#copy pasted that last line from one of the requests i wrote for him so this is sadly not a joke

[m1ckeyb3rry]

me whenever i have to think about kaiser: ugly ugly ugly ugly why do you even have fans you’re so UGLY

me whenever i have to WRITE about kaiser: he is so beautiful…so perfect…bears all the resemblance to other men that a dove does to a common sparrow…he’s unreal…

[usmsgutterson]

Nothing Feels As Good As Going Home - S.R

Okay!! My ao3 did see this one first (I had edited it late last night and honestly?? I was too lazy to post it on both platforms because I edited it on ao3 and was too lazy to copy, paste, and then write an authors note lmao) and I'm pretty unsure about this as a whole because I'm only eight seasons in and I haven't written for Spencer before, but I'm conquering my fears tonight.

Despite my bio (which will be changed at least fifteen minutes after this has been posted--I have two accounts and I want to do some maintenance for this one because it needs a little TLC I fear) my requests are currently open!! They're wide open to Spencer Reid, Emily Prentiss, Derek Morgan and Aaron Hotchner, even though I'd also likely be willing to write for another criminal minds character if you asked.

Fic type - this one is tooth rotting fluff because I couldn't resist

Warnings - spencer might be a tad ooc because this is the first time I've written for him. This is also set either in or around season eight as, when I wrote this, I was about halfway through that season and I'm currently close to 2/3rds of the way done with it. Cats are also in this one, if you aren't a cat person.

Spencer used to hate going home. He felt like he’d never really know what would be going on the minute he opened the front door and stepped inside, and after his father left, that fear intensified bit by bit.  

After his father left, he never knew what it would mean, going home, so he stalled. He’d go to a local park and sit on a bench and read a few books in an hour, maybe two, in order to escape the fear he felt at the idea of going home when he had no idea what would be going on in that house, whether his mother was okay that day or not.  

When he went to college and was living in the dorms, he hated going back because it meant more isolation. More loneliness, more of the same, really. Only his books to keep him company and just about nobody else, unless Ethan called, which he usually did two or three times a week. Ethans calls were one of the only things that really helped him when he wasn’t looking after his mother whenever he was on break, typically around the winter and during the summer.  

After having his mother institutionalised, he feared going home because it meant that she wasn’t there, and the guilt that came with having her taken into a facility when it wasn’t something she wanted weighed down on him very heavily.  

In those last two years pre-FBI, he hated going home because it meant more of the same. More loneliness, more of the same nature documentaries he'd seen a thousand times before if he wasn't putting on the news, and more books that he’d already read several times before haunting him from wherever it was that they sat on his bookshelves, which had been scattered throughout most rooms in his apartment.  

But he joined the FBI at twenty-one and managed to meet you somewhere along that year, found out that you’d just started working with the Marshals and had lived only twenty five minutes out from Arlington, which put you about fifteen from Quantico as a whole, and he started hating going home a lot less after you guys had been together for four months.  

After four months of dates and getting to know each other, getting home usually meant going on another date or Spencer finally getting the opportunity to call you and stay on the phone for longer than fifteen minutes.  

Spencer is very careful about your relationship, though—very secretive, though he doesn’t really mean to be, to avoid teasing from Derek and, four or so years down the line, Emily and JJ, though even Rossi joined in on occasion.

It’s not until he’s on the jet, Alex sitting to his left, JJ across him and Derek diagonally so, that he has to spill the beans.  

He gets a text from you and it’s the way that he smiles that gives it away.  

Hey, Spence! I cleaned up the house a little bit and went to grab your favourite coffee beans from the bodega we both like. Also: meet Megatron. Her name deceives.  

Attached is a photo of a kitten that can’t be more than four or five weeks old, dark brown everywhere except for her paws and chin, which are white.  

“Who’s the lucky one, boy genius?” Derek asks.  

“Huh?” Spencer looks up, eyes widened slightly. “It’s nobody.”  

JJs head tilts. “You wouldn’t smile like that for a nobody,” she says. “Who is it?”  

“Is it the one with the dark blue Prius--” Alex starts before she pauses, realizing where she's fumbled. That gets Rossi and Hotch interested, both of whom come to sit in the seats across from the four.  

Alex is the only one on the team who knows about you apart from Penelope, which is pure happenstance—his car had broken down once when both she and Spencer had worked a late night, and so you’d offered to pick him up from work so that the two of you could go back to the house you shared and indulge in a shark documentary and some pizza.  

“It is,” Spencer nods. “Their name is Y/N.”  

“How long have you had a Y/N?” Derek asks.  

“Since I was twenty-one,” Spencer admits. “About a decade now.”  

“You kept a romantic partner hidden for a decade ?” Derek asks. “How? Does--”  

“Penelope knows about them because they’re in the group she goes to on Tuesdays,” Spencer says. “The one for knitting and crocheting—Y/N does the latter, mostly, but they did knit the cardigan I was wearing last week.”  

“And how did Penelope figure out about the thing you two have had going on?”  

“It’s more than a thing , Derek,” Alex says. “If it’s been going for a decade, it’s more than a thing.”  

“We’d gotten done with a case early, and Penelope had left pretty much as soon as we were on the jet so that she could make it to the aforementioned group. I asked them where they were and picked them up with their favourite tea as a surprise. Penelope saw me there, watched us hug, and just about lost her mind. Have I satisfied your thirst for knowledge yet?”  

He turns to Alex briefly, nods a bit to answer her earlier remark. “I just proposed last weekend, so you’re right. It’s more than just a thing I would say.”  

Derek and JJs eyes widen until their shock is clearly conveyed, and Spencer laughs.  

“You have a fiancee, and you just—didn't think to fucking tell anybody?” Derek laughs. “Were you ever going to tell us?”  

“I was—we've been busy with work, and it didn’t occur to me.”  

“Okay,” JJ nods like she believes it, and that’s good enough for Spencer because he’s telling the truth anyway. “What was the text about?”  

Spencer shrugs, paraphrases.  

“They wrote me to tell me they’d cleaned up the house and picked up a stray, I think,” Spencer answers. “I mean, the stray part wasn't explicitly stated but—the kitten doesn’t look more than four weeks old, so the assumption was immediate, but they know I can’t say no to cats. They’ve been hoping that they’d find a stray while I was on a case since we first moved into a condo together. We bought our house six months ago now, and they’ve joked, every single time before I’ve left for a case, that it’s the perfect time.”  

“What’d they name it?” Rossi asks. “Assuming they didn’t ask for your input. I wouldn’t--I’d have a kitten named Einstein who could never live up to that.”  

Spencer can’t help the loving laugh that bubbles up from his throat as his fingers absently locate the chain around his neck, with an engagement ring of his own weighing the chain down just slightly so that the ring sits comfortably at the middle of his collarbone.  

“They named her Megatron,” he says nonchalantly. “Smallest cat I’ve ever seen, and still, she’s got big shoes to fill. Massive ones, actually.”  

That is enough to get Hotch to crack a smile. For a second, Spencer feels like he’s winning even though a game isn’t even being played.  

“Okay, so—how did you do it?” JJ asks. “I mean—ten years and a recent engagement? With only two people on our team discovering through that entire time? How?”  

“Penelope figured it out three years in,” Spencer answers. “Alex only figured it out recently, which is kind of surprising because I’ve never exactly hidden their existence. I just haven't talked about them because nobody has ever really asked but—I don’t know, either. We kept it low key because we both work law enforcement and it was just easier that way for the first little while, and then we both decided we liked the quiet so we kept things that way.”  

“They work in law enforcement?” Derek asks, his eyes narrowing. “Are they FBI?”  

“They’re a Deputy US Marshal, actually,” Spencer corrects. “They work in the Virginia office, which is 45 minutes outside of Quantico, up in Arlington. It’s why I have a twenty five minute commute—we both like our jobs a lot, and twenty-five minutes for me one way is only eighteen minutes for them the other, but I like driving so I don’t mind. They’re in talks for a promotion right now, and they were meant to hear about it today but so far their texts haven’t indicated anything about that.”  

It’s the most Spencer has told anyone except his mother about you since you’d gotten together, and while you both normally like to keep things quiet, bragging about you to the people he routinely trusts with his life is a very nice feeling.  

“US Marshal?” JJ asks. “They pretty commonly hire ex-military,” she says.  

“They’ve never been anywhere near the military,” Spencer laughs. “They did a two year degree at a community college, went to Glynco for training, and were employed by the US Marshals by twenty-one, around the same time I joined the FBI. We met each other at a coffee shop when they were off of work and their local one was closed, so our meeting was kismet.”  

Spencers phone buzzes again, and he ignores it that time. 

Alex grins at him, while Derek tuts and JJs eyes go to his phone as it buzzes once, then twice more, the fourth buzz coming four and a half seconds after the first, second, and third.  

“Check it,” she urges. “The jet is going to land in fifteen minutes, Spencer, so if it’s good news, you might as well.”  

SPENCER!! 

I have really really REALLY good news 

Please tell me your jet is landing soon or the very minute it’s landed call me please because you work twenty five minutes away and that means I can call and order from Antonios and by the time you’re home, you’ll only have to wait five minutes for pizza.  

Also, Megatrons full name is Megatron Ichabod Reid. Just so you know. I love you so much you stupid smart handsome tall man.  

Spencer doesn’t even try to fight his laugh as he reads.

“Good news?” Derek asks.  

“I think they got promoted, but I won’t know for sure til I’m home,” Spencer answers. “Also--Megatrons full name is apparently Megatron Ichabod Reid—their texts read like they’re hyper.”  

“I’d be pretty hyper if I got news of a promotion,” Rossi says. “Let us know if they did, though, kid. I’m hosting a dinner to celebrate your engagement regardless, but if they got promoted, it’s another thing to celebrate on the roster, and all the more of an excuse to meet the person you’ve kept hidden from the likes of us for a decade.”  

“You guys ordering Antonios?” Alex asks. “You mentioned getting Antonios for dinner the day after I saw you two together. I’m assuming it’s their favourite pizza spot—you don’t really seem like the pizza type. More like a pasta guy.”  

“We both love it,” Spencer answers. “There’s no pizza like Antonios—not where we live, anyway. It’s the middle ground between Quantico and Arlington, so there’s not a whole lot to do unless you drive either way.”  

“Antonios makes a good pizza,” Rossi nods.  

“Their pasta is better,” Hotch interjects. Spencer shakes his head, tries to go back to the book that’s sitting on the table in front of him but fails miserably, waits for the fifteen minutes til the jet lands to be done whilst the rest of the team talks amongst themselves.  

The second the jet lands, as he’s walking out of it, he dials your number and you pick up on the first ring.  

“Spencer Walter Reid, light of my life and giver of astoundingly lovely forehead kisses, please tell me you’ve landed,”  

Spencer laughs. “Just did,” he says. “The team knows about us now, by the way—I smiled when you texted and that lead to Derek questioning me, so there’s that. Also, if the good news is what I think it is, Rossi wants to hold a celebration dinner as an excuse to meet you. He fronted it with our engagement first, but I think he’s just shocked we’ve kept each other under wraps that long.”  

“You like Megatrons name?” You ask, giggling a bit, seemingly in spite of yourself. “I’m sorry, Spence—I'm hyper as hell, bouncing off the walls type. I’m going to open a bottle of wine, see if it calms me down a little. Get home as fast as you can, though! I miss your handsome face!”  

“Just gotta finish a file or two and then I’ll be home,” he says. “If you order the pizza now, I’ll only be like, five minutes late—the pizza won’t be scalding, like it usually is because of their ridiculously well-working warmer bags.”  

“I love you, Spence,” you say, tone turning a little serious. “Get home safe, please.”  

“I will,” Spencer nods. “You okay?”  

“Hyper but yearning,” you laugh. “I just miss you, ‘s all.”  

“I miss you too,” he says. “I’ll be home in forty minutes, tops. I promise.”  

The phone call ends, and he doesn’t miss the knowing smiles that are on Derek and Rossis faces. JJ is looking at him mildly confused as the tone of the conversation changed near it’s end, but he doesn’t want to explain, and so he chooses not to say anything.  

He goes back into the office, completes what remains of the files he has to work on, and after he submits the paperwork in to Hotch, he just about speed walks out of the office, toward the elevators.  

Derek is leaving at the same time as he is. “Goin’ home to Megatron and the singular person who’s managed to keep up with you for the past decade?” He asks teasingly as the doors close.    

“Yeah,” Spencer laughs. “I know you guys will tease me about it til the end of my time here, but—yeah. I get to go home to a stray cat the love of my life probably found in the parking lot of a Joanns, and the love of my life themself.”  

“I’m all done with my teasing, for now,” Derek says. “I’m just a little confused—why'd you keep them from us for this long?”  

“I don’t know,” Spencer admits. “When we’d first started dating, they’d just started out with the Marshals and they were scared having a partner in the FBI would get them special treatment, and then, when the stuff with Tobias Hankel happened and I got into Dialudid, I was scared that I’d make an enemy and then they’d find out about Y/N and use them to hurt me, and it just—we’re the quiet type, so we had reasons til we stopped needing them. I was going to tell you guys before we got engaged, but stuff has just kept happening so quickly in these past couple of years, and it’s kept slipping my mind.”  

Derek shrugs, but smiles understandingly. “I get it,” he says. “Lookin’ forward to that dinner Rossi is planning, though. I can’t wait to meet the singular person who probably would let you talk their ear off because they find you handsome or like your voice or something else that’s really sweet. You have a good night, Spence.”  

The elevator dings and the doors open, and the two leave separately. Spencer drives a little above the speed limit in the interest of getting home, which isn’t something he’d ever thought he’d do but is doing that night because it’s been a week since you’d last seen each other and he misses you like mad.  

When he inserts his key into the lock, unlocks the door and steps inside, he’s not filled with dread or fear or anxiety or loneliness or anything like that—instead, it feels like exactly what it’s supposed to.  

As he steps out of his shoes, hangs his bag on the coat rack and hears the sound of your laugh, he registers just how much the place he calls home feels like the word used to describe it.  

As he greets you with a hug and a few kisses to the forehead, it feels so much like home that it almost causes an ache in his chest. As you tell him about your promotion from Deputy to Chief Deputy and he hears Megatron the cat meow for the first time, happiness swells within him. Home, for the first time in his life, truly feels like a home. A place where he can unwind and be with those he truly loves, a place in which happiness is practically never-ending.  

Going home has never felt so good as going home to you, and Spencer is unsure anything will ever beat it.  

[prismaticpichu]

I can't figure out how to do the empty down-pointing triangle and copy-paste is mean to me. the aging one for our pals zack & (sane) seph. We don't really get to hear about aging SOLDIERs cause well, they're not really meant to survive so long, so I'd love to hear about thoughts about if they *did*

Ooooh oooh OOOH!!! Such an interesting premise….! :0

You’re absolutely right in that SOLDIERs unfortunately tend to lead very short lives. So what would a life look like post-ShinRa? What would it look like for our bestest buddies, had they had the opportunity to live the life they deserved….?

~

Sephiroth was always uncertain about his future. It was almost impossible to imagine a life without being bound in the ropes that he had known since his first breaths. A life… without fighting? Without bloodshed? Without orders to follow and rules to adhere to? A life where he didn’t have to fill the contours of an already-existing poster? It was…. frightening, truly. And perhaps that’s why he never tried to leave.

Zack changes that though.

He takes Sephiroth by the wrist one day, tells him that they need to leave. They’re poisoning themselves by standing. Who knows how much longer they would be able to stay standing if they remained put? What if one of them crippled next? Sank into the shadow of Genesis and Angeal….? Zack vehemently states that he’s not willing to lose Sephiroth. Not another best friend. And he wasn’t going to wait around for that to happen.

Still…. there’s that flicker of hesitance in Sephiroth’s eyes. That fear. That uncertainly. Still tied to those ropes, seemingly forever bound. The overwhelming weight in his chest, the thundering thoughts, trying to process a world where he would… where he would be—

Zack squeezes his wrist tight.

“Don’t worry, bud. You will never be alone. I promise.”

And Sephiroth knows then that it will never be broken.

They both agree that leaving civilly, and safely, is the best course of action. Gaia knows they don’t need troops of SOLDIERs dogging them for the rest of their lives. So it’s up to the President’s Office they go. ShinRa is startled, for one thing—a reaction that quickly whets into a cold, angry denial of their request. Losing Sephiroth? Losing Sephiroth?

But the fortunate reality is that Sephiroth is a cosmic warrior with the strength of a thousand radioactive elephants, and there’s nothing ShinRa can truly do when he resorts to pointing Masamune at him. Tells him that he was to not come after him, or his treasured friend. Tells him to pass the message to Hojo. ShinRa has no choice, ultimately, lest he want to unwittingly mirror a much bleaker future. He lets them go.

Goodbyes are exchanged all throughout SOLDIER. Zack goes through a line, hugging all his buddies he made over the years. Promises Cloud that he will amount to amazing things, and he will be there to see it. Promises Aerith he will call every day. There’s a ceremony held for Sephiroth’s retirement, only about 1/3 of the SOLDIERs shedding tears—plus a mystery droplet shed by one of the Turks.

And then, after the final goodbyes, Zack & Sephiroth are off. Away from ShinRa. Away from the cage. They eventually settle in Gongaga, after several days and nights of travel and stargazing and campfires and sleeping bags, and Zack tearily reunites with his parents. Seph is initially awkward, feels out of place. But his parents welcome him with open arms. Not starstruck, not a trace of fright or anxiety. Zack had written countless letters home in the past, and the last several had only described his best friend in glowing light. How kind he was. How thoughtful. How much more he was than simply a face on a poster. He wrote about how much they had been through. How he become his brother…. family. And how he would one day be able to prove it to them.

Sephiroth is soon given his own room, just across from Zack’s—a fact that they are both very grateful for, Zack constantly coming into Seph’s room in the middle of the night when he can’t sleep and Sephiroth always able to check on him when he needs to. Disregarding these things, however, Sephiroth ends up spending much less time in it than he would have expected. It’s a clear-cut opposite from his more secluded time in SOLDIER, addled with days where he never left his room or the office. Here, he’s out in the sunshine with Zack almost every day. They fish for dinner, they take walks through the jungle, they fight off local monsters, they help the neighbors and their children and even check on the Reactor when they can (discovering a malfunction and thankfully tending to it immediately).

Weeks fade into months, months fade into a year, a year fades into several, and Zack & Sephiroth are still safe and sound in Gongaga. All of the initial awe that the residents once possessed, it had long withered away. Sephiroth is accepted as an official member of the village. Accepted as a person. A resident. People wave good morning to him when he leaves the house each morning, and he waves back. Zack can’t be any happier <3.

While most of their SOLDIER roots have been severed over the years, there are still threads of their lives that are simply too strong to be broken. Such as sparring, for instance; Zack & Sephiroth still enjoy getting their blood rushing with spars, clanging and clashing their old blades without any stakes or rivalry or competition. It’s all in good fun, for old times sake, as well as delivering some solid, riveting entertainment to the villagers. Still, even though their spars stayed alive, countless of other aspects of their old lives had long evolved and changed. It was a gradual process, getting Sephiroth to shift clothes. But ultimately he assimilated into much more climate-appropriate t-shirts and pants. He eats meals much more regularly, practically eating a healthy three every day. He is also sleeps sounder than he ever had in his life.

Life in the Fair houseshold changes a little as well. It becomes tighter. Closer. Like home. Sephiroth is treated like a true son, loved and looked after by Zack’s parents. And Sephiroth comes to love them in turn. It’s still magical to think about, sometimes, when he’s lying in bed with Zack by his side…. How he can be so lucky. To think he had once think he had nothing, in the early stages of his life. No mother. No father. No siblings to speak of. He clutches his friend tighter, resting his head against the bed of raven spikes.

And now he has the entire world in his hands.

More years go by. A decade. Maybe two. Due to the Jenova cells still in his body, Sephiroth ages quite gracefully, his physical appearance hardly changing as he climbs into his 40s. Both Zack & Sephiroth begin to lose their energy and drive to spar, engaging in the activity less and less and less. But that is not to say it’s not made up by other activities. The two love to travel, frequently visiting Midgar to reunite with Aerith and Kunsel (outside the walls of ShinRa). Those two aren’t the only people they check up on, however. Zack eventually learns that Cloud has moved back to Nibelheim, and eagerly convinces Sephiroth to go on another trip across the continent—a trip that Sephiroth happily agrees to. Though Sephiroth has a lingering headache throughout the visit, everything is smooth-sailing; Zack is ecstatic to learn that Cloud has a girlfriend, Sephiroth sharing the same pride and happiness for his old cadet. They stay for a few days, resting at the inn. Eating local food. Laughing about how Sephiroth is finally wearing a shirt. And then it’s back home.

Home…. Sephiroth can’t help but say to himself, stepping back through the front door and shrugging his luggage off. He says it every time he enters. Every time he walks through that foyer. Every time his parents come to greet them back. Every time Zack slings an arm around his shoulder, thanking him for coming along. He says it every time…. because somehow the magic never fades away.

Home…. Sephiroth repeats to himself. I’m finally home.

[j-exclamationmark-l]

My partner's work seems alright most of the time, but last week was ridiculous. He was asked to go through about seven years' worth of emails to the company (he's only been working there the last three years and only been in charge of this portion of the website this last year). First, he was asked why he didn't know things from seven years ago. He was asked why other people didn't ask questions of clients seven years ago. Then, when it turned out some emails were too old for the server to hold on to, he found out the person he replaced had actually asked for the email storage to be increased and his proposal had been rejected - now my partner is being held responsible for the email server not having enough space, even though his boss was the one who said no to increasing storage.

He was told to make an Excel document with seven years of client names, email addresses, and what the requested from the company. It took several days, but he got it done. He submitted it. The boss came back and said "What about phone numbers?" My partner said this was the first he was hearing about needing to add phone numbers to the list. The boss got mad, said something along the lines of, "Do I have to tell you everything you need to do?" So my partner went back and added seven years' worth of phone numbers. The boss got mad again, "Why did you just copy and paste their requests to the sheet? I'd like you to instead read what they wrote and summarize it in your own words." Not even translating or anything, just rephrase what they asked for. So my partner went back and summarized every single email. The boss got mad again that it took more than two days because he, the boss, promised without consulting my partner, that my partner could get all this done in two days. My partner worked overtime every day last week and didn't even clock it in, saying he'd be punished for trying to claim overtime work.

Long story short, the project made him sick. He didn't go outside once last week and caught a bad cold the moment he submitted the project due to stress. He was sick, now I'm sick, so it's my problem now. Ugghhhhh.

[fficway]

Distracting Dancing Donnie

Synopsis: You need a dance partner for an assignment, and your pride won't allow you to ask Donnie.

ROTTMNT Donnie x Reader insert. (No gender specified). Reader is either in high school and friends with the current turtles, or in college and friends with aged-up turtles, whichever is closer to your age/preference.

[This has all the fluff. A personal friend requested a one shot so I wrote this. I personally thought it was a little too cheesy or that I lost the characters' personalities somewhere along the line, but the friend who requested it loved it so I decided to share! I proofread it but I know there are still grammar mistakes. Also copying and pasting to Tumblr made me lose some of my typographical emphasis, so I did my best to fix it.]

In all the years you've known the turtles, you've never messed up so badly.

You've never hurt or betrayed any of them. Especially not to the extent that you've done today.

"How could you choose Señor Hueso as your dance partner over me?!" Donnie is whom you've betrayed on this historical day.

You had never let your grades slip in any of your classes, not even in the midst of pizza parties with the turtles or infiltrating The Foot with April. However in recent months you've become somewhat distracted.

