#but sometimes you really do just stroke a cat on the street and be like 'damn im gonna be okay'

[salty-autistic-writer]

Snippet: Buck saves a cat. She doesn't want to let go.

Buck has always loved animals. He smiles at dogs when he meets them on the street. He also pets them whenever he gets the chance to. Buck thinks that coming home to a dog with a wagging tail would be pretty amazing. But he also wouldn’t mind a cat or a bird or any kind of pet, really.

A lot of his childhood friends had pets. His parents never got any. Too much work, too much trouble, too expensive.

Now, as a firefighter, Buck is never sure if he should get a pet, since neither he nor Tommy are home a lot. But he does think it might be nice to have a pet in the future. Someday.

Buck didn’t know that “someday” would come so soon when there’s a fire at a farm and he fishes a screaming kitten out of an already smoking heap of hay.

Thick smoke is still rising up from the charred remains of the barn. Fortunately, neither humans nor animals were harmed. Quick thinking and acting saved a lot of lives today.

Buck looks at the saved kitten, making sure she’s alright. Underneath a thin layer of soot, her fur is white. She looks like a little fuzzy marshmallow.

And … she just won’t let go. Her little claws are digging into the thick fabric of his turnouts and she keeps rubbing her face there, making little pitiful noises. Buck looks down at her, amused. She’s so cute. But he clearly has to hand her over to someone. He already asked around, trying to find an owner. But no one wants to claim the white ball of fur.

“Cats just live here,” one of the farmers tells Buck, shrugging. “They sleep in the barns and hunt the mice. Sometimes they multiply and sometimes a few of them are driven over by a car. Nature balances itself, you know?” “Sure,” Buck mutters, glancing at the kitten which looks up at him with wide-open blue eyes.  He swallows and chuckles nervously. “Uh. Marshmallow. You really have to let go now, ok? Maybe your mother is somewhere around, huh?”

The kitten just rubs her head against his chest again, purring.

“Looks like this cat is going home with you,” Chimney says with a grin.

Buck perks up, eyes widening. “What? Uh. No. I can’t, I …”

“Cats choose their family,” Hen chimes in, smiling. “Seems like this one made her choice.”

“I …,” Buck turns to Bobby, begging him with his eyes to save him. But Bobby just laughs and says, “Congratulations, Buck. You’re a father.”

Buck sighs. When he looks down into those eyes again, he realizes he’s ready to admit defeat. For now. “Come on, Marshmallow. We’re going home.”

When Tommy comes home, Buck is sitting on the couch and Marshmallow is lounging on one of his knees like a little white Queen. He washed the soot off, brushed her fur and gave her some water as well as cheese. He really has to buy some proper cat food.

Tommy stops and stares at the picture in front of him, clearly astonished. Buck smiles weakly. He gestures at Marshmallow, who looks at Tommy attentively and with her ears pointed towards him, but remains sitting on Buck’s knee confidently, licking one of her paws, probably chasing after the taste of cheese. “Yeah. So … this happened.”

Tommy blinks. “Ev. Why is there a tiny white cat sitting on your leg?”

Buck clears his throat, stroking down the arch of Marshmallow's back. “That’s Marshmallow. We got called to a farm fire and I saved her. She apparently decided I’m her new father now.”

“Marshmallow. You called a cat Marshmallow?!” Tommy asks, raising his brows. Buck shrugs. “I couldn’t think of anything else. She’s small, white and looked a bit burnt before I washed her. But … We can still re-name her right?”

“You want to keep her,” Tommy says. It’s not a question.

Buck swallows. He looks at Marshmallow and can feel the love for her blooming in his chest. “Yeah. What do you think?”

Tommy tilts his head and approaches the couch. “I’m more of a dog person. But cats are fine, I guess. Hey there,” he smiles at Marshmallow and carefully reaches out to pet her. Marshmallow ducks and makes a hissy noise, her claws piercing Buck’s jeans and stinging like little pinpricks.

Tommy frowns, pulling his hand back. “I don’t think she likes me,” he says and sounds disappointed.

“Give her a few hours,” Buck says, amused. “She just got here. I'm sure she's going to get used to you soon enough."

Turns out Marshmallow doesn’t want to leave Buck’s side at all. She follows him everywhere on her small paws, her tail raised and butt wiggling while she hurries to keep up with his steps.

When he goes to the bathroom and closes the door, Marshmallow sits outside, meowing in a demanding way and scratching at the door.

When he goes to bed, Marshmallow sits on the floor and meows until he picks her up and she can snuggle up against him, purring. A small, soft, warm ball of fur.

“I’m starting to feel jealous,” Tommy says, kissing Buck’s neck from behind and glancing at the cat.

Whenever he tries to touch Marshmallow, she ducks and looks at him skeptically. At least she doesn’t hiss anymore. Still, Tommy sulks over the fact that Marshmallow is so focused on Buck and Buck tries to convince him it’s just a matter of time.

Then, two days after Buck became a cat Dad, he comes home after going to the grocery store for some cat food as well as proper bowls for Marshmallow. He opens the door and is greeted by silence. When he walks into the living room, he stops and has to keep himself from laughing.

Tommy is taking a nap on the couch. And curled up on his evenly rising and falling chest, is little Marshmallow, also fast asleep.

Buck takes a picture with his phone and leaves the room on tiptoes, with a smile on his face.

They’re both cat Dads now.

[bumblebeesfromvenus]

Paper rings 🩷

Jason Todd x singer!reader

A/N: I have to be honest, half of this is cat content ngl. This is based off the song by T. Swift :) Catdad!Jason is real because I say so. I geeked out and somehow love for greek mythology always find its way into my Jason fics idk

Enjoy!

~Fi 🪻

Prompt: reader is a singer who writes a song for Jason. How does he react?

Requested by: 🌙 anon

Warnings: fluff all around! Cute kitty moments, the concert parts may be all wrong idk what I'm doing lmao

Word count: 1.8k

Please don't copy my work! I put a lot of effort and heart into the things I write.

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🎤°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°☁️°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°🎤

You let out a sigh as you got into your car. It had been a long day in the studio, recording new songs for your latest album. Your throat hurt, but you were happy with the progress you had made today. Starting the car, you made your way home to the apartment you shared with your boyfriend, Jason.

It was his birthday soon, and you'd planned a little surprise, not only for him but for your fans as well. You had written him a song, one that would be on your newest record. You smiled only thinking about it, you couldn't wait to pull off this surprise.

The show you were performing tomorrow in Gotham was no ordinary one. You'd called it the "Jazz on Special", which was just a a play on Jason. Your lovely, yet sometimes a little daft lover had not gotten the hint. Good.

He always attended your concerts, watching from backstage, giving his support. The moment you stepped off stage, he was immediately one you, showering you in compliments and kisses, telling you how proud he was of you.

So you figured this was the least you could do to show your appreciation for him. You wanted the whole world to know how much he actually meant to you, scream it into the crowds. So that's excatly what you were going to do.

Unlocking your apartment door, you stepped in, dropping your keys in the little dish right by the entrance. You could hear footsteps the minute the door closed. Jason came towards you, with a big smile and open arms. "How was your session today, Baby?" He asked, wrapping you in his strong and comforting arms. You snaked your arms around his waist and hid your face against his chest. "Was really good. My throat is sore though, I need some tea." You mumbled, letting a content sigh to be in his arms. He placed a kiss to the top of your head.

"I'll make you some, got get comfy, okay?" He said softly, stroking your hair. "Thanks, Jay," you replied, slipping from his embrace with smile. You went to put on a change of clothes. You did wear comfortable clothes to your recording sessions, but you had to dress it up at least little bit with some jewelry. It probably wouldn't be the best look to show up to work in your kitty PJs.

After having changed into said kitty PJs, you plopped down on the couch next to Jason and your cat, Nyx. She was a black stray with a white streak on her forehead. You'd picked her up from a local animal shelter, you just couldn't resist her cute little white paws that made her look like she wore socks and the fact that she matched Jason. It was supposed to be his Christmas gift one year, but you just couldn't keep her to yourself.

Although you got her for Jason, he insisted you name her, his reasoning being that she got her looks from dad so her name should be from mom. And yes, you do treat her like your child. You named her Nyx, after the greek goddess. She was the first, daughter of Chaos, night incarnate. You thought that it fit, with Jason being the protector of Gothams street at night. And in a way, you were grateful to her, to Mother Night, for holding Jason safely in her dark yet loving embrace.

"Nyxieeee!! There you are my sweet girl! I missed you SO much, yes I did," you beamed in a high pitched baby voice, scratching her face. You stole her off Jason's lap, making him huff. Taking her into your arms, you placed overly dramatic kisses on her tiny head. She didn't seem to mind, though, rubbing her cheeks against your hand and purring. Jason's face softened at the sight.

You looked so precious like this, the cat curled up in your arms as you cooed at her. You'd be a little embarrassed about your habit of talking to animals in a baby voice if Jason too, wasn't guilty of it as well. He put an arm around your shoulder, pulling you close to him. "You know, technically that's my cat," he said with a smirk on his face. You shot him a glare.

"Technically, you wouldn't have her without me and you asked me to be her mom. She's my child too, Jason!" You responded playfully. He threw his head back, laughing. "I guess she is, huh. Thank you for being the mother of my furrbaby." He sighed, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. "It's my absolute pleasure, baby."

You were getting sleepy, your eyes unvoluntarily fluttering shut ever so often. Nyx was curled up on your lap, peacefully snoozing away while Jason was intently watching whatever was playing on the TV. You took a sip of the tea Jason had so lovingly prepared for you. Setting the mug back down on the coffee table, your gaze shortly fell on Nyx and- wait

You had to do a double take. She had one of her small paws reached out towards Jason who was gently holding it and without paying much mind, softly stroking his thumb over it. Your heart was about to explode. Your lips were slightly parted and your eyes were wide, looking at Jason completely bewildered. He noticed your stare, turning his head towards you with furrowed brows.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" He asked, the question slightly muffled by the hand that was supporting his head. "That's the cutest fucking thing I've ever seen," you mumbled, the shock pretty evident in your voice as you gestured to his huge hand that was ever so softly caressing Nyx's comparably tiny paw. His eyes softened.

"It is, isn't it? The first time she did it I was practically shaking from excitement," he laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest. Your brows shot together. "What do you mean 'the first time'?! Has she done this before? AND YOU NEVER TOLD ME?!" You yelled in disbelief. How dare he keep something so precious from you.

"Sorry, Baby."

"Unbelievable."

Today was the day. The day you would pour your heart out in front of Gotham. To say you were nervous would be an understatement. The blood in your veins was at boiling point and you were seconds away from a panic attack. Fiddling with the two colorful paper rings you had made for today, you took a deep breath, trying to calm your nerves. This was fine. You were fine. You've literally done this hundreds of times. But would Jason like it? God, you hoped he would.

Before you could overthink more, you heard your cue through your earpiece and it was showtime.

The 'normal' part of the concert went well, you performed some of your best songs, the crowd was amazing and it was overall an incredible night. You'd talked to your fans a little on stage between songs, receiving some nice little gifts here and there. Flowers, plushies as well as a bra was thrown on stage. Well that was a first. Not that you complained, you were rather flattered, actually.

It was nice to know that you had the ladies on your side. Jason, who was watching from backstage, almost keeled over with laughter when he saw you pick up the under garment, completely bewildered. He would never let you live this down.

"Alright, Gotham," you said breathlessly, "before our lovely night comes to an unfortunate end, I have prepared a little something. Not only for you, but also for my special someone, who might or might not be here today," cheering could be heard from the audience as you fixed your earpiece and chuckled breathlessly into the microphone.

Singing and jumping around stage sure was a work out.

"This is a song I've not shared publicly, as it is from my new album, but I thought I'd make a little exception for all of you and at the same time be the best girlfriend and make the coolest birthday present ever!" You laughed. The moment you mentioned that it was a new song the crowd absolutely lost their shit. You don't think any of your concerts have ever been this loud. Your eardrums nearly burst at the sheer volume of teenage girls screaming their souls out.

"Here's Paper rings. This is for you, Jason." You said with a smile on your face. The music started playing and it's like all your worries faded away. You'd been waiting for this moment for weeks, to finally share this song and your love for Jason. As you sang the lyrics, a compilation of cute and silly pictures of you and Jason ran over the huge screen behind you. Some were of you and Jason in a face mask, others were of Jason cuddling with Nyx. You occasionally glanced over to Jason who was doing his best to hold back his tears with the biggest smile on his face. Your heart swelled at the sight.

With the last bit of music fading out, you finished the song and bowed. The picture remaining on the screen was of you and Jason kissing with a sunset in the background. A heart was drawn around it. The minute the last words left your lips, Jason was storming on stage, showering you in kisses. He held you tightly against him, peppering kisses all over your face. His actions made you giggle into the microphone and the crowd went wild. The security guards were really struggling by this point.

You grabbed Jason's hand and slipped one of the two paper rings on his finger, pulling him in for a sweet kiss. The dam broke. There were happy tears rolling down his cheeks as he continued kissing you. Managing to pull away, you addressed your fans one last time. "Thank you, and Good Night, Gotham!"

You squealed when Jason unexpectedly picked you up bridal style and whisked you off stage, your head thrown back in laughter. It was safe to say you were on the front page of the Gotham Gazette the next day.

Jason was talking his heart out on the way home, talking about how much he loved it and how much he loved you. You were listening patiently, holding his hand while a big smile was plastered on your cheeks.

Now, you found yourself in the familiar spot on the couch, Jason's arms wrapped around you with little Nyx making biscuits on your thigh. "I have one question for you, though," you said, turning your head to Jason. "What is it?" He replied softly.

"How the fuck did you not get the play on your own name?"

"Oh, shut up." He pouted, burying his face in the crook of your neck. You let out a soft laugh.

"I love you too, Baby."

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[billyssillywilly]

Billy headcanons!!

Lets you put a passenger princess sticker in his car

But asks you to tap your feet together every time you enter to avoid unwanted dirt on the floor if his Camaro

Puts his arm behind the headrest in the car when he’s backing up

Billy surprisingly is NOT as rough in bed as people think. He’s def a freak on the streets but sweet in the sheets. Praise kink 100%, loves giving praise and receiving it too. Likes his ego stroked a bit for sure and with the way his past has been with his father he likes to hear what he’s doing right.

Very smart but doesn’t apply himself

Stacks donuts on his dick to see how big it is

Swears he hates animals because they’re “messy” but absolutely melts for a cat that you bring home against his will one day.

You and him being the amusement park couple that’s hugging all the time

Him singing in an awful Elvis impression to you to try to cheer you up (can’t help falling in love specifically)

Is a great cook, knows how to make bomb spaghetti and meatballs

Likes spicy food (would probably go feral for takis if they were a thing in the 80s)

Obsessed with digging up those little clams at the beach (coquinas) and putting them all in a bucket to show you like a little kid

Only wears Calvin Klein underwear

Has a rubber ducky he swears is for “decoration” but he’s just emotionally attached to it

Holds your purse for you

Uses your soaps in the shower sometimes for “experimental purposes”

Makes you sit on his knee when you’re in a hot tub together

Overall very gentleman-like and loving when he’s really involved with someone but also a dumbass.

[seangelfish]

would it be possible to request buster bros and what they would be like with a younger sister reader !! im not sure if this breaks any of the rules with like multiple characters im sorry 😭

Yes!! I love Buster Bros sooo much so I’m really excited to receive this request! And don’t worry, you haven’t broken any of the rules. I do allow multiple characters in headcanon/platonic fics, hehe! I hope you enjoy reading!!

Buster Bros w/ a younger sister

Featured characters: Ichiro Yamada, Jiro Yamada and Saburo Yamada (separate)

Genres/types: Headcanons

Word count: 2,006

A/N: For this, I decided to write the younger sister reader as a year or two younger than Saburo (age 12/13). I prefer the older sister trope when it comes to the baby bros, but this is actually a really cute fic request and I had a blast writing it!

Saburo's section was the hardest to write for, I'm not sure how it's longer than Ichiro's and Jiro's lmao I wrote this really quickly because I love them so so much, and I was honestly waiting for someone to request these three haha

ICHIRO YAMADA

- He doesn’t like picking favourites out of all his siblings, but Jiro and Saburo knows for sure that you’re his favourite.

- Is very kind towards you — of course he is kind to his brothers too — but even if you make a big mistake, he’ll just laugh at you, ruffle your hair, and tell you not to do it again. However, just because he's like this to you, doesn't mean he won't be stern. You need to learn that things have its consequences!

