#but hes bad at cheesy romance let alone romance

[demonicfarmer69]

pathetic jfm strikes again

[mywritersmind]

NOT SO HAPPY HOLIDAYS - LN4

↳pt.3

christmas special

part one - part two

summary : He’s still annoying, just happens to have a charming face that softens the blow. While Y/n and Max continue their sibling rivalry, P plays matchmaker, and two idiots are left alone with a cheesy romance movie and a persistent ex.

og summary : Spending Christmas with my brothers best friend isn’t my ideal way to celebrate. With my parents in the maldives and my ex calling me non stop, I was hoping for a small town cozy christmas! I was going to get that with Max and his girlfriend until Lando Norris worked his way into the mix.

listen up : dual pov! brothers best friend! kissing😳 suggestive content. swearing. BANTERRRRR

words : 4158

⋆｡‧˚⋆

She doesn’t see me yet. I definitely see her.

She’s on her tippy toes that are covered in festive fluffy socks. My gaze drags up her legs to her ass, she’s got these nauseatingly tiny shorts on and a cropped baggy shirt to match.

Her arm is outstretched to try and get a mug but I can’t focus on anything but her. She’s biting her lip, a frustrated look on her face that’s making my mind think very inappropriate things. Her hair is messy and looking perfectly pullabl-

“Shit!” She reaches it, and promptly drops it, causing it to smash onto the tile.

Y/n drops to her knees, looking under the sink for something as her back arches, her head disappearing into the cabinet as I practically drool over her.

“Fucking hell.” I mumble, walking forward to help her and ignore my body’s reaction to hers. “Clumsy this early in the morning, huh sunshine?”

She glares at me, a tiny broom in her hand as she cleans up her mess.

“Let me help.” I go to reach for the broom but she pulls back, saying no and landing on her ass. My smile fades as I recognize the look on her face. “You alright?”

She crosses her legs, dropping the broom and shoving her face into her hands, “Yes.” It’s mumbled and clearly a lie.

I start cleaning up her mess, it’s not a lot and I don’t really know what else to do in her presence. I stand and dump the ceramic pieces in the trash, joining her on the floor again and poking her knee.

“Thanks.” She sounds stuffy, like she’s about to cry. She almost makes me feel bad for checking her out so much while she’s so sad.

“Talk to me, Sunny.” She sniffles and looks up at me. She's not crying but her eyes are red teary.

“I hate when you’re nice to me.” She pushes her hair back, her hands covered from her sleeves. I blink and she sighs, knowing that I want her to continue, “My ex.”

I don’t mean to groan but at least my dramatic act makes her laugh a bit, hitting my knee.

“He won’t stop calling. And I can’t block him because I work with the wanker!” She says exhausted, answering my question about the block button yesterday.

“Well at least he has one thing correct.” She raises a brow at my words, “He knows he lost someone good.”

Y/n shakes her head, “I hate him, Lando.” She breathes, “I hate him more than you.”

This makes me frown, sarcastically saying, “I’m flattered.”

She smiles a bit just as her phone dings again, she screams and puts her head back in her hands, “Y/n.” I say her name for the first time in a while, “Have you responded at all?”

She shakes her head, “I can’t.” She whispers it and I'm worried she actually wants him back. I never met him, but her instagram photos were enough for me to hate him.

I hear footsteps down the stairs, P coming around the corner humming, her smile slowly fading as she spots the two of us on the floor. “Good morning?”

I take Y/n’s hand and practically drag her upward, “Morning, P.” Y/n groans and leans against the counter, tearing her hand away from me and shoving her face into the tabletop now.

P points at Y/n, looking at me quizzically as I shake my head. She understands and skips over to the coffee machine, we sit in silence as P makes Y/n a hot chocolate.

Y/n smiles softly as P hugs her and hands her the hot chocolate. P continues to make her breakfast as I look at Y/n. She’s storing her drink and looking depressed.

It’s christmas! No time for sadness and sucky ex’s! I slide her the marshmallows as her wides widen a bit, smiling at me before dumping half the bag in.

My stomach does a weird thing at the way she looks at me… when Max joins us, I’m quickly distracted but still feel a tiny bit sick. “So! What are you two doing tonight while we’re out?”

Max asks as I scratch the back of my neck, “Um…”

“Movie night!” Y/n looks happier now, “Get ready Norris, welcome to the wonderful world of cheesy romances.”

⋆༺

you

Outside looks like a snowstorm yet we brave it for a quick brunch at a tiny diner that’s packed. I pull off my beanie, my hair a mess.

Lando unravels his scarf, laughing at me, “Looking good, Sunshine.” I stick my tongue out at him as Max ruffles my hair even more.

We sit and eat and for once, there’s no odd tension. I don’t yell at Lando and he doesn’t tease me. P and Max are squished together on the booth side while Lando’s arm is strewn around the back of my chair.

I let it slide because he looks like he’s in a food coma. His eyes are closed and he’s peacefully resting his head to the side.

Our comfortable silence turns to Lando and Max fighting over who’s paying while P and I wave at the baby sitting next to us.

Lando’s fingers wiggle next to my head, leaning in closer to see the baby. She giggles as Lando pokes my face and I give him an annoyed look.

The mom is looking at us so I smile and laugh a bit, “Sorry, she’s adorable.”

“Don’t be!” her hand pulls the cover back so we can see her more. Her little hands scrunch up and Lando and I make the same noise at the same time, “This is June. We call her sunny because- well it just fits her happy little personality!”

I feel Lando’s hand stop moving next to me as P and Max continue gushing over her. Lando clears his throat, “She looks like you.”

The mom smiles wider, “Thank you. You four are just adorable! Are you all here for christmas?”

Max nods, “I dragged my girlfriend and my best friend to have a quiet christmas.”

P smiles as Max squeezes her arm, “Which ultimately failed because these two never shut up.”

Lando laughs, “Like you’re one to talk! You and Y/n speak in a whole different language.” He goes back to playing peek-a-boo with the baby who just adores him.

“She likes you.” The mom says to Lando, “He’ll be good with kids.” She directs this at me which makes my breath cut out and Lando go into a fit of coughs.

Our waiter brings back our cards as P grabs her bag, “It was really nice meeting you. We have to run to the store for our new tradition!”

I raise a brow, “New tradition?”

Max is smiling like an idiot, “Gingerbread contests are back! Don’t be scared sis, just accept your loss now.”

⋆༺

Up until we were Ten and Eleven, Max and I made gingerbread houses every year. I'm not sure why we stopped, maybe because our parents hated how it always ended in tears because everything we did was a competition.

Max’s great idea was to start this up again. So we gathered the boxes and some extra supplies just to make a complete mess of the dining area while Sabrina Carpenter’s christmas music blasts and Max and I scream at each other.

We’ve made a sort of barrier right down the middle of the table. With my luck, Max picked his girlfriend to be on his team because there were only two houses left in the store.

So Lando and I are elbow deep in shitty frosting and tears of laughter. He wipes his eyes but gets frosting onto his face while doing it, “No you-” grabbing my hand, he moves it to steady the already falling house.

We’re a mess and it’s not helping that Lando keeps eating the gumdrops, “Norris!” I yell and slap his hand, “You’re killing my gumdrop families!”

“Your gumdrop families are yummy.” I roll my eyes as he mumbles to himself.

Max and P don’t fight but I'm pretty sure Lan and I sound like a war zone. I’m icing the roof while Lando drops random candy onto it. I kick him with my slipper under the table, “You’re ruining the aesthetic.”

He mimicks my voice, “You’re ruining the aesthetic. Just say you’re in love with me and get over it.” I scoff and hit him with a red vine.

He grins as he take a bite out of it while I laugh at how messy he’s gotten. “Shut up and come help me.” Lando pulls his seat back and sits on it backwards, resting his chin on the back of it and finally contributing.

We add more frosting, kinderds (per Lando’s request), candy canes, and some weird pearl candy P found.

I suck on a lolly while Lando continues to make the icing drip along the sides of the house, trying to mimic icicles. He’s very focused and flexes his arms while doing so. Squeezing out the partially hard icing and distracting me while doing it.

A loud bang sounds. Lando’s skeptical look and Max’s decision to shrug it off makes us continue on even when P starts to say it’s a ghost.

He sits back and admires his handy work, “You two are going down.” He says to Max and P, a mischievous expression on his face.

“Knowing you two… we’re fine.” P laughs and pokes her head around the barrier, her eyes are closed and her tongue out.

I scoff, “What does that mean!?”

I hear Max laugh now, “You’re a perfectionist and Lando’s biggest joy in life is to bug you!”

I stand up quickly, “You set me up!”

“All's fair in love and war.” I round the corner and look at their house. It’s perfect and pink!

I smile and cross my arms, “We can let the media decide this.”

Max smirks while P groans, “Can't we just end it here? You two are ridiculous.”

I grab Lando’s phone from his hand as he frowns, but doesn’t protest. I take a photo of Max holding their gingerbread house since P refused to be posted. Then I turn to Lando and smile, “Take your shirt off.”

“Hey! I expect that from Lando but not you!” Max eyes is both.

Lando head tilts as he looks at me curiously, “At least ask me on a date first, sunshine.” He does it anyways though, not caring out my brother.

“You’re totally unfairly manipulating this!” Max yells as Lando slips off his shirt and holds up our horrible little house.

I snap a photo of him grinning and flexing, and post it next to Max’s with a pole. “It’s called taking the matter into your own hands.”

Lando shivers as he pulls his shirt back on, smirking as he slips his finger into his mouth, cleaning off the icing and making eye contact with me. I clear my throat and turn to my friend who’s looking between the two of us.

“It’s cold in here, right?” P says suspiciously, “Babe, go turn up the heat.” Max disappears around the corner while we all start cleaning up and putting our houses on display on the windowsill

“It’s not moving!” Max yells from the other room, I can hear him hitting it.

“Maybe if you didn’t try to fix everything with force!” I stomp in and look at it with him, pressing my finger against the buttons.

“You’re not even trying-”

I groan, “You’re the one who-”

“Hey!” P yells, standing with her hands on her hips, “The rental lady said there’s a power box in the basement.”

Max pushes past me and hurries down the stairs I haven’t even gone near, “Christ he’s gonna blow us all up.” Lando follows as P shoots me a quick smile.

We can hear them arguing as I throw P a blanket and we wrap ourselves up and sit eating the extra candy. “Yours is so cute.” I sigh and look at her gingerbread house. It’s absolutely adorable and so her.

There’s tiny bows make out of red vines and pink starburst everywhere. She laughs, “I didn’t let Max touch it.” I laugh with her and pop a kinder into my mouth, “You and Lando are a good duo.”

I snort, “Right, a chaotic one.”

She shrugs, “Maybe. But I don’t know… It’s cute.” The second I realize where she’s going with this, I start to shake my head, “Listen!”

“No! No, Pietra! He’s… Fuck, He’s Lando Norris.” I’m still shaking my head as she dons an unconvinced expression.

“He flirts with you all the time!”

“In a joking way!” I argue, “And I can’t stand it!”

“He touches you a lot.”

“And It drives me crazy! He just likes pissing me off.”

She shakes her head slowly, a smile on her face as she brings the blanket up to her neck, “You like him.”

My face feels hot and I'm getting frustrated which is making it worse because she can tell, “He calls me names.”

“Yeah!” she scoffs, “an adorable nickname! That he made up when he was fifteen! The way he looks at you Y/n… it’s like- well…”

“Don’t say it!” I warn but the blonde doesn’t listen.

“It’s how Max looks at me.”

I sigh, putting my face in my hands, “P. Max is in love with you, Lando doesn’t…” My sentence ends in a whisper as she smirks, “I barely like him as a friend! Like literally three days ago I couldn’t stand him! Not much has changed.”

She shrugs, “By all means, keep it up. It’s entertaining to watch.” I roll my eyes and play with the wrapper in my hand as a bang comes from downstairs. “Just… you deserve someone like him.”

“He has like a million girlfriends.”

“He does not!” She laughs, “At least not anymore!” I give her a look as she reaches over and takes my hand, “All i’m saying is that I completely support whatever you do! Even if it’s a one night thing.” My eyes widen as she squeezes my hand and winks, “I won’t tell Max.”

I push her away and sit back in my chair, crossing my arms and smiling at my friend, “Also we’ll be gone for like three hours tonight.”

I laugh and throw a piece of candy at her as Lando and Max come up the stairs. Lando is picking cobwebs off of himself while Max wipes his hands on his jeans, “Welp, hopefully that worked.”

⋆༺

lando

“Let's watch Notting Hill.” She visibly pauses when I say it, looking at me confused with a bowl of popcorn over her blanket covered lap.

“Notting Hill!?” She repeats it, then shakes her head, “You never fail to surprise me, Lando.” I like it when she says my name, even when it’s a bit demeaning.

I lean my head back, she’s covered the couch in every blanket and pillow we could find. After the heater broke, she swore she was still cold so she’s extra bundled even though i’m sweating.

She finally tugs off her third layer of blankets and grabs the remote, “We’re watching a Christmas Prince.”

I frown but don’t say anything because I'm scared she’ll leave me down here alone and go call her best friend or something.

I’d rather play a game so we could talk or I could at least look at her, but she insists I have to watch this god awful movie.

She gave me some grace while eating delivered pizza and talking about the drivers she’s met which (scarily enough) is a lot.

Y/n is normally yelling at me during any movie to get me to shut up, but everytime I ask a question today, she answers in detail.

“Who’s this dick who took her cab!?” She smiles at my words, eating her popcorn and flipping her phone face down so it stops distracting her. “Ugly beard too.”

She gives me a look which makes me groan, “He’s the prince, isn’t he!?” She nods as I look up at her. Her hair is down and outright messy from her hood and the multiple blankets she has around her.

“It’s called a meet cute.” Y/n shrugs and watches the screen again.

“A meet cute?” I grab from her bowl, “But there was nothing cute about it.”

She eyes me, “Okay maybe it’s more of a meet hate… or a meet dislike? Maybe a meet argue.”

“Okay now I just want steak.” Y/n rolls her eyes again as I smile, “So, sort of like us?”

She sits up more, looking at me and laughing, “What would our meet hate be, then? I don’t even remember the first time we met.”

I’m a little offended because I do. “You were karting with Max and I for the first time and you totally ran me off the road!”

She turns more to me, “I don’t remember this but I'm going to stick up for my child self and say that it was your fault.”

My eyes roll. “You really have not changed. You blamed me for it because we were racing to win and Max got by both of us and ended up with the trophy.”

She laughs and fuck, I love that sound. “Sounds about right. But you definitely egged me on.”

“Oh one thousand percent! But I was just coping with the fact that the girl I had a crush on completely destroyed my ego!” I don’t really realize what I've said until she raises a brow.

“You had a crush on me!?” She laughs as I groan and shake my head.

I’m blushing now even though it was so many years ago, “I was like ten!”

“You fanciedddd me!” she drags out the words as she tries to pull the blanket off my head, “Norris!”

“Leave me alone!” She’s hitting me with a pillow now, “I had no idea what a terror you were!”

She scoffs, pulling back, “You little bitch, why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t know if you know this Sunshine, but you’re fucking terrifying.” Y/n’s eyes are teary from laughing and her smile is so big it almost makes me happy she found out.

“So what, you stopped having a crush on me when you actually got to know me?” I don’t want to lie to her, and I don’t know if I can about this.

“Shhh…” I grab a handful of the popcorn, “watch the movie.” She lays closer to me, her hair brushing my shoulder and our eyes both go back to the screen.

Y/n and I aren’t this close often. We aren’t ever alone. And I have to admit, the one thing I dislike about my best friend is that he is adamant on keeping me away from his sister.

His ‘Hands to yourself’ reminder before he left was enough fuel to my fire for the night.

“She’s annoying.” I groan after way too many minutes of this movie. I’m pretty sucked in though I won’t admit that to Y/n.

