#anyway love yall i missed this tag while i was away

[cherryzenith]

hiiii omg hello i made this byler edit and don't want to post it to tiktok but i figured I might as well post it here just for fun 🫂

[luck-of-the-drawings]

"And soda; runs off into the street..." "...and soda... is totally okay!"

[mygnolia]

YOU MAKE ME GO CRAZY OVER YOU !!

୨୧ -› hey, that boy over there..isn't he the most popular student athlete on campus? how did you two meet, anyway?

pair -› jock/athlete! enhypen x fem! reader | wc -› 3.5k (700 per member) | no warnings! | library

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ LEE HEESEUNG

im gonna sigh dreamily when i say he’s most DEF basketball captain. 

yes ik i wrote about this in wrong number i dont CARE i will say it with my whole chest 

DORK DORK DORK but cute dork with lethal face card. smirks after making yet another basket and winks at you

age old question how tf did yall meet!!! 

you pass by the gym and some guy on the way stops to talk to you 

like “hey i know you from somewhere”

“yes heeseung we were partners from a project two weeks ago how do you not remember..” 

he’s embarrassed asf especially because he remembers a lot of people’s names

after that he wants to be in your good graces and be friends

totally not because he remembered how you did a lot of the work for said project no complaints!!

and he doesn’t want you to rat him out to the teacher… or tell other people he’s not friendly

‘hey y/n, come to my game? i’ll do better if you’re there :)” 

you go only because you needed to complete an assignment while you were there at school anyways 

but sometimes you’d see him laughing with his friends, or how serious he is on court and woah, heeseung looks cool for once

you wait for him after because you figured he needed you for something 

“awh, you wanted for me?” “i could be doing much better things.” “awh, come on y/n let’s get some ice cream! my treat since we get to spend time together” 

he’s annoying but you let him tag around because he doesn’t bother you LOL

more under the cut!

drags you along when he practices alone so he can have some company

you like the company and the white noise too

you definitely doubt if he likes you because he is SUCH A FLIRT but no he DOES! he writes a confession on a basketball and ‘misses’ so you can catch it

you pass it back without seeing the message 

but heeseung keeps missing and it almost hits you on the head and you’re like ‘dude you SUCK hello??” he says ‘oh lol maybe it’s the ball” byee why was he smooth with it!!!!

you check the message and roll your eyes 

“if i make this you have to kiss me” you tell him and you’re about to shoot but he picks you up and brings you right next o the next to let you throw it in and then kisses u!!!!

not to be like oh im writing an smau on basketball captain heeseung but.. *tucks hair behind ear* 

most definitely tries to be mysterious and cool when you’re dating 

dribbles in front of you, trick shots, runs up to you when you’re alone, gives you one kiss between ever basket he makes 

teaches you how to play!!!!

ABSOLUTELY lights up when someones mentions you when you two date

“oh yeah my partner in math is ___” 

“omg ___?? the love of my life ___??” 

you lowk have to drag him away i fear 

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ PARK JONGSEONG 

baseball captain *faints* 

enhypen x mariners and him speaking in english…so you want me DECEASED 

baseball captain jay and you who attends his games because jake aka ur friend on the team knows you have nothing better to do 

“i bet you won’t make it even to five games before buying cotton candy” jake says because you have a MASSIVE sweet tooth 

you tried really hard because $15 and a burger was on the line 

and you kept coming because…well there was a cute captain who always knew how to rally his teammates and get them excited 

also great sportsmanship and was super friendly to everyone! 

definitely got mad when the umpire makes a wrong call 

sharp reaction times. EVEN SHARPER JAW. 

of course you stared! of course you were not paying attention to whatever jake was saying about his test after their game..how could you when jay was doing his lopsided smile as his friend pats him on the shoulder from ten feet away??

one time you come early because they’re practicing on the field and you see jay and jake passing to each other

jay just so effortlessly throwing the ball…oh my god

he’s just so perfect and jake cheers from the sidelines because he knows his captain pays attention to every single person who has stepped foot on the baseball field iNCLUDING YOU

you come up to jake after the fourth game, showing him you still had your $5 and your tongue wasn’t stained with any blue or pink

jay comes over, arm thrown around jake’s shoulder as he waves and smiles to you 

dark hair with a twinge of sweat as he runs a hand through it, pulling it back to place on his cap 

JAY IN A BASEBALL CAP *faints again*

he walks you out to the parking lot and asks what the $5 in your pocket is for because he keeps seeing you pull it out 

you explain your whole bet to him and he nods

next game. before it starts. he gets you cotton candy and makes sure it gets to you somehow 

you smile and you’re all giddy when you eat it because there’s a p.j. on the cap and he’s just so cute 

jake doesn’t say anything he already knows it’s happening between you two. 

jay finally writes on a baseball and tells you to catch, and it says ‘let’s date’ and you grab a sharpie and scribble ‘kiss me first’ 

OH YEAH HE WALKS OVER AND KISSES YOU. 

soon every game instead of cotton candy  it’s his baseball cap when it’s sunny, his jacket when you’re cold, baseballs with notes on them, and roses for his girlfriend aka youuuuu 

jay is such a romantic and he is not afraid to show it 

he orders custom jerseys that say jay/n on the back with the day you got together!!!!! 

BEST BOYFRIEND EVERRRRRR

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ SIM JAEYUN

rugby player jake but he has dark long hair let that settle in 

campus flirt campus playboy but in reality he doesn’t go on dates and nothing really happens past the smiles, he’s just super popular

you are also pretty well known! a little flirty but super sweet and your charm and how expressive and open you are with other people is what people like!

and he sees you cheering with your friend who he remembers is dating someone from the team

rugby has no gear so he just runs like no tomorrow 

smiling in the sun or determined stare as he talks to his team, you never know 

he yells either in frustration, victory, or defeat, literally will never be silent 

so after a game you follow your friend down to the railing and she has her little moments with her boyfriend 

and you and jake kind of awkwardly stand there for a moment 

he wipes his sweat off with a towel and smiles at you, cracking the ice 

“how long have you had to deal with that?” he points over to them 

you shrug and tell him “however long you’ve been dealing with it” he laughs 

oh wow his smile when he’s right in front of you is just so pretty 

and his little chuckle as he shakes his head and looks back up at you 

‘who do you watch on the field?’ he asks, with a little smirk because he likes you 

‘whoever catches my attention’ you tell him also smiling 

oh its a CHALLENGE. he will make sure to run on the side of the field you’re watching from, winking at you on the field, ugh just everything 

you come to a party at the end of the season to celebrate and he sees you 

“you came!!” super happy and makes sure you are next to him all the time 

“y/n you know the teammates, yeah?” you smile and congratulate them 

he leaves to get you a soda/water and jungwon leans in 

“jake LOVES to talk about you by the way” 

“yeah he always says how pretty you are in the library or in class, he likes when your friend comes because that means you come with her”

heeseung nods, “super into you, no joke” 

jake comes back trying to play it off “who’s into y/n?” 

you poke at his shoulder and smile, “you” and he’s all bashful and giggly 

loves to call himself ‘y/n’s girlfriend’ 

‘sorry, i can’t i have to buy flowers for y/n’ ‘sorry y/n needs me to help her study’ ‘sorry y/n needs a ride here’ STUCK TO YOUR HIP

ofc he doesn’t abandon his friends but he loves spending time with you :3

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ PARK SUNGHOON

sunghoon’s reputation proceeds him—cold on the court and just as reserved off of it

ugh he’s so annoying, he always has his bag in the same spot as yours and he always is at the water filling station with hos annoying 32oz bottle before you

also hogs that automatic tennis ball throwing machine like how are YOU supposed to practice tennis too 

‘hey i need that’ he furrows his eyebrows and shrugs 

‘i was here first’ ‘what are you twelve????’ sunghoon tells you ‘get here earlier next time then 

oh yeah. for the next week you ran to the courts everytime to get it before him 

one day he sees you and races you to the gates and you beat him 

sulky after as if his career is over

definitely varsity and one of the best, but he never approaches girls after his games

one time you go to a men’s game because it’s one of the most anticipated of the season 

its neck to neck, third set with 40-adv, sunghoon’s serve

he chases after that ball and sends it over, it barely hits the net and tumbles over, AND HE WINSSSS BRAHHHHH 

even if you hate him you will admit that he made the game extremely interesting 

you see his friends congratulate him and you notice that he never gets his clothes dirty 

always wears white to practice—pristine asf 

secretly he loves watching you too

even if you hate him for getting on your nerves some days and almost never doing more than bare minimum, you cannot lie and say sunghoon isn’t a huge inspiration 

just as you are to him 

sunghoon thinks your tenacity and passion for tennis is what makes you so fun to watch 

so even if he has homework, he goes to a game of yours and comes down to the court after the game 

bumps your shoulder after, ‘good game, y/n’ and you’re like ?? ‘you’re here?’ and he’s sooo nonchalant when he says ‘of course, i can’t miss a fun game can i?’ 

there’s a fun mixed doubles tournament for a whole gift basket of things and you come up to him 

‘hey let’s pair up’ and he grins 

you two play each other for practice and you’ve tied the score so many times you’ve lost count

and sunghoon’s a little annoying but oh lord he’s so attrative??? so maybe he wasn’t THAT annoying…

mixed doubles tourney rolls around and oh yeah. you two win.

you know much he likes natto and you say ‘here you take the natto’ he shakes his head ‘no you eat it all the time’

you two bicker and you say ‘fine lets just share it!’ and to your surprise..he opens the package and just mixes it all in 

you two sit and share the natto, then he tells you he thinks you’re pretty cool on court 

you raise your eyebrow cuz where is this coming from!! and he rolls his eyes 

‘nevermind maybe you’re only bright on the court’ 

‘hey what’s that supposed to mean!!!’ you take the natto and eat all of it LMFAO and then he pouts because noo his natto!!!

you kiss his cheek. it’s ok everything is ok now he is a happy boy 

“you’re my match” you write on a tennis ball pin and he keeps it on his bag like his life DEPENDS on it

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ KIM SUNOO

THE CUTEST VOLLEYBALL SETTER EVER 

i hate to be like oh you’ve had the fattest crush on him for like two months BUT ITS TRUE 

you’re on yearbook and you make an excuse to go see sunoo play!!

you two met when you were at a volleyball game and you told him to smile, but he’s one of those guys who says “wait delete that take another one!!” 

and ofc you agree, snapping a few cute photos of him

he posts to his social media, tagging you with a cute song saying ‘thanks photographer :3” 

and so you it begins, your small little crush on him..

he loves seeing you at his games, always makes sure to wave to you on the court 

hey so setter sunoo is insanely good at what he does 

so graceful when he places a NASTY setter dump on the other team, a glare shot at one of the other team’s members bad-mouthing him, but a glowing smile as he high-fives all his teammates! 

super supportive, and you loveee that about him!! he cares so much about everyone it makes your heart warm 

“here, let’s eat together,” you tell him, and you bring him some noodles you made because he said he was craving some 

he smiles at you and sits down, beginning to slurp slurp slurp and SCOREEE he loves it 

“thanks y/n, let me treat you some time :)” UGH DEAD DEAD 

KIM SUNOO KING OF FLOAT SERVES 

huge smile on his face when it lands where it needs to, he loves that feeling of satisfaction and soaks up all of your praise after his games are over 

he slips out of practice sometimes to see what you’re doing in yearbook, and he’ll take your camera to tell you to smile as he takes pics

someone in your class tells you too to look overfor a photo , so he loops an arm around your shoulders to pull you close and smile 

AND OH EM GEE UR LIKE TOTALLY GEEKING OUT OVER IT HELLO??????/ 

you ask her to print you a copy of it to save in your scrapbook, but sunoo cuts in and asks for another one 

“i like seeing you” DEAD IN A DITCH esp when he smiles at you and then runs off to practice before he gets in trouble

so competitive on the court and it makes him a little sulky when he loses 

“argh i did so bad today” he’d tell you, but in your eyes hello kim sunoo could do no wrong!! and you share your snacks while reassuring him 

he swears tho, “nooo, i had to look cool for you!” and you’re tired of hearing him say and do all of these sweet things and straight up 

“why?” “what do you mean, y/n?” “why do you want to look cool for me?” “well i liked you duh!” 

but sunoo never wanted to confess, he was too scared he wasn’t good yet at showing you all of his perfect bf traits 

WELL HE THOUGHT WRONG!! he’s been perfect from d1 so now he just sneaks in like 40 kisses before every game 

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ YANG JUNGWON

see so jungwon, he’s been a little FLIRTY as of recently. 

“you like older guys? but im a younger guy with rhythm” WHAT THE FKSCNHDJFD

whatever. anyways jungwon focuses on badminton like it’s a lifeline 

hitting birdies in his sleep would be smth he would do if he could, he loves how aggressive he can be in the sport without moving too much, lots of strategy involved 

you come to one of his games because your friend is on the other team, and you want to cheer him on

but jungwon notices you’re literally from his school?? 

isn’t it weird you’re going to a game for someone on the other team…

so he sets off a plan 

he goes to you after the game before your friend can

“hey, how come you don’t support anyone on our team” so straight to the point help 

and you tilt your head in confusion because “well i don’t know anyone from the team and you’re all scary”

scary??? jungwon makes it his personal mission to debunk that cuz no one is SCARY 

maybe sunghoon but that’s because he’s varsity 1 and the best player within 150 miles but whatever

he makes it his mission to wave to you when he sees you and when he’s sat next to you in one of your classes he’s like yay perf 

“you’re the guy from that badminton game huh?” “is that a good or bad thing” 

you shrug “whatever you want it to be” 

and he asks you to go to his next game but if he wins, you have to support the team and if he loses 

and you stare at him like “wtf do i get out of it” 

jungwon did NOT think about that 

he promises to buy you a snack after 

and it’s free food so you can’t complain 

you two talk more and he finds out you used to play badminton before you hurt your ankle and wanted to focus on school 

so he takes you to practice and gives you one of his expensive rackets

lowk falling in love everytime you laugh and chase the birdie 

jungwon pretends to hate chasing after it but he’ll still hit it back even if it’s out of bounds because he doesn’t want to waste your time picking it up

you two sit down and you tell him how fun it was to be able to play, and how much you missed it from your childhood 

your school holds a small festival where other school athletes go against your team modified lighting rounds 

paired with vendors and fun carnival stands, but the main attractions are always the variety of sports to watch

jungwon is one of the representatives from your school but so is your friend from the other school, so it’s heated when they play

you tie a ribbon around his racket (curtesy of sunghoon for helping you out) and write a note saying “if you do good ill cheer for you” 

AND HE WINS. so you keep your end of the bargain and cheer for him after the game is over, giving him a high five and a hug

he walks with you and asks about what you two are BECAUSE THIS IS A DATE this is date behavior 

“of course i like you won who wouldn’t”

let’s just say he gives u little kisses all over when you two are alone sigh so cute

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ NISHIMURA RIKI

he’s been on the soccer team ever since he was a freshman and even before, retaining his cute features and mischievous personality 

when you became assistant manager you were scared but your brother heeseung was on the team and your mom told you to look after him at school 

and riki takes after heeseung a LOT when they play and heeseung even goes as far as inviting riki over 

so riki’s super good at soccer by the time heeseung leaves, but he also has this small crush on you that heeseung’s told you about 

you just never said anything because you never had a reason to nor were you uncomfortable with it 

but junior year hits and riki comes back from winter break with pitch black hair all styled 

also…a lot taller than you. and no more baby fat 

and you paid attention to some of it because you saw him for practice, but the hair really did it 

during practice he loves to mess with you saying things like “can you fill up my water y/n pleaseeee” “no you have two feet” “ill win the next game against ____ if you get me water” “i’ll kick you off the team if you don’t win” 

he sighs and gets up, glaring down at you and you try not to let his playful stare affect you, but SOMETHING was different something was in the air

if riki doesn’t play good, it’s because his team manager aka you is NOT there 

you come back the next day to find out he was sulking and didn’t play super well because you weren’t encouraging him

“go run a lap, riki” and HE DOES JUST THAT “go practice on the field by yourself”

“how about you ask me to date you next” he grumbles 

and you HEAR him. loud and clear. 

but you’re like agh what if he doesn’t mean it what if he’s just joking 

at the next game he does super well and you congratulate the whole team 

yas team hybe eats 

you two are getting ready to go home when he finally brings it up

“you heard what i said on tuesday” and you know exactly what he means 

“yep.” “so why didn’t you say anything back” “i didn’t know if you were being serious”

he scoffs “y/n when have i ever not been serious about you”  

he opens your door even if he’s passenger princess 

makes fun of you for how much closer you need the wheel to be to drive

YAYYYY Y/NKI IS REAL

he loves to drape an arm around your shoulder walking around school 

acts as if he’s older when you two are literally the same age HELP 

reblogs/interactions are appreciated always!

have some shameless self promo for my spiderman!riki fic!

and my upcoming jake fic!

[sinning-23]

Hot Tatted Uncle Pt.2 (Uncle!SukunaAu x Teacher!Reader)

Thanks so much for the love and support on pt.1 you guys are the besttt lol, honestly might be a 3 parter we'll see! ANyway, enjoy :0

Also pleaseee excuse any spelling errors yall

Link to Pt.1

PART THREE HERE!!!

_______________________________________

You stared at the text message, throat tight with excitement but dread. It had been a few months since the last incident with Yuji and his Uncle. The roguish male often picked up the young boy, tagging along with Yuji’s father. You’d usually just give Jin a rundown of his son’s day, ever so often catching Sukuna’s gaze as he leaned against the door frame. And every time it happened, you’d choke, clearing your throat and focusing your attention on Yuji and his father.

It didn’t help that he was always texting you, asking his his nephew was behaving. Even though it was cordial and polite, you still felt giddy getting texts from him.

This comes to the next point, why you’re sitting here practically gawking over the most recent message request from Yuji’s father.

-YOU HAVE A NEW MESSAGE:

Hello Miss Y/n! Do you babysit? I know Yuji loves having you as a teacher and I was wondering if you’d be interested in babysitting for him along with his Uncle while me and my wife go on vacation. Of course, you will be paid as well.

-Jin Itadori @ 6:28pm-

You wait to open it, pacing for a moment, thinking, first of all if you were available for the weekend and second, why couldn’t his uncle handle it?!

Well, given the man’s track record maybe an experienced hand in childcare could be useful. With a heavy sigh, you respond and you'd have to quickly come to terms with the fact that you would be essentially babysitting over 2 days with your students' hot uncle.

-----------

It's Friday now, and arrangements for you to simply drive Yuji back home and meet up there with his uncle were already in place. You were trusted with a spare house key, and their precious baby boy, who so seemed to be happier than a fly on shit that you would be spending even MORE time with him.

You gather your things and a few activities to pass the time, loading them into your car. Yuji insists on helping, carrying a small container of building blocks with his chubby hands. And god damn does he not stop talking while he does. It's adorable really, whatever comes off the top of the boy's head simply flying free.

"My-My uh uncle, he doesn’t have no girlfriend." He speaks, the statement making you choke.

"Ahaha is that so? He tells you to say that?" You joke, setting the pink-haired toddler in his car seat, and buckling him in with ease.

"MHM! My uh-" He coughs, quickly covering it with his elbow as you give a small 'good job' seeing as he's learning to keep his germs away from everyone, including you.

"My Uncle says uh he says that you got pretty eyes." He explains, your heart fluttering.

You sit in the driver seat finally, the boy still rambling on and on about what his uncle thinks about you. Though all you can do is respond with a simple, "Oh that's very kind, or a awee", Yuji is nonstop.

It’s quiet for a moment and as you’re pulling into the driveway when he says it, clear as day.

"Uncle says your ass is fat too."

You slam the brakes, the car jerking a bit when you do. What. The. FUCK-

The culprit is already awaiting you, arms folded over his chest as they flex. He’s got a white tank top on and a pair of black basketball shorts paired with slides and ankle socks.

Yuji squirms, growing ever more excited as Sukuna takes him out of the car seat and lightly jabs his knuckles to the boy's sides with a 'Rahhhh', as if he were some kind of tickle monster. Yuji of course laughs and if ALMOST makes you forget about what he'd just said a moment ago.

"Wanna help Miss Y/n put this inside?" Sukuna asks the small boy, handing him the block container from before. Yuji is quick to nod and scurry to the front door.

"I can bring the rest of this, Jin gave you the housekey right?" He asks, leaning against the frame of the car, your neck snapping towards him as you swallow thickly. Fuck you can see even more of the tats now in that shirt.

"U-Uhm yes, yes. I'll go get the door. I can get some of this too I-" You speak, fumbling to find the key. He only puts his hand up and shakes his head, the silver chain around his swishing a bit.

"Nah I gotchu. Yuji knows how to turn the TV on so he can watch his lil show for a bit.”

Sure enough, the minute you unlock the door, Yuji crawls atop the couch, using the remote to try his best to navigate. It takes a while, and he mispresses a few buttons but after about 5 minutes he manages to play something entertaining for him.

Sukuna had finished bringing your bags in as well as the one with activities in it, setting it on the stairs. He rolls his shoulder, pointing at Yuji who was immersed in the show.

"See." Sukuna hums, leaning against the countertop next to you, also skimming over the note. His body heat is practically radiating off of him, just standing by him is warming you up.

You nod in response, looking over the brief note Jin left for you both and according to what it said, your next step was to head up some leftovers for Yuji and then run him a bath.

"There’s two bathrooms so I can get the boy.” He offers, resting his hand behind his neck as you give a nervous laugh. FUCK this nervousness was most likely only on you. There’s no way he could be just as filled with anticipation as you were?!

You take the offer, giving a small thank you before fishing the shower and taking one considering you did just get off of work. Packed away in your bag was a set of comfortable clothes and a book with you figured would help pass the time once Yuji went to sleep.

You could hear footsteps and Yuji fussing back and forth with his Uncle.

“Hush man you’re making me look bad.” Sukuna groans, throwing the toddler over his shoulder as he giggles but continues to thrash, pounding tiny fists against the older male's back.

“No! NO BATH! I don’t wanna!” Yuji whines, his Uncle only growling in response.

“I’ll give you candy if you stop.”

And just like that it was quiet.

-8:30pm-

The night had gone smoother than you thought, you and Sukuna both interacting with Yuji as it’s beginning to be time to wind down. His eyes were beginning to get heavy and before you knew it he was slumped against the couch, clutching an unfinished sucker in one hand and a white puppy plush in the other. You smile, scooping him up and patting him when he stirs.

“Be right back, let me tuck him in.” You whisper, seeing Sukuna look up from his phone and nod, one arm slung over the sofa while he practically manspreads

-9:00pm-

Turns out, Yuji took a bit longer to fall asleep when he realized he was being put down and so you had to sit and pat him for an extra 30 minutes. And once you returned to the living room, there was Sukuna, still scrolling. Well, that was until you came in.

“Sorry, he wouldn’t go back to sleep.” You explain, sitting at the farthest end from him, picking up your book in the silence.

“So you like working up there? At the school?” He asks, putting his phone down to hold the conversation with you.

It takes you by surprise for a second but you are quickly to respond.

“Well yeah, I love the kids and I love working there and teaching them things. Yuji is a sweetheart and it’s definitely kids like him that make it all worth it.” You explain, a smile making its way to your lips.

“You got kids?” He asks, eyes on your frame as you laugh a bit in response

“Nah, don’t really plan on it right now either. Kids are difficult.” You answer, now facing him a bit more, body relaxed.

What was there to be so scared of?! He’s a chill guy who just so happened to be hot as fuck asking you about your career and life?!

“How about you? Kids? Working?” You flip, seeing him shift a bit uncomfortably.

“Hell nah. I see how Jin deals with Yuji and I’m not really cut you to be a dad. And for work well, I’m a priest.” He states, smirking at the surprised look on your face.

“R-Really??” You question definitely surprised.

“Nah I’m just fucking with you.” He laughs and you do the same, trying to keep your volume down since Yuji did just fall asleep.

-11:08pm-

It was crazy to believe you’d spent about two hours just talking back and forth, with him about his past, his brother, and his nephew. You about your own life and current living situations. Somehow the conversation took…a turn.

“Y��know, it’s funny because Yuji keeps telling me about these things you say and I think it’s so funny. Like he’s tone little wingman.” You laugh, seeing him grin right back at you.

“Yeah like what?” He asks, more teasing than anything.

“Well he said that you said I have pretty eyes and on the way here he goes, ‘uncle says your ass is fat’” you explain with a laugh that he doesn't return.

Instead you see his lip tuck between his teeth after he licks them.

“I did say that.”

Suddenly the room is hot, and you’re very aware of how sharp his canaines look in that stupid grin. How his hand is grinning the back of the couch cushion. And for some goddamn reason you just had to look down, that fucking print so visible against his inner thigh.

Your breath falters, eyes wide and you swallow back any doubt. So he had said all that stuff and it want just Yuji repeating something or just talking.

