#but if someone would like to decide that for me you are welcome to!!

[hiiraya]

loml

pairing: natasha romanoff  x reader 

words: ~3.3k

warnings: angst, happy ending (?), literally just self-indulgent writing, messy writing, listen to loml by taylor swift to get in the sad mood

a/n: merry christmas everyone! the last thing I posted was january of 2022 and it's literally about to be 2025 - I've been in a reminiscing mood lately and this was something I've had in the drafts for months, I figured I should just release it to get it out of my system. your girl has been missing someone bad bro and the urge to tag them in this is insane ♡ anyways, hope they see this lmao

“Have a safe flight and text me when you land, yeah?”

“I will, I will. Get home safe and update me as well, okay?”

You release your cousin from your hold, giving their shoulder a quick squeeze as they pull away. You do a last minute check with them to make sure they hadn’t forgotten anything important - something you were always prone to do when travelling by yourself. The memory of you almost missing your international flight because you had rushed home and back to the airport within record speed, all because you had forgotten your passport of all things. 

“I’ll fly out to see you next time, so you can show me around.” You smile.

“Are you guys serious? I told you to leave early so that this exact thing wouldn’t happen!”

Your eyebrows immediately furrow at the familiar voice, catching one last glance of your cousin as they enter the security screening area, waving to them while you mouth one last ‘text me when you land!’ as they leave your sight, before turning around to find the source of the voice.

No way it’s her, you thought. What’s she doing here?

As you get closer to the arrivals board, your questions are answered. Standing there in all her glory, is the one woman you never thought you’d lay your eyes on again.

“Natasha?”

You see the puzzled look on her face as she registers your voice before she even lays her eyes on you. Watching as the confusion turns to irritation - whether it was towards you or whoever was on the other side of the phone, you couldn’t tell (most likely both) - you watch as a deep sigh she releases as she glances at the board in front of her once again.

“-that’s another 10 hours before you guys even land.” She sighs, exasperation lacing her voice.

“Hey, listen if you need help-”

She holds a finger up to silence you, eyes meeting yours in a piercing glance. “I don’t need help, and especially not from you Y/N L/N.”

At her words, you look down, the sight of your shoes a welcome one as you take a second to recover. Honestly, you thought to yourself, I deserved that. 

“Yes, it’s Y/N- no I did not! I swear I didn’t know that they were here.” You hear her mutter from beside you. Deciding to save the both of you from further embarrassment, you turn your attention elsewhere, wondering what your cousin would say once you eventually tell them about who you ran into immediately after they left.

You lift your head back up when you hear Natasha mumble "you guys pick the day before Christmas of all days to be late for your flight” followed by a quick goodbye before hanging up the phone, watching her scope the airport for her next step. 

You could just leave and pretend this ever happened.

“Come on, Nat, I promise I just want to help.” You find yourself saying instead. “I can take you to your hotel when they get here.”

Well, there's no going back from that now.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Are you seriously asking me that right now?”

You really needed to stop opening your mouth.

“Okay, you know what, I deserve that.” You pause. “Listen, I’m not going to force you to come with me, but the offer is still there if you want it. You’ll get a free ride, plus you can use my apartment to rest and freshen up while you wait.”

 -x-

"I can't believe you talked me into this."

You spare a glance to Natasha, who was currently sitting in your passenger seat.

"You're the one that followed me to the car?"

She rolls her eyes at your confused tone, choosing to ignore what you said and instead checking her phone - most likely waiting for an update from whoever she was speaking to on the phone before. "I can't believe they missed their flight."

"Who's they?"

"Yelena, Maria, Wanda," she answers. "Oh, and Yelena's friend Kate too. I don't think you've met her."

You bit the inside of your cheek, because you already know that you didn't get to meet anyone named Kate while you were still together. You honestly didn't get to meet many of Natasha's friends whenever visited her - it was something you always fought over. It felt like she was ashamed of you, always wanting to keep you hidden, a secret she never planned on sharing with the world.

You refrain from asking any follow up questions - if Natasha wanted you to know more she would tell you.

Instead, you ask: "Did they manage to catch the next flight out?"

She nods. "I'm honestly surprised they did, considering how expensive it probably would've been. But knowing Maria, she probably would've pulled some strings to make it work."

Natasha finally looks up from her phone as you come to a stop, looking at the building you had just parked in front of.

"Where are we?"

"My apartment, I figured we could drop off your bags and you can freshen up before I show you around." You open the door for Natasha before moving to grab her bags from the trunk.

You lead her inside, setting her bags down in the living room before turning around to face Natasha - holding your arms out as you gesture to your living space. It's the first time she's ever stepped foot into this place, having only seen it through a phone screen since you were the one who would fly out to visit her when you were still together.

"I'll grab you some towels so you can freshen up, but make yourself at home." You say, gesturing for her to follow you down a hallway. "The bathroom is the first door to your left, there should be a spare toothbrush under the sink- wait did I give to my cousin? Well, we can grab you one while we're out but everything you need should be here."

You know you're rambling but you don't stop in fear of saying something stupid (which knowing you, is highly likely).

"If you want to take a nap, the guest room is just a little further down the hall on the right - I just changed the sheets so everything should be fresh."

It's not the way you wanted to be showing Natasha around your home for the first time, but you'll take what you can get. It'd be so easy to waltz back to the way things were, before everything fell apart but you didn't have the right to that anymore. You weren't a part of her life anymore.

You didn't know if she already had someone new in her life, maybe you were overstepping in so many ways and that it was best to just keep your distance. After all, you did promise that you just wanted to help. You were here to keep her company until the girls arrived and take her to the hotel when they finally did get here.

You know it's for the better to just move on, that after today she'll be gone and it'll be like she never made a reappearance in your life. But how could you when you know deep down that you still haven't fully moved on and that she'll always hold your heart in her hands?

Natasha's voice cuts off your reverie, bringing you back to the present as you hand her the towels.

"Give me an hour to shower and rest my feet for a bit, I wanna go out and explore while we wait."

 -x-

"Do you see that one over there? That's a hammerhead shark! They're one of the most powerful sharks in the ocean."

Natasha hears the little girl gasp, watching their eyes going wide with wonder. She can't help the small laugh that escapes when she sees the young girl lean closer towards the glass before loudly whispering, "is it going to eat us?"

You laugh softly, and Natasha can't help but think that she's missed hearing the sound of your laugh, something she thought she wouldn’t hear again. It comforts her slightly to know that it hasn't changed after all these years, and that  she can still easily recognise the sound as being yours only.

"It won't eat us! Sharks don't eat humans," she hears you explain. "They're more interested in fish and seals, than they are humans. But they are really strong swimmers, and they can smell things from miles away - even in water!"

She'd been watching you answer questions about sharks for the past 5 minutes, after a curious little girl ran up to while you were looking at the shark tank and asked if you knew what type of shark was swimming in front of the glass.

"Do sharks talk to each other?"

"They don't talk like we do, but they do communicate by using their bodies and how they move through the water. Some sharks even make sounds by rubbing their teeth together, kind of like a secret language that only they can hear."

It doesn't take long for the girl's mother to find the three of you, sighing in relief as she sees her daughter, looking up at you apologetically.

"Sorry, she's probably been asking you a million questions."

You give the woman a friendly smile and shake your head. "It was nothing, I loved answering all of her questions." You tell her. "It looks like you might have a future marine biologist on your hands."

"Let's leave the lovely ladies to enjoy the rest of their date, bubba."

"Oh- it's not-"

"We're not-"

The mother and daughter are already walking off before either of you could finish your sentences, leaving you and Natasha standing in front of the shark exhibit with red cheeks and thundering heartbeats. 

Natasha catches your eyes as you glance at her in a shy glance, and she knows it's too late. The warmth that passes through her as you smile, the same warm and knowing smile that you used to give her when everything was still okay was almost enough to bring her down to her knees.

You interrupt before her thoughts can spiral any further, clearing your throat before gesturing with your head the direction of the next exhibit.

"Shall we keep going?"

 -x-

Natasha sits across from you at a small café by the beach. You mention to her that it was your secret place, one that you go to when you wanted time to slow down and just have a moment to catch your breath. After the little incident at the aquarium, you guys decided it was best to just sit and people watch for the time being to avoid any more awkward interactions.

The warmth emanating from the cup of coffee did little to chase away the little chills that ran down her spine every time Natasha caught you gaze lingering on her for longer than you must've realised.

She told you about the plans that she and the girls had made for their vacation while you filled her in on your own life, telling her about your cousin that had just recently come to visit you just before Christmas.

"I'm glad you chose to come with me." You admit after a pause in conversation, voice soft. She turns to look at you, your eyes meeting hers with such an intensity it made her breath get caught in her throat. "I missed getting to talk to you like this."

She can tell that you spoke without thinking, the widening of your eyes giving you away. You look away, muttering a quiet "sorry" before lifting your drink to your lips in an attempt to hide the flush of your cheeks.

She was supposed to be over you. She'd told herself time and time again that she had moved on, but seeing you again, and being here with you, she couldn't deny that she was still in love with you. Having you so close yet so unreachable leaves an ache in her chest.

Throughout the time you two had been sat at the café, she watched you with fondness at the way your eyes lit up while you spoke with excitement in your voice about the things you and your cousin had gotten up to in the week they were with you; Natasha realises that she missed you too - and the comfort that you brought her just by simply being near.

"Nat? You okay?" The worry in your voice only deepens the ache in her heart.

"Yeah, no, sorry - I'm okay." She answers with a shaky nod, breathing deeply. She allows herself to feel her emotions, knowing that it would only do harm if she tried to deny herself this moment with you.

"I missed you too."

The sadness settles deep within her chest, the way you looked so shocked at her words - and she wonders if you were expecting her dismiss your words.

Her phone pings loudly from where it was placed on the table, the text tone sounding off four times in a row as her screen lights up between the two of you.

Natasha!! We've landed :D - Wanda

Sestra, we're on our way to the hotel now, tell lover girl to drop you off now - Yelena

Hi Nat, sorry again - we'll be there in 30 minutes! - Kate

I'll check us in if we make it to the hotel first, Nat, just let us know when you're there - Maria

You both watch as each text pops up on her phone, knowing that your time together was coming to an end.

Natasha watches as you ponder for a moment - wondering if you were going to add on to your words from before now that she's admitted that she missed you too. For a second it does seem like you're about to say something, but instead you just shake your head slightly to yourself, clearing your throat and as you look away, flagging down a waiter to pay for the meal you shared.

"We should probably get going if we want to get to the hotel at the same time as them."

She allows herself a moment to watch as you gather everything, absentmindedly listening to you talk about leaving now so we don't hit traffic - though I guess it's fair to make them wait, considering they made you wait like 10 hours, that's a practically a whole day wasted where you guys could've been sightseeing!

Natasha knows your putting on a brave front - she can see it in your eyes as you gather your wallet and keys, but she begrudgingly gets up after you pay for the bill, walking back with you to your car.

Already dreading the moment she has to say goodbye.

-x-

"Well, I guess this is where I leave you."

Pulling up at the front of the hotel, you catch a glance of Yelena, Kate and Wanda through the window. Even though you couldn't see her, you knew Maria wouldn't be too far away. Probably checking everyone in, you assumed as you parked your car near the entrance.

You do your best to avoid looking at Natasha, taking your time in getting out and grabbing her bags from the trunk, knowing this could very well be the last time you see her again. The thought alone breaks your heart all over again - you can recall all the times you've begged the universe to let your paths cross once more. Now that your wish has been granted and you're preparing to say goodbye to her once again, you deeply feel the loss of her from your life before it's even happened.

She's already watching you as you close the trunk. You hope that she can't see the tears that have been slowly building up since you started the drive to the hotel. You refuse to let yourself hope that the look in her eyes could mean anything order than gratitude.

"Thank you, Y/N, for today." She tells you softly.

"It's was nothing, Nat," you say with a smile, before softly adding, "you're welcome and I hope you guys have a Merry Christmas."

Getting lost in the silence that falls between you; you miss the way she's looking at you as you stare down at your shoes, waiting for her to grab her things and go so you can drive back to your apartment and sulk for the rest of the week. You wonder if she can see the way your hands are shaking as you wait for the inevitable goodbye.

"Y/N?"

You hum in response, not trusting your voice to stay steady if you decided to use actual words.

"I had a really good time today."

You tilt your head in curiosity. You've had a hard time all day trying to gauge if Natasha was having enjoying herself or not. There's no doubt in your mind that she would've said something if she wasn't.

"And it got me thinking," she continues. "I don't know- maybe I'm reading into everything wrong, and you can absolutely say no. You'll probably say no, because this is crazy, but I had to say something before I lose my mind-"

"Nat." You interrupt. As endearing as it was to hear her ramble on, to see her getting more and more flustered as she kept talking, you knew she'd work herself up before she every got to what she actually wanted to say.

"Breathe, love."

You nod encouragingly after she takes a deep breath, giving her time to gather her thoughts.

"Maybe it doesn't have to be so wrong, you know?" She starts. "To try again."

You try to hide the shock that you feel, but can't stop the way your eyes widen ever so slightly at her words. Never in a million years did you expect her to even say yes to spending the day with you, let alone suggest giving your relationship another go.

Does she mean just a friendship or an actual relationship?

Is she just saying that because of today?

What if she realises she doesn't actually mean that later on?

What if this was just a joke and she was just waiting for you to say yes so she can go "aha! I was just kidding as if I'd be serious."?

What if-

"We're different people now, don't you think?"

Confused but curious to know what else you had to say, she nods. "I'd say we are."

"We're older than we were before." You add. "We know a lot more about ourselves now, I'm not the scared kid I used to be."

You're scared of making the same mistakes you did all those years ago. But you also know that you're more than willing to learn from those mistakes; to stay and communicate to make things work instead of running away at the first sign of trouble. Because if there's anything you want more in the world, it's to make this work with her.

But just as much as you are scared, you can't help but be excited. Excited and honoured to learn more about this new Natasha, and fall in love with her all over again. You can't wait to find out what stayed the same, and what changed about her. Whatever she was willing to share with you, you'd gladly take.

"I could love you properly this time."

She gasps softly, and your heart pounds at the prospect of already scaring her away.

