#but like. okay yeah i don’t know what i’m saying anymore

[kiryoutann]

i feel like this was wayyy too cute not to share now, so… sneak peek??? and i'm convinced simon is the most patient girl dad out there.

Walking over slowly so as not to scare her, he then asked, “What’s goin’ on ‘ere then?”

Gianna whipped around in a flash like a criminal caught in the act, her big brown eyes gleaming with a touch of guilt but not a trace of fear. "I dropped my cereal," she confessed succinctly, mirroring a trait she had unquestionably inherited from her father.

He crouched down next to her. “’Ere, let me help you with that,” then reached out, taking the paper towel from her tiny hands and started cleaning up.

Gianna just watched him until she finally spoke. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I didn’t mean to make a mess.”

“’S alright, darlin’. Accidents ‘appen.” Simon stated, rising to his feet and tossing the used tissues into the trash can. He then turned his attention back to his daughter. “But you could’ve woke me up. I’d ‘ave helped you clean it up straight away.”

“I know, but you were sleeping. An’ mum says you sleep like a… like a… clog?”

At that, he couldn't help but chuckle. “I think you mean a log, love.” He corrected.

“Oh right!” The little girl exclaims, nodding her head. “Tha’s the word. You sleep like a log.”

“Yeah, alright, whatever yer mum says.” He glanced at the box of cereal still sitting on the kitchen counter, then decided to keep himself and his daughter away from it. “So cereal is no option then. What d’you want for breakfast instead?”

Without missing a beat, Gianna chirps, “Ice cream!”

Simon snorts, shaking his head. “Can’t ‘ave ice cream for breakfast, darlin’.”

Gianna tilts her head to the side, eyes looking up at him questioningly. "Why not?" she asked. “Mummy 'as coffee for breakfast, alllll the time!” she spreads her arms out for dramatic effect—he chuckles at that. Definitely got it from mommy.

“Yeah, don’t be like yer mum, alright?”

The girl frowns slightly. “But why not? Mummy’s pretty, an’ she cooks good food.”

Something he couldn’t disagree with. He nodded, reaching out to ruffle her blonde hair. “That she does, darlin’. But we still don’t want you havin’ coffee or ice cream for breakfast, alright?”

"Okay, then can we go to Uncle John's house?" she asked.

“An’ why’s that?”

Gianna bounced on her toes, her arms swinging. “I miss Buddy an’ Daisy!”

Simon groaned inwardly. Should’ve known she’d bring that up. Ever since that one time he brought her to Price’s place and she met his dogs, Gianna has been begging to go back. Every time after school—“Can we go to Uncle John’s house?” Every weekend—“Can we go to Uncle John’s house?” And the thing is, the bloody mutts aren’t even there anymore, not since Price and his missus divorced.

“The dogs ain't there anymore, love.” He watched her face fall.

"Why not?" she asked, eyes wide in confusion.

Simon shrugged. “Cause,” he trailed off, not really wanting to explain the whole messy divorce situation to a five-year-old. “Nevermind that. What d’you want for breakfast?”

Instead of answering, Gianna crossed her arms while frowning. “I don’t want breakfast. I want Buddy an’ Daisy!

A sigh escaped Simon as the results of his parenting bit him in the ass. Bloody hell, he had to stop surrendering to her big eyes and pouting lips—just like her mum. She had learned from the best, hadn’t she? Got him wrapped around her tiny finger. There was only one trick up his sleeve to get her to cooperate.

“If you don’t eat breakfast, then then we won’t be able to go an’ watch yer mum later.”

And sure enough, Gianna’s whole expression lit up, renewed. She gasped, hands flying up to cover her mouth in an exaggerated gesture. Seems like he got himself a drama queen.

“We’re gonna watch Mum?!” she asked, full of hope.

Simon nodded, trying to maintain a serious expression but always failing because of her antics. “As long as you behave an’ eat breakfast.”

The five-year-old was cheering, jumping, and doing her little dances in unbridled energy—just like her mum. He guessed it was true what Garrick said that day the lads visited the two of you at the hospital after Gianna was born—“She’s a perfect blend of the both of you.”

[wlwxreader]

Not a Crush

not my gif

Jackie Taylor x fem!reader

Summary: despite what the entire team thinks, Jackie doesn’t have a crush on you. So why does it make her skin crawl when she sees a guy trying to flirt with you?

Warning(s): jealous!Jackie, possessive!Jackie, oblivious!reader, pre-crash!Jackie, Nat being a little shit, simp!Jackie

Word count: 2.6k

Masterlist: tba

No matter how much the team teased her about it, Jackie Taylor did not have a crush on you.

Did she like your soft smile? Yes. Could she spend days on end listening to a recording of your cheerful and sweet laugh? Why, of course. Did her heart stop whenever you looked at her a second too long? Maybe, but it was only because she thought you were beautiful —in a platonic way.

She did not like you. She didn’t think of you every night before she went to bed. Nope. Not at all. And Nat could shove her own words up her ass, because she sure as hell wasn’t a simp for you.

Yeah, as if.

“Hey,” you waved your hand in the air as you walked towards the field. You had just changed into your football uniform, and looked around. “Is everyone ready for practice?”

“Yeah,” Nat said, stretching her arms. “We were waiting for you for like, I don’t know, ten minutes.”

“You’re the last one. You know what that means,” Van smirked at you, and if it wasn’t for Tai’s presence next to them, you would have walked over to smack them in the face.

“Gotta run for ten minutes around the field,” Lottie said in a singsong voice. You narrowed your eyes at her.

“I’m gonna get you, Matthews,” you threatened with mock anger.

“What’s going on?” Jackie, who had been talking to coach Ben about something, asked. Her smile grew a little bigger when she noticed you within the other team players, and you swear you heard Nat and Shauna giggle to each other.

“Y/N was last,” Nat said. “She has to run for ten minutes.”

“Okay, fine—”

“That won’t be necessary,” Jackie said. Her voice, always soft and bright, was commanding. She wasn’t the Jackie who played around anymore, she was captain Jackie, and everyone in the team knew it.

“What?” Van asked, offended. They looked between the both of you, mouth ajar. “That’s not fair! It’s a tradition you started, Jackie. Last one has in the field during practice has to run while the others train. Y/N was the last one today.”

“Enough, Palmer,” Jackie gave them a stern look. “Y/N was late because of me.”

You gave her a surprised look, taken aback by her lie. You should not have been bewildered, though— Jackie always had your back no matter what, using her easy charm to cover up for your slip-ups

“Making out before practice?” Nat asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

Jackie’s cheeks turned a bright red color, but she didn’t dare to look at you. Instead, she clapped her hands together a few times, and everyone around sobered up.

“Divide yourself into two teams,” Jackie raised her voice. “Whoever team wins, gets to rest while the others run a lap.”

Everyone groaned, looking around to start to form the groups, trying to be as equitative as possible.

“Shauna, you’re captain of team green. Team blue is my team,” Jackie called, and the brown eyed woman nodded, wasting no time to craft the perfect team in her mind as she looked at everyone in the field.

“Okay, cool—”

“Y/N,” Jackie interrupted her best friend. “You’re on my team.”

“And in her heart,” whispered Nat.

Thankfully, neither Jackie nor you hear it.

If Jackie did not like you, she obviously also didn’t feel any ownership over you. She wasn’t jealous, she wasn’t possessive; there was no point in being those things, as you were both just two good friends.

But sometimes, someone would walk up to you and Jackie forgot her inner mantra, throwing it out the window of her mind. The person would smirk and lean in close, feigning they could not hear what you were saying, and Jackie would feel something dark and uncomfortable burning inside of her.

Sure, you weren’t hers, but that didn’t mean anyone had the right to talk to you, so obviously trying to flirt it was painful to observe.

They didn’t have the right because— because— well, because she said so.

“Hey, Y/N,” Jackie said, walking up to your locker. 

Her voice was high-pitched, and you turned to look at her. Anyone else would have thought nothing of her tone, but you knew her; it was the same voice she used when she wanted to be rude but knew she couldn’t.

“Hi, Jackie,” you said, completely forgetting about the man who was talking to you about the chemistry test you both had next week.

Jackie walked with purpose, and she stood in front of you. She wrapped her arm around your shoulders, pulling you into her body. You sighed in relief; it was starting to get cold, and her warmth was welcomed.

The woman smiled when you rested your head on her shoulder, and big green eyes twinkling as she started the man down.

“What were you talking about?” she asked, even though she wasn’t interested in the least. She knew how men were— she suffered their unwanted advances on the daily. It was all an act to get you on their bed.

“Oh,” the man said, clearing his throat. “We were discussing the next chemistry exam—”

“Well, I hope you study hard. Bye.”

You barely had time to close your locker before Jackie was pulling you away from that man.

“Hey— Jackie,” you complained, pulling your books closer to your chest. “What was that for?”

“That boy is a womanizer,” Jackie said through gritted teeth. “He just wanted to get in your panties.”

“You think?” you asked, turning slightly to look at the boy, who was leaning against your locker and staring at you. When he saw you looking back, he smirked and waved. “I think he just wants help studying.”

“You’re too naïve,” the blonde said. “He has tried that same trick with half the school.”

“Really?” you whispered conspicuously. “I thought he was just being friendly.”

Jackie shook her head, leaning in to kiss the side of your head. Her arm was still around you, and it made you walk awkwardly. You still didn’t complain.

“Boys are never friendly just because, Y/N,” she said. “They only got one thing on their mind.”

“Kissing?” you raised an eyebrow at her.

Jackie’s laugh could be heard all around the halls, a melodic sound that carried you out of the building.

“Every year it gets colder earlier,” you complained, shivering slightly.

“Are you cold?” Jackie asked, finally pulling away. You almost moaned in complain at the lack of warmth on your side, but before you could voice your discomfort, a weight was placed on your shoulders.

You looked to your side to see Jackie’s team letterman jacket resting over you. You smiled, putting your books in one hand to put the sleeve on.

“Thank you,” you said, with genuine gratitude. Jackie shook her head, simply reaching over to grab your books so you fully put on the jacket.

“Wanna hang out in the field?” she asked. Once you had the jacket on, she wrapped her arm around your shoulders again, because she wanted to but most importantly, because she could.

“The one time we don’t have to train, and you still wanna go over there,” you rolled your eyes, but followed her steps when she changed course.

She laughed again, turning to look at you. With bright big eyes, and lips pulled into a tight smile, you thought no one would ever be as pretty as she was.

As you walked, Jackie peaked behind you and saw the same man, looking over with frowned eyes. As she heard you talking about your day, she raised her arm enough for everyone to see the back of your jacket, where Taylor stood proudly over her team number.

She’s wearing my jacket, not yours. Dipshit.

To say she was ecstatic at his scolf was an understatement.

Yeah, she thought, let everyone know she only wears my number. Let everyone know she’s mine.

That time, she didn’t try to correct herself.

“I think Jackie has a crush on me.”

Van, who was tying up their cleats, stopped suddenly.

“Uh?” they asked, blinking a few times.

“I—” you cleared your throat, your cheeks suddenly turning red. “I think she might like like me.”

“Oh, shit,” Van said, rubbing their face.

“Did— did I say something wrong?”

“Yes!” Van let go of the laces, irritated. “You weren’t supposed to find out until November. You just lost me ten bucks!” they groaned. “Thanks, buddy.”

“What?” you gave them a puzzling look. “Wait— you have bet on me?”

“No,” Van waved their hands around. “Not on you. On your inability to see what’s happening right in front of your face, to be exact.”

“Okay, rude,” you said. “I’m not that oblivious.”

“Oh, no. Of course not,” Van said. Their tone was laced with sarcasm. “You joined the team two years ago, and only now you have realized.”

“Wait, she has liked me for two years?” you asked in a whisper.

“Duh,” Van gave you a long look. “Jesus, you’re a lost cause.”

“Screw you.”

“What made you realize?” Van asked, with genuine curiosity. They put their feet back down on the ground, leaning over the bench to look at you.

“She, um—” you looked around, making sure no one else was in the changing room. Feeling guilty over spilling such deep secrets, you moved over and sat down next to Van, so no one else would hear. “She kind of lied, the other day. So I wouldn’t have to run around the field.”

“She always lies,” Van scoffed.

“Jackie never lies,” you said, firmly. You gave the redhead a look, one that would have been threatening if it wasn’t coming from you. “She’s an honest person.”

Van chuckled. “She will lie to save your ass,” they said. “Because she’s the fattest crush on you.”

“Fuck,” you whispered.

After practice a week later, instead of going back to the changing room with the rest of the team, you grabbed Jackie and pulled at her hand, forcing her to move toward the bleachers. She went willingly, allowing you to take her wherever it was that you wanted her to be.

She would walk through fire if it meant holding your hand.

In a platonic way, of course.

“Jackie,” you said in a serious tone. You took a deep breath, and stared into big green eyes who looked back with passion. “We need to talk.”

She frowned her eyebrows, quickly picking up on your mood swing. “What’s wrong?” she asked, moving closer.

Jackie’s hand rested on your waist when she saw you starting to pull away. She hated it; hated whenever there was distance between the two of you. She wanted you close to her always, holding your hand and laughing with you.

“I think— I think you might be interested in someone.”

Jackie gave you a puzzling look. Her, being into someone? Not a chance.

“What are you talking about, Y/N?” She asked, as confused as she has ever been.

“Don’t make me say it, please,” you moaned, like a petulant toddler. “This is embarrassing.”

“Well, I can’t read your mind, can I?”

You looked away from her, incapable of looking into her eyes as you spoke.

“I think I might like someone, too.”

