#first one is about how when trying to pass you give up things you love for fear of it being too feminine/masculine. eventually you become a

[yierrem]

dating headcanons - zzzero men edition (((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))♡

ft. gn!reader x anton ivanov, ben bigger, lighter, von lycaon, wise ; no applicable warnings! my first request (i tried to finish it before christmas in my timezone, but still, merry christmas to the anon who requested this :DD and to those reading!!) hehehhe i hope its good enough｡ﾟ(ﾟ´ω`ﾟ)ﾟ｡

anton ivanov

you cannot look me in the eye and tell me this man isn’t the type to yell “this is for you!” or “if i hit this you give me a kiss” and completely miss whatever target he’s supposed to hit. he hits it. sometimes. he still gets a kiss anyways.

[“dude” “we’re literally dating and you’ve placed your lips on mine do NOT call me dude.” “…babe”]

big on gift giving and words of affirmation in terms of love languages. he makes sure to put a lot of thought into whatever he gives to you to properly convey his appreciation and show just how much you mean to him.

"strong, sincere, and straightforward." he's definitely the type to encourage you to try new things especially when you're the type to get easily nervous. if you're scared of looking stupid, don't worry; he'll do it with you hand-in-hand so you can be stupid together. becomes your no. 1 hype man and would give you his honest opinions whenever you need ‘em.

you see or hear him talking to his jackhammer bro for the most mundane or random things and you've become used to it at this point. its honestly endearing (you're hopeless)

["bro do you think they'd still love me if i was a worm?" "vroom vroom vroom" “you think so?” “vroom” "yeah, you're right."]

ben bigger

scary bear privileges meaning no one wants to mess with you knowing that you're dating someone who cuts such an intimidating presence but you know better than them because ben would much rather use his paws to tap away at a calculator or spreadsheet than willingly get into fights.

on that note, he's most likely to be the best companion for grocery shopping; he'll know how to get all the good discounts and haggle for the best prices for sure.

best cuddle partner to have during colder seasons no. 1. although he puts his fur care second, it's still soft and fuzzy to the touch and he likes that you appreciate the warmth it provides too.

since he struggles with some of his accounting responsibilities due to the size of his paws, sometimes you help him with sorting some of belobog industries' financial documents and eventually you end up finding the task quite relaxing after a while of doing it.

but, of course, he loves spending time with you outside of work. anything to take his mind off of the horrors of accounting. he'll mentally file away anything he learns about you when you're together for future purposes, may it be gift or date ideas.

he's the bear thiren between both of you, but in private he loves cuddling against you like you're some sort of plush toy. you don't mind. another win-win situation because you get to rest against him like a giant pillow as well.

lighter

he tries to be flirty with you and sometimes it works! but when you match his energy and it backfires on him he turns into a blushing mess who doesn’t know what to do with himself.

also the type to want to show off or act all suave. he has an image to keep as the undefeated champion! the red scarf! (he’s internally giggling and kicking his feet from one [1] cheek kiss you left in passing).

date nights with him sometimes consist of drives on his bike and stargazing at a nice little spot he found in blazewood. then halfway through, he’d get distracted from seeing the stars in your eyes and think that its a hundred times better than the real thing and fall in love all over again.

“gets as many challenges as love letters” but he makes sure that you and anyone who tries to make a move know that he only has eyes for you. could be in the form of having an arm around your waist or his jacket on you when you feel cold.

a physical touch and acts of service guy because. well. he did say he’d like to die for love one day. that’s a very romantic thing to say and do. also his heart still races whenever you hold his hand but he swears he’s getting used to it (he isn’t). probably melts when you gently run your fingers over his face or any of his scars

i honestly feel like he's one of those "me and my bae don't argue they just tell me to shut up and i do" types.

von lycaon

an ideal date for him would be a fancy dinner or picnic somewhere nice and discreet. complete with scented candles, your favorite flowers, and homecooked food (which probably tastes better than anything you've ever eaten at any restaurant). then at some point when both of you have finished eating and you're both in conversation, he brings your hand up to his lips and leaves a kiss on your knuckles.

["darling, your face is...concerningly red. are you feeling alright?" "i'm fine. i think."]

you WILL be receiving that prince/princess treatment (threat). breakfast in bed when he isn’t busy, spontaneous massages offered when you mention ONCE that you feel tired, and all that jazz. you probably will never have to open another door yourself with him around and he ALWAYS offers his arm for you to take when you're walking together.

best cuddle partner to have during colder seasons no. 2. just prepare yourself for horrendous shedding as summer begins… but you don’t mind helping him brush through his fur (*´ω`*) its therapeutic and you’re one of the very few people he trusts with the task so its a win for both of you.

since he's a wolf thiren, he sometimes unwillingly attracts the attention of stray cats and dogs; he usually pays them no mind but it is somewhat of an inconvenience for him. however, the sight of you playing with them while quietly cooing eases some of his discomfort. seems like you aren't the only one suffering from cuteness aggression.

his guilty pleasure is squishing your cheeks in his hands. no i will not elaborate

wise

this is one of the random play managers we’re talking about, so. movie date nights are mandatory. both of you alternate when picking movies but sometimes you bicker over options like an old married couple just for the fun of it.

a lot more chill when it comes to PDA but he can be flirty when he wants to be. if he knows you have a weak spot for it, he uses it to his advantage to get what he wants. scheming little minx. /pos

words of affirmation and quality time guy, i think. since he's always so busy with managing the store and completing commissions alongside belle as proxies, he makes the most out of the time you guys can spend together alone. even if it's just laying in his bed or on the couch doing nothing together sometimes.

everyone and their mothers and grandmothers on sixth street will probably know that you’re dating or figure something out at some point even when both of you don’t really do much together in public/are trying to keep it on the low. never underestimate these aunties man

unfortunately for wise, he will become the target of teasing or nagging from belle when it comes to your relationship. once you get close enough she'll also share embarrassing stories from when they were younger or before you and wise started dating much to her brother’s chagrin.

secretly likes clinging and cuddling up to you like a koala. both of you are in bed? oh okay, don’t mind him, he’ll just scooch a bit and wrap his arms and legs around you, claiming that having you in his bed helps fix his insomnia (it does, to some degree). [“wise i can’t move.” “you don’t need to.”]

on the days you help out with tasks in random play, you could quite literally just be standing while doing something and then you’ll feel a pair of arms sneak around your waist from behind as he leans his head on one of your shoulders with a quiet, satisfied sigh.

[wandering-pirate]

Mouthwashing Characters Headcanon

Christmas Day with You

Captain Curly

You and him baking sugar cookies in matching aprons? Peak domestic fluff His apron said "Sugar Daddy," and yours? "Daddy’s Sugary Snacc"

Yeah, that was all his idea. He couldn’t stop showing them off, grinning ear to ear, parading them around Walmart like it was a fashion show.

Meanwhile, you were just trying to hunt down all the ingredients in peace, but nope, he had to follow you around, flaunting those aprons.

After a war of flours, you successfully conjured up a decent batch

You had to use actual physical restraint to stop him from adding Vegemite to the cookies. The audacity. And when he ate one, took a full spoonful of it, and moaned?? Yeah, a monster

He’s obsessed with ski or any snow sport video game and always teases you for being a noob. But it’s all in good fun—he’s learned his lesson after the Mario Kart Incident that shall never be mentioned again

"Sweetheart, you’re gonna twist your joint with that posture—"

"Hush! You just wanna win gold again. Stop tempting me, you tall, handsome, bulky-ass demon"

Naturally, your competitive streak kicked in and, somehow, you ended up twisting your ankle

He played the role of nurse, cold compress in hand, sneaking kisses to your ankle because “it speeds up healing” (and also because he’s a shameless flirt who’ll use any excuse to be touchy)

You both gave up on the active stuff and just settled in for a holiday romcom. Of course, you both passed out halfway through

Nurse Anya

You made sure the fireplace was stacked to the brim with firewood because Anya + cozy fire = Christmas must

Your tradition? Her reading a book with her legs propped up on your thighs while you either watch your favorite YouTube videos or game

She’d be all serious about the book, but every now and then, she’d peek over at your screen, giggling at your reactions, but pretending like she was still super into the book

"What did he even trip on? Hell no, he deserved more than just getting skinned alive"

“Y/N, sweetie, natural selection. The weak always get eliminated”

"Mmm, makes sense"

When the clock hit a certain hour, it was handwritten letter time. Instead of gifts, you both wrote love letters to each other. This started when she told you how she re-read your first love letter whenever she got stuck on months long of hauls as a crew nurse

"Yeah, sorry, Anya. No letter this year"

"What? Bu—"

"Because you’re not getting back on that claustrophobic flying submarine this time"

Knowing how much she wanted to enter med school, you gave her the ultimate gift: fully paid tuition for a six-month medicine review center. You’d worked all year for it, and seeing her reaction made every second of it worth it

It was the first time you saw her cry. Anya, who’s always calm and composed, was sobbing in your arms, and it just wrecked you with love. You hugged her tighter, not sure who was more emotional at that point

"Y/N, you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me"

Intern Daisuke

He planned the perfect Christmas adventure, complete with bullet points, timestamps, and color-coded charts. You had to give him credit for actually being organized for once—he really took his Christmas plans seriously

But, of course, the Christmas spirit was clearly not on his side this time. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong:

Alarm didn’t go off

There was a traffic jam due to a fender bender

Your favorite thrift store? Closed for maintenance

Even the skating rink shut down after some bizarre oil spill caused a dogpile (like, how does that even happen?)

By the end of the day, you weren’t mad at all, just hungry. And somehow, Daisuke turned every misfortune into something you both would be giggling about

You both bought GIGANTIC mugs at Walmart that read, “The Grinch pales at my naughtiness.” They were immediately used to create the world’s sickest hot chocolate, piled with as equally large marshmallows and a diabetes-inducing amount of whipped cream.

Meanwhile, Daisuke was relentless in roasting the Grinch—he couldn’t stop hating on that movie.

“Who even hates Christmas? It’s the grand finale of the year! Absolute loser behavior.”

Mechanic Swansea

Christmas in the garage, for short, his sanctuary. The man thought of everything: fully insulated it, brought in a heater, all just to make sure you were warm and comfy while you both worked

Both of you had this wordless agreement to work on woodcrafts for Christmas. He taught you the basics of woodworking and you proved yourself to be a modern abstract Picasso. You improved throughout the years, tho. Your pieces? From abstract Picasso to expressionism Picasso

He loves carving because it gives him the perfect excuse to sit right behind you, guiding your hands with his. His big teddy bear frame is all around you, and something about that just hits him deeply. Like when he knows you’re safe and protected in his arms. And your eagerness to learn and follow his moves. He melts.

Naturally, you got a splinter, triggering his fierce Tsundere side

“What did I tell you about not rubbing fresh-cut wood? Keep this up, and I’ll just have you sit on my lap while I do your work for you.”

But underneath all that scolding, you could see his silent panic. He just hides behind transparent glass

"Stop smiling at me like that, you clumsy goof"

After crafting a spoon with a thirty-degree angled handle and an awkward head (he still called it perfect, of course), he whipped up his signature paella

Somehow, despite having eaten a thousand spoonfuls of it over the years, you still weren’t tired of it

Co-pilot Jimmy

Jimmy’s not really one for celebrating Christmas. Not bitter about it or anything, but he just treated it like any normal day. That all changed, though, when he realized that Christmas was your thing.

“Babe, why Christmas?”

“Honestly? I’m not really sure. But you know how, when we were kids, there’s that feeling of excitement, like when Christmas is coming and you can’t stop smiling? It just brings all that back, and suddenly, you feel like a kid again. So I guess, it’s just nostalgia, huh?”

He never really thought about it that way before. After all, his goal as a kid was always to grow up faster than everyone else.

So, you took it upon yourself to share all your favorite Christmas traditions with him, hoping to bring a little of that magic into his world:

Decorating your tree? He suggested replacing the star with an angel figurine... with your printed face glued on it. (Naturally, he followed through after you both went to bed, sneaking up to do it.)

Making a gingerbread house? He blocked the chimney, and when you asked why… well, he said it best:

“I don’t want some fat bastard breaking in, he’d eat the entire damn house”

By Christmas Eve, looking around his once-bare apartment, now filled with colors he didn’t even know existed, he couldn’t stop that tugging in his heart. He didn’t even realize how much of his childhood was missing until now.

You were patching up his unhealed wounds with your bandaids, and he didn’t even notice until it was too late. He's down bad

a/n: I know it's late T.T, but here's the crew having some holiday break... future angst coming up with curly and you (sorry)

also p.s. english ain't my first language, so i kinda felt like my whole headcanon writing abilities were crap... but these somehow are the top liked posts soooo... future HCs comin' down your way

[knavesflames]

Arlecchino’s Christmas Gift

Hello omg sorry for not posting I’ve been crashing out in terms of physical health (yes yes, I’m sick again, yay me!!)

Anyway, a little Christmas present for you all. Apologies if the standard is not Normal, but it will be soon.

Word count: 1497

Contents: soft Arlecchino, bottom!Arlecchino, fingering

Nsft utc<3

Christmas is a busy time for the House of the Hearth. With God knows how many children, Arlecchino works hard to make sure they all have a lovely day. Barbecues are out of the question, the snowflakes sticking to the ground a definite rejection of yet another barbecue. Instead, she opts for cooking a huge feast (or rather, you cook, she tells you to stop adding seasoning).

Watching the children eat and open the gifts she’s spent too much mora on, you can see that her eyes have softened significantly, even if her smile is small and barely there. “I don’t want gifts,” she’ll mutter when you ask her what she wants, she does it every year. “Gifts are unnecessary and superficial. The children receive them because they are children.”

You think she says this because she doesn’t know how to receive gifts. The House of the Hearth before was.. unkind, to say the least. The poor woman has been so busy, she’s barely had time to think about herself (you wonder if that’s the point), you know very well that the children are her priority, always. You, too. She’s made it abundantly clear multiple times to multiple times that it’s you and the children who come first.

