#apparently this is the true ending too like damn take me back and i'll settle for the bad ending i'm making myself sick at this point lol

[projectcatzo]

Spent two and a half hours straight attempting the final boss fight of Mato Anomalies and not once did I even get halfway through its health bar and no one gives a shit about this game so there aren't any guides aside from random people playing on Youtube and I'm already playing on the easiest difficulty and leveling up does literally nothing at this point and

[hajimescutie]

it’s been so long I haven’t talked to u I’m so sorryyy😩😩 hope ur doing well rn !!

can I request any angst to fluff with the msby players as dad and like reader and haikyuu boys r fighting and ur child come to the living room asking why r yall yelling or something like that 😩😩 make me cry but I WANT FLUFFFFF AT THE END 😔😔😔😔

💘anon love u bae

# — msby arguing in front of their kid

includes: a. miya, k. bokuto, s. hinata, & k. sakusa x gn!reader

genre: angst to fluff

warnings: swearing, sakusa is really mean in his

a/n: HI BAE i hope u like this it hurt my soul. SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG FORGIVE ME PLS

main masterlist

inarizaki masterlist karasuno masterlist

fukurodani masterlist  itachiyama masterlist

ATSUMU:

"you're unbelievable 'tsumu!"

"i'm unbelievable?! yer one ta talk y/n!"

you didn't expect that a simple statement such as "hey is there a chance you could take a couple days off from practice?" would turn into a full fledged argument.

the professional volleyball player had been spending hours upon hours into the late night practicing with the other msby players. you'd always been understanding when it came to his career. but when it starts to become apparent to your child that he hasn't been home lately, that's where you drew the line. you hoped that this would've been a simple discussion. but your partner was miya atsumu, the king of being dramatic.

"all i asked was if you could spend more time with me and himiko! is that really too much to ask of you?! to spend more time with your family?!" you felt your throat scratch from all the shouting and yelling between the two of you.

"ya don't understand! i do everything ta support this family and in order ta do so, i have ta go and play volleyball! i don't see you doing anything to fuckin' contribute!!"

"that's not true-"

"shut yer mouth!! god, yer so ungrateful y/n. i don't know why yer so damn needy. give me a break."

you gaped at his words, "i'm ungrateful?! me?! 'tsumu you're not even here majority of the time! you're the one that's being ungrateful!!"

"don't talk ta me like that. i can't believe i settled for-"

"daddy?"

both your heads shot to your daughter, himiko, standing at the bedroom door with tears in her eyes. "w-why are you guys fighting?"

atsumu let out a deep sigh, "'s okay sweet pea, go lay down and i'll be in there in a sec okay?"

your heart broke when you saw her lip tremble, more tears trickling down her cheeks, "b-but you guys will start yelling again. i don't like when you yell."

you walked over to the youngling, reaching down to pick her up and resting her against your hip. you walked over to yours and atsumu's bed to cradle her, stroking her hair and humming in order to soothe her cries. you felt the bed dip next to you, strong arms wrapping around you and himiko.

you looked over and saw atsumu give you a sad smile, guilt pooling in his chest at the hurt look on yours and himiko's face after the argument was interrupted. he really shouldn't have let the conversation escalate that quickly. he just gets so defensive and he feels like he's never doing good enough, whether it be with the team or with his family. then again, that doesn't justify the harsh words he spat at you.

after a couple minutes of rocking himiko back and forth and calming her down, you gently stood up to put her back to bed. atsumu let his arms lay limp by his sides, missing the warmth you and your daughter provided. when you walked back in the room, you saw your lover sporting a sad pout and sad eyes. you walked over to stand in front of him, cradling his cheeks in your hands in order to pull his head up from his slumped form.

"'m sorry for what i said. i'll do better when it comes ta ya. ta himiko too. i want ta be someone ya can be proud of," he admitted.

you let out a sigh, leaning forward to press a soft kiss to his forehead, "you always make me proud 'tsumu. i just wanted you to make some more time for us 's all."

he turned his head to kiss the palm of your right hand, "i will, i'll try for both of ya. i love ya so much, my baby."

BOKUTO:

bokuto hated fighting with you, especially when your child was home. he was one to communicate with soft spoken words, inside voices, and handle the matter maturely. all he wanted was for you and your guy's son to be happy, positive energy all time. but, relationships and families aren't always sunshine and rainbows. there's going to be disagreements, different people will butt heads, it happens, totally normal.

unfortunately, this was one of those times.

"i can't believe you forgot to pick up haruki again! this is the third time this week kōtarō!" you yelled frantically.

ever since your little haruki started school, you and bo had a hard time with who picks him up on certain days. you guys didn't exactly have a set schedule yet since everything was new, but you would always communicate very clearly who was going to pick up your son that day. today bokuto was supposed to pick him up after he was finished with volleyball practice. you had reminded this man multiple times throughout the day, and imagine your surprise when you had rush out of work early because you got a call from the school saying the haruki was still there.

"i said i was sorry! i lost track of time! it won't happen again i promise," he shouted back, pleading with you to forgive him.

"kou, i get that this is new for both of us and we're adapting, but this can't keep happening. i've had to leave work early three times now!" you exasperated.

"i don't know what you want me to do. practice runs late sometimes and i can't control-"

"then you could at least find out ahead of time that you're going to stay later! that way i can prepare ahead of time in order to pick up haruki on time! we always communicate bokuto, this isn't anything new," you snapped sarcastically.

the more this argument went on, the more frustrated the both of you were becoming. bokuto ran a frustrated hand through his spiky hair, golden eyes filling with repressed anger, "you don't fucking understand! i can't change how long practice runs. and sometimes i don't have my phone near me to text-"

"bullshit!! i text atsumu to check up on you all the time and he always manages to text me back, so what makes you any different?"

"stop acting like a damn child y/n. not everything revolves around you and your schedule. grow the fuck up,"

"see?! now you're the one acting like a child! telling me to grow up? you're unbelievable-"

you were cutoff when you felt a light tug on the seam of your pants, head shooting down to see a very upset haruki with tears streaming down his cute face.

"oh haru... 's okay come here," you cooed, all anger from the argument flowing out and being replaced with concern.

you felt his little arms wrap around you as you sat down on the couch in the living room, his face hidden in your neck and wetness hitting your skin.

you saw bokuto sit next to you with the same amount of concern, all anger gone. you stroked your son's hair to cease his cries, heart growing heavy at the thought of him crying because you and your lover couldn't handle situations like adults.

"i don't like when you guys fight. why are you fighting?" haruki sniffled, face still buried in your neck.

you opened your mouth to speak before bokuto reached over and placed his hand over yours that was still stroking haruki's hair. he explained, "'m sorry you had to hear us argue. we weren't being very nice to each other were we?"

you looked up and realized that that question was directed towards you, your eyes meeting his golden ones. you felt yourself soften at his gaze, mumbling, "no we weren't. i'm sorry too, sweet boy. it won't happen again, okay?"

haruki pulled away and looked between you and bokuto with a teary gaze. he nodded his little head before crawling off your lap and running off to go play with his toys. you let out a sigh of relief, leaning your head back on the couch with your eyes closed. they were shot open again when you felt strong arms start to pick you up and pull you onto bokuto's lap. his arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you flush against his chest as he mimicked his son's actions; burying his face in your neck.

you chuckled at the similarity, running a comforting hand through his hair like you did with haruki. the feeling of the rise and fall of his chest with yours put you both at ease, basking in each other's silence.

