#for the record i am the ugliest sweater

[attapullman]

Just got back from an extremely sweaty walk and all I can think about is that time in 7th grade when after running the mile, the boy I had a crush on said, “You’re so hot,” and I went, “Uh, yeah, I just ran a mile.”

He proceeded to explain he was hitting on me and I gave him the most incredulous look before turning around and ignoring him the rest of gym.

[nothingbutimagines]

The Set Up (Tom Holland)

Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader

Warning: Cursing, mentions of drug use, sibling bickering, a bit of angst

Summary: When Y/n comes back home for the holiday season to visit family after another long semester at Uni, her family takes it upon themselves to invite her old crush, Tom, to Christmas dinner in the hopes of setting the two up together. 

Author: Dizzy

A/N: Oh geez, Christmas is approaching very quickly! Hope you all have been able to get all your Christmas shopping done (I know I haven’t)! Tomorrow is going to be a cute little Harrison Osterfield fic, so keep your eyes peeled, and today is Tom Holland as well as a few other fics I hadn’t gotten the chance to put together until today since I fell ill for a few days. 

Masterlist Request Any Of These Peter Parker/Tom Holland Masterlist

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“Y/n, what are you wearing?” Your mother asked, causing you to turn away from the plate of cookies you were eating off of. 

“Uh, a hoodie and jeans?” You muttered, your statement sounding more like a question as you paused, mid bite.

“Are you really wearing that to dinner tonight? We’re going to the steakhouse.”

“I mean,” You swallowed, “I have a sweater on underneath.”

“What happened to that cute little dress I left for you on your bed?” 

“Mom, no one else is wearing a dress. Why would I?” You asked, brushing your hands off before sighing. “Lucy and Charlie are wearing sweaters and jeans too.”

“Your sisters are younger, they’re hard to get into dresses.”

“They’re 16 and 18. Not that young.” You argued. “I’m not wearing a dress. It’s just dinner with the family. You, me, Dad, Lucy, Charlie, and David. And you have all seen me at my ugliest.”

“Well, what if you run into someone you’re interested in?” Your mother asked, following you closely as you walked out of the kitchen and into the hallway. 

“Like who? Tom?” You scoffed. “Mom, I know you love Tom, but I don’t. And I know you want me to get a boyfriend, but this is getting ridiculous. Last Christmas you set me up on a date with Ms. Chasten’s nephew and now you’re telling me to pick up a guy at a restaurant?” 

“No, I wasn’t saying Tom. I know you said you no longer have a crush on him, but I’m just saying, what if you see a man you might want to date? Wouldn’t you want to look your best?”

You turned around, placing a hand on your mother’s shoulder as you smiled at her warmly. “Mom, I love you, but I’m not going to get a boyfriend just because you want me to. And I’m sure as hell never seeing Tom again, as much as I know you’d like me to.”

“Are you two ready to get going? We have a reservation to get to.” Your father interrupted, pulling his coat tighter around him. 

“Yeah, yeah. Let me get my coat on.” You pushed past the two, making your way to the door and grabbing your coat off the rack. 

You quickly pulled your hoodie over your head, hanging it up in place of your coat before pulling your coat over you. You quickly wrapped a scarf around your neck as the rest of your family began congregating by the door. 

“I thought you were going to wear a dress.” Lucy stated, looking up at you as you followed everyone out the door. 

“No, I wasn’t. Why is everyone trying to bully me into wearing a dress?” 

Lucy shrugged. “Maybe it’s because you’re ugly.”

“You’re ugly.” 

“No, I’m not. If anyone is the ugly, it’s David.”

“I heard that.” David grumbled as you piled into the car. “And for the record, if anyone is the ugly one it’s you, Luce. That’s just because you have a bad attitude and make unfunny tik toks.”

“I thought you said you liked my tik toks!” 

“I lied.” David stated, turning back around in his seat, now facing forward.

You laughed as he turned, only to receive a small pinch on your arm from Lucy, who was pouting beside you like a child. 

“Ow! That hurts, you brat!” You gasped, pushing her away and knocking her into the side of the car. “Luce, you’re like 16, cut it out!”

“And you’re like 21 but I have a boyfriend and you don’t!” 

“That’s not even a valid argument in this conversation.”

“I know, I was trying to be a bitch.” 

“You’re already a bitch. You don’t even have to try.” David interrupted, turning back around to face you both. 

“Dad! David called me a bitch!” Lucy whined as you rolled your eyes, gazing into the eyes of your younger brother who had the same expression on his face.

“David,” Your father gazed back into the rear view mirror, “it’s not polite to talk about other people’s shortcomings.” 

You started to laugh loudly, giving your younger sister a shove as the car slowed to a stop in the restaurant parking lot. 

“I hate you all.” Lucy pouted, shoving you back as you all climbed out of the car. 

“I can’t believe I still have to say this,” Your mother shook her head as you all walked into the lobby of the restaurant, “be on your best behavior, all of you, okay?”

“Hey!” Charlie spoke up, making you realize you had forgotten she was even there. “I didn’t do anything!”

“I didn’t say anyone did anything, I am just reminding you all that this is a very special evening, okay?” 

You nodded, still chuckling as you glanced over at your brother, who still had the same smirk on his face as he had in the car. You followed the group along with the hostess to your table, taking a seat before realizing there was an extra place setting beside you. 

“Oh, uh, I think there’s a mistake here.” You waved the hostess over. “There should just be six place settings.”

The hostess frowned slightly, confused. “Oh. I thought the reservation said seven people.” 

“It did.” Your mother interrupted. “The other guest will be here shortly, thank you.”

You watched the hostess nod and walk away. You turned back to your mother, furrowing your brows as you looked at her, confused. 

“I’m sorry, who else is joining us?” You asked, the confusion evident in your tone. 

“Tom!” Your mother smiled, her line of sight leading above you as you followed it, to come face to face with the boy she was referring to. 

“Hello, Mrs. L/n, and everyone else. Sorry I’m a bit late, there was some traffic.” Tom explained shyly, slipping his coat off and hanging it on his chair as he took a seat beside you. “Hi, Y/n.” 

“Hi, Tom.” You nodded at him as the inner turmoil had begun to stir in the back of your mind. 

“Oh, honey, don’t worry about it, we were just seated.” Your mother waved, almost as if she was apologetic herself. “I’m just glad you could make it.” 

“I think I’m going to go to the bar to get something to drink.” You announced, rising from your seat as you grabbed your small purse. “David, why don’t you come with me?” 

“Oh, I don’t think I’m all that thirsty.” 

“I wasn’t asking.” You muttered, giving him a look as he rose from his seat, now following you away from the table and in the direction of the bar. 

“Before you say anything-”

“How could you not have told me Tom was coming?” You snapped, causing the younger man to flinch.

“Uh.” David averting your gaze, trying to find something to say.

“Since when do you keep secrets?” 

“Since when do you cower at the sight of men?” David retorted, taking a seat on a bar stool as you followed in suit.  

“You didn’t answer my question.” 

“And you didn’t answer mine.” He huffed. “Ladies first.” 

“Ugh, fine.” You groaned, rolling your eyes. “I cower at the sight of Tom since he came with to drop me off at uni last year.” 

“Why? I thought that went really well.” 

“No, it didn’t. You were high the entire trip anyway, I doubt you remember it at all.”

“Wait, so you didn’t share a kiss with Tom?” He asked, scratching his head. “Cause I didn’t think that was a weed hallucination, but now I’m not sure.”

“No, I did kiss Tom. But, that’s not the problem.” You shook your head. “I kissed Tom outside my building when you and Charlie were still packing up the car, which is why you remember seeing that, but then I ran off before he could say anything because it was obvious how he felt about me by the way he reacted to the kiss.”

“The way he reacted? What does even that mean? Like he didn’t kiss back?” 

“Uh, yeah. Not at all. So I ran off and avoided his texts and calls forever and I haven’t talked to him since because it’s embarrassing.”

“Don’t you think maybe he didn’t kiss back because he was in shock?” David suggested, letting you think for a moment as he turned away to order a few drinks. 

You thought for a moment, unsure of your own memories from the trip. You could only remember small portions of events, such as smoking with your siblings and Tom, Tom pulling you aside to talk, and you kissing him. You paused, going back to the earlier memory of Tom asking to talk to you. What was he wanted to talk about? You couldn’t remember and didn’t get the chance to dig around your own thoughts as David snapped his fingers at you. 

“Hey, earth to Y/n. I got our drinks, let’s get back before Mom sends a search and rescue team.” 

“Yeah, yeah.” You got up from your seat, drink in hand as you followed him to the table and took your seat beside Tom. 

“Y/n,” Tom glanced over at you, a bright smile on his face, “your mother was just telling me you got on the Dean’s list?”

You swallowed the lump in your throat, placing your drink down on the table and placing your napkin in your lap, attempting to avoid eye contact. 

“It’s not that great, I mean, as long as you get over a 3.5, you’re on the list.” You explained, shrugging it off. 

“No, no, that’s way cooler than anything I’m doing. I mean, I’m just an acting major. You’re doing what? Pre-med?”

“Pre-law.” You corrected. “Pays about the same and is not as much schooling. But, acting sounds really cool. Sounds more fun.”

Tom shrugged. “I guess. I mean, I’m taking this improv class and it’s absolutely the worst thing I could’ve taken.”

“Oh! I take improv at school!” Charlie chimed in, excitedly bouncing in her seat. 

“Oh yeah?” Tom raised a brow, taking a drink from his glass before setting it down beside yours. “Maybe after we have dinner, you can show me some of your skills.”

Charlie shook her head. “I never said I was any good.”

