl from her nape and continued making out with her. He groaned as her heated core moved against his member. Before it got even more heated, Taeyong spoke up. 

“You’re right, I probably won’t understand, but it’s not gonna be any better if you don’t tell me.” Jaehyun waved his friend off, clearly too busy exchanging saliva with the girl sitting on his lap. 

“Okay,” Taeyong had enough of Jaehyun’s behavior. 

He gently pushed the girl off Jaehyun’s lap and dragged his best friend away from the booth. 

“Dude, what the hell?!” Jaehyun shouted. 

Taeyong politely bowed to the customers who snapped their heads towards Jaehyun’s shouting, “Come on, you’re drunk. Let’s get you home.” 

Jaehyun struggled getting out of his friend’s grasp, it didn’t help that he was intoxicated. Taeyong dragged him to his car and sped off. It took awhile for Jaehyun to calm down. 

“I’m getting married,” Jaehyun whispered, his head against the window. 

“Really? This is about that?” Taeyong curiously asked. 

“But it’s not like that,” Jaehyun glared at his friend. 

“O-oh?” 

“It’s an arranged marriage,” he announced.

Taeyong didn’t speak, he kept his vision on the road thinking of something to say. To break the quietness that swallowed them. 

“Have you met her yet?” he finally asked. 

“Yeah, she was the one who spilled her drink on me, then I met her at the party,” Jaehyun slowly said. 

“Oh her? What’s her name?” Taeyong suddenly became interested. 

“I don’t know and I don’t fucking care,” Jaehyun grumbled, throwing his head back on the seat. 

“Jae, come on, you don’t even know her. She can’t be that bad,” Taeyong stated. 

“Whatever man, she’s the daughter of the CEO of Audace,” 

“What? Really? You’re getting married to y/n l/n, Jae. The y/n l/n.” 

“So?” Jaehyun furrowed his brows. 

“Are you kidding me? That’s where I get all of my business wear,” Taeyong said in awe. 

“That’s not significant, Taeyong.” Jaehyun said before dozing off. 

“I mean, I don’t know her personally, but I heard she’s cute,” Taeyong chuckled to himself. 

“Why don’t you get married to her instead?” Jaehyun retorted. 

“You know what? May-” 

“Just shut up and drive,” Jaehyun rubbed his temples. 

“Wait, but what are you going to tell Gaeul?” Taeyong asked. 

“What- that girl I brought to the celebration? It was nothing to begin with, so who cares? After I don’t respond to her for a couple of days, I’m sure she’ll understand,” Jaehyun quietly replied before quietly falling back asleep. 

“I’m telling you man, you gotta stop doing that…” Taeyong sighed as his drunk friend fell asleep. 

You woke up to the sunlight aiming at your face. You groaned and turned around, hoping your body would fall back asleep. It was your last day before you had to go back to work and the last thing you needed was to be forcibly woken. That wish didn’t stay long until you heard your phone ring. It was your mother...again. 

“What mother?” You groggily got up. 

“Are you up yet? I need you to come over right now. The Jungs are also coming,” she sounded in a rush. 

You shot up, “seriously? Now?” You looked down at your thin pajama shirt that loosely hung from your shoulders and your messy hair poking in every direction, you were far from ready.

“Yeah, Jaehyun’s coming too,” she cautiously said. This was probably unplanned by the warriness of her voice. 

“I’ll see you in a bit,” you heavily sighed before groaning, your body falling back onto your bed. 

In the car ride, your mind wandered to the conversation last night. You felt hurt that he didn’t want to marry you, it didn’t make a difference because you didn’t want to marry him because of the kind of guy he was. 

“I’m not that bad...right?” you whispered to yourself. 

To be honest, after all of those individuals who’ve left you, it really questioned your self-worth. It took years for you to love yourself and not have anyone tear you down. 

Jaehyun barely let you talk, so it’s not like he knows you. You had to remind yourself that you meant business and you weren’t going to let him tear you down. He already wasn’t fond of you, you giving him the cold shoulder shouldn’t be a problem. 

As soon as you got home, the Jungs’ car was already parked in the driveway. You assumed that Jaehyun drove separately since there was another car you didn’t recognize. You gave the driver your keys and walked inside. They all sat in the living room of your large home. It’s been so long since you’ve come back, the smell was nostalgic, you were reminded of your childhood, everything used to be so easy. 

“Good morning,” you held your chin high and greeted everyone. 

“Have you eaten yet?” your mother asked. 

“No, I don’t have the appetite,” you sighed, sitting down, “I have things to do so, let’s get to it please.” 

“Well,” your mother breathed, “as you know, you two will be getting married soon.” 

You looked up at her figure, “mother, I thought I made myself clear, I’m not marrying him,” before you stood up again, your father held you by your shoulder. 

“Just...hear us out please, both of you,” Mr. Jung said, “we’ve become joint businesses because that’s what’s best for the business. With you two as the major players, the media will go crazy once they hear you two are getting married and the stocks will rise.” 

You frowned at his commentary. Players? Does he think this is a game? Seems like money is all he cares about. You sighed, setting your sunglasses on top of your head, a sign that you’re willing to stay and listen. 

“And what if we don’t agree?” Jaehyun asked, to be honest you forgot about him. 

Jaehyun sat on the couch across from you, he looked like he hasn’t slept in days. His eyes held bags under them and his face was a little swollen. You scoffed to yourself. 

Poor boy must have a hangover. What a mess. Jaehyun maintained eye contact with you, he knew what you were thinking and he glared at you for thinking it. 

You turned your head towards his father who began speaking again, “So, we wanted to gift you guys an apartment.” 

“Father,” Jaehyun’s tone rose. 

“You are getting married and that’s it,” Mr. Jung stated, “end of discussion.” 

“Yes, I agree,” you looked at your mother in shock. 

You couldn’t actually believe she was going along with this, “mother,” you began. 

“Enough, y/n. It’s done. We just want you guys to get as comfortable with each other as soon as you can. We want the wedding to happen this summer.” 

“Mother, it’s January,” you retorted. 

Did she really think that you could get to know a person, let alone, love someone within six, seven months? Insane. INSANE! You thought to yourself, Especially if it’s Jung Jaehyun.

You sighed before standing from the couch, “well if this is done, then I’ll get going,” you bowed then walked towards the door. 

“You’re not going to stay and have lunch with us?” Your mother asked. 

“I told you before, I don’t have the appetite,” you shut the door without saying goodbye. 

You stood in front of the door, not moving since you shut it. Most of the time you were rarely mad at your parents, but this made you absolutely livid. How could they just marry you off like that? You’re not even 25 yet, you have so much to do, discover, to love. 

The door harshly swung open and you slightly jumped from the impacted sound it made as he slammed it shut. You turned around to see Jaehyun looking down at you. 

“I-” you began, soon being interrupted by him. 

“One,” he held up a finger, coming closer to you, “when we get married I don’t want you thinking that everything is happy and everything is fine. Two, I don’t want you clinging onto me when we’re in public, and most certainly, number three, never call me your husband. Don’t even call me your fiance now.” As he got closer with each rule, you could feel his breath leaving his lips as he reached the last one. 

[woozibby]

In Love | Joshua

requested: Hello, I hope you’re doing good 💙 Could I maybe request a cute fluff with Joshua? Maybe something were he realizes he’s in love with the reader and tells them, if that’s okay with you~

wc: 2190

a.n. I hope you like this anon!! Please let me know if you have any more requests! <3 This is unedited, so i’m sorry for any mistakes!

SEVENTEEN MASTERLIST

You, my dear reader, are in your afternoon music lesson. You tried your best to keep focus, however, it wasn’t going very well. 

So when your phone started buzzing in your pocket, that was when you completely lost focus.

Your phone screen lights up with many notifications, however, the ones that stood out were the ones from the ironically titled group chat: Oh God Why.

Mingyu: how does everyone feel about pizza?

Vernon: I could go for pizza

y/n: omg yes pls

Joshua: aren’t you meant to be in class y/n? 

y/n: don’t need to call me out like that, but yeah, I’m here 

Mingyu: So pizza after y/n’s class yes or no? 

Vernon, y/n: yes

Joshua: fine yes. y/nie, I’ll come pick you up after class

y/n: awe, thank you josh<3

Mingyu: simp

Joshua: STFU MINGYU

So you giggle to yourself as you read the exchange and you put your phone away in attempts to refocus. The idea of food and hanging out with your best friends at the forefront of your mind. 

Finally, your lesson came to an end and like he said he would be. Joshua was there, outside waiting for you to meet him. 

“So, how was class?” Joshua asks as you link your arm with his and you both make your way to his car. 

“It was something,” you laugh. 

It didn’t take you guys long to get to the small dinner that Mingyu demanded to go to. He mentioned how it sold authentic American style pizza. That no other pizza place could now compare. 

None of you bothered to fight him on it as it was just easier to go along with the giant puppies’ demands. Plus you all knew you wouldn’t be able to say no to him either. 

Once you got inside and were sat down, Mingyu and Vernon instantly went for the menu and began looking over it. However, you were fine just sitting there in the presence of everyone else. 

Looking over, you see Joshua already looking at you with a small smile on his face.

“What?” you asked, returning his smile.

“Nothing,” he responded, turning his attention away from you. “Guys, stop hogging the menus, let us have a look.” 

Ten minutes later, you’ve all ordered and are now sipping away at your drinks as you guys talk about your day. You laughed at the jokes Vernon said and how every time the door would open from the kitchen Mingyu’s head would be straight up and looking around like a meercat. 

However, what you didn’t notice was the fact how when you weren’t looking, Joshua would take the time to glance at you, smile and look away before you could notice. You were so engrossed in the conversation that you failed to notice the smile that never left his lips. 

So anyways, your pizza arrives and you guys slowly eat your food- well you slowly eat your food, the guys slowly and eating are never in the same sentence. 

So once you’ve finished up, you all split the bill and make your way out of the dinner. 

“Didn’t I tell you that place was great?” Mingyu gushes as he walks ahead of you with Vernon. 

“It wasn’t that bad,” Vernon laughs. 

You continue to smile as you watch the two boys before turning your attention towards your other best friend. 

“You okay?” you ask. “You’ve been kinda quiet tonight.” 

Joshua hums and shrugs his shoulders. He takes a moment to think before nodding his head.

“I’m good,” The smile never falls. 

OKAY so, flash forward. 

So it’s a Saturday, you don’t have lessons AND since you were good, you made sure to catch up on all of your work so you could have the weekend to chill and do nothing.

Absolutely nothing. 

You didn’t want to think, you didn’t want to move an inch out of your apartment. The only thing that would get you out of your apartment was if the building was on fire and even then, you’d have to think about it. 

So you queued up a drama on your tv and started on making a snack or two to keep you going and once that was all done, you made your way back to the living room and plopped yourself down on the couch with a blanket thrown over your lap. 

You were twenty minutes into the first episode when your phone buzzed. You ignored it, thinking that if it was important they’d call back later. So you forgot about it for another ten or so minutes until it buzzed again. 

Letting out a sigh, you pause the episode and lean over to grab your phone. 

Your screen was full of notifications. 

Some were random things from Twitter, others were from some random app you forgot you had on your phone, but the most recent ones were a string of text messages from Josh. 

Joshua: You busy? 

Joshua: You doing anything rn?

Joshua: you’re free right?

You whipped your hands on your blanket before you unlocked your phone and typed back a response. 

y/n: define free?

Joshua: As in you’re not out and doing something??

y/n: then yeah, I’m free

Joshua: YES okay, do you want to do something? I thought maybe we could go to the aquarium? 

You began to type out a message, before pressing backspace and deleting it all. You wanted to spend the day inside, but what was the worst that could happen? Plus, how could you ever say no to him?

y/n: yeah sure, meet me here in twenty?

Joshua: cool, for sure! 

Locking your phone once more, you turn off your tv and take your snacks back to the kitchen before you headed to your room to get changed. 

You put on a comfortable outfit and made sure to wear a jacket over the top as you knew it could sometimes get cold in the aquarium. So, by the time you were ready, a knock on your door didn’t come as much of a surprise. 

Opening it up, you smile at Josh and invite him in. 

“I’ll be one second, just gotta put my shoes on.” 

He nods and sits himself down on the couch as he waits for you to finish and when you come back out with a small bag, you pick up your keys, purse and phone before shoving them in. 

“You ready?” he asks causing you to nod in response. 

So he drives and you guys get to the aquarium in no time. 

Once you get inside and your tickets are brought, you start to make your way through. 

Josh laughs to himself every time you saw a new animal and ran over to them in awe. He tried his best to keep beside you, however, once something caught your eye, you were off again in a flash. 

He didn’t mind though, the look on your face and the pure joy that emanated from you was enough for him. Every little thing you did made him smile, every little thing you did made his heart jump around. 

It wasn’t until you guys got to the underwater tunnel and the sight of you looking all around you with the largest smile he thought he had ever seen you smile, did it dawn to him. 

He loves you. 

No matter how much his heart and brain fought, no matter how much he wanted to deny it- he couldn’t. Not now, not whilst looking at you like this. Not when the water was reflecting on you in a way that enhanced your already beautiful self. 

Mingyu and Vernon always joked that he was a simp for you and they were right. Not that Josh would ever tell them that, they didn’t need the ego boost. 

So as Josh followed you around the aquarium, he smiled. He laughed to himself and the more time you guys spent the more it cemented in his mind.

He was in love and there was nothing he could do about it. 

So flash forward an hour or two. 

He’s dropped you home and you’ve gone on and on about how fun the day was. How much fun it was going there with him and it makes his heart expand like five sizes. 

So after he drops you off, he heads back to his own apartment which he shares with Vernon and Mingyu. When he walks through the door, both boys are sat on the couch, playing the same game they were playing when Josh left. 

“How was your date?” Mingyu sniggers, he, however, doesn’t turn his attention away from the tv as Josh walks over and lets himself fall into the love sweet. 

“It wasn’t a date,” Josh responds before covering his face up with his hands.

“Is that why you looked so bummed?” Vernon asks. 

Josh uncovers his face and sends a look to the younger boy. Vernon, who just shrugs says nothing more. 

“I realised something today and I don’t know if it’s a good or a bad thing.” 

“Let me guess,” Mingyu pauses the game which causes Vernon to gasp. “You’ve finally realised your love for y/n and now you’re in a state of shock” 

Josh’s eyebrows furrow together as he slowly nods.

“How did you know?” 

Both of the younger boys sigh in defeat. 

“Because it’s obvious!” Vernon laughs. “You’ve been in love with them since what? The moment you guys saw each other?” 

“That’s not true,” Josh fakes a laugh as he looks down at his hands. 

“Yes, it is and don’t even try to deny it.” Mingyu states. 

“And so what you like y/n, what’s so bad about that?” Vernon asks causing Josh to shrug once again. 

“I don’t know, maybe I’m scared it’ll ruin our friendship.” 

“There is nothing in this world that could end your friendship, you know why?” Mingyu asks, but he doesn’t wait for Josh to respond. “Because your guys’ friendship transcends any other thing. You guys are practically soulmates, don’t hide your feelings because of the anxieties.” 

“He’s right,” Vernon speaks. “Let’s say you did confess and they didn’t feel the same way, that’s a whole lot better than sitting here wondering what could have been.” 

Josh lets out a breath of air and nods his head slowly. 

What the boys were saying was true. 

What was the worst that could happen? You could say no and that Vernon was right. At least you can move on from a no, how can you move on from the thoughts of a what if? 

Because what if he didn’t tell her and there was a day where he began to regret that decision? How could he live with himself if he never told you how much he truly loved you? 

Josh shot up from his chair and sent a look to the two younger boys. 

“I need to tell them,” 

Vernon and Mingyu look at each other before looking at Josh with wide eyes.

“Like right now?” Mingyu asks.

Josh nods.

“Of course, when else am I going to tell them?” 

Vernon laughs and claps his hands. 

“Go on, go do it! Tell them, dude.” 

“I’m doing it,” Josh said before walking out the door. 

He came back in a moment later and picked up his car keys. 

“I’m doing it now!” He said leaving once more. 

Mingyu and Vernon looked at each other once more before speaking. 

“He’s seriously going to do it,” 

They looked back at the tv.

“Another game?”

“Sure.” 

SO back to you!! 

Since you’ve gotten back, you’ve put back on your drama, you’ve got your snacks back out and reclaimed your position on the couch. You’ve finally finished the first episode and you’re only into the second one by a minute or two when the sound of knocking on your door causes you to jump in fright. 

“What is it now?” You mumble to yourself as you place the snacks on your coffee table and throw your blanket to the side. 

Going to the door and opening it up, you make a face to yourself in shock at the sight of Josh standing behind it. 

“Oh Josh hey, what’s up? It hasn’t even been an hour and a half, miss me that much?” You laughed at your own joke, but your smile dropped at how serious Josh was. “Are you ok-...” 

He cuts you off, and your mouth drops. 

“I love you.” 

“I love you too,” you giggle. “What’s up with you?” 

“No, I mean, I love you, I’m in love with you. I look at you and my heart swells and I wouldn’t want anything more than to call you mine.” 

You blink for a moment as your brain tries to catch up with the words Josh is saying. 

“I-I…” You try to speak, but nothing came out. 

Josh begins to frown and looks down. Maybe I shouldn’t have listened to them, he thought to himself. 

“I’m sorry, I shou-...” 

However, this time you were the one to cut him off.

“I love you too.”

[mertronus]

Perfect Courage

This has been in my head ever since I first saw the music video for "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran. So, feeling in an extra fluffy mood tonight, I put the video on a loop, stuck my headphones on, and started to write. And this little beauty came out of it.

Summary: Ron and the crew go on a weekend ski trip...will he finally get the chance and find the courage to tell the girl he loves how he feels? (rated G)

Read it on AO3

****

'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love Not knowing what it was I will not give you up this time

Friday

I stepped off the train and pulled my coat tighter around me. Blimey it was cold. But I guess when you’re in the mountains of Switzerland, it’s to be expected.

I made my way through the station until I stepped out into the village and adjusted my rucksack on my shoulder. Looking up I could just make out the slopes that I guessed I would be hurtling down on a pair of wooden sticks the next day. Who’s idea was this anyway?

Right...Hermione’s.

A smile stretched across my face. Not a surprise that I would do something like this simply because Hermione suggested it. Because Hermione organized it. Because it was Hermione’s parents’ property where we would be staying.

Anything with Hermione’s name on it I would immediately sign up for. I would do anything for her.

I started walking down the street towards the cafe we were meant to all meet, thinking about my best friend. I’ve known her almost all my life, been in love with her since - good God at least since we were thirteen. At least, that’s when I cottoned on to the fact that I couldn’t get enough of being around my nagging, know-it-all, nightmare of a best friend.

And yet, I never made a move, I was too scared, too nervous, feeling too unfanciable or too undeserving...I was convinced she would never go for the likes of me. And, more than all of that, I didn’t want to lose her as a best friend. I was resigned to being her friend for the rest of her life if that meant I got to be in it.

Until she started dating that bloody wanker Cormac McLaggen.

He treated her alright - I would have treated her better - and she seemed happy enough, but I was miserable. I couldn’t do it. For a whole year I watched them and dreaded the moment she would ask me to walk her down the aisle to the tosser.

When she finally ditched him before the fall semester started, I made up my mind. There was no life for me if Hermione wasn’t in it - like really in it. And mine. Otherwise it’s absolute torture. But with us attending different universities, and her in super studious mode during the semester, I never got my chance...until now.

So, yeah, while I hate the very thought of skiing, my attendance on this friends weekend adventure with our lot from school definitely has an ulterior motive. This weekend I would make my move. This weekend I would tell her how I feel. This weekend I would finally, finally, tell Hermione Granger how unbelievably in love with her I am.

