#but times changed and the shows got better

[hoe4hotchner]

Can you write a story where the reader, a BAU member, is on maternity leave after she and Aaron just had a baby? One day, she goes to the office to bring their daughter to visit Aaron, only to find him in the bullpen with the agent who replaced her while she’s been on leave. The replacement has a crush on Aaron and doesn’t know that he’s married to the reader. The replacement becomes jealous when she sees how much attention Aaron is giving their daughter and confronts the reader, but Aaron gets angry and ends up firing her."

Family first | [A.H]

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x fem!reader | WC: 1.1k | CW: Fluff, mom!reader, they have a daugther, bitch of a replacement coworker who doesn't know her place.

As you stepped into the all too familiar bullpen you were met with the usual sound of phones ringing, keyboards clicking, and the occasional laughter bubbling up from conversations between team members. You hadn’t stepped foot in the office in months — your maternity leave had been an endless storm of sleepless nights, diaper changes, and indescribable moments of joy. Now, cradling your six-month-old daughter in your arms, you stood at the threshold of the office, taking it all in — realizing how little you'd missed working, as long as you got to spend your time with your daughter.

“Ready to surprise Daddy?” you cooed to your baby, brushing a soft kiss against her fluffy head. She giggled in response, her little hand grasping at your necklace — the one Aaron had gotten you with a charm of your daughter's initial. Her chubby fingers wrapped around the charm, and you couldn’t help but smile at her curiosity.

Heads turned as you had entered, and a wave of warmth spread through you as familiar voices from your friends greeted you.

“Y/N!” Garcia’s exclamation came first as she flew across the bullpen, pulling away from her conversation with Morgan, her colorful dress trailing behind her. “Oh my gosh, let me see that precious little angel!”

You laughed, carefully handing over your daughter as Garcia immediately began cooing at her. Emily, Morgan, and JJ soon gathered around, their faces lighting up at the sight of the baby.

“Look at those cheeks,” Morgan said, his voice soft as he tickled her tiny hand. “Hotch better have her signed up for karate classes already. Gotta keep the boys away.”

“Or girls,” Emily added. “She’s going to be a heartbreaker either way.”

You beamed at their affection, the team’s love for your little family filling your heart. “Where is Aaron?” you asked, glancing toward his office. The blinds were drawn, but you knew he wasn’t inside.

JJ nodded toward the conference room. “He’s in there, showing something to Agent Morrison.”

Your smile faltered slightly at the mention of Morrison, the agent who had been brought in temporarily to cover your leave. You hadn’t met her yet, but you’d heard through the grapevine that she was ambitious, skilled, and confident — maybe a little too confident.

You spotted Aaron through the windows, his back turned as he reviewed what you assumed were some case files with Morrison. He looked relaxed yet tired, his tie slightly loosened, though his usual air of authority remained in place. Morrison stood close to him — a little too close — her laughter ringing out at something he said.

Your lips pressed into a thin line, but you pushed the feeling aside. Aaron was your husband, your partner, and the father of the baby currently making grabby hands at Morgan’s face. You had no reason to feel insecure.

Morgan handed your daughter back to you as you went to greet your husband.

And still, as you approached, you couldn’t help but notice the way Morrison’s body language leaned toward him, her hand brushing his forearm as she laughed again. Aaron didn’t seem to notice — or if he did, he wasn’t encouraging it.

When you reached the conference room, Aaron glanced up, and the moment his eyes met yours, his entire demeanor softened.

“Y/N,” he said, his voice filled with warmth and surprise. His gaze immediately dropped to the baby in your arms, and he stood quickly, coming around the desk to envelop you both in a hug.

“You should’ve told me you were coming,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to your temple before gently brushing a finger across your daughter’s cheek. She squealed in delight, reaching out for him, and he took her into his arms with ease.

“It wouldn’t have been a surprise if I told you,” you replied, grinning as you watched him cradle her. “I figured you could use a break.”

Aaron’s smile widened, and he kissed the baby’s forehead before turning back to you. “I always have time for my girls.”

Morrison’s voice cut into the moment, a hint of confusion lacing her words. “Wait, your girls?”

You turned to her, offering a polite smile. “Hi, I’m Y/N. Aaron’s wife.”

Her eyes widened, darting between you, Aaron, and the baby. “Wife?” she repeated, her tone almost incredulous.

Aaron’s arm settled protectively around your waist as he nodded. “Yes, my wife. Y/N used to work here before going on maternity leave.”

Morrison’s expression shifted, her initial surprise giving way to something more guarded. “Oh. I… I didn’t realize.”

“Well, now you do,” Aaron said firmly, his tone polite but edged with finality, hoping that your visit would make Morrison drop her antics.

The tension in Morrison’s posture was clear as day, but she pasted on a smile. “She’s adorable,” she said, nodding toward the baby. “You’re very lucky.”

Aaron’s grip on you tightened slightly. “I know I am.”

The interaction seemed to conclude there, and Morrison excused herself, claiming she had paperwork to finish. But as the day went on, it became clear that the encounter had unsettled her. You noticed her watching you from across the room, her eyes narrowing whenever Aaron’s attention lingered on you or the baby.

Finally, as you were gathering your things to leave, Morrison approached you near the elevator. Her smile was tight, her tone clipped.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?” she asked, glancing around to ensure no one else was within earshot.

You raised an eyebrow but nodded. “Sure. What’s on your mind?”

Her polite facade dropped almost instantly. “You don’t have to flaunt your relationship in front of everyone,” she said sharply. “It’s unprofessional.”

Your jaw tightened, but you kept your voice calm. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

She scoffed. “You know exactly what I mean. Walking in here with your baby like you own the place, acting like Hotch is your personal property… It’s distracting and completely inappropriate.”

You blinked, stunned by the audacity. Before you could respond, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

“Agent Morrison.”

Aaron’s tone was ice-cold, and you turned to see him standing a few feet away, his expression thunderous. “A word, please. Now.”

Morrison’s face paled as she stammered, “I… I didn’t mean…”

“My office. Now.”

You watched as Aaron led her away, his posture stiff with fury. The bullpen had fallen silent, and you could feel the eyes of your colleagues on you, but you held your head high, refusing to let Morrison’s pettiness rattle you.

Minutes later, Aaron returned, his expression softer but still serious. He placed a hand on your arm, guiding you toward the elevator. “Let’s go home,” he said quietly.

As the elevator doors closed, you glanced up at him. “What happened?”

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Morrison won’t be returning. Her behavior was unacceptable, and I made it clear that we won’t tolerate that kind of attitude here.”

You nodded, your heart swelling with gratitude and love for the man beside you. “Thank you.”

Aaron’s eyes softened as he leaned down to press a kiss to your forehead. “No one disrespects my family,” he said firmly. “No one.”

[xhyjin]

thinking about nanami kento! (when am i not) with a s/o that is socially awkward/shy

he knew from the start that you were distant. during work parties, you never showed up, only clocking in to work and leaving once your duties were done, never lingering to chat or mingle. the rare times you did attend, you stayed in the corners, quietly observing with wide, nervous eyes and a faint blush coloring your cheeks. he couldn’t help but be intrigued, and one day, curiosity got the better of him. he approached you. your words stuttered, your face burned red, but there was something about the way you responded that made him instantly drawn to you. from that moment, you became his reason to look forward to work every day.

he began to notice the little things about you. how you stayed tucked away in your cubicle, only speaking to coworkers when necessary. how you spent your lunch breaks alone, either watching a show on your phone or quietly eating, lost in your own thoughts. and how, at the end of the day, he’d sometimes catch you smiling to yourself in the elevator, as though you’d found happiness in the smallest of things. it fascinated him how content you seemed in your own world, and after weeks of silently admiring you, he finally decided to approach you properly.

but he was careful—patient. he knew you were shy and reserved, so he didn’t want to overwhelm you. he started small, spending lunch breaks with you. at first, the silence between you both was awkward, though not unwelcome. you blushed furiously at the attention but didn’t push him away. instead, you quietly shared bits of your lunch with him, a subtle gesture that said, i’m glad you’re here. he knew you struggled with words, so he didn’t press. instead, he let his presence speak for itself, slowly building a bridge of comfort between the two of you.

when kento finally worked up the courage to ask you out, making it clear that this wasn’t just work-related but a date; you could hardly believe it. your eyes widened, and then you nodded eagerly, your happiness shining through. his heart swelled at your reaction. he had planned a simple outing, maybe a cafe, but seeing your excitement, he wanted to make it special. he made reservations at a nice restaurant, ensuring you’d have a secluded spot to enjoy your time without pressure.

the date started just as he expected. you were quiet, your voice barely above a whisper when you responded to him, sticking mostly to “yes” or “no” answers. but kento was nothing if not patient. he asked small, simple questions, easing you into a conversation, and when he mentioned something you loved, your entire demeanor changed. your eyes lit up, your voice grew stronger, and you started talking more, rambling on about your interests. you didn’t even realize how much you’d been speaking until the waitress interrupted to take your order. your face turned crimson as you sulked in embarrassment, worried you’d talked too much. but when you glanced at kento, his gaze was soft, a gentle smile on his lips, he looked utterly captivated.

ordering was its own challenge. you felt embarrassed, too shy to tell the waitress what you wanted. kento noticed your hesitation and, with a subtle nudge of his foot under the table, gave you something to focus on. you nudged him back, and it was enough to calm your nerves, allowing you to place your order. he was thoughtful like that, always finding quiet ways to make you feel at ease.

by the end of the date, you’d grown comfortable enough to start asking him questions. the two of you talked for so long that you didn’t notice the restaurant had emptied. when you finally left, the night felt far from over. kento drove you to the beach, where the two of you walked hand in hand along the shore. the sound of the waves filled the comfortable silence between you, and when you stopped to look at the moonlight reflecting on the water, he turned to you and asked, “may i kiss you?”

your heart raced, but you nodded, and when he kissed you, it was as if you were something fragile, precious. he didn’t want to rush you or make you uncomfortable, but under the glow of the moon, he couldn’t resist the beauty of the moment—or of you.

after that, the two of you continued to grow closer, going on more dates and eventually making it official. over time, you began to come out of your shell, though you still retained your social awkwardness. kento loved every part of you, from the way you stumbled over your words to the way you blushed under his gaze. to him, you were perfect exactly as you were, and he made sure you always knew it.

[ardentguilt]

Jumping on here to say that I honestly don’t get why this is a controversial act.

To me it’s just common sense that if you feel you can’t give the best care to a pet (whether it be for health conditions for either party, financial troubles, not getting along or even changed schedules meaning you don’t have the time to give them as much attention as is ideal)

Better to rehome the animal to someone who can handle it/give it the care and attention it needs rather than to keep the animal and have it potentially suffer through not consistently getting what it needs to stay happy and healthy not just physically but mentally/emotionally too.

Some of you who follow me know I recently obtained a young bearded dragon. I obtained him through his original owner needing to regime him as they’d had changed work schedules that meant they didn’t feel they had the spare time to give him the attention he needs and they knew he’d be a lot happier in a home where he will get consistent attention and care.

There’s nothing morally wrong with rehoming a pet for any reason.

If anything rehoming a pet may even take some pressure of often packed and understaffed rescue shelters if you organise it yourself via a rehoming group or the like.

I got my dragon through a Facebook group dedicated to refining and rescuing dragons in my country where people who need to rehome a dragon can put up a post with some photos and relevent info but members can also make posts asking if anyone in whatever area has a dragon that needs rehoming which is what I did.

This meant that Apollo got to stay with his original owner while we were in contact and I asked what questions I needed to and we organised a pickup day and time and I just showed up as agreed and collected him so Apollo didn’t have to spend any time in a shelter during this and that did make the transition to a new home less stressful for him and he settled in very quickly.

hi! can i ask what's ur opinion on giving pets away? not necessarily because u can't afford to care for em anymore but maybe incompatibility of personalities or maybe lifestyles. is it wrong to give ur pet for adoption if u know someone who's better suited for keeping a pet, like emotionally?

This is going to be controversial, but I support making that choice.

There’s a lot of rhetoric lately around how it’s evil and unethical to rehome your pet if you don’t “need to.” And what that does is prioritize human ideology over the actual animal’s well-being.

Pets that aren’t a good match for your home or pets that aren’t really wanted anymore frequently have lower welfare! When caring for an animal becomes a burden or is forced, people end up resenting them, and that means the animal often doesn’t get all of its needs fulfilled. Even if you’re still feeding it and providing appropriate vet care, how likely are you to provide affection or enrichment to an animal you’re tired of being stuck with?

Lifestyle and personality really matter to making sure a pet is a good fit for a home. A dog that alert-barks at every leaf that moves is probably a bad fit for someone who has a chronic migraine syndrome, and they might not know that until the dog has been in the home for weeks and started to open up. A really feisty kitten that requires a ton of play might not do best in the home of someone older who wanted a quiet lap cat. And while you can you do your best to plan to find a compatible animal, you won’t always know ahead of time what issues might arise.

“Forever home” rhetoric is really, really popular and I think it’s very unfair to the animals it is supposed to support. It started with the backlash of seeing animals abandoned inappropriately, and has been heavily reinforced in the public mind because it’s so frequently used to drive fundraising and support for legislation. The whole “forever home” concept communicates to people that getting an animal is an immutable commitment and that if you can’t keep an animal, it is a personal moral failing. It frames human priorities (we think people who get rid of animals are Evil and Bad and should be shunned) as more important than actual welfare needs for individual animals (are they getting the care they need where they are).

Obviously, I don’t support people dumping animals or just getting fad pets they’ll discard immediately, but there’s so many alternate situations that can arise. Even if it’s just “they got a pet and didn’t know what caring for it would take and didn’t want to care for it so they brought it back, how awful” like… okay, I’d like the person to have done more research before they got a pet, but isn’t it better that the animal now has a second chance to go to better home? Knowing what a commitment requires theoretically can be very different than having to actually follow through regularly, and I’d rather see someone maturely acknowledge that having an animal isn’t a good fit than keep it anyway!!