When you see her sigh and wipe her forehead in slight frustration, you start to get an idea of what you can give her. Something she wouldn’t deem superficial, something she looks like she needs. And of course, when you excuse yourself early with the claim that you’re ’so tired’ and ‘the day has been exhausting’, she lets you leave with a soft kiss on your forehead and a murmur of affection. You don’t go to sleep, though, no. You wait until you hear the children leave the main dining hall and shuffle to their rooms to sleep before you start putting your plan in motion. You know she won’t go to bed for a little bit, she never does.

You waste no time in making yourself her gift. Putting on the lingerie you know she adores, dimming the lights and putting the small box of.. objects, by the bed, you position yourself comfortably. With clumsy movements, you manage to tie the ribbon around your wrists the way she’s done to you so many times. You admit it’s difficult, doing it with one working hand, but you get it done well enough. Then, what else is there to do but wait? The whole idea is for her to feel better and have whatever relief she desires, but you can’t help but feel excitement bubbling inside of you with every second that passes. She doesn’t feel good unless you feel good. That became obvious when she couldn’t cum until you were just as desperate as she was.

You let out a small breath when you finally hear her soft footsteps, and you’re trying to picture her reaction in your head. For some reason, you suddenly become nervous— what if she just wants to go to bed, or what if she just hates the idea? The ideas run through your head until—

“My dear?”

Your thoughts are cut short when your eyes snap to her. She looks a little shocked, her lips parted slightly, and her eyes scanning you, but she doesn’t seem repulsed or uninterested.

“Merry Christmas. You dislike gifts because they’re superficial, but I’m not, am I?”

Arlecchino swallows, her throat suddenly dry. You’ve always been the thing that gets her to react the most, both of you know that. Her words falter for a second before she manages to murmur.

“No, no you are not,” taking a step forward, then another, her hand reaching out to graze your skin gently. “Archons, look at you. You’re beautiful. All wrapped up, too.”

You smile sweetly at her, all worries dissipating at the look on her face. For someone as ruthless as her, she certainly softens up when you’re around, her touch gentle and her words quiet.

“How long did that take you? Wrapping oneself with one hand is a difficult task, no?”

“It took a while. Worth it to see your face. You can undo it if you want, or you can keep them like this.”

“Stay like that.”

“Okay.” Your own words are a whisper, and you continue to smile softly up at her. Her hands are delicate when they move over your skin, nails gently scratching in the places she knows makes you shiver.

“You wore my favourite.”

“For you.”

“You’re too good to me.” A breath, barely a whisper, but it’s heard nonetheless. It was only for you to hear anyway. She leans down, placing a gentle kiss on your forehead, then your cheek, then your lips until you return the kiss, letting her tongue meet yours with a soft sigh. You go to wrap your arms around her, before remembering that you have, in fact, tied yourself up. You think you feel her smile slightly into the kiss before her hand wraps firmly around your binded wrists.

Her kisses move downwards, sucking gently at the pulse point of your neck to feel you shiver. She seems to enjoy doing that, working you up only to make you wait. But, as promised, it’s her turn tonight, so you don’t complain. When she’s satisfied that your hands will stay in place and won’t struggle to get out of the ribbon restraints, her hand moves, fingers ghosting the hem of your underwear before slowly pulling it down. You help her, lifting your hips and stretching your legs so they’ll come off as quickly as possible. When they do come off, landing on the floor with a quiet noise, she leans on the bed, knee parting your legs.

Arlecchino grumbles when she realises she’s still fully clothed, and you think you see her hands trembling as she quickly fumbles to unbutton every single button she has and shed the fabric. She returns to her place soon after, her bare skin warmer than flames against yours. Her knee resumes its actions, pushing your legs apart until it meets your core, already aching. You gasp, and she relishes in the sound. She does the movement again before stopping. Digits move swiftly in finally unwrapping the ribbon around your wrists, tossing it to the side.

“I need you,” Arlecchino mutters, almost like she’s embarrassed. “I need you. Please.”

“How?” Although you enjoy occasionally being dominant, you can’t bring yourself to tonight. The poor woman has been so stressed, and this is her gift, after all.

“You know how.”

“Fingers or tongue, Peruere?”

She gasps at the usage of her actual name, her movements of her hands caressing each part of your body she can reach before she manages to speak.

“Fingers. Please.”

So, you waste no time in letting your own hand slip between her legs, moving until you find her clit. You give it a few experimental rubs, finding a rhythm she seems to enjoy before letting your lips land on her neck. You’d tease her for the quiet gasps she lets out, or for the way your fingers slide so easily into her, but you don’t think you have it in you, especially not when her hips start rocking into your hand with a rhythm so messy it’s almost pathetic, in an affectionate way. But she’s getting impatient and frustrated, and she can’t chase what she wants so badly with the rhythm she has.

You let her try for a bit longer, but the small whine that escapes her usually quiet mouth almost makes you feel bad. So, your free hand moves to her hip, gently stopping her before guiding her into a rhythm that causes all sounds to cease— only out of pure pleasure, her mouth hanging open and her eyes, usually so piercing, squeezed shut.

“It’s good?” You hum, struggling to contain the small giggle at the sight of her as needy as she is now.

“Quite.” Comes the only strained reply before her head buries back into your neck. She’s close, you can tell that much by the way she clenches around your curling fingers again and again.

“Are you going to cum for me, Peruere?”

“Yes, for you, yes.” She rasps out. It’s a struggle for her to get out any words at all by this point, and anything she does get out is less than coherent. Then her body tenses, she lets out a sound you know all too well— a mix of a grunt, groan and a whimper all in one, before she collapses onto you, her legs shaking.

You mumble sweet praises into her ear, stroking her now tousled hair until she regains her breath and stops trembling.

“Merry Christmas.” You chuckle, kissing her shoulder.

“That.. may have been the best gift I have ever had. My birthday is in August, if you’re curious.”

She’s being silly, you know that much, but you have one too many ideas to let them fizzle out now.

[delulustateofmind]

JJK x Reader: Christmas Edition

Just a few headcannons for the holidays!

Characters: Gojo, Geto, Nanami, & Shoko

TW: FLUFF!

WC: 1.1k (short and sweet!)

A/n: Happy holidays everyone! Hope you all are having an amazing day and get to take time for yourselves. Thank you for all the love this year, appreciate you all!

Gojo

 Gojo is absolutely terrible at wrapping presents, and he knows it. He either gets them wrapped at the department store (when available) or just throws everything into festive bags with bows slapped on top. He’s the type to put way too much tape on a box if he does attempt wrapping—it’s endearing, really.

He loves spending Christmas with your family. It’s not that he dislikes his own—it’s just… complicated. Being surrounded by warmth and laughter is something he craves, even if he doesn’t say it outright. He’s like a big kid, buying way too many gifts for everyone but not knowing them well enough to make them personal. So instead, he turns it into a family-wide white elephant exchange, just to see everyone smile. (Also likes to playfully gossip with your family about you, LOVES to see the baby pictures, steals them and takes em home)

What he treasures most, though, is spending time with you. He thrives on simple moments—baking cookies together (where he definitely makes a mess), snuggling under a blanket to watch cheesy holiday movies, or stealing kisses under the mistletoe when no one’s looking. If he’s called out on a mission, his frustration is palpable, but he always makes it up to you with warm pastries, hot coffee, and an even warmer smile the next morning.

When it comes to gifts, Gojo is surprisingly sentimental. Handmade presents? He melts. There’s something about knowing you put effort and love into it that makes his heart ache in the best way. And when you both have kids one day, he’s all-in on the Santa act. He’ll dress up, bellow “Ho, ho, ho!” with way too much enthusiasm, and take an embarrassing amount of photos to show off to his students. Watching your kids’ faces light up on Christmas morning? That’s his favorite part of the holiday. He absolutely melts when they make him things, best believe he is wearing that macaroni necklace.

Geto

Geto doesn’t trust anyone else to wrap his gifts. He’s so meticulous about it—crisp corners, perfectly aligned patterns, and just the right amount of ribbon. It’s almost frustrating how good he is at it. (If you wrap something bad, like a single wrinkle bad, best believe that present is tucked in the very BACK of the tree and he just smiles when you ask about it)

He’s also the best gift giver. The kind who remembers that one thing you mentioned in passing months ago. Need a specific book? Done. Want to try crochet? Here’s an entire set, complete with a personalized guide he wrote himself. It’s never about the cost with him—it’s about the thought behind it.

Christmas Eve with him is peaceful. After the twins are fast asleep, you and Geto sit by the tree, wrapping gifts together. He’s quietly focused, assembling the big surprise gift for the girls—a playset, a dollhouse, something that requires way too many tiny screws. You laugh at how serious he gets, his brows furrowed as he carefully places every sticker. Between tasks, you talk. About life, about dreams, about how far you’ve come together. He enjoys the little life you both created. His little hallmark movie.

If your family is welcoming, he’s happy to visit with the girls. He’s a little reserved at first but softens quickly when he sees how much they’re loved. Still, his favorite Christmases are the intimate ones, just the four of you. The girls bring out a side of him that’s so gentle, so tender. He wants to give them the childhood he never had—filled with warmth and joy.

On Christmas morning, he’s in the kitchen flipping pancakes shaped like stars, hearts, and (attempted) snowmen. His laugh is soft but full when the girls giggle at his less successful attempts. The whole day is dedicated to family activities—decorating cookies, building gingerbread houses, and playing with new toys. At the end of the day, when the house is quiet again, he pulls you close, brushing a kiss to your temple. “Thank you,” he whispers.

Would be the type to propose on Christmas, he'd hide it in the tree or something. Asking you to come look at some random ornament only for you to look back at him on one knee. (Would do this when the girls are little so you both can have the perfect little flower girls)

Nanami

Nanami doesn’t mind wrapping gifts, but he just doesn’t have the time. The department store option is quick and efficient, so he takes it without a second thought.

He’s incredibly thoughtful when it comes to gifting. He always finds something that feels just right—a piece of jewelry that matches your style, a book you’ve been eyeing, or tickets to a show you casually mentioned once. He follows the “one big gift, one small gift” rule, careful not to go overboard, but everything he chooses feels like it was made for you.

Your family adores him. Even if you aren’t married yet, they’ve already claimed him. His stocking hangs next to yours, and your relatives fight over who gets to sit next to him at dinner. (Everybody wonders how you snagged such a good man) It’s heartwarming to see him so at ease, his usual stoicism softened by the warmth of your family’s love.

As for receiving gifts, Nanami values thoughtfulness over extravagance. He’s the type to sit quietly while you explain why you chose his gift, his gaze steady and full of affection. “You’re so thoughtful,” he says, his voice low and warm, “it means more to me than you know.” He's not the type to show emotion during gifts however so sometimes he has you questioning whether he actually likes it or not.

On Christmas morning, over breakfast, he lets himself dream aloud. “I can just imagine little ones running into the room, waking us up with their excitement,” he says, his lips curving into a rare, tender smile. When you do have kids, he’s exactly as you imagined—a doting father who loves every chaotic, joy-filled moment. Watching them tear into their presents, hearing their laughter, and cuddling up as a family on Christmas Eve—it’s everything to him. So much that he'll ask for another next Christmas.

Shoko 

Shoko isn’t big on holidays, but she’ll indulge for you. The festive spirit isn’t something she naturally gravitates toward, but seeing you light up makes it worth it.

She doesn’t wrap gifts—it’s just not her thing. Instead, she hands you an envelope with an experience inside—a luxurious trip, an all-inclusive cruise, or a spa day. “Merry Christmas,” she says with a smirk, pressing a kiss to your lips.

She’s not big on gifts for herself, but she treasures whatever you give her, whether it’s a handmade scarf or a store-bought trinket. She’ll smile, soft and genuine, and pull you into a hug. “You spoil me,” she murmurs, but there’s nothing but gratitude in her voice.

Shoko loves quality time. She’s not much of a homebody, so she’ll take you out to see Christmas lights, holding your hand the entire time. She’s quiet but content, stealing glances at you like you’re the most beautiful thing in the world.

Kids aren’t something she sees for herself. After everything she’s witnessed, the idea of raising a potential sorcerer terrifies her. Instead, the two of you pour your love into the students, making sure they feel cared for during the holidays.

On cold winter mornings, she’s impossible to get out of bed. She wraps herself around you, burying her face in your neck, and groans when you suggest getting up. “Five more minutes,” she pleads, her voice muffled against your skin. It’s in these quiet, intimate moments that she lets her walls down completely, because you make her feel human, despite everything she has to do. 

[strangelystrangestrangerrr]

The three times you trusted Natasha, and the one time you didn’t | Ch.1

I Prologue | Ch.1 l

Pairing: Natasha Ramanoff x Fem!reader

Warnings: Angst, trauma, unrequited love, descriptions of injury, kidnapping

Note: What if I tell you that this is the only chapter that contains “fluff”? :D

———————————————————————————

“y/l/n”

You looked up to see none other than Natasha greeting you as she entered the common room.

“Romanoff” You acknowledged and gave her a nod.

This was how your relationship with her first started off, professional and formal. Whenever you guys were paired up during missions, they usually go so smoothly that no one was able to comprehend how you guys were perfectly in sync with each other, communicating without needing to say things out loud. Natasha was glad to learn that you were a workaholic just like her, training with you became part of her routine.

As time passed, you both became accustomed to each other’s presence unknowingly. You’d ask her to join you for lunch after training together and she’d save you a spot next to her during movie nights. Things remained within a typical coworkers/friends boundary.

Until that one time.

It was a late afternoon, the air was warm and cosy. You were sparring with Natasha, again. You tried to punch her, and as a top-level assassin, she managed to dodge it. In return, she caught your arm and smashed you against the ground in a swift motion. Not wanting to give up just yet, you kicked her legs, causing her to trip over you. As a result, you guys ended up in an awkward position. To your surprise, she didn’t get up immediately, instead she stayed like that, with her arms beside the sides of your head and one of her legs in between your thighs, while she steadied her breaths. Then the realisation hit you, it was your first time being this close with someone, more intimate than anything you had experienced. You told yourself not to overthink it and tried to maintain your composure desperately.

