#being back on campus made me so depressed

[spicysucculentz]

I had NO business getting drunk tonight… I literally have class tomorrow morning

[absfawn]

bestfriend!abby who begrudgingly slaps on a fake smile every time you mention a woman you’ve gone on a random date with. she was always happy for you, or shown you in some way that she is happy and proud of you for stepping out your comfort zone and meeting new people, but deep down, it makes her more depressed the longer she thinks about it. each time you look her in the eye, describe how your date went and how happy you were that someone shared the same interests and loves as you, abby hummed and nodded along. too busy and focused on that smile of yours, the way you laugh quietly at something you’ve said, not that she pays attention to your words, more your facial expressions. she hates all of it. she loves to see you happy, but not with someone who isn’t her. she’s been in love with you since you both bought a shared apartment across from campus. she’s tired of not being the one to take you on a date. to make you laugh. to make you smile.

bestfriend!abby that same night, who feels completely pathetic when she finds herself in her bedroom, door locked, far away from you and music slightly louder than usual, with her hand down her pyjama shorts and head tilted back with parted lips and soft breaths ripping through her throat. she hates that this is what you do to her and have no idea. reducing her to a mess, touching herself when you’ve gone to bed. hates to feel so pathetic that she can’t go to bed without sinking her fingers into her cunt each night, chanting your name under her breath and pleading for you to do something, anything that can give her the release she wants oh so badly.

your name falls from her lips like a shared secret, the slick sounds her cunt was making had her ears ringing loudly and face flushed, almost burning. blonde hair creating a halo beneath her head and she whimpers at the mere thought of her fingers being replaced by yours when she curls them deep inside her cunt. how yours would feel hitting that spot that has her toes curling, back arching and eyes rolling. it makes her feel hotter, sinking more into the mattress.

“fuck, need you so bad” she whimpered out, screwing her eyes shut tightly. “need your fingers so bad, baby” her voice quivers, tears slowly welling up in her baby blue eyes the faster she fucks her fingers into her sopping pussy. her lips part and her moans slowly increase in volume. not scared in the slightest if she gets caught. 

her pussy flutters, tightens around her fingers and abby’s thighs tremble as her breath comes out in slow stutters, eyebrows furrowing and back arching more off the mattress when that familiar feeling pools in her lower stomach. “need to cum” is all she can choke out, free hand vice like gripping the sheet below her. “please let me cum for you, baby, please”

your name continues to fall from her lips so effortlessly, like all she could ever speak was your name, nothing else. she’s got her fingers so deep, still wishing and praying they were yours, against her g-spot, and it feels suddenly too late to think or do anything else when all she can get out is another chant of pleads mixed with your name as she gushes all over her fingers with a string of whimpers.

it’s different this time, it doesn’t stop after a few moments. the warm hot liquid continues soaking her sheets as her body convulses. all she sees is blindly, white steaming pleasure and your beautiful face as she squirts for the first time, ever.

her chest rises up and down quickly, her pants are heavy as she flutters her eyes open minutes later. crimson blush coating her face more once the final realisation kicks in that the thought of you alone had made her a mess that she squirted and made a complete mess in her bed. you didn’t even do anything and she’s fucked. fucked out in so many ways. 

all abby craves is to be fucked out by you instead.

massive thank you to @andersonfilms and her juicy brain for helping me with this, and giving me the best and yummiest ideas. ily <3

[thebubblemaster]

.

[tthoughtdaughter]

bad habits.

pairing: dealer!ellie x reader.

summary: when you were a kid you had always put a pillow or a big stuffed animal between your legs, you honestly felt comfort by it. but tonight you decided it was going to be somebodies head.

warnings: uh widely ellie giving head?, use of drugs, girls kissing 🤯, swearing, a little bit of dacryphilia, pretty self-indulgent i know its weird im sorry — MINORS DNI !!

a/n: just because the strikes ended does not mean you shouldnt stop posting about palestine!

———————

you were helpless, depressed even. being locked up in your dorm for god knows how long. your friends had been nagging you about various parties on campus, you simply just left them on read, not wanting to deal with the aftermath of the party.

it wasnt until now that you had decided to go. not because you wanted to, you were going against your own will.

your friends, isabella, mattie and thea were forcing you out of your dorm because the state you were in right now was just honestly disgusting.

you were packing a bag to go over to isabellas house because they werent letting you stay in that dorm for a minute more, when thea said. “youve been stuck in here for forever, we havent seen you in awhile, we miss you girl.”

you sighed, reaching over to your closet to find an outfit appropriate for tonight. “look i know, things just havent been the best right now.” you didnt bother to look back because you know all thats going to be written on their faces will be pity.

“can you guys help me pick an outfit atleast?” they squeal, marching over to you before yanking you out of their ways.

mattie held up a dress, it was pink, delicate, something you would were on a picnic.

“dude, thats so basic.” isabella called out from the side, rolling her eyes at matties choice.

“i dont wear stuff like this— how would i fucking know?” she huffed.

“calm down guys, why dont we let ms depresso give us an idea of what she wants?” thea shouts over the teo annoyingly loud girls.

“i— depresso? seriously? not even funny.” you roll your eyes before pulling up pinterest on your phone, you always managed to find decent outfits off of the app.

you typed in ‘party outfits aesthetic.’ before you landed on something similar you had in your closet.

the outfit had a mini, mini, mini, mini black skirt paired with a black lettuce-cut, corset bralette looking thingy and just below that, knee-high boots. you admit it, you looked hot as fuck.

“damn girl, if i were gay id definitely hit you up.” way to go isabella, way to go.

“oh please youre totally into girls, youre acting like you dont eye that dina girl everytime we walk around her area on campus.” mattie adds.

isabella did everything in her will power to ignore the comment, but she couldnt help but blush.

the look of approval shot around the room was hilarious and you all burst out into laughter. you really havent felt this good in awhile.

quickly memorising the girl mattie had mentioned before, you could remember she would always be hanging around with someone else.

“hey, any of you know the girl dina hangs with? i cant think of her name.” you think hard, like really hard, you knew the girl was attractive from all the times you had seen her since isabella coincidentally hung there too.

“yeah, her names ellie, i buy from her sometimes. why, you got the hots for her?” thea teases.

“just shut up and give me her insta.” you roll your eyes, playfully shoving the girl as the two others made ‘oooooh’ sounds.

“fine, just give me a second.” thea whips out her phone and starts going through her following. she clicks on a profile and holds the phone up to you so you could get a good look.

her account was private, by the looks of it she had a batman smoking weed profile picture? interesting.. her user was ‘@ellieisawesome327.’

sounds like a name some 5 year old would put on secretly. “oh, interesting.” you couldnt help but giggle, she obviously wasnt the best at using this stuff.”

you pulled out your phone and searched for her user, you didnt follow it just yet, you thought it would be creepy since she didnt know you at all. you simply just kept the name in the search bar, ready for when you actually want to follow her.

———————

a few hours had passed and you all had gotten done up, makeup, hair, outfits, everything you would do before a party.

“whos car we taken’?” mattie asked. you and the others looked at her like she was some idiot.

“theres only one car in the driveway, take a guess numbskull?” thea pointed out, mattie pouted.

“rude.” she huffed. turning around to scroll on tiktok.

you were sitting on the bed, getting comfy since the party wasnt for another hour, when you spotted one of isabellas pillow. you had put it between your legs, you found some comfort in doing that ever since you were a kid, it was a weird and bad habit.

“whatre ya’ doin silly?” isabella pointed out, she sort of new you had this weird habit of putting things between your legs.

“getting comfy, what does it look like?” you roll your eyes, scrolling through your instagram feed.

“if you actually want something between your legs, try and get head tonight.” isabella added. it was a harmless joke, your group had always joked like this. you toned out the muffled giggles in the back thinking if you should actually get laid tonight.

it had been awhile since you had had sex, and it was getting annoying hearing everyones ‘wild’ stories.

you tool the pillow out from between your legs and threw it back into its position it was in before.

“you guys think we should get going? the parties in twenty minutes.” thea said. you all nodded and got up from your positions to march off to the car.

the drive was ten minutes, you put on your group playlist, it was made for roadtrips you guys took every once and awhile. but tonight you just needed to hear something other then their voices.

you were all vibing to the music when it eventually came to a stop. you sighed and got out of the car, shivering as the cold wind hit your very exposed body.

everyone walked in, it wasnt exactly packed, but you hesitated and mattie noticed that.

mattie was the average femme grouped masc. the one to carry around the shopping bags when you went shopping kind of girl. she was sweet, there were times where you had found yourself harmlessly crushing over her. she knew you had a bit of anxiety and offered you some of her meds before leaving but you kindly declined.

now obviously regretting your decision, she gripped onto your hand and squeezed it tight, for reassurance. you smiled and walked in with the others.

———————

it had been 2 hours and the group had split, isa probably off eating dinas face off, mattie chatting with some of the guys from a basketball team she had played against when faking being a guy as a dare, and thea off buying or even selling drugs. you were sat on a dusty old couch, not exactly wasted but definitely not sober.

you hadnt noticed you were sitting next to the girl whos instagram you were stalking earlier. but the realisation hit when you smelt weed from her direction.

she was very obviously eye fucking you, she wasnt even shy about it, it couldve been the weed that was in her system or she was wildly bold.

“hey?” you started off your soon long to be conversation.

“hi.” she was caught off guard when she realised you were talking to her.

“ellie right?” she nodded and you exchanged your name to her, along with numbers. you sat back further into the couch, parting your legs a little giving her a slight view of what was under you skirt. you enjoyed the fact that she was looking. a little smirk appeared on your face and she didnt notice it.

“my friend thea buys from you right?” she snapped her head up to look into your eyes. you noticed the green in her eyes under the blue hue of the lights in the room. she nodded,

“yeah why? wanna buy from me?” you shook your head.

“kinda tight on money right now, i would though.” you sighed, resting your head on your hand.

she thought for a minute. “ill share a blunt with you, only coz’ youre cute.” she winked and you blushed.

“oh, thanks..” you stare off awkwardly waiting for her to light it, she was wondering if she made you uncomfortable.

“s—sorry, didnt mean to make you uncomfortable.” you shook your head a smiled before she handed you the joint.

you took a puff and handed it back to her, waiting a bit before exhaling. you noticed she was manspreading. then you noticed she didnt quite look like any other girls that were at the party, very masculine. is she lesbian? no surely not, maybe she just likes being comfortable.

ellie was wearing a worn-out jacket, joels. she wore it everywhere she went.

she caught you staring at the position she was in, fighting the urge to spread them further. you noticed she was holding back from something and looked up at her, oh shit she caught you.

a shit eating grin was plastered on her face. “you ‘kay?” she asked, the same smug expression written all over her face.

you nodded and took the blunt out of her hand. you were blushing under the dim lights in the corner, the rest of the place was filled with colourful lights changing every second.

she started blushing too, she didnt know why. you looked up to her with parted lips. the high kind of kicking in now.

“can i.. kiss you?” you asked softly. you regretted that so hard, fuck fuck fuck she probably doesnt like girls..

she moved closer, draping a hand over your shoulder. “thought youd never ask.” she smirked before smashing her lips onto yours.

the kiss was hungry, like she was desperate for something, you couldnt quite place your tongue on it. the only thing placed on your tongue right now was hers. you kissed her back with just as much passion.

the moans you let out were absolutely pornographic. ellie knew she had to do something about this, stopping the kiss whilst you let out a whine from the lack of attention.

you were borderline wet, like waterpark wet, and it wasnt helping that you were wearing a flimsy skirt that had rode up in the process.

“cmon’ princess.” she took your hand, you felt a bit clumsy for some reason, dizzy, your head was foggy, only thinking about how good she tasted.

you followed her around as she knocked on various locked rooms. finally breaking one open, she slammed it shut, locking it and pressing you up against it. not to hard though, wouldnt wanna hurt your pretty little head.

“fuck, youre so goddamn hot.” she mumbled between kisses. you couldnt help but moan at how turned on she made you feel.

she pushed her knee up between your thighs and you shivered, grinding down onto it. chasing the very needed friction.

you wondered how such an innocent question like ‘can i kiss you?’ turned into you riding on her knee.

“els’, please..” that shit eating grin reappeared on her face and you just wanted to smack it right off, you rolled your eyes. your words and wetness only boosted her ego more.

“please what baby?” she teased. why was she teasing you? you couldnt take it. tears started bubbling in your eyes.

“please just— fuck me.” you mumble out. she liked the sight of you crying, so desperate for her. she was going to tease you more before you actually got what you wanted.

“what was that?” she smirked.

you looked up at her through teary eyes. “can you, uh— go down on me? please?” you were begging, that was a sight.

she pulled you over to the bed, through the dimly light room. “strip.”

you did as she said, it wasnt hard to take off your clothes since there was barely anything on you. first your top, leaving you in a skimpy black lacy bra to match your underwear. then came the boots and skirt.

finally, leaving you in a two piece set. she was waiting patiently for you to take them off. you dont know why you were so hesitant, maybe it was because you hadnt done this in awhile, or maybe it was because her stare was so intense it made your stomach do flips, distracting you from the easy task.

she walked over to help you since you couldnt finish what you had started. “d’ you want this?” you nodded painfully slow.

she peeled off your underwear, holding them up to get a good look before back down to your now bare cunt. it was dripping at the sight of her.

“s’ wet for me princess.” she smirked once more, if she smirked anymore her face would probably get stuck like that.

then came the bra, she asked you to turn around so she could unclip it, she was slightly struggling since she wasnt used to these fancy bras, only because she wears a sports bra.

you giggled and reached your arms behind you to take it off, turning around to leave her ogling at the sight of you.

“youre so beautiful.” you blushed, hard. she looked up at you for some sort of reassurance and you nodded.

a minute ago she was so dominant and now shes sweeter than a cookie. you adored that.

she reached her hands out to cup your tits, so soft, she thought. squeezing them and pinching your now hardened, pebbled nipples.

she elicited a moan out of you. you sat back on the bed for comfort and she dived into them. sucking harshly on your tits.

you couldnt tell if you hated it or loved it, your monas were telling her otherwise.

she left purple marks all over your neck, tits, stomach, anywhere she could mark really. you were huffing, all you needed her to do was touch you down there.

“patience baby.” she replied to your subtle huffs. you rolled your eyes, pleading with your body language as you rolled your hips into nothing.

her head moved down slowly, taking time with your body as if you werent some one night stand. did she actually like you?

she kissed all over your stomach and you felt giddy, you were giggling at how it tickled.

the she dipped her head low, taking in how soaked you were. the whole time you had been rubbing your thighs together. any subtle touch made you go crazy.

she fully dived in, and you moaned her name out, loud enough to here over the booming music. “e-els!” she teased your clit with her tongue, licking a stripe down, giving your clit kitten kisses.

her tongue reached places your fingers couldn’t surprisingly. you couldnt stop panting. it felt like heaven.

your vision was going blurry, white, if the coil in your belly bubbled anymore it was going to snap. “ellie.. i—im gonna!..” she moaned into your pussy, sending hypnotising vibrations into it.

“i know baby, come for me.” those words was the thing that snapped the bubbling coil.

you felt hot slick pool out of you, she lapped up all she could, almost overstimulating you. you were panting.

she got up and laid beside you, toying with your plush tits. you could almost fall asleep right then and there.

“alright,” she patted your thigh. “i gotta get going, heres my number though.” she pulled out a random piece of paper from her pocket and a pen. had she been preparing for this? you thought. she handed you the note like a little kindergartener and put her shirt back on.

you had the sudden urge to shove a pillow between your legs, whining from the loss. you fought back everything in you to shove the pillow that was staring at you between your legs. you watched ellie leave,

she left you on the bed looking back at you to smile before closing the door behind you. you eventually got up and put your clothes on, walking over to the bathroom that was in the small room to fix up your hair and makeup.

you realised your hand was still clutching that little piece of paper. you looked at it and read it slowly, still regaining composure.

‘**** **** **** **** message me ;) x’

you probably werent going to message her, but just incase, you slipped the note into your purse and walked out of the room going to look for you friends to take them home, luckily ellie had sobered you up.

———————

a/n: im sorry the ending actually sucks i was getting sick of this and i needed to get it out of my drafts. should i turn it into a series were reader actually messages ellie? idk.

[asoiafsworld]

BELONG TO YOU - one

pairing; ellie williams x fem!reader

summary; you're new on campus and ellie notices you. despite your shyness and struggles of being anti social, you can't help but fall in love with her.

warnings and tags; modern!au, college!au, dealer!ellie, reader is shy, anxiety, depression, fluff, angst, eventual smut, touch starvation, ellie has a dick in this, reader is also pretty innocent, might make a kink out of it, drug abuse, obsessiveness, love at first sight kinda thing

author's note; i folded. im finally writing for my lovely ellie and feel like this is the worst thing i have ever written lmao. i was going to write all of this in like a very long one chapter thing but i literally can't so here's what u get. not even sure if i wanna continue this but if u guys like it i might. thanks for reading, pls tell me what u think of it <3

two

You feel lost.

You’re new to this place, new to this city, new to these people. You never expected to get away from your past, awful life and you’re still not sure if you have. Because you look around and observe the people at campus, see everyone with their friend groups or romantic partners and feel so utterly alone. You always have been, always too shy to talk to someone and too awkward to hold a conversation… or a friendship. Not that anyone ever thought you were worth being friends with.

It’s always been suffocating, this loneliness, this darkness that overtakes your mind when it’s quiet and you’re alone. You get that feeling when you sit under a tree in the park on campus and watch and observe the people around you. It’s not like you’re being ignored, you would have to be acknowledged first to be ignored. But people walking past you and not giving a single fuck about your existence is somewhat hurtful. One guy even stepped on your book earlier and didn’t even apologize to you. It was closed, thankfully, but it made you keep your things closer to you, making your little bubble smaller than it already is. You take a deep breath and look away from the crowded park and back down on your notes, distracting yourself from your self deprecating thoughts.

The moment that you look down, she looks up. Ellie’s gaze only wanders over you for a split second and she was going to let her gaze go over the park and the many people that she knows and sells to. But her brain works a second later than her eyes do so she looks back to the lone figure sitting under the tree, hair spilling down as your eyes sharply go over the notebook in your hands. Ellie is mesmerized for some reason, unable to look away from you and your pretty face and your legs enveloped in bright blue jeans and your fingers tracing the words on your book and your breasts pushing up as you breath-

“Earth to Ellie? Hello? You having a stroke or something?” Her eyes break away forcefully from you to look at her friend, Dina, who is looking at her with a questioning but amused glint in her eyes. Her mouth is working faster than her brain so the question doesn’t fully register until she says it.

“Do you know who that is? The girl under the tree? Never seen her before.” Dina’s eyebrows raise at the question and she turns around to look at where Ellie’s eyes have strayed to once more. She watches you take out your pen from your bag and scribble something down on your notebook, your lips puckering as you’re writing. It’s as if you don’t realize how pretty your lips look like this, how Ellie has to restrain her mind from thinking of something totally inappropriate. She doesn’t even know you, not even your name but the way you sit there all alone and almost helplessly lonely makes something in her stir. You shouldn’t be alone when she knows how many disgusting boys are at this college, even if it’s at a park with so many people out on a sunny day.