“I-Well I…Thank you? I-I mean I’d be lying if I said hadn’t looked at you too.” You admit, his body shifting to face you more, almost caging you in on the couch.

“I figured. Every time I come to pick up you can’t seems to form a sentence correctly .” He notes.

“Suku-“

“Ryo.” He corrects. Lifting the strap of your nightshirt over your shoulder, playing with the fabric for a moment.

“Ryo.” You test, hearing his exhale heavily.

“Let’s stop pretending there’s nothing happing and has been happening here. No rule against fooling around with me is there?” Sukuna tests, his hand trailing up to rest no on your neck, his thumb pulling your lower lip down.

“No.”

And with that your make the hood move to connect your lips, his arms immediately going to lift you up ans set you against his lap.

Damn does that bulge feel to much better resting between your legs than just looking at it.

___________________________________

Authors note: OKAY YEHA ITs gonna be a 3 parter with smut in the next one I cant resist lol yall know smut is my specialty! LMK if you wanna be added to the taglist shawty!

Taglist: @manikosii @ya-boi-v @tergyri @ninacutebee16 @minaloq @kriegsumire-blog @samisfunky @peachhiz @teupaidecalcinhasblog @khaotic-luca @gurutoru @molita111 @snail-squasher @rowrowrowyourboat13

[felibrary]

wish you were sober

synopsis: in which you drunkenly confess to aventurine and he doesn’t believe you, rather believing that he’s not worthy, less even deserving of your love. despite that, his insecurity, you're under the belief that aventurine deserves all the love in the world. love - something that you want to introduce to him and show him “what it means to love you.”

pairing: aventurine x reader | wordcount: 2.3k (i’ve gone insane) | content & warnings: hurt/comfort, alcohol; they're both drunk, insecure aventurine, unestablished relationship, they label themself as friends but reader barely knows anything abt him LMFAO, dual pov, DO YALL GET THE REFERENCE IN THE SYNOPSIS LMFAO??, rushed ending icl, half assed-ly proofread; oneshot

a/n: yesterday i listened to wish you were sober by conan gray and was like “damn.. this’d fit sunday” but then i asked azul what he thinks cause i couldn’t decide between su**day and <aventurine3. and they replied with that it’d be so much more angsty with aventurine (okay not quote on quote but you get the msg) and i dislike su**ay anyway!! so boom! (y’all are still getting another sunday fic..yay..ig.....)

tags: beloved @azullumi <3 and @cherieiu (stop punching me)

“i love you.” 

your confession doesn't come over as surprising for aventurine, he anticipated it. just like how the ebb awaits the flood, yearning for it but disappearing as soon as it arrives. missing out on each other for just a split second, as the other party sweeps and slips away from the grasp of the other. nevertheless aventurine is glued to his seat on the rich sofa. 

colorful poker chips are splattered around the rich mahogany floor tiles, bottles of vodka and wine, some already with their cork removed and empty, others who haven't even been opened yet. a chandelier adorning the ceiling of the big room, its lightbulbs glowing dimly in the caliginous room, illuminating it.

one of the lamps flickers while the others continue to shine brightly - too brightly aventurine thinks, if he were to watch them any longer he’d feel like melting. the closer he got to you the sun, the deeper he'd fall into the bottomless pit he managed to crawl out of.

the room reeks of alcohol. is the temperature rising? he feels like every time the last number on the digital clock changes the warmer it gets. his blond bangs stick to his forehead and beads of sweat are running down his flushed cheeks - that answers his question.

it’s hot - humid even. he's not sure if he's able to bear the heat in this narrow atmosphere any longer. he tries to blow the sweat away by waving at his face with his hand, trying to cool off his face - a futile attempt. god, what's this a/c even good for, if it can't do it's damn job.

he opens his mouth with the intent of wanting to say that you're lying, that you shouldn't say stuff like that when you're drunk and that you'll regret later. but he doesn't, he refrains from doing so. instead he gulps down the words immediately, letter for letter. they're a bitter pillow to swallow. flowing down his throat like the wavering water running down a stream - intoxicating, similar to the alcoholic liquid you've downed.

the blond looks at you through half lidded eyes. you lift yourself off the ground, he takes notice that you have a hard time doing so, legs slightly trembling as you remove them from the floor tiles. (you've always been a lightweight he thinks)

as you make your way over to him, standing up and wanting to sit yourself next to him on the large black leather sofa. you clumsily bump against one of the almost empty shot glasses that still lies on the floor. tripping over the small glass as your foot comes in contact with it. the glass that still contained some of the red wine you've poured in, not too long ago, tumbles as easily as a domino tile, falling upon the smallest touch. making the flimsy piece immediately meet the ground.

it breaks into a few sharp shards and the remaining alcohol starts seeping out of it, staining your once white socks with crimson colored alcohol. “ah m’sorry!” you mumble as you quickly bend down to gingerly pick up the fragments, placing them in the palm of your hand carefully, so that they won't cut you and leave slits.

aventurine takes another peek at you as you tidy up. your face is flushed, your cheeks tinted in a bright red and you let out incoherent sorrys, blabbering incomplete phrases. he wants to tell you that it's alright. that he feels the same and reciprocates yours feelings, that you don't have to apologize and he'll help you.

but he freezes.

the words that he wants to tell you, the ones he's been longing to say don't leave his mouth. neither does he move. instead he coughs, continuing to watch you while you clean up. a tissue has found its way into your right hand, helping you soak up the alcohol. (its his hand that should be intertwined with yours, not the tissue)

his throat hurts. 

(he's not in the right mindspace to acknowledge if it's because of you - the unsaid words that he didn't reveal to you yet or because of the alcohol.) 

it's dry and lacks any kind of refreshing liquid that'd quench the drought that occurs in his throat. he contemplates, thinking about the choices he has. swallowing down his own spit isn't worth it, it makes his throat burn even more.

he comes to the decision to pour himself another glass of alcohol. (debatably his worst decision until now.)

twirling the almost translucent liquid in his glass, before fully gulping it down in one go. a bit of the alcohol escapes the depths of his mouth, running down his chin and messily staining his porcelain-like skin. 

he doesn't like the bitter taste, he can't seem to befriend himself with it. (neither can he befriend him with himself) although it's not the worst, he's just not able to find a reason to like it. after all, after a single sip it starts to sting as it enters his mouth.

the scent isn't great either, it smells strong, too strong for his liking, a scent that reeks of cleaning detergent and not to mention, it prickles on his tongue and burns as it slides down his throat when it makes its way into his blood. but there's one thing aventurine can't deny: it's efficiency.

it fulfills its purpose well making him lightheaded and dizzy, to the point of forgetting everything.

all sounds are drowned out. even the lame pop songs playlist you turned on because you insisted that “it'll set the right mood” is barely audible for him now. his ears hurt hellish, he wants to put his hands over his ears to escape the white noise. the sound that plays in his ears is similar to the one of when an airplane starts boarding - an unpleasant noise.

the only sound that remains for aventurine’s slightly drunk state is your voice. it echoes through his ears. your drunk confession playing over and over in his mind like a broken record, anticipating the day it'll be fixed, so the misery it is in ceases. 

his sloppy and sluggish movements - the way his hands tremble as he pours himself another glass, the nervousness that forms inside his body and the blush that spreads as quickly as a wildfire on his cheeks - they're tormenting him, and he blames none other than the alcohol for it. 

“a drunk mind speaks a sober heart, drunk words are sober thoughts, when you're drunk you reveal your true desires” his ass. the both of you are just friends. friends that are acquainted through work, nothing more, nothing less. aventurine couldn't bear to lose his only friend, after all he's already lost everything.

(anything he'd never want to lose will eventually be lost. it is as if fate had decided that everything that is worth wanting, everything that he wants to have and keep, will be lost the moment he gets his fingers on it. to aventurine there’s nothing worth pursuing at the cost of prolonging a life that is full of anguish.)

his father whom he never got to meet, his mother and sister whom he was forced to leave behind and kakavasha, his younger self. all will be lost - everything was lost. if he wasn't careful now, one slip up on the thin ice or feet accidentally trampling over the floor full of eggshells, he'd not only lose himself in the process, but you too. his one and only friend.

crossing this line he set for himself, as he drew it along the earthy ground with his calloused fingers, trembling as they traced over the mud.

walking past the border that was created to keep everything and everyone distant from him, as he stood on the other side turning his back from the world, walking away and waving, to bid his goodbye from them.

the wall he built around him to shield him from the world, protecting everyone from the ugly thing that was kept inside , protecting himself from the people that only want to torment him.

forgetting all of these things, leaving them behind for you would mean showing you who he really was. a frail human being that hides himself behind a mask. the theater curtains revealing the person who played the role of the man who had called himself aventurine for the past years. placing him in the spotlight and giving the audience a show they'll never forget, like the fool he is. 

aventurine doesn't think that he is loveable, that he's undeserving of love - your love.

you think that aventurine deserves all the love in the world. providing him with said love, embracing him and showing him how pure love can be. 

the blond caught your eye right away. he was charming, funny and handsome. aventurine turned into your little work crush, your motivation to convince yourself just to see him.

the road was rocky and full of obstacles, set up by none other than aventurine. it gave you a better perception of who he really was and it intrigued you even more. why does he hide himself away from the world? why does he convince himself to not get anyone close to him even though he longs for the touch of another person? who is aventurine, really?

you can't answer any of these questions and neither are you certain if aventurine really can but that doesn't stop you. you continue to climb up all the way to know who he is, who the person you fell in love with really is. 

love, is weird isn't it? it comes in all different shapes and forms.

if someone were to ask you why you like him, you wouldn't know how to answer, because neither do you know.

but nevertheless you still like him. why? how come you like someone that you don't even know, someone that is foreign to you, almost like a stranger. even though the both of you label yourself as “friends.”

you're not sure what the color is that infuses his irises, he keeps them hidden beneath his glasses. despite that, you long to stare into his eyes and let all the plain and dull parts of your life get painted in the same colors of his hues. a color that brings you comfort and cures your sorrow. it's the hues that you want to stare at as you tuck a golden strand of hair behind his ear, in return he grants you a small but genuine smile.

a smile that you want to see more often, one that you want to keep for yourself. 

as for his scent, every person has their own unique and special scent. you plead to the gods above that he’ll let you bury your head into the crook of his neck and absorb his smell so it becomes the only scent that lingers around your nose. 

there are so many more things that you want to know about him but you're unaware of. one might say that you're odd for liking - no, loving someone that you barely know.

a stranger, a foreign person whom you know little about to almost nothing about, is the person that you love. absurd isn't it? but love is weird, love can be pure and ridiculous, but it can also be painful and heart wrenching. love is a feeling that not only brings joy to oneself but also causes pain. but it's a feeling that you never want to get rid of - not until you introduced aventurine to it. showing him what love has to offer and has in store.

in the iridescent light aventurine remains to look as ethereal as ever. a scent of vodka lingers around aventurines figure, the smell is strong, but you couldn't care less. his hair is disheveled but nevertheless continues to shine in the dazzling light. he lets out a tiring yawn and you couldn't imagine aventurine any more beautiful than in this moment.

vulnerable and for your eyes only. making it unable for you to tear your gaze away from the sight before you. 

he's like a shooting star, if you don't continue to watch and follow it and blink, even if it's just for a single moment - it's all over and you'll never see it again. 

“stop looking at me like that.” aventurine mumbles quietly, almost whispering. upon hearing that, you make your way over to him, glass shards long forgotten as you place them on the small coffee table in front of the sofa.

your arms reach out to aventurine, clutching your hands on his shoulders. your grip is sluggish but you don't falter and continue to hold him. “like what?” your lips are slightly parted and your gaze is drowsy as you counter aventurine's question with a question of your own.

“like that.” he placed the hand that just rested on his thigh, on your cheek, slightly caressing it. “you're just gonna hurt the both of us if you keep this up any longer.” he's not sure where the boldness came from, he blames it on the alcohol once again; it finally seemed to kick in.  

“‘m not lying” you hiccup. tomorrow i’ll tell you how much i love you, no matter if it's once” a cough exits your throat “or a hundred times.” the words that leave your mouth are slurred, they're incoherent and muddled up. your grip on his shoulder weakens, hands slipping off and head falling against his chest.

..did you seriously just black out?

aventurine can only sigh at that. a small smile finds its way onto his face. he snakes his arms around you waist, snuggling his face into the crook of your neck and hugging you with the remaining power he had left before falling asleep. guess there'll be a lot to unpack tomorrow but for now he allows himself to indulge in this shared moment between the two of you. 

© VYNICITY 2024. stealing, copying, translating, reposting my works on other platforms or feeding them to ai is not permitted.

e/n: hope yall enjoyed this as much as i hated writing this!! (i wanted to throw up) i acc hate how i wrote this. it's not as choppy as when i started writing it but it still feels so rushed and so idk.. anyway reblogs with comments are very much appreciated! >< ALSO that one paragraph written in brackets..guess whose speech it was inspired byyyyy (hint: bsd!!)

[celestie0]

MASSIVE gojo x reader fanfic rec (no spoilers)

ok i know a lot of my followers are gojo girlies and i just need to put yall onto this fucking fanfiction because i just read the latest release for it and i’m genuinely tweaking rn🧍🏻‍♀️

@lostfracturess ‘s amazing work called “symptoms & causes” - a medical au

[image pulled from her masterlist]

let me just…let me just try to even gather the reasons why you need to add this to your tbr lists (weekend is comin up too so perfect time)

characterization of gojo satoru.

gojo in this fic is characterized so fucking well, from chapter one. there are so many distinctive ways miss lostfractures goes about building his aura (word of mouth/reputation, dialogue, expository, primary interactions, secondary interactions, etc.) it reminds me of the show where gojo just has this energy to him that you can't tear yourself away from i picture him in this fic to be unrelenting, unforgiving, morally grey, with an undertone of softness yet still feral through it all,, basically gojo during shibuya arc LOL. i looove reading cute silly boy gojo fics sm (he’s so baby) but THIS fic explores the borderline wicked side of him that is so thrilling, unique, and rare to find i think in this fandom’s collection of works. it’s just so fucking good.

forbidden romance.

UGGHH i love stories w forbidden romance. in this one, it’s med student reader x professor gojo (additional power dynamics in that he’s a senior surgeon in her field and also a research mentor in her study of interest…TRIPLE THREAT DAMN). i love how miss lostfractures doesn’t shy away from reminding the reader that it’s wrong, and that they shouldn’t be doing this. that’s my fave part of forbidden romances like yesss remind me again why this is all so wrong but let’s still do it anyways LOL <333

reader’s voice.

i’ve LOVED reader since the beginning, so relatable, emotionally mature, all her flaws are so believable & her strengths are shown seamlessly. it’s just so much fun to read because i’ll literally have a thought like “hmm…that (something a character said/did) doesn’t sound very convincing” and then the next line will be something like “he didn’t sound very convincing” like!!! me and s&c reader?? we’re locked in like this fr🤞🏼 like gojo’s domain expansion fingers

escapism.

everything in this story feels so damn real it’s insane. the pacing is stunning, love the utilization of stacks of scenes that are sort of short but so concise, enough to be a smooth read but still descriptive enough to entirely transport you into the world that’s being built. cannot praise the writing in this story enough. also the variety of ways that scenarios are made that pull characters closer to one another?? so creative. as someone who works in a research lab, studied bio in college (some of the fkn biochem stuff that comes up in this fic gives me heart attacks lmfaooo pls im traumatized), and has worked in clinics/hospitals it just itches my brain so damn good. you’ll be convinced you’re a brilliant med student while you read this fic.

writing.

the writing is just. so. good. it’s so good. better than most PUBLISHED works i’ve read. i really can't say much other than that, you just have to go see for yourself.

—

if any of these reasons speak to you, i highly recommend you check the fic out. just a note tho it does have some dark themes but you can find all the tags/warnings on her page!

OK BYE

[cloudluvrrr]

Before.

boothill childhood sweetheart headcannons.

—

a/n: A PROMISE IS A PROMISE 🤞🤞🤞 and I delivered 😍💪 srry ab being mia been busy playing splatoon. My bootyhill is almost MAXXED out yall 😛😛.Boothill gives me Adrianne Lenker vibes yk I can’t be the only one help anyways enjoy this 😛 long asf and I don’t believe in proof reading.

— Precyborg: Boothill x g/n reader

tw warning : fluff and sad ending bc we can’t have a happy one according to hoyoverse !! 💕

—

ingyadar - Adrianne Lenker

my kind of women - Mac de Marco

The hitchhikers guide to the galaxy - ARTMS

-

-I feel like you and Boothill would be childhood lovers yk? Like you two were close friends and ended up catching feelings (I would too) always hanging around each other and getting into trouble l together.

-because to me he grew up in a small town with a big family (I think of like those towns in cowboy movies 😭)

-especially in highschool, but not for long. I’d think Boothill dropped out during freshman year(?) to help with his dads but you continued your studies.

-when confronted about it he scoffed and said ‘don’t need no fancy algebra or biology.’ He’d say.

-he’d see you at school (during lunch) and you two would usually hang out after school. Or during festivals or parties.

-scenario-

You two would always sneak away to the lake when it would get boring, giggling and laughing along the way. This time it was during a town festival, everyone in town went so of course no one would notice if two highschools went missing.

So off you two went giggling as you stumbled behind him holding his hand (in a platonic way ofc). “Boothill wait up!” You’d giggle as you slid down the hill. “Hurry or the sheriff will get us!” He’d shout as he helped you up, and the two of you began to splash water on each other. Up until night and his dads caught him with you again

—

-things like that would often happen, anytime one was missing they’d always assume the other would tag along

-your families of course always shipped you two. And knew eventually you’d date (spoilers you do)

- he’d confess to you on a random summer afternoon. While you two sat on his bed in his room

— you two sat on his bed looking around nervously and awkwardly. It was never like this, Boothill would usually say something but he didn’t, he’s open his mouth but nothing came out. His mouth felt dry, unable to confess. But he mustered up the courage.

‘hey.. I, uh” he began before sighing “I really.. really REALLY like you” he finished with a red face as he looked you in the eyes. As you’d giggle nervously and soon turned into a good laugh. “I really like you too Boothill” you said softly kissing his cheek. As he nearly fainted and tackled you into a hug. ‘Finally’ he’d think to himself

-

- now that you two are dating nothing much has changed. Other than kisses and leaving the door open when you two hang out (his dads are concerned about him doing funny stuff to you)

-not a day went by that you wouldn’t be with him, at his house or yours.

-he liked pet names mostly using ‘baby’ or your name.

-he knew how to play guitar they taught him in school, but he learned it on his own and would often serenade to you.

-he’d love cuddling though, in his bed specifically. Yours is too crowed for his liking. (He has one pillow). And play a few records he managed to snag that were imported from a different planet

- the sun painted the sky a pink and orange hue, as your laid in boothills arms dozing off to the soft music in the background. As he whispered sweet nothings to you and some jokes that kept you up giggling. “Your cute you know” he chuckled kissing you temple as she squeezed you

-

-an example of how you’d spend your days, other than teasing and bullying each other 😜

-he was dirt poor. So often he’d ask you for money, which would end up in you hitting his head. But giving in as long as he got you something (most of the time it was burgers 😔)

— up until your graduated, he’d always say how he wanted to leave his dads and live alone with you. So secretly (somehow I don’t know) he’d built a small house with his buddies. ( I feel like you’d move until you were like 20 ig)

-so you’d pack up everything and moved in to the small Cabin. It was small a two small rooms and bathrooms with a big enough kitchen. Also including a farm (of fucking course). Housing his horse, two cows, and a chick coop. A barn dog and cat :3

-you lived comfortably and happily, you’d stay at home and he’s venture off to help others or sell your farm goods.

-he couldn’t propose, he barely had any savings left after buying your couch. So it often got postponed, you didn’t mind (your parents did)

—

-it was a winter night. Boothill was god knows where and you worked in the kitchen making a simple stew. As your pregnant house cat meowed for a piece of beef, you were scolding the cat as Boothill entered the home with a small bundle of blankets in his arms as he closed the door. “Your home.. what’s that?” You’d asked before he walked over showing you the small girl.

“WHOS KID DID YOU KIDNAP” you shouted, startling the little who began to fuss “you idiot I found her..!” He hissed “we don’t have anything for a baby boothill, you know that” you said sighing “I know.. but I couldn’t leave her out there! That’s how my dads found me ya know, aren’t you glad they didn’t leave me to die?” He asked huffing “..sometimes” you shrugged.

—

— there began your journey as parents, you’d sew dresses and onesies for her. As well as ask both of your parents for old baby things, Boothill had a rough time setting up basically everything

‘You can build a house but not a crib’

‘Shut up nerd’

—

You stood outside putting the laundry out to dry on the clothesline. And watched from the corner of your eye the little one and Boothill. As he sat in the shade holding her small guitar he’d made for her, as she sat in the middle and giggled at the kittens playing around her. She’d grown, about 8 months and beginning to walk.

“Da” she said pointing to a certain kitten “yup that’s a kitty” he chuckled watching her gently touch the fluffy ball of fur and giggled. Eventually waddling up to him and falling into his lap as she snuggled him and fell asleep. The sight tugging at your heart strings.

-

-most of your days were spent like that, her playing with the cats. Her waddling around the home or her touching her guitar Boothill made her.

- up until that fateful day, he’d planned to propose to you before he overheard the damn ipc officers joking about burning the town. He didn’t believe it until he saw it. Everything covered in flames, making sure to leave no survivors. And all he could do was watch as the tears fell from his eyes.

- after

he’d often lay in a run down hotel room, in his own head. Admiring the cheap ring he’d finally gotten you, and one you’d never get to wear. Fiddling with it with his metal fingers as he returned it to the small box.

‘I miss you baby’

-

_ 😜😜

STREAM ARTMS 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

THIA IS CHAOTIC BUT these r my thoughts

comment like and subscribe 😘😘

I’m not ready for Ruan mei & Argenti rerun 😔💔

my requests open 🤞 look at my pinned post for rules and who I write for 😈😈

[notiddygothgf]

11. Conflict of Interest

★ pairings: aki hayakawa x fem reader

★ ❝ You don't deserve this. ❞ ❝ You know I love you, troublemaker. ❞

★ c.w.: n/a. (more content warnings and tags)

★ a/n: Hi my darlingssss!!! SO as i said I've reached the end of prewritten chapters so updates will be coming a little slower. I'm full time at uni and I've been absolutely SWAMPED with exams this past week. Chem is the worst iykyk. Anyway!!! to make up for the delay (and future delays) i wanted to spoil yall with a lil long chapter. I HOPE YOU LOVE IT!!! i love YOU!! comment comment comment away i literally love reading them. give me smth to look forward too tee hee.

★ w.c: .9.5k

shameless ; chapter index

YOUR HEART DROPPED through your chest, the world around you slowing to a crawl as his words echoed in your mind. Tokyo. He’s coming here.

“What?” you breathed, barely managing the word, your throat tightening as reality hit you all at once.

“ Yeah ,” he continued, sounding almost excited, as if this was the best news in the world. “ My supervisor said they could really use the backup in Tokyo. I guess the team’s been stretched thin over there, so they’re sending me out .”

Your stomach lurched, twisting into a tight knot. Tokyo? Here? Now? It was as if the universe was playing a cruel joke on you.

“That’s… great,” you forced out, your voice shaky, trying desperately to mask the panic swelling inside. “Really.”

Aki’s eyes met yours from across the balcony, his gaze steady, calm. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but he watched you with a quiet curiosity, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside you. You could feel your face heating up under his gaze, the weight of everything pressing down on your shoulders. How am I going to hide this from him?

“How long will you be here?” you asked, feigning a casual tone, even though your hands were shaking, white-knuckled around the phone.

“ Not sure, ” he answered, still in that same oblivious tone. “I guess as long as you’re in Tokyo, I’ll be stationed there. My supervisor thinks it’ll be good for us to be close by for a while. ”

Your chest tightened further, breath hitching as you tried to process what he was saying. I’m screwed. This is it. I’m completely, utterly screwed.

“They’re booking me a suite. I asked to stay with you, and they said it was fine, ” He added.

“That’s... that’s amazing,” you said, forcing a hollow excitement into your voice. Your lips trembled into a smile that didn’t reach your eyes. “Wow, it’s going to be…” You swallowed. “Nice.”

The words were like acid on your tongue.

He chuckled, clearly pleased with himself. “Yeah, I thought you’d like that. We’ll finally be able to catch up on all the time we missed.”

“Yeah, finally,” you repeated quietly, feeling a wave of nausea roll through you. Your heart was pounding in your ears, so loud that you could barely hear his voice anymore. You were nodding along, saying whatever words you could muster, but your thoughts were spiraling. What the hell am I going to do?

“Well, I’ve got to finish up some paperwork before the move, but I’ll be there soon. Tonight, actually.”

You swallowed hard. That was no time at all. How am I supposed to prepare for this? Your brain was screaming, but outwardly, you nodded, forcing a tight smile he couldn’t see.