“That is a common theme with these movies.” She nuzzles her head closer to me, “It adds to the charm.”

“Does it?” I frown and adjust myself, trying to get more comfortable and slipping my arm around her and expecting to be met with criticism.

She stays quiet though, just rests her head against my shoulder and shifts to the side.

I don’t know if she realizes it, but she’s been playing with the sleeve of my hoodie for the past twenty minutes. I don’t want to move, I don’t want the movie to be over, I don’t want her to hate me again.

Her phone rings and a small groan comes from her, she sits up, her warmth leaving me. “I thought I turned this stupid thing off.” She grabs her phone, flipping it around and rolling her eyes at the contact.

WHORE DO NOT ANSWER

Is the contact name with a picture of her ex with drawn on devil horns. I can tell she’s about to hang up but I always act on impulse.

Her phone is in my hand in seconds, pressing answer and holding it to my ear as she screams and jumps on me. “Y/n?” It’s a guys voice and I hate him instantly, “You finally picked up!”

I flip Y/n off my back and shove my hand over her mouth, trying to hold her down while I listen to her ex’s annoying voice.

“Hey!” I say just as the line goes quiet at the sound of another man’s voice.

“Who’s this?” I roll my eyes at him even though only Y/n can see me. She’s squirming and mumbling under my hand. She is remarkably easy to hold back for how determined she is.

“None of your business! How about we cut to the problem at hand and discuss why the fuck you’re still calling Y/n after you cheated on her?” he tries to talk but I cut him off, “Take a long look in the mirror bud because you will never be good enough to win her back.”

“Is this her new boyfriend?” He asks sternly.

“I’ll tell you that i’m not someone to fuck with, especially when it comes to Y/n. You don’t deserve to ever even look at her again but she is a professional woman who can be civil, even if it is towards a jackass like you.” He’s quiet now and Y/n is getting free so I hurry up, “Y/n has been gracious and practically a fucking saint to deal with your shit for the past year so stop calling!”

She finally breaks free and ends the call, out of breath and looking at me like I'm worthy of death.

She throws her phone onto the couch, on her knees and pushing back her messy hair. “He completely deserved it.” I try to back myself up as I fall onto my elbows, looking up at her.

She’s staring at me still, and I'm slightly scared for my life. But then her eyes soften and she does the most unexpected thing i’ve ever experienced.

She kisses me.

Her hands are on my face and her lips are squished against mine. We fall back on the blankets as my hands find her waist and I fully understand what’s happening.

I kiss her back, hard and fast like if I don’t take this opportunity now, it might never happen again.

She’s on top of me and just the weight of her makes my dick twitch. I slip my hands under her hoodie, her skin warm and soft. She lets out a little whimper when my hands tighten against her hips, unconsciously grinding into me.

“Fuck.” I mumble against her lips as her hands go to my hair. She’s breathing heavier and just as i’m about to start on her neck, the door opens.

She’s off me in a second, “Fuck.” Her hand goes to her mouth and her eyes go wide as the footsteps of our friends echo through the house.

“Oh, of course.” I say exasperatedly, sitting up and dragging a pillow onto my lap.

“Landooo! Y/n!” Max calls for us as I point at her lips which are now the same shade of red as her cheeks.

I reach over and smooth out Y/n’s hair. She looks so genuinely shocked and scared while I'm just annoyed that we had to be interrupted.

She plops down on the other side of the couch, pulling the blanket up high to her face and avoiding my eyes. “In here!” I mumble as they walk through the doors.

I look back to see Max and P all dressed up and smiling. They look wine drunk, holding hands while P kicks off her heels.

“Movie time!” P giggles and rounds the couch to sit next to Y/n who makes eye contact with me and for some reason, makes me laugh.

Max wraps his arm around P while looking at us funny. Y/n is giggling now while I just cover my face with a pillow and shake my head, “So what are we watching?”

P picks another hallmark movie and I make eye contact with Y/n again. I start laughing and Max seems genuinely annoyed this time, “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.” I say quickly. “How was your night?”

“Perfect!” P snuggles into her boyfriend, “How about you two?”

Y/n shrugs as if she wasn’t on top of me moments ago, “Boring. Lando hated the movie.”

“I did not! I was just distracted.” No one bats an eye at my excuse except for Y/n who hides her smirk with her hot chocolate.

[rocknrollsalad]

rating: t cw: hook up, mentions of sex, nothing on camera but it's implied tags: no upside au, first meeting, animal shelters, another universe another menial job, bad holiday innuendo word count: 1,526

written for @steddiemas prompt "mistletoe"

PART TWO of this thing here (it should stand alone tho)

Eddie lay flat on his back, arms outstretched, somehow still recovering. What the fuck just happened. Good luck? Bad? Eddie still wasn't sure and his brain was mush so no way he was figuring that out now. He’d just gone in to adopt a cat and, sure, yeah, he got a cat (not the one he’d picked out before going in) but it was the signing bonus that had Eddie all confused—and exhausted.

A man far too attractive to be hanging out and “annoying his best friend” as he said, just living life and existing in places Eddie could go was not part of the plan. No fucking way. Yet the guy used his charm and cheesy jokes on Eddie. Talking about kissing under the mistletoe like he'd been sitting there waiting for Eddie to show up. It was nuts.

This was the kind of guy Eddie would dream about. Some dude he caught a glimpse of in the grocery store and an amalgamation of several people that Eddie spent months obsessed over. A created character for fun and fantasy cured only by making some romanceable npc to drop in the game. His friends never let him get those mythical dates.

Instead, this guy was real and throwing himself at Eddie. More affectionate than any of the kittens and twice as adorable, Eddie knew he was in trouble back at the check-in desk. It took one look and Eddie was trying to figure out how to get Steve back to his before he’d learned his name. Nothing had ever worked out so well but Eddie who was he to look a gift horse in the mouth?

The stars aligned or the dimensions changed, whatever it was, it all worked out. Now Steve was just taking a shower like it was a normal Tuesday and he was in his own home. Eddie wasn’t sure if he could trust his legs yet having his world so thoroughly rocked and this guy was humming songs and using up all the hot water. Even in dreams, though, Eddie wasn’t this nice to himself.

With the shower no longer running, it’d be minutes before Steve came back (unless he bolted) and Eddie would be just as he left him. Naked, exhausted, and happier than he’d been in years. The chipper way Steve got up to shower, he was probably coming back for round two. Something Eddie did not think he had the energy for but, dammit, he’d give it his all. What a way to go out.

It wasn't much but Eddie managed to pull a blanket over himself and snag his phone. A part of him was content in this state. He could manage to find some pajamas or whatever, it wasn't as bad as he was pretending. But why? Why not perform a thank you that'd be awkward to say? Let Steve revel in what he'd done to Eddie.

Steve didn't bolt because he was the perfect man, made in the lab of romance and good hair. He came back to Eddie’s room with a smile that disarmed the joke about getting lost on the way to the front door. He knew the man wanted to be here and, god damn, he wanted him here.

With a towel wrapped around his waist and still damp, Steve stood there looking as gorgeous as before, even with flat, freshly washed hair. Cradled in his arm was Mistletoe, the cat Eddie walked out with because Steve turned Eddie into a pushover with the batting of his eyelashes. Who could resist that? Not Eddie. Despite popular opinion, he was, in fact, human.

In the other hand, Steve held two bottles of water. Presumably from Eddie’s fridge but he wouldn’t put it past the guy to have DoorDashed something whilst in the shower.

To make up for the fact that Eddie hadn’t moved, he went for comedy. Looking side to side. “Did I?? God, was this so good I thought I was in my own house? Are we? Where’d you get those?”

Steve tossed the bottles onto the bed, missing Eddie but landing so close they had to be aimed.

“How’d I find the water?” judgment dripped off every syllable.

“Yeah?” Eddie tried, confidence gone. The joke didn’t land. Or maybe it wasn’t formed right. Words were Eddie's thing and it was bullshit even those were failing him. It was going to take more than slaughtering a hot npc to get over this guy when he finally realized what a loser Eddie was.

“You’ll never believe this. I found them in the last place you’d suspect. I poked around all your cupboards and closets but they were in the fridge! So weird.”

Oh, fuck him.

That bitchiness shouldn’t be hot. Why was that so hot? Eddie should have wanted to punch him for it. At least mock him back and crack jokes along with him. Instead, he could almost feel his pupils turning into cartoon hearts.

Who was he turning into? First, adopting a cute little kitten when the least metal name of the lot and now he’s swooning over some guy’s quick but insulting comebacks? Maybe this wasn’t a dream. It was a nightmare.

A half-hearted laugh was enough of a reply for Steve.

“And of all places, man, you keep your fridge in the kitchen. It’s been very surprising here.”

“Fuck off,” Eddie groaned, finally finding a good thought.

Steve climbed back into the other side of the bed, nudging the water toward Eddie again. Saying drink this in every way but actually using the words. Also hot.

“What we should talk about is why your fridge makes you look like a serial killer. You’ve got one expired jar of pickles, two of those gross cheese singles, and a case of water. There isn’t even ketchup, man.”

“The liquor is in the freezer,” Eddie said, taking a pause. There was something better to say there.

“With the body parts.” they both said, a few seconds apart.

Steve gave a condescending pat to Eddie’s chest, proud of him for making it to the joke finally. Eddie wanted to roll over on his stomach to put his chin in his hands and kick his feet in the air. This was disgusting. He hadn’t been this head over heels before and as various love songs started to make sense, he watched his dream man scoop up a pillow to make a comfy spot for the cat.

“You also don’t have…anything, like at all, for Mistletoe,” Steve said.

He cracked open a bottle of water and Eddie thought he was going to take a drink, a logical assumption, but again it was pushed towards Eddie. So Eddie pulled himself up to mostly sit as he leaned against the headboard and squirmed the pillows into something comfortable. He drank the offered water, if only for Steve.

Once he did, Steve picked up the other bottle and opened it for himself. He sat with one leg tucked in and the other dangling off the bed, scratching Mistletoe on the head. Eddie was already planning their forever but the wedding date was getting closer and closer. How long did one have to have a marriage license before saying "I do"?

“Well,” Eddie finally countered. Attitude packed in so he didn’t have to admit the water felt amazing and was, actually, very needed. “I thought I’d go in, see if me and Krampus got along, and then I could swing by the pet store on the way home. Hadn’t really expected to pick up anything…one else.”

Steve wiggled his eyebrows and Eddie imagined if they were any younger, he’d pump his fist in the air like he’d scored the winning goal or whatever.

“Not very responsible of you,” Steve’s eyes narrowed, the judgment was nothing compared to the talk of Eddie’s fridge. This was playful and Eddie had an idea of what was going on.

And before he overthought things, Eddie took a chance he was right. “Thing is, I know a guy at the animal shelter and he…lets me do whatever I want.”

There were a few beats where Steve pretended to think. “For a price.”

“I can’t offer much but what I’ve got is yours.”

As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Eddie regretted them. How disgusting and sappy. Steve was probably going to get up and leave. Eddie would. Hell, he wanted to now. Not Steve, though. He leaned forward, which untucked the towel, and stole a kiss.

Soft, passionate, and curled Eddie’s toes. He was still sensitive enough it earned an unfair reaction and it was almost like Steve knew that. He lingered in Eddie's space, smelling of Eddie's soap, and grinning like the devil.

When Steve slowly pulled back and perched back on the edge of the bed, Eddie said, “Not in front of the children.” and reached out to cover Mistletoe’s eyes.

There was an easy and meaningless eye roll thrown his way. "There go my plans then," Steve teased. "Guess you better get dressed so we can go get this little guy some supplies because…I have plans for the night."

[onlinesuzie]

☆ hamzah vs. watching love island ☆

words: 2.3k

summary: Hamzah has always found Love Island embarrassing an unrealistic but on a warm summers evening spent pouring drinks and binging the show with Martin and Mandy, Hamzah’s disdain for Love Island changes when he has the opportunity to ‘pull you for a chat’.

notes: GUYS I LOVE LOVE ISLAND SO BAD and martin and mandy mentioning it on ooc inspired me to write this!!

♡

It was one of those lazy summer evenings at Mandy’s house, where the air was thick with warmth and your favourite part of the summer was about to begin. You, Mandy, and Martin had gathered in the living room, ready for your weekly tradition of binge watching that week’s episodes of Love Island. The show was a guilty pleasure for the three of you, a chance to unwind and indulge in the drama and romance unfolding on the screen.

You thought it was stupid but some part of you wanted that cheesy romance, the type where you just make out for no reason or just anything. It had been months since you had even kissed someone let alone all the borderline soft porn you laugh at with Mandy and Martin. But regardless of how much action you were getting, alcohol and snacks were scattered across the coffee table, and you were nestled comfortably on the couch next to your friends.

The night was in full swing, and the alcohol kept flowing. The more you drank, the funnier the islanders’ antics appeared. You, Mandy, and Martin were laughing loudly, making bets on who would be kicked off next, and sipping your drinks between comments.

As the opening credits rolled for the Wednesday’s episode, Hamzah wandered into the room, his expression one of mild disdain. “I still don’t understand how you guys can watch this shit,” he remarked, folding his arms and leaning against the doorway.

“Fuck,” you thought. Maybe it was the alcohol or the grossly horny scenes you’d been watching for the past few hours, but Hamzah looked incredible. He looked so good, with his biceps straining against the fabric of his loose shirt and his hair falling casually over his warm brown eyes.

Mandy rolled her eyes playfully. “Oh, come on, Hamzah. It’s fun! Besides, you don’t have to watch it with us, you just like to complain.”

Martin grinned, tossing a piece of popcorn at Hamzah. “Yeah, man, just let us have our fun. You’re always free to join us if you want.”

Hamzah dodged the popcorn with a chuckle, shaking his head. He approached the three of you and leaned against the back of the couch, his arms looking impressively defined in the artificial blue light. You found it hard to focus on the show as you admired how good he looked. “I think I’ll pass,” he said, releasing his grip on the couch and gesturing toward the TV as he made eye contact with Martin. “This whole thing is just so… fake. Who behaves like that when they actually like someone?”

You couldn’t suppress a smile at Hamzah’s typical response. It was a long-standing joke among your group that he was the self-appointed critic of all things reality television. It made sense; the thought of Hamzah behaving like the guys on Love Island was a bit unsettling. You had never seen him with a girl before, and while Martin mentioned that Hamzah had dated in the past, none of those girls had ever made an appearance since you’d known him.

Mandy laughs at him, “You don’t even know what that’s like Hamzah, you don’t even know how to talk to women let alone have the opportunity to pull someone for a chat”

“I could, but whatever, it doesn’t matter cause this isn’t what dating is like” Hamzah criticised.

“Suit yourself,” you teased, glancing over at him. “But you’re missing out on some quality entertainment.”

Hamzah’s eyes met yours, and for a moment, you could see how warm and inviting his eyes were, his thick eyelashes, the deep brown colour. He opened his mouth to say something but seemed to think better of it, shaking his head with a smile. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me. Enjoy your show.”

As he walked away, you felt this disappointment of him leaving. Over the months, you couldn’t deny how attracted you were to Hamzah, and maybe it was just the alcohol speaking but he looked gorgeous tonight, and every interaction with him seemed to intensify the emotions you tried so hard to keep in check.

The evening progressed with the usual mix of laughter and commentary, and the frequent refills of your drinks. Mandy and Martin were engrossed in the latest drama between the islanders, while you found your thoughts drifting back to Hamzah. You could hear him moving around in the kitchen, and the low hum of his voice as he hummed a tune. The alcohol in your system made you feel bolder, more aware of your surroundings, and undeniably drawn to Hamzah.

Eventually, a commercial break gave you an excuse to get up and stretch your legs. “I’m going to grab another drink,” you announced, making your way to the kitchen with slightly tipsy movements.

Hamzah looked up as you entered, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “Taking a break from the love triangle drama?”

“Something like that,” you replied, leaning against the counter. “I needed a breather. And maybe some real conversation as you would say.”