“Yeah, she’s new, moved into the empty room at the end of our hall. Pretty sure she’s next to your room.” Dina has turned her head back around and can’t hide the little smirk that forms on her face when she sees Ellie staring. She takes another second to let her eyes linger on you, on how gorgeous you look when the sun shines down on you before she stands up. She walks towards you with confidence and determination, not even entirely sure why. You just look so pretty to her, the way you sit there and study whilst everyone else is doing anything but studying. Something in her gut and in her chest stirs when she sees you sitting alone and looking seemingly sad. She doesn't think that anyone else notices but she sees that you look a little helpless, like a lost puppy not knowing where to go.

For some reason, she wants you to go to her.

You don’t realize that someone stands in front of you until a shadow is cast over you and your book, making it difficult to see your notes. When you look up, you see a tall girl in a crew neck shirt and an unbuttoned denim work shirt over it. She’s wearing faded blue jeans and blue converse, her brown, shoulder length hair partially tied to keep it out of her face. Her eyes are pale green and piercing as she looks down on you, the gaze in her eyes so intense but looking at you with all the ease in the world. Your heart races at this, so unused to someone looking at you or approaching you. You grip your book tightly to keep yourself from getting up and running away and hope she says something before you have to.

“Hi. Mind if I sit next to you?” Her voice sounds clear as she speaks, no hesitation or doubt in the way she speaks and even stands in front of you. You’re taken aback by her question and desperately suppress the urge to ask why she wants to be next to you. You don’t know her, only remember that she lives in the room next to yours and that there’s always people coming and going out of her room. You’ve seen her recieve money at her door sometimes in exchange for… god knows what she is giving other people, you wouldn’t know. You nod slowly and try not to look overly confused at her as she sits down right next to you, the body heat she radiates so close to you that it almost throws you off. You don’t know the last time someone sat this close to you and don’t want to think further about the feeling you often feel when you watch other people hug or kiss each other or hold hands. Touch starving, that’s what the internet called it when you googled it. You know that it’s true because you do not remember the last time you hugged someone or felt physical touch in any form. You feel so embarrassed when you accidentally brush against someone in the hallways because most of the time, your body craves more of that touch.

You are unsure of what to do now with someone sitting next to you, your breath held in carefully as if the world would shatter if you breathed out. Why is she sitting next to you? Did you do something wrong? You stare down at the book in your lap but can’t really think when there’s someone, a very pretty girl actually, sitting right next to you. There’s a slight breeze that hits you from the side and it carries the girl's scent with it, earthy and lemony from something that you can’t place. You like the smell, it suits her. You turn your head slightly and see that she’s been looking at you this entire time, the gaze in her eyes studying you and a small smile formed on her lips. God, she’s so gorgeous, it truly takes your breath away. She proceeds to hold a hand out to you and you look down to it before looking back up.

“I’m Ellie.” She says and and you smile slightly at how sweet she seems, introducing herself to a complete stranger. You briefly wonder how lonely you must have looked for Ellie to approach you and try not to think about it for too long. You tell her your name, your voice a little too shaky and too unsure, as if you just came up with your own name. You put your hand into hers and dig your finger into your palm on your other hand because this much body contact is not something you are used to. Your hand is smaller than hers and it looks tiny in her bigger, warmer hand. You almost don’t want to let go because her warmth and touch make something stir in your gut, something comforting and wholesome that you don’t know if you’ve ever felt before. It takes a lot of willpower for you to break your hand away from hers, willing to let it stay in hers for as long as she would let you but you shouldn’t scare her off right away.

“So, you’re pretty new here. What’s your major?” Ellie is captivated by the girl in front of her. You are even prettier up close and Ellie has a hard time not looking at your lips constantly or your tiny hand that fits into hers twice over. You look confused and helpless, even if you try to hide it and it makes Ellie’s heart hurt a little. Why do you seem so scared of even talking to anyone? And why is Ellie so interested in you? She doesn’t know why she even came over here but the moment she saw you, every nerve in her brain only had one goal: to talk to you. You look at her with an unreadable look in our eyes and nervously brush your hair behind your ear.

“Uhm, M-marine Biology.” You feel heat rise to your cheeks at your stutter and hope she doesn’t notice it. She seems perceptive enough that she probably does but also tactful enough to not comment on it. Her eyebrows raise a little at your answer and you hope she doesn’t think it’s lame. You don’t know why you don’t want her to think you’re lame.

“Marine biology… That’s pretty cool.” Your heart does a little flip at the way she draws her words out and you can hear a slight accent in her voice. It sounds southern but it’s not that noticeable. “So, you like fish?”

The question is so silly that it takes you aback and you do something that you never do in front of other people; you giggle. You hope it doesn’t sound stupid to her because it certainly does to you and you quickly bite your lip to stop yourself. You look at her again and now have a small smile on your lips that seems to make her smile in return. She’s so incredibly attractive, the way she sits with her knees drawn up and her hair tied back and her eyes looking at you in a certain way that you can’t describe.

“Yeah, I guess I do. What’s your major?” You mentally give yourself a pat on the back for your progress on socializing but talking to someone like this is still unknown territory for you. You’re still incredibly nervous next to her and hope you don’t say something stupid.

“Fine arts. Was always interested in it, I draw a lot and I guess I’m pretty good at it… or something.” The way Ellie bashfully scratches the back of her head and blushes at the last part makes your chest feel warm, for whatever reason. She seems like an artistic kind of person, the tattoos on her arms catching your attention and wondering if she drew them herself. She must be talented, you think to yourself. How couldn’t she be with hands like hers.

You are distracted by the sound of her name being called and look towards a girl with dark hair and sharp, memorable features. She’s pretty, very pretty and looks at Ellie impatiently. You wonder if that’s her girlfriend, certain of Ellie being gay with the way she carries herself and… sits. And wears converse. Your heart hurts at that thought and you feel incredibly stupid for it. Ellie sighs next to you and gets up, looking back down at you with an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry, I promised my friend Dina to drive her downtown. But… Maybe you would like to see my drawings? Or just, hang out. We’re neighbors after all.” You can’t pretend that hearing her call the girl her friend doesn’t make you relieved and the small smile is on your face again as you feel better at the revelation. You don’t know if you should let news like this affect you the way they do but how could you not cling onto every detail when someone talks to you like a friend… for maybe the first time since you were a child. You nod as you stare and memorize her face, her pretty freckles captivating you.

“Yeah, I would like that.” Your voice is soft as you speak and you play with your fingers to distract yourself, swallowing as you see the way she stares down at you. Her hand reaches towards you and gently, so softly, she brushes a strand of hair behind your ear. Her finger brushes over your cheek so delicately that your stomach twists at the touch and you genuinely don’t know how to keep yourself sane. Your lashes flutter softly at her touch but your eyes remain locked on hers, desperate to hear her say something else or let her touch your however she wants to.

“I’ll see you then.” Ellie pulls her finger away gently and turns around, walking towards her friend. You watch as Ellie moves further and further away from your point of view until she is not even visible but you have barely come back to your senses by then. You exhale the breath you held in and softly close your eyes, touching the cheek that she had touched so softly. The moment keeps replaying in your mind, her intense gaze not faltering for once as she looks down at you like she can do whatever she wants, like… like she owns you.

You’re embarrassed by how much you like that thought. All your life, you have been alone, your family estranged and abusive, no friends to keep you sane, your mentality and shyness not allowing you to make friends. And here comes this girl, this gorgeous, pretty, intimidating girl that just sits next to you and touches you like she’s never done anything different. She seems like the kind of person that makes you feel safe, that protects you and takes care of you. The kind of person that you belong to.

She’s a stranger. You barely know her and yet, you can’t help your thoughts. You want to belong to her.

[dronebiscuitbat]

Give me a Reason: Chapter 19 - "Best Freind"

N: U sure ur okay?

Uzi sighed as she crashed into her mattress, body feeling sore and head full of cotton balls. Tessa had just pulled out of the driveway and N was already texting her.

She wasn't sure when they'd actually become friends, maybe somewhere between ghost hunting and getting kicked in the gut she'd somehow made that connection. But she was absolutely not used to someone being this worried.

He'd incessantly asked what had happened for her to get so injured. And she'd incessantly deflected, either saying that it was nothing serious- which was bullshit, it hurt like hell. Or, at the cost of her ego- she lied and said it was an accident.

She just wasn't sure how he'd react to the truth, he'd probably be even more worried then, knowing that someone did this to her on purpose.

Or… he'd laugh at her. Because she was weak, because she'd put herself in a vulnerable position and then couldn't take a little pain an-

N: You can talk to me.

N: No pressure.

N: Just worried about you :(

The new messages stopped that train of thought. No. He wouldn't laugh. Even her chronic cynicism couldn't convince her of that.

Finally, instead of staring at his messages, she responded.

Uzi: Promise you won't say anything? Or laugh.

N: Promise

She sighed, here goes nothing…

Uzi: I got kicked in the stomach, u know how I seemed upset that I knew someone in my math class? It was them.

The reply actually took a minute to come back.

And that was because N had all of air knocked out of him at that reply. She'd been hit? Purposefully? And hard enough to give her a serious injury? Why? She was so nice! And cool!

N: Who?

Uzi: Lizzy, she's a teachers aid now, but she was in my class last year.

Uzi: It's not the first time she's thrown a punch, just caught me off gaurd this time.

Once again, N was floored, a teachers aid!?

N: I'd never laugh at you. But you should report her, she shouldn't be working with students if she thinks that's okay.

Uzi huffed through her nose, a half-laugh that was drenched in a depressing kind of acceptance.

Uzi: It's not like they'd believe me. I'm not exactly a model student.

She sat her phone down and shucked off her jacket and beanie, hissing as her side throbbed dully. This had been such a day…

Her hand instinctually reached for her stash drawer before she even realized, and in another, she was looking at it's false bottom.

As tempting as it was- and it was very tempting. Drug mixing wasn't smart even if one of them was just an over-the-counter pain reliever, and adding a bad trip on an already shitty day didn't sound fun.

So instead she wrapped herself in the biggest, comfiest shirt she could find and grabbed her laptop, maybe she could distract herself with YouTube.

N: What do you mean by that?

Oh right, she'd never mentioned the fact she'd been held back to him, whoops.

Uzi: I was held back a year. I'm 19.

N: Oh wow! You're older then me!

N: Still it can't have been that bad. Failing a class isn't a reason to not belive you.

Uzi smirked, fingers clicking on the keys of her laptop as she tried to find something to watch- settling on an analysis video of one of the shows she was watching.

Uzi: I was high in class and a teacher called the campus police.

It took nearly twenty minutes for him to respond to that.

N:Sorry, got home and had to get up to my room.

N:You were WHAT?!

N: That's a crime!

Uzi: And so is trespassing on JCJenson private property to ghost hunt.

N blushed, now laying on his bed in a grey pajama shirt and pants with dogs printed on them, he held his phone close to his face as he grumbled, she had him there, but that hadn't really felt like a crime at the time…

N: I think you're a bad influence.

N: Also you're deflecting, drugs are bad! And unhealthy!

Uzi rolled her eyes at that, he wasn't the first person to tell her that. But you know what was worse? Dealing with herself unmedicated, without her stash, her head just got fuzzier and fuzzier, and before she knew it… she'd be having a full mental meltdown at the slightest provocation. Which she hated, she never felt like herself during those…

Uzi: Probably. But you see why they won't believe me over miss perfect.

N: Yeah okay, now I'm gonna be worried tho. I don't want you being hurt.

She smiled at that, this boy was so endlessly empathetic, and thankfully, her unloading some not-so-great facts about herself didn't seem to put him off either.

Uzi: Ew, don't worry over me. That's gay.

And yet she couldn't help but make a joke over it.

N: ???

N: how?

N: how does my worry make me gay?

Uzi: It's not manly.

Uzi: Empathy is a girly emotion.

She was snickering to herself, she didn't actually believe that of course, but she could almost see his reaction to it. That stupid, confused and amused smile that he wore when she made a particularly dumb joke.

N: Guess I'm gay then.

N: Cause I'm always going to worry. You're my freind.

N:Best Freind?

Her heart fluttered full of butterflies at that. Is that what he wanted? From her? She was so convinced he'd find someone else to hang out with but here he was, asking to continue this…

Whatever this was.

Uzi: Always knew I'd end up with a gay best freind.

Uzi: u can't borrow my makeup.

N: Awww, but it would look so good on me!

Uzi thought about that for a moment, imagining N with dark eyeshadow, lipstick, and black nails, and she about choked, she wasn't sure if it was funny or weirdly attractive.

Uzi: Dude that mental image.

Uzi: It's so cursed, I about choked.

N: Blursed

N: It's Blessed and Cursed

The conversation continued, the fuzz in her head slowly dissipating even without the assistance of her stash, and it continued late into the night… up until she heard Khan pull onto the driveway at 2am.

Uzi: Oh god, it's 2am. We need to sleep.

N: I didn't realize! We're gonna be zombies…

Uzi: More of a zombie u mean?

N: Yeh. U still in pain? Are u going to sleep ohay?

N: Okay* oof, sleepy fingers.

Even while about to pass out. He was still worried…

Uzi: I'm okay, pain isn't bad. U need sleep N

N: Ok, text you tmmrow, Uzi. Goodnight.

Uzi: Night N.

[a-romantics-guide-to-life]

⋆ ₊☽˚𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓵𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼˚☾₊ ⋆ 

𝓼𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 : you and coryo had gone through hell and back, you've been together and far apart yet you could never find the courage to say how you truly feel for him. so, you wrote them into letter form, but you never sent them. and so what happens when one mr. snow finds each and every letter only to realize that it's too late?

𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 : written in letter form from the readers perspective, talks of jealousy and sad feelings, r is definitely from the capitol, self blame, kinda sorta depression, angst, deceit

𝓪/𝓷 : i've fallen in love with this series (it's been a lot of fun to write) and I KNOW MANY PEOPLE DON'T WANT THE ANGST BUT IM SORRY I JUST HAVE TO DO IT SOOOO here ya go, enjoy! admittedly though this isn't tooo tooo angsty (i think) um but yea

𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓸𝓾𝓼 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽 | 𝓷𝓮𝔁𝓽 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽

⋆ ₊ ☽ ·˚𓍲⋆ 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓽𝔀𝓸: 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓮𝓴𝓮𝓮𝓹𝓮𝓻 ⋆𓍲˚· ☾ ₊ ⋆ 

Dearest Coryo,

Darling, it’s been a month and life has been hectic. 

It’s been a whirlwind of moving into the University dorms and getting accustomed to the new campus when we’ve been at the Academy since, well forever really. The classes are the same though, not too hard.

I just know it in my bones that you would’ve excelled here.

Which makes me wonder really where you are. Tigris hasn’t said anything, or well I haven’t really had a reason to visit her since you’re not there. Even Sejanus just up and left. Many of the students are actually quite happy about that, especially Festus.

It’s been quite lonely here actually. 

I sit all by myself at lunch now. I remember how we used to sit next to each other, well really across from each other, and talk about anything and everything really. Your Grandma’am’s roses, how much your arms were sore from cleaning the entire apartment, the newest fashion trends amongst the ladies of the capitol.

To be quite honest with you Coryo, it’s been hard.

I miss my best friend.

I miss your deep blue eyes and how your eyes brightened whenever we were talking. I miss how your nose crinkled whenever you smiled, genuinely smiled. I miss your lightning quick remarks flooded with sarcasm and wit. 

Most of all, I miss how you made me feel.

You know at home that my mother and father disregard me completely. You know how doting they are to my baby brother. You especially know how much it hurts to watch from the sidelines how perfect their family was when I too am a branch from that tree.

I guess they cut mine off, huh?

I really really miss you Coryo. You were the only one who saw the real me, and loved the real me even when no one was around.

Now that you’re gone, all the love and light of my life has been sucked out of the very marrow of my being. 

Who will love me during these cold cold summer months if not you and only you Coryo?

I really do miss you.

Love,

Your Best Friend

Dearest Coryo,

How are you? It’s been quite a while since I wrote my last letter. 

Well, there’s actually a very good reason for my absence and that’s because of not only the very busy life of a University student but also I find myself being courted by this boy named Billius. 

He’s actually older than both of us, he just recently started his second year at the University. He somehow reminds me of you while in some aspects he’s completely the opposite of you. He’s tall and handsome and he’s just so gentle and sweet, when he wants to be of course. He’s also so funny and witty just like you!

He’s just so loveable Coryo. When you get back I’ll introduce you two!

Billy, my nickname for him, doesn’t aspire to be president though so at least that’s one less competitor! He actually aspires to be Dean of the Academy, he says he wants to be an educator, isn’t that just so sweet?

And he’s just so romantic. He takes me out to dinner every Friday and brings me roses when he picks me up. 

He reminds me of you.

The way that you would be waiting outside of my classes as we walked to the lunch hall. We’d wait patiently for our turn, complaining about the new homework we got from Sinistra or bouncing off ideas for a new presentation we had to work on.

What really mattered was that we were there for each other through it all, thick and thin.

But now? You’re nowhere to be found.

But Billy? He’s been here. He’s even helped me help your family move out of your old penthouse.

Did you know they got evicted Coryo? I tried to help them pay off at least one more month so that they could properly pack up and move but they didn’t accept it. Although, I did manage to get them a week's stay at my family’s hotel free of charge so that they could get their bearings straight. Tigris hasn’t accepted my offer to help find a new apartment though.

You know, hearing Tigris talk about you makes me just so sad, Coryo. Even Tigris doesn’t want to tell me where you truly are.

Can you imagine that, your best friend, gone. And everyone but you knows where he is.

It hurts Coryo.

Please come home soon,

Your Best Friend

P.S. I'll be waiting here for you Coryo, forever and always. I’ll be here for when you’re ready to talk

Dear Coryo,

Hey, it hasn’t been long, huh.

Of course much has happened since I last wrote to you.

Billy proposed to me. To be honest, I was at a loss for words because in truth, I’ll never be able to get over you. 

It was a little surprising to say the least. We had been out for our weekly Friday dates. He showed up at my doorstep with the same blood rose flowers he always brings me and that bright boyish smile on his face. He took me back to where we first went out together and dropped the question. He even had a ring and everything!

It was like everything I’ve ever dreamed of except, it wasn’t you with the bright blue eyes and big wide smile. It wasn’t you who had brought me roses as pure as the driven snow. And it wasn’t you who had gotten on one knee to profuse your utter devotion.

So of course, I politely declined Billius. After all, I was still in University same as him and we’d only known each other a little over a month.

I feel like I’ve known you an eternity Coryo.

Yet I could never read your mind.

Tigris has told me that you called her. She said your hair has been all shaved off! 

You could have told me you became a peacekeeper Coryo. You know I’d never think less of you just because you’ve found work in the Districts. That doesn’t make you one of those rebels that killed your father. 

I thought you trusted me Coryo, just how I trust you.

