#genuinely and from the bottom of my heart

[no-thanks-im-goof]

Everyone is totally free to have their own opinions!

But I do think everything is a bit more complex than what it's usually made out to be. I know It's not explicitly said here but the underlying conclusion of this thread is essentially "fuck veganism.” Which your opinions are totally valid! Feel free to think and feel whatever you want, feel free to ignore everything I’m about to say. I'm just some random person. I have no impact on what you think, feel or do. Scroll past this now if you want, and if you do I genuinely from the bottom of my heart, hope you have a great day!

But here's my dumb take…

I think we all frequently do this thing where we regurgitate talking points like "PETA BAD" and "LEATHER GOOD"  that simplify nuanced subjects and end up pushing the narrative that animal products are inherently more natural and more sustainable than any alternatives, and therefore we shouldn’t even try to create alternatives. Maybe I sound like a fucking nut job, and I guess that's fine, but I really feel like a lot of these talking points originate from the industries that actively profit from us buying into them. Kind of like how the Bacon Mania in the early 2000s (that created fucking bacon flavored lube) was started by Pork industry marketing executives. (1) 

There is so much rampant greenwashing going on. Advertising is a massive fucking industry all on it’s own. These companies pay a ton of fucking money to lie to you and to get you to buy their products. I’m just gonna quickly address Wool, Leather, and Bees and the massive amounts of greenwashing that happens for those industries:

Wool: “Animals raised for clothing, like the more than 1.2 billion sheep farmed for wool, or the tens of millions of cows whose skin is processed into leather. Both species, as ruminants, emit massive volumes of methane (the potent greenhouse gas that is responsible for about a quarter of global warming) and take up vast land areas that could otherwise host native, carbon-sequestering ecosystems.” (2) 

Leather: Animal leather's emissions are still higher than synthetic leather and if your not getting vegetable tanned leather, there are still harsh chemicals like chromium that is used in the tanning process of animal leather, which is harmful not only to the environment but also to tannery workers, which if your getting your leather from Bangladesh, might also involve some child labor as well. (3) There are also vegan alternatives to leather that aren't plastic and are fully biodegradable unlike chemical tanned leathers, which again due to the tanning process is for the most part not biodegradable.(4) LEAD researchers also found that the global livestock industry uses dwindling supplies of freshwater, destroys forests and grasslands, and causes soil erosion, while pollution and the runoff of fertilizer and animal waste create dead zones in coastal areas and smother coral reefs. There also is concern over increased antibiotic resistance, since livestock accounts for 50 percent of antibiotic use globally, according to LEAD. (5)

Bees i.e. Honey: While yes agave isn’t good for the environment monocrops in general aren’t, Honey isn’t inherently better for the environment than some of the other alternatives that exist. The Honey industry definitely is not better for native bee populations. Honey bees are one of the only domesticated livestock that can roam freely and end up outcompeting the native bee populations. On top of that habitat loss and deforestation a lot of the time caused by industrial agricultural is one of the leading causes for the decline in native bee populations. (6)

Regarding PETA: I'm not going to sit here and defend PETA, I don't care about PETA but on veganism, the idea that PETA claims to stand for, I'll put in my two cents.

The current definition of veganism is:

"Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment."

Veganism is a super easy target to strawman and to overgeneralize. It's an imperfect movement that rightly has a lot of things that it can be criticized for, and it should be! Thing's don't get better otherwise! But veganism's core belief of anti-exploitation is something that I think is a good thing actually! and It’s just so wild to me that, for the most part, everyone thinks they’re punching up when dogging on vegans and their beliefs and that veganism is some rich white American hipster shit instead of a radical way of thinking and looking at the world that dates all the way back to the fucking Indus Valley civilization. The majority of people in the world aren’t vegan. Currently vegans only make up 1% of the global population, the highest populations of vegans being in India. The US is not the center of the universe. I think it's honestly sad when otherwise totally radical people buy into the dominant colonial ways of thinking and repeat all these talking points and ideas. 

Back to the subject of environmentalism though, 50% of global deforestation is caused by animal agriculture. It is just point blank, not sustainable. To not engage with these subjects critically is an active disservice to ourselves and our own interests! It lets these monstrous industries, that are literally eating our planet alive, get away with killing us for profit. The worst industry for the environment is of course fossil fuels, but the second worst industry is agriculture and then the third worst is fashion. The agricultural industry and the fashion industry are absolutely horrendous for the environment, animals, the people that work within it as well as for the planet. It’s not just “an industry with problems that can be made sustainable and more humane.” 

Big Vegan™ is not the enemy, it's all these rich ass companies that pay billions to make everything as intentionally confusing, and as hard to understand as possible and they do everything they can to keep us from seeing how things are made and their impact. These corporations do not give af about us, they want us to not care as much as they don't care, so we keep buying their products. We’re all so fucking tired and too busy in our own lives trying survive. Its hard enough to eat sometimes let alone parse through everything you own or buy and make sure things are 100 percent ethical, but we can at least try to do our best and do what we can to try and reduce harm in the world, and to support each other.

If you want handy guides for ethical shopping, check out Ethical Consumer. It's UK based so it won't have brands from all over but a lot of their info and guides are in general really helpful. Here’s an article they did on sustainable fabrics and another on how to help pollinators:

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/fashion-clothing/choosing-most-sustainable-fabric

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/how-help-bees-pollinators

Shop local if you can, buy second hand items, try to reduce the amount of animal products you use and consume if you are emotionally, medically, or financially able, or donate to causes that make a difference. Every little bit counts.

Sources (1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4pqRx7OB-Y (2) https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/24008053/wool-marketing-environment-sustainable-claims-sheep-animal-cruelty-fast-fashion (3)https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ilab/child_labor_reports/tda2023/2024-tvpra-list-of-goods.pdf https://www.ids.ac.uk/news/new-study-uncovers-the-scale-of-child-labour-in-bangladeshs-leather-industry/ https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/bangladesh-leather-factories-child-labor-pollution (4) https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/fashion-clothing/footwear-leather-synthetics (5) https://woods.stanford.edu/news/meats-environmental-impact#:~:text=LEAD%20researchers%20also%20found%20that,use%20globally%2C%20according%20to%20LEAD. (6) https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/2023/1/19/23552518/honey-bees-native-bees-decline Recommendations: Check out Aoetora liberation league They’re a really cool anti-colonial vegan Māori activist group: https://www.all.org.nz/supportus  https://www.instagram.com/aotearoaliberationleague/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRpWq-KbX6E Other cool orgs: https://foodispower.org/our-work/ https://www.blackvegansrock.com/ Books to check out: Aphro-ism: Essays on Pop Culture, Feminism, and Black Veganism from Two Sisters by Aph and Syl Ko   Racism as Zoological Witchcraft: A Guide to Getting Out by Aph Ko Beasts of Burden: Animal and Disability Liberation by Sunaura Taylor Vegan Entanglements: Dismantling Racial and Carceral Capitalism by Z. Zane McNeill (editor)

Ayoo just to preempt the inevitable dumb takes we’re about to start seeing;

I am PRO-WOOL

I am PRO-LEATHER

I am PRO-BEES

Fuck the idea of replacing durable, sustainable animal products with cheap, flimsy plastic that doesn’t bio-degrade. Agave nectar and other artificial sweeteners are expensive, labor-intensive, and destroy the environment to be farmed.

Do not buy into pernicious marketing campaigns pushed by dickhead organizations trying to stay relevant, like PETA.

[fratttymatty]

Tricked Ya Bro

(All characters are 18+)

Logan Andrews adjusted his glasses and stared at the open textbook in front of him, though the chaos of the cafeteria made it hard to focus. At Dalton High, he was used to sitting alone at the farthest table, clutching his AP History notes and munching on a soggy sandwich. As a gay, nerdy, liberal 20-year-old, Logan had long accepted his place at the bottom of the social hierarchy.

At the opposite end of the cafeteria sat Dylan Carter, the epitome of high school glory. With his chiseled jawline, golden tan, and a varsity jacket slung over his broad shoulders, Dylan was everything Logan wasn’t—popular, athletic, and cocky. The star quarterback and the king of the jocks, Dylan always had a crowd of cheerleaders and teammates around him, laughing at his jokes and basking in his presence.

So when Dylan approached Logan’s table that day, Logan’s heart practically stopped.

“Hey, uh, Logan, right?” Dylan said, flashing his movie-star grin.

Logan blinked, clutching his sandwich like it was a life raft. “Y-Yeah. That’s me.”

“Cool,” Dylan said, sliding into the seat across from him. “Listen, I’ve kinda noticed you around, and I think you’re, like, pretty cute.”

Logan’s jaw dropped. Was this a prank? It had to be. But Dylan’s smile seemed genuine, and his blue eyes sparkled with something Logan couldn’t quite place.

“Are you serious?” Logan asked cautiously.