If animals being happy and with all their biological, veterinary, and social needs fulfilled is actually the goal, we need to prioritize their welfare over human opinion. I’d much rather see an animal rehomed responsibly to somewhere it will thrive and be welcomed than see people keep animals they can’t/don’t want to care for out of guilt or shame. 

[toxycodone]

mouthwashing characters when you’re depressed

ship. tulpar crew x reader cw. sfw + fluff/comfort

an. s/o to @xyfanficarchive for the Daisuke ideas!!!! my muse…

Curly

Oh he gets it. Full understands what you’re going through. (You can’t tell me he isn’t on some sort of anxiety/depression meds or at least got a potential diagnosis).

Curly most likely predicted that a depressive episode was coming. Whatever your key “tell” is: whether you start pulling back, issues sleeping, more nonchalant, appetite changes, it starts setting off bells in his head and he’s prepping.

He doesn’t wanna outright ask “are you depressed?” (He doesn’t know how to approach the subject at first really). So he just acts/reacts accordingly. He makes meals, helps you shower/bathe (he’s not gonna force you every day but if you go 2 or more days without it he’s putting you in there himself).

He even does little things like making sure you wash your face at least once a day and brush your teeth too.

Honestly, he does enjoy taking care of you. I think this is how he’d show he loves you for real. Even when you’re at your lowest you’re worth caring for. (It also distracts from his own issues buuuuut. That’s another story.)

My only qualm is I think he has that “toxic positivity” mindset unknowingly. He’s always like “it’s gonna get better! you need to drink more water/take vitamins/work out!” (these are just things he’s constantly telling himself tbh).

But Curly isn’t stupid. Like he will quickly pick up that’s not working for you and not what you need to hear and shift into a “shut up and help out” mindset. He moves from self help mode to just being there for you. I really have this mental image of him just hugging you on the couch and talking about his day. Sneaking in a few kisses or just giving compliments. But also if you’re not into that he just rubs your back while you bedrot. You’re quiet but enjoying time together and you know he’s there for you.

Jimmy

Been there, done that.

Okay, but seriously. He’s not to pressed at first. He’s basically living between bouts of depression, general neutrality, and mania. So this just seems like an inevitable “phase” you gotta go through.

But this is what makes him the most realistic when dealing with this. Jimmy isn’t gonna baby you or anything. He’s just like “it be like that” forreal. And unlike curly he’s not gonna rebuttal with reasons why life is great and why you shouldn’t be sad, he’s gonna agree. You say life is shit? Yeah, Jimmy 100% agrees. You two commiserate and it’s actually really cathartic because for once someone doesn’t make you feel crazy for being so down when there’s “so much to live for”.

He self medicates when he’s depressed. You’re getting offered pills or alcohol or a blunt or something. Whether you take it is up to you.

I can say Jimmy, for once, would stay sober. If he’s in a good enough mental state he’ll take one for the team and trip sit you or whatever so you can get that nice dopamine rush in peace.

Jimmy thinks it’s insane that he’s doing this, but when you’re depressed, and like really depressed—going through one of those terrible phases he’s been through before, he genuinely feels sympathetic. And it prompts him to do things he never thought. By that I mean doing your laundry, cooking what he can, making the bed. He doesn’t really get why, but he wants to do this and only for you. He really is angry about the fact no one has done this for him when he was in the same boat, but the thought of you having to suffer like he did? Just no. He’s gonna pitch in. He just has to.

But again, he’s best for commiserating. You two bitch heavily about how much the world sucks over way too many beers on his back porch. Probably throw rocks or smash junk while absolutely hammered, too. Then the next morning you’re hungover as shit and spend the day recovering before it’s back to “it is what it is.” Like yeah, it sucks and you feel like shit, but at least you have each other in your corners. If one of you is still kicking, it’s only fair the other is too.

Anya

Like Curly, she knew this was coming a mile away. Anya is not stupid. She’s spent so much time with her nose in psychology books that she gets tipped off insanely fast.

Unlike Curly though, she wants to address the problem. Anya starts gently at first with a simple “are you okay?” It opens the floor for you to be honest. And if you aren’t willing to talk about it or if you mask it with an “I’m fine!” She just. Frowns. Anya does not believe it, but she’s not gonna force you.

Until you start with more textbook symptoms. Then she’s like “I think you might be having a depressive episode.” She’s not letting you dance around it by then. You two are facing this head on.

and the good thing is that you guys talk about it. Like actually talk. Anya listens, lets you say your peace. Nods in understanding and shows you she’s actively taking her time to understand you. Then instead of giving her two cents, she asks you what you want her to do. Anya wants to know how she can help you in the moment and in the long run.

And she does it! Whatever she’s able to, she’s gonna do it. Anya is a really reliable partner and just truly solid. It can be anything from sharing a shower, ordering takeout and chilling on the couch, or even if you just need her to be in the same room but leave you the fuck alone—she’s there for you.

She’s definitely recommending tips from psychology books too. Journaling, eating spicy foods, getting a little exercise if possible—you guys go down a laundry list to help kick this episode in the butt.

And then when the time comes, you two have a good conversation about therapy/medication. (Don’t worry she won’t offer to be your therapist and encourages you to see a neutral third party you can be honest with)

Daisuke

Okay…Daisuke is a bit of a mixed bag. I think he’s been sad, but not truly depressed.

He doesn’t catch the warning signs, so at first when it hits, Daisuke just thinks you’re in a bit of a funk. It’s okay! He’s been through this before. And he’s happy to help you out of it!

Daisuke takes you to the arcade, thrifting, maybe on a little shopping spree…but when that doesn’t work (or when he can’t even encourage you to do it in the first place), Dai hits a wall.

He’s confused. And worried. Really worried about you. This depends on you as a person and whether it makes you feel better or worse, but I think it’s very visible how your depressive episodes affect him. Until he really understands what it is and what it means, Daisuke’s really fretting when this happens.

And so…he voices that concern. “I just noticed that you seem sad. Like, really sad. And I don’t know what to do!” So!! He asks!! What can he do to help you? Or do you even want his help?

And whatever your answer is, he does it. He’ll give you reminders that he loves you, takes care of you, even binges shitty tv shows over even more terrible for you junk food. As long as he can just keep showing he’s there for you and that you’re worth it. That he loves you even when you’re at your lowest…that’s what matters the most.

And just being the goof he is, he’s gonna do things to make you smile. Dancing around the kitchen, showing you his playlist of funny TikToks, cracking some stupid jokes he may or may not have stolen from Twitter. Any time he can crack even a hint of a smile he’s fist pumping and celebrating.

And then…he is probably going to recommend therapy. (He has an awesome adhd therapist he’s working w so. He’s singing the praises for it to you.)

Swansea

Oddly enough I really see him similar to Jimmy. Swansea’s so realistic he’s just like “you’re depressed? Yeah life sucks, so what? You keep going.”

But he’s smart enough to not be like “just get off your ass”. He takes pity on you, whether he likes it or not. Seeing you out of your element does make him upset.

He’s a comiserater, but he’s always going to counter with like “but we keep going anyways.” And if you’re like “but why?” He’s like “why not?”

Like yeah, shit isn’t always good, so you settle for mediocrity. Because the mundane can actually be really nice. Swansea’s a simple pleasures man—good coffee, good food, good times spent relaxing either alone or with the ones you love. That’s what makes it all worth it.

Swansea’s like “you can have your little moments where it all seems like shit, but eventually you gotta face the music and go back to reality.”

He’s a very grounding presence, though. I’ll give him that. He’s also 100% going to cook for you. And you can tell he cares because he has difficulty leaving you alone. He hopes that you seeing him doing stuff. Persisting. That it’ll give you some hope.

and when you start getting more back to normal, showing interest again in your usual hobbies or responsibilities—you can see a weight visibly lift off his shoulders.

[spanktony]

“I’LL DO ANYTHING.” - anora.

summary: when you snap at anora, she leaves your place pissed, and you come back begging to make things right.

words: 2.3k +

warnings: 18+, fem!reader, oral (a receiving), fingering (a receiving), begging, ani calls u a good girl, reader is a meanie for a bit then turns to a lil bitch, this is bad, and yeah let me know if there’s more.

navigation. request.

tired would be an understatement of how you felt right now. your head pounded, each beat following up with a sigh from your boss's mouth, reminding you of the looming deadline for the project that still needed to be completed.

so, here you were on a call at 9:48 in the morning, on a day you were supposed to be off, with three other colleagues discussing the next steps for the project.

you rubbed your eyes, trying to shake off the heaviness that had settled deep in your bones. you sat at your desk, a few feet away from anora's side of the bed, which made it harder to resist the temptation to crawl back under the covers and ignore the world for a little while longer. but you knew better. you couldn't afford to.

literally.

your phone buzzed on the desk, shifting your attention from one screen to the other. oh shit. the driver. you had planned a low-key day with anora—just the two of you—but now it seemed like that might have to wait.

your stomach sank as you glanced at the message: i'm here. do you want me to grab anything for you two?

you quickly typed back: no, that's fine. you can come inside and wait. i'm in a meeting; it shouldn't take too long.

hopefully…

you hoped anora wouldn't be too disappointed with the change of plans. the message sent, and you set your phone down again, the screen lighting up, showing the call you've been on for... three ongoing hours?!

behind you, anora stirred, waking up from her deep sleep. "good morning," she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.

you turned slightly, offering a tired smile as you double-checked to make sure you were still muted on your work call. "good morning, babe. sleep well?"

"mmm-hmm," she hummed, stretching. you heard the soft crack of her spine as she reached her arms over her head, a sound that made your heart swell a little. she padded across the hardwood floor with that familiar grace, her feet quiet but sure.

you could feel her before you saw her, like a magnet drawing you in. then she was there, leaning down to plant a lingering kiss on your neck. it made your skin tingle, sending a shiver down your spine. "you've been up for hours, haven't you?" she whispered, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

"i have to finish this report," you murmured, half-distracted.

but anora wasn't deterred. her lips trailed to your jawline and then to your cheek, playful and persistent.

"ani," you said softly, trying to keep your voice steady. "i'm on a call."

she ignored your plea, her hands sliding over your shoulders as she planted another kiss on your temple.

"ani, seriously," you hissed, though a hint of laughter betrayed you.

"what? i'm just showing my hardworking girlfriend some love," she teased, grinning against your skin. it was sweet; it really was. but your boss's voice in your ear reminded you of the pressing deadline, and her teasing felt like too much in the moment.

"anora, stop!" you snapped, louder than intended.

her hands froze, and the warmth that had been cocooning you suddenly vanished. you heard her inhale sharply, and when she stepped back, it was like a cold breeze had replaced her presence.

"what the hell?" she asked with wide eyes and furrowed eyebrows, still in the same position, looking hurt and confused. you felt your stomach twist. "i—" you started, but the words got tangled.

"i'm sorry for trying to spend time with you," she said, her voice raising in pitch before she swallowed hard. "god forbid i... i don't know, make you feel appreciated or something."

"i'm just trying to work, anora! i have deadlines, responsibilities—"

"and i'm a distraction, right?" she shot back, "just a little nuisance in your way?"

you opened your mouth to apologize, to explain, but she was already moving, grabbing her overnight bag from the floor and shoving her things inside haphazardly. it was like a fire was spreading through the room with how quickly she was packing up to leave.

"ani," you called out, your voice more desperate now. "please, wait. don't go."

but she ignored you, shoulders tense and eyes avoiding yours as she zipped up her bag. you heard the soft thud of her bag slung over her shoulder, and before you could say another word, she was at the door.

"y/n? are you here?" your boss's voice reminding you of the meeting you were supposed to be in right now. you looked at your phone, then the door your girlfriend had just rushed out of. sighing heavily, you unmuted your phone and replied, "yes, i'm here."

the hours that followed felt like eternity. the empty apartment was so quiet, so still, that it almost felt suffocating. by the time night fell, you couldn't bear it anymore. you gathered a few things—her favorite snacks, the earrings she had been eyeing for weeks but never bought, and a small bouquet of flowers you'd picked up on a whim.

your driver pulled up to her old place, her place that she rarely stayed at anymore because she was always at your apartment. she had even given you a spare copy of her key so you could move her things to your place when she was busy.

you opened the door and found the living room empty, thankful her roommate wasn't home. you knocked on her bedroom door, calling out her name softly.

the door creaked open, and there she was. anora's head peeked out from behind the door, her eyebrows furrowing both in anger and confusion, as she clearly wasn't expecting you. she was still in the clothes she'd left in, her hair slightly disheveled.

"what are you doing here?" she asked, opening her door slightly further to get a better look at you.

"i... i came to apologize," you said quickly, holding out the flowers like a shield. she eyed them, unimpressed.

"anora, please. i was an idiot. i shouldn't have snapped at you. you were just being sweet, and i let my stress get the better of me." she leaned against the doorframe, silent, her gaze piercing.

"i brought your favorite snacks," you added, holding up the bag. "and earrings. i even... i don't know, i just..."

you trailed off, realizing how desperate you sounded. but you didn't care. "please," you said softly. "i miss you. i miss us. i'll do anything to make it right."

anora sighed, stepping aside to let you in. you stepped inside her room, slowly closing the door behind you, watching as she stood a couple of feet in front of her bed. the tension in the air was thick as you set the flowers and bag on the nightstand beside you.

her expression softened, just a fraction. "anything?"

"anything," you promised, stepping closer, inches away from her.