The thought of her friends seeing this happening through the window of the hotel briefly crosses your mind - you wonder if they'd approve of you making a return to Natasha's life or if they'll make you work for it after the way things ended between you two.

But she smiles, stepping into your personal space to wrap her arms around your neck and all thoughts leave your mind. The only thing you can focus on is Natasha pulling you closer so her words are only for your ears and your ears only to hear.

"I could love you properly this time too."

-----

@sadonism

[bluerosefox]

So... This was inspired by listening to EPIC (FREAKING LOVE ALL THE ALBUMS, SO GOOD) and by @noxcheshire post of Tim being Odysseus reincarnated and Danny (maybe also reincarnated) being his Penelope (Here) so I had to turn it into a Dead Tired idea.

The song The Challenge is the main one here. (Cause I LOVE that song... along with Would You Fall In Love With Me Again)

So WHAT IF Danny IS the reincarnated Penelope, after becoming the Ghost King Danny's memories of his past life as Penelope returns and remembers how before dying/ or being reincarnated both Penelope and Odysseus promised to find each other in their new lives, no matter who they are, what new form they take, they will find each other.

So Danny/Penelope, just like before waits for their Odysseus to return to them, but also tries to find him in their new life (CW is laughing whenever Danny asks for hints and gets a 'In due time, just wait' answer, ugh Danny wants to smack CW for that)

However just like in his previous life with being in a high position of power, Danny is being pressured to marry/take a spouse (now its not just men/males though so its a huge headache, I head canon Ghosts don't care much for gender preference) mostly by the dang eyeballs that Danny is still trying to find a way to get rid of without upsetting the Infinite Realms dedicate (but slowly healing) balance even if Danny wanted nothing more than to punch all of the suitors out.

So Danny decides to play the long game again.

And waits for their Odysseus return.

Danny's wait is over when they suddenly feel the Realms shift one day, as if welcoming someone familiar home, and the same feeling Danny had when he had been Penelope and saw the storm that was sign of Odysseus coming home, Danny decides its time to bring out The Challenge once again. (CW gifted Danny a few things from his past as Penelope as a coronation gift, like Odysseus's bow (now enchanted to be unbreakable), a painting of when he was Penelope, with Telemchus, and Odysseus, and the Marriage Bed/Olive Tree, AND the Palace Odysseus made that Danny takes to being in over being at Pariah's Keep)

-x-x-

Meanwhile

Tim Drake, aka Red Robin, always had strange dreams as a child.

War, Death, Monsters, Gods, Goddesses.

His dreams were more like nightmares, haunting him and he sometimes woke up in cold sweat.

He hated storms. Hated being in the water for to long. Hated how he felt both tense but also at home when around Greek heroes, as if he was afraid to 'disrespect' them (Cassie was the only one he didn't feel that way around, mostly cause they had been somewhat friends before their heroing since their parents knew each other) but also knew how to appease them should he insult them. He also had a strange hatred for the CoO with a burning passion because he felt like they were mocking real Owls.

The worst part of nightmares that always pop up are of what feels like should be his home is being invaded by unwanted guests (they aren't guests), how they are angry over trying to string a bow and shot an arrow through axes, of the terrible terrible things he hear them saying they were going to do to his loved ones (two names that keep getting muted out).

How it ends in bloodshed with echoing of begging, pleading, mercy, and screams.

However in those nightmares at the end. He also finds himself looking for something in them.

Or rather he always found someone waiting for him at the end of the nightmares. Calling him by the wrong name but it sounds just right coming from them.

The dream always ends with the person asking 'How long has it been?' and before he can answer he wakes up.

So yeah Tim has horrifying nightmares/dreams he could never explain.

And the urge to find someone. To go home to them.

It isn't until he and his friends from Young Justice are hit by a spell from Klarion (who may or may not had a visit from a certain chaos encouraging Time Keeper) and sent to a place called the Infinite Realms in the middle of their fight, that Tim is hit hard with déjà vu when he spots a certain Palace in the distance and overhears some of the 'people?' (they glow and float and some don't even look human?! where are they?) talk about how the 'King' has issued a new 'Challenge' for his 'suitors'.

A Challenge involving a bow, and axes.

And Tim, feels like he knows this all too well and needs to do it.

[caroljoky]

𝒞𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝒹 𝒷𝓎 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒢𝑜𝒹𝓈 - Prologue

Caracalla x female!OC x Geta(next chapters)

Chapter 1 is here!

Summary: Lucia Galeria Aurelia is the forgotten daughter of Lucilla and Maximus. One day her life changes forever when her path crosses with the young Caracalla. She starts to take an active part in the life of Rome, captivating not only the Roman people but also someone fate condemned her to - certain red-haired rulers.

Warnings: english is not my first language(!), none in the prologue

AN: I am so VERY excited about thiss!!!!! I wrote it so quickly cause I had the whole story planned. My story includes an alternative ending to the movie (because let's be honest Caracalla didn't deserve that brutal sudden death) so bear with me and let me welcome you to my story!

Trope: enemies to lovers (duh)

(PS: in History Caracalla was the older brother - in the movie it’s adapted that they’re twins, but Caracalla still came out first and is considered older)

Word count: 1.3k (Prologue)

‘Lucia Galeria Aurelia’ was the name of the not-really-known young girl, conceived by Lucilla Aurelia and Maximus Meridius, who was born exactly 9 months after the death of the infamous Commodus, and came into this world in her mother’s chamber, which was to be her home until she reached adolescence – or perhaps a hideout, a ‘refuge’ as Lucilla liked to put it. Her mother was a problematic woman in terms of care – she sent her son to the far north, and cut her daughter off from the world. However, the daughter got it worse, the daughter who became a ‘legend’ of Rome, a vague, shameful ‘memory’ of her mother’s and father’s secret relationship. When Lucius was forgotten, she was spoken of in whispers and with uncertainty, like an anecdote or a fairy tale. However, her relatives visited her regularly, helped raise her, shape her. Acacius brought her Marcus Aurelius's books, her mother taught her culture and virtues, as well as her servants whom she had had since childhood, but whom she treated as her closest family. A mysterious man from outside the family also came once in a while to speak with her, a man whom she met through Acacius - it was Macrinus Opellius, The Master of Gladiators. Yes, he introduced the little girl to the ideas of games, war, and brutality, taught her about the Empire, showed her the true face of Rome, showed her power. Her mother reprehensibly forbade Macrinus from approaching her chambers, forbade him from acquainting her with the deviations of the world of men. So for the first time, the girl began to sneak away, to go all over the Golden House, to the brothels, to look for Macrinus, so he could tell her more about rulers, about wars, about strength and honor. This is how she lived until she reached the age of 17 - the age of adolescence, the age when Rome changed drastically.

The reign was held by Septimius Severus, who took charge after Commodus and turned the people against the authority. This tyrant procreated, unfortunately for everyone, fathered two tiny twins, whom he decided to raise in his image, that is, raise madmen. It didn't work out for him entirely - Geta and Caracalla, as youngsters, behaved better than expected, trained in combat, learned about Rome in the great palace of the Domus Aurea (Golden House), the home of the emperor, and the irony of fate never brought them into contact with the rightful empress. There may have been times when Lucia sneaked secretly through the golden corridors meters away from the boys playing, maybe they would have noticed each other and exchanged a word. 

However, this never took place and Lucia was introduced to the twins in terrible conditions. On her 17th birthday, Lucilla opened the door to her chamber, just after she ordered to dress her daughter in the most beautiful clothes. The young woman's heart beat anxiously against her burgundy Stola, when for the first time she walked with Lucilla down the hallway towards the main hall of the palace, in full view of everyone. Her hair was tied in the most magnificent bun and single curls fell onto her dark, sharp, cat-like eyes. She suspected with fear what could happen. However, she didn’t know that she was right until she saw a man on the dais, in reality, a boy with red waves as hair, an outfit like hers, hands in rings, and a golden wreath resting on his vexed head. His eyes, terrifying for her, pierced straight into her like an arrow penetrating her insides, no one had ever looked at her in such a way, so directly, so impudently. Next to him stood a taller, equally red-haired, older man whose gaze was more greedy, less boyish, more terrifying. And those figures that stood as if made of marble on the dais turned to her and spoke. Or perhaps it was Septimus Severus who spoke, on behalf of his son. 

- My eldest son accepts your gift in the form of the beautiful Lucia. The couple will now accept the marriage, and they will be named the future emperor and empress. 

Hope stuck to Lucia, hope that maybe the red-haired boy was a marble sculpture after all, that the gods were joking with her, and that in a moment everything would return to the form of what it was. That she would be able to hide in the shadow of her mother, and everyone would forget about her again. As she walked between the rows of benches, on which it seemed like everyone was sitting, of course, Acacius, Macrinus, the entire senate, and the Roman aristocracy, her thoughts went back to the times when she had desired such an opportunity, an opportunity for power, to be remembered in history. However, now she understood how childish these cravings were. She understood now when she looked into the blue eyes of her tormentor - Lucius Septimius Bassianus, otherwise known as Caracalla. She stood on the dais. Severus began by making a sacrifice to the Gods - setting a white, dead lamb on fire. Lucia then compared herself to that lamb, lost in the name of something that had no right to exist. She and her future husband were facing each other, he lifted her orange veil - the traditional obligatory attire of a Roman bride, a symbol of the hearth. He put an iron ring on her delicate fingers and stared at her. She did not like Caracalla at first, it must be admitted. However, she was condemned to him her entire adult life. When the boy's father uttered the last words of the formal marriage, the mother sat in the first row of this grotesque spectacle, with tears in her eyes and a fake smile. The wedding of Lucia and Caracalla was a political arrangement, a union of two families. It was to save Rome, her daughter was to save Rome. And Severus was not to live long, he was sickly, people gave him a year to live at most, and it was his sons who were to maintain his infamy. This union gave hope for control over the twins, by maintaining any position in the decisions of the rulers. Lucilla placed all her hope and faith in her revealed secret - in her daughter.

- Lucia’s beautiful. - she heard right next to her, which snapped her from her thinking. She turned around abruptly. There sat a boy of considerable height, with a mocking smile and a cunning gaze fixed on her. His red hair was also decorated with a wreath, silver, matching his ceremonial silver robes. He was leaning towards her.

- Geta - whispered the mother of the bride.

- Caracalla doesn't want this marriage. If you gave her to me, I would accept her. I’m far more responsible. I would give you an heir right away - he said with a soft chuckle. For Lucilla his gaze was wild, she looked with horror at this barely 18-year-old twin. 

  However, his intentions were not barbaric, he was even somehow right, since childhood Geta was a better candidate for emperor, but his brutal father always stood in his way, convincing him of his weakness, inferiority, and immaturity of mind. For Severus his firstborn was a saint, he believed in the power that was dormant in him, ignoring the fact that he always played Gladiator, while Geta played emperor. However, the younger twin's (u know what I meann) jealousy wasn’t really overwhelming, because he did not believe that Caracalla would really take on the task of ruling Rome and would only occupy himself with games in the Colosseum instead of the role of emperor. To everyone’s surprise, his father did not allow this and threw him onto the dais in the great hall, forcing the ring onto his finger.  

 The newlyweds' lips pressed together awkwardly, and the hall was filled with a deafening roar of applause, the roar of an uncertain future that had stormed into the Golden House.

If we hit 20 likes ima post Chapter 1! Also lmk what u think by now in the comments :D

[winxanity-ii]

DO YOU STILL BELIEVE?

ship: odysseus x fem!penelope!reader warnings: non-explicit (emotional intensity, mentions of war and trauma, heavy themes of longing and separation, a bittersweet reunion) word count: 5.2k a/n: I had so much fun writing this one-shot inspired by Epic the Musical and The Odyssey! Penelope and Odysseus’ love story has always fascinated me, and I wanted to explore the raw emotions of their reunion while staying true to the themes of trust and enduring love. 🥹 I hope you enjoy this piece, and as always, feedback is welcome! Next update for Catch Me If You Can is in the works, so stay tuned! 👀.

★��.·´🇪‌🇵‌🇮‌🇨‌: 🇹‌🇭‌🇪‌ 🇲‌🇺‌🇸‌🇮‌🇨‌🇦‌🇱‌ 🇲‌🇦‌🇸‌🇹‌🇪‌🇷‌🇱‌🇮‌🇸‌🇹‌`·.·★

An unsettling silence clung to you as followed Eurycleia down the quiet corridors back to your chambers. The weight of the contest bore down on your shoulders like a storm cloud, and your mind churned with thoughts too heavy to quiet.

As you reached your room, Eurycleia stopped, turning to face you with an expression you couldn't quite decipher. Her aged hands, calloused from years of service, trembled slightly as she reached for the latch. "My lady," she began, her voice low and trembling, "you must remain in your room at all times tonight. No matter what you hear, you cannot leave."

Her words struck you with a jolt of unease, and you frowned. "Remain here? What do you mean, Eurycleia? What is going on?"

She hesitated, her gaze darting to the side as if the walls themselves might overhear her. "Please," she said softly, bowing her head. "Forgive me, but it is for your safety."

The cryptic answer only deepened the knot in your chest. "Eurycleia," you pressed, stepping closer, "tell me—"

"I cannot, my lady." Her voice wavered, but she straightened herself, her resolve unwavering. "I ask only that you trust me. Stay here, and do not leave until someone comes for you."

Before you could utter another word, she dipped into a deep bow, her gray hair catching the faint lamplight, and hurried away, the door clicking shut behind her.

For a moment, you simply stared at the door, her final words echoing in your ears. Trust me. What could she mean? What danger awaited beyond these walls?

Letting out a shaky sigh, you turned toward the room. The weight of your robe dragged against your shoulders as you pulled it tighter, seeking comfort from its soft folds.

The fire in the hearth crackled softly, casting flickering shadows that danced across the stone walls. It was a futile attempt to drive out the chill that had seeped into the room—and into your very bones.

Crossing to the window, you pressed your palms against the cool sill, your gaze drifting out over the kingdom below. The village lights flickered like stars scattered across the darkened land.

Beyond them, the sea stretched into the horizon, its surface shimmering faintly under the light of the crescent moon.

Your thoughts wandered, as they always did in moments of stillness, drawn to the same familiar ache that had lived in your chest for years.