I thought you knew you could talk to me about anything and everything. Nothing you could say could make me hate you because I love you, the good and the bad. 

But I guess I never showed you that, did I?

Tomorrow, I swear, I’ll send all these letters now that I finally know that you’re in 8. Hopefully, you’ll finally tell me what's going on because all these rumors are getting louder and louder Coryo. 

Awaiting your response,

Your Best Friend

Coryo,

You’re in 12, aren’t you?

Guess how surprised I was when I went to peacekeeper dispatch only to find out that you paid to get sent to 12. You used every last penny to your name to go to 12??

It doesn’t take a genius to connect the dots Coriolanus. Lucy Gray, you really like her, don’t you?

Even when she didn’t trust you and your only motive was to win the Plinth Prize, it’s always been her, hasn’t it?

Even in that zoo, when you nearly kissed her, when I saw you two, it’s always been her.

I mean, I’m happy that you’ve found someone who made you run up right to the ledge for her, I just wish that it would have been me.

I hope that she does make you smile and happy, cause that’s all that really ever mattered to me, your happiness. Neither one of our childhoods were what we deserved and I’m just glad that one of us got the happiness that we deserve. 

Love Always,

Your Best Friend

P.S. If we ever get the chance, I hope you introduce me to her

AHHH hope you enjoyed! and buckle in because this is going to be an angsty ride ahead ya'll

[yuellii]

baby, we’re the new romantics !

𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇 some born-rich, noisy man falls for a completely normal ( maybe struggling ) woman

feat. childe, referred to as ajax

wc. 2.7k

note. gn reader, modern au, references a scene from I Love Yoo, this is a little birthday fic for one of my very best friends in the whole wide world : @vivinens !!

To put it bluntly, it sucked working at McDonald’s.

Other than the fast-paced environment and the tough remarks from rude customers, what arguably sucked the most was that he worked in the building just across the street. Literally just a few steps and you’d be at risk of seeing him.

It wasn’t that you hated Ajax ( okay, maybe you did a little ); he was a fun way to wind down in-between classes sometimes at university because of his loud personality. And, he was attractive to stand next to, you’ll give him that in addition to being a very understanding friend. But seeing him in the workplace is quite possibly the last thing you could ever want to ask for.

What made matters even worse was during your desperate job search last month, when you got a recruitment offer at the place he worked at. You thought it’d be some small thing like where generic college students worked, not some big multi-million firm in this massive building with workers walking around in suits and pencil skirts galore. And of course, when you met with the mean recruiting lady named Rosalyne for your interview, it was impossible not to spot Ajax at the corner of your eyes with a goofy smile on his face.

And when Ms. Rosalyne went back to scold him after your interview, it was more than obvious you were only here because he pushed your application.

How embarrassing.

“You can try again!” he said to you in good spirits in the university courtyard one week after. The two of you were sitting together as the sun was setting on campus, having both finished all your classes for the day. “They’re opening another clerical position soon since our current one is leaving, apply then!” And to you, he was acting all completely normal in his normal young-adult way, meanwhile you were trying to erase the image of him in a suit from your head.

You sighed, “I don’t think the high-class life of business is for me yet, Ajax.”

The roll of your eyes caused him to visibly deflate. Just how obsessed was he with the idea of you getting hired? “But I want you to work with you so baddd…!” he groaned, dramatically shoving his hands onto his face.Then he leaned back forward, slumping until his forehead came down to rest on your shoulder. Such an attention-grabbing act of depression—you almost came to entertain the idea, too.

“I don’t even have office clothes,” you scoffed, bumping him off your shoulder.

He yelped from the force of your push for a moment before he grabbed your arm, pulling it so harshly with such a force that had you clashing right onto his chest ( Yeah, friends, or something like that ). And even as you began to punch on his chest in protest, he just hugged you tight and whined, “I can buy you some! You’ll fit right in—and I get to see you every day at school and at work!”

Seeing him every day sounded like hell, you were so sure this man was insane.

“You are not buying me office clothes!” you denied, still trying to push yourself away.

“I can totally afford it, though!” he pouted. After he relaxed his grip around your body, you still found it too tough to escape his weird embrace. That’s your karma for being friends with the guy who goes to the gym in-between classes, you suppose. And after more struggling to set yourself free, you eventually gave up as the sunset reduced to silence.

That was when he squeezed you tight once more for a last makeshift hug, then planted an ambiguously-friendly kiss on your cheek as he said, “Let’s go get dinner now? I’ll drive.”

“Yeah, sure. Can we get chicken nuggets?”

He lifted both of your bodies up to your feet, watching as you collected your things off the seat before he led you by the hand to his car. “Pff, you always want nuggets,” he teased. “But yeah, I’m down—there’s a McDonald’s right next to my work, let’s go there while I try to convince you to apply at my job!”

And now you work at said McDonald’s.

You didn’t tell him, of course. Only that you “finally got a job,” so that he could finally stop trying to get you hired at his stuffy building space.

It was pretty busy in the morning when people in office attire would come in for a quick, cheap coffee. Lunch and dinner time was also busy as expected—it was one of the things that made you happy to be a cashier and not one of the cooks or drive-through people.

And the best part about this was that you never saw the uptight Ms. Recruiter Rosalyne here, nor Ajax himself. You knew for a fact that Ajax only went to McDonald’s when it was with you, as he preferred other fast foods, so even if his work was just right there, you really didn’t have to worry about accidentally seeing him. If you did… Well, that would probably be really embarrassing, wouldn’t it?

It was one o’clock in the afternoon, lunch rush.

People were rude, your coworkers were irritable, customers were in a rush—horrible, really, but also a normal day for you. Just smile and put on that customer service voice and it will soon be over. Plus, you got free chicken nuggets for your own lunch break before this.

It was not until you felt your phone vibrate in the pocket of your jeans. Well. It was not that common to get a text like that. Your family should know you’re at work; your friends, too. Just one peak—only one, just while the customer in front of you is still holding up the line while he decides what to order. Propping your phone up behind the register, you open it to check your lockscreen.

orange fuckwad: heyyy you want some mcds nuggets?!?!? ;)

Holy shit. Absolutely not.

“Can I order the uhhh…” Oh good lord you have to turn off your phone now. “Can I order the uhhh McLobster?”

“Sorry sir, the McLobster was discontinued five years ago.” You were about to blow your brains out.

“No I swear I just ordered it last week?”

Your eyes kept shifting to the door. And there, finally, in all his glory making your heart absolutely drop in fear, was Ajax coming through the door. And for you, too—to buy you a box of chicken nuggets. In any other case, you’d find it endearing ( and it still was! ) but in this instance you really wanted to die right now.

The customer suddenly raised an eyebrow at you when you shifted your body to the side, trying to use his body as a shield from the eyes of your friend. There was a second cashier next to you—hopefully Ajax will line up on their line instead of yours. And hopefully, you could use this crusty McDonald’s hat to hide your face.

“Hey!” your coworker suddenly called out to you. You looked towards their empty cashier line with a glimmer of hope for good news. “I’m going on my lunch!” Your face dropped. “I’ll see you in 30, yeah?”

No! Not yeah! But you couldn’t do anything but plead with your facial expression as they left to the backroom, leaving Ajax with no choice but to join your line. If you could blow up this whole building right now, God, you would.

Five customers until him, four customers until him, three, two, one—

“Woah!” The surprise on his face felt insulting. Actually, you still used the hat to hide your face as best as you could. It was failing at hiding your identity from him as expected, but at least it helped you obscure the view of his… physique. Him, with his… um, his black slacks and white collared shirt that was just a little too tight on him, and his grey blazer that was thrown over his shoulder. One button at the top unfastened, almost as if he loosened it just to breathe during his lunch break.

And his hair, if you didn’t want to meet his eyes then you were honestly staring there. Whose hair was usually messy and tousled, now slicked perfectly for once with gel, all in a proper yet still very Ajax-way. The sides were in place, meanwhile strands over his eyes and at the top of his hair remained loose in that messy way that still characterized him. God, you might just die from embarrassment and awkwardness right now.

“This is where you work?” he asked, incredulously.

“Good afternoon, sir. What can I get for you today?” you smiled. Please, please just go with it.

He looked surprised at your voice, especially since it was so fabricated and one he had not heard before. You just hoped he wouldn’t be a dumb prick to you today, just this once. “Oh, um…” Please, please. “One ten-piece chicken nugget, please.” Thank God.

“Would you like a drink with that?”

“Yes, one large soda, if that’s okay?”

“Will that be all?”

“Uh.” He looked confused. You just stared at him. “Yeah… Yeah, I think so.”

Then he swiped his card, you directed him to the side, and he left the line. With a lingering gaze, of course. He looked like a lost ( and maybe even a little hurt ) puppy after his order, and as much as this made you feel sad for him, you were just glad to get through with him as a customer without any complications. He’ll definitely be bothering you after this, anyways.

He pretty much watched you the entire time he waited for his food, eyeing you with a look of concern that did not belong on his usual expression. But you ignored him for your own betterment—you’d really just rather get through this rush hour of customers. And when his order number was finally called, he held the small bag with nuggets and his large soda with confusion. Oh, right. That food was probably bought for you.

You sent him a look and a head tilt that notioned ‘Just eat it’, and surprisingly, he got it. Ajax, with his pristine proper suit and blazer over his shoulder, sat down at a dirty barstool and ate his ten-piece chicken nuggets. He was still watching you, though; he glanced at you every few seconds while he was chewing. Minutes that felt so long passed, and you just hoped his lunch break would end soon so he could get back to his building.

“Hello again!” You almost jumped in place when you found him in front of you again, having finished his nuggets.

“Ajax,” you grumbled, trying to speak quietly. There was another customer coming to line up behind him. “I can’t talk during my shift.”

“Oh!” He looked at you in innocent surprise for a second, definitely not as depressed as earlier. “No, I was just gonna order.”

You wanted to die. “Didn’t you already…” Clearing your throat, you remembered there was another customer lined up behind him. Thank heavens the lunch rush was over already. Time to put on the customer service voice for him again. “What can I get for you?”

“A box of ten-piece chicken nuggets, please!” he smiled. “And a large soda!”

If you didn’t feel like killing him before, well you certainly did now. And guess what, he ate this order, too! Was he doing this out of spite now? Ordering nuggets and then eating them right in front of you? Because honestly, it was making you less hungry and more confused, if anything. This was definitely not what you expected—but then again, you fully anticipated he’d hold up the line just to talk to you. But no, suddenly he was a McDonald’s nugget fan?

The moment you get out of here, you’re going to twist his ear. Time passes again where you purposely avoid his gaze. So, so much time. Either his lunch break was just incredibly long, or time was just going so slow because he was here. You bet it was the latter.

And then, once again, you find him at the front of your line.

“Hello!” he smiled. He looks happy just to see you. “Can I get a ten-piece box of chicken nuggets?”

“And a large soda with that?” you asked, almost with a sigh.

He looks uneasy, standing to the tips of his toes for a moment. “No,” he drags out with hesitance. “Side of large fries, actually.”

Ooo, how different! It’s the most entertainment you could wish for in a day. And when you shoo him to the side this time, he has the biggest smile on his face. How unusual—in this situation, at least. Then when his order comes, he actually turns to leave this time. He walked to the glass doors with an innocent grin and a large McDonald’s bag in his hand, happily waving to you goodbye. Finally.

“You never told me you work at the McDonald’s right by me!”

He was there waiting for you when you walked out of your shift, packed up, ready to go home, and definitely smelling like grease. “Well aren’t you out early…” you sighed at him. “It’s only three in the afternoon.”

“I asked if I could leave so I could come see you sooner,” he frowned. Endearing, once again. And your heart may have skipped just a bit when he lifted up the last brown bag he bought. “I saved these for you. They’re not warm anymore but there’s fries, a soda, and fifteen nuggets… I, uh, couldn’t finish the second order.”

You nearly laughed out. “Why in the world did you order so much anyways?”

“So I could see you again,” he pouted.

He was still wearing his office attire, top button unfastened once again and blazer under his arm once you took the fast food bad again. You might’ve just had nuggets during your lunch break, and this food may be cold and soggy by now, but the thought of him buying it for you made it the best meal in the world. And, it was also the fact he left his own shift early just to see you. He could be nice at times; so nice, it almost comforted the fact he made you want to die earlier.

“You embarrassed me,” you tiredly sighed. The both of you were walking together to his car—how he knew you were dropped off here was beyond you.

“Sorry!” he sheepishly smiled. “I really didn’t think I’d see you there…” Which was understandable, sure, but did he really have to order that many McNuggets just to see you at the cashier stand? “But now that I know you work right next to me…”

“Ajax, no.”

“Oh come on!” He pouted with a considerably loud whine while the both of you crossed the street to his building. You figured he was likely parked behind it, wherever the employee parking was. It still felt a little weird to be in your McDonald’s uniform walking next to a big business building. “I get to see you every lunch break—doesn’t that sound so fun?”

“No not really.”

He groaned even louder again, slumping his shoulders as if he was not dressed like he was going to an office party right now. But then, in some sort of comforting silence, he aligned his arm over your shoulders. It was cute, honestly—how he would still do this despite the fact you smelled like pure grease right now ( and the fact you were trying to ignore the feeling of his arm muscles that were practically bursting through his sleeves ).

He eyed you a few times during this silent walk, watching as you stuffed your face with nuggets and fries. Holy God this tasted so good for some reason…?! You totally deserved this after your shift of rude customers and embarrassing moments—then your good friend Ajax brings you nuggets and fries right after. How romantic.

And speaking of your ‘friend’, he pulled you closer against him, arm practically swallowing your entire being over your shoulders. Not that you were complaining, though; you found his weird obsession with being near you all the time just a little bit cute. And besides, he drove you places, and he bought you chicken nuggets.

Who could not love a man that buys you chicken nuggets?

[elizabethwritesmen]

The Devil Wears Lace

chapter 7 : November 1, 2024

pairing: simon “ghost” riley x reader

summary: a year has passed since you last saw simon and your mind has run wild with possibilities. they all grind to a halt, though, when you run into soap at the grocery store.

warnings: none in this chapter

series masterlist

November 1, 2024

Three months passed, then six, then a year. I still hadn’t seen Simon again. I tried not to fall into a depression, throwing myself into my education. I’d applied at law school after law school, but I’m embarrassed to admit I focused on those in the UK, thinking if I could manage to get there, I might find him. Maybe if I did, it would just be fate.

Shockingly, I made it into Cambridge with scholarships. I’d done well in undergrad, but I didn’t think I did THAT well. It was a blessing, though. I spent the year leading up to my first semester saving then got my things together and moved into a little rental house not far from campus.

I’d made it through a couple weeks of classes, and had even managed to make a couple friends. I called Sabrina a lot, though, just to catch up. It was hard adjusting to being without her, but we promised to visit each other when we could.

I was at the grocery store, stocking up on what I could afford. I was waitressing, but still struggling to make ends meet with rent and school costs. I was thankful I’d been saving money for so long and that I got grants and scholarships.

I had a basket full of stuff and was looking for a couple more things to add when I heard someone call my name. I furrowed my eyebrows, looking up to see Soap standing on the other end of the aisle.

My heart skipped a beat, and I moved toward him involuntarily.

“Soap,” I gasped, smile breaking out over my face.

“What’re you doing here, darlin’?” he asked me.

“Oh, I got accepted into the law school at Cambridge, and it was my best option so.. here I am.” I shrugged at the end, like it was obvious or something, and he gave the biggest smile I’d ever seen.

“Hey, can you look up an address for me?” he asked, and I nodded, grabbing my phone and opening Google. He ratted off some numbers and a street name and when I searched, it was a bar not far from the market we were at.

“Here you go,” I showed him and he nodded, grin widening.

“Can you do one more thing for me?” I nodded, waiting for him to continue. “Be at that bar tomorrow night around 10.”

I was taken aback by his request, and I stuttered, “U-uh, I guess I could but, I mean, do you think I should?”

“Of course you should.”

“Will he be there?”

“Yeah, I believe he will,” that smile was still plastered on his face but mine fell.

“I don’t know if he wants to see me, I mean, it’s been over a year. He’s probably forgotten all about me.”

“He hasn’t forgotten about you,” he shook his head as he assured me, but my skepticism still showed on my face, “We just got back from a deployment. It was long. He didn’t want to leave you hanging, he just didn’t have a choice. Trust me, he hasn’t forgotten about you and he wants to see you.”

I felt a paradigm shift and all the times If worried and stressed over him vanished. Of course he’d been deployed. I’d been freaking out for no reason for a year.

“I’ll be there,” I grinned, and he nodded victoriously, going to pay for his groceries and leaving.