"you really hurt my feelings," she said finally, a hand coming to cup your cheek, and you stumbled even closer to her, your lips ghosting hers.

you looked so fucking adorable in that moment, with that vulnerable, almost lost look on your face. like a kicked puppy—those sad, pleading eyes. you looked so damn cute, but she wasn't going to let you off the hook that easily.

her thumb brushed gently across your cheekbone. "you said anything, right?"

you nodded quickly, your hand wrapping around her forearm, and her heart skipped a beat. the way you held her arm, like you couldn't stand the distance between you two, made her lips twitch upward.

there was something in the way you looked at her now, something so earnest, so full of regret, that made her resolve waver just slightly. her eyes darted to your lips, feeling the heat between you both rise. god, you were so close, and she was fighting every instinct that told her to pull you in. to kiss you like she wanted to, to let you wrap her in your arms, to hold her.

her gaze flitted up, catching yours.

"anything," you repeated again, barely a whisper.

"get on your knees," she whispered. without hesitating, you lowered yourself in front of her, her hand running a hand through your hair. you stared up at her, waiting.

"beg."

"please," you said, the frustration clear in your voice.

"please what?"

"please forgive me, ani. i shouldn't have snapped at you."

"no, you shouldn't have. you didn't mean it, did you?"

you shook your head.

"that's right. because you wouldn't dare treat me like that. right, baby?" you nodded again, your hands finding their way to her thighs, gripping them tightly. anora's hands left your hair and cupped your face gently. "good girl," she said, a smile playing on her lips.

you licked your lips when your girlfriend began pulling her shorts down, revealing her bare skin inch by inch. she watched you the whole time, smiling, that smile that made your heart race with anticipation.

you leaned in, kissing the insides of her thighs, and she hummed. it was a gentle kiss, the kind that she needed after the day she had today, and it sent a wave of pleasure through her.

"such a good girl," she whispered, and your lips trailed higher, pressing against the clothed heat between her legs. she let out a soft moan, her hands finding your hair again to stop her legs from trembling.

you pressed a lingering kiss to the spot before pulling back, your gaze meeting hers. anora's eyes were half-lidded, her cheeks flushed, and she looked so gorgeous; what kind of an idiot would raise their voice at her? oh, that's right... you did.

"ani," you murmured, looking up at her, pleading.

"i forgive you, baby," she breathed, pulling her underwear to the side, revealing her glistening pussy. you could see the desire in her eyes as she guided you closer, silently inviting you to continue. with a soft smile, you leaned in to fulfill her unspoken request, eager to make things right between you.

you kissed her again, harder this time, your tongue slipping between her folds, tasting her sweetness as she moaned softly in response. you kept going, your tongue circling her clit slowly, teasingly. you couldn't help yourself, not when she was this wet and not when you owed it to her.

her grip tightened on your hair, and you moaned against her, sending a shockwave through her body. you looked up at her once more, taking in the sight of her, the way her lips parted slightly, the way her chest rose and fell with every breath she took.

"more," she whispered, her hips rocking forward, covering your chin with her slick wetness. you obliged, increasing the pressure and speed of your movements, your hands digging in the back of her thighs, trying to pull her even closer to you.

you continued like this, listening to her soft moans and pleas until she was close. she tugged on your hair, trying to pull you away.

"wait," she gasped, "not yet."

you pulled back, wiping your chin with the back of your hand. "did i do something wrong?" you asked, suddenly worried.

"no," she breathed, her eyes fluttering open to meet yours, her hands still tangled in your hair. "it's just been a while, and i want your fingers." you smiled like an idiot, rising off your knees to kiss her for the first time that night.

her lips were soft, pliant, and you savored the taste of her on your tongue. "fuck, i missed you," you mumbled, her lips parting to let out a soft chuckle, falling against the bed with you in a tangle of limbs.

"me too, baby. now be good and finish what you started." you nodded eagerly, sliding a hand up under her shirt, your fingers grazing her skin until you reached her chest, cupping her breast in your hand, feeling her heartbeat quicken beneath your touch.

"i'll make you feel so good," you whispered, leaning in to kiss her neck as she arched into your touch, a soft moan escaping her lips. "hurry," she urged, her voice breathless.

you slid your hand back down her body, tracing the outline of her curves before finally reaching your destination, sliding your middle finger into her pussy and feeling her wetness enveloping you. she gasped at the sensation, her hips instinctively moving against your hand as she whispered, "don't stop."

her head fell back, her fingers gripping the sheets when you added another finger, increasing the pressure and speed of your movements, your eyes locked on her flushed face, the way her eyes closed and her mouth fell open as she let out a moan, her back arching against the mattress.

you continued like this for a few minutes, watching her writhe underneath you, her hips rolling against your fingers. her moans were music to your ears, and the sight of her like this was enough to make you let out a low growl of satisfaction.

her breathing was labored, her hips bucking wildly, and you knew she was close. extremely close. her body tensed, her hands gripping the sheets so tightly that they were shaking, and her moans became louder and more desperate. you kept going, not letting up, ignoring the ache in your own hand.

"come for me, ani," you said softly, curling your fingers inside her, hitting that spot that drove her crazy. her moans grew louder, and her body stiffened, and then she finally reached her peak, letting out a loud cry of pleasure. "yes, fuck!"

you felt her walls clench around your fingers, pulsing with the force of her release. her head fell back against the pillow, and her body went limp, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath.

you watched her, mesmerized, not wanting to take your eyes off her for even a second.

you finally pulled out your fingers, bringing them to your mouth and sucking on them, tasting her sweet juices. her eyes fluttered open, and she looked at you, her expression softening.

"what candy did you buy?"

[alotofpockets]

How strong you are | Jessie Fleming x Chelsea!Reader

5k celebration prompt: "Your scars don’t make you weak, they show how strong you are."

Woso masterlist | Words: 1k

-----

Your first day back in training after your injury. It felt like something big, especially because it was the first major injury you’ve had since the start of your career. Where your girlfriend had been excited for your return to the pitch, you were mainly feeling nervous.

The recovery had been a lot. Both mentally and physically it had been a struggle. Your girlfriend has been with you every step of the way. Without Jessie by your side, you don’t think you would have made it through. She had been your rock throughout the whole recovery journey.

She was downstairs, cleaning up after breakfast while you were getting changed into your training gear. Jessie hadn’t expected you to take so long, so she went up to check on you. She found you in your training top, but still in just your underwear for bottoms. A pair of training shorts and joggers laid in front of you on the bed.

Your eyes moved between them like you were trying to solve a puzzle. She sat down on the edge of the bed and waited for you to meet her eyes. When you finally did, she smiled your way. “Tell me what you’re thinking?”

“I don’t know which to wear to training.” Jessie had a feeling of the underlying reason, but she knew it would be better if you talked about your feelings, so she asked you anyways. “Oh, yeah? Why is that?”

With a shrug of your shoulders you sat down on the bed with her. Your eyes settled on your knee, the fresh surgery scar staring back at you. Jessie knew then that her suspicion was right, still she wanted you to be the one to say it, so she stayed quiet and let you take your time. 

She reached for your hand, her fingers interlocking with yours, offering a quiet reassurance as you sifted through your thoughts. Her touch grounded you, like an anchor in a storm, reminding you that she'd be there to catch you if you fell.

Still the words, “Nevermind,” Came out of your mouth, “I’ll just wear the joggers.” You started getting up, but Jessie used your intertwined hands to keep you down. “Baby, you hate wearing joggers for training.”

You shrugged, “I am allowed to change my mind.” Jessie knew you had a point, of course you were allowed to change your mind, but she knew there was more to it than that. “You are allowed to change your mind every day of the week, and I will support you no matter what. But baby, you hate joggers with a passion. You wear shorts even in the middle of Canadian winter.”

Her comment made you chuckle, she was right of course. The tightness of joggers had always been the reason you hated to wear them. Even the cold bothered you less than training in joggers, and that says a lot when you know how cold it can get in Canada.

“I know, I do hate them and I will never change my mind on them. But my scar. Everyone will see it. Everyone will see that my body is weak, that I am weak. I’d rather be uncomfortable than weak.”

You had been wearing your shorts to your gym sessions over your recovery period, but that was just you and the trainer, plus occasionally Jessie who came to check in. The trainer was more than accustomed to injured players and their rehabilitation, so there you hadn’t really minded. This time it would be in front of the whole team, and you didn’t know how to feel about that.

Even though Jessie had guessed that this was the underlying reason, it still hurt hearing you say it like that. Did you really think you were weak? She didn’t give herself much time to think about that though, she wanted to reassure you right away.

"Your scars don’t make you weak, they show how strong you are." She took your other hand in hers as well. “They show that despite something going wrong, you overcame it. You got back up, and took care of your body. That already makes you strong, and what makes you even stronger, is that you are not just recovering from an injury, you’re getting back from it.”

Jessie was so good with her words that you were tearing up a little. “Do you really think so?” She smiled and gave your hands a reassuring squeeze. “I know so. While you haven’t been on the pitch yet, I can tell from your sessions in the gym that you are going to come back stronger.”

You pulled Jessie in for a hug after that, thanking her for always being there for you. Together you stayed like that for a moment, before Jessie pulled away. “Alright, we have to leave in a bit. I’ll go put our stuff in the car. Go put on some bottoms you’re comfortable with today, and I’ll meet you downstairs, okay?” 

“Yeah, I’ll be right down. Thank you Jess, you’re the best.” You pecked her lips and watched her walk out of the room. Leaving you to choose which bottoms to wear by yourself.

You eyed the shorts and the joggers a final time, now less puzzled than before. Jessie had been right, you despised joggers, and you were proud of all of your teammates and friends you had seen come back from injuries, so why not you?

So, with a new sense of confidence you grabbed the shorts and put them on. You knew you’d still be thinking about what others thought, that wouldn’t just go away of course, but you knew that your scar wasn’t something you should be self conscious about.

Jessie smiled wide when she saw you walk into the living room. “That’s my girl.” She hugged you tight. “I am so proud of you. And I cannot wait to see you out on the pitch again, continuing to take care of your body, and working towards your full comeback.”

With her arm still around your shoulder, she walked you to the car. “You are going to do amazing today.” She said with a kiss to your cheek before you drove off to training.

-----

💗 If you enjoyed this fic, please consider liking, commenting, and reblogging! You can also supporting me by leaving a tip 💗

[spoiler-alert-andabunchofnumbers]

"But forever is not forever.

"I move and you react and both of us break the other. But broken is only a moment in time."

"You let me move and I slam the door, but that is not the end, and both of us must face our partner once again. The barbs twist deeper, but they do not have to."

"To change is to hold the potential to rise above. Would you limit yourself to what you are now, or would you like to see what you might become tomorrow?"

One of the ending monologues that stuck with me the most, the way the Witch and the Opportuntist are dancing around one another but stuck in place because they're more focused on being wary of the other instead of bettering themselves.

You actively have to go along with the dance in order to bring the Witch to Shifty, to play along and pretend, wary of each other but still going along with things until you can go out of your way to betray to one another. You have to trust in order to be betrayed, even if that trust is pretend. Attacking the Witch openly and directly, no lying or dragging it out, or even trying to abandon her and avoid the dance, smashes you into the Wild. Proving your sincerity even at the cost of your life brings you to the Thorn.

The Witch (like most Chapter II routes of course) is what happens when you don't learn from your mistakes and change the strategy. The Princess and the LQ decided that the endless revolving was what they wanted, nothing better, nothing worse.

And the way it all feeds back into the final confrontation where the Shifting Mound shows the Long Quiet the futility of revolving, because there are no victors if you choose to keep dancing in circles - the two of them absolutely CAN just keep spinning, but they'll always end up equally hurting one another and rejecting the paths of being straightforward or giving up. It's actively torturing themselves and choosing the self-destructive option to keep doing the dance, but I mean it's an option! All opinions are valid. It's just *chef's kiss*

What's ironic is that in all the ways you bring the Witch to Shifty, the two of you still have to face each other after the betrayal. Either you both broke your backs together on the stairs and have to stare each other down hoping the other is suffering just as much as you, or the LQ erases the cabin and the door she slammed in your face disappears too so oops this is awkward, no hard feelings right? :3 They always do face the consequences of being a prick even if they got the betrayal they wanted, "not sorry you did the bad thing, just sorry you got caught" style.

Witch and Opportuntist are such a funny duo, they're both such gremlins, they know what they're doing is selfish and sneaky and potentially the downfall of them both, and they're happy about it, they're vibing

"A trick behind your back, and a trick behind mine. We dance, revolving and revolving around each other, but forever stuck in place. We both move and yet we both don't, for each of us watches the other instead of ourselves."

---

Anyone order the Witch? I've got quite a few old drawings of her, she is such a silly :]

All I ask in return is to please ignore how I used to draw the Long Quiet (pictures 2 & 4), I could not figure out how I wanted to draw him, and I also was (still am) bad at drawing birds/beaks 😭That's why I eventually gave up and joined the no-beak-TLQ crowd lol

[Throwback | Scheduled post | Drawings finished : January 25th - 26th, 2024]

[Find my Slay the Princess art here] [Princess art] [TLQ art] [Voices art]

[exhelluvafan]

As someone who’s dad cheated on their mom multiple tomes and even was out making out with other women while my mom was birthing me all alone in the hospital, I fucking hate how the fandom is villainizing Octavia rn. I’ve seen people say she deserves to be physically abused by Stella just for telling her dad off and it makes me sick. This is how people are treating teens who are tired of their parents’ lies and tired of being hurt by them? Honestly, disgusting. I hope nobody in similar situations gets treated like this, its so dehumanizing. Just like in real life, I get told its somehow my fault my dad went off and cheated, or that I should still keep in contact with him despite the fact he was never there for me. Disgusting. Disappointed.

First of all, I'm so sorry to hear all that, Anon, I hope you're doing just fine as of today and managed to get away from that piece of shit.