"i'm sorry i forgot to pick up haruki..." the feeling of his lips brushing against your neck made you shiver.

"'s okay kou," you whispered.

"and i'm sorry for yelling at you. and for not telling you i was gonna be late. and for yelling at you in front of haruki, did i say sorry for picking up haruki already? i'm sorry for-"

"kou," you pushed his shoulders back lightly to get him to lift his head up, his sad eyes boring into yours with a cute pout on his lips, "it's okay baby. we'll figure it out together. i love you so much."

you leaned forward and pecked his lips softly, then his cheeks, the tip of his nose, his forehead, and his lips again, making the tips of his ears and his cheeks rosy.

"i love you too, sweet baby."

HINATA:

"baby, please calm down-"

"don't tell me to calm down y/n."

you shrunk back in the passenger seat at the ginger's sharp tone. you really didn't want to get in an argument right now, not with your little girl sleeping soundly in her car seat. but from how hard hinata was gripping the steering wheel, you knew that this was going to end up somewhere bad.

"shō, please. i didn't mean-"

"what? you didn't mean for your parents to berate me and my career? to berate you for being with me? for having a child with me?" he snapped, giving you a side-eyed glare.

"don't blame me for what they said, you know how i think of you. you know how much i love you. you know how much aika loves you. why is that not enough?"

the spiker let out a scoff, slowing the car to a stop at the red light. he grinded his teeth together, running a hand over his face. "who knows, maybe one day you'll listen to them and find someone better! you've always had eyes for sakusa-san, why don't you be with someone like him?"

yours eyes widened at his statement, feeling the car move forward at the green light. "i cannot believe you just said that to me. i don't want sakusa. i want you, shō! what about that is so hard to believe?!"

"give me a fucking break y/n. clearly i'm not someone you should be seen around with. might as well leave while you have the chance," he mumbled the last part.

"hinata shōyō, take that back right fucking now," you said darkly.

"you know it's true! why are you even with me? why did you even start a family with me? we're a fucking joke, y/n. open your eyes-"

"daddy? w-what's going on?"

you looked back and saw aika rubbing her eyes tiredly. you reached an arm back to stroke her knee, coaxing her back to sleep, "shh... it's okay aika. go back to sleep we're almost home."

"but..." she mumbled sleepily, "i don't want you and daddy to fight. it'll... wake me... up..."

her head slumped forward slightly, her soft snores breaking the tension in the cramped vehicle. you relaxed back against the seat, looking out the window in order to keep yourself from breaking down. you tensed slightly when you felt hinata's hand grab yours, intertwining your fingers.

"i'm sorry, i shouldn't have said that. we'll talk more when we get home, okay?" he brought your hand to kiss the back of it, your heart fluttering in your chest.

you knew he didn't mean what he said, but it still hurt nonetheless. you tightened your grip on his hand, nodding slightly.

"i forgive you. please don't speak to me like that again," your voice trembled slightly, your eyes watering with tears.

"hey, that was really stupid of me to say. i know you're not like your parents. it's just, i've grown up with people telling me what i can and can't do all my life. i thought i was over it but the shit your parents said really hit a nerve," the tangerine admitted.

"'s okay shō, i understand. we'll talk more at home," you mumbled.

"i love you, darling."

"i love you too, shōyō."

SAKUSA:

you were frustrated, to put it in a nice way. you and sakusa had been bickering left and right about anything and everything. you left a couple dishes in the sink? sakusa's already there to give you a sarcastic comment about how lazy you are. your child spilled a bit of juice on him? he somehow blames you for not raising her to be tidy and organized.

you were tired from the constant insults, the harsh glares, the sarcastic comments, all of it. and not only was it affecting you, but it was affecting your daughter, yui.

"kiyoomi, we need to talk," you demanded, pulling his attention from the practice match he was watching in order to prepare for his next big game.

"can it wait? this is almost over," he said, annoyed.

"no, kiyoomi, it can't wait. pause the damn video."

the curly-haired male let out an aggravated huff, pausing the tv before turning to you with a blank stare.

"i'm sick of how you're treating me and yui," you said bluntly.

he gave you a confused look, "what do you mean how i treat you and yui? i treat you both just fine."

"really? so insulting me when i forget to a simple chore or lecturing yui on being clean when she's already trying her best means that you treat us both 'just fine'?"

he let out a dark chuckle, shaking his head at your accusation, "clearly someone can't handle constructive criticism."

"sakusa kiyoomi, if you don't start taking how i feel seriously i'm packing my stuff and leaving," you threatened, hoping that would get his attention, "and i'm taking yui with me."

"wow! don't you think you're being a bit dramatic y/n?"

"it's called doing what's right for me and my child. you clearly don't give a fuck about how me or yui feel! you don't even look upset!" you shouted, hoping to get it through his thick skull how much his actions are slowly tearing your family apart.

"you know what? i'm sick of this. i'm sick of you nagging me all the time, i'm tired of you being lazy and being disorganized. why am i even with-"

"daddy! you're being mean!" you heard a tiny voice from the doorway.

before you knew it you daughter was running towards her father, hitting his long legs with her tiny fists, "you don't say that about them! you say you're sorry! right now daddy!"

"aika, honey," you cooed, your eyes filling with tears. you picked up the small girl and walked away from the professional volleyball player to put aika in her room. he heard your soft cries through the thin walls, his heart pulling at him guiltily. he never wanted to kick himself harder than he did now. aika's words may have seemed silly, but he took them to heart.

how could he not see how utterly toxic he was being? he sat down on the edge of your shared bed with his head in his hands. a dull headache started to settle within him, his brain reviewing every snide remark he said to you and every lecture he gave to his daughter. he felt like he was going to throw up, he couldn't believe how much he was hurting his family.

his head shot up when you walked back into the room with puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks. he stood up and walked over to you, pulling you into his chest. you struggled against his grasp, soft sobs escaping your shaking figure

"kiyoomi, lemme go, please," you pleaded.

he shook his head frantically, his grip on you tightening, "no, please listen to me. i'm so fucking sorry."

you stilled at his words, giving him the okay to continue.

"words can't describe how awful i feel about how i treated you and aika. i just- i don't know how you're still with me. the way i spoke to the both of you was completely unacceptable, and i really want to make it up to you, to both of you. if you'll let me."

you were stunned to say the least. you felt your heart flutter, but scared of giving him a chance that he might take for granted again. you felt him squeeze you tighter, a way in order to convince you to stay.

"please," he begged.

you let out a shaky sigh, gripping the back of sakusa's shirt in desperation. you felt him kiss the top of your head, another attempt.

"okay omi, okay," you cried.

sakusa let out a relieved gasp, finally breaking down as he let the tears fall free. he didn't care how vulnerable he looked. as long as he got you and aika to stay, to give him one last chance, he was set.

reblogs are appreciated! <3

©hajimescutie 2021, all rights reserved.

