#at least most of my familys jobs have i know my job got rid of it back in july

[beepbeepkazoo]

of course i get a cold when i cannot afford to get sick

[headkiss]

not just on christmas

pairing: steve harrington x fem!reader

summary: steve’s parents are coming home for the holidays and he’s in need of a fake date. who better than you, his best friend?

word count: 8.2k

warnings: steve’s parents (derogatory), negative comments about his job, fake dating, friends to lovers, christmas themes, fluff, first kiss!

a/n: i had lots of fun with this one and i hope u guys like it!!! merry christmas and happy holidays i hope they treat u all well <33 consider this my gift to you :D

༄

The phone ringing forces Steve out of bed. Floors cool on his feet, the air a chill on his bare chest, he rubs his eyes lazily and picks it up.

“Hello?” He clears his throat to get rid of the sleep in his voice.

“Steve, why do you sound tired, it’s nearly noon!”

It’s no surprise that the first words aren’t asking him how he is. He’s shocked she cared enough to pick up on the tone of his voice at all. “Hi, mom.”

He doesn’t even know where she’s calling from, doesn’t know what business trip they're on. He can’t remember the last time he got a phone call that wasn’t you, or Robin, or Dustin, or anyone else other than his parents.

Steve’s not even excited to be hearing from them, because it’s a reminder that they’re not around, that they haven’t forgotten about him, they just don’t care.

He wishes you were the one that called.

“Listen, sweetie, your dad and I are coming home for Christmas this year, isn’t that great?”

He deflates, “yeah. Super.”

“There’s a business event he wants to take you to. And we’ll find you a date,” there’s the catch. There’s always a catch. “You can make some connections, maybe get out of your job at that video store soon.”

The thing is, he actually likes working at Family Video, but he knows that doesn’t matter. Then there’s the topic of the girlfriend, or lack thereof. His parents are always nagging him about when he’ll settle down, grow roots, or something.

Maybe that’s why he says, “I can get my own date. I have a girlfriend.”

“Oh! That’s fantastic! She’ll have dinner with us, won’t she? What’s her name?”

Like an idiot, he says your name. The first one that came to his mind.

You’re his best friend, and it’s easy to let his thoughts drift to you. The problem is, he has no idea how he’s going to explain this to you, how he can ask you to fake date him just to satisfy his parents for once.

If he wasn’t still on the phone, Steve would be groaning into a pillow right now.

“Okay, sweetie, your dad has a brunch we have to get to. We’ll see you soon!”

“Bye, mom. See you.”

He hangs up and sighs in relief. That feeling is quick to fade when he remembers that he had just named you his girlfriend in the midst of his phone call. He drops his face into his hands, runs them through his hair, and tries to figure out how the hell to bring up the subject with you.

To go along with that, he has to worry about his parents coming home. Though, can they really call it ‘home’ when they’ve been gone for so long? When they’ll leave again after a few days, a week at most?

Most people would be happy, excited, about their parents being around for the holidays. Steve’s not. He’d rather spend it how he has since the two of you became friends. Breakfast at your house with your family—who have become family for Steve, too—presents opened with scented candles burning and Christmas albums spun on the record player.

You went out of your way to include him, and he’s never felt so welcome in his life as he does when he’s with you.

At least, if you agree, you’ll be with him this year, too.

-

It’s the next day when Steve decides to bring it up. You’re at his house for movie night, which has become a weekly ritual for the two of you. He’s been trying to figure out what exactly to say since he hung up the damn phone. He’s given up and instead hopes it’ll come to him in the moment.

Today, Steve’s quiet, which is unlike him. You know something’s on his mind and you try to avoid asking him about it, trying to let him talk about it on his own time. It’s about halfway through the movie that you change your mind.

He didn’t complain when you showed up with your cheesy Christmas movie choice, he didn’t light-heartedly tease you about your outfit of choice (some festive patterned pajama pants and a sweater that’s so worn there are holes in the neckline), and the most unusual, he didn’t make a single joke or comment as the movie played.

He’s really, really quiet.

You pick up the remote and pause it, “what’s going on with you, Steve?”

He looks at you, catches your eye and sees nothing but genuine concern. Sometimes he hates the way you know him so well. He can never hide anything from you.

“What? Nothing.”

You blink at him, “come on.”

“Fine, okay. Just, don’t say anything until I’m done, please.”

“Okay,” you pretend to zip your mouth shut, ready to listen.

“My mom called yesterday and told me they’re coming home for Christmas, and that there’s this business thing they want me to go to, and that I need a date for it,” he scrubs a hand down his face, trying to hide his embarrassment. “And you know how they’re always on my ass about me being single and stuff so I kind of told her I already had a girlfriend, and maybe I told her that girlfriend is you.”

What?

There’s a lot to process there. Mostly the fact that out of all of the names he could have chosen, he said yours. You wait for him to explain some more, but he’s looking at you like he’s waiting for a reply, so, your mouth is now unzipped.

“So, what exactly does that mean?”

He mutters a curse under his breath. “Um, so, I need you to pretend to be my actual girlfriend while they’re here.”

His use of the word ‘need’ is telling. Steve’s not one to ask for help, not even when he needs it the most but here he is, nervous and a little pink-cheeked, asking for your help.

You let the thought sit in your head for a bit. It’s not hard for you to want to agree. Steve’s your best friend, and you’d do pretty much anything for him. Though, that might also have to do with the fact that you’ve been in love with him for years.

You know more about his relationship with his parents then most do, so if you can make their visit more bearable for him in any way, why wouldn’t you?

“Okay,” you say.

“Okay? Like, you’ll do it?”

“Yeah, sure. I’m happy to help.”

That was a lot easier than Steve thought it’d be. You barely even questioned him before agreeing, and that’s not lost on him.

“Thank you so much, seriously,” he throws his arm over your shoulders, squeezes you to him in a side hug. “It’s only a few days, then we can go back to normal.”

“Easy peasy,” you say, reaching for the remote and hitting play.

Aside from your wanting to help him, to be there for him like you know he would for you, you’re also curious to see what it’s like to be with Steve that way, even if it’s fake. It’s hopeless, the way you love him, like the moon orbiting the earth around and around. Constant.

Sure, those feelings will probably only swell because of the fake relationship, but you’ve been housing them for long enough anyway.

What could go wrong?

-

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Robin says from the other side of a clothing rack, sifting through the pieces.

She’s the first, and only, person you told about the fake dating thing. Naturally, she decided she’d help you shop for a dress to wear to this business thing and talk about it at the same time.

The mall is decorated, garlands and lights strung, a big Christmas tree lit up in the middle of it all.

“It’s only a couple of days. It’ll be fine.”

“I’m talking about you being in love with him,” she deadpans.

“Robin, not so loud.”

“I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

You know she’s being honest, and though the thought has been at the back of your mind, a whisper, you’d like to believe that you can handle a fake relationship without ruining things because of your big, big feelings.

“I spend time with him alone a bunch. It’s not that much different, okay?”

“Besides the fact that you’ll be calling him boyfriend and acting like it, too, you mean.”

Actually, you’ve been trying not to think about what exactly pretending to be his girlfriend entails. You don’t know if he’ll hold your hand, if he’ll hold you closer than he has before, if he’ll kiss you. You think it might be better to wait and see, to not let the possibilities eat at you.

“I know it sounds bad, but it’s Steve. Nothing major will happen. We’re friends and I’m helping him out.”

Robin’s in a tricky spot. She knows how you feel about Steve, obviously, and though he doesn’t see it yet himself, she knows that Steve feels the same, too. It’s taken a lot to hold herself back from speeding things along, and as much as she wishes this fake relationship plan might be a good push, things usually aren’t so easy.

She can also tell that there’s a lot you’re thinking but not saying, but instead of pushing it, she returns to looking at the dresses. It’s not long before she gasps, pulling one of the rack to show you.

“This one,” she says.

“I don’t know. That won’t look good on me.”

It’s pretty, though. You’ll give her that.

“Shut up, everything looks good on you. Will you at least try it on?” She wiggles the hanger in her hand, “for me?”

“Fine.”

You take it from her, walking back towards the fitting rooms with a grinning Robin in tow. She waits outside the door while you change into the dress.

Once it’s on, looking in the mirror, you don’t even know what to think. You’re not one to feel all that confident in what you wear, or in how you look, but this dress makes you feel pretty. Maybe you should make Robin pick out all of your clothes.

“Let me see!” Robin calls.

You step out of the changeroom, doing a shy little spin when she asks. She’s smiling proudly, like she knows she chose well (which she did). She can’t help but think of how Steve will react, because she knows he feels something for you, she can see it on his face everytime he talks about you. He’s just a dork and he doesn’t realize it. Not yet, at least.

“What do you think?” You ask.

“If Steve’s not already in love with you…”

“Don’t finish that sentence.”

If she does, your brain will conjure up way too many ideas of what could possibly happen. If Steve could really feel the same. If maybe he’ll feel those same butterflies in his stomach that you do, if his heart feels bigger when you’re around. In your dreams, he does.

“I’m trying to tell you you look hot!”

-

December twenty-third is the day that Steve’s parents come home as well as the night of the business event. You and Steve have tried to figure out how to act like a couple, quizzing each other on things you already know, setting loose boundaries, but you figure after knowing each other for so long, being so close, it won’t feel much different than now. Besides the extra touching, the possibility of kissing.

You’re already at his house when his parents get home, your makeup and outfit for tonight sitting in Steve’s room. The two of you linger near the front door waiting for their arrival, a nervous and jittery welcoming committee.

The sound of a car pulling into the driveway grabs your attention. It’s a clapperboard snapping shut, marking the scene. Action.

“You ready, babe?” He holds out his arm for you to grab, and you do.

“Time to be the best couple ever,” you reply.

Steve grins at you. He has no idea how to thank you for agreeing to do this, how to even explain to you the relief you’re sure to bring. It’s one less thing for his parents to pick and pry at.

The door opens, and you can already feel a change in Steve’s demeanor. He’s standing straighter, stiffer. You squeeze his arm, a reminder that you’re there.

“Steve, sweetie!” His mother barely greets him before moving onto you, “and this is your girlfriend?”

“Hi, Mrs. Harrington.”

If it were someone else’s mother, you’d be hit with the usual ‘oh please, call me (insert name here).’ However, where the Harringtons are concerned, formality is a must. Besides Steve, of course. From what you know, the apple had fallen very, very far from the tree and you mean that as a compliment.

Even after being friends for so many years, this is the first time you’re actually meeting Steve’s parents. It’s clear that he’s never jumped at the opportunity to have his friends around when they’re home. He’s told you about them, and that’s enough for you.

“Steve! Come help me with the bags, would you?” His dad calls from outside, though he says it as a demand rather than a question.

“Yep, coming,” he replies. He kisses the side of your head before going outside, quick and sure, like he’s done it hundreds of times.

“How was your trip, Mrs. Harrington?” You fill the silence.

“Oh, just lovely, thank you,” she moves to the kitchen, expecting you to follow. “The house looks clean. Do you have something to do with that?”

Despite her trying to sound like she’s joking, you know that she truly doesn’t believe that Steve could be the one keeping the place going. As if he hasn’t been doing just that for ages.

“No, no. It’s really Steve.”

Her eyebrows raise, surprised.

Steve and his father walk in before anything else is said—thank God. You shake hands with Mr. Harrington, saying hello and wearing a tight smile. Steve’s quick to come to your side, an arm over your shoulders like a shield. Your hand moves to hold the one resting on your shoulder.

He’s even more tense when his father’s in the room, you’ve noticed. You hold his hand a bit tighter. You wish you could do something to make him feel better, and you hope that this fake relationship will do that at least a little bit.

Meanwhile Steve’s wondering how your presence could make him feel much better than he usually does with his parents around. You’re a comfort beside him, and when he gets the chance, he kisses your head again, whispering a ‘thank you’ into your hair.

-

The first few hours with Steve’s parents go by dreadfully slow, even with his touch on you most of the time. You’re quickly learning that as a boyfriend—even fake—Steve’s love language is easily physical touch. He has an arm around you, a hand in yours, on your leg, anything.

You’re also learning just how strained his relationship with his parents is. He’d trusted you enough to tell you most of it, but seeing them interact in front of you was different. The backhanded comments, the faces whenever he mentions his job, it makes your heart ache for him.

It’s bad enough that his parents are hardly ever around, but having them act like this when they are? You’re amazed at how good Steve has remained through it all.

When it’s time to get ready for the business party, you’re thankful for the reprieve.

“Think we’re doing a good job?” You ask Steve as he shuts the door to his room.

“They seem to be buying it. Thanks again for doing this.”

“You’ve thanked me like a hundred times, Steve. It’s okay, really.”

You want to tell him that you’re sorry these are the people he has to call family. That he shouldn’t listen to any of the shit they give him about his job or his lack of post-secondary education. That he’s the best boy you’ve ever known.

The problem is, you don’t know how to say all of that without making your feelings for him painfully obvious.

“Just gotta keep it up ‘til Christmas. That’s when they leave.”

“They’re only here for two days?” You knew the trip was going to be short, but forty-eight hours?

“Yeah, something about getting a deal on a cruise. I don’t know.”

He says it so casually, like it’s normal. You guess that for him, it is, but it doesn’t make it any less upsetting.

“Does that mean you’ll come to mine for Christmas day? Like usual?” You ask, hopefully lightening the mood.

“If you’ll have me.”

“Shut up, you’re always welcome. Think my mom likes you more than me anyway,” you nudge his shoulder with yours, then move to bring your stuff into his bathroom to start getting ready.

He leans on the doorframe, watching you set your makeup out on the counter, “she does not.”

“Steve, you have your own stocking hanging on our fireplace. And it’s bigger than mine.”

He smiles genuinely then, the first one since his parents have arrived.

He leaves you to get ready, shutting the bathroom door for when you change. You can still hear him through the door. The opening and closing of his drawers, a curse when he stubs his toe.

So far, pretending to be with Steve has been easy. You’ve acted the same save for the touches or small pecks he’s decided to keep placing on your head or your cheeks. The story you settled on was simple: you met him picking up a movie at Family Video, he asked if you needed company to watch it, the rest is history, blah blah blah.

Steve knocks on the bathroom door when you’re pretty much ready, you glance at yourself one more time in the mirror before opening it.

He stands with his tie in hand, wearing a button up and dress pants. You assume there’s a suit jacket to go along with it, and you think it might kill you. He’s so pretty, and he looks it all of the time but seeing him dressed up is really something.

“You look good, Steve,” you say. Good doesn’t even begin to cover it.

“Thanks. You look- you too.”

Steve’s stunned. He realizes he’s never seen you in anything formal and it’s making him feel all fluttery in his stomach and he doesn’t know what to think of it. He’s always known you’re gorgeous, in an obvious way like how the sky is blue. Now, though, it’s like he can feel it.

He clears his throat quietly and remembers the reason he knocked in the first place, “you don’t happen to know how to tie a tie, do you?”

You’re thankful for the time you decided to learn how when you were bored one day. You take the fabric from his hands, “it’s your lucky day, Steve.”

“Thank you. Didn’t wanna have to go ask my dad.”

He’s almost shy about wanting your help over something so small, his cheeks a little pink, his head bent. You give him a reassuring smile—or what you hope is one—and place the tie around his neck.

His eyes are on you as your hands fiddle with the fabric, doing it up for him. Your eyebrows are slightly scrunched, and he wants to reach out and smooth it out with his thumb. He’s not used to having that urge.

You finish up successfully after having fumbled a little bit, adjusting the tie so it isn’t crooked.

“There you go,” you pat his chest and he hopes you can’t feel his heartbeat, the way it’s quicker than normal.

He has no idea what that’s about.

“Thanks.”

“‘Course.”

He’s still standing close to you, enough that he has to keep his head tilted downwards just a little to be able to look at your face. Your eyes lock onto his, and time seems to slow. You’re so gone for him and you know it, but it almost seems like maybe he’s feeling something too. Just for a moment.

His father calling out that it’s time to go snaps you out of it.

Steve grabs his jacket, shrugging it on then offering you his hand to hold, “let’s do this, girlfriend.”

-

The hall is oozing Christmas when you walk in, Steve’s hand in yours. Ornaments hang down from the ceiling, warm white string lights line the top of the walls, Christmas music hums through the speakers, and an extravagant Christmas tree sits in the middle of the room.

You’ve never been to an event like it, and you have a hard time keeping your nerves at bay.

Pretending in front of Steve’s parents alone was one thing. Now, the stakes are higher. You have to be convincing and though it’s not difficult for you to pretend to be in love with Steve (you don’t have to fake that at all), you worry that you’ll slip up somehow and give yourself away. Both in the sense that the relationship is fake, and that your feelings are anything but.

It’s not long before Steve’s father gets pulled into a conversation, and his mother goes along with him. You’re left standing near the doorway with Steve, biting at the inside of your cheek.

“Relax,” he leans his head close to yours and whispers.

“Sorry. I’m just nervous.”

“We’re fine. You’re fine,” he squeezes your hand, something that’s quickly become a wordless reassurance between you. “We’ve done good so far, right?”

“I guess so.”

“Okay, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

Except for the fact that I love you and that you being a really good fake boyfriend isn’t helping.

“Okay.”

He smiles and leads you further into the room. The smile he gives you is different from the one he gives the people that say hi to him, the people that stop him for a chat. For you, it’s honest. For them, it doesn’t reach his eyes, it doesn’t mean anything.

“About time you tied someone down, Steve,” a man says to him. A coworker of his father’s, just like most men in the room.

“Think she’s the one who got me, but yeah.”

“That’s sweet. Next step is to get you a stable job, huh?”

It seems like all anyone here is concerned about is what people do, who they know. It’s no fun for you and they aren’t even speaking to you directly most of the time.

“Sure. Good to see you,” Steve excuses the both of you from the conversation.

“These people suck,” you say to him, leading him to the bar set up in a corner.

“Tell me about it.”

You order water for the both of you, something to get rid of the dryness in your throat and occupy you for a bit. You drink quietly before Steve speaks up.

“You look beautiful, by the way.”

He doesn’t know why it slips out now, but it does. The thought has been on his mind since he saw you standing there in his bathroom, and it’s getting harder and harder to ignore.

“You don’t have to say that, Steve. Nobody’s listening.”

“I mean it, seriously.”

“Oh,” you look down at your glass, at the condensation running down the side. The corners of your mouth lift, “thank you.”

“I know this isn’t the most fun, but I’m glad you’re here with me,” he admits. He’s always been sweet to you, but this feels different. You don’t know how or why, but it does.

“I am too.”

Steve’s dad interrupts your moment, pulling Steve off to meet some people. Already, there’s a guard being put up by him, a shield he saves for his father.

For those few minutes, where it was just you and Steve, you realized that he’s probably the best date you’ve ever had. He pays attention to you, he’s comforting without even trying, and he compliments you with so much honesty you could melt.

He’s the best date you’ve ever had and it’s fake. It’s becoming a mantra repeated in your head; it’s not real, it’s not real.

Lost in thought, you don’t notice the boy who’s sat next to you now.

“I’ve never seen you before,” he says.

“I’m not usually at these things. I came with my boyfriend,” you tell him, unsettled by his stare.

“And where is this boyfriend now?”

“He’s out there. I just needed some water but he’ll come back soon.”

You’re trying to get him to go away, to take the hint. He won’t.

“Why don’t I keep you company in the meantime?”

You’re about to reply when someone else does it for you, “not necessary. She’s my girl.”

My girl. Steve. He stands behind you, wraps his arms around your waist. It’s like he knew you needed him then, showing up as soon as you felt like you wanted to search for him. He runs his hands over your sides, a possessive touch that has your skin tingling.

“My bad, man. Thought she was lying about the boyfriend,” the guy says.

“She wasn’t. Even if she was, maybe you should learn to tell when someone isn’t interested, yeah?”

The stranger nods and walks off.

You spin in Steve’s hold, facing him. “My hero.”

“You know me,” he shrugs.

What he doesn’t say is that seeing another guy talk to you made his gut churn, bringing something that he didn’t want to admit was jealousy. He also saw the look on your face, the discomfort, and felt his feet carry him over before his mind could think it first.

His hands are still on your waist, even with the stranger gone.

-

It’s not until Steve’s parents are ready that you leave. They’ve taken advantage of the champagne that sat on trays, free for the taking, as well as the opportunity to talk up their son to many, many people. It seems they’re only proud of him when there’s other people around, and even then, the praise doesn’t hold much weight.

He’s trying his best. At least he’s working. He’s got a girlfriend now. No, he doesn’t host backyard parties while we’re gone anymore.

You wish you could speak up, but you know, with this many people around, it’d cause more harm than good. It’s hard to listen to the people that raised Steve talk about him the way they do. You want so badly to shout in their faces how brilliant he is, no thanks to them. How he has the kindest soul and a sort of midas touch that makes everything shine.

At least, you think he does. You promise yourself to love him better than they ever did, even if it’s in secret.

One memory from the night overpowers the rest, luckily. ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ played, a slower rendition, and a slow dance ensued. You watched couples split off, and when you looked at Steve, he was already looking at you, a question on his face and a hand outstretched.