“That sounds... perfect,” you lied. “Really, I’m looking forward to it.”

“Alright, I’ll call you when I’ve got the final details. Love you.”

You opened your mouth, but the words stuck in your throat. For a split second, you hesitated, your eyes flickering to Aki, who had leaned back in the chair, watching you with a soft, curious gaze. The weight of your husband’s voice on the other end of the line crushed down on you.

“Love you too ,” you said, your voice barely more than a whisper before quickly hanging up.

The silence that followed was deafening. You stared at the phone in your hand, the cold, empty feeling creeping into your chest.

The cigarette, long forgotten, had burned down to a stub, the last ember smoldering weakly. You pressed it out in the ashtray, your fingers trembling, your breath coming in shallow, uneven bursts.

You gripped the edge of the balcony railing, trying to steady yourself, but the panic had already taken hold. Your heart raced, the world closing in around you as you fought to keep yourself from spiraling.

He’s coming. He’s really coming to Tokyo. What the hell am I going to do now?

Aki’s quiet presence was still there, grounding, but it didn’t stop the thoughts racing through your mind. You couldn’t let him see. Couldn’t let him know how badly this was shaking you. You were supposed to be fine. Everything was supposed to be fine.

But nothing was fine anymore.

You stared out over the city skyline, your chest rising and falling rapidly as you fought to regain control. But it was slipping. It was all slipping through your fingers, and for the first time in a long while, you felt powerless.

The panic was unbearable. Your chest felt like it was caving in, breath coming in short, sharp bursts as the reality of it settled over you. You had to get out—move, escape before the walls closed in completely. You pushed yourself off the balcony, your mind racing, limbs trembling.

Aki watched you stand abruptly, his brow furrowing as you moved quickly toward the door, your steps frantic, unsteady.

“Hey, where are you going?” he asked, his voice gentle but confused, rising from the chair to follow you. He reached out, catching your arm just as your hand grasped the door handle. “You okay?”

You froze under his touch, your heart hammering in your chest as his warmth anchored you. The panic swelled even more, your thoughts a blur. You could feel your throat tightening, the words struggling to come out. He’s coming. It was like a mantra, replaying over and over in your mind, suffocating you.

“He’s coming,” you choked out, your voice small and broken. You turned to face Aki, your eyes wide, brimming with tears that threatened to spill over. “My husband. He’s coming to Tokyo.”

Aki’s grip on your arm tightened slightly, concern clouding his face as he stepped closer. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s over.” The words came out on a sob, the reality of it crashing down on you. “He’s coming here, and it’s all over. He’s gonna ruin everything.”

The tears fell freely now, your body trembling under the weight of it all. Aki’s expression shifted from concern to something deeper, something protective. He pulled you gently into his arms, holding you close, his warmth a stark contrast to the cold fear clawing at your insides.

“What do you mean ‘it’s over’? What’s going on? Talk to me.”

You tried to catch your breath, tried to form words, but the memories hit you hard and fast. Every bruise, every cruel word, every moment in that house—it was suffocating you now. You clung to Aki, your fingers digging into his shirt as if he were the only thing keeping you from falling apart completely.

“He’ll find out,” you whispered, your voice trembling. “He’s going to find out about us. About me.”

Aki’s hand gently stroked your back, his voice low and soothing. “Hey, calm down. Why are you so upset? What’s wrong?”

You shook your head, pulling back slightly to meet his eyes, tears blurring your vision. “You don’t understand. You don’t know him.”

Aki frowned, his thumb brushing away a tear that trailed down your cheek. “Then tell me. Help me understand.”

The words caught in your throat, but something about the way he looked at you—steady, unwavering—made you feel safe. You swallowed hard and the dam inside you broke.

“My husband... he’s not... he’s…” you began, your voice shaking, the words tumbling out faster now. “He’s hurt me. For years. He’s been hurting me.”

Aki’s expression darkened, his body tensing, but he stayed quiet, giving you space to speak. His arms were still wrapped around you, grounding you.

“When we first got married, it wasn’t like this. He wasn’t like this. It started small—just words. He’d get angry over the smallest things, but then it got worse. He’d talk down to me, degrade me, then he hit me. At first, it was my fault. I made myself believe that. I thought if I just tried harder, if I didn’t mess up, maybe he’d stop. But he never did. He kept hitting me, and I’m scared that– that he’ll hurt me.”

Your voice cracked, the memories overwhelming, but you kept going, needing to let it out. “And now he’s coming here. He’ll see how happy I am, and he’ll take it all away. He always finds a way to make me pay.”

Aki’s jaw clenched, his hands trembling slightly as he held you. His voice was steady, “I would never let him do that.”

You wanted to believe him, wanted so desperately to let go of the fear that had gripped you for so long. But your husband had always found you. Always pulled you back. You weren’t free of him—not yet.

“But we can’t… see each other anymore,” you whispered, your voice breaking. “Not while he’s here. He’ll know, Aki. He’ll figure it out, and I can’t let… I just can’t.”

Aki’s eyes flashed with something like heartbreak, his grip on you tightening as if refusing to let you go. “We can figure something out. See each other in secret, maybe.”

You shook your head, tears streaming down your face. “We can’t. He’ll watch me, and if he finds out about us, he’ll hurt you. He’ll hurt both of us.”

Aki’s hand came up to cup your cheek, his thumb brushing away your tears as he leaned in, his forehead resting against yours. “I don’t care what he does to me. I don’t want him to take you away.”

But you could see the pain in his eyes, the uncertainty. You felt your own heart breaking, the weight of it all pressing down on you. You shook your head again, gently pulling away from his touch.

“I can’t take that risk.”

Aki’s breath hitched, his face falling. For a long, agonizing moment, he said nothing, just stared at you like he was trying to find the right words, trying to make you stay. But he knew. Deep down, he knew you were right.

“You want to stop seeing me, then?” he asked quietly, his voice barely more than a whisper. “We just stop? After everything? After the conversation we had less than 12 hours ago?”

You swallowed hard, the lump in your throat making it difficult to speak. “For now,” you managed, though the words felt like they were ripping you apart. “It’s the only way I can keep you safe. Depending on how long he stays, I’m sure we can find a way to sneak around, but for now…”

Aki looked away, blinking rapidly as if he was fighting back his own tears. He nodded slowly, his shoulders sagging as the reality of it sunk in.

“I understand,” he murmured, his voice tight with the pain of it. “I don’t like it, but I understand. I’ll stay away if it means you’re safe.”

It felt like your heart was shattering. You wanted to tell him you could find a way, that it didn’t have to be like this. But you knew better. You had to keep him safe. You had to protect him, even if it meant breaking both of your hearts in the process. Above all else, you didn’t want to give your husband a reason to put his hands on you again.

Damn him. He stole everything from you. Your freedom, your happiness, your youth, and now, this.

Aki opened his arms again, pulling you into a tight embrace, holding you like it was the last time. You buried your face in his chest, the sobs returning, harder now, your entire body trembling against him. His hands stroked your back, soothing, but it wasn’t enough to calm the storm raging inside you.

“But, just so you know,” He broke the silence, “You can still call me whenever you need me, okay? You have my number. Use it. I’ll be there faster than you can spell my name.”

Don’t tell me that, you thought. I’ll call you every single day that we’re apart.

You couldn’t breathe. Your chest was so tight, the weight of the decision crushing you. You had to protect yourself, had to let him go, but everything in you screamed that this was wrong. That you shouldn’t be doing this. 

If this was the right thing—if this was truly to give Aki peace—then why did it feel so wrong? Why did it feel like your heart was being ripped out of your chest?

“I don’t want to say goodbye,” You sobbed, “You don’t deserve this.”

You clung to him, your sobs turning to gasps, your breath coming in ragged, desperate bursts. You couldn’t breathe. It hurt too much. But you didn’t let go. Neither of you did.

Because even though you both knew this was the end, neither of you was ready to say goodbye.

“You know I love you, troublemaker,” He cooed softly, kissing the top of your head.

This time, as the words left your lips, you felt yourself die a little, “I love you more.”

No stranger to the Tokyo train station, finding your husband’s train did not prove to be a difficult task. It rolled in at exactly 5:56 PM. Four minutes early. Your heart sank through your gut. Briefly, as the train doors slid open, you messed with your appearance – like you had done the whole time Aki had driven you up there in the passenger seat mirror, like he would be able to see the love bites you knew weren’t there, see remnants of your night with Aki all over your skin and face. 

Then, holding a brown suitcase you remembered from your honeymoon, your husband finally stepped off of the train. His brown hair looked like it was freshly done, neatly trimmed around his ears and face. His eyes went wide the moment he saw you. 

Had his nose always looked so… big? 

“Tanimoto!” You called him, waving your arms around.

You swallowed hard, forcing a smile as you waved a little more frantically than you intended. Tanimoto beamed, but something about it felt off to you. The lopsided grin, which had once sent flutters through your chest, now seemed… worn. The lines around his mouth stretched awkwardly, and the dull sheen in his eyes made your stomach turn.

As he approached, dragging the familiar brown suitcase along the platform, you felt a pang of regret—of guilt—and something else you couldn’t quite place. His footsteps were slightly heavier than you remembered, his posture just a touch more hunched. It was like seeing him with new eyes, like you'd forgotten these details about him and were seeing them for the first time. 

Your mind flashed back to Aki’s car, to the stolen glances in the rearview mirror, to the easy, careless laughter.

"Hey!" Tanimoto’s voice snapped you back to the moment. His arms reached out, and before you could stop yourself, you were in his embrace. You stiffened as his lips pressed a quick kiss on the top of your head, his breath warm against your scalp. It was a gesture that should’ve made you feel safe, but it didn’t. Instead, it made your skin itch.

“You got here early,” you said, stepping back as casually as possible. The scent of his cologne—familiar yet distant—lingered in the air between you. His brown eyes searched your face, but you avoided meeting them for too long, afraid of what he might see.

“I did,” he chuckled, “but looks like you were ready for me, huh?”

You forced another smile. “Of course.”

He took your hand, his fingers wrapping around yours with a tenderness that once made your heart race. Now, it just felt like a weight. He said something. You weren’t really listening. Instead, you found yourself hyper-focused on little things: the way his coat hung awkwardly off his frame, how his nose suddenly seemed far too large for his face. 

Had he… always been like this? Or had you just... forgotten?

He squeezed your hand, and your mind flashed back to the feel of Aki’s hands, rougher, warmer, and somehow more real.

Tanimoto tugged you closer, placing a soft kiss on your forehead. "It's good to be back," he murmured, his lips lingering for a moment longer than you expected. 

“Yeah,” you said, barely above a whisper. “Let’s call the cab.”

It had been a week since you last saw Aki, but it felt like a lifetime. His absence gnawed at you, leaving you restless and hollow, like a piece of you had gone missing. 

You hadn't expected to miss him like this—hadn’t expected the nights to feel so long or the mornings so cold. Your mind kept drifting back to him, replaying every moment of that night over and over until it was almost too much to bear.

Who knew you would be craving him again like some sort of addict after only a week apart? Briefly, you couldn’t help but wonder if he felt the same way.

Now, sitting in a dimly lit restaurant, waiting for someone who wasn’t him, your fingers drummed anxiously on the table. The room was warm, cozy even, with soft candlelight flickering on polished wood and the low hum of conversations around you. The clinking of glasses and silverware provided a backdrop that should’ve been soothing, but instead, it only made your anxiety worse. 

You checked your phone for the fifth time, willing time to move faster. He wouldn’t text. You told him not to. You knew that. But still.

"Sorry I’m late," A feminine voice said, surprisingly soft. Himeno adjusted her coat, smoothing it down, though her gaze barely met yours.

Across from you, she sat down with a sigh, finally breaking the tension that had been swirling in your chest. Her long, dark hair was a little longer than it had been the last time you saw her. Her eyes were tired but still held that edge – well, eye.

You offered a tight smile, feeling the awkwardness settle back between you like an old habit. "Thanks for coming out tonight, Himeno, I appreciate it."

"No, it’s fine," she replied with a sigh, finally lifting her gaze to meet yours. There was something different in it—less accusatory, more resigned. "I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about you."

"About?" you asked, though the answer was painfully obvious.

"And you-know-who," she said, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her nails tapped on the table as she spoke. "I shouldn’t have acted so mean. I was upset and catty, and I didn’t realize how badly I had taken the whole thing until I saw how upset he was about it."

Your heart skipped. "Upset?"

Himeno exhaled sharply, shaking her head as if still processing it all. "He asked me why you and I stopped talking. I told him I was upset that the two of you were sneaking around. He said I was acting like a spoiled child, that I had no right to be mad."

You couldn’t help it—a laugh escaped you, a short, bitter sound. "That sounds like him. I don’t think—"

The waiter arrived, momentarily cutting the conversation short. You ordered a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and two glasses – with which he returned after only a moment. As soon as he left, the air grew thick again.

Himeno poured the wine with practiced ease, the rich red liquid swirling as it filled your glasses. "No, he’s right," she said, handing you a glass before picking up her own. "I have no right to be upset about who he’s sleeping with."

Your throat tightened, and your pulse quickened. You grasped the glass, but it felt like lead in your hand. "We didn’t…"

Himeno’s laugh was dry. She raised an eyebrow and gave you a look that made you squirm. "You don’t have to lie to me," she said, her voice lower, calmer than you expected. "I didn’t hear anything solid—just petty rumors—but I can see it. His whole demeanor is different now. He cares about you, married or not. Something happened between you two, didn’t it?"

You felt the weight of her words pressing down on you, and the guilt you’d been pushing down for days rose to the surface. You stared at the wine swirling in your glass, then finally let out a long, tired sigh. “You can’t tell anyone.” 

You haven’t told your husband yet?” Himeno asked, taking a long sip of her wine. The question hung heavy in the air between you, the weight of everything unsaid pressing down.

You shook your head, the words spilling out before you could stop them. “He’s a tricky situation for me. He’s abusive, a real piece of shit, and I just… I was too scared to divorce him because I knew it would be bad.” You had sighed, rubbing your hands together under the table. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m scared of him.”

Himeno’s expression had softened. Her face, usually sharp and guarded, had seemed to lose some of its edge as she had looked at you, really looked at you. The tension between you had shifted, not completely gone but different, more subdued.

“And Aki had just…” you hesitated, feeling your chest tighten, ���He’s been so kind to me from the start. He pursued me with a passion I hadn’t even known existed. He had made me feel things I hadn’t felt in years.” You had paused, trying to collect your thoughts, but it had all spilled out too fast. “I was vulnerable, and I wanted to do something for myself for once. But it wasn’t… a one-time thing.”

Himeno’s eye had widened slightly, her glass hovering mid-air – stuck somewhere between her hand and her mouth.

“It would have been easier to tell him if it had been just a stupid one-night stand,” You continued, your voice barely above a whisper. “But it hadn’t been. I kept hanging around him, and I felt like I couldn’t stay away. Before I knew it, I felt something change.” 

You had stopped for a moment, needing a breath. “And, Himeno, I felt horrible for what I had done that night, you have to understand. It really wasn’t my intention, but… he was persistent . And I realized I wanted something more from him. So we kept seeing each other, in secret, and now—” Your voice cracked, and you quickly swallowed the lump in your throat. “Now, I don’t know why, but I feel like I would die without him. He’s the first good thing that has come into my life in years.”

Himeno blinked, her mouth slightly open in shock, her wine glass still in hand. The pink flush of alcohol—or maybe embarrassment—had crept across her cheeks.

“But,” you had added quickly, trying to regain some control of the conversation, “You’ll be happy to know we've never been official. I told him we couldn’t see each other until my husband left Tokyo. I don’t want to lose him and a friend. You were right, Himeno. I shouldn’t have dragged Aki into my crazy, fucked-up marriage. In fact, I wish I could pretend none of this ever happened.”

You trailed off, staring into the half-empty wine glass in front of you, feeling the exhaustion settle deep into your bones. It had felt like confessing everything should have made you lighter, but instead, it had just made you feel… heavy.

Himeno had still been staring at you, frozen, her wide eye fixed on your face. “Oh my god,” She whispered, her voice barely audible over the low murmur of the restaurant. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips parted in shock. “You’re in love with him.”

There had been a pause, and you fumbled for the right words, the right way to explain this away. “Yeah, I mean, I was—I am—but it’s over now! I told him we had to stop seeing each other. It’s better that he’s with someone like you who can actually be there for him. I’m going to go back to Kyoto, divorce my husband, and then—therapy, probably. And then I’ll think about—”

“He’s hot, sure, but I don’t want him anymore. Besides, it won’t make a difference,” Himeno cut you off, her voice flat. “You might think you’d be able to move on, but Aki won’t. I can’t just steal him back from you.”

“Why not?” you asked, a little too quickly. “That’s what I did.”

Himeno shook her head, a dry laugh escaping her. “He’s got a big heart. It’s different. I was only upset because I didn’t know your intentions with him, at first. I thought you were going to take advantage of him,” She said, her voice softening. “But you love him. And I think he loves you, too. He was never mine to begin with, and he sure as hell won’t be mine now that he’s gotten a taste of you. That’s something I had to come to terms with a while ago.” Her lips had curled into a small smile. “As far as I’m concerned, that’s your man. He’s not mine to keep – he’s been yours since the moment you got off that damn train. You won, fair and square.”

You shook your head, the weight of her words pressing on your chest. “It’s not a competition, Himeno.”

“It’s not, you’re right.” She shrugged, her voice casual, but her gaze was kind and imploring, almost a little bittersweet – as if she couldn’t help but feel the slightest pang of sadness that he hadn’t been with her instead. “That kid is fucking crazy about you. He’s become insufferable ever since you left him. You can’t just walk away from it like that.”

“It’s not like I wanted to.” The words had come out as a sigh, heavy and tired. “I wish there could be some sort of happy ending for us, I really do. But I know my husband. At least for now, I have to stay away from him. It would be good for both of us.”

“God, you really are a mess.” Himeno leaned back in her chair, running a hand through her hair. “Hopeless idiots, the both of you. Sounds like a whole bunch of mukka-lukka about shit that doesn’t even really matter.” She rolled her eyes, but there had been something affectionate in her tone, like she had resigned herself to the chaos of it all.

“It matters—” you had started, but Himeno cut you off before you could finish.

“No, it doesn’t,” she had said firmly, leaning in slightly. “What matters is that you two have something special. You don’t want to walk away from it, do you?”

You hesitated, fingers curling around the stem of your wine glass. “No, not really, but—”

“There is no but ,” Himeno interrupted, her voice sharp but not unkind. “If you’re gonna steal my handsome partner away from me, you better ride that train to the last stop. You make each other happy. It’ll work itself out.”

You chewed on her words, the truth of them settling in your gut like a slow burn. “I guess you’re right. After everything’s said and done, though, I’m not really sure he’ll be there for me to come back to.”

“He will,” Himeno sighed, leaning back in her chair with an exasperated look. “That’s the issue. Stop being stupid and go get your man. I’m sick of watching him mope around like a sad little child.”

You huffed, conflicted. “I don’t know. Should I? It doesn’t feel right.”

Himeno raised an eyebrow. “You said you’re divorcing him anyway, right?”

“Yeah, but I don’t—” You took a deep breath, the weight of it all pressing down on you. “I don’t want him to hurt me or Aki.”

“Then don’t let him find out,” Himeno snapped, her voice sharp like a whip. “Aki’s strong enough to protect the both of you, anyway.”

“What if it’s out of my control?” you asked, feeling the panic rise in your throat. “People talk.”

“It’s all just background noise,” Himeno sighed, leaning back in her chair, the dim light catching the faint smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “For the record, I never said anything to anyone. I know you’re thinking it.”

You bit back your instinctive retort, swallowing hard. “I don’t—” You paused, eyes narrowing, your tone softer now. “I don’t know why you didn’t.”

“Why would I want to shatter his image?” she replied, her voice calm, though there had been something sad lurking beneath her casual tone. “I care about him, you know. You’re an extension of him, now. You can’t keep living in fear of your husband. You’re not powerless. It’s the twentieth century.”

The weight of those words settled in your chest, heavier than you had expected. You didn’t know what to say, the relief tinged with the sharp edge of guilt. “He’d kill me if he found out through someone else.”

Himeno raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a knowing smile. “He doesn’t have to know. For now,” she said, her voice laced with mischief. A little firmer, she offered, “Just because your husband’s in Tokyo, doesn’t mean you can’t talk to the kid. You can behave, can’t you? Just for a while? Just long enough to see him?”

The thought of seeing Akitwisted something deep inside of you, and you weren’t able to help but pout, your voice low. “I do wanna see him, just… not to talk.”

Himeno’s laugh had been sudden and bright, cutting through the heaviness in the air – a sound you didn’t realize you had missed until now. “Naughty girl! God, I missed you,” she teased, slapping your arm lightly, her grin wide and mischievous. Then, her demeanor had shifted, softened. She had reached across the table, extending her hand toward you. “Start over? You and me? What do you say?”

For a moment, you just stared at her, mind spinning, trying to process what she was offering. The tension that had sat between the two of you for so long had felt like it was starting to unravel. You blinked, your lips parting in surprise.

“I could really use a girlfriend,” Himeno added, her smile tinged with something a little more vulnerable now. “It’s hard to talk to other women my age. Most of ‘em don’t live that long..”

Her words hit you harder than you’d expected, a strange warmth spreading through your chest. The walls you’d both built had started to crumble, and for the first time, you felt the potential for something more than this guarded, awkward rivalry. Something like friendship. Maybe even understanding.

A small smile tugged at your lips as you nodded. “Okay, yeah… let’s start over.”

Her hand was warm when you shook on it, and when your glasses clinked together in a quiet toast, it felt like a truce—fragile, but real.

For a beat, there had been peace. 

But then, Himeno grinned, that playful spark dancing in her eyes. She took a slow sip of her wine, setting the glass down deliberately before leaning forward with that all-too-familiar wicked grin.

“So,” She began, her voice dripping with curiosity, “Tell me, as your friend and not as Aki’s partner. How’s the sex?”

You had choked, sputtering on your wine. “ Himeno. ”

“What? I wanna know!” Himeno leaned forward with a whine, her eye practically sparkling with curiosity. “Now that I’m not interested in experiencing it for myself, I need all the juicy details.”

You rolled your eyes, but the smirk that had played at your lips had betrayed you. Despite the absurdity of the conversation, it had felt like a release, an unburdening of something you’d kept bottled up for far too long. With a cheeky tilt of your head, you decided to indulge her for a while, “Absolutely divine .”

“Groundbreaking?” Himeno’s eyebrow arched, her grin widening as she leaned closer, elbows resting on the table.

“ Bed -breaking,” You shot back without hesitation, a soft laugh escaping your lips. It felt good—better than you’d expected—to finally share this with someone, to let the secret of your affair slip into the open, even if only between the two of you. You felt the weight lifting from your chest as the words spilled out. “He’s a fiend. Totally different from that buttoned-up, serious Captain you see at work. He’s so… passionate and considerate. Like, ridiculously attentive. And… insatiable.”

Himeno’s eyes flashed with interest, her lips curling into an amused smile. “But is he good , though?” Her voice lowered conspiratorially, as if you were two schoolgirls gossiping about a secret crush.

You couldn’t help the flush that crept up your neck. The memories had hit you hard—the way Aki had touched you, the way his breath had felt against your skin, his intensity, his need for you. You let out a deep, satisfied sigh, almost involuntarily. 

" Yes ," you had whispered, your voice dipping low as the heat of the memory overtook you. " God,yes." 

Your eyes practically shut for a moment as the flashbacks played out in your mind. The ghost of his touch lingered on your skin, sliding up your thighs, pressing a kiss to your heat – His hands, his lips, the way his eyes fluttered shut when he slid inside of you for the first time, like it took everything he had to hold on, like you were the only woman in the entire world.

God, you missed him.

You dropped your voice, as if sharing a precious secret. “Can’t get enough of it, really.”

Himeno’s grin spread wide across her face, and her laughter came easily, as if the revelation had been exactly what she’d expected. "So he’s got you dick-whipped , huh?" She hummed, the words rolling off her tongue with wicked delight.

"For lack of a better word… yes," You admitted, but you couldn’t stop the smile pulling at your lips. The embarrassment had risen in your chest, but so had the thrill of confessing it aloud for the first time. 

Himeno’s playful teasing had felt like a release, like she was giving you permission to laugh at the absurdity of your situation.

Himeno, still grinning, raised an eyebrow knowingly. "Denji said he saw you limp into the kitchen the other day."

Your eyes widened, a mixture of horror and exasperation flooding your face. "Did he?" You groaned, pressing your fingers to your temples as if you could will away the embarrassment. "Aki made him swear he wouldn’t tell anyone."

Himeno snickered, clearly relishing the story. "I’m not just anyone ." Her tone had been smug, and she had gestured with her hands, mimicking a measurement as if to add insult to injury, spreading her two pointer fingers further apart with each word. "And between me and you, girl – Congratulations ."