He chuckled, passing you a glass of water. “I can definitely offer that. How are you holding up?”

“Good, just the usual work stuff,” you said, taking a sip. “And you? How’s everything going with the channel?”

“Busy as always,” he said, running a hand through his curls. “But I love it. Keeps me distracted.”

As you watched him, you couldn’t help but notice how beautiful he looked tonight. His dark curls framed his face perfectly, and his eyes sparkling with the dim lighting making your heart warm to him more. Was it the alcohol making you see him in this romantic light, or had you always felt this way?

There was a moment of comfortable silence, the kind that often fell between you two. It was in these moments that you felt closest to him, the quiet allowing for an unspoken connection to surface.

“You know,” you began, your voice dropping to a more playful tone, “you’re missing out on all the fun out there. Maybe you should join us and see what all the fuss is about.”

Hamzah looked a little taken aback by your forwardness, his cheeks coloring slightly. “I don’t know if I’d call it fun,” he said, scratching the back of his neck nervously. “But I guess I could sit with you guys for a bit.”

You stepped closer to him, feeling emboldened by the drinks you’d had. “I think you’d enjoy it more than you think,” you said, your voice soft and teasing moving closer to Hamzah.

Hamzah’s eyes widened slightly, and he seemed at a loss for words. “Maybe… maybe I’ll give it a try,” he stammered, his usual confidence momentarily shaken by your proximity.

You smiled, taking another sip of your drink. “Good. It’s always more fun with you around, Hamzah.”

Before he could respond, the sound of Mandy calling your name from the living room broke the moment. “Come on, we’re missing the show!”

You gave Hamzah one last playful look before turning to leave. “Think about it,” you said over your shoulder as you made your way back to the couch.

As you settled back in with Mandy and Martin, you couldn’t help but glance back towards the kitchen, where Hamzah stood, looking a little dazed but undeniably intrigued. The night continued with the usual banter and laughter, but now, there was an unspoken tension between you and Hamzah.

The chatter of Mandy and Martin filled the living room as you huddled on the couch, eyes glued to the chaotic drama of Love Island. The alcohol coursing through your veins loosened your inhibitions and heightened your senses. Each moment spent watching the ridiculous antics on-screen only made you think of Hamzah, who had just slipped into the kitchen for a drink.

You couldn’t help but admire him from afar. The way his dark curls fell effortlessly around his face, the way his shirt clung to his frame just right—it was all mesmerizing. With every laugh that rang out from the room, you felt a flutter of excitement mixed with longing. It was as if the alcohol had amplified everything you felt for him, making him the most attractive person in the room.

Suddenly, Hamzah reappeared in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame. “Hey, can you come here for a second?” His voice broke through your thoughts, and you found yourself looking into his warm, inviting eyes.

“Me?” you asked, slightly surprised but undeniably intrigued. “What’s up?”

“Just something I wanted to show you,” he said, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

Your heart raced at the invitation, and you quickly excused yourself from the couch, making your way to the kitchen. As you stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. It was just you and Hamzah, and the air was thick with unspoken tension.

“What did you want to show me?” you asked, leaning against the counter, feeling slightly tipsy but more confident by the alcohol.

Without answering, Hamzah closed the distance between you in a heartbeat. His hands found your waist as he pulled you closer, and before you could process what was happening, he leaned in and captured your lips with his. The kiss was sudden and electrifying, igniting a rush of warmth that spread through your body.

You melted against him, surprised at the intensity of his kiss and the urgency behind it. Hamzah’s lips moved against yours with a passionate hunger, his touch igniting every nerve in your body. As you responded, kissing him back, you felt your head spin, the world around you fading into nothingness. The kiss deepened, his hands roaming to the small of your back, pulling you even closer as if he never wanted to let go.

Your heart raced as you leaned into him, savoring the taste of his lips and the warmth radiating from his body. The moment felt electric, charged with all the unspoken feelings you had harbored for so long. Hamzah’s breath mingled with yours, creating a shared rhythm that left you breathless. You could feel the heat rising between you, the chemistry strong as you lost yourself in the kiss.

As the kiss continued, you tangled your fingers in his dark curls, deepening the connection, feeling every rush of adrenaline that came with it. Hamzah responded by pressing you against the counter, his body a reassuring weight against yours, grounding you in the midst of the overwhelming emotions swirling around you.

You pulled back for a moment, breathless, your foreheads resting together as you both gasped for air. The playful glint in his eyes now had a serious undertone, a depth of feeling that sent your heart racing all over again. “Wow,” he breathed, still trying to catch his breath. “I didn’t expect that.”

“Neither did I,” you admitted, feeling a giddy rush of exhilaration wash over you.

He smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear, his touch sending shivers down your spine. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.”

“Really?” you asked, your heart soaring at his confession.

“Yeah,” he said, his gaze steady and sincere. “You’re beautiful, and I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while.”

Just then, the sound of Mandy calling from the living room broke the intimate atmosphere. “Hey! What’s taking so long in there?”

You exchanged a knowing look with Hamzah, both of you unable to suppress the smiles spreading across your faces.

“Guess we should get back before they wonder if we’re plotting something,” you said, reluctantly stepping away from him.

Hamzah nodded but lingered for a moment longer, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Maybe we are,” he said teasingly, his voice low.

With one last shared smile, you turned and headed back into the living room, feeling the thrill of the kiss linger in the air. You settled back onto the couch next to Mandy and Martin, trying to focus on the screen while your heart raced with the memory of Hamzah’s lips on yours.

As he rejoined the group, Mandy immediately looked at him with a teasing grin. “What took you so long? Did you find the secret stash of snacks or something?”

Hamzah chuckled, glancing between you and your friends. “Just… got distracted,” he said, his eyes meeting yours for a brief moment, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

Martin raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing something had shifted in the air. “Distracted, huh? Doing what, exactly?” he probed, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

“Oh, you know, just talking,” Hamzah replied, his tone casual, but you could see a hint of nervousness in his demeanor.

Mandy smirked, nudging him playfully. “You two were in there long enough for a serious conversation. What happened!”

You felt your cheeks flush at the teasing, but Hamzah simply laughed it off, shrugging his shoulders. “Nothing major. Just catching up. “

As the teasing continued, you settled into the couch, the warmth of the moment still lingering between you and Hamzah. You could feel his presence beside you, the comfort of being near him made you blush. The electricity of your earlier kiss hung in the air, unspoken yet there.

In a bold move, you leaned into him, resting your head against his shoulder. To your delight, he wrapped an arm around you, pulling you in closer. The warmth radiating from him made you feel safe and cherished, and you couldn’t help but smile.

Hamzah glanced down at you, his expression softening. “You okay?” he asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah,” you replied, looking up at him. “I’m really good, actually.”

He smiled back, his eyes shining with warmth. “Good,” he said softly.

As the episode of Love Island continued, you found yourself stealing glances at Hamzah, who seemed engrossed in the show. Yet, every time your eyes met, a silent understanding passed between you, you are going back to his house tonight.

[yandereunsolved]

Yandere Spawn (MK 11) with a flighty darling—run rabbit, run rabbit, run, run, run

🐍ֶָ֢ Spawn isn't surprised that you are absolutely terrified of him. Having a hellspawn stalk your New York apartment and refuse to leave you alone is one hell of a scare. Still, he refuses to acknowledge that he had a part in intertwining both of your fates. It wasn't exactly difficult. You are simply a human—a mortal.

A little magic here and there and stealing your soul from your body and infecting it with a part of him also helped.

🐍ֶָ֢ You were a perfect Earthrealmer. Despite your need to flee every time he materialized out of thin air. He almost never spoke. He was like a ghost. He'd drop off groceries or things that you had been wanting to buy for the longest time. He'd sit on the edge of your couch and watch movies with you. Although he'd mostly just stare at you. It's a bad habit of his, but he just can't stop it. Your aura is so irresistible. Still, you would hide behind your couch, under your bed, or run out of your apartment and not return for hours on end.

So he tried to amend this by being as non-threatening as possible. He'd try to make himself appear smaller. He'd move something gently to notify you right before he would appear. He kept nightmares out of your dreams. The bad energy and entities that were attracted by him were never allowed within your space.

🐍ֶָ֢ You tried using holy objects on him! From every religion, you tried something. Some objects would burn him more than others, but he was used to the suffering at this point. Spawn would pluck the object out of your hand and offer his instead. You'd start fearfully sobbing and praying to a deity, or deities. It was more of an inconvenience if anything. 

He's already pissed off enough gods in his lifetime. He doesn't need one stealing your soul back and keeping you from him.

🐍ֶָ֢ It doesn't help that his K7-Leetha, and by extension his cape, have taken a liking to you. Leetha reaches out to you often, taking a hold of you. He isn't the one doing it. It's the parasite willing his body to hold you. He feels the need to emphasize this since you don't believe him. It's one of the few times he has actually used his words.

He doesn't fear much, but he fears himself. He fears himself hurting the only person he loves.

That's so fucking cheesy, he knows. It's like the plot of some stupid, shitty paranormal romance book, like his ex read.

It terrifies him. His cape will wrap you up and snuggle into you, feeding off of your warmth and energy.

It makes you woozy and panicky, only fueling him.

🐍ֶָ֢ You try to attack him, and he lets you. He can't help but chuckle at your pathetic attempt. You're like a cornered animal attacking the person trying to help you. It didn't work any of the other times, so why would it work now?

He's truly okay with it.

If it makes you feel safe, then he'll take some gunshots, punches, knives, and anything else you throw at him.

🐍ֶָ֢ Spawn tries his best to be vulnerable with you so you aren't as skittish. He speaks a little of his backstory, trying to make his voice less deep and gritty so as not to intimidate you. He asks you to call him any name, any nickname, just not Albert or Spawn. Albert has long since died, and Spawn has been through far too much to be loveable. He's just whatever he is with you. He's okay with that.

🐍ֶָ֢ The most important part is to hide his grizzly murders from you. You know he is a hellspawn and has some horrible shit and some good things sprinkled along in there. Still, his slaughters for you are sacrificial in nature. They feed him and give his obsession life. It makes Leetha even more protective of you. You make Spawn happy. You make his systems all fuzzy and hormone-y. That's how Leetha would describe it.

He keeps this secret like his life depends on it. You're getting more used to him. Why make you scared of him again?

[finniestoncrane]

Ik this is sorta late depending on time zones and this ask being cheesy as hell but what would the Riddlers do for Valentine's Day with reader? Something cheesy asf? Or not celebrating it at all? I wanna know I'm curious as hell now

Valentine's Date

Riddler Headcanons gosh i rushed so fast to get this done today!! luckily, it was a blessing as work was SLOW! so here are the boys and how they would celebrate valentine's day in my mind because i am down bad for them all and live in a fantasy world where they would all try and do something nice for you 💚 request info • prompt list • send me a request • kofi • masterlist minors DNI!! 🔞 cw: suggestive stuff but it's mostly fluff!!

young justice

i can almost guarantee that if you're spending valentine's day with him, it'll be the first one he's had with a partner

so he is pushing the boat out. or... as best as he can... what with the nerves

he wouldn't do something too extravagant, not too fancy or big. that would only increase the number of people he might embarrass himself in front of

he's far more keen on taking you to a quiet, unexpected but comfortable restaurant with quiet music and only a few tables, so he can talk to you and hear you properly

he'd buy you a single rose, hire the violinist to play a song by your table, your favourite tune

no dancing, he's got two left feet, but he will reach across the table and hold your hand, stroking it with his thumb and looking into your eyes

and when he takes you home, he'll walk you to your door and offer you a shy, reserved kiss

whether or not you pull him through the door by his tie and ravage the poor beast is up to you

unburied

he wouldn't actually ask you out for valentine's day

he'd give you a rant about capitalism and how it's a made up holiday and that you should keep your calendar clear anyway just in case he decides to do an ironic date

you'd think his goal was to embarrass you, in fact, because he's showing up to your house with a little remote control and blasting your favourite song out of every speaker system you own

"hey, sh... don't ask how i know your favourite song or how i got control of your devices. just... stop thinking about it. hey. hey! you're thinking about it... don't think about it, sh you're too pretty to think about it. let me think about it, i'm smarter and prettier"

dinner isn't anything too special either. takeout pizza on a rooftop in gotham somewhere. it could be romantic though, and it would be to someone desperately in love with him like you

listening to him talk about light pollution, asking if you want to hear some riddles about constellations, pointing out the various places he's hid from his enemies

it's not traditional by any means, but it is oddly romantic. dinner, music, time alone under the dulled stars. maybe that was his plan all along

gotham

oh we are going WHOLE HOG here for valentine's day!! you know he's an old romantic, a sweet and gentle soul

so don't think for a moment that you'll be seeing any other people that day, your attention will be solely focused on each other

he's sent, uh... someone has sent in some miscellaneous threat to your workplace, so luckily for you(!) you're not required to go in! SO SURPRISE!! he's here to make you breakfast

and then a brief walk down some of the quieter streets, where he might be brave enough to ask if he can hold your hand

once you're at his apartment, you're in for some respectable but tension filled cuddles on his sofa while you watch some classic romance movies

and then he's making a beautiful three course meal for you both! pressed tablecloth on his little dining table, roses in a conical flask, candles in test tubes (is he stealing these from work?)

he'll feed you little bits of food, wiping your face with a napkin, staring into your eyes dreamily

and then the night will end with a perfect and very polite kiss that you'll wish wouldn't end

telltale

he knows how to do romance, he's been around long enough. it's more a question of whether he can be bothered to celebrate

but he'll pull himself together and act the perfect gentleman for you, regardless of how tired he is after a day of committing violent/cyber crime and being oddly agile for a man in receipt of a state pension

(a fact which will come in handy at the end of the evening...)

he'll start off the evening with the traditional gifts. a box of expensive chocolates or candy, perfectly suited to your dietary requirements of course. and a bouquet of flowers. not roses, but your favourites. he knows they'll make you happier

he's not one for being out in public, what with the whole "is he dead" thing, so you'll be dining in BUT to make it special, he has hired a discreet personal chef to provide the food for the evening

slow, quiet jazz playing in the background, just you, him, and the waiters he has hired and has threatened under extreme violence to keep their mouths shut about this particular shift

could it get any more romantic??

arkham

bless his heart but this eddie is forgetting that it's valentine's day until you're handing him a card, grasping it between his dirty fingers, smudging the soft pink colour with grimy fingerprints

then, you'll endure a fifteen minute long lecture about why you should have at least had the sense to warn him in advance, or to remind him, since you know how he can be

and when he's done, he'll be pushing you out of the room, getting rid of you so he can "finish his important work" and only then can you consider "doing something for this silly holiday"

really, he's just looking for an excuse to get you away so he can work on your very last minute present without you seeing

which of course, he'll present to you as though he had been pretending to forget all along

"i made you this, it's a symbol of our relationship"

it's the remnants of a neon question mark bent into place to resemble a heart. and there's hot glue still drying on it. and a screw stuck to it

but it's the thought that counts, and the thought is there! after all he loves you enough to have lied and put aside his important welding or whatever to haphazardly craft the lie

dano

for him, valentine's day is about showing your love for someone. because you can love them every day, but this is an excuse to make a display out of it

so expect a myriad of gifts, food, perfumes, vouchers, jewellery, stuffed animals, flowers, a handmade valentine's card

enough that it makes you guilty (and enough that you wonder if he really has just been saving all his salary instead of spending it on... furniture or therapy)

then, the personalised activities! most of which involve you doing his quiz all about you and your relationship with him, solving several riddles that lead you to a hidden compartment in the wall of his bedroom (weird.) where he's stuffed his poems to you (sweet!) which he will then recite to you, stuttering over the words and blushing the whole time

but it's not enough for him, he wants to shout it from the rooftops, show the world how much he loves you and appreciates you

he's had all this love bottled up for so long with no one deserving to give it to! let's just hope it comes out in a healthy way...