The table erupted in a bout of laughter as you gave a small chuckle, your mind elsewhere while you picked up your glass, taking a drink of it. 

“Uh, I think that’s mine.” Tom leaned over, his breath hot on your ear as he spoke lowly. 

You choked on the drink a bit, coughing slightly as you set the glass down and looked at him apologetically. 

“Shit. Sorry.” 

“It’s alright. It’s not like we haven’t exchanged spit before.” Tom stated coolly, smirking slightly.

“I don’t backwash into drinks.” You retorted, attempting to not acknowledge his last statement fully. 

“I don’t know, you might.” Tom said, picking up the glass and swirling it around with his hand, pretending to inspect it. 

“Well, if you’re so worried, I’ll buy you another drink.”

“Oh, I’m not worried, but if you’re offering another drink, I will gladly take it.” 

“Hey, lovebirds, I’d look at the menu if I were you, otherwise Mom’s going to order for you.” David interrupted, nodding towards the waitress that was at the table. 

You gave him a glare before looking down at your menu, deciding to order the first thing you set your eyes on since you didn’t have much time before the waitress’s attention was on you.

“I see your brother is still snappy as ever.” Tom muttered after the moment of silence you shared. 

“You know how he is. He’s not so bad with me, definitely on his last straw with Lucy, though.”

Tom opened his mouth to speak before being interrupted by the waitress. You quickly ordered your food, Tom doing the same before you turned your attention back to the conversation. 

You weren’t sure what the young man’s plan was, why he was so insistent on talking your ear off when you had practically ghosted him like an ex-boyfriend for almost a year prior to the current exchange. You wanted to shrug it off, but you couldn’t get past it and it tortured you more for Tom to be so kind to you than it had ignoring him. 

It’s not that you were okay with ghosting him in the past, in fact, you felt like it was a true breakup without you having ever been with Tom. It was a stupid, little interaction that you could’ve talked about and explained away had you actually given him a chance to speak to you, but instead you let your own pride get in the way of that. 

“Y/n, did you hear what I said?” Tom asked, his hand resting on yours. 

You blinked for a moment, clearing your throat and slipping your hand from under his as you shook you head. “No, sorry, what did you say?”

“Oh, don’t take it personally, Tom,” Your father started, “Y/n’s always in her own head. She never really hears anyone.”

“Dad, it’s fine.” You shook your head again. “What did you say, Tom?”

“I asked if you wanted to get a drink and speak privately for a moment.” 

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.” 

“I think it is,” Your mother stated, now interrupting. “You two go ahead. We’ll come get you when the food comes.”

You mentally cursed yourself and your parents as you followed Tom’s motions, setting down your napkin alongside his and rising from your seat. You allowed him to place a hand on your lower back and guide you away from the group and to the bar, much to your own internal dismay. 

“We need to talk.” Tom stated, taking a seat at the empty bar as he looked at you.

You crossed your arms over your chest. “Is that why you came tonight? Just to confront me? You could’ve just called if you wanted that.” 

“I would’ve if you didn’t block me.” Tom asserted himself before pointing to the empty seat beside him. “And have a seat, please, it’s weird that you’re just standing there.”

You took a seat beside him, leaning away from him and against the bar, as if you wanted to put as much space between you both. 

“I came tonight because I wanted to see you, not just talk about how you drop kicked me out of your life.” 

“I wouldn’t say I drop kicked you...” 

“You kissed me, ran away in a split second, and then proceeded to block me. I think that is the definition of drop kicking someone.” 

“Actually, I think it’s when you jump up and kick someone.” You joked, attempting to redirect the conversation away from your mistakes. 

“I’m about to drop kick you if you don’t take this seriously.” 

“I’m sorry.” 

“For what? Drop kicking me or making a joke out of it when I’m trying to be vulnerable with you?”

“Both.” You shifted in your seat, uncomfortable and feeling as though you were a child about to go to the principal’s office. “I’m not trying to hurt your feelings, I think I’m just trying to protect my own.” 

“David’s right, you are selfish and trying to talk to you was a mistake.” Tom shook his head, rising from his seat. 

“Tom, wait.” You grabbed his arm, only for him to shake you off. 

“I have been waiting, Y/n. I’ve been waiting the past year for you to talk to me or be willing to see me and every time I think you will, you disappoint.”

“Tom, I-”

“You know, I begged your parents to let me come here to see you, to spend time with your family? They didn’t ask me. Once I realized you were never going to speak to me again over something so stupid, I had to swallow my own pride, unlike you, just to see you again.” Tom ran a hand through his hair, attempting to calm down as he looked away from you. “I swallowed my own pride to see you choking on yours and still acting as if I was the one in the wrong somehow. You kissed me, you blocked me. You didn’t even let me assess the situation before you did it for me and now I’m the bad guy?”

“I don’t think you’re a bad guy.” 

“Really? Because both Charlie and David have said multiple times that you claim that I rejected you when I never did. That you could just tell that I didn’t like you so you pushed me away when the truth was that I did like you. God, Y/n, I’d been in love with you since primary school and the one time I realized you reciprocated feelings, you ran away like you hadn’t.” 

“I’m sorry, okay?” You cried, falling back into your seat. “I didn’t think it would be a huge deal until it was and I was scared that the outcome of my actions wasn’t going to be the one I had been hoping for. When I kissed you, you didn’t seem to like it and when I ran, you didn’t chase after me and I took that as you not liking me and wanting to get the fuck out of the situation.” 

“But that’s what I’m saying, Y/n! You’re always so focused on yourself that you don’t even realize how other people are feeling. I tried to run after you, I did, but I lost you halfway up the stairs and I couldn’t remember your room number.” Tom explained, exasperated. “I even tried to call but you didn’t pick up and your brother and sister convinced me it was best to just go home so we did. I thought you needed space, but once it got to be so long, I didn’t know what to do.” 

“You really chased after me?”

“Of course I did. I loved you, Y/n. I wanted to be with you. I’m here because I still do, but I’m starting to think this was a mistake. I should go, I shouldn’t have come in the first place.”

Tom straightened up before turning on his heel and starting to walk back to the table to collect his things and leave. 

You watched as he did so, something in you pulling you up off of your seat and making you grab him by the arm even though you wanted to cower away like you once had before. 

Tom turned towards you, about to say something when you collided your lips with his, the action feeling more natural than it had the first time you kissed him. He melted into you, his free hand resting on your hip as he kissed back, causing you to smile at the gesture before pulling away. 

“Please, Tom, don’t go.” You whispered. “I want you to stay. I want to make it up to you for all the heartache and lost time. I never meant to hurt you and I was being selfish and that wasn’t fair. I want to try to work something out with you.” 

“If I stay will you buy me that drink you promised?”

“I’ll do anything if you stay.” 

Tom looked away for a moment, as if he was pondering something. “Hmm. I’ll think about it.”

“Tom, please.” 

“Fine, I will stay, but only because I already ordered food.” Tom joked, raising his hands defensively as you pouted and gave him a look. “I’m kidding! I want to stay and work something out, I swear.”

[guitars-and-kaleidoscope-eyes]

Queen Band; X Reader; Rock Intern Chapter Three: Getting To Know Brian

In this chapter, it will be picking up from where you feel asleep in Freddie's house and spent the night there. Also, like the title suggests, you will be getting to know Brian.

WARNINGS: Anxiety, mistrust, parental issues, and Golden Girls reference. :)

August 21st, 1977

Your POV:

I'm dreaming. I'm dreaming that I'm back in Maine, in the woods next my house, with the large, calm lake in front of me. And I hear...a piano? How odd? I suddenly hear a voice singing. I feel myself stir a little. I slowly open my eyes to discover that the piano and singing is Freddie. I must have fallen asleep here last night. There's birds chirping outside my window and a cat's purring on my stomach. I look over and take a glance at the clock: 9:04 am.

I pick the cat up and move him over so I can sit up. I stretch my arms out and yawn before pulling the blankets off of me and getting up to go down stairs.

Down stairs I hear Freddie taking to someone. Brian?

"What do you think of the song dear?"

"It's beautiful! Very lovely!"

"Thankyou Brian. Not so sure how blondie is gonna like it though."

"Hey, after I'm In Love With My Car, he can just put a sock in it!"

I heard the two men chuckle a bit as I quietly entered the room, not wanting to draw a lot of attention.

"Good morning (y/n), how'd you sleep?" Freddie asked me.

"Fine." I answered. "Do my parents know I'm here?"

"Yeah, I called them last night. Would you like some coffee?" He asked, gestering towards the coffee on the coffee table.

I came around the corner and sat on the couch next to Freddie on his right. With Brian on his left.

"(y/n), what do you think of London so far?" Brian asked me.

"It's nice here, but I still miss Maine a bit." I responded a bit solemnly. At that point Freddie gave Brian a glare to not bring something like that up. A patted Freddie's hand lightly, not wanting him to go full on protective against Brian.

"Hey Freddie," I started. "What was that song you were playing a moment ago?"

"That was My Melancholy Blues darling. It's going on our new record, News Of The World."

"Maybe." Brian started.

"What do you mean 'maybe'?" I asked.

"Well that's not really Roger's thing. When he presented I'm In Love With My Car to us and we rejected it, he locked himself in the cupboard until we allowed the song on the record."

"Yes, but if blondie rejects this song, I'm bolting that cupboard door shut!" Freddie declared proudly.

The three of us laughed at that and went on taking about music, asking me about my music interests, and me asking them about the band. After a few hours of talking, (I had no idea how talkative these guys were!) Brian offered to give me a lift home.