Ok, more than somewhat. You had always had an affinity for the tech-wiz turtle, just an infatuation if you will. You thought it was something that would come to pass over time, just a small, childish crush. Until the years passed by and you've gotten that much closer with the turtles. Being with them through thick and thin, helping to bandage their injuries, cheering them on whether it be in a fight against mutants, or competition amongst themselves.

You've seen them laugh, you've seen them cry, you've seen them hurt, hell, you've even seen them sick with the rat flu (which you got 4 new gifts from thanks to the seventh "Must Say Yes" stage!) And what you thought to be a little crush did not fade. In fact, with every rescue Donatello had accomplished, saving you in the knick of time, every scwabble he took your side on, every invention he explained to you with that excited fire in his eyes, you found yourself incredibly distracted by your growing feelings for him.

Distracted enough that your history grade had slipped. Hence, where you are today. Your teacher was assigning a "historical dances around the world" assignment with a contest, the winner receiving extra credit, and you were given Salsa as your assigned dance. Writing a report to go with it is the easy part. Dancing it is an entirely different story. So you decided to go with who Leo describes as an expert: Señor Hueso.

"Donnie, if it were an 80's dance like Disco or The Robot, of course I'd have asked you. But my grade is on the line here and I need an expert!" You told him a half-truth. As much as you'd want to, you don't think you could ever bring yourself to ask Donnie to dance with you. You've seen him dance! You'd just get distracted again and short circuit right there on the dance floor! You want your grade to go up, not down!

"Actually Disco dancing was created in the 1960's, and whereas the Robot was popularized in the 60's as well, it's origins date back as early as the 1920's-" He was already on a roll, adding in a few dance poses as he elaborated.

"Donnie, look, I'm sorry but I'm trying to win, and Señor Hueso was nice enough to agree to help me. After some begging/convincing from Leo." You mumbled the last part to yourself.

"Scoff! You know as well as I do that you would not receive any award lower than first place with me! Failure is not in my vocabulary!" Donnie exclaimed.

"Yeah, but it's in your record" you mumbled to yourself.

"What! I don't have any failures on my record!" Donnie, who had apparently heard you, argued.

"What about the many L's you took in our shell games to moi?" Leo leaned his weight on his brother's head.

"I only recall besting you and taking your room from you." Donnie cockily brushed off Leo.

"And all the sports games we lost because of you?" Raph added from his seat on the couch.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, I don't even partake in sports ball." Donnie retorted with a couple flicks of his wrist, as if dusting off the allegation.

"And when you got us attacked by one of your many evil robots?" Mikey shouted from the skate ramp.

"That doesn't sound like me." He crossed his arms.

"And the many projects you failed to help me with?" April added showing the pictures on her phone of every one of Donnie's combustible experiments.

"That must be the work of a different, lesser genius mutant ninja turtle." Donnie crossed his arms.

You clicked the projector on where a video played of Donnie yelling "I can fix this!" repeatedly in multiple different clips where different inventions of his glitched, shut down, got destroyed, self-destructed, or turned evil.

"Hmm, does my shell armor really look that ingenious from the back?" He wondered with a hand under his chin and one eyebrow raised.

"Donnie!" April shouted.

"OK, I'll admit I may have forgotten a few data points. But I am still undefeated in my dancing! Which is why I feel betrayed that you of all people wouldn't pick me as your dance partner!" He turned back to you.

"Dee, I'm sorry but my mind is made up. I appreciate you wanting to help, but I've got too much at stake and need to take first place." You placed your hand on his shoulder as you explained.

"Et tu, Brute?" He quoted at you, hurt. He brushed off your hand as he turned and sulked stubbornly towards his lab. "Fine, but don't come crying to me when you realize that I was obviously the better choice!" He shouted back.

______________

You felt awful. You felt like you really had betrayed Donnie. It was just dancing, but you knew how much he liked to be relied on, especially outside of his technology. You felt like a kicked puppy.

"Ouch!" Especially your shin that had actually been kicked just now!

"Compañero, you need to keep up."

"Sorry Señor Hueso. I'm just a little... distracted." That word keeps correlating with Donnie and it really needs to cease.

"Well then, if you are too distracted to learn, then I suppose this lesson is over." Señor Hueso sighed as he turned to walk back into his kitchen. He had been kind enough to let you use his restaurant as a makeshift dancefloor during closed hours.

"Hold on there Bone Man!" Leo slid to put his arm around him, stopping his exit. "If teaching the dance steps isn't working, you could at least take this time to teach about the history of the dance for the written report?"

"Yes! Yes please! That would be a huge help, and I'll be sure to pay attention this time!" You gleamed with hopeful eyes, silently thanking Leo's quick thinking. You only had a week to prepare after all.

Señor Hueso sighed, "Fine, as long as you listen closely." He moved over to one of the tables so you all can sit as he began.

"The Salsa was developed by Puerto Ricans and Cubans living here in New York in the late 60s and early 70s. Different regions of Latin America and the United States have distinct salsa styles of their own such as Cuban, Puerto Rican, Colombian, and New York's very own style. I am well learned in all of these styles, but for your dance, I will be teaching you the New York style." He continued on with showing the movements distinct to each style and the differences they show even in the same moves, and you found yourself forcing yourself to take notes even though your mind is wandering to Donnie and how he may have been lighting up with that excitement he wears so well as he explains this same information. Your brain may be wandering but you had turned on a recorder before the lesson started so that you could practice the dance steps at home, and you were smart to leave it recording as Señor Hueso taught about the history of the Salsa.

"Wait, so its similar to the Tango in that it's an improv dance, but more upbeat and free spirited. So then why am I learning choreography? Wouldn't it be more authentic to follow your lead at the contest?" You asked.

"You were under the impression that I was going to be your dance partner at the contest? There seems to be a misunderstanding. I agreed to teach you for a day, not to risk being spotted in your world." He had a point, but the crushing reality hit you in the face like a brick.

"What?! A day? But I thought you were going to teach, practice, and then wear a disguise or something to be my partner for the contest? Leo said that when you combine with your brother you pass for human with skin and bone-"

"No! I would never involve my brother in any kind of plan that could get us exposed to the human world. Additionally I would not stoop so low as to ask my brother for a favor." Hueso muttered to himself, crossing his arms.

"I would!" You exclaimed, panicked. "Leo! Do something!"

"Hey, I've already gotten myself on server and dish washer duty just from asking him to teach you to dance! I say just find a different partner! What about Donnie? You already know that he wanted to be your dance partner, so convincing him will be a piece of cake!" Leo leaned on his sword casually.

"Ugh! But if I ask him now I'll never live it down!" You grumbled with your hands over your face.

"I agree, Donnie can be a sore winner" Leo mused with a deadpan expression. Being defeated by any of his siblings was annoying enough, but Donnie's cocky way of rubbing it in their faces was worse than Leo's.

Ok, so Donnie is not necessarily worse than Leo at being a sore winner, but to Leo he was.

"What about you Leo? You're here with me at the lesson! So you can learn the choreography with me!" You pleaded.

"Woah, as much as I'd love to rub it in Donnie's face that I was picked as a dance partner over him... Ok, scratch that, I'd love to rub it in Donnie's face that I was picked as a dance partner over him, I'm in!"

You fist pumped at Leo agreeing. It's ok! You can still do this! You have time, and Leo's not a bad dancer!

"While I hate being the bearer of bad news, isn't the contest on Friday? The same day that papino here is supposed to be my server for an important dinner being held here in my restaurant?" Hueso interrupted. Leo had agreed to serve at the restaurant for the entire week, and then end his service after helping Hueso serve for an important dinner reservation.

"Relax! It'll be fine! I'll just portal back and forth, help you serve your restaurant," Leo gestures to Hueso, "and help you to win your contest!" He gestures to you. 'And help to make Donnie jealous.' Leo added to himself.

You and Señor Hueso looked at each other unsure.

Eventually it was decided that since Leo had agreed to help serve at the Run of The Mill Pizza for the entire week, that you can practice his portalling back and forth during your dance practice and see if you can get the timing down.

______________

It was a disaster.

"That was a disaster!" Donnie laughed.

Leo and you had consistently topled over each other, stepping on each others feet as he popped in and out of the lair, sometimes with random dishes in hand, sometimes holding one of the restaurant's customers and spinning them instead of spinning you. Eventually you were sitting on the floor of the lair, rubbing your poor, abused feet as Donnie smugly looked down from the railing above.

"It was only our twelfth try! We still have plenty of time to improve!" You shouted up at him. You were mortified.

"Sure, if you subtract the seventeen attempts from yesterday, and the fourteen from the day before-" He started counting on his three fingers.

"Ok! But we almost had it that time! I had a fighting chance! Besides this is supposed to be an improv style dance in its origin so technically we're authentic!" You were spouting nonsense out of desperation. You knew it. And unfortunately for you, Donnie knew it. You had to look away from his smug and cocky grin he was giving you. It didn't help that he was so good looking with that look on his face. And it didn't help that he knew that too.

"Oh dear, if only there were someone proficient at dancing around that could take 'Nardo's place and help you to place first place at the contest. Oh wait, there is and you picked TWO other people over me!" Ugh, you hated when he has something over you to rub in your face like this.

"Look, Dee-"

"If you apologize now and, I don't know, beg maybe? I might agree to win that contest for you through the power of dance! You and I both know that you need the help." Donnie had his hand posed smugly by his face.

You hated when he had something to rub in your face, sure. But what you hated more was when he was a jerk about it too.

"'Beg?' 'Win it for me?' I'm not incompetent Donatello!" Ooh, you used his full name. Bad sign. "I don't need your help with this stupid dance contest. And frankly? I don't even want it!" You shouted up at him before turning away to gather your things. And here you were about to finally ask him as a last resort. Even with the risk that you'd mess it all up and somehow accidentally reveal to the turtle how badly you had fallen for him, you were desperate, and knew it was only logical to ask Donnie. But after the things he just said now, your pride wouldn't allow it.

"You only have a day before the contest! You’ll come crawling back to me! You'll see!" Donnie shouted after you as you left the lair. He sighed. He knew he messed up. He got full of himself with the notion that you'd maybe be desperate enough to finally ask him! He assumed that if he talked himself up enough and gave you the confidence of a definite win, that he could finally dance with you.

It was no secret that he loved to dance, especially when smitten with someone. Ever since he found himself wanting to ask you to dance with him every time music played in the background of a venue, after some kind of victory, or even when music played during a Jupiter Jim movie, he realised it was due to the growing feelings he had for you. He was not dense in his own feelings, he knew when he was attracted to someone. And he had fallen hard and fast for you years ago, and those feelings had not wavered.

It had hurt that when the opportunity for you to dance with someone came up you had not thought of him. What was worse, when your original partner had been a bust, you had picked his own brother over him, even after he had expressed his interest! (Ok, he expressed offense at not being chosen but in retrospect its the same thing!)

He sighed, slapping a hand over his face. He should apologize, and offer, or rather, ask you properly to dance with him for your contest instead. That's all he wanted was a chance to dance with you. Mixing two of his favorite things together is the ultimate dream. You already express a lot of interest in his tech. Letting him go into as much detail and as long a spiel as his heart desires, and even ask questions! The ultimate sign of interest in his scientific art!

He was just being greedy with wanting to dance with you too, he knew, but he couldn't help himself. He wanted you to himself. He wanted you to be as immersed in him as he is in you. He knew all of your favorite things and can even list them in alphabetical order! He knew your allergies and proofed the lair of every possible scenario that could come into contact with you, and even carried extra supplies in his first aid kits especially for you! He knew what makes you laugh, and which nicknames you enjoyed being called the most by him and each of his brothers (though he uses his nickname for you sparingly as he didn't want you to catch on to his knowledge of it).

But he did just overreact. It was probably for a reason that you didnt want to dance with him. Maybe this was a line you were drawing because you caught onto his feelings, and you were trying to distance yourself so you didnt have to hurt him with the rejection. He was spiraling now, thinking the worst when Leonardo popped back into the lair through a portal, laughing with a box of pizza in his hand.

"Hey, do we have that contest in the bag or what?" He smiled, looking around the lair but not finding you.

Donnie sighed as he yelled down to Leo that you already left.

"What? But we didnt even get to discuss how rad our preformance was today! Something must have come up." Leo wondered aloud with a shrug.

"Or, something must have driven them away. Sigh, why am I so bad at taking a hint?" Donnie complained.

"What are you talking about?" Leo asked, skating up to the second level to follow Donnie who was now going off towards his lab. He ate a slice of pizza from the box in his hand.

"Oh nothing. Just realizing that rejection tastes a lot worse than it sounds." Donnie mused aloud. He didn't want to go into detail to his brother, but he knew that if he didn't give an answer he'd never get any peace to sulk to himself.

"What, you were rejected? As a dance partner, or...?" Leo sounded hesitant and unsure but Donnie paid no mind.

"What does it matter? 'Tis but the same definition in my dictionary." Donnie confessed.

"Wait, are we talking about the same 'or?' Is this really happening?" Leo sounded excited, much to Donnie's disapproval. How insensitive to be excited at his brother's heartache.

Leo must have realized his brother's interpretation of his reaction and immediately added context. "Are you really finally admitting your feelings for Y/N? Is that what you're doing here? Did you confess earlier? I want the deets!" Leo sat across from Donnie excitedly. They had gone off track from going towards his lab and had ended up in the kitchen. Donnie needed rocky road to heal his rocky heart.

"Donnie confessed?!" Raph popped out from behind the refrigerator door and Mikey dropped the spoon he was using to stir ingredients together. He was cooking brustle sprouts. Leo put the box of pizza on the table and everyone grabbed a slice as they gathered around.

"No! I did not, exactly, confess anything as I have nothing to confess and you cannot prove otherwise because there is no proof!" Donnie was regretting his decision to go to the kitchen.

"Oh but you just said you being rejected as a dance partner and "or" were the same thing, so what is "or?" Leo smugly explained.

"Ugh! Does it matter? You're the dance partner, not me, and so I'm taking the hint and staying out of it! Now if you'll excuse me, I will be shutting myself inside my lab to work on FAB version 2.14 so that it's even more state of the art. If you need me, leave a message and I will get back to you at the next, convenient, never." Donnie left the kitchen without his ice cream or a goodbye, and the turtles looked around at each other.

"Wow, this dance partner thing really bothered him." Mikey said concerned.

"You know how soft his shell is. Especially for Y/N. We knew it would get to him, but I guess we didn't realize how badly it would hurt him." Raph said sadly.

"Relax you guys! It'll all work out!" Leo waved off their concerns with a smirk.

"Ok, what are you planning Leo?" Raph raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing!" Leo insisted, although him stretching out the word made it less convincing. "On an unrelated note, I need your help at the Run of The Mill Pizza Friday!"

"But that's when the contest is! We were going to root on Y/N at the contest!" Mikey complained.

"Oh, so I guess you don't want a rematch at who's the better waiter that I so obviously won last time." Leo taunted Mikey.

"Oh, you're so on!" Mikey jumped up at the challenge and Raph caught him by the shell.

"Leo, what's up your sleeve?" Raph held Mikey in the air who swung his arms and legs around.

"Only this measuring tape." Leo pulled out a measuring tape seemingly out of nowhere and started holding it up to different parts of Raph's torso. "Say, don't you think you'd look fantastic in the waiter's tuxedo uniform?"

Raph blushed, "Well I have always wanted to try it on."

"Alright! That's what I'm talking about!" Leo hugged his brothers. Now that they were distracted and agreed to working with him at the restaurant Friday, that would leave you no more options to turn to than Donnie when he "accidentally" won't be able to make it on Friday. Leo was a great dancer. Not as great as Donnie (though he'll never admit it aloud), and he had become a master at teleportation. He wasn't as bad as he had made you believe him to be. He knew your and Donnie's ego's and feelings for each other would prevent you both from dancing together, so he set this plan up as soon as you had asked him if he knew anyone who could Salsa dance. Señor Hueso was in on it too, in fact. He never would have asked Leo to work at his restaurant again unless absolutely necessary. But Leo had insisted that he needed to work there as a part of his master plan.

It was all going to work out accordingly. You may not win the prize considering the last minute changes, but you and Donnie would at least have a chance to dance together. And if nothing else were to come out of this, at least he wouldn't owe you a favor anymore for covering for him when he broke Donnie's mini Donnie statue.

_____________

["So none of you are coming tonight?"] You asked, texting the group chat with April and the turtles.

April had started a new intern job at a new's station and couldn't get off to come and cheer you on. You wouldn't have asked her to anyway considering this was a job she had wanted for a while. But you appreciated her fist pump emojis she sent to cheer you on instead.

Raph and Mikey had apparently been needed to help Señor Hueso and Leon at the restaurant so that it would be easier for him to pop in and dance with you while they cover his absence. It made sense so you sent your thanks. Yesterday's final practice had gone somewhat ok, you thought? Maybe having Leo not portal in would make it finally go somewhat well.

Donnie had apparently been left to babysit Mayhem, which you tried to tell yourself was a good thing. You didn't need him to distract you yet again, however you couldn't help how low in your chest it felt like your heart had fallen that even he had bailed on cheering you on. You wanted him to cheer you on. You wanted him to watch you partake in a hobby that he loved so much, to feel more apart of his world and passions. Hell, what you really wanted was to dance with him. You should have sucked up your pride days ago and just asked him. With all the practicing surely you would have had time to get over your embarrassment of dancing so closely to him. You were such an idiot to let an opportunity like this slip away because of your dumb pride!

The teacher's opening speech cut off your thinking. She was announcing the scores from the reports of the essays you all had turned in that morning, as well as saying how many points you needed to win.

You had received a perfect score on your essay! However so did a few other students! It was going to be close! There were 3 judges with the old fashioned score paddles ranging from 0-10. If any of the other students got a perfect 10/10 from even one of the judges, it would be hard to beat with you and Leon's dancing!

You texted Leo nervously, ["We've got this, right?"] But your nerves only grew when he didn't text back during the first student's dance. You kept clicking your phone on and off, checking if you had gotten any missed messages. The student who went 7th had gotten scores 10, 7, and 9! You wanted to throw up at how it made your nerves worse! You texted Leo a few more times before texting Raph, and then Mikey, asking if Leo's phone had died, and that your turn was coming up in two songs. Nothing! You were in a full panick and sent to the group chat asking if anyone had heard from Leo.

["What do you mean? Is he not there yet?" -Donnie]

Ugh, you were mortified that Donnie of course would be the only one to respond.

["No! No 1 is responding! Idk how 2 reach him!"] You texted back. You hated abbreviating texts but this was an emergency and you were almost out of time as the next student's dance ended with a score of 10, 8, and 10! The next student's number was called. Your turn was after.

You kept clicking on and off your phone again but Donnie hasn't respond now either.

["Did U reach him?"] You wished for a miracle that Leo's portal would pop up in front of you. It didn't even matter if everyone saw, you were desperate. If you danced this alone, you were sure to fail! Maybe you could ask one of the other students?

The song came to an end. The teacher was about to call your number. You clicked your phone on again and felt dread spread through you at yet again seeing no response. You felt yourself crumble on the inside in disappointment. Even if you danced it alone, you didn't even feel like dancing at this point!

You didn't move when the teacher called your number. You fiddled with your fingers around the phone that was still in your hands but the screen was no longer lit. You deserved this for letting your grades slip in the first place. But to be stood up by your own friends, who you had fought battles with? It hurt. You put your phone away and started walking up to the teacher to lie and tell her that you didn't prepare a dance, or maybe even tell her that you had stage fright or something? Either way you had to tell her that you couldn't do it.

"Number 17? Where are you?" The teacher asked on the microphone looking around the dim ballroom.

You sighed. You were mortified. "Right-"

"Here!" You were pushed forward from behind into the spotlights of the dancefloor and turned to find Donatello in snazzy clothes that covered his turtle appearance as much as possible. Behind him Mayhem's tail wagging caught your eye before you looked back at him.

"Donnie, what are you doing here?" You whispered to him looking towards the teacher as she announced that youll be performing the Salsa.

"Leo couldn't make it." Donnie looked at you apologetically. He stopped himself from saying more as the intro to the song started. He held out his hand, "Would you give me the honor of being your dance partner?"

You blushed. You didn't have time to think before the dance was supposed to start so you only nodded with a smile before placing your hand in his with your other hand in the air and a hip popped in your first dance pose.

The lyrics of the song started and Donnie matched your dancing flawlessly. He had watched you and Leo practice enough to memorize the choreography that you knew and were comfortable with. But now he couldn’t help himself to let the music get to him. This opportunity to dance with you was just too good to be true, so he let the music take over and added some improvised spins into the dance.

To his surprise, you matched him flawlessly, and even were smiling and laughing like you were enjoying yourself! He couldnt believe it! He was actually dancing with you! And you were enjoying it! You spun him a few times and you both parted to Salsa in place before coming back together for more spins.

Your cheeks hurt from smiling so much, and you could feel your face on fire! Not only did he come to your rescue yet again, but you both still got to dance together! You couldn't believe it! Better than that, he was really good! Your fears were for nothing! Granted the rhythm in which he moved his hips was definitely distracting, but it felt so natural, so fun to dance with him! You'll definitely have to apologize to him after!

You were nearing the end of the song when it donned on you that you needed to score at least two 10s and a 9 to win, and the realization that you and Donnie had gotten lost in your own world while dancing suddenly made you nervous. Did this count as Salsa sancing still? Sure it's an improvisation dance but you had decided on choreography as the safest bet to insure you did it correctly, what if this was all for naught? What if you don't win and it causes Donnie to spiral and makes the situation between you worse?

Your nerves eventually won out as Donnie spins you inwards towards him. You found yourself falling backwards as you over-rotated, and dread filled you once more.

"Leg up!" Donnie's hushed voice was in your ear as his inner elbows scooped up under your arms and caught you in a dip. Your leg was already going up a bit during your fall so you took advantage of Donnie supporting your weight to kick your leg up high, making sure to point your toes so that it looks like all of this was on purpose, before he bounced you back on your feet and you spun back around to him. You finished the last quick step as he pulled you close and you both came to an abrupt stop right on time with the music.

Everyone was clapping and cheering around you as you and Donnie panted while still holding onto one another. Your face heated and you felt dizzy, whether from the spinning or from how close Donnie was to you, you were not sure. He glanced down at your lips before quickly backing off to your side and lifting one of your hands in the air. He looked at you expectantly to lead, and you smiled as you both bowed at the judges and your teacher.

He didn't let go of your hand as the judges reached for the scoring paddles, and you gave his hand a tight squeeze to ease your nerves. Your heart was pounding from the combination of the dance, the scoring, and from the intimacy of being so close to Donnie for this long.

The judges lifted their paddles. 10, 10, and 9.5! You squealed before you and Donnie hugged each other. He didn't know if you had hugged him or vice-versa, but he wasn't complaining. Although once you both realized your position you quickly separated and scurried off the dancefloor for the last few contestants to go. But Donnie noted that you hadn't let go of his hand yet.

Once you were off to a dimly lit corner of the room at the back of the crowd you were hugging Donnie again. Mayhem hopping up onto a water cooler beside you both.

"Donnie! You! I really can't believe you did this for me! You really saved me tonight, I don't know how I can thank you!"

"I could think of a few ideas." Donnie's blush went unseen in the dim light, and you were letting him go now, his hand included, much to his disappointment.

"Listen Donnie, I really owe you an apology. I... was honestly embarrassed to ask you to be my dance partner. You're such a good dancer, and I.. didn't think I could keep up." It's a half truth. You didn't think you could keep up because you assumed you'd be tripping over yourself being that close to him. Which did technically happen but he had saved your butt, both figuratively and literally.