[lunnamars]

prompt for luffy/nami: maps

Am I super late? Yes, of course. I think I received this ask in...June? May? I don't remember, so I apologize from the bottom of my heart, dear anon, but I was going mad with deadlines and I'm still going through a writing block, so I really hope you like it! I swear I did my best. <3 

You can read this on AO3 too!

map of the problematique

The day was almost ending, the sky burning with the sunset, and Nami still had a pencil in her hand, scribbling lines and forms on a once empty paper. Other supplies scattered across the table, along with the quietness of the library, helped her finish another map successfully.

Being able to see the piece of work coming to life filled Nami's chest with pride and joy; there wasn't a clear explanation to what she felt every time.

She took a deep breath and tried to rest her sight — looking intently at one thing for an extended period always gave her a headache, even if it was her beloved maps or tangerines. Robin was there with her too, but her silence was welcoming and contrasted so much with the usual ruckus of the ship. Nami rested her face on her right hand, admiring the neatly drawn shapes and lines, how her scale was correctly measured, she double-checked, and the vivid colors on the paper. She ran her free hand over the map with fondness, a soft smile on her face while thanking the heavens for being free to do what she liked; what she was meant to do.

Sometimes, Nami wondered how her life would have been like if she had never met Luffy. Where would she be now? Still with shackles on her feet, bound to Arlong? Stealing, risking her life, suffocating more and more?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock on the door and the voice of her captain, "Oi, Nami, are you there? Can I come in?"

Robin chuckled and stood up, walking in the direction of the door to let the firecracker of a man get in. She opened the door and smiled at him, saying with the calm voice of usual, "Hello, Luffy. Can we help you with anything?"

"Hey, Robin, didn't know you were here. Can I stay here with you two?" he asked with his never-ending energy. 

Hmph, always brighter than the sun, Nami thought.

"Why, of course. But I was already on my way out. Nami is still staying for a while. Want to keep her company?" Robin asked and looked over her shoulder to the navigator, winking at her.. Nami narrowed her eyes and pouted, catching on the implicit invitation behind her words. 

Why must Robin be so damn smart? For fuck's sake. 

Luffy had no idea of what had just transpired between the girls and happily added, "Sure! Bye, Robin!"

The archeologist softly grinned and sprouted two hands, patting their heads and bidding them goodbye. Nami heard Luffy's chuckle before the door clicking shut and right after, the sound of his flip-flops across the floor. She felt his breathing on her neck and couldn't help the shiver that ran down her spine, her heart starting to beat at an alarming pace in the blink of an eye.

He rested his head on hers and asked, cheerful and beaming as a goddamn sunflower, "Hey Nami! Can I see your maps?"

She knew she couldn't be the sun like him, especially not after the trick he played on her the day before so she grunted, "No."

"C'mon, Nami! Lemme!" Luffy whined like a spoiled brat, entangling his rubber arms around her neck. Took a shower and smelling nice, aren't you?

Nami sighed and crossed her arms, fighting the urge to look in his direction and forcing her heartbeat to stabilize. Damn him and his damned carefree laugh. She snorted, "Luffy, what are you doing here? Don't you have anything else to do?"

"Sheesh, Nami! You're mean! If you don't want me here then just tell me." He let a deep breath and she could feel him pouting. Luffy was still holding her when he spoke again, voice low, "You have been away for almost the whole day, Nami. I was just worried."

"Of course I was, you moron! Have you forgotten what you did yesterday? You almost fucked up the maps that took me almost two weeks to finish!" How easy it was for him to stir her up and make her angry. Luffy was amazing but sometimes he acted like a child, something that always drove her mad.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry!" He held her tight so she wouldn't escape but careful enough to not strangle her. A great show of controlled strength. She tried to disentangle herself from his embrace, but that only made him encircle his legs around her torso now. Acting like a child again, wanting the adult to forgive him at all costs. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to! I swear I'll… I swear I'll… I swear I'll eat vegetables for a week, and I won't complain!"

His plea seemed sincere, but the idea that he was bargaining a thing that should be on his menu on a daily basis, instead of the huge chunks of meat he thinks is the only necessary thing to make him survive, baffled her. Then, it came in fits and bursts. One snort, then a second, the third was already mixed with laughter, and in the end, Nami was laughing at her heart's content.

He followed her, chuckling slowly and grinning warmly, then his candy-coated laugh that always melted her heart finally reached her ears. They laughed until their ribs hurt. Luffy's occasional child behavior would always provoke two reactions in her: complete anger or complete amusement. Sometimes both.

"Okay, okay. I'm fine, you silly goose. Thanks for apologizing." Nami patted his head, finally having the courage to look into his owlish eyes. His grin became bashful when their eyes met, but he stayed wrapped around her. She pinched his nose lightly and said in a loving voice, "C'mon, let me go. You must be feeling uncomfortable holding me like that, with the chair between us."

Luffy instantly released her, the characteristic sound of his arms and legs retracting echoing in her ears before grabbing another chair and sitting beside her. Her anger towards him long forgotten Nami decided to get back to work. Sometimes it was complicated to get things done when the captain was around but there were times where Luffy would seek her for silence.

The boy from two years ago wasn't like that. But the man he was now valued quiet and peaceful times as well. He was often watching the sunset, humming some song sitting on top of the Sunny's figurehead. Sometimes he was even lost in thought.

He rested his head on her shoulder, watching her pencil carefully slide across a new blank paper, firm and precise black lines appearing. Luffy's silence and steady breathing allowed Nami to enter her focused mode once again.

“Whaddya wanna do after you finish the map of the world?” Her captain spoke again after a while, voice a bit rough from disuse and a bit husky, something she hasn’t gotten used to yet and still has no idea how to deal with. It made her hand falter, the perfect line broken now, and a vein popped on her forehead. 

Nami took a deep breath, picking up the pencil and sharpening it before answering him, "I… Don't know?"

"Wanna go back to your village?" Luffy asked, apparently not paying attention to the way her concentration was interrupted. 

She looked down at his face resting on her shoulder, meeting his eyes and responding warily, "I still haven’t thought about it, Luffy. We still have a long way to go before all of our goals are achieved."

Nami heard his agreement in the form of an "Mm-hmm,” and they both fell silent again. It was completely dark outside now, and the lights of the library had turned on automatically. The navigator decided to call it a day and give some attention to her friend, waiting patiently for her. Waiting was not precisely the right word since she could hear soft snores, but he stayed there, by her side trying not to bother her, but wanting a bit of her presence.

She put away the new map with the others, organized her drawing supplies and putting them away in the drawer below her dedicated desk in the library. Nami rested her hand on her now empty desk, drumming her fingers following the rhythm of the happy-go-lucky songs coming to life through Brook’s violin and thinking about what she could do right now with the moron glued to her side. 

A stolen glance at his peaceful face was all she needed to make her forget any of her worries. The face of someone who's half  boy and half  man, who has kindness in every movement and was able to see right through people. A beautiful soul able to connect with anyone's soul. Her best friend and the boyish man she loves, a person who lived his life to its fullest. Always wanting people around to do the same.