Later That Day:

Mom and Dad went out tonight for a date. There anniversary was in the middle of moving here. So with the combination of packing, filing out paperwork, and the stress and anxiety that can't along with it, they really didn't have the time to do anything for there special day. So I'm here, babysitting Joey while they go out for a beach walk. (Which they've told me is how they met.)

Right now I'm trying on my school uniform. Mom and Dad are enrolling me and Joey into a local school and here, they make us wear uniforms. Joey and I have never worn them before so I just know that Joey won't be having any of this when he has to go into 1st grade. But I won't be able to blame him. These uniforms are by far the most ugliest things I've ever seen! Black plade skirt, black itchy sweater, blue tie and jacket, white knee length socks, and the most uncomfortable shoes I've ever worn. For once, I'm more grateful then I've ever been for having a strick dress code at my old school, rather than this!

I hear a knock at the door. I know my parents aren't supposed to be home for another two hours, and even if they were back, they would just use the key. I step out of my room and go into Joey's to tell him not to go answer the door. (Thinking someone might want trouble.)

"(y/n)! Are you home?"

"Brian??" I yell back. "Is that you?"

"No, it's John Lennon!" He says sarcastically in his best Liverpool accent.

I roll my eyes and went downstairs to open the door.

"Ah, hello Suzie Birchall!" Brian greeted with a smile.

"Who?" I asked, confused.

"She's a character from Coronation Street. A school girl." He said, gestering towards my clothes. I then realized I was still in my uniform.

"Oh, yeah, I was trying on the uniform when you came here. I actually thought I might have been someone trying to get in sense I didn't know what type of neighborhood this is yet." I said.

"Well I can assure you this is a very nice neighborhood to live in. And I apologize for coming over uninvited." He said.

"Oh don't worry about it." I said, giving him a soft smile. "Would you like to come in?" I asked as I moved over and gestured him inside.

"Yes thankyou." He said, coming in.

"Joey!" I yelled. "Mom and Dad left us chili for dinner!"

"I love chili!" He exclaimed, as he thundered downstairs.

"Do you want to join us for dinner, Brian?" I asked.

"Sure, but do you have anything without must they I can eat? I'm vegetarian." He responded.

"Is a fruit salad ok?" I asked.

"Yeah, that's fine. Thankyou." He answered.

I turned on the stove to heat up the chili and got Brian's salad. Then as the chili was heating up, I went upstairs to change into my normal clothes.

When I came down I got the bowls of chili ready and called Joey over from where he was playing and have him his food. Then I say down and we started eating.

"Do you like England so far, Joey?" Brian asked Joey.

"Yeah! It's so cool here! And there's a park close to our house that (y/n) took me to when we first got here!"

Joey kept on taking about London while Brian and I listened. He was doing more talking then eat so I suggested that Brian tell us how the new record was going so Joey would actually eat.

Later we moved into the living room with some tea (Joey had hot chocolate.) and we continued the conversation. After awhile when it was around 9:15 Joey feel asleep.

"Aww. I guess I should get Joey upstairs and into bed." I said as I picked him up. "Would you mind opening his door when we get upstairs?"

"Of course not." Brian responded as he fallowed me upstairs and into his room.

After laying him on his bed, taking his shoes off, and tucking him in, Brian and I turned to go downstairs and finish our conversation.

"Hey (y/n)," Brian started, sitting down. "If you don't mind me asking, why did Fred not want me bring up Maine?"

I looked down at my feet solemnly. I really didn't want to talk about it, I but I knew I should.

"You don't...have to." He started.

"No, I want to." I said.

"You see, that night with Freddie. I told him how I missed Maine so much and bringing that up made me sad so I guess Freddie was just being a bit protective."

"Oh, well that wasn't so bad." He said.

"No, that wasn't even hafe of it. You see, I'm a very shy person when you first meet me and it's rare that I'll let people know the real me and for good reason. When I was in middle school, I got picked on a lot. So when I met Amy, I'd thought I'd met a real friend. But as I told her things that were privet...she betrade me, told others, and at that point I didn't want to let people in. I also knew that if I didn't want that to happen again, I would need to set up boundaries.

So I forced myself to not be weak and to not cry. I started being more private with myself. And I couldn't let people know things because I worried people I didn't want to find out would do just that. I became a lot more anxious then was healthy."

"Oh (y/n)... I'm so sorry."

"Thanks Brian, but I really don't want sympathy."

"Well of you don't want any, I won't." He said with a warm smile.

"If you don't mind me asking. What is it that you don't want people to know?" He asked.

"Um...well.... You see, I'm a very ambitious person. When I put my mind to something almost nothing can stop me. So when I was very young, I got into music. I even told my parents even I was 12 that I wanted to play piano like Paul McCartney. And eventually I got so into it that I thought...maybe I could do music as a carrier. But I figured no one would think it's a good idea so I kept it to myself. After all, I'm supposed to be studying something productive in college and making everyone proud."

"Well listen (y/n)." Brian started. "Firstly, I promise I won't tell anyone what you told me unless you say I can. Second, you don't have to study something in college unless YOU want to. You don't have to try to please anyone. The people who love you will be proud of you no matter what. My dad still hasn't accepted my carrier in music yet but when he does, I know he'll be proud."

"You mean...?"

"He never accepted my being in music. He really couldn't face that because I was educated to a high degree and he's in tears really." He said, a bit sadly.

At that point I immediately hugged him. I couldn't imagine what he's going through. Not really having a father right now.

"Well, I hope my parents won't be like that if I choose music." I said

"Oh (y/n), it doesn't matter what you try to do to please your parents. They're never going to be satisfied." He said. "There just gonna nag you, and nag you, and nag you until you just want to grab there throats and choke them! But you don't! Because they can get you arrested!"

We both laughed at his joke and he started again.

"So anyway you can trust me with anything, I promise. And if the people around you truly love you, then they'll accept what ever choice you make. Even if it takes awhile."

"Thanks Brian, you're a good friend." I said as we hugged once more.

After he left, it was 11 o'clock. After getting to bed, I heard Mom and Dad come in. I decided to stay in bed and tell them Brian was over the next day.

When I got up the next morning, I told Mom and Dad that Brian was here last night. After breakfast, I picked up the phone and dialed.

With a smile said. "Hello Brian."

[threeletterslife]

Whipped with a Cherry on Top

→ summary:  Kim Taehyung has been your friend for more than four years, having a very, very special place in your heart. Granted, he’s an annoying asscrack sometimes, but who isn’t? You love him to death — that is, if he doesn’t end up killing you first with his pesky tactics.

→ pairing/rating: taehyung x reader | PG-13

→ genre: it was supposed to be pure fluff but then my finger might’ve slipped idk now it’s crack too | f2l!au

→ warnings: just a shit ton of swearing as usual (:

→ wordcount: 6.5k 

→ a/n: i literally power wrote this shit bc the empty masterlist bothered the crap outta me sdjflsdj i hope you’ll enjoy! <3

♫: Promise by Jimin | Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers & Coldplay | Euphoria by BTS

[ROYAL ASSCRACK]: oHmYgOd bitcb

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: bitxh

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: birch

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: bitch

 [YOU]: bitcb

 [YOU]: bitxh

 [YOU]: birch

 [YOU]: bitch (:

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: fuck off botch

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: GODDAMIT

 [YOU]: yOU FAILURE

 [YOU]: what’s up tho it’s like 3 am go to sleep

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: can’t. forgot the reading assignment… 143 pages of that shitty econ txtbook let’s get ittt

 [YOU]: dude. we have the gov final tomorrow

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: ikik… Y/N, baby can you send me the notes?

 [YOU]: istfg it’s not my fault you never come to class sO WHY ARE YOU TORTURING ME FOR YOUR WRONG DEEDS

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: ohmygod Y/N it’s not the time to be dramatic. my GRADES are at stake here

 [YOU]: bitcb

 [YOU]: bitxh

 [YOU]: birch

 [YOU]: bitch** fine. i am the bestest friend ever but fine. i’ll even send you my econ notes so you don’t have to read the txtbk. am i not the bestest friend ever

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: THANK YOU I OWE YOU BIG TIME I LOVE YOU

 [YOU]: uh huh mhm

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: ):

 [YOU]: fine.

 [YOU]: i love you too.  nOW GO DO YOUR SHIT I NEED SUM SLEEP

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: WELL THEN SWEET DREAMS BOTCH

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: fuck

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: you know what. i’m not even gonna try

 You giggle slightly, immediately sending that irresponsible dimwit of a best friend, Kim Taehyung, your econ and gov notes. Sometimes, you think that boy could’ve possibly died in college if it weren’t for you. But then again, you’d probably be dead in your grave if it weren’t for him. He’s saved you one too many times from disaster dates that could’ve left you traumatized for life.

 Kim Taehyung has been your friend for more than four years, having a very, very special place in your heart. Granted, he’s an annoying asscrack sometimes, but who isn’t? You love him to death — that is, if he doesn’t end up killing you first with his pesky tactics.

He’s killing you alright. He really is.

 “Oh, c’mon! It’s just one party,” Taehyung whines as he hands you your regular — a whipped chocolate ice cream cone. Today was Whipped Wednesday, a day where you come to visit your bestie at work and even get an ice cream cone for free because quoting Taehyung, “We’re only in trouble if someone finds out.” (Actually, you have no idea how the manager hasn’t found out about this yet, counting the fact that it’s been going on for years.) Whipped Wednesday has been a thing for both you and Taehyung for as long as you can remember — that is since he started working at the ice cream parlor at the beginning of freshmen year.

 “Aw, Y/N! I owe you one, remember? From all that note-sharing? I’m just returning the favor and taking you out for fun!” Taehyung says.