I found a love for me Oh darling, just dive right in and follow my lead Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me

When I reached the cafe, the first thing I noticed through the window was an adorable head of curly brown hair. She looked amazing sitting there all comfortable in her oversized jumper and hat. The waitress was just handing her a steaming cup - likely tea. More specifically Earl Gray tea with half a sugar and just a bit of milk.

Yes, I know how she takes her tea. Don’t judge. I did say we’ve been best friends since we were kids right? Sod off then.

I took a deep breath and opened the door to step in. Courage of a Lion ...our school motto. Am I a lion or not?

“Ron!” she cried, a huge grin on her face. “You’re early!”

“Well, yeah I - OOF!” I caught her mid lunge and wrapped my arms around her waist. My nose involuntarily dipped into her curls and I breathed her in. Her familiar scent warmed me immediately and I knew my ears were likely bright red. She pulled back and looked at me expectantly. Oh, yeah...what was I saying to her? Right...early...I’m early.

“Caught the earlier train so I wouldn’t be late,” I finally explained.

“Well, I’m glad,” she grinned and reached up to ruffle my hair. I fought the urge to close my eyes at the feeling of her fingers running through my locks. “Been so long since we’ve had time together - the two of us.” When I looked into her eyes, I could have sworn I caught a glimpse of something...longing? Love? Blimey I hope so.

She led me over to the table and plopped me down as she began talking a mile a minute. Most of us were starting our final semester at uni in a couple of weeks, but Hermione of course beat us all to the finish line, having graduated a semester early...with honors thank you very much. Did I mention how bloody brilliant she is?

I gazed at her as she filled me in on all I’ve missed recently in her life - the last exams she took, the jobs she’s going for, visiting her parents over the holidays…

“But oh, listen to me drone on and on, what about you Ron? How was your season? Your semester?”

I snapped myself out of my daze and tried to collect my thoughts as best as I could. I told her a bit about how things were going with football, how I scraped by as usual with my usual mediocre grades and recapped my own holidays. Suddenly it hit me that this was likely the only time this weekend we would be alone. If I wanted to talk to her, now was the time.

Now or never. Courage of a Lion.

“I’ve uh...I’ve been thinking a lot too, Mione,” I said softly.

“Don’t think too hard, Ron,” she teased as she took a sip of her tea.

“Yeah har-dee-har-har,” I shook my head but grinned at her. For a moment I forgot what I was saying altogether as the sun made some of her curls look golden dancing around her head. It always caught me off guard how beautiful she is. How much I love her.

Right...focus Weasley. Just say it... ‘Hermione Granger, I love you’...

“Hermione, I..I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about -”

“Harry!”

“No, not of...what?” She jumped up and ran off to throw her arms around our other best friend...the one who always seemed to have the most impeccable timing.

“Hi Hermione,” he said with a grin. He released her and patted my shoulder. “How’re you Ron?”

I stood and smiled, pulling him into a hug. I was really happy to see him, even if I wished he waited another ten minutes or so. “Good, happy to see you mate.”

Behind Harry, Hermione was happily greeting my sister Ginny - who was dating my git of a best mate - and our friend Neville. It wasn’t long before Dean and Seamus came bustling into the little cafe to join us.

“We’re all here!” Hermione exclaimed. “Shall we head up to the cabin?”

It wasn’t long before all of our bodies and bags were piled into a van that Hermione rented for the weekend to get us around. Not a fan of driving the slick roads of the mountains, she asked me to drive. I was a bit disappointed when Neville happily called bagsy and jumped in the passenger seat beside me. I was really hoping to have Hermione beside me for the almost thirty minute drive up the mountain. Instead, I watched as Hermione wound up squeezed in between Dean and Seamus way in the back since Harry and Ginny took the middle two seater.

Gits. All of them were gits.

We drove up the mountain and I tried to keep my focus solely on the road, but it was hard when I kept wanting to glance back in the rearview mirror to catch a particular pair of brown eyes. I caught her eyes a couple of times and she smiled at me...it was as if the smile was only for me.

I really had to focus on the road.

“Ooh I love this song!” Ginny suddenly lunged forward to turn up the radio as Ed Sheeran’s “Sing” was starting up.

“ I don't wanna know If you're getting ahead of the programme…”

I glanced back and laughed at the sight of my friends singing at the top of their lungs.

“I want you to be mine, lady And to hold your body close Take another step into the no-man's land For the longest time, lady…”

I watched Hermione laughing with Dean as they sang and felt a pang of jealousy...until she looked up and caught my eye again and winked. I blushed and looked at the road but when I glanced back up, she was still singing and watching me. A chill ran through my body although the van’s heat was blasting.

We decided to stay in that night and get an early start the next morning. Hermione’s parents had the caretakers stock the fridge and pantry, so the seven of us had a good time pulling out random ingredients and making a hodge-podge of food - paired with the excessive amounts of liquor Seamus procured for us of course.

Everyone started to drop off one by one, and I tried to hang on so I could maybe get a few moments alone with Hermione again, but the last thing I remembered seeing was the girl of my dreams curled up on the armchair before I dozed off myself.

Saturday

Ski lifts are bloody scary!!! It’s bad enough you have all this gear on with your coats and snow pants and boot, then you’re also clipped to these long wooden sodding sticks that are weighing you down, all while sitting precariously on a bench that’s flying through the air.

Who’s idea is this of fun!?!?

“Having fun Ron?” Her arm wrapped around mine and she pulled herself in close as we rode the lift up to the top of the slopes.

I smiled but I’m pretty sure a wince was seen too. “Bit nervous honestly.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall…” I pulled her in close and nuzzled my nose in her hair. “Not too much anyway.”

Okay, I’ll admit it: skiing is kind of fun. Or rather, skiing with Hermione is fun.

We spent the entire day on the slopes, stopping for an early lunch and mid-afternoon to warm up. Hermione spent most of the day teaching me the ropes and I spent most of the day falling on my arse. Even Neville showed me up - him, Dean and Seamus speeding passed us repeatedly on snowboards.

We finally called it a night and headed into the inn for dinner and drinks. We were a few shots in when someone got the great idea to start up karaoke. I hid myself in the back as much as my tall frame with flaming red hair would allow, but quite enjoyed watching Hermione and Ginny’s rendition of “Lady Marmalade.”

As I sat there watching her laughing and carrying on with my little sister, my mind wandered to many more nights like this...double dates with Harry and Ginny, playdates with all of our kids, family events where Hermione feels really comfortable letting her hair down because she knows she’s with people who love her and have her back.

Well I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets To carry love, to carry children of our own

“Hey,” a voice called out to me. I looked up to see Hermione leaning over me. I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn’t even realize that her and Ginny were finished and Dean had taken the stage with Neville and Harry. “Come with me?”

I’ll go anywhere with you. “Yeah...uh sure. Where we going?” I stood and pulled on my coat. It honestly didn’t matter where we were going...as long as it was just the two of us.”

“You’ll see!” She threw her own coat around her and spun around with a laugh as she head out the door. I laughed too because I loved it when she let loose and had a few drinks. She spent so much of her time fussing over books and school and all of the boring adult things that bogged down our lives. Seeing her like this - now spinning in the falling snow trying to catch flakes with her tongue - this is the Hermione I love most. I love all sides of Hermione Granger, but this side...this side is the most beautiful side.

I threw my head back to catch snow on my tongue too, making faces and noises to get her really laughing. I dropped my head to look for her when I felt a distinct splat on my back.

“Oh it’s a snowball fight you want is it?” I called as she ran off towards the road that led up to our cabin. I stooped over and gathered a massive snowball as I commenced chase, her squealing as she ran ahead of me. I aimed and caught her right in her bum.

“Ronald!” She yelled with a laugh. “I’ll get you for that!” She ran toward me with a handful of snow and jumped on my back to stuff it down my back - a favorite torture method of ours when we were kids.

Her laughter echoed in my ears with her so close. I grabbed onto her legs and spun her around on my back to keep her there. “Roooooon!” she yelled. “I’m getting dizzy!” We both toppled into a mound of snow in a fit of giggles. I slid over so I wouldn’t crush her and we lay in the snow in a fit of tipsy hysterics. I looked over to see she had slid away from me in the snow, and was reaching the tips of her fingers to mine smiling. Suddenly she started to giggle again and waving her arms in the snow while moving her legs. I followed suit and after a bit we helped each other up to admire our snow angels.

She hugged my arm and leaned in close. “I want to show you something.”

I took off after her towards our cabin. It was obvious the others weren’t back yet and I thought this could be my chance. Get her in the cabin and get a few minutes alone before the others decided to walk back.

But she ran passed the cabin into the woods behind it.

“Hermione! Where are you going?!”

“Come on!”

We ended up running right into a smaller cabin hidden just a few yards away from the main cabin where we all were staying.

“What’s this?” I asked when we stopped.

“Come on,” she said again, pulling me inside. It was a cozy little one room cabin, a tiny kitchenette in one corner, and a couch and a few chairs around a rug with a stone fireplace. There were stairs leading up to a loft where I could just see a low bed with blankets and pillows just waiting to be crawled into.

“It was an old shed that the caretakers renovated into a separate guest house when there were a lot of people staying in the cabin,” Hermione explained. “When we used to come with the rest of my family, my grandparents stayed out here, to get away from the noise of their kids and grandkids in the cabin.”

“It’s cozy,” I said quietly, looking around. “And quiet.” I caught her eye and smiled. “Hiding out here tonight?”

She blushed but shrugged nonchalantly. “We can...if you want.”

“If you want.”

As if she couldn’t surprise me anymore, she pulled out a small bag with a change of clothes - for both of us.

“Hey! I’ve been looking for this Oxford United shirt! You’ve had it all this time?”

“Remember after Ginny’s birthday party a couple years ago? I was supposed to go home but it was pouring rain and your mum pretty much forbade me to leave.”

I nodded and smiled. “And you came to steal pajamas from me. My Oxford United shirt and,” I pulled a pair of navy blue flannel pajama bottoms out of the bag, “and these.”

She shrugged. “I wore them home and I guess I kept forgetting to give them back. Figured we’d need something to change into - which I’m glad I thought of it since we were literally rolling in the snow!”

We each took opposite corners of the room and turned to give the other privacy to change. As I was changing, I caught sight of something behind the couch. I pulled out a pretty pristine acoustic guitar when I felt Hermione come up behind me.

“My Grandad’s,” she breathed. “He must have left it here.” I sat on the arm of the couch and set it across me, plucking a few strings.

“Bit out of tune but…” I started twisting and tuning the guitar to my liking.

Hermione smiled as she sat in front of me. “I forget you used to play.”

“Still do, sometimes,” I said softly. “I just fiddle around mostly, nothing crazy. I’m no Ed Sheeran or nothin,” I chuckled.

“No,” she sighed. “You’re definitely cuter.” Our eyes locked and I tried to form the words but it was as if I was frozen - trapped in her gaze as I fell mercilessly farther and farther in love with her. “Tea,” she breathed out.

“Huh? What?”

“Tea,” she stood. “I’ll make us both a cup. Two sugars and a bit of cream?”

I smiled and nodded. “Perfect.”

As she kept herself busy in the tiny corner kitchenette, I suddenly had a moment of inspiration and started playing a song I knew, thrilled that I remembered it.

Courage like a Lion, Weasley.

“That sounds familiar,” she said as she set my cup on the small table besides me and sat back in her spot.

“Yeah,” I whispered. She sipped her tea and watched me, her eyes bright and round and locked onto mine. I cleared my throat and started to sing softly.

“We are still kids, but we're so in love Fighting against all odds I know we'll be alright this time Darling, just hold my hand Be my girl, I'll be your man I see my future in your eyes”

Tears started to form in her eyes as she stilled and watched me intently. I knew my voice was likely rubbish, but I didn’t care. When she looked at me that way, I felt as if I could do anything.

“Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song I have faith in what I see Now I know I have met an angel in person And she looks perfect I don't deserve this You look perfect tonight”

When I stopped playing, she set her cup down and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Ron,” she started.

I pushed the guitar aside and slid down off the arm of the couch to sit beside her. My hands cupped her face and her fingers wrapped around my wrists. “Ron,” she said again, this time as if she was pleading with me. I answered her by pulling her face to mine and brushing my lips against hers softly.

I pulled back the tiniest bit and looked at her. “This okay?”

“More than,” she breathed out. At that I captured her lips with mine and vowed to never let her go.

I was lost. Completely and utterly gone. Her lips were as soft as I imagined they’d be and more. They were gentle and yet persistent, shy and yet demanding. I marveled at how she could always be so many things at once.

When we pulled apart, I noticed she was crying again. “You alright Hermione?”

She let out a slow breath and smiled. “Never better.”

“Good, because I believe I made you an offer.”

“And...what offer was th-that?”

“Be my girl, I’ll be your man,” I rubbed my nose against hers. “Cause I most definitely see my future in your eyes.” She giggled and nodded. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own And in your eyes, you're holding mine Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favourite song When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight

[sunshinesholland]

dog days | t.h.

Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader

Word count: 1.77k

Summary: Being a dog mom is tough. Having a busy schedule and feeling mom guilt is even tougher. So who are you to say no when your dog just wants to spend some time playing at the park, even if it is pouring down rain. It’s what dog parents do. Or at least just you?

A/N: So I have a half pitbull named Mia Bella and I think Tessa is absolutely cute and they’d make sweet friends and... this was self indulgence and it’s finest and I’m not even sorry about it.

It’s a little ridiculous, you suppose, while it’s managed to go from a light drizzle of rain to a torrential downpour and everyone else has completely left the park, you’re still out. Determined to get your pup the playtime she deserves, having felt guilty going into work on a Saturday morning. Most people are likely indoors right now, snuggled up with a warm cup of tea, watching their favorite series on Netflix. Meanwhile are absolutely chilled to the bone, but with your dog smiling up at you, tail wagging and tennis ball in mouth, you wouldn’t have it any other way. Well, maybe you would. An umbrella would be nice. You at least have an anorak on, and a cap to protect you from the onslaught of rain.

But your dog Bella comes back, scampering with glee and the biggest smile on her face. She drops the ball in the mud, proudly staring up at you. As a Staffordshire terrier, she’s unbelievably expressive. Her big doe eyes begging you to throw the ball and her cheeks widened in what can only be described as a grin. No other family dog you’d had as a child was ever as expressive as your own. She’s your furry best friend, and you had a million pictures on your phone to prove it. Dog mom stereotype completely fulfilled. And yeah, your trainers are soaked, and your jeans are clinging to your skin, but your baby is happy.

You smile and reach down to scratch behind her ears, before grabbing the ball lying in front of your feet. Before you can even lift your arm to throw, she’s off and running, trying to be ahead of the game and beat the ball before it gets where it’s going. You smile, because she always does this, and throw it anyways. You wait a few minutes, expecting her to come racing back as usual. But it’s a heavy downpour and your view is obstructed further by your position at the bottom of a slight incline and the presence of trees and now you’re panicking.

“Bella?! Bell!” You’re yelling, and running now, feet sloshing against the mix of mud and slick grass.

If you weren’t already cold, the breeze from your pace is hitting your already soaked clothes makes you feel even colder. But all you can think of is your dog. She’s such a sweet girl, extremely smart and friendly but she’s a pitty and the sad truth is people aren’t very kind or trusting of bully breeds.

And you hear her bark and you’re immediately fearful, is she barking because she’s scared? Is she barking because she’s lost? Is someone hurting her? And you reach the clearing of the park, away from the trees and you see her under the park’s gazebo. She’s sat next to one of the benches, with another dog and what you can only assume is its owner.

“Oh thank god, Bella. You scared me so much!” You’re out of breath and you sound like a frightened mother. Because you are.

She comes ambling to you, completely unaware of how scared she’s made you. She’s just happy she’s made a new friend and she’s got a fun sprint in. You kneel down and attach her leash to her collar, squeezing her face in your hands and ruffling her fur. You can’t be mad at her, she’s wagging her tail and she’s safe and happy and oblivious.

“I honestly didn’t think anyone else would be crazy enough to be out here,” the stranger’s voice raised to speak over the rain, flashing a cheeky grin.

The rain is relentless against the metal roof of the structure, but it’s somehow still calming and beautiful, the sound of rain thumping against the metal. A stark contrast to being fully immersed in the pouring rain in combination with the pounding of blood in your ears, as you just were.

The rain has soaked his hair, curls falling against his forehead. He’s wearing a black zip up, and a pair of joggers. He’s managed to look cozy, warm, and attractive, and he really has no business looking this good, especially while being caught in a rainstorm. You imagine you look like a drowned rat, baseball cap doing nothing to hide the mess of soaked hair flowing from under it. Your cheeks most likely flushed from the cold and the frantic dash across the park. You brush your hair that’s fallen in your face away, clearing your throat.

“I, uh, had work this morning. And I’m a graduate student and weekends are the most time we get together without me having my nose in a textbook and I felt guilty and- you didn’t ask for my life story, I’m sorry,” you blurt out, averting your eyes from this unbelievably handsome, rain-soaked stranger, looking down at Bella.

She’s not smiling at you like she was a moment ago, instead she blinks at you before yawning. Ah, what a show of compassion. She’s bored now, she’s had her fun and you’re boring her with your need for emotional support, you think.

“It’s quite alright, I suppose I did call you crazy. You felt the need to explain yourself, even if it does somewhat confirming the initial judgement,” and you’re realizing he has an English accent, and you look up to see a softer smile on his features, eyes crinkling at the corners, effectively softening the harsh assessment, albeit joking.

And you can’t help but wonder how English rainstorms are, and if that’s why he’s fine being out in this weather. And why he’s here, in the states? And also, who gave him the right to be so charming? And why did Bella come to him? She usually isn’t very comfortable around men (although a sweet dog, she is constantly in protector mode as you’re a single girl and it’s just you two in the apartment in a busy city).

And furthermore, he’s fine with a pitbull coming up to him? Okay well, she is very very cute, and very sweet, you think, completely unbiased. Not at all thinking this because you’re her owner and proud dog mom. Not biased at all.

“Well I guess since you told me all of that, I can tell you why we’re crazy enough to be out,” he jokes, sitting down at the bench, reaching down to pet his dog.

You had been so caught up in the relief of finding your pup, of the cute stranger  his lovely accent and the tap, tap, tap of the rain against the roof that you hadn’t even noticed the lovely dog sitting patiently at his side. Your heart swelled upon recognition of the boxy terrier snout, familiar doe eyes and pointy little ears. Seeing another dog of the same breed group made you unbelievably happy. While you loved all dogs, you had a soft spot for the far too misunderstood,  gentle terriers of this breed group.

“Me and Tess were just getting our afternoon jog in when the rain started,” he continues, smiling down at his pup and then looking back at you, effectively bringing you out of your internal dog-loving monologue.

“I actually also had work today, but my girl is important to me and I needed to make time for her,” he explains, “So we’re both crazy dog parents, if we’re willing to risk hypothermia for them, I suppose,” he grins.

You can just feel how soft your eyes must be looking at him. You kneel down, Bella is at your side, sniffing at Tess, trying to get closer.

You look up at him, chocolate brown eyes meeting yours and ironically, it’s hard to not melt, “Would it be okay to pet her?”

You ask, trying to be respectful despite her tail wagging a mile a minute, and her already leaning against you to be pet.

“I don’t think either of us get a choice, darling” he laughs, eyes crinkling and head slightly tilting back at his dog’s antics.

The sound echos in the acoustics of the gazebo, and it blends beautifully with the rain calming down, now more lightly tapping against the roof. The rain is dripping down the roof edge, against the cement. You feel warm, despite being being drenched from head to toe. You stop your petting (to Tess’s dismay), and stand up.

“Would it be alright if they went and played? Since both of their activities got cut short?” You question, smiling back in what you hope is at least half as an appealing manner as his laugh.

He grins at you, reaching to unleash Tess, as you do the same with Bella, before he stands up beside you. The dogs are immediately off, running circles around the structure. The rain has let up enough that Bella is fully in your view, allowing you to relax and chat with the unnamed curly-haired boy.