[mrghostrat]

i appreciate all the kindness for my uni rejection, and anyone going through the same thing should def read through my replies if they need similar comfort. there’s a lot of “ATAR isn’t everything!” comments tho, which made me realise i haven’t actually talked much about my goals, so i wanted to share a little context.

i’m 30 (on the 17th). i took a gap year after high school and i went to uni at 19. i even dropped out a semester before graduating to pursue the one thing that was making me happy (my first original comic) during a really bad depression (undiagnosed adhd burnout). i got the last units and graduated a year later, a bachelor of game design.

haven’t used my degree once. i went into comics and freelance rather than games. but i also loved that degree and would do it all again, it was absolutely worth it.

i’ve been freelance and self sufficient for 6-7 years, and it’s fun and i’m proud of the things i’ve made, but i’m so tired. i’m specifically tired of having to work 7 different angles to make up one sufficient salary, and even if it ends up being temporary, i’d give anything for a 9-5. have someone else in charge for once.

got to the end of my rope last year and sat down to figure out what i like and what i’m good at. a Life Plan, yknow. i’ve always had an interest in teaching, helping, connecting like that. figured out degrees and became really invested in this new trajectory i pictured my life going on. i was also tired of waiting, because every time i wanted to move back to the city from this tiny town we’re in, somethings come up or delayed it. so zita helped me figure out how we could get the ball rolling and break our lease 3 months early, so we could move back to melbourne and i could start my degree this year. we looked for (and found) an apartment specifically on the side of the city that would be closest to my campus.

i hope that gives a lil context as to why i’m so devastated right now. the last 5 months have been me revving up to start this new chapter at the end of feb and one little email said nah.

the degree i wanted to do was a double degree, secondary education (hons) and a BA of fine arts. i was equally excited for both, because i never got to do a lot of actual art learning in my last degree, and the BA would give me all of that— life drawing, sculpting, painting, wood/metal/jewellery working, digital, fuckin everything. but it was the less important of the pair, when it comes to getting myself a job as an art teacher, because i already have the art experience. it was just a fun bonus, and the education degree was the one i NEEDED.

in nov i had to travel to melbourne to present a portfolio and interview for the BA. they showed me around the studio too, and i fell a little bit in love. i got the acceptance email in december, but i still didn’t have an offer for the education degree. another reason why i’m so discombobulated— i technically have an invitation, but it’s for the less important degree that would just be a money sink. do i go to uni anyway?? or just ignore this invitation and move on?

my state recently made education/teaching degrees free as a way of encouraging more teacher jobs. i learnt about this after i decided i wanted to pursue teaching, so it was just a fun lil bonus that i wouldn’t be adding to my student debt. apparently not, bc i didn’t think about how every teenager and their dog would apply for teaching degrees so they could get straight into uni without any debt. so, even tho i’m a graduate and i’m not relying on school scores, i was one in a million, likely just numbers on a page, and didn’t get in.

there could be other paths. i could start the BA and add the Edu degree later? i could reapply for mid year intake. i could… idk, most of what i could do requires emailing Monash and asking wtf, because i have no idea what’s actually possible and will need someone to lay it out for me.

still feels like i’ve run into a brick wall though. little bit shut down. more sad, not quite angry, but suddenly really spiteful for some reason— like “oh, you don’t want me? okay fuck you then, i won’t ever teach.” so stupid. just a bit fragile rn

[pr3ttyp1nkvrse]

my persistence journey whilst in school. i am living breathing proof that ur persistence is ur method .. 8.25

since may i had applied for housing through my school. it had a waitlist, if my number was not called or chosen i would be left with no housing, and unfortunately it is a lot to handle paying rent and expenses for school all at the same time, i am an out of state student to add insult to injury lol. i still applied, and enrolled in classes for the next semester though (current)

i told everyone how horrible i felt about being in school though due to going through a major loss in my family.

i began to wallow in my sadness.. becoming so depressed. when i say i had nothing, i had NOTHING. then one day it rained while i was at work, nasty muddy i was so annoyed i got rained on at work and then .. i am not joking, i saw a double rainbow.. i looked at all the small things i had for the simple fact the sight of the rainbow was so beautiful.

a job, runnin water, a bed to sleep in, a phone to call, amazing followers on tumblr that were in the same persisting phase as me..

i started living for these things. i put my heart into everything, i became so mentally well put together i was ready for the school year even in the summer i started being active on my blog and all …

but then

i never heard anything back from my school. all my friends were getting housing assignments left and right and little ole me was getting NADA.. no emails, no calls from the school. i then called my school and they told me basically, i needed 12k more to attend my school. mind you, no housing already, and they began to drop me from all my classes. this began to become a distraction within my journey. i thought back to my original thoughts of how i spoke not going back into existence by living in negativity, so i really let this situation take a bigger toll on me believing i was gonna find a solution.

but yk what else ? i began to type on this very blog. i told yall, and i told myself I HAVE EVERYTHING. even when i looked at 3D .. and didn’t see anything.. only obstacles. i began to think well … what DO i have to get me out of this?

i have my mind .. i have ME!!

i missed the first week of classes and decided, this will not be the year i quit at ANYTHING. especially my DREAMS!! why would i ? because i went through something? news flash WE ALL DO! ITS THE CYCLE OF LIFE.

i marched to my school that same week, little 2 hour flight. thinking, they gonna have to give me something not because i deserve it and want this but because I SAID SO. I SAID I CAN SO I WILL! i cleared my mind though.. i never one time thought of what it was gonna look like if this situation did not work out for me in the best way.

long story short. i went back and forth between multiple buildings for three hours for them to tell me what they told me from the start. but i wasn’t compromising with that story. i sat in the financial aid office, as the worker is infront of me checking everything imagining a miracle .. visualizing them handing me my keys.

and sure enough. he told me they made a mistake on their end this entire time, i recieved the best on campus housing assignment! and that’s not by my standards, i genuinely got the best place everyone hopes to get. i didn’t think of the large pool of students my school had, seeing as one person coulda easily filled my spot.

i learned that

1. the tongue is POWER.

2. when i have nothing, that’s not true, i have ME.

3. don’t just persist, don’t take no for an answer and RUN for what your after. don’t just ask or hope for it!

4. you don’t have to be the happiest person in the world, but it helps to be positive when all you have is your mind, body, and soul.

5. be strong. don’t give up .. even when i was in a situation where i had to sit out from classes, abruptly get up and travel but i STILL believed there had to be something for me .. no crumbs .. a full meal covered in aluminum foil that i simply had to wrap off.

you got this. and i am PROUD at how far we’ve come TOGETHER. the universe is working for them, me, you, us.

-biggest B, senior year <3

also.. thank you all for the reblogs. it’s not many, but i know my post are reaching some and that means the world to me. i hope i’ve impacted you all in some way. even if small.

[whoslai]

Off The Menu - Lee Heeseung (Chapter 1)

genre: angst, fluff, slow-ish burn, eventual smut!! (you’re responsible for what you consume, read at your own risk)

warnings: none?? reader has anxiety/social anxiety and a few insecurities here and here. major slice of life for you peeps 

send me an ask if you’d like to be tagged! thank you to all my new followers, you guys are amazing for supporting me. please interact and give me as much feedback as you’d like (don’t be an ass tho, no need to spread negativity.

not proof read, sorry for any typos in advance. 

word count: 3.3k 

link to series masterlist or whatever

next chapter

Chapter 1: “Hey, lol.”

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Fall wasn’t your favorite season. From the stress of studying for finals to worrying about flight tickets back home when winter rolled around, you were never the biggest fan of the autumn months. With the combination of your busy schedule and your failure to get a refill on your anxiety medication, you felt immensely overwhelmed. Another thing to note was how lonely it got; Your family was across the country. Going to school in California was a conscious decision of yours, but you didn’t consider how tiresome it’d get not experiencing the warm embrace of a loved one in your times of need. To even take a trip back home would take you nearly 2 days, and that was simply not a risk you were willing to take with how dingy your car was. 

Your Friday’s typically consisted of this: Breakfast at the café off campus, lectures from 9 am to 12 pm, lunch at 12:30 pm accompanied with a small break, occasional seminars for an hour or so, then you were done. You’d usually study for a little while, but there were no promises. Being a second year psych student had its pros and cons; Less free time throughout the weekdays but completely free weekends. Though the pros outweigh the cons, you could use a bit more time to yourself throughout the week. As you were far from home, you had to make completely new friends. The vibe in California was completely different. You spent the entirety of your first year in your dorm in online school due to your school’s strict precautions against the pandemic, so you’d be stripped of the chance of branching out. While you weren’t the only one who went through this, it was 10x harder for you to go back to normal; Social anxiety had been something you’d struggled with all your life. The fear you felt when in big crowds, when being assigned to group projects, even merely walking to your class on campus…really…sucked. Tasked with the responsibility of your own finances, health insurance was something you simply couldn’t afford. Therefore, you hadn’t been on your meds for God knows how long. But anyway, you wouldn’t stay on such a depressing topic. 

Moving on, you had the weekend to yourself. You’d finished your last lecture around 2 pm and made your way back to your dorm. Fortunately, your roommate hadn’t made it back from her classes, so you had the space all to yourself. You locked the door behind you and took a breath of fresh air.

“Finally.” You sighed to yourself, plopping down onto your bed. Shoes were thrown about and you laid in your bed, indulging in the feeling of relief. But, as expected, it was cut short almost immediately.

Multiple knocks were sounded upon the door. It was nobody but Ningning, your lab partner in Abnormal Psych Stats 2. She was a sweet girl, she truly was. However, she always found a way to be overbearing. But you appreciate her as she was the only reason you ever left your room.

You slowly but surely got up to open the door, greeted by Ningning with a big smile.

“Y/N, were you lying down?” She asked, leaning against the door frame.

“I was, but now I’m up. Come, come.” You told her, moving out of the way so she could come in.

She walked in, closing the door behind her and sat on your bed as you spruced up your desk.

You glanced over at her, noticing that she was biting her lip and she only ever did that when she was holding back from saying something.

“Oh God, what is it?” You groaned, knowing she was about to say something outlandish.

She smiled and sat up, “Okay, don’t be mad but I booked us two tickets at this restaurant over in Malibu. Yes, I know it’s a long drive BUT…it’s worth it. Please tell me you’ll come with me, pleaseeeee…”

You sighed, rubbing your jaw, “I can’t.” Her smile faded, turning into a frown, “I don’t have the funds for that. I just planned on grabbing a meal from the dining hall…I’m trying to save up for a plane ticket.”

She shook her head, “Don’t worry about the costs, I’ll pay, it’ll be my treat. I wasn’t in town on your birthday and I want to make up for my absence. As your best, and ONLY friend, it’s my job to treat you. So, what do you say?”

You sighed to yourself, again. You hadn’t planned on doing anything tonight. You really were looking forward to having some down time to just relax and catch up on some shows. You also weren’t the type to depend on someone to pay for your meal, but one time wouldn’t hurt, right?

“Alright. Fine. When?” You asked her, stacking papers atop of each other.

“Today, tonight, let’s leave before 6 pm since our reservation is at 8:00.” She said, “I figured we could stay the night? If we left by 6 and got there at 7:30 ish, we could check into our reservation and stay at a nearby hotel. It’d be nice to take a break and be on our own for a while.”

You nodded, ‘That sounds nice…but costly? Where’s all this money coming from, Ningning?” 

She smiled, “Let’s just say…my job is treating me well. Now, pack a bag, be ready by 5.” She hurried up and kissed your cheek as she made her way out of your room, closing the door behind you. 

So, a trip. A mini girls trip for a night. You were excited, actually. It’s been a while since you had a chance to take a break. You’ve never been to Malibu either. This should be fun.

Later on, you finished packing a small bag with a few essentials. You changed into an outfit you thought fit the Malibu vibe: A black halter top with beige flowy pants and matching back sandals. You clipped a mango-ish colored flower into your hair after you slicked it back into a ponytail and grabbed your bag. You touched yourself up a bit before walking out of your dorm and made your way down the hall. You knocked on Ningning’s dorm and waited for her to open it.

Once she did, she met you with a smile and walked out with her bag, locking the door behind her. “You look so cute, Y/N. We’re going to have so much fun, trust me.”

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You two soon made it to the restaurant with not a lot of time to spare as it was 8:00 on the dot. Ningning quickly found a parking spot and you both agreed to find a hotel after you ate. 

From the outside looking in, the restaurant was beautiful. It was right beside a beach with a beautiful view of the ocean; Moonshadows Malibu was its name, it truly was something you thought you’d never see in real life. As you two made your way inside, you were hit by the aroma of vanilla and solemn music, only adding to the overall dreamy vibe. A pretty lady at the front greeted you both with a wide smile. She held up two shell necklaces, “Would you ladies like a necklace?” Ningning looked at you before quickly nodding, holding her hands out to grab them. She gave you one as she slipped hers on her head and you followed after her, placing the necklace around your neck.

“We reserved a seat for two?” Ningning remarked towards the lady.

The girl nodded, “What’s the name?”

“Ning Yi Zhuo..” Nigning replied, nodding.

The girl nodded, “Okay, follow me.” She showed you both to the deck of the restaurant, seated outside right above the sand and beside the ocean. You were in awe at how beautiful the sunset was. Ningning thanked the girl as she placed down menus and told you both that your waiter would be over soon.

“It’s so pretty in Malibu…” You sighed, looking at the ocean.

“I grew up right next door to Malibu, actually. I always enjoyed coming here on vacation, such a nice place. Anyway,” She laughed, “What are you getting to drink? I brought my fake just in case…”

You smiled, shaking your head, “I don’t drink, Ningning. You’re always pressuring me to drink.”

She scoffed, “Peer pressure? I’d never!”

You rolled your eyes, “Sure. I’ll probably just get water, I’m trying to be healthier.”

“Aw, okay. I love that for you, but I’m still going to get a Pina Colada.” She sighed, pretending to jut her lip out at you.

You shook your head and looked down at your menu, suddenly feeling your heart dropping. The prices were high! The cheapest thing you saw was $20!

“Jesus, Ningning! These prices are literally so unrealistic.” You told her.

She shrugged, “You pay for the quality, not quantity. They honestly have some of the best food in Malibu, trust me. How about we both share an appetizer and then worry about the entrees later? Sounds good?”

“Okay, well, at least I'll pay for your gas. Deal?” You asked.

“Oh hell yeah, you can definitely pay for my gas.” She nodded to herself.

You closed your menu and took your phone out, capturing some photos of the ocean for later. You wanted to savor the moment. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the beach, the waves lapped gently against the shore. The sky was painted in shades of pink and orange, while the clouds seemed to catch fire with the last rays of daylight. A few seagulls flew overhead, their silhouettes dark against the vibrant sky. The air was filled with the salty scent of the sea and the distant sound of laughter and music. It was a moment of peace and beauty that seemed to suspend time, as if the world had paused to take in the breathtaking scene before it.

Only, your attention was stricken as you heard Ningning whisper something. You looked back at her and her eyes were wide and signaling to the side of you; A waiter. Your heart skipped a beat as he drew closer, his smile dazzling and his eyes sparkling. He was even more handsome up close, with strong, chiseled features and a confident demeanor. You felt a sudden burst of nervous energy, unsure of how to act in the presence of such beauty. His voice was smooth and charming as he greeted you both. You felt an immense struggle to keep your composure. It was clear that he had an effect on you, and you simply couldn't help but wonder if he felt the same way.

“Evening, ladies…” The young man greeted you both, “Can I get you guys started with anything to drink?”

Ningning eagerly nodded, “You most certainly can…Y/N?” Hearing your name snapped you out of your mini trance and you looked at her in confusion. She widened her eyes at you, signaling for you to talk.

“I’ll just get some water for now.” You told him, clearing your throat. 

He nodded, “Water it is…” A small smile crept on his face as he glanced back up at you and playfully remarked, “But I’ve got a feeling you might want something a little stronger later on.”

 You couldn't help but feel a bit flustered by his comment, but you managed to laugh it off. "We'll see about that," you replied, trying to hide your growing attraction to him. Ningning, on the other hand, was not as subtle.

 "Oh, I think we definitely will," she said with a grin, winking at the waiter. You shot her a look, but she just shrugged innocently, “I’d like a Piña Colada, extra coconut.”

The waiter chuckled, clearly enjoying the attention. "I'll keep that in mind," he said before taking your orders and walking away. Ningning leaned in, a mischievous glint in her eye.

 "He's cute, isn't he?" she whispered.

You rolled your eyes, but couldn't deny that she was right. "Yeah, he is," you admitted, feeling a flush rise to your cheeks.

“He was soooo flirting with you, Y/N.” She laughed, “It’s time you got some action, anyway. 19 and still a virgin? Unheard of.” You shook your head, trying to brush off her comment. But deep down, you couldn't help but wonder if there was some truth to it. You couldn't wait to see what the rest of the night had in store.

As the night progressed, you and Ningning chatted about a multitude of topics. Life, college, boys, parties, homework, etc. You were glad you went out with her, it was just the breath of fresh air you had been needing these past few weeks. 

Oh, and of course, you’d stolen some glances at the waiter. When he brought back your drinks, he made sure to place yours down first even though Ningning was obviously positioned in front of your water. 

One thing he did that made his interest almost completely obvious was when he leaned down on the table to speak to you when you knew he could hear you just fine as he was merely a few inches away. You wouldn’t say you were flirting back. Although Ningning was urging you to do so, flirting wasn’t something you were familiar with. Why would a guy flirt with you of all people? Especially as your much prettier friend sat across from you. For all you knew, he simply could have wanted a nice tip. You wouldn’t entertain him much, you came to get a break from campus, not to find a fling.

Ningning turned her attention back to you when he walked away to retrieve you both some refills, “He wants you.”

You didn’t respond to her comment, choosing to turn your attention to the last sushi roll instead. You rinsed it down with the last morsel of your water, sighing internally when he came back. 

“One filet mignon for Ms. Lily,” He said, placing down your food, “And a scottish Salad for-”

“Lily?” Ningning laughed, confused at the name he referred to you as.

He looked up at her as he placed her food down, “Lily Flower, in your hair,” He glanced up at you, “It’s cute, by the way.”

You awkwardly nodded, “Thanks…”

He smiled and rubbed his hands together, “Well, I’ll be around. Call me if you guys need anything. I hope you enjoy your food.”

“Will do.” Ningning said, “One thing before you go…” He nodded in acknowledgment, licking his lips. “You single?”

The waiter chuckled, clearly amused by Ningning's boldness. "I am, actually," he replied, his eyes flickering over to you for a moment.

Ningning grinned. "Good to know," she said, winking at him. "We'll keep that in mind."

As he walked away, you couldn't help but feel a little jealous of your friend's flirtatiousness. But deep down, you knew that there was something between you and the waiter, something that went beyond just a passing attraction.

As you ate your meal, you found yourself stealing glances at him, meeting your eyes with his own whenever he walked by, feeling a rush of excitement every time he flashed you a smile. Finally, as the meal came to a close, he brought over the bill and once again flashed you a charming grin. "I hope you enjoyed everything," he said, his eyes sparkling. You couldn't help but smile back, feeling a little shy under his gaze. 

"It was great, thank you," you replied, trying to sound casual, knowing damn well that you were nearly shitting your pants under his intense gaze. 

He nodded, walking away to leave you both to the bill. Ningning shook her head, “If you don’t write your number down on this bill, I’m genuinely never taking you out ever again. This is a threat.”

You couldn't help but laugh at Ningning's threat, feeling a little embarrassed at how obvious your attraction to the waiter had been. But she was right, you knew that you couldn't let this opportunity slip away. As you saw the waiter returning to take the bill, you nervously scribbled down your phone number onto a small napkin, placing it beside the bill. You hoped that he wouldn't notice until you left as you didn’t want to make anything awkward. As he collected the bill, you tried to act casual, but your heart was racing with anticipation. You watched as he glanced down at the paper with your phone number on it, and you couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. Was he interested in you too? Or was this just wishful thinking on your part?

“Thank you ladies, have a nice night.” He said as you both got up. Ningning nudged you to say something but you urged her out of the restaurant, wanting to abort immediately. However, just before you walked out of the door, you looked back at him once more. You saw that he tucked the paper into his pocket without a word, but then he glanced back at you with a small smile, and you felt a surge of hope. Maybe there was something there after all. 

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You two made your way into town with the windows down, allowing the breeze to brush through as you listened to the radio. You pointed out a nearby hotel that looked nice, actually. Pool, multiple floors, adequate priced rooms. It wouldn’t hurt to stay for one night in a nice hotel, afterall, you only live once. 

Ningning found a parking spot and you helped her carry her bag in as she made her way to the front to pay for the room. She made small talk in the elevator but you truthfully found yourself checking your phone to see if he had texted. It was already late, nearing 1 am. Surely the restaurant wasn’t open this late. Maybe he only smiled at you out of courtesy, afterall, Ningning had left a nice tip.

As you entered the hotel room, you couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that you hadn't heard from the waiter. Maybe it was a mistake to put yourself out there like that, to give him your number so readily. Maybe he wasn't interested after all.

Ningning caught the look on your face and immediately knew what was going on. "Hey, don't worry about it," she said, giving you a comforting pat on the back. "Maybe he's just busy or something. You'll hear from him soon enough."

You nodded, trying to shake off your disappointment. "Yeah, you're right," you said, forcing a smile. "Let's just enjoy the night." Ningning nodded in agreement, and the two of you settled in for the night, enjoying the comfortable beds and the peace and quiet of the hotel room. 