The contest... Would it truly decide your fate? One of those suitors, those arrogant men who had feasted in your halls and mocked your son, could soon become your husband. The very thought sent a shudder down your spine, and you hugged your arms tighter around yourself.

A whisper escaped your lips, barely audible over the soft crackle of the fire. "Odysseus..." The name hung in the air, a prayer, a plea, a question. "What would you think of me now, letting this madness continue? Letting strangers fight for what was never theirs to claim?"

Your vision blurred, and you lowered your head, a tear slipping down your cheek. For years, you had waited. For years, you had woven and unwoven that shroud, holding on to a hope that had felt as fragile as a thread in the loom.

Was it foolish to hope still? To think that he might return, that the man who had held your heart so completely could be more than a memory?

Your lips trembled as you forced a bitter laugh. "I am not you," you murmured, the words breaking the silence. "I am not brave enough to fight this battle. All I can do is endure."

Your mind drifted, as it often did, to Telemachus. A smile tugged at your lips despite the ache in your chest. "Oh, Odysseus," you said, a soft chuckle escaping through your tears. "You would adore our son. He has your mind—so sharp, so clever. And your smile..." You let out a watery laugh, pressing a hand to your mouth to stifle the sound. "Even when he's being stubborn, I see you in him."

The image of Telemachus as a child came to you, vivid and warm—a boy who had once clung to your skirts, demanding stories of his father's heroism. Now, he stood tall, a man in his own right, with the weight of the kingdom already pressing on his shoulders. How proud Odysseus would be of him.

Your musings were cut short by a sudden, sharp sound—a shout echoing faintly down the corridors.

You froze, your heart leaping into your throat. Another shout followed, then the unmistakable clash of steel against steel.

Your breath hitched, and you stumbled back from the window, your pulse racing. What was happening? Panic swirled in your chest, and you turned toward the door, your hands trembling as you reached for the latch.

It didn't move.

You tugged harder, a frustrated gasp escaping you. "Open the door!" you shouted, pounding against the wood with the flat of your palm. "What is going on out there?"

A muffled voice answered from the other side, strained and apologetic. "My Queen, please—forgive us. You must remain inside."

"Why?" you demanded, your voice rising as fear clawed at your throat. "Tell me what is happening!"

But the only response was silence, broken only by the distant sounds of chaos—the cries of men, the clash of swords, and the pounding of your own heartbeat in your ears.

You staggered back, your chest heaving as you tried to make sense of it all. Your mind raced, grasping for answers. Was it the suitors? Had the contest descended into violence? Or was it something else—something you dared not name aloud?

Your knees buckled, and you sank onto the edge of the bed, your hands clutching the fabric of your robe as though it could anchor you. The air felt thick, suffocating, and your thoughts spiraled, each one more desperate than the last.

"Odysseus," you whispered, the name falling from your lips like a prayer. If he were here, he would know what to do. He would protect you, protect Telemachus, protect this kingdom.

Another shout rang out, closer this time, and your breath caught in your throat. You could do nothing but wait, trapped within these walls, your fate hanging in the balance.

☆

☆

You paced the length of your chambers, your footsteps muffled by the thick rug underfoot. Every pass brought you closer to the walls and then away again, as if your own restlessness could push the heavy silence out of the room.

Minutes ago—minutes that felt like an eternity—the shouts and screams that had echoed down the corridors had gone silent. That silence pressed on you now, as heavy as the stone walls of Ithaca's palace.

Your mind churned, spiraling into darker and darker thoughts. What had happened? Had the suitors staged an uprising, turning the contest into bloodshed? Did Ithaca fall under siege from an unseen enemy?  What if the guards were overwhelmed, and Telemachus...

You stopped mid-step, your breath catching painfully. Telemachus. Your son. The boy you'd raised to be strong, who carried so much of his father's spirit. Had he fallen in the chaos? Was he lying out there, cold and lifeless while you were locked away, helpless to protect him?

"No," you whispered, shaking your head furiously, as if the motion alone could banish the thought. But your heart wouldn't listen, and it dropped like a stone into your stomach, twisting painfully.

What if the suitors had taken over? What if they had harmed Telemachus? The thought of losing him, your son, the last piece of Odysseus you'd held onto, made the breath hitch in your throat. Your pulse roared in your ears, drowning out the world around you.

No, no, no. Your mind flashed to his strong but still-youthful face, the way he carried himself with the dignity of a man but the vulnerability of a boy. Your knees weakened at the thought of him hurt—or worse.

"Telemachus," you whispered, clutching your robe tighter around you. Panic clawed its way up your throat, and you rushed to the door, slamming your fists against it. "Let me out! I demand to see my son!" Your voice cracked, trembling with desperation. "Open this door! What's happened to him?"

From the other side came a muffled voice, hesitant and filled with regret. "My lady... forgive me, but I cannot. I have my orders."

"Orders?" you repeated, your voice rising with fury. "To keep me locked away while my son—while my kingdom—falls apart?" Your fists pounded harder, the sharp thud echoing in the empty room. "I beg you, please! Telemachus! Is he—" Your voice broke, and the words wouldn't come.

Your knees weakened, and you leaned heavily against the door, pressing your forehead to its cool surface.

No response. Not even the muffled, apologetic voices from earlier. Just silence.

You leaned your forehead against the wood, trembling as your thoughts spiraled further. Pressing your palms flat against the door, you whispered a prayer to the gods above, your voice trembling. "Please gods... protect him. Protect my son. Keep him safe. Please."

The silence beyond the door stretched on, heavy and suffocating. You stayed there, trembling against the wood, every second a fresh torment.

And then... the latch clicked, breaking through your whispered pleas.

You froze, your breath catching in your throat as you staggered back. Slowly, the door inched open, the dim light from the corridor spilling into the room.

Relief surged through you, mingling with your anger as you rushed forward, ready to demand answers. "How dare you keep me—" But the words died in your throat, caught like a fish in a net, as your gaze landed on the figure standing in the doorway.

Your heart stopped.

"...Odysseus?" His name escaped your lips in a whisper, barely audible, trembling like the flicker of a candle in the wind.

It couldn't be.

Your eyes widened, your mind struggling to reconcile the man before you with the ghost of the memory you had clung to for so many years. But there he was, standing in the doorway, real and solid, and yet so very different from the man you had kissed goodbye all those years ago.

He looked older. His once-youthful face was lined with the passage of time and the weight of what he had endured. Faint scars crisscrossed his hands and forearms, reminders of battles fought and hardships survived.

His frame was leaner than you remembered, his once-strong build worn by years of trials, yet he carried himself with a strength that belied the weary lines etched into his features.

His hair, streaked with silver, curled just slightly at the edges, framing a face that was both familiar and foreign.

And his eyes—oh, his eyes. They were the same piercing eyes you had fallen in love with, though now they carried a heaviness, a burden of things seen and done that you could scarcely imagine.

You took a trembling step closer, your breath shallow. Your gaze darted over him, drinking in every detail as though you feared he might vanish if you blinked. His clothes were ragged, torn at the edges, and caked with dust and blood, but he stood tall, the weight of the years and his trials radiating off him like a shield.

When your eyes met his, something shifted. The hardness in his gaze softened, the lines around them easing ever so slightly as his lips parted.

"Penelope," he rasped, his voice hoarse, as though it had been too long since he'd spoken your name aloud. He took a step toward you, his movements slow and deliberate, as if testing the waters of a dream.

Your head shook slowly, side to side, as tears welled in your eyes, spilling over before you could stop them. "N-No..." you stammered, your voice trembling, barely audible. "No... no!" The word grew louder as you turned abruptly, your legs buckling beneath the weight of the moment, sending you stumbling back toward the window.

You pressed your palms to the cool stone sill, your gaze locking onto the distant horizon as though it could anchor you. Your mind raced, each thought more frantic than the last. This isn't real. It can't be real. Fear clawed at your chest, your heart pounding so hard it felt as though it might break free. A strangled laugh escaped your lips, wild and unbidden.

The sound startled even you, cracking like thunder in the stillness of the room. It morphed into a sob, the sound catching in your throat as you gasped for breath. "I've lost it," you whispered, a broken, bitter laugh slipping through your trembling lips. "The gods have taken pity on me—or perhaps they've cursed me." Your shoulders shook as the dam finally broke, tears spilling freely now, mingling with the bitter laughter that refused to stop.

You clutched at the sill, your fingers digging into the stone as if you could steady yourself against the onslaught of emotions. The ache in your chest was unbearable, a mixture of disbelief, longing, and the fear that this was nothing more than a cruel trick of your mind—a dream that would shatter as all the others had.

A warm hand rested gently on your shoulder.

You froze, the heat of his touch cutting through the storm raging within you. A gasp escaped your lips, and your eyes squeezed shut, unwilling to face whatever was behind you—whether it was real or a phantom conjured by desperation.

The warmth seeped through your robe, grounding you, making it impossible to ignore. The sobs caught in your throat, and you were left trembling, torn between the urge to lean into the comfort and the fear of being hurt by it.

"Penelope," he said again, his voice softer this time, filled with something raw, something that threatened to undo you completely.

Your breath hitched, and with painstaking slowness, you turned. Your legs felt weak, as though they could give out at any moment, but the pull of his voice, of that warmth, was impossible to resist.

Your gaze lifted, hesitantly, until it met his. There he was, your husband, the man you had mourned and prayed for.

His face, lined with years of hardship, was impossibly familiar yet so changed.

His hair was streaked with silver, his cheeks sunken, but his eyes held the same warmth, the same depth that had drawn you in so many years ago.

Your hands shook as you raised them, trembling in the space between you, hesitant, unsure. Your lips quivered, the words catching in your throat as you whispered, "Odysseus... is it really you?"

He didn't speak. Instead, he reached out, his calloused fingers wrapping gently around your trembling hands. You flinched at the contact, the shock of it too much, but he didn't let go. Slowly, he guided your hands to his face, pressing them against his cheeks.

His skin was rougher than you remembered, his beard thicker, weathered by years of trials and battles, but the warmth—the life beneath your touch—was unmistakable. It grounded you in a way that no words ever could. He leaned into your touch, his eyes fluttering closed as though savoring the moment, as though he feared you might pull away.

"It's me," he murmured, his voice low and steady, his breath warm against your hands. His thumbs moved in small, gentle circles over your wrists, as if to reassure you, to anchor you both in this moment.

Your breath hitched, and fresh tears spilled down your cheeks. "O-Odysseus," you choked out, the name falling from your lips like a prayer. Your hands, still trembling, curled slightly against his skin, afraid to let go, afraid to believe, and yet unable to deny the truth of the man before you.

He opened his eyes then, meeting your tearful gaze with a tenderness that took your breath away. "Penelope," he said again, the way he spoke your name like a vow, a promise that he was here, that he was real.

Your heart stuttered, caught between disbelief and an aching hope that threatened to overwhelm you. The tears you had tried to hold back now flowed freely, your chest heaving as you fought to find words, any words, to bridge the chasm of years and heartbreak that separated you.

"Have my prayers been answered?" you whispered, your voice trembling, fragile as the thread of a spider's web. Your eyes searched his face, tracing every new line, every scar, every mark of hardship etched into his features. "Is it really you standing there, or am I dreaming once more?"

Odysseus' lips parted, as though he, too, struggled with the enormity of this moment. He tightened his hold on your hands, his calloused thumbs brushing against your skin in a gesture so tender it made you tremble. "It's me, Penelope," he murmured, his voice low but steady, a reassurance as much for himself as it was for you.

You shook your head slightly, as if to clear it, your tears blurring your vision. "You look different," you said, your voice cracking under the weight of emotion. "Your eyes... they look tired. Your frame is lighter, your smile..." You swallowed hard, your voice dropping to a whisper. "Your smile is... torn."

A flicker of pain crossed his face, and he let out a breath that seemed to carry the weight of years. "I... I am not the man you fell in love with, Penelope," he admitted, his voice soft but unwavering. "I am not the man you once adored. I am not your kind and gentle husband."

His words struck you like a blow, each one driving home the truth that you had feared, and yet something in his gaze kept you rooted, unable to look away. "And I am not the love you knew before," he finished, the admission hanging heavy in the air between you.

Your lip quivered, your knees threatening to give out again. "What kinds of things did you do for you to believe such things?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper. The question carried no accusation, only a desperate need to understand, to piece together the years that had separated you.

His jaw tightened, and his gaze dropped for a moment, as though the weight of the answer was too much to bear. "I left a trail of red on every island," he said finally, his voice raw with the truth. "I traded friends like objects I could use. I hurt more lives than I can count on my hands." His eyes flicked back up to yours, and the pain in them was almost unbearable to witness. "But all of that was to bring me back to you."

Your breath caught, your hands trembling in his grip. He was baring his soul before you, and yet you couldn't stop the flood of questions, the fears and doubts that had plagued you for years. "So tell me," he continued, his voice softer now, carrying a note of something fragile. "Would you fall in love with me again, if you knew all I've done? The things I can't undo? I am not the man you knew, Penelope. But I know you've been waiting for my return, my love."

You felt as though the air had been knocked from your lungs, his words hitting you with a force that left you reeling. "Odysseus..."

He stepped closer, the air between you heavy with unspoken emotion. The years of longing, the nights spent weaving and unraveling hope, the ache of absence—all of it welled up inside you, pressing against your chest until it was hard to breathe.

"If that's true," you began, your voice trembling with a mixture of vulnerability and resolve that even you hadn't expected, "could you do me a favor?"

Odysseus tilted his head slightly, his brow furrowing as he studied you, the faintest flicker of concern crossing his features. "Anything," he rasped, his voice carrying the weight of someone who had carried countless burdens but would shoulder another if it meant easing yours.

You drew in a shaky breath, your hands twisting in the fabric of your robe as you glanced toward the corner of the room, where the wedding bed stood—a monument to the love you had cherished through the years, even as it seemed impossible to hold onto. "Just a moment of labor," you whispered, your voice barely audible as you struggled to keep it steady, "that would bring me some peace."

He straightened, his brows drawing closer together as unease flickered in his gaze.

You swallowed hard and gestured toward the bed. "See that wedding bed? Could you carry it over? Lift it high on your shoulders and take it far away from here."