“Why are your ears so red?” All of the sudden Natasha asked.

“Hm? My ears? Oh it’s nothing,” you frantically dismissed.

“Are you sure? Cuz they’re getting even redder.”

“It’s just that you’re hot-” Fuck “-NO, I mean I’m feeling hot cuz of…” you paused as you were distracted by a drop of sweat that was leaving a trail on her neck as it continued downwards…

“The training?”

“YES! Yes the training,” her voice snapped your attention back to her eyes.

Amused by your unusual stuttering, she smirked as she pushed further, “Are you blushing, darling?”

You wanted to crawl out of the boxing ring.

“What!? Nooo, what are you even talking about?” You couldn’t take it anymore so you pushed her off of you while avoiding eye contact with her.

You behaving like this was very new to Natasha. Sure, she loved the professionalism in you, always looking sharp and smart as her respected and trusted partner, but this? This did something to her. The way you became fidgety under her, looking all helpless and didn’t know what to do. She smiled to herself as she replayed your cute little expression in her head. She wanted to see more of it, she needed to.

Things changed ever since then.

She kept trying to catch you off guard. You hated the way she winked at you when you stared at her absentmindedly. You hated the way she sneaked up behind you while you were making her favourite meal. You hated the way she insisted that you should sit her lap while claiming that no other spots were available on the couch with that stupid grin on her face. Unable to control how your heartbeat quickened due to her tactics, you brushed her off every time by rolling your eyes or telling her to shut up. Much to your dismay, she got bolder and bolder, as if she was encouraged by your rejection. That was how you knew you were eventually going to lose in this silly game of hers.

She made her final move during one of Tony’s party. The night was strange, although you didn’t interact with each other much, the tension between you two was high. It was the fifth time you had locked eyes with her through the crowd of Tony’s guests, biting your lips, you couldn’t help but feel a bit self-conscious under her burning gaze. Acting like nothing happened, you continued the boring conversation you were no having with the guests. After a while you got tired of indulging them, so excused yourself to get some fresh air. Natasha wasn’t doing so great either, her mind was consumed by how good you looked with that black classy dress you had on. The way the fabric hugged your curves so perfectly and how the slit on the side allowed your long legs to peek out every so often. Oh, the things she could do to you. Lost in her trail of thoughts, she panicked when she could no longer find you across the venue…

You jumped as you felt a hand lingering on your exposed back.

“What’s a pretty girl doing here all by herself?” Natasha whispered into your ears.

The breeze was cold but none of you could feel it.

Feeling a bit tipsy, you turned to face her and answered, “waiting for you,” while ignoring the burning sensation in your stomach, in attempt to tease her.

Then you broke her. Being this up close, she was enchanted by your beauty. You were looking extra vulnerable, having your hair tied up neatly into a bun, with a few strands on the side. The way your big sparkling eyes look up to her, a shy smile hanging on your lips, silently challenging her. Natasha’s breath hitched.

“Natasha?” Confused by her seemingly lack of reaction, you called her as you waited for her cocky remark.

“Mm!?”

Couldn’t hold herself back any longer, Natasha closed the gap and kissed you. She was being so soft and gentle with you, you thought you would melt onto the floor, you had no idea that it was taking everything in her to not to be aggressive.

“Can I be your girlfriend?” She blurted out the question she’d been wanting to ask forever.

The sight of you was making her go crazy. You were panting hard to catch your breath. Head held down, clearly trying to hide your flustered state without knowing that your red little ears betrayed you. So fucking cute.

A million thoughts were forming inside your brain. Is this even real? It was no doubt that you were attracted to her, but why would she ever choose you? It made sense why you hesitated due to your past. You had tried to reach out to people, your parents, your friends, but you ended up getting hurt every time. So you reminded yourself not to get used to people’s comfort for your own sake and managed to move on. You were fine, you swear!

Looking into her sincere gaze, the feeling of hope was too overwhelming for you. Screw it, what’s the worst that could happen? For her, you were willing to take the risk. You trusted her.

After you nodded timidly, she beamed and pulled you into another heated kiss.

[sleepyparalysisdmon]

Seungcheol with a first-time driver

Requested? Yes!

Request: ‘Seungcheol with a partner who’s learning how to drive. Maybe they didn’t get the same opportunities to learn when they were younger and now as an adult they’re trying to make up for it. It would be nice to see how he reacts in diff scenarios Thanks love your work!’

When you start dating Seungcheol, he’s pretty unfazed when you tell him you don’t drive. In a big city, it’s a choice that a lot of people make to save money when public transportation is reliable. But the more time he spends with you, he has this nagging feeling that there’s more to it than just choosing not to drive. One day, a few months into the relationship, you ask him to grab your ID out of your wallet for something. One glance tells him that it’s not exactly a choice when it comes to not driving. You don’t even have a driver’s license, just a government ID card. 

He sort of hates how you freeze up when he asks about it. He’s not judging, just curious why you didn’t follow through with something that he kind of sees as a rite of passage. You don’t have to give him a ton of details - just saying that you didn’t really get the opportunity to learn is enough of an explanation for him. He gets all soft at your expression when he offers to teach you. It’s an expression full of vulnerability and trust, and he absolutely won’t let you waste it on him. 

He guides you through preparing for the written test and getting a learner’s permit. From there, he starts slow, letting you sit in the driver’s seat and giving you a tour. He assumes you know some of it already, but he has a special way of teaching you things without making you feel stupid. You even feel safe enough to ask questions, and he easily answers all of them. 

When you’re ready, he takes you to an empty parking lot, letting you start up the car for yourself. He’s so, so gentle, not a hint of panic in him as he guides you through it. He lets you do laps and park and pull out of parking spots until you get comfortable with it. 

Then he picks a day, time, and route that’s not going to be busy and lets you take the wheel to get comfortable driving around other cars. Softly reminds you of stopping distances, speed limits, and other typical rules of the road. If you ever feel discouraged, he’s insisting you brush it off because it’s okay to make mistakes while you’re learning. If you ever get stressed, he’ll try to soothe you, but if it doesn’t help, he’ll have you pull over, and he’ll switch seats to take the wheel. 

He doesn’t rush you to take the practical test and straight up tells you that he’ll drive you everywhere you need to go forever, but he’s undeniably proud to watch you become more independent this way when you pass the test. He sort of thinks he has tears in his eyes if you take the keys from him and offer to drive one day because it’s such a 180 from how you were about it at the beginning of his relationship with you. Oh, don’t get me wrong, he’ll put up a fight because he likes you being his passenger princess, but he’s still proud. 

[dalliancekay]

Aziraphale loves Crowley but...

(A clickbait title? Me? Possibly)

There's this thought rattling in my brain for a good while and I have to try to get it out.

So most of the fandom seems to operate under the impression that Crowley loves Aziraphale unreservedly (since Eden) and that he is waiting for the angel to catch up with him.

This is evident across metas here, and many posts and comments elsewhere. Even fics (if I'm permitted to say that) keep dancing around the idea that Crowley never knows where he stands. It's not that obvious how Aziraphale feels about Crowley (especially to Crowley). Because Aziraphale is forever denying their connection (as if he didn’t have good enough reason) and/or also that Crowley, who is always open about his feelings, is waiting for Aziraphale to finally admit at some point (sooner than later please) how he feels so they can be together (...I'm not going there today...).

But I did have discussions with people from other countries and cultures. Notably @sayuri-of-the-valley who told me that most people in their country would assume Aziraphale is the smitten one and it's not so obvious how Crowley feels (he might be just toying with the angel?).

So I've been thinking about how Aziraphale feels from what we see.

In Before the Beginning, which is their first encounter, Aziraphale is immediately taken by the sweet, pretty, enthusiastic angel who seems completely oblivious to Aziraphale's hopes to be noticed.

We do not know if they meet again as angels or how long after their meeting the Great War happens. I would think this is not their only encounter. But it could be. I think they became friends and at some later point Angel!Crowley asked Aziraphale to join in the rebellion (or at least come with him to hang out with the guys and find out what it's about). But forever cautious Aziraphale warned him that it's not a good idea and refused and ... Crowley Fell.

Next time they see each other is in Eden.

They seem to recognise each other and Crawley is clearly pretty happy to see Aziraphale who does not introduce himself but Aziraphale gently prompts the demon to introduce himself.

Aziraphale seems a little unsure how they stand at first ... ...and I think it's because of what has transpired before the Fall (is Aziraphale forgiven?). But as Crawley gently teases him about the recently passed events, Aziraphale is assured and trusts Crawley as if nothing much changed between them and he readily admits he's given away his sword to the demon. (The truth of which he does not disclose to God Herself.)

Their relationship progresses as far as it can in the circumstances over the next centuries and millennia, they both care and look after each other. Until the next big heart-breaking 'break-up' happens. An impossible ask.

You can see how this request basically pierces Aziraphale's heart. He would prefer they don't see each other again than give in to such extraordinarily dangerous request. Out of the question! This would mean the end of existence for Crowley. He would not just be discorporated, not 'just' taken away. He'd be gone.

If they truly don't see each other for almost 80 years, this must have hurt so so deeply.

Next they see each other then, it's 1941. I know some people HC that Crowley slept until then but I think it's very unlikely. He seems to know what is happening with WWII, and besides, he has his car, which he says he has from new and you wouldn't buy a 1926 Bentley new in 1940.

So back to the husbands. Aziraphale might very well think he will never be forgiven for his resolute refusal of handing Crowley the one thing that can so easily simply wipe him from existence.

When Crowley shows up in the church, Aziraphale yet again is not sure where he stands. Is he forgiven? What is Crowley coming to do? (No, I don't think Aziraphale thought Crowley was coming with revenge or anything similar, I assume it's as he says, as Aziraphale assumes he's there because of his job, to do something for Hell). But Crowley assures him that is not the case and they fall into their usual bickering.

And all is well. Aziraphale breathes out and THEN Crowley remembers to save his books.

And Aziraphale knows he's forgiven.

When 1967 comes around and he hears about Crowley's frankly insane decision to get some humans to source holy water for him, the angel breaks his own heart and hands Crowley a double walled, securely closed vessel with the dangerous substance just because it's the safer option.

The next break up is...

After that they 'see' each other when Aziraphale's (soul? essence?) discorporated self finds Crowley drinking in the pub.

Crowley tells Aziraphale he lost his best friend... What is Aziraphale thinking?

Yet again, I suppose he's unsure where he stands. He did after all made a decision to do something Crowley disagreed with. And Crowley left. Twice. Aziraphale didn't want to run. He was going to try and find a way to save the Earth even if it meant to try and talk to God and whatever consequences would follow from that.

But Crowley is so gentle with him as he tells him his home burned down. He even has the one book Aziraphale really needed, somehow saved. So Aziraphale asks for help. They can do this.

And they do.

So we see Aziraphale through aeons, looking up to Crowley, admiring his wit, integrity, being exasperated with him, trying to keep him safe - from unreasonable requests just as much as from rash decisions and words that can have severe consequences. Aziraphale is an angel who is unlike any other. He finds himself, long before the rebellion of half the Host is a thing, in knowledge that some things should not be mentioned or suggested or criticised and he tries to stop this lovely angel he just met from getting into trouble.

Which he keeps doing for millions of years...

However. It doesn't always work. The angel Falls. He is hurt and abandoned by the God who made him and deemed unforgivable. He is threatened and punished when he just wants to be himself and Aziraphale sees all of this and loves him and tries to keep him safe and he is not always succeeding, having to make more and more difficult decisions.

And Aziraphale doubts himself. Is he good enough. Is something wrong with him. We see how anxious he gets all the time. What is he doing wrong. They were never allowed to speak to each other about how they feel. For the longest time they didn’t even know how to name their feelings I’m sure. They didn’t make any promises.

They both hope, yes but where I see people HC that Crowley doubts an angel would unconditionally love a demon (maybe he does, but I don’t really see it - I think Crowley knows all that talk of fiends is just a cover), I also see that Aziraphale thinks he’s not good enough. That he can’t give enough and that it’s a problem (it is to some fans but if he’s ever holding back - ‘you go too fast for me Crowley’, it’s only ever to keep the demon safe).

But yes, I think Crowley thinks the chasm that can’t be overcome between them is the angel/demon one. Because She made him unforgivable. And Aziraphale thinks that their world would never allow them to be together (and he’s right) and he simply can’t agree to trying when it’s doomed to failure. If they run, how long would they have together? What kind of freedom would they have as hunted outcasts? So he keeps making these difficult decisions. And feeling so guilty for them.

The hardest of which we meet at the end of Season Two.

Aziraphale meets the Second in Command of the ruler of their world who 'invites' him to run Heaven. After Aziraphale refuses several times, we see him enter his home and tell Crowley that he got an offer and ask Crowley to come with him.

And Crowley. Says no.

And all the subsequent metas focus on how Crowley was betrayed by Aziraphale's 'decision', how Aziraphale does not deserve to be loved or wanted or be forgiven by the demon.

And how does Aziraphale feel?

Does Aziraphale still think he can be forgiven?

[themultifanshipper]

Ollie was the kind of guy who always managed to put everyone in a good mood, and his colleagues waved him goodbye with a smile.

They were all blissfully unaware of what he had waiting for him when he got home.

Warnings: smut, bdsm themes, restraints, oral, toys, probably very ooc but this is just self indulgence at it's finest okay

Everyone loved Ollie. They viewed him as a baby-faced rookie, just like Kimi, Gabriel, Jack etc…

He was adorable, a real sweetheart. He had a gummy smile and got easily shy around people.

He was self-conscious about a lot of things, and a few older drivers had taken him under their wing, he was just so charming in a cute and innocent way.

But no one knew.

No one even suspected.

No one had any inkling whatsoever, of what he was like outside of racing…

He smiled at his taxi driver politely, giving him a generous tip before climbing out.

He opened the door to his apartment, put down his bags, took his shoes off, washed his hands, and made his way towards the bedroom.

He put an ear against the door as he listened to the sounds coming from inside.