Your face burned, and you buried it in your hands, trying to suppress the laughter bubbling up inside you. "Oh my God ," you muttered through your fingers, voice muffled but laced with laughter. “Quiet down before someone overhears!"

Back at the hotel, you were just about ready to call it a night. Donning a waffle-print robe, you watched a pay-per-view on the television screen. Your husband was rummaging around the hotel room the two of you had been sharing for the past week. 

He flopped down onto the bed next to you

Without warning, he turned off the TV and slid closer, straddling you. His lips pressed gently against your neck, his kisses tender but insistent. 

“Baby, stop,” you laughed, trying to push him away with a half-hearted shove.

He didn’t relent, his lips trailing from your neck to your ear. You tried again, “Stop it, seriously.”

But he was persistent, his kisses becoming more insistent. You shifted under him, more firmly this time. “No, seriously—stop it. I’m not in the mood.”

He pulled back slightly, a sigh escaping his lips as he rolled off you, laying down beside you with a resigned thud. “You’re never in the mood. I thought after being apart, you’d want to make up for lost time.”

You were silent for a moment, trying to gather your thoughts. “I’m just tired,” you finally said, rubbing your eyes. “It’s been a long day. Himeno and I had a lot to drink. I’d really rather just go to sleep. Can we talk about this tomorrow?”

He turned his head, looking at you with a mixture of frustration and hurt. “It was tomorrow yesterday, and the day before that, and every night for the past week,” he retorted.

His words stung, hitting closer to home than you wanted to admit. You knew he was right, but you didn’t want to confront it. “I said I was sorry,” he continued, his voice a mix of anger and desperation. “What, do you want me to beg?”

You scoffed, feeling the guilt mix with your exhaustion. “What? No, I just… I’m not mad at you. I’m just tired. Can’t we just let it be for tonight?”

He stared at you, his expression a mixture of hurt and resignation. “You’re punishing me for what happened before you left, aren’t you?”

You didn’t say anything, your silence a tacit admission. The room was heavy with unspoken words and unresolved issues.

He sighed deeply, rolling onto his back and staring up at the ceiling. “I don’t know how to fix this if you keep shutting me out.”

You felt a pang of regret. “It’s not about shutting you out,” you murmured. “I just need some rest. Tomorrow, I promise. We can talk then.”

He didn’t respond, the silence between you thick with tension. You reached over, resting a hand on his arm, but the gesture felt too little, too late. Quickly, you withdrew your hand.

“I said I was sorry,” he said, his voice edged with frustration. “What, do you want me to beg?”

You scoffed, already pissed the hell off about the entire conversation so far. “What? No, I just… I’m not mad at you. I’m just tired. It had been a long day. Himeno and I had drunk more than we probably should have. I’d really rather just go to sleep. Can we talk about this tomorrow?”

He rolled his eyes, his irritation palpable. “It was tomorrow yesterday, and the day before that, and every night for the past week.”

You tried to explain, though your voice lacked the conviction you wished it had. “I just haven’t been feeling good.”

Truthfully, you couldn’t imagine a worse idea. The thought of another man’s touch filled you with revulsion. You felt a peculiar sense of loyalty to Aki, as though the mere notion of being with anyone else was a betrayal of your own beliefs. It was as if Aki had imprinted himself on you in such a way that being with another man seemed not just unappealing, but downright wrong .

He had huffed, settling heavily into the bed. “Sure,” he sighed. “Well, then let’s sleep.”

He’s giving up that easily? You furrowed your brows. “What?”

“That’s what you wanted, right?” Ge said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Sorry for thinking my wife missed me. Goodnight.”

You had tossed the blankets aside, your anger bubbling over as you rolled out of the bed. “Oh, don’t fucking act like that.”

“You’re one to talk – you’ve been acting distant ever since you left for Tokyo. It’s like you’re not even happy to see me .”

Feeling trapped and overwhelmed, you had grabbed a robe and slipped on your outdoor slippers, reaching for the hotel room key. The cool metal felt oddly comforting against your palm.

“I’m not doing this,” you had said, your voice heavy with resignation. “Goodnight, Tanimoto.”

“Where are you going?” he had asked, a note of panic creeping into his voice.

“To the gas station, or somewhere. I don’t know,” you had replied, your hand already on the door. “I’m going crazy in here with you. I need a break. I’m going to get a snack.”

You walked out the door, clicking the door shut behind you. Then, you turned your back on him and walked – walked away until you reached the stairs, until you reached the first floor, until you reached the empty lobby, where you collapsed on one of the complimentary sofas. The air carried that distinct aroma that only hotels seemed to carry.

With a stressed sigh, you rubbed your hands over your face. 

Pulling out your phone, you stared at the screen, the weight of Himeno’s words still heavy in your mind.

“Just because your husband’s in Tokyo, doesn’t mean you can’t talk to the kid. You can behave, can’t you? Just for a while? Just long enough to see him?”

“You can’t keep living in fear of your husband. You’re not powerless. It’s the twentieth century.”

And, in a moment of weakness, you dialed that damn number – the one you knew you shouldn’t have been calling. You dialed it and held your breath as the line rang once, twice–

“Hey,” Aki answered on the second ring. His voice was warm and familiar and immediately concerned – you missed him so badly. “You okay?”

You nearly broke down crying at the mere sound of him. It felt as if it had been so long since you had heard his voice, seen his face, felt his lips on yours. A week away, and it felt as if you had shot yourself through the heart. 

“I wanna see you,” You gnawed on your lip, trying to keep your voice steady, “Can you come get me?”

“It’s 11 at night,” He chuckled softly, though his voice didn’t hold an ounce of malice. “I thought you said we couldn’t see each other?”

“I wanna go for a drive,” You answered. You could cry. You wanted him to come get you – to rescue you from this Hell you created for yourself, to hold you close and tell you everything was going to be alright, that he missed you as much as you missed him. “ Please?”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, as if he were taking a moment to deliberate, before he released a long, tired sigh, “You still at the Hilton?”

I love you.

“Yeah,” A smile graced your face at the thought of seeing him again. 

It felt an awful lot like you had just returned from war to him.

In the background of the call, you heard him rustling around. Then there was the distinct, reassuring jingle of a keychain, “ Alright. Be there in ten.”

“I’ll be waiting in the lobby,” Your grin only widened – you felt a burst of excitement, as if you were a schoolgirl all over again. 

Only he had the power to make you feel that way.

You hung up and leaned back into the chair, letting the couch cradle you. 

The next ten minutes seemed to drag by. You tried to burn some time by walking around the lobby, then by flipping through the entire stack of magazines next to your couch – all while your eyes never strayed from the clock above the door. 

You were restless. So much so, in fact, that the moment it hit 11:12, exactly ten minutes after you had hung up, you felt your heart begin to flutter with uncertainty. Would he come? Was he running late? Did he get into an accident?

Did he still love you?

Just as you had begun to worry, you heard it – that telltale honk of a car horn outside.

Immediately, you bolted for the door, your robe flaring around you and slippers slapping against the polished floor. Your heart pounded as you spotted his sedan parked against the side of the building, away from the windows. Without a second thought, you hurried towards the car, barely noticing the cool night air against your bare legs – holding your robe tight around your chest as if that would calm the unsteady beating of your heart.

You flung open the passenger door and slipped inside, the familiar scent of him enveloping you. Then, when you were settled in, he peered down at you with those pretty blue eyes of his – lovingly, adoringly, for the first time in a week (and then some, though it had felt like a decade).

All traces of the word ‘Behave’ disappeared from your mind the moment you laid eyes on him. He was wearing a pair of plaid pajama pants and an oversized blue sweater. His hair was down – a little frizzy, like he had just woken up. 

“ Aki –” You sighed after all of one second, throwing your arms around him and pulling him in for a kiss that was both urgent and fervent. 

You pressed yourself against him, your body seeking the familiar warmth of his presence. As your lips met his, the kiss started gently, a tender brush of connection that soon deepened with longing. His lips were soft and slightly cool, a contrast to the heat that surged between you. You parted them slightly, your tongue tentatively exploring the contours of his mouth, seeking the taste that had become so familiar and intoxicating.

Aki responded with a quiet moan, his hands sliding up to cradle your face. His fingers were warm and rough against your skin, a grounding presence that made your pulse quicken even more. He smelled like him , like home.

You felt his breath hitch as you pressed closer, desperately. His hands roamed to your shoulders, pulling you closer.

When you finally broke apart, your foreheads rested against each other, breaths mingling in the small space between you. Your eyes fluttered open to meet his, and the gaze you shared was filled with a mix of relief, desire, and a touch of vulnerability. You could see the same raw emotion reflected in his eyes.

He laughed a little breathlessly, then, cheeks tinted with pink, “Hey, troublemaker.”

You couldn’t help but giggle back – like you weren’t hunched over the console of his car, making out with him in the hotel parking lot while your husband went to bed, “I missed you.”

“I can see that,” He smiled timidly, gently, handsomely and – Ugh!! 

“I can’t keep living like this,” You breathed out, cupping his face, feeling the contours of his jaw. It felt as if he would disappear again the moment you let him go. “Not seeing you. Not knowing when I’ll see you again. It’s driving me crazy.”

“Me, too. I’ve barely slept,” He replied, “I’ve been worried sick about you.”

“In secret, then,” You nodded, licking your lips, “We’ll see each other, still, just… in secret.”

“I don’t want to keep being your secret,” He answered with a sigh. His brows furrowed. “I wanna bewith you.”

“I’ll leave him–” You begged him. Anything – Anything to make him stay. You would do anything for him. “I’ll leave him, I swear. As soon as we’re done with this fucking– with this position in Tokyo, I’ll see an attorney. I’ll get the papers, and–”

“You don’t have to worry about all of that right now,” He smoothed his hand over your arm, over the fabric of your robe. 

“But it’s not fair to you,” You raised your voice ever-so-slightly, desperately, “I can’t keep leading you on like this. You deserve my everything , not just… being on the side. I wanna be with you and only you, all of you. I wanna leave and start over with you, start a new life with you, and a new apartment, and–”

Aki’s actions spoke much louder than his words. Gently, he reached for your head, pulling it close enough to cradle it to his chest. You buried your nose in his neck. 

“I feel so trapped , Aki– it’s like I can’t even breathe when I’m not around you. I don’t know what it means, but it feels as if–” Before you knew it, your eyes were watering, and your voice trembled with that weakness you hated so much, “It feels as if I shot myself right through the heart.”

“Hey,” He spoke up, calm and collected, as he typically was. “What’s wrong? Did something happen? Did he hurt you?”

“Not physically,” You cried. “I just– I can’t take it anymore– I need to leave.”

“Then let’s leave,” He commented. His hand twitched towards the gear shift. Still, he didn’t move the car just yet, letting you make the next move. “Where do you wanna go?”

“I wanna go home with you, Aki,” You wiped your tears away with the back of your hand. Sitting straight up in your seat, you looked up at him, “Please, I can’t– I don’t wanna go back in that room with him.”

“You know you can’t come home with me, baby,” He smiled softly – like the fucking angel he was. “I don’t want you to get in trouble. Not tonight.”

“I don’t even fucking care anymore,” You snapped, “I love you , Aki. I need you.”

And he leaned down, nose brushing against yours, touching the side of your face so gently that you thought he was a dream. “I need you, too,” He pressed a gentle kiss to your lips, “I love you, too,” Another, and then he sighed, “Don’t tempt me. I’m trying to keep you out of trouble.”

“Take me away from here,” You pleaded. You felt so weak . Your husband made you weak. You were weak for Aki, too.

Home wasn’t in Kyoto. Home was wherever his arms were.

“I will,” He answered. Sitting back, he finally shifted the car into gear – his blue eyes seemed to focus on the tear that made its way down your cheek. “Where to? Wanna go to the gas station and get a snack? A slushy?”

After a momentary pause, you nodded, wiping your tears away. 

“It’s okay,” He cooed, softly, patiently. “He can’t hurt you. You’re safe. We’re gonna get you a nice snack and then you’re gonna feel better, and you’re gonna tell me what happened.”

You only nodded again. Then, you let him drive you off into the night, leaving your clueless husband in the dust – leaving that damned hotel behind. And, for the first time since you had left his apartment a week or so ago, you felt a little better.

Aki pulled the car into the gas station, the warm glow of the neon signs casting a soft light over the hood. You glanced at him as the car came to a stop, and it struck you, as it always did, just how effortlessly attractive he was. Off the clock, away from the neat suits and crisp shirts, Aki looked so different, yet somehow even better. His sweatshirt hung from him just right, showcasing the broad line of his shoulders and the lean strength in his arms. His sweatpants were comfortably worn, soft at the edges, and hung low on his hips. His hair, usually slicked back for work, now fell loosely around his face in a tousled mess that made him look younger, more relaxed.

“I’ll be right back,” he said, giving you a quick, easy smile before stepping out of the car. You watched him walk into the store, his movements casual, unhurried, like he wasn’t weighed down by anything—not by you, not by tonight, not by the storm brewing inside you.

You stared out the window, trying to steady your racing thoughts. The air between you and Aki always seemed charged, even when nothing was happening. You wanted to believe this was all harmless—a gas station run, some time away—but there was something more, and you both knew it.

A few minutes later, the door clicked open, and Aki slid back into the driver’s seat. He handed you a slushy and a small bag of donuts, the sugary scent filling the car. “I remember you telling me you liked these,” he said, his tone so casual, but the weight of the small gesture felt heavy.

Your heart did a small, involuntary flip. That he’d remembered something so small—so inconsequential—made your chest tighten. You smiled softly, the warmth of the moment settling over you. “Thank you,” you whispered, taking the bag from him.

You turned to him, taking a sip of your slushy before speaking. “I don’t think we can do that again.”

Aki glanced at you, sipping on his slushy. “Do what?” he mumbled through a full mouth.

“Break up,” you said, wiping the condensation off your cup. “I was messed up the whole week. Thought it’d be easier, I dunno.”

Aki paused, sipping thoughtfully. “Break up?” He raised an eyebrow, then took another bite. “Is that what it was?”

“Kinda,” you admitted with a small smile, picking at the edge of your donut. “At least, it sure felt like one.”

He nodded, taking a long sip from his slushy. “I agree.” A beat passed, and then, with a teasing grin, he asked, “So… are we un-broken up?”

You snorted, shaking your head. “You mean seeing each other again?”

Aki shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. “If you insist.”

“It was more like a break, really,” you shot back, laughing. “We knew we’d be together again someday. Does that count?”

Aki plucked a donut from the bag you had propped open in your lap. “Someday, huh?” he replied, pretending to be offended as he polished it off in two bites. “I think we both knew you wouldn’t be gone long.”

You rolled your eyes, grabbing another donut. “Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night.” Then your voice softened, and you glanced at him seriously. “But really, Aki, I don’t wanna live without you. I need you.”

He turned toward you, the playful banter giving way to something more real. “Yeah,” he said quietly, his blue eyes softening. “I need you too.”

He started the car again, the low hum of the engine filling the silence as you both sat back. You sipped your slushy while Aki took small, deliberate pulls from his own, his eyes focused on the road ahead. You smacked on the donuts, savoring the sweetness as if it could distract you from the heaviness of everything else.

After a few quiet moments, you couldn’t hold it in anymore. “He kept talking tonight,” you began, your voice low, almost as if you were ashamed to bring it up. “Saying I don’t seem excited to see him. That I never… touch him anymore.” You swallowed hard, staring out the window as you spoke, afraid to meet Aki’s gaze. “It’s like he doesn’t get it. He really doesn’t know what he did wrong.”

Aki didn’t say anything right away. He just kept driving, his hands steady on the wheel, his slushy untouched in the cup holder now. But you knew he was listening, really listening. You had to admire his patience – lord knew that you would not be able to sit before him as composed as he was if it were him talking about his wife.

“I just need to take my mind off of everything for a while,” you admitted, your voice soft, almost pleading. You felt drained, like you were holding on to too much for too long.

The thought of Aki belonging to anyone else, selfishly enough, made your skin crawl.

Did you have a right?

“I can help,” Aki said, and the shift in his voice was unmistakable. The air between you seemed to change, thickening with something unspoken but undeniably real.

You glanced over at him, and the look on his face made your heart skip. His jaw was set, strong and sharp in the dim light from the dashboard, but there was something else in his eyes—something teasing, a little dangerous. His lips quirked up at the corners, a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, and his gaze dropped to your mouth for just a second before flicking back to the road.

Your mouth ran dry. The heat between you was rising, the tension humming louder now. “With what?” you asked, the words catching in your throat as your pulse quickened.

He glanced at you again, slower this time, eyes lingering on you before returning to the road. “Taking your mind off of it,” he added, voice low, each word deliberate, as if he knew exactly what he was doing.

Your breath caught in your chest, and the weight of the moment hung heavy between you, pressing down until it felt like the only thing in the world that mattered was whatever Aki had in mind next.

“How?” you asked, your voice soft but edged with curiosity, your heart racing in your chest.

Aki’s eyes darted toward you for just a second, a slow, knowing smile tugging at his lips. He nodded toward the back seat, where the fogged windows and dim light hinted at the kind of escape you both knew so well. The implication was clear, and your pulse quickened, excitement threading through your veins.

You knew you should refuse. You knew you should just say, not tonight , go back to your hotel room, and leave Aki with the weight of everything you'd already asked of him. It would have been the right thing to do, the smart thing. But that gnawing pull toward him, the heat between you, made it impossible to walk away.

You couldn’t suppress the smile that spread across your face, playful and just a little dangerous. “What happened to seeing each other in private?” you teased.

He raised a brow, smirk widening as he leaned closer. “You never said anything about fuckingeach other in private,” He countered, his tone low and teasing, the words hanging heavy in the space between you.

You exhaled a shocked little laugh, the tension between you both electric. “We’re not hooking up, Aki,” you sighed, biting your lip. Your heart raced as you leaned into him, the heat of his body pulling you in. 

“What’s a better way to celebrate getting over a break-up –” He teased, “Than makeup sex?”

“Not happening. Don’t start,” you retorted before closing the gap, your lips pressing a tender kiss into his.

But, for the record, you wound up crawling back into bed with your husband an hour later like nothing had happened.

a/n: I WANTED TO MAKE THIS MORE OF A SLOW BURN. but i absolutely HATED making them so miserable. they cant live without eachother. also aki's sigh of "be there in 10?" UGHSFHFDHFGHFG!!! i was so geeked up writing this. the next chapter coming will be full of that sweet goodness you all know and love (and know imma give you every time). stay tuned! lmk what yall thought of that long ass chapter, and what you wanna see happen in future ones!!!  Mama loves yall. Make sure you're taking your meds, drinking water, and doing your homework. Muah! x

credits: UNKOWN ATM. I found the cover pic on pinterest unfortch. If you know the artist, please let me know, so I can credit them properly for their work!!! This is NOT MY BEAUTIFUL DRAWINGGG. I obviously do not own csm or anything related to it. please do not reproduce, copy, or translate my works anywhere. dont fk w me im a bruja.

also: come find me on my wattpad if u wanna interact more!

taglist: @mitsuyeahhh , @sleepysnk , @enneadec , @noaabean , @em1e , @drakensdarling , @bertholdts--butt , @satanlovesusall666 , @mitsuwuyaa , @noctifule , @scaraphobia , @ask-the-insect-hashira , @lovingranchturkeyweasel , @bontensbabygirl , @slvdsjjk , @novacrystalli , @hanmastattoos , @kodzuksn , @hqtiny , @ohmaiscool15 , @redlittlequeen , @leivane , @goldeneagles-posts , @yeahblahlame , @no-oneelsebutnsu , @cookiesandcreammy , @cawwn , @the-haitani-baton , @littlelovebug98 , @armani78 , @mindurownbussines , @kokos-property , @violetmatcha , @hp-simp505 , @acethebrave , @mitsuyeahhh , @sleepysnk , @enneadec , @noaabean , @em1e , @drakensdarling , @bertholdts--butt , @satanlovesusall666 , @mitsuwuyaa , @noctifule , @scaraphobia , @ask-the-insect-hashira , @lovingranchturkeyweasel , @bontensbabygirl , @slvdsjjk , @novacrystalli , @hanmastattoos , @kodzuksn , @hqtiny , @ohmaiscool15 , @redlittlequeen , @leivane , @goldeneagles-posts , @yeahblahlame , @no-oneelsebutnsu , @cookiesandcreammy , @cawwn , @the-haitani-baton , @littlelovebug98 , @armani78 , @mindurownbussines , @kokos-property , @violetmatcha , @hp-simp505

wanna join the taglist? | shameless ; chapter index

[tuliptired]

Ello! Hope Im not a bother, but i was hoping to make a one-shot request? I looked around and it looks like you are still taking requests as of the moment, very sorry if I missed something.

Anyways, if its not too much trouble, could you write Egon Spengler x Baker Y/N? I think that would be a fun dynamic!

If thats not to your liking, what about Egon x Shy Y/N?

Love your works, I check the ghostbusters tag daily to see if youve written anything new. Thank you so much, love ya have a great day and night!!!

How Sweet It Is (To be Loved by You)

Pairing: Egon Spengler/Baker!GN!Reader

It's never too much trouble...no idea if I've used this gif before

did yall hear about the SNL biopic btw oh my gahh...

Better formatting on Ao3! (italics)

Your relationship started with a cupcake. As the story goes, told lovingly by your now mutual friends, there was a bust at a retirement home, and one of the caregivers insisted on sending the boys home with a treat in addition to the hefty bill. Demanded, actually, practically shoving a metal tin full of pastry into Egon’s hands as he attempted to discreetly sneak away.

“Jackpot,” Peter leaned over, happily surprised as nimble fingers opened the lid. The smell of sugary sweets wafted through the car, prompting Winston to extend his hand to the backseat, palm soon full of muffin. Egon was patient, letting everyone take something for themselves, before finally deciding on a blue-iced chocolate cupcake, sweet tooth waiting to be satisfied.

“Where’d this come from?” Ray, Peter, and Winston stood in the kitchen, confused at the spread of different colored boxes and containers. Upon further inspection, they were full of even more cupcakes, each the same blue iced chocolate flavor. Egon sat with his hands folded on the countertop, unfazed at their reactions to his display like any true man of science would be.

He made a tick mark on a long list of names, clipboard somewhere in the organized, delicious chaos. “If you must know, I’m testing every bakery in the area to find the one I ate that evening. I’ve yet to find it.”

Ray shrugged, taking note of just how many locations he had procured food from. “Not the weirdest thing you’ve done for a result,” he admitted.

“Good food’ll do that to you,” Winston laughed, Peter reaching over to gauge how mad Egon would get if he tried to take a sample from one of his possible matches.

Egon didn’t look up, flipping to the next page. “Go ahead, those are the rejects. They'd end up in the trash, anyway.”

Peter peeled away the paper, going through the motions of ripping the bottom of the cake and placing it over the top of the frosting. “Rejects.” he parroted plainly. “What’re you gonna do when you find the right store? Stand in the window?”

He glared up at him above his glasses. “No, I’ll buy a half dozen and go on with my day,” he unfolded a wax lined box, “so if you could leave me to my research?” Research being, going down a line of cupcakes. They each exchanged glances, before filing out. Egon could be just as tenacious as everyone else, when he felt like it.

Except, that tenacity wavered in the face of unfamiliarity. The only reason Egon was willing to go in your bakery to begin with is because the others had forced him. “Don’t be a baby,” as Venkman had put it. He finally found the match, in fact he had found it a few days ago. But he took a glance at the bustling establishment on the day in which he set out on his own, and got cold feet. Especially when he accidentally locked eyes with the smiling artisan while he just stood in the window.

His friends had managed to shove him towards the counter without a second thought. The same person he’d seen through the tall window was behind the counter now, greeting them all kindly. The bandana you had used to keep your hair in check must’ve been failing to do its job, evident by the flour near your temple, caught in a few strands. Egon’s fingers twitched.

Peter flicked him on the lower back when he failed to respond like a typical customer, making Egon come-to and clear his throat. “May I get a half dozen chocolate?” he asked robotically.

“You may,” you grinned at his grammar, “but, chocolate what?”

Egon’s ability to speak stopped short at his misstep, unable to let out anything but unintelligible stammers, and Egon never stammers. “Cupcakes, please,” Ray spoke up for him, catching wind.  

You nodded, moving to the display rack to place his order in a smaller, blue box. Peter wasn’t content with how smoothly this interaction was going as he watched on with a bored expression. “Funny story, actually,” he caught your attention through the framework.

You laughed at how it made him look like he was in a horizontal jail cell. “Yeah?”

Peter raised Egon’s stiff arm for him at the elbow. “We walk in one night and catch Egon with at least 20 different cupcakes, trying to find yours ‘cause he missed it so much.” he regaled.

He may have caught you blushing. Were you blushing? He shouldn’t stare at business owners when they were just trying to work. “Well,” you started folding the corners of the parcel, “assuming you liked them- and you guys are pretty important to the city…” You held them out to him with two hands. “Just take them. No charge.”