Nami scooped him in her arms — he always became a bit lighter when sleeping — and nestled him to her chest when she settled them down on the couch next to the window. The motion woke him up, but he only curled more against her. The red head rested her chin on his head and mumbled softly, "And you? What do you wanna do after becoming the Pirate King, Luffy?"

"Keep traveling, I guess." He answered and shrugged, voice still hoarse, now from sleeping. 

Nami knew that was an answer that suited him. The freest man in the world would like to keep traveling, learning new things, and meeting new people. She just nodded as he started to play with a thread of her hair before asking, absentminded, "Do you think you'll finish the map of the world before I become Pirate King, Nami?"

"Honestly, I don't think so. The world is huge, and the sea is vast. It will take me a long while, I guess."

It was true. Nami would probably be one of the last to achieve her dream. Not that she minded, no. If the Pirate King wanted to keep traveling then she would continue being his navigator for however long he needed. Eventually she'd finish her map, and his promises to her would be fulfilled.

"Good. That means you'll stay," Luffy replied quietly.

She chuckled and watched him wrap a thread of her hair around his finger, "Are you still so dependent on your navigator, Captain? I can make you a copy of my maps."

"It's not that!" Luffy turned around fast, almost headbutting her, his face closer than before. She meant to scold him, she really did. But the way he was looking at her, with pleading eyes and some emotion behind it she couldn't quite put her finger on it forced her to shut up. Was he truly afraid of being left alone? Did he think they'd separate again?

But there it was once more, the fuzzy feeling every time she was the focus of his undivided attention. The mysterious warmth that enveloped her when he was that close, when she was caught off guard. Although she knew there was no mystery there, she knew the reason behind the phenomenon, definitely knew how to spell the word that explained it all. 

It had been easy falling for that mess of a man, there was no one in the word that was immune to Luffy's charm. The man had the whole world in his hands, always captivating people everywhere he went with his simplicity. But admitting that… Admitting that had been hard.

And there wasn't a time where Nami didn't have to fight the urge of finally reaching, of finally closing the gap. Maybe I can do it today?

"Then what is it, Captain?" she leaned in, her lips almost brushing against his and let herself hope he wouldn't push her away.

Luffy stared at her lips, her eyes, and then her lips again. 

She wondered if Luffy had ever kissed anyone. And if he did, how would he kiss? How would it feel— her lips on his? Would it be like kissing a rubber? That’d definitely be weird. Would she find out today? Why couldn’t she close the gap? 

Afraid. You’re afraid this would change everything.

And losing Luffy would be like a nightmare. It would be suffocating the same way she felt when working on her maps for Arlong in that lonely room.

But Luffy had another idea in mind. There was almost no one as straightforward as him and he made the decision for her. 

Oh.

It felt like rubber and she finally satiated her curiosity, but for some reason it wasn’t weird. It was a simple peck on her lips, gentle and chaste. Maybe that answered her question, maybe he hasn’t kissed anyone yet and her heart soared as she thought she might be the first one, feeling like a little girl again. 

He indeed had the world and her heart in his hands.

Luffy moved away a bit, his owlish eyes piercing hers, studying her reaction. It had been so quick, so fleeting, but her lips tingled. And that was so unfair because she wanted more but had no idea if she could ask for it. She was a greedy witch, but this was way more dangerous than money and bets. 

But then he dived in again, this time with a hand on her neck and the other on her hip, squeezing and making her open her mouth in protest. She felt the tip of his tongue and felt his hesitation. He was unsure of what to do despite his initiative. It was sweet and endearing, but she remembered how greedy she was. And Luffy was her treasure much like her gold and maps.

Hands tangling in the hair on the back of his neck, the growl he let out making her pull him closer, as much closer they could be. Her tongue brushed against his and it’s really all downhill from there. 

When she broke the kiss, who knows how much time later, she looked at him, trying to make him see that she wanted to know the answer to her question.

His big toothy smile told her he was about to assure her everything was okay, but he actually didn’t need to. Everything was always okay when he was around, even with his shenanigans, even after he almost destroyed two weeks’ worth of work.

""It's not about the maps! I just don't wanna sail without you, Nami!"

[eryiss]

Fraxus Week 2020: Day 6 - Tarot

Summary: After a crappy post-college first year, Laxus jumped at the opportunity to leave town for a week for a road trip with his friends. He intended it just to be a week away with his friends, but when he meets an unfamiliar stranger, the vacation turns into something much more. [Fraxus Multichapter]

This is the sixth part of my Fraxus Week admissions, hosted by @fuckyeahfraxus​. This year I’ve made the prompts into a single multi-chapter fic. You can see all the chapters in the Masterpost linked below. Hope you enjoy.

You can read this on Fanfiction, Archive of our Own, and under the cut. Read the other chapters from this masterlist.

Chapter Six – A Carnival Reading

Bickslow had claimed it was an accident, but Laxus called bullshit. To Laxus, this seemed as though it was Bickslow and Evergreen's way of giving their new relationship their blessing. But Laxus didn't particularly care, because he had woken up sharing a relatively small bed with Freed, arm wrapped around the man's waist while pulling him close, and the man nuzzled into his chest as he slept. And, although Laxus had no intention on trying, he couldn't think of a better thing to wake up to.

With a soft smile, he shuffled slightly and pulled Freed closer. The sleeping man hummed and moved his head, revealing a small smile on his face.

This was rather a charmed life, and Laxus could get used to it.

But that was wishful thinking. They'd had their first sober kiss only a day prior, and it had exhilarated Laxus to a point no other relationships had. After that, they'd spent some time atop the RV's roof, Laxus looking up at the stars while Freed continued his book. That too had been exhilarating in a way Laxus couldn't put into words. After that, they'd eaten with Bickslow and Evergreen, spoken about how they were something of a couple but hadn't yet put a label on it, but they certainly weren't platonic.

Their friends had been supportive of that. They knew both men weren't the most emotionally vulnerable people, it seemed.

And now Laxus had woken up in the small double bed at the back of the RV, with Freed in his arms. Seeing as the man was sleeping softly, Laxus leant down and pressed his lips against the crown of Freed's head, smiling down at him.

"That was adorable," Evergreen's voice cut through the silence, and made Laxus' head snap up. He didn't think she was awake. "I didn't know you had it in you to be sweet."

"Shut up," Laxus groaned, voice a tired croak. He quickly glanced through the rest of the RV and his eyes settled on Bickslow, who was curled up awkwardly in the passenger side seat snoring and drooling onto the pillow he was spooning. He was glad that only Evergreen had seen that, as Bickslow would have gone into an overly dramatic meltdown. Which would have woken Freed up and ended the situation.

Huh. Laxus really meant it when he said he cared more for Freed than his dignity.

"I won't say anything more," Evergreen said with a smile. It was annoyingly kind. "I just think its nice. Besides, after you fell asleep we took loads of pictures," Laxus glared at her, and she laughed. "I'm joking. Well, I think so. I fell asleep before Bix so you might want to check."

"Thanks for the warning," Laxus said softly, perhaps sarcastically.

"Well, I'm only really being nice because I have something else I need to tell you," Evergreen said with a small trace of guilt in her tone. "I found that we're pretty close to a well-reviewed circus carnival, and I mentioned it to Bickslow. As you can guess, we're spending the day there."