He could hear the slight whirring sound of a machine, not unlike the sounds that surrounded him at work.

He pushed open the door quietly, and the sounds of your whimpers were suddenly audible.

Music to his ears.

There you were, hogtied in the middle of the bed, silently crying with a ball gag in your mouth, while a machine pumped a thick dildo in and out of you.

Perfect. Just how he'd left you that morning.

Because let it be known that Oliver Bearman was not as innocent as he looked.

He was a very sweet person, but in bed, he could be an absolute monster.

“Hello, darling” he smirked, walking over to you and placed a warm hand on your thigh, squeezing your flesh lightly.

You moaned and your eyes rolled back into your skull as another orgasm washed over you at the contact.

He let out a shaky exhale, you were so good. Such a good girl for him.

He watched as your cunt stretched around the silicone still pumping in and out of you, and he was very tempted to replace it with his own cock.

But he knew he would come immediately if he did, given how he'd been at least half hard all day at the thought of you all fucked out on his bed.

And he didn't want to give you the satisfaction.

You'd lost count of how many orgasms you'd had. It had been about seven hours since he'd tied you up, and the bed was soaked. Your thighs were covered in your own cream, as was the impressive thickness that had just sped up its movements, making your breath hitch.

He'd set the machine up so that it slowed down and sped up at certain intervals, just to drive you that much crazier.

You thought you were going to pass out, your muscles ached after being tied up for so long, and the sheen of sweat on your body was starting to feel uncomfortably tacky on your skin.

This was all a punishment.

For flirting with some of his fellow drivers at a race last week, and then denying it when Ollie confronted you.

First it was Charles, then it was Kimi of all fucking people, and then it was Esteban. The new teammate. The three people you knew would make Ollie the most angry. And he knew exactly what you were trying to do.

Because Ollie may have been a perfect little prince outside, but behind closed doors, he was jealous, and petty, and ruthless.

You'd agreed to this punishment beforehand of course, Ollie wasn't a complete psycho.

He was a bit of a sadist though, and the sight of your tears streaming down your face, along with a puddle of drool, made something deep inside him purr with satisfaction.

Your muscles tensed and untensed, the pleasure overwhelming after all this time.

He took the gag out of your mouth first, and you immediately started gasping and pleading with him.

“Please Ollie! Please I'll never do it again, I'm sorry, fuck-“

He stroked your cheek tenderly with his thumb and pouted mockingly at you.

“Are you sure you've learned your lesson?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes! Yes Ollie, please! Oh my god- I can't come again, please!”

He tapped your cheek condescendingly.

“Okay, I'll stop the machine…”

He did so, making you sigh in relief, and pushed it out of the way so that he could slot himself in between your legs.

“… but I'm going to make you come again no matter what”

You wailed when his tongue made contact with your puffy clit.

Despite it not having been stimulated at all in the past few hours, it felt over sensitive and you tried to squirm away, but it was no use.

Even if you hadn't been tied up, you were no match for his strength as he pulled you closer by the ropes that bound your legs.

He was eating you out like a man starved, slurping up all your juices and nosing at your clit as he went, moaning at finally getting a taste of you.

It took no time at all for you to reach your final orgasm, and it took everything out of you, making you shake like a leaf under him.

When it was over your body felt like lead and you looked up at the ceiling with hooded eyes, on the verge of falling asleep.

“Don't you dare” he chuckled “You can't fall asleep before I've cuddled you for at least an hour!”

You laughed weakly.

He untied you slowly, making sure to not rush it so that you could regain the feeling in your limbs bit by bit before needing to move them.

He then ran a bath, then brought you a glass of water and a small snack, before helping you to your feet.

Your legs wobbled, and he decided it would be better to carry you to the bath, so he did, all the while peppering sweet kisses to your face.

You giggled at his attentiveness. He giggled at your adorable laugh.

Later, in bed, he stared at you lovingly as you drifted in and out of consciousness, with a huge smile on his face.

He had a hand running through your hair while the other held you against his chest.

 You felt his gaze and opened your eyes, smiling  back up at him sleepily.

“I love you so much” he whispered, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

“I love you too, Ollie” you leaned up to kiss him softly before snuggling into his arms.

Because Ollie may have been a bit sick in the head, but above all, he was a loving, caring boyfriend who would do absolutely anything for you.

[clownstillwritesfanfic]

Drift Away - Five Hargreeves X Fem!Reader (REUPLOADED)

PLEASE READ: my old blog (clownwritesfanfic) was deleted when my main blog attached to it got terminated for some unknown reason. I can’t get it back so I’m reuploading everything I had saved in my notes app. Sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment, trust me, I’m devastated, but with your help I can get back to my former glory so PLEASE reblog if you like it 🙏😭

Summary: When Five gets stuck in the subway station all alone, he decides to stay in a comfortable timeline while he tries to figure out how to get back to his family, however, he didn’t plan on falling in love with the lonely woman who lives there.

Genre: Fluff/Angst

Word Count: 8,021

Warnings/Notes: death, slightly canon compliant, implied/referenced sex, slight nudity, author pretends to know when it comes to cottagecore living, soft Five, Fivela never happened, plus size friendly, poc friendly, trans fem friendly

Disclaimer: Five’s body is 24

———————————————————————

It had been a little over six years now. Six years of being stuck in a confusing maze of timelines and once again, Five was all alone.

At least in the first apocalypse, he found comfort in Delores. But down here, his only company was the rats.

Five was desperate. He wanted to go home, to see his family again, try and stop yet another apocalypse. He wasn’t going to give up, that wasn’t the kind of person he was.

But this place was driving him crazy. He couldn’t focus in here. He wanted a shower, clean clothes, a regular source of clean water and good food. He remembered a timeline he visited that looked peaceful, a place he could relax and feel safe to figure out a way back.

He picked himself up off the ground. His body aching and joints creaking. He may have a twenty-four year old’s body, but it sure felt like his body finally caught up to his age.

Five groaned as he stretched, feeling his sore muscles pull and his vertebrae clicking into place. Damn that felt good.

When the train came to a stop at his station and the doors slowly opened, he stepped on board and collapsed on the nearest seat. He was so hungry and dehydrated that he barely had any energy. He hoped it wouldn’t be long before he could get to the timeline he wanted.

It took about twenty minutes for Five to get to the right timeline, and another seven to exit the station. He was so exhausted that the stairs nearly made him pass out. He knew exactly where he was headed and he couldn’t wait to get there.

When he saw the little cottage far in the distance, he felt a burst of energy. He had been dragging himself along for thirty minutes and the knowledge of having good food and fresh water helped him find the strength to continue.

The gate to the property was open, its latch broken. Five made his way to the greenhouse as it was the closest thing and he knew there were strawberries inside from his last visit.

He opened the door, a burst of warm humid air hit him immediately as he stepped inside leaving the door ajar. He made a beeline for the plants and started picking and eating as many ripe strawberries as he could. They were so sweet and the juice ran down his chin.

He was busy stuffing his face when he heard the familiar cock of a gun causing him to freeze in place.

He slowly turned around, one hand frozen in place holding a strawberry near his face, his mouth full of the fruit. The first thing he noticed was the twin barrels of a shotgun a few feet away pointed directly at his head.

Then his eyes moved down to see whoever was holding the gun, was wearing a beautiful dress that stopped right above the person’s knees.

“What are you doing here?” A stern voice spoke out. The gun was obscuring their face but he could make out the long hair that framed it.

“I’m not going to ask again.” They readjusted the gun as a warning when he took too long to answer.

Five dropped the strawberries he was holding and held his hands up. He roughly swallowed what was in his mouth and tried to speak.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean any harm. I’ve been lost for a long time and I’m starving. I didn’t know anyone lived here.” He explained in a soft voice, trying not to startle the owner.

The gun faltered slightly before it was lowered slightly. A pair of eyes stared back at him with an unreadable look.

The person sighed and finally lowered the gun fully, the click of the safety being turned on being heard through the quiet greenhouse.

Five was able to see them fully now, a woman was stood blocking the entrance, and she looked beautiful.

“Come on, you look rough. I got some proper food inside and some clean clothes.” You gestured for him to follow you as you stepped out of the greenhouse.

Five eagerly followed you out, excited to finally eat something proper and get clean. You closed the door behind him and started towards the cottage a few feet away.

A few chickens roamed around the property, most running out of the way as you two walked but there was one or two you had to nudge out of the way with the barrel of the shotgun. You did it with such care and gentleness that you must’ve had to do it many times before.

You opened the wooden door to the cottage and held it open, gesturing for him to go in first. He thanked you as he passed you and took in his surroundings.

The inside was cute. It was small but not cramped, more…cozy. Plenty of room for two people to be comfortable.

You closed the door behind you and propped the shot gun against the wall. You startled Five, causing him to jump a bit when you accidentally clapped your hands together when brushing them off against each other.

“I’m sure you’d like to take a bath quickly. But everything’s pretty old school around here so it will take me a while to get enough water and warm it up. But I’ve got some soup simmering right now.” You put your hands on your hips as you looked him up and down.

“Thank you. Anything is perfect.” Five knew he looked (and smelled) bad. He hasn’t been able to do anything properly for six years and he was grateful for whatever you could provide.

You nodded, feeling weird having a man around after being alone for so long. You gestured for him to take a seat at the dining table as you walked to the kitchen and grabbed a bowl, ladling some of the soup into it. You placed the bowl down in front of him and grabbed some slices of sourdough bread you had made fresh that day and placed it in front of him as well as a spoon.

Five was nearly drooling at the steaming bowl of soup in front of him along with the fresh bread. You chuckled silently to yourself when you noticed his expression.

“It’s potato and leek and the bread is sourdough, made it today. I’m going to go get a bath ready for you, help yourself to seconds if you’d like, there’s plenty left.” You patted his shoulder before you left towards the bathroom.

“Thank you.” He called as you left and dug in. He moaned as the creamy and smooth soup slid down his throat so easily and warmed him up from the inside. He was quick to dip a piece of the bread into the soup and scarfing it down. He hasn’t had a proper meal in years so he couldn’t control himself.

It was about twenty five minutes later when he wandered into the bathroom. He had helped himself to seconds like you said and he also washed his dishes. He didn’t want to be any more of a burden than he already felt.

The bathroom was small. There was a big long metal tub sat on the side of the room, a wooden shelving unit with potted plants on the top few shelves and some different soaps on the lower shelves with in reach of the tub. On the opposite side of the small room was a metal basin full of charcoal that was glowing orange.

There was a window a few feet above the tub that was slightly open for ventilation, there was a door that lead to the outside that was wide open. As Five was busy observing his surroundings, you walked in from the open door. A pole was over your shoulders, two big metal buckets full of water on either side.

“Oh…hello…” You were startled at the sight of him but you couldn’t let it stop you cause the buckets were starting to feel heavier by the minute. You bent down at the knees and slid the pole off your shoulders, causing the buckets to hit the ground with a thump making some water splash out onto the concrete floor.

“I..uh…the soup was really good, thank you.” Five shuffled awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck. He was impressed by your strength, and watching you do it in a dress was just the cherry on top. He was used to seeing strong women due to his time in the Commission, but none of them looked as soft and feminine as you did. It was clear you were a tough individual and he liked it.

“No problem.” You lifted the buckets up and set them in the pile of lit charcoal and used a stick to move the charcoal around so it surrounded the buckets. “Sorry, I don’t have running water. I’ve gotten used taking cold baths, usually only heating it in the winter but I thought you’d appreciate a warm bath more.” You brushed your hands off and placed them on your hips.

“You don’t have to go through all this trouble for me.” Five felt awkward, he’d never had anyone care about him this much and he was slowly starting to realize how much he craved a simple life like this.

You waved him off with a scoff. “Just gaining some good karma points.” You joked. You reached in the cabinet that the container of charcoal was sat on top of and grabbed some big fluffy towels out and set them on the middle shelf near the tub.

As you checked on the temperature of the water, you explained to Five that all the soap and shampoo was homemade. Despite living in the middle of no where near a forest, you had a neighbour that you regularly trade with. She was an older lady that grew Beehive Ginger, a plant that produced a natural liquid shampoo. You were able to make your own bars of soap pretty easily with the lye you also made. You mostly had everything you needed out here but it didn’t help to build connections with those near by.

As you picked up one of the buckets, holding the bottom with a cloth you picked up earlier and poured it into the bath, Five was thinking to himself how much he wanted a life like this, he hoped he could when he got back to his family and figured out how to stop the Cleanse, but it was tempting to stay here with you.

You poured the second bucket into the tub, it didn’t fill it completely but it was full enough, it would’ve cooled down by the time she was able to grab more water and heat it up anyway and Five was grateful for any amount of water. You scooped up some of the smouldering coals with the bucket and dumped them into the water.

Five gave you a weird look and you let out a breathy laugh. “It will keep the water warm longer. The water put it out and cooled it enough where it won’t burn you, plus, charcoal ash is good for your skin. Helps bring out toxins and such.”

Five nodded and thanked you again. You left to go grab him some extra clothes you said you had lying around and he finally took the opportunity to strip out of his dirty clothing. He wasn’t sure where to put the clothes so he left them in a pile on the floor. When he was fully nude he climbed into the tub and sat down. He groaned when the warm water raised around him. It reached just above his belly button and he took a moment to just sit there and enjoy the warmth. Not wanting the water to get cold, he grabbed a small pitcher that was on one of the shelves next to the various soaps. He scooped up some water and poured it over his head, relishing in the warmth and how it felt as some of the dirt washed right off.

You walked into the bathroom, a folded up shirt, jeans, and a pair of briefs in your arms. You paused when you realized he was in the tub already, you couldn’t blame him, you’d want to clean off as soon as possible if you looked as bad as he did. The tub was high enough where you couldn’t see anything below his shoulders from where you stood.

“Sorry.” You laughed awkwardly. “I’m used to not having to knock. Here, got you some clean clothes. They should fit.” You placed them down on a stool nearby and noticed you hadn’t closed the door to the outside and walked over and latched it shut. “Sorry to get rid of the view but sometimes the goats get too curious and sneak their way in and that usually brings in the chickens.” You laughed.

