#doctor!calum

[edge-oftheworld]

real talk though how much of their success was facilitated by the fact liz hemmings sees 'child with adhd' and thinks 'future world renowned musician' and just invested so much love and time and money into nurturing not only her own child's ambitions but also these two kids he brought home from school and the table drummer from her year 9 math class of 2009

[wiiildflowerrr]

Doctors skit shown at the 5SOS Show in Buenos Aires, 19 July 2023. 🩺👨‍⚕️

📹 MTV Sur

[uniteds]

part 2 of stuff that happened in the 2022/2023 football season that should send us into a coma but we’re too desensitized:

for part one go here.

1. the bayern board deciding to sack nagelsmann before the most important game of their season because he showed up to work on a skateboard

2. related: nagelsmann finding out he was sacked through social media while he was away on a ski trip

3. also related: nagelsmann getting dumped the same weekend he lost his job. 

4. todd boehly getting advice on what to do with chelsea from james corden (known west ham fan) and hiring frank lampard

5. tuchel and conte fight

6. the ghana coach taking a selfie with heung min son while son is sobbing after losing in the World Cup

7. the five minutes where both spain and germany were out of the World Cup

8. mourinho being in (and being sampled in!) stormzy’s music video

9. psg’s director of football going down to the field to curse them out

10. aguero turning up to the world cup celebrations in a full kit 

11. the pope summoning atletico madrid’s physio all the way to the vatican to treat him

12. arsenal bottling the title (2023 version)

13. rebekah vardy tried to trademark the phrase wagatha christie

14. luis enrique saying ferran torres will never play football again if he did the pacifier celebration after scoring

15. jose saying the only club he doesn’t have any feelings for is tottenham hotspur

16. mason mount having a stalker

17. jack grealish discovered what a camel is

18. the saudi team getting new cars during the World Cup

19. cho gue sung telling ronaldo to fuck off and then getting flooded with marriage proposals 

20. the princess of spain having a crush on gavi

21. luton town promoted so now you have to walk through some guy’s garden to get to their stadium

22. the gio reyna and gregg berhalter usmnt saga

23. the pogba/mbappe witch doctor saga

24. ac milan sacked maldini and now the players all wanna leave

25. conte’s press conference where he basically said “it’s the history of the tottenham” 

26. barcelona winning the league at espanyol and then the espanyol fans chasing the barca players off the pitch

27. the one pitch invader who pushed eddie howe

28. ac milan having to answer to their ultras after a match

29. calum wilson and antonio laughing at richarlison for flopping

30. klopp doing his hamstring and adding to liverpool’s injury problems

[its-time-to-write]

chapter 2

I’m going to write a book someday, I swear and none of you people are going to know it’s me but if/when I do it’s going to be a football (soccer) romance because apparently that’s all I can write.

table of contents

i would die for you in secret

It all goes strangely quick; from the doctor’s appointments to the baby shower to holding Clare (the tiniest thing you’ve ever seen) to your chest as she continues to take her first breaths. She has your last name and she’s just so fucking small.

The name Bean sticks and it’s apt because she’s about the size of one. 

You’ve whittled down your clients and passed them off to colleagues for the past seven months, and the only one left is the same client that started you as a manager. They’re a small band (in size, not in following) and you just couldn’t bear to part with them. So you don’t, which is why Clare is two months old and with her nanny while you’re in your office meeting with the frontman.

“I think this is a bad idea,” you tell Calum, but he’s only half-listening.

“Why’s that?” asks his girlfriend and bassist Sarah. Unlike Calum, she’s actually paying attention but that still doesn’t mean she’ll agree with you.

You frown. “For the obvious reasons. I’m tired. I haven’t been out of my house in three months. I have a hard time showering regularly.”

Sarah shrugs. “That’s a load of shit, and you know it. You’re a damn good manager. You should come.”

You want to go to their concert, you really do. It’s just complicated. In all the time you’ve managed them they’ve hardly asked a thing from you. Calum was the one who got you the job despite the fact that band management wasn’t necessarily a skill you possessed.

“You’re a perfectionist,” he had said. “You’ll pick it up.”

You had, and it was exciting, but you’re just not sure going to their concert is a good idea.

“You’ll have your own dressing room,” Calum chimes in. “Comes with snacks.”

You waver for a moment. “Is there a couch?”

“Obviously,” he grins. “C’mon, stop being such a mum for a night. We’ll make sure everything is taken care of.”

—

Calum was right. Everything is taken care of, which means you have time to think. It’s been exactly eleven months since you last saw Jamie and despite Madeline’s best efforts to dress up and have a proper girls’ night tonight, you’re able to think properly think about him for once.

You hate it.

Madeline notices, of course she does, so she grabs your hand, sings in your face, and swings your arms so you don’t think of Jamie or of Bean, asleep in some back room with baby headphones and the nanny.

It’s a good set. Possibly the band’s best ever, so you hug them extra tight before beelining your room to hold Clare. You thank the nanny, slip her a backstage pass, and point her in the direction of the band. Madeline’s waiting in the hallway to lead the way (and flirt with the pianist) so when the door closes you are well and truly alone. 

Or, as alone as you can be with a baby.

You pick Clare up, flip off all the lights but one, and settle into the couch. She’s hungry and you’re tired, but Madeline’s driving tonight so it doesn’t matter. 

Roughly one month before Clare was born, you’d googled Jamie. For research, obviously, he’s the father of your child in the most technical sense of the word, so it’s natural to take an interest, right?

You’d breathed fucking hell, with your whole chest when the first articles and pictures had popped up. Apparently, Jamie had quit football (speculated to be due to the new gaffer from America) and joined the cast of Lust Conquers All, a show Madeline joked about going on but never did. You’re glad, now. And then he just disappears.

No recent posts on his socials, no outrageous news articles, nothing. You’d think he’s dead but that would certainly attract media attention so it’s more likely he’s partying in Ibiza where everyone is too intoxicated to care if the person they’re dancing on is a celebrity or not.

You decided right then and there that Clare would absolutely fucking not know about her father until she was at an appropriate age. What that age would be, you were supremely unsure. 

And of course, once she was born, it just made the choice all the easier. How could you corrupt something so innocent, so pure? No, Bean didn’t need to know her father was a royal fucking tart (pun most viciously intended).

“How’d you like your first concert, Bean?” you murmur, back in the present.

She doesn’t say anything, just blinks her eyes slow like she’s going to fall asleep again.

“Me too, girl,” you say. “Mummy is fucking knackered. And ready to retire. And maybe move to Majorca. You’d like it there, I think.”

It’s quite. You hear the low hum of people talking far away and the white noise of the auditorium, but otherwise you sit and enjoy the peace in the dark. 

You must have drifted off because you dream that the door opens and Jamie walks in. You suppose that’s what you get for thinking about him so much, and for holding his baby right now. He looks like he did on LCA, new hair and a slight slump to his shoulders. He’s more clothed in your dream, wearing awful skinny jeans that you had begged him to throw out on more than one occasion.

“They said you were back here,” dream-Jamie says. “And I saw fucking Madeline so I knew you weren’t far.” He stands in the doorway and it isn’t until Clare makes a noise that you realize you are very much awake.

He reaches for the light and you say a sharp “Don’t!” so he doesn’t, just freezes and looks so awfully sad that you can’t help but feel a little sorry for him.

But Clare’s here, and so Jamie is no longer on your list of people to care for. 

He says, “You alright?” and damn you still want to kiss him.

Instead you say, “What the hell are you doing here?”

Time doesn’t exist in this little dark room, the closest Clare will ever have to her family being together. Jamie says, “The lads and I- we’ve got a night off.”

“The lads.”

“From Richmond,” Jamie explains. “Gaffer took me back after I left City. We’ve been getting on.”

“You were at City again?” you ask before you can stop yourself. That’s news to you. As is the fact that Jamie is apparently friends with his teammates at Richmond. You were unaware that he thought much of them, or that they particularly liked him.

“Yeah, I-” he stops. “Is that a baby?”

You’d forgotten how well he sees in the dark. It’s a stupid question, and you won’t answer it. Jamie comes closer. “It is. The fuck did you get a baby from?”

You don’t say anything and Jamie blows out a breath. “Fucking hell. You’re with some bloke, have his kid, and here I am, stood like a fucking idiot.” He sighs again and rubs his face. “Fucking hell.”

He sits gingerly on the couch as if he expects you to reach out and slap him. Clare’s asleep, so you detach her from your chest, cover up, and position her comfortably in your arms. You have no idea when Madeline is coming back and until now, that hadn’t been a problem. 

Jamie smells the same, which might be the worst part because now you’re thinking of all the times he held you and the fact that he was actually a decent boyfriend for a while before deciding to be the world’s most massive prick. 

“Who is he, then?” Jamie asks. “Footballer? Musician? Doctor? Shit, tell me it ain’t that arsehole from Leeds.”

You say, “It’s not,” and hope Jamie will get the hint that you are not talking about this. 

He doesn’t.

“Came here to try to fix things,” he says. “I’ve been working on meself recently. Keeley broke up with me ages ago, said all this shit about accountability, and I dunno, it must’ve stuck.”

“Was that before or after the jacuzzi?” you pointedly ask, and Jamie winces.

“Alright, yeah, fair enough. After. Thought about you the whole time, not in the jacuzzi, you know what I mean, since we- since the last time I saw you and when I heard you were here it seemed like another chance. Makes fucking sense, though. Most people aren’t as stupid to let you go. Can’t believe you’ve got a whole fucking kid, though,” he continues. “Mad, innit? And you’re two years younger than me. Wouldn’t want one till I’m at least thirty, so I got four years left to fuck around. She’s a cute little bean, though.”

His words are a knife. 

They’re a reminder why Clare is yours and no one else’s. (Maybe Mads’s too, but she tells you at least once a day that Clare is the only child she’ll even tolerate). Jamie has no interest in fatherhood, in responsibility, in anything other than trying to fuck you. 

But it doesn’t help that he’s called her Bean, because it’s making your brain conjure domestic scenarios of the three of you as a happy family. Changing diapers at midnight together, or watching Clare eat a cupcake on her first birthday. Videoing her first steps to send to her grandparents. 

Jamie has lapsed into silence. But it’s a strange silence, and he’s looking at Clare’s face with just a hint of confusion.

“Oi,” he says, “that’s not- she’s not-”

You’re saved from replying by Madeline throwing open the door.

“Tartt,” she says venomously. She stomps toward him and grabs his ear. “Get the hell out!” She pulls him out the door and slams it shut behind him. The noise wakes Clare and she begins crying. 

“Oh, I’m sorry Bean,” Madeline coos, “I’m sorry.” She looks at you. “You alright?”

You shrug. “Surprised it took you so long to get here. Your radar’s usually better than that.” 

She grimaces. “I was distracted by an exceptionally attractive pianist who happened to mention that arsehole was here somewhere. I would have been here sooner but,” she gestures to her smudged lipstick.

You grin despite yourself. “Do you want to go back?”

Madeline shakes her head. “No, seeing Tartt has turned my stomach. You ready to go home?”