Egon felt like there was smoke rising from the top of his head, or the espresso machine, as he shuffled out, and you leaned over the counter to call after him: “Come back anytime, for whatever! On the house!” 

The rest happened slowly, but surely, and you enjoyed it thoroughly. On an earlier morning, you and your pubescent employee were handling the typical rush you got around breakfast. Between prepping, a small burn from the oven, packing orders, ringing people up, and a quick trip to the corner-grocery for more milk, you finally had a spare minute to breathe, both hands pressing into the counter.

A blur of beige and a trail of smog put an end to your mini-relaxation, and you hurried over to the door. “Stantz! Spengler!” you beckoned before they could turn the corner.

Like children, they found their way to your storefront, though Egon looked rather apprehensive with a used trap dangling from his gloved fist. “Good morning, guys,” you urged them inside, “did you eat yet?”

“We really should get going.” Egon said after Ray greeted you. Most of the sickly smell from the trap was left outside, and it was too covered up by the scent of sugar and warmth that everyone but you swore clung to the bakery for you to worry about it driving away customers.

You ignored his protests, crossing behind the counter. “Eat in the morning or you’ll crash in the afternoon,” you started pouring two cups of hot coffee.

“There’s no need-” you interrupted with a hand. “We’re fine,” he continued anyway.

Ray’s stomach betrayed his friend’s wishes. “Something small wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Listen to your friend, Egon.” you warned, adding a bit of whipped cream to both cups to literally sweeten the deal. “You need to eat.”

He frowned, but you didn’t care much. “We have a Class lll in our hands, now is hardly the time for-” you cut him off again, stuffing his mouth with a blueberry danish. As he annoyedly chewed, you procured a paper bag from the back, wrapping his hand around the handle.

“Too bad I already packed for everyone,” you patted his knuckles when he acquiesced, catching sight of what was inside with a small smile. “You’re crabby when you’re hungry.”

Egon opened his mouth to respond, but the contraption in his left hand started beeping. Are they supposed to beep? You’d never seen them do so before. It seemed as if the two experts themselves hadn’t either. 

You stood on your toes to give him a parting kiss, Ray grabbing both paper cups in the meantime before you could start shooing them out. “Go, go- don’t let that thing loose in here. And swing by later, okay?”

He followed your lips when you pulled away, but the ominous beeping drove him to the door and down the street. You sighed to yourself, already missing him. None of the regulars in your store seemed to pay any mind to the local celebrities- or the weapons they had strapped to themselves, as Egon floated in and out during different parts of his day at least once a week.

Egon knocked on the glass door, soft light and music slipping through as he got your attention. When you let him in, the distinct whiff of cookies enveloped him like the warm temperature of your little shop. It was his favorite part of visiting you, apart from actually getting to see you. “How was today?” he spoke over the soft jazz that you apologetically turned down.

“Better,” you were about to run a Crisco covered hand through the front of your hair before you stopped yourself, “better.” Egon only then noticed how many cookies you had managed to make for having only closed an hour ago. “I have more in the oven,” you said from the back wall with the smaller front oven while you hurriedly took out a hot tray with a mitt and put a cool one in.

It wasn’t just cookies, but brownies, sweetbreads, and cinnamon rolls. “Are you…restocking?”

You laughed, a quarter manically and another quarter incredulously, and started to peel cooked pastry off of baking sheets. “If anything, we have too much stock.” you paused your fervor, frowning at your display case’s abundance. “I’ll send you home with some- give them to your clients or eat them or something.” 

You were barely done shutting the sliding glass when you popped up, clapping your hands once and frankly startling him. “Pies! I know what I need to make now! I’ll make some pies and maybe a cake and we can head home.” Before you could disappear into the kitchen, he stepped in your way, two soothing hands on your shoulders.

“You’re stress baking.” 

Egon couldn’t hide his amusement at your familiar despondent expression, as if you were coming down from a high. “Was it that obvious?”

“Somewhat,” he stroked up and down your arm, steering you to the stool you kept tucked away behind the register and pulling up a chair for himself on the other side. “What’s wrong?”

He enjoyed the chairs you had because of their structural variety, and the fact they didn’t make him feel like a giant. 

You slumped your head into your since-dried hands, groaning out of frustration. “It’s just the season, I guess. A ton of people come by, bringing their dumb boyfriends-” you paused, realizing what you said, “no offense.”

“None taken.”

“-And they come looking at our stuff to see if we’re good enough for, like, baby showers and weddings and all that.”

A car passed by on the street, definitely above the city’s speed limit for a business area. “I assume that’s a good thing?”

“It’s great,” you sat up, “we want people to pick us. But it means everything has to look great, and we have to get ready for half a million custom orders.”

That would be a partial reason for the sudden uptick in inventory, combined with the pressure to make a good first impression. But you were working so aimlessly hard that you looked crazed, all by yourself. “Your employees aren’t willing to help?” Egon questioned.

You stood, addressing the heaps of different cookies, the only creation of yours without a home. “They are. But they’re kids- I can’t work them that hard. It’s probably illegal, too. They won’t be around for the next couple of days anyway.”

He could sympathize with your plight- backed into a seasonal corner that business owners just had to get used to. “I’m sorry,” Egon offered, “I’m not as skilled in your trade, but is there anything I can do to make it easier?”

You smiled your first genuine smile since he arrived. “There is, actually,” your tone was excited as you moved to the freezer, “just let me finish these and I’ll fill you in.”

Egon would’ve stopped you from continuing to try to work, but he relaxed when you brought out pre-prepared bags of icing and miscellaneous confectionaries, knowing that decoration was the more relaxing aspect of the art. 

He both sat in comfortable quiet as you put all your focus into icing, piping, and arranging.  It was pleasant, knowing that you had something so ardent that you cared so deeply about, even if it was dismissed as a mere hobby while you were close to collapsing to exhaustion in the bakery you financed on your own. It was a mix of career and craft- one of the many reasons he had grown to give you his utmost respect.

You were eventually done, making the task of embellishing countless treats look effortless. You handed him a cookie, which he gladly took. “I need you to be honest,” you counted on his affinity for sweets. He took a bite, surveying the dessert after the initial pleasure your baking always brought him.

“Raspberry compote,” Egon took a second, “and coffee icing.”

“Good job!” you scribbled something down on a spare slip of paper after springing the register drawer open. “Rating?”

“10/10”

“Honest.”

“That is my honesty. But if you wanted the unweighted scale, 7/10. The two flavors balance each other very well.”

You passed him another, which he promptly ate without being asked to. “On the crumbly side. Is that intentional?”

A nod. “A little less butter than usual. Old ladies tend to like those.”

He put a hand on his chin contemplatively. “6/10- marmalade. A softer version would get a higher placement, it would be a shame to lose interest from those who don’t fit the demographic.”

You copied down what he said, seemingly happy with any sort of feedback. “And here I thought I’d have to help you cross the street.”

The night went on like that for a while, and Egon grinned to himself at the parallels he had only just noticed- another mix of career and craft, now inquiry and indulgence. You looked like a proper scientist- or, a food scientist, scrawling down notes and numbers that he’s sure only you would be able to decode. He felt the corners of his face dimple in a familiar smile while he watched you- something he’d found himself doing much, much more.

“What?” you raised an eyebrow, suspicious of his joy.

“Nothing,” Egon excused himself, “you just look incredibly nice.”

 You squeezed the hand that he rested on the counter, silently appreciative. “Thanks- for that, and for helping me out. Let me get you home before you barf.”

He’d learned to live with the indecencies, helping you tidy up the best he could without breaching the system of organization you had. When you returned from the back with your personal things, he let you loop your arm around his for the semi-short journey home.

Egon only let you go so you could lock the door, and he stared at your back for the entire time that you did. “If I were having a baby shower, I’d come here.”

There were practically stars in your eyes. “Really?” 

“Really.” You planted a gratuitous kiss to the side of his face, before setting off towards his apartment.

Over the course of a few days, your boyfriend showed up earlier in order to take you into work, and keep you company as you tried to quell the impending anxiety. When regulars faded out and new faces came in- possible clients, you assured him with a non convincing tone that he had a job, too. If your ego was bigger, you’d be bragging about the compliments and inquiries your store got, not to mention the referrals to friends regarding special upcoming events. But, entrepreneurship had taught you to be humble, so you were resigned to spilling it all over a phone call to the firehouse.

One morning, you forced Egon out before anyone could arrive, asserting that he had a day off and he should find a way to relax. He asserted that this was how he relaxed, but you had a key to the front door and he didn’t, so that solved that. 

Not long after he was gone, you were hastily punching his number in, bouncing on your heels and out of breath.

“Hello?"

“Rich girl- eloping- needs a wedding cake- lots of money,” you forced out like you were out of air, already seeing dollar signs in tandem with the minutes you were losing. “But I have a crazy favor to ask.”

Very soon, “OPEN” was flipped to “CLOSED (sorry)” and you put on your serious business apron. Egon stood behind you, unsure of what to do as you jumped from here to there, double checking that you had absolutely everything you needed.

You only stopped when you realized that he wasn’t in the proper attire. “C’mon, Spengler,” you chastised him while cinching the strings of a smock around his waist.

“Game plan,” you led him to the back where all the industrial sized equipment was, “three tiers, green and pink, white cake. She gave me creative freedom, so I’m kinda flying blind.”

Egon’s eyes were on you as you laid out a few large bowls. “Have you ever…made a wedding cake on such short notice? I assumed they take days.”

“They do! And they’re the one thing I swore to never sell!” He looked disappointed in you, but you weren’t fazed, grabbing both of his hands. “$1,500,” Egon’s eyes widen as you continued, “think of what that could buy.”

He pushed up the bridge of his glasses like a flustered schoolboy. “That’s…a lot of copper wiring.”

“So many new mixers! And without the down payment! That’s why we need to start while we already have the time.”

Realistically, it was more of you starting everything while Egon was subjected to measuring or throwing away eggshells. But, you eventually gave him bigger responsibilities, as there was no way you’d be done in time for the impromptu-wedding if you worked one-by-one. 

You turned from what you were doing after instructing him to mix the batter for the top layer, being met with his bare forearms, dress shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

“What?” Egon noticed your commotion halting. “Am I overmixing?” 

You didn’t answer, still staring at his toned arms. He should help out more often- your stand mixer cutting out on you must’ve been a blessing in disguise. Your blatant ogling was cut short when he stopped his ministrations, resting the whisk against the lip of the bowl.

“Don’t get distracted.” He tried to sound condemnatory, but it was hard to feel scolded when the scholar had on one of your teenaged employee’s spare pink bibs around his front and he was almost bent over the edge of the counter space in the midst of his focus.

You could breathe a little easier when the timer went off for the tiniest layer’s completion in the biggest oven. You took the searing pan out carefully, and your worry spiked again when you saw how dark the unfrosted dessert was along the top. You went through a list of things that might’ve gone wrong-  was the oven at the right temperature? Setting? You definitely let it bake for the right time. It wasn’t until you saw a pair of little cylinders, tucked away in the havoc, that you put two and two together.

“Which one of these did you use?”

Egon looked like a mix of confused and concerned. “This one, baking soda.”

That’s how he got put out your kitchen for a considerable amount of time, until he knocked at the round window separating you both.

“Are you sorry?”

A pause. “Not anymore than I was 20 minutes ago.”

“I’m locking the door.”

He was allowed back in after a long and rehearsed apology. Soon, all tiers were baked, except for the base, and you were aching all over. The whole cake process never got any less demanding on you.

Egon must’ve seen how you stretched your arm across your chest before you tried to continue on anything. “Are you feeling okay?” 

“I’ll be fine- just sore.” you answered truthfully, before slightly jumping at the feeling of hands wrapping around your middle.

“Take a break,” he herded you to a folding chair you kept in there- the only chair. You were slotted in between his knees, thoroughly confused. He only got like this every blue moon.

It did feel great to be off your feet for a second, despite your cushy sneakers. “What’re you getting at?” 

His strong hands made work of your tense biceps. “Nothing lascivious. I just think you should save your energy for the important part,” you stifled a noise at his doctoral tone and the way his thumbs kneaded at the space in between your shoulder blades, “and you’ve been working very hard.”

“Baking makes you a freak,” you scoffed, but hedonistically let him continue to dote on you.

Soon it was time to keep moving, attractive masseuse or otherwise. You put Egon in charge of coloring the buttercream while you ran out to the store for the second time in only a few days, making a mental note to use some of the bride-to-be’s payment to keep a consistent supply of the little things.

When you returned, though, it wasn’t as you had expected. You picked up the metal bowl full of neon icing incredulously. “I said green, not snot!”

“I made green,” he didn’t budge, not seeing how gaudy this would look in the middle of a reception hall.

You pushed a finger in between his brows. “You’re such a guy,” you remarked, regardless of your own gender, as you hassled him out of the way. “Watch.” 

With a bit of red, the bright green dulled into a paler color, fit for a wedding. “Can I trust you with pink?” you asked as if he was a child.

Egon’s expression was unreadable. “No promises.”

Half of the green was shoveled into piping bags when he was finished, presenting the baby pink mixture to you like a project would be presented to a teacher. “That’s better,” you started, taking the bowl while he kept the spatula. You’d assumed that Egon was going to wash it or scrape off the excess or something, but your eyes squeezed shut as something cold and tacky hit your nose.

Frosting, pink frosting. His audacity. You took the green spatula, getting him back on the cheek. That led to him getting you back on the forehead, ear, chin, and eventually some strays ended up in the corner of your mouth, which he was more than happy to take care of. Baking really made him a freak, you thought. You probably shouldn’t be kissing over someone’s wedding memorabilia, but you shortly noticed that was the icing for each tier and its decoration. You lost an hour cleaning and starting from scratch on the buttercream, steering clear of each other in a respective corner each.

You had another hour to eat a late dinner while each tier chilled in the freezer, setting the white icing you painstakingly leveled to their surface area. When you returned, it was time for the assembly, the second most dreaded process. “I’m scared,” you confessed, just about to push down the first dowel.

Egon got eye level with the top, squinting. “You’re just about perfect.”

Your nerves got the better of you. “How can you tell?” 

“I calculated.”

He was to keep calculating until all three cakes were secure on each other, bringing on the actually grueling part: decoration. You could design anything easily, after years of practice on your skills and ability to freehand- but a wedding cake was just so intimidating. That was part of the reason you vowed to never try again, how easy failure was staring you down in the form of little white fondant flowers. Egon let you take the reins on this, disappearing from your narrow field of vision. You honed in your knowledge of swirls, mini roses, and the drape style that was still in fashion among traditional couples. You were bent in all sorts of ways to make sure every bit of sugar that left the tip of the plastic bag came out perfect, for a perfect pair of newlyweds. Or newlyweds with perfect pocketbooks.

Time got away from you when the final detail was placed, and you stepped away like it was a bomb. “Is it done? Are we done?” you looked for confirmation. “How does it look?”

Egon’s torso stopped you from running off somewhere. “It looks perfect.”

The giant thing was stowed away to wait until you were scheduled to drop it off the next morning, and a weight was taken off your chest. You let the faucet run over materials, mind somewhere else with the rush of running water.

“It’s so sweet when it’s all done,” you spoke up, scrubbing crusted batter off of a tin, “weddings feel so magical.” 

You thought back to the agreement you made with your boyfriend of a handful of years: nix a big ceremony, celebrate with friends when the time felt right. The time always felt right to you; you’d drag him to the courthouse at the drop of a hat. Perhaps there was an even right-er time out there, written somewhere in your future.

Egon wiped down all the surfaces. “I agree.” he voiced from across the counter, taking a pause. “You’re not…angry with me? For taking as long as I am?”

You laughed at that, drying your hands. You crossed over to him, a hand on his chest. “Not at all. I trust you.” He had ditched the tie at some point after you had to make a new batch of icing. “If you’re offering…”

“Give me some more time to make it special.”

You brushed away some of his hair that had come loose in the heat of your scullery. “How much more time?” your voice was soft.

Egon thought about it for a moment. “What’s 5 more years?” He laughed heartily at the groan you let out, resting his head on yours.

“Really?” your voice broke over the phone. “I’m sorry…I’ve never- I don’t know,” you forced yourself to take a shallow breath, “I’ll work on getting your deposit back.”

You didn’t know what to think or feel when you ended the call, but thoughts of wasted hours, materials, lost profit, all flooded your mind as you attempted to calm yourself. You rested your head underneath where the phone was mounted on the wall, rubbing at your temples to sedate an oncoming headache.

“What happened?” Egon asked at your back, with you again in the early morning as he scored another day off. You didn’t turn to face him, trying your best to blink back embarrassing tears.

“She canceled. We made the cake for nothing- there’s no wedding, I-” 

Egon was on a knee, in the middle of your homely bakery. Your frustration evolved into pure confusion. “What’re you-”

There was a blue, velvet box in his hands with a glinting band inside of it. Before he could get a word out, you were on the floor too, tears free flowing. “You can’t do this now,” you clutched the fabric of his pants when he moved to hold you. “I look horrible.”

His free hand dried your tears, though more would keep on appearing in their wake. “I’m sorry this is so overdue.”

Your hands gently held onto his jaw to know this was real. “When was the right time?” 

“A long, long time ago. I just needed to find a way to make it special.” He looked hesitant before continuing, “I hope you don’t mind having made your own wedding cake.”

You blinked. “You’re the worst!” you joked exasperatedly, falling with him into a hug on the floors you were happy you mopped. “That was all you?”

“Why do you suppose her down payment was a multiple of 18?”

“They didn’t.” 

“Consider it a group gift, I suppose.” Egon smiled underneath you. You sat in the giddy silence of two people, soon to be wed, when he gingerly asked the question

“Will you?”

Your boyfriend- fiancé, went through so much trouble to make the moment one you could look back on happily. Who could refuse?

“I will.”

[urlocalmultigroupfan]

without you (pt. 6)

pairing: lee felix x female reader

summary: you have been best friends with the 00 liners+chan for a while now. now everyone is in college and when you begin to develop feelings, its getting hard to choose...l

tags/warnings: college skz, liking multiple people at a time, fluff, angst, reader struggles with anxiety and depression, cussing, partially proofread

a/n: yesterday i had been listening to no doubt by enhypen for hours while working... but GIANT CAME OUTTTT OH MY LORDD... *saves to yt music library* anyways this one is going to be on hyunjin 😚 love yall

The air outside had cooled by the time you made your way to the campus courtyard, but the warm golden light of the late afternoon still clung to the edges of the horizon. You were meeting Hyunjin today—another one of your closest friends—but unlike Chan, your time together had become a rarity. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind, and you'd found yourself bouncing between study sessions, gym dates, and nights out with a growing group of new friends. Somewhere along the way, you'd unintentionally let Hyunjin slip through the cracks.

Hyunjin was already sitting at one of the tables, his phone in hand as he scrolled through something on the screen. When you approached, his gaze flickered up to meet yours, and a smile tugged at his lips, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Hey," you greeted, settling across from him. "Sorry I'm late. Was just finishing up a study session."

He nodded absently, not looking up from his phone. "It’s fine."

You felt the weight of his response, the slight tension in his posture, and it made the smile on your own face falter. Something was off. It wasn’t like Hyunjin to be so distant—not to you. He’d always been playful, easygoing, and full of life when the two of you hung out. But today, there was something muted about him.

"Everything okay?" you asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," he said, though his eyes didn't meet yours. His voice was flat. "Just tired, I guess."

You weren’t buying it. You'd known Hyunjin long enough to know when something was bothering him, and it was obvious there was more on his mind than fatigue.

"Hyunjin, come on. You can tell me what's up." You leaned forward slightly, giving him your best serious look.

He hesitated for a beat, then let out a deep sigh. He finally put his phone down, folding his arms on the table and leaning back in his chair, eyes on the sky. "I just… I don’t get it," he muttered.

You blinked, taken aback by his tone. "What do you mean?"

"It’s like…" He ran a hand through his hair, clearly struggling to find the right words. "You’re always with everyone else now. Chan, Felix, your new friends, all the time. You barely have time for me anymore."

Your heart skipped at the bluntness of his words. You’d been so caught up in the hustle of school and new connections that you hadn't noticed how much distance had started to grow between you and Hyunjin. Guilt immediately crept up on you, but you tried to keep your voice calm.

"I’m sorry, Hyunjin. I didn’t mean for it to happen like that. It’s just—everything’s been so busy lately. I didn’t realize I was pulling away." You hesitated, feeling a lump form in your throat. "You know you mean a lot to me, right? You’re my friend, too."

He finally turned to look at you, his dark eyes softer now, though there was still a faint edge of hurt beneath them. "I know," he said, his voice quiet. "But it doesn’t feel like it sometimes. I don’t know. I guess I just… miss hanging out with you like we used to."

You let his words settle between you, a heavy silence hanging in the air. You missed it too—the easy way you could talk with him, the days you spent together doing nothing but laughing and playing around. You wanted that again. You wanted to be there for him, to make sure he knew that even though things had gotten complicated, your friendship hadn't changed.

"I get it," you said softly. "And I’m sorry for letting things slip. You’re right, I’ve been kind of all over the place. But I’m here now. And I really want to spend more time with you. How about we go grab some dinner after this? Just the two of us. No distractions."

Hyunjin’s expression softened, though he still seemed a little guarded. He gave a small nod, his lips curving upward slightly, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes the way it normally did.

"I’d like that," he said quietly, his gaze flickering down at his hands. "I just don’t want to feel like I’m… second place, you know?"

You felt a pang in your chest at that. You’d never meant to make him feel like he wasn’t important. "You’re never second place, Hyunjin. You’re one of my closest friends. I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel like that." You reached across the table and placed a hand over his, offering him a reassuring squeeze. "I’m really glad you said something. I don’t want to lose touch with you."

His gaze met yours again, and this time, his smile was a little more genuine. "Thanks. I just needed to know that you still care."

"Of course I care," you said with a light chuckle, though your voice was filled with sincerity. "You’re stuck with me, okay?"

He laughed softly, the tension between you easing just a little. "Yeah, yeah. But you’d better make sure you keep your word." He leaned back in his chair, looking a bit more relaxed now. "And just so you know, I’m expecting you to beat me at Mario Kart tonight. You’re not getting off that easy."

You smiled, feeling the weight of the conversation lift. "I’ll take that challenge. But if I win, you’re buying me dessert."

"Deal," Hyunjin said, his eyes brightening. "And if I win, you’re giving me an hour of uninterrupted karaoke."

You laughed, shaking your head. "Alright, fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you."

The rest of your time together was spent in easy conversation, the air between you lighter than it had been when you first sat down. You promised to make more time for each other, to reconnect and rebuild the bond you both shared. As you walked away, heading to the arcade for your Mario Kart and karaoke session, you couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.

Hyunjin’s jealousy wasn’t born from a place of malice, but of longing. He had simply missed his friend—and now that you were both aware of the distance that had crept between you, you were determined to close that gap.

And, as the night stretched on, with the sound of laughter and playful arguments filling the air, you couldn’t help but feel grateful that your friendships, though sometimes strained, were strong enough to withstand anything.

please don't reblog without permission!

[gotham--fc]

Always - A Ruesha Littlejohn Imagine

Hello I'm back! It's sure been a while, missed yall

This fic came to me in a dream after the Canada-Ireland game so I hope it's good and that yall like it

Tagging @grapefruit-personified because she's been waiting for this for a while and honestly she was my motivation to finish this anyway enjoy!

“Hey Rue, what’s shakin’ bacon?” Y/N laughs to herself at her joke. She loves to make Ruesha laugh, so whenever she answers a call from her teammate, she’ll make a stupid joke or a pun that makes Ruesha laugh. She doesn’t laugh this time, and Y/N furrows her brow. “Rue?”

“Can I come over?” Ruesha asks.

“Yeah, of course, you’re always welcome,” Y/N says, “Is everything alright?”

“No.”

Ruesha hangs up before Y/N can say anything. Y/N starts tidying up, just to give herself something to do while she waits so she doesn’t make herself crazy wondering what’s wrong. It doesn’t take Ruesha that long to arrive and Y/N barely restrains herself from running to the door when she hears the knock.

“What’s going on?” Y/N asks.

Ruesha has clearly been crying and Y/N ushers her inside and sits her in the kitchen while she makes a cup of tea for both of them.

“Me and Katie broke up,” Ruesha says. Y/N sets the mugs down and gives Ruesha her full attention.

“I’m so sorry,” Y/N says, “That’s awful. What can I do?”

“I just need a friend right now,” Ruesha says. Y/N reaches across the table and lays her hand on Ruesha’s. She offers her what she hopes is a reassuring smile.

“Whatever you need from me right now,” Y’N says, “You got me. Always, I promise.”

***

“I can’t believe I have to spend two months with her!” Ruesha groans. Y/N shoves Ruesha’s feet off the couch so she could sit. “I should drop out.”

“You should absolutely not drop out, it’s the World Cup,” Y/N says, “I know it sucks but you don’t have to spend any time with her outside practices and games. And I’ll be there,” Y/N waggles her eyebrows.