Five smiled with a huff. “Thank you, again.”

“Stop it. No more of that.” You huffed. “I’ll be around. Just shout if you need something.” You smiled and gathered up his dirty clothing and left.

——————————————————————

An hour or so later, you had his original clothes all washed and hung up outside to dry in the sun.

You were sat at the dining room table, drinking some tea thinking about everything that’s happened so far.

Five entered the dining room and smiled. He opened his mouth to say something before you cut him off. “If you try and thank me one more time I’m going to kick you out.” You semi joked.

He silently laughed and shook his head. “Noted.” He pulled out a chair and sat adjacent to you. “I was actually going to say, I didn’t know how to empty the bath so I just left it.”

You waved your hand. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll take care of it later. Tea?” You gestured to the kettle sitting on the stove.

“I’m more of a coffee guy.” He sheepishly admitted.

“Oh, I’ve got some of that.” You stood up and grabbed the container of instant coffee and poured some into a mug and poured the hot water from the kettle into it and stirred it around. You placed the mug in front of him and sat back in your seat. You made it so quickly it was as if you’ve done it many times before. “Sorry it’s only instant. Coffee is kinda hard to get out here so we’d have to go to the nearest town for it which is about two hours away.”

“I’m grateful to be having any coffee at all. I haven’t had any for twelve years.” He picked up his mug and took a sip. It was the perfect strength, slightly bitter but it wasn’t the worst he’s ever had.

“Oh! I forgot to ask if you want cream or sugar with that.” You sounded concerned but didn’t really make a move to get up.

“Oh no, that’s alright. I take it black. This is great.” Five reassured.

“How are the clothes? They comfortable?” You asked as you sipped your tea.

“Great, yeah. They fit perfectly.” A little too perfectly to be honest.

“That’s good. I cleaned your other clothes, they’re outside right now hanging up.”

You both let a comfortable silence go through for a few minutes before you gasped. “Oh my god…I just realized I never asked for your name.” You laughed.

He smiled after taking a sip of his coffee. “It’s…Five.” He hesitated, not sure on if he should tell you his real name but deciding it was the least he could do.

“Five? Like the number?” You questioned.

“It’s…a long story.” He sheepishly replied.

“I got nothing but time…but I won’t make you talk about something you don’t want to.” He was grateful for that. “I’m Y/N by the way.”

He repeated your name. He liked the sound of it. “Do you live alone? I find it odd that a woman who I’ve only seen wear a dress so far has men’s clothes.”

“I….I had a husband.” You looked away.

“Oh..I’m sorry. I didn’t see a ring so I just assumed…” he trailed off when you grabbed the thin chain around your neck and pulled it out from the top of your dress. A simple metal ring hanging off the edge.

“Hard to do any work around here when you’re worrying about keeping a ring on your finger. Plus I’ve never been one for wearing rings. He made it himself out of some scrap metal he had lying around.” You explained as you played with the ring. “We got married officially down at the courthouse. No wedding though. We were never much for big events like that and we didn’t really have anyone to invite anyway.” Tears pricked at your eyes as you thought back to it all.

“If I may ask, what happened?” Five straightened up in his chair, feeling sorry for you.

“He went out one day to check the traps we have out in the woods…never came back. I went looking for him for months but I never found him. He wasn’t the kind of man to just leave. He loved it here. So I assumed something got him.” You sniffed and wiped your eyes. “Sorry…”

“No no it’s alright. That sounds awful. I’m sorry that happened.” He reached out and laid a hand on yours that was on the table. It was out of character for him, usually he wasn’t good at comforting others, but he felt like he needed to. Something drew him to you.

You smiled weakly. “It’s been three years. You learn to cope and move on quickly. Especially with this kind of life. You don’t get to mope around, there’s always stuff to do here so you have to work through it.”

“It must’ve been hard, having to do everything yourself after having someone else to split the chores with.”

“It was. But you get used to it. You sorta look like him too. The long hair and eyes, they’re just like his.” You smiled. “Anyway…enough about me. You can stay as long as you’d like. I’ve only got one bedroom but the couch is surprisingly comfortable. I’ve taken many naps on it. Sorry I can’t offer you something better.”

Five smiled. “Anything is better than what I’ve been sleeping on for the past six years.”

——————————————————————

Five originally planned on staying for a few days. But a few days turned into a few weeks, which then turned into a few months.

He hadn’t given up on finding a way home but he got a little…distracted. He helped you out around the house and small farm you had. You taught him how to do a lot of the more labour intensive tasks and over time you two grew closer.

You were in the greenhouse, collecting some of the strawberries to make jam later when Five appeared in the doorway, a watering can in his hand. He was wearing a green knitted sweater that used to be your husband’s favourite. He paused for a second to admire you and smiled to himself and busied himself with watering the plants.

You glanced over and smirked to yourself and picked one of the smaller strawberries and threw it at him. He tried to hold back a smile at your antics when he got hit with another strawberry, and then another, and another. Finally, he turned to you.

“You’re not going to have enough to make jam if you keep throwing them at me.” He smiled gently at you.

“Ah, they’re just the shitty ones I would’ve fed to the chickens. I think I have enough now anyway.” You took a few steps towards him before you stepped on the handle of a trowel that was left on the ground. It caused you to slip and you dropped the basket of strawberries in shock, you prepared to catch yourself when Five caught you just in time.

You both made eye contact. You felt a shiver go down your spine at seeing eyes that looked so similar to your late husbands. You felt yourself get lost in them the longer you looked and Five felt the same.

The last person he ever loved was Delores, and she wasn’t even real but he loved her all the same. But you made him feel the same way, only a thousand times more. He had started to fall for you over the months of being alone together.

He glanced down at your parted lips, silently asking for permission. You sucked in a small breath and looked down at his. He slowly leaned in, tilting his head slightly before closing his eyes and softly kissing you. When you parted you looked at each other again before Five whispered.

“Was that weird?”

“No…but that’s what makes it weird.” You replied.

At that, Five cupped the back of your neck and pulled you closer, bringing your lips back to his. This time the kiss was more passionate and loving. You held onto his shoulders, gripping his sweater.

You slowly dragged your kisses down his jaw right to a specific spot on his neck and harshly sucked. Five threw his head back and moaned lightly. He hadn’t been given a hickey before but it felt so good. After a few seconds you pulled away and admired the bruise starting to form.

You pulled away from him and walked towards the greenhouse door. He looked at you in confusion, wondering if he did something wrong or if you were just toying with him when you turned around to look at him and leaned against the doorframe.

“You coming?” You smirked with a look in your eyes.

He grinned and stalked towards you with a predatory look on his face. You giggled and took off towards the house with him chasing behind you.

——————————————————————

Five had been with you for six months now. He has since graduated from sleeping on the couch to sharing your bed.

He has been everything you could ask for. Attentive, loving, patient, caring, hard working, etc. He was perfect in your eyes.

You were once again in the greenhouse. It was your favourite place after all. You were sat on a crate, using some shears to tidy up some flowers for the small bouquet you were putting together.

Five walked in carrying two rabbits. “Oh wow look at that. Two this time.” You smiled.

“All because of your traps.” He winked and kneeled in front of you.

“Such a flatterer.” You smirked as you put down the shears and placed the last flower with the rest. “What are you hiding?” You inquired with a raised eyebrow.

“What do you mean?” He asked, trying hard to hide his smile.

“I know you. You got that look.”

“What look?”

“That guilty ‘I have a secret’ look!” You laughed.

“I have no such look.” He bit his lip holding back his smile.

“Whatever.” You rolled your eyes with a grin.

“Ok ok you’re twisting my arm.” He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls something out. “Here.” He holds it out to you.

You gently take it from him and notice it’s a bracelet made of metal. It’s beautifully twisted together making a unique piece of art. “Oh…Five, this is beautiful. Where did you get this?”

“I made it. Used the scrap metal I found lying around.” He looked up at you.

“I love it.” You looked up from admiring the bracelet into his eyes.

“I aim to please.” He looked at you full of love and smiled.

You grabbed the back of his head and pulled him in for a kiss. He placed a hand on your waist and leaned in to the kiss. He was always such a good kisser. It was passionate and full of love and want and always left you breathless.

You both slowly pulled away, leaning your foreheads together as you caught your breath.

“I love you, Five.” you whispered as you softly scratched his scalp.

“I love you too. So much.” He replied, his thumb rubbing your waist.

As much as you’d love to keep the moment going, he slowly pulled away and stood up. “I’m going to go look for more scrap metal, we’re getting low and one of the traps needs to be fixed. I’ll be back in time for dinner.”

“Oh, okay. Be careful.” You smiled at him as he stood in the doorway.

“I will, love.” He replied softly before turning around and leaving.

Your smile fell as soon as he was gone. Now was as good a time as any.

——————————————————————

Despite finding peace and happiness with you, Five never stopped trying to find a way back home. His family was important to him and even though you were apart of it now, he still wanted to get back to his siblings.

He told you all about his family, his powers, how he got trapped in the future, his true age, everything that lead him to that point in time with you. The only thing he left out, was the subway. It was quite a distance away from your little piece of heaven and he didn’t want you to get stuck by accident like he did.

It was the one secret he kept from you, but what he didn’t know was that you had one of your own.

You had been feeling suspicious for a while about where he was getting all the metal. It was woods and foliage for miles so you had no clue where he was getting it all.

You weren’t stupid, you knew how much his family meant to him and you saw how it effected him being away from them for so long yet again. There would be days where he wasn’t himself, he was visibly depressed and his mind was occupied with the thoughts of his family. He would reassure you that he loved his life with you and didn’t regret a single thing, but being apart from them was hard.

But you were selfish. As much as you would love to meet his family, you refused to lose the one man that made you happy, again.

You waited for Five to get a head start before you went after him. You had to be careful, you knew he was a trained assassin and a former CIA agent, one little mistake and he’d catch you and you didn’t have an excuse thought up if he did. Luckily, you had some training yourself. Not at the level of Five’s but good enough where you were able to sneak up on him a few times before.

You followed a few yards behind him, staying close by but far enough behind where you won’t lose sight of him.

After about twenty minutes of walking, Five reached the entrance to the subway station. He looked around as a precaution before descending the stairs. Luckily, you had ducked down before he could spot you, you rose from your spot as you watched him go down the stairs.

You walked over and looked down from the top of the stairs and sighed heavily.

——————————————————————

A few months later, you were outside feeding the chickens when Five walked outside, he had the messenger bag he always used when going out slung around him.

He hadn’t needed to go to the subway station since the time you secretly followed him but a lot of things needed repairs recently so he had to find some more metal soon.

He walked up behind you and wrapped his arms around you and kissed your cheek. “I’m going out now. Be back soon, okay?” He said softly as he rested his head on your shoulder.

Five has become more touchy and cuddly recently and you’re not too sure why but you’re not exactly complaining.

“I can come with you. I don’t have much else to do right now that’s urgent. Just lemme finish up here.” You replied, throwing the rest of the seed to the birds.

“No no, it’s okay, love. You stay here. It’s safer here than out there.” He tried persuade you.

You huffed and turned around in his arms. “Five, I’ve survived out here on my own for three years before you showed up. I think I can handle it.”

“I know, but please? Just stay here. It gives me peace of mind knowing you’re here safe.” He looked down at you with pleading eyes.

You sighed exasperatedly. “Fine. But don’t be too long or I’m coming after you.”

“I won’t, love. See you soon.” He kissed you before taking off.

Five felt guilty. He had found a notebook that had the answers to find his way back home. He had held on to it for so long but he had no clue how to bring it up to you. He loved you, and he loved his life with you so much. But he also wanted to save his family, and as much as he’d love to bring them here, he knew most of them would refuse to drop their new lives to start over completely. Plus your cottage and garden kept both of you living comfortably and he had no idea what this timelines world was like outside of the small bubble you stayed in.

He was going to scavenge for metal but he was also hoping to study the notebook a little more. He had covered the subway walls in equations while he tried to think of all the possibilities of getting his family safe while also being able to stay with you. He knew you wouldn’t want to leave your timeline, especially since the one he was trying to get back to was turning to shit quite quickly.

Five had walked this path so many times that he was walking on auto pilot while looking down at the notebook and thinking. He had made it to the station and was about to take the first step down when he bumped into something solid.

He looked up and saw a bunch of wooden planks and chains blocking the entrance.

“What the hell?” He muttered to himself.

“I knew you’d come here.” He turned around when he heard your voice. You were stood a few feet away looking disappointed.

“Y/N? What are you doing here? I told you to stay back.”

“I know. But I wasn’t going to let you go down there again.” You crossed your arms.

“You did this?” He gestured to the shoddily put together barrier. “How do you even know about this place?”

“I followed you last time. I knew you were hiding something. Plus I was curious as to where all the metal was coming from. So…what’s that?” You nodded towards the notebook he was still holding.

“You have no right to keep me out of there.” He ignored the question and walked towards you.

“I can do whatever the fuck I want. You’re not going down there again.” You stood your ground.

“Oh yeah? And where else would I get the materials we need?” He was starting to get pissed off.

“Fuck all that! I don’t give a shit about that! What are you doing down there that’s so fucking important?” You yelled, getting frustrated with him diving the question.

“Trying to find a way back home! To my family!” He raised his voice back, throwing his arms up.

“This is your home now, Five. You’re happy here. We both are.”

“This is NOT my home. Without my siblings here, it will NEVER be home. With or without you here.”

That hit you hard. You felt a pang in your chest at hearing that.

“So that’s it? You’re just going to leave as soon as you can? You just can’t WAIT to get away from me huh?”

“Don’t be stupid.” He huffed.

“Stupid?! You won’t even tell me what the fuck is in that notebook or where you go it!” You waved your arms around.

“It’s the answer I’ve been looking for on how to get back to my timeline. Now, take this shit down so I can finish my equations.” He sighed.

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said no. You’re staying here.” You stared at him while he glared at you.