 You roll your eyes, taking a lick at the ice-cold dessert. “Are you crazy? It’s finals week, Tae.”

 Taehyung laughs, rushing over to the ice cream machine to make some perfectly whipped ice cream for a line of giggling customers. Something tells you the giggling girls are here to feast their eyes on your best friend, not his impeccably made ice cream cones. Your best friend comes back to you, slightly out of breath from being worked for the past hour.

 “That’s exactly my point, Y/N,” he huffs. “One party to fling away all that unwanted stress!” He rushes over to tend to some girl batting her fake-ass lashes at him.

 “But my point is, really? During finals?” you call after him. You take a large bite out of your chocolate ice cream, deep in thought.

 “Why not?” Taehyung calls over his shoulder. “It’s not like you can save your shitty grades with one exam!”

 You scoff loudly, putting a hand to your chest. “Excuse you, I have all A’s!” you shout, redeeming yourself to the people who might’ve heard you have ‘shitty grades.’ “Only two are borderline,” you mutter.

 “All the more reason for you to come and party!” Taehyung sings as he whips up two vanilla ice cream cones, handing them to young siblings, smiling at them warmly. He looks up at you, giving you the same, cordial smile.

 God. If it weren’t for that amazing smile of his, you’d refuse every one of his foolish ideas. But because of his irresistible smile, you’re stuck doing stupid shit with him. I guess that makes us best friends, doing dumb crap together. I blame it all on the smile.

 “You know what? Fine. Fine!” you say angrily, biting aggressively at your ice cream cone. “But I am not getting wasted!” You lean over the counter, glaring playfully at your friend.

 “Yes!” Taehyung cries, rushing over to squeeze you in a happy hug over the counter. “But it’s your loss if you’re not getting dumb drunk,” he chuckles, winking at you.

 You huff. “One of us has to get the other home — you and I both know it’s always me!”

 “You know it!” Taehyung laughs. You can’t help but laugh along with him.

It’s times like this when you wonder what would’ve happened if you’d said ‘yes.’

 Taehyung is getting ready for the party, ignoring your yapping of, ‘wear it and leave it!’ He faces his glowing mirror, his handsome, chiseled face slightly illuminated by the soft, yellow light. It’s the way how the gleam of white in his eyes shine. How his lips are perfectly pursed on his face from concentration. How his delicate nose sits on a perfect angle…

 It’s how he laughs at your dumb jokes, how he takes care of you in the simplest but heartwarming ways, how he loves how outspoken you are, how he hates to be away from you…

 You like to wonder what it would be like to date him. You like to wonder what would’ve happened if you had accepted his offer to be his girlfriend. Sometimes — no, often times (especially these days) — you wonder if he still likes you.

 When Taehyung had asked you out back in high school, you had barely known him. You were the loud girl, captain of the speech and debate team. While Taehyung… he had been some kid hiding behind others in the marching band.

 Too nice to reject him, when he asked you to your junior prom, you’d made some excuse about how you weren’t going — even though you had bought your dress and everything. You actually ended up not going, in fear of seeing Taehyung at the school party. But that had been the very starting point of your relationship with him.

 You had to give it to Kim Taehyung. He was quite the persistent guy. By the end of the year, he’d joined the speech and debate club, pushing his way to the top finalists of the school — right next to you. It was hard not to befriend him if you had to see him countless hours after school to practice for competitions.

 Easily, Taehyung found his way into your life. And much easier, he became the largest part of your life. By the time you graduated high school, you and Taehyung were inseparable: the best friends of the century. Taehyung was not the shy, nameless kid in band anymore, he was outgoing, spunky and risk-taking — even more so than you.

 Both of you never, ever reflect back on that possible romance that could’ve bloomed between the two of you. It’s just too awkward, you suppose. Besides, you’d missed your chance. No matter how much you liked Taehyung now, you couldn’t really say anything without bulldozing over your solid friendship. You’d rather have Taehyung as a friend than lose him forever when he rejects you.

 “Are you actually gonna wear that to the party?” Taehyung laughs, making you jump out of your thoughts.

 “Yes,” you say boldly, gesturing towards the ugliest pair of sweatpants you have, then tugging on the collar of your fluffy turtleneck sweater. “It’s called my male species repellent outfit.”

 “You’re fucking impossible,” Taehyung chuckles, shaking his head. “I’m almost embarrassed to be seen out with you.”

 “But you love me,” you croon, rolling yourself across Taehyung’s bed as you plop yourself on his carpeted floor. “Can we finally go now? If I have to wait a minute more, I’m not gonna fucking go.”

 Taehyung rolls his eyes. “Hold up, you idiot. Unlike some people, I want to look decent for a nice party.”

 “Don’t look too decent or the girls are gonna steal you away from me,” you pout. Taehyung turns around, flashing you a smile that makes the blood rush to your face.

 “I’d never let them steal me away from you, baby,” he coos.

 Your heart threatens to bust out of your chest, but you calm it down with a deep breath. It’s too bad you know the pet names Taehyung often calls you are all part of an ongoing joke.

 “Whatever, asscrack, let’s go.”

The party has the most atrocious music you’d ever heard in your life. Every single song boasts the same beat, making it seem like the same goddamn tune was on a broken record, repeating over and over and over again. Your head hurts like hell. You’re starting to actually think studying for finals would’ve been better than this.

 At least the parties you usually attend have good songs. This one is the epitome of trash.

 “Taehyung!” you yell at your friend who’s choking down another shot of vodka. “You idiot!”

 Your friend turns to you, a lazy smile spreading across his lips. “Hey, baby,” he mumbles, gesturing you over. You roll your eyes but obey, walking straight to his side.

 “Steady on the shots, Tae. Unless you want to wake up dead in the morning,” you sigh. “Who’s gonna shoo away the fuckboys for me, then?”

 Taehyung chuckles lowly, looking at you from under his long, eyelashes. “I shall rise up as a guardian knight to protect m’lady,” he declares dutifully in a weird, ancient accent.

 “Oh no, no role-playing,” you seethe through your teeth. “Last time was bad enough! Kim Taehyung, you hear me?” you yell at your friend, taking his cheeks in your hands as you shake his head in an attempt to cure him of his drunkenness. It does shit though.

 “M’lady! I must beseech you not to… caress me as such. You make me test my heart, dear lady,” Taehyung wails drunkenly.

 “Shut up,” you snap. “Let’s get you out of this dump.”

 “Please, dear Y/N, will you promise me to be by my side ‘til the autumn leaves turn their pleasant shade of amethystine? Will you swear to never leave me even if the sun collides with our heavenly planet?” Taehyung says dramatically, clutching onto your sweater in the process.

 You roll your eyes. “Yeah, I’m staying, Taehyung.”

 “Thank you, m’lady. You are too kind to me,” Taehyung mumbles, attaching himself onto you as you struggle to maneuver both you and your best friend safely out of the bustling party house.

 Once outside, you’re finally able to take a deep breath, the cold night air filling your lungs. It would’ve been peaceful if it weren’t for the nasty music that you can still hear and your best friend tugging at your hand as he kneels down on one knee in front of you.

 “Yes?” you ask, annoyed as you look down at your friend. He’s so pathetically drunk that you have to fight off the huge urge to video record the whole thing.

 “M’lady, I must confess to you what my heart has been telling me since the start of time itself,” Taehyung says sincerely, his eyes never leaving yours.

 You scoff. “Taehyung, get up from the grass. These people might water it with their own piss, judging by their music choices.”

 Your best friend pretends not to hear you. Either that or he’s so drunk he can’t hear anything but the voices inside his head. You’re joking. Kinda.

 “Y/N! Oh, Y/N!” he howls. You’re so glad the shitty music is so loud no one else can really hear this wailing except for you. “Dear, Y/N!” Taehyung vocalizes. “I’ve admired you from afar for too long. I have ventured upon treacherous lands to earn your love. But all I get is the reward of acquaintances! I must ask for more my dear!”

 You laugh, even letting a snort loose. “Oh, Taehyung.” It’s particularly enjoyable to watch someone you like to be so drunk — especially since he’s literally trying to drunk-confess to you in some medieval language.

 “I love you, oh dear Y/N!” Taehyung declares, softly squeezing your hand as he stares at you through his hooded eyes.

 You giggle, patting his soft head of hair. “You should’ve taken acting classes instead of following my ass into speech and debate,” you mutter, smiling fondly at your friend.

 “Please, Y/N,” Taehyung pleads, “will you marry me?” He pulls out a slightly crushed onion ring from his pocket and holds it out for you to admire.

 You nearly choke on air as Taehyung presents you your edible wedding ring. “Tae…” you breathe, a bright smile making its way onto your lips. Honestly, when’s the next time my crush will propose to me? Oh, fuck it. I’ll play along. “Why, yes, my handsome knight. I will marry you!” you giggle, sliding the slightly greasy onion ring onto your ring finger.

 “Oh dear! My love, my sunshine! You’ve accepted!” Taehyung wails, taking your hand and peppering it with at least a thousand little kisses.

 “Surely I will accept the marriage proposal of such a wonderful knight like you,” you laugh, tugging your friend back up to his feet. “Shall we get you home?”

 Taehyung doesn’t answer you, his eyes looking somewhere that were definitely not your eyes.

 “Taehyung! Let’s go,” you repeat yourself, starting to drag your friend to his car. But he stays rooted on the ground. You sigh. “We’ve role-played enough for one night, don’t you think?”

 “Oh, but I agree. It’s about time we stop,” Taehyung says softly. You follow his gaze to see he was staring intently at your lips. Subconsciously, you lick them, your eyes flickering down to gaze at his lips as well. He tugs you close to him — so much so that you can feel his hot breath on your skin.