“Yeah, on a completely different team,” Ruesha rolls her eyes and plops her feet in Y/N’s lap.

“We’re in the same group, at least.”

“It still sucks.”

“I know,” Y/N rubs Ruesha’s shin to comfort her, “But it’s gonna be okay. I know it’s hard and it sucks having to be around your ex, but fuck her, honestly. It’s the World Cup! You’re gonna have a blast and it’s gonna be so great and you’re going to play in the World Cup, this is gonna be amazing for you.”

“We haven’t seen each other, really, since we broke up. She wasn’t home when I got my stuff. The first time we’re seeing each other since we broke up is at the World Cup. Talk about the worst fucking timing.”

“Yeah, it really is. I can’t make it better. But you guys are going to have to learn to be civil. You’re both going to play on the same national team for the rest of your careers. I know it sucks that it’s the World Cup, but the next time you guys have to play together will be so much better because you’ve already done it in the most stressful environment you could get. This is just character growth,” Y/N says.

“I hate that you’re so smart,” Ruesha grumbles.

“That’s what you get when you pick a best friend like me,” Y/N says.

“Yeah,” Ruesha glances away, an unreadable look in her eyes, “I guess you’re right.”

“Hey,” Y/N waits until Ruesha’s looking back at her, “You got me. Always. Okay?” Ruesha smiles.

***

The leadup to the World Cup is intense, it always is. It’s days full of training, or working out, or days when they’re told to rest and coaches and trainers stalking the hotel to ask why they’re out of their rooms. It’s stressful, but it’s rewarding, because Y/N knows at the end of this they’ll be playing in the World Cup.

Despite how intense and stressful and time consuming every day is, Y/N still finds time to talk with Ruesha. They’re not in the same hotel, not even in the same city, but Y/N makes sure her phone is nearby for whenever they have time to talk. Y/N ignores her teammates teasing. Like, yeah, okay, sure, she has a tiny crush on Ruesha, but Ruesha’s going through a breakup and also doesn’t feel the same. And that’s fine. Y/N’s fine. Ruesha needs a friend, and Y/N is so okay with being that friend.

“Hey, you played well today,” Y/N says.

“Like you even watched it,” Ruesha says.

“I did! Who do you take me for?” Y/N asks with faux offense, “I was studying my opponents.”

“Sure you were.”

“I know you watched my game. You texted me about that tackle I made.”

“It was a good tackle, pretty decent.”

“Piss off!” Y/N laughs, “I will hang up on you.”

“No you won’t,” Ruesha says, “You love me too much.”

“Yeah, yeah I do.”

They’re silent for a moment. Y/N swallows.

“I saw,” Y/N says, “What happened. What everyone’s saying about it.”

“Everyone’s a bunch of shits,” Ruesha says, “They can shut the fuck up.”

“That may be true, but, Rue… What happened?”

“You said you saw what happened,” Ruesha grumbles.

“Rue.”

“What do you want me to say?” Ruesha huffs, “I don’t have to shake her fucking hand if I don’t want to. You know what’s going on with them. I don’t have to play nice with Katie’s new girlfriend.”

“No, but you can’t start fights with the whole world watching,” Y/N says.

“Not that many people watched the game.”

“Not my point.”

“I get your point,” Ruesha says, “I’m saying I’m fine and that I’m not going to hide what I’m feeling just because I’m on TV. If Katie doesn’t like how I treat her new girlfriend then that’s her problem, not mine.”

“I just want to make sure you’re okay,” Y/N says, “I want to make sure you’re not going to do anything you regret.”

Ruesha can be so stubborn sometimes and normally Y/N doesn’t mind. She likes Ruesha for who she is, stubbornness and all, but it’s times like these that Y/N can get frustrated. She knows how ruthless fans and the media can be and she just wants to keep Ruesha from facing anything negative. She’s already seen what some people are saying and she wants to climb through her phone screen and grab the people making comments and shake them, scream at them that they don’t know what they’re talking about, they don’t know Ruesha like she does. But she can’t do that, so instead she has to settle for fighting through Ruesha’s stubbornness to try and convince her to think before she acts.

“I can handle myself. I’m a big girl,” Ruesha says.

“I just don’t want you to get hurt,” Y/N admits quietly.

Ruesha doesn’t respond immediately and Y/N lets the silence sit. It’s heavy and weighted and the longer it goes on the more Y/N thinks Ruesha’s hung up. It wouldn’t be the first time Ruesha’s hung up when Y/N said something she doesn’t want to hear. Y/N is about to hang up herself, when Ruesha speaks.

“Thanks for always looking out for me,” Ruesha says quietly.

“Of course. Always.”

***

As soon as the celebration and team talks are over, Y/N heads over to the Irish players. She shakes hands, gives hugs, but her mind is focused on one thing.

“Hey,” Y/N gets the attention of Louise Quinn.

“Congrats on the win,” Louise says.

“Thanks,” Y/N gives her a quick hug, “Do you know, by any chance–”

“She went back to the locker room,” Louise says before Y/N can finish. Y/N smiles in thanks.

Y/N goes back through the tunnel and heads in the direction of the Irish locker room. She finds Ruesha leaning up against the wall beside the door, staring at her feet.

“If you’re mad at me, you should’ve done a better job of hiding.”

Ruesha huffs.

“Not mad at you. You’re not that special.”

“But you are mad,” Y/N leans on the wall beside her.

“Of course I’m mad! We’re done! We’re out! We went through all the work, all the training, all the games, all the bullshit, for nothing. It meant nothing.”

“It wasn’t for nothing,” Y/N says.

“It sure feels like it,” Ruesha huffs again, “I thought it was all gonna be worth it. I thought sticking it out and putting up with her and everything would be worth it in the end. Now I just wish we’d never qualified at all.”

“You don’t really think that.”

“No,” Ruesha sighs, “I don’t. I’m just pissed.”

“I know how hard this all was for you,” Y/N says, nudging Ruesha’s shoulder in a comforting gesture, “With Katie and everything. And I want to help make this better for you, however I can. You’re my best friend Rue.”

Ruesha makes a sound almost like a growl as she springs from the wall and moves in front of Y/N, her hands braced flat on the wall on either side of Y/N’s head, bracketing her in. Y/N blinks owlishly as Ruesha stares hard at her. There’s a myriad of emotions swirling in Ruesha’s eyes, anger, disappointment, frustration, and something Y/N forced herself to ignore every other time she’s seen it: longing.

“Stop talking.”

Then Ruesha’s kissing her and Y/N’s brain shuts down for a moment. Then she kisses Ruesha back with a fervour. This is what she’s been dreaming of for months, what she’s tried to forget she wants, what she’s repressed and buried for the sake of their friendship. It’s not the way Y/N imagined it, both sweaty and in a hallway in Australia, where Y/N’s just knocked Ruesha out of the World Cup. It’s not what Y/N pictured, but it’s perfect anyway because it’s exactly like them.

When Ruesha pulls away, Y/N knows she has a lovestruck smile on her face and the smirk Ruesha gives her in return just makes Y/N smile deeper. Ruesha’s hand grips the hem of Y/N’s top and tugs. Y/N’s eyes widen.

“Ruesha! What are you doing?” Y/N looks frantically down the hallway to see if anyone is nearby.

“What?” Ruesha says, “Isn’t it tradition to swap jerseys after a game?” Y/N shakes her head.

“You’re impossible.”

Ruesha tugs her own jersey over her head and looks at Y/N expectantly. Y/N only gets distracted by Ruesha’s bare stomach for a moment before she tugs her own jersey off. Ruesha grins after Y/N pulls her Ireland jersey on. Ruesha smooths her hands down the sleeves of her jersey.

“You look good in green.”

“And you look good in red,” Y/N says.

“Come on,” Ruesha grabs Y/N’s hand and pulls her down the hallway back towards the field. “Let’s get some photos taken. Immortalize the moment. Show the haters you’re mine.”

“Yeah,” Y/N says, “Yours. Always.”

[j0kers-light]

Hello ! I have a ledger joker request It’s probably very stupid and not really your style but ah,,,it’s a scenario where the reader has enough of his bs like he probably pissed her off in some way (either from what he said, what he did or maybe she got tired of his dangerous lifestyle??)and the reader wants to break up,,,,how would he react and how would the story escalate lol,,, it could be angsty leading to fluff or even smut 🫣 or everything and anything I mean I really don’t mind haha,,,I hope it’s not too much

His Lighthouse: Goodbye (LedgerJoker x f!reader)

Goodbye - Oneshot

KEEP IN MIND THIS IS NOT A STORY UPDATE!

Hey hi anon! 🖤✨

This ask is soooooo old forgive me senpai! I found it buried deep in the August section! I held onto it because I loved the synopsis. I will say that your ask is NOT STUPID! It was out of my style (its rare I'll let Joker and Y/n break up) but I filled it anyway!

I still don't like the ending but practice makes perfect! Expect another break up fic in the future!

YALL NEED SOME MUTEMATH IN YA LIVES!

tag list:

@blackreaderatrisk @twinkledinkle @clemdango04 @l3ejm @tears-of-amber @what-an-angel @darthjokerisyourfather @thatsnoteii @dollster @cheetahspy @kaidennnnn @urdariingdoll @motivation-idontknowher @ins0mniac-whack @spaghettificationandpretzels @reneisance @alittlesmartcookie @ninacutebee16 @carydorse

Shoot me a request if you wanna be added to the HL taglist!

Joker really thought you were different. He assumed that you could stomach through the highs and lows of his fast paced lifestyle and remain by his side. You made it this far, why couldn't you last until forever?

Joker should have known his Light would crack under pressure.

If he wasn't so blinded by work, he would've noticed the signs. Your brilliant smile failed to reach your eyes, you stopped waiting up for him after his long nights out, and the unquestionable love that you held for him was no longer there. He was too busy destroying a city to notice; he didn't have time to worry about you or anything else.

And that proved to be his downfall.

It was the fourth night this week that Joker came home late and exhausted.

He would come in as loud as can be, shower off, raid your fridge, all before crashing in bed. Not one hello or a welcome home kiss was sent your way. You used to be his main focus, now you were grateful for any semblance of acknowledgement.

You eventually trained yourself not to be bothered by it, no matter how depressing it was to be cast aside.

A news broadcast explained that Joker was having a stressful few months evading police while still managing to wreak havoc on the city. The fact that you learned this information from a GCN segment and not from Joker himself, was a slap in the face.

The old Joker used to talk to you about these things. Sure he omitted majority of the details to keep you safe, but still, he used to keep you informed! You knew next to nothing now. You were completely in the dark.

You couldn't remember the last time you talked to Joker let alone touched him. You missed the long late night conversations and the passion that would eventually follow. You missed your partner in so many ways. How many nights have you gone without his love, desperate and lonely?

Things between you and J were more than strained and there was no light at the end of the tunnel. You could understand a few days of this distance, it was going on three months.

You doubted if you could stomach any longer.

In the beginning it was like a dream being with Joker. You were his Light, his Goddess, his reason for existing. He would do anything for you and he showered you with love and affection to prove his devotion. You were happy and totally blinded by his affection.

But by the time you noticed it was gone, reality settled in and stung like a bee. You were addicted to Joker and he was cruel to take away your fix.

He knew you had separation anxiety and it only worsened by the day. Your thoughts were plenty. Did he not love you anymore? Was there someone else? Was there anything you could do to repair this strained relationship?

You had so many questions and Joker was never around to answer them. So you spiraled into self doubt.

Joker didn't notice your change in demeanor since he was hardly at the apartment anymore. He only came home to eat, sleep, shower, and go back to work. He was so busy he couldn't spare you a second.

You tried to get his attention multiple times but he was always in a rush.

You tried cornering him while he was in the bathroom but still no dice. He would lock the door and you couldn't talk to him before bed due to the clash in sleep schedules. You slept while he was up and vice versa. 

At times you thought Joker was creating distance on purpose. No man could be that busy! He wasn't in the past. Joker always made time for you. You wondered why he stopped.

Regardless, you vowed that things would be different. You were going to earn Joker's attention whether he liked it or not.

This was his last chance to acknowledge you. You knew your worth; you didn't deserve this cold treatment without just cause. And if Joker wouldn't cherish what he had, then you would move on and find someone who would.

You didn't need Joker and his toxic energy weighing you down. If he didn't fix his attitude then you were done.

You decided to confront J and give him a chance to correct his behavior as a common courtesy.

Joker usually got ready around seven pm so if you caught him before eight, you could talk to him before he left for the night.

You felt neglected and unloved by a man who swore to treat you like a goddess down to his dying breath. It was high time you put your foot down and held him accountable.

Everything was going according to plan until Joker deviated from his normal schedule.

He was already dressed and heading towards the door around six in the afternoon. The time threw you off and you almost missed him as he passed by.

You were cleaning the dishes in the kitchen but grabbed a towel to wipe your hands and run after J.

"Wait J! I need to talk to you!"

Much to your surprise he kept walking. Okay....? Was he flat out ignoring you now? You wouldn't be surprised.

You were still clinging onto the hope that this funk of his was a result of a stressful work situation. He wouldn't be busy forever and soon enough, he'd have all the time in the world for you but in the meantime, he didn't have to take his frustrations from work out on you.

You caught up to him in the living room and halted his movements with a smile. "Didn't you hear me? I wanna talk—"

"I don'T have time for this." Joker said under his breath. You heard it loud and clear. He arched an eyebrow at your stunned face. "What. Whaddya want?"

He never spoke to you like that before. You were at loss for words. He clicked his tongue in anger for wasting his time.

"Exactly. Nothing. Now... move." He shoved you away and you barely caught your balance from falling over.

Did he just?

You laughed to yourself and blinked in disbelief. "I know this white man didn't just push me." You mumbled to yourself.

You looked straight into an imaginary camera and laughed again. That didn't happen. If you acted a fool and went off on Joker, then somehow you'd be in the wrong.

For months you felt lesser than and suffered through his silent treatment but not any more. You were sick and tired of being neglected and in that moment, you reached your breaking point.

Only seconds had passed since Joker pushed you but it seemed like time slowed as he neared the door. You couldn't let him leave.

Joker was about to turn the doorknob when he heard you.

"I just wanted a few minutes of your time but then you had the audacity to push me?! Boy... have you done lost your mind cuz I'll help you find it!" You stomped to stand in front of Joker. He just arched an eyebrow at you.

Was he supposed to be frightened by you or something? You barely came up to his chest.

"I've had it with you! You don't talk to me anymore, you're never here! It's clear you're done with this relationship! It's like I'm dating a ghost and I do not have it to do! So! Here's an ultimatum. Either stay and we work this out or walk out that door and see what happens! The choice is yours."

You meant business this time. You were fed up with Joker not meeting you halfway in this relationship. You wanted things to go back to normal... back to when he proved he cared about you and meant it. Was that too much to ask for?

Apparently so. Joker simply rolled his eyes at your little performance, "Are ya done?"

Angry hot tears welled up in your eyes and you felt as if you were going to explode. You smiled through the pain and poked Joker's chest. He made his choice, now it was your turn.

"Am I done? Nah, I haven't even started." You waved him off. "Just go."

Your heart pleaded with him to do the exact opposite yet it broke into two when Joker scoffed and left your apartment without a word.

It would be the last time he did.

The next twenty four hours was the worst in Joker's life. He was leaving your apartment building when Frost called and explained that the planned mission for the night had already gone south.

Joker wasn't having the best of luck these days. Nothing was going right. It would take the rest of night and probably tomorrow to square things away so they could reattempt the mission at a later date.

The last thing he needed was something else to screw up after a day full of dumb mistakes.

Joker was bone tired by the time he boarded the elevator up to your apartment. He mashed the top floor button and sagged his weight on the walls with a sigh.

Joker didn't forget that he left on a bitter note and he hoped you were in a better mood now. You did have an entire day to calm down without him around.

He knew how stressful these past few months were and not just for him, but for you as well.

He foolishly put his work over you and the consequences were coming back to bite. His Bunny was rowdy and at her breaking point.

All he needed was another week or so and then he'd have ample amount of time to spoil you with the attention you deserved.

He walked off the elevator and down the short hallway to your front door. Nothing seemed amiss until he tried opening the door with his key.

It didn't fit.

He tried again and then he noticed it wasn't his key that was messed up, it was the door itself. You changed the f__king locks.

Joker tipped his head back and laughed.

How naïve you must be to think this would stop him. It only took two hard shoves with his shoulder and the door broke open. He barged in with inertia but stopped in his tracks at the sight of your apartment.

What was once a bright and eclectic space was now devoid of life. White dust sheets covered every available surface like an abandoned house and the whimsical air that usually flowed throughout the place was gone.

He tried turning the lights on but they didn't work. He ventured over to the fridge and jerked it open, only to find it completely empty. Even the faucet in the kitchen ran dry. It was as if you vanished and preserved the apartment for safekeeping.

All the doors in the apartment were locked and your precious houseplants in the sunroom were gone.

You were gone.

Joker didn't panic at first. Shock was clouding his judgment. There was no way you just up and left in a day.

His eyes darted around looking for any kind of clue but nothing remained. However, Joker was smart. He nodded to himself as he took the stairs back down to the front lobby, three at a time.

He rarely came down here and he hardly paid the workers any attention but today they would be his saving grace.

It was the crack of dawn yet an employee was already stationed at the front desk, typing on the computer.

Joker hit the counter before fixing the employee with a glare.

"O-Oh h-hello sir, you startled me! Good morning. May I help you with something?" She took in Joker's tight green eyes and his frantic demeanor but kept quiet.

She also wondered why he wore a face mask but she kept those thoughts to herself too.

"Y/n L/n. Top floor. Where did she go?" He demanded.

She wasn't at liberty to disclose any information about tenants but if she didn't say anything to his man, she knew he wouldn't be too thrilled. It went against protocol but just this once, she'd share what she knew.

Joker was glad she made the right choice. A few taps to her keyboard brought up your profile.

"Miss. L/n, let's see. She left.. yesterday afternoon! I don't know when she's returning since she didn't include a return date on the Tenant Leave paperwork. Would you like to.. um sir? Sir?"

Joker left the front desk as soon as he heard the word left. He glanced at his pocket watch and grimaced.

It was seven in the morning. Joker left a little before seven pm the day before which meant you had a full day to disappear anywhere in the world. His panic finally kicked in. You actually picked up and left him.

He couldn't believe it until your words from the night before echoed in his head and stopped him in his tracks.

"Either stay and we work this out or walk out that door and see what happens! The choice is yours!"

You asked Joker to stay and talk and he would wager it was about his attitude over the past months and about not giving you any attention. He put work above his Light and this was the consequence.

He never expected you to leave and change the locks. This was bad. Real bad. 

You had a full day to travel anywhere and your royalties did not limit you on how far you could go. It was concerning that your security detail didn't report anything awry this entire time. They should've been the first to know if you decided to pick up and leave and Joker's immediate thought was the worst outcome.

Perhaps you didn't leave willingly. Joker had to see this with his own eyes. Good thing he installed security cameras all over your apartment, they came in handy at a time like this.

Joker arrived at this main hideout like a man on a mission.

The first thing he did was check with your security detail and drill them on your whereabouts for the past twenty four hours.

Much to his shock, they had absolutely no clue you were gone. That was just unacceptable so he got rid of them, permanently.

Joker's theory of you being kidnapped was proving to be a possibility until he locked himself in the control room and reviewed the camera feed.

He re-winded it back to ten minutes after he left your apartment and sighed once he saw you break down into tears. His heart ached seeing you in so much pain but after a while, you picked yourself up and disappeared into your private room. All was quiet until bright and early that morning, multiple movers and the apartment building's preservation committee stormed into your penthouse.

There were a dozen people moving in and out of your apartment from seven in the morning to late in the day.

They worked to remove the essentials you wanted out and set about spreading dust sheets over everything else that remained.

Two workers cleaned out your fridge and pantry while another team moved your plants from the sunroom with the utmost care. You stood watch through it all, pointing at what could stay or go, sporting a frown on your face and puffy eyes.

It was evident that you were crying all night and they worked twice as fast to remove you from this situation.

The apartment building manager came around noon with some paperwork and Joker turned up the audio so he could hear the conversation better.

"Alright Miss. L/n you're already aware of your ten year contract with us but I have to reiterate. You are obligated to pay rent during your extended leave of absence and you must return to full residency status before your contract expires. Do you have any questions?"

He set down the legal work on your kitchen counter and waited for you to respond. You didn't spare him or the agreement a glance.

The bookshelf team gave you a thumbs up when all your books were accounted for. They were the last to leave the apartment since no one was allowed in your room. You watched them haul out the boxes you pre-packed last night out the door.

"Will the water and power be turned off or will that be included in LOA rent?" You asked.

"Oh, that's excluded! Your normal rent is what? A high six here or there, so rent will be reduced to three thousand in your absence per month."

Joker always wondered how much your rent was. He was shocked to say the least. By no means was he a cheapskate but he wasn't so flippant with money either. 

You nodded offhandedly at the property manager.

"Fax the agreement to my manager's office and they'll review it before I sign. Thank you all so much!" You shouted to the workers doing their final sweep of the place.

They nodded and waved back in thanks before leaving.

The preservation team was placing the final sheet on your custom dining table before they also waved goodbye. You returned your focus back to the apartment employee.

Now it was just you and him in the entire penthouse.

"I'm sorry. You were saying?"

He shook his head but returned to his previous thought. "Uh yes.. Might I ask your expected return date? Will it be longer than six months?"

You sighed. This was a spontaneous decision.

You honestly did not know how long you were going to be mad at Joker. He abandoned you for months and your heart just couldn't take the neglect anymore. How long was long enough to forgive such a betrayal?

This decision might be extreme from an outsider's perspective, but you saw no other alternative. Joker was not a man one could reason with. If his dreams of mass destruction were more important than your love, then you'd leave and let him have at it.

Things were not supposed to be permanent between the two of you anyway. Joker had long since overstayed his welcome and you were a fool to let him stay pro bono.

It could take the rest of your life for Joker to see what he lost. You had the patience; didn't mean it wouldn't hurt.

You heaved a sigh. "Undecided. I have another residence I'll be staying at until my return."

The locksmith gave you the thumbs up and stood outside the door. Everything was ready for your departure. All that was left to do was perform a last sweep of the place before the power and water were cut.

Your manager spoke up. "Of course. I'll leave it blank." He gathered the paperwork and sent a nod your way before boarding the elevator with the locksmith. Then you were left alone.

Joker couldn't believe his eyes as you walked around, running your hands over the covered furniture with a bittersweet smile. Your penthouse held so many memories and you were leaving it all behind.

"I know you'll watch this later. Whenever you're not busy enough to notice me gone." You said out loud.

Joker bristled in his seat. Much to his surprise, you locked eyes with one of his hidden cameras and spoke candidly.

"Is killing the bat more important than me, your precious Light? If it is.. then don't bother trying to find me. I'll be far away from your reign of terror soon enough. G-Goodbye Joker."

He watched you turn off the lights for the final time and close the door on your way out. Joker was speechless as you rode the elevator down to the main lobby and hopped into a SUV before it turned the corner out of camera range. He couldn't read the license plate it moved to fast.

Silence fell over the apartment's remaining camera feed before it went dark as the building manager cut the power. You were gone and you took the light with you.

He felt numb.

Joker sat for the longest trying to get his bearings straight. Was his work more important than you? Joker wasn't so sure anymore. His hands were shaking and there was a buzzing in his ear that wouldn't go away.

Shock. He was going through shock.

Remembering your tears were what brought him back. Leaving was hard on you too. You didn't want to go and that gave him the strength to take action.

Joker had to win you back at any cost. He jumped out of his seat so fast it spun and fell over. He brought his phone up to his ear to start issuing out orders.

"Check flights out of Gotham to errr.. Martha's Vineyard. She went to the beach house n' I want the.. jet ready when I get to the airporT."

Joker was calculating how long it would take him to fly full speed when, twenty minutes later, his phone buzzed with a text.

Beach house empty boss.

An attachment was sent over with a message thread from the gang's Boston division leader. J read it over while raking a hand through his greasy hair. There was no movement detected at the beachfront property and no flights out suggested that you headed there.

If you weren't in Massachusetts then where on Earth were you? Joker didn't have much time to mull it over.

The more time he wasted was another minute separated from you. You didn't have any other pins on the map to flee to except....

J made another call. "Blüdhaven. She went home." He growled into the receiver. Why didn't he think of it sooner?

Frost copied loud and clear and quickly called in an old favor to validate the claim but much to his surprise, his informant came up short.

It was a tough message to deliver but Frost was the right man for the job. He had to deliver this news in person. Joker was still at the main hideout packing an overnight bag when he felt a presence behind him.

There was only one person brave enough to walk up on Joker.

Frost shifted his weight standing in the doorway. There wasn't a nice way to put this so he just came out with it. "She's not in Blüdhaven."