“Totally,” Dylan said, leaning in. “How about we hang out this weekend? Just the two of us.”

Logan’s face turned scarlet, but he nodded. “I-I’d like that.”

For the next week, Logan lived in a dream. Dylan picked him up after school, took him out for burgers, and even invited him to watch football practice. Logan couldn’t believe it—Dylan Carter, the most popular guy in school, was into him.

But on Friday night, everything changed. Dylan invited Logan over to his house, promising they’d have the place to themselves. Logan arrived nervously, clutching a bouquet of flowers.

Dylan greeted him at the door, but this time, his usual charm was gone.

“Come on in,” Dylan said, his tone strangely flat.

Logan followed him into the living room, where Dylan suddenly turned and crossed his arms. “Alright, I’ve got something to tell you.”

Logan froze. “What’s going on?”

Dylan smirked, and for the first time, it wasn’t friendly—it was cold. “I’m not gay, dude. Never was. This whole week? Just a joke.”

Logan felt like he’d been punched in the stomach. “W-What? Why would you do that?”

“Because it’s hilarious,” Dylan said, laughing cruelly. “I mean, look at you. Did you really think someone like me would be into... that?” He gestured vaguely at Logan, his face twisted with disdain.

Logan’s eyes filled with tears, but before he could respond, Dylan pulled a strange device from his pocket—a small, glowing orb.

“Don’t worry, though,” Dylan said, his smirk widening. “I’ve got a better idea. I’m gonna help you out, bro. Make you someone who actually fits in.”

“W-What are you talking about?” Logan stammered, backing away.

Dylan pressed a button on the orb, and it erupted with light, engulfing Logan in a wave of energy.

When Logan came to, he felt... different. Gone were his baggy clothes and thin frame. His arms were thick and muscular, his chest broad, and his reflection in the mirror across the room revealed a tan, chiseled jawline and perfectly styled hair.

“Dude, check yourself out!” Dylan said, clapping him on the back. “You’re a whole new man now.”

Logan blinked, his mind foggy. “What the... What happened to me?”

“You’re one of us now,” Dylan said. “No more of that nerd crap. You’re Liam Grant, star linebacker, ladies’ man, and my best bro.”

Logan—no, Liam—stared at his reflection, and as the seconds passed, his confusion melted away. He ran a hand through his hair and grinned. “Damn, I look good.”

“Hell yeah, you do,” Dylan said. “Now let’s get you a girlfriend.”

By Monday, the transformation was complete. Liam Grant walked through the halls of Dalton High with an easy swagger. His old life was a distant memory, and he couldn’t care less about politics, books, or anything remotely “nerdy.” He spent his days in the weight room, his nights partying, and his weekends on the football field.

He’d also picked up a girlfriend—Kelsey Parker, a bubbly cheerleader with long blonde hair and a penchant for giggling at everything he said.

“You’re, like, the hottest guy ever,” Kelsey said one afternoon, clinging to his arm as they walked past the lockers.

“I know, babe,” Liam said, smirking. “What can I say? I’m just that good.”

As he high-fived Dylan and joined the rest of the jocks at their table, Liam felt like he’d finally found his place. The nerdy, awkward kid he’d once been was gone, replaced by someone who fit perfectly into the world of Dalton High’s elite.

And Liam Grant wouldn’t have it any other way.

By the next week Liam Grant strutted through the halls of Dalton High with an effortless confidence that felt entirely natural now. His tan, muscular frame turned heads wherever he went, and he revelled in the attention. At lunch, he joined Dylan and the rest of the jocks at their usual table, where the atmosphere was rowdy and full of testosterone-fuelled banter.

“Yo, bro, you coming to the party Friday night?” Dylan asked, tossing a football from hand to hand.

“Hell yeah,” Liam said, grinning as he leaned back in his chair, his arm draped casually around Kelsey. “Wouldn’t miss it. Gonna be sick.”

“Just make sure none of those GSA weirdos show up,” Dylan said, wrinkling his nose. “I swear, it’s bad enough they’re trying to put up rainbow posters all over the school.”

Liam snorted. “Right? Like, nobody wants to see that crap. They need to just keep it to themselves.”

Kelsey giggled, playing with her blonde curls. “It’s, like, so gross. Why do they think we want to hear about their, like, personal lives?”

“Exactly,” Liam said, shaking his head. “It’s not normal, you know? Guys should be into girls, plain and simple.” He leaned over to kiss Kelsey, making an exaggerated show of it, and the table erupted in laughter and cheers.

As a smaller, more timid student walked past their table, Dylan nudged Liam. “Yo, isn’t that Joey? He’s in that LGBTQ club or whatever.”

Liam smirked. “Hey, Joey!” he called out loudly, his voice dripping with mockery. “Looking fabulous today, bro! Love the shirt—did you steal it from your boyfriend?”

The table roared with laughter, and Joey flushed red, hurrying away without saying a word.

“Man, I don’t know how they walk around like that,” Dylan said, shaking his head. “Like, do they think anyone actually respects them?”

Liam shrugged, popping a chip into his mouth. “They’re probably just jealous ‘cause no one’s ever gonna want them. Not like us, anyway.”

The jocks howled with laughter, their confidence bolstered by the reactions of everyone around them.

Later that week, Liam and Dylan showed up at the biggest party of the year, hosted by one of the cheerleaders. The house was packed with students, the music blaring, and red Solo cups being passed around like candy.

“Yo, this party’s lit,” Liam said, clinking his cup against Dylan’s.

“Damn right,” Dylan said, scanning the crowd. “This is what it’s all about, bro. None of that nerdy, activist crap you used to waste your time on.”

“Don’t even remember any of that,” Liam said, grinning. “Feels like it happened to someone else.”

“Exactly,” Dylan said, smirking. “You’re one of us now, man. Ain’t no room in this world for losers who care about that social justice junk. We’re winners.”

“Hell yeah,” Liam said, downing his drink. “And winners don’t waste time on people who don’t matter.”

The two high-fived, basking in the glow of their new world.

[loveisanimaginarydagger3000]

Good Luck, Babe! (8)- You'd Have To Stop The World

Wanda Maximoff X Reader 18+

Inspired by the song 'Good Luck, Babe!' by Chappell Roan

Summary: Returning to Westview after twelve years away causes you to look back on your secret love affair with Wanda, to remember the intimate moments you shared together before her refusal to accept her true self drove the two of you apart, leaving you to pick up the pieces of your broken heart alone.

What happens when you reunite with the woman you've been trying so hard to forget, forced to watch her suffer in an unhappy marriage that was slowly drowning her, still too scared to confront her true feelings?

Chapter 8- 8.6k Words

Good Luck, Babe! Masterlist

Chapter 1 | Chapter 7

A/N: Hey… So it’s been a while, huh? I’m sorry! Life has been super hectic these last few months and my mental health has been all over the place (which I have finally got a therapist to help me with!) So between two jobs, being in full time education and being depressed, it’s been pretty hard to consistently write or stay motivated but I’m sorta back? Only very briefly as it’s the holidays and my exams once again start again at the end of January and don’t finish pretty much till June. My plan for this fic is that this is the official final chapter of the story but I’m planning a sort of epilogue/extra chapter that I’ll add more info about in the end notes. Once again, I’m so sorry for leaving you all on a cliff-hanger (that was pretty evil of me)

But hopefully this makes it up to you <3 I love you all!

—

An empty feeling consumed your chest with every heavy step you took to the avenue your house was on, your hand gripping the dog lead harder than necessary as your eyes inevitably spotted the familiar red car that had pulled up into the drive next to yours, a gnawing feeling picking away at your mind. It had been just over a couple agonising weeks since the…incident with Wanda, a little while since you felt your heart crack once more, crumbling into hundreds of pieces that you felt would never be able to be put back together again, the constant replaying of the event in your mind further ensuring you wouldn’t heal from the memory. The agony that expressed itself in her choked sobs and broken, tearful gaze haunted you, it wedged an unfathomable ache in your soul that seemed unescapable, everything seeming to remind you of the woman you so desperately needed to remove from your thoughts.

You sighed in an irritated manner as you sensed where your thoughts were heading as you approached yours, and consequently, Wanda’s house, your head shaking subtly to try and rid you of the sight of her green gazing into yours, every swirl of her enticing green losing that glimmer of happiness you adored so much as you murmured the words ‘I can’t’. It was draining, constantly being reminded of how your love was never meant to be, how things would never end up like the stories you’d dream of, willing the characters who were clearly destined to be together to push past that final barrier that was blocking their happiness, you just wanted it to stop. You needed it to stop.

Before you could drift further down that detrimental path, the sound of two energetic boys calling your name gripped your attention, a smile genuinely gracing your lips at their emphatic tones, their contagious smiles and laughter meeting your ears as you passed the bottom of their drive. You avoided looking further up the path as they approached you, not wanting to feel another wave of conflict course through you, your gaze staying focussed on the way Billy instantly ran towards Lucky, deciding he wanted to say hi to the bundle of fluff he loved so much.