You nod your head, gather Clare’s things, and successfully make it home with no further trace of Jamie.

next chapter

[tdp-fandom]

Ship List

The current, up-to-date ship list in alphabetical order (the excel is still a WIP)

A

Aarabeia (Aaravos x Zubeia)

Aaradael (Aaravos x Kim'dael) → alt. Aavadael

Aaraditi (Aaravos × Aditi)

Aarajanne (Aaravos x Lujanne) → alt. Lujaaravos

Aarasordia (Aaravos x Soren x Claudia)

Aarathari (Aaravos x Ethari)

Aaravessa (Aaravos x Khessa)

Aaravum (Aaravos x Callum) → alt. Callumvos, Callavos, Aaralum

Aarazandum (Aaravos x Avizandum)

Aarrow (Aaravos x Harrow)

Aaruthari (Aaravos x Runaan x Ethari) → alt. Arunari

Aaviruthari (Aaravos x Viren x Runaan x Ethari)

Ameli (Amaya x Opeli) → alt. Opaya

Ameleeda (Amaya x Opeli x Fareeda)

Anneha (Annika x Neha)

Avibeia (Avizandum x Zubeia)

B

Barianne (Barius x Lujanne)

Barpeli (Barius x Opeli) → alt. Oparius, Opelius

Bayla (Bait x Rayla)

Bella (Bait x Stella) → alt. Baitella

Bladeship (Allen (Big Sword Guy) x Tristan (Sunforge Dagger Guy))

Bloodfeather (Bloodmoon Huntress x Redfeather (Moonshadow elf from Scumport) → alt. Redael

Breakfast Guards (Grumpy Guard Lady x Two Eggs and a Sausage Man) → alt. Grumpy Sausage

Bym (Bait x Zym)

C

Calbis (Callum x Ibis)

Calcos (Callum x Marcos)

Caljanne (Callum x Lujanne)

Callaanya (Callum x Aanya)

Callis (Callum x Ellis)

Callow (Calum x Harrow)

Callyx (Callum x Nyx) → alt. Nyum

Calmaya (Callum x Amaya)

Calrai (Callum x Sarai)

Calren (Callum x Soren) → alt. Sorum

Claarasef (Claudia x Aaravos x Kasef)

Claaravos (Claudia x Aaravos) → alt. Claravos, Claudivos, Clauravos

Claudiez (Claudia x Ezran) → alt. Ezdia, Claudizren

Claudium (Claudia x Callum) → alt. Calludia, Claullum

Clazi (Claudia x Kazi)

Clyx (Claudia x Nyx)

Corjanne (Corvus x Lujanne)

Cormaya (Corvus x Amaya)

Corpeli (Corvus x Opeli) → alt. Corveli, Copeli

Corstan (Corvus x Tristan (Sunforge Dagger Guy))

Corvia (Corvus x Claudia)

Corviren (Corvus x Viren)

Corvyx (Corvus x Nyx)

Crowbis (Crow Master x Ibis)

Crowcos (Crow Master x Marcos)

Crowdia (Crow Master x Claudia)

Crowgren (Crow Master x Gren)

Crowlum (Crow Master x Callum)

Crowvus (Crow Master x Corvus)

Crowyx (Crow Master x Nyx)

Crowzi (Crow Master x Kazi)

D

Doctorjanne (Animal Doctor x Lujanne)

Domigrin (Domina Profundis x Finnegrin)

E

Elavos (Elarion x Aaravos)

Ellaanya (Ellis x Aanya) → alt. Aanellis, Aanyellis

Elva (Ellis x Ava)

Ezclaarafinlis (Ezran x Claudia x Aaravos x Finnegrin x Ellis)

Ezraanya (Ezran x Aanya) → alt. Ezranya, Enya

Ezraanellis (Ezran x Aanya x Ellis) → alt. Crown Wolf

Ezravos (Ezran x Aaravos)

Ezrayllym (Ezran x Rayla x Zym)

Ezllum (Callum x Ezran) → alt. Calran, Bromance

Ezrayla (Ezran x Rayla)

Ezrex (Ezran x Rex Igneous)

Ezris (Ezran x Ellis) → alt. Ezlis, Ellizran, Ellran, Ellzran

Ezrym (Ezran x Zym)

Ezthan (Ezran x N'than)

F

Fareli (Fareeda x Opeli) → alt. Opereeda

Fengren (Fen x Gren)

Findivos (Finnegrin x Claudia x Aaravos)

Finraydiumvos (Finnegrin x Rayla x Claudia x Callum x Aaravos)

Finnaudia (Finnegrin x Claudia)

Finnavos (Finnegrin x Aaravos)

Finndael (Finnegrin x Kim'dael)

Finnlum (Finnegrin x Callum) → alt. Callgrin

Finnyx (Finnegrin x Nyx)

Floling (Florian x Ahling)

G

Grazi (Gren x Kazi) → alt. Karen, Grezi, Kazen

Gremaya (Gren x Amaya) → alt. Grenmaya

Gremayavus (Gren x Amaya x Corvus) → alt. Corvamagren

Grenavos (Gren x Aaravos) → alt. Grenvos

Grenius (Barius x Gren) → alt. Strawberry Tart

Grenpeli (Gren x Opeli)

Grenpelvus (Gren x Opeli x Corvus)

Grenvus (Gren x Corvus)

Grinwood (Finnegrin x Elmer) → alt. Deadgrin

Gryx (Gren x Nyx)

H

Harius (Harrow x Barius) → alt. Harrius

Harrai (Harrow x Sarai)

Hennyx (Hendyr x Nyx)

I

Ibia (Ibis x Claudia)

Ibisoren (Ibis x Soren)

Ibyx (Ibis x Nyx)

J

Jamayen (Janai x Amaya x Gren)

Janaya (Janai x Amaya) → alt. Jamaya

Jandael (Janai x Kim'dael)

Jarim (Janai x Karim)

Jazi (Kazi x Janai)

K

Kardael (Kim'dael x Karim) → alt. Kimdim

Kariyana (Karim x Miyana) Kasren (Kasef x Soren)

Kasyx (Kasef x Nyx) → alt. Nysef

Kaudia (Kasef x Claudia) → alt. Kadia, Clausef, Casef

Khessamaya (Khessa x Amaya) → alt. Khemaya

Khessarai (Khessa x Sarai)

Kimaaraditi (Kim'dael x Aaravos x Aditi)

Kimaya (Kim'dael x Amaya)

Kimditi (Kim'dael (The Bloodmoon Huntress) x Aditi) → alt. Adael, Bloodsun, Kaditi, Hotblooded, Boundblood, Bloodfire, Kimaditi

Kimjanaya (Kim'dael x Janai x Amaya) → alt. Janayel

Kimrayvos (Kim'dael x Rayla x Aaravos)

L

Laidrin (Lain x Tiadrin) → alt. Tialain, Laindrin

Laidriruthari (Lain x Tiadrin x Runaan x Ethari) → alt. Polymoon

Lainaanthari (Lain x Runaan x Ethari)

Leolavos (Leola x Aaravos)

Leolia (Leola x Claudia)

Lirai (Lissa x Sarai)

Liren (Viren x Lissa (Viren’s Ex-wife)) → alt. Vissa, Virex

Lunbeia (Luna Tenebris x Zubeia)

Luditi (Luna Tenebris x Aditi)

Lujallen (Lujanne x Allen (Big Sword Guy) → alt. Swordjanne

Lujoren (Lujanne x Soren) → alt. Sorjanne

Lupeli (Lujanne x Opeli)

M

Marayla (Marcos x Rayla)

Miyanai (Miyana x Janai)

N

Nthellis (N'than x Ellis)

O

Orphavos (Orphan Queen x Aaravos)

P

Pharavos (Aaravos x Pharos (Sunfire Priest)) → alt. Aarafire

Pharessa (Pharos x Khessa) → alt. Khessafire, Kheshevi (based on Zahevi, Sunfire Priest’s fanon name)

Pyrraanya (Pyrah x Aanya)

Pyrren (Pyrrah x Soren) → alt. Sorrah

R

Raydia (Rayla x Claudia)

Raydimaya (Rayla x Claudia x Amaya)

Raydium (Rayla x Claudia x Callum)

Raydivos (Rayla x Claudia x Aaravos)

Raydrin (Rayla x Tiadrin)

Raylagrin (Rayla x Finnegrin) → alt. Raygrin

Raylavos (Rayla x Aaravos)

Rayllum (Rayla x Callum) → alt. Cayla

Rayllumgrin (Rayla x Callum x Finnegrin)

Rayllumnaan (Rayla x Callum x Runaan)

Rayllumyx (Rayla x Callum x Nyx)

Raylon (Rayla x Warlon)

Raylym (Rayla x Zym)

Raylyx (Rayla x Nyx) → alt. Nyla

Raymaya (Rayla x Amaya) → alt. Rayaya

Rayvus (Rayla x Corvus)

Regicide (Thunder x Harrow)

Rugren (Runaan x Gren)

Rexavibeia (Rex Igneous x Avizandum x Zubeia)

Rexbeia (Rex Igneous x Zubeia) → alt. Zubex

Rexla (Rex Igneous x Rayla)

Runaavos (Runaan x Aaravos)

Runallum (Runaan x Callum) → alt. Calnaan

Runaudia (Runaan x Claudia)

Runayla (Runaan x Rayla) → alt. Raynaan, Rayaan

Runeli (Runaan x Opeli)

Ruren (Runaan x Soren) → alt. Sornaan, Rusoren

Rubithari (Runaan x Ibis x Ethari)

Ruthari (Runaan x Ethari) → alt. Runari, Ethaan, Tinkaan

Ruthless (Villads x Ruth)

Ruthlyx (Ruth x Villads x Nyx)

S

Sabos (Sabah (the sunfire elf who helped Marcos get up) x Marcos) → alt. Sabcos

Sabozi (Sabah (see above) x Marcos x Kazi)

Salvir (Viren x Saleer)

Saradrin (Sarai x Tiadrin)

Saravos (Sarai x Aaravos)

Sarex (Sarai x Callum’s father)

Sarmaya (Sarai x Amaya) → alt. Amarai

Sarpeli (Sarai x Opeli)

Solard (Sol Regem x Ziard)

Solarstorm (Sol Regem x Avizandum)

Solregnius (Sol Regem x Rex Igneous) → alt. Sol Igneous

Soravos (Soren x Aaravos)

Sorayla (Soren x Rayla)

Sorayllum (Soren x Rayla x Callum)

Sorbeia (Soren x Zubeia)

Sorcos (Soren x Marcos)

Sorcrow (Soren x Crow Master)

Sordia (Soren x Claudia) → alt. Clauren

Sordianyx (Soren x Claudia x Nyx)

Sorez (Soren x Ezran) → alt. Ezoren

Sorezravos (Soren x Ezran x Aaravos)

Sorgren (Soren x Gren) → alt. Sogren

Sorgrenvus (Soren x Gren x Corvus)

Sorgrin (Soren x Finnegrin)

Sormer (Soren x Elmer)

Sorpeli (Soren x Opeli)

Sorrow (Soren x Harrow) → alt. Harren

Sorvir (Soren x Viren)

Sorvirdia (Soren x Viren x Claudia) → alt. Virsordia

Sorvus (Soren x Corvus)

Soryx (Soren x Nyx) → alt. Sornyx, Sorenyx, Snyx, Sonyx, Nyxren

Sorzi (Soren x Kazi)

Sorzym (Soren x Zym)

Stayla (Stella x Rayla)

Sunny Eggs (Two Eggs and a Sausage Man x Lux Aurean Guard who is impressed with him) → alt. Solar Breakfast

T

Tayllum (Taylor x Callum)

Terllum (Terry x Callum)

Terraydium (Terry x Rayla x Claudia x Callum)

Terrezran (Terry x Ezran)

Terridia (Terry x Claudia) → alt. Clauderry, Clerry, Clarry, Darkoak, Darktree, Terria, Claudry, Darkblood, Clauterry, Clauterria, Claudy, Clauerry

Terridium (Terry x Claudia x Callum)

Terryvos (Terry x Aaravos)

Tervirdia (Terry x Viren x Claudia)

Tijato (Tijana (Katolian soldier stationed near Lux Aurea) x Osato (Karim’s childhood friend))

Tressef (Tressal (dark mage from ToX) x Kasef)

Tristayla (Tristan (Sunforge Dagger Guy) x Rayla)

V

Varrai (Viren x Harrow x Sarai)

Vibis (Viren x Ibis)

Vilaidrin (Viren x Lain x Tiadrin)

Villanne (Villads x Lujanne)

Villen (Viren x Villads) → alt. Virrads

Villyx (Villads x Nyx) → alt. Villnyx

Vilruthyx (Villads x Ruth x Nyx) → alt. Villuthyx

Vinaan (Viren x Runaan) → alt. Virunaan

Vinnegrin (Viren x Finnegrin)

Vipp'ar (Viren x Kpp'ar)

Viranya (Viren x Aanya) → alt. Aanyen

Viravos (Viren x Aaravos)  → alt. Virravos, Aaraviren

Viraydia (Viren x Rayla x Claudia)

Viraydium (Viren x Rayla x Claudia x Callum)

Virayla (Viren x Rayla) → alt. Raren

Virayllum (Viren x Rayla x Callum)

Virayvos (Viren x Rayla x Aaravos)

Vircos (Viren x Marcos)

Vircrow (Viren x Crow Master)

Virdael (Viren x Kim'Dael (The Bloodmoon Huntress) → alt. Virblood

Virdia (Viren x Claudia) → alt. Clauren

Virdirayllum (Viren x Claudia x Rayla x Callum)

Virdisoravos (Viren x Claudia x Soren x Aaravos)

Virdivos (Viren x Claudia x Aaravos) → alt. Virdiavos, Aaravirdia, Viraaudia, Claviravos

Virenpuff (Viren x Sir Sparklepuff)

Virezandum (Viren x Avizandum) → alt. Thiren

Virkhessa (Viren x Queen Khessa) → alt. Viressa, Kherren

Virpeli (Viren x Opeli) → alt. Vireli, Opiren, Viropeli

Virry (Viren x Terry) → alt. Virestrius

Virsef (Viren x Kasef) → alt. Viref

Vireeda (Viren x Fareeda)

Virez (Viren x Ezran)

Virgren (Viren x Gren) → alt. Vigren

Viriard (Ziard x Viren)

Virrai (Virren x Sarai)

Virrius (Viren x Barius)

Virrow (Viren x Harrow) → alt. Varrow, Harren

Virrowvos (Viren x Harrow x Aaravos) → alt. Virrowavos

Virsoravos (Viren x Soren x Aaravos)

Virum (Viren x Callum) → alt. Caren, Virenum

Virumvos (Viren x Callum x Aaravos)

Virunavos (Viren x Runaan x Aaravos)

Viruthari (Viren x Runaan x Ethari) → alt. Virunari

Vissaharrai (Viren x Lissa (Viren’s ex-wife) x Harrow x Sarai) → alt. Virexarrai

Vissavos (Viren x Lissa (Viren’s ex-wife) x Aaravos) → alt. Virexavos

Vithari (Viren x Ethari)

W

Warthari (Warlon x Ethari)

Z

Zarex (Avizandum x Rex Igneous) → alt. Rexandum

Ziarditi (Ziard x Aditi)

Ziravos (Ziard x Aaravos) → alt. Ziardavos, Ziarvos

Zumina (Zubeia x Domina Profundis)

[be-ready-when-i-say-go]

Sweet Dreams--Part 14

Calum and you have dance around reality for a few months now. But after Calum leaves and returns from a trip, the reality has to be confronted. 

