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that1nerd-20 · 1 year ago

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Regulus black x F!Hufflepuff!reader oneshot

Summary.

Regulus never took notice of the quiet hufflepuff girl in his year. when his brother Sirius and his friends dragged him to the first hufflepuff game of the year, he is immediately drawn to her.

Word Count: 6.3k

Warnings: cussing, metion of missing sibling, very brief mentions of abuse, mentions of alcohol, mostly fluff but some angst

(Tell me if there's others I need to put)

A/N:

Reader is female and in hufflepuff but there is no physical description other than being shorter than regulus but doesn't go into detail.

The reader is based heavily on Hogwarts mystery. Most of the friends in Hogwarts Mystery will move back in time with the reader (even tonks).

Also, Peter will stay good in this one. I used the Aaron T.J., Andrew G, Timothee, Ben b, and Dane Dehann fancast as my inspiration but any of the fancasts can be used.

Sorry if it's not that good... I did my best and finally got this thing done.

Please enjoy!!

Dictionary -

Nutter - someone who's clearly crazy

Manky - disgusting

Wanker - idiot

Tosser - supreme asshole or jerk

3rd person -

Today was the day of the first official Hufflepuff Quidditch game. Everyone from all four houses was making their way to the stands. While normally only Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws would attend since this was their match, everyone was attending because this was when the Hufflepuffs would announce who the new quidditch captain was.

Orion Amari, the quidditch captain from the last few years, graduated the year before. Everyone was eager to learn who would become the new captain.

A large group made their way to the stadium amongst the other excited students, the marauders and their other Gryffindor friends, and Regulus Black followed by his Slytherin friends. Sirius and Regulus were now on good terms, having gone back to their brotherly love from before Hogwarts. Regulus was a little nervous to be sitting with his brother in the stands but was as excited as every other student to see who was appointed as captain. In a few weeks, Slytherin and Hufflepuff would be facing off, and then again during quidditch cup season. He was slightly intimidated, what if this new captain proved to be better than the last and took Hufflepuff on to win the Quidditch Cup? But for now, he walks with his brother to their seats in the stands.

Everyone waits in anticipation as Murphy McNully comments on the Ravenclaw team who were already out on the field.

“So who do you think the new captain is?” Sirius addresses the group of friends, he turns in his seat to look back at them.

Marlene is the first to speak up, “I bet it’s Parkins,” a few of the others hum in agreement, “I mean she’s a Parkins, her family is crazy famous in terms of quidditch!” Remus nods before speaking up.

“You never know, it could be Waylan Jones,” he proposed. The others waited for him to continue his reasoning, “It's not all about the last name, Waylan is a prominent seeker, and he’s definitely got the leadership skills.” James seemed to ponder it for a moment before shaking his head.

“I have a feeling I know exactly who it is.” The others were about to question who it was until Murphy called out across the stadium that the Hufflepuffs were about to come out. Regulus had never taken an interest in the Hufflepuffs, he thought most of them were too kind for their own good. But he was excited today, Hufflepuff and Slytherin would be facing off in a few weeks, and he wanted to see their potential.

Finally, one side of the stadium started cheering, the students in that section had a clear view of the entrance and could see the Hufflepuffs coming through the tunnel.

Murphy Mcnully started calling out the players' names and positions as they filed in on their brooms “Waylan Jones seeker, Atlan Verdell keeper, Katie Shacklebolt beater, Castor Perren beater, Skye Parkins chaser, Edith Turner chaser….” Murphy paused smiling from ear to ear, “And the person you’ve all been waiting for, Hufflepuff's new captain….Y/N L/N!!” as soon as her name was called the h/c Hufflepuff came out on her broom, everyone erupted into cheers.

James had a smug look on his face, having had a sneaking suspicion that the girl would get the position. The quidditch players circled the stadium, Hufflepuff showing their talent by balancing standing up on their brooms. As Y/N flew by the group of friends she had a wide smile on her features, she waved to James as she passed him before leading the line of quidditch players back to the pitch.

Madam Hooch threw the quaffle up when the teams were situated, Ravenclaw started with the quaffle, and the Hufflepuff chasers went after the Ravenclaw with the quaffle.

The group of friends was in awe as the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws scored points back and forth, but neither team could find the snitch disappointingly. McNully was calling out the plays left and right, talking at the pace of the game. When the 3 Hufflepuff chasers started setting up a Parkin’s pinscher, the crowd started going wild, a trademark move done only by Skye Parkin's dad in the big leagues. While the Hufflepuffs had done a parkin’s pinscher before it was only done in practice. “L/N and Parkin are flanking the sides of the Ravenclaw chaser, Jamie Walker, setting up a Parkin’s pinscher while Turner comes in from the front, hoping to steal the quaffle from Walker,” Mcnully announces from the commentator box.

The marauders and their friends turn their heads to a group near them in the stands cheering for Skye and Y/N, a brown-haired Hufflepuff named Rowan Khanna screams. “C’mon Y/N!! You got this!!” a pink-haired girl beside her cheers in agreement, wanting to encourage the Hufflepuff team.

POV: Regulus Black

I honestly stopped listening to the annoying commentator a long time ago, the new captain of the Hufflepuff team was beautiful. Hearing the name she was given allows me to recognize who she was, she was in my potions class. Professor Slughorn typically favored me in the class for some reason, although the only other person he likes in our class is a quiet Hufflepuff who sits in the back. She is never obnoxious, always does her work on time, and always asks questions that I can tell never help her but help other students in the class. I mean not that I watch her, that would be creepy, but I've noticed her.

I thought she was cute except I didn’t think she was my type, she didn't even seem like the quidditch type. Now that I see her performing these complex quidditch maneuvers, the way she had a confident aura when she was circling the stadium, and even the concentration she has in the game make her all the more appealing to me. What's even crazier to think about is the rumors swirling around about her and the cursed vaults. She's rumored to be looking for them and destroying them. I try not to listen to the rumors, but I know there are more rumors that I don't know about. If she was destroying the cursed vaults that would surprise me but also wouldn't at the same time, I would be surprised that this quiet shy girl was capable of taking the vaults down. Then I wouldn't be because now I see her in a new light.

There was so much more to this girl than I thought, and I must have been staring because my brother nudged me in the side with a knowing smirk on his face. “What is it?” I ask him loudly over the cheering crowds, he just shrugs “It just seems like someone has caught your attention..” he wiggles his eyebrows to get his point across. James, on the bench below them, turns around with a stern look, “You better not be talking about L/N ‘cause I’ll kick your arse, black.” I could feel the heat rise to my cheeks at the accusation.

“What makes you think that, Potter?” I ask him, feigning innocence, he just gives me a look of ‘Are you serious.’ he shakes his head. “I’m just telling you, you may be this git’s brother but L/N is like a little sister to me, you try to hurt her and I’ll snap your fingers off.” Sirius has a look of fake offense at the name, looking towards Remus for some backup. Remus gives a look of ‘Don’t bring me into this’. “Moony you can't be serious…!” Sirius had a skeptical tone, towards the boy he liked, but James chimed in before Sirius could have time to react “Well obviously he’s not you Sirius.” The group started laughing at the joke, while Sirius pouted for a moment.

I turned my attention back to the game, my eyes searching for the h/c girl, before finally spotting her in a thimblerig shuffle, a move that McNully himself invented. The three chasers shuffled the quaffle around before it landed in y/n’s hands and she sped away as the opposing chaser got confused about who had it. y/n scored a goal against Ravenclaw, while everyone cheered.

“It looks like Jones and Verdett have spotted the golden snitch!!” Everyone frantically looked around for the two seekers, before someone pointed, all eyes went to the seekers except one pair, mine. I kept my eyes trained on the gorgeous Hufflepuff, barely paying attention to the rest of the game, the other players kept the game going even though it wouldn't matter once one team caught the snitch. I watched Y/n move gracefully on her broom around the pitch, continuing to score points against Ravenclaw. I missed the fact that Hufflepuff had caught the golden snitch, while I watched her. Finally snapping out of my trance when the entire stadium was screaming.

I kept watching Y/n as she flew up to the stands near where we were sitting, she approached the group of people that I had noticed earlier.

“Hey, Rowan!”

Pov: Reader

“Hey, Rowan!”

I flew up to my best friend who was sitting with some of our friends after the game was won. She waved happily at me as I approached, the others smiled and cheered for me. Although it was funny to see a displeased Talbott in the seat next to Penny, I couldn't tell if it was from losing the game since he was a Ravenclaw or if it was from being dragged to a quidditch game no doubt by Penny.

“Y/N you did awesome!” Penny called me, ever the quidditch enthusiast she is. “I can't believe you made captain!” Rowan practically jumped with excitement, happy for her best friend getting the position she’d always wanted.

I laughed at her enthusiasm, “Yeah, I'm honestly surprised too. But Orion said he wanted it to be me, he didn't think anyone could have filled the spot better.”

We talk for a moment before getting interrupted by a loud James Potter with Sirius Black, Marlene Mkinnon, and Dorcas Meadowes in tow. “By Merlin, L/n, Congratulations!” I look over to James who is leaning against the railing, my eyes briefly drift behind him to the gorgeous Slytherin boy in my year, Regulus Black, before returning James’ wide smile.

“Y’Know Potter you better be careful this year, I’ll be winning that cup for Hufflepuff before you know it. Just because it's your last year doesn't mean I'll go easy on you.” I tease the 7th-year Gryffindor, he laughs loudly “In your dreams maybe!” I laugh with the rest of the group, while Penny argues with Marlene about who will win.

Eventually, James gets called by Lily to hurry up, and the group disperses. My friends started heading down the stadium, and I took one last glance at Regulus to see him already looking at me. I flush in embarrassment and head down to the entrance to the pitch so I can get changed out of my uniform.

Time skip- (Hufflepuff common room.)

Finally, I head down the stairs to the noisy common room with Rowan and Penny, after they make sure I'm dressed up properly, my heart thumps with excitement. The Hufflepuff’s were throwing a party to celebrate our win today, all four houses were invited. That means there's a good chance Regulus would be there, hence why Penny insisted I wear the best outfit I had.

When we reached the base of the stairs we could see people from every house, the music was blasting, and it seemed someone snuck in alcohol because I could definitely see some drunk people. We made our way through the common room, maneuvering between people. Finally, I saw Tonks by the drinks and headed in her direction.

Before I could make it to Tonks, a loud voice started booming over the speakers, “I know I may have caught the winning snitch today…” A few Hufflepuffs cheered as I turned around to watch Waylan, our seeker speak to everyone, sounding slightly drunk. “But I’m not the one we should be celebrating, we could not have done it without our wonderful captain, Y/N! Who led us to victory today and will make sure we win that cup!!" Everyone cheered as I felt someone pick me up and put me on their shoulders.

I squeaked slightly before looking down to see a flash of pink hair, tonks was holding me up. “Tonks put me down!” I laughed loudly.

Everyone encircled Tonks and I and started chanting my name. “Y/N! Y/N! Y/N! Y/N!” I looked around as I laughed at everybody, I spotted the Black brothers, Sirius was yelling with everyone else and Regulus seemed a little uncomfortable. Before I could keep looking at Regulus I was dropped from Tonks’ shoulders onto the floor.

The rest of the night was spent dancing, drinking, and longingly looking at Regulus, Which Rowan and Penny definitely had their comments on.

Time skip - 2 weeks later - Hogsmeade - 3rd person

Regulus, Sirius, Remus, James, Lily, and Peter all walked into the three broomsticks, quickly finding the last available booth, right next to Y/N’s table with all of her friends. Regulus could hear the sound of Y/n’s laughter, it made his heart flutter. Over the last two weeks, regulus has paid more attention to the Hufflepuff.

Of course, he would deny any remark his brother and his brother's friends made about it, because Regulus Black did not fancy non-pureblood girls, but the others knew better than to believe that. It was clear to them that Regulus was head over heels for this girl, although much against James’ protests. Madame Rosmerta, the young barkeep at the three broomsticks, came over to their table to take their orders.

“What can I get for you kids today?” She pulled out a small notebook and pen, ready to write down the orders.

“6 butterbeers please.” Lily spoke up for the group as she leaned against James. Regulus wasn't paying much attention to the friends that surrounded him, his attention was drawn to Y/N who was getting up from her table to head to the bar. He hadn't noticed Madam Rosmerta leaving their table, nor the wide smirks from his friends, or even the giant scowl and staring coming from James across from him. He continued to watch Y/n even as her friends started noticing his heart eyes at her. Nothing mattered to him at the moment other than trying to memorize every little thing about her.

POV: Y/N

“I'm gonna go get one of the special butter beers, be right back.” I got up from the table as I excused myself from my friends, making my way up to the bar. I waited for Madame Rosmerta to get back. Specialty butterbeers require you to go up to the counter to get one, so I waited until I heard a familiar snarky voice behind me.

“So L/n when are you gonna give up the cursed vaults? I mean we all know I'm going to find and defeat them all, so why waste your time?” Merula Snyde, the bitchy Slytherin herself. “I'm not in the mood Merula..” I dont spare her a glance, but I can feel that she's getting angry.

“You trying to prove yourself to your parents?'' This makes me look at her with unamusement, “You trying to prove you're not worthless?”. I scowl at her as I turn my head fully to look at her before rolling my eyes and turning back to lean against the counter. “Do you want them to love you?” I hear her snicker before I respond., “I don't care about what my parents think so your argument is weak.” she stops and frowns before her scowl turns into a smirk.

“Or is it that you want to find your brother?” my head whips around to look at her; I can feel anger bubbling up inside me. “Well I think you’re gonna find a dead body..” she smiles coyly, and my hand slightly grips the table, trying to calm myself “What is your problem, Snyde?” I snapped. She sneered before replying “You're my problem L/N, I'm just counting the days until you turn into a nutter like your brother!” She laughs loudly and I don't take a second to think about my actions.

I lunged for her, pushing her to the ground before landing a hard punch to her face. She starts hitting me trying to get me off, but I land a few more punches before I am pulled off.

“You Bitch! Dont ever talk about my brother like that!” I scream at her, trying to push the arms around me off. I can vaguely hear Barnaby’s voice but it doesn't register as I continue shouting at her.

“You’re so done L/N! The next time I see you I'm gonna hex you for what you did to my face!” she shrieks as she holds her nose trying to stop the bleeding as one of her goons, Ismelda holds her up. “If you ever talk about my brother again or go near his room, I’ll kill you!” a few tears flow down my face as I scream at her, “he's my brother! That room is the only thing I have left of him, I don’t care if I have to go to Azkaban to keep you from it, you manky tosser!”

I was dragged outside by the person holding me, and when they set me down I recognized Barnaby’s jumper. Barnaby pulled me in for a hug, and I cried a little, but we were interrupted by Professor McGonagall clearing her throat.

I pulled away from Barnaby and stood in front of McGonagall, when Barnaby went back inside she began talking “What do you think you were doing Ms. L/N?!” I shrank a little as she questioned me, “That was highly inappropriate, I understand you're sensitive when it comes to your brother but that does not mean you are allowed to strike another student!” she raised her voice sternly, I felt small in her presence.

“Although I may feel indifferent to you getting a punishment, I am still your professor and rules are rules. So you will serve detention for a week in my classroom, taking care of the transfiguration subjects. And Hufflepuff will lose 10 points” She was about to turn to head into the three broomsticks before she looked back at me, “But do not worry, Ms.Snyde will also receive a punishment.” I nod, wiping my nose while I sniffle. I sit down on a bench right outside the door, wanting to calm down before I see my friends.

Pov: Regulus

“Bloody hell…” Sirius was right, bloody hell.

One minute Y/n was up at the bar clearly annoyed by whatever my housemate Merula was saying, and the next she was on top of Merula screaming at her. We all watched y/n get dragged out by Barnaby, as the girls continued to have a screaming match, but when McGonagall came in and told all of y/n’s friends to stay inside and give the girl a minute I knew it was my chance.

I snuck out of my seat when McGonagall was too busy reprimanding Merula, and made my way outside. When I got out there I found y/n sitting on a bench crying, not sure what to do. I sat down next to her. Oh my god, this is so awkward… How do you console a crying girl? Cmon regulus…think!... Think! For Merlin's sake…

“A-are you alright?” bloody hell, that's the best you can do? y/n turned and looked up at me, seemingly startled by my presence. She quickly wipes her eyes, “Y-yeah… I’m fine.” we sit awkwardly before she speaks up again, “N-no… I'm not fine..” she plays with her fingers as she looks down at her lap.

“Why do you let her words affect you?” I let the words slip out of my mouth without thinking, she looked up at me again. “I-i mean Merula isn't nice to anyone, Y-you um shouldn't listen to her, she doesn't know what she's talking about ever. She's like a walking babbling beverage.” Curse my mouth! Merlin, can I ever shut up? I ramble awkwardly before shutting up and turning red a bit. I mentally curse myself for being so awkward before I'm drawn out of thoughts by a giggle. I look down at her laughing form, “A b-babbling beverage??” I nod a small smile forming on my lips.

“Thank you, that just made my day…” she smiles up at me, “you're welcome..” I flash an awkward smile, before asking “Do…do you want to talk about what happened in there?” she looks down for a second.

“My brother went missing 3 years before we started at Hogwarts, in truth I don't remember a whole lot about him… he started at Hogwarts a year after I was born so he wasn’t at home a lot.” she fiddled with her fingers more as she talked.

“Not that I can blame him, our mother is abusive and our father is a compulsive liar.” my hand clenched in my lap as I thought about her being hit by her parents. I've seen my fair share of abuse, I'd rather suffer my mother's wrath than see y/n hurt by hers. “I know most people think my brother is dead but I won't believe he is, I just won't. I can't give up on him, not like everybody else…” I slowly grab her hand lightly, offering what little comfort I know.

“T-thank you for telling me…” I whisper as she looks up at me, “I'm glad you trust me enough…” she smiles softly, I lift my other hand and wipe a stray tear away.

“Thank you for listening…” We sit for a few moments in silence before I stand up. She looks up at me in confusion, about to speak until I cut her off. “You wanna head back to the castle? I can buy us both butterbeers to take with...” my voice wavers, slightly nervous to ask her.

“You know what it was a stupid idea, you can just forget about it, you probably want to go back to your friends..” I ramble for a moment before I feel her hand grab mine. I look down at her to see her smiling. “I’d like that alot,” I nodded, giving her my smile as well, “then I'll go get them right now.” I headed back inside, quickly ordering two to-go butter beers. As I was walking back out I caught my brother's eye and smiled at him holding the two butterbeers. A silent explanation as to why I was leaving.

POV: Y/N

Regulus and I trekked the long road back to the castle as we talked and drank our butter beers. We actually had a lot in common. We both loved quidditch, potions, and reading. Although our reading tastes were a bit different we both recommended some of our favorite books to each other.

“You know... I never got to say that you look beautiful today.” he said after a moment of silence, “I-I mean not that you aren't any other day but- and not that I watch you or anything. Oh my god, that came out so weird…I’m going to shut up now…” I laugh slightly at his awkwardness, his cheeks flush red in embarrassment. “Thank you, I'm happy you think so, black” I smile sweetly, placing my hand on his upper arm as a thank you while we stop walking for a moment. I awkwardly jerk my hand back when he looks down at it. I clear my throat as I start walking again, I hear him walking again as he catches up to me.

“Call me Regulus, please…” he stops us for a second, pulling me to face him, “Alright… Regulus.” his first name felt strange on my tongue. It's only now that I realize the proximity of our faces, my face heats up as we both pull away and continue our walk back to Hogwarts.

Pov: 3rd person

Over the next few weeks, Regulus and Y/n become close friends, hanging out in and out of classes, studying together in the library, and even on the rare occasion the students can sit anywhere in the great hall no matter the house, they sit next to each other. Their friends had all taken notice and constantly teased them about getting together, but both parties denied it and claimed all they were, were good friends.

Pov: Y/N (sorry for so many pov changes)

Time skip: a Thursday night in January

My hand was cramping from how long I had been clutching onto the blue quill I owned. There were ink stains all over my fingers, and a few small smudges on my face. My roommates had all long gone to bed, Rowan had stayed up for a little extra, while she helped me with something, but I ended up insisting she go to sleep after she fell asleep on my desk.

Woody, my orange tabby cat had curled up on an empty spot on my desk, his purrs were the only other noises besides the sound of my quill scribbling on paper and my dormmate’s snores. The essay for potions was due tomorrow and I hadn't had any time between quidditch duties, assignments for other classes, classes themselves, and exploring the mysteries of the cursed vaults.

I'm only brought out of my studying trance when there is a tap at my window. I look up to see an owl that looks vaguely familiar. Approaching the window I begin to recognize it as Regulus’s owl, Apollo, I open the window and let the large bird step onto my arm. I close the window so the room doesn't get chilly, bringing him over to my desk while I give him some head scratches.

“What are you doing here, love?” I set him on the perch where my owl, Merlin, normally resides. I pull out a small piece of meat as a treat while taking the note in his talons. I sit back down in my chair as I unfurl the parchment, I get a little giddy as I read the first words.

Y/N Darling, I was hoping you would meet in the astronomy tower tonight at one. You deserve some time away from that essay I know you worked hard on, all night.

I smiled at the handwriting before I saw a small messily scrawled note at the very bottom of the parchment.

And p.s there is no need to give Apollo any more treats he was already bribed with more than he could ever need to even just deliver this note.

I gazed up at said owl who looked down at me sheepishly, I smiled and reached my hand up to give him some more scratches.

“You cheeky bird,” I giggled softly, conscious of the sleeping girls behind me, “don't worry I’ll still give you treats, you deserve it pretty boy.” Apollo cooed as he rubbed his head against my hand.

With a newfound motivation to finish my essay, I quickly got back to work, it was already close to midnight and I knew it would take me at least 30 minutes more to finish. When I finally finished the essay I rolled it up and stored it near my potion textbook, before I changed into something more suitable, comfy, and warm than pajamas. I let Apollo climb onto my shoulder as I started to sneak out of the Hufflepuff common room.