Now, I'm sadly going to admit that I, along with almost all the critical community, surely was seeing this hate coming, ever since the Octavia song and Sinsmas's section featuring Octavia and Stolas got leaked, we KNEW that the standom would explode, but despite that and no matter how mentally ready I got for it, it was still a blow because I wasn't expecting people to actually fall that low, but it seems that having any expectations of decency over this fandom is a waste of time and energy in the end.

Still, if you need any advice, Anon... Run, run away from that fandom, these shows and Viv, block any stans and fans who are unapologetically victimblaming Octavia, don't tolerate their bullshit and cut the problem straight from the root, because this shit can genuinely get triggering if you are exposed to it for too long and these people clearly won't change or apologize for saying that shit, so please, feel free to curate your feed and block all those sheltered idiots with horrible takes, because this won't get any better since Viv will keep feeding her toxic fandom to stay in their worst behaviors, so please do not look back and do not feel bad for blocking any of those dumbasses.

[wszczebrzyszynie]

Hey!! Could you give a little context about this drawing??: https://www.tumblr.com/wszczebrzyszynie/770499218761711616/brutus?source=share

Btw, beautiful drawing <33

thank you for the kind words and the interest! its a bit long as i went into more detail about the relationships between Kowalewicz family members... thought that might be nice, as i dont really share much about them. peace and love. its under the read more

its Eliza in three stages of her life; childhood, her wedding day and present time (around 1895). "Brutus" is a reference to the song by the buttress because its the song i associate with her (mostly in her relationship with Artur and her former husband). Shes the oldest of the Kowalewicz siblings and the one who against all odds ultimately inherited the palace, even though she seems to stay as far away from it as possible; as a character she doesnt come back until spring, so about halfway of the story, but her presence is always there. The main theme of DNS is loneliness and she as the owner of the palace is kind of the epitome of that; someone who felt sidelined for the majority of her life and even after decades have passed isnt able to feel normal and create what she considers "normal" relationships (the way she treats Stanisława and Artur come to mind; The first one is her lover she leaves in charge of the palace when shes away, unable to stay with her for long periods of time, and Artur is her brother she somewhat hates, mostly for being what she couldnt and for depending on her). Even her child-self is meant to resemble Mika (titular ghost of the attic), as being a "ghost" is the repeated motive for loneliness (all "ghost" characters, so Mikita, Eliza and Jelena are the ones whose loneliness is so central to their character it fundamentally changes them). The blood on her wedding veil is there because she killed her husband (family friend and Arturs artistic mentor). it sounds like a lot but its not very important to the main plot, it happened ages ago but its probably one of the many reasons she doesnt like the palace. but well she would never get rid of it either

since im already talking about the Kowalewicz family i feel like i should also mention Piotr, the other brother; hes not really too important to the story but he does show up and Eliza hates him as well. He got richer through foreign investments. Eliza doesnt really like her brothers in general but with Artur its more quiet and she still respects him, with Piotr its more open and well known among everyone living and working in the palace. which isnt a lot of people. He doesnt like her either and would like to buy off the palace just to spite her. Well he doesnt like Artur either. Artur doesnt care for whatever Piotr is doing but hes slightly hurt about his relationship with his sister, though he is also intimidated by her. Not exactly because of the murder hes always been a bit intimidated by her but well the murder doesnt help? but he doesnt hold that against her either. Stanisława is intimidated by all of them except for Eliza, though i imagine she has a rather lovely relationship with Helene even with the language barrier. Helene and Dominic only know Eliza; she likes them both, though its a pretty distant kind of "like". its just generally positive but nothing deep or special, though she always tends to treat women better, and she also isnt the kind to hate on a 13 year old. also i think i should mention Mikita in the picture? I feel like she couldnt care less about what he does. I wouldnt be surprised if she forgets hes there. Not in a malicious way shes just like that i suppose. Stanisława likes him plenty for her own reasons. He respects both of them deeply and tries not to cause them much trouble

[mamiobesssionfics]

A Night of Laughter

Rhea Ripley x Reader

Summary: After a fun date-night, you two feel closer than ever.

You enter the cosy little diner, the kind of place that feels like a secret only a few people know about.

The lights are soft, casting a golden glow over the wooden tables, and the smell of garlic and fresh bread fills the air.

You're holding hands with Rhea, her fingers strong yet gentle, and the warmth of her hand instantly comforts you. The two of you have had a busy week, and tonight, you decided to go out.

Tonight is about nothing but the two of you. No work, no cameras, just laughter and each other.

As you sit down at a candlelit table, Rhea leans back in her chair, her grin widening as she eyes the menu.

“You know, I could totally go for the steak… but I’ll probably wrestle it into submission if it doesn’t cooperate,” she says in the hopes of making you laugh.

And it almost works.

You roll your eyes, a smile tugging at the corner of your lips.

“Maybe the pasta will be better for you, Ms Champion.”

Her laughter fills the air, and you give in.

That laugh of hers was deep and unapologetic.

Her laughter, what you love so much, is what makes her who she is, strong and confident, herself. The kind of sound that makes your heart skip a beat every time you hear it.

Oh, how you loved her.

Dinner arrives, but the food hardly matters.

The night is a blur of jokes, playful banter and flirting.

Both of you tell stories about everything from her latest match to your childhood memories.

“Remember that time I tried to make spaghetti and ended up burning the entire thing?” Rhea asks.

You laugh, shaking your head.

“How could I forget? You were convinced the fire department was going to show up, and you spent the next hour ‘saving’ the pasta from the garbage can.”

“Well, you’ve got to save the noodles!” she responds dramatically, and you both burst into laughter again. “A champion never gives up, even on burned spaghetti.”

By the time you’ve finished with dessert, your stomach aches, but it is not from the food, but rather from laughing so much.

After dinner, you take your time walking back to your apartment.

The weather is rather cold so Rhea pulls you close, wrapping her arm around you.

The warmth of her body presses against yours, and you rest your head against her shoulder as you walk side by side, content and comfortable.

When you arrive home, instead of changing, you decide to head to the bath.

Rhea tugs you gently toward the bathroom, where a steaming bath awaits.

You strip down together, and she decides to add a lovely-smelling bath bomb.

Rhea looks at you with a smile, as if she’s got a secret she’s dying to share.

“What if we just stayed here for the rest of the night?” she asks, her voice low and playful. “No phones, no plans, no responsibilities. Nothing more, just us, and this bath.”

You smile.

"The water will get cold." you mention playfully as you slide into the warm water beside Rhea, letting out a deep sigh as the warm water surrounds you.

Rhea joins you soon after.

Rhea pulls you close, her arms wrapped around you in a loose embrace as she sits behind you.

“You know,” she says, her voice soft as she rests her chin on your shoulder, “Sometimes, I think this is the best part of my day. Just being with you.”

"Think? You think it's the best?" you tease back and she pinches your side, making you jump a little and splash some water out of the bathtub.

You turn your face toward her, your lips brushing lightly against her cheek. “I couldn’t agree more,” you say, this time with a serious tone. Your words are as gentle as the moment itself.

You kiss her cheek and she kisses your shoulder.

You loved these days. A simple date filled with laughter and a lovely bath with kindness and the smell of flowers.

[roscgcld]

I love ur type of writing so much 😭💗💗💗,I was wondering if you could do a a chill day between y/n and megumi? Where they both have a day off and just spend the day together maybe spending a bit of it playfighting,cuddling,going out (which leads to megumi getting a bit protective like the cutie he is lol)

FUSHIGURO MEGUMI || day-in-a-life

The quiet thrills of birds were the first thing you heard when you woke up; the sound slowly pulling you away from the warmth of your dream. And without even thinking you turned onto your other side and reached your arm out, searching for the warm body that you knew was not far away.

Your fingers brushed against a warm arm, which shifted from your sudden touch before moving closer towards you as well. Soon you were curled up against a warm chest, lean arms wrapped around you tightly. A soft grumble was heard from Megumi's chest, to which you responded with a soft noise of your own as you absorbed all the warmth that your boyfriend seemed to constantly produce.

This was your routine on Sundays - after a long week of studies, and spending Saturdays doing chores like getting groceries and doing homework, Sundays are the days that both of you have agreed that is your private time. Both being somewhat introverted, a day where you two just spend together indoors sounds extremely appealing.

"Slept okay?," Megumi mumbled out after a few more minutes of silence, forcing you to open your eyes as you looked up at him with a look of annoyance. He should have known better than try to wake you up. "Sorry," Was the only response you got before a big hand covered your eyes, his chuckling an indicator that he knows that him doing that only annoyed you more.

After a few moments however Megumi started to shift to get out of bed, ignoring your whines from you not to leave. And whilst he ignored those whines, he did you tuck you back into bed with a soft kiss to the side of your head before he went into the bathroom. Giving you a view of him stretching himself out as he shuffled his way towards the bathroom door, his lean muscles shifting in the morning light.

The next time Megumi returned was after he used the bathroom, and he returned into the room while he was brushing his teeth with one hand, the other one holding onto another toothbrush that he kept in his bathroom for you to use. Complete with a dollop of toothpaste on a wet toothbrush for you to start brushing.

You gave him a sleepy smile as you forced yourself up, shivering a little from the cold as you accepted the toothbrush. "Thank you," You mumbled softly before you started to brush your teeth, pushing the blankets aside and accepting the hand that Megumi had for you to help you out of bed.

After Megumi was done he left you to do what you need in the bathroom to prepare his morning coffee with his moka pot. As he waited he made some scrambled eggs for breakfast; a soft smile on his face when he felt your arms wrapping around his waist from behind. "What do you want to drink today?"

Megumi made whatever you requested as you helped set out tatami in his room with some cutlery before you went to turn on the projector that he had in his room, turning on his PS5 so you could find the TV show you two were watching. By the time Megumi returned, you had gotten comfortable on the low couch that he had behind the tatami, a blanket thrown across your lap with the other end of the blanket tossed over his side of the seat.

"Thank you, baby," You said with a warm smile on your face, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek in thanks as he hums in response. Megumi, forced to grow up young, has always enjoyed cooking for you. Tsumiki had always not been the best at cooking, so Megumi had taken on more of the cooking and homemaking part of their life. Plus, he was meticulous in his daily routine, and hates change; so you let him do these things since it makes him happy.

It was the same every Sunday morning; breakfast that Megumi makes, both of you enjoying each other's presence as you two ate your food together. When you two were done you offered (or more so gave Megumi a look to tell him to 'sit down') to do the dishes while he paused the new episode of the show and went to scroll through a few of the games that he had.

While others may find these mornings boring you don't - you two enjoy each other's company, and can spend hours in silence together doing your own things. There is just something so comforting about just being in each other's presence that you rarely find the need to fill the silence.

You went on your phone for a bit after finishing up with the dishes; however, you soon grew bored (and cold) - which was when you decided it would be Megumi's problem. It first started with you wiggling your feet beneath Megumi's thighs; to which the man just side-eyed you briefly in annoyance but shifted his weight so you could claim your rightful place beneath them. But soon you grew bored, especially when wiggling your toes got you not even a stare in response. So you decided that you needed to it into your own hands.

Which was how you found yourself wiggling into Megumi's lap; the man letting out a half assed groan as he lifted his arms so you can straddle his lap. His head craning to the side so he can continue to keep his eyes on the game. "You lil' - get comfortable already."

"Rude," You hummed back in a singsong voice, knowing that Megumi may sound annoyed, but rarely does he do anything about it. Which was proven when all you got in response was an annoyed glance and a slight sneer. Before his arms wrapped around you properly, his controller resting on the small of your back as you happily pressed kisses the to the side of his pink cheeks.

You went back on your phone as Megumi went on with his game, his chin resting on your shoulder as your fingers found their way to the back of his head. Gently tangling the soft strands between your fingers with one hand while the other went back to scrolling on your phone.

This went on for an hour before you had to regretfully pull away. You have a birthday party to attend later in the evening, and being the procrastinator you are, on top of needing to do an everything shower, you have yet to get the birthday girl a gift. So you planned to get ready after a relaxing morning to find a gift and return with enough time to get ready for dinner - and Megumi would obviously be tagging along like the good boyfriend he is.

Or well - you were just hoping that your puppy eyes will work on him today.

"I can't believe you left gift shopping to the very last minute. Again."

"Well you didn't have to say it like that."

Megumi gave you an annoyed look from the corner of his eye as you placed the body lotion back on the shelf. You two were currently in Lush, where you are trying to find a nice gift for your friend, who had recently mentioned that they have fallen into the 'body care' side of TikToks. "I can't stand it - how do the employees work here for hours?"

"Strong determination?," You threw over your shoulder as you bent down to read one of the labels on the bottle at the bottom shelf; and it was only when you were about to put the bottle back that you noticed that Megumi had shifted closer to your bent form. You looked over your shoulder curiously, only to see Megumi giving a man a death stare. Said man who was awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck as he pretended to be reading the labels of the body sprays before him. "Megumi?"

"He was staring a little too closely," Megumi grumbled as he turned to face you again, sighing quietly to himself as he reached down to tug at the corner of your skirt to make sure it covered you correctly. You just gave him a grateful smile before leaning up to peck his lips, to which he accepted with a ghost of a smile. "Thank you."

Once you've made your final purchase you handed Megumi your shopping before you left, to which he just rolled his eyes fondly as he held onto the bag with one hand and your hand with the other. You two wandered around the shopping centre for a bit longer before taking the train home, since you two needed to get ready for the evening.

Megumi left you at your dorm with a kiss on your forehead after leaving your bags in your room; leaving so you could get ready without interruptions. You went about getting ready for the evening, wrapping the last-minute items you had gotten for your friend and writing the birthday card you had gotten for her as well.

It took about 2 hours, between your everything shower and doing your hair and makeup - and when Megumi finally knocked on your door, you were just applying perfume and giving your makeup a once over.