“Y/n!” Tommy called excitedly, his tone hopeful as he continued, his little form standing in front of you, looking up at you with a cheerful and innocent smile, his enthusiasm to speak to you causing the corner of your lips to tug that little bit wider. “Can we please come over to play today?” He pleaded, eager to come over and show you how he had improved his kickups, now able to do fifteen in a row, as it had been a while since you allowed them over, not wanting to endure the unnecessary contact with Wanda.

At his hopeful and bright tone, you felt your heart melt at his and his brother’s actions, Billy fussing over Lucky who sat by him, the dog growing extremely fond of the brown haired boy as he enjoyed his company when they’d come over. It was natural for the two of them to occupy each other, Billy’s hand running through golden fur as he would read a comic whilst Tommy and yourself caused chaos, a small tug pulling on the strings of your heart as you didn’t want to deny the twins of the fun they had in your garden, but a harsher, more prominent tug reminded you of their mother, feeling her intense green gaze at you.

To say things were tense between you would be an understatement, Wanda’s entire being longing for you, to talk to you and try and clear things up, express the emotions she had spent years burying as she couldn’t physically hold it in any longer, but it was clear you didn’t want to even try, deciding the only way you were going to be able to move on was by leaving the other woman behind. You needed to move on, to forget the way she sparked joy into your life and in doing so, you reluctantly ignored her, deciding that it would somehow be easier for you to simply avoid her than face her and your thoughts once more.

Without even looking up, you could tell she had that pleading glint in her eyes, hoping you’d spare her even a mere glance as you crouched to the boy’s level, letting your hand ruffle Tommy’s hair in that teasing and playful manner that always made him giggle, an apologetic smile gracing your features.

“I’m sorry but I’ve got more boring adult stuff to do tonight,” you murmur softly, your face signalling your sorrow for disappointing them as you witness the excitement slowly crumble away from the twins, Tommy’s shoulders slumping a little.

“But you had that last week,” he argued, your gaze drifting to Billy who was smiling down at Lucky, the dog tilting its head back to stare up at the boy with his tongue sticking out, the golden retriever’s usual goofy manner making him laugh.

“I know, I’m sorry,” your tone comforting as you fix his hair briefly after messing it up. “Blame my boss for giving me homework,” you tease, the boy’s eyes almost widening in fear at the idea of still being given homework in adulthood, amusing you briefly before you continue, wanting to cheer them both up a little. “I promise you can come over soon, I miss beating you at football,” you playfully murmur, pushing his shoulder teasingly as a glint of determination appears in Tommy’s eyes, a small laugh escaping Billy as he knew you always somehow lost the football matches, potentially due to letting the smaller boys win but not telling them that. “Now go on to your parents, I’ve got to go and be an adult now,” you joked, as you stood back up, making a show of getting up, pretending as though you were that old it hurt your knees and back, further amusing them and bringing smiles back onto their faces.

“Bye Lucky,” Billy said with more enthusiasm before muttering a short goodbye to you, making you shake your head playfully as it was clear how much more he loved the dog than you, something you could understand as Lucky was such a good companion.

Your eyes followed the way Tommy ran after his brother after saying bye to you, something you regretted almost instantly as you saw Wanda greet them, her hand cradling each of their heads in a motherly manner before letting them run off inside, her head turning to look at you, as though she felt your eyes on her.

The brief eye contact made you freeze momentarily, conflicted at how to feel as the world around you seemed to fade away, the only things you were able to focus on being the way your heart started to pound in your chest and her intense green seeming to grip your attention. Staring into her gaze that held a glint of pain but also hope made you wonder whether Wanda felt this immense guilt you did when she avoided you when you first came back, your heart feeling as though it was being split into two. Despite everything, you wanted to comfort her, no matter what could happen between you both you always longed to protect and care for her and it always hurt, especially as you knew you were the reason she was hurting now, the situation between you two forever resembling two stars that never wanted to align. On the other hand, you knew you didn’t have it in you to soothe her pain, deciding to try and savour the last remnants of your heart, finding it would somehow be easier to push her away than deal with the whirlwind of emotions that threatened to overpower you.

“Y/n please can we-” Wanda tried, desperation clearly lacing her tone as she took a pleading step forwards, wanting to, needing to talk to you, to try and clear the air and help navigate the feelings that were slowly suffocating her, trapping her in a place of despair.

Before she could finish her sentence, you sighed, shoulders slumping visibly for her to see, her brows drawing together as a pained expression took over her face as you stayed silent, merely offering her one last apologetic and equally broken look before turning away, walking towards your house and leaving her alone once more, a prominent ache forming in her chest.

“Please,” she whispered more to herself as you hesitated by your door, lowering your head whilst you paused before twisting your key in the lock, shutting yourself away from the other woman as her boys called for her, a despondent feeling consuming her whilst she had to force a smile to her lips, trying to put the mask back on for her family.

***

The sound of distant chatter met Wanda’s ears as she manoeuvred around the kitchen, starting to prepare dinner for everyone whilst her mind wandered elsewhere, inevitably drifting to thoughts involving you.

It was maddening to the other woman, the way you managed to consume her thoughts so regularly, how it seemed the world would have to stop for the longing in her heart for you to diminish, every fibre in her being longing for you, your presence, your laughter, simply you. You were the only thing that made her feel as though she was alive, that there was a purpose as to why her heart was beating in her chest, fluttering and melting at your actions. She hated how so many years had to pass for her to realise that she should never have tried to deny her feelings for you, to stop the love that wanted to bloom in her chest as she would gaze at you in your truck, a genuine look of happiness etched onto her features as she got lost in the moment, unbothered by the rest of the world and what she thought she had to be. She just wanted to be herself and in your presence was the only place she ever felt like she was safe enough. Even when you sat with her on your sofa that devastating night she felt safe, she felt more passion and affection in those sparing moments than over the years without you, an emptiness that brewed inside her craving your care to reminded her of how colourful life could be, like it was when you were both young, naïve and free adults with only one thought in your minds, each other.

It was apparent things would never change as you still consumed each other's thoughts, the love being replaced by haunting memories however, Wanda’s lips trembling slightly as she tried to get a grip on the emotions threatening to drown her, to force her into a spiral she didn’t want to experience. The years of pretending, lying to and berating herself fuelled her pain as she desperately tried to not let those thoughts control her once again, unable to survive in that mindset any longer, just wanting to accept that she was still normal, even if her heart wanted someone different, someone that she was told was wrong and corrupt. She wasn’t a freak, she wasn’t, she was just a victim of love was what Wanda repeated in her head, only reminding her of more confusing thoughts swarming around her head.

She loved you, she could finally say it to herself, but it was clear it wouldn’t matter as you avoided her, reluctant to cause any more pain as your feelings seemed to pass by each other at the wrong time, never quite clicking. It caused a different kind of hollow emptiness to settle in her chest, her mind dragging her down a painful trail of thoughts as she replayed that night in her mind, clinging onto anything that could offer some sort of relief to the agonising pain digging into her heart.

Cruelly, her thoughts remember the feeling of your delicate touch burning into her skin as you cupped her cheek, offering some sort of comfort to her after rejection and heartache flooded through her, gripping her heart in a manner that stripped her breath away, scared at the overwhelming feeling of pain. She could almost feel the lump that had formed in her throat, the way her lips trembled, tears spilling from her eyes as she sank into your body, desperately trying to relish in your comfort but succumbing to the agony that ripped through her chest, her soul.

The memory made her want to break down into tears once again, to let the avalanche of anxiety crash through her, knocking her over every time she managed to try and get back up but a small glimmer of hope floated through her mind, offering her a life line to cling onto.

She vividly remembers the way both of you leaned in, that intoxicating look in your eyes as you let your gaze drift to her lips, a longing look evident in them which only made it even more confusing for Wanda. She could see it in you, she was sure of it, you still loved her even after anything, it was something that tormented you forever as you said, confessing to her that you ‘had always been’ in love with her. You wanted it to work, even now. Why couldn’t things just work out? She was ready to tell you everything, to accept who she was but it wouldn’t matter, even if it was clear both of you felt the same way, your souls drawn together, it never seemed right.

Why couldn’t she just accept herself sooner? Why didn’t she realise loving you was worth any risk? Why was everything so confusing? She just wants to be able to think straight.

“Mom?” Tommy called suddenly, snapping Wanda out of her thoughts as she lifted her hand to wipe the stray tear that had spilt down her cheek, using all her courage to force a smile onto her face for the boys to see as they trudged into the kitchen, bored expressions on their faces. “Can you come and play with us please? Dad said he had a work call to take again,” he grumbles as both Billy and Tommy slump onto the stools by the kitchen island, their heads in their hands as they stare at the back of their mother, oblivious to the conflict swarming around her head.