Weeks are passing and maybe more is blooming between you and Calum than might meet the eye.

Prince!Calum x Reader Insert.

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“Her car is still here.”

You see white SUV too, as you’re parked on the street parallel to the house. Normally you pull into the driveway, but Diana’s truck and Melvin’s sedan are both out. It makes you wonder how much Diana did the driving with the kids. Or perhaps Melvin’s job has him commuting a further distance than you realized so he keeps the smaller vehicle to save on gas. There’s holes and parts of their lives that you have no way to grasp. But as you sit in the driver seat, the engine still knocking gently as it settles, you realize how much is unraveling even if you can’t see it. 

“I thought Dad said she was gone,” Teagan tacks onto Charlie’s observation. 

“She can’t take her car with her,” you answer. 

You’re not sure where Diana is. Melvin only told you that she’d finally relented to going into rehab--intensive and pretty secluded, according to him. The words private and expensive were interwoven through the conversation, but never spoken.  It makes you assume it’s a place further out. Perhaps, he too wanted more privacy about the situation given the headlines that were still rolling. Calum had only mentioned the particularly rough ones to you, in the hopes to prepare for whatever might happen as you settled back into your normal routine. Information you’d passed along to Melvin mostly in the form of a warning, asking that he try to refrain from watching the tabloids and the press too closely. 

“Oh. Why not?” Teagan asks. Her question breaks you from the trance you’ve funneled into you, watching the truck for any sign of Diana popping out of it. Though, you know that shouldn’t happen. 

“It’s-” the words are failing you. You can feel them die on your tongue as you look into your rearview mirror. Their eyes are hopeful but still confused. “It’s not like a regular doctor’s appointment that she gets to come and go from. She’ll be away for a bit.” You want to add ‘little’ into the mix of the sentence but know better than that. You don’t know how long she’ll be gone and if you try to quantify that length even more, it will raise questions and disappointment. 

Charlie drops his gaze back out the window. “I don’t like this. Having her car but not her.”

“New things take a while to adjust to,” you offer. Because this is new. For them, for you now too. What do you become in the midst of this? How much is too much even though you want to be there for them? What does this mean for you and Melvin as well? You want to be there but you don’t want to replace. That’s not your job as their sibling. 

“Calum said something like that too,” Charlie hums. It’s somewhere between disappointment and hopefulness. 

The unfortunate reality is that you and Calum have the years to see how right the sentiment is. But you watch Charlie gaze out of the window. You want the words to crawl up your throat. You want the right words to mold your tongue. But you’ve got nothing but cynicism wanting to come back up. He’s not old enough for that. Charlie and Teagan don't need that in this current situation.  So you swallow it back down. 

The front door creaks open after you’ve knocked. Charlie and Teagan stand in front of you, wrapped up in coats, they carry their school bags and you hold the bags with their freshly laundered clothes and toiletries. Melvin smiles down at them. “Hey, kiddos.” But something about the sentence comes out a little strained, buried in a cough and you can see the ring of red in his eyes. The tears he’s cried no doubt. 

You bring yourself back down to Charlie and Teagan’s level. “You two can call me. Anytime. Okay?”

“I’m calling right now,” Teagan teases as she buries herself into you. 

You kiss the top of her head. “Consider this me answering.” 

As you stand back up, preparing to hug Charlie, you see him square his shoulders. He’s just a kid. “Hey,” you state softly, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Let me and Melvin shoulder this one okay?”

“I can handle it.” His voice shakes, chin quivering. 

This--this is what you were afraid of. Charlie’s a great kid. He cares so much. You know he does. You know as much as he talks and trusts, he’s always going to be the kid who protect his sister.  This is not something he can protect anyone from. It’s not something you could’ve protected them forever against either. 

But Charlie’s going to want to. He’s going to feel like he has too. But you’ll at least offer a hand. “Well, don’t handle it alone, alright?”

He exhales, pushing into your chest and you let him in, winding your arms around his shoulders. He shakes into your body. He is just a kid. And it kills you every time you think about how young they are. The embrace lasts long enough for Melvin to usher you two inside. Teagan follows him upstairs to drop off her belongings into her room. And Charlie shakes and shakes in your arms. You settle onto the floor in front of the closed door and let him settle onto your lap. Your arms become a cradle and you hold Charlie as tight as you can. 

“Don’t make bad choices about us too, okay? Please don’t,” he sobs into your chest. 

There are promises you know you can’t keep. This might be one of them. “I promise I won’t,” you whisper. Damn if you can’t keep them. Damn if you don’t try either. 

“I can take him,” Melvin offers, descending the stairs. It feels like an out, like if you’ve got an excuse you can use it now. And you don’t. You purposefully switched shifts with someone so you’d have nothing in your way. So you shake your head and keep Charlie’s body cradled to your chest. The tears and shakes are gone, but Charlie’s yet to let go. So you don’t let go either. 

Melvin settles onto the steps instead, pulling the glasses from his face as he exhales. It feels like it echoes in the house, bouncing off the walls, into the dining room, around the kitchen, up the stairs, and out into the yard. “I made the mistake of going online even after you told me not to,” he confesses to the floor. But his gaze drags up to you, you see the harrowing exhaustion. “Should’ve listened.”

“Sometimes I’m not wrong,” you offer. It’s an awkward lob of a tease. You’re hoping he understands the jest that you’re trying to employ.  He smiles, exhaling a tuft of laughter as he does so. Your heart eases, the squeeze dissipating at the sound. 

“Yeah, sometimes,” he agrees. 

When Charlie goes lax, his hold around you slipping inch by inch, you know he’s emotionally exhausted himself into sleep. This is not the way you want to go. But you may not get another chance. And you may not last through another emotional burst. You’re careful as Melvin helps you up the stairs and as you tell the probable unconscious boy that you love him, that you’ll come by more often. You can only help that the words settle into his psyche, that he understands what you’re trying to say. 

Back down the stairs, you reach for the door, hand outstretched for the knob. Behind you is Melvin. Maybe a foot or two behind. Close enough that you know he’s there, but far enough that it still feels like there’s a gap. You want to go. Know you should go now that this part is over. But the hardest part for them is just beginning. It only gets harder and harder from here before it gets easier. 

“Is there anything I can do to make things a little easier? You’re going to be down a pair of hands for however long Diana’s in rehab,” you start and turn back to face him.

Melvin blinks, a bit of surprise still clear on his face. “I don’t want to ask too much of you.”

“Well it’s a good thing I’m asking,” you return. “A weekly dinner, extra hands on the weekends. It’s okay if you need my help.”

You see it again, the hover of Melvin’s arms. The way he smiles, and inches closer but stops just as quickly as it starts. Is it a bit of pride too? But you don’t let yourself linger on the thought. You don’t want to get too involved too fast.  “I’ll let you know? Is that okay?”

You nod. “I’m just a call away.”  The door closes behind you and it’s soft. You catch the click of the lock being turned too. You can only hope that Melvin does actually take you up on that offer. That he actually gives you a call when he does need the extra help. 

_______________________________________

You tap the top of the cupcake. It’s cool to the touch and though you know it might help to put the batch into the fridge for a few minutes, you’re already cutting it close as is to get to work on time. You pipe the frosting onto the first one and give it a few seconds to see how much melting will occur if any. Thankfully, it seems to hold up. So you continue on with the rest of the batch. 

The stairs creak. The apartment is older, having been built in the 80’s. But you always know who’s coming and going by the noise the stairs give off. “Sorry for the mess,” you call out. You don’t even look up to see which of your roommates it is. You know the counters are still full, covered in bowls and whisks. You know it is, yet you can’t exactly stop right now to get to it. You’ll be sure it’s taken care of before you leave. 

“No, you’re good.” It’s Josie, you realize by how softly she returns. She shuffles to the fridge and it hisses just a little as it cracks open. “Who are you baking for? Seems like a big party.”

It’s only two dozen cupcakes, but it is still a steep undertaking for just one person in the small apartment kitchen. “Friend’s birthday,” you answer, looking up to your left. 

She smiles in return. “What kind? Buttercream frosting?”

“Carrot cake. And yes, birthday boy’s favorite so it sort of had to be done,” you return with an exhale of laughter. 

“Ah, would this be your boyfriend or?” she laughs with the question. 

“No, his friend’s birthday though.”

“How--how is that going? If I can ask. With the Prince?” She seems scared, as if the question itself will cause harm. But you know it’s a valid question to ask. You know it’s how roommates converse with each other. It's normal to talk about this stuff, but it’s sort of the most that you’ve really conversed with each other. You know it’s odd, but previously it’d been your job that prevented you from really being home enough to even talk to them, to even think of having such conversations. 

“It’s good.” And it is. It is good with Calum, though life has definitely handed you cards that make other aspects more challenging. That part of your life though, thankfully, was still smooth. “Am-Am I in your way?” you question. You’ve taken over the kitchen, but you do realize that it’s not solely yours. 

“No, no.” She holds up the bottle of water. “Came just for this. You’re okay.”

You nod, and return your focus back to the cupcakes. Only about a fourth are iced and you still need to clean. There’s no creak of the stairs, no ache in the wood that echoes to tell you that Josie’s left the kitchen. “How-how are things on your end?”

“Things are good. I got a promotion at work which is sort of taking longer to adjust than I anticipated.”

“Congrats on the promotion. Are you supervising?”

Josie hums before she responds. “Yeah, I’m a manager of a team now. It’s not the same people I was working with before. But they’re doing the same thing I was doing, so it’s easy in that regard. I know the mechanics of the job, which is nice. I just don’t know how to always talk to people. Like firmly I mean. It’s still awkward.”

It’s not shocking that Josie’s not someone that knows how to be firm with people. Not in the same way that maybe others can more easily others. She stumbled and fumbled when asking for help with the insects in the kitchen. “Did you want the promotion? Like to start supervising?” you ask. 

Josie snorts. “I wanted the pay raise. I’m not a fan of upper management and hoped that I could bring change if I took it. But it’s harder than I imagined. I don’t know though. Like maybe it just takes some time.”

“Supervising people is a challenge. But it doesn’t sound like you’re looking to give in just yet though.”

“Definitely not. I might talk to some other leaders and get time with them about what strategies they use and stuff.”

You look up from the last part of the batches. “Sounds like a good idea to me.”

Josie’s smile is soft in return. “Do you need help with anything? If you need a hand with the dishes, I’ve got nothing else to do.”

Though it dances on your tongue why Josie would want to spend her day off, tackling a mess she didn’t create, you don’t actually ask it. It would be dismissive, rudely so. You look back at the bowls, as they wait with the remains of batter along their walls. “I really don’t want to get in your way,” you counter. It’s an out, something to let her out should she not actually want to help but only asked to be polite. 

Josie shakes her head, pulling the sleeves up from her wrist towards her elbows. “It’s not a problem.”