btaa

he's swooping in to your apartment very late at night

"it's only 11pm, it's still valentine's day mi amorrrrr"

look, he's very sorry that he wasn't able to spend the day with you, and that he's incredibly late to the dinner you had planned

but he's a busy little criminal, he has so many things to do AND he had to do it all by himself because he gave miss tuesday the day off so she could go on a date of her own and-

oh see! you've changed your mind now, no longer grumpy, because he was actually doing something kind for someone else

he really is a generous soul, emphasised by the fact that the reason he was late was because he was pulling off a perfect heist in a jewellery store uptown

so... did you save any leftovers for him? or is he going to have to return this beautiful ring/watch/necklace he bought you?

twojar

he's a curveball, like seriously give you whiplash kind of valentine's date

you think it's going to be a very standard evening, after all there you both are in black tie best, sipping expensive champagne, him talking about himself while you try hard not to stare at his tits

but when the meal is finished, he goes to pay in secret and then rushes you out into a car with tinted windows, and it's lucky he can get you so hot and flushed and eager that quickly, since it's not long before you arrive at the next spot

a strip club

which is? i mean not a traditional valentine's day date location, but it could be very hot

and he's booked one of the private rooms for you both, so at least you won't have to hide your blushing cheeks from the rest of the guests

but it becomes very obvious that there isn't a dancer coming to entertain you, and you worry that he expects you to get up there and put on a show, which would be a disaster because you haven't planned anything and-

"happy valentine's day"

ah. of course. why would the world's most self-absorbed man think you would want anything else for valentine's day than a private strip tease from him

and he's annoyingly very right in that assumption

btas

he absolutely does the most! and the most is often cheesy and dorky and therefor a million times more precious

the kind of guy who would buy you a rose for every day he's known you, regardless of how many days he has known you

the kind of guy who gets those little personalised lego figures made of you and him, or gets a plushie of him to give to you so he'll always be near you (and you know he's putting the personalised message in if he gets it from build a bear)

he knows your favourite starter, main and dessert are all from different restaurants, so he's made the reservations at all three with plenty of time for romantic rides in the back of cabs between each stop

it's important he has plenty of time to cover your neck with kisses, and for you to tell him how adorable he is

and then, because he is the cheesiest but in the best way, it's more than likely he'd use valentine's day as an excuse to propose to you, so he's down on one knee under the cloudy gotham night sky to ask you to marry him (and you're obviously not going to say no)

zero year

he doesn't do valentine's day, what a waste of time! he's nice enough to you the rest of the year, why should there be one day where he has to do something extra fo-

oh? oh! oh ok, if it means you have to do something for him too, then he's down for it

yes... that sounds like a wonderful excuse to get up to some mischief... (it's concerning how evil his little face looks when he's supposedly considering activities for the most romantic of holidays...)

although, why bother going out somewhere on a date, it's such a waste of time and effort

he has to keep his energy for more important things, and speaking of... he can think of very few ways to spend an evening that are better than taking you into the bedroom and sharing an exchange of giving for a few solid hours

no need to wear something nice, it's only going to get stripped off

no need to get him a gift, you'll be giving him plenty

and no need to eat something, he'll make sure you don't leave hungry, trust him

[jaylver]

GOLDEN HOUR — S.JY

synopsis: a lovesick jake wasn’t going to stop himself from being impulsive and say those three words that he has been saving for another time. seeing you during the golden hour, sun beaming on your skin, looking ever so perfect, he couldn’t hold himself back. how could you blame the poor guy anyway?

pairings: non-idol!jake x afab!reader

genre: undertone of friends to lovers, fluff, cheesy confessions, romance

warning(s): profanities

wc: 889

a/n: a little self indulgent fic hehe. hope you'll enjoy this! please leave some feedbacks and reblogs are greatly appreciated! muah <3

masterlist | © jaylver all rights reserved.

Jake was in love. 

It wasn’t those typical teen romances where people dated just for the sake of experience, no, it was something more than that. A connection deep enough to etch into the skins of one another, pulling you to him and him to you, there was an undying spark that continuously lingered without extinguishing.

Jake was the embodiment of love. He was love itself. 

It was one of those days where it was only you and him, alone in his car right after he had picked you up and drove you home. But instead of leaving right away, the car was parked a few blocks down from yours, Frank Ocean’s ‘Blonde’ playing on shuffle in the background. The sky was a hue of pink and orange, telling you that it was time to head home, yet you weren’t willing to.

“Thanks for driving me home … again,” you laughed, feeling slightly embarrassed for having inconvenienced Jake, but he was thinking the complete opposite of being inconvenienced.

“It’s no problem,” Jake smiled, and no matter how hard he tried, he was still nervous around you. Maybe because he was dying to profess his love for you, confess and get you to be his, but he was holding himself back. “It’s along the way back to my house anyway,” it wasn’t.

Jake could already imagine the missed calls from his mother, text messages asking about his whereabouts, making it a routine for him to be home a little later than usual. 

“Still, I feel bad sometimes,” you shrugged out of earnest. “But I’m really grateful, though,”

“I want to do this, Y/N, don’t feel bad,” his hold on the steering wheel tightened, watching the sun hitting your skin, making it almost glitter-like. You were the most beautiful person he has ever seen.

You nodded, biting on your lips thoughtfully. “I don’t really want to leave,”

Jake swore he felt his heart stop and revive, then proceeding to beat at ten times speed. The effect of your words surely made him light headed. “Then don’t,” he joked lightly, highkey dying internally. “‘Blonde’s’ still playing! Plus, ivy is next, isn’t it your favourite song?”

“You remembered!”

Of course he did. He remembered everything about you like second nature.

“It's nothing,” he laughed, waving you off, but internally feeling giddy when he saw your beaming face. You were so, so pretty.

“It is something to me,” you said softly and truthfully, staring into those puppy eyes of his.

“I like you,” Jake blurted out, as if the words were poured out before it even went through his mind. He did not expect himself to do this at all. Fuck. 

Your wide eyes and gaped mouth only made him anxious, short silence filling the space between you two. Say something! Say something!

“I like you too, Jake,”

There it was.

“W–what?”

“Hm?” you tilted your head, looking back at Jake’s shock expression. “Did you expect a rejection instead?”

“Well—kinda—no—uh—” he was stuttering. The famous charmer Jake Sim was actually stuttering and losing his composure. 

“I like you, very very much,” you said it again, each time making Jake’s heart flutter insanely. 

“God, Y/N, you’re—” he exhaled, in disbelief that he had bagged his crush, “—everything, absolutely everything to me,”

Jake reached over for you and pulled you into his arms, squeezing you tight. The moment he let go, his eyes wouldn’t leave your face. He was taking every part of you in, gaze wandering every inch of your features as if he was memorising them.

“I—uhm—should leave, shouldn’t I?” you broke the momentary silence, noticing the time gradually slipping by. “As much as I want to stay, I don’t think my mum would approve,”

“O–oh, yeah! Sorry, I forgot,” he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, managing a lopsided smile for you. 

“It’s okay. Text me when you reach home safely, will you?”

“I will,” he squeezed your hand in reassurance. “You should get going now,”

“I probably should,” you nodded, holding onto your things tightly. “Bye, Jakey,”

“Bye,” he breathed out, staring at you with so much love that no one else could amount to. But then, he remembered something.

“Hey—” he went to stop you before you could exit his car, “so, summer’s coming up and I was wondering if you’d like to go somewhere with me,”

“Something like a date?”

“Very much so,”

“I’d love to,”

“Cool,”

“Cool,” you repeated, snickering a little at Jake’s reddening ears. “Make sure to tell me about your plans. Bye!” you snuck a quick peck on his cheek before exiting the car and slamming the door shut, turning around to wave him goodbye before disappearing behind your front door, all while the only thing Jake could do was stay in shock.

His fingers lingered on the spot your lips had made contact with, giddiness welled up in Jake’s stomach, butterflies swarming and heart going crazy. You just had that effect on him, always, undoubtedly.

It was just two lovers, sitting in the car, listening to ‘Blonde’ and falling for each other. Tension finally broken and true feelings revealed, Jake could die a happy man right there and then. You were his golden hour, his radiant beam in the night, the love of his life, and he wouldn’t trade anything for it.

( © jaylver all rights reserved. do NOT copy, plagiarise or edit my work and repost whatsoever. once discovered will be exposed and blacklisted. )

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[disillusioneddanny]

People Watching (Jason/Danny)

Jason leaned back in his seat at the bookshop, his eyes no longer on his book but the couple in front of him.  They were around college age, from what Jason could see. He had started watching them when blond girl started laughing at a joke until she started to cry. It hadn’t been an all that funny joke, either but it was cute the way she seemed to hang on the brunet man’s every single word. From what Jason got from their eavesdropping, they had been together for four years. Or well, forty nine months since they had decided to loudly count out the months. 

She had a ring on her finger but she still called him her boyfriend. And they had talked about meeting in some class, metaphysical philosophy, the guy had supplied. Jason’s heart felt light as he listened to them, he was happy for them, he was. 

It was why he was watching them, why he was listening to the guy, his name was Jeremy, apparently, as he teased Hannah, the blond, about how she acted around the holidays. His heart felt light and he felt a longing that he recognized so insanely intimately. It was the same ache that he got any time he spent time people watching. 

He wanted to feel all that love and emotion for himself one day. Dreamt of the day that he would be able to be attached to the person he was holding, not just having someone warm his bed for the night. He wanted to fall without caution, to be so utterly in love with someone that he laughed at their bad jokes.  

He didn’t know if that would ever actually happen for him, though. How could it when he had screwed up so many things in his life? He had died, come back, become a murderer, a crime lord and practically ruined any chance he had at a normal life. Jason had dreams once upon a time, hopes that he wanted to accomplish one day. He had wanted to go to college and fall in love like the couple in front of him had. That wasn’t in the cards, though, not for someone who was still considered legally dead. 

“They’re so cute it’s disgusting,” a voice said with a snort. Jason looked up from his book to find someone taking a seat beside him on the plush couch, a coffee mug wrapped in their hands. “But yet, I still always get wistful when I see couples like that,” they said softly. 

“Yeah, me too,” Jason said quietly, picking up his mug of tea. 

“I’m Danny,” the man said as Jason took a moment to look over his new people watching partner. He was just a little shorter than Jason, dark black hair was pulled back into a bun at the back of his head. Jason could just barely see a hint of a tattoo peeking out from the collar of Dnany’s shirt. But the thing that really got him, was the crystal blue eyes that seemed to shine in the low lights of the cheesy hipster coffee shop they were sitting in.

“Jason,” the vigilante said with a small smile. “So, I’m assuming you’re a people watcher too?”

Danny let out a hum. “I suppose, I mean, I’m only looking just to live through them vicariously. I’ve never really been in love, at least not seriously,” he said quietly, his eyes glued to the couple, a familiar longing in his eyes. 

Jason gave him a small, tentative smile. “No I get it,” he said with a soft laugh as he looked back at the couple, the man now holding the woman’s hand in his and staring at her like she was the only person in the world. “I have a problem with cutting people out if they get too close. I end up all alone each time, but for some reason I just keep hoping that I’ll find it one day.”

Danny nodded and took a sip of his coffee before he looked over at Jason and gave him a kind smile. “It’s scary,” he admitted quietly. “To let someone get so close, to let them love you, even the bad parts of you that you try to keep hidden away.”

“It is,” Jason admitted, carefully closing his book, taking note of the page he had left it on. “It’s funny, I read so many romance novels, I love romantic comedies but to actually allow myself to feel vulnerable like that in my day to day life? It’s fuckin’ terrifying.”

At that, his new friend let out a soft laugh and nodded his head. “It’s so scary to let someone know me. It’s just so much safer to just not allow people to get close and know all of my secrets. But at the same time,  it’s all just so monotone and lonely,” he said, his eyes still shining with an unspoken sadness. 

Jason knew what he was going to say next was going to sound cheesy as fuck. Knew that there was a chance that Danny was going to laugh in his face. But he had to try, had to just give himself a moment to shoot his shot and see if maybe it would work. How could it not? Even if Danny didn’t know Jason’s exact problems or hangups, he still understood where Jason was coming from. Knew just as well at how terrifying it was to let someone know him. 

“I know we just met, and I started this conversation in a really depressing way,” Danny started, turning to fully look at Jason. “But I actually came over here to get to know you. I saw you when I was ordering my coffee and I just, I wanted to get to know you,” he said before his face turned a bright red as he looked down at his coffee and blushed. “I’m sorry, I’m being weird.”

“No,” Jason said with a small smile. “You’re not, not at all. I’d like to keep talking to you. You get it,” he said, feeling his own cheeks heat up slightly at the admission. 

“I get it,” Danny asked, the corners of his eyes crinkling. Jason just snorted and shook his head. “What are you reading?”

“Anna Karenina,” Jason admitted, showing the cover. “It’s considered one of the greatest pieces of literature ever written.”

Danny smiled, a beautiful thing showing off dimples in his cheeks. “Tell me about it? I’ve never read it.”

A wide grin spread on Jason’s face as he launched into an in depth summary about Anna Karenina and why it was one of his favorite novels of all time. 

Somehow a coffee meet cute turned into a coffee date, and then a coffee date turned into a dinner date. The dinner date led to Danny inviting Jason over for dinner and a movie. And that led to book dates and movie dates, it turned into spending more days at Danny’s house than he did at his safe houses. It led to nights in bed, the lights out and the blankets over their heads as they learned each others deepest secrets, whispering childhood stories and childhood traumas to one another in the safety of the dark. 

Jason found himself falling more and more as each day passed by. He found himself holding Danny in his arms as he dreamed about a house behind a picket fence, and started building a home for himself in Danny’s embrace. 

“I love you,” was whispered between the two of them late at night. Soon Jason found himself meeting Danny’s family, a sister and two best friends who were like siblings to him. And Danny found himself being dragged to the manor to meet the insane hoard of siblings and an emotionally repressed father. 

Secrets were passed between them, talks about their deaths, their lives as teen heroes, the desire to just have something normal. That led to the agreement of being one another’s something normal. 

It eventually led to Jason moving into Danny’s home, boxes carried between them and friends as they unpacked Jason’s things and melded their lives together. 

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Danny said with a laugh as he fell onto the couch beside Jason, throwing a blanket over their legs after. He smiled as he held out his hand to show off the silver band that Jason had just given him hours before. 

“I can’t believe you walked up to a random stranger to talk about people watching and it led to this,” Jason murmured, nipping at Danny’s earlobe. Danny snorted and turned his head to give the vigilante a soft kiss. 

“Worth it,” he murmured, cupping Jason’s face in his hands. “Completely and absolutely worth it.”

“I love you, Danny Todd,” Jason murmured, rubbing his nose against Danny’s.  

“I love you too, Jason Todd,” Danny whispered, his lips a hair’s breadth away from Jason’s. “Thanks for letting me in.”

Jason just smiled. “Thanks for not cutting me out,” he murmured before closing the distance between them and kissing his husband deeply.

Come chat with me on the new DPxDC 18+ SFW Discord Server! Dm me for an invite if you're 18 or older<3

[roosteraloha]

in sickness

jake seresin x reader

wc - 3k

warnings - talks of poor mental health, not looking after yourself, chronic pain discussions, a lot of angst but also a lot of fluff !!

disclaimer - ANY BLANK/AGELESS BLOGS WILL BE BLOCKED!! I also DO NOT give permission for any of my works to be copied, shared, compiled, translated or posted onto other sites!!

a/n - I hope this fic can provide you a bit comfort, whether you experience chronic pain or not!! life is terrible right now and this is my little bit of comfort while I get through this flare up. pls always take care of yourselves <3

comments & reblogs are greatly appreciated!!

You had been feeling off for a while. You couldn’t pinpoint exactly when this feeling started, it just did. And it sucked. Usually a bright and hard working individual, you now felt more like a shell of who you used to be - more than you ever had before.