At his words, anger seeped into Wanda’s mind as she let out a sigh, not wanting even more emotions to rage in her head at her husband's incompetence and inability to actually be a father for once, more memories from that night and the past few days filling her mind. After that argument that left her crying outside, Wanda had finally reached her tipping point, her heart unable to take anymore misery from the man, to waste any more years of her life pretending that she loved him, that she even cared for him. There was nothing left to savour between them and the last few days had only cemented the idea in her head to leave, to try and find someone else that would love her or show her some sort of affection, someone like you- No, not you, you were making that clear.

“I’m sorry but I’m a little busy Dorogoy, I’m trying to make Paprikash for dinner,” Wanda softly replies, making sure neither of the boys could sense the irritation that had brewed in her, their faces brightening at the mention of one of their favourite dishes though. Turning around to face them, she saw the disappointment briefly in their eyes from the usual dismissal from Vision, her heart clenching a little as they desperately wanted to play with someone, some joy filling them at the idea of food though, an idea entering Wanda’s mind. “Do you two want to help me make it?” She asked them, a gentle and motherly smile gracing her lips as they nodded eagerly, excited to try something new as they jumped off the seats to stand by her side, love blooming in her chest. Despite her negative feelings towards their father, the one thing she’d forever be grateful to him about was the two boys they brought into the world, her hands going to Billy’s shoulders as she instructed him on what to do, Tommy waiting to be told his job, both of them bickering on who was sous chef number one and who was sous chef number two.

Their playful chatter quickly filled the room, drowning Wanda’s incessant thoughts out of her mind as she supervised and made most of the dinner, letting the boys do simple tasks such as washing the vegetables and eventually trusting them to chop them, keeping her eyes on Tommy specifically though as he easily got distracted, the older woman not wanting him to accidentally hurt himself. It was almost as though all the emotions that were weighing her down were about to be forgotten, her boy’s making things more bearable, reminding her to enjoy the moment with them whilst a genuine smile stretched across her lips as the twins glanced up at her with a sheepish look, having knocked something off the countertop. Flour sprinkled across the floor at their mistake, simply earning a raised eyebrow from Wanda, their mother not even needing words to tell the twins it was their responsibility to clean the mess up when the sound of Vision’s laughter started echoing through to the kitchen, bringing a frown to Wanda’s face as well as the twins, the two of them looking up at her expectantly.

“Keep your eyes on the timer for me please,” she murmurs to the boys who had started to grab something to clean the floor with, their faces pulling into a brief confused look, “Shout me when there’s two minutes left, I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”

Once the two of them nodded, she made her way into the living room to find their father, a sudden blinding rage consuming at the sight of him laid back in the armchair chatting on his phone, his smile wide as he chuckled to the person on the other end of the call, seemingly unaware of how selfish his actions were.

“God Tony, you should have seen the way Banner’s face dropped when I told him he inputted the numbers wrong,” Vision huffed out, amused at what had happened at work, his blue eyes flickering over at the movement in the corner of his eyes, drifting up Wanda’s body before meeting her green and the unimpressed and irritated look in them, a sigh escaping him which only amplified the annoyance building in her. “I’ll call you back Tony,” he muttered, having enough decency to end his conversation after meeting the look in his wife’s eyes.

“How was your work call?” Wanda coldly asked, her arms crossing over her chest as her head tilted slightly, looking down on the man who simply moved his hand to his temple, contemplating his answers as he let out a huff.

“Wanda, I’ve had a long week let’s not-” He tries, as he always does, but Wanda refuses to accept his blatant excuses, cutting him off.

“You have a ‘long week’ every week,” she dismisses, unbothered if she came across as careless or inconsiderate as she had finally had enough of his bullshit, needing to call him out and let it sit with him. “The boys were so excited to actually spend some time with you earlier, to play with their father but let me guess, talking to Tony and others was more important to you?” She states rather bluntly, his fingers moving to the bridge of his nose as he reluctantly listens to her. “Do you have any idea how much it upsets them?” Wanda asks, this time with a softer tone, trying to express the sadness it causes in their children at his constant false promises.

“Does it upset them? Or are they just upset that they haven’t gone over to Y/n’s house instead?” He questions, taking Wanda aback at the mention of you, all the thoughts from earlier flooding through her mind along with a new trail of thoughts at the annoyance in his tone. “Why can’t they just go over to her house? It’s better for everyone, they can have fun with her and I can have some quiet for once,” he mutters, earning a scoff from Wanda, her head shaking as she bites on her tongue, not wanting to start a screaming match with him tonight.

How did it ever come to this?

Before she can say a snarky remark or a bitter comment, they both hear Billy come into the living room to find Wanda, a confused and worried look appearing in his eyes making Wanda’s heart clench, her body instantly moving to comfort the boy, giving him a reassuring look before ushering him back into the kitchen, turning back to face her husband one last time, letting her thoughts clear before saying one last thing to him.

“Don’t be surprised at what happens next,” is all she says, defeated as she stares at him, trying to remember how part of her did love him at one point, only briefly as her heart only ever truly belonged to you before she turns away from him, making her way towards where her boys were, fingers finding her phone in her pocket, needing to search through her contacts for an old friend, ready to make her decision final.

It was over between them.

***

Grabbing the essentials for Lucky, you tossed the bag full of the necessities into the back of your truck, chuckling under your breath at the sight of the bundle of fluff sitting next to your feet, eager to come with you on your small journey as his tail wagged, tongue comically hanging out of his mouth.

The sun made his golden fur appear all the more angelic and adorable as you whistled for him to jump into the front seat of the vehicle, the window rolled down all the way as you quickly ran back up to check the front door was securely locked, ready to drive over to the lake to clear your mind from the thoughts that had been gnawing away at you over the last few days specifically.

You were just about to climb into the driver’s seat when you heard your name called by a familiar yet unfamiliar voice, a baffled look appearing on your face as you turned around to face the female voice, recognition appearing on your face along with confusion.

“Jen?” You eventually managed out as you stood by your car in a puzzled manner, a sense of happiness filling you at seeing an old friend from school, remembering all the crazy and entertaining science lessons the two of you shared next to each other, briefly remembering the way you nearly set part of the science lab on fire accidentally. It was still her fault in your opinion, but you weren't going to bring that up now after so many years.

“Y/n? Oh my god it really is you,” Jennifer Walter chuckled out as she approached you, walking over from Wanda’s house which you immediately noticed, not mentioning it though as you decided it wasn’t your business, despite how much it intrigued you.

“Yeah, wow it’s been a long time,” you sigh out, a little unsure of what to say as it was so surprising to see her, “What are you doing here? Wait, no, sorry, how are you first?” Your politeness earnt a smile in response as you leaned against your truck to talk to her casually, Lucky moving over to the driver’s seat and poking his head out near yours, further amusing you both.

“Good, I’ve just finished talking to Wanda about a…work thing,” she started, piquing your interest as you acted as though the words didn’t affect you that much, “So I’m currently back on business.” You nodded along to her words, listening attentively, “I need to go and check in to the hotel now though so is there any chance we could meet up another time and catch up?” Her tone was a little flustered as she looked at her watch, realising the time making you chuckle as she always seemed to be so busy, a look of concentration etched onto her face as she worked out her timings for her plans, running a little behind.

“Yeah, that’d be lovely, you still have my number right? Just message me and we’ll sort something out,” you reply, watching as she smiles gratefully at you, taking a step back as she needed to be leaving, having a work call to take at her hotel.

“Perfect! It was really nice to see you again,” She rushes out before ushering a quick goodbye at the sight of her taxi pulling up, your hand raising to wave her goodbye as you turn to get into your truck, now ready to leave to venture to the lake. Before you left though, you couldn’t help but let your gaze wander over to the Maximoff house, trying to wrack your brain as to what career Jennifer would likely have gone into and figure out what they were doing, a strange, undecipherable feeling wrapping around your heart tightly. Shaking your head slightly, you tried to rid the thoughts from your mind, deciding you needed to stop thinking about her to move on, your mind focussing on reversing out of the drive and the adorable look on Lucky’s face.

***

The gentle sound of paws on the wooden surface of the dock caught your attention as you stared ahead at the vast stretch of water, the way the soft blue from the sky reflected delicately in each ripple of the lake, the gentle hues of green from surrounding bushes also adding to the picturesque setting you relaxed in, Lucky joining your side. Water dripped from his darkened fur, the golden tufts on his chin soaking wet as he held the tennis ball in his mouth next to you, tail wagging with enthusiasm as he impatiently waited for you to throw it again, his calm but also joyful demeanour always comforting to you.

With a smile on your face, you pushed yourself up onto your feet to throw the ball properly for the dog, taking the soaking ball and using all your strength to toss it as far into the lake as you could, watching as he leapt off the dock and splashed into the water, paddling over to chase the desired item.