As I walked down the dark halls of the castle I listened intently for any teachers roaming the halls, I didn't plan on getting detention while I tried to sneak up to the astronomy tower. I will admit it was tricky getting up there from all the way in the dungeons, and after a close call with almost getting caught by Professor Kettleburn, I made it to the stairs of the astronomy tower. I took cautious steps up the stairs, careful not to make unnecessary noise.

Finally making it to the top, I spotted Regulus leaning against the railing facing away from me.

My face heated up as I took his appearance in. His curly hair was half pulled up into a small ponytail tail, pulling his bangs away from his face. His Slytherin quidditch sweater was tucked into his dark jeans. I half expected Apollo to fly back to his owner, but he did not indicate wanting to move away from me, seemingly content on my shoulder snuggled up to me.

“Reg?” I called out to the raven-haired boy, his gray-blue eyes met mine as I approached him. His lips turned up into a smile when he saw me, before laughing softly at the way Apollo was cuddled up to my head. He met me halfway, walking away from the railing as he reached his hand up to his owl.

“He hasn't caused you any trouble, has he?” He chuckled while petting the dark bird on the head, I shook my head no in response. “Apollo never causes me any trouble, he's a good boy.” I stroked said owl's chest with a curled finger as we both looked at him. Regulus laughed softly at the comment, “I don't know about that..” he shifted his gaze to me. I feigned offense, “Are you calling me a liar reg? Maybe he just likes me more…” A small coo from Apollo, sounded as though he agreed with me. Regulus rolled his eyes before picking Apollo up. “It's time for you to head back to the owlery, bud.” The dark owl seemed reluctant to leave but finally gave in and flew back to the tower made for the owls. When Regulus turned back to me he motioned to a blanket splayed across the floor near the railing. I sat down on the blanket, letting my feet dangle off the edge of the tower. I crossed my arms over the lowest bar on the railing while Regulus sat down next to me doing the same thing.

“So what constellations do you remember from astronomy class?” my head turned to look at him as I nervously laughed. “uhhh...None of them?” I lifted my shoulders and hands as I admitted I didn't remember. He simply smiled and turned back to look at the night sky, he lifted his hand and pointed at a section of the sky.

“Well, that's Ursa major.” Making a pattern with his fingers, I quickly found the constellation he was talking about. A few things started to come back to me as he pointed out more constellations.

I reached up and pointed to the Leo constellation, “And there's your star…” I glanced at him as I spoke softly, his arm was now wrapped around my shoulders, our faces a few centimeters apart. Despite the cold biting at my face, I could feel my skin heat up. He nodded softly as we continued to gaze into each other's eyes. We both awkwardly pulled away and looked back at the night sky. Eventually, I grew sleepy and laid my head against his shoulder as he continued explaining the different constellations.

When the sun started making its way over the horizon, Regulus and I made our way down the tower, so we would be able to make it to breakfast in time. We parted ways in the dungeon when we went to our respective common rooms. “See you later, Reg.” I gave him a soft smile as I walked through the door.

Timeskip: Saturday afternoon in January, before a quidditch game

My team and I headed out of the changing rooms in our uniforms with brooms in hand, i was the last one out and was a few paces behind my team.

“Y/N!” I hear a familiar voice call out to me, when I turn around I spot Regulus jogging towards me decked out in Hufflepuff pride wear. He finally reaches me, I take in his fake jersey with my number on it. A few of my fellow Hufflepuffs had created fake casual jersey wear for students to support their favorite players. You could get long-sleeved t-shirts with any of the player's name and jersey number on it. I wonder how he got ahold of one of those.

“You like my shirt?” he spun around, grabbing the top of the shirt at the back to show off the bold lettering that spelled out my last name. He turned back around, “I figured I got to show my support for my favorite Hufflepuff.” he then grabbed the hand that wasnt holding my broom, before kissing the back of it. “Good luck out there, L/N.” before I could say anything he was rushing up the stairs to the stands. I stood there frozen for a moment before one of my teammates calling for me, broke me out of my trance. I mounted my broom and sped off through the tunnel.

Throughout the entire game, I kept looking over at Regulus, he was cheering me on the entire time and I could barely contain the flush that invaded my face. This time wasnt any different than any of our games. We always cheer each other on but seeing him wear my name and number made my knees weak.

Timeskip: (sorry) Hufflepuff party later that night.

I had successfully avoided regulus most of the night, I made it as inconspicuous as I could. I didn't want to hurt his feelings but still needed time to process. I stood over by the drink table, sipping on soda, I was startled by hearing his voice next to my ear. He had to be close enough for me to hear but that didn't stop the chill that ran up my spine.

“If I didn't know any better id say you were avoiding me, Y/N” This was one of the many times where he isn't the soft, kind regulus I know but the cocky and dare I say flirtatiously teasing regulus. I turned to look at him, trying to ignore the rate at which my heart was beating.

“I'm not avoiding you.” I do my best to lie, but we both know it's not true. I take another sip of my soda before I feel his hand ghosting over the back of my upper arm, just above my elbow. We continued to look into each other's eyes but a cough interrupted us. I glanced next to me to see Peter who was waiting patiently. I smiled and turned my body towards the 7th year, I had to admit the boy was handsome in his own quirky way.

“Hi y/n, I was wondering if you'd like to dance?” he held a lopsided grin, completely ignoring the dark-haired boy beside me. I glanced up at Regulus for a moment before returning Peter's smile and nodded. I set my cup down on the table behind me and grabbed Peter’s hand as he led me onto the dance floor.

Another time skip: (I know and I'm sorry) Gryffindor vs Slytherin Quidditch game a few weeks later

I stood with Barnaby, Remus, and Lily as we all watched the quidditch players warm up. James had been a little grumpy when he saw the old jersey I was wearing. About 2 nights after the party we had, a package showed up at my doorstep with a spare Slytherin jersey that belonged to Regulus. He wrote a note saying he wanted me to wear it every time I was at one of his games. So here I was wearing a green jersey with the name Black written across my shoulder blades. Sirius was just as mad but said at least it was his brothers and not some other Slytherin. Barnaby on the other hand was very happy.

“So, you see your lover boy yet?” Lily stood beside me as she spoke, she gave me a knowing smirk and a nudge to my side. I gave her a playful glare before answering “We're not dating, Lily.” I watched as the Slytherin players started walking onto the pitch, “you know that.” both quidditch teams mounted their brooms and practiced on each half of the stadium before it was time to start.

I talked to Barnaby as we waited for them to start the match until a voice spoke in front of me. I looked to see Regulus on his broom with a smile. “You wore the jersey.” I rolled my eyes playfully as he got closer. “Yeah, what about it reg?” I leaned against the railing a bit more. “You look good in my jersey, I should give you more of my clothes to wear..” he grinned devilishly, a call of his name from over his shoulder was heard, they were about to start. “You should get back down there, you are the captain after all.” I smiled softly, leaning back away from the railing.

“Yeah that is true but there is something I have to do first.” I was about to ask what but he cut me off by colliding his lips with mine, I could hear wolf whistling and cheering around me as I leaned into the kiss and cupped his face with my hands. His gloved hand held my chin softly before he pulled away with a bright smile and flushed face.

“That was for good luck…” I laughed at his antics while he slowly pulled his broom back. “If you win this game, you'll get as many as you want!” I called out to him as he headed back down the pitch before he called back. “I'll hold you to that.”

My heart raced rapidly in my chest, my lips were tingly, and my face was warm. “Not dating, my ass.” it's safe to say James and Sirius left the game without another win under their belts and Regulus walked out with a new girlfriend and promises of lots of kisses.

#regulus black x reader #regulus black #regulus black oneshot #regulus black fanfiction #fanfiction #harry potter fanfiction #marauders #marauders era #hufflepuff reader #female reader #regulus black x female reader

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jupwrld · 2 years ago

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The Ways They Kiss You

The types of kisses they often find themselves giving the one they love most :) This is my first piece of writing in months, and I hope you like it! Likes, reblogs, & feedback are always appreciated!

P.S. Requests are open <3

Characters: 141 (Ghost, Soap, Captain Price, & Gaz) A/N: all blurbs are gender neutral; zero use of y/n; both John's have suggestive content, but nothing beyond that; alcohol/drinking mention in Price's

SIMON 'GHOST' RILEY

Simon always finds himself giving you kisses that'll distract you.

His career promises no tomorrow; you know that and so does he. Because of that, your heart breaks a little every time he sits you down to tell you he's going back into the field for an indefinite amount of time to go somewhere he can't talk about to do something he can't disclose.

Although, Simon's always had a way of grabbing those fears and chucking them into the bin, bringing you back down to Earth with his lips alone

Before the tears can even gather in the corner of your eyes, Simon's got his hands on your waist, pulling your body against his and kissing you with warmth and confidence.

Not only is he trying his best to distract you from your fears (,fears he personally feels responsible for giving to you), but it also acts as a comforting kiss.

A promise that he'll come back to you, even if he's got to personally fight the devil and claw his way out of hell to do it.

Simon might not be the best at verbalizing or even expressing how he feels, but with you it's something he's been able to improve upon.

And he's grateful, not only to be a better partner to you, but that he's always got something to look forward to when he walks through the front door

KYLE 'GAZ' GARRICK

Kyle is a lover-- your lover-- before all else.

He adores you, and loves nothing more than to shower you with enthusiastic kisses.

Kyle knows for a fact that he's one of the luckiest guys on Earth for managing to have someone like you waiting for him every time he comes home, and that fact is never lost on him.

Not only does he knows he's lucky, but he feels it every time he looks at you. So he literally can't help but get so excited to make out with you that he's holding your head passionately in his hands and kissing you deeply.

He always kisses you like you guys are 24 and going on your first date all over again, and you love him for it.

He's also definitely the type to give you sloppy kisses all over your face when he returns from deployment. Right after kissing you like there's no one else around (which, let's be clear: there's other people around. It's the entirety of the 141, their families, and other people at HQ who just happen to be passing by.), he's planting kisses on your nose, forehead and cheeks until he's satisfied.

Kyle Garrick is undoubtedly in love with you, and how he kisses you is just one of the many ways he expresses it to you.

JOHN 'SOAP' MACTAVISH

If you look up the word 'shameless' in the dictionary, you'll find a picture of John MacTavish. This man's love language is touch, and he's always looking for an excuse to kiss you-- he doesn't care how, when, or where.

His favorite, though? Kisses that escalate into more, + peppered kisses hands down.

John isn't an early riser by choice, but he's so used to it that he sometimes winds up waking before you do. He tries to wait for you to get up on your own, he really does! But he just gets so impatient he can't help but pepper kisses to your jaw until you start to stir.

When you're finally awake there's always a bit of light banter between you before his peppered kisses continue and turn into something... heavier.

He loves those types of kisses with you for obvious reasons

John will always manage to kiss you like you're the best, most wonderful being he's ever tasted and he prides himself on it

He always gives you the kind of kisses that would make Price cover Gaz's eyes just to prove it, too.

If making out with you is a full-time job, then you can always count on John MacTavish to be the first one at work and the last one to leave

CAPTAIN JOHN PRICE

Price is a sappy romantic for you and he's not ashamed.

When he's kissing you, it's normally gonna be slow, deep kisses. The kind that you can taste on your lips for hours to come.

He kisses you like every one is his last, partly based in his fear that it really could be. So he relishes in every moment he's got to be with you

He kisses you slowly enough, and deeply enough that you're both sure it'll be enough to get him through his next deployment.

BUT-- when this man is drunk? You can forget about slow.

He loves kissing you when he's drunk, and it's too filled with high paced passion to ever be considered 'slow'.

You guys spend a lot of time in the house together when he's not called out for missions, and he'll keep you straddled on his lap as he's finishing another drink.

When you suggest moving anywhere from your current spot, Price is more than willing to let you go! So long as you give him a kiss first <3

And you always happily oblige. His tongue taste like bourbon and his hands explore you in ways you always look forward too.

He's a very bold drunk-- you know it, he knows it, and you both love it

#ghost x reader #gaz x reader #soap x reader #captain price x reader #mw2 2022

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oldfangirl81 · 7 months ago

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Nov '08

California had just passed Prop 8, which only allowed marriage between a man and a woman. Fighting against Prop 8 was the first protesting I did.

I live in a liberal area of California. I still got slurs yelled at me.

"Dyke go home" always made me want know where exactly since that is usually connected to racism. The guess we came up with was maybe the island of Lesbos. I made some fun brief friendships.

I remember the family in the minivan likely coming or going to church on a Sunday that all flipped us off and yelled "Fags".

I remember the guy who seriously told me he had to vote in favor of Prop 8 because "otherwise the definition of marriage would change in the dictionary and the English language would collapse."

I remember the woman who told me that she actually supports the gays and that's why she has to be in favor of the marriage restrictions because "if they are allowed to marry it will be impossible for lesbians to adopt from China or Russia."

I remember the anger at how much money the Mormon church was pouring in from out of state to get it passed. The fear mongering off the charts too.

I remember the pain when the ballots were finished being counted and Prop 8 passed. It was the election Obama was elected for the first time. All around me were celebrations. It was bittersweet for so many in California.

I hate that there is a constant threat to same sex marriage in this country. I have no desire to ever get married but that shouldn't affect anyone else.

I fought because I remember seeing devastating pain during the AIDs epidemic. Of loved ones being kept from hospitals. Banned from bury their lovers. Just outright have years of love ignored because they couldn't get the paper that would have given them the rights.

Dunno was just thinking about recent queer history today.

#queer history #i dunno #weird headspace today #homophobia

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dear-ao3 · 2 years ago

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actually? im gonna continue speaking bc im honestly pissed.

why do you think that i ""dont know what transphobia is""? is it bc i told ppl not to misgender me when ive made it clear i am not a woman?

you know that is transphobia, right? do you know of what you speak? or are you bored and trying to stir up trouble, or do you genuinely not know what transphobia is.

if not, why don't i educate you a bit. by definition (according to merriam webster dictionary) transphobia is defined as "irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against transgender people" however, lets go to transmisia, which is the planned parenthoods more targetted towards discrimination definition. planned parenthood states that "stigmatizes or harms trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people; denies the validity of their identities; sees them as less human; and/or treats them as less worthy of care and respect. "

transmisia was a term labeled to take away the "fear" aspect of transphobia. it is the same thing though.

i am transgender. i am transmasc nonbinary. the gender i was assigned at birth as does not match my gender identity now.

refusing to use my correct pronouns and ignoring me when i say i am not a woman, does go under that definition of transmisia, which is transphobia.

getting kicked out of my house counts as this as well.

i am never going to be able to transition the way i would ideally want to because of my family. i am never going to go on T, change my name, get top surgery or anything, because i may be disowned and because of the discrimination i will face by being out.

do not tell me, or anyone else that they dont understand transphobia like you do. especially if you do not know them.

just because you have suffered does not give you the right to tell people that they haven't. because in doing so, you do not respect their identity and what they have been through.

i hope you read through this, and maybe have learned something.

You have no idea what transphobia is and...Honestly being transfem it's embarrassing

i got kicked out of my house when i first came out but whatever you say, person online who knows virtually nothing about me.

hugs and kisses,

katya

#tw transphobia #from katya #not a tag

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yutaya · 4 years ago

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Joy lost her mother before she even had a chance to know her, and her father young - too young for the two years of slow, painful decay that preceded it.

Joy only has one family member left in the world, now.

She heard somewhere, once, that in the end family are the only people you can count on, and she knows it to be true. Joy and her peers were all the same in school, baring their pointy shark teeth and always ready to pounce on the smallest drop of blood in the water. Rand, by contrast, is full to the brim with greedy little goblins, nowhere near worthy of the respect Joy had regarded her fellow predators at school with, but making up for their lack of ability on the battlefield with their sheer numbers. They would like nothing more than to usurp the throne, so Joy and Ward must defend it staunchy.

They are young, and only two people; that makes the vultures think them an easy mark. They watch each other's backs, the only other person they know they can rely on. You can't show any hint of weakness, in this world. It would be pretty words to say that they only allow themselves to be vulnerable with each other, too, but if Joy is honest with herself, they don't quite manage that either. Too much habit, perhaps, from board meetings and school and stuffy clothing at company parties with Dad's rivals. Still, they playact at it, and knowing that the both of you are committed to the act provides basically the same level of trust. It's all the safer, anyway, with the way enemies surround them. The walls have ears, and all.

(She mentioned that to Ward, once. He laughed bitterly, and muttered something like "eyes, too.")

Ward isn't as good at this lifestyle as Joy is. He's humorless, condescending, and has an infuriating genius for business decisions with an even more infuriating reticence for explaining his reasoning, sure, but his standoffishness does him no favors outside of crushing dissent in meetings, and - he wavers, sometimes. Ward has always lacked the type of conviction that Joy sharpens her teeth on every morning. The hesitation in his eyes whenever she pulls out some of her more effective, out-of-the-box closer strategies is so obvious she'll find herself praying that it only seems so because she knows him so well. He makes these comments, sometimes, about hypothetical vacation destinations that make her want to smack him upside the head because any hunter worth their salt could recognize the cracking at the foundation of those lines of thought.

Don't even get her started on the muscle relaxers.

Half of her colleagues at school could have eaten him for breakfast, with all those tells.

Joy only has one family member left.

She will not lose him, too.

Joy is very, very good at her job. She takes precautionary measures; hires a PI, makes preemptive strikes against each and every board member. She reminds them all of Ward's brilliance, of how beautifully he's steered this company, of how much their wallets owe to him. She handles anyone who comes after their company, their birthright, keeps it spick and span and their thrones untarnished along with it.

When Danny comes back from the dead, Joy is happy. Of course she is. She had mourned for him. Losing the Rands had been another tragedy in her line of childhood traumas. The death of her fellow child, crouched in between losing her mother and her father, all before she could legally drive; it was the kind of backstory a biographer would love. She wants to do well by him, set him up here in the city, a piece of childhood nestled comfortably nearby.

But when Danny starts kicking up a fuss about deserving a part of their company, loudly, in public, and starts tossing bullshit around that goes after Ward's image, as if Danny has anything to do with this, as if Joy and Ward haven't had to maintain their grip on their places at their company by their dug in claws for over a decade - well.

When it comes down to it, Joy and Danny used to be friends, a long time ago. He can spout about being "like siblings" all he wants, but those groundless claims don't hold a candle to her real brother, and Joy has no problem spelling that out for him.

("I'm not your sister. He's not your brother. We don't want you.")

Joy drags Ward back to the office to assign herself a take over of Ward's clearly insufficient handling of the Danny situation. She has to deal with the rumors that are doubtlessly already spreading after that display in the restaurant, has to ride the tumult coming for their family legacy yet again.

Joy glares her only brother down into his seat.

She takes his "Danny" file to help her in planning damage control. Time to go to work.

#iron fist #ironfistweek #joy meachum #this is sort of a coda to 1x03 #back before joy's worldview gets shaken to hell #fanfic #more introspective bs fic #this one took me so long to write ;_; joy why are you so hard ;_;#this started out as an idea that joy assumed they all knew they weren't seriously considering danny family when called him their brother #because the dictionary definition of family would not count them as family #and i guess she doesn't roll with the found family trope #she'll still do the found family emotions but she'll be like 'we're called friends though?'#but then somehow we got this dump #my stuff #the immortal iron fist

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rayslittlekitten · 2 years ago

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Talk To Me

“Dad Will” Masterlist

A/N: Another little snapshot of this family. I had a good chunk of this written a few weeks ago and finally finished it. Thanks to @lovebarefootblonde for looking at this for me.

Word Count: 758

Pairing: Dad!Will x Wife F!Reader, Dad!Will & Teenage Daughter OC (Lucy)

Plot: Will always lends an ear to his two girls.

Contains: banter, fluff

“Oh my gosh! Did I tell you what happened the other day?” You ask Will with wide eyes and excitement as you're wiping down the countertops.

You and Will are cleaning up after dinner as Lucy is prepping for movie night.

“No, you didn’t,” he shakes his head while loading the dishwasher. “What happened?”

As you ramble on to Will about a television show you’ve been getting into, Will listens intently while finishing his chores.

“Of course he would do that,” Will rolls his eyes. “That sounds like something he would do, but you know she’s just gonna just run right back to him.”

“Part of me hopes she doesn’t, but you’re probably right," you reply and then pause your task to continue your rant.

"It sounds like there's going to be big trouble ahead. Next week is the season finale, right?" Will asks just as Lucy strolls into the kitchen to throw a pack of popcorn into the microwave.

"Oh, don't remind me. I just know it's gonna be one freakin' cliffhanger and I gotta wait like a whole year for the next season," you huff and continue cleaning.

As Lucy waits, she crosses her arms, glances over at her father and rolls her eyes. Will notices and shoots her a clueless and confused look.

"You guys can go get started, pick a movie. I'm almost done here," you tell them as you wipe down the table.

When the popping slows down, Lucy stops the microwave and pulls the bag out. Will presents a bowl to her to dump the popcorn in.

"What was that look you gave me back there?" Will asks as they make their way into the living room with their snacks and drinks in hand.

“Dad, you hate that stupid show. You don’t even watch it," Lucy answers quietly. "In fact, you've agreed with me that it's overrated.”

"Yeah, so?" Will shrugs and hands Lucy the bowl of popcorn.

"Isn't it annoying when mom goes on about it?"

"I wouldn't call it annoying. Boring? Maybe, but it’s something she’s excited to talk about. If it's important to her, I like to listen even if it’s boring to me because she wants to share something with me and I don’t ever want her to feel like she can’t ever talk to me - about anything. I can listen to your mother talk all day. I don’t even care what it’s about." Will shrugs as he looks for something to watch.

“Really? You don’t think she sometimes goes overboard? She’s, like, obsessed with the main character.”

"Hey, cut your mom some slack. I'm sure one day you'll meet someone you like enough where you're willing to listen to all the nonsense they wanna spew out. It's called love. You know how many times I've had to listen to you talk about things that didn't make any sense when you were a kid? Literally, just gibberish and I'd nod and agree like I knew what the heck you were talking about,” he laughs. “Sometimes I still don’t know what you’re saying, especially when you use all these words and lingo I don't know what they mean.”

“Dad, you’re just old."