 It’s enough to give you goosebumps. God, you don’t know if you should stop him or just let him continue… But it seems as if Taehyung doesn’t want you to overthink (as you usually do), quickly leaning forward and pressing his warm lips on yours.

 You gasp into the kiss, finding your balance by gripping on the front of your friend’s shirt. All thoughts fly out the window as you melt into Taehyung’s embrace, breathing in the slightly alcoholic scent and chasing his lips with yours.

 Taehyung is in no hurry as he lingeringly moves his mouth across yours, hands moving up to cup your cheeks in a loving manner. He breathes his hot breath against you, leaving you feeling a bit faint as you slowly wrap your arms around his neck to secure the both of you.

 In your opinion, it ends too soon. Both of you pull away at the same time, gazing in each other’s eyes. You’re still catching your breath. You want to take a minute, close your eyes and forever engrave this moment in your head.

 But Taehyung speaks. “M’lady, that was a wondrous kiss, was it not?” he speaks slowly, your noses touching in the middle.

 That’s when your perfect world shatters. It’s no time for victories. Your crush confessed to you, proposed to you and kissed you drunk. It wasn’t real. You feel a goddamn migraine creeping in and you grasp your head. You swear to god, you usually always have something to say. Goddamn Taehyung. He’s the only one that can get your tongue so twisted.

 Immediately, you jerk your head away from your friend, looking down at the grass. “Let’s go,” you say, tugging at his wrist.

 “Lady, why in a hurry? Let us dwindle just a bit more,” Taehyung giggles. But you’re persistent, tugging him all the way to his car. You sit at the driver’s seat because god forbid you’re gonna let Taehyung drive dumb-drunk.

 “Y/N?” Taehyung whimpers in the shotgun seat, watching you drive with your eyes looking straight ahead. “Are you mad at me?”

 You sigh, your head throbbing from your headache. “No. No, I’m not.” I should be mad at myself for falling for all that.

 “Oh okay,” he responds in a small whisper. “I’m sorry.”

 Why is he sorry? Your stomach does a few somersaults.

 “Are we voyaging to slay the dragons?” Taehyung whispers, biting at his nails nervously. “I have forgotten my armor and my sword…”

 You don’t feel like replying back with something snarky. “No, we’re taking you home, Tae.”

 “Oh, lord. Thank thee.”

Taehyung’s probably not as thankful for you as you haul him into his bed, grunting from his weight. It’s really not that your best friend is heavy, it’s more like your body isn’t built to haul heavy mass.

 “Y/N?” Taehyung asks as he scrambles up from his bed.

 “Go to bed, Tae,” you say, shaking your head, cheeks continuously flushed.

 “Can you stay?” your best friend whines, staring at you with his large, puppy dog eyes. “I don’t wanna be lonely.”

 You want to so, so bad. But you don’t want to wake up in the morning, laying on the same bed as Taehyung and regret even more things in your life. “No, I can’t stay,” you say, smiling meekly. “Finals stuff. I’m sorry Tae, I’ve got to go.”

 You don’t give him time to answer as you practically bolt out of his room, cold hand massaging your burning forehead. If this was anything like Taehyung’s other drunk encounters, he should forget everything in the morning. You just wish you were drunk so you could forget too.

You wake up the next day, drowning out the distracting memories from the night before as you groggily force yourself to sit down on your desk to get some last minute cramming done before your finals. It’s almost noon by the time you’re done, and you get ready for your very last exam, grabbing a pair of sweats and a crinkled hoodie for your outfit of the day. Taking a granola bar in your mouth as you tie your greasy hair up into a messy bun, you leave your dorm in a rush.

 The final goes well, as expected. You were in a good mood, actually, having finished all the exams. You could’ve lasted the whole day without feeling any sort of dread until the memories flood back to you.

 Oh fuck, I kissed my best friend.

 You’d plum forgotten from all that econ cramming. Shaking your head and taking pity on yourself, you sigh, checking your phone the first time that day. 31 messages from yours truly, Kim Taehyung.

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: gud mornin

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: rise n’ shine

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: you up

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: thx for getting me home last night lmfao

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: did i do stupid shit

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: jk dumb question

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: ofc i did (:

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: ok i found a goddamn onion ring in my bed

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: did you put it there

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: istg you love those greasy little shits

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: they remind me of your hair during finals week haha

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: jk please don’t kill me i love you

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: you nerd why aren’t you answering

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: i bet you’re studying for that econ final

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: bitch i’m winging that shit

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: make sure to eat something more than a granola bar

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: ik it’s not whipped wed but come see me at my shift at the ice  cream parlor after the final!!!!

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: !!!!

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]:!!!!!!!!!!!!

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: lmfao you’re gonna kill me for spamming you and i value my  life so i’ll stop here

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: but srsly meet me at the ice cream parlor

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: you need to tell me all the stupid shit i did yesterday ahahfsdjsfljf

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: also i’ll whip up your fav when you get there

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: COMPLIMENTARY because i love you

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: you’re not gonna see this until after the goddamn final but

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: GOOD LUCK BITCH

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: if anyone deserves 120% (haha the curve) it’s YOU

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: KICK ASS BBY

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: ps

 [ROYAL ASSCRACK]: istfg if you recorded my drunk ass i’m going to SHANK you

 You’re glad he doesn’t remember shit. You’re also glad that you didn’t record him last night. An angry Taehyung is not something one can survive so easily. You’re joking. Kinda.

 Your heart flutters slightly at his texts, how he worries for you. You really don’t know how you can see his face again without possibly fainting from blushing so hard. It’s as if the kiss fueled your feelings for him and now they were more uncontrollable than ever.

 You’re not sure if you should tell Taehyung exactly what he did last night or just tell a little white lie for the sake of your friendship. But then again, you kinda suck at lying. You’re just stressed that you have no idea how he’ll react if he finds out about your feelings for him. Will he distance himself from you? Will your friendship stay but never be the same? What if… he still likes you?

 Shaking your head, you laugh to yourself. Fat chance. We’ve friendzoned each other ever since high school.

 You head over to the ice cream parlor, feet thudding heavily on the sidewalk. As soon you open the door to the shop, Taehyung greets you with a loud, “Y/N!” which turns a few customers’ heads.

 “Hey!” you smile, waving back at him. You slightly duck your head so you won’t have to see his handsome face in fear you’ll get all flustered over again. “What’s up?”

 Taehyung hands you your favorite whipped chocolate ice cream and this time with a cherry placed neatly on top. “Just work,” he laughs. “Like the little addition to your usual? I wanted to try something new for you!”

 You smile, looking at the impeccably whipped ice cream, admiring every little swirl and the shiny, red cherry sitting on the very top of it. “Mhm, of course. Thanks, Tae.”

 Your friend gives you a bright smile, sending your heart into overdrive. God, I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up without blowing my head.

 “So… What kind of crazy shit did I do this time?” he grins, rushing over to tend to a few customers waiting for him.

 “The usual,” you say, as nonchalantly as possible. “Role-playing.” You take the round cherry, popping it into your mouth.

 Taehyung bursts out laughing as he whips up more ice cream cones like the professional that he is. “What did I role-play this time?”

 “A fucking knight. You were using this weird accent and your vocabulary expanded by a tenfold,” you chuckle, licking at your ice cream. “Apparently I was the princess you were so in love with.”

 “Oh?” Taehyung asks as he settles over the counter, leaning against it just like you. “Enlighten me with more,” he says, a full grin pasted on his face.

 Your cheeks heat up at the memories. “Um… Something about fighting a dragon without your armor… A love confession in some Shakespearean language… I think, at one point, a marriage proposal?” you say as casually as you can.

 “Woah, woah, woah, there!” Taehyung snorts. “Me? Propose to you?”

 “Yeah, with a goddamn onion ring,” you chuckle slightly, biting your ice cream cone. “I don’t know how it got in your bed but…”

 Taehyung raises his eyebrows. “Oh shit,” he mutters. “Did we…?”

 “No, you ass!” you blurt. “You asked me to stay with you but I…” you trail off. “Can we not talk about this? How was your final?” you say, aggressively biting at your ice cream.

 “Bombed it,” Taehyung answers shortly. “You’re trying to change the topic, Y/N. Why? Did I do something that bad?”

 No, it was fine. Great, actually. But you can’t tell him that. “No… Yes… Maybe? It depends on how you think about it,” you sigh. “I dunno. Forget it,” you say. You can literally feel the blush creeping in and settling on your cheeks. If it were any other person, you would’ve easily told them they’d kissed you drunk, but with Taehyung… it was so much harder. You’re struggling to form coherent sentences. It’s so not like you, the queen of speech and debate.

 “Oh, c’mon! What’s there to hide?” Taehyung pushes you, leaning even closer towards you. “I already confessed my undying love to you drunk, so…” It hurts because you know he’s joking.

 You sigh loudly, resting your chin on the counter. If Taehyung didn’t feel the same as you, nothing would matter, right? Ah, fuck it.

 “You kissed me.”

 “Wait, what?” Taehyung asks, completely caught off guard from your sudden spilled truth.

 “You kissed me, Tae.”

 “I…” Taehyung’s eyes widen as he searches your face for any other reaction. He laughs nervously. “Well, this is awkward.”

 “Yeah…” you mumble.

 “I was drunk, Y/N,” Taehyung says slowly, looking away from you. He chuckles without happiness. “You must’ve been caught off guard… I’m sorry. I swear it was nothing.”

 It was nothing, huh? Fuck. That didn’t hurt at all. No, no. It killed you over.