"Why d'you need to butter me up for that?" Laxus said, not aware that he was running his hands through Freed's soft hair.

"Well, Bickslow made it pretty clear that we'd be leaving the two of you alone," Evergreen sighed. "Essentially, we're forcing you on your first date. Which might be a tad annoying to your plan of not putting labels on what you are."

Laxus glanced down at the sleeping man in the bed with him, and smiled softly. While they were taking things as they came, it certainly wasn't a bad thing that they would be spending the day together.

"I'm sure we can handle it," Laxus said softly.

"You're a hero," Evergreen laughed quietly. "Well, since you're awake now, I'm going to go for a little morning walk. See you later; oh, and keep up the kisses because it's adorable."

If he weren't wrapped around Freed, he might have thrown the pillow at the woman's retreating figure. Instead he did his best to raise his middle finger at the woman without moving Freed to a point where he would awaken. Evergreen let out a quiet laugh as she left the RV, leaving Laxus as the only person awake in the truck. As he was essentially alone, he looked down at the man wrapped up against him.

Freed really was a man of many faces, all damn appealing. Right now, his contented sleeping expression was pretty damned cute. But the night before, on the roof of the RV, he had been more handsome than any man Laxus had laid eyes on. Even the smug and cocky expression he had given Laxus when challenging him to a race at the waterpark had been hot.

It was really quite unfair that he got to be that attractive in that many ways.

"Urgh," Freed murmured quietly, and Laxus looked down at him with an expression of quiet contentment.

"Morning," He greeted.

"Morning," Freed parroted, eyes fluttering open softly. He smiled when he made eye contact with Laxus. "Well you're rather cuddly, aren't you?" Freed chuckled, but cushioned the tease with a soft kiss against Laxus' jaw.

"People always get shocked by that," Laxus commented quietly. "I've never understood why."

"Oh I fully expected you to enjoy hugging, why else would you have a body like this," Freed chuckled, moving slightly so his head was level with Laxus'. "I just expected that being in the presence of the human embodiment of annoying gossip might make you a little hesitant."

"With another guy, maybe," Laxus said the words before he could think. Was that too far for their relationship?

"You're charming too," Freed replied with a soft chuckle. "I thought that was going to be my thing."

"I gotta keep you on yer toes somehow," Laxus said with a grin. "Speaking of, Ever warned me that Bix's been plotting and apparently they're taking us to some carnival or something, and they're gonna ditch us and basically put us on a date together. You okay with that?"

"Of course," Freed nodded a little, and his nose gently traced Laxus'. "Spending time alone with you is quickly becoming a pastime of mine that I love, so you can safely assume I'll enjoy any dates we might go on. Forced on us or otherwise."

"I'm glad," Laxus smiled, jutting his chin forward so he could press his lips against Freed's in a chaste kiss. It sent a shock through him. "And I'll get to kick your ass at carnival games."

"Rather cocky attitude there, Laxus," Freed chuckled. "Misplaced, too."

"You said something similar when you challenged me to the water park race," Laxus grinned. "And remind me, who's got their lock screen as a picture of them on a waterslide screaming like they're about to piss themself."

"True, but in a carnival, you can't repeatedly push me into water and trip me up just to get your way," Freed said with a good-natured smile.

"You're really underestimating how much I like winning," Laxus grinned. "But if your so confident, we can make a bet."

"You truly are a competitive man, Mr Dreyar. I like it," Freed chuckled. "How about the loser pays for our first real date, and the winner choses what the date is."

"Sounds fun," Laxus smiled, leaning down, and pressing their lips together.

It was a slow and somewhat sloppy kiss, and both men melted into it without any difficulty. Laxus brought up one of his hands to cup Freed's cheek, smiling as the man in his arms pushed further into the embrace. Even in his half-awake state, Laxus felt a thrilling rush of excitement flow through him. Freed really did have some kind of effect on him that he couldn't describe, nor did he care to try. Because that moment was perfect.