“Old? Is that slang for something or did you mean the dictionary’s definition?”

“Dictionary? Dad, you’re definitely old,” Lucy laughs. "No one uses those anymore. It's called Google."

“Smartass,” Will smirks, ruffling the hair at the top of her head. “I hope your mom never stops talking to me though. Not as long as I live.”

“Whatcha guys talking about?” You ask as you plop down next to your husband.

“Nothing. Just how much I love hearing my best friend’s voice.” Will’s arm settles on top of your shoulders and he leans in to give you a peck on your cheek.

“Are you talking about Fish or Benny?” you turn to him. "Because Fish barely talks and Benny doesn't shut up."

“Wow, Mom, that's cold. Dad was talking about you," Lucy jumps in.

"Dad, I think you need a new best friend." She leans on Will's arm and looks up at him with a wide grin.

"You little instigator," Will smirks and shakes his head. "You pick up way too many bad habits from your uncle."

"You still love me though," Lucy rests her head on his shoulder and shoves a handful of popcorn into her mouth.

Without responding, Will hits play on the TV and then puts his other arm around Lucy's shoulder, pulling her into his side and quickly planting a kiss on her forehead.

#charlie hunnam #charlie hunnam fanfiction #will ironhead miller fanfiction #will miller #will ironhead miller x you #william ironhead miller x reader #will ironhead miller x reader #william ironhead miller #will ironhead miller #will ironhead miller & daughter oc #triple frontier #triple frontier fanfiction #dad!will #dad!will miller

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randomshyperson · 3 years ago

Note

For every request I send, my love, tell me what you want from me in return and I’ll do it 😩😩

But can I request a Nat x Reader where Nat is surprise visiting her family in St. Petersburg only to find her girlfriend already there because they love her more than Nat. I can see Melina being like “she knows how to take care of the pigs”

Hello! Well, I would say i want hugs and kisses but we have an ocean between us haha Hope you like this my friend, it's short but it's sweet.

Gif is not mine, blessed are the gif makers.

Warnings: None.

Words: 1.539 K

Dictionary> Медовый (darling/dear) | мой милый воин (my dear warrior)

All Works Masterlist

//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//

Sweet Petersburg - Oneshot

Natasha parked her car just outside her mother's house, the smell of recent rain in the air as she stepped out of the vehicle, a nostalgic smile on her lips to be back home after a while.

She's visiting for the weekend, St. Petersburg is cold in the autumn, but also really beautiful, and even if she didn't say it out loud, she misses her family everyday.

Nat walked towards the house, she hadn't spotted any family members, but judging by the noise of laughing and talking inside the kitchen, some of them were inside.

She left her bag on the sofa, moving to greet them when the sound of a voice made her frown. Sounded like you.

"Mom?" Nat called out loud and the laughter stopped. The next second two women were coming from the small kitchen to join Natasha in the living room, who was standing with her arms crossed.

"Tasha, darling, you're here!" Melina greeted excited as she moves to hug her daughter. But Natasha's eyes are on you, smiling shyly at her with your hands in your pockets.

"I am." She says. "I'm sorry, am I missing something? Why are you here, babe?"

She asks curiously directly at you. Before you can answer, Melina is touching your shoulder and smiling at her daughter.

"I invited her, of course." She clarifies. "She's great with the pigs, and she's such a lovely companion, Tasha."

Nat let's a short laugh.

"I know, mom. That's why I'm dating her." She says almost dry, and you roll her eyes at her jealousy. Nat is looking at you again next. "I thought you were in Turkey."

"I was." You say as you step forward, resting your hands on Natasha's hips. "I runned into Yelena there. Then she video chatted with your mom and they insisted for me to come for the weekend."

“And you didn't think about asking me to join you? At my family house?" Nat asked with incredulity, but you just smiled at how cute she looked when angry.

"Natasha, don't be like that, it's not like you two need to be together all the time." Melina intruders with a humorous gaze. "Besides, she's been here many times before."

"Wow, what? Natasha exclaim surprised, moving away from your arms as you give her a mixture of a guilty and playful look. "Are you two for real?"

Melina signs impatiently, turning away from this conversation as she walks to the kitchen, Natasha following her while complaining about not being fair that she was spending more time with you than with her own daughter.

You would have followed if Yelena didn't come into the living room with some groceries.

"Just saw Nat's car outside, didn't know she was coming." She remarks as you quickly move to help her with the bags.

"Yeah, you better keep these comments to yourself, Lena. " You say and rush to explain as the woman frowns at you. "Your sister is not pleased to know I’m used to came here without her."

"What? Why?" She asks while you two move to the kitchen, but you don't answer as you two meet Melina and Natasha again, still arguing.

"I just don't think it is fair that none of you called me to let me know that my girlfriend was around!" Natasha accuses grumpy making Yelena laugh.

"It's not our fault your girlfriend is nicer than you, poser." Yelena teases as she puts the groceries on the balcony next to you. Natasha lets go of an annoyed sign turning to her mom again.

"Mom, do something! She's mocking me!"

You want to laugh at the scene but you just stay behind, not wishing to upset Natasha anymore.

Melina sighs as she massages her temples with her fingers.

"Please,girls, don't fight each other." She asks as she ignores Natasha's protest saying that Yelena started the whole thing and moved to grab the groceries you and Yelena brought. "I'm making dinner, everyone out my kitchen!"

That's how you ended up outside, with a grumpy Natasha and a smiley Yelena, walking around the back of the house to join Alexie, who was fixing Melina's truck in the back.

"Hey dad!" Natasha greeted as you reached him, the man was under the car and lifted the vehicle in the air to smile at his daughter.

"Tasha! Hey, kid, good to see you!" He said and put the vehicle back down to roll out and stand up. "Didn't know you're joining us this weekend."

Natasha grumbles insatisfy which makes Yelena laugh and Alexei frowns in confusion.

As his girls moved to sit in the bench nearby, you whispered to him: "She didn't take well knowing you invited me over without her."

"But what's the problem with that?" He asks loudly, attracting the attention of the girls, you sign but he doesn't mind. "It's a good thing that we are having trips with you, you're part of the family now!"

Natasha wides her eyes.

"Having trips? Excuse me?" She asks angrily as she stands up. "How many times have you hung out with my family without me?"

"Well…" You started uncertainty, playing with your fingers. Yelena smirks.

"We had that trip to California last month." She counted while Alexie murmured in agreement. "Also went to Philly. She stayed here for independence day too, and we had tacos night last week. Besides that, whenever she's around my mission place I invite her for a beer." Yelena told and all Natasha did was stare in shock at her and yourself.

"Oh, don't forget China. We had that thing too." Alexie added and Natasha signed.

"You're all unbelievable." She accused as she rushed to pass through you and into the house again.

You were uncertain about following her inside.

"Well, that didn't go well." Alexei comments with an awkward posture. "I will try talk to her."

As he left, you moved to sit with Yelena.

"Sorry about that, maybe I should have left you to tell her about the trips." She said but you just signed softly.

"It's okay." You say. "It's my fault for keeping it for so long. She would have found out anyway."

Yelena murmurs and you two fall silent for a moment.

"California was really fun wasn't it?" She asks amusedly, making you smile.

"Yeah, it was."

You two exchange giggles before deciding to go back inside and you busy yourself with helping Melina with dinner.

//-//

Alexei came back alone from Nat's room with a slight grimace that made you worried.

So you decide you should talk to her yourself.

As you reach her room, you knock before coming in.

Natasha was sitting in her window, next to her bed while looking outside. In that position, you understood that she saw you laughing and talking to Yelena in the yard and by the recents events, that might not be the best.

"Are you mad at me, Nat?" You couldn't hold your words as you reached her, and she turned her head to you immediately, a confused frown in her face.

"Of course not!"

You sign in relief, taking a step forward. "Are you mad at your family?"

"Yes."

You take a deep breath. "Do you want me to stop seeing them?"

She gives a short laugh, shaking her head in denial as she extends her hand for you to grab. As you do, she pulls you towards her gently.

"Of course I don't want you to stop seeing my family, sweetheart." She says as she circles your waist with her arms. "I just got mad at them for not inviting me."

"I'm sorry, Nat." You say. "I should have said something, but they didn't and I was worried about sounding rude or something. You know how much their approval matters to me."

She smiles tenderly, her fingers caressing you gently.

"Yeah, that's why you're so sweet and polite all the time, and they love you more than me." She declares, making you frown. "It's fine of course, how couldn't they not?"

"Don't say that, Nat." You ask as you raise your hands to her cheeks. "Your family loves you very much. They just hang out with me because you're not around as much as I am."

"You think?" She questions, sounding so vulnerable that you wish you could banish all her insecurities away.

"Of course, Nat." You state. "We only talk about you, babe. All the time. And we all love to do it because we all love you. "

She gives you a shy smile before pulling you to her laps, making you giggle as she kisses your face a few times before moving away.

"Give yourself some credit, babe." Nat says with a lovely gaze. "You're a very pleasant company and I think they love to spend time with you as much as I do."

You smile before kissing her in the mouth, gently and sweet like this moment. Scenes like this are definitely your favorites with Nat. Along with late nights with her hands running through your body.

"I love you, Медовый." She whispered against your lips.

"I love you too, мой милый воин." You say and Nat giggles.

"Since when you speak Russian?"

"Your mom is teaching me."

"Okay, out."

//-//-//

Tag list> @imapotatao / @aimezvousbrahms/ @ensorcellme/ @helloalycia || @mionemymind / @abimess / @stephanieromanoff / @yourtaletotell / @tomy5girls / @justagaypanicking / @thegayw1tch / @idek-5 // @myperfectlovepoem // @helloalycia // @ENSORCELLME // @AIMEZVOUSBRAHMS // @drpepperobsessed // @sighsam // @olsensnpm // @sxfwap // @table57 // @madamevirgo // @causeitswhatjesuswouldfreakingdo // @emptysince18x // @xastrydx || @yuhloversxx || @ymzki-haruki || @wouldirunofftheworldsomeday || @lostandsearching || @lezzzbehonesthere || @musicinourlips || @chaekhan || @diaryoflife || @nervoustrack || @aquamarinescarlet || @cristin-rjd || @idamaemann || @fortunatelynerdylight

#natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff #natasha romanov x reader #natasha romanoff x yn #natasha romanoff x fem!reader #natasha romanoff x you #avengers imagines #black widow x reader

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smallblip · 3 years ago

Text

You asked, I deliver! Part II of Accidental baby acquisition💖 I lost one of the asks 😩 but anon who asked about baby Udo, I named the baby in your honour! Saddle up cowboys! I’m not good with sequels but here we are-

Babygate:

the scandal that implies that a certain boy band member cheated on his partner (another band member) and had a kid even when the mom was never pregnant.

- urban dictionary

—

Reiner thinks things are alright. Life is definitely picking up. Pieck still sends him excerpts of her dirty fanfiction to proofread, Bertholdt is still doing all he can to “retire at 30”, Annie might have eloped with said boyfriend. But he’s seeing Porco on the regular now, he’s really cute, he’s got a nice ass. Reiner can’t complain.

He’s also recently donated his Levi Ackerman standee. Only because it’s getting increasingly hard to reconcile the fact that he has a life sized cutout of his colleague’s boyfriend in his room.

What he can complain about is said colleague (and friend) dropping bombs on him. He’s one of the moderators of one of the bigger No Name servers. Sometimes he wonders if that’s a conflict of interest because, well, he knows the guy on a first name basis. But today he has other concerns. He sees his notifications blowing up and decides to go on the No Name server. And lo and behold. There’s a paparazzi shot of Levi and Hanji with a stroller taking a walk in a new channel called “MYSTERY FAMILY?”.

He cancels his plans with Porco. “Don’t text me for the next few hours, got a fire to fight.” He clicks send, and feels kinda bad, so he sends Porco really dank meme to appease him. (That doesn’t stop Porco from doing exactly what Reiner told him not to do and demanding an explanation every five minutes).

He forces himself to take a deep breath before texting Hanji-

“Hanji… I don’t mean to be rude but…

WHAT THE FUCK?”

—

So here begins babygate. A conspiracy theory that took the Internet by storm.

“Levi Ackerman had a secret marriage! He was keeping this from us from the start!”

“It’s a publicity stunt to keep No Name relevant during their hiatus!”

“It’s an elaborate scheme by the company to punish Levi for announcing the hiatus without their knowledge!”

“Levi’s mystery partner was sent by the lizard people to take control of his mind and produce half-lizard, half-human hybrid babies to take over the world! What a bitch!” (This is Hanji’s favourite).

And the internet’s favourite- this is all an elaborate scheme to cover up the scandalous love affair between Levi and Eren- the band’s guitarist.

“What the fuck?” Levi had said during dinner once, to which Reiner had to swallow his food and pretend he never read or actively looked up ereri content. Yes. Reiner knows the name of their ship.

Levi hadn’t been too worried before, but when pictures of them shopping for baby stuff leaked online, something snaps. Something snaps and Erwin tells him he needs more time to figure out the biggest PR crisis in No Name history.

It’s Levi. Levi is the PR crisis.

So in the meantime, no shock reveals, no more social media, (if possible) no more leaving the house with pregnant girlfriend in tow. “Don’t do ANYTHING.” Erwin had said, “especially not you!” Erwin had directed that at Eren, who suggested he makes an announcement. Erwin shudders. He remembers all the past scandals they got themselves into just because Eren, bless him, didn’t know when to shut up.

“I’m sorry…” Levi says to Hanji when they’re cuddled up on the couch watching a documentary on whale migration.

“Huh?” Hanji says, voice muffled through her incessant sniffling because “whales are delivered tail first, Levi! They wear their mothers like hats!”

He apologises for putting her through the mess that is him and his job. And Hanji smiles at him. He wonders if their kid will look like her. He’s hoping they would.

“Levi…” Hanji sighs, taking his face in her hands, “that night at the bar I thought to myself ‘this man has a face I would risk it all for’… I think this counts within the realms of ‘all’”

Levi scoffs, but a smile is threatening the corners of his lips. Erwin’s nagging over the phone fades a little and he sinks a little lower into the couch. He sighs one more time for good measure before saying-

“So… you wanna know which my favourite babygate theory is?”

—

“And you’re really not bothered by all this?” Reiner asks, in an emergency meeting that he had scheduled into her calendar. He hates that he’s packing things into her already busy schedule when she’s about to pop but, he figures it’s better now than when the baby’s actually out. He had booked a meeting room and everything, figuring if he projected some of the crazy shit they’re saying on the fan boards up on screen, Hanji would start taking this seriously. Because if Reiner knows anything, it’s that the fans will do anything to keep their ship afloat.

He scrolls past another post on the lizard people and Hanji gets him to pause.

“I mean… A little?” Hanji pinches her fingers together.

“Hanji…” Reiner sighs, “you and Levi discuss and rate babygate conspiracy theories you find online I don’t think you’re taking this seriously at all…”

Hanji looks at Reiner- an absolute state of panic. And she considers panicking for a moment. She’s read articles dissecting babygate and although they’re absolutely batshit, Hanji appreciates how well-researched they are. Which is a little scary. To be fair to Levi, he’s been trying to get her to worry. “I can’t keep you safe all the time, you have to be careful” like he’s going off to war somewhere. But it’s not in Hanji nature to worry about things like this. She’s a researcher at a lab who lived an ordinary life up until the point the universe hit her with a-

Sike! Levi Ackerman is your baby daddy! What are you gonna do about it?

And now she knows what headcanons and lemons are, and she really doesn’t know what to do with that knowledge. So Hanji decides, she’ll do nothing. She’ll go on indulgently long walks Levi in tow, she’ll talk his ear off about work. And like a good girlfriend, she’ll listen to his demos (and enjoy them) and tell him “are you sure anger rhymes with danger?”.

“I don’t really know how to worry about anything beyond our samples getting contaminated…” Hanji says, sheepish. Reiner sighs. He doesn’t want to be a wet blanket on Hanji’s life. He wants to be fun Reiner. Cool as a cucumber. Reiner who manages to make it through dinner at Hanji’s without having to excuse himself to hyperventilate in her bathroom because Levi is right there. And he’s so afraid that he might just be able to read his mind and find out he had looked up Levi Ackerman x y/n fanfiction once in his foolish youth (youth being approximately four months back)

Reiner shudders.

“Yeah okay… That’s um… That’s cool… Right?” He says.

Hanji shrugs.

—

So Levi Ackerman is your baby daddy. Now what?

You go into labour of course, with a matter of fact- “oh. Look Levi. The water broke.” All while refusing to leave the house until you demolish that amazing sandwich he made for you. You go into labour and you yell and grunt like a beast as you squeeze the life out of your baby daddy because he kinda deserves it. You both kinda deserve this pain. Take it as heavenly punishment for being horny and stupid if you will.

And in the middle of it Hanji thinks huh, this feels like a mix of a reality TV show from MTV and a badly written fanfiction. Except Hanji isn’t a teen mom and she’s too old for self-insert fiction that involves a lead singer of a popular band.

But Levi is here, and he doesn’t complain one bit even though he looks like he’s about to pass out. So as far as drunken one night stands go- this is pretty damn aspirational.

The baby enters the world with a huge cry.

“Kid’s got a huge set of lungs…” Levi says, but his own voice is quivering.

“Just like her dad…” Hanji smiles.

As he watches Hanji fall asleep with their baby on her chest, Levi thinks fuck it. Fuck keeping this under wraps. Fuck the fans and them enjoying how Eren gets on his nerves. Fuck Erwin and his “Levi. You’re giving me a headache. You are the cause of this headache.” Because the baby has Hanji’s nose and his eyes and he loves them more than anything in the world.

He snaps a picture of them and tags bigdaddyzoë-

“Welcome to the world, my love.”

—

Reiner can’t help the tears that well in his eyes after seeing the picture Hanji had sent him of the baby-

“He says hi to his favourite uncle!” Was the caption, and Reiner could only reply with a crying cat meme and an incoherent text that Hanji favourites.

He’s on the bus on the way to the hospital when his phone buzzes incessantly. It’s Porco.

“REINER WHAT THE FUCK.”

“LEVI ACKERMAN IS HANJI ZOË’S BABY DADDY?”

“HANJI ZOË MY PHD SUPERVISOR?”

“LEVI ACKERMAN OF NO NAME?”

“REINER WHAT THE FUCK?”

He sends a reply at the entrance of the hospital-

“Welcome to my world”

—

Reiner thinks things are alright. He’s one of the moderator of one of the bigger No Name servers, so he can block and remove people at his discretion. Some days he lets it get to his head. It makes him feel like a king. But today, he’s putting out fires.

Erwin decided their PR strategy was absolutely no strategy, because “they’re zooming in on the pixels Levi. Once they doubt the pixels, they won’t believe anything we’re saying”. With that. Babygate has officially taken on a life of its own. Eren still sends Levi babygate articles to annoy him, and to Hanji because she asked very nicely. Hanji thinks Erwin’s strategy makes sense, Levi thinks it’s just lazy. But Erwin framed a certificate that says “survived a PR crisis (sort of)” that Hanji had insisted be hung up on their wall, so that closes one chapter. Besides, Eren has been spotted going out on dates with a mystery girl. Which has the double effect of diverting attention away from Levi and exacerbating babygate because “see? Told you the company’s doing all they can to prove they’re not together!”

“Can’t you keep it in your pants?” Levi had thrown at Eren, to which he had responded cleverly with a-

“Could’ve said the same for you!”

Touché…

“See? That can’t be Levi! Look at how he’s smiling!”

“That can’t be a baby! Looks like an animatronic to me!”

“Do they even make animatronics that realistic?”

Reiner pins his “no slander” rule- one day they’ll get it. Or at least he would’ve gotten rid of all the people that don’t.

“Who’s this bigdaddyzoë anyway?”

“Maybe she isn’t real? Company probably invented her…”

“Heard she’s a crazy groupie who got knocked up…”

“Heard she’s hot…”

… several people are typing

—

“So… I heard from Reiner you were defending my honour in the server?” Hanji quirks an eyebrow.

Levi shrugs. Whatever goes down in the server stays between Leviackerman173810 (leviackerman and all 173809 permutations of said username had already been taken) and the hundreds of people who haven’t quite figured out he’s the real deal. Besides, Erwin has issued him three warnings so it’s best to lay low for now.

“My hero…” Hanji chuckles, pressing a kiss on Levi’s head. Below them, baby Udo wriggles and yawns against the fabric of Levi’s shirt. Cute.

So Levi Ackerman is your baby daddy. Now what? You look at your son and know he’s going to break hearts like his father of course. And if you’re Levi, you pray to god he never asks about babygate because Hanji has read up enough about it to be considered a connoisseur.

One day the internet will break when they find out the identity of bigdaddyzöe. But for now baby Udo has his parents wrapped around his tiny fingers and he doesn’t quite understand the concept of him being the spawn of every typical band member x y/n fanfiction. Or the centre of a very popular, very absurd, yet strangely believable internet conspiracy theory. Or the canon plot that has sunk one of the biggest No Name ships. And that’s okay.