The silence that followed was almost unbearable. Even the crackling of the fire in the hearth seemed to fade into the background as your words hung heavily in the air.

At first, Odysseus didn't move, his body as still as stone, but the change in his expression was stark. Confusion gave way to disbelief, then hurt, and finally, a simmering anger that seemed to pulse just beneath the surface.

He took a slow step forward, his eyes fixed on the bed as though it had somehow betrayed him.

"How could you say ask this?" he asked, his voice low and tight, the tremor in it betraying the storm of emotions he was struggling to contain. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his knuckles whitening as though he were trying to ground himself. "That bed isn't just wood, Penelope. It's us—it's everything we built, everything we were."

You held your ground, your heart hammering in your chest. "I know," you replied softly, though your voice carried a sharp edge, your words deliberately chosen. "That's why I ask."

His gaze snapped to yours, his eyes flashing with a pain that struck deep. "I built that bed with my own hands," he said, his voice rising, the anger now bubbling to the surface. "Do you remember the olive tree, Penelope? The one in the garden, where you smiled at me for the first time—truly smiled, not out of courtesy or politeness, but with a warmth that lit up the whole world? That tree was alive, vibrant, like you. I could have built a bed from any wood in the kingdom, but I chose that tree. I thought it would hold us together, root us, even when life tried to tear us apart."

You said nothing, your eyes brimming with unshed tears as he continued, the floodgates of his heartbreak fully open now.

"When I carved it..." he said, his voice breaking slightly, "I poured everything into it—my love, my hope, my belief that what we had was unshakable. And now, after all these years, after everything I've done to get back to you, you ask me to destroy it? To tear it from its roots and cast it away as though it means... nothing?" His voice cracked on the last word, and he shook his head, stepping back as though the distance might protect him from the blow you'd just dealt.

Your lip quivered, but you refused to look away. Instead, you stepped closer, your voice quiet but resolute. "And do you know why I asked, Odysseus?" you countered, your tone measured, a mixture of cunning and vulnerability. "Because I had to know. After twenty years, I had to know if the man who stands before me is the man I loved, the man who could never move that bed because he made it immovable—because he made it ours."

He froze, his breath catching in his throat as your words sank in.

You took another step forward, your tears finally slipping down your cheeks as you continued, your voice softening. "Only my husband would understand what that bed means, what it represents. Only he would react the way you just did—with anger, with heartbreak, because it's not just a piece of furniture, is it? It's us. It's the life we built together, the promises we made under the shade of that olive tree. Only my Odysseus would carry that weight with him... even after all these years."

He looked at you then, truly looked at you, and the anger in his eyes melted into something deeper—something raw and unguarded. He took a shaky breath, his hands relaxing at his sides as he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "Penelope..."

"Yes," you murmured, your lips trembling as a smile began to form. "Yes, only my husband knew that... So I guess that makes him you."

The tension in the room shattered, replaced by a flood of emotions that neither of you could fully contain. Odysseus took another step toward you, his hand reaching out to cup your cheek with a gentleness that belied the storm that had just passed.

"Penelope," he said again, his voice full of reverence, his thumb brushing away your tears. "You... you are still the clever woman I fell in love with, the woman who could outwit gods and men alike. And you’re right. That bed... it's us. And I could never, would never destroy it. Not for anything."

You placed your hand over his, your fingers trembling against his calloused palm. "And I could never stop loving you," you whispered, your voice thick with emotion. "Not then. Not now. Not for anything or anyone."

Your tears fell freely now, your voice breaking as you spoke. "I will fall in love with you over and over again, Odysseus," you said, the words tumbling from your lips like a confession, raw and unguarded. "I don't care how, where, or when. No matter how long it's been... you're mine."

His eyes opened, meeting yours with a fierce intensity. "Don't tell me you're not the same person," you continued, your voice trembling but determined. "You're always my husband, and I've been waiting for you."

His hands cupped your face then, his touch gentle but firm, as though grounding himself in your presence. "Penelope," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion, his forehead resting against yours. "For you, I would wait an eternity."

"How long... has it been?"

His lips curled into a faint smile, bittersweet and full of unspoken apologies. "Twenty years," he said, the weight of those two words pressing against you like a physical force.

Twenty years. Twenty years of pain and longing condensed into this moment, the air between you heavy with unspoken promises and the undeniable truth of a love that had endured against all odds.

And then, without warning, he kissed you.

It wasn't tentative or shy but raw and consuming. His lips claimed yours with a fervor that stole the breath from your lungs. You felt the tremor in his hands as they cradled your face, his calloused fingers rough yet gentle, grounding you in his presence.

The weight of twenty years was in that kiss—two decades of longing, of yearning, of pain too deep to articulate.

He kissed you like a man starved, as though you were the first taste of life he’d had in an eternity. The press of his lips was firm, insistent, yet reverent, as if he were terrified that you might slip away if he loosened his hold for even a moment.

Your heart stuttered in your chest, the rhythm faltering before surging forward with a force that left you lightheaded. Your hands, trembling and unsure, found their way to his chest, your fingers clutching at the fabric of his tunic as if to anchor yourself, as if to remind yourself that this was real, that he was here. His heart thundered beneath your touch, the rapid beat matching the wild cadence of your own.

The kiss deepened, his desperation bleeding into every movement. His lips moved against yours with an urgency that left no room for hesitation. His beard brushed against your skin, rough and unfamiliar, but it only added to the heady sensation, grounding you further in the reality of him.

When he pulled you closer, his arms sliding around your waist to hold you firmly against him, the warmth of his body seeped into yours, chasing away every lingering doubt, every shadow of uncertainty.

You could feel the tension in him—the coiled strength of a warrior who had been fighting for so long, the vulnerability of a man who had feared he might never return home.

A small, broken sound escaped him, muffled against your lips, and it sent a shiver racing down your spine. His lips lingered on yours as though memorizing the shape, the feel, the reality of you.

When he finally pulled back, his breath came in ragged gasps, his forehead resting against yours once more. His eyes were squeezed shut, his lashes damp with unshed tears, and his grip on you remained firm, as though he feared you might vanish if he let go.

"Penelope," he whispered again, his voice hoarse, his breath mingling with yours in the small space between you. "I thought... I thought I'd never hold you again."

Your own breaths came in shallow, uneven bursts, your lips tingling from the intensity of the kiss. Your chest heaved, your hands still clutching at him as if you might fall apart without the solid weight of him beneath your fingers.

You opened your eyes, meeting his gaze, and the raw vulnerability you saw there stole whatever words you might have spoken. His lips were red and slightly swollen, his cheeks flushed, and the way he looked at you—as though you were the only thing keeping him grounded—made your heart ache and soar all at once.

You lifted a trembling hand to touch his face, your thumb brushing against the tear trailing down his cheek. "Odysseus," you whispered, your voice cracking with the weight of everything you felt but couldn't say.

And as his lips found yours again, softer this time but no less fervent, you knew without a doubt that this was your Odysseus—the man who had left, the man who had fought, the man who had returned.

And you kissed him back with all the love, all the pain, and all the hope that had carried you through the years. The two of you stood there, the world falling away as time seemed to collapse.

He pulled back slowly, his breath mingling with yours, the space between you charged with everything unspoken. For a moment, he simply stared, his hands trembling against your skin.

"Penelope," he whispered, his voice breaking, his tears falling freely now. "After everything... after all this time..."

You placed a trembling hand on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart beneath your palm, a grounding warmth that made you choke on a sob. "I—I love you, Odysseus."

His hand covered yours, pressing it tighter against his chest as though to hold you there, to keep you from slipping away. "I love you, Penelope," he murmured, his voice steady now, resonant, filled with everything he couldn't say before. "Always. Forever. Even when I thought I'd never see you again... it was always you."

And in that moment, twenty years of separation melted away, leaving nothing but the love that had never wavered, the bond that time and trials could not break.

A/N: Ahhh, y'all im crying in bed!!! i just listened to the last saga of epic (ithaca saga) and it got me sobbing, just a mess.  jorge did a phenomenon job portrtaying odysseus love for penelope ❤️❤️ i just had to create my one-shot/interpertation of this 😩❤️

[sailornymph]

‘ALL FOR ME’

naruto dilfs with younger s/o

cw : nsfw, age gap (reader is 21-23, they are 30+), implied size difference, etc.

authors note : wow i am really appreciative of the followers and requests i have already received, welcome! and thank you :)

not hcs just short pieces that i came up with :)

♡︎ kakashi hatake

dipping your feet in the lake, you laid back, book in your hands. the sun felt so comforting, shining down on your skin. your dress pulled up above your knees, your toes buried in the rocks — a ticklish sensation on your ankles from the small fish swimming by.

“you shouldn’t be this far out, alone,” you heard, making you sit up, and turning around.

kakashi, always trying to look cool and nonchalant, stood, leaning against the tree, his arms crossed. playfully rolling your eyes, you stepped out of the water, approaching him.

“i thought you had to train your students today,” you raised your eyebrow at him.

“i did, then i found out you carelessly came out here alone”

“so you came after me?”

“i’m here, aren’t i?”

“how do i know i’m not talking to one of your clones, or someone pretending to be you?” you squinted. you were only a bookstore owner after all, and you oftentimes struggled to determine what or who was a clone — despite kakashi attempting to teach you.

shaking his head, he approached you, pulling down his mask. snaking his arm around your waist, he stared into your eyes for a moment.

“when did you start to read icha icha?” he asked, making your eyes widen in embarrassment. glancing at the book pressed against your chest.

“you left it at my place, so i decided to see what you liked about it,” you said, as he smirked.

“i assume you’ve liked what you’ve read?”

“i-yes, it’s not bad,” you nodded, shyly, but he lifted your head.

“who knew girls like you could become such perverts?” he laughed.

“don’t say things like that,” you shook your head.

“ah, i thought you were trying to figure out if i was a clone?” he smiled.

“i don’t think a clone would have shown me your face,” you said, as he hummed, pulling you close into a hug.

“i‘ve found myself missing you,” he admitted. he had been on mission after mission with team seven and hardly given any time to visit you or your small bookstore.

“i missed you too, are you okay?” you asked worriedly.

“don't worry about me, let’s focus on you, what did you do while i was away?”

“i worked and hung with a few friends,” you said, he nodded, turning you around. your ass pressing against his body, his hand on your abdomen.

“did you hook up with any of these friends?” he asked, his breath on your neck, making you clench your legs together.

“no, i meant what i told you,” you said, your breathing becoming heavy.

“that you’re all for me? what’s the matter, sweetheart?”

“i can’t take this pressure,” you pushed back harder against him.

“oh? then let’s relief some of this pressure?”

“show me where it is,” he whispered.

reaching for his hand, you placed it onto your cunt, moaning as he pressed down on your clothed clit. throwing your head back onto his shoulder, your whispered his name.

“oh kakashi”

“have you hook up with anyone?” you hesitantly asked.

“never, not when i have my lovely bookworm, but let’s continue with this pressure, is it here?” he asked, massaging your clit.

“yes,” you eagerly shook your head.

“we’ll have to fix that, won’t we? you were already being a dirty girl reading my book, you don’t mind if we handle your issue here, use your words, sweetheart”

“please don’t stop touching me,” you begged, as he lifted up your dress, his fingers slipped into your panties.

“you’re already this wet? you’re excited aren’t you?”

“kakashi, i want it,” you groaned, reaching to lightly squeeze his cock. groaning in your ear, he pulled out his hand to unbuckle his pants, while you removed the panties.

stroking himself a few times, he slowly slid into your pussy. standing tall behind you, he held your hips, as he slowly thrusted his cock deeper. reaching to hold his arm, you covered your mouth muffling your moans.

holding your waist, he helped you lower to the grass, taking off his vest in the process, for you to kneel on it instead. your eyes rolled back as he continued thrusting, lowly panting.

“kakashi, i’m so close,” you cried, the sound of skin clapping being drowned out by the waterfall.

lifting your body up, pressing your back against his chest, he continued thrusting, squeezing your breast, just as his cum began to paint your walls.

pulling out, you looked back at him, kissing his lips, his hands still holding your breast, when he froze.

“get dressed, someone is coming,” he ordered.

scampering to fix your appearances, the both of you sat near the water, opening your books, just as kakashi began to lift his mask over his mouth.

“there he is,” sakura screamed.

“where were you, sensei?” naruto yelled.

“and what are you doing?” sasuke frowned, noticing both of you sitting with a book in your lap.

“i forgot i agreed to join the local bookclub, i figured i would show my face, since we are back in the village,” kakashi shrugged.

“i know you, you own that bookstore next to the flower shop,” sakura pointed.

“yes, my name is y/n,” you smiled at the children.

“miss y/n, you look a bit young to be around someone as old as kakashi sensei”

“yeah, you better not be a pervert old man”

“how old are you, actually?” all three children spoke at the same time, kakashi’s face burning in embarrassment.

“i am an adult, kakashi isn’t that much older than me, and we aren’t doing anything, your sensei is just a very, very good reader,” you said, making eye contact with him.

“then can we join this book club?” naruto asked curiously.

“absolutely not,” kakashi finally spoke, before you could say anything else.

“but-

“how about you three beat me back to the academy, the winners will be treated to ramen,” he continued.

“deal, bye y/n,” naruto screamed, running back towards the village, sakura and sasuke following.

“will i see you tonight?” he asked.

“you will,” you nodded.

“see you then, sweetheart”

♡︎ jiraiya

the pervy sage, you could remember the first time you met him. you and another chūnin were sent by the hokage to bring information to naruto. as your partner went to bring the scroll to the boy who had the nine-tailed fox sealed in him, you could feel a pair of eyes lingering on your figure.

turning your head, you raised your eyebrow at the older man, who shamelessly gawked at you, until naruto yelled.

“hey, you old perv, stop looking at y/n like that,” he yelled, before smiling at you.

“sorry about that, y/n,” he called, as you approached.

“it's alright, naruto, how is your training coming along?”

“i’m much stronger, each day i get closer and closer to becoming hokage, believe it,” he cheered.

“i believe you,” you nodded, laughing.

“how about you? is it true that you're going to try to become a jōnin?”

“if kakashi is free to help me train,” you nodded.