He watched Joker stop packing and drag out a deep sigh. It came straight from the soul and carried the frustration of the situation.

Frost knew his boss better than anyone and knew this was hurting the clown in more ways than one. "We got face recognition software running through all the states, boss. We'll find her."

"She uh.. dared me to walk out and I did like a fool. Now she's gone. I... I lost my light." Joker tipped his head back laughing. It was bitter on the wind. "'t's not so funny now."

Frost had never seen his boss look so defeated before. It was truly a dark day indeed.

Everyone noticed the sudden change in Joker. He was far more irritable and bitter. One mistake and it would cost someone their life— no questions asked.

The original stress that was weighing on the entire gang was gone and replaced with the unknown variable that vexed Joker. It was literally like walking on eggshells around him.

Joker's patience was non-existent and only Frost could speak to him for longer than two minutes and survive afterwards.

Joker was back to his old, more unhinged self. He couldn't sleep a full eight hours anymore and used copious amounts of sweets to stay awake. As a result, his alertness wasn't the same and regrettably, Joker let the voices you silenced long ago return to haunt his every thought.

Mac, Neo, and Frost took it amongst themselves to help the gang stay afloat.

They could not afford to appear weak to the rival gangs or to the GCPD during this moment of uncertainty. The top three could run the illegal business, no sweat.

Joker was too busy trying to find his Light to care.

The face recognition software was a dead end. It was as if you fell off the face of the Earth which was impossible for someone as high profile as you.

You still posted online to your fans (bouncing your IP address off of servers from overseas; Joker always said you were a smart bunny) and kept an active social media profile. But off the screen? You were a ghost.

Joker had no clue where you were and neither did the countless goons scattered across the country who were secretly looking for you.

You were somehow doing the impossible— alluding Joker and his wide stretch of power. He used his assets across the US to try and track you down with no success.

At one point he feared the worst and assumed you were dead and that some imposter kept your socials active until he got the best lead he had in months.

These days Joker kept to himself in the underground hideout, the same one that he kissed you in for the first time. When he closed his eyes, he could picture it as if it were happening all over again.

He couldn't bring himself to step foot in your apartment when you weren't there to brighten its cold interior.

That place was dead to him if you weren't there.

A pile of return to residency letters from the apartment office were scattered in the corner of his room along with the other assorted mail he intercepted. He told himself that you would want to see them when— not if, but when you returned. That was the thin thread of hope that Joker clung to.

You had to come back and he'd wait for you.

He was mindlessly staring at the walls when Frost and Mac burst into the room. They shared a look at Joker's obvious depression but decided to deliver the good news anyhow.

"We found her! She's hosting an art event!" They both saw the glimmer of hope enter Joker's sad eyes.

"It'll be held in Dallas, TX two days from now. We already contacted the Dallas division and they'll be expecting our arrival." Mac's joy was evident in his tone. "We found her boss!"

Joker tried to be optimistic but he needed solid proof.

Over the span of five months, you hinted and failed to make due on any in-person meet and greets. He knew you were keeping a low profile to elude him but your fans weren't happy by the fact. They wanted to see you and so did Joker.

J was still a big fan of yours.. And if it was one thing you loved in this world, it was your fans. You could never let them down.

You were coming out of hiding for them. Frost handed Joker a printed copy of the announcement.

It was an aesthetically pleasing invitation depicting the time, date, and location of a local artist's exhibit. Joker knew what was going on. One of your fans was having an exhibit and you agreed to bring in publicity while earning some money on the side. You were listed as a special guest who would sign books to match every purchase made at the show.

It was an incentive for people to buy and it gave you good PR.

It was a good business deal and Joker smirked knowing that you were the brains behind the idea. You loved giving back whenever you could.

Joker nodded at his men for a job well done. They would be on the move to touch down in Texas and get a feel of the area before the event.

After five long months, Joker would finally see the light.

Everything was going to plan as Joker and his team held up in a hotel a couple blocks from the event.

The chips were all set and the only thing standing in the way was the rain.

"What if it's cancelled?" Mac whispered to his comrade.

He wasn't the only one thinking the same thought. The day started out clear with some stray clouds in the sky but nothing concerning. But as the event start time drew closer, the sky split open and a downpour fell with no end in sight. There were sporadic times where it let up, bringing hope of a dry afternoon, only to darken and rain again.

Neo fixed the blond with a deadpan stare. They did not travel all this way for some rain to stop them.

"Then we follow her back to where she's staying and corner her there. Simple. We ain't leaving til the Boss sees B. Look at him man.." Neo nodded in Joker's direction and they both turned to look at their boss.

Joker was pacing the hotel suite already dressed in disguise for the event.

He was mumbling to himself (louder than normal) and they could hear your name and jumbled up apologizes mixed in between lighthearted threats to never leave him again. He would pause, nodding sagely, before breaking out into a laugh at something you said.

Joker was having a conversation with you to himself.

Mac nodded at Neo, still watching the horrific sight. "Yeah... he's lost it."

Frost came into the suite and spared Joker a fleeting, concerning, glance. "It's a go. Let's head out."

They walked down to the back entrance and into cars to make it to the popup building in the heart of the art district.

It wasn't an overly formal event but they each blended in with their dress attire. It was to be expected once they stepped into the glass enclosed building.

Despite the rain, the place was crowded. The sun was setting over the horizon and live music was playing off in the corner as people mingled and socialized amongst themselves.

Tasteful art ranging from contemporary artwork to mixed media sculptures decorated the all white area. It was dimly lit and still, the place shined, all thanks to the event's special guest.

You were walking arm in arm with a fan of yours, who was also an up-and coming artist on the Dallas stage. She was responsible for the framed art hanging over your fireplace in Joker's bedroom.

She was dressed in all black whereas you were the pop of color. There was an aura surrounding you and Joker truly believed the sky cleared because you smiled and told it to.

Someone handed you a mic as the last raindrops hit against the glass ceiling overhead.

"Well would you look at that?!" The crowd chuckled in unison and gave you their undivided attention.

"Good afternoon day! Thank you all for braving the rain to attend this special event! I am honored to announce a good friend of mine's first art exhibit! She has worked tirelessly to make today possible so please, I will literally hold each person who leaves empty handed accountable. And may Hunter use you for archery practice."

The crowd laughed at the inside joke to your book and you continued with a smile, "But seriously! I present.. (insert favorite artist)."

You began the round of applause as your dearest reader and online friend hugged and took the mic (and attention) from you.

She went on about the inspiration for her debut collection and reminded everyone that with each purchase they would receive a signed copy of your latest trilogy.

Joker cancelled out the rest of her chatter; he couldn't take his eyes off of you. He was hypnotized.

He thought you would be depressed and miserable these past five months but you looked perfectly fine, thriving even. You had a glow about yourself and your smile was as bright as ever yet he couldn't ignore the obvious.

It didn't reach your eyes.

It took a person who knew you well to notice. Your smiles were wide and expressive but there was a ghost of sadness haunting your eyes. It broke Joker's heart to bear witness to it.

If Frost didn't grab his arm, Joker would've knocked down the throng of people to get to you. Joker growled at Frost for touching him but the henchman knew it was an empty threat.

"Patience. Wait until she's alone." Frost whispered. 

It would've been nice to know that would be next to impossible!

For the next hour and a half, you mingled with people and thanked others for their purchases. Joker knew you weren't a people person, and definitely not an extrovert to handle all this attention. You were gonna drop like a drained bunny tonight. He hoped you'd be back in his arms by then; however, there was no open window for him to swoop in to make that happen.

Joker had Frost and the others fan out as he circled the showroom floor, pretending to take in the art pieces. J was admiring a picture that he thought you would like when his eyes caught movement.

A man dressed in black came and whispered in your ear once you finished talking with a customer.

Joker was instantly jealous and wanted to brutally murder the man until he noticed his role. You hired security. How cute.

He'd deal with that later. He was more focused on what was being reported.

Whatever was spoken wasn't good. You failed at hiding your frown as your e/c eyes darted around the room. Your eyes missed Joker by a hair.

"S__t, I think we've been spotted." Mac sighed into the group's earpieces.

Neo seconded that statement when you tapped your artist friend on the shoulder. You excused yourself for a few minutes and she bid you well before focusing back on making a big dollar sale.

You waved and smiled sweetly at others as you made your way through the crowd. "She's moving, now's your chance, Boss."

It didn't matter who said it, Joker heard it loud and clear.

He nodded and walked away from the painting to where you disappeared to. You were standing in a back hallway arguing with your head of security.

"What do you mean he's here?! You promised me it was safe and now you're telling me the complete opposite?!"

He grabbed your hands to calm you down, "Y/n, I know what I said, but things can change. This is The Joker we're talking about. What matters is getting you to safety okay? Lemme do my job." He was leaning in to caress your face when he gasped in pain.

"Miles? What's wrong?" You looked on wide eyed as Joker pulled a knife out the poor man's back and stepped into view.

Miles took his last breath and fell to the floor in front of you. You took one look at Joker and froze.

"J... Y-You just.."

Joker scratched his head with the bloody knife, "What? He was about to... touch.. you. I can'T have that. Can't. Have. That.. Now! Hi." He saw you were about to scream and he rushed over to cover your mouth.

Your back hit the wall and Joker shushed you sweetly when you struggled. He hated how you were looking at him in fear.

"Don't do that Bunny. No.. no no no this is not how I planned our lit-le uh, reunion. Mkay? Shhh. Let's... let's start over... I missed ya Bunny, where ya been?" Joker asked.

He leaned in closer and rubbed his scarred cheek against yours. You flinched and tried to avoid his touch altogether. He hardly noticed and enjoyed his first dose of contact with you in months.

You knew that time could change a person but the Joker holding you was vastly different from the one you loved. He terrified you and not in a good way.

He let his hand slip from your mouth so you could talk. "Away f-from you!" You hissed.

"Don't be like that Bunny. I just.. I just wanted to see ya." He mumbled way too close to your lips. His breath fanned over them and you shoved him back in a panic.

"G-Great! You saw me, now leave me alone!" You glanced at the dead body near your feet and whimpered. You knew what kind of man Joker was but physical reminders were a bitter pill to swallow.

"Why are you here?"

He didn't respond. Since you pushed him away, he turned his attention to your beautiful hair. You had it down for the event and he buried his nose into the luscious curls before breathing in deeply. His eyes rolled back at the familiar scent reentering his nostrils. He missed you so much. 

You on the other hand were freaked out. "Joker!"

He sighed at your tone but leaned back to stare straight into your eyes. "Come home."

"Excuse me?"

He curled a strand of your hair around his finger. "It's not the same. I'm not the same." He stressed.

"Sounds like a personal problem." You gritted out.

You tried to slip away from Joker's imposing figure but he had you blocked in. You did well to erase Joker from your life these past few months and you weren't about to let him sweet talk his way back into your good graces. And especially not since he just killed another man for simply trying to do his job.

You didn't know what had changed Joker but you weren't going to stick around and find out. You didn't care if he wasn't the same; you weren't either, but day by day the pain he caused was healing. His appearance today was just lemon juice on a fresh cut.

Joker pouted and pretended that your words didn't affect him. On the inside, he was tearing at the seams. All this time and you were still upset with him?

What on Earth did he do?!

"You neglected me, that's what! For three months I tried to get your attention and you iced me out! Work was more important! You didn't have time for me! You stopped making time for us! I ached for you and you weren't there Joker! And you don't even care!"

He didn't know he asked you aloud but he was finally getting the answers he sought after all these months in the dark.

Joker knew exactly what you were referring to. There was a gang turf war going on and he couldn't afford to be distracted. He was extremely busy at work but he didn't mean to push you away.

You began to cry as you confessed to J.

"I was alone and miserable! I-I thought you hated me or didn't l-love me anymo–"

Joker snarled and quickly wiped your tears away. He then grabbed your face and forced you to stare into his pleading green eyes.

"Listen to me, I could never hate ya Bunny. I thoughT I told you to never think that. I cannot... function.. without you. These.. uh, months apart have been hell. You think I could hate you? No. No, another moment away from you is enough penance but I know you, Bunny. My Light, my sweet girl.."

He rested his forehead against yours and you hiccupped as tears ran down your face. Joker and his way with words were getting to you.

"My Light would not let me suffer in vain. I made a promise, Y/n. I'd never hurt you– I didn't mean to, I was working to protect you. Everything I do is to keep you safe. Never doubt that. I don't hate you, I need you. I can't stannnnd the dark, doll."

You were listening but it wasn't enough to sway your heart. "You pushed me away.. I felt so alone." You cried.

Joker shushed you again and wrapped you up in his arms. His exhale shook your frame and made you crumble. You couldn't run away from Joker.

He was forever bound to your heart and soul, that no distance or margin of time could unravel him. You felt so stupid for running away and you broke down into helpless tears.

Joker hummed and began rocking you in his arms. His warm hands rubbed crazy figure eights on your back as he reacquainted himself with holding your body.

You still fit like a puzzle piece in his arms with your head resting perfectly against his chest. He had to lean down a bit to rest his head atop yours but in this position, he could protect you in all aspects.

He missed being a savior. He missed having a purpose. He hoped you gave him a second chance.

"I need my Light. P-Please come back to me. I'll do the any-thing to have the uhh, honor, of callin' you mine again. Please Y/n."

He squeezed you tighter after saying please. Such a rare word in Joker's vocabulary, you knew he was serious. Your head shot up to stare at him. The sight that greeted you almost made you faint.

He couldn't be... You cupped Joker's face and nodded.

"I need you too. I'm so sorry for running away, please forgive me, Joker." You kissed him and he followed your lips when you pulled back. "I'll come back, heck I'll come home tonight! London is way too dreary for my tastes."

Joker stiffened up hearing the locale. "What?"

You didn't hear him since your eyes connected with your dead head of security. "Joker, you killed someone!!"

"So?" He grabbed your chin to face him again. "I got my Light back. That's.. that's all I care 'bout." He kissed you again and he rejoiced when you wrapped your arms around his neck to deepen it.

He ignored Neo and Mac in his ear arguing back and forth on who was cleaning up the dead body or Frost interrupting them both with a, 'Would the two of you please shut up? The boss is having a moment!'

Everything was back to normal.

[ssuperficialspacecadett]

Escrito en las Estrellas (Written in the Stars)

Chapter Six of the Through the Scope series | Chapter Seven

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 4.6K

Chapter Overview: You celebrate your first month working at Brass Knuckles

TW: t*m in the gif (i hate this mf and i dont care who knows)

Notes: okay so this chapter is what started me on my 'through the scope' journey ! i was driving back home to visit family and the phrase "it's written in the stars" just came to me so naturally i had to write an entire Frankie fan fic just so i could birth this one scene (i had no other choice obviously). this chapter was originally twice its length, but i cut it in half so i could make two chapters out of it hehe. i updated the tag list so please let me know if i missed you !! as usual ... my asks are always open & happy reading <3

*no use of y/n & female presenting reader*

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

“So you two really haven’t hooked up yet? Not even a small kiss? You’re killing me right now. It’s been a month!” 

You’re on the phone with Robbie this evening to keep you company while you fold laundry. When she says that you have already been in Florida for a month, you feel shocked. Has it really been that long already? You count up the weeks in your head and today, Monday, marks the start of your fourth week here. Four weeks of watching your dad get stronger, four weeks of working at Brass Knuckles, and four weeks of crushing on Frankie. 

“I told you we haven’t done anything, Robbie! But fuck if I don’t want to. The only thing is that I think he’s in a weird place with his girlfriend right now. Or maybe she’s his ex-girlfriend that he’s sort of talking to again? Ugh! I don’t even know!”

You give up on folding, you are doing a terrible job at it anyway, and flop yourself down, stomach first, on your bed. 

“Why don’t you ask Benny about it then? Maybe he can give you some clarity?”

“For someone that’s so smart, you are so dumb.”

“Excuse me?” Her tone is playful, but still laced with warning.

“Look, I can’t just ask Benny about Frankie’s love life. It would be a dead give away that I like him and it just seems like…it just seems like an invasion of privacy.”

“You’re just stalling, you fucking baby. They are your friends right? Benny and Frankie?”

“Well, yeah? I would say so.” You’re not following where she's going.

“Then you should be able to ask them about what’s going on in their lives. That includes their love lives. We ask each other all the time!”

God you hate it when her logic makes sense.

“Okay! Okay. I’ll ask Benny about it at work this week then. Would that make you happy?” 

“No, that would make me content. What would make me happy is if yall finally fuc-”

“Woah!” You cut her off with a laugh. “Don’t you have some studying to do, miss. lawyer?” 

“I resent you for changing the subject right when we were getting somewhere, but yes I do. Call me when you grow a pair and ask?” 

“Trust me, Robbie. You’ll be the first to know.”

You laugh to yourself as you toss your phone on your bed and roll over onto your back. You would be lying to yourself if you said that you wouldn’t be happy if you and Frankie finally hooked up either. Since you have been here, you have gotten a small feeling that he might like you back. First there was him observing you when you two first met while his friends talked around him. Then there was him inviting you out with the guys for fight night. After that was him not shying away when you gave him the note with your number and a heart. Y’all shared a beer together, he dropped everything to help you with your car, and proceeded to spend the majority of the day with you eating and shopping. Did he almost kiss you in your apartment that morning or had you just romanticized his gentlemanliness? There had to be something there right? Right? 

But there was Rochelle. The woman who came before you. The woman who was first in line. While she was bad news according to Benny, you still felt hesitant about stepping on anyone's toes. You wouldn’t want that done to you. And yet you found your mind exploring the possibilities of what y’all could be to each other. Acquaintances? Friends? Something more?

***

It’s Benny’s turn to buy lunch today and he pulls through with Chick-fil-a. The conversation is natural while the two of you eat. Each of you take turns spitballing ideas on how to make the gym stand out more, if they should start selling food during fight night, if you will be a ring girl.

“When pig’s fly, Benjamin Miller. That’s when I’ll be your ring girl.”

The conversation slowly shifts into a more personal one. He talks about how he and the other guys love going to the beach together, but their schedules haven’t allowed it in a while. How all the ladies there can’t get enough of ‘old Brass Knuckles’. You share about how you and Robbie love walking around in downtown Austin, Texas and hunting for the best coffee, or food, or book stores. 

“The beaches back home weren’t really the best.” You confess.

“You should come with us then! Maybe we can all plan somethin’!”

“Yeah.” You say wistfully. “Robbie is coming down in March when her school lets out for spring break. What about then?” 

“Sounds fuckin’ awesome to me!”

Your tongue burns with the question you have about Frankie. It’s Thursday, which unfortunately means, it has taken you most of the week to gain the courage to bring it up. In your defense you had tried earlier, but it just never seemed like the right time. It would be weird to casually bring that topic up at random, but now that friends are being discussed…

“I’ve got a question.”

“I’ve got an answer.” He takes a sip of his drink. “Shoot.”

“I was just wondering how Frankie and Rochelle were doing. I noticed that he has seemed happier lately. Maybe they worked things out?”

He sets his cup down and looks at you quizzically. You get a nervous feeling that he’s onto you.

“Now that you mention it, he does seem happier, doesn’t he? Which isn’t anythin’ to take lightly. Especially for a guy like Fish. But to be completely honest with you, he doesn’t talk about her much around us.”

“Wait really? Y’all don’t talk about who y’all are dating?” Now your nervousness has started to make you sweat. 

“It’s not that at all. It’s just,” He rubs his forehead with his hand. “It’s just different when it’s Rochelle. I told you that she doesn’t belong in his life and I still stand by that. Do you remember when I mentioned that we were a fucked up bunch?”

You nod your head at him.

“Well, it’s not my place to get into all of Fish’s business, but she played a pretty big part in that for him. It took me, the guys, and the strength of whatever higher bein’ is out there to pry him from her grip. He knows we don’t like her much. I think that's why he keeps most of it to himself.”

“Oh.” Now you feel stupid for asking. There is clearly more going in that relationship than you previously thought.

“But, he would have told us if they were officially back together. That I know for a fact.”

You’re content with his answer. At least now you know that you aren’t being a homewrecker. Surely a little more innocent flirting wouldn't hurt. Well it might hurt if he doesn’t see you that way.

“So that’s the only reason you asked?”

You stop, a french fry in hand, and cock your head at your coworker. “What?”

“Don’t play around.” He snatches the fry from you. “What’s the real reason you want to know what’s going on with Fish?”

In this very moment you make an elaborate mental scheme of how to murder Robbie and get away with it when she comes down to visit you. 

“I was just curious.” You shrug.

“God, you’re such a fuckin’ liar!”

“I am not!”

“You got a thing for him, don’t you?!”

“I-I…well I-”

“I knew it! You like Fish!” He looks as happy as a kid on Christmas morning.

“Fine.” You can’t help but laugh at your friend's glee. “I like Frankie. I think he’s great.” 

“Hey, I’m just glad it didn’t turn out to be Pope. That man needs to be humbled every now and then.” 

The two of you burst into a fit of laughter together at the front desk. The people currently working out probably think y’all need to be admitted into the loony bin. It felt nice to finally tell someone here. Granted, Benny is Frankie’s friend, but now he’s yours too.

“Please,” You pant. “Please promise me that you won't say anything to him, Benny.”

“I promise I won’t say anything to him.” A cheeky grin splays across his face.

“I don’t think I like the way you said that.”

“Then don’t think about it. I said that I wouldn’t say anything about it, so I won’t.” He holds up one of his hands. “Scouts honor.” 

You breathe a sigh of relief as he cleans up the remains of lunch and walks over to the trash bin.

“I didn’t say that I wouldn’t do anything about it though!”

He takes off running as his words register in your brain. You stand and yell after him as he vanishes into his office. 

“Benny I’m going to kick your ass!”

The door’s bell must have gone off in the commotion because when you turn around to face the front of the lobby a very bewildered woman is looking directly at you. 

“Oh! Sorry about that! Welcome to Brass Knuckles! How can I help you today?”

***

Operation Catch-A-Fish Chat

Benny: It’s on boys! It’s fuckin’ on!

Will: Damn that was quicker than I thought.

Pope: Did she say something?!

Benny: She told me that she liked him while we were having lunch. Let's get this operation cookin’!

Will: I’ll be damned.

Pope: Told you we wouldn’t be pimping her out, Will.

***

Frankie lays on his back and watches the fan blades spin above him. The room is still stuffy as the hot air inside is only being pushed around. It makes him ache to be in a helicopter again. To feel the bone chilling air right as he climbs into the cockpit before a mission. He never felt cramped when he was in the air. Not like he does now on the ground.

He tries to pick a singular blade and count how many times it can circle the base of the fan in a minute, but he keeps getting distracted. You keep distracting him. He never manages to make it past 15 before you pop into his mind. Your melodic laugh, the way you furrow your eyebrows when you think, how it took you 30 minutes to pick one item off the menu at breakfast. He wonders how you’re spending your Thursday night. Guilt creeps in when he realizes how deeply you consume his thoughts. Although he doesn’t know if that guilt stems from the fact that he’s thinking of you while he lies next to Rochelle in her bed or because he didn’t feel guilty at all until he remembered she was there in the first place. What he does know is that he wouldn’t feel as cramped and lonely as he does right now if you were with him. You could have your limbs wrapped around him as tight as could be and he would still beg you to squeeze harder. 

He turns his attention to the woman laying next to him when she breathes out deeply. She looks so much different in sleep. Her harsh features have softened. Her brows are relaxed and her lips aren’t contorted into a perpetual scowl. She looks, he thinks, kind. As if she is completely incapable of being the person that has wreaked so much havoc and heartache onto his life. She looks like someone who would want to be held as she slept. Someone who would want their lover to pull them in close and whisper sweet nothings in their ear that would be kept secret by the darkness of the night. Unfortunately, that wasn’t who she was. Rochelle never wanted Frankie to be affectionate with her unless she initiated it or when they were going to have sex. Even then she would groan in annoyance when he took too long kissing or going down on her. 

“Just fuck me already.” 

Although he would never admit it, he craved that intimacy. That closeness with his partner. He loved having his hands constantly on the woman he was with. It kept him calm knowing that she was close to him. He noticed that he also had less nightmares on the rare occasions Rochelle would allow him to hold her while they slept. She stirs slightly and rolls over so her back is facing him. 

“God, what the fuck am I even doing here?” He whispers up to the fan blades. 

He hated himself for winding up back in her bed. They haven’t officially gotten back together, but this is how it always started. She would slither back into his life and he would trip over her and fall right into her trap. It made him even angrier than he knew how she worked and he still wound up here. Yet, it’s so easy to slip into a routine you already know no matter how toxic it may be. The ball is still technically in his court. He still hasn’t given her an answer about the status of their relationship. He hasn’t completely sunk beneath the waves yet. He needs to remind himself that history doesn’t equate to longevity. He wants quality over quantity now. 

The dinging of his phone pulls him from his thoughts. It’s a message from Benny in their group chat.

Benny: Sorry for the late message, but I’ve been doing some thinkin’. Since our girl has been here for a month I think we should celebrate. I know she wouldn’t want anything over the top, so maybe The Barrel this Saturday? Y’all down for that?