"No! Stop no!" He waved his arms in front of him. He was so embarassed now at hearing your reasoning, he really felt like a jerk now at how he had acted. "I am the one who is in the wrong. I felt hurt at not being chosen to be your dance partner, and took it a little.. too personally if I am being honest." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I.. overreacted, and behaved rather immaturely. Can you forgive me?"

To his pleasant surprise, you smiled at him and took his hands again. "For saving my butt tonight in all definitions of the phrase? Forgiven! Not only that, but if we win this because of you, I'll-"

"We will now be announcing the final scores!" The teacher's voice cut your conversation short. You just realized that you hadn't watched the scores for the final performances! What if someone got perfect 10s? You turned to watch nervously as your teacher introduced the judges and let them each give a little speech, postponing the results a little further.

Donnie had whispered to you a few times "You'll what? If we win, you'll what??" But you hadn't heard him. You squeezed his hand in yours absent-mindedly as your nerves got progressively more disoriented. Donnie's nerves rose at how you were still holding his hand. He was still elated at that he not only got to dance with you -the view of you laughing in joy as he spun you being a sight he would relive in his head (and in his tech as he records everything) for the rest of his life- but also due to the fact that you forgave him!

He heard who he assumed to be the teacher announce third place, who recieved 5 extra bonus points to their final grade, go to someone who had apparently performed a waltz.

Your hand squeezed his nervously as second place, the winner of 10 extra bonus points went to a student who had performed ballet. That was a fair choice, ballet was hard to learn in just a week after all and oh my gosh it was so hard for Donnie to focus when your hand fit so well in his! Was he sweating? He hoped he wasn't sweating!

"First place, winning a prize of 15 extra bonus points to the semester's final grade, goes to... number 17, who performed the Salsa!"

You hadn't heard passed your number being called before you jumped up and down.

"I won! Donnie! You-! Oh migosh, you-! Ahh come here!"

Your hands clamped over the sides of his face and pulled him towards your lips.

He didn't know how to react. He didn't have time to react, as the kiss was over in an instant, and you were already rushing back to the dancefloor to claim your certificate.

He stood there dumbfounded, feeling dizzy, smiling like a dum dum. That really just happened! You kissed him! In the same night that you danced with him! He couldn't believe it!

A portal opened up beside him with Leo popping in unnoticed by the rest of the students around. "Soooo, judging by your face and Y/N up there getting an award I assume the plan worked?"

"Plan?" Donnie snapped out of it as he rounded on his brother. "So this was apart of a plan of yours?"

Leo leaned on Donnie's shoulder, "Uh, yeah! And I'd say it was a success!"

Donnie felt himself boil at the thought of being played by Leo of all of his brothers, but as you bounced up to them he quickly thought that this is maybe the only time his brother having a hand in things turned out for the best.

"Leo! Where were you?! Actually, nevermind that! Thank you for not showing up! Donnie and I won!" You hooked your arms around Leo's neck in a hug, bouncing excitedly, and Donnie felt the boiling return.

"Yes, we did win, and you were saying something about if we won you'll...?" Donatello desperately tried to direct your attention back to his festering question. If nothing else, he wanted Leo gone and to have time with you to himself to ask you about that kiss! It was a matter of urgency!

Leo smirked, "So you won! Congrats! That calls for a celebration! Luckily everyone is back in the lair with some Run of The Mill Pizza ready for you!"

"Um, yeah ok, why don't you go ahead and tell everyone the good news while I take Y/N back after the event is over?" Donnie pushed Leo further away from you and out of your arm's reach.

"The event is over, Donnie." You laughed, "We can all head back together now!" In all honesty, you were too embarrassed at what you had just done.

You had moved without thinking earlier. You had been too engrossed in the moment and kissed Donnie without thinking about his feelings! He probably didnt like you that way! You were so thankful at seeing Leo there after recieving your reward so you didnt have to talk to Donnie about what you had just done. You weren't ready! You didn't want to tell him your feelings now! And apologizing would probably make it sound awful: "Hey, sorry I kissed you, that was an accident!" What if it hurt his pride, or he took it the wrong way? You didn't even know if he had liked it or not because you ran off before seeing his reaction. You wanted nothing more than to escape to the lair with everyone else and go back to how things were. You can tell him how you feel another time when you're ready!

"No, it isn't-" Donnie had tried to lie that the event was not over yet, but the students leaving the venue was hard to deny. Leon laughed as he opened a portal and pushed you inside it.

"See you and Mayhem there when you're ready to join us, Donnie." Leo winked at him to tease his brother before stepping through the portal after you.

Donnie didnt waste a second before opening his arms for Mayhem to teleport him to the lair after you both.

___________

You were excitedly telling everyone about the contest, exaggerating how Donnie showed up at the last minute before the music started. You stepped around the room trying to mimic some of the dance steps from earlier as you excitedly told them more about the dance and at how Donnie was a natural, and his improvised steps were amazing.

He had to admit, dancing with you? Amazing! You singing his praises to his siblings about dancing with you? Even better! He was so smug right now that Leo's one liner's weren't phasing him one bit. You were so animated while reliving the dance, it was like you were talking about your favorite TV show, and he was so in love with this animated and excited side of you. He could watch you all night.

"And then suddenly, I found myself living out my biggest fear! I had tripped and was falling to my doom!" You were so dramatic, it was adorable. He got up without anyone noticing.

"Oh no!" Raph gasped, his voice an octave higher than normal.

"Did you fall in the middle of the dance?" Mikey asked, fearfully.

You smirked, "No, Mikey, no I didn't!"

Mikey gasped.

"But how did you not fall?" Raph questioned. They were eating this up.

"I swooped in with the magic of rhythm!" Donnie slid into the scene behind you, and you took the cue to fall back as you had during your dance.

"'Leg up!' He had told me! He knew exactly how to save the day!" You posed with Donnie holding you from behind with your leg in the air like you had done before, but now you both held it as you rambled. Everyone applauded.

"And like a natural, you pulled it off perfectly!" Donnie added proudly, now bouncing you back up to your feet. You blushed at him for a moment before turning back around to finish the story to the others, leaving out the hand-holding and kiss, and proudly showing your certificate.

"Congratulations! We all know how hard you worked this week for this win! You deserve it!" April said to you from her spot on the couch. "I wish I had been there to cheer you on, but Leo made me promise to turn my phone off and let Donnie handle it."

"Dahh! April! Ix-nay on the an-play!" Leo whispered loudly across to April, his hands making an "x."

"I'm sorry, he did what?" You turned towards Leo even though your question was for April.

"Hahaha! I uh-" Leo chuckled nervously as Mikey chimed in.

"He had us turn off our phones too! And made sure we were busy far away from you in case you needed a back up partner!"

You started stalking towards Leonardo who was awkwardly getting up from the couch to sneak away.

"I knew the moment he wasn't responding to his phone that something was amiss. Getting me to agree to look after Mayhem made sense when you had texted the group chat that he was a no-show. It had only taken me a minute to get dressed and teleport to the venue, and to archive how good I looked in a quick few selfies which was why I was almost late." Donnie explained, keeping the last bit to himself.

"Leo." You started, "Surely you didn't stand me up, leaving me to have a full blown panic attack and almost quit the contest entirely, did you? You wouldn't do that to a friend, right?" Your smile could freeze hell.

"I just remembered that I have something to do, uh, anywhere but here!" Leon opened a portal, and as he stepped through you turned to the rest of the family in the lair.

"And surely all of you didn't go along with this plan knowingly? Right? You wouldn't ditch your friend in need?"

There was a pregnant pause before everyone besides you and Donnie were scrambling for the portal, with Raph shouting something about a mission they forgot about and to not wait up.

You sighed as the portal closed. "I'm happy with the outcome, but I have mixed feelings about being played like this."

Donnie walked up to you. "Yes, I concur that the event did end with the most preferable of outcomes." He said this simply, but with the awkward habit he had of scratching his head when embarrassed you flushed at the possibility that he might be bringing up the kiss. Surely not!

You both looked at each other with a blush. No way, he can't seriously mean... he has to be talking about dancing with you! That's all!

"Yeah! Dancing with you was the best thing to happen! Your help winning the contest was just icing on the cake!" You smiled at him. This was honest. Winning of course was the goal, but the best part of tonight was getting to dance with Donnie and apologizing to him.

"That reminds me. You said that if you won thanks to my help you'd do something. What, uh, might that be that you were about to say earlier?" Donnie finally got a chance to bring it up again!

You blushed again and suddenly couldn't look him in the eye. "Um, well." Could you tell him that the kiss was what you were going to do? Would he take that as a thank you? Would it seem too conceited to think he would accept it? Is it too conceited to hope he'd liked it? You can't run anymore. (Literally, April took Mayhem with her!) So the best thing you can do is ask.

"What, uh, what would you like?"

At this Donnie covered his blush by putting his hand over his face as if thinking hard. He knew what he wanted! But would it be awkward to ask for another kiss? You had kissed him earlier so maybe there was a chance that you wanted to kiss him before a rush of dopamine from winning had taken over? No, but he can't hypothesize with only one data point! This seemed like a now or never moment, yet there were too many uncertainties! Too many questions!

That's it! He knew what to ask for.

"I want you to answer me honestly." He said looking you seriously in the eyes. You swallowed. You knew what he was going to ask before he asked, and you had wished he wouldn't.

"Why did you kiss me earlier?" Donnie asked carefully. He didnt want to seem too eager, but also didnt want to sound uninterested. He was trying to play it cool. Suave. Nonchalant. Luckily all of the sweat was pouring down the back of his neck and shell so you couldn't see it.

You hesitated, then eventually sighed, looking anywhere but his eyes. "Well I, I mean the obvious answer is that I kissed you because I was excited about the win, and since the win had had been because of you..."

"But..?" Donnie pushed. Saying that its the 'obvious answer' didn't mean that it was the only answer.

"But," you continued, finally looking back to him shyly, "I kissed you because... I wanted to kiss you. I really wanted to kiss you. I've wanted to for a while now and, tonight was just an excuse to do it." You carefully watched him as he raised a hand to his head.

"I.. Um, I mean. Wow, I'm short-circuiting." Donnie had a strange half-smile on his face. He was surely going to wake up from this dream any minute now! Tonight was beyond belief! He got to dance with you, got kissed by you, and now you're telling him that you've wanted to kiss him for a while?! That means you have feelings for him, right? That has to mean you do, obviously! Those two factors correlate! He found himself giggling a little to himself at how happy he was.

You on the other hand were so embarrassed that he had managed to squeeze a confession out of you tonight after all! You didnt want to do this! You were certain that reaction of his was positive, but this was all too embarrassing and you wanted nothing more than to escape.

"Ok, I answered your question! Thanks again for your help tonight! If you need me, I'll-"

"Oh no, you're not going anywhere!" Donnie grabbed ahold of your hand as you tried to slip away. You squealed as he spun you into him, and found yourself unable to hold back giggles as he dipped you low.

"I've wanted to do this for so long." He smirked down at you before leaning down and capturing your lips with his.

[thatsalrightprettymama]

I Think I'm in Love

A/N: Thank you so much @smbonilla2002 for requesting this! I loved this song and I'll be honest while the first movie played at the drive in I listened to it, wrote, and the story just came alive! I honestly never expected to write something this long, but despite it's length I'm really proud of this fic! I honestly hope you enjoy this! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart! You don't know how much it means to me to have you and others request work and interact with my work!

Also I'm sorry that this is all one post! My word started to mess up around the 5.5k mark and the easiest way to post it was to look at it in read only view and copy and paste in one go! I promise the next time I make content that looks like its gonna be near this link ill make a pause point and start another doc 😂😂.

Also last note, there are a bit of historical in accuracies.

1. I changed the year that Alice Cooper (Vincent Furniture), Chevy Chase, and Liza Manelli let Elvis in his International suite. They met in 1973, but for this story's sake they met in 1970.

2. Priscilla and Elvis split in 1972 and officiating the divorce in 73. For the story's sake they split and divorced in 68/69.

3. I also do not know the tour dates or schedule of Alice Cooper or Elvis in 70, so idk if their schedules lined up but for the story they did lol.

As always it's unedited, so I apologize for any mistakes! Criticism is always welcomed! I hope you enjoy it!

Word Count: 6.2k

Warnings: Mentions of drug use, cussing, mentions of sex, mentions of domestic violence/abuse, fluff, angst, hurt/comfort.

 Buzzing you stood outside the International Hotel with you brother Vinny, or as the rest of the world new him as, Alice Cooper. “Y/N. Don’t be weird. “Vinny tells you sternly, his dark eyes boring into yours. “The only way I got you in was saying you were my assistant, and I didn’t go anywhere without you on tour. Per manager’s request. “He tells you as you two stand in the dry Vegas air. “Wow, way to make me seem like I’m the weirdo of the family, and I don’t care whatever you had tell them, I’m Just glad I made that promise when I was seven. “You tell your older brother shooting him a smirk as you remind him of how surreal this night is about to get. “Exactly! Which is why I said don’t get weird.” He tells you with a loving smile as he hugs you. As your older brother wraps his slender arms around you, he gets oddly emotional.

“I love you Y/N, and I know how much this moment means to us both. Thank you for being there since the begging, and always in my corner.  I remember showing you your first Elvis film, and I remember when I first played “Let’s Have A Party” for you and you made me promise that when I got famous like him that I’d let you meet him, but I swear I don’t care how famous I get I’m not going to let you meet Lennon. He’d steal my sister.” He tells you causing your heart to warm as you squeeze him in the hug. “Vinny, I love you. You’re my hero. Now we better stop, or I’ll cry and be weird.” You tell him as you two release the hug. After taking a moment to take it all in, you two head into the huge building.

As you two go into the Hotel, you couldn’t help but think of how awesome the night was going to be when you saw Chevy Chase and Liza Manelli standing near the portly older man that was Elvis’s manager. Having spent time with your brother in his journey to fame you have met a lot of people. Yes, you’ve gotten star-struck before, you’ve also learned to hide it. Though while you already knew it, you really were going to have to use all your might not to gush tonight. As the group starts to walk to the elevator you take a small moment to fall a pace behind with Vinny to link pinkie and then touch your own nose with your pinky. A small ritual since childhood that’s become a slight comforting action. You two quickly join the elevator, and head to the penthouse suite with the group.

Once the door opened you could hear the faint sound of music and laughing come from another room from the huge, beautiful hotel room. Following Parker, you, and everyone else joined Elvis and his Memphis Mafia boys. While you held a small smile, you internally screamed as you saw the backside of The King in a jumpsuit. You also couldn’t help but notice his laugh was dreamier in real life than in movies or interviews. Thankfully you keep your composer when he turns around and introduces himself and everyone.

As the small get together gets going you start to relax. You start talking to Liza at first, finding out you two had a mutual love for shoes, you realize quickly that you can’t drink near Chevy, or you’ll die chocking on it from laughing, and You have a really interesting conversation about Johnny Cash and music with Billy Smith. Overall, the night was surreally amazing. Though you didn’t know how much better it was about to get when Elvis come’s and sit’s beside you. Especially, not knowing that your brother let it slip that you wanted to meet him. Which kind of intrigued Elvis, because you hadn’t interacted with him since he shook your hand when he was introducing himself. “Hey little darlin’, how are you tonight?” The handsome older gentlemen asks you, his deep southern drawl secretly melting you. “I’m doing pretty great, thank you for inviting us and letting us be here. “You tell him smiling at him. Unable to help the slight blush as the dark-haired beauty flashed you a smile.

“That’s good doll, and thank you all for coming up, Alice has got an interesting act. It’s also sweet that despite how wild it is he snuck his girl to meet me.” The older man tells you as he smiles at you, though he stops when you bust out laufhing. “No, No I’m sorry. I’m definitely not with Alice, and I’m his assistant.” You told Elvis with a smile trying to keep the charade. Though you realize that doesn’t exactly work when he calls you out on it. “Darlin’ you’re too young to be his assistant, but going by how you laughed I’ll believe you ain’t his girl.” He tells you as his curiosity gets peaked. “Who are you then?” He asks bluntly, though his drawl softened it. That or you were biased to it due to how it made you feel. “Promise not to tell? He’d have my hide,” You ask him sweetly smiling at him. You subconsciously bite your lip as he chuckles and nods. “I’m his little sister.” You tell the older man, seeing no real reason to lie to him. If they didn’t like it well I mean it’d suck but also at the very least you met him.

“Really?” Elvis asks, leaning back into his seat as you get comfortable. As you nod confirming, you tell him and you two begin to talk. Despite the age difference, you two quickly bond over music, also talk about some movies, and you two actually skim some talks about future hopes. Before you two now it, you two have talked the rest of the night away. Though before you leave, you end up with an invitation to lunch with Elvis at the same suite tomorrow when he found out you and your brother would be there for two more days. As you leave the hotel your brother tells you, “Listen what I’m about to say is only because I love ya, and he’s Elvis. Just be careful.” You give your brother a look you bite your lip and take in his words briefly. Though you, unknowingly falsely, assure him by saying, “I know, but also you know what I said after Corey. “ “Yeah, but never say never.” He tells you with a knowing look before you two head back to your hotel.

The next morning you woke up smiling, something that your brother couldn’t help but to tease you about before you started to get ready for your lunch with Elvis. As you walk into the international, you see one of Elvis’s friends, Billy, that you met last night. “Hey girly, EP sent me to get ya.” Billy tells you as you walk towards him. “Probably best, I don’t think there’d be a lunch if he came down.” You quip to the older man with a smile as you two head up to Elvis’s suite. As you two walk into the suite, you can’t help but wonder if there’s anything Elvis would look bad in when you see him in a black floral shirt and pants that looked tighter than your skirt. “Hey little darlin’ I hope you don’t mind I sent Billy down.” The older man greets you with a smile, bringing you into a friendly hug as you ignore the butterflies that try to stir. “I don’t mind at all, How’s your morning been?” You ask as you break apart and he leads you to living room. “Pretty good, but a whole lot better now I getta see your pretty face. How about you?” He flirts, his deep voice carrying the words so smoothly that you couldn’t help the faint blush that brushed your cheeks as you two sat down.

“Well, I’m glad that my presence can help improve your morning, I tend to have that effect. “You flirt back at Elvis, using every bit of confidence you had to make sure despite how you internally felt, you weren’t seen as that giggling schoolgirl. Whatever this was, all it could ever be was fun was what you told yourself as you watch something flash in his cerulean blue eyes before he smiles and chuckles. Though he quickly laughed when you quickly added. “ Though depending on who you ask I can bring trouble.” Leaning into the couch he puts his arm on the back as you relax. Surprisingly your conversation flows easily as you two continue to flirt and talk for a bit. After a while though he asks you, “Well I did invite you for lunch, I’ll be honest I don’t cook much would you be fine with room service? I don’t want to interrupt our time with crowds.” You smile at him sweetly and nod before telling him, “I’d be fine with room service; I totally understand in small way. While Alice doesn’t have your reaction, it’s still a bit weird sometimes when he does”.  “Yeah, I love my fans, but sometimes it’s exhausting playing Elvis.” He tells you honestly, making a part of your heart hurt for him. “I’d imagine so, while I’d say it’s euphorically surreal to be you, that also comes at a hefty price.” You comment as he hums and nods. Your conversation pauses while he orders you two some lunch, but it quickly picks back up while you two wait for your food.

As you two continued to talk and get to know each other, you think to yourself that you’ve honestly never met anyone like him. He was so charming, funny, kind, but also real. Something you’ve lacked since living in California. The food around and the conversation lulls some as you two take it to the table and sit, but it’s not long before it starts back up again. The whole time you two eat you shove the butterflies down and try not to think too much about how much of a good time you’re having. Shortly after you two finish eating you look at the time, and realize you’ve been there most of the day. Not wanting to overstay your welcome you tell Elvis, “Thank you for inviting me, and for lunch, but I’ve probably taken up enough of your time. Plus I should probably get back to the tour bus and help Shep wrangle Alice out of whatever trouble he’s gotten himself in today.” Flashing you a charming smile he smoothly tells you, “Little darlin’ you could take up all my time, and I think I’d still wanna spend more with ya.”  You feel your cheeks burn as you biting your lip as you watch him smirk. “Damn you’re smooth.” You comment causing him to through his head back as he laughed. “There’s a reason, besides my voice, they call me the king.” He cockily flirts causing you to giggle and shake your head as he adds, “I’d like it if you stuck around longer and maybe see my show tonight, but I also understand if you really do have to get back to your brother doll.” You have a small internal debate as Elvis watches you waiting for your answer. One hand you’d stay all day with him and see the show, but that also could lead to trouble. Biting your lip you compromise with yourself and ask the older man, “Well, I would like to spend more time with you, but I should go check in with my brother. Maybe if it’s alright I can go back to the tour bus and I can come back for your show?” Elvis smiles, but a small part of him wonders about your hesitation. Ignoring it he can’t help but think of how pretty your smile is as you nod.

“That sounds good to me Y/N. You alright with me having Billy get ya again when you come back?” He checks with a smile before asking, “Do you have an idea what time you’d be here? The show starts at 8. “. “That’s fine with me, and how about 7? “You ask as he nods, smiling back at him you stand up from the couch, him following suit. Elvis walked you to the door, and hugged you goodbye before you left the suite. As you happily made your way out of the International, a small part of you worried if your brother’s warning was warranted. Shaking your head, you assured yourself that this was just something fun as you left the hotel and headed back to your brother’s bus.

As you get back to the bus you see your brother sitting at the small table with Shep. “How’d lunch go?” He asks with a smile, pausing his talk with Shep. “It was good, I’m going back later to see his show.” You tell him as you grab a glass from the small kitchenette and start to get some water, not noticing the look that flashes in Vinny’s eyes. “That’s good, and really? That’ll be fun, just don’t have more fun than you have at mine.” He teases deciding not to comment, while you’re always going to be his little sister you were twenty now. You had to experience life without him trying to shield you, besides he already failed at shielding you with Corey. You scoff and shake your head before teasing your brother back, “You’re just saying that cause you know I will.” You smiled warmly when he laughed before going back to his conversation with his manager.

Thankfully the hours fly by and before you know it, it’s time to get ready. While looking through your suitcase, you tell yourself that the type of people at the show is why you’re pulling out the short blue dress that you had buried under all your clothes, the one of the only non-leather or denim item in your suitcase. Getting changed and doing your make-up, you leave the bus and excitedly head to the International again. You smile as you see Billy in the lobby. “EP’s in trouble if you’re gonna walk in lookin’ like that.” He jokes as you walk up to him causing you to laugh. “Yeah right, I’ll take the compliment, but I doubt it’ll phase him much.” You tell the older man with a smile as he shakes his head with an eye roll.  “Whatever doll, you ready to see EP?” He asks as he leads you down a hallway. “Of course, I wouldn’t come out in this dry heat for you.” You tease him with a smile as he laughs. “Are you this much of a little shit to EP, or am I just special?” He asks teasingly shoving you as you laugh. “I only save it for you and Alice, you should’ve never bonded over Johnny with me.” You tease as he continues to lead the way to Elvis’s dressing room.