Before the party you two had sat down and looked for a few inspiration pictures to dress up - you two had decided to dress in the same colour palette with your own spin on your look. When you opened the door you made sure to give Megumi a once over; smiling when you saw him dressed in his nice dress shoes, his dress pants, and a simple short-sleeved polo on. You nodded your head in approval before you made eye contact with Megumi, who was already staring at you with a loving smile on his face. "Well, look at you."

You had dressed yourself in a simple camo dress pants and a polo sweater since you were worried that it was cold and wanted to be able to layer up without overdoing it. Megumi had the same thought, with a simple navy sweater tossed over the same arm that had his trench coat as well.

"Do you think it's too simple?," You asked with a soft frown as you gave yourself another once over, adjusting the slim belt you had accessorised with so the metal part was facing the front. Megumi took a step into your room before he took your hand in his, making you do a spin for him as you let out a soft laugh. "I think you look amazing."

"Are you saying that because I look nice, or because my ass looks nice in these pants?," You tossed over your shoulder with a teasing smile as you grabbed your packed bag along with the gift bag, to which Megumi just gave you a look before he took the coat you had handed to him without second thought. "I guess we will never know."

Dodging your smack with a chuckle, he held the coat out for you to wear, making sure it was resting on your shoulders properly before he starts putting on his own sweater and trench coat as well. After you locked your door to your room he led you out, keeping your hand in his the entire time as you two got the train back into the city and made your way towards the restaurant together.

When you got to the restaurant you excitedly greeted the birthday girl, since it had been awhile since you had met in person. Megumi stood by the side with an awkward smile on his face, nodding his head in greeting at her when she turned to address him. After a few more moments you two were led to private booth that she had booked, where you happily greeted a few of your mutuals who had shown up as well.

Two of the guys from your group, who are friendly with Megumi started chatting your boyfriend up; the three of them soon diving into a conversation about a new video game, while also checking up on Yuji (since the four of them play some games whenever Yuji and Megumi can spare the time).

Even though Megumi was wrapped up in his own conversation he still made sure to keep constant skin contact in case you needed some reassurance; his warm hand resting on your thigh which he squeezed subconsciously. You two greeted the others that trickled in slowly; with the booth slowly but surely starting to fill up with familiar faces.

However, after the first round of food and drinks were ordered a new face appeared; and much to your shock it was the same man from the Lush shop from before standing over your table. You felt Megumi tensed up beside you as the birthday girl got up excitedly to greet the man, who she soon introduced as the guy that she had been seeing for the last 3 months. The man suddenly turned to face your direction, and froze when he was met with both your shocked expression and what you can assume is Megumi's infamous death stare; since he seemed to lose the colour from his face instantly.

But no one else noticed the brief interaction as they introduced themselves to the new man, curious about who he was and trying to be as welcoming as possible. You introduced yourself and Megumi as well, who was just silently staring down the man with an unimpressed look on his face. The birthday girl noticed but made no comment, probably assuming that Megumi was taking some time to warm up to a new person.

You felt awkward - you knew just how much your friend liked him through your updates, but he seemed to not have taken the idea of being 'exclusive' as seriously as your friend did. But you did not have the heart to ruin her birthday yet, so you just glued yourself closer to Megumi's side as the dinner went on. And being the ever-attentive boyfriend that he was, Megumi kept you close; the hand that was on your thigh soon wrapped around your waist instead.

The rest of the night however went by with a breeze, with the two of you ignoring the new man who had joined the group as you kept up with the other conversations around you. It was nice, getting to catch up with friends without the conversation turning to things like curses and paperwork - it was instead about college applications, phones being passed around with Tinder profiles of people on display, and even gossip updates on your other classmates. It was some form of normality that you cherish greatly after joining the jujutsu world.

However, Megumi and you had a long week ahead, and after you two had your fill you started to say goodbye to everyone at the table. While you were hugging your friends goodbye Megumi helped gather your things, putting on his coat and sweater before he grabbed your coat once more. He helped you back into your coat and slung your bag over his shoulder, his one hand typing away on his phone to order you two a cab instead of trying to squeeze in public transport while the other was held out for you to grab whenever you are ready.

"Sometimes it does pay to like nerds," One of your friends whispered to you conspiringly as she gave Megumi a glance, a look of playful envy on her face as you gave her a playful glare. "Not only is he a gentleman, but he is willing to splash cash? Sign me up."

"Find your own nerd to date," You tossed back with a giggle, giving the girl another hug as she laughed. "Don't worry - you won't be hanging up your therapist role just yet," She replied back, to which you just rolled your eyes playfully before you grabbed onto Megumi's hand. "I'll see you guys around!," You called over your shoulder one last time as you waved at everyone, letting Megumi lead you out of the restaurant towards the cab that was waiting for you. "Did you have fun?"

"I did. I will say though, it is our luck to run into the same guy from the shopping centre today," You replied back with a sigh, Megumi giving you an understanding look as he opened the door of the cab for you. "Tell me about it. If he does anything though I will send my shinigami on him."

Instead of replying you just gave Megumi a playful stare, to which he just raises an eyebrow in response. "And you claimed that you aren't romantic," Was all you said, to which Megumi just rolled his eyes before he turned to face the window in annoyance; the tips of his pale ears slowly turning a deep shade of red. "I'm just worried about you, brat. Don't get it twisted.."

You just giggled before you leaned over to give him a kiss on his cheek, your laughter only growing when he immediately tried to swat you away. His embarrassment made itself known with his awkward movements and shifty eyes.

Maybe your friend was right - the quiet, nerdy boys may just be the best way to go.

wanna read more?  >   fushiguro megumi masterlist |  buy me a coffee?

© roscgcld — all rights reserved to me, rose, the author and creator of these works. do not repost/translate/claim my work as yours on any platform

[hufflepuffwritingstuff2]

Theatrics

I used my Storymatic cards again, and I am having a blast! I hope you like this one!

Hero had gotten the tickets that morning. A special showing of their favorite play that night. They had practically bounced along patrol that day, and they got to the theater right on time. What was interesting though was the fact that, aside from the staff at the entrance that greeted them, the place was completely deserted.

Hero looked around. Were they early? No… the tickets said 5pm, and it was 5:03 already.

“Welcome, Hero, welcome!” a voice reverberated around the theater.

Hero paled. They had come as a civilian. They whipped around as the auditorium doors slammed shut.

“Please, have a seat!”

A spotlight shined on the center seat in the front row.

Hero stood frozen. How had this person figured out their identity? They bolted to the doors, yanking on them as hard as they could, but they wouldn’t budge. Locked.

“Come now, Hero, you don’t want your name on the front page of the papers tomorrow, do you? Sit down. The show’s about to begin!”

Hero cursed, then slowly trudged down to the seat reserved for them. As soon as they sat, metal cuffs sprang up, locking their wrists and ankles in place.

“Who are you!?” Hero shouted.

“Hush, hush, it’s rude to talk during a performance!” the voice chided.

A metal arm came up and shoved a cloth in Hero’s mouth, while another wrapped tape around their face.

“Mmm!?”

“That’s better! Now without further ado, let the show begin!”

The lights dimmed, save for those aimed at the stage. The curtains parted, revealing a figure in a dark suit and a domino mask. They bowed deeply, and the metal arms clapped.

“My name is Villain,” the figure said, “it is an honor to be here tonight. To begin our first act, I want to tell you a story. Once, there was a person named Hero. A person who happens to be in this very audience! This person, this Hero, was remarkable in every way. Always swooping in to save the day and help those in need. But they were not very appreciated, this Hero. Their actions always went unnoticed, and they never got so much as a thank you.”

Villain paused for dramatic effect.

“But there was one person in Hero’s city who did notice. And they were angry. Angry that more people didn’t notice. Angry that their hard work went unrecognized. And most of all, angry that their good deeds were always expected but never acknowledged or reciprocated.”

The metal arm presented a rose to Hero.

“That changes now,” Villain said, “I am here to notice you, Hero, to recognize your work, and to make sure your good deeds are rewarded.”

The arm brought the rose to Hero’s nose, and a sweet-smelling gas puffed into their face. Hero blinked, their eyes growing heavy.

“Rest well, you don’t want to miss the second act!”

The stage lights faded, and Hero was out a moment later.

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Tags: @mythixmagic @infinityshadows @fishtale88 @thelazywitchphotographer @the-beasts-have-arrived @princessofonwardsworld @surplus-of-sarcasm@memepsychowhowantsuperpower-blog @electrons2006 @just-a-space-rabbit @telltaletoad @bacillusinfection @noseyowes

[starboye]

starring: nicholas alexander chavez x male reader

request: Nick is the captain of the football team and the reader is the only male member of the cheerleading team, with a phat ass and slutty waist. A slutty femboy if you will. They have this ongoing sexual tension between them which leaves Nick always sexually frustrated and on edge. But whenever things start to get heated the reader just teasingly walks away. But one night when the reader is getting ready for bed, Nick breaks into his room climbing through the window and they have nasty sex all night long

warnings: smut, really rough sex, degradation, homophobia, f slur used but just in sex, fingering, jerking off, teasing

the other girls absolutely fawned over nick, him being the captain of the football team and all made all the women want to fuck him but he only had eyes for you and your righteously phat ass, he wanted you so bad that it hurt, and adding that you were the only guy on the cheerleader team he got to see your ass bouncing everyday during practice.

you on the other hand had no interest in him but you did love teasing him, getting him on the edge just to pull off such as today when after practice nick pulled you under the bleachers with his still sweaty gear on and your marvelous cheer uniform sill luckily on.

"what do you want nick" you ask agitated already knowing what he wants "i see you had a great cheer today, mind showing it to me at my place tonight" nick comes off player like, throwing you off slightly "well i would love to but what's in it for me" you ask filling nicks mind with nasty perverted thoughts "i dunno maybe a little kissing and some other things" nick licks his lips and glances down to yours.

"mm i dont even know how you kiss" you fake pout "well we could change that right now" nick smirks "sure then" you agree which shocks nick but none the less he leans into kiss you but just as your lips are about to touch the school bell rings and breaks you both apart "aw rats and i was just looking forward to it" you fake a sad voice and walk off.

leaving nick with a boner and a head full of thoughts that lead him to the bathroom to jerk off, the whole time thinking of how much he wanted to make you his, fill you with his cock and cum which now sadly is being flushed down the toilet after he came, but this time he has a thought in mind, a devious thought.

now watching you from a far as you get ready for bed, your parents weren't home right now so lucky him, slyly opening your window before slipping in to see you just walking out of the bathroom, taking that chance to pounce on you.

"what the fuck" you yell trying to push the mysterious person off you then realizing it's nick "what the hell are you doing in my house nick" you ask ready to hit him "finally taking what's mine" he smirks before grabbing you and kissing you deeply making you drop your guard surprisingly.

"you don't get to tease me anymore now" he says bending you over your bed and smacking you jiggly ass before spitting on your hole and opening you up with his fingers, pumping them in and out at an alarming rate for quite some time "you wanna hurry this up, my parents are gonna be home in like two and a half hours" you scoff making nick a little mad.

slapping you ass to shut you up before he pulls out his cock and thrusts in into you, a loud whine shooting from your mouth that nick stops by slapping his hand over your mouth and continuing to fuck that delicious hole that he's only ever dreamed of but feels so much better in real life "for a slut like you i expected a looser hole" he teases.

"yeah and i expected better sex but here we are" you slickly say making nick stop going nice and starts absolutely slamming into you, pushing you forward with every thrust but he pulls you right back on his cock to keep destroying your inside, pushing your face down into the pillow to shut up your whiny moans from getting you both caught by the neighbors.

"yeah who's the bitch now" nick boasted watching you turn dumb under him with every pound into your tight hole "dumb little whore just wanted some cock huh to shut up his faggot mouth right" nick says listening to you babble some nonsense "you want me to fill you up hm" he asks slapping your ass to finally hear you scream a 'yes'.

he pounds into you a couple more times before emptying his load in you but oh no don't think thats the end, it's just the beginning for the night this man had with you, had you creaming all over his cock and dumping loads into you like a common whore until you passed out, cleaning you up so your parents wouldn't get suspicious, the next day he saw you he was happy as ever could be.

taglist:@mailmango @spermeboy @ghostking4m @gayaristocrat @addictedtomalepits @staarb0y @crispysoup318 @its-ares @gargoylesworld09 @znerac

[sillymommy6969]

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ 𝕰YES ON THEM

Manon Bannerman x fem!reader

summary: a compilation of bannern/n moments eyekons have turned into a video, katseye’s two visuals as a power couple? who can keep their eyes off them?

warnings: none, just fluffy moments

HYBE PLEASE NEVER PR TRAIN MANON (KATZ CRACK)

*Loud technical difficulty transition* On Manon and Daniela’s Weverse livestream in their bedroom, Daniela was doing dance moves in the background of the video while Manon read the comments and chatted with fans in the front

Manon was the worst at PR training. The woman had lips looser than an unbuckled belt. She was much more tame when they were surrounded by crew members, but when it’s just her and her phone on Weverse, you can expect a lot of slips.

Especially when she’s paired alone with Daniela.

“‘Where are the others?’” Manon read aloud, looking back at Daniela, who was finally settling to sit behind her roommate. “What, you sick of us already?”

Daniela swatted her arm at the tone she used, as if a silent warning as to be careful what people could take out of context. She toyed with her hood, listing what the girls were occupied with. “Well, Sophia’s on a zoom call downstairs with her family. I think Yoonchae went to bed… Lara and Megan went out to get something at the convenience store and Y/N is probably online shopping or something in her room.”

“Yeah, she better be getting me my Christmas gift.”

“Didn’t she already give you like three ‘pre-game’ gifts?” Daniela turned to the camera, “Oh my God, Y/N does this thing where she gets Manon a million things for the week leading up to Christmas. She only does it for Manon and I always feel like choking her out ‘cuz she’s spoiling her rotten.”

Manon rolled her eyes, “They’re gonna know we’re—!”