Well, it would have been perfect. But then they heard the sound of Bickslow's phone taking a picture, followed by a loud cackling.

~~~

"I feel this is what Bickslow's mind must be like."

At Freed's comment, Laxus let out an undignified snort. The two men were walking side by side in the carnival, looking forward at the large and flashy spectacle before them. Multiple stalls lined a long pathway leading towards a circus tent, of which Bickslow was dragging Evergreen towards. Past the tent were large attractions and rides, each blurting out energetic music. It was somewhat overwhelming, but was helped by the fact the mass crowds had yet to arrive.

"I always thought it'd be a nightclub," Laxus commented, grinning. "A really loud and tacky one."

"I can see that," Freed agreed, and Laxus felt a chill run down his spine as Freed's hand grazed his own. "I haven't been to a carnival like this in years. The town I grew up in used to host one once a year."

"You used to enjoy it?" Laxus asked, looking down at the other man with a smile.

"Not exactly," Freed said with a chuckle. "It only started when I was a teenager, and I deemed myself too educated and adult to enjoy myself. So I mostly spent them in my bedroom reading, and wishing death on the people who turned the music up so loud that I could hear it half a mile away."

"So you were an edgy teenager huh?" Laxus asked with a teasing grin. "You know if you had a goth phase then you have to show me pictures so I can laugh at ya."

"Fortunately, I didn't," Freed said with a smile. "But the same goes for you. If you've any embarrassing childhood photos then it's required I see them."

"That's fair, I guess," Laxus nodded. "But don't think I didn't see what you just did. I asked for goth pics, you asked for embarrassing pics. So if I show you anything embarrassing, you gotta compensate."

"I had hoped you hadn't noticed that" Freed chuckled good naturedly.

The two continued walking down the row of stalls, eyeing the food vendors. It was a little after when they usually ate lunch, and they had decided that they'd get something to eat before playing any of the games or visiting any other attractions. That way there were nothing to distract them from the bet they had made, and neither man could blame their losses on being hungry. Laxus paled a little when Freed suggested that, as feigning weakness from hunger had been an option if he lost at a game he should have won.

After eventually settling on a food vendor with sweet smelling meat wafting from their stall, they had a quick meal and further discussed the rules of their gamble. They would both play every game available in a clockwise pattern, and would work with a points system. In the event of a draw, they would flip a coin.

The first game they played was an archery range, which was relatively simple. Laxus had gone first, claiming he had earned that by winning their race at the water park. He had done okay, managing to hit the target with each of his arrows, though with a wide range of points. He ended up with sixteen over his four arrows, which was a serviceable score. But the look on Freed's face told Laxus that the man was confident that he could win.

He did.

He got eighteen points, and even Laxus could see that there was a lot less luck in Freed's performance. Laxus would have focused on that, had he not been distracted by the confident posture, determined expression and flexing arms as he pulled the string back and took aim.

"That was," Laxus began when Freed returned with a satisfied expression. "Kinda hot, honestly."

"I'm glad you think so," Freed said, and his voice was just slightly deeper than normal. He leant forward so that their faces were almost touching, but stopped just short. "Consider it a consolation prize, as I'm winning."

The smug expression on the man's face drove Laxus almost as crazy as his teasing had. And he could do was let out a muttered 'asshole' before following in his footsteps.

They continued making their way through the games at a leisurely pace, playing each of them and teasing each other as they did so. They fell into a quick pattern where the winner of the individual game would flaunt their victory in a flirtatious and teasing way, and the loser would have to stand there and take it. Laxus felt a rush every time, because the ease at which he could be his competitive self with the other man shocked him. The fact Freed was just as confident in himself was an added bonus.

None of his past attempts at relationships had been like this. In fact, he had been so busy trying not to show the more flawed side of himself that he often forgot to be himself. With Freed, it felt like the inverse of that.

After the archery game, they had moved onto a game where they had a minute to score as many points with a basketball hoop. They had been relatively evenly matched, but Laxus' high school year as a basketball player gave him an edge. He gloated his victory by rolling up his sleeve and flexing his bicep, with a teasing 'these ain't just to look at' aimed at Freed. He didn't miss the other man's smirk at the movement.

Next was a game wherein you threw darts at balloons, and each balloon you popped had a certain score inside of it. They had five darts each, and Laxus managed to win that too. He had wrapped an arm around Freed's shoulders and made a gloating show about how he had won two games in a row, and Freed had not.

The next game had them both aiming water pistols at moving targets. The person who inflated their target's balloon fasted would win, and Freed proved to have better aim. Rather than gloating, he had twisted his water gun to the side so that a cold splash of water hit Laxus on the side.

"I'm gonna get you back for that," Laxus promised, grinning.

"Why," Freed feigned innocence. "I thought you might need some cooling off. Losing that badly got you rather heated."

"So, you thought I looked hot, huh?" Laxus said, crossing his arms.

"No," Freed said, not shying from Laxus' gaze. "I thought you looked warm. You looking hot is a… continuing issue."

Laxus grinned at the compliment, but shunted his own water gun to the side so a stream of water hit the other man. Freed let out a small noise of protest, but laughed it off as the owner of the stall asked them both to move along for the next customers. Laxus wrapped an arm around Freed's shoulders as they walked, and murmured into his ear.

"You looked pretty hot yourself," He said with a grin.

"I'm aware," Freed snarked back, and Laxus laughed with a grinned.

This was new as well, the ease of flirtation. It was ridiculous to think that a day ago, Laxus had been beating himself up for the idea of having some kind of crush on Freed, and now he was openly calling the guy hot in public. It was a testament to how comfortable Freed had managed to make him, Laxus supposed.

As they walked to the next stall, they noticed how different it was. Whereas the others were open and painted with bright colours, this stall was a small purple tent with dark colours and candles surrounding it. A sign beside the door claimed 'Mistress Cana Alberona's Tarot.' Laxus rolled his eyes.

"You don't believe in fortune telling?" Freed asked, apparently having seen the eye movement.

"Nah," Laxus shrugged, then looked down at Freed curiously. "Do you?"

"No, I think it's absurd. The idea that some cards magically know the intricate futures of everyone, or the fact your personality and what you'll do is written on your hand is ridiculous," Laxus chuckled a little at Freed's dismissal of the subject. "For whatever reason, it seems like everyone I know believes in it though."

"I know," Laxus grinned. "Ever once dragged me to a psychic. We got kicked out when I found her 'one of a kind crystal ball' on Amazon for twelve dollars."

"A merciful escape for you, then," Freed smirked.

Laxus agreed, but was then struck with an idea. He reached into his pocket and fished out a coin, flipping it in the air and catching it quickly. He covered it before he or Freed could see which side it had landed on, and looked to the other man with a challenging smile. Freed looked back at him with confusion.

"Heads or tails," Laxus demanded. "You get it right; I'll get a fortune. Get it wrong, you have to get one."

"Okay," Freed nodded. "Heads."

Laxus revealed the coin, and deflated at the sight of a clear head facing upwards. Freed sent him a grin that rivalled Bickslow's for its enjoyment of suffering, and he had the balls to pat the man on the shoulder in a faux comforting way. Laxus looked at the tent with a pained expression; he really couldn't be bothered to deal with the overly dramatic lies of someone with a deck of cards and an inflated sense of self-importance.

"Have fun," Freed taunted, giving him a gentle push towards the tent.

All but trudging towards his destination, Laxus placed the money in the bucket outside and rolled his eyes at the overly mysterious sounding demand that he enter the tent. He walked in, and saw a heavily cushioned room with a low table, and a woman mainly covered by purple scarves sitting at it.

They weren't scared of stereotypes, it seemed.

"Hello, lost one," The woman greeted, still forcing a weird voice. "Take a seat, my child."

Laxus did as he was told, biting his tongue when he realised that he was probably older than the woman performing the reading. He was glad this wasn't a palm reading, having a stranger grope at his hands would be too weird.

"You wish to have your unlived days laid before you?" The woman asked.

"Sure," Laxus said without enthusiasm, not entirely wanting to play along.

"You don't believe in this stuff, do ya," The woman asked suddenly, her voice a lot more normal now. Laxus, momentarily shocked by the sudden change in atmosphere, took a second to reply.