As you finally reach the door, you smiled as you saw him in a white and jeweled jumpsuit. “Here’s your little wild child. “ Billy announces as you to enter, making you bite your lip at the look Elvis gives you when he turns around. You can’t ignore how your cheeks burn as he gaze wakes over you. “Woah little darlin’ you look amazing.” Elvis compliments you, his deep southern voice making your cheeks burn more as he comes over and hugs you. “Thank you, you don’t look too bad yourself sir.” You lamely flirt back, glad he chuckles at it, wishing your face wasn’t as red as it was. “Thank you doll, how’s your evening been?” He asks as he leads you to a couch in the room. “You wanna drink or anythin’ doll?” He offers as you sit. Shaking your head no you smile and answer, “No I’m good thank you though. It’s been alright just listened to him and Shep talk shop.” Putting his arm behind you he turns his body to face you as you two talk. Even though you two didn’t have too much time together before you had to go to your seat, it was just as fun as before leaving you feeling a bit weightless.

In your seat you people watch a bit before you hear the opening music. Excitedly you pull your eyes to the stage and you’re thankful that he can’t hear the gasp that comes from your lips as the curtains rise. As he begins the first note you become intoxicated by his command of the stage, hell of the whole room. With wide elated eyes you watch the whole show entranced. When it’s over Billy comes to take you backstage. As you walk through the door, you see Elvis with a towel around his neck as he gets him a drink. “That was an amazing show! Probably the best show I’ve ever seen.” You compliment the older man, causing him to turn around and smile at you. “It was a good show, I’m glad you liked it doll.” Elvis tells you with a small smile. “I loved it.” You tell him with a smile. Hanging in the dressing room for a bit you and Elvis talk before he invites you up to his room.

You follow him up, and despite what you first thought when he invited you up after the show, nothing sexual happens. You two end up literally spending the night talking and joking until the early hours of the morning, when Elvis gets a call from the Colonel because Vinny had Shep call him looking for you. “I know you said you got a few weeks left of touring with your brother, but here’s my room number. I’ll be here for atleast a month, and I’d really like to hear from you again Y/N. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you, and I wanna know you more. “ Elvis tells you before you leave his room. Ignoring the butterflies and a small voice telling you don’t take it you’ll get hurt, you take the small slip of paper with a smile. “I’ve really liked getting to know you too Elvis, and I’ll give you a call.” You tell him before you leave.

When you get back to the bus, Vincent bitterly swallows the lecture he wanted to give when he saw your tired and happy smile. As he listens to you talk about the show and Elvis, he resists the urge to tell you again to be careful. Giving your brother a hug, you both go to bed and get ready to leave the bustling desert city tomorrow. It’s not till two days later that you let yourself call Elvis and end up starting a new daily routine. As the next three weeks fly by, and when you find yourself missing the older man or wanting to see him, that it doesn’t mean anything deep. You continue to lie to yourself, even when you call him on the last night of your brother’s tour.

You’re playing with the payphone’s cord as you tell him, “The crowd was so wild tonight, I can’t believe tour’s over. I know I’m just a tag-a-long, but I kind of like the traveling.” “That is probably one of the highlights of touring, getting to see all the different places and people. Though you really like all that travelin’ though doll?” Elvis asks you as a rash idea pops into his head. “Yeah I really do, I mean yeah it’s tough and it can be tiring hopping from one city to another, I really like knowing I’m going all around this country getting to have all kinds of experiences I’d never have if I never left Phoenix.” You tell him honestly as the cool night air breezes against you. “Well darlin I’m actually going to do a US tour after this Vegas stint ends in two weeks. Would you maybe wanna be my tag-a-long for it?” Continue to play with the cord you don’t acknowledge how happy the question made you. “Would you really want me to be a tag-a-long?” You ask him chewing on your lip. “I would want nothing more doll, so you gonna go on tour with me?” He asks you again. “Alright if you really want me to, I’d love to be your tag-a-long!” You tell him not able to help the smile that lights up your face.

“Great! It’ll be fun doll, plus it’ll be nice to finally see your face again.” He flirts with you after hearing your answer. You two continued to talk till Shep gave you the signal to get back on the bus. “I gotta go or they’re gonna leave me here Elvis, but I can’t wait to tour with ya. “ You tell him starting your goodbyes as you hear his deep chuckle on the line. “I can’t wait either darlin’.” He tells you before you continue your goodbye. “I’ll call you when I get back to California, and we’ll talk more about me joining you. “ You tell him before you hang up and quickly go back to the bus. You excitedly tell your brother the news of your new trip, and while he listens to you he can’t help but think that you’re gonna get hurt. Rather it be due to your own fault or by the iconic man that’s wormed his way into your life, Vincent doesn’t think there’s a way for this to end scrape free. Though he keeps it himself, well he tries to until it’s the night before you leave to meet Elvis in Vegas again.

You were staying over Vinny’s house, spending your last night in town with him. You were sitting on his apartment balcony smoking a joint when he came out with two glasses of whiskey. Peaking your interest as he hands you one, and while you exhale your smoke you take it. Though your curiosity raises when he asks you, “Can I talk to you sissy?” You put your joint out and nod as you take a drink. “Yeah, you know we always can, but I’m worried since you’re throwing out sissy. I haven’t heard that in a while. “ You answer him as you sense the mood turn a bit serious, which was rare for you two. “ It’s not really anything bad, it’s just I gotta get somethings off my mind before you go, I’m a bit worried about you going on this trip.” He admits to you causing you to take another drink of the amber liquid, letting it’s burn drown the small voice telling you that it’s right this trip will be trouble. “I know what you said after Corey, and I I get that. I really do, but also I’ve seen you since you’ve met Elvis. I haven’t seen you smile as much as you have in a while. I’m not complaining about that, but I’m worried about the reason for those smiles.” He tells you as he begins his speech, taking a moment to pause for a drink before continuing, “Either you’re gonna hurt yourself cause you won’t admit something’s there and miss it, or he’s really just taking it as it is and you do finally admit and he hurts you are the two scenarios running in my mind. Though I honestly believe it’s the first if I’m honest with you.”

“I can’t let myself fall in love again, not after Corey Vinny. I can’t let myself get that deep again.” You tell him honestly as you take another drink, looking away from the sadden look that flashes in his eyes. “I can’t let myself fall in love again and give someone that power over me. “You tell him as you look into your glass. “Whatever you and Corey had at the end wasn’t love Y/N. Yes, you two may have been in love at one time, but love doesn’t hurt like that. Love also doesn’t always turn into that; you can let yourself have it and it be good.” Your brother tells you softly, before biting his lip when you bring your head up to show watery eyes. “How do I trust that it won’t? How can I risk it?” You ask him softly, feeling like a small child again as you look up at Vinny.

Placing his drink down he kneels and pulls you into a weird side hug. “You just risk it, you do so much crazy shit all the time and take those risks. You just jump in.” He tells you as he comforts you. You two stay like that for a moment, before you break apart. Lighting your joint again you break the serious mood. “I don’t want are last hours to be some weird emotional shit. That ain’t us.” You tell him as you pass it to him, causing him to laugh and take a hit. You smoke with your brother and talk and joke before you two finally make your way inside his apartment. Going into the familiar guestroom you go to sleep excited and nervous for the next day. It hadn’t seemed like you were asleep long before your brother was waking you up to take you to the airport. Excitement buzzing within you and temporarily stomping out any nerves, you get up and quickly get ready.  You say your goodbye to Vinny outside the airport, promising to call each night before going in.

The few hours it takes to land in Vegas thankfully fly by. While you walk through the airport with your luggage you excitedly look for Billy. As you walk around the baggage claim you thankfully find him. “There’s my favorite little shit! How’ve you been?” He asks giving you a brief hug before taking one of your bags. “I’m good! How’s my favorite asshole?” You teasingly ask as he leads you out of the airport. “Good, good, and alright except EP keeps driving us crazy about you comin.” He teases as he leads you towards a black car, you see a silhouette of someone and chalk it up to being another Memphis boy. “Sure sure. He doesn’t know what he signed up for. “ You tease with the man that’s become your only friend outside of Elvis in this circle. He rolls your eyes and goes to the trunk. As your helping him put your luggage up you finally notice who’s in the car. You can’t help the smile when you see Elvis wearing his sunglasses wearing a red shirt and pinstripe pants, waving at you in the back seat.

Excitedly you leave you stop helping Billy and get into the car as you hear him laugh. “Elvis!” You excitedly say as you hug his chuckling form in the seat. You ignore the fuzzy feeling you get as you feel his arms wrap around you. “Hey darlin’! I’ve missed you too.” He tells you smiling as you blush realizing your reaction. “Yeah sorry I guess I just missed seeing ya.” You bashfully say as he brushes a piece of you hair behind your ear. “S’alright darlin’, as I said I missed you too. How was your flight?” He asks sweetly as you relax in the car seat next to him, starting to realize how much you’ve really missed him. “It was good, are you excited for tour?” You ask while answering him, faintly hearing Billy close the trunk before he gets in the front. “I am, though I’m more excited to spend the next few weeks with you.” He honestly flirts as Billy starts to drive.

As you two catch up and flirt you begin the probably the wildest journey you’ve ever been on. Your day with Elvis at the international is the calm before the storm. The next day you adventure begins as you, Elvis, and his crew get on the tour buses and get ready. As the days and miles pass you get closer and closer to Elvis. Though a little over a week into tour, you should’ve realized you were in deep when you and him finally kissed in the late hours of the night on the tour bus. From that moment touches get more frequent and so do kisses, it’s not too much longer that those become heated. Every time you hugged, kissed, even fucked, you told yourself you two were just having fun. Leaving the older man confused but hooked. Though it all comes to a head shortly after the tour’s over.

It's the day after you two arrived at Graceland, and your naked body is sprawled over his as you two calm down from your highs. You lay your head against his chest and listen to his heartbeat as he rubs a hand up and down your back. You’re both quietly winding down before he asks, “What are we doin’ Y/N?” You keep you cheek pressed against his chest and look at the wall as you answer, “Laying here, unless that’s your way of asking for round two.” Purposefully avoiding the question, you knew he was really asking. “You know that’s not what I meant little girl.” He tells you with a scoff as you bite your lip. “I gotta know something darlin’. I can’t handle being left hangin’, wonderin.” He tells you firmly but gently as he takes his other hand to make you face him as you stay silent. “Please give me somethin’.” He tenderly pleads as you pause, feeling like his eyes were staring into your soul. “Please, I don’t want to lie to you Elvis. But I I can’t say it out loud and admit it. I’m scared of fallin’ in love again.” You tell him honestly, being the most vulnerable with the older man than you ever had been after a pause.

Your brothers words coming back into your mind and help fueling your honest confession as you bite your lip and watch his reaction. To your shock you see tenderness. “Oh baby, it’s always a bit of a terrifying rush but especially after you feel heartbreak. I’m worried about it too after what happened with Priscilla and I.” Elvis honestly tells you as his cerulean blue eyes gaze into Y/E/C eyes. “Yeah but what happened between you two’s a lot different than what happened between me and Corey. I know I don’t have to worry about you turning out like him, but it still scares me to fall back into love and let someone have that control over me. I lost myself after I left Corey.” You open up to him biting you lip as you start to absent-mindedly tracing on his chest. Deciding despite your heart hammering out of your chest, that you would listen to Vinny’s words and let yourself be honest with the man you’ve grown to love.

“If if I tell you the whole thing, do you promise not to look at me differently?” You ask confusing Elvis as he nods. “Course darlin’ I don’t think anything could change the way I see you.” He tells you softly, his plump lips pulling down some at how small you looked. “Vinny sees me differently. He won’t admit it but I know with how he treats me now. So please, please promise me you won’t too.” You plead looking into his eyes as you swallow another lump. “I promise Y/N.” He tells you tenderly as he waits for you to talk. You close your eyes and take a deep breath before opening you eyes back up to see Elvis’s worried look.

“I met Corey when I was a freshman in high school, he was a senior and I thought he hung the moon and the stars. I thought he was as cool as James Dean and as sweet as honey. He was at first.” You begin to tell Elvis, quickly averting your eyes to his chest as you continue on, “Everything was picture perfect for three years. I thought I was gonna marry him when I finished high school. Then something changed when I started my junior year.” You blink back the tears welling up and swallow a lump as you feel his warm hand start to rub circles on your back. “Darlin’ you don’t hav-“ Elvis goes to tell you as you pause before you thickly interrupt him, “No. No I gotta tell you Elvis. If I’m gonna finally admit my feelings and take that risk, you gotta know how fucked up I am.”  While you feel Elvis hug you into his chest , you don’t see the heart-breaking look that flashed across his eyes at your interruption.

“At first it was just comments and critiques. I was so in love with him that I believed every word he said about me. Then I couldn’t please him, so I started getting small punishments for my mistakes.  Still I fucking believed that he loved me, and that he was right. That I deserved every mark and ache. That if I was better that I could be enough.” You continue after your interruption, unable to start the tears from falling down your cheeks as you started to let it out. You hadn’t ever spoke about Corey to anyone besides Vinny, Shep, and Sheryl.

“Then when I started to finally smarten the fuck up, and realize that whatever we had then wasn’t love, I was fucking stuck. I was cut off from everyone, and sickly enough he was all I had. Vinny was in California, Mom and Dad couldn’t give a shit as long as I kept their godly image up. “ You continue to spew your soul, Elvis holding you the whole time his heart breaks for you. “Well I had finally gotten enough gumption to stand up to him, and he blew a fuse. The next thing I know is I’m waking up in the hospital and Vinny’s in the room crying. I know I don’t ever have to worry about that with you, but I just worry that if I let myself fall in love again it’ll just spoil and rotten.” You finally finish, unable to hold back your emotions. You bite your lip as you feel him gently cup you face to make you look at him, and the tender gaze he gives you make more tears appear. “Oh y/n darlin’ , I’m so sorry you went through that.” He tells you gently as he wipes your tears. “ First of all though, you’re not fucked up. If there’s anyone in that situation fucked up it’s that Corey bastard. “ Elvis tells you firmly but tenderly as he comforts you. “Though I honestly do get the fear part. I’m worried I’ll just run you off like I did Priscilla. “ He confesses to you as you sniffle, trying to stop your tears.

“Though while I can’t promise I won’t be a right ass at times, that it won’t be hard, I can promise that I’ll love you every day you let me.” He simply but honestly promises, his blue eyes staring into yours. You watch him chew on his bottom lip for a moment before asking,” I’m gonna ask again darlin’ and no matter the answer I’ll accept it and still want ya in my life. What are we doin’ Y/N?” Your heart hammers in your chest, and your flight response still screams to run despite you barring your soul to him. Swallowing a lump and honestly answer, your voice slightly raspy from crying, “I love you Elvis, I really do. I wanna try being in a relationship with you.” You watch as his face lights up and for once you don’t ignore the butterflies as he leans down and gives you a soft slow kiss. Pouring all his emotions into it as he presses his plush lips into yours. “I won’t be easy to be with.” You smally admit after you break apart, not helping the small smile as he chuckle, the sound vibrating his chest under you.

“That’s fine mama, I’m not easy to be with either.” Elvis tells you swipping his thumb across your cheek. “I love you Y/N,” He tells you sweetly causing your chest to warm. “Will you say it again?” You sweetly ask after a moment, looking up at him with doe eyes. “I love you, I love you, I love you.” He tells you happily as he rolls you over, making you giggle as you feel his lips lightly trace your neck. “I love you.” He tells you again breathlessly as he stares down at you, As you reach up and place a hand on his cheek you tell him. “I love you Elvis Presley.” Embracing the butterflies as his smile lights his face up before you softly lean up and kiss him. You two happily but tiredly cuddling and basking in the moment. As you fell asleep you knew that this feeling, that Elvis, was worth the risk and while you didn’t know what was going to happen next, you knew you could face it all with the man next to you.

[little-nobody]

guys i'm abt to start drawing Mike to cope bc i like this idea i had a bit ago that Will compares Mike's freckles to the stars and i came up with some stupid cheesy line that isn't stupid and i love it and ended up writing some short thing for it....

and now i'm impulsively copy pasting the thing i wrote for it...

The grass tickled my cheeks as I stared up at the clear sky, stars mingling with one another. It was such a beautiful, peaceful night, perfect for stargazing. Alone or otherwise, it was a wonderful night to be out watching the stars- I never would've known things like these if I hadn't met him...

"Do you remember the night you flirted with me?" My voice cut through the silence, earning a small hum from the boy laying next to me. "You mean when I was drunk?" His voice was soft yet sure, not an ounce of anxiety or doubt slipping into his words. It was always so refreshing whenever he spoke like that.

Still, I couldn't hold back a small laugh as I leaned up a bit. "Yes," I looked down at him, his gaze shifting from the stars to my own "that night." He smiled up at me, but not just any smile- it was that soft smile, the one he gave me when he was focused on what I was saying, when he was genuinely listening to me.

"Do you remember what you said to me?" I heard him let out a huff through his nose, one of his brows raising as he looked me in the eyes. "I said lots of things, Mike," his gaze was focused, not wavering "You'll have to be more specific." I couldn't help but sigh, resting on the arm closest to him.

"About how the most beautiful things happen during the night," I heard him hum, urging me to continue. "How there are secrets only the night sky can share," I let my eyes shamelessly rake over his face, taking in his features as I did so. "Saving them for people who will appreciate the memory?"

He nodded his head slightly, smiling up at me. "Yes, I remember," he reached his hand up to move some of the curls from my face, tucking them behind my ear. "Starry-eyed angel," his hand rested on my cheek, caressing it gently with a soft, teasing tone in his voice.

I could feel heat rise up on my face, dusting my cheeks as he stared me in the eyes. "Freckles like stars," he continued, sitting up slowly as he got a little closer to my face. "Eyes with galaxies in their wake," his eyes dragged across my face, his hand tracing down my shoulder- I'm guessing he saw my freckles there too.

"The universe spilling all across your body," he leaned forward some more, glancing down at my lips for a brief moment before looking back into my eyes- his breath didn't smell like last time, it wasn't tainted with that fruity alchol- he wasn't drunk this time, neither of us were.

"The more I touch you," his fingers traced down my arm, hazel eyes shifting to track his own movements, tracing patterns on my skin that I never knew were there. "The more of you I see," he let his fingers move on my side, looking me in the eyes as he slid them under the back of my shirt, a silent request to see if he could proceed. I stared back at him, hoping my gaze would be enough of a 'yes, please' for him.

I couldn't help but let the red that dusted my cheeks spread as his hand reached under my shirt, trailing up my back. His movements were so delicate and fluid, his fingertips calloused and warm. My breath hitched lightly when they would press down and trace patterns, almost like he was burning constellations into my skin.

"The more I begin to realize," my eyes shifted to focus on his lips- so soft and pretty, colored like one of those pinkish sunsets you see in the sky. "Realize what, Will?" I shouldn't have been shocked at the way my voice shook, but a small part in the back of my brain was. Curiosity flowed through my being, scorch marks traced along my skin as two of Will's fingers moved to touch my bottom lip.

"You didn't steal the stars from the sky, Mike," for a moment I was confused, something tugging at my heart as his fingers moved down from my bottom lip. It faded as they found their way behind my neck, letting his next sentence ghost over my lips.

"The sky stole the stars from you"

[holden-caulfield]

Hi! Hope everything is great with you! ❤️ are you taking requests now? I have an idea for a Draco x reader fic. If you want to write. It’s ok if you’re not feeling it or if you’re not taking request ☺️

I was thinking about plot with something like that the reader and Draco are always on each other and fighting, but secretly like each other. They fight to make the other to notice them or to interact. One day the reader borrows a book at the library and made some notes in it (even if she’s not supposed to, just a bad habit that she has). She just writes some thoughts or comments regarding the book or life in general. And then Draco borrows the same book after the reader and sees that there are notes in the book but don’t know who made it. He likes the notes and decided to write his own notes in the book. The reader borrows the book again and see the notes that Draco wrote. So maybe they go back and forth writing notes in the book or even change to another book. Then I don’t know about the plot only that they end up together and it is a fluff ending ❤️

Oh. God. This request was e v e r y t h i n g, i loved it so much, thank you lovely anon!🤧

Wouldn't You Like To Know

↪︎ 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

Summary: draco and reader hate each other but a common interest might change everything.

Warning: none :)

Word Count: 1207

//

Nothing could make you angrier than that slytherin prick, Draco Malfoy, and yet you couldn't bring yourself to loathe him. There was something just so intriguing, so intoxicating about the boy that made you forget about how much of a haughty twat he actually was.

He seemed to be always picking on you, always having to comment on your choice of clothing of the day or stating how 'immensely insufferable' you were. You obviously never backed down, taking every chance you got to talk with the slytherin, even if it was just to insult his incredibly unnatural, yet entrancing hair or his arrogant ways.

You hated the boy, but you couldn't ignore him. Even though you very much wanted to on certain occasions.

It was saturday, a moment to finally be able to relax a bit and forget about lessons for a while, but someone decided to importune you. It was way too early to engage in a full battle, so you saved your efforts, leaving him in the hallway with his clique and a snarky reply. He had a rather surprised look on his face at the lack of interaction, but you couldn't notice it.

You made your way to the library; it seemed to be the only place you could find solace in. Reading had always been a way to unwind for you, therefore it was no surprise that the library was exactly where you were headed.

You skimmed through the long shelves of books, stopping your finger on a very old-looking volume. You took it out carefully and found yourself a cozy spot in the library, near a window so that you could see the lovely morning unfolding.

It was a copy of your favourite book of all time and you could swear the vintage-like look of the tome was due only to your continuous readings. You loved that book, every time you read it feeling like the first time and successfully taking your mind off of whatever you were worried about.

You started reading it for the hundredth time, taking your time while doing so, and without even realizing it you were starting to underline certain sentences. The quill and ink in front of you on the desk seemed to be begging you to use them and that you did. You highlighted all of those phrases that struck something you, you wrote tiny notes near the words you found the most interesting and you realized that when it was too late. The damage had been done, so why stopping?

You kept reading for a long time, the sky visible through the windows changing vastly beside you until it was already past lunch-time. You closed the book lovingly and put it back where you found it, sure to be able to return later, and took off towards the great hall.

Unbeknownst to you, that was also someone else's favourite book because when you came back, more notes had been added. Tiny messages in the most elegant calligraphy you had ever seen were adorning the pages you had previously stained. What really surprised you was that most of those short lines were actually replies or simple comments to your own.

'This is my favourite line.'

'I'd argue that the best line is actually at the next page.'

'This passage, i will never get tired of reading it.'

'How could one get tired when it's the best piece of literature ever written?'

You were completely shocked but somehow your heart warmed at the gesture: a stranger liked your same exact book and took the time to reply to the silly comments of some heedless student, it sounded almost romantic.

You immediately took a quill with the intention to add more comments but froze as you dipped it in the ink. What were you going to write?

You stopped to think for a moment and the most obvious question came to mind, so you retrieved the quill from the inkwell and wrote onto the last page, the only blank one.

'Who are you?'

You let the ink dry and placed the book back in its place, planning to come back the next day and find an answer.

It was silly really, to be so excited just because a couple words exchanged with a stranger. It had no meaning either: said stranger might have had the same habit as you, writing in all the books they read, or maybe said stranger only found your comments funny and wanted to add their own.

Nevertheless you returned to the library the next morning, very early given the fact you hadn't really slept the previous night, excitement flowing freely in your veins and keeping you awake. You hurried to the chosen section and grasped the book, clutching it in your hands as you brought it with you towards your usual spot.

You opened the book and quickly browsed through the pages until the last one. A reply was there, but not the one you were expecting.

'Wouldn't you like to know...'

What now? You couldn't just keep writing there, you couldn't just change book and keep on writing on every single volume in the library...

Defeated, you stood up, book opened in your hands as you walked through the library you knew by heart, trying to decipher who your mysterious correspondent could be.

"You?!" your eyes shot up from the book to meet his grey ones, Draco Malfoy.