#babygate was a 1D conspiracy theory #levihan #whoopwhoop!#levi x hange #levi x Hanji #Drabble #inbox #anon #mine #again Pieck is me #un beta-Ed I’m sure it’s full of mistakes #shingeki no kyojin #Levi Ackerman #hange Zoë #celebrity au

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pumpkinpaix · 4 years ago

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this is gonna sound so harsh but im legit tired of chinese diaspora people who think that bc they are of chinese descent and they have pleco they can act like voices of authority in the fandom. if modao is the 1st chinese book you have read pieces of with a dictionary, if you have never interacted with the actual chinese fandom, you are not part of the intended audience and your biased opinion is not the One And Only Valid Truth 🍵

genuinely cannot tell if you’re trying to shade me here anon lmao 😂

this got long and rambly (of course) asldkjfslj. i would love to make the excuse that it’s bc i’ve got a migraine and had No Sleep but. let’s be real i’m always like this.

ok i’ll start with where i agree: i don’t think anyone has the right to act like an ultimate voice of authority in fandom. i think different people with different backgrounds have varying realms of expertise and they should be respected when they share that knowledge, but that the instant someone starts to use that kind of power as a weapon against people they personally don’t like, i think they forfeit that privilege. no one has the one and only valid truth about a piece of media because that’s fundamentally impossible. i have definitely interacted with diaspo who behave like their heritage gives them some kind of incontrovertible authority over everyone else, and they’re fucking insufferable and often rather cruel, even/especially towards other diaspo. meet me in the denny’s parking lot and fight me for real. i’ll kick ur ass. >:c

however, I also think it’s true that there’s a lot of dismissal of heritage fans in this fandom, if that makes sense, from both sides of the equation: non-Chinese fans ignore our cultural hangups because they’re inconvenient, and non-diaspora disdain us for being not Chinese enough. that puts a lot of us in a position of feeling disrespected just for being who we are, or having our very real knowledge and unique experience as individuals devalued because of it.

regardless of my identity, I have formally studied a lot of things: literary translation, media analysis, the politics of oppression, film critique, religious studies, philosophy, four foreign languages etc. and that is all knowledge that I had to work for, and work hard for. I do have a certain measure of authority on all of these subjects over a layperson (to varying degrees), and there are going to be times when i will be more correct than someone who disagrees with me -- but I’ve also absolutely experienced people talking over that specialized knowledge because of who I am, which is, to be clear. extremely infuriating and hurtful. like, i have cried so much about it in the last 18 months. people see my racial and cultural identity before they see anything else, which is understandable to a degree, but upsetting when it becomes the basis for how my work is judged, whether positive or negative. i don’t want you to trust me blindly because i’m abc. I want to you to trust me because you have examined my work critically and judged it to be trustworthy!

so i guess this is getting into the strongly disagree part of the answer: i’ve been speaking a lot with other diaspora fans lately, and it’s been simultaneously hugely relieving and also really saddening. relieving because oh thank god someone else Gets It, and saddening because pretty much all of us, no matter what kind of diaspo we are (north american, european, SEA, taiwanese etc), we’ve all experienced a lot of pressure in this fandom, from non-Chinese, Chinese, and other diaspora fans alike. we’re all acutely aware that we are not modao’s intended audience because being diaspora vs being “from the mainland” or whatever, are actually quite different things, but modao still feels close to home. even if it was not written FOR us it is still familiar to us.

and, because so many of us are multilingual and multicultural, we end up being the bridge between the “actual” chinese fandom and the english-speaking fandom, which is largely made up of non-chinese. (sidenote: I hate it when people say things about being “actually” any identity because it’s almost always for the exact reason you brought up: to use heritage as street cred. it’s like damn, being “actually” chinese doesn’t make ur opinions any less rank. sure you might be “actually” chinese, but do you have basic reading comprehension and literary criticism skills? no? ok then sit your ass back down) many of us are most comfortable in english! so we produce our content in english! but we also DO often have a somewhat privileged access to the culture that underlies mdzs and can explain it in a language that other non-Chinese fans can understand. so it’s not surprising that people flock to us for answers to their cultural questions. and like. if we think we know the answer, it’s natural for us to try and help. this is fandom! we’re here to have fun and find community! and it is definitely a little bit nice to have my culture treated as something desirable for once instead of just like. a weird exotic curiosity that no one really cares too deeply about. and, since a lot of us are able to do things that non-Chinese fans can’t (research in chinese, for example. ask family members for help and more information etc.) we end up just having more information to share.

I think this sometimes results in a tendency for fandom at large to put heritage/diaspo fans on pedestals and tout them as authorities (or use our conflicting viewpoints as ammunition in fandom drama) when the diaspo in question have repeatedly stated that they should not be taken as authorities on something -- and then, once you reach critical mass, your reputation starts to precede you, and I think there’s a lot of misconceptions of how a lot of diaspo act in this fandom simply because of that phenomenon. most of us know that we’re not ultimate arbiters of some kind of cultural gateway, and it can be very tiring both to be treated as such when we insist we are not, and then punished by other people who assume that we acted like we were.

i don’t think there’s a benefit in trying to keep en fandom and cn fandom totally separate, and I also think it’s unfair to consider the cn fandom the “real” fandom. i think that way lies deeper misunderstandings, gatekeeping, etc. i think we can definitely acknowledge the differences between them, but i think trying to make meaningful connections between fandom circles is really valuable! i don’t think i’ve ever made it a secret that modao is my first cmedia fandom? so it’s also the first time i’ve had reason to interact with chinese fandom, which has been super enlightening and interesting! i’ve made some super cool friends and learned a lot about how fandom works in china, how it’s similar and how it differs from the fandom i’m familiar with.

and then, kind of circling back around, there’s also a bit of a sense like, okay, so if diaspo don’t belong in the CN fandom, but we can’t talk about our own culture with some degree of confidence in EN fandom, then like..... where do we go...? if we see EN fandom doing something that contradicts our cultural knowledge, do we just. not say anything? do we not count unless we’ve already ingratiated ourselves to CN fandom? that’s probably where the core of my strong disagreement comes from, because criticism of diaspora fans as like, acting above their station so to speak, feels just like a tired continuation of the same shit we’ve had to deal with for our whole lives, being told we’re not good enough for anywhere and that we should just be quiet and keep our heads down and get over it. that our opinions, despite coming from a unique perspective with a unique relationship to the subject in question, are less valid or real than “actual” chinese people, you know? and sometimes i see that and im like lmfao just sneer at me for being jook-sing and leave then if you’re so eager to think of me as lesser.

so yeah, basically im of a few minds: true! diaspora fans don’t get to throw their weight around just because they’re diaspo. they don’t get carte blanche to act like bullies or try to shape the fandom to their own personal liking and crusade against people who disagree with them. they don’t get to pretend their heritage makes them superior to everyone else, and i think western diaspora especially need to be careful when asserting any kind of moral lens over the text to acknowledge that we have our own biases to interrogate. i am not immune.meme etc. on the other hand, this vein of criticism tends to put all diaspo in a bit of a double-bind, and also, however unintentionally, plays into the general, continuous trend of dismissing diaspora for being diaspora, and i’m really not about that. i don’t think that’s the motivation behind opinions like this, but i do think that when the basis for the argument hinges on the idea that diaspora are not “real” chinese, no matter how much I too have beef with certain diaspora fans, the argument needs to be revisited.

(ko-fi)

🍵 ((un)popular) opinions meme

#Anonymous #asks and replies #cyan gets too deep in the weeds #race #chinese diaspora #statistically average #mine #mymeta #mdzs #ummmmm #politics #??#opinions meme #ask meme

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lemon-ren · 2 years ago

Text

Some things that I learned as a fan fiction author:

1. Leave space in between different characters interacting with the other.

2. Don't write in first person, unless you are dedicated to write with only one characters point of view, don't.

3. When writing an introduction to a character, don't describe them in full details, or the place they were in, reveale bits and pieces about them over the chapters.

4. When writing scenes that are supposed to convey multiple emotions in a few lines of text, try and keep in mind how the character is feeling, are they confused and angry at the same time? Do they fell happy but also angry because of the one thing they witnessed? It can get you a long way.

5. Try to stick to two or more emotions you are willing to show during a chapter (This counts solely for fan fiction since the chapters are shorter, however for a full length book, a chapter should convey 5+ emotions in my opinion)

6. Think of a character under one personality trait you associate them with. It helps writing your character in the same format throughout the entirety of the story.

7. Do not give yourself goals you are not sure you will achieve, would you believe me if I said that Journey in time was supposed to be only 5 chapters long? Well it was, but after chapter three I knew there was no way to finish it in 2 more so I made the final chapter unmarked until recently.

8. If a character is experiencing something they thought would never have to again, they are not gonna stand stiffly. They might stiffen up, but shaking of the eyeballs and body are also conveyed if someone is scared of this thing.

9. Emotions are not conveyed with JUST the face, a normal person uses their body language to convey emotion as well.

10. If you are not sure of the word auto correct is giving you, go to google dictionary and find the meaning of it, if It's what you're looking for, congratulations, you didn't write some stupid word that doesn't mean what you wanted to type.

11. It might sound like a meme, but Grammarly is your best friend, be it just the online extension to crome or the program itself, it shows you which words you don't need, need and or are wrong, just the free version is fine, but the payed version has more helpful features (I personally use the free one because I have no money)

12. When writing a scene that is supposed to make people cry, re-read it to yourself on occasion as you continue writing the chapter, if it shoot up an emotion equal to one you wish to convey, you did it right.

13. When designing a character, keep in mind their family history, what role do they play in the story and which country or part of world they live in.

14. If you know that the currency used in the place the story takes place, do not replace it with your native currency, it's stupid, you also don't need to write how much that is in your currency, there is most definitely going to be a person who doesn't know how much your currency is in theirs,

15. If a character has a characteristic in their appearance that is unmistakable, don't remove it or replace it. You can exaturate it, for example, Midoriya Izuku from My Hero Academia has 8 freckles in total, I like to make it more, but I'm not getting rid of them.

16. When writing, keep in mind that the setting you're writing in is not the same to the world you live in, be it a different world or time, you will not write it as a copy of the world you know. If for example, heroes existed, and there was not much on the law surrounding the heroes or the powers the world possessed, make your own, make rules that will follow the reality of THAT world, not a rule that will match your own, but theirs.

17. Finally, have fun! Experiment, chose your own writing style and so on, there is no reason for you to not do so. You can alleways come back and edit the words you wrote, you are not publishing them to local book stores (unless you are writing a book), are you?

So yeah, if these tips give you some idea on what to do and not do in writing, good, if you already knew this? Great! You learned this with experience or from someone else!

#ao3 writer #fan fic author #bnha #fan fiction #writing tips

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ahjustroza · 4 years ago

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Hello, could you write an HC about an GN!MC who used to be a mob boss or run an illegal organization and the Mains 6 + Valerius' Reaction? Doesn't need to be angsty just dramatic

I wanted to go dramatic with the CGs lmao. Also, it got long and everything is under the cut.

Warning!

Headcanon includes the mention of murder, suicide, crime, and depression. So I would say it is NSFW.

Mob Boss MC Headcanons

Asra

He always knew it

He knows everything about you even the things you don't know about yourself

I can see you as the type of boss that doesn't create mass murders for personal gain

However, I can see thievery, blackmailing, and playing your games dirty

Maybe illegal underground market business in the red market (a version of the black market in Vesuvia)

You are smart but also have a soft spot

For him

And only him

Since MC canonically lives with him for a long time I can only picture you being a mob boss in your past before him

But your past is probably still haunting you

You don't necessarily need a tragic childhood to be a mob boss

I want to leave the reasons up to you but I refuse to believe you would be cruel and unreasonable

Because you are all amazing human beings

Many people get into this lifestyle by mistake, choice, or by someone else's force

Whatever reason that made you get into this lifestyle however did change you

You have trust issues, always on defensive mode, and always observing everything around you for possible threats or problems

But he came into your life and became the center of it

You told him what you did before moving to Vesuvia step by step

Not in one go

You tried to see how he would react to you

When you couldn't keep this secret from him anymore, you just told him

It was very impulsive of you

Highly surprising

You told him how you started from the bottom and climbed to the top

you told him how everyone in your home knows your name

How many people were your followers and how if you ask they will come and continue to follow you without a question

You did dirty work, you hurt people too

Violence is something he can not tolerate

At all

But just like you, he is also at the loss of words when any topic comes to the possibility of you leaving

He doesn't want you to go

And you don't want to leave

So expect him to stay away from you for a while

He will not speak of it out loud ever again

Never going to tell anything to even Muriel

No one has to know

Because you are now here and a different person

He will assume that you did what you did to survive

Just like his best friend...

When you lose your memories and slowly starting to gain them back

He is hesitant to answer any question regarding your past

But he knows that he has to

So he does

And you get involved in the red market

Asra is disappointed but you assure him that it is to find ingredients for your magic shop

He will never leave you, but he is not approving illegal business

Yet who he is to judge?

He made a ritual to bring you back by killing the Count of Vesuvia

So he is more on the stick close to you so that you won't get hurt side

Nadia

She will either use your connections for spy mastering or lock you up until she gets rid of your gang/illegal organization

But oh no she will not give up on you for being a simple mob boss oh no

She grew up into the royalty and probably dealt with and seen worst situations

She will not allow you to put yourself into any kind of danger and if she must she will put you on house arrest or even lock you up in dungeons

She dealt with a crazy husband before and she learned from her mistakes

So do as she says

She will give you two options, either listen to her or leave Vesuvia completely

Nadia will want her answer on the spot because if you truly want to be with her, you shouldn't need a lot of time to think about it

She will be even more dominant around you

She will make sure to remind you who has the power

If you leave Vesuvia she will never want to see you again

But she will be there personally to put you to the ground if you cause any trouble

If you choose to stay then you have another two options

You leave the business completely or run it for her favor

Provide him important information about the underground market and other organizations in Vesuvia

Yet that only can happen if you can hide your identity as a mob boss

So get creepy and wear a Tokyo Ghoul mask during business hours

I'd say if you chose to go disguise and spy on the underground for Nadia

You two will be the dictionary definition of the power couple

Like hot damn

Imagine

You live like royalty during the day and go be a mob boss during the night

She will even make you her spymaster if you are willing

Julian

He will volunteer to be your henchman (is this what it is called?)

Yeah

You have now extra trouble because he is not leaving your side

He will even find you more connections for business

He knows key people in different countries and cities

He knows roads to pass without getting caught

He did live this lifestyle for quite a long time after all

Minus the mob boss part

He is by no means not letting anyone he doesn't like to even have an audience with you

My man knows his way with people and not afraid to put up a fight for you

He is impulsive but useful in the underground world

He is a doctor without a license (or it is just a myth? who really knows...) so he was really doing illegal consultations on regular basis lol

He will patch you up when you get hurt and probably will teach you how you can make lethal damage to your enemy during a fight by teaching you anatomy

You will have to send him to horny jail whenever he talks about anatomy because he is a visual learner

And the best way he teaches anything is to show you

So lock him up

It's not like he will resist

He is good with reading body language too

I can think of Julian to be giving you the most understanding reaction when you tell him that you are a mob boss

He has a history (again I remind you)

So if he is in love with you, he is stuck to your side and yes he will still have his leeches with him

His plague doctor mask becomes popular underground too

If you didn't know better, even you would find him scary and intimidating looking during the friendly business hours

And Julian being Julian, he will insist that you find yourself a mask too

So that you will be a power couple

But make it romantic

However, this is the best scenario where you are just doing business in the red market by selling illegal goods, or being a Mob Boss Robin Hood

if you do unacceptable things, such as cruelty towards children and the innocent

And anything violent that including torture and murder,

He will end this all himself

Julian is dramatic but if he had to kill you because there is no other way to stop you he will

Then will follow you not too long after.

Portia

She will hate to hear that.

Portia is strong but fragile at the same time

She has a strong emotional connection to you and you are probably one of those people she trusts more than anyone

So when you say that you are a mob boss she is broken

Hurt and disappointed

But mostly confused

She doesn't know what to do with this

What to do with you, with what you have between the both of you

She loves you a million

But you are wrong with your life decisions

the good and the bad fights inside of her mind when she tries to make a decision

She will either leave everything behind and live a life similar to what her brother had to live

Or let you go to be yourself and get hurt

She will never forget you or never stop loving you

But she will be in a deep depression after you leave her

Most likely never recover

Because you broke the trust she gave you

So if you want her

If you want to be with her

You have to play your cards right

You are on very thin ice here

You can literally break her in a way without a return

So chose your life carefully

What do you want to do as a mob boss?

Will, you hurt people? Cause trouble and chaos? Torture the innocent and break families?

Or will you just do underground illegal trades and sales?

She can keep your secret if you just do your business in the red market

But she will not tolerate you causing harm to others

She will hate it but will stop you no matter the cost before you become the monster you two fought while falling in love with each other

You have her heart

But she has yours too

So she will not allow anyone else to stop you and do it herself

Because she is afraid for others to put you down in a painful way

She'll stop you rather gently

Caress your cheek while crying beside you

She will never forgive you but also will never stop loving you

You are her only big love and will remain like that forever

She will be the person she was while Julian was on the run

Always nervous and always having anxiety and panic attacks

She won't leave you no

No no no no.

She rather dies than spend a day without the thought of you not loving her

Being there for her

She refuses very strongly to let you go and also get caught.

So in this scenario, you two are still together and preferably alive

But she is in agony every second of the day

And you know that this is all your fault

Yet continue anyway.

Muriel

No.

He is not accepting this.

He will be furious and hurt so much that he will tell you to go right away

He trusted you and you betrayed him

There is not much to say for Muriel

He doesn't want to see you again

Even though he wants you

He dreamed about having a peaceful life with you

But he will not go over all the pain he had caused by violence and power

Lucio

You already know he is down

He will do anything for you

Destroy enemy mob boss?

Run the entire underground together?

Invade a city so that you can make the illegal legal?

Do you want someone dead?

Do you want him to arm people for you?

Recruit followers?

Done.

With the potential he has there is no option to stay peaceful in the underground business

Even if you just mention that you want to make a certain business

He'll take it as order the moment it comes out of your mouth

It will be scary

Terrifying even

You will be unstoppable

Valerius

Lmao you probably got him cornered and forced him to work with you

And he got so turned on that said yes on the spot

But made it look as he was the victim here

He seems to be distressed with your connection but secretly he likes the power you have

You do as you please, take whatever you want

And people in the palace have no idea

He knows that you are smart

Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to become a boss and run your business flawlessly

He'll support you financially of course

Under the table

But the real job he does is to give you information

He is also good at creating gossips and rumors as well

He is connected to the high class and works in the palace so it is really hard for people to make any kind of connection between him and you

He pretends to make investigations about your illegal business but what he actually does is mislead the palace

In return, you get him precious stuff

Expensive wine, silk clothes, anything he wants

Oh my god Valerius is your sugar baby and he doesn't even know

Whenever you tell him to see you he is there the moment he can leave his work

He likes to be around you but plays hard to get

He loves to see you struggle and frustrated

He will not give you away but don't expect him to go down with you if you get caught either

He cares about his reputation

The best he can do is to help you escape in a way people can't make connections with him

Then you will most likely become his sugar baby-ish for a while

He will boss you around but the second you remind him who you are he will act bratty

Oh does he likes being bratty

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out-of-jams · 4 years ago

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Across the Board || i || kth

(banner done by the great @kimtaehyunq )

↠ Across the Board ↞ You’d hit a low point in life. With bills piling up and your bank account empty, you were starting to get desperate. So when you got the invite to your oldest friend’s birthday party being hosted at the most popular underground casino in town, what did you possibly have to lose? You took what little you had left in your savings, put your card skills to use, and entered a private blackjack game.

And you’d won. And went back for more, and more, and more.

Until you lost.

And now you’re indebted to the city’s most dangerous mob boss, forced to pay your dues in blood one way or another. With a gun pushed into your hands and your life at stake; once you’re in, you’re in. You’ll never get out.

Word Count: 4k

Warnings/Genre: Set in the Roaring 20s! Gambling. Mature themes. Mafia!au. Mafia Don!Taehyung. Violence. Law breaking. Alcohol use. Death of minor characters. Explicit language. Enemies to lovers. Short series. 18+

|| Next | Masterlist | |

Danger.

It was a word right up there alongside the definition for the term “stupidity.” While not next to each other in the dictionary, they were close enough that your brain was unable to pick out the subtle differences. Perhaps you’d just always had a habit for screwing your life up, or maybe it was just genetics. Who knew?

You should have listened to the warnings, should have stopped yourself before you got in too deep. Hell, you should have done a lot of things. But you had no one to blame for your current situation except for yourself. However, if you’d learned anything throughout your twenty-two short years of life, it was that life lessons didn’t mean jack if you didn’t get yourself into messes into the first place.

Though staring down the barrel of a revolver sure was a funny way of going about it.

The air in the dimly lit back corner room was tense enough to hear the sound of a casino chip fall to the ground somewhere beyond the shut door. None of the six men sitting around the round, green felted table spoke a word. Their attention — and yours, consequently — was fixed on the single man in the room who barely even batted an eye at the clear panic evident on your face.

He sat on the opposite side of you; the scowl pulling down his bow shaped lips and the narrowing of his fierce gaze had fear chilling your veins. That man was much like an exotic animal; beautiful beyond belief, but dangerous right beneath the surface. A carnivore staring down his prey. The single light above the table threw his shadow against the wall as he casually aimed his pistol right between your eyes.

“You were saying, dollface?”

His neatly parted, straight black hair fell across his face when he leaned forward as if the next words out of your mouth would seal your fate. Not that the thought of having to have your blood cleaned from the expensive carpet beneath his expensive shoes seemed to bother him in the slightest. In fact, he’d look almost bored if it weren’t for the dangerous gleam behind his espresso irises.

“I—” You cut yourself off, swallowing roughly and glancing back down at the table. A depleted deck of cards sat in the center, two hands laid out on the surface. One was yours — a ten of diamonds and a ten of clubs — and the other his. A red ace of spades and a black jack of hearts.

You were out of money.

Having bet more than you possessed, you were also out of chances.

“It’s simple. You owe me money as promised,” his deep, baritone voice spoke up casually over the noise of your heart beating through your chest. “Either hand it over, or you won’t be leaving this room alive. Your choice.”

You closed your eyes for a moment too long to be called a blink, and cursed yourself for ever getting into this situation.

One Month Ago

Final Notice of Payment

Ms. L/n,

This is a reminder that you have a balance of $20.54 that is past due. Please make a one time payment no later than—

“Oh, please.” The bill enclosed envelope hit the top of the small, circular dining room table. Or was it the kitchen table? It was hard to tell, seeing as how they were one and the same.

A sigh escaped your lips as you leaned back against the creaky wooden chair, fingers massaging your temples. That was the third bill you’d come across that morning and every single one of them was the final notice of payment. The last warning they’d give before sending someone to collect what was owed.

It hadn’t always been like that. You hadn’t always been in such an insurmountable amount of debt, not until recently. Two months ago your mother, the last bit of family you had left, died. Passed away clinging to the sheets of the hospital bed she’d been laid up in for the past half a year. Cancer, the doctors had said. From all of the cigarettes she’d burned through in the past decade or so.