Pope: It’s about damn time she came out with us. I think I’m free then too.

Will: Benny, I’m literally awake in the next room. You could have just come and told me about your plan. 

Benny: Text is easier. I don’t have to get out of bed this way. 

Will: She definitely deserves more than a few rounds since she has had to deal with you for a month straight. I’m surprised you haven’t scared her off. 

Pope: Same here. I would have run for the hills by now if I were her.

Frankie: Yeah I’m down too. Will and Pope can carpool with me and we can meet y’all after closing time.

Benny: Sounds good! See y’all then!

“Who was that, baby?” A sleep riddled voice asks behind his shoulder.

He feels his body recoil at the pet name. A pet name he once had to beg her to call him. Something to make him believe that what they had was good and sweet. How could something he longed for sound like nails on a chalkboard now?

“Just the guys. Go back to bed, Rochelle.”

Frankie falls asleep wondering if he will get the privilege of sitting next to you at the bar.

***

“I already said that I would come tonight, Benny! You didn’t have to keep asking every hour of the day.”

If you were being honest it was getting on your nerves. He told you last night that you absolutely, without a doubt, had to come to The Barrel on Saturday after work. You knew that you had been pushing it off so you conceded. You just wished Benny would get that through his thick skull. Although, having someone that invested in you is foreign so you put your annoyance out of your mind and focus on the good.

“I know. I know. I just want to make sure everything goes perfect. You told your dad that you wouldn’t be comin’ tonight?”

“Yes! I did everything you asked! I don’t know why you’re so worked up. We are just going across the street to get a drink after work.”

“I just want to make sure.”

“Aww!” You pinch his cheek as he waits with you in the laundry room. “Does Benny have a crush on me?”

“You wish you could get in on all this!” He flexes his left arm and blows a kiss at you with his right.

“Fuck off!” You shove him out of the room. “If you want to go get a drink you better leave me alone so I can put this load in the dryer. Long gone are the days of leaving wet towels to sit overnight at Brass Knuckles.” 

“That’s why I love ya’!” He pokes his head back and kisses your cheek. A lovely juxtaposition to what you just did to him. “I’ll head over there and get us a table. Meet me there after you lock up?”

“If you’re lucky, Miller.”

Shortly after Benny bounds gleefully out of the gym, the washer announces that it’s finished. You hum to yourself as you toss the damp towels into the dryer and press start. It’s all a breeze from there. You collect your things from the desk, turn off the building's lights, and lock the front door. That’s funny you think my bag feels lighter than usual.

The night air is hot, but not uncomfortably so, as you walk across the street to The Barrel. The soft glow from the sign acts as your north star. You can hear how packed it is even before you swing the door open. How are you going to find Benny through all these people? Your eyes survey the room as you make your way through the crowd. A hand shoots up in the back and starts waving frantically at you. As you slip through more people you finally reach the clearing. It was all of them. All of the guys were waiting for you at a quaint table in the back. 

“Happy one month!” They say in unison and raise their glasses.

“Oh my-” 

You’re so starstruck that you can’t speak. They all beam as you make your way to the table and to the only empty chair. The one that sandwiches you right in between Pope and Frankie. 

“Is this seat taken?” 

“It is now.” The man with soft curls responds warmly. 

“Are you surprised?! Did we get you?!” Benny can hardly sit still in his chair.

“Yes,” Your cheeks are going to be sore from smiling in the morning. “Y’all got me good. I can’t believe y’all remembered.” 

“Of course we did, hon.” Will’s voice acts as a beacon of calmness in the bar’s chaos. “The gym was close to burnin' down before you showed up and saved it. Brightened our lives in the process whether you know it or not too.” 

“Will…” Tears threaten to trickle down your face. 

“It was not!” Benny bites back at his brother. “But, I am happy you called about my ad.” 

“Cheers to you, hermosa!” Pope slides a bottle over to you. “Welcome to the group.”

As you raise your glass to clink with all of theirs, you look at each and every one of them. The genuine care they all have for you sprinkles your skin like a light summer shower. The kind of rain where it’s so soft that you don’t even realize you’re soaked to the bone until you reach your destination. It just kinda sneaks up on you. That’s exactly what they did and you couldn’t have been more grateful. 

“Okay I need y’all to indulge me for a few minutes.” It’s somehow already 1:00 in the morning and you’ve lost count of how much you have had to drink. “I’ve been trying to figure out what each of y’all’s individual signs are and I think I finally cracked it.” 

“Like our call signs?” Frankie’s shoulder presses up against yours when he leans into talk. You hope he doesn’t catch the way your breath hitches. 

“You mean y’alls call signs. I still haven’t gotten mine.” 

“You’re always going to be Brass Knuckles to me, Benny.” You offer to the man across from you. “But no, not y’alls call signs, I already know those. I mean your star signs.” 

“Oh, shit! I was hooking up with a girl once that was really into all that mumbo jumbo!” Pope sounds even more excited than you do. “I already know these carbrons don’t know what they are. Google y’all’s birthdays and find out what it is.”

Once each of them confirms that they know, you crack your knuckles and pray that you have guessed correctly. 

“I’ll start with you, Santi.” Maybe it’s the alcohol or maybe it's because you truly feel like his friend that you use his first name. “I think you’re a libra because you’re charismatic, you’re tactful-”

“You better stop before I fall in love with you.” He taunts.

“And you’re a whore.” The entire table erupts into boisterous laughter. “I didn’t need the stars to tell me that though.” 

Next you move your blurry vision to Will. 

“I think you’re a cancer. You’re someone who cares deeply about the people that are close to you. You always want to know how others are feeling, but ironically, you tend to keep your own emotions locked away. You think you will be a burden if you share them, but you won’t, I promise.” 

“You hired a witch to work for you, Benny.” He brings his drink to his lips, but his eyes stay playfully trained on you. 

“Do me next! Do me!” 

“Alright, Benny. I think you’re a sagittarius. You have an enthusiastic love for life and adventure alike. You always lift the mood of the room when you walk into it. The life of the party if you will.”

“Freaky.” He whispers to himself. 

You turn your attention to the man you have been most excited to talk about. “And last, but certainly not least: Frankie.” You are too drunk to notice the hush that has fallen over the group as you rest your hand on his shoulder. “I think you’re a taurus. You’re very hard working, a loyal and faithful friend, and you love physical affection.” 

 It takes Benny choking on his beer at your last comment to shake you from your trance. You slide your hand off Frankie's shoulder and turn back to the group.

“So…was I right?” Everyone is looking at you with wide eyes and open jaws. “I’ll take that as a yes.” 

Benny spends the next few minutes drunkenly pleading with you to tell him more about himself and his future.

“I’m not an oracle, you know. I just observe people and their actions and try to figure them out.” 

“Well,” Pope arrives back at the table with the last round of the night. “Tell us what you have observed about Fish.” 

“No, you don’t have to do that.” Frankie says shyly.

The alcohol in your bloodstream has made you more confident. “I want to.”

“Let the woman work, man.” Pope slides him a beer. 

“You tend to be the glue of the friend group. A man with a hard exterior, yet a soft interior. While you'd never say it outloud, you enjoy taking care of people. You find it gratifying and it gives you a sense of purpose.” You have to stop to get your bearings for a second and acknowledge that maybe you shouldn’t have had that last drink. “Maybe that’s because you served or maybe that's just in your nature. I haven’t figured that out yet, but I’m working on it.”

Frankie hides his face with the bill of his hat, but everyone knows he's smiling under there. 

Pope reaches behind you and claps his friend on the back. “Está escrito en las estrellas, hermano.”

As the bartender announces the last call, your group takes that as the cue to head home. Benny is more trashed than anyone realizes so Will says he will take him back home. He wrangles Benny’s keys away from him so he can use his car to drive them both. You were in no state to drive either and were too far gone to feel any embarrassment as the two men left point that out. With Pope grabbing your tote bag and Frankie grabbing your hand, the three of you walk to his truck.

“Come on,” Frankie helps you into the passenger seat while a very annoyed Pope gets into the backseat. “I’ll take you home.” 

You can only mumble out a small ‘mmm’ to him because your body has become heavy with sleep. He takes it upon himself to gently buckle you into your seat. As he leans over to click it into place he gets a whiff of your perfume. It’s more muted now since the day is over, but it’s still just as potent to him as the second you put it on this morning. After he finishes, he hops down and closes the passenger door. 

“He’s so nice to me.” You whisper to Pope in the backseat before you drift off.

“You have no idea. I just hope you remember when you wake up.” 

Frankie climbs into his seat and cranks up the car. Both men opt to listen to the quiet sounds of the tires on the road instead of the radio for fear that it will wake you up. He pulls into your apartment complex and parks as gently as he can. 

“Grab her keys from her bag, would you?” Frankie asks. He keeps his eyes on you while Pope looks. You look just as sweet in sleep as you do awake, he thinks. You really were as lovely as he thought you were. 

“Uhhh, Catfish?” 

“What?” 

“She only has keys for the gym in here. I can’t find her apartment keys.” He hears Pope laugh dryly in the back seat. “I couldn’t have planned something more perfect if I tried.” 

“What are you going on about?”

“The way I see it you have two choices. Choice one is to wake her up and ask her where her keys are.”

“I’m not going to wake her up, Pope. Mirar, solo mírala.”

“Choice two is to let her crash at your place tonight.”

They both look at you, sound asleep and ignorant about the current situation. 

“I don’t know, man.” Frankie looks over his shoulder at his friend. “I don’t want her to wake up and think I kidnapped her or something. Won’t that be scary for her to wake up in a place that she has never been before?”

“It beats the hell out of waking up in the morning outside of her own front door.” 

He knows his friend is right, but he’s still hesitant as to how you will react when you wake up. Reluctantly, he puts his truck in reverse and heads for Pope’s house. 

***

Unlocking his front door while he has you in his arms bridal style proves a lot more difficult than he originally anticipated. Yet, he would do it a million times over if it meant that he got to hold you this close. When he finally gets inside he closes the door with his foot and heads straight for his bedroom. There was no question about it, he was going to sleep on the couch and you were going to get his bed. He walks into his room and leaves the door open so the hallway light can spill inside. Thankfully he didn’t make his bed this morning so the covers were already pulled back enough. He sets you down on the mattress like you were made of glass; one wrong move by him and you would shatter into a million pieces. A small cry escapes you when his body is no longer touching yours. He wants to capture that sound and keep it locked away in his heart. Before he tucks you in, he carefully unties your shoes and sets them down beside the nightstand so you will see them in the morning. He brings the covers up so that they rest just below your chin. Despite his initial hesitation to bring you back home with him, he can’t help but feel that you look perfectly in place in his bed. He kneels down next to you and tucks a rogue strand of hair back behind your ear. You unconsciously lean into his touch, seeking the warmth he provides. His lips find a home on your forehead and he whispers to you before he gets up to leave. 

“Sweet dreams…mi estrella.”

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

{tag list: @cutesyscreenname @rsquared31 @smol-beb @bitchwitch1981 @avastrasposts @hoeslingz @saltybutteredtoast @javicstories @c-justhere @pimosworld @modernperplexity @beboldbebravethings @mxtokko  @moonliqhtszn @tanzthompson @megcads @myloveistoolittle @casa-boiardi @jitterbugs927 @partyofone3413 @pedrit0-pascalit0 @golden-library @pati-et-vivere @pedro-pedrito-pascalito }

[thesupreme316]

Stay With Me (Ricky Starks x Fem!Reader):

Word Count: 951

Summary: After being betrayed by his tag team partner, Powerhouse Hobbs, a devastated Ricky Starks finds comfort and strength in the embrace of someone who cherishes him.

Supreme Speaks: Hey yall, shoutout to @rollinsbabe2017 for this idea. I've been missing Ricky alot so this lil drabble or something really does help out. Anyways, hope you are doing well and please remember that you are loved and appreciated and I'm happy you're here.

Warnings: THE GIF AINT MINE I REPEAT THE GIF AINT MINE

Ricky Starks stood in the center of the ring, the cheers of the crowd ringing in his ears. Although he just lost the FTW Championship to his dear friend hook, the adrenaline was still pumping through his veins, and the crowd was still behind him. As he thanked the arena for their support, he turned to see his tag team partner, Powerhouse Hobbs, climbing into the ring. Ricky smiled, expecting Hobbs to join in the celebration. He expected to be given a handshake, maybe even a hug, and his best friend telling him that he did a great job.

But something was off. 

The look in Hobbs' eyes was cold, distant. Before Ricky could react, Hobbs lunged forward, delivering a devastating clothesline that sent Ricky crashing to the mat. The crowd's cheers turned to gasps of shock as Hobbs continued his assault, stomping on Ricky with merciless force. The betrayal was swift and brutal. But to Ricky, it felt like a lifetime. 

After all, he spent years working, training, laughing, and bonding with Hobbs. So while the arena heard Ricky hit the mat various times, he could just hear his heart and mind breaking. Ricky tried to shield himself, but the pain was overwhelming. He felt a sharp kick to his ribs, and then another. Finally, security rushed in to pull Hobbs away, but the damage was done. Ricky lay on the mat, gasping for breath, his body aching from the unexpected attack.

You, watched from backstage, unable to move out of fear and shock. You stood jaw to the floor, wondering where it all went wrong. Being one of Ricky’s closest friends (and having a slight crush on him), you can easily see how distraught he is when the doctors guide him backstage.

Taz joined you as you awaited Ricky to appear in front of you. He whispered to himself, but so you can hear, “I had no idea.”

You didn’t blame him, you couldn’t. Taz was just like you-a surprised bystander.

Ricky came from the curtains and immediately sat down. He slumped on a bench, holding an ice pack to his bruised ribs. His eyes are filled with hurt and confusion. You can see the disbelief etched on his face, the betrayal still fresh in his mind. Taz patted his shoulder in support, and walked off, probably to find Hobbs and give him a piece of his mind.

"Ricky," you say softly, sitting down next to him and gently brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. "I'm so sorry this happened. I know how much Hobbs meant to you as a partner and friend.” 

Ricky keeps his head down, he allowed his hand to drop from his ribs, letting the ice pack hit the ground, "Why? Why would he do this?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

You take his hand in yours, intertwining your fingers. "Sometimes people change, Ricky. Their motivations shift, and they make choices that hurt others. But that doesn't reflect on you. You did everything right. You were a great partner and a true friend."

Ricky takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "It just hurts, you know? I trusted him."

"I know," you reply gently, leaning in closer. "It's going to take time to heal from this, both physically and emotionally. But remember, you're not alone. You have so many people who care about you and believe in you. Lean on them, and take this one step at a time."

He nods slowly, the pain in his eyes slowly being replaced by a steely determination. "You're right. I can't let this break me. I'll come back stronger."

You smile, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Ricky, you're one of the best, and I’m not saying this because you are one of my best friends. But you really are talented, and this setback won't change that. Keep your head up, and show the world what you're made of. This is just another bump in the road for you to become the face of the company. It might hurt now, and maybe even later, but you’re gonna look back and feel good that even this couldn’t hold you back.”

Ricky manages a small smile, the first one since he been in the ring. "Thanks, Y/N. I needed that and I appreciate you, as if you didn’t already know.”

"Anytime, pretty boy,” you say, your voice soft and filled with affection. You really couldn’t help it, you adore Ricky. And you would do anything to make him smile. Very gently, you started to pull his arm towards the hall, “Now, let's get you patched up. I’ll make Tony give you as much time as you need off. Hobbs is gonna regret it, you’re gonna show him-“  Ricky stopped you from continuing your rant by pulling you back to him. His big brown eyes shined up at you, as they kept circling your face. 

With his voice barely above a whisper, “Stay with me a little longer?"

You nod, your heart swelling with emotion. "Of course," you say, sitting back down and wrapping your arms around him. He leans into your embrace, finding comfort in your warmth. He placed the ice pack on his ribs as you rubbed his knee, allowing everything else around you to just disappear. 

In that moment, surrounded by the chaos of the wrestling world, you both find a sense of peace. The road to emotional recovery and triumph won't be easy, but with your support, Ricky will be ready to face whatever comes next. 

And maybe, just maybe...

this unexpected turn of events will bring you closer together than ever before.

Taglist: @hookerforhook@hooks-martin@sheinthatfandom@triscillal@wwenhlimagines @kat04ie@batzy-watzy @cassie0sstuff @toriluvsnickwayne @rez-luvs-hook

[book-nerd-emi]

“Doctors Suck” (part 1)

TW: This story talks a lot about death and leukemia and this chapter takes place in a hospital!!

As I open my eyes, the searing lights above me scar me. I blink rapidly, trying to get the pain to go away faster, even if it never indeed does. Once my eyes semi-adjust, my nose is hit with the burning-my-nosehairs-off smell of the chemicals. Every time I smell it, I just imagine the people who clean the rooms frantically scrubbing to try and scrub the death that occurs here. But can you honestly do that? It’s always there, never gone; the smell and everything that comes with it may leave, but the thought, the reminder, if you will, is always there. Somedays, I wonder if anyone’s died in this room I’m in. I wonder who they were and why they were here. Who misses them daily; who has that ache in their hearts that makes it hard to move on? Who can not look at a hospital anymore because it reminds them of that person’s last moments? Those last breaths? Those last “I love you”s? I make stories about those kids. I think I do it to make me feel more comfortable with the idea of dying.

Now, I know that leukemia has one of the higher survival rates, but there’s always that little voice in your head telling you, “This could be your last day, you know?” or “You could die today.” Like little Layla. She was 11. She loved animals, everything from snakes to dogs, fairies, and princesses. Her favorite color was blue for two reasons. One was that blue reminded her of her dad’s eyes. The second is that her favorite princess, Cinderella, is dressed in blue. She had a pilocytic astrocytoma brain tumor, but they caught it too late. I like to believe she’s having so much fun dancing with a prince in a blue dress; her kingdom is full of fairies and animals. Or how about little Miss Maeve? Maeve got diagnosed with leukemia, like me, but at seven years old instead of 10 like me. Even though she was so young, while she was here, in this bed, she found that she loved computers. She was exceptionally good at coding. I knew Maeve. She went to school with me; we were the best of friends. I sometimes see her sister Bronwyn around. I don’t think any of the Rojas will ever be the same. I think that’s the other scary part about death. The idea that I’m leaving all these people behind without me. I don’t want to leave them hurting like that.

Maeve, however, had a saying. “I’ll be in a better place with better beds.” I have to agree with her on this. The beds here are so uncomfortable. It feels like I’m laying on a bed of rocks with a scratchy sheet. Why are the beds so uncomfortable? Isn’t the whole point of hospitals to help people with their problems? If so, then why are we having the most uncomfortable beds on the face of the Earth in a place where you are supposed to be focused on healing yourself? Half the time, I am focused on the fact that I can never get super comfy in this stupid bed. This bed is covered in a total of 5 blankets, four pillows, and ten stuffed animals. And even still, it is not that comfy. All this just made it slightly more bearable.

a/n: RAGHDHSODNRKR first (writing) post!!! this i think will probably be one of the longer sections for this chapter mostly just cause it sets the tone and whatever. this chapter is just so long that i physically couldn’t post THAT many words in one post. the amount of just stuff that NEEDED to be said in this first chapter is crazy. anyways i hoped yall enjoyed oh em gee!!

tags: @wish-i-were-heather , @shattered-glass-roses , @a-menace-to-society-01 (im sure others said yes or something like it but i don’t remember who sooooo just tell me if you want to be tagged ig)

[dangerouslyintofictionalloves]

Are these just casual movie nights anymore?

Author Notes- so my friend on tiktok had done these 3 videos with her biases in each group and then what their booktok trope would be. And I told her I'd so write her these fanfics BASICALLY A YEAR AGO! AND NOW IM FINALLY PULLING THROUGH! I loved writing this tho. It made me giggle and kick my feet as I thought of the scenarios. Anyways Highway 1009 was what I was listening to on repeat... while writing this.

Pairings: Liliy & SKZ Hyunjin

Trope - Friends to Lovers

Story Tags & Disclaimers: Fluffy, Cute, Hasn't been edited or anything, it might be a little bad since I don't think I'm that good of a writer, English is my dominant language but not my first so I'm just BYElingual, Basically Idol x OC when really idol x bestie, idk what else to say... I hope yall enjoy

For as long as they could remember, Liliy and Hyunjin always had movie nights once to twice a week since they were kids. It was always easy for them to do so when they lived right next door to each other.

Hyunjin always had a stash of Liliy’s favorite snacks in a locked box tucked away in the back of the pantry in his home, while Liliy would always have a duplicate of Hyunjin’s favorite hoodie and blanket stashed away in the small square ottoman that was always tucked in the corner of her family’s living room since no one in her family liked to use it due to its limited amount of storage space and they didn’t want to just get rid of it either. It cost good money for that little baby ottoman.

As the pair grew older, starting in middle school and continuing on, Liliy and Hyunjin started to celebrate a ‘friends’ Valentine’s Day together every year. They both weren’t really interested in casual dating like their peers.

This made many people suspicious of the true nature of their relationship but the pair always denied the dating allegations they received from both their mutual friends and classmates.

That brings us to today. Where our story takes place with a more grown Liliy and Hyunjin, now in university, living in the campus dorms.

……

On the opposite sides of campus from each other.

H: hey you still have time for our traditional singles valentine’s day?

L: of course, i wouldn’t miss it even if finals were around the corner

H: alright cool, give me a call when you get close to my dorm building and i’ll come out and walk you inside.

L: 👍🏼👌👍🏼

Hyunjin looked around the living room with a smile feeling accomplished and proud of the surprise that he planned with his roommates for Liliy. The boys helped him set up everything in the living room down to the sign.

They’ve been celebrating Valentine’s Day together every year since they were kids under the guise of being just friends but they just never wanted to admit the tension that would build up every year to themselves.

I know it’s pretty cliche right?

The pair had a secret crush on each other for YEARS and just kept denying it to themselves and everyone else around them, even their families.

Well- Hyunjin planned to change that forever. He wanted to make this night as memorable as possible for Liliy. He wanted this to be a joyful, one day nostalgic core memory for her. Something she can always fondly look back on as they’re growing old and gray together.

The boys were all out of the dorm suite and staying the night with their girlfriends tonight to give the pair privacy they need for something like this.

L: Jinnie Boy i am in viewing distance of your dorm building.

Hyunjin smiled at the text and took one last look around the living room before making his way to go and escort Princessa Liliy to hopefully a good night to remember forever.

Liliy eyed Hyunjin suspiciously as she was processing what he was requesting of her the moment they got to his floor. “Now, why do you want me to close my eyes before we go inside?”

“Don’t worry about it, when have I ever been unworthy of your trust?” he chuckled.

With that logic that she couldn’t deny, Liliy huffed in defeat and covered her eyes with both hands as she turned towards the front door. Hyunjin smiled and led the smaller girl inside the dorm suite making sure that she would not bump into anything.

Just as they made it to the living room Hyunjin leaned in close to Liliy tense, her heart racing a million miles per second. “Alright, you can open your eyes” he whispered as his lips ghosted over the shell of her ear.

With a small gulp, Liliy slowly lowered her hands and looked around the living room in shock. Hyunjin had set up a cozy romantic movie night picnic for the two of them. It was like something out of a romance book she had read and told him about.

“You put all of this together for me?”

Hyunjin’s heart swooned as he realized that she was getting a little emotional as she looked around the room slowly this time to take in each and every detail of the decorations, the cushions, and the picnic itself.

Before he knew it, his arms were securely wrapped around her waist, chin resting on her shoulder as he smiled, happy with her reaction.

“I hope it’s not too much, but I just- I wanted to be the one to end the friendship and take a leap in bringing our relationship to a different level”

Liliy leaned back into his embrace wiping away stray tears and giggled softly as she shook her head in disbelief. “You know it always baffled me on how you stayed single for all these years when you have treated me so well.”

“Well, I didn’t want anyone else and needed to make sure it was the right time before making this decision.” he responded as he kissed the top of her head.

“This is my official confession to you Liliy.” She pulled away from his embrace, turning to face him with a warm smile. She wanted to be as attentive as possible with the feeling that he has more to say.

“I have been falling for you more and more every day since we were in middle school. Now that we are where we are in life, I didn’t want to waste time by pretending like we aren’t anything more than just friends. I’ve finally admitted it to myself and now to you. I like you, I can feel that you like me too. So, will you officially be my girlfriend?”

She giggled as he got shy and looked down to his feet towards the end of his speech. Not sure if he was going to be rejected or not, Hyunjin kept his head tilted down.

“Yes Hyunjin, of course I will be your girlfriend”

His head shot up fast as he looked into her eyes to see if she was just joking around with him or if she was serious. With a cute little nose crinkle, she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. “It took you long enough to ask me, Jinnie Boy,” she teased.

Heat rose to Hyunjin’s cheeks as he wrapped his arms around Liliy in return and nuzzled her hair with a sigh of relief.