You want to protest, but the help would greatly unburden some of the time crunch you’re on. So you watch. She turns the knobs to let the water rush down into the basin. “Thank you,” you call out after the sink is full of soap and water. 

“Of course.”

It’s rather quiet. Even after you finish icing the cupcakes and get them boxed up, and even after you start drying the dishes that you dirtied and that Josie washed, the two of you fall into silence. It feels like you’ve somehow always done this with each other. Like somehow this is just a natural rhythm. 

The cabinets close. The water spirals down the drain. “Thanks again,” you offer to her softly. “I owe you one.”

“Oh, no problem.”

“Best of luck with that promotion,” you call up to her over the creak of the stairs. 

“Best of luck getting those cupcakes to the party safely.” Her smile is soft and Josie carries herself up the stairs gracefully. No unnecessary groans or creaks from the stairs. Though you don’t have the time to correct her about the fact that while it is a party, it’s one that you’ll be ultimately working, you like the idea that to the outside this just might be normal--that you’re baking cupcakes for a party that you’ll be enjoying--rather than the true testament of the matter: you’ll be working. 

The first half of your shift feels relatively normal. You take the time to help with the second wave of prep--the weekend typically comes a strong wind that takes with it all the morning prep only a few hours into the day. And once you’re in a good position with prep, you move on to helping with orders. It’s a steady stream, the white tickets never seeming to halt. Not that you expect them too. There’s something easy to madness, as you’ve grown more and more accustomed to the demands of the weekend. 

It’s almost normal enough to forget the cupcakes in the fridge. That is until your name is called out. You turn, feeling the heat of the grill now caressing your back rather than the front. Harley waves at you, egging you closer and closer to the windows that orders rest on. “What’s up?” you ask. 

“The Prince is asking that I ask you about some cupcakes?” Harley’s question lilts in a way that it’s clear she’s not sure what this could mean but is relaying the message nonetheless. It shocks you just a little to think that’s even close to six. But you know the timing in the kitchen is not the same time tracking that happens outside of it. You’re focused on chicken breast going in at the right time to make it out with the baked potatoes. The outside world slows while this internal clock keeps ticking ever faster as you time fish and steak. 

You nod at Harley’s question though, to let her know you’re still listening. “I’ve got ‘em. Are they in your section?”

She nods. “Tables 19 and 20, in that back corner.”

“Perfect. Uh, when it looks like they’re settled from the entrees just let me know and I’ll help you bring out the cupcakes. It’s for a birthday.”

“Oh, okay, cool. Thanks. Also, like, what’s it like?” There’s a pause to her question. The flick of her gaze around as if trying to make sure the coast is clear. 

“What’s what like?” you pose in return. You’ve counted down the seconds and you’ll need to flip that chicken breast soon so it won’t char. 

“You know. With the prince.” 

Harley’s young, in her junior year of college and picked up the server gig to help her pay for books and rent. A testament that seems to echo with several other servers in the restaurant too. So there’s a stark difference between the front and the back. The servers are not shy with their conversations about love lives. The back is older, a bit more worn with time and laughs as the younger coworkers talk. It’s not to say that there isn’t more than a fair share of stories about lovers, and one-night stands. But you don’t participate. It’s awkward. Everyone seems to know about your situation but no one pushes it. 

And you don’t plan on breaking that silence any time soon either. Though you do smile at the eagerness on her face, you turn back to the grill. You lift the breast up onto the spatula to turn it over. 

“Oh c’mon! Just a little detail. A tiny one,” she laughs. 

“Unless you’ve got an order you’re dropping off, then I think our conversation is done.”

She sighs--or at least you think, she does. It’s a bit hard to hear over the hiss of the grill and the calls from others at the grill for some assistance. You get the curiosity she has. You think it might plague you too if it were someone else in your shoes. But you know that even if Harley is harmless in her questioning, others won’t be. It’s a lid best to keep tightly tamped down on the jar. As long as the questioning remains harmless, you can live with it. You’re sure you would have to even if you were to change jobs or professions as long as you’re with him. 

More orders come through. Though the kitchen feels slightly more crowded than normal with your additional presence, you understand why Turner wanted the extra body around. While your focus is on the tables for Michael’s party now that they’ve arrived, you still managed to help prior with other orders and manage to keep the small parties from waiting too terribly long. You call out the last dish for table 20 and Harley’s already waiting for it. Her and Peter will be taking the food out. 

But she pauses. “Sure you don’t want to say hi to your boyfriend.” 

All you can do in return is laugh, before waving her along. She goes with Peter right behind her. Your focus turns back to the tickets still waiting in the line, still more chicken and shrimp to grill. When Harley returns later, about three dishes have left your station as it’s really your only true measurement of time, she lets you know that in another five minutes she thinks it’s a good time for the cupcakes. 

“Thanks,” you call out in return and snag your supervisor to let them know you’ll need to step away for about ten minutes. 

At the fridge you pull out the boxes of cupcakes and the candles you grabbed as well. In a busy kitchen, a moment of peace is rare, and silence is even rarer. But you manage to get the candles into a couple of the front cupcakes with ease and with only a few interruptions as people pass in and out of the fridge. The holler of your hand manages to cut through the noise and you know it’s Harley undoubtedly calling for you, so you hoist the boxes on top of each other and slip out. 

“Can you grab the lighter?” you ask, attempting to wiggle your fingers from beneath the stack. 

She nods. “I can take another box if need be.”

“I got it. Just lead the way.”

The noise is different as you break through the threshold that separates the kitchen from the dining area. The white noise of hissing blacktops is replaced by the married roar of chattering--the decibels and octaves of all the voices evening out into one tone against your ears. The dining area feels bigger than the kitchen, more spacious. But you weave around patrons, checking plates to see what seems to be popular and what seems to have not made the cut. It’s a bad habit, you know that, as a cook. It’s not your job to worry, but you are curious. You wonder what you might be able to bring back to the head chefs. But the curiosity is cut short as you spot the table that Calum and his friends are at. 

Michael’s back towards you, thankfully. But you notice when Luke spots you; his eyes dart almost immediately to Calum who’s sitting to his right. Calum’s gaze is much slower, lazy even as he drags it up over to you. You’re sure he’s trying to play it off, like he didn’t know this would happen to keep Michael in the dark for just a little bit longer. You slow your pace, sliding the boxes temporarily onto the empty table behind them to crack open the top to the box. Once that’s open you catch up to Harley. 

“I know you’re probably going to be pissed,” Calum starts, “but I had to do something.” 

Michael’s laughter echoes as he peaks up at you. “Oh there you are! Hi!”

“Hi, Michael. Happy Birthday,” you smile, slipping the boxes onto the table. “I heard from the grapevine you’re a fan of carrot cake.”

“Would that vine happen to be about 6 '2'’ and have brown eyes?” Michael teases, helping to get the top off the second box. 

“Maybe,” you laugh. “There’s no age or numbered candles as to spare your dignity.”

“Thanks for thinking about an old fart like me,” Michael snorts. 

Harley slips you the lighter when you reach for it and with just a couple flicks of the ignitor you get the wicks to catch. The entire two tables break out into Happy Birthday. You join in, only intending to stay for the song but Calum manages to get a solid enough hold around your knee before you can slip away. 

“Thanks again for baking these,” Calum smiles up at you. 

“Of course. I was happy too.” You know you wouldn’t allow yourself to show up empty handed especially after not being able to take the day off. 

“Compliments to the chef,” Luke calls out, a little muffled thanks to the mouthful of cupcake he’s got. 

“I’ll be sure to pass them along,” you laugh. “But thanks.”

“Will you be joining us for drinks later?” Ashton asks. He passes the box down to his left after securing his cupcake. “Feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

“That’s the plan. But if I didn’t know any better, I’d think that question means you like me or something.” It’s an easy quip, one you know will land well and it does. 

Ashton snorts, “Or something sounds about right.”

“Oh, don’t listen to him. We do like you,” Michael reassures. “Thanks again for the cupcakes.”

“You’re welcome, Michael.”  

“I think it’s Calum’s birthday next. So as a heads up, he’s a fan of chocolate,” Ashton teases.  “Then mine, then Luke’s.”

“Oh come off it. You eggs aren’t going to rope my partner into demands,” Calum interjects. “Fuck off. We can pay someone else for cupcakes.”

“But will they be as good as these? I don’t think so,” Luke laughs. 

You shrug. “I mean, I can be paid to make cupcakes. But it’s paying customers only from now on. Michael only got these free because I felt bad.”

“I thought we were friends,” Ashton gasps. The grin is bright across his face.

“Or something like that,” you retort. 

Ashton’s laughter howls, but the wag of his finger in your direction seals the deal. “Alright, you won this time.”

“Adding a tallyboard to my shopping cart now,” Luke teases, tapping at the screen of his phone. “Because we are going to need it now.”

You don’t know what you’ve started or if you should be scared, but there’s something in the laughter that the table shares that lets you know you’ve been taken in, folded into the ranks and dynamics of the group. 

“Please enjoy them all. I don’t want anything back,” you announce before your departure. Duty still calls and you know you’ve taken more time than you really intended from the kitchen. 

“Not even the box?” Michael laughs, holding out the empty box. 

“Especially not the box.”

Your exit this time is more successful, though you don’t escape without a quick squeeze to your knee from Calum. You feel the gaze though, undoubtedly Calum following you as you head back to the kitchen. When you round the corner to lead you back, you take the time to look over and true to your guess, Calum’s watching, a grin on his face. It shouldn’t make your stomach flutter. It shouldn’t make your cheeks hot. Yet it does because of how much warmth and solace you find in his presence.  

At close, when the grills are cleaned and utensils cleaned, and you’re headed out the front to get to your car, there’s a small moment where your heart races. The cold whips across your face and you look out the lot. You know you shouldn’t be looking for her. Diana’s long since gone to rehab, you know she’s gone. But yet, there’s still a piece of you that’s waiting, like somehow it was maybe all just a bad dream. Or worse yet, like you’ll be cursed to relive the day over and over and over again. 

But there’s only your coworkers, slipping into their cars. There’s only the wind and the chill. You’ve got nothing to worry about. Yet, there’s everything to worry about. Like you can’t help but carry the anxiety in the pocket of your pants. You check for the keys, and your wallet, and your phone, and the anxiety too. It’s there. It’s all there and as you dig out the keys, you hope you dig out the anxiety too and drop it like loose change for someone else to collect. 

You don’t have a lot of time but you’re thankful that you did change shirts in the bathroom at work before catching up with the group at the bar. The whole place is more packed than you anticipated, the mixture of sweat and alcohol hitting your senses the second you step inside. You spot Calum first at the bar. It’s not that there’s a pocket around him, not like he’s untouchable. But it’s clear that everyone’s giving him just an extra inch or so of space that they don’t reserve for others at the bar. 

You look around for a moment and manage to spot Luke next. He’s at a standing table over on the far wall. You assume that’s where the group is. But you make your way to Calum first and though you’re squeezing through and past people, you notice it too. The way that when people look at you, and finally recognition crosses through the haze of alcohol, they slip out of your way. You give each a passing thin lipped smile, still uttering excuse me and pardon me as you cross the room. 

“Opening or closing?” you’re asked when you finally settle at the bar. The bartender seemingly anticipating your approach. 

“I’m with him,” you answer and point over to Calum. 

That causes him to look over and smile. “Long time, no see,” he laughs. 

“I know the hours are decades.” It’s meant to be sarcasm. But Calum’s gaze softens a little and you know that part of him does mean it genuinely. So you slip a hand into his as you rest into the worn wood of the bar. From the corner of your eye, you spot a rather large order slipped in front of Calum. You’re not terribly late, only about half an hour or so behind the proposed schedule to account for clean up and the ten minutes you needed in your car to decompress. But you think it might be the first round of drinks for the night with how much is being placed in front of him. 

“Need a hand with that?”

“If you don’t mind.”

“I think I’m too tired to mind,” you return, grabbing the bottles closest to you. Calum grabs the glasses and you follow him through the crowd. 

At the tables, you slip your arm full onto the top and rattle off the labels. One by one they’re each claimed though you do laugh when Luke and another guy--whom you haven’t gotten the name of-raise their hands for the same beer. You check the other bottles and see a second one. 

“Crisis averted,” you tease and slip them both their respective bottles. 

Calum’s slipping glasses to people and when his hands are free, one slips to your waist. “We can leave whenever you’re ready, okay. Just say the word.” 

“Sounds good.”