“how about the pervy sage helps you-

“oh no, naruto, i can't impose,” you began to shake your head.

“he doesn't mind, do you, pervy sage? and y/n is already pretty strong, but you can just make sure she is ready for her test,” he said, his eyes going from you to the older man.

“i-

“you don't worry about naruto, he’s always trying to help others, if kakashi doesn't train me, i could always ask asuma or kurenai-

“no you don't get it, the pervy sage is one of the sannin,” naruto bragged as your eyes widened, going to the older man, who stood, profusely blushing.

“i am sure i could make time to train you,” he managed to say.

“oh now you’re all shy,” naruto yelled.

“really? i don’t want to take away time for naruto-

“no, it’s alright, i will be picking up missions soon and this old man doesn’t have a life, he can make time for the both of us”

“is that true?” you asked, smiling as he sheepishly nodded.

“of that’s wonderful, i can’t wait to start,” you clapped, gasping, before bowing, thanking him.

“we have to go, i’ll be in touch,” you waved, as you and your partner left.

it wasn't much longer before you were training, sometimes alongside naruto, other times it was just you and jiraiya. you grew stronger, but training with jiraiya was also the beginning of something addicting and you found yourself unable to get enough of — the toad sage himself.

“go away, i don’t want to talk to you,” you pouted, crossing your arms, as jiraiya stood outside of your house, with a small bouquet.

“don’t be like that, princess-

“you were my sensei for the last three months and you couldn’t even come to see me become a jōnin,” you frowned.

“i had important business”

“more important than your girlfriend’s graduation? or do you even care about me? naruto was right, you’re just an old perv and i can’t believe i trusted you and gave you my body. you disgusting-

before you could finish, he dropped the flowers, his hand pressing against your mouth, stopping you from speaking. stepping forward, he easily pushed his way into your small house, before he shut the door behind himself.

“let’s not say cruel things we don’t mean,” he smiled, lightly pinching your cheek, as he pulled away.

“where were you?” you asked him, sadly.

“shopping”

“that’s what was so important? you were shopping, wow,” you said, trying to process what he had just told you.

“i didn’t think i would need to go to two different villages, to find this,” he reached into his pocket, for the delicate jewelry. a lovely sight to see, the beautiful red rubies were cut perfectly, for the dainty necklace.

“you missed my graduation for a neckl-

“a graduation gift for the sexy little jōnin, miss y/n,” he interrupted.

“oh,” you said, your face burning with embarrassment.

“you will be away on plenty of missions, so i figured, i would give you a piece of me to have with you,” he said, as he made you spin around. his hand pressing your body against his chest, slowly traveling up, before unclamping the necklace, placing it around your neck, and closing it.

“it’s beautiful, thank you, i love it,” you smiled, going to the mirror to examine it. slowly making his way behind you, he massaged your hips.

“you look incredibly sexy in red”

“red is your color, people may begin to think i am copying you since you trained me-

“or that i’ve made my claim before anyone else could,” he said. he was practically drooling, as he watched your body.

“maybe,” you shyly agreed. after all this time, you still couldn’t take his shamelessness.

“tell me, my little jōnin, are you all for me?” He asked, pulling you back into his embrace, his large hand resting on your lower back.

“y-yes”

“are you still upset with me?” he tilted his head, grinning as you shook your head.

“then kiss me,” he instructed, your eyes searching for his face.

standing on your toes, you were nearly climbing up a tree, to kiss his lips. swiftly picking you up, his tongue slipped into your mouth, your fingers going to long white tresses. moving from your mouth to your neck, you moaned, holding his head closer.

“don’t stop, sensei, i want more,” you moaned, breathlessly.

“such a needy girl,” he grinned, his tongue brushing against your sensitive skin.

carrying you upstairs to your bedroom, you were plopped onto the bed with ease. squeezing your thighs together, you watched as jiraiya undressed. he always praised you for your looks and body, but he was amazingly attractive and fit for his age.

“when did you become such a little perv?” he asked, stroking himself. you could see the precum already leaking out, as his cock grew harder.

“i learned from the best,” you bit your lip. as excited as you were, you were also nervous. as many times as he had fucked you, and you still weren’t use to his size.

“hey, don’t be nervous pretty girl, do you trust me?” he asked, smiling as you nodded.

“good, i’ll take care of you,” he reassured you, pulling off your panties, leaning down to place a single kiss on your clit, before getting up, continuing to stroke himself. aligning with your entrance, he slowly pushed himself in.

arching your back, your body began to relax at his sweet words of adoration and reassurance. interlocking your fingers with his much larger hand, he brought your fingers to his lips.

“you’re already a whimpering mess and i hardly touched you, princess,” he laughed, remaining still, allowing your cunt to take as much as she saw fit.

“ji-raiya, y’re s-so big,” you moaned.

“and you’re so tight, you’re squeezing the tip of my cock,” he hummed.

pulling his large hands, you moved them to your breast, biting your lip, as he lightly squeezed them.

“fuck me, please,” you told him, your mouth instantly in an ‘o’ shape, as he pushed his cock in deeper.

watching himself fucking your pussy, barely able to fit, stretching your little cunt out, he wouldn’t last long before he was cumming.

“it’s amazing how you can go from being a feisty little jōnin, to a cute pillow princess, you’re amazing,” jiraiya moaned, as he continued thrusting into your cunt. both of your moans filling the walls.

“i’m close, i think i’m close-oh kami,” your eyes rolled back, your leg shaking, as you clenched around him repeatedly, your cum coating his big cock.

“almost there princess,” he whispered, doing a few more thrust, before he was pulling out, stroking himself.

sitting up, you slid to the floor, sticking your tongue out. letting his semen squirt all over your tongue, you swallowed it, sucking his tip, as if it was a lollipop.

“i think i’m going to miss you when you’re away on these missions,” he admitted, hovering over your body. he was a tower compared to you.

“aw, i promise i’ll make it up to you each time, i’m back,” you replied, reaching for his jaw, kissing his lips. who knew you would fall for a pervy old sage, but you couldn’t get enough of him, and had no intention of leaving him alone, for the time being.

♡︎ hashirama senju

“the final exam will take place in three months from now, from this moment on train as hard as you can, for your tournaments, many will be watching you, i wish you all the best of luck, you are free to leave,” you announced to the genin. watching as the young shinobi cheered, you huffed in exhaustion.

since being placed over the genin and chūnin exams, you had been exhausted, constantly working — courtesy of hashirama, of course. perhaps it was his way of keeping you from going on missions.

“y/n,” you turned hearing your name being called.

“izuna, when did you get back?” you smiled.

“this morning, did you do something? the hokage hasn’t taken his eyes off of you since you started speaking,” he laughed. turning, your eyes widened as you made eye contact with hashirama. his straight face remained, but you could see his posture relax.

“he probably just doesn’t want me to mess up,” you said.

“i doubt he thought you would mess up, it’s your first year as a jōnin and you were chosen to instructed the very first exams, i wouldn’t be surprised if he offered you to become a sensei of the new school,” he teased.

“oh please, let’s talk about madara, glaring at you for talking to me. you know you aren’t supposed to associate with us outsiders,” you snickered, but he rolled his eyes.

“most of the pupils are uchiha, it’s only right that i’m here, and when isn’t madara grumpy? i’m just saying hello to an old friend-

“y/n, the hokage would like a word with you, when you are finished,” tobirama interrupted. the look of disdain and disgust as he briefly eyed izuna. you nodded, glancing at the uchiha, as the senju brother left.

“sorry about him, hashi-the hokage has been trying to help stop his brother with these negative feelings-

“it is alright, y/n, i should go, we have to guarantee all uchiha students get into this school,” he told you, walking away.

“i’m sure they will,” you called out. turning around, you were surprised to see the hokage gone.

raising an eyebrow, you made your way to the hokage residence. a few shinobi stood around, as you made your way to the main office. gulping, you hoped there weren’t too many men inside. it wasn’t common for women to become a shinobi, let alone a jōnin at only twenty three. truthfully, if it wasn’t for your secret relationship with the first hokage, you wouldn’t get half of the respect that you already received.

knocking softly on the door, you opened it, freezing seeing the few men standing close to the desk.

“i was told you asked to see me,” you bowed.

“yes, leave us,” he said, watching as they all left, shutting the door behind themselves. almost as if he could sense them, he didn't make a move until they were completely out of the residence. a large smile appeared on his lips, as he stood up.

“you were wonderful with the children, they will make excellent shinobi,” he said, as you rose from your bow.

“thank you, lord first,” you said, as he approached you, wrapping his arm around your waist.

“even with you being over the exams, i miss you too frequently, maybe i should give you something less demanding,” he said.

“about that, after this year’s exams, i’d like to go back to accepting missions,” you said, trying to have a serious conversation with him, but he was too busy, taking in your scent, as his hands explored your body.

“i’m afraid your request will have to be denied, tobirama and i were thinking making you a sensei at the academy that will be opening,” he said, making you gasp.

“izuna was right-

“when did you and izuna uchiha get so close?”

“hashi, this isn’t right, i am the only woman jōnin in this village-

“and that is even more why you should become a sensei, little girls will see you and know that they have a chance to do the same thing,” he said. as true as that statement was, you knew that wasn’t why he wanted you to become a teacher, instead of taking missions.

“is that what you’re telling yourself? you and i both know you’re keeping me here so i can be near you, and it isn’t fair, you have a wife, hashi. i shouldn’t have to put my career on pause because-

“i worry about you, every time that you are away. i trust that you are strong, but i don’t know who could be your opponent. you can still protect konoha as a sensei, and i can protect you. as for my marital status it is irrelevant, you are all for me, are you not? hm, sunshine?” he asked, smiling at you.

“yes,” you nodded. as much as you wanted to be angry, it was hard to resist him, when he had such a cute, goofy smile.

“good, i like the uchiha clan, but not enough to share you,” he admitted, leaning down to kiss your lips.

“i won’t be a good sensei,” you said, breathlessly, as he moved down to your neck, his hands swiftly opening your kimono.

“you will, the very best, it is for your safety and my peace of mind,” he said, allowing you to open his kimono, your hands brushing against his toned abdomen and chest.

“you’re a selfish man, senju,” you moaned, as you stepped out of your undergarments, your kimono falling off your shoulders.

“i am, when it comes to those i care about,” he agreed, lifting your leg. his cock pressing against your pussy. groaning, he pulled you closer, biting down on your neck.

“i don’t know if i should thank you or scream at you,” you bit make your moans, his cock rubbing back and forth between your legs.

“you should do as i say and let me protect you, as your hokage and your-” he paused, his face turning red.

“my lover?” you tilted your head, smirking, as he nodded.

“just this once,” you gave in, moaning as he kissed your lips, slipping his tongue into your mouth.

stroking his cock a few more times, he pushed himself into your cunt. throwing your head back, you moaned out, as he left a trail of passion marks on your neck. you stood on your toes, as he held one of your legs in his arms, driving his cock deep into your pussy. his pussy.

you were his, only his. no one else could ever fuck you like he could. not a uchiha, and certainly not any ordinary shinobi. the way you slurred his name, drool leaking from the corner of your mouth. the way you became angry at him, saying small remarks as if you would cut ties with him. the way you claimed to want so much independence, and became a whiny baby when he protected you instead. you were just as wrapped around his fingers as he was to yours.

“hashi, i’m going to-i’m going to cum,” you moaned.

“so pretty and tight for me,” he panted, speaking in a hushed tone.

“just like that, hashi,” you whined, as his hand went to your neck, thrusting faster, as he lightly squeezed.

“y/n,” he hissed, his cock twitching, his thrust becoming more sloppy and uneven.

“cum in me hashi,” you purred, rubbing your hands up his chest.

nodding his head, concentration in his eyes, he kept thrusting, before holding you close, his cum filling you up, before he pulled out.

“i hope everyone has left for the evening,” you sighed, fidgeting with your clothing, as you began to redress. it was one thing to deal with sexism from men who were weaker than you, but to deal with a rumor that held truth, that would be the end of you.

“don’t worry about any of them, and when you take on your role as sensei i will make sure it stays that way, don’t give me that look, they will give you respect, not just because you’re with me, but you are their superior,” he said.

“okay,” you nodded.

“shall i walk you home?”

“i think i can manage from here, lord first,” you bit your lip, as he pulled you closer, once more.

“then i shall see you in the morning, to discuss your future role?”

“yes, i will be here,” you nodded.

“then goodnight, my sunshine,” he kissed your lips.

“goodnight, hashi,” you quickly bowed, making your way home for the night.

♡︎ minato namikaze

“he’s too old for you and you shouldn’t tell anyone else about it, it might cause trouble,” your best friend, mei told, as he walked you to work.

“i know, i can’t help it though, isn’t he dreamy?” you spun around, squealing in his face.

“he is probably the best looking hokage, but i’m serious, who knows the drama it might bring, or even danger,” he said, as you finally stopped in front of the hokage’s office.

“i know, you’re right,” you slumped your shoulders.

“hey, after work, i’ll treat you to ramen, okay?”

“and desert?” you pouted.

“and desert,” he laughed, before you were making your way inside the building.

who knew the internship as secretary would cause such trouble. you didn’t expect the hokage to be as charming as he was, to be as handsome up close as he was, to eat pussy as good as he does — the taboo relationship, as mei called it, would cause issues, but why is it that you couldn’t bring yourself to care?

he was nearly a decade older, recently separated from his wife and they shared a son. why is it you couldn’t care about how scandalous it would be for the two of you? how you could become a target if anyone found out about you being his little secret.

going to sit at your desk, you began to organize the paperwork that had been given left on your desk. “good morning,” you spoke to the shinobi, as they left the hokage’s office.

the time went by painfully slow, minato nowhere to be seen. although you were certain he was in his office, plenty of shinobi coming and going out of the double doors. checking your lipstick in your small mirror, you stood up, leaving a note that you were on your lunch break, before knocking, then entering the room.

he sat at the desk, reading through the papers, when his eyes shifted to yours. you smiled, but he kept a straight face, going back to reading.

“i haven’t seen you all morning,” you mumbled.

“i’ve been busy”

“too busy to even say good morning, that is unlike you,” you said, locking the door, approaching the desk.

“unlock the door”

“i want to talk”

“i have work-

“what is the matter with you, why are you acting like this, minato?” you pouted.