- You’re his cute little sister! All he wants to do is spoil you. Whenever he’s out and about in the streets of Ikebukuro, and something cute catches his eye, he’ll buy it for you. You’re always appreciative of it. Unfortunately, he won’t buy you snacks even when you beg for it.

“Nope, no snacks for you, (Y/N). It’ll ruin your teeth.”

“But onii-chan!”

“No means no.”

- Is very overprotective since he’s well known for his past delinquency and now for his role as leader for the Buster Bros. He’ll usually say no when you want to hang out with your friends from school. You understand why he’s doing this, but it’s still going to be annoying.

“Why can’t I just live a normal life?!” you cry one day.

Ichiro tenses up at this. “H-Hey, I’m trying my best, (Y/N)… Why don’t we do this? You can hang out with your friends this weekend if you let one of us keep an eye out for you?”

You take a while to answer.

“Okay… as long as you don’t make yourself seen by my friends.”

“Haha, deal.”

- Despite that, you’re able to hang out with all your brothers together whether it’s just to eat outside for lunch! Ichiro let’s you ride on his shoulders or hold hands with you. Even when you’re just 6/7 years younger than him, he still thinks of you as a baby.

- If you want a bite of his lunch, he'll easily give you some.

- Reads you a story when it's time to go to bed because he's been doing it since you were a toddler. He treasures this time so much because he knows that once you grow up, you won't want him to read you a bedtime story anymore.

- Sometimes you'll ask him to tell you a story of what he does with your brothers as the Buster Bros. He won't give you too many details, so you never know the full story of his adventures. Won't tell you much about his delinquent days. In fact, he may never mention it at all.

- Gives you a little goodnight kiss once you fall asleep, but will also kiss your forehead when you're about to drift to sleep.

- Is the first person to introduce you to his favourite animes and manga. You'd watch it together sometimes although your tastes may differ. If you like shonen, well good for both of you. If you like shojou, Ichiro will still watch it with you, and may even develop his tastes for it.

- Whilst watching anime together, you would rest your head on his lap. He'll stroke your hair like a cat.

- When you catch him taking a nap, you'd get on top of him like a blanket to take a nap on him. You're only doing this for the giggles because once he wakes up due to the heavy weight on his back, he gets super confused.

- Probably the brother that you hug the most out of. He's big and gives you the best hugs. Would lift you up in the air when the occasion is right.

- Your big brother that you respect. The first person you would go to whenever you need help. You find him to be the most reliable (which isn't surprising).

JIRO YAMADA

- You title him the more fun brother. Despite getting into arguments with Saburo all the time, he’s very sweet towards you. Why wouldn’t he be though? Look at you! You’re his cute little sister!

- However, if you were to make a mistake, he will get a bit angry with you, but not to a point where he’ll make you cry. He's just stern with you. Would probably pinch your cheeks and pull on them, laughing at how funny your face would look.

- Probably the brother that makes fun of you (but only as a joke)!

- Wants to spoil you too. Is willing to buy you your favourite snacks! Whenever he goes to hang out with his friends and he's at a shop, he texts you what snacks you want.

"Just don't tell nii-chan, alright?" he whispers with his index finger to his lips.

"Mmm!!" you agree happily.

- Is probably the brother that keeps an eye on you when you hang out with your friends from school. Weirdly enough, he's quite good at making himself not be seen by your friends AND you. It really feels like you're not even being followed by him. He also has friends that are willing to watch out for you too.

- He isn't really reliable when you need help on your homework though. Everyone in the family knows that Jiro isn't really smart when it comes to academics. You don't really mind it though because you still respect him nonetheless. You know he's trying, and you could actually relate to him in a way. He appreciates how understanding you are.

- So he's the only brother you would trust with when your grades aren't as good as you hoped they'd be. Sometimes you're just too scared to confront Ichiro about it, so Jiro would be your first option when you need to tell him about your failures. He would cheer you up and tell you that you can do better next time, encouraging you to tell Ichiro when you're ready.

"Jiro nii-chan, I didn't do well on my science test..." you whimper. "Onii-chan is going to be mad at me..."

"It's okay, (Y/N). It was probably just a bad day. You'll do well next time, so don't be sad! Do you want me to be there for you when you tell nii-chan?"

"Yes, please..."

- Likes to give you piggybacks, and is also willing to hold your hand too — only if you want to though, he doesn't usually initiate it.

- Unlike Ichiro, if you want a bite of his lunch, he'll refuse (only jokingly though). He ends up giving you a bit if you really wanted it.

- Likes to make you laugh by either telling you stupid jokes, making fun of Saburo, or just tickling you.

- Sometimes you hang out with him to play soccer. He really enjoys the sport, and you were always curious as to why. You may grow to like it too or maybe it's because you're just spending time with your big brother.

- Along with Saburo, he is the brother who picks you up from school. Ichiro is sometimes busy to do so. If he comes along with Saburo, you would link arms with both of them, you being in the middle.

- When Ichiro can't read you a bedtime story, Jiro tells you stories of what he has done instead, or the stories he hears from his friends. They are always so interesting.

- Usually gives you side hugs more than actual hugs. Ruffles your hair a lot. Gives you forehead kisses, but is pretty rare.

- Your big brother that you respect. He may not be reliable when it comes to school work, but you trust him with everything else.

SABURO YAMADA

- Since you're only a year or two younger than him, your relationship with Saburo is kind of... 50/50? A best friend kind of relationship more than an older brother one.

- The brother you actually get into mild arguments with, but since it's you, he'll actually apologise first. He won't ever apologise to Jiro, but you're his only sister, so he'll suck it up and try to fix things with you.

- Therefore, if you were to make mistake, he WILL be mad at you.

- Makes fun of you more than Jiro does. Of course, he's just joking though. He's not as harsh to you as he is with Jiro. All three brothers love you too much.

- If you ever start crying because of him, he'll immediately backtrack. Will start comforting you, rocking you like a baby although this is something anyone would rarely see him do. If he doesn't do this (which is rare), you'll threaten him with the 'I'm telling onii-chan' phrase.

- Will eat the snacks with you that Jiro had bought.

"But Jiro nii-chan bought me those!"

"Yeah? Let's go tell him to buy some more then."

"Saburo nii-chan!!!"

- Won't spoil you, but will do whatever you ask of him if it's reasonable.

- You title him the smart, but kind-of-mean brother. Probably scolds you the most out of all your brothers.

"(Y/N), what did I tell you?! It's your turn to wash the dishes today!”

"I'm sorry, Saburo nii-chan! I forgot!"

- Will help you on your homework even if you don't ask him for it. He's very reliable, so if you did need help, you'll always ask him for it. Surprisingly, he's happy to help you, and you bond with him every time you study together.

- You admire how smart he is, and you're always complimenting him on his high grades (and his hacking skills). This makes him realise how much he wants to keep getting better for you, so you could look up to him more than Jiro. After all, Saburo's the smart one, and your role model should be smart too.

He giggles to himself as he is finally given his test papers back to him, knowing he has full marks yet again. "I've got to show this to Ichi-nii and (Y/N)! They'll be so proud."

- Saburo doesn't have that many friends, so he's always appreciative of you that you'll accompany him around town to do errands or something mundane like that.

"Saburo nii-chan, let's go to the arcade today!"

"Eh, alright. Is there something you want to win?"

"Yes, that plushie over there!"

"Alright, here goes...!"

He actually ends up getting the plushie you want to your surprise.

- Cares a lot about you. Is always happy to see you come out of school as he picks you up. Asks about your day, and is always listening to you on whatever you have to say.

- If you want a piece of his lunch, he’ll immediately say no though. He’ll just buy you your own lunch.

- Is probably the brother that doesn't hug you as much or show too much affection. However, if you're deeply upset about something, he'll hug you without hesitation. And if he's extremely worried about you, and hasn't seen you all day, he will run up to you for a tight hug, then flick your head hard.

- Yet he won't say no if you want a piggyback from him. So most of the affection comes from your side.

- When it's time to go to bed, he acts like the annoying brother. He opens the door to your room, stare at you for a bit before leaving the door open.

"Saburo nii-chan! Close the door!"

"Nah."

- He's just joking though, so he ends up coming back to close it. He'll say goodnight to you and you'll say it back.

- Even when the two of you are close in age, you still call him 'nii-chan'. He finds it cute, and he hopes you won't stop calling him your big brother.

- Your big brother that you admire and respect despite his annoyingness. You can trust him with a lot of things and you appreciate how he is always willing to help you out.

Ultimately, you love your three older brothers very much, and you can never live without them.

Intro page | Hypnosis Mic masterlist | Requests rules

[hannahssimblr]

I spend three hours wandering around the estate looking for Goose. I've checked every front garden, every hedge and flower bed and under every car, looked inside bins and up trees by the time I'm forced to contend with the fact that I haven't confronted the railroad tracks yet. I don't. I never pluck up the courage.

I can’t fathom it, being the one to find him there, sweet Goose with his little kitten paws and soft pewter fur. This thought that I hadn’t even considered until Michelle spat it at me is tormenting me now as I forlornly wander the evening streets, calling out the name that I’m not even sure he knows to answer to yet. 

I stumble upon Jen in a little park we used to drink in when we were fourteen. She’s been out looking too, evidently, but has had enough and is sitting on the ground gazing out over the last russet streaks of sunset over Dublin Bay. 

“Have you given up?” I ask her. Her eyes are clouded with sadness 

“I have a feeling he’s gone, Jude,” she says. I feel a lump forming in my throat. “He mightn’t be. He might come back, you know, cats are known to show up after being away for days, weeks, months even,” this is the sort of bargaining a person who refuses to accept the obvious truth gets too involved with, and the kind I’ve been doing with myself the whole afternoon, thinking that maybe if I imagine Goose’s return with enough conviction I will magic him home again, but Jen, for once does not match my idealism.

“He probably doesn’t know where his home is yet, he’s too new.”

“Yeah,” I shift some loose gravel with the toe of my shoe. “Jen, I feel so awful.”

“I know,” she says, and holds her arms out to me to pull me to the ground and wrap them around me, “It isn’t your fault, it could have happened to any of us.”

“I ruined the entire day with my stupidity.”

“Shh, stop,” gently fingers stroke my hair at the nape of my neck, “you just made a mistake, it’s human.”

“Did I ruin your date?”

She pauses, “It’s okay, I don’t think she realised it was a date, and it's probably for the best.” 

The wind rustles through the trees around the park, and I feel chilled with the knowledge that change is coming. The school year is ending soon and now the future lies unavoidably ahead of me, a path completely untrodden. 

“You’ll find someone else to take to the debs,” I tell Jen, peering at the side of her face as her short crop of chestnut hair is backlit by the sunset. “You should have been the first person to get a date anyway.”

She gives me a half smile, unconvinced, “there are like, four lesbians in our year including me.”

“Out lesbians,” I point out, “You never know.”

“When I go to college it will be better,” she says firmly, “school is just destined to be shit, romantically, I mean.”

“In all ways, I think.”

She just laughs. 

“This stuff is bullshit anyway.”

“What is? Love?”

I rub my arms where goosebumps are rising with the cold. I should have worn a jumper. “Yeah, you’re not missing out on much.”

A silence follows, one that feels deliberate, but I venture into it anyway, “Michelle and I had a bad fight earlier.”

“I heard.”

“Us shouting?”

“Mm.”

“Sorry.” I wipe my nose which is running from the cold with the back of my arm. “It was terrible, we both said awful things.”

She just circles her hand on my knee in a vague gesture of comfort.  

“Sometimes it feels like she’s trying to hurt me, you know what I mean? It’s like she has all of this bad stuff stored up that she wants to, like, unleash. It’s so vicious. It seems like she really wants to dig her nails in and leave a mark on me, and then I get so defensive, like, because talking it out doesn’t work, I have to shout, and I have to be horrible too so that she’ll even react to me.”

“We all say things we regret when we’re upset.”

“Yeah, but it’s so destructive. I come away from it all feeling like shit. Like, this isn't who I am, I’m not a person who fights. At least I don’t want to be. I don’t want to be up there saying these things to her, but I can’t stand there and let her say them to me either.”

“Yeah.”

“And I worry a lot about what things are going to look like after this year is over, like, with college and stuff,” even mentioning it makes my stomach feel tight, “like, um, how she wants us to live together and all.”

“And you’re nervous about that?”

I sigh, “Well, I don’t know, it makes sense to do it, right? She thought we could get a little place near NCAD, and we’ve been looking at houses online, and… I don’t know. The idea of being around her all of the time, like, twenty-four-seven, sharing a bed, eating every meal together, walking to college, it makes me feel claustrophobic, and then I worry that if I feel that way now, how am I going to feel when I’m actually doing it? Surely it’s not supposed to feel so terrible, right?” I prompt her when she doesn’t respond, “Jen? What do you think?”

She pauses for a long moment, toying with the aglets on the end of her boot laces. “I think that you’re asking me for an opinion I’m not prepared to give you.”

“...right.”

“We agreed, I agreed with you both that I’d never talk to one about the other. It’s not fair on me and I don’t want to feel stuck in the middle of it.”

“But-”

“You’re both nice people and I love you both so much, but when you are together you are absolutely horrible. That’s all I want to say.”

I don't know how to respond to that, so I don't, I just sit in bad feelings and wish for the millionth time that my brain was normal enough to make good choices on its own and not beg them from other people.

I sniff again, though this time I’m not sure if it’s just because of the cold. “So, um, the acceptance deadline for those other colleges is coming up.” 

“The foreign ones?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you still going to turn them down?”

“I promised Michelle that I would.” 

Jen’s shoulders slump, all of her does, like someone has let the air out of her, but she just says, “Alright.”

I feel the teeth of my genuine desperation for her opinion, her approval gnawing at me. I just want the sage words of advice she’s withholding from me, “Is it a mistake? Like, if I reject their offers? Would that be the stupidest thing I ever did?”

“I don’t know.”

“I worked hard, you know? I really put everything I had into those applications, I gave them the best that I had and they loved it, they said really nice things about me in the letters, and sometimes, like, I think I’ll die, or something, if I don’t leave Dublin. But then there’s Michelle,” I fist the front of my hair in my hand, “and the things at home, and I don’t know what the right thing is, whether it’s hurting myself or hurting everyone else…”

“Jude,” Jen suddenly grabs hold of my face and forces me to look into her eyes, “you have to do what feels right, okay? I’m not going to tell you what to do. Like, just… you need to fucking search within or whatever.”

“Uh huh. What does that entail?” 

“I dunno!” She lets me go and stands up, brushing dirt from the back of her jeans, “C’mon, it’s cold, we should go home.”

“Uh, I was kind of hoping you’d be able to solve me, actually.”

“No, this time you can solve yourself. C’mon, up!” She presents her hand to me and I let her haul me onto my feet. 

“Ugh, Jen,” I say, feeling myself sinking back into a melancholy hole again, but she links my arms and brusquely walks me toward the playground gates with all the pep of a middle aged Sunday morning power walker. “You know what? I think we could both do with something nice to make us feel better.”

“What do you mean ‘something nice’?

“Like, I dunno, an ice cream or something.”

“What time is it? It must be after nine.”

“Yeah, so? I was thinking of that place with all the weird flavours, do you remember that?”

“Yeah, but it’s all the way in town. Effort.”

“You can drive, can’t you?”

“You want me to drive? Jen I hate driving.”

“I think you’ll do it for me.”

“Why’d you think that?”

She eyes me sideways, “After what you put me through today, hm?”

“That's manipulation.”

“No, it's payback.”

“Fine. I’ll go get the car.”

“Really?”

“Yes! Come on, before I change my mind.”

Beginning // Prev // Next

[str8aura-no-not-that-one]

i think animals are better than people.

that's not an uncommon belief, is it? you hear it said all the time, in memes, on coffee mugs, 'id rather talk to your dog', 'my cat doesn't judge me like my coworkers do', etc. its a very popular philosophy to espouse, albeit mostly in jest. It's not really jest for me, but it's not really a dig at humanity either.