Jackie froze at your words. Her jaw dropped, eyes open so wide it looked like they might jump out of their sockets.

“You…” she gave a bewildered look. “You like someone?”

You nodded, and her hand tightened on your waist, as if she needed some support to keep her from falling over.

“This can’t be happening,” she whispered, closing her eyes. You gave her a concerned look.

“Jackie—”

“Is it that boy from the locker? The one who kept trying to flirt with you?”

“No. It’s…” you cleared your throat. “It’s not a boy.”

“Oh, no,” Jackie blinked away the white spots that were starting to form on her vision. “Nat? Tai? Or—” she gasped, looking at you accusingly. “Don’t tell me it’s Shauna.”

“Why would it be— No! It’s not Shauna.”

“It’s not?” she gave you a look. “Thank god.”

“It’s you,” you whispered.

“Me?” Jackie asked, trying to make sure she had heard you properly. “You like me. Me.”

“Yeah. I like you, Jackie.”

She leaned in close to you, looking at your lips. You closed your eyes, preparing yourself for her kiss. Instead, you felt her weight over you, literally on you.

“Jackie? Oh my god!”

Safe to say, it took the Yellowjackets over a month to get over the little spectacle you and coach Ben had pulled off when Jackie fainted.

You had wanted to keep it a secret, of course— Class Queen and captain of the football team, fainting because a girl had confessed their feelings to her? The rumor would be too juicy. But you also couldn’t control yourself when Jackie fell on top of you, eyes closed and mouth open, and it took you approximately ten seconds to take all the information in before you were screaming for help.

The help came in the form of Ben, who had come over running. He frantically looked at the team captain, laying on the grass as you fanned her with your hand, and he ran back inside to get Bill’s help.

It didn’t take long for the girls to come out of the changing room, and soon enough they pulled the pieces together; your conversation with Van they had told the entire team (which had led to Tai waving around fifteen ten dollar bills around the showers), your nervous attitude over practice, the tension they had felt before they left the two of you alone…

“Holy shit,” Nat said, smirking as you tried to wake Jackie up. “She fainted. She actually fainted.”

The story soon spread, faster and more explosive than gunpowder around fire. Soon enough, Jackie Taylor’s untaintable reputation got washed away by the new knowledge that she was a hopeless romantic.

Two months later, people would still whisper about Jackie whenever she walked down the corridors of Wiskayok High School.

“You think you will still be Class Queen after… what happened?” you asked, taking notice of how many students were staring at the two of you.

“Of course,” she smiled that charming smile you loved so much. “I’m Jackie Taylor, baby. This highschool would be nothing without me.”

“You’re too full of it,” you rolled your eyes.

She wrapped her arm around your waist, pulling you in close to her. She kissed your cheek, smiling.

“It doesn’t bother you?” you asked once you reached your locker. “Y’know, everyone still talking about it?”

“Let them talk. They aren’t mean, anyways,” Jackie said, raising her shoulders. You gave her a look; she would never notice just how many people thought ill of her. She thought too kindly of the world, but that made it two of you. “As long as it makes them talk about how you’re my girlfriend, I don’t care.”

You put the books you no longer needed back into your locker, and once you closed it, she pressed you against it.

When her lips pressed against yours, you stopped worrying about the whispers and the teasing from the team; Jackie was right.

Let them talk.

[woso-story]

Christmas

Alexia Putellas x Reader

The soft glow of Christmas lights danced around your shared Barcelona apartment, casting warm, flickering colors onto the walls. The scent of pine lingered in the air as you delicately placed another ornament on the tree. You stepped back to inspect your work, hands on your hips, tilting your head to decide if the balance of decorations was just right.

“You missed a spot,” Alexia teased, her voice soft but full of mischief. She was perched on the armrest of the couch, her legs swinging lazily as she watched you.

You turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow. “Where?”

She pointed vaguely to the middle of the tree. You followed her finger but didn’t see what she meant. Before you could say anything, she was at your side, her hands on your waist as she spun you around to face her. She leaned in close, her lips brushing your ear. “I’m just messing with you. It’s perfect.”

“Alexia!” you protested, laughing as she pulled back, a grin spreading across her face.

“I’m just saying, you’re taking this a little too seriously,” she said, reaching out to steal a piece of tinsel and attempting to wrap it around your neck. “Relax a bit, cariño. It’s supposed to be fun.”

You batted her hands away, your laughter spilling into the room. “I would relax if you weren’t distracting me every five seconds.”

She raised her hands in mock surrender. “Fine, fine. I’ll let you work.” But her playful smile didn’t fade as she stepped back and perched on the couch again, this time laying back and dramatically draping an arm over her eyes. “Don’t mind me, the lonely spectator.”

Despite her antics, the tree was eventually finished, and it looked magical. The lights sparkled, the ornaments gleamed, and the star at the top stood proudly in place. You turned to Alexia, expecting another teasing comment, but instead, you found her watching you with a soft, almost reverent look in her eyes.

“What?” you asked, suddenly self-conscious.

“Nothing,” she said, her smile gentle now. “Just thinking about how lucky I am.”

Your heart swelled at her words, and you crossed the room to sit beside her. She pulled you into her arms immediately, wrapping a blanket around the both of you as you settled into her side. The music playing softly in the background shifted to a slow, nostalgic carol, and the two of you sat in comfortable silence, watching the lights on the tree.

“This is nice,” Alexia murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of your head.

“Yeah, it is,” you agreed, your voice quiet.

After a while, the conversation turned to Christmas plans. Alexia talked about how much she looked forward to spending time with her family—her mother’s cooking, Alba’s terrible jokes, the chaos of the season. Then, after a brief pause, she asked, “So, are you going home this year?”

You hesitated, the familiar weight settling in your chest. “No.”

Alexia pulled back slightly to look at you, concern flashing across her face. “Why not?”

You sighed, fiddling with the edge of the blanket. “It’s just... it’s not really home, you know? My parents never understood this life. Football was always just a hobby to them, something they thought I’d grow out of. They never took it seriously. Every conversation felt like a fight, and Christmas was no different. I just—” You paused, swallowing the lump in your throat. “I don’t have the strength for it anymore.”

Alexia’s expression softened, and she cupped your face gently. “Cariño, I’m so sorry.”

You shook your head. “It’s okay. I’ve made my peace with it. Besides, I’m used to spending Christmas here. It’s quiet, but it’s fine.”

Her brow furrowed, and you could see the wheels turning in her head. “No,” she said firmly, sitting up straighter. “You’re not spending Christmas alone.”

You blinked at her, surprised by her intensity. “Lex...”

“You’re coming with me. To my family.”

“No, I couldn’t,” you said quickly. “That’s your time with them. I don’t want to intrude.”

She gave you a look—stern but full of affection. “Intrude? Are you serious? You’re part of my life, and they already love you. My mom’s been asking when you’d join us for Christmas for months. Alba will probably steal you away to make TikToks. And me? I want you there.”

Her words tugged at your heart, but you still hesitated. “I don’t even know your whole family. What if it’s awkward?”

“It won’t be,” she insisted. “I promise. My mom will have you cooking with her in no time, and Alba will make sure you don’t have a moment to feel out of place. Trust me, it’ll be perfect.”

Over the next few days, Alexia’s persistence didn’t let up. She brought it up at every opportunity, and her mother even called you directly, insisting you to come. “We already have your place at the table planned,” she said warmly. In the end, you couldn’t say no.

---

The drive to her childhood home was filled with Alexia’s excitement. She talked nonstop, sharing memories of past Christmases, her eyes lighting up as she recounted Alba’s antics and her mother’s traditions. By the time you arrived, you felt like you’d already been there before.

Her mother greeted you at the door with a tight hug, pulling you inside where the house smelled of cinnamon and roasted chestnuts. Alba appeared moments later, grinning as she teased Alexia about bringing her “better half” home for Christmas.

The house was filled with warmth and laughter. You helped Alexia’s mother in the kitchen, her gentle guidance making you feel at ease. Alba roped you into a game of charades that had everyone in stitches, and Alexia beamed with pride every time she caught your eye.

On Christmas Eve, you sat by the fireplace with Alexia, her arm wrapped around you as the family exchanged stories. You felt something you hadn’t in years—belonging.

That night, as you lay in Alexia’s old bedroom, she turned to you, her eyes soft in the moonlight. “I told you it would be the best Christmas,” she whispered.

And as you drifted off to sleep, wrapped in her warmth, you couldn’t help but agree.

[runninriot]

A Christmas Wish Come True

written for @steddieholidaydrabbles day 25

prompt: Christmas | rated: G | wc: 1.000 | tags: Eddie & Wayne Munson, single dad Steve, found family, strangers to lovers

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | AO3 (+ bonus epilogue)

“So, wanna tell me about your little side gig as grandpa, Wayne?”

It was meant as a joke but his voice sounds angrier than he intended and it makes Eddie instantly feel bad.

   “I’m sorry. It’s just- why haven’t you told me?”

   “Look, that kid, Robbie, she only has her dad. And Steve is doing his best raising her all alone but- you know how me met? I’d just gotten off work, drove by his house and saw him sitting there on the front porch, looking like he was two seconds away from a mental breakdown. That man was a mess and he needed someone to take him by the hand. So, I reached out mine and he took it.”

He scrubs a hand over his chin, a habit he always has when he’s deep in thoughts.

   “I wanted to tell ya, I just didn’t find the right moment. And I was a little worried you’d have a problem with it. I know you had a thing for that boy back in high school and I didn’t know if you guys had ever been... close, so-“

   “No, no! Back up, Wayne. What?”

Eddie’s mouth falls open in shock. It’s not like he ever had to hide the fact that he likes guys – Wayne always knew, always accepted Eddie for all he is. But never, not once, did he mention his stupid infatuation with Steve. There’s no fucking way his uncle knew.

   “Oh, don’t act so surprised. Every single piece of paper lying around your mess of a room had a little heart with Steve’s name on it.”

    Oh, right.

   “Okay, I give you that but why would you think we’ve been like, together? Even you must see how ridiculous that is. Have you looked at the man?”

Eddie bites his tongue before he says something like ‘He’s way too perfect to be with someone like me’. Wayne doesn’t need to know that he’s still got heart eyes for Steve and he already said too much.

   “Yeah, I saw. I also heard how he talked about you. How he got all soft when he talked about all the mischief you were up to in high school. That cost me all my hair by the way, so thanks for that.”

Wayne laughs and Eddie would too, if he wasn’t so confused right now.

   “Whether you knew it or not, that boy liked you. And seeing you two today, I’m pretty sure you still have that in common. You are both so bad at hiding it.”

Their conversation did not mess Eddie up. It didn't, okay? And he's definitely not nervous when he opens the door for Steve and Robbie to come in, right on time for Christmas dinner.

It doesn't make him feel like he's vibrating out of his skin when Steve takes the seat next to him, so close their knees occasionally touch.

And it doesn't cause a full-body shiver when their hands accidentally brush while reaching for the same bread.

It's fine. Everything is fine. Wayne doesn't know what he's talking about. There's nothing between them. No sparks, no fire, no longing glances. They’re just two small families celebrating Christmas together. Nothing more.

That's why, when Eddie excuses himself to have a smoke outside after dinner, and Steve follows him, he doesn't think much of it.

But of course, reality always comes crashing in. And when Steve huddles closer, stands right next to him, sharing his cigarette like that’s normal, Eddie can’t take it anymore.

   “Wanna hear something funny?” he asks, trying hard to control the tremble in his voice.

   “Wayne thought you and I were, you know, a thing in high school. That’s why he didn’t tell me about meeting you.”

Eddie laughs but it sounds fake, and for a long moment, all Steve does is look at him, eyes piercing like they’re trying to see into Eddie’s soul.

   “Mhm, very funny,” he then says but doesn't sound amused at all.

   “No, it really is, because I had the biggest crush on you back then."

Eddie swallows, looks, waits. Doesn't know what for because it feels like anything could happen.

   "Had?" It almost sounds like a tease but Eddie can sense that Steve's nervous.

   "Would it be bad if it was still true?" Eddie asks, unsure of where this is going.

   "Depends.” Steve answers, a tentative smile on his lips, “Would it be bad if I wanted to kiss you right now?"

Eddie isn't sure if he's still breathing and if his heart's still beating because the world is spinning too fast and-

His lips are on Steve's, testing, pressing, and there are hands in his hair, and the night becomes day, and everything feels right, feels good, feels like something finally clicks into place.

They kiss until their lungs hurt, kiss some more after a giggle fit. Kiss again until the door opens and Robbie is standing before them with wide eyes.

   "Oh, sh-oot! Hey, baby! Sorry, Eddie and I were just-"

   "Thank you, Santa!" Robbie yells against the sky and Eddie's heart explodes.

The worry on Steve's face makes way for confusion and Eddie feels bad for cheating because contrary to Steve, he's in on Robbie's secret.

   "Grandpa Wayne said to tell you we're having hot chocolate and cookies for dessert."

   "We'll be right there," Eddie answers for Steve, who still seems a little frozen in place.

Once the door closes behind her, Steve releases a shaky breath.

   "That- did not go like I thought it would."

For a moment, Eddie worries Steve's going to take it back. That the shock broke him out of whatever spell he was under.

But Steve kisses him again, before taking his hand to lead them back inside, where Wayne greets them with a smug smile. Eddie can practically hear the 'I told you so' but that's okay.

He's happy Wayne was right.

Happy that a little girl's wish aligned so perfectly with his own.

A Christmas wish come true.