You fell into step with him quickly. It wasn’t awkward for a second. One of your hands in his, the other on his shoulder, his on your waist. You swayed together, unknowingly moving closer until you were close enough to rest your head on his chest. And you did.

He rested his head atop of yours and hummed the song softly. You’ll dream about that dance, probably.

Now, you sit in the car with Steve, who’s become the driver. He drops his parents off at his house first, leaving the two of you alone for the drive to yours. He sneaks glances at you at stop signs and red lights, turning back to the road when he thinks he’s been caught.

His mind is full because he’s looking at you in a way he hasn’t before. He sees parts of you that he was blind to before. The shape of your lips, for example. The dip of your spine and the way it feels to hold you. It’s dizzying and warm, confusing and sparkling all at once.

Once he’s pulled up to your house, he offers to walk you to the door. Ever the gentleman. A romantic no matter how much he denies it, you think. He gets misty-eyed when you watch rom-coms, opens doors for you, has bought flowers for nearly all of his dates, as far as you know.

What must it be like to receive flowers from Steve Harrington?

He faces you on your front porch, hands in his pockets, “thank you again for doing this.”

“How many times do I have to tell you it’s okay. I’m happy to help you, Steve. You’re my best friend.” Who I love more than anyone.

“You’re mine, too, honey.”

It’s not the first time he’s called you that. Turns out, it was his default to use in your fake relationship. It is, however, the first time he’s said it when it’s just the two of you. It sounds sweet coming from his lips, sticky. Just like honey itself.

“What time should I be over for dinner tomorrow?” You ask. It’s the last hurdle of the fake dating.

“How ‘bout I come pick you up after I finish work?”

“Yeah, okay, that’d be great, thanks.”

You wrap your arms around yourself, the cold of December biting your skin.

“Here,” Steve notices, of course he does, and he reaches out with his hands, rubbing them up and down your arms to warm you.

“How’re your hands still warm?” You ask.

“I'm magic.”

You smile at that. He has no idea.

He reaches up with one hand to cup your cool cheek, and you nudge your face into his touch. For the warmth, you tell yourself. That’s it. His thumb runs over your skin, once, twice.

“Did I ever tell you that you have a pretty smile?” He says it so quietly you almost miss it. You don’t, though, and there’s a swarm of butterflies in your gut because of it.

“Shut up,” you try to mask your bashfulness.

Then, just like that, his face is close to yours. So close that it looks like he might kiss you. His eyes flick from your mouth up to yours, like he’s unsure of what’s happening while he’s doing it.

You can feel his breath tickling your lips, the ghost of his mouth on yours. Before that can happen, he’s swerving away quickly, planting a kiss on your cheek instead. The one he isn’t holding. His mouth lingers for a second.

“Goodnight,” he whispers against your skin.

“Night,” you say, dazed. And he’s walking away.

Steve’s not at all sure what’s come over him. He wanted to kiss you just then, to tangle his fingers in your hair and kiss you stupid. What the fuck was happening to him?

When you let your eyes flutter shut, your mouth parted slightly, like you’d let him kiss you, like you wanted it, too, he panicked. Couldn't do it.

No, he doesn’t know what just happened, why it did, or why he’s resisting the urge to go back and knock on your door and actually kiss you when you open it. What he does know is that his heart seems to be doing something funny when you’re around, and that your fake relationship has been better than any of his real ones.

He knows he needs to talk to Robin about this.

-

Steve had to work the next morning—Christmas Eve—which he was actually thankful for. Thankful to get away from his parents, though the comments about his job followed him out the door this morning. Especially thankful because he needs to talk to Robin and sort out the mess of his feelings that has occurred in the last twenty four hours.

He couldn’t stop thinking about how much he wanted to kiss you. About how his stomach was all twisty when you slow danced with him. There are so many moments playing over in his memory. Not just from yesterday, either.

He remembers the way his stomach would sink when you’d tell him about a date you had or how he’d often reach out a hand to tuck your hair behind your ear, or to wipe something away from the corner of your mouth.

So many things over your friendship that he never thought about are coming back to him and he’s realized he doesn’t act that way with any of his other friends. Only you.

He also realizes that he hasn’t really been pretending with you at all.

“I think I love her,” Steve blurts out while he and Robin are organizing returns, the store luckily empty.

Robin reaches into her pocket, barely fazed, and tosses a handful of confetti at Steve. Some pieces stick to his hair, some to his clothes, most of it at his feet.

“What the hell?” He shakes the flecks out of his hair, “we have to clean that now.”

“I’ve been carrying around confetti for like a year waiting for this to happen!”

“Wait, what?”

“Steve, you’ve been loving her for a long time, hate to break it to you.”

“And you didn’t tell me?” He’s no longer preoccupied with the confetti.

“I was letting you do it on your own time. You’re welcome.”

Steve had only just deduced that he’s in love with you and yet, when he thinks about you, he feels the same way he has for years. He finds it hard to believe that he’s been blind to it for that long, but he has been called an idiot enough in his lifetime for it to make sense.

Then, there’s the fact that you’re not done fake dating yet, that there’s still dinner today to get through and he doesn’t know if he’ll be able to keep himself together.

“What am I gonna do, Robin?”

“You’re gonna tell her how you feel and I will finally know peace.”

“What if she doesn’t feel the same? What if I freak her out?”

“Steve, she looks at you like sun shines from your pores,” she places a hand on his shoulder. “You’ll be fine.”

-

He picks you up after work as promised, his hands holding the wheel a little tighter, his greeting a little louder than normal. You figure he’s just nervous about dinner.

Nobody brings up the almost kiss, and you don’t plan to. Maybe you read things wrong. Maybe he was aiming for your cheek all along. Maybe he’s been thinking about it as much as you have.

It seems that your feelings for Steve are present now more than ever. Impossible to ignore. It might have something to do with the Christmas spirit floating around, the lightness of the holidays. It definitely has something to do with you being Steve’s fake girlfriend.

Because it turns out, he’s an excellent boyfriend, real or not.

He opens doors for you, even if he has to jog ahead of you to do it. He’s always got at least one hand on you, warm and sure. He looks at you with so much care, his brown eyes stuck on you.

It’s all adding up and you feel like your love for him is overflowing, pouring out of you before you can reel it in. You just hope he doesn’t notice that you’re not acting, that you never were.

Walking into Steve’s kitchen, you pause in the doorway, him behind you, “this smells great, Mrs. Harrington.”

Though Steve knows she probably bought most of the stuff and then put it in pots and pans to make it look like she cooked, he agrees, “so great, mom.”

She turns to look at you both from her spot by the stove, “thank you. Oh!” She cuts herself off with a gasp, her gaze drifting above your heads.

Oh no.

“Mistletoe,” she says, pointing.

“Look at that,” you laugh, short and awkward.

“Steve, sweetie, kiss your girlfriend for tradition's sake, won’t you.”

He kisses you on the cheek.

“A real one, son,” his father pipes up from his seat at the table.

Steve finds your gaze, his eyes wide and questioning. Are you okay with this? He’s asking without saying it. You nod, barely there, but you nod and he sees it.

He cups your cheek in his hand, flashes of last night on your porch come to you. He leans in slowly, like he’s waiting for you to stop him. Instead of doing that, you hold his wrist in your hand, squeeze it. Your silent communication.

In a blink, his lips are on yours. Pillowy and almost shy, but he’s kissing you and you feel like you’re floating, your feet off the ground and everything. He pulls away before you can even register the fact that it happened.

Your heartbeat is loud in your ears, your lips still burning with the memory of his.

Steve can't believe he hasn’t kissed you before. You’re soft and you fit together so well, like the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle clicking into place. He’s kicking himself for not doing it last night, when you were alone, when it was real. Next time he kisses you, he thinks, it will be real.

He clears his throat, tearing his eyes away from you, “so, let’s eat.”

Just like that, he’s moving to the table, pulling out a chair for you and kissing the top of your head once you’ve sat down. Already, the extra affection he’s been giving you has been dizzying. Now, it’s dialed way up.

He helps his mom serve the food before he sits down, though all he gets as a thank you is a pat on the cheek. Next to you, you can see Steve’s leg bouncing up and down. You reach out and place a hand above his knee, stilling him and drawing his gaze to yours.

You smile, and you hope it’s enough to say it’s okay, it’s all gonna be fine. He rests his hand on top of yours, fingers laced together.

“So, Steve, have you been looking for jobs?” His father speaks up. The never-ending topic.

“No, dad. I have a job,” Steve doesn’t look up from his plate, pushing mashed potatoes around with his fork.

“Well, a real job, I mean.”

At Steve’s silence, his mom adds, “we just think, especially now that you have a girlfriend to support, you should look for something… better.”

You look up when she says it, eyes wide and hand tensing on Steve’s leg. You don’t understand how they care so much about what he does and so little about how he feels. He likes his job, you know that, and he’s tried to tell them multiple times over the past couple of days.

And still.

It’s impossible for you to sit by and listen to them talk to him the way they do, like he isn’t good enough. Like the only defining thing is his job, which isn’t even a bad one. What defines him is who he is as a person and he’s the best one in your life.

“Why does it matter so much?” You ask.

His parents look at you, surprised to be questioned, it seems. Steve looks at you, too, with something more like astonishment, appreciation.

“I’m sorry,” you continue, “it’s just, you haven’t seen your son in how long? And all you guys keep bringing up is his job, which he’s told you he actually enjoys. Shouldn’t that be enough for you?”

Steve’s world is tinting pink, heart-shaped lenses over his eyes hearing you defend him. Nobody’s ever tried to go against his parents for him, and here you are. Fuck, he loves you.

They’re quiet, and you’re not finished. “Steve is the greatest person I’ve ever met, and that’s no thanks to you. I’ve known him for a long time and not once have I seen you guys around. How can you judge him so much when you don’t even take the time to know him anymore?”

The room is dead quiet. Nothing but the clinking of forks against plates for the rest of the meal. You feel lighter, after saying what you did. Though you’re also terrified that you’ve overstepped, that Steve will be upset with you for causing a scene.

As if sensing your worry, he holds your hand just a bit tighter.

It’s not until after dinner, hidden away in his room, that you talk about what happened. Not the kiss; your outburst.

He shuts his door and you’re already apologizing, “listen, Steve. I'm so sorry if I made things worse, but I couldn’t just let them shit on your job anymore. I couldn’t. You’re my best friend, you know that, and-”

His arms are around you in a blink.

“Thank you,” he breathes into your hair. “Nobody’s ever done anything like that for me. Thank you, honey.”

“Oh,” you blink away your surprise and wrap your arms around his shoulders. “Anytime.”

“You’re really special.”

Your smile spreads, spilling before you can do anything about it. You hide your face in his neck and stay that way until he lets go, a flush in his cheeks and stars in his eyes.

Steve wanted to tell you he loves you right then, but the words seem stuck in his throat. They won’t come up. He wants to be with you for real, and though it happened in a rush, it also didn’t. His brain just needed to catch up to his heart.

He doesn’t say it, but he will. As soon as he can.

“Wanna go watch a movie?” You ask.

“Yeah, okay.”

Movie night. You and him. That’s real.

-

Steve’s parents seem to have gone out somewhere, the car missing from the driveway. They haven’t left, though. You and Steve checked for the suitcases (they’re sitting, already packed, in their room).

Playing the movie, yet another Christmas pick that Steve couldn’t say no to, you share a blanket. There’s plenty of room on the couch, you’re the only people there, and yet, Steve still tosses an arm over your shoulders and pulls you to lean against his side.

Maybe he’s just doing it in case his parents come home while you’re downstairs. That’s gotta be it.

“Is it bad that I’m sort of relieved they aren’t here right now?” Steve says to you, quiet.

“Not at all. You deserve better than what they give you, Steve.”

“You think so?”

“Are you kidding? I know so.”

He lets his head lean atop of yours, and that’s that.

You want to bring up the kiss, but then again, why would you? It’s not real. It’s not real no matter how much you wish it was, no matter how much it feels that way. You knew going into this that you might end up kissing Steve, you just didn’t know it’d fuck you up so much.

Part of you hopes that mistletoe will appear above your heads yet again, just to be able to feel the way you did when he kissed you. Heart fluttering, stomach twisting, warm all over.

Though Steve’s head feels relaxed, resting on yours, it’s overflowing with thoughts. You, his parents, the way you defended him, how it felt to kiss you, how much he wants to do it again. You. The entire length of the movie, he’s trying to think of a way to tell you he loves you. The best he comes up with is to wing it.

When the screen fades, and the film ends, you remember the gift you’d left in Steve’s room, buried at the bottom of your overnight bag (you decided to sleep over, something you’ve done too many times to count, and head to your place in the morning with Steve). You sit up, only to face him.

“I have something for you. C’mon,” you tug on his hand, leading him all the way to his own bedroom.

“What?”

“Just,” you make him sit down on his bed when you’re in the room, digging through your bag and finding the present you’d wrapped last night. “Here.”

He takes it from your hand slowly, like it’s the most precious thing in the world. He doesn’t open it right away, staring at the red and green patterned wrapping paper and the gold stick-on bow sitting in the middle of it.

“Open it,” you urge, shuffling nervously on your feet.

He shoots you a shy smile before tearing at the paper, revealing a scrapbook of sorts. Flipping through the pages, he finds memories upon memories. Pictures of you and him, of him and Robin, all three of you. Some with the kids or with Eddie. Most of them he doesn’t even remember taking.

And it’s more than just pictures. There’s movie tickets and receipts from random fast food dinners, confetti from a surprise party for Dustin and a piece of a plate Steve broke once.

It’s the most thoughtful thing anyone’s ever given him. It reminds him that he does have a family, no blood relation needed.

“Honey,” he says it quietly, his eyes watering ever so slightly. “This is- I don’t even know what to say.”

“I know it’s not much, but I thought you’d like it.”

“No. I love it. It’s perfect, seriously,” he runs his finger over a picture of the two of you, your faces squished together and your smiles absolutely ridiculous. “Best gift ever.”

He means it.

“I had some help with the pictures. Everyone in that book loves you, Steve.”

Everyone in that book. That means you love him, too. He knows that you could mean it platonically, but something about the way you look at him when you say it makes him think that he has to tell you. He has to try.

He’s suddenly very glad he bought you a locket for Christmas, and that he left it unwrapped because of his lack of skills in that department.

“Close your eyes,” he says.

“Steve-”

“Please,” he trades spots with you, sitting you on the edge of his bed, “close your eyes for a minute, ‘kay?”

“Okay,” you shut them tight, placing a hand over them as well, “double closed.”

He rushes to grab the locket from the bottom of one of his drawers, then grabs the tiniest bit of paper and manages to write as small as he can on it, placing the message in the necklace and closing it with a small click.

Steve reaches for the hand that isn’t covering your eyes, opening it up and placing the delicate piece of jewelry in it. “Okay, open.”

You do, glancing down to what rests in your palm. It’s gorgeous, dainty, and the corners of your mouth lift at the sight of it.

“It’s beautiful, Steve. You didn’t have to.”

“It’s a locket,” he says. His head is bent, shy and visibly nervous. “Open it, too.”

Your heartbeat picks up, like you know, subconsciously, that something big is hiding inside despite the small size of the necklace itself. You wedge your fingernail into the gap, pushing the locket open. The note inside makes your stomach drop.

In his messy, rushed writing, the words ‘I love you.’

You look at him, mouth agape and hopes way up. “Steve?”

“I mean it.”

“How-”

“I mean I’m in love with you, and I think I have been for a really, really long time. I guess it took you being my fake girlfriend for me to realize it.”

“You’re not pranking me, are you?”

You’ve spent so long loving him, and convincing yourself that he could never love you the same, that it feels unreal. Hazy, like a dream.

He sits beside you, cupping your face in his hands softly to make you look at him, “I’m not pranking you. I love you.”

“Holy shit. I love you, too. For so long. I never thought I had a chance with you.”

“I think you’re the only person who’s had a real chance with me since I met you, honey.”

Right there, discarded wrapping paper on the floor, the glow of Christmas lights shining through the window, you doubt you’ll ever take that locket off once it’s on.

You can’t stop yourself from rushing forward and kissing him. A small press of your mouth against his at first, then, it’s more. It’s slow and every single thing you’ve ever wanted. His lips move with yours like they’re the only ones that know you.

This time, when you kiss, there’s no question. It’s real and it’s thawing every single worry you ever had about this. This is real, you get to think now.

Steve pulls away only when your breathing gets heavier, only when he absolutely has to. His thumb trails over your cheek, a lover’s touch. He takes the necklace from your hand, puts it on for you and kisses you again when he’s done.

“Do you think this was a Christmas miracle?” You say, teasing.

“I think this was just me being too stupid to notice how I feel about you. I know now, though.”

“Because you needed a fake girlfriend.”

“Because I needed a fake girlfriend,” he confirms. “But, I’d like a real one now.”

“I think I can manage that,” you nod, a lovesick smile on your face.

For once, Steve’s glad his parents came home. He never would have asked you to fake date him if they hadn’t, and he wouldn’t have realized his very real feelings for you, either. So, maybe it is a Christmas miracle, after all.

༄

hey you! if you enjoyed please consider leaving a reblog, it would mean a lot and helps a ton more than you’d think! help support creators like me <3

[bella-rose29]

Deck the Halls (and not your partner) - part 5

Christmas Eve part 2

Word count: 4.1k

Warnings: swearing, family members are mean (are we seeing a pattern?), can you tell that I love lebkuchen from the number of times it got mentioned, they kiss again but for like 2 seconds, then they kiss again later for longer than 2 seconds 👀, reader's grandpa isn't supportive of her job (but it's ok because lockwood saves the day), a pigeon was harmed in the making of this chapter (but it lives!), drinking (alcohol), lockwood talks about his family and the Christmases he spent without them, reader comforts him, there is so much communication but somehow so much miscommunication at the same time??? and I'm annoyed at myself for doing this (but it's necessary), this part does not have a happy ending at all (I'm sorry)

series master list

"Well," Lockwood started, looking around at everyone gathered. "I suppose it started in March."

He paused for a moment, trying to figure out where to go from there. "We were on a job, just the two of us, in Kensington. A couple wanted their house clearing out before they properly moved in, and called us. Everything was going perfectly fine, and then we realised that our clients hadn't told us everything about the property, and we were dealing with three Limbless in an enclosed space." Y/n remembered that job well. It was one of the few cases that she'd actually gone on with just Lockwood, and they had been arguing for most of it about the best way to get rid of a Limbless.

Their argument had attracted the other two that were out in the garden.

"Y/n was brilliant, of course, using her Talent to locate the Sources of the three of them while I covered her, but I got held up in the corridor by some Type Ones that had appeared and she was left on her own. I only just got there in time to throw a salt bomb at the Limbless behind her and give her the extra second that she needed to wrap up the Source, but I don't think I've ever been more scared in my life. I really thought I was too late and that I'd lost her." His voice sounded thick with emotion, and when Y/n met his eyes they were watery. She tried not to frown, since it was strange for her to see him so affected like this. Lockwood cleared his throat, and looked back at the crowd. "Then of course I realised that I couldn't live without her and I asked her on a date. She said no, despite my attempts at baking her favourite cake and all the flowers." He cracked a smile, and people around the room laughed.

"Well you did look rather pathetic, Ant. I sort of wanted to watch you suffer a bit more." That much was true at least, since any time she got to watch him squirm was entertaining to her.

"Well you certainly got your share of that, darling," he huffed, and Y/n bit back a snort at the frustrated look on his face. "I had to ask her about six times after that first one before she finally said yes. We've been dating since the middle of April."

"It was eight, but who's counting?" Something about his story didn't sit right with her, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Maybe it was how close it was to what had actually happened on the job, or maybe it was the dread of all the questions she'd get about her job once people started mingling, wanting to know if she had a backup plan in case this line of work failed, or if she realised how dangerous it was.