"What? Can't even visit the library now?" you replied, eyebrows raised. You noticed he was oddly eyeing your book and slowly closed it.

"Why do you have that book?" he asked again, almost ignoring you with his eyes still set on the tome.

"I was reading it? That's what i usually do with books, you know."

"Are you sure? Because i have a feeling you write in them." your displeased frown soon turned into one of stupor.

"You?!" he nodded, smirking; for the first time you noticed a tinge of genuineness in his smug grin and the thought that maybe, just maybe Draco Malfoy wasn't the bully everyone thought passed through your mind.

You didn't know what to say and apparently neither did he for you both remained still and silent, staring in each other's eyes. It wasn't awkward: you looked into his grey orbs with longing, as if you had always known he could have been what you wanted and finally were able to see this side of him, the side of him you were in love with even if you didn't know it existed.

He cleared his throat then, making you focus back on reality.

"Although i enjoy the library, i think we should find a different place to talk about... this." he motioned to the book and your dreams completely shattered. He was probably not pleased with the discovery, one of the students he hated most exchanging notes with him. "Maybe at hogsmeade, tomorrow, at 8?"

"You don't hate me?" as relief washed over you, surprise did too.

"Not really, i actually quite like you, but i thought you hated me so i played along." you smiled at the unexpected confession and he furrowed his brows. "So, is that a yes? Because i can go back to hating you if not and forget everything."

You chuckled lightly, rolling your eyes. "Wouldn't you like to know, Malfoy..."

//

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[bubmyg]

there was no particular reason i wrote all this down other than reading the translations to my universe made me cry last week because i’m just Like this. this is a mini compilation of yoongi lyrics that i hold gently in my palm and close to my heart in a he’s my artist for life kind of way. these aren’t all my favorite yoongi lyrics, i certainly have more but not ones that fit this general vibe. 

this is like extremely disorganized, i kind of just wrote it like a journal (and i’ll probably copy it to my bullet journal at some point actually). interpretations are my own, music is cool in that we can all read and hear the same thing and get different things out of it (which is why yoongi has often said he doesn’t attach specific meaning to things, giving it up to the listener instead)

so yeah. here’s me being fond of yoongi in 4k for no reason other than. idk. i wanted to. all translations are from doyoubangtan and doolsetbangtan. 

song request - lee sora ft suga

“I’ll be with you, for your birth and your end; That you’d remember that I’m with you, wherever you are; I’ll be a comfort for your life at any time, and so; please, that you’d lean on me and take a rest, every once in awhile.”

to me, this perfectly encapsulates what creating music is for yoongi in a two-fold kind of way. not only does he want his music to be a source of comfort for those who listen to it (just as the art of music is for himself), he’s also consistent in his assurance that taking a rest is okay. not being okay is okay. simply existing for the time being is okay. it’s a gentle empathy that comes from the experienced heart of someone who’s not going to tell you that it is okay, but will tell you that it won’t always be like this. friendly little moon trying to get you to smile with him on sleepless nights.

so far away - agust d ft suran

dream, will eventually be in full bloom at the end of hardships

this was on my undergrad graduation cap. it’s one of my favorite lyrics of all time. if so far away is my heart song, this is my heart lyric. this is a common motif in yoongi’s lyrics; dormancy is only temporary, you will bloom at the end of the cold winter.

dream, hope it to be there with you at your creation and at the end of your life

creation to end is another common motif n his lyrics. in this specific context, i imagine it to most closely be analogous to holding dreams close to you your entire life. dreams are dreams no matter how they manifest, even if they’re simply something you long for until your “end”.

Hope it to be there with you at your creation and at the end of your life; It will be generous to you wherever you stand; It will eventually be in full bloom at the end of hardships; The beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will the future be

the entirety of this song reads like a story and this last refrain reads like the conclusion (kind of). the slight wording change from the previous choruses means a lot in that regard, more definite and firm. you will be okay. maybe not now, maybe not next week. but you will be.

suga’s interlude - halsey ft suga

Though the dawn before sunrise is darkest; don’t forget the stars you longed for only rise in the darkness

just a really pretty but heart wrenching lyric in the context of the entire song. he’s also used this metaphor several times. i love me a good string of consistency with minor adaptations to fit the vibe. this song also made me cry the first time i read the translations lmao.

my universe - coldplay ft bts

Because the trial we face now is just for a moment anyway; All you have to do is to just keep shining bright like now; And we will follow you, embroidering this long night

this could mean so many things depending on how you wanted to contextualize it. of course the song is about love, so you could view it in that way. we’re in the midst of a global pandemic where we can’t see each other. or maybe it’s simply existence. continue to exist and one day your bright light will be followed even in the darkest of nights.

also the og title of telepathy being 잠시 (for a moment) is so...min yoongi you are so cool

people - agust d

Did someone say humans are the animals of wisdom?; The way I see it, humans are the animals of regret

Your ordinaries are my extraordinaries; Your extraordinaries are my ordinaries; Your ordinaries are my extraordinaries; Your extraordinaries are my ordinaries

super simple to understand which i think makes it more poignant. especially if you contextualize it with everything he’s said or written regarding the plight of fame and how he himself grapples with it as min yoongi.

28 - agust d ft niihwa

just this whole song. if song request encapsulates yoongi’s musical ethos, this captures a lot of his general musings.

paradise - bts

Just living like this, surviving like this, that’s my small dream; Dreaming dreams, grasping dreams, breathing breaths, it’s often too much

a more blunt take on the simply existing is a good enough dream. yoongi’s 2018 new years message was one of the things that made me go “yes. Him™” so paradise is very <3 for me

interlude: shadow - bts

Flying high scares me; I mean, nobody had told me; how lonely it is here –;how my leap could be my fall

another thing he uses frequently, even as recently as an interview regarding permission to dance. the contemplation of how a fall is far scarier than landing because getting back up is uncertain.

Yeah, I’m you and you’re me, do you finally get that now?; Yeah, you’re me and I’m you, do you finally get that now?

the entirety of this song is haunting particularly paired with the sampling and the music video as a visual but this part is just...the whole idea of competing internal voices throughout the narrative of the song or if you’d rather truly treat the lyrics like a piece of literature, you have quite the unreliable narrator, one that’s trying to grapple with his own sense of self.

140503 at dawn - agust d

Pretending that I’m not lonely, pretending that I’m not suffering; needlessly pretending that I’m okay, and pretending hard that I’m strong; I built a wall in front of me, “Don’t come inside”; I’m an island in this wide ocean, “Don’t abandon me”

the entirety of agust d just makes me ache but i mainly pulled this part because he uses the island metaphor consistently. here, it’s used like i said before; achingly.

this song also gets overlooked a lot in the larger context of agust d but anyway

eight - IU ft suga

Island, yeah this is an island; a small island that we made for each other; Yeah, mm, forever young, the word ‘forever’ is a sandcastle; A farewell is just like an emergency text warning of a disaster; A morning met together with yearning; As each of us pass this eternity, we’re sure to meet again on this island

can i be honest and say i forgot this song came out at the beginning of the pandemic. anyway, if you haven’t heard the various times that jieun has spoke about this song and it’s conveyance, i encourage you to. the music video also gives a beautiful visual.

i wrote a small analysis of this when it came out so i’ll just put it here 

burn it - agust d ft max

I hope you don’t forget that giving up decisively also counts as courage

of course this can absolutely be taken at a literal meaning especially considering he said a similar iteration of this to someone on kkul fm BUT i also like looking at it in context of the entire song because maybe this is him trying to convince himself too, especially considering the wording of the last chorus doesn’t change it so it implies in order to get past the fire u need to let it burn first? burn it = giving up on some aspect of pain?

i see why max didn’t shut up for eight months about making this song i wouldn’t either hello

outro: tear - bts

im including this one firstly because i love the song but secondly to say i knew the second u all were surprised by yoongi saying he wrote this as essentially a break up song for bts and they all cried while listening to it that y’all don’t actually read or interact w their lyrics fjdklafjsd

just bc it’s a rap song doesn’t mean it’s a diss or a flex. weirdos.

intro: never mind - bts

I hope you forget about all your mistakes and such; Never mind; It’s not easy, but engrave this in your heart; If you think you’re going to crash, accelerate more, you idiot; Never mind, never mind; Whatever thorny path it may be, go run; Never mind, never mind; There are a lot of things that you can’t control

the entire composition of nevermind is similar to first love and shadow to me where you can just hear the emotion in his voice while performing it

this is also another general idea that he mentions a few different times through different songs which as we’ve seen i am <3 for

intro: the most beautiful moment in life - bts

once again i don’t have a specific lyric to pull i just love this song so much and i feel like it isn’t talked about enough because first of all the use of the basketball throughout the instrumental, the incorporation of the origin of his stage name into an entire song regarding his general existence as a performer and coming into the beginnings of sizeable fame, and just his general way of essentially writing one giant ode to something he loves and analogizing it to something else he loves to talk through internal struggles.

aka im once again saying min yoongi you’re so cool

first love - bts

same line of awe from above this whole song is just a story, a poem, a journal entry, a beautiful confession, i don’t know. this is yoongi’s best bts solo u can argue with a wall about it also if you were able to see this live i hope u have a terrible week (im joking)

every fancam i’ve ever seen of this makes me cry. so. do with that what you will in regards to how i feel about this song.

[writefightandflightclub]

Mixed signals

Author’s note: just a quick, simple hit of pure fluff, sweeties. Wrote this super quick idk. 

Summary: you are Poe’s favoured comms officer, and it means so much to him to have your voice on the end of the line during a mission. You’re great at comms. You’ve talked him through some tough times. So why in the hell can’t he get you to speak to him when you’re face-to-face? And will his cute idea to get you talking work?

Warnings: hell, not a one.

(GIF by @cmorgana​)

Poe has grown pretty fond of you over the past few months. The first time he spoke to you was over the comms, when his usual signals operator was injured and you were drafted in. He liked your style and you gelled well, and soon after he requested with the General that you be assigned to him and his squadron permanently whenever he was out on a mission. He trusted you to get the job done clearly, calmly, and decisively. You always stayed admirably cool in a crisis. And, to be honest, the other guy had always rubbed him up the wrong way, which was the last thing he needed when already under pressure.

He has come to depend on your voice on the other end of the line. Particularly the way you go over and above for him. Sometimes you talk him down if he’s scared on a mission -whether on the ground or in the air-, you boost him up when he’s hopeless, and sometimes you’ll even just keep him company through a private channel on his long flights home. You’re even ballsy enough to call him out when he’s being a dumbass, which he respects, even if he doesn’t admit it at the time. Your voice is often his lifeline, his saviour, and he’s losing count of the number of times you’ve guided him back home. 

But when he’s face-to-face with you things are different. He can’t -for the life of him- get you to speak to him. It’s not like he hasn’t tried, of course. Case in point, the first time he spoke to you face-to-face, when you had just a couple of missions under your belt together, didn’t go down so well. He’d sidled over to your table in the canteen, thinking that he wouldn’t mind grabbing lunch and introducing himself to this (cute) new recruit he’d laid eyes on.

“Hey. Can I sit here?” he asks with a broad smile. “I don’t think we’ve met?”

“Yes, Commander Dameron.”

He recognises your voice instantly, suddenly turning goofy when he realises it’s you. “It’s you! From the comms!” he exclaims, with a succession of finger guns, cringing inwardly even as he does it, a heat slowly rising up his neck.

“Yes, sir. It’s me from the comms.” you slink away immediately, setting your empty tray down on the side without so much as a smile. He’s left sitting there alone, feeling like a bit of a buffoon, if he’s honest.

From then on, even in spite of that, he couldn’t stop wanting to talk to you. Your voice, the way you were with him on the comms already... did things for him, got him thinking about how he’d like to spend more time with you. But meeting you in-person, seeing how gorgeous you were, it had only cemented his attraction to you.

So, he tries again. And again. But no matter the situation, the topic, the time of day, the weather, you always seem to clam up and disappear, tight-lipped. For someone apparently skilled in communications there has definitely been some kind of break down between you. Maybe you’re just shy, he thinks; hopes, at first. But after a while he comes to the conclusion that you simply don’t want to talk to him unless you’ve been ordered to.

Finally, after months of pining, after becoming desparate to recreate the rapport he has with you over the radio, he just has to know what he’s doing so wrong. Did he piss you off? Is there something about him that you find deeply offensive? He needs to get you talking, and after some consideration, he figures out a way to do just that. At least, he has an idea and he prays it doesn’t make things any worse.

So, to implement his master plan, he approaches you in the canteen one day. He pulls you aside and softly asks if he can borrow you for a minute.

You clear your throat and respond stiffly. “Yes, sir.” 

He smiles thinly when you fail to call him Poe, yet again, but motions for you to follow him anyway. He leads you into a spare bay in the hangar -now cleared out while everyone dines or hangs out in the mess hall- and gestures for you to tak a seat in the chair opposite him. Seeing the nervousness, discomfort in your expression, your tense shoulders, he reassures you that there’s nothing to be concerned about. It’s just a comms exercise. Then, he passes you a little hand-held radio and asks you to close your eyes tight.

“What’s happening?” you say, clutching the device in your fingers, your brows furrowed in confusion as you perch on the edge of your seat, clearly unwilling to relax.

“I’m going to ask you a few questions. And I just want you to close your eyes and talk to me like I’m in the air, ok? Just imagine I’m in my X-Wing, and you’re in the control room.” he sees a soft, subtle smile pass over your lips, sees you visibly unclench, just a little.

Maker, he likes looking at you. It kinda makes his heart flutter. Great, and now he’s getting nervous; he hopes this isn’t another of his utterly dumbass ideas. Only one way to find out, as per usual. Dive in.

“Black Leader to Nav Six. Do you copy?” He calls out, then mimics the “kchhh” sound of the radio.

You hesitate, your lips twitching up at the corners, but you respond. “Nav Six, I copy.”

“Do the noise.” he prompts you, with a gentle whisper. 

You shake your head in confusion, flashing your teeth in a good-natured smile all the same. “Nav Six, I copy. Kchhh.”

“Black Leader to Nav 6. How’s your day going? Kchhh.”

 “It’s getting a little weird, over. Kchhh.”

Poe notices your nose crinkle in amusement. He finds it adorable, and can’t help but smile in response to you. “Ok, Nav Six, I got eyes on the prize.” You must be able to hear the smile in his voice, because you reciprocate with your own broad grin. He always swears you can detect the emotions in his voice better than anyone. Always know what he’s feeling, often better than he does himself. Maybe that’s why your face drops as his tone switches, becoming more serious. Again, you mirror his expression unconsciously. “I gotta ask, Nav 6. Why do you talk to me on the comms but never face-to-face. Over.”

The radio drops from your lips and your face scrunches in mild distress. He swears a flush creeps up your neck, your skin beginning to glow with a soft sheen. He watches as you let out an audible, nervous breath, but determinedly bring the radio back up to your mouth. “Your voice alone is bad enough and then face-to-face? I have to look at you too?!” you blurt out.

“Wow, OK. Kriff. Copy. Loud and clear. Black Leader out. Kchhh.” He sits back in his chair, defeated, face agape. Maker, he hadn’t quite expected you to be that blunt. But at least he had some answers now. Mission complete?

“No, wait! I mean...” you appear to clutch the radio a little more tightly, screw your eyes up a little further. He watches your shoulders rise as you suck in a slow, deep breath. There’s something more. Something worse?

Searching your face, he leans forward again in his chair, his voice soft and gentle. “Talk to me Nav Six. Over.”

After one more long inhale you blurt out: “I have a huge crush on you, Poe!”

Oh. Oh. It’s a classic case of mixed signals.

“What?! You do?!” he smiles in utter delight, a warm feeling spreading through his chest, giving him jitters. Happy beeps. Happy kriffing beeps. 

And now that you’re talking you can’t seem to stop.

Your hands are clasped together nervously, your shoulders practically tucked up next to your ears but you’re talking. “On the comms I can hide how I feel, a little, but in real life you’re so damn handsome and you smell too good and you make me so kriffing nervous that I can’t even speak.”

Now this. This he could work with. He scrapes his chair across the floor to come closer to you, and you bite your lip with apprehension as you hear the sound.

“Tell me more,” he encourages. “Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”

You huff a little. “I was trying to avoid you finding out because it’s embarrassing and... and there’s no way you can like me back.”

He just looks at you, checking you’ve finished your outburst. Unbelievable. You really have no idea how utterly perfect you are, do you? You gulp as he shuffles his chair closer to you once again. He must be close enough for you to smell him now, he estimates, as your nostrils flare slightly, your breath quickens a little.  

“Ok. Let’s review, Nav Six.” He can’t keep the smile off his face at the fact you still have your eyes screwed tight shut. “Some of that was correct- I’m handsome. I smell great. What I wanna know is why is there no way I can like you back?”

“You’re Poe Dameron...”

His eyebrows jump up in surprise and confusion. “What does that even mean?”

You laugh, hopefully realising how silly that sounds out loud. 

Then he simply asks you: “Open your eyes.”

“Nuh-uh.” you shake your head, nibbling nervously on that delicious lip of yours.

“Fine, if you really don’t want to see me when I tell you I do like you back.”

Oh, you open your eyes now. You open them wide.

His eyes crinkle at the corners as he finally gets to gaze into yours. He looks up at you from beneath his pretty lashes, a little more nervous himself now. “In fact, I like you so much that I don’t even mind if you get all spluttery and nervous. If this is any indication? Then, it’s adorable on you anyway, quite frankly.” He reaches out tentatively to take your hands in his, scraping his chair a little closer. “But one thing I do kinda mind” he says, dropping his voice a little into his throat “is not getting to talk to my favourite person and look them in their gorgeous face at the same time.”

You’re grinning. “Are you done? Do the noise.”

“Sorry, Nav Six.” He says, matching your grin. “Kchhh.”

You giggle, and he just looks ardently at you, drinking you in. He traces his thumb affectionately along your jaw line, under your chin, over your bottom lip.  Your breath hitches. 

“See, this is exactly what I mean..” you say, becoming evidently flustered.  “You ... you make me feel really... nervous.”

He leans in until his lips are almost on yours, enjoying the effect he’s having on you already. “Hmm, but I only wanna make you feel good, baby.”

Then he presses his mouth to yours, and suddenly... you’re giving him all the right signals.

[oswaldsleftbicep]

lucia, levy, & mikael going to a haunted house with their gn!so

sndkjsdhf so i'm stupid and accidentally posted this before it was done and then i panicked and copied the text and then just deleted the whole post which in turn deleted the ask, so to whoever requested this i'm sorry!!

the request: OKAY how about going on a haunted house with Lucia, Levy and Mikael.. That would be fun

ok now i'll just paste what i originally wrote :)

idc if it's march, halloween is all the time; this takes place in modern times btw, and i interpreted this ask as like a fake haunted house attraction, so if you want to read them going to a real haunted house with actual ghosts lmk!!

genre: fluff, crack, angst if you like really squint

cw: slight language, descriptions of blood and gore but not too detailed

Lucia

❧ as soon as he heard about a local haunted house attraction opening up, he was begging you to go with him

❧ whether you like those kinds of things or not, you went with him

❧ the attraction was at this old run down hotel think hell house llc but without the demons and it had a kid friendly tour and an adult tour

❧ the adult tour was later at night obviously so y'all had to wait a bit; the place was pretty busy so you're kinda glad he made y'all come like two hours early

❧ as you get further up the line you can hear the screams from inside the building and ngl you're getting kinda nervous

❧ lucia notices this and he's like "don't worry babe, i got you, i'll protect you, you got your big strong handsome boyfriend here to protect you"

❧ so your turn comes, and how it's set up is that each group goes in alone, like one at a time type thing, so it's just the two of you alone in this house

❧ he's holding your hand to comfort you and is kinda leading the way

❧ but then the first scare comes, it's just a girl with bloody makeup and she pops on out of a door, screaming bloody murder; not the scariest but lucia's grip on your hand tightens a bit lol

❧ the next couple of rooms aren't too bad, just more visual gore stuff like fake human parts and blood, some creepy looking people just standing and lurking

❧ y'all go upstairs and look around, and there's an actor who comes out of a room and just follows the two of you for a bit which puts lucia on edge cuz he doesn't like being followed that closely

❧ but she eventually stops and goes into another room, and just as lucia breathes a sigh of relief, bam! a new actor pops out of nowhere and rushes at the two of you

❧ this makes him let out a bit of a yelp as he ushers the two of you into the nearest room; you tease him a bit, asking if he was scared, but he brushes it off saying he was just looking out for you

❧ ok so the upstairs part is done and y'all go back downstairs for the last few rooms, and you hear a noise in one room and go off to check it out

❧ lucia is only a few steps behind you but it's still too far and the door separating the rooms slams shut and locks the two of you away from one another

❧ he's trying to keep his cool like "haha very funny, unlock the door" but he can hear that you aren't able; again, he's trying to keep his cool since this is all part of the tour

❧ but then he hears a loud, machine like noise and you start screaming

❧ now he's really trying to get this door down, but it ain't budging

❧ it's only when you stop screaming and house has gone quiet that the door opens, and he rushes into the room and looks around for you, but he can't find you anywhere

❧ he's genuinely in a bit of a panic cuz he knows haunted attractions like this are full of shady people and dangerous places and you're just gone, this is the last room too so there's nowhere for you to go but out and they don't let you out unless the entire group is together

❧ so he's looking in the cupboards and the closets and under a table, with no luck

❧ and then someone comes up behind him and jumps on his back, yelling absolute gibberish and now he's screaming cuz wtf??

❧ and then the person starts laughing

❧ it's you lmao

❧ the one place he didn't look was behind the door he came through, and you had apparently teamed up with the actor last minute to scare him there's a secret door that the actors go through so that's why the actor was gone

❧ he's so upset lmao, he's embarrassed and scared and worried and pissed at you for scaring him

❧ so he just scoffs, grabs your hand, and leads the two of you through the exit and back outside while you laugh your ass off at him

❧ overall, he's pretty good with haunted attractions, he only gets scared a couple of times and his main focus is on making sure you're okay

❧ i guess it's like he gets more creeped out than actually scared, but when he does get scared his reactions are pretty good

Levy

❧ you're totally the one that dragged him to going to a field of screams type attraction, so a large scale, open air attraction with lots of scares

❧ he was less than thrilled to go, cuz even though he's into battles and war history, he's pretty squeamish and not a fan of horror

❧ so you compromise and promise to go early so it's still light outside and not as scary

❧ but you hadn't anticipated how popular the site would be, like the place was packed so even though you got there like an hour before it opens, the line was already pretty long

❧ which meant that when you finally got to the front of the line, the sun had already begun to set

❧ levy's not mad cuz it's not your fault for it being so crowded and taking so long, but the longer the two of you stay in line and listen to the noises and screams, the more nervous he gets

❧ it also doesn't help that there are a few actors that walk up and down the line to keep the crowd entertained, and their way of entertaining is scaring and messing with people

❧ and after a long while of suffering and torment on his end, you get to the front of the line and finally get to enter the field

❧ he's reassured by the fact that the actors can't touch the patrons cuz he does not want to get closer to these people than he needs to lol

❧ most of them just stand in one place like in a cage or they pace back and forth in front of a pile of remains, which levy is fine with, he can handle that cuz he can just look away and keep walking

❧ then there's the actors that actually come up to you and walk with you while yelling things and acting crazy

❧ levy likes this a bit less, like he's already walking pretty fast, he's a few steps ahead of you at all times, so when these actors match his pace he has to hold himself back from straight up sprinting away

❧ the only reasons he doesn't run through the whole tour is because he doesn't want to leave you too far behind and he doesn't want to look like even more of a wimp lol

❧ he probably even answers back to the actors like: "why don't you come with me, i could use your help with something" "no thank you." "your skin would make a reallyy nice shirt" "it really wouldn't."