With no family around, this was the year you’d truly be alone for the holiday season. A welcome change to the fake smile you’d plaster on, anything to avoid more for your family to pick you apart for. Anything to avoid being seen as the family failure even more.

Working part time as a barista while you continued your studies at a new campus, began merely as a way to pay rent and pay the remaining tuition, which failed to be covered by your scholarships. Now, your work was a chance to escape both from your family issues and your school work, a chance to just be.

A few months into living in San Diego, you’d developed a much needed routine; classes in the day, serving regulars at the little café, then studying more when you got home.

There was one regular at the café that always made your smile a bit brighter, a real smile, rather than the fake customer service one that you had perfected.

A tall, blonde aviator.

He arrived like clockwork every single day, ordered the same drink and pastry each day, and something you noticed the longer you worked there, only gave his signature wink and drawl of “Thanks darlin’” to you. A fact that gave you a flutter of butterflies each time he walked through the door.

It had taken you a few months to work up the courage to accept his invitation of a date, ironically he insisted on just going for a coffee (or any drink you'd prefer, as he insisted), which then progressed to him regularly joining you at the café on your late shifts. Jake was the absolute definition of a gentleman, opening and holding doors for you, insisting on walking you home, saying “I couldn’t sleep not knowing if you got home safe darlin’”.

It made your heart flutter to have the attention of such a man. You’d imagined that this type of love would only ever exist in cheesy romance books, but Jake exceeded even those standards and expectations.

Having Jake in your life was a blessing. One that you would never take for granted. Even on your bad days.

It wasn’t that you were intentionally ignoring Jake, it was more the fact that you instinctively knew that as soon as you let him get a proper answer from you, he’d instantly know something was wrong and immediately try and fix it. Something your younger self would crave, but now, you couldn’t find it in you to care. Going from class to class, then to work, picking up extra shifts just to occupy your mind, leaving earlier and earlier, coming home later and later.

It was a good thing you lived alone and hadn’t caved to Jake’s repeated attempts to get you to move in with him, which realistically would be the best idea both for your commute and your relationship, not to mention that you slept over at his place almost daily. However, this flare up of poor moods and anxiety, was clouding your logical view, and you refused each and every plea from your loving boyfriend. You knew he was only looking out for you, but you couldn’t help the irritation that prickled up stronger with each invitation. The insinuation that you couldn’t look after yourself, that you needed someone to take care of you. A snappy comment lodged in your throat, but finding yourself too detached to even voice it.

Living alone provided you with the much needed sanctuary where you could just be. Somewhere you didn’t need to worry about someone seeing just how badly you were suffering on a day to day basis. You knew deep down, that living with Jake would better for you both, but you had particularly stubborn streak that had developed from the constant dismissal of your feeling from your family. Jake, you knew would never be like them, he was far too observant to not notice, and far too caring to let you suffer alone.

It wasn’t until Jake cornered you on your mandatory day off that he finally found the perfect opportunity to get to the bottom of your sudden emotional polarity. He’d cleared the leave with Cyclone, citing a hurried mention of a ‘family emergency’, which to Jake this was, and consequently receiving the next week off without any further explanation.

Knowing your penchant for burying any negative feelings, and faking your way through your days off which aligned with his in the past, Jake followed his normal morning routine. An early wake up call, one which to his growing concern, you were seemingly awake before, a bland breakfast of toast and coffee, then heading to his truck, backing out his truck, then instead of the usual commute to base, Jake parked at the end of the street and waited an hour before heading back.

Jake was greeted by a silent home. If he didn’t know better, he’d think that there was nobody home, but your keys were still by the door, your shoes messily stacked by the coat hooks, everything in the exact place as when he left.

Frowning, he makes his way through the house, scanning every room for any signs that you had moved from your curled position on the bed, the one you hadn’t moved from since you got home the night before.

There was a small crack in the paint of Jake’s bedroom wall.

A minute crack really.

Just to the right of the bedroom door, creeping up from the baseboards. Barely noticeable to anyone else, but you have been so fixated on it, unable to tear your gaze away from it. A quick lick of paint, even one of those tester rollers that Jake kept in his toolbox would do it. But yet again, you couldn’t find it in you to care.

Huffing at nothing in particular, you blink slowly, your eyes drying out from your blank, unwavering stare, the blood vessels shot around your irises, irritated more with each blink.

Jake slowly pushes the bedroom door open, having paused to watch your empty stare, growing more concerned with each passing minute. On your best days, you weren’t known to be the most bubbly and social person, but still made the effort anyway. Now? Now Jake was halfway to calling in reinforcements, in whatever way he could to try and get through to you, even if you hated him afterwards.

His slow pace to your side was an effort to not startle you, he needn’t have worried, you didn’t even flinch, like you normally did, when he pressed a gentle kiss to your exposed shoulder.

Having come from a very complex family, with a concerning lack of physical contact, you often found yourself flinching away from people, getting overwhelmed when people refused to give you space, getting frustrated with your feelings, unable to communicate your desires and needs for physical interaction, romantic or platonic. It was something that Jake had easily picked up on, quickly learning your tells, learning exactly what you craved, without you having to explicitly say anything at all.

Sighing, Jake decided to take a risk, you have been known to lash out in the past, whenever you haven’t been warned about incoming physical contact. Exhaling slowly, praying to whatever he could, Jake slid his hand gently up your arm, getting you used to his touch before pulling you up into a sitting position, crouching before you, directly in your eye line.

Jake nudged you gently, trying to get a response from you. startling from the movement, your gaze darts from the paint crack to Jake’s hand on your knee. Goosebumps erupt across your arms as you focus on the sensation of his large, warm hand on your skin. Feeling your muscles tense under his hand, he rubs his thumb in soothing circles, trying to placate your instinct to flinch away.

Breath hitching in your throat, you instinctively jolt backwards, away from Jake. He exhales loudly, disappointed and slightly hurt that you still have this reaction to him after all this time. Jake has always been the perfect boyfriend, always there to be supportive, even when you often feel that you don’t deserve it.

Having zoned back into reality, you refuse to make eye contact with Jake, instead keeping him in your periphery as you cautiously shuffle back towards him. Jake raises an eyebrow at the sudden change, it was highly unusual for you to even try and instigate physical proximity, where this would normally be a good thing, today, it added to his growing concern that you were not okay. Far from it.

Jake tried and failed to catch your eye line, eyes darting away from him with each attempt. Deciding on a different approach, Jake knelt from his crouched position, “Darlin’ when was the last time you ate?” A halfhearted shrug was the only response, while an improvement, Jake’s heart ached knowing you needed his help and support desperately, but knew you were too nervous and stubborn to ask on a good day, that today he stood no chance of getting a response from you.

Feeling a wave of confidence, you flicked your eyes over to Jake, scanning his features, taking in his clear concern and worry about you. Heart pounding in your chest, you anxiously clench your hand tightly into a fist a few times, before slowly reaching your hand out to Jake, quickly retracting it as you begin to overthink it.

Brows furrowed, Jake moves to sit beside you, leaving a space between you, softly smiling in encouragement as your eyes follow his movements and then slowly turn your body to face him.

“What do you need from me right now?” His voice quiet, yet steady and comforting. Another weak shrug. Registering the increasing frustration in Jake’s expression, you shakily reach out for his hand, intertwining your fingers and taking in all the calluses and faint scars on his hand, finding the simple contact immediately calming, feeling bold enough to express your want.

A gentle tug on his hand, your hand slowing moving up his arm, then round his waist, climbing slowing and shakily into his lap, curling up his strong embrace, nuzzling your head into his chest. Jake stayed still in disbelief, this was everything he dreamed you’d one day be comfortable to ask for, never mind instigate of your own will. Smiling to himself in pride, he readjusts his position on the edge of his bed, a soothing hand in your hair, scratching lightly at your scalp, something that Jake had noticed eaisly helped you relax. After a few moments your muscles slowly began to relax and eyes growing heavy.

The rapid succession of sneezes and soft whimpers that Jake woke to in the afternoon, alerted him to the root cause of your recent lack of responsiveness. A soft grumble was followed by you curling back into Jake’s side, nuzzling into his warmth, finding comfort from him wherever you could.

In the entire span of your relationship, Jake can only recall you being sick a handful of times. Perhaps something to do with your insistence of maintaining your personal space Jake has always thought, but you sick was an experience, one that Jake hated. Thinking back over the past few weeks, the warning signs that you were getting sick, were now glaringly obvious and Jake was mentally kicking himself for not paying close enough attention.

Gathering the various medicines from his bathroom, ones that he had previously taken note of that seemed to help ease your symptoms the best. Jake sets the various bottles and packets on the bedside table, picking one at random to try and convince you to take.

Narrowing your bloodshot eyes at Jake, you shake your head vehemently, an action you quickly regret. Clutching at your head in agony, you whimper quietly, shifting back towards Jake, burying your head in the crook of his neck and clinging to him like a lifeline.

Gently coaxing you out from your comfortable position, Jake’s heart broke knowing he’s asking you to do the opposite of everything you’d been working on together. Eyes glassy with unshed tears, you try to cling to the comfort of his embrace, confused as to why Jake was forcing you away from him. Unable to think logically in your pained state, you took this as a rejection, promptly turning away from Jake, putting as much distance between you both as his king sized bed allowed.

A pill is placed firmly in your hand, a chance to take it yourself, one you instantly refused, tossing the pill over your shoulder, hopefully somewhere in Jake’s direction, you couldn’t really find it in you to care.

A startled yelp leaves your lips as you’re manhandled by Jake, your back now resting against his chest, a firm arm across your waist, keeping you close in his hold. You were too weak to fight him anyway, but Jake took the precaution anyway.

He knows you.

Much to your chagrin, another pill is placed in the palm of your hand. Craning your neck to see Jake’s motives, you’re annoyed to see a blank expression, all he does is gesture to the pill in your hand, and look away from you completely.

Having suffered from chronic pain for years, you despise each pill you have to take, from many years of doctors just giving you pill after pill without listening to your concerns. Now you find yourself avoiding doctors, or any medication wherever you can. Jake knew this, it was something discussed early on in your relationship, not wanting him to feel ignored when you inevitably had a flare up and consequently spent the next week or two in bed recovering, which is why you feel so hurt when he keeps insisting on you taking this medication.

When your equally blank stare at Jake goes on too long, he sighs heavily, pulling you back with him as he leans back against the headboard. Feeling the rumble of his low voice behind you had a surprisingly soothing effect, “Darlin’. Please just let me take care of you.”

When that didn’t produce a response, “C’mon darlin’, it’s breaking my heart to see you in so much pain.”

Turning in his hold, cupping his cheek with your hand momentarily, causing him to flinch at how cold you felt, slowly sitting, reaching for the pill and quickly swallowing the bitterness with the glass of water that jake insisted you keep by the bed whenever you’d stay over. Several kisses are pressed across your hairline and forehead, soft mumblings of praise continue as you settle back in his arms.

“I know how much you hate taking them, but you have to in order to get better darlin’.” Scoffing in disapproval, and resentment of your boyfriend yet again being right, results in Jake wrapping his arms even tighter around you, careful of any known sensitive areas, pressing more gentle kisses to the top of your head.

“Before you get too comfortable, we’ve got to get you something to eat. God knows when you last ate a proper meal.”

You swallowed cautiously, “That time you cooked your grandmother’s recipe.”

Silence.

You felt him tense behind you, sitting up straighter, gentle fingers at your chin in an effort for you to look at him.

“Sweetheart… That was almost a week ago.”

Shrugging, you try a nonchalant approach, knowing Jake would not like the answer, “I eat stuff at the café and in between classes when I can. I just don’t have time to cook a full meal anymore Jake.”

Exasperated, Jake pulls you to stand, wrapping a blanket around your shoulders, then taking your hand gently and leading downstairs to the kitchen. He busies himself, after seating you on the counter, checking cupboards and the fridge to see what he could pull together for you both. Settling on something basic, he gets to cooking, something he enjoys. Not that Jake liked to openly share this with his fellow aviators, in case of any ribbing and teasing, yet another reason he had been overly cautious as to not introduce you to the group already.

The delectable scents wafting in your direction results in several rumbles from your stomach, a light blush stains your cheeks when Jake glanced in your direction with a teasing smile. Shrugging playfully in response brings a bright grin to Jake’s face, the one that always has you smiling along with him, because how could you be sad when he looked at you like that, with that much love in his eyes just for you?

One lovingly home cooked meal later, you’re yet again tucked into Jake’s side in his bed, considerably more relaxed than when Jake left in the morning. With the self-reflection that you’d both started to keep your relationship healthy, you knew you weren’t the best at looking after yourself, which only got worse during a flare up or sickness. Jake however, was your constant. A strong caring and protective streak, you would never suffer alone again.

“I missed this. I missed you. Can we stay like this for just a bit longer?” You murmur quietly into his chest, arms tightening around his waist.

“Of course darlin’,” Jake places a soft kiss on the crown of your head.

“You don’t even need to ask.”

While there were some days that you felt so isolated and a burden, those days were notably fewer now that you had Jake in your life.

You just didn’t know that Jake vowed from the day you confessed your struggles that he would always be there to look after you.

In sickness and in health.

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[tomwaterbabies]

another thing i like about the take that hugo doesn't know wtf a romance is and is genuinely a ball of nerves when it comes to intimacy and affection, is that comparing varian's whole situation to this is funny and interesting. like. varian isn't exactly experienced either. in fact he's pretty bad at this. he's cheesy in a really dorky way, he's forward and doesn't have the best filter (again, look at how a little childhood crush was like, let alone Actually falling in love). you look at varian and it's like... yeah how are you gonna manage Romance. and then there's hugo. varian is bad, but he at least isn't at hugo's nuclear levels of emotional repression. so it's always effective on hugo, because hugo is even worse with this stuff (somehow). it's also effective bc he loves him very much. obviously

[nunudolly]

ᕡ ᕠ Princess treatment whit Jakeᰔᩚ

⁺₊ ✦pairing. jake x reader.

⁺₊ ✦ tags. fluff / romance / soft!jake

⁺₊ ✦ synopsis. This is a little bit about you and Jake and how he would make you feel like a princess!

ᥫ᭡ Affection in words

"My God, you are so beautiful"

"What did I do to deserve a bride as beautiful as you?"

"You are really beautiful"

No doubt showering you with compliments day after day were your favorite little moments. Jake loves to say nice things to you, even in front of others! He wouldn't mind saying cheesy things in front of someone just to see your precious smile for him.

ᥫ᭡ Gifts

Whether they are paper flowers, purchased or simply drawn, Jake would give them to you. Flowers of all kinds. He even thought about inventing a new kind of flower just to give them to you, but it didn't work out: .... Inventing flowers? That's easy?

And expensive gifts, too chaste. There were a few times when you told him that it wasn't necessary for him to give such expensive gifts, but he wouldn't mind being bankrupt just to buy you something you like.

"When I saw this I thought how beautiful you would look."

ᥫ᭡ Dating your boyfriend

Wherever you want to go, he'll take you. Jake doesn't go out very often, not alone. He always asks you to pick the places they will go and they always go. There are days when you both can't see each other because of work, but whenever that happens he always idealizes some kind of date so you both can go out and spend time together.

"Where would you like to go today, princess?"

Whether it's a party for two at home eating sweets and watching movies until dawn or going to a fancy restaurant and spending the evening together after a delicious dinner.

ᥫ᭡ Physical contact

Hugs, kisses, hugs and kisses. Wherever you are, he needs to touch you, to have you by his side. He usually puts his hand on your leg under the table at dinner, his arm around your waist when he hugs you and holds your hand when he walks. When he sleeps, he says he can only rest easy if he has you by his side. He loves to feel your breath in the hollow of his neck resting on his chest. He loves to give you kisses to wake you up in the morning.

"good morning, my love"

"How did you sleep?"