Maybe it was the way that Lockwood had looked at her when he was talking about losing her.

~~~

"What are your intentions with Y/n?"

"Don't be stupid," John said, whacking his brother Sam on the arm.

"No, but really, what are your intent- oof!" Sam had been tackled to the floor by John, and Lockwood did his best not to flinch.

He'd been dragged into the library a few minutes ago by Y/n's brothers, and although he was the smallest, Tom was currently the most frightening as he stared Lockwood down from across the room, despite the two eldest brothers currently scrapping on the floor.

"Did... did you want me to answer that, or...?"

"I mean, it would be nice to know," Will piped up, eating straight from a packet of lebkuchen in the armchair opposite. Lockwood didn't think he'd ever seen the man without some sort of food nearby. He sat forward in his chair slightly, trying to come up with a good enough answer that would mean he could go back to the party. John and Sam stopped punching each other to hear his answer.

"I'm mostly just happy that she even gave me a chance, if I'm being honest." That much was true, but Y/n's brothers didn't need to know that he was talking about her acceptance of a position at his company and not the mythical relationship that the two of them had been in for eight months. "I know that I'm incredibly lucky to have her, and I can promise you that I won't do anything to screw that up."

Sam and John seemed happy enough with his answer, and Lockwood started breathing a little more easily. Tom was still staring at him, and Lockwood could have sworn that the boy hadn't blinked the entire time. Will snorted, shaking the bag around to get the last crumbs of lebkuchen out. "Yeah, sure. What's the real answer? No more of that crap, because it's obvious you rehearsed that to make us happy." When Lockwood didn't say anything for a moment Will prodded him again. "Go on."

He clenched his jaw, wondering how he could say anything nice about Y/n when she hadn't said anything nice about him for nearly three years, and looked out the window. A memory flashed up, and despite it having only been that morning, he was surprised at how quickly he'd forgotten the interaction.

Since when had she memorised how he took his tea?

He didn't think that Y/n had ever made him tea before, always making it a deliberate point to make a pot for everyone but him, and yet that morning while they sat in bed she had done it perfectly as though it were second nature. Then his mind drifted back to the night before, and he felt his face warm up at the memory of the mistletoe. He cleared his throat.

"I guess..." Lockwood sighed through his nose and clenched his jaw again. It was starting to ache. "I guess that's true, what I said before-"

"You guess?" Will interjected. Lockwood hadn't thought that he would be under this much scrutiny, but he was starting to sweat uncomfortably. He'd rather be dealing with Barnes right now than be sat here.

"It is true," he amended, making wary eye contact with the man. The packet of lebkuchen was neglected in Will's hand, hanging limply as he sat forward to question his younger sister's boyfriend. "She's incredible - the most incredible girl I've ever met - and I truly am aware of how lucky I am that she chose me. I'm not exactly... easy... to be around sometimes because of my agency, but she deals with me perfectly. She deals with me more than she should, to be honest." He frowned, thinking again about how he needed to figure out how to apologise to her. Nothing he had said was a lie; in fact, he didn't think he'd said anything more true about Y/n the entire time that he had known her. She was incredible, since her Touch was so powerful and unlike anything that he had ever seen before. And he did count himself lucky that she, despite his horrible words, still decided to work for him. And she did deal with him, more than anybody should, and she did it by being just as much of an arse to him as he was to her.

Maybe they were good together after all.

A thud on the window made everyone turn to look at what had made the noise, and Tom finally broke eye contact with Lockwood.

"Pigeon," Sam said, having been closest to the window. "I think it might be- oh no, it's just got up and flown off. Don't tell Mum though, she'll have a fit if she sees the mark it left."

"Alright, I think we're done here. You're free to go, Lover Boy," Will said, waving his hand vaguely at Lockwood and scrunching up the empty lebkuchen packet. Lockwood got up to leave, but upon opening the door a body fell face first into his chest with a small 'oof!'

"... Darling?" Lockwood asked, confusion lacing his voice. The figure looked up and offered a smile.

"Oh, hi! I was just... wondering where you were, Anthony." He tried to not let it show how much it affected him to hear his first name in her mouth, but the slight intake of breath that he took probably gave him away. It didn't help that Y/n was in that dress, since she looked so stunning that he couldn't focus on anything but her.

"You're so obsessed with each other," Lockwood heard Will mutter from behind him, and he realised with a start that they had just been staring at each other and blocking the doorway, penning the others in the library. When they went to move, however, Sam stopped them.

"Mistletoe! You can't break tradition!"

"Ugh, again? Did Mum plant an entire fucking garden of it?" Y/n said, peering up at the sprig that hung over their heads. "They're not gonna let us leave without doing it."

"Alright. Let's get it over with then," he whispered into her mouth, and he couldn't help but feel the exact opposite when she pressed her lips to his.

~~~

"So," Y/n's grandfather Richard started, and internally she groaned. He had used the tone of voice that meant he was about to start asking about work, and she was dreading this conversation. "Being an agent. Are you still sure it's what you want to do with your life, Y/n?"

"Yes, Gramps. I'm sure. I have been doing it for years now."

"But there are so many other things you could be doing! Jobs that you could actually be good at!"

That stung a little, and Y/n sat back slightly in her chair. She loved her Gramps, and most of the time he was one of her favourite family members, but he'd been alive before the Problem had started and didn't understand that things had changed since he was a kid. He believed in her in most other ways, just not when it came to her life as an agent, which was one of the only things she was truly passionate about (other passions included drinking tea and hating Lockwood).

"I don't mean to intrude," a voice piped up, and once again Y/n found herself wondering how the hell Lockwood managed to always turn up at the right time. "But Y/n is one of the best agents in the country, sir. Her Talent is so incredibly unique and that's what makes her so brilliant at her job." He perched on the arm of the chair that she was sat on, and she frowned when she felt the urge to rest her head against his thigh.

"Well how can you possibly know that!"

"Gramps, this is my boyfriend, Anthony? You met him briefly last night?"

"Oh, is it? Right, well I suppose you would know then! Tell me, is she too much of a pain sometimes?!"

Lockwood hesitated slightly, glancing down at where Y/n sat in the chair and frowning a little at her Gramps' question. "If anything I'm the pain. I don't know why she keeps me around to be honest." He sounded so sincere about it that for a moment she forgot that he had ever said anything horrible about her. The rest of their conversation faded into background noise as she remembered what she'd overheard earlier.

It was probably breaking all sorts of moral laws to eavesdrop on her brothers' interrogation of Lockwood, but then again she'd made her boss her fake boyfriend to fool her entire family, so she figured that she was well past being entirely moral about things. And besides, she hadn't been intending on listening in at first, she'd just been walking back from using the loo and happened to hear them. She couldn't get Lockwood's words out of her head, and she'd been replaying them over and over since.

"She's incredible - the most incredible girl I've ever met - and I truly am aware of how lucky I am that she chose me."

What the hell did that mean? Was it a lie that he'd made up to make them happy? But then she'd also heard Will prodding for the truth and his exclamation that whatever Lockwood had said before (which she hadn't heard) was obviously fake, so did he just come up with a better lie?