I struggle often with feelings of misanthropy, how nice it would be to just assume all humans are inherently evil or uncaring, to slot an entire species into a broad stroke to make them easier to deal with. I tell myself sometimes I don't like working with humans, or seeing humans. I have a tendency to go quiet or mute at times because I don't feel like engaging people in conversation.

but that's really just stress. there is no crime for being an idiot. that person who cuts me off on the street made a slip up, or maybe did it with genuine antagonism, and that still doesn't make them a bad or worthless person. I've been 'the one who fucked up' enough times to know how crushing it is when you inconvenience somebody else, and I don't like to lose my temper, as often as it happens. I get angry a lot. I feel angry a lot. it feels good, but I don't enjoy it. I'm not a bad dog. I believe people are good, just flawed, and emotional.

and I wish, like everybody does, that I could talk to animals. I wish I could ask a deer for its thoughts, negotiate with a bear, or tell a hurt animal that its going to be alright, I'm just trying to help you. I yearn for that world, but I also accept that animals would lose their magic if they could. They would still be beautiful, yes, but I don't love animals because I imagine they are weirdly-shaped people, who understand what I say. I love them because they're animals.

We went down different paths, humanity and the animal kingdom; nowadays, we see different boons and drawbacks for it. They fight for their lives every day, never sure which moment will be their last. We struggle with thoughts of complex morality and our place in a dead, empty universe. animals never ate the apple. animals are free from sin, and punishment. When a fox kills a rabbit, it is not a murder. When a viper rescued out of the cold bites and kills the farmer that saved it, it is not a betrayal. it is simply their nature.

a few months ago, at a house I was staying at for a little while, there was a tree outside with a nest of birds. I wasn't aware of this until I came out one day and found all of the babies, freshly hatched, lying on the hard pavement beneath the trees. Cuts and tears along their bodies, eyes still screwed shut, writhing and wriggling to try and restore the warmth of the nest they had suddenly been stolen from. I called animal control and waited with the hatchlings as long as I could, but eventually I couldn't bear to see the sight. I looked up the best way to restore them to their nest, and with the use of a ladder, I got to work.

i also read that you shouldn't touch them with your hands, as it will scare off the mother bird. this, as I later found out, is an urban legend. I put on gloves to hold them, unwieldy, thick gloves meant for hands larger than my own.

they were featherless pink bastards. I think humans have the ugliest babies out of any species, but these ones were pretty close.

the first two went in without problem, but on the third, my fingers wrapped in gloves couldn't get a grip and i

dropped

it

onto the pavement

headfirst

i don't know if it was still alive or not when I finally took the gloves off and restored it. I don't know. there was no splatter, no obvious signs of death. it just stopped moving.

if the mother returned and found the body of her child, she would not be shocked. 60-70% of hatchlings do not survive to adulthood. she would not seek retribution, or to make me pay for what I had done. she didn't understand I had been trying to help, and she didn't care. life went on. she probably had more children to replace the cadaver.

i read a book series as a kid called Funjungle. It was about a kid who lived at a zoo, and would solve various mysteries around the place. In one book, he recounts being present for the lancing of a boil on a rhino, and talks about how animals always fight back against such processes. you cant explain to them that you are trying to help, all they understand is that you are causing them pain right now, regardless of whether it will soothe in the future. animals, wild and tame, think in the now.

ironically, in real life, I try not to anthropomorphize too much. I understand that an animal's 'smile' only resembles such because of the way his lips are shaped. I understand that the possums and raccoons and squirrels I encounter as I go about my life, and that one fox I had the joy of getting to witness up close, are dangerous creatures who do not have my best interests in heart. I understand that something beautiful will kill me without a second thought if it thinks I am a threat to it, and for an animal, it is always always always better to be safe than sorry.

i can tell a human things are going to be okay. I can tell a human this is only going to hurt for a minute. I can tell a human i'm sorry.

a human can lie to me. a human can hurt me. a human can make me feel like I don't want to live anymore.

I can never lose my temper at an animal, any more than I could be angry at a mountain.

animals are base, instinctive, temperamental, capricious, alien creatures.

that is why they are beautiful.

that is why I must stay away from them. as much as I wish to hug them, to talk to them, to befriend them, it is not possible. they may occupy our physical spaces, but they are from different worlds entirely.

i must look, but not touch. it is better this way.

my place is with the humans.

and it kills me a little more every day.

[topguncortez]

The Professor | Epilogue

previous part | masterlist

synopsis: Jake surprises you with a trip back home for Christmas, and you just hope this family holiday goes better than the last time Jake took you home.

word count: 3.4k

warnings: age gap, power imbalance, mentions of smut, mentions of parental death, mentions of past break-ups.

It really didn’t feel like Christmas. You hadn’t ever felt really Christmas-y in years past, but this year, you really didn’t feel like it.  Maybe it was because instead of seeing snow covered streets, you were looking up at palm trees. Or maybe it was because you weren’t at home, surrounded by the people you loved. For once, you were sad that you weren’t coming home from class to see Santa’s Village thrown up in your living room. 

For the past two years, you had flown back to Boston to spend Christmas with Lucy and Zeke. She had graduated from Boston College with her degree in English and was teaching at a local high school. Her and Zeke had tied the knot in a small wedding ceremony with just a handful of people present. It was very Lucy-esq and you were happy to be there every step of the way for them. After the wedding, You and Mrs. McAndrew placed bets on how long it would be before Lucy got pregnant. You said it would be less than a year, and you weren’t surprised when she had called out back in March telling you that she was due sometime in January.  

Pushing the door to your apartment open, you were met with Tybalt and Benvolio sitting on the kitchen counter like they always do when you come home. You felt like Tybalt was awfully lonely during the day, so you adopted the little orange tabby cat to keep him company. 

“Hello my loves,” You said, setting your backpack down and picking up Benvolio, which caused Tybalt to meow at you, “Do you bite your thumb at me?” Tybalt simply jumped off the counter and stalked his way towards the living room. You kissed Benvolio’s head, before setting him down on the floor. You went over to the stack of mail that was sitting on the counter, and thumbed through the various bills and Christmas cards you had gotten. You noticed one from both Kathlene and Nancy. Amelia had sent hers out the first week of December, which was just a printed picture of her and her husband Link in the middle of Africa. 

“Oh! You’re not supposed to be here,” You looked up from the Christmas cards and noticed Jake walking into the kitchen. 

“Well, I live here. . .” You said but Jake shook his head, walking to you. 

“Yes, I know,” He greeted you with a kiss, “But, I have a surprise for you, and I didn’t want you to see.” 

“I kind of have PTSD from your surprises.” 

“It’s not bad, I promise,” Jake said, “And I am sorry I didn’t have time to wrap it but. . .” He placed two tickets in front of you on the counter. Your eyes widened as you grabbed the tickets and looked at him. 

“You bought plane tickets?”

“I did,” Jake nodded, “You were upset about Lucy and Zeke not being able to come here and worried that you wouldn’t be able to afford going back home. So I talked to my parents and said that I wouldn’t be coming home this year. I’m going back to Boston. . . with you.” 

You smiled, and wrapped your arms around Jake’s neck, pulling him in for a kiss, “I gotta go pack,” You patted his chest before running off to your shared room. 

Things with Jake had gone surprisingly well in the past two years. After he practically showed up on your doorstep, the two of you had talked about your relationship. It was as easy as breathing when he was around, and you had never felt more at home with someone (besides Zeke and Lucy) in your life. It felt like he was the missing piece to your puzzle, and he felt the same. He had put in his notice at Boston, and was in the process of selling his house to move out to California with you. Rooster and Bob thought maybe Jake had a stroke, cause he was never a man to just quit his job and move like that, but Jake Thomas Seresin was in love. 

Jake originally was renting a small little apartment on the other side of town, but that only lasted about two weeks. He was spending most, if not all his time with you, so you just had him move in. It was easy for Jake to find a job with his accomplishments and recommendations. He was an undergrad english professor at Berkeley. You were still working hard and studying under Doctor Hoffman, who was a lot like Jake with her teaching methods. She wasn’t an easy professor, and didn’t let you just get by in her class with Bs and Cs, she expected As, and you were working hard to maintain such grades. 

Jake’s mother never seemed to beg the two of you to come home for the holidays. The past two thanksgivings you and Jake had driven down to LA to spend with his sister Amelia (she, just like you, didn’t want to go home to Texas either) and then last Christmas was spent in California with Lucy and Zeke. Of course, Olivia Seresin wanted her son and his girlfriend to come home, but she understood it. She knew that both of them were scared to come home after everything that happened the last time. 

— — — 

It was like nothing had changed in Chestnut Hills. The streets were covered in white snow, it was ridiculously cold outside. You were happy to be home for the holidays, but man do you miss the warm California sun. Jake had told you he rented an AirBnB for Christmas, so the two of you could have some privacy and not infiltrate Zeke and Lucy, or Bob and Miranda’s houses. The house was actually not too far from where Jake’s old house was, and he made sure to drive by it. He chuckled seeing the snowmen in the front yard. 

“Guess some kids live there now,” Jake said. 

“Lots of room for them,” You smiled, and grabbed his hand. 

“I know,” Jake kissed the back of your hand, and continued on driving to the house, “We gotta get a bigger place. No room in the apartment for kids.” 

You were taken aback a bit. Jake hardly ever talked about kids with you, “I-I guess, yeah. A one bedroom apartment isn’t very suitable for children.” 

“No,” Jake pulled the rental SUV into the driveway, “They need a yard, somewhere to run. You ever think about relocating when you’re done with the program?” 

“It’s crossed my mind,” You nodded, getting out of the car. Jake waited for you in front of the car, and grabbed your hand, walking up the steps towards the door, “Where did all this baby talk come from?” 

“Don’t know,” Jake shrugged, and opened the front door. You didn’t say anything else as he helped you take your coat off and then hung it up. He kissed your cheek before going towards the kitchen, probably going to open a bottle of wine that the owners left. 

Jake, however, did know why he was asking you, and it had to do with the small black box that was tucked in between some socks in his suitcase. He had been holding on to his mothers ring for nearly two years now, and knew it was time to pop the question. He just wasn’t 100% sure on how to do it. But, luckily for him, he knew exactly who to ask. 

— — — 

“You’re asking my best friend for her hand in marriage and you didn’t think to tell me before now!?” Lucy exclaimed as she stood in the doorway of her house. She still lived in the same house that you once shared with her. Slowly, her and Zeke were fixing up the college party house into a nice cute little cottage. Jake gulped and looked down at her very swollen belly, “Oh, do not use my pregnancy as an excuse, Mr. Seresin.” She moved out of the way from the door, and let Jake walk into the house. 

“I meant to tell you, it’s just that there’s not a lot of space in the apartment to get away from her,” Jake said, taking off his coat and sitting on the couch, “How are you?” 

“Huge,” Lucy said, sitting down on the other end of the couch, “When are you going to do it?” 

“Tonight, Christmas Eve. Everyone is coming to the house. You, Zeke, Bob, his wife, Rooster and his new girl.”  

“Oh! You should do it while we open our one gift!” Lucy clapped her hands, and went into detail on how Jake should ask for her friend’s hand in marriage. 

Back at the house, you were busy cooking away with Zeke. You were thankful that Jake let you kick him out of the house while you and Zeke cooked. Over the years of living with Jake you came to the realization that he, in fact, could not cook. He could follow a recipe pretty well, but it wasn’t the same. Zeke had his mother’s touch type of cooking, that got along well with yours. The two of you were like a well oiled machine as you worked around the kitchen. 

“What do you think they are talking about?” You asked, mixing the gravy. 

“Beats me,” Zeke sighed, “They can’t have that much in common. Hell, I can’t believe you and Professor Seresin-” 

“Jake.” 

“Shit, sorry,” Zeke shook his head and you laughed, “Been two years and I still call him ‘Professor Seresin’.” 

“It’s hard to get used to.” 

You could basically hear the shit eating smirk on Zeke’s face as he asked: “Do you call him that in-” 

“I am not having this conversation with you,” You laughed, and took a sip of your wine, “I’m gonna check on the dough for the rolls.” 

Jake had given Lucy the ring box before leaving her house so she could wrap it. The sun was down, and it was only a matter of time before guests started showing up at the house. Everything smelled great as Jake walked through the front door. The house felt warm, and cozy, the fire cracking in the fireplace, and Christmas music playing throughout. He walked upstairs to find you sitting on the bathroom counter in front of the mirror, in nothing but your bra and underwear, doing your makeup. He smiled as he leaned against the door. 

“What are you doing?” Jake asked, and you jumped, looking up at him in the mirror. 

“My makeup, duh,” You said, finishing putting mascara on your eyelashes, “The lighting in here is amazing. I need lights like this at home.” You climbed down from the counter and walked over to him. You kissed his cheek before going to find your dress for the night. 

“Well maybe we should build a house with a mirror like that in it,” Jake answered. 

“Maybe we should,” You stepped into the green colored dress, “Can you zip?” Jake nodded and came behind you to zip it up. His fingers brush ever so lightly up the bareskin of your spin, sending a shiver down your body. He placed a kiss on your neck and gave your ass a squeeze. 

“All good,” He said, a smirk on his face as he stepped away from you. 

“Thank you, baby,” You said and turned around to face him. His hands rested on your hips, holding you close to him. He opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by the doorbell, “Oh! Get dressed, I’ll go greet the guests.” 

Jake fixed his tie as he walked down the stairs to be greeted by the laughter of guests. Rooster was the first to notice him, and said something to the girl next to him, before getting up and walking over to where Jake was. 

“Bagman!” Rooster said and hugged his friend. 

“Rooster,” Jake said back, “Where’s-” 

“In the kitchen,” Rooster answered, “Her friend says you’re gonna pop the question? Who would’ve thought that you would be marrying your student.” 

“Not my student anymore,” Jake corrected, “Who’s the girl?” 

“Lys,” Rooster nodded over to her. She stood up from the couch and walked over to where Jake and Rooster were standing, “This is Jake, that professor friend of mine,” Jake shook the girl’s hand. 

“So you’re the woman who is strong enough to deal with Rooster and his awful Hawaiian shirts,” Jake pointed to the Christmas Hawaiian shirt that Rooster was wearing. 

Lys giggled, “I guess I am. Your girlfriend is the sweetest by the way.” 

“Speaking of which, I’m gonna go find her,” Jake smiled, “Nice meeting you.” 

Jake could easily hear your laughter as it floated out of the kitchen. You were standing next to Miranda, who was holding a small child on her hip and Lucy, who was sitting down in a chair. Jake walked over to you, and put his arm around your waist, pulling you into him. You smiled, and leaned against his warm chest. Lucy couldn’t help but smile at the two of you. She had watched you for years run and try to escape the holidays, but now, you embraced all that came with it. 

It felt great to see a table full of food and your best friends sitting around it. Jake sat at the head of the table, you on his left as Zeke sat on the other end. Everything felt right, except for the way Jake was acting. He had been very touchy and affectionate towards you, until Lucy had called him away to help with something. When he came back, he was acting weird. It made you think back to the very first holiday you had spent with him. The heartbreak in which that holiday ended for both of you. 

The conversation flowed smoothly, as you sipped your wine and listened to Rooster tell the story of his very first Christmas with Bob and Rooster. Like you, Rooster didn’t have much for family and he wasn’t talking to her godfather back then, and Jake had invited the two of them to come home with him. Rooster was so overwhelmed that he didn’t tell Olivia that he was allergic to pecans, and he felt bad if he just threw them away. 

“So he ate the whole thing,” Bob said, laughing so hard his glasses were falling off his nose. 

“And. . . went back for seconds,” Jake added in. 

“Oh my god,” Lys laughed, “What happened?” 

“The good thing about all this is that I don’t swell up like a balloon when I have pecans. . . No, I just shit my brains out for days.” 

“No!” Lucy scrunched her eyebrows. 

“It was so bad, he passed out on the toilet from dehydration,” Jake said, “Amelia went in to check on him and screamed so loud we thought there was another snake in the house.” 

“There was a snake. . . but it was attached to Rooster,” Bob said and everyone laughed even harder at that as Rooster tossed a piece of croissant roll at him. 

“So, long story short. . .First Holidays at the Seresins is no longer a thing,” Jake said and took a sip of his drink. You also sipped your drink to try and hide the awkward glance from Lucy. You were sure that Jake had told his friends about the disaster of the first holiday you had at the Seresin house, although it wasn’t as comical as Bradley’s pecan mishap. 

“Why don’t we go do our one gift,” Lucy said, trying to ease the awkward tension, “Lys, I’m not sure if Bradley told you but the ol’ tradition around here is that you open one gift on Christmas eve. Y/N’s parents started it and it kind of has become a thing among the whole family now.” 