ᥫ᭡ Special deals ( that only has with you )

He will always be there for you, even if you ask him to lie on the floor or make strange sounds with his mouth, he will! ( is like a big obedient puppy )

they almost never have arguments and if they do it is because you don't want to keep warm on cold days or you don't eat well. although it should be clarified that he would never yell at you, talk bad to you or anything else. "love, put on my coat if you want but don't unwrap it's cold!"

on tiring days for you he will give you massages and fill you with love

dries your hair and combs your hair when you get out of the bathroom.

ᥫ᭡ Protection

Jake is not someone who gets jealous easily, especially knowing that you would never let him down. Although it can bother him a bit when he notices that someone wants to get too close to you. When he feels alert in a place surrounded by people, he will slyly grab you by the waist and hold you close to him. If at any time he notices that you feel uncomfortable being with someone, he will immediately remove you from the situation.

"I'm sorry, my girlfriend and I should go now, it's late."

[fanfic-scribbles]

Spooky Scary

Fandom: MCU Captain America/Avengers

Summary: Bucky tries to bond with you over your love of horror. It goes well, just...not how you'd expect.

Quick facts: Romance – Bucky Barnes/Reader – Nondescript Reader

Warnings: Reader loves horror but is also scared of it, short and very fluffy

MCU Timeline: Set some nebulous time after CA:TWS

Words: 1226

A/N: Please enjoy this short piece of Halloween fluff. For regular readers: I am having a bit of A Time right now and I don’t know if I’ll be able to update in November. I’m a little bummed; I’m very proud of having been able to keep my monthly update schedule, but I’ll be traveling for Thanksgiving this year and I recently had a set back that hit pretty hard. So right now I’m thinking I’ll take November off, *maybe* December if I have to, but we’ll see when we see. Nothing is abandoned, I just need a minute, so enjoy what’s here in the meantime, and I will see you later <3

~

You are on a date (not a date) with your crush (best friend) right now (right now!) and you are terrified.

In more ways than just one.

~

“You’re okay with a haunted house?” you ask, looking over the advertising placard. The overall layout is very ‘graphic design is my passion,’ but some of the photos look…unsettlingly good.

“It won’t bother me,” Bucky says with absolute confidence. “Clint says I’ll be fine. Something about the makeup being good but overall it’s pretty cheesy.”

~

You don’t know what you did to Clint, but a few Robin Hood jokes are not enough to warrant this.

A gruesome Jack-in-the-box pops out, telegraphed from a hallway down, and yet you still jump. You’re glad you picked Bucky’s left arm to grab– hopefully it isn’t pressure sensitive.

“You all right?” Bucky chuckles, his breath in your ear. Despite the ‘blood’-stained, grimy hall, you relax a little, and even smile at him.

“Doing great,” you lie.

You have a reputation. A deserved one, admittedly– you love Halloween. Horror movies and the macabre are for year-round, in your opinion, but there’s something about the energy in October that just makes it even better. Your friends know this.

They don’t know that you’re actually kind of a scaredy-cat.

So, yeah, horror movies are great– on a screen, when you’re alone at home and no one can see you flinch, jump, or peek out between your fingers.

Or gasp and jump out of your skin when a shadow runs past your open side. You’re gripping Bucky’s arm hard enough your hands hurt, but it’s also kind of…thrilling, being able to be so close to him. Or rather, being forced to, even if only by your own nerves. You might need some help unlatching your fingers by the end of the night.

But Clint, via Bucky, was right– the scene work could be better, you think, but maybe that’s a good thing, because the actors are great, in costume and performance, with one of the most terrifying being a woman following alongside you, unnoticed until the perfect moment. But no one comes close to touching you, and it doesn’t hurt that you’re in the company of someone who could stare down Jason and punch out a Xenomorph, so you actually start enjoying yourself.

You’re so distracted by everything that you completely miss what’s going on with Bucky– until he gently bumps your side and you jump almost clear off the floor. He lets out a heavy sigh and jerks his head up at a sign. You have to squint a bit, but you make out one of the exits, and after a few seconds, it clicks. Bucky needs to leave.

Just like that, you snap into crisis management mode, like any time you’re out and Bucky has a bad moment. It doesn’t happen too often, but you know how to handle it: get to a safer spot, wait a minute for him to calm, and if he can’t, walk him home.

Easy peasy, but when you get out and to the side of the building, Bucky turns and looks…fine. Composed.

“What’s wrong?” you ask. He looks surprised by the question, and he looks you over. And then he goes quiet– thinking, you assume. It takes him a little longer, sometimes, to figure out how to speak his thoughts. Right now, he’s looking a little frustrated, and nothing’s coming out.

“It’s okay,” you say and squeeze his hand. Thankfully, he squeezes back. “Take your time. You wanna get dinner?”

He hesitates, nods, and leads the way– still firmly holding your hand.

~

“I’m sorry.”

You’re halfway through a bite of pizza when he speaks again. And maybe it’s a good thing your mouth is full, because it gives you time to think about what he might mean. Then you realize– he must be talking about the haunted house. In your rush to swallow and reassure him, you almost choke. He immediately leans over to hit your back, but you manage to get it all down, and you take a quick sip of your drink before you say, “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I told you– if you ever need to leave a place, then we leave. Simple as that.”

He squints like he doesn’t understand. “You needed to leave,” he says, like he’s explaining to you. “You were scared.”

You duck your head. “It was a haunted house,” you say. Mumble. “The makeup was really good, and so were the actors.” You can feel him staring at you still, so you admit, “I’ve never been to a haunted house before.”

Bucky blinks. “But you love Halloween,” he says, almost accusingly.

“I do!” you say. “I love Halloween, and scary movies, and scary things…because they’re scary.”

It’s your first time admitting that out loud. You’re not ashamed, necessarily, but the way Bucky looks at you makes you wonder if you should be. “You like being scared?” he says.

“Sort of.” You push at your crust. “I know it’s not dignified, and you guys are really brave, and maybe you’ll think less of me, but–”

“It’s not that, and no I won’t, it’s just…” He rests his head in his hand and watches you. “I never knew that. That the stuff you like actually scares you.”

“It’s a safe kind of scared. Like roller coasters– scary, but I know I’ll be okay in the end.” You match his gaze. “But yeah, not exactly something to brag about, and I know you don’t like horror movies.”

“Yeah.” He ducks his head. “But I wanted to spend some time with you, and when I was asking for things you might like, it made sense that–” His head snaps up. “Wait, so you didn’t want to–”

“Stop.” You gently rap your knuckles on his forehead. He cracks a smile, ridiculous as the motion is to him, and you smile too. “I don’t really like people seeing me scared, so I don’t do anything that might make me jumpy in public,” you say. “I’m glad I got to try it though. It was kind of fun.”

“And I made you leave,” he huffs, the smile fading.

“I think it was sweet, that you were keeping an eye on me,” you say. “Though I was probably denting your arm by how hard I was squeezing.”

“I didn’t mind,” he mutters.

It’s your turn to blink. “…Really?” you ask. You like to think that maybe things have been a little flirty from time to time. Natasha certainly thinks so, and acts long-suffering about it, but you’ve never had anything concrete. Now, though, Bucky looks a little shy, and then he…nods.

“Well…” You creep your hand forward on the table, and when he takes it, you dare to hope this is different. “I have plenty of Halloween movies that aren’t horror. Ones that are just fun.”

“Yeah?” He runs his thumb over the back of your hand. “Can I have you on my other arm?”

Your mouth curls into a smile. “You sure you want me clinging?”

He stands, and crooks his arm in your direction. “I can take it,” he says.

You stand, and slip your arm into his. You won’t pick anything that would upset Bucky, but it wouldn’t hurt to find something with at least one good jumpscare. Just for fun.

[to-the-stars8]

Learning to Love Slowly

Jason Todd x Reader All Chapters AO3

52- Midnight Calls and Fantasies

Before the two of you started dating, Jason would spend his nights alone trying his best not to think of you. Usually, he’d be hopping and swinging from building to building as he kicked ass throughout the streets of Gotham, but he was currently on bedrest after a run-in with some lucky gangsters—Who he would now call dead men walking. Either way, Alfred had forced a compromise onto him; Jason could stay at his apartment, but if he even thought about moving, Alfred would strap him down to one of the tables in the med bay at Wayne Manor. Knowing Alfred, Jason did as he ordered. 

In the meantime, he tried to fill the void by watching shit on Netflix that you had been talking about non-stop. He’d get through half an episode before he thought about texting you, but it was getting late and you were probably in bed. In the middle of some cheesy romance show, when he was in the middle of disassociating, Jason thought about the two of you as a couple. The thought came upon him unwillingly, but he entertained it nonetheless. Perhaps out of loneliness or desire, but he wouldn’t let himself dig too deep into that. 

Jason pictured the two of you on a Ferris wheel at some stupid county fair— that he knew he would never go to unless you dragged him there—being all cutesy. You’d be holding his hand probably, pointing out at the sunset on the horizon, and he’d sit there admiring you. Jason already knew you were ten times prettier than any stupid fucking sunset. Maybe, in that delusional moment, he’d kiss you. 

The thought of kissing you snapped him back into reality and he physically cringed to the point that the wounds on his body were starting to hurt. He paused the show, groaning in pain as he thought about just how stupid he was to think that. There was just too much to Jason that he would feel bad if you ever got stuck in a relationship with him. If there was even a chance for it in the first place. 

Just like he had accidentally willed you to him, his phone finally shone with your name clear as day on it. Jason thought about declining your call so he could continue to shake the cringe off of him, but his crush on you outweighed any sense of embarrassment. 

“Hey,” He said, trying to sound casual despite the slight throbbing pain rumbling throughout his body. 

There was shuffling before you said, “Hey, Jaybeans. You free to talk?” 

“Yeah, everything okay?” 

There was a bit of worry in Jason’s chest, thinking that something or someone was bothering you, and he sat up so he could think better. You yawned before humming a no. “Nah, I just want to talk to you.”

“Oh,” Jason didn’t like how much he enjoyed being the first person you thought of calling. “Well, I’m just chilling out at home, right now. Um—” 

Jason hurriedly tried to think of something to say, letting the thick silence lay between the two of you before you quickly swooped in to save the conversation. “Just chilling?” Jason swore he could hear a bit of breathlessness on your end like you egging him on to say something he’d be too embarrassed to even bring up. 

Swallowing the nervousness, Jason casually answered, “Yeah, I’m watching one of those cheesy romance shows you recommended.”

That seemed to catch your attention because you began bombarding him with questions like; what show, did he like it, who was his favorite character, etc. He tried to answer all of your questions because half of it he was going between checking his phone and fantasizing about you. He’d watch the whole damn show over again if it made you this excited to talk to him. 

“Have you gotten to that scene, yet?” Jason could hear the fluctuation in your voice indicating whatever scene it was, it had to be something saucy. He hummed a no, and you groaned. “Jason, you have to watch it. It’s like—So fucking weird and dumb, but also super hot.”

“I’m not evening going to unpack that,” Jason chuckled, though was now going watch that scene even if it killed him to do so. 

You giggled, and then there was more shuffling. The pause on your end was longer this time, and Jason was worried for a second that you were busy with something else now. When he asked if he was keeping you from something, you were quick to answer with no. “I—I’m just trying to get comfortable.”

Jason scratched the back of his neck as you stumbled over questions about his day, which he could only answer that he hadn’t done much. “I did nothing today. It was pretty nice.”

“I love those kinds of days,” You stretched with another yawn. “Jason, I think I’m tired.”

“You don’t say.”

“Ha-ha,” You said sarcastically, not in the least bit amused by his response. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”

“Of course. Bye, sweetheart. Sweet dreams.”

There was another pause on your end before a quiet, “Bye, honeybee.”

Before Jason could comment on the new nickname, you quickly hung up. He laid back in bed, heart fluttering, closing his eyes once again as he willingly let a little hope and fantasy play in his brain.

[jobrookekarev]

You're Never Alone With Me

Chapter: One of One.

Words: 3,634

Summary: 20x05 But with Jolex instead. Jo and Alex have a pregnancy scare and go through all the emotions before finding out that they might actually be having another baby. 

Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy.

Relationship: Alex Karev/Jo Wilson, 

Characters: Alex Karev, Jo Wilson, Carina DeLuca, Eden Karev, and Luna Wilson.

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences.

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Fluff, Romance, Humor, Family, Love, Kissing, Light-Hearted, One Shot, Happy Ending, Drama, Domestic, Blood Draw, Parenthood, Pregnancy, Children.

Read at AO3

Read at FFN

AN: I'm on vacation this week so I edited this by the pool while semi-drunk, so there are probably some mistakes, but enjoy!

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“How was your day?” Alex asked her as Jo gave him a smile. 

He met her in the hallway as she wrapped her arms around him, and avoided his question with a long kiss. Alex smiled and melted into her lips as they reunited, letting their lips greet each other with passion and eager romance. His tongue begged for hers as she moaned. He wondered if she would let him pull her into an on-call room before they picked up the kids. However, Jo pulled away before his tongue could dance in her mouth.

“My day was long. I had six laboring moms and three C-sections and ER consults in between that. I was running around all day. How about you?”

“It wasn't so bad, I did my first couple of surgeries and then mostly rounded and helped out the interns. Are you ready for tonight though?” Alex said with a smile as they walked towards the door. “I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse.”

Jo looked at him with her eyebrows raised. “What?”

“It's movie night,” Alex said as Jo shook her head. 

Friday movie night was a long standing tradition in the Karev household, dating back to when they first started dating. Jo usually loved movie nights but these days she was too tired to stay up late with him.

“I’m on call, we should just sleep,” Jo said, she wanted to close her eyes right now, but she had to amp herself up for the energy of their toddlers. Once they got to the car, she could take a quick nap on the fifteen minute drive home. 

“How come you're only tired on my movie nights?” Alex asked, giving her a look that was a half-hearted joke. 

Jo rolled her eyes. “That's not true, I sat through that one wrestling movie you picked out the other week.”

“That was like a month and a half ago, Jo,” Alex said as he chuckled at her and they approached the desk to check out the girls. 

“No it wasn't, it was like 4 weeks ago or something,” Jo said with a shake of her head as he logged into the tablet.

“No, that was six weeks ago. Remember because we watched your cheesy rom-com. Then we let the girls stay up and watch the Barbie movie, then I chose Jason Bourne and then you wanted to watch Scream. We watched Trolls with the girls last week, so it's my turn again, 6 weeks.”

Alex casually smiled at her, but Jo’s heart stopped. He was right, it had been six weeks.

Her movie had been this Western romantic drama. She clearly remembered because she had been on her period and Alex had helped her relieve some pain with a couple of orgasms. Then two weeks after that, they watched his Jason Bourne movie and had sex on the couch, which would have been when she was ovulating. 

“I'm late,” Jo said, staring at him as he looked up at her. 

“No, we're right on time,” Alex said as he checked the girls out and set the tablet back down. 

“No Alex,” Jo whispered to him. “My period is late.”

“Are you saying you could be pregnant again?” Alex asked, his jaw dropping open as he stared at her.

Before Jo could respond though her phone beeped and she looked down at her notification. “I’m being paged, it's the ER.”

“Shit, is it urgent?” Alex said as Jo just glared at him telling him it was. “Should I get the girls or do you want me to follow you?” 

“Stay with the girls, but check them back in and have dinner with them, then you can go get something to eat and I'll text you when I'm done. Then we can take a test together,” Jo said, sure of her plan as she turned to leave, but Alex grabbed her hand. 

He pulled her in, giving her a quick hug, and kissed her forehead before he let her go. When she looked back up at him, he had the biggest smile across his face. “Hey, we'll be okay, regardless of the results.” 