“who was that boy you were talking with, this morning? the one who is taking you out for ramen after work,” he said, jealousy all over his face. stopping in your tracks, you covered your mouth, trying to hold in your laugh.

“go on, laugh, did you want to be able to tell your friends what you've done with the hokage, and then get with a guy your age?” he asked, making you stop laughing.

“that was mei, we’re only friends, he’s handsome, but he already has a boyfriend,” you said, crossing your arms, as the crimson tint appeared on his cheeks.

“i see, i may have misinterpreted what i saw, i apologize,” he said.

“he doesn’t think i should be seeing you, you’re too old for me”

“oh,” he says, sheepishly.

“i told him i knew he was right”

“oh,” his eyes widened, realizing where this was headed.

“but lord fourth, can i ask you a question?”

“of course,” he nodded.

“why do i not care?” you pouted, as you walked around his desk, leaning on it, in front of him.

“i’ve been asking myself the same thing,” he admitted.

“he says there will be rumors, and i could become a target, if anyone found out-

“i will protect you,” he interrupted, shaking his head.

“how can i believe that when you were ready to shut me out over your assumptions,” you looked away from him, as he stood up.

“and i apologize for that love, but i will keep you safe, i just let my jealousy get in the way,” he said, lightly grabbing your jaw, and turning your head back to him.

staring at him for a moment, you couldn’t hold back anymore, your pussy had been getting even wetter, the longer he stared at you with those blue eyes. pecking his lips, he smiled, pulling you closer to kiss you again.

his hands trailing down, he began to pull up your dress, while you reached to lower your panties. quickly moving his papers to the side, lifting you onto the desk.

“so perfect and all for me,” he said, in between each kiss.

“i need you so bad,” you whimpered, as he unbuttoned his pants, reaching to stroke himself. grabbing your thighs, he pulled you to the edge of the desk, before pushing into your wet hole.

burying your face in his shirt, you moaned, your arms going around his neck. “so good,” he whispered in your ear, slowly grinding his hips.

“more, minato, i need more,” you whimpered to him.

“you have to be quiet love, someone might hear you,” he smirked, holding your hips, as he thrusted deeper.

“fuck, it’s so good,” you cried, pressing your mouth deeper into his shirt to muffle your moans.

“we have to be quick, i have a something coming up, fuck me back,” he said, grabbing your waist, lifting you, and sitting in his chair.

holding onto his arms, you began bouncing in his lap. he bit his lip, his cheeks rosy as ever, lowly moaning. with each thrust, you clenched around him, drawing closer and closer to his orgasm.

“i’m cumming,” he said, his hands going to your ass, squeezing as you continued bouncing. grunting ruggedly, he pulled you close, kissing your lips, just as you came.

“is that a good enough apology, my love?” he asked, his hand going to rest on your cheek.

“i suppose it will do for now,” you said, accepting his kiss, before pulling away.

“i will be out for about an hour or so, how about you run home and freshen up and after work instead of going get ramen with your friend, you join me instead?” he asked.

“okay,” you agreed, trying to bite back your smile.

fixing your clothing and hair, going to leave his office, just as you were opening the door, kushina could be seen approaching.

“hello,” she smiled at you. you returned the smile, but couldn’t deny the jealousy brewing in your heart.

handing the small child to her ex husband, she was soon on her way out, as you pathetically sulked.

“don’t you start with the jealousy too, we’re not together, it’s just my turn to take naruto to the doctor,” he reassured you, winking.

“naruto, have you met y/n?” he asked his son, who shook his head.

“hi, you’re pretty,” he smiled.

“she is, isn’t she?” minato grinned, his eyes lingering on you, before walking away with the small boy.

grabbing your purse, you tried to calm yourself down, pressing your hand against your stomach. you knew that look from anywhere, tonight would be a continuation of what had happened only minutes ago, and you couldn’t wait.

♡︎ orochimaru 

a pawn. you were nothing more than a pawn to him. the womb of a beautiful youthful woman, meant to help him procreate, to provide a legacy, outside of his clones.

how could you be such a fool? to think a man of his caliber, who was wise beyond your years would want anything serious with you. you would bear his child, then what? tossed to the side, or worse, killed.

you couldn’t stay here, not when you now knew his goal. maybe you could seek refuge in another village? you weren’t as vital as certain people to him, leaving room for the conceivable idea, that he wouldn't care. you could be replaced by the next girl he came across.

“and where do you think you're going?” you could practically hear the smirk on his face. gulping down the fear that was creeping up your throat, you faced him.

“i’m leaving,” you said, you could feel yourself shrinking, as he approached.

“without an announcement, or even saying bye?” he tilted his head. lowering your head, he simply lifted your chin, forcing your eyes to meet his own.

“i didn't want-i don't think i want to see you anymore, orochimaru,” you said. although, you hated how your statement came out sounding too much like a question. his smirk widened, humming at your lack of formality.

“oh, is that so?” he said, a dark chuckle escaping his lips.

“you used me, i gave myself to you, and you made me into one of your experiments. i refuse to be a part of this,” you frowned. he stared at you for a moment, before laughing aloud.

“you're forgetting one thing,” he said, his snake-like tongue swiping across his lip.

“you are no captive, you came here willingly, you accepted all of my advances, gave up your pretty little pussy, you've even been a good spy for me. whatever village you go to, i wonder what will think when they find out, i’m sure someone will eventually recognize you,” he continued, snaking his arm around your waist.

“no,” you cried, shaking your head.

“oh yes, my darling,” he nodded, tauntingly.

“this isn't fair,” you cried, letting him lay your head on his chest.

“life isn't fair, but you, my dear, are a greedy little vixen, you want more than you deserve. i have mentored you, guided you, protected you, fucked you as much as you wanted, but once you hear of my desires, you're running off without another word. however, if you think you are better off without me, i will not stop you,” he said, suddenly turning away, his smirk widening.

“wait, i-i didn't mean it,” you called out, the fear of what could happen to you setting in.

“oh, but you did, you don't like it here and i don't need another prisoner-

“no i do, i was scared of the unknown, is all,” you rushed to say.

“apologize to me and i will consider it,” he said, turning back to face you.

“i'm sorry, sensei, you’re right, i have been selfish,” you said fidgeting with your fingers.

“good girl, there is nothing be scared of, you will look exceptional, your belly swollen with my offspring, you can do that for me?” he asked.

“yes, lord orochimaru,” you said, smiling as he pat your head.

“fear is normal, nevertheless, speaking to me as if i am of your equivalent, you will not go unpunished,” he said, his smirk dropping.

biting your lip, nervously, you nodded your head, reaching for the bottom of your dress. you could take whatever punishment he saw fit, it it meant you could stay in the safety of his hideout.

“oh, kami-

“the gods cannot save you from me,” he grinned, fucking deeper and deeper, as you laid across your bed.

“sensei, please-

“is my cock too much for your pretty little pussy?”

“yes, i-ah”

“you can hardly speak, although, i prefer when you don’t speak, just keep taking my cock like the little vixen you are,” he grunted.

“yes daddy,” you moaned, sending a wave through his body. daddy, he never thought such a stupid title would arouse him to this point.

“i’m cumming,” you cried, just as orochimaru came in your pussy.

“good girl,” he said lowly, pulling out.

“daddy, am i yours? am i more than a pawn to you?” you asked him, your hand going between your legs, dragging your fingers across his semen, before bringing it to your lips.

“you’re all for me and worth much more than you think, get ready for bed, you’ll need the energy tomorrow,” he told you, leaving the room. his grin dropping, as he became further away. ‘that was a close one’, he thought. if it wasn't for the evidence of his success already developing in your womb, which he only recently realized, he would've killed you instantly, who did you think you were?

although he couldn't deny it, he could still feel his cock hard after hearing you call him daddy.

[loving-family-poll]

Omg we can send you weirdcest confessions? I have a little classic codependent dynamic with my younger brother which might tickle some people.

Soooo, I moved half way across the country many years ago because prior to that I had been sharing a 1 room apartment (a bed too but very kosher I promise, rent is just expensive) with my brother for years as I pushed him to finish highschool and start college classes and just looked out for him so that he didn't get lost in the shuffle when my parents divorced because he was the youngest.

The thing is that by the time he was an adult, I never wanted to give him up. Like, if we could go to old age as a duo, I would have been happy. I had a lot of angst that I wouldn't let him mature so I did something weird and dramatic - I moved the fuck across the country, pretty much dropped out of his life just when he had reached adulthood and left him.

It was kind of a stone cold thing to do, but I moved in with someone I was dating online and went through a whole relationship till that ended. On the other hand, it was none too soon because at that point he kept trying to share his porn collection with me and mentally I was like, dude, i know this trope, I invented it.

tbh he really missed me so much and vice versa. I think both of us experienced a level of loneliness we never would have felt if I hadn't just arbitrarily decided it was bad if I let us stay co-dependent. I don't really know if it was justified. The few times we visited each other over the years, we basically just cuddled and missed each other and moped about being sad.

But it worked? He stuck like glue to a large group of friends and even started dating one of them, the girl who would eventually become his fiance.

This woman. I hated her for years. I thought she was terrible for him. She was too attractive and too cool tempered and too intelligent, and I just thought she was going to break his heart eventually. But, somehow they worked out, and when I moved back to my hometown she lured me in like a scared alley cat by making me feel welcome in the gentlest of ways, never overwhelming, an introvert's overture to another introvert.

My brother and I used to mildly flirt with each other pretty often as a joke, and he still does, although I try not to encourage it. It's a little too on the nose, right? If you scratch me, I bleed incest fandom. But these days its usually his fiance making jokes that I should be the filling in a them sandwhich (sit between them) because they want to "share me" My brother's fiance is ace or I would be a lot more freaked out about that tbh. I think they just both like to make me blush, which I can't blame them for.

NGL, I think she is pleased to have achieved two brothers for the price of one.

I thank god she is ace, because she is a menace - in one afternoon she will ask me to lather her back with sunscreen, invite me to check out at her bottom (for ticks) and cheerfully command me to smack her boob (there was a fly,) all while my brother is there watching and laughing as I flounder in queer panic.

In a more concrete fashion, they want me to move in with them when they buy their house and cosign on it and everything. So I guess I am getting what I wanted, but it's a trio instead of a duo.

Bruh I think they want to fuck you

[tagsecretsanta]

From @thundergirl007

From @thundergirl007 to @arwensarboretum

John and EOS

All 5 brothers spending quality time together (With John on Earth??).

I'm glad we're in this together" - said by any of the brothers.

Preferences: No shipping please. Rating: General Favourite character: John.

⋆⁺₊❅⋆ ⁺₊❆⋆

It’s strange, the way the heartbeat of Thunderbird Five almost blends into the nothingness when the space monitor is here constantly. A tranquillity that very few people will ever get to experience in the huge, wide universe.

The pulsing of the life support system, the humming of the radio, the hissing of the lights when the motion sensors activate as he moves around the space station.

Loud in its own right, completely silent in the best way.

And yet, from all the way up here - the vastness and emptiness of orbit - he can still hear the sound of what he believes to be Gordon blaring out Christmas songs around the Tracy Island villa.

“GORDON!”

The voice shouted down the radio grills, catching him off guard somewhat. Presumably to try and find the mischievous redhead through every available IR channel on our communications network.

“Scott sounds in considerable distress, John.”

“That he does, EOS.”

Weightlessly floating his way to the central control room, where the main communication centre is, EOS has already pulled up what appears to be Scott's irritated figure on the hologram.

The image was a bit hard to make out specifically what it was, but it looked like Scott was covered in dust. A fine white dust that caked him, like he'd walked into the worlds oldest building and fell right into a pile of old rubble.

A strange image for someone currently on Tracy Island.

"Everything ok down there, Scott?" John asked, doing his very best to suppress the laugh, as juvenile as that would be. He looked ridiculous.

"Can you find me our blond haired mischief maker from up there, John? I've got a bone to pick with him." He ruffled his hair and the dust flew off him in all directions.

"Scott appears to be covered in some kind of fine substance. For what purpose is unclear."

EOS' summary of the situation was apt, and he hoped that Scott hadn't heard her, although it would have been funny if he had.

"Why, what has he done now?" he asked, watching Scott's communicator signal move around the villa from Thunderbird 1's hangar to the lounge.

"Do you want to take a wild guess, brother?"

"Re-enacted the bathroom escapade from when he was 7?"

"Close, but not quite."

Scott's hologram then disappeared from the monitor, but John could practically hear him storming around on the island looking for the brother in question. Whether Scott knew he was in the lounge, "innocently" reading a book, is debatable. Either way, he was making his way there with a ruthless determination that he did not want to miss a single moment of. Gordon was certainly going to be in some serious brotherly trouble.

Now would be a seriously bad time for a distress call.

"Oh Scott!" said brother - sat on the lounge with his feet up - all smiles, was holding a comic book in front of him, "to what do I owe the pleasure this time?"

"Don't you act like you don't know!" Scott roared from the stairs.

"I swear, I didn't do anything -!"

"You made me look like the Ghost of Christmas Past, you stupid -!"

"Is this a situation that popcorn would be for, John?"

"Oh, yes it is EOS."

Virgil Tracy was just passing through Thunderbird 2's hangar to get to the lounge when he heard the sound of the space elevator docking in its place and decided to take a minor detour to greet the arrival.

As expected, John was still in his IR gear, with only a small bag of belongings brought down with him, and Virgil would bet money that they were books and underwear.

"Welcome home, John!" he greeted, opening his arms out for an embrace that John welcomed.

"Good to see you too, Virg. How was the journey back from Colorado?"

Virgil patted a hand on his stomach lightly. "Long, I'm definitely ready for some lunch. Running around a power plant really did a number on my appetite."

The pair made their way up the stairs and into the villa proper. The heat hit Virgil like a train as they entered the lounge on their way to the kitchen. It was something all of them had to get used to when they moved out onto the other hemisphere from where they were born and raised in Kansas. The scorching heat in the December months was something he just about managed to get used to in recent years, mainly because it was something of a family tradition to watch Home Alone and the Chicago snowfall was such a nostalgic sight that for just those moments, they forget that snow here in the South Pacific isn't possible.