“Oh I love that,” Lys said, “And yes he told me, and hopefully, I can out-do his gift giving.” 

“He tell you one year he gave me a box of condoms. . . but the box was already half empty,” Bob said, pointing at Bradley. 

“Is this just tattle on Bradshaw day?” Bradley rolled his eyes. 

You chuckled, “Everyone go ahead in, I’ll start picking this up.” You stood up from your seat and collected your plate and Lucy’s. 

“I’ll help,” Jake said, and you looked at him somewhat surprised. It was the first time he had said anything to you since sitting down at the table. You nodded and picked up Zeke’s plate before heading to the kitchen. Everyone slowly helped bring in the plates and extra food from the dining room before making their way to the living room. 

You and Jake worked in silence as you put the extra food in containers and loaded up the dishwasher. You were a bit scared of saying anything, not knowing what Jake was feeling. That was one thing that hadn’t changed over the years, was Jake’s ability to talk to you about his feelings. He had somewhat opened up to you, but it was like trying to thaw snow on a negative degree day. It was going to take a long time, and patience, which you were willing to give him. 

There were only a couple of dishes left to dry and put away, “I can get the last of these. Go be with your friends. I heard Miranda say that Lucas brought you-” 

“Walk with me,” Jake said, taking the rag out of your hands. You looked up at him, his green eyes were unreadable but his voice was soft, “I told Bob I’d help Lucas build the train set that we bought him tomorrow. Walk with me? Please.” 

You nodded and Jake took your hand, leading you out the backdoor of the house. Lucy heard the door shut and she smiled, looking at the gift box in her hand. 

“What’s that look on your face?” Zeke asked his wife. 

“Nothing,” Lucy sighed with a smile, “Let’s open gifts!” 

“Aren’t we waiting for Y/N and Jake?” Rooster asked. 

“No, they’re a bit busy right now,” Lucy said and gave Rooster a knowing look. He was a bit confused at first but Lys nudged him and then pointed to her ring finger. Rooster’s mouth fell open in an O shape and then he smiled. 

You wished you would’ve grabbed your coat before going on a walk with Jake. It was cold, but the feeling of his hand in yours was keeping you somewhat warm. The snow was falling, making a warm glow from the street light illuminate the night sky. Nights like these reminded you of your mother and how much she loved the snow. You knew Berkeley was part of her dream, but you sometimes wished you never left Boston for this very reason. Jake was humming some song under his breath as he led you down the dark street. 

“Where are we going?” You asked, as Jake stopped walking outside of his old house. 

“Here, and before you ask, I already talked to the owners,” Jake answered and you giggled, “Do you remember the first time you came over?” 

“When you kissed me and kicked me out? Yeah, I remember,” You said and Jake winced. 

“I am still so sorry I did that. I’m sorry for everything that I did to you. I was such an ass and you didn’t deserve any of it,” Jake said and you took a step forward, caressed his cheek with your hand. 

“I forgive you,” You said and Jake grabbed your hands in his. 

“The reason I kicked you out that night was because I was scared. That kiss. . . it was different than anything I had before, which I know sounds like one of those tacky romance novels you read in the bath.” 

“Hey, Boys of the Mason-Dixon is a good book.” 

“Sure, baby,” Jake winked, “But that kiss, that night actually, I realized I wasn’t going to live my life without you, and it scared the ever living fuck out of me,” He let a tear escape from his eyes as you already had tears falling down your cheeks, “When I left you at Thanksgiving it was because my mom gave me this,” 

Jake let go of your hands to pull out a ring from his pocket. You gasped and covered your mouth with your hands, “She knew then what I was trying too hard to fight. . . that I am so deeply, madly in love with you. And it might’ve taken watching you walk away from me and move across the country to realize, but Y/N L/N,” You choked back a sob as Jake got down on one knee. 

“I never want to know a day where you aren’t mine. Will you please, marry me?” 

You dropped to your knees in front of Jake, and grabbed his face in your hands. With your thumb you wiped the tears away from his cheeks, and then leaned in to kiss his pink lips.

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note: okay, this might be the official goodbye to Professor Seresin. . .MIGHT. . .

[steiger4044]

If Bela Dimitrescu were living in modern times as an NYPD Officer, and the family was there too, here is how I’d imagine it. Her little description narrating, with some fiction. Might make it into one, not sure yet.

Well…if anyone were to ask about my family life…sure gets interesting. Definitely fun times away from the baddies of NYC. Laughs, tears, but we all love each other…even mother towards her brother my uncle, sometimes at least they can get along. Let’s start it up with,

First up, my baby sis…Daniela. Ya she can be a bit of a head case at times 😏. But she’s the sweetest, funniest sis anyone can ask for. She’s a manager at a small book store on 27th street in downtown Manhattan. But she knows her books good, well definitely the romance section…lol. Of course every time I come in, she’s always telling me I should take a read of the Fifty Shades of Grey series 😟😣…ummm no, sorry sis. Especially after that one Christmas you gave that book for mom…ohh did she go a lil red that Christmas morning. Then there are her and her cats. She does love them but her new landlord is a real 🤬. He doesn’t want animals in the apartment Dani has, and I know he’ll work whatever tricks to make her leave. But I do know in my building a Hungarian couple are leaving and I got a landlord who’s a real cat lady too, and loves books. Guess I’ll put in a kind word for my sis…what do ya think?

Okay next up is my sis, Cassandra. Manhattan’s practical Connor McDavid. A tough cookie who loves flaunting off her muscles and other… features a lil too much for my taste to many a guys in and out of the building🙄🫢🤣 . But she is my sister either way 😉. She’s a trainer at the city’s oldest boxing training centre. Outside when we do butt heads and I have to come around on and off duty to break up a stupid mindless fight, she does help me toughen up physically and is a great coach on mentally and physically preparing like this pic. She did get me an exclusive membership, as well as a couple other officers from my Precinct in there. One did hook up for a dinner with her, who knows if my matchmaking turns into a courtship of my sis 😅🥰. Time will tell. But do love spending time with her. Not to mention, one of the trainers there I think likes me. He is quite cute, like a mix of Mark Wahlberg and Channing Tatum 😍😛.

Ahhh moving along, dearest Mother. Countess Alcina Dimitrescu. She’s done pretty good for herself. A huge owner of a very wealthy wine production company she inherited from my grandfather who started it all back in Romania, then immigrated to New York. It’s gone quite huge. Now she runs the business. Outside that, and her pretty hot temper, want to kill her brother my uncle, and a little snooty sometimes 🙄, she’s really the coolest mom, and loves all of us just as much. Gets quite scared for us versus the “big apple, so full of scandalous and disgusting cruel men.” But knows we are all doing what we love doing. I can’t tell you she almost stroked out, when I dawned the NYPD shield. But here we are at some of her fav restaurants near the real business end of NYC. The meal was great, pay a mortgage for some small chicken salad, when I could pay two bills and get a nice burger. Oh well. By the way don’t tell mom, but her dog Molly…ugh I hate that dog! 😡🤫😶

And here he issss…me and my uncle Heisenberg. You need it and he’ll fix it, doesn’t matter how long it takes, he’ll do it. How to describe to anyone who meets my dear uncle. Well….he’s loud, vulgar, and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. But he’s a genius when it comes to fixing anything..including cars, trucks, bikes, and a niece’s broken heart with his humour. Has really helped me with our time spent getting through some my toughest days whether me with things I saw or did at work or family issues. Mother does not get along the best with him, and doesn’t know much. On my grad night, after the ceremony, I snuck off to his mechanic shop and I celebrated with him and got drunk well underage so shhhh…def got me liking a cold Budweiser though these days after a hard day of work 😂🍻.

PS: that beauty of a Mustang he really fixed up, said he’d give it to one of us sisters in his will, said may try Dani…that happens I’ll make sure the city is alerted to the crazy red head on the roads in the red mustang…😅😂

Ahh my uncle Moreau….really is something he is. He’s been an Emergency Physician in NYC for years. I’ve seen many of my coworkers, suspects, and victims end up just so safe in his hands. He’s such a sweet heart too, despite it’s been years since he’s last spoke to his mother. A woman who was such a cruel bitch over the years. They had a break down many years ago. Don’t know too many details but he seems to be doing okay. And just such a sweet good heart. Here we are lunching and talking about many things, from med procedures to his team, the Yankees 🧢. Even gone to a couple games together. Loves all of his nieces the same, ya old big lug.

My aunt Donna, can be quite at times…unusual but she runs an incredible herbal medicine shop, that draws in a lot of people from the city. Times did get tough both during Covid and some asshole that burned her shop down a few months after. She had a major mental breakdown after that, and didn’t trust too many people. But her strength along with me, Cass and Dani’s help plus her daughter, Angie got her back on her feet. She loves her doll making business on the side and has made some insane projects happen especially donating to the sick kids hospital. And her garden is her other treasure room, we both find the time to share and help with. Plus an amazing view of the city.

And speaking of incredible. If this little one 🤭, ever suits up with the NYPD, I swear she could take the whole amount of crime out of this city. Angie is one one smart cookie. She loves Cass and Dani, but I’m the top fav auntie on the list 😁. Here we are, I’m babysitting dear Angie, while Aunt Donna makes it to her third date with another neighboring florist owner too GO AUNT DONNA GIRL 🤘. I’m the fav cause when I watch her I do…break some rules. Late night video games, and release the hidden stash of treats. And ya…I’m screaming during our playing of Resident Evil Remaster because….i….hate….spiders….and I would rather deal with some drunken junkie puking on my shoes in 99 degree heat in some smelly alley, than…spiders 😭😵…

Yes that’s about with me and my family. But I’m gonna level with you all. I love them all deeply, and I also miss….dad.

And I do this everyday, on or off duty.

Rain or shine. Night or day.

I stop at a small flower shop near where ground zero was. And I buy one rose. Then I make my way, and have my time…alone.

I lay a single rose, where the south tower went down that fateful day of 9/11.

Growing up, he was really just the most incredible person ever. Tough, inspirational, resilient, and just so warm with love.

He and mom were just so deeply good to one another, and me growing up. Even after he and mom married, and he became the chief accountant for mom’s business in the World Trade Centre. Those years it seemed so good, but things got rough and they eventually divorced just after mom had Cass.

I never stopped loving him though. My best memories was going to see mom accompanied by my nanny when she worked. But if she got too busy, then dad would spend time with me at the south tower.

We’d go up to the very top of it, where you could see everything. A lot of the time we went and there weren’t many, if any anyone at all. Just me and dad. You felt completely at the top of the world in the moment. And we’d often talk about life and its choices to make. Just such good words and laughs, ya know family time.

After the divorce, they weren’t all that close, but weren’t all that separated either.

I still remember our last meal though, lunched in the concourse, then back up, mom was with us too. We didn’t say a word, just all stood and stared out in the distance not knowing what tomorrow may bring. That was the last time we were together as a family with mom holding little Cassie looking out in that distance too.

Then the next day, September 11 happened.

The world and mine stopped that day.

I just shut down after we found out dad didn’t get out of the building. And when it collapsed the way it did, I sure felt that way too.

I couldn’t cry, eat, sleep, or anything for months. Until I completely broke out and down in uncle Heisie’s arms for hours after the one night Dani was born, my dad’s last gift and thank you of love to all of us.

In those months and years, mom was hit really hard too. One time before I went off to college, the day while I was still recuperating from my “lovely secret celebration out 🤫” Mother told me she wished she gave dad all the love they could have, and she wished she didn’t accuse him of having an affair with some corporate exec woman, which wasn’t true. But the damage was done. And how she wished she gave them another chance, but it was too late. Ohhh mom, dad will remember because deep down he knows as much as I do. You loved him so deeply. 🥺😢😭.

Since then, the family has helped so much with how close and the strength we give each other.

Mom and dad sure have gave me that over those years growing up into the person I am today, and in turn to want to I guess keep and help those show it too, than become so mindless and cruel. Hence why I became a cop.

I use their strength to push when I have my darkest days and wanna pull my hair out.

But all of them do help me, and I try even when I face people who wanna stab, shoot, spit, puke, piss and other fun stuff to me.

So here I am, Officer Bela Dimitrescu of the NYPD. For you dad, mom, Cass and Dani, uncle Heisenberg and Moreau, Aunt Donna and Angie. Love all of you.🥰😘❤️💕

Many thanks for the likes….ya a lot of it I made up, and still working if I’m gonna fanfic it. Lemme know. Thank you anyways for your support folks. Bless and love ❤️

[jazzthatonewriterchick]

HERE, KITTY, KITTY (18+ Fic)

Pairing: Aizawa x Black!Catgirl!Reader

Synopsis: In which you find yourself in the weirdest predicament after you’re scooped up and taken to a cat cafe after you decide to take the streets to fight some crime, and you’re adopted by your very anti-social and hot coworker Aizawa aka Eraserhead.

Story Warnings: Smutty smut, 18+ (MINORS GET AWAY), Swearing, Adult!Reader, Ear and Tail Stroking, Light Degradation, Spanking, Exhibitionism, Multiple Positions, Creampie, Unprotected PIV Sex, Facial, Scent Play, Collaring, Deepthroat, Cunnilingus, Begging, Edgeplay, Power Play, Rope Play/Shibari, Master Kink, Some Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Some Action

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters mentioned in this fic. However, as this is my writing, I do not give permission for my work to be reposted on any other sites that are not from my own accounts. Thank you!

Writer’s Note: I pictured myself dancing in the club with Aizawa & now I'm w*t. Enjoy. -Jazz

Read on AO3 here!

Other Chapters: One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen. Sixteen. Seventeen. Eighteen. Nineteen. Twenty. Twenty-One. Twenty-Two. Twenty-Three. Twenty-Four. Twenty-Five.

*********

FOURTEEN.

Weeks go by and the weather quickly rises into the high 70s/low 80s temperature range which means May is finally here. 

Time really does fly when you’re having fun…in the case of your version of “fun,” that is. 

Ever since you apologized to Aizawa and finally got that ramen date, you’ve been texting nonstop. Since then, you’ve been learning much more about him. You’ve come to realize how dark-humored the guy is after a text convo you had over your favorite comedy movies, or how he doesn’t understand the hype with boybands.

You’ve told him about yourself too, such as how sometimes you sleep on the couch because you’re too lazy to walk to your bedroom or how you’re lactose intolerant but you can’t live without your coffee (he got a kick out of that one). 

With every text, more layers of this mysterious, sexy enigma of a man are peeled back, revealing the soft-hearted, passionate, loving person he is underneath. You find yourself falling for him every day, with every wave you give him through his classroom window or lock of your eyes in the halls. 

There are some phone calls sprinkled in there as well, but usually, you’re too shy to make the first move to call and just opt to text Aizawa.

The thing is Aizawa is too, but he still made the groundbreaking move to call you for the first time. When he had called, you were literally in your hero gear, strutting along the rooftops in the city to stake out some crime. When you saw his name pop up on your screen, you nearly had a heart attack. 

You decided to take a seat on the roof of a cooperate business, your heels dangling off of the twelve-story building, and answer his call. “Hello?” you said, hating how breathless and needy you sounded. 

“Y/N?” Aizawa’s voice sent shivers up your spine. He sounded so much sexier over the phone. “It’s Shouta.” 

“I know,” you giggled. “How are you doing tonight? How’s Eri?” 

The conversation went on just like that with you telling each other how your day went (some awkward pauses stretching the call out here and there). As you talked, your heart lept with excitement and anticipation for…what? For this friendly, innocent relationship between you to turn into something more? 

Definitely, absolutely yes. You wanted desperately to tell Aizawa how you felt and stop beating around the bush. You wanted to be in his arms and in his bed; to abandon all self-control and doubt.

He continued to haunt your dreams with his eyes and voice, your mind constructing how you believe his moans sound like. It has led you to many free hours of touching yourself to the thought of him, picturing your fingers as his cock stretching you out and filling you up. 

You want that man. All of him. 

But you know that could never ever be…at least for right now. For one, it’s because Aizawa is a father and that makes things so much more complicated. Eri only knows you as her favorite pet; not as you, a UA counselor, Aizawa’s friend, and a liar. 

There is also the fact that you have yet to spill your secrets to him, such as, you know, the fact that you’re the cat he adopted and the cat girl vigilante that he’s been fighting alongside on the streets which could ultimately cause you to lose your job, your friends, and him. But even that doesn’t stop you from hitting the streets and visiting Aizawa and Eri’s dorm every night. 