But as you lay in bed, your mind kept wandering back to the waiter. Amidst all of the doubt you held within your mind, you couldn't help but wonder what he was doing, where he was, and if he was thinking about you too. Maybe it was just wishful thinking, but you couldn't help but feel like there was something there, something that was worth pursuing. 

As you placed your phone down on the nightstand beside you, it vibrated. Your heart dropped, surely…a family member wasn’t texting you at 3 in the morning, right? You took a deep breath, glancing to your side to see Ningning asleep. You reached for your phone, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as you saw the notification; An unsaved number. Your heart leapt in your chest as you opened the message, feeling a rush of relief and joy when you saw the text.

+1 424-936-2945: “Hey, lol.”

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authors note: i hope you guys liked this first part of my ongoing series. i was kinda writing outta my ass. i got this out sooner than i thought i would so, yeah! anyway, let me know how you guys liked it and feel free to send in any thoughts you have. i hope to write this series in you guyses vision, not my own. reblog, likes, and comments are all appreciated haha. lmk if u wanna be tagged in the next chapter.

@voidbeomgyu 

[melanieph321]

Ruben Dias x Reader - Fix You Part 8/10

Part 9 and 10 are out on my Patreon!

Summary - Reader is hired as Ruben's assistant nurse after receiving head trauma during a football game. He has fallen into a deep depression on his road to recovery and does not accept much help from Reader as she only reminds him of how incapable he is.

Enjoy!

Your eyes widened as you caught a glimpse of the massive sphere that was the Etihad stadium. You weren't the biggest football fan, nor did you root for any particular team. However, what Ruben did for a living was undoubtedly a cool job. He took you to the Etihad campus and showed you around the grounds where players, male, female, young and grown, were running across the green fields. Ruben must've understandably missed this place after being forced to stay away for so long.

"Well, well, look who's back from the dead."

You were met by a cluster of players on your way through campus, people who smiled at the sight of Ruben, stopping to say hello, asking him how he was holding up.

"Is it happening, are you fit to train with us again?" Said a man with a cheeky smile. You recognized him from Ruben's birthday party.

"Nah, sorry Jack. I'm just showing my girl around campus." Ruben grabbed a hold of your hand, ushering you to step forward.

The man eyed you up and down, a large grin on his lips. "Whatever you do love, don't let Ruben here lure you into the gym. He'll convince you to work out for three hours straight. Trust me, I've been fooled once."

"Noted." You smiled. Ruben, however, blushed in anger, giving his friend a stern look.

"What? It's true." Jack shrugged. "Don't you remember that time you made me...."

"Is Frank around?" Ruben coughed.

"I think he's out back with the rest of the team, why?"

Ruben looked to you before answering that question. "We just need to talk, that's all."

"Alright. It was nice seeing you Rub's, we miss you around here, captain."

"I'll see you around Jack."

You and Ruben continued towards the main building. Ruben explained that this is where the first team played. It seemed like serious business just entering their training grounds. Ruben had you wait for him in the stands overlooking the football field. He went down to talk to two men who were not as happy as Jack to see him.

"No, it's not possible, Ruben. I will not risk it."

"Coach please, hear me out."

"No. I refuse!"

Ruben carried himself more stiffly, speaking to the two men. He was arguing for a cause judging by his mannerism and the way he was gesticulating with his arms. Nevertheless, the two men did not seem to give him any sympathy, especially not the bald one. He seemingly put an end to the conversation with a dismissive gesture, resulting in Ruben storming off the field back towards the stands.

"We're done here, let's go." He muttered.

"But I thought you said you'd show me...."

"Next time Y/N, let's fucking go!"

You jumped out of sheer surprise. Ruben had snapped at you, the first time doing so. You trembled to grab the hand that he offered you, not because he wanted to have you near, but because he wanted your exit from campus to be as quick as possible. You returned to the campus parking lot, to Ruben's car, which he drove home in silence.

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Less Dire Situations | 3

Part 1 2

Peter liked you the moment he met you after moving in with his Aunt May. Unfortunately, he never got the guts to talk to you. The idea disappeared after grade school and high school graduation, so you can imagine how surprised he was when you answered his ad for Advanced Calculus tutoring. It felt like he could actually get a shot with you… and then you jumped off the Manhattan Bridge.

Peter Parker x Reader | 5k+ | cw: fem!reader, DD:DNE, suicidal thoughts/ideation, suicide attempt, themes of depression, social withdrawing, emotional masking, canon divergence, angst, hurt, typos, etc.

A/N: this is originally posted on ao3

Peter watches you as you finish the last of your meal. He nods as you conclude what you had to say about the latest show you watched.

You two stand and head to the door, minding Julia as you do. His heart tightens when you smile at the older woman. Your smile looked so bright, the lines by your eyes and cheeks added to it. Julia blows you a kiss in return. Peter says his own goodbye after.

Once you're outside the establishment, Peter takes your arm and leads you out of the way of the walking pedestrians. You walk close to him, body brushing against his chest. You both stand by the edge of the pavement, Peter speaks over the sound of the street, "you heading to campus?"

He watches as you smile and shake your head, "nope. I have some a project waiting for me at home."

He is half relieved to hear you meant to meet him, meet Spiderman. Or at least he hopes that's what you meant.

"Is it the hero project thing for Ms. V?" Peter asks.

"Actually, yes," you nod, "I woke up in a cold sweat thinking about it," you look away and shrug, mumbling, "amongst other things."

Peter doesn't know if that was a whole truth. He rubs your arm that he held, "let me walk you."

You look back at him, brows knit as you shake your head, "sir, campus is out of the way to my dorm."

"I don't mind," he releases his hold, "I want to hang out with you some more."

You chuckle and grin. You reach out to pinch his cheeks, "you're so sweet."

His heart hammers as you get close enough for him to smell the pancake syrup still on you.

"I don't wanna tire you, Parker," you pull away. You shove your hands in your pocket. For a moment, the mask, your smile, slips off. There is an exhaustion in your eyes that lingers for a prolonged second, and the speed in which you make it disappears haunts him. You say, "you should get proper hangouts instead of lousy walks."

Before it registers, he clutches your shoulders and shakes his head, "I'll take a thousand lousy walks if they're with you."

You gasp under your breath, hands coming to his arms out of instinct. You slightly lose balance as you look up at him. He can feel your pulse quicken.

Peter doesn't spare another moment. He drapes an arm over your shoulder and walks you both to the direction of your dorm. He acts like what he just did wasn't as intimate as it was. He points to a random building and says he bought an ice cream popsicles there once.

He knows it's the impending doom dangling upon your soul that makes him want to act and speak out. He knows it's why the urge to kiss you as after you bring an arm around his torso was so great. Never having a chance because you were dead was ten times more terrifying than being rejected, but of course, he wouldn't just force himself on you.

He finally withdraws when you get to your building. His hands can't help but brush against your shoulder as he does so though.

You stiffen. He notices. He clears his throat and looks around aimlessly, rambling about getting to class.

Peter walks away. You watch as he does so.

"Man, about damn time Parker made a move," he hears the guard, Arnel, speak under his breath.

If it wasn't obvious, Peter didn't actually have a class to attend, and even if he did, he would've gladly missed it to check up on you.

He changes into his suit and swings up your building, intent to wait there, though it was still pretty early.

He starts when you loudly open the door to the rooftop. In equal measure, you start when you hear his shocked curses.

He is bewildered by the state of you. A total 180 of what you were just moment ago.

"You're early," you mutter weakly, wiping your nose. You held a notebook in that hand. Your eyes were red and your cheeks were wet.

Peter flings himself over to you with a web. He lands in front of you and grabs your cheeks, "what's wrong, baby?"

You look at him and dryly chuckle through a sob. Your voice cracks as you say, "I am acting like a baby, huh?"

"That's not what I mea-"

"I know," you sniffle, "... but if you keep this up, I might fall for you."

He doesn't laugh at the joke. He wipes your tears away, "you already have," he pulls away and raises two fingers, "twice."

You release a soft chuckle. You sniffle and wipe your philtrum. You walk past him, "touché, Spoods."

His expression softens under his mask.

Spiderman trails after you as you head towards the ledge and flip through your notebook. He comes to your side as you place the object there and turn to him.

"I lied to Peter," you mumble.

Peter stares at you.

"I told him I was alright, but... ... I can tell he doesn't believe me anymore."

He takes a moment before responding, "is that why you're crying?"

You press your hands on your notebook, "... maybe? ... I just started crying when I got back," you look down and rub the paper underneath your hands.

He glances down and vaguely catches the doodles hidden behind your palms.

"I think I'm poisoning him."

Spiderman looks back at you.

"It makes me want to chug bleach."

"No, don't do that," he raises a finger.

You at him, eyes glazed with tears. It crushes his heart, so much so his insides scream to reveal just why he's so confident in what Peter thinks. He silently debates unmasking himself.

"I won't," you shake your head, "don't want to haunt the dorm."

He's about to say something but he doesn't when you point at your notebook. His attention is diverted.

"You're my hero."

Peter's heart skips. He sees a bunch of sketches of him, of Spiderman-- of him tugging his mask, of the back of his suit... of him swinging on the Manhattan Bridge. His heart threatens to burst.

"I have this... project... it's called A Study On Heroes..." you slowly turn to him, "I... I wasn't planning on doing it because... well, you know why. And... well... I was thinking since-" your shiver as you sigh.

Spiderman doesn't hesitate. He takes your hand and squeezes it. In this suit, he had the guts to do such things. He tells himself he'll learn to do it without the safety of his anonymity.

You squeeze his hand back but turn away from him, "since you-" your voice is wobbly, "you said you wanted to help, and I don't want to be a bystander... maybe this could be a reason to-" you choke "- to live."

He pulls you into a tight hug. He repeatedly kisses the crown of your head through his mask.

Before he could tell himself he went over the line, his throat tightens at the feel of you returning the embrace.

You wail into his chest. You dig your nails into his spine. The sound of you was gut wrenching; your cries were exasperated, hurt, and relieved, as if you had been waiting to be embraced.

Fuck, maybe you were.

He feels his eyes water.

You stay like this for a long while, neither of you loosening your hold.

Peter strokes your hair, "whatever you need... you got it, my love."

Eventually, you calm down. He waits for you to pull away because there was no way he was going to be the first to do so.

You press your cheek against his chest and sniffle thickly, "I..." you mutter through clogged sinuses, "I want you to be my study, if it wasn't clear... for my project."

"I'll be your study, sweetheart," he brushes your shoulder, "I'll be whatever you want."

You lightly scratch at his back. 

"I'll do live modeling for you. I'll do an interview. Anything. And guess what, I won't even charge you."

You chuckle then sniffle again.

He squeezes your shoulder, "I'll catch you, sad girl... just jump into me."

Your lips wobble. You sob as you retort, "thank you, Spider-Man."

I stand in front of a mirror, gawking at myself. Beyond my tear stained cheeks and my blood-shot eyes, there was a hollowness staring back at me. I looked vile. I looked wretched. I looked irredeemable.

This is what Spiderman saw when he looked at me? A lost cause? A pathetic joke of a woman?

This must be why he was so hesitant to leave me. This must be why he asked me 10 times if I would be alright by myself before swinging away.

I feel so guilty. I feel so sick for spilling out the darkness on the lap of someone so bright. What if I dim him out? What if he gets scared of me?

I force myself to suck air through my nose. It's painful. I walk towards my bathroom and splash my face repeatedly with water.

I hear a text notification.

I drag myself into my bed and collapse.

I hear a text notification.

I groan and roll, reaching out for the phone laid atop my bed side table. My brows quirk when I see it's a message from May Jameson.

Hello. This is Peter's auntie, May. He's not answering his phone and I have been meaning to speak with you. He mentioned having breakfast with you, and I was in the area. I am at your building's entrance.

I push myself up from my bed, panic and dread causing my spine to straighten unnaturally. Why was she here?

The next moment, I receive a call from her.

"Fuck, shit, fuck, FUCK-" I drop my phone and wipe my face. I clear my throat a couple times before answering. My voice still cracks when I say, "hello."

May Jameson's voice is as jovial as it was the few times I've met her. She says my name and tells me the same thing that she did in her messages.

"P-eter's not here," I lean into my hand, "he's, uh, he's at uni- I, uh, yeah... We had breakfast but he left."

"Oh, that's fine, dear," she says, "I was hoping he'd be here, but, oh well. I wanted to talk to you about something."

"... m-okay-"

"Peter mentioned that you do commission work. I was wondering if you would consider doing something for me."

I sigh deeply. "Oh... what kind of work is it?"

"Well, it's a poster. I actually have one with me right now. I'd appreciate it a ton of you'd be willing to look at it for me."

I stand from my bed and walk towards my mirror. I look shit. There's no way this isn't apparent. Fuck, what am I going to do?

"... Oh, gee... am I bothering you?"

"No! No," I shake my head and head to the door, "... I-" I grab a beanie and put it on, covering my face as much as I can without obstructing my vision fully, "- I'll go downstairs right now."

"Oh! Thank you. That would be wonderful."

By the time I get downstairs, May and Arnel were knee-deep into conversation.

She perks when she sees me, smiles, and waves. When I come over, she reaches out for a hug and so I hug her. It was awkward, but it seems only for me.

She strokes my hair, "how are you, my dear?"

"Mmm... good," I chuckle nervously as I pull away.

She rubs my shoulders and hands me a bag, "it's probably a bit cold now, but I figured I should sweeten the deal with some lunch."

I hesitantly take the lunch bag from her, not wanting to look at her and draw attention to my face. If she noticed anything, she definitely didn't say a word about it. I stare at the lunch bag instead and slowly feel uncomfortable when I realize just how... personal this was. She made this for me.

"Here's the poster we have."

I look the printed poster she unfolded.

"I tried my best on the computer, but it doesn't really look very compelling."

I examine the text, the Impact font, the odd cut off of the description, the colors.

"Volunteer?"

"Oh, it's for a senior home," she explains, "the place is government ran and lately, it's been falling short with it's facilities. It takes months for the city to actually do anything for it, and so the folks there have been relying on volunteers and donations."

I release a breath. Our government fails us again. I slowly nod, "can I take this poster?"

"Please."

"I'll do the commission and have it sent to Peter by the end of the day."

"Oh," she perks, "sweetheart, that's great, but there's really no rush."

"No, no, it's fine," I offer a smile, "and I'll only charge you lunch for it," I raise the bag she gave me.

"No, no, no," May raises a finger, "I'll pay you your rate."

I shake my head, "I want to help. Consider this my volunteer work."

"Oh, thank you," she pouts, "you know, one of the seniors is having a birthday party tomorrow. You should come. We'll have cake!" 

I chuckle at her exclamation.

"And why not take pictures of the geris?" She gasps in realization, "you can put them of the poster!"

Rather reluctantly, I find myself saying, "actually... that would be a good idea," but I don't really want to go outside...

"Great! Tomorrow then. I'll text you the details."

Before I can even say a word, she's waving me and Arnel the doorman goodbye.

May walks down the street and smiles when she spots Peter.

Peter straightens up when he sees his aunt. She immediately tells him the mission was a success. Peter breathes a sigh of relief, but tenses when he hears that his best friend had been crying.

"I'm glad you caught on to her," his aunt says.

Peter sighs deeply, "thank you for helping me, May."

She shakes her head, "I'm glad you're helping her."

He nods and hugs her.

I nervously chew on my lip as I glance at my phone, back up to the building down the block. The street was a bit filthy and I felt rather agitated over the idea of going there.

I shove my hands and phone into my pockets and walk down the street anyway. I clutch my satchel bag tightly once I stop at the entrance of a chain fenced property.

I pace around the front gate and pull out my phone. I scroll through my contacts, debating on calling either May or Peter. I settle for the latter and check my perimeter.

I tense when I hear a voice call out to me.

A middle aged woman in scrubs steps out of the front door, "can I help you?"

"Uh-" I shove my phone in my pocket, "I'm... I'm here to visit the senior home... I, uh... I'm working with May Jameson-"

"Oh!" she perks and walks towards the gate. She says my name and I nervously chuckle, telling her, that was indeed me.

She unlocks the gate and I thank her as I step in.

"I thought you would be coming in with her boy," she closes the gate, "he takes the back door to go inside."

"Oh."

"I'm Rhonda," she smiles, reaching a hand out for me, "nice to meet you."

I shake her hand. She and I walk inside. 

"If any of the seniors offer you a drink, say no, unless you want to black out and wake up with the worse hangover of your life."

My mouth falls open but I do not get to respond. The moment we reach the main room, the bustle of what was clearly a party overpowered my senses. It was rather a stark contrast from the setting. As much as the dingy outside matches the beige walls and the dated furniture, both felt out of place with the elderly men dancing around with boa feathers, geometric glasses, and party hats to country music. There were two women on wheelchairs loudly cursing each other out as they played cards. There were a bunch of people huddled by the food table, and the moment they spotted Rhonda, they immediately pulled away and dispersed.

"HEY!" Rhonda catches them nevertheless, "now I know you did NOT spike my agua fresca!"

The 2 men and 3 women cackle and fast-walk away from the scene.

Instead of chasing after any of them, Rhonda glances around the room and screams out a name, "Pamela Amalia Flynn Mosby!"

The old woman sat in a reclining chair reading the newspaper looks up, "what?"

"Oh, don't you act innocent-" Rhonda walks over to her, promptly leaving me forgotten where I stood.

"Hey kid."

I turn to my side and see an bald man with wrinkled skin holding a box of juice.

"You want some?" 

I shift in my spot and chuckle apprehensively, "I was told not to accept drinks if I didn't want to black out."

"Nah, that's only if you drink Pam's spiked punch," he nods his head.

I turn to where he motioned and vaguely hear Rhonda ask where she got her alcohol this time.

"My secrets are my own, kid," Pamela crosses her arms, making Rhonda sigh in frustration.

"You killjoys are killing my vibe," one of the dancing men tells them, moving towards the speaker, cranking the volume louder.

"Oh!" a voice says from behind, "you're here!" 

I turn and see May, walking in with a box of cake.

"Cake is here!" the old man beside me calls, making the room break into a cheer.

A buff man walks in after May. He smiles at me and I awkwardly smile back. He has some pizza boxes in his hand and follows after May who places her own box on the food table.

May mutters something to him and then turns to me, smiling. All the seniors flock to the food table as May approaches me.

"Thank you so much for coming," she says before giving me a hug.

I don't have the opportunity to hug her back as she's already pulling away. She points, "that's Jerry, one of the employees here. That's Rhonda, and then there's Tammy, and Bianca."

I turn to each of the people she mentions and nod, "Rhonda let me in."

"Tell her she can accept my juice box," the same voice from a while ago speaks.

I look to my right and see that the same bald man.

May chuckles and shakes her head, "did Rhonda tell you about Pam's juice?"

I make a face.

"Well, if you want some juice, feel free to get some from the birthday boy," May says, prompting me to turn to the man still offering me the juice.