Even if snow isn't a part of recent Tracy family holiday festivities, the lounge was still warmly decorated with tinsel and a tree up by the piano that everyone had helped decorate. Even MAX had helped put up the tinsel with Brains (although the less said about the methods, the better). Gold and red and blue trimmed the balcony and handrails, little bells hung from the lampshades on the wall, and a little singing robin statuette was situated with pride of place on the little table in the centre of the room. The poor little thing was their mother's, it was old and battered, the little "branch" it perched on has been broken and fixed, and Brains had tinkered with its mechanics to make it sing sweetly again, not the distorted noise it used to make years ago.

And lastly, perfectly placed on the tree, hanging from a middle branch, was the last family photo taken at Christmastime that featured their mother.

It's been put on that tree every year since she died, and that tradition will never change. The seven of them, smiling at the camera with a snowman in the middle of the frame. Little Alan barely as tall as the thing they had made, holding onto his hat and giving a wide, toothy smile. He probably doesn't remember that Christmas.

“Where is everyone? The kitchen’s just as empty as the rest of the house.” Virgil mused, noting that it didn’t even look like the automated kitchen module had been switched on to make anything for lunch.

John just shrugged.

“Oh well. I’ll put something on, we need to have a good catch up now you’re back with us.”

Lunch wouldn’t take long to prepare, especially given that all Virgil really wanted was a sandwich, and John probably didn’t want much more than that either. He simply took his spot at the dinner table, the one he always used down here, with a more careful than usual descent into the seat. Virgil made the pair the same thing. Ham and cheddar sandwiches, which they were both eager to dig into once Virgil brought the plates over.

It was nice, just the two of them. Aside from rescues and the occasional private conversation through their comms channel, Virgil didn’t often have one-on-one chats with John. Mainly because they were birds of a feather, very much enjoying their own company before anything else. John listening for distress calls, reading, studying the stars. Virgil playing the piano or painting in the lounge.

“Do you know if my packages arrived?” John asked.

“I’m not sure, I didn’t see anything yesterday, and today I’ve been in Colorado.”

“That’s a shame. No one is getting presents this year then.”

“I think we can live with that just this once John, it’s just good to have you earthside for a few days.”

“We’ll see if I feel the same way after 24 hours in gravity with both Gordon and Alan.”

“You mean you won’t even stay for Grandma’s Christmas disaster – I mean, dinner?”

“I think I can hear a distress call from 24 hours in the future, Virgil get to Thunderbird 2 –“

The pair laughed, and almost on cue, the sound of distant voices, running footsteps, and a crash from somewhere upstairs. Getting closer and closer with every passing second, the voices soon distinguished themselves to be Alan, Gordon and Scott.

“Come here! I will have my vengeance!”

“Gotta catch up first, slowpoke!”

The trio pounded down the stairs. Scott, then Alan and Gordon.

Scott looked like he had barely enough time to turn the corner from the stairs before the Terrible Two were on his tail. Not nearly as covered in whatever-it-was-powder as he was before, presumably all the running had dusted him off somewhat.

Right behind him were said terrible two, and they seemed to have suffered a similar fate as the eldest brother. From the smell of them as they ran past, whatever it was, was sickly sweet. Powdered sugar, perhaps? Either way they left a trail of sugar in their wake.

Scott had run around the kitchen island, and Gordon and Alan waited for him at either side, pinning him to his spot with an almost military efficiency that even Scott should have seen coming.

Did Brains invent a de-aging machine or something, what is going on with Scott?  He’s not acted like this since those boys were tiny terrors.

“Hi John!” Alan turned around and cheerily waved, before giving his attention back to the eldest brother.

“Good to see you Alan,” John chuckled, “and you Gordon. Scott”

“Not now, it’s payback time.”

“You started this, Gordon! Don’t dish it if you can’t take it!”

Virgil should not have been surprised that Gordon took advantage of his and Scott’s absence from the island to play a practical joke with Scott for him to find on his return. What was surprising is that Scott somehow fell for it regardless.

Finishing up the last of his sandwich, John stood up, ignoring the war games going on elsewhere in the kitchen. “Well, this has been fun. I’ll go get changed, can’t be looking like this all day, I’ll melt.”

“I’ll wash up then,” Virgil started to get up too, picking up both John’s and his own plate. “John.”

“Yes?”

“I’m glad we could all be here together for the holidays. Even if it seems that the house will be dusted with sugar for days.”

Virgil side eyed the footprints and trails of sugar from the kitchen floor to the stairs and dreaded to think what it was like upstairs in the living quarters.

“Glad to be here. Just like old times.”

Gordon was the one to break the stalemate over there, and he positively lunged for the eldest brother. Alan was quick to join him, and the three were all on the kitchen floor in a tangled mess of a pile.

Just like old times indeed.

[almostdecaffeinatedfun]

Home - Jegulus microfic - @into-the-jeggyverse - 456 words

Regulus was pacing his room at Grimmauld place in stuffy robes that his parents had forced him to wear. He had got back from yet another pureblood party and immediately checked in with James through their matching quills. 

James had charmed them together so that one would convey what the other quill wrote. He had sent the message over two hours ago but there hadn’t been any response from James. To say that Regulus was worried would be the understatement of the year.

Suddenly, the quill twitched in his hand. Regulus immediately set it down on a piece of parchment waiting for this exact purpose. The quill slowly spelled out in James’ familiar scrawl, “Look out the window.”

Regulus moved like lightning to the only window in his room, next to the bookshelves. He could see nothing outside that was out of the ordinary. After a few minutes of searching, he found a small quill close to the ground hovering awkwardly in midair. He recognized that quill from his table.

Regulus was internally panicking. If the quill was outside his house, its owner had to be nearby. After thoroughly looking around again, he decided that he had to do something about it, however crazy it made him. He went outside to remove the quill before someone found it hovering there.

As he reached the quill and plucked it out of mid-air, he felt a hand close around his wrist but there was nothing there. “What?” Regulus whispered, looking around for any sign of James other than the feeling on his wrist. 

“Hey, it’s just me. Don’t worry,” said James’ voice in front of him, although Regulus could only see his breath frosting around his mouth. There was absolutely no visible sign that James was there. But James was definitely there when he shouldn’t be. Even Regulus shouldn’t be here. Regulus stopped himself from imagining all the disastrous outcomes this could have by trying to figure out what was happening.

“James? What are you doing here? Someone is going to find you,” Regulus whispered, wondering how insane he looked whispering to himself in the middle of the night although no one was around to see it.

“I’m taking you with me,” James whispered back in a hurry. Before Regulus had a chance to query what James meant, they were apparating away. 

Regulus landed on a soft lawn with overgrown weeds surrounding him. James suddenly appeared out of thin air next to him, grinning from ear to ear like a baby. 

“Welcome home,” James exclaimed cheerfully, pointing to a huge manor that Regulus recognized from James’ baby pictures. Regulus didn’t bother telling James that he had been already home the moment he felt James’ hand on his skin.

[absolutebl]

BL Announced for 2025 - PART 1

Ones we have dates for:

The Boy Next World

1/5 Thai iQIYI trailer

Is this the backstory of Cirrus & Phugun from TharnType 2 or just the same names? Regardless this is BossNoeul in a multiverse "slip through time" kinda thing but it's Mame + high concept so we in for a bumpy ride.

When it Rains it Pours

1/9 Japan MBS

Convoluted story about a man in a relationship who is sexually unfulfilled and his friend who is in love with him, who accidentally become secret confidants.

Impression of Youth

1/15 Taiwan

Exclusive Love

2/14 Taiwan Line

Shy aspiring singer inherits funeral business and a sexy mortician to go with.

Top Form

3/25 Thai WeTV

Adaptation of a Japanese manga. Boom (Chains of Heart) opposite Smart (Don't Say No). Actor recognized as the "The Sexiest Man of the Year" has his first-place position usurped by young newcomer. But while he sees them as rivals, turns out the new kid has other ideas.

My Sweetheart Jom

4/25 Thai YouTube

Saint is back in a BL? Who knew that would ever happen? When he gets tangled up with a mafia boss's son's girlfriend and ends up in a scuffle, young Yothin needs to find a safe place. Instead of sending him overseas, his father decides to send him to the countryside! There, he stays in Bang Pho under the care of subdistrict headman, a close friend of his father. He's also under the watchful eye of the village headman who happens to be the subdistrict headman's grandson and is overseeing his probation. As Yothin spends more time with Jomkhwan, his perception of the village headman begins gradually to change.

ANNOUNCED FOR 2025

No date as yet, alphabetical order.

8Hours

Thai

Season 2 of 4 Minutes.

A Dog and A Plane

Thai trailer

A prissy gay flight attendant in a push-pull relationship with an EMT dude-bro. Characters are a bit throwback to PeteKao (no bad thing) not to mention the looming shadow of What the Duck? (bad thing). But the side couple is the always appealing MarcPoon. Okay GMMTV, surprise me, I'm game. And you know TayNew are my OG GMMTV pair du jour.

Allure of the Siren

Thai trailer

Bitter rivals, Dao and Chaisai, are reluctantly thrust into an unprecedented partnership as they embark on a relentless quest to locate missing strippers.

Be My Soulmate

Thai

Star Hunter is putting MosBank back in uni. Engineering student shacks up with a judo jock, sexual tension is high but nothing changes until one of them becomes single.

Boys in Love

Thai trailer

Our only true high school BL from GMMTV and it's fresh faces for the youths and old favs for the teachers. It's milk teeth Make it Right and that is perfectly fine with me! I like lotte milk. Also DIMPLES! Yay! I suspect they're using this one to test some new pairs for future seasons. Like a Project 101 Thai BL.

(Honestly I just invented an amazing reality TV for you GMMTV, you're welcome.)

Burnout Syndrome

Thai trailer

GMMTV doing edgy is never a good thing IMHO, and in this one they're handling sex work. *shakes head* However, Not Me is the noted exception and this is that same pair with the same director. So I'm curious if not wild about the content. That said, I'm delighted to see Gun with someone else (Dew is a stunning choice, thank you Casting) even if only for a love triangle moment. It's been a WHILE.

Cat for Cash

Thai trailer

Finally something fluffy with a pair I like from GMMTV 2025. Looks cute. I like cute. Yay for me! Adorable gay boys and cats. This one is basically made to be a tumblr comfort meme meets thirst trap. I see what you're doing GMMTV and I applaud you. Carry on.

Doctor's Mine

Thai YouTube trailer

Another try at adapting Gown & Gear. Couldn't possibly be worse than the first attempt.

Eyes On You

Thai trailer

Fight for You

Taiwan

Da Hei reluctantly takes on dangerous odd jobs to earn medical funds, unaware that his roommate Xiao Bai is secretly an operative sent by the intelligence agency to take them down.

Flavor of Us

Thai trailer

A critic inherits a restaurant and his mother's debt and to keep the inheritance he has to hire the chef he hates.

Flirt Milk

Thai trailer

Originally slated for 2023, now entirely recast. The facial hair is KILLING me.

Friend to Fan

Thai WeTV trailer

Goddess Bless You From Death

Thai trailer

PavelPooh are back. Thup, a young man with extraordinary senses, is drawn into investigating a mysterious murder case involving brutally mutilated bodies found in the forest alongside the more rational thinker Singha.

Dare You to Death

Thai trailer

JoongDunk as police investigators in a mystery suspense thriller. Yes, I'm in. This is it. This it the one I wanted to instantly watch. Even though their's 20 BLs airing right now.

Head 2 Head

Thai trailer

The Boo kids are back. I don't love this pair (I find their chemistry and acting awkward) or the main trope (E2L) but I do like the new sides and their trope (2nd chance is a fav of mine). So this one will depend on whether those are full side dishes or just crumbs.

I Promise I Will Come Back

Thai-Taiwanese colab

Stars 2 Thai actors and the Taiwanese identical twins from H3, that's mostly intended to be a tourism advert for the Thai countryside.

I'm The Most Beautiful Count

Thai trailer

Not long after famous actor Prince came out as queer and rose to the top of the entertainment industry, he wakes up in the body of a good-looking noble in the Thongburi Kingdom of the past.

Interminable

October? Thai YouTube

BillyBabe are back in a reincarnation historical.

Khemjira AKA Spirit Reborn

Thai YouTube trailer

Was 2024 officially moved to 2025. Supposedly the scariest BL ever. Khem is born cursed. A daughter would be safe but a son dies at 20 so Khem’s mother cleverly gives him a girl’s name, Khemjira “forever safe.” But Knem is baout to turn 20 and he doesn't think it's working so he seeks the help of a curse-breaker, turns out to be his great love from a previous life.

Knock Out aka Knockout

Thai WeTV trailer

A low quality less fun and funny version of Wandee Goodday.

Got too long for tumblr find Part 2 here.

(source)

This post is static and not updated. All information is to the best of my ability at the very end of 2024. Not responsible for changes, cancellations etc...

[oceanicwriting]

a christmas to remember.

part one. part two.

summary: it's a new christmas. your whole life has changed since you finished college. you have a stable job at a publishing house, life in london, and a boyfriend you wouldn't trade for anything in the world. who would have thought that a year ago you were so lost in the big city.

pairing(s): non-wizard!theodore nott x non-wizard!fem!reader

a/n: i hope you're having a great christmas with the people you love! if it's not going as you expected, i wish next year it gets better. tons of love and kisses for you.

. . .

ㅤㅤㅤyou have a couple of blocks left to get to your apartment on the main avenue and, now that the cold seeps into every uncovered place on your body, you wished that the idea of ​​walking hadn't been so appealing in the first place.

ㅤㅤㅤ it had been a long day of work at the publishing house. a couple of days ago, a new investor had arrived in town, looking to speed up his work in the city, organizing meetings every day. if someone had told you that you would spend christmas eve in an office with ten cups of coffee on top of you, you would have laughed in their face, because you would swear that something like that would never happen.

ㅤㅤㅤyou focus on walking the last stretch to the apartment you share with your boyfriend, who had not reported in all day. in your hands, you carry his christmas present, things for dinner and food that you have stolen from the cafe at work.

ㅤㅤㅤwhen you arrive at your house, everything is still as silent as you left it that morning. the only thing different in the place is a note on the entrance table that, when you take it, allows you to read: "excited to have dinner with you tonight. i left what you had asked me for today on the fridge. see you, bella."