[pedroscurls]

christmas confessions (pt. 5 - day 5)

summary: it's christmas day and you and logan navigate your new relationship and get acquainted with one another. pairing: origins!logan howlett x fem!reader content warnings: smut (18+ mdni), seated cowgirl, fingering, unprotected p in v, these two lovebirds get their happy ending, no use of y/n. word count: 2.4k a/n: merry christmas everyone and happy holidays to those who celebrate (and even to those who don’t - hope you have an amazing day today) 🎄 hope you all enjoyed this little story - i really had so much fun writing it and giving origins logan a happy ending 🥹 pt. 4 | series masterlist.

DAY 5 — You wake up to the feel of Logan’s lips lightly peppering kisses along your shoulder, his strong arms wrapped around you from behind. Yesterday felt like such a dream. This was what you always wanted. He was always what you wanted. Knowing that he felt the same way felt like a weight was lifted off your shoulders. The entire night, you both spent it getting acquainted with each other. His soft kisses, his low growls, the feeling of him pushing into you… It was everything you dreamed of and more. 

You slightly stir in his arms and he just pulls you closer, lips now moving to your ear. “Morning, baby,” he whispers. 

You smile to yourself and slowly turn on your side to face him, hand coming up to his cheek. Your thumb brushes against his facial hair as you stare deeply into his eyes. “It’s Christmas,” you answer excitedly.

Logan chuckles and nods. “It’s Christmas. Merry Christmas, baby.” 

“Merry Christmas, Logan.” 

“Think we can spend every Christmas snowed in from now on?” he teases.

You let out a quiet giggle. “Hmm, well you’ll have to meet my family eventually.”

“Of course, but can I have you to myself for a little while longer before we get there?” 

“Oh, you’ve got a year,” you grin.

Logan laughs quietly and pecks your lips lightly. “Haven’t slept that good in a while,” Logan admits. 

“Maybe you just tired yourself out,” you tease, letting out a quiet yawn.

“Hmm,” he hums, leaning in to brush his nose with yours. “If anyone was tired after what we did last night, it’s you.”

You feel the heat in your cheeks rise as you move your hand from his cheek to move around to the nape of his neck. “Well, you just kept going… even after I felt like I couldn’t anymore.”

He smirks proudly. “Oh, baby,” he whispers, lips brushing against your own. “I just couldn’t get enough of you and the sounds you make, the look on your face when you come…” he growls lowly. “Mmm…”

Gently, you bring your free hand to push against his hard chest as you bite your lower lip. “Logan…”

“Yeah, baby?” he smiles, leaning down to brush his lips against your jawline. 

“I’m just a bit sore…”

“Okay,” he whispers.

“But maybe you can help me feel better?”

Logan grins as one of his strong hands moves to hook your leg around his hip. He brings you flush against his growing erection, feeling the thin fabric of your panties and his boxers separating. “Once we start, I may not be able to stop,” he says quietly, feeling your hips roll against him. 

“Then don’t,” you answer, leaning in and pressing your lips firmly against his. 

—

It’s noon by the time you and Logan get out of bed, but not after hopping into the shower together. You couldn’t get enough of him, just like how he couldn’t get enough of you. You never thought that you’d be here with him, like this. To get to see him come undone, to feel his lips on your most intimate parts of your body, to hear the way he groans and growls when he gets closer and closer to come. 

To finally get to hear him tell you that he loves you.

“I love you,” he whispers as he comes up from behind you. Logan’s arms wrap around you from behind, resting his chin on your shoulder as you stand near the stove to begin cooking lunch. 

You stop stirring the sauce and gently turn around in his arms, hands snaking up his chest. “I love you too, Logan.” 

“So, I got you something.” 

“You did?” You ask, your eyes lighting up. “What did you get me?” 

“It’s a surprise. Figured we could exchange gifts tonight.” 

“I’d really like that,” you answer. “Can we have hot chocolate too?” 

He chuckles. “Anything my girl wants, she’s gonna get.” 

“You spoil me,” you smile, leaning up on your toes to peck his lips. 

“That’s because you deserve the world, baby.” 

“Logan…”

“You do,” he says honestly. “And I’ll do my damn best to give it to you.” 

You bite your lower lip and card your fingers through his hair, hearing him let out a quiet purr as his eyes flutter in contentment. “You deserve the world too, Logan.”

“I don’t know about that, baby,” he chuckles. “Been alive for so long… have done a lot of things that I regret… lost people that I love and care about. I think maybe I’m just doomed from the start. I’m just trying not to screw this up.” 

“You won’t,” you reassure him. “And you’re not doomed.” 

“Nothing ever works out for me,” he whispers hesitantly. “And if I’m being honest, it’s only a matter of time before I screw this up too.” 

“I’m not going to say it’ll be easy,” you begin. “But I can promise you that I’ll be here for everything; the good, the bad… I want it all as long as it’s with you. I would choose you over and over again, Logan.”

“Why?” He asks, brows furrowed. Logan never thought he was worthy of ever being loved, despite the lingering desire that looms over him. He always felt alone, felt like he just couldn’t belong anywhere, until he met you. 

You had felt like home the moment he met you. 

“Because you’re worth it… and I believe in you, in us.” 

Logan lets out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding as he suddenly leans in to peck your lips. Wherever you go, Logan knows that he’d follow. 

“I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you,” he finally says. 

“You’re a good man, Logan,” you say quietly, moving a hand to rest on his cheek. “And I’m a very lucky woman.” 

He scoffs playfully. “If anyone’s lucky, sweetheart, it’s me.” 

—

Later that night, you’re seated on the floor of the living room with a mug of hot chocolate dressed in one of Logan’s flannels and socks (and nothing else). He’s seated on the couch, staring down at you with a small smile on his lips. You’re so excited to open the gift he’s gotten you just as much as you’re excited to give him the gift you had gotten for him. 

He feels a sudden sense of happiness and contentment wash over him. Logan has loved before, but never like this. With you, he feels hopeful. With you, he feels like he can finally live a life that he’s seen so many people live. 

A life with someone you love. 

To build a home with. 

To build a future with. 

To settle down, to have kids… to be your husband and eventually a father to your children. 

With you, the possibilities are endless. 

“Okay, you open yours first.” You grin, handing him a neatly wrapped gift. 

Logan takes it from you gently and leans down to kiss your cheek. “Thank you, baby.” 

“It’s nothing big,” you tell him. “But I figured that you could put it up somewhere in here.” 

He tears open the wrapper and tilts his head. Once he unwraps the gift completely, a large grin lines his lips as he looks down at the small picture frame. Logan runs his thumb across the photograph, glancing over at you then moving his gaze back down to the picture frame in his hands. 

“I love it.” 

“Do you really?” You ask with a hopeful tone in your voice. “It’s one of my favorite pictures of us. I have it framed at my place and figured you could have one here too.” 

He nods, staring down at the picture in the frame. Logan can’t take his eyes off of you; the way your smile meets your eyes, the happiness written all over your features. It was a photograph of the both of you, his arm draped over your shoulder as your face buried into the crook of his neck. It’s obvious that you’re in the middle of laughing and Logan’s surprised at the look on his face too. 

His own smile looks relaxed, peaceful and he’s staring down at you with a loving gaze. He loved you then… just as much as he loves you now. 

“I love it,” he repeats. Logan stands from the couch and places the picture frame above his fireplace. He grins to himself as he gazes at the frame down to the fire he had going and along to the Christmas tree. For once, his cabin finally feels like home. 

“Okay, your turn,” he nods, pointing towards the gift in your hand. 

You grin excitedly and begin to rip through the wrapper. Logan lets out a chuckle at the sight of you, so focused and eager to unwrap the gift and find out what’s hidden. 

“D’ya like it?” He finally asks, seeing the gift he had gotten you now in full display in front of you. 

You nod slowly, tears stoning your eyes as you pull it close to your chest. “I love it, Logan.” 

“Yeah?” 

“It’s… Perfect.” 

“Not a lot of Wolverine plush toys out there,” he points out, moving back to the couch. “And I– I figured you’d like it… that maybe when I’m away or when we’re not together, you have this.” 

You nod and then gently set it aside to climb onto the couch with him. You straddle his waist and wrap your arms around him tightly, burying your face into the crook of his neck. “I love you.” 

“I love you too,” he smiles to himself, arms wrapping tightly around your frame. “Did I do good?” Logan asks honestly. 

Slowly, you pull back to look down at him with a small smile and eyes glistening with tears that threaten to spill over. “You did amazing.” 

He smiles proudly. “Amazing enough that I get…” he wiggles his brows suggestively. 

“Oh, definitely.” You answer, leaning in to press your lips firmly against his own. It’s a slow and intimate kiss, like you’re finally kissing him for the first time. His strong hands move to lift the end of his flannels so that he can rest them on your hips. 

Logan plays with the waistband of your panties, gently tugging on them as he moves his lips with your own. Truthfully, he could spend the rest of his days like this with you. When he feels your hips roll against his own, you both let out a quiet groan. He uses this opportunity to deepen the kiss, sliding his tongue past your lips as he moves one hand between your legs instead. Slowly, he pushes your panties off to the side and sinks one digit into your tight heat. You’re already so wet, causing Logan to pull away from the kiss to look at you instead. 

Your hands move to his shoulders, gripping it tightly as you feel his finger move in and out of your depths slowly. “Lo– Logan!” 

“Already so wet for me,” he points out with a grin. Logan pulls his finger out of you only to slide it back in with another digit. He can feel your walls stretching due to the width of his fingers as he slides both into the knuckle, curling his fingers within your depths. 

You let out a loud moan, back arching. “Baby, please,” you beg, walls trembling. “Need you…” 

He nods and tugs down his shorts with his boxers, revealing his erected length as it leaks at the tip. He replaces his fingers with his tip, slowly sliding you down onto him. Logan growls at the feeling of your warm and wet her sliding down inch by inch down his throbbing length. He can feel your fingertips dig into his shoulders and it only urges him further. 

“Will never get enough of this, of you,” Logan groans, feeling you sit firmly on his lap as his cock remains sheathed inside of you all the way. His eyes flutter when he feels you lift yourself and slide back down. He reaches up and undoes the few buttons on the flannel you’re wearing to reveal your bare front to him. 

“You feel so good,” you moan, back arching to expose more of your chest for him. Slowly, you begin to rock forward and backwards in his lap, the hair at his base causing just the right amount of friction against your bundle of nerves.  

“Yeah, baby?” He groans, hands moving to your hips to guide your movements. “Tell me how it feels, sweetheart. Fuck,” he grunts. 

“S– So deep, so full of you,” you whimper, picking up the pace in your movements. You can feel your peak bearing closer and closer with each roll of your hips and Logan lifts his hips just enough for his tip to nudge at your cervix. You let out a loud moan as a result, hips slowing down as your walls begin to tighten even further around him. 

“Fuck, baby– that’s it, take what you need,” Logan groans, watching you in absolute awe. 

You collapse against him, face burying into his neck as your body shakes against his own. You slow your movements to a halt as you ride out your climax, but it’s not enough of a break because Logan’s arms wrap around you tightly to keep you flush against him. He grounds his feet into the hardwood floor of his cabin and begins to thrust up into you. Skin slapping against skin echoes throughout his cabin, mixes in with your moans and his low groans. 

“Logan!” You exclaim, arms wrapping around his shoulders as he continues his quick and rapid thrusts. 

Logan turns his head and gently places a soft kiss on your temple as he pulls out to his tip only to slam back into you; he repeats this movement once, twice, three times before he begins to feel the tightness in his lower abdomen. 

He’s close, so fucking close… 

“I love you, Logan,” you whisper through your moans. It’s enough for Logan to pull out of you abruptly, reaching down to stroke himself as thick, white ropes of his come lands on your lower abdomen. He lets out a loud groan, body shuddering at his intense release. 

“Fuck,” he mumbles. “I love you, baby.” 

You smile to yourself and lean in to gently peck his lips. “Merry Christmas, Logan.” 

Logan chuckles. “Merry Christmas to you too, sweetheart.”

—-

taglist: @kellyxo1 @misscrissfemmefatale @mooneyloveydovey @oatmilkriver @steviebbboi

[scoupsakakitty]

More 14th member please angst too pleasee HAHAHA

Unspoken Tears | idol!Svt x idol!14thmember x idol!Mingi | angst, drama

The dorm was unusually quiet that night. Seventeens youngest member, Y/N, sat curled up in her room, her knees pulled tightly to her chest. She bit her lip, fighting the sobs that threatened to escape. The voices of her older brothers—her Seventeen members—echoed faintly through the walls. They were in the living room, playing games, laughing, and teasing each other like always.

But tonight, she couldn’t bring herself to join them.

For weeks now, she had felt the shift within herself. Her once bright and cheerful personality had dimmed, replaced by an unfamiliar heaviness in her chest. She tried to hide it, to smile and pretend that nothing was wrong.

Yet, no matter how hard she tried, the pain lingered.

She thought she had been prepared. She thought ending things with Mingi had been the right decision. Their relationship had started in secret, pushed by their management teams for publicity, but it had quickly turned real. Too real.

And now, it was over.

Her heart clenched painfully at the thought of seeing him tomorrow at the MAMAs. Would he look at her the same way? Would he pretend that nothing had happened between them? Or worse—would he look at her with regret?

A sudden knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts.

“Y/N? You awake?” It was Joshua’s voice, gentle and filled with concern.

Y/N quickly wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. “Y-Yeah. What’s up?”

There was a pause before the door creaked open. Joshua stepped in first, followed closely by Jeonghan and Woozi. Their expressions softened the moment they saw her puffy eyes and trembling lips.

“Y/N…” Jeonghan murmured, closing the door behind him.