 You want to spill it out right then and there. Yet it seems so that you can argue about sensitive topics such as abortion, gay marriage and politics but you can’t seem to confess your feelings. Yeah, but a lost debate isn’t as serious as a lost friend, you reason.

 “Oh, okay,” you manage to answer. Already, you feel the awkwardness.

 “Yeah…”

 “Mm…”

 “Um, my shift will be over in a few. I’ll drive you home,” Taehyung says blandly. It feels so weird to not hear him tease you, or have a playful tone in his voice for that matter. He usually nitpicks at everything, but seeing him just tell you that in the dullest way possible… You don’t know what to think.

 It’s then when you’re finally able to feel your chocolate ice cream melting, the sticky, brown liquid making a mess of your hand. You don’t have much of a reaction to it as you get some napkins to clean yourself.

 It’s dying, melting away in an ugly shit color — just like your friendship.

 You and Taehyung both take your seats in his car; you haven’t spoken a word to him since fifteen minutes ago — which feels so weird because usually, you two are talking up a storm. There’s always something to say. Except now.

 Taehyung must be embarrassed, you think. His reaction tells you exactly that he hadn’t meant it. It kills you. Your heart feels shattered. Somewhere deep inside you, you’d hoped he’d said something on the lines of, ‘Oh, Y/N, I meant that kiss with all my heart.’

 Who am I kidding? You know that stuff only happens in movies.

 Taehyung starts the engine of his car and you jump slightly. Your friend takes no notice as he keeps his eyes straight ahead. The car ride is so silent, you can literally hear the gears of your brain working as all sorts of bad thoughts fly through your head.

 Does this mean… an eternal goodbye to Whipped Wednesdays? What if we won’t meet ever again? What if… he won’t be a part of my life anymore? Does he hate me for letting him do it?

 You’re still shaking in anxiety as Taehyung parks in front of your dorm building. “See you, Y/N,” he says shortly, waving slightly at you.

 All you can do is nod in acknowledgment, quickly exiting the vehicle.

 And just like that, Taehyung exited out of your life for a good week. You agonized in your dorm, moping around and eating a shit ton of ice cream that wasn’t perfectly whipped by Kim Taehyung. Your phone was collecting dust somewhere in the dorm and all you ended up doing for almost a whole week was binge-watch your favorite rom-com show on your laptop — probably accumulating as much weight as the text messages your friends were probably sending you.

 It was nothing. It was nothing. It was nothing.

 His words echo in your head the whole time. Just as you’re finally able to crack a small smile from a corny joke on a show: it was nothing, it was nothing, it was nothing.

 Maybe he hadn’t meant it? you had reasoned. No. He had been so disappointed in himself after finding out. You’d seen the look on his face. The horror, the humiliation.

 You don’t want to think about it, but it’s all you can think about. It takes you almost a full week to finally cease your moping. You take a nice, long shower in hot water, treat yourself to a healthy salad and squeeze some yoga in, in an attempt to lose some of that weight you gained from binge-eating so much ice cream.

 On Wednesday morning, you finally pick up your phone, wiping off the dust with your hand. 561 unread messages. 12 missed calls. Shit. Your friends probably thought you’d finally snapped from stress and buried yourself in a ditch.

 All of the calls and half of the messages are from Taehyung. You take the liberty to scroll through them quickly. To summarize, most of the texts comprise of, ‘are you mad,’ ‘you dead,’ ‘you gud?’ Then the most recent text, just five minutes before: ‘don’t forget about Whipped Wednesdays!’

 Shit. Right. It’s Wednesday.

 You don’t know if you want to go. You’ve never missed a day of Whipped Wednesdays since the day Taehyung started working at the ice cream parlor. But you’ve already come this far mourning a heartbreak. You don’t know if it’ll be healthy for you to see Kim Taehyung so soon.

 Regardless, you find yourself wordlessly getting ready, curling your hair and wearing a presentable outfit for once. At exactly noon, someone knocks at your door. You know it’s Taehyung, arrived to pick you up.

 You open the door, your stomach doing insane acrobatic tricks, making you feel all queasy. There, Taehyung stands. Handsome as usual.

 “Oh good, you’re good,” Taehyung says, rushing in to hug you. You’re taken back by surprise but soon, you find yourself wrapping your arms around your best friend as well. You had missed him. “I thought you were dead, the way you weren’t checking your goddamn phone. You idiot. I worried. I was so close to breaking in. But then I realized you were probably going through one of your moody phases.” He chuckles in your ear.

 The hair on the back of your neck stands up straight as you nod. “Yeah… moody phases,” you repeat. “I’m fine,” you say, pulling away and giving your friend a small smile. “Let’s go.”

Again, most of the car ride is silent, as if staying away from each other for a week made you strangers, foreign to the other’s presence. You really can’t take the silence though. God, you want to say something so bad, but what would you say?

 Haha, sorry Tae, but the reason why I was moping around like a baby for a goddamn week is that I might like you?? And you kinda rejected me??

 You mentally slap yourself. You’re never this tongue-tied. You hate not being able to say what’s on your mind. You want to speak. You need to —

 “Tae?”

 Your own voice surprises you as you can see Taehyung jump slightly in his seat, his hands still fixed tightly on the steering wheel. Immediately, you regret ever speaking. Too late now.

 “Hm?”

 You literally want to shank yourself for being an idiot. You’re stuck. What are you supposed to say? Maybe apologize? Yeah, apologize for being the bitch that you are, ditching your friend for a week, Y/N.

 An “I’m sorry” spills from your lips at the same time as Taehyung. Both of you chuckle. It was pretty common for both of you to say something in a unison. Soulmates, as to how you two had reasoned it as. Already, the awkward atmosphere isn’t as suffocating as before.

 “You should be sorry,” Taehyung teases, a grin escaping his lips. “You had me worried sick!”

 You huff. “If anything, you should be sorry. Just… just kissing me like that out of the fucking blue! How am I supposed to goddamn act?”

 “Okay, first of all, I was drunk. Second of all, it was nothing, I told you!” Taehyung laughs.

 “Oh my god, don’t call it nothing!” you blurt out. As embarrassed as you are for saying that, you feel better just voicing what’s on your mind than being silent.

 “What would you call it then?” Taehyung asks.

 You roll your eyes. “What am I supposed to say? It was the best kiss I’ve ever had?”

 “Best kiss?” Taehyung laughs. “I mean, of course, I was involved,” he says sassily.

 “Oh god, no,” you stifle a giggle.

 “Well then, tell me, Y/N. Do you feel the same as me?” Taehyung asks, wiggling his eyebrows.

 You make an ugly face. “What kind of vague question is that? I’m no mind reader! How am I supposed to know how you feel, huh? If I knew, don’t you think I would’ve cried from rejection or happiness, already?”

 “Wait a minute —”

 “I’m not waiting anymore, you asscrack,” you huff. “Whether you like me back or not is out of my fucking hands. But you have no idea how much I regret not saying ‘yes’ to you four fucking years ago.”

 “Like you back? Regret not saying ‘yes?’ You like me?” Taehyung asks as a grin forms on his face.

 It feels like you’re on the debate podium, expressing yourself with your words — except, it’s way more nerve-wracking than any competition you’ve been to.

 “Yes, asscrack. I like you,” you admit. It feels so good to let it out, your chest immediately feeling so much lighter. In fact, you think you lost the fifty pounds you’d gained over the past week. “You have no idea how hurt I was when you called the kiss, ‘nothing.’ Yeah, I’m a sensitive bitch and I admit I was being an absolute asshole for avoiding you, but you can’t just kiss me and expect me to act as nothing happened!” you pause for a deep breath, nearly choking on air doing so. “Agh! But the worst part is, Kim Taehyung, I know you’re not an asscrack or an idiot. You’re not even a complete shithead! You’re amazing, a bit annoying when it comes to schoolwork, yes, but also a caring friend, kind, loyal…” You trail off, fumbling over your words. You don’t know what to say. Again.

 You bury your face in your hands. “I’m not crying, I just lost my train of thought,” you sniff. “You just make me… lose my fucking words. I don’t even feel like a goddamn debate champion near you. You make me blabber around like a fucking second grader! I can’t form coherent sentences for shit! I don’t even fucking know what I’m saying right now! Fuck, you make me cuss so much, goddamit!” You finish, letting out a huge breath you hadn’t known you had been holding in.

 You hear Taehyung’s low chuckle and you jerk your head up, glaring through your teary eyes. God, I hadn’t meant to get emotional. Or to be fair, I hadn’t known I was going to confess now, either.

 “Wow, Y/N,” Taehyung laughs. “Are you really blaming your foul mouth on me?”

 “Are you fucking kidding me, Kim fucking Taehyung?” you rage. “I just confessed my whole heart out and that’s the first thing you say?”

 “Yup. And I’d pay good money to see you confess to me again. 10 out of 10 you’re the better confessor between the two of us,” Taehyung chuckles, giving you a final look before parking his car in the back lot of the ice cream parlor.

 Your eyebrow twitches in annoyance. Aggressively, you wipe away the tears welled up in your eyes, glaring at your friend, your crush.

 “Oh, Y/N,” Taehyung says between laughter, placing a hand on your arm. “I’m sorry! I really am,” he giggles. “I swear I’m not laughing at you. I just can’t believe after all these years — Idiot! I like you too!” he blurts out.

 What.

 What.

 What.

 What the FUCK?

 “YOU ASSCRACK!” you scream, shaking your arm away from Taehyung’s grip. “YOU MADE ME CONFESS LIKE A FUCKING IDIOT!”

 “Well, duh. I’m getting you back for rejecting me in high school,” Taehyung laughs. “Besides, I’ve known you for years. I know how much you tend to blush around people you having feelings for.”