“I’m sorry, I know your dog’s name, but I didn’t catch yours,” you turn away from the dogs to look at him and he’s smiling watching the dogs run.

You think he may not have heard you but he turns to you and you’re blindsided by the dazzling smile being directed at you.

“Tom, my name’s Tom,” he replies, outstretching a hand for you to shake.

You’re laughing at his formal nature, but shake his hand nonetheless.

“Well Tom, if you’re also a single dog parent, I’d love to get a cup of coffee with you,” you grin, feeling giddy for some stupid reason. It’s his sunny disposition, and his cute face, you bet.

“I drink tea… But I suppose I could make an exception for your cute dog,” he grins, bumping your shoulder playfully,

“Yeah, going for coffee, it’s for the dogs. Like when parents have to be friends because their kids are. They like each other, and who are we to stand in the way of friendship?” You add, looking out at the park space they’re running in. In your head you’re playing it cool, but in Tom’s eyes, you’ve got a slight grin but you’re beaming, absolutely glowing even in the gloom of the rainy afternoon.

“Yeah, exactly. We might have to meet up again soon too. I mean, think of the children,” he says in reply, nodding his head, looking out as well, trying to match your attempt at a collected demeanor.

And both of you are watching the two chase each other, barking happily. All while you and Tom are grinning from ear to ear. And you’re grateful that you’re not the only dog parent crazy enough to come out in a downpour, and you remind yourself that when you get home, you’ve really gotta give Bella a treat for running off like she did.

[joeyglowy]

Can i request a scenario where Atsumu’s girlfriend feels lonely because he barely had time for her so he dedicates his weekend to her

No worries! Realistically, as much as I’d like Atsumu to dedicate an entire weekend, he’d still give a good portion of it to volleyball cause that’s just how he is. In any case, I still hope you enjoy the scenario I did, that explored the ‘lonely’ part and ‘spending time together’ part in equal portions.

Miya Atsumu x Fem! Reader

WHAT I’M HERE FOR.

Although dating Atsumu was certainly a thrilling endeavour, it also happened to be a rather lonely one.

Miya Atsumu was something akin to the illustrious ‘Forbidden Fruit.’

He was a scorching red that disrupted the serenity and tranquillity of the garden. He was a pulsating, bleeding crimson heart that tantalised you from afar. He was alluring and he knew it. He burned everyone that he touched and yet he’d draw them in all the same. He was searing, he was like scalding water. If you got too close, not only would he evade you but he’d manage to singe you in the process.

Being with him was like a lucid dream.

He was elusive, too elusive.

A relationship with him was not quite the romantic comedy you had asked for. Being second to volleyball is something that was both bitter on the tongue yet mesmerising on the eyes. Atsumu’s passion, however scorching, never failed to ignite something that was reminiscent to childish glee inside of you. He brought it out of everyone. From his opponents, his teammates, the crowd, it didn’t matter, but Atsumu was what they meant when they say:

You can’t look away.

Finishing your club activities, you looked longingly at the gym and sighed as you offered a small smile to your friends who were waiting up ahead. Inarizaki was a prestigious school, one that took great pride in their sporting, particularly well known for their volleyball team. As such, their practice always extended until the skies were coloured with purple sunsets and stars.

[5:32 PM]

hey~ you free to hang out this weekend tsumu? theres a festival nearby which might be fun to go to!

[5:40 PM]

sorry babe

captains makin all the practices longer cause of nationals

- 3 -

dunno if ill be able to

[5:42 PM]

all g! you better do well then, if you get knocked out of the first round of nationals I’ll kill you

[5:45 PM]

come on babe, its me we’re talkin bout here~

;))))

breaks bout to end so ill text ya later

thnx for bein chill babe~

You couldn’t help but sigh as you let your phone fall from your vision to your side before roughly shoving it into the depths of your pockets. Your group of friends eyed you warily.

“[Name]-chan, if he never spends that much time with you, is there really a point being with him?”

It was a question your friends often asked. Never out of malice, but always out of genuine curiosity and concern whenever they see you look at your phone solemnly. Unfortunately, you’ve asked yourself that question a few times too.

It was almost unbearable, like being put on a diet. He was the taste of all chocolates, candies and lollipops that you’d snack on but was always hidden away, as if his enjoyment was a ‘one time’ thing per week. You hated the fact that it felt like your relationship was just like those candies, stowed away on the top shelf, only to come whenever he felt like it. He was tumultuous and exciting but he left you feeling cold for he always went away too soon.

It’s not as if you didn’t get it. He loved volleyball, it was his passion, it was his world and that was completely okay. You knew all that and yet… it always felt as if you clung onto the relationship a bit tighter than he did.

Even so, you had always answered that question with a shaky, but determined ‘yes.’

“I don’t really know. Nationals are coming up though so it’s natural that he’d be extra busy, he’s practicing hard so, I really can’t blame him for that, you know?”

Now, you weren’t so sure.

You smiled through the cracks on your teeth as you all continued on your way.

~*~

“Ouch.”

“ACK–!”

Atsumu choked out a strangled scream as his bottle flew out of his hands before he eventually caught it in a hurried motion saving it from plummeting to the ground, turning to give his most withering glare he could muster to the source of his near death experience before deadpanning to find an identical deadpan boring into him. Osamu, being completely immune to Atsumu’s glares only shrugged nonchalantly as he made a gesture to fill his own bottle by the taps before glancing casually up at his fuming brother.

“That sure doesn’t sound too good ta me ‘Tsumu.”

Atsumu had gone to fill his bottle at the drink taps just outside the gym but he had stumbled on the conversation you had been having with your friends by accident. Osamu had apparently followed and thought it was necessary to almost completely blow his cover by nearly shocking him into a seizure. Atsumu’s scowl deepened in spite of the guilt and concern gnawing his mind as he harrumphed angrily.

“It’s none of ya damn business ‘Samu!” he retorted stubbornly, looking away so that his brother couldn’t see the distress on his face.

Osamu snorted. Even if he couldn’t see his brother’s face, he (unfortunately) had sixteen years of experience to document Atsumu’s irrational behaviours and idiosyncrasies tucked away in a rather large folder in his mind. Osamu’s not too happy about that folder occupying as large of a space as it did but he definitely didn’t want to see it get bigger by adding a ‘heartbroken ‘tsumu’ subheading.

“If I were you bro, I’d do something about it. Last thing I want is ta deal with yer crying ass and ya eating my pudding to ease ya through the inevitable break up.”

Atsumu stilled at that word: ‘breakup.’

He didn’t think that you guys were broken, nor did it feel as if you guys were losing your feelings. Atsumu was a man of the highest calibre. He never half-assed anything and he held the same standard for everyone he was acquainted with. It was often the decider if people hated or liked him.

For you, it was a decider that you loved him. He was sure of it.

Atsumu furrowed his brows in determination. He was a man that pushed things to the limits and he most certainly did not settle for mediocrity. Whatever it is, he was going to make sure you’d both get through it.

“Fuck you ‘Samu, ya can keep yer damn pudding, just watch, I’ll—‘SAMU!”

As per usual, Osamu had left Atsumu in the middle of his epiphany. Seriously, who does that bastard think he is!?

~*~

Since you had nothing better to do, you decided to get a start on studying on the Saturday, not that you were too happy about having to spend another weekend alone.

Your solitude, however, was sourly interrupted by rapid banging on your door. Aggravated to have your rare ounce of motivation disrupted, you flung open the door with a bit more force than necessary only to be met with your boyfriend, still sweaty from practice.

“[Name]-chan!? What’re ya doing, hurry up and get ready, we have a festival to catch don’t we?” Atsumu gasped out, perhaps on a small adrenaline high after practice. You were a little taken back by his enthusiasm before you narrowed your eyes.

“I thought you couldn’t make it? You can’t just come here expecting me to hang out with you just because you’re suddenly up for it ‘Tsumu,” you say slowly, wincing to hear your words come out a little more scathing than what you’re used to. It’s not as if you had anything planned for the day but you couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed that he’d act as if he could do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.

Atsumu’s eyes flashed momentarily with guilt and he chewed the inside of his cheek before he ducked his head, looking up at you with his burning caramel eyes. “I know but, couldya give me a chance to make it up ta ya? Please [Name]-chan~” he whined pathetically, dramatically clapping his hands in front of his face as he screwed his eyes shut, pouting. You sighed, not finding the heart to ever deny him, you swore you would one day build up immunity to his puppy pouts.

“Fine, fine, just let me get dressed properly.”

His eyes suddenly snapped open, lighting up with a friendly suggestion on the tip of his tongue—

“Alone asshole.”

He grimaced to have the door slammed in his face… yeah, he probably deserved that.

~*~

“Oh my god, ‘Tsumu, you have to get me that jumbo fox plushy!”

Atsumu couldn’t hide his grin for a moment to see the way your eyes lit up at all the decorations than hung overhead on wires or ornaments on stalls as you cooed and awed at all the different ones. He realised it had been way too long since he got to see you get so excited like this, to see your eyes shimmer like diamonds and your smile crystallise like stalactites. Even if there were lights illuminating the area, he was certain that you had to be the one powering all of them.

“Eh~? Aren’tcha a little too old for plushies?” he teased gently, murmuring in a soft voice that was reserved just for your ears.

You waved him off dismissively, your eyes drawn to the golden fox that reminded you a little too much of your own cunning boyfriend. “Nonsense, you can never be too old for cute things. Besides, you’re a brat and yet I’m still dating you, aren’t I?”

Atsumu’s frowned, adamantly squawking, “I am not a brat you–” he broke himself off for a moment before his lips curled into a sleazy Cheshire grin. “Oh? So you think I’m cute, do you?”

You deadpanned, unamused. “Well you’re not good for much else other than volleyball or being an asshole, are you?”

Atsumu winced, huffing as he crossed his arms over his chest childishly, resisting the urge to further prove your point by puffing out his cheeks. “Mean! Yer so mean [Name]-chan! I finally take you out and this is the thanks I get!? Why am I even dating ya anyway!?”

The words had tactlessly slipped out in a fit of momentum and for a moment, he stiffened, like he wanted to take it back upon realising that the reason why he had done this is because your very relationship was on the brink. He suddenly stumbled over his words, getting flustered as he tried to find the best way to reword it. You blinked curiously, mulling over what could have spurred such a reaction. Briefly, you wondered if he had heard you when you were with your friends… that he had somehow known of your doubts.

“I mean, course I know why I like ya! Yer–!”

You patiently listened to Atsumu as he listed all the little things you do, all the little trivial stuff that you never even noticed about yourself to you. In less than eloquent words, he admired how assertive you were with him, how you always spoke your mind and lately you hadn’t been doing that. He was clearly growing more and more embarrassed at the sheer honesty of it all and with each stumble he made that fractured his swollen pride, it was like he put a Band-Aid on the doubts in your mind.

You suddenly brought his neck down and he lurched before his forehead was pressed to yours as you kissed the corner of his mouth, immediately putting a halt to his rather humiliating spiel of emotions.

“You’re really not good at this whole, emotional honesty thing, are you? No wonder I had to confess first.” You snickered to yourself and Atsumu cringed in chagrin, ready to rebut as his cheeks flared red before you smiled adoringly at him. “Thank you for that and for today ‘Tsumu. I’m sorry that you somehow had to figure out I was having doubts rather than me just being up front about it. But, I love you ‘Tsumu, I really do.”

You grinned, your nose brushing against his as the two of you stood in the middle of the path. People were probably staring at you but neither of you particularly cared as you beamed at him, watching his ears turn a shade darker.

“This, you, are exactly what I signed up for when I asked you out. I love your passion for volleyball, I find it hilarious that you can be an absolute dick to everyone but you can’t even properly admit to yourself when you’re genuinely moved. You’re a bit of an idiot and all asshole, but that’s exactly what I’m here for. But, please don’t think I’m being unreasonable when I say I want to see you more. I mean, that’s what relationships are for, to get laid and feel the good stuff you know.”

Atsumu had been stunned into silence, the way his scrutinising eyes laid you bare made you flush but you held your ground confidently. “Heh,” he let out, albeit breathless and trying to cover up his own mortification as he narrowed his eyes playfully. “I thought ‘getting laid’ and ‘feeling the good stuff’ were the same thing.” He laughed when you playfully smacked his chest and although the grin he sported was of the devilish variety, the warmth he held in his smouldering golden eyes was more than enough to express how touched he really was.

“Well,” he growled under his breath as his lips hovered above your ear, drawing you in close by slithering his arms around your waist. “I’d be more than happy ta listen ta any request ya have if ya put it like that.”

He suddenly felt the warmth by his neck stolen away as you slipped out of his hold by bobbing down, his teeth clamping on thin air as he whined to see you duck away from his hold with a sneaky grin.

“You still owe me dunderhead. I want that fox.”

“But ya already got a fox right ‘ere!”

“Hmm, I think I’ve forgotten what makes you the number one setter in the high school prefectures, I think I need a reminder~”

“NOW YER ASKIN��� FOR IT–!”

Even if the two of you were a little embarrassed to openly discuss your feelings all the time, which, more often than not, was disguised under bouts of bickering and teasing, if there’s one thing the two of you knew very well:

You both knew exactly what you were here for…

To get laid and feel the good stuff obviously.

(And to be with each other you supposed)

[dansnaturepictures]

My 10 blogs to celebrate highlights of my wildlife/photography 2020: Post 7-The early autumnal signs in the summer and the rest of my autumn

This post of mine each year always seems to begin with me noticing some signs of autumn over the summer. This year just like the butterflies this seemed to happen earlier than ever, or perhaps it was I noticed it more due to having so many wildlife and photography walks whilst working from home. My walks at Lakeside at lunch and that were especially the place I noticed most early autumnal leaves, I first noticed one tree with what appeared to be autumn leaves on 1st June! And by mid-July when I wrote this first paragraph I was seeing a fair bit of autumnal colour in the views of Lakeside, on some greyer days and wetter ones really brightening things up, after I’d also seen things like blackberries, other types of berries, apples and the odd mushroom so this was an interesting feeling enjoying my summer and all it brings as my other highlights blogs show but having reminders of autumn to come around a bit and the hope it would bring once the year more naturally started to take a wind down and move away from the height of the year temperature and sunshine wise. The curtain raiser to autumn continued as we went to Millyford Bridge on a Monday I had off work in the New Forest in July and saw loads of mushrooms I photographed some too a key sight and sign of autumns for me which I saw increasingly those few weeks when out a bit like the autumn leaves more so in the very immediate places at home but also elsewhere it all happening that little bit early. I continued to notice berries and autumnal leaves on my Lakeside lunch time walks that following week continuing the autumnal feelings.

On 11th August I took the first picture in this photoset of trees looking autumnal leave wise on a day more autumn leaves I photographed were looking quite stunning against a bright blue sky. In the overall all-encompassing heat and bright sun during the heatwave that day some trees I saw around the estate didn’t just look slightly autumnal as I had noted in proceeding weeks a lot but looked very autumnal with lots of coloured leaves yellow especially. So this was an interesting fusion of two seasons summer and autumn in a notable way. And I loved looking at it. I had noticed a lot during that time and did that day at Lakeside how the Black-headed Gulls were really loosing their notable summer plumage - those chocolate coloured heads. When seeing a House Martin that day at Lakeside I reflected how all the Swifts had seemed to have left our shores now or in this area anyway their time in the UK was brilliant but went in a blink of an eye this year. A sure sign at that stage like the leaves that the year was for turning whilst that patch of weather was unforgettable very evident through everyone outside at Lakeside enjoying the sunshine and heat in and by the lakes which I noticed a lot on those days. The next day I photographed very bright red berries and leaves in yet more scorching weather at Lakeside, a day I ate blackberries too with autumnal early signs all around and I felt very at one with nature. I also took my first DSLR camera picture of some painted stones in honour of the NHS and key workers under a tree I loved seeing this year around the estate day so a memorable day. Alongside berries and leaves of the red varieties yet again that week and more white-headed Black-headed Gulls on my Lakeside walk the next day I enjoyed some fidgety Mallards on the lake there having a good splash in the water and I noticed the males had started to go through their eclipse with their green heads gradually going. Working from home this year meant I was observing some different things to the usual showing me the season was changing or about to change which I enjoyed. I took the second picture in this photoset of these Mallards with the young Great Crested Grebes at the park this year in it too. The next day at Lakeside I remarked how with it cloudier and grey the landscape didn’t look so tired as it normally might in late summer with colour perhaps disappearing but the autumnal colour of berries and leaves especially on trees brightened it up a bit. I felt very much like I was in autumn then. The next day at Matley in the New Forest I saw and for some photographed autumn leaves, chestnuts and mushrooms (a beefsteak fungus we felt shown in the third picture in this photoset on a tree) a bit further from home. The late summer characteristic of the very purple heather looked glorious in the rain that day too. The heather at its purple I expect of late summer but the autumn really was seeming to have come early in this strange year that day.

The next day at Hayling Island’s Earnley Triangle and oyterbeds I saw more nice berries and autumnal leaves scenes, noticing all the various berries out at the start of autumn was something I’d never appreciated and noticed so much as I did last this year so it was a nice real unique theme of my year which I enjoyed. The next day autumn was so apparent all around outside and my photos reflected that that I felt it was time start my Facebook autumn album early a collection of my autumnal subjects I enjoy doing each year for months such as autumn leaves, mushrooms, berries especially this year and more which was telling.

When we got back from our Devon and Cornwall weekend away in August which I talk about in my next of these posts on my first Lakeside walk at lunch time when back a decidedly more muddy scene than the glorious summer conditions I had before we left for the trip away on the walk after some storms signalled for me that the dizzy days of summer were numbered. The next day I was delighted to see some lovely sloes and take pictures of them at Lakeside alongside other berries, the red berries on the trees in a particular spot beside the bowl area had overcome the landscape to create a scarlet glow amongst the sea of green something so delicious to see which I took the fourth picture in this photoset of. The next day I had an amazing moment watching and photographing the Starling’s descend on our garden on mass what a sight to behold they are so noisy and lively I enjoyed this so much through the summer. But of autumnal relevance was that as I did for those few weeks a few times when they flew off I noticed they flew off in a large group just like they were doing a murmuration an iconic sight of British autumn and winter with the local population bolstered by the young ones at this time of year I often see the mini murmurations at home ahead of the bigger ones usually at different and more wild locations so this was nice. That night though summer clung on a bit in a sunny patch after a day that had thunder and lightning I took a wonderful walk at Lakeside and enjoyed once again this year seeing the group of House Martins I got very familiar with this year gliding over with a Swallow too against a lovely sky which was a great moment.