❧ and then you get to the last section of the tour

❧ the exit is right there, you can see the lights of the parking lot, but standing in between the two of you and the exit is a man holding a chainsaw. great.

❧ the man starts up the chainsaw and he's just standing there, menacingly, watching the two of you carefully

❧ levy backs up a few steps to stand next to you and grabs your hand for the first time this entire tour

❧ the man starts walking to the two of you slowly, and levy tells you that on his signal the two of you should run around the guy and toward the exit

❧ but just as he was about to give the signal, the actor charges toward the two of you at full speed, pulling his chainsaw back as if he was going to swing as soon as he got to the two of you

❧ you were thinking that now was y'all's chance to run for the exit, but to your surprise levy pushes you behind him so that he's between you and chainsaw guy, he's got his arms spread out and everything so that he's putting as much of him between you and the danger

❧ you think this is super sweet and chivalrous of him, but the exit is wide open now so you just grab this fool's arm and run the two of you over to the exit

❧ the chainsaw guy was going too fast to turn around quick and properly enough to chase after y'all, not to mention the chainsaw was heavy and bulky which slowed him down even more

❧ so the two of you were able to make it through the exit unscathed and y'all stop to catch your breaths about a hundred feet from the exit lol

❧ once y'all calm down a bit, he grabs your hand gently and leads the two of you to his car so y'all can get the hell out of there

❧ he totally doesn't want to talk about anything that happened in the tour, especially how scared he was, but there's an unspoken appreciation between the two of you for keeping one another safe

❧ overall, he's awful with these kinds of things, he gets scared so easily and has a terrible time, but when it comes down to it, your safety is always above his own

Mikael

❧ ok so there's a little historical site nearby that does a haunted attraction every year for tourism and you wanted to go check it out

❧ but you knew mikael would never go to one of those, so you decide to bring out your secret weapon: ricardo and noel

❧ you told mikael that the three of you had planned to go to this thing but people have to go in groups of two at a time so it would be better if he came along too so he could keep you company

❧ he was hesitant at first but when you told him it'd either be you alone, paired up with ricardo or noel, or paired up with some random guy, he was like "ok fine i'll go *eye roll*" lol jealous much?

❧ so the four of you get to the place, and the lines aren't too long so y'all get to the front real quick, ricardo and noel go through first

❧ it's a classy looking haunted attraction, nothing too gory or childish, but instead kinda gothic and lowkey

❧ but when you get inside it's a whole different story

❧ the reason you could only go in groups of two is because the halls are narrow as hell; it's an old site and everything is cramped and cold

❧ but they somehow managed to fit the actors into really good hiding spots

❧ there were some under tables that would grab at feet and ankles while crying out, there was even a couple pinned up to the walls

❧ when y'all started out, you were leading the way with mikael trailing loosely behind you; you offered your hand to him but he declined cuz he was grumpy lol

❧ ok so the hall gets to a point where it branches off into two paths and there's an actor keeping guard; they tell you to each go down a separate path, that one of them was safe and the other was "dangerous" and basically full of scares

❧ so y'all pick your paths and head down them

❧ you picked the safe one, all it had was scary decor and sound effects, and one side of the hall has a one way mirror, so you can see mikael and like walk with him in a way

❧ poor mikael tho, he picked the scary one

❧ he thought it was weird that the hall suddenly got wider, and that the door slammed shut behind him, and that it was completely lined with mirrors

❧ but he brushed it off and kept walking calmly forward, although he could feel eyes on him the whole time

❧ as he walks down he can't help but glance toward the mirrors a few times, only seeing his reflection

❧ that is, until he sees something else

❧ there's a gap in the middle of the mirror on one side and standing in that gap is a person in a cloak

❧ weird right? but mikael decides to keep walking, but the cloak person follows him

❧ they're scarily close to him and out of the corner of his eye he sees in the mirror that the cloak person has unsheathed a blade of some sort and starts raising it up

❧ so mikael's like "oh shit" and starts running, but this cloak person runs after him, always just a few steps behind

❧ the hall seems to go on forever, like y'all are in the catacombs or something, and every now and then there's gaps in the wall of mirrors that hold a new cloaked person, and one by one they all join in on the chase

❧ so it's mikael just being chased by like seven cloaked people down this extensive hallway for a solid two minutes

❧ and then finally, finally, he sees the exit, that glorious rectangle of light shining into the dimmed hall, and he bursts through the door, panting with his hands on his knees

❧ you meet up with him shortly after, having run along with him on the other side of the mirror so you're kinda out of breath too

❧ you ask if he's alright and all he does is glare at you like "that sucked, why did you bring me" lol

❧ and right as he finally catches his breath and stands upright, wham! someone grabs him from behind with a yell and scares the hell out of him

❧ it's ricardo

❧ he and noel saw the two of you exit and he wanted to scare mikael a bit, noel tried to tell him no but he did it anyway smh

❧ after ricardo gets a smack to the head, the four of you head home

❧ overall, he's pretty nonchalant about the whole ordeal but he trusts his gut feelings; if his instincts are telling him somethings off he'll listen, otherwise he'll just be chilling

❧ you better tell him a happy, fun story to get his mind off of what he went through or he'll have dreams about being chased for days

[awhmilkywey]

burgers and fries | t. carrick |

pairing & genre: tobias carrick x f!mc (ava dahl) — fluffy as hell

warnings: one curse word | english is not my first language

word count: 2.4k

request | prompt | neither | challenge

tags: @usuallyamazinglyaverage ; @perriewinklenerdie ; @cyb3r-kat ; @moonsoltice ; @romewritingshop ; @tsrookie ; @hedwigsbixch

a/n: a special thank you to @usuallyamazinglyaverage @perriewinklenerdie and @cyb3r-kat for allowing me the use of their characters (anna dawson, claire herondale and bianca hemgrove, respectivel) and a bonus to perrie for being generally awesome and helping me out with this fic. You can thank her for the Romeo line!

Ava has a history of flouting protocol to assist her patients.

The machine whirred to life, shooting a steady stream of murky liquid into the small paper cup. Ava skimmed her medical chart while she waited. Her patient was a young adult who came in with severe chest pain and discoloured skin around her calves. The primary doctor wrote down that earlier scans ruled out heartburn as well as pericarditis. She reached for her coffee and took a cautious sip. The blemishes could point towards a blood clot—deep vein thrombosis, perhaps? It could quickly develop into a pulmonary embolism if left untreated.

The nurses' station was relatively quiet when she approached.

“Could you order a lung scan and a chest X-ray for my patient, please?”

Marlene took the chart with a professional nod. Her exhaustion matched her own.

Ava murmured a quiet thank you and tossed her cup in the bin. The results wouldn't be back for a couple hours. If her hunch was correct then she would most likely need to page the surgical department. For now, however, her rounds were finished and she could take a breather.

Her face twisted into a frown as she remembered her bag was still in the conference room. Her confrontation with Harper ensured she had been too uncomfortable to remain there. Ava decided to take the stairs one at a time. Saying she was dreading their next meeting was an understatement. They would need to have a serious conversation with Bloom. Ethan breaching protocol was on him alone. A conversation with Harper was in order as well; earlier she had been caught by surprise but she wouldn't let that kind of treatment stand. Barging in, wrongfully accusing her without any evidence whatsoever, yelling and refusing to believe her even when the culprit was standing right there—Ava wondered when the cool renowned surgeon became an unruly child.

The revelation that Harper still saw her as a reckless intern made her incredibly angry. Her one mistake happened over two years ago and she came forward to shoulder the blame. Ava had grown since then, both as a doctor and as a person. Her near-death experience also served to put things into perspective, to say the least. She would always have the best interest of her patients at heart but she would never again jeopardize her career so foolishly.

That thought brought her back to Ethan. Frankly she didn't recognise him any more. He came back from the Amazon a different man—one she wasn't sure she liked all that much. Their tentative relationship hadn't stood a chance. Him being her attending was difficult enough, then she was facing the possibility of being suspended, and just as she thought they could make it work after all, Naveen promoted her and Ethan was her superior once more. He maintained a painfully professional demeanour around her from there on out. Ava wasn't doing too great during that time.

And when her intern year came to an end, he disappeared. He wasn't answering her calls nor her texts and her trips to his apartment were fruitless. She found out he was out of the country through WHO's Instagram account. She stopped bothering afterwards.

Ava shook her head, red curls bouncing over her shoulders. Dwelling on the past wasn't helpful. Especially when the Ethan from her memories didn't correlate with the Ethan she was currently working with. Her most recent conversations with him left a sour taste in her mouth.

The conference room wasn't as empty as she expected.

“Heading out?” Tobias sent her a warm smile.

“I've some free time to kill.”

He nodded in understanding. “Holding up okay?”

Ava hesitated. It occurred to her that he was the only person she was truly comfortable with on the team. The only one who'd never underestimated her or made her feel lesser.Tobias was the person who either supported her suggestions or countered them with his own logical arguments and used both as teaching opportunities.

“I've been through worse,” she replied, shrugging non-committally.

He scowled. “What Harper did was uncalled for.”

Ava offered him a wry smile. “I have a history, don't you see?”

“Oh you mean the history of being civil to Bloom even though you want to punch his face in?” he asked innocently.

A laugh bubbled up in her chest and he soon followed with his own deep chuckle.

“There's this place downtown.” He sobered up but was still grinning. “One of my favourites, if you want to check it out.”

“What's in it for me?” Ava raised a playful eyebrow.

His eyes darkened, tongue briefly flickering out. “Good music, good books. We could get dinner after.”

Ava swallowed. “Sounds fantastic.”

Tobias' intense look softened. “It's a date,” he said cheekily.

She laughed again and swatted at his arm. “Lead the way, Romeo, before I change my mind.”

Bantering with him was easier than it should've been. Knowing how laid-back he could be when comfortable made her notice more about how he carried himself around the rest of the team. It gave her a small thrill to be able to witness that side of him.

Tobias drove her to a time-worn shop tucked away between a colourful diner and a boarded-up building. An old sign hung over the entrance reading The Starlight Den. The outer walls were covered in messy chalky drawings and splashes of peeling paint, broken crayons and plastic buckets sitting to one side. He laid a hand on her lower back, gently guiding her through the battered wooden door.

“I used to come here all the time as a kid,” he commented, glancing fondly around the shop.

Neutral colours predominated with the occasional vibrant hue flashing here and there. Bookshelves lined the left side, brimming with works from classics to comic books. Customers could settle down on various armchairs and sofas, reading under the light of several dimmed lamps. Ava slid her eyes from the makeshift coffee bar to the vintage posters on the opposite wall. A soft tune drifted from the gramophone in the corner. Neat stacks of vinyl records were arranged in polished boxes in the centre. A counter held several players for general use nearby.

“This is a dream come true,” Ava marvelled, running her fingertips across the book spines.

Tobias hummed, reaching to pluck a comic from the shelf. He presented it to her with a flourish. Spider-Man was holding a man clad in green on the cover.

“First introduction to Spidey. Also the first comic I ever read,” he disclosed, absently thumbing through the pages.

“I didn't know you read comics.”

Tobias cocked his head. “Haven't read them in a long while but they were a big part of my childhood.”

Ava cast a look about. “I can see why you'd like to come here.”

Two teenagers were hanging around a record player, giggling quietly to each other, while a sharply dressed man made small talk with the handsome man behind the register. The overall atmosphere was quite cosy. It felt a bit like home. When she returned her wandering gaze to Tobias, he offered her a knowing smile.

“I have an idea,” he announced with a quick clap of his hands. “We each pick a book and a record for the other. I have a player back at my apartment.”

Ava crossed her arms. “Is this a ploy to get me into your bed, Carrick?”

He raised his palms up in mock surrender. “Absolutely not. Just a ploy to get a pretty woman eating take-out on my couch.”

“From that diner next door?”

“Rosa makes the best burgers and milkshakes in Boston.” He gave a solemn nod, cracking up in the following beat.

Ava contemplated him. “It's a date.”

He lit up with a boyish smile.

She didn't know much about his likes and dislikes given that all their interactions revolved around their work. Browsing the bookcases, she opted to get him a copy of The Little Prince. She remembered her papa reading it to her when she was sick or when grief was heavier than most days. She picked up A Day at the Raceson her way to the counter.

“Don't peek,” Tobias warned after their purchases were done. “I'm going to get our food and then we can head back.”

“I want nuggets.” Ava blushed when her stomach growled.

He patted her head. “As you wish, m'lady.”

Ava watched him walk away, unable to remember the last time she was this happy. Tobias was so carefree. He didn't allow their work to burden him, always trying to finding the silver lining in each case, and refused to let it interfere with his life outside the hospital. It was a breath of fresh air, compared to her previous relationship with Ethan. Tobias was light where Ethan was dark.

The ride back to his flat was mostly quiet. He tapped on the wheel along with the song playing on the radio—she vaguely recognised it as being a new Ariana Grande single. She, on the other hand, was more occupied with staring out the window and trying to control her nerves. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, making her almost want to throw up. Tobias was undeniably attractive, charming and witty. And they were going to be alone at his place.

Ava choked on air.

He was quick to lay a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, hey, I got you.” At her lack of response, he slid his hand further and began to rub her back, eyes briefly leaving the road to look her over.

“I'm good,” she gasped.

His touch continued to burn her skin until the car was parked in his garage.

Tobias' flat was messier than she expected but not in the dirty sense of the word. It was a sort of organised chaos that breathed life into the walls. The coffee table peeked from beneath a mountain of medical journals, two blankets were thrown haphazardly on the couch with a pillow half-fallen on the carpet, like he had dozed off while reading. The telly was still on as well and she paused to watch Jessica Aniston and Matt LeBlanc acting on the screen.

He steered her towards the kitchen.

“I forgot to clean, sorry.” He seemed unusually sheepish.

“Mine's not much better, believe me,” she reassured him, squeezing his arm. She took the food bags from him and set them on the table. “Kitchen or living room?”

“Living room!” he called out from the pantry, coming out with a package of napkins and a container of assorted candy.

He had stored away the blankets and the pillow by the time she brought the food to the coffee table, journals stashed away in the corner bookcase. Ava noticed that he also changed into a looser tee, his biceps highlighted underneath the artificial lighting. He grabbed their purchases from the shop and turned to her with a bright smile.

“I realised we don't actually know each other that well,” he said, grabbing the book from the bag, “and I would like to remedy that.”

Ava accepted the gift, lips quirking up at the sight of the blue cover. “I've never read The Great Gatsby,” she informed.

His smile widened. “Let me know what you think when you're done, yeah?”

“I got you this one.” God she was nervous. “I, uh—I didn't know what you liked so I figured I'd give you one of my favourites. After my mum died... my dad used to read it to me as a kid.”

Tobias met her gaze and she was surprised to see him so serious. “I—Thank you, Ava. It means a lot that you would share that with me.”

She needed to look away. Was he getting closer?

Her stomach growled again.

“Eat,” he murmured, slowly leaning back. “I'll put the records on.”

He returned to the couch as the beginnings of Dancing Queenfilled the room. Ava beamed.

“How did you know?”

He popped a fry in his mouth. “I may have cheated on this one. Claire told me you were a fan.”

The mention of her friend warmed her heart. “I didn't know you and C were buddies.”

Tobias rubbed the back of his neck. “We're not, not really. I, um, went to ask her how you were after what happened. Anna and Hemgrove were gone already, so...”

His concern sent the butterflies into a frenzy. Ava focused on her burger so he wouldn't see the deep red staining her cheeks.

It was only two episodes into Friends that she noticed the missing fries in her plate. An indignant yelp was muffled by the food in her mouth. Tobias blindly reached for another one but she slapped his hand away, earning her a surprised squawk from the man. Ava made a move for his plate and was stopped when he put his arm between them, lifting the other up so she wouldn't touch his food.

“Oi! That's not fair!” she protested, not realising she was half-sitting on his lap as she tried to get her fries back.

“All's fair when you're hungry, sweetheart,” he retorted, laughing at her worthless attempts.

The loud sound of porcelain breaking was unmistakable. In an effort to get closer, she had pressed against his chest, their bodies practically glued together, and the twist of his wrist weakened his grip on the plate. Ava sunk into him in defeat and promptly peeped as her groin made contact with his.

“Shit, sorry Av—nghh...” He cut off with a strangled moan.

Ava hurried to relieve the pressure of her thigh on his crotch, feeling mortified.

“I'm sorry—” “Wait—” they spoke at the same time, both floundering.

“Just—wait.” Tobias held onto her hips, heaving out a frustrated sigh.

She would never admit to anyone that no, she very much did not want to move.

Except maybe to the girls, who would most definitely grill her tomorrow.

They remained in that exact position for a couple silent moments. Neither sure what to say nor how to act upon the revelation that they were entirely too comfortable physically for two people who were supposed to be just work acquaintances.

Up close, his eyes looked more green than brown. Ava told herself that she had bigger things to worry about.

But it was a pretty colour.

“I really want to kiss you right now,” he quietly confessed. “I have to know, though. Is—is there anything between you and Ethan?”

She let out a shaky breath, touching her forehead to his. “Not since last year.”

He gave a short nod, raising a hand to cup her face. “Could there be anything between us?”

“Why don't you kiss me and find out?” she whispered against his lips.

She felt his smile before he did.

[wayward-mikaelson]

I Still Want You, I Still Need You-IV. The Snap

Word Count: 3816

About: A fight is brought to Wakanda leaving you and many others devastated.

Characters: Bucky, Steve, T’Challa, Shuri, Natasha, Bruce, Rhodey, Thor, Thanos, Vision, Wanda, Okoye, and Sam 

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings/Trigger Warnings: Language, Sexual Content (Unprotected-wrap it before you tap it kids and Implied rough sex), Playful Teasing, Fighting, Injuries, Death, Heartbreak

A/N: These last few days I have been having internet trouble but I am back up and running. Also, this ripped my heart as I wrote this so have a tissue or tissue box at hand. I also tried to keep a few of the big IW events in this part.

*This contains content made for 18 and up crowd. Read at your own disrection

**Please do not copy and paste my work anywhere. Reblogs and sharing the link are okay.

***This work is also posted on Wattpad and Archive of our Own. Links can be found in the pinned post on my profile

****Go follow my other accounts. Links can be found in the pinned post on my profile

*****Currently NOT taking request

******Feedback is Welcomed!! 

Forever Tags: @hobby27 @donnaintx @myinconnelly1 @elansaidaris @magssteenkamp @440mxs-wife

Marvel Tags: Open

Story Tags: @cspr-2 @mysticalfestivalkoala @tanyaherondale @lilithknight1111 @lpzallana @snlsamantha @tomisagod @gloriouspersonbanditrascal @buckysgirl101

Bucky/Sebastian Tags: Open

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III. Fresh Air (NSFW)

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The walk wasn’t long and the weather was perfect. It gave your time to think about what you were going to say to Bucky. Steve had called with his monthly check in, it had surprised you due to the hour he called. He knew the time here in Wakanda and he always enjoyed talking to the both of you. So when he called, you had wondered why.

You entered the clearing and got a good view of yours and Bucky’s home. The view of the tree covered mountain always put a smile on your face. No matter what kind of mood you were in. Movement from the corner of your eye caught your attention.

Bucky was playing with two kids from the Border Tribe. You knew these kids pretty well, their parents were hard workers. These boys must have gotten it from their parents because, they would help Bucky with just about anything. Bucky loved it and it made you fall in love all over again with him whenever you saw him with kids.

You continued to walk towards the house with that smile on your face. The days where you saw Bucky messing around and just being himself, God it made you want to give him a child right away. Even you wanted a kid, but in you one year of marriage, it was still you and Bucky. Then again, with how busy the two of you were, you guys never had that conversation.

“Ah, there she is,” Bucky sat up from the ground. “My beautiful and most gorgeous wife.” He stood up and made his way towards you. Soon, you were wrapped in his arm with your lips pressed to his. “I got a lot done today with the twins help,” He mumbled into your lips. “All there’s left is dinner and dessert.” Bucky’s hand slid down from to cup your right ass cheek making you squeal.

“Well,” you pulled back to stare into his blue eyes. The longer he stared at you the darker they got. “Why don’t we send the boys home with some food and we get to work on the rest of the evening.” You motioned the boys to follow you into the house. Soon, they were off with a basket of fruit, bread, cookies and soup.

“Thank you Mister and Missus Barnes!” They called over their shoulders as they walked away. Your cheeks tingled as they called your by Bucky’s last name. You still never got over that people called you Missus Barnes.

You and Bucky had a short ceremony a week after he proposed. Tony would have had a cow if he found out the you weren’t going to have a huge and ravishing wedding. You didn’t care, all that mattered was you and Bucky. Given the circumstances, the ceremony had to be small. T’Challa officiated the wedding, making legal in every binding way. Shuri and Okoye were the witnesses. You had worn a small, simple Wakandan gown while Bucky wore a button up shirt and pants.

While you watched the boys disappear over the hills, Bucky snaked his arm around your waist and pressed his lips to your neck. You closed your eyes, “Steve called earlier,” you said cutting off whatever Bucky was doing.

“Really? Why so early?” He had the same tone of confusion and wonder you had. Bucky had always loved talking with his friend.

You turned in his arm and stared up at him. “He wants us to meet him in Berlin tomorrow evening. He says he may have found a way to clear everyone’s names.”

Bucky took a step back. You immediately knew where his thoughts were going. “He want’s to run it by all off us and we have to let him know in the morning.” You closed the space between the two of you. You reached up to grab the collar of his shirt, “I did tell him that we made Wakanda our home so if his plan works we will be still be living here.”

Bucky smiled. “Good,” he slowly started to back you into the wall. “We can call him tomorrow and tell him we’ll be there. How we skip right to dessert?” Bucky’s chest gently pinned you to the wall and he trailed a slow kiss from the base of your neck to your lips and down again. It sent a shiver down your spine.

“Do you want kids?” You blurted out.

Bucky pulled away, the lust disappearing from his eyes. “Yes, why? Are you…?”

You shook your head. “No. I just see how well you are with the kids that pass by through here. You’re so great with them and I just know that if we have a few of our own, you’ll make the perfect father.”

Bucky cupped your chin with his hand. “Are you wanting to try? Starting tonight?” There was small smile forming on his lips.

A smile plays on the corner of your lips as well.

Moments later, You laying on your back while Bucky hovers over you. You reach between your naked bodies and take hold of Bucky’s hardened cock. A small and almost silent moan slips from Bucky’s mouth. You give his cock two slow pumps before lining him up with your aching entrance.

Bucky slowly pushed into you, causing your eye to close and roll back. “Open those gorgeous eyes, Doll,” Bucky stated to thrust in and out of you at a decent pace. You opened your eyes and see Bucky staring down at you. “Do you know how beautiful you are?”

“You tell me everyday, love,” You lifted your hips up to meet Bucky half way. Each time the two of your met, a soft groan escaped your lips. “Do you know how lucky I am to have you?”

Bucky chuckled. “Only when we’re having sex.”

You playfully smack his chest. “I was being serious.”

“I know,” Bucky laughed and dipped down to press his lips to yours. While pushing himself further into you, causing you to moan into his mouth.

“You know what,” you pushed Bucky onto his back and straddled him. “Screw the slow and sensual crap. I’m going to make tonight feel like this is going to be the last time we ever do this.”

Bucky’s eyes darkened. “In that case, Doll, get on all fours.”