Daniela widened her eyes, shooting Manon a knowing glare before the older pursed her lips together. The both of them went silent for a moment, scared to look at the influx of questions and comments they were getting for the sudden cutoff, curious to know what the end of Manon’s sentence was.

user01 WE WHAT MANON WE WHAT

user02 Manon almost exposed their relationship

user03 is this what getting edged feels like

user04 WE BEEN KNEW GIRL COME ON OUT

user05 Y/N knows how to spoil her girl

“Anyway,” Daniela said, ignoring the nosh comments. “Yeah, we have the weekend off, so everybody’s just chilling, y’know.”

Manon, with a cheeky smile on her face, tried retieing her hair in attempts to distract the fans from what she had just nearly revealed. But for the next couple minutes, despite Daniela’s efforts to pull everybody’s attention away from that topic, the audience always seemed to circle back to it.

“No, I have to say my favourite hoodie has to be the black Ferrari one.” Manon argued, staring at a suspicious Daniela. “It used to be the one you just said but it’s not anymore.”

“You’re just making stuff up, I swear. You still wear the other one so much more than the Ferrari one.” Daniela scoffed, “You wore the blue one like five times this week, like you literally wore it to dinner yesterday.”

user06 the blue hoodie Y/N just posted on insta in??

user07 They wear each other’s clothes I’m dead

user08 Dani have you seen Y/N’s new bracelet???

Daniela squinted to read the comment when she saw her name was mentioned, “‘Dani, have you seen Y/N’s new bracelet?’ No, I can’t say I have. What is it?”

“Oh, is it this one?” Manon flashed her wrist to the camera, where a couple cuffs and bracelets hung. Her other hand picked out a thin silver chain with a “K” strung at the end of it. “This is the one Megan got us for Katseye’s first birthday.”

She flaunted her hand, fingers waving around as she showed off her accessories.

user09 Y/N’s new necklace looks nice Manon!

user10 oh yeah that would look really good around her neck

Daniela skimmed the comments, suddenly bursting into a fit of high-pitched giggles. Manon, her arm still up, in the middle of her accessory tour, leant back. Surprised by the Latina’s sudden change in attitude, she glanced between the camera and her roommate as if she was an insane person.

“Oh my God, they’re saying your hands would make a really good necklace for Y/N.” Daniela explained, still laughing.

Manon’s eyes widened, heat immediately flushing to her cheeks. She thanked all the Gods her smooth skin tone hid any hint of fluster, or she would have been beer red at the comment. She placed a hand over her eyes, her lips quirking into a small smile as she groaned.

“That’s good, that’s a good one. I like that.” Daniela sighed.

Next door, you could hear the two of them screaming and squabbling on live. You opened a new tab, sick of scrolling through the same catalogues on different websites. You were feeling lazy, didn’t really feel like getting up to join the two nextdoor, so you pulled up Weverse, clicking onto Manon’s live. Right off the bat, you were met with the Ghanaian woman showing off her bracelets and such, and you couldn’t help but giggle at the comments that followed.

Sometimes, this was your favourite part about having fans.

When Daniela’s laugh on the live had synced with the one next door, you couldn’t help but also giggle at Manon’s reaction when she was told what eyekons thought of her tour.

It was enough of a motivator to go nextdoor; to tease her.

“—Anyway! Can we please talk about anything else.”

A knock sounded through the room, both their heads turned to the door, watching Y/N’s head pop through the doorway. Daniela pounced to her feet, jogging over to jump into the older’s arms as Y/N carried her back in front of the camera.

Manon rolled her eyes, her tongue sticking against her inner cheek as she stared at the two goofing around in the back.

user11 Oh someone’s jealous…

used12 if looks could kill they’d be dead by now

“Dani’s so light, I can probably squat heavier than you.” Y/N teased, her arms still wrapped around the Latina’s waist as Daniela clung onto her with her legs. “Anyways, you guys were being so loud, I wanted to see what was up.”

Y/N finally sets Daniela down, who found her spot behind Manon again.

Y/N slung an arm over Manon, poking her head between the roommates. “Heard you have a new necklace for me, Meret. You feeling like letting me try it out?”

user13 the way i’d just moan in response

user14 NOBODY TALK TO ME

user15 Manon I’ll take Y/N if you don’t want her

user16 SHE CALLS HER MERET???

The Ghanaian woman didn’t turn to greet the younger member, instead, with her lips pursed in envy, she deliberately made sure her efforts to ignore Y/N were evident.

Y/N smiled, biting her lip. “Manon, are you mad at me?”

“Why would I be mad at you?” Manon huffed, her eyes still trained on the phone. “I’m just tryna talk to eyekons.”

Daniela hissed, making an “Oh, shit” expression and backing away so the other member could slide into where she sat. She eyed the phone from over Y/N’s shoulder, as if telling them she was unaware of what was about to unfold as well.

Y/N chuckled, shaking her head at the eldest’s sulking.

She slid an arm under Manon’s legs, the other securely held over her back. Kneeling, Y/N sprung to her feet, lifting Manon from the ground. The Ghanaian woman let out a bloodcurdling shriek, hands clutching onto Y/N’s hoodie for dear life.

“Did you feel left out, Manon? I was just joking around.”

Daniela watched in terror at the younger member flung Manon around the room in her arms. She slid forward to mouth “help me” into the camera, scared Manon’s feet might hit her head by accident.

“Oh my God, you ass—you bully, put me down.”

*Loud technical difficulty transition* Cut to being interviewed as promotion for the release of Touch, Y/N seemed to be the interviewer’s main foci.

“—Yes, thank you. My next question is for Y/N, uh, so we heard you like a tall, dark and handsome type.” The interviewer read off his card, a mic held up to his lips. The question immediately raised some red flags for the group, Sophia and Manon—as the eldest and the leader—shared a knowing look. They were ready for whatever the man had to throw at them. “You’ve posted a couple of instagram photos and been seen out with a certain singer that’s been on Euphoria, is this a new potential partner, or what’s going on there?”

Y/N was slightly taken aback by how blunt the question came out. Usually management did a good job keeping questions about their personal lives out of interviews when they approve them for the video, but this one must’ve snuck past them.

The woman raised her mic, flashing the cameras her signature smile. The other members could only sit and admire how well her composure was, despite being asked such an intrusive query. She chuckled, eyeing Manon, who didn’t bother hiding what she was feeling. Her eyebrows were furrowed and she looked to be ready to pounce out of her chair whenever. Y/N gave her a subtle nod, as if telling her to stand down.

“Well, he and I met through mutual friends in the industry and we all get together to hang out on my day offs.” Y/N explained, “We’re just good buddies, nothing more.”

The interviewer chuckled, naive to the searing glares he was receiving from all the girls.

“Shame, a lot of people think you’d look like a power couple, the both of you being very talented singers and all,” he scanned his card, the only one laughing in the room full of dozens of people. “Is there anybody special in your life then? Or is this a chance for me to shoot my shot.”

Oh, six pairs of eyes glared daggers at him.

[ Love that they all stand up for their girl ]

None of them were smiling anymore, not even out of courtesy. Daniela and Lara in the front had their arms crossed, their legs spread as they sneered at the man. Megan and Yoonchae were the better ones at concealing just how aghast they were at the unprofessionalism, their expressions stoic, but the aura around them growing cold. Sophia sat upright, ready to jump in when the man stopped talking, but Manon—Manon was sitting beside Y/N, and it took one look at the woman’s uncomfortable expression for her to want to break the man’s neck.

“—Actually, we’re all really focused on our journey as Katseye right now, so we don’t really have time for other kinds of commitment just yet. Even then, we try and keep our personal and professional lives separated because a healthy work-life balance is very important.” Manon answered passively, her smile immediately fading when she finished talking.

But by the way the man gulped and stopped chuckling, it was obvious he finally noticed the elephant in the room.

“I understand how people are very intrigued by that aspect of our lives though, it can be hard to know where to draw the line sometimes.” Y/N added in a smoother tone, hoping to soften the blow of loathing this man was hit with. “But, respectfully, we love talking about and sharing our experience with making music more than we do discussing our lives.”

The interviewer nodded, “Of course. We can move on.”

Throughout the rest of the interview, Manon had a hand on the younger member’s thighs. Their fingers laced together as they answered the rest of the questions. Later, Y/N would tease the Ghanaian woman with edits people have made of the moment Manon stood up for her.

A screenshot of a very popular one of those edits would be the wallpaper for the girls’ group chat the next few weeks,

*Loud technical difficulty transition* In Y/N’s Weverse live with Megan for a dance session, the older between the two was obviously distracted by constant chimes coming from her phone. Fans get a nice surprise all on live.

Megan and Y/N swayed their hips to the beat, thrusting in and pulling away as the song played. The comments would flood with praises for their undeniably talented skills, and by the end of their choreography, they were both panting and sweating.

user01 omg omg omg omg my dinner menu

user02 The difference in outfits is taking me out

user03 BOOM SHAKALAKA YES GAWD

Y/N ran a hand through her hair, dapping Megan up before the two of them approached Megan’s phone. It was resting on a chair against the wall, so it would stream everything they did.

In a sports bra and baggy jeans, Y/N had her hair down. She was sporting thick glasses, ones fans pointed out Daniela liked wearing in the series of tiktok’s they filmed last month. Megan on the other hand, had a more Adam Sandler type fit going on. The two of them devoured their individual styles.

[ Oh my god, it’s all over the screen ]

“That’s the choreo Megan and I have done so far.”

Y/N’s phone buzzed. She reached into her pocket, pulling it out to see a text from Manon asking if she was in her room.

Megan’s infectious cackle interrupted before she could reply.

“Someone said we’re not pregnant but we always deliver,” she managed to read out in between gasping for air amidst her fit of amusement. “Oh my God, that’s so iconic.”

Opening her mouth to retaliate, another buzz sounds.

Y/N pulled her phone back out from her pocket, seeing another text from Manon, urging for an answer. She chuckled, shaking her head at the woman’s impatience.

Megan skimmed the comments, before turning back.

“Somebody said, ‘Only one thing could have Y/N smiling at her phone like that’.” The Chinese dancer read out, “Another person added, ‘Manon’s probably missing her boo thang’.”

Y/N shook her head, deciding keeping up appearances with their fans was more important than replying right away.

“It was just our manager, guys. A reminder for what we need to do tomorrow.” Y/N lied, “Anyway, if anybody was wondering, we are working really hard for MAMA. Especially Meggers here.” She grabbed the redhead, yanking her close to knock their heads together. “She’s carrying the dancing with Dani right now.”

peanutbutterlover02 Bad girl

peanutbutterlover02 Y/N’s ignoring my texts :(

peanutbutterlover02 Guysss stop hogging Y/N

Y/N and Megan both silenced at the sudden pop of a verified user commenting, but after reading the handle, both of them shared a moment of faux annoyance.

“Manon, get out of our comment section!” Megan yelled, “Go do something, man!”

The meme reference squeezed a laugh from Y/N, who shook her head. But, still, it’s Katseye. Of course she couldn’t resist joining in on the teasing herself. Her voice dropped low, “News flash, Dwayne’s forehead isn’t real. It’s a prosthetic.”

Both of them giggle at their own joke.

user04 Oop- Manon’s coming to collect fr

user05 can’t even defend them anymore

user06 so we were right Y/N was giggling cuz of manon

user07 BAD GIRL IS CRAZY

“Sorry, Meret, we’re just about to wrap this session up and I’ll text you back immediately after, okay?”

Manon could only suck it up, leaving a couple more disappointed comments on their livestream as Megan and Y/N show eyekons another part of choreography.

peanutbutterlover02 I’m so boreddddddd

peanutbutterlover02 I’m still waiting >:(

peanutbutterlover02 Guys I need my best friend back

[ BEST FRIEND—sure ]

*Loud technical difficulty transition* A KATSEYE HOLIDAY STORY | KATSEYE; Secret Santa Portion

Y/N’s wrapping a gift set, a Fenty beauty make-up kit she specially assembled for Manon. She knew the woman had been complaining about her makeup supply running low, so what better chance than to get her what she needed?

“I know, I know, I went a little over budget,” Y/N chuckled, taping the edges of the wrapping paper together. “But Manon’s been really needing new stuff, and I wanted it.”

[ Ofc Y/N would go above and beyond for Manon ]

“Also, let me tell you guys a secret.” Y/N walked offscreen, coming back with a tiny box.

She motioned for the camera to zoom into the box, before popping it open. Inside, there was a gold necklace, a crown charm at the end of it. Y/N tucked it back into the box, holding a finger up to her lips.

“I got Manon an extra gift, but that’s for after work.”

[ That’s so cute I need me a Y/N ]

“Anyway, I’m glad I got Manon. I think either Daniela or Yoonchae might be my secret santa, ‘cuz I’m sure Megan got Lara and Lara got Sophia.” Y/N shrugged, standing in her cream coloured silky pj set. “Guess we’re about to find out.”

Sat around a table on a very festive set, Y/N was instructed to slot in between Megan and Manon.

One by one, the girls presented their gifts to their designated person. When Yoonchae presented Daniela her gift, a neatly wrapped book, it was the Latina’s turn to pull out her gift bag.

“And my secret santa is…” Drumrolls against the table followed, “Y/N!”

Cheers erupted amongst the girls as Daniela slid the bag across the table to Y/N.

“Hope you like it, babe.”

The wrapping paper was still being pulled off as Y/N let out a surprised gasp. Underneath the vibrant wrapping was a vinyl—Rumours, by Fleetwood Mac. Y/N’s eyes lit up instantly. It was one of their favorite albums, something she had been looking for on vinyl forever.

“No way…! Dani, how’d you find this?” Y/N exclaimed, holding it up to the group, her voice practically sparkling.