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, plastering a fake smile on her face. “Really, I—”

“Don’t,” Woozi interrupted, his voice firm but caring. “Don’t say you’re fine when you’re clearly not.”

Y/N’s smile faltered, and Joshua sat down beside her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Talk to us,” he said softly. “Whatever it is, you don’t have to go through it alone.”

For a moment, Y/N hesitated. She didn’t want to burden them with her problems. They already had so much on their plates with rehearsals and schedules. But as Jeonghan sat down on her other side, offering her a tissue, the dam broke.

Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, “It’s Mingi…”

Joshua and Woozi exchanged glances, while Jeonghan squeezed her hand.

“The rumors,” Woozi said carefully. “Are they true?”

Y/N nodded slowly. “They were. But we’re not together anymore.” Her voice cracked. “We broke up.”

Jeonghan frowned, his protective instincts flaring up. “Did he hurt you? Did he—”

“No! It wasn’t like that,” Y/N interrupted quickly. “It’s just… we couldn’t make it work. We were both so busy, and we barely saw each other. It felt like we were always chasing each other but never catching up.”

Her words hung in the air, heavy with emotion.

Joshua sighed. “That must’ve been really hard on you.”

Y/N buried her face in her hands. “I still love him. And tomorrow—I don’t know how I’m supposed to face him.”

Without hesitation, Jeonghan reached out and pulled her into a hug.

“It’s okay,” he murmured, gently rubbing her back as she sobbed into his chest. “Let it out. We’re here.”

Woozi and Joshua exchanged another glance, silently agreeing on what needed to be done.

“Stay with her,” Woozi said softly, giving Jeonghan a nod. “We’ll go let the others know what’s going on.”

Joshua stood up and placed a reassuring hand on Jeonghan’s shoulder before following Woozi out of the room, leaving the two alone.

———————————————————————————-

Joshua and Woozi stepped out of Y/N’s room, closing the door gently behind them. The two exchanged silent glances, each of them still processing what had just unfolded.

As they walked back into the living room, the rest of the members immediately turned toward them. The cheerful vibe from earlier had completely shifted to tense curiosity.

Seungkwan was the first to speak. “Well? What’s going on?”

“Is she okay?” asked Mingyu, standing up as if ready to barge into her room.

“What happened?” Hoshi added, pacing nervously.

Joshua held up his hands to calm them. “Sit down. All of you.”

There was a shuffle as everyone quickly gathered, their eyes locked onto the two.

“Y/N…” Woozi started, rubbing the back of his neck. “She’s going through a breakup.”

“A breakup?” Vernon repeated, eyebrows furrowed. “With who?”

Joshua hesitated. “Mingi.”

The room fell silent for a moment.

“What?!” Seungkwan practically yelled, breaking the stillness.

“You mean the Mingi from Ateez? That Mingi?!” DK looked genuinely shocked.

“How did we not know about this?” Dino asked, his voice quieter but equally concerned.

“They were keeping it private,” Woozi explained. “It wasn’t supposed to get out, but… yeah, it’s true.”

“And it’s over now,” Joshua added softly.

Mingyu shot up from his seat. “Wait, wait, wait. Did he do something to her? Did he hurt her?”

“No!” Woozi quickly clarified. “It wasn’t like that. She said they just… couldn’t make it work because of their schedules. But she still loves him.”

“That’s why she’s been so off lately,” Wonwoo said, his voice calm but heavy. “I should’ve noticed.”

Jun, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. “I knew something was wrong. She hasn’t been herself for weeks.”

“Why didn’t she tell us?” Minghao muttered, clearly frustrated.

“Because she didn’t want to burden us,” Joshua said.

“Burden us?” Mingyu scoffed. “We’re her family! We’re supposed to protect her, and we didn’t even see it happening.”

“Calm down,” Seungcheol said firmly, though his own voice carried a slight edge. “We can’t change the past. What matters is that we’re here for her now.”

The room fell quiet again as the weight of the situation settled over them.

Hoshi finally broke the silence. “So… what do we do now?”

“We support her,” Woozi said simply. “Tomorrow’s going to be tough for her, especially seeing him at the MAMAs. We make sure she knows she’s not alone.”

Before anyone else could speak, the door to Y/N’s room opened, and Jeonghan stepped out quietly. The lighthearted moment faded as they all turned to look at him.

“She’s asleep,” he said softly, his voice calm but tired. “I stayed with her until she calmed down.”

The group relaxed slightly at his words, but their concern lingered.

“Thank you,” Seungcheol said, giving him a small nod.

Jeonghan offered a faint smile. “She’s hurting, but she’ll be okay. We just need to be there for her tomorrow.”

Everyone nodded, determination replacing the earlier panic.

———————————————————————————-

The arena buzzed with excitement as idols and fans filled the space. Seventeen sat at their designated table, cameras constantly flashing toward them.

Y/N’s nerves were on edge. Despite the support from her members the night before, her chest tightened every time she glanced at the Ateez table.

“Hey,” Seungkwan said, nudging her lightly. “Don’t think about it too much. Focus on us, okay? We’re going to kill it out there.”

Y/N smiled weakly. “Okay.”

But the moment Ateez took the stage, her resolve crumbled. Mingi’s presence was magnetic, and despite the distance, their eyes met for the briefest moment. It was enough to stir all the feelings she had tried so hard to bury.

Mingyu, noticing her distress, leaned in. “You good?”

Y/N swallowed hard and nodded, but he wasn’t convinced. Reaching out, he held her hand under the table, offering silent comfort.

———————————————————————————-

When the performances ended, the groups began mingling. Y/N tried to stay close to her members, but it didn’t take long for Mingi to approach her.

“Y/N,” he said softly, his voice almost drowned out by the noise around them.

Immediately, Jeonghan and Mingyu stepped closer, their protective auras flaring up.

“It’s okay,” Y/N said, stopping them. “I’ll be fine.”

Slowly, they backed off but stayed within earshot.

Mingi’s eyes were filled with regret as he led her to a quieter corner. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you, but I didn’t know how.”

Y/N crossed her arms, her defenses already crumbling. “What is there to talk about? It’s over, Mingi.”

“I know,” he admitted. “But that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped caring about you.”

Her breath hitched. “Then why did we let it end?”

“Because we didn’t have a choice,” he said bitterly. “You know how it is in this industry. We’re always busy, always under pressure.”

Tears welled up in her eyes again. “I hate this. I hate that we had to choose our careers over each other.”

Mingi stepped closer, his hands trembling. “I hate it too.”

“Do you still…” Y/N couldn’t finish the question.

“I do,” Mingi said without hesitation. “But I don’t know how to fix this.”

She looked down, tears spilling onto her cheeks. “Neither do I.”

From a distance, the Seventeen members watched closely, ready to intervene if needed. But as Y/N and Mingi continued talking, their tense postures softened.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of everything unsaid hung heavy between them.

“I’m sorry,” Mingi finally said. His eyes searched hers, desperate for understanding. “For everything. For how things ended. For not being there when you needed me.”

Y/N blinked back tears. “You don’t have to apologize. It wasn’t your fault, Mingi. We both knew this wasn’t going to be easy.”

“I know, but—” He cut himself off, clenching his jaw. “I hate how it happened. I hate that we let it fall apart.”

Her heart ached at his words, but she forced herself to stay strong. “I do too. But we tried, didn’t we? We gave it everything we had.”

“And it still wasn’t enough,” he muttered bitterly, looking away.

Y/N stepped closer, reaching out to gently touch his arm. “No, it wasn’t. But maybe that’s not a bad thing.”

He turned back to her, confusion in his eyes.

“We needed more time,” she said, her voice steadier now. “More time for ourselves, for our careers. We were so caught up in trying to make it work that we didn’t realize we were hurting ourselves in the process.”

Mingi’s shoulders sagged, and he let out a long sigh. “So what are you saying?”

“I’m saying…” She took a deep breath, her fingers trembling as she dropped her hand from his arm. “I think we should let this go—for now.”

“For now?” he repeated, his eyes searching hers.

Y/N nodded, her throat tightening. “Not forever. Just until we’re both ready. Until we can give each other what we deserve without feeling like we’re choosing between us and our careers.”

Mingi’s eyes softened as the weight of her words sank in. “You really think we’ll get another chance?”

She gave him a small, sad smile. “I don’t know. But I want to believe that if it’s meant to be, we’ll find our way back to each other.”

His lips pressed into a thin line as he reached out to cup her face gently. “I don’t want to let you go,” he murmured, his thumb brushing away a tear that had escaped down her cheek.

Tears finally spilled freely as she leaned into his touch. “I don’t want to let you go either.”

They stood there for a moment, their breaths uneven, the air heavy with unspoken words. Mingi’s hand lingered on her cheek, his eyes searching hers as if memorizing every detail.

“Can I…” His voice faltered, raw and unsteady. “Can I kiss you? Just one last time?”

Y/N’s heart clenched at the plea in his voice. She swallowed the lump in her throat and gave a small, trembling nod. “Yes.”

He didn’t hesitate. Slowly, almost reverently, he leaned in, his lips brushing against hers with a tenderness that made her knees weak. It wasn’t a desperate kiss or one filled with regret—it was soft, lingering, and full of love.

When they finally pulled away, Mingi rested his forehead against hers, his hands still cradling her face.

“I’ll wait for you,” he whispered, his voice barely audible but filled with conviction. “No matter how long it takes.”

Fresh tears welled up in Y/N’s eyes, but she managed a fragile smile. “Me too.”

Mingi let out a shaky breath, pressing one last kiss to her forehead before stepping back slowly.

And with those words and that final kiss, they said goodbye—not forever, but for now.

———————-————————————————————

Y/N sat cross-legged on the couch, surrounded by all thirteen members. Their eyes were fixed on her, waiting patiently as she gathered her thoughts.

“Okay,” she began, taking a deep breath. “So, I guess you all know now… about me and Mingi.”

There were a few murmurs, but no one interrupted.

“It started about a year ago,” she continued. “At first, it was just… the company pushing us together for PR stuff. But somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling fake.”

She glanced up, gauging their reactions. Most of them looked surprised but not judgmental, which gave her the courage to keep going.

“We tried to keep it a secret, but it got harder as things got serious. I really cared about him—I still do.” Her voice cracked slightly. “But being idols… it’s not easy. We were always busy, always apart.”

She paused, and Seungkwan handed her a tissue. She gave him a grateful smile before continuing.

“We started arguing. Not big fights, just… miscommunication. We kept missing each other’s calls, canceling plans. Eventually, it felt like we were holding each other back instead of supporting each other.”

Wonwoo spoke up. “So you broke up because of the distance?”

Y/N nodded. “And because we didn’t want to resent each other. But it still hurts. A lot.”

DK leaned forward. “What did he say tonight? Did he want to get back together?”

Y/N hesitated, her fingers twisting the tissue in her lap. “Not exactly… but it felt like he wanted to.”

The room fell quiet as they waited for her to continue.

“He asked if he could kiss me,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

A few of the members exchanged glances, but no one interrupted.

“And?” Mingyu finally asked, leaning forward.

“I said yes.” Her cheeks burned slightly, but she kept going. “It wasn’t just a kiss. It felt like… closure. But also like a promise.”

“A promise?” Joshua repeated.

She nodded. “He told me he’d wait for me—no matter how long it takes. And I told him I’d wait too.”

The room was silent again, but this time it felt heavier.

“That’s not really a breakup then,” Vernon said quietly.

“It is,” Y/N replied quickly. “For now. We agreed to let it go, at least until we’re both in a place where we can give each other the time and attention we deserve.”

“But what if that doesn’t happen?” Dino asked, his voice laced with concern.

“Then I guess it wasn’t meant to be,” she said softly. “But I want to believe it is. I have to.”

There was another pause before Jeonghan gently asked, “Do you think you’ll be okay seeing him at events? Working in the same industry?”

Y/N swallowed hard. “I don’t know yet. Today was hard, but… having you guys with me made it easier.”

Jun reached over and squeezed her hand gently. “You know… it’s okay to not have all the answers right now.”

She looked up at him, her eyes still glassy. “But what if I never figure it out? What if this feeling doesn’t go away?”

“It will,” Joshua said softly. “Not right away, but eventually. And until it does, we’ll be here to remind you that you don’t have to go through it alone.”

Y/N gave him a weak smile, but her shoulders still sagged under the weight of it all.

Seungkwan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I think what you did was brave, you know?”

“Brave?” she repeated, almost laughing.

“Yeah,” Seungkwan said firmly. “You could’ve held on and let it get worse, but you didn’t. You let go even though it hurt. That takes courage.”

DK nodded. “And it’s not like you shut the door completely. You both agreed to wait and see what happens later, right?”

Y/N nodded. “Yeah, but what if later never comes?”

“Then you’ll deal with it when the time comes,” Seungcheol said. “But right now, you don’t have to force yourself to let go of what you feel for him. It’s okay to miss him. It’s okay to hope.”

Her eyes welled up again, but this time it wasn’t from sadness—it was relief.

“I just feel like I’m stuck,” she admitted. “Like I don’t know whether to move on or hold on to what we had.”

Jeonghan smiled softly. “Then don’t decide yet. Give yourself time. No one’s rushing you.”

“Except maybe Mingi,” Vernon teased lightly, trying to ease the tension.

Y/N let out a small laugh, and the others joined in. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to lighten the mood.

“Whatever happens,” Minghao said, his voice calm but sure, “you’ll get through it. And if you ever need to cry again, don’t do it alone, okay? Come to us.”

Y/N nodded, looking around at all of them. Their faces were filled with genuine care and support, and for the first time in weeks, she didn’t feel so lost.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “All of you.”