It shocks you, though it probably shouldn’t, that Michael’s a bit of a loud drunk. His shrills and shrieks get a little higher with each passing drink. But he’s bubbling, laughing and falling into the shoulders of those around him. None of them go particularly hard, perhaps a mixture of their own responsibilities that await them tomorrow or preference. But the night feels light. You only steal a few sips from Calum’s drink- scotch by the taste of it.

Calum laughs each time you take a sip, the small scrunch of your nose at the taste. “I can get you something else,” he repeats for the third time. 

“No, I’m okay,” you answer, squeezing the hand of his wrapped around yours. 

In the end, you don’t even pull the plug. Calum does after an hour or so, making rounds to say goodbye to all that ventured out and making Michael promise to at least let him know he got home safely. A promise Ashton takes on too, as he ensures that Michael will be staying at his place for the night. A fact you’re happy to have learned, seeing as Ashton has remained sober during the outing. 

The night is cold against your skin. You welcome it though as you step out from the sea of bodies inside--hot and humid as they share the dancefloor and share drinks. Calum’s hand is warm against yours as the two of you walk towards the parking lot. You’re parking about two rows away from Calum, but he makes a point to walk you to your car first. You could easily make it there yourself. It’d probably be easier for the two of you to separate ways, yet he doesn’t do that. 

“You headed back home or coming by my place?” Calum asks. Though the answer is almost always, his place, the fact that he asks is nice. You know that should you need to, you can always not choose to stay at the castle. 

You have another shift tomorrow and no clean work clothes at the castle. It’s not worth the hassle to grab clean work clothes and then head back to the castle. “Headed home this time.”

“When the day comes, and home is the castle for you, I think my heart might actually stop,” Calum laughs. 

It wasn’t a shock to you that Calum looked forward to a future together. It doesn’t scare you either. Of course Calum pictured it. Of course he could feel so casual to offer that up too. 

“I am CPR certified,” you return. “So I can revive you.”

“Good to know. I’ll be sure to plan my cardiac events when you’re around.”

It’s these moments that make you feel more sane, feel more like how things should have always been between the two of you. Life doesn’t always work that way. But there is relief if knowing that this dynamic has remained unphased by the interruptions of the world. Paused at the driver side door, you tug him in a little bit closer, seeking more than just the warmth of his hand. His cheek is stubbly--a few days out from his last shave. There’s rows of cars and larger SUVs shielding you two a bit more than usual, but both of you clear over most of the smaller cars in the lot. With the fundraiser ball happening next weekend, you’re sure that he’ll save again soon. 

“Can I kiss you?” you whisper at him, eyes focused a bit more on his pillowy bottom lip than any other part of his face. 

“You don’t have to ask,” he laughs but moves to close the distance--centimeters at most--between the two of you.

“It’s a lot more fun to ask,” you whisper right before sealing his mouth in a kiss. It’s slow. You can taste the scotch on his breath. His mouth is warm, much like his hands that are now slipping up to your hips, pressing into the bones beneath the flesh. You have his chin, cupped and firm against your palm. 

As much greed bubbles at your gut, as much as you think about taking things further, the two of you dance only at the surface. The echoes of your lips meeting and parting interrupt the night. Calum’s only holding your hips. You’re only cupping his jaw. Just under the hint of alcohol is his cologne. Just under yours is no doubt the smell of the grill and grease. But none of that really seems to matter. 

You hum as you ease yourself away, not without Calum whining just a little. But he takes the hint and eases back himself. Inches now between the two of your faces, and inches growing between your bodies. “Oh, don’t be sad, love.”

Calum’s laughter is mostly an exhale, coming from his nose. “It’s not sadness, I’ll say that much.”

“And here I was, attempting to spare you your pride.” The evidence of how much it was not his pride but his arousal is pressed against your leg.

“Don’t need it anyhow. But I for one should not be starting any trouble.”

“That would be a first. Is everything okay though?”

“Yeah, yeah things are fine. We’re wrapped up for the holidays but I’m procrastinating on just life things. Wellness check up, dental stuff. Laundry.”

“The easiest of all those things is your laundry, Calum,” you laugh. “You don’t even have to call anyone, or drive anywhere.”

“I know,” he huffs, dropping his head into your shoulder. “The boring stuff is just better when you’re around.”

“Do you have either appointment tomorrow? General check up or dentist?”

“Dentist,” Calum answers, lips now brushing along your neck. 

“Well, I can come over tomorrow after work and I’ll be there for laundry even with my own laundry too if that helps. But you have to have actually gone to the dentist and scheduled your wellness check up.”

“Deal,” he whispers, pressing a kiss to your jugular. 

“I want proof,” you laugh. “Doctor’s note or something.”

“Consider it done, baby. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me just yet,” you snort. 

Your retort doesn’t stop him. He presses another kiss along the thin skin of your neck before pushing up. “Thank you anyway. Let me know when you get home okay?”

There’s only a nod from you, but you press a kiss to his cheek. You fish your keys out from your pocket and Calum let’s you go. He takes a step back and you climb into your car. “I look forward to our laundry date tomorrow,” you state as you roll down your window. 

“As do I.”

[phantompoguefangirl]

WRAPPED AROUND YOUR FINGER

Chapter Eight: RECOVERY

Oh, Florida, please be still tonight

Don't disturb this love of mine

Look how she's so serene

You've gotta help me out

And count the stars to form the lines

And find the words we'll sing in time

I wanna keep her dreaming

It's my one wish

I won't forget this

I'm outdated, overrated

Morning seems so far away

So I'll sing a melody

An hope to God she's listening

Sleeping softly while I sing

And I'll be your memories

Your lullaby for all the times

Hoping that my voice could get it right

If luck is on my side tonight

My clumsy tongue will make it right

And wrists that touch

It isn't much but it's enough

To form imaginary lines

Forget your scars

We'll forget mine

The hours change so fast

Oh, God, please make this last

-I Swear This Time I mean It by Mayday Parade

MICHAEL P.O.V:

While Mia was still in the hospital, the boys and I moved most of her stuff to our house. Ash had brought his friend Sierra with him because she knew Mia pretty well from previous times they hung out and she wanted to help. She took care of the more personal stuff for Mia and brought her a change of clothes to come home in when it was time.

I decided to give up my room for Mia and sleep in Calum's room so she could have her own space. Calum agreed so we put all her stuff in my room and made it look nice for her.

Mia ended up having to be in a wheelchair when she was discharged from the hospital. She could not walk at first and had trouble lifting/moving her arms very much. The doctor said even a few days being unconscious or in a coma could affect Mia's muscle tone and physical abilities quite a lot and with injuries she had, it would be worse. He assigned her to physical therapy and gave us a list of things we could do to help her regain her strength and range of movement.

It was a good few months before Mia was able to walk and move like she used to. I took her to physical therapy twice a week, Sierra helped her with things like showering and getting dressed, and Ashton helped her with the home exercises on the list. Except one exercise, which was to have her stand in water for balance while helping her take steps or move different parts of her body and  once she was healed enough from her surgery, I did that with her as often as we were able to.

This was my favorite thing to do with her during that time because it was the exercise she responded to the most since she loved being in water whenever she could. We had our own pool so we got to do it at home and the guys never bothered us when we were in the pool. At the end of the session, I liked to hold her up so she could float on her back for a bit and relax. The best part was the joy and serenity radiating from her face combined with the way her hair billowed out around her like a halo of fire as she floated in my arms, basking in the feeling of the water and sunlight on her skin. It was quite honestly one of the most ethereal, beautiful things I had ever seen in my entire life.

It was also a very welcome change from the pain and anxiety that her eyes often conveyed. She tried to hide it with her usual positivity and smiles, but I saw through her completely. Relearning how to function while trying to heal emotionally from a traumatic event had been really rough on her.

The first night Mia was home with us, I woke up around 2 or 3am to the sound of her screaming. I'd bolted out of bed and stumbled through the door into what was now her room to find her thrashing around as though she was terrified of something I couldn't see.

"Hey, hey, hey," I said softly as I rushed quietly over to her. I knelt down and touched her shoulder gently, causing her to jump a little as she opened her eyes and took in my presence. "Hey, you're okay. It was just a dream."

"Michael?" She gasped, barely audible due to fear.

"I'm here," I whispered back, stroking her head and brushing her hair out of her face.

She managed to choke my name out again as she reached for me. I pulled her into my arms and rubbed her back as she hyperventilated uncontrollably.

"J-jesse...he- I-" she stuttered into my chest as I felt warm tears drip onto my skin.

"Shhh it's okay," I murmured into her ear as I wrapped my arms around her a little bit more. "It was just a dream. You're safe now, I promise."

I keep whispering reassurances to her and rubbing her back until she stopped shaking and her breathing slowed. I relaxed my arms a little and pulled back to look at her.

"Thank you," Mia mumbled, slowly raising her head to look at me.

"Of course. Any time," I replied, shrugging. Her phone lit up from a silent notification and I noticed the time on the screen so I started to pull my arms away from her. "Um, I should probably let you get back to sleep, though."

She pulled me close in response. "Nooo, don't go."

I raised my eyebrow, confused.

"I just...um...please stay," she said, hesitantly. "I don't want to be alone..."

"Oh...okay," I said, carefully climbing under the covers next to her. She placed her head on my chest and I held her close while running my fingers through her hair.

She didn't seem to fully relax until I began absentmindedly singing a MayDay Parade song under my breath. She fell asleep by the time I got to the second bridge of the song and I followed suit not long after. 

The nightmares happened every single night for the first few weeks, along with  random panic attacks at various times during the day. Ashton and Calum's rooms were on each side of Mia's room so it was usually me or Ash that ran and comforted her, but Calum did a few times and Luke did it whenever he was near her too. A couple of times Ash and I both ended up running to her at the same time so we both stayed to take care of her. We cuddled as a band plenty of times so it wasn't weird for us. We even had group movie nights where we all ended up cuddling and falling asleep together a few times.

Mia was also going to regular therapy along with her physical therapy. After some time, the nightmares and attacks began happening less often and when she was well enough, we decided to bring her on tour with us so she would not have to stay home alone. We also thought a change of scenery might be good for her.

She hadn't travelled much aside from moving here to Cali so she was very excited when we told her. Plus, you know, who wouldn't want to tour with their favorite band? So she spent the last few days before we left enthusiastically packing and planning things to do in our down time, nearly talking our ears off about it in the process.

I honestly thought it was adorable and I couldn't wait to show her all the cool places we've seen and share this experience with her.

@jetblackbritt13 @caityrayeraye

[olddirtybadfic]

Brinky Playlist

I revealed a short sampling of the one I made for James x Meowth, so why not make one for my current mouse fixation.

🧲 = could be from Brain's point of view; 🧀 = could be from Pinky's point of view

Float on - Modest Mouse 🧲

Your Woman - White Town 🧀 (they're having a tiff)

Dancing on my Own - Originally by Robyn, but I had the Calum Scott and Tiesto Remix in mind 🧀 (imagining Brain and Julia in da club while Pinky pines away)

Railroad Boy - The Magnetic Fields 🧲

Open Your Heart - Madonna 🧀

C'est La Vie - B*Witched (the Todd Barriage pop punk cover would work well, too, I think) 🧀

Flaws - Bastille 🧲 (Pinky wears his flaws on his sleeve; Brain buries his deep beneath the ground)

Anti-Hero - Taylor Swift 🧲 (might also work for Seto Kaiba, for any Yu-Gi-Oh fans out there)

Witch in the Ditch - Erasure 🧀

Someone You Loved - Lewis Capaldi 🧲 (they've separated for some reason and Brain does not like it at all)

Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus 🧀

Right Thru Me - Nicki Minaj 🧲 (Brain wonders how Pinky can never seem to ponder what he's pondering, but at other times can read him like a book)

Gonna Getcha Good - Shania Twain 🧀

Hard to Forget - Sam Hunt 🧲

Doctor Jones - Aqua (any metal cover would do, also) 🧀

Also I find myself thinking of Roman Holiday by Nicki Minaj whenever I remember Romy is short for Roman (Numeral I).

[christmassavestheyear]

⋆⋅welcome⋅⋆ call me ellis. he/him pronouns. trans, pansexual. fanboy. chronically online, i write fanfics and poetry. i stand with palestine. ambiverted infp-t. type six. sagittarius. gmt +9:30. founding fuck. just a jolly little fella tryna get by. i run @onedirectionandblank, the @bemyvalentinechallenge, and @thecornerwehaunt - please check them out.

autumnleavesforwinter -> holes-in-my-false-confidence -> timecanalwayshealyou -> roundagaininanemotionalblender -> theblackdog-taylorsversion -> fandomestloser

⋆⋅links⋅⋆ my ao3 my spotify discord: loneolecowboy - dms welcome.

fandom list, fic masterpost, requests, asks, tags beneath the cut

⋆⋅fandoms⋅⋆

one direction/solo - this is my main fandom. i rb all sorts, i discuss music, and i write fanfics. my main 1d fic atm is on hiatus. will be a few months before i return to it.

hamilton - this is my other main fandom. i rb my mutuals fics, and the occasional fanart. i discuss the songs and write fanfics. my main wip atm, watch the sun rise, is being updated as regularly as i can make work!