Five got close to you, getting up in your face. “What the fuck is your problem? What makes you think I won’t just blink down there and leave right n-“

“BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO LOSE YOU AGAIN!” You screamed as tears finally started falling down your face.

This startled Five, causing him to back up. It took him a second before he spoke up again.

“What do you mean ‘again’?” He questioned.

You squeezed your eyes shut and shook your head, hugging yourself.

“Y/N…” Five warned as he took a step towards you.

You hung your head as your tears kept falling. “I knew about timelines long before you showed up.” You sniffed and lifted your head, looking off to the side. “My husband…he…he found this place years ago. He went on the subway and came back telling me all about it. He was so captivated by it that he kept coming back, taking it to different timelines. I went with him once but we ended up somewhere awful. I never wanted him to go down there again. I didn’t trust it. But of course he was too stubborn and didn’t listen. He went out one day and…never came back. I waited for years. I came out here every day for about two of those years, just waiting for him to walk back up. I wanted to close it off but kept it open just incase he came back. Then you showed up…and I…I thought that you…were him. You looked and sounded the exact same. Even had the same name. But I knew you couldn’t have been him from the way you acted when we first met. But when I gave you his clothes to wear…all I saw was him.” You wiped your tears away.

Five was silent for a while. Trying to process everything you just dumped on him. “So…I was a replacement, for the version that you lost.” He clenched his jaw.

“No!” You looked at him with surprise. “No I swear you weren’t a replacement. Even if he was a version of you and you had a lot in common, you’re also different. There are things you do, things you say, that are so different from him. I never saw you as a replacement. I never saw you as him . I just saw someone so familiar that I felt so comfortable with. You made me fall in love all over again with a whole new person.” You tried to explain quickly.

Five sighed and looked away, scratching the back of his neck. “I need to get home.”

You sucked in a breath. “Five, please. Please don’t leave me alone out here again. I’ll…I’ll do better! I will do whatever you want as long as you just stay here. Please .” You felt tears stinging your eyes again as you reached out and held onto him.

“Y/N…” He sighed. He brought his arms around you and held you close. “I love you. I really do. But I don’t belong here. I’d love to stay with you. I really do. But your Five is out there somewhere. Stuck just like I was. He belongs here with you. I need to be with my family. I’m sorry.”

You sobbed into his chest as you tightened your grip on him.

“I’ll find your Five. I promise. I’ll find him and I’ll bring him back to you. You’re strong, you can take care of yourself while I look for him.” He reassured as he nuzzled into your hair.

“How do you know he’s even still alive?” You whimpered into his chest.

“He’s a Five. We’re stubborn, and if he loved you as much as I do then I know he’s fighting to get back to you.”

You both stood there, the air cold as you held each other. Your sobs mixing in with the sound of the wind. After a couple of minutes, your tears died down and you slowly pulled away from Five. He looked down at you, evidence of his own silent tears on his face.

You reached up and wiped the tears off his face. “I love you, Five. Just as much as I loved mine.”

He caught one of your wrists. “I know.” He whispered before kissing your palm. You both looked into each others watery eyes before stealing one last kiss.

When you pulled away, you leaned your forehead against his, one last time. “Do you promise you’ll find him?”

“I promise.”

With that, you backed away from him and held your hands close to your chest, one of them playing with the bracelet he made you all that time ago. You watched him look at you one more time, smiling, before suddenly he was gone in a flash.

You felt yourself fall to your knees as your curled in on yourself as you sobbed.

——————————————————————

Five had managed to arrive safely in his timeline. He was going to keep his promise to you, but first he needed to see his family.

His heart was still heavy at the thought of leaving you behind but he tried not to let it show. He didn’t want his siblings to pry too much when the wound was still open.

He walked up to the familiar house and sighed before knocking on the door. It opened to reveal Lila.

“Hey there you are. Finally.” She looked him up and down. “What the hell are you wearing?” She questioned.

“I can’t be comfortable?” He countered.

“Alright, don’t get your knickers in a twist. I’ve only ever seen you in suits or a school boy uniform. It’s weird seeing you in casual clothes.” He rolled his eyes at her statement. He certainly didn’t miss her quips. Lila stepped back and opened the door more to let Five in.

As soon as he stepped inside he saw Diego with Grace on his hip. “Heyyyy you made it, Cinco! Come on in, take your shoes off first though.”

Five softly smiled at the sight of his family safe and sound.

——————————————————————

Five found himself back in the subway station pretty quickly. The Cleanse had yet to be stopped and everything was escalating so fast but he knew he had a promise to keep. He hated leaving his family again with no explanation but he refused to let you down.

He was prepared to spend another six years down there all alone just for you. Luckily, he had only spent a few hours searching different timelines when he came across a deli.

He had followed what he swore was an another version of him down there. He hoped it was the one he was looking for.

However, he was shocked to find the entire place was full of doppelgängers. “Hey! Over here.” The Five in the suit that he followed called him over to a booth.

“What is this place?” He sat down across from himself.

“It’s a gas station. What the hell’s it look like? It’s a deli.” His counterpart replied sarcastically, sipping some coffee.

Another Five chuckled in the booth behind him while yet another copy of himself placed down a mug of coffee and two pastrami sandwiches on the table.

“Little light on the sauerkraut don’t you think?” Five joked.

“Yeah, it says it on the menu and I keep telling him but…he never listens.” He shook his head.

“Sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Theoretically it is.” He picks up the mug of coffee.

“Oh, you’re not gonna like that.” The other Five points out.

He looks down at the coffee with a frown.

“So! I take it your figured out the subway system by now.” The Five takes a bite of his sandwich.

“Alternate versions of the same moment in time?”

“That is correct. You’d be surprised how long it took some of the Five’s to figure that out.” Five mumbles with a mouth full. It made him think back to you and how you always scolded him if he talked with his mouth full. He hoped you were alright.

Five swallowed and continued. “We’re all you. From alternate timelines, most of us have given up trying to fix the problem.”

He looked at his counterpart, confused. “What problem?”

“The broken timeline, man. There’s only supposed to be one.” Five sipped his coffee.

He thought for a moment. “I don’t get it.”

“Look around, Five.” He sighed. “Does this seem right to you?”

He looked to the side. “Well, no-“

“You think Einstein was thinking of this when he was figuring out relativity? Not a chance. This shit would’ve made his head explode.” He took another sip of his coffee.

“Ok so, what shattered the original timeline?” Five questions.

“Not what…who. And I’ll give you three guesses to figure it out.” A ding is heard through the deli.

“We did!” Another Five from behind the counter shouts.

The Five across from him looks exasperated. “Why you always gotta wreck shit, Brisket Five? Why?”

“By we he means…the family, my siblings?”

“The morons, yeah.”

“I’m familiar with them, yeah.”

“One perfect timeline and the moment we come into existence; boom! Shattered. Into an infinite number of alternate timelines in an infinite loop of time. As we try and save the world- how many times…was it again?” Five leaned over and asked the Five in the booth behind him.

“One hundred and forty five thousand four hundred and twelve.” The Five lowered his newspaper to look at the other two.

“That’s a lot. He’s like Rain Man, that one. He loves num- oh by the way. Look at the artwork.”

He turned and looked at all the framed photos littering the walls.

“All the different ways we made our universe go kaboom. Gold star for consistency, am I right?” He joked.

“We need to fix this.”

“Oh trust me, we tried. That’s why one of us created the commission. By the way that’s why there’s no paradox psychosis here. Uses the same technology that Five did for the panic room. He wanted to undo all the broken timelines, get back to the one and only. But that always fails because…?” He prompted.

“The family is the problem. We’re doomed to save or destroy the world over and over again and infinitum.” He sighed.

“Bingo.” A Five sat at a table holding a coffee chimed in.

“Bingo.” The Five across from him repeated with his mouth full.

“I need to get back to my family. Stop this from ever happening.” He stood up.

“Well…good luck with that. Guess you don’t want your brisket to-go?” The Five reached for his plate and slid it towards him.

He was about halfway to the door when he remembered his promise and turned around. “One last thing. I spent a year in a different timeline with a woman. Her name is Y/N, she said she lost her husband because of the subway and that he’s another Five.”

“Y/N, huh? Only a few of us have met someone with that name, but chances are you’re looking for that one over there.” He pointed to another Five who looked the worst out of all of them. He was hunched over a table in the far corner, head in his arms. “Used to talk non stop about his wife named Y/N and how he had to get home to her. Poor bastard got stuck and went crazy trying to find his way back.”

That’s all Five needed to hear. He walked over to the Five and shook his shoulder. The Five grumbled but lifted his head.

“Hey, I know how to get you back to your timeline. Your wife misses you a lot. She’s waiting for you right now.”

“Y/N?!” He straightened up.

“Yeah. C’mon. She needs you.” He helped the Five stand and lead him out of the deli.

——————————————————————

On the subway ride back to your timeline, your Five was pacing back and forth.

“Sit down. You’re gonna fall on your ass when the train stops.” Five tried to calm him down.

“I haven’t seen her in years. She told me to stop coming down here but I just couldn’t fucking listen and I ended up leaving her all alone.” He brushed his hand through his messy and dirty hair.

“Hey. She’s strong. She was doing just fine by herself when I met her. I promise she’s okay. She’ll be happy to see you again.” He sighed. He really wishes it could be him, but now that he knew his family was destined to destroy the world no matter how hard they try to stop it, he had to go back and be with them.

When the train stopped in the right timeline, he guided the other Five out. “Ah shit.” He muttered when he got to the stairs and saw it was still blocked off. “Forgot she did that.” He grabbed the other Five and blinked them to the surface. He shivered at the cold air. It must have been a few months since he left considering there was now snow on the ground.

“This way. I’m not sure how long it’s been for her so let’s not keep the lady waiting.” The disheveled Five followed close behind him, growing anxious at the familiar scenery. His heart started beating hard in his chest when he saw the cottage in the distance.

As they got closer, they could both see you exiting the greenhouse, a basket in your hands.

“Oh my god…” The Five whispered. He stood still in shock at seeing you again. You looked just as beautiful as he remembered. “Y/N!” He called out.

You looked around at the sound of your name being called. You had been hallucinating hearing your name in Five’s voice since he left so you were in complete shock when you looked over and saw your original Five a few yards away.

You dropped the basket, its contents spilling onto the snowy ground, and beelined for your husband, jumping right over the fence.

He ran towards you, quickly closing the distance before colliding in a desperate hug. Tears were pouring down both of your faces as you squeezed each other right. Scared that either one of you might disappear.

You looked up from his shoulder and through blurry vision you could see the Five you spent a year with standing in the distance. You smiled at him and mouth a “thank you” to him.

He smiled sadly back at you and nodded. You closed your eyes and nuzzled deep into your husbands neck. When you opened them again, Five had disappeared from view. You frowned, a part of you will always love and miss him , but you had your true Five back now. You could only hope he found someone that made him happy.

You pulled back from the hug and looked your Five in the eyes and smiled through the tears. “Welcome home, honey.”

——————————————————————

As Five stood hand in hand with his family as the Durango slowly consumed him, he thought back to you.

He had no idea what timeline was the right one, but he could only hope, that even if it was a slim chance, that your timeline was the correct one.

As you laid in bed, cuddled up to your husband, you didn’t feel a thing as your timeline disappeared.

——————————————————————

On the twelfth hour, of the eighth day of August, 2024, absolutely nothing out of the ordinary occurred.

Y/N would say, it was just a normal day as she watered the marigolds in her garden.

[mqrrstarr]

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!!

Gladiator Characters x GN! Reader

(1/7)

Feat: Geta, Caracalla, Commodus, Lucius, Maximus, Acacius, Lucilla, Macrinus!!

Christmas Day and Eve headcanons!

Warnings: poorly edited, just a girl who loves these characters and the holidays, a bit short

A/N: MERRY CHRISTMAS!! don’t feel the same vibe as I did when a child, so I’m coping with writing. This will be a seven part series regarding Gladiator characters and Christmas and I’ll try to post them all BY THE END OF THE WEEK (?) but uhh don’t hold that against me. Enjoy!!

Summary: headcanons for all the gladiator characters and how they’d spend Christmas Eve and Day with their SO.

｡ﾟ•┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈• ｡ﾟ｡ﾟ•┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈• ｡ﾟ

Geta would spend Christmas Eve with dinner specially made for his SO, (he def has better cooking skills than Caracalla) and he’d lovingly give them a bonus Eve gift. It’s a beautiful moment, where the strong and feared leader of Rome and succumb to the one he loves.

“Enjoy it darling. The beauty of the holidays does not compare to yours.”

He’d watch you enjoy his meal, and drink the wine he picked out especially for the occasion. As much as music was needed, Geta refused to let anyone interrupt your moment together.

On Christmas Day, it would depend on what happened during the night. Was it a peaceful night, was it active, or was it bland? Either way, Geta would get up and prepare presents for you, a surprise for no one other than the love of his life. He’d do it quietly, and super early in the morning. He’d rarely sleeps in peace anyways, so why use the energy elsewhere?

It would also be a morning where you wake up gently, and be surprised by the lavish decorations Geta has placed. Gold and white silk decorating his room, and most of all, your Emperor was still yours.

- - - - - - -

Caracalla is in love with the holidays. He gets giddy, childlike, and excited every time. This is a period in the year where he can remember something good about his youth. He likes to keep himself happy, and now that you’re his? You’re included in all the traditions.

During your Christmas dinner, he’d bring out a bunch of dinner games, have slaves perform for the both of you (AMND reference btw) and it would be a wholesome night.

Before Christmas Day, the eldest emperor cried during the night. He laid in your arms, and caressed you in return.

“Sweets. I cannot express how much care…”

He looks at you like a puppy worshipping its owner.

“I truly care about you. And although these times are happy and remind me of things, I hope to make new memories with you.”

The night would pass, and the morning would come. You’d wake up in Caracalla’s embrace, and to be frank, none of you got the others gifts out. So you just opened everything together, and you had never seen the man so happy.