Dino grinned. “That’s what we’re here for. And if he ever messes with you again, just say the word and we’ll handle it.”

The room erupted into laughter, and for the first time that night, Y/N felt like maybe—just maybe—things would be okay.

———————————————————————————-

Later that night, Y/N sat on her bed, replaying the events of the day in her mind. The pain was still there, but so was the warmth of her members’ support.

She didn’t know what the future held—whether she and Mingi would find their way back to each other or not.

But for now, she wasn’t alone.

And that was enough.

[mmeskywalker]

|| second date update

summary: you were confused to as why ANAKIN SKYWALKER didn’t call you back. after being friends for so long, you finally got the chance to go on a date with the guy, and he completely ghosts you. what went wrong? you asked yourself. eventually, the question got to be too much to bear, so padmé helps you out…

word count: 2.6k+

a/n: this is lowercase intended. please do not be alarmed! i’ve been watching brooke and jubal tiktoks all week sooooo, here we are.

warnings: modern!ani, a little angsty, but that’s literally it.

——————————————————————————

“no, padmé, that’s exactly the problem.” you groan into your palms. “he won’t call me back!”

just your luck, you go out on a date with your best friend of 4 years and he decides he wants nothing to do with you anymore.

of-fucking-course.

“well—honey,” she sighs, her slender fingers pushing your hair out of your face. padmé pauses for a moment, trying to think of what to tell you until suddenly her head perks. “do you listen to the radio at all?” she asks.

you shake your head. “only when i’m really bored.”

“well, there’s this radio show called brooke and jubal in the morning… they do a segment where they call the people who leave their listeners confused about why they aren’t calling them back.”

“really?” you lift your head. tempting, you think before furrowing your brows. “okay, no—i am NOT having a radio show call anakin to ask about why he’s not calling me back.”

padmé laughs, opening up her macbook, “if you don’t email them, i will, y/n!”

your eyes widen as she clicks on the gmail app, her mouse edging against the button that allows her to contact brooke and jubal. you close your eyes, a hand reaching over to squeeze her arm as if giving her permission to do it despite your heart racing faster than it ever has before.

before you know it, she’s written a message and hitting send.

“what’s the worst that will happen?” padmé says. “they get hundreds of emails a day, they’re unlikely to even respond.”

“right,” you reluctantly agree.

——————————————————————————

you wake up to your phone buzzing beside you. with a groan, you roll over, your hand plopping on the device as if trying to turn off an alarm. it doesn’t turn off. your head perks up, confused until you recognize the number.

brooke and jubal.

“shit!” you shout, stumbling your phone in your hands before clicking the glowing, green button, answering their call.

“uh— hello?” you try to keep your composure, but embarrassment is rushing through your entire body. you’re on the phone with a radio show trying to get ahold of anakin.

pathetic.

“hello! this is jubal, from brooke and jubal in the morning.” a host-like voice booms from the other line. “is this y/n we’re speaking to?”

“it is!” you say, sounding just as excited despite the pit forming in your stomach.

jubal laughs, “wonderful! did we wake you?” he asks. “sorry about that, we just wanted to hear a more detailed version of what happened the other night.”

“this guy… anakin?” brooke jumps in. “you say that he was your best friend?”

“yeah!” you rub your face. “yeah—we were close for 4 years. he asks me on a date, and afterward completely ignores me.”

brooke makes a sound of sheer confusion from the other line. “huh, that’s so weird,” she exclaims. “tell me more about this date. was there anything that could have indicated this out of him?”

you scrunch your forehead, trying to recall a bad moment. “he seemed a little nervous, but that’s just anakin.” you chuckle. “we had a great time. he came over to my house and we prepared picnic foods, laughing and cooking together until he drove us to our favorite park. i thought everything was going really well.”

“there was even a moment where it looked as if he wanted to kiss me,” you continue. “we had just stopped laughing, and he started to look at me with his big, beautiful, blue eyes… it was as if the entire world momentarily stopped spinning.”

“looked as if?” jubal asks. “so he didn’t actually kiss you?”

that stings a little, but you shake your head. “no, he didn’t actually kiss me.”

“bummer!” brooke replies. “i wonder why? it sounds as if you guys had a really great night. a romantic picnic with your best friend—i don’t understand what went wrong, do you jubal?”

“no, i don’t either!”

jubal pauses for a moment, “and you’re sure nothing weird or embarrassing happened during your date?”

“i’m positive, jubal.” you are quick to reply.

“well,” he sighs. “i’m pretty confused too then. i say we call him and get to the bottom of this. before we do that though, you need to prepare for the worst. whatever he’s about to say will be broadcasted on the radio, and it might be embarrassing. are you okay with that, y/n?”

you nod your head, your tone shifting slightly. “yes, i—i just want my best friend back.”

“you seem like such a kind girl,” brooke frowns. “we’ll figure this out for you.”

“we aaarrrrreeee going to have to ask you to mute though, y/n,” jubal adds, “i know it’ll be tempting but try not to join into the conversation until we signal you in.”

you let out a quiet laugh, nodding silently. “okay, i’ll try my best!” your nervousness begins to pile into your gut as they warn you about adding anakin the the call. it’s all beginning to feel a little too real. you swallow thickly, double checking that you’re muted.

“hello?” anakin stretches, his voice groggy from sleep.

“hello, good morning!” jubal says, excitedly. “can i speak to anakin, please?”

“uh, yeah, this is him.” anakin replies, confused.

jubal smiles warmly, his voice clear on the other line, almost as if he were catching up with an old friend. “hi, how are you?” he asks.

“good— who is this?” anakin is clearly not in the mood, and you look to the side, ashamed to be contacting him this way.

“this is jubal, from brooke and jubal in the morning!” before he can finish, anakin cuts him off. “broken what?” he asks, mishearing jubal’s declaration.

some guy in the background laughs as brooke comments, “well, we are broken.” before jubal chuckles, cutting them off. “no, brooke and jubal in the morning, we host a radio show!”

“we’re calling you because we got an email about you from one of our listeners,” jubal says. “an email?” anakin replies. “yeah it’s from a girl that you went out on a date with!”

“what, i’m sorry— i don’t understand what’s going on.” anakin sighs, scratching his head.

“i know, you’re not supposed to yet, i’ll explain… okay, so i host a radio show, and we do a segment called ‘the second date update’, that’s where you go out on a date with somebody and then don’t call them after. when that happens, they email us to see if we can get you on the phone and ask what happened.”

“okay…” anakin says, his attention beginning to focus on the phone call.

jubal raises a brow. “so you went out on a date with a girl named y/n?”

you hear anakin stand from his bed and know exactly what he’s doing. whenever he gets stressed he starts to pace back and forth, and it causes you to hold you breath. “y—yes i did,” he mutters, almost as if he were embarrassed.

“you sound a little ashamed there, buddy?” jubal states. “is everything alright?”

“yeah, everything’s fine.” anakin clears his throat. “why are you asking about y/n?”

jubal doesn’t hesitate to answer. “well, she told us that you guys had a really romantic evening. you went out on a picnic, enjoyed some alone time together, and there was even a moment where she thought you would kiss her.”

“i don’t know if i want to talk about this on the radio…” anakin says, rubbing the back of his neck.

“listen, man,” jubal sighs. “i get that, i do, but y/n agreed to hearing whatever it is you have to say, no matter the outcome.”

anakin exhales sharply, and you can practically hear him running a hand through his hair. “she said that?” his voice is quieter now, more cautious, like he’s speaking directly to himself and not the hosts.

“she did,” jubal says, his tone warm, almost encouraging. “she just wants her best friend back, man. but she also doesn’t understand what happened. you’ve got to help us out here—what’s going on? why’d you ghost her?”

anakin groans, and for a moment, there’s nothing but the sound of his pacing. you know exactly what he looks like right now: hair a mess, his hand constantly fidgeting at the back of his neck, that crease forming between his brows like it does when he’s stressed.

“it’s not like i wanted to ignore her,” he finally mutters, almost defensively. “but it’s… complicated.”

brooke hums, and you can picture her leaning closer to the mic like she’s about to pull the truth out of him. “anakin, you know we’re not letting you off the hook with ‘complicated,’ right? y/n told us the date was perfect—picnic, laughs, chemistry. what could possibly have gone so wrong?”

“nothing went wrong!” he snaps, but then he sighs, his tone softening. “that’s the thing. it was perfect. it was too perfect, okay? y/n’s been my best friend for years, and suddenly, she’s there, and she looks… she looks beautiful, and she’s laughing at my dumb jokes, and we’re just… making sandwiches in her kitchen like we’ve done a hundred times before, but it doesn’t feel the same. it felt like… like I was standing on the edge of something huge.”

jubal chuckles lightly. “sounds like you’re describing a rom-com moment, dude. you’re telling me you ghosted her because it felt too right?”

anakin groans again, frustrated. “you don’t get it. if it went wrong—if i messed it up—i wouldn’t just lose a date. i’d lose her. and I can’t… i can’t lose her.”

your heart squeezes painfully at his words. it’s everything you’ve been dying to hear, but it’s also infuriating. he was scared? that’s why he disappeared without a word?

brooke clicks her tongue, her voice playful but firm. “anakin, honey, i’m gonna be honest—you sound like a massive idiot right now. instead of risking messing things up, you actually messed things up by ghosting her. she thinks you don’t care.”

“but i do care,” he blurts, almost desperate. “i care so much it freaks me out. y/n’s… she’s everything. she’s been there for me through everything. and then that night, it wasn’t just friendship anymore—it was something more. i didn’t know what to do with that.”

there’s a long pause, and you realize you’re holding your breath, your hands gripping your phone so tightly your knuckles ache.

“look,” jubal says, breaking the silence. “i get that you’re scared, man. love’s messy, and yeah, maybe it’s risky. but if you don’t talk to her, you’re gonna lose her anyway. is that what you want?”

anakin’s voice is so quiet you almost don’t catch it. “no. that’s not what i want.”

“so, can we bring her in?” brooke asks gently, her voice softening now. “she’s been listening this whole time. do you want to talk to her?”

your stomach flips as the words register. this is it. the moment you’ve been waiting for—and dreading.

anakin hesitates, and for a second, you’re terrified he’ll say no. but then he exhales, his voice steady despite the emotion laced in it. “yeah. yeah, let me talk to her.”

jubal gives you the signal, and your thumb hovers over the mute button. your chest feels impossibly tight, the rhythmic pounding of your heart drowning out every other sound in the room. you try to steady your breathing, but it’s no use—the nervous energy coursing through you is electric. swallowing the lump in your throat, you finally press the button, unmuting yourself.

“anakin?” your voice wavers, barely above a whisper.

there’s a beat of silence so long you’re sure he’s left the call. just as you’re about to check your phone, his voice filters through, quiet and uncertain. “y/n.”

his tone carries so much weight that your stomach twists painfully. “so…” you begin, your words shaky. “you’ve been ignoring me because you’re scared?”

he groans softly, the sound distant, like he’s pacing again. you can almost picture him: one hand tugging at his hair, the other shoved deep into his pocket. “it sounds so stupid when you say it like that.”

“because it is stupid,” you shoot back, though your voice lacks venom. “do you know how much i’ve been overthinking this? how many times i’ve replayed that night in my head, wondering if i did something wrong?”

“you didn’t do anything wrong,” he says, almost tripping over his words in his eagerness to reassure you. “you were… perfect.” his voice dips lower, softer. “that’s the problem, y/n. everything about that night was perfect. and it terrified me.”

your breath catches, the sincerity in his words catching you off guard. “terrified you? why?”

anakin exhales heavily, and when he speaks, his voice is laced with raw vulnerability. “because i realized that night that you’re not just my best friend anymore. you’re… so much more than that. and if i mess this up, i lose you. i don’t know if i could handle losing you.”

his confession hits you like a tidal wave, a mix of emotions swelling in your chest—relief, frustration, affection. “anakin,” you say softly, your voice cracking under the weight of it all. “you’ve been my best friend for four years. do you really think i’d just disappear if something went wrong?”

he hesitates, and you can hear the faint creak of floorboards as he shifts his weight. “i don’t know,” he finally admits, his voice so small it makes your heart ache. “but i couldn’t take that chance.”

“you idiot,” you mutter, shaking your head even though he can’t see you. there’s no malice in your words, only exasperated affection. “do you have any idea how much i wanted you to kiss me that night? how much i’ve been hoping you’d just talk to me instead of leaving me in the dark?”

“i wanted to,” he says, the regret heavy in his tone. “god, y/n, i wanted to kiss you so badly. but then i started overthinking, and all i could see were the ways i might screw everything up. so i panicked.”

you let out a dry laugh, the bitterness in it surprising even you. “well, congratulations. you managed to freak yourself out over nothing and made things awkward anyway.”

he laughs, a soft, breathy sound that carries a hint of his usual warmth. “yeah, i guess i did.”

silence settles over the call, thick with unspoken emotions. it’s not uncomfortable, but it’s heavy, like both of you are trying to figure out what comes next.

finally, he breaks it. “so… where do we go from here, y/n?” his voice is tentative, like he’s afraid of the answer.

before you can respond, jubal’s voice cuts in, light and teasing. “how about i pay for your second date?”

you can’t help but laugh, the tension breaking just enough for you to breathe again. “i think that’s be wonderful, jubal.”