5sos - side fandom. i dont fic around here, but i *do* talk about their music a little bit (and calum. because like. calum.)

marauders - side fandom. i write fanfics (predominantly wolfstar) - all linked below.

rwrb - side fandom. i write fanfics, again, linked below.

heartstopper - side fandom. currently only wip fanfics, but hoping to get some out soon! mostly tara&darcy.

nevermoor - side fandom. currently only wips - mostly morrigan&cadence or hawthorne&___ fics atm.

noah kahan - side fandom. i discuss music and cry a lot. like a lot lot. was at melb. n1 of the stick season tour<3 (acoustic set!! view between villages!! passenger!! help me!!!!!) (seriously please leave asks/reach out, i love talking about noah.)

others:

ed sheeran

hozier

olivia rodrigo

conan gray

billie eilish + finneas

sabrina carpenter

doctor who

taylor swift

⋆⋅complete works⋅⋆

1d:

underneath the mistletoe - larry stylinson christmas au

tear away my tattoos - larry stylinson break-up au

just for a moment - larry stylinson break-up au

grey hairs - larry stylinson old age au

greatest fear - larry stylinson 1D reunion au

hold on - larry stylinson mental health au

orange juice - larry stylinson break-up au

gone - zayn's death au

they're singing deck the halls - larry stylinson advent calendar fic

challenge collections (including wolfstar, firstprince, 1d, hamilton)

whumptober 2023 - masterpost.

whumpcember 2023

whumpuary 2024 - masterpost

⋆⋅ongoing works⋅⋆

1d:

caffeine factor - ziam mayne coffee shop au - on hiatus.

letters from my bedroom floor - poetry compilation

hamilton:

watch the sun rise - fic post

⋆⋅coming soon⋅⋆

forever - fic post coming soon

2011 - fic post coming soon

painkillers series - series + fic posts coming soon

⋆⋅requests⋅⋆

i take fanfiction requests for almost any tropes and pairings, in the fandoms listed above. no explicit sexual content, no non-con underage, no a/b/o dynamics, and no y/n fics requests. one shots will most likely be written and posted within two months, depending on my personal schedule, and the complexity of the request.

⋆⋅tags⋅⋆

#mutuals - my lovely mooties #ask answered - asks #ellis is at it again - me completely bullshitting my way through life/being a complete dumbass. #ellis is angry again - me ranting/getting political

⋆⋅asks⋅⋆

ask whatever. be respectful. or dont. i dont really care.

⋆⋅mutuals⋅⋆

my lovely mutuals; @jittyjames 💙 @enchantedlandcoffee @keeganisabluegreener 💕 @felizusnavidad @surrowndedbylights💡 @fansykiltentragedry @queerhoodie @elledino @loveheartslouis @larrysballetslippers @braverytattoos @littleohs @hellolovers13 @parmahamlarrie @l0veproof @cc-horan28 🥔 @ravenclawdirectioner @mynightsoutofsight @weeping-in-the-willows 🍭 @skeelly @fandomgirl1999 @idontwanttobeabuzzkill @allll-these-ruins 🔞 @evilteapot 🫖 @lighter-like-a-feather 💋 @like-the-stars-i-shine @youareinlovetv @faintedlcve @abodyhasbeenfound 🌌 @anniesmusingsoneverything @starduckys 🦆 @lonelydncers @berryzxx @runwiththerain @foaming-sea @bodybetters @a-beautiful-fool 🦋 @half-eaten-baguetteee @fresasconsal @alltheliars 🔪 @i-must-confess-i-am-an-idiot 🍁 @kurtcobainsgreencardigan 🩷 @octoberconstellation @stars-over-ice-cream @rep-meow-tay-tion 🌻 @justlikeyou

(i am at some point going to assign you all like. emojis or tags or something. it is just 1:18am and im delirious so not right now.) (also this is absolutely everyone i follow who follows me back. i would like to get closer to a lot of these people, as i dont talk much to most of them. i also am always up for meeting new mutuals but im socially awkward so you gotta reach out lmao.)

⋆⋅thank you⋅⋆

this post is regularly updated for challenges/works/links, etc.

[lovesosweeet]

better left unsaid // cth

chapter forty six

in which orion has leukemia, and calum doesn’t know.

calum hood x fem!oc

read other chapters // read on AO3

january 22, 2019 madrid, spain orion

The flight to Madrid feels like it takes forever. I’m excited to go back, and based on how much Calum is checking his email, he must have a lot of things planned for us. I wish he didn’t, because I doubt I’ll be able to do more than a few things each day. I’m just too tired. 

My doctors connected me with a hospital and a doctor in the city just in case I need to see one. They’ve got my records and everything and, while I can speak Spanish, Calum can’t, so we made sure to choose a facility with translators and bilingual staff. I doubt we will need to, since the past few months have been fairly uneventful. I just feel like shit, but nothing is changing.

We both have had to wear face masks from the moment we left for the airport, which feels silly, but Dr. Gupta said that if I’m in any kind of high traffic area, it’s vital that I do my best to protect myself. Although, it is a bit helpful for camouflaging Calum. With half his face covered and a hat on his head, you can barely tell him apart from another man of his height with brown hair. 

Ilse and Giuseppe are flying in to Madrijd later on in the week to see us, and I’m so excited to get to see them, along with the other girls. I’m sad that we won’t get to do a lot of the things that we used to. We can’t go out anywhere to do pretty much anything. I’m really grateful to be here, but I don’t feel like Calum will be able to do anything here that we wouldn’t do at home. 

Since we won’t be taking the metro, in an effort to keep me away from germs and sickness, Calum is renting a car here, so we’ll be able to drive around to everything. For his birthday, we’ll be driving to Valencia for a night so we can see the beach here.

When we land, Calum makes me pose under the “Bienvenidos a Madrid” sign, and I hope I don’t look as tired as I am in the photo. I’m trying not to act like it, but I really just want to go to sleep. We came all this way, and all I really want to do is hole up in our hotel room. 

“Want to stop somewhere for some tapas and a glass of tinto?” Calum asks when we get our bags into the rental car and take our seats.

I look over at him. He has excitement written all over his face. His brown eyes are gold and sparkling, his smile endearing, and I can’t say no. “Sure, sounds good.”

I do my best to smile. I want him to enjoy this trip. It’s for his birthday, after all. I can’t ruin it by being too tired to do anything, so I swallow the feeling of wanting to go straight to the hotel and try to take in Madrid as we enter the city. In my heart, it feels so good to be back. 

We get to a small bar in La Latina that has a patio and Calum can’t stop smiling while we sit at the small metal table. He reads over the menu, even though he undoubtedly already knows what we’ll order and can barely understand the rest of what he sees. 

“So, I was thinking,” he starts, reaching across the table to grab my hand. “Oh, wow, your hand is freezing!” 

He holds both of them now, rubbing them to try to warm them up. I smile at his sweetness, but raise my eyebrows for him to continue. 

“We get some food, head to the hotel and take a nap, and then we can go to a convenience store to get some wine and stuff and then we can head to Retiro to watch the sunset?”

I nod. “Yeah, sounds perfect.” 

He has me order for us when the waiter comes since my Spanish is far better than his. They bring us our drinks and food quickly, and Calum is taking on my role as obsessive photographer and says he needs photos of everything. He even makes me ask the server to take a picture of the two of us, something he has never done before in his life. 

With Calum watching on, I do my best to sip from my jarra of tinto and eat a few of the fried potatoes he ordered for me. It’s obvious that I can’t stomach much, though, and it makes me feel bad. I feel bad physically, obviously, but I’m already worried about how this whole trip will go. I’m not going to be a fun partner. 

“Lucia and Paula said they’re up for breakfast tomorrow,” Calum says, breaking my staring contest with my patatas bravas when I look up at him instantly.

I smile. “Cool, that will be great, Cal.” 

He smiles back and nods before he pulls out his phone and types something in. When it’s face down on the table again, he looks straight back at me. “I know you may not be able to do much while we’re here. I know you’ve been really tired and sick for a while, so please just tell me if you ever need a break or anything, okay? Don’t over exert yourself. We’re here to do whatever you want to do.”

For some reason, that makes my heart drop.

“We’re here for your birthday, Cal,” I say. My tone is quiet. He just said what I should want to hear, but I don’t feel any better after he’s said it. 

I want him to look back on this trip fondly. This is one of our last things we’ll ever do together possibly. After everything I’ve put him through, can I ruin this, too? 

“I’ll have other birthdays,” he says.

My stomach lurches. I could throw up.

He realizes what he’s said, and I practically watch his mouth dry and the gears in his brain whir. I know he has no idea what to say, and I don’t expect him to. He’s not wrong. He will have other birthdays. He will have almost an entire lifetime of birthdays after this.

Without me. 

I sigh, clear my throat, and refrain from crying. 

“I know.”

next part

a/n: hi !!!!!!! lil baby update. ty for your patience as I've taken a break from BLU! check out the other two shorter fics I've written in the meantime if you'd like! they're both very different from BLU and each other but are only 10 parts each and ofc about cal. check my masterlist here if you need some new material :)

[batcavescolony]

S4 E8 Supernatural

Careful what you wish for, literally. Them being teddy bear doctors and the bear gaining sentience and automatically having an Existential Crisis cus the world is horrible. The amount of Disney stars on Supernatural, Calum Worthy was in this one. Sam wants Dean to tell him about hell, but Dean doesn't want to. Dean isn't handling it well, and he's leaning heavy on the alcohol.

[mimirox6]

10 characters from 10 fandoms

tagged by the one and only @gusbuses B-)

Robbie Fontaine - TJ Klune's Green Creek series

Amelia Pond - Doctor Who (sorry i'm not immune to this show)

Calum Hood - 5 Seconds of Summer (not a "character" per say but i love this man so much it's actually concerning :D)

Jude Duarte - Holly Black's The Folk of the Air series

Violet Debenham - Freya Marske's The Last Binding series (ough)

MacKayla Lane - Karen Marie Moning's Fever series

Patroclus - Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles (don't look at me i'm so fragile)

Krobus - Stardew Valley (u know i had to)

Maximum motherfucking Ride - J*mes P*tterson's Maximum Ride series

Brock Faber (sorry i had to)

tagging: once again please do not feel any obligation to do this and also apologies if you've already been tagged but i am a nosy mf <3 @harryforvogue @alltheprettyplaces @cecishockeyblogging @dream-leaf @sidestickblog @annepan1203 @yes-perwallstedt @faberism @babygirlspurgeon @burkysmirky @square-opossums @neonfretra @h-isforhome @tetrapod7 and anyone else who wants to !! i love seeing what people like !!!!!

[5sosfanfictioncatalogue]

T-Rated Lashton Masterlist

and I breathe disaster, ever after (ao3) - expectopatronuz T, 25k

Summary: The Winter Soldier lands, and if Calum felt heavy before, now he feels empty. Everything inside of Calum, his heart and lungs and stomach and throat, they all drop right down to his feet. Calum is dizzy, he’s breathing but nothing is coming in. His mind is blank, every moment of his life up to this minute, gone. None of it matters, not a moment, except for this; Calum reaching out, the handle tearing away from the side of the train, and the way his heart fell out of his chest when he realized that there was nothing he could do, that it was too late.

or, Calum is Captain America and Michael was his best friend (and maybe more)

Burned By Love (ao3) - JcLoveex (orphan_account) T, 3k

Summary: “I don’t think you do babe, I think you’re lying.” Luke smirked lightly, even though his pants were so fucking tight. “Are you lying Ashton? You don’t want me to fuck you, you want that guy to fuck you don’t you? You want him to spread you open and fuck you senseless don’t you? Want him to eat your ass and call you those names you love so much while you ride his tongue, don’t you Ash?”

Or the one where Luke has to remind Ashton who he belongs to.

Christmas Tree Farm (ao3) - no_clue_who T, 14k

Summary: Ashton walked into the apartment to see Luke pacing around the room, phone on his ear. Ashton waved to him as he slowly closed the door, he watched Luke climb up onto the couch and onto their coffee table. He put his bag down, and took off his coat and scarf, trying to ignore Luke’s conversation with his family.