***

The next morning you and Bucky are doing some work, when Bucky purposefully bumped into you spilling some water from the bucket he was carrying. You turned to him to see him laughing as he continued to walk away. You shook your head as you thought up your move.

You walked over to where he stood next to the compost pile. As you walked by, you bumped his hips with yours, causing Bucky to lose his balance and fall into the compost. You covered your mouth to fight the laughter.

Bucky sat up in the pile and stared at you. You dropped your hand while the smile was still on your lips. “Next time you’ll think twice about splashing me with water.”

“Oh no you don’t,” Bucky lunged forward. You tried to move away but Bucky managed to his hand on you and pull you back into the compost with him. “Now, I think we’re even,” Bucky’s hand trailed down to your thigh and gave it a small, little squeeze.

“I love you,” you pressed your lips to his before standing up. “I have to go help Shuri and make that call to Steve.”

The moment you stood on your feet and turned around, you wished you hadn’t. There, entering the clearing and walking towards you and Bucky was T’Challa and some of his guards. It wasn’t the guards that followed the King of Wakanda that bothered you, it was the big, narrow case that accompanied them.

You knew that case all too well. If the case was being brought, you knew something was going to happen.

You looked back at your husband, all smiles and playful behavior no longer painted his face. The look of dread and sadness had taken it’s place. It was almost similar to the look he had before going back on ice. It ripped your heart out to see that look on his face.

“I’m sorry to break up such a fun moment,” T’Challa sounded like he was talking to someone of a higher power than him.

He gestured to the guards to bring the case up. You held your breath as they opened it. There sat the black and gold metal arm you helped Shuri design. You watched as Bucky slowly approached the case to get a better look at the arm. You could see that part of him is excited about the arm, for you had told him all about it and what it could do. The other part is that he knows that he will have to put it on. Both of you knew it.

Bucky Barnes may have been tired to fight, but he would fight to protect the world. And you, you were his entire world. The one thing keeping him going and not just flat out giving up. He would do just about anything, even if it meant dying, to make sure you lived to see another day.

“Where’s the fight?” he asked in a hollow voice.

T’Challa looked between the two of you. He hated this just as much as you did. “On it’s way.”

***

You stood looking through the window and watched as your husband got his arm on. It looked painful in your opinion, but Bucky’s face made no indication that it hurt him. He just stared at the ceiling until the procedure was finished.

There wasn’t much said about why you guys were needed. Just that Steve was on his way here and would fill you all in when he arrived. You knew it must have been urgent if Steve wouldn’t give the full story.

“Hey,” Bucky’s voice pulled your back from your thoughts. You turned around and immediately stared at the metal arm on your husband. Suddenly, you were having some very impure thoughts about it. Maybe you should have convinced Bucky to have the arm sooner. All you wanted was to feel those cool, metal fingers on your bare skin. Gripping every part of your body.

“Hi,” you breathed out. You had to shake your head to distract you from the dirty thoughts about that arm.

“How do I look?” Bucky held out both arms and did a small little spin.

You rose an eyebrow with a smile on your face, “Do you want the clean answer or dirty answer to that?” Bucky closed the space between the two of you. His metal hand gripped your hip and pulled your closer to him. He was on to your thoughts.

“That depends,” his voice was right against your ear. It sent instant shivers down your spine. Yep, he was one hundred on to you. “Do you want the clean answer or dirty answer to how you look? Cause this tight outfit you’re wearing is already doing something to me. Where has this been the whole time?” Bucky’s metal hand snaked to your ass and gave it a small squeeze before backing you to a wall.

“Packed away with that arm of yours,” You slowly wrap your arms around his waist.

Bucky nuzzled your neck, sending more shivers down your back. “How come? We could have had loads of fun with this.”

“The last time I wore this, I fell a good story out of a helicopter,” you answered.

Bucky pulled back and stared at you. “What?” his eyebrows furrowed. “How? What were you doing? How come I never heard about that?”

You dropped your arms, “Because it happened while you were still on ice and I was doing something on the side for T’Challa. Gathering information.”

“Were you hurt?”

You took a deep breath. “Yes and Shuri made some upgrades so if I were to fall a good distance, the suit would take most of the impact.” The look on your husbands face tugged at your heart. He looked hurt that he didn’t know about those few months where you went out and did small missions. “Look,” you took his face in your hands. “I wasn’t intentionally keeping it from you and I’m sorry I never said anything about it. Let’s talk more about this later.”

Bucky pushed your back against the wall. “Only if you wear this,” he said before pressing his lips firmly to yours. His tongue slipped passed your lips and explored your mouth.

“And only if you keep that arm for a while,” you smile against his lips.

The sound of an air craft was heard, making both you and Bucky pull apart and look out the window. A smile formed on your face when you recognized the air craft. Spinning on your heel you raced out to the front, with Bucky following after you.

You waited impatiently for the Quinjet to land. When the loading hatch opened you watched as not only Steve walk out, but more of your friends. They approached T’Challa and you saw only one of them bow. Idiot, you thought. Then you realized who that idiot was.

“Oh my god, Bruce!” You whispered. You hadn’t seen since Sokovia and a lot of your had long sense thought he had died.

Then you locked eyes with Steve. You and Bucky approached him and he gave the both of you the biggest hug ever. It was two years worth of hugs.

“How are you guys doing?” He asked as he pulled away from Bucky.

“We’re good,” Bucky looked at you and smiled.

“What’s going on?” You asked.

Steve looked around him and then placed his hands on his hips. “Bruce, wanna tell them?”

You looked at Bruce, who walked slowly towards you. There as look on his face that instantly made you worried for some reason. “Someone called Thanos, he’s after what’s called the Infinity Stones. Vision was almost killed for the Mind Stone. We’re seeing if it can be taken off and destroyed without killing him before Thanos get’s it.”

“What does he want with them?” Bucky asked.

“He wants to wipe out half of the worlds population,” Bruce looked towards Bucky. “Who are you?”

“Bucky,” Bucky answered. “Barnes. I’m also Y/Ns husband.”

Bruce looked back at you. “You got married? Does Tony know? Wait speaking of Tony.”

Your heart skipped a beat when Bruce said Tony’s name like it was some sort of taboo thing. Bucky noticed the change in your posture. He took a step towards you and placed his hand in yours. “What about Tony?” Your voice was hard.

***

You stood in the lab as you processed what was said about your brother. You didn’t want to believe it but then again it was Tony. He did just about anything. You were so lost in thought you didn’t know what was being said about Vision or the stone on his head. You walked to the window and looked out into the distance.

“You doing okay?” Natasha was standing beside you.

“As good as I can be,” You looked over to her. She had cute and died her hair blonde. You weren’t going to lie, you liked it a lot. “I just hope he’s okay.”

“We all do,” Natasha rubbed your arm. “Does Tony know you married the man that killed your father?” You shook your head. “You know he might not take it well, when or if he finds out.”

“Tony will just have to suck it up, Bucky’s fixed now and isn’t who he was when he worked with HYDRA.” You were aware of the ear piece in your ear linking you to the rest of the team. Bucky had one too. You knew he heard all that was said and you knew what was going on through his head.

Howard and Maria Stark were the biggest contribution to his nightmares.

“Hey guys,” Sam’s voice rang in your ears. “Um, somethings trying to get in.”

“They won’t be able to,” Okoye said.

“Are you sure about that?” You watch as something hit the barrier that surrounds Wakanda. Then another one and soon you’re able to see the barrier itself.

You turned to see everyone staring out the window. Poor Vision was laying on the table looking helpless. Wanda was hovering over him and staying close to him. You could read her body language well. Wanda loved him.

T’Challa and Steve exchanged a few words and it appeared they agreed on something. “How much time do you need, Shuri?”

“As much as you can give me,” Shuri didn’t looked up from her spot. She was too engrossed with what she saw.

“Y/N,’ Steve was approaching you. “It’s best if you stay up here and protect Vision with Wanda.”

“I agree, Doll,” Bucky’s voice was in your ear. “Whatever’s coming sounds nasty and I want you as far from it as possible.”

“And if the fight comes towards me?”

“Then kick their asses and show them some hell,” Natasha smiled.

***

Hell is what you gave when three creatures broke into the lab. You were quick on your feet but not too quick. One had thrown you off a landing right next to Vision. You got up and did the only thing you thought of.

“Get out of here Vision!” You helped Vision off the table until something crashed into the two of you sending the two of you through the window.

You slid the slanted roof trying to find something to grab onto. You called out for help only to not get a response back. The edge of the roof was quickly approaching and your hand missed the edge by centimeters. You were then falling three stories down to the ground. Even though your suit could take the impact, you weren’t so sure about your head. Then something grabbed you midair before setting your down. You looked up and saw Rhodey flying away back towards the fight. You made a mental note to try and thank him later.

“Guys, we got ourselves a Vision situation,” Sam said.

“Somebody get to Vision,” Steve yelled.

“Already on it,” You replied. You started to weave in and out of the threes looking for Vision. From a distance you heard a clap of thunder and soon saw a flash of lighting and you knew who just entered the fight.

Something crashed into you and sent you flying to a nearby three. Your head smacked against the trunk. You cried out and landed face first into the ground. Whatever threw you, picked you up by gripping a chunk of your hair. They were disgusting looking and part of you felt like that moment was it. You were a goner. Then they dropped you as they fell to their knees.

“You alright, Doll,” Bucky helped you up and looked you over.

“I think so,” you were breathing hard. “Not my finest hour.”

Suddenly there was gust of wind. Something was changing and it raised goosebumps on every part of your body. You looked around to see a cloud of blue burst and a purple looking thing walked out. One hand was covered in a gold glove with gems on it. Thanos, you thought.

“That’s him,” you heard Bruce say.

Then everyone was racing towards him. Anyone who got close to him was thrown back. Bruce was thrown into boulder. Natasha was pinned under earth that rose from the ground. Bucky was thrown into a three. You and Steve were the only ones who got close.

You slid in between Thanos’s legs and jumped onto his shoulders. You pulled the knife from your thigh holster. Before you could stab the knife into him, Thanos pulled on your leg and then gripped your neck with one of his giant hands. With each second it was tightening and you barely able to breath. You clawed at the giant hand but failed. The look on his face has a faint smile. He was taking pleasure in killing you.

“No!” Bucky’s voice was heard from someone.

The grip on your neck loosened some, giving you some breathing air. Thanos looked towards the sound and back at you. He looked you over and then flung you into a tree. You landed on the ground, the wind being knocked out of you.

You rolled over onto you knees to watch what happened next.

It all happened in slow motion. Wanda was holding off Thanos while destroying the stone on Visions head. You saw the heartbroken look on her face. She didn’t want to do it but she knew she needed to. Vision had closed his eyes and you knew that he made peace with what was happening.

Then Vision and the stone were gone.

But that isn’t what surprised you.

Thanos did something on that glove of his hand. All the while, he spoke quietly to Wanda. Green surrounded that area and suddenly, Vision was back. Wanda realized what was going to happen, so she jumped up and was thrown back by Thanos. Then Thanos had Vision by the neck and ripped the stone right off his head.

Vision was gone again.

Everything started to change when you saw and axe fly passed your head. Thor was then attacking Thanos and digging his axe deep into his opponents chest when Thor stopped. His head turned when he saw Thanos raise his hand up and snap the fingers that were in the gloved hand.

Everything, everywhere was silent and it sent chills down your spine. Something happened and you knew that something was bad and going to leave you heart broken.

“What did you do?” Thor yelled but Thanos disappeared leaving the group to stare at one of another.

You walked up to Steve who was a few feet from you and helped him up. He walked over to Wanda who was next to Visions body. The look on her face was pure brokenness.

Little did you know…

“Y/N? Steve?”

You turned and froze. Bucky had been making his way towards you when he started to turn to dust. You quickly ran over to him and right when you got within grabbing range he fell to the ground. Dust at your feet.

“No,” you whispered as your knees gave out beneath you. Your hand ran through what was left of your husband. You felt your entire world grow cold. You felt pressure on your chest as you covered your mouth to suppress the sob that took over your body. The of you were happy and talking about having kids and now, not even twenty four hours later, you were left alone looking at the literal ashes of your husband.

You let out a scream you didn’t know your body or vocal cords were capable of.

[ct-7386]

Beans are Spilled

[So, I mentioned this in another post, but I copy-paste threads to a gdoc so that I can keep track of the story, write more coherent responses, and go back and reread at my leisure. Please go read that post, because I'm also using it as a general disclaimer for all the completed threads I'll post as oneshots. If you've reacted to that post, thank you ^^ I've had so much fun with everyone.

Anyway, here is the first thread - both chronologically and the first thread I was a part of.

Please keep in mind that this will have an odd flow to it bc it was written by two people, each writing as their own character. I've done my best to edit for basic mistakes, but otherwise everything is as we wrote it originally.

Authors: myself and @cc1010fox Characters: Commander Fox (them); CT-7386, Commander Stone, Corporal Cory (all me) Rating: T TW: mentions of suicide; depicted depression and anxiety; clones bullying each other; referenced reconditioning and decommissioning

If I forgot any warnings, please let me know ^^

Thank you!]

Commander Stone comms:

"Sir, I have a situation down in Lock Up. Two of our troopers got into a fight with each other, and they won't tell me anything. I know you're busy prepping for that upcoming gala, but..." His grimace is audible, and his volume drops slightly. "I have a feeling this won't be pretty. Can you spare any time for this osik, sir?"

Vod drama sounds like it might be just what he needs to break himself out of the monotony of his current work, so he decides it can't hurt. "I'm on my way." It takes a short while on foot, but he needs the exercise and to expend the energy he, like his vode, was created to have. When he arrives, he's let through without much hassle. After all, he's easily recognizable. "Where's the idiots?"

Stone takes off his bucket and runs a hand over his head. He gestures at two of the holding cells. "Here, sir. When they wouldn't break it up, I had them forcibly separated and thrown in the cells." He steps forward and raps on the dome of his helmet. "Attention, men!"

The clones in each cell snap-to, each with their bucket set to the side on the uncomfortable looking cots.

"Because of your ridiculous behavior, Commander Fox has deigned to address this problem himself." His eyes are narrowed, but there's a tightness around them that betrays his quiet worry. It's just not normal for there to be in-fighting among the older troops.

"With everything the Coruscant Guard has to deal with, you want to add each other to that list?" Fox barks, his tone every bit the reason his men stand at attention when he enters the room. "Who here is going to tell me what's going on first? Because you're both going to, or I'll have you working in such close quarters you won't have a choice but to learn to get along."

The clone in the cell to the right instantly bristles and tenses.

"Work with it?!" He gestures to the wall that separates them. "This shabuir, aruetii, vod-killer!?!"

The entire room stills.

It stills indeed. A vod betraying their own is nigh unheard of, especially in the Coruscant Guard. All they have is each other. Most won't even speak against a vod to save their own lives, even when wrongfully accused.

Fox eventually breaks the silence, looking to the accused, but not speaking to him. His gaze is suspicious, untrusting. Do they have a vod-killer among them? "Those are some heavy accusations, vod. Explain yourself."

The trooper in question stands stiff and almost unnaturally still, lips pressed into a thin line and eyes hyper-focused on Fox's lower face.

"... It was," he finally grits out, "information shared in confidence - a mistake, apparently, and no one's business but my own. Sir. Corporal Cory" - the other trooper, then - "holds a personal grudge against me, and today it interfered with my duties. Not only has he betrayed the trust I had in him, but he could have put the lives of every trooper present at risk."

Corporal Cory looks ready to throw himself at the energy barrier in the door to his cell to confront the yet-unnamed trooper. He is livid. "I betrayed your trust? What about the trust of your vode, huh? What about the ones you -"

At the last second he bites back his words - a surprising show of restraint, given the situation. And yet, every vod in the room feels chills at what the corporal has just implied.

The unnamed trooper swallows and closes his eyes briefly as if to gather himself. "I confronted Corporal Cory," he says quietly, "about his actions. Our argument got... heated. That's when Commander Stone was forced to intervene. Sir."

There's a tired sort of anguished resignation that hangs over the trooper. He's willing to accept whatever his punishment will be if it will keep him from having to relive the past all over again. He just hopes everyone will leave well enough alone.

"You're glossing over pertinent information, trooper," Fox tells him, his tone holding a warning. "Did you kill a vod? Do I need to worry about my men around you?" It's clear he's dodging the subject, but Fox's aim is better than most. He always keeps his eye on the target.

While he may view the vod as a danger currently, there's still no question he would protect him. Vod-killer or not, he's one of the Coruscant Guard, one of them. He just has to know what to do with him, like separate him from the others if necessary.

The look of anguish intensifies for a brief moment before the trooper replaces it with a blank mask. "The only danger I pose is to myself, sir. As for the pertinent information..."

He grinds his jaw, frantically searching for a way to answer the indirect order while maintaining some dignity.

"It was on Kamino," he says at last, voice painfully small; he seems to fold slightly in on himself, as if the weight of his words is almost too much. The trooper swallows. His voice is slightly ragged as he finishes, "It was a - a mercy kill."

There's a moment where the air echoes with the silence, and then he's straightening once again wearing that mask.

"With all due respect, sir, it was a long time ago and has no bearing on the current situation or my performance as a soldier of the Republic. Corporal Cory took the few facts he had and blew them out of proportion." The corporal does look a little guilty. "I will accept whatever punishment you deem necessary for my actions, sir, and for lying by omission, but I request that you not alter my duties in any way. I'm the only clone with my specific qualifications, sir, and my skills are needed in the Senate building almost constantly. On top of that, there are still a couple senators I need to contact to finish smoothing over the ruffled feathers the corporal caused with his... overreaction earlier."

A mercy kill. Questions need to be asked, specifically whether or not the deceased vod requested his "mercy". Otherwise, it was unforgivable, merciful or not. It would be merciful to kill them all, to put them all out of their misery, but it's their choice whether they live or die. Most would rather live so they wouldn't have to be replaced by another innocent vod. They survive and fight through the osik for each other.

Fox wants to ask the question where the others can hear the answer, hoping it will clear it all up, but--

"Senators?" His ire is turned on the other trooper. "You started a fight in front of senators? Do you have any idea what danger you put us all in? Fresher duty. A month's worth. If I hear one complaint, I'll extend it another month." Fox needs the senators to feel safe around them, not wonder when the unstable brutes will snap. The more on edge they are around them, the more likely they will be to have them reconditioned for the tiniest mishaps.

Somewhat surprisingly, the unnamed trooper hesitates slightly and shifts in place. "With - With all due respect, sir, Corporal Cory knows better than to start a fight in front of the senators. He just - I'm a translator, sir, and the corporal interfered with my work and nearly caused a diplomatic incident without really understanding what it was he was doing. I confronted him because he knows better than to interfere with my work yet did it anyway because of our petty rivalry. He didn't - He didn't mean to, not really."

“He knew what he was doing. He knew the senators were there.” It is, however, reassuring that he’s trying so hard to protect a vod. There is definitely more to his background than he’s made known.

The trooper straightens. “Understood, sir. And my punishment?”

He knows he played his own part in this debacle. There were ways he could have deescalated the situation sooner; he could have requested a transfer to another squad when Cory became a problem months ago; he could have not started a fight with Cory afterwards - hell, he could have not told Cory anything. That would have been a fantastic idea.

And now - Now he’ll feel obligated to go to Commander Fox, a man he has barely seen since being stationed with the Guard, and explain this all to him against his own better judgement. What a kriffing disaster.

"An explanation. Whether your past affects your work with the Guard is up to me, not you. Do you understand? We can discuss it in private." Besides, from what he can tell, Cory started the fight, not the other vod.

Fox gestures to his cell, a silent order to release him so they can go elsewhere. He obviously doesn't want to divulge what happened to the others.

Commander Stone follows the silent order and presses a button on his vambrace, and the barrier in the trooper's cell disappears.

The trooper himself snaps a slightly shaky salute. "Yes, sir!" He turns and tucks his bucket under his arm and steps out of his cell, very deliberately not looking at any of the other vode in the room. Then he walks to stand in front of Fox, waiting to be led to - what he sees as - his inevitable doom.

"To my office, trooper. March," Fox orders. In his office, they can't be monitored by curious members of the Guard. At least there's no one in the building brave enough to press their ear to his door.

The trooper quickly marches out of the room, all-too aware of the Commander behind him. He leads the way briskly down the halls all the way to Commander Fox's office where he waits at the door.

His own professional, yet more casual, stride beside him tells witnesses that the trooper is in trouble, a walk of shame. At his door, Fox relieves him of that humiliation, "At ease..." before he opens the door.

Once inside, Fox pries the helmet from his head and sets it on his desk. He then seats himself behind the desk and gestures to the chairs opposite his own. "Have a seat. What's your name, trooper? Do you have one yet?" Not every clone has a name. Sometimes, they're just too attached to their designations and, other times, they just haven't found the right one.

He takes a seat but hesitates to answer the question. "I..." The trooper swallows and looks down at the helmet in his lap. "I go by my designation, sir. CT-7386, or sometimes just 86. I gave up any right I had to a name back on Kamino. I don't -" His voice drops almost to a pained whisper, and he sort of starts to curl around his bucket. "I don't deserve one after what I did."

This vod is not a cold-blooded killer, nor does Fox believe he has it in him to kill a vod without being coerced into it by that vod. The guilt is clearly eating him up inside. The ori'vod, which is what he is to most of his vode, in Fox is making him want to comfort him. He resists the urge to hug him, but not to use his words. "What happened, 86? Look at you, vod. You need to tell someone..."

His eyes snap up to Fox, wide and terrified. "Sir, I - I can't. You would - You would never look at me the same, sir. I'm already isolated from the rest of the Guard, already defective, and now they know -"

86 shudders and curls even tighter around his bucket as if for comfort. It was an order, he reminds himself. This is my punishment, so I just gotta take it. He forces himself to open his mouth and begin speaking even though he refuses to straighten and look at the Commander. 86 doesn't want to see the disgust in Fox's eyes.

"We - We were an experimental batch, sir. The Kaminiise wanted to see what would happen if they tried enhancing our senses beyond perfect hearing and 20/20 vision. Only, because they'd never done it before, a lot went wrong, and they kept us mostly isolated from the others in order to keep studying us."

His breath hitches slightly, and he tightens his grip on his bucket.

"Not all of us survived. We were down to six by the time we learned only I would ever be deployed, the others kept in the labs. And we couldn't - We were afraid. We didn't want to live like that, didn't want to be test subjects, didn't want to live that waking nightmare anymore. So 7301, our second youngest, he came up with this - this crazy plan: stage an accident that would kill us. Only - Only we needed one to stay alive so that someone would remember we had ever existed. They chose -" His voice breaks, and his eyes burn. "They chose me, because I was the only one who could be reassigned and deployed. So I - I sabotaged the program on our training deck. I killed them - all of them."

As he listens, he tries to put himself in 86’s place. The pain he would have felt, not only from the experimentation, but from watching his vode suffer too.

As far as clones go, Fox has always been privileged, selected for the ARC training program, encouraged to embrace his individuality, and given power over his vode. It might be hard at times, but he’s never been experimented on extensively or used as cannon fodder.

Still, he knows what it’s like to suffer, to want to be free from his suffering, and what it’s like to love his brothers so much he’s willing to endure anything for them. If his vode came to him, in pain, desperate for release from this life, would he kill them?

…Yes.

He leans over his desk, that little bit closer to his vod. “You didn’t kill them…You set them free…”

86 laughs bitterly. “Freed them - and enslaved the next poor bastards the Kaminiise decided to continue the experiments on. I know there were others who ‘benefited’ from the results we produced. Freed them?”