Flopping back down onto the wood, you let your eyes flutter shut, trying to listen to the peaceful atmosphere and the world of nature around you, birds occasionally chirping, the splashing from Lucky, and the wind gently rustling the bushes around you to distract your thoughts but it was inevitable that enticing green would consume your mind.

Everything simply hurt. You felt broken once again, your heart felt as though it was bleeding anguish into your veins with everything you did, every choice you made as it never seemed to be the right one, it always ended up in pain and suffering that somehow seemed to have layers, finding new ways to torment you.

There was the initial pain from that night which plagued your mind, an incomprehensible amount of guilt flooding through you for destroying you both in ways you couldn’t describe, for being scared. You tried to justify your reasons, to convince yourself that you were protecting yourself for once, for trying to do something that would help you rather than others as you never seemed to care enough about yourself, a flaw that always came back to terrorise you. You were tired of always being the fool, the one who always ended up being broken or knocked down, so you tried to spare yourself the misery but it seemed that no matter what you would end up suffering, life forever playing a cruel joke on you.

You hated how pain also bloomed slowly, like a rose unfolding its petals, taking over your consciousness one thorn at a time as other agonising thoughts pestered you, making you question everything. You resented the guilt for hurting her, for supposedly being there to comfort her and making things worse, for avoiding her and leaving her to imagine the worst like you did when you returned. You loathed how yet, after everything, you still had hope for something, anything with her.

An annoyed sigh spilt from your lips as your hands moved to your eyes, anxiety trickling down your spine at your stupidity as your thoughts wandered down the wrong path, unable to stop yourself. That was your issue when it involved Wanda, no matter what you couldn’t stop your love for her, it was inescapable, you couldn’t get away from the memory of you both leaning in, her eyes conveying something different, something more. It was a look you had wanted to see every time she was with you, every time you spent intimately together in your truck, on this very dock, in the lake swimming with each other and pulling one another closer, it was all you ever wanted, to be looked at with love, and you threw it all away because your heart was too weak.

No, you didn’t throw anything away, there was nothing there. You had to believe this, believe that there was no chance of anything as you couldn’t carry on living like this, tortured by love for eternity. You were wrong, you had to be, you had to move on, that’s why you pulled back. It was the right thing to do, even if it hurt her, the two of you had to stop whatever this was between you, you had to let go.

Tears pricked in the corner of your eyes as you desperately tried to build the courage up once again to let her go, to spend the time restitching your heart together at the gaping wound that would be left there, but you struggled to do so, drained from all the conflicting and confusing thoughts that had gnawed away at your sanity already.

Why couldn’t it just stop?

Almost on cue to save you from your inner turmoil, Lucky reappeared at your side with the tennis ball, the item plopping to the wood and rolling towards you as the dog panted, almost smiling at you and oblivious to how much comfort he provided you with, your fingers threading through his wet fur. You were just about to murmur something to the dog playfully, a weak smile growing on your lips as your thoughts still pressed heavily on your mind, when a sudden bark left his lips, his head snapping over to the side, causing your eyes to follow his alert gaze.

Nerves instantly consumed your body at the sight of a familiar figure at the end of the path, Wanda’s face twisting into shock and confusion whilst her body halted, a tension immediately filling the air as you both held the gaze, unsure of what to do.

Wanda had only come here to clear her mind after speaking to Jennifer regarding her situation with Vision, usually coming up to the Lake to either remember the happy memories that filled her mind and warmed her heart of your time together or to simply lose herself in the tranquillity of nature, not wanting to think. She didn’t expect to see you or that conflicted look engraved on her face that pulled on the strings of her heart, her face softening as neither of you wanted to make the first move.

When it became too much, your eyes getting lost in the swirls of green you’d forever remember, you turned your head away rather abruptly to break the gaze, moving your hand to cover your face for a moment, desperately trying to gather yourself together.

What was she doing here? You couldn’t take it. You didn’t want to end up getting hurt again, to feel your heart break anymore. You wouldn’t survive. You needed to get out of there.

Pushing yourself to your feet a little unsteadily, your fingers twitched subconsciously by your side as you felt anxiety and panic clawing its way up your throat in a manner you hated, your mind filling with claustrophobic thoughts as you called for Lucky to follow you, wanting to escape. You felt vulnerable under her gaze like this, something you struggled with as this was why you constantly cared for others more than yourself, you couldn’t face your own feelings, you couldn’t face reality and truly let the sorrows of your life sink in, pulling you under.

At the distress on your face, Wanda wanted to comfort you, to pull you into her arms and let the warmth of your connection settle you both but she knew that wasn’t the right thing to do, her own heart splitting into two as she couldn’t decide what to do. This was her chance, her chance to tell you everything, to confess, but the look on your face implied that you couldn’t handle it, your body gradually getting closer to hers, to pass her by, to leave her alone again. It was in the brief eye contact that you made as you somehow managed to keep moving without breaking down that Wanda saw a glint of something in your eyes, dread consuming her at the broken expression on your face as you looked at her, conveying without words that this would be the last time you saw her. It flooded memories of the day you left her the first time, that same glimmer appearing in your eyes making Wanda react, her hand reaching out for yours, not quite letting you let go just yet.

“Y/n wait, please,” she pleaded, desperation dripping from her shaky tone, the feeling of her finger tips wrapping around your arm sending sparks through your body, almost making you gasp at the intensity of it. “Please can we talk?” She tries, but all you can do is stare at where she holds you, another memory flooding your mind.

“Wanda wait,” you rush out as the other woman walks towards the end of the dock, ready to get into your truck for you to take her home, the stars shining bright above you both, the moon reflecting off the lake. The two of you had spent all day together, getting lost in the moment, unable to stop laughing and feel that gentle warmth envelope your chest in that tender manner every time you locked eyes, a nervousness building in you for the whole day as you planned to confess everything to her. 

Your hand reached out to hers, gently grasping her wrist, halting her and encouraging her to turn around to face you, her green filled with confusion but also curiosity, her smile casual and affectionate as you search for words.

“I…You make me feel…um,” you stammer out, unsure of how to phrase it as the countless scenarios that played in your head started to merge together, causing you to feel lost as you tried to navigate your heart, gazing into her eyes and letting her soothe you, taking a deep breath. Her brows furrow at your words, the gentle glow of the moon illuminating her features, giving her this angelic and radiant look as you lost yourself in her beauty, awestruck by her and unable to form any words. Instead of stumbling over your words again, you try a different approach, slowly moving your hand up to her face to tuck a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, a blush forming on her cheeks as she hesitates, your movements slowing as you gauge her reaction.

When she doesn’t pull away or give you any indication to stop, you step closer to her, giving her all the time she needed to tell you to stop, to not cross that line but she doesn’t, letting you lean in closer to her till your lips ghost one another, needing that last little bit of encouragement to kiss her for the first time.

If only you had known that kiss meant something different to her.

“I can’t,” is all you can croak out, voice raw with emotion and it shocked Wanda to see you so vulnerable, usually able to be the more composed one out of the two of you, signalling to her how heartbroken you truly were, her green expressing the guilt and regret filling her for being part of your pain. “It’s just going to hurt me, I-I can’t take it anymore,” you continue, regrettably meeting her gaze and conveying all of your emotions in a single look, almost stealing Wanda’s breath away at the intensity of it.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” she whispers, voice delicate but wavering at the emotions flooding through her, her mouth opening and closing as she hesitates, trying to read your expression as you simply gaze at her. “I don’t,” she reiterates, trying to reassure you as you pull your hand away from her, teetering on the edge of making the decision to walk away, to leave her in the past for good. “I just…” she starts, trailing off as she lets her gaze flicker down to how your feet shuffle slightly, seeming to want to move, prompting her to confess, needing to tell you at least once, even if it was too late. “I love you.”

The world around you faded away instantly at her words, leaving you to focus solely on her, the way hope but also desperation filled her features, an anxious look glimmering in them as she waited to you react but you couldn’t, you just froze to the spot, unable to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions that crashed through you, clouding your judgement.

You were supposed to be walking away from her, letting her go and moving on. You were supposed to be accepting that it was over, not letting yourself cling onto false hope, to let yourself believe again. It hadn’t ended well before, who’s to say it would work this time? Yet you still couldn’t will yourself to leave, unable to resist her as you had craved to hear those words spill from her lips for most of your life, the words replaying in your mind like a drug.

“I love you, I always have,” Wanda continues, sensing your confliction as you still, eyes flickering away from her momentarily before back to her green, looking for the honesty and sincerity lacing each delicate swirl you fell for in the first place, “I’m sorry it took me so long to say. I…I was just scared to say it, to admit it to myself that I was but I can’t keep pretending that you don’t mean everything to me. It’s always been you, I’m sorry for never seeing that.”

At her confession, you think your heart has actually physically split into two, a broken sigh escaping you as the overwhelming feelings crash down on you like a tidal wave, sweeping you under and submerging you into despair and desperation, confused about everything that was happening inside your chest and head.