Irrecoverable, they’d said.

No amount of “sorry’s” or meaningless condolences could fix the massive amount of money that the hospital billed you. Or the debt that your mother left behind, along with her slim-boned corpse that you’d had to bury in the corner of the city cemetery. Perhaps if you’d known who your father was, you could’ve laid her to rest in the space next to his own, but you didn’t. Weren’t fortunate enough to.

Bills had piled up. Rent for the tiny studio apartment the two of you had shared was demanded by the pigeon-toed old woman who owned the rundown, overpriced building. Her husband had passed away two years ago and ever since then, she’d been relentless. She pounded on your door at approximately eight in the morning everyday, shouting through the thin wood that you had until the week was up to pay what was owed. Otherwise you’d be tossed out onto the street with only the clothes on your back.

Combined with the utility bill and the fact that you still had to come up with the dough to feed yourself, you were trapped. The meagre pennies you got from your waitressing job at the diner three blocks away weren’t nearly enough. Nothing would be enough. Not unless you wanted to sell your body on the street corners in the late of night.

Which you didn’t. And you wouldn’t. You’d be more likely to end up dead in a ditch somewhere with your throat cut than out of debt. The city wasn’t safe for women, less so by those men who saw prostitutes as no more than an object to relieve stress onto. And you refused to become another headline in the paper.

Tossing the opened envelope across the table, you paused when familiar handwriting caught your eye on top of the rest of the mail pile. Addressed to you in a curling script that only ever came from someone who could afford a private tutor. You sighed, carefully sliding a knife along the top to slice it open. A waft of sweet, cherry scented perfume filled your tiny kitchen and you almost rolled your eyes at the unnecessary addition.

Jennie, your oldest friend since high school, always had an inclination for the unnecessary. Born with a silver spoon in her mouth and a gold digger for a mother, she’d had nothing else to waste her time on. How you’d even gotten on as friends with such a gap between tax brackets was still a mystery to you. Maybe it was because she’d always used her wealth and status to get the two of you out of trouble. Whether it was from breaking into the school late at night to get wasted in the halls with the rest of her friends, or to get away with slipping things from the corner store into your dress pockets.

She’d always been a rule breaker.

Which was exactly why when you read the contents of the letter, a laugh tumbled from your mouth. It was an invitation to celebrate her upcoming twenty-third birthday in three day’s time. That wouldn’t have been anything out of the ordinary, however, if it weren’t for the location. There wasn’t an exact address, there never was. Just a thin piece of cardboard the size of your hand that fell from the envelope. A playing card — a red ace. One that looked normal except for the center that had the name of a restaurant in the heart of the most rich part of downtown printed on it.

It was a ticket to the most popular underground casino in the whole city. No one knew how to get one, how to get your name onto the list that only catered to the rich and powerful. Located beneath a restaurant, it had grown to be infamous almost overnight since gambling and alcohol was outlawed. Even the coppers knew well enough to leave the establishment alone.

The only way to gain entrance was by flashing a ticket to one of the restaurant staff. That was what you’d heard, at least. You had no idea how May had managed to secure one, let alone enough to cover what you knew would be a large party of her closest friends.

Flicking the corner of the card, you couldn’t believe your luck.

Your mother hadn’t taught you very many things, had been too busy gossiping with her friends over a carton of cigarettes to bother. What she had passed down, however, was her ability to draw cards. To play blackjack with the best of them. That’d been the only thing she’d ever bothered to teach you; when she’d had too many sips of wine and her eyes had glazed over with memories of the life she used to live.

She’d sit you down and make you memorize the names and faces of the cards until you could count them forward and backwards. Could predict what card would be drawn and when. Where she’d learned it, she’d never told you. But that didn’t matter now. Couldn’t, seeing as she was dead and all.

Grinning, you flopped back into your chair.

Maybe you’d be able to pay off your debts after all.

And you had. Paid off your debt, that is.

After clearing out your savings account of the last fifteen dollars you had left to your name, you’d dolled yourself up and gone with Jennie and her friends. Had left the group of flappers tittering and groaning drunk at the line of slot machines at the back of the casino. Calls of bets being placed, dough exchanging for chips, and illegal cocktails pouring into glasses played as a soundtrack.

None of the card tables scattered across the underground establishment held what you’d been looking for. Neither roulette, nor craps, nor slots. The bartender had been the one to tell you where the real games were, where the cash was. A door down a tiny back hallway led to a room where private games were held. If you managed to win at one, he’d told you, then you’d win not only the pot, but an invitation to come back and play again.

Which had been an opportunity that you just couldn’t pass up. No matter the risk.

You’d won.

And now you were addicted.

To the money, the lifestyle, the adrenaline that shot through your veins like a particularly harsh sip of gin. Which was exactly why you’d gone back. Again, and again, and again, every single week for the past month. It wasn’t your fault that it was so easy. So simple to swindle your way into getting your name permanently written down on the entry list.

Oh, and the men.

It was a different group every week, but they weren’t all that dissimilar from one another. They’d sit there and smoke their cigars and drink their whiskey, all while silently mocking you with their eyes. Like they thought they were better than you just because they had a dick between their legs.

You were addicted to that too.

To watching the way their faces would fall in disbelief every single time you cleared the pot and took their money. And how their voices would raise in pitch with their countless complaints about how some lowly broad conned them out of their pocket change. Because that’s all that money was to people like them.

Change.

They were rich. You could tell by the custom suits they wore, the cologne they bathed in, the way they carried themselves. The money they gambled with always had a cap, a max amount that they were willing to bet. And the games never got too crazy, didn’t escalate once they lost to you. Which was a shame really, because you wanted more. Craved more. More of what, you weren’t too sure, but the high that playing brought only lasted so long until you came crashing back down.

Which was exactly when fate decided to change the routine.

“Here to play again, miss?” Felix, the same teenage boy who always manned the door to the gambling room, asked with a slight tilt of his head. His light brunette hair was tucked beneath a bowler hat, different from the usual fedora. Back to the door, he was standing up straight instead of his normal slouch. And the way his mouth was taught around the edges was out of the ordinary as well.

The boy didn’t have a cigarette clenched between his teeth, which should have been enough to set off the bells in your head. But it didn’t. Because you were too bullheaded, had gotten too cocky in the terms of things.

“You know me too well, Felix.” You reached out a hand to pat the lanky boy on his suit clad arm lightly, a smile pulling up at your red painted lips. “Is the usual table ready?”

The volume in the casino wasn’t as loud either, nor were there quite as many patrons. But you’d just chalked that up to the heavy rain pounding a path into the concrete outside. Though the lack of customers did nothing to eliminate the permanent smell of cigarette smoke that lingered, hidden in the walls beneath the fancy looking wallpaper.

“I don’t know if you want to play today, miss.” Felix glanced away from you with his bottom lip caught between his teeth. You blamed the flickering light in the corner of the hall for the way his freckles stood out amongst his slowly paling cheeks.

You raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”

He didn’t answer. Not at first. Silence lingered in the hall, drowning in the soft jazz music coming from the band on the stage near the back of the joint. It took the raising of your other brow for the underaged boy to finally answer.

“It’s just not a good day for gambling.”

Now that had you leaning forward until you could finally catch his flighty gaze, voice hushed in a playful whisper. “Oh really, how so? Is there a stool-pigeon running about somewhere? Should we be expecting the coppers to come kicking down the door any minute?”

“No. I—”

“Then why can’t I play, Felix?” You were starting to get irritated. The week had been long and you were ready to forget about it all for the next few hours. Buried beneath the weight of a handful of cards and glass full of gin.

Either Felix could see your growing impatience, or there really was something he was hiding, because he stepped even further in front of the door. “You don’t want to play with this group, miss. They aren’t as welcoming as the others are. It’d be best if you just went home.”

“You ca—”

“And what’s going on back here?” That wasn’t Felix’s voice and neither was it yours. You whipped around, surprised at the new addition.

The man behind you had honey brown hair parted and styled carefully until it was brushed back away from his heart-shaped face. Though some of it still hung in front of a single, dark eye. His other was uncovered, a scar running through his eyebrow and cutting it in half. Everything about him was angular, sharp. From his jawline to the slope of his nose and the corners of his full lips.

One look and you already pegged him for a cake-eater, a ladies man, if you’d ever seen one. Hell, he even dressed like he came right off the front cover of one of those Time magazines that littered the newspaper stands on every street corner. With a navy blue suit and perfect, unscuffed shoes.

“No, sir,” Felix attempted to pull the man’s attention from you unsuccessfully. “The missus here was just leaving.”

The Stranger hummed, tilting his head to study you with those sharp eyes of his. “Were you, bunny? Just leaving?”

You couldn’t help the twitch of your nose at the unfavorable nickname, squaring your shoulders and crossing your arms with a scoff. “No, I wasn’t. I want to play a few rounds, you see, but he won’t let me.”

Perhaps you should have felt bad for ratting out the kid, but you didn’t. Especially not when the Stranger huffed a laugh, a distinct ha-ha-ha! in amusement. Though there was something else in his eyes that you couldn’t name. Didn’t want to acknowledge. “You want to play a hand of blackjack, is that right?”

“Ab-so-lute-ly.” You raised an eyebrow at the man and waved a hand through the air. “I can play.”

“Oh,” He asked, taking a step closer until you had to crane your neck back to meet his imploring gaze. “Playing isn’t cheap.”

You shrugged nonchalantly. “I can pay too.”

He must have been waiting for that answer if the smirk that pulled at his lips was any indication. And he finally, finally broke eye contact to wave aside the boy behind you. “Well, did the dame make herself clear or not? She wants to play.”

You happened to turn just in time to catch the alarm that flickered across Felix’s face as he stepped to the side to reveal the door behind him. Felix reached out with a ringed hand to twist the brass knob of the door. It swung open without a sound and he gave you a quick, wide-eyed stare filled with a warning you couldn’t interpret, before looking away.

“Well?” The Stranger questioned from over your shoulder. You could smell his cologne now; husky with a hint of sweet orange.

His words were an invitation if you’d ever heard one. And you didn’t want to look like a bluenose, a prude, so you stepped inside without hesitation. Though perhaps you should have taken Felix’s unspoken warning, for you had no idea just what it was that you were walking into.

Inside the cramped room was filled with a haze of cigar smoke, which wasn’t unusual at all. What was, however, was the group of six men sitting at the circular table as you rounded the corner with the Stranger at your back. They were beautiful, all of them. A huge contrast to the usual rabble that came to play. Hell, even underneath the dim light you couldn't spot a single flaw on them.

No one noticed your entrance at first.

Well, at least not until the Stranger cleared his throat. “Gentleman.”

His greeting sounded like it toed somewhere on the line between amusement and respect.

All movement in the room came to a halt as six men looked up from where they’d been bent over the blackjack table. If you’d been a little less prideful and a lot more careful, then perhaps the overbearing confidence that bled from their pores would have given you pause. But as it was, you stood standing, back straight and head held high. Even while their eyes roamed your figure like tigers behind a cage at the zoo right before feeding time.

A pause hovered in the air, lingering with a tension that crawled onto your skin. What seemed like hours passed merely in seconds before it was broken.

“And who’s this?” The question came from the fella who sat in the chair closest to where you stood. He was turned around with his arm propped up on the back of it, head tilted to the side in curiosity. His hair was styled similar to the Stranger’s, though his was darker and the gel pushed through the strands made it gleam silver beneath the dim lamp that hung above the table.

High cheekbones and skin the same color as molten honey, his jaw worked around a piece of gum stuck between his teeth. A smirk pulled up at the corner of his mouth, dark eyes glittering with a touch of interest. With a black and white suit that complimented the shade of his hair, the man was nothing if not a billboard: flashy. Handsome.

“I found bunny here outside arguing with Felix. Something about wanting to play a few rounds of blackjack. Isn’t that right?” The Stranger placed a heavy palm between your shoulder blades. What might have been intended to come off as comforting, only succeeded in making you feel the opposite. Like you were being put on display.

You didn’t let it show on your face. “That’s right.”

“Oh?” Gum Chewer’s smirk grew broader at that, but he said nothing else. Just leaned back in his chair.

“What do you say, should we let her play?” Blond hair, pink kissable lips and dangerous, dangerous eyes. The slim man sitting next to Gum Chewer was attractive in a pretty way that made you envious of his easy-on-the-eyes looks.

While the question may have been asked to the whole room, none of them answered it. Instead they looked towards one of the men sitting in the middle who had yet to speak. If you’d thought the rest of them were a sight for sore eyes, well, they had nothing on him. How your attention hadn’t been drawn to him the moment you walked through the door, you didn’t know.

He wasn’t even looking at you and you already felt tongue-tied. Busying himself with shuffling the cards in his hands against the green felt table, the expensive looking rings adorning his slender fingers caught your eye. He was what your mother would’ve called a timeless beauty. The type of handsome that meant he could walk the streets of the city in nothing but a sack and he’d have women throwing themselves at his feet.

Hair the same shade as a moonless sky made him look intimidating, like he belonged to the shadows themselves. A straight nose, cupid bow lips and long eyelashes that would make any broad jealous; he gave off the type of power that could make even the bravest of men cower at his feet. The longer he took to respond, the more the room grew still. As if your fate was in the hands of a man who’s name you didn’t even know.

Though perhaps it was.

A muffled thud echoed throughout the room as he tapped the deck of cards against the table once, twice, before sliding them over to the fella to his left. Plucking up the glass of scotch in front of him, he finally looked up. And graced you with the prettiest chocolate brown eyes you’d ever seen.

“What’s your name, dollface?”

tagged: @bewitch-me @jxngkooksthxghs @kaitswrld @clarissalance @namurkive @ifntelyinspirit @kotaevln @red--aren @ggukkieland @moonlitmyg @i-like-puppy-mg @aianloveseven @drumsofheaven @figurativehoe00 @wonhoandonly @wacdon @hear-me-growl @milaridez7 @1088x1088 @alana-ba @vlntaeg

#bangtanarmynet #networkbangtan #magicshopnet #btsbookclub #ficswithluv #bts #kim taehyung #taehyung smut #jungkook #jimin #namjoon #hoseok #seokjin #yoongi

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hekatekun · 4 years ago

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The metanarrative’s grand narrative: Osomatsu-san’s characterization throughout the franchise

The growing cynicism throughout the entire Osomatsu-san franchise shows itself in season 3 with more prominence than anything prior. I think that’s pretty common amongst any “long-running” gag comedy - replacing a plot with spiteful commentary that’s admittedly pretty hit or miss at times. However, it invariably creates a negative but pretty funny character growth, and I love the way the show (I’m including the movie too as “canon” material considering season 3 has referenced it way too many times for me to disregard) has set up this metanarrative across seasons. Long post ahead.

Obviously, Osomatsu-san is self-aware and has a casual relationship with itself. No linear plot (though S3 seems to be trying it out and I’ve enjoyed it - I love that they’re willing to experiment), rather a collection of unrelated skits; and so it points out its own metanarrative because of this “lack of consequences.” With comedy comes impermancy and Ososan AND -kun will always bounce back from that week’s insanity. From the Oxford Dictionary, a metanarrative is “a narrative account that experiments with or explores the idea of storytelling, often by drawing attention to its own artificiality.” Basically: a story about stories.

On top of this, is what I’m calling the “grand narrative,” which is often used interchangeably with metanarrative, but here I’m making a distinction to make it less confusing. Of course, Ososan is a story about stories, but with that comes a story it’s not directly telling, which is where most of the (little) character development is taking place. This is what I’m going to call the grand narrative of a show whose premise is being a meta-aware comedy. I’ll admit I’m by no means an expert on these subjects, but storytelling methods are something I enjoy trying to analyze. As a media format, Ososan really utilizes the fact that it’s a tv show.

Right off the bat S1E1 makes it clear what to expect: Nothing. Not a damn thing. But, the show had already been cleared for this first season, so it has to be produced. This same episode’s preview is done by Osomatsu, which I’m just gonna quote instead screenshot because there’s too many.

“...we plan on properly starting the anime the next episode.” “...you ended up with an extra minute, so you need me to do something to fill it?! Actually, is this anime going to be okay with episode one being like this? I’m getting worried about how the rest of this is going to be...” “There, I used up a minute! [EPISODE ENDS]”

Episode one is not only batshit referential, but downright mocking the state of anime in 2015. Which, truthfully, I don’t have much to comment on in that regard, as I’m not an avid anime fan. However, it does this under the premise of being indecisive about what kind of anime they wanted the Osokun reboot to be.

They’ll do just about anything to stay popular and relevant considering that is, quite literally, all they have going for them as characters in the series and just being characters in general. They may be pieces of shit, but they’re likeable pieces of shit. The dynamics they’ve built upon to be entertaining is encouraged, and they’re basically just roleplaying different skits and fucking around.

All the AUs! All the skits! They’re just playing! They’re just fuckin’ around!! They couldn’t come up with any interesting plot nor could they “graduate” from being anime protagonists and join the real world, so they just fuck around and make a gag anime!

Even if we follow both as the audience, the show makes a difference between the what’s them in their “normal life” (crazy begets crazy, no?) and what’s their “show.” But, really, that’s just one way to look at it, as they don’t really follow any rules as a show. I could say the Joshimatsus are separate characters from the sextuplets, and it’d be a “correct” interpretation. It doesn’t really matter - I’m choosing to examine it all as being the six of them just running around and playing, because being entertaining and having fun is all they know as characters. Besides, having it blended together beyond recognition reinforces how it prioritizes entertaining us, the audience, above logic. Storytelling doesn’t need to make absolute spatial-temporal sense for it to be enjoyable to fans.

In any case, that mentality really seems to be what pushes their character development negative, as they look to reinforce habits and rituals despite them being really detrimental for them in the long run. They know they’re popular characters as is, and with really everyone from staff to fans encouraging this behavior further, so they see no point in fixing what isn’t really broken.

I found this 4 year old article from Manga.Tokyo discussing the Ososan phenomenon in Japan because while the craze died off pretty quickly in American anime circles (which deserves a whole other post), Japanese fans went fuckin’ nuts.

This portion caught my attention, as it makes sense that entitled and enabled asshole children would grow up to be entitled and enabled asshole adults. The article also goes on to compare them to idols (even beyond the F6 spoof) and that they are rooted in being comfort characters above all else.

It’s worth a read, especially because Japanese fan response is what drives majority of the content post-S1, and, inevitably, ties into their character development.

They know that they’re Characters, particularly Protagonists. You know what happens to protagonists? Everything works out. Just about every single story created has stuff working out for protagonists. In fact, we have a whole genre made that separates stories with bad tragic endings from our Normal Stories. Ososan is a comedy, not a tragedy, so surely there’s gonna be some payoff somewhere along the road, especially as the seasons and other content are still being pumped out. To a self-aware, entitled, enabled protagonist, assuming everything is just gonna work out for you isn’t that far off from your narrative truth.

However, Ososan is a gag anime, and a lot of gag content (like 4koma mangas) is dropped for other projects before any emotional cathartic ending is provided for characters and fans alike. So, three seasons and a movie later, nothing has happened. It’s a great idol cash cow with a Family Guy filter, and the characters (and writers) don’t even bother to hide it anymore. And I know I’m being hypocritical concerning my definition of “canon material” but I think this portion from one of the drama cds “Choroplex” basically summarizes my point:

CHOROMATSU: Wait, don’t make this into a gag! You don’t even care about becoming employed, right? KARAMATSU: There’s no way that could happen... CHOROMATSU: What kind of future are you imagining? Is it nothing but this? [HUGE PAUSE BEFORE THEY MOVE ONTO SOMETHING ELSE]

They’re parodies of themselves and are running out of ideas. Stagnation and decay is normal, if not unavoidable, at this point in time for them. They’re just 20 somethings who’ve hit a wall but they’re too scared and insecure to bring about permanent positive change. It’s easier for them to fall back into normal patterns and joke off the rest.

They have an antagonistic relationship with expectations. They can’t handle a single iota of expectations, or responsibilities. They’ve never needed to worry before, so why bother now? Once the biggest hits on the block, now they’re just guppies in the ocean, and there’s nothing they believe themselves to be able to accomplish to keep up with this big brave new world. This is epitomized in S3E15, where old man Osomatsu tells a bastardized version of the Tortoise and the Hare, blatantly projecting his feelings onto it. Again, too many screenshots so let me pull more quotes (bolding for my own reference):

“The place that the tortoise thought was the goal was not actually the goal. His journey down the road of life still continued on. The tortoise was quite tired, but he continued running anyway.” “No one actually knew who was in front anymore. There are too many people above you.” “After the tortoise found out how society worked, he thought, ‘So this is the difference in talent? No amount of hard work is going to fix this. All right. I’m done competing with others.’”

S3 has left more questionable endings than its counterparts. The last 2 skits I referenced don’t even a gag to them, and the marriage skit doesn’t play music for the entire second half of S3E5. There’s more involved too. I haven’t even brought up the rice ball twins becoming actual entertainers in their universe, or how they introduced this whole AI subplot only to reject it because All Six Of Them aren’t interested in expanding their little corner of the world. Here’s a transcript of the ending preview from S3E1:

“Hey, hey, Osomatsu here. I thought we were saved from being replaced, but I guess we get new characters next week. Man, we’re busy. New encounters, changing surroundings... We’re NEETs to begin with because all that is a pain. I guess a lot can happen after three seasons. [EPISODE ENDS]”

The sextuplets’ mindsets are extremely self-centered, which is also an environmental thing (the parents don’t even really care that they’re NEETs, for one) and an understanding of what they ought to be (epic successful protagonists). They also have a very black and white mentality, all or nothing. They’re extremely sheltered, and once they realized where they stood in society at large, they just gave up. To them the world is divided between winners and losers, and somehow, “inexplicably,” they found themselves to have fallen from grace. But they’re protagonists, that has to count for something! Everything’s gonna end up okay, right? Well... what this show has told them: No, not at all. They are consistently compared and warned of Iyami, and are perfectly aware of this fact, and have come to internalize it as a truth rather than a reversible self-fulfilling prophecy.