I chuckle nervously. It feels like I have no other choice but to accept it at this point, "thank you..." I take the juice and place it in my bag, "and happy birthday."

He sticks his tongue out and blows a raspberry, "82 is overrated. Not as overrated as being whatever age you are though, kid."

I laugh at that.

He sighs and presses a hand on his chest, "she laughs! For a second there, I thought you were going to hang yourself with your bag."

"Rodney!" May scolds.

"What? The kid looked uncomfortable. But I mean, I don't blame her. I hate it here."

May shakes her head in disapproval, "I'll go get you some cake."

"One for me too," Rodney raises a finger.

"Actually, May, I'm good. I'll think I should start taking pictures," I pull out the camera in my bag. It was Peter's, actually. I had yet to return it after borrowing it for my last project. "Is Peter coming soon?" I ask.

"Oh," May says with an annoyed lilt, "he said he'd run a late because he's finishing something for a project."

"Ah," I set my camera and prepare to take a photo.

May walks off to get some cake.

Rodney shifts in his spot, "try not to make my portrait look like my burial image."

I bite my lip but cannot contain my snort. I snap a photo of him and pull the camera away. I show him the image I took.

"Ha. Not bad for a drawer," he says.

I knit my brows.

He looks at me like I was dumb then motions, "you know, cause you draw."

"Oh," I snort and shake my head. I chuckle, "animator."

"Pah," he waves me off, "drawer's more astute. I don't think you can animate the dead anytime soon," Rodney motions, "so, how'd a drawer become friends with a nerd?"

I hang my camera on my shoulders, "you mean Peter."

"Of course I mean Peter, you're using his camera."

I look down at the camera.

"I scratched the side."

I look back at him, "that was you?"

He shrugs, "I didn't know it cost that much. The kid left it lying around anywhere he could put it."

I chuckle. That did sound like Peter. "He was my math tutor."

"Ha. Makes sense ."

I press my lips into a smile, "but we also were classmates in highschool. I didn't realize that until he told me though."

"No kidding."

"Yeah. He was so sweet about it too. I felt horrible."

"I'm sure he knew it was nothing personal. Some people are just forgetful."

"Here you go, Rodney," May comes back with two plates of cake. Rodney takes one and May hands me the other.

"No, " I shake my head and step back, "I'll, uh, take some photos first."

May pouts, "you sure?"

I nod and step away.

For a few minutes, I go around taking photos of everyone. A lot of the seniors, once they realize they're being photographed, would pose for me. I would laugh each time, as they all seemed so happy. At some point I went off to the side and checked my photos. I had a lot of good shots, and there was more than enough content for the poster.

"Jaz, turn that up!"

I look around the room and see that everyone was now watching TV.

My lips part when I see news coverage of Spiderman saving someone from a burning building. I gasp with the rest of them when an explosion plays on screen.

"... He was able to save 7 year old, Kareem Mustafa, and his dog, Vader, before the building collapsed. Unfortunately, Kareem's mother, Zeina Mustafa, was found too late and had succumbed to asphyxiation before being found. Local authorities say that..."

The lightness in the air seemed to grow incredibly thick.

I feel my throat tighten as the news report ends and it goes to commercial.

I walk out of the room and head to the stairs. I sit the the bottom and put my camera down before wiping my face, "burning building..."

I pull out my drawing pad and begin to draw.

Fucking hell, dude... the universe has a sick sense of humor.

A burning building stares back at me. A few tears blot the page.

Spiderman must feel terrible for not being able to save that boy's mother.

"Hey, that's pretty good."

I start and turn to the railing, wiping my tears as I did.

Rodney was there, eyes glued on my drawing, "you know... I always wanted to do something like this. Be a drawer."

I lick my lips and gulp.

"I love the life I lived but sometimes, I wonder. Hm. Could I have won awards for drawing like I did for real estate?" He shrugs, "who knows."

I move to the side as Rodney circles around.

"Birthday boy's gotta get his beauty sleep. You don't get to 83 without it."

I watch him as he walks up the stairs. "...didn't you say you were 82?"

He chuckles, "I'm flattered you kept track. I don't."

I stand by the time he gets to the second floor. I put my things back into my bag and head back into the party. I thought everyone would be packing up, since Rodney already left, but it was as if the tense moment during the news never occured.

Everyone was making merry again, and I felt jarred as I did relieved.

"You should try some juice" 

The woman named Pam approaches me with her walker. She mutters, "never know when you're gonna die in a burning building."

I watch as she walks past me as exits the room.

I pull out the juice in my bag, put the straw in, and drink it.

"Hey, it's Peter. I can't really get to the phone right now, but leave a message or call again in a little while. You know what to do after the beep."

"Hey, Parker. I know you're busy with your school stuff and all, but I wanted to ask if..."

I gulp. Why was this so hard? Come on, it's Peter for fuck's sake.

I take a deep breath and shake my head. I remember that if I hang-up, this message will still be recorded, so I force myself to continue.

The grating idea of bothering Peter, of causing him concern, of distracting him digs into my flesh though. I mean, fuck, if he wanted to see me, he would have gone to the senior home like he told his aunt he would. If he wanted me to study with me, he would have reached out.

I take a few deep breaths before mustering up, "... y'know... if I could join you? You know... because I work better with some-"

Beep. The recording ends.

"Fuck."

I stare at my screen that displays Peter's caller ID just as the line is hung-up. A gust of wind blows across the building. I should really go inside.

I lean onto the ledge of the rooftop.

It was already 10 pm. I should be doing the edits for that poster. I shake my head and wipe my face.

Just as I turn around and head to the exit, I hear a rustle behind me, "hey!"

I look over my shoulder. He chuckles, "were you waiting for me?"

I stare at Spiderman, who now sat on the ledge of my building.

"I'm touched," he presses his hands on his chest.

Oh. That's why. How could I forget this was where I met up with New York's beloved hero? How could I wonder why the thought of going to the rooftop of my building felt so comforting when I spent the better part of the day drawing the reason for my comfort-- drawing Spiderman?

I turn back and open my mouth.

Oh... probably because he was also the source of my agitation.

I gulp and shake my head, "actually... I wasn't... I was... trying to clear my head, and I thought of going here."

The man jumps off the ledge and walks over to me. He crosses his arms, "aha! You internally wanted to see your best friend."

I turn to my feet. I think about Peter, "I do. I really want to see him... but he doesn't want to see me--" I look back at him, "or anyone for that matter, so I can't."

He relaxes his arms to his side. He tilts his head, "has something happened?"

"Yeah," I blurt and chuckle dryly, "the burning building?!"

He freezes.

"I mean-- fucking hells, it's not funny, but I-- it's so ironic we talked about burning buildings, and then it happens to you, and weren't able to save the mom, and I'm thinking how horrible that must be for you, and how I don't want to add to that when you can't save me because-"

"Woah, woah, woah, hold on-" he grabs my shoulders, "that's a stretch. A leap, actually."

"No," I begin to hyperventilate, "it's called a plausible outcome."

"It's called a misguided speculation-- hey," he clutches my cheeks in both his hands. 

I begin to sob. I grip his wrists.

"Sweetheart, hey," he wipes my tears and walks closer, "listen to me. I saved her."

My brows knit as he continues to rub my cheeks.

"I managed to save the mom, and her son,  and their dog. They managed to hook them up to an oxygen tank, but the mom... her heart gave out."

I shake my head, "which is why you can-"

Him speaking my name shuts me up.

I catch my reflection on the lenses of his mask.

"Would you have preferred I left her there?" he asks softly.

I involuntarily gulp. What horrible notion to present to me. I guess that was the point.

He sighs and pulls me into a hug.

I do not reciprocate

He rubs my back, "honey-"

"I'm not a mom. I don't mean anything significant to anyone like that."

"You are significant to me."

My throat tightens.

"Damn, why do you think I went here, when I could have gone home?"

I begin to sob into his shoulder. I reluctantly embrace him back.

He holds me tighter.

I don't know how long we stood there hugging, but it was long enough for me to calm down and feel exhausted.

I mumble against his shoulder.

"What was that, my love?"

"Do you want to go inside?" I pull away and sniffle, "I mean-- I just want to show you my sketches... it's fine if-"

"I would be honored to," he tilts his head, "stick you head out of your window, I'll web down to you."

"Oh... alright."

"Just for future reference, so I know what floor you're on."

I nod slowly at his words.

I do just as he says. I get to my apartment and stick my head out of my bedroom window. A few moments later, Spiderman slides down on a web, hanging upside-down.

"Hi," I wave at him.

He jumps onto my fire escape, "hey, sweetie. Miss me?"

I pull away and examine my bedroom. It wasn't messy, but I couldn't help but fluff my pillow and rub my sheets flat. I turn back to Spiderman and he points, "can I sit down?"

"Sure. Of course."

As he sits down, I grab my sketchbook, flip through the pages, and hand it to him, "I, uh... it's... it's... it might be a lot for you."

He takes the book from me and goes through the drawings. I chew on my lip as I watch him go through the pages, as if they were sacred.

"These are-"

"Dark and disturbed, I know."

"-vivid. So alive, and... gut wrenching."

He lifts his gaze up to me. I stand still in front of him. I feel my eyes begin to water under his scrutiny.

"You think so highly of me. You form me so beautifully."

I scratch my face, "I mean... you're a hero. It's not hard."

"Who's this?" he points to a man in a birthday hat I drew on the corner of the page.

"Oh. That was one of the seniors at this home I went to today. He was dancing with two other grampas. It was great," I chuckle softly, "it was a real party."

"What were you doing at a nursing home?"

"I'm, uh, making them a poster to help out with their funding, which reminds me... do you mind if I work on it while you're here?"

He waves a hand, "by all means."

I sit down next to him and grab my laptop, "I can't really bring myself to work on it. It sometimes becomes easier for me to work on something if I have someone with me."

"Do you want me to do something?" he sets the sketchbook on my side, stands, and grabs Peter's camera on my desk, "I can take selfies for you to use as references later."

I chuckle at him as he begins to pose. I shake my head, "I mean, if you'd like."

Spiderman plots back down to my side, "can I just watch you work?"

I shrug and repeat, offering a smile, "if you'd like."

As my screen loads up, feel him nudge my shoulder. I turn back to him and he tilts his head, "you do realize, you're a hero to them, right?"

I knit my brows, "what are you talking about?"

"If you see me this way," he take my sketchbook and shakes it, "then they can see you this way."

I sigh, "Spidey, please, I'm just making a poster. You saved someone from a burning building."

"I did something within my means, my love, which is exactly what you're doing now."

I turn back to my laptop. His pet name makes me feel funny. I know he means nothing but it, but the way he says it does something to my stomach.

"Denying it doesn't make it less true."

I move my mouse around.

"... that is, unless, your poster sucks ass-"

I snort and nearly choke on my spit.

"-in which case, I'm sorry, but you're a villain who deserves jail time for screwing over a nursing home."

"Damn!" I turn to him, "insulted in my own home."

He shrugs, "make a good poster then."

[king-bumis-armpit]

A Dirty Chai and a Black Tea with Cardamom, Part 1

A Maiko Modern AU

Link to part 2 here

Summary: In Ty Lee’s quest for her crush of the week, a cute blue-eyed barista at the local tea shop, Mai stumbles into a new college friend group. But it’s not all bad. That one grumpy guy is actually kinda cute…

Author's Note: This idea was gifted to me by the lovely @cowpoopies !! I’m pretty sure you were the first person to respond to my call for prompts, which was really encouraging!! Thank you so super duper much!!

And thank you to whoever’s reading this. Whether you interact or not, I love you and I hope you’re doing well <3

I made Mai very, veeeeery oblivious here, lol. My depressing in-story explanation is that her mother ruined her self-esteem. The real reason is that I like Mai and Zuko being super duper awkward and then pining for long periods of time. Anyway, I hope you enjoy! Part 2 of 2 will be out sometime next week hopefully. 

WC: 5,010

Mai yawned. It was seven in the morning. An absolutely ungodly hour to be functioning in the world. Her roommate had dragged her out of bed at 6:30 and coerced her into getting ready for the day. They were now on their way to acquire caffeine, passing brick house after brick house on the path out of campus and onto Main St. “Remind me why I’m awake right now?”

Ty Lee giggled. The piercing noise reverberated in the suburbs of the quaint town. Mai longed to put in her airpods and drown it all out with music. “I’ve told you like a million times. We need to see the cute barista at the tea shop!”

“And I need to be there because…” she drawled.

“You are going to demonstrate that I have friends and I’m not a murderer. It’s like the mandatory group pic on a dating profile that shows you have social skills,” Ty Lee explained. 

“Right.” Mai knew that arguing was futile. At the very least, she could get a headstart on her Judicial Politics paper. Or she could do her Research Methods lab of the week. Or start studying for her Philosophy of Law exam. Ugh! Time to stop thinking about school. As the houses abruptly became parking lots and store fronts, Mai asked, “So, which crush is this? The girl with the pretty hair, the boy with the blue eyes, or the mohawk guy.”

“Blue eyes! He’s so dreamy,” Ty Lee did a twirl as she walked. “He wears his hair in a ponytail and he makes the funniest jokes. You can’t miss him!”

“And does he have a name?”

“Probably.” Ty Lee skipped ahead and Mai sighed. If Ty Lee didn’t even know this person’s name, then she didn’t see why she was already being called into action as wingwoman. 

They stopped outside of the storefront. Mai was surprised she hadn't noticed the place before. It wasn't far from their dorm building at all, and the warm glow of the lights beckoned her in. The sign on the window read ‘The Jasmine Dragon’. 

Ty Lee walked in first, causing a string of bells on the door to jingle. Mai followed and looked around for their target. The walls were adorned with illustrations of different tea leaves, and Mai recognized a decent number of them from her Aunt Mura’s greenhouse. The inside of the building was much more spacious than Mai would’ve guessed, and housed a number of sage-green tables. The counter was at the back of the shop, likely for the ease of connecting to a storeroom. The menu above the wall housed a wide array of teas and other beverages that sounded intriguing. Mai made a mental note to return at a time when she didn’t feel like death.

Ty Lee was not lying when she said the barista was hot. He was leaning forward on the counter next to the register, cradling his chin in his palm. His eyes were closed, perhaps dozing off. (Mai didn’t blame him one bit.) He had long black hair, but it was not in a ponytail as Ty Lee said it would be. His muscular physique was apparent, even under his t-shirt and apron. Mai was surprised that Ty Lee hadn’t mentioned the nasty scar around his left eye, but she assumed her friend wanted to be polite.

“Excuse me,” Ty Lee said, waking the barista. Mai noted that his eyes weren’t blue after all. He must be the wrong person. “My friend and I were hoping to order.”

He stood up, and glanced between the two of them. He immediately began blushing, and Mai couldn’t help but find it adorable. The poor guy probably had a hopeless crush on Ty Lee, like every other man on the planet, and he had just embarrassed himself by sleeping on the job. Mai hadn’t met Blue-Eyes yet, but so far she was rooting for Drowsy. 

“Umm… Sorry about that. W-what would you like?” he asked. He was looking squarely at Mai, as if Ty Lee didn’t exist. He must be trying to play it cool. Mai wanted to pull him aside and tell him that strategy was never going to work on her friend, but she knew it wasn’t her place.

Ty Lee piped up first, “I’ll take a large vanilla matcha milk tea with tapioca pearls.”

As Drowsy entered her order on the register, a second person appeared from the back.

“Hey! Our first customers of the day. How are you lovely ladies?” This must be Blue-Eyes for sure. He had the signature ponytail and radiant brown skin. Mai couldn’t deny he was attractive. The “lovely ladies” line annoyed her though. 

Ty Lee giggled and batted her eyelashes at him. “My morning is always good when I start my day here.”

Blue-Eyes laughed. “I know Zuko’s customer service isn’t that good. He was sleeping like two seconds ago.”

“I wasn’t!” Zuko demanded, but his vociferous protest did not help his case. He seemed to be fidgeting in his seat.

Blue-Eyes nudged him with his elbow. “Have you even taken their orders yet?”

Zuko nudged him back, harder. “I was before you interrupted!”

Mai took that as her cue. “I’ll have a medium hot dirty chai latte. Her treat.” She pointed at Ty Lee, who smiled brightly.

“I’m a very magnanimous friend.” She pulled out her credit card and passed it to Zuko who cashed them out. 

Blue-Eyes ignored her and focused on Mai. “I never would’ve guessed you were a chai type of girl. You seem like a black coffee person.” Ty Lee pouted.

Mai shrugged, “I don’t want to have to suffer to be caffeinated. Life has enough pain.”

Blue-Eyes laughed. “I feel you. This one time–”

Zuko tapped him on the shoulder. “Sokka, can you help me make the drinks?”

Sokka. So he did have a name. Why did it sound so familiar? And Drowsy– no, Zuko– seemed to be annoyed with him. But maybe that was just how Zuko was. As a fellow grump, Mai appreciated it. 

Mai and Ty Lee found a table while the two men moved around behind the counter getting their drinks and whispering to each other. Mai could only catch snippets but she was pretty sure they were arguing about who should bring their drinks over. 

Ty Lee leaned forward and spoke quietly. “Ugh! I think he’s into you, Mai.”

Mai raised an eyebrow. “Don’t be ridiculous. When in the history of our friendship has that happened? They’re fighting to deliver your tea right now.”

“Hmph!” Ty Lee pulled out a textbook and resolutely ignored her friend. 

Real mature, Mai thought as she pulled out her laptop. She never got annoyed when guys were into Ty Lee. Even hot guys like Zuko. That was like girl code 101.

She pulled up her essay prompt and bit her lip. Justice Own Roberts wrote: “The judicial branch of the Government has only one duty – to lay the article of the Constitution which is invoked beside the statute which is challenged and to decide whether the latter squares with the former.” Does his estimation allow for the justices to exercise their ethical codes? Should the personal ethics of these appointed officials–

“Umm… here’s your tea.” Mai looked up to see Zuko standing over them. Ty Lee had already received her tea, and it seemed to slightly improve her mood.

“Thank you.” Mai accepted her chai and took a deep breath to catch the scent. It smelled nice and strong, just how she liked it. Zuko was still standing over their table, and it seemed he was about to say something more when the door opened.

“Sokka! Tell Toph she can’t drop out of college and become an underground MMA fighter.” Mai recognized the girl, Katara, from a few of her classes. She was followed by Toph, who Mai also knew, and bald guy that Mai had seen around campus.

“No! Tell Sugar Queen here that a college degree is overrated in our fucked economy.”

Mai laughed despite herself, and everyone stopped to look at her.

“Oh, hi Mai!” Katara made her way to stand behind Mai’s chair. “Are you working on Judicial Politics? That essay is killing me.”

Mai nodded. “There is no fathoming the depths of my hatred for that class.”

Sokka made his way from behind the counter. “So do I need to settle the underground fighter dispute or…”

The bald guy shook his head vigorously. “Let’s just hope they forget about it.”

Toph crossed her arms. “We can all hear you. I’m blind, not deaf.”