“good,” jubal adds, clearly grinning. “because it sounds like you two could use a do-over. no pressure, though.”

anakin’s chuckle rumbles softly through the line. “i wouldn’t mind that. a do-over, i mean. but only if you’re up for it, y/n.”

your chest tightens at his words, but this time, it’s not from anxiety. it’s hope, tentative but real. “yeah,” you say quietly, a small smile tugging at your lips. “i think we could use a do-over.”

the radio show hosts cheer dramatically in the background, and even brooke chimes in with a delighted laugh. “now that’s what we like to hear!”

as the call winds down, anakin’s voice softens again. “can i call you later? you know, without the whole radio audience listening in?”

you grin, the weight of the past few days finally starting to lift. “yeah, anakin. call me later.”

“i will,” he promises, and for the first time in days, you believe him.

[vmqires]

sorrow. (l.hs)

pairing. ex! hee x fem reader ❦︎ exes to lovers ; non-idol au, a bit of angst n fluff. wc. 986 synopsis. heeseung’s forced to break up w u but the two of u never move on from each other.

a/n: this took so long, i was seriously debating deleting this and quitting forever LMAO but thankfully the amazing @soadparker (aka vic) gave me some ideas n that encouraged me to finish it >< this was obviously inspired by sorrow - flyleaf, which i totally recommend to listen to while reading.

sometimes life seems to quiet into paralyzing silence.

“what do you mean? you want to break up?” your eyes start to tear up.

“y/n.. it’s just not working out anymore.” heeseung looks away, fidgeting with his hands.

“what? what happened? what went wrong?” you stare at him in disbelief. just a few days ago he was in your arms, whispering that you’re his safe place and now he wants to break up?

“nothing went wrong. i just.. i need some time, for myself.” he gets up from the couch, looking at you one last time before leaving.

truth is heeseung didn’t want to break up with you. but after a very long argument with his very strict family, they forced him to. it broke him seeing you like that.

someone so perfect, heartbroken all because his family couldn’t stand the sight of you and him together.

i’ll take this piece of you, and hope for all eternity.

his parents constantly introduced him to girls that they thought were absolutely perfect for him. every time he went on a date with one of them, they all seem to fall short compared to you.

he misses you, a lot. hoping for one day his parents will back off, also hoping you don’t find someone new, someone maybe even.. better.

after a month since he broke up with you, you went to your best friend who comforted you.. just in a different way.

“get up, let’s go to the club.” she says, looking at you crying.

“the club? seriously? i’m heartbroken and you’re suggesting the club?” your friend rolls her eyes.

“he’s just a bump in the road amongst other bumps you’ll encounter. it’s not the end of the world.” you scoff, holding your pillow tighter. “he’s not a bump, he’s a mountain i can’t cross over.”

she sucks her teeth at your dramatic response. “girl shut the fuck up.”

he knew each tear before it came.

few months pass and you feel like you’re healing. seeing a new guy and although deep down somewhere in your heart you wish he was heeseung, you settle.

“babe! ready to go?” your new boyfriend yells from the kitchen. “just a sec!” you grab your keys and phone. today’s heeseung’s birthday, your calendar app reminds you.

as your boyfriend drives, you can’t help but think about heeseung and the many birthdays the two of you spent together. one specific comes to mind.

“open your eyes.” heeseung whispers in your ear. when you do, you’re met with a fort made of blankets, pillows, your favorite snacks and a projector playing your favorite movie.

that week had been hard for you. your manager at work on your ass, fighting with your parents again, grades falling behind, all you wanted to do was lay in his arms and the best of all, he knew that.

he knew you like no other. you tear up, and heeseung wipes it away as he cups your face.

“i know you had a hard week and i just want you to relax for your birthday so, i completed a few homework assignments and i called your parents.” you immediately pull him into a hug, a much needed hug.

just like the one you need right now. instead of heeseung, the wind wipes your tear away and your new boyfriend glances at you as he drives.

“everything okay?” you lift your head, giving him a weak smile.

“yeah everything’s fine.” he nods and smiles at you too.

if it were heeseung he would’ve already pulled over and pulled you onto his lap to whisper sweet nothings in your ear.

and we kiss each other one more time.

heeseung was drowning. he needed an out and now. he wanted to text you, to see you again. god his heart ached every time he thought about you.

how the two of you would have fights but would never go to sleep angry at each other, how much he fell for you everyday, how you would snuggle closer to him.

the thoughts become overbearing and soon enough, he chooses you. over his family, over everything because you are his everything. he finally leaves home without a word or a letter.

as he settles into his new place, he debates calling you.

you, on the other hand, end up breaking up with your boyfriend after realizing maybe a part of you is still in love with heeseung. (you totally are.)

the week after that breakup, you head out to the city. window shopping, walking around, just to clear your head.

heeseung just so happened to be doing the same thing. minding his own business, going about his afternoon. then he stops in his tracks, eyes widen with tears threatening to spill out.

“y/n…” he lets out in a whisper, now almost sprinting towards you. you notice him, as soon as he takes you into his embrace. your world narrows down to just to two of you, like it used to. you pull away first.

“heeseung?” he immediately tears up again.

“i’m so sorry y/n. im so sorry for leaving you.” his heart is on fire, praying you’d take him back. “please let me make it up to you. let me explain everything.”

your own eyes start to water, smiling at him. “please..” he whispers, resting his forehead against yours.

without a doubt, you wrap your arms around his neck and pressed your lips on his. the kiss is gentle, full of warmth and love. your love.

“so is that a yes?” he murmurs against your lips then you laugh softly, pulling back. “yes. it’s a yes.” you reply, knowing your heart will always and forever be his, his alone.

just like his heart is yours.

[azuredawn81]

please read later | connor bedard x gf!reader

❅ summary: connor’s relationship has been falling apart. it’s totally his fault. he put all his focus on hockey, but the blackhawks just keep losing and he keeps failing and it’s draining him. it’s drained him to the point where he physically cannot be present.

❅ pairing: connor bedard x reader

❅ content: angst

❅ word count: 1k

❅ prompt: hours outside in the snow - modern baseball

❅ warnings: none

❅ note: i also have a really fire poem written for this song prompt - mutuals dm me

❅ tags: @dream-girl06 @Summert158 @lekkerfrikandelletje @camiesully

⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅̩̩͙₊⋆ ͙̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆

I spent all of Christmas Eve fake angry at you for

Who knows what now or then

he wasn’t even mad. every point y/n had made was valid, every statement accurate.

“it’s like you don’t even care anymore!”

“i do care!”

“no, you’re always gone. you never check in.”

“that’s not true.”

“connor, as soon as you leave chicago, it’s like my number is no longer on your phone!”

he couldn’t remember anything else she had said. she was right. he was wrong. he was a terrible, sorry excuse for a boyfriend. she was a saint. she deserved better.

I spent all of Christmas Eve trying to get warmer

After standing outside for hours

Knowing at this point I'd be

Lucky to get any sleep

And I'll toss and turn until the early morning

after the argument, connor had stormed out of the apartment, more willing to face the chicago cold than his girlfriend’s gaze. the snow fell like tears, each snowflake landing perfectly on his eyelashes, mixing in with his sobs. as he kept walking down the street, he saw families in windows. bright, smiling, happy couples with laughing kids. candles in windows, trees with lights, street lamps glowing like the moon. his last straw was passing by a brownstone, a couple grinning ear to ear in matching pajamas on the first floor. he sat on the sidewalk, sinking into the snow, his head in his hands.

he was there for a few hours, when an elderly woman came up.

“son, are you okay?”

“yeah, i’m… i’m fine.”

“you should be home, it’s christmas.”

she walked with him back to his apartment. “i’m sure she loves you. don’t give up on her.”

y/n was asleep in their bed, with every good blanket. shivering, connor put on flannel pajama pants and a blackhawks hoodie, doing anything he could to warm up. he sat in front of the heater, his hands out close enough to burn, like he had been selling matches.

he curls up next to the heater, trying to conserve heat. all night, his teeth chattered and he tried to get comfortable on the floor, to no avail. he couldn’t sleep even if he was comfortable. she was on his mind.

'Cause what's better than seeing

What I'm missing daily?

every day was the same. she had lectures, lab, study group meetings. he had practices, games, media appearances. it was just too much. he could tell how much happier she was at uchicago, anyone could tell. sometimes, it felt like he only knew about her life from her instagram stories. her perfect, polished instagram stories. ones that screamed “single and loving it”. except, she wasn’t single and she was miserable.

“maybe if you treated me like your girlfriend instead of your roommate, i’d be happier around you.”

“i try, y/n! i try every day!”

“no, you don’t!”

“yes, i do!”

“you come home at 11pm, all “i’m so tired”, and when i try to do anything, you’re like “not tonight”.”

“that’s not my fault! sorensen has me on ice the entire game!”

“so you’re too tired to snuggle your girlfriend? too tired to say “i love you”? too tired to let me make sure you’re not bruised?”

“i can check myself for bruises!”

“that’s not the point, connor!”

“look, i’m sorry i don’t cuddle you. are you happy now?”

“god, connor, how do you not understand how much happier i am away from you?”

I guess what I'm trying to say is that

You might run, oh but

I won't hide, shed an

Ounce of light on my half-

Hopeless life

“i don’t know what to do, kevin. i love her so much.”

“tell her that. don’t let her go.”

“she’s already gone.”

he hung up the phone and pushed open the apartment door.

“y/n?”

“kitchen.”

he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “you feeling alright?”

“yeah, i’m fine.”

he pressed a short kiss to her neck, his lips lingering. “sure?”

“yes, i’m sure.”

“i love you.”

“love you too.”

he nuzzled his face against her shoulder.

“connor?”

“yes?”

“are you okay?”

“it’s… tough. on the ice.”

“i bet.”

“i feel like i’m failing everyone.”

“not me.”

“y/n, can you promise me something?”

“of course.”

“remember how i was during the off-season?”

“yeah?”

"Don't let me go back"

But since you've taken the time to read so carefully

Everything I've ever sent

I guess I'll spend the next few lines hoping and wishing

Yet thanking appropriately

she always read too much into things. everything was falling apart and it was all his fault. she deserves better. he knows better than to act like this, pretending he can be the guy she needs.

connor quietly made his way into their shared closet and began to pack his clothes, his toiletries, anything he would need. he filled his duffel bag and suitcase with his whole life, except his most important items: the framed picture of him and y/n, sitting on the nightstand by her phone, and the bracelet she had made him. he traced the characters on the beads, the glossy black “bedard 98” shining in the light of his phone flashlight.

he grabbed a piece of paper from her journal and a pen, her pink glitter gel pen, and began to write his last words to her. every word was about how he wasn’t enough, how sorry he was that he wasn’t there, how in another life, where he didn’t play hockey, they could’ve stayed together. he was not in a good place to be a good boyfriend and nothing brought him joy. she deserves joy. she deserves the world. but he couldn’t give her that.

to y/n

Please read later

'Cause I don't think I have the heart

To let you read this now

But if I had the heart, oh

You know that I know better

This isn't how you say aloud

Oh, say aloud:

"Don't let me go back"

don’t come looking.

love,

connor

[jocelynscrazyideas]

Illuminating ||

Jack Hughes x reader

-a ficsmas fic-

(not proof read)

⋆❅⋆⍋⋆❅⋆ ⋆❅⋆⍋⋆❅⋆ ⋆❅⋆⍋⋆❅⋆ ⋆❅⋆⍋⋆❅⋆ ⋆❅⋆⍋⋆❅⋆

Jack likes to get pizza after a good game. Lately the Devils have been doing pretty decent, so Jack has been having cheat days

In fact Jack has been saying he’s done with the healthy life;

“I’m so done with those gross green smoothies.”

“so glad im not on that diet anymore.”

~

Tonight, the devils play the Canucks. If we lose we will get pizza, and if we win… we will get pizza. Tonight is a special night. It’s the Hughes brawl.

“Babe!” I yell for Jack. I’m making a green smoothie for him. Luke walks out of his room. “Ooo. Nice.” He laughs.

“Do you want one?” I offer.

“Hell yeah.” Luke takes the cup of green liquid that I set out for Jack. I really have no problem with it. I was going to make one for luke anyway.

“Jack!” Luke screams for him.

“I’m coming Lukey.” He barked back.

Luke, ironically loves the green smoothies, apparently they "cut the junk food out of his system."

“Try it. It’s sooo good.” Luke sips out again. He stumbles over a yoga block I was using for Pilates last night. “Oops. Sorry Luke.” I laugh.

“It’s alright.” Luke snarls. He sits in a recliner in the small living room. He turns the TV on. “Jack.”

“What.” Jack answered- in a ‘I’m annoyed’ kind of tone.

The Jersey house is always so chaotic. Luke always stretching and working out, or playing games on the living room set up. Jack doing whatever with Luke or causing trouble with me. I'm always in the room Jack and I share doing work. Sometimes late at night Luke screams in his room from playing Fortnite or watching a stupid play from the game before.

“Remember. Tonight Y/n and I are getting pizza.” Jack waves infront of Luke’s face. Motioning to see if Luke is listening.

“Yeah- alright- Jack! Jack! Move I can’t see the screen.” Luke moves his head to see the cartoon that’s playing. “Yeah I got it! You two lovers are gonna go on a pizza date! Now move!” Luke hits jacks hand out of his face.

“Okay bye Lukey.” Jack laughs. He grabs my cold hand and takes me upstairs to our room.

Tonight, I’m dropping the boys off at the rink, and I’ll be at home watching the live stream of the game. “I wish you could be there tonight.” Jack whines.

“I know. I know. I’m sorry bubs. I just have to much writing to do for the meeting tomorrow.”

I work for a large company in the PR field. Im in charge of sales tonight.

~

We're running a few minutes behind. Jack can't find his phone, Luke is in the car warming up and I'm calling Jack's phone to help my clumsy boyfriend find the stupid phone.