Love and happiness consumed part of you, wrapping tenderly around your heart that pounded in your chest, trying to soothe you as the words gradually settled in your mind, sinking in and amplifying the hope that was building within you at every second that passed by. Your eyes held her nervous gaze, meeting the honesty, care and affection that overflowed from her green, desperately trying to convey every single ounce of love she had for you, a love that defies descriptions at how intense it was. She loved you, it was something you had waited over a decade to hear, to ring around in your head as relief tried to bloom through you, to console you and help a smile stretch across your lips but a shadow of fear crept over your mind, clouding your judgement momentarily.

Doubts picked away at every single thought you had, over analysing her words as fear ran down your spine uncomfortably, briefly appearing in your eyes making the other woman’s brows furrow, confused as to how hope swiftly diminished in your gaze, turning to something more haunting. How did you know she was telling the truth? That she wouldn’t run away as soon as those thoughts came back to terrorise her, to destroy her. You didn’t want to be something disposable again, you wanted to be the person she came home to, the person who made her feel as though the world would fade away whilst you were together, to make happiness flood through with merely a glance, you wanted to be her lover.

At your silence, dread starts to amplify the uneasy feeling in Wanda as she pressingly tries to figure out your thoughts, to untangle the onslaught of emotions flashing across your features.

“Please say something,” she begs, the fear in her voice evident as she desperately hopes that you would say something, anything to her. She didn’t care if you screamed at her, broke her heart again and confirmed that she was too late, she just wanted something, the lack of response somehow worse than anything else.

“How…How do I know you aren’t going to change your mind?” Eventually, the words leave your lips, tone hesitant and broken as you want her to answer you honestly, needing her response to help you make your final decision of whether you were going to leave. You were giving her one last chance, unable to deny her as always.

“I won’t,” she replies without hesitation, getting her determination and point across as she reaches her hand out for yours subconsciously, wanting to assure you she meant everything she was saying, the words coming from the deepest parts of her. “I’m never going to make that mistake again,” she continues, searching your gaze as you listen attentively. “I’m.. I’m divorcing Vision,” she sighs out, your eyes widening momentarily, the words filling you with a sudden hope, part of you actually believing that this could be the moment where you finally click, your feelings not clashing but finally becoming in tune with one another. “I never wanted to be with him, I just thought it’s what I had to do, what everyone wanted from me,” she whispers out, finally getting it off her chest, causing your features to soften as you knew how far her internalised homophobia festered, so hearing her actually say the words ignited something in you, the fear dissipating from your veins. She’d finally admitted it.

“Do you remember Jennifer Walter?” She asks, wanting to give you proof that her decision was made, that she wasn’t going to turn her back on you anymore. At her words, your brows instantly furrow, confused as to why she had named your old friend, letting her continue as you manage to nod in response, “She’s a lawyer now, she’s helping me get the divorce started,” the words making the earlier meeting with Jennifer make sense, realisation etched onto your features as green continue to gaze at you, one of her hands sliding into yours, the touch electric as both of you seem to instantly relax a little at the contact, warmth spreading through your hands.

“That’s why she was at your house,” you murmur out to simply voice your thoughts, the pads of your fingers brushing one another tenderly, the feeling natural despite how long it had been, your gaze flickering down to the sight, savouring the peace it brought you before lifting your gaze back up to see her nod her head. The confirmation seems to trigger something in you, the fact she was actually changing, actively trying to become the person she had always wanted to be, brewed something deep inside you, easing your nerves slightly which was mirrored in the way you searched her green. The fact you don’t reject her touches gives Wanda hope along with the glint in your eyes, the nerves seeming to settle as an intimate atmosphere wraps around the two of you like an embrace, twelve years of longing expressed in simple looks.

“I know I don’t deserve it but please give me one last chance,” she pleads, your fingers interlocking, mirroring how your souls seemed to entwine, a small sigh leaving you after, despite all the thoughts begging you to leave, you knew you were still going to follow your heart. It always belonged to her. “I want to try properly this time, I want to make this work. I want us to work,” she murmurs and you can feel yourself being freed from most of your insecurities and the fear holding you back, a soft smile gradually stretching across your lips as relief consumes you entirely.

“Promise me you wont hurt me again,” you whisper softly, lifting your free hand to cup her cheek, her eyes glossing over in consolation as she melts into your touch, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

“I promise, I never wanted to hurt you, I just… It took me too long to realise you were all I ever wanted, the only person I wanted to love,” Wanda confesses, cherishing the way your hand feels against her skin, the sheer amount of comfort it provided to you both, the warmth that flooded through you both at the electric touch, the fact that such a simple action could arise such emotions stirring something in her. This was all she ever wanted, to feel loved, to feel loved by you again. “I want to make up for everything, to love you the way I've always dreamed of loving you. Please tell me I’m not too late.”

“You certainly took your time,” you whispered in a slight tease, attempting to ease the moment as it was emotionally intense, a small chuckle escaping her, making you remember how much you had missed that noise as it blessed your ears, your finger delicately brushing over her red tinted cheek, admiring the woman. “My heart has always been yours Wanda, I’ve never stopped loving you,” you confess in an intimate murmur, a sudden happiness enveloping you as you smile at her, realising that finally you had both confessed your feelings, the yearning you had both endured building up for this exact moment, clouding your mind with the thought of her.

Your eyes flickered down to her lips, her eyes mimicking the action and gazing longingly at yours, the feeling of your fingers caressing her skin intoxicating, the way your gaze flicker up to have one last intimate gaze addictive, you couldn’t get enough of each other. Without even realising it, the two of you leaned in closer, your head tilting marginally as your lips ghost hers, ready to slot over them and let years of passion consume you both, memories of the many kisses you had shared filtering through your mind as you try to savour the moment.

Inevitably, your lips met into a tender, loving and passionate kiss, the action saying more than a thousand words but most importantly the three that mattered- I love you. It was breath taking, the intimacy of the kiss as your lips pressed against once another, igniting sparks within each other as the melody of your love played a song of tenderness and affection in your hearts, letting peace wash over you both. It was a kiss that felt like more than simply mending your broken bond, an embrace that healed and reconciled the two of you, it was the start of something new, something to base a new relationship off and cherish as you looked to the future, wanting to tackle it together.

“I love you,” Wanda whispered against your lips at the two of you parted, foreheads leaning against each other as you felt her gentle breaths tickle your face, your eyes fluttered shut as you took in everything you could about the moment, her hand in yours, body pressed against you, lips brushing yours as she uttered the words that filled your mind.

“Say it again,” you sigh out, wanting to and needing to hear her say it again, and again, and again as you were addicted to the sound of those words spilling from her lips, almost as much as you were intoxicated by the way her lips perfectly met yours.

“I. Love. You,” she punctuated every word with a kiss that somehow was filled with more care, more affection as she continued to pour everything she felt towards you into the intimate moment, drowning you both in happiness as your souls intertwined, your bodied forever pulled to one another. “It’s always been you, only you,” Wanda murmurs as you both pull back once more, your eyes gently fluttering open to meet her enticing gaze, the shades of green almost making you fall for her all over again.

Smiles tugged at both of your lips as you lost yourselves in each other, your features softening before you press a kiss to her forehead, letting everything finally sink in your mind whilst you embraced like lovers.

You knew that your love wasn’t easy, it hadn't been so far and there were bound to be times when it was rough again, but it was a battle you were ready to fight for, even if it was against the world. Distance, time and the fears you both shared had already halted your story together but you fought bravely, tirelessly for it because you knew that your love was worth every struggle.

It always would be.

She always would be.

—

I want to apologise once more for the delay in getting this chapter out but I hope it was worth it as they finally got their happy ending <3 

I hope you have enjoyed their story as much as I have and I really hope this ending was alright for everyone as I really struggled with it (both planning and writing)

I want to thank you all for your support on this fic and my others as I can’t express how much you all mean to me, especially this year as it has personally been so difficult for me. I will forever be grateful to you all and I hope you know it!

This is sadly the end of the official story but my plan is to write an epilogue style final chapter which would involve smut (as I know that’s what most people want) but it’s up to you guys on which you’d rather it be!

1- A smut chapter of their first time after getting back together.