On that Friday I got a great autumnal migrating bird moment when I enjoyed one adult and two juvenile Common Terns at Lakeside, as I said in my favourite birds highlight blog as an add on this is not always a common sight here when I saw one pass through this spring my first of this year this urban, modestly sized and well used lake dominated country park so its brilliant to observe them here I was so excited again. Two of the three of them fished and dived to the backdrop of a sun glowing through a thickly clouded quite dark sky with it raining a fair bit, which was just spectacular and magical to see with music starting to play from the nearby Concorde club a restaurant and concert venue nearby which I had heard when here in the dark looking at bats two weeks earlier as darkness seemed to hint upon its arrival that Friday night. It was a day where at times it felt so autumnal in the summer months still, a subtle autumnal chill in the air and just feelings of the season and I could not believe how far the year was coming on. The slight autumnal chill was present a little as I had another key moment in the late summer/early autumn outbound bird migration in Hampshire the next day at Workman’s Lane, Hook-with-Warsash seeing a group of my first Yellow Wagtails of the year seeing these charming and key for this time of year birds for me scuttling around by ponies and cattle’s feet and faces it was a very thrilling and satisfying experience for me. We moved onto Farlington Marshes that day when the small bird migration fest continued with Wheatear, my first Whinchats of the year and memorably a second group of Yellow Wagtails in a day during a big influx of them in Hampshire. Farlington Marshes was looking redder and redder with those same berries as Lakeside growing and growing too. A packed and generally amazing Saturday that day as I referenced in other highlights blogs too. The migration fest continued on Bank Holiday Monday at the gorgeous Old Winchester Hill in the South Downs seeing Spotted Flycatchers and with them my first ever Pied Flycatcher a female and an amazing moment which I mentioned in my first of these posts about my birdwatching year. The next week the Tuesday after bank holiday back at Lakeside on one of a few social distant catch-up walks with my Dad I did once restrictions allowed I live with my Mum and her husband who share the photography and birdwatching etc. interest in case you didn’t know I usually stay with my Dad two nights a week though which was suspended in its usual form when I started working from home in March. On this walk I saw two of the Common Terns again from the Friday before with one fishing and spectacularly diving and one sitting down on a buoy on the lake. Amazing to see and lovely that their stop over was longer than the first of my year I’d seen in spring. That day I took in some nice autumnal colour sights and I also noted that dragonflies I wrote about one I saw in my last blog about my butterflies/other insects part 2 in my year for them were rather replacing butterflies as the key insect to see in my walks at Lakeside which is a sign of autumn I perhaps overlooked in years gone by as the dragonflies start later than the quintessential spring and summer butterflies and even damselflies and their season goes on longer into autumn months with a good few around so this was interesting.

The next day alongside autumnal sights I loved seeing two Common Terns again an adult hunting and a juvenile on a buoy which I got really close to and photographed. So nice to see them here again as their stopover continued. That walk, an overcast lunch time at the beginning of autumn, was eerily quiet. No constant warbles of Whitethroat, Blackcap and most commonly Chiffchaff that uplifted me at the beginning of lockdown here. Or the same unceasing buzz of insects mostly butterflies and bees in the meadow areas or chirps of the full circus of young birds on lakes that came to define the months that followed. I have remarked many times how my walks at lunch times whilst working from home, my hour of freedom locally to do what I love watching wildlife and more than when commuting in working in the office of the photography I love, have meant so much to me. I still remember the sadness as it became apparent lockdown was what we needed due to this virus coming here for everyone’s safety and the strong restrictions on our lives but everywhere spring was in abundance my favourite time of year from butterflies flying to migratory birds. But in the moment that day I realised that the most horrific thing I have seen the human race face in my lifetime came at actually the best time of year. It at that stage had pretty much always been spring or summer when we’ve faced these strange times and more often than not been very nice weather. It was in this moment that day I’ve really thought about how much being outside has meant to me in these times. And there is a sense of sadness again that the spring and summer was coming to an end. And I think this was adding to an underlying feeling I’d had at that time that this feels like the end of the year or the end of the summer holidays when I was a kid a bit as the season changes and all the feelings it brings. But it’s the way of the seasons, how they immerse you to be able to give you these familiar feelings of what one month should look, feel, taste and smell like to the next, which makes nature a powerful force which it has been amazing to be so close to every day.

That Thursday alongside seeing the Common Terns pretty close and making the most of the House Martins yet again, on the theme of bird migration I loved this year’s late summer/early autumn one I got one of my birding moments of the year and working from home when I was astounded to within a flock including a Chiffchaff and tit species Blue and Long-tailed see two Spotted Flycatchers and get pictures including the fifth in this photoset. It’s a bird I still see as a little scarce when I see them in the New Forest or wherever and I certainly did not expect to see them at the urban country park right next to where we live. This like a few other bird, butterfly, dragon/damselfly and flower moments I’ve had on my working from home Lakeside walks really opened my eyes to just what my local patch can host when you just look and listen and hope I guess and it made me so happy I was over the moon. Coming the week I saw the Pied Flycatcher with Spotted Flycatchers at Old Winchester Hill my first ever and the latest in a longer list than ever of Spotted Flycatcher sightings for me in a year it allowed me to really celebrate my connection to and relationship with this bird, they are a bird that always seem to turn up at sites often unexpected local ones generally in a year in Hampshire in numbers at the end of summer/beginning of autumn I have very delicious feelings towards that time for year for them and for that to come to my doorstep was amazing! They did get added to my B list of favourite birds in September too. What a moment.

The next day I liked seeing mushrooms on the green out the front that Friday evening, something I love photographing and taking in every autumn and always excites me for this naturally rich season. I saw yet more Yellow Wagtails by cow’s feet as it showed its always worth looking at this time of year at Pennington in the Lymington-Keyhaven nature reserve a week after the first this year getting cracking views of three birds. It was the first time I had ever actually seen them at three locations in a year/a late summer/autumn. Everyone was seeing these birds at that stage too it was amazing to be a part of it. I enjoyed seeing bright red berries and fungi on that walk by the sea too. I did a spot of mushroom hunting at Ashley Walk in the New Forest the next day finding some nice ones including some big white ones wrapped in bright purple heather which made for a good photo opportunity I took the sixth in this photoset of it and was great to see. At Lakeside the Monday that followed as I walked behind the steam railway station and visitor centre on a path at Lakeside I remarked at how the bright green leaves synonymous with seeing a White-letter Hairstreak butterfly I find that I looked for there most of the summer had turned to yellow as I’d photographed. But autumn did a vanishing act in that part of the country park as I couldn’t see the yellow leaves on trees that day. Most likely as August’s storms had displaced them leaving the yet-to-turn green leaves to give the impression they were never there but I did see some further down the path. And further on in my walk I spotted some delightful bright red mushrooms on the woodland floor. That Wednesday I photographed two more lovely red autumnal signs at Lakeside a fallen bright and nice red leaf on the grass and an apple too which I loved photographing. Red berries were something I enjoyed so much that day too and as I sat on a bench for once and took in the world that lunch time I was immersed in noisy Starlings gathering in the nearby allotments a highlight of this time of year. The next day at Lakeside as I noted an interesting transition period in hot and sunny weather with lots of summer scenes out in the landscape as well as autumnal ones I saw a cracking purply/brown mushroom a big one too as well as leaves visible from the house turning yellow on a tree as bright green as a lot of the rest of the landscape.

I had a fungi fest on the green out the front on a Friday the next day as I was so happy to see a usual one here which I love and one of the few I know shaggy ink cap pop up on the green at the front of the house. I photographed that morning and evening on walks as well as some stunning and big brown ones on the evening walk which looked lovely in the sun. The pictures made them look like plastic. I remarked on how I was loving the fungi season ramping up and pleased once more with my new macro lens for quality and detail it can produce just like with butterflies, flowers and other insects and really excited for the fuller season ahead. Of autumnal note the next day at Farlington Marshes were lots of nice red berry scenes, a great view of some blackberries which I photographed alongside much more, Starlings beginning to murmurate in a hot and sunny patch against a bright blue sky which was great, for a third Saturday running yet more Yellow Wagtails and another bird I got my best ever views of that day quite a big bird for Farlington in late summer/early autumn and one its known you can see very well in autumn the spectacularly looking wader the Curlew Sandpiper with two seen by us that day with a Dunlin. Martin Down the next day where we so often go in spring and summer felt different for us to see with a pinch of autumnal colour mostly from berries but some leaves too than when we normally go. I enjoyed yet more mushrooms on the green out the front the next day and enjoyed some berries at Lakeside. The next day alongside colourful slight autumnal sights at Lakeside in a heatwave on my walk I was sad to see all the mushrooms mowed over when the green out the front was mowed. I said it in this highlights blog last year when I noticed some shaggy inkcaps deliberately knocked over on the green one of the pitfalls of an urban area I suppose whilst I have loved exploring the world immediately around me this year. The next day at Lakeside I noticed among mushrooms and other autumnal coloured leaves on my walk a very small amount of red leaves on the usual prominent and tall trees I have noticed go really nice and red for years. Looking at Facebook memories the next morning though I saw the first picture I took of one of these trees in full bright red colour was taken five years to that day and the very small bit of red was nothing compared to the full tree of that day in 2015 I started to realise maybe in terms of coloured leaves this autumn wasn’t so early after all or somehow managed to slow down but this is only one type of tree I suppose. The landscape took a much greener look during that September heatwave though so it was like going backwards at home a bit. That next day I did spot more red autumnal leaves and berries in different parts of Lakeside, as well as apple trees and a nice few michaelmas daisies a key part of autumn I always think not something I’d seen at Lakeside before so this was great. I enjoyed lots of autumnal sights when we went to Norfolk in September as my ninth highlights blog this year mentions, and when we returned home from that on the Saturday there was a sprinkling of autumnal colour including at Lakeside and out the front on a little walk more so than when we went away in places which I enjoyed.

The next day that Sunday at Fleet Pond we had a very autumnal walk around. Notable that day compared to before we went on holiday was the autumnal chill in the air that you always seem to suddenly notice at this time of year warranting my jacket on for the whole walk, as well as lots of chestnuts and acorns around in the woods the first time this year I had seen so many. This was added to by signs of autumn I had already taken in a lot this year, red berries, multi-coloured leaves like I had noticed some more of in the woods visible from my bedroom window that morning in the sun it was a nice sunny day mostly that one and mushrooms. Indeed among a few others I noticed my all-important first red fly agaric of the year my favourite and an iconic mushroom in woods up and down the country in autumn. But unfortunately they’d been knocked over, seeing some was nice just a shame they weren’t in tact. I saw so many Black-headed Gulls sharply in winter plumage that day at Fleet Pond too. The next day I enjoyed more autumnal sights at Lakeside like berries and some flowering together which I took a picture of, and in truth the whole place took on an ever so slight crimson glow thanks to some leaves that had turned red, not least the tall trees I look at every year in autumn that go the best scarlet shade that just had some leaves red now which made for some great landscape opportunities on a memorable walk that day for me due to wildlife sightings and photos taken with so many as I posted about in other highlights posts this year the autumnal features made for good landscape and other opportunities. The next day I was very happy to see another shaggy ink cap mushroom on the green out the front of the house that had grown up which I photographed, alongside more autumnal colour in a leaf in the front garden and Lakeside I photographed on a sunny lunch time walk. That week I noticed a lot of little flowering on trees almost like blossom but obviously not in autumn and on the Wednesday I took a picture of the red with white behind flowers in a flower pot at the front of the house which was great. Bramble flowers was something I enjoyed seeing a lot in autumn this year.

The next day on lunch as I walked out also I took a landscape a nice angle looking over trees in autumnal colour I noticed the view from this angle walking down the street during that week but I didn’t have time to take a photo on the day so I wanted to have a go at it again and that day after a sunny start and then clouding over the sun just started to come out so it was quite nicely lit and I was pleased with the photo. What I noticed when looking at this photo on my laptop was that in someone’s window visible in the background you can see a drawn rainbow on paper stuck in the inside of the window. Something many of us did to show our appreciation to our National Health Service for the incredible work they’ve done during the pandemic and always, become a strong symbol in these past few months and one of the defining images of lockdown and the coronavirus pandemic in the UK and 2020. So it was great to photograph this or have it in my photo anyway. And it was fitting to take the picture on a Thursday as Thursdays for 10 weeks during the strictest parts of the first lockdown we all came to our balconies, windows etc. to clap for our care workers and key workers one of the most heartening things about 2020. So it was nice to take this picture this Thursday. It rained a little bit as I walked to Lakeside via the path running to the north of it outside of the park in the estate but the sun was never far away. These conditions giving me great opportunity for raindrop and reflection photos on the lakes something I loved doing in early autumn. Going along it became fittingly to open the autumnal month of October a very autumnal walk with some nice colours in the trees. It was interesting this really told me seeing these we were getting towards peak colour festival for how the leaves on trees look now. It wasn’t just one tree here or there or leaves starting to show colour as it had been for a good few months with an early start to autumn this year now but everything was starting to really go into sweet colour. And I must say I don’t think locally over Lakeside or around the estate I have celebrated autumn leaves here as much as I should have over the years. So seeing it that day made me think of the New Forest and Richmond and Bushy Parks places I have seen glorious autumnal colour over the years and it gave me the same sense of ripeness which excites me as at those places showing the amazing things I can see very locally once again a big theme for me of this year.

The next day I noticed just how red the trees were starting to look my favourite colour, photographing this at home, Lakeside and on a nostalgic visit to a childhood haunt I am proud of and other bits of Eastleigh which I hadn’t seen for a while and found charming to again Grantham Green. That day was a very wet day showing the weather was looking more autumnal then with quite a few minor floods and big puddles at Lakeside and home and wet weather wanderers snail and slug on our door when I left for my lunch time walk. This autumn I noticed a lot when it rained and Lakeside looked wetter and fuller being able to notice differences in water levels as I walked there most days. Specifically posted in other highlights blogs this year it was a marvellous Friday of birdwatching with lots of species I don’t normally see so locally so the rain possibly put things in different places. I also saw decent amounts of House Martin and particularly Swallow after not seeing many there for a while at Lakeside as they were close to migrating. The next day that Saturday at Farlington Marshes I had the all-important autumn moment seeing my first Brent Geese of the season far off in a day I saw waders and other birds in great numbers including Ringed Plover and Little Egrets. We had a really nice walk around, as the sun came out but stormy weather that we were right in the middle of Storm Alex at that time never stayed far away with dark skies in places which were really quite dramatic to see. In fact of the 28 pictures I produced that day 24 were landscapes and I don’t think there’s one of them which doesn’t have a dramatic sky scene within it. So this made this one of my best ever days for taking pictures with nice and dramatic skies in I think and seeing skies generally typical scenes for the start of autumn really which made me feel really good. It was interesting then to have a bit a theme running through my photos that day which helps define the day in my head a bit. Having done so many Saturday visits here over those few months from June onwards there is overlap between the landscapes I take in each one but so many of this set of photos were unique. Such a memorable afternoon because of that. There was also more nice autumnal colour in the landscape a strong theme on our walks at that stage.

I had one of my best moments of the autumn with two more key moments of any autumn on a fairly wet day walking from Blackwater in the New Forest the next day. I saw my first two un-knocked over red fly agaric mushrooms which I loved studying and taking in their fantastic and bright colours a flat and a round one I took pictures to. I enjoyed so many mushrooms that day with some nice brown ones seen too and so many white ones, lots together at many points with some amongst some heather again as well. Then on a packed walk for wildlife sightings we also came across a herd of Red Deers during their rut which was fantastic to see. We spent some amazing minutes watching a stag with big antlers and some females I really was so happy to see them. On a generally great day of deers with a Muntjac seen too as I mentioned in my New Forest highlights post the fourth one I was just so thrilled to see a group of Red Deers in the brilliant New Forest I had not seen them here nearly enough whilst I’ve seen them so well in other locations over the last decade. They are one of the star piece of wildlife in the New Forest so it was just smashing to see them. Some great moments with one of my favourite mammals. I took the seventh picture in this photoset of one of the females.

On the day after I liked seeing some very little mushrooms on the green out the front which I photographed that day and enjoyed all of that week, some autumnal leaves with flowers in the garden and yet more nice autumn leaves and red berries scenes at Lakeside, mostly notably I liked observing that with the red autumn leaves I see every year and enjoy here I was noticing them gradually turn red with one special patch of this which I took a photo of going bright red so I rather enjoyed that. The next day in one of the floods that had formed on the Friday at Lakeside I loved seeing Mallard wallowing in it on a field a lovely natural moment with dragonflies flying over this nice little bit of water too as I mentioned in my second butterflies and other insects highlights post this lived long in the memory. I enjoyed lots more great autumnal colours on that walk and that evening seeing the regular Greylag Geese that I hadn’t as much as over the spring and summer over Lakeside flying past the house to the backdrop of a lowering sun felt like a nice autumnal moment geese flying and flocking a strong autumnal motifs of nature bringing back memories of the Pink-footed Geese I loved seeing flying in at Norfolk as I mention in the ninth of these posts. I enjoyed more autumnal colour scenes the next day at Lakeside as I did all of that week and it was nice to see Pied Wagtails over the house as I did the next day too a winter visitor to the garden alongside a few of those like Robins that had been coming in over that time a key part of autumn seeing signs of natural parts of winter or winters of ours of the past to come. Yet more autumnal colour and some more shaggy ink caps and other mushrooms on the green out the front awaited me on an amazing Friday I had for wildlife and photos that Friday as I took pictures of all of this and reflected on how I liked how much time working from home gave me to really observe mushrooms out the front this year. The shaggy ink caps on the green is something I watched around working in Winchester On a mostly very sunny day I saw some nice sky scenes I did so much that week with night drawing in taking so many memorable sky pictures from the house. I also saw a moon out in the day time something I enjoyed a lot this year that day and got a picture.

The next day before going to Bushy Park on the Saturday I had a dental hygienist appointment in Winchester, I switched dentists after my Eastleigh one stopped doing evening appointments to one in Winchester as I work there before I began working from home in response to the pandemic hence why I went on a Saturday morning. Before getting picked up by my Mum to come home I had a little walk around from the dentist opposite St. Thomas Church to near my office in glorious sunshine taking in some wonderful autumnal coloured leaves especially more red that week scenes which I always say Winchester is so good for I took some phone pictures of this. The next day whilst Swallows still hung on by the coast at Pennington I got some memorable autumn moments when alongside some coloured leaves in the landscape I loved seeing lots of waterfowl notably many Wigeons and Shoveler and some Pintail my first of the season come in a key bit of autumn. As I mentioned in my general birdwatching and New Forest highlights posts we also got the amazing moment of seeing the blown in by autumn storms Grey Phalarope and mega bird the Wilson’s Phalarope a new one for us that day one of the best moments of autumn birdwatching we had this year and ever for sure getting beyond cracking close views of both. I took the eighth picture in this photoset of the Wilson’s. The next day was a key Monday of my autumn as I enjoyed some nice autumnal sky scenes that morning, shaggy ink caps on the green, yellow autumn leaves on our plants and more autumnal colour at Lakeside I did a closeup photo of some of the red leaves I like looking at every year that day which was interesting. Also alongside masses of the usual suspects and a Blue Tit I don’t always see I noticed my first Pied Wagtail in the garden of the season that day after a few days of seeing them in the area. In winters 2018-19 and 2019-20 they had become a winter visitor to our garden and that alongside the sheer numbers of everything else made me feel the days of winter ahead and the natural world getting ready for it in a sense which is what autumn is all about. It fascinates me each year now how the Pied Wagtails and other birds just seem to know it’s time to visit the garden and nearby when they need bird feeders with natural food harder to find and that through winter months, they are such fascinating creatures and it’s nice to rely on birds to tell you the time of year out of habit. I loved seeing the Greylag Geese flying over the house and at Lakeside that day even if they’re not a migrating population species there is something so autumnal about geese flying in flocks.

The next day when I walked at lunch time I loved seeing the shaggy ink cap mushroom colony on the green at the front of the house again. They looked brilliant and had grown up so much since the day before when I first noticed them, some were still white, others had morphed nicely into the familiar bell or lampshade like figure they become which I liked photographing. But then I noticed a few of something I had never seen for these mushrooms before, in between the white column of the mushroom and the final shape they were flat, I found this great to see and really interesting, you can certainly see how they get their name with that sticky ink like substance on them almost dripping from them I did really enjoy seeing this and getting photos. On the walk at Lakeside that day I took in some stunning colourful autumnal leaves scenes once more getting to see some real ripe and vibrant colour. It was probably one of my best days of the autumn for views of autumn leaves and mushrooms and photos I took of them that day which was great I was pleased with what I took of the scenes. The next day I enjoyed more great views of a silvery looking a great colour shaggy ink cap mushroom out the front, as on a sunny day I enjoyed a plethora of autumnal colour particularly red but some yellow in the landscape visible from and right around me at Lakeside I even photographed a red fallen leaf which was fascinating to see. A comforting day of autumnal colour, as that day I also walked around the roads for additional exercise and photographed a line of trees down a road which I had photographed in nice purple blossom from the other end admittedly in late March days before the first strict lockdown which felt so recent still at that stage as discussion of the need for another strict lockdown dominated the nation’s minds there was interesting parallels in sandwiching those dizzy summer days of rich green the two staging posts in the year of these trees and the year of us all. I saw a Pied Wagtail again on this walk around getting a memorable picture of one on a roof.