She knew he was giddy at the prospect of potentially knocking her up. When they found out she was pregnant with Eden, he was so happy that he walked on air for weeks. Everyone knew before they told them, and he told everyone how excited he was. However, she didn't return his smile and just nodded. Jo loved Eden and she loved being pregnant with her, but the first trimester was rough and Jo labored for hours. She wasn't sure she was ready for that again.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nearly half an hour later Jo finally paged him to come to meet her in the ER’s stock room. He wasn't sure how Jo was feeling but had settled into the idea of having another baby. He had gotten time to think about it but he had also gotten time to analyze Jo’s expression. Her eyebrows were timorously married and her lips were parted in a frown. He wasn't sure if she would want this baby. Although he had gotten excited and browsed online for baby onesies. Still, he waited to purchase one until she had taken a test, then they would know for sure.

“Hey, did you find one?” Alex asked as he found her rifling through the packages, trying to find a pregnancy test. 

“Not yet,” Jo said, her shoulders tense as she went to another shelf and ransacked the supplies. “This is the worst possible time to be having a baby! You're working all the time as the co-chef with Bailey, Meredith and I have our Mini-Liver final publishing paper due. My oral exams are coming up, Luna is starting preschool, and Eden is going to be moving up to the two-year-old room. We’ll have three kids in diapers. Oh my God, Alex the diapers. It’s like seven diapers per kid every day, that's like a thousand diapers a week.”

“Your math isn’t quite right on that one,” Alex said, shaking his head as he chuckled. 

Jo turned around to glare at him and he schooled his features and crossed his arms. “Okay, but Luna’s going to do great in preschool and Eden is doing amazing too. You're going to ace your exams and you love writing papers, plus you can get the interns to help you write it! And I can step down from the chief position for a while until things get easier, but let's try not to panic until you take the test.”

“How could this happen?” Jo was still going on with her rant as she moved to another section. “I'm an OBGYN, half of my job is to not get women pregnant and we've only had like one pregnancy scare before, but then again, it only took us one try to get pregnant with Eden. Oh my God, here it is!” 

Jo grabbed the pregnancy test and turned around, staring at it with wide eyes. Alex took in a breath as he felt his heart beat faster and sweat beads on his neck. He knew could feel the butterflies in his stomach. He glanced at Jo to see that she was just as tense and was rubbing the package with her fingers as if it was covered in a dust, he knew was not there.

“Jo take a breath, you’re spiraling,” Alex said, stepping up to her and putting his hands on her shoulders. 

“How are you not?!” Jo said as her wild eyes stared back at him.

“Because I've had time to sit with this and you haven't,” Alex said, taking a breath as he reached up to hold her face and rub her cheek with his thumb. “Whatever happens, we can't handle it. And we’re lucky enough to live in a state where you can get an abortion if you want. I know that we're married and you’ve been pregnant before, but you said you didn't want another baby and I respect that.”

“If I'm pregnant with another baby, I think I want to keep it,” Jo said, letting out a breath as she stared at him. 

Yet, she closed her eyes as a few tears appeared in the corner of her eyes. She leaned in to kiss him before she pulled away. Then her phone rang and she pulled it out. 

“It's another patient in the ER with abdominal pain,” Jo said, handing him the pregnancy test and walking away.”

“You know I can't take this for you, right?” Alex asked, holding up the test, although she had already left the room. 

Alex looked down at the test and smiled again, then he pulled up the onesie on his phone and added it to the cart. He wouldn't buy it just yet, but the second it was positive, he would buy it. Alex had always wanted a house full of kids and he hoped that dream would come true.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was another hour before Jo called him, saying that she was in the fourth floor bathroom. By then Alex said caught up on all his paperwork and done some more online shopping. Although he would never admit to it, he had started a registry and had saved some baby clothes he liked. 

He also thought about how they would turn the playroom/second bedroom into another nursery. They had always planned on only having two kids, Luna and Eden. But they had a three bedroom house, and the two girls shared a room for now. They hated to be separated and would refuse to sleep without each other. The plan was for them to eventually have their own bedrooms when they wanted. 

He had also done the calculations on how many diapers it would be. When the girls were newborns, they would go through diapers like crazy, so it would probably mean about an extra pack a week. They had done cloth diapering with Eden and Luna and they could do that with the new baby as well, which would cut down on the cost. Also, he was pretty sure he could get Eden potty trained by the time the new baby got here. By then she would be almost three and she was already eagerly sitting on the potty with a few successes here and there. 

He thought about all of this as he approached the fourth floor bathroom. However, he was brought back to reality when he was faced with the door to the woman's bathroom. He knocked on the door but didn't get a reply right away.

“Jo it's me,” Alex called out to her, but he didn't hear anything and knocked again, wiggling the lock. 

“I'll be out in a second,” Jo said as he heard the sound of the toilet flushing.

A few minutes later, Jo came out of the bathroom and handed him the test. “I took it 5 minutes ago, but I can't look at it.”

He knew she needed a moment of comfort and brought her in for a hug. He held her close as she melted into him and kissed her forehead. However, when he breathed in, Jo's hair smelled. He sniffed her hair and pulled back looking at her. 

“Have you thrown up?” Alex asked her, studying her for a glimpse of sickness in her face.

“It's been very stressful!” Jo said as she huffed and wiped her mouth.

“Or maybe it's just morning sickness,” Alex said with a half-hearted smile. 

“Just look at the test!” Jo demanded as she huffed and pulled away from him and she leaned against the wall.

Alex smiled as he took a breath and flipped over the stick. Staring at it he almost cried, his voice a shaky whisper. “It's negative.”

Jo let out a breath and buried her face in his shoulder. She hugged his waist with a tight grip and he felt his shirt get wet. Alex was surprised, as she didn't react the way he thought she would.

“Are you relieved?” 

“I don't know.” 

Jo sighed as she pulled back a bit but still held him looking up at him with watery eyes. “I thought I would be, I kind of am, and it's just been so overwhelming I just want to cry. But a part of me wanted another baby.”

“I know, and I did the math. It would be like 120 diapers a week give or take a blowout or two. Plus I think I could get Eden potty trained before the baby arrived.”

“There's no baby, but it'd still be good to potty train her though,” Jo said in agreement. 

“Jo, I love being a dad and I would love to do it all over again with you anytime you want, besides you know I love getting you pregnant,” Alex said, grabbing her hips and pulling her into him as he kissed her.

Jo giggled, but she pulled away from him. “But being a parent is so hard especially when they're babies.”

“I know, so if you say you didn't want a baby, then I don't want one either. You know I would have a million babies with you, but realistically I love you and I love our two girls and the three of you are enough for me.”

Jo smiled as she leaned in to kiss him again, before he gave the test to her as Jo's eyes widened. “Alex! It’s not negative!”

“What do you mean it's not negative? There's nothing there!” Alex said, staring at the test. 

“It's not positive either, Alex it's a dud!” Jo said, shoving his chest. “One line is negative, two 2 lines is positive.”

“What does that mean?” Alex asked with wide eyes. “Should we just get another test, maybe we should do a blood test? They're more accurate anyway?”

“We are not doing anything. I am the one getting stabbed and having to pee on sticks and…” Jo put a hand over her mouth before she ran for the toilet again and this time he followed her in. 

Alex locked the door behind them as she kneeled in front of the toilet and threw up. She heaved several times more as Alex kneeled next to her. Once she stopped he wiped her lips and they sat back together. Then, Jo had a burst of emotion and started to cry as Alex instantly wrapped his arms around her. 

“I want another baby.”

Alex nodded and just held her. “I know, so we’ll call Carina and then she can tell us for sure if you're pregnant and if not we can start trying again.”

Jo nodded her tears drying up as she did and he leaned in to give her a quick kiss. The gentle reassurance was enough for him as he kissed her back. He pulled her up off the floor and wrapped an arm around her, Jo gave him another quick kiss before she sighed and let him pull her over to Carina's office.

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“Ow,” Jo winced and looked away as Carina put the needle in her arm. 

“I'm sorry, Bambina,” Carina said as she released the tourniquet and drew her blood into two vials. 

“I told you not to look,” Alex said as he held her hand pulling it up to kiss her knuckles.

“No, nobody else can know about this,” Jo glared at him as she flinched again when Carina withdrew and put a cotton swab over her wound.

“I still think we should do an exam,” Carina said, giving her a knowing look as Jo huffed.

“Fine,” Jo said as Carina just smiled and handed her a gown and a paper blanket before she went to the door.

“I'll be back in a few minutes with the results,” Carina said as she left with the blood.

Jo hopped off the table and handed the gown and paper blanket to Alex before she started to undress. 

“We should have just done a blood draw the first time around,” Jo complained as she slipped out of her jeans and tore off her shirt quickly. Then she turned around and reached for her bra clasp. “Can you get it?” 

Alex easily hooked the latch and Jo handed her clothes to him in exchange for the gown but found his eyes were not exactly following hers.

“Alex!” Jo said, turning around and forcefully taking the gown from him.

“I don't know Jo, your boobs are huge,” Alex said, a little smirk as he stared at them. 

Jo huffed and pushed him away forcefully, turning him around as she got dressed again. She finally hopped up on the table and put the paper blanket over her knees before she cleared her throat. When he turned around again, he still had that stupid smirk on his face but he sat down in the chair next to her and grabbed her hands. 

“Isn't it normal for pregnancy tests to malfunction when there's too much HCG levels?” Alex asks as Jo thought about it for a second. 

“I don't remember, I think so,” Jo said as she shrugged. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, what if you're pregnant with twins, Jo?” Alex whispered to her his smile even wider. 

“I would probably kill you, Alexander,” Jo said as she scowled, Alex chuckled, but his smile dropped when she continued to glare at him.

“Well we can talk about it when we get the results back then,” Alex nodded as she dropped her eyes and picked at the seam of her gown before he took her hands again and gave them a squeeze. 

There was a knock at the door as Carina came back in. “There is a back up at the lab due to a trauma in the ER. The results will take several hours. So we're going to find out the old fashioned way.”

Jo took a deep breath as she laid back, putting her feet in the strips as Carina sat in front of her and put a hand on her leg.

“Okay Jo you're going to feel my fingers enter,” Carina said as she gently pressed inside of her. 

Jo squeezed Alex’s hands and tried to relax her muscles but she remained tense. Carina reached up to feel the top of her uterus and pushed in a few places, holding her womb before she smiled.

“How long ago did you say your period was?” Carina asked as Jo floundered, knowing what Carina was feeling inside her. 

“I don't know?” 

“Six weeks ago,” Alex answered for her. 

“I'd say you're more like eight weeks along, so you must’ve had some implantation bleeding. You've definitely got a baby in there, Jo,” Carina said with a small smile. 

Jo took in a breath as she looked over at Alex. He had a smile but he quickly bit his lip as he looked over at her giving her hand a squeeze. He held his breath, but then Jo smiled too.

“We're having a baby!”

“Yeah, we are yeah we are!” Alex said as he smiled and leaned down to kiss her. She cried happy tears that fell down her cheeks to her ears, but she smiled. 

“Well I suppose, we should confirm it with an ultrasound?” Carina asked as she pulled back, smiling at them both.

“Yes,” they said together as they both nodded. A few minutes later they were looking at their new baby on the screen. There was just one, Jo made Carina double check, but they were ecstatic nonetheless. Jo hasn't stopped crying and even Alex shed a few tears as they stared at their baby.

“They're so beautiful,” Alex said in awe, his eyes never leaving the screen. 

“They're already measuring big too,” Jo said, finger tracing her fingers along the femur bone. “I think our original estimate of six weeks is correct.”

Carina nodded as she agreed with them. “Well keep an eye on it, but as you said, Karev babies tend to be on the bigger size, so I'm not worried.”

She finished up the ultrasound and gave Jo some paper towels to clean off, then left her to get dressed again. But not before pulling Jo into a hug. “Congratulations, Bambina.”

“Thank you,” Jo said, hugging her back tightly.

Alex smiled as she got dressed but when she pulled her shirt on, he pulled it back up and leaned down to kiss her belly, before looking back up at her.

“Hi baby,” Alex said as he stared at her belly. 

“What are we going to do with you?” Jo asked as she pulled him up and put her hand over his, intertwining their fingers. 

But Alex just smiled and said, “We are going to have an amazing family, you are going to be a great Mom, again.”

Jo smiled as she leaned in and pulled him down to kiss him again. Alex gave her several kisses as they lingered on each other's lips. There was such joy and happiness between them it felt like fireworks on her tongue. 

Then they pulled back and looked down at their baby, hidden under their hands. Alex hugged her shoulders and kissed her head as they smiled sharing a giggle between them. Despite how nervous she had been, Jo couldn't wait for this new baby to join their family.

[hoedamn-eron]

baby, please - part 11

As you approach the middle of your pregnancy, you take Beth house hunting. She has an awful lot of wisdom.

Warnings: Small mention of being sick, so emetophobia warning. Hint of a panic attack. Talking about unresolved feelings. Not proofread whatsoever so there's definitely mistakes somewhere. Word count: 3,492 F!Reader, no use of Y/N.

We're officially half-way through this fic!

Disclaimer: I am not from the US, I am British. I just looked at houses that were up for sale in the Florida area and picked one 😂

Part 10 ● Series Masterlist ● Part 12

The next few weeks of your pregnancy are filled with work, bridesmaid dress appointments, and time spent with Santiago.

Ever since your disagreement (because it was not an argument), your interactions over the following few weeks with Santiago grew more frequent and purposeful. You’ve both made the effort to get to know each other a little bit more as people, and not just soon-to-be-parents. You found out more about his childhood, about how after his father passed away, his mother was alone to raise him and his older sisters. Like he mentioned on your first date, he hadn’t really spoken to them much, or any family really, but he was thinking of fixing that, and reaching out since he was going to be a father, and his parents weren’t there to see it. He thought his kids should have their Tías in their lives.

He wasn’t much of a rebellious kid in high school, because he dreaded the wrath of his mother, and that he joined the Army from the ‘propaganda they spew at high school kids on career days’. At the time he thought it was a good idea, and really, it was, since he got to build up his career, but he ‘could do without the bad knees and PTSD’. You told him that he was still a great guy ‘despite the shitty knees’. He’d laughed at that.

He’d come over to your place and you’d have dinner together. Maybe you’d watch a movie on your couch, that usually ended up with you fast asleep. He’d always wake you to let you know he was leaving, sometimes getting you into bed before he left. You even tried to go out once a week to a nice dinner together, when the time allowed it, where you’d both always battle it out on where to go. You always decided to just rock-paper-scissors and the winner got to choose.

But your favourite thing to do with Santi was go to the movies (even though you’d only been a handful of times with him). You both always pick a cheesy romance, and you sit together sharing a sweet popcorn (because going to the movies was expensive and you have two kids on the way! Of course, you were going to be stingy). You always sneak in a few bags of Sourpatch Kids, and you are willing to share a few with Santi. With each passing week, the bond between you deepened, merged with shared experiences and the anticipation of the future you were now shaping together.

And then, your journey together finds you in Santiago's apartment (managing to avoid Emily each time). It was exactly how you expected it to look; tidy, neat, mostly beige and brown, with a bit of navy dotted in there. It was a typical bachelor pad. Together, you started clearing out his spare room and meticulously planned and arranged it to be the twins' bedroom; you realised that this space was a room where your children would find their home, where they will share laughter and happy memories with their father. It left a warm and fuzzy feeling in your chest.

And not because Santi’s hand just brushed against yours as he passed you an old pair of boxing gloves to throw into the ‘donate’ box.

Yeah, things with Santiago were good. Really good. You’d settled into a nice routine, and you both weren’t to tense anymore. You felt more open, that if you had a problem, you felt like you could go to him now, and vice versa. You look forward to when you’re going to see him next. You consider yourselves good friends.

“So, you’re dating?” Beth asked with raised eyebrows as she gave you a quick glance from her place in the driver’s seat.

Your stomach flips at her question, but you put it down to morning sickness. You roll your eyes at her instead. “We’re not dating.”

“I dunno, sounds like dating to me,” Beth said, shaking her head lightly.

“It’s not…we’re not dating!”