2- A smut chapter a few months after Wanda has finally divorced Vision and the Reader and Wanda both live together now (I’ll send the twins to Pietro’s don’t worry)

Please leave any thoughts/comments/votes <3

Ao3- LoveIsAnImaginaryDagger

Wattpad- LovePersevering2

Tumblr- LoveIsAnImaginaryDagger3000

[zunckerz]

ending off the year with my new AHiT OC Cecilia!…who I mostly made to ship with Thor and because I wanted to draw a mermaid/siren LOL MB

+misc AHiT dump (ft what I think Steve would look like!!!)

thank you so much to anyone seeing this for standing by me all year and leaving sweet comments and reblogs, you genuinely have no idea how much those make my day and make me want to continue art. since it’s the end of the year I’d like to get more vulnerable and be frank when I say I’ve always found it to be horrifying whenever I post here, or just anywhere really. I’ve always been terrified at the idea of embarrassing myself or posting something stupid people would hate or find annoying. for a majority of my life I’ve been surrounded by family and friends who don’t like my interests or find them to be childish or weird, thankfully I’ve cut off those friends and my new ones I’ve made at university have been so sweet and kind towards me and my likes, but of course it’s always going to be difficult to work out issues with your family.

I started to post in what would be my sophomore year of highschool, which was the most difficult for me to get through as I had experienced what I now know was OCD induced intrusive thoughts along with severe paranoia, but thankfully I am medicated now ^^ my friends at the time certainly hadn’t helped and would often mock or jeer at my love for AHiT and just me as someone who’s socially awkward and very apologetic (I will say sorry 10 times after something you can’t stop me!!) so I took to here to post my AHiT related ideas or art!

Which was possibly the best decision ever, so many of you who are still here were so sweet and kind and honestly got me through a lot of my tough years, and I can’t share my gratitude enough for everyone who’s even just took a look at my blog or shared my art or even made it their icon or wallpaper. so from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

it’s been a long journey since then figuring out how my OCD has been with me my entire life and I just didn’t know until now, and also just transitioning more into adulthood. but I know as long as I have this silly hat game, you guys, my friends and my brother’s support, I’ll be ok ❤️

[amethystfairy1]

🎉 Happy New Years! 🎉

It's been a loooong year so I figured I may as well make a post about it, as well as talk a bit about my plans for 2025! As you know, I tend to ramble, so this got a little long, and maybe sounds a little too much like an Oscars acceptance speech...whoopsie 😅...but from the bottom of my heart I genuinely just felt like I needed to get all these emotions that were emotion-ing today thinking about the New Year out for those of you who have played a part in giving them to me.

If you have a few minutes, please do give it a read through!

The Mushy Stuff:

Firstly, and most importantly beyond a doubt, I want to thank everyone who's been so incredibly kind and supportive of my writing this past year! Every kudos, comment, like, follow, ask, all of them have been treasured by me!

I've had a very difficult year. As I've mentioned before, I'm a full-time masters student. I also work a nearly full-time job on top of that. And while I don't like my blog to have anything to do with my train wreck of an irl life this year, let's just say it hasn't been great...lots of stuff went down, lots of things went wrong, so on and so forth.

Point is, my tippy taps have been crucial to my mental health. I started TTSBC, literally posted the first story 'Pretty Boy' on my very first day as a grad student, sitting there in the office with the knowledge that between school, work, and things happening in my own life, and I'd be having a really rough couple of years to get this degree done.

I finish in May, and I feel confident with my work, I'm ahead of the curve, I'm doing well, and I think that's in no small part because of my tippy taps. These AUs, the writing challenges, the amazing friends I've made and the little community that's somehow decided for whatever reason to form around my obsession with the block people, they've been a very big part of what's kept me going through all of this.

Knowing I could count on people to read my work, to enjoy it, that I could give someone out there something to relate too or even just make them smile if they were feeling as shitty as I was, that made me feel better. It's been so, so important to me.

So thank you. Thank you for following Through the Sky-Blue Cracks and Traveling Thieves. Thank you for screaming over my Whumptober and Febuwhump collections. Thank you for following me, for chasing me and my thoughtful Batman gif around in the asks, for playing along with my goofy-ass side blog, for commenting and kudos-ing and somehow materializing the instant a chapter goes up even before I post the tumblr notif. It means a lot more than I think any words I could come up with would convey.

I also really really really want to thank my Tinted Glass crew!

@silver-sunray This is all your fault. You started this 😤 And by that I mean you made these AUs and me screaming into the void alone so much more than that. It's because of you that I started to fight the fear, scuttle out of my shell and start actually trying to talk to others in this little online sphere. Your incredible work on the Beyond project and now in helping with my side blog and all our other plans and projects mean the world to me! You always have so much spunk and confidence whenever any ideas pop up that I suddenly feel like it's so much more is achievable thanks too you. I'm so very happy you reached out to me this year and I know so much that I've done with my writing wouldn't have happened without you 💖

@boo-the-ahh you're just the sweetest! You always make everything feel so light even when things are complicated or heavy, and you don't even know it! I love getting to work with you on the podfics and our other projects we've been plotting! You're always so full of energy and enthusiasm and encouragement that makes me feel like I can come up with the most whack-ass idea and you'll just back me up, and that's absolutely amazing! I'm so happy you reached out to me and started podficcing for me! Your work is incredible! You put in so much effort, your final products are always so beautifully polished and you always go the extra mile even when it makes things trickier. I admire that so much! And I apologize in advance for the sheer amount of my writing you're probably doomed to have to read out loud in the coming year 😅

@khoirkid You're just a marvel, in my opinion, which I know you don't share but shhhhhhhh. You come up with masterpieces at the drop of a hat, and the fact that you are willing to draw my whack-ass lil guys is still just unfathomable to me. You're always so easy to talk too and down to earth, and you're so creative and imaginative with how you weave symbols into your art with different imagery and color! I feel like half the time the stuff you come up with is so articulate and amazing that it goes over my head, but that's fine! 😆 You're so knowledgable and you have a perspective on things that helps me think things through. I love getting to work with you and I'm so very grateful for all the gorgeous illustrations, and for all the time you've given to me that's made me feel a little less alone.

All three of y'all are just so cool and supportive and talented that most of the time I don't get why you're hanging out over here and giving so much of your time and energy to these projects of mine, but I'm forever grateful that I have you as my friends. So thank you. 💜

Plans for 2025:

Ok, now that I've gotten my emotions all emotion-ed out, let's talk a little bit about my plans for the New Year!

Of course I'll still be continuing TTSBC and TT! No doubt about it! There's big things happening in both the AUs, and I'm so very excited to share them with everyone!

I'll be finishing my degree in May...to be perfectly honest, I'm still unsure of how much of a workload I'm gonna end up having academically this last semester, so I think I'll just say that if updates slow down a bit, just assume Amethyst is drowning under piles of revisions doused in red ink and a bunch of reference texts and papers due to be graded. I promise I'm not gonna just stop tippy tapping! I don't think my brain would be able to handle it if I did 😅

As far as some of the typical challenges go, I will not be participating in Febuwhump this year. I wish I could, but I know I'll definitely have too much going on academically to commit to another writing challenge...also I think Whumptober almost killed both Khoir and I, and we don't need to be doing that again anytime soon 😵‍💫 I'm still gonna check out the prompt list, and if I see a few prompts that I find particularly intriguing maybe I'll write those up, and do a few of the days, but I won't be doing the full writing challenge.

Jury is still out on Hermit-a-Day May, which I'm hopeful will be running again this year! I'd love to do it, but I'll have to make that later, once I know for certain how my workload is feeling since I'll be doing my final revisions, my defense, all that good stuff in late April, which is when I'd typically be working up my fics for Hermit-a-Day May.

I will be doing Whumptober. No questions about it!

I have a few other Hermit/Traffic/Empires fanfic projects on the back burner that I'm working on here or there whenever I need to take a lil break from TTSBC and TT. One of them is a project that all of the Tinted Glass Crew is working on together, and while I don't wanna give spoilers, I'll just say that it's going to be a ton of fun! It's unlike any other AU or one-off I've ever done before, and even just brainstorming it has been incredible so please look forward to it!

I also have my original series. Which...I haven't talked about, not really. I'm pretty nervous about putting it out there, to be honest, but it's my baby and I've been working on it for over four years now. It's written in a similar style to TTSBC and TT, that is, focused on queer romance and found family in a ton of stories all organized in chronological order and written up and down on a timeline. One of my big hopes for this year is to finally share this series. I dunno where yet, or when...it'll definitely wait until after I finish my degree in May, that much is for certain, but I suppose I just wanted to prime everyone. The Tinted Glass Crew has already been so amazingly kind as to agree to help me find a way to get this story that's so dear to me out to all of y'all someway somehow...and I'm confident if I have those guys on my team we'll figure it out! 😅

I hope, if you've enjoyed TTSBC and TT and any of my other work, you'll at least give my original blorbos a shot whenever they are freed from their little cage in my notebooks and save files. They're not so different from the way I write my MCYT characters, they're a bunch of big gay idiots with personality issues, a ton of tangled up secrets, and more trauma than you can shake a stick at...and they're mine, which means I really like to put them through the wringer. 😆 But after everything I've done over this past year and even further back here on this blog, on A03, and in this little community, I feel like maybe they might find themselves a home in at least some of your hearts...or maybe just piss you off with their poor life decisions and accidentally give you brainrot, who knows.