"Not really," Laxus shrugged. "Made a deal I'd come here though."

"That's fair," The woman said, and started to remove the scarves from her face. She was certainly younger than Laxus. "You don't mind do you. This place is hot enough without the candles surrounding it and the scarves. You have no idea how sweaty it gets."

"No, that's fine," Laxus said, at a loss for words when the woman pulled a beer from behind one of the cushions and took a swig from it.

"Okay, so you don't believe in this stuff, so there's no reason to lay it on thick," She said after taking her drink. "But you did pay, and just because you don't believe in something doesn't mean it's not true. So, you wanna do this without all the added on stuff that makes the experience better, get it over and done with?"

"I guess," Laxus frowned. He wasn't entirely sure what was happening.

"Okay," The woman began, picking up her tarot deck and shuffling it like a poker player. "I'm gonna spread these you, you have to pick three. Usually I'd say there's spirit guardians guiding you, which there is but I doubt you'll care about that. Once you've picked them out, we'll turn them over and I'll explain what they mean. First individually, then as a whole."

Laxus nodded in understanding and watched as the woman laid out the cards in a smooth curve. With more care than was probably needed, he looked over the cards before picking three of them at random. Or maybe it wasn't random. Maybe it was a spirit guide.

He almost laughed at the thought.

Watching absently, Laxus saw the woman turn the left most card over, revealing an image of someone in odd clothing standing at the end of a cliff.

"The fool," The woman explained, and Laxus felt slightly offended by it. "Each card has a wide range of interpretations. In its most pure form, it can mean you'll make an ass out of yourself soon," Laxus glared at the woman for that. "But in a more spiritual sense, it speaks of a greater acceptance of the self. You will embrace the fool within you, becoming more of your real self and less burdened by your anxieties. You will find that you don't second guess your actions. You'll be as much a fool as you need to be."

Laxus almost scoffed, and tried to ignore the fact he had been considering just how much his interactions with Freed were devoid of his second-guessing nature. He didn't say anything as the woman turned the next card.

"The sun," She commented. "In its most literal sense, it means brightness is coming to your world. There will be light and growth and nurturing in your future, a new sense of happiness perhaps. But it also means the start of a new cycle. Rebirth if you will. It seems to be that you might be starting a new chapter in your life."

It was annoying, but Laxus found himself wondering if Freed would play a big part in this new chapter. He remained silent as the final card of his choice was flipped over.

"The world," The woman said, and she was smiling now. "This can mean a lot of things. Often it's further a signifier of growth and nature. But it also means that the world is literally open to you. New pathways, new experiences, a new life. That's all coming towards you, and coming soon."

"So, err," Laxus began, embarrassed that he was even entertaining the possibility of this being real. "What do they all mean together."

"I think something big's happening in your life, and pretty soon. It might have already happened. Something life changing. Something that'll open up a whole new world of possibilities, that restarts your life with something new, that allows you to be your true self in a way that you've never been before. Maybe it's an event, maybe it's a revelation or an epiphany. Maybe it's a person. But you're in for some change, and I think it's for the better."

Laxus mind forced him to think of the man waiting outside of the tent for him. The handsome stubborn man that had already had an affect on Laxus that nobody else had. The man who allowed him to have fun, and seemed to energise Laxus in a way he couldn't describe.

Maybe Freed was the change in his life.

He dismissed the thought instantly; this whole this was pointless, and wrong. He bid the woman a goodbye, and started to leave the tent. Even with his surety that fortune telling wasn't real, Laxus couldn't help but notice the similarities of what he'd been told.

Not could he help the smile that those similarities caused.

[confusedunit]

Universe of Unreality - Chapter 23

Chapter 23 - "...checkpoint reached."

The Science Team reunites.

Tommy stared at Forzen for a moment, before he blinked. "You- huh?"

"I want to leave. I'm- I hate it here-" Forzen clenched his hands around his hat. "They- they told me all I had to do was, like, pass bootcamp, right? Just gotta complete this, and I'll graduate." He glanced up and down the hall. "I wanted- wanted to go to school, you know? Had dreams. But I don't- I can't? Have those? These walls, I- I know them, but I can't. I feel like I've lost it." His breathing stuttered. "Benrey, he said- he said he'd get me out. I want out. Help?"

It struck him that the kid didn't seem to remember their past interaction, which was odd. He remembered Benrey, but not the last encounter? And Benrey hadn't said anything along those lines during the last cycle, so...something that happened even before the cycles? Tommy didn't know what that meant, but it made him feel uneasy. But, he and Benrey had a deal. They'd help out each other. And if this bootboy was one of Benrey's chosen people, than Tommy owed him protection too.

"Please- I'm so tired of being scared, man- I know I don't know you, but you know Benrey, and- and you seem to be who the others are after, and hey, we're both on their shitlists now, so-" He flinched as he quickly looked back down the hallway, afraid though nothing was there.

"Come with me." Tommy held out a hand. "We're going- going to look for my friends. And- and we'll...we'll get you out too!"

Forzen put his hat back on, slowly reaching out to take the hand. "...Thank you..."

Tommy turned to lead the way deeper into the facility, feeling a spec of annoyance as he felt a tug at his chest. No, Benrey had this one. He didn't need to form a connection. Forzen was his problem, not Tommy's, and- he let out a sigh as he felt the tug pull more firmly. Fine. Fine, the bootboy had a cord already, apparently. He was important enough to Benrey to get a promise, so now Tommy was stuck with him too. He'd have to place the cord later...

If Tommy was honest, he really needed to get somewhere he could ease his form back. But in order to do that, he'd have to be somewhere where he could be out of his mortal appearance for a while...he definitely didn't have the strength to switch between them, even after the time that had passed since he woke up. He would recover faster in his true form, but...the risks involved were plenty.

"Hey, that machine wasn't on earlier..."

Tommy blinked, skidding a bit as he stopped and turned to look at Forzen. "Huh?"

"In there. This door is locked, and that machine is on."

He took his hand back, pressing both of them against the door as he looked through the window. It was the 'pita cutter' room, Tommy remembered that room from the last cycle. But if things were so different, why was it on? There was no blood covering the floor of the room...

A figure, across the way and behind the second door, passed by the glass.

Tommy's eyes flew wide, and yellow light burst out of him as the world paused. Forzen was motionless, as Tommy reached out and warped across-

"Tommy!" Dr. Coomer reached out and caught him before he could fall, lowering him to the floor.

"What the hell-" Bubby grit his teeth, but seemed to settle again quickly enough. "Took you long enough to find us."

"B-Bubby, Dr. Coomer-" He took a slow breath, which caught in his throat as he saw a figure stir in Bubby's arms. "Dr. Freeman!"

"Shh!" Bubby hissed, before sighing as he looked down at the younger scientist. "...Damn, guess you're already awake, huh?

"Is- Is he okay?"

"He was cold, but he's doing better now. Bubby got him warmed up, and we got him to eat some food." Dr. Coomer stretched out his legs out in front of him, pressing his hands against the floor to hold himself sitting up. "I think he's still wounded, though..."

"He's also not very verbal right now." He ran a gentle hand through Dr. Freeman's hair. "He's very much at the end of his rope."

"I..." Tommy rubbed at his eyes. "I know, now. What they- what they did to him. They-"

"They were testing out placing humans in stasis." Dr. Coomer turned to look at the two in the pile, gesturing with one hand. "They'd gotten to another planet, in another universe. If they wanted to travel farther, logistically, they'd need to have a way to safely transport people to the further universes."

"What the fuck!" Bubby snarled. "And they used him as a test subject- they grabbed one of the smartest young minds of a generation, and used him to test that?"

"How-" Tommy felt himself starting to shake. "How did you...know that?"

Dr. Coomer turned to look at him with a somber look on his face. "...I discovered the reasoning behind Bubby's and Dr. Freeman's disappearance before I went missing myself. After I was here, they made me...forget."

Tommy looked over to check on Dr. Freeman, watching his jittering hands. He focused for a moment, before a Rubix cube appeared in his hand. He held it out to the younger scientist, smiling faintly as he took it and started to play with it. He leaned back and looked serious again. "...Once, you- you two had remembered, something. For some reason. You...you had a meltdown, you and your clones. And- and Bubby, Bubby just lashed out at s-scientists."