Tonight, she thought. Tonight I'll talk to him.

~~~

When the last guests had stumbled out of the front door, singing loudly and bumping into each other because they had had too much to drink, everybody left in the house let out a sigh of relief.

Y/n mumbled a tired 'good night' to everyone as she pulled herself upstairs, and Lockwood followed after her. He'd been helping her father tidy up a little before turning out the lights, to save some of the food that needed refrigerating and chucking other things in the bin. She had been worried when her dad first started talking to Lockwood, but then she'd heard her father laughing and had decided that they would be perfectly fine together.

Now she collapsed face first onto the bed, not yet worrying about the chill in the room.

"I can see why you were dreading that," Lockwood said, his voice sounding too loud. She'd had to down a few drinks that afternoon to deal with the sheer number of questions and comments from family members and friends, and now her head was aching slightly.

"Can you get me some water?" she asked, but since her face was still buried in the duvet it came out muffled. Lockwood's footsteps shuffled around for a while, and then went silent, and Y/n huffed in annoyance. Of course he'd just get himself ready for bed and not worry about her, that was so typical of him. She pushed herself upright, wincing when the room wobbled a little and the pain increased in her head, then frowned when Lockwood reappeared, something in his hand.

"Here. I couldn't find any painkillers though, so I'll just go and fill that up when you're done so you can try and sober up before bed."

Oh. Maybe he wasn't being so typical after all.

"Thanks," she muttered, taking the glass from him and eyeing it warily.

"It's not poisoned, darling. If I was going to kill you I wouldn't do it in a way that might mean you could come back to haunt me."

"Charming."

He sat down on the bed next to her with a sigh, picking at a loose thread on his sleeve. "You know," he said, not looking at her. "This hasn't been... the worst Christmas I've ever had."

"No? You're spending it with me." He gave her a wry smile, finally bringing his gaze up to meet hers.

"Yeah, that's not really that bad."

Oh.

"Really?"

He hummed in answer, nodding slightly, then got up and walked over to the fireplace. They sat in silence while Y/n finished off her water and Lockwood got the fire going, and once she headed over to sit next to where he was crouching she realised how cold she had been before. He sat back, leaning on the chair behind him. Y/n was hunched over her knees, empty glass dangling in her grip. She could have done the same as Lockwood with the armchair behind her, and god knew her head needed something to rest against because despite the water dulling the ache it was still pressing against her temples, but she didn't think she could see Lockwood's face at that moment.

"The first Christmas after Jess passed was the worst."

Her head snapped to look at him where he sat to her left, but he was staring into the fire, eyes transfixed on the flames but looking at something far away. She didn't say anything, instead just letting him go ahead in his own time.

"The ones after my parents died were hard, sure, but at least I had Jess around and we knew what the other was going through. Then she was gone too, and I was nine years old in a big house that was suddenly empty of the family I had spent my life being loved by."

She knew that his family were dead since the absence of any of them was shockingly present in 35 Portland Row, but he had never told her anything. She'd had to learn it all from Lucy, George, and Holly.

"That first one was horrible. I don't think I stopped crying for longer than an hour the entire time, and I couldn't sleep because I kept replaying it over in my head. I could have helped," he whispered, and Y/n could see that his eyes were glistening in the light of the fire. "I could have saved her, if only I hadn't-" he cut himself off, his voice growing too strangled to continue. Quickly she placed her hand on his arm, turning her body to face him.

"Hey, hey," she said quietly, drawing him into her arms. Her glass had been abandoned on the floor, her hands now holding Lockwood's body in her lap instead. His head was resting on her chest while his arm wrapped around her stomach, the other supporting his weight, and Y/n told herself that she was only allowing this to happen because she hadn't yet sobered up.

She wasn't sure how long they were there for, her leaning back at an awkward angle to allow room for Lockwood to lie on top of her and curl into her side while he sniffled, but after a while she found that she didn't mind stroking her fingers through his hair (which was surprisingly soft) or having his weight on her (it was like having a weighted blanket).

"Thank you," he muttered after a while, sitting up and wiping at his face. He paused in his movements when he realised that their faces were much closer together than was normal for two people that didn't like each other. The memory of that morning when she had smoothed out his collar and he had been about to say something came back, and when his gaze flicked between her eyes and her lips she drew in a breath.

"Anthony?"

And then he was surging forward, kissing her with the same passion that he had hated her with while she reached up to grab his shirt, not caring that she was wrinkling the fabric that she herself had smoothed out that very morning. How could she think of anything but him when the two of them had finally crashed together like a tsunami hitting cities?

How could she think of anything but him when he pulled her on top of him?

And how could she think of anything but him when he sighed her name into her mouth and it sounded sweeter than the tea he drank?

And then she was thinking about him entirely, and remembering everything that had happened since they met, and suddenly kissing him was a terrible idea.

"She's not good enough for the company."

She pushed away from him with a start when those words blared in her mind like warning alarms, the memory of what she had overheard in the library around four months after starting to work for Lockwood and Co. She hadn't heard anything before, but the disdain in Lockwood's voice told her it was about her. She had run upstairs to make sure she didn't hear any more of what he thought about her.

"Y/n?" he asked now, voice hoarse from crying and kissing, and his expression was desperate as he watched her press her hand to her lips and take shaky breaths. "Y/n? What is it? Wh-"

"Don't," she snapped, standing up and trying to forget the feeling of his hands on her body. "Don't... just don't, Lockwood." He was getting up too, scrambling after her and reaching out to stop her from slipping away.

"I don't understand-"

"Don't understand what?! We can't- we hate each other, Lockwood!" The venom in her voice made him stumble back a few steps. "You never wanted me at your company and you made sure that I knew that!"

"I-"

"I heard you telling the others that I wasn't ever going to be good enough for you, and then a few hours later after a job you're telling me that my Talent is incredible?! What am I supposed to think?! And then you spend the next however many years being a complete dick to me and complaining about me, so I do the same because clearly being nice didn't work, and now you're here at my fucking family Christmas event pretending to be my boyfriend and kissing me when you don't need to-"

"Of course I need to! I know I was horrible to you-"

"An understatement," she scoffed, crossing her arms.

"-but I'm trying to figure out how to apologise to you because I know that I've fucked up and I need to fix it!"

"So you kissed me?!"

"No! Yes! That wasn't an apology!" He rubbed his hand over his face, clearly frustrated with how it was going. "It was a mistake- no, Y/n, I didn't mean it like that!"

"A mistake?" she whispered, her eyes stinging with fresh tears. "Kissing me was a mistake?"

"No," he said, tone filled with desperation. "No, Y/n, I just meant that I shouldn't have done it before apologising to you because then it would seem like... I don't know! Like I was doing it just to try and trick you into accepting my apology or something!"

"Were you? Doing it to trick me? Because right now I can't tell what the truth is, Lockwood!"

"It wasn't a trick. It was never a trick, and I'm an idiot-"

"Yes, you are."

"Would you just listen to me?!" he shouted, anger seeping in to his body, and Y/n took a step back at the look in his eyes.

"What, like how you listen to me?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Yesterday, on the platform, when I was talking about my family being a lot and how it was hard for me and I'm actually related to most of them, and I couldn't imagine how hard it would be for someone to be introduced to all of that in one go. You just assumed that I meant it would be hard for you because your family is dead, and then when I tried to explain you cut me off and gave me the cold shoulder because you didn't fucking listen, Lockwood. What I meant was it would be a lot for anyone, no matter their own experience. Hell, even George has said that he would rather be blocked from the Archives for life than ever meet my family, and he's got almost as many relatives as me!"

Lockwood didn't say anything for a minute, instead just standing still and staring at her while the fire in his eyes died down, and Y/n shook her head. "This?" She gestured between the two of them. "This will never work. We will never work. Because you never wanted me and no matter how much I want you to like me in the same way that you like the others, you never will. And I will never be good enough for you." That was one more person to add to the list of people that she needed to meet unnecessarily high expectations for in order to be even noticed. She wiped at the tears that had slipped down her face while she was talking, the salt making her cheeks itch.

"You're right," Lockwood finally said. "I won't ever like you in the same way as the others." He stopped there, looking down at the floor. When he went to speak again, however, he lifted his head to an empty room, and the bathroom door shutting him out.

Y/n ignored his attempts to talk to her through the door, shoving the duvet and blankets that she had quickly grabbed into the bathtub and plugging her headphones into her walkman so that she didn't have to hear the rest of his cruel words and excuses.

She had craved something different with him, and it had fucking destroyed her.

And now she had to wake up on Christmas Day and pretend that she was hopelessly in love with the fake boyfriend who had just broken her heart.

part 6

Tag list: @ahead-fullofdreams, @aislinrayne, @anathemaloren, @augustisintheair, @avdiobliss, @aysha4life, @bobbys-not-that-small, @briar-rose23, @curseofhecate, @dangelnleif, @edible-rat-vomit, @el-de-phi, @ell0ra-br3kk3r, @ettadear, @fearlessmoony, @fudosl, @idkbubs, @informedimagining, @karensirkobabes, @locklyebrainrot, @locklyle1kanij, @locknco, @mentallyillsodapop, @mischivana, @mitskiswift99, @mrsklockwood, @mrsyixingunicorn10, @newbooksmell777, @no-morning-glories, @novelizt, @phlooper, @ran23sblog, @simrah1012, @somethingrandomwatzit, @star-of-velaris, @superpositvecloudshipper, @t2sh0, @taygrls, @tournesol77, @whenselenefallsinlove, @wordsarelife

let me know if you want to be added to/removed from the tag list! <3

[lokisprettygirl]

Close Ties (Daemon Targaryen x Female Reader) (Modern AU) (Non canon) (18+)

Read Chapter 15 // Series Masterlist

Chapter 16

Summary : You realise that Daemon is the end for you.

Warning: 18+ dad's best friend trope, canon (we don't know her..don't like don't read), feeling of hopelessness, uncle Daemon kink (you don't have to squint), familial uncle niece sort of relationship but he's not really her uncle, there will be more smut later, masturbation, significant age gap but reader is in her mid twenties, mention of infidelity, miscarriage , divorce, smoking and alcohol drinking, physical violence implied

“So a CEO huh? Your job gotta be taxing” You turned to face Aaron, a childhood friend of Rhae whom you had just met at her birthday get-together at her parent's house. He seemed like quite the character, charming and confident, with a devil-may-care attitude that was difficult to resist, well at least for other people.

“Yeah it's very taxing” you mumbled as you sipped on your drink, you wanted to focus on his words, he was very handsome and he seemed nice but you weren't able to focus on him when your eyes kept drifting towards the sexiest man in the room.

As you looked at him he immediately looked away as if he wasn't keeping an eye on you too.

Being able to finally look at Daemon without worrying about anyone judging you was an indescribable feeling. You couldn't help but feel a sense of freedom as you gawked at him, admiring his handsome features and strong figure without the judgment of your parents. He had a black jacket on with a matching pair of pants and a silk shirt underneath. You were accidentally twinning with him with a black sling dress you had on, the straps were made of golden chains, you didn't want to look vulgar but you wanted to appear sexy for him, show him what he was missing..

Daemon shifted his attention back at Harwin as you caught him checking you out. Again.

He was also a bit jealous regarding the conversation you were having with the young man you had met just now. He was always jealous of every other man that threatened to take you away from him, sure you didn't belong to him like that but in the past few days things had been different.

Both of you were staying true to the promise you had given to your father but there was a change in your relationship with him, there was a lot of flirting outside the work and you always came to share your troubles with him like you used to before.

“How's it going on that front?” Harwin asked him very casually and Daemon's cheeks flushed. Damn Rhaenyra

“I'm bloody embarrassed you know about that” he chuckled to hide his embarrassment but it was a lost cause, he was certainly red as a beetroot.

“Yeah well..women talk..Nothing to be embarrassed about..i understand that feeling more than anyone” he winked at Daemon to ease his nerves.

Since Daemon had discovered Harwin and Rhaenyra's relationship he had been trying to get acquainted with the man his darling niece had chosen for herself but every meeting was turning into a friendship and it wasn't in Daemon's nature anymore to make new friends, he was just done with being the one to give his all and then get hurt in response. Most of the men he befriended in the states eventually slept with his wife so he had to cut them off, he cut off everyone when it was her that he should have gotten rid of a long time ago.

Whatever friends he had from school and university apart from your father all drifted apart when he left London so it was nice to have someone he could go get a drink with.

He wanted to get a refill so he excused himself and went to the bar and you were already there before him so he gave you a smile as he got behind the bar to make drinks for you two.

You were mindlessly fiddling the straw between your plump lips or perhaps you were doing it on purpose, he couldn't really tell. He didn't know whether to be frustrated by the fact that you were so unaware of your own charms, or to be drawn in by the mysterious allure that hung around you like a cloud.

“Soo got yourself a date aye?” he looked at Aaron so you turned your head to pretend to check him out and then you chuckled.

“Still on first name basis uncle”

The way the familial name rolled off your lips was intended to tease him and he was a bit buzzed himself so he didn't want to stop you either.

“Well mister first name basis can't keep his eyes off you”

“Mmmm do you blame him?”

The boldness you felt in the moment was surprising even to you.

“Absolutely not..I'd go after the prettiest girl in the room as well if I was a man his age” he mumbled as he passed you the drink,

“Too bad I'm not into men my age uncle”

You put your straw in the new glass and slurped on it, looking right into his eyes,

“Mmhm? Since when sweetheart?”

“Since I was twelve”

He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out.

His eyes glanced over the necklace on your neck that you were so proudly showing off, the one he had presented you on your birthday, the typical smile curved his features as he brought his hand up and grabbed the pendant between his forefingers for a brief moment but he he let it go quickly before he'd be eyed suspiciously by others.

You got up from the stool with your drink in your hand and then sauntered away from him to make him sweat a little. There was that fear of disappointing your father that continued to bother you but the more you got drunk the more your inhibitions were loosened.

He kept staring at you in a way that left you feeling hot and bothered. So very hot and so very bothered, all you could think about was his thick hard cock pumping in and out of you while he'd call you his good girl and tell you that he loved you.

Later at night since both of you were drunk, Rhaneyra wanted you to stay and she convinced Daemon to stay at her parents' house as well. Not that you were opposed to that. While she was on a call with Harwin you made your way to Daemon's room and knocked.

When he opened the door he was still in the same shirt as before but those top buttons had been flung open. He smiled as he looked at you, his brother's house wasn't as magnificent as your dad's so the chances of him getting caught in the same room as his supposed niece were very high.

You walked past him and entered the room so he shook his head in disbelief and closed the door.

“Pixie, what are you doing?” He asked you softly as he didn't want to come across as rude or harsh, you had enough of that already.

“Nothing just trying to spend some time with you”

He sighed as you said that.

“Both of us are drunk and tend to not make the best of decisions when we are inebriated”

“That's not true” you argued back but as he stepped closer to you, his words started to make more sense to you. There's no way you'd be able to restrain yourself from jumping into his arms if he would continue to look at you like that.

“I Miss you” you mumbled as you looked him right in the eye so he gave you his typical smirk laced smile

“I'm right here darling”

His response made you huff like a petulant child.

“I can see that.. sometimes you can just tell me that you miss me too” you crossed your arms so he tilted his head.

“And What good would that do to us? You left us, remember?”

“And what was I supposed to do Daemon?” as you raised your voice he knew he'd have to calm down to not exacerbate the situation so he stepped closer to you until you were in his arms.

“I don't want to fight with you sweetheart” he held you by the shoulders and kissed your forehead as he said that.

“No tell me what I should have done..what would you have done if you were in my place and your dying father had asked you for one thing that would really make him happy” he chuckled as you questioned him. Moments like this made you want to slap him but kiss him at the same time.

“Really ? You really think your broken heart would bring him peace and happiness in the afterlife?”

“Then why did he ask for it?”

“Because he can't accept the fact that you're in love with a man twice your age, a man he has known half his life”

“None of those things are true..I'm not in love with you and you're not twice my age”

As you walked past him he grabbed your arm and pulled you back to him.

“I do miss you ..all the fucking time alright..I have had a easier time letting go of my wife then letting go of what we had with each other so yes I do miss you.. and I think about pounding you into that mattress right there when I'm touching myself at nights, I think about you every waking moment of my life even when you're in front of me but you chose to give up on us and that's the truth so don't expect me to tell you that I miss you when I know that it's only going to bring us both misery”

His nose flared and teeth gritted as he spoke, words held a spark of anger. And his confession regarding him wanting to pound you was going to keep you up at night as well now.

“And you allowed me to do this..so what is it..you pretend to be nice and gentle to me even though deep down my decision has got you pissed?”

“I don't have to fucking pretend to be gentle with you” He sighed as he cupped your cheeks and kissed your forehead again “I'm not holding anything against you so you shouldn't do that to yourself either. You want to make your father happy? It's fine by me..that's what you should do for the man who had given you everything in life”

You got out of his embrace as he said that and he thought you'd leave his room but you decided to surprise him instead. He watched you take your heels off and then jump into his bed with no qualms. To your surprise he didn't say anything either but laid down next to you albeit maintaining a proper distance between your bodies.

“This is not such a good idea now is it?” A chuckle escaped his throat as he finished his sentence.

“It's nothing bad..just two people sleeping on a bed two feet apart”

He turned his body to prop himself on his elbow so he had a clear view of you,

“I can't get enough of you darling, you need to remember that”

“That's because you don't get enough of me..once you will ..if you will..you will see I'm nothing special”

“I can say the same thing about you” he argued knowing far too well that it was pointless. You always had an answer even though sometimes they didn't make any sense.

“You can't..you haven't longed for me for 14 years”

Well that made sense to him.

“Is that going to be your winning point every fucking time?”

“Yup..I earned that”

You turned your head to look at him, his eyes were fixed on yours and his gaze was intense, all you wanted to do was break any or all promises you had made to your father and just give into him but then you saw your father's face every time you closed your eyes.

“Ummm is Stella still trying to win you back?” You questioned him to change the subject.

“Yeah”

“So she didn't leave?”

“No”

“Are your answers going to be one word strictly “

“Mmmmhmmm”

You smiled as his nonchalant behavior regarding her made you a bit relaxed and you could have basked in that feeling but you had the tendency to self sabotage.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“You don't have to ask me to ask me”

“Do you miss her..being with her?”

“Sometimes..in a strange moment of weakness..I do..it was a long relationship”

You were glad he was being honest with you but that didn't mean the answer wasn't pricking your heart..

“If she promises to never cheat on you again and stick with it .. would you go back to her?” he let out a deep sigh at the question and he took a few moments to come up with an answer.

“I don't really know..I wish I did but I don't, I loved her for ages..it was hard to let go of everything we had built together. When my mum died she was there for me and she stuck by me when I wasn't doing so well in life. I know you don't like her and I don't have more love in me to give her and she's not a very good person perhaps but she's not the worst either.. sometimes people hurt you regardless of what you do for them”

Your eyes were teary by the time he was done with his sentence, the way he talked about her made you feel as if he still had some feelings for her which you didn't blame him for.

“I'm sorry she didn't appreciate you the way you deserved to be appreciated”

“No regrets sweetheart”

“mmm i should go to my room” you sat up to get off the bed but he quickly grabbed your arm gently,

“Stay…talk”

You looked at him as he said that and as tears rolled down your cheeks he wiped them away with his fingers

“I'm sorry..I am just jealous”

“Understandable..I was jealous watching you talk to that nerd”

“He's most definitely not a nerd..he's the type of guy mums warn their daughters about” he chuckled as you said that,

“I used to be the guy”

“You're still the guy”

You laid back down again as he guided you towards the mattress slowly. You wanted to go all Meredith Grey on him and ask him to pick you, choose you and love you if worst comes to worst but deep down you knew that won't be the most mature thing you'd ever do in life.

“And what about Anna? The woman from sales..you guys have been chit chatting a lot lately .. something I noticed”

“Are you keeping an eye on me?”

“No ..just observant..it's good to observe..a nice man once told me that” he smiled as you said that.

“She's nice I suppose”

“Hmmm nice as in oh she's sweet or oh she's so nice I want to kiss her” the high pitched voice made him smile, he didn't want to make you feel jealous but it felt nice to see you react so dramatically.

“Do you not want me to date anyone anymore?”

“That's not umm..my question”

He smirked as you said that, his hand sneaked under your head and you felt shivers run down your spine at the intrusion, he then pulled you closer to him until you were snuggled into his arms, after a second of uncertainty you quickly wrapped your arm around his waist, fingers played circles on his lower back.

He pushed your hair aside from your neck and his lips went straight to your neck as he pressed a soft kiss on your skin, you couldn't help but hum in response which came out as a moan instead.

“This is not a good idea” he groaned as he pulled away from you and put his head down on his pillow to gain a sense of control again, being drunk wasn't helping his case at the moment.

“I know” you mumbled as you got on top of him, straddling him before he could say anything else, he licked his lower lip as your bare skin was glowing in the dim light of the room. “Pound me into the mattress like you have imagined..uncle daemon” his fingers clutched around your waist as your sensuous voice reached his ears, those flimsy straps were falling apart and he had the urge to just slip your dress down your shoulders and have his way with you. He knew you'd not resist him either. Despite feeling that way he knew what should have been the right thing to do in this situation.

“Don't do anything you're going to regret tomorrow” you sighed as he said that.

“Why do you have to be so nice about this? I'm throwing myself at you and you can just do me right now..I won't hold it against you even if I do regret it”

“That's so romantic isn't it? Fucking for the first time while we are both drunk and breaking the promises we have made to your father”

“Why do you care..he fucked your wife when he was drunk and didn't think much about it”

His jaw clenched as you reminded him that, not that it was something he'd ever forget.

“I care because I love you ..only you and you..just you.. and I'm not going to ruin you for a night of fun”

Your eyes teared up at the sincerity in his voice, that's why you loved him so much, he was perfect in his ways, he always knew better, he always knew how to put you in your place without degrading you or putting you down the way your parents had been doing since all hell broke loose. He just knew you and he never wanted to hurt you, where would you find a man like him again? He'd find someone to replace you in his life, it wasn't that hard for a man like him to find a girl your age or even older who'd be willing to be his girlfriend, his wife and eventually the mother of his children but where would you find a man who'd see you as you and not as the woman who took after his dad's business and was now suddenly filthy rich.

Who'd see you as the girl you actually were?

As he noticed your teary eyes he sat up and wrapped his arms around you to pull you into a hug, you needed that he could tell and he needed that too.

Your arms wrapped around his neck as you held onto him, he was so warm and he felt so comfortable, you could have spent your whole life just being there with him, only if it wasn't for your dying father who wanted to make you miserable.

As you pulled away from the hug you cupped his cheeks and looked him in the eye for a moment before you went in for a kiss, he so badly wanted to pull away but he couldn't, not when you kissed him with such ferocity, not when he had been starving for that kiss as well.

Lips moved in unison before you slipped your tongue in, it's been months and it has been a torture having him so close and yet so far from you.

Once you pulled away he placed his forehead down on yours, your chests were heaving up and down as you both collected your breaths.

“Was that romantic in your eye?”

He smiled as you asked him that

“Very romantic” he tucked your hair behind your ear with his fingers and this time he kissed you. And he kissed you like he had been your lover all your life.