“Oh!” Something clicked in Mai’s head. “Sokka is your brother, isn’t he? And Suki’s boyfriend.” She shot a meaningful look at Ty Lee.

“That’s right. Are you coming to practice with us later? You can bring your friend,” Katara said. Suki led women’s self-defense courses that Mai, Katara, and Toph all attended. She called her troop the Kyoshi Warriors. Mai thought the name was a bit much, but she enjoyed it all the same.

Mai realized she was in the unique position of knowing more people in a group than her roomate. “This is my best friend, Ty Lee. What do you say? Wanna tag along to Warrior practice later?”

“No, thank you though. I have gymnastics at the same time, remember?”

That was a lie, but Mai nodded along. She had told Ty Lee about Suki in the past, and it seemed that Ty Lee was not in the mood to meet her.

“Well, now that the troops are assembled, I assume you’re all having your usual orders?” Sokka asked. There was a chorus of assent from the newcomers. Sokka grabbed Zuko by the arm to drag him back to work.

“Wait– I haven’t–” Zuko resisted and everyone stopped to look at him. He locked eyes with Mai. “Nevermind.” He allowed himself to be led away. 

“Oh, I get it.” Toph laughed to herself. She must have uncovered his crush on Ty Lee. Despite her lack of eyesight, the woman was alarmingly perceptive.

“Get what?” Katara asked, irritation creeping into her voice. “Secrets don’t make friends.” The two began squabbling and the bald guy extricated himself.

“Hi! I’m Aang. Katara’s boyfriend.” 

“Hi.” Mai replied. She wasn’t sure what to say next. 

“You’re majoring in philosophy and poli sci, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. What about you?”

“I’m a philosophy major too, but I don’t think we’ve had any classes together.”

“No,” Mai replied.

Katara, seemingly finished with Toph, reappeared. “How are you feeling about Professor Jeong Jeong’s Philosophy of Law midterm?”

Mai sighed. “I’m feeling like Toph has the right idea. After that exam, I might have to find a new career plan.”

Katara nodded sympathetically. “We should study together! You can come over to my place sometime.”

“That would be great! Does Wednesday afternoon work?” There were very few people in her classes that Mai would agree to study with, but Katara was an exception. She was brilliant and always kind. Not to mention, Mai was warming up to her little group of friends.

“That’s perfect! I’ll text you with the details later.” 

Ty Lee perked up. “Mind if I join you guys? I’m not in your class, but I’m more productive when I’m surrounded by others. It focuses my energy.” Mai struggled not to roll her eyes at Ty Lee’s bullshit.

“That’s fine by me! It was nice to meet you!” Katara and Aang left to pick up their drinks.

Ty Lee snapped her book shut, mood buoyed again. “Are you ready to head out?”

Mai stared at her blank Google doc and sighed. It wasn’t a productive morning, but it wasn’t awful to socialize for a change. “Yeah okay.” They gathered their stuff, and Ty Lee tossed her cup in the garbage. Mai had no idea how she chugged it so fast.

As they reached the door, Zuko called out, “Thanks for stopping by!” His hand was raised in an adorably awkward wave. Mai kicked herself. He wasn’t into her. Her mom had made it abundantly clear that guys didn’t like gloomy girls. 

Still, Ty Lee wasn’t giving him the time of day. Mai returned his wave and gave him a small smile before chasing her friend out of the tea shop. 

Ty Lee was already halfway down the block by the time she caught up.

“I think Zuko is way hotter than Sokka! You should go for him. He might be single.”

Ty Lee rolled her eyes. “Oh Mai! He couldn’t take his eyes off you that whole time. You should totally go for it, though.” Mai blushed. “Besides, you got us an invite to Sokka’s house, assuming he lives with his sister.”

“That was why you invited yourself to our study session?” Mai laughed. “What if Katara lives with Aang or has a roommate on campus?”

“Then I’ll say the energy is off and it’s affecting my aura and I’ll leave early,” Ty Lee explained like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“This is why I don’t believe in auras. You change the rules all the time.”

Ty Lee smirked, “Your aura was much pinker in there than normal. Did that have anything to do with a certain sleepy barista?”

“Oh shut up!” Mai trudged on ahead, hearing Ty Lee’s giggles behind her. 

— — 

As the pretty girl and her friend left, Zuko lowered his hand. Was waving cringy? The way he did it probably was. But the pretty girl had smiled! At him! He wanted that to happen again. The friend had stopped by many times before, but she’d never brought the pretty girl with her. Mai, Zuko remembered. 

His friends had congregated around their normal table in the back with their drinks. Zuko claimed a seat in between Katara and Toph.

“Sooooo, you guys know Mai from class and stuff?”

Katara chuckled, “That was not subtle at all. You like her?”

Toph punched his arm, “Looks like Sugar Queen finally caught on.”

Aang was beaming. “This is so exciting! Zuko’s never had a crush before!”

Zuko’s jaw dropped. “Yes I have! You all only met me two years ago. What are you talking about?”

Sokka cut him off, “Well this is the first time you’ve called dibs.”

Katara’s eyebrow twitched. “Eww! You two have a system for calling dibs on ogling your female customers!”

“Hey!” Sokka protested. “It works on all customers regardless of gender. And it’s a tried and true hand signal.” He made a series of complicated movements that Zuko had memorized only through seeing them many, many times before Sokka met Suki. 

Katara glared at her brother. “That’s still objectifying and degrading. Besides, you have a girlfriend!”

“And I love her! I haven’t ogled anyone since we started dating. Zuko was the one who called dibs anyway.”

Zuko sighed. “I thought you could help me out. But I think she was clearly just more into you than me.”

“Dude, what? She was definitely checking you out. What happened to our plan? You were going to take out their drinks and ask for her number.” Zuko appreciated that Sokka was trying to cheer him up, but there was no way Pretty Girl was looking at him for his attractiveness. His fingers itched to touch his scar. He formed a fist in his lap instead.

“Oh please. Do you remember the first thing she said to Katara?” He pitched his voice higher, “‘Oh this is your super hot brother? But he’s dating Suki? Life is full of suffering.’”

Toph kicked him under the table. “I don’t think that was why she asked about Sokka. I feel like I’ve heard that Ty Lee girl’s voice before. Isn’t she always here when Sokka is working?”

“Oh yeah!” Sokka sounded smug. “She was definitely flirting with me earlier. Maybe her friend was letting her know I’m off the market.” He flexed his muscles. While he was distracted by posing, Katara gagged exaggeratedly at Aang, who was trying desperately not to laugh. 

Zuko smiled. His friends always made things seem… slightly less horrible.

“I have an idea!” Katara said. “Why don’t you happen to be visiting Sokka or Aang during our study session? You took Philosophy of Law last year, right? You can offer to help us and talk to her some more.”

Zuko bit his lip. “I don’t know. Besides, I’m probably working on Wednesday.”

Katara shrugged. “That’s not an issue at all. I’ll text her and ask to change the location to here.”

Sokka nodded. “This is a good plan Katara, I’m impressed.” Katara rolled her eyes. “The shop is really quiet on weekday nights. You could probably still sit with them. Who’s working with you on Wednesday?”

“I’m pretty sure it’s just gonna be Uncle and me.”

“That’s perfect!” Aang said. “Your Uncle is going to be so on board.”

Zuko shuddered. “You are NOT going to tell my Uncle about this.”

Aang frowned. “But he’ll be super helpful. I bet he has great advice for love stuff.”

“That’s so embarrassing.”

The younger man pulled out his phone. “I’m gonna text him.”

“Don’t!” Zuko sprang out of his chair and tried to get around Katara to grab Aang. But Aang was quicker and dashed behind a Sokka. A very intense chase through the shop commenced, to the raucous laughter of their friends.

— — 

Ty Lee hummed happily while applying her mascara. “I hope Zuko and Sokka are both working tonight! Then they might ask us out. It would be so fun to be able to go on double dates with them. We could even have a double wedding!”

Mai sighed. “We spend enough time together already, don’t you think? Besides, Sokka is unavailable, so you need to get over it. And I still think Zuko likes you.”

“Not a chance! You’re so dense sometimes.” Ty Lee sprayed some perfume and Mai tapped her foot impatiently.

“Are you ready to–” Mai was cut off by a notification on Ty Lee’s phone. 

The other girl gasped. “OH MY GOD! The girl with pretty hair asked me to get dinner tonight! I’m freaking out! Do I look okay?” Ty Lee began frantically running around their tiny dorm room. 

“You look great,” Mai assured. “I guess this means you’re ditching me tonight?”

Ty Lee shrugged, “Duty calls. We’ll have to take a rain check on that double wedding scheme.”

“Bummer,” Mai deadpanned. “If that’s the case, then I’m leaving now. Have fun and stay safe!”

Ty Lee winked. “I always do.”

As Mai made the short journey to the tea shop, she couldn’t help but feel nervous at the prospect of meeting Zuko again. She hated herself for getting so worked up. She hardly knew the guy, so he shouldn't be affecting her like this. She certainly hadn't thought about Kei Lo this much before they started dating. And Zuko wasn’t into her. No way.

She caught sight of the familiar facade and pushed through the door, to the chime of the bells. The shop was almost completely deserted except for Katara sitting alone at a table near the back. Zuko and an older man were working behind the counter. There wasn’t a Sokka in sight, so it was probably for the best that Ty Lee found other means of entertaining herself. 

“Welcome in!” the old man smiled warmly. “Katara tells me you two have quite the night of studying ahead of you. Order whatever you want, on the house!”

“Oh!” Mai was taken aback by his generosity. “Are you sure?”

“Of course! I’m not so old that I’ve forgotten my school days. Besides, what's the point of owning a business if I can’t flaunt it a bit?”

Mai smiled. Before college, she hadn’t met very many generous people, and even fewer jovial ones. She decided to take a page from his book and be whimsical for a change. “In that case, I want your favorite thing on the menu. Since you’re the owner, you probably have good taste.”

The old man laughed. “I like to think so! But I would be devastated if you didn’t like it. How about I have my nephew whip something up for you instead?”

He gestured to Zuko, who Mai realized was staring at her very intently. Did she say something awful? Did he think she was weird? Oh! He was probably wondering where Ty Lee was. Maybe his uncle was only being so nice because he thought she was the girl Zuko liked.

She could feel her cheeks getting red. “That would be great… Um… Thanks again.” 

The spirit of whimsy whooshed out of her body and she retreated to Katara’s table.

The other girl already had her textbook, notes, printed study guide, and laptop in position. It did not make Mai feel better. 

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” she checked her watch, but luckily it was only five minutes after their scheduled time.

Katara smiled, “You’re not late at all! Sokka, Toph, and I came here after our lectures so I’ve been here all day. Midterms are killing me, but this is a good place to zone in and focus. You should totally come here more often.” Her eyes twinkled and Mai didn’t know what was happening. She would almost think Katara was flirting with her, but wasn’t she in a relationship with Aang?

Mai noticed Zuko, not too far from them working on her order. Mai spoke slightly louder than normal to ensure he heard, “Yeah, Ty Lee loves it here. But Ty Lee had something come up today, so Ty Lee won’t be here.” It was highly un-subtle and inelegant, but she wanted to be sure Zuko understood that Ty Lee wasn’t coming. She hated to think he would get his hopes up, anticipating her arrival.

“Oh yeah,” Katara said, “I forgot she was going to come with you.” Zuko must not have told Katara about his crush.

Mai pulled out her study materials, and Zuko approached their table. “I– I made this for you.” He gently set the cup amid the mess of books and paper. “It’s black tea with cardamom and a dash of milk. It’s my favorite for studying.” He gazed resolutely at the floor.

“Thank you,” Mai said. Zuko didn’t leave and Mai wondered if he wanted her to try it before him. Surely it was too hot.

But then Katara spoke up, “Oh my goodness!” Mai looked up, startled. Perhaps cardamom held a special significance to the other girl. “Zuko, I just remembered! You took philosophy of law last year, right?” 

“Yes. I did,” he replied robotically.

“Do you think you could help us study? You are really smart and get excellent grades.” Katara spoke like she was announcing the fact to a crowd.

“Yes and I love helping others!” Zuko offered. Mai was not sure how that was relevant, but she supposed he couldn’t hurt. Besides, it would be nice to see him up close.

“Uncle!” Zuko called out, “Do you mind if I sit with them for a little while? I can help out if we get more customers.”

The old man was already looking their way, a gleam in his eye. Mai heard the distinct undertone of humor in his voice: “Don’t worry about it! I can manage.”

Zuko turned his attention back to them and looked between both sides of the table. Katara moved her backpack off the floor and into the seat beside her. Zuko sat beside Mai, and Katara smiled from ear to ear.

“So, when I took this class, Jeong Jeong gave us a list of ten essay questions and then he chose two of those to write on the day of the exam. Is the format still the same?” 

Mai nodded. “I printed out an extra study guide for Ty Lee in case she got bored.” She handed it over, and Zuko’s fingers grazed hers as he took it.

He glanced over the prompts. “My strategy for exams like this is to target the readings and lectures that apply to most questions. That way, I know there’s at least one source I can reference. 

Mai nodded. “I think we should start with Aquinas for natural law theory and Hart for legal positivism. That will give us a good overview of the main debate in the course. 

Katara tapped her fingers on the table, “Do you think he’ll take points off if we disagree with him? He’s a big advocate for natural law, right?”

“Definitely,” Mai agreed. “He never shuts up about it.” Zuko chuckled and Mai felt warmth blossom in her chest.

“I don’t think he’ll take points off if you explain your case, though,” Zuko replied.

“Okay then,” Katara began flipping through her textbook. “Let’s start with Aquinas.”

— — 

“Yes, but you have to keep in mind that the judges don’t have a standardized moral code. What if the Supreme Court accepts a case reviewing–” Zuko’s train of thought halted as Mai shifted in his direction. They were almost touching. He could shift and their arms would be pressed together. “I’m sorry, what was I saying?”

Mai gave him a sympathetic look. “Don’t worry about it. It’s almost closing time for the shop and we’ve been at this for ages. Maybe we should call it quits?”

“No!” he said before he could stop himself. It was true that they’d been studying for almost two and half hours at that point, but he didn’t want it to end. Zuko had studied his old notes all week in preparation for this. (It was more than he’d studied when he’d taken the class the first time around.) But he really wanted to be helpful and impress Mai. 

Over his short time knowing her, his crush had only grown. She was beautiful, obviously, but her sharp wit and humor made talking to her very entertaining. Even when the topic was Philosophy of Law. Beyond that, she was incredibly smart and she grasped the concepts very quickly. It was apparent that she didn’t need his help, but he liked watching her in her element. Crap, was that creepy?

Katara rubbed her forehead. Zuko knew she was really stressed over midterms, but she still rehearsed their little speech about asking for his help studying at least half a dozen times before Mai’s arrival. In true wingwoman fashion, Katara backed him up yet again: “I know it’s getting late, but what if we talk through this last prompt really quickly. We’re almost all the way through the study guide.”

Mai agreed, but just then the bells on the door jingled. Zuko looked over to see that it was Aang. He came to stand behind Katara and rubbed her shoulders. “How’s it going?”

Katara leaned into his touch. “It’s awful. I’m going to fail. Why am I minoring in Justice in Society anyway? I don’t need it for med school.” 

Aang smiled down at her. “Do you remember the last exam you thought you were going to fail? You got, what? Ninety-five percent?”

Katara crossed her arms. “It was ninety-two.”

“I’m sorry.” Aang kissed the top of her head and she visibly relaxed a little.

Zuko smiled wistfully. He had never had a long term relationship, but maybe… He glanced sideways at Mai, who was still scanning the study guide.

“Hey Zuko!” Aang got his attention once more. “Do you think you could unlock the upstairs for me? I think I left my Tsungi horn in your room.”

Zuko narrowed his eyes. Aang was terrible at the Tsungi horn. He didn’t own one as far as Zuko knew. “Sure. I’ll help you look.”

They went into the back room and Aang stopped them before they could go any farther. “So how’s the mission going? Katara texted me that she thinks Mai likes you for sure.”

Zuko’s cheeks flamed. “I don’t know about all that. I still think she might have been into Sokka. She was talking to Uncle– Oh! Also, she really got along with Uncle Iroh.” He knew he was probably smiling like a fool, but Aang was in no place to judge.

“Zuko, everyone gets along with your uncle. It would be really concerning to me if she didn’t,” Aang pointed out.

“Fair enough,” he sighed. “But it’s still important to me. Anyway, she was talking to him and he mentioned me. When she first saw me it was like the wind left her sails or something.”

Aang shook his head. “I’m sure you’re misinterpreting things. And that was just at first, right? How have things been going otherwise?”

Zuko bit his lip. “I actually think they’re going pretty well. I mean, we’re getting along well enough but it’s hard to tell. We’re studying and Katara’s there, so I don’t know if she likes me all that much.”

Aang snapped his fingers. “I have an idea! Let’s go!” The younger man grabbed Zuko’s wrist and led him back out into the shop before he could protest.

Mai examined them. “No luck finding it?”

“Nope,” Aang smiled nervously. “Not a trumpet in sight?”

Mai’s brow furrowed. “I thought you were looking for a Tsungi horn?”

“None of those either,” Aang laughed in a stilted manner. “Anyway, I had an idea. Since this exam is so awful, what if we all went out to dinner to celebrate when it’s over? You and Katara can relax, and it'll be my treat! And Zuko can come since he helped out.”

Mai hesitated, and Zuko wished the floor would swallow him. Aang came on way too strong. He was going to scare her off and she would never come back.

Katara spoke up. “That’s a great idea! We deserve it, don’t you think?”

Mai relented. “Okay… but I can pay for myself. You’re all too kind. Seriously.” Zuko almost crumpled to the ground in relief. 

Mai left shortly after, and the shop closed for the evening. But the end of day chores didn’t feel so mundane, with the knowledge that he would be seeing Mai again so soon. 

Part 2

[humanitys-strongest-bamf]

"get me a damned matcha" | Chapter 6: November I

{{ Chapter 5: October I | Chapter 7: December I }} Chapter Directory

i need levi so bad kdsjfksdj

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✧ pairing ➼ levi ackerman x fem!reader, college x coffee shop x roommates!au ✧ summary ➼ After you find yourself plagued with misfortune due to struggles in your personal and family life, you find yourself needing to move last minute. As a junior in undergrad with little money and little social support, you considered yourself lucky when you found a sublease that was close to campus and was relatively cheap. Unfortunately, it seemed that your roommate did not seem to be so excited regarding your presence. ✧ content/warnings ➼ fluff, slowburn, strangers to lovers, explicit descriptions of grief, comments from an emotionally abusive parent figure, mentions of death, reader being briefly depressed ✧ word count ➼ ~4.4k

Class was canceled.

While it was annoying for you to have to walk back home after freshly arriving on campus only to have to go back again in two hours, you were secretly grateful. You had work to catch up on.

Not wanting to deal with the more crowded study spots on campus, you found your way over to the cafe that you conveniently lived by. It made it so you could stop at home if you needed anything—plus you liked the drinks they had, so it was a win-win scenario. 