“You meet up multiple times a week and hang out.” She gave you a pointed look. “You see him more than you see us. That’s dating.”

“No,” you say, glaring at her. “It’s…it’s not dating, we’re not dating!”

“The more you deny it makes it out like you’re dating,” Beth whispered, turning down a small and tidy neighbourhood.

“You’re so smug,” you say, giving her the finger, only for her to give it back to you as she pulled up outside the cute little white house with the blue trim.

“I’m just saying, that’s what Georgia and I did when we first got together,” Beth said as she unbuckled her seatbelt. “And here we are, two years later, arranging our wedding.”

You fought the urge to childishly stick your tongue out at her. “Let’s just…look at the house.”

You’d started furniture shopping and your living room was starting to become smaller and smaller since the boxes of baby stuff started piling up. You’d decided that it was time to start looking into moving into a bigger place; you were approaching the halfway mark of your pregnancy, and you were slowly outgrowing your apartment. And who better to ask than Beth? From her work, she knew all the nice neighbourhoods with the low crime rates and good schools, and she knew the good houses that were within your budget.

So, you’d asked her to help you go in for a few viewings, to help pick out the perfect place for you and your babies, to spend your lives together. You were excited, to know that this was the next step in the chapter of your life. You already had so many ideas on how you were really going to make a house your home.

“So this one has two bedrooms, and two bathrooms, but one of those bathrooms is an ensuite,” said Beth, looking at her phone at the house details. “Decent sized back garden, there’s a drive for your car…and it’s been recently renovated.”

“By you?” you ask, grinning.

“Not me, no,” Beth says grinning as you both enter the house.

There were other potential buyers meandering around the house, taking a look around the house. You give an impressed look at the house as you wander through with Beth. “It’s nice.”

“It is,” she says, looking around herself, checking out the wooden floors.

You and Beth walk through the house, oohing, and ahhing at the new flooring and the state-of-the-art bathroom that had just been put in. You did like the house, but after an hour of looking around, you and Beth decided it just wasn’t for you; the bedrooms were on the smaller side, and there wasn’t much closet space. You would struggle with all of your stuff and two kids in tow.

“To be honest, houses always look better when there’s still furniture in them,” Beth said as you both climbed back into here car. “Lucky for us, the next few houses are empty.”

“So they’ve been on the market for a while?” you ask, looking at her sceptically.

“They have but not because they’re bad,” said Beth, starting the car and pulling out. “It’s because everyone wants modern and renovated houses nowadays.”

You sit in a comfortable silence as Beth navigates through the streets and you’re back in another neighbourhood, which was a little more active than the other one. There were children out playing, and it was bright and colourful with flowers in the gardens and trees lining the sidewalks.

“This neighbourhood looks a little more child friendly,” you say as Beth pulled in front of another house, painted a light blue with a front porch. It looked a little run down but nothing a clean up and lick of paint couldn’t fix. “The other one looked…quiet.”

“Yeah,” Beth said, turning the car off and unbuckling her seatbelt. She waves at the estate agent, who was stood by the front door.

You both climb out the car and greet the agent. Beth introduces you both, declaring Harry an old friend from her college days. You smile and shake his hand, before Harry let’s you both in the house. “This is two bedrooms and one bathroom. As you could see from outside, it has a nice porch and the gardens, both front and back, are fairly big for the size of the house.”

You nod as Harry leads you through the house, talking about the old owners and how they moved to California for work. He talked about the neighbourhood, and you were right, it was mostly a place for families, that it was just around the corner from an elementary school. You liked the house, really, but it just didn’t feel like you. Beth could tell you were a little reserved, and suggested moving onto the next house, where Harry was going to follow you.

Throughout the day, you take a look at four (four!) more houses. You felt bad, that you were going through so many viewings and open houses, but they just didn’t feel right. I couldn’t see yourself living in them. It was only the first day but you were under a time limit, and you were disappointed that you hadn’t found what you were looking for yet.

Beth reassured you that there were more houses she had planned to look at, but when you reached house number six, you lightly gasped. It was a modestly sized house, and it was white with white stone accents, a garage attached with a small drive. The front garden was made of grass (overgrown, of course), and you could see tall white fencing cutting off the back garden from the public. You got an instant warm feeling from it.

Harry pulled up behind you both as you and Beth climbed out her car. He quickly joined you, pulling keys out of his pocket as he talked about the house. “This is actually three bedrooms with two bathrooms. It had a nice open plan kitchen and dining room, and a nice sized living room.”

“It’s a little dated,” Beth said to you. “But we can work on that.”

“The folks who owned it decided to sell and downsize, since their kids had grown up and moved out and started having their own kids,” Harry replied.

“So it wasn’t the area?” you ask him.

He shook his head. “No, it’s a very nice family friendly area. It’s a very quiet neighbourhood too, but the closest school is about fifteen minutes away by car.”

You nod, looking around the downstairs. It was dated, and the house could do with a revamp. You take a look in the back garden and see that it was just as overgrown as the front garden, but it was decently sized. You could hear Beth and Harry talking renovations on another house, so you meandered on upstairs. It was just as dated as the rest of the house, but the first two bedrooms were a nice size, but the third was fairly small; you could see yourself setting up an office for yourself. And there was a lot of storage space too.

You pause as you get to the master bedroom, seeing something on the doorframe. You lean down as much as you can with your bump, and smile as you see pencil markings in the wood, with names and dates written.

“Height marks,” you mutter to yourself with amusement.

The warmth that you felt when you first saw the house spread further through you. This was it. If the owners of this house loved it enough to keep their kid’s (and possible grandchildren’s) heights recorded on the doorframes, long after they had packed up and left, then maybe you could live here too, as a first home for your kids. You could love this house as much as the previous owners did, and you could raise your children in a warm, loving environment where they will thrive, and be able to play outside in the garden. You bite your lip and smile, before standing and making your way back downstairs.

Harry and Beth were still talking as you approached them. “Sorry, how much is this?”

“Uh…” Harry looked at the property sheet on his clipboard. “$350,000.”

Beth looked at you. “Why, are you interested? It’s within your budget.”

“It’s under my budget,” you say, before nodding. “I want it. It’s a nice house, and I get a warm, fuzzy feeling from it. I feel like it was a nice place to be brought up.”

Harry looked at you for a moment before giving a small laugh of relief. “Really? You’re interested?”

“Yeah, I am,” you say. “I want this house.”

“Great!” Harry said. “We can…we can arrange a meeting, we can get the paperwork all sorted, get in touch with your bank…we can get you this house.”

After sharing a few more pleasantries and sharing contact details, you and Beth say goodbye to Harry before climbing into Beth’s car. You both sit in silence for a moment, watching as Harry leaves before your turn to each other and you both let out screams of excitement.

“I’m going to be a homeowner!” you cry.

You bask in your excitement for a few moments before you both calm down. “Let’s go and have a late lunch, and we can celebrate.”

You end up at a swanky looking restaurant where Beth said she sometimes takes potential clients to talk about their renovations. When you’re both settled and you’d ordered your food and drinks, you sit back and relax, sighing as you sip at your raspberry lemonade (you would have ordered a Diet Coke but Beth told you, you just had to try something refreshing for once).

“So, wanna talk about Santi?” Beth asks, raising an eyebrow at you.

“I thought we were here to celebrate my new future purchase?” you say, groaning.

“We are, but I’m one of your best friends. Something is going on with you.”

“Nothing is going on! Is this because you think we’re dating?”

“Yes, kind of!” said Beth, laughing. “I understand that this has turned out different to your usual dates, because you’re having this guys kids, but…you do just seem a little more…I don’t know.” She shrugs. “I don’t want to say happier, because that’s fucking cheesy, but you do.”

You stare at her for a moment before shaking your head. “No, it’s…it’s not – “

“Come on,” Beth urged, looking at you seriously.

You look at her. You knew that something was different, and you didn’t want to address it. You thought it was pregnancy hormones, that it would pass. You get that Santiago was a good-looking guy, and nice, and funny, and he cared about you and your kids. It was just a fleeting moment. You know it is.

Your mind suddenly becomes a whirlwind of its own. The clinking of cutlery and the soft murmur of voices from the other patrons just seem too loud, and you suddenly feel overstimulated. Your chest feels too tight.

What's going on with me?

You look down at the table, your breathing a little heavier, trying to distract yourself from Beth’s gaze, and pushing down the emotions that threaten to spill over. Santiago was supposed to be a casual encounter, a one-night stand that held no expectations. And yet, here you are, 16 weeks pregnant, grappling with feelings you never thought would surface.

Am I overthinking this?

The memories of shared moments with Santiago dance before you – the movies, the dinners, the moments of laughter that felt like stolen fragments of happiness. They all carry an inexplicable weight now, a significance that's both thrilling and unnerving.

You feel like you might be sick.

“Okay, slow down, take a deep breath. It's okay to have feelings, you know.” Beth said, seeing your inner turmoil. “Santiago has been there for you through this, and it's only natural that you might feel a connection growing.”

“It's not…” you try to catch your breath, your throat suddenly feeling dry. You take a large sip of your lemonade. “It’s not just a connection, because I’m pregnant. I’m…I feel like I’m in high school, daydreaming about the future, about...about becoming more.”

Beth gives you a gentle look as she reaches across the table and holds your hand. “Look, I know this might be overwhelming, especially given the circumstances. But sometimes, life has a funny way of leading us down unexpected paths. It's okay to admit that your feelings have changed.”

“I'm pregnant with the guy’s twins, Beth,” you say. “I need stability and certainty. Santiago was just a one-night thing, and…and nothing serious was supposed to come out of this.”

“I get it, I really do. But have you talked to Santiago about how you're feeling?”

“No, are you kidding? He’s a bigger commitment-phobe than I am,” you say, taking another large sip of your drink.

“Okay, so, I think you need to talk to him. It's important to be honest with each other, especially when there's so much going on with you both.” She gives your hand a squeeze, causing you to finally look at her properly. “And remember, your happiness and comfort matter too. We’ve always said you’ve gotta do what’s best for you and your babies, and if that means something a little more…permanent with Santiago, then that’s how it is.”

You sigh at her, your brow furrowing. “What if I'm just imagining all of this? What if I'm mistaking just…niceness for something that it isn’t? What if it’s just pregnancy hormones?”

Beth nods “Yeah, babe, that could be it. But don't downplay your feelings either. Just take things one step at a time. Open up the conversation with Santiago. Share your thoughts and listen to his perspective too.”

You groan, letting go of her hand and burying your face in them. You take a few more deep breaths, calming down, the tightness in your chest melting away. You drop your hands and look at her helplessly. “I just need to know where we stand, for the sake of my own peace of mind. And the kids too, I suppose.”

“You can do that. Next time you see him, just…casually bring it up. And no matter what, I'll support you. Courtney and Gabs will support you. Just promise me that you'll prioritise your own happiness and safety. If Santiago feels the same, great! Wonderful! If not, you can just stay friends, co-parent your kids. That’s fine too.”

You look at her. “And if he…if it ends badly?”

“If it ends badly, which it won’t…you have us. The Dream Team. We’ll raise those babies to be the best they can be.”

You give her a small laugh as your eyes fill with tears. You wipe at them. “Sorry, I don’t know why I’m crying.”

“Eh,” Beth said, shrugging as takes a sip of her own drink (wine, obviously). “You’re pregnant. And evidently in love with your baby daddy. You’re allowed to cry.”

“Shut up, I’m not in love with him,” you say, snorting as she laughs.

She drops the subject after that, thank goodness. She talks about how she’ll share her Pinterest board with you, that you can take a look at for some inspiration on your house, because she will be looking at renovating it for you (“At a discount, of course, because I love you, and babies are expensive enough.”).

After your lunch, Beth drops you back off at your apartment building and you thank her for her help, for both the house and Santiago. She iterates again that she’s there for you, and it’ll be fine. Everything will be fine. Once you’re back in your apartment and settled in comfy pants and a too big t-shirt, you settle on your couch and think back about the conversation you both had. Could you really talk to Santiago about the feelings you’d been having? Would he look at you with disgust? Betrayal? You had both agreed to just co-parent, nothing else.

But what if Santiago turns around and wants nothing to do with you if you tell him that you may have feelings for him (because, after all, it may just be hormones…you hadn’t been with anyone since Santiago). What if you tell him, make it all weird, for it to go away with time, but it’s still weird? Would you want to risk your kids losing their father because you were feeling just a little bit glowy after having some male attention?

No, you needed to get a grip of yourself. It’ll fade, it always does, regardless of pregnancy hormones or not. You give a firm not to yourself. It’s settled then, you won’t tell Santi anything. It’ll be better that way, and you can go on like normal, because that works.

You sigh again, digging the heels of your hands into your eyes. You need a glass of wine.

Too bad you’re pregnant.

Tagged - @khonsulockley, @bluenredndeath, @superficialfeelings

[paladin--strait]

Can you do prompt 1 and 9 for Timo Meier?

sorry this took so long to get out! hope you like it 🫶

-

i'm curled up on the couch, wrapped in blankets, feeling completely miserable. my head is pounding, and my throat feels like i've swallowed sandpaper. all i want is to be left alone, but i know timo is on his way over to the house.

when i heard the front door creak open, i call out weakly to him, my voice cracking and dry. “timo, i'm sick. don't get near me, you need to play tomorrow!”

but, instead of staying away, i hear him laugh. “I don’t care. I’m coming in!”. a few moments later, he strolls into the living room, a playful grin on his face. “you look terrible,” he says, but there was a softness in his voice that made me feel a little better.

“thanks,” I mutter, burying my face in the pillows. “really, you shouldn’t be here. you can catch this.” i say, sniffling.

he takes a few steps closer, his eyes filled with concern. “i'm gonna be here for you whether you like it or not.” then he flops down next to me, the couch sinking under his weight as he pulled a blanket over both of us.

“i don’t want you to get sick,” i say, trying to sound firm, but it was hard when he was right there, all warm and comforting.

“i can take care of myself,” he said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. his touch felt nice, and despite feeling crummy, I couldn’t help but smile a little. “and come on, i can’t just leave you here all alone.”

i sigh, knowing i was fighting a losing battle. “fine, but if you catch this, it’s totally your fault.” i laugh a little.

he grins, eyes sparkling. “deal. now, how about some soup? I brought your favorite! the kind from chick-fil-a?”

my heart swells a bit at the thought of him remembering my favorite soup to eat while i'm sick. “you actually brought it?”

“of course i did! you think i'd just show up empty-handed?” he stands up, stretching slightly. “just sit tight while i heat it up. and don’t worry, i'll keep my distance while I heat it up.”

“okay, but seriously, no sneezing on the food!” i tease, settling back into the couch.

as he works around in the kitchen, i watch him move with a mix of affection and amusement. timo has always been so carefree, and seeing him here made the dull ache in my head feel a little lighter. i pull the blanket tighter around me, feeling grateful that he cared enough about me to ignore my protests.

he soon returns with a steaming bowl of soup, placing it on the coffee table. “here you go, my love!”

i take a sip, the warm broth easing my sore throat. “this is so good,” I say, smiling at the warmth of the comforting soul.

“i told you i'd take care of you,” he says, plopping back down next to me. He leans against the arm of the couch, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

as we sat there, the room filled with the comforting smell of soup and timo's presence, i can't help but relax. maybe being sick wasn’t so bad after all, especially with someone like him around. i lean my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes for a moment.

“you know, you’re the best boyfriend i could ever ask for,” I say, half-smiling with affection. “i'm glad you’re here. i love you so much.”

“i love you too, sweetheart.” he says, wrapping an arm around me after pressing a kiss to my warm forehead. “now, let’s binge-watch something terrible while you recover. i'll even let you pick the show, as long as it’s not that cheesy romance stuff you love.” he jokes, smiling at me.

“hey, my shows aren't terrible! and also, no promises!” i laugh, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the soup. with timo by my side, i know i'll get through this.