“To answer your question..no i don't want you to see anyone or take your stupid ex wife back in your life..you are mine..all mine and you always will be”

He gave you a smile as you said that, thumb brushed over your lower lip as he leaned in to kiss you again but a sudden knock on the door sobered you both pretty quickly. However, Luckily it was just Rhaenyra and she was a mess, she had a fight with Harwin and you knew she needed you and that was the least you could have done for her.

An hour later they finally made up again and she sneaked away to go see him and you contemplated whether you should go see Daemon or not and ultimately decided against it.

The next morning you woke up to your phone ringing and door banging, your dad was taken to the hospital as he had collapsed last night and when you saw his weak brittled body in the hospital you suddenly felt so guilty. Maybe that's why Daemon didn't want to cross that line or allowed you to do something you'd regret. As he came to consciousness he requested to see his daughter and you went in, Daemon was stepping out of the room as you made your way in. You noticed his teary eyes, his flushed cheeks that indicated that he had cried, you had a sinking feeling in your gut but you didn't want to accept it. This was too soon, he still had more time right? He had to have more time.

“Daemon told me how good you're doing at work” you faked a smile as your father spoke.

“He's modest”

“He never lies” your father reverted.

“But he hides the truth and he hides his pain” your dad sighed as you said that

“And what about you? Are you keeping up to your promise”

“I wouldn't be so miserable if I didn't”

“What do you see in him? A girl your age..you'll find a man who's–.”

He hesitated to finish his words and it made you furious. Daemon had gone beyond his limits to be there for him, what else did he want?

“Who's what? Kind? Loyal? Loving? Caring? Selfless? What daddy?”

Your voice choked on your tears as you defended the love of your life.

“Who's in your league, your own age group. He's going to be a fucking sixty year old when you're just barely in your forties”

“And that bothers you because ?”

“Because he's going to die way before you would and then you'd be left all alone here with a broken heart”

As his eyes teared up suddenly you saw his fear behind his stubbornness, he wasn't doing this to hurt you, he was just trying to spare you from a lonely life but then what was the point of it all, life never came with an expiration date.

“That's funny dad.. because look..you and mom are the same age and you're leaving her and me when you should have lived a full life so who's to say he'd be the one to die first? I have your genes ..maybe I'd be the one to go..maybe I'll follow you soon after”

“Y/n” he raised his voice and his heart rate sped up on the monitor, that's when the doctors entered and asked you to leave the room which you did immediately, you knew you shouldn't have been fighting with him in such a state but you had to tell him that you loved Daemon and only him, you needed him to take his words back.

You wanted to break the promise and you needed your dad's blessings for that.

As you saw your mom bursting into a fit of cry you immediately went to her and hugged her as tightly as you could.

All your life your parents had shielded you and protected you, but you knew you'd have to grow up now and take some responsibilities because nothing was ever going to be the same. That sinking feeling in your gut was going to become your reality and you couldn't have run from your reality.

You knew your father wasn't going to survive the day.

🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

Taglist

@serving-targaryen-realness @annoyingsweetsstranger @anukulee @mcufan72 @insertsomethingsillyhereple-blog @silentf @ajthefujoshi @stupidthoughtsinwriting @ammo23 @shuichiakainx @daddylokisqueen @ipostwhtifeel @anehkael @madlyinlovewmattmurd0ck @dixie-elocin @urmomsgirlfriend1

@sweatyroadcowboyjudge

[cozymochi]

Mild vent. Idk. I promise it’s not as bad as last nights utter mental shattering.

I don’t know what it is.

Maybe it’s a U.S centric Gen X mindset, or a remnant Boomer one from that “pull up your bootstraps” individualism thing, and no shade to any of the ones who follow me, my only point of reference are my parents and other older adults in my immediately family, and some friends families who tend to echo the same stuff—

Maybe it’s because a lot of my older family members never got to fulfill any particular ambition of theirs and had no choice but to work in fields they hate, maybe they overestimate how things work these days, and maybe it’s just me being an outlier…

But it’s so hard to discuss jobs especially creative ones of any kind when I’m the kind of person who is just… content working beneath somebody else. Or at least within a group professionally.

I don’t really have the ambition to start any individual practice or “be my own boss” so to speak. I don’t even feel comfortable in positions where I’m in charge of myself.

I don’t disagree that if that were to happen I’d probably be competent. I just feel more at ease and in my element when I’m able to just be given a task or assignment in a group setting and just doing it. Then going home and not think about it.

And if I outwardly say that I’m just… fine in that position I’m looked at weird and getting lectured about it. It’s not like I don’t get it… and I’m sure they just want better out of me or have a positive outlook that I could “be my own boss” in a hypothetical and have my own little business and be successful. As much as I do doubt myself in most cases, I just don’t feel any connection to those proposals at all.

I legitimately do not that any desire to do those things. At least, not now nor ever in the last few years. It just doesn’t really appeal to me.

I’ve never even got my foot in the door in a normal way yet to even know if a leap like that would work or is something I want.

I just know I’m genuinely more content just being given a task, doing it well (regardless if it ever surfaces, most don’t), and moving onto the next thing. I’m usually at my best there.

It’s a weird spot when I’m told that I can allegedly do “anything”, but when I say I just want to remain low key and I’m fine working under someone else, that suddenly isn’t a viable thing to be okay with.

“Oh you don’t wanna do THAT-“ “why dont you do this instead??” “im sure you could do this that and third and have your own —“ meanwhile I know every single one of them wanted that self sufficient whatever for themselves but never got it.

And it’s not like I’m not blind enough to see how hard, insular, exploitative and under-appreciated creative fields can be (and downright abusive, even).

I just… don’t have an urge nor want to do the most “ideal” and individualistic thing ever. I know what they’re saying is out of this idealized positivity, I get it. It’s not like I was the happiest person on earth with my old non-creative 9-5 job, yeah I would rather have been putting my skills to use, but I also don’t have much interest in being some kind of independent art business owner. Whatever that would entail. (the homies were even talking con booths and junk, like, sure hypothetically it sounds neat and shoutout to those who do it, but it’s not for me…)

I’m just… fine not shooting that high, nor being that notable. But I also didn’t hate my old job setup either. I wasn’t always excited to go in (who even is), but I didn’t hate it. I was pretty fine just …working.

Not that it matters. I don’t have a foot in that door anyway.

I don’t know. I don’t remember my point at all.

I’ll be rid of this later.

[mattmurdock42]

Enemy to Lovers

Summary: you go with your friends and Henry to an island, little you know what it will happen!

Warnings: unprotected sex. P in V. Face ridding, smutt, fluff, angst.

Wc: +-5k

( Henry e y/n, you are best friend with a woman whose husband is best friend with henry/ you secretly worked for the cia and henry for the mi6/ your friends didn´t know that you were enemies, always fighting over a clue on some case or some testemuny/ you had already got into serious fights/ during dinners in your friends house you´d always smile and tried to be polite, but you could feel tension/ they decided to go on a trip)

You worked for CIA, at England, since six years ago. It was a secret job, CIA had other undercover job for you, the owner of a bakery. You could say you had a normal life, excluding trips around the country for missions behind clues on cases, victims and assassins. You had been friend with Camilla since you moved to the UK. She's been your best friend, always supportive and respectable, which was perfect. She was a lawyer at a bank company and maried to Nicolas, Nick, who also worked at the bank. They loved to have dinners at their house, always inviting you, Camilla´s best friend, and Henry Cavill, Nick´s best friend. You were always happy to go, but there was only one problem, Cavill. You could say you were practically enemies. He secretly worked at MI6, who also had an undercovered job, as a baker, for your luck. The couple would always say that you should work togheter and this kind of things. You´d always laugh to not give up the disguise.

You had nothing against Cavill, if it were not for him always trying to still parts of your work to take it to MI6. You both had already fought over many things. The most serious fight was one, body to body: he was unarmed, you were with daggers. He left bleeding, and you passed out on the floor. You could barely look at each other without getting mad.

--------------~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~------------

It was the end of the year, and Cami and Nick were helding a dinner party at their house for family and friends. During dinner, Cami says for you to stay after it was over, she had something to ask you.

Dinner was over and there you stood, with the couple and Cavill.

"So, we have something to ask to you two. January third we are going to celebrate seven years of marriage in Maldivas´s island, and we would be very happy if you could come along. To show you how much it means to us your presence, we are going to pay your tickets to go and your accomodation." The couple said exited.

You didn´t know what to think.

"You have one week to answer us."

You both leave the house.

"Listen. Nick means a lot to me, so i´m going. I don´t think you should go." Henry says.

"Excuse me? Cami means a lot to me too. YOU shouldn´t go."

You both arf and go each to your houses.

The day of the trip arrives and you had already packed and was headed to Camilla´s house when suddenly, you see Cavill´s car parked in front of their house. You couldn´t belive you´d spent a week in a isolated island with your "enemy".

You entered the house and greeted the couple. You and Henry did your little "play".

You four head to the airport.

"My and Nick´s sits are B5 and B6. Your´s and Henry´s are E17 and E 18." Said Camilla to you. You didn´t like the idea of sitting with that jerk, but at least you were on first class. When you saw Cavill again, by his face, Nick had already told him the "great news".

You entered the plane and Cavill sat by the window. In the middle of the flight, you fell asleep, and, when you woke up, you were resting your head on Cavill´s massive shoulder. He was sleeping, so he didn´t noticed. You thanked god, otherwise he´d proably laugh at you for the rest of your life. (Little you knew that he was secretly awake and enjoying the little touch).

The plane landed. You were all tired and headed to the hotel. It was a huge, luxurious hotel. On the rception, you had the delightful news that you and Henry´d be staying at the same room.

"When we booked, it was already taken most of the rooms. And for the days we needed, only these were available. These and the couple´s suit. But the room is enourmous and has two beds, so it´ll have space for you both. i´m sure." Nick said for you two.

You were not believing it. The thought was unthinkable. Camilla pulled you to the side and said: " Sorry, y/n. We really tried, but we only got that room. If you'll have any troubles, tell me and i´ll send Nick to your room and you can stay with me."

"It is your aniversary, i´d never take Nick out of your room."

Cami smiled at you and said. " Thinking about it, Henry is really not that bad to look at. And the conversation will never stop, since you work in the same area. Think about it, girl." She winked at you, with a mischiveous smirk.

"You don´t exist, you know that?" You said.

Each of you went to your room. When you opened the door, there it was, only one COUPLE´s bed.

"There'd been a mistake, let´s go to the recpetion again." You said.

"Sorry, lady y/n, but that is the only room available. I´m sorry for our mistake, the site must be wrong, we´ll fix it right this afternoon!" The receptionist explained.

You went back to the room.

You looked at him.

"What now, mister smart pants?" you asked.

"You can sleep in the bed. I´ll order a bunch of pillows and blankets and sleep on the floor."

"Fine."

He called the reception and thirdy minutes later, a guy arrived with five pillows.

"Thank you, i have a bad lower back, so i need all this to sleep." He explained to the guy at the door, who was with an interogative face.

The first day, you four went to explore the hotel, to know all its activities and places to eat. The night came. Henry used the bathroom first, than you. You had rules: he´d shower and brush teeth first, to not rush you; right was your side, left was his. You didn´t speake to each other unless in front of the couple.

The second day of the trip ( one day after you arrived), Nick sugested for you to do a beach day, to rent a tend and spend the day there. The idea was lovely. You had so much fun, the food was great, girl talk with Camilla were amazing, and even Cavill behaved himself.

"So, how it´s been staying with Henry?" Asked Cami.

"It´s fine."

" i can imagine, that piece of fresh meat all around during the day. I don´t know how, but his scars make him even more handsome."

"What scars?" You didn´t notice, since you looked at him as minimum as possible.

"The one on his thigh, on his arm and on his lower back. I don´t know how he got it, but it seems pretty deep."

You looked at him, trying to catch sight of it.

"I had never seen him in summer clothes before, so i didn´t knew he got them."

The rest of the day was peacefull. You went back to your room and made your rotine. When Cavill got out of the shower, you glanced at his scars. You couldn´t tell why, but their places seemed familiar to you. You both were already layed.

"Good night." Cavill said.

"Good night."

The next day Cami wanted to see the capital. Another day passed.

The next day, you went to see the museum on the ocean. The couple had already dipped, so, the only known person you had to ask to tie your bikiny bra was Cavill.

"Do you know how to tie?"

"Do you know how to not say offensive things?" He said as he tied. When he went to put his oxygen tube, you heard him sigh. As you looked at him, his hand was on his lower back.

"Is that to heavy for you, big guy?"

"Shut up, fainty girl"

"You shut up, blood boy"

After the diving, when you came back to the little boat, your blood presure was low. It was normally low, but you were feeling weak. You managed to get back to the hotel looking fine. In the hall to your shared bedroom, you lean against the wall. He looks at you and see your eyes are narrowed.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes!"

"Sure, you almost fainting again means that you are okay."

"Look, just shut up and go to the room."

"I can´t let you faint here, it´ll destory the trip."

"Lovely."

"Lean on me, i´ll help you to the bedroom."

"Not a chance, bloody." Suddenly, you black out.

You woke up on your bed. Henry was already asleep. There was a glass of water and some crackers left for you on your nightstand. You drank and ate it. After brushing your teeth and taking a shower, you were laying on yor bed, trying to go back to sleep, when you suddenly notices the situation of Cavill´s "bed". He only had 6 pillows and a sheet to make as bed, excluding this itens, he was on the bare floor.

The next day, Cami said that you were having a spa day. Some parts it would be the four of you togheter, some parts you and her or you and Cavill. Your muscles had never been more relaxed in your life. It only had one hour and a half left to end that spa day, before going back to your room and preparing yourself for dinner. You and Henry were put togheter at that time; you´d just have the final massage at the same room. You two were only in a towel, alone in a room, waiting for the massues.

"Thank you for the care last night. And thank you for not telling Camilla about it."

"Your welcome. I understand how bad it is to feel weak."

Time passed and you finished your massage and the dinner, then, you went back to your room. Before getting in the shower, you looked at Henry and asked:

"Didn´t you ask for blankets also?

"They didn´t have it, it is a hot island, after all. I forgot this wasn´t England."

"How can you sleep?"

"i don´t, actually."

You raised your brows to him.

"i´ve already been more days with bad sleep."

You didn´t believe him. It seemed that he´d lost 20 pounds and he had black eyes.

"You don´t seem ok. It´s clear that you lost significant weight. You konw, since you helped me, i´ll let you sleep in the bed, tonight."

"No. Then you´ll have to slepp on the floor."

"We could share the bed. We´ll make a pillow wall."

He seems to think for a while. But then, his ego gave up and he accepted, recognizing that he really didn´t look really healthy. After your shower, you saw two pillows in the middle of the bed.

"Why didn´t you put four pillows?"

"I need two for my lower back." He explains as he goes to the shower. After 15 minutes,he came back, only in a black pajama shorts, since it was hot as hell. Now, you were both layed.

"What happened to your lower back?" You interogated.

"I got stabed, it hitted the muscle; now, it is hard to get comfortable with it ragged."

Half an hour passed, but neither of you were sleepy.

"Haven´t slept eighter, hein?" he groaned.

"Yes, it´s been ages since i din´t relax like that, so i think my body instinctively feels alert." You commented.

"Same."

He looked at you and solicited:

"You know, what if, just for this night, we forget our jobs and have a conversation with each other, like normal people?" he asked.

"How can i forget how to be a baker?" He gave you a chuckle. You liked the sound.

"I could do that, for this night." You said.

"How long have you been working there?" He asked.

"Twelve years. And you?"

"Fifteen. ... Are your blood pressure always low?"

"No, just when i feel pressure over my body."

"Where are you from?"

"I was born in Krakow, but raised on Boston, EUA. I heard Nick saying you are from London."

"Yeah."

"If it weren´t for our jobs, we could have been friends, i think."

"This inteligences should have an organized diplomacy between then, so it wouldn´t affect anyone lives."

" It really should. I´m sorry for you having to sleep on the floor. I was rude on not offering you the bed before."

"There is no problem."

"If i may ask, how did you get those scars? I don´t know how, but they seem familiar to me."

"Well, i got them at a wednesday night. I nedded a video tape from an assassin, but other agent from another secret service showed and, we fought for it. I took the tape in the end, but i left bleeding."

"Henry, are those...are those mine?" You say, stretching an arm to feel the scar from his arm.

"Yes."

"i didn´t knew it hitted you so deep, i´m so sorry. Oh my god, am i the cause of your lower back pain?"

"I could say so."

You didn´t know what to say. You were feeling terible, he wasn´t a bad person, he was just doing his job. You moved next to him and gave him a soft hugh. "I´m so sorry, i didn´t mean it. You must hate me for this."

"You were just doing your job. You were under pressure. And i started the fight, anyway."

He smelled good, and he was warm. Secretly, you wanted to stay hugged to him.

"If our jobs can´t be diplomatic, maybe we can. So we can avoid more disasters."

"i think that is a great idea." As soon as he finishes telling you this, you fell a thick hand embracing your shoulder and pulling you closer. You didn´t move. Did he also like the hugh? "Is it okay?" He asked, looking at you. "Yes", you said.

"S-since we are not hating each other this night, may i say, you look cute in bathing clothes."

You blushed, looking down. "You are not bad, too" You feel his hand through your hair. You didn´t pushed it away, so he understood the sign: It was all okay from you. He grabbed your waist and pulled you to straddle his waist.

"One night, love?" He asked.

"One night." You responded.

He was layed on his back and you were on top of him. You leaned and gave him a soft peck in his lips. You pull away and look into his eyes, your hands cupped his cheeks.

He placed you on his lap, while sitting. Then, his mouth sharply attacked yours, tongue asking permission to explore your mouth. As you gave it, he lifted you and possitioned you on the bed, staying on top. He broke the kiss to take of your tank top (you weren´t with a bra, since you were going to sleep) and went to work on your breasts. He sucked one nipple while one of his hands were supporting him on the bed and the other were tracing your thigh.

"Please, pet, open your legs for me."

You opened, but not enough for his opinion.

He left your breasts and went down. He gently took of your short and penties. But then he brutally grabbed your knees saying: " I said, before, for you to open your legs". It burned were he was touching you. With your knees in his hands, he placed then on his shoulders and went down to your cunt. He passed a hand and licked it, looking at you. "Well done, y/n, already wet for me". He gave kisses at your inner thighs, trailing them to finally lick your folds. "Daddy´s girl, say a number until 20".

"four"

He quickly bit your clit, making you scream in pleasure and surprise. He inserted two fingers inside you, curling them at an affordable pace, while sucking your cunt like a hungry man. You put your hand on his head, signaling to go faster. He did as you plead, making you a moaning mess. You feel a heat grow in your stomach.

"Hen-ry, i think i´m gonna...". You cum before you could finish.

He places a soft kiss to your belly.

"Sit, my dove". You sit. He lays almost in the middle of the bed. "Now, sit on my face."

"Are you crazy? if i not kill you first, you´ll be injured!"

"Baby girl, have you never done that?"

"No."

"I am sure you will like it. And you would be in completely control."

He gave you his hand to gide you to kneel over his face. You now were hovering it. He grabbed your hips, pulling you down. You were scared and resisted to him. "I´m to heavy. I´m not skinny, you are going to suffocate, or i´ll even break your neck or your nose". He became impacient and pulled you down, even you trying to resist to him. As soon as you sit, you feel his wet tongue circling your hole. You let a moan out. He let go of your hips and you got out of his face. "See, nothing happened to me. You are not heavy. You are perfect. You are entirelly perfect. Now do as i told you." You slowly sit back at his face. He starts to eat you, putting his tongue inside you many times, his tongue dancing all over your vagina. He roughtly smack your ass and growl. He was making you feel every sensation you could before cumming again. As soon as he growled again, you came on his mouth, soaking his chin. You get out of him. He was going to lay you again but you stopped him. You guidded him to sit on the edge of the bed and take of his shorts; you kneel, taking his already hard cock in your hand, smoothing a little before putting in your mouth. As you did, he shivered to the attention being given to his erection. You hollowed your cheeks and started to take it as deep as you could. The tip hitted the back of your throat, making you gag, the vibrationg hitting his sensitive spot, making him moan roughtly. He takes your hair and starts to guide your pace. You noticed he was reaching his orgasm and started to give special treatment to the tip of his dick, however, he sarted to try to pull it of. "what are you doing?"

"I´m not gonna cum on your throat. Not today, pet."

He pushes you away and you lay on the bed. He places himself between your legs and insert two fingers inside you, straching you out for him. He leans and takes you to a kiss. Suddenly, you fee him entering you. You break the kiss and moans to loud, your nails scratchin his back. He starts thrusting. The sound was intoxicating. You buck your hips, meaning for him to go faster. His thrusts became hard, but not hard enough to leave bruises, since you´d have to wear a bikini tomorrow. His breath were unsteady and you were soaking. "Henry, it´s comming!". After a couple of seconds you cum all over him. "Do you want me to take it of? We forgot the condom."

"No need, tomorrow i´ll take a pill. Go ahead, daddy." As soon as you finished, he let out a shy moan and came. He quickly kissed you before getting out.

He laid beside you, without breath. You get up and straddle him.

"You know, secretly, i´ve always wanted to ride you". You say massagim his cheast. You possition him in your entrance and you sit on it. He sits and hugs you. Then, he grabs your waist and you place your hands on his shoulders. You starts to move your hips and he follows your pace. After some kisses your speed increased and you both cum. You stay on top of him for a while, hugging his huge torso. Suddenly, he slightly arched his back. He hoped you didn´t notice the stiffnes of his muscles, but you did. You imediately get out of him.

"is it your back?"

"it´s nothing."

"of course it is." You say upset.

"Darling, it was just a little stiffness, i´m getting old". He kisses your cheek. "Let´s go take a bath, we are both soaking wet". He lifts you on his arms bridal style and caries you.

After the bath, you were cuddling in bed.

"What time is it?" You asked.

"Three am."

"Hen, how did you know what i liked during sex?"

"Well, you have been always in a defensive mood, always trying to prove yourself, how you never need help. So i thought that it had a big chance of, actually, you just wanting someone soft and caring for you, leading and helping. Besides, you didn´t stop me, so i just kept going."

You blushed at his explanation. "Henry, why did you ask me to say a number, before?"

"Oh! I wanted to know how many times I'd make you cum."

You then realised." What if I had said twenty?"

"Well, then I guess we would be up until the sun rises".

You looked at him incredulous.

" You know, that face sitting thing, i think i should try it more times."

"My face is always available for you whenever you want, dove". He says with a smile.

You both stay in silence for some minutes, then you say: "You know, maybe, we could repeat the sex. We just let our work go, and we be ourselves for a while."

"I would very much appreciate that." You both fall asleep.

The next morning, it was your last day on the island, so Camilla decided to spent the day on the beach again.

"What is that between your legs?" Camilla asked.

You looked down to see light bruises at your inner thighs.

"i must have beaten somewhere."

"I imagine that Henry´s lap could be called somewhere." She says laughing.

"Hey! I could have sleept with anyone!"

"Sure, then Henry´s back scratches are from somewhere unknown as well". Camilla smirked.

"Oh, shut up". You both laughed.

[hayffiebird]

How do you think Effie and haymitch met?

Hi anon! And thanks for asking! (mini-oneshot, under the cut) I always imagined Effie being Haymitch’s second escort when she was a young woman and he was a sorta young man. On the train to Twelve, new on the job, she’s very “first day of school! First day of school!” and eager to make a difference sort of like Sejanus Plinth. She’s ambitious and driven and also naive enough to think “with me on board we will have victors left and right!” Before the Reaping she decides on her own to visit the Victor’s Village and introduce herself personally to her now co-worker. She’s quite star-struck I think, on the way over there - what with the romanticized image the Capitol has of him. Obviously she doesn’t know the truth about Haymitch’s murdered family. No one really does in her city. She’s also super impressed that he won The Second Quarter Quell - one of the most difficult Games in Panem's history, and without a mentor at that! She’s probably a little smitten too (or at least she was as a young girl). Taken by those dark curls and intense gray eyes in a sort of “toughened by life but love will set him free” kind of way. But when she actually finally meet Mr. Haymitch Abernathy he effectively smashes all the illusions Effie ever had of him in less than five minutes. She goes from dazzled to disbelieving to annoyed and they end up having the first of many arguments. I imagine it went something like this:

Standing there in the middle of the kitchen Effie felt the mentor’s eyes travel up and down her body. He held a bottle of spirits in one hand, elbows on the unbelievably filthy table. And in the other, a knife - an actual KNIFE! “Who sent you?” he finally asked. “It ain’t m’birthday.” The shadow of a crease re-appeared between Effie’s eyebrows but then the smile was right back on. “Mr. Abernathy!” She stepped forward and extended a hand. “Euphemia. Euphemia Trinket, the new escort. My friends call me Effie. You can call me Effie if you want. Delighted to make your acquaintance and might I just add what an honor it is to finally meet. I’ve heard so much about you! I’m sure we’re going to make the most fabulous of teams!” Haymitch ignored the outstretched hand. Instead he brought the bottle to his lips, having a few good mouthfuls. “What happened to Dandruff?" he asked in a bored voice. "Ol’ bat finally bit the dust?" “Mrs Dandridge decided to retire. I’m here in her place. Arrived just a few days ago, and my, am I already in LOVE with your … your … quaint district.” “I know right,” he mimicked her voice, dripping with sarcasm. He poured a good amount of the clear liquid into a cracked glass full of sticky fingerprints and extended it to her. “Well, this calls for a toast, don't ya think? Bottom’s up, lil’ lady." “Um, tempting but no thank you,” she said. “I don’t make it a habit of drinking when I'm at work. Especially not this early. Got to keep a level head," she thrilled. "A big big big day today!” Haymitch tsked, eyes on the ceiling. "I'd say." And he downed the drink for her. “Guess this is my lucky day, huh? They finally got rid of ol’ Ice Crotch and now a squeaky lil’ duckling fresh out of the egg’s gonna help me out.” “W-wha … excuse me? Duckling? Squeaky?! I think you’ll find me more than qualified for the job. I graduated from the Academy at the top of my class!” “Yeah, takes a lot o’ brains to send kids off for slaughter.” Effie stared at him. “B-being chosen to participate in The Hunger Games - the biggest event of the year, is a great honor and …” “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he snarled. “Save it for the cameras, why don’t ya?” At a loss for words Effie watched the man finish his bottle, down to the last drop, only to reach for the next. “The Reaping is in an hour,” she said. “So?" “So maybe you ought to slow down? And I trust it you’ll freshen up before then? Take a shower and find an outfit that’s a little more, um, suitable for the … special occasion.” “Meh,” Haymitch shrugged. “Haven’t decided if I’m gonna go.” “You have to go!” The words burst from her lips before she could stop them. “You’re expected! I’ll look like a fool!” In reply, Haymitch snapped the seal on the bottle. With one expert twist. “Don’t need me for something you already accomplished, sweetheart.” He tipped the liquor into his mouth. “Guess I’ll be seeing you around.”

[shiro-s2e2-erukinzu]

Anime only watchers and people who aren't caught up with the Manga, BEWARE... Cuz I'm about to discuss Spy X Family Mission 89... You have been warned...! 👌

[SPOILERS AHEAD FROM THIS POINT ON]

OH MY GOSH, WHAT A GREAT CHAPTER!! 😆 (And a funny one as well!! 😂)

This chapter has probably become a new favorite of mine, so let's talk about it...!! 😄

Today's chapter follows one of my favorite characters in the series...

MY BOY, YURI BRIAR...!!! 😆

And he's been reflecting on the events of the previous arc, disappointed that he couldn't stop Twilight... Officer Scarface tells Yuri to stop sulking over it because at least he was able to injure Twilight, so now the SSS is looking for anyone with bullet wounds in their right arms (which means that Twilight has to be EXTRA CAREFUL not to slip up in anyway... 😩)

As Yuri and Officer Scarface are just going about their day, Chole (happy to see her again 😆) is about to interrogate a man with a gun shot wound in his right arm... And, um...:

THEY DIDN'T EVEN HESITATE!! DAMN...!!🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

But Scarface tells Yuri to just go ahead and assist Chole with the interrogation, which goes as you'd expect from Yuri when he does his job... 😅

THAT FACE ALONE IS ONE OF THE MANY REASONS I WOULD NOT WANT TO MESS WITH YURI (or the the Briar siblings in general...!! 😵)

Anyway, after interrogating that guy, Yuri and Chole go to investigate the address that Yuri scared out of him... And on their way there, find out that Chole and Yuri WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER!! 😆

If doesn't full more fire for Chloroform (the Yuri x Chole ship name that saw from @tare-anime 😁) to be even more of a thing, then I don't know what will...!! 👌😌

As they drive to their destination, Yuri can sense Yor (and by sense, I mean smell 😅) walking by and immediately ducks down. Chole questions why he did that since they aren't even wearing their uniforms and could've just told Yor that they were dating...!! 😏 But Yuri declined that idea because he still wants to do whatever he can to help Yor like what she did for him... And then, Chole says something that I agree with:

I don't know when or how, but I hope that Yuri will one day leave the SSS (like how I hope that Yor and Loid leave their jobs or just retire someday) and hopefully find happiness...! 😊

Moving on from that, they find the place that they were looking for and Yuri rushes in guns a blazing and does some questionable fighting techniques in the process...:

Yuri, I-- H-How did you do that...? 👏😂

After using his Street Fighter-esque Yor Fu, one of the guys there tries to sneak attack Yuri, but then...

...CHOLE COMES IN WITH THE ELBOW AND SHUTS THAT SHIT DOWN...!!! 😆

And then she...

...SLAPS THE SHIT OUT YURI (TWICE...)

...And gives him some advice...!!

I loved what Chole says to Yuri about how he could die on the job and what that would do to Yor it that ever happened (and that exact thought was most likely what was going through Twilight's head during Mission 83... 🥲) Chole is most definitely a keeper and a real one...!! 👌😤

Lastly, after a long day Yuri is training at his place when Yor comes to visit and brings him some food...!! 🤗 As Yuri scarfs down the food Yor brought, he thinks to himself about what Chole said:

But before the chapter ends, Yor tells him that Loid is the one that made the food that she brought over, Yuri spits it out and starts thinking of other ways to get rid of Loid!! 🤣

And that was Mission 89, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!! 😆 I'm glad that we got another Yuri focused chapter after all this time (Mission 41 being the first Yuri lead chapter) and got to see more of Chole!! 😁 Yuri never fails to make me laugh and this chapter was no exception (heck, even Scarface had me laughing at beginning of this chapter!! 🤣)

As usual, I'm excited for the next chapter and wonder what's gonna happen next...!! 😄 But if I had to pick one thing that I'm looking forward to see in future, it'll have to be seeing my little weird dude finally growing as a person...!! 😊 (And grow to like Loid, eventually...!! 😌)

That's pretty much all I gotta say about this chapter, so until the next Mission... Take care, be safe out there and be kind to one another...!! SEE YA!! 👋😄

[cheynovak]

The assistant - part 2  

 

Reader x Soldier Boy 

Warnings:  Where to start... Smut 18+, Fluff, Alcohol, Cursing, unprotected sex, you name it ... (Make sure you're always protected!)  

Side note: English isn’t my first language.  

This is the second part of the story “The assistant” Soldier boy had just told Y/N that he didn’t want her to be his secret girl. But how are they going to deal with Crimson Countess (CC as Y/N calls her) and did he really mean everything he said? Y/N starts to doubt her relationship and Ben now that time had passed an nothing seems to change. Does he really love her?  

 

*note: the timeline may not always follow the boys timeline.* 

Make sure you read the first part 1

 

----------------------- 

”Sweetheart, I’m not planning on keeping you a secret.” “B-But CC, Vought?” Y/N looked hopeful at him. “Crimson can be replaced, maybe she can finally work on her one-woman act.”  

“I would lose my job.” - “You said it yourself, I’m practically Vought, If I say you stay you stay. I’ll create a new job for you or make you head of public relations at Vought.” Ben meant what he said. “Or I could hang up the suit, start a family, if that is what you want...” Y/N’s eyes grew big. “I, eh, I do need some time to think... About all of the above.” Ben kissed her, let me know when you ready. Since the party was over, Y/N decided to stay at the Vought tower for a couple of days, taking a spare room.  

Ben walked in. ”Alright, let’s talk about it...”  

 

11 months later 

Y/N and Ben agreed to keep their relationship or whatever they could call it, a secret, just to get to know each other better. To make them stronger for the storm within Vought and until Ben was sure how to get rid of CC without hurting Y/N or worse getting her killed. But even though he was the most influential hero at Vought they didn’t like his idea of removing CC from the team.  

 

“What’s going on?” Y/N asked when Ben stormed through the door of her office. “Those fuckers! They think I need her! They think that without her my popularity will shrink. And that...” He wiggled his index finger. ”That big old Vough can’t have right now.” Y/N turned her chair to face him. “Come here.” she held out her arms to hug him. Ben stepped in between her legs kneeling down placing his head against her chest. “I’m so done with this bullshit.” He said muffed.  

Y/N hated it too but figured out that at least one of the two need to keep their head cool. But what she hated to most that Ben still needed to share a bed with CC, they still attended parties as an item, kissed her for pictures, basically she saw the old Ben, the guy she used to hate. And CC, well she was still keen on finding the woman who changed “her soldier boy”, not that she missed the sex, no she had found another man or should I say men to satisfy her. But Ben wasn’t as easy to be manipulated anymore and that she couldn’t have. “She must have a golden cunt.” CC had said to Y/N in a burst of frustration. “You think he turned monogamous? Y/N had asked her. “I don’t know, but knowing Ben? No. He can’t.” And that answered made Y/N more insecure than she had anticipated.  

Even though Ben did everything he could to show Y/N he truly loved her, to whatever extent possible without being oblivious inside the walls of Vought off course. He made sure she got promoted to supervisor in PR and HR, Vought thought it was a great idea to promote some unknown girl, making her a supervisor so that whenever staff or supes wanted to complain or needed a talk she would be the one listening, she would also be the one recruiting the back-office workers. But Vought wouldn’t be Vought if they didn’t promote their work/life balance and workers support team to the world, being the first company to “care” for their staff.  

  

That job switch came with a higher paycheck. And thanks to that Y/N got to rent her own apartment downtown. So, she didn’t have to see her dad’s disappointment when Ben dropped by. Thank God your mom understood you. “Richard, they aren’t the first relationship that started out this way.” She had said to him during last family dinner, that had been weeks ago. But your father didn’t trust Ben. “If he loved her, he would by now made it public.”  

 

CC didn’t want to let her best assistant go but she understood that after 5 years at Vought she could use the money. “Besides we can still have lunch and talk right? I’ll just be on another floor, in a bigger room with a nicer desk.” Y/N had told her to ease here frustration.  

And as promised, CC and Y/N had their lunch today, talked like they used to when they were teens. They even laughed today. Y/N noticed that her relationship with CC got better now that she wasn’t working as close with her anymore, the jealousy was at a minimum, but CC wouldn’t be her is every now and then a comment was made on the way Y/N dressed now. Y/N would always say that she had a more professional dress code, “You never know when a supe explodes and I need to make a statement on national television.” CC tried her best to be her old friend again. Although Y/N liked having her friend back she felt torn apart not being able to tell her about Ben. In the corner of her eye she saw his green suit appearing. “Ladies..” he said while smiling his well practised grin. “Y/N do you have a moment this afternoon, I need more information on the last rapport you send.” He asked laying his hand on your shoulder. Y/N could feel his warmth coming through her shirt. “Of course, I’m free at 2 o’clock?” She locked eyes with him. “Perfect.” He almost purred, nodding both of you goodbye.  

CC looked at her, “You and Ben really get along these days, don’t you?” Y/N got flustered “What? No, you wanted me to find out more, right? Well, I try to talk to him, but he doesn’t give in easily. He has.... a hard shell to crack.” She said trying to sound normal. “He told Gunpowder, who told Tessa who told me that you put him in his place months ago.” CC grinned “Is that true?” “I told him that there were a couple of people who had complained about his behaviour. When I talked to him about it, he tried to wave it away.” Y/N looked at him walking away. “I take my job serious, so I stood my grounds, and I guess he now appreciates me for it.” Y/N smiled soft.  

 “Which is weird, because normally he would fire you over that.” CC answered. “Or, maybe he is growing soft, or he knows that I know people in high places.” Y/N referred to CC who got the joke and laughed at that statement. “Any way, I need to go prepare, I have no clue what he meant by rapport...Maybe he just needs a talk and will he finally let me inside that fucked up mind of his.” She said joking while getting up.  

Once Y/N got in her office and closed the door she felt Ben’s hands on her flank pulling her body against his. One hand moved her hair from one shoulder to the other, kissing her neck. “Missed me already?” She flirted. Ben hummed, taking a deep breath really taking in her scent. “Sweetheart, the second I don’t want you anymore, kill me.” He moved his hand to her breast, rubbing and kneading over her blouse. Y/N’s head fell back against his strong shoulder releasing a deep breath. “You know that is impossible, right?” She joked back.  Ben started to open her blouse, granting him more access. Y/N turned around to kiss him hungerly, tracing his tongue with hers. “I don’t have much time.” She managed to say between kisses. “I’ll make it quick.” he said unzipping her skirt on the back, letting it fall at the ground leading her to step out of it. “And I don’t have time to shower before dinner tonight.” She pushed Ben on the small sofa in her office.  

Ben looked confused. “Dinner?” he asked while lifting his hips as she took off his pants and underwear.  

“My parents invited me for dinner, it’s been a while since I saw them.” She said while removing her blouse completely. He hummed, sounding a little down, she thought it was because he still wasn’t accepted by your dad. Or because he couldn’t visit you tonight. Y/N wanted to take of her heels. “Keep those on.” He said quickly looking Y/N up and down.  “Damn woman, you in lingerie and heels. Could come just looking at you.” He bit his lip. Y/N giggled soft while dropping her lace panties and bra on the floor. Making Ben touch his dick. She placed a knee on each side of his thighs. “What no foreplay?” He said teasingly before taking her left nipple in his mouth while his left hand worked on her other breast. Y/N moaned. “Ben.... Like I said, no time to.... oh... waste.” She could feel him twitch against her thigh.  

Y/N wrapped her perfect manicured hand around his shaft pumping, kneading a few times before lining him up and pushing him inside. She moaned feeling him stretch her, letting her head fall onto his shoulder. “Oh, sweetheart you feel a tight as ever. No matter how many times I get to fuck this little pussy of yours.” He said guiding her with his hands on her ass, kneading the flesh softly. Ben couldn’t help himself, he started to thrust up at the same pace as she was riding him. The air was filled with moans and sighs. Y/N dipped her hands between them to rub her clit. “Fuck that’s hot sweetheart.” He looked at her, pleasuring herself to the edge of an orgasm. He could feel her tighten around him.  

After her high Y/N stood up leaving Ben with a confused look. “Don’t worry baby, I’m not leaving you like this.” She said getting on her knees trailing her hands over his thighs. Kissing and licking around his pelvis making him hum while he stroked her hair with his fingers.  

Without warning or hesitation, she placed her tongue over the tip of his cock liking the precum of it. Ben dropped his head back. “You really are getting great at teasing.” He huffed. Y/N grinned at his reaction, deciding to test his patients a little more, so she licked a stripe from his balls to the tip. His hand clamped at her hair. “Sweetheart” he moaned. But when she heard a knock on the door her stopped, climbed half back up with one knee on the couch, covering her hand over his mouth. She heard the TNT twins arguing outside the door. “I told you she is never here this time.” - “Who said that? Maybe she is busy.” “I do.. You never listen to me! Let’s go.” - “I’m so done with you telling what to do. I’ll wait for her.”  

Y/N looked frustrated but Ben? He started to grin under her hand. Moving his hand over her thigh up to her wet cunt adding 2 fingers. She fell forward at the sudden but oh so good feeling. Ben moved hard and fast while they still heard the twins outside. When Ben started to rub his thumb at her clit, not slowing down, she had to hold back a moan by biting his shoulder. She felt her orgasm building, but when he without warning let go of her, she looked almost sad and angry at the same time. Ben grinned nodded to his pulsing dick. “I’ll be quiet he whispered in her ear.” Y/N dropped back on her knees. Still hearing TNT fighting like two children, about to leave or wait for her.  

She sat down on her knees next to him, on the couch and started to take his cock, this time taking him so deep in her mouth her nose brushed against his thigh. She could see how hard he was trying to be quiet it made her even wetter. Ben held her hair back so he could look at her. It was quiet outside when Ben came hard in her mouth, even though he tried to keep it quiet he couldn’t help himself but to thrust soft in her mouth holding her head still. Ben tossed her to the other end of the couch, adding the same two fingers in her and rubbing thumb at the same speed as he did before. It didn’t take long for Y/N to feel that orgasm coming back. She held her arm over her mouth when Ben pushed her over the edge.  

“Asshole.” She said laying there grinning, when he got up licking his fingers. “Hmm, you loved it.” he said. They got dressed, Y/N made sure her make-up was still intact and redid her hair. After they started dating and the new job, she took time for an entire rebranding. New wardrobe, painted her nails started to be more experimental with her make-up, started to wear heels more. Ben looked at her appreciating the fact that she finally embraced her beauty, it made her more confident, in and out of the bedroom. “You really look good today.” He blurred out. Y/N turned to him. “That is usually how it starts, not how is ends.” And kissed him while Ben was holding her ass cheek. She opened the door to let him out. They were both surprised TNT were still standing at the door. As were they surprised Ben walked out the door.  

“You guys had an appointment?” Y/N got out after a second. “Eh no, but we would like to rapport something to HR.” Tommy said very nervous. Y/N looked at him and Tessa trying to play it cool. Then she looked at Ben. “Well, I think that we were done right? Be-Soldier boy, sir?” “For now, good job on the... talk.” Ben said while leaving. “Alright get in. Take a seat” Y/N said but not without quickly opening a window. TNT looked at each other. “What can I help you with.” Y/N said with a honeysweet voice.  

That evening Y/N was helping her mom cooking. “How is Ben?” she asked sincerely interested. “He is ok, although Vought is getting on his nerves. They don’t see payback without Crimson Countess. So, replacing her is not going to be an option for now.” She said with sadness in her voice. “And how do you feel about it?” - “I don’t know mom, I’m willing to give it time. But the more we wait the harder it gets to me.” Your dad walked in. “You could find another man. You know a little less complicated.” The tv started to play an interview with Ben and CC about the new movie they are starring in.  Y/N rolled her eye but didn’t let her father see that. Y/N started to think about her father’s comment, it would be 10 times easier dating a normal man, with a normal job who doesn’t need to find a way to ditch his so-called girlfriend. Those thoughts got her in a downwards spiral of negative thoughts. Did Ben tell the truth? He is already playing a part at Vought and with CC. Maybe he never really asked to drop CC out of Vought. Maybe he is playing both ends. Which means he is probably still sleeping with other women as well. Y/N noticed her stomach turning, the thought of that made her really sick.  

She didn’t eat much that night and got home quickly. Y/N needed to hear Ben, hearing him could only bring her back to senses, although they agreed not to call at night, Ben had called her some nights when he was alone, but she never did, scared CC would answer or anyone at the front desk started to gossip. But this time Y/N hold herself and dialled the number. “Vought tower speaking” a soft sweet female voice answered - “hi, can you connect me to Soldier Boy please?” - “Who is this?” “Y/N, from HR.” - “One moment please.”  

The phone rang a little to long for Y/N’s liking. ”Hello, Y/N?” She heard CC answering. “CC hi.. I, eh need you.”  

“Me? Then why are you calling Ben?” -”Well, I actually need both of you.” she lied “Is he there too?” “No, he isn’t in our room, no clue where he is. Probably having.... fun, somewhere.” “Oh, well then I will see you tomorrow.” She quickly said and hung up the phone.  

Crimson’s lip twitched in a sneaky smile, little did Y/N know that Tessa had spoken to CC earlier today. “We knocked waited of over 30 minutes. Thinking we will see her appear in the hall. Guess who got out of her office? Ben! And I tell you countess opening that window didn’t make the smell of sex leave the room.”  

Ben got out of the bathroom. “Who was that?” CC looked at him. “Your girlfriend.”  

Ben smirked while pouring a drink “Y/N” she added. Ben stopped moving looked over at CC. “So, you finally found out. Congrets.” He clapped his hands. “Well, If you start fucking someone in their office sooner or later you’ll get caught.” He smiled at her, TNT... he thought. “Well, I’d love to take her in this bed, but you are in my way. And I don’t really want to share her with you.” Ben said cocky trying to sound unbothered.  

“Why her Ben? I don’t mean it in a “oh no why my best friend” way, more in a why the good schoolgirl type?” He got close to her leaning in while she was still sitting in the chair. “First off, she offers something pure that skanks like you can’t offer. 2nd once a nice girl opens up it’s like sex in heaven... or hell depends on how you categorise the things she does with that mouth.” He walked away seeing her getting angry at him. “I don’t care what you do. I do care that you are trying to replace me.” She stood up facing Ben. “Let’s make a deal, I get to keep Y/N you won’t hurt her. You take your cute ass out of my bedroom move in somewhere else.” She thought about it. “Ok, if I get to stay in payback and we get to stay a public couple.” - Not what Ben was hoping for but it was the best deal he had in a while, thinking this was just part one of his plan to get rid of her. “Deal.” 

The next morning Ben knocked at Y/N apartment. She opened the door but moved out of the way to her kitchen. He tried to kiss her a good morning, but she pretended to be in a rush.” Why are you here? I’ll see you in an hour at the daily meeting.” Y/N said cold. “I have good news. Thought I share it with you.” Y/N looked up waiting for the rest of the information. “Crimson is moving out. She knows, the deal is you and I can walk around Vought being us. CC will not hurt you and you can stay at my place.” He said proud.  

“At Vought? What about in public?” She asked seemingly not thrilled at the “good news”. Ben didn’t answer. “So, in public and for events you are still an item. I get to be the mistress at court. And what when I don’t sleep with you Ben at Vought? You’ll find another girl for the night?” “What? No...” He walked over to her, but Y/N backed out.” Sweetheart why would you think that?” “I don’t know Ben maybe because you’ve always, always did that? Why would I make a difference?” He didn’t know what to answer but started to get angry, visibly. “You know what Ben. You promised me a solution, CC gone or at least you two breaking up. But this? This changes nothing, oh yeah CC knows, so what we can fuck now with the door open?”  

Ben got so frustrated at Y/N he didn’t know how to react but in anger. “You know what leave it, I’m doing my fucking best, and this is my thanks?” He walked through the door leaving Y/N standing alone in her apartment, crying. That day was horrible for her. She felt the eyes of the employees linger on her, judging her. Tessa and CC made sure all of Vought knew about them, the HR trust person sleeping with the Supe the most complaints were about. People didn’t trust her anymore.  Ben walked past her office, looking at the closed door, taking a deep breath and knocked. But no one answered. He didn’t know that Y/N had a follow up appointment with an employee from the helpline, when he didn’t show up, she had tracked him down to his desk. When Y/N had asked is he wanted a new appointment he told her he didn’t want to talk to the puppet of the boss. Everyone at that open workplace heard that. And this wasn’t the first encounter. So, Y/N walked fast, almost ran to the bathroom, and started to cry. Was this the point she had to admit her dad was right? And Ben, he was too stubborn to talk to her. 

 

The next morning, Ben walked past Y/N thinking he won’t say a word, but when she walked past him not even looking at him and continued to talk in her sweet voice to Frank the photographer, he felt rage, hurt, misunderstood and even jealous. So, Ben walked behind her stopping her grabbing her arm pulling her against the wall. “WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!” He yelled. Y/N looked around seeing everyone had stopped walking or came out of their offices and started to stare at them. Y/N could feel his fingertips squeezing harder in her skin. “Ben, you’re hurting me.” She said soft. It took him a minute to realize he was holding her so tight.  

He let he go but didn’t take a step back. Y/N looked him in the eye. “You know what the problem is. Fix it or leave me alone.” She tried to walk past him. “Oh no sweetheart, I’m not done!” He pushed her back against the wall. “What do you want from me Y/N? What do you expect? A tied-up cocksucker, with a job as an, I don’t know, fucking accountant, who comes home every night to you and kissed your head when you’re making dinner while he secretly fucks his assistant at the office? Cause that’s not me sweetheart.” He got on her nerves. “Is it not? Then please enlighten my what we’ve been doing this past 2 years Ben? As far as I know YOU have been fucking the assistant and God knows how many other women!” Ben was surprised by her answer. “But oh no, she finally wants stability, how horrible of her! Do you even realize that because of you I have a terrible bond with my dad now? I fucking defended you! All you do is prove him right.”  

“I gave you stability, I gave you another job a raise so you could rent that apartment.” He responded “Yeah, thank you for giving me bits and pieces to keep me quiet. All that wouldn't be necessary if you’d man up and had admitted you were in a relationship. If that is even the right word for it.” - “Is that what it felt like? I gave you those things because I care for you.” - “Care for me, perfect words Ben. You might care or like me, but do you love me?” - “Yes of course!” - “Why didn’t you never tell me that?” Ben looked confused.  