On 15th October in glorious sunshine and in that crisp and useful for photos sunlight of the time of year, with some nice raw autumnal light too just before getting to Lakeside I liked photographing more shaggy ink cap mushrooms I saw more mushrooms on the green out the front when back too as well as take in yet more red and yellow gorgeous autumnal leaves in the sunshine at home and at Lakeside, where a view of a Jay among others reminded me what an autumn bird they are with their association with acorns. Another peaceful, relaxing and mushroom and red and yellow autumn leaf particularly certain trees some of the tallest at Lakeside gone yellow dominated sunny day awaited at Lakeside the next day. With the night’s drawing in an early evening Friday walk became a walk at sunset as I took in stunning views of the sun coming down and felt nice walking back along the streets to be in the sunset scene I usually see from my room to a degree a great day that one. The next Friday I had a work online social after work the weekend before the clocks went back so this walk became a fitting last second Friday walk of the year something I really enjoyed especially in the summer.

As mentioned in my New Forest highlight post on 17th October we went to Ashley Walk/Leaden Hall in the New Forest getting exciting view of wonderful Ring Ouzels on autumn migration and other birds as well as it being a memorable day for mushrooms. On the walk I heard a Fallow Deer stag barking a lot and we saw it with its quite large hareem of females looking very dark and with big antlers. A great moment during the fallow rut, it was nice to see fallows during those few weeks where I saw so many deer species and loads so well in various parts of the country a real celebration of deers for me and fallows really began my love for deers being the first I really saw up close when really interested in wildlife and my first favourite I now have three deers on my list of favourite mammals. Sticking with mammals and the grazing animals of the New Forest on the way home by Bramshaw I was delighted to see my first pigs out for pannage this autumn so when commoners exercise their right of pannage to turn out pigs and allow them to roam the forest to eat the acorns of which there was a very large crop of this year very notably which meant the time period pannage lasted was extended which are harmful to the ponies. I enjoy seeing pigs freely roaming around the New Forest every year it is a popular sight in the forest and so important for the management of the New Forest with helping out the ponies. We saw a handful of pigs together and I loved taking pictures of them in a very nice looking typical New Forest village and countryside area near to Bramshaw. We got some great views of them as well as sheep and donkeys behind a fence as they walked down the lane. Whilst watching them I was delighted hear the noise they made as they munched through the acorns on the floor which were clearly visible and I was reminded what all this was for. A special and classic autumnal or you could say “only in the New Forest” moment. Ending a fantastic and joyful afternoon out where we saw iconic New Forest wildlife and sights. The next day at Gilkicker Point and Stokes Bay, after seeing another Pied Wagtail on the garages at home, as well as some autumnal colour and views of Michaelmas daisies a large group of them brightening up a grey afternoon alongside a good few other nice flowers seen there as Sunday rather became my flower day this year I was thrilled to see another Grey Phalarope this autumn getting more cracking and close up views of this stunning bird as one was blown into Gilkicker Pond. I very often go onto see more of them in a year once I see one. Such a nice autumn moment to follow it for a fantastic few minutes getting those stunning views and observing it from above and at eye level. One of my best nature moments of the year. It was nice how lots of non-birdwatchers noticed and were impressed and intrigued by this distinctive little bird close by that day really nice how a Grey Phalarope united people and got people talking about nature. Other highlights at Gilkicker as well as Jays seen flying from the car in a field and on the ground on the way you see so many Jays in autumn as I was reminded of nicely this year with them stashing acorns were; Greenfinch, Carrion Crows in some interesting positions like on a car roof and picking seaweed and with other interesting things in their mouths and gathering in a large group with Herring Gulls I got a picture of mine of the group in the Hampshire Chronicle via the camera club a nice bit of urban seaside bird action and Kestrel with prey in its talons. I was also fascinated by Gilkicker Point’s position sticking out into the solent allowing me to see the Spinnakar Tower and other bits of Portsmouth one side, Fawley power station the other and Ryde and the rest of the Isle of Wight ahead over the water. I detected a light brown colour different to green when looking at the island in the landscape and picked out the beautiful former royal residence Osborne House imposing itself on the landscape which was nice. This brought back strong childhood memories of Isle of Wight holidays. That Sunday we came home via Hill Head further down the coast where I loved seeing loads of Brent Geese more than my first autumn sighting of them at Farlington on the sea close in by the shore further down and a beautiful flock of mostly male Eiders out to sea seen very well a cracking view really. Also here and further up the coast a sort of early sunset occurred over the water in a gap between the Isle of Wight and the mainland a red glow in the afternoon, something I had seen elsewhere last winter which made me feel a little wintery as did a bit of gloom that afternoon I must say which again is what autumn is very much about.

The next day and the one after and that whole week I enjoyed taking in many more red and yellow autumnal leaves scenes including the canopy visible from my room and tree visible from it in lovely sunshine I enjoyed taking a unique photo of the former fittingly in a week where “#Autumnwatch” was the photo theme in a Facebook group I am in ahead of the BBC’s series of that this year one of my favourite TV programmes the Springwatch edition particularly inspiring and uplifting for me this year as they took the spirit of optimism and re-connection to nature and touched on Black Lives Matter very well during strict lockdown key themes of this year here. This year I put lots of my pictures into different groups on Facebook as well and that’s been something massive to come out of my time working from home, taking pictures during it and how I post them and use my time that I’m now posting my pictures onto different themed Facebook groups as a ritual. This group, the Hampshire Chronicle camera club which has allowed me among online associations and many moments sharing and seeing other’s pictures has allowed me to get some of my pictures into the Hampshire Chronicle newspaper which I am so thankful for, general wildlife and birding groups, the Self Isolating Bird Club launched by Chris Packham, Megan McCubbin and co. quite on theme, a cloud and sky picture group I’ve been in for ages all big groups so I just like posting the pictures somewhere and interacting with strangers because of them it’s really been a great way for me to stay connected in these times. I love my Twitter friends and I love tweeting my pictures that page and this one for me are everything I have ever wanted as somewhere to post my photos and experiences with lots of lovely people and a fantastic broad community and I always get so much out of sharing with you but it’s just quite nice for the Facebook groups each day thinking right what photo did I take for this theme etc and get me thinking and a nice way to further share my photos on my platforms in more specific themed groups. On both of those days I took pictures of the tree out the back with some red/yellow autumn colour what I first ever noticed this tree for in autumn taking pictures of the coloured leaves and the second day it looked that little bit redder interesting symmetry to spring as I said in my first butterflies highlights post when this tree blossomed and seemed to have more blossom on it every time I looked out the window to it so this was nice. Photographing it that day 20th October my Dad’s birthday meant I photographed it exactly two years on my first or one of my first photos of it on my Dad’s birthday in 2018, but in 2018 the leaves were all really yellow there was a lot of green on them on 20th October this year so maybe the fast autumn wasn’t quite keeping pace with other years. On the Wednesday I saw another nice shaggy inkcap mushroom on the green out the front, it was also nice to notice a Magpie picking amongst fallen leaves on the green the fallen leaves a common sight and theme of that October week on a fairly rainy lunch time walk as well as a Pied Wagtail including it chirping nicely around the garden again. On the very sunny Thursday of that key autumnal week for me as well as mushrooms out the front and shaggy inkcap actually in Lakeside and the usual bright yellow and red colours that week looking so nice in the sun I noticed a tree I’d photographed nice and green the Friday night before with autumnal colour now and that tree out the back was redder and yellower as it seemed to come into autumn leaf quite fast too. On a day I produced loads of pictures on a sunny day with how many were autumnal subjects it did feel a bit like a pinnacle of my autumn. I loved taking some different types of pictures of just some autumn leaves on the ground red and yellow like the ones in the ninth picture in this photoset that Friday at Lakeside a day at lunch time I saw some interesting looking mushrooms which seemed to resemble nipples which was quite funny.

There was more entertainment and much more fungi the next day as we went to Pig Bush in the New Forest for our usual October visit as that’s when we first went to this place we love so much one of my favourite New Forest spots as it looks as it did that first visit that month and this October marked a decade since we first went there, and for the first time in that decade we saw some pigs there at Pig Bush! Or on the walk from Pig Bush. As we walked down towards woods by a railway bridge we saw three and then a massive group of about 20 of them, young and adult, completely pink, black spotty or half black and half pink so a true variety and we loved watching them for a good few minutes our second pigs out for pannage seen this year. The most pigs I have ever seen together before, one of my best days ever for pigs. That wet New Forest walk was also perhaps my best ever day for fungi as in the autumn wonderland of the woods beyond the ford nearer to the car park there were many fallen leaves so perfect for the nutrient loving fruiting bodies of the fungi, the mushrooms of which we saw a huge variety of for shapes, size and colour. There really was a mushroom everywhere we looked on that forest floor it was a real feast for the eyes, I took so many pictures of them that day one of my best ever autumn moments. This really captivated me which is what its all about. This completed perhaps my best ever week of autumn photos. The next day was another New Forest classic in which I produced over 40 pictures in my first visit to Rockford Common since 2018 a very nostalgic visit for me coming here in autumn when we so often came here between 2014 and 2017 I would say so many memories, another very beautiful spot. It was that usual first post-clocks going back walk, with a jacket needed on for the whole walk and a certain feel to it when the sun shone but a gloomy shadow across the landscape when it did not. That day became another brilliant day for autumn leaves and mushrooms as I saw so many more of the latter of a great variety and especially it was brilliant to see lots of red fly agarics my favourite mushrooms I’d maybe never seen so many at once before in a great autumn for me for them I took so many pictures with my macro lens of them that day the first of those with my macro this year as I had taken some at Blackwater before with my big lens. One of those Blackwater ones actually I made my Twitter display picture for a monthly rotation that day the first mushroom picture ever to be this for me. It was a fantastic fix of fly agaric that day at Rockford Common I was honoured to see so many taking one of my best ever pictures of one too and I have photographed so many over the years. That photo also appeared in the Hampshire Chronicle as part of a lucky and amazing run where I was so fortunate to have one of my photos published in it for six consecutive weeks. That day I was also thrilled to see my all-important first Fieldfare and first Redwings of the autumn with Starlings in good numbers on the heath too. Before that I took pictures of the tree visible in someone’s garden from my room really looking bright and yellow hitting its peak for colour and some colour in the landscape visible from my room. The next day more autumn leaves at home and Lakeside where I enjoyed so many more lovely colourful scenes again that week, nice brown mushrooms out the front and at Lakeside and a Pied Wagtail by the garden again all greeted me, a day that a rainbow shone in the mostly sunny day in the morning it was surreal the sun setting before I finished work in my room.

That Wednesday at Lakeside I noticed whilst some autumn leaves were still on trees, after wet and windy weather a lot were on the floor and it was as though someone had flicked the switch from autumn to winter with swathes of bare patches on trees in the landscape. That day I also loved noticing a large charm of finches over Lakeside, containing Goldfinch or Siskin or likely both big flocks of these do come here in the winter which threw me forward to those days. I also saw that day maybe my biggest mushrooms of the season as helped by the inspiring BBC Autumnwatch I realised what an amazing autumn for mushrooms as well as so much else in a rich one it was. The next day it was nice to speak to some fellow admirers of the lonely tree that goes bright red by the visitor centre at Lakeside at a safe social distance to comment on how lovely it looked as I photographed it looking very rich in colour which was lovely. I also saw my first winter thrush at Lakeside of the season seeing a noteworthy Fieldfare on a tree north of the steam railway station. A Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit flock of decent numbers and a great variety of garden birds again at home before the walk were pleasing moments that day too. The amount of birds seen especially little ones seems so synonymous with this time of year. That continued the next day a gloomy and blustery affair for sure with the tits again, Starlings and Black-headed Gulls on my walk around the green out the front and Lakeside. That week with it being the kid’s half term the steam railway train at Lakeside was running and seeing it shoot along the track out of trees emerging quite a lot in rainy and misty conditions was so atmospheric and beautiful. A variety of coastal birds including lots of lovely Brent Geese flying over, Spotted Redshank, other waders and lots and lots of Wigeons, as well as nice interesting and atmospheric light for the time of year amongst it the novelty still of being out when the sun set when out on weeks was waiting for me the next day. I took the tenth and final picture in this photoset of autumn leaves on a bush in our garden in a bit of sun before we went out that day. I wrote about the end of my autumn in my 11th bonus highlights blog the last one about my November and December.

[lovinmcu]

New life in Cali, ch. 8

Chapter 8

Pairings; Chris Evans x reader, Sebastian Stan x reader

Warnings; overthinking

A/N; I’m breaking this up as best i can. 

Monday’s day at work is moving by so slowly. You are busy finishing up details on Frozen 2. Details are time-consuming, and all over encompassing. By the time you look up from your computer your phone is lite up with texts and missed calls. It was only 12, you could have sworn you missed lunch you’d been so busy.

Chris 8:40 am “Hey, headed out of town today. Can you help Seb with Dodger?”

9:00 am “If it not, no biggy. I hope you had fun at the party. Sorry, we haven’t talked.”

9:10 am “Hope you aren’t ignoring me, let me know.”

Chris missed call, 9:50 am

Seb 10:00 am “Chris said you hadn’t been answering, everything ok?”

10:15 am “Y/N?!?”

11:00 am “Lunch?!?! 12:30 is when we’ll break.”

They were obviously worried about you. You smile at the thought of having someone care about you this much in Cali, unlock your phone and call Seb. No answer. You sign, turn your phone off silent and turn back to answer some emails that were sent while you engrossed in your work. Five minutes later Sebastian calls you back.

“Hey, everything ok?” Seb says as soon as you answer.

“Yeah, just busy meeting these deadlines. Sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you and Chris.”

“It’s ok, it’s just not like you, but we understand deadlines more than most. So, lunch?”

“OH, yes please, I’m starving!” You look down at your half-eaten breakfast, and cold coffee, and think “wow, I HAVE been in the zone”

“I’ll head that way now, see you soon,” you say before hanging up, you hit save, and head out the door. You need to come back to reality, your brain is in a fog from concentrating for so long. As you pass your coworker in the hall, they also notice your zombie-like state and tell you to get some air. That was a good idea, so you walk to the studio. On your walk, you make a conscious effort to not think about work. Then you panicked, you’re first date with Sebastian is tonight! What are you going to wear? Where is he taking you?

You grab your phone and send a quick text to Brittney on your way. “Hey girl, you had a crazy weekend, huh?” “Date with Seb tonight, what should I wear?” You arrive at the gate to show your id, as soon as you speak to the guard none other than Sebastian Stan himself pulls up in a golf cart to drive you over to lunch.

“Hey Doll!” Sebastian greets you with a hug.

“Hey,” you hug him back as the butterflies start to flutter. You think, Chris might be cute, and a lot of fun, but he never makes you have these butterflies. You smile at Seb and grab his hand he has obviously placed in between us not trying to make a move. He smiles back at you as you both arrive at the circle of trailers you recognize. Chris and Dodger run up to greet you, you accept all the kisses from Dodger and hug and peck on the cheek from Chris.

“He gets more action than both of us!” Sebastian smirks.

“Only because she hasn’t had some Mackie lovin’,” Anthony comments as he puts his arm around you, attempting to be cute. You draw him into a hug.

“Hey, Anthony.” You say.

“His NAME is Mackie,” Robert Downing Jr. says walking up to you all. You try to remain calm but it’s freaking RDJ! Maybe not on your celebrity crush list but absolutely one of your favorite actors. “This must be y/n, that I’ve heard you all talking about.” He shakes your hand and draws you in for a hug. You do everything to play it cool, but your 100% sure you came out looking like a giant geek. “They’ve been going on and on about this pool party I missed and I also overheard someone’s taking you out on a date tonight.” You instantly go red, even your ears burn. RDJ smirks, realizing how much he’s embarrassed you and hides you with another hug. “Sorry” he whispers.

“It’s ok!” You smile back at him.

“Well, let’s eat!” RDJ announces as he so nicely changes the subjects and takes you to the head of the food line.

You grab food and take a seat. Chris directs you where to sit and takes the seat next to you. You wonder to yourself where Sebastian is, but Chris answers as if you asked it out loud. “He’s gone to change.” “So, he asked if I was fine if he took you out tonight.” You could hear the disappointment in his voice.

“Yeah, not sure what he has planned. But I should probably ask what to wear.” You reply. “So, you and Brittney were having a lot of fun Saturday.”

“Oh, yeah it was a lot of fun, ya know, till she got sick.” He chuckles and continues to eat.

“Was she feeling ok when she left?”

“Yeah, a lot better. She left not long after you did. Nothing happened.” You were curious as to why he felt the need to add that last part. About then Sebastian sat on your other side. Plate full of food. “Worked hard this morning I see!” You comment about the amount of food in front of him.

“He didn’t do anything but make snarky comments all morning, not even sure how he calls this a job,” Mackie said while taking the place across from all of you.

“I hate you,” Sebastian says with an evil grin on his face, with all of us knowing he’s taking a line from Bucky. He quietly says, “Maybe it's nervous eating,” as he winks.

Lunch went on with a lot of stories and attempting to do their own stunts, and stupid inside jokes they all had and tried to explain to you. As lunch was wrapping up Sebastian was called away to get ready for his next scene and to get back into his prosthetic.

You and Chris go back to his trailer and talk about the trip he’s leaving for tonight, a comic con in Chicago. He asked you to make sure Dodger gets enough love because in his words “he likes you more than me anyway.”

“Jealous much?”

“About what?” Chris replies.

“About Dodger liking me more!” You give him a big smile as Dodger jumps into your lap. Proving your point.

“Just a little.”

You sense something more in his answers, “Are you ok with Sebastian and I going out?”

“Not sure, hate that I missed my chance with you.” He replies shyly while lowering his gaze.

“Chris? I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say, I had no clue you felt that way.” You pause.

“Yes, you’re on my celebrity crush list, well, look at you, of course, you are. And for a moment I thought there might be something, but there are far too many things we disagree on. Can you tell me that wouldn’t be a problem?” You say what’s on your heart, but your heart is breaking thinking of how much Chris is hurt. You move over toward him and pulling him into a hug, he tries to resist but you win. The two of you stand there hugging, for what seemed like forever and he strokes your hair. “I’m sorry,” you whisper, “Please don’t hate me, I need you.”

You two finally part ways and look into one another eyes. “Really?” He responds.

“Yes, you’re making California start to fill like home.” You stand up on your toes to kiss him on the cheek. You pull back and look up at him again. And at that moment he leans down and crashes his lips into yours, taking the air out of your lungs. You instinctually pull back, praying no one was about to walk in unannounced. “CHRIS!” To escape, you rush to the bedroom with tears streaming down your face.

You sit on the end of the bed, trying hard to grasp what just happened. More tears flow. How can things be this complicated 10 days after meeting someone? Having Chris in your life made you happier than you’ve been in a long time, you weren’t lying when you told him, he made California feel more like home.

You send a quick text to the secretary at work, you were already late getting back, “going to need some personal time this afternoon. No worries I’m way ahead of schedule.” Chris knocks on the door and peeks in. “I have to go back. Take all the time you need. Text me when you’re ready.” He shuts the door and then you hear the door to his trailer shut and lock.

You collapse onto the bed, trying to figure any other this out. Why did things have to get so complicated? Sure, Chris is fucking sexy but so is Sebastian. Both have eyes you could stare at forever. But, Chris takes things a little too seriously, delete the twitter rants already. Seb was much more chill, but now, all of this drama. You weren’t even sure if you could go out tonight with Sebastian. You didn’t want to compromise their relationship or the relationships you had with them.