You have started cutting your nights in half: the first half after work is for vigilante work, and the other half is for Aizawa and Eri. And while it is a good system, you can feel it taking its toll on your body, your mind, and your sleeping schedule. You can’t remember the last time you had a full eight-hour rest or what your body looks like when it’s not bruised up. But you ignore all of that. You suck it up; drink your coffee; rub on ointment to clear up the bruises. 

You’ve got this. You can handle all of it. 

The Friday during the first week of May is a nice one. When you awaken in your dorm after sneaking in before the sun rose, you feel bubbly and light as a feather. You feel like you could hug the entire world, wrap it up tight and squeeze it. A content grin stretches across your mouth as you stretch your arms high over your head. You feel good. You feel great. 

Never mind the fact that you’re due for work in an hour after only four hours of sleep.

Never mind you spent all of last night outside, spending the first half as Night Claw sniffing out crime and the next sneaking under Aizawa’s door for a cuddle with him and Eri.

Never mind the fresh set of bruises you see in the bathroom from weeks of fighting criminals, quirked and non-quirked, and attempting to stop the crime that has been booming since the weather got warmer.

Never mind the fact that you’re lying right to Aizawa’s face about who you are and throwing his poor daughter into the mix, too. 

‘It’s fine,’ you tell yourself as you get ready for work. ‘You’re fine. You’ll tell him soon. Just not right now. As long as you keep your mouth shut and stay careful, everything will be fine.’

You keep chanting this mantra in your head throughout the day until lunch finally comes. Today you packed a tuna sandwich and some Kombucha: your favorite. 

You also decide to try today and look nice because of the warm weather, choosing a brightly colored dress that hugs your body in the way you wish Aizawa would replace along with a cardigan and pantyhose to kill two birds with one stone: look professional and hide the bruises so no one asks questions.

When you walk into the UA faculty breakroom hours later after several appointments with students, Nemuri and Mic take notice of your outfit immediately. 

“My, my, look at you, Ms. L/N!” Nemuri purrs as you take a seat next to her. “What’s the special occasion?” You giggle as she jokingly runs a hand up your thigh before tickling your side. “Good weather. As a catgirl, I thrive in the sunshine and warm air.” 

“Well, you look ravishing!” Mic excitedly says, his eyes roaming over your face. “And refreshed. Your skin is practically glowing!” He is so loud and boisterous with his compliments that you flush, wondering if someone will hear from outside. 

“That she is, Mic,” Nemuri agrees, giving you a secretive look. “She does look very glowy. Any reason for that in particular, Y/N?” She raises one suggestive eyebrow, alluding to the tired-eyed hottie who you’ve been texting and building a relationship with. 

You ignore her suggestive expression and question, instead directing eye contact to Mic, who looks like he’s anticipating what your secret is for such a nice complexion. “Nothing except me goin’ hard in the gym,” you laugh. “I’ve been working on my weight training and kickboxing. Unfortunately, it’s fucking up my body.” 

That actually isn’t a lie. When you’re not kicking ass or letting Eri brush your fur while you curl into her lap, you’re at the gym. Ever since that training session with Aizawa, you’ve been serious about increasing your combat skills and mastering the abilities that come with your quirk. You hope to show Aizawa your improvement one day.

“Just don’t harm that cute little tail,” Mic chuckles as he takes a sip of his Pepsi. “Aizawa would be devastated.” Nemuri giggles while you scoff and passively crack open your soda can, ignoring your friends’ teasing. 

“About what?” a familiar, deep voice asks.

You squeak, startled, and look towards the door where you see Aizawa standing there as if he emerged from thin air. You swear the man doesn’t make a single sound when he moves. His eyes meet yours from across the small room, rendering you speechless. It suddenly feels like only the two of you exist in the room. 

'Damn this ‘being friends’ shit.'

“There you are!” Mic cheerfully says. “I’m glad you’re here. I was just about to bring up tonight.” Aizawa barely spares his friend a glance as he makes a beeline for the coffee machine. As he passes you, he brushes up against your shoulder. You’re not sure whether it is on purpose or by accident, but it sends shivers down your spine and makes your tail curl all the same. 

“What about tonight?” he grumbles as he opens the dishwasher. He plucks out a big, yellow mug and places it underneath the coffee machine before turning it on. 

You, Nemuri, and Mic share a look. You already know Mic is alluding to some nighttime adventures which you’re sure Aizawa will say no to. “Mic and I were talking about visiting Hot Spot tonight if you both are free,” Nemuri explains, batting her lashes up at Aizawa. “It’s been so long since we’ve been out for a night on the town and I’m in need of some action.” 

“More like your bed is,” you mutter.

Nemuri smirks at you. “Precisely, and you should take a hint. I’m sure your bed is in need of breaking in.”

You flush at her words, your eyes jetting across to Aizawa. His back is to you as he stands at the counter, waiting for his brewing coffee. You’re not sure why you’re so concerned about his reaction to Nemuri’s words, especially since you and he are just friends.

But as much as you hate to admit it, the idea of having someone else in your bed besides him doesn’t sit right with you at all, and you’d hope he’d feel the same way. You hope he’s burning with the same need that you are for him. 

“We’re going to be meeting some other pros tonight for drinks if you two want in,” Nemuri says, glancing between you and Aizawa. You shrug, figuring you could use the outing. “Fuck it, I’ll go. It’s been a while since I’ve been out.” 

“Excellent!” Nemuri squeals and excitedly claps her hands. “What about you, Shouta?” She turns to him as do you and Mic, waiting for the pro to give her a hard no. He says nothing, the coffee machine still bubbling.

“Just hear me out, please,” Nemuri rushedly says before he can refuse. “I know you’re not too keen on socializing with others in a public setting, but the weather is simply too good to stay inside and–” 

“I’ll go,” Aizawa interrupts. 

“What?!” you, Nemuri, and Mic all blurt in unison. You stare at Aizawa like he just grew another head. The guy stares back at you three in confusion, his coffee mug in hand. “I said I’ll go,” he repeats with a passive shrug. “I’ve got nothin’ better to do tonight since all the grades are in. I’ll have Mirio babysit Eri, too.” 

You, Nemuri, and Mic still stare at him, dumbfounded. It’s just too shocking. Aizawa? Clubbing? Socializing?! A flush coats Aizawa’s cheeks at your stupid, wide-eyed expressions. “What?” he huffs. 

“Nothing!” Mic coughs, plastering a big smile on his face. “Absolutely nothing. This fills me with so much happiness, Shouta! We’re going to have so much fun!”

Aizawa rolls his eyes, still blushing, while Nemuri glances at you. “That, we are,” she hums with a smile. 

Now it’s your turn to blush, thanking God that he made you a Black woman. 

**********

“I can’t you how hot you look in this dress, Y/N. Like, if I were Aizawa, I’d fuck you right now.” 

You gain this compliment from your friend aka Mt. Lady standing behind the velvet rope in front of the Hot Spot nightclub hours later. It is a warm night and the streets are buzzing with activity. Rumi aka Mirko is eyeing you down the same way Yu is despite Yu being straight as a ruler. “Shit, I’d do it anyway,” the Rabbit Hero brazenly says. 

Nemuri’s curls nearly whip Yu in the face as she turns to glare at Rumi.  “Rumi!” she gasps. Rumi shrugs passively, crossing her arms in her leather jacket. “What? I can’t be honest?” Nemuri shakes her head, rolling her eyes at you. “Sorry about her. That’s talk that can only be influenced by those pregame shots.”

Rumi shrugs as Yu giggles to herself in her yellow bodycon dress. “Thank you, ladies,” you laugh, sliding your hands down the pink dress that hugs your body and makes your legs look fantastic (especially since you slathered them in coconut oil before leaving). “I still can’t believe I look this good in your dress, ‘Muri.” 

Nemuri gapes at you in her billowy red mini dress that you’ve had one too many men eyeing since you stepped in line. “Are you kidding me? As soon as you picked it out, I knew you’d look fabulous! It’s only right for our new partygoer comin’ out tonight to celebrate with us.” She gives you a wink, making you flush in the warm, spring air. 

“How you managed to convince the troll to come out from under his bridge is beyond me,” Rumi chuckles, fixing the bust of her white corset crop top. She looks like an Amazonian model in her lowrise skinny jeans that shows off her toned abs. “I refuse to believe he’s coming here of his own volition.” 

You stare at the girls, open-mouthed. “Y’all are so mean!” you protest. “Shouta is not a troll and he’s not that anti-social!” Yu snickers beside you. “That anti-social,” she parrots.

Though you feel bad for what the girls are tittering about over your crush, you will admit that you’re just as shocked that he decided to come out tonight. Aizawa always said he wasn’t the clubbing type and he seems like he barely has the patience for large groups of people.

So what’s with the change in behavior? Though it confuses you, it also excites you. Could it perhaps be your blossoming friendship that has flipped a switch in him? You hope so. 

You were more than excited to hurry back to your dorm after work to get ready, even consulting Nemuri for an outfit. You wanted to look good-er than good tonight for Aizawa. You wanted him to take one look at you and pluck you out of the friend zone expeditiously.

Though you knew it wouldn’t happen, you could still look yummy for some other eyes you were hoping to get tonight. If you didn’t get Aizawa’s attention, you could certainly get someone else’s. ‘Who needs Erasherhead anyway?’ you think to yourself. 

“Maybe not to you,” Rumi laughs to you. “Because he likes you, girl! And with those cute little ears and that ass, I can definitely see why.” You flush at her words, sliding your hands down the buttery-soft dress. “Does it really look that good?” you bashfully giggle. “I guess Pilates is working out for me.” 

When you aren’t out in the streets sniffing out crime or visiting Aizwa and Eri, you’ve been in and out of the gym lately, trying to stay consistent with workouts…but also trying to see if you can catch Aizawa.

You have a few times while he is squeezing some cardio and weight training in between his very busy schedule. While you should be focusing on your yoga and pilates, you always find yourself looking at Aizawa through the mirror, admiring his muscles and thighs that could crush your head…and you’d thank him. 

“Do the Pilates explain this here?” Nemuri grazes her fingers across your jawline where, sure enough, you feel a slight sting from a bruise that hasn’t healed after your latest run-in with a criminal.

This one was a regular, non-quirked guy with a taste for the rush of stealing from park joggers, but damn, could he fight. Luckily for you, your flexibility kicked in and you were able to one-up him by dropping into a split on his next throw and kicking him in the balls. You made sure to knock him out before telling his jogger victim to call the cops and running out into the darkness. 

You’ve been on a roll with the arrests lately. Almost every night, unless your body absolutely cannot take another night of fighting, you’ve been out in the streets fighting crime. Unfortunately, you haven’t run into Aizawa again but the rush of fighting crime and keeping your city safe is enough adrenaline to keep you coming back. Plus, you see Aizawa every day in school which is more than enough for you. 

You’d be lying if you said your night job hasn’t been taking its toll on you lately. Mostly on your skin. You’ve been noticing the bruises are becoming less easy to hide behind makeup. Nemuri says the exact same thing to you now, her worry palpable. “You know that makeup can only cover so much, Y/N.” 

You ignore her worried eyes and glance away from her, not wanting Rumi or Yu to hear. “It’s just a bruise, ‘Muri. I get those all the time.” 

“How many more are there?” Nemuri asks, her concern only growing. You keep silent, refusing to tell her any more about your nightly adventures. You don’t need her worrying about her. “Listen, Y/N,” she sighs worriedly, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this.”  

“Nemuri,” you sternly say, cutting off whatever it is she was about to say. “Let’s not do this here, okay? Not right now.” You turn to her, giving her a reassuring smile. “I’m fine! I’m still here breathing and I fully intend to be. But I’m not quitting my night job anytime soon. I have a duty at this point.” 

Nemuri’s lips purse, obviously disagreeing with this statement, but you don’t care. She doesn’t understand. This isn’t something you can just give up. Your city needs you, and you fully intend to be there. You put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it. “Let’s just enjoy tonight, okay?” you whisper pleadingly.

Nemuri looks like she wants to say more, but Rumi’s gasp stops her. “Look!” she shouts. “The men of the hour!” She points down the street and sure enough, you see the two you’ve been waiting on for over fifteen minutes…or rather, one in particular. 

As soon as Mic walks up with Aizawa, your eyes are instantly drawn to him. He decided to go for a simple dark denim jacket with matching jeans, high-top sneakers, and a loose tank top that you thank God for because you can see how defined his muscles are underneath. His hair is pulled into a low ponytail and his scruff is trimmed, making him look like a brooding cologne model.

‘Oh, my God, he’s so fucking hot,’ you think.

Other women seem to think the same as he wedges through the line to you and the girls, their eyes drinking him in. 

His eyes land on you suddenly, causing your body to feel like it just stepped into flames. You have to force yourself to give him a friendly smile, hoping he didn’t catch you eyefucking him. “Hey, ladies!” Mic greets in skinny jeans and a floral, purple button-down that exposes his toned chest. He reminds you of a '70s heartthrob. 

“What a pleasure seein’ you here, Eraserhead,” Rumi snickers, eyeing the dark-haired pro humorously. “What, your kid drivin’ you crazy?” 

“Not at all!” Mic protests, wrapping an arm around a very uncomfortable Aizawa. “Eri is the sweetest little angel! Shouta here just wanted a change of pace and decided to hang with us losers. Right, bud?” Aizawa sighs, rolling his eyes. “I’m regretting that decision already,” he grumbles. 

Rumi tuts as you begin to move to the front where the security guards stand at the doors. “You say that now till you get a drink in you. Now come on!” She slips one of the guards $100 as she slips through the doors to the club that the guard holds open for you, giving you a taste of the activity going on inside. Nemuri, Yu, and Mic follow Rumi, leaving you and Aizawa outside. 

You glance at Aizawa, noticing how out of place he looks despite not even being inside yet. He looks tense and awkward, his shoulders bunched up as if he expects something to jump out and bite him. 

Realizing you’re watching him, he glances up at you, nearly rendering you breathless when his eyes meet yours. This ‘just friends’ shit is becoming way too hard for you. 

“Come on before she kills us,” you giggle, unconsciously taking his hand to drag him into Hot Spot.

The club is already jumping when you walk in, lights flashing a pretty multicolor that corresponds to the Usher song playing overhead. You spot many pro heroes among the crowd on the dance floor and at the bar along with notable celebrities and high-end industry figures. 

You spot the girls and Mic at the bar ordering their drinks, but you don’t immediately walk over. You’re more concerned with Aizawa. “Not so bad, right?” you ask over the music, shooting him a smile.

But he is too busy staring at your hands that are still connected, your fingers interlaced. Embarrassment blooms in your chest, making you feel hot all over. “O-oh, sorry!” you gasp, releasing his hand. “I didn’t realize–” 

“You’re fine,” he cuts in, adverting his gaze from yours. You believe you see him flush under the lights, but it could just be the way the light illuminates his skin.

You look away from him, your heart lodged in your throat and your skin on fire. You thought that tonight was going to be easy, but right now, you feel like you’re being put in a line of war with your heart and hormones. Why the fuck does he have to be so goddamn fine? 

You suddenly feel something soft brush against your knuckles and you look down to find Aizawa sneaking his pinky through yours, interlacing them. “You look…great, y’know,” he awkwardly says, his eyes flitting to yours before flitting away. Now you can clearly see that he’s blushing, his cheeks a rosy shade of pink that makes you want to cuddle him and suck the soul out of his dick at the same time. 

A dumb smile stretches across your face and you feel like you just won the lottery. “You don’t look too bad yourself,” you giggle, earning a smirk from him.

Damn this ‘just friends’ shit! You don’t wanna be ‘just friends’. You wanna sit on his face! You want to run your hands over his muscles; kiss every part of his body; feel his lips against yours while his hips rock against yours as he strokes your– 

“Hey, you two done flirting yet?” Rumi calls from a booth near the bar. “I’m in need of a shot!” Nemuri and Yu giggle at each other like little high school girls, making you want to melt into the floor. 

“Shouta, come help me get these pretty ladies some drinks!” Mic hollers, nodding over to the bar. Aizawa grumbles to himself, but does so anyway, releasing your pinky in the process and making you feel like you just got dipped into a pool of ice water. The emptiness you feel without him stuns you so much that you have to remind yourself that you’re not together like that. 

But something in the way Aizawa looked at you just now makes you feel like he wants to change that, but something is stopping him. Maybe Eri? Maybe his work?