“What?”  “You never said you loved me. Not once. All you do is fuck me when you have spare time between missions or shooting movies. The only time we actually slept together was when you accidently fell asleep in my room.” - “When did we have to sleep together, you said it yourself, you lived with your parents who hate me and Countess slept in my bed!” ”How about the year I’ve been living in my apartment? That I rent, oh yeah that’s right FOR US to be together. I really feel like a toy you take out when you’re bored. And I’m done Ben, so so done.” Y/N’s eyes stared to tear up. “Sweetheart...” He tried to wipe away the tears, but Y/N moved her head away.  

More and more people started to gather in the hall. “I really thought that one day I would be the girl who gave you children or the one you loved enough to leave this shithole for.” Ben kept listening to her. He never told her he loved her because there was something that held him back, he hoped that giving her all those things would show her he loved her. He had no idea that it would seem that he bought her patience. Even now, when he felt this was his last chance to show her, he cramped up thinking, I’m no good for her, she deserves a man who says he loves her every day. “Sweetheart, I ... I’m sorry.” he said while stepping back giving her space. Y/N’s heart dropped “So that’s it? I’m sorry?” Ben didn’t even look at her anymore hoping she wouldn’t see his tears. Y/N looked around starting to feel suffocating, nauseous. That was the day she left Vought.  

Y/N wanted Ben to make things right, she knew it was up to him. Ben on the other hand wanted to make things right, but he knew she was better off without him. Two stubborn souls.  

Ben had become more irrational, irritating, drugs and drank addicted than before. He made more mistakes than ever and didn’t even care anymore. Little did Y/N and Ben know that Payback and Vought planned to take out Ben in a year. 

---  

The phone rang: “Hello?”  

 

“Y/N... Y/N Is that you?” said the voice crying on the phone. “CC? What is going on.”  

“Ben... he, he.. ” She started but couldn’t finish that sentence. “No, that’s not possible CC. Tell me that is not possible!” Y/N dropped to the floor. “We tried to fight Y/N, really, all of us, we tried to safe him, but the Russians were with so many. They had this weapon... he fought hard but they... I held his dead body Y/N. He didn’t breathe no more.” CC blurred this out while crying. “Y/N? Y/N I'm sorry...I know you loved him, and I know he loved you... I’m so sorry Y/N.” But she didn’t answer anymore. Y/N hung up the phone still sitting on the floor. Y/N felt like her entire body just had been crushed, she couldn’t move. All she could do is stare at the floor in front of her. Y/N stayed in that same spot until her parents walked in her apartment after hearing the news on the TV. Her mother came running down to her hugging her, the second Y/N felt the arms of her mother she started to cry hysterical.  

CC invited Y/N to the memorial, she stood next to her holding her hand. Both crying over the man they lost. All of Vought pretending to have loved Soldier Boy, but she knew better. Half of these idiots don’t even know him, the rest hated him. Gunpowder came towards Y/N, the only man she knew who looked up to Ben. He gave her a little box. “You left this at your office, Ben... he kept it, wanting to return it one day.” He said with tears in his eyes. Y/N opened the box, the pearls he gave her for Christmas a few years back. Y/N’s eyes started to water again. “Thank you.” She said soft pulling him in a hug.  

Y/N lived the next 7 years of her life mourning Ben. Thinking what if she wasn’t as stubborn, what if she picked up the phone and talked to him, begged him to stop and start a family with her, but instead she waited for him to contact her. As she got older, she got peace with the fact that Ben tried to change for her before knocking at her door again, she could see the good now, better late than never. But she never really fell in love anymore, afraid of getting through the same painful experience.  

 By the time she was 60 she met a nice widower, Marc. He understood her grieve and gave her the time she needed, as she gave him his space to mourn his wife. It took quite some time before she allowed him in her life, they were friends first before accepting more. He showered her with love and attention. His kids even loved her, his grandkids called her grandma.  

Today it’s Y/N’s 70th birthday. She invited Marc’s kids and the grandkids and decided to have a family barbecue in the garden. After her parents passed away, she inherited their house. And lived there ever since. It was a perfect day for her. The sun was shining, Marc’s sons manned the grill holding a beer, Marc was playing with the kids, music in the background. Y/N came outside with the drinks when she heard a voice she didn’t hear in a long, long time.  

“Hi sweetheart.”  Y/N turned around.” That voice, no it can’t be.” she thought.  

Piercing her eyes a little, at first glance she didn’t recognise him. But then her heart dropped, it was like looking at a ghost. “Ben?” He smiled softly. “Ben!” She dropped the plate she was holding on to the terrace. “This can’t be.” The family came running towards the noise of glass shattering on the floor.  

Y/N moved towards Ben placing her hand on his face. “It is really you, isn’t it?” Marc looked at the strange man in their back yard, he looked like a wanderer with his beard and long hair. “Honey?” He asked trying to make her come back to earth. “Marc, this ... this is Ben.” She turned back at Ben. “I thought you were dead. I mourned you.” “I wished I was.” He answered softy. She offered Ben a shower, her daughter in law cut his hair and beard a little while Y/N prepared a plate with something to eat. He sat down at the table to tell his story what had happened, what they did to him. After that it got quiet. Your family left the table and gave you some space, so you walked around the garden. “He seems like a nice man, beautiful family.” He said a little jealous. “Marc is sweet, his kids, their kids really make me feel loved.” “His kids?” he asked. “Yeah, I never got married.” She said a little ashamed to admit. “I only know Marc for 10 years.  

“I’m glad you found what you deserved.” “Why did you come here Ben? Don’t get me wrong. It is amazing seeing you.” She looked him in the eye. He saw that young shy yet driven woman again that he once loved. “When I was in Russia, I thought a lot about you. And I thought to myself if I ever get out here, I’m going to tell her.” - “Tell me what?” She asked.   

Ben locket eyes with her. He leaned in, holding her cheek and kissed her softly on the lips.  

 

“I love you.”  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading. If you liked this, please check out my masterlist for other stories.

I got the request for an alternative ending. The first part will remain the same following up the fight they had at Vought.

[a-legacy-not-to-be-forgotten]

Undertale Yellow Car Headcanons 2

People liked the first one, so I figured I'd go do a few more to cover some folks I missed and add some extras for ones I already covered. Kudos to a friend on Discord who's a massive car nut and suggested quite a few of these. First one in case you haven't seen it. This one's a bit chonkier, so grab a snack or something.

Martlet: Electric Bike

Even if Martlet getting her hands on a driver's license is nigh impossible, we figured she should at least have something, even if she doesn't use it that much. Electric bikes seem to fit her style. Dunno if she'd use it often, but if the surface has no-fly laws or whatever, it'd probably help her out some.

Toriel: 2CV

...okay, Tori isn't really a UTY-exclusive character, but she has a minor role in the game, so does she count? Anyway, my friend had the idea of her using what they described as 'everybody's favorite little wine snail' and I think it fits her too well.

Chujin: Loud Ass 90s Tuner Car

If Chujin didn't inject raw Mountain Dew Voltage into his soul and survived to see the surface, he'd probably drive something like this. It ties in with the whole Ben 10 thing and it's a great way to express himself, as obnoxious as it may be. Usually, Ceroba makes him drive the family sedan.

Ceroba: If She Owned the Hummer (Semi-Joke one)

I meant for it as a shitpost, but we thought up an idea if she actually did own the car. Don't worry, she always looks before merging. Anyway, we figured she got it mainly because it's pretty cool. However, it is a massive waste of gas money, so she only uses it for camping or driving Kanako and Clover around on their birthdays. Otherwise, it mainly collects dust in her garage while she uses the more fuel-efficient sedan.

El Bailador: Lowrider

Kudos to @cheddarchandelure for suggesting this and it couldn't fit any better. Lowriders fit him like a glove. You know he just has this thing modded like crazy. It's nearly 20 feet of car, too. You don't get much more expressive than that.

Feisty Five: GMC Vandura

I gave the Feisty Five individual vehicles, but they also kinda need a car for the whole gang and what better vehicle for a group of crime fighting dinguses. Perfect for missions, lassons, or just hanging out as a group together. Starlo technically owns it, but usually Moray or Ace drive the thing.

Ace: Antique Mercedes

Okay, I know I technically already did Ace in the first part, but my friend suggested an Antique Mercedes, which I think fits a lot better than the Porche. I'll let you guys draw your own conclusions, tho.

Moray: SLK Roadster

Still a convertible, but I didn't like the image I used in the last one. So now we got a specific model for our favorite fish with no gender.

Mooch: Pretty Much Anything, but here's a Corolla

On the chance that Mooch somehow gets her license back, she'd be willing to drive whatever. Hopefully more responsibly this time around.

Dina: 5th Gen Mustang

My friend suggested that a classier style of muscle car would fit better than the more aggressive model I used in the first, and I think it suits her more laid-back nature well.

Blackjack: Antique Flatbed

It's been in his family for generations, and he's way too attached to the thing to get rid of it. Generally, he just fixes up anything that breaks down on him.

Starlo's Family: Uh...Trucks

The main workhorses for the Sunnyside Farm. Sure, they got a few dents and aren't the cleanest or most advanced, but hey, they get the job done. Mainly driven by Solomon and Orion, occasionally Starlo. The Cabover (bottom) is generally used for the big harvests and the pickup works for everything else.

Mo: C4 Corvette

The perfect car for a sleazy businessman! Well, not sleazy, but you get what I mean. He likes to act stylish with his choice of car, but his is constantly breaking down mechanically, since he doesn't really bother fixing the thing, just detailing it. Doesn't leave the best impressions for shoppers.

Honeydew Shopkeeper: Figaro

Why? Well, simple, it's small and cute, just like she is! Not much else to say beyond that.

Kanako: '70 Dodge Challenger

Kanako's still a bit too young to drive, but we settled on this for a dream car of hers, with both a road and track package. She got the idea from both the racing games she plays and Dina's own muscle car. Nobody understands why, But she really wants to visit San Francisco with it

Clover: Ford Galaxie Convertible

Figured we should do Clover's dream car as well. Not much a reasoning, we thought this just fit their style. Once they come of age, you know darn well they'll be racing Kanako.

Warned ya that would be a big one! Anyway, lemme know what y'all think!

[seeminglydark]

good news! i finally got a job after being unemployed for a few years. it’ll be at least a year or two before i’m able to move out due to trying to pay off my credit card debt but i’m excited that i’ll be able to leave town and get away from unsupportive family. i’m trying to spend as little money as possible on entertainment stuff and i have a massive book collection that i’m excited to read and sell some of it i don’t feel like i need them anymore. you’re comics have been very helpful for me to be able to understand and express myself. it has given me a lot of joy since finding it especially after the loss of my cat a month ago.

any tips for a queer punk trying to escape and start over with no support system?

happy pride month! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

ANON! I'm so proud of you, thats incredible! i am wishing you all the best on your journey forward and out. it sounds to me like you already have a good handle on things, paying down your debt is a great place to start. depending on how much debt you have, (most of my advice is US based I'm afraid, since thats where i grew up as a poor lonely punk so hopefully it can help you, or someone else) you may be able to find a financial counselor or coach, (not adviser!) to help you get rid of some of it immediately. there are ways to 'challenge' things on your credit that have been there for a while, and many times the creditors will either drop it cuz they dont want to deal with paperwork, or reduce it to a much smaller payable sum because to them something is better than nothing. a lot of cities has free nonprofit programs to help with this, and other non profit organizations offer them as well depending on your community. This will also help improve and build your credit score cuz even a punk might need to buy a home or rent an apartment one day.

i know there is an allure to big name cities when you move, i lived in one myself while poor as dirt and it kinda sucked (Austin tx specifically) because it was so expensive. look into where you want to go before moving there, look at cost of living, and public transit, things like that. it looks like youre waiting a while before going, look into job transfers so you might not have to start completely fresh from the bottom.

thrift stores are great but they are getting more expensive by the year, but when youre a poor guy in a new place, dumpster diving might be an option. please dont ever get a mattress from a dumpster ok? bedbugs are a thing and often why those are thrown out, but other things like tables, chairs, shelves etc. check your local papers and neighborhood boards, sometimes hotels and such renovate and when they do they auction furniture off dirt cheap. Thanks Mr Marriott for furnishing my house for like 40 bucks in 2005!

When you move out, if you are still struggling financially, you can look into fixed rent apartments, you usually have to get on a list, but there are places out there to help you get on your feet. a REALLY good resource for many things if going to be your local library. librarians are like gods and they know SO MUCH that can help you.

speaking of libraries. you do deserve a little joy, i would think about perhaps getting a electronic reader, did you know that you can rent books and audio books from libraries with one? plus it reduces the bulk of books you may have to move later. i know the vibe is different from getting to touch the pages, but the pleasure of reading is still there. The library is also going to be a great place to meet people and find a circle of support and new friends. many of them have clubs and community activities ranging from book clubs to everything in between, you can even suggest a club yourself that they might consider hosting. don't deprive yourself of happiness, itll be helpful on the days when it gets hard to move forward.

its been a hot minute since i was alone and starting over, and things have changed a lot so im not completely sure all of this is still relevant, library is ALWAYS a good place to start. if my followers have any advice, please feel free to chime in the comments as well! im so proud of you anon, and keep us updated as life goes on. <3

[tpwkwriter]

u r my fave writter everrrr! And I wanted to recommend H helping the reader with anxiety, depression, an eating disorder and like a traumatic childhood. THANK YOUUUUU

My comfort.

First of all thank you so, so much Not only for your request but lovely words! 🥰

And wowser A traumatised y/n! 🫢but luckily H is there hey!

*Warnings* mentions of depression, anxiety, trauma,drug use!, body dysmorphia, struggles with eating and various mental health issues! My dms are open always! 🤎

Love your beautiful selfs! 🫶🏼

— — — — —

Ever since a young age y/n had been through various battles.

Her childhood was far from mundane, when she was about 9 her parents took to several different substances and would happily leave y/n and her sister alone for many hours through the day.

When the girl hit her early teens she was aware of what was going on and that realisation hit her like a ton of bricks, knowing her parents would rather be out doing his knows what, with god knows who then actually looking after her and her sister

When it was time for secondary school, y/n would still admit that this was the worst time for her. 7 hours of constant work to come home and play mother. The constant comparisons to her and her classmates drove her mad, the reminder of exams and work it was all a bit much.

When she hit 17 she went to college and took part in a weekend job to earn some money on the side. Of course her parents eyes lit up once they heard money was being made.

On y/n’s sisters 12th birthday y/n was finally able to buy her gifts and treat the young girl. However this didn’t go down with the rest of the family, y/n recalls this memory very clearly even though she’s been trying to repress it for years.

The argument they had that evening was booming, her father threw anything he could get his hands on, her mother threw every insult and shaming word there was, all of this because she wouldn’t lend them money?

The night quickly escalated when an empty vase was threw at y/n leaving a cut on her wrist that scarred and she still sees to this day.

From that night y/n picked up longer shifts, and more hours just for a bit more money and financial stability.

By her 18th birthday she could afford her first car, wasn’t anything grand but the freedom it allowed her was amazing, she finally felt proud of how she’s done this all herself, she finally felt pride in herself and not self hatred.

Fast forward to age 25 and her life was something she wasn’t expecting.

She was with one of the most recognisable faces, who was able to show her parts of the world she never thought she could, he gave her the biggest comfort and safe feeling that she ever so lacked.

Her sister was currently 21 living with her own boyfriend and was equally as happy, and both of them was as close as ever.

Y/n loved Harry with everything in her, and wanted no chance or risk that he would walk out on her. Y/n adamantly worked on her figure everyday, she started off her morning in the gym, went for a run at-least once a week, this was good n all but she slowly started slipping meals and going past them.

It was currently nearing 6pm and H had just come back from the studio and long day.

“Alright love?” He asks putting a hand on her waist and kissing her cheek as she was finalising dinner.

“Oh my god H” she giggled

“Y’made me jump! Didn’t hear y’come in” she smiled

“Was m’plan” he smirked kissing her again.

“How was y’day” he ask, reaching the top cupboard for too glasses knowing she wouldn’t be able to reach them.

“Was okay, got Tomorrow off so no excuse to get rid of me” she smiled.

“You?” She asked

“S’okay busy, happy to have our day tomorrow”

Dinner was finalised, and the both sat at the table speaking through there day to each other.

“Y’been to the gym today?” He asked

“Yeah” she answered.

“Did 2 hours in there today!!” She said proudly.

“M’proud of you darling, make sure we’re not overworking ourselves right?” He asks slipping her a look that was all too familiar.

“M’not, I just wanna stay, like this I guess?” She smiles.

“What do you mean baby? Y’gorgeous” he states.

“Have you eaten today?” He asks stopping in his tracks to watch her.

“Um” she wonders.

“I mean, m’eating right now, but I just wasn’t hungry really” she claims, taking another spoonful of her food to her mouth.

“Y/nnnnn” he playfully drags

“I promise I’ll eat more tomorrow, just, wasn’t hungry today!” She smiles.

“Y’did 2 hours in the gym and didn’t eat anything after?” He asks tone getting deeper and eyebrows raising.

“I really I didn’t mean to, I was running errands after and I forgot” she says standing up from her seat collecting the plates from them both.

H joins her in kitchen and helps her tidy up.

“Thanks H” she said.

“N’worries, thanks for dinner love” he says kissing her temple swiftly.

“Gonna get dressed, and then we can watch one of your bloody documentaries?” He smiles

“Y’know it H” she blushes.

They reluctantly parted, y/n found herself bundled up on the couch with a fluffy blanket awaiting her loves return, she found herself scrolling mindlessly on instagram.

When your current boyfriend has exes in the like of Kendall Jenner, cara delavine and Camille Rowe it’s often hard not to feel worse compared to them, curiosity took y/n over and she clicked on Camille’s instagram page, she was greeted with selfies, pictures of events she’s been too, her with her friends and various other things, her beautiful eyes, her shiny long hair, her model figure, she was straight out of a magazine.

Suddenly all of y/n’s work felt pointless, no matter what she would always be compared to these fashionable girls, that familiarity hits her once again.

She set her phone down and focused on the Tv in-Front of her and fell deeper into her fluffy blanket she was cuddling.

Without a word of exchange H joins her back on the sofa, sits next to the girl and guides her legs to his lap, allowing his fingers to gently trace over her shins and ankles.

“I love you” she says eyes remaining glued to the screen.

His movements stop and he turns his head to her.

“I love you too”

The night was slowly closing and the couple slowly started there evening routine.

Y/n was in there shared bathroom going through with her skincare before bed, a million thoughts popped up at once, she didn’t know if It was her anxiety or just her clear overthinking tendencies

Y/n glanced in the mirror, all she saw was all imperfections, she couldn’t even compare to Taylor swift or Kendall Jenner in anyway shape or form.

“Baby Y’alright?” Harry asked from the other side of the door.

She quickly tapped her phone to see the time just to realise she’s spent nearly an hour locked in the bathroom.

“Yeah baby m’now Coming out” she said shaking the train of though out of her head.

Silent tears roll down her face.

Him. He was so amazing in everything he did. His voice was safe. His words were so comforting. The thought of him not being around her terrified the shit out of her.

— — — — —

Part 2 coming soon!

Hopefully you all like this! There will be a part 2 as I don’t want this to be a really long fic, because I have many ideas what I want done with this!!! 🤎

[sunnylolli]

I came across your punk Arthur dad au where Al was having a bad day and I'd be really interested to know your headcanons of punk Arthur as a dad if you have any. I cant remember if that art came from a human au or not but I vibe so hard with the idea of human punk Arthur just raising his kid y'know? btw I wanna eat your art style its so good

Boy do I ever!!!

It is indeed a human au and it does have FrUk, but I focus more on Arthur and Alfred as their own little family-

Arthur is a young single dad. And I mean he's young as in he's just shy of 18 when Alfred is born and he's just turned 19 when Alfred is made his sole responsability.

Arthur needs to stop doing gigs and needs to put a pin in his entire social life because most of his 'friends' are really only friends with him because they go out drinking together and go to concerts, y'know?So by withdrawing from that for Alfred's sake, Arthur kind of ends up only really having Gilbert around, because Gilbert isn't really that easy a person to get rid of.

(Putting a read more because I go nuts beneath here, it seems)

- Arthur as a punk dad would obviously end up having a very different grown up Alfred than we got in canon- A very left leaning Alfred.

But I see him bringing Alfred to things still, but he doesn't bring him to places with too many people or music that is way too loud because 1. he's worried someone will come snatch Alfred from him and 2. he doesn't want to ruin his hearing.

He brings him to protests though, with earbuds. And 1970s Britain, it's not like those are lacking in any capacity. So we have Alfred sitting on Arthur's shoulders in a way too large band t-shirt, his hair messed up and having the time of his life in the sea of people protesting worker's rights.

And then he'll leave Alfred with Gilbert a few hours every day while he runs around trying to find a job! Which he eventually does and starts gradually making an attempt to make a savings fund for Alfred.

But it doesn't change the fact they're poor.

But they live in a flat, they own a vacuum and a kitchen, they have running water and they eat doner kebab at least a few times a month. And when Alfred starts school, Arthur starts uni in hopes of getting himself a more well-paying job, Alfred and Matthew get the same uniform as everybody else does.

So yeah, they're poor, but it could definitely be worse.

Arthur doesn't push ideology on either Alfred nor Matthew (When he enters into the picture), he doesn't tell them what to think, but he expresses his own beliefs and asks them things that can get them to think for themselves such as:

"If you were in their shoes, how would you feel about [x,y,z.]." And "Alright, then how would you like [xyz] to be different?"

Like he's very democratic in his parenting and he believes very firmly that good people aren't born, they're made. And while he doesn't have many expectations set in stone for either of them, he does expect them to do their best at things that they like doing and he does expect them to be good people.

Arthur is genuinely interested in who Al and Mat will grow up to be, the scene where he lies on the floor with Alfred is a reflection of that, in how he speaks to Alfred like a person rather than to a child-

(Because when soeaking to children it's important to remember they are just as much a person deserving of respect and recognition as any other person is and they do not owe you shit just because they happen to be a child. They do not owe you respect, if you cannot show them any.)

And also! In this au, Arthur simply is a good dad; Because I have started studying and I love projecting things I learn onto him and have him utilize my knowledge.

Punk Dad Arthur is the healthiest Arthur that exists within the Sunny sphere.

[autisticrosewilson]

In Trouble

Um. This is a joke that's not a joke that spawned from a conversation with @perseus-jackass about Nurse! Jason and Red X! Grant, that spiraled into a Miraculous Ladybug style love square situation lmao. OG's will remember when this was an ML blog, you could say I'm going back to my roots. Also this story is omegaverse! It's not really mentioned till Jason's pov but I don't want to blindside anyone

"Scream if you have to." Robin says gently, before wrenching his shoulder back into place. Grant does scream, he jerks and writhes but gloved hands hold him in place while his bones shift under the skin. There's a white hot pain that spreads through his arm, an aching relief as everything is realigned, and then everything goes prickly and numb.

Grant lays there panting, staring up at the smoggy night sky. Gotham doesn't even give him the courtesy of stars after subjecting them all to her madness. Robin had at least been kind enough to lay down his cape before his impromptu field med session, but goosebumps are spreading up his arms the longer his bare torso is in contact with the New Jersey air. At least Robin had helped him remove his shirt instead of cutting it off, as he'd threatened to.

"Good job," Robin praises, "you took that so well!" He grins, a certified Robin smile. Suddenly, Grant knows where all the stars went.

"Uh, thanks." Grant says absently, eyes tracing over the glint of too-sharp canines peaking out from cracked lips. Robin's a lip biter, he notes, the flesh has been scraped off. They'd probably bleed with little to no effort.

Grant wants to try, wants to taste it.

Slade clears his throat, and Grant remembers that his family is in the room, among several other hostages, and about twelve previously armed men who are now very unconscious. Robin himself has moved onto taking stock of everyone in the room, likely doing a head count and checking for any other injuries, but he signals for Slade to wait. He tilts his head slightly, finger coming to rest on the communicator in his ear.