A headache is starting from all the stress and crying, you close your eyes to make it go away. And you drift off to sleep.

Tag List

@melannie77  @thejemersoninferno  @thummbelina​ 

[uhgoodmoni]

Nothing That Lasts Forever

A BTS fanfiction

Trailer - ch1 - ch2 - ch3 - ch4- ch5 - ch6 - ch7 - ch8 - ch9

Ao3 link - Wattpad link - Soundtrack 

Warnings: Major Character Death, Blood, Demons, Fighting, Verbal and Physical Abuse, Mention of marijuana, Death, Cursing, Fire, Unintentional Self-harm, Gore. Yoongi’s injury

Chapter One: Otsukare 

Yoongi’s POV

I glance down at my phone, a new text from Hoba. ‘5 mins away :p’. I don’t bother responding but instead, give Jungkook a slight shove. His shoulder is digging into mine, dozing off on the couch. Drool comes from his lips to the cushion, luckily not my shirt sleeve. He barely lifts his head as I stand up, heading to the table where our things are packed. I roll my eyes looking over him slumped on the couch. I get it, I’m tired too, but he can rest in the car. 

“Hoseok will be here soon, you better not forget anything,” I lecture, and he nods his head. He isn’t listening and I know it. I shake my head, double-checking my bag for my charger.  I don’t want to forget it, even if I won’t be on my phone that often. Hobi’s charger has been lost and there wasn’t time to get a new one so he’ll want to borrow one of ours on the trip. I glance at my phone, at full charge and it will probably stay that way. 

“No no, I won’t,” he mumbles, groggy still. It is gonna be a long drive, so we had woken early, he’ll likely claim the back seat to crash in. I pout, knowing I won’t be able to rest my eyes. It’s better to drive with an extra pair of eyes on the road. I’m glad that Hoseok volunteered to drive in the first place. Jungkook had agreed to drive on the way home so maybe I can nap in the backseat then.

“Your charger?” I ask, grabbing the bag of food and placing it on the counter. Chips, bread, some soda, mostly sweets but Hobi is bringing the cooler with our sandwich makings. 

“Yeah it’s in there,” he mostly whispers. I shrug, won’t be my problem if he hasn’t packed it. He just won’t have a phone, no biggie since we are meant to be on holiday. Slinging the bag over my shoulder I take up my suitcase, heading to the door.

“Come on, why don’t you help me bring some stuff outside so we can just stick it in the trunk and go.” He gives a short hum as I head out. Whatever, I’ll just make him unpack everything when we get to the cabin. The door slams behind me as I walk down to the elevator. It takes me slowly to the lobby, but I head out the back where I know Hobi would be parking. The air is chill against my cheeks as I push myself out the door. The summer is just at its tail end, making the mornings and evenings quite chilly. Looking around for his car I hug my bag tighter. Hopefully, the weather will warm up for our trip. 

His car pulls in, stopping in the spot ahead of me. As he exits the vehicle, the trunk opens up. Stuffed inside is the cooler and his suitcase.

“Hi hi hiii,” He cheers, a huge grin spread across his face. He jogs over to me, taking the bag of food from my hands. “It’s a good day aye?” He hums, walking me back over to the car. 

“Yeah,” I grin, pulling up the suitcase into the trunk beside his, giving it a push to leave room for Jungkook’s. “Hoping for nicer weather.” I nod up to the cloudy sky, a blinding white, but the sun is still hiding.

“When we get there it’ll get warmer,” He assures, dropping the bag in, and pulling me in for a hug. “Where’s Jungkook?” He says, releasing me and shutting the trunk. 

“He probably fell back asleep upstairs,” I sigh as Hoseok leads the way back inside shrugging. 

With a cheeky smirk, he hops inside the elevator, “Can’t lie I almost fell asleep on the road.” And with my silence, he gives a chuckle.

My elbow finds his side, “Hey drink some coffee next time.” I sigh, “Oh, and don’t text and drive either.” I scold, crossing my arms. He makes a pop with his mouth ignoring what I said. “I’m being serious you could get killed,” I mutter as we walk into the hall back towards the room. 

“You’re right, I won't anymore.” He smiles, opening the door for me. I take a step in, Jungkook looming right over me. I bump into his bag just as he is coming out the door. 

“Ohp sorry Yoongi hyungie.” He laughs, eyes slightly swollen, but awake nevertheless, hair draped over his cheeks.

“You left nothing behind right?”

“Nope,” He shakes his head, “stop worrying so we can have fun,” He huffs. He’s lucky I know he’s teasing. 

“So we are ready to get on the road?” Hobi asks, leading the way back to the elevator. “Good Morning Jungkookie.” they squish right into a hug. “Are you excited?” Jungkook hums an answer, stepping in after him.  

“Where is it exactly that we are going anyway?” He questions, and I’m wondering the same thing.

“Gangwon Province, a little cabin that I rented for us in the woods,” He informs us. “I don't know, I just thought it would be nice for us three to get away for a little.” I nod, it is a good opportunity for us, this weekend we have no upcoming filmings or recordings to do. Namjoon is helping Jimin on his own solo album and Taehyung is going to be with his family. Not sure what Jin hyung’s reason for not attending is. 

“Yes yes, I’m glad that collab got pushed back till next week because I really wanted to join you guys,” Jungkook says, taking the first step out of the elevator as it reaches the lobby. 

I bud in, “I think it will make us think back to when we did In the Soop, don’t ya think?”

“Agreed,” Hobi starts, “I brought some canvas…” 

“Hey hey!” Jin calls out, running over from the stairs. He’s still in his RJ pajamas, hair strewn and eyes half-closed. I grin watching him hobble over to us. 

“Jinnie hyung?” Jungkook smiles, turning back to greet him. He must have come to say goodbye and send us off.  Jin squeezes Jungkook tight, muttering goodbyes. 

“You drive safe now.” He tells Hoseok after releasing him from an embrace. “I hope you all have fun together.” I smile, hugging him tightly as well. “Go fishing for me,” He beams at me, grabbing my ears.

“There aren't any fishing spots.” Hobi frowns.

“Sorry to disappoint,” I say, patting his back. 

“That's the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” He scoffs. “Who goes camping and doesn’t fish?” His lip curls up. “Well I only came down here this early to tell you to catch me a fish but I guess I did it for nothing.” 

“Pshhh,” Jungkook rolls his eyes, “Yeah right, you love us and came down to give us all kisses goodbye.” 

“Okay now seriously,” he points at each of us, “be safe, I’m tired and going back to sleep, text us when you get there.”

“Yes, yes, hyung. Don’t worry, got a full tank this morning,” Hobi smiles, giving Jin’s hand a squeeze before he walks away, sending a wave as he heads to the elevator. 

“Too bad he has a meeting on Saturday,” Hobi pouts, as we head out the back door once more. Jungkook squints his eyes as the cool breeze hits him. All of us rushed to get in the car and turn the heat on. I’m not so sure Hoseok is right about it warming up later. 

“Don’t worry,” he says, buckling his seatbelt, me next to him in the passenger like I had figured would happen. “There is full heating and air conditioning at the cabin, so if it stays cold we can just cuddle up indoors.” He turns, facing Jungkook, backing up, and exits the lot.

“That sounds really nice,” Jungkook mutters, leaning his head now covered in his hoodie against the window. I nod with a smile, turning up Hobi’s heat in the car. 

“No matter what I think this will be a healing weekend for us,” I assure, after all, we have been busy filming concepts and the new music video all week. We hadn’t gotten much time to relax but the three of us would at least be able to get some R&R together. Hobi has been especially stressed, he had a pain in his ankle and was trying to not get injured while we learned the new dance. Of course, he was still overexerting himself, but now I’m glad he’ll be able to rest. 

He got on the highway, it will be about an hour drive which isn’t that bad. Maybe another thirty minutes after, to get to our campsite. If it ends up being a bust I suppose we can just go home. 

Hobi had turned on the radio, humming along to what had come on. He’s been looking forward to this since he rented the cabin months ago. If I can help it this will be the best weekend ever.  

It’s been a quiet drive, Jungkook slept the entire ride, but he probably needs the rest. Hobi plays Otsukare as we get off the main road. Playing it from youtube it sounds awful, but I can’t stop myself from laughing. 

“Don’t, don’t.” I plead, shaking my head.

“It’s sope!” He calls, looking to me for a response. I laugh, tossing my eyes to the window. It’s too early for this. I glance at the clock, 9:15 and we haven't eaten breakfast. “We’re sope!” He continues singing.

“Okayyy, let’s go!” I mumble, crossing my arms as Hoseok breaks out into laughter. He continues singing as I hum along, embarrassed. It has been years since I heard this last. It would be fun to perform again with him. Maybe I’ll ask management.

Hoseok makes another turn, the trees taking over both sides of the road. There aren’t any other cars that turned along with us. It isn't a holiday weekend so we’ll likely be the only ones on vacation at this time. Not to mention the weather, it is the same as when we had left earlier. A white cloudy blanket over the whole sky, blocking out the sun but leaving the daylight to light the road. If you look deep into the trees though, there it would be dark. Hopefully, the cabin will be in a clearing so it will be lit up, then there would also be fewer bugs. I smirk, thinking about how Hobi will likely panic once we arrive, upon the amount of bugs. Hopefully, he brought bug spray. I made sure to have mosquito nets so there is that. 

“Pay attention,” He starts again! Hopping up in his chair, still keeping his eyes on the road. I don’t respond so he continues, “Okay, let's smile. It's human relations. There are mountains too” He raises eyebrows to me, turning a dial for the volume.

“There are valleys too,” I sing quietly, licking my lips and reaching for my water. 

“Well, that's just what life is” He grabs my hand, stopping me from reaching for the bottle. “But the earth rotates” He holds my hand back up to my face, making me roll my eyes.

“Your dream will surely come true.”

“You too,” Getting louder.

“Me too,” And louder, producing smiles. 

“Let's do our best, thank you!” We sing together, Hobi turning off onto a dirt road, making the whole car shutter.

“Ayooo, why are you sooo loud,” Jungkook moans, pressing his hands into his eyes. “It’s so early…” 

“Mhmh, not really anymore.” I turn back, patting his leg. “I’m sure we are almost there anyway. Right Hoba?” I flip back up to the front, where he is turning down the volume. Eyes confused, staring off, and slowing the car down to a crawl.

“Right,” He whispers, looking into his mirrors. 

“What's wrong?” Jungkook sits up, looking outside the windows. It’s getting dark under the trees, just the light coming from in between the road shining down on us. It’s deep emerald green, glowing at the treetops from the light attempting to penetrate. At the base of the tall trees though it is hard to see through, getting darker and darker the further you try to look. There aren't any paths on either side and no turn-offs. Is Hoseok lost? I look over to him, but he just stops the car completely. 

“Uh, I thought the turn was around here.” He pouts, pulling up his phone which has the GPS turned on. He sighs, “yeah see.” Flicking the phone in between Jungkook and I. There it is, the turn right in front of us. But there is no road and no sign that there ever has been. 

“The internet connection must be bad out here.” Jungkook bites his inner cheek, sliding down in his seat. “What’s the road called? Or like the company for renting?” 

Hoseok sets his phone in the cup holder, slowly releasing the brake and letting the car continue slowly forward. “It's just like a number marker and then we drive down further to reach a small clearing and hillside where the cabin will be.”

“What number?” I ask, sitting up in my chair. 

“Mhm, 189.” He mutters, mouth screwing up. We sit in silence for a while as he drives down the road. Looking at the clock it is 9:25. 

“It’s been ten minutes,” I announce, and Hobi only shakes his head. He’s getting annoyed. “Maybe we missed it?”

“We are going five miles an hour,” He huffs, squeezing the steering wheel. “Oh well, we could turn back around.” He shrugs, letting out a sigh, but I can tell he is still bothered. Must be stress weighing him down.

“Oh look!” Jungkook’s finger comes in between us, pointing forward to the right. Both our heads turn to look, but I can’t see a damn thing. 

“What where?”

He scoots closer to the center seat. “There there, low to the ground!” He hops up and down, and there it is. A few inches from the ground a small yellow reflective sign marked ‘189’.

“Oh thank goodness.” Hoseok speeds up, reaching the turn-off in no time. 

“Why is there just some random cabin marked ‘189’,” Jungkook complains, sorting through his things. “Where is 1-188” He huffs, making Hobi smile.

“Yeah it is kind of weird,” He responds, taking the turn. It’s a tight road, trees looming overhead and thus enclosing us in the dark. So much so that the car's headlights turn on automatically, the day becoming the evening. Here the road is even bumpier, grass grown in on the path. We all go silent, eyes training over the forest as if there is something in it. But it’s just trees. 

“Hobi where the hell have you booked us?” Jungkook laughs, peering out his window with a huge grin. These kinds of things excite him, exploring and whatnot. 

“You know, this is not what I was expecting. Even I have goosebumps.” Hoseok shivers. His face looks slightly disappointed. He isn’t a fan of spooky things so hopefully, the cabin is much more welcoming than the road to it. 

“It’s okay, you’ve seen the pictures of the cabin and it looked nice you said.” He nods to me, trying to pick up the pace of the car. Another ten minutes later and we are still driving straight down the road. The end not in sight, nor the exit behind us either. Hobi runs a hand through his hair, his whole face dropping into a frown in that familiar disgusted look. The road is so narrow that he won’t be able to turn around, so none of us say anything and he just keeps going. 

“This is really getting weird,” Hobi says, his voice shaky. “I can just back us out if you want.” 

“No, no, no.” I say, “this has to be the right spot.”

“I’m sure we are almost there,” Koo adds. So he does, a sigh of relief from us all as the road begins to widen and trees begin to clear. There is a little picket sign ahead marking that there is a cabin on the left. 

“Finally,” Hobi smiles, pulling around a wide circular clearing, a path to the right, and a short path leading to a small wooden cabin. He pulls around, parking the car in front of where we would be staying. Jungkook is getting giddy in the backseat, opening the door as soon as Hoseok puts us in park. I smile at Hobi who is already seeming a little more relaxed to be at our destination. 

We join Jungkook outside, the air still a bit nipply. Hopefully, neither of them has forgotten to pack warmer clothing. All of us are in hoodies and sweatpants as of right now. Jungkook left his things hopping around the clearing, which at the center is a fire pit and some chairs. The fire will warm us up if we want and would shoo away the bugs. Past that is the path, looking like it would lead up to another clearing and the hills Hobi had mentioned. All around us on the other sides are just trees. Without the clearing, it would be just as dark as the road in. Later tonight we’ll probably be too nervous to go outside to even light the fire. 

“Smores tomorrow?” Jungkook hums, coming back around to the trunk. 

“Let’s get unpacked first and then decide what we are going to do,” I say, taking out my suitcase and the bag of food. Jungkook scoffs, taking his own suitcase along with the cooler. 

“Yeah it’s too cold today, so tomorrow sounds good,” Hobi answers him. “And worst-case scenario we do it on the stove inside.” 

“There’s a stove?” He asks backward, as we head over to the door. 

Hobi gives a little laugh, “It’s a fully functional home. Despite what you would think driving up.” Making me smirk, “Even the door has a key code instead of physical keys.”

“Oh, so it's pretty new.” I nod, as he types in the code making it obvious for us both to see 456782. “Yeah definitely wouldn’t have guessed that.” I look back to the forest, closing in on us as we file in with our things. 

“Wow!” Jungkook’s voice brings me back inside, the lights flickering on in the small living room. 

“Oh yess.” I nod looking around. It’s well furnished, a couch and a tv, blankets, and pillows dotted all around the room. The kitchen to the left, all stainless steel appliances. There’s a hallway to the right, likely leading to the rooms. While it’s freezing, the thermostat is located next to us on the wall. Hobi immediately turns to it, flipping it up as much as he can shivering and exaggerating the cold.

“What a pad.” Jungkook grins, leading the way into the home. The hallway stops at a blank wall and then turns to the right and goes down, four doors, two on each side and a window at the end of the hall. “One floor?”

“One floor,” Hobi answers, turning into one of the rooms. “Oop,” He comes back out, “That's the bathroom,” he announces, heading to the next door across from him. I peer in, a double bed, looking cozy. Hobi turns back to us outside wagging his finger at us. “This one's mine!” Sticking his tongue out. We shrug, moving down to the next rooms. It isn’t fair really since Hobi had likely seen the images online. 

Jungkook took the next room, it was also a double bed, and I curse myself for letting him have it. There is likely a single person bed in the last room and I just knew it. And I was right. I open the door and there it is wrapped in a pink duvet. At least it looked warm and comfy. My room looks the most updated, and their room’s looking dated.

“Aww shit.” I hear Hoseok cry, making me peek my head out into the hall. He doesn’t continue. 

“Hoseok?” I call and it sounds like he had tossed something in the room. 

“I forgot a mosquito net.” He sighs, peering out his own door to see me. I grin, coming well prepared for this. He isn’t even forgetful but it’s always good to have an extra on hand. 

“I got one.” And so I got it for him. While the cabin warms itself we settle into our rooms, helping each other set up our nets. We pack up the fridge and make sure that everything is working properly. The tv doesn’t have any cable signal but there is a DVD player and some random DVD’s in the cabin. At least there will be plenty to do if we can't go outside. 

“I’m so glad we didn’t pull up on some creepy run-down haunted-looking building.” Hobi giggles, taking a seat on the couch. “I got a little nervous there.” He smiles crossing his legs. 

“A little? Pshh.” Jungkook teases, looking around, and finding his reflection in a beautiful gold framed mirror. I join Hobi, pulling out my phone. 

“Aye, none of that.” he makes a click with his tongue, pushing my phone down to my lap. I shake my head, lifting it back up.

“We told Jin that we would text the chat when we got here.” he nods, as I pull up the chat. “Made it safely!” Immediately it returns a failed message. I frown, seeing that there is absolutely not a pinch of service. 

“What’s the wifi?” I turn to Hobi who pulls out his phone as well. 

“Glamping189 is the name, 456782 is the code.” He reads off of a screenshot. But it isn’t there. In fact, there isn’t anything listed under the available networks at all. 

“Ah well, that’s shit.” I groan, turning to Jungkook who just shakes himself from staring at the mirror. Vain much? “Will you look around for a router?” He nods as I get up to help him search. There isn’t one, we search each and every corner but there isn’t one at all.

[austerulous]

Good morning gang! ♡ I have a busy day ahead of me and I’m still spitting blood so I won’t be here much, but my plans for the weekend include sending out the asks for that inbox call, catching up with DMs (here and on Discord, finally) and a regular spring-clean of my follower list.

[1989dreamer]

Full Offense (no offense)

Cross-posted at my AO3

Summary: Stiles lives in an apartment below the worst neighbor in the world. Derek always submits false complaints about Stiles and his roommates to the front office. Well, tables are turning. Derek is hosting a party this Saturday, and Stiles fully intends to crash it and confront Derek over his asshole-ish-ness.

Main Relationship: Sterek

Rating: T

Tags: Angry Stiles, Human AU, drunk characters, Derek cooks, dub/non-con drugging, attempted assault mentioned, over-protective Laura, enemies to lovers, asshole Jackson

                                                                                                                     ~ * ~

“I’m offended,” Stiles announces to the room in general. No one looks up, too used to his outbursts by now to pay much attention. The fools.

He marches up to Scott sitting at the breakfast nook, a large bowl of Fruity Pebbles in front of him. He stares him down while Scott keeps shoveling cereal into his mouth.

Finally, after about five minutes, once his bowl is empty, he looks up as if just noticing Stiles for the first time. “Sorry,” he says laconically. “You’re offended?”

“Yeah, and you wanna know why?”

“Not really.”

Stiles ignores Scott and forges ahead. “That bastard in 3A wrote another complaint about us.”

“Really?” Now Scott looks interested. “What’d he say we did this time?”

“Something about an over-loud party last weekend.”