Sighing to yourself, you walk over to the booth and plop down next to Nemuri, needing a drink. As Rumi and Yu talk amongst themselves, Nemuri turns to you with a giddy grin. 

“Seriously, babe; the chemistry between you two is insane. I was sensing so many sparks that I thought you were about to set this building on fire!” She animately fans herself, moving her hair off of her neck.

You scoff at her antics, rolling your eyes. “What the hell are you waiting for, woman? He’s head over heels for you!” 

You ignore the sparkle in her eye. She can’t expect this to be so easy for someone like you. Someone with secrets. “It’s much more complicated than that, Nemuri,” you sigh tiredly. “He has a child and is working two stressful jobs! I can’t just–” 

“Fancy seeing you here, Ms. Midnight,” someone says, cutting you off.

When you look up at your visitor, you can already believe who you’re looking at: All Might in the flesh, though not in his hero form. Tonight he’s just Toshinori Yagi in a white tee and black jeans; laid-back and awkward, hands stuffed in his pockets. Your eyes widen at the sight of him, your heart rate accelerating.

Suddenly, all thoughts of Aizawa are gone. No way the All Might is here! You’ve never seen him at Hot Spot before. 

“Well, if it isn’t the symbol of peace himself!” Nemuri laughs giddily, leaning a hand under her chin. “Just what are you doing out and about tonight?”

Toshinori sighs, resembling Aizawa in the way he looks like he wants to be anywhere but here. “More like I got dragged out here against my will.” 

“It was my idea, of course.” A stranger steps out from behind Toshinori, and he is quite handsome: he is tall and muscular, decked out in designer clothes and sunglasses that cover his eyes, adorning a half-white, half-black buzzcut that stands out against his tanned skin.

Slowly, he takes his shades down to get a good look at you, his violet eyes roaming over you. “Well, who’s this? Nemuri, you truly have the cutest friends.” He gives you a flirty, white-toothed smile, ignoring Toshinori’s sigh. 

You turn to Nemuri, raising a brow. Who the fuck is this? “This is Y/N, the new counselor at UA,” Nemuri says to the two men. “Y/N, you know All Might, but this is–” 

“Kaleb aka Snapshot, new and upcoming hero at your service,” the stranger cuts in, taking your hand in his to shake. “I used to be underground, but I’ve recently decided to take to the public scene.” 

You can now see that his hands are adorned with rings, his wrists dripping in gold chains the same as his neck. He was an underground hero? As flashy as he is? 

“Well, you’re definitely fit for it,” you joke. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kaleb.” The ex-underground pro smiles when he hears his name on your lips. “So you’re the new counselor?” Toshinori asks, sounding pleased. “Nemuri’s told me all about you. I’ve heard what you do for the kids.” 

You beam from the praise, never believing in a million years that you’d be talking to All Might. “And I’ve heard how amazing you are as a mentor for Midoriya!” you brightly reply. “He’s quite the kid. You do a good job picking them, Toshinori.” 

Toshinori blushes sheepishly, earning a giggle from Nemuri. Before either one can say anything, Kaleb is already hurtling questions at you, his attention posed strictly on you.

“So what’s it like bein’ a counselor? Those snot-nosed kids don’t give you trouble, do they? Just tell me now and I’ll handle ‘em. My quirk allows me to transport people to another time and place with just a look.”

He gives you a wink, making you believe that under different circumstances, you’d probably end up somewhere like his bed judging from the blatant flirting. 

You’d be lying if you said it wasn’t welcomed though. Kaleb is open with the fact that he’s pinning after you, even pulling up a nearby chair to sit and chat with you more. Nemuri and Toshinori practically disappear into the background when he talks to you. All of his attention and time are set on you, and though it’s overwhelming, the drinks that start flowing make it less and less so. 

You start with two tequila shots and then with a cocktail dubbed “The Sakura Blend”–a rose-pink drink with strawberry puree, a hint of Fiji apple, lemon, and crisp rosè vodka.

By the time Kaleb moves on to tell you how pretty you are, with his hand brushing your knee, you’re feeling bubbly, loose, and as pretty as he thinks you are. 

You are tipsy. You can tell from the way you squeal in excitement when your favorite 90s R&B jam pumps through the speakers. “Oh, I love this song!” you say to no one in particular, already getting up to get on the dance floor.

Kaleb abruptly stands with you, making Toshinori give him the side eye. “You wanna dance?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. 

You don’t have to be asked twice. You take his hand and walk to the dance floor together, the alcohol making you way more reciprocal and agreeable. You’re just going with the flow. And though it feels good, you logically know that this could get heated very fast if you’re not careful. So for a while, you play it safe with Kaleb on the dance floor. You face him as you begin to sway to the music, your hands to yourself. 

You close your eyes and allow the beat to take you, the alcohol beginning to take full effect. In this moment, you feel like you could do anything: touch the moon; run a marathon; kiss your crush.

Aizawa’s face is suddenly appearing behind your eyelids. You picture his body up against yours, hips grinding, and his hands all over you on the dance floor. 

When you realize that a solid body is actually up against yours now, your eyes open to find Kaleb taking you into his arms. You gasp as his chest presses flush against yours and his hands toy with your hips. 

“No lie, I noticed you as soon as you walked in,” he breathes into your ear. “Can’t believe I managed to snag you all for myself. And now, I’m not lettin’ you get away.” 

His hands move over your lower back, but he doesn’t stop. He slowly moves his hand lower and lower until he is dangerously close to either touching your ass or your tail. Your ears flatten, uncomfortable with this, and you attempt to pull yourself away from Kaleb. “Hold on a minute,” you begin, but you’re stopped by a shadow suddenly looming over you from behind you. 

Kaleb’s eyes flit up toward the stranger and his flirty smile falters an inch. As soon as you catch the scent of eucalyptus, you know who your savior is.

“Can I cut in?” Aizawa gruffly asks, not at all sounding nice. He doesn’t touch you but his presence makes you feel safe and your ears relax a bit. 

Kaleb doesn’t step away from you or let you go. His eyes turn into sharp slits as he regards Aizawa. “I don’t know, Eraser,” he quips drunkenly. “Can you?” 

Aizawa doesn’t like that. You can feel the anger radiating off of him as he steps closer to you, serving as a wall for you to fall back on if need be. “Don’t test me, Snapshot,” he growls, a warning bubbling beneath the service of his tone. “You know what I can do to you. Wouldn’t wanna embarrass you in front of your audience.” 

You picture his eyes flashing red like a warning sign. 'Don’t test me, bitch,’ they say.

Assumedly, you must be right because Kaleb puts up his hands in defense and backs off. “Sorry, cutie, but I guess this sucker wants a turn,” he chuckles. “I’ll wait for you later, ‘kay?” He gives you a wink before sauntering off the dance floor, leaving you and Aizawa alone. 

You slowly turn to him, getting only his chest in your face. His hard, broad chest you just want to stroke and touch. “T-Thanks,” you stutter, suddenly too nervous to look up at him.

“No problem,” he replies, his voice like the smoothest jazz to your ears–pleasant and sexy. “You looked like you needed him off your back.” 

Before you can say anything more, he begins to walk away from you, his hands shoved in his pockets. A new song begins to play now–an old Usher jam that begins speaking to you. ‘Don’t go,’ your body screams, physically moving towards Aizawa. You want him to stay close to you. 

“Wait!” you protest before you can stop yourself. Aizawa turns, staring at you expectantly. You swallow the nervous lump in your throat, not wanting to back down when you almost have him right where you want him. “Dance with me?” you imploringly ask, peering up at him through your lashes. 

Under the lights, you can’t exactly read Aizawa’s expression too well, but it looks like your request is registering. The alcohol begins to make you feel self-conscious and small. What were you thinking? You go to backpedal, to laugh it off and tell him you were just joking, but his calloused hand suddenly taking yours stops you short. 

He doesn’t say anything as he takes you to the middle of the dance floor, whisking you away through the throng of moving bodies and under the flashing lights that pulse blue and purple in line to the Usher song.

Aizawa raises your hand up and slowly twirls you around so your back is now facing him. You feel him behind you again, but this time, his aura is less intimidating and way more intimate. Sensual. He places his hands on your hips and begins to sway you to the music, still giving you enough space to move if you wish to. 

But you don’t. You want to stay here with him, in his arms, enveloped in his body heat and scent. Your ears and tail relax as your eyes flutter closed. Completely relaxed, you melt into him and lean your head back against his shoulder, breathing him in. You begin to move your hips in his hands and wind your ass into his crotch. He doesn’t say anything nor does he move away. In fact, he only pushes up on you, not allowing any space between you. 

He keeps up with you, moving with you on the floor like you’re one. You dance like that for a while before Aizawa twirls you around to face him. Though his eyes are hooded and dark, you have no time to pay any mind to them because he’s already grinding his body into yours again.

Taking your arms that have seemed to have gone limp, he wraps them around his shoulders and presses his hips flush against yours. You feel dizzy from how close he is. You’re torn between pushing him away and falling into him all at the same time. 

To anyone else, it’d look like you are a couple with how sensually you’re dancing. Or at least two people who want to fuck. And boy, do you want that more than anything. You know deep down if Aizawa told you he wants to take you home right now, you’d go with him because you want the same thing. It is a desire that is nearly burning you. 

Finally, the song transitions to one more upbeat and the moment dies. Aizawa stops dancing with you, slowing his movements, and releasing your hips. He doesn’t release your hand though. Instead, he securely holds it as he takes you off the dance floor, moving through the sea of people until you’re finally off the floor.

You deliriously giggle, hot from the dance and with need. “I didn’t know you could move like that,” you tell him, impressed. 

He looks down at you then, a mischievous and teasing glint in his dark eyes. “There are a lot of things you don’t know about me,” he says in a dangerously low tone that caresses your pussy in your panties. 

Your heart pounds at the underlayer of desire that plays beneath the surface of his voice. Is it the booze or could he really feel the same way right now? Either way, you decide to play right back like the naughty kitty the shots and cocktails are turning you into.

“Anything you’d be willing to share?” you purr, smirking up at him. “Other than how much you like cats and Sailor Moon?” 

Aizawa smirks right back and you feel yourself teetering on the edge of falling harder for him. “I suppose I could give you a pass,” he hums, “but only if you spill some more about you…other than the fact that you have a scratching post in your office.”

You gasp, embarrassed that he knows one of your secrets, and he releases a laugh that makes your heart flutter. That’s fucking it. You’re falling hard for this man, and you don’t give a single fuck about the consequences anymore. 

“Hey, you two!” Rumi’s shout ruins the magic between you two. You glare at her waving hand from your booth where the rest of the crew sits with a new round of drinks.

“If y’all are gonna fuck, do it after we do our group toast!” she hollers, making Nemuri tug on one of her long bunny ears as punishment. 

You groan to yourself, hating your friend for ruining what was only straight out of your wettest fantasy. However, Aizawa wipes away your utter disappointment when his thumb strokes your knuckles. “Come on before she embarrasses us any more than she already has,” he grumbles. 

With his hand still in yours, you walk over to your annoyingly embarrassing friends for a toast. 

[mimisempai]

It was always there

Summary

After each encounter with his stranger, since the very first one, a mysterious black cat waits for Hob near the inn and gives him a listening ear and sometimes a little comfort.

Notes

Prompt #17- “I wish I’d never met you.” - “No…you don’t mean that.”  Prompt #22- “Was I just an easy scapegoat to you? Is that it?”  Prompt #23- “No! Stay away from me! Stay back!”

For @marvelmywaydowntown and @eldritch-teacup

On AO3

Rating G - 4308 words

June 7, 1389

The black cat approached the man who was staggering out of the inn.

"Haha... let me laugh. Stupid stranger. Not only are you interfering in a friendly conversation, but you're challenging me with that smug smile."

The cat continued to follow him from a distance, curious to continue hearing what the man had to say.

"Besides you knew my full name, not Hob or Hobsie, but Robert Gadling. Robert, no one ever called me that except my mother -peace her soul- when she was angry. And from the way you look, we're not from the same background, so what do you want from me? Why did you come to hang out in such a place? Just to have fun with a poor peasant, huh?"

The cat continued to stroll behind the man who turned around abruptly and asked, "Who's following me?"

"Meow?"

The man approached him and crouching down in front of the cat, said in a gentle tone, contrasting with the one he had just before, "Awe, you’re such a sweet little thing." 

He stroked the top of his head and the black cat purred with pleasure.

The man continued, "Well, I'm going to prove to this stranger who I am. He'll see who Hob Gadling is. I'll be here in a hundred years."

After a final pat, the man stood up and walked away. As he was leaving, he turned to the cat and, waving his hand, said, "They say cats have nine lives, so who knows, buddy, maybe we'll meet again in a hundred years."

The cat watched as the man disappeared into the night and then, regaining his human form, he whispered, "Count on it Robert Gadling. We'll meet again."

June 7, 1489

The black cat waited under a street lamp, staring at the door of the tavern.

Suddenly Hob Gadling came out and started walking, smiling. The moment his gaze fell on the cat, his eyes widened and his mouth formed an "oh" of surprise.

He walked toward the black cat, who also began to trot toward him.

The man leaned over and scratched his head.

He said softly, still with a smile on his face, "So you're here too and you survived all this time, if you're the same cat of course."

"Meow."

Hob's smile became a bit self-deprecating as he continued, "You know it's really strange. That weird man from a hundred years ago, he was here tonight. He told me that all he wanted was to see me every hundred years and know what it felt like not to die. He got one of those faces when I told him it was brilliant!"

Hob laughed before continuing, once he calmed down, "I must have looked like an idiot bragging about all the changes since the last time, but at the same time how could you not appreciate the new chimneys? I'm sure that when you sleep in front of them you must appreciate not being full of smoke and soot anymore, right?"

The cat pretended to leave and Hob protested, "Oh I see, even you, I bother you, eh? But I can't help it, in a hundred years I've learned even more than before to enjoy the little things, you know."

He resumed his petting to convince the cat to stay before continuing, "Anyway, the stranger seemed a little happier when I told him about my printing project. But it seems that after he found out I wanted to go on living, he couldn't wait to leave. However, I'll tell you a secret my little friend, at one point he smiled and it was like he was lit up from the inside. Well, you know what? I swear to you that next time he'll smile again! "

He stroked the cat's head once more and then a few times his back before standing up.

"Well, my mysterious furry friend, it's time for me to go home. I'm an honest hard working man now, so I need some sleep. I hope you still have all your lives and that we meet again in a hundred years!"

The man walked away whistling and the cat watched him go.

When he regained his human form, he grumbled, "I wasn't lit from within." 

But as he walked away in the opposite direction of where Hob had gone, he couldn't stop a slight smile from blooming on his lips.

June 7, 1589

The black cat walked towards the entrance of the inn and after waiting for half an hour, he took advantage of the fact that someone was coming out to sneak in through the door. Once inside, he headed for the table at the back of the tavern. 

Hob saw him coming and patted the seat next to him saying, "Hey, my little furry friend, you're here again!"

The cat jumped up to take a seat next to the man and what struck him was the look of sadness on his face. Even though he was smiling at him, his smile did not reach his eyes.

The black cat tried to comfort him and poked his hand with his head.

The man smiled a little more, "Ah, at least you don't give me the cold shoulder."

He brought his two hands up to the black cat and stopped just short of touching him to ask, "You're not afraid of me, are you? Would you let me hold you?"

The cat meowed his agreement and moved himself to the outstretched hands to show the man that he wasn't indeed not afraid.

Hob whispered, "Thank you." then gently grabbed him in his arms and held him close while scratching his head.

The cat began to purr to show his delight.

Hob said softly, a touch of melancholy in his voice, "You know, I was looking forward to meeting him today. I had all this prepared, not to show him what I have become, but to be able to offer him this banquet as a kind of thanks for this life given. Because by persevering, I had finally accomplished something. But he hardly considered me, and finally left with this Shaxberd. He smiled at him and in an instant I no longer existed."

The church bell rang in the distance and Hob exclaimed, "Oh, it's so late already!" He scratched the cat's neck and continued, "I'll have to leave you my faithful friend, my wife and son are waiting for my return."

He placed the cat carefully on the ground and after a last caress, he got up and asked the innkeeper to hail a carriage before heading for the door.

The cat followed him out and stayed in front of the tavern until the carriage disappeared in the distance. Then, in an alleyway a little further on, he shifted and, with a hint of remorse in his heart, he whispered to himself, "Next time, Hob Gadling, you'll have my full attention and I'll make it up to you."