- - - - - - -

Commodus and Christmas. What an interesting mix. Take a emotionally damaged man with immense childhood trauma and put him in a holiday where he did nothing but suffer? Where his own father ignored him and gave him nothing but one gift?

Christmas Eve with him was truly nothing but a dinner. Now that he had you, he tried to forget and make new memories. But the shame and pain was still visible in his eyes. You couldn’t take it anymore and sat next to him, caressing him and saying words of affection.

“My present from Venus, ignore my past and ignore my anger. My father ruined my mind, and all you can do it heal it. This Christmas will be my first with you, and if my last? Than I would rather be dead.”

You looked at him with such sincerity in your eyes, he became submissive to your touch and you both proceeded to sit next to the fire in his room.

Christmas morning arrived promptly, and knowing this was a very sensitive time for Commodus, you got him a gift he’d never forget. This necklace, engraved with your initials and his; with both of your favorite jewels. And, a new laurel crown for the one and only Emperor himself.

Commodus nearly fell down into tears, so grateful he was finally seen.

- - - - - - -

Lucius loved you with his entire heart. After being forcefully removed from his mother as a kid, and already losing his first wife, he couldn’t bear the thought of losing another person special to him.

To Lucius, Christmas is the mark of the end of the year, another time to celebrate the fact you’re both alive, and that you’re both still warriors. (writing from a Gladiator! perspective rather than Prince!)

“My love, I am eternally grateful to the Gods that we can be together.”

He kisses your forehead, gently as to not hurt you. You spend your Christmas Eve with a simple meal, and the next day not as lavish either.

Lucius adored you already: but he’d try to get a gift anyways, even though he already admires and thinks you’re just amazing! (Poppy and Branch dynamic)

He’d come up with something cute and homemade, providing the point that it doesn’t have to be expensive to matter. (save me Lucius save me)

- - - - - - -

Maximus wasn’t the same after the loss of his previous wife and child, and this time was bittersweet for him. His SO kept him sane, and he tried not to let his sadness show through.

You decorated the tree in your home, one Maximus was able to buy after years of being a Gladiator. He occasionally goes to the fights, but not anymore. Now he’s a Senator. (NOT CANON ITS JUST SO HES NOT DEAD AND IT WILL MAKE SENSE IN THE OTHER SEVEN PARTS)

He came up behind you and kissed your neck, watching you place the last of the ornaments.

“Excellent work my dear. Excellent. I’m going to bed now, meet you there?”

And he went away in a form far too sad for the usual Maximus. You knew him well, and simply decided to go to sleep as well. The following morning, you woke up first and decided to get your gift for Maximus.

It was a wooden carving of him, his late wife, his late child, and you all together.

Maximus woke up a few minutes later, and got your gift from the bedroom! (You were in the living room.) He got you a bracelet from his dead wife, something that really meant a lot to him.

“My dear? I’d like to give you this. It belonged to my former wife, and she liked it dearly. Made form Spanish jewels and metal, of course. I love you, but I beg for you to understand that she and my son still live in me. You understand, right?”

You nodded, happy and overwhelmed. You gave Maximus his gift, and tears were shed from the both of you. Your gift meant a lot, as you accepted his love and the love for those gone.

- - - - - - -

Acacius loved the holidays. It was a time where he could relax, sink into his own bed, be clean, and most important, be with you.

You finished preparing the meal, a mix of both his and your favorite foods with some Roman delicacies thrown in there.

“Looks great my sweet. Not as good as you though! But you know I love you.”

He caressed your hips before helping set the table. The meal was prepped and Acacius sat you down first. (WHAT A GENTLEMAN)

He sat across from you at the table, and you talked about what was going on, what you wanted to happen in Rome, etc.

Eventually, stuff happened and you both woke up in the each others arms in the morning. Acacius always laid very still in the night, out of pure instinct. However, Christmas morning he couldn’t stop moving around, and woke the both of you up together.

He eagerly said, “Hurry up and change, your gift is outside.” He smiled and left promptly.

Outside, there was a gleaming white stallion.

“For you. A horse just as grand as your soul.”

You smiled. Who wouldn’t want a horse as a gift? But inside you shattered. The only gift you got for Acacius was a painting of himself. You showed it to him, and he reassured you it was enough. Let’s just say he’d also show you it was okay.

- - - - - - -

Lucilla loved the holidays. She decorated excessively, both as a young woman and as she is now. (hc, it’s because Lucius loved the looks and lights of Christmas and the guilt of having him leave her has followed her forever)

“One more wreath I promise… it’s just an extra special one… done!”

She looked at you and smiled. It radiated calm and positivity, an effect only Lucilla had. You kissed her and assured the place looked great.

“Dinner should be set by the slaves by now. It should be good. I trust it is. They sent by fresh fruits and veggies and proper meat as well. I’d like to give you your gift now, would that be alright? I just truly cannot wait.”

You nodded yes, but you’d have to get the gift from the room. You agreed to meet again in five minutes to exchange gifts.

Soon, the two of you are reunited, and she presents a lovely sculpture of you, portrayed in such an ethereal form; as if the gods had carved it themselves. You gave her a crown made from pure gold and a ring, as you knew she loved collecting rings. The ring you gave her had your initials carved, signifying the both of you tied together.

- - - - - - -

Macrinus had a holiday anytime one of his prized gladiators won. Yet, Christmas, was an actual holiday he could look forward to.

“Uh, Dove, do you know if the servants have finished the meal? I’ve got a bunch of gladiators waiting to fight in your honor.”

(he calls you Dove bc you’re his symbol of peace!)

He planted a kiss on your forehead before leading you to the garden outside, where a meal was served and the servants were waiting patiently, deserts, fruits, wine in their hands.

Five gladiators waited in chains to be released to have a “playful” hand to hand fight, something Macrinus found plenty delight in.

“I have a gift for you. I won’t be around tomorrow, as the Emperors requested a meeting with me. So I wish to give you this. I know it’s a bit excessive, but you deserve it.”

He gave you a pearl necklace with ruby earrings to go with it, and a slip saying you owned a young gladiator.

You thanked Macrinus, and you enjoyed the meal as the gladiators fought and the moon shined upon the both of you.

“I live for you, and I love you Dove. Fly high always.”

[ajmasch]

@here4hualian kissmas day 24: a kiss that comes naturally

When Xie Lian was a kid, love seemed so far away. It was a thing for stories and adults to worry about, not for him.

Then, he got a little older, and suddenly it seemed to be the only thing anyone around him talked about. “Such-and-such girl is around the right age…” or “she could be a potential match for the prince’s future wife…” or anything else. Even his oldest friend Feng Xin had seemed to swap gears, now seeming to be intimidated by any girl they passed by where he had normally treated them with indifference.

“It’s just… she was very pretty, don’t you think?” he mumbled when Xie Lian questioned him on the difference.

“I hadn’t really noticed,” was the prince’s reply.

Joining the cultivation sect was a relief in that regard at first, considering abstinence was the basis of its teachings, but then he listened to the other disciples whine and complain about the harsh restrictions that he seemed not to have a problem with. He told himself it was just that he was more dedicated to his training. It didn’t matter that he didn’t feel the same things as others his age, since it just allowed him to dedicate his focus on ascension. Love was unnecessary.

Despite Xie Lian’s stated goal of ascension, until that time, he was still the Crown Prince. That meant finding him a wife was a wide topic of conversation as he grew closer to coming of age. He was pushed to spend more time with ‘suitable’ girls, though it never seemed to go well. He told himself it was because of his cultivation, that he had been trained to resist the charms of women. He pretended he didn’t notice how he always seemed to say the wrong thing or behave in the wrong way.

“So what?” his father said when he tentatively brought the subject up over dinner. “It’s not like you have to be head-over-heels for the girl. As long as you can tolerate her and she gives you an heir, what’s the big deal?”

“Xie-lang…” his mother scolded, and then they started bickering. Xie Lian was seeing them argue a lot more lately. Had they always been like that? He wasn’t sure. A part of him thought they loved each other still, despite it. Another part of him wondered if they had ever loved each other at all. Love was confusing, he decided, and it was hard. He’d much rather put his effort towards something like his cultivation, something that he really cared about, something that made sense.

Then, ascension.

Then, the war.

Then, Bai Wuxiang.

In the rush of becoming a god, then in the chaos of the war, love was the farthest thing from Xie Lian’s mind. He was much too busy, much too focused, much too exhausted. Then, that creature in the half-laughing-half-crying mask appeared and showed Xie Lian: love was nothing except more pain. Because Xie Lian loved his people, he loved his friends, he loved his family, and one by one they were ripped away from him.

Love inevitably ends in heartbreak, so why try? Xie Lian walked away from the spot where a ghost in a smiling mask had sacrificed everything for the love of his god and resolved to never allow himself to feel that pain again.

Then, San Lang.

From the moment Hua Cheng waltzed into his life, Xie Lian knew he was screwed. From his charming smiles, to his sharp intellect, to his cutting humor, he quickly pushed his way past Xie Lian’s defenses.

It was terrifying. It was exhilarating.

It was embarrassing, as Xie Lian realized he was beginning to act how he remembered others around him growing up had acted with the people they had crushes on. Was this love? If so, he had been wrong in the past. This wasn’t confusing or hard, it was so so easy. 

And the first time they kissed without any pretenses, without any hidden feelings, it felt as natural as breathing because somewhere in the last few months, loving Hua Cheng had become a habit. One that he would not break, even though somewhere in the caves nearby Bai Wuxian was lurking, waiting to take it from him.

Maybe it will end in heartbreak, Xie Lian thought as they broke the kiss and continued running, hand in hand. There’s no way to know the future, but whatever happens it’s worth it to have loved him for even a moment.

[ilovegeorgie]

besame mucho

genre: fluff

warnings: none !

summary: basically the mistletoe cliche lol

a/n: ik this is cheesy and stuff, but well.. also, merry xmas to those who celebrate it !!

the house was filled with fairy lights twinkling on the tree, the smell of wine and mince pies wafting through the air. everything was perfect… except for one thing: georga had been trying all day to steal a kiss from her, but she wasn’t giving in.

george had been dropping hints, playful winks, leaning in a little too close when she wasn’t looking, but she kept dodging him, laughing it off or making excuses. after all, she had a million things to do before dinner, and george was being, well, himself.

the day had been spent decorating, baking, and sipping wine by the fire, but as the hours ticked on, george’s patience was wearing thin. he knew she’d been busy, but enough was enough, he wanted a kiss, and was determined to get it.

he spotted the mistletoe hanging by the doorframe, that quintessential christmas decoration that seemed to have magical powers of persuasion, or at least according to him. with a sly grin, george sauntered over, grabbed the mistletoe, and carefully hung it in place, just above where she’d have to pass to get to the kitchen. he then stood underneath it, waiting for her to walk by.

she had just finished setting the table for dinner, mumbling to herself about how everything needed to be just right. it had been a busy day, and she was looking forward to a quiet evening with george, but first a needed minute to breathe. heading for the kitchen, she suddenly noticed george standing there under the mistletoe, looking far too pleased with himself.

“oh, no,” she muttered under her breath. “not again.”

he grinned. “i’m just standing here, love. you’re just walking right under it.”

“george…” she warned, raising an eyebrow, knowing full well what he was up to. “don’t even think about it.”

“i’m not thinking about anything,” he said with a cheeky smile, stepping slightly into her path. “i’m just here, minding my business. if you happen to walk under this mistletoe... well, what can i do about it?”

she crossed her arms, trying to stay firm despite the way her heart fluttered. “you can stop trying to trick me into kissing you.”

he shrugged with mock innocence. “i’m not tricking you, love. it’s tradition, and you know that you can’t argue with tradition.”

she sighed, rolling her eyes but not able to suppress a smile. “i know exactly what you’re doing, harrison.”

“i’m sure you do,” he said, tilting his head and stepping closer. “but you can’t resist it forever, can you?”

she tried to sidestep him, but george was quick, stepping into her path once more. “i’m not falling for it, george.”

he grinned wider, his voice dropping into a more serious tone. “you sure about that? i thought christmas was the time for a bit of giving.” he winked at her, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

“alright, alright,” she said, secretly enjoying his persistence. “just one kiss. but only because you’ve been so persistent.”

george’s eyes lit up, and before she could change her mind, he quickly wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her towards him. their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. it wasn’t just any kiss, it was the one he’d been working for all day, the one he’d promised himself would happen under the mistletoe.

when he finally pulled away, he was grinning like a cheshire cat. “see? told you it’d work.”

she rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile. “you’re such a cheeky bugger, george.”

“yeah, well,” he said, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear, “i do have my charms.” he kissed her again, this time more softly, his forehead resting against her. “merry christmas, love.”

“merry christmas, georgie,” she replied, feeling the warmth of the moment.

george pulled her into a tight hug, still grinning. "and no more tricks, i promise."

“uh-huh..,” she said, though she had a feeling that if he ever got a good idea again, she’d be right under another mistletoe.

[the-s1lly-corner]

Since it’s close to Christmas, (literally 1am Christmas Eve as I’m writing this), how about some Christmas themed X Reader headcanons or scenarios with some of our favorite circus performers?

You can write anyone you want, but i definitely want Caine to be there at least. I love that guy 🎄🥛🍪

-🪄

Happy holidayssssss

Christmas w/ some of the circus members

Mayhaps ill make a part two with the other characters.. that said I do have a TADC christmas post from last year with all of the cast!! Not sure how well it holds up but :3

Characters: caine, kinger, gangle, pomni

Notes: reader is gn, short post, general christmas shenanigans, haven't reread the aforementioned previous Christmas post so apologies if anything coincidentally repeats from last year LMAO

CWs: none

CAINE

bold of you to assume hes not going to send you all off on a christmas themed adventure for the day! in fact he probably starts leaning into the holiday themes the SECOND thanksgiving is done- assuming he even bothers to wait for that.. he might even try to lean into it as soon as halloween is done

REALLY leans into the festivities, constant christmas music in the circus and hes going to do some countdown... and god... the presents... he gives everyone a present but hes going to (poorly) hide that hes giving you extra presents- youre tooooooooootally not his favorite member in the circus- huh? why would anyone ever think that?

he snaps his fingers and in an instant everyone is given ugly sweaters

KINGER

he... likes the lights that caine puts up throughout the circus... theyre so colorful, and the blinking of them reminds him of something.... oh... were you saying something?

the storyteller, will go on and on and on about random stuff- not always christmas stories, but theres definitely some thrown in there!

convince him to make a massive pillow fort- no-! no pillow castle! oh nonono wait! pillow igloo! festive and comforting for him, he does still make sure to go out to interact with everyone else but he'd much rather stay inside his fort and spend time with you

...will come out for presents... and hes got something for you! no peeking until its time to open them up...!