 You scoff as you swing open the car door, hurriedly stepping out. “So are you rejecting me right now?”

 Taehyung smiles at you, stepping out of the car. “I would be crazy to reject someone like you.”

 “You would still be crazy even if you didn’t reject me,” you tease, smiling as you nudge Taehyung to the side.

 “Yes, definitely. I’d be crazy for you,” Taehyung giggles, nudging you right back. He intertwines his warm hand into yours as if to prove it.

 You flout. “Asscrack.” But of course, you don’t mean it. You never do.

 Oh god. His hand fits so perfectly interlocked with yours and you stare down at it, so happy your chest feels like it’ll burst.

 “You know you love me,” Taehyung answers, swinging open the door of the ice cream parlor and letting you inside first.

 “I do know,” you reply shortly as Taehyung gives you one final grin before parting from your hold and walking over behind the counter. He dons his apron and washes his hands, then grins at you. “The usual, Y/N?”

 “Hmmm… the usual,” you confirm, “but with a cherry on top.”

 “Got it! One whipped chocolate ice cream with a cherry on top! Free from all costs because you’re all mine,” Taehyung announces, his sparkling eyes locked onto yours.

 You’re at a loss of words once more. You swear something in your chest explodes at that moment — it’s a burst of emotions, actually: warm, fuzzy and cordial. You’ve got to admit, sometimes Kim Taehyung is a beautiful angel. Other times, he’s a straight up asscrack. Too bad you’re whipped for him — just as he’s whipped for you.

masterlist

[striptae]

Scenario: Christmas with BTS

Genre fluff/smut

Warnings: smut

Im sorry this is late but my phone had some issues with tumblr. I hope you enjoy :)

Namjoon

You two had spent the day just walking around the city in the morning, getting a coffee at namjoons favorite coffee shop It was all great until Namjoon decided that he wanted to bake cookies. Since you were reading a novel and you really weren’t in the mood to bake you told Namjoon to just bake cookies by himself.

Later on you realised that was probably a bad idea as you had to save the poor boy from burning the whole kitchen down. Only 10 minutes after he was annoying you again with these cookies he wanted to bake. You looked up from the book, sighing “Is there any way to make you shut up about those shitty cookies?”. A smirk crept onto Namjoons face: “I do know one babe.” He took the book out of your hand placing it on the table behind him. “In fact I know something that’d taste even better than these cookies.” Gasping you stood up and hit his chest “You`re such a pervert!” Namjoon simply smirked and pulled you against his chest, clashing his lips onto yours. Only a moment later you were standing in just your bra and panties, your boyfriends lips attached to your neck, leaving purple marks all over it.  

Seokjin

After you finished grocery shopping in the morning you two started to bake cookies in the kitchen. The situation escalated when Jin decided to start a foodfight, pouring the whole bag of flour over your head while you were rolling out the cookie dough. You screamed and then fought back by throwing one of the eggs at him. The whole kitchen was a huge mess after and you doomed your boyfriend to clean it up while you were taking a shower to get the sticky flour-egg mixture out of your hair.

Now the floor in the living room was covered in wrapping paper and the room was dark except for the sparkling lights on the Christmas tree and the light of the TV screen. Your families had already left an hour ago and now you were cuddled up in a blanket, your head resting on Seokjins lap who brushed through your hair with his long fingers, his concentration on the movie playing. Your eyes were fixated on your boyfriends face, admiring his beautiful features. Suddenly you sat up straight looking into your boyfriends eyes wich held a confused expression. “I love you Jin.” His expression softened and he pulled you onto his lap, placing his forehead against yours. “I love you too” his lips moved over yours and you placed your hands on his cheeks while deepening the kiss even further. Jins hands moved under your hoodie soon, undoing your bra while you moved your hips on his slowly hardening dick, your boyfriend moaning softly into the dark and quiet room.

Yoongi

You woke up due to light kisses that were pressed onto your neck. You tried to push your boyfriend away but he just tightened his grip around your waist. “I can’t, I really need you right now.” His voice sounded embarassed and when you turned your head half confused, half annoyed your eyes first fell onto the blush on his cheeks and then scanned further down until you percieved rather big tent in Yoongis sweatpants. The laugh that escaped your lips was soon muffled by his lips and that way the day was already off to a good start. Christmas was a rather lazy day for both of you, the Christmas tree had been set up already and you spent most of the time in your bed sleeping and making out some more.

“Aish, Y/N wake up!” you grumbled and pulled the blanket over your head. Yoongi sighed and all of a sudden he stopped shaking you and ripped the blanket off your body. “WAKE UP, ITS CHRISTMAS AND WE HAVE TO BE AT YOUR PARENTS HOME IN LIKE 30 MINUTES!!”

Hoseok

Snow was falling outside the window when you woke up on Christmas morning. After breakfast you two went out to go buy a Christmastree and some colourful baubles. As soon as you arrived home you two started to decorate the tree, hanging up the baubles and attaching a light string. Later on, Hoseok and you went to a nice little restaurant where you were meeting up with some friends, chatting and having dinner.

You got home pretty late but still decided that you wanted to celebrate Christmas together. Currently you were sitting on the fluffy white carpet next to the Christmas tree, unwrapping the gift your boyfriend had given you. A smile creeped up his face as he saw your face lighten up and a scream left your mouth. You jumped up, running towards your sitting boyfriend, placing your hands on his soulders and kissing him passionately. Hoseok seemed a little overwhelmed at first but then he returned the kiss with the same force and put his arms around your waist to pull you onto his lap. You were able to feel his bulge through the red sweatpants he was wearing and soon you were lying on the couch, moaning your boyfriends name while he thrusted into you.

Jimin

Both of you were digging that one TV series so you just had to finish that one season the night before Christmas. You really were bored the next day so you made Jimin go shopping for clothes with you. At first the poor, tired boy really wasn’t motivated but soon the both of you were trying all kinds of clothes laughing at how dumb the other looked and taking tons of stupid pictures. Jimin sent all of them into the BTS groupchat making the other members vote for the ugliest sweater of the day. In the end it was Hoseok, Jin, Taehyung and Jungkook voting for your sweater so Jimin had to buy you those sweets he really hated.

As soon as you arrived back home you started to decorate the Christmas tree while Jimin was wrapping his gifts in the bedroom. After you finished decorating the tree you went over to the bedroom, knocking onto the door. When no one responded you opened the door, catching sight of the wrapped presents on the floor and your boyfriend lying on the bed, sleeping. You silently approached him and crawled on top of him. Jimins eyes shot open the moment you settled yourself onto his lap. You giggled as you felt the bulge in your boyfriends pants while he just groaned. Smirking you started to teasingly move your hips and a deep groan left his mouth as he swiftly turned the two of you around, burrying your small frame beneath his bigger one.

Taehyung

The night before Christmas you two had watched two movies and afterwards Taehyung had forced you to play games with him. Most of the time he was the winner but it was still funny so you kind of lost track of time a little bit, resulting in you two oversleeping on the morning of Christmas.

Later that day you two got into the car to take on the two hour ride over to your parents. Taehyung got something to eat for both of you on the way there and you two were both constantly singing along to the Christmas songs on the radio so you had quite a fun time. You two were the last ones to arrive at the Christmas party, all your relatives already there. While you were talking to your mother in the kitchen you saw a smiling taehyung playing with your little five year old cousin a reindeer headband on his head. It was probably the cutest scene ever and you just had to record it. Your little cousin was running away, laughing of joy while tae chased after him. You put your jacket on the hanger and Taehyung put his black shoes next to his gucci slippers. “Im so tired” you yawned and turned around to walk into the living room. Your boyfriend stopped you by putting his hands around your waist and starting to kiss your neck. “Taee”, you whined, “i really am tired.” He ignored you and started to suck on your neck. You eventually gave in and laid your head to the left to grant him better access. “I am serious, i really want to sleep” you moaned half heartedly. Your boyfriend stopped. “Well then why dont you let me do the whole work?” He then picked you up bridal style and carried you through the living room before dropping you onto the bed.

Jungkook

You two set up the Christmas tree a night before Christmas, eating pizza while doing so. Somehow Jungkook had convinced you to go play bowling with him and Yugyeom the next morning and you just lost terribly in the beginning. Jungkook nearly fell off his chair because he had been laughing too hard at your failure and you hit him probably a thousand times while Yugyeom just looked at you two shaking his head, smiling. But you got better the longer you played and even managed to do a strike in the end. By the time that the three of you left the mall it had started to snow and after you bid goodbye to Yugyeom your boyfriend and you had quite a snowball fight, resulting in the both of you being covered in snow.

As soon as you arrived home, you ran through the falling snow almost slipping a few times. You arrived at the door before your boyfriend, taking off your shoes and hanging up your jacket. You were just about to walk off, turning around at the sound of the door shutting close behind your boyfriends back “Jungkook we still need to-” you stopped as soon as you saw the dark look in his piercing eyes, swallowing. He didn`t even hesistate to take off his jacket, suddenly pressing his hungry lips onto yours, your theeth clashing together. His tongue entered your mouth roughly, your hands entangled in his hair while he pushed you backwards until your back met the wall.

- Seagull 1

Masterlist

[wendy-comet]

(Honey I see those holiday prompts you got a ton coming in right now bc I love your writing so much) "Is that mistletoe?" SamBen (prompt one of this bunch)

did someone say MISTLETOE? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) take two of Ridiculous Christmas Fluff coming to you live from a city where it FINALLY SNOWED

plenty implied

“So, Ben, care to share with our listeners what our studio looks like tonight?” Sammy leaned back in his chair and raised an eyebrow at his friend. 