“But we weren’t even here last weekend,” Scott protests. He shoots a look at their roommates, Boyd and Jackson, sitting on the couch and playing a first person shooter game. They both shrug. Boyd had been at his girlfriend’s. Jackson had been who knows the hell where. Stiles doesn’t keep track of him. As long as he pays his rent, they are cool.

“So I’m thinking he’s targeting us,” Stiles says. “Why, I don’t know. That is something I intend to find out.”

“And how do you plan to do that?” Scott asks.

“A little bird told me that 3A is planning to host his own bash this weekend. So guess who wrangled an invite?”

“You’re going to crash 3A’s fancy shindig?” Jackson snorts. “In what outfit?”

“In this one?” Stiles points down at his button down, left open over a graphic t-shirt and baggy khaki pants. The only thing he might change is his shoes. He’s got a fresh pair of sneakers just waiting for a spin out in the world. Might as well break them in at 3A’s party.

Jackson snorts again, but he’ll be waiting a long time if he thinks Stiles either wants or needs his fashion advice.

“And how exactly did you get an invitation?”

“The front desk clerk gave it to me.” Stiles pulls out the blue paper and waves it in Jackson’s general direction. “Look, ‘Derek Hale formally invites you to Apartment 3A to partake in games and alcohol from the hours of 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Cabs will be called for all attendees who do not wish to stay overnight.’”

“Wow,” Scott says, “this Derek fellow sounds awfully polite on paper.”

“Yeah,” Stiles admits. “It’s probably to disguise how much of a shithead he really is.”

“Well, have fun,” Scott says. “I will be at Allison’s this weekend.”

“I’m heading back to Erica’s,” Boyd adds.

Jackson rolls his shoulders. “Any chance that invite has a plus-one on it?”

“Fuck off,” Stiles says, but he checks anyway. “Nope, sorry. Nothing about that. Seemed pretty exclusive from what the front desk clerk said.”

“Well I guess I’ll just have to get my own then,” Jackson says with too much nonchalance. He’s a bad liar. Stiles knows his tells. When he’s this relaxed, he’s worried.

“What? You think I’m going to his party to hobnob?” Stiles forces out a laugh. “Buddy, I’m going to confront the bastard and see what his fucking problem with us is.”

“Oh of course,” Jackson snipes back. “Couldn’t be that you’re finally fucking picking up culture.”

Stiles snorts. “If you consider going to Derek Hale’s wine-and-game-night culture.”

“Well,” Scott says, “it is more cultured than beer and C.O.D.”

“Hey, don’t shit on C.O.D. nights. That’s culture too.”

Boyd gives Stiles an air-five.

“Anyway. It’s just a party. If I can get Derek Hale off our backs, isn’t that a good thing?”

The others agree, and Boyd and Jackson go back to their game and Scott gets up to wash his bowl and spoon.

Stiles goes to his room to plot his speech for this Saturday. Derek Hale won’t know what hits him when Stiles walks into his apartment. It just might be the last thing Stiles ever does, but by God, he’s taking that asshole with him.

                                                                                                                    ~ * ~

The rest of the week passes so uneventfully that Stiles is scared that things are going too well.

The day of Derek’s party dawns bright and beautiful and quiet.

Boyd left last night to Erica’s, and Scott didn’t even come home before he headed out to Allison’s.

Jackson is still around, but Stiles is ignoring him. As far as he knows, Jackson never managed to get an invite to the party, so he’s hoping to sneak out before Jackson can attach himself like a barnacle and slip into the party as a plus-one even though it really isn’t that kind of party.

Stiles spends most of the day in his room, on his computer practicing his speech until he can recite it without notes. If he was being graded on it, he’d accept nothing less than an A+. It’s that good.

Stiles has his outfit picked out already. Despite what he told his roommates earlier, he’s actually going to be wearing a fitted gray blazer over a buttoned down blue shirt and pressed khakis. He also managed to find his dress shoes from graduation. So, he’ll be decently dressed and can pass for one of Derek’s swanky friends.

At least, Stiles assumes they’re swanky. Derek dresses nicely all the time—at least whenever Stiles runs into him in the hallways.

About an hour before the party, he dresses in complete silence and then uses the fire escape outside his window to get down street side, and then he just chills at a small park about five blocks away.

Once 5:45 pm arrives, Stiles heads back and jogs up to Derek Hale’s door. The front desk clerk who’d given him the invite is nowhere to be seen. Instead, it’s an older, lecherous man that Stiles calls Uncle Bad Touch in his head. UBT waves at him as he hurries past.

Thankfully, UBT only works once in a long while. Usually it’s one of two clerks who look remarkably the same aside from different hairstyles. Stiles likes Cora best. She is abrasive in a good way, and she gives things to Stiles, like extra soap when he forgets to buy some or the invite to Derek’s party.

Despite all his careful planning, Jackson is waiting in front of Derek’s door, dressed even more smartly than Stiles. Hell, that might even be Jackson’s high school prom tux, and it really isn’t fair that he still fits in it, even if the shoulders look a little tight.

“Ready?” Jackson cocks an eyebrow at Stiles. He knocks before Stiles can answer.

The door immediately swings open, and Derek stands before them. Stiles can’t help fist-pumping a little when he notices that Derek is dressed in slacks and a button up shirt instead of a suit or tux like Jackson. He does bite back the “Culture,” that wants to come out, though.

“Welcome,” Derek says, looking from one to the other, a frown of confusion pulling his brows low over his eyes.

Stiles clears his throat and shoves the invite from Cora at Derek. He takes it, tucks it into his back pocket and then steps back to allow them in.

“Drinks are in the kitchen. Thanks for coming.”

He leaves them standing just inside the door as he makes his way to what must be the kitchen. The layout is similar to their apartment just downstairs, and Stiles heads for a couch in much nicer condition than theirs. Jackson follows him, perching on a loveseat across from him, a sturdy metal coffee table between the two sitting areas, and clutching at his knees. He seems far more nervous than Stiles feels.

There aren’t any other people here, and for a moment Stiles thinks he might have arrived too early, and then Derek reappears with a tray of finger foods just as the door slams open.

“What’s up, asshole!” the not-Cora front desk clerk yells, bouncing into the room, closely followed by a guy dressed identical to Jackson.

Jackson doesn’t look any relieved to see that.

“Hey, Laura, hey, Jordan.” Derek gives them an awkward sort of wave. “This is Cora and her fiancé.”

“Really now?” Laura peers at Stiles and Jackson with pretend interest. “Coulda swore those are your downstairs neighbors.”

“All right, you got me. Cora and Lydia were busy tonight so they gave their invite to Stiles and Jackson.”

Jackson shoots a sort of smug look at Stiles, completely ruined by the fact that he also looks like he wants to throw up. Stiles refuses to react, but he is a little bummed that it actually was a plus-one invite.

“Cool.” Laura looks marginally more interested. “Are they any good at Risk?”

Derek rolls his eyes so hard that Stiles waits for them to pop out and bounce along the floor. “We’re not playing Risk. I donated the game after last time.”

Laura turns a funny shade of red while Derek all but runs to where the door is being timidly knocked upon.

All told, five more people show up; a vivacious blonde couple, Rachel and Sean, who seem more interested in flanking Jackson and making him blush hotly before Derek makes them move; Kira with cat-headphones and a shy smile when she catches Stiles admiring the many fandom pins on her bag; permanent-frat-boy Sammy, with a backwards cap and saggy basketball shorts; and thin, elegant brunette, Abigail, who has an aloofness to rival a freezer. Derek keeps running back and forth from the kitchen until his tasteful coffee table is loaded down with cups and food. He encourages everyone to eat, and it’s delicious. Stiles eats way too much and drinks only enough to wash it down. He manages to put away two loaded potatoes, too many breaded mozzarella sticks, fried mushrooms, jalapeño poppers to count, and half of a small cheesecake. Only Abigail eats more than him. Derek is a fucking fantastic cook (even if most of the foods are pop and bake) and bartender. He’s also the quintessential host, and Stiles really feels bad about what he’s going to do.

He decides to wait until everyone else is too drunk to stop him before he confronts Derek about his well-hidden asshole-side.

                                                                                                                    ~ * ~

About three hours later, the food is gone, drinks are back in the kitchen, and Laura is drunkenly trying to set up Jackson with Jordan. Despite wearing matching clothes and red faces, neither seems to actually mind her meddling.

And Derek keeps staring at Stiles with a heated gaze that is definitely not helping the stomachache from too much food.

Stiles wins every game they even try playing because everyone else, including Jackson, is smashed. Then, once they’ve settled into just conversation, he begins putting away the games. Derek tries to help, and Stiles has to bite back a fond smile as Derek rests his head on his shoulder while he tries and fails to sort the Monopoly money.

“So, how’d you get an invite?” Derek slurs against his ear when Stiles takes the money from him.

“You said it earlier: Cora gave it to me,” Stiles says honestly. “She also told me that you filed another complaint against us.”

“What?” Derek hiccups on the word, pulling back and staring wide-eyed and innocent at Stiles. He isn’t buying it.

Not at all.

Derek hiccups again, and then lets out a low burp. He blushes, covering his mouth. “Sorry. But I didn’t file any complaints against you. You’re great neighbors. You haven’t done anything at all. Even your get-togethers are quiet and respectful. Why would I complain about you?”

“If it isn’t you, then who…?” Stiles looks away from Derek. For some reason, he finds his gaze locked onto Jackson. Who is staring back at him with a kind of terrified look on his face.

“Jackson?” Stiles asks.

“Yeah?” His roommate swallows hard.

“Why has Derek been filing complaints about us at the front office?”

“He hasn’t,” Jackson whispers. “I have.”

“Why?” Derek asks. “You guys are perfect! My parents love you.”

“It’s stupid,” Jackson mutters. “I’m sorry. I’ll stop. I’ll move out too. I’m sorry, Stiles.”

“What did you hope to accomplish by filing complaints against us? You realize you would be kicked out too, right?”

“Yeah, but…” he pauses to blow out a breath that he doesn’t seem like he can spare. “I just. It’s just so stupid. I’m so sorry, Stiles. I just wanted to get you evicted. I knew the rest of us could play off as quiet and nice tenants while you’d probably have a loud reaction and get kicked out. I’m sorry.”

Hurt, Stiles leans back like that can even begin to give him the distance he needs right now. Jackson does look reproached but sorry doesn’t make up for the fact that his roommate, someone he thought was his friend, filed three noise complaints against him. One more and the landlords would have no choice but to investigate and possibly kick him out.

Derek pats at Stiles’ arm. “I’m sorry you have such a shitty friend,” he says.

Stiles nods. “Me too.” He stands up. “I’m sorry, Derek. I came here to yell at you for unfairly complaining about us, and you’ve been nothing but awesome. I hope I get to see you again someday. Right now, I just need to go. I need to find a place to stay for tonight.” He looks back at Jackson and then away just as quickly. “I can’t stay at our apartment right now.”

“Everyone was just leaving, right?”

“Fuck no,” Laura says. “We’re stealing your bed, Derek. You can sleep on the couch.”

Derek frowns at her. “Okay, so we’re all a little too drunk for this. Stiles, why don’t you stay here tonight and Jackson will go back to the apartment. We’ll sort it all out tomorrow when we’re not drunk anymore.”

“I’m sorry,” Jackson says again. “Really, Stiles. I am.”

“I get it,” Stiles tells him, “but right now, I don’t care.”

“Jordan, walk Jackson back to his apartment,” Laura orders. “My buzz is fading and that’s not what Saturday night’s all about.”

It’s definitely an awkward end to what had been a fun and kind of sweet night.

Stiles sits back down on the sofa as the door closes behind Jackson and Jordan. Derek watches him, eyes soft with concern. Stiles isn’t sure that he wants whatever sympathy Derek has for him, but he’s glad at least someone seems to realize how hurt he is by Jackson’s betrayal.

Laura grouses a bit and then stumbles to the bedroom, half the rest of the party following her while the other half goes to the other bedroom.

Derek sighs, leaning against Stiles. “Are you okay?”

“Not really, but I guess I will be. Anyway, I better call our other roommates and let them know that I’ll be moving out.”

“You can stay on my couch tonight, and if you need a place to crash, I’ve got a spare bed.” He glances at the second door. “I’ll clean the bed and put out fresh sheets tomorrow,” he promises.

“Why would you do that for me?” Stiles asks. “I’m practically a stranger to you.”

“Well, my sisters like you. Cora especially. So,” Derek shrugs, “I like you too.”

“That is, ostensibly, the worst reason I have ever heard to like someone,” Stiles says.

Derek rolls his shoulders in a lazy shrug. “It’s worked out so far,” he replies. “Anyway. I should let you get settled.” He pauses, studying Stiles with a serious, contemplative expression, lip between his teeth. Honestly, it’s a little adorable.

Stiles sighs and shakes his head. “Yeah, okay. Thanks, Derek, you’re being a real friend, unlike Jackson.”

It’s Derek’s turn to sigh. “I’ve had my share of bad friends,” he admits. “I do my best to not make anyone feel like they’re unwelcome even if I don’t know them. I guess it makes people think I’m soft or something, so I try to keep my true emotions hidden when I’m out in public…” he trails off, blinking. “I don’t remember where I was going with that, but yeah, I really just want you to know that you’re welcome here as long as you need it.”

“Thanks,” Stiles says sincerely. “That really means a lot to me. Thank you, Derek.”

“No problems.” Derek does a two finger wave as he stumbles to a trunk set between the bedroom doors. He returns with a couple of blankets and pillows, thumping one set into Stiles’ chest. “You take the couch. I’ll sleep in the kitchen. Wake me up if I’m not already up when you get up.”

“Okay.” Stiles refuses to believe it’s a promise, but the hopeful look Derek gives him before he disappears into the kitchen makes him think that whether he meant it or not, Derek definitely took it as a promise.

Could be worse, he decides, dropping the pillow onto the couch and following it down.

His brain, usually wired too fast to get much sleep must be as exhausted as he is because almost as soon as he buries his face in his borrowed pillow, he’s out.

                                                                                                                    ~ * ~

Stiles wakes up when one of the guests trips on their way to the bathroom, and because it’s daylight outside, he decides it’s not worth chasing that last minute of sleep, so he gets up and goes to find Derek in the kitchen.

Derek is rolled into his blanket, face smushed into his pillow. He’s adorable, and Stiles is struck by the sudden realization that someone needs to be kissing and loving up on him, and that maybe it should be him.

The floor creaks a little as Stiles moves closer, and Derek snuffles a bit and then sits bolt upright, bleary-eyed and yawning.

“Wha’ time’s it?” he mumbles, a hand flopping out of his blanket wrap to scratch at his beard.

Stiles pulls out his phone. “It’s almost 6:30,” he says. “Are you okay from sleeping on the floor?”

“’m fine,” Derek says around another yawn. He scrambles up and stretches until his back pops. “So, do you want something to eat? If I know Laura and her hangover, she’ll want the greasiest thing I can make. I’ve got three types of bacon—regular, thick, and turkey. I have eggs, cheese, hash browns, biscuits, and gravy.”

Stiles laughs in disbelief at the size of the menu. “Just how many guests do you have?” he asks. “Jordan’s still with Jackson. That means there’s eight of us left, including you. Do you really thing we can eat all that?”

Derek grins at him. “You don’t know hungover Laura. She’ll put it all away if we don’t stop her.”

Stiles rolls his shoulders. He’s not inclined to stop Derek if he’s planning on cooking again. Besides, it’s not like he has anywhere he has to be. Not until Jackson is out of the apartment because even though he’s the one moving out, he doesn’t want to be in the same room as his former friend.

Instead, he sits at the little table tucked under the window and watches Derek dig out everything he talked about and more. He tosses an orange at Stiles and then hums under his breath as he heats up a skillet and begins cracking eggs into a bowl. He pops what look like homemade biscuits on a baking sheet and starts a pot of country gravy.

“You know,” Stiles says, contemplative, “you’re handsome, can cook, and are so sweet. Why don’t you have a significant other?”

Derek’s shoulders tense for a brief moment before he continues, using a fork to beat the eggs. “I’m un-datable,” he says easily. Certainly far more easily than Stiles could have in his position.

“And why is that?” Stiles digs a thumb into a groove of the table while he waits for Derek’s response.

“Because he’s a fucking martyr,” Laura says from the doorway. She saunters in and sits down in the chair across from Stiles, wincing as her chair scrapes the floor. “Way back in high school, he wasn’t always so reserved and cool. He was dorky as shit. There were a few girls—popular bitches. You know the type, rich, never had to work for the things they had. Anyway, some of them targeted him because while Derek was never ugly, he wasn’t the cutest boy in school.” Laura pauses to rub her temples. “We have money. Obviously. Our parents own this apartment complex. So they just wanted to fuck with him. The last one was the worst.”

Derek’s shoulders are shaking, and Stiles stops Laura. She looks over at her brother and swears colorfully.

“Hey, I’m sorry. I’ll stop talking. We won’t say anything more. I promise.”

“It’s okay,” Derek says, calmly sliding several slices of the turkey bacon into the pan. “It’s been years. It’s not like she’s out yet.”

Stiles startles, a soft, “What?” slipping out.

Derek sighs heavily, reaching for a spatula. “My last girlfriend drugged me. She was trying to record something incriminating and ended up getting busted by a chaperone.”

“It was junior prom,” Laura fills in.

Derek nods. “She got five years. It was extended after she fought her cellmate and almost killed her. So, she’s got another five years. She’ll be released in two years.”

Stiles quickly counts up on his fingers. “So that makes you, what, twenty-five?”

“Yeah. You?”

“Twenty-three.”

“I’m thirty,” Laura interjects, shrugging when both her brother and Stiles look at her. “Yeah. I had an outside perspective.” She goes quiet. “I was the chaperone.”

“That’s some heavy stuff,” Stiles says. “No wonder you don’t date anymore.”

“Anyway. Breakfast is about halfway done. You should call the others.”

Derek moves onto the potatoes next. Laura leaves, probably to rouse the other guests. Stiles sits back at the table, rolling the orange one way and then the other.

After a few minutes of nothing but the sizzling of potatoes, Stiles clears his throat. “So,” he says softly. “Are you ready to date again or still…?”

“Probably ready,” Derek answers, so low that Stiles has to strain to hear him. “Been ready for a while, but Laura feels so guilty that she kind of sabotages my relationships.”

“If it were me, I wouldn’t let her push me away.”

“Are you insinuating that you’d date me?” Derek turns just to raise an eyebrow at him.

Stiles waits until he turns back to stove before saying, “Maybe more than insinuating.”

Derek doesn’t respond, so Stiles assumes he hasn’t heard him. That’s okay. Stiles can just sit here and enjoy the view. Maybe after breakfast he’ll bring up the insinuation again. He doesn’t want it to be awkward if he’s going to crash with Derek before finding his own place.

But if it goes well, aside from Laura, then maybe they can move in right away. Derek has two bedrooms. It’s not like they’ll jump right into bed. Stiles is still virginal and a bit self-conscious about it. And besides, Derek might be ready for dating but dating is miles from having sex. At least, Stiles thinks it is. It’s not like he has experience there.

He finally peels the orange to give his hands something to do and then Derek clears his throat. Stiles looks up.

“So, uh, about what you said, about it not being an insinuation. Did you mean that?” Derek sets a plate of the fresh biscuits onto the table and then grabs the pot of gravy too.

“Yes?” Stiles coughs, feeling the flush rising in his cheeks. “I mean, yeah, yes. Definitely. I definitely would like to date you. I mean, technically, we’re already on our second date.”

“True. So, formally, Stiles-I-don’t-know-your-last-name, would you like to go on a date with me?”

“Stilinski,” Stiles says, “and yes, Derek Hale, I’d love to go on a date with you. Formally.”

Derek makes a face. “Your name is Stiles Stilinski? Who named you?”

“Excuse you, I did.” Stiles makes a face back at him. “It’s a nickname, duh.”