"Okay folks, police are en route and the parameter has been cleared. I'm going to lead you all to the nearest exit, keep your head low and try not to make any noise. Listen carefully and stay behind me." Robin pops out of his crouch, helping Grant up as he gives the group orders.

"Look, kid-" Slade starts, and is promptly cut off by multiple snorts from the other hostages. The Gothamites, Grant realizes when he notices how calm they are. The collective reaction seems to throw his father off for a moment, but he continues. Grant feels a flash of second hand embarrassment. "Shouldn't you let the professionals take care of this?"

Robin smiles placatingly, it's got customer service written all over it. "I understand this is an upsetting situation, especially for a tourist, but we have everything handled." He assures.

Slade goes to say something else but Robin doesn't spare him a second glance, pulling out a handful of zip ties from one of the pouches of his belt. He gets to work ridding the men of weapons before tying their hands behind their backs, and then looping more zip ties through those to fix them all firmly together. None of them would be going anywhere anytime soon. He kicks all their guns to a far off corner anyway for good measure, but pockets a hunting knife one of them had been carrying.

"Secured," Robin chirps to whoever is on the other side of his comm, "Where to next?" He rolls his shoulders, resting his hands on his hips. After a moment Robin nods to himself. "Got it, meet you outside."

Grant watches as he heads towards the door, most of the hostages easily following his orders, they stay close together and seem to default to herding the omegas and pups in the middle. He almost gets swept up in it, shielded by the crowd, but then Slade's big hand is on his back bringing him and Joey to the front of the group just behind Robin.

He's shorter than he seemed earlier, when he was looming above Grant, backlit by flashing red lights like a blood soaked angel. He's slimmer without the cape wrapped around him, but with his gaze stuck to the muscle flexing in Robin's thighs he can tell the dark haired boy is stronger than he looks.

Robin leads the way, crouched low and keeping to the wall. The crowd does the same, unusually calm as they gently shush the children and tourists who aren't quiet enough. The implicit trust is breathtaking, the easy way that Robin commands the crowd with a cocksure smile and easy confidence. They only run into trouble once on the way to the exit and Grant barely has time to flinch before him and Joey are both shoved behind dad. Grant strains to see how Robin reacts to the two guards rushing at them but all he can make out is a flurry of movement and flailing limbs. There's the cracking of bone and then Robin's ringing laughter and then the hallway is still and quiet again. Slade's grip on his shoulder is still tight, Joey still pressed to Slades back. Grant nudges forward in time to see Robin securing the unconscious bodies.

He turns back to the crowd, hair a little messy and cheeks a little red but hardly even out of breath, and motions for them to keep going. They do, the group easily parting around the crooks before clustering back together. Like fish, Grant thinks, absently reminded of a trip to the aquarium not long ago.

They all file out in a straight line when they reach the exit, Robin holding the door open and checking behind for any stragglers before breaking away from the group to stand beside Batman. He looks even smaller next to the imposing figure of the Bat, but the cops seem to take his orders seriously.

Grant is pulled away by Slade and he barely realizes where they're going until he hears his mom's voice. She pulls him into a hug, all warm tobacco and vanilla but it almost doesn't register. She pulls Joey in next, peppering his face with kisses and surely staining it with her dark lipstick in the process. Her and Slade are talking about something over his head, but everything sounds like it's underwater. His attention is pulled back to Robin, sitting with some of the younger pups who are having their statements taken, someone's chubby toddler being bounced on his knee. He assumes the man in the nearby ambulance is the child's mother if his intent gaze and round belly are anything to go by.

Without thinking he clutches the fabric around his shoulders tighter. It's heavier than it looks, soft but tough. The outside is plastic-y, like a raincoat, but the inside is silky fabric slips pleasantly over his skin. He feels a tug on it from behind him, tuning back into the immediate conversation.

"Now what is this?" His mother frets.

His mouth opens but he doesn't say anything at first. "Robin gave it to me." He manages, the first thing he's said all night. He clutches the cape tighter, unwilling to let it go. It's a comforting weight, it feels like all that's keeping him on the ground, like if he lets go he'll simply float away.

His mother reaches for his face, tilting towards her. Her eyes are sharp but not angry, studying his expression and the look in his eyes carefully. Whatever she sees makes him purse her lips and glance towards the ambulance. "Oh my baby, you're in shock." She tells him, but the meaning behind the words doesn't register.

"First time getting his shoulder reset, he'll be fine." Slades voice, an attempt to be reassuring. Grant tenses before the words fully compute.

"WHAT!" His mom's voice is loud and shrill enough to make his ears ring and he knows they're going to start a fight.

He's shaking, he realizes, gaze dropping down to the trembling of his good hand where it's resting on her elbow. He doesn't remember moving it. Her skin is warm under his hands, he can feel the way her muscles are tensing as the voices around him raise.

He turns back to Robin, but the boy is already staring at him. At least Grant thinks so, hard to tell where he's looking with the white lenses, but he's facing Grant's direction. His lips are twisted, displeasure or concern maybe, and Grant wants to soothe him but he doesn't know how. Then his head tilts, just slightly, and Grant realizes that Robin had been looking at his parents. He can feel Robin's attention on him fully now, settling over him like sunlight. It's warm and grounding and he can feel his body again. Robin smiles, small and proud and encouraging. A secret just for Grant, to keep and cherish and own. And then Robin is turning, attention maddeningly taken by the others that Grant has just remembered. He feels cold, the kind of cold you feel in the early morning when you've just slipped from your warm blankets, the kind that settles on your skin and then sinks into your bones.

Grant's eyes don't leave Robin until the car pulls away, and as he's craning his neck to catch one last glimpse he sees Robin standing on his tip toes to wave Grant goodbye. He waves back, but the windows are tinted and they're already too far away.

Jason has a secret, and an embarrassing one at that. He knows if anyone ever found out he'd never be able to live it down. Jason doesn't even know how it started really, it's not like he's ever been interested in the latest trends or celebrity gossip.

Jason will blame Rena, because it's easier than analyzing the alternative. Technically it started with a routine hostage situation, but for deflection purposes, it starts with a link to an app that's trying too hard to be Vine. He'd squinted at it, toothbrush still in his mouth, half convinced it was a rickroll.

Jay: Why are you up?

Ren: Why are YOU up?

Jay: I asked you first.

Ren: I messaged you first

Jay: Not how that works.

He had rolled his eyes at the time, finishing up his nightly routine, reluctantly chewing on the multivitamins he's supposed to take every night before bed. The gummies only, never the pills.

Ren: did you watch the video

Jay: I'm not clicking an unknown link, Rena.

Ren: wow full name

Jay is typing...

Ren: Not an excuse for you to use my real full name

Ren: seriously watch the video!!

Jason remembers huffing, he probably put it off till the last second, until he was curled up in bed and on the cusp of finally getting some rest. It's all secondary to the video though, the familiar face split into a wolfish grin, those pretty eyes catching the flash of cameras and sending a wink towards the viewer. It's obviously some kind of rich person event, paparazzi lined up and a carpet laid out on the damn ground, but you wouldn't know it from how the boy is dressed. The orange and blue jacket over the button up would probably make him snort usually, but all he can think about is broad shoulders and warm skin under his hands. Unwarded he remembers what Grant's bare chest looked like, and then the image of strong shoulders wrapped in Jason's cape. He doesn't know how many times he watches the video before the next message comes through.

Ren: isn't he hot?

Jay: Who is he?

Jason already knows of course, but Rena doesn't know that, and he's not keen on informing her. She might start getting ideas.

Ren: Grant Kane, he's some old money CEOs son from New York or something

Jay: And?

Kentucky, Jason corrects mentally, Adeline Kane is from New York but the Wilson family lives in Kentucky.

Ren: I heard his mom is coming to your charity gala next week

Jason's heart skips a beat, teeth sinking into his lip to bite back the giddy grin trying to break through.

Jay: Once again, and?

Ren: And? C'mon when do we get to see new faces at these things? Especially ones as pretty as his!

Jealousy twinges in his chest, churning hotly in his stomach for a moment before he's hit with a flash of guilt.

Jay: oh? You interested

Ren: Pft nah

Ren: this is for you

Ren: my ducks are in a row

Jay: Hurtful, but whatever. I don't even know him. Maybe I don't want that duck in my row.

Ren: Start being real with yourself rn

Ren: I'm coming over tomorrow so we can decide on what you're wearing<333

Usually he matches with Bruce, or Dick if he shows up. He can only imagine what Rena is going to try to talk him into. Technically, Jason is unpresented, even though everyone else his age has already. Most pups present around thirteen, Jason is turning sixteen soon. Leslie says it'll be any day now, that with time, and love, and a steady three meals a day Jason will come into his own in no time. Jason isn't so sure.

Rena herself is a beta, but she's always been a bit of a rule breaker. More so than Jason anyway. She always goes above and beyond with her outfits for these things, with the kind of passion obviously bred from living with the biggest fashion mogul in Gotham. He can only imagine what her plans to play matchmaker are going to entail.

Ren: I've enlisted Eddie to help me

Jason stops, fingers hovering over the keyboard, jaw slack. The indignity! He doesn't need a- an intervention to help him get a date!

Jay: When did you guys even start talking?

Ren: YOU gave me his number

Jay: That was a courtesy! You weren't actually supposed to use it!

Ren: 😜

Jason scowls at his phone. He switches over to his chat with Eddie, certain the omega is still awake watching a terrible obscure movie he's going to tell Jason all about when they see each other again.

Jaybin: I've been betrayed, forsaken, abandoned.

KD: Ok edgelord lmao

Jaybin: STOP laughing I've been the victim of a conspiracy!

KD: Are people on Twitter calling you guys vampires again or do they have something more interesting?

Jaybin: Not that kind of conspiracy.

KD: ???

There's a pause as Eddie stops typing, Jason assumes to go Google it, before his speech bubble pops up again.

KD: Is this about me and Rena wingmanning for you

Jaybin: SO YOU ADMIT TO IT! FIEND! SCOUNDREL!

KD: Weird way to say thank you but okay

Jaybin: I don't need help.

KD: ok well we would LIKE to help

KD: please let us

Jason purses his lips. He hates when Eddie does this. Like he's the one being difficult here. Sometimes he feels like everyone treats him even younger than he is. Just because he hasn't presented doesn't mean he's a baby. He can't wait to be sixteen, hopefully by then he'll know his designation too.

Jaybin: Fine, but I retain full rights to veto anything you pick or any plan you make.

Eddie's response is a gif of a cat doing a happy dance, and though he rolls his eyes he likes the message. He's added to a new chat immediately, one with the three of them in it. Rena sends the video to this new chat, apparently named Operation: HONEYPOT. Jason finds quickly that his lack of admin rights means he can't change it.

He huffs, watching the two messages back and forth. Sending photos he's already seen and telling him information he already knows about Grant. The screen slowly goes dark as his eyes flutter closed, burying his face in the milky hazelnut scent just barely managing to cling to the shirt he's been using as a pillowcase, the MCTC logo pressed against his cheek.

It's a guilty pleasure, he supposes, Grant's smell in his nose as he imagines what his voice sounds like, of Grant pressing into his touch instead of flinching away. He switches to an app easily passing as a calculator, inputting the password without thought to pull up the tracking grid.

He skims over everyone else's - Bruce and Alfred are in the manor, Natalia is in her manor on the boundary of Little Italy and Summerset, Dick's phone is at least in his BludHaven apartment, Barbie is still staying at her dad's house until she gets used to her wheelchair - the one he's looking for is marked with the Robin symbol, blinking steadily, somewhere in Kentucky. The sky is probably clear for him, a star filled sky unobstructed by the pollution of the city. He imagines Grant staring out at the sky, red lip caught between his teeth, thinking about Jason. What he might be doing as he does.

Jason nods off, eyes fluttering shut, matching his breath to the gentle pulse on the screen.

[upthewitchypunx]

You all seemed very confused about my last post, trust me, I'm just as confused about the casting a spell that binds someone's sexuality, but I guess that's where we are.

Look, I try to be a compassionate person, but sometimes when you reconnect with someone who was close to you over 20 years ago and invite them to live in your home it doesn't always go well.

I don't like talking about other people's stories, especially online, but this has affected our life and our home and brought chaos into our space. So, this is my story.

This old friend seems to have it together, paid rent early and had a job lined up before they got here. It seemed they were having a bit of trouble adjusting. After a few months it was clear they were going through a mental health thing for the 3rd time in 2 months and making wild accusations and doing hurtful things like smoking cigarettes and massive amounts of weed when they know they have a lung problem and abandoning cats with no food or water or not paying all their rent or giving 30 days notice before they leave town, you just have to cut ties.

This was the last straw. The one before was 2 weeks ago when I was accused of thinking they wanted to use magic to steal my partner and that somehow because I knew stuff they didn't I was making them feel bad about it and that they think I think they just want to steal all my ideas.

I was compassionate. I stayed calm. I said I was confused, asked if she was okay. A few days later she came down crying to apologize, said she wasn't okay. We talked. I told her about the Oregon Health Plan and how she could get some help. She seemed grateful and she did and had an appointment lined up.

Then last week we left for Astoria for a night and she was there at 4 pm to bring a package in but by 1pm the next day when we got home most of her things were gone except furniture that wouldn't fit in her car. We didn't really notice the things gone at first and thought maybe she had gone on a little trip because the cats were still here so we fed them and got them water, then messaged her after a few days. She claims she had a medical issue and called an ambulance. Then her family came here and towed her home. The time line doesn't make sense. Her family is a 12 hour drive away. How long was she in the hospital? How long did it take to pack her car? Why did she leave the cats? Why didn't she tell us on her own about the medical emergency?

I'm a pretty forgiving person, especially if the person is honest and isn't trying to take advantage of me. It often bites me in the ass, but at least I know I can sleep at night and treat people to my own ethical standard until I hit a point.

Last night we got more confusing messages declaring we actually wanted her cats all along and the whole binding her sexuality thing. We decided that it wasn't worth putting effort into this relationship, she's with her family now, we aren't getting blood from a stone, and that we had done as much as we could, calmly said we were confused and hurt and will find new homes for the cats, and blocked her.

I don't usually air someone's personal issues online, but this is someone you will never know, they probably won't see this, I don't really care if they do, and this is my blog and this is an incredibly frustrating, emotionally laborious, and financially unexpected experience we are going through right now and I just need to vent.

I've already contacted a cat rescue about the cute nice cat and the hissing mean cat that won't come out of the closet. Now I need to get rid of a brand new IKEA bed frame, a couch, a big clothing rack, 2 poorly constructed book shelves, a TV, a bunch of clothes and shoes, a record player that doesn't work, a giant stack of new age books, and a bunch of other random shit.

Oh, and cleanse the house of that nonsense before finding a new housemate, which a friend of a friend is interested in.

All of this while we are working to make the shop on the first floor browsable.

Please do not make disparaging comments about someone who is seriously going through something. I don't need to hear it. It won't be helpful or have a point. I'm not mad, just annoyed and wishing people had better communication.

[astra-galaxie]

hi i know i already asked for one of them before but ★☆✿♡♥☮▼ൠ for karen and frank cus i LOVE ur hcs sm i swearrr <333 thank you :D

No worries! You can ask for whoever you want when I’m doing headcanon prompts, even if I’ve done them before with past ones!🙂

Happy to hear you love my HCs! Hopefully, you’ll love these as much as the last ones!

Karen:

★ - sad headcanon

After she and Frank divorced, Karen kept her engagement and wedding rings in a special jewelry box. She had considered getting rid of them, but even in the middle of her grief and sadness, she couldn’t bear to part with them. But she also couldn't bring herself to continue wearing them, so she got a small jewelry box for them. And if that jewelry box happened to be turtle-themed because it reminded her of Frank and his love of turtles, well, that’s just a coincidence…

☆ - happy headcanon

When Karen finds out she is pregnant, both times, she tells Frank by getting him a donut with the word “Daddy!” frosted on it. The first time, Frank thought it was Karen trying to be kinky or something, but when he realized what it actually meant, he was overjoyed! The second time, he immediately knew what the donut meant when he saw the word and wasted no time proclaiming his excitement.

Donuts are a little inside joke the couple has. Karen kept teasing Frank that he would be eating a lot of donuts after he graduated from the police academy, and she buys some occasionally for them to share. While Frank doesn’t eat a stereotypical amount of donuts, he enjoys the joke he shares with Karen and later gets to share with their daughters.

♥ - family headcanon

Karen has always wanted to have kids and start a family of her own. But she hated how people expected it from her just because she was a woman. She had boyfriends in the past who expected her to become a stay-at-home mom, but Karen didn’t want to give up her career, at least not permanently. That’s one thing she loves most about Frank; he never once suggested that she quit her job to raise their kids after she found out she was pregnant. He knows how smart she is and the good work she is doing at Meteor Systems. Just because they hadn’t kids didn’t seem like a reason to him for her to give that all up!

Even when Karen decided to put her career on pause for a few years to focus on her family, Frank suggested she consider working from home if she wanted to spend more time with their daughters. Caring for two babies/toddlers while also working was challenging, but Karen and Frank found resources to make her life easier. And Frank always offered to watch the girls when he wasn’t working so that Karen could take a break or catch up on her work.

☮ - friendship headcanon

Karen is a loyal friend who will always have her friends’ backs when they need her. Whether good or bad, Karen will always be there for her friends. She’s helped her friends through failed relationships and hyped them up when they got promoted. She doesn't put her friends down and always tries to keep their confidence high.

And if you hurt one of her friends, you better watch your back! Karen is resourceful and will use her connections to avenge her friend. She once made several fake ads and put a friend’s cheating ex’s phone number on them so that people would constantly be calling them about things for sale, from cookies to cars! The calls got so bad the ex needed to get a new number and never found out that Karen was the one who got them bombarded by people all across Pacific Bay.

▼ - childhood headcanon

As a child, Karen loved fairy tales and dressing up as her favourite princesses. Eventually, she outgrew this obsession, but the stories she read as a child always held a special place in her heart. When her daughters were born, fairytales were the first stories she read to them before bed. Even if she was an adult, that didn’t mean she couldn't play dolls with her daughters or dress up with them to recreate scenes from their books. It was extra fun because Frank liked to play along with them and call Karen his queen while she would tease him, saying he was her knight in shining armour (or a Hawaiian shirt!).

ൠ - random headcanon

She’s run a marathon before. While she wasn’t the winner or even in the top ten, seeing the pride and happiness on Frank’s face as she crossed the finish line made Karen feel like she was on top of the world.

Frank:

★ - sad headcanon

When Frank found out Daisy was in a coma due to meningitis, he was beyond devastated. He already lost one daughter, and he couldn't believe he was going to lose his other one before he had the chance to reconnect with her. When Karen brought him to Daisy’s hospital room for the first time, he had to force himself into the room to see her. It was heartbreaking to see his little girl hooked up to the life support machine, and it felt like he was in Laura’s hospital room, watching her die all over again. But this time, it was Daisy who he was losing.

Unable to help his daughter, Frank would visit Daisy and talk to her as she slept. Most of the time, Karen would be with him for support, but when she had to work on her heist plans, it would just be the father and daughter for a while. During these visits, Frank would bring Daisy’s favourite storybook, The Glass Princess, and read it to her. Sometimes, he would pretend that he was reading it to her so that she would fall asleep and that in the morning, Daisy would wake up, and he could tell her how much he loved her. But no matter how many times he read the fairytale, this was a curse Daisy would never wake up from…

☆ - happy headcanon

Frank's turtle, Duke, was a rescue from a case he worked on. The PBPD had arrested an animal poacher in Bayou Blue, and Duke was one of the animals they saved. Frank instantly fell in love with the turtle and adopted him as soon as the Veterinarian gave him the go-ahead. He loves his little buddy and learned everything about turtles to keep Duke safe, happy and healthy. This led to some teasing from his coworkers and an ever-growing collection of turtle-themed gifts from friends and family. Still, Frank secretly enjoys them, even if he’ll roll his eyes and grumble at receiving another turtle-themed Hawaiian shirt.

(His favourite gift was from Harvey Fitchner. It was a set of matching Hawaiian shirts, one for Frank and one for Duke.)

♥ - family headcanon

Frank was nervous about becoming a dad for the first time. He was scared that he would mess things up and his kids would hate him. He read parenting books, asked other fathers for advice, and even attended classes with Karen. But nothing could calm his nerves as he worried about being a horrible father before he was even officially one. Karen tried to help him see that he would be a good father but even her encouragement didn’t do much to reassure him.

But when Laura was born, and he held her for the first time, Frank realized that nothing would truly prepare him for this new chapter of his life. Sure, he could get advice and read books, but those people and authors didn’t know Laura and who she would be. Maybe he would mess up sometimes but what’s life without a little mess? This baby, who was only a few hours old, was already smiling at him like he had hung the stars in the sky, and she didn’t even know him! Frank knows he’ll make mistakes, but as he rocked Laura to sleep for the first time, he vowed to learn from every mistake he made so that he would become the father she (and later Daisy) deserved.

☮ - friendship headcanon

Like Karen, Frank is a loyal friend. However, one of his faults is that he doesn’t have the best memory and tends to forget things like birthdays and anniversaries… But that doesn’t mean he’ll forget when a friend invites him over to watch a game or out for drinks! He always tries to attend important things in his friends' lives, like weddings, birthday pirates (even if he has to scramble for a last-minute gift), or special celebrations. And if he can’t make it, he’ll be sure to message his friend(s) to apologize and let them know he’ll be at the next get-together.

▼ - childhood headcanon

Frank was one of the kids who liked to play rough with others, though he could be gentle when he wanted to be. When playing, he and his friends gave each other countless cuts, bruises, and scratches, but no injury was intentional. But they did tone down the roughhousing when one of them accidentally fell out of a tree and broke their arm. After that, the kids were more mindful of the dangers their games could cause.

ൠ - random headcanon

Once, he tried making whiskey himself. The results were… Bad, to put it nicely. While you could technically consume it, you would immediately spit it out. And if you managed to swallow, you would probably throw up or find yourself on the toilet shortly thereafter!

(Frank was banned from making homemade alcohol of any kind after this attempt.)

Given their nature, I combined a couple of prompts. I hope it's alright that I did a couple at two for the price of one!

Karen and Frank:

✿ - Sex headcanon

Frank and Karen have always had a good sex life. It was built on consent and learning each other's preferences so that both would be pleasured. They can have their kinky moments, but they always ensure the other is comfortable with trying something new. They have safewords for these types of times and always honour the promise to stop when a safeword is spoken. They also had some embarrassing moments when trying out a new position or kink, but like all of their intimate times, it stays between them.

♡ - romantic headcanon

Frank proposed to Karen after recreating their first date. He took her to the restaurant where they had eaten, and they ordered their favourite food plus dessert. He changed it up a little by taking her to Paradise City so they could visit their favourite casino to gamble a little. Frank loves watching Karen clean house at the poker table, and after cashing out their winnings, Frank brings her to watch a fireworks show. As the explosions of light lit up the sky, Frank got down on one knee behind Karen, calling her name as he took out the ring.

Karen was shocked when she saw him on his knee and holding a beautiful ring. Before asking the burning question, Frank poured his love out to Karen, telling her how much she meant to him and how better his life had been since she came into it. He told her of the future he wanted to have with her, from the house they always dreamed of having to the beautiful children they would raise. When he finally asked if she would marry him, Karen said yes through tears of joy. As the couple kissed and Frank slipped the ring on Karen’s finger, the last firework shot into the sky: a bright red heart.

(Frank had a friend who worked on the show who owed him a favour.)

And there are my headcanons for Karen and Frank! Thanks for the request, Fluffy! Enjoy my latest contribution to KarenXFrank!