Too many screencaps, taken from the S3S5 marriage discussion:

JYUSHIMATSU: I wonder if we’re gonna get married someday, too. CHOROMATSU: Well, I mean... probably? I’m not exactly sure, but... TODOMATSU: What? You’re gonna get married, Choromatsu-niisan? CHOROMATSU: Huh? Well, yeah... someday.

Surprise! They have commitment issues! The same group that couldn’t commit to a fucking plot! Though their personality issues have several factors involved, I can’t overlook the theater motifs abound. Life’s a stage, and they’re performing entirely unscripted and it shows.

Do I think all of this is 100% intentional on the writers’ part? No, probably not. There’s also an extra layer here regarding contemporary Japanese commentary that I’m not familiar with, so I just ended up focusing on the characters. I can’t be in the writers’ heads, but whatever decisions are being made by executives regarding censorship and “compliance” are reflected in these character changes that result in being significantly more bitter and defeatist.

In the all or nothing, winner-take-all mentality, the only way to save face at this point, in their minds, is to own up to it - act like it’s what they wanted all along. And, hey, it’s funny to watch, right?

“Why is Osomatsu all my examples”, you might be asking. Well, he’s the damn blueprint for it all. The leader of the bunch, the first personality to grab your attention, has had all his issues projected and ricocheted in their echo chamber.

Ultimately, my point here is that you could think their “canon characterizations” (though canon means nothing in a show like this) as being intertwined with the nature of their self-aware existence. They’ve shown you all their tricks, the smoke and mirrors are getting boring, and they’re stalling long enough the story seems to be moving on without them - in spite of them. And when something genuinely threatens their way of life, they don’t know how to respond.

You can play it all straight, of course. Remove the meta jokes and all the same plot points can be hit, but, as a slapstick comedy, it’s able to easily add this additional layer in that I appreciate. I’ve said it in my last post and I’ll probably say it in more, but with comedy comes sincerity - the caveat of all the cartoon violence is that, on some level somewhere, this is how they really feel.

#osomatsu san #osomatsu #karamatsu #choromatsu #ichimatsu #jyushimatsu #todomatsu #osomatsu matsuno #karamatsu matsuno #choromatsu matsuno #ichimatsu matsuno #jyushimatsu matsuno #todomatsu matsuno #analysis #confession this was sparked by a convo i had w friends about s3e18 #this is a bit truncated but i couldnt bring myself to make this longer #maybe ill make a pt2 or whatever idk

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jayeray-hq · 4 years ago

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He’s My Best Friend: Miya Atsumu

The start of a new series celebrating having 50+ followers thank you all so much! 😊💖 Post Time Skip/Manga Ending Spoilers!

Warnings: None all fluff

Choose your own ending platonic or romantic!

He’s My Best Friend Masterlist - Character Masterlist

Big thanks to Bri from our Haikyuu Headquarters discord server for beta reading for me she’s amazing! 😊💖 The Past : How You Met

The day you’d met Miya Atsumu for the first time, you never would’ve guessed he’d become your best friend. After all, you’d been at an age where you were utterly convinced that all boys had cooties and were absolutely gross and boring. However, you’d just moved to Hyogo prefecture with your family and you’d honestly been feeling a little lonely.

It was the end of summer break and you were going to be starting school in just a week, in what would technically be the middle of the school year as a second grader, and the whole thing had made you more than a bit anxious. Luckily one of the perks of your new house was that it was right next door to a nice park, which meant your parents were more than happy to send you out to distract and entertain yourself.

You’d done so with aplomb setting on to one of the swings and deciding to see if you could break your personal best for how high you could go, fully believing that if you just pumped your legs high enough you might actually be able to go over the bar the way some older kids had told you and your friends from your old school.

There’d been a few other kids at the park that day, but you hadn’t felt the need to approach them, though nowadays you couldn’t remember whether that was from shyness or because you’d been too focused on your aerial goals. What you did remember though was him, or them actually; the Miya twins.

They’d caught your attention because they’d taken up seats on either side of you. They hadn’t had a choice because there were only four swings, you’d chosen one in the middle, and the other one on the far-right end was clearly broken, the seat dangling from one of the chains. It wasn’t until later that you’d learn that the broken swing was their fault in the first place.

The two boys had barely seemed to notice you, swinging in between them, shouting over your head about how one of them was going to beat the other. You weren’t sure who’d said what, all you could remember was how incredibly annoying the two of them had been, so much so that you’d quickly gotten over your awe that there were somehow two of them that looked just alike.

It had been especially annoying because, despite their argument, it was very clear that you were the one who was going the highest, being the lightest of the three. Finally fed up with them ignoring you, and shouting over your head you’d decided to perform the neat trick you’d always done with your friends back home.

With all the absolute fearlessness of youth you let the swing get to the highest point of its arc and leapt free, landing in a perfect crouch in the sand. Your little maneuver had managed to shock the twins into complete silence, and you’d turned to look at them in surprise as you dusted off your shorts, freeing them of sand. Both had been gaping, and you’d managed to catch the eye of one of them, the twin you now knew as Atsumu. You’d given him an absolutely haughty look before sticking your nose in the air and stalking away, completely ignoring their shocked cries, and their calls to wait up, figuring it served them right for ignoring you in the first place.

Much to your dismay it turned out the loud twins lived nearby, and ever since your little stunt they’d been determined to befriend you. Atsumu in particular was relentless, chasing you everywhere and insisting on being your friend. You’d even ended up in the same class as him once school started, much to his delight.

In the end his persistence had paid off, and the two of you had become good friends once you’d gotten used to his loud, unabashed, blunt personality. The two of you just fit together well, though it helped that you were far more willing to be dragged into Atsumu’s schemes than his much more realistic twin. While you did become good friends with Osamu, an inevitability given the twins were practically attached at the hip twenty-four seven, you were always Atsumu you were closer with, who you considered your very best friend.

The Present : Your High School Days

“What happened to your face?” you demanded shocked and a little appalled that your friend had shown up on your doorstep his face covered in scrapes and a nice bruise forming over one eye, “Did you try to receive a volleyball with your forehead again?”

Normally you walked home every day with the twins, as you still lived close to one another, but you’d had a doctor’s appointment earlier that day and so had left school early. It just figured that somehow in the scant hours between the time you’d last seen him and now he’d somehow gotten himself into trouble. Honestly, trouble probably should’ve been his middle name; bold and brash Atsumu could be entirely too impulsive at times and Osamu tended to either egg him on or ignore him entirely. You, on the other hand, had taken the firm stance of compromise and while you did allow yourself to be dragged into his schemes far too often you also did your best to discourage some of his wilder ideas to keep both of you safe.

“I only ever tried ta do that once,” Atsumu protested in response to your accusation, as you stepped back to let him into your house and ushered him toward the bathroom.

“Once was one time too many,” you informed him dryly, “Especially since you’ve accidentally received with your face before and should’ve been well aware that it was an incredibly dumb idea.”

“A man screws up once and ya hold it over his head fer ever,” he grumbled unhappily, as he hopped up on to the counter at your urging, folding his arms over his chest, a slight pout on his lips that had you rolling your eyes in fond amusement.

“So, if you weren’t practicing receiving with your face, what were you doing?” you asked as you dug in one of the cabinets for the first aid kit. You’d had more experience with the thing than you cared to remember, patching up both yourself and the twins after all the scrapes you’d gotten into over the years, and made sure to keep it well stocked.

Of the twins Atsumu had always been quicker to anger, though he was also quicker to cool down and forgive, unlike Osamu who was a bit of a grudge holder. It meant you had lots of practice patching him up, not that you could complain as half the fights from when you were younger were started on your behalf. Despite how he would tease you at times, often viciously, only he was allowed to do it, not even Osamu was allowed to make fun of you without Atsumu taking extreme offense and getting vicious on your behalf.

It was why you never got angry at him when he got a bit snappy or came to you to be patched up. You knew you could always count on him to have your back though you were infinitely grateful he’d gotten much better at using his words over using his fists as the two of you got older, saving the physical fights almost exclusively for Osamu.

He grumbled something unintelligible in response and you pulled your head from the cabinets to give him a look, one that long experience meant he interpreted perfectly as ‘spill your guts or else’.

“I got in a fight with Samu,” he repeated a little louder so you could hear the words properly.

“What did you do this time?” you asked as you set the kit on the counter, flipping it open and pulling out some disinfectant.

“What makes ya think it was me? It coulda been Samu, it’s not always me!” he protested annoyed.

“Because if it was Samu you’d be with him gloating over what a terrible person he is and whining to your parents, but instead you’re moping around here at my place and clearly hiding,” you informed him bluntly, ignoring his indignant spluttering as you demanded, “hands.”

He offered the appendages without complaint, letting you gently clean his scraped knuckles, even as he sulked over what you’d said. You’d cleaned him up after fights both with his brother and with others he didn’t get along with more than once, so you knew despite how utterly vain he could be his priority was always his hands. Which was why you always started there, and were most careful with them.

He’d told you more than once that a setter was nothing without his hands, and he was always incredibly meticulous about their care. Funnily enough it was also only you he’d ever trusted to help him with his hands. Not even Osamu was allowed to touch, and certainly no one was allowed to wrap his fingers or put bandages on them but you.

“So, what did you say to Samu that ticked him off bad enough to try to break your face?” you asked, as you carefully dabbed his hands with the antiseptic.

“He was bein’ scrubby,” Atsumu protested clearly still moping, “My sets were perfect, he shoulda been able ta get them.”

“And let me guess, instead of just shrugging it off as him having a bad day, you decided to tell him he sucked to his face,” you finished with a sigh, already able to predict how your best friend would’ve behaved in a scenario like that. Honestly you wouldn’t be surprised to look up the definition of tactless in the dictionary and find a picture of Atsumu’s face next to it considering how utterly inconsiderate and blunt he could be at times. It was a good thing you’d managed to grow a thick skin over the years, otherwise your friendship probably never would’ve lasted as long as it had or been as strong as it was.

“So, what if I did?” Atsumu protested, annoyed, though he didn’t pull his hands from your grip as you carefully bandaged them, doing your best to ensure he’d maintain proper mobility of his fingers.

“Pretty sure Osamu would know he was having a bad day Tsumu,” you told him with a sigh, finishing up with his hands and moving on to his face, “He didn’t need you to rub his face in it.”

“What so yer takin’ his side then?” he demanded petulantly, eyes flashing with a mix of hurt and anger, his quick temper rearing its ugly head.

“Don’t be stupid,” you told him flicking him hard on an undamaged part of his forehead, “You’re my best friend Tsumu and you know it. I’m always on your side, even when you’re being a scrub.”

“I ain’t a scrub,” he muttered sullenly, “An ya shouldn’t go beatin’ on me. M’ already beat up enough, what kinda best friend are ya anyways?”

“The best kind,” you told him completely unbothered by his whining and well aware he didn’t mean it, amused at the pout he gave you in response, even if he would vehemently deny ever doing something as unmanly as pouting at you, “The kind that tells you when you’re being an inconsiderate jerk to people.”

“Nope,” you cut him off before he could open his mouth, “You were a jerk and you know it Tsumu, otherwise you wouldn’t be here moping.”

“I ain’t mopin’,” he protested half-heartedly, the fact that he didn’t protest the other part of your statement was as good as a confession and you both knew it.

You hummed in amused agreement not saying a word, simply patching up his face with infinite care, and absently ruffling his hair when you finished, laughing at his protests off with practiced ease.

“Can I hang out here for a little bit?” he asked quietly, the words almost inaudible as he refused to meet your gaze.

“Of course, you can,” you told him fondly, “You don’t even need to ask.”

He slumped forward, nearly making you stumble as he leaned on you, his forehead pressed to your shoulder in a rare moment of vulnerability, the ones that as his best friend you were privy to, his quiet ‘thanks’ muffled into your shirt. You rolled your eyes at him fondly, and gently pet his hair for several long moments until he lifted his head up and hopped off the counter fully prepared to pretend the moment of weakness hadn’t happened and loudly challenging you to defeat him at videogames.

You huffed in amusement but allowed yourself to be sucked in, well aware that this was what it meant to be best friends with Miya Atsumu.

The Future : Platonic

You grinned down at the court, decked out as usual in your MSBY jersey that had Atsumu’s number on the back. These days you didn’t always get to go to every game the way you had in high school, even if Atsumu always made sure you had a ticket if you wanted one. You honestly just couldn’t, as the two of you were living very separate lives. Still that didn’t stop you from trying to go to every game you could, even if it took you a little out of the way at times.

Your lives after graduation had been pretty hard on your friendship, what with Atsumu deciding to go pro right away and you off to fulfill your own dreams as well. Atsumu in particular had, had it rough as neither you nor Osamu could be there all the time for him anymore, and you knew he’d struggled to find and stand on his own two feet.

You’d done all you could for him at the time, keeping your door open and your phone on you, ready to talk him through his temper or chew him out if he needed you to, the same way he always made time for you when you needed a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear, even if his advice wasn’t the greatest.

Honestly, you’d been a little worried that your friendship would fall apart, that the two of you would grow apart because of the distance between you. You should’ve known Atsumu would never let that happen. He held on to your friendship with the same dogged persistence he’d used to procure it in the first place, reminding you of his presence and his support, brutal though it sometimes was, at every moment he could.

In turn you could do nothing but return his fervor, reaching out to him and ensuring you scheduled things like meet-ups, phone calls, and more. The two of you had a snap streak that had lasted almost five years and counting, and neither of you had any intention of breaking it.

The only small bit of trouble you’d had over the years was when the two of you had significant others. You’d noticed right away that the people surrounding Atsumu could be incredibly jealous and suspicious of you, the same way you’d had a partner or two who hadn’t liked how close you were to the nationally ranked pro athlete.

However, Atsumu had always been possessive and protective of what was his, and your relationship was something he treasured just as much as he treasured the one with Osamu. It meant that if his partner so much as hinted that they wanted him to stop talking to you or hanging out with you, he dropped them, oftentimes ruthlessly and with no remorse.

You did your best to do the same, hanging on to your friendship, and telling the people you dated flat out that if they had a problem with Atsumu then you wouldn’t continue to date them. After all you’d been friends with him for over a decade at that point, and there was no reason why you should put more value into a new relationship over the one you had with him even if one was strictly platonic and the other romantic.

Your combined stubbornness meant your friendship was still going strong even now, enough so that Osamu often referred to you as his twin’s other twin, because the two of you had proved to be inseparable.

Yes, he was rude, blunt, and still a little temperamental despite maturing a lot in the past few years, but he was also fiercely loyal, supportive in his own way, and goofy adorable dork. He was your best friend, one you knew you’d someday be sitting with side by side in the future, the two of you old and wrinkled as you argued over whose grandchildren were better as you reminisced about the good old days. Honestly you wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Future : Romantic

The fact that your relationship had bloomed from a steady strong friendship into something romantic had surprised absolutely no one except for you. Even Atsumu, who you’d thought to be completely and utterly oblivious to pretty much everyone’s feelings, had known before you had, much to your eternal shame.

You weren’t exactly sure where it had started. If it was in the moments where he’d lean on you physically and emotionally showing you the vulnerable moments he went out of his way to hide from everyone else. Maybe it was the way he’d go out of his way to touch you, ruffling or gently tugging on strands of your hair, an arm over your shoulder or around your waist, hugs everywhere in public and in private, completely and utterly shameless. Or it could be the times when he’d listen to you, simply making time, even when the two of you were busy, even when he wasn’t close by, pursuing his career as a professional athlete while you chased your own dreams, to hear anything you felt you needed to say. Whatever it was it had all come together in one moment, hitting you with startling clarity.

You remembered it clearly, you’d been sitting in one of the booths of Onigiri Miya, you plus the team and their significant others, all celebrating Osamu’s success at finally opening the restaurant of his dreams. Atsumu had been sitting next to you, a casual arm slung over your shoulders, gesticulating wildly with the onigiri in his other hand, talking with his mouth full as usual, and showing no table manners whatsoever.

Despite that you’d seen the way the light had caught in the gold of his hair, the brightness and clear joy in his eyes, and the wide smile on his lips and your heart had flipped over in your chest and squeezed near painfully as you looked at him. It had hit you then with all the force of a freight train. You loved him, you were in love with your best friend, with Miya Atsumu, the man who’d been by your side since that very first moment you’d met on the playground over a decade ago.

You must’ve had an odd expression on your face because Atsumu had abruptly stopped talking, and turned to you with clear concern in his eyes, and demanded in his usual tactless way to know what was wrong with you.

In a stunning moment of sheer blunt bravery and absolute recklessness that proved Atsumu had probably rubbed off on you a little too much over the years, you’d turned toward him looked him in the eye and blurted out ‘I love you’ right then and there.

Osamu would later congratulate you on managing to do something no one had ever managed to do before by stunning his twin absolutely speechless, but in that moment, you’d been too focused on Atsumu’s eyes to notice how quiet both he and the rest of the restaurant had gotten at your confession.

No matter what, Atsumu’s eyes had always given away exactly what he’d been feeling, and in that moment, he’d been staring with such blatant hope, and longing in his face as he searched yours for any sign of deception that you hadn’t been able to look away. Though you couldn’t help the way they fluttered shut as he leaned forward to press his lips to yours, cupping your face sweetly and holding you more tenderly than most probably would’ve thought he was capable of.

The kiss was everything you’d looked for in previous relationships, warm and sweet, with a feeling of rightness and familiarity that made you feel safe and completely and utterly loved. You’d broken apart to the sound of cheering from the rest of the restaurant’s occupants, all of whom had been extremely happy for the two of you, even if Osamu and Suna did tease you rather relentlessly over it.

Apparently, everyone knew the two of you were head over heels for one another, and Osamu had been listening to Atsumu pine over you since high school. That you’d finally realized your feelings had come as a major relief for the younger twin and you and Atsumu had been together ever since.

It was almost strange how easily the two of you fell together, years of experience meaning nothing surprised you. There were no ugly habits or dirty secrets to hide. You knew all about his temper, how blunt and vicious he could be, you knew everything about him, and he knew everything about you. It was comfortable, warm, and everything you could’ve asked for because there wasn’t anything better really, than being in love with your best friend.

#miya atsumu #atsumu #miya atsumu x reader #miya atsumu x y/n #miya atsumu x you #atsumu x reader #atsumu x you #atsumu x y/n #haikyū!!#haikyu imagines #haikyuu!!#haikyu fluff #atsumu fluff #atsumu imagines #atsumu headcanons #miya atsumu imagines #inarizaki #he's my best friend #JayeRayWrites

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hockey-fics · 4 years ago

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Broken Promises and Forbidden Relationships ~ Jamie Oleksiak

Summary: Having Roope as your best friend was one of the best things in your life. The biggest downside had always been how protective he got. So you made a promise to never get involved with one Dallas Star defensemen in particular...but sometimes feelings are stronger than past promises.

Word Count: ~10.5k

Warnings: Language, very cliche, a lot of drama.

Video source of gif

Huge shoutout to @klingeroopesalove for the idea and then being the most patient person on planet earth for waiting so stupidly long for me to finish it.

A/N: There’s a few sentences in Finnish throughout this. I tried my absolute best with the translations. I don’t speak Finnish so I had to rely on contextual dictionaries for this so I’m really, really sorry if I butchered it! Also, it’s not my best writing in general and I don’t love it, but I hope you enjoy it!

Roope had been the older brother you never biologically had since you were 7. When your parents, the free-spirits they were, had decided to sell the house you had lived in for the first seven years of your life on a whim. But rather than move across town or to a new city or even a different state they decided to start fresh in Tampere, Finland. You moved into a house across the street from another family that your parents quickly befriended and the next thing you knew Roope was showing up at your front door every morning to walk you to school. And after the end of the school day he would show up at your classroom door to walk home with you. He was only one year older than you but he very quickly became protective over you, you were the epitome of a new kid and he wanted to make things as easy for you as possible. And just as quickly you grew attached to Roope, the first day he was sick and couldn’t walk with you to school left you crying so hard your mom agreed to take you herself, leaving her forty minutes late to work.

You had always talked about moving back to the United States growing up. It wasn’t that you disliked Finland, in fact, in many of your daydreams about the USA it felt more like a temporary stop. To reconnect with some of your earliest memories before moving back to Finland eventually.

Saying goodbye to Roope when he moved to Texas after being signed by the Dallas Stars was one of the hardest days of your life. But in retrospect the sadness you felt was overkill. Because within four months you were also living in Texas. And you had adapted incredibly easy to the move. But you knew you had Roope to thank for that, for being the catalyst to finally doing what you said you were going to do.

“Mind if we pick up Y/N on the way?” Roope asks, turning his head to look across the interior of his car at Jamie. Jamie’s car was in the shop and when he mentioned getting a rental car for the day Roope told him he could just carpool to and from practice that day with him instead of going through that hassle. What he didn’t think about was the fact that he had agreed to pick you up on his way home for a movie night at his apartment.

Jamie glances over at Roope with a mischievous grin. He had heard all about you. As had the rest of the team and most likely anybody who Roope had talked to. Everybody knew you were Roope’s best friend and even though he had never said it out loud everyone was well aware of the reason he never brought you around to meet the team. He was protecting you. Protecting you from the possibility of you falling for and getting hurt by one of his teammates. He would try to protect you from getting your heart broken by any guy in the world if it was possible, but the best he could logistically do was keeping you from his teammates.

“No problem,” Jamie replies easily, turning back to look out through the front window of the car.

Roope stops at a red light, glancing back over at Jamie. “Don’t make it weird.”

“Why do you think I would?”

“Because she’s…,” Roope’s voice fades out as he presses on the gas, accelerating through the intersection. “I don’t….she’s really pretty, I guess,” Roope mutters in the way a brother would talk about his sister, uncomfortable even acknowledging the fact that someone might look at you in a way that was more than just friendly.

Jamie chuckles, shaking his head. “Fine, I won’t make it weird,” Jamie assures him with finality, sounding more reassuring than Roope felt.

Your phone buzzes in your pocket, drawing your attention away from the book you were reading. ’I’m here’ the text message from Roope reads. Swiping your keys from the counter and your bag from beside the door you head out, hurrying down the stairs and outside.