Dan smiled proudly, her hands still resting on her own wrapped gift. “Well, I know you’re all about that rock life,” she said with a wink, knowing how much this record meant to Y/N. “I had my ways. As long as you’re happy, it was worth it.”

As everyone cheered and clapped, Manon side-eyed the gift.

She had noticed the way Y/N's eyes practically glowed when Daniela handed her the vinyl. It wasn’t just about the gift itself—it was the way Y/N was so genuinely excited. She loved seeing her happy, but Manon herself would have been happier if she had been the reason for such a smile. The way Y/N laughed and praised Daniela, even going as to get out of her chair to tackle the Latina in a hug. The little things that made Manon feel... well, a little left out. She quickly shifted her attention to the other girls, pretending to focus on the conversation, but her mind lingered on the discomfort.

Y/N notices Manon's mood; she smirked.

“Okay, so, it’s my turn.” Y/N turned, grabbing her bag from the floor. The bag had been topped with a cute silver ribbon, the gift itself wrapped with the same paper as the others’ gifts. “And, there’s two people left who hasn’t gotten their secret santa gift yet, so, drumroll, please!”

The table once again rocked as they drummed their hands.

“I have… my favourite drama queen, Manon.”

The Ghanaian woman widened her eyes, hands taking in the present Y/N shimmied over to her. The younger slung her arm over Manon’s shoulders, rubbing it as she watched her open and unwrap the present. A loud yelp rung through the studio, startling the others before Manon fully unwrapped it.

Her face softened when she saw what was inside: a Fenty beauty set—lip glosses, a highlighter, and a few items she had been eyeing for weeks but hadn’t splurged on herself.

“Okay, now I know for a fact this is out of budget.” Lara crossed her arms, her eyebrow raised in question.

“Bro, can we do secret santa without Y/N next year?” Sophia chimed, earning a couple teasing agreements. “You’re making all of us look bad now, N/N.”

“Y/N...” Manon whispered, her heart fluttering. “You really did this for me? This was probably so expensive.”

Y/N waved a hand dismissively. “Best way to spend my money. The holidays are all about love, right? This is how I show you guys I love you.” She pulled Megan and Manon into her arms, squeezing them both as the others joined in for a big hug. “I got you all things you want, don’t worry.”

Manon’s smile returned, brighter than before. She leaned in to hug Y/N individually after, her voice quiet but sincere. “You didn’t have to, but I’m so glad you did.”

Their hug lasted a little long, even their editing team seemed to tease them a bit with the excessive exaggeration of how long it was with a time ticking effect over the other girls’ reactions.

The rest of the group watched, their smiles growing as they witnessed the little moment between the two. It was clear, despite the playful teasing and occasional misunderstandings, that Y/N and Manon were closer than anyone could imagine.

Manon held the box up to her chest, beaming.

“Okay, so, Manon, you’re doing yours—!”

[ Y/N really loves spoiling her bandmates, especially Manon… ]

*Loud technical difficulty transition* Cut to Lara and Yoonchae’s live. The two were sat on the floor of their hotel room, singing and joking around as Sophia occasionally shushed them to be a bit quieter.

“No, Yoonchae, if we were in the Hunger Games, the order we’d go from dying to surviving would be Manon, Sophia, Me, You, Megan, Dani and then Y/N. I feel like Dani’s like so wild and freaky she’d be able to survive better than you.” Lara argued, earning a loud whine of protest from Sophia across the room. “And Megan would be the type to like survive off the stupidest reason, like she’ll accidentally kill someone.”

Yoonchae pouted, “No, no! It’s you, Dani, me, then Y/N.”

“Yoonchae, I swear to God, I’m telling you.” Lara held a hand up, “It’s me, you, Megan, Dani and then Y/N.”

The youngest huffed, unwilling to argue.

user01 Lara any advice on how to flirt w a girl

Yoonchae pointed at the phone. Lara leant forward to read the comment she was pointing out, her lips curving into a smile immediately. “Oh, wow. That’s a question you should ask Y/N. Or Manon… Only ‘cuz the two of them are such flirty people.”

Lara looked offscreen, a guilty smile on her face as she glanced at Sophia for help.

[ Nice save Lara, definitely super slick ]

“Yes, Manon is very…” Yoonchae does a winky face into the camera, “And Y/N gets flirted with a lot when we go to dinner.”

Lara hummed, drawing attention away from what she almost exposed. “Yes. Y/N has a very fluid appearance, she gets a lot of guys and girls coming up to her in public.”

Sophia, voice faint, chimed, “Yeah, it’s a real problem.”

“So, I feel like that’s a good question to ask Y/N. She has the most aura, most unspoken rizz among all of us.”

user02 does manon get jealous when Y/N’s hit on?

[ Took me a while to find this comment! ]

Lara laughed aloud at a comment, momentarily confusing Yoonchae before the younger caught the statement as well. They shared a knowing look, and when their laughter died down, they just remained silent and moved on.

user03 Who’s the most jealous/possessive as a gf?

“Oh, I’ve been waiting for somebody to ask this.” Lara rubbed her hands together, “Yoonchae and I actually talked about this at some point. Okay, it goes, from least to most, Yoonchae, Y/N, Megan, Sophia, Me, Dani and then Manon.”

user04 match made in heaven

user05 They’re so jealous x comforting duo my heart

“Because Yoonchae, Y/N and Megan are much more relaxed and I feel like Sophia’s jealous, but she can hide it well. Me, Dani and Manon are definitely more fighters, because ain’t nobody coming near my bae if we dating.” Lara squared up to the camera, eyeing it up and down. “Manon is just lowkey a psycho, so she was at the top of the list.”

Yoonchae nodded, “I’m scared of Manon when she’s angry.”

“I’ve seen Manon mad over something, guys. It’s not pretty and I do not recommend.” Sophia yelled.

[ Since Y/N gets flirted with a lot and Sophia’s seen Manon angry… it’s so obvious ya’ll ]

[caspiansinclair]

TRK KANDREW QUOTES:

- "Andrew twisted and punched the wall hard enough to split the skin along his knuckles. Kevin took a quick step forward, hand out like he could stop Andrew from landing a second blow"

- "You shouldn't be outside if you're coming down with something," Kevin said. "Such concern." Andrew grinned at Kevin's cool tone. "Don't cry, Kevin. It's nothing a nap and some vitamin C can't fix."

- Kevin had a knee hugged to his chest and his face hidden in the fold of his arm. His knuckles were white where his hand was clenched into a fist. Neil didn't think it was the bus that was making Kevin shake like that. "Look at me," Andrew said. "It'll be fine. You believe me, yes?" "I believe you," Kevin said, muffled but noticeably strained.

- "Andrew has neither purpose nor ambition," Kevin said. "I was the first person who ever looked at Andrew and told him he was worth something. When he comes off these drugs and has nothing else to hold him up I will give him something to build his life around." (my fav quote)

- Kevin had eyes only for Andrew as he crouched in front of the downed goalkeeper. "So," Kevin said, "did you have fun?" Andrew was too tired to put any heat in his words. "You are despicable, Kevin Day. I don't know why I keep you around."

- Kevin only smiled, slow and sure and pleased, and offered Andrew a hand. Andrew looked at it, then at Kevin, and let Kevin haul him to his feet.

- "Why do you have his drugs?" "I hold onto them when he's adjusting his schedule," Kevin answered. "Game nights or nights like tonight when he wants to go into withdrawal, it's better if someone else keeps the bottle. If he has his pills he'll take them. He won't be able to help himself."

- "When I said I wasn't Andrew's type, I meant it. It's not about my looks or faith. It's that I'm a woman." Neil heard her words but was slow to understand them. He blinked at her in confusion, blinked again when it clicked, and said a little too loudly, "Oh. Then Andrew and Kevin—"

- "Andrew won't agree to this," Abby said, a last-ditch effort to change their minds. "Going means leaving Kevin behind. They haven't had more than a campus between them since Andrew took Kevin under his wing."

- "Kevin," Andrew called from out of sight. Kevin nearly knocked the chair over in his hurry to answer. Neil watched from the doorway as Andrew stopped almost right up against Kevin. Andrew pat Kevin down for imaginary injuries and Kevin stood motionless until he was done."

- "Look at that face, Bee. He wants me sober more than almost anyone does, but only if the timing's right. I warned you, didn't I? Who will take care of Kevin if I'm gone? I can't trust him wandering around here by himself, and Coach can't be with him all the time. Kevin's kind of a full-time job."

- "I can't believe you're sending Andrew away," Kevin said, a little sharply.

- "She shouldn't have taken Andrew away," Kevin said in a low voice.

- Kevin is not like us; he is valuable but he is not property in the same sense. He escaped because he had family to run to." "Andrew?" Neil guessed.

- “Kevin had spent the better part of a year trying to get through to Andrew. He wanted Exy to mean something; he wanted Andrew’s best preformance like a dying man wanted one last breath of air. Andrew knew it, and he refused to play along.”

- (this one’s long:) "So you'll try," Kevin said through gritted teeth, "because Coach asked you to."

Andrew folded his arms across his knees, tilted his head back, and smiled up at Kevin.

"Careful, Kevin. Your jealous streak is showing."

"For eight months you've told me no. In eight seconds you told him yes. Why?"

"Oh, that's easy." Andrew stuffed the last of his gear into his bag and zipped it shut. He slung the bag over his shoulders and got to his feet, standing up so close to Kevin he almost knocked Kevin back a step.

"It's just more fun to tell you no. That's what you wanted, right? You wanted me to have fun. I am. Aren't you?"

For someone so small, Andrew made a lot of noise when shoved into the lockers. Andrew was laughing as he crashed into the orange metal. Neil didn't know what amused Andrew more: Kevin's violence or the splash of blood that now stained the front of Kevin's shirt. Neil hadn't even seen Andrew take a knife out, but it was in his hand in the air between them. Kevin retreated from Andrew with a sharp curse.

"Jesus, Andrew!" Matt said. "Kevin, are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Kevin put a hand to his chest as if checking the truth of his words. Neil was at the far end of the lockers from them, so he couldn't see very well, but the relative lack of blood made him think the cut was shallow. It was long, but it wasn't serious. It was going to sting when Kevin put heavy armor overtop it tonight, though.

Andrew stepped away from the lockers and got in Kevin's space again. He put the edge of the blade against Kevin's chest over his heart and peered up into Kevin's face. Kevin looked more angry than intimidated as he stared back. Matt started toward them, maybe thinking he had to break up round two of their fight. Kevin didn't look away from Andrew when he motioned at Matt to back off.”

[chimneyz]

Blue Christmas

A sharp blade of sunlight stabbed through the blackout curtains right into Tommy's eyes, it was unbearable enough to wake him from his slumber. In a groggy groan, Tommy shifted his body, facing away from the sunlight, pulling the blankets over his head cocooning himself in darkness once more. A sharp pain drilled into his brain making it throb against his skull. The pressure from it makes it feel as if his brain formed thumbs pressing against the back of his eyes trying their damndest to push them out of his head. A botched lobotomy would have been better than his. The stale taste of last night's alcohol coated his tongue, it was bitter. 

Tommy probably had too much to drink last night. It was all just one big blur, that has been happening more frequently... after... after everything. On his nights off Tommy spent his time at his favorite bar, a small little hole in the wall that was never crowded and always playing music from the post-punk genre from the late 70s and 80s. He either spent his time alone moping in the corner or with Sal who would sit there, listen to him and every once in a while offer a friendly pat on the back. Last night he spent it alone. He didn't have to spend it alone, yet he did. 

Sal gave him a last minute invite last week to his house for Christmas Eve. 

"You should come, Tommy," Sal said to him, patting his back. "Don't spend Christmas Eve here. Claire is making her famous chocolate caramel fudge." 

"I'll pop by." Tommy sipped his beer leaning onto the bar counter. 

He lied. 

He will make it up to Sal and Claire some other time. 

With the throbbing pain burrowed into his head, Tommy wondered if he drank more than he usually did. No, he didn’t have to wonder, he knew he did. 

Christmas was the one time of year he always hated. Well, that and the Fourth of July. Fuck the Fourth of July. 

Hate was an understatement, Tommy loathed Christmas. Despised it with every fiber of his being. He didn't remember a time when he didn't like the holiday. His feelings about it changed and evolved as he got older but he never liked it. As a kid his house became more unbearable, everything had to be perfect, and it never was. Not for his father at least. Somehow it was the one time of year he actually was home most of the time. His father had to show everyone that they weren't in his words: "The white trash family that everyone believes us to be, we will show them... all of them." 

Tommy still didn’t know who the ‘them’ even was.

His father's temper became more heated, more violent. Tommy couldn't count how many times he watched his mother lock herself away in the bedroom and weep.

Not only did his house become unbearable, Tommy would watch all the other families on his street be happy. Actually happy. Being happy on Christmas was a foreign concept to Tommy. How the fuck can people be happy on Christmas? 

When Tommy joined the army time wasn't an actual concept many hadn’t had the luxury to afford. Tommy never really knew the time. He forgot about the holiday altogether. Tommy could count on one hand what he was thankful for about the army. Not dealing with Christmas was one. The other, it got him out of that fucking house. 

Once Tommy was discharged, he moved to LA, he never wanted to see snow again. The beginning of snow signified to him the beginning of the dreaded holiday. The only issue with moving to a place with no snow, people tend to go a little crazy with their lights and decorations. Tommy always figured it was to compensate for the lack of snow. His first Christmas in LA wasn't bad, but it wasn’t good. He was looking forward to being alone for once. He just didn't expect it to be just as overwhelming as spending it at home with his family. The silence was just too loud. After a couple of years, the silence became deafening. Luckily by that time Tommy was already a firefighter, and his schedule was always not what most would consider normal. Tommy actually took the time to work on the holiday to not be fully alone. However, the loneliness still ate at him from the inside. 

But this year, this year was going to be different.  