GANGLE

jax tries to string her up on a christmas tree that caines put up for you guys- please help her down :(

she makes ornaments to pass the time when you guys arent sent out on an adventure, shes more than open to letting you sit down and join her! from paper ornaments to those cute little clay/plastic ones! shes got paint and other little things to help decorate!

sometimes the overall energy of the holiday can be a little... overwhelming... she tends to hang back in a quiet corner while everyone else goes out and celebrates- she doesnt hate christmas, its just sometimes it can be overwhelming... she... really appreciates you hanging back to spend time with her or generally making sure shes actually having fun

POMNI

her first christmas in the circus is... odd for her. she doesnt know how to feel about it already being christmas- the whole... passage of time and being made aware of how long shes been stuck here can put a damper on her mood but she knows there isnt anything she can do about escaping at the moment

and... with you around... you help keep her steady during the season- just enough to keep her cool until its over and she can go back to letting the time passing sink to the back of her mind... oh... you want her to help you make cookies...?

shes not much of a baker- but if you can help her and give her a recipe shes sure to make something thats at least edible- not that you guys need to eat in the circus... she never could get used to how the food tasted and felt in the digital world... it tastes... off... and has a faint sensation of licking a battery... but... its something

it keeps her hands and mind busy as she decorates them with you- and for the first time this season... she actually smiles, because of you

[talesfromawannabewriter]

@things-arent-what-they-seem66

@beef-brisket

(sorry for the wait this one took a while to do)

Lucifer was tossing and turning in his bed unable to sleep. He was in his suite at the hotel. When he left the rockstar he had two choices of where to go. The hotel or his manor. Right now Lucifer couldn’t stomach the idea of going back to a house that was built on false promises and words.

He felt down right sick the more he thought about it. When he had looked into Adam’s mind he saw everything. Every last memory from the time he was created to the last few minutes. That included all his memories that had Lilith in them. What he saw made him want to go back in time and curse his young self for being so stupid.

Adam was right Lilith never was under his control. He was under hers. He saw how she was constantly ordering him around. Telling him how he wasn’t doing anything right. Then in one memory he still saw when he closed his eyes was her choking Adam.

It was another one of their arguments when Adam decided to try and walk away. She tackled him and wrapped a strong pair of vines around his fragile neck and pulled. He could only watch as she almost killed him that day. This was the same woman he gave everything up and betrayed his best friend for. He thought he knew her, he thought she was his soulmate.

But he was wrong. It only got worse from there, the details weren’t meant to be shared. All he could say was that Adam lived a life of hardship. All thanks to Lucifer. Then he got to a somewhat recent memory.

It happened seven years ago.

The day Lilith left.

She had called a meeting to discuss the proposition of making a deal. She wished to leave Hell along with her position as its Queen. She would never contact nor use her powers against Heaven against Hell ever again. In turn she would be granted paradise. He knew she wasn’t happy with him for the longest time.

To do this though? To abandon her duties and everything they built and rebelled for. Then he thought of their daughter. Their poor, sweet, girl completely oblivious to her mother’s whereabouts. Only that she left.

And she wasn’t coming back.

But that wasn’t what broke him. It was just the icing on top of the shit filled cake. The thing that absolutely recked Lucifer was back when Adam and Eve had just left the garden. They were commiserating over being tricked by people they thought cared for them. Especially the bright eyed angel.

The first man then told the second woman something that Lucifer had never even thought was possible. He told her that he loved him.

Not just the usual love for a friend, but in love with him. Or at least he used to be.

That did it. That was the final straw that broke the camel’s back and opened the flood gates. His best friend was in love with him. The truly shocking thing was…he was too.

Back in Eden, before everything went to complete shit, he was deeply enamored with the first man. He just didn’t know how to say it. Then Lilith came along and he saw how happy was with her. Or at least he thought they were. Thinking he’d never look at him like he looked at her. Then the lies started and it just became one big fuck fest, with Lucifer leading the act.

As he wallowed in his self pity he couldn’t help but think, ‘Can I fix what has been broken?’ Or was the damage too big and irreversible? Because deep down, way beneath within him, past the resentment and anger there was still love for him. Love that never died.

He couldn’t give up. He wouldn’t give up. He would make things right. He had to.

Lucifer internally: I will fix this, I swear to you Adam. I will fix this.

—

Adam exhaled in bliss as he fully emerged in the warm water. A week had passed since the incident and Adam had felt ready enough to go back to his penthouse. Verosika said that she’d check in on him and make sure he was doing alright. Even offering to stay for the night. Have a little slumber party she said.

He was more than okay with it. In fact she would be arriving later this evening once she was done at the studio.

So far Steve hadn’t shown up. Yet anyway. He tried to not think about him and just allowed himself to relax in his jacuzzi that sat on his balcony that overlooked the streets of Lust. He slowly closed his eyes, leaned back against the jets, and listened to the sounds of his city. He was finally at peace.

Until…

Lucifer: Howdy do Adam!

His eyes shot open as he took in the sight of the king of Hell standing right outside his hot tub with a stupid grin on his face. Adam glowered and closed his eyes again hoping that he was just imagining things. He wasn’t so lucky.

Lucifer: I know that last time we spoke we left things…

Adam: On an almost murder?

Lucifer: Tense, I was going to say we left things on a tense note. But I think I know how to make up for that. A snap of his fingers and Lucifer was now naked and in the hot tub with Adam. Disgust crept up his throat as Lucifer swam over and caged him on either side with his arms. He was smirking down at Adam, not in his usual way, but with something…lustful.

Lucifer: As king of Hell I’m sure I can make you feel real good. I can make you see the Heavens above as you writhe in the sheets.

Was this man for real?

Not that long ago he almost killed Adam. Twice! Now he wanted to wet his dick in him? Adam merely rolled his eyes before managing to push Lucifer off him and got out of the tub.

Adam: True poetry Lucifer, I’m sure in your mind such words would have had me swooning by now. And yet…

Adam reached over to grab his robe and put it on while Lucifer sat in the jacuzzi muddled. He was so sure that would work. Succubi and incubi feed on lust so he figured that would be the best way to make up to him. He wasn’t lying when he said he was great in bed. At least he thought so.

He got out of the tub and with his magic made it so he was back dry and in clothes. Lucifer: I…well I uh…I did think that would work since your kind typically like it when their talked to dirty.

Adam turned his head to deliver a harsh glare.

Lucifer: Adam I…I just thought it was the best way to break the ice was to break the bed hehe.

Adam: Well I’m sorry your highness but you are the very last person I would even consider ‘breaking the bed’ with. So good day!

He tried making his way to the door but was unable to with Lucifer in the way.

Lucifer: Adam wait! Listen when I saw your memories I saw everything and I mean EVERYTHING. Even your feelings for me.

Adam: What? Complete utter loathing?

Lucifer: No! I know that you love me.

Adam narrowed his eyes. He considered the possibility that he’d see those memories. It didn’t matter though.

Adam: Loved. I loved you Lucifer. Past tense.

Lucifer: Come on you can’t tell me you don’t still hold to your fatal attraction for me because I sure do.

He said giving him a wink and a pose. Hoping that it would at least get Adam to blush. All it served was make Adam even more uncomfortable.

Adam: (scoffs) After all the shit you did to me? I think not. Now if you’ll excuse me I already have enough on my plate. I don’t need you adding on the stress.

Adam stepped around him and tried opening the door but found it locked. He tried over and over again but it wouldn’t budge. He knew exactly who was behind this. He turned around and crossed his arms staring down at the devil.

Adam: Very mature for an older ten thousand year old king.

Lucifer: Look you're mad, and you have a right to be, but I have the right to at least explain my side of the story!

Adam: Like you allowed me to explain my side of the story in Eden?

Lucifer: I was tricked!

Adam: So was I! But at least when you fell for being tricked by her you received a whole entire kingdom to do as you pleased. Me I got kicked out of paradise and had to survive not only for myself but my wife and children. Meanwhile you’re living it up with a hottie on your arm claiming yourselves as rulers of your banquet of madness!

Lucifer: For your information my powers to Hell didn’t come in until I fully embraced my prideful nature.

Adam: Which I imagine didn’t take long, what about Lilith though how long did it take her to discover her powers?

Lucifer: …A few days after we fell but-

Adam laughed sardonically.

Adam: You’ve been painting yourselves as victims this whole time when the real victims toiled and suffered on Earth. All while you lounged about displaying your power and demanding respect when you’ve done literally nothing for your people.

Lucifer: Hey I’ve done plenty as king!

Adam: Yes, like the caste system for the hell born you helped create.

Lucifer: That was Satan! Not me! I didn’t do anything about it.

Adam: Just like you didn’t do anything about Lilith riling up Heaven to spite them which initiated the extermination.

Lucifer: Oh? So I was just supposed to make her stop?

Adam: YES! This whole time you had the ability to stop what she was doing but you didn’t! And you know why that is? Because you care more about making the wrong people happy than those who actually care about you!

Lucifer: HA! You do still have feelings for me!

Adam felt his eye twitch.

Adam: UGH YOUR IMPOSSIBLE!!! The only reason we both know you're here Lucifer is because you feel sorry not for me but for yourself and want to make yourself feel better.

Lucifer: I do NOT feel sorry for myself I do care for you Adam I always have!

Adam: Then why didn’t you ever tell me? Why now? After everything? After your wife left you and seen all the shit she’s done? Is it because your little fantasy of her is ruined and you need a replacement. Otherwise everything you fell for, love and rebellion, both made and encouraged by Lilith, would have been for nothing.

Lucifer bit his lip hard, his fangs drawing blood as he kept trying to make some kind of comeback. Lucifer: I, I, I…What the actual Hell do you want from me Adam!? I can’t go back in time and change history! If I had that power I would but I can’t! Adam: No but you can start by admitting you were wrong. Or at the very least a simple ‘I’m sorry Adam’. But no that’s just too hard of an ask is it? Because you’re the king of Hell, the literal devil, and he’s never wrong is he?

Lucifer: Exactly! I’m not in the wrong! This all of this was just…a misunderstanding. Because at the end of the day I was still am the victim! The victim of Heaven, the victim of Lilith, and the victim of my love for you!

Adam wanted to feel anger, sadness, maybe even pity at him but all he felt was numbness. He never would change would he?

Adam: Do you feel any kind of remorse for what you do? Have you ever once even attempted to apologize?

Lucifer: What you think I should get on my knees begging for your forgiveness and admit that I’ve always loved you ever since you were created but was terrified of rejection and what Heaven thought. But most especially what you would say since you were always so loyal to Heaven and didn’t want to make them upset. But I never should have let it cloud my judgement and hurt you, because hurt you I did repeatedly throughout your existence. And that I should’ve taken the time to at least acknowledge the pain I caused. Because I was convinced since the beginning that you’d never dare to look at me! Is that it?!

Adam: …Yes actually.

Lucifer made a face like he sucked a lemon.

Lucifer: …Well fuck you! And fuck any chance of an apology you think you deserve! Because you don’t! Adam didn’t listen as he finally got the sliding door to open and stepped inside.

Lucifer: And another thing I can apologize but I’ve never had the reason to! But I can, I can apologize to anyone for no apparent reason! Just not you! Not with all the other shit you’ve pulled! You hear me!? I don’t owe you dick!

Adam had enough and slammed the door behind him. Leaving Lucifer panting and trying his best to keep the tears at bay.

Lucifer: …Everyone but you.

Succubus au

@beef-brisket

@fanofstuff01

(This au was originally on @things-aren't-what-they-seem66blog and was originally thought of by an anonymous ask)

The roaring of the crowd and the playing of his guitar deafened his ears but the incubus didn't care. He loved the way they cheered his name while he shredded on his axe. With one final strum, his song was done. He raised his arms and gave the horns, to which his fans reciprocated, and bid them all goodnight. He walked away his hands still raised until he was out of sight from them. Adam sighed heavily and wiped the sweat with his forearm as he made his way to his dressing room.

Once there he flopped onto the couch and groaned. Though Adam loved being a rockstar and having adoring fans, he wouldn't lie to himself, each performance, especially concerts, can be quite draining since he always had to prepare with mic checks and making sure he sounded right. Steve, his producer/manager/on-and-off-again fling, always assured him that these were mandatory. Just one of those sacrifices that come with being a star. Still, Adam felt a little like shit and he needed a drink, a hard one. Unfortunately, his evening wasn't quite over yet as knocking was heard from the other side of the door then a voice called out.

Assistant: Excuse me? Commander? I'm sorry for bothering you but I brought the VIP guests here with me.

Adam sighed completely forgetting about that. Almost all VIPs get access to meet him after every show. Though he loved his fans coming to him and saying how much they loved him, maybe even getting some head from the older crowd, tonight, he didn't want to. However, he knew that he didn't have much of a choice. Unless he wanted Steve up his ass, and not in a good way. Letting out a long groan he sat up, rubbed his eyes, and yelled out to her.

Adam: Bring them in.

He closed his eyes and sighed once again as he heard the door open and feet shuffle in. He prepared himself for the immediate responses of squealing and clamoring over to shake his hand. However, he was not prepared for a familiar voice to call out his name.

Charlie: A, Adam?

He opened his eyes and standing in front of him were Charlie, Vaggie, and a one-eyed sinner.

[sualne]

Old and new gifts.

(timeline)

[cecoeur]

it's hell on earth to be heavenly them's the breaks, they don't come gently