"Jack!" I yell from the door. Jack comes stroming down the stairs with a smile on his face.

He waves his hands up in the air. "Found it." he laughs. Jack runs out to the car and i zoom into the drivers seat.

~

Jack kisses me before jumping out of the car. Luke follows after, I wish them a goodluck and pop the back open for their gear, they set their bags off to the equipment manager and run inside.

~

I did lots of my speech, and collected data. I look up at the tv screen. Jack scored the 6th goal against Vancouver. 3rd period is about to end and I jump into the car again. Luke is hitching a ride from Curtis, apparently Lazar was going to take Luke home and make him babysit while Curtis and his wife go out- not that I have Curtis yeh idea.

-

“I’m so excited!!” Jack almost bursts out of his seat. The devils had an amazing win against the Canucks. Fortunately, this can make Jack really horny or really cuddly tonight.

Jack places his hands onto my thighs while I drive, Jack tells me directions to this new downtown place he never seen. “I don’t understand why we couldn’t just go to new York. It’s only 15 minutes away.” I whined.

“Because.” Jack responds. He plays with my hair and looks at me star struck. The starts shine in his eyes.

“Look of love huh.” I tease him a bit.

Jack blushed and halts his hands up. “Stop!” He screamed.

I look at him lol he’s crazy. “I wa showing to! It’s a stop sign.” I scoff. Annoyed but in love. I lower his hand and asked him to pony me to the next street.

“Park. We can walk. Please, it’ll be fun. Like one of your stupid rom-coms.” Jack smiled maliciously.

~

After parking in the street I double checked that my car was locked and nothing valuable was in sight. Jack grabbed my hand. It was so pretty out. The dark sky hover over us, but the street lamps shine a pathway for us- even better the stars above us made a beautiful view. We looked so happy and proud of eachother. The trees a little dead. Snow on the ground. The cobblestone sidewalk getting slippery and slippery up the hill we’re walking on.

“Right here.” Jack motioned his head to the right of us.

Of course, hack has the sidewalk rule down. He is on the left side if the right sidewalk and we’re walking at a slow place so I can browse at all of the trinkets the stores have for show.

We walk into the pizza shop and it immediately gets warm, and smells like garlic and cheese. “Holy pizza galore.” Jack laughs, he pulls my closer. I’m wearing low rider flared jeans, and a cute white sweater. Underneath I have a sexy lacy bralette and a black tank top to keep me warm. Jack has in his DREW hoodie and some grey sweatpants. I look cute, and he looks hobo-ish.

“Did you take-”

“Yes baby. I took a shower after the game.” Jack finished my sentence. He pulls out his wallet, “what do you want?” He points at the menu.

“Umm. Pepperoni duo with the fries and bacon.” I whisper in his ear. I feel like a fat baby when I order. That’s something Jack admired. He loves that I’m not scared to eat in front of him.

“Hey!” He starts up with the owner, “yeah uh I’d like two pepperoni pizza and the duo with the fries and bacon.” He hands the guy his card and pulls his wallet out to put his card away after.

My hand is on jacks back, “babe.” I said under my breath. Letting Jack know that he needs to tip.

“Right.” He whips his wallet out again. He slides in $20 into the tip jar and we wait for our order.

~

We walk around for a good spot to eat. Our pizza is blazing hot, and our loaded fries are bubbling form the cheese and bacon. “Here.” I stop. There are some benches at the coast.

“Look at NYC.” We stare at the beautiful city across from us. “Beautiful.” Jack replies and he smiles at me.

“How smooth.” I laugh and nudge Jack in the side. I kiss Jack on his warm lips. Jack pulls me into his lap. I sit in between his legs and my chest holds his food while mine are in my lap. We watch the stars and talk about life.

Jack puts his cold hands down my back to warm himself. My black tank top slides down as Jack slides his hands down my underclothes. “Oh” Jack mutters.

He lifts his chin up and kissed the top of my head. “How beautiful.” He mutters. He feels the Victoria secret bra o have on. “How beautifully done you are tonight.” He says in an old English accent.

I laugh and hold his other hand that isn’t in my shirt.

He picks me up and kisses me. I feel his tounge deep through my lips, his soft overgrown stubble scratching at me. I pull him closer. My arms wrapped around his neck, I’m on my tip toes as Jack pulls me up higher. Jack lifts me up all the way, he scoops under my ass. I hold in while Jack picks up our trash and walks over to the trash. My legs wrap around his torso. The stars illuminate above us, twinkling. Making this moment so special.

Just like the Rom-Coms we watch.

~

We danced for hours under the moon. Then of course Luke asked if we could pick up some Chinese food for him and as the best future sister in law I stop Jack from kissing me more and grab Luke his stupid food.

[smoky-lucine]

Close Call

Little sister!Reader

After a close call during a hunt, The Winchester brothers panic as Castiel heals you.

Injuries, angst

My second fic :) I'm still trying to get the hang of writing but hopefully you all enjoy :)

You and the boys have been working on a case dealing with werewolves. You managed to catch one and kill it, and he confessed there is a whole pack in town and now you need to find the rest of them. You and Sam stayed in the motel and studied up on werewolves while Dean and Cas went out to the recent attacks around the town.

You didn’t get a lot of sleep the last few nights, as the werewolf attacks were happening faster and faster, and the four of you have been out every night on watch for any leads. Sam nudges your shoulder, and your chin slips off your hand and you jolt awake.

“Everything alright?” Sam asks while he shuts the book you fell asleep reading and sits down next to you.

“I’m okay, just tired from being out so late last night.” You say, rubbing your eyes.

Dean calls Sam and he gives you a gentle smile before he answers the phone and puts the call on speaker.

“Hey Dean, did you find anything?”

“Yeah. One of the Officers was a werewolf. He told us where they’re all staying before we took him out. We’re gonna hit it tonight alright?” Dean explains and you hear Castiel in the background ordering food for the three of you.

“Sounds good to me. Did he say how many of them are staying there?” You reply

“Nope. By the looks of how many attacks there's been, I don’t think it would be more than 7 or 8.” Dean says confidently.

Sam keeps talking about the case with Dean and you start getting silver bullets and knives ready for the hunt.

Later that night the four of you are on the way to the werewolves hiding house in the Impala. Sam and Dean are having their own conversation in the front while you and Castiel talk in the back.

“Have you ever hunted werewolves before?” You ask Cas.

“A few times yes. Angels don’t usually deal with them. Have you?”

“Occasionally yeah. I haven’t seen them in a while though, not since we still hunted with dad.” You say looking away. You didn’t like talking about your dad anymore, nobody really did. “I haven’t practiced my shooting in a bit too.”

“I’m sure we got it kid.” Dean says to you looking in the rear view mirror. “It’s gonna be a small pack. It’s gonna be in and out.”

You give him a smile. You turn to yawn and look out the window for the rest of the ride.

The four of you get ready and watch the house waiting for Dean to decide when to go in.

“Alright. Sam and Cas you two go in the side door, Y/N and I will go through the front.”

You look at Dean surprised. He normally chooses Sam when splitting up and it would make sense here too.

“Are you sure Dean?” You ask him nervously. “Yes, I’m sure. Do you not want to go in? What’s wrong?” Sam looks at you knowing you're tired, but he knows you don't want to tell the truth to Dean.

“No, it’s okay.” You say quietly, walking away a bit and focusing back on the house. Everybody does one last look at each other before splitting up and breaking into the house.

Dean kicks the door down and you both run in aiming separate ways. You hear Dean shoot a werewolf down and he turns to check on you in the now empty room. You can hear the other wolves in the house warning the others and running to defend against the four of you. You run up to the doorway, calling it clear and Dean runs into the kitchen with you following.

Making your way through the house, you and Dean each take down a few werewolves, and eventually meet up with Sam and Cas. The upstairs is still loud with werewolves running and escaping. You all say how many you took down and quickly realize there are at least triple the number of werewolves than Dean previously thought.

“But that doesn’t make sense. How can there be so many??” He says reloading his gun and looking around the room.

You responded “The attacks were happening faster and faster. I guess they don’t want to be careful anymore.” You focus on reloading your gun when you hear a growl.

You turn and see a werewolf sprinting at you and tackles you, losing all air in your lungs and dropping your gun. It claws at your stomach, leaving a huge gash. You quickly start seeing stars and your vision starts clouding, black slowly starting to take over. Coughing and screaming out you hear multiple gunshots and the werewolf dying.

Sam and Dean run up to you, eyes shocked at your injury.

“She’s really hurt.” Sam says, tearing up trying to get your eyes to focus.

“Sammy we gotta get her out of here.” Dean says loudly and begins to pick you up, flinching when he hears you cry out in pain. “There’s too many wolves here we need to leave.”

Dean runs as quickly as possible to Baby, putting you in the backseat. He throws the keys to Sam and yells "Drive!!” Castiel gets in the passenger seat and Sam runs to the driver’s seat and quickly starts the car, driving away from the house.

Dean holds you in the backseat trying to keep himself composed as he talks to you. “It’s okay Y/N. It’s gonna be okay alright? I’m so sorry I should’ve paid more attention. Look at me Y/N, open your eyes.” He begins to panic and yells at Sam to drive faster.

“We need to get far enough away; Cas needs to heal her.” Sam says speeding down the road.

You slip in and out of consciousness and wake up to Dean crying over you, and Sam and Cas yelling in worry. The three boys can’t stand hearing you scream in pain. You pass out and when the car is suddenly silent, Sam pulls over quickly as he and Castiel rush out of the car to reach you in the back seat.

“Cas, heal her.” Dean says solely focused on holding you still. Sam holds your hand as Castiel puts his hand on your stomach. His hand emits a bright white glow and Sam and Dean look away.

You wake up in the motel room. You look around at the quiet room and see Castiel in the corner staring at you.

“You're awake.” He says walking up to you. “I healed you. You’ve been asleep for a couple days, Sam finally got Dean to leave and eat.” You lift your shirt and there isn't a single scratch on your abdomen.

Castiel helps you sit up and hands you a bottle of water. “Your physical injuries are healed, but your body is tired. I could tell you haven’t slept in a few days.”

You drink the water and hand it back to Castiel. “Yeah, those night watches have been pretty hard. I appreciate you healing me and staying with me.” You give him a small smile and he gives you one in return and lets you rest longer.

Sam and Dean come home and seeing you sitting up in bed they run up to you. Dean hugs you tightly and when you yelp in surprise he lets go, scared you were somehow still injured. “Kid, I was so scared. I thought we lost you.” he says kneeling beside the bed, looking at you.

Sam gives you a big hug before climbing into the other side of the bed and letting you lean into his side. “It was really scary Y/N. I’m so relieved we got you healed in time.”

“I’m really sorry guys.” You say tearing up. “I haven’t slept in days, and I really wanted to help fight them, but I know I should’ve stayed back.”

Dean grabs your hand, “Y/N this isn’t your fault. I shouldn’t have put that pressure on you, and I should’ve stuck to the plan. Please don’t blame yourself.”

You all sit there quietly talking to each other until you slowly fall asleep and get more rest.

[lacydollette]

BLESSING IN DISGUISE — CHAPTER SEVEN

PAIRING lovely kook!reader (x rafe) x sarah cameron

WARNING(S) flashbacks, reader being confused about her feelings, sarah giving advice, slight fluff, explicit language, chocking, nightmares

SUMMARY torn between your resurfaced feelings for rafe and the attraction towards jj you can’t seem to find peace. so when Sarah notices your unusual quietness she can’t hold back anymore and convinces you to tell her everything.

“This,” Sarah said, taking a sip of her wine and pointing toward the sunset, “is exactly what I needed. No drama, no chaos. Just us, the ocean, and wine. Perfect.” You leaned back on one of the deck chairs of your little yacht, sunglasses perched on your nose. Sarah stretched out beside you, her blonde hair catching the light as she adjusted her bikini strap and sighed satisfied.

You smiled, letting yourself relax into the moment. It had been a while since you felt this kind of peace. Between the chaos of your own feelings, fights, and everything else, a girls’ day with Sarah felt like a breath of fresh air. But as the hours passed, the silence between you began to shift. You could feel Sarah’s gaze flicking to you now and then, her usual easygoing nature replaced with curiosity.

Finally, she sat up, setting her glass down with a soft clink. “Okay,” she said, her voice cutting through the calm atmosphere, “spill.” You turned to her, raising an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?” Yet you knew exactly what she was referring to.

She hesitated, biting her lip, “The argument with Rafe at the bonfire. What the hell happened? I mean, I know Rafe can be… Rafe, but that was different. There’s something going on, and don’t even try to deny it.” You sighed, leaning back in your chair and pulling off your sunglasses. “Sarah—”

“Don’t ‘Sarah’ me,” she interrupted, her tone firm. “I’m your best friend. I can tell when something’s up. And this thing with Rafe? It’s definitely a thing. So spill.”

You hesitated, mind racing. It wasn’t that you didn’t trust Sarah—you trusted her more than anybody. But saying it out loud, admitting everything, was coming to the conclusion that the whole thing was real, and that you’d have to deal with it. “Look,” Sarah said softly, scooting closer to you. “I get it. Whatever it is, it’s complicated. But I’m not here to judge. I’m here because I care about you. And I know my brother can be..a dick. So please, just tell me.”

Her words finally got to you, and you exhaled shakily, setting your glass aside. “Fine,” you murmured. “But you’re right—it’s complicated. Really complicated.” Sarah nodded, her expression encouraging, and you began.