"Hey my sister and Chim are throwing a party this year for Christmas, wanna be my date?" Evan smiled at him, it was brighter than the fucking sun. 

Tommy looked up at Evan's now boil-free face. Tommy should have known the conversation would happen at some point, Halloween was over and most people already started at least thinking about Christmas the day after. Tommy scooched up closer to his face, his entire body lying on top of Evan. It became his favorite place to sleep, on top of him with Evan's arms wrapped around him, his head lying softly on Evan's chest listening to his heartbeat. He now looked directly into Evan's big blue mesmerizing eyes pondering what to say. 

"I-If you don't want to you don't have to - o-or if you have plans already with your family. You haven't said much about them so I wasn't sure if you are still on speaking terms or-" 

Tommy moved closer, cradling Evan's face with both of his hands gently kissing his lips. "Yes," Tommy smiled, "I will go with you." 

Evan stared at him with awe. He could have sworn he saw fucking starlight in there. Tommy relished in the way Evan looked at him after every single kiss. That starlight never dulled, not even once. 

"Ok, good." Evan rested his head against this pillow smitten, holding on to Tommy a little tighter. 

"Also last I checked you called me your boyfriend, don't you think it's a bit middle school to ask for me to be your date for your sister's Christmas party?" Tommy teased, his mouth morphing into a smirk.

Evan playfully swats at Tommy, his body shaking from a giggle he was trying to hide. 

Tommy rested his head back on Evan's heart. Maybe this year will be different. 

Tommy clutched his pillow close, freezing under the mountain of blankets, the lack of Evan's heartbeat ached Tommy’s chest. His head was still pounding away relentlessly. Not that it mattered, he was alone. He wondered if he deserved the pain throbbing between his temples. 

 A wave of nausea washed over Tommy, quickly he scrambled out of his cocoon of blankets running over quickly to the ensuite bathroom. Hunching over the toilet throwing up whatever alcohol and bile was twisting his stomach into knots. Aching from vomiting, Tommy rested his sweaty body against the cool tile floor panting. 

"Fuck Christmas," he mumbled. 

After a while, Tommy finally got up, maybe eating something would help. His footsteps echoed throughout his empty home. Tommy’s home was small, Evan called it cozy, but right now it felt endlessly large and cold. He hated his house, he hated that he hated it. Tommy spent years fixing it up into something of his own, now it felt like it didn't belong to him, that he wasn't 

Once in the kitchen, Tommy opens the fridge, a cool breeze rushes through. To his dismay, there was hardly anything edible in his fridge. Tommy shouldn't be surprised, he hardly bought anything at the grocery store, he hardly ate since... since fucking up his own life. His head pounded, it was getting harder to ignore. Grabbing one of the very few water bottles in his fridge and a bottle of Excedrin, Tommy takes the pills and gulps them down with water. He didn't care that he hasn't eaten, he didn’t care that the meds might fuck up his stomach later, he needed to eliminate that headache fast. 

Tommy’s eyes looked around the cold empty house, not a Christmas decoration in sight. As big as the house felt, the walls closed in around him. It was getting harder to breathe. Why was it getting harder to breathe? What if he was going to wind up dead in this fucking house alone? Would anyone miss him? Would he even miss himself? Life would go on and on, not even realizing he died, alone, in this stupid fucking house. Tommy knew he wasn't going to die soon, he was fit, healthy, went to the doctors, he was fine. Yeah sure, fine. Totally and completely fine... in this cold empty house.

He needed to get out of there, fast. 

He didn't care that he was in his joggers and Evan's hoodie (in which he left behind months ago). Tommy quickly grabbed his boots, wallet, sunglasses, and keys, not even making an effort to tie the laces, and headed straight for the front door. 

After shutting the front door behind him he let out a sigh of relief, of fresh air, as if the air in the house were poisonous to his lungs. Even with the sunglasses shielding his eyes, the sun was still too bright for him to see. Tommy’s eyes eventually landed on a crushed box in front of his doorstep. A small white box with crumbs spilling out of the broken edges. Ants crawled all over it, feasting on whatever was inside. Tommy tilted his head, curious about the mystery box in front of him. From the footprint on the box, all Tommy could assume was he stepped on it last night, too drunk from the bar to realize there was something waiting for him when he got home. He crouched down to the box lifting the lid. Broken crumbled Christmas cookies filled the tiny box. Sal must have left this here last night. Maybe Claire made cookies instead of her chocolate caramel fudge this year. 

Tommy lifted what he could and threw it in the trash can at the edge of his driveway, whipping away the crumbs from his hand. Before closing the lid, Tommy caught the little note taped to the box. To Tommy was written in familiar handwriting, Evan's handwriting. Tommy quickly shut the lid, a nauseating pit formed in his stomach.

Christmas music echoes throughout the shopping isles of the grocery store. The wheels of the shopping cart squealed as they rolled along the linoleum. Tommy could only count a few others that were actually shopping. Talking his time - with nothing else to do - Tommy slowly strolled through the store looking at every little thing. It wasn't until he reached the produce aisle when Tommy abruptly stopped, the soles of his shoes speaking on the linoleum. He looked down at the variety of mushrooms before him. 

"Which mushrooms should I choose, Tommy?" 

Tommy turns to find Evan looking down at the mushrooms. Evan's eyebrows furrowed, his hands on his hips. Tommy watched as Evan bit down on his bottom lip contemplating. Tommy loved how Evan looked while contemplating. 

Tommy loved Evan, he didn’t say it out loud but he loved him. He has for a while now, but it really didn't click until that day in the graveyard. He hoped the basketball tickets he bought just a couple hours ago showed his love. He was a little nervous about their six-month anniversary, he wasn't sure why. He hoped the tickets conveyed how much their relationship meant to him. It was how this whole thing started, right? 

"Which do you think morel or chanterelle?" Evan asked. 

"Uh, I am not sure," Evan chuckled, "What's the difference?" 

"Well morels have this smokey nutty flavor, chanterelles on the other hand have this somewhat fruity flavor. I just can't decide what would be better for this orzo recipe. It has to be perfect." 

"Evan hon' it's just orzo it doesn't have to be perfect. Besides, Maddie and Howie will be happy with whatever you bring for the Christmas party." 

"Yes it does," Evan looked at him. "It’s my first Christmas with you, it has to be perfect." 

Tommy’s heart swelled. 

"Evan..." Tommy kissed the birthmark above Evan's eyebrow, "All I need is you for it to be perfect." 

Tears stung Tommy’s eyes, the memory making him ache. 

Quickly he wheeled the cart away, unable to look at mushrooms the same now. He quickly got the things he intended to get in the first place, a package of chocolate chip cookie dough and a small tub of cream cheese frosting. He didn't know why he took so long in the store, nor did he know why he took a shopping cart for two items. Maybe it was to stall time, to lean on something, to ground him. 

From the speakers the soothing sounds of Wham! sung a little tune. 

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart 

But the very next day, you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

"You have got to be fucking kidding me right now." 

Tommy couldn’t get out of that grocery store fast enough. 

Tommy stared up at the screen above him, Babygirl, Wicked, Nosferatu. So many choices on the screen it made his headache again. The package of cookie dough tapped onto his thigh. 

"What would have the least Christmas spirit?" Tommy looked down at the board teen. 

"I don't know man," she said, not really looking up from her book. 

"Wouldn't you've seen these movies?"

"Just because I work here doesn't mean I have seen any of them." 

Tommy slumped down into the movie theater chair with his extra large cherry lime Icee slush, a large popcorn (extra butter), his package of cookie dough, and cream cheese frosting. He must admit he was surprised that the workers let him walk in with food. But he probably looked as he felt, like shit. Nobody really wants to talk to you when you look like you are going through hell, especially during the holidays. 

Eventually, Tommy landed on Nosferatu, it seemed the safest bet, even though Tommy hated horror movies. Couldn't stand them. He always found himself to be anxious and jumpy after every single one he has watched. He never got that much sleep after a horror movie. But maybe that is what he needed, to be anxious and jumpy, to keep his mind off of things, to preoccupy. And the whole not being able to sleep after horror movies... Well, it wasn't like he was getting that much sleep to begin with these days. His bed was too cold without Evan. 

"Babe?"

Tommy flinched, the mattress sunk down next to him as Evan sat next to him, his eyes filled with concern.

"Are you alright? You've been biting your nails a lot tonight?" 

Tommy removed his fingernails from his teeth, he didn’t even realize he was doing it. It was a bad habit he had since he was a kid. His father practically yelled at him about it more times than he could count. Only pussies bite their nails. That is what his father always said. He picked up the habit again while in the army. Luckily it only became a habit when he was anxious. Tonight seemed to be one of those nights. 

"Sorry," Tommy mumbled. 

"Hey, you don't need to be," Evan inched closer, "What's going on inside that head of yours?" 

Tommy sighed slumping his shoulders down, "I hate horror movies Evan, I am sorry I just do. I know you wanted to do this marathon of thirteen movies for thirteen nights but... I just can't stand them. They make me anxious and I can't relax after watching them. I am so sorry." 

"Hey," Evan cupped Tommy’s face pulling him to look right at Evan, "Don't be sorry, we don't have to do it if you don't like it ok?" 

Tommy nodded. 

"Now," Evan smirked, "Let's see how I can distract you." 

"Distract me?" 

Evan hummed as he pulled down the waistband of Tommy’s briefs. 

"Oh," Tommy hummed. 

"Let me grab the lube, and I'll make you forget every scary little thing." 

"You better," Tommy giggled.

Tommy watched the credits roll, he wished he did have a distraction, a good one, to keep the thoughts in his mind at bay. It was too bad that the perfect distraction probably wanted nothing to do with him now.

By the time Tommy left the movie theater, darkness covered the night sky. He got into his truck and left. Tommy didn’t want to go home, not yet. Not to the empty cold unwelcoming house. But where else would he go? Nowhere. Usually, on days like these, he'd sit down and watch Love, Actually and forget about the world around him. But not today, actually not even in the whole month of December. He never could get through the whole thing in December. 

The loneliness was eating away at him. He didn't know how much longer he could take it, the loneliness was becoming too loud, too unbearable. 

As Tommy drove down his street he looked through every house with lights wondering if the families inside were happy. Wondering why his family never was. Even the houses with no Christmas decor still felt warm and welcoming. But not his. Something was different though, someone was there, right at his doorstep. 

"Evan?" 

Tommy pulled his car into his driveway killing the engine. Evan fumbled with the large paper cards in his hands cursing under his breath as he picked them up. Tommy shut the car door unsure how Evan hasn't noticed him yet. The noise from the car door made Evan jump up, looking at Tommy with his big blue eyes, his cheeks growing pink. 

"Uh, h-hey Tommy." Evan rubbed the back of his neck. 

"Evan, what are you doing here?" 

"I uh," Evan gestured to the large cards sprawled on the ground. "I wanted to do something... well. You love Love, Actually so much I thought that this would be-" Evan's cheeks morphed from pink to red. "I-It’s stupid." 

"It's not stupid," Tommy chuckled. "It’s adorable." 

"R-Really?"

Tommy hummed, walking a bit closer to Evan. 

"The last one was going to ask if you could be my date to Maddie and Chim's Christmas party." Evan smiled.

"Evan, I... I can't..." his voice trailed off to a mumble. 

"Why? It's not like you have any plans." 

Tommy winced at Evan's words. 

"S-Sorry, I didn't mean to, that was..." Evan pressed his lips together thinly, his shoulders stiff, "Uncalled for." 

"Evan I don't know if that would work," Tommy murmured darting his eyes away and crossing his arms, "I hurt you. I am sorry for that but I did it anyway. How could you know I wouldn't hurt you again?" 

Evan sighed, he inched closer to Tommy wrapping his arms around Tommy’s biceps squeezing them gently. "I don't... but that doesn't mean we should fight for this. Tommy, I went over what you said that night over and over on an endless loop. You wanted this just as much as I do, don't turn your back on this. On us." 

"Evan, I am nobody's last, I am not someone people love unconditionally, that's just now who I am."

"You're wrong Tommy," Evan said, determination flaring in his eyes, "I love you. I love the good, the bad. Every single bit of you. You are loveable. Whether you are with me or not I will always love you, no matter what."

Tommy could feel the tears forming around his eyes. 

"I wish you will choose to be with me," Evan whispered. 

"Evan..." Tommy's voice cracked, "I-I have so much shit to work through." 

"So do I. But let's not do it apart when we can deal with it together." 

"The last time I let someone get in this close... it fucking shattered me. It took me years to pick up the pieces. I don't know if I can do that again."

"Are you not hurting now?" 

Tommy huffed, "Of course I am, but-" 

"Tommy I cannot predict the future, everything could work out for the both of us. We could die horribly tomorrow. Who knows? But can we just focus on the present and walk our path to the future together?" 

"I am so sick and tired of being alone."

"I know." Evan moved his hand up holding Tommy’s cheek, wiping away a tear with his thumb. "Please don't be alone tonight. We can talk later but don't be alone tonight." 

"You have no idea how much I wanted you by my side, how much I've missed you, how much I needed you." 

"I think I have somewhat of an idea. You are calling me Evan again." Tommy's face felt warm, burning even. "You have no idea how much I needed you Tommy, how much I still need you." 

Evan brought Tommy in closer, pressing his lips against Tommy's gently kissing him. Tommy missed this, needed this, craved this. He wrapped his hands around Evan's waist kissing back desperately needing Evan more than air itself. The kiss went from gentle to passionate making up for lost time, both hungry - no, starving - for each other. 

Both parted gasping for air, Tommy watched Evan's eyes glitter from the stars above.

"I want to figure this out by your side, If you will let me." Tommy whispered. 

"Of course," Evan kissed the center of Tommy’s forehead, "Merry Christmas Tommy."

Tommy chuckled, "Merry Christmas Evan." 

Maybe this Christmas was going to be different after all.