It was not an undeserved eyebrow. 

Ben wore what was possibly the world’s ugliest sweater, decked out in blue and white snowmen complete with orange carrot noses that protruded from the thick knit. A necklace of multi-colored lights blinked around his neck. “Look, before Sammy Scrooge here gets started, I just want to say that it is December and I am officially allowed to be,” he cleared his throat, “festive as fu-” and cut himself off with a beep from the censor. 

“Sure, but there’s mistletoe over literally every doorway, buddy. You’re gonna get trapped under there with Chet if you aren’t careful.” Sammy reached over to jingle one of the bells hanging from their recording equipment. “Also, where did you even get half this stuff?” 

“The internet is a powerful place, Sammy.” 

Sammy shook his head, grinning despite himself. “Sure, Benny.” 

“Sammy.” Ben looked at him and folded his arms across his chest. Seeing as the motion made his sweater almost rain glitter on the floor around him, it was probably not quite as intimidating as Ben had hoped. 

“‘Benny,’” Sammy shot back at him. He couldn’t seem to stop looking at Ben, glancing over at his cohost every few seconds. He’d like to believe it was just because of how ridiculous Ben looked. The fact that this had been happening for weeks, however, said otherwise.

And it wasn’t just that Ben’s sweater was irredeemably awful. The Christmas lights in the studio glowed a gentle gold, lighting up Ben’s face and his smile and those damn distracting freckles. Ben kept beaming as he looked around at the little winter wonderland he’d created (that is, when he wasn’t glaring at Sammy for making a joke almost as awful as Ben’s sweater). 

“Come on, man,” Ben was saying, and it almost looked like he was blushing but it was probably just a trick of the light. “Give me a break.” 

“Alright, fine,” Sammy relinquished, and so the show went on. 

This wasn’t one of their bigger nights - someone called in warning people about Kreepy Karl’s Kristmas Kandy, other people talked about the decoration war currently going on between most of the soccer moms in town - currently, Cynthia Higgenbaum was in the lead with a set of realistic reindeer on her roof complete with sleigh and a Santa that waved mechanically. Little things.

Nothing, unfortunately, that could distract Sammy from the way Ben kept fiddling with the lights on his necklace, the way he bit his lip to try and stop himself from laughing as he listened to a caller go off on a long tangent about their allegedly haunted Christmas tree (thanks for that one, Doyle).

So when they went off-air for the night, well. No one could blame Sammy for waiting a few minutes for Ben to finish grabbing his things. Or for walking side by side towards the door of the recording studio. Or completely accidentally stepping and then stopping in front of Ben in the doorway.

“Why, Ben Arnold, is that mistletoe?” Sammy asked, eyes wide in the most innocent expression he could possibly muster. 

He expected Ben to argue, to get all flustered and turn that special shade of Ben Arnold Red the way he did. To protest and laugh and push past Sammy with a teasing grin.

What Sammy did not expect was for Ben to lean up on his toes and grab the collar of Sammy’s shirt to pull him down until their lips almost brushed against each other. Sammy could feel the warmth of Ben’s skin, so close to his own. 

“I was wondering how much of this I’d have to hang before you got the message,” Ben whispered, and he tugged Sammy just far enough to bring their lips together in a real kiss. 

Sammy took back whatever he’d said about the decorations before that had been in any way negative. He loved every piece of Christmas decoration in the studio and was never going to remove any of the mistletoe, ever. Christmas forever.

[astrodances]

Prove It

FF.net link 
AO3 link

Happy Halloween everyone, especially to my @vldhalloween giftee, @blackkatjinx! With all the treat ideas they gave me, it was only logical to turn this into a fluffy Halloween party! 💚👻 And for the record, I can attest to the fact that food goo tastes like green apple jolly ranchers (because of SDCC), which will help explain some things in the story. 😜 I hope you enjoy!

"Boo!"

"AAAH!"

Coran's wail and a flail of limbs were met with bemused laughter from Lance as the advisor fell back against the floor. The bridge was deserted save for the two. Everyone else was scattered around the castle, getting ready for the Halloween party the paladins had insisted upon having that night.

Lance continued to chuckle as he positioned the jack-o'-lantern he used to scare Coran with at the corner of his station. "There. Now your area is fully decorated, too."

Coran glanced from the Blue Paladin down to the pumpkin at his feet. Hunk and Keith had found the odd vegetation at a deserted planet a few quintants ago, and came back with a lion's share of them (at Hunk's insistence). According to the boys, they were a little more purple than they were used to back on Earth, but they served their purpose well enough. Which apparently was scaring Coran with carved faces in them.

"...I think I liked it better when it was just pumpkins at your guys' stations. That way they were all behind me," Coran muttered as he took Lance's hand to help him up.

"Aw, but look, this one has a mustache carved into the back, just for you!" Lance twisted the gourd around, revealing the perfectly-carved fluff of hair, and Coran relaxed a bit. He could handle the ugliest and the most gruesome creatures the universe had thrown at him so far, but there was something particularly unsettling about Earth designs. He'd have to make a note to avoid them should they ever visit their planet.

"That's...better," he said warily, dusting off his uniform. "Keep it like that and it can stay."

"Deal."

"Anyway, I thought you were getting ready for the party," Coran noticed. He was still getting acquainted with all the traditions of the holiday, but if he'd gathered his intel right, then Lance should've been in a "cos-toome" by now, not still in his usual green jacket and blue pants.

Lance shuffled his feet, looking at the floor between them. "Yeah, about that...could you help me with part of it?"

Coran straightened his posture, ready to serve. "Of course."

The reassurance seemed to do little for Lance's sudden nerves, as he rambled, "See I...I thought it'd be kinda funny to dress up as the Black Paladin, y'know, after that whole 'musical lions' situation..."

Coran quirked an eyebrow at the unfamiliar phrase, but let him continue.

"Of course it'd be out of respect and all to the position, I just...I want to prove to Shiro that I can be a good leader, too." He let out a weak laugh. "And dressing the part is a big step towards that, am I right?"

"Lance," Coran placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, urging him to look directly at him. "Being the Black Paladin, any paladin, isn't about the armor you wear. Look at you now, you're flying the Red Lion while still wearing blue! It's about the leadership qualities you possess, about being able to bring the team together to form Voltron. And right now, Shiro is the most qualified for that spot. But believe me when I say, you don't need black armor to prove yourself. You're well on your way to being a brilliant leader."

Lance smiled softly back at Coran, who got a sudden flash of inspiration in the back of his mind, causing him to smirk mischievously and finish his next thought with a wink. "But that doesn't mean it can hurt to dress up like our heroes from time to time."

"Does that mean you'll help me?" Lance's eyes sparkled with hope.

Coran looped his arm around his shoulders, pulling him close as he led him off the bridge. "And then some, kid. And then some..."

Coran's help was something, to be sure. It was easy enough for him to create a black set of armor for Lance to wear, but the flourish and the buddy costume Coran had for himself were a sight to behold.

When the doors slid open to the ballroom where the party was being held, everyone had different reactions, but they were all a form of either shock or awe or both.

There stood Lance and Coran, back to back with perfectly-timed lights and a smoke machine announcing their arrival. Lance was in his black paladin armor, with a blue cape draped across his shoulders and clasped at his collar, his bayard rifle resting confidently against his hip. Coran was in his own paladin armor, an outfit only Allura had seen before (but she still nevertheless giggled at), with a matching red visor and cape completing the look. He struck a pose with a sword he had borrowed from the training deck. Together the two looked like quite the leading duo of Voltron.

Hunk was the first to break the hush that had overtaken the room with an enthusiastic "Woohoo! Go Lance!"

The room gradually fell back into its party atmosphere as Lance scanned the room for Shiro, who he finally saw on the far side of the room, his mouth hanging wide open.

Lance blushed at the sight, then turned to Coran. "Thanks for helping me, Coran. This-" He waved his hand between the two of them. "-helped a lot."

Coran beamed proudly, and replied, "Anytime."

As they parted ways, Lance gulped down the butterflies that were starting to flutter in his gut. He made his way over to the snack table, where Hunk had outdone himself once again with his cooking skills. There were so many treats and drinks available, Lance knew he would have to try them all by the end of the night. For now, however, he settled on picking up two candy apples coated not in caramel, but a thin veil of food goo. The paper in front of the plate had them labeled as "Goo'd Space Apples." Lance rolled his eyes in amusement at his friend's pun as he walked away from the table.

Now came the moment of truth.

Shiro hadn't wandered far from his original spot when Lance got to him. He was decked out in a sweater vest, wearing Pidge's glasses, and carrying a "Universe's #1 Space Dad" mug (filled with "Goo'd Cider," Lance noticed).

"Hey, Space Dad," Lance said as he reached his boyfriend. He held out an apple. "Space apple?"

"Thanks." Shiro took the treat, giving Lance's costume a once-over before quickly looking away with a blush. "I...I really like your costume."

Lance seemed to be as nervous as Shiro. "It's okay I did this, right? I mean, I know I'm not the leader of Voltron and all, but, y'know, the idea kinda just came to me and it seemed too funny to pass up."

Shiro raised an eyebrow at Lance's behavior, before realization dawned over him. "For what it's worth, I'd think you make a great leader," he declared with a proud smile.

Lance returned the smile with one of his own, then focused on his apple as he admitted, "I just hope I get the chance to prove it one day."

"Well, I don't know what the future holds," Shiro began, before suddenly leaning down next to Lance's ear. "But with that armor on, I think I know one way you could prove it tonight."

As Shiro placed a kiss on his cheek and stood back up, he could only laugh at Lance's stunned face.

It was going to be a fun night.