“Yes mom, I’m going home,” Luke said, stepping down onto the floor again, “Ben and Jack won’t have to do everything-” Luke waved to Ashton once he saw him, “Yes mom, I won’t leave them alone to do anything. No, he, he isn’t sick, I won’t have to take care of him.”

Ashton walked into their kitchen and grabbed something, trying to remember who Luke would have taken care of. He turned around and saw Luke back on the table, one hand gesturing wildly.

“No mom I can’t,” Luke stopped talking and looked at Ashton, “He might be going away!”

domestic bliss (ao3) - sunshineash T, 8k

Summary: 5 times ashton irwin kicks luke hemmings out to sleep and 1 time he lets him stay

Energy Drinks, A Black Cat& Other Signs of Vampirism (ao3) - Headgehog_Louis007 michael/calum, luke/ashton T, 80k

Summary: “What? it’s just garlic bread.”

“Aren’t vampires like.. I mean.. don’t they not like garlic?”

A fic in which Michael is a vampire and every trope about vampires is wrong.

fight so dirty but your love’s so sweet (ao3) - softirwin luke/ashton, michael/calum T, 11k

Summary: Luke hates a good ninety-five percent of his job.

A solid thirty percent of that comes from the fact that he works as a receptionist at a hotel, which he thinks is possibly the most thankless job humanity could possibly have created. A further ten comes from the fact that his desk is right next to the kitchen, meaning mouth-watering smells are constantly wafting under his nose, and Luke’s not allowed to eat on shift.

Fifty-five percent of it, though, is Ashton.  

-

written for the prompt 'lashton bad boy’

give me something real (ao3) - rocketshiptospace T, 14k

Summary: or, the five times luke and ashton hid their relationship, and the one time they didn’t.

give you my sunshine, give you my best (ao3) - lifewasradical T, 2k

Summary: Luke knew it was a bad day from the moment that he and Ashton woke up. Correction, Luke was having a perfectly fine day, almost bordering on a good day, but from the second that he laid eyes on Ashton in the bathroom as he brushed his teeth, he had the inkling that this was not going to be a good day for Ashton.

Or, Ashton has a bad day and Luke tries to work it out with him.

hold you closer than I ever did before (ao3) - softzindagi T, 32k

Summary: “What’s the date,” Ashton asks, cracking an eye open at the doctor. He wants to know how many months he’s lost, he doesn’t want any bullshit spiel doctors tend to give.

She looks back at Luke and gives him a nod, like hearing it from Luke will make it better, more real somehow. Luke comes around the side of his bed and reaches out for Ashton's hand, as if trying to ground him, his blue eyes looking so fucking sad. “It’s September 30th, 2025.”

or; Ashton falls at a gig, loses four years of memory, and forgets he and Luke are together.

if these walls could talk (they've seen way too many things) (ao3) - softirwin T, 26k

Summary: luke gets stuck at ashton's during lockdown

if we make it through december (ao3) - allsassnoclass (brightblackholes) T, 28k

Summary: “I didn’t tell them,” he blurts. Ashton falls silent on the other end of the line. “My family. I didn’t tell them about the breakup. And I know that I should’ve and I swear I will, but Gram asked about you today and it’s probably her last Christmas with us and you know how much she loves you. I couldn’t do it. It’d break her heart, and I can’t do that to her. Not right now. So if you– I mean. What I’m trying to say is that you’re still invited to Christmas, if you want. You don’t have to, I can make an excuse for you, and I swear I’ll tell them after the holidays, but I thought maybe… maybe you’d want to see them one last time.”

I’ll Give You The Best Years (ao3) - FayeHunter T, 4k

Summary: Luke and Ashton have their backyard wedding

let me love you - @sup3rbloom (haveufoundwhaturlookingfor) T, 10k

Summary: Luke Hemmings is a rockstar with a troubled past. He’s struggling with an alcohol addiction and a career that’s going downhill, but Calum isn’t giving up on him. Calum suggests Luke a fake boyfriend to help keep the bad press away. That’s where Ashton comes in, Ashton who is an embodiment of sunshine. Luke’s hesitant due to his failed past relationships, but he agrees, because he knows this is what he needs to save his career.

rebound feelin’ like a rerun (ao3) - lifewasradical T, 33k

Summary: “Alright what the fuck?” Michael shouts, dropping himself down in the open corner of the couch. “What the fuck?” he says again, leaning forward on his knees, staring at Ashton across the room.

Ashton just shrugs. “He left me.”

The lack of emotion in his voice is concerning, completely free of the bubbling laughter and attitude filled charm that normally coats his words. It’s just empty, sort of bitter but mostly void of feeling, like he’s detached himself from the situation completely.

“But why?” Luke finds himself saying.

“He doesn’t love me anymore.”

Somebody To Love (ao3) - heart_is_gonna_flatline T, 8k

Summary: Or, Luke needs someone to love but can’t seem to find the right person. He always turns to his roommate and best friend Ashton for comfort. He meets Calum. Will he be the one for him?

something’s telling me you’re the one (ao3) - rocketshiptospace T, 9k

Summary: Luke opens his locker and a paper falls out, fluttering to the floor and landing in front of Luke’s feet.

He quirks a confused eyebrow and picks it off the floor, studying it closely. It’s a simple, hastily folded and very crumpled piece of yellow lined paper, obviously torn from a notebook.

On it, written in a slightly messy handwriting he doesn’t recognize, is just one simple sentence.

‘Fuck them, I think your glasses look cute.’

or, luke has a crush on ashton, who’s totally out of his league and someone’s leaving him little love notes in his locker.

Warm On A Cold Night (ao3) - LyricalPary (hoseoky) T, 6k

Summary: In retrospect, Luke probably shouldn’t have offered to give Ashton a ride. He knows that now, thanks to the awkward silence and the nerves in the pit of his belly. But at the same time, what was he supposed to do? Leave Ashton standing out there in the harsh cold of winter? Of course not. Good people don’t do such things, and Luke likes to think of himself as a fairly good guy.

(Or, Luke and Ashton get stuck during a snow storm. But, maybe it’s not as terrible as it seems.)

when I'm down, you'll always know (ao3) - lifewasradical T, 1k

Summary: Luke couldn’t explain how he ended up laying across the floor in his bedroom, staring up at the ceiling in silence, counting the freckled dots across the plaster. He couldn’t remember most of the day anyways, lost in a haze of empty thoughts and mindless nothingness.

Or, Luke is having a numb day and Ashton is there to help, like always.

[highaver]

@yes7erdays. continued.

There was no pretending that Balfour didn't like Clara. It was clear as day by this point, wasn't it? All the years he'd spent with UNIT - too many, but he was free of that now - and he'd never once bothered to try and befriend any of the Doctor's companions. They were just part of the job, weren't they?

But it had been a strange year without her. The sort of year full of moments, little moments, where he wondered if he'd seen the last of her. If she was okay, alive. Or if the life had caught up with her, in the way it often seemed to do with the Doctor's friends. What a relief, then, to be sat opposite her in a little Edinburgh café now. Like very little had changed. Even if it had.

"Calum missed you." A tease - but immediately, Balfour looked embarrassed to have said it, that usual pink flush settling across his cheeks. The truth might have been on the tip of his tongue but he was still rather bad at saying it. He thumbed at his mug of tea, dropping his eyes from Clara's face. It was always easier if he didn't look. "And... yeah. Me too. I did. I missed you." A heavy sigh, a smile settling itself back upon his lips. He knew what he was like. Looking up at Clara again, he gave: "I got quite used to having you around. Thought maybe... something must have happened. Since you didn't come back."

[giggly-squiggily]

If a Hunter x Hunter request is okey with you, can i request lee!kurapika and ler!leorio?

Not gonna lie- I had way too much fun writing this one kjarjkearaerja I've gotcha covered, anon!

Songs featured: Chains- Nick Jonas, You Are The Reason- Calum Scott

Cloud 9 (Taglist)

@thatbigbisexual29, @duckymcdoorknob, @baby-tickles2022 @cupcake-spice13

“You’ve got me in chains~ You got me in chains for your love~” Leorio’s voice was loud and obnoxious. His singing was worse. “But I wouldn’t change, no I wouldn’t change this love.”

Kurapika hid his face behind his mug, eyes watering with restraint as he watched Leorio dance. A broom in hand and massive headphones on his ears, the doctor wasn’t aware of the blonde’s arrival. Kurapika was pretty sure he wasn’t aware of anything right now- too lost in his mental concert.

“Tryna break the chains but the chains only break me-” Leorio tossed the broom as he “broke it down”, busting out all his best dance moves. This consisted of double stanky legs, an old man shimmy, and some sort of attempt to twerk that looked more like a cat puking up a hairball.

Kurapika nearly choked on his coffee, hand shooting up over his mouth. The squeak he let out must have been heard; Leorio twisted around so fast his headphones nearly went flying. The absolute shock on his face only made Kurapika laugh harder, a snort escaping his lips as he stumbled over to the counter. “Whahahaht the hell was tahhahaht?” He cried, the sound more a whimper than anything.

“Wha-How long were you there-” Leorio stammered, face red. His initial shock faded into a warm expression as he watched Kurapika snort again; shoulders shaking and cheeks pink with laughter. “Did you see my butt?”

Kurapika couldn’t speak, head against the counter as he let out a weak wheeze. “Oh my gohohod. L-Leeheho, you’re tooohoho much.” He felt hands brush his waist, gently guiding him so he was facing his boyfriend properly. “What was that?”

“My summoning dance. Must have worked if I brought you out here.” Leorio grinned, leaning in so their foreheads were pressed together. “Did I look cool?”

“Not at all.” Kurapika snorted, giggling at the mock offense on Leorio’s face. “You looked like your butt got set on fire and you were trying to put it out.”

“Oh, you know what? Come here!” He pulled Kurapika closer, fingers finding his waist and digging in. “You think you’re so funny, huh? Alright- I’ll give you something to laugh about!”

“No! Nohohohoho, Lehheheheorihihihiho! Pleheahhahahse!” The blonde yelped, shoving at his chest weakly. “Dhoohohohn’t, Ihihihm tihihihicklish!”

“Oh are you now?” Leorio wasted no time seeking out tickle spots, creeping his fingers up and down the smaller man’s ribs. Occasionally he brought his hands in to tickle his belly or further back towards his spine. “Admit it- you love my dancing.”

“Thahahhahat wahahahhasn’t dahhahhahacning!” Kurapika giggled out, trying to catch the hands stubbornly pinching along his sides. With his back against the counter and Leorio directly in his space, there was little chance to escape. “Iihihihihihf tahahhahahat was dahhahahahncing, thehehehhen I’ihiihihihihm a kihihhihiihng!”

“Oi, you little- you’re just asking for it now!” Leorio grinned, pulling his boyfriend into his chest and guiding him towards the middle of the room, his fingers still lightly tracing his ribs. “So you think you know how to dance? Show me your moves. Dance with me!”

“Yohoohohur suuhuhuhuch a jehehheherk! Ahehehahahhaha!” Kurapika buried his face into the taller man’s shoulder, cheeks red with mirth and smile wobbly. “Whahhahat abohoohoohohut muhuhuhuhusic?”

“Don’t need it- the sound of that cute giggle of yours is all the music I need.” The good doctor winked, resting his chin on Kurapika’s head as he swayed them, their moves somewhat shaky with Kurapika’s squirming. “Whatcha in the mood for? Something jazzy? Funk? Or do you want something soothing and sweet?”

“I whhahahahant you to stahhahahap you ahahhahahahss!” Kurapika felt lightheaded with mirth. “Fihiihihihne, you're a gohohoohohohood dahhahahhahancer! Now stahhhahhap ihiihihit!”

“See? I knew you’d think so.” Finally, the taller man eased his tickles, trading scribbling fingers for soothing pats. Kurapika slumped into his chest, sucking down greedy breaths as he tried to glare up at his boyfriend. “Yohohohur teheheherrible…Leehheheorio.”

“Eh, you love me.” He winked, earning a swat to the chest. “Will you still dance with me? No tickling this time.”

Kurapika leaned back to properly glare now, but the look dropped to something kind as he reached into Leorio’s pocket, plucking out his phone. Without a word, he pulled up a song, letting it play between them.

~There goes my heart beating, and you are the reason. I’m losing my sleep, please come back home.~

“I’d be honored to dance with you, you big dork.” Kurapika smiled up at him, settling back into Leorio’s arms as hands returned to his waist, steadying him as they swayed.