“It started at Midsummers,” you said, your voice quiet. “There was this fight—Rafe and I. I don’t even remember what sparked it exactly, but things got heated. He said some things, I said some things…and then later I wanted to clear my head and took a walk, that’s when I came across Nate.” Sarah’s brows furrowed. “Nate? As in Nate Thompson?”

You nodded, a chill running down your spine at the memory. “Yeah. At first, I thought he was just trying to be friendly, you know? But then…he wasn’t. He wouldn’t take no for an answer, and I didn’t know how to get away.” Sarah’s hand shot out to grab yours, her grip tight. “What did he do?” she asked, her voice trembling with anger.

“He cornered me,” you admitted, your throat tightening. “And I was scared, Sarah. I didn’t know what to do. So in the last second I texted Rafe…and he showed up.” Sarah’s eyes widened, and she leaned closer. “What happened?”

“He pulled Nate off me,” you said, the memory flashing vividly in your mind. “And when Nate wouldn’t back down, Rafe…” You swallowed hard. “Rafe beat the shit out of him. I mean, really went after him. I had to yell at him to stop before he went too far.” Sarah let out a slow breath, her grip on your hand loosening slightly. “That’s..fuck. That’s horrible. Is this why he’s been so on edge?” she muttered.

You nodded. “After that, things got…weird between us. There was this tension—like, we were both trying to pretend it wasn’t, but it was there. And then he started pulling away. He got colder, more distant. I tried to talk to him, but it was like he’d put up this wall, and I couldn’t break through.”

“And then the bonfire,” Sarah said, piecing it together. “Yeah,” you said, running a hand through your hair. “I saw him standing there, and I couldn’t just ignore him anymore. I tried to talk to him, but he shut me out—again. And when I brought up everything that’s happened, he threw it back in my face. He even accused me of…of messing around with JJ, when it’s clearly not his business.”

Sarah’s jaw dropped. “Rafe said that?” You nodded, feeling the sting of his words all over again. “He was so angry, Sarah. And I was angry, too. It turned into this whole thing, and then JJ got involved, and…yeah. You saw how that ended.”

Sarah didn’t respond, just offered you some simple comfort which you appreciated more than anything. You looked down at your hands, unable to meet her eyes. “I don’t know what to do,” you admitted. “I keep telling myself I should walk away, that he’s too much. But then I think about everything he’s done—how he’s tried to protect me, even when it hurts. And I just…I can’t let go.”

Then, out of nowhere, Sarah turned to you, her voice cutting through the quietness. “Do you still love him?”

The question hit you like a punch to the guts. Your mouth opened, but no words came out. You glanced away, suddenly finding the wine glass in your hand much more interesting than the intensity in her eyes. “Do you?” she pressed, leaning forward slightly.

You sighed, setting the glass down and running a hand through your hair. “I…I don’t know, Sarah,” you admitted, though the hesitation in your voice betrayed you.

Her expression softened, but only slightly. “You do,” she said quietly, her words not a question but a statement. “You still love him. Even after everything.” You didn’t respond, and that silence said more than words ever could. Sarah shook her head, letting out a dry laugh. “God, you’re both so hopeless,” she said, though her tone held a trace of affection beneath the exasperation. “He’s put you through hell, you know that, right?”

“I know.. Believe me, I know.” you whispered, your voice heavy with emotion. “And yet, here you are,” she continued, gesturing between the two of you. “Sitting on this yacht, tearing yourself apart over him. And I know him, too. Rafe’s probably doing the same thing right now, in his own messed-up way.” You looked up at her, surprised by her understanding. “You think he…?”

“Loves you?” Sarah interrupted. “Yeah, I do. As much as he’s capable of loving anyone, at least. But that doesn’t mean he’s good for you, or that this whole back-and-forth is healthy for either of you.”

She paused, studying you closely. “And what about jj?” she added, her voice softer now. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, the way you’ve been spending more time with him. It’s like he’s your safe place when everything else feels like it’s falling apart.”

You bit your lip, the weight of her words sinking in. She wasn’t wrong. JJ had been a constant presence in your life these past few weeks—funny, kind, and steady in a way that Rafe never was. But as much as you cared for him, your heart felt tangled up in something far more complicated.

Sarah reached out, taking your hand in hers again. “You need to make a decision,” she said gently but firmly. “This thing with Rafe and JJ? It’s not fair to either of them, or to you. You have to figure out what you want, and who you want to be with.” You swallowed hard, the weight of her advice settling heavily on your shoulders. “What if I make the wrong choice?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Sarah squeezed your hand, her expression softening. “There’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ choice here,” she said. “There’s just what feels right for you. But you need to figure it out, because dragging this out is only going to hurt everyone involved.”

You nodded slowly, the truth of her words sinking in. “Thanks, Sarah,” you said, your voice quiet but sincere. “Of course,” she replied, giving you a small, reassuring smile. “And no matter what happens, I’ve got your back. Always.”

As the yacht gently rocked beneath you, you leaned back into your chair, staring out at the endless ocean. For the first time in weeks, you felt like you were starting to see things clearly. Now all you had to do was make up your mind.

“Come on,” Rafe whispered, his grin infectious as he grabbed your hand and pulled you away from tannyhill. “Let’s get out of here before my dad ropes us into some lecture about responsibility.”

You followed him, laughing as the two of you sprinted past the yard and down towards the beach, leaving behind the faint hum of the party. The adrenaline of sneaking away had both of you giggling like little kids.

Eventually, you stopped in a neighbor’s backyard, Rafe doubling over and panting like he’d just finished a marathon. “Out of shape already, Cameron?” you teased, leaning against a fence and crossing your arms. “What are you, an old man?”

He looked up, still catching his breath, and gave you a glare. “You wanna say that again, smartass?” You smirked, tilting your head. “Oh, I’m sorry. Should I fetch your cane, Grandpa?” Rafe straightened up, a mischievous glint in his eye.

But before he could reply, the sudden flicker of a porch light snapped you both to attention. The faint murmur of voices drifted through the air, and without thinking, Rafe grabbed your wrist and pulled you behind a small garden cabin. “Shit,” he whispered, his voice low and hurried as the two of you pressed up against the wooden wall.

Your heart pounded in your chest, not from fear, but from the electric tension that crackled between you. Rafe’s body was close—too close. You could feel the heat radiating off him, the sweet scent of his cologne mixed with the faint smell of tequila. His hand was still on your wrist, his grip firm but not rough. “Nice move, genius,” you whispered, your lips inches from his ear. “Now we’re stuck.”

“Shh,” he hissed, turning his head toward you. His face was so close that you could see the faint freckles dusting his nose, the way his blue eyes glistened even in the dim light. “I’m just saying,” you murmured, your tone playful despite the situation. “Maybe next time we sneak off, you pick a better spot for a pit stop.”

He rolled his eyes but didn’t pull away. If anything, he leaned in closer, his chest brushing against yours as he peered around the corner to check if the coast was clear. The porch light still on, but the voices were moving farther away. “We’re fine,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. But neither of you moved.

The air between you grew heavier, the space shrinking until it felt like there was nothing left but the two of you. You could feel the rise and fall of his breath, the faint tremble in his hands as they hovered near your sides. “Rafe, I—“ you mumbled, your voice softer now, uncertain. He looked down at you, his eyes searching yours. And then, before you could say anything else, he leaned in and kissed you.

It wasn’t rushed or harsh, but it wasn’t gentle either. His lips were warm and firm against yours, his hands finding their way to your waist as though they belonged there. The world fell away, the faint hum of the party, the glow of the porch light, the thrill of sneaking away—it all disappeared.

For those few moments, there was only him.

When he finally pulled back, his forehead resting against yours, both of you were breathless. “Well,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing, “that definitely shut you up.” You couldn’t help but laugh softly, your heart still racing.

But just as the sweetness lingered, something shifted.

Rafe’s gentle, playful expression began to change. His warm blue eyes darkened, clouded with something sharp and unrecognizable. His soft hands, the ones that had held your waist so carefully, moved to your throat, his fingers curling tightly around your neck.

“R-Rafe,” you gasped, your voice barely a whisper. The world around you darkened. His grip tightened, his once familiar touch now terrifying, cutting off your airflow.

His face loomed closer, but it wasn’t the Rafe you’d kissed behind the garden cabin. His features twisted with anger, his lips curling into something cruel, exactly like the last night you had seen each other before you left. “You think you can leave me?” he hissed, his voice sharp and menacing.

Your chest burned as you struggled, your hands clawing at his wrist, desperate for air. The world a big blur, and just when you thought you’d pass out, it all shattered. You woke with panic in your bones, gasping for breath, your chest heaving. The darkness of the room pressed down on you, but it was real, you were fine.

Turning your head, you found Sarah lying peacefully beside you, her blonde hair splayed out over the pillow, her soft breaths steady and calm. The sight of her brought you back to reality, the terror of the dream slowly fading away. You pressed a trembling hand to your throat, reassuring yourself that there was no hand there, no pressure cutting off your air. It was just a dream.

Just a dream.

LINKS .ᐟ series’ masterlist

LTAGS .ᐟ @gibson-g1rl @glitterybombshell @beausling @rafescokewhore @rafeysbunny @rafesweetie @rafeslacy @rafesangelita @rafey-baby @starkeysprincess @starzify @drewspinkbunny @whinyangel @nativegirltapes @littlelamy @lizziesangel @httpsdrewstarkey @cherrygirlfriend @lilithblackkk @maybankslover

[kingofbodyrolls]

THIS!!! THIS RIGHT HERE!!! Dia, you absolute genius—👏👏👏—you nailed it!

We just want to be seen, you know? That feeling of someone out there catching the light in your words… it fuels us.

And oh, how true this hits. Writing my original story has made me realize just how much I crave that connection. Fanfiction is like a message in a bottle—I write it for myself, yes, but the intention is always to cast it out into the sea and hope someone picks it up. But my original story? That’s a secret garden, locked away, and I don’t even know if I’ll ever let anyone in. Maybe one day. If I finish it. If. But therein lies the cruel twist—it’s hard to feel motivated when there’s no feedback, no readers to react, no sparks to bounce off. So, yeah… it’s going reeeeeeal slow (thank god for my husband, who’s volunteered as tribute to read it—bless his patient soul).

And those people demanding updates? I honestly don’t know how writers survive that! The stress alone would bury me alive. This is supposed to be our escape, our joy, not another 9-to-5 hustle. I’ve only written so much because I was on sick leave, and honestly? It was therapy. Writing saved me when I felt like I was falling apart.

Dia, let me just say it: I FUCKING LOVE YOUR STORIES. Like, seriously, every single word is a masterpiece. You are stupidly talented—it’s unreal—and that brilliant brain of yours? Sexy as hell 💕

These last few weeks, though… Ugh, I feel this. Even comments don’t hit the same anymore. Don’t get me wrong—I’m still grateful, always. But it’s not about the praise anymore. (Okay, maybe early on I did have a little praise kink 😂) Now, I just want to know that people felt something. Tell me what resonated. What weirded you out. What made you laugh or cry or scream into your pillow. What detail of worldbuilding caught your eye. Tell me anything, as long as it’s real 🫶

But honestly, Dia… I feel like I’m standing at the edge of something. It feels too late for me. The comments are lovely, but they’re not enough to pull me back from this weird, liminal space I’m in. I don’t know if I’ll ever finish the rest of my WIP list. Maybe I’ve crossed that point of no return line, the one where you can’t go back. And that thought makes me ache in ways I can’t quite put into words 😢Still, thank you for being here—for reading (just adding stuff to your tbr counts too!), for listening, for existing. You’re a star, Dia. And stars don’t go unnoticed, even if the sky feels lonely sometimes 🫂✨

So… yesterday, I received an email from AO3, and I’ve been crying ever since. Perhaps it’s silly—this flood of emotion over a comment, a review—but it felt like a light cutting through the fog. You see, I’ve been slowly coming to terms with the idea that maybe I shouldn’t write fanfiction anymore, and yet… this single moment of kindness warmed my heart in ways I can’t quite describe 🥹🫂

It doesn’t take much to move me; just a few words can brighten my day, lift me up from the quiet doubts that linger. That’s why I, as a writer, keep yearning for comments and reviews—not out of vanity, but out of a simple question: Do you even like my stories? Should I keep going? Without an echo to my words, with only silence or the faintest of replies, the answer feels like a quiet, heavy no.

And it stings. It really does. That’s why I haven’t been here much. Because if I’m being honest? It hurts. But still, it’s okay. I look back at everything I’ve written, and my heart swells with pride. These stories have been my solace, my healing, my way of pouring out hurt, sadness, pain, and trauma—and transforming them into characters who struggle, grow, and, in the end, find comfort. Writing has always been my way of giving myself a hug—a quiet reminder that everything will be okay. And it will. I know that.

Maybe I’ll keep writing, not fanfiction, but something just for me. Something I’ll tuck away, like a secret world where my heart can wander freely.

I know this all sounds a bit dramatic, and maybe it is—after all, it’s Christmas Day here, and nothing has gone quite the way I hoped. And so, here I am, sitting on Tumblr with tears in my eyes. But I needed to say this:

Thank you.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for reading my stories. Thank you for existing. Each and every one of you means more to me than you’ll ever know.

I wish you the warmest, most peaceful Holiday season, and may it be filled with love, light, and little moments that heal🎄💜

[sulevinen]

i feel like every jayce hater is a viktor lover

[poppyseed799]

btw I don’t know if this is a thing anyone is thinking about but I’m not gonna stop drawing Jimmy as a canary. It’s a lovely bird. It’s still something that’s been really important to his series. There’s no reason to drop the canary headcanon just cuz Lizzie fell into the void.

[weezerlvr228]

why he so mysterious…

demur