Approaching Roope’s familiar vehicle you reach out for the door handle on the passenger’s side, pausing when you notice a person in the passenger’s seat already. Before you have the chance to get to the backseat the door opens.

“You can have the front seat,” the man tells you and after a couple moments you recognize him as Jamie Oleksiak. Oleksiak. You were more familiar with him by his last name after watching almost ever single one of Roope’s games.

“No, no,” you tell him quickly, watching as he steps out of the car. But your hand is already on the back door. “Get back in,” you laugh, gesturing towards the car.

Jamie shakes his head, an amused smile on his lips. “I’m the one messing up your movie date.”

“It’s not…it’s not a date…and you’re definitely not messing anything up.” You weren’t sure where that need to clarify came from. You had joked about dating Roope more times than you could count. About how often he would pay for your meals out, picking you up and taking you home, texting and FaceTiming constantly when you weren’t together. But you wanted Jamie to know it wasn’t like that. And even though you wanted to deny it, it was pretty hard to convince yourself that it wasn’t simply because of Jamie. Because of his tall figure towering over you. Because of the grin on his lips as he looked down at you. Because of the tattoos covering his muscular arms, partially obscured by the sleeve of his t-shirt. Because of his piercing eyes locked on yours. And maybe, just maybe, you finally understood the jokes Roope had made to you about keeping you away from his friends. Because you really had underestimated just how attractive Jamie really was, the brief shots of him on the television screen during games doing him no justice.

Jamie chuckles, his hand resting casually on top of the car door in a way you knew would look ridiculous if you ever tried. “I’m not the one making it weird,” Jamie says, turning to look back into the car at Roope.

You narrow your eyes as you lean down to look through the interior of the car, watching Roope turn his head to look back at you. “Mene vain autoon, Y/N,” Roope says, telling you to get in the car.

You blink a few times as Roope begins to speak Finnish, something he only ever did when he was frustrated with you or wanting to tell you something privately when other people were around. “Mikä sinua vaivaa?” You reply, voice hushed as you ask him what his problem was while climbing into the backseat of the car.

You watch as Jamie apprehensively gets back into the passenger’s seat, eyes shifting back and forth between you and Roope.

“Älä flirttaile hänen kanssaan,” Roope warns, telling you not to flirt with Jamie as he turns back around in his seat to look out through the front window.

“En flirttaillut hänen kanssaan,” you state harshly, letting Roope know you weren’t flirting with Jamie. But perhaps it was a slight lie. With the way you made it very clear that he wasn’t messing up your day, the way your eyes lingered on his just a little too long. You turn your head to the other side of the car, noticing Jamie glancing back at you. “Sorry,” you tell him with a soft smile. “Someone doesn’t know it’s rude to speak in a language their guest can’t understand,” you state, a jab at Roope, playful, but still a jab.

Jamie chuckles, not looking back out the front window for a few minutes. “I’m Jamie, by the way,” he tells you, now settled in the car and realizing nobody had even done introductions. Not that they needed to be done. You had watched Jamie play more times than you could possibly count and he had heard more stories about you than he could possibly count.

“Nice to meet you,” you tell him, stopping yourself before saying ‘I know’. “I’m Y/N.”

“I know,” he says and you can’t help but smile at that, at how quickly he said exactly what you hadn’t. “Heard a lot about you.”

“Oh god, that can’t be good,” you joke, laughing as you slide into the seat behind Roope so you would have a better view of Jamie as you continued the conversation.

Jamie chuckles and turns his head to glance at you, the glance lingering longer than it should have and you can’t ignore the butterflies in your stomach coming alive with the way he was looking at you. “All good stuff,” he assures you.

“Good,” is all you can manage to whisper. It wasn’t like you to be at a loss for words, but your mind was a blank slate, empty under his gaze. But the second his eyes flick away from yours you know you’re in trouble, because all you want is for them to be back on you. “What are you doing this afternoon?” You blurt out and Jamie turns to look back at you while Roope glances in the rearview mirror, trying to figure out if you were really about to do what he thought you were.

Jamie shrugs, shaking his head. “I don’t know, I’ve got no plans.”

“Come watch a movie with us,” you suggest, trying to sound casual about it, not too eager.

“Y/N, ei,” Roope mutters, telling you no.

“I-,” Jamie begins, looking over at Roope and then back at you, seeming torn. “If you don’t mind.” You weren’t sure who the latter part was directed at, but you were pretty sure it was Roope given his uncomfortable tension through the entirety of the car ride.

“That’s fine,” Roope mutters. You know it’s not fine. You know he doesn’t want you to get close to his teammates. He never did.

Growing up in high school when everyday you were in the same building as the junior hockey team it was harder for Roope to keep you from getting hurt. And hurt is exactly what you got. Hurt by one of Roope’s teammates when he cheated on you after your five months together, a reasonable feat at 15 years old. And of course Roope hated him after that, but you made him promise that he wouldn’t let it impact how he played. That whatever happened during the 60 minutes of his hockey games had to be completely unrelated to what happened with you. And as far as you could tell, he upheld that promise back then.

But you weren’t going to let that one experience when you were 15 years old interfere with your life all these years later.

You’re in Roope’s apartment soon after, Jamie standing a few feet away, watching as you put a bag of popcorn in the microwave while Roope had disappeared somewhere in his apartment.

“What movie are we watching?” Jamie asks, watching you push the button for the popcorn on the microwave.

Turning to him you press your hip to the counter as the microwave whirs in the background. “I think the guest should pick.”

“You’re the guest here too,” Jamie points out.

Rolling your eyes playfully you cross your arms over your chest. “Hardly. I’m here almost as much as my own apartment.”

“Okay, well you have to at least help me out.”

Lifting your eyebrows you look up at him. “Oh, do I?”

Jamie nods, a smirk on his lips. “Yeah, you do.”

“Okay,” you tell him slowly, waiting for him to go on.

“What category of movie should I pick from?”

“Romantic…comedy, a comedy,” you tell him, quickly changing your answer when you considered the possibility of your suggestion coming across too strong. You weren’t going to deny that you were attracted to Jamie, but you couldn’t be that outright about it. You had to feel things out for now.

“Romantic comedy,” Jamie states, combining the two suggestions you made into one. It felt so easy, the way he said it, his voice gentle and sweet.

You feel your cheeks getting a little warm and you immediately divert your attention back to the microwave, eyes watching the numbers decreasing. You’re sure for a moment that time has slowed down to make you sit in this situation for longer than normal. “Can you grab a couple bowls?” you ask Jamie, nodding towards the cupboard behind him.

Jamie turns around and opens the cupboard door, reaching up to grab a couple of the bowls from the top shelf. As he does so you can’t help but look back in his direction, eyes taking in the sight before you. Sure, you knew you shouldn’t be staring. Maybe it was disrespectful or inconsiderate. He was just doing what you asked, helping you out, you shouldn’t be checking him out. But it felt like a magnetic pull that you didn’t know how to break from.

You don’t look away quick enough when Jamie turns back towards you, the two bowls in hand. You know that he had caught you staring. You knew it from the smirk on his lips as he extends his arm with the bowls, silent as he hands them to you.

“Thanks,” you whisper, taking them and setting them on the counter. Keeping your back to him you take the popcorn out of the microwave, dumping some into each of the bowls, trying to ignore the urge you had to look back and see if he was watching you. You were fairly sure he was, if not simply because you were the only other person in the room.

“No problem,” he replies, leaning against the counter.

When you look back over he’s already looking at you, but he’s unwavering in it. “He wasn’t lying.”

“Hm?” You hum, one hand resting against the counter as you look up at Jamie.

“Roope said you were really pretty…he wasn’t lying.”

You feel your heart hammering, loud and distracting in your own ears. “He must have forgotten to give me the same message about you.” Your eyes were focused on the counter, on the clock on the stove, briefly on Jamie’s lips, anywhere but his eyes. You were scared if you looked into his eyes you simply wouldn’t be able to look away, to hide the fact that you were falling for him harder and faster than you knew you should be.

“That I’m really pretty?”

And suddenly the tension in the room has changed. It’s lighter now as his comment makes you giggle. When you look over from where you were staring at the flashing light on the dishwasher you notice him already looking at you with an amused grin. “Yeah, you’re for sure one of the prettiest people I’ve ever seen,” you joke.

“I’m flattered,” Jamie chuckles, reaching over and picking up at piece of popcorn.

A moment later you reach over as well, grabbing a few pieces as you step away from him and into the middle of the kitchen. “Catch,” you tell him, tossing a kernel of corn through the air.

Jamie instinctively reaches out, catching the popcorn in his hand with ease.

You can’t help but laugh, shaking your head. “Not with your hand, dumbass,” you tease. Occasionally it came back to you. Flirting in the same way you flirted as a teen, with a slight meanness to your comments. “Your mouth.”

Jamie laughs and you feel your cheeks warm up again. “Not…,” you begin, trailing off as you realize you didn’t need to clarify that you didn’t mean anything sexualize by it. You try again, tossing it towards him.

“You’re going to have to throw higher than that.”

“You’re too tall,” you giggle, trying to get some more height on the popcorn. “It’s too light,” you whine about the popcorn.

Jamie grabs a handful of popcorn, nodding for you to step back before he grabs one piece and throws it in your direction. You manage to catch the first kernel, laughing as you spin in a celebratory circle. Jamie tries again and this time you step overzealously to the side, your hip smacking against the corner of the kitchen island.

“Ow,” you whine, laughing as you grasp your hip.

“Are you okay?” Jamie asks, stepping over towards you, his hands hovering towards you, as if wanting to do something to help the situation but falling short of knowing what to do.

You can’t help but fall just a little more for him, for the way his eyes were filled with concern over such a little thing. “Yeah, completely,” you assure him, looking down at his hands. You watch him hesitantly bring one to the counter, resting it there in an attempt to look like he wasn’t unsure of everything he was doing. “Thanks for asking though.”

“Of course.”

You place both your hands onto the counter, hopping up onto it. For the first time you’re the same height as Jamie and you’re finally looking into his eyes for more than a couple fleeting seconds. “You have really nice eyes.” Your voice comes out as a whisper, eyes locked on his.

“Thank you,” Jamie replies, his own voice in a low whisper as he gravitates a little closer. He leans a little closer and you realize he’s looking into your eyes, really and truly looking into them. “Yours too.”

Jamie is standing directly in front of you now. You couldn’t stop your mind from flooding with all sorts of less than PG thoughts about Jamie standing so close to you, so close to standing between your legs. You can’t even manage to say anything over the volume of the thoughts in your head.

“What movie are we watching?” Roope asks, breaking you away from the moment you were having with Jamie.

“Jamie is picking,” you tell him, turning your head around to look over your shoulder at Roope. As Jamie steps back you slide off the counter, grabbing the two bowls of popcorn from the counter.

“A romantic comedy,” Jamie chimes in as you and him follow Roope into the living room.

Roope laughs as he plops down onto the recliner he always sat in. He always sat in the recliner so you could lay on the couch. “Oh, you’re not joking,” Roope comments, noticing he was the only one laughing.

“You’re going to make Jamie share the couch and popcorn with me?” You ask Roope, your tone lighthearted but your insides twisting into anxious knots. How did Jamie have such control over your feelings? He was just a guy. Just one of the most attractive guys you had seen in awhile. But just a guy.

“I don’t mind,” Jamie says, already sitting down on the end of the couch.

Nodding you walk over, sitting down a couple feet away from him as you set the bowl of popcorn between you two. You reach over for the remote, handing it to Jamie as you pull your legs up onto the couch, shuffling a little closer to him so you could reach the popcorn.

“Olen kolmas pyörä,” Roope mutters, complaining about feeling like a third wheel.

“Hiljaa,” you reply, telling him to shut up as you shake your head. He wasn’t a third wheel as he was insinuating with his comment. Though perhaps if you really did have it your way he would be. But just as that thought pops into your mind you’re quick to get rid of it by focusing on the Netflix options Jamie was scrolling through.

Fifteen minutes later a movie is playing and you’re all sitting quietly watching it. You were far more tense than normal. You weren’t lounging on the couch shovelling popcorn into your mouth without a care in the world.

But halfway through the movie you felt some of your nerves dissipating, the familiar feeling of getting over the initial anxiety during a first date. But you felt ridiculous that you were feeling like that. This was so far from a first date.

Eventually the popcorn bowl is moved onto the coffee table, leaving the space between you and Jamie empty. And you find yourself gravitating towards him a little every time you adjust on the couch. And then his arm is around the back of the couch behind you and you can’t help but turn to look at him with a playful smile on your lips. Because it was such a classic move, the arm on the couch, it wasn’t as forward as putting your arm around someone. It was subtle, it was open to interpretation. It was a way to make a move where you couldn’t be directly denied. But when he looked back down at you, you knew that you hadn’t misread the situation. So you slide a little closer, tentative as you lean against him.

“Do you like the movie?” Jamie whispers once you’re leaning against him, his arm still resting on the couch.

Nodding you tip your head back, looking up at him. You notice the stubble on his jawline, obviously having shaved recently but not too recently. And it looks so effortlessly attractive. His eyes are soft as he gazes down at you. “Yeah, I do. It was a good choice.”

“You’re picking next time.”

The corners of your lips pull into a smile when he says this, feeling his arm slide down from the back of the couch to rest on your shoulders. “Next time?”

Jamie lets out a breath of laughter. “Hopefully,” he whispers.

“I feel left out of this conversation,” Roope announces, looking over at you and Jamie. He waits till you look into his eyes, immediately giving you a look. A look of disapproval, a look of ‘what are you doing?’ Rather than addressing it you quickly break eye contact with him.

“Sucks, hey?” Jamie jokes, referring to when Roope kept speaking to you in Finnish.

You can’t help but giggle at that, feeling Jamies fingers brush over your shoulder, as if to silently tell you he appreciated you laughing at his joke, at being in on a joke with you.

Roope shakes his head, turning back to the movie without saying another word.

By the time the movie comes to an end you’re completely cuddled up with Jamie. He’s sitting at an angle, allowing you lean against his chest, your legs pulled onto the couch. You can feel every time he chuckles at a joke in the movie, the steady rise and fall of his chest with his breath.

“Ready to go?” Roope asks harshly when the movie ends, sitting up straighter in the recliner.

You’re taken aback by this. He almost never asks you to leave after just one movie. He almost never asks you to leave in general. He typically waits will you ask him to drive you home. “Yeah,” you mumble, pulling yourself away from Jamie and stretching your arms in front of you.

You feel a sense of urgency as you pick up the bowl of popcorn to take it to the kitchen, bustling around as you gather your belongings while Roope waits to drive you and Jamie back to your apartments.

This time it’s you who has to be the one to break out the Finnish. And you felt bad with Jamie a few feet away, but the way Roope was acting was equally concerning and irritating. “Miksi käyttäydyt näin?” You ask him why he’s acting like that.

“I thought it was rude to speak another language,” Roope deadpans, grabbing his keys from the counter.

“Whatever,” you grumble, following him out the door. Your relationship with Roope was so much closer to a sibling relationship than a typical relationship. You two would bicker and argue all the time, but you knew it never really meant anything. Well, it normally didn’t mean anything.

After dropping Jamie off at his apartment Roope turns to look at you. “You can’t go out with him.”

“Okay,” you say, the word drawn out as you say it.

“I know you’re into him.”

“What are you talking about? I didn’t say that,” you tell him defensively, despite the fact that it was very true.

“I know you well enough, I can tell you are,” Roope says, his eyes focused intently out the front window. “Not that I have to know you well to tell, with you two all over each other on the couch.”

“We weren’t,” you begin, sighing loudly as you roll your eyes. “We weren’t all over each other. He had his arm around me…that’s it.”

“I don’t ask much from you but can you just listen to me for once?”

“What the hell?” You whine, rolling your eyes. “I listen to you all the time.” And it was true, you were always going to Roope for advice. The only difference is that was advice you were asking for, this was advice he was giving you.

“Can you please just agree to this?”

“Fine,” you huff. You knew it would be easier to just let this go. It wasn’t like Jamie even asked for your number or made any real plans to see you again. So it wasn’t worth arguing for something that wasn’t even going to happen.

“Good,” Roope comments, stopping at an intersection. “So do you want to come back to my apartment and watch another movie?”

Laughing you roll your eyes. So getting you to leave was just to get Jamie away from you. “Of course,” you reply.

Later that night, after two more movies and pizza for dinner with Roope you’re back at your apartment, getting ready for bed. After you crawl under the covers and pick up your phone you notice an Instagram notification.

Jamie Oleksiak (jamieoleksiak) started following you.

Clicking the notification your phone unlocks, opening his profile. After a few minutes of scrolling through his profile you go back to the top, pressing the follow back button with a smile on your face. You shouldn’t have been so happy. For a few different reasons but primarily because it simply didn’t mean anything.

Months later and you never received so much as a DM from Jamie. You had gotten your hopes up for nothing. Nothing but a friendly gesture for him to follow you. He had liked all your new posts since then, but nothing more than that.

“Yeah, I’ll be there in fifteen,” you tell Roope, your phone sitting on the bathroom counter as you were finishing the last bits of your hair. It was a blatant lie. The drive to his apartment took ten minutes itself and you had lost hope of being out of your apartment in the next five.

It was the Dallas Stars’ annual casino night and Roope had asked you to come with him. He had never invited you to anything like this before and you had a slight inkling you knew why that was changing. Because you had met Jamie. You had met Jamie and absolutely nothing happened. Nothing happened and Roope was ecstatic about it. He was coming around to the idea that perhaps he had been just a little too protective with you.

So here you were, standing in front of the mirror in a black dress, looking more done up than you had been in awhile. You simply had no reason to get this dressed up, makeup and hair done to match.

“I know you’re lying,” Roope comments and you can hear the humour in his voice, can picture him shaking his head.

“Okay, fine,” you huff, yanking the curling iron cord from the outlet, swiping your phone from the counter as you make your way to your bedroom. “Twenty,” you tell him, digging through your closet for the pair of heels you knew you had but hadn’t worn in long enough for them to end up stashed in the back of the closet. “I’m just putting my shoes on now,” you call to your phone on the other side of the room, pulling the heels on and securing the tiny, delicate buckles around your ankles.

“I knew you would be late, we don’t actually have to leave my place for like forty-five minutes.”

You pause, looking over at your phone with narrowed eyes, as if you were really looking at Roope. Huffing you walk over, picking your phone up along with the purse you had already prepared with the essentials for the night. “You’re so…infuriating. I’ve been panicking for like an hour about being late.”

“But if I didn’t do this you would still be panicking and we really would be late,” Roope chuckles.

Rolling your eyes you remain silent, knowing it was the truth. Walking to the door you grab your car keys. “I’m leaving now,” you mutter, pretending to be annoyed with him when you were truly relieved.

“See you in a bit.”

When you get to the venue you become aware of the fact that the night was going to be more overwhelming than you had anticipated. You wanted to make a good impression with Roope’s teammates. But to meet them all at once was a bit more than you bargained for.

“So you must be Y/N.”

Turning your head in the direction of the voice you smile at the man approaching you. Tyler Seguin. You knew who most of the players were, but you knew him especially. Because one of your friends in particular had shared her much more than innocent feelings for him with you.

“I am,” you say with a soft laugh, looking over at Roope teasingly, coming to realize he really did talk about you more than you thought. You talked about him all the time too, with your friends and family. About current things, games and achievements but also when you talked about your past. Because from the moment you met Roope he had been such an important part of your life than almost all of your memories included him in some form. “Tyler, right?”

Tyler smirks and you know it’s just friendly but Roope steps forward, almost between you two.

“Calm down,” you laugh, jokingly pushing at Roope’s arm. “It’s not me you would need to worry about around him.”

Roope’s brows furrow as he stares at you and you can see in his eyes he’s running through the rolodex of options. “Who?” He finally asks, voice hushed as if you were spilling some serious secrets.

“Allie,” you giggle, shaking your head at how intrigued Roope had become.

“Allie, hey?” Tyler chimes in, laughing as he says it, making it evident that he was just joking.

“Don’t get too excited, she’s in Finland,” you explain to Tyler.

As you, Tyler, and Roope continue your conversation your attention it caught by a tall figure across the room. Jamie. And he was looking right back at you.

“Sorry, you’ll have to excuse me for a minute,” you say to Roope and Tyler, stepping back and around them.

Walking up to Jamie you smile up at him. “Long time, no see.”

“Too long,” he replies, lifting the glass he was holding to his lips. “You look beautiful tonight…I mean, you look beautiful always, but tonight especially,” he stammers, chuckling at himself as he shakes his head, both of you aware that he was flustered because of you. “You don’t want a drink?” He asks, clearly feeling like he needed a couple more himself.

“Thank you,” you say politely, replying to his compliment, uncertain of exactly how to take it. Perhaps if he had shown more interest, between the time you met and now you would have a better grasp of how to respond. You wanted to think he was truly into you, but you couldn’t get rid of the nagging in the back of your head telling you that he could have done more. “Yeah, actually, I would,” you tell him finally, glancing around for the bar.

“Let’s go find you a drink then.” Jamie’s hand pressing into your lower back makes you jump, the contact unexpected. “Sorry,” he says instantly, pulling back. You knew he was just doing it to guide you through the crowded room but it caused your stomach to erupt with butterflies in a way that made you realize that the excitement you felt initially was still very much alive.

Laughing you shake your head. “It’s fine, I just wasn’t expecting that.” You glance down at his hand, hesitantly reaching over and taking it in yours, nodding in the direction of the bar. “Let’s go find that drink.”

Jamie nods, eyes not leaving yours, a smile on his lips. Completely wrapped up in you, like nothing else going on in the room mattered for the time being.

And you don’t let go of his hand till you’re at the bar, standing next to him while you wait for the crowd of people already there to be helped. You were in no rush because a part of you worried this might be the only time you got to be with Jamie that night. You needed more time with him, to figure out what was happening with him…if anything was happening with him.

“I was surprised when Roope said he was bringing you,” Jamie says as you were glancing around the room, taking in the large and crowded room, the sound of music faded below the hum of conversations blending into one steady drone.