“So what’s your real name?”

“Ah,” Stiles waggles a finger at him, “that’s a third date kind of question, don’t you think?”

“Are we going on a date tonight?”

“Probably,” Stiles says, and then realizes what Derek is getting at. “Cheeky,” he says. “Maybe I’ll never tell you until the day we get married, and then you’ll be like, ‘What happened to Stiles?’ and ‘How the fuck do you even say that?’”

“Wrong.”

“How so?”

“I’d never be so crude as to swear on our wedding day. That’s for the honeymoon.”

“Oh yeah, and what’ll you be saying then?”

Derek blushes and doesn’t answer, but Stiles can guess and it makes him blush too.

“Oh isn’t this cozy?” Abigail says as she drops into the chair next to Stiles. The rest of the guests file in, grab food and file out, all shuffling in some kind of zombie-walk. Only Laura joins them at the table. Abigail adds, slyly eying Laura, who has piled a plate high with a lot off food, immediately stabbing a fork into the mess and shoveling it into her face, “Are you finally going to admit your big, fat crush on little old Stiles here, eh, Derek?”

“Yeah, actually, we’re way past that,” Derek says. “We’re on our second date.”

Laura chokes on her eggs. “What?” she demands, glaring at Stiles. “When did this happen?”

“Um, well, the party last night was the first date,” Stiles says. He holds her gaze, giving as good as he gets. “Breakfast this morning is date number two.”

“And we’re going on a third date tonight,” Derek announces. He stares down Laura, almost daring her to challenge him. Instead, and Stiles gets the distinct feeling that this is rare, Laura sinks back in her chair and digs back into her eggs.

Briefly, Stiles thinks he made a mistake agreeing to date Derek so easily, but the first moment Derek looks up from his plate and grins at Stiles as he reaches for more food, he knows he was gone the moment he sat on Derek’s couch and listened to him make his friends leave Jackson alone, the way he let them in at all. The way he’s been nothing but gracious despite his semi-drunken confession to purposefully putting on a grumpy air in the hallways. Derek Hale is a sweetheart and Stiles realizes that he wants to date Derek in all the ways. He wants to learn his favorite color, which movies he loves, what he reads, why he gives up his bed to his friends and his couch to a stranger. He wants to know Derek, and Derek’s gentle smile lets him know that Derek wants to know him too.

So maybe Jackson deserves a little credit for this, but Stiles is still mad at him. Even if it’s the best thing that’s happened to Stiles in a long while.

“Mieczysław,” he says suddenly, aware that he’s interrupting some weird bantering between Abigail and Laura.

“What?” Laura asks.

Derek just grins wider. “Mieczysław,” he repeats and he doesn’t completely butcher it, but it could use some work.

“Yeah,” Stiles says.

And that’s how he knows they’ll work out, eating breakfast foods at a table with Derek’s older sister and special friend, on their second date, Derek’s blanket and pillow still shoved into a corner of the room, the sound of the rest of Derek’s friends chattering in the living room.

Derek and Mieczysław sitting at the table, making eyes at each other over eggs and bacon, gonna get married and say bad words on their honeymoon.

Yeah, it kinda sounds perfect.

~ The End ~

[canaryatlaw]

okay yeah this is going to be quick because there’s a lot going on here. recap on yesterday was I went to the neurologist, they had a tornado warning while I was there but thankfully it passed ok. when I saw the doctor sadly he didn’t really find anything in the tests which is objectively good because it means I don’t have like brain tumor or MS or a big thing like that, but it’s still frustrating to not get answers. but I ubered home and discovered th power for the hole building was out thanks to a bad storm. it was still out when I went to bed so I left my phone and computer on their charges hoping the power would kick in overnight at some point and it’ get recharged.

well. about that. 

I wake up, it’s light out, devices are all dead now and I have no idea of telling what time it is but I knew if I didn’t have a way to get to court on Zoom I was majorly fucked. so I grabbed a bag to put my stuff in and hightailed it to starbucks so I could beg to use their wifi and outlets, which I wasn’t sure they were doing since the indoor seating had been closed off, but thankfully they were all super chill and there were some booths by the wall that had outlets that were good for people to sit in at which point I was like OH THANK GOD, and also found out it was 6:30 am, with court at nine. mu computer would charge but for some reason wouldn’t let me on their wifi (they let my phon for some reason but not my computer. II didn’t want to mooch off starbucks too much so I left around 2 hours later and got in the line, nothing big happened but it was kind of frustrating because the two cases I had were supposed to be the last court dates for the cases but instead both got continued which is super fucking annoying because I had to like tell the judge I don’t have access to my records right now so I couldn’t even tell him what the motion said and he’s not going to grant it without seeing it, so we had set out for another week date which is annoying. but oh well. I’m back at home, power’s still out, I took a nap for a bit and tried to get some work done, as much as I can anyway, my roommate had been in contact with the power company because apparently like thousands of people lost power and they were saying they won’t have it restored until like Saturday, so we packed up and brought kitty in her carrier bag because it was a pet friendly hotel, and we didn’t want to leave her in their with no AC or anything for multiple days. we get her in the carrier and she’s doing her sad meowing thing she always does because she hates it, but this time it was accompanied by her shitty  all over the bag completely, which has never even happened before. we got checked into the hotel and then basically ran to our room to give her a bath, which sh of course did not enjoy very much,, so she hasn’t had a great days but I’ll like to think the bad stuff is over now. the rest of the evening was chill, I ordered some italian food from uber eats and I definitely clicked the option to bring cutlery and I guess they did not get that message because it came with none, and there legit isn’t anything I could fashion somewhat into a fork, so I had to go ahead and eat my spaghetti with my hands which was...something.. my body’s been not happy since I downed a pint of ice cream this morning to keep it from melting and getting ruined and then hadn’t eaten anything else all day. but yeah they night was pretty calm which is good, because I’m supposed to be. my eyesight is still pretty much in the shitter, but I don’t think I’m going to be able to go until the weekend and have to suck it up until then....it’s so bad right now because I can’t see what a message is so I screenshot it and then go into photos and zoom in so i can see the message...it has worked pretty well actually but is still kinda ridiculous. but yeah, that’s about it. hopefully tomorrow will be more chill than today at least, and until then I am getting some sleep. Goodnight friends. Hope you don’t randomly lose your power and your wifi.

[tomhollanduniverse]

Creepy Parker (Peter Parker x Reader Oneshot)

Author’s note: This is my entry for @starksparker‘s 4k Writing Challenge! I don’t think I’ve ever written something so long in such a short amount of time. I’m still in the process of getting back into writing again, after going through some personal issues and having writer’s block because of them. So please go easy on me. 

P.S. I wrote this as if Infinity War never happened. I’m still in denial, okay?

Warnings: Some cursing here and there, a little bit of angst, violence, some drinking, instances of sexual assault (nothing too extreme), and of course fluff.

Word Count: 2.9k (Yes, it’s long. Please forgive me)

“Would you mind if I still loved you?”

  I am so late, and it’s my first day of class. I can’t understand this damn campus map to save my life. I ran by a sign that said “Psych building” and I breathed a sigh of relief. Finally found it! I looked back at my watch again, for the 10th time, hoping for some reason my watch was 10 minutes fast. I ran past a clock in the hall that said “8:20 a.m.” Nope. I was 10 minutes late. God, I hated being the center of attention more than anything and that’s just what I was about to be, walking into class. I was out of breath, when I finally found the room.

 “Social Psychology: Dr. Caples” the sign read. I contemplated just skipping but I was already here. I reluctantly pushed open the door, and just like I feared, all 30 people looked up.

 “Ahh, Ms. Y/L/N. Glad you could join us.” the teacher said, without looking up. How did he know it was me? 99 percent of the eyes turned back toward the teacher, but one pair locked onto mine. “Have a seat up here next to Mr. Parker.” the professor explained, pointing to a seat at the front, next to the weirdo still staring at me. Oh lord. I clambered down the stairs to the front row and he was still staring. What was his problem? I looked down at my feet as I found my desk. I situated my bag on the floor and got my old compaq laptop out to take notes. I still felt his gaze burning on me. Do I dare to look over there? As my laptop booted up, I slowly turned to him. His reddish-brown eyes met my (Y/E/C) ones and he was smiling. Whoa. A chill shot up my spine. He was gorgeous.

 “What’s your problem, weirdo?” I whispered, angrily, the smile never leaving his face. I fought back my smile.

 “N-nothing at all. I’ve just never seen you here before.” he stammered. The teacher had his back to us, writing notes on the board.

 “It’s my first day and I’ve already made a hell of an impression on the professor. So before I get in trouble again, we need to take notes.” I said, logging onto my computer. I was afraid to look at him again, fearing I would start liking him. No, I swore off any relationships for a while after I got hurt last time. There was no way I was gonna let this one in.

 “My name is Peter…Parker.” he smiled again, sticking his hand out. I looked at it but continued to type the notes. I didn’t want to seem rude, so I stuck my hand out and shook it softly.

 “Y/N.”

 “W-want to talk after class?” Peter asked timidly.

“Can’t. Sorry. I have to be on the other side of the campus by 9:40 for a creative writing class.”

 “I know. Your class list is on the front of your notebook. I have that class also.” he said. “I could show you the way.” he said.

 “Don’t need help. Thanks though, Creepy Pete.” I laughed quietly. He frowned and turned back to the board. I felt bad for being mean, but none of the guys that were mean to me before cared how I felt. Not to mention this creepy dude looked 20 or 21. Too young for me. I shoved back my feelings of remorse and focused on the teacher for the rest of the class. At 9:15am, we were dismissed and I packed up and headed for the door. I felt Peter walking behind me. I looked back as he was checking his phone. I situated my bag on my shoulders, took one last look at my map and took off in a sprint, leaving Creepy behind. It didn’t take him much time to catch up with me. Jesus. Could this guy not take a hint? Every twist and turn I made, he mirrored my moves. What a weirdo! A very cute weirdo, though. Suddenly he took a sharp turn and disappeared. Whew, thank you! After running for what seemed like forever, I reached the Creative Writing building. Peter was there already, holding the door open for me.

 “What the hell?” I asked, out of breath. “How…how the hell did you do that?”

 “I’ve been going here for a year. I know the shortcuts.” Peter explained, smirking.

 “Don’t smirk at me, you weirdo.” Fighting back a smile, he laughed.

 “That feels kinda like a term of endearment, coming from you.”

 “You don’t know me, Pete. Don’t act like you know me. Please just stay away. You’re probably too young for me anyways? What are you…20?”

 “21. I’ll be 22 soon.”

 “Yeah, see. I’m 25 almost 26. Too old for you.” I say, walking through the door. “Not to mention you’re too clingy and you don’t know me.”

 “Well, would you mind if I still wanted to be your friend?” he pleaded. “I’m not here to hurt you.” It’s like he knew. I sighed, giving in.

 “No, I wouldn’t mind.” I said, his eyes sparkled. He grinned from ear to ear. Over the next couple months, we got to know each other much better. It was getting hard to hold back my feelings for him. Even when he canceled a few times because he had “stuff to do.” I told him why I was so guarded with my feelings and he understood. I could tell he had lost a lot too, telling me about his parents and how he had lived with his Aunt May. He told me a lot about her, and I felt like I already knew her.

 “She seems really nice. I’ll have to meet her sometime soon, Peter.” He seemed really surprised.

 “Really Y/N? Would you like to go back and visit with me, next weekend? Don’t worry, she knows we’re only friends.”

 “I’m going to a (Your favorite band) Concert, next Friday, but we can leave Saturday morning.” A worried look spread across his face.

 “Are you going alone?” his overprotective side coming out. It annoyed me sometimes.

 “Yes, Parker. I’ve been to many concerts alone. I’ll be fine. Don’t start with me.” He sighed.

 “But have you been to a concert in Brooklyn before?”

 “No, Mom. But I have been to one in Saint Louis before. I was just fine. I’ll walk with a crowd at all times.” I promised. It was nice to have someone so worried about me. No other guy had ever been this worried about my safety before, but I didn’t want to admit it.

 “What if I go with you?”

 “You hate (your favorite band’s name). Not to mention, it’s sold out. I’ll be fine, dude. I’ll text you and tell you when I get there, when I’m leaving and when I get back home. Stop worrying about me so much.” Peter sighed in defeat. He learned quickly that I was stubborn and was gonna do what I wanted to do.

 Over the next week, he tried talking me out of it several times, but I didn’t budge. It was my favorite band and I had a great seat. When the night finally came, I got dressed at my dorm, in a band shirt, tight black jeans and my favorite leather boots. I was so damn excited. Peter, on the other hand, wasn’t.

“Is your phone charged? Do you have that pepper spray that I gave you? Your concert ticket and I.D.?” He asked me over the phone. He was just completely smothering me, but I liked it.

“Yessss, Peterrrr. I gotta go. I’ll text you when I get there.” I said, acting annoyed. I grabbed my stuff and headed to my car. The concert doors opened at 7:30 and I was there at 6:30 to get a good parking spot. It did seem pretty sketchy around here, but I parked close to the venue. Before I got out, I texted my Creep.

 “I’m here.” I texted Peter. I noticed a male silhouette in a red and blue suit moving on top of the brick building in front of my parking spot. It looked almost like …nah it couldn’t be. I shook my head and got out, dismissing the thought. I headed into the venue, trying to remember some of the things I had seen on the way in, to help guide me back to my car. As I got into the venue, I could definitely tell it was sold out. I got a beer from the bar and went found my seat. Peter wouldn’t be thrilled I was drinking, but he wasn’t here. Plus, he wasn’t my boss. Before long, the concert started. My heart pounded as the music started up. I couldn’t help but think about the red and blue silhouette I saw. Was that who I think it was? Once again, I shook my head and shoved the thoughts to the side. I couldn’t help but think about Peter, when the band started playing a lovey-dovey song that I really liked. I wish he liked this band…I wish he were here. I drank my beer down and went and got a rum and coke. Ballsy move on my part, but I needed to stop thinking about that weirdo. I drank that rum down like it was nothing and got another. I was a lightweight so I knew I needed to stop drinking. It was too late though.

 Before I knew it, the concert was over and I was still feeling dizzy. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, seeing a fuzzy screen full of replies from Peter, but I couldn’t text him back because he’d know I had been drinking. He’s gonna kill me. Please don’t let him find out. I shoved my phone back into my pocket and I stumbled out of the venue, trying to find the main entrance, where I came in. It was dark as hell outside and I didn’t recognize anything. A group of people were walking down the sidewalk so I went to join them. Some of them started breaking off, going to their cars, when only 4 big men remained in the group. I hadn’t realized that they were looking at me. I walked ahead of them, acting like I knew where I was going. Before long, the group of men were talking with each other. They knew each other and were still following me. I knew I needed to text Creep, even though he’d be disappointed in me. I got my phone out to text him when one of the men shouted at me, causing me to almost drop my phone.

 “Hey honey, You lost? Need some help finding your way back to our place?” they all howled with laughter. I started running, feeling for the pepper spray in my pocket. I had forgotten it in my glove box. Fuck. I ran ahead and hid behind a dumpster. I was still a little dizzy from my drinks when I realized I had ran down a dead-end alleyway. Shit. I was in some serious trouble. I heard their footsteps come around the corner where I was.

 “You can’t hide, sweetheart. We know these neighborhoods.” another man shouted. I jumped. One of the men came into sight and shouted to the other men.

 “She’s over here, guys. She’s a shy one!” he laughed. Before I knew it, the men were surrounding my way out of the alleyway, one of them holding a four inch blade in his hand.

 “I have money. You can have all of my money. And my car. Please just let me go.” my body shaking in fear. The one with the knife came up to me and held it to my throat. He must’ve been the leader of the group.

 “Oh, that’s not what we want, sweetheart. You’re pretty sexy.” The man put a little more pressure on my neck, sniffing my hair. I was crying, struggling to breathe behind the blade. I punched him, making him stumble backward.

 “Fuck off, you bastard.” I shouted. He smiled, wiping the blood from his nose.

 “God, I love the feisty ones.” he grinned through bloody teeth. He yanked at my long hair, making me fall to the ground. I groaned, struggling to get up. Another one of the men kicked me in the ribs, coughing from the impact. I could feel a knot forming on the back of my head.

 “You ain’t going anywhere, honey. Just lie back and enjoy it.” I closed my eyes, preparing for what was coming next. I felt one of them unbuckling my belt and I started to picture Peter saying “I told you so.” I’m so sorry I didn’t listen. I hope I would get a chance to tell him, but I wasn’t sure I would. I confessed my feelings to him, in my mind, hoping somehow he could hear me. I love you, Peter Parker. Suddenly, I heard another person speak up in a strangely familiar voice.

“Oh you’re gonna enjoy this, assholes.” the voice rang through the air. I heard some crashing noises and some screams come from the four men. I opened my eyes to see Spider-Man completely destroying the men. So it was him that I saw on that building. How the hell…? It took me a minute to put the pieces together. Holy shit. HOLY SHIT. Could it be?! After he had the men knocked out and pinned to the wall with his webs, he came over to check on me. He kneeled down to me.

 “Are you okay, Miss?” He put my head in his lap, brushing the hair out of my face, gently. “Everything is taken care of.” Just the sound of his voice comforted me.

 “I think so. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you, Creepy.” I said, weakly.

“Wh-why did you call me that? I’m not…I’m not creepy.” he stammered nervously, purposely deepening his voice. “We gotta get you to the hospital. I’m gonna call the police and I’ll take you there.”

“I know it’s you, Creep. Just go to my car, since you know where it is. Just drive me there.” He nodded in defeat, picking me up gently. He called the men in and explained what happened. Then, we swung back to my car and he laid me down in the passenger seat. He got in the drivers seat and we began driving to the hospital. When we got there, he looked around making sure there was no one around. He looked over to me and pulled the mask off. His fluffy curls were messy, his brown eyes sparkling like they always were.

 “How did you know, Y/N?”

 “I just did. I recognized your voice. Not to mention, who else has stalked me pretty much everywhere I go, since the first time we met?” I laughed weakly. He smiled too.

 “Look, I know now is not the time for this, but I think I might be in love with you.” He looked down, his knuckles white from nervously squeezing the steering wheel. “I’m sorry.”

 “Again, I know, Peter. I have since that day, also. I just know how some guys are. I wasn’t ready to trust anyone again.” He nodded in agreement.

 “This whole situation probably doesn’t help your outlook on men, but would you mind if I still loved you?” he gave a half grin. With the strength I had left, I kissed him. He cradled the back of my neck and deepened the kiss. When we broke apart I looked into those red-brown eyes again just like on the day we first met.

 “I thought you’d never ask, Creepy Parker. I love you, too.”

[thesundowncrew]

OutOfSpooks

Hey guys!! Sorry I wasn't on this weekend!! Things were pretty busy on Friday and since I had plans on Sunday, Saturday was just chores and me having some me-time. Good news! My best friend of all time finally got her spot for housemanship so to celebrate, I took her out to the city where we spent the whole day at KLCC Aquaria. Even better, since it was still her bday month we got 25% discount aaayyyyyy 👈😎👈 We had so much fun in that aquarium! I plan to see her again this weekend and have her again next week for my bday sleepover and properly celebrate and send her off to adulthood! She starts work the week after my bday and once she starts working, she won't have as much free time anymore 😭😭😭 So we're gonna do as much chilling together as we can!!!

That doesn't mean I'm gonna stop posting replies however!! I've got some replies waiting in the drafts so I'll try to post those tomorrow or the day after. Again so sorry I've been absent recently and keep getting to your messages late. If I haven't replied in a while, pls don't be afraid to nudge me all right?? I'm pretty scatterbrained, sometimes I even forget to reply!! I'm sorry 😅😘

Anyways hope everyone's been having a great week! If not, I hope things get better soon and that you have a great week ahead of you! Much love and as always

Stay beautiful 💋❤️