“I’ll climb every mountain, and swim every ocean. Just to be with you, and fix what I’ve broken.” When Leorio sang this time, it was sweet and warm. Kurapika could listen to it all day.

“Oh cause I need you to see,” Leorio pressed a soft kiss into his forehead. “That you are the reason.”

I hope this was good!

[tinyglitterrose]

Omega?

Part 1, Lashton, boyxboy, 18+

Omega Ashton, Alpha Luke (+ Alpha Calum & Michael)

Warnings: SMUT, O/B/A

(Ashton is 22 in this one and the others around 20 but they look like 2021/2022.)

Summary: No one knows Ashton recently presented as an omega. He goes into his first heat and needs Luke to help him who's trying to resist that...

and ofc: don't like? don't read

---

No one in the band bad found out yet. Ashton drowned himself in scent neutralizer every few hours and it was a constant battle against his inner self to not do anything submissive like dropping to the ground to give Luke a foot massage when he complained about his new boots hurting or taking his vest off thus leaving him shirtless when Michael complained about the temperatures just before a soundcheck.

He didn't want them to know that - for whatever weird reason - he had two weeks ago presented as an omega after having been a beta for almost four years. It made absolutely no sense to him.

Having to secretly go see a doctor and explain the situation, then getting a huge supply of scent neutralizer was the most humiliating thing he had ever had to go through. And even worse, the store had been out of suppressants so he was scared shitless of his first heat. He had read a lot about omegas, heats and whatever else that related to it that he could think of since Tuesday two weeks ago.

No one really knew why he had suddenly presented as something new at 22. The doctors only suggestion had been that his body had been repressing it. That made no sense to Ashton, something must have gone wrong.

Really wrong. He hated his new urges, his new feelings. Hated being around three alphas even though he loved his boys dearly.

He had made it a habit to always stay behind in the dressing rooms and help the make up artists and stylists clean up. They didn't question it but they gave him weird looks. He had also made it a habit to stay behind on the tourbus to make everyone's bed and clean used dishes. He had made it a habit to minimize the time he spent rehearsing on the drums. It was so loud and surely the three alphas must be annoyed everytime he messed up. And it was just generally annoying, wasn't it? Just like his voice so he talked less in interviews, concerts but also every day life.

Calum had asked him a few times if he was okay but Ashton was eager to nod and smile, giving a small yes. He had to be happy, he couldn't be annyoing when he was happy, right? Not overly happy, though. Just enough for them to be able to forget he was there and that they didn't worry about him.

"Luke, come on, clean your shit up", the boys were arguing when Ashton entered the bus. Immediately he wanted to fall to his knees and apologize for something that wasn't even his fault.

"I said I'll fucking do it later, Cal, you're getting on my nerves"

"No, Luke, don't be a dick, your clothes are everywhere!"

"Cuz I dropped my suitcase!", the blonde raised his voice and Ashton could hardly supress a whimper, his shoulders drawing up tight.

With quite steps he forced himself to get out of the corner of the bus door and opened the slide door to the bunk beds. Luke's stuff was all over the floor.

Ashton cleaned it. He cleaned it all up, even neatly folded his clothes into his suitcase then put it back on his bed.

He kept releasing tiny whimpers, hands shaking a little everytime he heard one of the other three boys shout at another one. God, how he hated being this weak. He felt like a baby.

And he also felt stupid. He had come to the bus to reapply his neutralizer. But then he had cleaned Luke's stuff instead and he had forgotten.

And now his bandmates were looking around looking for an omega. Ashton pretended to look, too.

"Man, she smells hot, if she's single -"

"No, I smelt it first, give me a chance first"

"We haven't even found her, where is she?"

"Why do you think it's a her?", Ashton asked quietly, hoping to not be obvious. Luke and Calum gave him non approving looks for a second, Mike didn't even notice.

"We can smell that, Ash, you wouldn't understand", whether Luke had intended it or he was just distracted,his voice sounded cold. So cold that tears formed at Ashton's eyes and he quickly rushed to the nearest bathroom.

They thought he smelled female? So he wasn't just weak and a crybaby now but also female? The drummer released a sob he couldn't hold back. He hated it, he hated his new self so mluch, how could this be who he was supposed to be?

And no one was coming to check on him, he was alone and hiding in a public bathroom, hating his new self with every fibre of his being.

He avoided his bandmates for the next few days, always storming off stage as soon as a show ended and hiding in his bunk bed or hotel room.

His friends has meanwhile come the the conclusion that the omega must work with them, be someone on their crew and Ashton quietly cried himself to sleep one night when Michael and Calum discussed how distracted they were cuz they could still smell 'her' on the bus.

And from still reading on the internet about his new self in every few minute he could find, he had found out what it was supposed to feel like when he was going to have his first heat.

Ashton dreaded it. He despised it. He was terrified.

He had drowned himself in neutralizer this morning but when he joined his bandmates and they immediately started not so quietly whispering about smelling her somewhere close again, he knew it didn't work as well as it usually did today.

What made the day that was packed with interviews and radio station visits even worse was when, halfway through around 12 o'clock he felt something in his underpants.

His eyes widened with panic for a second before he realized he had not peed himself. It was slick, that stuff that he had read online would drip out of him, making him wet and - he had never felt more disgusted of himself. He was a beta, he had been, he was supposed to be. He shouldn't be leaking from his fucking ass.

Only 4 more hours, Ashton prayed to himself, 4 more hours and you can go and cry and hide in your hotel room and possibly suffocate under the sheets so you won't ever have to experience this again.

By the time he could finally do that - run to his hotel room like he was being chased by a demon, while trying to hold back tears - he had taken off his jacket and knotted it around his waist. His pants did look like he had peed himself now, a dark stain on the back as he had seen when he had hid away in a bathroom during a small break of interviews and had desperately tried to wipe this wet mess away.

He did the same thing now. Pants were discarded on the floor and he was ripping off toilet paper after paper, trying to get dry but it kept coming. Everything was wet, it was smeared all over his thighs and he couldn't even see the toilet paper role clearly anymore cuz he was crying too much.

He was shaking, sobbing, furiously rubbing at his cheeks to wipe away the tears and with an angry shout like cry he ripped one of the big hotel towels off the halters at the wall to his right. He spread it on the bed, then crashed into it.

Surely, his friends were having fun right now, all three of them talking about this oh so hot omega again and who would get to shoot their shot first. And what made Ashton's self hatred even worse is that he wanted those shots. He wanted an alpha. That stupid need for something was growing and he felt himself getting more desperate, gasping for breath inbetween sobs and slick sliding down the back and inside of his thighs with every clench he felt.

He hated that it was doing that. He didn't want to feel his fucking asshole begging for something inside of it. He wanted to chop his dick off because it was hard and leaking, the tip a flushed pink where it was pressed to his stomach, staining his shirt.

He didn't want this.

His phone rang but he ignored it. He was fine, to the boys everything was okay. And once this stupid heat was over, he would make even more of an effort at being good. He would clean more and do more things so they didn't have to do as much.

He was only an omega after all, and they had to be like servants to show they were worthy, right? Well, Ashton had never thought that of any omega but he thought it of himself. He had to prove he belonged to this band of three alphas, that he deserved to be with them and travel the world with them.

The drummer was so focused on what he would do to be more worthy when this was over and how much he hated his current state that he didn't take notice of the door opening.

His own crying drowned out the sound of it and he shrieked when something lightly touched his shoulder, curling in on himself.

Luke.

It was Luke.

His eyes were sad, his face in the most guilty, pityful, broken expression Ashton had ever seen it.

"I thought it was you", Luke said quietly, completely ignoring Ashton's nudity from the waist down, "But I thought no way, that's not even possible... I'm sorry, Ash"

"F-for what?", Ashton tried to stop crying, he was being pathetic in front of this alpha. Since when did he think of Luke as an alpha and not as Luke?

The blonde shook his head. "For being so ignorant. We should've noticed."

Ashton shrugged. Then he bit his lip, his stomach was churning at the presence of an alpha, his hole clenching like it was begging Ashton to ask Luke to help him and pushing more and more of this wet something out.

"I'm sorry for being a freak", he whispered, too scared to look Luke in the eyes, "I'm really sorry"

"Ash"

Ashton rapidly shook his head at the nickname. No, he didn't want any pity.

"It's okay if you hate me, fuck, I hate myself. I'm so disgusting and so weird and everything is so fucking wet and it's clenching - Luke, my fucking asshole is like, like - like spreading open and I wanna ask you to get your dick out! Why do I want to ask you to get your dick out?", he wanted to apologize immediately for swearing at Luke, but the younger one was quick to answer.

"It's your nature.", Luke was calm, the entire opposite to Ashton's frantic rambling, "You're in heat, it's your instinct to want that."

Luke's breath stuttered when Ashton remained quiet this time and looked up at him with big tears eyes, he was becoming aware of Ashton's lack of clothes now. "Shit", he mumbled, pressing a hand to his crotch.

Ashton's eyes followed his hand, another tear slipping from his eyes when he saw what his new omega self was doing to Luke.

"Ash, no, Ash", Luke shook his head, scrambling to wrap him into his arms despite his whimpers, "I won't touch you, I won't touch you, I swear. It's just that you're an omega in heat and it's really hard to hold myself back, god, your smell is so intoxicating, but I would never, never ever, do anything to you!"

"But, but I want that, why do I want that", Ashton was crying again, fingers digging into Luke's arms that were wrapped around his upper body, holding on tightly. He was so scared of these instincts, these wants that he had never felt before.

"No, you don't, Ash. That's your heat, it's the omega in you. And we won't let it win."

"R-really?"

"Yea", Luke carefully pressed a kiss to the trembling boy in his arms. He had never taken care of someone like this, despite being an alpha everyone always made fun of him for acting like an omega. Yet here he was, with his best friend in his arms who was probably the last person on earth that anyone would have suspected to actually be the omega.

Ashton stayed in his hotel room, sobbing and crying everytime that Luke was gone. But Luke always came back, carrying food, bath bombs, new towels - and he informed their management and Michael and Calum of Ashton's new development.

Both boys profusely apologized to Ashton for not realizing it was him, for making him feel bad and they felt so bad themselves. They had to do it over the phone though, a hotel room wall seperating them because they were very aware that they did not have Luke's strength of holding themselves back with an omega mid heat and on no suppressants in the same room.

Luke was struggling, too, Ashton could see that, and he tried his best to hide his constant hard on from his friend but Ashton knew it was there.

And he still wanted it. With every hour that passed and Luke - an alpha that could very much help him, knot him - he was getting more sure that it was him who wanted it, not just his omega nature.

Luke would carefully clean him up, drying off his thighs and changing the towels, and Ashton's cock was always hard. He'd gotten so close to cumming a few times when he would wipe himself with the towel, cuz Luke refused to clean anything but his legs for him. But never quite. He was still so ashamed and sad and scared.

But now the desperateness was growing. His whole dick was dark pink after two days of being hard, Luke had read him an article on the internet that assured him it was normal to near constantly have that during his heat, but it had also said that it stayed like that after orgasming. Ashton hadn't done that once.

Right now, he was lying on his stomach, dick painfully pressed into the damp towel beneath him, while Luke was carefully rubbing at his legs with another towel.

He couldn't take this anymore, he needed Luke to do something. Which was why, when Luke tapped the towel high on his thighs where they almost met his ass, he pushed down.

Luke gasped and pulled his hands away when his knuckles brushed over his bandmates' bare skin but Ashton was quick to grab his wrists.

The side of his flushed face pressed into the sheets from still lying on his stomach, legs spreading, Ashton used all his strength to push Luke's hands where he wanted them.

"Please, please", he mumbled, mouth dropping open into an o shape when he felt Luke's hands brush over his ass, one hand dipping into his crack and - it was gone.

"No", Luke said firmly, making Ashton sob with the coldness of it.

"No, no, please, Luke, please, I need -"

"Ashton, you don't want this. Please stop, I am not incredibly strong"

"Then don't be strong!", Ashton knew he sounded like a child throwing a tantrum now, but he couldn't help it, "I need to cum!"

"Then do it yourself!", Luke shouted, jumping off the bed and stomping to the bathroom to put away the used towel.

Ashton's lip wobbled at Luke's outburst and tears started forming again - god, he was crying so much, it was annoying him - but okay then.

---

this is part one of at least two chapters, obviously a cliffhanger but i couldn't wait til i've finished it and i haven't posted in ages but i miss it so here you go ❤️

hope you like it, feel free to tell me your thoughts and ofc requests are open 🥰