June 7, 1689

The black cat was about to approach the man in rags when suddenly he saw him being grabbed by the collar by the same guard who had prevented him from entering before. 

He spat in Hob's face, "You filthy vermin, don't let me see your lousy ass hanging around here again. Go back to your own kind!"

Then he shoved Hob roughly toward the road and the man pulled his rags tighter around him before walking away with his head down.

The cat trotted to catch up with him and when he reached his level, he meowed to be noticed. 

The man stopped immediately and turned to the cat, then exclaimed, a smile of joy lighting up his miserable appearance, "My four-legged friend. How happy I am to see you!"

His smile turned sheepish as he added, "I don't want to hug you, because I'll probably give you fleas."

But the cat didn't want that and jumped into the man's arms, who had no choice but to grab him and hold him tight.

"Little brigand, don't come and complain next time!"

He stroked the cat under the neck and whispered in a conspiratorial tone, "As you can see I've had a pretty rough ride back, but in all this unhappiness, today for the first time in so many years, I feel happy. My stranger didn't seem indifferent at all today. Although I am in a worse predicament than all the times we have seen each other. I told him about all the years of misery and he looked incredibly compassionate, like he was going to cry on my behalf, especially when I told him about the loss of my wife and children. Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part, but I got the impression that he was afraid I was going to tell him I wanted to die and was both relieved and happy when I told him I wanted to keep living. He saw me at the worst time of my life and yet for the first time I felt like I had his full attention."

He stroked the cat again under the chin and added, "You know they say black cats bring bad luck, well, I'm sure you bring me good luck."

The cat purred with pleasure and let himself be caressed for a few more moments. 

Then Hob put him down and said softly, "Although it's very nice, sweetie, I mustn't stay here too long, as the other idiot said, I have to get back to the filth I belong to."

"Meow," protested the cat.

But Hob, still with a smile on his face replied, "Don't worry, I'm not going to stay like this for long, between you and my stranger, I have twice as much reason to hang on and turn things around."

He fondled the cat's head, stood up and left to join an alleyway a few meters away. As he did so he waved his hand and said, "Take care of yourself my friend. See you in a hundred years."

The cat watched him go, then turned and couldn't help but worry about the man's condition, haunted by what he had shared with him.

He whispered, "Hang on Hob Gadling. Whatever your condition, I'll be glad to see you again in a hundred years. Whatever your condition."

June 7, 1789

The black cat watched as the man, now looking like an elegant dandy, left the inn with a slightly disappointed expression on his face.

As if he was looking for the cat with his eyes, he immediately spotted it and walked towards him, his face lighting up with a smile.

He bent down and took the little feline in his arms.

One of the inn's servants said to him, "My lord, you shouldn't, it's a wild cat, who knows where it's been."

The black cat felt the man's arms tighten around him protectively as he replied in a cold tone, "This cat is my friend, you had better measure your words." 

Then, ignoring the dumbfounded look on the servant's face, Hob turned away and walked down the street, the black cat in his arms, purring with pleasure.

Hob looked down at him and said, "You don't speak ill of my friends. I know you're not a wild cat even though I don't know what you are. But I'm happy to have gained two friends in addition to my immortality."

He chuckled softly, "That was an impressive meeting tonight, you know. It started off badly because my stranger pointed out that my way of making money was more than a little objectionable to him and I must say that he gave me a lot to think about. The problem is, you see, when you live longer you have even more opportunity to make mistakes and also even more opportunity to be a complete idiot." He sighed and remained silent for a moment before resuming, "This mistake I'm going to try to fix as best I can and maybe find a way for people not to make it again. Anyway, after that I tried to divert the conversation by talking about Shakespeare and trying to find out more about my mysterious companion. I thought I was getting somewhere when we were interrupted by a lady. I'll skip the details, but after an epic fight and the discovery of some of my stranger's extraordinary abilities, we had to part ways. He was afraid for me."

Hob sighed again, "My little one, I'm a bit confused you see, on the one hand I'm touched that he was so protective of me, but on the other hand I would have liked the evening to have gone on. Anyway, here we are, we'll meet again in a hundred years. Just like you and me. You know, I'll miss you. I'd take you home with me, but I get the feeling that's not what you want, right?"

He scratched the cat's head and gently put him down, then standing up, he said gently, "See you in a hundred years my dear friend."

"Meow."

The cat watched the man leave once more and when he turned, he whispered, "Don't think I wanted to leave Hob Gadling, this is the first time it has been so hard for me to be reasonable. But you have become too precious to me to risk losing you."

June 7, 1889

Dream had hesitated for a long time before returning to the inn in his cat form, but now that his anger had subsided, he wanted to go and see the man, if only to see how he was doing.

The rain had just stopped falling and he took advantage of this moment to go towards the inn.

Suddenly, he stopped, shocked.

In the middle of the street, at the place where he had left him when he had left in a fury, stood Hob dripping with rain, a desperate expression on his face.

Then the cat didn't hesitate, he ran towards the man who, seeing him coming, took a step back and shouted, "No! Stay away from me! Stay back!"

The cat stopped dead in his tracks. Had he ruined everything?

He meowed plaintively.

The man shook his head and, kneeling down, he sighed, "Haa... forgive me. I seem to be doing everything wrong tonight. I'm soaked, it won't be pleasant for you, that's why I don't want to touch you. After all, cats don't like water."

The black cat, relieved, didn't hesitate to run towards the man and clung to the man's legs to show him that he didn't care if he got wet. The man exhaled with relief and, with a clear sadness in his voice, said softly, "Thank God you're here. I figured with this rain you wouldn't come."

He took him in his arms and walked to a sheltered corner saying, "At least we'll be protected if the rain starts again."

The man stroked his head for long minutes, as if lost in thought, and the cat began to purr, hoping to bring him some comfort.

Suddenly, Hob murmured, his voice slightly hoarse, "You know I have this strange feeling of having made a mistake but also of having been right to do it. Weird, isn't it? Our meeting had started so well. For the first time I felt on equal footing. So I dared to suggest that the stranger wanted more from our meeting than whether I wished to continue living or not. I mean... already the last time, he didn't even ask me. You know..." The man paused and swallowed before resuming, "You know, we shared an intense moment, this is going to sound ridiculous to you probably, but it was like a moment of sweet tenderness, a smile exchanged, a recognition. And then..." He paused again and the cat gave him a nudge to encourage him to continue.

Hob resumed, "And then I couldn't keep my mouth shut, and I tried to dig further. Obviously too far, because my stranger clammed up and worse, was so offended that he left without looking back. And the terrible thing is that I think I've lost him. I'm sure he won't be back in a hundred years. However, at the same time, he seemed to be so lonely and I felt like we were friends. Even though I don't know anything about him, he knows everything about me. Everything, and despite everything he kept meeting me, smiling at me so I believed it. But maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was just a loophole. Was I just an easy scapegoat to him? Is that it? Damn it!"

In his anger, he squeezed the cat a little too hard, causing the feline to meow in protest. 

Hob's face softened and he said sheepishly, "Oh, sorry, little one. Forgive me."

He loosened his grip and gently stroked the cat to soothe him as he said again in a voice whose sadness had replaced the anger, "I wish I'd never met him."

The cat felt a great chill come over him.

No... you don't mean that. Please.

Dream hesitated, should he shift? Should he reveal the truth? 

Should he try to fix it? Could he?

When suddenly the man said, in a surprisingly quiet voice, "No, that's not true. I don't mean what I just said. I'm still Hob Gadling. He told me a hundred years ago, the great stories will always return to their original forms. So even though I've changed like he said, I still believe I have so much to live for and most importantly, I want to live to see him call me his friend. That's why I'll keep my promise, I'll be around in a hundred years!"

He picked up the cat under his front legs and lifted him up to put his nose against his muzzle.

The cat saw with relief the smile on the man's face and the return of the fighting spirit in his eyes as he said, "And you, my loyal friend, will be there too, and I'll tell you how he and I have finally become friends. And who knows? Maybe I can even introduce you to each other?"

Hob rubbed his nose against the cat's muzzle before putting him down on the floor.

A shiver went through him so he stroked the cat's chin and said, "It's time for me to go home, before I catch a cold. So little one, take good care of yourself and see you in a hundred years!"

The cat watched him and was surprised to see the man enter the inn again. 

Curious, he waited a few moments to see if he would come out and was surprised to see the man walk through the door, wearing Dream's cloak and hat which he had forgotten in his anger. 

The cat hid in the shadows and when the man passed by, he saw Hob put on his gloves that he had also forgotten in the inn.

Then the man brought his hands to his face and inhaled deeply, before chuckling softly, "Now I know your fragrance, mysterious stranger." Then he tightened the cloak around him and walked away, his step almost bouncing.

Dream, reverting to his human form, still stunned from the scene he had just witnessed, murmured, "I can't wait to be a hundred years Hob Gadling, by then I will have become the friend you deserve. I promise you that."

June 7, 1989

Hob had waited until the inn closed, but his stranger had not come. 

He felt the hope and confidence that had carried him through the long years wane a little.

The cool air hit him in the face as he walked out and he was relieved to see that the rain had stopped.

Hob went to lean on the railing that ran along the river that passed in front of the inn and waited.

He hoped that his feline friend would show up soon, because he only wanted to go home, wrap himself in his stranger's cloak and not think about tomorrow.

After a few minutes, he called softly, "Kitty, kitty!"

He did so several times but his furry friend didn't show up.

What a coincidence that his only two immortal friends were not here tonight.

The throat tightened, he hoped that nothing had happened to the cat.

Coincidence...

Wait...

It was quite odd that the cat had appeared on the same night he had met his stranger for the first time. 

Hob had been so happy with this bond with the little animal that he had never realized how unusual it was. He had never sought to know more.

What if?

Hob shook his head, he had probably had too much to drink and was imagining things.

Yes, but after all, extraordinary things did exist, he had lived for over six hundred years, could not die, and had been meeting the same person all that time who also did not seem to age.

He had seen this man blow sand and bewitch a lady.

So why be surprised if...

If this man and the cat were the same entity!

His excitement died down quickly because he figured that if they both didn't show up tonight, it meant that his stranger didn't want to see him at all.

He walked over to his car and as he kicked a pebble, he muttered, in a disgusted way, "Well done Hob, well done..."

He sat down behind the wheel and dropped his head on it.

After a few moments he raised his head and, turning the key, he murmured, "Well, I'll have to find a way to buy and or build a new inn and let my stranger know where it is, just in case..."

He ran a hand over his face and continued, as he started the car, "I won't give up or my name isn't Hob Gadling."

Nowadays

Once outside, Hobband Dream stood in silence for a few moments in front of the door, neither of them ready to say the words that would really end the meeting. 

"A hundred years, then?"

"A hundred years."

Hob was the first to break the silence, "After so many years of thinking I had lost you...er I mean your friendship, I am so happy now that I could kiss you. " 

Dream looked at him with a half smile on his lips and replied, "Why don't you?"

Hob chuckled and retorted, "Not until the first date."

Dream murmured, "Well you almost did it in a way?"

Hob looked at him quizzically, "What?"

Dream shook his head and said, "Forget it." before looking away.

He didn't see Hob's expression and they remained in silence for a few moments.

Then Hob said, a glint of mischief in his eye, "I guess I won't be seeing my furry friend tonight either."

Dream turned his head sharply toward him and exclaimed, "You knew?"

Hob shook his head, "No, it was just a hunch I had on the date you missed. Too much of a coincidence."

Dream replied, sheepishly, "I'm sor-"

Hob gave a little pat on Dream's nose, "Don't be, I was pretty happy to have this particular friend over the centuries." Then he pouted, "But that's not fair, you know so much about me and I know almost nothing."

It was Dream's turn to pat Hob's nose, "Well the good thing is that now you have eternity to learn everything from me and you don't have to wait a hundred years for it."

Hob chuckled and then challenged him with his eyes before replying softly, "How about twenty-four hours from now?"

He didn't wait for an answer and turned on his heels to head for his house.

"Hob?"

He stopped and turned to Dream, who had not moved. His friend gauged him with his eyes as he so often did and said softly, almost in a whisper, "See you tomorrow. "

Hob tried to hide his surprise, but couldn't, then nodded and replied, "See you tomorrow... Dream."

He walked a few meters and took a last look back, but Dream had already disappeared. Hob smiled and shrugged before continuing on his way.

"Meow?" 

He looked down and saw with delight his furry friend pressing against his legs.

He bent down and took him in his arms. His nose in the silky black fur, "Now I know what your name is."

Dream tucked his head into Hob's neck and began to purr.

Hob chuckled, "We do a lot of things before the first official date. If it's like that, I'm going to take you home with me, you know?"

Dream merely purred even louder against Hob's neck as the man laughed lightly, "You're really adorable in your cat form, but..."

He set him down on the ground and continued, "We have eternity ahead of us and I don't want to waste anything by cutting corners."

He scratched Dream's chin and, rising to his feet, he said softly, "See you tomorrow, my beautiful stranger."

He had not finished his sentence when he saw in wonder as Dream shifted into human form. 

Then the Lord of Dreams took his hand and, raising it to his lips, kissed it gently before whispering, "You, Hob Gadling, are truly amazing."

After these words, he gently released the man's hand and Hob, after a last lingering glance, turned around and went on his way.

He couldn't resist taking one last look at Dream who was watching him with a smile on his lips and an indescribable emotion in his eyes. 

A promise of much more to come.

As he continued on his way, Hob felt that gaze on him for a long moment.

He could not wait for the next day to see Dream again.

Hob Gadling, the embodiment of hope, had never been as hopeful as he was right now.

_________

Still not beta'd

Still not my native language

Still hoping you'll enjoy this story  🥰

Still thanking you for bearing with me 😝

Dreamling Masterlist here

[maria-rayro]

catboy!Hector. part 1/??

- when he was a little boy, his mother abused him, including dragging him by his ear, pulling his tail and kicking. the atmosphere of violence greatly oppressed the boy, and he grew up with inner anger at himself and all the world

- managed to grow up strong and brave man and even started working for the FBI, investigating crimes

- finds comfort around cats, so he has a cat named Holmes at home

- really wants affection and love, but he is very shy - like a street kitten, who has only been kicked all his life. so when Charlie shows up and tries to be gentle with him, it scares Hector. Charlie patiently tames him, giving him time to get used to himself, and one day Hector finally decides to come very close to him and bury his nose in his neck, silently asking for a hug. Charlie, of course, hugs him, stroking his back.

- Hector drinking beer and looking at Charles, and at some point saying awkwardly "um ... can you do that thing, please?"

"what thing?"

and Hector just shrugged in embarrassment. Charles, fortunately, nevertheless understands what he meant, and approaches him, gently burying his fingers in his hair and softly scratching him behind the ears. Munday purrs with pleasure for the first time in his life.

- Hector is the type of cats that adore their owner, but hate all other living beings. besides, he is a terrible possessivener, and every time Charlie comes home smelling of another person or, God forbid, a cat, he hugs him from the back and bites him on the neck. mine mine mine.

- One of the basic instincts of cats is to hunt. that's why hector loves role-playing games in which Charles plays his prey 👀

- One day Charlie is sad and doesn't want to show this to Hector and locks himself in the bathroom. Hector senses that something is wrong and timidly scratches at the door until Lonnit opens and falls into his arms.

- randomly slaps a fly that has landed on a wall

- likes to look out the window at the birds

- does not meow. ever. well, almost. if charles tries really hard, he might lose control of himself. but then he will feel terribly embarrassed and will immediately do everything so that Charlie forgets about this incident

- when he was offended by Lonnit, he, with the look of an indifferent bitch, simply pushed the mug off the table. just for no reason. right in front of his eyes.

- sometimes calls Charles a cute little mouse

- very often stares at one point. Well, like all cats.

- One day, just for the sake of experiment, Lonnit sprayed on himself a catnip, and that evening Hector seemed to go crazy. he did not let him out of bed, licked his neck, squeezed him in his arms, never stopping to whisper in his ear some silly things. he constantly wagged his tail and beat it noisily on the bed. Charlie was, well... satisfied.

[jeanbie]

Hii!! 💗 I have only just discovered ur account but I love it :D And I wanted to ask if u could do : "how would aot characters feel about cats?" IDK I JUST FIND THIS CUTEE 😤🤩

AOT! AND CATS ★ masterlist.