Anyway, this has been a lot. Sorry I tend to ramble...all of this is just to say thank you. I had a lot of fun this year, getting to share my stories with all of you, and I hope you'll continue to support me as I tippy tap my way into the New Year!

-Amethyst

[airandyeah]

Sweater Weather (Depressed!Gojo X Reader) Pt.6

The spotify playlist is here (Currently playing: Everybody Wants To Rule The World ; Lorde) (Not adding lyrics to the text so I can write more) Series masterlist My masterlist Divider Credit to: @uzma-qureshi

Your eyes were bleary, your body collapsed on the asphalt. You could barely make out the flashing red and blue lights of emergency services. The pain in your abdomen fading with your consciousness, blood expelling from your mouth as you fall into a deep slumber. In the dark of your dreams, a hand reached out to you, you take it and find Geto Suguru. "Why are you in my dreamstate?", you ask him, your body isn't sore here, you know you're in a coma. You could hear everything around you, including Shoko updating someone on your condition. "I have come to speak with an old friend", he smirks, and your frown deepend. "You are dead.". He doesn't faulter when you say those words. "You are halfway there yourself.", his response is genuine but holds a playful lilt. "So what? Are you purgatory?", you snort in disbelief and he laughs. "I came to warn you that there are things coming. Unavoidable things like war and death.". "How ominous". The air is charged. He isn't smirking anymore, instead he looks the most serious you ever saw Geto Suguru. "I need you to protect him from himself." Geto tells you, and you stare at your own feet. "He doesn't know what he feels", you try to argue but he shushes you before the scape of your dreams change, you are viewing outside of your body now. There are two people in the room. Nanami is reading a book next to your bed, the dark circles around his honey eyes deeper than ever. Then there is Satoru. He is fast asleep, his upper half passed out on your hospital bed, your hand is gripped in his. He won't let go. "He hasn't left your side." Geto informs you as he watches you stare at his best friend. "It is not set in our lives that we should fall in love, Sugu. You know that.", you tell him and you can feel his mood drop. "I know." His words are a whisper. "But Satoru hasn't been like this since I left. Even since Riko died.". His words struck a cord in you, you had met Riko. You helped Nanami and Yu with a few things before getting to go assist Gojo and Geto. You spoke with her, she seemed so happy on that beach. "I'm scared.", you speak up after a minute and Geto turns to you. "It's okay.". ~ You woke up slowly, your eyes adjusting to the lights above you while your ears register the beeping of the heart monitor next to you. You let out a gravelly groan and Satoru shoots up, and Nanami drops his book before rushing out to get a nurses attention. "You- You are okay- I-", The Satoru Gojo, the strongest sorcerer, sounded broken, his eyes red and puffy, his bottom lip red from his teeth worrying it in stress and probably the attempt not to whimper whilst tears had free-fallen down his cheeks, you could still see the dried lines of them. "S-satoru", your voice is so scratchy from the lack of hydration and use and he tries to shush you before you shake your head. Your arms shake as you move them up to cup his face, wiping the fresh tears from his cheeks. He looks a mess and you can't help but give a gentle smile, a loving smile. He is sniffling in your hold now as Nanami comes back with a disgruntled Shoko who just got caught in the middle of her lunch break on the phone with her girlfriend. That was all you saw before your body told you to sleep once more and your hands dropped from Satoru's face.

Taglist: @kiel-luvsripples , @asahinasstuff (The cause of injuries will be explained in the next chapter)

[doc-art]

your work moves my soul, and some times other things, but i genuinely love it from the bottom of my heart. Hype to see what new wonders the new year brings from ya!

glad to hear, anon!!! I'm also looking forward to what the new year has for me!!!

[wolfpackmuses]

I honestly can not believe 2024 is nearly over. Like, I really can't, this year has been kind of wild, in my opinion, and I think that's only leading into what I think is going to be an even wilder 2025.

As some of y'all might know, I had a few things happen this year in my personal life. I steamed ahead in my research for my master's degree (which is in the final phases now which is wild), I got an internship with the Weather Service over the summer to get some job experience, I traveled quite a few times to the Orlando area to visit my brother and sister, and most recently: I presented my research at a major conference in Washington D.C..

Not only did I do all of this, I had a fantastic year writing with all of you. I know my activity is all over the place and I have wild swings in when I want to actually write and all, but I have had a great year interacting with y'all and being able to meet so many great people. I don't think I had this much fun writing in a long time and the fact I added so many new muses to this blog (as well as making an entirely new one for my Baldur's Gate 3 OC, @bloodsoakedurge) added to the chaos that is this blog.

I have so many great threads and interactions I've had this year from all of you and I couldn't have asked for a more supportive community for me here on this blog. I didn't expect to be at the point I am now when I changed to a multiuse back in April 2023, but I think it might have been one of the best decisions I've ever made here on Tumblr. The fact it led to me meeting so many fantastic mutuals, so many great interactions, and that I have been able to share my joy of writing with all of you has been one of my favorite things to do in my spare time.

So from the bottom of my heart to all of you, I just want to say thank you. I genuinely could not have done all of this without y'all and I love all of you for your support over the past year or two since I rebranded this account. I don't think y'all will ever fully see how much I truly care about y'all, but just know that I absolutely do.

So here's to a fantastic New Year and to all the new muses I add along the way. Chaos has already been brewing with some of my new muses and I hope it can lead to me meeting so many more new and fantastic people in 2025.

Happy New Year from me to all of you. I hope all of you have a great New Year.

[waitupimalittleslower]

K just saw the maybe man tour I think I’m a new person.

So incredibly disoriented and I think I cried at that one part and the mashups and tricks and just pure performance art I didn’t know I could love a band like this.

Changed my life 10/10 recommend but you cannot be prepared

Ajr is fucking fantastic

[insertdisc5]

are there any fan works that have made you rethink one of your own characters?

no lol. however allow me to go on a tangent for a minute.

i have been on tumblr for a very long time. i have been in fandoms. i have made my fanworks. ive seen Stuff. so i know how people react to fandoms and characters they love. which is (and i mean this with no judgment! and even love!!!): fans add their own flavor to the characters, sometimes enhancing them, but also, sometimes, making the character. completely. unrecognizable

again, no judgment!!!!! ive done it myself!!! often!!!! all the time!!!! you can search for it here on my tumblr!!!! i've done it and i love doing it!!!! hashtag my blorbo now!!!! HOWEVER. when i was making ISAT, i did not think it would blow up like this. but i am someone who prepares for every eventuality, so i did think ok. well. what if it does blow up like this. and people. make. my little guys. from my heart. my bosom. absolutely. unrecognizable

all this to say that if you're making a project that could become Tumblrized(affectionate), or even any kind of project: i highly recommend writing down what your characters mean to you. why you made them like this. what made you go down this route. why did you make this project in the first place. what does this Mean To You And You Alone. so that if your character becomes Unrecognizable. you can still remember what you put in them first. and people can Tumblrize to their hearts content and you can be happy and the people can be happy and we can all hold hands having a different version of the blorbo in our brains

[thefirstknife]

Because Datto is very smart, his preview video of TFS shows something that confirms our greatest dreams, despite him saying there's no spoilers in the video (probably because he has no clue who the character is), but this is visible briefly in the corner:

Obviously it was already almost 100% confirmed because of the card from the vidoc so this isn't a huge spoiler to those of us who paid attention, but man. There's something so incredibly reassuring and incredible about seeing this.

Micah-10 was such a small niche lore character, but one that everyone loved instantly. And then all the way back in BL they gave us some backstory about her which was interesting in so many ways; her connection to the Traveler, her life as a little kid on Europa, her gay dads and most importantly her identity as a trans woman which was shown in such an elegant and simple way without making it seem like they're doing this for good boy points, as so much of media does. It wasn't a big deal, it wasn't used to sell products, it's just there, as a part of the story and the world.

And now we'll actually see her and hear her. To know for a fact that she is becoming a voiced and living character in the, arguably, most important expansion is incredible beyond words. They did not have to do this or choose this character in particular, but they did. I can't wait to see her, which I believe we will soon because a "[redacted]" character was teased through the Cosplay Cosmodrome back in April. They should start showing us the cosplay today, though we're not sure when the cosplayer for Micah will be shown.

[chbslove]

mangoball getting hit by the apollo dodgeball in 2021:

[madame-mongoose]

I CAN FINALLY MAKE THIS JOKE (aka look who arrived lmao)

[egberts]

what do fatphobes think they're doing though like why are they mad that we are fat and they are not? just get fat if you want special airplane seats so bad and leave us alone, damn. wait, what? can't get fat? it's too hard to gain weight with your metabolism? huh. sounds like a familiar problem, maybe you're just genetically predisposed to being both skinny AND an asshole. damn.

[gojoest-main]

i don’t mean to be dramatic but gojoest will remain locked for the foreseeable future

[radarchives]