You make eye contact with Levi immediately upon entering the cafe. He was frowning, but for once, it didn't seem to be obviously directed at you. Whatever hostility that had been present since the first day you've met him seems to have faded, although you weren't sure if it was because you got used to it or if it was because you both lacked the energy to continue hating each other. Either way, something had changed.

You took a seat at the bar by him. Before you could pull out your laptop and get settled in, he slid a mug of your go-to Matcha tea latte over to you.

"Thanks," you muttered as you glanced up at him and passed him your card.

He didn't take it, choosing to wave his hand to get you to put it away. 

You raised an eyebrow at him for giving you a free drink, but happily put your card away. You weren't sure what was going on with him, but you weren't going to complain over not having to pay. It's not like you had a steady source of income.

You took a sip of your Matcha, with the subtle frown on your face dissipating upon tasting the warm liquid. Levi had made it just the way you liked it—with coconut milk and a shot of espresso. A small smile appeared on your face as you took another sip. At least class getting canceled meant you could have your comfort drink earlier in the day, which brought your mood up significantly.

Levi glanced over at you as you happily sipped on the drink he made you. 

You weren't supposed to be here.

Given the fact that it was now nearly three months into the semester, Levi had your schedule memorized. You came in the afternoons most days, with you dropping by an hour or two earlier on Fridays due to only having morning classes. 

"You skipping class already?"

The frown returned to your face.

"What do you mean 'already'?" you asked with a hint of defensiveness in your voice. "It's already November, we're hitting the latter half of the semester."

Levi let out a small tut at your response, annoyed at how sassy you decided to be right off the bat.

"Whatever," he mumbled, returning his attention to managing his station.

"'Whatever', my ass," you retorted, legitimately believing that his question was a backhanded comment about you being irresponsible.

You tapped your finger on the counter for a while. You didn't have to answer him or explain why you were here. 

"Class got canceled," you finally spoke, finding yourself explaining it to him anyway. "Something about the professor needing to take their kid to the doctor."

You weren't sure what you were expecting from Levi, but you found yourself frustrated when he just glanced at you without really reacting one way or another. This just further fed into your belief that he was asking as a passive aggressive method to insult you.

Before your scowl could fully settle onto your face, you heard a familiar voice towards the back end of the café. 

One of your club members—Sasha, the one that decided to eat all of your pastries at your very first meeting—was happily chatting it up with Nicolo at his counter.

"You know her?" Levi asked while shooting you an accusatory look, as if you were to blame for her presence. "She's been quite annoying recently, but she's been buying nearly all of Nicolo's pastries, so at least he's in a better mood than usual."

"At the cost of your own?" you pondered, shooting a sly grin over at Levi, which only widened upon him grunting in disapproval. You chuckled to yourself as you saw him get increasingly agitated. 

"She's one of the freshmen that's been at the Honors Society," you said with a wave of your hand. "She's always eating up the pastries at the general meetings, so I'm not surprised that she found her way here."

You had fully expected Levi to either ignore your explanation or do another tut of unamusement, disapproval, or indifference.

Instead, he decided to ask you a question.

"What's your little club do again?"

You gasped dramatically, holding your hand over your mouth.

"The grumpy and aloof roommate that's interested in my extracurriculars?!" you said in feign astonishment, although a part of you was genuinely surprised. "Who are you and what have you done with Mr. Ackerman?"

Levi's expression was simply that of annoyance when you began your dramatic gesture, but it turned into a full scowl once you addressed him by his surname only.

"Mr. Ackerman?" he asked with a hint of disgust. "What the fuck?"

You shrugged and responded in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Wasn't aware that we were on a first name basis with how much you tend to ignore me at home."

"Cut that shit out," he scolded. 

He wasn't sure why the gesture weirded him out. It made him feel uncomfortable and while it wasn't in his interests to be on a 'first name basis' with you, he'd prefer it to being called 'Mr. Ackerman'. 

"Just Levi's fine," he grumbled.

"Well fine, 'just Levi'," you responded, placing emphasis on his name as if you were mocking him, "but only when you stop treating me like I don't exist when we're at home."

Levi grunted in disapproval again.

"Fine. As long as you quit being a little shit every other day."

"Is every 2-3 days fine?" you asked, trying your best to hold down the smug expression that was threatening to arise on your face. You had to bite the inside of your cheek to keep yourself from chuckling when you saw Levi's scowl at your question.

"You're insufferable."

You stuck out your tongue at him, prompting him to roll his eyes and walk away from you, waving you off.

"Consider it a deal, 'just Levi'," you responded.

He glanced at you over his shoulder, shooting you an annoyed glare, but otherwise didn't respond.

~~~~~

It was getting late into the night. 

Of course, Levi was still awake. His eyes were burning after staring intensely at his laptop screen for the past four hours. 

He groaned to himself as he forced himself to get out of his chair, grabbing his mug of tea that was now long empty. 

He stepped into the hallway, immediately noting that something was off when he saw that all the lights were off. He hadn't heard you come home and he saw that your bedroom door was wide open with your lights off. Upon walking past it, he was able to see that you weren't there. You weren't in the kitchen or living room either.

You weren't home.

Levi found himself more curious than he was concerned. It was already 1am and although you did find yourself at parties on the weekends, it was rare for you to still be out this late into the night when you had classes in the morning. 

He placed his mug into the sink, giving it a quick wash before placing it onto the drying rack. After drying off his hands, he pinched the bridge of his nose as he felt a headache build up in the center of his forehead.

Some nights were better than others.

Insomnia was already difficult to deal with, but it was made much worse when he had external stressors—and staring at his laptop screen for hours to write up some paper he couldn't care for and had no motivation to do didn't help.

Levi sighed and glanced out the window, wondering if he should go on a drive. It was the only thing he found himself able to do to relax when stressed. It had become a habit and was usually enough to reset his mood enough for him to get back to whatever it was that was causing him stress.

However, upon seeing raindrops gently begin to cloud the windows, he ultimately decided against it. 

He wasn't going to get any work done at this rate. He didn't have the attention span to work and he couldn't sleep either.

As he ran through his options in his head, he felt his phone buzz.

He knew it was you. No one else would really text him this late. He sighed as he brought his phone up to his face to see what you wanted that warranted a text message at 1 in the morning.

> [Matcha Girl (1:23am)]: you up? > [Matcha Girl (1:30am)]: don't ignore me, i can see ur read receipt >:( > [Levi (1:32am)]: What do you want? > [Matcha Girl (1:34am)]: i'm at the library and the buses are down. can u come pick me up? > [Levi (1:35am)]: Sounds like your own problem to deal with. > [Matcha Girl (1:37am)]: :( > [Matcha Girl (1:40am)]: i dont want to walk its about to rain :( > [Levi (1:41am)]: You're so annoying. > [Levi (1:43am)]: Which library are you at

~~~~~

Of course, on the one day I decide to stay up late working, the buses are down and it's raining.

You leaned your head back against the plastic wall of the bus stop shelter you found yourself sitting under. You were sitting and waiting for Levi, having texted him to come pick you up after the app for your bus line rudely decided to not alert you that the buses were down.

You didn't pull these late-nighters often, but you had an exam coming up within the next week that you had to cram for. You just lost track of time.

You quietly groaned to yourself once you realized that you would have been kind of fucked if Levi didn't agree to come out in the middle of the night to come pick you up. 

You texted him specifically because you knew he wouldn't be asleep, but you also couldn't deny that there was an implicit sense of trust now.

Whether you trusted him to actually do anything for you was still up in the air, but you at least trusted him enough to not leave you stranded in the middle of the rain—which was already more than your previous roommate (your ex-boyfriend) was willing to do.

You couldn't quite figure out Levi Ackerman. He made it abundantly clear that he hated you when you first moved in—which you happily reciprocated—but he had been acting differently ever since the night of the Rumbling. 

You didn't sense as much hostility from him anymore. He actually made eye contact with you at home and would acknowledge you, even if that was just in the form of muttering the occasional "thanks" when you passed him something from the kitchen. Even the "annoying undergrad" comments had faded.

The only thing you could think of was that it was due to the deal you had jokingly made in the café the other day. With the way he glared at you as he walked away, you had fully settled with the possibility that it was just a one-sided joke and that none of the words exchanged in that interaction held any meaning—but his change in behavior was blatant and glaringly obvious. 

You sighed to yourself as you tapped your feet on the ground, which was already coated with rainwater. Your hood was up to protect your face from the rain that was rapidly coming down. The bus stop shelter gave you a dry place to wait, but you still had to sprint over from the library.

Your eyes darted up as soon as you heard a car pull up. You recognized it as Levi's.  Throwing your backpack over your shoulder, you walked up to the car, looking towards the ground to avoid getting assaulted by the heavily falling rainwater. 

You glanced inside as you opened the door, holding your hand over your eyes to keep the rain out. You were met with Levi's impatient gaze as he gestured at you to hurry up and get inside.

"Try not to get the seat wet."

"Thanks," you mumbled as you climbed in, carefully setting your backpack down onto the floor in front of the seat and clicking the seatbelt into its buckle.

You kept your hood up as Levi shifted gears and began to drive. You had your hands in your pockets and you were looking awkwardly out the window as you tapped your foot on the ground.

"You're such a pain in the ass," Levi finally spoke, scolding you. "How the hell did you just happen to forget that the buses were down?"

Your eyebrows scrunched together in confusion.

"Forget?" you asked, finally looking over at him. "Are they usually down this late?"

"No, but they've been down all day." 

Now that you thought about it, you really haven't seen a single bus all day. You normally just walked around campus, so the fact that the entire bus system was down was completely missed by you. 

"What the hell were you even doing?"

You sighed and spoke quietly.

"I have an exam coming up next week that I haven't had the time to study for," you mumbled.

You heard Levi scoff, but he didn't provide further commentary. 

Levi glanced down at you. He didn't have much empathy for you in this situation. He didn't think you were really busy enough otherwise to not have been studying or doing your coursework as you were supposed to—and he was right: you didn't.

You've technically had plenty of time to keep up with everything, but you realized that your ability to focus was nowhere to be found. It started after the Rumbling. Every time you sat down to do anything that required mental strain, your thoughts kept on jumping around from seeing Zack at the party, Hange asking about your parents, all the way out to reliving the experience of your world falling apart when you were informed of your parents' death. 

It was true that you had more than enough time to prepare, but last month had dug up memories that felt impossible to shove back down. As a result, you found yourself rapidly falling behind in coursework, as if you were swimming in a current that was moving against you, while having the weight that was known as grief strapped onto you, threatening to pull you under the first chance it could.

~~~~~

"How did you get a bad grade on an exam like this?"

Your grip on your phone tightened as you tried to ignore the amount of scrutiny that was present in your aunt's voice. 

That test you had been studying for didn't go well. You showed up late to the exam and were one of the last students to finish. You weren't surprised, but were still devastated nonetheless when you got your grade back. 

The last thing you wanted to do was to tell your aunt about it, but you had let it slip.

Your aunt was not a pleasant person. She took you in senior year of high school after your parents died. Growing up, she always thought you were meek, constantly pestering you with comments regarding needing to live up to others' expectations better. You never had a good relationship with her, but she was your only family left. You didn't have anyone else.

"I've...just been busy and it kinda slipped my mind," you said quietly.

"'Slipped your mind'?" she responded, barely letting you finish your sentence. "Setting up an annual doctor's appointment is something that would 'slip your mind', not an exam for a degree that you're paying thousands of dollars for—especially for a degree like yours."

"Degree like mine?"

You knew what she was getting at.

"Yeah, an English degree, of all things. Why couldn't you stick with pre-med?"

The rational part of you knew that what your aunt was spewing was bullshit. There was nothing wrong, deficient, or less about getting an English degree over going through a pre-med track. You were well aware of that when you switched majors, despite your aunt being fixated on the money aspect of a traditional STEM degree. 

"Well, actually-"

You began to talk to try to educate or debate with your aunt about how your degree was just as valid as a "traditional" STEM degree, but she didn't let you finish your sentence.

"Your mother didn't die for this, you know."

Your mind and body froze.

"Don't make her sacrifice be in vain."

Your grip on your phone tightened to the point that you felt like you were shaking. Your breath was getting caught in your throat and you felt your face heating up, particularly right behind your eyes, while your hands rapidly cooled down, your palms becoming covered in clammy sweat. 

"S-Sacrifice?" you asked, trying your best to keep your composure.

You tensed further as you heard the lock to the front door click. 

You briefly acknowledged Levi as he walked in before averting eye contact. You balled up your other hand into a tight fist under the table. You were desperate to mask in front of both Levi and your aunt, but you were rapidly failing. 

Your parents' death had nothing to do with you. They were traveling overseas when an accident happened. It wasn't your fault in any way, shape, or form, but your aunt loved telling you how disappointed they'd be in your lack of progress. If you were any less emotionally clouded due to your current struggle in processing their deaths, you'd be able to call her out on the bullshit. 

Levi subtly glanced over at you as you continued to speak on the phone with your aunt. He knew something was off the minute he walked in through the door. Your body posture was tense and frigid. Your voice was low and you seemed more hesitant to speak. He could tell that you were upset, and that it was getting worse with each passing second.

While he couldn't hear what was being said on the other end, based on your responses and body language, he could tell that the other person on the line was either berating you or telling you upsetting news. 

After the call finally ended, he glanced over at you and saw you just sitting at the kitchen table with an unreadable expression on your face. Once you finally got up, you walked past him in a rush without making eye contact and went into your room.

Levi glanced at your now-shut bedroom door. He was curious as to what had happened. The only other time he's even seen you remotely this upset was when Hange mentioned your family, but even that paled compared to this. 

Although he was curious, he didn't intrude. It wasn't his business.

About an hour or two later, you came out of your room again. Needing a break from staring at the screen, Levi found himself sitting on the couch, sipping on a cup of tea as he did some light reading.

His eyes darted up as he subtly glanced at you. It was getting well into the evening and you had yet to eat, which was what Levi figured you finally came out of your room for. 

You were still avoiding eye contact with him. Your face was still unreadable and your movements were sluggish, as if you lacked the energy to continue taking steps forward. Whatever had happened a few hours ago had clearly drained you. 

Instead of seeing you grab food, Levi saw that you just filled up a glass of water before heading back into your room. 

His eyes trailed after you as you dragged yourself back into your room. 

Even Levi was starting to get concerned. This wasn't like you. This wasn't the petty, annoying, and stubborn roommate that he found himself stuck with. This wasn't even whatever version of you that he saw you as when interacting with your classmates. While he couldn't care less about the fact that you weren't looking or speaking with him, he did find himself questioning the fact that you hadn't eaten for the entire night. 

He sighed to himself, putting his book down as he heard you open your bedroom door again. He stood up as you walked over to the kitchen sink and placed your drinking glass into it.

"Do you want to go on a drive with me?"

He spoke right as you were about to turn around and head back to your room to continue moping. 

You briefly glanced at him, making eye contact with him for the first time that night.

"This apartment's getting stuffy and I need some air," he said nonchalantly as he grabbed his car keys and a light jacket. "You wanna come with?"

You blinked at him a few times. You were suspicious at the sudden offer, but you didn't have the energy to question it or play 4-D chess to try to read his mind.

"Sure."

~~~~~

It was a quiet night. 

It wasn't that late into the evening, although most students would already be in their dorms for the night, other than the late nighters or those attending evening classes.

You stared blankly out the window as you felt the night breeze slipping in through the slightly rolled-down window. The wind was chilly as it hit your face and it brought you a strange sort of comfort.

There was some low-fi playing in the background as Levi smoothly drove through the small town that surrounded Paradis University. 

You glanced over at him, silently watching as the wind blew through his hair, briefly lifting it up before it landed back down perfectly every time. The sleeves of his jacket were rolled up to expose his forearms. He was leaning back so that his arm was resting at the top of the steering wheel while his other hand gently gripped its bottom.

You knew that Levi commonly went out on late-night drives, so you were surprised that he invited you to come with him on one of them. You figured that this was his much-needed alone time, so it was strange for him to bring you along. 

You took your gaze off him as you looked back out the window. You knew that he saw the exchange with your aunt, even if it was just over the phone. You knew that he saw you rush into your room and then refuse to come back out. 

You sat in silence for a few minutes as he continued to drive towards nowhere in particular.

"It was my aunt," you finally spoke, your voice quiet and barely audible.

You heard him turn down the volume of the music so he could hear you better. You were adamantly looking out the window now, almost as if you were afraid to look at him now that you were speaking.

"On the phone?" 

You nodded.

"She likes to do 'check-ins' now, apparently," you muttered dryly.

You looked down as you twiddled your thumbs in your lap.

"I didn't do too hot on that exam."

You had no idea why you were opening up to your roommate that you swore you hated just a few weeks ago—but you were.

"Says my parents died for nothing," you mumbled, afraid that your voice would break if you spoke any louder.

Levi glanced over at you as you spoke.

He had somewhat deduced that you had either lost your parents or didn't have any just from what was brought up around Halloween. 

It was a shitty comment. He now understood why you were the way you were for the entire afternoon. Given how deeply disturbed you were by even the thought of your parents last month, he could only imagine how much worse this harsh comment from a family member was on you.

The two of you were silent again for a while, with the only noise being the rumbling of the car and the barely audible low-fi still playing in the background.

Finally, Levi parted his mouth to speak.

"It feels lonely, but it doesn't have to be."

"What?" you asked, fully looking over at him in confusion.

"Dead parents. Shitty extended family," he began listing as he glanced over at you again. "It feels lonely, but it doesn't have to be."

You blinked at him a few times, keeping your gaze on him even after his eyes returned to the road.

Has he gone through something similar?

He noticed your prolonged gaze on him.

You saw him slightly adjust his grip on the steering wheel.

"My mom died when I was eight. I was picked up by my uncle," he elaborated. "Shitty bastard." 

He had indeed gone through something similar.

You weren't sure how this made you feel. You did appreciate that he reciprocated the gesture of opening up, although you never held the expectation that he would.

"Ran into another kid that also lost his parents—kinda became family that way," he mentioned, glancing over at you again. "So it doesn't have to be lonely."

You knew what he was getting at. You crossed your arms, running through the list of people you knew in your head. You weren't sure who you would consider as a found family. Sure, you had friends, but you weren't close enough with any of them.

They were at least better than your aunt, who technically was your family.

You looked up through the windshield again as you felt him pull in and park. Your eyebrows scrunched together as you saw that he had pulled into the parking lot of a local 24-hour diner. You looked at him, questioning the detour.

"Come," he said, motioning for you to get out of the car as he turned the engine off. "Let's get you something to eat before you start getting all bratty because you haven't eaten anything all night."

#: @levisbrat25 @gothgril69 @sckerman @berrijam @notgoodforlife @meowjaa @averysmolbear @roseofdarknessblog @bejewelledd @hhighkey @ayame236 @sad-darksoul @velouria17 @kamyru @l1zk4 @layenacreates @lamees004 @whoami-72 @highgoon69 @chaotic-on-main @levishotgf @nube55 @chosos-mascara @heichoucleanfreak