“I think he’s feeling a little more comfortable after we met,” you explain even though you’re certain he already knows this. “Because nothing happened even though we were…” you trail off, hoping Jamie would fill in the blank.

Attracted to each other? Flirting? You were hoping for something, but you receive nothing but a nod of acknowledgement instead.

After getting your drink you glance up at Jamie, wishing for a moment that you didn’t have to do what you were about to do. “I should go find Roope, I haven’t been a great date so far.”

Jamie chuckles and nods. “So it’s a date this time, hey? I remember you got a little defensive about that word last time.”

“I’m more sure that you know Roope and I aren’t a thing now,” you explain, taking a sip of your drink. “I’m surprised you still don’t have someone to bring with you tonight though.”

Jamie chuckles, shrugging. “The person I’m interested right now is here with someone else tonight.”

Laughing you roll your eyes playfully. “Good one, Casanova.” Out of the corner of your eye you notice a couple people standing a few feet away, glancing over in Jamie’s direction. “I think you’ve got some people who want to talk to you,” you tell him, stepping back. “And I should get back to my date,” you add with a teasing smile.

He nod, intoxicated by you, watching you till you had turned around and walked away, back in Roope’s direction.

You can feel the temperature in the place increasing with time, the amount of bodies crammed into the space too much for the air conditioning to keep up. It’s fairly late in the evening when you excuse yourself again. Roope was wrapped up in a conversation with a fan, an elderly gentleman, that you felt rude enough interrupting to tell him you were going outside for a moment.

“I’ll come with you, just give me a couple minutes,” Roope says quietly. “I don’t want you to be outside alone.”

Sighing you shake your head, annoyed both that he felt like you couldn’t go alone and also because a part of you knew he was right. “I’ll be fine.”

“Y/N,” Roope says seriously.

“Fine, I won’t go alone,” you tell him, your eyes having landed on Jamie. He also seemed to be in a conversation, but he was just talking with Jason and Miro. It would be less rude for him to leave them than for Roope. Not to mention you liked the idea of spending a few more minutes with Jamie.

Roope follows your gaze, jaw clenching. But you knew he couldn’t say anything about. Not here, not in front of another person. “Okay,” he mutters to you before continuing on with his conversation with the older man.

You weave your way through the crowd to Jamie who smiles as soon as he sees you, not helping to clear up whether he was into you or not. “Hey,” he greets before you’ve even come to a stop. “Need another drink?” He jokes, referring to your empty hands.

“No, I actually need a chaperone to go outside with me,” you laugh. “Roope won’t let me go get some air by myself.”

Jamie nods, gesturing towards the doors. “Lead the way.”

“You guys coming?” You ask Jason and Miro with a friendly smile.

Jason chuckles, shaking his head as he glances down at the ground. There’s a knowing smile that he’s trying to hide by avoiding looking you directly in the eyes. “Nah, we’re good.”

Nodding you step back towards Jamie. “I’ll have him back soon.”

“Take your time,” Miro comments, making Jason laugh again after just containing himself.

Outside you lean against a waist height cement retaining wall, taking a deep breath of the cool air. More than cool, the air was straight up cold, sending a shiver down your spine. You wrap your arms around your body but by the time your hands are on either arm Jamie has slid his suit jacket off. He opts out of offering it to you first, stepping in front of you he wraps it around your shoulders.

“Thank you,” you whisper as he keeps his hands on the lapels of the jacket. “You didn’t have to.”

“You’re cold,” he reasons, as if it were a given that your comfort should be above his own.

“Because I didn’t bring my jacket out here. Now you’re going to be cold.” You feel your heart racing as Jamie steps closer to you, his hands slowly dropping from where he was clutching at his jacket you had around you.

“I’m tough,” he jokes.

“I don’t doubt it,” you giggle, watching as Jamie pulls back from you, turning around to lean against the concrete wall beside you. “Jamie?” you whisper, eyes focused on the ground a few feet in front of you.

You can feel his eyes on you without having to actually see him. “Yeah?”

Swallowing heavily you cross your arms over your body. For so long you had prided yourself on not being the girl who would chase. You didn’t chase guys, didn’t ask for their attention. But here you were, doing just that. “Why didn’t you ever message me on Instagram? You followed me, I thought you were going to, but then…” you trail off, shrugging, knowing that he knew exactly what you were saying and you didn’t need to keep explaining.

Jamie is quiet for a second. “I didn’t want to get between you and Roope. I know how much you mean to him and I’m sure it’s the same thing for you.”

You can’t help but laugh, turning your head now to look at him. “Nothing could ever come between Roope and I. We’re like siblings. It doesn’t matter what happens, nothing could ever come between us.”

Jamie nods, reaching over and taking your hand, gently pulling you away from where you were standing. You follow his lead, letting him guide you to stand in front of him. His free hand slides beneath his jacket, along your waist. You swallow heavily as he pulls you a little closer. “I was surprised when I actually met you.”

“Why?” You whisper, looking up at him intently.

“Because I never thought you would actually be as incredible as Roope made you out to seem. But you are.”

You feel your breath hitch in your throat as you stare at him, speechless. How could you respond to that? You could count on one hand the number of guys who had said things that nice to you completely unprompted, without seeming to want anything in return.

You were already wearing heels but you lean up as much as you can, Jamie quickly taking the hint as he pulls you a little tighter, leaning down. But he’s moving slowly, agonizingly slowly. Just as you’re about to let out a sigh of disapproval loud chatter and laughter piling from the front door makes you pull back. You’re moving so hastily that you almost end up falling, thankful for Jamie’s quick reflexes grabbing your arms and steadying you. But he understands the message behind what you just did and lets go of you, shoving his hands into his pockets to try to seem like they weren’t just all over you a couple seconds later.

“There you are.”

It’s Roope and for the first time in your life you wished he wasn’t there. You loved him with your whole heart. You would do anything for him. But you really wished he was back inside being asked a million questions about hockey. He’s with Miro who is still chuckling about something that had been said before they came outside.

“Hey,” you say to him, smiling softly.

“Some of us are going back to Tyler’s place for a few drinks after, do you want to come?” Roope asks you. You know if you said no it would be no problem, that Roope would happily go home with you and watch movies on your couch. But before you can think about what you’re doing you turn around to look up at Jamie, to see if he was going. You knew how it looked but you were already preparing yourself to brush it off, to say it was just a friendly thing, seeing if Jamie was going. Nothing more.

“I’ll probably go for a bit,” Jamie says to the group but you know the words are directed at you.

You look back to Roope, waiting a couple seconds. You didn’t want to seem too eager to follow up Jamie’s answer with a yes. “Yeah, could be fun,” you tell him casually.

And so a couple hours later you’re standing in Tyler’s kitchen with a can of cider in your hand, the second since you got there. Between that and the three glasses of wine at the event you were feeling a little bit of a buzz. And a little buzz always came with a lot of confidence.

So you excuse yourself from the conversation you were having, walking over to where Jamie was leaning against the doorframe. “Want to go outside…again?” You ask him simply.

Jamie smiles and nods in the direction of the front door, waiting for you to begin walking towards it before following after you. Before you’re even outside Jamie has his jacket off, sliding it over your shoulders as you step outside.

“Kiss me,” you whisper once the door is closed.

“Right here?” Jamie asks, wanting to make sure you were absolutely certain about the risk you were about to take. Knowing that at any moment Roope could, and would, be coming to find you. But he seems to have no qualms about it as he places his hands on your waist, pulling you closer to him.

“I don’t want to wait any longer, Jamie. I wanted you to kiss me that first day we met.”

So he does as you ask, leaning down and pressing his lips to yours. He’s gentle, just like his personality but you have a sneaking suspicion that he might be a little less gentle if you made it clear that’s what you wanted. So you bring your hand around the back of his neck, pushing your body into his. He brings one arm around your lower back, supporting you as you teeter around in an effort to be taller.

Breathless and flushed you pull back from him, eyes fluttering open to look at him. “I think it’s time for me to go home now,” you whisper.

“Why’s that?” Jamie asks, his hands still on your waist.

“That’s all I really came here for,” you tell him, leaning up to press your lips to his again, a quick, gentle kiss this time. You pull away and take a step back, his hands falling from your body.

Just as you turn around to go back inside, to find Roope, to tell him you were going to get an Uber to go home, Jamie’s hand wraps around your wrist. He pulls you back gently, hand sliding on the side of your face, tipping your head back to kiss you again. The feelings it evokes are even stronger than the first kiss and it feels like every nerve in your body is firing, body hot and tingly as he kisses you passionately. “Let me take you out, on a date,” he whispers as he pulls back.

All you can manage to do is nod. Pulling your phone from your pocket you get Jamie to give you his number, sending him a text right there so he has yours. Then you walk back inside, leaving Jamie outside.

By the time you find Roope and you’re back outside to get in your Uber Jamie is gone. You don’t know if he’s back in Tyler’s place or if he’s gone home too. You don’t worry too much about it thought. Because this time you were pretty sure there would actually be another time. Unlike the first meeting, the empty promise of another movie night, this felt much more concrete.

And concrete it was. Jamie had sent you a text the next morning, asking when you were free. You didn’t want to seem too eager so you told him that you were free three nights from that day even though you were free that very night and the night after as well. You two went for dinner, then you went back to your apartment and watched a movie.

After that first date you two both realized that you were truly good with each other. Your conversations flowed easily and you spent so much of the night laughing. You simply enjoyed being together.

So you continued going on dates, for many weeks, months, without telling anyone about it. Neither of you brought up the fact that you were hiding the relationship. It was an unspoken truth. Because you both had a lot to risk. You both had made a promise to Roope. That you weren’t going to give the other a chance and neither of you wanted to own up to breaking that promise.

It was a Friday night and the Stars had just won a home game, a game that you were in the arena to watch. Because Roope asked if you wanted to go, as he often did. But you couldn’t deny that you spent a lot of that game watching Jamie, drawn to him even from such a distance.

Usually you went back to Roope’s place after games, having been given a key to his apartment long ago. He always said it was easier for you to just go straight there but you always figured it was part of his ploy to keep you away from the guys. A hunch that was confirmed when he gave you instructions for where to meet him after the game if you wanted to hang around and wait for him before heading out.

So you followed his instructions, a little uncertain as you made your way from your seat and past the doors you always left after a game. You made your way to where Roope had told you, pulling out your phone and trying to look busy, like you belonged where you were.

A couple minutes later you sense someone is looking at you and you look up, seeing Jamie approaching you with a smile. “Hey,” he says, glancing around before placing his hands on your waist, leaning down.

“Jamie,” you whisper, panic in your eyes and in your voice. “Jamie we’re going to get caught.”

“Roope takes forever,” Jamie informs you, trying to sound reassuring. “He said you were here tonight, I was hoping you would still be here.”

Leaning up you press your lips to his softly. “Oh, so you came out here looking for me then?” you tease.

“Of course,” he tells you. “Are you going to go hang out with Roope tonight?”

Pulling back a little you shrug your shoulders. “It’s usually what we do, but we didn’t talk about it.” You glance behind you before looking back up at Jamie. “Should we go back to my place instead?”

“You and Roope?” Jamie asks with a teasing smile.

Shaking your head you lean back towards him, onto your tip toes. “You know I meant with you,” you whisper, pressing your lips against his. He kisses you back quickly, both of you so caught up in each other that you were quickly losing your motivation to stay away from each other any chance a person might catch you.

But of course the second you let your guard down the slightest bit it all comes tumbling apart.

“Mitä vittua?”

You almost push Jamie away with how quickly you try to get away from him, wide eyes finding Roope. You knew it was him. From the language, both Finnish and the exclamation of ‘what the fuck?’. You’re standing speechless, simply staring at him.

“You promised,” Roope says, shaking his head. “You both did.” And with that he turns away from you, heading in what you assume was the direction of the way out.

“Roope,” you call, pushing past Jamie as you follow after him. “Please, wait, can you please just slow down. We need to talk about this.”

“No, Y/N,” Roope says, getting to the door. You were pretty sure he may have just clocked the record for fastest exit. He finally turns around when his hand is on the door. “You promised me.”

“I didn’t know,” you plead, shaking your head. “I didn’t know he even liked me, I didn’t think anything would happen.”

“I just need to go home.”

The way he says it makes your heart ache. You know it means he doesn’t want you to go with him. You can feel your eyes filling with tears and you try to blink quicker, to hide the tears.

But Roope sees it. Sees your tears. And he can’t handle that, can’t leave you upset. So he steps forward, wrapping his arms around you. “Please don’t be mad. I really like him,” you whisper, tears rolling down your cheeks.

Roope takes a deep breath, you can feel it in the way his chest heaves against you. “I just wished you hadn’t lied to me. Wished you both hadn’t lied to me. How long has this…what is it?”

“Hm?” You hum in confusion, pulling back to look into Roope’s eyes.

“You and Jamie, what are you two?”

You stare over up at Roope in silence. “I…,” you begin, trailing off. “I don’t know.”

“How long?”

“Not long,” you tell him honestly. “Casino Night.”

Roope nods slowly, processing what you had told him. “You’ve been seeing him for months?”

You take a deep breath, nodding. “Yeah.”

“Are you going to go home with him?”

You stare at Roope, eyes filling with tears again. “I don’t know,” you croak. You didn’t know how to answer that. It’s what you had been planning but you didn’t want to say that, didn’t want to make the situation worse. “Roope, I can’t…I can’t lose you.” You knew what you said to Jamie, that nothing could ever come between you and Roope. But now, being faced with reality, you couldn’t push those fears out of your mind. Because on the list of your biggest fears losing Roope was right up there at the top.

Roope quickly pulls you back into a hug. “Never.”

You sniffle quietly, nodding. “You’re just going to go home?”

Roope pulls back and you notice his eyes are no longer on you, looking over you down the hallway. Slowly you turn around, looking over your shoulder and seeing Jamie. He looked hesitant, uncertain. “I’ll text you later, okay?”

You look back at Roope, eyes pleading for him to reassure you that he wasn’t upset. But he doesn’t. He simply pulls away from you, turning around and heading out through the door, leaving you alone.

You bring your arms around you, hands clutching at your arms. A few minutes later Jamie is in front of you, quickly pulling you into a hug. “It’ll be okay. You said yourself you’re never going to lose him.”

You nod, letting yourself relax into him.

“Don’t know if he’ll be my biggest fan from now on though,” Jamie jokes.

You let out a relieved breath of laughter, glad that he was breaking the intensity. “As long as you don’t hurt me you have nothing to worry about,” you tease, pulling back to look up at him.

“I could never.”

His answer doesn’t feel like a joke and your breath catches in your throat at the sincerity of it. You had been trying to lighten the conversation but you didn’t know if you could make another joke after that. “Should we…”

“Get out of here?”

“Yes,” you answer, eagerly.

You kick off your shoes when you’re in Jamie’s apartment, pressing your back to the wall as you watch Jamie take off his own. “You think he’s going to be okay…with this?”

Jamie looks up from where he had focused his attention on his shoes. “I don’t know,” he replies honestly. Stepping in front of you Jamie places his hands on your hips. “If he doesn’t…”

You swallow heavily, your hands sliding up Jamie’s arms. “Jamie,” you whisper.

He nods and you know the smile on his lips is forced. “I know.”

“It’s not that I don’t care about you. I really, really like you. But he’s been my best friend for as long as I can remember and I can’t…I don’t think I could handle losing him.”

Jamie pulls you closer, pressing his lips to your forehead. “I understand.”

“I’m sorry,” you croak. You wished it didn’t have to be like this and you really wished you didn’t have to say it out loud, didn’t have to tell Jamie that he would always come second to your friendship with Roope.

“Don’t be.” Jamie’s voice is gentle and genuine. You know he’s not lying, that he truly doesn’t want you to be sorry. He’s not upset, it was no no surprise. Anyone who knew you, knew you and Roope’s relationship would know that nobody would, or could, ever come between you two. But it doesn’t make you feel any better. When you look back up at Jamie your eyes are watery, vision blurry. “Come here,” Jamie whisper, pulling you into his chest, large arms wrapped firmly around your body. “Let’s go watch a movie,” Jamie suggests, hands sliding down from your back to the backs of your thighs, leaning down and scooping you off the ground.

“Jamie,” you giggle, legs wrapping around his torso as you clutch onto him. “Put me down.”

“No,” Jamie chuckles, turning around with you in his arms.

While you felt that it was entirely unnecessary for him to be carrying you around you were pretty grateful that he had done something, anything, to break the tension, to make you laugh. “What are we going to watch?” You ask as Jamie carries you the short distance to his living room, leaning down and setting you down on the couch.

“Your choice,” Jamie tells you, handing you the remote. “What do you want for snacks?”

Smiling softly you feel your eyes fill with tears again. You knew you hadn’t been with Jamie long enough to let it get between you and Roope. But things were going so well between you two. He was so considerate, so kind. But he was also fun and he was constantly making you laugh.

“What are you thinking?” Jamie enquires, giving up on the movie and snacks for the time being as he sits beside you. Jamie reaches over, taking your hand and gently running his thumb over the back of your hand.

“It doesn’t matter. I just really like you. There’s nothing we can do about it right now,” you say quietly, blinking rapidly.

Jamie slides his arm around you, tugging you onto his lap. “We’ll figure it out.” You knew it was a lie. It was Roope who was going to figure it out. But you liked the reassurance regardless.

Sliding one of your legs over Jamie’s lap you pull back slightly, leaning in and pressing your lips to his. Jamie kisses you back but you can feel that he’s hesitant. Everything feels slower than normal that night.

Jamie slides his warm hands underneath your shirt, his skin rough in contrast to your soft skin. He pulls gently on your lower back, bringing your body closer to his. You don’t think it’s possible to get any closer as your hands grasp at him, his biceps, shoulders, sliding up to the back of his neck, fingers curling into the hair at the nape of his neck.

“Please, Jamie, I need you,” you whisper against his lips, hips grinding down into his.

And that’s all it takes. He has his hands behind your knees, gently sliding you off his lap. Before you know it Jamie is guiding you to his bedroom.

“You’re sure?” Jamie whispers when you’re in the bedroom, his hands on your waist as he guides you over to the bed. “Tonight?” He clarifies, wanting you to consider the ramifications of this. Given everything that happened that night, given the fact that you had already admitted that you would end things with him if Roope couldn’t accept it.

“Yes.”

The next morning you wake up tucked beneath Jamie’s arm, your head on his chest, leg over top of his. For a split second you forget. You forget about the night before. You forget that your relationship could potentially be coming to an end very soon. But it all comes back to you and you roll over onto your back, staring up at the ceiling.

Your movement causes Jamie to stir and he follows your direction, rolling onto his side and wrapping his free arm around you. “Good morning,” Jamie whispers, his voice filled with a sombreness that makes it evident that he hadn’t for a moment forgotten.

“‘Morning,” you whisper, turning your head to look at Jamie. “What do we do now?”

Jamie takes a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling. He seems to be thinking for awhile. “Go out for breakfast, probably.”

You stare at him blankly for a couple minutes. It was such a simple answer. So simple and yet so surprising. “Okay,” you eventually say.

Shortly after you’re sitting across from Jamie at a small cafe, a cup of coffee in front of you and your breakfast orders already taken by the waitress. “Roope texted me,” you say, hesitantly. You didn’t want to ruin the morning, but it was something that needed to be addressed.

“What did he say?” Jamie is fidgeting with the edge of the napkin wrapped around his cutlery.

“Just that he wants to talk.” Before you even think through what you’re doing you reach across the table, grabbing Jamie’s hand. “I’ll go over to his apartment after breakfast.”

Jamie nods, squeezing your hand gently. “Whatever you decide, I’ll understand,” Jamie tells you.

And after that you leave any talk about Roope about the potential end of the relationship behind. You move on, to other topics. You talk about work and hockey and you tell him about the drama in your workplace and he listens intently. He cracks jokes and makes you laugh. And it’s three hours before you actually leave the cafe.

Jamie drives you to the arena where your car was from the night before and you head to Roope’s apartment. The drive seems to go on forever, your nerves building with each passing minute.

Half an hour later you’re sitting on Roope’s couch, legs pulled up to your chest as you stare at him. “I’m sorry, Roope. I’m sorry I lied to you but I’m not sorry that I’ve been seeing Jamie,” you begin.

Roope is quiet, elbows on his knees as he leans forward, eyes on the ground. “Why didn’t you just tell me?”

Once he looks up you shrug. There was no easy answer. You were confused, conflicted. You were scared. Scared that Roope wouldn’t approve. Scared that you would end up in this exact situation. “I knew you would tell me it couldn’t happen.”

“You don’t know that-.”

“Yes, I do,” you exclaim. You weren’t about to let him sit there and tell you he would have just let it happen. “You’ve never approved of a single guy I was seeing. You made me promise and now I wished I had never agreed. I wish I could go back to that day and tell you the truth, Roope. Tell you that you have no right, you have no right to tell me who I can and can’t see. You’re one of the most important people in my life. I love you. I trust you. But none of that means you get to tell me who I’m not allowed to date.” Even you’re shocked by the outburst but the way Roope physically recoils in his chair tells you that it was the last thing he was expecting.

“I-,” Roope begins, falling speechless. “You’re right,” he eventually mutters. “I just, I don’t want you to get hurt. What if something happens? How am I supposed to deal with that?”

“You don’t need to deal with it,” you tell him. “If something happens then that’s between Jamie and I, you won’t be involved. We’re adults, we’ll figure it out ourselves.”

Roope groans, leaning back in his chair and staring up at the ceiling. “Why him? Of all people…why him?” Roope whines, making you giggle.

“Because he’s sweet and funny and so hot.”

“Gross,” Roope mutters, turning his head to look at you. “Will you promise me something?”

“What is it?” The last promise he had you make regarding Jamie didn’t go so well.

“You won’t talk about how hot he is again.”

“I don’t think I can do that,” you laugh.

Roope chuckles and you can feel the tension in the room dissipating. You weren’t naive enough to think that he was completely okay with it. But you were okay with that. You were okay with him needing time as long as it meant that he wasn’t giving you an ultimatum to end things with Jamie. You knew it was all you could ask for right now and you were happy enough just with that.

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