"I don't remember that..." Dr. Coomer crossed his arms as he thought. "...though if I had that bad of a reaction, that may be me intentionally blocking that memory, not them hiding it from me."

"I don't remember...either? Not clearly. I sorta remember attacking scientists, but that wouldn't have been the first time, so it's...hard to tell."

"I'm just...so glad you three are- are okay..." Tommy felt a smile form on his face, despite the seriousness of the situation. "I'm- happier than a pig on a rainy summer day!"

Dr. Freeman wheezed out a laugh, before he was quiet again.

"...Tommy." Dr. Coomer gently rested a hand on his shoulder. "...We all need to talk."

"...I know." The smile fell. "I've been- been putting off talking to Bubby, but...we all do need...need to know."

"I thought you knew what experiments they were running on us?"

"I said I knew they were running many Black Mesa experiments at once. They hid Dr- Dr. Freeman from me. I knew what they were doing with- with the HECU, I knew they were wanting to do more resonation tests, I knew- knew they were using yours and Dr. Coomer's ex-experiments for other purposes, and-" He took a breath. "And that- that my being here turned into...its own experiment."

"It...what?"

He slowly looked up. "I didn't- didn't know what the cycles were about, if they...if they're their own experiment, if they're to allow others to run...I didn't know why you couldn't remember, either. I know why I did, er, do? But my head's foggy. It hurts, and...I'm so tired, Bubby. I- I do everything I can, but I can't- I'm exhausted. I'm not- not used to having to-"

"Hey, you're starting to hyperventilate-"

"I'm not supposed to experience time linearly. Usually. But I'd adapted, being on Earth. I wanted to. I adapted, I learned. But here? Time's messed up here- I've- I've been living linearly and out of linearity, living through days in sequence but then repeating them. I don't remember things in order on a good day, let- let alone with all of this-"

"Tommy." A strained and quiet voice soaked through his panic.

He blinked, looking down at Dr. Freeman, who had one hand loosely gripping Tommy's wrist.

"...Breathe."

He nodded slowly, feeling a hand gently rub up and down his back. He focused on his breathing, on the touch of two people, on the sharp voice that spoke now to count out breaths. He was with his friends. His home. He was safe.

"...Tommy." Dr. Coomer finally spoke again, when his breathing was back under control. "...We need to be honest with each other. Be on the same page. But thinking about it...we barely know who you are."

He knew he didn't truly feel it, the cords still numb, but he swore for a moment he felt their warmth.

"...Will you tell us?"

He took one last breath, before he nodded. "...Yeah. I..." He looked down at his hands. "...I'll show you."

-

In the window to the incinerator room, a skeleton watched them, unseen. Even when resting, a guard does his job.

[sparkledfirecracker]

And another chapter 🤩

Enough babbling to come from me, so let’s start and take a peek

I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who actually enjoys moving - especially if that move involves a three year old who feels the need to be very involved in the packing, but is also incredibly easily distracted. And even more so when that child's father is almost just as distractible and, despite his insistence that he'd stay focused, does more to hinder the whole operation than help.

Both wanting to help, but are useless as they come. True definition of men right there 🙄😂

Grayson had settled in nicely at Chris' house and another big change - like making him go back to having two homes - seemed like it would be very disruptive.

I love that they always put Gray first, like always, sometimes even too much, but always 😍

It was on that Saturday morning that I found myself sitting in the middle of Grayson's old bedroom almost in tears. I'd packed up his mountain of toys the night before only to find Chris and Grayson unpacking several boxes the next morning while I was trying to finish up in the living room. Apparently, Grayson had wanted a certain toy that I'd already packed and instead of telling him to wait because he had several other things to play with that weren't boxed up, Chris helped him look for it.

My poor heart it’s broken, I felt her pain. And damn Chris for not being able to stand his foot down. Like oh my, it’s okay sweetie, moving it stressful and you’ve got 2 useless men at your disposal.

"I brought supplies," she informed me, holding up a tray of iced coffees. "Chris called and said that he thought you could use some help."

He might be useless, but he’s not completely stupid and ignorant 😍

"I get it, don't worry. I know what he can be like," she assured me. "I'll go down and get Gray now and send Chris up here."

She’s dealt with nervous Nellie quite a bit in her life for sure. So bless your heart friend for taking the kid and taking him out ♥️

I was a tad nervous about the whole situation as I hadn't spent much time with most of Chris' friends and I didn't really know what they thought of me. I hoped they'd be understanding of our situation and give me a chance, but if he really had been pining away for me all these years - thinking that I didn't want to be with him - I worried that they'd think I was selfish and heartless.

As much as I love them, they never make me fail to think why they work so well. Because insecure Irene has entered again and nervous Nellie is always lingering around. Ahahahaha, they are so odd that it works probably

"I think he got enough pictures to pay his bills for the next few months," I huffed, keeping my voice low so we wouldn't be overheard. "Are you done marking your territory now?"

🦚 he loves to ruffle his feathers and show what belongs to him. But he could’ve taken a different route. I get her annoyance, but you two need to keep those brains clear, okay.

"I don't care," I snapped. "But I'd rather not give some pervert the chance to profit off of us just to save your wounded pride."

Now this is going to be epic. As much as I hate to see them fight, because it hurts the feels. I also live for it 😶

"Are we good, Win?" He asked, clearly not as eager to let the subject drop. "I want to make this right if you're upset..."

He collected himself again, making him realize, but boy oh boy she’s not fine and this is not the end of it for sure.

"Ah, no worries!" Jon assured me. "But, are you really sure you want to move in with this guy?"

As off two minutes ago, I don’t think she’s so sure anymore 😂

"We just want to make sure we're not committing any crimes here," Luke insisted. "I don't want to be an accomplice to anything and we're all scratching our heads about what she could see in you."

I love a bunch of friends who are not afraid to throw their friend under the bus. This made me laugh so hard, I love it 🤩

It didn't take us as long as I expected to load all the boxes into the trucks, but that was probably the benefit to having a team of strong men helping you move. Once it was all unloaded into the spare bedroom at Chris' place where I had been sleeping at the start of the pandemic, Chris broke out a few beers for his friends and fired up the grill while we waited for Tara and Gray to arrive. It was a beautiful, warm evening and perfect for an impromptu barbecue to thank all Chris' friends and it was a great opportunity for me to bond a bit more with some of the most important people in Chris' life.

Those unexpected moments of burning the barbi, while having fun with friends and in her case getting acquainted a little more with them are the best moments in life 🙌🏼

But he put those worries to bed almost as soon as he arrived as he was the life of the party. He was thrilled to see the three men who were sitting in the lawn chairs dotted around our yard - in an effort to keep everyone somewhat distant from each other - and the cheer they let out as soon as they saw him made me think they were just as excited. They seemed to really adore him and he thrived on the attention.

Men with kids always melt my heart. And Gray is one of the boys and he always will be, this is such an endearing moment and my heart is ready to burst.

Again their little dialogue SWOON, making my belly swoop and turn. Not one for gifs during essays, but this called for it ♥️

"You don't need to," I assured him. "I get why you did what you did. I just don't deal with stress very well and the whole day was overwhelming me. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."

Again dialogue and being so open and honest with one another. Sweetie you deserve a dialogue and feelings award for you excellent writing 🙌🏼

"That might be wishful thinking," Chris smiled. "But I'll do my best to keep you out of the spotlight."

You better hold this ship anchored, because something tells me it might not have pretty moments along the way ❤️‍🩹

Oh this was another delight to read, so many thoughts and feels along the way, but they’ll survive, they have to. Taking the punches and roll with the waves as you should ♥️♥️

Only For A Moment: August

Summary: A series of shorter one shots from Chris and Whitney’s life together throughout the pandemic. Some happy times, some harder times, some fluff and some things a little more sexy - they work through it all as they try to get settled in their new and blossoming relationship.

Chris Evans x OFC

Part of the Once Bitten/More Hearts series

Only For A Moment: July

Note: I’ve had a super busy day, but I wanted to get this posted so I edited it really quickly. Please forgive me if there’s any little mistakes!

Thank you to everyone who has liked, reblogged and commented! Hearing your thoughts really makes my day!

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August 2020

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