ㅤㅤㅤyour boyfriend has gotten into the habit of leaving notes all over the house ever since you told him his handwriting was beautiful. he has perfect penmanship with o's and a's so round you'd swear he'd copy and paste them every time he had to do them. you liked it because you could somehow feel the love he puts into a piece of paper addressed to you.

ㅤㅤㅤyou had met your boyfriend a year ago, and since then, everything has changed. college was over, you found a well-paying job, you moved ten blocks away from the office, adopted a cat, and decided to spend this first christmas together. just the two of you. so much had changed in less than a year it was terrifying.

ㅤㅤㅤafter you've put on more comfortable clothes, you start cooking dinner. halfway through, your mother calls on the phone with your entire family on the other side of the screen. there are so many greetings, jokes, and stories to tell since the last time your heart felt warm with love.

ㅤㅤㅤ—and where is he? —your mother asks, referring to your partner.

ㅤㅤㅤ—he should be around... —the sound of the front door makes you jump, but you know it's him by the simple sound of his footsteps—. he just arrived.

ㅤㅤㅤyou completely forget about the cell phone and go to greet him at the end of the entrance hall. theodore nott is standing there taking off his coat and scarf. you would never tire of saying that those shirts are tight in the right places on his body. when he turns to look at you, a smile slides on his lips, and he welcomes you into his arms.

ㅤㅤㅤ—hello.

ㅤㅤㅤ—hello —he whispers, unable to hold back the need to kiss his icy lips that make you forget the rest of the world instantly. his answer is what you expected, matching the movement and pulling you in by your hips—. h-hey, my mom’s on the phone in the kitchen.

ㅤㅤㅤtheodore raises his eyebrows, making you laugh softly.

ㅤㅤㅤ—let me leave this under the tree and i’ll go.

ㅤㅤㅤyou nod, receiving one last peck from him. when theodore is in the kitchen, in front of the phone, your entire family loses their dignity as they fight over who talk to him first. it was so funny to watch that you couldn't help but step aside to watch him try to handle all the voices calling him like that first time they met him on your birthday.

ㅤㅤㅤyou don't know if it's because he's just arrived, but his messy hair and sleepy expression remind you of the first time you met him at the airport. that same day, he let you go, but you met again weeks later as if you were destined to be together.

ㅤㅤㅤtheodore nott was the boy of your dreams. he was so devilishly beautiful, charming, and funny that your entire family fought to get his attention, although he always ended up choosing you. it was always you.

ㅤㅤㅤ—we're going to have dinner in a bit. we'll have to say goodbye —he says, picking up the phone to bring it closer and listen to the complaints because he can't stay connected any longer—. goodbye, everyone!

ㅤㅤㅤwhen your whole family seems satisfied with the intrusion, theodore cuts the call and puts the phone aside. he looks at you, coming closer to tie you to your waist.

ㅤㅤㅤ—why didn't you wait for me to cook? —he asks, kissing your face over and over again softly.

ㅤㅤㅤyou laugh at the feeling of his lips.

ㅤㅤㅤ—because I didn't know you would arrive so early. is everything okay at work?

ㅤㅤㅤyou've been used to the monotonous, everyday conversation for a while now. you loved it. you loved the way he talked sleepily, smiling when you told him a story from the publishing house and kissing your face when he stared at you for too long. somehow, you knew you were meant to spend your lives like this.

ㅤㅤㅤ—i can't believe we met a year ago —you whisper, cutting off the conversation that had started a few minutes ago—. a year ago we saw each other for the first time and now we live together, theo. can you believe it?

ㅤㅤㅤhe turns off the stove, finishing the meal and approaches you.

ㅤㅤㅤ—of course, i can believe it, bella. —his hands take your face delicately and look at you as if they read the depths of your soul—. from the moment we saw each other and you read me as if it were the easiest thing in the world, i knew i was going to be happily chained to you.

ㅤㅤㅤyou laugh, being drowned by his lips sticking to yours, tasting the lipstick you had put on. his touch feels as anxious as it is happy from the connection that runs through your bodies. then, his hands are positioned on your waist, and the movement of his mouth against yours makes you not fall back on the little meows of the cat.

ㅤㅤㅤthe feeling takes you to that day at the airport, after leaving that cafeteria with the feeling of having forgotten him. It had always been him. theodore was going to be the person who, no matter where you are, would make you feel at home. he had felt exactly the same.

ㅤㅤㅤ—i love you.

ㅤㅤㅤhis voice, whispering near your lips, makes you smile and hug his neck tighter.

ㅤㅤㅤ—i love you too.

ㅤㅤㅤ—but lola wants to eat —he says, making you laugh and separate yourself from him.

ㅤㅤㅤwhen he walks away, all you can think about is how you long for the passing of the years to be together forever.

[sportswriters]

secret santa - j. drury

pairing: jack drury x reader | secret relationship, childhood friends | fluff | wc: 1k+ | a/n: merry christmas, everybody! this is part of our holidays special, so i can’t help but be cute and romantic with my boy jacko. - namu

you were in the back seat of steve's car — jack's best friend — the designated driver for the hour-long journey to your parents' house. as you had taken the previous shift, you were finally able to enjoy a few hours' nap while the others chatted and listened to music to keep up the energy in the car. in the driver's seat was your cousin, julie, on your right was your best friend, annie, and on your left, serving as a pillow, was jack. he was wearing a very comfortable cotton jacket that made it difficult not to snuggle closer to his body.

three months ago, jack asked you to be his girlfriend. you'd been friends since you were teenagers, you moved to the same college together — albeit on different degrees — and you'd kept in touch the whole time. it was the most peaceful decision you'd ever made, since all the intimacy was already there, like a safe haven. inside the car were your accomplices in this surprise, because it would have been impossible to hide their relationship even if they'd wanted to. the greatest danger of letting it slip was julie, but she loved surprises, so she made an extra effort not to leak information during her calls with the family in the meantime.

"i don't know how you expect to pretend until it's secret santa time,” said steve, taking his eyes off the road to look at you quickly through the rearview mirror. “you can't stay apart for a minute."

as a matter of fact, when you were driving, jack was in the passenger seat. the same happened when he was driving - the highway allowed you to hold hands, as a bonus - so the comment was absolutely valid.

"the hardest part is not reacting to them, i need a lot of help with that," annie warned. "any tips, julie?"

"i'm not known for being discreet, you know? that was my hardest mission."

"it's okay, guys. we've always been affectionate with each other, everyone knows that," said jack, giving your hair a little kiss.

the whole conversation passed far from your ears, but it didn't help to reduce your nerves. there was nothing to be afraid of, your families had never been problematic enough to make the two of you insecure. the surprise was just a silly idea to celebrate the end of the year festivities, but you couldn't deny that you both wanted to preserve the privacy of the relationship right from the start. you couldn't escape the eagle eyes of your friends, who had followed the whole “pathetic” process of falling in love with someone you already love so much.

your families still lived on the same street, houses facing each other, specifically. jack's brother was crossing the street carrying a box when julie pulled up.

“hey, guys!" he stopped only briefly. 

"go inside and say hello to everyone, then come back to help me carry these things, i'm exhausted."

"always so welcoming," jack said, shaking his head.

you took your things out of the trunk and headed for your house, which had been chosen to host the big event this year. your heart already felt a pang of regret for keeping the secret, as it meant that jack wouldn't be sharing a room with you. 

a smile appeared on your face as soon as you set foot inside the house. a neatly decorated christmas tree, decorated cookies on the coffee table, the smell of good food coming from the kitchen, the smell of coffee, different pots of tea, warm lighting compared to the freezing weather outside, a christmas movie playing on the tv, slippers and cozy clothes as the dress code. before you started helping with the chores, you placed your secret santa gifts under the tree.

you couldn't help but notice that jack's present was particularly heavy, but you decided not to push it any further, even though you were immensely curious. he had refused to reveal who he had drawn in the draw, so you didn't reveal your person either. the problem was that jack didn't have a fraction of the curiosity that consumed you, so he always laughed when he caught you staring at the package for longer than usual. usually this smile was accompanied by a kiss on the forehead, but this was the first challenge of the stay.

throughout the day, you took advantage of every opportunity to be together. catching up in the living room? jack was next to you on the carpet by the fireplace. responsible for the dinner dishes? you pretended to play a game to decide who would go, fully aware that your father would send you both to take care of it. the biggest struggle was on the side of your friends - accomplices -, always close by, always making every effort not to burst out laughing or roll their eyes.

***

the next day, at secret santa time, everyone gathered in the living room. warm clothes, full bellies, mugs of chocolate, cinnamon rolls and marshmallows being devoured little by little.

jack cracked a suspicious smile, running his fingers across the gift wrap on his lap.

"my secret friend is actually the person i'm dating."

a few gasps of surprise echoed around the room.

"wow, you and steve finally worked up the courage to stop clowning around,” said his mother."

steve arched his eyebrows, almost offended.

"excuse me? i don't remember ever being asked out,” he replied. "do you think i'd be single by choice?

then everyone looked in your direction, no jokes this time, and found you trying your hardest not to cry. jack couldn't stop smiling, so he handed you the present.

"wow, you and y/n finally worked up the courage to stop clowning around!" said your mother.

applause and celebrations filled the room as you crawled over to jack to hug him tightly.

"i can't believe you kept that from me."

"i can't believe you didn't suspect a bit."

he positioned you to sit sideways on his lap, slipping his arms around your waist and resting his chin on your shoulder. you opened the heavy gift, finding the expensive book that would help you with your thesis research. your eyes widened at jack, meeting the same satisfied grin as before. no words were spoken, you just showered him with kisses.

"it really had to be the two of you,” said annie, holding a smile. "the unbearably perfect combination."

[thelambthatkilledthewolf]

Headcanon that after Hezekiah Wakely had a chronic pain disorder and after he stopped drinking, the only thing that helped his pain was the pressure of the Buried

[arsenicflame]

It's a time-honoured tradition- every time Sam comes across Izzy (and Ed) in their travels, he asks Izzy to marry him. And every time, Izzy turns him down.

At this point, Sam is asking more for the sake of it than any belief Izzy will ever say yes, a remnant of childhood dedication touched with 30 years of heartbreak and regret- though even now, a small part of him still holds out hope. Sam's promises have only got more extravagant over the years, from a job as his first mate, to a captaincy, a fleet at his command, a whole fucking island if that's what Izzy wants- but he knows it isn't though, not really. If Izzy was ever going to agree to marry him, to leave his life and go with Sam, it wouldn't be for anything Sam could offer him. Izzy never did care for flashy shows of wealth, for a ship or to be captain. The only thing that ever mattered to him was loyalty given, and loyalty shown in return. 

It all comes to a head after Stede left and came back, after Izzy lost a toe, lost his leg. Sam hasn't seen him since before things with Ed started to really slide off the rails, before stress permanently set into the lines of Izzy’s face. So, when he sees a dishevelled man with a hoof for a leg in a no-name port, he doesn't even consider the idea that he might know him. It's only when he turns towards him, and Sam catches a glance at those oh too familiar tattoos, he realises this is Izzy, his Izzy, that stands before him.

Knowing Izzy's discomfort with pity, he doesn't treat him any differently than he would in years gone by, positioning himself in Izzy's line of sight before approaching and sweeping him up into a bone crushing hug. 

“Israel-goddamn-Hands!” he exclaims, as Izzy grumbles back a begrudging “Samuel-fucking-Bellamy”, a tradition almost as old as their friendship itself. Izzy might not hug him back, but he can’t keep the corner of his mouth from twitching, just for a second.

(If Sam holds Izzy a little tighter and a little longer than usual, well. That's his business)

By the time Sam lets go, most of the crew has appeared in the town square, drawn in by the commotion. They may have given Izzy his leg and welcomed him as one of them, but still there’s an underlying tension, with nobody quite ready to set aside everything that happened before the Kraken. Seeing him cosying up to an unknown man sets everyone on edge, unsure whether to come to their first mate’s aid, or to assume that they've been betrayed once again.

When Ed sees that the yelling was Sam, his hand goes tense where it's held in Stede's. He knows the routine, has seen it more times than he can count, but as he watches them part he realises that this is the first time in a long time he's unsure of what Izzy's response will be.

Knowing that something’s different, knowing that Izzy's feeling vulnerable already, Sam doesn't go for the same flashy proposal he’s been giving for years. He doesn't promise Izzy the world, he doesn't cause a scene (or, any more of a scene than he already has, anyway). He looks at the fractured man in front of him, takes his face in his hands, and says the exact same thing to him he said when they were little more than boys. “Israel, I have to ask you. I know what you'll say, but I have to try. Come with me. Marry me and sail away with me. I'll keep you safe”

And Izzy… hesitates. He glances over at Ed, at Stede, and says to Sam “...We’re staying in port for a week. Ask me again then”

That's the moment Sam knows there is something deeply, horribly, wrong. He's not just looking at an Izzy who got seriously injured in a fight and is struggling to cope, this is something so much bigger than that- and that Ed has something to do with it. Izzy wouldn't even be considering leaving if he didn't. Whether it was negligence or something more sinister, Sam doesn't yet know, but he intends to find out.

[asmo-cosmetics]

when i say i ship asrian what i need you to understand is that i mean i want asra to apologize and beg for julian back. possibly in messy tears

[freddieandersen]

shoutout to the posts about taking people’s kindness at face value. they are working on me

[dumber-alek]

I'm sorry but I have no sympathy for people who post their opinions on Tumblr and then get mad people contest these opinons.

People being rude or overly familiar? Sure, that sucks and I'm not wishing that on anyone. Missing the point so bad it seems like trolling? Very frustrating, I agree. Making the post about something it's not, in general? Yea that's the worst.

But I constantly see people with popular posts act just sooo indignant because they posted an opinion on the fighting over opinions website and someone dared to disagree with them. Oh no!

There are so many alternatives! You can post on a hidden blog. You can block reblogs and replies. You can also simply not post it in the first place! If you're not ready for a discussion why are you initiating it? So that everyone agrees and moves along?

Like. You got up on the soapbox. You had to be prepared for the possibility you're going to get booed off.