Another laugh, though this one he chokes on. He finally looks up, revealing the tears rolling down his cheeks and the absolutely broken look in his eyes.

“That’s not what the ghosts in my head say.”

"Yeah, well, those ghosts aren't your vode. They are thankful." As much as he would love to lay a hand on his vod's shoulder to comfort him, he stays put and lets the sympathy show in his eyes alone.

"You're not responsible for what the Kaminiise do..."

86 shakes his head and scrubs the tears from his face. "I know that logically, but that will never change the fact that my batch was killed by their ori'vod." He sniffs a little and straightens. "Is there anything else you'd like to know, sir?"

"Like they wanted," he insists. It was almost cruel of them to ask 86 to do it, leaving him to live with the crushing guilt. He wasn't handling it well at all. "We don't have any licensed therapists in the Guard, but our medics are willing and able to act as one if you need them to. You also have me. You've really twisted it in your head to make yourself a bad guy when you're not." It's the pot calling the kettle black, and Fox can't see it.

His next huff is supposed to be bitter again, but it comes out just so tired. “With all due respect, sir, I’ve been with the Guard just as long as you have - you’re only a dozen or so batches older than I am, even. This begs a couple questions.”

86’s eyes harden just slightly, more in suspicion and vague distrust than actual anger.

“First, don’t think I haven’t seen just how hard you are on yourself, so, with respect, don’t ask me to do something you wouldn’t. I know exactly how responsible you feel for all of us, and even though I could never imagine the amount of work you’re doing, I know it’s way worse than any of my own problems.

“Second, I’ve managed this long just fine. It took a vod betraying my trust and then having to admit my recurring nightmares under duress for anyone to give a kriff. I don’t see what will change now that I’ve bared my soul.” Okay, that might have come out just a little upset.

“And finally, again with all due respect, but -” His walls once again crumble, eyes bright with tears he refuses to shed, voice hitching with the raw emotion held back purely by strength of will, “why has no one cared before?”

Before Commander Fox can answer, 86 is holding up a hand to stop him.

“No. No, I’m sorry. That -” He swallows, blinks away the shine in his eyes. “I know you’re busy. I didn’t mean to make you feel guilty. I know everyone else is busy too. And I work every day in the Senate Building with no one except the natborns; the only time I see vode is when I come back to HQ to sleep.” 86 laughs incredulously. “I don’t - I don’t even know who the medics are? I don’t” - He blinks, brow scrunched in mild confusion and distress. “I don’t think I’ve been to the medbay since our mandatory exams when we were first stationed here…”

Fox doesn't tolerate much blatant disrespect, but he knows what 86 is going through at the moment. When emotions take hold, they're uncontrollable, torturous, until they're finally unleashed like a violent storm. It always ends the same, always. The tears come, shining in his vod's eyes. Again, he's assaulted with the nearly irresistible urge to hold him through it. That isn't Fox, though. He can't risk that sort of bond only for it to be broken by their rank imbalance.

"With all due respect, vod...which is every ounce I've shown you, when was the last time you told anyone the whole story? You hide your pain so well, apparently better than I do," he chuckles, a tinge of bitterness to his laughter, "so how was anyone supposed to know you were suffering? Let your vode know. They will care. They will support you.

If you don't mind, I'd like to recommend our CMO, Paws...and my personal "therapist", Thorn." Yes, he does talk to someone, as much as he's comfortable doing so at least. It helps that they're married in the Mandalorian tradition. "They're both more understanding than you ever thought a vod could be. No matter what you tell them, they'll try to see it from your point of view."

86 blinks, eyes wide. “I-I’m sorry, sir,” he stammers, head ducking in shame. If Fox is talking to someone… maybe he should, too. “If you think this is what’s best, I’ll - I can try.”

He worries at his bottom lip with his teeth while he thinks.

"I think... I think I can try talking to Paws? I - I know I need to visit medbay soon, anyway. This one senator -" He stops himself. "Maybe a story better saved for Paws," he mumbles. Yeah. Yeah, he can see what Fox means about talking to someone.

He inhales deeply, closing his eyes and centering himself before releasing the air slowly and steadily.

"I've never told anyone the whole story. Corporal Cory was... He's in my squad. I had a nightmare and woke him up a couple months ago. When he asked me about it, I was... I was shaken." He's ashamed of it, really, but nothing can be changed now. “Without thinking I admitted it was about my batch and how I’d caused their deaths, but that was it. He - He blew everything out of proportion. So, yeah. No one really - really knows.”

Another measured in-out of breath.

“And you’re wrong, sir: I don’t hide my pain all that well.” 86’s smile is wry, his tone self-deprecating. “It seems I’m just really good at hiding myself.” He swallows. “I know I’m not around the vode a lot just by nature of my duties, but - I could have made more of an effort to reach out to them.” He can - He can maybe still try. Maybe. Just - later. When he can think about this all clearly.

Once again he squares his shoulders and straightens. “Is there anything else you’d like to ask, sir? Or have I fulfilled the parameters of my punishment adequately?”

“There’s one last thing I’d like you to try… A mediated conversation between you and Cory. I know he was cruel, but think about what he thinks you did. It’s unheard of. He’s shocked. If he just knew…” he tries. Cory is a vod, so he can’t be completely unreasonable, can he? Honestly, Fox wonders if anyone outside of 86’s guilt ridden mind could possibly interpret what he did as cold-blooded murder. 86 is clearly a victim in what happened too, he just didn’t have the merciful release of death after it all.

That in mind, he really admires this vod. It would be too easy to swallow his blaster, but he’s chosen to stick around and keep his position filled so another vod doesn’t have to suffer through it. After Fixit, Fox knows all of the vode who suffer with suicidal ideation have been struggling to find the strength. He knows because he’s one of them. With 86’s background, he must be so much stronger than all of them, most of which are just victims of Coruscant.

The moment 86 hears Cory's name, he tenses hard. After a long moment he grits out, "As long as you're the one to mediate, sir, I think I can do it. I still - I still wanna shoot him for that stunt he pulled in front of the senators earlier. He could have gotten all of us killed. Thankfully, the senators I was translating for were easily persuaded to ignore the incident," he grimaces.

"Here, there's a good chance he will be shot because someone hates clones so much they can't bear to see us live. You don't want to wonder if your hatred for him was petty when he's already gone, vod. Trust me." It's always the ones who were arguing with the victims that cry the most when they're gone. "I'll mediate."

86 looks away guiltily. “Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.” He hasn’t known hardly any of the vode lost to Coruscant, and it’s not exactly a lesson he wants to learn any time soon. He’ll talk to Cory. 86 looks back at the Commander. “If you’re too busy, sir, I’m sure someone else you trust can mediate. And -” He hesitates. “I think the rest of the squad should be there, too.”

“I’ll make the time. You bring whoever you’re ready to tell.” Besides, he already knows what happened, so he’ll be able to correct course if 86’s self-loathing gets in the way and he portrays himself as a heartless killer.

86 honestly feels a short rush of relief at knowing the Commander will be there. Having someone, anyone, standing next to him while he bares his soul to the most recent vode he feels he has wronged will help give him the strength he needs to get through this.

“I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready,” he hedges, “but I - They deserve to know the truth.” The truth of why I’ve basically abandoned them, too. “Just name the time and place, sir. We’ll be there.”

"Will three days be enough time for you to plan your wording?" He doesn't want to rush him, but he also wants to pull it off like an adhesive bandage. Three days just seems like a good in-between. Besides, the longer he waits, the more time he'll have to convince himself it's a bad idea. At least that's how Fox's brain works.

86 nods. “Yes, sir. Thank you.” He’ll need all the time that gives him to think of what to say.

[lilallama]

hello! i reaaaaally really reaaalllllyyyy love your writing! I'd like to know how both clubs would react to their beloved texting them? it could be anything you want! I trust your creative mind:D i hope you're doing well~(´∩｡• ᵕ •｡∩`)

[Thank you so much, cinnamon bun ❤ that makes me really happy ^^. I'm doing very good, I hope you do too. Hobis picture didn't fit on here (TT), so I will post it by itself. 💕🍑]

Hoseok

The young boy layed on his silk sheets, on his four thousand dollar mahogany bed, while drowning in the sounds of his best friend. On his phone he kept repeatedly playing the recordings of their calls. Hearing their voice felt like heaven to him, if he could he'd make them talk forever just so he could dwell in the sound of their voice. Suddenly his euphoria was interrupted by a notification.

Y/n 💕

Have you got the homework for today?

If yes, could you please tell me, thanks.

He sat up and put on his glasses. Yes, it really was Y/n. Although they consider him a best friend, Hoseok still cannot stop his heart from racing in his chest. He quickly typed an answer and jumped up to send them a picture of his finnished work.

Seokjin

With his soft black hair pulled back my a fluffy, pink headband and him wearing an evenly fluffy but white bathrobe, he sat in his private bathroom and applied his expensive skincare products. He hummed and sang a bit [I love you, Y/n~] before being interrupted by his phone notifying him that he got a message.

Prince/ss 👑

Have you got the homework for today?

If yes, could you please tell me, thanks.

He immediately threw his fifty dollar "protection and hydration, for a longer lasting youthful look" cream away and hurried to type back. Why should his love have to do homework, when he'll have one of his butlers do it for them. Silly Y/n.

Yoongi

The newest Rap music blasting in his ears, Yoongi hugged a photo of Y/n, his gorgeous [not yet] lover, to his chest. He dispises most of the new music. It's all money, sex and parties, none of which has anything to do with him. He's an anti social virgin, who has to work two part time jobs to be able to provide for himself and his alcoholic mother. But in that moment he didn't care. The sobs escaping his mouth got interrupted by a notification, no one ever texts him.

Angel 🎶

Have you got the homework for today?

If yes, could you please tell me, thanks.

His red, watery eyes widen. They actually wrote him. They noticed little, boring him. Without thinking he typed a response and made his way to give them what they asked for.

Namjoon

The sound of a pen scraping against paper, leavibg behing dark blue, inky lines that are formed into neat writings. As student council president, Namjoon made sure to set an example to everyone. Diligent, devoted, intelligent, responsible Namjoon. Just as the last sentence was brought to an end, a notification popped up on his phone. He was going to ignore the message, but then spotted the name of the sender.

Darling ❤

Have you got the homework for today?

If yes, could you please tell me, thanks.

His pen rolled out of his hand and hit the polished floor of his room. His love just texted him. They asked for his help! Is he dreaming? He must be. Oh, how he longed for such a moment. He can finally be useful to his darling.

Jimin

The music came to a stop and so did Jimin. He pushed his pink hair out of his sweaty face, while whiping some of the sweat away with his already soaked shirt. The white fabric sticking uncomfortably to his body as he tried to catch his breath. After all there's no time for breaks, he has to impress his baby with his skills! But before he could start the music again, his phone buzzed in his backpack. He walked across the practice room with an annoyed look on his face.

Baby 🥰

Have you got the homework for today?

If yes, could you please tell me, thanks.

Jimins vision went hazy for a second and he lost balance. Now on the floor, he still stared at the message. His face flushed even more than before while thinking about their cute face, distraught at having forgotten the homework. He smiled and took a picture of him winking, making sure to take it so they could see his sweaty shirt, stuck to his back in the mirror. He'll send you it once he gets home, until then how about you talk for a bit?

Taehyung

The artistic boy kept his eyes on the canvas before him. His apron had multiple dried up colour stains, while fresh paint coated his fingertips. Some of the paint got smushed on his face as he brushed his bangs aside, while sone of the paint also got stuck in his locks as he tied them into a small bun. He stepped back, the painted face of his love smiling back at him made him break out into a lovestruck boxy grin. But then his phone buzzed and his smile immediately disappeared.

God/dess 🌹

Have you got the homework for today?

If yes, could you please tell me, thanks.

With his mouth slightly agape, his almond eyes stared at the slightly stained screen. Was he imagining things, was his god/goddess really giving him the chance to serve them. After a few seconds he snapped out of it and hurried to grab his homework.

Jeongguk

In the dark of the night, Jeongguk slouched through the streets. He just got in a fight, boxed the guy so hard that he broke his nose, arm and maybe a rib, just to leave that pathetic, shaking pile of shit whimpering on the ground. As the streetlights softly shone down on him, illuminating his face, he received a message.

Spouse 💍

Have you got the homework for today?

If yes, could you please tell me, thanks.

He stopped in his tracks. A cold wind surrounded him, messing up his hair even more. A bright smile appeared on his face, revealing his bunny like teeth. After jumping around and twirling once or twice he stopped to reply. He couldn't repress the laugh that escaped his dry throat. Now he only has to hurry home!

Jennie

She was feasting with her parents at the gisnt dinner table, but they completely disregarded her existence, only having eyes for each other. She chuckled and cleared her throat, catching her parents attention who bashfully laughed along with her. Jennies parents are exactly how she wishes her future marriage to be. They started talking when her phone notified her of a message.

Y/nie 😘

Have you got the homework for today, girl?

If yes, could you please tell me, thanks.

Before her mother could scold her on her lack of etiquette, she squealed in a high pitched note, that her Y/n just texted her. Of course, her parents knew about you as well as her feelings for you, they were the exact same when they were younger. They sighed lovingly and huddled together while their daughter excitedly texted her love.

Jisoo

Just a few minutes ago, she was busy going through all her Y/n pictures that have she took these past months [5732, not counting her digital copies]. She was just brushing her silky black hair when her phone let out that obnoxious tone. Jisoo snapped around to her phone on her bed, her 20th one this month [her phone keeps running out of storage room from all her photos, yet she refuses to delete any. So she just gets a new one once her current runs out if storage]. She looked at the screen.

My Muse

Have you got the homework for today, girl?

If yes, could you please tell me, thanks.

As soon as she read these messages, her expression brightened. He brush was thrown into a corner of her big room, making a clack sound as it hit the tiles. In a matter of seconds she typed her answer and send you the homework, as you requested.

Chaeyoung

Soft, gentle fingers stoked the strings on a wooden guitar, filling the room with a sweet melody. An angelic voice joined the guitar play, creating a fairytale like song. As it slowly came to an end, the girl to whom that angelic voice belongs, leans over to her nightstand, grabbing her phone. With longing eyes she stared at the screen while muttering please under her breath. Just then, she received a text message.

My Lovely Y/n 😊

Have you got the homework for today, girl?

If yes, could you please tell me, thanks.

She jumped up, placing the guitar on her bed while dancing around. Her eyes, filled with love and adoration, focused on the text. She took a screenshot and replied while singing out of happiness.

Lisa

After she had finished her last pirouette for the day, she scated off the ice to remove her scates. The young girl sat on the cold bench, letting her hair out of her bun, to flow over her shoulders in smooth waves. While removing her skates, she received a notification on her phone.

Sweetheart 🌸

Have you got the homework for today, girl?

If yes, could you please tell me, thanks.

Lisa smiled as she exchanged her ice skates for a pair of warm boots and placed them back to where they belong. While texting her love, she walked out with poise and flipped her hair back. Of course her love would rely on her. She is the most trustworthy person after all.

[uponrightful]

"You aren’t alone. He thought, feeling the girl’s deep breaths rising and falling under his chest. Her head turned away from the glaring sunlight, unknowingly resting her forehead against his chest where she could find shadows. Small hands slid out from under the blankets, pulling them high over her shoulders before finding a more comfortable spot flat against his stomach." I would love to know what they were both thinking here when they woke up together <3 Such a sweet moment!

Commentary Track for Welcome Company

Copy 500 words -or more- of any of my fics and I'll give my thoughts/rambles on what was going through my head -or the character's- when I wrote it!

*Send one in here*

Hi there anon! ☺️ This is the first request for Welcome Company, and I'm squealing at the opportunity to talk about Wolffe again!!! He's such a sweetheart, and I hate not giving him the love he deserves! 🤍🤍 🐺

***

Let's start out with our beloved Commander Wolffe, shall we?

Wolffe's first reaction is to jump out of the bed. Put as much distance between them as possible and find his bucket so he can shove it over his face. Desperation to hide his appearance.

The Commander knows that his face draws attention, and it's not always the good kind. It scares shinies into staying in line, and gives him respect amongst other clone leadership. But Wolffe isn't at drill, nor is he on a battle field. He's in the home of a woman who's made a career out of hiding behind corners and being a silent presence in her own home. Wolffe's afraid of scaring her, worried she'll think there's something wrong with him, terrified that something about him isn't worth catering to in such a caring way. He knows what it's like to be thought of as defective, and how little he means to the Republic as a whole... Had it not been for Master Plo's love for him, a decommissioning would've been the last note on his career register.

Note: I've never seen Wolffe in the "feral" way most do. He might be snarky, and a little grumpy, but that's because of his unique experience with 'failure'. He's seen death, and failure seems to follow him in many ways. I've always thought Wolffe would see his scar as a reminder of failure to others, and a reflection of his ineffective leadership. When I delved into his character, I wanted to make him less "dominant" and a little more "glass-half-empty". Not only does it fit his past experiences, but it makes him a lot more complex than simply tossing him into the "he's mean and likes to fuck hard" vibe.

The moment Wolffe actually realizes that he's not just laying with her, but touching her... It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience that he's too bewildered to get the full enjoyment of. In the back of his mind he knows she'd been the one to make this move, but he still feels responsible for not keeping his hands to himself. I mean, kriff... He's a Commander in the GAR. Saying the night was enough to have him executed by firing squad as it was, let alone finding her sharing this bed with him.

He's never seen anyone look this relaxed around him... trusting that his presence isn't harmful or scary. Wolffe had tried to pull himself away out of respect, but she's still searching him out, despite being asleep. Her fingers wrapped in his shirt and the soft heat radiating off her is already becoming an addictive feeling Wolffe didn't know he could develop, and he's trying his best to be respectful, but not cold towards her. After all, he'd went to sleep alone; So there had to be a reason she'd joined him. That's when it clicks; The reason he's slept so good... why he didn't feel like he'd been tossed from a gunship without a jetpack. It's because this girl had soothed the constant funnel of nightmares and fears that interrupted his sleep.

Note: I wanted Wolffe to experience his first moment of intimate uncertainty. He's had hook-ups, but nothing romantic. This is part of his nature. Sex is one thing; A release, either by his own doing or with the willing assistance of someone else. But intimacy; It's something Wolffe considers for civilians, and not something he can partake in. As a character, I think his moral compass runs the straight and narrow. He doesn't take relationships lightly, and in this moment, he's being challenged as to how to navigate something he's thought only happens to civilians. It's cute, and seeing Wolffe flustered like this wasn't just fun to create, it's just how his disposition would have saw fit to respond.

When she looks at him, Wolffe is internally panicking. This is when he's certain she'll wince in disgust or scream at him to leave. That panic freezes him though, and it's this reaction that forces the Commander to realize that she's nothing short of curious. No judgment, no unwanted sympathy, not a hint of disgust. Wolffe's never thought of himself as particularly good-looking, and considering there were millions like him, that didn't bode well for someone finding him in particular worth this kind of attention. She's soothing him, and whether he's willing to admit it or not, Wolffe is preening under her soft touches despite not understanding why he likes it so much.

Pup is very pretty and the Commander is trying to figure out how to keep her attention, but not scare her off. He's trying not to stumble over his words, but he can't get her voice out of his mind. Wolffe hadn't spent a day since his first visit wondering what this girl looked like, sounded like... Literally everything. He wants to know exactly what kind of woman would spend her time catering to the likes of clones. He thinks of her as this kind of deity most of the time, and interacting with her makes the dreams all the more real now that he's seen her, and she's even more beautiful that her ever could've pictured.

Note: Wolffe is really experiencing old-fashioned "love at first sight". I know it's simple, but that's just how a relationship with Wolffe would come about. He's a simple man when it comes to love, even though he doesn't realize it. Wolffe only falls in love once, and he's going to know right away. The time spent getting to know her though the little interactions behind walls, his admiration/thankfulness for what she does... It shows her character, and although Wolffe isn't one to get hung-up on someone's appearance (this excludes his own) he's instantly attracted to her. I wanted him to have the "high-school hard-on" experience as well. It's amusing, but really he's never been exposed to someone he finds attractive like this. And it's a startling experience because Wolffe isn't easily distracted with more... carnal desires.

Wolffe senses that there's something different about her right away, and with every minute after this, he's just realizing that she's special. He's always a little hesitant that she's not going to feel that little connection, but it never goes away and Pup just keeps coming back to him.

Now let's get to Pup;

The first thing she does is try to keep the Commander from bolting out of the house. She knows the stories from his brothers, and this isn't the way she wanted to meet him. Her shyness is a huge complication, but she assumes Wolffe isn't too upset with her considering he'd not ran out the second he woke up. Her affection isn't really purposeful, and for the most part she doesn't really even realize she's doing it. But Wolffe is warm, and there's something about him that isn't terrifying her.

That first good look at his face is one she'll never forget. Those little sneaking glimpses of him gave her a good idea of what Wolffe looked like, but that was nothing like seeing him up this close. She's never seen cybernetics before, and although it's rude to stare, Pup can't help but think Wolffe looks absolutely beautiful. High cheekbones, full lips, a mess of curls on his head... He looks relaxed; A seasoned soldier, but relaxed nonetheless. And for Pup, seeing him look happy is a massive accomplishment. (Her own embarrassment for falling asleep with him aside.)

Note: Pup is extremely shy when the least bit embarrassed. That being said, her level of patience and the feeling of security she gives others was a purposeful choice. I wanted Wolffe to have someone soft. She's not weak by any means, but she just a wonderfully soothing person to be around. And Wolffe would really take to a person like that. I thought someone who could support him emotionally by understanding his hesitance would be an extremely interesting dynamic. But also really heartwarming to see.

Wolffe is so very kind and Pup is wonderfully captured by it. Such an intimidating man suddenly nervous to speak to someone such as herself... It's endearing, and that's gives her a confidence she'd otherwise have not possessed when talking to him. Pup makes sure she tells him this wasn't all her own doing, out of attempt to provide some reassurance that his personal space wasn't totally infringed upon, but when she chose to show him those little bruises, she'd not expected to see how upset he looked over that.

It wasn't the first time her late-night nightmare soothes had ended in a few little purple marks, but Wolffe looked almost distraught at the sight. Like he'd intentionally hurt her, instead of it being the accident of his upset that had been the cause. Pup wore them like badges of honor, and it was a little cute to see such a warrior silently fussing at himself for simply demanding attention from someone when he needed it most. At this point, her touch was meant to help soothe the Commander out of his self-punishing attitude and ease those deep wrinkles off his forehead. To her great pleasure, it worked like a charm. A commanding officer couldn't have ordered Wolffe to soften up any quicker than she'd managed to do it with a couple little rubs. It was the first time Pup didn't have the slightest inclination to move away, far too happy to see anything she did being so happily accepted.

Note: Wolffe and Pup had to have this moment. I couldn't picture them meeting any other way in a believable sense, and I'm just so happy that it worked out as well as it did. I wanted the softness, and the slight awkwardness, all while providing some soft touches and slightly teasing communication to make it memorable. They're two very different people, sharing an unusual situation that begins to shed light on a deeper connection. Wolffe is all about his buisness, and to an extent so is Pup. They work for the benefit of others, and when they meet each other, it's the first time they're presented with the opportunity to take time and do something for themselves. Love is just as much a personal decision as it is to be shared. Therefore, giving them this quiet introduction is a wonderful state of weakness and mutual amusement for that to be initially explored.

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Thank you for requesting anon! 🤍 I hope this was to your liking! I could go on..😅 But I didn't want to overwhelm you with it. *cue my nervous laughter*