⏤ eren

likes cats, but thinks dogs are better

always tries too hard to be liked by said cat and has a million cat-related wounds on his hands and arms

eren can be heavy handed and so he’s worried cats will dislike him because he likes to play rough

likes watching cute cat reels on instagram though and makes the effort to say hi to armin’s cat when he gets the chance

⏤ armin

adores cats

his mum had a cat when he was younger and then they adopted a second cat when he got a bit older

his cat is an off-white colour with big blue eyes

armin understands the personality of cats and is perfectly content letting his cat do whatever she wants when she feels like it

is the type of cat-dad/brother who buys way too much stuff for their cat

armin could be on his last few pennies of the month and he’d still somehow end up with money to buy something stupid for his cat

⏤ mikasa

prefers cats to dogs, mostly because she gets scared when dogs jump up and bark

mikasa always tends to attract cats when she’s at somebody’s house, and has a knack for beckoning over strays she sees on the street

she is usually the receiver of the reels eren finds on instagram so she always likes watching cute cat videos too

really wants a cat of her own but she doesn’t know if she’d be a good owner

she’d worry about stepping on it or not feeding it or not giving it the love it needs or wants

⏤ jean

feels kind of awkward around cats

he doesn’t like their claws or the way they sniff you accusingly and jump around from furniture to furniture

but he tries too hard to get cats to like him and when they don’t, he acts like he doesn’t like cats anyway

he thinks that they’re cute to look at and are very soft but armin’s cat hates his guts and so he has a stick up his ass about cats

⏤ connie

likes cats a lot

does not care when they scratch him or bite him

he will baby talk to the cat, carry it like a baby, he’ll annoy it to death

probably actually allergic to cat fur but likes cats too much so he won’t confess to it

⏤ sasha

same as connie, she likes cats more than cats like her

but she’s not allowed to be around armin’s cat because she gets too excited and shares her snacks and cats aren’t allowed to eat some foods

she’s probably tried to eat cat food or cat treats before just out of curiosity

tries to communicate with the cat and swears on her life that once the cat meowed in reply

⏤ historia

has a special way with cats

looks literally regal when they’re on her lap and owns a cat herself

her cat probably eats high brand foods and is on a special diet and has the cleanest fur and a princess castle tower

gets very emotional when cats go missing in her neighbourhood

and gets quite protective of her animals

⏤ ymir

doesn’t like cats

pretends to like historia’s cat because she knows that if historia was going to pick one over the other, then she’d pick the cat

ymir has personal beef with historia’s cat and will call it names or talk shit about it when historia’s not in the room

doesn’t care for the way they scratch you for no reason sometimes

tries to drop hints that historia’s cat wants to kill her to see if historia will get rid of it (never works)

⏤ reiner

forgets that cats aren’t the same as dogs

used armin and historia’s cats as weights when they all got together one time and nearly lost an eye when armin’s cat declared war

never gets personally offended when cats don’t care about him and will always find them cute when they walk into the room

probably likes dogs more though

doesn’t know how to have fun with a cat

⏤ berthold

really loves cats but feels shy when he’s around them

is too timid to stroke them and feels anxious when they jump on him or on his lap

one time he fell asleep like a cat would and now everybody brings it up when a cat is sleeping in the same room as him

“ha looks like you bertie”

⏤ annie

does like cats but an average amount

couldn’t see herself owning any pets personally but she’ll never treat other pets differently

respects that cats need their privacy and time alone, much like she does

strokes behind their ears if they come near her but mostly she will let it wander around without fuss

⏤ levi

really likes and respects cats

he likes dogs a lot too but not for the same reason that he likes cats

he tends to be a lure for cats and they like to snuggle on his lap, mostly because he doesn’t do much to make a cat feel anxious or stressed out

he doesn’t like when cats (or dogs) leave a mess on the floor or on clothes but if its not his pet then he doesn’t care about what state they leave someone else’s room in

likes to play with the feather wand with cats because it maintains that space between the two of them

⏤ erwin

lets stray cats into his house when its cold and gets confused when they try and come back in on a later date

always looks at cats to buy online but never does

he will always love dogs that bit more but he thinks cats are very adorable

but he’s not sure if his dog will love a cat the same way

⏤ hange

is fascinated by cats

genuinely believes that cats have magical powers and 9 lives and probably talks to cats as if they can understand them

they hold them like they’re antiques or science experiments, like they needs to observe their frame

laughs when they are attacked by them

tests cats boundaries without realising that they're overdoing it

⏤ zeke

ponders life to the cat

tries to hug the cat like its a stuffed animal and when he gets attacked he takes it really personally

⏤ gabi and falco

once pulled on the tail of a cat, got attacked and are now deathly afraid

falco wants to like cats but he’s just too damn scared

⏤ other warriors

indifferent

pieck would be the best with cats out of the warriors, definitely tries to act like a cat sometimes to everybody’s discomfort

[thebeeandhishoney]

When I was a kid, I remember my elementary school teacher once asked me: what makes you happy? Like how kids do, I answer him with new toys, long holidays, expensive stationery, and a vacation. I know it’s cliché but that’s what a kid thought. I was just a kid.

Soon as I grow up, I realize that other than big things that can bring me happiness, small things could do it too. Sometimes even better.

I don’t always need a long holiday (sometimes I really do), expensive stuffs, or a trip to Disneyland. Sometimes, I find happiness through the smallest thing around me. I find happiness through people I meet on the street. I find happiness through my family talking to each others and have a small talk with some good laughter. I find happiness through a random cat on the coffeeshop that keeps stroking its body to my legs. I find happiness through my friends and their lame jokes. I find happiness through those small, nearly unnoticed things. If I don’t realize those things could also make me happy, they wouldn’t make me happy.

Another example, I also find happiness through talking to you. The cheesy ones, the boring ones, the long-ass paragraph ones, nearly every talk with you, I am happy. I feel contented. To know that I have someone like you by my side, everything is complete. You are my cherry on top, Khai. I got the cake to enjoy and I got you as my cherry on top. You might feel like you’re not doing much for me, but you complete me.

So, whenever you think about how you could do better for me, let me tell you something: you already do. And no matter how small it is, I will forever treasure you.

[hella1975]

it's very easy to take a period of badness in your life and translate that to mean everything has been unsatisfying. like im such a nightmare for 'bad thing has happened and put me in a bad place mentally, i am now going to convince myself that life has always been this bad and, what's more, will continue to be this bad' but that's just not true? and it's important to remind yourself of that. i have sat in a bathtub with my friend before, dying their hair blue while we passed around a bottle of peach schnapps. i have sang abba on the tube at 3am with people who weren't scared to sing just as loud if not louder. i have seen cities and towns and villages and i will see more. i am an adult and last week i got in a pillow fight while watching pirates of the caribbean with a girl i didn't even know a few months ago. every friday i go to the coffee shop my friend works at and we get to stay past close, get to watch this quiet corner of life shut down. sometimes i get free drinks, or a croissant, and we all get the bus home together. when i am alone in bed in the dark, everything feels so underwhelming, but i wont always be in this bed. i will get up tomorrow, and something a little beautiful will happen, even if i spend the day inside, even if it's just my flatmate giving me her mango juice because she doesn't like it but she noticed i always buy juice, even if it's just messaging people i love. i wonder who i will meet next, where i will go next. there's so much left to see but only if you keep looking

[sheetsonfire]

In The Morning

Fandom: Chicago Fire

Pairing: Brian Zvonecek x Fem Reader

Genre: Fluff, romance

Warnings: None

Word Count: 754

Summary: Brian comes home to his girlfriend from a shift, a cute little one-shot.

-

It’s around 7am when you hear the muffled thunk of the door closing and the faint click of the latch being connected. You can envision it in your head, the toeing off of his shoes, the rustle of his jacket as he tries to hang it up without knocking anything over - he had an irrational fear of being clumsy when coming home, and he hated waking you up.

You smile in your bleary-eyed haze of sleep, scooting over from your sprawled position on the bed to make room for your companion coming up the stairs, you hear his awkward halted steps and it makes you shake slightly with giggles beneath the duvet, he really was too much of a worrier for his own good.

The door swooshes quietly open and then closes once again with a quiet click too, then comes the sound of his jeans and t-shirt hitting the pile of other clothes in the laundry bag, and you finally encourage your eyes to open properly. The faint light of the street lamp illuminates his kind face, daylight not yet fully appearing. You smile at his soft expression as you catch his hazel eyes already looking at you, adoring. 

Your voice is thick with sleep when you speak, “Mhm, hey, love. How was it?” You scoot yourself up a little so you can focus on him properly, wiggling your fingers as you invite him into bed. He wastes no time in scooting under the covers, freshly showered from the firehouse, you took a second to inhale his conditioner as you carded your hand through his hair, kissing his cheek, moving to brush your lips against his softly, his moustache scratching ever so slightly. He hums, a warm hand resting on your waist. 

“It was alright, daytime had a construction mishap, plenty of stove fires, not too busy tonight, a few car wrecks, a small car fire, no fatalities. Got to come home to you, I’d say that I’m doing alright.”

You smile sleepily, “Mhm, that does sound like a fair enough deal.” Tugging him down against the pillows so you can nestle into him, feeling him kiss the top of your head.

“Smells like Baba’s baking downstairs…” He murmurs, humming happily as you stroke along his arm, coming to rest your hand on his chest. 

“That’s good to hear, I did use Baba’s recipe…” You tease, not quite revealing what you’d made. He turns slightly to look at you with excitement, 

“You baked something using Baba’s handwriting?” His eyebrows go up, not even he could really make head nor tails of Baba’s delicate yet cryptic script sometimes. 

You snort, “Yes, using Baba’s handwriting, I’ve got good at reading it. Besides, she taught me last time she was here and I made notes then too.”

You feel Brian squeeze you closer, nuzzling into your neck, “Why are you the best?” He sighs happily, you knew how much giving him little pieces of home made him feel closer to his family, his Baba especially.

“Oh shush, it’s just baking, but I’m glad it puts a smile on that handsome little face of yours.” You pinch his cheek lightly and he chuckles softly. 

“You’ve spent too much time with that woman.” He remarks, amused and touched that you loved his grandma too, Joe had been harder to convince at first.

“We’ll see if it’s been enough when we try my Medovik later.” Brian groans, 

“God, if I wasn’t so tired I’d get back out of this bed and grab a slice now.” 

You playfully swat his arm, “No Medovik until you’ve got some proper rest… Besides, you’ve got a parcel from GameStop downstairs, so we can enjoy a morning of cake and cats.”

Brian’s copy of Stray for PS5 had finally arrived, and even you had been excited to muscle in on having a go. 

Your boyfriend sighs happily, rolling over with you to spoon you close, “Best day ever, let’s get some more sleep so it can come sooner.” 

You giggle, nodding, “Sounds good, baby, sounds good.” You would most likely get up in a few hours and let Brian sleep peacefully whilst you got some work done on your laptop and did the errands you needed to before spending time with him.

Holding onto Brian’s arms around you, you let yourself get a little more shuteye, the comforting weight of his body against yours lulls you into a deeper slumber than before, and the soft snores of your boyfriend go unheard by your ears.

-

Fin.

@dumb-fawkin-bitch

[dyns33]

Flufftober 4 - Only lovers left alive

Adam x Eve x Reader 

           "They came back."

           "The zombies ? I thought they came often, which really pisses you off all the time."

           "No. It's different. It's the little zombies."

Y/N looked up from her book to stare at Adam, who was circling the living room like a cat defending its territory, passing by the window to look through the curtain to see if the intruders had finally left. Eve didn't move, as she hadn't moved when someone rang, continuing to stroke Y/N's hair while humming.

It might sound strange, but since living with ​​vampires Y/N had lost track of time. Her days had turned into nights, the hours seemed to either go by terribly fast, or stand still for an eternity, and so she hadn't realized that Halloween night had arrived.

She could have guessed that it was a night that Adam hated even more than the others. Children, or 'little zombies' as he called them, kept coming asking for candy when they saw that there was some light.

           "They threw eggs." grumbled Adam, pressing his nose against the window. "On the door, and on my car."

           "That's what happens when you don't give them a treat. You get a trick."

           "It's a collector's car, very old, very precious. Next time, I'll open the door and eat one as an example."

           "We don't eat little zombies. Eve, tell him we don't eat little zombies."

           "Listen to our darling, love." she said continuing to play with her hair as if nothing had happened.

           "... Not even a finger ? To stop them from coming ?"

Of course, Adam wasn't really serious. He knew what would happen if he hurt a child. Not only was it wrong, he had never hurt a little zombie, when he was still a zombie himself and after his transformation, but also because even more zombies would disturb their serenity.

They might even have to move. Which he didn't want at all. He hated travelling even more than he hated humans.

Small humans in particular.

For her part, Eve still said nothing. She didn't really like mortals, but they fascinated her sometimes. She always wondered what incredible they were going to invent the next day. But not a word about the children.

           "You... Did you have children ?"

The two vampires turned to her, oblivious to the screams that echoed in the street.

           "I mean, before. Or after. Not in a conventional way of course, I understood that it was not possible, but by transforming them? Or is it prohibited perhaps ? I imagine that it is not a good idea to change a child. You wanted to have some ? You... Want to have some ?"

The couple said nothing, each suddenly looking at the other. Obviously they had never had this discussion, or very quickly, a very long time ago, and they had wanted to forget it.

Y/N then quickly changed the subject, asking if they had ever tried making blood candy. While Adam grimaced and indignantly thought of such horror, Eve remained silent.

Later, when Detroit was totally asleep and the musician was taking advantage of the calm to compose a new song while wearing his headphones, Y/N got up to face Eve.

           "You... You wanted children, didn't you ?"

           "You're funny, darling. Where do you get such an idea ? With Ava, Adam, and now you, I already have a lot of work. But to answer you clearly, no, never."

           "Really ?"

           "Really. However... Adam wanted some. At first."

           "Adam wanted children ?" Y/N whispered loudly, not sure if he could hear them through his headphones.

           "At first, as I just told you. He was devastated to learn that I couldn't biologically have one. Of course, he almost immediately talked about adoption. Then I turned him, he saw the world with my eyes and he gradually changed his mind. I'm not sure he really wanted a child. It was more the idea of ​​creating something with me, and we've created a lot together since."

           "It's still a bit sad."

           "Maybe. But it would also have been a lot of fear and argument. Beings like us avoid getting attached to too many people. It's so easy to lose our loved ones. Not only did he not want a child anymore, but for a long time Adam didn't want to see anyone but me. A real hermit. He only spoke to people if it was necessary, or if they were really exceptional, so very infrequently."

With a big smile, Eve then rubbed her head against Y/N's like a cat, to show her all her affection, and make her understand that she was special.

The three of them now formed a small family. Soon they would transform her, and they would be together forever, even when they weren't together, happy to know they would meet again at some point. .

They didn't need children for that.

           "I still wonder if Adam would have been a good father. I mean, I know he would, but I imagine him being very stressed."

           "Oh, darling, you know him so well." Eve purred, kissing her. "You just have to see how he behaves as soon as you have to leave the house. With a child it would be much worse. And you have to be prepared. When you're like us, he won't let you go anywhere alone for at least a century."

           "You're kidding ?"

           "No, she's not kidding." Adam replied, continuing to play the violin, still wearing his headphones and turning his back to them.

           "You are not my father !"

           "I don't see the connection. Zombies are dangerous, the world is dangerous, I'm only careful."

           "It's just excessive." translated their lover. "Don't worry, I'll be there to calm him down, so you can fly on your own. Even if I'll still be attentive. I don't want anything to happen to you either. "

           "It seems to me that we are all fine only because you are here to make sure of it." half joked Y/N.

This made Adam groan, who seemed to decide that he had composed enough for the night, and that he too deserved a little attention, going to slump between Y/N and Eve, silently asking for caresses and kisses.

They were going to meet his expectations when there was a very loud knock on the door.

           "Trick or Treat !" shouted adults several times, visibly drunk.

           "... I was wrong, big zombies are just as terrible as little zombies." mumbled Adam. "They're there later at night, and they're harder to scare."

           "And they'll piss on your car."

           "... I'll eat one, as a warning !"

Despite his best efforts, Adam couldn't get up, caught by his two lovers who held him down until the intruders left, showering him with all the love they could.

Adam was almost not angry the next day, when he had to wash his precious car with lot of water, the smell was unbearable for him.